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Sunday April 14, 2013

APNU, AFC outline proposals for meeting with Donald Ramotar

By Latoya Giles The Hierarchy of A Partnership for National Unity is expected to meet with President Donald Ramotar tomorrow for an emergency meeting to discuss the budgetary estimates. The AFC is also expected to meet with the president tomorrow.

According to APNU, there are several pressing matters that the parties intend to discuss with the president.

APNU and the AFC have signaled their demands. They want an across-the board wage and salary increase for sugar workers and public servants. The party insists that of at least 10 per cent of

the increase must be without prejudice to the collective bargaining processes which are supposed to be held with the workers’ representatives with effective from June 1, 2013.

Secondly, the parties want to see the rescinding of all frequencies/licences for the broadband spectrum issued in 2011, prior to the establishment of the Broadcast Authority and outside of the provisions of the Broadcast Authority Act 2011.

There has been a controversy surrounding the distribution of the frequencies which it is widely believed that there was form

Opposition Leader, David Granger of “favoritism”.

The two parties will be calling for the government to fulfill all commitments regarding the issue of a

licence to operate a television station in Region 10. Further, the combined opposition says that the government must provide a status report on the use to which the transfers approved by the National Assembly in 2012 for Guysuco and GPL have been put and the effect they have had.

It must institute a Commission of Inquiry and a technical commission, respectively, to report on the operations of the two agencies The Tax Reform Committee must be reconstituted and include members who are approved by all the political parties, with

instructions to have them complete their work and report to the President and the National Assembly by June 1, 2013.

Properly and fully constitute the Integrity Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the other Service Commissions – Public and Police Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission, Public Service Appelate Tribunal, [Guyana Elections Commission, Supreme Court, Chambers of the DPP, Audit Office] and the Office of the Ombudsman and ensure that the Budgetary arrangements for provision of funds to meet their annual costs are consistent with Article 222A of the Constitution are also what the opposition parties are going to ask of President Ramotar..

Government must also ensure that by June 1, 2013 all the extra-budgetary agencies, including NICIL, report to the National Assembly on the state of their current finances and transfer the excess resources they hold to the Consolidated Fund.

There is also the call from the parties to have the government reform the NIS, implement the proposals for restoration of its viability in light of the 2012 Actuarial Report and to reduce the toll on the Berbice Harbour Bridge to $1,000.

The government must also undertake a social and cultural audit into the work

and professionalism of NCN and GINA and release immediately the full report of the enquiry into the wrongdoing at NCN. Shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge that in terms of NCN, they would like a social and cultural audit of NCN to see or determine the extent to which it recognises it has an obligation to behave professionally in spending taxpayers money and in operating on behalf of the people of Guyana so that is the only way the NCN story could be fixed,” he stated.

Greenidge added that they want the government to cease employing contract workers until an agreement could be reached on the professionalism of the public service. He said the capacity of the public service was one of the main factors in Guyana’s low ranking on doing business in the world.

Attorney Joseph Harmon, who holds the shadow portfolio for infrastructure and communication, also called on President Donald Ramotar to release the report of an investigation into financial irregularity at NCN from which the CEO resigned and the production manager was sent on leave.

Shadow Labour Minister Basil Williams, who was also present Friday, reiterated a prior position that the government was trying to create a parallel public service to undermine the traditional public service by employing contract workers.

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AFC proposed Budget cuts...

Ramsammy flabbergasted, disgusted, disappointed over $814M proposed cut for Agri. Ministry Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, is flabbergasted, disgusted and disappointed that the Alliance For Change (AFC) has signaled its intention to cut some $814M in budgetary allocations for his Ministry.

He is concerned that one of the cuts will affect the installation of 14 drainage pumps.

According to Dr. Ramsammy, on Friday afternoon, by way of a notice from Parliament, he was informed that AFC Member of Parliament and Party leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, will be moving a motion in the National Assembly to cut the 2013 National Budget. This notice is the first of several more to come, he said during a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday.

While, the AFC has highlighted other Ministries that will have their allocations slashed in the notice, the Minster’s concern is that the cut to the Budget would affect the Hope Canal project and drainage pumps, key projects of his Ministry that are already being executed.

“I want to address the one component on the capital budget for agriculture totaling $1.3B. It is proposed to cut that by over $814M, reducing that capital item budget to just over $500M. That is almost 60 percent of that capital budget to be cut in accordance with the notice issued by the honourable member,” Dr. Ramsammy said.

Though the notice did not indicate the projects to be cut, he said that the amount proposed to be cut is budgeted to finance two very important capital projects for

Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy Guyana. They are the completion of the Hope Canal (Northern Relief Chanel) and the acquisition of 14 pumps utilizing US$4M line of credit from the Government of India through the Exim Bank.

According to Dr. Ramsammy, “It has not escaped me that the combination of the contract to supply 14 pumps and the cost of the letter of credit from the local banks total the exact amount in the notice for cutting the budget.

“When I add the contract sum for the 14 pumps plus the charges of the local bank for the letter of credit and bank charges, it totals the exact amount in the notice that is $814,812,000.”

“From Mr. Ramjattan’s speech in Parliament and in his discussion with me he indicated to me his intention to cut the pumps. And, now the sum he indicated that he wants to cut happens to be the exact amount on the pump contracts.

“I know they are targeting the 14 pumps,” Dr. Ramsammy stated.

According to Dr. Ramsammy, tenders for the project were opened in Guyana and in India and two companied submitted bids in 2011. However, the contract only became operational in March 2012 and was expected to end one year later. It did not. Instead Government granted a one-month extension.

The Minister related his uncertainty as to why the AFC would want to cut this item from the budget since it is important to farming communities along the coastland. The pumps are intended for Lima, Windsor Forest, Canal Polder No.2, Dazzle, Paradise, Enterprise, Pine Ground, Canje, Number 19, Albion, Rose Hall Town, Bengal and Crabwood Creek.

“As a citizen of Guyana I find this repulsive an abominable act to target pumps that are absolutely required not only for the development of Guyana but to promote better standard of living… To target people like this is wicked and unacceptable. I have absolutely no idea why they would target these pumps,” he added.

However, the ‘late’ delivery of the pumps has been a contentious issue.

Early October 2012, Ramjattan had said that he was moving to have the National Assembly probe the US$4M contract which was awarded to Surendra Engineering and signed in early 2011.

