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September 16, 2012

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GRA officers demand $500,000 in bribes from businesswoman p. 3

When will this $80M bridge be completed?

Bridge linking La Parfaite Harmonie and Canal #1 W.B.D.

p.

17

GPHC and Doobay Renal Centre to offer p.

11

free kidney transplants 71-yr-old killed after51p. being hit by two cars - one driver, car disappear

Devoted community leader and preacher, Samuel Singh, is a 'Special Person’ p.

28

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Sunday September 16, 2012

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

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ATVs bribery scandal at GRA… Take Control Of Your Life “Obstacles are there to signify how bad you want something. Failure is a passage way to success; it is how you respond to failure, obstacles, stumbles, brick walls, high mountains, tribulations, problems, and setbacks, that will ultimately determine your success.”

You can let failure knock you out, and you can stay down, or you can get up, believing in yourself, determined to climb to the top.

Be blindly determined to make of your life everything you decide and everything you really deserve, determined to do whatever it takes to win, regardless of how many times you will be knocked down.

You, I, and everybody else will go through failure on the road to success. It is just about never being satisfied with mediocrity, averageness, poverty, misery, or just being one more of the crowd. Get up and never, never ever give up. Be happy and never forget that on the road will be people that will stumble and will need you to reach out your hand to them.

Do not disconnect from life, do not let the ego (mental ideas) prevent you from the beauty of life. Feel the life, take a deep breath and smell it; feel yourself alive. Don’t worry, forget about everything that is worrying you or upsetting you; enjoy life!

Smile, everything is irrelevant, especially when you let it go. In the end, everything turns to nothing; be happy now. This is accomplished when we are determined to live constantly in the moment, the present, and when we do whatever is in our being to pay total and full attention, with all our senses, to every instant of our life, to everything we live.

Take control of your life, be happy — stop feeling sorry for yourself; be responsible for what you think and your actions. Whatever happens to us is not because of others or because of circumstances, but totally up to us.

Be Happy! Enjoy all the blessings you have. Of course, Definitively you can do it!!

Four officers demand $500,000 in bribes from businesswoman A businesswoman is likely to file legal proceedings against the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as early as tomorrow amidst allegations that she was pressured to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.

The Kuru Kururu, East Bank Demerara woman has already given a statement against one Customs officer and a number of staffers of GRA’s Enforcement arm.

Her lawyer, Manoj Narayan, yesterday said that GRA back-pedalled on a deal to have her testify against the staffers and instead sent her a notice demanding she pay over $3M in duties for a number of All Terrain Ve h i c l e s ( AT V s ) . T h e demand also dictated that the woman pay some $5.3 million in penalties.

Narayan yesterday admitted that he is representing the woman and said that he is moving to the courts by tomorrow.

Kaieteur News was told that earlier this year, the woman imported five all terrain vehicles (ATVs). ATVs are four-wheel bikes ideal for rough terrain and favoured by miners, loggers and hinterland residents because of their maneuverability.

Government had announced that it will be

waiving duties and other taxes on the ATVs once they are for the use in the hinterland.

The woman is claiming that she filed paperwork at GRA for the ATVs and was given to royal runaround for them to be processed on a timely manner.

She claimed that she was later told by a GRA staffer that the ATVs could be eligible for duty free letters but she will have to pay over $400,000 each to staffers to get the letters.

According to the lawyer, his client agreed and was issued duty free letters signed by a Deputy Commissioner General of the GRA, Clement Sealey.

“The signature on these letters was not forged,” Narayan insisted. The bikes were sold to miners.

Last month, around August 11 and August 12, officials of the GRA’s Enforcement Unit descended on a number of places including Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara, and North Road and Alberttown, in the city, and seized three of the bikes which were in workshops under repairs.

According to the lawyer, his client was asked to pay $500,000 or two ounces of gold to have the ATVs released. She refused.

Attorney-at-law, Manoj Narayan The matter reached Commissioner General of GRA, Khurshid Sattaur.

The businesswoman was called in to give a statement which she did, implicating staffers of the Enforcement Unit and at least one Customs officer.

According to Narayan, an agreement was reached with GRA to have the woman give evidence against the staffers.

“We reached an understanding that my client will not be penalized and that the miners who would have been sold the ATVs would be issued duty free letters. In return she would testify

against the staffers.”

However, it seemed that the deal fell through.

“On Friday, my client received a letter demanding she pay more than $3M in duty and taxes.

Here, we h a v e G R A asking people to come forward when there is bribery and fraud involved with its staffers. She was willing to give evidence.

N o w, h o w w o u l d s h e testify?”

According to Narayan, his client may very well not be willing to give evidence against the staffers now. In the meantime, the staffers remain on the job.

“I have heard that there was an internal investigation but I am not aware of the findings,” Narayan said yesterday.

In recent times, GRA had disclosed a massive scheme over duty free letters and ATVs. Over $100M in duties was said to have been lost in revenues.

GRA had announced an investigation but has to date not made its findings known.

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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

Our own tourists

At the recently concluded IMF/CDB forum to recalibrate the economic strategies of CariCom to deal with the global downturn, it was suggested that we focus more on interregional tourism. We agree but add the caveat that we consider our huge expatriate communities, as ‘intra-regional” – Region 11. With that in mind, we resubmit a recommendation previously offered.

After a decade or more of promoting the eco-tourism attractions of our interior, the fact remains that the majority of visitors to our shores remains the expatriate Guyanese and his generally foreign-born offspring. Not surprisingly, since the majority of them originated from the coastland, they rarely, if ever, think of going into our interior. The forest is not their destination as yet.

Apart from plugging Mashramani and ancillary activities –the “Big Limes”, for example - the authorities have not really focused on the coast as a tourist destination. But if an accounting is done, the Guyanese visitors will be shown to have made a contribution to the Guyanese economy far in excess than from the “tourists” we are pursuing so fervidly. We suggest that it is high time that this anomaly be rectified.

What has evidently passed under the radar of the Tourism Ministry has certainly not escaped the notice of sharp-eyed Guyanese businessmen who have rushed in to fill the gap in servicing the needs of the exuberant Guyanese tourists. After three decades of heavy migration, the typical Guyanese visitor has now passed the stage of simply hunkering down in his native village with his suitcases filled with goodies.

He now wants to take out his relatives for some fun. All across the coast nowadays are hotels, guest houses, restaurants, resorts – such as Splashmins and Lake Mainstay – that have their busiest period during the northern summer from which the expatriate Guyanese find it most convenient to visit. Even a cursory check would reveal that in the centre of most of the revellers is a Guyanese expatriate.

The point we wish to make is not that we have to give up on the “regular” tourist who might want to sample our interior fare, but that the Ministry of Tourism should expand its activities to encourage even more Guyanese visitors to make their old country their vacation of choice and to make the experience even more enjoyable for those who choose to do so.

The Ministry can do worse than work with its sister Ministry of Local Government to take control of the garbage that is simply dumped willy-nilly in so many locations – not only in Georgetown - where visitors congregate. Guyanese who have spent any time abroad are (rightfully) deeply offended by the smells and sight of our garbage-strewn roadways and if our authorities can bring some order to the situation not only our coffers – but also our health – will benefit.

Our annual Rupununi Rodeo and Bartica Regatta (and the afore-mentioned Mashramani) are well recognised events that the authorities deserve kudos for promoting.

However, there are several other festivals and celebrations from our rich and kaleidoscopic cultural tapestry that can be romanced and organised to attract hordes of expatriate Guyanese all year round. Right off the bat one can think of Phagwah and Deepavali; Emancipation and Arrival Days.

These events already have deep significance to Guyanese in the Diaspora and it will not take much to induce them to share the experience with their brothers and sisters in the original milieu.

A “Heritage Experience” can also be experienced. Most children of foreign-born Guyanese would have heard innumerable stories of their parents growing up on sugar plantations, rice districts, city locations, etc, or working in the goldfields or the bauxite mines. A village with logies can easily be constructed at the site of one of the abandoned estates – say LBI on the East Coast of Demerara – and combined with the other sites and sounds of slave/ indentured life.

These ideas form only the tip of what we believe can be a burgeoning industry and we hope that a fruitful discussion will ensue.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

How truthful is Mr. Freddie Kissoon?

DEAR EDITOR, I have had cause in the past to observe that Mr Frederick Kissoon in his numerous public utterances gets away with multiple forms of offence to others, misrepresentations, false and inaccurate statements. I fully agree when Mr Kissoon was the victim of attack or other wrong actions those were to be condemned, but I never hear his supporters condemning him on any of the several occasions on which he offends others. There is no public outcry or defence of his victims.

Mr Kissoon is allowed to get away with it because

most of us do not respond publicly when he makes his claims and accusations in the press. I have asked before, is he really the champion of rectitude and justice that he professes to be? I have argued that in order to be that he at least has to be truthful in those public utterances.

He cannot be serving rights and justice if his own actions violate rights and justice; he cannot be championing those causes if his claims are false; and I ask again – how truthful is Mr Kissoon?

The most recent examples are two letters in the press by Frederick Kissoon: “A Legal Mockery at UG” (Kaieteur

News, Sept 3, 2012) and “A Group Comprising less than a quorum are making decisions in the dying minutes of an Academic Board meeting” (Stabroek News, Sept 5, 2012). He claims, inter alia, that the Academic Board statement in support of Prof Compton Bourne, which asked for the withdrawal or nonacceptance of his resignation as Chancellor of the UG, was not a true majority decision of the Academic Board.

Mr Kissoon gives a detailed narrative of what transpired at the meeting, as follows. “The Academic Board in full session

discussed the faulty leadership of former Chancellor, Dr Compton Bourne. There was no formal decision. Few persons spoke. There was hardly any defence of Dr Bourne. When most voting members had left, a certain academic raised the Bourne issue again under ‘Any Other Business’. The Office of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Marlyn Cox (sic), later published a press release saying that the Academic Board rejected Bourne’s resignation.

This was completely untrue. One academic spoke in the dying Continued on page 6

Sunday September 16, 2012

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Freddie responds to Al Creighton

Public confidence is lacking that the Broadcasting Authority can fulfill its mandate

DEAR EDITOR, I hereby offer my reply to Mr. Al Creighton’s letter (“Kissoon’s Account of Academic Board Meeting Inaccurate.) As in his correspondence in both independent dailies as ViceChairman of the University’s union two days before the national elections last year, Mr. Creighton wants readers to believe that he is someone familiar with the distinction between right and wrong.

In countless letters to the media stretching over a decade or more, I have always classified Mr. Creighton as a person who has done immense harm to the University.

At the University there was the well known partnership of James Rose, Al Creighton and Marlyn Cox. Rose had eight years as Vice Chancellor. Creighton three years as his deputy, five years as Dean and sat on a number of important committees.

Marlyn Cox had six years as Deputy Vice Chancellor and six years as Head of Office of Resource Mobilization.

Against this backdrop, here is the analysis of UG not from Freddie Kissoon but the Guyana Review of the Stabroek News of July 2009; “ Cleaning the Turkeyen’s Augean stables will not be easy …the squalid physical conditions, the scrawny assets and shaky standards are notorious… UG continues to languish as a third rate university of diminishing international repute.”

This was written in 2009.

Here is what the Stabroek editorial of March 2003 said of UG long before Messrs Rose and Creighton and Ms Cox took over the leadership of UG; “Salaries are deplorable, physical conditions of buildings, library and laboratory leave much to be desired and demoralization is widespread.” I will leave it to readers to ponder what happened after 2003 for the Guyana Review to observe what it did in 2009. I offer these quotes so readers can judge Mr. Creighton for themselves against his background of comments on my integrity in his Sep 14 letter.

I will reply to his accusation that I misrepresented the UG’s Academic Board deliberation on the resignation of the Chancellor, Compton Bourne but for now let me quote his November 26, 2012 letter so readers could judge for themselves who can distinguish between fact and fiction. Creighton wrote; “The affairs of the UGWU have been handed over to Mr. Frederick Kissoon and has

(sic) appeared as its representative on all boards except one.”

Here is the record and the facts. I only represented the UGWU on three aspects of its entire life as a union - the UG Council, Academic Board and Appointments Committee. I was nominated and voted in by the Executive. I was not the representative on the following; Finance and General Purpose Committee (the second most important arm of UG after Council); Strategic Plan Committee; Climate Change Committee, Disciplinary Committee, Heath and Environment Committee; TUC Executive Committee; TUC May Day Planning Committee. I never represented the UGWU at any international and local forums. In all these processes, the UGWU has other persons involved. I signed less that five percent of the documents that came out of the UGWU during my tenure. Is this the person who speaks of facts and accuracy?

Here are a few quotes on Mr. Creighton by wellrespected Guyanese scholars. But before that, here is Mr. Creighton himself.

After painting a rosy picture of a top class university in the December 10, 2005 edition of the Stabroek, in the very newspaper a year after (Oct 19) Mr. Creighton’s caption is; “In the last academic year, the University approved $6million Guyana for research grant.” At that time this was equivalent to $30, 000 American. This amount can hardly suffice for one research paper in the natural sciences. Mr. Creighton saw nothing wrong with announcing to the world that UG’s grant for research by its staff was a mere $US30, 000. This was what UG became under Rose, Creighton and Cox Here are some quotes on Creighton while he was second in charge of UG and writing constant letters in the press on UG’s great standards (see his December 10, 2005 letter in SN). In SN of June 30, 05, former science lecturer Alfred Bhulai wrote: “Deputy Vice Chancellor, Al Ceighton’s disappointment

of not getting $3 million American (as a loan to UG) is an exposé of the kind of research he has done.”

Then in KN, Jan 22, 06, in a missive titled, “UG’s Administration and their Attempts at Deception,” Dr. Anand Daljeet, former lecturer in chemistry wrote.

“Mr. Creighton denied these problems existed …on reading the details, I saw another attempt to mislead and show further contempt and disregard for the students and all Guyanese.”

In SN of April 9, 2006, Dr. M.Y. Bacchus of the Guyana Medical Council wrote’ “The medical school at UG needs to be upgraded and infused with equipment and personnel if it is to serve a meaningful role to medicine in Guyana.”

In KN, 1, 06, Dr. Seelochan Beharry, former science professor observed; “Mr. Creighton’s misconceptions have been stated before …we have shown these to be false... where is the core of well qualified staff in the sciences?” In KN of Sep 19, 06, Jason Benjamin, the student president intoned; “Some of the plights students are encountering are antediluvian books, potable water supply shortage, filthiness in our lavatory facilities, absence of bookstore and printery.”

Finally, Dr. Daljeet wrote in KN, Nov 4, 06; “Mr. Creighton continues to mislead the Guyanese public without any reprimand whatsoever from the public.”

This has been a long letter so I will stop here and pen a reply proper to his assertion that the Academic Board rejected the resignation letter of Chancellor Bourne. That is not true. I repeat the Academic Board did no such thing and Mr. Creighton is being deceptive. Not even five out of sixty voting members spoke on the subject. But more on that later Frederick Kissoon

DEAR EDITOR, It’s a bad start that the public lacks confidence that the broadcast authority can properly fulfill its mandate.

In May 2001, a joint committee, co-chaired by Deryck Bernard and Gail Teixeira, sat down to begin deliberations on several specific issues identified by the then President of Guyana and the Leader of the Opposition: namely, (i) putting an end to the state monopoly on radio broadcast, (ii) proposing a formula to set up non-partisan boards for the Guyana Chronicle, GTV (now NCN) and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), and (iii) outlining provisions for broadcast legislation. From the outset, the co-chairpersons agreed that partisan politics would be shunned and the deliberations of the committee would be driven by a “put Guyana first” approach. Indeed, as stated in the committee’s final report, the issues were treated in a holistic and integrated

manner within the framework of a broadcast policy for Guyana aimed at serving “the national good and the best public interest.”

Between May and December 2001, the joint committee debriefed TV station owners and media consultants and experts, researched legislation and best practices in other countries and dissected previous reports on broadcast policy in Guyana.

At no time were the discussions marred by political rancour or narrow calculations. Bernard, indeed,

often expressed anxiety that the bad forces at Freedom House would swoop down and pull his fellow cochairperson Teixeira back in line. It didn’t happen.

In the end, a final signed report was presented to Desmond Hoyte and Bharrat Jagdeo in December 2001 and adopted by the parties as the way forward for broadcasting policy and regulation in Guyana. In the report, a detailed design was outlined for a national broadcast authority to administer broadcasting policy in Continued on page 6

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The national silence on this appalling display of arrogance is nothing short of disgraceful DEAR EDITOR, I deliberately held off writing on the issues being raised in this letter due to my sense of political responsibility and my desire to be objective and fair in my criticisms of the political and social forces in the society. I felt it was important to give the political players an opportunity to speak to the issue but, in the wake of the deafening silence from particularly the political opposition and civil society on a matter that is so fundamental to the so called emerging democracy, I am forced late as it is to intervene.

It should be noted that except for the WPA, which issued a press release on August 21, 2012 (which incidentally was not given the light of day by any of the so called independent media houses) none, not one of the political opposition parties sought to intervene in this m a t t e r.

This says something about the “champions of democracy”.

Dr. David Hinds recently made public several acts of harassment he and his family were subjected to as a result of his activism, before and during, the Linden crisis.

This letter is aimed at doing three main things (1) to express my solidarity with the Hinds’ family; (2) to endorse all the statements Dr. Hinds made in his address at the WPA sponsored public

meetings at Stabroek Market Square and Buxton Line Top; I was present and also spoke on both occasions and I am in a very good position to say what was and was not said at those meetings; and (3) to denounce the public threats made to the lives of Dr. Hinds and the members of the leadership of the WPA. I have, since its return to office in 1992, been paying rapt attention to the PPPC‘s behavior, in particular that party’s evolving political culture. During this period I have been examining the ruling party and government responses to political dissent by citizens.

I have concluded that the events describe d by Dr. Hinds are consistent in all respects with previous maneuverings of the regime and its agents, official and unofficial, against their political opponents.

Guyanese are familiar with the recent and not so recent history of state and party repression and should therefore have no difficulty understanding what forces are involved in these acts of political intimidation.

Dr. Hinds informed us that his daughter has for some time, been receiving phone calls, telling her that they are aware that she is Hinds’ daughter and her father is an enemy of and a danger to the government. No right thinking Guyanese will believe that these constant

phone calls to Hinds’ daughter are anything but the work of agents of the regime.

It is well known, and this was stated very eloquently in Parliament on July by none other than Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, that opponents of the government including political activists, businesspersons, human rights activists and civil society elements are constantly under the microscope and by extension become victims of party/state harassment tactics.

Dr. Hinds has also revealed that his employers have received numerous emails from persons claiming to be representatives of the Guyana government who accused Hinds of plotting to kill the President and planning to overthrow the government of Guyana. Guyanese are politically, intelligent and are capable of weighing the pros and cons of issues before coming to political judgment.

I am sure most Guyanese have rejected as asinine any suggestion that persons emailing Hinds’ employers are acting independent of the rulers. The PPPC regime’s record of applying overt and covert pressure on the employers of its political opponent at home and aboard is underscored in the Carl Greenidge and Dr. Richard Van West affairs.

Greenidge’s contract with

Caricom was not renewed as a result of then Minister Manzoor Nadir expressing to the Caricom Secretary General the Guyana Government’s displeasure with a statement Greenidge was purported to have made at the late Winston Murray’s funeral. Dr. Van West Charles, an employee of a foreign agency, was accused by the Guyana Government of doing political work in Guyana while being in the employment of that agency.

Hinds also stated that since his visits to Linden he was under constant scrutiny by the security forces.

His final revelation was that his home was broken into and two computers and a small quantity of jewelry taken away.

This is a very serious matter because it has very grave political implications. I deliberately decided to list it last, since on this issue because of the ongoing police investigations. However, in light of the above mentioned acts of harassment it is my estimation that it is highly unlikely this is a random incident.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leroy Brumell’s utterances represent the worst example any chief of police operating in a civilized society can give to his officers. This gentleman was speaking after the fatal shootings of three citizens in Linden in which the

From page 4 moments of the session”.

Every sentence of that is false. Every single one.

Mr Kissoon was not present at that meeting, yet he gives the public a detailed description of the proceedings. He tells the public what he never witnessed and what he never read in reliable records of the event.

First, the Bourne matter was never raised under “Any Other Business”. It came up under the Agenda Item “Matters from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor” while the meeting was fully quorate, long before any “dying moments”, and “most voting members” were present.

The proceedings of the Academic Board are confidential and I ought not to be publishing them in the press, but I think the cause justifies what I do here. I quote from the Minutes of the Academic Board meeting of July 12, 2012 so that you do not have to take my word for it and to show the great gulf between the official records

and Mr Kissoon’s version.

“Minute 128:02 – Matters from the Office of the ViceChancellor :The Chairperson indicated that the Chancellor was reappointed but had since tendered his resignation”.

“Minute 129:00 – Chancellor’s Resignation – a concern to Academic Board :- The members asked about the resignation of the Chancellor and what was Academic Board’s position on the matter. [. . .] The members felt that the Council should not accept the resignation.

They also stated that the University was losing an officer, (sic) whose contribution to the University was sterling. They further agreed that a letter to the Chancellor expressing appreciation for services rendered over the years, and a request of him to reconsider his decision should be dispatched to him. [. . .] A copy of the letter was to be sent to the Minister of Education. It was also decided that the possibility of

a delegation meeting the Chancellor should be explored.”

One item is listed under Any Other Business – it is Advertising of Programmes.

There is no mention of Compton Bourne anywhere there.

It is difficult to give an exact timing of exactly when matters came up in the meeting, but the Bourne discussion took place at Agenda Item 5 just after “Matters Arising from the Minutes” in a meeting with 15 Agenda Items. Some items are brief, some are lengthy, some have no submissions, but the foregoing should give some idea of where this matter came up in the proceedings.

I refer to the minutes because I am not pitting my word against Mr Kissoon’s.

I give you the official records.

Mr Kissoon argues that you cannot trust the Minutes because they are all part of a conspiracy to immorally record minority positions as Academic Board decisions.

He declares : “By the time you reach the last item on the

agenda, ‘Any Other Business,’ (sic) almost ninety percent of voting members would have left. The few remaining members would raise issues” which the minutes record as decisions of the Academic Board.

Mr Kissoon calls upon the public to trust him instead of the official records, and accept his account of Academic Board meetings as true. But he sees nothing wrong with publishing blowby-blow accounts of meetings at which he was not present.

The Board meets monthly in addition to many special meetings. While he was a member, Mr Kissoon turned up at less than two meetings per year, spending no more than half an hour each time.

Between 2008 and 2011 the Board met more than 50 times and he dropped in at only 5. I am not convinced that that poor and unacceptable record qualifies him to be an authority on the proceedings and practices of the Board.

Al Creighton

How truthful is Mr. Freddie Kissoon?

police are claiming that weapons used in the killings were not those issued by the force.

Bearing in mind that those responsible for the shootings were in police and security forces uniforms and were in the unit responsible for attacking the peaceful protesters, to all appearances this indictment of his force’s professionalism seems not to be of any concern to the acting top cop.

Rather than spend quality time trying to apprehend the “alleged” infiltrators of his force on that fateful day, his priority seems to be focused on the issuing of threats to the opponents of his political masters.

Given the fact that his force has been accused of grave human rights abuses one would expect that the Commissioner would be mindful of what he and his officers’ say in public in relation to the police’s handling of protest actions.

Does Mr. Brumell really believe that the most recent execution of young Shaquille Grant in Agricola on Tuesday, August, 11th is not a direct spin off of his reckless comments and behaviour? It is my strongly held opinion that Leroy Brumell has demonstrated that he is not fit to lead the Guyana Police Force.

The national silence by the political and civic forces on the appalling display of arrogance, political partisanship and unprofessional behaviour of the acting Commissioner of Police is nothing short of disgraceful and is something we will regret for the rest of our lives.

It will be recorded in the annals of our history as a critical moment when political opportunists and cowards failed to stand up and defend the people against the ruthless political forces and their allies.

Tacuma Ogunseye

Public confidence is...

From page 5 Guyana. A broadcasting policy itself was also spelt out.

Many of the committee’s recommendations have been transferred into the broadcasting legislation passed in parliament amidst stiff opposition in 2011. But alas, not all.

Much of the opposition to the legislation had to do with the formula to determine the composition of the National Broadcasting Authority (NBA).

The joint committee’s recommendation stated that commissioners of the authority would be “selected by the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Appointments and appointed by the President”. Further, the parties agreed that the chairperson of NBA would be “elected by the board at its first meeting.”

This agreement was considered so crucial for the fair and autonomous administration of broadcasting in Guyana that it was underlined for emphasis in the committee’s report. As I recall, this was a decision the committee (and political parties) made easily without a squabble. To be sure, there was an eleventh hour intervention into the joint committee’s deliberations by then PR czar Robert Persaud to persuade the PNCRnominated members that no broadcast policy worth its paper could be bereft of strong government control.

But he quickly withdrew himself after making this

dubious presentation.

The public is now aware, of course, that the joint committee’s agreement on the NBA was discarded by the ruling party and the composition of NBA is now determined by a formula enshrined in the Broadcasting Act No 17 of 2011 that gives the President the power to select up to six persons, with the Leader of Opposition selecting one.

This is where the central problem lies. The problem is not in the absence or presence of expertise and experience in broadcasting of the selectees. Many jobs (think of a brain surgeon) do require expertise and intelligence; others require open-mindedness, dedication and intelligence.

Expertise in these cases may be a desired but not always a necessary qualification.

The 2011 broadcasting legislation, as it stands, has the clear potential to take the country back to the pre-2001 period that forced the political parties to establish an inter-party committee on broadcasting in the first place. The indications are that public confidence is lacking that the NBA can fulfill its mandate as envisioned in the report of the joint committee.

This is not a good starting point. It remains to be seen if the government will entertain the amendments the opposition parties have indicated they intend to table in parliament.

Sherwood Lowe

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Fury over Mohammad video simmers on in Muslim world DUBAI (Reuters) - A wave of furious anti-Western protests against a film mocking the Prophet Mohammad abated a little yesterday, but U.S. policy in the Muslim world remained overshadowed by 13 minutes of amateurish video on the Internet.

President Barack Obama yesterday rejected any denigration of Islam but said there is no excuse for attacks on U.S. embassies, insisting he will never tolerate efforts to harm Americans.

“I have made it clear that the United States has a profound respect for people of all faiths,” Obama said in his weekly radio address. “Yet there is never any justification for violence .... There is no excuse for attacks on our embassies and consulates.”A day after Obama led a somber ceremony marking the return

Obama: U.S. won’t tolerate efforts to harm Americans of the bodies of the Americans killed in Libya, Obama acknowledged that a surge of anti-American violence in the Middle East is disturbing.

The Pentagon is sending Marines to beef up security at the U.S. embassy in Sudan, following similar reinforcements to Libya and Yemen.

However, Obama repeated a vow to bring the attackers of the U.S. consulate in Libya to justice. “We will not waver in their pursuit,” he said.

The president also said the turmoil should not deter U.S. efforts to support democracy in the region or elsewhere.

Riot police stormed into Cairo’s Tahrir Square and

Anti-Putin protesters show their strength in Russia (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched though Moscow under streaming banners, flags and balloons yesterday to demand an end to President Vladimir Putin’s long rule and show their protest movement remains strong.

Protesters chanted “Russia without Putin!” in the first big rally since June, defying increasingly tough Kremlin measures against the opposition since the former KGB spy began another six years in the Kremlin in May. Witnesses said opposition leaders appeared to have achieved their goal of attracting at least 50,000 people, enough to maintain the momentum of their nine-month-old movement but almost certainly too few to increase alarm in the Kremlin.

“The summer has gone, three months since our last march. Not a single demand has been met ... on the contrary, repressions have only gathered pace, more people have been arrested,” far-left leader Sergei Udaltsov told a rally after the march.

Recalling a stunt in which Putin flew in a light aircraft alongside migrating cranes this month, Udaltsov said: “The president has detached himself from reality. He flies with cranes and just spits on the people from above.”

Organisers also released white balloons and doves into the cloudy sky before

opposition leaders led the march down a leafy central Moscow boulevard behind a long banner declaring: “For early elections! Against repression!”

rounded up hundreds of people early yesterday after four days of clashes and demands from protesters for the U.S. ambassador to be expelled.

Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority denounced the attacks on diplomats and embassies across the Middle East as unIslamic. In contrast, the Yemen-based branch of al Qaeda applauded the killings of U.S. diplomats in Libya and urged Muslims to kill more, calling the video posted on the Internet another chapter in the “crusader wars” against Islam.

A California man convicted of bank fraud, who has denied reports that he was involved in the film’s production, was taken in for questioning by officers investigating possible probation violations stemming from the making of the film.

Afghanistan’s Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a base that killed two American Marines, saying it was a response to

the insults to the founder of Islam.

And hundreds of Muslims took to the streets of Australia’s largest city, some throwing rocks and bottles in clashes with police.

Some carried placards reading “Behead all those who insult the Prophet”.

