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Kaieteur News
Saturday April 13, 2013
WOMAN, 89, BRUTALLY MURDERED AT COVE AND JOHN By Dale Andrews The shocking murder of an 89-year-old woman has incensed the usually quiet community of Cove and John, East Coast Demerara. The semi nude body of Millicent Adriana Cummings, called “Baby Prince”, was discovered around 05:45 hours yesterday in a yard beneath an abandoned house on the Cove and John Public Road. Her head was swollen, signs of a brutal beating, while there is some evidence that suggests that she was sexually assaulted. Her top was rolled up while a half slip was lying next to the body. Reports are that Cummings, who would have celebrated her 90th birthday next week Sunday (April 21), left her home early yesterday morning for her usual daily exercise and was confronted just a few yards away. Police believe that the elderly woman was dragged into the yard where she was partially stripped of her clothing and brutally assaulted. There were signs of a struggle, since Cummings’ hat and a pair of slippers were found outside the yard, on the parapet, a few yards from where her body lay. “No matter she age, she would fight back,” a family member remarked at the scene. Kaieteur News understands that a man who lives at the back of the yard where Cummings’ body was discovered, was on his way to work when he saw her lying motionless in a pool of blood. The man immediately contacted the nearby Cove and John Police Station. But although the man is not considered a suspect, he and his family were detained to assist with the investigations. Police so far have no clear motive for the murder nor do they have a suspect in mind. However relatives and
villagers alike believe that Cummings met her death at the hands of someone from the very community in which she lived. “It had to be somebody who know that she does walk early in de morning, and that person had to know that this house abandon,” a relative of the dead woman told Kaieteur News. Kenneth Prince, a great nephew of the dead woman, lives two doors away from where she was killed. He told Kaieteur News that he was asleep when a friend who lives with him woke him up with the tragic news. “He say come and see this thing. I got up and I see him going into this yard, so I followed him. I saw the woman and I told him that it was my great aunt and I felt her and she was cold,” Prince told this newspaper. He said he then informed other relatives. According to Prince, nothing had prepared him for what happened yesterday morning. “Where I does lie down, I normally hear any sound on the road, but I did not hear anything.” Prince informed this publication that even the security guard at the Cove and John Primary School, which is situated opposite the crime scene, is claiming that he heard nothing. Prince said that it was not strange for Cummings to be out of her house in the wee hours of the morning. “Sometimes she would come around here about two o’clock and I would take her upstairs to sleep here. But that doesn’t mean that she had to die like this,” Prince explained. He stated that so far relatives have no clue as to who could have done such a ghastly act. “We can’t judge nobody,” he declared. Detectives combed the crime scene for any piece of evidence that could provide
Dead: Millicent Cummings them with clues to the murder. They dusted a couple of empty rum bottles found in a room of the abandoned house for possible fingerprints. They also searched a section of the adjoining cemetery for any sign of the murder weapon which is believed to be a blunt object. “Look like she got three blows to her head,” a crime scene detective told this newspaper. So incensed were residents that they agreed with one villager who stated “whoever do dis shouldn’t get charge; dey should be handed over to the public for us to deal with them.” As news of Cummings’s death spread throughout the village, scores of residents, most of whom were heading to work, took time out to flock the crime scene for a glimpse of the body. Cummings leaves to mourn her only son. She is one of a growing list of elder l y f e m a l e s murdered under mysterious circumstances in Guyana within the past four years. Kharpattie Shivnauth and Rajkumarie Mahadeo, P r a m p a t t i e R a m s u n d a r, Khirul Najidam and Sukhdai Ramkilaum were all murdered between 2009 and 2011. Except for two of them, all the others are from East Coast Demerara. And not surprising, none of these murders have been solved.
Police ranks combing the Cove and John Cemetery for clues
A Detective interviews relatives of the dead woman whose body is in the background covered with a white sheet.
A detective dusts an empty rum bottle for fingerprints.
Saturday April 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
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NDIA fraud allegations
Audit Office wrapping up investigations, to interview CEO- AG The Audit Office is currently in the interview stage of its investigations into fraud allegations at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), says Deodat Sharma, Auditor General. According to Sharma, the review of reports and other documents is completed and the Audit Office is conducting interviews to give those involved, the opportunity to explain or defend certain claims and findings. At the centre of the investigations are the entity’s Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth and Senior Section Engineer, Aneel Chowbay. During this week, the Audit Office interviewed Chowbay and plans to question Wordsworth next week. Sharma said that the
Audit Office would have interviewed Wordsworth earlier but one of his close relatives passed away recently. In October last year, a report prepared by the Field Auditor recommended the immediate dismissals of Wordsworth and Chowbay. It highlighted several instances of fraud and conflict of interest. The report was leaked to the media. The report on fuel consumption and equipment operations and maintenance, was conducted between May and September 2012. It was completed and submitted to the Chairman of NDIA Board of Directors on September 26, and copied to President Donald Ramotar. Though Sharma does not want to reveal details of the findings confirming if the Field Auditor was accurate in
- Former Field Auditor appeals to Ramotar for justice his report, previous comments by Seeraj confirmed procedural breaches at the entity. While the investigations would have to decide the fate of the two senior officials the Field Auditor was sent on administrative leave. He is no longer with NDIA since the company did not respond to his letter in February requesting the renewal of his contract which ended in April. In a letter to this publication, the former Field Auditor, Pablo Singh, appealed to Ramotar for justice to be given on this matter and should the situation remain the same then it leaves him with no choice but to seek redress through the courts of
Consumers warned to examine articles before purchase
Consumers are being advised once again by the Food and Drug Department to carefully examine articles of food before making purchases from wholesale and retail outlets, and to demand only safe, sound and wholesome articles that are properly packaged, sealed and labeled. Foods offered for sale should leave no doubt as to their authenticity. Recently, the Region Ten Environmental Health Department, under the guidance of this department, and as a result of concerns raised by the National Milling Company (NAMILCO), seized a large quantity of packaging material (empty bags) and bags of flour from a business place in the town
of Linden. This packaging material was labeled ‘Regal Supreme Quality Parboiled Rice’ with a stated address of Kingston Free Zone 31-32 Shannon Drive, Kingston 15, Jamaica, West Indies. It was discovered that the proprietor was repackaging flour, sugar and rice into this bag despite the fact that the label stated otherwise. Section 6 (1) of the Food and Drugs Act, Cap 34:03 of the Laws of Guyana makes it an offence for anyone to “...label, package, sell or advertise an article of food in a manner that is false, misleading, or deceptive, or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety.” Persons repackaging
articles from bulk quantities are required to obtain a permit from the Food and Drug Department. This permit indicates that the department is satisfied that the premises and the facilities where the repackaging operation takes place was found to be in compliance to good hygiene requirements and also that the packaging material is suitable and the label compiles with legislation. It must be pointed out that anyone found to be committing an offence under the Food & Drug Act and Regulations is liable to a fine and to imprisonment. Proprietors are expected to cooperate in the interest of consumer protection and safety.
Guyana. He has not received his gratuity and other benefits from NDIA. This is the first time Singh has broken his silence on events surrounding the damning report. He said, “Since someone wickedly leaked to the press a report of an approved audit I conducted, I have endured the aspersions on my character in the public newspapers and online from persons lacking m o r a l i t y, d e c e n c y a n d character.” For the six (working) months he spent at NDIA all the audits and investigations conducted were based on an Audit Plan approved by the CEO and in line with his approved job description.
“I was intentionally and maliciously accused by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture on October 22, 2012 of leaking the said report to the Press, conducting an audit without the CEO’s approval, Breach of Protocol- Reporting, Security and Confidentiality procedures, disclosure of information, making wilful statements, unauthorised use of NDIA’s documents and records, insubordination to Permanent SecretaryMinistry of Agriculture, Singh said. The former Field Auditor explained that he disseminated the report because of “audio recordings relating to the audits completed which revealed unethical and illegal conduct by the CEO-NDIA, co-worker and procurement department”. Singh disclosed that he
sent the report to Ramotar because of the “illegal use of NDIA’s Community Drainage Improvement Project funds by the Office of the Minister of Agriculture with whom I sought a meeting to discuss the illegal expenses but was never granted.” “It was intended to involve the President of Guyana to effectively bring an end to the NDIA’s breaches of the Fiscal Laws of Guyana. I do pray that he will make the right decision irrespective of the influences which will impact others to emulate, bearing in mind “monkey see, monkey do”. This decision should transcend all cultural, racial, political differences and ‘public servants’ who are interested in the amassing of great wealth and creating dirty legacies,” he added.
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The defanged Georgetown mayor The more one looks at the running of the Georgetown municipality the more one recognizes that local government in Guyana is just another area of central government control. It has also not escaped notice that the government is insisting on controlling just about every aspect of national life. In other countries the mayor is the person who has jurisdiction over his municipality. He determines the running of the municipality. Its revenue collection is his preserve to the extent that any organization or entity that operates in the city is beholden to the municipality. Municipalities are self-governing; they have their own police whom they pay. They are responsible for the various tolls and penalties. Lands within the municipality are there to be managed as the municipality sees fit. But when we come to Guyana we find that the mayor is merely a titular figurehead’ someone who presides at functions and one who has no power. Perhaps this may be so because the various mayors never operated as though they are autonomous. There is an old saying, “What you don’t use, you lose.” If the mayors of yesteryear had power and refused to use that power then they would have lost it. The City Police is the most denuded in the history of municipal police anywhere in the world. There have been cases where the members of the city police arresting and detaining people who infringe the law only to have central government intervene to overturn the decision. One case in point involved a contractor who undertook works in the city, ostensibly at the behest of the central government. The city council was not notified so the mayor quite correctly, concluded that the works were illegal. He moved to detain the contractor. The detention was short-lived; Central Government intervened and reduced the mayor to a meddlesome individual. More recently, the city council has been discussing ways of enhancing its revenue base. The government has actually told the city council that it will do no such thing. The town clerk is a tool of the Minister of Local Government and therefore not beholden to any decision that the city council may take. The casual onlooker may quite easily conclude that the city council is a department of the government and a poorly supported department at that. From time to time the government proclaims that it has to come repeatedly to the rescue of the city council. A few years ago, the then President Bharrat Jagdeo started a programme that paid sanitation workers a monthly stipend to work in their neighbourhoods. This programme, as expected, went nowhere after two or three months. City Hall sees all the heavy duty equipment rolling along its streets after leaving the wharves that adorn the waterfront. Indeed, the council should have been collecting a fee on each heavy duty piece; instead, the money goes into the coffers of the central government. Georgetown is home to the major businesses; it attracts the greatest number of Guyanese at any one time and with each citizen comes a piece of discarded material which is deposited either on the streets or into the waterways. These must be removed at a cost to city hall. There was a plan to levy a tax on the import of those disposable food containers and the various plastic receptacles that are discarded in the city. The government collects this tax instead of city hall. Today, the council is being blamed for all the woes it has encountered but there is no consideration that the council is not allowed to manage its business. It is pointless to look at the operations of municipalities outside of this country because one would argue that the legislation is different. But there are some basic things that govern the operations of municipalities. One of them is autonomy. In Guyana that goes through the window. The power resides in a Minister. It is the same with just about every aspect of national life. In the field of communication, rather than an independent authority there is Ministerial control. In the security sector there is Ministerial control and even in the immigration sector there is Ministerial control. Small wonder that Georgetown is in the mess it is; too much political control.
Saturday April 13, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Examining David Hinds’ statement of Africans accommodating PPP ‘bribery’ DEAR EDITOR: David Hinds’ letter “Balancing is taking place at the top of the armed forces” (SN, March 29, 2013) made a provocative and powerful statement as follows: “The PPP’s decision to seemingly incorporate bribery of Africans as an integral part of its mode of governance coupled with the ease with which Africans of all classes accommodate to that phenomenon represent a dimension of our ethnic dynamics that is silenced by African Guyanese opposition politicians and the media, who are afraid of being labelled racist.” Accommodation and ‘bribery’ of their own ethnicities and other ethnicities by the two race parties (PPP and PNC) when they held power is a common fact. It is the notorious way they do business. This psychological and immoral accommodation, Hinds highlights, is limited to only a minority of those Indians or Africans because often, that is all that is required and also due to the fact that the largesse of executive power can only extend so far. This accommodation extends to both Indians and Africans serving race parties and being elevated or rewarded or ‘bribed’ by those parties. One could accuse the PNC of ‘bribing’ some of the most brilliant Indians Guyana has produced. There are some who were PPP backers
who were ‘bribed’ to the PNC just like there is a cabal of PNC mid-level leaders who were ‘bribed’ over to the PPP. ‘Bribery’ includes perks, promotion above more deserving peers, protection from prosecution, guarantees of career and professional advancement, better financial emoluments or compensation packages and other measures and means. Although ‘bribery’ and accommodation have been disgusting facets of our nation’s kowtowing to dictatorship and wrongdoing, there have been pivotal differences in these elements under the PNC and PPP. Firstly, ‘bribery’ and accommodation are greater under the PPP in these state entities because the PPP does not control membership of most state institutions and apparatuses and because the PPP cannot decimate these institutions without devastating consequences, both politically and militarily. These institutions are vital for the functioning of the state and for the executive to hold and exercise meaningful power. Africans have a dominant presence in these institutions such as civil service and armed forces. So, an Indian-dominated PPP engages in more intense ‘bribery’ to win control of these institutions. These are hierarchical institutions, meaning that they will follow handpicked leadership, no matter how
peeved they are about them, and the PPP uses this reality to its advantage. Unlike the PNC, which only had to ‘bribe’ the leadership atop these institutions because the regular membership wholly supported the PNC, the PPP has to ‘bribe’ more levels and more lower levels of these institutions. Secondly, ‘bribery’ and accommodation are easy to achieve for various reasons. There are those who are afraid of losing their jobs on executive whims and accede to ‘bribery’. Others see it as an opportunity to leapfrog better qualified colleagues. Some will accommodate for fear of losing tenure, sinecure, position and power. The very fact that these positions can be terminated by executive order signals to these individuals holding them that they are beholden to the state. Then there is arguably the biggest reason; financial and economic. Many fear losing their jobs and the many years they have invested in it in an economy strafed by high unemployment. Having worked under lowpaying PNC and PPP governments, most public service workers lack credible savings, disposable income and investable income to break free from the economic trap that is their job. This leads to economic vulnerability and financial dependency, which makes them more ‘bribeable’ and
more accommodating to executive recklessness and lawlessness. As long as Africans continue to be the dominant pool of employees in a public service masterminded by an Indian-dominated government with despotic tendencies, they will be psychologically tortured, morally insulted and constantly demanded to demean themselves. Indians avoided this trap under the PNC because they did not possess viable strength in public sector employment. This afforded them financial independence or even in poverty, the ability to operate outside of the state apparatus. Not only has the PPP corrupted the public service and some within the public service have corrupted themselves in supine service to the PPP, the insult has been exacerbated by the PPP’s ethnic favouritism in the middle and upper management levels of the public service and its creation of a parallel contract worker public service, which it wants taxpayers to hand over $7.8 billion (US$39 million at $33,017 per taxpayer) to pay in super salaries to cronies doing political work disguised as the nation’s work. So, the PPP has not only gone on a massive bribing exercise to win over leadership of the traditional African-dominated civil and public service and placed disproportionate Indians into Continued on page 6
Saturday April 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
The Black and White syndrome DEAR EDITOR: There are some people who are so blinded by prejudice and obsessed by hate that they cannot see anything good in this current PPPC administration. So entrenched they are in their hatred for the government that they find fault with everything the government does or says. One gets the impression that were the PPPC government to pave the streets in Guyana with gold, they would find something to complain about, possibly that the glare of the metal is too much for their eyes. These are people who simply cannot be convinced no matter how sound the argument may be. They have already made up their minds and have set views and preconceived opinions which cannot be changed. The saying that none so blind as he who will not see is applicable to persons of such ilk and disposition. In other words, they see the world and view reality through the prism of hate and prejudice towards the PPP. Reality is perceived as either black or white. No
other shades are recognized or acknowledged. I will refrain from calling names. Who the cap fits, let them wear it! As I listened to the 2013 budget debates these are some of the thoughts that dawned upon me. Why, I ask, is it so hard to accept that the 2013 Budget is good for Guyana and that the measures contained in the Budget could bring benefits to the Guyanese people, in particular those in the lower income brackets and the socially disadvantaged? The a n s w e r, I respectfully submit, is situated in the bifurcated nature of our politics where any acknowledgement of the positives in the budget (and there have been many, too numerous to mention) by the opposition parties would make the PPPC government look good. But for the opposition parties, that must not happen at all. It is “bad” politics for the opposition to concede even an iota of credit to the ruling party, even when it is
manifestly due as in the case of increases in old age pension and lowering of the taxable threshold which will benefit all employees, in particular those in the lower income group. Instead of commending the government for being able to mobilize development funds in an environment of global economic and financial crisis, the combined opposition in true “Shylockan” style, is sharpening its claws to cut deep into the budget, regardless of the consequences to the health and wellbeing of the nation. It could not care less if the people of the country were to suffer by virtue of their vindictive and unconscionable acts but they must have, as it were, their pound of flesh. The truth of the matter is that the larger the size of the budget, the bigger will be its impact on the economy, in terms of income generation and hence disposable income. One immediate consequence of this development will be what
economists refer to as the ‘multiplier effect’ in which the additional spending will ultimately find its way in the pockets of people who will in turn spend the additional money earned by way of consumption of goods and services. This will result in economic acceleration and a more robust and dynamic economy. The increasing size of the budget has been responsible for significant growth in the real economy which grew by 4.8 percent last year, the seventh consecutive year of positive growth. This compares favourably with that of Caricom economies which grew by an average of 1.1 percent in 2012 and that of the wider Latin American and Caribbean countries which grew at an average of 3 percent. The global economy grew by 3.2 percent which puts Guyana ahead of both regional and global averages. These are facts that cannot be ignored or w i s h e d away by the opposition, regardless how hard they try to convince the
Guyanese people otherwise. The decline of tourism in the Caribbean due to depressed conditions in most of the developed world has put Guyana in a favourable position vis-à-vis the rest of the Anglophone Caribbean, which depended heavily on the sale of services as opposed to commodity exports which have not been doing too badly on the international market. Guyana is turning the corner in terms of economic recovery and the development prospects look good based on commodity prices, especially for minerals, in particular gold and bauxite, which have now overtaken sugar and rice as the leading foreign exchange earners. Because of these favourable conditions along with increasing foreign direct
investment, the country’s balance sheet is looking good, with a surplus in the country’s balance of payments of some US$12.4 million, compared to a deficit of US$15 million last year. The Bank of Guyana ended the year with total external reserves of US$862 million, the highest end of year position ever. The country’s economy is in good health, for which the President and his Cabinet deserve praise and commendation. What is needed now is a new approach to development by the opposition parties, based on constructive engagement with the government aimed at consolidating our economic gains and expanding the frontiers of growth and development. Hydar Ally
Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out. - Stephen Covey
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Saturday April 13, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Government cannot have its cake and eat it too DEAR EDITOR: In wrapping up the budget debate in Parliament on Tuesday April 9, 2013, the Minister of Finance Ashni Singh was arrogant, rude and insulting to the opposition, especially AFC member Moses Nagamootoo and APNU shadow finance minister Carl Greenidge, the very group of people he depends on for their cooperation to pass the budget. The minister did not only muddy the water, but he destroyed all hopes of any
chance of getting his budget through Parliament as is. It is not going to happen. After listening to the bombastic presentations of Ms. Gail Teixeira and several others in the PPP, it is clear that the minority government wants to dictate to the majority opposition and the people of Guyana that they are the only ones who know what is good for Guyana. This was evidenced in the budget speeches in Parliament by several members of the PPP. How can they ignore requests from the majority
opposition to discuss the budget before presenting it to the nation and then expect the opposition to support it? The Government cannot have its cake and eat it too. The mindset of the PPP on the budget is very troubling, if not deceitful, and could eventually lead to the bankruptcy of Guyana all over again. The same things that its members criticized the PNC regime for in 70s and 80s and at Babu John every year are happening all over again. As much as we are inclined to commend the
opposition on its presentation on the Budget in Parliament, we will reserve comment until the Committee of Supply meets and the opposition gets a chance to scrutinize every line item in the budget and makes its recommendations for the cuts they intend to institute. As a pre-condition we urged the opposition to demand the establishment of the Procurement Commission and that all public monies must be placed into the Consolidated Fund. This is one of the ways to end or
reduce corruption and for the government to be accountable to the people. For, as they say, the devil is in the detail. Further, as is evidenced by the failure of the administration to present a working class budget that benefits all the people and not only the wealthy, it does not inspire confidence in the people of the regime’s ability to accomplish anything worthy for the have-nots. The consequence of such colossal failure has been a sliding domestic currency and, worse, low consumer confidence. This government has shown its inability, if not its ineptness, at explaining its economic strategies and fiscal policies to the Guyanese people and mobilizing them around its economic and human development programmes. However, we recognize that this calls for good and effective leadership which the PPP does not possess.
