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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The plight of the working poor In Guyana, life is a continuous struggle for survival, especially for the poor and the working class. The struggle is oftentimes punctuated by spells of frustrations and suffering as a result of neglect by the authorities. Giving up on their dreams and aspirations should never be an option. Guyanese from all walks of life and from various ethnic backgrounds have big dreams and ambitions, but limited means to achieve them. The struggle is made even more difficult when those things they seek to achieve remain elusive, not because of their own failures, but because of the sloppiness of others, especially those who are in positions to lead. Nowhere else is this perpetual struggle more visible than among the masses in Guyanese; so much so, that it has become a permanent part of their socio-economic malaise. Many in Guyana feel economically and socially isolated and deprived by the very systems that are supposed to serve them, and as a result have become permanent strugglers; working to satisfy the most basic of their needs. This is so, because of the country’s declining economic growth rate and the failure of the State to generate sufficient improvements to improve the lives of the masses. It is no wonder why so many people have literally given up on Guyana to the extent that they do not even bother to listen to those in authority anymore. Many are at their wits end and do not know what to do. As the pressures from the various struggles reach boiling point, and goal attainment appears unachievable, it is common for criminal and other illegal activities to surface and take root. This may appear incredibly strange to some, but the fact is that the State has a responsibility to organize its resources in a manner that can up lift the economy, create employment for the youths and improve the lives of the masses. Lest those in authority forget, it is the social and political institutions that set the context for individual and group behavior and are supposed to provide the resources that the people need to survive. Therefore, how they act and live are shaped, in large part, by the social structures in which they find themselves. As harsh and as brutal as this may be, it is reality and the political directorate must be careful not to make the people who voted for them and continue supported them feel like they are hopeless. It is as unfortunate as it is true, that a majority of Guyanese continue to see life as a constant and unforgiving struggle against poverty and economic marginalization. Many have resorted to blaming the coalition government which they have elected to office in the last election. The government talks about change only when it satisfies its political or selfish interests. These issues are not alien to the public or the government; they have become institutionalized. Even the smallest tasks are rife with unnecessary complications as many have had their basic human needs go unmet and have suffered from inadequate access to resources and are excluded from the decision-making process. These unjust structural arrangements have contributed to class discrimination, lack of education, inadequate employment opportunities and very low wages. For many, it is as though no matter how hard they have tried, the system continues to oppress and work against them and their efforts. The struggle continues for the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who subscribed to the system but get little in return in terms of social amenities because of the national debt, underdevelopment, scarce resources, high cost of crime and violence, and disregard for the rule of law. But no matter how painful the struggle is, the people cannot shrink from their responsibility to their families, friends and the country.
Thursday September 03, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
“Mr. Rohee, why not give it a shot?” DEAR EDITOR, In your September 1, 2015, issue, page 3, I read with elevated optimism about the gun amnesty program and the proffered pros and cons of this initiative. With equal chagrin, I also read the conclusion arrived at by Mr. Rohee, thereby propelling me to write. As a caveat, though a Guyanese by birth, I have lived in the United stated for over 35 years and am apolitical and rarely write/comment on the goings on in Guyana. However, permit me space in your newspaper to respectfully disagree with the singular opinion of former Minister, Mr. Clement Rohee, and the collective opinion of the law enforcement establishment that, supposedly, concurred thereof. I will make references to two such instances that come to mind...one in Canarsie (a predominantly white neighborhood), Queens and another in the Bedford Stuyvesant area (predominantly black neighborhood), in Brooklyn. In one instance, money
was exchanged for the weapons and ordnance handed in. And clothes and foodstuff were exchanged at the other location. Religious groups were influential in the success of these initiatives and, personally, I measured success when the first bullet and handgun was handed in. But I ask; how does one arrive at a formula to deem this initiative a success? Is any established benchmark truly a measurement of success? I believe that even if ONE SINGLE BULLET IS TURNED IN, THAT IS ONE POTENTIAL LIFE SAVED, ONE LESS DROP OF BLOOD SPILLED AND ONE LESS TRAUMA FOR ALL! This redirects my acute focus to the Guyana conundrum. Revisions of the prior conclusion of this phenomenon (unsuccessful gun amnesty) should not be met by derision, deconstructive criticism, theory or s u p p o s i t i o n ( M r. R o h e e ’s proclamation), but by providing empirical evidence to the contrary. In the absence of living proof, in the
Guyanese context, Mr. Rohee’s statement on this issue remains unacceptably careless and hollow. On the contrary, however, I applaud and commend the Honorable Minister, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and the Granger-led administration, for reviving and pursuing this initiative to completion. The lives of all Guyanese should not be a political gambit for any faction or population segment, but should be embraced as critical components for an evolving Guyana. Bitter as the brew is for the PPP/CIVIC to drink from, Guyana is inclusive of all and their failure to win the May 2015 election should be considered as a collective opportunity for their introspection and growth. The lives and welfare of their loved ones will be, I believe, just as endangered as that of all Guyanese...and if Mr. Rohee is speaking on behalf of the Opposition Party, I say, ‘Mr. Rohee, why not give it a shot?” (no pun intended) . Jonathan Subrian
This Sergeant is turning a deaf ear to noise nuisance DEAR EDITOR, Allow me to highlight to the general Guyanese nation about a Police Sergeant who works at the Charity Police Station in the Essequibo (G Division) district. Mr Editor, there is a Hotel/Bar and Disco obliquely opposite the Charity Catholic Church, just a short distance over the other side of the public road, and a public cottage hospital not too far off from this said disco. The Charity Police Station is a stone’s throw away as the same with the
two other places stated above. Mr Editor, every Monday after the Magistrate’s Court is adjourned, this disco will start to play loud and thunderous music; the music would be so loud that people living at least half mile from this disco would feel the vibrations of the music; so imagine what is happening to the residents close by. Mr Editor, during the hours of this lawlessness, the Sergeant could be seen patrolling the area of this disco but does not have the initiative to know right from wrong as he seems to enjoy what is
happening in front of him. My concern and questions of this Sergeant are; does this man carry any pride with him with his uniform on? Is he not ashamed to encourage this kind of lawlessness taking place in full view of his eyes? Does he have a connection to God, knowing that the Catholic Priest complains bitterly about this situation and he just listens and does nothing about it? If you cannot protect a place of worship with the long arms of the law in (Continued on page 23)
Wrong to compare recruitment strategies of Police with GDF DEAR EDITOR I carefully read a letter in the Kaieteur News, August 26, 2015 written by Patrick E. Mentore under the caption “G.P.F can probably learn from the G.D.F in terms of attracting manpower” and the police rapid response the following day in the same newspapers to certain sections of the missive. It may not be the right approach to compare the recruitment strategies of the Guyana Police Force with that of the Guyana Defence Force. They are miles apart. Colin Croft a former West Indies fast bowler once wrote that the difference between first class cricket and test match is about five hundred miles. This may be applicable to the recruitment process between the police and the army. Both parties recruit for the respective roles they are required to play as stipulated in the Laws of Guyana and what society expects of them. Therefore, their strategies to induct persons into their organizations must be vastly different. I served for a number of years as the Training Officer of the G.P.F with
responsibility for recruitment, and also acted as Chairman of the Joint Services Training Committee. I am au fait with the recruitment, training policies and procedures of the Joint Services. The only standard entry level into the Joint Services is the Standard Military Officers Course - the Cadet Officers’ Course. The recruitment issues and concerns faced by the G.P.F. are many. They may be economical, logistical, ethical, cultural, political, racial, competition with private security services and the perceived negative image of the Force as portrayed by certain sections of the print and electronic media. These challenges are surmountable. The writer subtly touched on strategic management in the country’s number one law enforcement agency - the police. The G.P.F is in the middle of its five years Strategic Plan. The key strategic priorities are: operation priorities, developing partnerships, performance, infrastructure, and developing people. In relation to the latter, it has a key activity entitled Recruitment and Retention, which targeted ten critical
areas for action. I would be surprised if despite over twenty five monthly intrusions by Home Affairs a recruitment strategy was not designed, developed and implemented by the GPF. In addition, the question that may be asked is how many milestones the Strategic Management has passed since its implementation. I am certain that with the new dispensation, clearer vision and strategic thinking, the paradigm has shifted or will be shifted to take the GPF from where it is to where it ought to be. Although, I am a police pensioner, I hold no brief for the GPF or the writer, whoever he or she may be. I have a little interest in security. On occasions I express my views in the media which I now do. Like most citizens, my family and I want to live in safe orderly neighbourhoods. Reducing crime and the fear of crime is a very important measure the police must strive to master. It is a sine qua non. Strategic Management and Strategic Thinking is the way forward for the police. C l i n t o n C o n w a y, A s s i s t a n t Commissioner of Police (Retired.)
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Offer a one-month conditional amnesty to criminals DEAR EDITOR, The Public Security Ministry has declared a month-long Gun Amnesty Programme to pull in illegal firearms with the hope of reducing the surge of gun related crime. Hard-core criminals are expected to walk in to a police station and simply hand over their tools of the trade, or risk being “prosecuted in accordance with the laws when the one-month amnesty is up.” It is ludicrous for anyone to believe this will ever happen. As it is, most
persons caught with illegal firearms are already “prosecuted in accordance with the laws”, except those who are connected enough to be represented by a well known criminal defence lawyer. So nothing is new here. This programme as advertised, is visionless and will bear no fruit. The fact that there is a big demand for illegal weapons in the criminal underground, is enough reason to believe that criminals will either hide the guns they now have in their possession until they are
Let’s put an end to Guyana’s Prison Tourism Industry DEAR EDITOR, I seriously feel we need to move away from this “Prison Tourism Industry” in Guyana. Guyana is one of the few, if not only country in the World where you can find a Prison in the heart of the city“Prison Tourism”. As Guyanese celebrated another Mashramani on February 23, 2002, five prisoners namely Andrew Douglas, Dale Moore, Shawn Browne, Mark Fraser and Troy Dick sought the opportunity to escape by storming the prison gate, shooting a female guard in the process and stabbed to death a male guard. I lived on Durban Street, a couple corners from Camp Street at that time, and I can tell you it was very uncomfortable and frightening to be on the road for a long time after they escaped. Some of you may also remember the havoc they caused in our dear country. November 2013 saw another set of inmates setting ablaze sections of the Prison as a form of protest, which could have led to an even more serious prison break. There was another fire at the prison in March 2015. If you are a frequent passer-by of the prison you can attest to hearing prisoners shout out to you asking you to make a phone call for them and just causally hustling women. Further, I remember the Nut Centre, a business on Camp Street opposite the prison had to shut its door because the road was blocked at the corners of Camp and Durban Streets and so was business.