He was furious that the pumps did not arrive in Guyana in September 2012 as expected. The agreement for the pumps was signed in 2011 between the Ministry of Agriculture, under the then

Minister, Robert Persaud, and Surendra Engineering.

The pumps were to be initially delivered since December 2011, and an extension was granted to September 2012.

According to Dr. Ramsammy, of the 14 pumps, six pumps were delivered to the Government of Guyana and most of the parts of the remaining eight are already in Guyana. He explained that the pumps have to be built to specifications.

He noted that for the company to deliver the complete pump components they have to be tested in India and Miami. The last components of the pumps which are yet to be shipped from India are to be inspected.

Two local engineers will be going to India shortly to inspect the components.

In addition, there are some components already in Miami to be shipped to Guyana with arrival date slated for April 20.

Emphasizing another reason why the cut is unreasonable, Dr. Ramsammy said that the delivery of the pumps is not all that must occur.

In the 2013 Budget, Government has catered for the construction of pump stations. These contracts have already been awarded and several of the pump stations are under construction.

“I don’t know how we are going to build pump stations and then cut the funds for the pumps of course some of the money has already been paid in the 2012 budget. So I am utterly flabbergasted disgusted and disappointed that such a critical project is being threatened,” he declared.

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

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

Editorial

Mercury and Gold In Boa Vista, just across the Brazilian border, there is a statue in the town centre in honour of the garimpero (the Brazilian equivalent of our porkknocker) because of his role in opening up northern Brazil. In our country, our porkknockers did not make an equivalent impact but they left a tradition that is finally bearing fruit – or ‘gold’ if you will.

The initial investment for what was called ‘artisanal’ gold mining, was not too large –a pickaxe to loosen the soil, a battel with some mercury or quicksilver to separate the gold by amalgamation and fire to later burn off the mercury and leave the pure gold.

In the last few decades, gold operations have become tremendously larger and last year we produced a record 438,000 ounces of the valued commodity. It is estimated conservatively that some 50,000 persons are employed in gold mining. But recent developments might threaten our quest for even higher production.

Environmentalists and NGOs from across the globe have worked assiduously to place mercury as one of the pollutants to the environment on a list of that which that must be eradicated. In many countries, such as neighboring Brazil and Venezuela, mercury pollution has been used by some segments of the society as a useful villain and affected communities have been ignored. Myths and taboos about mercury pollution have created hysteria and promoted hidden interests of economic groups.

This enlarged the gap between artisanal miners and organized society and created more illegality, as miners found a way around the reflexive governmental legal reaction of simply banning the use of the substance without seeking to deal with the social problems precipitated. We cannot duplicate this experience in Guyana.

The problem cannot be ignored but it also cannot be approached with exaggeration. True facts are the only way to create a trustworthy environment to implement, together with miners, effective solutions for mercury pollution. First and foremost there is the question of costs. After all is said and done, mercury remains the most simple and very inexpensive reagent to extract gold - 1kg of mercury costs 1g of gold - when it is used correctly. This is especially true with regard to the size of the gold particles that are mostly found in Guyana. Responding to the heightened sensitization precipitated by the NGOs the European Union banned mercury exports from 2011 with the US following suit in 2013.

However the processing (most mercury is recovered by recycling products that legitimately use the substance) and exportation simply switched to other countries. Once there is a market for a product, it will be supplied – albeit at a higher price with all the new hurdles that will have to be surmounted. On January 13 of this year, under the auspices of the UN, 140 countries signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This will be open for signature by governments at a Diplomatic Conference in October 2013 in Japan.

It will enter into force once 50 countries have ratified it or otherwise agreed to be bound. This can spell doom for our gold industry.

Unfortunately, burning is still the preferred method used by artisanal miners in which mercury released to the atmosphere represents as much as 50% of that introduced into the amalgamation process. However, when amalgamation is conducted properly and retorts are used, very little mercury is lost to the environment (as low as 0.05%). This recycling practice suggests one of the first attack points for providing relief for the environment and to its credit, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has recommended and facilitated retorting to the mining fraternity. A homemade retort built with standard plumbing water pipes can be easily assembled and use of this type of retort is easily understood and accepted by miners because it is inexpensive. All materials are familiar and accessible to the miners.

Education is a prerequisite for long-term solutions for the mercury emission problem and not hysterical reactions to NGO’s pressure. In the meantime, Guyana has to intensify efforts to have Guyana become an exception once the Minaamata Convention becomes ratified.

Sunday April 14, 2013

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

Is Bharrat Jagdeo pandering to racist sentiments?

DEAR EDITOR, Speaking at the funeral service (appallingly held at the Convention Centre, making it two weddings, one birthday, a government-sponsored Pagwah celebration, now funeral service) of Reepu Daman Persaud (my assessment of Persaud is forthcoming), former President Jagdeo made some unnerving statements. Sadly, for the younger generation, the opposition and our academics will just ignore it, and that generation will miss a chance to understand why

this country is in such a mess.

Mr. Jagdeo made subtle references to the libel case he brought against me. The matter is sub judice so I will not insult the court by discussing the merit of the evidence as Mr. Jagdeo did at the funeral service. Mr. Jagdeo went on to paint a picture of the traditional victimization of East Indians in Guyana going back to colonial days. Not only was Mr. Jagdeo pandering to the East Indians who were in the majority in the audience but he displayed extreme mediocrity in

understanding Guyanese history.

The book that is generally regarded as the best on this country was written by a white American scholar with no attachment to Guyana. In “Sugar Without Slaves,” Alan Adamson documented the policy of the colonial officials of discriminating against the feed African slaves. It is from reading this book one gets the knowledge of how East Indians came to have extensive land holdings. This book makes for emotional reading. I doubt Mr. Jagdeo

ever touched a page from this excellent and phenomenal publication.

Secondly, Mr. Jagdeo made the observation that East Indians are being criticized for their inclusion in the public service and belaboured the point that all Guyanese are entitled to equal opportunity. But my 75 page research into Mr. Jagdeo’s presidency (titled, “Ethnic Power and Ideological Racism: Comparing presidencies in Guyana.”) revealed wide spread Continued on page 6

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The neglect of the dairy farmers has destroyed the livestock industry DEAR EDITOR, In January 2010, at the launch of the Agriculture Export Diversification Programme at the Guyana School of Agriculture, the then Agriculture Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud said “The ship for transforming the livestock sector is leaving the port.” In his wisdom, Mr. Persaud said in three years we shall “acquire land in the intermediate savannahs, the left Bank of the Abary River, 7,000 acres on the Corentyne and vast areas in Region Nine” to become a “a lead exporter in beef and dairy products in the Caribbean.”