There is consensus that the crux of Guyana’s economic and social problems is massive corruption, the lack of jobs for the youths, the low wages paid to civil/public servants, the extremely high cost for foodstuff and the huge debt, now at 80 per cent of GDP; built up by the PPP Government which borrowed excessively to finance shoddy capital works programmes rather than live within their means. There are serious signs of trouble in the making and the opposition must take a strong stance against such borrowing and waste and against a budget that caters mostly to the rich. Opposition leader Granger is quite correct to label the budget “a cardboard budget painted to look like concrete” and Khemraj Ramjattan’s powerful remarks to the cabal,”when it starts start tightening up, we will start lightening up.” Thus we urge the combined opposition not to allow this budget to pass without appropriate reductions. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
From page 4 middle and upper management levels of an African-dominated traditional public service, the PPP has also created a poodle class of contract workers that form the parallel Indian-dominated and PPP-party membership, mostly contract worker public service that is better paid than the traditional public service. This is a colossal waste heaped on the waste of money funding an inefficient and bloated traditional public service. Finally, while bribery of and accommodation by Africans is easier to achieve with Africans working in state institutions, there is also significant bribery of and accommodation by Indians occurring in Guyana outside of the public service institutions. There are Indians selling their souls to join the PPP and just like some Africans, they are economically driven or caught in party hierarchical traps too. The majority of the parallel contract worker public service fits
this bill of the acquiescing types. There are many within the PPP who are deathly afraid of speaking out for fear of losing their cushy positions or for fear of retaliation. There are some within the PPP who want to leave but cannot because they are blackmailed. Others are denied because they take moral positions. The PNC and PPP have damaged the ethical and moral fabric of this country and buried the moral core of this land. Both Africans and Indians are trapped under this shameful PPP ‘bribery’ just like they were submerged under the PNC ‘bribery’. The accommodation from all races in Guyana is a symptom of the moral destruction of this nation. It is difficult for people to challenge their very existence but when your existence has been completely degraded by political nastiness, the mere will to survive is not enough. Something more is necessary. M. Maxwell
Examining David Hinds’...
Saturday April 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Berbice River tragedy victims laid to rest at mass funeral By Leon Suseran The four persons who drowned in the Berbice River a few days ago were buried yesterday at the Stanleytown Cemetery in New Amsterdam. The decomposed remains of Rudolph ‘Monkey Man’ Sheriff, 49, of Smythfield, New Amsterdam; Shaquille Anthony Plass, 14, of Angoy’s Avenue; Shondell Anthony Plass, 49, of Angoy’s Avenue; and Bate Bender, 43, of Morgenstond, Berbice River, were all interred at the cemetery during a mass funeral, which attracted hundreds. Post mortem on all of the men, revealed that they died by drowning. Wailing, weeping, screams and cries resounded throughout the cemetery yesterday as the bodies were brought in one by one. All of the funeral services were according to Christian rites and the pastor prayed and read Biblical passages.
The coffins were not lowered into the ground until the elderly men and boys around broke open the seals and poured several bottles of liquor on the corpses. Then the wailing increased in intensity as the bodies were lowered and holes were filled by the undertakers. Sandra Bender, the wife of Shaquille Plass, could not have been consoled as she sat by the roadside and wailed uncontrollably. “I coming with you [Shaquille]! I coming with you!” she wailed. At one point, she fainted and had to be revived by relatives. After Plass’ coffin was lowered, it was time for his son’s, whose burial spot was next to his. And there came more screaming and shouting and wailing. Two of the men’s decomposed bodies were discovered floating in the Berbice River, along the East Bank of Berbice on Tuesday by police. The other two
bodies, that of Bender and Shondell Plass, were brought out to New Amsterdam late Thursday afternoon. They were found some three miles from Mara at a village called ‘Rupununi’. Shellon Plass, the daughter of one of the deceased, stated that all the family heard was that “they [the police] give us the message that a boat ‘duck’ in the Berbice River. She added that her father, along with the three other men, left on Thursday to “bring down greens [vegetables] for mommy”. Plass’ sister, Portia was unclear as to what could have happened to her brother’s boat. “We ain’t know if they run into anything or if the waves or anything…All we know is that the boards from the bow are all gone—so it look as if they lash into something”. Plass, a carpenter by profession, leaves to mourn his wife, Sandra Bender, and 10 children: Felicia, 6; Marcus,
Budget deliberations…
APNU seeks to address Home Affairs allocations without “disrupting” public As opposed to its previously taken position, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is now saying that it is exploring different strategies to deal with budgeted allocations that fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The earlier stance taken by the coalition was that it would not support anything presented to the House by Clement Rohee in his capacity as Home Affairs Minister. That stand was extended to include allocations for the said Ministry once Rohee is in charge. APNU stood so firm in its position that with the support of the Alliance for Change (AFC), it defeated the passage of the Firearms Amendment Bill that was intended to strengthen the laws relating to firearm possession and trafficking. That move attracted much criticism from the government. But APNU’s leader, David Granger, told media operatives that his party would not support anything in the name of Rohee; irrespective of its merit. That position was adopted after APNU exhausted several avenues to gag Rohee within the National Assembly. After those attempts failed Rohee proudly announced that he has been vindicated. The security sector has
APNU’s shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge attracted a whopping $17.5B and the government has placed the Ministry of Home Affairs at the top of its list of agencies to be scrutinized when consideration of the estimates begins. However, that proposal was defeated and those presented by the opposition were adopted with the noncontentious Foreign and Legal Affairs Ministries leading the schedule to be examined from Monday coming.
APNU and the (AFC) had noted that more time is needed to examine the estimates in details. But APNU seems to be using the extended time to strategize a way to deal with allocations for Home Affairs Ministry in particular as the party seems to have everything else “under control.” Greenidge told media operatives yesterday, “We’re (APNU) trying to find a means for dealing with this matter in a way that was not going to disrupt the public, so it’s a question of trying to strike a balance here.” He added, “That’s a principle which I think is a principle most members of the public would embrace. The difficulty is to just try and find a modality for dealing with that that would not cause disruption and alarm out in the streets, we’re still working on that.” APNU’s issue with Rohee stems from the Linden unrest as the Party believes he is to share the blame. However, the government’s support for Rohee as Home Affairs Minister remains unwavering.
The coffins of Shondell and Shaquille Plass yesterday 8; Destiny, 3; Sherlanna, 8; Shellon, 16; Lydia, 17; Tiffany, 15; Bryan, 21; Norman, 23; and Denzil, 19. The sister of Rudolph Sheriff, Sonia Bahadur, stated that the family received the horrific news yesterday about the discovery of the
bodies. “The police just asked us to identify the body”, she stated. Sheriff usually made trips up the Berbice River “to bring greens back down to sell”, she stated. “ H e w o u l d u s u a lly spend two to three weeks”, she stated. He leaves to
mourn his daughters, Shabeena, 29; Sabrina 26; and Nikita 23. Kaieteur News understands that Sheriff was in control of the boat which mysteriously capsized. Investigations into the tragedy are continuing.
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YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU ARE ON CANDID CAMERA The driver had an attractive female sitting next to him in the front of the car. He was chatting with her and every time he neared a traffic light in the city he would veer off into a side street. I, who was merely hitching a ride, felt that he was perhaps like some taxi drivers who were impatient and did not want to wait at intersections where there were lights and thus preferred to take some of the side streets to get to our destination earlier. When we finally did reach our destination, I pointed out to him that the journey took longer that if he had simply used the main roads where there are numerous traffic lights. “I know that,” he said, “but that girl in the car was not my wife and so I could not pass through the intersections with traffic lights.” “What the traffic lights have to do with your extramarital partner?” I asked. What they have to do? I do not want to be caught on any of those CCTV cameras that are over those traffic lights. The next thing you know someone sees the girl in the car and reports back to Big Aunty.” I recalled that conversation when I read
recently that an opposition MP had contended that the CCTV cameras that were mounted in many parts of Georgetown but mainly at busy intersections were not helping in the fight against crime. My friend was so afraid that someone he knew could be monitoring the cameras and would discover his extramarital affair that he decided that he was not going to pass under any of them. If those cameras could have forced my friend to have to use side streets simply because he had a sweet woman in his car, imagine the effects it would have had as a deterrent to crime. The cameras serve two purposes. Firstly they would allow for images of getaway cars and suspects to be captured by the lawenforcement agencies. There was time when there used to be many robberies and the robbers would use getaway cars. Sometimes they hijacked vehicles and used them to head up to the East Coast. By monitoring these main exits and entrances to the city, the authorities would be able to know the movements of certain vehicles and thus advise their patrols. They can also use the technology to know in which direction the
Dem boys seh...
De government got we losing How a country perform in sports does tell de world how good de government is in that country. America does do good in all dem sports suh is a good government running that country. Is de same thing wid Russia and China and even Cuba although people does talk all kind of thing about Cuba. Brazil in de category of dem country wid good government and people can tell because it win de World Cup football nuff time. Dem African country win gold medal in Olympics and Israel win at things like archery and shooting. Dem Arab country good too. Dem that ain’t do too good is a reflection of de government dem got. Dem boys don’t want think about Guyana. It win couple medal pun de international stage. It win a bronze medal at de Olympics; it win gold medal at dew Pan Am Games and at de Commonwealth Games. It win other gold medals too suh de government got to ‘be good. But dem boys seh that people mustn’t judge too fast. Almost all of dem Guyanese who win medal train outside Guyana in dem country wid good government. One man talk bout de gyal from linden who win gold de other day and dem talk bout some others but dem boys seh that Guyana was always good at cricket. De way dem playing cricket reflect de kind of government dem got. Every Tom, Dick and Harry Lall beating Guyana and dem boys seh that is de kind of people who in de government mek that happen. Dem seh that instead of practicising fuh play cricket, dem planning how to mek money to get rich like dem Minister. Even Sarwan ain’t playing like how he use to play because he get tie up. Dem boys seh that is a sad thing and de government must tek note suh that it can judge itself. But then again, one man seh that you can’t teach old dog new tricks. It mean that fuh along time Guyana gun keep losing at cricket. Talk half and judge fuh youself.
getaway vehicles went. It is noticeable that ever since these cameras went up, certain types of crimes involving getaway cars have become greatly reduced in the city. This means that the cameras have had a deterrent effect because the criminals know that the authorities would have been able to exercise some amount of monitoring over their activities. The police would also be able to use these
cameras to obtain useful evidence and to identify suspects. This is the second reason for the decision to install the cameras. What Guyana needs are more cameras because they do help. In fact, in many countries, video cams are being installed in cars so as to allow the owners to have evidence in the event that they get into an accident. The camera records what is taking place and therefore would
record the accident. The cameras are also being used in places like Russia to combat corrupt cops. When a cop stops a car, the camera rolls and records everything that he says and does, unknowing, of course, to the cop. Thus, if the cop demands a bribe the footage is captured on the small camera located within the car. Guyanese drivers need to install these devices in their vehicles. The devices come
cheap and will help solve a great many problems including helping the police to identify corrupt and rogue cops.
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As stone shortages continue…
Natural Resources ministry seeks to open new quarries As complaints of a significant shortage of quarry materials (stones) pour in, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, yesterday said that the Ministry is currently holding discussions with investors regarding the opening of new quarries. This is expected to ease the tensions among especially, home builders who depend on these materials for the construction of their homes. Persaud said that officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are conducting ground works into the production and output of quarry materials, in an effort to determine why the
shortages occur, and what can be done to make things better. It has been a few months now, and those engaged in construction works continue to be tremendously affected by what seems to be a repeated shortage of quarry materials on the market. This scenario would usually result in the few local suppliers having to ration stones, this key building material. According to a few builders and truck owners, the shortages have become a bit too regular, and something needs to be done. Kaieteur News understands that while there is a general shortage of these materials, there are especially times when there are absolutely no stones
available. “This affecting us terribly, because we working on a loan from the bank, and my husband quit his job to look over the work. We are struggling for a daily bread as it is so when we don’t get the materials, the work does left stalled. The bank does question us, and it causing a real strain on our pockets,” Nalita Singh, one home builder said. Just recently these shortages resulted in a scene being created in front of the Stone Department of Toolsie Persaud Limited’s location in Providence, East Bank Demerara. Among those affected, are the truck operators who transport these materials in an effort to provide for their families.
NOC Commission of Inquiry...
One interview pending before report submittal - Chairman The Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the violent breakout at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) said yesterday that after the interview of just one more staff member of the juvenile detention centre, the final report will be ready for submission. According to the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Winston Moore, he does not want to put a deadline on the submission of the report in the case of unforeseen hindrances. The commission’s work has had some delays after its initial Chairman, Justice Prem Persaud, resigned just as investigations were about to commence. Kaieteur News understands that the staffer whose interview is pending is currently on leave. The Commission of Inquiry was set up several months ago to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violent rampage involving a number of
youngsters whose ages ranged from 14 to 16, and leading to their escape from the Juvenile detention facility. Reports are that the teenagers stormed through several communities while being armed with cutlasses and other weapons. During this, a female dormitory and a workshop within the compound were set alight. Some 17 young ladies who were housed in that dorm had to be relocated. Subsequent to the rampage, some of the inmates, after being confronted, claimed that they were being abused by staffers and that they had reached breaking point. A senior Ministry of Culture official had however stated that none of the juveniles made any such allegations to the team which visited the centre prior to the escape. It was as a result of these controversial statements, that a Commission of Inquiry was set up. The five-member
Board of Inquiry also include Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King; Senior Superintendent and Divisional Commander of ‘D’ Division, Christopher Griffith; Senior Probation Officer of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Trenetta Scott and Mr. Maydha Persaud, a retired headmaster and member of the Teaching Service Commission. Of the 48 inma t e s w h o a p p e a r e d , eight were charged with arson, while the rest were arraigned for escaping f r o m a t r a i n i n g school. Twelve of the inmates are female, while thirty-six are male. Thirteen of the juveniles pleaded guilty to escaping from the NOC, while the remaining 35 entered not guilty pleas. Sixteen of the inmates were remanded to the juvenile facility in Georgetown, while the other 32 were returned to the NOC.
