Kaieteur News
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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
The new school term and the challenges Schools reopen tomorrow. Over the past few days there was the traditional rush by parents to get clothing for the children. People could be seen walking from store to store hunting bargains. Of course, each store had something on offer. There was footwear, the various coloured and striped shirts and the other things that children need. Initially, there were the complaints about prices. Many parents felt that the prices were much higher this year, and then something happened. The ubiquitous Chinese stores were there under selling the traditional stores. Competition has its advantages. One thing that seems unexplainable is the markup some of these stores put on their products. Given the large number of children heading to school, one would have expected an automatic lowering of the prices. Money is not at a premium for most of the people sending their children to school, some for the first time. But getting the children to school is only a part of the problem. The rest is the long road to see that these children remain in school. Each year when the academic results come in, there is a lot of boasting about how good these children perform. Just recently there was the hype about the performances at the National Grade Six Assessment. What is not readily understood is that the hype is about the top five per cent of the children who sit the examinations. Another five per cent would be heading to the less rated secondary schools where some of them would become late developers to challenge their more recognized peers later in life. The problem surrounds the overwhelming majority. Many of them would be forced into schools, but these are the children who often see themselves as failures and would become the rebels in the classroom. We have seen the results of teachers trying to get some of them in line. It is no longer unthinkable to see parents barging into schools to assault teachers. Immediately this sends a signal to other teachers to leave the errant child to do as he or she pretty much pleases. We know the result of such a decision. These children breeze through the school and later enter the ranks of the unemployable. And these are the children who are posing problems for the authorities and the administration alike. There is no end to the call for young people to be granted jobs. This is the ideal situation, but is it as easy as the call sounds? We have seen letter writers and heard comments about young people being ignored for employment. Many employers complain about the quality of the applicants. Some actually boast degrees from the University of Guyana, but as a former Minister of Education (Rev. Dale Bisnauth) once noted, there is a high percent of functionally illiterate people among the graduates. It is here that one misses the supporting institutions that were allowed to lapse or collapse. The numerous technical institutes are under-utilised. Indeed they help to improve the skills of people in the industrial and communications sector, but they largely attract those young people whose parents simply want them out of the house but off the streets. But for these children learning is not uppermost in their minds. And so it is that people are calling for a return of organisations like the Guyana National Service that produced some of the better artisans the country has known. But one would suspect that the economy is in no position to support such organisations at this time. So it is that as parents prepare to send their children to school for the new school year they should be prepared to do more than keep the children out of the house. They should also be prepared to support the teachers and the educational efforts. Right now, only the children of the more financially capable families do well.
Sunday September 04, 2016
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
One set of rules for the PPP/C and another set for APNU/AFC DEAR EDITOR; As a citizen of Guyana who has voted in several elections, I wish to make some comments on a few issues I have observed within the past year of APNU/AFC assuming the seat of power. In addition to my right to vote, this is also my right to question what is going on in this country, more so the blatant double standards and dual sets of rules for two different political parties. When the PPP/C was in government, I observed just how elements of the then opposition, the APNU and AFC, along with support groups of these parties have made governance of Guyana almost
intolerable and difficult for the PPP/C. The media became another thorn in the flesh of the PPP/C, observantly, carrying out directly and indirectly the mandate of the APNU/AFC. Every mistake – real and imagined – of the PPP/C resulted in party officials and government ministers being brutally flogged and crucified by the media, the APNU and AFC politicians and many different social and interest groups. Protests were held, throngs of people holding placards for prolonged periods were seen, abuse was heaped on ministers, and much unrest was created. Almost every sector of society – from the NGOs, women’s group, socio-
political groups, legal fraternity and others – were on the ball bashing, criticizing, cursing and denigrating PPP/C ministers. Not only were resignations called for whenever a PPP/C minister or official blundered, but brute actions were taken in the streets and the media belted out its string of attacks daily to ensure that PPP/C ministers were shamed and humiliated and the harshest punitive actions were taken against them. In the Bherri/Nageer issue for example, calls were made for the minister to be sacked. Every group, every columnist and every patriot were (Continued on page 6)
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The suspension of this NCN Diaspora assistance is not being recognized journalist is wrong DEAR EDITOR, It is with shock that I learned on September 2, 2016, that the Sports Editor for National Communications Network (NCN) - Ms. Jocelle Archibald-Hawke has been suspended for one month without pay for expressing her opinion on her private social media page. As I always do with matters of this sort I sought the details and I was made to understand that management of the network thought Mrs. Archibald-Hawke was not “sincere” in her apology and thus the heavy-handed suspension and fine. Editor, in Article 146(1) of the Constitution it states “Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his or her correspondence.” Under this Article suspending the aforementioned journalist because you perceived her apology as insincere is illegal; for the management has interfered with her right of expression as guaranteed by this article. The management has imposed standards that are not part of any contract agreement or collective bargaining agreement. I am very sure that nowhere in the contract with NCN is there is social media appropriate behavior clause and even if so a person’s opinion cannot be regulated in format for it is constitutionally protected. Editor, Ms. Archibald-Hawke’s comments
was not injurious to anyone or a threat to national defense. She did proffer an apology for a perceived wrong and a subjective litmus test of sincerity was applied which violates her rights as outlined in the article quoted. Not only have they violated her right of expression they may have violated her right to earn a living by suspending her without pay. Editor, we are reminded daily by this government and its organs how much the status quo remains firmly entrenched. All those enthusiastic voters who went to the polls in May 2015 did so because they had enough of the abuses of the PPP/C. However, today we are witnessing the same heavy handed tactics being employed. I recall the time when the journalist Gordon Moseley was denied access to the Presidential Complex because the egotist Jagdeo thought Mr. Moseley offended him. Today, we see Ms. Archibald-Hawke suspended because the moral police at NCN think they are familiar with the contents of her heart and can adjudicate her sincerity. When a journalist can be suspended without pay in violation of the constitution this goes to what I have said many times, “Guyana is not a democracy but a competitive autocracy.” What is mean by that is that Guyana has all the de jure features of a democracy such as elections cycles, enshrined constitutional rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. However, the de facto practice is that these rights are not fully guaranteed. An attestation of the police state mentality is on dis-
play whenever there is a protest, the police can be observed taking down names of protestors, photographing them, and recording the slogans on their placards. Also, during those protest under cover (plain clothes) police are placed within the ranks of the protestors. Today, we now we have a journalist suspended for what is at best a perceived insult to another journalist. Ms. Archibald-Hawke is surrounded by little dictators who are inebriated with the limited power they possess. For only such persons would think that sincerity comes in the form of the written word and not uttered. It is time for the journalism fraternity to rally behind Ms. Archibald-Hawke and demand her reinstatement and her also that her monthly remunerations be returned to her. This is a young woman is with responsibilities and this is beyond the pale to have such a heavy hand fall on her. This sort of behavior is emblematic of nations like North Korea and Vietnam where journalists have to toe the state line. Where the only thoughts expressed are in favor of those in powers and free will is just as real as the mythical unicorn. Editor, our dear nation’s bureaucracies have fallen time after time into the hands of men and women who think it is their serf and the rest of us are enslaved to their whims and fancy. It is okay to disagree with Ms. Archibald-Hawke if she makes statements you do not support but to suspend her from her job and dock a month’s salary based on a bias sincerity test is the act of a demagogue who thinks they are both judge and jury of the contents one’s heart. Tyrone L. Talbot
DEAR EDITOR; Although the diaspora is playing an important role to the economy of Guyana by way of regular remittances to relatives and friends, and their contributions to schools, churches, political parties etc, it is felt by some that their assistance is not being recognized. Nevertheless, they are involved in national activities and are concerned about the future of the country of their birth. Some have been discussing the recent press reports which state that in the next three years Guyana will commence to produce massive quantities of oil for commercial purposes. There have been mixed reactions to the report. A senior lawyer said “this would only become a reality if Venezuela ceases and desists from its claim to 2/3 of Guyana. President Maduro has gone
quiet because his domestic politics has him fighting to hold on to office..... Maduro will say that the US is aiding and abetting Guyana so as to destabilize Venezuela....I am not sure if Caprilles will be different” A regional businessman said, “I have said before that unless you get a regime that has a great relationship with Venezuela and Suriname getting to produce oil in commercial quantities is going to be very challenging. Jagdeo had that with both nations and their leaders. The current Government from Granger, Harmon, Moses to Ramjattan are virtually unknown to these countries, though they can be changed with good diplomatic and negotiating skills.” Another raised three points: (a) the Government at home must govern fairly and equitably (b) the Government
must aggressively pursue a binding international settlement with both Venezuela and Suriname, utilizing both diplomacy and the available international fora, using all the necessary resources (c) both the current and past governments are too cheap and need to reform their attitudes. The Chinese have a saying that “good thing no cheap, and cheap thing no good. They must retain appropriate international experts to pursue and/or defend the claims from these two countries. Apart from which, if border conflicts ensue it is highly unlikely that international oil companies would want to continue exploration activities, unless Uncle Sam is firmly behind them. A few members of the diaspora feel that the Guyana Government (current and past) does not want input from the diaspora because “they say we ran and they remained to develop the country.” Oscar Ramjeet
Cyril Potter College is insensitive to trainee teachers DEAR EDITOR, Trainee teachers at the Cyril Potter College of Education are suffering. According to the prospective of the college, students doing the pre-service program, which is, attendance at CPCE between the hours of 9 am to 4 pm, are supposed to be receiving $7500 per month. In service students receive their salaries on a monthly basis because they teach at schools between 9 am to 3 pm and also attend CPCE from 4-6/8 pm. My issue would be with the payment the pre-service students receive. Instead of receiving $7500, we receive $7080. What does the other
$420 go to? NIS that we’re not paying for? Or PAYE that we have to give money to before we start teaching? Also, what can $7080 do? I live in Parfaite Harmonie. My daily passage to get to CPCE Turkeyen is $480. Do the math. It can’t even provide transportation for fifteen days. There are students that have children. Some can barely provide for their chil-
dren already and come into the institution expecting a little help to do so and are disappointed, especially when we don’t even receive our grant every month. According to the prospective, students are supposed to receive their grant on a monthly basis, when sometimes we don’t even receive them for two months or (Continued on page 6)
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One set of rules for the... Mayor and her Town Clerk From page 4 calling for his sacking over a few inappropriate comments. When the labour unions didn’t get their way or their demands met for wages and salaries increase, the country was shut down as the unions engaged in massive and prolonged protests to bully the PPP/C government to grant them what they wanted. When to levy appropriate charges on the Lindeners for consuming electricity, violent protests were held, roads blocked and chaos ensued in a massive unrest. APNU, AFC, the media and its many columnists, international groups and local groups everyone - were on PPP/C’s case. Now there is a new government and the then opposition is in the seat of power. What do we observe? Do we observe the same alacrity to crucify wrong-doers when similar blunders are made? Do we see the media and its columnists gunning after the APNU/AFC ministers as they once did the PPP/C ministers? Do we hear from the international bodies, the private sector, business groups, social groups, etc on these blunders? How strong has been the call – if any at all - for any APNU/AFC minister to resign from his/her post for blunders? What was the difference between Bherri’s and Lawrence’s comments that one was harassed and pressured until sacked and the other allowed to proceed as normal? Health Minister Dr. George Norton is involved in a major scandal involving millions of taxpayers’ money and no call – or no strength in call – for his resignation has been made. None of the groups are joining forces to get him out. His party says he will remain as the minister and justified the scandal as a petty, genu-
ine mistake. The media, columnists, interest groups, etc all accept it quietly and life has moved on. The health minister lied to the Parliament and the entire country at large - a very grave misdemeanor if ever there was –and no one has anything to say about that. He is allowed to get away with this peacefully and feathers all intact. The minister has nothing to explain to anyone. No protest. No placard bearing protesters. And if this was a PPP/C Minister? New tolls have been instituted for the use of roads in Linden – 18 different categories of tolls to be specific – with detention of vehicles for those who refuse to comply. How come there is no protest against making the Lindeners having to pay for the usage of the infrastructure in the same way massive protests were held previously when they were told they would have to pay – quite rightly too – for the electricity they consumed? Why no road blocks and burning of tires? The labour unions are not getting – and will not be getting – their demands met for wages and salaries increase. The APNU/AFC government says they don’t have money to pay them even while there are millions going towards making the ministers extremely comfortable – to the point of luxurious pampering – in their lifestyles. The gross disrespect of the public servants is even more obvious now than ever since great promises were made to them by APNU/AFC during the election campaign. This is not fulfilled. Are we witnessing massive protests and shut down of the country by union leaders and public servants as they did under the PPP/C when they didn’t get their demands met? I observed the union leaders are sipping tea and talks are continuing in an amiable and understanding environment.
Richard Van WestCharles, CEO of the Guyana Water Inc and son-in-law of Forbes Burnham, is embroiled in a scandal that reeks of cronyism and lacks transparency in the employment of a close friend of his. Do we see the CEO being crucified by the media and politicos? By interest groups, transparency groups, social groups? Have we seen and read mountains of commentaries about cronyism? His questionable actions were fixed quietly and then swept under the carpet. Life continued as normal. The payment of millions of US dollars to BK, the Harmon and BaiShanLin scandal, the Simona Broomes mining permit controversy as well as Richard Van West-Charles fuel import licence controversy, the Volda Lawrence child molestation controversy, the City Hall constant troubles and so many, many more blunders, and we see that a different set of rules are used on the APNU/AFC ministers versus the previous administration. The question is why? I observed the quiet acceptance of Ramjattan’s comment that they are party of humans and not angels and therefore, they will make mistakes. Was the PPP/C not a party of humans prone to mistakes too? Why is one set of rules used on the PPP/C when it was in government and another used for the APNU/ AFC? Why is the APNU/AFC allowed to get away so easily with their blunders when that same party and media and others didn’t allow the PPP/C to get away with mistakes they made? Why did the labor unions make the country ungovernable and hindered the growth of the economy with great militancy, aggression and force under the PPP/C but now is taking an inert approach towards the APNU/ AFC? I would love to hear the answers. Daren J. Harish
Cyril Potter College... From page 5 more. How are we expected to live? Last but certainly not least, the teachers attending CPCE on the West Bank need their own centre for learning. They are faced daily with the struggle of having to sit on the primary school’s small sized furniture and use their toilets, even though the Ministry of Education Vreed-enhoop Branch has an enormous land space that can
comfortably accommodate a facility that teachers can be able to learn efficiently and effectively. Teachers are the building blocks of the next generation. Without them, our country would suffer because they’d be no lawyers, doctors, politicians, etc. Giving them a decent salary and a proper learning experience is the least you can do. Frustrated trainee teacher
do not want a forensic audit
DEAR EDITOR, The refusal by the Town Clerk of Georgetown to accept and place on the agenda of Council for its Statutory Meeting, a motion to be discussed regarding the holding of a forensic audit of the Georgetown Municipality is just simply shocking, shameful and dictatorial. There could be no valid excuse for this autocratic action other than it being a selfserving act to prevent the discovery of something that a forensic audit would reveal to the public. The excuse given that the motion was not properly prepared and therefore could not be tabled, is simply outrageous. One should remember once, when the Council wanted to get rid of a previous Town Clerk, a councillor and former mayor merely scribbled a handwritten motion on a flimsy half sheet of paper and submitted it at the meeting which was accepted, tabled, moved and seconded in spite of syntactic and grammatical errors, and in fact resulted in the removal of this officer. The Town Clerk is no legal expert, and the motion was examined by qualified attorneys at law before being submitted and was found to be in order. In any
case it is the duty of the Mayor who is the Chairperson of the Meetings, and of the Council and the Town Clerk who is the Secretary of the Council and the Meetings, to upon receiving a motion that they believe to be improper to sit with that Councillor who submitted the motion that is purportedly incorrect, and show him or her the defects and have them expeditiously corrected and placed on the agenda. Instead what they are doing is ducking the motion fortnight after fortnight with the excuse that it is faulty merely as an excuse to delay its placement on the order paper, whilst maybe they are scurrying to get their financial records in order. This is just disgraceful! The Minister of Communities should have all of their financial records seized and handed over to competent auditors or the Auditor General of Guyana should confiscate their records and order an audit, whilst sending the culpable officers on administrative leave to prevent continued interference. The citizens of Georgetown must no longer be held to ransom by a few unscrupulous members of the Georgetown Municipality. James Mc Onnell
Hamilton Green once opposed import restriction DEAR EDITOR: The double standards of Hamilton Green seem to have no boundaries. It never ceases to astound and mystify me, as to why this gentleman feels compelled to continuously write in the letter columns of our dailies, long winded, illusory and hypocritical epistles. Could you imagine Mr. Green, whose entire family and I mean absolutely all of his relatives, have chosen to leave Guyana and with he himself opting to spend the majority of his time travelling all over the world, penning a letter captioned ‘Fruit which we once grew is now imported’? Why is he advocating for the ability to choose, to be taken away again from Guyanese, when his family has chosen to leave and live overseas, to consume foreign foods and other products, to obtain their education at foreign intuitions of learning, to work for foreign companies and organizations, or to obtain health care from foreign medical institutions? They have exercised their ability to choose and so should we. In this lecture to the Guyanese consumer he hypothesizes that Guyanese since the colonial days, were made to believe that all good things came from ‘abroad’, and after 50 years of Independence this thinking still lingers, which he describes as a
sad political saga of 3 odd generations. He seems to want to remove himself from such disloyal thinking. He goes on to state that had his hero Linden F S Burnham not passed away just as the Cold War was thawing, Guyana would not be importing food and fruits that can be produced locally, clearly in what would have been an autocratic and unpopular situation, and then rambles on about his refusal to purchase a mango because it was imported. When travelling around the world does he, Hamilton Green, dabble in fine dining, with meals that showcase his destination’s iconic dishes or does he refuse these gourmet chef’s specialties, opting to instead take a ‘Buxton Spice’ mango out of his pocket and consume it?. Mr. Green, the problem is not with the message, but with the integrity or lack of, of the messenger. It is just the same way persons burlesqued the ‘Moral and Spiritual Revival’ message coming from you. Implicit in his letter was that it was Prime Minister Forbes Burnham who started the campaign to persuade Guyanese to “buy locally produced products.” This is not so, in fact in the first national development plan coined in 1953 under Premier Cheddi Jagan, it was Dr. Jagan who first advocated strongly for a “Buy Local”
agenda. Prime Minister Burnham followed in 1969 with such a campaign so it was both leaders, in their own time that appealed to the people’s patriotic pride to drive the local economy, rather than depend on unnecessary imports. Mr. Green must explain why he upon the death of Mr. Burnham when he became the Prime Minister of Guyana, did not ensure the continuation of the ‘“be local, buy local” campaign that was advocated by his mentor, but rather joined those opposed to the policy of import restriction, championing instead the development of a free market based economic system. So why is he complaining now that the market is free and open to import whatever we like? Hardly anyone could dispute that the idea behind the ‘buy-local’ program, was and is more so now fundamentally sound, and that our local farmers and food producers need to be encouraged and facilitated, but Mr. Green there can be no ‘banning’ – de-facto or otherwise – of any items as was done in the past. Instead the local products need to prove themselves as good as, if not better than, the items now being imported as our citizens have become even more accustomed to the high quality of the foreign producers including their superior packaging and therefore our producers have to rise to the occasion. Mr. Green, your lecture to the Guyanese public is more like ‘do as I say and not as my family and I do.’ Imari Khamisi
Sunday September 04, 2016
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Expansion of SOCU mandate violates FATF recommendations - Nandlall Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall is criticising the APNU – AFC administration over what he says is the violation of recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF recommendations set out a comprehensive and consistent framework of measures, which countries including Guyana should implement in order to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The FATF had set an international standard, which countries should implement through measures adapted to their particular circumstances. These standards comprise legislative and administrative components. Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill was passed last year, following the establishment of the Specialized and Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), the body set up to deal solely with
“I warned that using SOCU to investigate any other offences may violate the relevant FATF recommendations. I was ignored. The Government has done worse. It has now institutionally expanded the scope of SOCU to investigate offences far and beyond AMLCFT offences. So, currently, we do not have a Specialized Crime Unit which exclusively investigates AMLCFT offences as is required by the FATF recommendations.” financial crimes as recommended by the FATF. The unit was set up under the purview of the Guyana Police Force. However, with a team from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) set to visit Guyana to confirm the country’s progress made in the implementation of required reforms, issues surrounding the recommendations are once again in the news. Nandlall in a recent statement criticized government’s implementation of the crucial recommendations, pointing to a disclosure by Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan. He said that the operation protocols for SOCU have been extended due to developments in Guyana Police Force‘s Standing Order No. 62. According to Ramjattan,
based on amendments to the Police Force Standing Order, SOCU will now have powers to investigate crimes such as murders, piracy, smuggling and other crimes which traditionally fall under the ambit of the police. But Nandlall says that this is directly against the proposed function of the specially-formed unit. “These protocols confirm that SOCU will remain in the Force under the superintendence of the Commissioner of Police. A natural consequence is that its officers will be subject to the same regime of scrutiny oversight and functional autonomy that apply to the Force. However, these protocols expand the mandate and the scope of SOCU outside and beyond its original mandate, which was, the investigation of offences cre-
ated by the AMLCFT legislation.” “It now has the mandate to investigate murder, piracy, environmental offences and a whole host of offences which are neither “specialized” nor “organized” crimes,” Nandlall added. The opposition politician maintained that the specialized crime unit to investigate solely and exclusively AMLCFT offences was a specific recommendation of FATF. The FATF team had announced an on-site visit to Guyana slated for sometime this month. The visit by the team is part of efforts by FATF
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall to confirm that the process of implementing the required reforms and actions is underway to address deficiencies previously identified by that body. During a recent press conference current Attorney General, Basil Williams had said that Guyana has been making progress in the implementa-
tion of the FATF recommendations. He nonetheless expressed the desire that the SOCU is allowed to carry out its mandate in accordance with the Anti-Money Laundering legislation and is not burdened by unnecessary “police work” lest the administration be accused of stymieing the role of the agency. As such, with no specialized Organized Unit in place to treat only with AMLCFT offences, Nandlall believes there should be no optimism that Guyana will soon exit the review process of FATF. “I warned that using SOCU to investigate any other offences may violate the relevant FATF recommendations. I was ignored. The Government has done worse. It has now institutionally expanded the scope of SOCU to investigate offences far and beyond AMLCFT offences. So, currently, we do not have a Specialized Crime Unit which exclusively investigates AMLCFT offences as is required by the FATF recommendations.”