Yesterday was, however, relatively calm after at least nine deaths in the Muslim world on Friday during protests and attacks on American and other Western embassies.

Libyan authorities said they had identified 50 people who were involved in the attack in which ambassador Christopher Stevens died.

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al al-Sheikh, denounced the attacks while urging governments and international bodies to criminalize insults against prophets.

U.S. officials have said authorities are not investigating the film project itself, and that even if it was inflammatory or led to violence, simply producing it cannot be considered a crime in the United States, which has strong free speech laws.

Page 7

South African police fire gas, force people into shacks MARIKANA, South Africa (AP) — Police firing rubber bullets and tear gas sent men, women and children scattering as they herded them into their shacks in a crackdown on striking miners at a platinum mine.

Yesterday’s show of force follows a South African government vow to halt illegal protests and disarm strikers who have stopped work at one gold and six platinum mines northwest of Johannesburg. The strikes have destabilized South Africa’s critical mining sector.

It was the first police action since officers killed 34 miners August 16 in state violence that shocked the nation.

About 500 officers raided hostels at Lonmin PLC platinum mine before dawn and confiscated homemade machetes, spears, knives and

clubs, said police spokesman Brig. Thulani Ngubane.

A half dozen men were arrested for illegal possession of arms and drugs in those raids, he said. Another six were arrested yesterday morning.

Officers first fired tear gas at hundreds of miners who refused to disarm at the hill of granite boulders that has become the strikers’ headquarters.

Police then moved into the Wonderkop shantytown where residents set up barricades of burning tires to try to block the officers from their neighbourhood.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at people who disobeyed orders baying over a bull horn for them to stay in their homes, tin shacks without electricity or running water divided by dirt tracks.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Ministry withdraws controversial HFLEP curriculum from high schools Jamaica Observer - The graphic sexual content of a Health and Family Life Education Programme (HFLEP) curriculum being used in local high schools has prompted Education Minister Rev Ronald Thwaites to impose an immediate ban on its use, pending a review.

The curriculum, which among other things seeks to determine whether grade seven to nine students have ever been involved in homosexual and heterosexual sex, disturbed many parents and teachers and brought into question the process under which curricula are approved by the Ministry of Education.

A local television report Thursday showed that the HFLEP included a unit on human sexuality that

introduced children to different types of sexual orientation.

The objective of the unit, the curriculum said, is to get children to be more tolerant of others around them who are different.

Included in the unit are questions such as: “have you ever had anal sex?”; “have you ever used a condom having anal sex?” and “how many sexual partners have you had?”; “do you know your HIV status?”; “do you know the HIV status of your partners?”; and “if you have never slept with a member of your own sex, is it possible that you might be gay if you tried it?”

Most of the parents interviewed for the TV report thought the questions were inappropriate for children, but at least two said they did not

have a problem with them.

The report also suggested that teachers ask children which body part gave them the most pleasure and to sing a song about it.

One exercise suggested that students should close their eyes and imagine themselves in a world where only they are straight but everyone else is gay.

In a news release Friday, Thwaites “instructed that the material be withdrawn and rewritten and then redistributed so as to prevent disruption of the Health and Family Life Education instruction.”

The minister said the controversial section was only brought to his attention on Wednesday.

“I consider sections of the material inappropriate for any age, and certainly for the grade seven and eight students for which it was designed,” he said in the release.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Warner warns gangsters to put down their weapons Trinidad Express National Security Minister Jack Warner told John John and Laventille gang members and leaders to “put down the gun and rejoin society or it will be a fight to the finish”.

Warner was the featured speaker Friday night in an anti-crime initiative held at a basketball court in John John.

To almost everyone’s surprise, one John John young man named Kevin Thomas spoke frankly as he declared to the scores of police, regiment and Government officials present that their plan for Laventille will not work unless the yearning for peace was in the hearts of some of the people living in the community.

“I am telling allyuh big man thing,” he said as he stood before Warner and Acting Police Commissioner

... or it’s a fight to the finish

Jack Warner Stephen Williams.

“It not going to work because at the end of the day a man is just a man, especially if he is not comfortable with he area,” said Thomas.

He painted a picture that three months from now some of the young men in his community would leave their homes to play a game of football nearby and there would be someone there with a gun waiting to shoot someone.

“We does have to defend

ourselves,” he said.

“We respect the law, you know, but all I am saying is that a man is just a man and on top of that they painting us all as criminals.

But what I want to know is which police living next to me to know that I is a criminal ... allyuh could answer that?,” he asked.

In turn, Warner slammed those who condemned Laventille.

He especially chided defence attorneys who he claimed made a living from crime as he accused them of not wanting crime to stop as it would be detrimental to their livelihood.

Warner promised that roads in the community would be widened to allow the police to better patrol those areas and “the criminals cannot run and hide”.

“There is no justice in being shot at because shooting back does not solve anything, because it is up to everyone of you to tell us what is going on in your community and, I promise, we will take back Laventille.

We will!” said the fierysounding minister.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

>>> People’s National Congress Reform Column <<<

PNCR repeats call to Donald Ramotar to revoke Clement Rohee’s appointment The People’s National Congress Reform has repeated its call to President Donald Ramotar to revoke Clement Rohee’s appointment as Minister of Home Affairs.

The original call was made as a result of the majority decision of the National Assembly which approved a motion of ‘no-confidence’ in Clement Rohee on Monday July 30.

The motion first arose out of the killing of three unarmed persons – Shemroy Bouyea of Wismar Housing Scheme, Ivan Lewis of Wismar Housing Scheme and Ron Somerset of Amelia’s Ward – by the police at Linden during a peaceful protest on Wednesday 18th July, 2012.

To make matters worse, the police killed teenager Shaquille Grant in Agricola Village on Tuesday 11th September, last. This most recent killing provided further evidence that Rohee has been doing little to protect the lives of our young citizens or to control the conduct of rogue policemen.

Rohee has been accused– in the debate on the motion of ‘no-confidence’ in the National Assembly last July – of numerous failures during his troubled six-year tenure as Minister in that portfolio from September 2006 to September

2012. The Opposition pointed out that it seems that as long as Rohee remains Minister, public security will never improve.

The PNCR disclosed, for example, that armed robberies have increased to an average of nearly one every eight hours in Guyana. Official reports, earlier this week, stated that the incidence of robbery under arms increased by 23 per cent from 544 in the period January to August 2011, to 670 reports from January to August 2012.

There was an increase of 17 per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms. Rohee, however, seems unable to bring these crimes under control.

Piracy, also, is continuing unabated on Rohee’s watch.

Pirates attacked in broad daylight about 12:00 h on Saturday 8th September, and beat several fishermen who were operating in the Pomeroon River.

Several boats were attacked off the Waini Coast later the same evening. The police eventually arrested some suspects but, all along the coastland, fishermen continue to complain of scant protection from the Ministry of Home Affairs and its law-enforcement agencies.

Narco-trafficking is still rampant. Two persons were caught attempting to smuggle 2 kg of cocaine through the international airport last week.

Other recent incidents involve attempts to smuggle 45 kg of cocaine into Jamaica in July and 170 kg of cocaine into Canada in June this year.

Despite the prevalence of this crime, Rohee has failed since 2010 to introduce a current, comprehensive counternarcotics strategy to prevent the illegal drug from entering the country.

Opposition Leader Brigadier David Granger reminded the National Assembly last July that in accordance with the doctrine of ministerial responsibility, every minister should be held accountable and be made to accept responsibility for the performance and behaviour of his or her ministry.

The minister must resign if his conduct undermines public confidence in his ability to hold high office with competence.

It is clear that public confidence in Rohee has

evaporated. The country experienced – apart from extrajudicial killings, piracy and banditry – several atrocious massacres at Bartica, Lindo Creek and Lusignan for which the Minister has failed to convene even a single independent commission of inquiry or to publish credible investigative reports.

Despite these failures, the Police Force under Rohee continues to be involved in callous and serious shooting incidents against unarmed persons in Georgetown in December 2011, Linden in July 2012 and, now, Agricola in September.

These are the reasons why the National Assembly expressed its complete lack of confidence in the ability of the Minister of Home Affairs to discharge his responsibility for public security.

These are the reasons why the Leader of the Opposition has repeated his call to President Donald Ramotar to immediately revoke Rohee’s appointment as a minister of the government.

Page 9

Dem boys seh

Who de hell you think you is?

De people of any country is de boss and de government must know that. Imagine a minister go to a meeting at Kwakwani wid de people and he talk like if he is dem daddy.

One man get vex and tell de minister, “Your eyes pass people.

Who de hell you think you is?”

De man walk out from de meeting and everybody follow him. De meeting bruck up. Dem boys seh that de minister mouth get small because he feel like cent ice.

When he go to Kwakwani he walk wid more power than Donald. And dem boys seh that he get that attitude from de Rat who still believe that he is de most powerful man in Guyana. Dem boys seh that is only time wid he.

When that man talk to de minister everybody seh that is de spirit that people got to develop in de country to send a clear message to de leader who believe that dem is power.

Is not that dem boys encouraging lawlessness but people in position must know how to talk and treat de people. De people of this country should not allow anybody to talk down to dem.

Imagine when a reporter ask Bharrat Ramroop bout he palace he tell de reporter that he nah seh nutten but when he come home he gun talk. Well dem boys waiting and dem waiting patiently fuh hear because dem got nuff thing fuh talk.

And dem plan fuh talk piece by piece, li’l bit by li’l bit.

When dem done wid he he gun pull out every hair on he bee, if he got. If not he got to pull from dem other Bees, not forgetting de one and only Brazzy. He too big to miss.

Dem boys want remind Donald, quietly, that dem got people in he Cabinet who still thiefing.

Talk half and teach some leaders manners.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Seven-year-old girl hit by bullet as police chase ‘bandit’ in Sparendaam A mother is thankful that her seven-year-old daughter is still alive after being grazed with a bullet during a mid morning police raid in Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

Rajkumarie Hargobin said around 12:15 hours yesterday she saw sparks in the air while sitting in her living room at 54 West Road, Sparendaam but paid it no mind.

Mere seconds later she heard what sounded like a gunshot and she heard her daughter screaming in the kitchen.

“My daughter was in the kitchen cleaning the stove and she start screaming, and I run towards she while she crying and I see a chair from the dining table tumble over,”.

Hargobin added that she instinctively knew that bullets were being fired so she got her other two children, ages six and 10, and placed them to lie on the floor.

“After the noise stop I run outside and I see at least four policemen with guns and I say my child get injure and a bullet come in the house and all the policeman do was suck he teeth and say ‘is nah we shoot, is de bandit

Sunday September 16, 2012

Drunk driver kills 8-yr-old

The bullet hole on the chair shoot’.”

The woman said that none of the policemen even attempted to come into her home to investigate but just continued their search in an empty lot nearby. They subsequently left the area.

Hargobin told this publication that shortly after she decided to check her kitchen to see what caused the damage to her chair.

“When I check I see a hole through the chair foot and splinters of wood about the place and is my daughter find a bullet.”

The family of 8-year-old Yoerindra Radhay

The bullet that was recovered in Hargobin’s home after a police raid in Sparendaam.

The woman showed the abrasion which her daughter sustained as a result of the bullet which entered her house.

The woman said that she is pleading with the police to carry out their exercise in a more careful manner since innocent persons can be hurt. Hargobin said that it is for the same reason she relocated thinking that she would have been out of harm’s way.

“When I use to live at the front of the village is the same thing use to happen. One night I was standing on me verandah and a bullet pass me and go straight through the glass window. This is something the police always doing in Plaisance.”

Eight-year-old Yoerindra Radhay, called Rahul, of Number 56 Village, Corentyne, died on the spot after he was hit by a speeding car on the Number 56 Public Road on Friday around 15:30 hours.

The pupil of No. 56 Primary School was sent on an errand to the shop and while he was walking on the right hand side of the road a speeding driver who was

heading further up the Corentyne hit the child from behind.

The driver fled the scene but an ice-cream van was on the road at the time and saw what transpired. It gave a chase and caught up with him.

The police were informed and the driver was apprehended at his home at No. 50 Village, Corentyne.

An eye witness who

refused to be identified said the driver was speeding.

The child’s grandfather, Lloyd Douglas, said that he learnt from the police that the driver is unlicensed and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He is also a deportee.

The car, PPP 6154, is at the No. 51 Police Station compound and the driver is in custody.

11-year-old hospitalised following Durban Street accident An accident which occurred at around noon on Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge on Wednesday last has left an 11-year-old girl nursing severe wounds at the Children’s Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Jenelle Hoosein was reportedly hit by a speeding minibus at approximately 15:00 hours that day while she was

attempting to cross the public road. Hoosein sustained injuries to the head, hip and collar bone. She received several lacerations and abrasions on other parts of her body.

The girl’s father, Dexter Hoosein, told Kaieteur News that his daughter was returning home from a nearby shop when the accident occurred.

The man, who is employed as a mason, said that he was at work when he received the dreaded news.

He explained that his two children were left in the care of their stepmother.

Reports are that the driver of the minibus failed to render assistance to the injured child after the accident. However, he was apprehended by the police some time after the accident while attempting to flee the scene.

Relatives say that it is a norm for the minibus operators to drive at an unusual speed during the rush hour. According to one relative, investigating ranks are not in contact with the family and as such they cannot determine whether the driver will be brought to justice.

The girl’s father said that he is awaiting new test results to ascertain the extent of his daughter’s injuries since “she has not shown signs of improvement since the accident”.

The aggrieved Hoosein said that his daughter had recently written the National Grade Six Examination.

He lamented, “She ain’t even get to see she new School yet.”

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 11

GPHC and Doobay Renal Centre to offer FREE kidney transplants

Dr. Gangji facilitates an education session at the Doobay Renal Centre on Friday.

Ambitious plans are in the pipeline to introduce kidney transplant operations at no cost to renal failure patients.

In fact, plans for the bold move are currently engaging the attention of the Directors of the Doobay Renal Centre situated at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, and officials of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

It is expected that the kidney transplants will be undertaken at the latter mentioned facility, which has already started to put measures in place to accommodate such activities.

The GPHC had in the past facilitated such operations under the expertise of Kidney Surgeon, Dr Rahul Jindal, of the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Washington, D.C. That collaboration had, however, been brought to a halt with Dr Jindal taking his expertise to the privately-run Balwant Singh Hospital.

However, not only will the facility resume this medical procedure, but with the support of kidney doctors and financial donors from

Canada, the operations will see patients incurring no cost. At least this is according to Nephrologist, Azim Gangji, of the McMaster Medical Centre, who is currently in Guyana engaging discussions with the GPHC officials.

He along with other kidney doctors from the Canadian Medical Centre are affiliated with the Doobay Renal Centre and have been offering their expertise there on a voluntary basis since the facility opened its doors last year.

He is, in fact, the fourth Nephrologist to visit the facility for this year alone, and they have been collaborating with the staff at the Centre to provide a subsidized dialysis service. However, Dr Gangji, in an interview with this newspaper, said that dialysis is in fact a temporary measure and could be used as a bridge to transplantation.

He noted that while the idea of dialysis was viewed as a “big venture”, measures have been introduced to take the care of renal failure patients one step further. He

said that realistically every patient is eligible for transplant and there are no real age criteria. Rather, kidney transplant is dependent on their health status.

In North America, for instance, he said that there are two sources of kidneys for transplant. These, he noted, are through cadavers (deceased donors), and transplants using living donors. However, according to Dr Gangji, the best form of transplant is that involving living donors, an idea that is being promoted by educating patients of their options.

He said that often patients on dialysis are concerned about their options and some are even afraid to enquiry. At the same time, he said, donors may not be aware of the ways they can help their loved ones on dialysis.

He noted that efforts are being made to educate patients as well as their relatives, a move which has already commenced at the Doobay Renal Centre. “This

idea of educating will hopefully bring that gap a bit closer and allow the idea of transplantation to really start off,” he speculated.

Life expectancy following a kidney transplant has on average allowed for some 90 per cent of patients to live for as long as two decades, Dr Gangji said. In addition, patients who are on dialysis have a greater risk of dying thus making a transplant the best option for most. “If you look at Canadian data, 40 per cent of individuals who start dialysis die within the first two and a half years and a lot of them have diabetes and vascular diseases...a lot of Guyanese patients have diabetes as a cause of their kidney failure. So you want to get these individuals transplanted as soon as possible to give them their life back and improve their quality of life as well,” he offered.

About 25 patients are currently accessing dialysis treatment at the Doobay Renal Centre. According to Dr Gangji, there are ways to assess patients to determine

their need for transplant even as efforts are made to help them find suitable donors.

“In my education sessions I have been telling them that even a friend can be a donor, that it doesn’t have to be a relative; it could be a co-worker, friend or somebody who is very concerned about that individual’s health,” he said.

The proposed transplant operations, Dr Gangji said, will be phased into the GPHC wide range of services with an initial procedure which will require an entire team of medical experts, inclusive of nephrologists, an urologist, and nursing staff, who will be brought in from the McMaster Medical Centre.

However, he noted that the long term plan is to train local doctors and nurses to perform the procedure themselves, adding that “this is usually how programmes like these get started. We will bring in the technology and do the training and we are hoping to introduce newer ideas of how we can transplant even if donors are not compatible with patients...”

Dr Gangji pointed out, too, that “lots of studies have shown that the best form of replacement therapy is transplantation. There are some persons who benefit more with this method, especially younger individuals.”

He has observed that of the over 20 patients accessing dialysis at the East Coast facility, many are in fact young individuals. “We are

Dr. Azim Gangji trying to do what we can to help them and get their lives back on track and give them their freedom back as well.”

According to Dr Gangji, while a date for the introduction of the transplant operations has not yet been decided it is expected that they will commence next year.

In the meantime, he said, “We are ensuring that we have all the finances in place...we already have some to cover medications and these are very expensive so that won’t be an issue. As far as additional testing goes we will cover all of the testing and this will all be at no cost to patients.”

Dr Gangji said that funding for the operations will also be made available by pharmaceutical companies in Canada and some Nephrologists at the McMaster Medical Centre who will also assist with cost for laboratory work.

Miss Universe visits Doobay Renal Centre Miss Universe Leila Lopez visited the Doobay Renal Centre on Friday. Mrs Dawn Oditt, Chairperson of the Doobay Renal Centre, situated at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was there to greet her.

However, in our Saturday Edition Mrs Oditt was incorrectly identified as Mrs Dawn Doobay. We apologise for the error.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

US$1.2M bid submitted for Sexual Offence legislation to smart metering system improve paper committal process Guyana Power Light (GPL) received bids for a smart metering system to upgrade its operations countrywide.

The bids were opened Tuesday by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance, Main Street.

A smart meter is usually an electrical meter that records consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less, and communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes.

Smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the central system.

Unlike home energy monitors, smart meters can gather data for remote reporting. Such an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) differs from traditional automatic meter reading (AMR) in that it enables two-way communications with the meter.

The engineers estimate for the smart meters was $US697, 800 and the bids are as follow:

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) also opened bids for the repairs to outboard engines and trailers. The engineers’ estimate was $11,626,000 and the bids were:

Under the Ministry of Home Affairs three bids were submitted for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is working feverishly with the Attorney General’s Chamber to complete the amendments to the Sexual Offences Act of 2009. These amendments are expected to be tabled when Parliament resumes in October.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, speaking on a television programme “The Factor”, said that this Act was the first of its kind to be laid in Guyana’s Parliament. However, a couple of cases that have gone to the High Court were thrown out because of certain technicalities in the law.

As a result, there have been a lot of criticisms from the public with regards to this piece of legislation as well as a lot of calls for amendments to be made. One of the key amendments is the right of the accused to be able to respond to the witness statement that is laid by the prosecution.

This is a new procedure in the paper committal process which is stated in the Sexual Offences Act.

- Minister Webster Minister Webster noted that one of the significant features of this Act is that it makes provision for a register of perpetrators who have been found guilty of sexual offences (registered sex offenders) by the court, to be maintained and publicised.

This system, which has been adopted in several other jurisdictions around the world, is designed to help people recognise and keep track of sex predators more easily.

“There are a number of social issues such as sexual abuse and domestic violence, that affect our people and these issues must be addressed…Today there are more cases being reported than ever before. Long ago these issues were swept under the carpet; people never paid attention to them,” the Minister said.

The Child Care and Protection Agency, since its establishment, has dealt with numerous cases, ensuring that the needs of Guyana’s

children are properly met and that their rights and privileges are not violated or ignored.

The Human Services Ministry as a whole, in spite of constraints, continues to strive to ensure that its interventions are timely and that people are properly sensitised. To this end, the Ministry has also been working closely with the Guyana Police Force to deal frontally, with cases of abuse and domestic violence, for which the Ministry has taken a zero-tolerance stance.

The force has dedicated special officers to whom these cases are referred and special desks have been set up at various police stations across the country to address these issues in an expeditious manner. “Once these cases are reported, we will do the complete investigation and try to get as much information as possible to ensure that we get a prosecution and we work closely with the police in this regard,” Minister Webster said. (GINA)

NOC victim is under police guard The 17-year-old,New Opportunity Corps student who was said to have been beaten by a gang comprising his fellow inmates is under police guard at the Suddie Public Hospital, while the gang that attacked and beat him remains in police custody at the Suddie lock-up.

The 17-year-old was nursing a swollen face and an

injured finger.

Reports have indicated that the 17-year-old was initiating sexual advances to another teen while being incarcerated at the Suddie lock-up when the gang retaliated and beat him.

But prior to Wednesday night’s incident, a member of the gang apparently beat another male at the Anna

Regina lock-up and he was transferred to the Suddie lockup.

In August 48 students were charged with escaping from a training school and arson after setting fire to the female dorm and the tailor shop. Sixteen of the 48 were subsequently sent to the juvenile facility in Georgetown.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

President directs Courts to bamboo furniture …as retail giant opens Diamond branch

President Ramotar and Managing Director of Courts Guyana, Clyde de Haas unveil the plaque During the opening ceremony of Court Guyana’s newest location in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, President Donald Ramotar recommended that the company introduce bamboo furniture to its customers.

Courts opened the location on Friday.

“I want to encourage Courts to look at bamboo furniture and to introduce this furniture to your customers,” the President said.

Ramotar said that during the time when many businesses were closing and leaving Guyana, Courts stayed. He added that not only has the company helped in building the economy, but it has also set much competition in the manufacturing sector.

The President also urged that Courts, along with the many other businesses set up close by, work in building the community of Diamond, which will eventually become a secondary town.

This new addition to Courts Guyana cost $250M and stands on two floors at the Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara location.

Also in attendance at the opening ceremony held with much fanfare outside of the new store was the Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, Managing Director of Courts Guyana, Clyde de Haas, and Regional Executives of Courts’ parent company, Unicomer.

Minister Ali in his address to the gathering disclosed that Courts Guyana Limited is in advanced discussions with the government over the construction of a US$6 million state-of-the-art distribution facility, expected to be ready within the next three years.

He also said that Courts has been providing hundreds of persons with jobs.

“Courts, every single

day hires 25 trucks in its transportation service and this is a direct linkage to the business of Courts. Courts provides 75 temporary job opportunities every day by hiring those trucks,” Ali said.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said that the entity’s arrival into Guyana has established important linkages within the manufacturing sector.

“Courts’ entry into Guyana established important linkages along the entire production chain. I think that served the manufacturing industry very well…,” he said.

Singh also said that the government is in the process of establishing a Credit Bureau here in Guyana, reason being that many persons have outstanding credit records.

“We took to Parliament the Credit Bureau Act and we are currently in the process of establishing the regulations. We are going through the licensing process

which will see the granting of licences to entities to operate a Credit Bureau in Guyana,” Singh said.

He also advised that the management of Courts examine the issue of the cost of financing, as he sees room for improvement.

Clyde de Haas, the Managing Director, during his address, said that the $250 million 8000 square feet store will continue to bring value home to the customers who look to the company to furnish their homes and provide comfort to their families.

De Haas added that even with its Grove branch, the company is unable to meet the demands of the rapidly growing East Bank community, thus the company saw the dire need to expand.

Apart from the opening of the store, Courts Guyana also donated over $2M worth of materials which will better equip the facility in taking care of the booming community.

Page 13

Bel Air heist…

Convicted accomplice to testify for prosecution After getting an eightyear jail term last Tuesday for the 2011 robbery at the Bel Air Park home of business tycoon Malcolm Panday, Rabindranauth Seemangal will now be offering evidence on behalf of the prosecution in the armed robbery trial against his five alleged accomplices.

The information was disclosed by Special Prosecutor Glen Hanoman on Friday. He along with Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos is representing the state.

When the matter was called at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry, witnesses for the prosecution were absent and thus brought the hearing to a premature end.

However, Randolph Kirton, attorney for accused Rayon Jones, raised an issue that Seemangal, Prosecutor Hanoman and Panday, the victim, were seen in conversation outside the courtroom, a position he deemed inappropriate.

Kirton argued that the presence of the victim could influence the evidence of Seemangal who is scheduled to present evidence against the remaining defendants.

Hanoman, however, dismissed the assumptions of Kirton. He told the court that since Seemangal is now a prosecution witness, he has to be briefed before taking the witness stand; he, however, said that that was not the case Kirton was talking about.

Hanoman raised his own issue stating that his witness had been receiving strange messages from the other defendants. He also revealed to the court that for the first time, the other defendants

...court recommends protective custody had brought food at the court lock ups for Seemangal.

Hanoman told the court that all the while Seemangal was incarcerated, none of the defendants had brought him food. He said it was two of them who brought the food.

When asked by the court, Seemangal confirmed the prosecutor’s claim.

Kirton thus answered the prosecutions claim as being speculations. He refused indications that the defendants were bent on harming their former associate.

The court, however, warned the remaining defendants to have nothing to do with the prosecution’s witness. She told them if they were, they should not interfere with Seemangal and further advised that Seemangal be placed in protective custody.

The recommendation was made for Hanoman to make an application for the order to be

issued.

The case will continue tomorrow.

Seemangal was sentenced to an eight-year jail term on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to two charges of armed robbery and firearm possession. He had been incarcerated since his capture. The police nabbed several persons who allegedly used guns to rob the Pandays of over $2M. Panday’s mother-in-law, Chandrada Rampersaud; Hardat Kumar; his wife’s cousin, Jermaine Mitchell; Aubrey Simon and Rayon Jones are still on trial for the robbery. Panday’s mother-inlaw is alleged to have told persons about the Pandays having large sums of money in their home, and they reportedly conspired to rob the family.

The accused were caught when Panday managed to slip away and call the police.

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Kaieteur News

Agricola man blamed for Shaquille Grant’s death flees home -- accused said to be related to police rank who responded to robbery report The torched car

An Agricola minibus operator has gone into hiding after being accused of summoning the police ranks who shot and killed 17-yearold Shaquille Grant last Tuesday.

The man is the owner of the car which was torched on Wednesday night in Caesar Street, Agricola, allegedly by the same individuals who also burnt tyres that night on the Agricola Public Road. Kaieteur News understands that the man’s home was broken into on Saturday night and that his belongings were stolen.

A source said that even some of the man’s relatives are furious at him. “Even his family is against him,” a resident said.

It is unclear what evidence, if any, residents have that the bus operator is the individual who summoned the police.

However, Kaieteur News understands that he is related to one of the policemen who responded to reports that Grant and his associates were planning a robbery.

The home in which the man lives is also reportedly occupied by other families who are terrified that they too will be targeted.

Sunday September 16, 2012

ImmigrationTALK

Questions & Answers

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions.

Many of you have questions on backlog time and eligibility – we seek to clarify these issues and more. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com.

Police sources confirmed that the minibus operator had called the Ruimveldt Police Station on Wednesday night to inform them that his car had been torched. However, Kaieteur News understands that police ranks were ordered not to enter Agricola, since it was suspected that the report was a ruse to lure them into the community.

Grant, 17, was shot dead and Romel Bovell, 20, wounded during a confrontation with police in Caesar Street, Agricola, last Tuesday.

Three others were arrested. Police have alleged that they were responding to reports that the youths were planning a robbery when they were shot at. The police said that they returned fire, killing Grant and wounding Bovell.

However, persons claiming to be eyewitnesses have alleged that Grant was shot dead as he lay on the ground.

A post mortem revealed that Grant was shot in the forehead, buttocks and heart.

Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell has since met with relatives at his office in Eve Leary.

Question #1: I went with my wife, who is a U.S. citizen, to my interview at the Embassy. We were told my status was going to be reviewed in 6 - 8 weeks.

When I e-mailed the embassy in Guyana they told me that the petition my wife filed for me was being sent back to the U.S. for review and possible revocation. What does this mean?

Answer #1: This means that based on your interview and evidence presented, the U.S. Embassy has some doubts about your marriage. The file will be sent back to the U.S. and either (1) the U.S. will uphold the Embassy decision and revoke your petition or (2) you will have an opportunity to rebut any allegations made by the U.S. Embassy and the petition may be reinstated and visa issued. This process can take

6-9 months.

