Kaieteur News

Thursday September 01, 2016

Brush cutter operators will blind people one of these days DEAR EDITOR, On Sunday August 28, 2016 at around 2:00 PM, my mom and sister were caught in a most unpleasant and dumbfounding predicament. My sister was at the wheel, heading to Sheriff Street travelling west on Campbell avenue. At the junction of Campbell Avenue and Stone Avenue the passenger side window was shattered by an explosive force that impaled my mom’s left arm and leg with countless shards of tempered glass. The inside of the vehicle was sprayed with these fragments, I figure the only reason why her eyes were not damaged, was because she had on glasses. You see, a man was using one of those gas-powered brush cutters and was slashing in such an irresponsible manner in front of a residence that pebbles were being flung indiscriminately in all directions. This happens every day all over Georgetown! The fact that we do not have a bunch of one-eyed people walking around Georgetown is truly a miracle. When my sister and mom emerged (by this time her left arm and leg were streaking with blood) the man refused to take responsibility and declared that my sister should have seen him Words cannot describe what an utter asinine and degenerate idiot an individual has to be to spew such garbage! By this time a crowd was

gathering and began hurling insults at my mom and sister. I will call a spade a spade because this is the blatant truth. It was a group of women of a certain against two persons of another type - plain and simple. I don’t care how you turn and twist it, racism is alive and kicking in certain parts of this country and I will be fair and say that it goes both ways. I cannot fathom women, seeing other women in a predicament and instead of assisting chose to abuse and ridicule. One woman even came out with a piece of wood in a threatening manner. During the ensuing gutter behavior by the all-female gang, the culprit slipped away. Someone was seen assisting with stashing his brush cutter. My sister went to the gate of the residence and asked to speak to the owner in an effort to get the name of individual; after all it was the owner that would have hired the man. Well, the owner came out swinging and let loose a barrage of Fs and Ss on her and kept advancing to within feet of her. Two women had the devil’s time restraining him. So, I called a policeman that I knew and explained the situation; he was blunt and matter-of-fact, and advised that we should just let it go, go home and try to forget about it as these incidents play out more often than one would imagine, and nothing ever comes of it. He said that Continued on page 6

I believe Dr upert RRoopnarine’s... oopnarine’s... Dr.. RRupert From page 4 consciousness of those who attended the congress. When a congress of a major party fails to address the important issue of workers remuneration, and more so when that party is the largest party in the government, it raises a number of questions as it relates to whose interest the party is committed to, and which, class or classes and social forces dominate the party at this historic moment. Given the fact that a large section of the PNCR rank and file constitutes Guyana’s poor and powerless, and they represent the biggest block of voter for the party and the coalition. It is only natural to expect at such an important forum of the party that there will be some expression of concern over the meager 10% offer to the low income workers. I am certain that if the PNCR was in opposition and the PPPC had made the same offer there would have been a tremen-

dous outcry and a resolution denouncing the offer. Some will say that it is not politically realistic to expect the same political response from a party in power that was in the political wilderness for 23 years. To accept this logic is to accept self-defeating politics since that behavior undermines the party, coalition and government. Objectively, the least one would have expected was a call, if not an instruction from congress for the government to revisit its final offer to the GPSU, with the intention to improve it. To delve deeper into the PNCR’s internal politics to find an explanation for the congress short sightedness is not appropriate for me to do so. This responsibility lies with the PNCR leaders and members. Suffice it to say that what happened in the party congress is important to the coalition, the government and country. Tacuma Ogunseye

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Why is India such a poor Olympics performer? DEAR EDITOR, One athlete from the US has won more medals than an entire country with 1.25 billion people! A paltry bronze medal for Sakshi Malikon August 17, 2016, during the wrestling event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games put India on the podium. Malik won bronze, Russia’s Valeria Koblova’s took silver and Japan’s Kaori Icho obtained gold. Later, Pusarla Venkata Sindhu won silver in the women’s badminton. India has managed just one gold medal since 1980, when shooter Abhinav Bindra became the first individual to win gold for his country at the 10 meter air rifle event in 2008. The country’s previous gold medals, eight between 19281980, were all in field hockey. Perhaps, the most outstanding performance came from Dipa Karmakar, the first Indian female gymnast at the Olympics who finished fourth at the women’s vault gymnastics event, having to face Simone Biles (Gold) and Aly Raisman (USA) and Maria Paseka (Silver) (Russia). At every Olympic Games, rivals China and Russia walk away with multiple gold medals. For fans in India— the world’s second most populous nation and one of the fastest growing economies – this is

disappointing. To put India’s historic performance in context, Michael Phelps has won as many medals on his own as Team India has managed since 1900. Hopes were high running into the Rio Olympics after the country snagged six medals in London in 2012 and sent its largest ever contingent – over 100 athletes- to this year’s event. The pitiful 2 medals are therefore woefully embarrassing. For a nation which boasts immense human diversity, with limbs and muscles of all sizes, race or genetic characteristics a valid explanation is needed. High poverty levels aren’t a sufficient reason, seeing as other countries with low levels of per-capita income, such as Kenya and Jamaica, consistently fare better. The major problem is India does not have a sports culture, except for cricket. Indian athletes who have achieved international success are exceptions rather than products of the country’s sports system. Indeed, education tends be the highest priority for the average Indian household instead of extra-curricular activities such as sports. A popular Hindi saying roughly translates to “if you study hard you will live like a king but if you play sports you will

ruin your life.” Indians, over the decades, have been mostly preoccupied climbing the socioeconomic ladder. Consequently, the pool of talent created at the local community, school and university levels, leaves much to be desired both in terms of size and quality. Moreover, there’s little support for those who display athletic prowess. Scarce public investible resources have eluded sports. This is further compounded by misallocation, lack of transparency, poor asset management and an absence of a framework for measuring impact of public spending. This is unlikely to change, despite the government’s best intentions. It is a mindset which only time — perhaps another century — will erase. There are scholarships and endowments for athletes that guarantee a basic minimum standard of living, but this system is fraught with bureaucratic red tape, political interference, conflicts of interest and corruption. Sporting associations itself are no strangers to scandals. In 2012, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was suspended from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for electing

leaders with pending criminal charges, forcing Indian athletes to compete at the Sochi Winter Games under the IOC flag instead of the Indian banner. But perhaps more than anything else, omnipresent inequality may be the driver behind national underperformance. The root problem is one of limited and ineffective participation, arising from the difficulties in gaining access to serious sports training. Much of the country’s talent remains undetected; it takes a degree of privilege to be a serious competitor. Jamaica—a country that the World Bank calls one of the slowest growing in the developing world—could serve for inspiration for Prime Minister Modi. Following heavy investment in organized and informal infrastructure for athletics, it now prides itself on being home to the world’s fastest man and woman this year. In the long run Indians need to absorb into their psyche that education and sports can live side by side, and as the country is considered one of the top economic powers in the world…it can also become one of the champions in the Olympics. Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

Hassling travelers heading for the airport is bad for tourism DEAR EDITOR, It is with utter dismay that I pen this letter about the harassment of drivers by traffic ranks heading to the Timehri Airport although there are many calls from the Traffic Chief and the Commissioner of Police denouncing this behavior. Recently I was a passenger in a vehicle heading to the airport to drop off my sister, and as the vehicle turned onto the turn in Timehri heading towards the airport a traffic rank stopped the vehicle. It appears as if the traffic ranks are out to target all the passengers heading to the airport to catch their flight, because I have noticed a pattern.

The driver of the vehicle was told that he was speeding and was above the speed limit for the zone. The rank further told the driver that the speed limit is listed at the Soesdyke Junction and he was above that limited. This is although I was noticing minibuses and other vehicle flying around the turn at a fast rate of speed to which the police ignored because it appears as if these drivers are known to him. The driver was subsequently charged and issued a ticket because he was going over the 60MPH speed limit. He was traveling at 62MPH. The police was right in doing his work; however, on multiple occasions when I visit the

airport I notice these ranks are out there pulling vehicles over because they have their own aims that I’m sure the senior police officers of the Guyana Police Force already acknowledged. I would like the Traffic Chief and the Commissioner of Police to reiterate to the traffic ranks that hassling travelers

minutes away from the airport isn’t right since the real reason the rank pulled the vehicle over because of the rush is well known to all and sundry. Citizens are not to be taken for granted when you’re serving the public and representing an image of Guyana. Haleem Khan

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Has ultra-modern technology made us any more mannerly? DEAR EDITOR, There exists a rather pervasive irritating situation that often riles one up to boiling point – really gets one prickled. I’m speaking about the uncouth dumb manner of some grown adults, but more so our young people in using phone devices; both cell phone and land-line, the way they address and respond to making and receiving calls. The opening of the floodgates of modern day technology has propelled us, no different from other nations to an advanced stage of mass-media and mass communication. We are not lagging in successfully exploiting the endless advantages that are available. Unfortunately, on the other hand, the quantum leap in this realm of electronic technology as can be seen, has not in any way contributed to a finer quality of our behaviour. Who would want to deny that this age of superior technology, world web information and an ubiquitous and extensive range of touchscreen gadgets – the world at your finger tip, have not brought along some of the most depraved and repulsive things. Yes we have been derailed more than we would want to imagine, ten steps forward and multiple times that number backwards.

Like the youngster said, “instead of advancing we devance”, nicely put. Now, what can be more annoying on almost a daily basis to encounter experiences like these: your phone at home rings, you pick up and answer; “Hello, good morning/good afternoon’ or as is common these days with Christian folks; “bless the Lord, good day” and the response comes through, “Jackie home, ah waan Simone”; “who is this, is who ah talking to, ah want talk to Abby, you wasn’t fuh call me, whey yuhmuddadeh, call she.” Or conversely you put through a call – again on land-line, and in the background there is terribly loud music, you are having difficulty communicating; you are at your wits’ end hoping that the person will do the sensible thing, but no way, the person at that end just keeps on shouting foolishly: “Is whayuh want, is who yuh really want, is who ah talking to?” They can hardly hear you and you in turn are being tortured by loud, lewd, cussing music in the background. And don’t you make the mistake of trying to reprimand them, then, you get exactly what you were looking for. And sometime, all of this goes on even when

parents/elders are at home. Don’t we teach children to be polite and respectful anymore? B u t understand too that this conduct applies to business places as well, some hardly have time to answer your queries and are eager to dismiss you, while you can hear in the background the “gaff” going on, and if you are forced to follow-up you become a nuisance. Yes! This is we; internet, face-book, Instagram, youtube, google, whatsapp, rat-trap, twitter, hitter and thither – lost! Has modern-day fast moving high-tec. really made us any better in terms of quality? Seems to me that with every improvement comes a c o r r e s p o n d i n g “deprovement”. Maybe – we should seek the services of Joyce Jones and Joyce Sinclair to design and restart a programme on “bad manners”; put on phones some sort of exquisite tips that nicely instruct how to be courteous every time the phone is picked up and hope against hope that it helps, at least in some small way. Some will argue that these “magical” gadgets weren’t made to lift morals and I concede; still don’t we as a society require a modicum of good manners, some semblance of decency. Frank Fyffe

Car -wash businesses causing discomfort Car-wash DEAR EDITOR, Recently, a number of car washes are springing up in residential areas. Some of them operate at a high level of noise, causing neighbours to be uncomfortable in their homes.