A man was yesterday granted his pre trial liberty having been charged with robbery. The accused, Jamal Johnson, 18, of Diamond Sea Dam made his appearance at the Providence Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty. It is alleged that on Tuesday April 9, at 288 Diamond Sea Dam, he entered the dwelling place of Radika Ramohal and made off with an IPod and four cellular phones worth $195,000 and
one Blackberry cellular phone worth $50,000. To the charge the accused pleaded not guilty. The court was told that on the day in question the virtual complainant secured her house by the means necessary and retired to bed. Sometime during the course of the night the woman was awakened by her son who enquired from her if she had left a window open. The court was told that the woman replied in the
negative and she immediately saw a man in her bedroom. The man then fled into the living room and escaped through the same window he used to gain entry. A report was made to the police and acting on information the suspect was arrested, told of the allegation and subsequently charged. Johnson called ‘Bakes’ was placed on $150,000 bail and will return to court on April 30.
Robbery accused granted bail for stealing iPod and cell phone
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Opposition demands NCN fraud report By Abena Rockcliffe The joint parliamentary opposition is saying that it will not support any allocations set aside for the state-owned National Communication Network (NCN) in budget 2013 unless the investigative report on financial irregularities is made available. At a press briefing yesterday, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) disclosed its position on approving allocations reflected in the budget to be spent by NCN. The party’s shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, said that APNU is demanding a copy of the investigative report on NCN’s financial irregularities. He said, too, that the content of the report will play an integral role in deliberations on how much money would be allocated to NCN. In addition, during a subsequent phone call, leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan, disclosed that the NCN report is just one of the considerations to be examined by the party. Ramjattan used words such as unbalanced and inequitable to describe the
- or agency risks losing $162M budget subsidy state owned media. He added that it is believed that the company’s revenues can sustain it and it doesn’t need budgetary allocations. The 2013 budget reflects $162M in allocations to NCN, half of which is estimated under current expenses and the other half under capital expenses. Since last May a report detailing financial irregularities at NCN was submitted to President Donald Ramotar, who is also the Minister of Communication. The probe
area of irregularity was traced back to GT&T and involved millions of dollars in advertisements specifically for the Jingle and Song competition and aired segments of the said reality show. NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Sattaur, who was found to have had knowledge of the financial irregularities, resigned in June. The entity’s Programme Manager, Martin Goolsarran, who admitted that he had deposited the payment cheque from the telephone
“The public needs to know why we are giving away more of its money, we need to provide that accountability if the government is not going to.”- Greenidge was restrained to the Terms of Reference that sought to ascertain the relationship between Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and NCN. In a leaked report-prepared during the first half of the year-- it was revealed that on the part of NCN, one
company into his personal account, has been suspended without pay. However, findings of the investigations submitted to Ramotar would determine the future of the men. Many are waiting to see whether the findings would be sent to the Criminal Investigations
Suspended Programme Manager, Martin Goolsarran Department of the Guyana Police. Mere weeks ago, President Donald Ramotar told media operatives that he was shocked that the matter is still ongoing. He related that the issue is being handled and it would be concluded in the near future. Without revealing details of the investigations, Ramotar said that he would like to see accountability at NCN, which will help with confidence and credibility. However, APNU is contending that the government is avoiding putting the results of the report out to the public
Former NCN boss, Mohamed Sattaur primarily because it doesn’t want to be forced to take
action against the persons involved. It was mentioned yesterday at the press conference that some time ago, Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali had said that the President did what needed to be done. But the APNU’s stance as purported by Greenidge, is that it needs to see and examine the report. “The public needs to know why we are giving away more of its money, we need to provide that accountability if the government is not going to.” He said that if the reports suggest that NCN can’t stand on its own it’s a “different matter.”
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GPL labour dispute... Man on $60,000 bail for stealing car mirrors outside KN Arbitration panel reviewing Yesterday, Winston Bovell, a 39-year-old father of two, who resides at 7 Anns Grove, East Coast Demerara was instructed to post a bond of $60,000 on a charge of Simple Larceny when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that on April 6, last, about 11:05 hours, Sarah Balgobin, a member of the Kaieteur News staff, parked her car outside Kaieteur News at Saffon Street, Charlestown and left both mirrors intact. At 17:00 hours, she returned and noticed that the two car mirrors were missing.
Winston Bovell She then checked the surveillance cameras of the company and noticed the
defendant, Winston Bovell and another man removing the said mirrors. The matter was reported, and the defendant was arrested and charged. The mirrors however were recovered by Bovell’s sister who alleged that she found them in his home. As a result, the articles were lodged at the Ruimveldt Police Station. Bovell’s Lawyer, Rexford Jackson, requested bail in a reasonable amount based on the fact that he has two children and is the only bread winner of the home. Bail was subsequently granted for the defendant and he is expected to return for the commencement of his trial on April 24.
Hearing-impaired equipped with communication skills With the task of promoting deaf awareness in the nation, the Guyana Deaf Mission (GDM) continues to equip the hearing impaired with the necessary skills for communication and interaction through the use of sign language. Twenty-three students graduated from its 25th class of the “Beginning Sign Language” course which commenced on January 21. The students received their certificates last Monday. The course lasted for ten weeks. The ceremony was followed by an occasion where the deaf and hearing mingled. The students were moreover, able to use their newly-learnt skills to communicate.
The students are required to attend at least two “deaf immersion” experiences. These might include fellowship time after deaf church or game night at GDM (twice per month). Students are also encouraged to participate in other activities involving the Deaf Association of Guyana (DAG). The beginning sign language class is a ten-week course that teaches persons sign vocabulary twice per week for two hours each session. The students were privileged to have two deaf persons, Corine Hunte and Tracey Ramsay, as teachers. They started using the vocabulary from the first class. The classes were very
interactive and included oneon-one question and answer time, games to hone finger spelling skills and signing stories. Guyana Deaf Mission (GDM) has been offering Sign Language Classes to interested persons for ten years. These classes provide awareness, in that persons will better appreciate the richness of the language. Sign is a very expressive language which many people find awkward at the start. But as students go through the ten-week course, they learn to relax so they can express themselves effectively. GDM will start a new Beginning Sign Language class in September.
Mining pit collapsed on mother of three A 36-year-old woman is now a patient at the Woodlands Hospital. This was reportedly after a mining pit collapsed on her at Baramita, Region One on Wednesday last. The injured woman, Rita Leonard, a mother of three, is said to be in a stable condition at the private facility. She is being kept for observation. Yesterday, when Kaieteur News visited the Caribspeaking woman at the hospital, she could only say “mud fall pon meh” but her husband, Milton Leonard, who is staying at the Amerindian Hostel said that she was at the backdam working, when a mining pit caved in on her. He said that a wall about 20-foot high collapsed while the woman was searching for small qualities of gold. An excavator was used to
The injured woman
remove the dirt that buried her. Milton Leonard explained that he was working in another backdam when one of his colleagues informed him that his wife was injured and she was taken to the hospital.
“When I reach I see she deh lay down in the Tundra back.” The woman was eventually air-dashed to the city. She will be discharged soon.
presentations- NAACIE
The fate of Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) employees represented by the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) would soon be determined. The arbitrators of the recent labour dispute are reviewing the union’s and company’s positions. According to NAACIE’s General Secretary, Kenneth Joseph, yesterday, he is optimistic that the final and binding decision would soon be revealed. The arbitration tribunal comprises Justice Prem Persaud; Dr. Gobind Ganga, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana; and Grantley Culbard, former General Secretary of the Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union. On February 27, GPL employees started a six-day protest over a five percent allinclusive package. This included a one percent across the board pay increase. The Union found that unacceptable and demanded an eight percent across the board increase. The power company emphasized that it cannot
afford the union’s demands. It claimed to be burdened by high fuel prices. In addition, GPL may have to increase its contribution to the employees’ pension fund with the Hand In Hand Trust Company. NAACIE believes that the company could afford to pay the demanded increase because it recently accessed an $11B loan. Intervening in the dispute, Minister of Labour D r. Nanda Gopaul facilitated a meeting with both parties. They were given two days to ponder on the discussions and to decide on a feasible outcome. However, they stood their ground and the Minister ruled that the matter must be sent to arbitration. Arbitration proceedings began on March 25 and according to Joseph there were two meetings. He said that both parties submitted their presentations. On Wednesday last, the final meeting was held and the way forward lies with the arbitration panel, which is
now tasked with reviewing the presentations. Whatever the decision of the panel is, GPL is expected to get an injection of $11.2 B from Government this year. According to Dr. Ashni Singh, during this Budget 2013 presentation, Government wants to provide operating and capital transfers to GPL totaling $5.8B to support that company in meeting its cash flow requirements. Government also budgeted a further $5.4 billion to be provided to GPL to support key projects such as the upgrade of its transmission and distribution network, the loss reduction programme, and other activities required in anticipation of the Amaila Falls Hydro project. These allocations to the electricity sector will benefit all 166,000 of GPL customers and their families. But, A Partnership for National Unity deemed the company a black hole and argued that the company needs restructuring and depoliticizing before any money is pumped into it.
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No surgeon’s fee for kidney transplants at private hospital With hospital care amounting to some US$20,000 ($4 million), patients are able to access kidney transplant operations at the Dr. Balwant Singh’s East Street, Georgetown, hospital through a voluntary medical mission led by renowned United States-based surgeon Dr. Rahul Jindal. This collaboration has been ongoing for about three years now and is expected to remain a sustained venture, according to the private Hospital’s Administrator, Dr. Madhu Singh, who doubles as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the facility. She explained, yesterday, that although hospital costs may seem sizeable it is far less than what would have been obtained had there been a surgeon fee, which is nonexistent here and had there been a fee for the tissue matching which is required ahead of operations. “When you are being considered as a donor (for a renal failure patient) you first have to have a blood group done and if your blood group matches that of the person who needs the kidney we send samples for tissue typing and matching. That is very important otherwise patients will reject the kidney...That is a very expensive test by itself
and is done free of charge,” insisted Dr Singh. The tissue matching process is carried out at the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Washington D.C. where Dr. Jindal practices. Regarding the transplant operation as “two very major surgeries – where a kidney is taken out of one person and another is getting a kidney”, the Hospital Administration disclosed that the whole process can take as much as six hours to be completed. Staffers of the Dr. Balwant Singh hospital are integrally involved both before and after the operations. Donors, according to Dr Singh, would spend about three or four days in hospital while the recipient can spend double that period hospitalised following the operation. The hospital cost however does not vary but remains constant, according to Dr. Singh, who explained that it covers anaesthesia, all drugs used during that period and patient care. A total of 15 kidney transplants have been facilitated in Guyana by Dr. Jindal, four of which were undertaken at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and 11 at the Balwant Singh hospital. Two of those were completed just last week
Dr Madhu Singh, Hospital Administrator Dr Balwant Singh Hospital when Dr. Jindal and his team visited. One of the patients operated on was from the British Virgin Islands and another was from Antigua. Reports are that the latter patient’s hospital cost was funded by the Government of Antigua. At a press conference earlier this week, it was revealed that Dr. Jindal and a team of about six medical practitioners would usually come to facilitate operations about three to four times per year. At least two patients are operated on, on each occasion. According to Dr. Jindal, while Guyanese patients are given priority treatment,
Dr Rahul Jindaland Mr George Subraj (second and third from left respectively) and an associate visit a recovering patient “Recently, we started doing patients from other Caribbean Countries. This is the first time patients have come here to seek medical assistance.” The most recent operation did not see any Guyanese being operated on. “It just happened that the local patients were not ready with their donors,” the surgeon said. Last year the team did surgery on one Guyanese patient and according to Dr. Jindal he and his team are aiming to operate on eight patients this year. When asked about the cost for the surgery during the press conference, he insisted that the patients “only have to pay the hospital a fee, nothing else.” After-care medication is supplied by the Guyana Government and this move, according to Dr. Singh, represents a “prime example of public/private cooperation.” The overseas-based medical team’s travel and accommodation costs are all funded by United Statesbased philanthropist Mr.
George Subraj. According to Subraj, a Guyanese by birth, he has been educated about renal failure and today is successful, and is in a position to give back to the land of his birth. He explained that “a person’s health is all that matters and that is the reason for him supporting and financing the team of surgeons.” According to Dr. Singh a great number of patients are suffering from renal failure which is often an end result of many medical conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. She noted, too, that these two conditions are very prevalent in Guyana adding that such patients in the past were either placed permanently on dialysis or nothing was done for them. However with the support of the overseas-based renal team, transplants have since become one of the alternate services available to patients, said Dr. Singh. This is however only possible for patients who
have donors that are willing to give up a kidney. “These are strictly voluntary donors ...these are donors that are often close family members. Those who have a willing donor are able to benefit from this service that Dr. Jindal and Mr. George Subraj have been providing in Guyana.” This forthcoming support, according to Dr Singh, has in fact helped to improve the service offered as the private hospital has been providing dialysis care to its patients over the years. Moreover, she said that the intake of patients through the dialysis programme are the ones who are screened by Dr Jindal and identified as good candidates for kidney transplants. Recently, Dr Jindal has been collaborating with a Nephrologist in Antigua who has been sending his patients to be attended at the Balwant Singh hospital and it was through this collaboration that the Antiguan patient was recently operated on.
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Sheet Anchor residents gear for land fight The government continues to be mired in controversy. Residents of Sheet Anchor, East Canje Berbice, are accusing the government of trying to steal their land and sell it to “big wigs”. However, they say that they are prepared to fight to the end to keep what they say are lands passed down to them by their ancestors. These residents are up in arms over what they claim are the conceit and wicked behaviour of officials of the Lands and Surveys Department (LSD) who are hijacking their lands and selling and leasing the plots to their friends and cronies. The residents stated that the lands which adjoin their property at the back are transported lands which were passed down to them from their ancestors. Some of the lands have been in their possession for more than 200 years. Some residents have transport for the properties dating back to the 19th century. The land in dispute is from North Public Road to Seawell Plantation Walk (Lackaa). It was said that during the British regime a decision was broached by the state and the villagers that the residents give up a portion of the land from Cross Dam to Seawell Plantation Walk (which is now the Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme). The residents produced transports to show their ownership of the land. One such transport dating back to 1899 shows that it was bestowed to one Kubir Persaud of Sheet Anchor. He was assigned Lots numbered 37 and 39 north of the Public Road, in the Sheet Anchor/
Say their land is being stolen and given away by Government No2 Palmyra District, Berbice. This was laid down and defined by J.L Yhap and D.M Edghill, sworn land surveyors, and entered into the Deeds Registry at New Amsterdam on February 17, 1950. It also gave the holder the right of grazing cattle and other stocks over the pasturage ground of block ‘C’, a portion of the said Sheet Anchor. This was granted on June 28, 1950. The transport was updated on July 31, 1970 and bequeathed to Dhankumaree Prashad of Sheet Anchor. The residents stated that the matter was fully ventilated at a meeting with former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister Robert Persaud and then Regional Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha way back in 2007 at the Cumberland NDC Office. At that meeting the President reportedly ordered the Lands and Surveys Department “to leave the people’s property alone.” He had also instructed then Regional Chairman Zulficar Mustapha to make sure the residents get back their land. The situation has not changed. They are surprised that the matter has been brought to the fore again by representatives of the Lands and Surveys Department. They were surprised when they received what they said was a rude letter from one Dylon Bess, Corporate Secretary of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission dated March 21, 2013 instructing them to
Parcels of the now disputed lands
attend a meeting on April 16, 2013 at the Lands and Surveys Department in Georgetown, failing which the lands will be
Taxi driver charged with causing death by dangerous driving Taxi driver, Christopher Chatterpaul, 26, of Smythfield, New Amsterdam, Berbice was on Thursday charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court and was granted bail in the sum of $150,000. The driver was recently charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and was fined $115,000 on 12 traffic violation charges. He is accused of driving in a manner dangerous to the public on Friday April 5, last, while piloting motor car HB 2041. He is alleged to have made a U turn in the vicinity of Canefield, East Canje and collided with motor cycle CF 8751 ridden by Ganesh Anthony “Max” Persaud, 23, a legal clerk of Lot 5 Strand
New Amsterdam. Persaud fell on the road and was injured. He was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital where he received emergency treatment. He was subsequently referred to the Georgetown Hospital but died on the way. A post mortem conducted on the body gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple injuries. According to information, Persaud who works with his uncle, attorney at law Charrandass Persaud, was on his way to Canje around 17:00 hrs to meet with another cousin to finalise arrangements for a fund raising activity to raise funds for his younger brother Lakeram Persaud who was seriously injured in another motor cycle accident on
Valentine’s Night outside the New Amsterdam Hospital. Persaud’s elder brother, Jarvis De Freitas, called “Jarvy”, died last September when he lost control of the CBR he was riding at the Sheet Anchor turn in East Canje and c r a s h e d i n t o a C hinese restaurant. Incidentally, on that occasion he was riding a friend’s bike. The driver Chatterpaul was recently found guilty in January on 12 charges of violating the traffic law and fined a total of $115,000. He was also recently charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Ironically, his lawyer on that occasion was Charrandass Persaud. His matter has been transferred to the Reliance Magistrate’s Court for June 17.
given away. The lands are theirs and they vow to defend their property at all cost. In a letter dated February 28, 2013 and sent to Head of the Lands and Surveys Department, Mr. D.
Persaud under the caption Lease Lands Block C Sheet Anchor, the residents stated their dissatisfaction that their transported lands were being leased to individuals without their knowledge by the
Region Six, Lands and Surveys Department. The residents are concerned that despite assurances, people still turn up and are fencing off their property.