Question #2: I would appreciate your assistance in advising me with my problem. I surrendered my green card recently at the U.S Embassy (Guyana) and chose to live in Guyana. In return I was given a 10-year visitor’s visa. My wife has since applied for a holiday visa but was turned down. The Officer told her that her husband already has a visa.

Does this mean that as long I have a 10-year visa irrespective if my wife applies again in the next 6 months would she be turned down again?

Answer #2: I n response to your question, the Embassy has wide discretion in approving and denying visitor visa applications. Your wife must have strong financial, property, family and job ties to Guyana. Don’t assume your wife is automatically eligible for a visitor’s visa because you got one.

Question #3: I was issued a 10-year visitor’s visa to the US. I traveled once nearly every year, and most times I spent between four and five months. However, on my last trip in July 2011 as I was standing waiting my turn to approach the immigration officer, another officer approached me and asked to see my passport, then asked me to follow him

Gail S. Seeram in the interrogation room.

He and a female officer started to interrogate me, asking me my purpose for coming…they kept insisting I had to be seeking work and asked if at any time did I seek jobs on my previous visits.

Although I knew I did on some trips I tried denying...They asked to search my luggage and pocketbook. They discovered a few employment agency cards and a letter from a lady thanking me for taking such good care of her mother. What does this mean for me?

Answer #3: The U.S. immigration officer probably revoked or cancelled your visitor visa because you violated the terms of the visa by working. You cannot work in the U.S. with a visitor’s visa. If a family member sponsors you in the future, you will need to file a waiver.

Question #4: My mom, 92, has petitioned for my siblings. All relevant documents have been submitted since August 2011, and so far my mom hasn’t got any feedback from the immigration (US). What should my mom do?

Answer #4: Assuming your mom is a U.S. citizen and your siblings are married (F3 preference category), visas are being issued for petitions filed on or before May 2002 – so an eight to nine-year wait.

If your mom is a U.S. citizen and your siblings are unmarried (F1 preference category), visas are being issued for petitions filed on or before October 2005 – so a five to six-year wait.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Agricola shooting ...

Detained youths say friend was executed

Troy Greenidge At least two of the young men who were detained in the wake of last Tuesday's police shooting in Agricola have expressed fear for their lives. The youngsters who recounted a detailed story of what took place on the day in question have argued that their friend, Shaquille Grant, was executed by the police.

Troy Greenidge and Jamal Henry, who spoke to media operatives on Friday, have both refuted the police claims that they were planning a robbery and had fired at police ranks when the ranks swooped down suddenly on a yard in Caesar Street, Agricola.

According to Greenidge, he and four of his friends had left Brutus Street in the community and moved to Caesar Street where they engaged in conversation under a shed. He said one of the young ladies who live in the yard had given them permission to “cook a pot” while she headed to the city to conduct business.

Greenidge said that some time later they were about to get the stuff to cook when officers stormed the yard hollering, “Nobody don't f**ing move”. He said everyone did as the police said, but one of his friends was attempting to take out a cell phone and that is when the police fired.

“Police come in and seh nobody don't f**ing move.

We did what them tell we to do, but in the height a going down, Romel Bollers now taking out he phone from he pocket saying officer I want give mah girl ma phone. He go in he pants pocket on de ground and I hear a gunshot go off.”

Greenidge claimed that Bollers was shot at the back of the head and the bullet went straight through hitting the now deceased teen in the ribs. “Romel get shot

Jamal Henry through the back of he neck, and de bullet come through and knock Georgie (Shaquille Grant) in his ribs.”

Greenidge explained that his friend lay on the ground and started to cry out officer “I get shot”. Greenidge alleged that the officer paid no attention to the teen only shooting him in his head when he attempted to rise up off the ground.

“After Georgie seh officer, officer I get shot, de officer didn't tek he on. So Georgie now go fah raise up holding he ribs and I hear another shot. When I look at Georgie, I see a bullet to Georgie forehead, which in, he head had a big hole and blood running down.”

Greenidge further alleged that the officer threatened him and he begged for his life. “He come over to me now and seh Dougla u know ya time up, which in I start beg fah me life.” Greenidge said he was, h o w e v e r, s a v e d w h e n Bollers's girlfriend came out of the house and started to scream after seeing the scene.

Reporters were told that after the shooting, police officers only told the youths that they were planning a robbery before locking them up. Greenidge claimed that they were placed on identification parade after being swabbed for gunpowder residue.

He said he is extremely fearful for his life since being told “your time is up” is a clear indication of someone wanting him dead. He even alleged that three persons all dressed in black were seen in an area not too far from his home, signaling that the persons seemed to be staking out his home.

Jamal Henry related a similar story. He, however, (continued on page 53)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

President, Prime Minister lead off Census 2012 President Donald Ramotar being questioned by the Census Coordinator

The enumerations exercise began in earnest yesterday morning with interviews being conducted at State House with President Donald Ramotar and his family being interviewed by Assistant Regional Census Coordinator, Lilouwattie Bisessar.

The exercise is part of the national census that began yesterday. The exercise is scheduled to be completed within six weeks.

The team from the Census Bureau was headed

by Census Officer, Lennox Benjamin, and comprised Vanessa Profitt – Deputy Census Officer, Andre

Phillips – Regional Census Coordinator, Lilouwattie Bisessar – Assistant Regional Census Coordinator, and Cecil Pearson – Assistant Regional Census Coordinator.

President Donald Ramotar responded to questions to complete the Household Questionnaire before answering questions to complete his Individual Questionnaire. First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar and their youngest child, Alvaro, were also exposed to the exercise.

After the First Family completed the interviews, President Ramotar called on

all citizens of Guyana to cooperate with the Census team “… because [The census] is very important for our country. It provides a lot of information that allows government, private sector, researchers, and academics at universities to have a lot of information to make analysis and help government in making policies and help the private sector in making decisions.”

President Ramotar added, “The census guides policy action … and I want to encourage all Guyanese to cooperate fully and to give accurate information so that our analysis and our (continued on page 52)

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Meet the lovely Eumani Bourne who loves animals and caring for them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I also like learning new things and a great way to do this is to read about world history which can be completely fascinating and overpowering at times. I also enjoy playing football, hockey and beach volleyball.â&#x20AC;?

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

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FROM THE HIGH SEAS TO THE BOOKSHELVES: PIRACY IN GUYANA This week the topic of piracy moved seamlessly from the violent type on the high seas to the perpetually contentious area of copyright.

Copyright violations are rampant in Guyana. Almost all parents in Guyana purchase photocopied books.

Even the children of some “big ones” in the government are known to have photocopied books in their possession.

These “pirated” books are widely available and they are far cheaper than the copyright-protected originals. When you consider what it would take for a parent to purchase original textbooks, one can understand why parents do not bother too much about copyright protection and go ahead and purchase these pirated texts.

Without the pirated textbooks many parents would not be able to afford the books that their children need for their studies. These days, teachers are preparing “long” booklists with many books, rather than for only a few selected texts, as was the case years ago.

No parent wants to suffer the indignity of their children not having the recommended texts. As such, even books that are unnecessary but which are recommended by teachers are purchased, most often from the many bookshops that sell “pirated” books.

Now it seems as if the government is getting into the act of buying photocopied books. And this would not be the first time. Years ago, it was reported that the Ministry of Education had procured “pirated” books for distribution in schools.

The book distributors and bookstores that sell original copies of the copyright books were obviously upset.

The government has gone a step forward and has

actually tendered for books.

The tender allows for “pirated” texts to be supplied.

This has led to at least one publisher expressing concern and indicating possible legal action.

But against whom will the action be taken. Can it be taken against the government?

The government may claim that they are only purchasing the books; they are not printing them. The government will claim that they put out a tender and that they got a satisfactory offer and they accepted the offer.

Does this constitute copyright violation? There are those who may feel that it does, while there may be others who will contend that it is the suppliers of the books against whom action has to be taken.

A few weeks ago, a gentleman released a book about his experiences in Guyana. There was no stated publisher.

Many years ago, Eusi Kwayana was taken to court by the PNC for publishing the Dayclean, a newspaper, without registering the publisher and paying the requisite fees.

The laws of Guyana provide that all books or newspapers produced in Guyana must state the name and address of the publisher.

This is the law. It would therefore be interesting to see just how those who are likely to supply “pirated” books will comply with this law which states that the name of the publisher must be stated on books produced locally.

They surely cannot put their own names down because this would amount to copyright violation; and they certainly cannot print the names of the copyright publishers because this would amount to a misrepresentation, since they are not producing the books under any licence with the

copyright owners or publishers. No government wants to be seen as complicit in breaking the law.

And therefore the government of Guyana should not be purchasing books which do not comply with the legal requirement requiring displaying the name of the publisher.

And certainly no government should be buying books that misrepresent the name of the publishers.

This, of course, does not solve the problem of how to ensure that the students are supplied with affordable books. The cost of buying original texts is prohibitive.

The average textbook costs about $4,000 for an original copy. Now when a parent has three children in school and has to, on average, purchase twenty textbooks for each child, it means that parent has to find $240,000 each year for textbooks. This

is clearly out of the reach of 99% of the parents in Guyana.

And it will be clearly out of the reach of the government which has to supply textbooks free of cost to thousands of children each year. The solution should not have to involve the government procuring pirated textbooks that are in violation of the law.

There is, however, no reason why the government cannot enter into a deal with

the publishers for a reduced cost that is competitive with the cost of the pirated texts.

If the publishers are keen on putting an end to pirated books, they should see the wisdom of offering the government a special deal by selling the government books at a reduced cost. Are they willing to do so?

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

Chinese-built roll on roll/off ferry ‘Kanawan’ takes off to Supenaam

The exterior of the building where the fire erupted Sunday Special 2011 AUDITOR GENERAL REPORT HEADED TO NATIONALASSEMBLY Possibly the most important report on the country’s financial management will be laid in the National Assembly this month-end. Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, and his team are working assiduously to complete the Public Accounts of Guyana on the Ministries, Departments and the Regions for the fiscal year 2011.

According to Sharma, the deadline for this year’s report is September 30 and efforts are being made to meet this statutory deadline.

This week, he will be meeting with all Accounting Officers (Permanent Secretaries) before finalizing the report.

Sharma said that he is required under the Audit Act to provide the relevant Head of budget agency with a draft report including findings and recommendations.

In turn, the Auditor General is provided with a written response within 30 days and it shall be included in the report before being presented to the National Assembly.

Monday Edition ARSONISTS BEHIND TRAFFIC COURT BLAZE Arsonists were behind last week Saturday night’s fire which destroyed an office in the lower flat of the traffic court building on Croal Street, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle disclosed last Sunday.

Gentle said that incendiary devices, including a plastic container with gasoline, were found inside the office where the blaze erupted.

The building houses several lawyers’ offices, magistrate’s court and other legal affairs establishments.

AFC CALLS FOR CODE OF ETHICS FOR PERSONS IN GOVT. OFFICES In wake of the continued debate about uncapped benefits which former President Bharrat Jagdeo will receive in addition to his pension and the wealth he acquired during his presidency, the Alliance for Change is calling for a code of ethics to be established for persons serving in Government offices.

During the Party’s weekly media briefing Chairman

Nigel Hughes said there was no transparency in the way the former president acquired his ‘palace’ hence the need for code of ethics. This, he said, will prevent citizens from paying for luxuries after a person would have left government office.

Tuesday Edition NY TOP COPALMOST CONNED JAGDEO OF US$7M Disgraced former Commissioner of Police of New York, Bernard Kerik, was granted a lucrative US$7M ($1.4B) security contract by the Guyana government back in 2006, says a revealing book by former Newsday police reporter and columnist, Leonard Levitt.

Kerik would later lose the contract after investigations in wrongdoing by the US government intensified against him.

Titled, “NYPD Confidential - Power and Corruption in the Country’s Greatest Police Force”, and published in 2009, the book follows the rise and fall of former Police Commissioners Lee Brown, Bill Bratton, Howard Safir and the nowjailed Kerik.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo in discussion with Bernard Kerik back in August 2006. (Photo by Sandra Prince)

A grand jury of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a 16-count indictment against Kerik on November 8, 2007, alleging conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and lying to the Internal Revenue Service.

Kerik surrendered to authorities the next day and pleaded not guilty to all charges. On October 20, 2009, his bail was revoked and he was jailed pending trial.

On November 5, 2009, he pleaded guilty to eight charges in a plea bargain with prosecutors who recommended a jail sentence of 27 to 33 months. Kerik was sentenced to four years in federal prison on February 18, 2010.

US$$M CHINESE ROLL ON ROLL/OFF FERRY….

‘KANAWAN’ COMMENCES OPERATION FROM PARIKA Vehicles and passengers boarded one of the multimillion-dollar Chinese-built roll on roll/off ferries, ‘Kanawan’ on Monday as it made its inaugural trip from Parika to the Supenaam Stelling. General Manager of Transport and Harbours Department (TH&D) Marclene Merchant noted that the commuters are overjoyed that the ferry is in operation although the rollon-roll-off facilities are not yet complete.

The Roll on Roll Off ferries, ‘Sabanto’ and ‘Kanawan’ vessels will be making one trip per day. They will be supported by one of the older ferries, either MV Malali or MV Torani, which will also travel from Parika and Supenaam but they will service the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam. Noting that the Kanawan was not filled to capacity on Monday, Merchant said that most commuters were unaware that the ferry commenced its operations.

Marine Superintendent Captain Garfield Halley, who

is piloting the vessel, said that the ferry will be taking approximately 90 minutes between Parika and Supenaam. This is about half the time the previous ferries took. The roll on/roll off ferries can seat 800 persons and can carry many more trucks and other vehicles.

Wednesday Edition GUYANAENDORSES US$506M CONSTRUCTION DEAL IN CHINA The construction agreement of what would be Guyana’s costliest infrastructural project – the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project (AFHEP) – has been signed, government announced Tuesday.

Construction is expected to start in mid-2013.

According to a statement issued by the Government Information Agency (GINA), the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement for the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro project and Transmission Line was Tuesday executed in Xian, China, by Sithe Global, the developer, and China Railway First Group (CRFG), the construction company.

There were no indications before Tuesday that a government team had left for China for the signing.

The contract, valued at US$506M, was signed by Bruce Wrobel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sithe Global, and Dr. Sun Yonggang, Chairman of China Railway First Group (CRFG). According to GINA, speaking at the signing ceremony, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh described the occasion as a historic moment for Guyana and for Guyana-China relations.

He alluded to “the strong historic relations between the two countries and the increasing role that Chinese enterprises are playing in the development of Guyana.”

AGRICOLA RESIDENTS, POLICE FACE-OFFAS TEEN SHOT DEAD Tempers flared Tuesday morning as angry Agricola residents faced-off with police after a shooting that left a teenager dead and another nursing bullet wounds. Dead is Shaquille Grant called ‘Georgie,” who would have celebrated his 18th birthday Wednesday, and who police say was part of a criminal gang in the East Bank Demerara community.

Another youth sustained injuries to his head, while three others were arrested following what police said was a raid that came from a tip-off about a planned robbery. Police in a press release stated that at about 12:10 hours Tuesday, ranks on a mobile police patrol came under fire from a group of men at Caesar Street, Agricola.

The police said that the ranks returned fire, fatally wounding Shaquille Grant, 17, of Lot 12 BB Eccles, EBD, and injuring Romel Bovell, 20, of Brutus Street, Agricola, who was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and was under guard. A .38 Smith and Wesson revolver was recovered by the police.

Police said that they received information that a gang in Agricola was planning a robbery on a business entity located near the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Thursday Edition AGRICOLA KILLING …

CAR AND TYRES BURNT, FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE SUMMONED After the killing of 17year-old Shaquille Grant by police Tuesday, Agricola residents burnt tyres on the southern section of the fourlane East Bank Demerara Public Road for two successive nights, causing vehicular traffic to use the north-bound lane as a twoway lane. And inside the (Continued on page 37)

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Ravi Dev Column

I’ve always been a bit leery of the liberal premise that lions and lambs can sit around a table and through rational discussion, arrive at a consensus on which they can all act and live happily ever after.

Maybe lions and lions, but never lions and lambs.

Politics is always about lambs struggling to become lions and the lions fending them off: in liberal polities the opposition are the lambs with the party in power the lions.

This proclivity to struggle is ineradicable because humans, pace the liberal view, do not only act out of cold, rational calculus.

There’s always the messy business of prejudices, predispositions, feelings, and emotions that coalesce in group solidarities, exclusions and antagonisms.

All societies are therefore “plural” to a lesser or greater degree. In our plural society, our divisions are not just around economic class issues, but include ethnicity and religion going to the very heart of ascriptive identities.

The emotional affects are immanent in spades because of incommensurable values and institutions of our several groups.

It is heartening to learn that people survived the boat mishap that I warned about, but this is not going to be the last of the boating accidents.

For one, people take the waters for granted and they overload their boats in their quest to make money.

This calamity is going to occur in the waters between the countries. In one case, one of the people will be able to reach out for help, but help will be a long time coming. A woman will be affected the most. ** An accident will tax the

Consequently there’s always the tendency for our political struggles – and all the other struggles are ultimately over questions of power and so political – to get out of hand.

This view of politics that places conflict at the centre goes beyond the old, familiar school of “conflict theorists” such as the Marxists.

The latter, for instance, propose while class conflict is immanent in the present capitalist conjuncture.

But once the working class assume power, the conflict will disappear. Utopia would have arrived. I believe this to be a fairy tale. Humans will always find reasons to divide themselves and deal with the “other” aggressively.

There is, however, a school of thought that accepts this tendency of humans: agonism. But crucially, the “other” is not treated as enemies to be obliterated.

They are rather adversaries with positions on which agreement cannot be reached but yet respected.

Instead of pretending, as liberalism does, that we can always rationally discuss away the inchoate hostility between deeply divided groups, agonistic politics aim to challenge and channel it in non-

destructive, institutionalised ways. If this is not done, then violence will erupt periodically, or large sections of some subaltern groups will have to be locked away, as in the US. The goal is not to find consensus at any cost but to manage dissensus.

Each polity has its unique blend of incommensurable pluralism generating its own volatile melange of conflicts and consequently there is no one silver bullet to confront them all. However we can observe the trends in polities that have exposed the hollowness of both Marxist and liberal utopian thinking to deal with deep pluralism.

Britain has devolved.

India continues to do so.

Sudan has fissioned as did Czechoslovakia earlier; not to mention Bosnia a tad more violently. Kenya went into a government of national unity – but that has not stopped the corruption and tensions among the groups. It was a coalition of the elites that just broadened the pillage.

However they devised a new constitution that institutes deep devolution to the regions while aiming for disciplined forces that are more representative of the country’s population. We will

resources of the medical facilities. Carelessness will be blamed but if the truth be told, it will be a defective vehicle pushed beyond its limits.

The peculiar thing is that people seem incapable of observing the basic rules.

In the wake of the

accident, people will recall another accident that claimed the life of a prominent citizen. ** Fraud is the order of the day. Three of them are being unearthed simultaneously and all of them in the legal system. It is as if people just believe that theirs is the right to steal from the state.

Unfortunately the courts are not as harsh on such people as they should be.

The amount of money is stupendous and one is left to wonder whether there are not more such frauds in every department.

have to see whether the Kenyan elites have the political will to implement their own recommendations.

ACDA has grasped the inadequacy of our specific political model to deal with our pluralism, but their solution is still firmly positioned within the failed liberal premises.

I’ve asked on several occasions as to why they invoke the advice of Sir Arthur Lewis on plural societies re coalitions, but never about Federalism. In our case I have advocated we carry the federalised devolution all the way down to the village level.

The extensive deep, institutionalised devolution should facilitate agonistic

politics at the grassroots level and hopefully spare build-up of hostilities that can tear the country apart.

Thus far from saying that we should have a love fest going, I am suggesting the ever present simmering hostility ought not to be fanned, but given expression institutionally.

Worse, it ought not to be moralised as a struggle between “good” and “evil”.

This reinforces the feeling that the “other” is the “enemy” to be eliminated. No one gains when there are explosions.

I am further saying that the present political arrangements will ensure that whichever side wins the election, unless a system is

Ravi Dev

introduced that equitably distributes power among the various groups; we are ensuring that the inevitable resentment in the “remainders” will erupt sooner or later.

A distributed system, best exemplified by Federalism, also encourages some of the more mature present lions not to fight to the death. There will be “something” for everybody, without the need for the beneficence of future lions.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

Jankie Mahadeo and Old Ma’s will

By Michael Jordan The seawalls that protect Guyana’s coastlands from the Atlantic hold decades upon decades of secrets…secrets of hidden love affairs…of rites to unseen forces…and of murder.

And if these walls could somehow talk, they would perhaps spill the secret of who took Jankie Mahadeo there seven years ago.

On the morning of Friday, August 19, 2005, members of a police patrol stumbled upon the body of a middle-aged woman in the vicinity of the Everest Cricket Club. She was fully clothed and police could discern no marks of violence.

However, they did notice that there was froth at the victim’s mouth and this led them to suspect that she had been poisoned.

Two days passed before a family from Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, came forward to identify the victim.

She was Jankie Mahadeo, called ‘Anita’, a mother of

three who had migrated to Trinidad some 25 years ago.

According to the relatives, Mahadeo, accompanied by her five-year-old daughter, had arrived in Guyana about a week prior to her death. She had stayed at the relatives’ Pouderoyen home. She had

informed the relatives that she intended to renew her passport and visit her mother, who was ill.

According to a female relative, at around 08:00 hrs on Friday, August 19, the cousin’s husband took Mahadeo to the Immigration

Office to have her passport renewed. He then left her there. On instructions from her husband, the cousin said that she went to the Immigration Office to check on Mahadeo. The woman, who had a stall in Water Street, said that she checked

on Mahadeo and then left the Immigration Office.

At around noon, Jankie Mahadeo arrived at her cousin’s stall where she had lunch. According to the cousin’s story, her husband eventually arrived and took Mahadeo to have two pictures taken for her passport.

Mahadeo reportedly then caught a route 45 minibus with the intention of returning to the Immigration Office.

That was the last time that the relatives would see her alive.

The relatives recalled that Jankie Mahadeo had left home with $20,000 in local currency and US$100. She was also wearing a quantity of jewellery, including a diamond ring. The cash and jewellery were missing when Mahadeo’s corpse was found. The family members began to worry when several hours passed and the woman failed to return their home.

One relative remembered that Mahadeo had promised to visit a North Road, Bourda family who had taken care of her when she was a child. On checking at the home they were told by a male occupant that the woman had indeed visited, but that she had left shortly after making a call to a brother who lived in the United States. The man said that Mahadeo had indicated that she was going to look after her passport. The same man confirmed to Kaieteur News that Mahadeo had visited him that day.

According to him, the woman was in a jovial mood and “was hugging everybody.” He recalled that Mahadeo asked to make a phone call to her brother in the US and he allowed her to make the call. He also recalled that Mahadeo was repeatedly checking the time and that she said that she had to go and see her mother. She also said that a taxi was waiting for her and eventually left after promising to return another day. The man said that he did not follow Mahadeo outside and so had no description of the car or of the driver who picked her up.

But the plot thickened a few days later when Mahadeo’s eldest daughter arrived in Guyana and alleged that she had come to see ‘Ma’, a Guyanese woman with whom Mahadeo had grown up. The woman was the mother of the same man whose home Mahadeo had visited. According to the daughter, her mother had

stated that ‘Ma’ had a ‘Will’ for her.

She said that some of her relatives were suspicious of the man’s account of Mahadeo’s visit to his home.

Five days after Mahadeo’s body was found, a pathologist examined the corpse and determined that she had been manually strangled.

Detectives promptly arrested the man who Mahadeo had visited on the day she went missing. They suspected that Mahadeo might have been caught in the middle of a family dispute over a will and that this dispute might have led to her being slain.

Checking further, detectives discovered that the old woman who had taken care of Mahadeo as a child had died sever years prior to Mahadeo’s visit.

The old woman had reportedly indeed left a will.

The man who police had detained and his brother reportedly both had copies of the Will. However, Jankie Mahadeo’s name was not included on any of the documents.

On Friday, August 27, 2005, detectives released the businessman after determining that he was not involved in Mahadeo’s murder.

And according to some detectives, it appeared that the taxi driver who picked up Mahadeo from the North Road home might have vital information about her death.

Police said that they had information that Mahadeo had a relationship with a taxi driver. The official said that detectives attempted to locate the taxi driver. They failed to find him.

Like I said, if the seawalls could talk, they would perhaps lead police to the man who strangled and dumped Mahadeo’s body seven years ago.

In other words, it may take a small miracle to solve this crime.

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. Our numbers are 22-58465, 2258473 and 22-58458. You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s mjdragon@hotmail.com.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

“We’re the restless-hearted, not the chained and bound.”

Have you ever seen the 1985 movie, “Nine and a half weeks?” It is based on the 1978 publication of the memoirs of a woman whose identity to this day has never been revealed. It tells the true story of a middle class public relations woman who casually ran into a Wall Street financial agent and began a torrid two-month sexual relationship with him to the point where she helplessly drifted into sadomasochism and became a virtual sex slave to him.

Both man and woman lived a normal middle class, American life in the day but at nights morbidly journeyed into a surreal world of violent erotica. What “Nine and a Half Weeks” instructs us is that human beings are too complex to be understood.

We may never know her identity (her editor at Random House used the pseudonym, Elizabeth Mc Neil) because if she is happily married with kids and grand-children, she probably would not want that sordid aspect of her past to ever be revealed. The movie starred Mickey Rourke and Kim Bassinger and features one of the loveliest love songs ever composed, “Slave to Love.”

Written in 1985 by Brian Ferry, “Slave to Love” has become a classic and was featured in perhaps the darkest and most bizarre Roman Polanski film, “Bitter Moon.” Strange that such a fantastic song about love can be the musical centrepiece of two films that are about the decadent and depraved passions that dwell inside the human mind (I think “Bitter Moon” is the largest indication to date that the talented Roman Polanski is a deeply troubled artist.)

Mr. Ferry performed his song to rapturous applause at the 80th birthday gala of Mikhail Gorbachev at the Royal Albert Hall. The song first appeared in the mideighties in the television series “Miami Vice.” A most interesting version of the tune is done by the white American reggae singer, Elan Atias, whose voice is identical to

Bob Marley. Atias had to deliberately copy Marley’s vocal cords.

There is something philosophically subtle about “Slave to Love,” It draws you into a compelling understanding of how people need to search for love and when found to possess it and share it. When you come to grips with the theme of “Nine and a Half Weeks” and “Bitter Moon” despite their macabre repudiation of the humane side of emotions, you can fully comprehend why the directors used that particular love tune.

In the case of Roman Polanski, he should know what he is talking about. I think the scene in “Bitter Moon” in which the two drunken woman danced to “Slave to Love,” remains for me one of the most memorable movie scenes.

I really do like that song, and since the birth of People’s Parliament on August 15, I have since thought often of that wonderful melody. The People’s Parliament reminds me of “Slave to Love” and when I listen to “Slave to Love” I think of what a stupendous idea the People’s Parliament is.

Initially shaped by Sherlina Najeeb and Charlene Wilkinson and a few Red Thread women, particularly Joy Marcus, acting in their individual capacities, the People’s Parliament is unique to Guyana.

Four names are worthy of mention, Fitz Ralph, Simon Duggin, Dennis Atwell and Tacuma Ogunseye. They have not missed even one night. The People’s Parliament is often visited by Nigel Hughes, Sharma Solomon, Vanessa Kissoon, Christopher Ram, Gerhard Ramsaroop, Malcolm Harripaul, Michael Carrington among others. Mayor Hamilton Green turned up three Saturday nights ago.

Lurlene Nestor of APNU visited three weeks ago.

Last Friday night there was drumming by the Buxton group.

As you can see from the

names mentioned there, the contributors cut across political lines. Since the attack on me while leaving the site on the stroke of midnight on August 16, my presence is only in the days now.

The People’s Parliament occupies the public park on High Street that directly faces the National Assembly. It goes for twenty-four hours each day and there is no plan to bring it to an end.

The People’s Parliament

originally started as an act of solidarity with the people of Linden, particularly those women who lost loved ones and had their children injured from police action.

Since then it has moved on to other issues of denial of justice, human rights violations, the cancer of poverty, the abuse of power by those in authorities, among other venalities.

There are placards highlighting the grievous

wrongs done to the Guyanese people that demand the attention of all Guyanese.

A list of demands or desires (however you want to put it) including constitutional reform have been drawn up and will be taken to the Guyanese people.

The object of the People’s Parliament is for the ordinary folks to interact with each other, to tell each other how they feel about Guyana and

Frederick Kissoon what changes they dream their country will have.

WRITER’S NOTE: The title of this column is a line from “Slave to Love.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

BOOK REVIEW: The Sticky Wicket Trilogy Author explores sanctity of cricket in West Indian Diaspora

By Dr. Glenville Ashby Sometimes the most profound and meaningful of gifts are inconspicuously wrapped. Sticky Wicket is one such example. It is a weighty literary work, delivered with glib and colour.