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Sunday September 04, 2016
MAN SHOT OUTSIDE CAMP ST. PRISON…
Mental health awareness training needed for police ranks The death of Shane Scipio, a mentally ill man who was shot dead by a police rank in front of the Camp Street prison, three Fridays ago, has sparked calls for police officers to be trained in mental health awareness, so that they will know how to react when dealing with mentally challenged persons. In an interview, Scipio’s sister, Sheena, said that her brother had been a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Psychiatric Clinic for the past four years after he suffered a nervous breakdown. The young father of one was shot to the lower abdomen by a police rank attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) when he allegedly attacked the policeman. Scipio had been creating havoc in front of the prison when he was shot. The victim’s sister said that while she is not refuting that her sibling had been behaving erratically outside the prison, she believes that there were other ways the situation could have been dealt with which would not have cost the father of one his life. “They could have shot him on the foot or fired a warning shot or maybe beat him. Why kill him? He was not in his right senses,” the woman said.
- victim’s relatives say She is calling on Guyana Police Force to offer some sort of training in mental health to its ranks so that they will know what to do when they find themselves in a situation where a mentally ill person is behaving disorderly. The woman opined that killing a person, who is mentally ill, should not be a choice for ranks. “My brother was shot and I know I am not going to get any justice from the police, but all I want is closure. I want the police to tell me what really happened. I want to know why they shot a person who is mentally ill,” the woman said With adequate training, Sheena Scipio believes that ranks will know exactly how to handle such a situation, and will not snuff out another mentally ill person’s life. Reflecting on the night, the 25-year-old man was killed, the woman said that she was informed that just before he was shot, he was behaving badly in front of the Fish Shop on Hadfield Street, Georgetown and was attacked by police ranks.
“I heard that the police beat him and throw him in a drain and he come out and that’s when he went to the Camp Street prison,” she stressed, while adding, “He is only like that when he is not on his medication. I take care of him, but I was not around, so he took ill.” Shane Scipio, according to his sister, had a normal life with his son and partner, but that was only when he was on his medication. In a statement, the police said that Scipio went to the Camp Street Prison, at John and Durban Streets, and behaved in a disorderly manner. He reportedly threw down several steel barriers, in the presence of the ranks guarding the perimeter of the prison. Scipio was taken into custody by ranks of a police patrol, but subsequently returned and continued the said behaviour and actions, in front of the Prison. According to the police, a TSU rank armed with a service weapon and under the supervision of a subordinate officer approached Scipio, who then reportedly attacked the rank, to which he (rank) discharged a round—hitting the suspect to the abdomen. Scipio was rushed to the GPHC where he eventually succumbed.
DEAD: Shane Scipio
Sunday September 04, 2016
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LEAKED EMBASSY DOCUMENTS…
Dem boys seh...
Britain, Germany raised concerns over huge CHECK IF BABBIE DON’T OWN YOU number of Guyana visas to BaiShanLin - human trafficking suspicion cited
BaiShanLin’s local chief, Chu Hongbo There is evidence that as far back as 2013, concerns were raised by British and German immigration officials over the huge number of Chinese workers that were brought into Guyana by BaiShanLin International Forest Development. According to correspondence between former Government ministers and Guyana’s Embassy in China, seen by Kaieteur News, as far back as 2013, the manner in which the Chinese company was requesting visas for Chinese workers left much to be desired. The embassy in October 2013 wrote the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn
Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
Former Guyana Ambassador to China, Professor David Dabydeen
Former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee
Rodrigues-Birkett, complaining that BaiShanLin was warned not to book tickets for Chinese workers it wanted to bring to Guyana until visas are issued. The Chinese company has built up a heavy presence in Guyana, but several of its promised multimillion-dollar projects have stalled as the company is facing financial problems. It owes the Government and local companies millions of dollars for properties it has acquired. Government last year
halted logging exports for a number of BaiShanLin’s operations. The company had brought in several Chinese workers to work on one of its projects, a US$70M wood processing plant in Region 10. That plant, like so many others of its projects, is stalled. According to the embassy correspondence to the former minister, in October 2013, the embassy in China granted BaiShanLin over 20 visas. The company requested
five more shortly after. But the embassy appeared to be irritated. The email to the former minister made it clear that BaiShanLin was warned several times, verbally and in writing, that it must not book air tickets for Chinese workers unless the visas are ready - this normally takes 10-15 working days. The minister was told that BaiShanLin was suspected of human trafficking and this had even been conveyed to former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee. Continued on page 13
Old people does always seh that when fowl eye pass corn is a bad thing. Jagdeo eyes got to pass Soulja Bai. He sit down wheh he deh and seh Soulja Bai words ain’t got weight because Soulja Bai didn’t seh to jail him. He Jagdeo words had weight, because when he tell he people to give Babbie de well dem couldn’t seh nutten. And when everybody was thiefing he never seh a word. Is de weight wha he words had mek he end up in front of de magistrate. But de real story is if people got wha dem really think is dem own. Dem boys seh people got to check dem birth certificate to see if Babbie name deh pun it. Dem also got to check dem transport to see if de house dem got is dem own. De waterfalls boss man nearly run mad when dem boys tell him that he probably name Glenn Ramroop because Jagdeo try to sell de Waterfalls paper to Babbie. In fact, Jagdeo was planning to sell de whole staff because even Uncle Adam birth certificate get change to Ramroop. That is wha use to happen in slavery. Dem slaves had to tek dem massa name. De same thing happen wid de well in de Sanata complex. De transport fuh de well change to Ramroop. In fact, dem boys seh people might wake up and find that Ramroop own Guyana. Nobody can deny that Jagdeo love Ramroop. When he was sick wid de runnings he carry Babbie to Florida to help him select a sturdy plug. When Babbie start to mek AIDS drug, Jagdeo get Ramsammy to tell de gyal who was heading de Food and Drug administration to back off and let Ramroop drug sell. Dem boys seh that is a good thing de international community step in. De Canada lab seh that de drug was no good and de people in de Caribbean seh de same thing. But imagine how much money de Ministry of Health woulda pay Babbie fuh dem drugs. And nuff people woulda dead. Sandy woulda smile till now. Talk half and check yuh birth certificate.
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Kaieteur News
Obtaining holistic view of public debt still a work in progress By Kiana Wilburg
Debt management offices in developing countries play the important role of ensuring that governments can raise the finances needed to invest in sustainable growth and development, at the lowest possible cost and within an acceptable amount of risk. They must guide borrowing so as to reduce their country’s vulnerability to domestic and external shocks. History has shown that no economy is immune from financial crisis, but this role is especially important for small, emerging market economies, which are often less diversified, have a smaller base of domestic financial savings, and may be more susceptible to global shocks or financial contagion. The case of Guyana illustrates the importance of a good debt management office, by showing how a burdensome debt can be a drag on the economic growth of a country for years—and how development can blossom under a sustainable debt strategy and good economic management. According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, after being declared ineligible to draw on the resources of the IMF and World Bank, in 1982 and 1983 respectively, Guyana embarked on a bold and innovative recovery programme involving the implementation of tough economic reform measures,
and negotiating substantial debt forgiveness and restructuring with external creditors. Jordan said that after repeated rounds of debt cancellation and rescheduling, the external debt returned to sustainable levels in the early 2000s. He explained that Guyana is now faced with the challenge of maintaining debt sustainability in a volatile and uncertain global economy. He said that Guyana’s Debt Sustainability Analyses indicate that the country remains vulnerable to external shocks. Commodity price fluctuations have added to the volatility of export earnings and tax revenues, as well as the financial performance of state-owned agricultural enterprises. Borrowing has also become more uncertain. The Finance Minister said that Guyana recently graduated to Lower Middle Income status, and concessional lending has become scarcer. To access affordable financing, Guyana has sought out alternative funding sources, especially from its South-South partners such as EXIM Bank of China, EXIM Bank of India, the Mexican Agency for International Cooperation and Development, and the Islamic Development Bank. At the same time, Jordan said that the Government sought to maintain close ties with the multilateral agencies
- Finance Minister (World Bank, IDB and CDB) and more traditional western bilateral donors. Because of these developments, he commented that Guyana’s debt portfolio and the risks associated with it are becoming more complex. He said that it is increasingly important for nations to have sufficient capacity to develop and implement a s o p h i s t i c a t e d , comprehensive debt strategy. With regard to the role of the Debt Management Office in Guyana, Jordan said that it is recognized that a fully functioning and effective debt management office must perform several functions, with its core responsibility being to develop and implement a comprehensive debt management strategy consistent with a country’s macroeconomic and development goals. To effectively accomplish this objective, he said that a debt management office must be well organized and must perform certain key functions. He said that these resourcing, analytical and accounting functions (which are typically described as front office, middle office, and back office functions) should, for efficiency and effectiveness, be centralized within the debt office. The Finance Minister said that all these functions support the overarching mandate of developing and implementing a sustainable and comprehensive debt management strategy. He said that front office functions tend to focus on
mobilizing resources and engaging with donors, lenders, and borrowers, and that these functions include negotiating aid and signing agreements, issuing securities, conducting auctions, on-lending, and issuing loan guarantees. He noted that middle office functions are focused on analysis and policy development, and include analyzing debt and risk, and developing policies and strategies for borrowing, onlending, and guarantee issuance. They also include reporting debt to the public. Back office functions include administering debt payments, and maintaining records of debt data. Jordan said that Guyana’s Debt Management Division (DMD) was formally established in 1986 as the central agency within the Ministry of Finance, to manage all of the country’s external public debt. By being placed within the Office of the Budget of the Ministry of Finance, the DMD facilitated improved coordination with departments responsible for fiscal operations and m a c r o e c o n o m i c programming. This, notwithstanding, debt functions remain fragmented, resulting in duplicated functions and ineffective coordination. “For example, although the DMD is recognized informally as the lead agency on debt management, it is currently not formally responsible for aid coordination and the registry of grants. Therefore, it is not
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan able to monitor all forms of aid that Guyana receives. It does not have a comprehensive database of all aid inflows into Guyana and has no mandate to undertake such an exercise,” Jordan expressed. He said, too, that because new loans are predominantly negotiated by other departments/divisions, the DMD is not always able to analyze and review new facilities prior to their negotiation and, therefore, may not be able to monitor the new financing ceilings and limits in respect of public debt management. The Finance Minister said that the DMD is only responsible for some front office functions. Though it is responsible for external debt, he said that the DMD does not issue or record domestic Treasury Bills, nor does it record and monitor grant aid, although it is ultimately responsible for analysing and developing policy for these financing sources. Treasury Bills are issued and monitored by the Bank of Guyana, which is also responsible for issuing domestic debt securities and conducting auctions for them. The DMD has no say in the tenor, timing or size of the issues even though the government ultimately services this debt. Grant aid is monitored and recorded by
the Project Cycle Management Division of the Ministry of Finance. Jordan explained that front office functions are managed by the Project Cycle Management Division, with input from the DMD, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Legal Affairs. The Project Cycle Management Division plans all government borrowing, and works with the other agencies to negotiate and contract loans and grant aid. The Minister said that the DMD is also responsible for performing middle office and back office functions related to public debt (except Treasury Bills). He noted also that the DMD is responsible for performing those middle office functions related to developing a debt management strategy as well as assuming the responsibility of undertaking debt sustainability analyses. Jordan opined however that substantial reforms are needed to place debt strategy formulation and implementation at the forefront of debt management activity and economic policymaking. Moreover, he said that the DMD is also responsible for servicing the public debt and monitoring and managing Guyana’s debt, including maintaining an inventory of all public and publicly guaranteed external loans, and recording loan by loan data in the Commonwealth Secretariat Debt Recording and Management System (CS-DRMS). He said that these back office functions are the current mainstay of the debt management unit and there is strong capacity in this regard. In spite of this, Jordan said that debt recording is not sufficiently comprehensive and still does not fully include the capture of domestic debt. Thus, obtaining a holistic view of the public debt is still a work in progress.
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Police detain 14 foreign NICIL Director shows two faces on release of Marriott contract nationals in Charlotte St. raids …now says it cannot be released since terms of Agreement are “strictly confidential” While it conforms to the principles of transparency and accountability, NICIL’s Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle expressed that when it comes to the release of certain agreements and contracts signed under the previous administration, there are some “constraints”. With this in mind, Odle said that in the case of the Marriott Management Agreement, it cannot be released, as the terms of the document are “strictly confidential”. In a statement to the media on Friday he said that the agreement cannot be disclosed without the written consent of Marriott. However, Odle’s comments are in stark contrast to those he gave Kaieteur News on June 17, last, on the said contract. Using the same line of “transparency and accountability” Odle had stressed that the contract for the controversial Marriott Hotel should be made public. In fact, Odle remarked that too often, the citizenry hears of agreements being made between the Government and
NICIL Chairman, Maurice Odle private parties and when there is a call for scrutiny to take place, “the infamous confidentiality clause is invoked.” The NICIL Chairman added, “And where there is too much confidentiality clause it leads to corruption as in the case of the Marriott Hotel. For the Marriott, too many confidentiality clauses led it into the avenue of corruption. All those different confidentiality clauses they were invoking led to a set of actions which cannot be substantiated.”
Odle had emphasized that the more the nature of such agreements are known to the electors and the taxpayers, on whose behalf the Government is acting, the better it will be for the accomplishment of good governance in Guyana. Asked to say if he will provide a copy of the Marriott Hotel contract to the media, he had remarked, “I am Chairman of NICIL and not Atlantic Holdings Inc. (AHI) which is the Board overseeing the operations of Marriott. Beverly Harper is in charge of the AHI and they should have a copy of the Marriott Hotel contract at hand and it should be released to the public. There may be a copy of the contract buried somewhere at NICIL, but AHI has easier access to it.” The NICIL Chairman said that he is all for transparency and accountability and insists that such agreements should not be treated as “state secrets.” He had said that the Marriot Hotel contract should be in the public domain for all upright and concerned citizens to peruse.
GWI admits error in debt collection figure Contrary to a declaration by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) three weeks ago that it had recovered some 1.8 billion dollars via arrears (debt) collection, it has been revealed that the actual figure recovered is $921,814,791 half of that originally reported amount. This revelation comes on the heels of twice-convicted Lear Goring being fired as the Debt Collection Manager. During a press conference on August 10, Chief Executive of GWI, Dr Richard Van-West Charles had disclosed that the utility company recovered some 1.8 Billion from outstanding debts since the change of its administration 11 months ago. The CE had announced that GWI embarked on debt collection through “an intensive programme of disconnection”. He noted that the disconnection of defaulters coupled with the “discovery of people who are getting water by nefarious means” had largely contributed to the recovery of the billion-dollar sum. In a release to the media, the Public Relations
- only half of $1.8B collected Department of GWI said that they wished to “correct information shared to the media as it relates to its arrears collection figure for the period October 2015 to July 2016. During a press conference on August 10, 2016, it was reported that GWI raked in $1.8 Billion in arrears for the period ending July 2016.” The release revealed that
after “checks and verification, it was found that the arrears collection figure up to July 2016 is $921,814,791.00” The company further apologised for the incorrect figure that was reported and continued that it remains “committed to ensuring continued transparency, even as it continues to go after defaulters.”
Following information received from an authority that persons were involved in Human Trafficking, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Saturday night, conducted raids on two popular business places along Charlotte Street, Georgetown, where 16 persons were taken into custody. According to the police, 14 of the 16 persons are foreign nationals and have been detained and are assisting with the investigation. A police source subsequently informed this publication that the investigators were able to ascertain that the 14 individuals are Brazilian nationals. Investigations are currently ongoing. This would not the first instance where a trafficking in persons matter – or in this case, a supposed case of TIP – would have made it
to the fore. In fact, a few months ago, almost 30 non-nationals were apprehended in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni). This had resulted from an exercise carried out by the Ministry of Social Protection, a team from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit and the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO). It was during that time also, that Guyana exited Tier 2 on the Watchlist for TIP. The new status was revealed in the US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report 2016. Guyana was placed in that category three years ago and has since undertaken numerous initiatives to improve its rating. The report noted that while Guyana does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so.
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Enterprise Youth Group spearheads successful summer camp programme
Participants of the EYDG Youth Camp 2016 following graduation. Approximately 80 young persons have benefitted from the annual youth summer camp hosted by the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Youth, Culture and Sport and the Enterprise Youth Development Group, (EYDG). The five-day activity was held between on August 22 -26, 2016. Participants explored and benefited from activities, including visual arts, craft, physical recreation and sports coaching in various areas such as football and cricket, in addition to interactive discussions on social and health issues. Key activities of the camp included discipline & road safety talks, entrepreneurial talks, Science Technology Economics and Mathematics (STEM) presentations, career guidance, suicide prevention and
“environmental gyaff.” Speaking about the summer camp which ended in a massive graduation exercise at the Enterprise Primary School on August 26, President of the (EYDG) Samantha Sheoprashad noted that “the team to led a wonderful programme toward moulding the lives of young people in the Enterprise community. Sheoprashad said that every moment was filled with enthusiasm, energy and excitement. “We gave the campers an exercise to come up with their own innovation of a smiley stick. We saw all form of smiles which is something critical. We certainly know that there is an innovative side in everyone, “she explained During the Youth Camp 2016, the EYDG President noted too that entrepreneurial talks at a very basic level were conducted. She
explained that the basic knowledge of entrepreneurial skills and teaching on innovative and creative businesses was delivered. “We are looking to explore option for effective usage of computers establishing a lab to teach them programming and robotics so that they can develop and one day create employment.” Miss Universe Guyana 2016 contestants Soyini Fraser, Rafieya Zara Husain, Odessa Alana Grogan, Xamiera Kippins, Malika Russell also participated in the event. The delegates shared information on the basis of their respective platforms, which included Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Woman in Agriculture, Self Love and Peer Pressure. At the end of the programme, 230
backpacks bags complete with school supplies were distributed to the youths of Enterprise and a neighbouring village. The items were donated by the Enterprise Sport Club (Cricket Team) from New York. The Enterprise Youth Development Group is a registered youth organization under the Culture, Youth and Sport President’s Youth Award initiative, the Volunteer Support Platform (VSP) and the Guyana National Youth Council (GYNC). The organization was established approximately three years by a group of young and vibrant individuals who had a desire to empower and facilitate growth for young people of the village. The group has 200 members who continue to benefit from various programmes being implemented within the community.
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NATA concerned about congestion at Ogle Airport The National Air Transport Association (NATA) of Guyana said Friday that it is concerned over the effects of serious congestion at Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara. This is a result of “inequitable” development at the airport and the mixing of international and Domestic flights, the association said. NATA revealed that there are over one hundred domestic flights operating daily – which contribute significantly to hinterland and national development, however the Association appears to be in a tight squeeze, since they claim that they are seriously affected by confined areas on the airport runway, apron and taxiways. Fed up with years of complaints and challenges, nine out of ten operators at the Ogle Airport formed the National Air Transport Association (NATA). These operators according to NATA’s website are: Air Services Limited (ASL); Roraima Airways; Hinterland Aviation; Oxford Aviation; Phoenix Airways; Domestic Airways; Jags Aviation; Wings Aviation; Hopkinson Mining Aviation and Trans Guyana Airways. The latter company is not a part of the group. NATA said that presently, these nine aircraft operators have no recourse other than sharing one older winding taxiway to access the runway which leads to much congestion and costly delays. This situation has worsened
An aerial shot of the Eugene F. Correia International Airport. over the years as newer operators came into being and older operators expanded their operations without the enabling infrastructure such as a new taxiway to the runway which is essential for efficient and safe operations, NATA stated. This unhealthy situation is further compounded by congested airspace and the Association is
concerned about the issues of operational safety under the present environment. “NATA has made representation to Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) on behalf of its members to no avail and as such we are urging the Government to accelerate the review process undertaken by our focal Minister the Hon. David Patterson for remedies
to the present anti-competitive and inequitable development of the airport.” They are also calling for the urgent establishment of the long overdue National Airport Authority (NAA) which would ensure a fair, equitable and safe environment for both domestic and international operators.
Britain, Germany had raised.... From page 9 In 2013 alone, up to October, BaiShanLin had applied for 290 visas. It appears from the emails that the Rohee-led Ministry of Home Affairs had approved a huge batch of visas. The embassy complained that BaiShanLin failed to provide details whether persons issued business visas to come to Guyana ever returned to China. The activities of BaiShanLin appeared to have also come under the radar of both the British and the German immigration authorities. They alerted the Guyana Embassy in China to their “suspicions that Baishanlin is engaged in people-trafficking”. The correspondence claimed that BaiShanLin even offered ‘gifts’ to the staffers of the embassy, but were rebuffed. The attempted bribery was reported to the Ambassador, Professor David Dabydeen. BaiShanLin’s Chief Executive Officer, even turned up the embassy and asked for the aforementioned five additional to be issued. According to the correspondence to the minister, the company official threatened to call former President Donald Ramotar to complain.
