Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
Did this hospital Administrator use an There must be a informed and unbiased approach? radical transformation in the way we think and conduct business DEAR EDITOR, I am all for training to improve our human resource competences, but what I am not supportive of is the pursuit of training without aligning it to development planning needs. All too often not a few organizations, and even some countries, accept training offers simply because they do not involve an obvious cost to the recipient. I disagree with that position since there will always be value expended in any arrangement of that nature. For example, employees selected to participate on a local or overseas course are expected to be paid salaries for the duration of time spent on the programme. In some instances the beneficiary organization may be required to fund other expenses related to travel etc. The problem arises where the course attendees return to duty but are not positioned where they can optimally utilise their acquired knowledge and skills for the benefit of their organisation. It comes down to a situation where, in the case of the public sector, salaries paid is a cost borne by the taxpayer with no significant returns. It makes no sense for Chief Executive Officers or heads of organisations in the public sector to point out that their employees benefited from so and so courses either locally or overseas, but they are unable to identify the benefits in terms of qualitative improvement in service or professional behavior throughout the organisation. What this scenario proves is that overseas “trips” are just trips with no serious thought being given to developing a knowledge/skills transfer framework. Some thought could also be given to negotiating the bringing of overseas facilitators (if necessary) where more participants can be trained versus sending one or two persons on overseas trips. A cost-benefit analysis could determine whether there is greater likelihood of wider dissemination of knowledge and skills and not a few just hoarding their knowledge with the aim of being indispensable. Some organisations require employees to provide justification for attending the offered programme(s) which includes the potential benefit(s) to the organisation. This is all well and good, however what is glaringly absent is the stringent requirement that certain benchmarks be met at predetermined timelines with respect to the transfer of knowledge and skills. There is also no monitoring and evaluation mechanism within a defined performance framework. What this means is that people are exposed to training albeit with no reference to organisational or sector development needs and are left adrift with no coherent programme which benefits the recipient organisation or sector. There is no value-added. Editor, if we are to really effect a sea change in this country there must be a radical transformation in the way we think and conduct business in the organisational and national spheres. Patrick E. Mentore
DEAR EDITOR, I am a licensed nurse. I was a Union Representative hence, loyal to my employer as well as my colleagues. I am a patriotic Guyanese. It is no small wonder therefore, that I am saddened and, more so, appalled at the course of events relative to the termination of the Acting Director of Nursing. I hold no brief for this employee. I do not know her. I do not wish to know her; I do not wish to know the C.E.O/ Administrator either. The nation needs to know whether this CEO/ Administrator used an informed and unbiased approach to make his decision. However if what is
reported in the media is correct, to wit (1) This Acting Nursing Director is guilty of rotating and/or transferring willy-nilly, nurses within her department, unmindful of the fact that certain sensitive units need very competent nurses to man them e.g. ICU. Is it True or False? (2) This Acting Director is guilty of insubordination to the CEO. I would like the CEO to be precise. This term can conveniently have a wide accusatory scope. It is quite palpable that this top Manager is giving professionally inappropriate and questionable access to one or two nurses close to him. The result is
undermining the authority of a highly qualified sub manager, a trained Head of Department. In fact she should not be a victim of Micro-Management by a man who is NOT a nurse, a man who has no specialized clinical skills. Mr. CEO, your sacred function is to skillfully coordinate the multiple units which make up the health care team holistically, and at the same time demonstrate how you can apply that art of dealing productively with human beings. Your action may be construed as petty, vindictive and puerile in discharging your serious responsibility. In fact, in my view, it is
shameful lawlessness to descend to the level of changing locks to doors just to “lock out” a single person who happens to be a senior. In conclusion, may I remind all health care providers that we always make timely medical interventions to save lives. However on this occasion, I respectfully invite our worthy Minister of Public Health to make an overdue intervention in this sordid matter. You too, Sir, have a great task. More importantly, Mr. Minister, you have been entrusted to keep this beautiful Guyana at optimal wellness. We expect you to do just that without fear or favour. Fitz Carmichael
NIS Investments in the Berbice Bridge... From page 4 investing our own savings to meet our own needs. Rather, I see it as obligatory. Editor, my fellow citizens, our history has disposed us to look to others to finance and amortize many of the investments we need for our development. Before Independence we could look to our Colonial masters. Over the last three decades, we have been recipients of much relatively large and generous assistance from multilateral agencies and through bilateral arrangements, which have helped to put us back on track following two decades of wanderings after our Independence. But we have been
receiving warnings that the days of special assistance are over and we must take up the mandate of responsibility for our continuing development. As I argued in Parliament, the tolls across the Berbice Bridge are only high in comparison with the negligible tolls across the Demerara Harbour Bridge. There are historical reasons for this difference. We would be doing ourselves a great disservice to stay trapped by historical circumstances. Editor, my fellow citizens, I believe that we may be already late in beginning arrangements for a new fourlane, high-level bridge across the Demerara Harbour. A toll structure like that across the Berbice Bridge would
immediately make that bridge with its approaches, financially viable. The present disputes about the Berbice Bridge would only deter future investments, whether local, regional or foreign. Mr. Editor, my fellow citizens, we have to go on boldly; learning from our experiences and ready to resolve and reconcile the issues which will emerge. With respect to some of the issues about the Berbice Bridge, one development that
I would like to see tried, is a small- boat service between the Blairmont and New Amsterdam wharves similar to the V/Hoop-Stabroek Market service across the Demerara River. Samuel A. Hinds Former Prime Minister
Page 6
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 7
Migrant chaos at Budapest train station - Germany says EU rules still hold
Migrants face Hungarian police in the main Eastern Railway station in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. Reuters/Laszlo Balogh Reuters - Hundreds of angry migrants demonstrated outside Budapest’s Eastern Railway Terminus yesterday demanding they be allowed to travel on to Germany, as the biggest ever influx of migrants into the European Union left its asylum policies in tatters. Around 1,000 people waved tickets, clapping, booing and shouting “Germany! Germany!”
outside the station. Later they sat down, staring at a police blockade erected at the entrance. “Please, we are human too,” said a sign in German held up by a young boy in a smaller group which protested into the evening. A refugee crisis rivalling the Balkan wars of the 1990s as Europe’s worst since World War Two has polarised
and confounded the European Union, which has no mechanism to cope with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of poor and desperate people. Germany is likely to accept by far the largest share. In the case of those fleeing the Syrian civil war it has effectively suspended an EU rule that asylum seekers must apply in the first EU country
they reach. But with trainloads of migrants rolling into Munich and Rosenheim from Austria and Hungary, it insisted yesterday that the rule was nevertheless still in force and urged other EU countries to abide by it. The vast majority of refugees fleeing violence and other migrants escaping poverty arrive on Europe’s
southern and eastern edges but are determined to press on and seek asylum in richer countries further north and west. That means illegally crossing a bloc with no internal border controls to stop them. Hungary has emerged as one of the main flashpoints of the crisis as the primary gateway for migrants travelling over land through the Balkans and into the EU. Officials shut the Budapest train station altogether yesterday, then reopened it but barred entry to migrants. The decision was a reversal from Monday, when Hungary and Austria let trainloads of undocumented migrants head for Germany. Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said the closure was an attempt to enforce EU law. The presence of about 2,000 people camped out in 40 degree-Celsius (104Fahrenheit) heat in the square next to the station showed how hard that would be. “We are thousands here, where should we go?” said Marah, a 20 year-old woman from Aleppo, Syria, who said her family had bought tickets for a Vienna-bound train.
European laws, known as the “Dublin rules”, require asylum seekers to apply in the country where they enter the EU and stay there until their applications are processed, even though 26 members of the bloc have no border controls between them. The countries where most first enter the European Union - Italy, Greece and Hungary say they have no capacity to process applications on such a scale. Germany announced last month it would allow Syrians arriving from elsewhere in the EU to apply for asylum without being sent back to the country where they entered the bloc. “The decision, driven by practical considerations ... not, in most cases, to enforce the sending back of Syrian asylum seekers to other EU member states underlines the humanitarian responsibility of Germany for these particularly hard hit refugees,” a German Interior Ministry Spokesman said. “Germany has not suspended Dublin. Dublin rules are still valid and we expect European member states to stick to them.”
Page 8
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Big guns in east Ukraine fall silent, two more die from wounds in Kiev protests Reuters - A fragile truce between Ukrainian government forces and proRussian separatists appeared to be holding yesterday as both sides made a renewed effort to silence their guns and make the much-abused ceasefire work. Sporadic shelling and shooting, which each side has blamed on the other, had
ensured a steadily mounting death toll despite the ceasefire called as part of a peace plan worked out in Minsk, Belarus, in February. Government and separatist representatives agreed last week to strive to end all violations from yesterday. A Kiev military spokesman said first signs
Morris: Fishing talks after T&T election Daily Nation - Authorities have given notice that Barbados is awaiting the conclusion of the general election in Trinidad and Tobago next week to kick-start negotiations on a fishing agreement between the two countries. Ambassador to CARICOM Robert “Bobby” Morris, who led Barbados’ team in successful boundary delimitation talks with St Vincent and the Grenadines, declared that this country intended to move on the issue “post haste”. He denied that the negotiations had been pushed on the backburner, insisting that it was necessary to gauge the right time to conduct such talks. “As soon as that is over, Barbados will be starting to mount its position to start negotiations on a bilateral agreement that looks at fishing between our two countries,” he told the media Monday afternoon following the signing of the treaty on the delimitation of boundaries between Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
were that parties to the Minsk deal were adhering to the call for a more effective truce to mark the start of a new school year. “As of 12 p.m. there were no reports of violations by the illegal armed groups. Now the situation is calm,” the spokesman, Oleksander Motuzyanyk, said. No soldiers had been killed or wounded over the past 24 hours, he said. However, two more guardsman have died from wounds sustained in violent protests outside Ukraine’s parliament, the national guard said. The Minsk agreement, brokered by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, is regarded as the bedrock of international efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern regions. More than 6,500 people have been killed since a separatist rebellion erupted there in April 2014. But violent nationalist-led protests outside parliament on Monday and political opposition inside to reforms indicate that President Petro Poroshenko may struggle to win broad support for the
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (R) greets Austrian diplomat and OSCE Ambassador Martin Sajdik after their meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. REUTERS/Mykhailo Markiv/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/ Handout via Reuters Minsk deal. Several explosive devices, including smoke bombs and one grenade, were thrown from the crowd at the parliament during a rowdy debate on constitutional
amendments that would give greater self-governance to rebel-held areas in the east. One guardsman was reported on Monday as having been killed in the unrest and nearly 90
wounded. Police detained 18 people, including a person who had thrown a grenade. Police say he is the member of nationalist Svoboda political party.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 9
LEVY ON THE BRIDGE! There is another side to the problem involving the Berbice River Bridge Inc. It is good, sometimes, to look at the other side of an issue. The government promised to reduce the Berbice River Bridge tolls. It did not promise the Guyanese people to subsidize the tolls. It promised to have the tolls reduced and this is completely different from
actually compensating the Bridge Company for the difference between what would normally have been charged and the new rates. This is not reduction. It is subsidization. The reason why the government was unable to slash the tolls on the Bridge was because of the financial model of the Company. Those that put less money into the
Bridge than the government did have a controlling interest. In other words, public funds were used to float the company and give controlling interest to those who put less money than the government. Because of this the government has no control over what happens in the Bridge Company. It is not going to be able to exert any
Dem boys seh...
Bar Rat, Babbie and Brazzy got no conscience When boat gone a falls it can’t tun back. That is a very old saying and is true. Donald gone out of Parliament plus he party. He can’t come back. He dead and nobody know that better than heself. All this happen after Jagdeo kick he in he belly and tek over. But that not de only thing Jagdeo tek over everything he put he hand pun. Look wha he do wid de Berbice Bridge. He mek ee buddy friend, Babbie, own 40% of de bridge and mek he pardner in crime, Brazzy, own 10%. Between two man who put little or nutten in de bridge, dem own half and calling de shats. Professor Clive de Thom, who study criminology, and know thief man if he only smell dem wid he eyes close, describe de bridge owners as unconscionable, ruthless and outrageous. Dem boys seh is three big word but dem simply mean that dem sk** got no conscience what-so-ever. Imagine de govt got 20 times more money in de bridge than dem and Jagdeo and Brazzy, mek de agreement in such a way that give her
best friend and Brazzy all de powers to do whatever dem want to do wid de bridge. Dem so unconscionable that de high price wha Guyanese paying fuh cross de bridge can’t satisfy dem. Dem want more—dem want blood. And dem woulda get it, too, because weeks before de election de write and tell Donald de Dumb how dem want raise de bridge toll from $2,200 to $3,400 per car. When de thing raise at de Cabinet meeting, Anil tell Donald Dumb, you betta pout a hold on dis thing until Berbicians done vote. Is de Creatah save de Berbicians and saving dem on to now because if Donald Dumb and Jagdeo, that devil did go back in power nuff of
de Berbicians woulda choose to go to Suriname than come to Demerara. Dem get a change and de new govt trying to give de Berbicians a reduce price to which Jagdeo friends wouldn’t lose a cent. De govt woulda pay Jagdeo friends fuh every vehicle that cross. Yet dem good for nutten hooligans not satisfied wid that. Talk half and dem boys show very clear how dem thiefing de money.
influence because by now it should be clear that the agreement which the government presumed that it had with the Bridge Company is not likely to see the light of day. The attention of the government is being misdirected. The attention is being focused on who is reneging on agreements. Both sides are making contentions. Instead of concentrating on the September 1 expectations, the better approach should have been about having the flawed financial model overturned. The Bridge Company stockholding cannot be altered in the Boardroom, not even by the pressures which the PNC is known to be capable of applying. This is a different time. APNU and AFC may not have listened or have been responsive to the demands of the private sector when in opposition. They certainly did not budge when the private sector called for approval of the AntiMoney Laundering and
Countering of Financing of Terrorism Bill. It is now time for the private sector to show who can call the shots. The Bridge Company is not going to simply roll over to the demands of the government. If the government felt this they were mistaken. They will now taste the power of Big Business. They will not understand the financial grip that the business community has on this country. This is not to underestimate the importance of public sector spending in the economy. It is the opposite, to appreciate the strength of the local private sector, a strength which was developed under the PPP and to understand that the private sector may be accommodating but they are not going to be at the beck and call of the present government. A showdown is in the making. The government will make a big blunder. They will antagonize the private sector.
This plays right into the hands of the private sector who would have felt miffed that the government did not respond favorably to their concerns about the withdrawal of funds from the banking sector in order to reduce the Budget deficit. The government should not fall into that trap. Instead it should either buyout the Bridge or recall its loans and bonds in the Bridge. This allows it to levy on the assets of the Bridge and gain legal possession especially since dividends are not being received by the government. This is what the government has to do to overturn this obscene financial model, after which the Marriott was also patterned, to be allowed to frustrate the right of Guyanese to affordable travel.