You have to talk on your telephone in the washroom area and when skyping also. You also have to turn up your TV volume. Dirty water discoloring the walls of your homes. Also, the colorful language used at some of

them. A number of questions for the authorities: Have the City Council given permission for them to operate on Council reserve ? Are they registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority ? Do they pay commercial rates with Guyana Water Inc. and Guyana Power & Light? Here’s hoping something can be done. A.Benjamin

Thursday September 01, 2016

Thinking beyond the box DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me to share some thoughts that has helped me to reassert and recalibrate the way I think over the issues and vicissitudes of life right here on the face of the earth. Editor, without a doubt we are here on this earth in this part of the world for a short time, but sad to say many behave as if they will occupy it for a long time. And indeed they may or may not. In my short journey through life [still journeying] I have read many books, seen a lot of places and met a lot of people. Just over twenty six years [26] ago I found myself in the heart of London, where I attended a function that was Guyanese oriented with a distinct touch of West Indian thinking. Present was top officials of the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Present were jovial Jamaicans, gregarious Guyanese and other representatives of the Cultural Caribbean that were resident in London. The venue was The Town Hall, the format of the program was designed to accommodate poetry reading, and so being a VISITING Poet, I was asked to present one of my own. At that time and on that particular occasion, I saw an opportunity to highlight The Co-Operative Republic of Guyana. I ask myself why not? The Poem was entitled ‘Oh Guyana; Oh Guyana’ Parts of the poem spoke of the Guyana in the past, other parts, the present Guyana and the last part emphatically spoke of the future Guyana. Some were offended others were stunned, as groups began to socialize. Questions were asked as to why I described Guyana as rising above the nations of the Caribbean, also nations beyond THIS REGION. Do you really believe what you just said about Guyana? Of Course I believe! Editor, that particular Poem was written ten [10] years earlier in 1980 February 24, at a time in our history when it seems as if nothing good can come out of Guyana. From the time of writing to this present day, The Co-

Operative Republic of Guyana has seen seven [7] Executive Presidents that have evolved. Some were evil others were good. Nevertheless, when the appointed time came, God sent them off and replaced another. Now after thirty six years, I am more confident than ever before that this dear Land of Guyana is on the brink of something big, huge that will make a difference in our lives. There seem to be among us, three categories of thinkers, but we are more or less familiar and acquainted with just the first two. One: those that think inside the box. Two: those that think outside the box. Three: those that think beyond the box. The first category is those common people whose cortex is subjugated to the limbic region of the brain. In short, because of deep emotional response and little understanding over a matter, their diagnosis is flawed and their ability to figure out a matter is subject to the three C’s complain, criticize or condemn. Emotional reactions overtake their judicial reasoning. The brains of these particular thinkers are programed to believe less than what is conceived. These are traditional and safe thinkers; their analysis is based on what they see and what is known as a people. They never go beyond that level because to allow their thinking to rise to another level is too risky, and so they are locked into a system of fear and apprehension. They

judge a matter based on what they hear and see and not on sound futuristic phenomenon. This category is more prominent than the other two levels of thinkers. For the second thinkers: those that think outside the box are higher in the dynamics of their thought life. These are those that have a fair understanding of the issue/ matter and are less emotional. Their level of thinking hinges on three basic elements. They are constructive and judicial in reasoning; decision making dynamics and navigational skills. Conventional thinking is at the core of their analysis of a matter. They step out of the box and advance and advocate a certain perspective of conditional decisions. The last categories are those that think beyond the box: Now Dear Editor, these thinkers have one thing in common they are visionary thinkers. They see things before it manifest. They have a formidable belief system having a perspective of the big picture. They are seldom wrong, but are more often despised and misunderstood. These thinkers have a deep understanding of issues/ matters that others grapple with. They are in short supply. They have a unique gift of strong and purposeful leadership qualities. They see what others don’t see. They are audacious and bold in their deliberations and decisions. My thinking at that London function was based on THINKING BEYOND THE BOX. Thank you Apostle Vanrick Beresford

Brush cutter operators will... From page 5 my sister is one of the leading trying to pursue the matter will stress us out more than anything and in the end we will still be burdened with the expense. I value his advice, but feel such a sense of loss and disappointment with the “new normal” that we are forced to accept. A few years ago on Camp Street outside of the Georgetown Club, my left side window was shattered by a brush cutter. It cost me $74,000 to replace it. I never got a cent in compensation. Early last year, a co-worker of mine had his window shattered in similar fashion; he never located the culprit, even though we established that the person worked for the Ministry of Public Works. It is only a matter of time until someone is blinded by these reckless operators, but I guess the excuse would be that the person should have seen it coming. By the way,

pediatric surgeons in the Caribbean and is an accomplished cardiac surgeon as well. I wonder what the world would look like if persons like her decide to discriminate by race, creed or class when operating to save a life. And as a further note, the owner who employed the cutter and the rest of the idiots if they are reading this letter…that is, if they can read, she is married to an African man. You don’t just jump and hate a person because they are from a different culture from you. I understand the whole “this is we time now” mantra that people like those within the gang like to sing, but this will get us nowhere fast and you never know when you might be forced to depend on the same person to save you. Stanton Seepersaud M.Sc.; B.Sc.

Thursday September 01, 2016

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Millions forked out for bonds and stadiums we do not need Public servants wage debate...

…Yet public servants given “obscene” final offer on wage increases – Dr. Hinds

Dr. David Hinds “Obscene” is how Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds describes the “final offer” made by Government regarding wage increases for public servants. He said that it can only be seen in this light, especially when one considers that the government gave itself a 50 percent increase just a year ago. Dr. Hinds said that it has always bothered him how governments tend to become most stingy when it comes to paying workers a living wage. The political activist said, “Here in Guyana, from Burnham and Jagan to Jagdeo-Ramotar and now Granger, their governments have come up with all kinds of excuses why their workers should not be paid more.” He said that from the 1960s to the present, government workers always seem to have to beg for better wages, and consequently have had to take industrial action to force government’s hand. Dr. Hinds said that to

begin with, the wages of these workers are already extremely low, and even by Caribbean standards; they do not earn a living wage by any stretch of the imagination. He opined that these workers, who have to keep the government going, are being treated as if they do not have a right to life. “Public servants in Guyana have never recovered from the International Monetary Fund’s conditionalities started by the Hoyte regime 30 years ago. Since then, their wages have always lagged very far behind the cost of living in Guyana.” The political activist said that the problem has now become a systemic one that needs aggressive government intervention. He said that it is a matter of the human right to life, as workers are expected to pay for the bare essentials of life with their wages. Dr. Hinds opined that it is also a matter of social equality, as most of these workers in the public service come from relatively poor backgrounds. “When you keep their wages depressed, you are contributing to the reproduction of poverty,” Dr. Hinds opined. He also spoke about the coalition party’s slogan “A good life for all” which was used during the election campaign season. He said that when one contemplates the recent wage offer, it seems as if the “all” does not include public service workers. “What good life can anyone enjoy with the kind of wages public servants earn? Look at the cost of rent,

food, transportation, clothing and other essentials and tell me if the current wages can suffice? Who are public servants?” “As I already pointed out, they are mostly poor people. A large percentage of them are women who often have to take care of their children by themselves. Most of them are from one ethnic group. And very importantly, most of them voted for the government that is now depressing their wages. Everything about that scenario is wrong.” According to Dr. Hinds,

Government has a moral and political duty to offer the workers much more than the current proposal. He stressed that the union hints that it would settle for 20 percent. He said that while this is not adequate, it would represent a decent start. “Yes, we are not a rich country, but the little revenue we have must be fairly and justly distributed. Look at the tens of millions we are forking out for bonds we do not need, stadiums we could do without and contracts to big shots who do shoddy work, to name a few

extravagances.” Dr. Hinds stressed that the government has to put into effect the vision articulated in its manifesto. The offer to the public servants, he said, is most inconsistent with what is in that manifesto. The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) recently described Government’s ‘final offer’ on the wage increases for public servants as an absurdity. The government proposed that persons earning below $100,000 would receive 5.5%; those earning

$100,000 to $300,000 would receive 5%; persons earning $300,000 to $800,000 would receive 4.5%; those earning $800,000 to $1,000,000 would receive 2% and persons earning over a $1,000,000 would receive 1%. The below $100,000 percentage offer of 5.5% was later increased to 6%. On the issue of allowances for public servants, the government had said that it would consider a review immediately upon the conclusion of the negotiations for wages and salaries.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 01, 2016

NICIL’s operations still shrouded in secrecy - Board members seem uninterested in bringing wrongdoers to justice – Goolsarran

Even with a new administration in place, the installment of different board members, and a detailed forensic audit report exposing the company’s weaknesses, local critics still believe that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has not changed its face. In fact, it is over a year and the entity essentially remains shrouded in the secrecy that had been detested during the previous regime. The NICIL Board Members include Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Board Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle and Head of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Berkley Wickham. Kaieteur News tried relentlessly to contact the Chairman as well as Minister Harmon on a number of issues relating to the entity. But all efforts over the past weeks proved futile. Meanwhile, Wickham asked that all questions be directed to the Chairman. When he was first appointed to the post in August last year, the Chairman of the Board had made a commitment that NICIL would be run in an entirely different manner. Last year in an interview with this newspaper, Odle bemoaned the fact that under

NICIL Board Chairman, Maurice Odle the previous administration, the entity was run with little to no transparency and accountability for investment decisions. He also spoke against the way in which taxpayers were kept in the dark on the happenings of the state-owned company. One year later, under Odle’s directive, NICIL is being accused of keeping the nation “in the dark” as it relates to how reforms have been made by the company under the new administration and the status regarding the millions of dollars in debt it is owed by various agencies. Furthermore, the Chairman had given his support for the release of the Marriott Hotel contract. But

NICIL Director, Joseph Harmon

NICIL Director, Berkley Wickham

NICIL Former CEO, Winston Brassington

Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran

even though he had said that NICIL is in possession of the document, it is still to be released under his watch. Additionally, meaningful reforms recommended for NICIL in a forensic audit report are yet to be implemented. Kaieteur News was able to confirm this with several officials working with the entity. Asked to explain why this is the case, NICIL Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle, had said that the Board is awaiting the completion of two other audits as instructed by Cabinet. The status of these audits is yet to be made public. In the forensic audit report which was prepared by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, it was recommended that the entity be closed down and a small department opened under the Ministry of Finance, if Government deems it

necessary. It was explained that the reason for such a recommendation was premised on the fact that NICIL was initially established for the purpose of privatization of state assets. That was done in two phases in the 1990s. Since that phase ended years ago, the report recommends that there is no need for NICIL to remain a company. It says that it should be liquidated and Government should make moves to establish a department to manage the assets being held by the company. Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, however, that he is not inclined to go this route, and has since made it clear that the entity is necessary. Meanwhile, Goolsarran told this newspaper yesterday that he is deeply disappointed that recommendations to shut down NICIL have not been implemented. He reminded that it was this very administration which had at one time, called for the closure of NICIL when it sat on the opposition benches.

The former Auditor General stated that this new Government had given the commitment that it would not use NICIL in an abusive manner. “However, what Government must see is the bigger picture. What will happen when there is another government in place? Too late shall be the cry then. It is a grave disappointment and NICIL should without question be brought to a halt. It practically allows too many avenues for eerie forms of corruption which the nation has witnessed under the previous administration,” expressed Goolsarran. The anti-corruption activist also said that the forensic audit which he prepared provides irrefutable grounds which show how financial lawlessness took place at unimaginable scales at the entity. In this regard, Goolsarran expressed that he is in

agreement with other financial minds who believe that the NICIL Board seems uninterested in going after those persons who committed grave acts within the stateowned entity. Goolsarran recalled that it was since last year December that a Cabinet decision was made for NICIL’s former CEO, Winston Brassington and his Deputy, Marcia Nadir-Sharma to be sent on leave pending the outcome of investigations. The former Auditor General said it is troubling that eight months later, not a word has been said by NICIL to the nation regarding the status of these investigations. He stressed that NICIL needs to remove itself from the veil of secrecy. Goolsarran nevertheless maintained that “NICIL has been at the centre of some of the worst corrupt acts of our time and it must be closed down.”

Body found floating in Puruni River The decomposed body of an unidentified man was fished out of the Puruni River, Region Seven, on Tuesday night, after it was discovered floating in the water earlier in the day. Kaieteur News understands that passersby noticed the remains of a man floating in the river and subsequently informed the police. Ranks went to the scene Tuesday night and removed the badly decomposed body

which is now at Bartica. Clairmonte David, who was at the scene, told this newspaper that when the remains were pulled from the river, no one could have identified the person and suggested that it might have been someone from another village. Meanwhile, Divisional Commander, Ravindradat Budhram said that a Post Mortem examination is expected to be done today to ascertain the cause of death.

Thursday September 01, 2016

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

SARU AND ITS THEORETICAL FIGMENT There is mass confusion within the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU). This is the only explanation that one can offer in response the trite contention that the laws to be passed, either soon or later, will have retrospective effect, in that it will allow for the prosecution of offences committed before the new laws came into being. Those who hold to the view that a law passed within our legislature can have retroactive effect do not have a full understanding of what case law has determined on this question. As recent as this year, the Privy Council has had to refer to its landmark decision of the case Liyange v. the Queen, in which the retroactive effect of legislation was deemed to be unconstitutional. Any laws passed by the government which relate to the powers to be granted to SARU cannot grant that organization powers to prosecute offences committed prior to when the law was passed. SARU of course does not need any new law to

prosecute persons for assets stolen before its enabling legislation. It has the criminal laws of Guyana which can be used to prosecute such offences. However, SARU cannot, under laws to be passed this year, prosecute persons for offences committed prior to the passage of the laws. Those who feel differently, of course are free to argue their case. They will have a lot of arguing to do, because it is likely that any laws which grant powers to SARU to charge persons for offences committed prior to the passage of the Act will be deemed unconstitutional, and this point will be argued all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice. There is no need for SARU. The State Asset Recovery Unit has hardly recovered anything. The forensic audits have not been much help. The audits of NICIL and the Privatization Unit, where everyone anticipated massive fraud would have been uncovered, turned up empty-handed. This was where most people

expected to find massive looting, and this is where a great deal of attention was fixated. Nothing of substance was found. The same goes for the audit of the Marriott transaction, in which there was some mention about breach of the constitution, but over which no civil proceedings have been filed. The government, at the time it dismissed the top officials of NICIL and the Privatization Unit, was under pressure to produce charges and scalps. Operatives from some law enforcement agencies, seven months after the change of government, were seen taking away voluminous files from the NICIL office. It is not certain how long they will take to read these documents, but judging from the size of the volumes they took away, they have quite a few years of reading before them. We will have to wait to see what comes out of that. In the meantime, SARU is fine tuning legislation to grant it powers. SARU does not need legislation. It simply needs to assume the role of

Dem boys seh...