In this trilogy, author Ewart Rouse chronicles the rapturous affair that Trinidadian Frederick Watkins has with the game of cricket. Watkins is a retired immigrant living in a tony New Jersey suburb.

He is also manager of Fernwood Cricket Club that attracts fellow immigrants from the British Commonwealth, in droves.

Like Watkins, many members devise surreptitious schemes to free themselves from domestic and spousal duties – just to enjoy a game. The conniving is as outlandish, as it is hilarious.

Spousal rifts are commonplace, and Watkin’s choppy but endearing relationship with his wife Maggie is an engaging subplot. But clearly, the enduring and intoxicating love for the sport will heavily tax any relationship.

I n t e r e s t i n g l y, i t i s a

Dr. Glenville Ashby chance some club members are willing to take.

As Watkins ages, he refuses to abdicate control of the team. On one occasion he assembles a motley crew of dilettantes to play against a mercurial Jamaican opponent.

Withdrawal from cricket is too painful for Watkins to contemplate. “Cricket is your fix,” he is told.

Volume one of Sticky Wicket ends with late game heroics of ‘old man’ Watkins - a vindication, of sorts. But soon, Watkins and company are confronting more than angry spouses and hostile

fast bowlers.

They become mired in a culture war - faced with a sudden and seemingly insurmountable hurdle, as the mayor reassigns the George Washington Middle School Grounds to a Little League soft ball team, for its exclusive use. Cricket is prohibited from Fernwood Park. “That means we have no place to play,” Watkins laments, as the possibility of his ‘irrelevance,’ becomes a reality.

This is where “Wicket” soars. Deftly and effortlessly, the author explores social issues of identity, race, class, politics, and the rights of immigrants.

As the protagonist Watkins takes on the establishment navigating inimical terrain - he must concoct a daring plan to save his two loves - cricket, and his marriage to Gina.

Midway through Rouse’s page-turner, the reader begins to view the game of cricket through the prism of immigrants. Cricket is more than a pastime. It defines the immigrant, and

shields him from xenophobia and parochialism. Cricket, according to Watkins, takes on an undeniable existential value, creating a cultural mélange from which he and fellow immigrants draw sustenance.

Cricket succeeds where regional politics in the Caribbean and South Asia has failed. During an intraclub spat, Watkins is cautioned by the new captain Pierre: “First thing we have got to agree on right here and now is that we have to end whatever feelings of insularity exist among us. You are from Trinidad. I am from Antigua, Chong’s from Barbados, and Napoleon here is Jamaican.

But we are in America now, and as far as Americans are concerned we are all Jamaicans.” “Or Haitians or Africans,” Chong chimes in.

Indeed, Sticky Wicket is a cleverly and richly crafted work, peppered with humour amid its serious thematic underpinning.

It unearths palpable feelings of nostalgia for readers in the Diaspora. And for the reader unfamiliar with cricket, it may well serve as a fun-filled introduction to the

sport. A testimony to the crowning achievement of the author.

Dr Glenville Ashby, literary critic - Caribbean Book Review glenvilleasby@gmail.com

Sticky Wicket volumes 1-3 LMH Publishing Limited Kingston C.S.O., Jamaica www.lmhpublishing.com ISBN 978-976-8202-55-0 Ratings****: Highly Recommended

Henry Greene has left a monumental legacy Although former Police Commissioner Henry Greene has passed on he has left behind a monumental legacy which will be continued in the years ahead. At least this is according to a touching tribute issued by the Scout Association of Guyana.

“We the Scout Association of Guyana owe him a deep debt of gratitude for the sterling contribution he has made to Scouting over the past few years as Commissioner of Police, and will endeavour to ensure that his commitment, dedication and untiring support will be continued in the years ahead.”

The concise tribute detailed that it was with heavy hearts that the Executive, Scout Commissioners, leaders and all scouts learnt of the Former Police Commissioner’s death which result from a fatal vehicular accident on the morning of Friday September 7, 2012.

The accident occurred in the vicinity of Harlem, West Coast Demerara, and involved two other motor vehicles.

Greene, according to the Scout Association’s tribute, had made a massive contribution to the resuscitation of Scout groups on the West Coast of Berbice, in Linden and Agricola – a contribution which was not merely on the surface but from the heart. Commissioner Greene, it was noted, ensured that these new scouts were given all the support they needed. He was constantly monitoring them and issued a mandate to Police Officers who were given the responsibility of overseeing these groups to report on a regular basis directly to him.

Perhaps this was no surprise to older scouts who knew that years ago Henry Greene was himself a scout. “He truly believed that

- Scout Association

Former Police Commissioner Henry Greene this worldwide movement was integral to the rounded upbringing of youths and the development of their innate potential.

Whenever the Scout Association met with him, and this was quite often and at his request, we sensed a profound and genuine desire to let Scouting grow within the ranks of children of policemen and women.”

There is no doubt, the tribute added, that his personal interest and support to these resuscitated groups in particular and Scouting in general have gone miles in the general development of the oldest youth movement in Guyana and the world.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

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My column

Every so often when I read a novel or watched a movie on a rich person I always found a portion devoted to the reading of a Will. Relatives from every corner of the world would assemble in some room in the house of the deceased or in a lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office for the reading of the Will.

According to the book or the novel there would be tears from some and shouts from others depending on who benefits or suffers following the reading of the Will.

Sometimes there would be legal challenges, but in the end the Will prevails.

In Guyana not too many people leave Wills and the result is what is called children propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a piece of property that belongs to each child.

Sadly, people are people and for the most part, there are children who are not prepared to become embroiled in family disputes so they simply disappear.

If one of them takes

control and maintains the property to near pristine conditions the others come in and make demands. The courts are full of such people.

Sadly, too many properties are left idle. No one pays the least attention and pretty soon it becomes clear that the property is abandoned. Vegetation takes over or the drug addicts and the homeless move in.

Recently, there was a case of these illegal occupants taking possession of a property and actually starting a fire that left millions of dollars in its wake.

I remember a house in Garnett Street, Newtown, that was occupied by people who came from all walks of life. One of them was a newspaper vendor named Stay. I had met Stay many years ago at Bartica when she was making a living by various means.

So there was Stay living with people who were surely not relatives. These people began to literally use the house for cooking purposes.

They would rip out a piece of wood from the walls and floor to light their cooking fires.

And Stay was among them.

Andrew Hunte lived next door and he would tell you that he always knew when Stay was coming home. She was perpetually drunk. How she managed to walk on the beams that represented all that was left as the floor was a miracle. She never fell to the floor or space below.

These situations are perfect for the speculators.

There are real estate agents who would investigate the ownership of these properties. People in the various city and town councils or neighbourhood democratic councils are always willing to provide the information for a fee. The agent then goes into operation.

Powers of attorney are created and the sale of the property is almost a done deal. It would be interesting to know how many properties

are sold in this manner. And it is easy. If people do not pay their rates for years then they simply do not exist and the Deeds Registry was always willing to provide a new deed or transport.

There is this case of a lawyer who lived in Garnett Street, Lamaha Gardens. He not only owned a beautiful house, but he owned a plot of adjoining lot. This is prime real estate. He died intestate and someone far removed from his household is moving to take possession. This is a person who is literally walking off the streets to own property worth more than $100 million.

Currently, there is a case of a lawyer actually selling a property that was owned by a man who lived in Linden.

This man also owned a property in the city. He too died intestate and had it not been for the interest of a grandson, all may have gone unnoticed.

This young man

happened to come home from his home in France to find that a lawyer had actually sold one of the properties using a power of attorney that was not only forged, but on inspection could only be used in the United States. This passed muster under the noses of the court clerks and the other lawyer. Even the judge did not notice this.

What boggled the mind was that this lawyer was able to sell the property twice. And the Deeds Registry was only too happy to provide another copy of the transport or deed to match the second sale. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear too many people going to jail for this.

This is not unique. But even a Will is not enough to safeguard the properties in Guyana. As a reporter, I have had many people coming to me to claim that people used forged Wills to take possession of properties. The giveaway is often the signature of the person making the Will.

Adam Harris The good thing is that once there is an original Will, the problem of protecting the property is not insurmountable.

Yet corruption is so rampant that even if an individual leaves a copy of the Will with his lawyer there is nothing to stop the lawyer from doctoring it.

I have made a Will and I am about to change it for personal reasons. It is not that I have money, but I have a house which I want to stay in the family. However, I wish that the courts could protect what I propose to leave behind.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

Approving theft of intellectual property is the summit of bold-faced lawlessness The recent pronouncements by chief spokesperson for the PPP/C government that it was a Cabinet decision to procure pirated text books and then to approve theft of intellectual property by saying it is value for money is the summit of bold-faced

lawlessness. To be informed that the Cabinet of President Donald Ramotar would sit and agree that it is quite okay for copyright laws to be broken and for persons’ intellectual property to be stolen must serve as a wakeup call for all Guyana. Not only have they

said it is okay for this to happen, but they are encouraging such criminal behaviour by paying the criminals to who steal the intellectual property of others.

We are speaking of the decision of the President and his Cabinet to procure textbooks from a company with no rights to reproduce these books.

What the Donald Ramotar Cabinet has said to this nation and more so to young people is that it is appropriate, even acceptable, to steal if you are poor. What sort of example is this for our students?

Should we not be teaching our students to respect the property of others and that stealing someone’s property is wrong?

How can our teachers discipline a child who steals from another when the very government condones theft?

We need to realize that work created by an author, musician or poet is as valuable as work created by persons engaged in other forms of work. In as much as a rice farmer would plough his field, sow the paddy, keep away bugs and insects and put his energy, time and financial resources into bringing forth a good harvest, so too does an author, musician or poet.

In as much as that rice farmer depends on his harvest to feed his family and take care of his needs, so too does the author, musician and poet. The author relies on copies of his book being sold to get money to feed his family and take care of his needs.

When the government says it is acceptable to make copies of the author’s book without the approval of the author, they are in effect ‘taking bread out of his mouth’.

Not only has the PPP/C sent the wrong message to our children, but its action will bring this country into disrepute and will heap

disgrace on all Guyanese as many of the titles that the government has approved to be photocopied are from international publishing houses that hold the exclusive rights to the printing of these books.

How will Guyanese citizens be able to hold their heads high when the international community looks on us as thieves of intellectual property?

Members of the PPP/C government have beaten their chests and howled louder than any wind to deny corruption, but here again we witness another act which can carry no other label than ‘theft and corruption’.

Photocopying books is not only illegal, but it is immoral and unethical.

Let it be made clear that the Alliance For Change did not cut or reduce the budget for education, so there is no excuse for the government not to have allocated money for the purchase of legitimate textbooks for the public schools.

The government had every intention to pay for ‘pirated’ books. As we learnt from the Cabinet spokesperson, this has been the practice for more than nineteen years.

This is totally unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue. Instead of paying super salaries and funding hare-brained and whimsical projects, the PPP/C government should use its slush funds to purchase textbooks from publishing houses and not put Guyanese to shame.

For the government to claim that poverty caused it to approve theft is to offend the many poor people of this country who, though poor, live an honest and respectable life.

There are many people in this country who are poor but they have dignity more than the entire PPP/C government.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

Devoted community leader and preacher, Samuel Singh, is a ‘Special Person’

Taking the oath of office as 51st President of the New Amsterdam Lions Club

By Leon Suseran Our ‘Special Person’ this week is proof that one can definitely make it in this life, despite overwhelming challenges, and when everything seems to be against you.

You can say that Samuel Seepaul Singh went through it all. He was born into a poor and humble family with many other siblings. His father walked out on his mother while they were very small, leaving him (young Samuel) to start fending financially for the family. Then, as if that was not enough, his mother died when he was just 11 - a hopeless situation indeed.

The young Singh children were without both mother and father. Samuel slept in cardboard boxes in the streets and did many oddjobs just to help his eight other siblings to survive since he had taken up the responsibility to ensure their needs were met.

Samuel Singh was born at Essex Street, New Amsterdam, in 1963, in what he described as a very quiet and peaceful town, until after the disturbances in the 1960s, when the family migrated to Lad Lane, a bit further in the town.

He attended the Vryman’s Erven Government School and later the St Aloysius R.C. Boys’ School. The family later migrated to Vryheid/ Lochaber after his father had “walked out on us and my mother was a single parent and we were given a home to stay there and then my mother took ill there and we moved back into Strand in a logie home and then she took ill and died”.

He had just finished writing the Common Entrance Exams and was just about to enter secondary school “but I never went to secondary school because each and every one of us, as children, had to fend for ourselves. So at the age of 11-plus, I started to work”.

So what was the impact of his father walking out on the family?

“It had a great impact on all of us as children and our mother had to struggle, and we saw her many days doing things children don’t want to see their parents do...and my father, at that time, I don’t think he was familyoriented.”

Samuel started to work at age 11 at Trotman’s Hardware Store, checking nails, and earned 10 - 25 cents per day.

He later worked at Faaz Cinema, sweeping, etc. “Life took a big twist”, he reflected.

He even recalled picking up glass bottles off the streets to sell for cash “just to keep the family together”.

“I was even taking care of my sister who was older than me....I was one who took a close interest in the family”.

Their father “reconciled” with the family at age 74 “and we all got close together for the last 14 years of his life. I still felt that he had done a great injustice to us”. His children nevertheless forgave him and received him back into the family.

When asked, Samuel reflected that he was essentially robbed of his childhood since he had to ignore the things young boys at his age would engage in and start earning little bits and pieces for his siblings’ survival.

As a young man he applied to the Guyana Defence Force but was not accepted. He later tried his luck with the Guyana National Service and was successful “but then I could not financially afford the basic package that they ask you for, so it was a ‘no-no’ dream then. So I spent almost the first half of my life on the road… sleeping here, spending times in clubs, sleeping in lumber yards, working odds-and-ends jobs”.

He met a pretty young lady in 1987 and they got married and his life finally had

some stability.

“I was able to put things together and was able to save some money and work and life was a little constructive then. I met her and we courted and got married in 1989 and the union brought forth four children and we are very happy today.” Interestingly, too, in 1989, Singh recalled how he “obeyed the Gospel”.

He became deeply involved in the Church of Christ and started a “dynamic” journey where he was afforded the opportunity to travel across the Caribbean, preaching.

“Life just took a different turn,” he reflected.

After marriage, he was able to secure a job and spent some time preaching across Guyana - and even spent three years in Matthews Ridge from 1994.

“It was really beautiful to work amongst the native Amerindians and I learned a lot from them”.

Still feeling that something was missing from his life, he resigned from a job he held at Carnival Cruise Lines and returned home and became more involved in the church. In 2000, he took up the ministry in New Amsterdam, as a full-time Gospel preacher, a post he holds to this date. He attended various workshops and training seminars across the world as well.

Singh, who now resides in Smythfield, New Amsterdam, recalled how he was instrumental in forming the New Amsterdam Action Group. He was one of three Guyanese picked by the Diplomatic Corps in Guyana back then to become involved in a Government training workshop in Ottawa, Canada, in 2004, and studied Local Government and solid waste management.

Singh was instrumental, too, in starting the first Community Policing Group in his village in the 1980s and had Inspector Pearson “who was there every single night in Smythfield— we never had crime in this area”.

He also started the first Community Development Council (CDC) in Smythfield.

“We were able to do all the internal roads...I was instrumental in that and also implemented the Drainage and Irrigation workers to work here.”

Singh raised over $180,000 in the 1980s and was able to repair many roads in the Smythfield area. He is well-respected as a community leader as well as a spiritual leader.

In 2009, he was encouraged to join the New Amsterdam Lions Club. He was inducted a bit later on and became Third Vice

President. He eventually became the 51st President, in June of this year.

For all his humanitarian and community work over the years, Singh received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Lions Club. He also received an accolade from the Churches of Christ in the USA. He was able, too, to implement numerous social programmes in the church, including a school-feeding programme which has been ongoing every Monday, whereby 150 less-fortunate children in Berbice would

Singh was also selected by the then Social Services Minister Priya Manickchand to sit on the board that interviews persons to qualify them for Public Assistance.

He was the Public Assistance Chairman for three years from 2009 to 2012.

August was the final month in that exercise and he is currently awaiting whether the board will be reappointed.

Singh is also a trained Mediator, having completed the USAID Mediation Programme, and will join the

“I grew up having nothing and I saw the great need, and I thought that I can play a part in doing something for my fellow human beings. As I grew older, I realised that I didn’t have the opportunity and could use my life to allow others to have the opportunity. I am amazed when I do something to help someone and see the smiles on their faces.” receive a hot meal. “We serve a hot meal every pension day at the N/A Post Office as well,” he noted.

As current President of the Lions Club, he continues the missionary work through that body. Twenty poor children in the town were outfitted with school uniforms and books as well as bags for the new school year. Before his tenure is up, he is hoping to touch many more aspects of the lives of the less fortunate.

other trained mediators and dispense this vital service to Berbicians once the Mediation building is completed shortly.

He was involved, too, in politics, being the Chairman of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) in New Amsterdam for nine years, but gave it up recently, since he believed it would have conflicted with his religious preaching and church leadership.

“I cannot speak to a

A family portrait

congregation of a mixed audience and then there is the perception in the minds of people… they might think I am prejudiced which I am not, so I try to walk away from that”.

Samuel’s passion for humanitarian work stems from the fact that “I grew up having nothing and I saw the great need, and I thought that I can play a part in doing something for my fellow human beings. As I grew older, I realised that I didn’t have the opportunity and could use my life to allow others to have the opportunity. I am amazed when I do something to help someone and see the smiles on their faces.”

It still astonishes Singh that he came from having basically nothing in life, to having a family, respect, and a beautiful home.

“It’s just amazing how God works. Not only did I succeed in life, but I was able to pass the morals on to my children. My eldest son is now studying Theology in Trinidad.”

Singh noted that what he did not get from his father, “I was able to build myself and pass it down with the help of my wife, and I could not have done this without her help”.

He also believes his Mom would be most proud of his achievements.

“I believe that wherever she is right now, she is looking down, smiling on me and if I had the opportunity of one wish, I would ask the Lord just to allow me to see her one (Continued on page 30)

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UNASUR applies ‘democracy clause’ on Paraguay

By Dr. Odeen Ishmael From time to time there have been instances when a particular state, by carrying out certain internal political actions, comes into conflict with the tenets of the regional or international organisation to which it belongs – thus facing harsh criticisms or forceful sanctions of one type or the other. UNASUR recently applied political sanctions on Paraguay by suspending its participation in the grouping after the rushed impeachment and ouster of its democratically elected president, Fernando Lugo, on June 22.

The impeachment resulted after the shooting deaths of 17 persons – 11 farmers and 6 policemen – during a violent confrontation when the police tried to remove farmers illegally occupying land owned by large plantations the week before. Despite the fact Lugo dismissed his interior minister and his chief of police over this action, he was blamed by the rightist Colorado Party and his other political opponents for the deaths; and right away they moved to lay impeachment charges and accusing him of “poor performance in office.”

During a hurriedly summoned meeting of the Congress, Lugo was allowed only two hours to defend himself in a public trial. He refused to appear, and instead sent his lawyers to request 18 days to prepare his defence.

This plea was declined and, eventually, 76 out of 80 deputies in Paraguay’s lower house and 39 out of 43 senators in Paraguay’s upper house voted to impeach him and remove him from the presidency. It was clear, too, that many congressional members of Lugo’s own party as well as those of his coalition partners deserted him and supported the impeachment.

The rapidity of the impeachment plans, in fact, caught the rest of South America by surprise. On the day before the impeachment vote, the heads of state of UNASUR, then attending the Rio+20 sustainable growth summit in Rio do Janeiro, hurriedly dispatched a delegation of foreign affairs ministers along with the organisation’s Secretary General, Ali Rodriguez, to Paraguay to meet with the relevant parties over the political turmoil. They met with Lugo, expressed their support for him, and called the impending impeachment a “rupture of the democratic order by not respecting due process.” However, they could not change the congressional leaders’

determination to proceed with the trial.

On his part, the Secretary General said that should the impeachment process ignore due process and the right to defence, it would seriously affect democracy in the integration bloc, because Paraguay was holding the pro tempore presidency of the organisation while Lugo “above all is a popularlyelected president.”

The impeachment was led by the main opposition Colorado Party which held power for 61 years before Lugo’s election in 2008. For much of that period, Paraguay was ruled by a military dictatorship. A former Catholic bishop who championed the rights of the poor, Lugo was elected in 2008, though he never won majority support in the Congress. However, he managed to organise a broad coalition government but the right-wing politicians proved to be very uncooperative.

Lugo’s opponents were also angry that he signed UNASUR’s additional protocol – the “democracy clause” – allowing the organisation to apply pressure on any of its members if an elected leader was overthrown. This might also have been an influencing factor propelling the drivers of Lugo’s impeachment and final ouster.

The legitimacy of the “express” impeachment was immediately questioned by UNASUR, the sub-regional Mercosur trading bloc and the hemispheric Organisation of American States (OAS), all of which warned, even before the impeachment vote, that it would result in negative consequences for democracy in the country.

Lugo who described his impeachment a “parliamentary coup in judicial dress” was succeeded by his Vice President Federico Franco who declared firmly that there was no “congressional coup” and that all constitutional norms were followed in the impeachment process.

Subsequently, he and leading members of the de facto administration have launched verbal broadsides against UNASUR and Mercosur and Venezuela’s President Chavez was heavily lambasted by the regime’s defence minister.

The impeachment’s speed raised concerns throughout the hemisphere and regional repercussions were almost instantaneous. The other eleven members of UNASUR immediately stated that they would not recognise the “illegitimate” government of Paraguay headed by Franco and those having embassies in Asuncion withdrew their

ambassadors. In Santiago, under Chile’s right-wing president Sebastian Pinera, there was total disbelief over the impeachment with foreign minister Alfredo Moreno stating that the action “did not fulfil the minimum requirements for this type of procedure.”

Central American nations, in a sharp response also, issued a joint statement urging the international community to reject Lugo’s impeachment.

Venezuela, a supplier of 40 percent of Paraguay’s fuels, decided to cut off supplies, while Brazil proposed the suspension of Paraguay from UNASUR as well as Mercosur, both of which have rules in support of democratic governance.

Brazil’s position was very firm despite being a strategic economic partner of landlocked Paraguay, with the two countries jointly running the giant border Itaipu hydroelectric dam. In addition, about 100,000 Brazilians live in landlocked Paraguay, a nation of 6 million people, and some of them own companies, large cattle ranches or soybean farms.

The Brazilian stance was reiterated by Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa who pointed out that the “democratic clause” of UNASUR would enable the regional block to act against the rupture of democratic order in any member country.

Actually, the “democratic clause” was added through an additional protocol to the organisation’s constitutive treaty through an amendment at its November 2010 summit in Guyana. The “clause” – the principle of which also exists in the treaty – specifies measures to be taken against member-states whose political processes are not respected, and establishes sanctions, such as shutting down borders and the suspension of trade against the country that suffers an attempted coup.

The decision to include this specific democratic clause resulted after the police mutiny earlier that year briefly threatened the administration of President Correa of Ecuador. The additional protocol was signed by all member-states of UNASUR but so far it has not been ratified by the required number to put it into force.

Since President Lugo held the annual rotating presidency of UNASUR at the time of impeachment and ouster, the position was relinquished to Peruvian president Ollanta Humala on June 24 when UNASUR foreign ministers – minus Paraguay’s – convened in Lima to discuss the

Paraguayan situation.

The meeting announced the suspension of Paraguay’s membership and stated that the government of Paraguay must comply with democratic and transparent elections in April 2013 as a condition for its reinstatement as a member of the organisation. It described the events in Paraguay as “a rupture of democratic order” and the procedure to remove Lugo as a “summary trial” and a clear violation of the right to due process with minimum guarantees for an adequate defence.

The ministers also appointed a high-level group headed by former Peruvian Prime Minister Saloman Lerner to monitor and assess the situation in Paraguay, particularly directed to a quick normalisation of its democratic institutional order.

The group includes Ambassadors William Patriot of Brazil, Rodolfo Mattarollo of Argentina, Arturo Fermandois of Chile, Lorena Escudero of Ecuador and Glenn Alvares of Surinam.

The decision taken in Lima means that UNASUR will also promote the barring of Paraguay from all forums, dialogue mechanisms, political convergence and integration of the region according to what is established in the statutes and regulations of the organisation.

The bloc, however, reaffirmed its unrestricted solidarity with the people of Paraguay while emphasising that it would ensure that “the effects of this decision do not harm the Paraguayan people.”

As a result, UNASUR as well as Mercosur – which announced its own suspension of Paraguay on June 25 – decided against the imposition of economic sanctions.

But there is no doubt that whatever political or trade sanctions are enforced, the regime in Paraguay will be able to survive since its large trading partners such as the European Union and the United States will continue business as usual. Brazil, with its huge economic investments in Paraguay, is not expected impose any economic pressure as well.

The high-level group met in Lima on August 13 and considered the reports from South American embassies in Asuncion that remain open but working at second level since ambassadors have been called back to their countries.

These reports, passed on to all the foreign ministries, described a relative economic and business normality although there were sporadic public demonstrations in support of Lugo and some

claims of civil and human rights abuses.

The chairman of the group also revealed that the electoral timetable for April 2013, part of the Paraguayan political calendar, was being strictly followed.

The high-level group also recommended that UNASUR must closely monitor the Paraguayan electoral process, with observers if necessary, to ensure transparency, respect for human rights and equal opportunities for all participating parties and candidates. Further, in a separate statement to the Peruvian media he explained that the organisation was not insisting on the Lugo’s restoration to the presidency.

The forthright actions of UNASUR and Mercosur clearly demonstrate that these organisations are serious in applying their protocols whenever a member falls foul of the established rules.

Notwithstanding their strong united position, the Organisation of American States (OAS) has so far decided not to apply the rules of its Democratic Charter on Paraguay, as it did with Honduras in 2009. A factfinding mission headed by OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza advised that there was no “congressional coup” and suggested the setting up of an OAS mission to promote political dialogue with Paraguayan political parties and the de facto administration as they prepare for the election early next year.

As the suspensions from both UNASUR and Mercosur take hold, Paraguayans continue their daily lives but not in total isolation from the rest of the continent. Even though Venezuela announced the halting of oil shipments, cross border trade continues since there is no closure of borders as a result of the non-imposition of economic sanctions.

Despite the insistence by leaders of the Paraguayan Congress and the newly

Dr. Odeen Ishmael Congress-appointed president that the impeachment and ousting of Lugo followed constitutional norms, one school of opinion feels that efforts could have been made to stave off the impeachment through an appeal for regional and hemispheric political bodies (viz., UNASUR and OAS) to find an amicable solution by applying preventive diplomacy. However, there remains the belief that the Congress and particularly the opposition Colorado Party – through the rapid rush to judgement – wanted nothing else but the removal of Lugo from the presidency.

Nevertheless, UNASUR through its high-level group should perhaps open a dialogue with responsible representatives of the current Paraguayan administration, and vice versa, to pave way for the restoration of democratic governance in the country and its reincorporation into the South American family of nations.

Dr Odeen Ishmael is Guyana’s ambassador to the State of Kuwait. He previously served as ambassador to the United States, the OAS and Venezuela. He writes extensively on Latin American and Caribbean issues and is the author of several books including The Democracy Perspective in the Americas.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

The National Library – serving Guyana for 103 years With a rich history of constant evolution aimed at bringing literacy to the Guyanese public, the National Library celebrated 103 years of existence last week Sunday (September 9, 2012).

Boasting five branches, 21 centres, four prison services and 14 bookmobile stops located on the East and West Banks of Demerara as well as on the East Bank of Essequibo, the Library has engaging innovative measures to achieve its mandate.

The Church Street, Georgetown facility was constructed in 1907 with a £7000 grant provided by entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie.

On December 23, 1907, the first meeting of the Provisional Committee appointed by the Governor, Sir F.M. Hodgson, was held to give effect to the proposal to establish the Public Free Library for Georgetown in a building to be erected from the funds provided by Andrew Carnegie.

Understandably the facility was named the Carnegie Free Library when it first opened its doors.

It was later renamed the Georgetown Public Free Library, then the Public Library. In September, 1972, the Library Ordinance was amended which saw the name Public Library being changed to National Library with dual responsibility for National and Public Library Services.

The Library was, and still is, managed by one centrally controlled library authority, the National Library

Committee, a semiautonomous statutory library body with operations financed mainly by Central Government.

Ordinance No. 12 of 1908, called the Georgetown Public Free Library Ordinance, was enacted on July 8, 1908. The Ordinance provided for the maintenance of the library to be undertaken jointly by the Combined Court and the Mayor and Town Council of Georgetown.

In September, 1909, the Library, with reading room, lending and reference facilities, was opened to the public. An ornamental iron grille separated the public from the books. On the outer side of the grille was a table with a printed catalogue chained to it, and books were borrowed by consulting the catalogue, writing the titles and numbers of the book required on a request slip and handing it to a Librarian through a small window in the grille. This was the closed access system.

In 1909, there were 57,000 books and 1,500 members.