Prisoners attempt prison breaks and start up riots in prisons all over the world but most prisons are not in the heart of any city. It is my view that the prison continues to stand as a great danger to everyone within its environs and is a tragedy waiting to happen AGAIN. Let me turn my attention to New Amsterdam, Berbice, since it is basically the same problem. A few weeks back, two prisoners escaped. One was recaptured a few days after but then another two escaped. It has been said that the second two who escaped are more dangerous than the first two. Ironically, I’m now spending some time in New Amsterdam not too far from the Prison. The police had a massive search for the prisoners all day into the evening, which I’m sure disturbed a lot of the residents in the community due to the sound of a helicopter hovering over with very bright lights. The bottom line is Prisons in the heart of the city is not safe for the citizenry of any country. I call on the current Government to look into this issue and come up with a relocation plan and a new prison system. In closing, I’d suggest that these current Prisons be transformed into homes for vagrants, Mentally Ill and homeless persons. Further, we have enough land for the prisons to become self-sufficient by producing its own food and even selling its produce. Let’s put an end to Guyana’s Prison Tourism Industry. Clayon F. Halley
ready to commit another crime, or simply dump them in a trench if their identity is compromised. There is no incentive for anyone to comply with this scheme. Here’s why: for this programme to succeed, the Public Security Minister needs to adopt a “Carrot and Stick” approach, and offer monetary incentives for criminals to risk exposure. An amount of $20,000 can be offered for every functional gun turned in, and $10,000 for every defective gun, because a defective weapon can be used very effectively in the act of committing a crime. When a victim stares down the barrel of a gun, there is no way to determine whether or not the gun actually works. The private sector can be persuaded to get involved by sponsoring some of the money, because the more guns that are taken off the streets, the safer it will be for businesses to operate. But at the end of the amnesty, law enforcement must launch an aggressive campaign to recover illegal firearms, and prosecute the
criminals to the full extent of the law. During this period, police officers should be offered the same incentive if, through their own initiative and good police work, they apprehend someone with an illegal firearm. Police officers who put their personal safety on the line to get these weapons out of the hands of criminals, deserve to be recognized and justly rewarded to encourage others to do the same, especially now that the 20% salary increase they were promised, turned out to be just another campaign lie. Another innovative suggestion that is likely to take dangerous criminals off the street and behind bars where they belong, requires some vision and the courage by the Public Security Minister to implement. We’re all aware that there are several unsolved murders in Guyana. While some may remain that way, I am confident that the Guyana Police have reasonable suspicion of who may have committed the majority of those crimes, and are working vigorously to get the evidence
necessary to secure an arrest and conviction. Many are wanted for questioning by the police, and they are aware that their freedom will soon come to an end. But until then, they will continue their criminal activities, robbing and killing their victims until they’re caught because they see no way out of the predicament they’re in. While some career criminals will never change, I believe most would if given a chance to turn their lives around. So here is a challenge for the Honourable Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Public Security. Offer a one-month conditional amnesty to criminals wanted by the police for crimes committed such as murder; aggravated assault; armed robbery and rape. Publish their names and photographs in the press and offer them leniency. After turning themselves in for trial, the police will follow through on their promise and offer a substantial reduction in sentence to those who surrender. But this must go
along with mandatory counseling and training geared at rehabilitation, which will help to re-establish the prisoners back into society; giving them hope, a new skill, and the opportunity for a new life. Upon their release, the prisoners would be placed on supervised probation with electronic monitoring for three to five years. If probation is violated, they would be arrested to complete the full term of their sentence. Here is the logic behind this: To put it simply, the bad boys would be taken off the streets, resulting in a reduction in murders and other brutal crimes, making communities much safer. Why some people commit crimes regardless of the consequences while others never commit a crime, no matter how desperate their circumstances, is an ongoing study by criminologists the world over. Some of the reasons a person is likely to commit a crime include greed, desperation, anger, jealously, (Continued on page 23)
Leadership of a vindictive and unprofessional nature makes for stymied development DEAR EDITOR, Regardless of Clinton Conway’s intentions, “The GPF is in the middle of its Five Year Strategic Plan”, he has succeeded admirably in supporting Patrick E. Mentore’s contentions about the need for the GPF to implement a realistic recruitment strategy. Conway alludes to some of the same inhibitors to attracting suitable candidates to the police force but stops far short of identifying the successful strategies he developed and implemented during his tenure as “Training Officer with responsibility for recruitment … and Chairman of the Joint Services Training Committee.” His preoccupation with the milestones passed since the implementation of the strategic management ignores the fact that any
process will only go as far as the leadership of the GPF permits. Intransigent leadership of a vindictive and unprofessional nature makes for stymied development and stagnation. I posed a few questions in my first letter on this issue and the nation still awaits the pronouncements by the GPF on what recruitment and retention strategies it has formulated and the associated benchmarks and timelines. Conway makes the subtle insinuation about political interference when he mentions monthly intrusions by the Ministry of Home Affairs which should have resulted in a recruitment strategy. It is not the Minister who has to develop the strategy, but the police. I fail to see the relevance to his reference to the
standard entry level into the Joint Service. What point is he making? Editor, There is absolutely no attempt by Mentore to compare recruitment and retention strategies between the GDF and the GPF, but there is an unsophisticated attempt to lay this spurious intent at the man’s door. Conway takes a similar dig like the GPF when he names the writer as Patrick E. Mentore, but is conspicuously vague when he mentions “whoever he or she may be”, bringing into question his protestation of holding no brief for the GPF. However, he regains some degree of credibility when he asserts the importance of
strategic management and strategic thinking as the way forward for the GPF. It is now up to the GPF to demonstrate that it is prepared to operate within a new paradigm in keeping with the democratic vision of a new dispensation. Edmund Syfox
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 03, 2015
GPHC’s Khan not yet US urge Govt., Opposition asked to proceed on to collaborate more leave - Minister admits New Govt. hitting right notes …
Just over 100 days after the David Granger administration took office, the US believes that the country is hitting the right notes and moving in the right direction. But true development will only be realized if both Government and the Opposition find common grounds to work on. Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt, was on Tuesday responding to questions about his thoughts of the political situation and development in Guyana. The US had been especially vocal in its calls for reforms and early Local Government Elections. The embassy has been collaborating with local bodies to combat crime, poverty and other social issues. Hunt, during a sit-down with Kaieteur News, believed that on the oil development and natural resources side, the country is heading in the right direction, especially with the provisional policies adopted. He was quick to point out that 100 days in office for any new Government is not enough to address every societal problems existing in Guyana. The diplomat noted that the National Budget was an excellent start with significant allocations made in critical areas like education, health and infrastructure. “…It is a good indication they want to put monies into projects that matter for the
Guyanese people.” Hunt also lauded Guyana’s policies to combat trans-national organized crime, describing the results as “very, very positive”. Collaboration, including intelligence sharing, have been netting results in areas of narco and firearm trafficking and money laundering. “The decisions to focus on some vulnerable communities…the National Toshaos Conference… Women’s Conference, the Social Cohesion conference…- all of those are very important to build a broad-based coalition to move Guyana forward,” the official said. The US also appears to be pleased that President Granger met with Opposition Leader and former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, earlier this week. The meeting saw a commitment from both Government and the Opposition to tackle the thorny Venezuela border controversy together. It was an unusual meeting as there have been few instances within the last four years that the Government and the Opposition have been seeing eye-to-eye, even when they were sitting on the other side in the National Assembly. Describing the meeting as a positive step, the Charge d’Affaires believed that continued collaboration could lead to quality debate in the National Assembly. The recent budget debate
- revealed letter prepared but not delivered
US Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt has evoked significant criticis m s a g a i n s t b o t h sides of the House, as it appear a show where the players were merely flexing their muscles rather than debating issues. “The best advice I can give at this time is that they are all Guyanese. They all have to live in this country and the choices that are made in Parliament are going to have an impact on the lives of Guyanese and will determine whether Guyanese enjoy the resources or not.” Hunt urged for both sides to not take policy decisions through the lens of political ideology or party or supporters but rather through questions of what is going to be the best for Guyana, as a whole.
Although Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Mr Michael Khan, was not in office yesterday, his absence had nothing to do with reports of him being asked to proceed on leave. The CEO yesterday admitted that he was on two days’ sick leave. However, he was not willing to comment on much else. Reports are that his sick leave commenced Tuesday and was expected to conclude yesterday. When asked to comment on the situation, yesterday, Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, said that it was factual that Khan was not formally informed of a decision for him to proceed on leave to facilitate a forensic audit of the hospital. He said that while a letter to this effect was prepared it was not delivered to Khan and that attempts were being made to do so yesterday. “The letter is on its way…he hasn’t physically got a letter but if he is in office I would make sure I get it to him today (yesterday),” said the Minister. He added that this decision was based on a recommendation from those conducting an audit at the health facility. “Generally if we are doing
an investigation, if who we are investigating might be considered to be impeding the investigation, we generally would send them on leave,” asserted the Minister. While Khan was not willing to comment on reports of him being sent on leave to facilitate a forensic audit of the GPHC’s procurement process, another official close to the operation of the hospital did disclose that the unfolding of the situation is “very upsetting.” This is in light of the fact, the official said, that the forensic audit commenced two months ago and at no point was there any correspondence indicating the need for the CEO to proceed on leave. Reports are that ahead of the start of the audit, Minister Norton had contacted the CEO informing him of a request made by Auditor General, Mr Deodat Sharma, to conduct a forensic audit of the procurement bond. “I found it rather strange that they are sending him off now and there is no evidence of any communication to that effect…we as managers here are wondering what’s going…we usually would have meetings to discuss developments like this but not in this case,” intimated the
GPHC’s CEO, Mr. Michael Khan official. This newspaper understands that Khan reported to work as per norm on Monday but on Tuesday, he reported sick. It was while he was at home information surfaced that he had been sent on leave, a source confirmed. Kaieteur News was told earlier this week that Khan was sent on leave to facilitate an audit being conducted into the procurement and storage of medication and other medical supplies. Last November, Khan was asked to proceed on two months’ leave by the then Chairman of the hospital’s board, Nirmal Rekha, to facilitate an investigation. However, Khan was immediately reinstated by Public Service Minister in the People’s Progressive Party Civic regime, Dr. Jennifer Westford.
Guyanese, 70, killed in Trinidad’s shuttle accident Trinidad (Trinidad Express) - Police are investigating the death of a 70-year-old man, who was killed Tuesday morning after he was struck by a shuttle from the Chaguaramas Development Authority
(CDA). According to police reports, around 4.45 a.m., Harold Weekes, of Carenage, was crossing Western Main Road in the vicinity of Ocean Breeze Hotel in Carenage. At the same time, a shuttle
from the CDA was proceeding in an easterly direction along the roadway. The shuttle, police said, was on its way to Port of Spain to pick up CDA employees at Independence Square, The shuttle struck
Weekes, throwing him several feet from the scene of impact. The police and Emergency Health Services were notified, but Weekes, said to be a Guyanese national, succumbed to his injuries and died on the scene. Acting Sgt. Superville is continuing investigations. When contacted, officials from the CDA confirmed the incident and expressed their condolences to Weekes’ relatives and loved ones. A release sent from the CDA’s corporate communications department stated: “The CDA wishes to express its deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mr Harold Weekes following his death this morning.” It added: “The CDA has offered counseling services to the driver through its Employees Assistance Programme.”
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Hundreds with “residency gaps” RECEIVE ANTIGUA CITIZENSHIP
Some of the new Antigua and Barbuda citizens who received their papers yesterday.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – Over 300 nationals from around the region and internationally Tuesday became citizens of Antigua and Barbuda in keeping with a promise made by the Gaston Browne administration to overlook their residency gaps once they paid all the relevant fees. A person qualifies for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship after lawfully residing in the country for at least seven years. During the campaign leading up to last year’s general election, the Antigua Labour Party had promised to “correct the injustice facilitated by the United Progressive Party administration which deemed those having
gaps within their residency period of not being eligible to become citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, even after living and making meaningful contributions to Antigua and Barbuda for over seven years and beyond”. The Gaston Browne administration introduced a citizenship amnesty legislation (Immigration and passport (Amendment) Act 2015) to facilitate the granting of citizenship to those affected. The legislation stipulated that nonnationals who, for whatever reason, had obtained gaps in their time could pay outstanding fees, making them eligible for citizenship. (Caribbean 360)
Guatemala President Perez Molina barred from travelling BBC News - A judge has barred Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina from leaving the country. The travel ban was imposed just hours after congress voted to remove his immunity from prosecution. Prosecutors accuse the president of masterminding a scheme to defraud the customs service of millions of dollars, which he denies. The president, whose term runs out in January, could now be summoned to appear before a court. A spokesman for Mr Perez
Molina said the president would be “very respectful and submit himself to the rule of law”. On Tuesday, all members of congress present at the vote endorsed a move to strip the president of his immunity. They included members of the president’s own party. A previous vote to remove his immunity failed last month. But since then, more details of the corruption scandal have emerged and calls for the president to resign have increased.
Otto Perez
Jack asks Prakash about US condo Trinidad Guardian Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner Tuesday night called on Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar to tell the public whether he owns a US$125,000 condo in Miami which was purchased on June 8, 2012. Warner raised the issue as he addressed supporters at the Angel Harps Panyard in Enterprise, Chaguanas.
He also questioned where Ramadhar obtained the funds to purchase the house and whether he had made the disclosure to the Integrity Commission. But he said he intended to investigate this himself. “I am advised that this property was bought secretly but only the Prime Minister knows about it. He has two BMWs, a $4 million house in Champs Fleurs and
this house in Miami. “Where did Prakash get this money from? You understand why foreign exchange is so scarce,” Warner said. He claimed one of the BMWs was owned by Ramadhar and the other by his wife. Warner then turned the crowd’s attention to a screen on stage which showed photos of Ramadhar’s alleged Miami condo.
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FOLLOW THE MONEY AND FIND THE BEE There was no need for a commission of inquiry into the sugar industry. There is no need for a diagnosis of the state of sugar. Everyone knows sugar is in crisis. What is required is a solution to the problem and therefore what was needed was an expert panel to come up with the solutions to the industry. Instead of a Commission of Inquiry, the government should have asked the international community to recruit some of the best experts in the world and have them do a report on this issue. A commission of inquiry will regurgitate a long list of woes and then make some recommendations. An expert
panel, on the other hand, will be better placed to suggest what needs to be done from a technical and financial point of view. There is no need for a commission of inquiry into public service salaries. Everyone knows that the salaries are poor. No one expects them to be satisfactory overnight. The parties that now constitute the government had claimed that there was a lot of pilfering under the PPP and therefore when this is stopped there will be money to pay workers a significant increase. Five per cent is not a significant increase. Paying a constable $50,000 per month is not satisfactory. No one
needs a commission of inquiry into these issues. What is needed is for an accountant and a consumer advocate to sit down and compile what it will take for a man to survive for one month. This figure should then be used as a living wage. The government should then try to achieve a living wage within five years. People will understand this. People will work harder because they know that within five years they are going to be properly paid. There was no need for a commission of inquiry into public service salaries. A commission of inquiry is needed into the establishment of the Berbice
River Bridge. Let the truth be told about the viability of this bridge and the identities of the shareholders etc. Let there be a commission of inquiry into the Clico meltdown. Trinidad and Tobago had such a commission of inquiry. Why not in Guyana? We want to know whether persons were tipped off and withdrew their monies before the meltdown. The fact that the matter is in Court should not preclude an investigation. There is a need for a commission of inquiry into the construction of the Marriott Hotel which has a similar financial model like the Berbice River Bridge. There is a need for a
No signs of missing Kaieteur Falls woman - search resumes today The search operations to find the woman who disappeared on Monday during a trip to the Kaieteur National Park is to be further intensified today according to the Ministry of the Presidency. The woman has been
identified as Laleta Sivanand, who is said to be in her early 40s. Contrary to what the woman had told people on the trip she is neither a doctor nor an environmentalist. In fact her field of employment is Human Resource and she is a former employee of Laparkan
Dem boys seh ...