Scamps like wear dark glasses Was a time when only blind people use to wear dark glasses. That was because dem didn’t want to offend people wid dem eye. Dem glasses was very dark because in any case blind people didn’t need to see anything. Then couple people start fuh use de glasses because de sun was too bright fuh dem eye. De glasses use to tek off de glare. Then dem beauty queen get into de act fuh de same reason dem scamps begin to wear dark glasses. Dem ain’t want people see dem eye, but dem want to watch people. And all dem politicians is scamps. Dem want to look at people and dem boys does watch how dem does peep at people. Dem does keep dem head straight but dem does kak dem eye to see who watching dem. When dem see people watching dem that is wheh de problem does start. Dem politicians does start fuh read de people mind. Some people can’t hide dem emotions, suh dem does mek up dem face when dem see certain politician. That is de people de politicians does try to avoid. But if de person smile, then de politician does try to talk to dem. But sometimes de

situation does tun funny, because when de politician see de smile pun de people face is because dem smiling at somebody else. That happen de other day when de Hay Gee put on he dark shades that had de same colour as he hair dye. He see de woman smile and he try to talk to she. De woman didn’t answer, suh he ask wan wrang because he see she smile at him. De woman seh, “I didn’t even see you.” But is de dark glasses that does mek dem scamps think dem can hide from people. Dem does try to use that opportunity to see who gun talk to dem. Anil was one. No matter how dark de night dark he got on he shades. He did fall down one night because he didn’t see de pothole. It does hide dem eye when dem deh at Cabinet. Some of dem drink de free drinks that BK give dem whole night and de next day dem eyes red like Ole Higue. Sometimes dem does sleep and Soulja Bai don’t even know because dem tun dem face to him but dem eyes close. Talk half and watch how much politicians does wear dark shades.

auditors and to hand over the cases it has investigated to the police. But it seems as if SARU wants to do its own prosecution. All well and good! But SARU is based on a theoretical fiction: that is, billions can be recovered from the proceeds of stolen state assets. This is only in theory. There is nothing in practice which states that this has and can happen. The government is spending millions each month to satisfy the American government that it is serious about official corruption. The problem is, after the government is

finished looking at the PPPC officials, whether the same Americans will ask them to place the microscope on their own officials. The government is wasting resources on SARU. SARU estimates that billions of dollars of state assets were pilfered during the PPP regime. This is a theoretical figment which SARU can never prove. However, scapegoats have to be found to justify the propaganda that was fed to supporters of the ruling coalition. And scapegoats – what we in Guyana call small fry – will be

found. The danger of units like SARU is that it can become a weapon for political prosecution, like is happening right now in Brazil. But that is not going to worry the Americans, whose fingers are dirty from the constitutional coup against Dilma. Wish SARU luck in its attempt to do the impossible, pass legislation with retrospective effect.

The police will have some time to breathe after a man who was described as a notorious bandit was sent to jail. Rawle Victor called ‘Ralo’, 32, of Sheet Anchor Village and Percy Smith Street No 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice, was yesterday sentenced to four years in jail by Magistrate Alex Moore when the accused re-appeared before him in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on a charge of robbery under arms and changed his

plea to guilty. The court heard that on Monday August 4th 2014 while being in company of another individual and armed with a gun - Victor robbed Mohammed Ali, of $1.3M. Ali, the owner of M Ali and Sons Supermarkets and Gas Station in New Amsterdam and of 19 Pope Street New Amsterdam, was on his way to the Scotiabank New Amsterdam branch at Strand New Amsterdam to deposit over $2.5M when he

was robbed. Victor had committed the robbery minutes after he had appeared in court on a number of robbery charges. He was just granted bail and was making his way to the car park when he committed the act. The accused was positively identified and the sum of $1.3 M was found on his person. Victor was arrested at around 13.00 hrs on the day in question. He and his Continued on page 24

Four years for ‘notorious bandit’ who robbed gas station owner

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 01, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Now Burnham’s daughter Roxanne joins the chorus Anyone who went through a philosophy book would tell you that humans are so complex, mysterious, self-driven, self-preserving, deceitful and incapable of selfless love that prediction of their behaviour is almost impossible despite glowing theories of the role of genetic factors. Sigmund Freud once observed that he didn’t think he ever understood women. The greatest line fault in human thinking is that we do not transfer to others the soulful emotions we nurture for our loved ones. Here is a criminal who is all excited at the birth of his new child. But he would go out there and kill a parent who is the only income-earner in the family, thus devastating the future of the man’s children. This is where humans come very close to animals. If one loves his wife intensely how can he harass another man’s wife for sex and victimize her through dismissal? Such charges have been made against the CEO of the most watched cable news channel in the US – Fox News. Can you imagine three young men robbed a house, set it on fire when they were leaving and left an elderly mother to burn to death? Then days after, they hacked an elderly man and his wife to death in his shop. In the court,

their relatives turned up and were consoling them and they were waving to their relatives. Why should anyone show love to these tenth rated, lower animals? But they have relatives who love them and they in turn love. This is where life becomes incomprehensible. How can humans hurt, maim and murder others when those very perpetrators have other humans that they love? Don’t they know the meaning of love and shouldn’t that consciousness deter them from hurting others? I did two columns some years ago in which I looked at a daughter’s defence of a father. I featured the daughters of Saddam Hussein, and in Guyana, the daughters of Donald Ramotar and attorney Vic Puran. All three daughters had lovely things to say about their fathers and I attempted to show the men’s record. Hussein as President murdered thousands of people including his own sons-in-law. Vic Puran was the prosecutor for a treason case. Treason carries the death penalty. Two of the accused, Carol Ann and Bruce Munroe has two little, sick children. I knew Puran all my life since we were teenagers. I knew Puran had fallen in bad company and I believe those people eventually killed him.

In a published letter in the newspapers, his daughter subtly hinted that the police knew who killed him but would not act. I met Puran in Tiger Bay while he was tending to the Foreman Shoe Factory - a building that I suspect he purchased with questionable finances. I asked him not to continue as prosecutor because I knew it was a case of victimization. He said to me; “you should see the evidence”. I told him I did and it had more holes than a discarded basket. The accused got off because the evidence was sickeningly non-existent. When the daughter wrote her praising letter, she wasn’t

concerned with Puran’s role in the treason trial. Donald Ramotar’s daughter said in the newspaper that her father deserved the good things that came his way because he fought for his country. I guess my daughter thinks her father fought for Guyana too. But I, my nephew, Mark Benschop, Oliver Hinckson, Bruce and Carol Ann Munroe and so many others were seriously oppressed by the presidency of Lisa Ramotar’s father. But she chose not to comment on those things despite my public appeal for her to do so. We come now to the letter by Forbes Burnham’s daughter, Roxanne,

yesterday in KN. She wrote nice words about her father. I read them and remembered what Tacuma Ogunseye once wrote in this newspaper. He observed that people think Burnham didn’t do wrong things. In my opinion, Burnham did so many wrong things that an enumeration will fill volumes. But are these daughters wrong to eulogize their fathers. The answer is no. They knew them up, close and personal. The point is these daughters may not know what their fathers did. But is that not stretching it a bit? Saddam Hussein killed his opponents openly. Lisa Ramotar had to know about the PPP’s excesses during her

Frederick Kissoon father’s reign. You mean to tell me Roxanne didn’t know anything about the wrongs and violations of Forbes Burnham? I suggest two things to her. Read the 1980 Constitution and tell Guyanese what you think of it. And have a chat with some of us who know what you don’t.

Bid Protest Committee yet to begin work after almost two months It has been a month and some weeks since Minister of State Joseph Harmon, on July 17 at a post-cabinet briefing, announced the official establishment of the Bid Protest Committee (BPC) which would look at the cases of unsatisfied contractors/tenderers who want specified contract awards to be investigated. The BPC falls under the umbrella of the Ministry of Legal Affairs. An official within that Ministry told Kaieteur News that since the establishment of the

committee, the members have met only once and there has been no official work done as yet. It has also been disclosed that there is no established office or means of contact with the BPC. In wake of the Haags Bosch Landfill site contract being awarded to Puran Brothers on July 14, Cevon’s Waste Management had come forward with several complaints regarding the bidding process and the eventual awarding of the contract. Cevon’s who had partnered with Ivor Allen and Ground Structure United in their bid for the contract but were unsuccessful, cited favouritism and skullduggery on the part of the Ministry of Communities in the bidding

and awarding process of the landfill site management contract. Ivor Allen at the time had told Kaieteur News that they officially lodged a complaint with the Bid Protest Committee and had expressed “absolute confidence that the BPC would get to the bottom of this (awarding of the contract).” However almost two months later, it has been alleged that no investigations have been launched into the bidding and procurement processes of the Haags Bosch contract by the committee. Kalesh Puran, a director of Puran Brothers, when contacted by Kaieteur News last evening, said that no one has contacted him from the

BPC since the complaint was lodged by Cevon’s. The three-member committee comprises Attorney General Basil Williams as its Chairperson, former Manager of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Archie Clifton and Company Secretary of Insurance Brokers Limited, Ewart Adams, while CEO of Property Protection Services, Colin Shaw, is a rotating third member. The committee deals with alleged breaches of the Public Procurement Act, by procuring entities. Section 52 of Guyana’s Procurement Act provides for written protests by contractors within five working days from the award of the tender.

Thursday September 01, 2016

Diamond woman shot during botched robbery A Diamond, East Bank Demerara woman was shot by one of two bandits around 19:00 hrs yesterday during a botched robbery at the victim’s grocery shop located at Seventh Avenue. Gomattie Ramrattan, 55, was shot just under her left ear during the incident. She was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. According to information received, the woman had just reached home and opened her shop when the two bandits pounced on her. They pretended to be customers for the first couple of seconds, but then one of

them pointed a gun at the woman and demanded that she opened the grill on the door to allow them in. When she refused to comply, they discharge a round—hitting her under her ear before escaping. At the hospital, the woman’s sister, Rosita said that she was at a cremation when she received a call that the mother of two had been shot. The woman said that she was only informed that her sibling was shot by bandits. “She is responding by showing signs, but she is not speaking.” Investigations are ongoing.

Five heavily-armed bandits terrorize elderly couple An elderly couple of Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, was forced to flee from their home after five heavily armed bandits stormed into their home Tuesday afternoon and demanded cash and jewellery. The victims have been identified as Bharrat and Parbattie Jaggot of 241 Republic Park. According to information

received, the men forced themselves into the couple’s home and held them at gunpoint and demanded their valuables. The couple allegedly told the men that they did not have any money but handed over jewellery, cellular phones and a laptop computer. The men then made good their escape after collecting the loot. No one has been arrested.