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Glasgow parents angry over two schools occupying one building ...Bhajan meets with angry parents Several parents of Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice have complained about an overcrowded Glasgow Nursery School. The residents said that a new nursery school building was constructed, recently, for the needs of the village. However, approximately 80 students from the neighbouring Edinburgh Nursery School were brought over and housed in the new Glasgow Nursery School building. The students of the Edinburgh Nursery were formerly housed in the Edinburgh Primary School building a few blocks away. The Glasgow Nursery School has a population of 20 and residents are upset about this because they say that the students are crowded in the building. At the moment, there are over 100 children in the structure. A parent said that the students from the Edinburgh Nursery School should never have been housed in the Glasgow school building in the first place. “I want the Minister of Education to look into this and give us some satisfaction”. Kaieteur News understands that the transition took place during
the recent Easter break. Yet another concerned parent said, “I don’t think it’s fair that they build the school for the Glasgow Nursery and they give Edinburgh Nursery most of the place. That is not fair! The children are not getting to work properly and that is unfair. I think the school was built for the Glasgow Nursery and the Ministry [of Education] needs to look at this and make a proper decision”. “I came in this morning [first day of school] and was surprised to see the school— very small. The Glasgow Nursery just have a very small space which is very unfair and the Edinburgh Nursery—all of them come over here,” stated another parent. The residents stated that they spoke with one Ms. Baboolall, the Education Officer responsible for Nursery schools in Region Six. They claimed that the woman told them that the movement of the children from Edinburgh Nursery to Glasgow Nursery was done by the Ministry of Education and “the decision was made that the schools be merged.” Region Six Education Officer, Ms. Shafiran Bhajan, was not in the country at that time. When contacted, she
stated that “a new spacious building was constructed in Glasgow Housing Scheme to house the school which was in a rented church building. “While I was on leave abroad, Ms. Baboolall moved Glasgow Nursery to its new location. Owing to the large space, she moved Edinburgh Nursery from the Primary school also, into the new building.” She further added that the students that were brought across from the Edinburgh Nursery would revert to their former school building within the Edinburgh Primary School location during the coming weekend so as not to disrupt classes. However, those who live within proximity of the new school may apply for a transfer, she added. During a meeting with parents of both schools earlier this week, Bhajan promised to sort out the issue. The majority of Edinburgh Nursery parents are refusing to have their children relocated to the old Edinburgh Primary building. It was reported that some parents of Edinburgh Nursery even threatened to burn the Glasgow Nursery down if their children had to go back to their old school building in Edinburgh.
Saturday April 13, 2013
ImmigrationINFO Immigration News For Our Community Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com. Question #1: M y daughter, a U.S. citizen, is sponsoring my husband and me. How long is the processing time? Answer #1: As a U.S. citizen, your daughter (assuming over age 21) can file a sponsorship petition for her biological or adoptive parents. Assuming you are outside the U.S., the processing time is about 9 months to one year. Note, a separate petition must be filed for each parent – one for her father and one for her mother – it cannot be combined. Question #2: I was wondering how I could find out about my mother case. I recently turned 18 and want to know about my mother’s immigration file. She never explained to me why she decided to leave the U.S. in 2008. Is it still possible for me to obtain a copy?
Answer #2: Due to various privacy laws, only your mother can request a copy of her immigration file. We can prepare a Freedom of Information Act request but she would have to consent for her file to be released. The processing time is about six to nine months to get a copy of an immigration file. Question #3: If a petition was filed for me by my mother in 2008, and I would still like to apply for a visitor’s visa, would my chances for being granted a visa decrease (because of the petition that was filed)? If yes, why? Answer #3: Yes. The main requirement for a visitor’s visa is to show you have no intention to remain in the U.S. With a pending immigrant petition, the Embassy may not be inclined to give you a visitor’s visa since you already have immigrant intents (based on the pending petition filed by your mother). This same issue may arise upon a visitor visa renewal once the Embassy becomes aware of a pending immigrant petition. Question #4: My mom is a US citizen and filed for me in 2009 as Family 2B
Gail Seeram preference. She got the approval letter in 2010 so how much longer do I have to wait before I get to the U.S.? Answer #4: According to the April 2013 visa bulletin, for Family 2B, visas are being issued for petitions filed on or before April 2005. So, you have about a four-year wait from today. Question #5: Has the threshold age at the U.S. Embassy really changed from 21 to 25? Answer #5: No, to qualify as a “child” you must be under age 21 at the time the visa is available at the Embassy.
Government still awaiting IDB funding for study on Corentyne River Bridge- Ramotar President Donald Ramotar told the private sector in Berbice recently about major infrastructural projects, including that of the Corentyne River Bridge, which should link Guyana and Suriname. Last February, during a one-day visit by President Ramotar to Paramaribo, he and his Surinamese counterpart, Desi Bouterse, discussed the massive project. Guyana and Suriname were expected to approach the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for
financing the project. The two heads of state reiterated the importance of the construction of the bridge across the Corentyne River. It would considerably enhance trade and economic relations as well as cultural exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, they said. They decided on a joint approach to the IDB for the purpose of identifying modalities for financing. President Ramotar told the private sector in Berbice that both [Guyana and Suriname] governments have approached the Inter-
American Development Bank (IDB) and “they will finance a study first about the feasibility of this bridge across the [Corentyne] river, so we have to wait.” “We have both approached the IDB and we’re engaging discussions with them and we have to wait until this study is finished until we can move to the next stage of physically constructing the bridge”. President Ramotar did not want to commit to a time frame “because this does not only depend on me, but [on] areas outside [of] Guyana.”
3 years for gun possession Anthony Matheson, a 20year-old of 1979 William Street, Kitty pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition without being the holder of a licence. Matheson who appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court then begged for a reasonable sentence. According to the police, on April 10, at approximately 16:00 hours, police officers while on mobile patrol acted on sensitive information and conducted a search in Festival City. The officers then saw Matheson in the company of two other young
males riding pedal cycles and proceeding in the southerly direction. Whilst the police tried to approach, the defendant attempted to head in another direction and was consequently chased until he was finally apprehended. When Matheson was stopped, police searched the defendant and discovered a .38 Taurus revolver with three live matching rounds secured in his pants crutch. He was then asked to produce a license but was unable to. The defendant explained to the police that he found the gun and bullets on the seawalls and was on his way to sell it to a man. The items were confiscated and the
defendant was arrested, taken to East Ruimveldt Police Station and charged for the said offence. Matheson told the court, “On Easter Monday, I was burning a joint with my friends on the jetty and when I jump off, I stepped on the gun and bullets and I pick it up and show my friends them. After that, I carry it home and stash it. Then when I carry it to sell the police see me and found me with it.” The defendant who is a known offender was subsequently instructed to pay a fine of $100,000 and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
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Electronic paper marking process could be as early as 2014 The electronic paper marking process of the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certification, CSEC will possibly be initiated as early as next year. This announcement was made by Senior Assistant Registrar, Susan Giles, at a breakfast banquet held at the Umana Yana yesterday, to commemorate 40 years of CSEC as an establishment. Giles noted that the Caribbean Examinations Council, CXC or Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certification, CSEC, as it was most recently renamed, has been engaged in an ongoing transformation process throughout the years. “Our journey will continue with some change in emphasis. The electronic marking will no longer be a dream; it is definitely something which we will embark on because our residential script marking activity which costs us millions of dollars annually is no longer sustainable. Online testing which you will hear more about could come in 2014.” The Senior Assistant Registrar also lauded Guyana’s performance at the regional level. She noted that for the past 10 years Guyanese students have
excelled at the examinations, walking away with the top prize. According to Giles, Guyana has an increasing number of students writing the exams each year, “(There is) no contraction in numbers.” Guyana has had at least 14,000 candidates for CSEC and 820 students write CAPE at the most recent examinations. As Guyana joined with the rest of Caribbean in observance of the internationally accepted and accredited examinations, several local examiners were also awarded for their contributions to respective subject areas at CSEC. The awardees included Mrs. Ingrid Fung for English Language, Mrs. Sharon Smith for Social Studies, and Mrs. Flora Cumberbatch for Principles of Accounts. Other awardees included moderators and practical examiners and staff members of the Examinations Division. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, affirmed that the administration is resolute on ensuring that equal academic opportunities are offered to all of Guyana’s future generations. The Education Minister pointed to the nation’s academic
- As CSEC celebrates 40 years in existence
Education Minister Priya Manickchand surrounded by awarded examiners and contributors of CSEC success as proof of the deliberate policies of Government to ensure equality in the services provided. “We see the results in our children, Guyana’s children.” With a high premium being placed on academic achievements and Regional Government utilizing significant amount of funds
annually on educational services, 40 years ago on January 1, 1973, the first inaugural meeting to instigate CXC, now CSEC was held in Barbados. Six years later after much foundation building and systems design, the first CSEC examinations was offered to 30,000 candidates from 13 participating territories including Guyana. Today, (many more) Caribbean citizens including candidates from three Dutch speaking territories write the examinations. In the beginning in 1979, with five subjects offered to 30,000 students, in 2009, the council delivered 33 subjects to more than 150,000 students at the CSEC and CAPE levels. This achievement has developed on a solid foundation of support from
the contributing Governments, the people of the region. The vision set out in 1973, was of a unifying system that was capable of meeting the certification requirements of the region for work and for matriculation into institutions of higher learning in the region and internationally. The process of developing, administering and grading examinations is itself a regional endeavor and was not without its struggles. In fact, CSEC faced the significant challenge of acceptance at the regional level and recognition on the global scale. However, the battle was hard fought with hard work of staff and high quality leadership, CSEC continues to expand its outreach. Although it has crossed
many hurdles, CSEC faces an ongoing challenge to develop syllabuses that are accurate, relevant and appropriate to ensuring that the students are exposed to an edification that will be suitable for a rapidly changing knowledge-based society. The CSEC examinations have become the most recognised and popular secondary level examinations in the region. The grading scheme for the examinations has also evolved to meet the changing matriculation requirements of institutions of higher learning within and outside the region. Such changes will continue to be made by the Council as necessary to ensure the integrity and acceptability of the examinations offered without sacrificing the quality of the product.
Businessman shot, robbed
The owner of a newly opened restaurant located on Lamaha Street, Georgetown was yesterday shot in his left thigh and robbed of an undisclosed sum of cash. Injured is 49-year-old Dong Show Yong. He is the owner of Treasure Island Restaurant which was opened about one month back. According to information, around 04:45 hours, three gunmen walked into the restaurant and demanded everyone to hand over their valuables. The bandits took away a quantity of cellular phones from the customers. Kaieteur News was told that before the gunmen walked out of the restaurant, they shot the owner. Yesterday when Kaieteur News arrived at the scene, the injured man’s wife refused to say what happened. “Nothing nah happen here,” she told the reporter and closed the door to her
The injured Dong at the hospital yesterday
premises when the reporter walked out. Meanwhile, at the hospital
yesterday, Yong was seen being taken for an X-tray. His condition is listed as stable.
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Venezuela election to test Chavez’s socialist legacy CARACAS (Reuters) The late Hugo Chavez’s selfdeclared socialist revolution will be put to the test at a presidential election tomorrow that pits his chosen successor against a younger rival promising change in the nation he polarized. Most opinion polls give his protege, acting President Nicolas Maduro, a strong lead over opposition challenger Henrique Capriles thanks to Chavez’s endorsement and the surge of grief and sympathy over his death from cancer last month. The candidates closed out official campaigning on Thursday with dueling rallies, both drawing hundreds of thousands of boisterous supporters. Taking a page out of Chavez’s playbook, a fiery Maduro marched through the streets of the capital draped in a Venezuelan flag and called on voters to follow “commander Chavez as the spiritual guide of the fatherland.” “I am the son of Chavez,” the burly 50-year-old former bus driver shouted to
supporters in downtown Caracas. “I am ready to be your president.” Waving posters of the late president, the crowd sang back the campaign slogan, which rhymes in Spanish: “Chavez, I swear to you, I’ll vote for Maduro!” Capriles, an energetic 40year-old state governor,
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) countries have been urged to take advantage of the standby facility for capacity building under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that was signed with the European Union in 2008. Addressing a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) organised Technical Briefing Meeting on the EPA Standby Facility for Capacity Building, Clairvair Squires, said the facility is intended to assist CARIFORUM states by underpinning national institutional capacities The senior CDB official CARIFORUM countries, comprising the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and The Dominican Republic, typically fall short on account of their size and levels of development. As a result the EPA Standby Facility is expected to shore up the ability of these countries to address a variety of EPA implementation imperatives, against the backdrop of efforts to devise national EPA implementation plans. The three year EPA Standby Facility of Euro 3.5 million (One Euro =US$1.30 cents) is coming on stream as part of a suite of initiatives financed under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) that is aimed at lending
support to CARIFORUM in the implementation of commitments under the EPA in several areas. These include fiscal reform and adjustment; sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) programme; technical barriers to trade; services sector and institutional and implementation capacity. The Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP), which the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) manages, is the first initiative to be approved under the 10th EDF EUCARIFORUM Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP). According to a statement issued by the CARICOM EPA Unit, the objective of Thursday’s meeting here was to provide participants with the skills and knowledge required to complete or lead the completion of a resultsfocused application to the EPA Standby Facility that is in accordance with the Facility’s screening and appraisal criteria as well as manage the implementation of an EPA Standby Facilityfinanced project towards achieving planned outcomes. It was also intended to help participants prepare proposals for submission to the Facility which, as relevant, address similar capacity building needs of other CARIFORUM states.
A supporter of Venezuela’s acting President and presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro cries as a screen shows Venezuela’s late President Hugo Chavez during Maduro’s closing campaign rally in Caracas Thursday. REUTERS/Tomas Bravo
CARIFORUM countries examine EPA Standby facility
wrapped up his second presidential campaign in seven months - he lost to an ailing Chavez last October in the nearby city of Barquisimeto, pledging to end the divisive politics of the late president’s 14-year rule and the rampant crime that is the top concern of Venezuelans. “Those who govern today have never done anything for your security. Sunday we’re going to choose between life and death,” Capriles roared to the crowd. “If you want a future, you have to vote for change, for a different government.” At stake is control of the world’s biggest crude oil reserves, economic aid to a host of left-leaning governments around Latin America, and the legacy of what Chavez liked to call “21st
century socialism” - a mix of hard-left politics, heavy government spending on the poor, and growing state control over the economy. The presidential vote will be the first time that Chavez isn’t on the ballot in two decades, but in many ways the election is all about him. Maduro has cast himself as Chavez’s “first apostle” and has sought to emulate his former boss’s fiery rhetoric on the campaign trail. At every rally, Maduro has played a video of Chavez giving him his blessing in an emotional last speech to the OPEC nation of 29 million people before he succumbed to a two-year battle with cancer on March 5. Keenly aware of Chavez’s cult-like following among the poor, Capriles has spent much of the campaign denying
Maduro’s claims that he would get rid of the oilfunded social spending that was the cornerstone of the late president’s popularity. He has also sought to court Chavez supporters by promising to raise wages by 40 percent. If Maduro wins, he will face big challenges from day one as he seeks to control the disparate ruling coalition without his predecessor’s dominant personality or the robust state finances that helped Chavez win re-election last year. Capriles would face an even tougher landscape if he wins. Chavez’s rule thoroughly transformed Venezuela, and nearly all of the country’s institutions from ministries and government agencies to the military and state oil giant PDVSA - are packed with diehard Chavez supporters. Capriles touched a nerve with scathing attacks on Maduro and others whom he denounced as “skin-deep revolutionaries.” He accused them of betraying Chavez’s legacy by filling their pockets while paying only lip service to his ideology. Maduro, meanwhile, has painted his rival as a pampered rich kid who represents a wealthy and venal Venezuelan elite - and their “imperial” financial backers in Washington. A descendant of European Jews on his mother’s side, Capriles comes from a wealthy family, but has sought to project a man-ofthe-people image riding into
slums on his motorcycle and nearly always wearing a baseball cap. Maduro, a former member of a rock band and a union activist, rose to be Chavez’s foreign minister and vice president, but has been playing up his modest roots at rallies, frequently calling onto stage fellow workers whom he recognizes. The campaign has been characterized by personal attacks from both candidates, plus a dose of surrealism from the folksy Maduro. While visiting Chavez’s hometown, Maduro said he was visited by the late leader’s spirit in the form of a little bird, a claim that was mocked by the opposition as crass populism. Maduro poked fun at the opposition at his closing rally by perching a bird on his shoulder, a gesture that drew roaring cheers from the crowd, which included Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, who flew in to support Maduro. In another bizarre turn, Maduro also warned anyone thinking of voting for his rival that they would bring down a centuries-old curse upon themselves, playing on the fertile mix of animist and Christian beliefs in Venezuela’s plains and jungles. In a nation where Chavez’s confrontational rhetoric helped fuel deep mistrust between his supporters and the opposition, both political camps have repeatedly accused the other of dirty tricks and fomenting violent plans.
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CAL flight reductions to Jamaica ominous, say pilots Jamaica Observer Caribbean Airlines’ decision to cut back on the number of flights to Jamaica is being seen by the Jamaican Airline Pilots’ Association (JALPA) as a first step towards pulling out of Jamaica. For several weeks it was rumoured that Caribbean Airlines (CAL) had planned to reduce flights to Jamaica, and on Tuesday, during a sitting of Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee, Transport Minister Dr Omar Davies said that no information was forthcoming from CAL. However yesterday, head of communications at CAL, Clint Williams, told Radio Jamaica in an interview that the decision had been made to reduce the flights effective April 16. “You will see that the schedule, which comes in effect April 16, reflects a reduction in some flights where we saw that there was excess capacity in the load factors. We are not high now; we will consolidate it to one where there will be a higher load factor,” Williams said,
adding that some of the scaling back had already started. But, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer prior to Williams’ disclosure, JALPA’s Executive Administrator Gordon Woodstock pointed to the airline’s new 2013 flight schedule which shows a significant cut in flights between Jamaica and major gateways in the United States effective May 1. “We have seen some very ominous signs,” Woodstock said. “CAL has put out a new schedule which, from May 1, there is only one flight to Fort Lauderdale out of Kingston; only one flight out of Kingston to New York and it leaves at 7:00 pm. Now, tell me, if you want to survive. Kingston to New York, in
particular, is your heaviest load; that’s your bread and butter, and you cut it down to one flight, and you can’t even get out early in the morning; and don’t think that although it’s one flight the seating capacity has increased.” The flight schedule shows that from May 1 to November 2013 CAL will operate one flight daily from Kingston to Fort Lauderdale leaving at 6:45 am and one flight daily from Montego Bay to Fort Lauderdale departing at 12:50 pm. Kingston to Orlando will be served by one flight daily, departing at 12:15 pm, while the single Kingston to New York flight will leave at 7:10 pm daily, and the Montego Bay to New York flight is scheduled to leave at 6:10 pm.