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Red House and red conspiracies of the mind I was one of two guests (the other was Vincent Alexander) of the channel 9 television programme hosted by the African-rights NGO, Cuffy 250, last Sunday night, on Forbes Burnham. My historical analysis of Burnham has convinced me that he had touches of greatness and deep authoritarian instincts. I thought in the programme I achieved the scholarly competence of bringing out those two dimensions of Guyana’s first Executive President. I said something about Burnham which to me is a characteristic written largely on his character - fierce nationalism. Whatever happened to Burnham during the struggle
for independence, it made him into a committed nationalist. The Jagans (Cheddi and Janet) on the other hand, too deeply committed to the USSR, didn’t show the same attachment to the soil of Guyana. As the years pass and educated Indians publish their experiences with the Jagans, Guyana’s historiography will be enriched. In this regard, we should thank Ralph Ramkarran for snippets of Mrs. Jagan’s temperament and personality that were largely unknown. Two other educated men, getting on in age, recently wrote on their experiences with the Jagans. But what is most intriguing is that both men, in describing their
encounters, failed to see the subliminal, Freudian motives in the Jagans’ decisions concerning their respective request. Mr. F. Hamley Case said that on three occasions, President Cheddi Jagan agreed to facilitate the UNAMCO forestry investment but Jagan’s underlings sabotaged it. A president, if he wants something to fail, normally assigns the task to his underlings. He escapes the blame. This is what happened in the UNAMCO infamy. Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, an undying admirer of the Jagans, wrote in a letter, recently, that after the death of Dr. Jagan, he persuaded President Janet Jagan to locate the Cheddi Jagan presidential library at the University of Guyana but she declined preferring Red House. Dr. Singh didn’t give his reaction to this decision but in his letter he seemed to have accepted her explanation that Cheddi’s papers would not be preserved properly at
UG. Mr. Case didn’t see the subtle hand of Cheddi in the UNAMCO sabotage and Dr. Singh didn’t see the absence of nationalist emotions in Mrs. Jagan rejecting UG as the resting place of Cheddi’s library. Before we move on to the disgraceful leasing of Red House to the PPP let us quote a most unacceptable section of Dr. Singh’s missive; “If it were properly done, there would have been much to commend the Government of Guyana for leasing Red House at a token rental to Cheddi Jagan Research Inc (CJRI) for use as the home of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC). “The underlying principle was manifestly demonstrated this past week by President Granger gifting acres of land to Food for the Poor and announcing annual subventions to help that organization with its operating expenses. “The rationale, in both instances, is the same. The difference, however, is that the first was opaque and secretive while the second
was transparent and publicly disclosed.” (end of quote) How can you equate the Government’s donation of land to a charity organization to build houses for the poorest section of the population free of cost to the recipients, with what the PPP did to Red House? Red House is a heritage building. A government cannot and should not privatize physical landscapes that have heritage status. Another aspect of the Red House indecency and the red conspiracies in Mrs. Jagan’s mind (like the red conspiracies in Cheddi’s mind that sunk the UNAMCO investment) is that the PPP Government leased it to the PPP and was using public money to upkeep it. This was one of the ugliest manifestations of party paramountcy since 1970. Jagan lived at Red House when he was Premier. Burnham lived at Castellani House, and his Belfield residence. Where are these two presidential homes of Mr. Burnham today? The Belfield
Frederick Kissoon house was privatized and is in a dilapidated state surrounded by dozens of rotting cars on the lawns. President Janet Jagan turned Castellani House into the national art gallery. Why because Premier Jagan lived in Red House it must remain in the hands of his party? The most fitting use of Red House is for it to be turned into a research centre on past presidents. It should be named Presidential Libraries of Red House. It should house the papers of all past presidents. The libraries of all past presidents would not fill even a quarter of Red House. Terminate the lease and release Red House back to the property of the state. It is a nationalist thing to do.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Govt. pushes national dialogue on social cohesion …to host roundtable discussion to develop five-year strategic plan
From left: International facilitator of the Social Cohesion Roundtable Chris Spies, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, and Local facilitator of the Roundtable, Lawrence Latchmansingh With the ultimate goal of attaining national unity, the government, through the Ministry of Social Cohesion, is pushing for a five-year strategic plan to address all forms of inequality, disparity and ethnic barriers existing today. The Ministry will be hosting a national discussion with at least 50 national stakeholders, focusing on social togetherness, programme planning and development of initiatives that can help to promote national unity and nation building. During a conference at the Media Centre at the Ministry of the Presidency on Monday, Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, explained that the event is expected to create an opportunity for Guyanese to contribute to the framework for planning the social cohesion agenda and equality programming over the next five years. According to the Minister, the event will be the roadmap for implementation and a final report with key ideas and recommendations that inform social cohesion and equality programming will be presented at the end of the activity. The Ministry’s aim, she said, is to bridge the gaps between all forms of inequality, disparity and ethnic barriers. “We believe that in Guyana there is need for national unity and togetherness so that we can work together to build our
country, our nation.” Ally said that the role of the new Ministry is challenging, but she expressed the belief that it can be achieved with the support of international bodies, stakeholders and locals. The Minister divulged that they have rolled out sensitization programmes across Guyana. Ally said that the roundtable is fully financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the British High Commission. As stakeholders converge at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown tomorrow, they will be listening to feature presentations from international experts, representatives of UNDP, the British High Commissioner James Gregory Quinn, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, President David Granger and Sir Shridath Ramphal. Ally said that following the presentations, working groups will be established to examine a number of areas suggested by stakeholders. There is to be an examination of the areas affecting the people of Guyana. According to the Minister, the main programme will be held tomorrow. On Friday, the facilitators, rapporteurs and experts will together produce reports that will offer guidance as to the direction of the Social
Cohesion Ministry. The Minister remarked that it will be implementing the results as soon as the discussions conclude. “We mustn’t expect that tomorrow we are going to achieve social cohesion in Guyana…but the important thing is that we must begin working towards that.” The Minister said, “We must resolve to take our country to another level, there is too much at stake.” Ally assured media operatives that if the need arises for legislative changes, the government will not hesitate to propose such. British High Commissioner Greg Quinn said that the United Kingdom and the British Government view Social Cohesion as very important. Quinn, who originates from Northern Ireland, said that his country has its own issues dealing with social cohesion and issues surrounding that. “This is not just for the Minister or the Ministry or us or anybody to control. This is for everybody within Guyana to take responsibility for and to be part of. Everybody in this country has a role and a responsibility in promoting, encouraging and ensuring there is social cohesion. “What we need to do is to make sure that those people have got the space to say what they want and feel able and willing and able to say what they want and get
involved in a constructive debate,” Quinn remarked. The High Commissioner expressed that Thursday’s roundtable, which will be guided by the theme “Social Cohesion for Lasting Unity and Peace,” is an opportunity to push that process. The goal of the roundtable is to engage and garner contributions from citizens to enhance social cohesion in our communities and the country as a whole, with the objective of developing a strategic
framework for implementing Guyana’s social cohesion five-year plan. It is also designed to understand region-specific and national factors that should be examined in formulation of strategic plan and work programme; to identify practical options, strategies and capacities for building social cohesion and addressing inequalities and how to effectively monitor change; to create national awareness and sensitisation among stakeholders on issues of social cohesion in planning for effective programme implementation.
The roundtable will provide perspectives on gender, ableness, and environmental and geographic dimensions of the four thematic. These are ethnic relations and politics, social and economic equality, community and safety and well-being, and political participation and governance. More than 50 local organisations, including inter religious bodies, human rights organisations, cultural groups, the Private Sector, representatives from all 10 regions, and civil society are expected to take part in the Roundtable.
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 13
Page 14
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
City Hall tax amnesty kicks off - Special committee selected to oversee programme
The M&CC panel discussing tax amnesty with a city businessman, yesterday.
A special committee has been selected by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) to oversee the affairs of the one-month tax amnesty project, which commenced on Tuesday. The programme offers defaulting taxpayers an opportunity to honour their civic obligation and pay their rates and taxes, interest-free. Under the amnesty project, residential properties will receive total amnesty on interest, but companies and businesses must apply to the council for between 50 per cent and 75 per cent amnesty on tax interest. The exercise, which commenced yesterday, saw persons, meeting with a select panel to have their tax issues resolved. Deputy Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreene, Town Clerk, Royston King and Councillor, and Junior Garrett are among officials on the committee. During a press briefing on Monday, Mayor Hamilton Green reiterated the Council will honour the promise to grant waivers to defaulting taxpayers but noted that this will not be done “capriciously.” According to Mayor Green, the council has a framework, where residents and business persons can present their case, to the committee for waivers on interest in taxes owed within the past few years. He had explained that the committee set up by Councilor Junior Garrett, will ensure transparency and consistency in the process, as the council seeks to garner a substantial revenue to assist with the massive restoration project, it is about to undertake. Speaking specifically about the tax amnesty offered to businesses, Mayor Hamilton Green had noted that members of that
community will benefit but it will not be an “open house” scheme. The committee, he explained, will decide based on investigation of the amount of waiver each business will receive. Green further noted that no amnesty will be granted to businesses, which had been part of the deliberate process to suffocate the municipality under the previous administration. “Those entities will not be entertained and we know who they are. They better pay up as soon as possible…We are here to help those in need,” the Mayor exclaimed. Further alluding to the Council‘s position on the issue, he said that entities with recently erected high rise buildings will not benefit from the amnesty, since the valuation for premises, is essential to the amount of the taxes owed to the council. “We have not been able to conduct valuation of any such properties…Hence, workers will be on the ground during this time to monitor the programme and ensure fairness and transparency is maintained.” The council has noted that about 300 businesses are in default of paying taxes, this year. The Georgetown M&CC, from time to time, has offered delinquent taxpayers waivers on tax interest through amnesty. The venture is seen as a method of collecting hundreds of millions of dollars in outstanding revenue, owed to the Municipality. The exercise also seeks to assist citizens of Georgetown whose socio-economic issues might affect their ability to honour their civic obligation. This year’s amnesty exercise is slated to run until September30.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 15
Improvements in the Health Sector…
National Health Policy Committee to resume work The National Health Policy Committee had not been meeting for more than two years. But under the stewardship of Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, this and other worrying aspects of the sector, will be changed. Dr. Norton, who is expected to chair the Committee, said that it will resume its operations so that the necessary legislation can be brought before the National Assembly. These include the Health Promotion and Protection Bill to replace the Public Health Ordinance of 1934, the Nurses and Midwives Bill to replace the Nurses and Midwives Ordinance of 1954, the new Tobacco Control Bill to reduce the impact of tobacco on the health of the people in Guyana, the new Organ Donation Bill, Blood and Tissue Banking and Transplant Control Bill, the New Food Safety Bill, the new Proposed HIV/AIDS and STI Anti-Discrimination Bill and the Optometrist Practitioner Bill. The Public Health Minister said that these will all be presented along with a series of regulations. IMPROVED HEALTH INFORMATION When it comes to the other enhancements in the health sector, Dr. Norton noted that the APNU/AFC Government intends to improve health information, intelligence, and research through an effective data gathering system. He said that data collected must be verified, interpreted, analyzed, and managed in order to utilize it. The Parliamentarian said that as for the Management Information Unit of data collection at the Ministry of Public Health, from a staff of 17 in the past, it was found that only two persons were
- Key Health legislation to be taken to National Assembly
Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton working. He promised that this will be corrected. With respect to malaria, the Public Health Minister said that in 2013, there were roughly 31,000 cases reported but in 2014, this was dramatically reduced to 12,000 cases. He said that this has caused the stakeholders, especially the international donor agencies, to question the accuracy of these figures especially since the Vector Control Unit has not changed its strategy and seems not to be able to explain this large reduction of cases when called upon to do so. He cited this to prove how the system of data collection needs to be drastically improved. TACKLINGMENTAL HEALTH The Public Health Minister reminded that the past regime often claimed that the proposed Mental Health Unit was in place. “This was fictitious.” He said that as important as this unit is to curbing the high rate of suicide in Guyana, it was nonfunctional. “However, we have already put that in place and it is up and running and soon it will have its own centre,”
he added. Dr. Norton said that the coalition government is concerned that in spite of the past administration endorsing recommendations made by the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development, very little seems to have been done about acting on them. “One such recommendation is to treat health as a productive asset. This government will be advancing research to find new ways and modalities for health financing. This is especially so, since the time for an in depth evaluation for cost recovery might be necessary. “Virtually little or no studies have been done on this topic but lots of dogmatic armchair assertions or speculations have been applied,” Dr. Norton said. He added that the public will certainly be interested in having access to information with regards to the financial contribution of the Low Vision Unit to Georgetown Public Hospital and its relationship with Eye Care Guyana. Dr. Norton said, too that the hospital will have its own CT scan machine very soon. The Public Health Minister said that the relationship that exists between the Government and private dialysis centres in Guyana might have to be reviewed since at the moment, Georgetown Public Hospital pays annually, millions of dollars to these centres for their services. Dr. Norton said that since dialysis is being done at GPHC in reduced numbers, evaluation is being done to assess to what extent the
Public Health Ministry needs to increase those services with the possibility of eliminating the use of the private Dialysis Centre. Dr. Norton also disclosed that consideration will be given for the financing of Neonatology Intensive Care Units in regional hospitals. HEALTH SPECIALISTS The Public Health Minister said that the dearth of specialists in the health care system will be addressed. Plans are afoot to expand the post-grad programme in Guyana, source specialist training
abroad and import specialist skills to support local capacity. Dr. Norton said that the health system still needs specialists, particularly in pathology, radiology, psychiatry, oncology, physical medicine, neonatology and geriatrics. He also said that the outstanding performance of health care providers will no longer go unnoticed as they will all be considered for National awards of a very high order. The Public Health Minister added, “I will repeat, for emphasis, the need to review the eligibility of doctors with service bonds, to apply for local post-grad programmes…
The bulk of junior doctors now in the system have five years of service obligation consequence to that training. These doctors are expected to complete these obligations before entering any additional training programmes. I do not agree with this and this is where I differ from the past Minister of health. This is a disincentive for the physicians interested in the post-graduate training programmes.” The Minister said that he has agreed to a number of recommendations, one of which includes the enrollment in the local postgrad programme to be counted as meeting services for undergraduate training.
Page 16
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
‘Project rehabilitate, restore Guyana’ National Task Force Commission begins work All things being equal Guyana could be restored to a place of ‘civic pride’ where Guyanese can enjoy a good life in a nation viewed as a hub for commerce, tourism and development. An initial $36M has been budgeted for an administrative team to oversee this three-phase project that could see some fruits in time for the nation’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations. Ultimately, the plan would be completed as part of Government’s Vision 20/20 plan encapsulating all ten regions of Guyana. It is no secret that Guyana was dubbed the ‘Land of Hospitality’ and ‘The City of Eldorado’ but over the years the nation has slipped. There has been significant deterioration of many of the attributes that can be uniquely called Guyanese life. This, according to some, is attributed to unplanned settlements, inadequate traffic flows, garbage buildup and occasional flooding in many areas. Many solutions have been offered following countless studies. Noting this, on Monday,
...Initial admin budgeted sum is $36M
Major General (rtd) Singh, Chairman of the Cabinet appointed National Task Force Commission, addressing media operatives yesterday in the presence of the National Task Force Secretariat head Dr. Sewnauth Punalall. Major General Joseph Singh said, “The time has come when we need to look at the most updated study, review it, see that it’s as current as possible and then utilize those aspects… then complement them by those with institutional memory of the many experienced persons who are still here and in the Diaspora.”
Offering insights into what is required, Major General (rtd) Singh, Chairman of the Cabinet-appointed National Task Force Commission, told media operatives that the commission will, by the end of this month present its own summary report derived from research and public consultations nationally.