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The Pakaraima mountain monster
By Michael Jordan Do strange things sometimes happen in the hinterland? I mean baffling, sometimes terrifying things that cannot be easily explained away? You bet they do! I had my own weird experience some several years ago, when a dredge owner whom I had befriended invited me to stay in his camp at Cuyuni. I readily accepted, since I saw it as an opportunity to write a few features about the interior, and to do some research for a project on which I was working. As it turned out, I almost regretted my decision. The food was bountiful, the scenery was beautiful, but, for some reason, I could not sleep at night in that Cuyuni camp. My hammock was near the outer perimeter
of the campsite, and every single night, when I lay in my hammock, I had this intense, disquieting feeling that something or someone was staring at me from the jungle. I couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t as if I was a stranger to the interior. I had spent almost a year at Papaya, the National Service camp in the North West. At night, the mist was thick and you could hear the howling of baboons from the jungle. A few of the young women were prone to a strange fit that we called ‘anta banta’. This would cause them to run screaming into the night. But this experience at Cuyuni was different. I began to dread nightfall. I would lie terrified in my hammock, praying for daybreak and staring at the section of the forest where I sensed this
The Baccoo Speaks Road accidents are always something to cause concern. Drunk driving is prevalent in Guyana despite the efforts by the police to embarrass the perpetrators. There was one accident that was thought to be a hit. There will be another just days before the schools reopen their doors. This one will occur in the western part of the country, largely because young people feel that they can still drive although they are intoxicated. ** The police are going to be busy with the gun crimes occurring once more. Many of these young people who are now criminals simply failed to learn in school. Another group is going
to target a supermarket on the outskirts of the city. One will be captured almost immediately after, courtesy of security cameras. ** The weekend will see another drowning, because at this time of the year the waters always seek human life. This one will occur at a popular swimming hole because children always try to make the last of the holidays.
malevolent presence lurked. I greeted the end of my stay in the jungle with a sense of relief. But those nights in the Cuyuni came back to me during an interview with a resident of the Rupununi. People who know me well know that I am curious about so-called ‘supernatural’ experiences in the hinterland. I asked this Rupununi resident about his own unusual experiences, and he admitted that he, personally, had never experienced the inexplicable. But he did relate some unusual but true stories about the hinterland. His view, though, seemed to be that there was a logical explanation to many of these stories, even if one of these stories was about a monster in a mountain. THE PAKARAIMA MOUNTAIN MONSTER He told me that there is a mountain in the North Pakaraimas, and the myth is that a monster inhabits it. He said that there is heavy undergrowth of bush at the foot of that mountain, and it was not difficult for him to imagine that those bushes concealed a cave in which some fearsome being lurked. The story about this ‘monster’ begins with a young woman from a community of the North Pakaraimas. She had no children, and was also widowed. According to the story, her husband’s battered body was found in the village. The superstitious looked at the injuries on the body and concluded that he had fallen victim to a ‘Kanaima’, a sort of assassin in Amerindian lore with supernatural powers, including the ability to change into a jaguar. Eventually, though, the
woman married again; and one day, in the seventies, several residents, including the woman and her second husband, went on a fishing expedition near the mountain. The other villagers eventually left, while the woman and her husband remained behind. The woman, it is alleged, also decided to go home while her husband opted to continue fishing. But nightfall came and the man failed to arrive home, and the following day, villagers launched a search for the missing man. They were shocked when they eventually stumbled on his battered body near the same mountain. Again, some concluded that the second husband was also the victim of Kanaima’s wrath. Because he was found near the mountain, others concluded that something had emerged from the mountain and killed the husband, before retreating again to its lair. The woman married a third time, and all reports indicate that husband number three is still alive, having escaped the wrath of the ‘Kanaima.’ THE MYSTERY OF THE VANISHED PROSTITUTE My friend went on to tell me about another unusual incident which occurred in the North West. ‘Baby’ was a prostitute who used to travel to the Potaro to solicit porkknockers. In the late 1970s, she eventually struck it rich, and, laden with raw gold, decided to walk from the Potaro River to Maikwak, a mining settlement some three days away for someone travelling on foot. For reasons unknown, ‘Baby’ decided to let a male friend accompany
her on the journey. ‘Baby’ never made it to Maikwak. She just vanished, never to be seen again. The man who was accompanying “Baby’ on the journey alleged that he was walking ahead of the prostitute on a trail, when ‘Baby’ began to tire. He claimed that when he eventually looked behind him, there was no sign of ‘Baby’. According to the man, he assumed that the prostitute had mistakenly taken another trail. About three years later, a hunter discovered a human skull in the Kopinang area. The skull had one gold tooth, and this made some speculate that the victim was the long-lost ‘Baby.’ Police were informed, and the skull and a few bones were buried at the same spot. However, the remains were never identified. SHARLO’S DIAMONDS There was no mystery to the third story. ‘Sharlo’ was an old St. Lucian man who had several claims in the interior. He was the licenced owner of a shotgun which was so old that it would sometimes fall apart. One of the claims that ‘Sharlo’ had was located in the Potaro, and he worked this claim with his teenaged grandson. From all accounts, the St. Lucian’s claim was a profitable one, and it seemed that seldom a day went by without the old man locating a diamond or two. A short distance from ‘Sharlo’s’ claim was another claim belonging to a Bartica miner known as ‘Django’. While ‘Sharlo’s claim was productive, the claim owned by ‘Django’ yielded little. Now, ‘Sharlo’ was an affable fellow, and every day he would go over to ‘Django’s camp and show the younger miner the precious stones he had found. This went on for some time, until one day ‘Sharlo’s body was found in his mining pit. He had been shot in the head with his own shotgun, which lay nearby. The precious stones he had gathered were gone…and so was Django. But someone had witnessed the deed. Sharlo’s grandson would later tell police that he had peeped from the bushes and had seen Django making off with the old man’s diamonds. Persons also recalled seeing ‘Django’ walking on ‘the line’ to Maikwak. The suspect was
eventually arrested and taken to Georgetown, where he was charged and remanded for Sharlo’s murder. But, for some reason, I am told that Sharlo’s grandson never testified against Django, and the accused was eventually freed. They say that Django migrated to Brazil, where he suffered the same fate that he had meted out to old Sharlo. After he had finished telling me his stories, my friend from the hinterland attempted to put his own logical spin on the events. Explaining the myth of the ‘Pakaraima Mountain monster’, he suggested that the woman might have killed or arranged the deaths of both of her husbands, possibly because of an extramarital relationship. In the case of ‘Baby,’ the prostitute, he suggested that the male friend who had accompanied her on the trail killed ‘Baby’ and made off with her gold. And that set me thinking about my Cuyuni experience. Had there really been something in the jungle? My conclusion now is that, at the time, I had been working hard on a story based on Amerindian folklore, and that my research had caused my imagination to work overtime. Listening to my friend’s stories, and analysing my experience, I can only conclude that Kanaimas and unseen things that walked at night were far less fearsome than one’s own imagination and the treachery of false friends. If you have any information about any other unusual cases, please contact us by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are 2258465, 22-58458 and 2258452. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: mjdragon@ hotmail.com
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
15 years versus 15 months It has been fifteen months since the new government of the APNU-AFC coalition came into power. One has to be stupid to call it an enlightened 15 months. It has been the worst fifteen months of any new government in the history of Guyana. The first 15 months of the PPP elected in 1957 was ordinary. The first 15 months of the PNC-UF coalition from 1964 was exciting. More exciting and the best so far were the first 15 months of the Desmond Hoyte presidency. This was followed by the election of Dr. Cheddi Jagan in 1992, and that was a curious period, because the nation wanted to give Dr. Jagan a chance. Jagan’s first 15 months was not exciting but it was not depressing. Bharrat Jagdeo’s first 15 months was a curious period, because Jagdeo was a mysterious figure that just appeared on the scene. Ramotar’s first 15 months was a stagnated period because he was a minority president. The historic APNU-AFC Coalition’s first 15 months has been a journey through fields of mediocrity, banality, corruptibility and utter bewilderment. How a government can drift from one jejune, embarrassing, self-destructive mistake to another without even a week of illumination and thoughtful direction for 15
consecutive months is beyond one’s imagination. But there is a big BUT. But despite the concatenation of flaws, faults, and failures in the first 15 months of the Coalition Government, there is no parallel in Caribbean politics for what took place for 15 years under Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar in Guyana. Speaking personally, I was not only revolted at the kleptocracy, financial cronyism, incestuous power-sharing, criminal conspiracies with drug traffickers and treasonable giveaways of the country’s resources among the PPP cabals, but the sickening display of philistinism in those 15 years. As a trained academic at three universities, and that taught at UG for 26 years, I couldn’t believe my country and its young population would have had to endure the experience and humiliation of having a crude, uncouth mind becoming the Pro-Chancellor of the University. I am not referring to Dr. Prem Misir. This was philistinism beyond one’s wildest imagination. When Ramotar made that appointment I got goose bumps. The bestial display of bad manners under Jagdeo and Ramotar has no parallel in modern, contemporary politics. Kellawan Lall was made Chairman of the Board of the
most important investment institution, GO-Invest. The same Lall after a continuous display of ragged, violent behaviour was made Ambassador to Brazil. The President himself lied to the nation about his marital status, then, the woman told the world he mistreated her. It is simply unbelievable in the 21st century that such depraved conduct was never met with ostracization. On the contrary, the man continued as president and is now the official Opposition Leader. A young man caught on tape molesting a little boy for his affection and undivided attention was put on the Rights of the Child Commission. He was then elevated in the Office of the President by both presidents – Jagdeo and Ramotar. Mark Benschop has a tape in his possession in which the General Secretary of the PPP, Donald Ramotar in 2010 said that he believes strongly in moral politics and that he does not read the blogs of Kwame McCoy. When Ramotar became President, McCoy was elevated in status and power, and became a formidable figure in the corridors of power. It forces one to declare that Ramotar hasn’t a clue what moral politics is, still doesn’t know what it entails, and will never grasp its meaning.
The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand while holding that portfolio, behaved atrociously at the Independence Day celebration at the residence of the US Ambassador. Far from being chastised for this obnoxiously loutish descent, one of her bosses, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Roger Luncheon, lauded her for her offensive deportment. He had a way of putting it that had tremendous Freudian underpinnings. He said that Manickchand gave the
envoy a feral blast. One would like to believe that at the time, Luncheon had no idea what the adjective, “feral” meant. Manickchand could no longer sue for libel if you told her subsequently that she had the instincts and predisposition of a wild animal. These are the politicians from the PPP that are still in politics today. These are the politicians inside the PPP that want to return to power. These are the politicians in Guyana in the 21st century that want
Frederick Kissoon to administer the affairs of a country that has one of the youngest populations among the other nations of the world. One should definitely end on a cynical note. If they get back in power, surely, philistinism will be on the public schools’ curriculum.
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Guyana’s First People - Preserving our Culture and Land for Life The caption was the overarching theme of the 4day conference of Indigenous Leaders – 212 exactly, who travelled from communities all across Guyana in late August to participate in the annual National Toshaos Conference. They met with H.E. President David Granger and Government Ministers individually and
together. They also met with a number of centrally-based stakeholders to craft a course of action for development. Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, an unrelenting advocate for the economic development of our Indigenous Peoples, addressed the Toshaos and Senior Councillors during the opening ceremony. Here is
the first installment of her address. “On behalf of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Government of Guyana, I bid you all a warm welcome to the 2016 National Toshaos Conference being held under the theme: Guyana’s First People – Preserving Our Culture and
Land for Life”. Most of you have travelled far distances. You have braved the rainy weather and climbed mountains when you could not ride. I do not doubt that some of you had to swim across some very high creeks too, negotiate miles of roads that are in terrible condition at this time. But you are here and that’s what matters because now you can speak one-on-one with the very hard-working and resourceful Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson. Brothers and sisters, I will confirm that they are doing tremendous work building roads and other kinds of infrastructure. The residents of Sophia had said they wanted proper roads and David and Annette in their long boots and helmets went into action. The Vice President and I asked for a proper road leading to the dormitory at Liliendaal, and we got a proper road. If you have not seen our capital city in the last year, you will soon have the opportunity to feast your eyes on the wonderful works that are be-
ing done to bring back our Capital to the Garden City it was years ago. It has only been a year, but in that short time we have begun to live a healthier life! We can now breathe freely. As we had promised before we entered Government, Change is here indeed, and you have already experienced one of the most significant changes since you arrived in Georgetown – Freedom, the freedom to speak and make your own choices without fear. Last evening, you all attended a banquet with the Opposition members of Parliament, and today you are here to discuss the way forward. That definitely did not happen before 2015. The fact is, people were afraid to speak and be seen with us when we were the Opposition, much less to participate openly in a banquet. Before 2015, those of you who were brave enough to meet with us were branded as Opposition supporters and you were ostracized. You used to be told that only the (previous) Government had all the answers for you and that the Opposition was bad. Unfortunately, many of you believed it, but I and the rest of our coalition government are showing you that this is not so! There is hardly anything more important to us than to see our First People develop your villages and communities, become economically independent, and make enough money to give your families everything you want.
Unlike the PPP/C, we believe that the Opposition is an important arm of the Legislature. We know that we ALL have to work together to pass legislations that will work, legislations that will benefit you and the whole country. So, we are pleased that you had the chance to meet with the Opposition because it is just as important that they too understand all of the issues that you have. This is how they would be able to support the many developmental plans that your Government, will be implementing for your growth. Another major change is happening right now, in this very space. For the first time in the history of the National Toshaos Conference, the National Toshaos Council is chairing the opening ceremony of the Conference! We are loving it! Before one walks, one has to creep. Since its inception in 2006, the NTC has been creeping. That is a long time for you to creep. It is called Stagnation! Now is time for you to stand and walk, my friends. You have a Government that is determined to see you rise above your circumstances, to see you grow and develop. For us to do that, it is very important that you are able to show us your vision and plans for your forward movement to prosperity. It cannot happen the other way around. The Government cannot tell you what you need. This is the true purpose of this conference in 2016. We will listen to you and then we will implement your plans. For two years in a row, i.e. in 2015 and 2016, we approved $65M for this conference to take place, each year. Before, in 2013, $55M was allocated and in 2014 $58M was allocated. Your Government has increased the NTC’s purse by $10M and $7 million dollars respectively. We will continue to support you financially and build up your capacity while you learn to walk. It is absolutely necessary that our Indigenous Guyanese be given the same opportunities that are available to our brothers and sisters on the Coast. So what if we live over and beyond high mountains and raging creeks, over vast expanses of forests and savannahs? Do we deserve less opportunity or no opportunities at all because we live so far away? Our Government says NO! Indigenous Guyanese deserve to have the very same opportunities because we are Guyanese, and living far away is just a consideration to factor into the planning ...” (To be continued…)
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Kaieteur News
My column
We seem to be self-destructive Each day something happens to make me wonder whether we are a self-destructive people. We start to import things that are readily available in Guyana, right down to bottled water. I am sure that I could not find a single bottle of water bottled in Guyana in any store outside of Guyana. I will not even think about the imported coconut water. There I was at a friend’s home in Canada and he offered vodka and coconut water from Thailand. It turns out that the beautifully boxed product was not pure. It contained sugar and God knows what else to give the product some taste. I suppose that Guyanese in the Diaspora would buy it out of nostalgia, but it is a waste of money. I refused to use it. Later, I learnt that I was not the only one. So we import coconut water because we cannot find the time to pay somebody to climb the tree in our yard or simply go to any of the coconut water stands that dot the landscape. Things get even more complicated. I was once a public servant and one major concern was the pay. In my day there were annual increments, so the arguments for higher pay were not as strident as they are today. Increments went out decades ago and paved the way for this bargaining. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo simply scuttled any attempts at bargaining and unilaterally offered a five per cent hike over the years. And being the smart person he was, he paid the money close to Christmas time when everybody seems to need every bit of money they could get. This year there was the first serious attempt at bargaining. As could be expected, the proposal by the bargaining union and the position of the government would not gel. So, there is often an agreement. From the government side there is a need to look at the budget and at the cost of these increases. I remember when the Armstrong Commission ruled that the public servants should receive a 50 per cent increase over two years. The public servants were happy, but the government eventually claimed back every cent over a very short time. Four years after that astronomical increase, the public servants were once more haggling for a pay increase. Then something else happened. The International Monetary Fund had always told the government to cut jobs, reduce public spending. Public servants suffered. Many were simply let go and
their positions were never filled. We then witnessed the contract worker who got more than the public servant and enjoyed other benefits. The public service has grown since May 2015. More people have been employed, but the economy has not grown correspondingly. This would mean that any demand for more pay would have an even greater impact on the economy. The police force is constantly increasing in size given the desire to crush criminal activity in the country. We have all remarked at the rate of crime solving. I see expansions in other sections of the public service. The Finance Minister has said that the proposed increase would hike the wages bill by $20 billion. From my layman position, I see a ten per cent increase for the lowest category of public servants, greater than the previous administration ever offered. And this followed the payout the new government made last December. My simple calculation tells me that the lowest public servant would get somewhere between $6,000 and $10,000 per month more. Those earning a million dollars per month would also get a $10,000 increase. But the problem rests with the fate of the public servants if the international lenders should have to become involved in determining the way forward for the country. One thing though, the government has not closed the
door to further negotiation, but I would have thought that the public servants would have grasped the pay increase at this time especially when many have to get children back to school. But who am I to dictate to the Guyana Public Service Union? I am sure that its decision does not find favour with the public servants who want money. Don’t tell me to deny myself with the hope of getting more. I may not get more. There is also another thing that makes me conclude that we are self-destructive. Most of us take a drink, some in alarming quantities. The medical experts say that Guyana has an exceedingly high percentage of diabetes and hypertension. These are largely lifestyle diseases, so we are doing something wrong. We have become fast food junkies, so we increase our risk of becoming diabetic. To compound the issue, we drink beverages that only increase our blood sugar—things like beer and rum that are high in sugar content. I was amazed when I saw the number of people requiring dialysis. There were young people who might have been predisposed to renal failure, but there were others who developed this dis-
ease because of their lack of activity. But outside of the diseases there are things that happen with large quantities of alcohol in our systems. I got a shock when I read that a drunk driver had killed a man on the Railway Embankment. What was surprising for me was that this was a man I met under strange circumstances. He had knowledge of the Freddie Kissoon miasmic incident. This man was having regrets, so a friend persuaded him to come forward and to
apologise to Freddie. He did come forward and offered to testify against the intellectual authors. I know that he gave a statement to the police. Now that he is dead his statement should still be presented to the court for what it is worth. When I heard of his death on the road I believed that he was target for execution. It turned out that he was just having fun and was unlucky enough to be hit by a drunk driver. While there are those who may be celebrating his death,
Adam Harris there are others who regret this young man’s death. One person said that he believes that obeah had a role in the man’s death.
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(Excerpt from an address by His Excellency Brigadier David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to the 12th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair on August 19, 2016) Guyana has not had a development plan for more than 25 years. There have been a
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Sunday September 04, 2016
Corentyne Action Plan few ad hoc strategies from time to time. A plan is needed to translate Corentyne’s latent economic potential into economic prosperity. The ‘greening’ of Corentyne’s economy
requires a plan geared towards action. It needs a Corentyne Action Plan - CAP - based on its evident comparative advantages. Stakeholders can work to-
gether, urgently, to develop a plan as the basis for the Corentyne’s economic transformation. A CAP, undergirded, by a green agenda, can help to solve the dilemma of a resource-rich, but productionpoor Region. It can enjoy sustained economic growth while ensuring greater opportunities for the people. The Corentyne cannot be developed without change. A Corentyne Action Plan which balances economic transformation and human development will provide greater confidence that steps are being taken to create the conditions that will encourage persons to stay and help to develop this richly endowed Region. A Corentyne Action Plan CAP - can be based on information, innovation and investment: · Information is the gateway to increased opportunities. Information is essential for economic transformation. Information about markets, investment trends and opportunities, technological and scientific developments and new business horizons is necessary for entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and to better assess risks. Business persons must be equipped with appropriate information technology in order to be better integrated into a global market which is becoming increasingly knowledge-intensive. Information technology is a driver of economic growth, particularly for the services sector. Information technology and information communications technology has the potential to catalyse conditions to create employment. The liberalization of Guyana’s telecommunication sector will lead to increased investment and job creation. The Government will continue to encourage and incentivize the growth of the information technology and information communication technology sectors because of their potential for job creation. · Innovation: Innovation is at the heart of increased
global competiveness. The introduction, of new services, the creation of new products, the adoption of improved methods and processes, the penetration into new markets and the development of new business models - in agro-processing and eco-tourism for example must be pursued. Entrepreneurs must innovate, continuously, through research and development, if they are to achieve and retain their competitive advantage. · Investment: Foreign and domestic investment is essential in sectors such as manufacturing and which have higher job-creating potential than in other sectors. Increased investment in the Corentyne’s rural and hinterland communities where unemployment levels are highest will also yield lucrative returns. Entrepreneurship will be fostered by access to financial capital, particularly for young entrepreneurs and small, medium and micro-enterprises. Investment is vital to promoting a vibrant entrepreneurial culture. Easier access to credit, including micro-credit will encourage greater investment in the economy and stimulate growth. THE GREEN ECONOMY The model of a green economy offers the greatest opportunity for rekindling hope and unlocking the Corentyne’s latent potential. A ‘green agenda’ will not neglect the traditional agricultural sector. Coastal zone management is a key element of the green economy. It aims to ensure that sea defences and drainage systems are improved to prevent overtopping and flooding. The plan must also counter the threat to the fragile biodiversity of the wetlands - the home of our national bird the Canje Pheasant and much more - and the threat to the forests from logging. A ‘green’ development trajectory offers the opportunity to restore hope to the Corentyne by diversifying its economic base and by creat-
ing economic incentives for young people to remain in the Region. A ‘green’ economy has the potential to: - generate jobs, stimulate new industries and boost development from the bottomupwards, thereby reducing underdevelopment and poverty; - encourage young people to live and work within the Region rather than seeking to migrate to other countries; - protect farmers’ investments and safeguard the infrastructure which supports agricultural production and markets; - diversify agricultural production by encouraging the development of new crops and new breeds of livestock, employing new farming techniques and encouraging higher-value organic food production; - stimulate enterprise at the grassroots level by boosting the economies of villages and communities; - create a sanitary environment and promote solid waste management, including recycling; - promote efficient and renewable sources of energy. The Corentyne has the greatest potential for sustainable energy development in Guyana because it has a range renewable energy sources. The Corentyne is a pioneer in bio-mass energy. It is already generating energy from bagasse. The production of ethanol as fuel can follow. The Corentyne’s 85kilometre long coastline is a potentially productive source for wind energy, its vast intermediate savannahs can be the sites for solar energy farms, and its rivers can be the sites for the development of micro-hydroelectric plants. CORENTYNE VISION I have a vision for a prosperous region, propelled by information technology, investment and innovativeness. I see more. I have a vision for an agriculture institute, botanical garden, zoological park, cricket stadium, radio station and an international airport. I see the exploitation of the tourism potential by the declaration of a ‘protected area’ for the wetlands of the Canje basin. The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce by its organization of this annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair 2016 has demonstrated that it does have the expertise to exercise leadership. I challenge the Chamber to take the lead in bringing together the Corentyne’s stakeholders to produce a Corentyne Action Plan. The government will support such an initiative which is necessary so that the sleeping economic giant, known as East Corentyne-Berbice, can awaken from its slumber.