In the same month of January 2010, Minister Irfaan Ali, in defence of his colleague in Parliament for the passage of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority Bill, boasted that “this is a promise of his party to the people” and his party will “capitalize on the CARICOM food market.”

Very good plans, but they were only broken promises by the PPP cabal that seemed bent on spreading propaganda thus denying the dairy farmers a decent living.

Well, these three years have come and gone and the amount of beef and dairy cattle produced in Guyana today is actually less than it was three years ago. The export of beef and dairy products to the Caribbean as promised by the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal never took off, no land was acquired and the ship that Minister Robert Persaud said was leaving the port had such a big hole that it sank before even leaving the port. In other words, it is normal for Robert Persaud and his PPP cabal to spread propaganda in an effort to deceive the people that they are working on their behalf and in their interest, but the facts show otherwise. The Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal continues to oppress the diary farmers and the working class by refusing to give them a 10% across the board increase to cope with the inflationary food and commodity prices.

Since then, not one word is mentioned in the budget by the Minister of Finance or the irrational Irfaan Ali about the beef and dairy cattle industry.

Dairy, cattle, sheep and goat farmers all over Guyana are struggling to get lands for pastures, as they continue to be neglected by this Jagdeo/ Ramotar Government.

Rustling is now rampant, resulting in a depletion of stock and the technology in the industry remains primitive from the last century, the quality of the breeding program is negligible compared to what Minister Persaud and the PPP regime promised the farmers in 2010.

They promised the farmers a G$206 million state of the art international abattoir three years ago and what did the farmers get – ZERO! All of it fell on deaf ears since not one word was mentioned on the dairy industry, the swine industry, beef cattle, chicken or the small ruminant industries in this 2013 Budget or in other previous budgets.

If these industries can be approached correctly, they can create thousands of new jobs for our young people and even retired rural folks and provide them with stable income for the rest of their

lives. This should be the goal of the PPP cabal if they are to regain the trust and confidence of the farmers. But to make promises and not fulfill them is not only deceitful but also dishonest to say the least.

Today, the corrupt Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal regime has abandoned the farmers of Guyana for their wealthy business buddies. All that matters to this cabal is the Chinese contractors, the Kingston Hotel, the Specialty Hospital, the airport expansion, and all the other schemes on which the financial kickbacks are significant to the political beneficiaries.

The old people say every long rope has an end.

Proverbs 22:16 said “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.”

The cabal should heed this warning and do the right thing for the people of Guyana and not for themselves, relatives and cronies.

Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh.

One can only marvel at the astounding incompetence of this entity DEAR EDITOR, Once again the power supply in Berbice has descended to an absolutely horrific and atrocious level.

This past week, there have been so many blackouts that I’ve lost count. On Monday, we had blackout for several hours.

What’s going on in Berbice with GPL’s operations? One can only marvel at the astounding incompetence and inability of this entity to fix a system that has been broken for many, many year.

Likewise, one can only marvel at the callous, don’tcare attitude of the PPP, which, although being in power for over twenty years, has done nothing to remedy the unreliable power supply and bring relief to the people of this county. The PPP has, instead, chosen to demonize opposition members, dole out super-salaries, contracts, and radio stations to its friends and other “fat cats,” and fight for the rights of the rich, all at the expense of the majority of

Guyanese who struggle to make a decent living, and who are frustrated at every turn by the regular blackouts that occur.

So here’s the solution.

Call for a snap election and let’s vote the PPP out of office, and simultaneously get rid of the senior management at GPL that earns millions of dollars for doing nothing to tangibly improve the power supply.

Nothing else will do.

And at the forefront of the wave to drive the PPP out of power will be the former sleeping Berbicians, who have finally awoken and realized that all the promises made by the PPP are false and unattainable under the current pack of jokers leading this country.

Berbice will rise, and the same slave songs that drove Cuffy to rebel against the oppressors of his day will guide us all as we go to the polls and choose a better future under the APNU/AFC government for our children and grandchildren.

Frustrated Berbician

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Why was this information not published in the ‘private print media’, when ‘Public’ monies are involved?

Discrimination against me at NDIA

DEAR EDITOR, The Sunday Chronicle earlier in March carried the following Notices, Vacancies and Advisories:

DEAR EDITOR, I write this letter to highlight the injustice and dictatorial actions against me by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) whilst being in their employ and honouring their contractual obligations as it relates to payment for gratuity, vacation allowance and deprived twenty-eight days leave. Further, no response was given by the NDIA to my requests for contractual sums owing and attempts through the Chairman of NDIA - Board of Directors has also proved futile for a resolution.

Since someone wickedly leaked to the press a report for an approved audit I conducted, I have endured the aspersions on my character in the public newspapers and online from persons lacking morality, decency and character. All audits and investigations done during my tenure (April to October 2012) at NDIA were based on an Audit Plan approved by the CEO and in line with my approved job description stating the job mandate which was issued on 2012.04.02 when I signed the contract of employment. These are:1.Audits a . A u d i t Report_PS.RA.2012.1.5.1_Bank Reconciliation b . A u d i t Report_PS.RA.2012.2.8.1_Inventory NDI-CDIP

c . A u d i t Report_PS.RA.2012.6.8.3_Fuel Consumption & Equipment Operations and Maintenance d . A u d i t Report_PS.RA.2012.7.10.1_Cheque Payments 2.Investigations a . A u d i t Report_PS.AR.2012.1.4_Fuel Consumption-#43 Joppa Drainage Pump b . A u d i t Report_PS.SI.2012.1.6.2_Missing Cheque Leaves & Corruption Black Bush Polder Water Users Association c . A u d i t Report_PS.SI.2012.1.8.2_Alleged Corruption Charity ZorgenZlygtWater Users Association I was intentionally and maliciously accused by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture on October 22nd 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 Secretary Ministry of Agriculture.

As such, I was illegally sent on Administrative leave on October 25th 2012 by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, who abrogated the functions of

the CEO-NDIA, wilfully usurped the authority of the Chairman-NDIA Board of Directors who was in the process of conducting an investigation awaiting the CEO’s response thus demonstrating poor managerial ethics and professionalism. It must be noted that the NDIA is a corporate, legal and separate body managed by a Board of Directors.