Saturday April 13, 2013
IMF approves funds for Antigua and Barbuda WASHINGTON – CMC The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it is making available more than US$10 million to Antigua and Barbuda after completing a review of the island’s economic performance under a three-year Stand By Arrangement (SBA) indicating also that the economy is showing signs of gradual recovery after three years of being stagnant. The IMF said it had also approved a waiver of nonobservance of the continuous performance criterion on external arrears. “This waiver was granted on the basis of the temporary and minor nature of the deviations from the programme objectives and the corrective measures undertaken by the authorities,” the IMF said in a statement. It said that the completion of the reviews allows the immediate disbursement of US$10.162 million, bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to US$76.2
million. “Antigua and B a r b u d a ’s e c o n o m y i s recovering gradually after three years of recession brought on by the international financial crisis. Tourism arrivals increased in 2012 and government programmes provided an incentive for housing investment,” said Naoyuki Shinohara, IMF Deputy Managing Director. But he noted that “significant risks to the macroeconomic outlook remain, including from a slowdown in advanced economies, higher import prices and natural disasters. “The government continues to make progress in fiscal consolidation through expenditure restraint and improvements in revenue administration. All performance criteria for end-December 2012 were met, except for a minor breach of the continuous performance criterion on
external arrears for which corrective action has been taken. “ The IMF said that the government is maintaining “its successful efforts in debt restructuring to reduce the burden of debt service, although potential contingent liabilities in stateowned enterprises and the banking sector remain a concern. Shinohara said the 2013 budget is consistent with the government’s goal of reducing the debt ratio to 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020. He said continued implementation of structural reforms in revenue administration and public financial management will be essential to achieve the 2013 fiscal targets while providing space for productive public investment in human capital and infrastructure. The IMF said that Antigua and Barbuda expects to conclude the resolution of ABI Bank by end-April, 2013.
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Opposition politicians want new head of state to raise section 34 issue with PM PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Opposition politicians yesterday said they would ask newly elected President Anthony Carmona to request from Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar the reasons behind the early proclamation of the highly controversial section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act. The section has since been repealed but critics say it was aimed at freeing two financiers of the ruling United National Congress (UNC), the biggest partner in the fourmember coalition People’s Partnership administration. Last weekend a High Court threw out a motion by businessmen Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson challenging the decision to repeal the section
that would have allowed persons with matters before the court for more than 10 years to walk free and a verdict of not guilty entered against their names. Speaking at a news conference here yesterday, members of the so-called Round Table Group, comprising opposition parties, civil society and non government organisations, said that the leaked letter that appeared in the media recently showed that the prime minister had not responded adequately to the concerns raised by former president George Maxwell Richards on the issue. “the response by the prime minister which she claimed to have given to the president last year was clearly not sufficient or
satisfactory and this is a matter therefore the current president, President Carmona needs to pursue with urgency and with diligence. “It cannot be that such an important issue which grave concerns to the Office of the President…would be left unaddressed,” the Chairman of the Roundtable Group, David Abdulah, who heads the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), that was once part of the coalition government. The Trinidad Express newspaper said that Richards regarded section 34 as a “grave matter of ongoing public interest” that has shaken the confidence in the fundamental institutions of Trinidad and Tobago and told Prime Minister Persad Bissessar that he is “constrained to express my
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will lead a Trinidad and Tobago delegation on an official visit to Canada from April 23 to April 26 at the invitation of her Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper. The official announcement came at Thursday’s post cabinet media briefing. Trinidad and Tobago has had a long relationship with Canada beginning with maritime trade. One of Canada’s greatest legacies in T&T is the Presbyterian Church and schools established by Rev. John Morton in the 19th century. Tens of thousands of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago have made Canada their second home and have contributed to the development of the country in various fields, including the arts, culture and politics. The Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP,
Prime Minister, has accepted an invitation from the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, PC, MP, Prime Minister of Canada, to pay an official visit to Canada over the period April 23-26, 2013. This official visit of the Prime Minister follows the May 01-02, 2012 State Visit of Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Mrs. Sharon Johnston to Trinidad and Tobago during the fiftieth anniversary of independence of Trinidad and Tobago and the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada. Trinidad and Tobago and Canada enjoy longstanding and vibrant bilateral relations, with cooperation initiatives in areas such as agriculture, corrections, education, energy, environmental management, health, mutual legal assistance and public
sector modernization. Trade and investment between both countries constitute a significant pillar in those bilateral relations. Prime Minister PersadBissessar’s official visit to Canada will further strengthen the cordial and multi-faceted relationship which Trinidad and Tobago enjoys with Canada. The programme for the official visit will include an official greeting at the Rotunda, Parliament Hill, a meeting with Prime Minister Harper and calls on the Presiding Officers of the Parliament. Prime Minister PersadBissessar will participate in a “town hall” meeting with the Trinidad and Tobago diaspora and will have media interviews. The Honourable Prime Minister will also deliver the keynote address at a trade and investment roundtable hosted by the Canada Council for the Americas.
PM makes official visit to Canada April 23-26
Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley (left) and MSJ leader David Abdulah regret that I was not advised before the fact of the undertakings given to the Parliament and which would have served to secure the support of both Houses of Parliament in their entirety (for the passage of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings Act) which contained the controversial Section 34 clause). “I am constrained in this regard, also, albeit with regret, to record that since your
assumption of office the practice of the Prime Minister having regular meetings with the President (in the course of which matters of this nature could have been discussed) has not been maintained,” Richards stated. Richards began by quoting Section 81 of the Constitution which states: “The Prime Minister shall keep the President fully informed concerning the general conduct of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and
shall furnish the President with such information as he may request with respect to any particular matter relating to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago”. Prime Minister Persad Bissessar had said publicly that she had responded to the request of the then president in a confidential letter and the statement by the government said “the article quoted information contained in correspondence” between the two leaders.
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U.S. tells North Korea new missile launch would be “huge mistake” SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned North Korea yesterday that it would be a “huge mistake” to test launch a medium-range missile and said the United States would never accept the reclusive country as a nuclear power. Addressing reporters after talks with South Korea’s president and leaders of the 28,000-strong U.S. military contingent in the country, Kerry also said it was up to China, North Korea’s sole major ally, to “put some teeth” into efforts to press Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Kerry, like other U.S. officials, played down an assessment from the Pentagon’s intelligence agency that North Korea already had a nuclear missile capacity. In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters, “I want to be clear that North Korea has not demonstrated the capability to deploy a nuclear-
armed missile.” Kerry said the United States wanted to resume talks about North Korea’s earlier pledges to halt its nuclear program. But Kerry added that the United States would defend its allies in the region if necessary, and pointedly said Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, “needs to understand, as I think he probably does, what the outcome of a conflict would be.” North Korea has said it will not abandon nuclear weapons that it called yesterday its “treasured” guarantor of security. Kerry’s visit coincided with preparations for Monday’s anniversary of North Korean state founder Kim IlSung’s birth date, a possible pretext for a show of strength, with speculation focusing on a possible new missile test launch. Kerry, due to flies to China today and to Japan tomorrow, said if North Korea’s 30-year-old
leader went ahead with the launch, “he will be choosing, willfully, to ignore the entire international community.” “I would say ahead of time that it is a huge mistake for him to choose to do that because it will further isolate his country and further isolate his people, who frankly are desperate for food, not missile launches.” North Korea has issued weeks of threats of an impending war following the imposition of U.N. sanctions in response to its third nuclear test in February. Kerry said the threats were “simply unacceptable” by any standard. “We are all united in the fact that North Korea will not be accepted as a nuclear power,” he said. Kerry later told U.S. executives in Seoul that China, as an advocate of denuclearization, was in a position to press for a change in North Korea’s policy. “The reality is that if your policy is denuclearization and it is theirs as it is ours, as it is
everybody’s except the North at this moment ... if that’s your policy, you’ve got to put some teeth into it,” he told the gathering. North Korea showed little inclination for further talks. Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers’ Party, said North Korea would never abandon its nuclear program. “The DPRK will hold tighter the treasured sword, nuclear weapons,” it said, referring to the country by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. North Korean state television showed footage of newscasts from other countries depicting the trajectory a North Korean missile launch might take. It also showed preparations for the Kim Il-Sung birthday festivities, including floral tributes and a stadium of thousands of school children of the Korean Children’s Union, each wearing a red scarf and saluting and marching in unison. Speculation has mounted of an impending medium-range missile test launch in North Korea after reports in South Korea and the United States that as many as five medium-range missiles have been moved into position on the country’s east coast. Officials in both countries believe North Korea is preparing to test-launch a Musudan missile, whose range of 3,500 km (2,100 miles) or more would put Japan within striking distance and may threaten the island of Guam, which houses U.S. military bases. North Korea has been angry about annual military drills between U.S. and South Korean forces, describing them as a
“hostile” act. The United States dispatched B52 and B2 stealth bombers from their bases to take part. Hours before Kerry’s arrival, a U.S. lawmaker on Thursday quoted a report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, one of the 17 bodies that make up the U.S. intelligence community, as saying it had “moderate confidence” North Korea had developed a nuclear bomb that could be fitted on a ballistic missile. Kerry poured cold water on the report and said it was “inaccurate to suggest that the DPRK has fully tested, developed capabilities” as set down in the document. U.S. sources said the report was part of a very preliminary assessment not intended to be made public and never reached the senior levels of the American government. In addition, South Korea’s
Defense Ministry said it did not believe North Korea could mount a nuclear warhead on a missile. A U.S. official had earlier suggested that Washington’s greatest concern was the possibility of unexpected developments linked to Kim Jong-un’s “youth and inexperience.” Asked if war seemed imminent, he replied: “Not at all.” In a meeting between a Russian official and Pyongyang’s ambassador to Moscow, Russia urged North Korea to avoid doing anything to further increase tension on the Korean Peninsula, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. South Korean President Park Geun-hye, meeting officials from her ruling Saenuri Party before her talks with Kerry, struck a conciliatory note by suggesting Seoul should at least listen to what North Korea had to say.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) The Israeli military said it fired artillery into Syria yesterday after its troops were shot at on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, in the latest of a series of shooting incidents on the once-quiet front. “No soldiers were injured and no damage was caused. IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers responded with artillery fire towards the source of the shooting. A direct hit was identified,” the military said in a statement. Battles between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebels trying to topple him have spilled over into the Golan
Heights in recent weeks with occasional gunfire and mortars landing in Israeli-held territory. A military spokeswoman said she did not know whether it was Syrian army or rebels who fired at the Israeli troops and whether the fire was stray or deliberate. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in a 1967 war and annexed the strategic plateau in 1981 in a move not recognized internationally. U.N. peacekeepers monitor the ceasefire line. The military said it had notified the United Nations of the incident. Austria’s Foreign Minister Michael
Spindelegger said yesterday Vienna would have to assess daily whether it was safe enough for Austrian peacekeepers, who account for around 380 of the 1,000strong U.N. mission, to stay in the Golan. In the past three months, Japan and Croatia said they were withdrawing their troops from the peacekeeping mission and if Austria quits the operation it is unclear whether any other nation will replace them. Israel is anxious for the peacekeepers to remain, worried the Golan will become a springboard for attacks on Israelis by jihadist groups fighting Assad.
QUALITY REPEAT South Korean President Park Geun-Hye (L) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shake hands before their talks at the presidential Blue House in Seoul yesterday. REUTERS/Kim Jae-Hwan/Pool
Israel fires into Syria after Golan troops come under fire
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Hungary promises changes after EU threat in amendment row (Reuters) - Hungary promised yesterday to make changes after the EU executive threatened action to overturn constitutional amendments it said may be incompatible with European Union law. The EU, the United States and human rights organisations have accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government of using constitutional amendments to limit the powers of Hungary’s top court and undermine democracy in the former Soviet satellite. In a letter to Orban, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that, based on an initial analysis, the Commission had serious concerns about the compatibility of the constitutional changes with EU legislation and the rule of law. Once it has completed its legal analysis, the Commission “will have to take the necessary steps in order to start infringement procedures where relevant”, Barroso told Orban. He appealed to the prime minister, the leader of the nationalist Fidesz party, to “address these concerns and to tackle them in a determined and unambiguous way”. “This is without doubt in the best interest of Hungary and of the EU as a whole,” Barroso wrote. Orban assured Barroso in a reply that Hungary was committed to European norms and pledged full cooperation with Brussels to address its concerns. “I certainly pay full
attention to the points you raised and I should like to inform you that I have already initiated the necessary legislative steps to follow them up,” he said in the letter published on his orbanviktor.hu website. Orban earlier dismissed criticism that the constitutional changes are anti-democratic and last month challenged EU legal experts to present evidence if they had any problems. Barroso’s letter said the Commission was particularly concerned about the legality of constitutional changes relating to European Court of Justice judgments entailing payment obligations. It also raised concerns about powers given to the president of the national office for the judiciary to transfer cases, and restrictions on the publication of political advertisements. The forint currency eased slightly after news of Barroso’s letter to trade at 295.45 against the euro at 2:48 p.m. British time, but stayed near six-week highs hit earlier in the day at 294 as foreign investors encouraged by Japan’s monetary stimulus continue to buy high-yielding assets in emerging markets. Orban, a 49-year-old conservative who made his name as a young dissident when Hungary was behind the Iron Curtain, has overseen a rewrite of the constitution and four revisions. He has imposed swingeing “crisis taxes” on some foreign firms and forced banks to write off some of the foreign currency debt owned by Hungarian households.
Hague war crimes court investigating own staffer AMSTERDAM (AP) — The International Criminal Court in The Hague says it has opened a formal investigation into allegations by four people who say they were subjected to sexual abuse by a court staff member working in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The war crimes court said yesterday it is “profoundly concerned by these grave allegations” and had taken steps to protect the alleged victims. It said the
investigation was aimed at “establishing the facts underlying the allegations and fairly determining any possible responsibilities.” It is not clear whether the allegations will lead to a prosecution, and if so, where it would take place. The court said it would turn the inquiry’s findings over to ICC “judges and relevant parties to the proceedings concerned” — presumably meaning, legal authorities in Congo.
His opponents accuse him of harming Hungarian democracy and gambling with economic stability. The EU says he has eroded the independence of the courts, the media, the central bank and other institutions, pulling Hungary out of Europe’s mainstream. A deputy governor in Hungary’s central bank resigned on Monday in protest at what she said was
a campaign by Orban appointees to reduce the bank to a rubber-stamp for risky economic policies. Orban says he has saved Hungary from a Greek-style economic collapse, his reforms are democratic because he won a huge majority in a 2010 election, and he is under attack because he threatens the interests of foreign business lobbies.
Viktor Orban
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Europe’s Barroso seeks “living” trade agreement with U.S.
Ex-German president charged with corruption
NEW YORK (Reuters) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said yesterday that he seeks to negotiate a “living agreement” to help deepen economic and trade ties with the United States. “If we manage to come to a comprehensive agreement, the overall gains could add up to a 0.5 percent rise in GDP for Europe and 0.4 percent for the United States by 2027,” Barroso said in prepared remarks at a business event co-sponsored by the European American Chamber of Commerce New York and Bloomberg LLP. A “living agreement” means trying to work toward the prevention of regulatory barriers, Barroso said. The U.S. had a deficit in goods trade with the European Union of $115.7 billion in 2012. So far in 2013 the deficit is running ahead of last year’s pace, according to U.S. government data. In the first two months of this year the EU sent $17.4 billion more in goods than it has received from the United
Jose Manuel Barroso States. Barroso noted that tariffs between the United States and the EU are low, with an average trans-Atlantic tariff of 5.2 percent for the EU and 3.5 percent for the United States. “Because of massive flows, even the slightest reduction has a considerable impact,” he said. “We will not be able to eliminate all regulatory divergences in one round,” he said. The euro area economy is expected to contract by 0.2
percent in 2013 before rebounding with a 1 percent growth rate in 2014, according to the latest estimate from the International Monetary Fund. In contrast, the U.S. economy is expected to grow 2 percent this year and 3 percent in 2014. Barroso said that fiscal stimulus alone will not pull the European Union’s economy, as a whole, out of its decline. “Trade is the cheapest way to promote growth,” he said. Earlier on Friday, euro zone finance ministers backed the 10 billion-euro bailout for Cyprus while the EC said it would try to help the island’s economy grow again with better use of EU structural funds. The EU is providing 9 billion euros while the IMF is contributing 1 billion euros. To cover its financing needs over three years, Cyprus will have to come up with 13 billion euros of its own, with the bulk of that sum coming from the closure of its Laiki bank and the restructuring of the Bank of Cyprus.