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

‘Boyo’ Ramlall murder PI adjourned

MURDERED: Ganesh ‘Boyo’ Ramlall

Murder accused: Fazeel ‘Javed’ Bacchus

Murder accused: Lennox ‘Soldier Man’ Roberts

Murder accused: Kurt ‘Banana’ Erskine

The preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of Ganesh Ramlall, former owner of the Regent Multiplex Mall, Georgetown which was scheduled to continue yesterday in the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, has been adjourned until next Thursday, September 8. Lennox ‘Soldier Man’ Roberts, 32, of 2279 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Fazeel ‘Javed’ Bacchus, 21, of 7 Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara and Kurt ‘Banana’ Erskine, 35, of 285 Section ‘C’,

Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara are currently remanded for the indictable offence. According to reports, on July 5, 2015, Ramlall also called ‘Boyo’ had just returned home from a barbecue and had gone to use the outside bathroom. The 48-year-old businessman was reportedly confronted by four men who shot him to the head and chest and took away his jewellery, a wallet and escaped. Ramlall was later pronounced dead on arrival

at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. The bandits prematurely aborted the attack when an alarm was raised by the businessman’s wife and neighbours. At the last court hearing, Police Sergeants Rodwell Sarrabo and Salaish Roopnarine had given evidence when the Voir Dire (trial within a trial) continued. This Voir Dire is being done to ascertain whether a caution statement given by Bacchus was given by willingly or involuntarily. It will also determine if the caution

statement can be admitted as evidence in the PI. Sergeant Sarrabo is the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Brickdam Police Station. Sergeant Roopnarine is stationed at the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU). However, at the time of the murder, both policemen were attached to the Major Crimes Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Cop-threatening driver jailed for illegal gun, ammo Darryl John, the 23-yearold driver who had whipped out a firearm and threatened to kill several police ranks on a mobile patrol was yesterday jailed for 48 months. The sentencing came four days after he was found guilty by Magistrate Judy Latchman, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, for illegal firearm and ammunition possession. John, of 269 Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg, was convicted for having an unlicensed .32 revolver in his possession on September 27, 2015. He was also convicted for having illegal ammunition on the same day. Having considered the mitigating factors pointed out by John’s attorney, George Thomas, the serious nature of the threat made to the police ranks, along with the prevalence of the offences, the Magistrate sentenced John to 48 months’ imprisonment on each charge. However, she instructed that the jail terms will run concurrently. The convict was also ordered to pay a fine of $120,000. During mitigation, Thomas begged the court to impose the minimal sentencing on his client. “This is unfortunate for him. This is the first time he has had any problems or issue with the law,” Thomas said. It was reported that on the

day in question, John whipped out a firearm and threatened to kill several police ranks who were on patrol, when they requested to conduct a search on motorcar PRR 7001, he was driving. According to reports, when ranks approached the vehicle, John pulled out the weapon and pointed it at the ranks before speeding away. A nearby police patrol was reportedly summoned and they managed to intercept the vehicle and search it. It was reported that ranks recovered a .32 pistol and several rounds of ammunition. Magistrate Latchman had fixed yesterday’s date for a probation report in favour of John to be presented to the court after a request was made by his former attorney Charles Ramson Jr. However, attorney Thomas indicated to the court that his client no longer wanted the report to be presented. At a July 25, court hearing, Ramson had asked that the charges be dismissed against his client on the ground that the case presented by Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick was “weak”. The lawyer had argued that the prosecution failed to prove the key elements of the offencewhether his client had physical control, knowledge and custody of the arms and ammunition. According to the lawyer,

the only link between his John and the firearm was an oral statement the police claimed John made when the allegations were put to him. Ramson had strongly refuted that the convict gave the statement to police. According to Ramson, the policeman who alleged that his client gave the statement was unable to locate the statement in the Brickdam Police Station Diary, since the page was missing. In response to these contentions, Prosecutor Bostwick had told the court that a Prima Facie case was made out against John for the offences charged. He recounted that seven witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution and urged the court to believe the evidence of Constable Cummings, who searched the car in the presence of the defendant and other ranks. The prosecutor noted that after the alleged firearm and ammunition were found in the vehicle, they were shown to John but he remained silent. It was at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Brickdam Police Station, Bostwick said, that John uttered to Constable Cummings, “Sir about 15 days ago I find the firearm with the rounds in Albouystown and was planning to hand it over to the police.”

Thursday September 01, 2016

Man sells phone, steals it back - court hears

A 22-year-old market vendor was on Wednesday released on bail after it was alleged he sold a phone to a man and stole it back with the help of others. Dillon Williams of High and Barrack Streets, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on June 21, at Cornhill Street, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with an ice pick, he robbed Kelvin James of a Samsung cell phone valued $13,000 and $48,000 cash - property of James. The unrepresented man was granted bail to the tune of $100,000. The court heard that on the day in question, James purchased the phone from Williams and walked around the corner. According to Police Prosecutor Gillian Simmons, Williams later approached James and requested to have a contact number from the said phone. However, when James refused to hand over the phone, the defendant whipped out the weapon and relieved the man of his phone and cash. Simmons added that Williams then made good his escape. However, the prosecution’s facts were strongly refuted by Williams who claimed that he saw

CHARGED: Dillon Williams James for the first time about three weeks ago. Williams told Magistrate Dylon Bess that he became acquainted with James after he purchased a pack of cigarettes from him. According to Williams, the allegations against him are “impossible” since there is no way he could have robbed James. Prosecutor Simmons

indicated that investigations are still ongoing in the matter. Having considered the seriousness of the offence and the fact that an offensive weapon was used during the commissioning of the robbery, the Magistrate granted Williams bail. He was instructed to return to court on September 27.

Thursday September 01, 2016

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff stripped of presidency, Miche Temer sworn in Brasília (AFP) - Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff was stripped of the country’s presidency in an impeachment vote yesterday and replaced by her bitter rival Michel Temer, shifting Latin America’s biggest economy sharply to the right. Rousseff, 68, was convicted by 61 of the 81 senators of illegally manipulating the national budget. The vote, which exceeded the needed two-thirds majority, meant the veteran leftist leader was immediately removed from office. Three hours later, Temer her centre-right former vice president and one time crucial coalition partner whom she now accuses of orchestrating a coup against her - was sworn in. Cheers - and cries of disappointment - erupted in the blue-carpeted, circular Senate chamber as the impeachment verdict flashed up on the electronic voting screen. Pro-impeachment senators sang the national anthem, some waving Brazilian flags, while leftist allies of Rousseff stood stony faced. “I will not associate my name with this infamy,” read a sign held up by one senator. In a surprise twist, a separate vote to bar Rousseff from holding any public office for eight years failed to pass, meaning she could in theory re-enter political life.

Brazil’s new President Michel Temer reacts during the presidential inauguration ceremony after Brazil’s Senate removed President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino Speaking at the Alvorada presidential palace on the outskirts of the capital Brasilia, Rousseff, from the leftist Workers’ Party, condemned her forced exit. “They decided to interrupt the mandate of a president who had committed no crime. They have convicted an innocent person and carried out a parliamentary coup,” she said, defiantly vowing that she’d “be back.” Temer, 75, was to mark his first day as president by flying late yesterday to China for a G20 summit. A recorded address to the nation was expected to be released later. A stalwart of the centreright PMDB party, Temer has

vowed to steer Brazil away from 13 years of Workers’ Party rule in hopes that a more market-friendly track will resolve the country’s worst recession in decades. Rousseff is accused of taking illegal state loans to patch budget holes in 2014, masking the country’s problems as it slid into today’s economic disarray. She told the Senate during a marathon 14-hour session on Monday that she is innocent and that abuse of the impeachment process put Brazil’s democracy, restored in 1985 after a two-decadeslong military dictatorship, at risk. Recalling how she was tortured and imprisoned in

Brazil’s former President Dilma Rousseff (C), who was removed by the Brazilian Senate from office earlier, speaks at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly the 1970s for belonging to a leftist guerrilla group, Rousseff urged senators to “vote against impeachment, vote for democracy.” However, huge antiRousseff street demonstrations over the last year have reflected nationwide anger at her management of a country suffering double-digit unemployment and inflation. The once mighty Workers’ Party, meanwhile, has struggled to stage more than small rallies. Temer, who was in an uncomfortable partnership with Rousseff before finally splitting from her, will be president until the next scheduled elec-

tions in late 2018. Better known as a backroom wheeler-dealer than street politician, Temer took over in an interim role after Rousseff’s initial suspension in May. He immediately named a new government that turned its back on more than a decade of leftist rule in which Brazil saw 29 million people lifted from poverty, but became bogged down in corruption and the ongoing economic slump. Temer has earned plaudits from investors. It remains uncertain whether he will have voters’ support to push through the painful austerity

Venezuela’s Maduro vows crackdown on protest violence Caracas (AFP) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro vowed to jail opposition leaders if they incite violence during upcoming protests seeking a referendum on removing him from power. “We must defeat the coup d’etat without impunity,” he told supporters at a rally in Caracas billed as an early counter-demonstration. “Whoever gets involved in a coup plot, or calls for violence, is going to jail, sir. Shriek, weep or scream, but you’re going to jail.” Maduro accused the United States of plotting against leftist governments in Latin America. “The threat is coming directly from American imperialism,” he said. One opposition figure, Yon Goicoechea, was arrested

on charges of possessing explosives which he allegedly planned to detonate at the upcoming protests. Opposition lawmaker Tomas Guanipa said the authorities had planted evidence against him. “Even if you throw us all in jail, you won’t stop the people from taking to the streets to fight for democratic, electoral and peaceful change,” he said. The protests are the first since electoral authorities indicated it was too late to organise a recall vote this year — infuriating the opposition, which wants a referendum by January in order to trigger new elections. The protests are intended to pressure authorities to let the referendum go ahead. Venezuela is facing a deep economic recession fueled by

the fall in the price of oil, its main export. With shortages of food, medicine and basic goods, the opposition coalition behind the referendum drive — the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) — insists that ditching Maduro’s socialist government is the only way out of the crisis. Venezuela’s neighbours are becoming increasingly wary of developments in the once-booming economy. The Organisation of American States (OAS) on Tuesday denounced Maduro’s government as a “dictatorship,” criticizing its “wave of repression” against opponents before the march. The measures “completely contradict democratic principles and values,” OAS chief Luis Almagro said, calling on the government to permit the demonstration as part

Nicolas Maduro Pix – Nicolas Maduro

of a “broader framework of freedom.” Venezuela’s Catholic Church also called on the government to allow today’s protests to go ahead freely. The journalists’ union meanwhile said conditions for the press are difficult ahead of the demos.

Masked attackers threw Molotov cocktails and flaming excrement at the offices of the oppositionl e a n i n g newspaper El Nacional on Tuesday, after the authorities denied entry on Monday to a team of reporters from Al Jazeera TV.

reforms he promises. About 50 leftist demonstrators gathered outside the presidential palace to show their support for Rousseff. “We are protesting against the coup and fighting for democracy,” said 61-yearold farmer Orlando Ribeiro. In the centre of the capital, extra security and the closing of avenues near the Senate caused massive traffic jams. Police said they were preparing for large protests later in the day. Venezuela and Ecuador both pulled their ambassadors from Brazil in protest at Rousseff’s removal. On the Senate floor, emotions crackled in the run-up to the vote, then overflowed as senators made final speeches on what both sides of the debate agreed was history in the making. Renan Calheiros, the Senate president, rejected Rousseff’s claim of a coup, saying her impeachment might not have been perfect, but had “the DNA of democracy, the DNA of the constitution.” Senator Aecio Neves, Rousseff’s narrowly defeated centre-right opponent in her 2014 reelection, pronounced triumphantly: “The constitution won. Brazil won!” But Senator Vanessa Grazziotin was scathing in her summing up of an “illegal process that is called impeachment but is a coup.” “Temer does not have legitimacy to govern this country,” she warned. “This is a farce, a farce, a farce,” shouted Another proRousseff senator, Lindberg Farias. Shaking his fists at the majority backing impeachment, he cried: “They’re going in the garbage can of history.”

PAGE 22

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Jadesco Offers: Architectural designs, 3D modeling, building estimation/ quotation, rehabilitation works & general construction. Call: 612-0468, 629-3605, email: jadesco15@gmail.com Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Repairs to LED, Plasma, LCD and other electronic items. Abdul Electronics.Call:225-0391 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377/684-2119 A.Bhopaul &Sons Trucking Services: sand, stoves & cement transportation etc. Call: 228-5080; 603-1838 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

SALON

FOR RENT

- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Hair station rental at convenient location, Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, discounts given to newcomers, persons with experienced & clients

PROPERTY FOR SALE One (2) plus storey house, 3 self contained bedrooms, fully carpet. Price negotiable. Residential scheme, W.C.DCall: 275-0582, 650-6723

LAND FOR SALE

Tuschen, Light St, upfront, 1-2 storey concrete house $23M negotiable, Non-Pariel E.C.D - 1 two storey concrete house 56X36. Call: 642-1252

La Parfaite Harmonie-$2.3M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$2M (Corner Lot), Zeelugt -$2.3M, Herstelling 4th Bridge -$4M. Call: 642-1252

Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

Tuschen Front (Phase 1) $3.5M, Tuschen (Phase 2) $2M with foundation, Uitvlugt Main Road -$2.3M. Call: 642-1252

1 Church building in front and 2 story building at the back 30X120, vacant possession, 180 Charolotte Street Bourda. Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183 Property @ 172 Zohora Street and Market Street Better Hope E.C.D. Call: 220-1583/ 1718-847-4196 (NY). Serious buyers only. One two stories concrete building- 45ftX30ft; land 5,606 sq ft, 2nd Bridge Grove New Scheme, E.B.D- Call: 6393450 House and land for sale in Sharpe Street Leonora, price negotiable. Call: 686-3512 One new two storey house (50ftby25ft) in Phase 1, Good Hope. Call: 220-3185 3 Bedrooms house located in Meadow Brook, price -$16M negotiable. Call: 645-6498

85.6 Acres titled farm land with timber/water access, located @ Loo Creek E.B.D River. Call: 625-8589; (518) 859-5313 Land at Friendship, E.B.D $2.5M per lot. Call: 692-8513/ 617-0465 5 Acres coconut and other fruit bearing, no chemical, lease or sale – Demerara River across Timehri docks. Call: 261-2988 Land at Tuschen Housing Scheme, near school, 3 minutes away from main road. Call: 261-2988 60X115 @ 3rd Avenue Diamond (transported), price $5M negotiable. Call: 6456498

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: 4WD PICKUP. CALL: 6987807

3 Bedrooms house; top and bottom property at Canal No.2 Polder -$35,000 monthly. Call: 613-1860 House located @ 696 Section C, Grove Housing Scheme. Please call 611-1963 for further inquiries 3 Bedrooms top flat for rent at Cross Street, Alexander Village . Call: 688-1647 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: office, church, storage bond lessons, internet, stationery & photocopy shop, other place -$20,000 per month. Call: 603-6400 2 Apartments @ 62 Victoria Avenue Eccles. Call: 6672536; 628-0016 One bottom flat at 353 Herstelling, Third Street, E.B.D Call: 265-3538 House for rent in Golden Grove, EBD. Call: 692-8513/ 617-0465 Stand for rent in the New Amsterdam area. Interested persons contact 646-9087. Price affordable.