“The Restore Guyana Project is an instrument for the re-branding of Guyana, where Guyanese can be inspired to see the need for self change within ourselves, families, schools, religious i n s t i t u t i o n s , neighbourhoods, communities, regions and country,” Singh said. The project dubbed a national exercise involves every citizen and those in the Diaspora; some of whom have already contacted the commission seeking ways through which they can be
part of the exercise, Singh informed. The ultimate goals of ‘Project Restore Guyana’ will see much focus on drainage, traffic management, sustainable urban, rural and hinterland as well as physical structure renewal. Other focus of the Commission as presented by Major General Singh are recommendations on solid waste management and removal of derelict vehicles, welfare management of the homeless, addicted and mentally challenged as they are encountered in the other goals. Ultimately, re-branding of Guyana through the restoration of ethical, attitudinal, and responsible social and environmental behaviour by all citizens will also be in focus. Singh said, too, that “only by such systemic changes in ethics, attitudes, behaviour and a sense of responsibility in all of us will the plan be achieved.” After that is completed Major General Singh said, that the commission is tasked with completing a detailed draft restoration plan by next month. That includes a detailed plan and budget for
the activities of phase one of the restoration processes. Phase one has to be done in time for the 50th Independence anniversary. A lot of things have to be done but the most important will be recommended. “Each region has to supply us with what has to be done in phase one.” The commission will then deliver a final restoration plan by November and commence the monitoring and implementation process that should be completed by May 5, 2016 in time for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations. While making it clear that he is not knocking any political party, Singh said that major issues that contributed to Guyana’s slippage include failure to enforce laws and standards, lack of physical planning for growth and renewal, lack of routine and necessary maintenance, general neglect of the poor, homeless, aged, disabled and the less fortunate. He however noted that his team is not focused on dwelling on the past but more of how to deal with the present and the future. As part of the commission’s plan to manage the process, six public stakeholders’ consultations committees have been set up to ensure that the public is involved in the efforts to rehabilitate and restore Guyana. The Commission headed by Major General (rtd) Joseph Singh includes Fredrick Flatts, Gordon Gilkes, Geoffrey Bourne, Damian Fernandez, Alex Graham and Dr. Sewnauth Punalall.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 25
‘Sudden rise’ in visa applications from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka puts Guyana on high terrorist alert By Abena Rockcliffe The Guyana Government has been placed on alert for potential terrorists and will not compromise the country’s overall security to appease those who scream racism. This is the position stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge. Greenidge first made the issue public in the National Assembly during the recently concluded budge debates. He had told his colleagues, “In the few weeks since we have been in office we have already seen some odd trends…and trends include a sudden rise in visa applications from South Asia.” He added that at the same time, the Government of Guyana received alerts from the governments of some of the very “South Asian” countries regarding the movement of potential terrorists. The Minister said this as he addressed the PPP cries of racism. He said, “The very members of the Opposition call the (recent) deportation of Bangladeshi and Indian immigrants arriving without
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge either visas or return tickets, racists. Somehow, the PPP deportation of six Namibians during 1992/3 in flight from apartheid SA which was at the time illegally occupying their country was not racist.” Greenidge highlighted some of the “South Asia” jurisdictions to include Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. He said that in recent months there has been a rise in visa applications from those counties. Guyana had picked up, from the general system, that there had been detection of increased
movements of terrorists from such countries. Therefore, there became a need for special care in monitoring the movements out of those counties. “We were then told to be careful,” said Greenidge. While Greenidge refused to state exactly where his warnings came from, he said, “You must know that only a few countries have the ability to do such monitoring, in order to warn us.” Greenidge said that even though Guyana is on alert for nationals arriving from those countries, those arriving with all the necessary travel documents and a return ticket were being and continue to be accepted. The Minister said, “People must know that you cannot just turn up in India where you are supposed to have a visa and believe they will just let you in because you are a nice person or because you come from Guyana and they believe you deserve to enter the country…no no, things do not work that way. “You have to be equally careful in Guyana,” he said. Greenidge repeated
something he said in the National Assembly; which is, “Guyana has little capacity to monitor ordinary criminals, let alone an influx of illegal immigrants from those parts of the world where terrorism is crossing new boundaries – see Thailand for example.” BBC yesterday reported that “A second foreign suspect has been arrested in connection with the deadly bombing at a Bangkok shrine in August.” The male suspect was arrested in Sa Kaeo province, east of Bangkok on the border with Cambodia, Prayuth Chan-ocha, Thailand Prime Minister told reporters. A foreign man was arrested in Bangkok on Saturday over the blast at
Erawan shrine, which killed 20 people. Thai military authorities have been interrogating the 28-year-old man, but they have not yet released his name or nationality. Bomb-making materials and forged passports were found at the apartment where he was detained in Nong Jok on the outskirts of Bangkok, and he has been charged with possessing illegal explosives, police said. It is unclear whether either of the two arrested men is the suspect seen on a security camera leaving a backpack at the crowded shrine shortly before the bombing on August 17. Greenidge said that if Guyana was to become open
to situations similar to that of Thailand the country would indeed be in a sad state, especially when Guyana’s capacity to deal with terrorists is considered. “If terrorists arrive in Guyana they would wreak havoc, therefore, we must be careful.” Greenidge told Kaieteur News that he had discussions with the Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, regarding alerts and arrangements to ensure both careful monitoring and proper handling of visitors. Kaieteur News made persistent efforts to get in contact with Felix in order to find out about measures that may have been put in place but he was unavailable.
Page 26
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Shareholders agreement for Berbice Bridge must be made public – Clive Thomas By Kiana Wilburg Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development, Dr. Clive Thomas, believes that the contractual agreement for the Berbice River Bridge Inc. which allows New GPC and Hand in Hand Trust to own 50 percent of the entity when their investment is less than five percent, is “outrageous, ruthless and unconscionable.” New GPC, a company owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, has close relations to former President Bharrat Jagdeo and, according to an article on chrisram.net, that company has two Directors on the Board. The structure of the company allows equity shareholders whose investment is less than five percent ($400 million) of the total funds of the company to exercise controlling interest over the company. Of
the $400 million, the Ramroop Group owns 40 percent and the Hand-in-Hand Group owns 10 percent. The contract also provides for the equity shareholders to receive 23 percent on their investments. Dr. Thomas said, “This contract agreement is clearly designed to make just a handful of people filthy rich for the rest of their lives at the expense of the poor. It is a despicable contract which must be changed. The contract agreement and the implications for our taxpayers can only be described as criminal and I will insist that the Shareholder Agreement be made public.” The Presidential Advisor added, “It is clear, also, that under the past regime there was a disease of greed which infected every project, every plan and almost every entity. We are seeing this behaviour on display from the company. Government has a right to
- Contractual arrangements are outrageous, ruthless and unconscionable reduce the tolls. “It is unconscionable to think that this entity wants to increase the tolls and suggest in any way that it wants the government to consider extending the concession agreement.” The coalition government, in the lead up to the May 11, 2015 elections, had accused the previous administration of hijacking the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI), deliberately structuring operations in a manner that allowed investors and their close friends with disproportionately small investment to control the company. To ease the burden on users of the bridge, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, pursued the reduction of the tolls in a phased manner. The
first phase would see the toll reduction for cars, from $2,200 to $1,900. This was announced during the budget presentation. It was set for implementation on Tuesday. Jordan had also indicated a 10 percent reduction on other categories of vehicles. But the Finance Minister at a recent post Cabinet press briefing revealed that the implementation of the reduction seems to be in limbo at the moment. He disclosed that the prescribed toll reduction was in limbo because BBCI’s Directors decided to take that matter to its shareholders. Jordan believed that the Bridge Company was deliberately delaying the implementation of the toll reduction. The reduction is estimated to see the company collect annually about $120M less from commuters but being compensated by Government with an equivalent amount. For the remaining months of the year, the Government has allocated $36M. The company subsequently placed an advertisement in this newspaper, refuting the allegations by Jordan as well as providing the public with
its take of the discussions conducted with the Finance Minister. But on Monday, Jordan expressed “grave concern” about the inaccuracies contained in a press release issued by the Berbice Bridge Company. He also noted that the Berbice Bridge Company is seeking to impose a further 55 percent increase in tolls on an “already suffering population.” Commenting on the BCCI statement, the Minister noted that “there is no toll reduction to the company.” He had said that the company will continue to receive the full amount of the existing toll; if there is a reduction the company would receive the difference from the Government. Therefore the Bridge Company would not lose a cent. Jordan also raised concerns about BCCI reporting on a statement he allegedly made at the meeting on August 12, last. BBCI had stated that Jordan “accepted that ‘the company would like further discussions to take place on the proposal and an extension in the concession period from 21 years to 40
Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development, Dr. Clive Thomas years: or for the Government to give consideration to an application for an increase in toll made to the PPP/C Government on March 15, 2015.” But, the Minister said that contrary to that assertion, his record of the meeting indicates that he restated the intention of the Government to facilitate lower tolls for users of the Bridge to bring some relief to the people of Regions Five and Six. “I further indicated that the Company would not suffer any loss.” Minister Jordan said that he was prepared to enter into a series of discussions on matters of mutual interest, “beginning with the reductions announced in the (Continued on page 29)
AEA secures laudable ‘Master’... (From page 24) succeed. Alleyne, moreover, disclosed that persons can be afforded another level of certification that can not only allow for them to gain knowledge, but also the competence and effective qualities to enter the work force and be of value to their respective organisations. According to CXC, the CCSLC handbook is structured to represent the integration of knowledge, competencies and effective qualities that are critical to the dynamics of lifelong learning, global competitiveness and sustainable development in the region as the programme responds to the changing demand of education. The achievement of the CCSLC certification will, at least, show that the candidates have acquired competencies such as: oral and written communication, mathematics literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, informed decision making, managing of emotions, working in groups, managing diversity and change, handling
conflicts, developing a positive self-concept and social and citizenship skills. These competencies were strategically incorporated into the CCSLC programme based on the advice of experts. Moreover, it is the view of Alleyne that “it would be advantageous to our country if this programme is embraced by the employers both in the public and private sectors as the necessary knowledge, generic competencies, attitude and values that all secondary school leavers should have.” “It is not only enough that we produce students who have knowledge in particular subject areas, but individuals with competencies who can be both efficient and effective workers who have the capability for upward mobility eventually leading to organisations with leaders who are both efficient and effective and who demonstrate good characteristics of good leaders. “These factors are critical in the development of our nation,” asserted Alleyne. Those desirous of taking advantage of the ‘Second
Chance’ programme can do so by visiting the AEA office at 88 Carmichael Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown (opposite Independence Park) or calling its office on telephone numbers: 592-2250757, 592-227-2273, 592-2272173. Other academic classes offered at AEA are: Upgrading Mathematics and English Language; Third and Fourth Form: English Language and Mathematics; Pre CSEC and CSEC: English Language, Mathematics, Office Administration, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Social Studies and Human and Social Biology. Also offered is the Adult Learners Programme (Basic Literacy and Numeracy). AEA also offers a number of other programmes including Elementary Food and Nutrition, Elementary Cake and Pastry Making, Care of the Elderly, Child Care Management, Garment Construction, 12 Days of Christmas, Quick Breads and Dough, Curtain Making, Cosmetology: Hairdressing, Nail Technology and Facial.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 27
Bids opened for security service at Stadium, NSC During yesterday’s session of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), bids were opened for the provision of security services at the National Sports Commission (NSC), under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Bids were opened in order to procure Information Technology (IT) equipment for the Audit Office of Guyana.
Bids were also opened for the Provision of Security Service for Guyana National Stadium under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Bids were opened for the Servicing of the Air Conditioning units at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
And finally, under Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, tenders for the operations service at the Lusignan Landfill facility were opened.
Page 28
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. PARTY DECORATING: balloon creation, back drops etc. for weddings, birthdays, anniversary etc. Make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES,AIR-CONDITIONERS, WASHINGMACHINES,TVS, MICROWAVES,FREEZERSCALL: 629-4946 OR 225-4822 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission - Call: 650-4362 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Eagle’s fridge re-gas @ 99100 New Market Street $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 223-5818 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC – TEL: 600-4212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Licensed Custom Broker/tax consultant: tax compliance certificates, assistance with customs documentationsCall: 660-9478 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.comCall : 225-6496, 662-6045 Welding & fabricating, grill & Boat work –Call: 666-2101 Desmond Repair Services Fridge, AC, gas stove, microwave, washer, etc on the spot repairs –Call: (592)678-8683; 687-9709 Construction and maintenance of Terrazzo – Call Bacchus: 642-2289 FOR SALE/RENT American pool tables - Call: 277-0578
Kaieteur News
SALON
VEHICLE FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
1 Mazda Axela, PTT series, low mileage, e x c e l l e n t condition -owner migrating Tel: 649-0956
FOR RENT
Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Carina 212, Bluebird - Call: 652-3820; 665-4529 In Stock @ First Class Auto: 08 Premio, Allion, Runx, Axio, Bluebird, Sienta, Fielder, Rush –Tel: 609-8188, 638-3045
Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. Republic Park Phase 1- $48M, Prashad Nagar -$49M, 4 bedrooms -Call:609-2302, 645-2580, 609-6516,
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Automotive and Manual buses, premio, Hilux. Two and three bedrooms apartment to rent in Bougainvillea Park. Call: 6167635
Furnished salon to rent on East Bank, interested persons please call: 698-6075
1 Toyota Landcrusier Prado, PMM Series – Call: 223-7500 (Monday – Friday) (8:154:15pm), Saturday 8:151:115pm) For Sales: Bus BRR 2501, 19 Seater pit-bull – Contact: 6893173 or 614-3947
WANTED Kitchen Assistant, apply at Shanta’s; lot 225 Camp & New Market Street. Domestic Worker: hardworking, single, dependable, trustworthy, resident In or around Georgetown –Call: 646-1758; 650-8632 (9:00am-7:00pm) Domestic from G/Town 2-3 day per week age: 30-45yrs Call: 641-3687 Waitress to work on E.C.D, live in – Call: 220-1842 or 691-5518 Office assistant to keep records-Call: 660-9478 from 9am -4pm
Commercial Space for rent at Lot 12 North Road – Call: 6628715, 680-1198
Live in maid/assistant salesgirl, E.C.D- Call: 6035416; 644-9802
Hair Motion’s Salon: Nails & Hair Stations to rent -$6,000 Tel: 670-4644
One single honest live in housekeeper or domestic help for long term. Preferably from country areas-Call: 6645725
Business Spot located on Public Road en route to East Bank Public Road-Contact: 613-0448; 672-8625
2yrs Experienced Seamstress – knowledge: flat/ over lockers/ Serger machines, meeting of deadlines/target a must- Contact: 270-1332 6am-6pm & 645-5533 6pm-? One male to provide assistance for refilling bottle on the East Coast-Call: 6242391 or 222-5990 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 One cook to cook for family in the interior –Contact: 6778484. Part time handy man at Tudor’s Business, Linden, age 18-22 years –Call: 4445883