These charges were baseless and as outlined in my response to the Permanent Secretary as matter of courtesy noting his abrogation and wilful usurpation. It was also explained to him that my decision to disseminate the report was based on audio recordings relating to the audits completed which revealed unethical and illegal conduct by the CEO-NDIA, co-worker and procurement department. These were given on DVD to the ChairmanNDIA Board of Directors and State Audit Staff on 2012.12.18 at the Audit Office- Mr. Dhanraj Persaud: Audit Manager (Acting) in the presence of Mr.Indrajit Singh: Supervisor-Finance Unit and Mr. Vieira- Fraud Investigator.

The recordings are:1.“Discussion with Senior Section Engineer on EE advice, quotations, procurement, CEO

From page 4 discrimination against African Guyanese. This research was not based on hearsay but documented the evidence of bias against African Guyanese. Briefly, one piece of proof.

When a researcher was inquiring (as a consultancy from the ERC) if there was an ethnic preponderance in the distribution of government scholarships, President Jagdeo’s office and the Ministry of the Public Service refused to release data to her.

Obviously, they had something to hide.

If as Guyanese citizens we are entitled to equal opportunity then can Jagdeo explain why under his presidency his office awarded 99 percent of contracts to people of East Indian ethnicity.

The brother of Walter Rodney, Donald, who was almost killed in the car when Walter was murdered, told me that under the PPP Government he was not getting contracts and thus was forced to migrate.

I was at the Plaisance Community Centre ground when the Government removed the pillars for the egovernance tower. The

contract was awarded to a Columbian engineering firm.

This firm quietly pocketed the money and subcontracted the removal of the pillars to a small African Guyanese company up the East Coast.

I saw for myself the completion of this work done entirely by a Guyanese entity that should have got the contract in the first place. I ask if the African ownership of the Guyanese firm had anything to do with the award?

Thirdly, I never credited Mr. Jagdeo, while he was President with any intellectual talent. I once compared him in a column to two other ordinary CARICOM Heads, Bernard St. John of Barbados after the death of Tom Adams and George Chambers after the demise of Eric Williams. Both St. John and Chambers were too ordinary without any deep ideas.

For me, Mr, Jagdeo’s mediocrities exceeded the limitations of certainly Chambers (St. John was a better leader by far than Jagdeo). I hold the opinion that intellectually he was the poorest of CARICOM Heads to date. I make this point after what he blurted out at the funeral service and that there is resurgence of anti-East

Indian resentment in Guyana.

I always believe that Mr. Jagdeo was unfit to be president and here is the evidence.

If there is a resurgence of ant-East Indian sentiments it simply means that in the past African Guyanese didn’t like Indians and if the syndrome is returning then he is pointing to African Guyanese again. If Mr. Jagdeo is right that hate is once again emerging against Indians then any fool can tell you that he is refereeing to African people in Guyana.

The fact that Mr. Jagdeo mentioned nothing at all about people in Guyana resenting Africans then he means only Africans practice race bias and not the other communities.

African Guyanese should now ask Mr. Jagdeo if in the past there have been and in the present, there are antiAfrican sentiments?

This question must be demanded of Mr. Jagdeo especially in the context that he is generally regarded as the person who controls the levers of power. I end with a sincere hope that the Guyanese society will not let Mr. Jagdeo get away with this pandering to racist instincts.

Frederick Kissoon

Continued on page 7

Is Bharrat Jagdeo pandering...

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I wish to encourage the people of Isseneru and Kako to stand their ground DEAR EDITOR, It is immensely distressing to learn that our Amerindian Community had to resort to writing the UN – their last refuge - to seek redress for mining-related incursions into their customary traditional lands. What has become of Guyana? The soul and spirit of this nation has been crushed almost to extinction.

We have clearly forgotten our history. Greed for gold, land, and greed in general, once almost completely annihilated the Indigenous peoples of the world.

Guyanese should be in the forefront of efforts to restore dignity and rights to our

Amerindian community. It is said that history does not repeat itself, it merely rhymes.

People without a connection to their spirit, without a connection to their heart, will only see dollars in front of their eyeballs.

Kevin Costner, in Dances with Wolves, called them “a People without soul, a People without value.” These people cannot understand what Beatrice Hastings (Stabroek News March 23, 2013) means when she says “We have a deep connection to this river.”

They cannot comprehend what she means when she says “This is our life, one in which we are happy and

content. These lands are part of who we are as a people and filled with stories which have been passed down from our foreparents.” When will they stop? They have destroyed the Mazaruni and so when will they stop? Greed stops when people who understand its shallowness and the emptiness of material society stand up to it.

I am in agreement with the professor of the Coursera course ‘Aboriginal Worldviews and Education’ when he stated that there is a deep and widespread disrespect for Aboriginal and Indigenous culture. The recent comment from the

From page 6 involvement in the fraud2012.09.24” 2.“CEO subscribing to illegal Community Drainage Improvement Project Expenses- 2012.09.24”.

In addition to the audio recordings, a report compiled from whistleblowing of major and alleged fraud committed at NDIA was also submitted to the representatives from State Audit Department for full investigation.

It must be noted that I sent the report to the President of Guyana 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.

In my opinion, I have worked hard and assisted in highlighting many irregularities at NDIA that are stated in the reports issued.

As such, I am making this public request to the President of Guyana for justice to be given on this matter and should the situation remain the same then it leaves me with no choice but to seek redress through the courts of Guyana.

Pablo. N. Singh Ex- Field Auditor National Drainage and Irrigation Authority

Discrimination against me at NDIA

Why was this information not published ...

Is there a legitimate query as to why the above Publications do not appear in what is described as the ‘private print media’, when ‘Public’ monies are involved?

If reference to a website is the answer then it controverts the need for circulation in all print media?

E B John

APNU parliamentarian referring to the Amerindian community as ‘backward’ is very revealing of the subconscious colonial beliefs that linger in the psyches of some.

We in this nation have failed to give Amerindians and Amerindian culture an equal place in our society. We have also failed to give our other cultures and values an equal place in society with our religions and virtues marginalized to the fringes of society under dominance of western ideas such as capitalism, communism, socialism and other grandisms of scientific materialism.

I wish to encourage the people of Isseneru and Kako to stand their ground and to draw strength from the courage and success of original peoples all over the world. The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada have fought for decades and have now successfully entered into business enterprises and partnerships on their terms in harmony with their values and culture for the economic benefit of their communities.