Tuschen -$3M, Uitvlugt $2M, La Parfaite Harmonie $3.5M, $1.9M, $1.6M, $1M, V/Hoop-$27M. Call: 604-6724 50X90 Land at Covent Garden, E.B.D - $3.2M. Call: 696-7527

CAR RENTAL

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

Thursday September 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

HEALTH Improve your health with Herbal Supplements. Contact Hazel’s Herbal Store. Call: 226-9136

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM WINGS CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SUMMER. CALL: 690-6494

WANTED

VACANCY

We are interested in buying lands in Farm New Scheme E.B.D, corner lots preferably. Call: 266-0693

Male & Female workers, machine operators with TI certificate & experienced Accountant, bond clerk. Call: 330-2399; 623-5920

One live in maid. Call: 6749114/ 672-3886 One office clerk. Call: 2332725/ 233-2439 Live in waitress 18-25yrs, salary $70,000, boarding & lodging free. Call: 610-5043 Mature experience couple to live in and work at Resort at Parika. Call 231-0363 between Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 & 1:30-4:30pm 1 live-in domestic to work in Kitty area & handyman for G/T & Interior location. Call 231-0363 between Mon-Fri 8:3011:30 & 1:30-4:30pm

1 Mechanic/Welder for interior, must have knowledge of Doosan excavator & engine at least 5yrs experienced. Call: 6859028 (8-3pm) Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 We l d e r / F a b r i c a t o r f o r interior location. Applicants must be experienced with verifiable references. Call: 618-2020 Receptionist between 25-35 years apply within 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 2250198

Female shop worker for interior. Call 231-0363 between Mon-Fri 8:30-11:30 & 1:30-4:30pm

5 Waitress $16,000 weekly, 1 female bartender -$20,000 weekly to work at sports bar E.B.D –Call: 661-5099/ whatsapp: 661-8802

Office Clerk (senior/junior) with CXC English/ Mathematics, computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500

FULL TIME WAITER/ WAITRESS AT AAGMAN INDIAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF STREET, EXPERIENCEDPREFERRED. CALL: 219-0158

Experienced dispatcher and taxi driver at Ramada Princess Hotel. Call: 616-5419; 265-7075; 265-7076

1 Qualified pharmacist to work at True Value Pharmacy. Call: 618-4027 between 8am4pm, attractive salary offer.

1 Able Bodied Clerk. Call: 616-5954 1 Canter driver & 1 salesman from WBD area ( La Parfaite Harmonie), must be able bodied & have sound secondary education. Call: 618-4257 One painter. Call: 609-3650

Male and female workers to work in Bakery on W.C.D preferably from WCD. Call: 254-1399/ 627-2515 Hauler tractor driver. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

Labourers & experienced garbage truck drivers. Kindly contact: 670-7920

1 General domestic must able to prepare vegetarian meal. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading, G/Town Ferry Stelling.

1 Live in general domestic 20-40yrs boarding & lodging free -$80,000 monthly. Call: 610- 3974

Captains with valid certificate of competence as Master of a Power Driven Vessel. Call: 2261100; 226-5380

Register your child for our after school program for slow learners in Maths, Reading, Spelling Etc. Call: 675-4379

Welder to work in workshop on the West Coast on a percentage basis. Call: 6841247

Study in US/Canada, deal for 2016 CXC, students $500 Canadian, VISA processing Centre, Parika. Call: 260-4850/ 649-3073

Experienced Welder Fabricator. Must be Creative. Attractive Salary. Call Gansham’s General Construction: 641-1291.

Groundsman & Security guard: bring resume & updated CV @ Georgetown Cricket Club, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown.

EDUCATIONAL IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742

9 Courses; Diploma in computers -$35,000, Computerized Accounting 4 courses -$35,000 @ Cybertron Technology, Parika. Call: 260-4850 9 Courses; Diploma in Computers -$35,000, Computerize Accounting; 4 courses -$35,000, PC repairs/graphics courses, Micrographics Technology, Vreed-en-Hoop. Call: 264-3057

One bartender. Call: 668-8332/ 638-5303 One female cleaner for office in Eccles –Call: 233-2745 Male/female to work in printery, offset operator, ages 18-25, call 226-9337 between 10:0am-04:00pm. Apply @ 21 Seaforth St., Campbellville G/T

Salesman/canter driver for established brand of snack foods, chocolates, biscuits, beverages, etc, experienced is sales required. Call: 617-1809 Now hiring front desk agents, housekeepers, cooks. Please email resume to info@parkvuehotel.com Porters, apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek. Continue page 23

Thursday September 01, 2016

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Govt. responds to implication by GPSU Head…

Money found via audits not in any Special Fund

From page 22

- transferred to National Treasury – Junior Finance Minister Junior Minister of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma has offered clarity on a suggestion by President of the Guyana Public Service Union, Patrick Yarde, that monies found by the forensic audits are lying idle in various bank accounts. According to Sharma, the monies found in the accounts unearthed by the audits have been transferred to the nation’s treasury. Sharma said that he cannot comment on the negotiations which are currently ongoing. However, he said that the negotiating team is aware of the state’s finances and that should serve to inform their engagement with the union. The Union is of the opinion that the money unearthed by the several audits can and should be used to provide public servants with a liveable wage. In December 2015 Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had announced that the transfer of billions of dollars discovered during the

Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma forensic audits had begun. The first set of monies which were transferred totalled over $7 billion. One billion came from the audit of the National Industrial and Commercial Industries Limited, while the remainder came from the Lotto Fund, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and other agencies. The rest of

transfers were to begin early this year. The Union has expressed displeasure at the ‘final offer’ proposed by the Government’s negotiating team for several reasons. The GPSU considers the ‘final offer’ proposed by the Government of Guyana for public servants to be an absurdity, since the state’s negotiating team has yet to address the issues of debunching and allowances. A statement issued by the Union said that the two important components which were substantive parts of the negotiations have not been remotely addressed by the government’s delegation. According to the Union, it had engaged the Government of Guyana in the wages, salaries and allowances negotiations with a clear mandate that the engagement should focus on the goals of a living wage for Public Servants, the resolution of the de-bunching issue within scales, and addressing the matter of the

adequacy of allowances paid to public officers. The Government’s team which was headed by Reginald Brotherson, Permanent Secretary, Department of Public Service, proposed a differentiated approach to increases which sought to provide the greatest relief to those within the lower salary bands of the Public Service Wages and Salaries Structure. The government proposed as its final offer, persons earning below $100,000 would receive 5.5%; those earning $100,000 to $300,000 would receive 5%; persons earning $300,000 to $800,000 would receive 4.5%; those earning $800,000 to $1,000,000 would receive 2% and persons earning over a $1,000,000 would receive 1%. The below $100,000 percentage offer of 5.5% was later increased to 6%. The Union is expected to present its position on the offer after its General Council meeting which is slated for tomorrow.

Dutch team to present drainage model in a few days -workshops with key stakeholders to follow

The Dutch Risk Reduction (DRR) Team which began its assessment of Guyana’s drainage system last July, is set to make its final presentation in a few days. This was reported to Kaieteur News yesterday, when contact was made with Major General (Rtd) Joe Singh, chairman of the National Task Force Secretariat (NTFS). Major General Singh said that following the final presentation slated for next Wednesday September 7, the DRR Team will conduct workshops with relevant stakeholders on September 8 and 9. He said that during the Team’s seven-week stay in Guyana, they were doing work particularly in the Ruimveldt and Liliendaal area, the catchment areas identified by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the NTFS and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council. The recorded data was used to create a model which is not only applicable to the Georgetown area, but can be used countrywide. He said that the information was used to inform the modelling

process. This is possible, since the variables common to any particular region can be inputted into the model to determine what would be the outcome if certain conditions exist, including high levels of rainfall and drainage capacity. According to the Chairman, the group travelled around the country to get a holistic view of the primary, secondary and tertiary drainage systems. As such, fundamental information was employed and imported into the model, making it more informed of drainage in the Guyanese context. He said that the Team had been working closely with local counterparts such as the NDIA, City Engineers of the Georgetown M&CC, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the University of Guyana. The workshops will be held with students of UG and personnel from relevant agencies to inform them of the findings. The Dutch team consists of Peter Vijn, Thijmen Yaspers Focks, Siebe Dorrepaul Yos Muller and their team leader Joost Remmers, Masters students of Delft University,

Chairman of NTFS, Major General Rtd. Joe Singh Netherlands. The young men are representing the DRR Team which visited Guyana last November. During their first engagement with the media in July, Remmers said that his team would try to understand the drainage system in Georgetown and build on the work which was done by the previous DRR Team. He said that his team is overwhelmed

by their arrival in Guyana and hopes that they can do a good job so as to make contributions for a better and safer Georgetown. In January 2016, the DRR Team which visited in November recommended that there should be an upgrade to the City’s hydraulic modelling capabilities for the catchment areas of Guyana. It is this recommendation which was the focus of the team’s work in Guyana. Other recommendations included an upgrade of modelling capacity, improving the flood resiliency of people, an upgrade to smallscale floating dredging capabilities, develop and apply rational risk approach, “Living with Water” Pilot project, proper Asset Management, Data Management and to make technical short-term improvements.

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Purple Heart: 30X80 -$25,000, 32X80 -$28,000, 34X80 $28,000, 36X80 -$28,000, Free Delivery- Call: 688-9712; 6510717; 671-2490 1 Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working condition, Call 2237380 One complete trout boat for sale, less than a year old. Call: 654-2817 Cargo Trawler. Call: 682-8724; 616-5954 1-Hyster Forklift With 1000 Series, Perkins Engine$1.2M, 1-CAT DP-40 3-Ton Forklift-$2.9M. Contact#6500402 One heavy duty Kenmore clothes dryer. Call: 265-3538 LAND IN 11 STREET DIAMOND. CALL: 2253234 Muscovy ducklings. Call: 602-7203 Roxie’s Fashion, School uniforms, final weekend! Hurry! Limited stocks! @ 301 Church Street. 1 Business mobile meat centre; size 8ftX12ft steel plated, 1 3Y mini bus, 2-5’ freezers, 1- electric meat saw, 3 coolers- $1.8M. Call: 6632882

VEHICLE FOR SALE 3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891 2009 BELTA -$2.3M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2009 IST -$2.7, 2012 RACTIS $2.6M, 2009 ARUIS -$2.5M –CALL: 617-2891 SALE @ STAR CARS: PREMIO, RUNX, IST, AXELA, RZ BUS, SPACIO, FIELDER. CALL: 679-3140 1-2006 Nissan Dump Canter, 1-Potable trailer. Call: 6626567; 691-4340 Oswin J’s Auto Imports New Arrivals: Premio, Allion, Axio, Fielder, Rush, five comprehensive insurance for 6 months. Call: 609-2815 2011 Prado, very low mileage, diesel, automatic, 3000cc excellent condition. Call: 6245838 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 1 Toyota Alteeza, fully loaded, 1 Toyota Tacoma 2006, fully loaded- Call: 6380821; 676-2600 Honda Civic M/Car “SS” series -$1.3M negotiable, very good condition- Call: 696-2815

TO LET 2BEDROOMSAPARTMENT IN ECCLES -$60,000, ROOMS INALBERTTOWN, SHORT & LONG TERM. CALL: 225-3234 Three bedrooms concrete bottom flat in South Ruimveldt Gardens-$75,000. Call: 218-1949 Fully furnished; 2X3 bedrooms, luxury apartments to let (long & short term). Call: 655-3505 2 Bedrooms apartment for rent (semi-furnished) @ Dennis Street, Sophia, (water & light inclusive). Call: 6626567; 691-4340

TO LET One bedroom self contained apartment, unfurnished @ Land of Canaan E.B.D. Call Navo: 692-3617; Bob: 6420867 Self contained 1 bedroom apartment -$30,000 monthly+ security at South Ruimveldt. Call: 623-0076 One bedroom apartment at MonRepos E.C.D, no children. Call: 662-9043 PEN PAL Male 30yrs old is seeking female for friendship. Call: 685-3022

PAGE 24

Thursday September 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Bare Root shootout…

Captured Enmore bandit Id’d in six armed robberies The car that was hijacked by the bandits

The police were able to crack several cases involving armed robberies along the East Coast Demerara with the arrest of a suspect last Monday. A serial bandit was apprehended during a shootout with the police at Bare Root. He along with four accomplices robbed a grocery store at Enmore and hijacked a car. They were eventually cornered by the police and his accomplices managed to escape. The police in a statement yesterday said that the suspect has confessed to being a member of a gang that committed a series of armed robberies. This newspaper was told that the suspect was positively identified during several identification parades conducted yesterday, in relation to six recent armed robberies. He will be charged today with six counts

of robbery under arms, two counts of discharging a loaded firearm with intent, and one count each of possession of arms and ammunition without licence. According to information, around 17:00 hrs on Monday, five armed men stormed an Enmore grocery store and escaped from the scene by hijacking a Toyota Raum along with a undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables. The police were informed and roadblocks were immediately set up which resulted in a shootout between the police and bandits. The shootout reportedly started at Enmore and ended in Bare Root and resulted in the arrest of one of the bandits. The others reportedly abandoned the car and ran into the bushy area in the backdam. Police recovered an unlicenced firearm from the suspect.