Today, that number has grown to approximately 421,984 and 191,790 respectively.

In 1933, through a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the building was enlarged to provide accommodation on the upper floor for the British Guiana Museum. The Museum occupied this space from 1935 – 1951.

After its relocation the library benefited from the acquisition of this additional space to facilitate the required

The National Library

re-organisation and expansion of the service.

Later a plan was formulated for developing and extending the library service. As a result of this centres and branches were opened at various locations across the country, a children’s section was established at

each. Collections were also provided to schools without library facilities.

Additionally, the Library took over the Prisons Service from the Red Cross on December 1, 1966. This service is still provided to the prisons at Georgetown, New Amsterdam. Mazaruni and Timehri. Prison Officers are

trained to manage these collections.

The first serious consideration was given towards the establishment of a mobile library service in 1966. This project was realized in 1970 when the Ministry of Overseas Development presented a gift of a mobile service through

the British High Commission.

The mobile service was first extended to Tucville, then the Peter’s Hall area, and later other areas.

The acquisition of a new bookmobile in 2006 has since expanded the service points on the East Bank and West Banks of Demerara.

Devoted community leader and...

Displaying his antique collection

(From page 28) more time. I believe she would tell me that she is proud of me”.

Sadly, his other siblings are all separated from each other, living apart. Since their Dad walked out on them, life has never been the same. He stressed that judging from his situation, poverty is no excuse to remain down in life.

“Ignorance is the excuse, when you know something and you don’t do it”.

Apart from all the service and religious work, Singh is also an antique collector. In his verandah, he has a table full of antique bottles, some hundreds of years old. He has been doing this for over 25 years, but started to become more serious about it in 1994

during a visit to an antique shop in New Orleans, USA. He brought back a few items to Guyana and added to his collection. Among the many pieces, Singh probably has one of the oldest man-made objects in the country, a 13th Century jar.

His life otherwise is quite simple. “I enjoy family time with the wife and kids. I read

the daily papers — I am particularly fond of the Kaieteur News. I read it every single day— and then I look at the (TV) news. I also spend some time online.”

In concluding, Singh was understandably reflective.

“If you are going to achieve anything in life, it has to come from staying focused on your education; on what is important for you. There are many distractions and we need to be careful. Anyone can achieve their goals if they stay focused, but the key to any success is education.

Don’t ever run away from that fact.

I urge the young people to keep away from drugs and alcohol—stay focused and don’t allow people to influence you. Once you achieve a good education, the doors of opportunity will open up. God, too, is important in our lives and we need to pay attention to that as well”.

Samuel Singh continues to stride ahead confidently and his life has now become one of service to his fellow brothers and sisters. He is truly a man of courage and fortitude.

Sunday September 16, 2012

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Sunday September 16, 2012

Police Gymkhana on today

Police Canine Section during a stunt

For those not really interested in the regular party night atmosphere, and would like to have fun at a more daring event, then the Police Gymkhana 2012 booked for the Police Sports Club Ground Eve Leary today, is the place to be.

Beginning 13:30 hours there will be a number of exciting stunt displays by ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

Patrons can expect to see breathtaking motorcycle stunts, Police Canine Section in action, displays by the Police Mounted Branch, gymnastics, and tug-o-war among other thrilling activities.

Since it was revived in 2008, the Police Gymkhana has become a feature of entertainment for members

o f t h e p u b l i c .

It gives the Police Force an opportunity to display skills, which, besides the entertaining feature, project some of the necessary elements in the police fight a g a i n s t c r i m e .

The event also provides an opportunity for closer interaction between the police and the public.

For the children, not only will there be the traditional trampoline activity, they will also be provided the opportunity to enjoy many unusual and fun activities like paint balling.

The atmosphere will come alive with music as patrons indulge themselves in cocktails from the bar.

No need to worry about tickets as admission is absolutely free.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

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A Dark Time for the Caribbean

By Sir Ronald Sanders The importance of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries acting jointly to address their development needs has become acute.

With high levels of debt to GDP ratios, widening budget deficits, deteriorating terms of trade, dwindling aid flows, and shocks to their economies by a decline in tourism earnings and a grave contraction of the financial services sector, the majority of CARICOM countries are reeling.

Guyana and Suriname are the notable exceptions having recorded steady economic growth in recent years, largely due to export earnings from their mineral resources especially gold.

In my last commentary I drew attention to the real possibility that the European Union (EU) – one of the biggest aid donors to the Caribbean region – could reduce their level of aid to all Caribbean states, except Haiti, because they are Middle Income Countries.

While the European Commission has stressed that no firm decision has been made on aid reduction to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, under the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020, a “differentiated approach” to aid is being adopted. Already, under this approach, the EU has eliminated traditional aid to 17 countries that are Upper Middle Income countries, and 2 large Middle Income countries.

The EU has made it clear that its differentiated approach “represents a budget for investment and growth to ease the pressure

on (EU) Member States’ finances, focusing on Europe 2020 priorities, impacts and results”. And while the European Development Fund (EDF), under which aid is made available to the ACP states, is being kept separate from the EU Budget, it seems inevitable that the EU – now consisting of many countries that never had colonies in ACP countries – will insist on applying the “differentiated approach” to giving aid to them. In the Caribbean, this means that in calculating allocations for the 11th EDF (2014-2020) Haiti will continue to be a beneficiary and all others could see aid reduced except “on the basis of country needs, capacities, commitments, performance and potential EU impact”.

In other words, “needs” alone will not be a sufficient basis for aid to Middle Income Countries; their “commitment” and “performance” will also be key determinants.

That is why my last commentary stressed two points: first, the issue “should command the urgent attention of all Caribbean governments, the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Development Bank”, and second, “if ACP MiddleIncome countries are to justify why aid should not be reduced now, they must be prepared to show how it will be used effectively to transition to diversifying their economies, enhancing their productive sector, and standing on their own feet. A begging bowl is not enough”.

There have been many responses to that commentary, but one of them from a Trade Specialist, David Lewis of Manchester Trade based in Washington, was particularly forthright. Lewis’ life’s work has been

Caribbean oriented. But, he harbours grave doubts that Caribbean governments, the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Development Bank are prepared to act in a meaningful way. He said that they “are so out of touch with reality in politics and economics in the Caribbean and more so elsewhere that they will be playing ‘catch-up’ to no avail on this one”.

He was also dubious about Caribbean organisations actually “showing how the region will transition to diversifying their economies, enhancing their productive sector, and standing on their own feet”.

Lewis is not alone in his misgivings.

EU Representatives in the Caribbean have bemoaned the fact that governments have not actively pursued funding for regional projects that would benefit their countries individually as well as the region collectively. They have also expressed deep concern about the private sector in almost all CARICOM countries failing to produce projects that could attract EU funding and gain access to EU markets. Other regional commentators have also lamented the reality that, in a beggar-thy-neighbour and non-productive approach, many CARICOM governments have sought solutions to their economic problems in national efforts only, shunning the real benefits that could derive from regional action as well.

National efforts for alleviating the budgetary strains on Governments and for a few infrastructural projects have focused recently on getting help from China and Venezuela. But, regardless of how generous and unquestioning these two

governments may be now, their contributions, while welcome, are stop-gaps; they are not addressing fundamental weaknesses that persist.

The EU’s frustration with Caribbean governments and their institutions is not exceptional; other countries and agencies have also expressed their disappointment and dissatisfaction. Among these agencies is the Canadian International Development Agency which has identified the Caribbean as a priority for its aid.

It is significant that it is since May that the European Commission first advised Caribbean representatives in Brussels of the decision to use a “differentiated approach” to aid. While in ACP representatives have been engaged in lobbying and presenting the counter arguments in Brussels, there is urgent need for high-level representation to EU

governments, particularly the newer ones that have little knowledge of the Caribbean beyond statistical information.

If with the help of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Bank, CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic could secure an International Conference on the Caribbean to address their fundamental difficulties of debt; a change in the criteria for concessional financing; differential treatment for trade based on their small size and limited capacity; deepening regional integration to allow for the creation of pan-Caribbean undertakings that are competitive; and, crucially, building machinery for transportation and storage of agricultural products within the region, many of their problems could be addressed through a co-ordinated approach by donor countries and agencies.

But, first the Caribbean

Sir Ronald Sanders would have to assemble a single dynamic team to prepare a convincing plan with measurable outcomes, performance criteria, and a viable implementation mechanism. Otherwise they won’t be believed.

It is a dark time for the region; emerging into the light requires regional ingenuity, regional commitment and regional action.

(The writer is a Consultant and former Caribbean diplomat) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

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Sunday September 16, 2012

Sunday September 16, 2012

From page 20 village at the scene where Grant was shot and killed, angry residents torched a car owned by a resident of the area.

Shaquille Grant was killed while 20-year-old Romell Bollers was injured at Caesar Street, Agricola. The rubble from the road was removed after fire fighters were summoned to the scene Wednesday night to extinguish the flames.

LINDO CREEK MASSACRE… VICTIMS’ RELATIVES SEE “SECRET BURIAL” AS ANOTHER COVER UP The state’s move to bury the remains of the eight miners killed at Lindo Creek four years ago has certainly opened up a can of worms, with relatives questioning its secretive manner. So far only one set of relatives have confirmed that they were informed by the police of the hastily arranged burial.

The remains, packed in three coffins, were interred in three marked graves in Le Repentir Cemetery following a brief ceremony attended only by the parents of Nigel Torres, one of the slain miners.

Only three names, Nigel Torres, Bunny Harry and Clifton Wong were marked on the coffins provided and relatives are questioning why the other miners were not so considered.

The others are Dax Arokium and his uncle Cedric, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes and Lancelot Lee. Kaieteur News was informed by a usually reliable police source that only Wong, Torres and Harry were positively identified by DNA. The government had expended a large sum of money on DNA to ascertain the identities of those killed in the mining camp massacre.

According to the source, initially the police had requested only one coffin for

Kaieteur News

all the remains although they were advised to have eight to avert any confusion among the affected families.

Friday Edition TRIO REMANDED FOR WEEKEND RAMPAGE AT SEA Three men were Thursday remanded to prison after being charged with several counts of robbery under arms at high sea. Richard Mangal, Gary Joseph and Eon Sampson appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Before the charges were read to the accused, the court was informed by the police prosecutor that five persons have been charged, with two having eluded capture. A request was made by the police for an arrest warrant to be issued for those individuals.

TOP COP MEETS RELATIVES OF AGRICOLA SHOOTING VICTIM In a move that could lead to the diffusing of tension following the fatal shooting of an Agricola youth last Tuesday, Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell met on Thursday with relatives at his office in Eve Leary.

The 45-minute meeting was essentially for the Top Cop to address the concerns of the relatives of 17-year-old Shaquille Grant, who was shot dead by members of a police mobile patrol unit, as well as the four other youths who were rounded up and subsequently released from police custody on Thursday.

While the police have put forward the position that the police responded to gunfire from a gang of youths in the village, residents, including persons who claimed to be eyewitnesses, are maintaining that the unarmed Grant was

executed by the ranks. In what was described as a cordial atmosphere, the Commissioner first extended condolences to the grieving relatives who were accompanied by social activist Mark Benschop, before promising a speedy investigation into the matter.

The relatives who included the dead teen’s grandfather, expressed concern that the police have been disrespecting the youths of the Agricola community, stigmatising them as criminals. They told the commissioner that several heavily-armed ranks had also visited the community on Wednesday night and intimidated mourners at the young man’s wake.

Saturday Edition DETECTIVE KILLED EXECUTION-STYLEAT MOLESON CREEK Around 05:45 hours Friday a constable on police patrol noticed Detective Jirbahan Dianand’s Toyota motorcar PHH 6528 parked along the Jackson Creek, Corentyne Public Road.

Closer inspection revealed that the 23-year-old detective had been shot to the head execution-style.

Information reaching Kaieteur News is that the detective was testifying in several drug-related cases.

This could have triggered his death. Close sources say that it is believed that the detective was fingered and set up since detectives believe that he was shot at close range and he knew his killer. His wallet and his Blackberry phone were missing. Eight persons, among them two women, are in police custody assisting with investigation.

PIRATED TEXTBOOKS SAGA… LONDON-BASED BODY THREATENS LEGALACTIONS

A powerful London-based body that represents publishers worldwide has blasted Guyana’s decision to buy pirated textbooks locally.

It described the move as illegal and is now threatening legal actions.

On Friday, Emma House, International and Trade Director of the Publishers Association Limited (PA) said that Guyana’s decision was in direct contravention of the local, regional and international laws.

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“The Cabinet’s decision in Guyana to procure pirated textbooks for public schools is an indisputably illegal act.

This decision is in contravention of Guyanese law, Caribbean law (CARICOM’s revised Treaty of Chaguaramas) and the international Berne Convention,” PA said in a statement that was also published on its website.

The lobbying body comprises of more than 100 top book publishers.

“The Guyanese government has not contacted publishers to discuss supply of legitimate books. This makes the government’s claim that this illegal action is justified by concern over price totally redundant and disingenuous, if not hypocritical.”

The real victims of the government’s actions, PA said, are the Guyanese children, who are now being provided with sub-standard resources by the Ministry of Education.

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An important talk about Suicide Prevention

By Krista Brooks Did you know that September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day? Nursey was telling me all about a rally that took place in Black Bush Polder (Region 6) on Monday to help raise awareness about suicide.

Unfortunately, Black Bush has one of the highest rates of suicide in Guyana, but raising awareness is the first step in lowering those numbers.

Suicide or attempted suicide is a huge issue all over the world, not just in Guyana.

After Nursey was talking about the rally, it made me interested in learning more about suicide and how to prevent it. The World Health Organization, a big organization that provides a lot of information on health and does a lot of research across the world, says that about 1 million people die every year because of suicide.

I told this to Nursey and she was shocked. She said, “those deaths probably could have been prevented!”

Nursey is right. People don’t really want to take their own lives. They usually reach out to someone before they do or show signs that might give us clues that something is going on.

The thing about suicide is that it affects everyone.

Not only does it result in a tragic loss of life, the people that are close to that individual also suffer. As a

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

society we lose part of ourselves. This is why it is important that we all work together to know more about suicide, how we can prevent it, and how to help others who have been affected.

Suicide can be a hard thing to understand, but it is very similar to any other disease that a person may have. There are signs and symptoms, but with suicide, the treatment maybe a little more difficult to figure out.

Here are some signs to look out for: If someone ever talks about taking his or her life, it could be a very serious warning sign. Take these individuals seriously.

If someone has become withdrawn and isolates his or herself from others If someone starts to give away his or her things or says goodbye to friends or family members If someone talks about how much they hate him or herself or takes up selfdestructive behaviour.

If you do recognize some of these signs, it is important to act right away. Try talking with the individual about his or her thoughts and feelings.

Ask them what they are feeling, how long, and what you can do for them.

Never attack, blame, or ignore someone you think might be having suicidal thoughts. It is important simply to support them and work together on methods for seeking help. You can also figure out how close someone might be in trying to take his or her own life. You can ask someone if they have a plan, if they have a method, when they plan on doing it, and finally are they going to do it.

If the individual just has a plan and no method, they might be at a lower risk than someone who tells you they have a method and time to kill his or herself (this would be a high risk situation and you need to take immediate action such as seeking medical help).

Never leave anyone with high risk suicidal thoughts alone!

Nursey says that she tries to check in with patients she knows who are having some tough problems at home, have been known to drink a lot of alcohol, or seem depressed. She says those are the ones she worries about the most because they might feel trapped and not have a lot of support. The best thing you can do is listen to others and watch out for one another because you really don’t know what someone might be walking with. If you feel that you or a loved one is at risk of suicide, please get help. The Ministry of Health has a suicide hotline number that is 24 hours: 226-1818(9).

As Nursey said, suicide deaths can be prevented.

Please take the time to check in with your loved ones and look out for any of the signs of suicidal thoughts.

I will be back next week to tell you more interesting things that Nursey says. Until then!

If you have any questions about today’s health topic or any other health issues please e-mail nurseysaysguyana@gmail.com.

Krista Brooks is a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer working with the School of Nursing, which trains Nursing Assistants, Professional Nurses, and Midwifery Students.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Radiation may up breast cancer risk in some women LONDON (AP) — Mammograms aimed at finding breast cancer might actually raise the chances of developing it in young women whose genes put them at higher risk for the disease, a study by leading European cancer agencies suggests.

The added radiation from mammograms and other types of tests with chest radiation might be especially harmful to them and an MRI is probably a safer method of screening women under 30 who are at high risk because of gene mutations, the authors conclude.

The study can’t prove a link between the radiation and breast cancer, but is one of the biggest ever to look at the issue. The research was published in the journal BMJ. “This will raise questions and caution flags about how we treat women with (gene) mutations,” said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. He and the society had no role in the research.

Mammograms are most often used in women over 40, unless they are at high risk, like carrying a mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

Having such a mutation increases the risk of developing cancer five-fold.

About one in 400 women has the gene abnormalities, which are more common in Eastern European Jewish populations.

Unlike mammograms, an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, does not involve radiation.

The breast cancer screening tests have been proven to save lives and are clearly beneficial for women aged 50 and over who have an average risk of breast cancer. Experts are divided

about their value in women younger than 50.

Some studies have suggested women with the genetic mutations could be more sensitive to radiation because the genes are involved in fixing DNA problems. If those genes are damaged by radiation, they may not be able to repair DNA properly, raising the cancer risk.

In several European countries including Britain, the Netherlands and Spain, doctors already advise women with BRCA mutations to get MRIs instead of mammograms before age 30.

In the U.S., there is no specific advice from a leading task force of government advisers, but the American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms and MRIs from age 30 for women with BRCA gene mutations.

In the BMJ study, European researchers followed nearly 2,000 women over 18 with one of the gene mutations in Britain, France and the Netherlands.

Participants reported their previous chest X-rays and mammograms, including the age of their first screening and the number of procedures. About 850 women were later diagnosed with breast cancer. Roughly half of them had X-rays while one third had at least one mammogram, at an average age of 29.

The researchers did not have a breakdown of how many women were exposed to chest radiation before age 30 but estimated that for every 100 women aged 30 with a gene mutation, nine will develop breast cancer by age 40. They projected the number of cases would increase by five if all of them had one mammogram before

age 30. But they cautioned their results should be interpreted with caution because most women didn’t have a mammogram before 30.

Researchers found women with a history of chest radiation in their 20s had a 43 percent increased relative risk of breast cancer compared to women who had no chest radiation at that age. Any exposure before age 20 seemed to raise the risk by 62 percent. Radiation after age 30 did not seem to affect breast cancer risk.

“We believe countries who use mammograms in women under 30 should reconsider their guidelines,” said Anouk Pijpe of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, one of the study authors. “It may be possible to reduce the risk of breast cancer in (highrisk) women by using MRIs, so we believe physicians and patients should consider that.”

The study was paid for by European cancer groups.

Lichtenfeld said the study wouldn’t immediately change advice from the American Cancer Society but said concerned women should talk to their doctor about their options. “It’s not possible today to make a blanket statement about what women (with the gene mutations) should do, but physicians and patients need to weigh the risks and benefits carefully,” he said.

He also warned that women who need scans involving radiation shouldn’t avoid them because of breast cancer fears.

“No one should think that they should never get an Xray because they have the BRCA1 or 2 gene mutations,” he said. “Just be careful that the X-rays you get are really the ones that you need.”

Sunday September 16, 2012

4 Secrets To Style Heat Damaged Hair Styling your heat damaged hair can be a really challenging experience since they break of at slightest provocation. Whether you are trying to color them, style them or even brush them out for styling hair breakage and fall are extremely common.

First of all say no to heat styling treatment forever in future and adapt some styles that go easy on both the scalp and on your tresses as long as the hair recuperates from the damage done.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT HAIRSTYLES For the time being go for styles that suit your natural texture and do not try to alter the appearance of hair in any manner. If your hair is straight let them remain blissfully straight and if curly then make do with that.

Do not get tempted in any way to use chemical or heat styling instruments ever. If you want to change your hairstyle go for one which utilizes and flaunts to perfection the natural temperament of your tresses. Otherwise the condition will worsen then what it presently is.

TRY SPORTING SHORTER HAIRSTYLE You may love your long tresses but being heat damaged you can spare them even more by cutting them short. This will help in the distribution of nourishment to your tresses in a better manner and with time the follicles will rejuvenate and treat the hair to curb the damage incurred; besides getting rid of the split and damaged ends thoroughly.

Once the previous health is restored in a complete manner you may revert back to sporting your long tresses to their best advantage. And who knows you may love your short hairstyle so much that it may become your permanent fixture.

UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF YOUR HAIR Do not color or style in ways that may hurt them further and increase the damage. Choose hairstyle that does not require sprays to keep them in place since any kind of hair chemical will be tough on the tresses that are already heat damaged. Just brush your hair thoroughly and you are ready to go out should be the motto of the hair style you sport.

CURLYOUR HAIR MINUS THE HEAT TREATMENT Rinse your hair thoroughly and dry them using a soft towel, while the tresses are still damp using your fingers to apply some conditioning serum. However do not overdo with the application and it will be better if you can limit yourself to the lower portion of the hair. Do not go anywhere near the hair roots which will give you a dirty and greasy look.

Now clear any tangles you may have using a widetoothed comb. From the region of your ears separate a section of hair and clip them above your head in order to secure them there. Now use foam rollers to roll up both the section.

Keep them in your hair for the night. In the morning gradually release the rollers starting from the bottom part.

Now instead of using a brush use your fingers to gradually separate the strands. This will give you a beautiful tousled look.

SOLUTION FOR LAST WEEKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SEARCH & FIND

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

Born Loser

LATE BLONDE “How come you’re late?” asked the bartender, as the blonde waitress walked into the bar.

“It was awful,” she explained. “I was walking down Elm street and there was a terrible accident. A man was thrown from his car and he was lying in the middle of the street. His leg was broken, his skull was fractured, and there was blood everywhere. Thank God I took that firstaid course.

“What did you do?” asked the bartender.

“I sat down and put my head between my knees to keep from fainting!” ************** THE UMBRELLA A 90-year-old man said to his doctor, “I’ve never felt better. I have an 18-year-old bride who is pregnant with my child. What do you think about that?”

The doctor considered his question for a minute and then said, “I have an elderly friend who is a hunter and never misses a season.

One day when he was going out in a bit of a hurry, he accidentally picked up his umbrella instead of his gun. When he got to the Creek, he saw a beaver sitting beside the stream. He raised his umbrella and went, ‘bang, bang’ and the beaver fell dead. What do you think of that?”

The 90-year-old said, “I’d say somebody else shot that beaver.”

The doctor replied, “My point exactly.” ************** THERETIREMENTHOME Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: “John, I’m 83 years old now and I’m just full of aches and pains. I know you’re about my age. How do you feel?”

John says, “I feel just like a newborn baby.”

“Really!? Like a newborn baby!?”

“Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just pooped my pants.” ************** ORDERS UP A young man at his first job as a waiter in a diner has a large trucker sit down at the counter and order, “Gimme 3 flat tires and a couple of headlights.”

Bewildered he goes to the kitchen and tells the cook, “I think this guy’s in the wrong store, look at what he ordered!”

The cook says, “He wants 3 pancakes & 2 eggs sunnyside up.”

The waiter takes a bowl of beans to the trucker.

He looks at it and growls, “What’s this? I didn’t order this!”

The young man tells him, “The cook says that while you’re waiting for your parts you might as well gas up!” ************** MISSING PARROT There once was a lady who was very concerned about her missing parrot.

Not knowing what to do, she called 911. “You gotta help me find my parrot!”

The operator patiently replied, “We can’t help you with that, ma’am. This number only deals with emergencies.”

However, the lady persisted, and then the operator told her not to be concerned, that the parrot should fly back in a few days.

Then, out of desperation, the lady begged, “But you don’t understand! The only thing he says is ‘Here, kitty, kitty’!!!”

Garfield

Non Sequitur

Peanuts

Shoe

Page 46

Country profile:

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA

OVERVIEW Bosnia-Hercegovina is recovering from a devastating three-year war which accompanied the break-up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.

The 1992-1995 conflict centred on whether Bosnia should stay in the Yugoslav Federation, or whether it should become independent.

It is now an independent state, but under international administration. Its three main ethnic groups are Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Croats and Serbs. The war left Bosnia’s infrastructure and economy in tatters. Around two million people - about half the population - were displaced.

I n t e r n a t i o n a l administration, backed at first

by Nato forces and later by a smaller European Union-led peacekeeping force, has helped the country consolidate stability.

But early in 2007 the International Crisis Group, a think tank, warned: “Bosnia remains unready for unguided ownership of its own future - ethnic nationalism remains too strong.”

The 1995 Dayton peace accord, which ended the Bosnian war, set up two separate entities; a BosniakCroat Federation of Bosnia

Prime Minister: Vjekoslav Bevanda and Hercegovina, and the Bosnian Serb Republic, or Republika Srpska, each with its own president, government, parliament, police and other bodies.

Overarching these entities is a central Bosnian government and rotating presidency. In addition there exists the district of Brcko which is a self-governing administrative unit, established as a neutral area placed under joint Serb, Croat and Bosniak authority.

Dayton also established the Office of the High Representative (OHR). The Office’s representative is the state’s ultimate authority, responsible for implementation of Dayton and with the power to ‘’compel the entity governments to

comply with the terms of the peace agreement and the state constitution’’.

Critics of Dayton said the entities it created were too close to being states in their own right and that the arrangement reinforced separatism and nationalism at the expense of integration.

Negotiations to amend the existing constitution, established by Dayton, in order to strengthen state institutions and transform the country into a non-ethnic parliamentary democracy, have so far failed to make much progress.

EU TALKS In a bid to encourage Bosnia to resolve its ethnic divisions and eventually qualify for EU membership, EU foreign ministers gave the go-ahead in late 2005 for talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the country.

The prospect of talks with the EU is thought to have increased pressure for the capture of two key Bosnian Serb war crimes suspects, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic.

After nearly 13 years on the run, Radovan Karadzic was arrested in July 2008 by Serbian security forces in Belgrade. His trial on war crimes charges opened at the UN tribunal in The Hague in

October 2009. Ratko Mladic was arrested by Serbian intelligence officers in a village near Belgrade in May 2011.

In the meantime, Bosnia’s ethnic divisions appeared to become even wider, with nationalist parties doing well among all three ethnic groups at local elections in October 2008.

And only days before the Karadzic trial opened, efforts by the EU and US to break the stalemate on constitutional reform and prepare the country for eventual EU and Nato membership ended in failure when leaders of the three main ethnic groups rejected the proposals.

The Bosnian Serb leadership in particular continues to be resentful at having to accept the authority of the OHR, giving rise to suspicions that its ultimate goal is for the Republika Srpska to break away from the Bosniak-Croat Federation. The 2010 general election was followed by a protracted political deadlock, as ethnic political leaders took over a year to reach agreement on the formation of a new government.

FACTS Full name: Bosnia and

Hercegovina Population: 3.8 million (UN, 2010) Capital: Sarajevo Area: 51,129 sq km (19,741 sq miles) Major languages: Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian Major religions: Christianity, Islam Life expectancy: 73years (men), 78 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 convertible marka = 100 convertible pfenniga Main exports: Wood and paper, metal products GNI per capita: US $4,770 (World Bank, 2010) Internet domain: .ba International dialling code: +387 LEADERS President: The presidency rotates every eight months between a Serb, a Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and a Croat.

The responsibilities of the presidency lie largely in international affairs.

Prime minister: Vjekoslav Bevanda Economist Vjekoslav Bevanda’s election by parliament on 12 January ended 15 months of failure to agree on a candidate to occupy the post.

His election came thanks to an agreement the previous December between representatives of Bosnia’s three main ethnic communities on the allocation of key posts in the parliament.

Under the deal, it was agreed that the prime minister will be a Bosnian Croat and the foreign minister a Bosnian Muslim.

The deadlock, which began after elections in October 2011, had left the already struggling country without a bugdet.

Mr Bevanda, a member of the Croat HDZ party, told MPs his priority would be revive Bosnia’s flagging economy and resume efforts to obtain EU membership.

RESIGNED IN PROTEST Born in 1956 in the Mostar, Mr Bevanda served as finance minister of the Muslim-Croat Federation from 2007-11. Before becoming a politician, he worked as an economist for several local banks and

companies.

His predecessor Nikola Spiric, a Bosnian Serb, was first asked to form a government in January 2007 after the parties which gained the most votes in general elections in October agreed on a coalition.

He resigned in November 2007 in protest at efforts by the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak, to introduce reforms supported by the EU. Mr Spiric said in his resignation speech that Bosnia has been run for too long by foreigners.

However, in December 2007 he secured the approval of Bosnia’s parliament to return as prime minister, promising to work on reforms that would bring Bosnia closer to membership of Nato and the European Union.

MEDIA The war in BosniaHercegovina turned most media into propaganda tools in the hands of authorities, armies and factions. Since the 1995 Dayton Peace Accord efforts have been made - with limited success - to develop media which bridge interentity boundaries.