Christian Wulff
BERLIN (AP) — Prosecutors filed corruption charges yesterday against former German President Christian Wulff over alleged favors that prompted his resignation. It is the first time a former German president is facing charges in court. The move came after Wulff rejected an offer to settle his case for a fine, saying that he’d rather fight to clear his name in court, according to the dpa news agency. Wulff resigned in February 2012 following a
barrage of allegations, including that he accepted inappropriate favors when he was Lower Saxony’s governor before being elected president in 2010. The charges are related specifically to about 4,000 euros in hotel and entertainment costs allegedly paid by German film producer David Groenewold for Wulff and his family during a visit to Oktoberfest in Munich in 2008. Prosecutors allege Wulff then helped Groenewold try to raise support for a film project.
New state laws illustrate America’s stark divide on gun control (Reuters) - While Washington politicians battle over new gun-control measures, state legislators have already passed dozens of new firearms laws since the Newtown school massacre ignited a national debate in December. The new state laws, a small fraction of the 1,500 or so gun-related bills that have been proposed at state level, reflect the vast political and ideological differences in the debate over gun rights - a gulf that helps explain why lawmakers in Washington find it so difficult to reach a consensus on the issue. Several Democratcontrolled states have tightened their already tough gun laws, while a dozen Republican-leaning states have loosened the few restrictions they have on the constitutional right to bear
arms. The net effect has been to increase the disparities in the nation’s patchwork of gun laws, and widen the divide between urban areas where gun ownership is viewed with suspicion and rural regions where guns are firmly embedded in the culture. In New York, a new law authorizes police to track ammunition sales and prevents gun owners from buying ammunition magazines that hold more than seven bullets. Under a new Maryland law, gun buyers will have to be fingerprinted and licensed. In Connecticut, where the massacre of 20 young children and six teachers at Sandy Hook E l e m e n t a r y School in Newtown inspired the guncontrol legislation now before the U.S. Senate, those who
own high-capacity magazines will have to register with the state. In many southern and western states, however, legislators are moving in the opposite direction. Arkansas now allows guns in churches, bars and liquor stores. A new law in Wyoming allows judges to carry guns in their courtrooms. South Dakota school administrators will be able to arm teachers. State legislators have introduced more than 1,500 gun-related bills since January, according to the Sunlight Foundation. Roughly half of these new proposals would strengthen gun laws, while the other half would weaken them, the nonprofit group found. Of those, around 50 have been enacted into law.
(Reuters) - A panel of “wise men” named by Italy’s president proposed a package of political and economic reforms yesterday, but there was little sign they would bridge the gap between feuding parties caught in deadlock since elections in February. Italy has been left with a caretaker government for 45 days since the inconclusive elections gave no party enough seats in parliament to govern alone, while rivalries among faction leaders have made it all but impossible to agree a coalition. In an effort to overcome the divide, President Giorgio Napolitano, whose term ends in May, named a 10-man group last month to come up with policy proposals that could serve as the basis for a broad common platform.
The panel, which includes a former head of the Constitutional Court, a member of the Bank of Italy’s board and senior politicians, proposed a range of changes to Italy’s system of government. They said red tape should be slashed, the bloated political system cut back, administration simplified and tax collection made more efficient. Italy should also do more to help families hurt by the current recession and get more credit to small and medium-sized businesses, while sticking to fiscal austerity targets promised to European partners, the panel said. It called for a new electoral law to replace the widely criticised current system which helped to produce the current stalemate,
though it did not come up with a final recommendation for a replacement. “The decisions are now up to the political forces, and it will be up to my successor to draw the conclusions,” Napolitano said after meeting the group. The proposals, which have no legal force, differed little from a host of recommendations made by private economists, think tanks, industry associations and institutions including the Bank of Italy, as even some of the “wise men” acknowledged. Maurizio Mauro, a centrist politician on the panel, said he agreed with one assessment that the recommendations amounted to “reinventing the wheel” but defended the exercise nonetheless.
Italy “wise men” urge reform to help break political deadlock
Saturday April 13, 2013
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APNU wants police to speed up Another death investigations into “fuel theft” in Region six sentence commuted guilty. APNU is calling on the police to be brave and come forward with their findings. Crawford stated that his many attempts to raise the matter at the Regional Democratic Council meetings have been futile since it is not placed on the agenda and the Regional Chairman would close the meeting before they could raise the matter under any other business. The discrepancies were discovered in prior years and reflected in the Auditor General’s (AG) report for those years but reappeared in the 2011 AG report. The alleged “fuel theft” occurred between the years 2007 and 2008 and was addressed in the AG’s 2009 report. The sum of $345.248M in cheque orders which amounted to 889 missing cheques are still to be cleared. Those matters have been in existence since 1998 and the present outstanding number of missing cheque orders stands at 738 ,which still amounts to a whopping $274.8M.
Member of Parliament and PPP member on the PAC, Odinga Lumumba had stated at the PAC meeting that “lots of people seem to want to make these agencies their personal pocket piece and it got to stop.” He had called on the region to become sterner and to “find out who these people are and fire them because it looks bad on the government’s behalf.” Among the excuses given by the region were that all GUYOIL cheque orders under query for the years 2007 and 2008 respectively were taken to the Auditor General’s Office for the purpose of perusing and aiding the investigation of fuel theft at Whim. A Regional representative had also added that a flood last year resulted in some cheques being destroyed. The Region had also stated that the Commissioner of Police (Ag) Leroy Brumell had notified them that investigations are continuing and that a full report will follow the interim report submitted in January, which according to Crawford is a long time.
Death row inmate Colin Smart’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, yesterday by Chief Justice Ian Chang. Smart was represented by Attorney at Law George Thomas. He was initially incarcerated for robbery underarms. It was while in prison that Smart allegedly murdered follow inmate Raymond Sparman. In March 1996 he was convicted and sentenced to death, by then Chief Justice Cecil Kennard. His conviction was affirmed in May 1999 by the Court of Appeal. His lawyer on March 5, 2013 moved to the courts and filed an order nisi. According to the lawyer, the delay in carrying out this sentence is tantamount to inhumane and degrading treatment. Only last February, death row inmate Derrick Callender had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, while Safraz Rahim’s death sentence was quashed and replaced with a 10-year prison
tourism for the Amazon region, and focus on Guyana, Suriname and Brazil,” he said. Haralsingh acquiesced to the fact that as a country, Guyana also shares the common culture of the Caribbean. Also present at the interview was Mr. Ganesh Singh, owner and Manager of Corentyne River Tours (Cortours) who explained that the local company in Berbice, has established eco-tourist resorts at Orealla and Cow Falls up the Corentyne River to promote tourism in that area. According to Singh, travelling to the locations along the Corentyne River will allow the lucky few to experience the “peace and tranquility” of the tourism product there. ‘Showcase Environment ‘ The Environmental
Network of Trinidad and Tobago (ENT) was registered and launched in 2011. It is a company committed to promoting eco-tourism and conservation of natural environments in and around Trinidad and Tobago. This is when the first season of television’s “Showcase Environment” was born; the 13th episode features segments on wildlife, interviews with communities on conservation and hiking and scuba diving. The show has been hailed as the “Local National Geographic” by a wide cross section of the viewers. According to its Manager and producer, Heather-Dawn Herrera, organizers of the show are currently in talks with companies in the United Kingdom and Canada to have the show broadcast there.
The post mortem examination on the remains of 25 year-old John Darwin Mc Pherson strongly suggests that the man was tortured. According to a source close to the investigation, the examination revealed that Mc Pherson suffered blunt trauma to his head which suggested that he was struck repeatedly in the head. Muddy water was also found in the man’s lungs and nostrils, a clear indication that he was held under water for some time. He also sustained a fracture in the neck. Meanwhile, up to press time yesterday three men were still in police custody assisting with investigations. A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice on the way forward. On Wednesday, Mc Pherson’s relatives received information that he was beaten after allegations were made about him being
…”those responsible should be jailed” A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has upped its call for the police to speed up or say what is the status of the investigation concerning the issue of “fuel theft” that occurred in Region six and reflected in the Auditor General’s (AG) report. It was also the subject of a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting last month. The Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) came under fire at the latest Public Accounts Committee meeting as representatives were made to answer for over $24M in fuel and lubricants that could not have been accounted for. Also, it was found that the RDC could not account for $345M worth in outstanding cheque orders dating back to 1998. Lead APNU councilor of East Berbice Corentyne, Region Six, Kerwin Crawford, told the media that the AG findings are very serious and point to fraud. He said that it shows a bad reflection on Region Six and casts a dark
shadow on the regional administration. He said that his party is very concerned that time is going and there is no feedback on the status of the investigation. APNU is calling on the police to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute those found
Guyana is committed to sustainable development as it seeks to ensure that its resources remain for future generations. Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh made this bold assertion during an interview with Trinidadian Filming Crew from the Environmental Network, at the GTA Office in Sophia. The Filming Crew from a TV 6 programme, ‘Showcase Environment’, is in Guyana to film a series of mini documentaries for its scheduled OctoberDecember 2013 programme. The team visited the office of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and spoke with the Director about the drive to promote Sustainable tourism in Guyana. Haralsingh maintained that the driving force behind the sustainable development of the country is imbedded in the country’s National Development Strategy, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as well as in the hearts of every Guyanese. Alluding to Guyana’s ongoing participation in the Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC) and the country’s previous awards, he pointed to the importance of the prestigious recognition as a leader in sustainable tourism development. Guyana, so far, has been the only country to host the
STC twice. In addition, the country won three awards at the 2012 CTO Awards including the Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award. The GTA Director expressed the confidence that Guyana will once again emerge as top winners at STC 14 and will cart off awards for each of the five entries submitted. Haralsingh said, “Our winners help us to achieve our vision and to highlight what we are committed to doing naturally.” The GTA Director took the opportunity to highlight that Guyana has many attributes and qualities that the destination is taking advantage of including being the Land of the Giants, Land of Many Waters and Land of Six Peoples. Fielding questions on the advantage of Guyana’s geographical positioning as “the right ear of South America and the lower lip of the Caribbean”, Haralsingh said that the dual identity works for Guyana. He alluded to the advantages of being a part of the Amazon Co-operation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) and contributing to the sustainable development of the Amazon region, particularly through the circuit Manual of the Amazon Tourism Trail. “The formulation of the manual resulted directly from the involvement of ACTO’s move to develop integrated
Kerwin Crawford
Guyana emerging a leader in sustainable development- GTA
Man chops friend for not sharing his cocaine Clifton Lolawattie was chopped in his face for not sharing his stash of cocaine with his 41-year-old friend, Sherwin Pindar, of 294 West Ruimveldt. Yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court, Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry read the charge of unlawful wounding to Pindar who pleaded not guilty. On April 11, the defendant approached Clifton Lolawattie, of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara to take part in cocaine he was consuming at the time. Lolawattie refused and Pindar became highly annoyed. He drew a cutlass and chopped Lolawattie. Pindar was instructed to post a bond of $30,000 and his trial is due to start on April 24.
term. The judgments were handed down by Chief Justice Ian Chang. They were both represented by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos. Derrick Callender was charged with Gary Moses but was tried separately on indictments which accused them of killing 53-year-old Leila Barrow, at her David Street, Kitty, home between July 23 and July 24, 1993. The Appeal Court set aside the death sentence imposed on Moses and ordered him to stand a retrial. Derrick Callender was convicted and remained incarcerated for 20 years. He spent 17 of those on Death Row. Safraz Rahim was charged with murder on July 1, 2003 for killing a man on the West Bank of Demerara. Rahim had chopped a man to death after responding to a call for help from his s i s t e r- i n - l a w. H e w a s convicted and sentenced to death on June 5, 2005.
Slain gold miner … Post mortem found mud in victim’s lungs, fractured neck involved in the theft of a ‘mat’ with raw gold. Initially the man’s relatives were told that he was being brought out to the Bartica Hospital for medical attention but they subsequently received the news that he had succumbed to his injuries. The dead man’s girlfriend, Nikita Mootoo, had told this publication that he left his Plum Park, Sophia home on February 5, last, but that he would call home very often. She said that she last spoke with him on Tuesday evening and he expressed fear for his life. There are other reports that Mc Pherson’s friend may have used a gun to attack another mining camp and was reportedly caught. After being caught the man called Mc Pherson’s name resulting in him being attacked and beaten. Investigations are ongoing.
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Voir Dire continues in Rosignol murder trial A voir dire is being conducted in the Rosignol murder trial and Legal arguments are expected to continue on Monday when the trial of Ashton Lambert, of Mc Rae Street Rosignol, West Bank Berbice continues on in the Berbice High Court before Justice Dawn Gregory and a mixed jury. Lambert, 20, is accused of murdering Bharrat Thatpaul, 33, called “Sunil or Fineman” of 192 Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice on Tuesday February 22, 2011. This is the second voir dire in the matter with Justice Dawn Gregory ruling earlier on two preliminary arguments made previously by defence attorneys Murseline Bacchus and Perry Gosai who had raised some preliminary arguments before the opening statement. The arguments were subsequently responded to by prosecutor Dionne Mc Cammon. So far four witnesses have testified in the matter. In her opening address, prosecutor Mc Cammon told the court that on the day in question, Thatpaul, a cane cutter and taxi driver, Mohamed Razack, and one “Popo” were drinking at various spots on West Coast Berbice. They eventually ended up at a snackette on the Rosignol Stelling Road where an argument developed between Bharrat and another man during which time Bharrat was stabbed.
Bharat Thatpaul
Ashton Lambert
Thatpaul was picked up and taken to the Fort Wellington hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The first witness to testify was prosecution star witness, Mohamed Razack, who stated that on the day in question he, Thatpaul and one “Popo” started drinking since the afternoon at various spots on the West Coast Berbice until they ended up on the Rosignol stelling road where Thatpaul was stabbed around 02:30 hrs on his left shoulder not too far from the Old Rosignol Stelling. He testified to seeing the accused, Lambert committing, the act with a knife which he pulled out of the deceased shoulder and ran away. Next on the witness stand was the wife of the deceased, Omawatie Basdeo. She told the court that she left the house earlier in the day to pay her bills at Rosignol. She said
that she returned home around 17:30 hrs, but did not see her husband. She eventually went to bed. Sometime during the morning she heard her uncle calling. When she ventured outside he broke the sad news to her that her husband of six years was stabbed. She immediately left to go and investigate with her uncle on his bicycle, but they fell, and eventually ran the rest of the distance. Silvanie Heralall, an aunt of the deceased, testified to witnessing the Post Mortem which was conducted by Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The final witness was Rajbeer who stated that he was the barman on the night of the incident. He testified to seeing the men in an argument, but could not say what happen after. The trial continues on Monday.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand visited the Starter’s Nursery School, Georgetown, yesterday, to check on the new strategy of the ongoing registration of students. She said that the Ministry of Education is currently registering children who are eligible for the nursery and primary levels. The process is being conducted at various schools, making it a lot easier for the parents because they do not have to gather outside the Ministry of Education. She said that the policy is
that every child is entitled to a place in a primary or nursery school, nearest to their homes. However, if the parents are unhappy with the school that the child has been placed at or wish to have the child attend a school that might be closer to their working environment then they can make an appeal for their child to be placed in a school that is more convenient to them. This placement however, depends on the availability in the schools in that area because the children of that
area will have first preference. The child will be placed in a school that is closest to that area as long as there is accommodation. She also said that the Ministry is discouraging parents from “school shopping”, that is choosing the best school, because every school is supposed to be a good school that provides good results. Minister Manickchand encouraged the parents to get their children registered as soon as possible to avoid the September rush. (GINA)
Registrations now being done at schools
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MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 06:00hrs - Living Word presentation 06:30hrs - Peace Love & Harmony (live) 07:00hrs - Dabi’s bhajan Hour 07:30hrs - Times of Refreshing (live) 08:00hrs - Full Life Broadcast with Pastor Findlay 08:30hrs - News Update 09:30hrs - Living the Life 10:00hrs - Children Movie: Iron man of Technovare 12:00hrs - Cartoons 12:30hrs - Youth excel…with Ms. Diva 13:00hrs - National Geographic: Creatures of the deep
14:00hrs - National Geographic: Life at the Edge 15:00hrs - Payless Variety Show 16:00hrs - MTV Navratri Series 16:30hrs - Alabama Trading Music break 17:00hrs - Birthdays & other Greetings 17:15hrs - Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30hrs - Sitcom 18:00hrs - Searching the Scriptures with Devi Persaud 18:30hrs - Cabinet Briefing 19:00hrs - Apex Forum (Live) 20:15hrs - MTV music break 20:30hrs - Indian Movie: Tezz 22:00hrs - English Movie: Catch 44
Sign off DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. Back at the Barnyard 10:00 hrs. Fanboy and Chum Chum 11:00 hrs. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius 12:00 hrs. Prime News 13:00 hrs. Movie: Call of the Wild 14:30 hrs. Movie: The Toy 17:00 hrs. The Baptist Hour 18:00 hrs. World News 18:30 hrs. Nightly News 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Alliance on the Move (Live) 21:00 hrs. Indian Movie 00:00 hrs. Sign Off
Guides are subjected to change without notice
Saturday April 13, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You may be busy all day, but it probably feels good to be in perpetual motion. Thankfully, you can accomplish a lot, but unless you concentrate on what you’re doing today, you could stir up a commotion without completing anything. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): Your best plan is to continue working on a recently started project instead of throwing yourself into a new one that might lead to nowhere. GEMINI (May 21–June 20): Your thoughts and feelings rise to the surface once the evocative Moon returns to your sign this morning, and everyone can read you like an open book. CANCER (June 21–July 22): You are eager to follow your emotions all over the map ... but leading with your feelings won’t make you any happier today. Actually, it may even have a negative effect if you get caught up in unnecessary drama. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): Your friends may be the source of more information than you need to know today. However, once you learn something, you are quick to integrate it with your evolving perspective. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Your current dilemma stems from simply being too busy. You know what you must do, but you cannot find the time to focus your attention as one thing after another distracts you from your routine.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Visions of exotic places drift in and out of your imagination today. Perhaps you are overdue for some vacation time, or maybe you just long for a quick getaway to recharge your batteries. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Although your thoughts start to brighten today, you aren’t ready to give up on uncovering the hidden meaning of life. Anything that stirs up your curiosity can quickly become the subject of a more intense investigation. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): The evocative Moon opposes your Sun sign now, reflecting your feelings on a variety of relationships in your life. This introspective awareness impacts both personal and professional associations as you integrate the events of the past few days. CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): A jittery feeling washes over you in waves today and you aren’t quite sure what to do with this sensation. You can’t easily shake it off now, although your anxiety might motivate you into action. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): Your life takes a turn for the better today as the intense transits of the past week begin to wane. Meanwhile, the Moon is visiting airy Gemini, helping you reclaim your old familiar bounce. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): The chatter of your own mind can make you feel a bit on edge today, but don’t let your attempts at rationalization pull you off your creative course.