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Kaieteur News
Sharing a few ‘remedies for the flu’ By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine The “flu”, or influenza as it better known, is certainly not an eagerly anticipated episode in one’s life. It is a few days of debilitating illness which can leave you bed-ridden or in rare cases, be fatal. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It has a variety of symptoms which include: · Fever or feeling feverish/chills · Cough · Sore throat · Runny or stuffy nose · Muscle or body aches · Headaches · Fatigue (very tired) · Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever. There are simple remedies that can be done at home which may prevent a Doctor’s visit or even shorten the course of the flu. KEEPHYDRATED The flu can make you dehydrated from the fever or vomiting and diarrhea. Regularly using water, sports drinks such as Gatorade and fruit juices rich in Vitamin C, can help to improve your hydration and ultimately your condition faster. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine is important since they will dehydrate you and can worsen your condition. REST
Dr. Zulfikar Bux Your body is “taking a beating” from the influenza virus. It is using a lot of energy to fight off the virus. By resting, your body can dedicate its resources primarily to fighting the flu. USE SOME SOUP We have all grown up to our parents and grandparents offering us some soup during an illness. It turns out there is some evidence to support “using the soup”. A study published in the journal Chest showed that chicken soup may help with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections like the flu. Maybe it’s the evidence or just the good feeling of knowing that someone cares for you by making soup that helps. BREATHE MOISTAIR Breathing moist air helps to sooth a sore throat and ease nasal congestion. Indulging in steam showers several times a day or inhaling some steam from boiling water or a humidifier may help. Suck Mints
Regularly sucking cough drop or regular mints helps soothe the throat and ease coughing. GARGLE Regular gargling with salt water can help to break up thick mucus collecting at the back of your throat, as well as ease congestion and coughing. IRRIGATE YOUR NOSTRILS By regularly irrigating your nose with salt-water or saline, you can ease nasal and sinus congestion and even prevent sinus infection. The best way to do it is to pour the saline/salt-water through one nostril and let it run out the other. USE FEVER REDUCERS/ COUGH SUPPRESSANTS There are numerous fever reducers and cough suppressants or even combinations of same available. Your Pharmacist may be able to advise which is best for you. WHEN TO VISIT YOUR DOCTOR The following may be signs that you should visit your doctor: - Persistent fever - especially for more than 3 days - Persistent vomiting and diarrhea - especially if you cannot hydrate yourself fast enough. - Unrelenting cough with chills - You feel more sick than is usual for a bout with the flu
- You are not sure if it’s the flu you’re having - You have tried all the remedies and your condition is not improving It’s a difficult time when
you’re down with the flu. Some of us have to tough it out by ourselves, while others have help. In life, when we are all grown up, we feel we don’t
need the help of our parents and we can take care of things by ourselves. Then comes the flu and it’s amazing how fast our feelings change.
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the scene. Constable Horatio has alleged that he lost control of his bus after the motorcyclist, who was heading west down Regent Street, swerved into his path. According to some reports, the constable and part-time bus driver was racing another bus at around 20.00 hrs on Saturday, and ended up losing control of his vehicle.
SUNDAY SPECIAL MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING? WE HAVE BECOME EMBARRASSED BY THE FORENSIC AUDITS – RAMJATTAN – TENS OF MILLIONS SPENT, BUT PUBLIC STILL UNINFORMED – NO WITNESS PROTECTION PLAN DESPITE EVIDENCE OF “ROTTEN THINGS” – ABSENCE OF CRUCIAL DOCUMENTATION NEGATES SERIOUS REVIEWS From last year to now, over 30 forensic audits and special reports on a number of controversial projects and agencies have been released by the coalition administration. These reports which have cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, document numerous instances of corruption, mismanagement and abuse of state resources. In spite of the aforementioned, there has been no action of consequence against those who were fingered in the corrupt acts, and the public remains uninformed. With this in mind, several critics have asked, “Were the forensic audits much ado about nothing?” An emphatic “no” was the response submitted by Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan. The Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), said that when Government launched the forensic audits, the intended purpose was to ascertain the state of the assets it was actually taking over from the former regime. Ramjattan insists that this was the first and primary purpose. “When we did the audits we found such rotten things in there and initially, we suspected rotten things were taking place. So we said that if indeed there are rotten things which involve criminality, we will carry them to the courts.” Ramjattan said, however, that a number of the forensic audits only have rottenness to the extent that allows the administration to remove certain “elements” and change around systems. “And we have done that. There are, however, some other cases in the reports that have criminalities involved. Now when you are going to deal with that aspect, you have to go to the police.” In this regard, Ramjattan stressed that the forensic audit is not evidence. “When you are creating a file now for prosecution, you have to take witness statements…and as I have mentioned before, some of these witnesses for those forensic audits that we want to pursue prosecution for, are backing away.” Ramjattan said that the witnesses feel terrified of testifying, especially given what happened to this newspaper’s publisher, Glenn Lall, when there was a grenade attack at his place of work, specifically thrown at his vehicle. “They feel scared that a grenade
WOMAN, 64, BITES ARMED COPS TRYING TO ARREST WANTED GRANDSON
might be thrown at their homes too, and people need to understand that. We are having difficulties in the preparation of some of these cases, because you have to have a file of statements signed at the bottom of each page by the witnesses saying that this is the evidence that they will go to court and testify to,” the Public Security Minister expressed. Ramjattan confessed that the process in some ways has become an embarrassment to the Government. “We have become embarrassed by the forensic audits. We don’t have a witness protection plan. People are concerned and they feel those who did the criminality in the former regime can still get at them. And so we have that problem to deal with.” Another factor affecting the forensic audits, Ramjattan said, is the fact that crucial documentation cannot be found. He said that this even affected forensic auditor, Anand Goolsarran during his audit of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). MONDAY EDITION NO MORE BOND SCANDALS… SET UP PROCUREMENT COMMISSION URGENTLY SO MINISTERS CAN’T MAKE BUSINESS DEALS – RAMJATTAN In the wake of the Sussex Street bond scandal, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan is “hoping and praying” for the speedy establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, so the Cabinet no longer makes decisions on contracts. The Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) said that there is a need to tighten up on the weaknesses in the public procurement sector and he is positive that the Commission will be a significant check and balance in this area. “Now that the National Assembly has paved the way and given its blessings for the Procurement Commission, we have to operationalize it and I am urging for this to be done as quickly as possible so that we
don’t have any more of these bond issues.” The Public Security Minister said that he is praying for the day when ministers in Cabinet do not have to decide on contracts anymore. He said, “Under the Constitution, we fade away in the decision making process and the Commission will deal with all those procurement matters.” The AFC Leader said that while he is happy that the Commission will be coming on board quite soon, he is a bit disappointed that “great people” like Chartered Accountants, Chris Ram and Anand Goolsarran did not make it to become Commissioners. “We submitted their names but the Opposition does not want scrutiny. They didn’t want them. But we compromised because we wanted terribly for Cabinet’s role to fade away. We just don’t want any more bond issues.” After months of deliberations, the names and appointments of the Commissioners for the Public Procurement Commission received nothing but unconditional support on August 9, last, from Members of Parliament. ONE KILLED, SEVERAL INJURED, AFTER SPEEDING COP CRASHES BUS A speeding mini-bus driven by a police constable slammed into a
post before overturning on Regent Street on Saturday night, resulting in the death of one passenger and injury to several others. Dillon Linton, 21, of Stone Avenue, Campbellville, sustained multiple injuries and died some hours later at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Linton was reportedly sitting in the back seat of the bus when it crashed. Among the injured are 14-yearold Isaac Caesar of Kitty, who is in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Romel Maxwell, Manfro Jeffrey, and Delon Lanferman. Caesar reportedly suffered several fractured ribs while the others all sustained lacerations and cuts. The driver, Police Constable Timothy Horatio, 26, was detained. While there were allegations that the driver and conductor were seen consuming alcohol, Traffic Chief Dion Moore told Kaieteur News that breathalyzer tests did not indicate this. However, Moore said that there was evidence of speeding, such as skid marks at the scene. He also confirmed that Horatio, as a member of the Force, should not have been operating a mini-bus or any vehicle for public transportation. The Traffic Chief also said that based on the accounts of two eyewitnesses, police are trying to locate a motorcyclist who was involved in the mishap, but who reportedly left
A 64-year-old woman is now in custody after biting an armed policeman and a member of a community policing group who were trying to arrest her grandson. The ranks were bitten on their thumbs by the irate grandmother, whose husband, also aged 64, joined in assaulting the hapless lawmen identified as Police Constable Moriah and Neighbourhood Policeman Stanley. The grandson, who is wanted for a series of offences, also grabbed and discharged Constable Moriah’s firearm before fleeing. The bizarre showdown between the elderly couple, their 19-year-old grandson, Dinesh Persaud, and the lawmen, occurred at around 10.00 hrs Sunday at Number One Settlement, Blairmont, West Bank Berbice. Prior to the bungled arrest, the two ranks were returning to the Blairmont Police Station with two men they had detained for break and enter and larceny at Number Four Settlement, Blairmont West Bank Berbice. It was while they were taking the suspects back to the station in a car that they spotted Dinesh Persaud standing outside in front of his grandparents’ yard. Constable Moriah, who was armed with a .38 revolver and six live rounds, and the community policemen, then tried to take Persaud into custody. But during a scuffle, the elderly couple managed to pull away their grandson from the arresting officers. It was then that the grandmother bit the officers on their thumbs. When Constable Moriah attempted to re-arrest the Persaud, (Continued on page 42)
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(From page 41) the teen held the policeman’s firearm, causing six rounds to be discharged. Fortunately, no one was shot. Both policemen were treated at the Fort Wellington Hospital and discharged. The grandparents were taken into custody. MONICA REECE’S MOTHER SAYS… “I KNEW SOMETHING FISHY WAS GOING ON WITH MY DAUGHTER’S INVESTIGATION” The mother of the 1993 Good Friday night murder victim Monica Reece says she knew back then that the investigation into the killing of her daughter was not being conducted in a manner that would have led to the apprehension of the killer. So, she’s not at all surprised by Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine’s recent revelation that “an unprofessional course of action” took place during the initial probe into her daughter’s murder. “I am not surprised. Nobody was held, so definitely something was wrong. If you are doing an investigation, somebody should be held. This was a murder investigation, so I knew that there was something fishy (going on),” Shirley Reece told Kaieteur News Sunday in a brief telephone interview. But she expressed confidence of a different outcome, and a more professional approach by those who have re-opened the investigation. “I am hoping for a professional investigation. I am hoping for justice. I have some hope this time around. It (the investigation seems to be going in a different direction than before.” TUESDAY EDITION WITH OVER 15 DRUG BONDS ACROSS GUYANA, NO NEED FOR “IN CASE OF FIRE” FACILITY – NAGAMOOTOO’S DEFENCE PITIFUL – DR. ANTHONY Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo continues to receive criticism for the reasons he offered when trying to justify the “need” for the controversial bond his government continues to rent at a steep price of $12.5M per month. Recently, Nagamootoo told Kaieteur News that the possibility of a fire and the issue of traffic congestion on the East Bank
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Sunday September 04, 2016
at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Like most other bonds across the country, Dr. Anthony said that GPHC’s bond can store three months of medical supplies comfortably. He noted that Region Two has no less than two bonds, one at Suddie Hospital and the other at Charity. Region Three, according to Dr. Anthony, has at least one bond which is housed at the West Demerara Hospital. The Member of Parliament noted that Region 10 has at least two bonds, one at Lethem and the other at Linden. While, Region Six has about three bonds, at New Amsterdam, Port Mourant and Skeldon. He further noted that Region Five has another two bonds, at Mahaicony and Fort Wellington. Dr. Anthony stressed the fact that in the case of a fire, each of those bonds will have three months’ storage of drugs and medical supplies. He said that “excuses such as those offered by Nagamootoo cannot justify this spending spree they went on.” The former Minister is maintaining that the only satisfaction they can offer to this nation is the resignation of Dr. George Norton. He also thinks that the contract should be rescinded. BUSINESSMAN REMANDED FOR FATALTUCVILLE DRIVEWAY SHOOTING – ALSO CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER Attorney Ronald Burch-Smith is contending that his client, Robert Benn did not intend or premeditate to kill 24-year-old Colin Perreira, who had turned a car on his bridge in front of his Perry Street, Tucville, Georgetown home, on August 23. Benn, who is a businessman and licenced firearm holder was remanded to prison Monday after he was arraigned before Magistrate Leron Daly, accused of murdering Perreira called ‘Malcolm’ of 213 Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown. He was also accused of discharging a loaded firearm at Gail Ann Chacon, 22, with intent to murder her. Benn was not required to plead to the indictable offences when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. During his address to the court, BurchSmith questioned Police Prosecutor Shevon Jupiter as to why his client was being charged with the capital offence of murder instead of manslaughter. The lawyer pointed out that the
killing was not deliberate or premeditated. Burch-Smith argued that Benn was living in fear, since several threats had been made on his life. According to the Attorney, persons had threatened to attack, kill and rob his client. In addition, the court was told by the Attorney that Benn felt afraid when he saw the car turning on his bridge because he believed that the occupants of the vehicle were bandits. Police Prosecutor Shevon Jupiter related that investigations are still ongoing in the matter. She also indicated that Chacon is still hospitalized. The matter will be called again on September 16.
lition which came to power last year May after the short-lived term of the Donald Ramotar-led administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), a party that had been in power for over two decades. AFC was formed two elections ago by senior officials of the PPP/C and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). “AFC ministers have been holding their own. Minister (David) Patterson (Ministry of Public Infrastructure) has been doing a fine job. There are so many changes being made by the Business Ministry (headed by Minister Dominic Gaskin). So this concept we are swamped by the APNU, is nonsense,” Ramjattan stressed.
AFC IS A POWERFULVOICE IN THE COALITION GOVT. – RAMJATTAN
BERBICE BUSINESSMAN MURDER PI…
The Alliance For Change (AFC), a critical part of the Coalition Government, is insisting that it remains a powerful voice in the administration of this country. Grilled recently about perception and claims in some quarters that his party has become overwhelmed by A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), which forms a major part of the coalition, AFC’s leader, Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan, was quick to dismiss this and to make it clear that any such thinking could only be a figment of the imagination of the Opposition. “Total trash…everyday you read the newspaper, AFC members are in them. They are doing a great job. Not that the APNU ministers are not performing…all of them are performing.” Ramjattan’s party has eight ministers in the Coa-
MAGISTRATE PERMITS WITNESSES TO SIGN DEPOSITIONS IMMEDIATELYAFTER RECORDING EVIDENCE Witnesses testifying at the Preliminary Inquiry, (PI) into the murder of Berbice businessman Shameer Ali Mursalin were on Monday permitted to sign their depositions immediately after testifying before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh. The matter is ongoing at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, Corentyne Berbice. Mursalin, called ‘Kazac,’ a trader, of Grant 1805 Weld Tank Dam, Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, was fatally shot to the head on October 24, 2015. Businessman Dennis Veerasammy and two of his employees, Basheer Harrinauth and Delroy Fraser, are before the court for the murder. The matter caught the attention of Kaieteur News after relatives of the murdered businessman reported that the Magistrate’s had adjourned the case without re-reading the evidence and allowing the main witness of the trial to review and sign his deposition. The relatives expressed fear that there is a (Continued on page 43)
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Kaieteur News
of State Joseph Harmon. Neither Minister of Public Infrastructure, with responsibility for aviation David Patterson, nor the Minister within the Ministry, Annette Ferguson, was present at the event. Describing it as in keeping with Government’s vision for improved air service delivery to the hinterland, Harmon lauded Jags Aviation Inc. The company, which was launched in 2014 by BK International Group of Companies, is owned by businessman Brian Tiwarie.
(From page 42) deliberate ploy to sabotage the case. WEDNESDAY EDITION NO LAW ALLOWS ANY OFFICIAL IN THE PAST TO STEAL STATE’S ASSETS AND GET AWAY- SARU OFFICERS Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall is of the firm opinion that when the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Bill becomes law, it would be useless in the pursuit of past wrongdoers. According to Nandlall’s understanding, only those individuals who stole assets after the Bill is passed would be held liable. The former Minister of Legal Affairs had said that it is not possible for past defaulters to be brought before the courts, because Guyana’s constitution does not allow the law to be retroactive. But after noting these comments, the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) which will soon become SARA, concluded that Nandlall is nothing but “professional at misleading the nation.” SARU officials who spoke with Kaieteur News on Tuesday made it clear that in the case of the SARA Bill, there are no new offences being created which would prohibit the body from going after those wrongdoers of the past. They stressed that a quick look at the offences as listed in the SARU Draft Legislation would prove this. The SARU officials made it clear that these offences do not in any way inhibit the body’s powers when it becomes an agency to go after officials who stole assets from the state.” One official said, “Had there been no provision in Guyana’s laws which state that it is an offence to steal, and SARA’s Bill was now seeking to do so, then Mr. Nandlall’s claim would have been in order. We would not have been able to take action against those who stole prior to the Bill coming to life.” The SARU officer added, “However, what the learned former Attorney General must understand is the fact that stealing state assets or fraudulently converting it for one’s own gains is captured in different ways in many other aspects of our financial laws.