It is disappointing to hear the legal arguments in favour of

‘state’ lands. For all the claims from Mr. Ralph Ramkarran (SN April 7th, 2013) that “this situation no longer exists”, the very situation exists. By now, if some lawyers are yet to fully comprehend it, Guyanese society understands that laws can be unjust. In the history of this country, some laws have had to be abolished. Who decided that the minerals and waterways belong to the state? Did the colonialists ever really leave?

The manner in which Government officials talk down to the Amerindian community is yet another symptom of the tail wagging the dog syndrome. The Amerindian community is being treated as if in need of handouts when they in fact own the resources of their communities including traditional lands.

While the LCDS is a means to draw funding to the country, we must understand the bigger picture behind it – the failures and shortsightedness of industrial societies and their coming into recognition of the damage their greed and materialism has caused this planet and of the worthlessness of a materialistic culture that does not understand its connectivity to rivers, lands, mountains, flora, fauna and to

other human societies. These are not handouts to the Amerindian community, but an appreciation of the value and worth of the Amerindian lifestyle.

The people of Kako are trying to protect their entire way of life. They are also concerned about social ills, alcohol and drugs and incursion of a general moral societal decay from entering their territory. I stand in support of this community.

This is once again a battle between good and evil.

We must understand that years ago great evil befell these shores and we cannot let a gold rush once again destroy the very fabric ofAmerindian lifestyle and the very lungs and veins of the planet. We must begin to understand the value of peace and tranquility. The highest forms of communion with God and creation are supported by a naturally pristine environment of peace and tranquility and forest peoples are the guardians of these environments. Minds that are afflicted by greed, worry and hatred can only bring distress into our peaceful communities. All Guyanese who understand must rise up in support of our first peoples.

Sandra Khan

DEAR EDITOR, I would like to also acknowledge the letter published Saturday 6th April, “No water in Phase 3 Good Hope”.

I started doing preparatory work to begin construction on a plot of land I was awarded from Ministry of Housing and water.

However, due to the lack of water supply, I have to buy water every single day; sometimes two tanks. Mr Editor, I have already lost money and time, and now the

contractor is threatening to walk off the job, since it is impossible to construct a concrete house with no access to water at in a timely manner.

I was told by an individual from GWI that the new scheme has not been handed over to the water company, hence they can’t do anything. I checked with the Ministry of Housing to ascertain why the delay in handing over the village to the respective agency. A young lady informed me that the Ministry

doesn’t have to hand over the scheme, water pipes were already installed in the neighborhood and what I need to do, is form a group of ten villagers and seek an audience with GWI. Mr. Editor, I had to tone down this letter so that it can be published, but I am frustrated and disappointed, I hope something can be done as soon as possible or I will be forced to take the Ministry of Housing to court to reclaim my money.

Frustrated resident

No Access to potable water in Good Hope Phase 3

Page 8

Kaieteur News

NDIA fraud allegations

Minister admits conflict of interest, fuel theft at NDIA …Officer no longer with NDIA- Ramsammy Instances of conflict of interest at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) revealed in a damning report prepared by the entity’s former Field Auditor was found to be truthful, said Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

Dr. Ramsammy said that the officer, who was involved in the conflict of interest scenario where he was supervising a project awarded to one of his relatives, was asked to leave NDIA. The officer was not involved in the hiring of the contractor, he pointed out.

Last October, a report prepared by the Field Auditor recommended the immediate dismissals of the NDIA’s Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth and Senior Section Engineer, Aneel Chowbay. The report highlighted several instances of fraud and conflict of interest.

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.

NDIA’s Chairman, Dharamkumar Seeraj had confirmed that there were procedural breaches at the entity.

Speaking about the allegations in the report that was leaked to the media Dr. Ramsammy said, “Have people stolen fuel? The answer is yes…I am not going to say that we do not have these things… One thing we did find legitimate was that one of the officers was related to one of the contractors. I am not saying that he did anything but the perception of a conflict of interest did exist.

And, that officer was asked to leave.”

According to Dr. Ramsammy, he requested the Auditor General to check into specific allegations about corrupt practices.

The Auditor General is about to complete those investigations and he is awaiting the report, Dr. Ramsammy added.

In relation to the claims of procedural breaches at NDIA, he said that Seeraj and the Board were referring to the Field Auditor. However, the

Minister said that he is “not going into it until the report is done.”

The Field Auditor was sent on administrative leave subsequent to the report being leaked to the media. He is no longer with NDIA since his request in February to renew his contract was not answered. His contract expired in April.

The Minister stated that it was NDIA’s Board that recommended that the Field Auditor’s contract must not be renewed and not the Ministry of Agriculture.

In relation to the former Field Auditor’s claim that he was not given an audience with the Minister to discuss illegal use of NDIA’s funds, the Minister dismissed it as a lie.

“I am not aware of any officer in this Ministry making a request to see me and not being granted. No officer in this Ministry needs to make a request to see me. They can see me at least 20 times per day. I visit every office in this Ministry.

I walk this compound. So any officer who says that he tried to see me (and failed) is telling an absolute and blatant lie,” he declared.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Guyana braces for fallout as gold prices slide

By Leonard Gildarie A critical meeting is set for tomorrow between Government and miners to assess the fallouts from a worrisome drop in gold prices on the world market.

Prices had fallen to US$1,477.60 per ounce of raw gold, yesterday. It had reached a high of over US$1,900 as nervous investors in face of the global financial downturn, banked on the metal.

Guyana especially would be jittery over the price drop which in all indications will continue its slide in the days to come.

Gold has become the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner, eclipsing the performance of the mainstay products sugar and rice.

The gold fields have steadily been attracting workers from the forestry, construction and even the sugar sector as the lure of the shiny metal and high paying jobs proved too much. Local banks have been all too happy to lend millions of dollars to buy equipment and to fund operations.

Excavators, which could cost up to $40M each, have been selling like crazy.

More than US$100M has been invested each year for the past three years or so, Government has said. Last year, gold production reached a record breaking high of 438,645 ounces, in the absence of large scale producer Omai Gold. The commodity earned US$737M. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment yesterday, it has been following the downward movement of the price of gold which recorded its lowest in the last 21 months on Friday afternoon.

“This is the lowest level of prices for gold since July 2011.”