One bedroom apartment well secured, preferably working couple or single person Call: 638-8858 Bottom Flat @ Lot 166 DaSilva Street Newtown, Georgetown. Preferably for Daycare centre or private dwelling-Call: 227-3578; 6232342 Furnished 3 bedrooms flat @ Supply E.B.D –Call: 648-5149; 678-3826 1-1 Bedroom apartment at Howes Street Charlestown $30,000 monthly –Call: 2262856 Space to rent, business spot, Hadfield Street –Simone: 2270501
One maid - Call: 691-7271
Experienced wash bay attendants living in G/Town, attractive salary-Call: 6468748 OFFICE CLERK FOR WHOLESALE FOOD COMPANY MUST KNOW C O M P U T E R S , A C C O U N T I N G, INVENTORY FROM 25YRS-35 –CALL: 2318344 OR 231-8529 Security to work at a mining firm must have military experienced –Contact: 2269768; 661-5307
SALE! SALE! SALE! 2008 TOYOTA PREMIO-$3.3M, 2006 TOYOTA ALLION$2.3M, ALL VEHICLES FULLY LOADED & UNREGISTERED- CALL: 642-7295 2000 Freightliner hauler, C12 Engine –Tel: 609-7257; 689-9041 EP 82 Starlet, AC 4 Doors, working standard rims, lady driven – good condition $550,000 – serious inquiries only - Call: 662-5052 1 Model M Truck with winch, big tire- Call: 692-9577; 6192406 Toyota RAV 4, excellent condition, leather interior, manual gear # PHH 2748 – Call: 684-6794; 621-4976 60 Seater Bluebird bus, brand new, air conditioned, electronic doors (front & back) for schools/ church etc –Call: 675-3062 6X6 TM with 4,500 GLS fuel tank, free maintenance schedule -$6M- Call: 6706521/ 685-0166 Kawasaki Ninja 650R, excellent condition, lime green $650,000 asking price Tel: 655-2561
1 Live in waitteress, must be honest and courteous, secondary education required. Salary $60,000 monthly -Call: 6103974 Gasoline Mechanic neededCall: 623-0318
Wednesday September 02, 2015
WANTED Pump attendants and cashiers –Call: 670-6005, 6997782 or 627-2550 One live in maid must know to cook – Contact: 677-8484 Business Investment Partner needed to help complete guest house in Soesdyke Linden H/Way -$7.5M –Call: 600-0036 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 6895997
Toyota Runx PMM Series, female driver, price -$1.8M negotiable, owner leaving country. Call: 692-4076 or 679-5048 One Leyland Daf LF with 6 ton Hiab 2002 GTT series (New) price $5 million Call: 622-6746 One Fuso canter truck with 3 ton crane GTT series, price $4 Million Call: 622-6746 1-Toyota 4WD extra cab, pickup LH drive-price $1.2M negotiable - Tel: 668-8431 1 RZ minibus BJJ series – Call: 678-5887 or 677-3177
House for sale @ Lot 180 Block 8 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Price $25M negotiable –Call: 266-0309; 626-6555 Property for sale, business place at Kuru kururu, New Town on High Way- Call: 261-6282 or 676-4787 Pearl: Well built 1,995 SF concrete building on 58X165 lot, formerly used at meeting halls-$13.5M-Tel: 649-1670 Flat house 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, double garage, 2160 sq ft on 0.2 acres land in Parfaite Harmony Tel: 652-2409
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One 318 BMW never registered for $ 3M down payment $500,000 contact # 650-0402 or 616-0429 250 Rebel Motorcycle, one 250 nighthawk motorcycle, one Toyota 4X4 pickup for more information contact: 662-8715; 680-1198; 7715388-87 Reusable ¼ & 3/8 inches marine steel plate – Contact: 688-7256 4 – 16" Truck Rim/tyre $60,000, 1 Mark 2 Car – $160,000. Call Simone: 2270501
Liquor Restaurant going business with 2 pools table, 2 fridges, 1 freezer, 107 Middle Road La Penitence, price $18.5M –Call Lovin: 225-7796
Bush Radio System, 3 security camera system-Call: 223-1273 1 Complete six inch dredge inclusive of pick up and ATV- price 6,000,000Contact: 660-0422
Transported concrete, Block “8” Mon Repos E.C.D, top flat 2 bedrooms, bottom flat 2 bedrooms- $18M. Call: 6251514 office hours 231-7255
One grocery stall @ Stabroek Market, Farm Land @ Kuru Kuru Linden Soesdyke H/Way, Garden Teiler - Call: 679-1151; 225-7794
Property for sale, East La Penetance Arapaima Street $17M negotiable –Call: 6484420, 662-6173
Back to School Sale: Dell/ HP laptop & desktop computers complete, from $55,000, free games and educational software @ Future – Call: 231-2206 52ft complete cabin cruiser. In excellent condition- Tel: 592-654-2817, 592-622-2958. 1 Toyota Marino, PHH Series. Call: 675-7667
Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities - $45M –Call: 6629335; 612-3244 Property for sale: House, Campbellville, Georgetown. Call: 223-0733 or 617-0465 Property for sale: House, Craig, East Bank Demerara. Call: 223-0733 or 617-0465 Are you interested in selling your home? Call T &T Realty: 660-9478; 6720865 North Ruimveldt- 2 Storey Wo o d e n a n d C o n c r e t e house –price $9M-Call: 653-8082 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue,E.B.D- Call: 629-4017 Property for sale: Land, North Klien, Pouderoyen West Bank Demerara. Call: 223-0733 or 617-04 VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Rav4 2008 yr, dark blue PLL series, fully loaded, no accident excellent condition Tel: 652-2409 Toyota Hilux extra cab 2003 yr gasoline GTT series, fully loaded, excellent condition Tel: 652-2409
House and land at Diamond Housing Scheme, E.B.D – Price $7.5M –Call: 687-9107 Steel Fuel tank (holds 90 drums fuel) 6X6 TM Chassis- Call: 670-6521; 685-0166 1 Imported pools table for sale-Call: 223-5273/4 32 feet boat, 4’’ and 5’’ catguts seine, 15 Yamaha engine Tel: 668-9077 1 Back Cabin Boat 38ft, 7ft width, 8ft depth, 800 lb Nylon & 1- 15 HP outboard engine all excellent condition. Call: 260-2022, 646-1743 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games & applications. Delivery also – Call: 672-2566; 265-3232 1 Shop, 1 block, 9 Claims, located at Imbamdai- Call: 218-0471 Ford Escape 2004 model Contact No: 641-4952/6621991 1 Bobcat 753 tyre machine cement mixer air compressor tank Call: 694-0335 Continued on page 29
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 29
Home intruder remanded for allegedly attempting to commit a felony Alleged burglar, Anfernee Cantzlaar, who told the court that he was badly beaten by a mob, was on Monday remanded to prison after he was accused breaking into a house with intent to commit a felony. Tw e n t y - y e a r - o l d , Cantzlaar, who appeared badly wounded, had to be assisted with standing when his name was called by the court orderly. The defendant of 259 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown denied that on August 28, at South Ruimveldt, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Natasha Robinson
with the intent to steal. City Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan read the charge to him when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Neville Jeffers, in relating the facts told the court that on the day in question, the victim secured her home and retired to bed around 20:30 hours. He added that minutes later the woman was awaken by noise coming from the lower flat of the building. The court was told that Robinson awoke her sister and ventured to the lower flat, where they saw the
defendant. An alarm was raised and Cantzlaar was apprehended by the victim’s brother-in-law and public-spirited citizen. The Prosecutor stressed that the man came about his injuries after residents’ effort to restrain him. When given a chance to explain his side of the story, the defendant told the court that on Friday, he was exercising when a white bus pulled up beside him. He added that the occupants began inquiring about the whereabouts of some boys. Cantzlaar noted that after he was unable to provide
them with the information, the occupants exited the bus and dealt him some blows about the body with a piece of wood. He alleged that his attackers threw him into a van, in which the beatings continued. The defendant claimed that he was later taken to a house behind South Ruimveldt, where he was tied up and further beaten. After listening to submissions from both sides, the Magistrate remanded Cantzlaar to prison and ordered that he return to court on September 11, when he will face Magistrate Alex Moore.
Teacher, shop owner remanded for armed robbery A Berbice teacher was yesterday remanded to prison after he was accused of robbing a woman at gunpoint. He appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan. The teacher, Timothy Sampson, 29, of Number 45 Village West Berbice, is accused of robbing Indranie Singh of $100,000 in cash. At
the time he was said to be in the company of others, while he was armed with a gun on August 5. The robbery occurred at Number 45 Village Berbice. Additionally, it was alleged that Sampson discharged a loaded firearm at several police officers. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison until
September 11. Police Corporal Deniro Jones, the prosecutor, did not relate any facts about what transpired on the day in question. Further, Jones objected to the defendant being granted pre-trial liberty. The court was told that Sampson was placed on $40,000 station bail before the charges were subsequently instituted against him.
East Ruimveldt killing was... (From page 21) Barrow, the man accused of robbing Hinds, was killed in a drive-by shooting in ‘Warlock.’ “Is when this happen then this thing get more serious, because they start say how Kellon kill Sherwyn Barrow and dem will kill he and he whole family.” The aunt said that Hinds went to Suriname, but individuals linked to the slain Barrow often threatened and even fired shots at their home on several occasions. Hinds who returned to Guyana one week ago, was arrested the following day for Barrow’s murder. He was released last Monday on $40,000 station bail. His cousin, Melanie Garraway, said after his release, Hinds went home and later sat on a bench outside his home, located in a squatting area near Phase Two, East Ruimveldt. At around 21.10 hrs, shots rang out and screams for help were heard. Minutes later when the gunfire subsided, Kellon Hinds, lay bleeding profusely from bullet wounds to his abdomen, head, neck and face. Some individuals identified the shooters as being close associates of the slain Sherwyn Barrow. They said the victim, who has a daughter, was am-
bushed outside his gate. “When he get knock he run in the yard and fall down by the pipe then he run to the back and them had two who ambush he there, stand up over he and fire some more shots.” “Them brothers came and shoot up here a few times before and say that they will kill he and finally they did,” the slain man’s aunt said. The execution-style killing
has pushed this year’s homicide to 103 in eight months. It is the 17th such murder. Police had reported a 100 percent increase in execution killings up to the end of last July, in comparison with the same period last year. Hinds’s murder came just hours before the beginning of Government’s one-month amnesty aimed at reducing the number of illegal firearms from the streets.
Shareholders agreement for Berbice... (From page 26) Budget Speech. “It was with Mr. (Christopher) Ram, and not with me, that the company indicated that it would like discussions to take place on extending the concession period from twenty-one years to forty years, or for the government to consider its letter to the PPP/C as an application to this Government for a toll increase.” The Minister stated that he was given false hope by the “spirit in which both meetings of August 12 were conducted. It gave hope of an expeditious conclusion of this matter.” “Alas, there now appears to be other forces who want to use the Government as a
compensatory mechanism for a faulty investment model of the Berbice Bridge, one that seeks to impose a further 55 percent increase in tolls on an already suffering population.Such an unreasonable charge will not be countenanced by our Government.” Jordan also noted that it is now approaching three weeks since his meeting with the officials of BBCI and the public is being inconvenienced. “I hope that the company will move swiftly to demonstrate its commitment to achieving the objective of reducing the burden on the people of Guyana caused by prohibitively high tolls.”
Meanwhile, in another case, on Monday shop owner Linden Hodge of 63 Cross Street, Alexander Village was remanded to prison after he allegedly stole a motorcar while brandishing a gun. Particulars of the charge stated that Hodge, and others robbed Mervin Persaud of a car valued $2M and a BlackBerry cell phone. Hodge, 43 denied the charge before Magistrate Mc Lennan. Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Neville Jeffers informed the court that the car was recovered. Hodge will be making his next court appearance on September 8, when he will appear before Magistrate Alex Moore.
From page 28
TO LET Three bedrooms house at Dennis Street Sophia $85,000 - Call: 621-7366 Four storey business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market-Call: 6237731; 629-0636 Studio suitable for single person (security guard) Kitchenette & Bath $12,000 per month-Call: 2236828 2-Two bedroom apartment for rent Mon Repos North, East Coast Demerara, price $60,000 - Call: 689-0123, 6886005 Business apartment for rent at 7 Durban Street Lodge $20,000 per month –Call: 6905796
LAND FOR SALE Land for sale at Farm E.B.D – Tel: 219-5526 15 Acres land situated at Naamryck East Bank Essequibo-Call: 655-9227 We buy & sell land: Farm, Herstelling, Eccles, Grove, Parfaite Harmonie, Stewartville, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, from $1.2M- Call: 611-7223, 604-2207 Land @ Parfaite Harmonie & Tuschen -$1.5M, $1.3M –Call: 604-6724
EDUCATION
Friendship house lot for saleCall: 617-0465, 223-0733
I.A.E currently registering students for full time secondary school, lessons & evening CXC classes for adults- Call: 683-5742
Large land in Bagotville West Bank, great for residential and faming (lot 37’X734’)- $5.8MCall: 600-0036
VACANCY Tudor’s Business Enterprise, Linden has vacancy for 3 sales attendants; age 25yrs & above-Tel: 444-5883 Work from home; earn $5,000$20,000 daily Call MondayFriday 9am-5pm #233-6517, 6 3 8 - 0 5 9 5 www.jobfairworldwide.com Confidential Cabs have vacancy for a experienced dispatcher-Call: 231-4000 or 231-8601 Carnegie trained assistant chef/cook. Call: 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff Street Male Supervisor for housekeeping Dept. Male Security guard - Call:2250198 or 233 South Raod Lacytown. Supervisor to work at Xenon Hotel in Charity, send application to rtilak@ adamantiumholdings.com Office clerk, porters, apply at Survival Wholesale Depot, Lot 10 Vlissengen Road Bond clerk, office clerk, security officers, chef/cook, kitchen assistant, waiter/ waitress, secretary & operator/driver – Call: 6034094 Exist in growing organization, for one experienced seamstress, must have experienced with industrial machines. Call: 225-8831
Computerized Accounting Courses: Quickbooks, Peachtree, POS, FREE Job Training MicroGraphics 264-305
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
Didn’t do Well for CXC 2015: We Can Help Join Now$2,500 per subject: MicroGraphics- Vreed-EnHoop: 264-3057
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/WWW. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
Big Discount for 2015 CXC students, 9 Course Diploma In, Computer Studies $30,000.00- MicroGraphics: 264-3057 Daycare & Nursery, Grade 1, Full Day Education Program. Enroll now at Rising Star Academy – Cummings Street. Call: 690-9378
SALON Learn to do nails lashes, pedicure and manicure $5,000 – three weeks. Phone: 691-4336 EDUCATION Princeton College Forms 1-5 (5000) CXC adult classes $1,500 a subject, Phonics/ Grade 2,4,6,9 lessons Call: 231-1209, 690-5008,657-7398
Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up- Call: 690-6494 FOR SALE One 928F Caterpillar Wheel Loader $8M contact # 6500402/ 260-4988.
Page 30
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Education month launched with focus on leadership - as Science accomplishments get attention With a focus on leadership, the tradition of celebrating Education Month was officially launched by the Ministry of Education yesterday. The event, which was held at the Theatre Guild, Parade Street, Georgetown, saw the attendance of education stakeholders and was laced with inspiring cultural presentations. Delivering an appropriate message at the occasion yesterday was Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, who will for the first time be at the helm of the Ministry during the monthlong celebration. This is because the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change assumed power following the May 11, 2015 regional and general elections. Even as he considered that the celebration of Education Month, which is celebrated throughout this month and stretches into October, is one that has been occurring for a decade, Minister Roopnaraine, asserted that “this time
provides for the accentuating of the importance of education and gives a boost to the system as it enters yet another cycle.” He was at the time seeking to make the point that the commencement of the new school year coincides with regime change at the governmental level. According to him, the new regime is poised to cater to the review of the education system and the charting of the way forward. “We have determined that the review and the way forward should be evidence based and holistic as a consequence. Notwithstanding, the anecdotal and intuitive prodding, it (Government) has decided to undertake a number of initiatives that will inform and guide further actions,” said the Minister. Some of these initiatives, he disclosed, have already been undertaken while others are in a formative stage. It is the Minister’s expectation that the outcome of the initiatives will be fed into the melting pot of the
Representatives of the triumphant Abram Zuil Secondary School in the company of Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine (2nd from right), Education Ministry Science Coordinator, Ms Petal Jetoo (extreme right), Ms Marlene Chin (3rd from left), and Chief Education Officer Olato Sam (extreme left). deliberations of the now established Cabinetapproved National Education Council, which will then make recommendations for the review of the sector’s strategic plan and the finalization of the draft Education Bill. These two culminations that will be the embodiment for the way forward, declared an optimistic Dr. Roopnaraine yesterday. “The guiding
A section of the gathering at the launch of Education month yesterday
principles in all of this is what works will be retained, what can be salvaged will be salvaged, what does not work and is unsalvageable will be discontinued. New initiatives will be undertaken,” stressed the Minister. He made it clear, too, that the new initiatives will reflect the thinking of the new regime with regards to the education system while providing for its synergising and completeness. And Government’s commitment to improving the education system is being emphasized by the theme chosen to observe education month – ‘quality educational leadership: improving schools from within’. “The theme clearly points in a particular direction; it points to the need for effective leadership in the delivery of education and the improvement in the manpower content and the manner of delivery,” said Minister Roopnaraine. Declaring yesterday’s launch as a special day for the education system was Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam.