BOND CONTRACT WOULD HAVE NO VALIDITY IN COURT – GOV’T CAN SET IT ASIDE IF IT WANTED TO – NANDLALL
Therefore, this Bill when it becomes law will empower SARA to act and enforce those aspects of the law which already speak to stolen state assets and can be recovered via the courts.” COP REMANDED OVER REGENT ST. FATALACCIDENT Police Constable Timothy Horatio was on Tuesday remanded to prison on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving as a result of the accident on Saturday last, at Regent Street, which claimed the life of a minibus passenger and left three others injured. Horatio, 26, of Stone Avenue, Campbellville, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on August 28, he drove minibus BPP 7944 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Dillon Linton, 21, also of Stone Avenue, Campbellville. It was reported that the speeding minibus being driven by Horatio slammed into a post before overturning on Regent Street, resulting in the death of Linton. Linton reportedly sustained multiple injuries and died hours later while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was reportedly sitting in the back seat of the minibus when it crashed. According to reports, the Constable, and a part time minibus driver was racing another minibus at around 20:00hrs on the day in question, when he tried to avoid hitting a motorcyclist, who was heading in the opposite direction. He was however unable to avoid the collision and ended up losing control of the vehicle. The minibus reportedly toppled several times before smashing into a utility pole and finally coming to a stop at the wall of a Regent Street store, ‘Curtains and Draperies.’ SOD TURNED FOR JAGS AVIATION’S US$3.5M OGLE AIRPORT HANGAR Following calls in 2015 from President David Granger for more investments in the aviation sector, Jags Aviation Incorporated on Tuesday unveiled plans for a new multi-aircraft facility at the Eugene F. Correia Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara. This investment, worth approximately US$3.5M, is expected to serve and maintain aircraft with a particular transit route with the hinterland. Turning the sod at the event was Minister
While Government and Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton have acknowledged that a mistake was made when Norton’s ministry sole sourced a drug bond storage contract, there seem to be no plans to reverse the agreement. It is the opinion of former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, that there are so many problems with the agreement even the average taxpayer could take it to court and get it rescinded. For one, he cited the fact that what the Ministry of Public Health rented was originally intended for office space. The Agreement of Tenancy had stated that the building would be used as a professional office. According to Nandlall, this alone constitutes grounds for the contract to be set aside, since it could be argued that Government erred in entering the contract. Nandlall pointed out that a contract can be set aside due to a fundamental mistake. He also noted that the contract was not issued under the Procurement Act. THURSDAY EDITION PPPGAVE RUIMVELDT WELLTO RAMROOP IN SANATA DEAL – GWI CONFIRMS For more than three decades, it was under the control of Government. Then in the late 2000s, a water well at the Sanata Textile Complex, Ruimveldt, was sold under questionable circumstances by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to Queens Atlantic Investments Inc. (QAII), a group of companies under the direction of Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop. NICIL is the state-owned company that handles investments and privatizations of
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public properties. Why the administration of former President Bharrat Jagdeo decided to sell the well which was managed by the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) is now the big question. Jagdeo is a close friend of Ramroop. While the well was located in the Sanata complex, it served over 9,000 customers in the Ruimveldt area, including D’Aguiar Park, Alexander Village, Meadowbank and West Ruimveldt. Each month, GWI has been paying almost $3M in electricity bills for the well as well as sending its technicians daily. Its technicians access the well through QAII security. The ownership of the well came up recently when technicians attempted to conduct checks of water connection at the QAII at the Ruimveldt facility, but were later asked by management of the water company to suspend all investigations until further notice. The complex houses a newspaper, radio and storage bond, as well as administration offices of QAII. QAII claimed that the visits by technicians were in retaliation to a report carried in a newspaper it owned that GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, benefitted from a fuel import and storage licence. Dr. Van-West Charles later admitted that he told the technicians to stand down after he was requested to do so by Chairman of the GWI Board, Mr Nigel Hinds. Hinds, when asked, said that ownership of the well was in question and GWI needed to probe this. The Chairman said he would be releasing the findings of the probe. A meeting was held this week between GWI management and Ramroop, with the water company issuing a statement Wednesday confirming indeed that the well is no longer in GWI’s control. According to a GWI statement, its investigations were to ascertain in whose name the well located in the compound of Sanata Textile, Ruimveldt, was registered. GWI said that during the meeting with Ramroop, it was agreed that “GWI will continue to service the well, which also supplies water to residents within its environs.” GWI said that Dr. Ramroop indicated that he had bought the entire complex which included the well but “inherited the daily checks of the well by GWI .He assured GWI that he will not interfere with this arrangement.” GWI said that based on information received internally, the well was maintained (Continued on page 44)
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(From page 43) by Guyana Sewage and Water Works Commission (GS&WC) and when the merger occurred in 2002, resulting in the formation of GWI, the practice continued. With regards to another property owned by QAII, and located at Camp and Quamina Streets, and which like the Sanata complex was not reflected on GWI database, the water company said that it has agreed to come to a settlement. 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. Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran stated that this new Government had given the commitment that it would not use NICIL in an abusive manner. He 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 state-owned entity. GPL TO SPEND ABOUT $100M TO REPAIR DAMAGED SUBMARINE CABLE A spate of outages facing sections of Demerara is not likely to go away anytime soon, as critical repairs to a damaged submarine power cable across the Demerara will take weeks. The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) will likely have to spend up to $100M to replace the damaged section of the cable linking the Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop, officials have said. The submarine cable was part of a major project to inter-connect the Berbice and Demerara grids. With a new 26 megawatts Wartsila plant providing extra power, the East
Demerara area had been badly depending on it being brought via the submarine cable. Residents have been complaining bitterly about an increasing spate of blackouts, in especially places like Eccles and Republic Park, East Bank Demerara. GPL officials disclosed that a replacement cable will have to be shipped in, and in addition to repairs it is expected that this could take between 45-60 days. HEALTH MINISTER, PS UNAWARE OF BK $900M STEEL PROBE Regarding the questionable acquisition of eight containers of steel worth hundreds of millions of dollars by contractor, BK International Incorporated, Minister of State Joseph Harmon a few weeks ago had stated that the Ministry of Public Health is conducting an investigation. Now six weeks later, there is no evidence that any probe is underway. The issue itself has been a sore one for Government. Senior officials of the Public Health Ministry, contacted this week, are declaring that they are unaware of any such investigation. Minister Harmon had said at a post-cabinet press briefing that the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, had indicated that an investigation is going on and a report is expected to be submitted soon. However, contacted recently, Dr. Norton on two occasions did not disclose much detail. On August 8, 2016, he was asked in the corridor of Parliament Building for an update on the investigation to which he responded: “Not because an investigation is going on means that something is wrong,” On the other occasion – which was two days ago – the embattled Minister said that his Ministry being involved in the investigation was not entirely true and that he “would not venture further” in the matter. The Minister, instead, told this publication that contact should be made with the Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, Trevor Thomas, since he has a better understanding of the “misunderstanding”. After Thomas was contacted Wednesday, he stated that he was unaware of any investigation and asked for more details. FRIDAY EDITION GRANGER’S WORDS HAVE NO WEIGHT – OPPOSITION LEADER “The President is becoming increasingly ceremonial. Imagine he says release the contracts, we have nothing to hide, and nobody pays attention to him. Not even his own gov-
ernment.” This dismissive declaration was made Thursday by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. He was at the time speaking at his party’s weekly press conference. Continuing in the same vein, Jagdeo pointed out that it was Granger who had said that the Judicial Service Commission should determine the appointments of officials in the Supreme Court Registry. Jagdeo said that in a clear act of defiance of the President’s statement, Attorney General Basil Williams reportedly interfered in the appointment of Zanna Frank as the Deputy Registrar in the Deeds Registry. After his demeaning remarks about Granger, the Opposition Leader then turned his attention the controversial well located in the Sanata Complex. His explanation of the privatization agreement between his government and Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. (QAII) was barely believable. He said that even though the GWI well in the Sanata Complex was privatized, the well “still” continues to provide the 9,000 surrounding residents of the Ruimveldt area – including D’Aguiar Park, Alexander Village, Meadow Bank and West Ruimveldt – with water. While the Opposition Leader made this statement, he failed completely to remind the nation that the well was, and still is, being fully maintained and operated by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) personnel. The maintenance and electrical bills cost GWI a whopping $3M monthly. Jagdeo brazenly stated that, “One thing was clear throughout all of this…the 9,000 people who are benefitting from the water, they will continue to benefit from that. GWI didn’t have to pay Queens Atlantic for the water, the well, although located in the Sanata (complex), continued to serve West Ruimveldt and the 9,000 people.” The Opposition Leader also revealed that there is a document showing the process taken to privatize the various assets. “In that document it will show the process that we went through in privatizing everything, including the Sanata (Complex.)” This document however was never made public in the past. In fact, the entire Sanata Complex deal was essentially a state secret. The controversy surrounding this issue initially arose when GWI technicians attempted to conduct checks of a water connection attached to the buildings within the Sanata Complex. The complex which is located in the Ruimveldt area was privatized some years ago under the Jagdeo administration. Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop
subsequently benefitted from a sweetheart deal on the complex. During a “tit-for-tat” between the GWI technicians and Ramroop’s management, the technicians were subsequently asked to stand off and suspend all investigations until further notice. GWI TERMINATES SERVICES OF TWICE-CONVICTED MANAGER …SAYS “HE IS UNQUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION’ A week after sending him on administrative leave, the Board of Directors of the stateowned, Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), yesterday announced that it has decided to terminate the services of a senior manager. In a statement, the entity disclosed that the Board of Directors, following a specially convened meeting yesterday, decided to terminate the services of Lear Goring, the Debt Recovery Manager. “Mr. Goring was sent on administrative leave pending investigations into reports that he was not qualified for the position of Debt Recovery Manager,” GWI explained. “The decision comes following a review of Mr. Goring’s credentials, which do not satisfy the requirements outlined for the position. It should also be noted that the decision taken was based solely on a review of his qualification for the job. The Chairman, Board of Directors and Management of GWI wish Mr. Goring all the best in his future endeavours,” the statement said. Goring’s presence at GWI had sparked debate after it became known recently that in the 1990s, he served time twice for two separate drug trafficking convictions. In both cases, he was deported to Guyana. Critics and sympathizers were heavily divided whether he should be given a second chance. He apparently submitted a clean police record when he got the job last year. MAN RIDDLED WITH BULLETS IN NORTH RUIMVELDT Mark Anthony, called ‘QQ,’ was gunned down in North Ruimveldt shortly after 20.15 hrs on Thursday night. According to reports, Anthony, 22, of North Ruimveldt, was sitting on a bench when two men approached him and drew handguns. Anthony fled through a shortcut, pursued by the gunmen who caught up with him and riddled him before escaping. Anthony was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public (Continued on page 45)
Sunday September 04, 2016
(From page 44) Hospital. ALLEGED SERIAL BANDIT REMANDED FOR SHOOTING AT COPS Shemroy Hackett, who lawmen describe as a serial bandit, was on Thursday remanded to prison for allegedly shooting at two policemen and for a series of robberies allegedly committed between July and last month, on the East Coast of Demerara. Hackett, 27, of 134 Bare Root, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court after he reportedly confessed to being a member of a gang. This newspaper was also told that Hackett was positively identified during several identification parades conducted on Wednesday. The unrepresented man was charged 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. Hackett was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that he discharged a loaded firearm at Police Lance Corporal Hilton Benjamin and Constable Marvin Richards, with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause them grievous bodily. The peace officers were at the time acting in consort on their duties at Bachelors Adventure, East Coast Demerara on August 29. Police Prosecutor Sherlock King opposed bail for Hackett on the ground that some of the offences were committed since July. He said that there is a likelihood if Hackett is released on bail he would commit other offences. According to the prosecutor, investigations into the matters are still ongoing. Magistrate Ally-Seepaul transferred some of the matter to courts in their respective jurisdictions. Some of the matters were transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for October 13 and the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court for October 19. The cases fixed for the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court were adjourned until September 30. GUYSUCO IN US$410M DEBT, SELLING 2,000 ACRES TO RAISE CASH – CEO ERROL HANOMAN As sugar continues to struggle, the stateowned corporation has embarked on a number of cost-cutting measures and other initiatives to right the faltering industry. This week, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) announced plans to release over 2,000 acres of lands on the East Coast of
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Demerara. GuySuCo is hoping that the proceeds of the sale of the lands would help to dent a massive $82B (US$410M) in debt that the corporation has racked up to suppliers, banks, and other creditors. That debt would represent a third of the country’s annual budget. While the industry managed to meet its target of over 227,000 tonnes of sugar last year, the cash situation has continued to show a dismal trend over the past decade. With over 17,000 workers depending on the industry, the David Granger administration which took office last year inherited the same problem facing its predecessor, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – that is, how to cut losses without causing untold harm to the workers and the country. None of the political parties have been willing to anger the workers who traditionally have largely been voting for the PPP/C. Speaking with Kaieteur News on Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Errol Hanoman, who was brought back last year to steady the corporation, explained that advertisements this week in the Guyana Chronicle asking for proposals for the land, is part of the re-organisation process. According to the ad, GuySuCo is asking for Expressions of Interest for portions of transported lands at Industry, Ogle, Goedverwagting and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara. GuySuCo wants to sell the land in no less than plots of one acre. According to the GuySuCo’s chief, the proposals will have to conform to the overall plan for the development of country. This means that proper zoning will be factored in. GuySuCo is also selling several plots of lands for housing in areas including Mandela Avenue and along Liliendaal and Ogle, on the East Coast of Demerara. According to Hanoman, the 2,000-plus acres are in essence the remaining sections from the integration process of cane lands in the East Demerara estates. SATURDAY EDITION GPSU OFFICIALLY REJECTS GOVT.’S ‘FINALOFFER’ -RESOLVES TO RETURN TO THE BARGAINING TABLE The Guyana Public Service Union after its General Council meeting Friday at the Union’s headquarters, indicated that it has officially rejected the ‘final offer’ proposed by the Government of Guyana’s negotiating team headed by Reginald Brotherson, Permanent Secretary Department of Public Service. Following discussions at the meeting, the General Council mandated the Executive Council and the GPSU’s negotiating team to reject the offer. Additionally, the Executive Council and the Union’s negotiating Team have been instructed by the General Council to observe the rules of the legally binding agreement between the Government and the Union for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes and return to the bargaining table. The government had made a 10% to 1% differentiated salary
increase which it described as its final offer. The Union made public the details of the proposed offer calling it an absurdity. According to the government, the differentiated approach sought to provide the greatest relief to public servants within the lower salary bands of the Public Service Wages and Salaries Structure. The Union, however, had proposed for salary increases spread across a three-year period. KEY WITNESS IN FREDDIE KISSOON ASSAULT CASE KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT Osmond Griffith, the key witness in the Freddie Kissoon assault case was killed in an accident early Friday morning on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) Public Road, in the vicinity of Industry. The accident occurred shortly after 02:00 hrs just as Griffith and a few friends were returning home from a “hang” at the Plaisance line top. Reports are that the car in which the D’Urban Backlands resident was a passenger, had pulled over and stopped at the side of the public road for some of the occupants to urinate when the 41-year-old man was killed. Griffith was standing next to the car and was in the process of zipping up his pants when a speeding car, heading towards the city, crashed into him, flinging him into the air and onto the roadway—some 20 feet from the point of impact. The father of 15 was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The driver of the car which struck and killed Griffith drives a Toyota Caldina Wagon bearing registration number HC 4399. The police were able to confirm that the driver of the car was under the influence of alcohol. NICIL BREAKS ITS SILENCE… PASSES BLAME ON STATUS OF GTT SHARES TO SARU After weeks of being silent and evading pressing questions from the media, the Chairman of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Dr. Maurice Odle has finally come forward with a statement on the state of affairs of the entity.
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His statement comes in wake of a Kaieteur News article which stated that even under new direction, the controversial company was still shrouded in secrecy. Among other issues, Odle sought to explain the status of the outstanding moneys to be received on the GTT shares. He recalled that NICIL sold the Government’s investment in GT&T in 2012 for US$30M of which the sum of US$25M was received. Odle noted that the balance of US$5M was to be paid within a period of two years. To date, Government does not know what really happened with that money. It has only received different versions of what had occurred before it assumed office. Up to yesterday, NICIL said that it is still trying to ascertain the veracity of the documents which state that the outstanding balance was written off. Dr. Odle said that the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) was conducting its own investigations in this regard. The NICIL Chairman said that SARU is yet to formally advise the NICIL Board on its progress. DRUG BOND DEAL SHOULD BE RESCINDED - AUDITOR GENERALADVISES A Government deal earlier this year to rent a Sussex Street property for use as a drug bond is refusing to go away. Joining calls for the deal to be rescinded is the country’s Auditor General, Deodat Sharma. On Friday, when asked about the transaction which led to Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, apologizing last week for misleading the National Assembly, Sharma said that based on the information available, he believes that Government would be correct in ending the arrangement. “From the initial observations, the agreement appears to have some pitfalls. The location is but one of the concerns and of course, we have noted the points of the justifications used for the transaction. I believe that there is enough for Government to seriously consider rescinding this deal.” Asked if the matter will be red-flagged when the time comes for this year’s audits to be conducted, the Auditor General made it clear that the regulations spell out how this and other similar transactions are treated by his office.
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Consumer SPECIALTY HOSPITALS ARE INEVITABLE and North America. easy to reach, Guyana could of life and even and the reunification of Industry. Concerns leases A Specialty Hospital in develop a very vibrant F i f t h l y, S p e c i a l t y families and the injection of restoration of health. PAT DIAL Two weeks ago, on 16th August, Government took the formal decision to cancel the Specialty Hospital Project and to ask the donor, the Indian Government, to instead expend the remaining US$14 million on modernizing the primary health care facilities at the West Demerara, Suddie and Bartica hospitals. This decision to cancel the Specialty Hospital Project has brought some certainty to this affair which oscillated between doing the Project and not doing it, or using the Indian funds for primary health care or even for a pediatric hospital. Such indecision is very unusual in Aid Projects and the donor must have felt a sense of relief with the advent of certainty. The Consumer Community did welcome the ending of the suspended animation in which the Project had been for nearly three years, but deeply regretted that Guyana will have to again wait for some time before the inevitable establishment of a Specialty Hospital. Its inevitability rests on the fact that Guyana needs such a hospital, and which will also put Guyana in the league of all progressive countries where there is at least one Specialty Hospital. Many are of the opinion that the late President Burnham would not have died the way he did if he was in a Specialty Hospital. Older citizens and those in declining health were looking forward to the establishment of the Hospital, since most such people do not have the funds to travel abroad and pay for necessary foreign specialist treatment. In contrast, many wealthy persons and governmental personnel who could access public funds for their foreign medical treatment have had long
The consumer community has long supported the establishment of at least one Specialty Hospital in Guyana under Government auspices and our reasons for so doing are: Firstly, as indicated above, those who do not have the necessary funds or expatriate familial support would not be able to have Specialist medical treatment abroad and may have their lives shortened or may see their health steadily deteriorating. In addition, a Specialty Hospital would be able to deal with sudden emergency conditions. In Cuba, for example, because of their Specialty hospitals, numerous citizens would have been rendered lifesaving emergency attention, and this is probably one of the reasons for the longevity of their politicians. Secondly, a Specialty Hospital would be introducing to Guyana the cutting edge of Medicine and would introduce advanced procedures, equipment and treatment way beyond primary health care. It would also bring to the Guyanese medical profession a corpus of top-grade specialists in various fields who would be able to pass on their skills to our younger doctors and could also be of help in raising the standard of the Medical School of the University of Guyana. Thirdly, there are more Guyanese living abroad than resident in Guyana. Many thousands of these expatriates who have reached retiring age would desire to resettle in the land of their birth bringing with them their foreign pensions and other accumulations of wealth, but they cannot come because the specialist health care they normally enjoy in the Developed Countries is absent in Guyana. The immense social importance of the ingathering of our people
foreign exchange into the economy from their resettlement, could not be measured. Fourthly, having worldclass medical care available in any country is an attraction to visitors. In the case of Guyana, availability of specialist medical care is of particular importance to its tourism industry which is very different from the sunand-sand offerings of the Caribbean islands. Guyana’s tourism product is the flora and fauna of our vast forests, the magnificent landscapes such as our waterfalls and our historical background including our unique architecture. The tourists who would be attracted by Guyana’s tourism product would tend to be middle-aged or older people who would feel there is no risk in visiting once specialist health care is available. Specialist Hospitals are therefore linked with Guyana’s Tourist
Hospitals in Developing Countries attract patients from Developed Countries because they offer the same treatment and procedures of the Developed Countries at lower costs. India, for example, earns millions of dollars from its medical tourism industry by attracting patients mostly from Europe
Guyana would immediately attract patients from the Guyanese Diaspora in Europe and North America, and would be an immediate earner of foreign exchange. And since Guyana has certain advantages over other countries such as its being English-speaking and its geographical location being
medical tourism industry. A Specialty Hospital could be the forerunner of others as a Medical Tourism Industry develops. But the State should not abdicate being the main owners of such hospitals and should not leave their development wholly to private companies and individuals.
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Kaieteur News
Police introduce new measure to tackle corruption Driver’s licences…
Tired of the numerous complaints of unprofessional conduct in the learner driver theory and practical examinations, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has introduced a new measure to tackle corruption in this area. The new system has proven to be very efficient thus far, according to the Commissioner of Police (ag) during a recent press conference. He explained that with the number of complaints they had been receiving, the force took a conscious decision to have the Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN) involved in the examination process for potential drivers. “They (CFCN) were first involved in the theoretical examination- the invigilating and supervision of the examination. When that system was first introduced, there was some resistance at
first, but then it settled down,” Ramnarine said. He pointed out that before the CFCN got on board, there was a 70 and 80 percent pass rate from the theory examination, but then it went down to 45 and 50 percent, which justified the complaints they were receiving. “It became a very real and encouraging sign and now we moved it a stage further with the CFCN marking the exam paper under police supervision in a police environment, so persons who used to feel that they will have somebody go there and write the exam or someone to fix them up - all that is through the window,” the Commissioner (ag) stressed. Kaieteur News was told that persons are now buying their learner ’s package, studying the booklets and attending classes. Over the years many
Commissioner of Police, (ag) David Ramnarine persons have been complaining about persons purchasing their letter of competence from the members of the Guyana Police Force as opposed buying their package and going through the process. A Letter of Competence is issued by the police when a
person successfully completes the practical part of the driver’s examination. Once issued, the letter is taken to the Guyana Revenue Authority where the person pays a fee and gets their driver’s licence. It is said that a letter of competence can cost someone as much as $90,000 plus a “lil raise.” Ramnarine said that the force will be taking decisive action against corrupt ranks as it aims to build and sustain a relationship with members of the public. For the year, 15 ranks have been dismissed by the force—six for corrupt transactions, two for rape, three for narcotic-related offences and four for simple larceny—while 24 are before the court for matters ranging from attempted murder to assault. In 2015, 12 ranks were dismissed—seven for corrupt transactions, two for firearmrelated offences, two for narcotic-related offences and one for another offence of assault, while 21 ranks were interdicted for offences ranging from conspiracy to commit murder to assault.