Raj raise salary de same way he raise skirts Dem boys hear a man ask another one wha he don’t like about Obama. De other one seh that Obama is half black and half white. De man then ask him, why you don’t like Donald Trump? De man seh he is half Jack and half Ass. Guyana got a Donald who fit that mold. He bring a man name Raj and everybody know Raj is he buddy, buddy friend from lang. De name Maharaj mean great king or high king in Hindustani. If you name Raj alone, dem boys seh you is a half king. Raj live up to he name and nature. He refuse to tek advice from nobody. In de end he bruck up GuySuCo and eff up de workers. He run de place like a real king. According to a report he mek de company lose US$75M. That money coulda mek three more GuySuCo plant in Guyana. But instead dem boys seh he spend de money on two, three li’l gyal in de place. He was having a ball. Dem boys hear he use to carry Donald up there too. Dem boys ain’t saying no more. Wha dem boys know fuh sure is that Raj use to promote dem gyal and give dem raise of pay too. But wasn’t he money he was doing that wid. He is to meet wid Professah Clive de Thom and de board members today but nobody can find de man. People don’t know if he deh at Skeldon, Uitvlugt or Wales. Donald try calling de man fuh ask wha he do wid dem gyal but Donald tell dem boys he hear Soulja Bai lock he down somewhere in Canje. Dem boys believe that Soulja Bai squeezing he nuts fuh find out who and who he give and wha else he do wid de US$75M. Dem boys did hear Raj promote people, raise dem skirt, then dem salary. But Jagdeo drop dem salary and dem pants. Donald had pants and skirt up and down. Raj give way plenty GuySuCo land fuh next to nutten. All dem cane land on de East Bank that BaiShanLin, La Bamba, Lubamba, Lumama, and Bee Kay, See Kay and Decay get is Raj give dem. And that same Raj is Donald de Dumb best friend. And dem boys even hear further, that Raj give land to a Ramotar in somebody else name. And this happen just before de 2015 election. Talk half and pray fuh Raj, de half king.
and Singer’s. The search started on the same day that she was discovered missing and according to the Ministry of the Presidency the search party has been expanded to include the Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force who joined the National Parks Commission Rangers on Tuesday. Reports are that all of the trails in the Park were searched and binoculars were also used to view the area below the falls and along the sides of the gorge. However, up to 18:00hrs last evening there was still no trace of the woman. As a result of the incident all tours to the KNP continue to be suspended. The Ministry of the Presidency noted that they continue to treat the matter as a search for a missing person case and remain hopeful that she will be located.
When it was discovered that the woman had gone missing, officials said a search operation was immediately launched but as was expected the terrain is rough and difficult to maneuver. Yesterday this publication visited the woman’s home at Durban Backlands and spoke to her husband Rabindranauth Sivanand, but he did not wish to say much. He however echoed the sentiments of an elderly woman at the home that it is, “A troubling, worrisome and stressful time for the family.” He said that he last saw his wife on Tuesday morning, adding that “she left to go out but she did not say where she was going.” He also expressed hope, saying, “I hope that they find her and that she is found alive.” Reports are that the (continued on page 24)
commission into the Amaila Falls Road Project. There are a lot of questions to be answered there. There is a need for a commission of inquiry into the contract that was awarded to the company that was supposed to build the Specialty Hospital. The company has been sued by the government of Guyana. There is a need for a commission of inquiry into the sale of the Sanata Textile Mills. One thing was advertised and then another thing was sold. Why? Let a commission of inquiry answer. Why are we also paying for audits of certain government agencies? There
Missing: Laleta Sivanand
is no need to be paying auditing firms to do this. Get some final year accounting students, employ them, pay two highly qualified supervisors and have them supervise these audits. It will save millions of dollars. It is a waste of money to be paying auditing firms to do what any good accounting student can do. We do not need any forensic audits in Guyana. Follow the money and you will find the bee.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 03, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
La Dolce Vita: Fellini immortalized the phrase for art, the PPP for politics When Anita Ekberg died earlier this year, people in journalism, philosophy, arts and literature no doubt had a mountain of sentiments to express about the most iconic moment in cinema ever – Ekberg jumping into the Trevi Fountain of Rome fully dressed with the lead actor, Marcello Mastroianni following her into the water in the phenomenal movie, “La Dolce Vita.” That movie was directed by Federico Fellini. The movie is about the merger of philosophy and journalism and if you operate on both of these plains you will find the film dear and special. It is generally
regarded by art specialists as one of the greatest acts of movie-directing ever. Italian directors have no American or British counterparts. They are simply in a class of their own. Bernardo Bertolucci directed the great Marlon Brando in “Last Tango in Paris,” and it remains for me, Brando’s best performance surpassing by far his role in Tennessee Williams’ “A Street Car named Desire.” After Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, I would rate Last Tango in Paris as the second best existentialist film ever made. These two films are masterpieces in an understanding of the fragility
of human existence. In journalism and literature, the phrase “La Dolce Vita” has different expressions but the meaning is definitely the same – “The Good Life”, The Sweet Life,” “The Pleasurable Life,” “The Luxurious Life.” In almost all writings, it is used as “The Sweet Life.” La Dolce Vita is enjoyed by people who live ostentatiously with the vulgar display of the trappings of wealth. When applied to politics, La Dolce Vita is about the majestic lifestyle of authoritarian leaders. If ever the phrase was
applicable to any country it was Libya under Gaddafi and his sons. The saying could be applied to Latin Governments in the fifties like Argentina under Eve Perón, Cuba under Batista. In Italy, where the symbolic meaning was born, former Prime Minister Silvio Burlesconi lived La Dolce Vita to the fullest. Such a lifestyle brought him down and (ironically) in all places, Italy where anything goes. Analysts believe such a lifestyle also was the essential reason why Sarkozy lost the election in France. Perhaps the two most flagrant examples of La Dolce Vita in the English speaking world are Tony Blair of the UK and Bill Clinton of the US. These men are jetsetters flying to sybaritic parties in private jets and spending holidays on private luxury yachts. Bill Clinton’s La Dolce Vita is definitely a negative factor in the campaign of his wife, Hilary. I think the Democrats stand a greater chance of
winning the 2016 presidential election either with VicePresident Biden or Senator Elizabeth Warren. If Hilary wins, Bill Clinton might rival Burlesconi for enjoying La Dolce Vita. In the British West Indies, there has never been anything close to La Dolce Vita in politics except in Guyana under Bharrat Jagdeo. In oil-rich Trinidad, Prime Ministers, Basdeo Panday, Patrick Manning and Kamla Bissessar and their Cabinet members never displayed ostentatious living as we see in Guyana since 1999. The idea to write this column came to me on Tuesday morning. I parked at Church and Wellington Streets and walked down westerly on Robb Street. I had to pass Freedom House, head office of the PPP. The absence of the usual fleet of expensive SUVs weren’t there. While the PPP was in power, whenever you pass Freedom House, you couldn’t miss the luxury cars. The
Frederick Kissoon SUVs might be gone but what Fellini did for cinema with La Dolce Vita, the PPP has done for politics. A comparison needs to be made with Jagdeo’s mansion and Prime Ministerial residences in CARICOM countries. Are they as extravagant as Jagdeo’s? In no other country in the CARICOM region, party apparatchiks live so royally as in Guyana. There is a swimming pool in the Happy Acre area that is comparable to any in the world with an elaborate underwater lighting system. Mark Benschop almost his life trying to film the house with swimming pool of Kwame McCoy. This newspaper got a libel writ for putting on its front page a Leonora mansion that has a pool house that is a mansion in itself. Sityra Gyaal sold a house in Pradoville 2 for US$1 million. In top class economies that would be a costly home. Here are a few lines from a famous song. “We’ll pour the wine and fill the cup of joy and drink a drink as if it were the last. Then say to those who say “to live this way is mad”, then mad we’d rather be than wise.” The PPP was never wise when in power.
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 11
PPP laments PPP rejects TOP COP’s accusations limited coverage of politically-inspired crimes The opposition People’s Progressive Party yesterday rejected statements and conclusions made by Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud that crimes are politically influenced. The statements were contained in an article carried in a section of the print media. The PPP said it has taken note of them. According to the article, Commissioner Persaud said it is extremely unfortunate that crime has grown to become a tool for all political oppositions to attack the government of the day. He went on to give examples of recent crimes which he suggested were politically influenced. He referred to an alleged robbery that took place in Campbellville near the home of the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. It was alleged that the Minister ’s neighbour, Geetanjalie Ramotar, was brutalized and tape bound by bandits, a situation Persaud said raised suspicions. “From all our experience in criminal operations, they (bandits) don’t have time for that (scotch-tape victims); they don’t have time to do that. The other thing, too, tell me, when something like this is going on, why would somebody try to photograph that person rather than to help them? “The Minister was one of the first people to go over. They didn’t call the police; they called the Minister and the Minister called the police. So someone had to take that photo prior to…,” the Police Commissioner told the publication. He added that the opposition forces used a situation in Berbice as a political tool to attack the government rather than take a more proactive approach to help fight crime. “Instead of helping, you are interfering …Situations like these come when crime is politicized and we should not be doing that. We should be coming together and working towards reducing crime,” Persaud was quoted as saying. But the PPP in a strongly worded statement in response said that it finds the Commissioner’s statements most surprising in light of the fact that whilst the PPP/C was in office, the Police Force never found it necessary to make such a statement even though the PPP/C administration had repeatedly pointed to the fact, that the crime situation in Guyana was strongly influenced by the PNC and had provided facts
to prove its claim. According to the PPP these facts were reported time and again and Commissioner Persaud is aware of them. “To say that the political opposition is undermining the efforts of the GPF to fight crime and generating the perception that crime is spiraling out of control” is not only disingenuous but appears as though the GPF is stuck in the denial mode,” the PPP said. The opposition party stated that the police themselves have admitted that there has been a 10 percent increase in serious crimes as well as murders not to mention crimes committed with the use of a firearm. These are all clear indications that the situation has indeed spiraled out of control, the PPP said. The PPP noted that no Police Force in the world would ever admit that the crime situation in its jurisdiction is out of control. Such an admission would of necessity demand the dismissal of the Commissioner of Police. “However, Commissioner Seelall Persaud must know that rather than jumping on the bandwagon as if there is a threat to his security of tenure, on the contrary here in Guyana, for a sitting Commissioner of Police there is no threat of job security. It was under the Donald Ramotar-led PPP/C government that Persaud was appointed Commissioner of Police.” Speaking of “public trust and confidence” the PPP said that the Commissioner of Police must know that this twin phenomenon must be earned and not to be taken for granted, especially in the current circumstances where the crime situation has reached unacceptable proportions. “To talk about building trust and confidence and at the same time undermining and lending support to the Ministry of Public Security’s efforts to dismantle the Community Policing Groups and the Community Policing Organisation in Guyana, is not only contradictory but undermines the very trust and confidence which the GPF purports to enjoy from the Guyanese public.”
PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee
Commissioner Seelall Persaud
The opposition party said that it never sold or bought crime as a political football, claiming that it was the current administration which the Commissioner now seeks to defend that did so, “moreso, since the PNC itself was known to be associated with the criminal underworld. Police records can attest to this fact.” According to the PPP, the occurrences which the Commissioner referred to at Campbellville and Berbice which he claimed were “political influenced”, is of no
evidential value and lacks credibility. The PPP stated that no evidence was offered attesting to the involvement of “political influence”. “The PPP therefore rejects these most unfortunate and unsubstantiated statements and conclusions by the Commissioner of Police and call on him to resist all attempts to colour his views politically and to make him feel obliged to make statements of the nature published,” the PPP declared.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Clement Rohee, on Monday told the press of his failed efforts to get wider coverage in the period since his Party demitted office. He was hosting his weekly press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown. Rohee said that the party analyzed the period from June 6 to August 19. He said that during that period, the PPP issued 30 press statements which were sent to the Editors of the Guyana Chronicle, the Stabroek News, the Kaieteur News and the Guyana Times. Rohee then pointed out that of the 30 releases issued, Guyana Times carried 19, Chronicle carried 10, Kaieteur News carried eight and the Stabroek News carried seven. The General Secretary said that the party has since written to the Editors of the Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and Guyana Chronicle “in respect to their unfair, unbalanced and discriminatory coverage of the Party’s Press Statements/ Releases which demonstrates a clear pattern of biased editorial policy against the
PPP.” “However, since the editorial policy of these newspaper is clearly aimed at sheltering the Granger-led coalition Government they will obviously refrain from carrying PPP Press Releases, and Statements using an excuse that coverage of party releases and statements depends on importance and content,” said Rohee. He continued, “The PPP rejects this catch-all statement as an excuse for not carrying PPP releases and statements.” It must be noted that the editor’s judgment and overall editorial polices govern most newsroom. If the content of a press statement contradicts newsroom polices, the statement just would not be carried. Kaieteur News, for example, has taken a stand to stay away from publishing anything that can incite racial division. In addition, a newspaper is governed by what it finds important. A political statement may not necessarily make the cut, Adam Harris, said. Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of Kaieteur News.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 03, 2015
GPA balks at state media intimidation The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has noted with concern the recent reports of Prime Minister, (PM) Moses Nagamootoo’s interaction with a reporter attached to the Guyana Chronicle. The GPA said that the incident can be viewed as a method of intimidation, which may have a dampening effect on press freedom. According to reports, the PM had expressed displeasure and disappointment over headlines, which were published in the State-owned newspaper, during the recent budget debates. Nagamootoo reportedly held discussions with the reporter, Derwayne Wills, to express his dissatisfaction over the article titled “Gov’t blunders on Budget Estimates … violates laws assented to by President Granger”. This was published in the Tuesday, August 25 edition of the newspaper. Subsequent to the publication, it was reported that editors at the Chronicle were ordered to have all headlines vetted by Director of Public Information, Imran Khan before publication. However both Khan and Nagamootoo have debunked such claims. But a subsequent editorial in
the Chronicle stated that “a State newspaper, like all other newspapers, has vested interests, politically and ideologically. Ours arise from the government’s thrust; there is no running away from that.” The editorial also stated that the Chronicle, “is owned by the State, and is, therefore, expected to editorially support the general thrust of the government of the day.” The statement did not sit well with veteran journalists, media operatives and publishers, who shared the general view that the State media houses are owned by the State not the government and therefore ought to reflect the views of all segments of society. While they all agreed that in principle there is nothing wrong with a government having an opinion and airing it in the State-owned newspaper. One online news operative specifically noted that when all is taken into consideration, including the Prime Minister’s recent action, it amounts to a creeping misuse of the newspaper. He expressed fears of a repetition of a “vicious cycle” of what occurred under the PNCR and the PPP/C “when
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo
President of the GPA, Neil Marks
these governments misused the media for its own interest.” The GPA in a statement to the press yesterday, noted that the association feels compelled to comment on the issue, given that while the
Prime Minister is free to express his views; he should not express such views directly to media workers. The association admonished that the incident is known to be a tactic of intimidation and may have a
dampening effect on press freedom bordering on selfcensorship. The GPA further stated, it regards the Prime Minister’s stated pro-government expectations of the publiclyfunded Guyana Chronicle newspaper (and presumably all State-owned media) as a retrograde, and intolerable step that betrays the governing Coalition’s campaign and post-election promises, not to engage in the same press freedom violations previous administrations were accused of. According to the Association, there needs to be a clear distinction between the State and the Government. The statement outlined that “the GPA wishes to suggest that there should be, following extensive
consultations, a policy which adumbrates the way the executive should interact with state-owned media that would allow for freedom of the press in a meaningful way within these entities.” Integral to the approach towards a free and open State media, the Association believes, should be the reform of the Broadcasting Act and the adoption of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s editorial guidelines that govern the United Kingdom State-owned and funded broadcaster. Further, the GPA took the opportunity to call on all journalists never to be swayed by opinion, good or bad. “Once your story is factual, accurate and true, questions from political leaders regarding your work should be directed to your editors,” the body advised.