According to the Ministry, cuts in 2013 gold average price forecasts by Deutsche Bank and Goldman

- authorities to meet miners, other stakeholders tomorrow

Government is set to meet with jittery gold miners tomorrow Sachs triggered technical selling. Earlier this week, Deutsche Bank lowered its average gold price forecast for 2013 by 11.8 percent to US 1,637 dollars an ounce, while Goldman Sachs slashed its gold price forecast for 2013 from US 1,610 dollars an ounce to US 1,545 dollars.

In addition, the U.S. economic data released Friday dampened gold.

According to the Ministry, its Minister, Robert Persaud, will be leading a team to the special meeting tomorrow. The meeting will involve all licenced gold dealers and members of the gold sub-sector “to discuss the various issues and impacts of the volatility in gold prices on the local economy”.

New reports are now indicating that the gold price bubble seems to have burst.

Prices came under

pressure, following heavy selling by institutional investors, amid fears central banks would act on the lines of the European Union, which had said Cyprus needed to sell gold reserves to raise about euro 400 million to meet its financing needs.

According to World Gold Council’s latest data, Cyprus holds only 13.9 tonnes of gold (62.4 per cent of its total reserves). Now, there are concerns that other struggling countries such as Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain may be pushed to do the same.

Together, these countries hold about 3,230 tonnes of gold, worth about euro 125 billion. Gold prices saw about a decade of Bull Run - from 2001 to September 2011 - when prices rose to a high of $1,900/ oz, resulting in returns of about 700 per cent. From that peak, prices have fallen about 22 per cent.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

AFC uncovers “secret” US$25M bank account 16-year-old escapes Ahead of tomorrow’s talks with Government to stave off a $38B cut from the National Budget, the Opposition has accused the administration of hiding almost $5B (US$25M) in a bank account under the control of Winston Brassington, the controversial head of the Privatisation Unit.

The monies at the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI), according to Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), can be used to pay public servants a much-needed increase in wages and salaries.

Both opposition parties, AFC and A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), which control a one-seat majority in the National Assembly, are determined to slash excesses from the National Budget and on Friday said that they are willing to talk with Government before Monday’s afternoon considerations of the estimates.

Ramotar has agreed to meet with the parties tomorrow at the Office of the President.

Regarding the bank account, Ramjattan said that a whistleblower disclosed that

Keith Burrowes

Winston Brassington

Brassington and Keith Burrowes, an official close to the government, are the main persons controlling the bank account at GBTI. “We are being told by a reliable source…a whistleblower…that the account has $4.9B in it in the name of National Cooperative Financial Services. AFC is extremely concerned about this since nowhere has the government told the National As-

sembly that it has (this money) sitting in an account.”

The National Assembly is the authority that scrutinizes and releases spending from the Consolidated Funds, where all public monies are held.

According to Ramjattan, the $4.9B would represent some of the proceeds from the divestment of GAIBANK and the Guyana National Cooperative Bank.

“The Government is telling us that it will have no monies if we reduce the wastage.

Well, the AFC wants to tell them that there is $3-4B also sitting in the accounts of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). The National Assembly again don’t have control over these funds that belong to the people of Guyana.”

The Opposition has been fighting tooth and nail with Government for several billions of dollars which lie in several accounts and are controlled by a number of semiautonomous state agencies, including GGMC, the Guyana Forestry Commission, NICIL and GuyOil. They have been arguing that the monies are public funds that should fall under the oversight of the people’s representatives –Members of Parliament. However, government has been unwilling to budge from its position.

Brassington has been a shadowy figure overseeing government’s controversial privatization deals to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. There are still many questions where some of the privatization proceeds went.

he was trying not to be late for work on Friday morning when he saw the woman’s body lying on the ground under the house which he had to pass to access transportation.

He said that although he noticed that the woman was semi nude, he walked past the body thinking that it was just another destitute, who was probably drunk and had sought refuge in the yard.

Hope said that he was in such a hurry that he did not notice the pool of blood under the elderly woman’s body although the place was bright enough.

He called out to his neighbour and told him that a woman was lying under the house and advised him to “check it out”.

Hope subsequently caught a vehicle and went to work.

It was while at work around 07:30 hours that he received a telephone call from his sister who informed him that the police wanted to question him about a dead woman.

He said that he was shocked to learn that the woman was the same person whose body he had casually walked past earlier that morning.

“I never thought that what I saw was so serious. I thought that the woman would’a just get up and walk

away. That’s why I left and went to work.”

On the advice of his sister he subsequently went to the police and gave them a statement.

“Looking back at it, I think I should have stayed back because it was a really serious matter. I don’t know her. I did see that her bottom was kinda exposed but I thought she was drunk.”

Relatives claimed that it was not unusual for the elderly woman who lived alone to be out of her house at some strange hours of the morning.

One relative, who lives in South Ruimveldt, in the city, told Kaieteur News that she would sometimes turn up at her house at 05:00 hours in the morning.

“I think she was very naïve, because she would tell us that no one will do her anything because everybody in the area knows her,” the relative stated.

Investigators will be hard pressed to solve this particular murder, given the insensitive nature of the crime.

They have not found any murder weapon which they believe is a blunt object, judging from the wounds observed on Cummings’s body.

A post mortem examination will be carried out on Cummings’s body tomorrow.

…signatories are Brassington, Burrowes

Police still searching for clues to elderly woman’s murder

Detectives on the East Coast of Demerara are still trying to come up with a motive and possible suspects in the murder of 89-year-old Millicent Cummings, whose battered body was found under a house at Cove and John early Friday morning.

So far police have questioned several persons, including a man who first discovered the body.

The man, Compton Hope, who lives in a property aback of the house, saw Cummings’s body but went away to work, and only returned hours later to give a statement to the police.

Yesterday, this newspaper revisited the scene and discovered that Cummings was definitely killed at the same spot where her body was discovered.

There were blood stains spattered on the wall, which suggested that she was bludgeoned while lying on the ground.

No one heard the elderly woman’s screams, not even a man who lives upstairs in a section of the house under

Millicent Cummings which her body was found.

He too was questioned and subsequently released.

Police sources have said that the man claimed that he only learnt that Cummings had been killed under his house when he came downstairs and saw other persons in the yard.

The other persons were neighbours who had responded to the alarm raised

by Compton Hope.

Hope said, yesterday that

from court lockups A 16-year-old boy who had pleaded guilty earlier this week to stealing a car and was remanded has escaped police custody. Kaieteur News was told that the teenager was back at court on Friday for a probation report before sentencing but was told to return to court on April 27 for sentencing.