Sunday September 04, 2016
By Dr. Neromini Fagu Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating are usually diagnosed and treated by family physicians, psychiatrists and psychologists. However, according to the American Dental Association, dentists are often the first health professionals to observe the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. Many individuals suffering from eating disorders often avoid medical treatment and the dental team may be the first to recognize signs of an eating disorder when an individual seeks dental treatment for the pain and discomfort associated with the condition. Eating disorders are detrimental to a person’s health and rob the body of the vital nutrition needed. Affected individuals suffer from body image issues and use various means to purge themselves of the food consumed. In addition to a host of medical problems, eating disorders can also wreak havoc on an individual’s oral health. The following are some of the various effects: EROSION OF TOOTH ENAMEL Persons suffering from bulimia force themselves to vomit to get rid of the food they eat. The stomach acid in vomit wears away the enamel of the teeth and the wearing away mostly occurs on the inner surface of the front teeth. These surfaces are usually only seen by dental professionals which, is why, the eating disorder may go undetected by other health professionals. As the condition progresses over time the erosion on the front teeth may become noticeable and teeth will often appear thin, yellow, shiny and even transparent near the edges. Tooth erosion may also be experienced by persons suffering from anorexia if the individual consumes a lot of acidic fruits and drinks instead of solid meals. Once the enamel has been lost, the dentine layer below becomes exposed making the tooth more prone to sensitivity. Normal things such as brushing one’s teeth, drinking a glass of water, or even taking a deep breath through the mouth can become extremely painful. As the illness progresses, the loss of tooth enamel can be so great that it causes the teeth to change in colour, shape and length. They can also become brittle,
translucent and sensitive to temperature. DRY MOUTHAND BAD BREATH The bodies of persons with eating disorders are often dehydrated and malnourished and lack the necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals for good health. Dry mouth and bad breath usually develop leading to an increased risk for tooth decay and gum disease. SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE Individuals who constantly use their fingers to force themselves to vomit can
Kaieteur News
Effects of Eating Disorders on Oral Health cause redness, scratches and cuts to the inside the mouth and the soft palate. Lips often become red, dry and cracked and the soft tissues in the mouth may bleed easily or develop lesions. The frequent binge and purge cycles may cause enlargement of the salivary glands which can be painful. OSTEOPOROSIS AND ARTHRITIS Individuals who have had an eating disorder for an extended period of time may also develop osteoporosis, a condition that leads to the weakening of bones. Osteoporosis is more often
found in individuals suffering from anorexia and it causes the bone in the jaw to shrink, so causing the teeth to loosen and possibly fall out. Arthritis may sometimes also develop in the joint where the upper and lower jaw hinge together, leading to chronic headaches and problems with chewing and opening and closing of the mouth. Eating disorders are not commonly discussed in Guyana and may not even be understood by many. It is
important for dental health workers to be aware of the symptoms of the disorders so they can help their patients both on a dental and medical level. The topic is a sensitive one and dental professionals need to look for more than one symptom as well as perform proper differential diagnosis before charting a course of treatment. A compassionate and understanding dental staff may very well encourage individuals to seek the help they need for recovery.
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Dr. Neromini Fagu For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 04, 2016
Hangings can be carried More pressure on PNP out if done in ‘time’ Trinidad Guardian - Corporal punishment was one of the issues both the Opposition and Government saw eye-to-eye in discussing Friday during their crime talks, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said. “The Opposition raised the question of hanging. We had a short discussion as to where we are on this issue,” Rowley told reporters. In short, Rowley said both parties held the view that capital punishment should remain on our books “and should be the effective response to particular crimes. That being the case, we are divergent in our views, where this Government when in Opposition and is still of the view, as advised by thorough legal research, that we
are only allowed to carry out capital punishment in Trinidad and Tobago, as reaffirmed by the Privy Council because of the savings law which took place at Independence.” The PM said if we were to interfere and create new conditions to this law, T&T “will open the door for the Privy Council to permanently and effectively abolish capital punishment in Trinidad and Tobago.” He said, however, that the Privy Council has indicated that capital punishment is lawful and can be carried out. “The Privy Council has outlined the conditions under which it can be done. And that is, that all the proceedings must be concluded and upon conviction...that the capital
punishment must be carried out within a five-year period.” Rowley said it was for the State to be able to meet the Privy Council conditions. “Where we have a divergence with the Opposition, is that they were proposing new arrangements for capital punishment and we are saying that the minute you do that... it means that the Privy Council will then permanently abolish it. The reason why they have not abolished it so far is because of the old law, which is beyond the reach of the Privy Council.” Rowley said both parties have agreed to meet and discuss this issue further so that some hopeful agreement will be arrived at and take place.
Jamaica Observer - The People’s National Party came under more pressure Friday when a civil society group joined the call for State agencies to investigate the campaign money scandal rocking the organisation. The Jamaica Civil Society Forum (JCSF), which said the issue has the potential to harm the foundation and integrity of the nation’s democracy, called for “a transparent” and “speedy” investigation by the police’s Major Organised Crime and AntiCorruption Agency, the Financial Investigation Division (FID) of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and the Office of the Contractor General. The PNP has been reeling, for the last two weeks, from allegations that senior members of the party collected millions of dollars from donors to finance the Febru-
- Group wants police, contractor general and FID to join campaign money probe
ary 25 election campaign but did not hand it over to the party’s treasury. The wounds opened more this week when former Cabinet minister Omar Davies blasted General Secretary Paul Burke for a statement on the matter at a meeting of the PNP National Executive Council, and got even deeper when Party President Portia Simpson Miller told reporters that she was unaware of the matter. A day later she asked the organisation’s integrity commission to investigate it, but did not make the matter any clearer in a television interview. Davies was particularly incensed by allegations that large Chinese firms were asked to pay an ‘agent’s fee’ which ranged from one per
cent to 1.5 per cent for project cost, and the claim that it was customary that the ‘agent’ be name by the portfolio responsibility for the relevant sector. Still to recover from its shock defeat to the Jamaica Labour Party in the February 25 general election, divisions in the PNP over the campaign money could spill over into its annual conference later this month. Burke, who was asked by members of the South St Andrew constituency to apologise publicly to Davies, said Thursday that he would be ignoring it as he had no comment on the matter. He is also yet to respond to demands by Davies to lay out the facts about the campaign money issue.
Sunday September 04, 2016
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Kaieteur News
U.S., China ratify Paris climate deal, setting stage for G20 Reuters - China and the United States ratified the Paris agreement to cut climatewarming emissions yesterday, marking a major step toward the enactment of the pact as early as the end of the year and setting the stage for other countries to follow suit. The world’s two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases made the landmark announcement as heads of state from the Group of 20 biggest economies, or G20, arrived for a summit in the city of Hangzhou, parts of which resembled a ghost town as Chinese security locked down the area. U.S. President Barack Obama’s last scheduled trip to Asia before leaving office however got off to an awkward start. Soon after Air Force One landed, a Chinese security official blocked National Security Adviser Susan Rice on the tarmac, speaking angrily to her before a Secret
Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) with US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during a joint ratification of the Paris climate change agreement ceremony ahead of the G20 Summit at the West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou, China, yesterday. REUTERS/How Hwee Young/Pool Service agent stepped between the two. China has gone to great lengths to try
to make the Sept 4-5 G20 summit a success, hoping to cement its standing as a global
power, but a range of thorny diplomatic topics could overshadow the agenda.
G20 leaders are likely to renew their promises to use tax and spending policies to invigorate the sluggish world economy, although a new pro-growth push was unlikely. Overcapacity in the global steel industry, a sore point for China as the world’s largest producer of the metal, barriers to foreign investment and the risk of currency devaluations to protect export markets will also figure in the discussions. Beyond economics, there may be friction over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and a U.S.-South Korea decision to deploy a missile defence system in South Korea to counter missile and nuclear threats from North Korea. When Obama met Chinese President Xi Jinping, he told him they would have candid talks on cyber, human rights and maritime issues.
Nevertheless, the climate deal set a positive tone.. “Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today’s efforts as pivotal,” Obama said after he and Xi handed ratified documents to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “We have a saying in America that you need to put your money where your mouth is. And when it comes to combating climate change, that’s what we’re doing. Both the United States and China, we’re leading by example.” At a joint ceremony, Xi said it “speaks to the shared ambition and resolve of China and the United States in addressing global issues”. French President Francois Hollande said it was an important step that would pave the way for the implementation of the Paris agreement at the end of the year.
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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 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: 2250391 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 A&T TRAVEL AGENCY INC: TICKETS GOING VERY CHEAP!! OFFICE IN USA. CALL: 223-1332/ 6137542/EMAIL:OMKAR LILIAH@GMAIL.COM Need a building contractor? House plan to be drawn or just an Estimate? Then call: 216-0671/ 692-8464/622-0267 Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!!
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
WINGS CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SUMMER. CALL: 690-6494
LAND FOR SALE
FOR RENT
85.6 Acres titled farm land with timber/water access, located @ Loo Creek E.B.D River. Call: 625-8589; (518) 859-5313 5 Acres coconut and other fruit bearing, no chemical, lease or sale – Demerara River across Timehri docks. Call: 261-2988
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Land at Tuschen Housing Scheme, near school, 3 minutes away from main road. Call: 261-2988 Tuschen -$3M, Uitvlugt $2M, La Parfaite Harmonie $3.5M, $1.9M, $1.6M, $1M, V/Hoop-$27M. Call: 604-6724
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 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 One two storey concrete building, ongoing business at Grove E.B.D – Call: 6227324 Furnished wooden house & land & neighbouring land 60X100 -$20M Negotiable, Sol separately also M.M.Z, W.C.D. Call: 655-0767
LAND IN 11 STREET DIAMOND. CALL: 2253234 Prime business spot for sale located in Independence Street La Grange -$10M negotiable. Call: 684-7853/ 619-2388 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M, $1.6M, Uitvlugt -$2M, 100ftX50ft, Farm $3.2M (55ftX100ft), one mining claim -$1.5M. Call: 658-5897; 6732692 30 Acres at Yarrowkabra Linden, Soesdyke Highway. Creek available. Call: 6635524/ 661-5033 50X90 Land at Covent Garden, E.B.D - $3.2M. Call: 696-7527 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.5M. Call: 693-6627 or 645-3474
GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
CAR RENTAL 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 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 Newly built 2 bedroom apartments in Industry E.C.D. Call: 614-3278/ 6237500 2 Bedrooms house, bottom flat at 64 William Street Kitty. Call Rawle: 600-8373 2 Bedrooms upstairs at Enterprise Garden -$25,000 per month. Free water & light. Call: 647-8621 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park, E.B.D, 2 bedrooms -$70,000 -Call: 2275194 763 5th Street Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, fully grilled. Call: 672-7044 Bachelor’s Apartment for rent. Call 225-9623 Saturday between5pm-9pm & Sunday between 6am-8am & 7pm9pm.
TAXI SERVICE
PEN PAL Male 30yrs old is seeking female for friendship. Call: 685-3022
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
Sunday September 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
EDUCATIONAL Dynamic Training Institute; USA standard, Diploma Course: Human Resource Management, Customer Service Relation. Call: 6165204 to register Register your child for our after school program for slow learners in Maths, Reading, Spelling Etc. Call: 675-4379
One bedroom apartment to rent: PVC ceiling, tiled floor, corner spot @ 25 Craig Street C/Ville-$40,000. Call: 2231332 Stand for rent in the New Amsterdam area. Interested persons contact 646-9087. Price affordable
Office Clerk (senior/junior) with CXC English/ Mathematics, computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500 Experienced dispatcher and taxi driver at Ramada Princess Hotel. Call: 616-5419; 265-7075; 265-7076 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 Labourers & experienced garbage truck drivers. Kindly contact: 670-7920 1 Live in general domestic 20-40yrs boarding & lodging free -$80,000 monthly. Call: 610- 3974 Welder to work in workshop on the West Coast on a percentage basis. Call: 684-1247 Experienced Welder Fabricator. Must be Creative. Attractive Salary. Call Gansham’s General Construction: 641-1291. One bartender. Call: 668-8332/ 638-5303 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 Experienced electrician with knowledge in Elevator wiring. Call: 227-1830 One part time domestic from East Bank area. Call:216-2502 One part time driver, age 50 and older. Call: 216-2502 Dispatcher at Gem’s Taxi to work 11:00pm-7:00am. Call: 622-6413; 227-0638 Experienced salesman & driver to work with a baker shop. Call:618-0698 Waitress, live in or live out. Call: 664-1804; 681-4653
IAE – CXC Jan/June 2017 – full time school; lessons/ classes for students, adults, repeaters & beginners. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742
HEALTH Improve your health with Herbal Supplements. Contact Hazel’s Herbal Store. Call: 226-9136
WANTED
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 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) FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
We l d e r / F a b r i c a t o r , Machinist, Mechanic with technical background Apply in person @ Technical Services , 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site. Contract cars and taxi drivers. Call: 231-0002; 2310316 Live in waitresses to work in Bar - Call:692-4649
VACANCY 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 FULL TIME WAITER/ WAITRESS AT AAGMAN INDIAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF STREET, EXPERIENCEDPREFERRED. CALL: 219-0158 1 Qualified pharmacist to work at True Value Pharmacy. Call: 618-4027 between 8am4pm, attractive salary offer. Captains with valid certificate of competence as Master of a Power Driven Vessel. Call: 226-1100; 2265380 Groundsman & Security guard: bring resume & updated CV @ Georgetown Cricket Club, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown. 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. Exist for one experienced dispatcher at confidential cabs. Call: 231-5784/ 2314000 Kitchen Assistant: 2 males &female, experienced a plus, must be able to work weekends. Call Mr.Khan: 695-6550; 656-9313 Maid helper to work for a salon/spa. Call: 227-4799/2310734 Experienced bartenders and cleaners. Call: 225-8572 between 7am -9am Cashiers & sales clerk apply in person with written application at Nirva Supermarket. Call: 227-5775 Bettencourt’s Food Group: Servers, Pastry Chefs, Kitchen Assistant. Call for any further info: 223-1938; 231-1368 1 Sales representative, 1 clothing designer, apply in person to Roxie’s Fashion, 301 Church Street, South Cummingsburg. Continue page 63
Sunday September 04, 2016
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Kaieteur News
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Integrating standardisation into the education system During the month of September, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) joins the call for all stakeholders to unite in the interest of enhancing our children’s education as we commemorate Education Month 2016 in Guyana. As we make this plea on behalf of our budding future entrepreneurs, businessmen and women, scientists, computer technicians and consumers, it is also imperative that we include Standardisation in the advocacy for improved education in this dear land of ours. Let us learn the lessons from many of those thriving economies of the world. Many public and private enterprises in developing economies like ours are taking the necessary steps to implement standards to build stakeholder confidence and reap all the added benefits. However, finding employees with the requisite or even minimal knowledge in the area of Standardisation continues to be a challenge. To this end, there is consensus and the belief of many that the subject of Standardization should be integrated in the National educational curricula as it is done in many successful economies. This approach aims to
develop a culture of recognizing the benefits of standards to different spheres of society. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) alone has developed in excess of 19,500 standards, ranging from food to management to IT and much more. Locally, the GNBS has in its possession over 400 useful national, regional and international standards. The experts in Standardisation are of the view that if standards are taught at the university level, it will equip graduates with the tools necessary to promote the use and implementation of standards in businesses. This will enhance the competitiveness of businesses through the adoption of a quality culture which ultimately can facilitate access of goods and services to lucrative markets. In the recent past, ISO had organized a series of regional events aimed at supporting developing countries in defining programmes targeting universities and at developing or strengthening courses on education in Standardization. Through ISO, the GNBS was also given the opportunity to participate in a Regional workshop held to enhance collaboration
between National Standards Bureaus and Academia’ which focused on the sharing of experiences as it relates to the implementation of the subject of Standardization in the educational curricula. Countries like Korea, Brazil and Argentina have successfully integrated standards in their curricula at the University level and Korea from the Nursery level. If standards are implemented in academia, at the nursery and primary levels children will know that standards exist for basic things they play with or use on a daily basis. For example, there are standards for toys, traffic lights, television, shoes, clothes, safety signs, etc. Conversely, they will know what happens if there are no standards. Meanwhile, at the secondary and university levels, graduates will be familiar with the management system standards applicable for managing different types of businesses. They will understand the benefits of implementing standards and be familiar with standards that are available for different products and services. Generally, the role of standards in everyday life will be better recognized facilitating better
conformance to standards by businesses, and the functions of the National Standards Body and other sources of standards will also be known. Further, integrating Standardisation in the educational curricula will also increase the demand for quality goods and services, compliance to regulations and reduced customer complaints. In closing, the GNBS will continue to grasp at every opportunity to participate in science and career fairs, lectures and training sessions organized by the Ministry of Education or those institutions falling under its purview to ensure that the knowledge of Standardisation is brought to the forefront to ensure that a culture of standards and quality pervades all sectors of our economy and society. For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190062 – 66 or visit our website www.gnbsgyorg or facebook/gnbsgy FOR SALE Household, Restaurant & hotel Items: 3pcs living room set, ceiling fans, 4X3ft glass sliding doors, clothing. Call: 231-1284/223-9719 Elevator (good condition) Diesel Generator (23KVA, 110/220V). Call: 231-1284/ 223-9719 TO LET 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 One bedroom self contained apartment, unfurnished @ Land of Canaan E.B.D. Call Navo: 692-3617; Bob: 642-0867 One 3 bedrooms top flat, one 2 bedrooms bottom flat @ La Grange Public Road & 1- 2 bedrooms @ Cummings Lodge, E.C.D –Call:679-1151; 619-0673 Business place located on Robb Street next to Bourda Market. Call:623-7731; 6290636 Modern two bedrooms, one flat apartment in Bel-Air Park, access to public transportation & supermarkets. Call: 669-6932 Stylish comfortable 2 bedrooms apartment for vocation rental. Web: Airbnb Georgetown, FB: Prestige Property Vocational Rental. Call: 592-678-6690 2 Bedrooms bottom flat @ Enmore, E.C.D- Call: 2560912/ 664-9261
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FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 1-Hyster Forklift With 1000 Series, Perkins Engine$1.2M, 1-CAT DP-40 3-Ton Forklift-$2.9M. Contact#6500402
VEHICLE FOR SALE SALE @ STAR CARS: PREMIO, RUNX, IST, AXELA, RZ BUS, SPACIO, FIELDER. CALL: 679-3140 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154
Muscovy ducklings. Call: 602-7203
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154
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: 663-2882
1 Toyota Alteeza, fully loaded, 1 Toyota Tacoma 2006, fully loaded- Call: 6380821; 676-2600
33.6 Acres farm land @ Kuru Kururu, Linden Soesdyke Highway. Call: 679-1151; 6190673
Nissan Bluebird 2011 Model, Nissan Tiida Latio 2010 model (reverse camera). Call: 655-3400
XBOX 360 playstation 3, La Pafaite Harmonie land for sale, right near the new Road (Cheap). Call: 689-3170
RX8 Mazda, price $1.5M. Call: 602-6024
2 Tug boat (ocean going), 12000 HP, 1-2200 HP. Call: 6630633 1 Gas station in Cotton Tree Village Berbice. Call: 6630633 ROAD TO BELWASA & A DIP AT THE SANGAM. AVAILABLE @ AUSTIN’S BOOK STORE- TEL: 2267350/7 & AT LATCHMANSINGH DRUG STORE. TEL: 226-5053 9 Stalls 64 to 72 (47feet long x 7 feet wide) @ La Penitence Market Albouystown, Also 80 Mannequins @ $800 per piece- Call:225-4410; 2184837 Text Books: My Lady Cosmetology, Barbering, Taber’s Medical Dictionary, Clinical Procedures @ Anointed Christian Bookstore, 59 Robb St. 57 Acres transported land before Soesdyke Junction also power tools. Call: 2654180; 615-3054
One RZ minibus, good condition -$900,000 and 1 Nissan Bluebird 2009 series. Call: 645-9921/ 265-0204 2002 Verossa, PPP 5997$2.3M- Call: 660-3004 2004 IST, PPP 3461 -$1.5M. Call: 660-3004 2010 and 2008 Tacoma Excellent condition, owner leaving country -$3.3M or best offer. Call: 676-2174 picture available. One Hilux pick up; 4X4 2L Diesel Turbo, sunroof. Call: 693-1480 Unregistered Corolla Fielder 2009, Axela 2011, dark interior, rims, TV, navigator, rear spoiler. Call: 617-5536 One Leyland DAF 60 Truck in good working condition. Call: 693-6627 or 645-3474 Toyota Belta 1300CC, one owner, PLL 9400 + Series, 2006 model - $1.7M negotiable. Call: 655-0767
Cargo Trawler. Call: 682-8724; 616-5954 QSC Amplifier 4,000, 1450; PV amplifier 2,000, 800 mixer, crossover, speaker, pool table. Call: 645-3474 or 6691974 Carpets, water tank, printer, stereo & speakers, tea cups & saucers, plants & plant pots, massage oil, baby strollers. Call: 231-1284/2239719
WANTED Drivers for canter trucks $25,000 weekly, porter to fetch sand & mud - $5,000 daily. Call: 684-8231 Indian, age 47 and older, we are looking for an couple (husband & wife) to work in SurinameContact: 3225442 / 6516666
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Sunday September 04, 2016
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T&T Conglomerate Going After More Bajan Businesses BRIDGETOWN, Barbados –Approximately eight months after losing the bid to acquire Banks Holdings Limited (BHL), Trinidadian conglomerate ANSA McAL is about to acquire two other companies in Barbados. President And Chief Executive Officer of ANSA McAL Barbados Limited Nicholas Mouttet made the announcement, saying: “We are currently in negotiations right now to acquire two other Barbadian companies, which in itself represent significant investment again in Barbados.” While he declined to give details, the Barbados TODAY online newspaper is reporting that if all goes according to plan, the acquisitions could be finalized by the end of next month. The ANSA McAL Group of Companies owns several operations and big brands in a range of sectors in Barbados, including automotive, distribution, financial services, retail and services. It is also involved in technology, manufacturing, media, beverage and real estate across its other markets. The group is made up of more than 60 companies across the region, employing
Nicholas Mouttet over 950 people. Mouttet said since its investment in Standard Distributors in Barbados about 55 years ago, the company has continued to invest heavily here. “It is our second largest geography in terms of our investment in the region. It is extremely important to us and we continue to invest for decades,” he noted. Pointing to the company’s commitment to
the island, Mouttet said while “times are hard” in Barbados and some companies had not been able to expand in recent times, ANSA McAL had been able to open three retail stores in the last 20 months. He reaffirmed the commitment of the ANSA McAL Group of Company to the local market, stating that the company would continue to seek out new investments and grow is footprint in Barbados. (Barbados TODAY)
Colombia Farc: Peace deal signing date announced
Juan Manuel Santos
BBC News - The president of Colombia has announced that a peace deal between the country’s government and Farc rebels will be formally signed on 26 September. The deal ends 50 years of conflict that left hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions displaced. A ceasefire began last Monday but the deal must still clear two hurdles before it is formally ratified. President Juan Manuel Santos called this “perhaps the most important announcement” of his life. He said: “Peace will be signed on 26 Sep-
tember in [the Colombian city of] Cartagena.” There had been speculation that the deal would be signed at the UN headquarters in New York. Colombians will vote on the deal in a referendum in October before it is fully made into law. At least 13% of people have to answer “yes” to the question: “Do you support the final accord to end the conflict and build a stable and lasting peace?” The Farc group, which is on US and European lists of terrorist organisations, will hold a separate vote at a national conference. Other groups in the armed conflict have not been part of these peace talks.