He labeled it a tactic to “reaffirm our commitment to this nation as a community of educators to ensure that we raise the standard of education in Guyana.” And according to him, “we can hold our heads high that the educational output of this nation is on par with anywhere else in the world; we are working very hard in the Ministry of Education to ensure that our children progress.” At yesterday’s launch, Science was a major focus with deserved recognition being given to the accomplishment of Abram Zuil Secondary which won the national and regional phases of the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge. With its Paddy Husk Particle Board project that won the championship title at the national level, the school represented Guyana earlier this year in Florida, United States of America. The Abram Zuil team comprised Athine Indar, Safeer Juma, Mark Doobay, Devindra Persaud and Biron Marks. They were joined by their teachers Jerome Rajpersaud (Deputy
Head Teacher) and Bagwandae Suklall (Head of the Science Department). Sagicor representative, Marlene Chin, who also addressed the forum yesterday, said that Guyana came out in the lead, ahead of eight territories including the USA. She outlined that the paddy husk project has market value and called on the private sector to look at its viability. The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF), Sagicor Life Inc. (Sagicor) and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) believe that, through greater community involvement, the citizens of the Caribbean can live more sustainably and build a better future. Chin was also tasked yesterday with launching the 2015 leg of the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge even as she emphasized the importance of embracing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects to develop effective, innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges in communities.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Individual turns in 1,191 rounds US intelligence helps to zero in to Alberttown Police Station Gold smuggling, illegal activities…
on local players - US Chargé Guyana’s collaboration with the US appears to be bearing fruits, with significant intelligence gathered over the last year about illegal activities and the individuals involved. According to Chargé d’ Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt, over the last 18 months, intelligence was shared with local authorities. The US has especially been “watching” closely the movement of cash, gold and illegal drugs over the borders of Guyana. The embassy official was yesterday speaking during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News. The close US collaboration involved Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) and the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU). The latter has made the news recently after a major investigation into a gold smuggling racket was disclosed. The US, Hunt said, now has a better idea of how the criminal networks are operating and what is being moved. US authorities would have also been able to zero in on the individuals involved, the official disclosed. The information gathered would have been shared. With criticisms over the years about Guyana’s capacity and will to tackle the trafficking of illicit goods and money laundering, the confirmation of the increased level of collaboration would spell good news for the new administration which has vowed to stamp out corruption, tax evasion and money laundering. SOCU itself has been criticized because of its limited capacity. According to Hunt, the US has always been concerned about the illegal movement of currency and valuable metal, like gold, to
US Chargé d’ Affaires, Bryan Hunt the US. With the US Customs and Border Protection requiring visitors to declare their items, a significant amount of information was gleaned, allowing for a better tracking of persons suspected to be involved in illegal activities. Over the last two years, quite a number of drug busts were also made because of the collaboration. Involved in the US intelligence gathering would have been agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Hunt said that it is difficult to gauge how much money and other items are being smuggled from Guyana as the activities are “subtle”. Questioned about the cancellation of visas for persons suspected of conducting illegal activities directed at the US, the diplomat would not be specific, but pointed out that once evidence exists that a felony has been committed, the persons involved would become ineligible for a visa or could see one in use being cancelled. The visa cancellations would also come into play
when there is evidence of “moral turpitude”, the Chargé d’ Affaires explained. Reportedly, the visas of several gold traders and other businessmen were cancelled over the last few years because of suspected illegal activities. The monitoring of suspected persons does not only happen in the US alone but also in Guyana. Hunt’s disclosure that the work being done behind the scenes would shed light on the amount of information the US and local authorities would have been gathering in the crime fight. The gold smuggling racket has especially angered the new administration as hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues have been lost to the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Guyana Gold Board. With the economy facing tough times from the lagging performance of rice and sugar, the gold smuggling issue has been a troubling one. While a significant amount of gold has been going to the US, it is believed that the majority was making its way to neighbouring Suriname and to a lesser extent, Brazil. It is estimated that between 10,000 ounces and 15,000 ounces of gold is being smuggled out weekly. Last year gold production fell by 100,000 ounces to just under 400,000 ounces. Gold earning fell from over US$700M in 2013, to over US$400M last year. This year, gold declaration is also showing a dismal performance, recording a 30 percent drop compared to last year. Law enforcement officials have been zeroing on especially the activities occurring at the Ogle and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Several staffers were arrested over recent years for wrongdoings.
By Jarryl Bryan Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has said that all guns and ammunition handed over as part of the Gun Amnesty programme will be destroyed to ensure that they do not turn up in the wrong hands again. This pronouncement was made during an interview at the launching of Amerindian Heritage Month yesterday and would have come as the Minister sought to emphasize the safeguards in place for the guns expected to be turned in. “They will all be destroyed after the amnesty comes to an end. Whether we dig a deep hole and seal them off, they will be destroyed,” Ramjattan said. Just an hour into the launch of the gun amnesty programme countrywide yesterday, the Alberttown Police station was gifted a bucket containing 1,191 rounds of 7.62x51 ammunition. The rounds, which were SLR (single loading rounds), are of the type used in AK-47 assault rifles and were turned in at approximately 09:41hrs by a member of the public. Minister Ramjattan said that considering it was the first day of the amnesty, this would have a positive effect on the number of illegal guns and ammunition on the streets. “It is going to be a success, and even if it is not to the high expectation that lots of guns would have come in, it will still be a success. One thousand rounds of ammunition and two guns, even if that is what it is at this afternoon, is good enough being taken away from the hands of people that (had illegal possession of them),” the Minister said. Meanwhile, at about 23:00hrs on Monday (the night before the commencement of the amnesty), police responded to a report of a firearm being discharged at Montrose, East
-- as one-month gun amnesty begins The sealed ammunition, with a Police Sergeant overlooking it.
Coast Demerara (ECD), and arrested a man in whose possession was found an unlicensed 9mm Glock pistol with three rounds. Four (4) spent shells were also found at the scene. The man was subsequently identified as Vishnu Singh, son of one time General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh. He is currently on remand. The proliferation of guns and ammunition in the country has long been attributed to the borders, which are considered a
transient shipment point. Individuals have even been busted with their guns shipped in crates. There was the infamous arms cache of high powered rifles, pistols and ammunitions unearthed at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) wharf in May. That crate was said to have come from Miami. The gun amnesty has been met with much criticism from the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) with Clement Rohee, himself a former Home Affairs Minister, declaring that the programme would fail.
Page 32
Kaieteur News
GuySuCo launches probe into worker’s death The Guyana Sugar Corporation has launched an investigation into the death of Mohamed Iftekar Oosman, called “Amin,”. The man was pinned in a canal after a bell loader he was operating overturned. Oosman, who is also a taxi driver, lived with his father Mohamed Zainool Oosman, his mother Zamenee Oosman, a brother and sister, his wife Sabina Oosman and two children at their home. His distraught mother said that her son, the eldest of her three children, left home at approximately 16:00 hrs on Monday for his normal days’ work. He worked the 16:30 to 04:30 shift. The woman said that from what she understands, her son, who was operating a bell loader, was crossing a canal over a makeshift bridge. Three other bell loaders had already crossed, when the bridge gave way. The vehicle toppled into the canal and pinned Oosman beneath. The woman said that she received the news from her brother who also works in the area. She immediately left for the back dam, but by then a Land Rover was taking her son to hospital. Her son was pronounced dead on arrival, she said. Some of Oosman’s colleagues stated the vehicles were crossing from a dam to the field. After the three other vehicles had crossed, they noticed someone flashing a
Mohamed Iftekar Oosman light on the dam. They then realized the machine had fallen into the trench. Some of the men reportedly plunged overboard in a desperate attempt to save Oosman, but the machine had pinned him below the water. Some of the men then used a tractor to hoist the bell loader off Oosman, but by then he was already dead. A post, mortem examination is expected to be conducted shortly. Oosman is survived by two children aged three and one. Rose Hall Estate Human Resource Manager Adesh Singh told Kaieteur News that Orin Morris, a representative from the Health and Safety Department, visited the site yesterday to conduct investigations on what might have caused the mishap. Morris also met with the family of the victim.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Amerindian Heritage Month launched Amerindian Heritage Month was launched yesterday at the Sophia Exhibition Centre’s very own Amerindian Village, with President David Granger addressing a huge gathering under the benab. He promised that Amerindian heritage, and in particular, native languages will be preserved. The President also declared that the Amerindian Language Programme would be reintroduced at the University of Guyana as the Indigenous Peoples Language Project. He said that of the nine indigenous tribes in Guyana, dictionaries had only been produced for seven. He affirmed that completing the final two dictionaries would be a Government mission and would be undertaken by the Project. Dictionaries such as these, the President said, would be distributed to the Public Service to facilitate communication, especially in the hinterland. “These people will have the right to the protection and preservation of their languages, heritage and way of life. That is the law and it is my obligation to fulfill this (as part of) the constitution,” Granger said. Granger noted that during the elections campaign he paid visits to various Amerindian Communities. During these visits, he observed that the older villagers still spoke their original Amerindian languages. “Many people in those villages do not speak English as their first language, but they can communicate best in their indigenous languages. It is also important that those languages be preserved and practiced.” According to the Head of State, these and other experiences provided a personal perspective. The President decried that persons from numerous professions would spend extended time in the hinterland, without learning
President promises to reestablish the Amerindian language courses at UG
Several cultural items on display. any of the indigenous languages. “It is time for that ignorance to end; it is time for all Guyanese to embrace indigenous languages.” According to him, in view of the fact that languages played important roles and helped form identities, cooperation and associations with other communities, Government patrimony of indigenous languages should be viewed in the wider context of benefitting all Guyanese. He also emphasized that the indigenous language was under threat. “The language of the indigenous people contains wisdom passed on from generation to generation. The loss of language, therefore contributes to the loss of culture for our entire nation. We respect your identity and your heritage,” the President said. He said that in far too many cases these languages were not taught in the
Schools. According to the historian, the passage of the indigenous language from one generation to the next was not progressing smoothly. “In some cases young people are not keen to maintain the tradition of speaking in their own native language,” Granger said. He attributed this to the rise of the ‘Blackberry generation’. This, he added, could cause the languages to die and be forgotten. HINTERLAND LANGUAGE AND SPORTS COMMISSION Granger proposed the Hinterland Language and Sports Commission during the recently concluded National Tashaos’ Conference. Yesteday, the President proposed the terms of reference. “This commission, among other things, will be responsible for promoting the indigenous languages in accordance with the constitution. This will be a
priority for the commission, which will also take steps to ensure that traditions and customs flourish, “he said. He also laid out another important aspect of the commission- to document and keep records of all indigenous languages. CULTURALITEMS And yesterday, a walk through among the many persons who set up shop in the village showed the Amerindian culture in full display. There were persistent crowds around the food items being sold. The schish kabobs were a crowd favourite. Fly (an Amerindian wine made with potatoes) was also something that stirred the interest of numerous adventurous visitors. The event also saw the reigning Miss Amerindian Heritage, Analisa Andrews, making an appearance. She applauded the promises made by the administration, but emphasized that they must be fulfilled.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 33
Greek ship ferries hundreds Greece’s Syriza party lead shrinks more migrants to mainland further in election race – poll
Refugees and migrants disembark from the passenger ship “Tera Jet”, following their trip from the island of Lesbos to the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis Reuters - A ship bringing about 1,800 migrants and refugees from an eastern Greek island to the port of Piraeus arrived last night, the Greek coastguard said. Greece has seen a spike in the number of refugees and migrants arriving on the islands by rubber dinghies via nearby Turkey this summer, with aid agencies estimating about 2,000 crossing over daily last month. After a hiatus of a few days last week, Greek authorities on Saturday resumed carrying the refugees - mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan - to the mainland by ship from the islands of Kos, Lesbos, Samos, Symi and Agathonissi.
Many then carry on their journeys across mainland Europe. “You have to help us,” said 27-year-old Isham, a Syrian teacher who left his wife and two children behind in Turkey. “We are human,” he said, appealing to governments not to block the refugees’ attempts to travel through Europe in search of a better life. A coastguard official said the ship, the Tera Jet, carrying 1,749 migrants from Lesbos docked in Piraeus, adding that another ship with 2,459 migrants was expected to arrive from the island in the early hours today. An average of 1,700 migrants crossed into Greece
daily in July, with the number topping 2,000 a day in August. Cash-strapped Greece has said it lacked the infrastructure to cope with influx. President Prokopis Pavlopoulos told French counterpart Francois Hollande by telephone that migration should be addressed at a top European level, according to a statement by Pavlopoulos’ office. Greece’s caretaker Prime Minister Vassiliki Thanou will chair a ministerial meeting on migration today. Thanou took over last week after former Greek premier Alexis Tsipras, who heads the leftist Syriza party, resigned last month to pave the way for a snap election on Sept. 20.
Guatemala’s Congress strips President Perez’ immunity amid graft scandal GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala’s Congress yesterday voted unanimously to strip President Otto Perez of immunity, paving the way for prosecutors to charge him in an unprecedented graft scandal that has engulfed his government. Perez, a 64-year-old retired general, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said he will not resign over a scandal that has sent thousands of protesters onto the streets and gutted his cabinet. But in a vote in Congress yesterday, Perez faced a serious blow as all 132 lawmakers present voted to remove his immunity, just days before a presidential election to be held on Sunday. Perez cannot run for reelection under the constitution, and is set to remain in office until a handover in January.
Otto Perez As the vote tally reached above the 105-vote threshold needed to carry the motion, lawmakers inside the hall erupted in cheers. Sources from the attorney general’s office involved in the case said prosecutors would now be able to issue an arrest warrant against Perez. However, it was not immediately clear when that
could happen, and what charges he would face. Last month, Perez survived a similar vote in Congress, when more than half of lawmakers voted to lift his immunity but the total fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. However, that vote took place before prosecutors said publicly it was highly probable that Perez was involved in the wrongdoing, in which importers avoided paying customs duties in exchange for bribes. According to the Guatemalan constitution, the president is immune from prosecution and it requires a two-thirds majority from Congress to strip it. Last May, Vice President Roxana Baldetti resigned after news reports linked her to a customs corruption racket. She denied any wrongdoing but has been arrested and charged with illicit association, bribery and fraud over the customs racket.
Reuters - Greece’s Syriza party is on course to win 26 percent of votes in a snap election in September, just one point ahead of the conservative New Democracy party, a poll published by the Pulse for Action 24 television channel said yesterday. Former premier Alexis Tsipras of Syriza resigned in August to seek a new mandate for a bailout deal he clinched with the country’s international creditors, but Syriza’s slipping poll lead suggests the decision could backfire. Tsipras came to power in January promising to end austerity in a country battered by recession and unemployment but eventually accepted stringent conditions for a new 86billion-euro bailout after months of difficult negotiations with Greece’s lenders. Worryingly perhaps for Tsipras, more than two-thirds of the poll respondents
Alexis Tsipras disapproved of his government’s performance in its seven months in office. Previously, polls had suggested Tsipras remained popular with voters because he had at least put up a fight in the negotiations for a bailout. The leftist Syriza party led the New Democracy party by as much as 15 percentage points in May, but its lead has
dropped sharply over the summer, opinion polls suggest. The new poll also said the Golden Dawn party was on course to win 6 percent of votes, while 10.5 percent of Greeks were undecided. “We’ve made a tough choice to not lead the country to a national disaster,” Tsipras told a crowd during a speech on the campaign trail on the island of Crete. “We are proud we gave this battle all these months, defending Greek people’s rights.” The poll showed that Independent Greeks will not win enough votes to pass the 3 percent threshold to enter parliament, while the Popular Unity party, a hard-left splinter group that broke from Syriza last month, will get 4 percent. A quarter of the people polled would like to see a coalition government made up of Syriza, New Democracy and other parties.