This newspaper understands that youth escaped from the lock ups at the Magistrates’ Court on Friday. He managed to sneak past lawmen without being noticed. Reports indicate that it was not until prisoners were being

transported to the Camp Street jail late Friday that it was noticed that the young man had made good his escape. An investigation has been launched into the escape.

The teenager was charged on April 9 last after he was busted with the stolen car at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara. The car was stolen from a Guyana Defence Force Major who told police that he left the engine running as he went into an ATM facility on Camp Street to withdraw money. He said when he came out minutes later, the car was gone.

Miner crushed by excavator A 45-year-old father of two was killed at around 10:00 hrs on Thursday at Chi Chi, Mazaruni, after he was pinned by an excavator that was reportedly being manned by an unlicensed operator.

Relatives said that Dennis Agustus, called ‘Chinee’, a miner of Capoey Lake, Essequibo, was struck on the head by the excavator’s bucket.

According to reports, Augustus and another man had gone in an excavator to a mining site when the excavator, which was being manned by an unlicensed operator, got stuck.

It is alleged that Augustus and his companion were trying to get the excavator unstuck when the operator accidentally caused the machine to pin the unfortunate miner.

Augustus reportedly perished on the spot.

Relatives said that the miner is survived by two children, a boy, aged 15 and a baby girl who is just a few months old.

Dem boys seh...

Look who talking

Is nuff noise bout budget cut and things like that. Donald and some of he Ministers telling de whole world that de opposition don’t have any reason to cut de budget. Well when de shoe pinching somebody foot old people seh that somebody must give dem something to sit down on.

If Donald know that de opposition ain’t got no reason to cut de budget wha reason he got fuh not signing dem Bills that de same opposition send to him?

Then eh join Gail and talk bout dictatorial attitude. Dem boys remember de movie ‘Look who’s talking’. He don’t stop deh; he go and talk bout vindictive. Well dem boys want to know who more vindictive than he and Jagdeo.

Dem suh vindictive that dem give all de radio frequency to dem friends and family. Dem don’t give de opposition party not even a branch fuh hook up to get a radio signal.

That is vindictive but is Donald talking.

Jagdeo give de Mirror, he give heself and he give he niece husband. He don’t give de Waterfalls paper because de paper talk bout corruption. Well everybody know why APNU and AFC ain’t get none. Let Donald explain that. He got to know.

If dem boys cut de budget because dem vindictive let Donald tell de nation why he side wid Jagdeo to build de Marriott because dem didn’t get to buy de Pegasus.

Is spite mek dem now want to put de Pegasus out of business. Vindictive is another word fuh spite.

Then dem got de cable situation. GT&T bring in cable but Jagdeo decide to bring in he own cable fuh tek way GT&T business. That is vindictive too because he didn’t get a share in de GT&T network and when he try GT&T go to court.

Donald should think about dem things before he talk bout vindictive and dictatorial and who ain’t got reason to do certain things.

That is why de Good Book does talk bout tekking out de beam from you own eye before you try fuh jook out de speck from you neighbour eye.

Talk half and let Donald quack some more.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Aircraft crashes into Plaisance house, pilots perish

By Dale Andrews Two foreign pilots perished when their twin engine plane went down on a house in the Sparendaam Housing Scheme, East coast Demerara just after it took off from the Ogle airport, yesterday. The pilots’ unrecognizable remains were discovered among the rubble of what was once a wooden house occupied by the elderly Florence Tyndall and three others.

Miraculously, Kendall, who was in the house at the time of the crash managed to escape.

The crash sent scores of residents rushing to the area, but they could only stand back and watch as the American registered aircraft burst into flames, with the two pilots trapped inside.

Eyewitnesses believe that the two occupants of the plane lost consciousness or were killed when it crashed.

The American registered aircraft, a twin-engine Piper Aztec with registration number N27-FT, was on a technical survey mission for the Amaila Falls Access Road.

It had been in Guyana for the past week and according to senior local aviation officials, it had already done some surveillance missions.

Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, who has responsibility for Civil

Aviation, told members of the media at the crash site that the aircraft took off from Ogle with approximately six hours of fuel.

There are reports that it had completed another mission earlier in the day and had returned to Ogle to refuel for another sojourn.

Benn said that from initial investigations, one of the aircraft’s engines shut down.

“It looks like it lost an engine and then crashed,” the Minister stated.

He explained that a full investigation will be carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ascertain definitively, the cause of the crash.

“The site has to be secured, the bodies retrieved, and all proper and decent things done so that a proper investigation can be carried out,” Benn explained.

He declined to give the names or nationalities of the dead pilots until their families and relevant embassies have been informed.

“It’s an American registered plane, and we’ll clarify whether it’s an American crew or Colombian crew a bit later,” was all that the Minister was prepared to say when asked about the men’s nationalities.

The house owner Mrs. Tyndall, 69, was fortunate to be at the back of the house preparing for church when

the plane landed on the front of the building.

The woman who was in obvious shock when she spoke to this newspaper said that she heard what sounded like gunshots.

“I say ‘Desiree (neighbour), is who shooting?’ Then I feel the house shake and then I see fire,” Mrs. Tyndall explained.

At that time she was not aware that an aircraft had landed on her house. It was not until she exited the burning building that she realized the magnitude of what had happened. The plane had landed on the front western side of the house.

She said that neighbours subsequently came and started pulling out a few household appliances from the house.

She said that she did hear sounds of an aircraft having engine problems but did not pay it much attention, since according to her that was a normal occurrence.

“Is not till I hear something go ‘plax!’ again, I say ‘well wait, is land de plane land?’” Tyndall stated.

She explained that from time to time she would hear aircraft engines shutting down, only to restart and proceed on their way to the Ogle airport which is located about a mile away.

Another resident confirmed that it is normal for

them to hear strange sounds coming from aircraft travelling overhead.

“This could have been worse because it was a three bedroom house and they (occupants) does deh all over inside. It is a real miracle that she (Tyndall) escape without a scratch,” the neighbour told the media.

Another neighbour, Lloyd Smith, was at work at the Ogle airport when the crash occurred. Initially, he thought that his house was in danger, judging from the location of the thick smoke that he saw after the plane went down.

“I left from work place and ride and come to see exactly is which house,” he said.

Smith explained that it was not long after the plane took off that it crashed.

“We watch it take off. It taxi on the runway and the take off and dem boys say it fall out de air. When we look we see a big black smoke up in de air,” he stated.