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Hand in Hand on board as DCB second division club cricket competition resumes After a two years absence from rendering sponsorship, the Hand in Hand group of Companies have once again acquiesced to the renewal of a previous commitment to support cricket and yesterday afternoon, handed over a cheque to facilitate the successful staging of the 2013 Demerara Cricket Board 40overs Second Division Club Cricket Competition which gets underway this weekend at grounds countrywide. More than one hundred local cricket teams will vie for honours in what is expected
to be a highly competitive and action packed tournament. Yesterday afternoon Director and Fire Manager of the Hand in Hand Group of Companies, Howard Cox, joined the principals of the Demerara Cricket Board in the boardroom of his Avenue of the Republic offices including his Human Resource/Admin Manager, Zaida Joaquin, and handed over the requisite sponsorship cheque to the President of the Demerara Cricket Board, Raj Singh. Several other executives of the DCB were also present
All set for Bush Lot United... From page 36 Shariff racing stable, Inshan Bacchus Business Enterprise, Trans Pacific Motor Establishment, Rohit Lumber yard, Hot and Spicy Food Beverages, Hand In Hand Insurance, Buddy Shivraj, Shano Seenarine, Digicel, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) and Lakeram “Buddy” Sukhdeo among others. Top individual performers including top jockey, stable and trainer will be presented with trophies compliments of the organisers. Interested persons can still make enquiries with Coordinator and Treasurer Lakeram B. Sukhdeo on Number 232-0558 or 672-0810 or president and President R. Jagit (tel 232-0231). Race time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
at the ceremony including Marketing Manager, Ray Persaud, Treasurer, Anand Kalladeen and Mr. Cox said that his company was pleased to resume the sponsorship deal they have acquiesced to for more than 3 decades. He said that over those years he has observed the tournament as it grew in stature. He then urged the organizers to continue in the same vein even as he wished them well. Meanwhile, Mr. Singh expressed gratitude to the Hand in Hand executives while acknowledging the input of the company, “It has contributed to the competition which I consider to be the most widely played cricket tournament in the county of Demerara,” said Mr. Singh. He further stated that the tournament has played a major role in producing most of the national cricketers emerging out of the counties. He said that Hand-inHand may very well be the longest standing sponsor of cricket and “The Demerara
DCB President, Raj Singh gratefully accepts the sponsorship cheque from Ms Zaida Joaquin in the presence of Mr. Cox (3rd L), Anand Kalladeen and Ray Persaud (extreme L&R) respectively. Cricket Board is very proud to be associated with this responsible corporate citizen.” Teams from the four area associations will compete for championship honours including those from the East Coast Demerara Cricket Association, West Demerara CricketAssociation, Georgetown Cricket Association and East Bank Demerara Cricket Association. They will receive impressive trophies and prize
money, while the sponsors will pick up the tab for the balls and umpires’ fees. There will also be incentives for the best sports journalist covering the event. Further, the finals will be contested under lights at a venue to be determined while the preliminary rounds will be played in the various area associations on a knockout basis. Earlier, just before that
ceremony, Ray Persaud represented the DCB and handed over the prizes to the winners of the just concluded U-15 and U-19 tournaments. Georgetown has won the former tournament while West Demerara has won the latter. Ray Persaud collected the trophy for the U-15 team, while Travis Persaud received the trophy on behalf of the U-19 players. (Michael Benjamin)
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Guyana Boxing Board of Control ‘Firestorm’... By Michael Benjamin Guyanese boxing buffs lamenting the paucity of qualitative boxing cards locally will be able to quench those desires when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) presents a 5 fight card, dubbed ‘Firestorm’ at the Princess Hotel, Providence EBD April 20 next. Already, tongues are
Kaieteur News
Saturday April 13, 2013
Jamaican, Sakima Mullings adding ‘Fiah’ to ‘Firestorm’ as fight night nears wagging as pundits gear up for the action which includes two international titles with Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman taking on Jamaican, Sakima Mullings coupled with the main supporting bout where Clive Atwell will match gloves with Venezuelan, Raphael Hernandez for the vacant WBCCABOFE featherweight title. Then there is the highly anticipated bout between Mark Austin and the
undefeated Gladwin Dorway for the local the local welterweight belt. Elton ‘The Bully’ Dharry was scheduled to put his bantamweight title on the line against Hewley Robinson in a 12 rounds scrap but the latter boxer sustained a serious shoulder injury which has since ruled him out. Organizers have promised that Dharry will be offered a replacement but is still to
finalize such arrangements. Maybe the fight, or should that be the fighter, that has created the most interest is the super/middleweight bout between Syrian boxer, Mahmood ‘The Extractor’ Loul and Berbician, Derick Richmond. The former pugilist, former kick boxer, has had a dream start to his boxing career with a crushing first round knockout of Patrick Boston. He has since
Sakima Mullings
Howard Eastman
promised to replicate that feat and his training sessions certainly endorse his ambitions. On the other hand, Richmond has shrugged off Mahmood’s dreams as just that and promised to take the bout ‘by any means necessary.’ Mullings attracted the attention of Guyanese fans when he carved out a 5th round stoppage of Winston Pompey at the Auditorio Karl Hendrickson, Kingston, Jamaica in June 2011. The Jamaica was not so lucky in his next fight and he dropped a points decision to Rikardo Smith. He has record of knocking out 6 of his opponents. A relatively young professional boxer, Mullings’ biggest achievement to date is the Commonwealth Boxing Council Zonal Middleweight title he won last year. However, the Jamaican national has never fought outside of the Island and Eastman will obviously feel that he can win on experience. Mullings is also an academic with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance, an accolade he procured from the State University of New York. However, he has postponed his advancement
in his academic life to concentrate on his boxing career. In an exclusive interview with Jamaican, Denise Dennis, Career & Education staff reporter, Mullings described boxing as a business at the top level than a sport. “So I could be a better fighter than another individual, but another fighter will get more fights than me because you can say he is more marketable or he can sell more tickets. With good management and promotion he could avoid me, so it’s usually not the best who is the champion.” Notwithstanding, Mullings believe that his ability can finally see him clinching a top spot in the sport. “My coach always tells me, that a boxer can’t be denied if he continues to win; the top guys could only go around you for so long.” He believes that the Eastman might just epitomize this view. The winner takes home the World Boxing Council Caribbean Boxing Federation (WBACABOFE) and the World Boxing Association Fede Caribe (WBAFEDCAR) welterweight belts plus bragging right and a chance to move up in the world rankings.
Powerade cycle race set for Sunday April 21 on the Westside National Cycling Coach, Hassan Mohamed MS has organized the Second Powerade 50 Miles Cycle Road Race on Sunday, April 21, 2013 on the West Bank of Demerara. The race will commence at 08:00hrs from Wales Police Station, proceed to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish. The Veteran, Mountain Bikers and Female will turn back at Uitvlugt Community Centre and finish at the Harbour Bridge.
The First (6) finishers, (3) juniors, (3) veteran, (3) mountain bikers, (3) females, First Veteran O– 60 yrs will all receive prizes. (8) Prime Prizes are also to be won during the course of the race. Outdoor Manager of Banks DIH, Mr. Mortimer Stuart and other staff members will be on hand to distribute the prizes to the winning participants. The defending champs are 2012 Winners - Jude Bentley - Senior - 1 H r / 54Mins/55.60Secs.; Michael Anthony- Junior and Talim Shaw - Veteran.
Saturday April 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
US based Linden ‘Sancho’ Alphonso donates balls for LABA Secondary Schools C/ships
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LABA Secondary Schools U-19 b/ball C/ship...
Defending champ LTI battle Christianburg Wismar in Monday’s opener - Statisticians clinic set for today at MSC
Ms Yvonne Alphonso (left) hands over the balls to an official recently in Linden. The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) continues to receive support for the staging of this year’s 9th Linden Secondary Schools Under -19 basketball championship. This time a donation of two balls to be used during the competition was handed over by Ms Yvonne Alphonso, who presented the tournament balls on behalf of United states based Linden Alphonso, who sent
the balls to assist in the successful staging of this year’s championships, which bounces off on Monday and will end on May 1 at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. The competing schools are the defending champions Linden Technical Institute, Mackenzie High, Christianburg Wismar Secondary, New Silvercity, Linden Foundation Secondary and Wisburg Secondary Schools.
Champions League returns to India
ESPNcricinfo - The Champions League T20 2013 will be held in India from September 17 to October 6 and there will be no team from England in the tournament. The West Indian champions, who had to play Qualifiers in the last two editions, will feature in the main draw. The schedule, announced on Friday, has ten teams split in two groups, with the top two in each group making the semi-finals. Eight teams have been seeded directly into the main competition and will be joined by two of the four qualifiers. One of those qualifiers is the Pakistan side Faisalabad Wolves, who recently won the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup; their participation in the tournament will be interesting given the fragile diplomatic and sporting ties between India and Pakistan. Trinidad & Tobago find a place in the main draw, after
sustained public pressure following strong performances in previous seasons. They had finished runners-up in the inaugural edition in 2009, but had to play the qualifying round in 2011 and 2012. The ECB’s announcement that no teams from England will take part in this year’s competition has opened up slots for other domestic teams. Group A: IPL 1st ranked team (India), Highveld Lions (South Africa), Perth Scorchers (Australia), IPL 3rd ranked team (India), Q1 (Qualifier) Group B: IPL 2nd ranked team (India), Titans (South Africa), Brisbane Heat (Australia), Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies), Q2 (Qualifier) Qualifier: IPL 4th ranked team (India), Otago Volts (New Zealand), Sri Lanka qualifier, Faisalabad Wolves (Pakistan)
LABA Organising Secretary Ashton Angel (Jr.) (left) and 2nd left is LABA vice president Abdulla Hamid addresses participants at the launching if the tournament. This year ’s Linden Secondary Schools Under-19 basketball championships will bounce Monday with one game between defending champions Linden Technical Institute and Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary ‘Multi’ at 16:00hrs at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard court which follows an opening ceremony where top officials are expected to be present. On Wednesday the tournament was launched at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) building where the tournament rules and fixtures were distributed to the contesting schools Linden Technical Institute, Wisburg, Christianburg Wismar Secondary, New Silvercity Secondary, Mackenzie High and Linden Foundation Secondary. Double headers are set for the entire week ahead as next Tuesday in the first game at 14:30hrs; New Silvercity Secondary play Wisburg
Secondary and that will be followed with the second at contest at 16:00hrs with Mackenzie High against Linden Foundation Secondary, while on Wednesday Linden Technical Institute oppose New Silvercity Secondary in the first game and the second is between Christianburg Wismar Secondary and Linden Foundation Secondary. On Thursday game one Mackenzie High take on Wisburg and Linden Foundation Secondary plays Linden Technical Institute, while next Friday Christianburg Wismar Secondary will clash with Wisburg in game one and the second is between New Silver City Secondary and Mackenzie High. The remaining playing days are; Monday 22nd April, Wednesday 24, Friday 26th and the semifinals on Monday 29th April with the
grand final on Wednesday 1at May at the tournament venue the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. The rules of the tournament were discussed in-depth with Vice President of the LABA Abdulla Hamid stressing the importance for schools to adhere to the procedures and looked at a number of issues raised by the attending representatives. Organising Secretary of LABA Ashton Angel red out the fixtures during the hectic five consecutive playing days in the first week of action due to the delayed start for this year’s championship, which was unavoidable after having to source the uniforms for the schools which were done locally after Two Brothers gas Station and Slingerz FC came forward to fund this aspect of the tournament. Senior Physical Education Officer of the Ministry of Education Lindley Langhorne
was also present and outlined the importance of discipline and what the organizers went through in ensuring that the championship is played this year. According to Langhorne the schools must instill discipline in their players to be on time because of the packed schedule as the organizers were pressed for time and as such all should be cognizant of what their expectations are. He said the LABA after encountering difficulties with acquiring the uniforms from overseas went after local sponsors to make sure that the tournament was not cancelled and have the uniforms available, and for this the association must be commended. He emphasized that discipline and respect for time will be the watch words for all. Meanwhile, two persons from each of the participating schools are expected to attend a statisticians’ clinic from 12:00hr to 16:00hrs at the Mackenzie Sports Club Pavilion today as the LABA seeks to train more officials for the championship knowing that several individual prizes are at stake in this championship and there is need for more officials, in addition to those from the complement of officials available from the association to run the event. Each school has been asked to ensure that those chosen are not players in the tournament. The schools uplifted their uniforms yesterday afternoon.
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Sunrisers stumble across the line in low-scorer ESPNcricinfo - Delhi Daredevils fought in the field after a meek showing with the bat, but Sunrisers Hyderabad prevailed in a low-scorer at the Feroz Shah Kotla, as Dale Steyn hit the winning runs with four balls to spare, after having been the Daredevils’ chief antagonist during their innings. The hosts’ spinners
brought their side into the game by making regular breakthroughs in a tight middle spell, but in the end Daredevils’ 114 proved to be too few, despite the pitch having slowed considerably since their time in the middle. Steyn’s outstanding opening spell was the catalyst for Daredevils’ collapse, even
Georgetown Masters Footballers preparing for overseas tourney with practice game today The Georgetown Masters Football Club will continue their preparations for a visit to Barbados during May month to participate in a tournament there. They are set to face a Brazilian team in a practice game from 7:00pm tonight at the Georgetown Football Club ground, Bourda and their preparations heat up. Several other games are scheduled before the team leave for their Bajan outing. The Georgetown team will come from Shawn O’Neil, Stanford Miller, Andrew Brite, Anthony Stanton,
Patrick Vincente, Mark Cox, Terrence Lewis, Lloyd Smith, Dexter Wiles, Wayne St Jules, Ronald Baker, James Turpin, Clifford Ruffino, Renwick Solomon, Lionel Grimes, Dexter Cort and Sheldon Bobb with Michael Layne the Coach and Manager Charles Greaves. Some of the Brazilians squaring off against them tonight are: Jefferson Santos, Frank Lima, Diego Santos, Max Ramos, Anderson Batister, Volie Kronebuer, Pablioto Hernandes, Batos DeGeo, Sellas DeLimas and Jovani Kronebuer.
if Ishant Sharma finished with more wickets from the early overs. Steyn cramped David Warner for space with three fast, swinging, good length balls in the first over, before Warner attempted to break the shackles by going over mid-on, only to mistime the ball and offer a simple catch to the fielder there. While Steyn proved difficult to get away at one end, Mahela Jayawardene and Virender Sehwag targeted Sharma’s overs in order to establish some impetus, and they perished in consecutive balls in the fifth over, both attempting expansive strokes. The three big, early wickets worked to slow Daredevils’ progress, and the middle order batted tentatively, though often not safely. When Johan Botha cut one straight to point at the end of the 9th over, Daredevils were crawling at less than five an over, and they could not surge far beyond five an over at any stage in their innings. Amit Mishra bowled his four overs for 15 runs and took one wicket, and Thisara Perera broke the longest
partnership of the innings - a 30-run stand between Irfan Pathan and Kedar Jadhav before it could do his side much harm, but it was Steyn who returned to sting Daredevils at the death, and he finished with deserved figures of 2 for 11 from his full quota. Sunrisers had a solid enough base at the top of the chase, and the 44-run secondwicket stand between Parthiv Patel proved invaluable, given the wobble that followed. Reasoning that only an aggressive approach would see him defend such a paltry score, Jayawardene maintained a slip throughout the innings, and brought men into the circles in the middle overs to cut off the singles as well as function as catching fielders. The ploy worked through the middle overs, as they claimed four wickets for 25 runs, in 40 deliveries. Parthiv first offered a simple leading edge to bowler Shahbaz Nadeem, misjudging one that stopped on the pitch, before Sangakkara, who had played some sublime strokes in the early overs, edged to slip
Amit Mishra made an impact with bat and ball for Sunrisers © BCCI
attempting a late cut. Cameron White then charged Nadeem in the 14th over, and missed the ball by a distance, to find himself stumped, before Hanuma Vihari stroked Morne Morkel to mid-off, attempting to clear the tight infield. But their total was so low, Sunrisers only needed busy mini-partnerships to near it, and they kept their heads above water with runs that came in spurts. Ashish Reddy
hit 16 from 9, and Mishra remained unbeaten on 16, to guide the chase home, with three wickets remaining. The Daredevils slid to their fourthstraight defeat, still waiting to open their account in the tournament. Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 115 for 7 (Sangakkara 28, Mishra 16*) beat Delhi Daredevils 114 for 8 (Jadhav 30*, Steyn 2-11) by three wickets.