The most influential broadcasters in Bosnia are the public radio and TV stations operated by the Bosniak-Croat and Serb entities. The Office of the High Representative (OHR), the leading international civilian agency in Bosnia, oversaw the development of national public broadcasting.

The OHR favours media which support a civic rather than a nationalist approach.

The media are partially free, but outlets and journalists come under pressure from state bodies and political party structures in both the Bosniak-Croat and Serb entities.

More than 200 commercial radio and TV stations are on the air, but their development has been hampered by a weak advertising market.

Sarajevo is home to AlJazeera Balkans, a regional TV network operated by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera and broadcasting in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.

There were nearly 2m internet users by December 2 0 1 1 (Internetworldstats.com).

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

The Tanager

Interesting Creatures...

T

he tanagers comprise the bird f a m i l y Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has an American distribution. There were traditionally about 240 species of tanagers, but the taxonomic treatment of this family's members is currently in a state of flux.

As more of these birds are studied using modern molecular techniques it is expected that some genera may be relocated elsewhere.

Already species in the genera Euphonia and Chlorophonia, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of Fringillidae, in their own subfamily (Euphoniinae).

Likewise the genera Piranga (which includes the Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, and Western Tanager), Chlorothraupis, and Habia appear to be members of the Cardinal family, and have been reassigned to that family.

Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the White-eared Conebill, is 9 centimetres (3.8 in) long and weighs seven grams, barely smaller than the Short-billed Honeycreeper. The longest, the Magpie Tanager is 28 cm (11 in) and weighs 76 grams (2.7 oz). The heaviest is the White-capped Tanager which weighs 114 grams (4 oz) and measures about 24 cm (9.5 in).

Both sexes are usually the same size and weight.

Tanagers are often brightly coloured, but some species are black and white. Birds in their first year are often duller or a different colour a l t o g e t h e r. M a l e s a r e typically more brightly coloured than females. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of the bill seems to be linked to the species' foraging habits.

Tanagers are restricted to the New World and mainly to

the tropics. About 60 per cent of tanagers live in South America, and 30 per cent of these species live in the Andes. Most species are endemic to a relatively small area.

Most tanagers live in pairs or in small groups of three to five individuals.

These groups may consist simply of parents and their offspring. Birds may also be seen in single species or mixed flocks. Many tanagers are thought to have dull songs, though some are elaborate.

Ta n a g e r s a r e omnivorous, and their diet varies from genus to genus.

They have been seen eating fruits, seeds, nectar, flower parts and insects. Many pick insects off branches.

Other species look for insects on the underside of leaves. Yet others wait on branches until they see a flying insect and catch it in the air. Many of these particular species inhabit the same areas, but these specializations alleviate competition.

The breeding season begin in March through June in temperate areas and in September through October in South America. Some species are territorial while others build their nests closer together. There is little information on tanager breeding behavior or whether they are monogamous or polygamous.

Males show off their brightest feathers to potential mates and rival males. Some species' courtship rituals involve bowing and tail lifting.

Most tanagers build cup nests on branches in trees.

Some nests are almost globular. Entrances are usually built on the side of the nest. The nests can be shallow or deep.

The species of the tree they choose to build their nest in and the nest's position varies among genera. Most species nest in an area

hidden by very dense vegetation. There is still no information on the nests of some species.

The clutch size is 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5 eggs. The female incubates the eggs and builds the nest, but the male may feed the female while she incubates.

Both sexes feed the young.

Five species have helpers assist in feeding the young.

These helpers are thought to be the previous year's nestlings.

(Source: Wikipedia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Free Online Encyclopedia)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Local writer launches book of adventures Maureen Rampertab autographs one of her books

“Story Time”, a collection of children stories by writer Maureen Rampertab, was launched on Friday at the National Library to coincide with Education Month and Amerindian Heritage Month.

It's a book of stories that journey into the worlds of adventures, mysteries, fairytales, magic and dreams; stories that go back in time and beyond to myths and legends, the real life of today and tomorrow, the passion, the beliefs and the wishes that come from deep within a child's heart.

The semi-formal proceedings were chaired by Mr. Ram of NCERD. There were addresses by Mrs. Leila Ramson – Chairwoman of Te a c h i n g S e r v i c e C o m m i s s i o n , a n d M r.

Damantha Mendis – legal expert from Sri Lanka, attached to the Caricom Secretariat.

Excerpts of stories were read by four University of Guyana students and a short speech was made by the Author.

Ms Rampertab was proud and happy. She spoke of her accomplishments so

far. This is her second book and the first in a volume of stories for children.

Her debut book, “Butterflies in Paradise” was published last May to commemorate Indian Arrival Day. Writing has always been a great passion that lives within, she said. She is a story teller whose vivid imagination crosses boundaries and transcends time to tell stories that touches the realms of life in this world.

As she endeavours to continue on her literary journey, she hopes very much that the books can attract the interest of people so local writing can be recognized.

The books have found a small market overseas in USA and Canada and there's hope that they can reach the book festival in Asia.

Both books will be showcased at GuyExpo from September 27 in Guyana.

They go on sale at bookstores and shopping centres countrywide next week.

A collection of love stories is planned for Valentine.

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Sunday September 16, 2012

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 51

71-year-old is latest road fatality

A 71-year-old man became the country’s latest road fatality when he was killed on the Ogle Public Road in what police have described as conflicting circumstances, as reported by a driver who is presently in custody.

Dead is Edward Ashby, of 53 Third Street, Industry, East Coast Demerara. The man was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation around 20:15 hours, minutes after his lifeless body was picked up.

The circumstances surrounding the accident are not too clear as, according to an eyewitness, the pensioner was struck by two cars.

Reports reaching this newspaper indicate that Ashby was attempting to cross the southern carriageway of the road, opposite the Shell Gas Station at Ogle, when he was struck by a speeding blue Toyota 212 Carina.

According to the eyewitness, as Ashby fell on to the road, another Toyota car ran over him, while the first car sped away.

Kaieteur News understands that the driver who was taken into custody is claiming that he is not responsible for the accident.

He claimed that after he saw the car hit Ashby, he followed it with the aim of getting the driver to stop, but he was unsuccessful as the vehicle sped away from him.

Investigators became suspicious when he could not give the licence number of the

vehicle he had chased after.

Police also observed that there was some damage to the man’s car as if he had run over an object.

Traffic ranks are nevertheless trying to locate the blue car that first struck the pensioner.

News of the accident was relayed to the man’s relatives and they turned up at the hospital only to have their worst fears confirmed.

Massive fraud uncovered at Georgetown Magistrates’ Court The Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into the financial affairs of yet another organization as a result of a suspected fraud which has been unearthed.

According to reports, on Friday the police swooped down at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court Registry department after some discrepancies were discovered as it relates to child support funds.

This publication has been informed that an audit has begun as well as a criminal investigation. At least two clerks are at the centre of the investigation. However, up to press time yesterday there were no arrests.

Further reports stated that police officers at the court were ordered to lock down the legal institute until ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had arrived. The court’s staffers were all ordered to remain in the building.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

From the Diaspora...

By Ralph Seeram My other half has always maintained that “the day Guyana get TV the children done”. That was more than twenty years ago. What she did not factor into the equation was the introduction of the Internet in Guyana. She was the “enforcer” in the house; I was the “softee”. The kids were limited to two hours of TV a day during the week, and that was after homework.

I, on the other hand, ensured there was a full supply of books, newspapers and magazines for them to read. This, of course, was easy to do here in the U S. What about the children in Guyana? Are they at a disadvantage? I doubt it.

The headline of the Kaieteur News article read “Results of essay competition signal need for more work in classrooms”.

The opening line read: “An

urgent call has been thrown out to teachers to incorporate essay writing, reading and other measures to help develop research skills in the daily teaching and learning process”.

When I read that I began to wonder if essay writing and reading skills are not part of the English curriculum in schools, now that the teachers have to implement them. The article in question reported the results of an essay competition and noted that the students lacked “basic writing skills and proper sentence construction. Spelling and word usage were poor”.

The entire problem can be summed up in one word, READING. Children are not reading enough. Parents, if your child is spending more time watching Television than reading, you have a problem.

If they spend more time on Facebook than reading, you have a problem. It is simple

as that.

On a recent visit to Guyana I went to make a photocopy at a nearby internet café. It was filled with young people; they were all on Internet, not reading news, articles or researching; it was Facebook.

One item in the article that reminded me of my Primary school days in Guyana was “the essays lacked effective introduction and some had no conclusion”. It’s clear that the teachers who vetted these essays do not know the basics of writing an essay themselves.

It reminded me of a remarkable teacher, the late David Mallay, who taught me in “sixth standard” at St Joseph Anglican’s School at Port Mourant on the Corentyne. Now after some fifty years I can still visualize him pointing to the blackboard. “Your essay has to have an introduction, the body supporting your topic and conclusion”. It was like yesterday. I think of him, his “do’s and don’ts” when writing my articles.

I recall writing my first essay for him. Next day my fellow students said, “Mr. Mallay wants to see you in his room”. That generally means you are in “trouble”.

To my relief, he said that he liked my essay and would like to read it to the class as an example. I had no objection.

It was the first of many essays that would be read to the class.

Today I realize why I was so successful at writing essays (though I did not realize it at the time). I was a

voracious reader. Later, I also had another dedicated English teacher, Nowrang Persaud, who later became a Human Resource Officer, who I see writes some letters to the Editor. Nowrang where are you?

I read anything that is available— newspapers, books, magazines and comic books. Now the comic books were another story. You were discouraged from reading comic books then. They were supposed to be harmful, which was nonsense. Comic books fired my imagination; they were way ahead of technology then. I got in trouble in school for having a comic book in my possession; they confiscated it.

Back then in the New Amsterdam market, there were book stands where you can go and rent comic books for two cents to read as well as magazines (old) and books.

If the stall holder knows you well you could also rent a

“nudie magazine” to satisfy your curiosity of the female body and anatomy. But it was all knowledge for the brain. Of course today that stall holder would be charged for showing pornography to an 11-year-old.

My point is if students read enough on a wide variety of subjects, and with the relevant guidance from teachers, they should not have any difficulty writing essays. However, I do believe that the present education system has some blame. If the teachers don’t know the basic elements of writing an essay, what do you expect of the students?

This problem is, however, not limited to Guyanese students. I get e-mail responses to my articles and you would be surprised at the poor English and grammar.

Some think they are sending a text with yr and tk. One teacher here in Florida told me students are confused about “proper English” and texting.

Of course, parents have their role to play. With the Internet and Television competing with school for the student’s time, parents will have to be forceful in allotting times for their children. Of note to teachers: my “sixth standard” teacher Mallay was so dedicated to his students that he forced us to do “extra lessons” in the afternoons and had parents consent for us to attend half day school on Saturdays— all FREE of course.

Believe it or not, at sixth standard we were doing GCE English exam papers, some four years ahead. That year, his class at St Joseph Anglican School had the highest pass rate in the country for the then “school leaving certificate”.

Today Guyanese teachers see extra lessons as a way to earn extra income, rather than improving their students’ skills. Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com

President, Prime Minister lead...

From page 16 decisions can be based on facts and help to guide us in our actions.”

The team from the Bureau of Statistics later visited the Prime Minister's Official Residence to interview Prime Minister Dr. Samuel Hinds and Mrs. Yvonne Hinds to complete their household Ques-

tionnaire and Individual Questionnaires.

Enumerators will now take to the streets, trails and rivers to visit every building in Guyana over the next six weeks to do a complete count of all persons living i n G u y a n a a n d a count of the complete housing stock.

Census 2012 was formally launched on Friday by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh at a press conference.

Following the press conference there were launch events at the Stabroek Ma r k e t Square in Georgetown, the Municipal Car Park in Linden and at Damon Square in Region Two.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

E’bo rape suspect nabbed A 23-year-old man has been charged with rape and will soon be brought before the courts to answer to that charge.

Anderson Brumell, of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, was held for three days and subsequently released on $200,000 station bail.

Reports have indicated that the incident occurred at the Dartmouth bus shed Friday night.

Reports are that the minor whom Brumell reportedly engaged in sexual intercourse reside in the same village and was said to be imbibing alcohol in the company of the adult moments before the incident occurred.

The father of one, the report added, took the minor to his sister-in-law at Dartmouth and later took the teen to the Dartmouth mouth bus shed where he reportedly engaged in sex with the minor.

A report was subsequently relayed to the police and Brumell was apprehended.

Page 53

Utilities removal stall works on four-lane highway

Arson suspect dies in Burns Care Unit Shawn Forde succumbed in the Burns Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation‘s (GPHC) yesterday. He had been rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital with burns hours after firemen had raced to one of the buildings that housed some of the courts in the city.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle had said that the fire was set by an arsonist. Forde succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Investigating authorities have said that incendiaries devices were found inside the office where the blaze started and as such Forde was being perceived as a suspect to the crime.

The fire which was meant to completely destroy the three-storey wooden building gutted an office on the lower flat as firefighters successfully stopped the flames from spreading.

Businessman Omprakash ‘Buddy’ Shivraj had become the new owner of the property.

At least two people were taken into police custody and released in relations to the fire.

Kaieteur News understands that Forde, who was said to be 42 years old and a former resident at Lot 11 Lamaha Street, succumbed around 11:00hours while receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.

Detained youths say...

(From page 15) said that he was seated with the other boys just before the incident and had gone inside the house to rest since he had a headache.

He said he came outside when he heard the gunshots and was ordered to join the other young men on the ground. He claimed that he saw when the officer reportedly went over his friend and shot him in the head. “I went and lie down cause I de getting a headache. Then a little while later I hear bodhoo, so

I run to de door and see police. Dem tell me go pon de ground, then I see de one who go over Georgie and kill he.”

Both the men who spoke to the media described the rank and said they would be able to identify him anytime they saw him again. They also claimed that one officer did the shooting.

Henry, in tears, pledged to see his friend get justice.

“I gun see to it that me friend get he rights in this case, and I gun mek sure I give he rights.”

A section of the stalled four-lane highway at E.B.D

Relocation of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)’s conduits and piping inhibiting progress in expanding the East Bank Demerara Public Road into four-lane is expected to commence shortly.

Cabinet has given its noobjection to the award of contracts totaling $96.2M for the installation of GWI’s utility network along the stretch from Providence to Diamond.

According to Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, the installation of the utility network over the margins of the new four-lane highway in the three Lots will facilitate construction of the structure.

Lot One of the road expansion starts from Providence and ends at

Covent Garden. Works in this area have not been significantly affected by the presence of utilities, including electricity and telephone poles and cables in the area.

Relocation of GWI utility in this area will cost Government $40.2M. Meanwhile, in Lot Two, Covent Garden to DDL Sales Office, the relocation contract values $33.4M. This section, which targets the transformation of a section of the cane fields into roadway, has not been affected.

However, relocation works will be necessary to facilitate works on the western carriage way.

Construction works in Lot Three, DDL Sales Office to Diamond Housing Scheme entrance, have halted owing to utilities. The contract to

relocate the GWI utility in this section values $23.2M. During an interview with a Public Works Ministry engineer, it was explained that initially when the consultants did the designs, provisions were made in the contract for the relocation of utilities, but while executing works, the cost estimated by consultants was less than that estimated by the utility companies.

It was noted that t h e I n t e r - A m e r i c a n D e v e l o p ment Bank was approached to provide additional funding, outside of

the contract, for the relocation. So far, Guyana Power and Light Incorporated has commenced relocation of its poles.

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Kaieteur News

CAKES & PASTRIES

WANTED 1 Part time cook, for variety of dishes; restaurant experience an asset. Call: 225-1787 for interview One live in Domestic, Call: 658-9495 Small family live/in, husband handy man duties, wife domestic. Call 227-1830 Waitress @ Salo’s Bar Call: 233-5264 Experienced driver, counter servers, roti & puri makers.

Apply Hack’s Halaal with written application, 5 Commerce Street.

Excavator operators, diesel mechanic, service men to work in the interior Call: 2269768 between 9:00am to 4:00pm.

1 General Domestic- Must know to cook also, East Bank area, call: 614-4358 Attractive females who are interested in becoming waitresses and bartenders Call: 226-7054 1 cook, able to prepare a variety of foods. Experience mandatory. Food handlers required, age 30 & over Call: 225-0125 One house lot or unfurnished house in Diamond or Grove Call: 6601353 One welder fabricator to work in interior. Call 2269768, 669-0855, 642-7963 One experience hire car driver contact Mrs. Marques 226-7948 or 686-6648 Live in/live out babysitter/ domestic. Call 225-0188 , 225-6070 Male/Female (domestic) to live in/live out, must be able to take care of dogs Call: 2275500 Female to assort goods, Apply Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek.

WANTED 1 male to look after layer birds in the interior Call: 688-0197

1 experienced cook, must be over 35 years, 2 waitresses, contact: 638-3925 1 Handyboy to work in the interior Call: 688-0197 One live in/ live out Maid 668-3985, 253-3149, 264-3356 One COWMINDER , Age 40 and over to work around Clonbrook/Unity ECD area.

Call 623-3231 1 accounts clerk. Must know to prepare monthly VAT, NIS and PAYE. TSI, Eccles. Call 614-4358

CAR RENTAL Premio, Vitz; call: 679-7139 FABS RENTAL, cars & SUV rental, call: 600- 6890 or email fabsrental@yahoo.com

One kitchen assistant. $9,000 weekly. Call 225-3700 3 wash bay attendants for immediate employment.

Must be living in Georgetown. Call 227-5169 1 male shop assistant to work in general store. Valid driver’s licence will be an asset. Call 274-0424 Sales representative for website: computer literate, operate digital camera, Demerara, Berbice, Essequibo. Call 611-7771, 226-0011 One minibus driver. Call 6644945

Drivers to work labour lorry at L.B.I estate. Call 628-1756, 228-5655

Driver. Car/van licence, 40 years plus. Young female to sell ice cream. Tel 227-1830

Skilled carpenters and mason. Call 615-7526 Females to work in furniture shop. Call 226-6297 1 diesel mechanic, 2 handymen from Berbice or Georgetown for work in the interior. Call 226-3799 Security/watchman. Call 225-6070, 225-0188

Complete sound system, Hifi sound; 75 KVA Cummings generator. Call 610-1230, 6735828

2005 Tacoma 4-cylinder, Honda ATV. Call 233-6161, 651-8870

Roofing Shingles 15-15-15 Fertilizer Call: 266-2711, 6094594

Leading Technology, Toshiba Laptop-wholesale & retail Call: 648-6600

Lighting plant generator (5500W), (5000W), ($175,000), ($165,000), 2 Diesel tanks 275 gallons each, prices negotiable Call: 678-0224 258-0070

Just Arrived!! New Dell desktop & laptop computers, starting at $65,000 each. Call 253-3426 Seadoo Jetski 18ft fiberglass speed boat with 175 Hp Yamaha engine. Call 2336161, 651-8870 Stainless steel meat saw, meat grinder, electric wheel chair. Call 233-6161, 651-8870

PROGRESSIVE AUTO R E N TA L , c a r s f r o m $4,000 per day Call: 6435122, 656-0087

1994 Leyland Daf 145/150 with winch, perfect for backdam.

US$26,000 negotiable. Call 688-1202 One 290 Massey Ferguson tractor, 3 trailer & 1 dish plough. Working condition.

Contact SewhSankar Mangal /Vishnu, Lot 9 No 1 Canal, WBD.

FOR SALE Bedford Model M, 4 Speed gearbox going cheap. Call 628-1756 / 228-5655 3-cylinder Perkins Diesel engine with generator. Perfect for Interior. $1.2 Million. Call 621-4000 Owner leaving. King bed & vanity set; chair Set; crutches; windows; trunks; plants. 218-1376 Clean garden earth and Bobcat rental; excavating, clearing and leveling. Call 616-0617, 663-3285

Excavator operator & land dredge worker. Call 675-2253 Porter $17,000, ½ day cleaner $12,000 weekly. Call 684-8231

Massey Ferguson Tractor 290. Full working condition.

Just overhauled & sprayed; tel # 618 – 7530.

Aidan’s car, pick up & canter rental Call: 698-7807

One shop attendant, one Baire for interior location.

Call 642-0176 Responsible hire car drivers Call: 226-0765

One Toyota Corolla NZE in excellent condition with fully loaded chrome rims, music, alarm, etc. Call 264-2870

FOR SALE 1 225 KVA Generator, 1 Hiace Canter, Premio, 3 light towers, car batteries Call:624-2000

FOR SALE

IBM Lenovo laptops, $60,000; Acer laptops, $100,000; Toshiba laptops, $120,000. Brand new Call 6812111

Porters, Apply Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek.

Handy boys to work, $35,000 per month.

Living accommodation and meals free. Call 628-1756, 228-5655

One hire car, work and keep (paying 20,000 weekly).

Preferably corporate yellow.

Tel 655-7482

Sale! Novels, Texts, UG, others from $100 to $3,000.

Call 223-8237

Refrigeration Technician, Wieting & Richter Ltd Call: 226-6150-7

One salesman with driver’s licence, salary plus commission Call: 614-4626, 220-1500

One female shop assistant age 17 – 24, must be friendly.

Text personal info to 694-6004

Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, tel: 670-0798. Also Wedding dresses for sale.

LIBRARY

Sunday September 16, 2012

WANTED Driver/salesman for Canter.

676-6700 Female to cook for family in the interior. Tel 688-0197 One maid to work from 8:30 hours to 16:00 hours. Wage $12,000 per week. Call 2267766 One truck driver - $3,500 per day. Call 622-7933

Daschund mix with Tibetian, 6 weeks old pups. Call 2704231, 602-7233, 660-9470. 304 Section B Non Pariel, ECD. 2-60-180 Leyland Daf dump truck in very good working condition. Call 628-1756, 2285655 One 35 Tractor Engine (4 cylinder Perkins). Fully refurbished (Price - $450,000).

Call 624 9149 or 671 4707 One mining block in Esanno Area. 1 4" complete dredge.

Call 667 – 8188 Canal # 2 house with three bedrooms. Fully upgrade with chicken farm plus land, 5.5 acres. Asking US$125,000 Call 642-0231 MAC STUDIO FIX POWDERS $7,900; SACHA 2 in 1 $2,000 MAKE UP – top Brands, BLACK OPAL $2,700. Tel 647-1773 One DAF 45-flat bed with 26 ft tray, not registered. $3M. Call 609-7803 / 609-1887 SDMO Generator (Mitsubishi), 28 KVA, Diesel, silent, with 400 gallon storage tank; not working. $550,000.

Call 621-4000, 690-6000

One computer literate individual with knowledge of Accounts. Call 622-7933

Nintendo Wii with 2 controllers and one game only $35,000. Nintendo 64, $12,000. (Max) Call 609-8132

Male & female sales persons to work in electronics store.

3 CXC & experience. Call 2254631, Nut Centre.

Sony Playstation: 2 systems, original games for PSI, PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox & Xbox360.

(Max) 609-8132

FOR SALE

Brandnew American made Crosely 10.5 cu ft Refridgerator for sale $75,000 Call: 697-5677 Ship 200 ft in length, selling as scrap, Ocean going Barge sold as is Call: 227-5500 L 15 HP Yamaha ( Long Foot), Tel: 689-5254/643-0332

Toyota Starlet Call:648-2075

EP71

Imported Umbrellas 10ft & 12ft Call: 645-0870 Green coffee 800 and 1000; available wholesale & retail.

Call 277-3531

Deal on Blackberry Torch 1 & 2, Memory cards 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, Stihil chainsaw No:310 Call: 699-6911, 6859497

One 6-inch dredge complete & block of land to work in Demerara River. Call 6604733, 226-9358

Tibetian Terrier pups. Call 225-4780, 663-3407

Male enhancer Viagra $4,000, 4 in pack Call: 6381627

20 acres farm with house, well and solar at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden. Call 6847957 New family home @ 184 Eccles EBD, two stories, 5 bedrooms, self contained, land area 40’x90’ Call: Pearl Realty 689-9991 Fluffy Pups. Tel: 642-6664.

New Model CRV, very reasonable price Call: 6512318, 618-1368 Large broilers (meat birds) Call: 266-2711, 609-4594 6 cars sold as a lot $600,000 Call: 677-0294 Massey tractors 390-185265-265 front end loader Call: 601-9030, 276-3288 Four doors solid DAF, gasoline pickup $2.5M Call: 642-3185 Wedding Gowns from $40,000, Bride’s Maids & Flower girls $4,500, designed wedding cakes $25,000 Call: 684-8088 25’ TV and PSP. Call 2277175, 673-1980 Original Red Nose pitbull pups, 6 weeks old Call: 6381627 Clarke forklifts 2000-4000lbs lifting, imported USA, need basic servicing, sold as is. $400,000 & up. Call 621-4000, 690-6000 Projection television from 40’’ to 80’’; minor problems, sold as is. Price $75,000, make cash offer. Guyana Variety Store. Call 621-4000 Yamaha motorcycle YBR 125cc in perfect working condition. $190,000. Check Guyana Variety & Nut Centre, 68 Robb Street. Call 225-4631

Land tillers Honda new $160,000, Shredding machine with 11 HP Honda battery start $400,000 Call: 678-0224, 258-0070 Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stove timers, gear boxes, pumps etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Craftsman weeders with 4 stroke engine (new) $50,000, 1-4 HP Yamaha outboard engine (new) $280,000 Call: 678-0224, 258-0070 Massey Tractors- 265 $2,800,000, 275 $3,000,000, 285 $3,200,000, 298 $3,200,000, 399 $5,800,000, Welding generator $380,000 Call: 678-0224, 258-0070 Caterpillar backhoe low hour 426c Model, double jackhammer compressor, briggs, straighten roller compactor Call: 233-6161, 651-8870 Earth delivery at spot also bobcat & excavator rentals Call: 626-7127 Exotic Hibiscus, Roses, Mussaenda, B/Ville, Ficus, Marigold, Periwinkle, Petunia, Herbs, Vegetable seedlings, A.K Plant Shop.

Call: 260-0005 Massey tractors, 4x4, model 188 & 290; Honda ATV model 500 4x4 2012 Call 6886274, 691-3851.

Starlet Turbo (black). Call Ann, 648-1644 1 Leyland DAF with winch, 1 ATV Bike 500 Call Kim 6585193 Toyota Allion PNN Series, $2.4M. Contact: 600-6464 (Continued on page 56)

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 55

The Abigail Column Husband’s list of good deeds creates bad feelings in wife

DEARABIGAIL, When my husband is mad at me, he will recite all the good things he has done for me, but “forgets” all but one or two things I have done for him. I try to be considerate and caring every single day, and when I can’t recite the list of the good things I do, I end up feeling low and unworthy.

(We are both 26 and have

been married for two years).

Shouldn’t kindness be given just because you love and care about someone? Am I wrong to feel bad because I can’t summon up at the drop of a hat every little thing I do all the time?

Why should I even have to point out these things in the first place?

Turned Off Dear Turned Off, When a person is being berated and adrenaline is

rushing through her system, it’s not surprising that she isn’t capable of a long oration. The instinct is probably to run for cover.

What you have said is right on target.

So, please, take a few minutes (or more) while you are calm and make a list of all the good things you do and have done for your spouse.

Then make copies. And when your husband starts that lecture again - and you know he will - hand him one.

Sunday September 16, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): If you're tired by the middle of the day, another cup of coffee is not the answer.

Today, you need to start investigating new ways to take better care of your health. ****************** TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): There is so much more to life than being attractive, so try not to get too caught up in the culture of beauty. You are already a beautiful person inside and out -- the people who choose to be in your life can tell you that any time you need them too. ******************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Like it or not, you simply cannot control how other people see you right now, although you might feel like you should at least try. But avoid this futile exercise today -there is no point in trying to convey a particular side of your personality. It's too exhausting, and it's way too silly. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You'll quickly catch all the subtleties of whatever people are saying today. For you, they are like giant neon signs that reveal the true meaning behind what people are verbalizing to you. ******************** LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Coordinating an outing with one of your friends will require a lot of back and forth today.

One of you is not in the mood to get too definite about things -- and suggests that everything should be left up in the air. ********************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Intellectually challenging things will make a lot of sense to you today, so it's a good day to readdress a project or book that has been vexing you. ********************** LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Someone who isn't exactly your

favorite person on earth will be heavily involved in your life today -- and you need to make the best of it. It's too late to try to work around them. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): There is nothing quite like a secret to cause a whole lot of drama. So if you don't think that you are up for it all, then it's best to disseminate the information you have to everyone all at once -- or not at all. ********************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): It might be quite tempting to move through this day quickly, but speed won't help you save time -- it will only encourage you to make mistakes. So don't rush today.

There are details that need to be covered, and covering them requires that you take some time. ***************** CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): To get ahead on a new opportunity, you have to do some research today!

Whether it's a romantic, business or educational endeavor that you're starting on with someone right now, find out about this person's past. *********************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): You're usually a big-picture thinker who leaves the details for other people to figure out. But you might be missing out on some intricacies that will give you a more thorough education. *************** PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): Today your creativity and energy will get together and make you look like one heck of a problem solver! From dealing with something as minor as a missing button all the way up to something as major as a missed deadline, you can handle everything with aplomb -- especially things that send other people into stress fits.