$50,000 bail for Sophia wounding accused A verbal confrontation that resulted in a fight has landed a Sophia resident in hot water with the law. Steve Moore, 28, of Lot 11 North Sophia, Georgetown was yesterday released on $50,000 bail after he was charged with unlawfully and maliciously inflicting
grievous bodily harm on Keith Johnson, at North Sophia. Moore, who was represented by Attorney, Keisha Chase, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him by City Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan. The attorney informed the court that her client was not a
flight risk. She added that the defendant is employed at Sankar Auto works and has no antecedents. According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, the parties had a misunderstanding that escalated into a scuffle. He did not disclose any
other information to the court and had no objections to the defendant being granted pre trial liberty. However, Jones asked that bail be set in a substantial sum to ensure the defendant’s return for trial. This matter will be called again on September 18, for statements.
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Two years later….
Biker’s murder PI still to be reopened - main witness still being persuaded to testify Tomorrow marks the second anniversary since biker mechanic, Kurt Davis, was shot dead outside his Eccles, East Bank Demerara home. Today, his relatives are not too happy that the man who is accused of killing him is still to be brought to justice. On March 20, last year, Rondy Jagdeo, a Water Street businessman, walked out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court a free man, after the murder charge against him was discharged by the then Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry. The discharge was on the grounds that two key
witnesses had failed to show up for the Preliminary Inquiry, resulting in a prima facie case not being made out against the accused. This was six months after Davis had about 16 bullets pumped into his body at close range. Following the shooting, Jagdeo had fled the jurisdiction to avoid arrest and local police were forced to solicit the help of their Surinamese counterparts with a view to having him brought back to Guyana. This was after a wanted bulletin was issued for his arrest. A few weeks later Jagdeo turned himself in and was promptly charged.
Five months later images of a hooded Jagdeo jumping on to a racing style motorcycle outside the Georgetown magistrate’s court and riding off were featured in most of the local media. Relatives had expressed utter disappointment in the Guyana Police Force, blaming them for sloppy investigations, leading to the Preliminary Inquiry into Davis’ murder being discharged. “I understand the court’s position, since there were constant no shows by witnesses, but at some point in time the police were in
19-year-old charged with 'Tiger Bay' murder Four days after he allegedly went berserk and knifed a sleeping man to death, 19-year-old Christopher Stanley was yesterday hauled before a City Magistrate to face a murder charge. Stanley told Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan that he cannot remember his address. He was charged with the murder of Owen Browne, which occurred on Saturday last, at Rosemary Lane (Tiger Bay). The accused, who had no legal representation, was not required to plead to the charge. Police Corporal, Deniro Jones, presented the prosecution's case and did not relate the facts about what transpired on the day in question, to the court. Jones said that the police file is still incomplete. He added that the murder weapon was sent for analysis. As a
result he requested a twoweek adjournment which was granted. The accused will make his next court appearance on September 15, when he will face Magistrate Judy Latchman. During the brief court hearing, Stanley appeared baffled. On several occasions the Magistrate was heard repeating simple questions to him. When the Magistrate requested that he provide the court with his age, he took a while to answer. He even took a few minutes to respond when he was asked to give his address. The accused eventually told the court he cannot recall where he lives. He was eventually remanded. After the court session ended loud noise erupted from the court room. A group of women, presumably relatives
and friends of the dead man were asked to keep silent by the court orderly. They later left the courtroom and continued their tirade in the court compound. But the drama did not last long, as they were ordered to exit the compound by a senior police official. According to reports, Owen received 19 stab wounds about his body, last Saturday, after he was reportedly attacked by Stanley, who is said to be of unsound mind. According to reports, Owen was attacked while sleeping. He was later rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead. Kaieteur News understands that Stanley began “acting strange” a few days prior to the incident and was seen sharpening a knife.
GuySuCo gears to produce most... From page 13 officials had warned of the advent of beet- a type of sugar grown right in Europe and currently rivaling cane sugar in the market. The Company officials had thus warned the Commission that bringing down the cost to the corporation was the only way to keep the industry alive. GUYSUCO has been under fire for producing sugar at costs double what it is being sold for. In addition, Government has plugged more than US$50M in the last five years into the industry. But with workers leaving in droves, production has fallen to a two-decade low. The COI was among the first actions taken by the new administration after coming to
office. The entire Board of Directors, headed by Shaik Baksh and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raj Singh was also sacked. Meanwhile, according to figures released by GUYSUCO, as of the week ending August 28, 2015, the Skeldon, Albion and Blairmont Estates achieved their target. They were awarded one day's Weekly Production Incentive while the Rose Hall Estate achieved 96.4%, earning a pro-rated incentive. Sugar Production for the crop as at September 2, last, was placed at 30,593 tonnes with 111,736 tonnes produced for the year to date. According to the corporation, the improved weather condition has enabled the industry to recommence its mechanical and
semi mechanical harvesting operations. Currently, the Corporation is experiencing a high number of cane harvesting strikes, the worse currently at Uitvlugt Estate, where the three cane harvesting gangs are on strike for the third day, demanding “exorbitant payment for obstacles in the field”. The release went on to say that a field visit was conducted on Monday August 31, 2015 by both the Central/ Local Management and Central/Local Union in order to resolve the dispute. This action by the workers has brought sugar production at that location to a halt. In the meanwhile, the corporation said, the condition of the canes burnt and the fields continue to deteriorate.
Murder Suspect Rondy Jagdeo (left) and the victim Kurt Davis in happier times. contact with these witnesses. “What happened to a witness protection system? Why weren’t provisions made for them?” “Here it is that a man walks free because these witnesses, in fear, may have left the country. Now a mother is without a son and a son without a father because of a sloppy system.” Kaieteur News understands that the two key witnesses are Nalifa Dookie and Rondel Marks, who relatives say are still around and available to testify. “The system has enough resources to achieve things,
but it’s slackness and laziness all around. No effort was placed into this case.” Two weeks after the matter was discharged, Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar AliHack, had initiated steps to reopen the case. The DPP had signed a letter in which she requested that the presiding Magistrate produce all the depositions that were taken during the Preliminary Inquiry into the murder. “I will look at them and once all of the witnesses who gave statements to the police did not testify, I can advise that the Magistrate reopen
the case, just like what was done in the Carlyle Barton matter,” the DPP told this newspaper. Yesterday, Davis’s relatives lamented the fact that since the DPP’s move, there appears to be no urgency on the part of the police to secure the witnesses testimony. One of the witnesses, Dookie, who is said to be the former partner of Jagdeo, has reportedly left the jurisdiction and police have almost ruled out any possibility of her testifying in the matter. But Marks, who is also said to be an eyewitness to (continued on page 24)
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Kaieteur News
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Thursday September 03, 2015
EDUCATION I.A.E currently registering students for full time secondary school, lessons & evening CXC classes for adults- Call: 683-5742 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 International Language Institute Classes for adults & Children, Spanish, English as Second Language, Portuguese, Dutch –Call: 2233556 CXC Lessons: Mathematics & English- Small Class Size, Teacher: Student Ratio 1:15, day and night classes, adults and youths –Call: 690-9378
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 Toyota Rav4 2008 yr, dark blue PLL series, fully loaded, no accident excellent condition Tel: 652-2409 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 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; 619-2406 Toyota RAV 4, excellent condition, leather interior, manual gear # PHH 2748 – Call: 684-6794; 621-4976 Toyota Hilux extra cab 2003 yr gasoline GTT series, fully loaded, excellent condition Tel: 652-2409
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 Liquor Restaurant going business with 2 pools table, 2 fridges, 1 freezer, 107 Middle Road La Penitence, price $18.5M –Call Lovin: 225-7796 Transported concrete, Block “8” Mon Repos E.C.D, top flat 2 bedrooms, bottom flat 2 bedrooms- $18M. Call: 6251514 office hours 231-7255 Property for sale, East La Penetance Arapaima Street $17M negotiable –Call: 6484420, 662-6173 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
Unregistered Toyota IST – Fully Loaded -$1.9M –Call: 657-1796
Are you interested in selling your home? Call T &T Realty: 660-9478; 6720865
6X6 TM with 4,500 GLS fuel tank, free maintenance schedule -$6M- Call: 6706521/ 685-0166
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
Kawasaki Ninja 650R, excellent condition, lime green $650,000 asking price Tel: 655-2561 Toyota Runx PMM Series, female driver, price -$1.8M negotiable, owner leaving country. Call: 692-4076 or 6795048 One Leyland Daf LF with 6 ton Hiab 2002 GTT series (New) price $5 million Call: 622-6746
1 RZ minibus BJJ series – Call: 678-5887 or 677-3177
One 318 BMW never registered for $ 3M down payment $500,000 contact # 650-0402 or 616-0429 Land at Schoonord (Next To Demerara Harbour Bridge), 45' X 100' $ 6 M, 60' X 100' $ 7.5M- Contact 650-0402 / 260-4988 Reusable ¼ & 3/8 inches marine steel plate – Contact: 688-7256 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 One grocery stall @ Stabroek Market, Farm Land @ Kuru Kuru Linden Soesdyke H/Way, Garden Teiler - Call: 679-1151; 225-7794 52ft complete cabin cruiser. In excellent condition- Tel: 592-654-2817, 592-622-2958. 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 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 One 928F Caterpillar Wheel Loader $8M contact # 6500402/ 260-4988.
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
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
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
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
Business apartment for rent at 7 Durban Street Lodge $20,000 per month –Call: 6905796 Continued on page 23
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
Play More Local, Not Really! DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is once more a democratic society and therefore we must encourage democracy everywhere, especially on our airwaves. It appears as though some people are getting carried away with these new found freedoms. I’m a lover of Pop, Jazz, Easy Listening and other genres of music and I am not overly impressed with current local music, which I think leaves much to be desired. My point is that you cannot compel me to listen to an avalanche of local music, I will simply switch stations till I find one that satisfies my taste and I guess there are many others like me. Although local music technically has improved immensely, especially in area of Soca, the same cannot be said for the lyrics and music found on the majority of these recordings. To put it mildly, we are simply not producing enough quality songs capable of
making an impact internationally. The only local song in recent times that has impacted internationally has been Mystic’s “Collie Boy Dance”. There aren’t many more Guyanese songs that have attracted international attention. It is ironic that most of the Guyanese music that was produced in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, many of which were recorded under primitive conditions, still sound good today and are still played on radio stations around the world. Music is an art form that is enjoyed worldwide and the different genres should not be discriminated against. The demand for 50% Guyanese music to be played on private radio stations is ridiculous and should not be tolerated; the call for NCN to play 100% local is equally absurd. If these people are so obsessed with local music why not lobby for a radio station of their own where
they can play 100% Guyanese music twenty four hours a day. It will be interesting to see what kind of audience they will attract. NCN must not allow itself to be bullied but instead must provide a balanced music format which will appeal to listeners of all ages. NCN, although subsidized by the government, has to compete for its share of the market place where advertisements are essential for survival. It has to be open-minded when it comes to the music aired. No longer must we allow a Minister to walk into the studios and censor any calypso, which do meet with his or her approval. Also they must not allow anyone to dictate to them. On the question of copyright, I agree the laws need to be updated and enforced but we need to carefully examine, draft and institute laws that cover all areas of intellectual copyright. Laws cannot be
implemented radically but only after careful thought and due process, taking into account economic considerations. Although the pirating of CD’S by vendors is a cause for concern, the biggest threat to music infringements comes from the internet. It is estimated that about 85% of popular music, including Soca and local music, are downloaded from the internet. The fact of the matter is that technology has outpaced laws. It is common place for music files to be obtained via downloads and e-mails. Kids of all ages and seniors are downloading something or the other from the internet. One of the solutions to assist in the purchase of local music is for someone to organize a website where the public can go and purchase music via downloads of artists covered under their umbrella. Michael Anthony
Offer a one-month conditional... From page 5 revenge, or the need to make fast money. Some even consider a life of crime better than a regular job-believing crime brings in greater rewards, power and excitement-at least until they are caught. But when things go wrong, as they so often do, and an innocent person gets killed, a much higher premium is placed on the capture of the killer, and he is hunted by the police. If he is caught, he knows he is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars. So he evades the police to win his freedom as long as he can, committing crimes along the way to survive with little or no respect for another human life. But if given an
opportunity to wipe his slate clean after spending less time in prison, to return to live a normal life with his family in freedom, and is given the skills to rehabilitate and find employment, I feel sure that most criminals on the run would choose this option. Give them hope. As a crime prevention policy, the Guyana Police must interact more with the public. Police Officers should conduct yearly lectures at schools in all vulnerable communities, targeting both children and parents. Discuss the need to rise above poverty and avoid a career of crime through education; the dangers of using drugs, alcohol and cigarettes; and challenge the parents to be good citizens,
This Sergeant is turning a deaf...