Four years for ‘notorious bandit’ who robbed gas...

From page 9 accomplice had held Ali at gunpoint and relieved him of $2.5M. He was caught after diving into a swamp to elude police and public-spirited citizens. The other man who was with Victor, fled the scene. Ali had stated that he had just exited his truck and was heading for the bank when two men approached him. One of the men pointed a gun at him while the other grabbed his money-bag. The men darted through Chapel Street with the bag of money in their escape bid while he started to shout for ‘thief.’ The police had responded and joined in the chase and the men were spotted on Republic Road, a short distance away. One of the robbers fled into a churchyard while the other went in the direction of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) compound. Victor, who it was that had fled in the direction of the RDC compound, eventually dived into a swamp, where he was apprehended with the money-bag, which was later found to contain $1.3M.

Jailed: Rawle Victor Victor was previously charged with robbery committed on businessman Raymond Arnold of 20-6 St John Street, New Amsterdam, of $1M and his car, valued at $2,750,000 which occurred on April 23, 2014. He was also charged with robbing 29-year-old businessman Indernauth Bishram called ‘Ajay’ of Sun Shine Supermarket and Poultry Supply of 60 Public Road Cumberland East Canje of $1.3M, five days later on April 28, 2014.

In another matter, Victor was charged with robbery with aggravation committed on 84-year-old John Ramberrat on Monday 12th May, 2014. He was recently sentenced to four years on a marijuana charge. On June 24, 2015 at Sheet Anchor, East Canje he was nabbed with a bulky bag riding a bicycle. He was challenged and dropped the bag which contained leaves, seeds and stems of the marijuana plant. Whilst being taken into custody he pushed the police officer aside and escaped. He was subsequently recaptured and taken into custody. He was granted bail. While on bail he was found with 14 pounds of marijuana in May 2016 at house No 2 village. He pleaded guilty and was jailed for four years and fined a total of $5,040,000. He was also previously charged with riding a CG motorcycle without the necessary documents and helmet. He was in the process of escaping from the police when he crashed into a motor car. He was subsequently hospitalised.

Thursday September 01, 2016

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD Trinidad Express - Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is certain that a bright future is ahead for Trinidad and Tobago. In his first Independence Day message to the nation as prime minister, Rowley noted that the celebration of the country’s 54th Independence anniversary yesterday comes at a challenging time when international developments are seriously impacting the national economy. “We are all aware of the fall in oil and gas prices, the resources upon which our country is heavily dependent for needed revenue. We find ourselves at a crucial point in our development when we are being asked to make some tough choices,” Rowley said. He added, though, that he always felt assured of the strength of our people to navigate these turbulent waters. “Our capacity for innovation, our understanding of international events, our creativity and our characteristic sense of humour will triumph over any adversity we may face. I have faith in our ability to rise to the task of building a better Trinidad and Tobago,” Rowley said.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Thursday September 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Trump discusses border wall with Mexico, sidesteps payment issue

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto shake hands at a press conference at the Los Pinos residence in Mexico City, Mexico, yesterday. REUTERS/Henry Romero Reuters - Donald Trump told Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto yesterday that the United States has the right to build a border wall to halt illegal immigration, but the Republican presidential candidate did not bring up his signature demand that Mexico pay for it. In an unexpected trip to a country that he has vilified for causing illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States, Trump held talks with the Mexican leader at his Los Pinos residence for about an hour. “We did discuss the wall, we didn’t discuss payment of the wall, that will be at a later date, this was a very preliminary meeting. It was an excellent meeting,” Trump said. Trump is trailing Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in opinion polls for the Nov. 8

election. The New York businessman’s aides hoped the trip would make him look presidential and show he is willing to deal head on with a thorny issue like relations with Mexico. But his omission of asking Mexico to pay for the wall during yesterday’s talks was notable. Trump’s call for Mexico to fund the wall is often the central moment of his campaign rallies. He asks the crowd who will pay for the wall, and supporters shout back, “Mexico!” Mexican opposition politicians attacked Pena Nieto for hosting Trump. The Republican candidate first made his accusations that Mexico is sending criminals and rapists across the border and pledged to build a wall that Mexico would

pay for when he launched his presidential bid in June last year. He has also accused Mexico of cheating the United States on trade. The Mexican president said the many millions of Mexicans in the United States deserve respect, but offered only a mild rebuke of Trump for his rhetoric. “The Mexican people has felt aggrieved by comments that have been made, but I was sure his interest in building a relationship is genuine,” Pena Nieto said at a joint media event after the talks. A few dozen demonstrators gathered beneath a monument to Mexican independence in the center of the capital to protest the visit, some holding placards emblazoned with captions such as “You are not Wall-come” and “Trump and Pena out.”

Britain to seek unique deal with EU, including immigration curbs Reuters - Prime Minister Theresa May and her top ministers yesterday agreed Britain would seek a unique relationship with the European Union, involving controls on immigration as well as a good trade deal. After a summer of political earthquakes followed by a few weeks of holiday calm, May gathered her cabinet team for the first time since she asked them to use the break to come up with options for Britain’s future ties with the bloc after a divorce. For many in the EU, it is not before time. They have given May breathing space to devise a negotiating stance before triggering the exit procedure, but are keen for Britain to begin the talks and end uncertainty that has hurt investment. “The PM said that there were two related imperatives: getting the best deal for people at home, and getting the right deal for Britain abroad,” a spokeswoman for May said. There was a “decisive view” that the model

Britain was seeking would be unique rather than an “off-the-shelf solution”. “This must mean controls on the numbers of people who come to Britain from Europe but also a positive outcome for those who wish to trade goods and services,” the spokeswoman added. May told the cabinet meeting, held at her country residence, that there would be no second referendum and “no attempts to sort of stay in the EU by the back door”. The British leader has said she will not trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon treaty to start the exit procedure until next year so she has time to come up with a negotiating stance. Her spokeswoman said cabinet agreed this could be done without seeking the backing of parliament, or the devolved nations of the United Kingdom. Ministers also agreed yesterday the Brexit process should confirm Britain’s place “as one of the great trading nations in the world”.

Thursday September 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

India accords residency status to foreign investors Reuters - India approved a plan yesterday to allow foreign investors to settle, emulating a policy in countries such as the United States and Singapore to woo investment from abroad. The proposal, aimed at giving a fillip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” programme, was first announced in February’s federal budget. Foreigners need to invest 100 million rupees (1.13 million pounds) over 18 months, or 250 million rupees over three years, resulting in jobs for at least 20 resident Indians every fiscal year to be allowed to settle, the government said in a statement. Those who meet the criteria would be eligible to stay for 10 years. The residency permit can be extended by a decade. Up to now, such investors have been eli-

gible for business visas lasting up to five years. The cabinet approval comes months after the government unveiled sweeping reforms to rules on foreign direct investment, clearing the way for Apple to open stores and announcing easier terms for investors in sectors ranging from civil aviation to pharmaceuticals. Modi has urged global businesses to come and manufacture in India since he took office two years ago. His government has pointed to a 23 percent rise in foreign direct investment to $55.5 billion in the fiscal year to March as proof the policies are gaining traction. Investors with the permanent residency status would be free to buy one home, and spouses and dependents would be allowed to take private jobs and study, the government said.

PAGE 27

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 01, 2016

Thursday September 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 29

IOC sanctions six Olympians for failing dope tests at Beijing Games

Nadezda Evstyukhina of Russia competes in the women’s 75kg Group A weightlifting snatch competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. (REUTERS/Yves Herman)

Russia’s Tatyana Firova (2nd R) receives the baton from Kseniya Ustalova (R) during the women’s 4 x 400 metres relay final at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona August 1, 2010. Team Russia won the race in 3 minutes 21.26 seconds ahead of team Germany on second and team Britain on third place. (REUTERS/Sergio Perez)

Thursday September 01, 2016 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Networking will be a necessity. You will have the discipline to make changes you feel are necessary. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Be cautious when dealing with coworkers. You may be angry if someone tries to take credit for something you did. GEMINI (MAY22-JUNE 21) Try not to make waves. You need to pamper yourself for a change. Your accomplishments could exceed your expectations if you mix a little business with pleasure. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) A day at the beach may satisfy the whole family. Exhaustion combined with overindulgence could result in minor health problems. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Romance is likely if you participate in unusual forms of entertainment. Avoid letting children and friends borrow. VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) If possible, rely on coworkers to back your objectives, and talk to superiors in order to get approval. Confusion could result when communicating with others.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 OCT. 23) Relationships will form if you get out and do things that you enjoy. Feeling under the weather may be a result of overindulgence. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) This is not the time to lend or borrow money or possessions. Focus on forming business partnerships. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Be careful not to show your temper when dealing with the boss. Do your own thing. Throw yourself into your work. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Look into making changes to your personal papers and don't neglect those bills that have been piling up. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Confusion is apparent and you'll need some sound advice if you want to do the right thing. PISCES (FEB. 20MAR. 20) Hassles with close friends or family will put a damper on your day and result in isolation and loneliness. Double-check before you go out.

(Reuters) The International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday it had disqualified six sportspeople, including three Russian medalists, for failing doping tests at the Beijing 2008 Games. The sanctions come amid a crackdown on Olympic athletes’ use of banned performance-enhancing substances that has now spilled over to the Paralympics Games as well. Controversies over doping overshadowed the buildup to this year’s Rio Olympics and flared anew as U.S. and Australian competitors branded their Russian and Chinese rivals drug cheats. In the latest move, the IOC disqualified Russian bronze-medalist weightlifter Nadezda Evstyukhina, silvermedalist weightlifter Marina Shainova, and Tatyana Firova, who finished second with teammates in the 4x400m track event. The Russian Federation team was also disqualified from the women’s 4x400m relay. All the sanctioned athletes were ordered to return any medals, pins or diplomas they had won in Beijing. Bronze-medal-winning weightlifter Tigran Martirosyan of Armenia and fellow weightlifters Alexandru Dudoglo of Moldova and Intigam Zairov of Azerbaijan were also disqualified, the IOC said in a statement. It called on sports federations to modify the results of the Beijing Games that were affected and consider what other steps they found appropriate. The IOC stores athletes’ samples for a decade to test with newer methods or for new substances, and has in the past stripped medal winners of their prizes.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Mangru wins competitive Sharpshooting Pools Competition at Jerries in Grove The winners pose with their trophies after the event: (from left) Gowkarran Mangru, David Odel, Clarence Baker and Steive Rafeek.

A large and competitive field of some of the best exponents of the game of Pools turned up at the Grand Central Pools Bar,

popularly known, Jerries Shop, at Grove on the East Bank of Demerara to battle for the attractive prizes on offer in the Sharpshooting

Pools Competition last Sunday. The entries were much and this extended the competition way into the morning hours and when it was all

settled Gowkarran Mangru stormed to the championship spot, beating out David Odel, Clarence Baker and Steive Rafeek in that order in an extremely competitive showing among some of the best players around. Devon Singh copped the MVP prize for his showing during the event. For his effort Mangru claimed the $100,000 first prize, while Odel took away $40,000 and Baker $20,000 along with the respective trophies, while the fourth place finisher Rafeek collected a trophy. The tournament was sponsored by Eddie’s Bobcat, Excavator and Construction Service, Shaffie Mohamed Mining Company, Ansa McAl Trading, L. Mahabeer and Son Cambio, Sahadeo Mining, Khemraj Nauth Contracting Service, Grand Central (Jerries) Pool Bar, A1 Imports and Cell Phone Shack.