DTV CHANNEL 8 09:25hrs. Sign On 09:30hrs. Turning Point 10:00hrs. Kickin’ It 10:30hrs. Lab Rats 11:00hrs. The Ultimate SpiderMan 12:00hrs. Movie: A Killer Among Friends 14:00hrs. Movie: Panic Room 16:00hrs.

Movie: Cyberstalker 18:00hrs. Catholic Magazine (Faith in Action) 18:30hrs. Know Your Bible 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 21:45hrs. Movie: How Do You Know?

23:30hrs. Sign Off NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 05:00h - Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 05:00h - Timehri Maha Kali Shakti Devi Mandir Presents Krishna Bhajans 05:15h - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents 05:30h - Queenstown Masjid Presents Quran This Morning 06:00h - R. Gossai General Store Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:15h - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:30h - Muneshwar Limited Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:45h - Double Standard Taxi Presents Krishna Bhajans 07:00h - Ramroop’s Furniture Store Presents Religious Teachings 07:30h - The Family of The Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Krishna Bhajans 07:45h - Sankar Auto Works Presents Krishna Bhajans 08:05h - Sa Re Ga Ma (Musical Notes) A Live Call-In Program 09:30h - L’il Masters 10:30h - Sunday Morning Fiesta with Angelica 11:30h - Guyana’s Entertainers Platform 12:00h - Hinduism in a changing world presented by Pt. Ravi 12:30h - LET’S TALK with LAKSHMEE 13:00h - DVD Movie-: DURGA (Eng: Sub:) *ing Hema Malini, Ashok Kumar, Pran,Raj Babbar & Rajesh Khanna 15:30h - L’il Masters 16:00h - Teaching of Islam 16:00h - L’il Masters 17:30h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial

17:45h - Birthday Greetings / Death Announcement & In Memoriam 18:00h - Lil Masters 19:00h - Geet Gaata Chal Live with Joel 20:00h - Indian Soap - Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 20:30h - Indian Soap - Rab Se Sohna Isshq 21:00h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 21:30h - Indian Soap:- Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 22:00h - Indian Soap:- Punar Viivaah 22:30h - Sign Off with the GAYATRI MANTRA NCN CHANNEL 11 02:00h – NCN Late Edition (R/ B) 02:30h – Late Nite with GINA 03:00h – Movie 05:00h – Inspiration 05:30h – Newtown Gospel 06:00h – NCN News (R/B) 06:30h – Tomorrow World 07:00h – Voice of Victory 07:30h – Voice of Islam 08:00h – Lifting Guyana to Greatness 08:30h – President’s Diary 09:00h – Ravi D Show 10:00h – Homestretch Magazine 10:30h – Weekly Digest 11:00h – Round Table 12:00h – Feature 12:30h – GRA in Focus 13:00h – Dharma Vani 14:00h – Feature 14:30h – Catholic Magazine 15:00h – The Naked Truth 15:30h – Feature

16:00h – Family Forum 16:30h – Shape 17:00h – Farmers’ Connection 18:00h – NCN Week in Review 18:30h – Guysuco Roundup 19:00h – Parliamentary Debate on Corruption 20:00h – Feature 20:30h – Kala Milan 21:00h – African Moves 22:00h – Movie MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 06:30h Prayag Vanie 07:00h MTV Bhajans 07:30h Minister’s Forum 08:00h Christ for the Nation 08:30h Puran Brothers: Shiva Bhajans 09:00h Muslim Melodies with Al Madina Exclusive 09:30h Teleview Kutbah 10:00h DJ Stress Indian Movie 13:00h Garam Geet 14:00h Issues in the News 15:00h The Variety Show with WR Reaz 16:00h Bollywood Sensation with Kavita 17:00h Birthdays & Other greetings 17:15h Death Announcements/ In memoriam 17:30h BBC World News 18:00h Entertainment Buzz with Shivanie 18:30h Wendy Khan and Dheeraj Show 19:30h Focus on GRA 20:00h Sangeet Mehfil 21:00h Indian Movie: Shangai Sign Off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 56

Kaieteur News

VEHICLES FOR SALE

VEHICLES FOR SALE

Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 622-1610 AT 192 car stick gear $875,000, A/C, CD player, etc.

Call 654-1036, 689-0630

Toyota Picnic, 2004: leather interior, owner driven. Call 623-6261, 600-6261

Canter for sale GPP Series, very good condition Call: 682-4224 Hilux! Hilux! Hilux!. Just arrived Toyota Hilux Solid Axle Pickups. Excellent condition Call: 623-0243 Unregistered Tundra tt 100 and Tacoma Call: 265-2103, 645-9860 Sale! Sale! 2 & 3 ton canter, open back & enclose, unregistered Call: 220-2345, 642-7295 1 Mitsubishi Lancer, 3.5 ton open back canter Call: 6269254, 264-2582 GX620 Honda Welder Generator, 20HP, 14.9kw, 614cc, 270 amps, 2002 Toyota Tundra Call: 611-5114, 2204495 Tundra tray cover, fully loaded, magrims, going cheap, Titan 4x4 tray cover, fully loaded, magrims Call: 227-5500 Just arrived 2 Toyota Tacoma extra cab, 1 manual & other automatic/ year model 2006 Call: 263-7166, 660-1269, 6166007 One 4 doors Hilux pickup (Toyota) and one mini Cooper Call: 263-7166, 6601269, 616-6007 Toyota RAV4 1998 Model PLL Series Call: 663-8556 2004 BMW 318i Sport, DK grey PLL series, fully loaded. $3.8 M. Tel 623-2176 1 EP71 Starlet, 1 Toyota 192, 212, Ceres, G-Touring wagon, AT 150 Corona, 1 Nissan E24 Van , Alteeza PMM Call: 6445096, 697-1453 Toyota Premio & Alex, Unregistered, Norpan Auto Sales Call: 269-0432, 686-0323 One RZ minibus, BFF 9631; recently reconditioned.

Price neg. 691-5290, 661-6076 1 2003 unregistered Tundra, 70k miles; 2WD (black), fully powered. $3,250,000 negotiable. Call 233-6337 or 662-6024 1 Toyota Allion, PMM series: TV, reverse camera with perimeter lines, 17" rims, full Chrome accessories. Tel 629-7058 1 RZ minibus, EFI cat eye light. Price: $950,000 negotiable. Call 266-1253 Brand new Runx, colour Silver. 1 used 192, low mileage, excellent condition. $1.4 million negotiable. Tel 624-7991, 679-9444

1 AT 170 Corona $600,000 negotiable Call: 695-2679 Blowout Sale! Unregistered Toyota Allion, New Model Raum & bB (Scion). Fully Loaded & Cheapest. 6436565, 226-9931 (SUN) 1 Honda CRV (immaculate condition), automatic. Fully powered, A/C, Mags. Price $2.3M. Call Rocky, 621-5902 1 Toyota RZ (Longbase), 15seater (EFI) manual, immaculate condition, hardly used. Price $1.6M. Call Rocky 621-5902, 225-1400 1 Toyota Hilux Surf automatic, fully powered, A/ C, megrims. Price $2M. Call Rocky, 621-5902.

1 Toyota Harrier (2001), automatic, fully loaded, alarm, immaculate condition.

Price $4.8M. Call Rocky, 6215902, 225-1400 1 AT 212 Toyota Carina (New Model), automatic, fully powered, A/C , magrims, alarm. Price $1.6M. Call Rocky, 621-5902.

One RZ Minibus, BHH series.

Good working condition. Price 600,000. Call 685-1939, 697-6762.

1 Toyota Rav 4 (hardly used) automatic, fully powered, A/ C, mags. Price $2.3M. Call Rocky, 225-1400, 621-5902 1 Toyota Prado (2000) Automatic, fully loaded, immaculate condition. Price $6M. Call Rocky, 621-5902, 225-1400.

2005 H2 Hummer, fully powered, leather, 22’’ rims, system; price negotiable.

645-9977 Stretch Limousine Lincoln town car, perfect condition, perfect for rentals, wedding, etc; realistic offer accepted.

Call 621-4000 2009 Trident car, brandnew, never registered. $950,000.

Guyana Variety Store & Nutcentre, 621-4000, 227-3939 Grand Cherokee Loredo Jeep, automatic power windows locks, projection led lights cash. $1.4M. Call 621-4000, 690-6000, 227-3939 Mercedes Benz S300, automatic luxury car, full leather, fully powered 19’’ negotiable, armoured. $3.5M cash. Call 621-4000 Owner Leaving. Volvo 340GL Car. Sold as-is; great cheap car for car person. 218 -1376 Jags’ Auto. IRZ, VVTI, Manual Buses, Raum, Rav4, Cheapest. Call 616-7635 1 Model M truck, right hand drive, original winch, GPP. Call 650-3008, Parika. $4.5M

EDUCATIONAL ACADEMIA: CXC lessons forms 1-5 & Adults. Only $1000 per subject per month.

Call: 600-3775

Sunday September 16, 2012

(From page 54)

Princeton College, Forms 1-5, CXC adults classes for slow learners, reading classes for children Call: 690-5008, 611-3793 Imperial College- Register Now. CXC 2013. Fulltime/ Lessons/Adults classes.

Excellent Results Call: 6835742, 227-7627 Enroll now at Double B’s School for Cosmetology; courses as low as $5,000 each.

Call 676-4556,649-2930 Special Diploma in computers, Packages for 2012 CXC students - $10,000 discount. MicroGraphics Technology, Parika. Call 2643057 Earn a Diploma in Computers, Microsoft office, Windows 7, IT. MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-en-Hoop, Parika. Call 264-3057

PROPERTY FOR SALE Prospect 12M; Kitty 22M; Alberttown 19M; Bel Air 40M; Queenstown 120M. Diana 227-2256, 626-9382.

Transported land, wooden & concrete house situated at Lot 18 Zeskendren Mahaicony East Coast Demerara Call: 221-2737 Republic Park $45M, Queenstown $19M, Nandy Park $35M Call: 687-2806 Regent Street US$2M, South Road $120M, Duncan Street $120M, Church Street $120M Call: 225-0854 Lamaha Gardens 2 storey building, fully A/C, garage, hot & cold, 5 bedrooms, 2 master rooms, security alarm Call: 223-6218, 649-2366 Happy Acre luxury home $55.5M, South Ruimveldt 2 storey $10M Call: 672-7390, 225-0854

VACANCY Driver for party rental service, within the vicinity of Parka to V/Hoop, must be able to work flexible hours.

Tel # 638-1627 Be part of our world class customer care team . Phone: 220-0401-3 or email: recruitmentguyana@ qualfon.com One trainee/refrigeration technician Call: 231-0655,6838734 1 Ice machine operator to work night shifts at ice factory, training provided, attractive salary Call: 2203459, 616-2222 R.A Soda Factory: accountant, sales manager & driver for Corentyne bond; male & female workers for No.7 Bakery. Call 623-5920, 330-2399 R.A Soda Factory: live-in checkers & watchman for Good Hope bond; driver, bond clerk. Call 330-2399 Persons to sew ladies’ uniforms, persons to do hand work & pressing. Call 264-2763, 642-6079 One female store assistant, pleasant personality. Maths, English, IT. Call Roxie - 6224386, 696-4397 Porters and carpenters.

Apply at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

Robb Street business property $58M Call: 6727390, 225-0854 Durban Street 3 bedrooms $21M Call: 672-7390, 2250854 Parfait 2 storey 3 bedroom $19M, Diamond 2 storey 3 bedroom $18M Town to country 672-7390,225-0843 Diamond 1st Bridge 2 bedroom flat $19M, Diamond luxury home 4 bedroom $55M Town to country 672-7390,225-0843 2 houses on transported land at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. Call 628-9411, 696-2327 Lamaha Garden $48M, Continential Park luxury home US$1M Call: 225-0854 1 two-flat family home @ Enterprise ECD: 4 bedrooms, air conditioned, paved yard & properly secured house.

Call Pearl’s Realty, 689-9991 House and land located at Lot 29 Malgre Tout, West Bank Demerara (residential area). Call 264-2449, 613-5076 79 William Street, Kitty. Tel 662-5114. Price negotiable SERVICES USA, Canada, UK, Visa application services. Call 6614875, 641-7273. Discounts available. Vreed-en-Hoop opposite station, upstairs Nokia Store.

SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Sabita - Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/ 223-8115/662-6045.

TO LET 1 bedroom apartment, Caneview Ave, S/R Park. $35,000. Tel 661-9392, working individuals only.

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call:2310655,683-8734 Omar

Apartment 50,000; East Coast 80,000- 120,000; East Bank, 4 bedrooms - 120,000; Subryanville - US$1500.

Diana 227-2256, 626-9382

HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000 CALL: 694-9843, 227-2766

Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles Call: 6797139

T.B Designs Inc, we offer: Engineering drawings, house plans & estimates.

Contact: T. Boodhoo on 6259883 / 675-9296

Aptsfurnished & unfurnished; healthy & safe environment. WCD. Call 698-6496

Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units Call: Lindon 6411086, 694-2202 ONLINE SHOPPING NO COMMISSION, WEEKLY S H I P M E N T S , AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX. TEL: 231-5789.

FREIGHTLINKEXPRESS@ GMAIL.COM WE FILL OUT PASSPORT & VISA FORMS: USA, UK & CANADA TEL: 231-5789 Repairs to gas stove, washing machines, electric stoves. Call 686-6209 Building and need quality and reliable services Contact Carlos 684-6128 PRESSURE WASH Your home, business place etc Call: 658-9555 for your free low estimate.

We refill HP Cartridges for $1800. Call 650-7699 Opening September: ‘Roxie’s’ Gym, Swim & Dance Wear Spot, upstairs Rayon House of Fashion.

Call 622-4386 Looking for Job? Need assistance? Contact N&A Estab. 229-6880/ 673 6604/ 694 0096 Email: estab@yahoo.com US Visa Application Services. Call Nicole (Y.E.S) 643 6630. No CDs/flash drives needed. Family discounts offered.

Mahadeo’s Construction reliable services for your building. Contact Tony on 618-3523, 669-7376 for free estimates and plans.

Computer repairs as low as $3000. Call 622- 7036, 6610515 Are you looking for a graphic artist? Call 622-7036, 6610515 Pups for adoption. Tel 6170959 Cellular phone repairs and unlocking as low as $3500.

Call 227-3091, 622-7036, 6610515

Executive 2-storey house, fully furnished in Prashad Nagar. US$1500 neg.

Contact 674-6291 Diamond 2 bedrooms apartment $40,000, 1 bedroom apartment $25,000, South Road Office space, Church Street US$4,500 Call: 225-0854 One 3-bedroom property at Atlantic Ville. $80,000. Call 628-8667.

Better values Realty: to let short & long term rentals and property sales. Tel 225-8101, 225-8103 Prime business spot @ Cummings & Middle Streets, Alberttown. Perfect for offices, saloon etc. 621-4000 Mr Singh Apartment furnished/ unfurnished in healthy & safe environment,WCD. Call 698-6496

SALON Make up courses, artist trained & certified in Trinidad: 660-5257,647-1773 New Classes in Cosmetology, nails & makeup Call Abby 216-1950, 6665241, 619-7603

HEALTH HIV/AIDS! Are you infected? Help is available, Results Guaranteed Call: 639-6054, 691-7070 FOR SALE / RENT American Pool Table Call: 277-0578 To rent or sell, 97 Pearl, East Bank Demerara. 223-9362 Gold and Diamond blocks Call: 668-1620 Continued on page 57

Sunday September 16, 2012

(From page 56)

Kaieteur News

“ICC WT-20 2012 - Beware of spoilers - Big noise does not always make great sense!”

Colin E. H. Croft

LAND FOR SALE 1 ½ acre, 48ftx1300ft V/ Hoop Call: 627-9351 Charlotte Street $65M, Eccles $36M, NARI ECD 72’X600’Call: 687-2806

Before ICC WT-20 2012 starts, let me divert quickly to another pending T-20 competition - Champions League 2012 in South Africa which follows immediately, to inform about two bets that I made recently.

Not very surprisingly, I won the first!

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Page 57

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So, Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings), Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians) and Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders), will play for Indian Premier League teams, not for home country, Trinidad & Tobago, come October. Only extremely uninformed idiots would have expected anything different!

On July 25-26, Trinidad & Tobago’s Sports Minister Anil Roberts confirmed, in an interview to T&T’s leading newspapers that “these three players will play for T&T in CLT-20 2012 instead of IPL teams, in contrast to previous seasons.” I was sure that he was wrong!

Roberts continued: “An agreement had been reached with the three players to turn out for the national team and not for IPL teams. While franchises may be upset, I told them that I am very sorry that they are upset, but T&T’s population and government want our best players representing us. The players want to play for Trinidad & Tobago and will play for Trinidad & Tobago.”

Yeah? What?

These three excellent players are caught up in a mix not of their doing, reminding much of Kerry Packers’ World Series Cricket, when most of us played for WSC while a Test series, India v West Indies, was on-going in 1978/9.

I also believe that the players really want to play for T&T, but big noises do not always make big sense!

Surely Roberts, Trinidad & Tobago’s Cricket Board, and

the players, should have realized that those franchises are run by extremely astute, worldly, quiet, highly effective, executives.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Team Director, Joy Bhattacharjya, and Chief Executive Venky Mysore, did actually get their positions for knowing exactly what they are doing, having air-tight contracts on each player!

Paying that paltry, by their standards, US$150,000 per player, to T&T, is, ironically, chicken feed! It was “Venkys”, poultry conglomerate, who sponsored T&T’s very first appearance at Champions League!

Oh, I expect relevant retaliatory, stupid big noises, like a balloon, or is that buffoon, expelling wasted breath. I am only the messenger. I only bring you what is the true, real message! Anyway, I am, so far, batting 100%!

That second bet, that Kevin Pietersen, England’s batsman supreme, will, despite everything, eventually be selected for his country’s next full tour, to India, is still pending, but that situation is becoming more possible, with names for that team being presently contemplated.

Back to ICC WT-20 2012!

Someone once suggested that in Test cricket, a team cannot win on Day 1, but that team can certainly be on its way to losing, even after the first day of any Test! Quite so!

Similarly, Afghanistan, Ireland, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Zimbabwe cannot win WT-20-2012, but can be spoilers for teams that

could actually win the competition, as were highlighted last week.

In 1995/6 World Cup, won

by Sri Lanka, West Indies, memorably, were embarrassed and humiliated, losing to Kenya, by 73 runs, after forfeiting another game to Sri Lanka for security reasons.

In World Cup 1999, which Australia won, minions Bangladesh surprisingly beat Pakistan, by a massive 62 runs.

To this day, as mentioned again last week in England, there is still grave doubt about this game, with innuendoes, suggestions and downright accusations flying everywhere.

FYI, Bangladesh was then applying to become a fullfledged Test team. Almost unbelievably, Pakistan bowled 28 wides and seven no-balls in that game! Hence, varying thoughts! Anyway, Bangladesh won!

As recently as ICC World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean, Bangladesh again beat one of that tournament’s favorites, mighty India, by five wickets, thus aiding in sending India home early!

Similarly, on that very same day of Bangladesh v India, March 17, 2007, Ireland’s biggest holiday – St. Patrick’s Day – the Irish painted Sabina Park absolutely green!

They sent Pakistan packing, beating the highly favoured but unpredictable Pakistanis by three wickets.

Many an Irish coffee was drunk that day!

Afghanistan can pull an upset, even if holders England and one favourite, again, India,

Colin E. H. Croft are also in Group A. Captain Nawroz Mangal lends solidity to team aspirations while veteran all-rounder Karin Sadiq and fast bowler Hamid Hassan are useful players.

Ireland could again put skids on Australia or West Indies in Group B! Big fast bowler Boyd Rankin is firing again.

Captain William Porterfield, very experienced Trent Johnston, Ed Joyce, Kevin and Niall O’Brien, George Dockrell and Alex Cusack would be trying desperately to make Coach Phil Simmons proud!

Bangladesh and New Zealand are in Group D, as is Pakistan. This is the real ‘group of death’, as any of these three teams could qualify for the semis, each being so unpredictable on its day.

Zimbabwe could be the fly in the ointment in Group B, which includes Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Captain Brendon Taylor has done a great job so far, so they too could surprise the big teams.

With T-20’s being so hitor-miss, totally unpredictable, look out for spoilers along the way! Enjoy!

“I want kids to have realistic dreams of...

From page 58 can not only compete at the highest levels, but the next stage is to be victorious and dominant and the highest levels and this is where we need to create the correct infrastructure to be able to continuously and consistently be at that stage.”

“We’ve earned the right to play against these teams with rich footballing histories, and it is a phenomenal achievement for Guyana. We won the hearts of the El Salvador people, a country where I’ve played twice at club level and been racially abused and spat at, the fans were now giving our team a standing ovation and willing us on to be successful. I asked some of their fans why they were cheering for us, they told me it’s because we are unknown in the footballing world and we had won the respect of their people through the way we conducted ourselves and the

heart, passion and talent we showed”.

“Losing is never pleasant, but you have to be able to accept it, learn from it and move on. It’s how you react after defeat that dictates your character, do you give up and quit or do you get back up and fight harder? I think after the loss to Costa Rica we showed the correct response.

In these games we showed a lot of passion, pride, and desire, mixed with the talent of Trayon Bobb, Gregory Richardson etc, we were able to give El Salvador two very tough games”.

Nurse who is currently back with his North American Soccer League (NASL) Club, Puerto Rico Islanders as the 2011/12 season comes to an end this month, concluded by vehemently stating that the team is not going to throw in the towel in the final two games versus Mexico and Costa Rica. He also touched on the issue that fans and

pundits have spoken on in recent days, as to why star striker Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson did not take the crucial penalty in extra time.

“I think it was clear with the form that Gregory Richardson has been in over the past two games he was a favourite to take the penalty in the dying stages, however he was hurt towards the end of the game and did not feel fit to kick the penalty, so next in line was his strike partner (Carl Cort).

We’ve seen the best players in the world; Messi, Ronaldo, Beckham, Rooney all miss penalties, so this is no reflection on his performance or ability, it was just unlucky. If you score you’re a hero, if you miss, in the eyes of some you are a scum and a villain. To me, it’s my team mate, and he gave his best and I’m proud to be on his team. Anthony Abrams is another player we missed, his pace is able to change

games and he is a valuable member of the team, unfortunately in this camp he suffered from a injury and wasn’t quite at match fitness”, the Guyana Captain reasoned.

“We are not mathematically out of the tournament yet, we still have a chance so anyone would be a fool to throw in the towel, there’s a lot to play for. I’m sure scouts will now be searching for Guyana players everywhere after the reports that have been going around from these performances and there is always pride to play for and the experience alone of these kind of games will improve everyone as a player, so the stage is by no means over.

To all the fans who were able to show your support in person and those who were supporting from afar, I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the team. United we stand, God’s Blessings to all.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

DeSinco Trading/Degree 11-Race Cycle Meet...

Sangakkara wins big at ICC awards Marlon Williams pedals to record win; ESPNcricinfo - Kumar Sangakkara has won three awards, including the prestigious Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year at the annual ICC awards ceremony in Colombo.

Sangakkara also won the People’s Choice prize, an honour he had received last year as well.

For Cricketer and Test Cricketer of the Year, Sangakkara was chosen ahead of South Africa’s Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander, and Australia captain Michael Clarke.

He was prolific in both Tests and ODIs during the 12month voting period ending in early August: in 14 Tests, he compiled 1,444 runs at an average of 60.16, including five centuries and five halfcenturies, highlighted by a match-saving 211 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi; in 37 ODIs, he scored 1457 runs with three hundreds, and also completed 39 catches and three stumpings as a wicketkeeper.

“This is an amazing honour and I’ve seen the people who have won it before me and the nominees too, to be named alongside them is wonderful,” Sangakkara said after receiving the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for Cricketer of the Year from ICC president Alan Isaac. “I admire them greatly and even more so when I looked up at their records on the screen this evening. It’s great to be amongst them. Now to receive this honour this evening, is simply fantastic.”

Previous winners of the Cricketer of the Year award include Rahul Dravid (2004), Andrew Flintoff and Jacques Kallis (joint winners in 2005), Ricky Ponting (2006 and 2007), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2008), Mitchell Johnson (2009), Sachin Tendulkar (2010) and Jonathan Trott (2011).

West Indies legend Brian Lara presented Sangakkara with the Test Cricketer award.

“I’m continuing to ensure I am consistent and I need to keep raising the bar each year and keep trying harder and harder to ensure I keep playing good Test cricket,” Sangakkara said. “It’s a constant battle but I have the support of a great team that helps me to do the best I can.”

Sangakkara missed out, though, on a third major gong when Virat Kohli was named ODI Cricketer of the Year, an award Sangakkara had won in 2011. During the period under consideration, Kohli played 31 ODIs and scored 1733 runs at an average of 66.65, including eight hundreds and six half-centuries.

Among the other winners was West Indies offspinner Sunil Narine, who was named

Emerging Cricketer of the Year.

His hard-to-read variations quickly led to him being labelled a mystery spinner, and he was instrumental in West Indies’ series wins over New Zealand in all three formats in July-August.

Another mystery spinner, Ajantha Mendis, missed out on Twenty20 Performance of the Year, which was won by South Africa opener Richard Levi, for his record-breaking 45-ball century against New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori received the Spirit of Cricket Award for his sporting recall of a Zimbabwe batsman during a tense Test in Bulawayo. Ireland left-armspinner George Dockrell took home the Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year prize, becoming the second Irishman to win the award after William Porterfield in 2009. Women’s cricket had two prizes for the first time, with the ICC awarding the ODI Cricketer and T20I Cricketer of the Year, instead of awarding a single honour.

Last year’s winner West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor won the ODI gong, while England’s Sarah Taylor took the T20 award.

Matthews’ early celebrations jolted

By Franklin Wilson Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams made a historic return to winning ways, setting a new record in the feature 35-lap event at the DeSinco Trading / Degree sponsored 11 Race Cycle Meet held at the Mecca of cycling in Guyana, the National Park, yesterday.

Unlike previous races at the said venue, the sprint home started way earlier than usual, about 400 meters to the line by the five riders that were leading the race from lap #9; Walter Grant-Stuart, Enzo Matthews, Rastaff O’Selmo, Neil Reece and Marlon Williams.

Matthews, like Williams have been struggling with form this season and the former seemed well set to pull off a remarkable win but his early celebrations came crashing to an abrupt halt as Williams shot past him like lightening in the final few meters to stop the clock at One Hour 14 Minutes 59 Seconds – a new National Park record – erasing the old mark of One Hour 16 Minutes that was held by Robin

Persaud. Berbician Neil Reece also made a welcome return to the top flight cycling by taking the 3rd spot just ahead of Linden’s Rastaff O’Selmo and Grant-Stuart who claimed 5th place. Veteran National Road race champion Junior Niles closed off the top six positions; he had earlier won the Veterans Under-50 race to cap another fine day at the office. Yesterday’s feature event attracted a total of 48 starters but yet again, the seasoned campaigners seemed more focused on watching each other rather than upping their competitive game. If that were so, the

record time achieved could have been even lower.

Consistent top performer Robin Persaud and Alonzo Greaves both found themselves having to come out of the race after being lapped by the leading five, they exited in lap 19.

Yesterday’s event did not see participation by Guyana’s leading junior and juvenile riders; Raynauth Jeffrey, Paul DeNobrega, Raul Leal and Michael Anthony who are in the Dominican Republic representing Guyana at the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships which will conclude today.

Representatives of

DeSinco Trading and Degree were on hand to witness the main event and also officiated at the presentation ceremony.

All the competitors were presented with Degree Deodorant and expressed their pleasure at the generosity of the sponsor.

Meanwhile, The Bike Shop of Robb Street, as they have been doing, presented special prizes to the top three finishers in the Upright race.

According to Owner Jude Bentley, it is their way of encouraging riders in this category of racing. He also stated that they will continue to maintain this tradition.

FOLLOWING ARE THE FULL RESULTS OF YESTERDAY’S MEET Race Laps 1st – 3rd BMX 6-9 2 Isaiah Sahadeo, Ken Sahadeo, Jeremiah Harrison BMX 9-12 3 Jamal Arthur, Rashedi Ceres, Keon Harris BMX 12-14 3 Deeraj Ghabarran, Sseion Thagg, Keon Harris BMX Open 3 Cleveland King, Jason Jordon, Adrian Sharma 12-14 Boys & Girls 3 Alfie Sonoram, Hazina Barrett, Marica Dick Veterans Under 50 5 Junior Niles, Kennard Lovell, Raymond Newton Veterans Over 50 5 Lancelot Rose, Wilfred Thom, Courtney Hackett Veterans Over 60 5 Maurice Fagundes, Harry Lall, Krisnadat Singh Juveniles 10 Akeem Arthur, Kurt La Rose, Mario King Upright 5 Richard Charles, Keon Thomas, Hamzah Eastman School Boys & 35 Marlon Williams, Enzo Matthews, Neil Reece, Rastaff Invitational O’Selmo, Walter Grant-Stuart, Junior Niles

“I want kids to have realistic dreams of - so says ‘Golden Jaguars’ playing football in Guyana” Captain Chris Nurse Captain of the ‘Golden Jaguars’ Chris Ronald Nurse is hoping for the day when young players in Guyana can a have realistic dreams of forging football careers right in this country and possibly reach the level he is at and beyond.