From page 4 your hands then what are you fit for? Mr Editor, I feel this man is not fit to be a simple Constable much less a Sergeant. I must not forget to mention the Divisional Commander on this matter. I am wondering if he is aware of this issue at hand in Charity; if not, Sir, you must do your groundwork in Charity. Mr Editor, school has reopened for the new term and students will be trying to settle in the catholic dorms and have their brief with the priest, but presently the music is
pounding so loud that it is impossible to carry on any activities pertaining to the church programs. Right now I am tempted to report this lawlessness to the police but then again this matter is with the Charity Police Station pending action for a long time. So I prefer to publish this matter in the news media to highlight what is taking place at Charity. Mr Editor, could it be that the tentacles of corruption by the rich and powerful have a grip on the police at Charity and further afield? Catholic member
to set the right examples for their kids to follow, and to create an environment
conducive to producing the next generation of leaders. HARRY GILL, MP.
From page 22
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 Friendship house lot for saleCall: 617-0465, 223-0733 Large land in Bagotville West Bank, great for residential and faming (lot 37’X734’)$5.8M-Call: 600-0036 PEN PAL Male seeking female pen pal. Call: 675-9183
VACANCY General Worker and sales person needed-Call: 6680159 Work from home; earn $5,000-$20,000 daily Call Monday-Friday 9am-5pm #233-6517, 638-0595 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
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/WWW. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up- Call: 690-6494 TO LET Studio suitable for single person (security guard) Kitchenette & Bath - $12,000 per month-Call: 223-6828
Page 24
Kaieteur News
East Ruimveldt resident shooting to death...
Suspect’s relatives refute claims of revenge killing Family members of a suspect linked to the recent shooting death of East Ruimveldt resident, Kellon Hinds, are refuting claims that their relative had anything to do with the incident. Hinds was fatally shot in East Ruimveldt, last Monday. Reports are that the 23-year-old was riddled with bullets after three gunmen cornered him in a yard in the neighbourhood. The victim nicknamed, called ‘Baje,’ was shot in the throat, chest, abdomen, right shoulder and left hand. He died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC). Eyewitnesses have alleged that one of the gunmen is a relative of Sherwyn Barrow, who was gunned down last May in ‘Warlock’, East Ruimveldt. The killings allegedly stemmed from an ongoing gang feud. Hinds was the prime suspect in the murder of Barrow, 24, who was slain executionstyle in the area. The two men had an ongoing feud; Barrow was charged in 2014 for shooting and also robbing Hinds, but that case was dismissed a few months ago because Hinds failed to testify. Following last Monday’s shooting; Hinds’s relatives expressed the theory that he was slain in retaliation for Sherwyn Barrow’s death. Hinds was shot, a few hours after he was released from custody. However relatives of Sherwyn Barrow are speaking out. They are refuting reports
Dead: Kellon Hinds that another of their family member was involved in the killing. Barrow’s aunt, Andrea Success, told Kaieteur News that she is seeking to clear the air on the issue. She is refuting reports that her younger nephew (name withheld) had anything to do with the recent shooting. While she accepts that there has been previous “vibes” between the two families, Success is adamant that her relatives have moved on. Success claims that her younger nephew has an alibi. “This is all nonsense. I don’t live with my nephew, but I have proof, of where my nephew was, when Hinds was shot. What I am saying is that two people have already lost their lives. Why frame an innocent man?” The woman said that her nephew is currently consulting with a lawyer and preparing to surrender to the police soon. “It has been months that the family has been trying to get answers from the police about the murder investigation, but
they just got we back and forth,” she said when she discussed Sherwyn Barrow’s death. “They (the police) didn’t even take a statement from my mother, who lives with these boys …We need answers,” she added. Meanwhile Hinds’s close relatives are contending that the killing is linked to a vendetta. They related that the feud started between Hinds and relatives of Barrow after men robbed Hinds of a chain valued at $1.2M. That incident happened in June 2014. “When he got robbed he identified one of the robbers as Sherwyn Barrow and then they started having major issues. They went to court,” a cousin recalled. That matter went all the way to court but because threats were made on Hinds’s life and that of his family he opted to not attend court. “He tell we he ain’t going to court because them said that they will kill he, and Kellon say dem was going to shoot up we family,” a relative stated. The feud escalated when Sherwyn Barrow 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 woman claimed that Barrow’s relatives had on a number of occasions threatened and even attacked the household. They finally made good on their promise, on Monday.
'Visual and intellectual' Burrowes ... From page 14 describe what they represented. The students also shared their thinking behind their pieces and just how they hope their works will impact others. This year there was a heavy addition of graphic art. One of the students, Isaiah Kendall, displayed his pieces which included posters for ministries and government agencies. Thus far, the students said, the attendance at the exhibition has not been tremendous. “It's been okay. Not many people are visiting right now but we're hoping by next week that'll pick up,” Gulliver said. This year, the works of 19
full-time students along with pieces by part time students are on display. According to Burrowes tutor, Volda Ramsammy, the students' pieces are a part of their final examination. She explained that this year an external examiner is being brought in from Barbados to grade the students' works. The pieces are also graded internally by Burrowes before an average is determined for a final grade. Ramsammy also indicated that this year has seen fewer students than last year. She further noted that comparatively there were shortcomings in some areas such as ceramics and paint-
ing. However, this year there are better graphic artists, she said. “The main outcome is to have these students marketed. They don't get many sales immediately. Persons might come in and check out their work and might later commission them for pieces,” Ramsammy said. She further said that the exhibition will go a far way in gaining publicity for the artists and the school. “It's to make the nation more aware and appreciative of art. Guyanese do not appreciate art the way they should so we want the public to become aware of art and aware of what our artists have to offer,” she stressed.
Biker’s murder PI still to be ... From page 21 the murder, is still around. “The witnesses are around. We have seen the witnesses,” a relative told Kaieteur News yesterday. The relative said that they have been in constant contact with the police, but they get the impression that
the investigators are not too keen to proceed with the matter. However, a top police official dismissed this perception. The official said that they have been in contact with one of the witness with a view to getting him to testify. “For the past two months we have been in contact with
him. We have not shelved this matter. It’s just a matter of persuading the witnesses to feel comfortable to testify,” the official explained. Should the witness agree to testify, the police will certainly re-arrest Jagdeo and reopen the Preliminary Inquiry, the official assured.
Thursday September 03, 2015
South Korea’s Ambassador presents letter of credence …Trade expansion high on the agenda Korea’s non-resident Ambassador to Guyana, Maeng Dal Young, has said that during his tour of duty, a great deal of emphasis will be placed on the expansion of commerce and investment. This commitment came moments after he presented his Letters of Credence, to President David Granger, at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday. “I hope in my small way that I may contribute to the continued stimulation of such an encouraging mood in both Korea and Guyana, resulting in the realisation of a productive partnership between us,” the Ambassador said. He added that it is his Government’s vision to develop Korea’s new cooperation projects with Guyana, since Korea is wellplaced to meet the needs of the Guyanese people. “I look forward to counting on your full support for the smooth and successful fulfillment of my mission as Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Guyana,” the Ambassador told President Granger. With regard to trade, investment and the environment, the Ambassador said there is increased interest in cooperation by both countries. As such he said that he is optimistic that in time, shared efforts will yield beneficial results. Ambassador Maeng also took the opportunity to congratulate President Granger on his appointment to office. President Granger spoke of the fruitful relations between the two countries, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels. “Our government, since its assumption to office, has placed increased emphasis on the advancement of
President David Granger and Korea’s non-resident Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency, Maeng Dal Young, in discussion following the accreditation ceremony economic diplomacy. We therefore welcome all opportunities, including those related to the expansion of commerce and investment.” However, President Granger noted that in order to realise the expansion, it is necessary for both countries to utilise the existing 2006 Guyana-Korea Agreement; on the Promotion and Protection of investments. President Granger also applauded, the Korean
Republic Government for the technical assistance offered by the Korea International Co-operation Agency, under which Guyanese have benefitted from scholarships. “It is our hope that this area of cooperation can be strengthened, to further our mutual development in the areas of common interest,” President said. Guyana and the Republic of Korea have a long standing history of good relations, dating back to October 1962.
Meadowbrook youths get backpack with school supplies BriBac Management in Association with Bannas Foundation yesterday presented 33 children with backpacks and full complement of school supplies. This initiative started in 2003, and was the brainchild of Brian Backer. Kevin Walcott, of Bannas Foundation, came onboard immediately. He used his community contacts to identify
those most in need of assistance, drawn from the areas surrounding Meadowbrook Gardens. This year’s grant was made possible with the support of West Indies cricketer, Leon Johnson, Steve’s Jewelry, PaperCraft, Hopkinson Mining, Impressions, Star Party Rental, CellSmart, and Swansea.
No signs of missing Kaieteur Falls ... From page 9 woman was seen crying and talking on her phone while on the airplane heading to the tourist destination before she started lagging behind and finally disappearing. When asked if there may have been problems in the home before she left the husband said such information is his private business. On Tuesday night officials from the Air Services Limited confirmed that one of its aircraft returned to the Ogle Airport with one fewer person than it transported to the world famous waterfalls. A source told this newspaper that the aircraft left
the city around midday with nine passengers for a tour of the Kaieteur Falls. Among them was Laleta Sivanand. People on the flight said that the woman was seen crying into a phone while on the plane. When the aircraft landed at the falls the woman appeared to brighten. Air Services Limited transported two groups of tourists to the Kaieteur Falls. A spokesperson said that while the pilots were on the ground, no other aircraft landed or left. This meant that the woman could not have left the area with another tour group by mistake. The woman was discovered
missing when the tour guide was distributing chits to the passengers for snacks, at the Kaieteur airstrip before they boarded the aircraft back to Ogle. One of her colleagues on the trip said that the missing woman was with the party when it was returning along the trail from the falls. She said that the woman lagged behind and when they urged her to walk up she said that she knew the place and that she had been there several times before. She spoke of being with a British team that discovered some caves in the Kaieteur Falls area a few years ago.
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 25
Blind Society CSEC Bladen Hall fire destroys programme gets recognition elderly couple’s home - as businesswoman honours students
The honoured CSEC students and teachers attached to the Blind Society in the company of Ms Genevieve McDonald (third from right). A movement is currently unfolding that is geared towards having the rights of visually impaired and blind persons respected, particularly in the area of their academic development. This notion was alluded to yesterday by Executive Member of the Guyana Society for the Blind, Ganesh Singh. Singh, who is also the Coordinator of the Society’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination programme, said that currently six students who wrote CSEC are registered to attend the University of Guyana (UG). This feat in years gone by might have been unattainable. Today its realization is deemed “a major boost for them (students), the Association and by extension, the disability community in Guyana,” said Singh. With the recent registration of the six students it brings to eight the number of blind and visually impaired students eligible to access UG. “This is a novelty for Guyana and the campus,” asserted Singh yesterday. Singh said that while “we have had one, and then another four or five years later, another” the current influx of students will in fact help to force a much needed transformation at the tertiary level institution. The transformation to which Singh was making reference to was the putting in place of systems to ensure
that needful measures are accessible on the UG campus for students who are blind or visually impaired. Even as he reiterated that “this is a major boost for the disability movement,” Singh noted that in addition to being able to access UG in increased numbers, students of the Blind Society are also able to access the Cyril Potter of Education (CPCE). The 2014 top CSEC performer of the Society, Rosemary Ramit, is currently a student of CPCE. She also offers her knowledge to students who attend classes at the Society. Guillian Layne of the 2015 CSEC batch is set to attend CPCE too to complete training she had earlier started. “Because of Rosemary they (CPCE) have already started to put systems in place so Guillian will benefit from that so it shows that our programme is reaping major successes,” said Singh. His disclosures were forthcoming at a simple ceremony yesterday at the High Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, headquarters of the Blind Society, to honour the students who participated in the 2015 CSEC examination. Honouring the students was in fact an initiative of Ms Genevieve McDonald, proprietor of the recently opened Heaven’s Care Day Care facility located at 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown. Ms McDonald has for many years been involved in
the disability movement in Guyana owing to the fact that her father, Godfrey McDonald, is blind. She is currently a member of the board of the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disability. McDonald was enthused when she learnt of the performances of the students this year and wanted to do something that would help to motivate them to do even better in their future endeavours. Top performing candidate, Alwyn Adams, who secured grade one passes in Principles of Business, Office Administration and Social Studies and grade two passes in English and Human and Social Biology, was presented with a trophy. The other students – Teshaun Rodney, Adelphian Adams, Anthony Robinson, Desmond Fraser, Stacy Greaves, Leroy Phillips, Musa Haynes, Ceion Rollox and Guillian Layne – each received medals for their performances. McDonald however did not overlook the role of the teachers who helped the students to realize their respective academic goals. The teachers, among them Ganesh Singh, Rosemary Ramit and Mayanna Francis, were presented with trophies yesterday too. A member of the Society’s CSEC coordinating committee, Ms Theresa Pemberton, was also the recipient of a token of appreciation.