Page 34
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Iran nuclear deal backers near votes to protect pact in U.S. Congress Reuters - Supporters of the international nuclear agreement with Iran moved within one vote of mustering enough support to protect the deal in the U.S. Congress yesterday when two more Democratic senators said they would support the pact. Senators Bob Casey and Chris Coons, known as Iran hard-liners, both said they backed the agreement announced on July 14 between the United States, five other world powers and Tehran. Altogether 31 Senate Democrats and two independents who vote with them now support the deal, a potential legacy foreign policy achievement for Democratic President Barack Obama. Backers will need 34 votes in the Senate or 146 in the House of Representatives to sustain Obama’s veto if a Republican-sponsored resolution of disapproval passes both chambers. Both Casey and Coons said they had had serious questions about the agreement, but decided it was the best option for limiting Iran’s nuclear program and preferable to the United States breaking from the other countries that signed the deal. “I was never persuaded by arguments that we could ... renegotiate successfully and get a result,” Casey told Reuters in a telephone
Bob Casey
Chris Coons
interview. “I will support this agreement because it puts us on a known path of limiting Iran’s nuclear program for the next 15 years with the full support of the international community,” Coons said in a speech at the University of Delaware. Supporters hope they will gather the 41 votes to block a disapproval resolution in the Senate and keep Obama from having to use his veto power. Congress has until Sept. 17 to pass a resolution. Two Senate Democrats oppose the nuclear deal, along with an overwhelming majority of Republicans. Several House Democrats announced support for the deal yesterday, including Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
More than 90 House members, all Democrats, now back the deal. A two-thirds majority in each chamber is required to override a presidential veto and torpedo a pact in which Tehran agreed to curtail its nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Some pro-Israel groups echoed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence that the agreement would threaten Israel’s existence by empowering Iran. Casey said he had heard “a lot of passionate arguments” from both sides but that, despite reservations, he concluded that the agreement, with a strong deterrence policy, was the best way to keep Iran from building a bomb.
Britain to make wording of EU referendum question more neutral Reuters - The British government will change the wording of the question in its planned referendum on whether to stay in the European Union to make it more neutral following a recommendation by the Electoral Commission yesterday. Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to renegotiate Britain’s ties with the EU and then, by the end of 2017, hold a referendum on whether to stay in or leave. Under the government’s initial proposal, voters were to be asked to say “yes” or “no” to the question “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?” Some who want Britain to leave the 28-member bloc said that was unfair as it would allow the campaign to stay in to brand itself as the more positive “yes” camp. “Whilst voters understood the question in
David Cameron the bill, some campaigners and members of the public feel the wording is not balanced and there was a perception of bias,” said Jenny Watson, chair of the Electoral Commission. Following a public consultation, the commission recommended the question be changed to: “Should the
United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” The two possible answers would be: “remain a member of the European Union” and “leave the European Union”. A spokeswoman for Cameron said the government would follow the commission’s advice and amend the legislative bill. “The prime minister’s objective has always been very clear, to give people a simple, clear choice, and we believe that will still be achieved with the recommendation from the Electoral Commission today,” she told reporters at a regular briefing. In last year’s referendum on Scottish independence, the phrasing of the question was such that those in favour of independence had to answer “yes” while those who wanted to stay in the United Kingdom had to answer “no”.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 35
Page 36
Kaieteur News
Venezuelan leader says Colombia plotting his assassination BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday accused Colombia’s government of giving its consent to a plan to assassinate him as both countries try to rally regional support in a border dispute exacerbating tensions between the two neighbors. Maduro said during a visit to Vietnam that the conspiracy has the consent of Colombia’s government. Maduro, who frequently accuses Colombia of trying to topple his government, didn’t present any details or evidence to back the claim but said he would soon. Officials in Bogota didn’t immediately respond. The p r e s i d e n t ’s remarks come as diplomats from 34 We s t e r n Hemisphere nations gathered at the Organization of American States in Washington for an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis that has already led to the closure of six border crossings and created a humanitarian
crisis as some 10,000 Colombians who had been living illegally in Venezuela flee a crackdown on crime and smuggling. Maduro has said the offensive is necessary to attack criminal gangs that purchase gas and other goods sold at subsidized prices in Venezuela and resell them across the border for huge profits. But human rights groups, as well as the U.S., the United Nations and the European Union, have q u e s t i o n e d Ve n e z u e l a ’s strong-armed tactics, expressing concern over M a d u r o ’s d e c i s i o n t o declare a state of emergency in several states and send thousands of troops to the border. Among those deported are Colombians fleeing the c o u n t r y ’s l o n g - r u n n i n g civil conflict who had been granted or solicited asylum in Venezuela, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, which led a fact-finding mission to the border.
Nicolas Maduro
Wednesday September 02, 2015
US and UK governments announce humanitarian aid for storm-ravaged Dominica ROSEAU, Dominica – The United States and the United Kingdom governments are sending personnel and humanitarian aid to assist in Dominica’s ongoing recovery effort on the heels of the destructive Tropical Storm Erika. The US Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), said yesterday that it is providing disaster relief support to the storm-ravaged island. In addition to sending a four-member assessment team to provide initial damage assessments and needs analysis, USAID said it is in the process of providing humanitarian assistance totaling USD$50,000 for the immediate supply of storm-related disaster relief supplies. “Working through the Dominica Red Cross, USAID will provide essential relief items to citizens in nine hard-hit areas identified by the government of Dominica,” it said. UK’s Department for International
Development (DFID), which has committed £300,000 (US$459,751) in humanitarian aid, said yesterday it had rerouted the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Lyme Bay to assist humanitarian relief efforts in the Caribbean island. The British ship is carrying a range of disaster relief stores including bedding, shelter, torches and stretchers, as well as a Lynx Mk 8 helicopter and considerable supplies of fresh water. RFA Lyme Bay is stationed in the Caribbean and as part of its primary tasking acts as a first responder in the event of a disaster in the region. “It is clear that Dominica has borne the brunt of this storm, with a number of deaths already confirmed and hundreds of people made homeless. Roads, bridges and health clinics have been affected and large parts of the island are without water and electricity,” International Development Secretary Justine Greening noted.
Cuba goes all in on English, amid closer US ties Havana (AFP) - Now that Cuba has restored diplomatic ties with the United States, teaching English in schools will be a priority, the communist party newspaper Granma reported Monday. In the 1970s, the study of English in Cuban schools was supplanted by Russian, after the Soviet Union emerged as the communist island’s main benefactor following Fidel Castro’s ascent to power in 1959. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, English returned to Cuba’s academic curriculum. And since Havana and Washington restored ties in July, interest in English has
skyrocketed. “The language is essential because every day we are going to have more contact” with the United States and other countries, the communist party’s number two official, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, told university students over the weekend. In 2008, two years after yielding power to his brother Raul, Fidel Castro acknowledged the importance of speaking English. “The Russians studied English. Everyone studied English, except for us. We studied Russian,” Castro said.
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 37
Page 38
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
T&T Opposition claims Dominica pleads for help payments being made for votes as storm death toll tops 30 as PM embarks on whistle tour
Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Faris Al-Rawi
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) yesterday accused the ruling United National Congress (UNC) led coalition people’s Partnership of engaging in criminal activities leading up to the September 7 poll. PNM public relations officer Faris Al-Rawi and attorney Stuart Young, who is also a PNM candidate, told a news conference that they had evidence that persons had received bribes to either stay away from the polls or ensure that they vote for the candidates of the ruling coalition. “It is real, in fact on my walkabout yesterday in the (San Fernando West) constituency I had people coming up to me and literally running up to me with their camera phones showing me photographs of what can only be described as falling foul and offences that have fallen foul of the Representation of the People’s Act being conducted by persons who are part of the UNC campaign,” Al-Rawi said. “We do actually have in our possession evidence of some of these electoral fraud taking place. We are not going to catch everybody…we are going to catch some people
and they will be reported to the authorities. “But in the meantime, it is really a plea to the right thinking citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to remain alert, to remain cautious and not to participate in these elements of electoral fraud,’ he added. Al-Rawi told reporters that there should be a “free and fair election” in Trinidad and Tobago. Young said that many of the irregularities were taking place in the so-called marginal seats that could determine the outcome of the elections as opinion polls predict a very close race for control of the 41 seats in the Parliament. Al-Rawi said in some instances people are receiving as much as TT$500 (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) to wear jersey in support of the coalition “and there are larger inducements not to vote, but to stain the finger otherwise. “We are mathematically inclined in the PNM. If you are offered TT$200..or TT$500 when you divide that by the number of years that you will be in power…it invites the people who are willing to accept this to value themselves at either TT$0.10 cents a day or TT$0.30 cents a day. “You are not that cheap and you ought to be very
sensible to observe the law because we are very insistent that on this occasion that we will certainly be prosecuting those persons found to be at foul with the law,” Al-Rawi said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has embarked on a whistle tour of the country in a bid to whip up support for her party ahead of the polls. “This is my nationwide blitz. I’m visiting every corner of Trinidad and Tobago. I’m passionate to explain to voters what is at stake in this election. Next Monday is a crucial decision for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We simply cannot afford to take the risk of changing government and dragging our country backwards. “We’ve come so far in the last five years building a strong economy, creating jobs, building new schools, homes, road and health centres. We’re on the right path and we need to keep moving forward to a better future.” She said that without “votes for my candidates I won’t be able to deliver my plan for more jobs, better schools, better healthcare, safer streets and better homes for hard working families in Trinidad and Tobago”. In the last general election in 2010, the coalition won 29 out of the 41 seats.
Commuters on their way to the capital are taxied to a bus, after they were temporarily stranded in Montrouis, Haiti. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) Roseau (Dominica) (AFP) - Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is pleading with world leaders to come to the rescue of his Caribbean island nation after it was battered by a tropical storm that killed at least 31 people. Another two dozen remain missing, including two French nationals, after Tropical Storm Erika barreled her way through late last week. The death toll has risen steadily since the storm hit the island of 72,000. In a message to the nation on Monday night, Skerrit said 21 nationals and two French citizens are missing. He added: “We have written to all foreign governments for help and
assistance and I can tell you that the responses that we have received thus far are tremendous.” At the weekend, in the immediate aftermath of the worst of the storm, which also brought heavy rain to Haiti and Cuba, the prime minister ordered the evacuation of Petite Savanne, a coastal village cut off b y mudslides. Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago were among the countries helping the evacuation effort by providing helicopters. The evacuations of Petite Savanne’s 750 residents was expected to be completed yesterday. “We welcome the evacuation process because
it has been very difficult for us and we were in a state of helplessness since we had no communication,” Johna Guiste, a tearful Petite Savanne official, told AFP. Anelta Hilaire-Francis said she has been marooned on the seashore for the past two days with her children “trying to get out of the village.” “It’s hard and difficult to live, to take in and swallow what has happened to us,” she said as she boarded a coast guard boat to a shelter in the capital Roseau. Last week Skerrit said he feared the storm had taken the island back 20 years. China last week offered $300,000 as emergency humanitarian assistance.
Boundary treaty signed
Daily Nation - After just months of negotiations, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines have signed an agreement on the delimitation of maritime boundaries. The prime ministers of the two countries inked the deal Monday afternoon during a short ceremony at Government Headquarters, Bay Street. This makes St Vincent and the Grenadines the first country within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to have such a treaty with Barbados. “I know that boundary negotiations can be fraught with difficulty and can take years, sometimes decades. But our teams were able to move forward on the basis of mutual trust and good faith with exemplary alacrity.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (right) and his Vincentian counterpart Dr Ralph Gonsalves signing the treaty at Government Headquarters. (Picture by WILLCOMM.)
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 39
Federer eases into second round; others toil in heat Roger Federer glided to victory on another hot, steamy day at the U.S. Open, the envy of a clutch of men’s players made to work overtime yesterday at the season’s final grand slam. Federer, who has been in sizzling form since reaching the Wimbledon finals, dashed past 34th-ranked Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-1 6-2 62 to launch his campaign for a sixth U.S. Open crown and first slam title since the 2012 Wimbledon. The 34-year-old Swiss, looking cool in the 90-plus degree heat after his light, first-round exertions, next faces either Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus or
Belgian Steve Darcis. Others were sorely tested. Britain’s Andy Murray won a pulsating New York night match against Australian Nick Kyrgios to reach the US Open second round. Murray, seeded third, came through 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1 against the brilliant but unpredictable 20-year-old. The Scot’s experience told as he broke serve seven times to win in two hours and 43 minutes. Murray, 28, goes on to face Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in round two tomorrow. Three players in the bottom half of the men’s draw had to go the distance in the severe heat at Flushing Meadows, including French
11th seed Gilles Simon, who looked to have iced victory after taking a 6-2 6-4 3-0 lead over American Donald Young. But the Frenchman stumbled, and the 26-year-old American, once hailed as the next great U.S. player, saw an opportunity and turned the match upside down for a 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 win. In another wrenching defeat for France, Paul-Henri Mathieu fell to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in five sets. The 128th-ranked Yoshihito Nishioka, who saw fourth-seeded compatriot and 2014 finalist Kei Nishikoria drummed out in five sets on Monday, booked himself into the second round with a 6-4
Wednesday September 02, 2015 Aries 3/21 - 4/19: You have an unexpected chance to follow your impulses and an excellent prospect that everything will turn out in your favor. But chasing the whims of your heart is always a tricky business that comes without a guarantee. Taurus 4/20 - 5/20: You’re caught up in an emotional tug of war between being there for those you love and needing time alone to nurture your soul. Balancing your desire to experience the great wide open with your longing for the safety of your nest is your top priority today. Gemini 5/21 - 6/21: You are like a busy bee buzzing around the hive, happy to be in the midst of the action. Even if you have a mission in mind, you’re likely to jump from one flower after another as you work your way through the day. Cancer 6/22 - 7/22: The spotlight is on you today, whether or not you’re ready for it. Unfortunately, your awkwardness is apparent if you’re expected to put on a command performance. You might be afraid of losing your self-confidence if you don’t come through with the goods. Leo 7/23 - 8/22: Romance is in the air today and your magnetism is nearly irresistible to everyone you meet. Your love light is shining brightly and others can’t help but notice your passionate nature. Virgo 8/23 - 9/22: Your casual demeanor and cool logic may fool others today. You present one thing on the surface while something much more mysterious is going on behind the scenes.
Libra 9/23 - 10/22: When it comes to love or prosperity, you benefit the most when you’re surrounded by people you admire. Your natural affinity to making friends is highlighted as today’s romantic Venus-Mars conjunction sweetens your 11th House of Social Networking. Scorpio 10/23 - 11/21: Taking a risk at work may be the best move you can make when the Moon runs into unpredictable Uranus in your 6th House of Employment. Sagittarius 11/22 - 12/21: Your unwavering belief in the inherent good of the universe allows you to express your feelings with a flair. You don’t have to waste precious time trying to meet the expectations of others today; you only need to aim high when reestablishing your creative goals. Capricorn 12/22 - 1/19: Someone may be encouraging you to flirt with the edge today, but your inner alarm bells are ringing incessantly. You’re flattered that others believe in your talents enough to urge you on, but at the same time you’re concerned about the practical logistics of overstepping your self-imposed limits. Aquarius 1/20 - 2/18: A relationship dance takes center stage today as you try to sort out what each of you wants. If you’re not careful you could get overwhelmed by all the demands. Naturally, your heart yearns to play, but a healthy amount of discernment is necessary to put all the pieces in place. Pisces 2/19 - 3/20: Put your faith into action and your money where your mouth is while Venus and Mars are cavorting in your 6th House of Logistics. The waiting game is over; it’s time to show the world what you’re made of.