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Riverton Suites sponsors Upper Corentyne Cricket Association U-19 tourney
Saturday April 13, 2013
Ansa McAl/Stag Beer outfits Seawall Football Club
UCCA President Dennis D’Andrade (right) accepts the sponsorship from Dr. Pooran Seepersaud while other officials look on. Dr. Pooran Seepersaud, proprietor of Hotel Riverton Suites and founder president of UCCA, said he was please to be on board to assist in the development of youth cricket in the Upper Corentyne area as the business house offered its support for an Under-19 tournament. Dr. Seepersaud also pledged his support to the UCCA and mentioned that he will also be on board for the next three years in sponsoring the Under-19 tournament in the Upper Corentyne area. Special mention was made of the winner’s trophy which will be dedicated in memory of his late father-in-law Dr. B. Persaud who was well involved in cricket in his time. At the presentation ceremony the UCCA president Mr. Dennis D’Andrade thanked Hotel Riverton Suites for coming on board with this much needed sponsorship and mentioned that the tournament will also be used to select Upper Corentyne Under-19 teams in the future. Mr. Bharosay, Treasurer of UCCA also thanked Dr. P. Seepersaud for the sponsorship and commitment shown to assist in the development of youth cricket in the Upper Corentyne area. Mr. Bharosay also mentioned that the reason the tournament will start in July is to facilitate students now preparing to write CXC exams in May/June and not to distract them in any way.
Kenneth Thomas, Vice President of the Seawall FC receives the uniforms from Stag Brand Rep. John Maikoo, while club players Darvis Garraway and Travis Begs look on. The players of the Seawall Football Club of Pouderoyen, West Coast Demerara were all smiles yesterday as they were outfitted with full football uniforms compliments of Stag. The Seawall Club recently participated in the West Demerara Senior League Football tournament which was sponsored by Stag and it was brought to the attention of the sponsors that the Club needed assistance. In the simple presentation, held at ANSA McAl Trading Ltd Office, Beterverwagting,
E.C.D, Brand Representative of Stag, John Maikoo, said that, “We are happy to be able to assist the development of football and its players from start to finish by providing the players with the necessary gears, to sponsoring tournaments to developing the grounds where the sport is played.” The Seawall Football Club has been in existence for 10 years and the players said that they welcome the donation as it comes at a time when it is much needed.
Roraima Bikers Club to stage Caribbean Int’l Distributors race meet at Seawall Bandstand The Roraima Bikers Club & Caribbean International Distributors Inc. have teamed up to stage the “Blue Life Water” cycle race meet tomorrow, Sunday April 14 at the Seawall Bandstand Circuit starting at 10:00am. A number of races have been organised and attractive cash prizes will be awarded to the outstanding performers. The categories include 12-14YRS/ Juveniles/ Females over 3 laps; Juniors / Cat 4 (5 laps) Categories 1-3 (5 laps) and prize money features: $5,000, to $2,000 payouts. Veterans Under-50yrs (5 laps), Veterans Over-50yrs (5 laps), Win and out (open) -8 laps carry similar prizes as above. Points Race (open) will see the top finishers claiming $6,000 to $3,000 rewards, while the Mountain Bikes (open)-5 laps and BMX (open) – 3 laps have $4,000 to $2,000 prizes. The Feature event (open) 30 laps race will see the top six collecting $12,000, $9,000, $7,000, $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000 payouts. Ten Sprint Prizes of $1,000 each will also be on offer during this race.
Brian Allen (right) of Roraima Bikers Club collects the sponsorship from Caribbean International Distributors Inc. official Ryan Chung.
STSC to hold Dominoes competition tomorrow The South Turkeyen Sports Committee will be hosting a 12 team Dominoes competition in honour of Johnny Barnwell (67th) and Kevin Mingo Birth Anniversaries tomorrow at Belladrum West Coast Berbice commencing at 11:00hrs. The winner, runner up and third place teams will receive trophies and cash prizes
which are being donated by the Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Trophy Stall Bourda Market, Joseph Harmon, Vidya Lewis, Ken Phillips, Denzil Junior, Alfred Mentore, Campton Babb and Lennox Cush of Star Party Rentals. The organisers are Johnny Barnwell and Aubrey Fraser.
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GRFU starts preparations for Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Memorial Schools Football Competition NACRA 15’s Men’s c/ship today MHS, LFSS latest teams to register wins The new Executives of the GRFU met on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the Guyana Olympic Association to discuss matters pertaining to Rugby Season 2013. Several administrative and financial matters were also discussed and a new Organizing Committee was formed. The Committee will be meeting every week to plan the upcoming local and international matches. Already, three (3) games have been scheduled: Firstly, on Saturday (today), April 13, 2013 from 16:00 hours at the National Park Rugby
Field, the President XV (Coach T. Henry) will charge against the Vice-President XV (Coach K. Stuart) after which a training squad will be short listed for the NACRA senior men’s 15s Caribbean championships against Barbados on the Saturday, May 18, 2013 in Guyana which they are looking to secure a championship on home soil. Those short listed will be involved in rugby skills and fitness drills and all players are asked to be on the field at 15:00 hours sharp.
Mackenzie High School goalscorers Qualon Andries, Akeem Higgins and Rolex John pose for a photo op following victory over Marcia Craig’s Educational Institute. Mackenzie High School (MHS) defeated Marcia Craig’s Educational Institute 3-1 as play in this year’s Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Memorial Schools Football Competition continued on Thursday, at the Wisburg School Ground. In a match that saw both sides squandering many excellent chances, Mackenzie High were able to hammer three goals past their opponent’s custodian to claim the full three points and move closer to a semi-final berth. Here are the scores: Game 1 Linden Foundation Secondary School (LFSS) gained a walkover from New Silvercity Secondary School.
Thirdly, on Saturday, June 1, 2013, NACRA senior men’s 15s Caribbean championships will see Guyana play against Trinidad and Tobago in Trinidad. The matches are significantly supported by the GRFU, which sees it as a key strategic development opportunity for Rugby in the country. The scheduled matches will help the
Union to take a closer look at the development of the elite players as they look towards Rugby in the future. All are urged to come out and support the two teams on Saturday (today), April 13, 2013 from 16:00 hours at the National Park Rugby Field as they vie for their selection on the National Squad. Expect a competitive and exciting match!
Mathias wins GFF Presidency Christopher Mathias
Christopher Mathias survived three stiff rounds of voting to eventually amass 11 votes to defeat his nearest rival, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major to ascend to the presidential seat of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) when football affiliates convened at the Le Meridian last evening to elect a president to serve for the next two years. Ivan Persaud was the first presidential casualty when he
only managed 1 vote and was booted out in the first round. He rebounded to clinch the Vice Presidency by a close 98 margin over Aaron Fraser. King was ousted in the second round of voting which had Mathias and Major at a dead heat of 6-6 votes apiece. It was during the final round of voting that Matthias sped away with the landslide 11-6. Meanwhile, former national player and Top XX
FC captain, Collie Hercules garnered 11 votes and clinched the other Vice President position for the next 4 years while Ralston Adams gained 10 votes and sealed off the last Vice President slot; he will serve for the next 4 years. Keith O’Jeer had accepted nominations for several executive positions and finally clinched an executive committee membership as had Women’s Association President, Vanessa Dickenson, who sealed off the last position of executive committee members. Both individuals will serve for the next four years. This concludes weeks of fervent campaigning by the candidates and the ball is now in the new executives’ court to ensure that football develops in the way it ought to.
Game 2 Marcia Craig’s Educational Institute 1-3 Mackenzie High School Scorers Qualon Andries (MHS) – 5th Min. Tevin Thompson (MCEI) – 7th Min. Akeem Higgins (MHS) – 24th Min. Rolex John (MHS) – 45th Min. Play continues on Tuesday 16th with one match, at the Wisburg School Ground. Harmony Secondary School will match skills with C/Burg Wismar Secondary School as both teams try to gain maximum points towards a semifinal berth. Game time is 14:30 hrs.
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Sukhpaul Business Enterprise on board Hamilton on the mend as tires take a beating for Upper Corentyne 20/20 cricket
Swarendra Sukhpaul (Suren) at left and Rajendra Sukhpaul, third left, hands over the sponsorship amount to Dennis D’Andrade, while executives and others share the moment. Cricketers on the Upper Corentyne will soon be in action with the playing off of a one day 20/20 cricket competition for teams in the area. Recently the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) received sponsorship from the Sukhpaul Business Enterprise, with business throughout Berbice, for sponsorship of the Mohabir
Baljeet Sukhpaul (Beto) Memorial 20/20 cricket competition. The tournament which is sponsored Mr. Swarendra Sukhpaul (Suren) and Mr. Rajendra Sukhpaul, sons of the late Mohabir Baljeet Sukhpaul, is organized by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association. The one day tournament will be played on Sunday April 28 at the Skeldon
Community Centre Ground. The day’s activity will be played in memory of the late businessman who passed away on March 29, 2012. The teams involved will be the four zone winners in the Upper Corentyne area from the current forty over competition now being played. The Trophies and sponsorship cheque to the tune of $155,000 was handed
over to the President of the UCCA Mr. Dennis D’Andrade at a simple presentation ceremony held at the Sukhpaul’s Gas Station in Corriverton. Speaking at the ceremony Mr. D’Andrade thanked the Sukhpaul family for their continued support of sports, community, youth and educational activity, noting that the late businessman was an integral part of activities on the Upper Corentyne. He said he was happy that the family decided to choose cricket as a venture to invest in and the UCCA to organize the activity which will be in the form of a one day 20/20 cricket extravaganza. The action starts at 9:00hrs.The winner will receive $20,000 and a trophy, runner up $10,000 and a trophy. There will also be trophies for the man-of-thematch in all the games. All proceeds from activity including gates, drinks and food rights will go towards the development of cricket in the Upper Corentyne Area. The Upper Corentyne Cricket Steering Committee was formed December, 2012 and the members are: Mr. Dennis D’Andrade President, Sydney Jackman -Vice President, Winston Roberts Secretary, Vicky Bharosay Treasurer, Mr. Krishna Rengasammy Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. The committee members are Mr. Chatterpaul Lionel, Ramnarine Dowlat, Lynden Murray, Aftab Aliahmad and Krishnand Jaichand. (Samuel Whyte)
Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain. REUTERS/ Samsul Said
SHANGHAI (Reuters) Lewis Hamilton went from sick to quick at the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday only to find his tires were falling apart. The two free practice sessions marked the season debut of Pirelli’s quickwearing soft tires and, while Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and Lotus found them to their liking, Hamilton was of the opposite opinion. “My tire was the worst I’ve ever experienced. There were bits flying off it all over the place. It didn’t last long,” said the Mercedes driver, who had retired to his hotel with an allergy on Thursday. “It (the soft) doesn’t feel like the right tire for this circuit. I did a couple of laps and the tire disintegrated. It was quite unusual,” the 2008 Formula One champion told reporters. Mercedes were one-two at the top of the timesheets, with Nico Rosberg leading, in a morning session that saw only the medium compound used.
The soft told a different story with Rosberg, last year’s winner in Shanghai, fourth in the afternoon and Hamilton seventh while Massa was fastest. Hamilton said he had felt a little uncomfortable in the car. “We made a change going into free practice two with the brakes and there was a big difference, a positive step, and I’m hoping we can make some more steps like that just to make feel more comfortable in the car,” he explained. Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said degradation had been in line with expectations on the medium tire but not the soft, with big differences between the two. “We’d expect the soft tire to last between 11 to 12 laps in the race and the medium tire for about 18 laps,” he added. “This would suggest a maximum of three pit stops but it’s also possible that we’ll see two stops if the track keeps on evolving at this rate.”
All set for Bush Lot United Turf Club grand horserace meet tomorrow All systems are in place and all roads lead to the Bush Lot United Turf Club, Sea View Park, Bush Lot West Coast Berbice tomorrow for the entity’s grand One day Horserace meet. The venue is in excellent shape following renovation works to the Grand Stand, the track, the sanitary facilities the scale house and paddock, while more stables have been added along with running water facilities being improved. With a whopping $6.5M in cash and prizes up for grabs and over 70 entries received an action packed and scintillating day of racing is anticipated. Seven races are listed on the cards with a number of feature events listed to be contested including races for D, F G and the race for four and three year old Guyana bred maiden horses being the top drawing cards. The events on the card are the feature event for D class horses with a top purse of $500,000 and trophy at stake over 1600M. The F and lower race winning prize is $360,000 and trophy over 1400M. There is a race for three and four year old maiden animals bred and born in Guyana for
$400,000 and trophy over 1200M. The G and lower matchup for a pole position reward of $250,000 and trophy is also over 1200M. The event for ‘I’ and lower animals is over 1200M for a winner’s take of $240,000 and trophy. The final two events are the J class event over 1000M for a winning take of $180,000 and trophy and the K and lower gallop over 1200M for a reward of $140,000 and trophy. Some of the horses expected to be on show include Got To Go, Diamond Dazzling, Swing Easy, Fresh Again, Ameera’s Joy, Karina, Red Cloud, Damascus Dream, Embalm My Heart, Red and Lovely, Flying Baby, Funny Factor, Feels Like Gold , Technology, Home Bush Baby, Third World, Top Of the Line, Cat Messiah, Captain Crook, Serenity, Roxona, Mary Ann, Royal Intention, Silent Lizzy, Wild Grinder, Gold Rush, Little Tip Top, Pixie Fire and Mona Lisa among others which included a number of new imports. The sponsorship line-up includes the Guyana Tourism Authority, Banks DIH Limited Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff of the (Continued on page 29)
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t r o Sp
Miller, Brown bowl Jamaica to 215 runs win over Guyana Its all over. Number 11 Leon Joseph is bowled by Brown to formalize the Jamaican victory.
295, five-time defending Baugh, clearly disturbed Fudadin nicked one to stand- by Miller for 70 (5x4). His ground, Windward Islands champions Jamaica resumed by the dismissal, slammed in wicketkeeper Brenton innings lasted 218 minutes defeated Leeward Islands by 9 wickets on the third day. Left arm spinner Nikita the day on their overnight his bat into the ground then P a r c h m e n t o f f D a v i d and 174 balls. Miller and leg spinner Odean total of 183-5 and extended went down on his knees Bernard Jr before Leon Miller then had Steven Windwards reached their Brown shared eight wickets their innings to one hour and before making his way to the Johnson and Narsingh Jacobs caught for 12 at 143 winning target of 23-1 after between them to hand forty-five minutes into the pavilion. Deonarine resurrected the before Devendra Bishoo restricting Leewards for 158 Jamaica a 215 run win over first session before rain His innings which was Guyanese innings somewhat (01) made no attempt to play in their second innings. Guyana on day 3 in their disrupted play which finally the corner stone of Jamaica’s by adding 43 for the third at a delivery from Brown and Keiron Powell made 51 and Devon Thomas 28 for West Indies Cricket Board saw the declaration come at total, came off 143 balls and wicket; Guyana went to tea was leg before at 144. Regional 4 day tournament 11:15 hours at 257 for eight. included nine fours and one at 59-2 with Johnson on 30 Miller who maintained a Leewards as Liam Sebastien yesterday at the Guyana Carlton Baugh Jr and six. and Deonarine on 02. consistent line and length captured 5-30 and Shane N a t i o n a l S t a d i u m , Jermaine Blackwood took Nikita Miller (08) was A f t e r t h e i n t e r v a l , then accounted for Rajendra Shillingford 3-45. Providence. their overnight 96-run the other batsman to be Guyana lost Deonarine who Chandrika (05) without Scores: LEEWARDS Miller grabbed 4-49 partnership to 138 before dismissed for eight before failed to read a googly from addition to the score, before 129 (Kieran Powell 51, from 25 overs and Brown Blackwood, who played the the declaration. Steven Brown and skied a return Permaul, who pulled Brown Sylvester Joseph 33; Shane claimed 4-54 from 25.3 supporting role to Baugh lost Jacobs bagged 4-61 and catch with the score on 70. to the mid wicket boundary, Shillingford 7-45, Garey overs to restrict Guyana his leg stump to Steven Veerasammy Permaul 3- 64. Leon Johnson, who was caught at mid on off the Mathurin 2-38) and 158 whose batsmen, with the Jacobs for 57. GUYANA VICTORY HUNT pulled Tamar Lambert to said bowler for 06 at 150. (Kieran Powell 51, Devon exception of Leon Johnson His fifty came off 113 Guyana run chase got off to mid wicket and drove Miller Brown then performed the Thomas 28; Liam Sebastien 5and to a lesser extent balls and contained three a bad start when Assad to mid off for boundaries, final rights by up rooting the 30, Shane Shillingford 3-45) Narsingh Deonarine, lacked fours. Fudadin played across the soon brought up his half stumps of Keon Joseph for W I N D WA R D S 2 6 8 commitment and Baugh, who dispatched line and was leg before to century which contained 01 leaving Ronsford Beaton application, for 155 in 75.3 the Guyanese bowlers to all Andrew Richardson for 03 three fours off 126 balls. unbeaten on 04. Andrew (Liam Sebastien 93, Shane overs after they were set 370 parts of the ground and just before lunch with the With the score on 118, Richardson (1-12) and Shillingford 42, Garey for victory; play was seemingly set for his thirteen score on 6. Bramble (18) edged Miller David Bernard Jnr (1-15) Mathurin 30; Yannick extended by half an hour. first-class century, was run out A f t e r t h e b r e a k , to first slip where Danza were the other wicket takers Leonard 4-63, Sherwin Peters 3-19, Nelson Boland EXPAND LEAD for 99 by a direct hit from Chanderpaul Hemraj (05) Hyatt accepted an easy catch for the winners. With an overall lead of Narsingh Deonarine at mid off. who was asked to open with before Johnson was bowled At the Vivian Richards 2-49) and 23 for one. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210 By Zaheer Mohamed