Residents of an East Coast Demerara community sprang into action last evening when a blaze erupted at an elderly couple’s home. Ivan Kalistro, 71, and his 53-year-old wife, Nafeeza Hassan, of Lot 11 Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara, narrowly avoided injury after the fire erupted in the bottom flat of their house last evening around 19:15 hours and quickly engulfed the entire residence. Alarmed by heavy smoke and the sight of flames, neighbours rushed out with their buckets and quickly formed a bucket brigade to save the couple’s home. However, the 25-man team only managed to save the neighbouring store. When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, scores of residents had lined the streets, trying to make sense of what had occurred. In the midst of the confusion, Kaieteur News found the elderly man sitting in a neighbour’s yard. Kalistro had burns on his back; his head had a bloody gash. Slurring, the 71-year-old man said that he and his wife were in their bedroom, conversing, when they noticed the fire. “We don’t have electricity; we use a lamp so we were in the bedroom gaffing and suddenly I see a flame in the house. It’s an old house,” related the elderly man. He said at the time they were lying on their bed located at the bottom flat of the building and the lamp was on a table in the bedroom. His wife had reportedly claimed, however, that they were in the living room relaxing but the man insisted that he was lying on the bed while his wife was attempting to sweep the dust from the bed. The 71-year-old man explained, too, that he and his wife had been imbibing earlier. “We had lil ‘tups’. We does take one-one tups you know. We were in bed lying down, gaffin’ about old time stories
The elderly man showing his wounds and thing,” he said. The old man made it clear that at the time of the fire, they had stopped drinking. Though he could not ascertain whether the lamp had been the source of the fire, he said the flame spread fast and he and his wife ran to safety after their attempt to quell the fire with a bowl of water failed. The elderly man told Kaieteur News that he fell at the gate, while running to safety. He was at a loss as to what could have possibly caused the fire that destroyed the house in which they had been living for the past 30 years. Meanwhile, the couple’s neighbour, Fazal Nageer, 49, was thankful that the fire had not spread. Nageer, the owner of Bobby’s General
Store located next door to the couple, has been operating his business there for the past 20 years. He said that when he returned from Masjid, he learnt that a blaze had erupted at his neighbour ’s home located at the eastern side of his store. Residents who spoke to Kaieteur News were thankful for the response by the Guyana Fire Service, though they claimed that it was the bucket brigade that they formed which prevented the fire from spreading to the nearby store.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 03, 2015
Migrants shut Eurostar trains to UK; dead wash up on Turkish beach Reuters - Hundreds of migrants poured overnight onto the high-speed railway linking Paris with London near the French port of Calais, stranding passengers in darkness aboard Eurostar trains. Thousands of miles away, the bodies of other migrants washed up on a Turkish beach. Photos of a drowned toddler face down in the surf spread quickly across the Internet, yet another searing image from Europe’s worst migration crisis since the 1990s Balkan wars. Outside a Budapest train
station, an angry crowd camped out demanding to board trains for Germany, as Europe’s asylum system crumbled under the strain of the influx. Hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing wars, as well as economic migrants escaping poverty, have arrived in the European Union, confounding EU leaders and feeding the rise of right wing populists. Thousands have drowned in the Mediterranean and many others have died travelling over land, including 71 people
Hungarian police officers face migrants outside the Eastern railway station in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. REUTERS/LASZLO BALOGH
found in the back of an abandoned truck in Austria last week. The EU’s executive European Commission promised to unveil a new policy next week to make it easier to process asylum claims, send those from safe
countries home and distribute bona fide refugees among the bloc’s 28 members. Meanwhile, authorities have struggled to enforce rules which ordinarily allow free movement within most of the EU but restrict travel by
undocumented migrants. Hundreds took to the tracks around France’s CalaisFrethun station, the latest target for those trying to reach Britain, which many regard as a better place to live than countries on the continent.
Rail operator SNCF was forced to halt services near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel. Three Eurostar trains were blocked overnight and eventually continued to London early yesterday, while two returned to their departure stations.
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Russia says will respond in kind to new U.S. sanctions over Ukraine Reuters - Moscow said yesterday it would react in kind to United States’ widening of sanctions imposed on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, criticising the move as straining relations and posing risks for international stability. The U.S. Federal Register said yesterday Washington was adding 29 people to the sanctions list to tighten restrictions previously imposed on Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s response would be reciprocal. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that adding more sanctions on Moscow was illegitimate and added to a series of hostile actions taken by the United States against Russia. It said the “reckless” U.S. policy was “fraught with serious costs for international stability”. “The United States should have no illusions that it could continue this course without negative consequences for themselves,” the ministry said. “Response measures, not necessarily mirror ones, will follow from our side.”
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. REUTERS The new U.S. sanctions cover people and entities linked to those already sanctioned, including Gennady Timchenko, a prominent Russian gas trader, Russia’s top oil producer Rosneft (ROSN.MM) and firearms maker Kalashnikov Concern. Some of the entities are based in Cyprus, Finland, Romania, Switzerland and Britain. They also target ferry
operator and ports in Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia from Ukraine last year, in a move that took relations between Moscow and the West to their lowest point since the Cold War. Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of driving a pro-Russian separatist rebellion in east Ukraine, which started shortly after the Crimea annexation. Russia denies this.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 03, 2015
Trinidad’s ruling party accused of bribery in bid to win Monday’s election PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) says it has evidence of operatives of the United National Congress (UNC) engaging in electoral fraud, including bribing people to vote for its candidates or stay away from the polls. The public relations officer of the main opposition party, Faris Al-Rawi told the media Tuesday that the culprits would be reported to the authorities. He charged that in some instances, people were offered either TT$200 (US$31.55) or TT$500 (US$78.88) to wear UNC jerseys, while in other instances people have been enticed to stain their finger the night before next
Monday’s general election and not show up to cast their votes. “We do actually have in our possession evidence of some of these electoral frauds taking place,” Al-Rawi, who is also the party’s San Fernando West candidate, said at a news conference that was also attended by attorney and PNM’s Port-ofSpain North/St Ann’s West candidate Stuart Young. “On my walkabout [Monday] in the 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 pleaded with “right thinking citizens” not to be sell-outs. Doing a mathematical calculation based on the amount of money allegedly being offered to people for wearing UNC shirts, he argued: “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.” The UNC-led People’s Partnership coalition and the PNM are the main parties in the contest for the 41 seats in Parliament. (Caribbean 360)
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Durban confirmed as 2022 Commonwealth Games host The South African city of Durban was selected as the host for the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the Federation’s General assembly in New Zealand yesterday Wednesday. The coastal city was the only bidder for the multi-sports event after the Canadian city of Edmonton withdrew from contention in February, citing falling oil prices. Organizers said the Games would be held from July 1830, opening on the birth date of the late South African President and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome the South African city of Durban as proud hosts of the 22nd Commonwealth Games,” the outgoing CGF president Prince Tunku Imran said. “As a movement we stand together to support the very first games on African soil.” The Commonwealth Games are held every four years and feature athletes from over 50 countries, mostly former
British colonies. First held in 1930, 2022 will mark the first time the Games will be held in Africa, a move that could pave the way for South Africa to make another attempt for the Olympics after Cape Town finished third in bidding for the 2004 summer Games. “We are ready to host the Commonwealth Games for the first time on African soil,” CGF vice-president and South African Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam said. “The fundamental premise of our submission is that the Games will provide the opportunity at both an economic and social level in particular the development and inspiration of young people not only in South Africa but the rest of the Commonwealth. “Youth empowerment sits as the core of our legacy program, a legacy that will begin with your awarding of the Games.” The CGF evaluation commission recommended in
July that Durban should be awarded the Games but also expressed some concerns about possible funding shortfalls and the approach organizers were taking to financing and developing venues. It also sought guarantees on the risk associated with the construction of the athletes village, which is being built as part of a wider urban development scheme to address housing shortages in the Durban area. Bid chief executive Mark Alexander added the Games have been factored into South Africa’s long-term infrastructure and social and economic development strategies and would serve as a catalyst for that spending. The country’s government estimated that hosting the Games would deliver up to 20 billion rand ($1.49 billion) in output to the economy, translating into an additional 11 billion rand GDP growth. “All of our plans fit into
Thursday September 03, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) You will find the excitement gratifying. This is a good day to check out your investments. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Use your charm to get your own way. Spend time by yourself to avoid any conflicts with family members. GEMINI (MAY 22JUNE 21) Don't give in too quickly. Don't shy away from potential mates they want to introduce you to. Don't forget to let your mate know how much you care. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) You may overspend if you travel today; however, the trip will be one to remember. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Based on your excitement, serious-minded individuals will be more than interested in backing your ideas. You will be in the doghouse if you are being. VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) Children will want to help, too. You may not be happy if members of your family are not pulling their weight. Plan to do things with your faithful pet or with youngsters who have interesting hobbies.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) You can make some money if you get involved in a conservative financial prospect that is presented to you. Compromise will be necessary. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Things at home may be somewhat rocky. Be precise in your communications to avoid any misunderstandings and arguments. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Your lover may disappoint you in such a way that estrangement will follow. Sudden romantic encounters will set your head spinning. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You will profit from home improvement projects and real estate deals. Don't gamble unless you can afford to lose. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Creative educational pursuits will payoff. Concern yourself with legal matters and formulating contracts rather than finalizing your objectives. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Try to get others to stand behind your good judgment. Your mind may not be on the job.
the country’s 2030 development plans,” Alexander told reporters. “What it (the Games) will do is accelerate the infrastructure development. “It will accelerate grass roots sport development and it will create job opportunities and boost tourism in the area.” Sam added the Games had
given the country the added incentive to prove to the rest of the world that Africa could host sporting mega events. The country has hosted World Cups for rugby, cricket and soccer in the last 20 years, with the Moses Mabhida Stadium that was constructed for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 to hold the athletics
competition and the opening ceremony. More than 80 percent of the sporting disciplines would be held within a precinct with a 2.5 kilometer radius, close to the Indian Ocean. The next Commonwealth Games will be held at Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018.
Los Angeles named U.S. bid candidate... From page 30 2017. “LA has the proven experience in hosting the Games, and knows how to deliver world-class events for athletes and an extraordinary experience for fans,” Blackmun said in a statement. “Coupled with the city’s culture of creativity and innovation, we are confident LA can deliver an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said: “It is an honor for any city to host the Olympic Games, and Los Angeles is uniquely prepared for this task. “With the unanimous support of our City Council, we are ready to serve and strengthen the Olympic Movement and build a new Olympic legacy.” The USOC had been under pressure to find another potential host with the IOC having set a Sept. 15 deadline for interested cities to submit a letter of intent. Los Angeles had initially been considered the hot favorite to become the U.S. candidate city ahead of the other finalists Boston, Washington and San Francisco. Los Angeles represents a possibly thrifty choice, in large part because officials say most prospective event venues for the games already exist, including Memorial Coliseum, which will be 101 years old in 2024. The group LA24, formed to pursue an Olympic bid, has put the total estimated costs of hosting the Summer Games at $5.8 billion and has committed to generating $4.1 billion of the total. The rest would be left for private sources to raise, including an estimated $925 million to build a new Olympic Village to house the athletes. Councilman Felipe Fuentes said his continued support hinged on municipal officials maintaining a say over expenditures. Boston’s removal from the 2024 race proved an embarrassment for both the USOC and IOC, which has seen a troubling drop in cities interested in hosting a Games. After four different candidates from Europe
bidding for the 2022 Winter Games opted out, mostly because of concerns over costs, the IOC was left with a choice between unlikely bids from Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, before finally
settling on the Chinese capital. Rio de Janeiro will host the Summer Games next year with Tokyo holding the event for a second time in 2020. (Reuters)
GABF agrees on fine... From page 35 the game between Colts and Royals threw a basketball in the direction of Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Causway then walked away and upon walking away Mr. Hamilton ran up to Mr. Causway and dealt him a direct blow to his head,” the Georgetown association sub-
mitted. However, the federation said that the matter will be put into perspective when it issues the press release on the subject. The suspension of Causway had cast a dark cloud over the participation of Colts without its lead guard in Saturday’s final.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 03, 2015
Bravo dedicates his IAAF defends scale of T&T award to team World Championships 2015...