2-6 6-7(7) 6-1 6-2 victory. Dutchman Robin Haase also made a Houdini-like escape against Germany’s Dustin Brown to register a 46 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 victory. Heat may have been a factor in claiming other hard-luck victims at the U.S. National Tennis Center as four players retired from their matches. Australian Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 U.S. Open winner, advanced 6-0 7-6(2) 10 when Aleksandr Nedovyseov of Kazakhstan retired. Misfortune favored the French and went the other way for the Aussies when 12th seed Richard Gasquet advanced 4-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 2-0 when Thanasi Kokkinakis retired. Women’s second seed Simona Halep also had an abbreviated match as she advanced 6-2 3-0 after New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic retired with a knee injury. The in-form Halep, who reached the finals at U.S. Open tuneup events in Toronto and Cincinnati, barely broke a sweat on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, needing a mere 47 minutes to see off the 99thranked New Zealander. Also sprinting to victory was fourth seed Carolina Wozniacki, who dismissed U.S. national college champion Jamie Loeb 6-2 6-0. The women’s draw continued to produce upsets for a second consecutive day as Czech sixth seed and French Open finalist Lucie Safarova
Beijing’s most.... From page 41 London 2012 and Berlin 2009 spoiled us all. 8. Medal of honour After several unforgettable performances, the best single story came from a champion performing forgetfully. According to reports from the Chinese media outlet Tencent, Poland’s hammer gold medallist Pawel Fajdek enjoyed his celebrations that night to such a degree that when he came to pay for a taxi back to the team hotel, he had no money left. His solution? Give the cabbie his new gold medal, and stumble off to sleep. Fajdek, sadly, has denied elements of the story, insisting that while the medal had indeed been left in the taxi, it was done so accidentally. All ended well either way, his medal being returned after a frantic search and the cabbie content with his fare. Gong, but not forgotten. (BBCsport)
Roger Federer of Switzerland holds a handful of tennis balls before hitting them towards fans after defeating Leonardo Mayer of Argentina. Reuters/Carlo Allegri fell 6-4 6-1 to Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko. Fourteenth seed Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland was also shown the door, ushered out by 42nd-ranked Czech Barbora Strycova 7-5 6-0. They joined Monday’s first-round casualties that included Serbian seventh
seed Ana Ivanovic, eighth seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova and 10th-seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain. “I wasn’t surprised (by the upsets), it is normal,” said 23-year-old Halep. “Everyone is fighting like crazy because it’s the last grand slam (of the year).”
Page 40
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Serena to headline U.S. picks 23 players for Day Three at U.S. Open training, Peru friendly Serena Williams hits a return to Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia. Reuters/ Adrees Latif
Geoff Cameron. (Photo: Mexsport) Serena Williams will look to move one step closer to completing a calendar sweep of the four grand slams when she meets unseeded Kiki Bertens in a second-round U.S. Open clash today. To p s e e d Wi l l i a m s , seeking to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to complete a rare calendar Grand Slam, will face the tall, big-hitting Bertens in the third match
of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium. A well-rested Williams, who needed only 30 minutes to win her firstround match when her opponent retired with a knee injury, will start a prohibitive favorite against her 110th-ranked opponent from the Netherlands. It will be the first career match-up b e t w e e n Wi l l i a m s a n d Bertens.
Defending men’s champion Marin Cilic, the ninth seed, will also be in action as he faces Russian Evgeny Donskoy. In other men’s action, top seed Novak Djokovic will cap the night session when he battles unseeded Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer under the lights. Serbian Djokovic dropped only three games in a firstround canter, but might get a tougher contest from world number 52 Haider-Maurer, who downed Canadian Vasek Pospisil in five sets on Monday. Eighth seed Rafa Nadal, who survived a dangerous first-round opponent in Croatian Borna Coric, will be up against unseeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman in a daytime match in the Louis Armstrong Stadium. (Reuters)
Chicago - United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named an initial 23-player roster Sunday that will gather for training ahead of a September 4 meeting with Peru in Washington, D.C. Additional personnel changes will be made to the squad prior to another friendly against Brazil in Foxborough, Massachusetts, four days later. The matches are being used as preparation for an October 10 playoff against Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, for a berth in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. “The bigger picture is to get some answers for how we put things together for the Mexico game a month from now,” said Klinsmann. “Obviously we want to continue to have a good flow
of guys from the Gold Cup, but also to bring back guys who are in position to compete for a spot on the roster for Oct. 10. Our message to these guys is simple: prove a point that you want to be at the Rose Bowl.” A total of 15 players from the group were a part of the team that represented the United States this summer at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Three players have 50 or more appearances, while only five have 10 caps or less. Matt Besler (defender) and Jermaine Jones (midfielder) could see action for the first time since February, while 2014 FIFA World Cup teammates Geoff Cameron (defender) and Tim Howard (goalkeeper) are back in the mix for the first time this year. Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley and Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey will be added to the roster for the Brazil match, while goalkeeper William Yarbrough will return to Mexico’s Leon. He will be replaced by Chicago Fire custodian Sean Johnson. The U.S. and Peru last met on February 16, 2000, in Miami. The five-time CONCACAF champion prevailed 1-0, improving their all-time record against the
South American nation to 2W1D-2L. UNITED STATES ROSTER GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/England), Tim Howard (Everton/ England), William Yarbrough (Leon/ Mexico). DEFENDERS: Ventura Alvarado (Club America/ Mexico), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/ Germany), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/England), Greg Garza (Atlas/Mexico), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/Mexico), Tim Ream (Fulham/England). MIDFIELDERS: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/ France), Joe Corona (Veracruz/Mexico), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt/Germany), Danny Williams (Reading/ England), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur/ England). FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/ Canada), Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen/Germany), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin/ Germany), Andrew Wooten (SV Sandhausen/Germany), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy). (CONCACAF)
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 41
MIRACLES & COMEBACKS
Beijing’s most memorable moments And so a World Championships that began with metaphorical grey clouds over the sport ended with meteorological dark clouds spilling rain across the Bird’s Nest and Beijing beyond. Have these been an auspicious championships, for the sport, for British athletics a year out from the Olympics and for the stars and villains who came to China in search of gold? The number eight is considered lucky in these parts. So here are the eight ways we might remember the 2015 Worlds. 1. Bolt vs Gatlin - the greatest miracle of all Usain Bolt arrived in Beijing having run the 100m on only two days all year, having lost much of the summer to injury, with only one 200m race under his belt and that back in May, in a horrible time, with awful form. Justin Gatlin arrived on a 26-race unbeaten run, as the world number one over 100m and having set a new personal best and the best time in the world in the 200m. That Bolt left with three more world golds was perhaps his greatest miracle of all. That the twice-banned Gatlin left the individual sprints with two silvers and then saw his US quartet disqualified from the sprint relays allowed the sport to swerve one doomsday scenario and celebrate afresh its finest asset. This was never good versus evil, as some tried to bill it in advance. Gatlin is a dope cheat, not a serial killer or child abuser. Neither is it a battle won. Bolt said at the start of the
championships that he couldn’t save the sport on his own. He hasn’t. There were three other one-time dopers in the 100m final alone: Tyson Gay, Mike Rodgers and Asafa Powell. But Bolt’s brilliance acted both as a salve to the sport’s deep wounds and a reminder of what it can be: captivating, thrilling and unforgettable. 2. Great Britain gearing up for Rio Never before have Britain won four golds at a World Championships. Not since Stuttgart 22 years ago have they won more than the total of seven medals won here. There was brilliance from the old guard. All three of the home gold medallists from London 2012’s Super Saturday, Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford and Jessica EnnisHill, came back to win gold once again, in Ennis-Hill’s case just 13 months after the birth of her son Reggie and nine months after she began her training again with a 15minute pedal on a bike. There were familiar faces reaching new levels: Shara Proctor becoming the first British woman beyond seven metres as she won long jump silver and so nearly gold, Sophie Hitchon breaking the British record to finish an impressive fourth in the hammer final. And there were breakthrough acts - 19-yearold Dina Asher-Smith, who has now broken both 100m and 200m national records this summer; 20-year-old Zharnel Hughes, who ran his first ever major 200m final in between Bolt and Gatlin and could one day cross the line with them; Shelayna Oskan-
By winning men’s javelin gold, Julius Yego won Kenya’s first world title in a field event. Clarke, knocking two seconds off her personal best to make the 800m final. What shape is the team in one year out from the Rio Olympics? On placement points, where eight points are allotted for first place in an event down to one for eighth, GB totalled 94 here in Beijing, their highest since the 95 of the 1993 Worlds. A decade ago the team came back from Helsinki with a tally of just 35. At the Worlds in Daegu, a year before the London Olympics, they recorded 69.5. There are both winners now and an encouraging depth. And there should be more to come. 3. Getting worse versus getting better Russia topped the medal table at the last Worlds in Moscow, with seven golds and 17 medals in total. This time? Ninth, with only two golds in a total of four. No Russian women won a medal over the first seven days. No Russian woman won a single track medal. These are seismic changes, and with an IAAF commission investigating
claims of endemic doping and cover-ups in the Russian federation even as more and more Russian athletes are being given bans, this may just be the start of something good coming out of something rather bad. Top of the table this time? Kenya, a reward for some fabulous individual performances but also, in this sport at this time, enough to ask the same questions that have been asked of others. Kenyan team members Joyce Zakary and Koki Manunga were the first athletes to fail drugs tests at these Worlds. Almost 40 Kenyan athletes have been banned in the past two years, many from below the top level, others - like 2013 and 2014 Boston and Chicago marathon winner Rita Jeptoo - from the peak. 4. Return of the champs It wasn’t just Farah, Rutherford and Ennis-Hill who came back with their best. In total there were 13 successful title defences from individual athletes, the stars out to shine one again: Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-
Pryce; Ashton Eaton and Asbel Kiprop; Zuzana Hejnova and Caterine Ibarguen. Any sport needs its greatest names at their best on its biggest stage. Track and field, after a summer that had seemed to bring only bad news, needs them more than most. 5. US upsets - serious problems The US have topped the medal table at 10 of the 14 World Championships in the 32 years since the first. Here they have finished third. The sport’s greatest superpower in crisis? Not quite, but there are serious problems. While the six golds won in Beijing match the tally from the 2013 Worlds, the US will leave with seven fewer medals overall. And those second successive six golds mark a worrying trend: down from 12 in 2011, 10 in 2009, 14 in 2007 and 14 again in 2005. Only one individual track gold was won. There was still Eaton, the finest all-round athlete in the world and sensational once again in breaking his own decathlon world record. But many other big names failed to win a medal: Jeff Henderson and Marquis Dendy in the long jump, Dawn Harper in sprint hurdles, Wallace Spearmon in the sprints, the men’s 4x100m quartet. It was summed up on the final evening when a women’s 4x400m team containing Sanya Richards-Ross, Natasha Hastings, Allyson Felix and Francena McCorory threw away what should have been a certain gold. Only Felix of the quartet was blameless. Rio will need to see a vast improvement. Medal table Country Gold Kenya 7 Jamaica 7 United States 6 Great Britain 4 Ethiopia 3
6. Rise of new stars and the questions it brings There was no doubting the finest single performance of the championships: Dafne Schippers powering to 200m gold in an extraordinary 21.63 seconds. It was a display which outdid even a men’s 400m that saw South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk win in 43.48 seconds and three men in the same race going under 44 seconds for the first time in history. Schippers’ was the fastest time the world has seen for 17 years. Only two women in history, Florence GriffithJoyner and Marion Jones, have ever run faster than the 23-year-old Dutchwoman, who also shattered Marita Koch’s 36-year-old European record. Because of where the sport is, because of what the sport has seen, the questions began almost immediately. This is a woman who switched her attention fulltime to the sprints in June this year having made her name as a heptathlete. She has knocked four-tenths of a second of her personal best in the space of a year, and become the first European woman to win a world sprint medal in 10 years. Both Schippers and her coach insist that she is clean. Maybe it is a shame that a performance so astounding produces such a response. Equally, the sport cannot claim to have learned from its past if it does not. 7. Hosts not with the most These were a good Worlds for China and almost a great one. While Hong Liu’s victory in the women’s 20km race walk brought the only gold, the hosts won seven silvers and a bronze. That compares to a solitary silver and three bronzes two years ago and one gold, two silvers and a bronze in 2011. That more of those second places could not be converted into gold medals kept the atmosphere in the Bird’s Nest in check. The stadium, just as seven years ago, looked spectacular. Just as at the 2008 Olympics, the home crowd responded with polite enthusiasm rather than raucous noise. Perhaps Continued on page 39
Silver 6 2 6 1 3
Bronze 3 3 6 2 2
Total 16 12 18 7 8
Page 42
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Berto ‘on a mission’ to El Salvador reveals WCQ roster unseat Mayweather Pablo Punyed. (Photo: Mexsport)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Andre Berto. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Andre Berto will go into his Welterweight title fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas next week as a heavy underdog but also as a man “on a mission” as he bids to end his fellow American’s perfect 48-0 record. Berto, 31, he has blinkered himself from all the hype and hoopla that usually surrounds the build-up to a Mayweather bout and claims he has never been fitter as he prepares to step into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 12. “I’ve had a tremendous training camp, a long camp but a tremendous camp,” twice former Welterweight
world champion Berto told reporters on a conference call yesterday. “I’ve never run harder. I’m definitely in the best shape that I’ve ever been in. “I’ve worked with a lot of different sparring partners. Floyd is a very skilled fighter but I think I bring a combination of speed and power to the table. I think I have a better athletic ability. I can keep up with Floyd.” Mayweather, widely regarded as one of the best defensive fighters ever, will put his unbeaten record on the line against Berto, a man who has lost three of his last six fights and is viewed by some as an easy opponent for their Welterweight clash.
Should five-division world champion Mayweather win the WBC and WBA Welterweight title bout as expected, in what he has said will be the final fight of his career, he would match the 490 record of former heavyweight great Rocky Marciano. “It would be something huge, not just for me but for the sport,” Berto said, when asked how much value he would place on a surprise victory over Mayweather. “Floyd has been an icon for quite some time now and he’s on his way to try to match a record. So for me, being the gym-hungry fighter coming in to take that away from him, that would be huge.” Mayweather, who improved to 48-0 by beating Manny Pacquiao in a ‘megafight’ in May that took five years to finalize and became the richest bout in boxing, is known for his trash talking and his flamboyant approach to life outside the ring. Berto, however, prefers to leave all the hype to others while preparing for fights. “I don’t get caught up in all that,” said the American, who has a 30-3 record with 23 knockouts. “I don’t get caught up in all the hoopla and all the crazy shit. “I don’t want to get caught up and caught off guard. I’m on a mission.” (Reuters)
Stag Beer/Slingerz FC West Side inter-village football underway The 2nd Annual Stag Beer Westside InterVillage 5-a-side football tournament commenced on Sunday at the Vergenoegen Rice Mill Tarmac with four matches. De Kenderan edged Vergenoegen Gun and Rose 2-1 while Samaroo Dam got the better of Tuschen Rising Star, Pouderoyen Show Stoppers overcame Vergenoegen Allstar and Sara Lodge defeated Pouderoyen Admirals. The tournament continues tonight from 19:00hrs at the said venue with West Bank
Raiders facing Westside Ballers, Patentia Street Ballers playing Ansa Mc Al, Jetty Gunners matching skills with Shatta Ville and Gunners doing battle with Crane Brothers United. The tournament will conclude on Sunday while admission to all matches is free. The competition is being sponsored by Ansa Mc Al, Gulf Motor Oil, Two Brothers Gas Station, Double Day Rentals, Choice Waters and Slingerz entertainment.
Rebels overcome Blenheim by 70 runs Rebels defeated Blenheim by 70 runs when the Phyllis Carter T20 competition commenced on Sunday on the Island of Leguan, Essequibo. Batting first, Rebels posted 217-9 off their allotted overs at Enterprise. Sultan Ali stroked 89 while Paranoid Roop scored 39. B. Chitbahal grabbed 4-33 and Mahendra Singh 2-40. Blenheim were bowled out for 147 in 18 overs in reply. Satesh Latchana cracked 38 and Hemraj Sharma 33; Amit Roop claimed 330 and Parmanand Roop 2-23. Maryville and Young Warriors had the
settle for one point each after their fixture which was scheduled for 09:30 hrs at the said venue was rained out. Young Warriors reached 63-4 off nine overs, batting first when the contest was halted. Teams have been divided into two groups with Satro, Rebels and Blenheim in group A and Young Warriors, Maryville and Falcons in group B. The competition continues on Sunday at Enterprise with Falcons facing Maryville at 09:30 hrs and Blenheim playing Satro at 14:00hrs.