Walsh set to become Bangladesh bowling coach Courtney Walsh’s (centre) most recent role was as West Indies selector ©WICB Media

ESPNcricinfo - Courtney Walsh, the former West Indies captain, is likely to become Bangladesh’s new bowling coach. Although neither the

BCB nor Walsh have made any public comments, ESPNcricinfo understands Walsh has signed a contract that runs until the 2019 World

Cup. Walsh, who is set to arrive in the country in the coming week, replaces Heath Streak, who served as bowling coach for two years until May. This will be Walsh’s first major coaching role in international cricket since retiring in 2001 as the then leading wicket-taker in Tests. He has since worked as a cricket administrator in various roles including West Indies selector, mentor with Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL, and as manager of the West Indies Under-19 team. Most recently, Walsh served as part of the West

Indies selection panel. Walsh will be the second high-profile West Indian in a coaching role with Bangladesh. Gordon Greenidge, the former West Indies opener, was the coach who steered Bangladesh to the 1999 World Cup via victory at the 1997 ICC Trophy. Walsh takes on the role with Bangladesh’s pace bowling on the rise. Streak oversaw Bangladesh’s best year in ODI cricket, 2015, when they won a series each against South Africa, Pakistan and India. The team also reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup.

Thursday September 01, 2016

Bahamas to host next year’s FIFA Beach World Cup NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC- The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be played in the Caribbean for the first time, on the sands of Bahamas, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Teams from 16 countries will descend on capital city Nassau to battle for the coveted trophy from April 27 to May 7 next year. “Everybody is looking forward for this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017,” said Joan Cusco, FIFA Beach Soccer Committee Member. “Not only because of its unique venue, in one of the most iconic resorts in the

Caribbean, but for the huge competition everyone can look forward to”. Hosts Bahamas and 2015 finalists Tahiti have already secured their places for next year’s event. The four teams from Europe will be decided during a competition set for Italy from September 2nd to 11th. Matches will be played at new-look stadium at Malcom Park in Nassau. “In 2017, it will be the first time that the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup settles on the sands of the Caribbean,” said Jaime Yarza, Head of FIFA Events.

SARWAN APPOINTED 29TH WEST INDIES... From page 35 fitness programme and we will have a fitness trainer in time for the England tour. There are so many reasons why we have not performed as we should. I would like the players to be themselves, to be comfortable and we need to fully understand what it means to consistently perform well.” After just a single day’s match practice in England, the first Test began on May 17 and although four batsmen scored centuries as England declared at 553-5 and Kevin Pietersen flayed an impeccable second innings ton, the young, inexperienced West Indies side showed commitment and fight even if they at times lacked consistency. It was heartening to see the team spirit among the side and almost everyone contributed with the bat, even the bowlers, as the West Indies scored 437. Gayle and ViceCaptain Daren Ganga then saw their team to 89 without loss in their second innings as the rain affected match ended in a draw. It was a good start to their campaign without Lara and Sarwan appeared to be getting the full support of a united team. This was one aspect that appeared missing during Lara’s tenure as skipper. After a promising start to the tour, the West Indies’ fortunes took a nose dive both on and off the field in the second Test at Headingly. Chanderpaul was ruled out of the game on the morning of the match due to a knee injury, while skipper Sarwan injured his shoulder while chasing a ball on the first day

and was unable to take further action in the rain-hit contest. He was eventually ruled out of the entire series and replaced by Marlon Samuels. In the previous meeting at headingly in 2000, the West Indies lost in two days. This was the first time since 1946 that a test had ended in two days and the visitors eventually lost their first series in England in three decades. In the 2007 series, England piled up 570-7 declared with skipper Michael Vaughan returning to Test cricket for the first time in 18 months with a century. South African born Pietersen hit his first double century; a scintillating 226 as the Caribbean bowlers struggled for consistency. In overcast conditions, left-arm pacer Ryan Sidebottom rocked the visitors with 4-42 as they fell for 146 with Sarwan being unable to bat. Asked to follow-on, West Indies ended the second day on 22-2 still 402 runs away from avoiding their second consecutive innings defeat at headingly. Rain, which washed out the entire third day, only prolonged the West Indies defeat as the visitors crashed to their heaviest defeat since 1928 and their biggest against England since 1957. With a day and almost a session to spare, West Indies had lost by an innings and 283 runs with Sidebottom taking another four wickets as only Dwayne Bravo with 52 offering any resistance. The West Indies also lost the next two Tests to lose the series 3-0 as Ganga captained the team in the last two matches.

Thursday September 01, 2016

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Suriname Spartans coming for Finch and Bailey DJ Stress’s Champions T20 Cup power Australia Galaxy of International stars expected to series win over Sri Lanka

A team of cricketers who are either Guyanese or Surinamese but all live and work in Suriname will travel from Paramaribo to battle a Berbice Super Squad XI from 16:hrs, on Sunday September 11 in the DJ Stress’s Champions T20 Cup at Albion where the feature game which starts at 20:00hrs and feature a galaxy of International Stars. Dave’s West Indian Imports will sponsor Shiv Chanderpaul and former Guyana U-19 batsman Akshay Homraj, who now resides in the USA but lived in Berbice. The 20-year-old right-hander played for Guyana U-19s in 2013 & 2014 and says he is excited to return home and once again play at Albion, a club he represented when he lived in Number 48 Village, Corentyne. He now plays in New York. Promoter Paul ‘DJ Stress’ Bonar, who says he is amazed by the excitement stirring in

Georgetown, disclosed that many from Demerara are planning to drive up for the event in Corentyne. “The drive from Georgetown to the Berbice Bridge is just 90 minutes and from the Berbice Bridge and from there last 15 minutes to the ground. So it is a day and night of fun away from Demerara,” said the Promoter. The feature match includes Guyanese Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. The pair of former West Indies Captains joins overseas stars Darren Sammy, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Mohamed, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Rayad Emrit and Kieron Pollard. Hometown boys Shimron Hetmyer, Assad Fudadin, Gajanand Singh, Veerasammy Permaul, Davendra Bishoo, Jonathon Foo, Anthony Bramble and Gudakesh Moti will also be aiming to light up the night sky. (Sean Devers)

Fifth annual GCA’s NBS 2nd division cricket launched ‘Tournament is playing a big role in developing players’ - Roger Harper By Sean Devers The fifth annual New Building Society (NBS) 40over second division cricket competition organised by the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), scheduled to commence Saturday, was launched yesterday in the conference room of the NBS Georgetown Headquarters. The simple ceremony was chaired by Assistant Secretary/CEO Anil Beharry who participated as a player in the NBS cricket in Berbice, while GCA President, former Guyana and West Indies allrounder Roger Harper, NBS Chairman Floyd McDonald and GCA’s Competitions Committee Head Shawn Massiah provided brief speeches. The 53-year-old Harper, who played for the West Indies at the International level between 1983 and 1996, thanked NBS for their continued support of cricket in the City and noted that the Company is playing a big role in developing players. “West Indies under-19 player Tevin Imlach has participated in the NBS tournament, while seven members of Guyana’s team which won the Regional U-19 one-day Championship in St Vincent played in NBS cricket,” Harper disclosed. The former Guyana Captain explained that while only teams in Georgetown are al-

lowed to play in the NBS competition, players from ‘all areas’ can participate in the tournament once they are registered with the GCA. “This year DCC dethroned GCC, who won the previous three competitions and it’s clear that the NBS is playing an important role in honing the skills of the youngsters who play in their competition,” Harper pointed out. Harper told the gathering which included team Captains, NBS officials and the Media, that usually the competition include 16 teams but this year school team Saints Stanislaus College informed they were unable to participate. Massiah informed that over 100 players from as young as 15 years old to the over-40s play in the NBS cricket with defending Champions DCC, Sophia, Third

Class, GDF, Everest, Diplomats & Police playing in Zone ‘A’, while Runner’s up GCC, MYO, GYO, GNIC, TSC, MSC, UG and Ace Warriors are contesting in zone ‘B’. Massiah said in an effort to encourage fast bowling the GCA playing conditions state that pacers must bowl 40% of the overs bowled in an innings. McDonald informed that NBS considers Sports to be very important to the lives of the youth, especially cricket. “Cricket locally has been through some challenging times due to certain Administrators but we continue to support cricket here in Georgetown and Berbice. Our motto is value for money and we are satisfied with this competition,” McDonald stated. The first round on Saturday has only one game in each zone with GCC hosting TSC and DCC opposing Everest at DCC. On Sunday Ace Warriors face UG at DCC in the lone game of the day.

Wolf’s Challenge Cup bowls on Sunday The Wolf ’s Challenge Softball Cup is set to continue on Sunday with matches at Malteenoes Sports Club and Gandhi Youth Organisation grounds. At 09:30 hrs on pitch one at MSC, Tropical Springs will face Mike’s Wellman and at 13:00hrs Parika Defenders will take on Floodlight. On pitch two, Fisherman Masters will play Superior

Woods at 10:00hrs, Trophy Stall Angles will tackle Blue Divas at 12:00hrs, Mike’s Wellwoman will take on Enterprise Divas at 13:30hrs and Trophy Stall Angels will battle 4R Lioness at 15:00hrs. At GYO, Regal Masters will entertain Albion Masters at 10:00hrs and HS Masters will play Wolf’s Warriors Masters at 13:00hrs.

George Bailey played an excellent knock in spin-friendly conditions, Sri Lanka v Australia, 4th ODI, Dambulla, August 31, 2016 ©Associated Press (Reuters) Quick-fire half centuries from opener Aaron Finch and George Bailey helped Australia to a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the fourth one-day international in Dambulla, giving the visitors an unassailable 3-1 lead heading into the final ODI. Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat on a dry wicket, laboured to 212 in their 50 overs, but Australia chased down the target with 114 balls to spare. Earlier in the day, fast bowler John Hastings rattled through Sri Lanka’s batting line-up, picking up six wickets for 45 runs in his 10 overs. Opener Dhananjaya de Silva was the only Sri Lankan batsman to offer any resistance to the Australian attack, bringing up his maiden ODI half-century before being dismissed for 76 after mistiming a pull shot off Hastings to Finch at midwicket. Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews, who limped off with a calf injury mid-way through his knock, returned to chalk up a battling 40, but Hastings picked him off with the last ball of the innings after he skied a shot to Bailey at backward point. After the record-breaking ODI between England and Pakistan on Tuesday, Finch had his eye on even more. He smashed eight fours and three sixes en route to an 18-ball half century, equalling the record for the fastest ODI 50 by an Australian. But soon after launching a monstrous six to bring up his milestone, the Aussie opener was adjudged lbw on 55 off the bowling of Sachith Pathirana. Left-arm spinner Pathirana brought more cheer for the home crowd when he dismissed Usman Khawaja for a secondball duck and then bowled captain David Warner to cap a productive spell of three wickets in five deliveries. Bailey steadied the ship for Australia, sharing a 100-run partnership with Travis Head for the fourth wicket to put the visitors in control. Head eventually fell leg before to Dilruwan Perera on 40. Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade smashed a six over long on to seal the series win for the visitors, with Bailey unbeaten on 90. Scores: Australia 217 for 4 (Bailey 90*, Finch 55, Pathirana 3-37) beat Sri Lanka 212 (De Silva 76, Hastings 6-45) by 6 wickets.

John Hastings picked up his maiden five-wicket haul, Sri Lanka v Australia, 4th ODI, Dambulla, August 31, 2016 ©AFP

PAGE 32

Thursday September 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

GABF release Suriname’s De ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira confident Arend Basketball Club schedule of holding off rivals this weekend CMRC in Barbados

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has released the schedule for Surinamese Club, De Arend (The Eagles) that will visit Guyana

The holder of the Caribbean title on several occasions, Guyana’s Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira despite leading the points standing is not taking the opposition lightly and is setting his sights on dominating the third leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) at Bushy Park in Barbados this weekend. The local speedster, who will be astride a Kawasaki ZX6R, will be aiming to produce a dominant performance to hold off his fast charging cousins Matthew and Elliott and the rest of the Caribbean in what is shaping up to be a close race to the final leg in Guyana. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport recently, Vieira, who was upstaged by Matthew in the Trinidad and Tobago leg at Wallerfield, expressed confidence ahead of this weekend’s showdown which is anticipated to generate much interest in the Superstock category. Vieira, who has always done well at the Bushy Park Circuit, is well-liked in the island territory, told this newspaper that he is hoping the machine holds up well which will allow him to put on a treat for the massive following of support that he enjoys there.