drug testing More than 1,400 drug tests were carried out at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, the sport’s governing body says. Just two positive tests were recorded - although the IAAF says hundreds of samples still need to be analysed. The run-up to the event saw allegations of widespread doping in the sport. The IAAF was also criticised for the scale of its testing plans in Beijing after admitting it would test only a third of athletes - 600 to 700. But the governing body has defended its programme, saying: “The doping control programme implemented by the IAAF in Beijing was the largest implemented in a single sporting event by any sport since the IAAF World Championships in Moscow two years ago.” It also stressed it had focused on “targeted” testing of athletes. “Thousands of samples were collected out of competition in the lead-up to the event, and the IAAF then implemented an intelligence-led programme in Beijing,” a spokesman said. Kenyan duo Koki Manunga and Joyce Zakary, who were suspended during the championships, were the two athletes to fail tests. “Should any of the remaining samples be reported as positive, the IAAF will make a public announcement when the rules allow,” the spokesman added. The IAAF said a total of 1,405 doping
Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel captain Dwayne Bravo does a victory lap, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel v Barbados Tridents, CPL 2015, final, Port-of-Spain, July 26, 2015 © CPL
Joyce Zakary
controls were carried out in Beijing, comprising: • 662 blood tests relating to the athlete’s biological passport • 161 blood tests to detect human growth hormone and EPO • 54 out-of-competition urine tests • 528 urine tests at the stadium - 239 of which will be analysed for EPO and related substances The samples will be frozen and stored for future reanalysis as science and technology progresses. (BBCsport)
Port of Spain, Trinidad Without my teammates this would not have been possible, national cricketer Dwayne Bravo said moments after receiving the Humming Bird Gold medal award. Bravo dedicated the award to his teammates. Bravo was one of six winners of the Humming Bird Gold medal at the National Awards held at the Queen’s
INTERNATIONAL TEAMS TO PLAY SIX NBA PRESEASON GAMES Three top international teams from Turkey, Israel and Brazil will visit the United States for a combined six preseason games against six National Basketball Association teams this October, the league said yesterday. The games open with sixtimes Turkish League champion Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul taking on the Brooklyn Nets on Oct. 5 before meeting former NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 9. Israeli club Maccabi Haifa will face NBA teams in the United States for the fifth time
in six years, starting with an Oct. 8 clash with the Memphis Grizzlies followed by a game against Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 11. Paschoalotto/Bauru, which compete in Brazil’s premier basketball league, will play the New York Knicks on Oct. 7 at Madison Square Garden and the Washington Wizards on Oct. 11. The six games, down from the record nine games played by international teams on North American soil last year, complement the NBA Global Games 2015-16 schedule, which includes six NBA teams playing seven games in six countries. (Reuters)
San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili (L) challenges Fenerbahce Ulker’s Andrew Goudelock (C) and Nemanja Bjelica (R) during their NBA Global Games Istanbul 2014. Reuters/Murad Sezer
hall auditorium on Monday night. “I feel honoured. It is a great achievement for me personally to be recognised by my country. I have been serving my country for quite a while now and I am very happy to achieve something such as big as this and I just want to say congratulations to all the other awardees as well. “Well done to everyone who put Trinidad and Tobago on the map and to me personally I just want to say thanks to my teammates as well because without my teammates the success I have would not have been possible and this achievement goes out to them as well,” Bravo said. Although he has travelled all around the world Bravo said he cannot see himself living anywhere else but here. “This is the only place I can see myself living, even in life after cricket. It is just for us to continue to stick together as a nation, forget all the petty talk and stuff and just try to focus on making Trinidad and Tobago a better place. “For me as a sportsman I just want to continue and represent the country and do great things for Trinidad and Tobago and for the young
youths coming up to try and follow in my footsteps or even whether it is a Keshorn Walcott or Machel Montano or whichever role model you have or someone whoever you look up to, just try to emulate someone and be on the positive side of life and to make the country proud,” Bravo said. Bravo said he does not feel pressured by the award as he is a “very humble” and “very chill person”. “For me it is not really what I want to achieve but I just want to be an ambassador for my country and to do the right things, set an example for others to follow just as my role model did before Brian Lara, he is someone who I look up to and you know he achieved great things as well and he is a very close friend to me and I just want to pave the way for others to follow as well and just continue to do the right things. “I have kids coming up and I just want to set a great example for my children and for my nieces and nephews and for all my teammates, as I mentioned before my success is because of my teammates and they have to get some credit as well,” Bravo said. (T&T Newsday)
Los Angeles named U.S. bid candidate for 2024 Summer Olympic Games Los Angeles was officially selected on Tuesday as the American candidate city that will bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics after Boston pulled out of the race in July, the U.S. Olympic Committee said. Los Angeles, which has hosted the Summer Games twice before, in 1932 and 1984, will be among the frontrunners and joins a race that includes heavy favorite Paris, Rome, Budapest and
Hamburg. “It is my distinct honor to formerly name the city of Los Angeles as the U.S. bid city to host the 2024 Olympics,” USOC Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun told a news conference held just off the beach front in Santa Monica. The final obstacle facing the city’s candidacy was cleared earlier on Tuesday when the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to pursue a bid for the 2024
Games, giving Los Angeles the chance to become the only city besides London to host the Olympics three times. The resolution adopted on a 15-0 vote by the council allows the city to negotiate financial terms of a hosting deal and bow out if it cannot reach agreement with Olympic officials. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will elect a winning bid in September (Continued on page 29)
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Pacquiao to fight once more before retiring to focus on becoming president Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao will have one more fight in 2016 before calling time on his boxing career, according to his promoter Bob Arum. Arum said that the 36-year-old will be back in the ring for one last time next year once he
recovers from a shoulder injury. The promoter said that Pacquiao will focus on trying to become president in the Philippines. He told TMZ: ‘He’s gonna fight again next year but his goal is to become
a senator in the Philippines, which he will be next year, and then to be president. ‘I think Manny will retire once he’s elected to the Senate of the Philippines which is next year. He’s gonna hang up the gloves.’ Amir Khan has been offered the chance to fight Pacquiao in the Middle East with Abu Dhabi a potential venue. The Top Rank CEO has suggested the Middle East as a location ahead of Vegas with Abu Dhabi the likely option as Dubai has been ruled out as a potential host. It comes after Khan was overlooked by Floyd Mayweather in favour of Andre Berto in their September 12 fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. (MailOnline)
FIFA’s latest reform committee meets for the first time Soccer ’s troubled governing body FIFA began another attempt to clean up its act when its newest reform committee met for the first time in the Swiss capital yesterday. Headed by Francois Carrard, a former Director General of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the 13-man committee gave little away as it began a two-day meeting in a five-star hotel. A spokesman for Carrard said there would be no comment on the proposals under discussion until a news
conference this afternoon. Officially known as the FIFA 2016 Reform Committee, it was set up by FIFA’s executive committee at its last meeting on July 20 in response to the worst crisis in FIFA’s 111-year history. The decision came as a surprise as FIFA already had a reform process in place led by Domenico Scala, head of its Audit and Compliance Committee. Scala, who according to sources familiar with the matter addressed the new committee yesterday morning, has called for a
reduction in the power of the continental confederations. The confederations currently elect the members of FIFA’s powerful executive committee, but Scala wants the power transferred to the 209 national associations who are members of FIFA. Scala has also proposed replacing the executive committee with two separate committees and wants term limits imposed on FIFA officials. However, it is the continental confederations who have nominated
Ex-Australia keeper Rod Marsh wants to change no-ball rule A cricket umpire could be killed unless the no-ball rule is changed, according to Rod Marsh. The ex-Australia wicketkeeper wants current regulations changed so umpires are able to stand further back. That would give them more time to react if the ball is hit powerfully in their direction. “It’s only a matter of time before an umpire in an international or first-class match is seriously hurt, if not killed,” Marsh said. Speaking at the annual MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture, the 67year-old believes that big hitting in the Twenty20 game has made it more dangerous for umpires. “You put yourself in the umpire’s position when a batsman with a massive weapon runs at the bowler and smashes a straight drive at about chest
Rod Marsh height,” added Marsh. “I, for one, would want to be standing back as far as possible. “By reverting to the back-foot law (dispensed with in 1963), the umpire has a chance to stand at least two metres further back. “If I
happened to be umpiring right now, I’d be wearing a baseball helmet, a chest pad, shin guards and an abdominal protector. “Maybe we have to make this safety gear for umpires compulsory for all international and first-class games.” The 25 first-class umpires are set to discuss safety concerns at their endof-season meeting this month. Long-serving umpire Rob Bailey said: “A lot of people are in danger. Bats are massive now and are only going to become more powerful and the ball is pinging off them. Fortunately no-one has been badly hit.” Australia batsman Phillip Hughes died aged 25, after being struck on the top of the neck by a short-pitched ball during a match last November. (BBCsport)
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Cilic into U.S. Open third round; Fish takes final bow Defending champion Marin Cilic powered into the third round of the U.S. Open with a routine win over Russia’s Evgeny Donskoy yesterday while the curtain came down on American Mardy Fish’s career. After playing his opening match on an outside court, Cilic returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium, scene of last year’s triumph, and it once again looked to be a perfect fit as the big-hitting Croatian rolled to 6-2 6-3 7-5 win over the Russian qualifier. During last year’s magical run Cilic was invincible on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court as he swept by Tomas Berdych in the quarters, took out Roger Federer in the semis and Kei Nishikori in a one-sided final. “This court is very special for me, brings back special memories,” the ninth-seeded Cilic said in an on-court interview. “It’s sort of unreal. I was working all my life to win a grand slam and now I’m in position to defend one.” After a first round littered with upsets, the start of second round action went according to script as Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer beat Serb Filip Krajinovic 7-5 7-5 7-6(4) and Canadian 10th seed Milos Raonic fought off back pain and several visits from the trainer to beat Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-4 67(5) 7-6(1). It was a great start to another steamy day for the Americans with 19th seed Madison Keys needing just 54 minutes on center court to race past Czech Tereza Smitkova 6-1 6-2
and reach the third round for the first time four tries.The victory marked another milestone in what has been Keys’s best grand slam season having reached the Australian Open semi-finals, Wimbledon quarters and third round of the French Open. “So far this year it’s probably been the best year I have had,” said Keys. “It hasn’t been perfect. There have been some ups and downs but I think that’s the nature of tennis. “I still haven’t quite figured everything out.” Flushing Meadows said goodbye to Fish, the 33-year-old American who announced earlier this year that he would retire after playing in his 13th U.S. Open. After an 18 month layoff, Fish, who suffers from an anxiety disorder, returned to the ATP Tour in March and only played four events but went down swinging in his final grand slam. Fish stretched it out as long as he could and appeared to be on the brink of an impressive upset but ultimately fell 2-6 6-3 1-6 7-5 6-3 to 18th seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. “I have got a lot of great memories; I’ve got a lot of good wins out here. I have made a lot of really good friendships with almost everyone out here,” said Fish. “I probably would have chosen this one as my last one regardless if I didn’t have any issues with my health in the past couple of years just because this is the biggest one and the most fun and the one that you want to go out on.” (Reuters)
Serena survives early test to keep Grand Slam bid alive Serena Williams took her second step in a drive to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam in 27 years by beating Kiki Bertens 76(5) 6-3 in the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships at Flushing Meadows. The 110th-ranked Dutchwoman put up a valiant fight and had world number one Williams, who struggled with her serve, on the ropes in the opening set. Williams, who registered eight double faults in the set, was down a break with Bertens serving for the set when the top seed broke the Dutchwoman in the 10th game to draw level at 5-5 and take it to a tiebreaker. Williams fell behind 4-0 in the
tiebreaker but roared back with five consecutive points and claimed the decider 7-5. “I never stop. I keep going and give the best effort that I can,” Williams said after raising her 2015 match record to 50-2. Should Williams win her fourth consecutive U.S. Open, the 33-year-old American would become the fourth woman to sweep all four grand slam singles title in one season following Maureen Connolly (1953), Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graf (1988). Williams next faces Bethanie MattekSands, who beat fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe in straight sets in her secondround match. (Reuters)
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Kaieteur News
Sparta Boss King of the Street Football The Sparta Boss King of the Street Champion of Champions five-a-side Football competition continues from 19:30hrs this evening at Sparta Turf, Go Slow Tucville. Brother ’s United takes on Patentia Ballers, Upper Setters face East Ruimveldt, West Ruimveldt play Plaisance, Raiders oppose Cross Street, North Ruimveldt battle West Side Ballers, Island match skills with BV and Sparta engage Bent Street. Meanwhile, in Tuesday night’s results; Globe Yard defeated Alberttown by the lone goal of that match compliments of Anthony Francis in the 13th minute. Game 2: Samaroo Dam 1 vs Showstoppers ‘B’ 0 (Kevin Edghill-10th). Game 3: Festival City 4 vs Jetty Gunners 0, (Daniel Favourite-5th and 6th, Dwayne Lawrence 7th and Shaquille Duncan 18th. Game 4: Alexander Village won by walkover. Game 5: Mocha Ballers 1 vs Broad Street 0, (Steffon Ramsay-11th). Game 6: Agricola 0 vs Queen Street Tiger Bay 0
Latest Points Table GroupA Teams G W Sam Roo Dam 3 3 Glob Yard 3 2 Albert Town 3 1 Show Stopper-B 3 0 Group B Alexanderville 3 2 Gold is Money 3 2 North East 3 2 Show Stopper A 3 0 Group C Festival City 3 2 Mocca Ballers 3 2 Broad Street 3 1 Jetty 3 1 Group D Agricola 3 2 Tiger Bay 3 2 Leopold Street 3 1 Albouystown 3 0 Group E Patentia Street 2 2 Sophia 2 1 Back Circle 2 1 Brother United 2 0 Group F Upper Setter 2 2 West Back Rd 2 1 East Ruimveldt 2 1 Plaisance 2 0 Group G Raiders 2 2 0 Sparta Boss 2 1 Bent Street 2 1 Cross Street 2 0 Group H North Ruimveldt 2 2 BV Ballers 2 1 Island 2 1 West Side Ballers 2 0 (Agricola won 1-0 on sudden death kicks). Game 7: Leopold Street vs Albouystown 0 (Leopold Street won via walkover).
L 0 1 2 3
Points 7 5 2 0
1 1 1 3
6 4 4 0
1 1 2 2
6 6 2 2
0 1 1 3
6 4 4 0
0 1 1 2
5 3 3 0
0 1 1 2
6 3 2 0
5 1 1 0
3 3 0
0 5 1 3 1 3 0 0 Game 8: West Front Road Gold is Money 0 vs North East La Penitence 0 (North East won 3-2 on sudden death kicks).
Thursday September 03, 2015
Queensway/GSSF Steel Challenge Match...