San Salvador, El Salvador – El Salvador will bring a 22member squad to Curacao for the opener of their World Cup Qualifying, third-round series on September 4 in Willemstad, the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol announced Sunday. It will be the Cuscatlecos’ first game under head coach Jorge Rodriguez, who was appointed to the post on August 21 after Albert Roca resigned a month earlier. The roster contains five players from Isidro Metapan, the club that the 44-year-old also manages. David Rugamas – one of three forwards in the side — scored for the Jaguares in a 2-1 loss to Tigres in the Scotiabank CONCACAF
Champions League on August 18. An additional five players were selected from FAS, including forward Jose Peña. The 20-year-old netted the game-winning goal in El Salvador’s 2-1 victory over Australia in 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. El Salvador, which advanced to the third round of qualifying by overcoming St. Kitts & Nevis (agg: 6-3), will host the Curacaoans in the second leg on September 8. EL SALVADOR ROSTER GOALKEEPERS: Luis Contreras (FAS), Henry Hernandez (Isidro Metapan). DEFENDERS: Francisco Jovel Alvarez (Isidro Metapan), Jonathan Barrios (Isidro Metapan), Ibsen
Castro (Aguila), Moises Xavier Garcia (FAS), Alexander Larin (FC Juarez/ Mexico), Alexander Mendoza (FAS), Henry Romero (Aguila). MIDFIELDERS: Jaime Alas (Municipal/Guatemala), Arturo Alvarez (no club), Darwin Ceren (Orlando City SC/USA), Marlon Cornejo (Santa Tecla), Andres Flores (New York Cosmos/USA), Richard Menjivar (Tampa Bay Rowdies/USA), Pablo Punyed (Stjarnan/Iceland), Narciso Orellana (Isidro Metapan), Raul Renderos (FAS), Herbert Sosa (Alianza). FORWARDS: Irvin Herrera (Santa Tecla), Jose Peña (FAS), David Rugamas (Isidro Metapan). (CONCACAF)
U.S. and Swiss prosecutors to speak on corruption probes The United States and Swiss Attorneys General will both speak about their investigations into soccer corruption, which have rocked FIFA, at an event in Zurich this month, the Swiss attorney general’s office has disclosed. U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch and her Swiss counterpart Michael Lauber will hold a joint news conference on Sept. 14, Lauber’s office said in a statement. FIFA was thrown into turmoil on May 27 when 14 sports marketing executives and soccer officials, including several from FIFA, were indicted in the U.S. on bribery, moneylaundering and wire-fraud charges involving more than $150 million in payments. Seven of those accused were arrested by Swiss police in a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel two days before the FIFA Congress where Sepp Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as president. The Swiss investigation is focusing on the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar, made at the Congress in Zurich on
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Reuters/Yuri Gripas Dec. 2, 2010. “The focus will be on the two separate criminal proceedings,” said the Swiss attorney general’s office in its statement. Four days after being reelected, Blatter made a shock announcement in which he said he would resign. His successor will be chosen at an extraordinary FIFA Congress on Feb 26. Last month, Reuters reported that the Swiss investigation had hit some roadblocks,
according to U.S. and European sources familiar with the matter. Barriers to progress included reduced levels of collaboration with U.S. authorities who are conducting a parallel probe that is much more advanced, and an increasing acknowledgment by prosecutors in Berne that their powers under Swiss law were constrained in this kind of case. (Reuters)
Wednesday September 02, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 43
Dozens benefit as 18th Hearts Of Oak GFSCA to field two teams at Toronto Cup ‘Teach Them Young’ football camp concludes The Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will field two teams in the inaugural Toronto Cup which will be played on September 4 - 6. The tournament which is being hosted by the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC) will be played in two categories; Open and Over-44. Floodlight Legends and Floodlight Masters are the teams that will represent the GFSCA, and will both compete in the Over-44 category along with teams from the USA and Canada. Trophies and cash prizes of over US$5,000 will be up for taking. The preliminary rounds will be played on Friday and Saturday morning while the semi-finals will be contested on Saturday
afternoon with the tournament culminating on Sunday at the University of Toronto ground. Ashtonbee Park, Littles Park, Woburn Park and Ellesmere will host matches in the preliminary stage. The teams will come from; Lakhram Singh, Lalta Gainda, Ramesh Sunich, Ramchand Ragbeer, Ricky Deonarain, Rohan Boj-Raj, Jailall Deodass, Ago Gopaul, Steve Narine, Pithamber Maharaj, Surendra Nauth, Yuniss Yusuf, Pooran Singh, Abdool Khan, Roger Sunich, Shakar Chowbay, Mark Lube, Rajen Paul, Ravi Lutchman, Hux Lutchman, Sydney Jackman jr, Teekchand Madho, Unos Baksh, Sudesh Persaud and Jerry Gaznabi. Managers Vannessia Narine (Floodlights Legends), Savitri Nauth (Floodlight Masters).
Ishant Sharma banned for one Test after Sri Lanka row
Ishant Sharma had to be spoken to while batting by umpire Nigel Llong. India’s Ishant Sharma has been banned for one Test following an altercation with three Sri Lanka players during his side’s series-sealing victory in Colombo. The seamer, 26, was punished for giving a send-off to opener Upul Tharanga - his third offence in the three-match Test series which India won 2-1. Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal has also been banned after barging Ishant. His team-mates Lahiru Thirimanne and Dhammika Prasad received fines. They lost 50% of their match fees for their conduct during the clash with Ishant. Prasad had bowled three consecutive bouncers to India tailender Ishant, who responded by smacking his helmet repeatedly. As Ishant hurried off the field when the India innings ended, Prasad sprinted behind him and television pictures showed the two players speaking to each other outside the dressing rooms. When he bowled, Ishant gave a big send-off to Tharanga and celebrated dismissing Chandimal by again striking his head. Ishant will miss India’s first Test against South Africa in Mohali from 5 November, with Chandimal suspended for the one-day international between Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Colombo on 1 November. India captain Virat Kohli said the incidents had benefitted his team because it fired up Ishant in Sri Lanka’s second innings. “An angry fast bowler is a captain’s delight,” Kohli said after his team’s series-clinching 117-run victory at the Sinhalese Sports Club. “It happened at the right time because we had to bowl after that. I was very happy that he had an aggressive mindset.” (BBCsport)
A rank from the Guyana Police Force during the presentation of certificates to the participants.
The programme commenced on July 20th with 48 participants and 5 weeks later, at the close of the 18th edition of the Annual Hearts of Oak Masters ‘Teach them Young’ football Summer camp, a record 104 persons received certificates while the more outstanding ones were given special gifts. Activities were coordinated by former national football player Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey with assistance from Colin Bowery, Heatcliff Peters, Michael Erskine, Stayman Adams, Simone Bowlers, Lindsey Dougherty and Jenifer Wade. Several female inmates of the New Amsterdam Prison also comprised a part of the programme. Mr. Humphrey intimated that the programme’s pivotal objective was to help
participants inculcate the fundamental rules and regulations while enhancing their knowledge base of the game. The coordinator also noted that participants have improved in their overall skills and seem to be appreciative of the tenets of sportsmanship and sound human relations skills. The coordinator experimented with several techniques in the dispensation of pertinent knowledge and the participants were further divided into three sections- 4-8-yrs, 9-12-years and those over 12 years. During the practical sessions the students were tutored in techniques in several areas including receiving, passing, shooting, dribbling, heading, overlapping, goal keeping, throwing, and taking the ball on the thigh and chest among others. They were also
schooled in defensive techniques, attacking and overlapping. Mr. Humphrey emphasized the importance of learning the rules since it is on these guides that players are able to perfect their game. He also underlined the importance of discipline, etiquette, and good table manners, all important in the all round developmental process. The students were further schooled on the adverse effects of the dreaded HIV/ AIDS disease and warned of the detriments of improper sex practices. During the closing ceremony the youths were congratulated and encouraged to encompass the recently acquired lessons in their daily activities. The facilitators also urged them to focus on their
academic development to enhance their personal lives. They were also told to be good ambassadors and to share what they have learnt with those unable to have been a part of the sessions. Mr. Bowery then delivered a review of the programme and expressed gratitude to those organizations and individuals that contributed towards the success of the camp. He also expressed gratitude to the Alphonso family for their donation of several pairs of sneakers to outfit several Under-12 players. Several other entities donated unselfishly towards the cause including the All Saints Primary School, All Saints Presbyterian Church, Metro Office Supplies and the Department of Culture Youth and Sports.
Sri Lanka v India: Tourists secure series with victory in Colombo
India secured their first Test series victory in Sri Lanka since 1993 with a 117-run win in the deciding match. Sri Lanka began the last day in Colombo on 67-3, needing a further 319 to win. Skipper Angelo Mathews (110) completed his seventh Test century and put on 135 with debutant Kusal Perera (70), but the home side were all out for 268. India’s Ishant Sharma and Sri Lanka’s Dhammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne face misconduct charges after angry exchanges. On the penultimate day at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Ishant took a single off Prasad and smacked his own head repeatedly, apparently challenging him to bowl bouncers. Words were exchanged
India celebrating the victory. before Chandimal - who had been fielding at slip - joined in and brushed shoulders with Ishant. The India seamer had been fined 65% of his match fee for the second Test after clashing with Chandimal and Thirimanne. India levelled the three-
match series in Kumar Sangakkara’s final Test last month and a second successive win in Colombo meant they overturned a 1-0 series deficit for only the third time. It also gave Virat Kohli a first series victory as Test captain.
“The kind of attitude and the character the team has shown, I’m proud of the boys,” he said. India 312 & 274: Ashwin 58, Pradeep 4-62. Sri Lanka 201 & 268: Mathews 110, I Sharma 3-32. India won by 117 runs. (BBCsport)
Page 44
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 02, 2015
TTCB hails Bravo and Teams seeking to make Caribbean athletes emphatic statements tonight as GT Beer / Petra Organisation Futsal Competition
Dwayne Bravo
Couva, Trinidad - The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) has congratulated Dwayne Bravo on being awarded the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for his outstanding contribution to the game of cricket. The 31-year-old, who is from Santa Cruz, is a world class all-round cricketer whose talent is sought after by cricket franchises in the T20 format all around the world where his exuberant style of play has characterized Trinidad and Tobago cricket. Earlier this year Bravo led T&T’s Red Steel cricket team to victory in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) regional T20 tournament from last place, to lift the championship crown in the semi-final play-offs and final in front of his home crowd at the Queen’s Park Oval in Portof-Spain. On Monday, President of the T&TCB Azim Bassarath said that the national honour given to Bravo is welldeserved and will help to motivate other young cricketers to work hard and establish themselves much like he has done over the years. Bassarath said Bravo’s talent and drive for success was noted since he was a youngster having
represented T&T at cricket at the Under-15 and Under-19 levels before playing for the senior national team and eventually being elevated to captain. The local cricket chief said that Bravo’s leadership qualities and vital contribution to the team with both bat and ball, was also highlighted by his spectacular fielding which did not go unnoticed by the regional selectors. “It was just a matter of time before he was handed the captain’s armband for the West Indies 50-Overs team, and was one of three T&T captains of West Indies teams which also included Denesh Ramdin (Test) and Merissa Aguilleria (Women), all in one calendar year,” said Bassarath. The T&TCB President also paid tribute to Bravo’s multi-talented persona as an entertaining performing artiste, having recently recorded a cross-over Chutney hit with Nisha Bissambhar which was launched both in T&T and in India and adopted by the Chennai Super Kings for which he plays in the Indian Premier League. He also has signed a recording contract with a Los Angeles, USAbased label. Bravo also has a longstanding relationship with
Jamaican dance hall music artiste Beenie Man with whom he has performed and whom he credits for encouraging him to further his latent musical talent. Bassarath also took the opportunity on Monday to extend on behalf of the T&TCB, warmest congratulations to the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) and the national men’s 4X400 metres, and women’s 4X100 metres relay teams which earned silver and bronze medals respectively at the IAAF World Athletic Champions which ended on Sunday in Beijing, China. The T&T quartet of Renny Quow, La Londe Gordon, Dion Lendore and Machel Cedenio pulled out all the stops in the iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium on a rainy night to grab silver behind the USA in a new national record. Bassarath said he was thrilled on hearing the comments of Gordon who said after the race that the team was motivated by the expectation of the T&T public which pushed them to their best performance yet. “It was a commitment and focus that produced a world class performance in difficult conditions which showed that these young men are conscious of their responsibilities to the public of T&T who have invested much in them, which they have repaid big time,” Bassarath. The leading cricket administrator noted that it was the first time that the women were medalling in the relay event at the games and their team of Kelly Ann Baptiste, Michelle Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and Seemoy Hackett deserves the best commendations for their exceptional effort, bettered only by the USA and Jamaica. (TTCB)
preliminary phase concludes With the final stanza of the preliminary phase of the inaugural GT Beer / Petra Organisation Futsal Competition scheduled to be played this evening, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, teams aiming to advance to the next stage will no doubt be seeking to make emphatic statements to would be contenders. In the opening encounter, West Back Road takes on BV and that will be followed by the clash between Sophia and Broad Street. The third game will feature West Front Road and West Demerara’s Showstoppers and in the final game of the night, Bent Street square off against North Ruimveldt. West Back Road will rest their hopes on the performances of Jason Tyrell, Eron Hayde, Odel Young, Jamal Haynes and Phillip Rowley, all of whom has shown good form of late, while BV’s pursuit of victory will depend on the likes of Delroy Deen, Warren Gilkes and Devon Griffith. In the encounter to follow, Sophia should have an easy time against Broad Street that has not been able to replicate the kind of class that made
them so formidable a few years ago. The East Georgetownbased Sophia unit has proven time and again that they are a team made up of players that like to score plenty goals. Sheik and Joshua Kamal, Shemroy Arthur, Omallo Williams and Dwayne Lowe are no joke and their individual abilities usually cause headaches for opposing defences and Broad Street’s backline in this tournament has leaked a number of goals even against weaker teams so fans could expect a goal feast from Sophia. The experienced Jimmy Gravesande, who has looked way below par recently, is anticipated to be at the forefront of their charge for a consolation win along with support from Leon Richardson and Ryan Jones. The real business end starts with the third game between West Front Road and Showstoppers and this encounter could provide breathtaking stuff. Randolph Wagner, Michael Oie, Michael and Hubert Pedro are all tested and proven players of immense talent and quality, but Showstoppers have shown that they are an
improving team and not afraid to mix it up with the more established units in this format. Once again, Anthony Sancho, Dexroy Adams, Marvin Josiah and Damian Williams are expected to lead their quest for a win and vital points so a close battle is in the making. What more could be said about the night’s feature which brings together Bent Street and North Ruimveldt. Bent Street will be led by O’Kenie Fraser, Frank Crandon, Colin Nelson, Daniel Wilson and Sheldon Profitt and they will have to play to the best of their abilities to repel a strong North Ruimveldt unit that has in their lineup experienced players such as Gerald Grittens, Orin Massiah, Joshua Browne and Linris Carrington. It should be a bruising affair and one not to miss. Among the other sponsors are NAMILCO and Trophy Stall of Bourda Market. The winner of the tournament will take home $500,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers receive $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.
Chelsea acquires Jamaica int’l Hector
Jamaica international Michael Hector (right). (Photo: Mexsport)
T&T’s silver medalists Renny Quow, Lalonde Gordon, Deon Lendore and Machel Cedenio pose on during the medal ceremony for the Men’s 4x400. Lintao Zhang
London - European power Chelsea announced yesterday that it has signed Jamaica international Michael Hector to a fiveyear deal from Reading. As part of the agreement, the 23-year-old defender was loaned back to the English Championship side for the remainder of the 2015/16 season. Hector, who was born in London, started his career in the Millwall youth ranks and then joined the Reading academy in 2009. Prior to making his Reading debut in January 2014, Hector was loaned to numerous clubs, including Barnet, Shrewsbury Town, Aldershot Town and Cheltenham Town, as
well as Ireland’s Dundalk and Aberdeen of Scotland. Last season, he became an established component of the Reading defence, making 49 appearances in all competitions and scoring three goals. Hector started all three of Jamaica’s matches at the 2015 Copa America and, afterwards, was instrumental in the Reggae Boyz’s runner-up finish in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In that competition, he appeared in four games, including the historic 2-1 semifinal win over the United States and the 3-1 loss to Mexico in the final. (CONCACAF)