Nurse articulated this aspiration of his while making his general Captain’s assessment of Guyana’s pulsating 3-2, FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Qualifier defeat against Central American side El S a l v a d o r on Tuesday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

“I want kids to be able to have realistic dreams of playing football in Guyana through what they witness in front of their eyes and for it not to be a day dream, but a realistic dream that they can work towards. For that to happen we all need to continue to help grow the game in Guyana”, stated Nurse passionately.

He continued along the same tangent by saying: “I am proud of everyone of my team mates who gave everything on the night, and I am very

optimistic for the future of football in Guyana. Now we need the public to continue to show their support, the government to share the vision and the business community to believe in the abilities and development of the youths.”

The 28-year-old midfielder, who has so far played 15 International matches for Guyana, scored his second International goal in the aforementioned encounter on Tuesday night. His first goal was against Barbados last October during the second round of World Cup Qualifying and he said that despite the defeat, the passion and dedication that was exemplified over the two home/away matches was first rate.

“It was a game where we played very well and clearly individual errors were the deciding factor which cost us the game, but that is not blaming anyone. Every member of staff and team members gave their best and that is all you can ask for. If you give your best and lose, I can live with that, it’s when you don’t try hard, that

is not acceptable. The team played with a lot of passion, dedication and heart which is always expected when you are representing your country”.

Nurse elaborated further as to how major it is that Guyana are playing at this level and reminisced on the special moment when the

team was clapped off the field in San Salvador.

“El Salvador were extremely clinical in their finishing which is the case at this level of football, the chances they were given they finished. I think we worked harder for our chances, created more and were unlucky not to be victorious

on the night”, Nurse recounted.

“The comparison of footballing history between the two nations are miles apart, El Salvador are much richer in history, facilities, etc.

But we are seeing that if we can continue to develop the football in Guyana that we (Continued on page 57)

Intense rivalry anticipated in Topco Juices National Junior Championships precursor Intense rivalry for chess honours is anticipated when the nation’s best junior players convene this morning for the TOPCO 2012 National Championship Qualifiers Tournament, under the auspices of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), slated to get underway at the KEI-SHAR’S Sports Club, Hadfield St. Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

Subsequently, the top seven players will go on to challenge National Junior Champion Haifeng Su for his crown in a tournament to be staged later in the year. The organizers said that only players younger than 20 years are eligible for participation in the seven rounds tournament. Registration begins at 9:00hrs and the competition commences one hour later.

Meanwhile, DDL Sales Manager, Alexis Langhorne visited the tournament venue and handed over the sponsorship cheque to President of the Guyana Chess Federation,

Shiv Nandalall, even as she reaffirmed her company’s support to the development of chess. Ms Langhorne pointed out that her company is very pleased with the operations of the GCF and said that executives of her firm were delighted to partner with the organizers towards the development of the sport.

Mr. Nandalall expressed delight at DDL’s corporate intervention saying that the input would go a far way in the efforts of his officials in the continued development of the game.

Four rounds will be contested today while the final three rounds would be played next Sunday, September 23.

The tournament fee is $600 for nonmembers of the GCF, while members will pay a reduced fee of $200 each.

Prizes would also be awarded to the Best U-13 and U-16 players, while the top seven performers will qualify for a shot at Haifeng Su’s title.

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 59

- former British Alvin Geronimo Braithwaite; from Guiana & Guyana Int. 1964 – 1976; C’bbean Sandbach Parker to World Cup Defender selectee 1973 Statistician Charwayne Walker continues his series of features on Guyana’s World Cup Football players; Today we are pleased to feature Alvin Geronimo Braithwaite.

After some outstanding performances for Sandbach Parker in the Hood League in 1963, Alvin Geronimo Braithwaite was selected for his first International series the next year, playing under the leadership of his unrelated namesake, Hubert ‘Senior’ Braithwaite.

He {Geronimo} found the going tough in his debut series against Trinidad and Tobago which was led by Sedley Joseph; the Trinidadians won the 5 match series 4-0. Braithwaite failed to gain the selectors nod when British Guiana led by Monty Hope engaged the touring Barbados National team in four matches, February 1965.

He was recalled to the

National line up when British Guiana, led again by Monty Hope toured the Twin Island Republic and contested several matches. His next international assignment in 1965 was against the touring Lancashire Fusiliers team.

In the first match the tourist’s drew 3-3 with British Guiana. The visitors won the series finale 3-1, both matches were contested at the Mecca of football in Guyana, Georgetown Football Club, Ground.

After the series against the tourist’s from Lancashire, Braithwaite was selected in an 18-man Under-23 squad for Special Training but according to Braithwaite, his biggest satisfaction in 1965 was assisting his Club Sandbach Parker to win the Hood League Championship trophy.

In 1966, the star defender toured Barbados with the Monty Hope led British Guiana side for an

international triangular series with the host and Trinidad and Tobago. British Guiana drew the first match 1-1 against Barbados; Frankie Forde was the goal scorer for British Guiana which lost the second match to T&T 2-0.

After the Barbados tour, he played for British Guiana against the Dutch Army at BGCC Ground where the visitors won 1-0. Braithwaite then stood firm in defence when British Guyana drew 2-2 with the British Army at GFC. He also played an integral role when the British Guiana Under-23s defeated the British Army 3-0 also at GFC, Patrick Britton firing in all three goals. All of the above matches were contested before Independence. In 1967, Geronimo Braithwaite represented Guyana against Suriname in a Goodwill series played in Georgetown.

He also featured for the

Narine claims ICC Emerging Player of the Year Award COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – For the second year in a row, a West Indian spin bowler has won the International Cricket Council’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award. Sunil Narine, the off-spinner who has made a huge impression since joining the Windies set-up last December, won the prize on Saturday night at the ICC Awards gala at the Water’s Edge Resort.

The 24-year-old from Trinidad & Tobago was all smiles as he received the award in front an audience which included several present players and former cricketing greats, including Brian Lara. Narine follows in the footsteps of leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo who won the Award at last year’s event in London.

Speaking after receiving his glittering trophy, Narine said it was the just the start of things to come.

“I would say this is just the start. As Emerging Player of the Year I know I am someone to look at and hopefully I will continue to do well. I’ve enjoyed my first year in the West Indies team and I am delighted to win this award. I’ve worked hard and I’ve dedicated myself to the game. It makes me look at life and makes me want to dedicate myself more to the game and to improve,” Narine said.

“We have a good junior set-up so hopefully the awards keep coming for us. I think this has been the best 12 months for me and I just keep adapting as best as possible.”

Narine, who first started by playing tennis-ball cricket, was introduced into the West Indies ODI side last December and made his debut in a win against India at Ahmedabad. He has played for the West Indies in all three formats of the game. In three Test appearances he has 12 wickets at an average 31.50, while in the 15 ODIs he played he claimed 28 wickets at an average of 18.82.

He has been equally impressive in the T20 format with seven wickets in five appearances for the Windies. His economy rate is a mere 6.4 runs per over and he has become one of the toughest bowlers to score off. He showcased his brilliance for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and won the Most Valuable Player award

as his team won the title.

Narine, who hails from Arima in Trinidad, was the top choice of the 32-person voting academy, coming out ahead of Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal, Doug Bracewell of New Zealand and Australia’s James Pattinson.

He also took the time to thank his father Shaheed, who he said has been a huge inspiration and a his biggest supporter.

“He played a big part in my development...in my life. Around the age of 19 ...20 I was kind of looking away from cricket and looking at what else I could do in life. I was a bit frustrated. I played West Indies Under-19 but I was ‘just there’ and I found it difficult to make the Trinidad & Tobago team with the likes Sherwin Ganga, Dave Mohammed and Amit Jaggernauth. He said ‘don’t worry, your time will come...keep working’,” Narine said.

“It was very hard to command a place in the team and I was becoming quite frustrated, but my dad ... what could I say ... he just kept sticking with me, he carried me through everything, he made sure everything was OK with me and I’m reaping the benefits now.” Narine added: “I also want to thank my team-mates and the management staff of the West Indies team who have been very helpful and always offer great advice. I play alongside some great guys and the support you get gives you the drive to do even better.”

Narine and his West Indies team-mates will continue their preparations for the ICC World T20 tournament on Sunday with a training session at the P Sara Oval at 2 pm. On Monday they will have their second warm-up match against Afghanistan at P Sara Oval at 2:30 pm.

The ICC World T20 tournament, which features 12 teams, will be played from September 18 to October 7. The West Indies have been drawn in Group B alongside Australia and Ireland and both first round matches will be at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Their opening match will be against the Aussies on Saturday, September 22 followed by a clash with the Irish on Monday, September 24.

National team in two matches against the touring South Trinidad side. His illustrious career continued in 1968 when he toured Barbados with the National Squad. His 1968 international campaign concluded when the National Team contested three matches against the then Suriname Champion Club, Robinhood.

The visitors won the first and second games 4-0 and 21 respectively, but owing to some spectacular work in defence by Braithwaite, who shut down the Robinhood strikers, the National team was able to turn the tables to record a 4-1 win in the final game.

Next up for the master defender was an international series in 1969 and according to Geronimo this was his worst outing in National colours. Guyana suffered back to back 8-0 thrashings from an English Amateur team at the GCC Ground, Bourda.

He said losing 16-0 in two matches was the worst feeling he experienced in his illustrations career. The next year 1970, Braithwaite was appointed National Captain and led Guyana to two honourable draws against a powerful Trinidad and Tobago side both matches were contested at the GSC Ground.

In 1971, Braithwaite lost the National Captaincy to Ken Gibbs when Guyana contested its first CONCACAF series against Suriname, home and away.

His only international tour of duty in 1972 was to French Guiana for several matches. In 1973, his international campaign started against Haiti at GSC Ground, the National Team losing both encounters. He then featured in a hard fought draw and loss to Trinidad and Tobago at GSC, the following pair of internationals were contested in 1973 against the touring French Guiana Team.

The tourist’s shocked the guest’s by winning the opener at Malteenoes Ground but outstanding defence work from Braithwaite, Earl O’Neal and the late Clive ‘Breezer’ Nedd shutdown the Frenchmen and Guyana leveled the series 11. English division-two side Hull City then cooled off Braithwaite and company with a 5-0 whipping at GCC in May 1973. Next, he donned colours for the Caribbean X1 that drew 1-1 with Hull City at GCC. This was followed by a game against Jamaica under lights at GFC and again, Braithwaite, O’Neal and Nedd had to come to the party.

Jamaica scored first through Carlton Smith but after that the deadly trio closed down the Reggae Boyz.

Bouyed by the performance of their teammates at the back, Rudolph ‘Chow’ Hunte and Godfrey ‘Poulis’ Norville scored and gave Guyana a memorable 2-0 victory.

Braithwaite’s next game was a 2-0 defeat at the hands of

Suriname at GSC Ground. In 1975 he was a member of the World Cup Squad that played against Bare of Brazil as World Cup preparations intensified and in 1976 he featured in a series against Texaco of T&T. He also toured Brazil with the Maurice Enmore led World Cup Squad in 1976.

After the Brazilian tour, Geronimo featured in four (4) internationals against Cuba, games being played in Linden, Berbice and Georgetown.

This was followed by a series against Sir Alec Ferguson’s touring Scottish Division-One Team, St. Mirren. It is no secret that Ferguson and St. Mirren arrived in Guyana a confident unit after recording victories over T&T, Barbados and Suriname.

However, air tight marking

by Braithwaite, O’Neal and Nedd kept out Ferguson’s strikers and Guyana jolted their unbeaten run with a 2-0 triumph. So it was no surprise when Guyana won its inaugural World Cup match by a similar margin at GCC Bourda on July 4, 1976.

Braithwaite‘s last overseas international is the dreaded knock them three loss to Suriname in the World Cup Qualifier return fixture. He played is final series against Curacao at the GCC Ground, Bourda in October, 1976.

International Tours: 1965 Trinidad; 1966 Barbados; 1966 Barbados; 1971 Suriname; 1972 French Guiana; 1976 Brazil; 1976 Suriname.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

10km Road Race

Underdogs eager for big performance

By Edison Jefford The re-introduction of the Courts 10km Road Race Classic last year also reintroduced the era of competitive distance-running that has been one of the hallmarks of local athletics; the Courts 10k gave the local distance running circuit a much-needed rejuvenation.

Other companies have since followed Courts’ lead with 10k races or an expression of an interest in hosting races. The result was the establishment of epic battles among distance athletes with the thriving Cleveland Forde and Alika Morgan leading those challenges.

The two athletes have already won last weekend’s 10km race, which makes them the favourites to win on Sunday. However, there are considerable amount of efforts being made to overhaul the two prominent local athletes with ahead of

Euleen Josiah-Tanner

Cleveland Thomas

the Courts 10km contest.

One senior male athlete, Cleveland Thomas, told Kaieteur Sport on Friday that he is not satisfied with his performance last weekend,

and will be working overtime to correct where he went awry on the road. Thomas was third last weekend after Forde and Dennis Horatio dropped him around the seven km mark. He wants to change that result in the Courts 10k.

“I’m working on a plan, but if I let you know, it will become public so I won’t tell you, but know that I am looking to win the Courts 10k, and me and my coach have a strategy,” Thomas said. He believes that he has to attack Forde in the race instead of being cautious.

That’s the grassroots manoeuvring taking place in the male race. It is no different for the females with United States-based, Euleen JosiahTanner, who dropped out of last weekend’s race, still in Guyana to compete in the Courts event. She is Morgan’s only rival.

The race between the two female athletes could intensify for Sunday with Morgan seemingly in good form even though JosiahTanner was leading when she

dropped out. The two will be going all out with JosiahTanner coming one down into the ongoing rivalry.

The keen rivalries, and more importantly, the cash incentives that rank second to only the IAAF South American 10km Road Race Classic, are expected to attract the crème de le crème of local distance-running with Registration for the race closing on Wednesday.

The winner in the Open male and female categories respectively will receive $100,000 each with second place taking home $80,000; third place $60,000; fourth $40,000 and fifth $20,000. In the Masters’ category, the winner gets $60,000; second $40,000 and third $20,000, while the Juniors pocket $60,000, $40,000, $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 in the top five; trophies will accompany all the cash prizes.

The race has five seasoned competitive categories for athletes with the first male and first female Courts staff also getting a financial incentive of $20,000 each. The race will have a 3km ‘Fitness and Health Run’ that is open to staff and anyone willing to participate.

The race will start in front of Courts’ Main Street Branch, proceed north to the Seawall road, east along the Seawall road and continue east along Rupert Craig Highway’s northern carriageway to turn at Church Road on the Rupert Craig Highway.

It will then proceed on the Rupert Craig Highway’s southern carriageway into Kitty Public Road; south on Vlissingen Road; west on Lamaha Street, south on the eastern carriageway into Main Street, before turning around at the Cenotaph to finish on the western carriageway of Main Street in front of Courts.

$1M challenge bounces off in Albouystown today

Two female patrons participate in the ‘Shoot for Cash’ halftime show of the Mackeson Smooth Moves ‘street-ball’ competition last year in Albouystown as hundreds of patrons witnessed some intense rivalries.

Last year, throngs of patrons flooded the renowned Independence Boulevard Basketball Court in Albouystown when the Georgetown stage of the Mackeson Smooth Moves 3on-3 Basketball Championships was held at the popular community venue.

This year, the initial phase of the competition will bounce off in Albouystown today from 4pm at the same venue with the now famous ‘ghetto’ Mecca of local basketball hosting teams and hundreds of supporters. The event is expected to be even bigger this year.

The competition will host teams from across Guyana for the biggest purse in local basketball; an enormous $1M winner-take-all top prize is up for grabs in the competition, which brought, as an

incentive for the community, the enhancement of the court that is home to the successful Albouystown/Charlestown Inter-Ward team.

The organisers hosted a workshop for officials yesterday while registration continued yesterday at the Burnham Basketball Court. There will be a halftime show for patrons and members of the community. The Smooth Moves contest is a community-oriented event.

With six Mackeson caps and the registration form being the entry criteria, teams comprising four players will have a chance to cash in on the $1M first place prize. The games will be played for 15 minutes–7½ minutes per half– with a 30-second timeout in each half.

A team must consist of four players, with none being under 18 years. The rules of the tournament will be reinforced. If any of the competing teams are found guilty of breaching the rules penalties that amount to a disqualification from the tournament could be the result.

The 3-on-3 format is an established International Basketball Federation (FIBA) format. The rules for the format include the fact that each basket from beyond the arc (three-point line) will usually count as two points while other buckets count as one point. The first team to reach 21 points will before the 15-minutes time expires will be declared the winner.

(Edison Jefford)

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 61

What has happened to that promised WBC super tournament?

Inquiring minds want to know…

Boxing pundits accustomed to the monthly Friday Night Fights, an initiative of President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, would have noted that there was a lapse in the monthly feature and the signing ceremony for the September edition of the programme that was supposed to have taken place at the Banks DIH Thirst Park Boardroom was cancelled leaving fans speculating of the future of the initiative.

When the card started some three years ago, the idea was to provide constant activity for local pugilists which in turn would have served as a launching pad for international acclaim. Indeed the card proved to be useful for the local pugilists who, before its advent, were starving for regular activity; the initiative removed those barriers.

It was indeed refreshing to note that quite a few boxers emerged out of the programme with the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) title which, according to the organizers, was the catalyst to the acquisition of prestigious

world accolades. Initially, the boxers earned just about $50,000 for a four round encounter and many of them enjoyed substantial increases after they would have won CABOFE titles. By dint of that, the initiative was indeed serving a good purpose.

The crowd support was somewhat disappointing but the promoters were able to cushion this blow through the support rendered by several corporate entities the likes of Hand in Hand Insurance, Courts Furniture Company, Castrol, Ansa McAl and a few others whose financial input reduced the burdens from the promoters shoulders. Such a concerted effort resulted in the heightened and qualitative activity for the boxers.

Undoubtedly, the emergence of Simeon Hardy, Edmond DeClou, Elton Dharry, Kwesi Jones and Clive Atwell among others, endorsed the view that our boxers only needed the requisite fights to be able to make the necessary conversion to the international scene.

The most notable achievement of the initiative had to be the grand news that the boxers that had distinguished themselves after winning CABOFE titles would have earned lucrative world ratings and subsequently move on to engage opponents from

among the many confederations, under the auspices of the World Boxing Council (WBC), in a tournament, specially arranged in commemoration of the WBC 50th Anniversary.

We were told that this tournament was scheduled for sometime this month and since there have been no further releases from the subject organization, one would have imagined that the boxers are preparing for such engagements.

Instead, the nation was greeted with the ‘news’ from another section of the media that the boxers have clinched world rankings among the top 40 boxers in the world.

Surprisingly, they have been rated by the very WBC, the body that is supposedly celebrating its 50th anniversary and under which they were supposed to have been battling among their counterparts of the other confederations. Confusion reigns!

Ages ago, when Guyanese pugilists were in the doghouse battling unsuccessfully for that coveted world title a number 10 ranking was a highly prestigious feat. Even then, securing such a lucrative spot hardly guaranteed the boxer a title shot since those were the days of undisputed champions where one fighter ruled the roost under the WBC, World Boxing

Winning ICC award was a “shocker” says Taylor BRIGHTON, England – Stafanie Taylor said she was stunned to be named the ICC Women’s One-day International Playerof-the-Year.

Taylor took the accolade ahead of West Indies Women’s team-mate Anisa Mohammed, and current opponents Lydia Greenway and Sarah Taylor of England at the LG ICC Awards staged in the Sri Lanka capital of Colombo on Saturday.

“It was quite a shocker,” she told WICB Media. “I expected to win the Twenty20 Player-of-the-Year award, rather than ODI Player-of-the-Year. “But I am very appreciative and it shows all the hard work that I have been putting into my game is bearing fruit.”

Based on the voting period between August 4 last year and August 6 this year, the 21-year-old Taylor played in 13 ODIs for Windies Women, scoring 514 runs at the top of the order at an average of 46.72. Her steady off-spin also claimed 16 wickets at 13.12 apiece.

“I thought there were other players, like India’s Mithali Raj, who had better stats for the last year than I did,” she said.

“I thought I had better T20 stats, so I expected to have a better chance at winning the T20 Player-of-the-Year award.”

The award brought to a close a memorable period for Taylor. She was part of the West Indies Women’s side that won the ICC Wo m e n ’s Wo r l d C u p q u a l i f i e r l a s t November in Bangladesh, the side finishing undefeated.

Last month, she also led her native Jamaica to the Regional Women’s Twenty20 title, earning the Most Valuable Player of the tournament award.

“This [ICC award] will help to keep me going,” she said. “It is something that I will be able to look towards for motivation over the coming year.

“It will help me to want to do better than what I did the previous year.”

Looking back over the past year, Taylor said she still felt there was room for improvement.

“I’m still not where I wanted,” she said. “I wanted to be in a better position, so I am trying to improve in all areas. It’s been slow going, but I hope to get there soon.”

Taylor was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to playing commitments in England with the Windies Women’s team in preparation for the ICC Women’s World T20 in Sri Lanka later this month.

Association (WBA) and the then lesser, International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Lennox Blackmore, Patrick Ford and to a lesser extent, Terrence Ali could attest to the challenges associated with being among the top ten yet unable to clinch a world title fight.

For the record, all three pugilists hung up their gloves after suffering losses to top fighters the likes of Salvadore ‘Baby Face Assassin’ Sanchez, Aaron Pryor and in the case of Ali, Julio Caesar Chavez, Jose Luis Ramirez and Harry Arroyo. Boxing buffs would remember, oh so well, the many stumbling blocks that precluded Guyanese boxers from achieving a world title.

Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis’ 2001 world title victory over James Page netted him the WBA welterweight crown and effectively broke the jinx to the extent that several other locals were able to emulate his feats. For the record those locals are Wayne ‘Big Truck’

Braithwaite, Vivian Harris, Gary St Clair and Gwendolyn O’Neil. This signaled a new era in the sport.

Just when the local fighters managed to change the status quo, something else was happening; the world title was then miniaturized and a boxer’s prowess was gauged in several departments including the best pound for pound fighter and most exciting among others. Lewis was literally bulldozed to defend against Ricardo Mayorga after an initial no contest decision with the former fighter and a fall out with Don King.

That verdict is now history. Vivian Harris was offered a highly paying fight against Ricky Hatton but after botched negotiations over the purse, he opted for a bout against the lesser known Carlos Mausa. The result of that bout is history and it could be reasonably assumed that it was Harris’ swan song.

All of the other fighters,

except O’Neil have since lost their titles and once again the acquisition of the accolade is posing numerous challenges.

At any other time the news that our boxers have broken into the top 40 rankings would have triggered celebrations but in this day and age of 6 times champions in different divisions, a low spot among the top 40 world beaters is hardly something to gloat about. Instead, the ‘news’ should have prompted serious queries of the promised lucrative rating in the WBC, while officials should explain away the stony silence of the promised ratings and subsequent lucrative fights and purses that these very boxers were promised after engagement in the WBC 50th Anniversary Boxing Extravaganza.

The boxers should have demanded an explanation but in their reticence ‘Sports Microscope’ begs an explanation of the relevant authorities.

Page 62

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 16, 2012

E-Networks Inc. links with ESPN Caribbean for exclusive - West Indies Men’s and Women’s coverage of ICC Twenty20 WC teams considered strong contenders Cable Provider ENetworks Inc. through its ESPN Caribbean link will present exclusive live coverage of all matches of the ICC World Twenty20 World Cup (WC) from Sri Lanka, beginning with the warm-up between India and Pakistan on September 17 and culminating with the Final on October 7. In addition, ESPN Caribbean will provide exclusive live telecasts of the ICC Women’s World Twenty 20 Semifinals and Final on October 4, 5 and 7.

The West Indies men’s team’s two group stage matches are on September 22 vs. Australia and September 24 vs. Ireland, both at 9:45 a.m. ET and repeated at 8:00 p.m. each night.

“Cricket is an integral part of ESPN Caribbean’s programming line-up. We are especially pleased to present our exclusive live coverage of the men’s and women’s

World Twenty20 Championship, with very competitive West Indies teams, to cricket fans throughout the region,” said Bernard Stewart, vice president, ESPN Caribbean and Maritime Media.

“Through our multi-platform coverage, fans will be able to access the matches and key tournament information anytime, anywhere.”

The West Indies team, after a strong pre-tournament showing, is considered a top contender to unseat 2010 Champion England for the World Twenty20 title this year. Led by Captain Darren Sammy, the West Indies includes the return of Jamaican Chris Gayle, who scored the first ever Twenty20 International hundred in the inaugural World Twenty20 Championship in 2007. Other world-rated players include Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo.

Captain Merissa Aguillera and Vice-Captain Stafanie Taylor, the leading all-rounder in women’s cricket, anchor a competitive West Indies women’s side.

Several of the world’s top players also are on the team: off-spinner Anisa Mohammed, left-handed allrounder Shanel Daley, world record-holder Deandra Dottin, and fast bowler Shakera Selman.

STUDIO SHOWS AND MATCH COMMENTATORS Complementing the match telecasts, ESPN Caribbean and ESPNPlay.com will present two live daily studio programmes: ICC World Twenty20 Today, airing generally at 9 a.m. ET, and ICC World Twenty20 Daily Recap, airing after the last match of the day and repeated at 11 p.m. In addition, ESPN Caribbean will repeat every ICC World Twenty20

K&B Mining rescues AAG U-23 team - But national unit still needs funding

Accounts Clerk at K&B Mining and Hardware Supply, Anisa Husain (right) hands over the cheque to AAG President, Colin Boyce, in the presence of the CEO, Hema Persaud.

K&B Mining and Hardware Supply is the first business entity to come to the rescue of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Under-23 team that will compete at the South American Championships in Brazil.

President of the AAG, Colin Boyce, had appealed to the sports ministry and corporate Guyana to assist with funding the sixmember team.

But, so far only K&B Mining and Hardware Supply have answered the call. The team is still in need of further

funding. Boyce stated that the contribution rescued the team to some extent since they were getting worried about the team’s participation. He said that he is extremely grateful to them and noted that the entity has always been supportive of athletics.

Boyce disclosed that they are contemplating flying from Ogle to Lethem, and then use the trail from Lethem to Brazil.

According to him, this will work out cheaper and will allow for the full team to compete. The Lethem route will cost US$950 per person while a ticket from Guyana to

Suriname to Brazil will cost US$1800.

The six member team consists of five athletes and one official. In order of priorities, are junior 400m running sensation, Steffon James, who will lead the team, junior 100m champion C h a v e z A g e d a y, J a v i n a Straker, Cindy Fraser, and Natrina Hooper.

James will compete in the 200m and 400m. Ageday will be in action in the 100m and 200m with Straker running the 800m. Fraser will be in action in the long jump while Hooper will compete in the triple jump.

- ICC Women’s World Twenty20 semis and final also to air live Championship match in the afternoon or evening.

Mike Haysman, considered one of the world’s leading cricket broadcasters, will serve as host of ICC World Twenty20 Today and ICC World Twenty20 Daily Recap.

Ricardo Powell, the

Trinidad & Tobago native who represented the West Indies cricket team with a career total of 109 ODIs and two Test matches, will join Haysman on air.

Renowned International fast bowler Courtney “Cuddy” Walsh will serve as

a second studio analyst for the Super 8’s and beyond.

The match commentators includes Kevin Pietersen, former England batsman and “Player of the Series” in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20; Ian Bishop, former West Indies fast bowler; Rahul Dravid, former India captain, batsman and second-highest runsscorer in Test cricket; and Sourav Ganguly, former India captain and batsman.

Live match schedules seen below:

Sunday September 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

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t r o Sp

DeSinco Trading/Degree 11-Race Cycle Meet...

Marlon Williams pedals to record win; Matthews’ early celebrations jolted P. 58

At left, Enzo Matthews begins premature celebrations not realizing that Marlon Williams was too close for comfort; (at right) Williams took care of business, stopping the clock in record time. (Franklin Wilson photos)

ICC awards 2012...

Sangakkara wins big at ICC awards

Winning ICC Narine claims ICC award was Emerging Player of the Year Award a “shocker” says Taylor P. 61

P. 58

P. 59

Kumar Sangakkara won the ICC Cricketer of the Year and the ICC Test player of the Year Award (AFP).

Stefanie Taylor (Getty Images)

Sunil Narine with the Emerging Cricketer of the Year award (Associated Press).

E-Networks Inc. links with ESPN Caribbean 62P. for exclusive coverage of ICC Twenty20 WC

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