Beset by a few mechanical hiccups in the T&T leg that slightly affected his overall performance the skilful Guyanese rider spoke of the modifications that the team has done which according to him puts him in better shape to repel the anticipated challenges he will face. He reported that the team has done some modifications to the engine and early testing has shown that it is in perfect working condition. “We realised that we were losing power in Trinidad so on our return home we did a pressure test and it revealed that the one of the cylinders was dead so we changed the entire engine. We will be going to Barbados with a much better engine, one that we are confident that will perform well for us,” Vieira said. He reckoned that apart from Elliott and Matthew, Barbados’ Brooke Miller, who has been riding fast according to early reports, could be another threat. Vieira extended much gratitude to his main sponsor Sunburst Orange Juice as well as Palm Court, Pure Racing, Top End Fitness Gym and Paul Da Silva among others.

this weekend, arriving over land on Friday for a three-game series against Guyana’s top clubs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

WINDIES anchored to the bottom of ICC Test rankings

Williams sister act through to U.S. Open second round

West Indies are at the bottom of the ICC Test rankings ladder.

Serena Williams of the USA hits to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia on day two of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports) NEW YORK (Reuters) World number one Serena Williams opened her U.S. Open account with a tidy 6-3 6-3 win over Ekaterina Makarova on Tuesday, to join her sister Venus in the second round of the year’s final grand slam. Williams, whose status as world number one is under attack from several fronts, delivered a message that she will not be surrendering the top spot without a fight, needing just 63 minutes to dispatch the 29th-ranked Russian. Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, who have both beaten Williams in slam finals this season, along with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, will all be eyeing the number one ranking should the

American’s bid for a 23rd grand slam title stall. Williams has held the number one spot since Feb. 18, 2013 and will extend her streak to 186 consecutive weeks by the end of the U.S. Open fortnight, tying the WTA record currently held by Steffi Graf. Back on Arthur Ashe Stadium court for the first time since a shock loss to Italy’s Roberta Vinci in last year’s U.S. Open semifinals, Williams made quick work of Makarova to follow the lead of her sister Venus. Sixth-seeded Venus had provided the opening act for sister Serena when she outlasted Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova 6-2 5-7 6-4 before turning over the Arthur Ashe Stadium court to her top-seeded sibling.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC-West Indies continues to languish at the bottom of the standings in the longest format of the game while cricketers from the region have made little progress in the player rankings. However, South Africa has moved up a few notches and their pacer Dale Steyn has stormed back to the number one position in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday. West Indies, who recently lost a Test series against India nil-two, remained number eight in the rankings above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Their highest ranked batsman is Darren Bravo who is in 28th position, while Kemar Roach at number 23, is the region’s highest ranked

bowler. Pakistan currently tops the team standings while there were no major changes in the list for batsmen with Australia skipper Steve Smith leading the table. Steyn reclaim the numberone position for Test Bowlers after producing a match-winning performance in the Centurion Test that has helped his side complete a 204-run victory over New Zealand on

Tuesday. Steyn, who grabbed five for 33 in the second innings in what was his 26th fivewicket haul, finished with match figures of eight for 99 to regain the top slot. Meanwhile, the 1-0 series win has pushed South Africa up two places to fifth in the Team Rankings, while New Zealand has slipped two places to seventh.

Kaieteur News

Thursday September 01, 2016

PAGE 33

70-year old Berbice conqueror plans to tackle the might Essequibo For 50th Independence Anniversary and 100th BHS anniversary give glory to God. The veteran swimmer stated that swimming is an excellent exercise. He hopes that his ventures in

By Samuel Whyte Overseas based Guyanese Ashraf Ally known as “The River Conqueror” who has swam most of the major rivers in Guyana is back home to be a part of the 100th anniversary celebrations of his alma mater, the Berbice High School and the 50th Independence Anniversary of Guyana. However, one of Ally’s main aims is to conquer the Mighty Essequibo River. Ally, who hails from Canefield Settlement East Canje, has been swimming for most of his life and has conquered most of the major rivers in Guyana. He had always endeavored to swim the Might Essequibo River. He feels this is the correct time to undertake the feat in light of the two mentioned observances. He will be undertaking the task on Monday 5th September the same day that the BHS will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary. He hopes to swim for between 5-6 hours to across the river. The feat, which he says is not impossible, will be dedicated to the observance o f G u y a n a ’s J u b i l e e Independence Anniversary and the BHS Anniversary. According to Ally, he will be swimming from Rockstone on the East Bank of the Essequibo River, swim around Luck Island which is in the river and then head to the shore on the other side. He is inviting others to join him. Ally graduated from the BHS in 1967 and has since gone on to new heights. A former head of the Science Department of the Canje Secondary, Ally now resides in the United States. The father of two daughters who are both Doctors in The USA, Ally is now 70 years and stated that he feels good and ready for the challenge. Before he undertakes the task, on Saturday he will once again be swimming the Berbice River as a warm up. The Berbice River exercise will begin around 10:00 hrs from the New Amsterdam Stelling to the Rosignol

Ashraf Ally Stelling. According to Ally, boats will accompany the swimmers across the two rivers and will be available to collect who flounders or panics in the water. After undertaking many journeys across the Canje River, in 1979 he undertook his first major swim across Berbice River. In 1998 he swam the Suriname River. Swimming from Skeldon to Stratt in Nickeri Suriname, which was the route the old Suriname River launch use to travel. In 1999 he swam the Demerara River. He has also swam Lake mainstay twice. According to Ally, he is aware that the Essequibo River is full of reptiles and other dangerous creatures such as Anacondas, Electric Ells, Sting Rays, Caimans, Piranhas and Alligators, but he will not be swimming with any protective gear. Ally who is now a preacher believes that the Almighty has created men and women and has given them a manual which is the bible. He said that the Bible teaches that human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made and that our bodies are designed to

swimming will motivate Guyanese to take up swimming in order to enjoy better health. He is hoping to make the swim across the

Berbice River an annual event. He also plans to swim some distance into the Atlantic Ocean. He is making a special

appeal for anyone to join him in his endeavor or assist in any way possible, especially Minister of Sports Nicolette Henry, since she was also a product of the Berbice High School. Persons can contact Ally on Ashchrista@yahoo.com or sports enthusiast and community activist Eli Hazel on 333-3309.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

Thursday September 01, 2016

Two uncapped players named in Windies women training camp ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, C M C - Tw o u n c a p p e d players have been named in a squad of 18, to attend a training camp in Jamaica next month, ahead of the One-day International Home Series between West Indies Wo m e n a n d E n g l a n d Women. Erva Giddings, a 30year-old all-rounder from Guyana, and Akeira Peters, a 22-year-old medium-pacer from Grenada, have been asked to attend the camp which runs from September

16 to 30. The bulk of the training outfit comprises members of the squad which won the Women’s World Twenty20 trophy, the likes of Merissa Aguilleira, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor and Anisa Mohammed. The camp will also mark the return of left-handed allrounder Shanel Daley to the fold following a near twoyear absence, due to a knee injury. “ We a r e h a p p y t o welcome back Shanel. She

was one of the top ODI and T20I bowlers in the Caribbean and was also highly rated in the ICC Women Players’ Rankings,” said Courtney Browne, Chairman of the Selection Panel. “Shanel brings a wealth of experience back to the squad and will highly challenge for a place in the final 13.” The series against England Women comprises five ODIs, the last three of which will count towards the

ICC Women’s Championship, to be contested between October 8 and 19 at the Trelawny Multiplex and Sabina Park in Jamaica. T h e I C C Wo m e n ’s Championship is a multiyear, bilateral competition between the top eight international women’s sides that will lead to automatic qualification for the top four teams to next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup to be hosted by the England & Wales Cricket Board. “The squad of 18

Akeira Peters (flickr.com)

Erva Giddings comprises members of our Women’s World Twenty20winning squad, along with other talented players from the recent Regional Wo m e n ’s To u r n a m e n t played in Guyana,” said Browne. “The Selection Panel will reduce the squad to 13 at the end of the training camp, as we look forward to a highly competitive series against England Women”. The Windies Women are currently second in the standings on 20 points – four

behind current ODI World champions Australia Women – and one ahead of England Women. They are due to complete their schedule of I C C W o m e n ’ s Championship matches in November on the road against India Women. SQUAD: Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Erva Giddings, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Akeira Peters, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Stafanie Taylor.

KMTC Emancipation meet set for September 18 The Kennard Memorial Turf Club Emancipation race meet will be staged on September 18 at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice. The main event which is the A3 and lower W/A fetched a top prize of $1,000,000 and goes for seven furlongs. The runner up will take home $500,000 and third place $250,000. Other races carded for the day are D3 Maiden and E and lower (7 furs) with a top prize of $600,000, G1 and lower W/A (7 furs) in which the winner will pocket $280,000, H1 and lower (7 furs) for a first prize of $240,000, L-W/A (5 furs) with a top purse of $120,000, L-W/A (5 furs) where the winner will collect $120,000, J1 and lower W/A (5 furs) for a winning sum of $180,000 and two years

Guyana bred (5 furs) which will see the champion taking home $200,000. The races will be run under the rules of the KMTC and in the event there are less than five horses entered for any event, the club reserves the right to cancel or reframe the said event. Owners of horses are required to pay at least $5,000 for each horse at the time of entry. Entries will be closed on September 11 and no late entries will be accepted. Horses can be entered through Roopnarine Matadial (325 3192), Ivan Dipnarine (331 7010), Mr. Kennard (623 7609, 225 4819, 226 1399), Fazal Habibulla (657 7010), Dennis Deroop (640 6396) or Compton Sancho (602 1567).

Thursday September 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 35

What cricket means to West Indians (Part 15)

SARWAN APPOINTED 29TH WEST INDIES SKIPPER By Sean Devers

Ramnaresh Sarwan was appointed the 29 West Indies Test captain and seventh Guyanese to hold the job when he was named skipper for the tour to England in May 2007. With 65 Tests and 4, 268 runs at an average of 38.80, the 26year-old was taking on what many felt was ‘the poisoned chalice’ of West Indies cricket after past captains such as Lara, Hooper and Chanderpaul had failed in the job since the team began their slump at the International level in 1995. The attitude of the players and the inept way West Indies cricket was being administered were blamed for the team’s poor showing at the International level while many criticized Lara’s leadership. The woeful showing at the CWC was especially disappointing for the supporters. Many of Sarwan’s fans felt this was not the best time for him to take on the burden of captaincy. “When you are not performing everyone questions how you play, your commitment and what you do in your private life and I guess that’s understandable. It hurts when we lose games and maybe everyone should take some of the blame…the players, coaching staff and the administrators,” the new th

Skipper stated. “This is an important position and I take it very seriously. I feel my biggest challenge is to get the players, coaching staff and the administrators to look in one direction….to work together as one big team for the betterment of the game…..I think that will be a big step in our moving forward as a team and improving the image of West Indies cricket,” Sarwan opined after his appointment. Although he has acted as stand-in skipper during his tenure as Lara’s deputy from 2003, Sarwan said that being appointed means you need to show more leadership qualities, be an example to the players both on and off the field and lead from the front at all times. “I have been fortunate to have played at youth level with most of the guys which makes it easier now we are on the same Test team. The guys also have a good relationship with the junior players and since the younger guys have seen me play when they were 16 yearolds, they look up to me. This makes it easier for me to help guide them in the right direction,” Sarwan informed. Some worried that the captaincy could affect his batting while others fear his social activities could affect his captaincy.

Daren Ganga ©AFP

Sarwan, the leading West Indian batsman in the recent CWC2007, feels neither of the two will happen. “Yeah, I know certain things will have to change now that I am captain. I am fully aware of my responsibilities. I will continue to enjoy my cricket and my life but there is no way that after all this hard work, I will allow my social life to affect the team or my cricket,” he assured. Sarwan felt the responsibility of captaincy could also help with his sometimes impetuous stroke play. “I have been known to play some rash shots at times

and I am confident that the added responsibility will help my batting especially now that Brian is no longer in the team and we all have to step up and play our part,” Sarwan added. The players’ aversion to training has also been blamed as a reason for their demise and the team is presently without a trainer after the last one resigned. But Sarwan felt that was also exaggerated. “Some things are made out to be worse than they are. But I do agree there is room for improvement in the area of fitness. As Captain I fully support a properly structured (Continued on page 30)

Ramnaresh Sarwan (AFP)

t r o Sp CMRC in Barbados...

‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira confident of holding off rivals this weekend Guyana’s Superbike rider Stephen Vieira poses for a photo op.

Two uncapped players named in Windies women training camp

Walsh set to become Bangladesh bowling coach IOC sanctions six Olympians for failing dope tests at Beijing Games

Fifth annual GCA’s NBS 2nd division cricket launched ‘Tournament is playing a big role in developing players’ - Roger Harper

NBS’s CEO Anil Kishun presents to sponsorship cheque to GCA President Roger Harper. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210