Sunday September 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
53 Jamaicans deported from Barbados in first six months
Sonya King and her infant son Kaleb Joseph BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - (CMC) – More than 50 Jamaicans have been deported from Barbados during the first six months of this year, according to official figures released here. According to the immigration statistics, released by the Division of Defence and Security of the Prime Minister’s Office, for the period 2013-16, 53 Jamaicans have been deported during the period January to June this year. The figures show that 34 Jamaicans were deported in the first six months of 2013; 48 the following year and 101 in 2015. In 2013, a total of 10,816 Jamaicans arrived here, with the 2014 figure at 10,031 and 10,557 last year. So far this year, 5,332 Jamaicans have arrived in Barbados. The figures were released Thursday as the Barbadian authorities said they found no evidence to substantiate the charges of mistreatment of a Jamaican national and her son when they arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport on August 27. In the statement, the Division of Defence and Security said it is satisfied that immigra-
tion officers who were on duty “did everything possible to make Ms (Sonya) King and her son as comfortable as possible, especially considering that events unfolded during the wee hours of the morning”. Sonya King told the Jamaica Observer last week that she was subjected to a horrific ordeal when she and her infant son, Kaleb Joseph, sought entry into Barbados. King said she was initially denied entry and treated in a hostile manner when the immigration officer heard her Jamaican accent and saw her passport. King made reference to poor sleeping facilities and said, “I felt like an animal, lower than dirt”. In its report on Thursday, the Division of Defence and Security said King was initially denied entry because “she did not have evidence of either a return ticket to Jamaica or status in Trinidad as is legally required”. The division also denied that immigration officers did not provide King with hot water, needed to make tea for her baby.
Spencer discusses CCJ public education campaign with NCC Daily Observer - Less than a week after he warned that inadequate public consultations could result in a negative vote in a referendum to decide whether to retain the London-based Privy Council as the island’s final court, former prime minister Baldwin Spencer has held discussions with the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) Spencer, who has already indicated that he is supportive of the island replacing the Privy Council with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), held talks with NCC leader Ambassador Clarence Henry on Friday. A statement issued following the meeting said the talks were to ensure that all stakeholders are “continuously engaged in the process”. It quoted Henry as acknowledging that “there is much work” to be done. During the debate in Parliament on the Constitutional Referendum Bill 2016, Spencer, who is also the Opposition Leader, said it was imperative for there to be much more public education programmes on the CCJ/Privy Council debate so as to allow citizens to make an enlightened decision.
Baldwin Spencer
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Kaieteur News
Iran ready to help restore oil market balance after it regains share - official Amir Hossein Zamaninia
Reuters - Iran is ready to support any decision to help restore balance to the oil market after it regains its pre-sanctions market share, the Iranian oil ministry’s SHANA news agency reported yesterday, quoting a minister. “Deputy Petroleum Minister in International Affairs and Trading Amir Hossein Zamaninia voiced Iran’s support for any decision that would help restore balance in the oil market, saying the country can only be cooperative in this field once it regains its pre-sanctions oil market share,” SHANA said. Zamaninia was speaking after a meeting in Tehran between Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and his Algerian counterpart Nouredine Bouterfa.
Jean Ping
Reuters - Gabonese opposition candidate Jean Ping declared himself president weekend, after a disputed election that triggered two days of post-election riots against President Ali Bongo. Violence erupted across the Central African country on Wednesday following the announcement of a slim victory for Bongo, who was first elected in 2009 after the death of his father Omar, Gabon’s president for 42 years. But Ping says the poll was a sham. “I am the president,” Ping told a news conference after being freed from his headquarters, which had earlier been surrounded by Gabonese security forces. “The whole world
Iran, OPEC’s third largest producer, has been sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market, potentially aiding efforts to revive a global deal on freezing production levels. Members of OPEC will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria on Sept. 26-28. Zanganeh has confirmed that he will attend the Algeria meeting. Zamaninia said OPEC countries need to find a way to revive the quota system. “Naturally, if a country wants to produce at its full capacity, there will not be any balance in the market,” Zamaninia said, without naming any country, but in an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia.
Gabon’s Ping declares himself president after post-poll riots knows who is the president of the republic: it’s me, Jean Ping,” he said. “Our country is moving toward chaos ... Peace can only occur if the truth of the ballot box is restored and respected.” Five people died in the ensuing unrest, Bongo’s spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze said on Friday, and up to 1,100 arrests had been made by Thursday, according to Gabon’s interior minister. Ping called upon the international community to intervene, but analysts said intervention from abroad was unlikely as was a widespread people power revolution to unseat Bongo.
Sunday September 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Bangladesh hangs Islamist party figure for 1971 war crimes Reuters - Bangladesh hanged a top Islamist party figure yesterday for atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan, the law minister said. Mir Quasem Ali, 63, a key financier of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was executed at Kashimpur Central Jail on the outskirts of the capital, for murder, confinement, torture and incitement to religious hatred during the war. Ali was hanged at 10.35 pm local time (4.35 pm GMT), Law Minister Anisul Haq told Reuters. The execution took place amid a spate of militant attacks in the Muslim-majority nation, the most serious on July 1, when gunmen stormed a cafe in Dhaka’s diplomatic quarter and killed 20 hostages, most of them foreigners.
The war crimes tribunal set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 has sparked violence and drawn criticism from opposition politicians, who say it is targeting her political foes. The government denies the accusations. Human rights groups say the tribunal’s procedures fall short of international standards, but the government rejects that assertion, and the trials are supported by many Bangladeshis. Thousands of extra police and border guards were deployed in Dhaka and other major cities. Previous convictions and executions have triggered violence that has killed about 200 people, most of them Islamist party activists, and police. Since December 2013, five Jamaat leaders, including former top leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, and a leader of the main opposition party, have been executed for war crimes.
Mir Quasem Ali
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Sunday September 04, 2016
Sunday September 04, 2016
Kaieteur News
National Men Table Tennis Team Wing out for 2016 Senior Caribbean Championships A national men’s team comprising of National men’s runner-up Champion Nigel Bryan, National 21 years and under Champion and Caribbean Junior Bronze medalist Shemar Britton, National Junior Champion Kyle Edghill and Elishaba Johnson and national coach Linden Johnson departed Guyana yesterday at 3:00pm on a Copa airlines flight enroute to the Dominican Republic to participate in the 59th Senior Caribbean Table Tennis championships scheduled for the 4th – 9th September at the Pabellón de Tenis de Mesa del Parque del Este Santo Domingo Dominican Republic, a release from the Table Tennis Association informed. In the absence of some of the more seasoned senior players the likes of national Men’s Champion Christopher Franklin, Mathew Khan, who
has a high ranking in the USA and has indicated his availability to the GTTA to possibly represent Guyana; Edinho Lewis among other players and based on resource availability, the GTTA selected some our talented, disciplined and brightest prospects to represent Guyana at this prestigious event. The central objectives and aims of the association in selecting this group was based on central premise of molding and positioning them for the future, which is vital to creating a new nucleus of players who would represent us well in the future. A key element of our participation in this tournament is that we would have the players selected participate in the under 21 category where we feel that their prospects for medals are very high. Further of critical impor-
tance is that the championships will be used to assign world ranking to players in the Caribbean for the first time in the history of the championships which is critical to our success in future tournaments, the release noted. Eight countries have confirmed their participation in the event; Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica host Dominica Republic, Puerto Rico Curacao Guyana and St Lucia. The team will commence its quest for honours from today when the team events start. The team is scheduled to return on the 10th September. The Members of Team selected are as follows: · Shemar Britton · Nigel Bryan · Elishaba Johnson · Kyle Edghill · Mr. Linden Johnson Coach manager Delegate
Sunday September 04, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Opportunities to expand your circle of friends will result in possible new romantic encounters. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Be aware that a female you work with may be trying to hold you back. You can avoid hassles by sticking to your work and refusing to get involved in gossip or idle chatter. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your personal situation is fluctuating. You can discuss your findings behind closed doors with your boss. Discuss your objectives with partners or peers. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't spend too much in order to impress others. You can come into money; however, perhaps not under the best circumstances. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Invite friends over rather than spending money on lavish entertainment. Try to address the real issues in order to turn things around. Don't back down but don't ignite the situation. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Have some fun, but draw the line if someone tries to fast talk their way into your heart. Limitations with females could lead to unfor-
tunate circumstances. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Finish overdue paperwork and catch up on letter writing and reading. Hobbies will be good for your emotional well being. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Don't forget that you've only heard one side of the story. You may be ill-treated if you have to deal with institutional environments. You can learn a great deal more if you listen rather than rant and rave. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't believe everything you hear. Minor accidents could cause trauma and major setbacks. Travel could be in order. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Get rich quick schemes will not be successful. Arguments with employers or colleagues will be to your detriment. Your dramatic nature may be too much to handle. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Take time to catch up on gossip and make plans to do a little adventure travel. You'll meet new friends if you try new activities. You are best to be discreet. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Put aside any decisions concerning your position at work. Take the initiative and go after your goals.
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Mayor’s Cup semis on... (From page 71) with Nickosi Denny at the helm against city side Western Tigers. The Tigers are the more notable team on paper with Randolph Wagner, lead goalscorer Dwayne McClennon, Dwayne Alli, and Phillip Rowley spearheading their charge, are expected to advance. But Ann’s Grove have shown they are capable and the Tigers will be in for a real fight. Whichever way it goes an e n t e r t a i n i n g double header is anticipated and fans should get t h e i r m o n e y ’s w o r t h
with the winners going f o r t h e b i g prize. At stake in the championship is the top prize of $700,000 and a trophy donated by Aruwai Resort. The second place team pockets $300,000 and the Ansa McAl trophy, while the third place team carts off $200,000 and the John Fernandes trophy. The fourth place finishers will receive $100,000 and the Ministry of State trophy. Ricks and Sari has also donated hampers which will go to the winning team, while tournament’s top goal
scorer will get a three piece suite compliments of AH&L Kissoon Furniture Store. Top Brandz of Broad and High Streets, distributors of Interstate vehicle batteries, is among the key sponsors on board assisting the tournament. Aruwai Resort of the Essequibo River is also another main supporter of this year’s event. Apart from Aruwai Resort and Top Brandz, others on board include: Ansa McAl, Minister of State Joe Harmon and his ministry, John Fernandes, Ricks and Sari and AH&L Kissoon.
Shepherd, Chanderpaul put W/Dem... (From page 69) reaching the boundary three times. Chanderpaul reached his fifty from 108 balls with five fours and with his illustrious father Shiv Chanderpaul watching, played in a watchful manner. But as soon as he father left the venue Chanderpaul began to use his feet to the s p i n n e r s . Reifer also accelerated and slapped Singh for four before pulling a nice juicy full toss from Browne onto the Tennis Court. Chanderpaul dumped Singh over long-off for six and in fading light, followed it up with a pugnacious drive down the ground for four before Reifer jumped into Browne and lofted him for six to bring up the 150 before Chanderpaul departed. Kheshram Seyhodan (2)
Horseracing to get... (From page 71) Sports is working assiduously to have the draft horseracing legislation tendered in Parliament and passed so has to bring some semblance of order in Horseracing. He is hoping to have it done before the end of the year. The Director of Sport had also stated that the Government of Guyana will be moving to take more control of the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) which is under the control of the Government of Guyana through Guysuco. Efforts to contact the Director of Sports for a firm comment proved futile. The PMTC was left for the people of Guyana as a recreational facility by the British. However it is only being used for horseracing. (Samuel Whyte)
was sent in as night watchman but did not last long being LBW to Ali (3-20) at 1575. Travis Persaud (2) who made a debut half-century in the first innings and Reifer then took their team to the close with the West side Franchise eying a first session declaration today. Meanwhile, at Albion, Lower Corentyne resuming on 113-3 in reply to Georgetown’s 212, reached 249-6 with Jonathon Foo fol-
lowing up his first round 152 with 127 before rain which came just before Lunch resulted in play being called off for the day. At Cumberland, Canje, Essequibo resuming on 1118 in reply to West Berbice’s 171, fell for 117 and batting a second time West Berbice were 98-2, enjoying a lead of 152 with Shemron Hetymer making 35. Rain at 11:40hrs resulted in the day’s play being abandoned
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Hamilton runs away with Monza pole position M O N Z A , I TA LY (Reuters) Lewis Hamilton swept to a dominant pole position at the Italian Grand Prix for the third year in succession on Saturday with Mercedes team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg joining the Briton on the front row of the grid. The pole was the 56th of the triple world champion’s Formula One career and he equaled the record of five at Monza held by the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and Brazilian Ayrton Senna. “I’m obviously very happy today. I was only made aware of that record as I came into this weekend,” Hamilton said. “Incredibly proud and honoured to be up amongst Senna and Juan Manuel. Incredible drivers. I never in a million years thought my name would be mentioned in the same sentence as theirs. “I came with my A-game today, and that last lap felt incredible.” Hamilton, whose
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton of Britain during the third free practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. (REUTERS/Max Rossi) dominant time of one minute did a good job up to now but I 21.135 seconds was 0.478 of wasn’t quick enough,” said a a second faster than Rosberg glum Rosberg. with the rest looking slow in Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel comparison, leads the was third fastest with Kimi German by nine points in the Raikkonen qualifying fourth championship with eight for the Italian team’s home rounds remaining. race at the circuit near Milan. He can celebrate his 50th “I’m not entirely happy grand prix win, and third in a because the gap is quite big, row at the fastest circuit on the guys ahead are in a world the calendar, on Sunday to of their own,” said Vettel, a leave Europe with a firm grip four times champion with on the championship as the Red Bull. circus heads to Asia, the Finland’s Valtteri Bottas, Americas and Middle East. for Williams, and Red Bull’s “The basic explanation is Australian Daniel Ricciardo Lewis did some good laps. I filled the third row.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (centre) celebrates qualifying in pole position with Nico Rosberg and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel (right) for the Italian Grand Prix. (Reuters / Max RossiLivepic) Dutch teenager Max powered Force India. Manor who had German Verstappen, who had been P e r e z ’s c o m p a t r i o t rookie Pascal Wehrlein on the front row last Esteban Gutierrez, who has qualify in 14th place. w e e k e n d i n B e l g i u m , yet to score a point this year, Wehrlein’s team mate qualified seventh for Red put the new Haas team into Esteban Ocon failed to set a Bull with Mexican Sergio the top 10 and there were time after his car broke down Perez eighth for Mercedes- also celebrations at lowly at the start of qualifying.
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 04, 2016
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ECD require 83 for victory with nine wkts intact Half centuries for Chandrika, Khan and Fudadin, Yadram grabs 5 By Zaheer Mohamed East Coast Demerara (ECD) put themselves in a comfortable position to register an outright victory against Upper Corentyne when the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board Jaguars three-day League continued yesterday. Set 117 for victory, East Coast closed the second and penultimate day on 33-1 having lost opener Bhaskar Yadram who was bowled for 20 by off-spinner Arif Chan in the last over of the day’s play at Enterprise. Gavin Boodwah is on five. In reply to the visitors first innings score of 149, East Coast who resumed on 129-6 were bowled out for 227 in the first session. Rajendra Chandrika and Ameer Khan who began on 31 and 14 respectively batted positively as they added a further 55 on a pitch which
Assad- Assad Fudadin hits out during his top score. (Zaheer Mohamed photo) rendered much assistance to the spinners as the game progressed. Soon after reaching his half century off 70 balls Chandrika hoisted Eon Hooper for a maximum before he was lbw to Troy Gonsalves for 69; he hit seven fours and one six. Gonsalves then removed Paul Wintz (05) and Steven Sankar (03) to leave the
score at 200-9. Khan wasn’t afraid to play his shots and cracked five fours to remain unbeaten on 50 off 100 balls while Shawn Pereira accounted for last man Gavin Moriah (05). Pereira claimed 3-34, Hooper 3-36 and Gonsalves 3-54. Trailing by 78, Upper Corentyne lost Jason Sinclair who was bowled by
Serena reaches U.S. Open last 16 with milestone win NEW YORK (Reuters) Another win, another milestone for Serena Williams who rolled into the U.S. Open last 16 on Saturday by crushing Sweden’s Johanna Larsson 6-2 6-1 to collect grand slam victory number 307 - the most by a woman in the Open era. As in the majority of her victories at the majors, Williams operated with ruthless efficiency but displayed little fire as she coolly dispatched the 47thranked Swede in exactly one hour. The win moved the 34year-old American past Martina Navratilova and level with Roger Federer for most grand slam victories by a man or woman. “Wow. That’s pretty awesome and honestly what a better place to do it than here, where it all started,” Williams told an adoring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. “It is actually a really good feeling. To be up there with both men and women is something that’s super rare.” It was at Flushing Meadows where Williams won her first grand slam in 1999 and 17 years later it is where she could achieve two
more career landmarks if she can reach the winner’s circle again on Sept. 10. A record seventh U.S. Open title would give Williams 23 career grand slams, moving her past Steffi Graf again for the most in the Open Era, and just one shy of Margaret Court who tops the all-time list with 24. “Each number I’m definitely proud of,” said Williams. “I was really excited to 307. I was really excited to do that.” Williams will go for win number 308 on Monday when she meets Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, a 6-2 7-5 winner over China’s Zhang Shuai, in round four. Williams arrived at Flushing Meadows last year on the cusp of claiming a calendar slam and the weight of expectation was crushing, the pressure mounting with each match until a shock loss to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals. This year Williams has been unusually low key, making her way into the fourth round with minimum fuss having yet to drop a set, conserving energy for the second week where the real tournament begins for the world number one.
For her first day match on Arthur Ashe, Williams switched from evening black to afternoon white but the change in attire did nothing to change the outcome. Larsson fell behind quickly as Williams broke her at the first opportunity and again to close out the first set. The Swede began better in the second set, holding serve to level at 1-1 but Williams was in no mood to mess around as she swept the next five games. “I feel like I have been doing pretty good,” said Williams. “I have been being moving a lot. So far, so good.” In other Results from the U.S. Open Women’s Singles Round 3 matches on Saturday Ana Konjuh (Croatia) beat Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) 6-3 3-6 6-2 Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan) beat Zhang Shuai (China) 6-2 7-5 4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 25-Caroline Garcia (France) 6-2 6-3 5-Simona Halep (Romania) beat 31-Timea Babos (Hungary) 6-1 2-6 6-4 11-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) beat 19-Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-4 6-3
Vivian Albert for seven before Assad Fudadin and Joshua Ramsammy took the score to 53. While Fudadin looked untroubled, Albert picked up Ramsammy for five, while Sankar removed Clinton Pestano for 11, reducing Upper Corentyne to 81-3. However, Fudadin and Anthony Bramble steadied the innings somewhat with a fourth wicket stand of 55. Bramble was his usual aggressive self, smashing Albert for three consecutive sixes while Fudadin mixed aggression with defence, gathering runs on both sides of the pitch. However, leg spinner Kamesh Yadram provided East Coast with the breakthrough by having Bramble stumped for 36. He then had Gonsalves caught for two leaving Upper
Kamesh-Leg spinner Kamesh Yadram in action. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)
Corentyne in trouble at 1425. Despite losing wickets around him, Fudadin stood firm and a huge Upper Corentyne lead largely depended on him. After reaching his half century, the left-hander smashed Khan and Sankar for maximums as he continued to look dangerous. But a lapse in concentration cost him his wicket - he lofted Yadram to long-off after smashing five well- timed fours and three towering sixes; he departed for 70 off 148 balls. Despite Yadram bowling
with control, the remaining batsmen showed little application with the last four wickets only managing 48 runs. Yardam sent back Arif Chan (11) and Keon Sinclair (00), while Albert had Hooper stumped for 13 before Chanderpaul Hemraj wrapped up the innings by trapping Omesh Mathura lbw for four; Upper Corentyne were bowled out for 194 as 15 wickets tumbled on day two. Yadram bagged 5-34 from 13 overs, while Albert had 3-57. Play continues at 09:30 hrs today.