Ryan McKinnon (Limited) and Tracy Vieira (Wildcat) dominate The Guyana Sport Shooting Federation hosted yet another Steel Challenge Shooting Match sponsored by Queensway on Saturday last at the GDF Timehri Range. In spite of 40 minutes being lost to heavy rainfall, the entire match was completed safely. Shooters on hand deemed it a fun and successful event which ended in a surreal tropical sunset. The local pistol shooters competed in two SCSA Divisions: Wildcat and Limited. Queensway trophies were up for grabs to the top three shooters overall in each division. Leading overall in the Limited Division with just over a minute of shooting for the afternoon was undefeated local Steel Challenge Shooter, Mr. Ryan McKinnon who was timed at 64.05 and was followed in second place by Mr. Ray Beharry (80.51) with third place going to Mr. Joseph Chin (84.18). Ruling the roost in the Wildcat Division was Ms. Tracy Vieira (96.71) who dominated over Mr. Jagmohan Bassoo (236.22). Wildcat Division consisted of competitors using .32ACP and lower calibres whereas those in the Limited Division shot 9mm or higher calibre hand guns. The match consisted of three sanctioned S.C.S.A. stages (Pendulum, Showdown and Accelerator) with the action being monitored by the Federation’s Range Safety Officers. “Showdown” saw two rectangle targets located some 25 yards away and the smaller plates at a closer 10 yards while the stop plate was set at 12 yards. However this stage was seen as tricky to tackle since there was a requirement to shoot at least 2 strings from one shooting location or box and then alternating to another box for the next two strings. This ultimately changed the angles and target presentation. The competitors then had to choose from either box where they would shoot their final string. Many competitors deliberated over their ‘better side’ to avoid prematurely hitting the tricky stop plate located in the center of the array. “Accelerator” caused both the shooter’s trigger finger to press rapidly, their heart-beat to accelerate and ultimately saw the most ammo being used as they strove to
Winner of the Balloon Challenge, Mr. Andrew Phang receiving his Trophy hit the plates in short times. Some enlisted the services of a technique coined the “spray and pray” which was only truly mastered by one of the shooters present. “Pendulum” saw the four furthest targets set at 18 yards and the stop plate enticingly located at a close 10 yards from the shooting box. This caused some excitement as seasoned shooters in their rush to get fast scores repeatedly shot and miss the stop plate thus forcing them to take follow up shots to stop the clock as your time is ultimately your score, with the total of the best 4 strings of 5 being used for score. At the end of the Main Match there was a fun Side Match dubbed a ‘Balloon Challenge’ which tested the accuracy of those who signed up. The Range was then transformed into a festive and colorful spectacle with the addition of several bright red balloons atop posts placed downrange. The first shooting line was placed at 15 meters and participants were given 15 seconds to aim and fire once at a chosen balloon. Shooters who missed were immediately eliminated while those hitting were promoted to the sudden death round: the shooting line was also moved to create further distance after every round. At the end of four rounds two shooters made it to the finals, GSSF President Ms. Vidushi Persaud and experienced member Mr. Andrew Phang. With the shooting line set at
approximately 30 meters the two shooters assembled with pistols in hand and made ready. Both shots broke at about the same instance and it was Phang who emerged victor over Persaud. Phang was thus crowned Champion of the Balloons and was presented with an immaculate and unique trophy sponsored by Queensway. At the end of the action, Match Director Captain Roul Bhudu expressed sincere thanks to Mr. Mohamed Qualander of Queensway for the sponsorship of the Match and for making Armscor ammunition available for the match. The Guyana Sport Shooting Federation wishes to thank the Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Phillips, GPF Commissioner Persaud, GPF Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine, GPF Commander Hicken, GPF OC TSU Superintendent Dehnert, Assistant Superintendent Mr. Todd, GPF Corporal Dunn and the ranks of the GPF Armoury and TSU. As an affiliate of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association, a sister body of the United States Practical Shooting Association, the GSSF has been organising matches following their strict safety policies. This simple, yet actionpacked shooting sport attracts Guyanese pistol shooters from all around the country on a regular basis. More information can be found on the GSSF website www.GuyanaSportShooting.com.
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 33
NSC ‘TEACH THEM YOUNG’ camp concludes in Berbice Watkins ton, Andrews 12-wkt haul hand TSC huge win Marcus Watkins Participants share a moment at the conclusion of the camp
A
century by Marcus Watkins coupled with a 12wicket match haul by Leon Andrews handed Guyana Defense Force (GDF) a comprehensive 119-run victory over St. Stanislaus when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day tournament continued last weekend. Watkins stroked 101 while Andrews Slammed 82 as GDF posted 279-5 declared, batting first at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda. The pair added 126 for the second wicket with Watkins hitting twelve fours and two sixes and Andrews’s eight fours and three maximums. St. Stanislaus were sent packing for 80 in reply. Irfan Ally made 26 and Shane Bacchus 22. Off-spinner Andrews proved almost unplayable, taking 7-12 from six overs while Miguel Cort picked up 2-15. Asked to bat a second time St. Stanislaus were routed for 80 with Ally scoring 54; Andrews grabbed 5-25 to finish with match figures of 12-37. Nakithia Nester claimed 2-18.
GT Masters Allstars and GFC Masters clash in friendly tonight
Sheldon Bobb Georgetown Masters Allstars and host Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Masters will clash in a friendly encounter from 19:00hrs tonight. The game will serve as preparation for both teams ahead of upcoming fixtures. The Georgetown Masters Allstars is set to take on Berbice Masters on
September 12 at Burnham Park, New Amsterdam for the Frank Alphonso trophy while GFC Masters will embark on a tour to Trinidad and Tobago in October. Georgetown Masters Allstars - Dion Barnwell (Captain), Jolyon Lewis, Kevin Alleyne , Shawn O’Neil, Chris Barnwell, E r r o l S o l o m o n , Tr o y Hermonstyne, Clancy Charles, Anthony Stanton, Sheldon Bobb, Lawerence December, Malcom Dalson, Anthony Marks, Denio Veira, Bernard Rodrigues, Lionel Grimes and Roley Scotte. GFC Masters - Patrick Vincente (Captain), Dane Kendell, Enkyoma Vahun, James Turpin, Terrence Lewis, Clifford Reffino, Witney Forde, David Best, Christopher Collymoore, Floyd Manifold, Wayne Williams, Jason Smith and Kelvin Leander.
The Ministry of Education Department of Sport/National Sports Commission ‘Teach Them Young’ Inaugural camp held at the Glasgow, East Bank Berbice concluded last weekend. The programme which lasted for one week was attended by 90 students and was conducted by Garfield Solomon and Deborah Ward. Participants were exposed to cricket, football and athletics and were also given lectures on moral values in sports.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday September 03, 2015
Seven Caribbean teams eye spots in Simmons looking forward to third round FIFA World Cup Qualifiers overseas tour
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even Caribbean teams are preparing to take the six available spots in the Third Round of the ‘Road to Russia’ 2018 World Cup Qualifications which starts tomorrow to September 8 when twelve teams compete in a home and away basis. The teams are: Grenada, Aruba, Antigua & Barbuda, Curacao, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and Haiti and will be joined by five other teams from the CONCACAF region namely Canada, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Belize and Guatemala in the race for these spots. At the end of this campaign six winners will advance to the fourth round, when Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States will be waiting to open their qualifying campaigns. Matches in the next round of four-team groups will take place from November 7, 2015 through to September 6, 2016. The teams will play in the following pairs in a home and away format during September 4-8 as follows: St Vincent and the Grenadines against Aruba, Grenada and Haiti, Curacao and El Salvador, Canada and Belize, Antigua & Barbuda and Jamaica against Nicaragua. The Senior Men’s World Cup Final is a FIFA’s flagship event which was first staged in 1930. The inaugural edition was staged in Uruguay and was contested as a final
tournament with thirteen teams invited by the organization to compete in the showpiece event. To date only four teams from the Caribbean have made it to the World Cup Finals stage. They are Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. The current champions are Germany, who won the World Cup at the last staging of the competition held in Brazil between June and July, 2014. (CFU)
Bridgetown, Barbados - West Indies Head Coach, Phil Simmons, has his sights set on doing well when he takes on his first overseas tours since taking up tenure earlier this year. During a camp held for emerging fast bowlers just this past week at the West Indies High Performance Centre at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Simmons gave some insight into his hopes for the teams upcoming assignments. With the fast bowling camp serving to give Simmons a look at the next crop of players, he explained that just after, there was going to be a camp which would give him an idea as to who would be suitable for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. The next two weeks is going to be batters. It won’t be so much the next generation, because we have work to do with the present crop and we tour Sri Lanka from October, so we have two weeks with the batters who have a chance at going on that tour. We have a week off and the we have the tour camp itself, so we have a bit going on for September before we leave for Sri Lanka. With the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, Simmons is hoping to pose a serious challenge to the Sri Lanka. Noting that the Windies strengths lie in playing their best when they are away, he also stated that it still would be no easy task. When you watch world cricket, a trend is happening where everybody seems to be very, very
West Indies Coach Phil Simmons. ©WICB Media Photo/Philip Spooner dependable at home, and it is always very hard to beat people on their home turf. We will be going down there wanting to play good cricket, and we will make sure that at the end of the series, we have done our best, and I think that will give us the series in each format of the game. Similarly, he expects Australia to be a tough tour. It is the biggest test for young cricketers anywhere, I think, other than India. It is going to be hard, even harder than it was here, because they have just lost the Ashes and they are going to be coming hard at New Zealand, then they will be looking to come hard against us. It’s good to test people like that. Away to Sri Lanka is going to be hard and away to Australia is going to be hard. So by the middle of January, we are going to know who are your future test cricketers, he said. (Barbados Advocate)
Thursday September 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
GABF agrees on fine for Hamilton, Causway
National Volleyball squad commences encampment tomorrow
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he twenty-one man squad shortlisted by the G u y a n a Vo l l e y b a l l F e d e r a t i o n (GVF) to commence preparations to participate in the CSV male Indoors Championship to be held in Maceio, Brazil from September 27-October 5 this year will commence encampment tomorrow at the National Gymnasium. According to Assistant Coach Ian Wills, the players will participate in training sessions from tomorrow before the final selection of t h e t e a m o n S u n d a y. Previously, the squad made up of players from Berbice and Demerara trained separately under the guidance of National Coach Levi Nedd and Wills due to geographical constraints, but were guided by the same programme so it is expected that all the players will be at
the same level of preparations coming into the encampment. The sport has been enjoying a fillip following several commendable performances on the international stage and this has encouraged the GVF officials to seek stronger ties with CSV (South American Volleyball Confederation), a regional body that comprises some of the strongest teams in world volleyball. The squad that has been in training over the past two weeks is: Wendell Austin, Corwyn Richards, Trevlon Mc Rae, Quacy Matheson, Jamal Duncan, Shemroy Ross, Creston Rodney, Ian Bagott, Jason Seelochan, Beepaul Bandoo, Akeem Bowling, Adriel Moore, Errol Fingal, Luen David, Devendra Latchman, Vance Harding, Khemraj Singh, Xavier Lambert, Joshua Jagmohan and Samuel Fraser.
By Edison Jefford
Ian Wills Meanwhile, the Federation is to host a Volleyball Cooperation Programme sponsored by the FIVB (Federation of International Volleyball). The course will be facilitated by Julio Morales, who is a FIVB International Coach from the USA and it will be held from September 5-9, at the National Gymnasium. It is aimed at introducing and developing young players who are interested in the game. Interested persons can contact Nicholas Fraser, Secretary of the GVF on telephone number 698-4328 to register.
Inter-Ministry T20 tourney bowls off tonight at DCC
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he Inter Ministry T20 competition is set to bowl off tonight at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) starting from 19:00hrs with Housing and Water Super Kings facing Agriculture/ Tourism. The tournament is organised by the Ministry of Communities with the aim of promoting a healthy work ethic and interpersonal relations among the staff members. It also marks the commencement of regular staff interaction involving both indoor and outdoor activities. Housing/Water Super Kings -
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Ramchand Jailal (Captain), Omar Narine, Harold More, Casey Hickery, Naeem Khan, Motie Naraine, Ramkumar Ramnarine, Khemraj Persaud, Kenroy Pilgrim, Jason Goodhart, Avinash Parsram, Troy Trotman and Keron Archer. Agriculture/Tourism - Christopher Vandeyar (Captain), Seon Simpson, Vickram Deonarine, Arian Griffith, Rayadh Ali, Dhaneshwar James, Quincy Gordon, Rondel Nedd, Scion Richardson, Davindra Singh, Dhaneshwar Deonarine and Orlando Headley.
The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has agreed on fines for Pacesetters forward, Jermaine Hamilton and Colts guard, Dave Causway following a post-game fight last Wednesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Contacted last night, President of the GABF, Nigel Hinds told Kaieteur Sport that “the matter at the federation level has been resolved.” Hinds confirmed that fines had been set for both players following a disciplinary hearing yesterday. The GABF Head was mum on a full disclosure pertaining to the matter, stating, however, that a press release will be issued to the media soon. Asked if Causway will be reinstated to play when his team takes on Half Mile Bulls in the GABF Forbes Burnham Memorial Final Saturday night in Linden, Hinds answered in
Dave Causway the affirmative. In response to recommendations from the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) for sanctions for both players, the national federation had suspended them until further notice. In addition, the GABF had originally set yesterday’s meeting for Sunday. “Following that meeting, the GABF will make a definitive pronouncement on the issue, based on the information and evidence
related to the altercation,” it had indicated in its response to GABA detailing its prescription for disciplinary action. The incident in question occurred after the Colts vs Victory Valley Royals semifinal game of the GABF Forbes Burnham Memorial Championships, where Causway apparently threw a ball in Hamilton’s direction and was physically accosted afterward. “Based on Mr. Douglas eye-witness account in addition to other bystanders that collaborated the exact happening, the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association would like to recommend the following in keeping with FIBA (International Basketball Federation) fair play and the player code of conduct,” GABA had stated in its letter to the federation. “Based on Mr. Douglas account ‘Mr. Causway, following the conclusion of (Continued on page 29)
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=QUEENSWAY/GSSF STEEL CHALLENGE MATCH=
Ryan McKinnon (Limited) and Tracy Vieira (Wildcat) dominate
Queensway’s Manager/Owner Mr. Mohamed Qualander (5th left) is surrounded by competitors of the Queensway sponsored GSSF Steel Challenge Tier 1 Match.
Serena survives early test to keep Grand Slam bid alive
Serena Williams reacts after winning the first set against Kiki Bertens.
Cilic into U.S. Open third round; Fish takes final bow Marin Cilic of Croatia (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
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