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De Arend played a great role in Guyana’s early Basketball development
De Arend Basketball Club during their visit here. No other Suriname basketball club visited Guyana more often in the late sixties and early seventies than De Arend Basketball Club, although Yellow Birds were the pacesetters in 1966. De Arend basketballers visited the land of many waters in 1967, 1972, 1974 and 1984. During De Arend tour of Guyana in 1972, the Dutchmen were led by Guyanese National Player Walter Murray. Today, Kaieteur Sports and Statistician Charwayne Walker take a look at De Arend visits to Guyana in 1972 and 1974. In 1972 the tourist started their campaign with a commanding 62 to 48 pts victory against Bristol Celtics at Burnham’s Court. Suriname’s National Player Joseph Chilius top scored with 18 pts, Hosar Godfried 13, Oliver Kampen 11 pts. For Bristol Celtics: James ‘Bumpy’ Devonish top scored with 18 pts, Aubrey
Williams 13 pts. Vs Ravens at Burnham Court, De Arend lost 48 to 44. Hewley Henry led all scorers with 20 pts, Clyde ‘Wholly’ Forde 11 pts. For De Arend R. Chilius top scored with 15 pts, his brother Joseph Chilius had 14 pts. Vs Linden at Mackenzie Sports Club, De Arend won 37 to 32. For De Arend Joseph Chilius scored 12 pts, Oliver Kampen 10 pts. For Linden, Howard Ceasar had 10 pts and Gavin Kendall 11 pts. Vs Eagles at Burnham Court, Eagles won 42 to 20. Merton Fitzalbert had a game high 14 pts, Winston ‘Boy Blue’ Joseph 11 pts and Mike Brusche 10 pts, while for De Arend, Joseph Chilius 8 pts and Hosar Godfried 8 pts. 1974 Visit Vs Bristol Celtics at Burnham’s Court, De Arend won 48 to 18. For the victors, Suriname’s national player Oliver Kampen top scored with 20
pts, Gerald Pang-A-Tjok had 11 pts. For Bristol Celtics Neville ‘Mice’ Wiltshire and Aubrey Williams scored 6 pts each. Vs Linden at Mackenzie Sports Club, De Arend won 73 to 34. H. Wilgen top scored with 18 pts, Oliver Kampen 17 pts, Gerald Pang- A- Tjok 16 pts. Keith Alexander top scored for Linden with 12 pts. Vs Eagles at Burnham’s Court, Eagles won 26 to 21. For Eagles Mike Brusche top scored with 12 pts, Oliver Kampen with 8pts was the leading scorer for De Arend. Vs Ravens at Burnham Court, De Arend won 55 to 38. Gerald Pang- A- Tjok scored 18 pts, Oliver Kampen 17 pts. For Ravens: Aubrey Chalmers 12 pts, skipper Phillip Daniels 10 pts. De Arend’s clash with Matouk Royals was abandon because of rain at Burnham’s Court. De Arend were ahead 34 to 12.
All is set for the one day volleyball competition sponsored by the 3 Doors Vo l l e y b a l l C l u b o f D’Edward and organised by the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA). The activity which was postponed from last Sunday will be played today at the club’s court at D’Edward Village, West Bank, Berbice. Over 20 teams are expected to take to the court
to take part in the all-day competition which is expected to feature games among the male and female seniors and junior males’ categories. Teams are expected from throughout Berbice and according to Coordinator and BVA President Levi Nedd, they are expecting some new teams, especially from the West Berbice area to participate. Teams are expected from the Orealla/ Siparuta areas from the Upper Corentyne and they are expected to be represented by the full complement of teams in the
male and female categories as well as in the junior male division. Other teams expected to be a part of the competition are Rollers of New Amsterdam, No.52 Survivals, Jets of C o r r i v e r t o n , Ta i n Humanitarian, Port Mourant Jaguars, PMTC, GTCPM, host 3 Doors strikers, Black Bush and Berbice High School among others. Incentives will be presented to the top teams in the various categories and the outstanding individual players. Action serves off at 09:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
FIFA Development Football League
National Association for Women’s Football gifted gears from parent Federation A few years ago, the ruling world football entity, FIFA, had issued an edict that mandated the inclusion of women in football d e v e l o p m e n t a l programmes. Guyana was one of the nations that complied and several (female) clubs have mushroomed across the country coupled with the relevant executives to conduct the business of women’s football. Consequently, the lasses are putting the modalities in place for another t o u r n a m e n t , ‘ F I FA Development Football League,’ scheduled to get underway September 17; the date for the conclusion of this tournament will be released soon. F I FA h a s k e p t i t s promise and last Friday evening representatives of 13 of these clubs convened at the Dadanawa Street location of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) secretariat to receive a quantity of gears to facilitate the smooth running of activities. Colin France handed over the gift to General Secretary of the National Association for Women’s Football (NAWF), Andrea Johnson even as he explained to team representatives that the i t e m s w e r e acknowledgement of their commitment to develop the
Andrea Johnson gratefully accepts the gears from Mr. France shortly following a brief ceremony on Friday evening. sport in the distaff category. “You have demonstrated astute structure and organization which moved (FIFA’s) hand in offering the requisite assistance,” said France. “Your presence here is a clear indication of your continued commitment and I’d like to congratulate you all even as I wish you all the best in the impending tournament,” he concluded. GFF Communications Officer, Debra Francis, presided over the ceremony and congratulated the lasses for their commitment which resulted in the favourable response from FIFA. She also wished them good luck in their quest for honours. President of the National Association for Women’s F o o t b a l l ( N AW F ) , Charmayne Wade, was also present at the ceremony and was pleased by FIFA’s gesture. She informed that the
gears are for the various teams to assist in their preparations for the tournament. Among the items distributed were uniforms, boots, balls, bibs, shin guards, socks and goalkeeper ’s uniforms among others. Matches will be played at venues in most of the regions including Linden, Kwakwani, New Amsterdam and Rupununi among others. The teams are categorized in three groups and the fixtures will be announced later. Group One: Guyana Defence Force, Fruta Conquerors, Foxy Ladies and Bartica. Group Two: New Amsterdam Wa r r i o r s , We s t S i d e Conquerors, Kuru Kuru Warriors, Demerara Queens and Kwakwani Strikers. Group Three: Santos FC, Snatcher FC, Paiwomak FC and Shulinab FC.
Slight change to Berbice Volleyball on today in West Berbice Basketball programme today There has been a slight change to the basketball programme set for today as the A. Ally and Sons first division basketball competition continues in Berbice. The game between Rose Hall Town Jammers and New Amsterdam Warriors will not be played due to the fact that the Rose hall Town Warriors team will be engaged in a supporting match on an international card in Georgetown featuring Bounty Colts of Guyana and the visiting Earem Basketball team from Suriname. The Jammers will play Pepsi Sonics on the
under card. The game today will now see New Amsterdam Warriors taking on the G u y a n a H u m a n Development Centre (GHDC) instead at the G H D C c o u r t Ta i n , Corentyne, Berbice from 16:00hrs. T h e s i x - t e a m competition has seen the teams being divided into two groups with group ‘A’ comprising of Smithfield Rockers, Fyrish Black Sharks and Ithaca Hardliners of West Berbice. The teams making up group ‘B’ are Rose Hall Town Jammers, Guyana Human
Development Centre of Corentyne and New A m s t e r d a m Wa r r i o r s . The teams in each group will play each other once with the top two advancing to play the top two in the other group. The winners will advance to the semifinals. Matches in the tournament are being held every Sunday. Cash, trophies and other incentives will be presented to the top three teams with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and other outstanding individual performers being awarded. The Coordinator is Vibert Garrett. (Samuel Whyte)
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Sunday September 04, 2016
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Bushy Park Circuit hosting a slew of events this weekend
The contests feature leading drivers Mark Maloney, Franklyn Boodram and Paul Vieira. (Bushy Park Barbados facebook) Bushy Park Racing Circuit, Barbados is the leading circuit-racing facility in the Caribbean. This world-class multipurpose facility features many types of events. Built to FIA Grade 3 requirements, the 2.01-kilometre International Circuit also has a Rally-cross Track, CIK Grade A Kart Circuit and a one-eighth-of-a-mile Drag Strip. Today, hosted by Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI), There will be a total of 23 races on the programme with the featured races being: 3 Suzuki Challenge Series Radical SR3 Cup races. Round 4. The Caribbean’s premier onemake racing category in which all competitors race in identical vehicles from the same manufacturer utilizing the same model. The same chassis, tires and engine are
used by all drivers. Minimum Weight-570 kg, Engine Size-1500cc, Engine Power-252 hp, Gearbox-6 Speed Sequential, Max RPM-11,000, Max Speed252kph, Cornering G’s-2.5G 3 races featuring the Suzuki Swift Cup. Engine Size-1600cc, Engine Power150 BHP, and Gearbox-6 Speed Manual, Limited Slip Differential, Adjustable Suspension, and Adjustable Dual brake cylinders. 3 races from each Group (2, 3, and 4) featuring the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships: Group 4 – These are purpose built race cars with special chassis, allowance of unlimited modifications, not to exceed 4500cc, riding on full racing slicks. Of note, there will be 2 separate classes: 2wd & 4wd classes w i t h Tw o s e p a r a t e Champions in each class.
Group 3 – The regulations allow for a heavily modified engine and gearboxes with allowance to run with spoilers & wings with up to a maximum 3500cc but, must run on ‘DOT’ tires. Group 2 - The regulations allow for a heavily modified engine and gearboxes with allowance to run with spoilers & wings with up to a maximum 2000cc on ‘DOT’ tires. 3 ‘Super-Stock’ bike races, these are 600cc machines. This is the inaugural year that bikers are running for a separate Country Championship meaning, points accumulated are separate than the cars. Guyana leads with 326 points, 138 for Jamaica, 97 for Trinidad, 26 f o r B a r b a d o s . BPMSI’s own 2016 Club Championship, Hilti Handicap races on 2 and 4
wheels complete the days’ festivities. Whilst not all competitors can compete in the all of the 12 races of the CMRC Championships, A dropped score(s) system is in place which means each competitor(s) can still achieve a successful result that will count towards the overall Championship. Competitors will count their best 9 results from the potential total of 12 race(s). This allows competitors to miss 3 races and/or drop their 3 worst showing. Race fans that cannot watch the action live in Barbados can follow the action at the Bushy Park Barbados face book page. A number of the regions leading drivers and riders will be in action today and among them are Kristian Jeffrey, Calvin Ming, Mark Vieira, Nazim Gafoor all of Guyana, Franklyn Boodram, B r o o k M i l l e r, M a r k
Brook Miller will be in action against Stephen Vieira and others. (Bushy Park Barbados facebook) Maloney and Roger Mayers for the drivers. The riders will see Stephen Vieira and Matthew Vieira among others in keen
competition. The action promises to be fast and furious and fans at the venue will be in for the usual treat.
GCB Jaguars 3-day Franchise
Shepherd, Chanderpaul put W/Dem in strong position By Sean Devers Pacer Romario Shepherd took 5-23 before Tagenarine Chanderpaul shared in two half-century stands before falling 25 short of his ton to put West Demerara in a strong position against East Bank on day two of their second round match of the GCB Jaguars three-day Franchise League at Everest yesterday. Shepherd upstaged Guyana’s Franchise player left-arm seamer Bajan Raymon Reifer (2-27) and off-spinner Richie Looknauth (3-56) as East Bank, resuming the day on 55-2 fell for 160 just after Lunch despite 37 from
opener Stephon Browne and 28 each from West Indies ‘A’ team left-hander Vishual Singh and Ershad Ali. Singh, who leaves for Barbados for a West Indies training camp on Friday, shared in 50-run third wicket stand with Browne before Danny Narayan (25) and Ali put together 59 for the eighth wicket as Shepherd, whose five-wicket haul included West Indies U-19 player Tevin Imlach (14) and Guyana player Steven Jacobs (10) helped West Dem to .7 of a bowling point. West Demerara with a lead of 93 reached 164-5 by the close enjoying an overall lead of 257 going into today’s final day with
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
Chanderpaul stroking a responsible 75 from 215 minutes and 173 balls with five fours. The left-handed opener
shared in partnerships of 63 for the first wicket with Renaldo Renee (28) and 53 with Kemol Savory (28) for the third wicket before
R e i f e r, w h o f i n i s h e d unbeaten on 24, put together 32 for the fourth wicket with Chanderpaul as both batsmen made consorted efforts to put their foot on the gas towards the end to give their team enough runs and time to force a win today. For the third time Chanderpaul fell just short of a landmark playing lose shots but yesterday he could be excused since he was trying to give his team as many runs as possible before the close before he tried to give himself room and was taken at short extra cover off Ali, 15 minutes before stumps were drawn. Chanderpaul, a 20-yearold former West Indies U-19
batsman has played 15 FirstClass matches and has scores of 43, 47 & 75 in his last three innings and yesterday he again built a firm foundation for his team as he and Renee started positively and by Tea West Dem were well set on 57-0. Chanderpaul slowed down a bit after Renee, who reached the boundary thrice, was removed by left-arm spinner Totaram Bishun and together with Savory batted with common sense and rotated the strike nicely after Ali had trapped Akshaya Persaud (2) at 66-2. The pair took the score to 119 before Savory edged Browne to the Keeper after (Continued on page 65)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday September 04, 2016
Nexgen Global Promotions, Dexter Gonsalves support FYF boxers with education package The lengthy August holiday period is at an end and schoolchildren are preparing to resume studies at their various educational institutions. While government has provided some relief through the issuance of vouchers to offset the cost of school materials, some parents are still finding it exceedingly difficult to adequately outfit their children with the requisite clothing plus school supplies. It is for this reason that Chief Executive officer of NexGen Global Promotions of 197 Cummings Street Georgetown, Aleem Hussain, joined with former W B C F e c a r b o x welterweight champion, Dexter Gonsalves, to support more than a dozen
children in their quest to acquire a sound education. Yesterday afternoon, two representatives of NexGen Global Promotions, President, Wendy Butts and Sunita Farouk, deputized for Hussain and presented the children, all boxers out of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF), with the much needed items which included books, geometry sets, schoolbags, pencils and erasers among other items. Ms Butts said that the gift was an idea of her boss, Aleem Hussain, who nurtured genuine concern for the youngsters’ development. She said that ever since his entrance into the sport, her boss has demonstrated care and concern for the boxers and plans to continue in this vein.
Mr. Gonsalves noted that boxers are always stigmatized and categorized as uneducated and he views the act as the first step to remedying the situation. He urged the youths to take full advantage of the opportunity to better themselves academically even as they continue to develop their boxing skills. Coach of the FYF, Sebert Blake extended heartfelt gratitude to his benefactors and urged the recipients to take full advantage of the opportunities presented for their advancement. “Education is the key to success and we are indeed thankful for this gift of life,” said Blake. He promised to continue working with the youths towards their educational aspirations.
Dexter Gonsalves (centre) and Wendy Butts (extreme left back row) share the moment with the recipients of Gonzalves and Hussain’s chivalry.
ACDA sports presentation Windies training camp today DJ Stress T20 Cup at Albion
forces postponement
The West Indies ‘A’ team tour Sri Lanka and their Test side journey to the United Arab Emeritus (UAE) where they face number one ranked Pakistan later this month and as a consequence, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has organised a training camp for the players in Barbados from September 9. This camp clashes with the DJ Stress Champions t20 Cup at Albion on Sunday September 11 under lights and since seven of the players set to participate in this event have been invited to the camp the organizers have been forced to postpone the t20 Cup to a date to confirmed next month. The Pakistan Limited overs series ends on October 5. The Albion Event has
Paul ‘DJ Stress’ Bonar already been sanctioned by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) but the new date has to be reapproved by the GCB & WICB since it includes West Indies International players. Promoter of the Event
Paul ‘DJ Stress’ Bonar apologizes for the postponement is which beyond the control of the organizers but promised something ‘special’ on the new date which will be announced shortly. “We want to put on a spectacular show as international t20 players take to the Albion sward for the first time under lights. Without the West Indies players the fans would be robbed of seeing the best in the business perform so it’s in the best interest of everyone involved we wait until the players are available,” explained Bonar. Guyanese Leon Johnson, Rajendra Chandrika, Devendra Bishoo, Vishaul Singh, Assad Fudadin and Keon Joseph are set to leave
on Friday for the camp in Barbados. He said tickets are printed and ready to go, while TV commercials were set to begin in Berbice this week. The Organizers have agreed to reduce the cost for tickets to $1,000 for all stands and a capacity crowd is anticipated on the new date sometime next month. There is a game between a team from Suriname, who will battle a Berbice line-up from 16:00hrs, while the feature match involves big names like Chris Gayle, Andrew Russell, Daren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Devendra Bishoo, Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l , Assad Fudadin, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul, will commence at 20:00hrs. Bonar said the facebook promotion of the mega Event has already generated plenty of interest and excitement not only in Guyana but also overseas, adding that the t20 Cup could be held on a Saturday so that most of those traveling to Berbice will not have to work the next day and can overnight in Guyana’s second largest County. (Sean Devers)
Johnny Barnwell with some of the trophies to be handed out.
The African Cultural Development Association will be hosting their sports presentation today following the successful staging of their softball and football competitions. The presentation will be held at C Field Sophia starting at 1:00pm. Sophia Allstars overcame Sophia Warriors in the softball final, while Akin Barnwell XI beat Oto Barnwell XI 4-2 in the football game. Trophies and cash prizes are being donated by P and P Insurance, Tent City, Trophy Stall, John Fernandes Ltd, Inter Maintenance and Repairs, Sleep-in-Hotel, and Dr. Van West Charles.
Kaieteur News
Sunday September 04, 2016
PAGE 77
Mayor’s Cup semis Ninvalle offered on today at Victoria five-year scholarship Winners Connection vs. Police Western Tigers vs. Ann’s Grove
Randolph Wagner The day has arrived to determine who will battle for this year’s edition of the M ay o r ’s C u p f o o tb all championship and Aruwai first prize of $700,000 when the last four standing teams collide at the Victoria Ground on the East Coast of Demerara today. The competition has had its starts and stops due to the inclement weather and other circumstances but after today only one playing day is left when the title will be handed over to the new champions. This evening’s action to determine the finalists and
Dwayne Alli third place teams commences at 6:30pm with the curtain raiser and Police will come up against Federal Winners Connection of Linden in that match. The nightcap set for 8:30pm will see Ann’s Grove battle Western Tigers. Tw o e n t e r t a i n i n g matches are promised. The Linden team have a lot at stake, should they win they get the chance of forcing the organiser to stage the final in the Mining Town of Linden after they lobbied for games in the tournament to be played there as would have been done in other areas.
Marmaleque Davidson They have promised to come out firing. They will look to the talent of main strike force in Marmaleque Davidson, Keon Sears and Rawle Gittens to spearhead their challenge. The Policemen will most certainly have other ideas and with Keron Boston, Quincy Holder, Dwain Charles and Lerone Charles carrying their fight a humdinger of a contest is anticipated. The fans at Victoria will be further entertained with the second encounter, and are expected to back their neighbours Ann’s Grove (Continued on page 65)
to Chase Academy Guyana’s lone gold medallist at the recent Caribbean Pre Cadet Table Tennis Championship has secured a scholarship to attend one of the country’s leading private schools. Kaysan Ninvalle has been offered a five year scholarship at the prestigious Chase Academy secondary school located in Kingston. Owner and principal of the institution Henry Chase said yesterday that he was moved by the performance of the young racquet wielder and felt it his duty to provide an avenue for academic excellence. “Our institution prides itself on producing well rounded individuals and it is apposite that our sportsmen and women are also academically inclined. There was absolutely no difficulty in coming to the decision of granting this scholarship to young Kaysan Ninvalle as it is our belief that he will excel in both arenas,” Chase said.
Henry Chase
Kaysan Ninvalle
Chase Academy has produced some of Guyana’s top young footballers and cricketers and has ruled the Digicel School’s football competition with an iron fist. “Sports and academics must go hand in hand and I hope that through this gesture we can find many more institutions doing the same,” the principal added. Chase Academy is the third entity to throw support behind the recently crowned
Caribbean 11 and Under champion since his return from Jamaica. On Monday, corporate giants Gizmos and Gadgets presented a Samsung Galaxy S7 to the 11-year-old in recognition of his performance, while on Friday Colours Boutique and Dexter ‘Bushman’ Garnett presented tennis sneakers to the national 11 and Under and 13 and Under champion.
Horseracing to get King Size investments - Minister of State The government of Guyana is set to invest billions in the development of sports in the country through infrastructure and human development. Though some are slow to come by, residents are holding the government to it promises. Horseracing, which is known as the ‘Sports of Kings’, is set to receive a sizable slice of the pie which if all goes well is set to propel the sports to new heights comparable to the days of Durban Park. Those assurances were given by no other than the Minister of State within the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, when he gave brief remarks at the Second Annual ‘Real Guyana Cup’ Horserace meet held last Sunday at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast, Berbice. The Minister was among the thousands that had thronged the venue to be a
part of the action of the horserace meet that was held in honour of his Excellency President David Granger. Harmon was repeating sentiments he made a year ago at the first event and those made earlier at another event by Director of Sport Christopher Jones. According to the Minister Harmon, who was deputizing for his Excellency President David Granger who was unavoidable absent, most of the assistance will be channeled through the Ministry of Sports with the Director being the point man. He stated that there are plans to begin with the upgrade of two of the horseracing facilities- the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice and the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) Arima, Park West Coast, Berbice. Questioned by Kaieteur
Plum Plum winning the highly competitive E class event. Sport about a time line for the startup of the upgrades, since the same promises were made last year, Harmon said that –he is definite that patrons will see some work being done before the year is over. He could not give a
specific time or the nature of work to be done, but stated that he is certain that work will be done at the two venues. He said that Director of Sport Christopher Jones will give more definite answers as to the nature, time and
scope of work to be done. He is certain that work will be done on the tracks while some new inventions will be done. Popular horse owner and businessman Colin Elcock are among a number of persons calling on the
government to put some money into the sport like what was done for Motor racing and make, if not all a few of the tracks all weather tracks. The Sports Director had stated that the Ministry of (Continued on page 65)
t r o Sp
Bushy Park Circuit hosting a slew of events this weekend
Suzuki motors to be used by Krisitan Jeffrey, Mark Vieira and Calvin Ming on display yesterday. (Bushy Park Barbados facebook)
Serena reaches U.S. Open last 16 with milestone win
Mayor’s Cup semis on today at Victoria Winners Connection vs. Police Western Tigers vs. Ann’s Grove
FIFA Development Football League
National Association for Women’s Football gifted gears from parent Federation GCB Jaguars 3-day Franchise
Serena Williams of the USA after beating Johanna Larsson of Sweden on day six of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Shepherd, Chanderpaul put W/Dem in strong position
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