There are reports that the aircraft pilots ignored warning signs that all was not well with the engine.

Eyewitnesses recalled hearing what sounded like one of the engines backfiring just before takeoff.

Following the crash, CAA boss Zulfikar Mohamed and Minister Robeson Benn were joined at the scene by several top security officials. They included Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee; Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell; Deputy Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Colonel Bruce Lovell; Crime

Chief Seelall Persaud, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle and Divisional Commander Eric Bassant and his Deputy, Stephen Mansell.

Minister Rohee, in an invited comment, was pleased with the response of the Police and Fire Service which both fall under his portfolio. “I think that the response so far has been good. The main thing here now is to protect the property, protect the scene to preserve whatever evidence is there for the investigators could do their work professionally,” Rohee told Kaieteur News.

He did not rule out having ranks stationed at the location throughout the course of the investigations.

(See Pictures on page 12 & 13)

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Kaieteur News

Another “masterpiece” added to Guyana’s Market…

By Abena Rockcliffe I went into the yard where he works, and I saw some of his unfinished pieces positioned in the dust shaved from them, and I thought to myself, this is nice, very nice.

The environment inspired me.

But I kept my posture and an expression on my face that appeared to be expectant.

Then I was taken under a bottom house-- again decorated with unfinished work; and with dripping pride, he pulled a white sheet off his piece that he described as a “masterpiece”. I immediately resorted to Louis Armstrong’s punch line, as I thought to myself “What a wonderful world.”

However, in this scenario, I was referring to the world of art; and the creativity it allows. Essentially, I am saying that one of Guyana’s best sculptors, Ernest VanDyke, has done it again.

The man has created another masterpiece and added another stripe to his artistic sleeve.

It was Marcel Marceau an internationally acclaimed French actor and mime- who made the assertion that “What sculptors do represents the essence of gesture…” Well VanDyke went beyond the imagination of that great Frenchman in his latest piece as he, not only captured, but reflected a true representation of the current state of Guyana’s politics. In one piece, Guyana’s parliament was adequately represented.

VanDyke is no stranger to the artistic fabric of this country but a sculptor who “is always at work.”

Even in his early years of prominence, VanDyke was

the chosen sculptor of former President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

VanDyke said that up to the time when Burnham died, “I was still the man he would call on to make gifts that he would present to different Heads of State.”

He boasted on Friday that at the then President’s request, he designed 19 pieces for different Heads of State.

With humble Essequibo roots, VanDyke said that he did “well” academically and worked at a number of Government agencies. But somehow he was never satisfied or settled until he became an artist.

Eventually, his calling came through a profound dream that according to him, felt “very real”. The day after that dream, even with zero knowledge or affiliation with the creative art in the world of sculpting, “I never stopped working.” I guess that is what they call natural talent.

Becoming prominent in 1983, the same year he started dabbling in sculptures, VanDyke knew what any artistic being needs is to be alone. He always is. In 1994, Vandyke won the then annual Visual Arts Competition award. His outstanding works continued through the years and even though making sculptures is his main source of income; Vandyke donated several of his pieces to institutions across Guyana.

One such is his donation to the New Opportunity Corps. That piece he named ‘Training for Developments Through Youthful Minds.”

But with all that he has done over the years, VanDyke still hasn’t run out of ideas.

His latest “masterpiece” is

one he named “Our divided nation,” a piece that defines perfection. It was six weeks in the making.

During my interview, Vandyke said that once he gets the idea “the rest is history.”

Our Divided Nation is made of mahogany. It is a highly symbolic piece that represents what is going on in the Guyana Parliament.

A turtle forms the base of the structure which, according to VanDyke, represents the slow pace at which Guyana is currently moving.

Attached to the shell of that turtle is a depiction of the map of Guyana, but one that carries a big slash half way down the middle which is the main representation that attributes to the name “Our divided Nation.”

Just below the separated section, is the face of a man and from that point down there is the map. That face bears an expression of an annoyed, frustrated and somewhat dazed individual.

VanDyke disclosed that that face is one to depict the Speaker of the National Assembly who, in his opinion, is trying to hold the parliament together.

On his left, are carvings of three persons and on his right are those of two; the three representing the opposition which forms the majority in parliament.

A rope that is wrapped around both parties is also cut in the middle and the two odd pieces are left hanging.

VanDyke said that that rope represents the one agenda for the betterment of Guyana that political parties should have. But being cut depicts the seeming reality

that both parties don’t have the one common agenda.

He said that it is unfortunate that the government and the opposition can’t seem to agree on anything. Vandyke expressed the view that even if there are arguments, an agreement should be met at the end of the day, one that is best for Guyana.

Below the portrayal of the political parties, are the six races that represent Guyana’s ethnic diversity. Two people are at the front of the sculpture representing the two races that are the majority in Guyana; those two seem to be looking on. While the other races hide behind the map, representing those that distant themselves from politics.

VanDyke said that those hiding are those most likely to migrate. “They will come back when it has all been sorted out. “

Sunday April 14, 2013

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Destitute found dead, believed to have been beaten

The lifeless body of a destitute man was discovered early yesterday morning in an abandoned shop on Ketley Street, next to Humphrey’s Bakery.

The man who is only known in the area by his alias “Canadian,” is said to have been deported several years ago.

Since deportation, Canadian reportedly dwelled in the community doing odd jobs.

Canadian’s body was found in a foetal position. He was clad in a blue denim pants, cut to knee length, and a sky blue T-Shirt covered with blood that carried the slogan of Courts Furniture store.

His face was bashed in and it seemed also that he sustained lacerations about the body.

As residents converged

ImmigrationINFO Immigration News For Our Community

Immigration Bill Details Emerge – Introduced Next Week

A glimpse of the body at the spot where his body was found, they described the suspected murder victim to each other as “the man that does empty garbage.”

The consensus at the scene was that “He mussy

thief somebody thing, dem beat he and he go lie down deh and dead.

Police arrived on the scene and later confirmed that an investigation will be launched.

Pedal cyclist killed in hit and run accident A 50-year-old Le Ressouvenir man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was struck down by a speeding car on the Better Hope Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

The dead man has been identified as Kenard Seetaram who only returned to Guyana from Suriname two days ago.

The dead man’s brother, Richard Seetaram, said that he was on his way home when he noticed a crowd on the Better Hope Public Road.

Sunday April 14, 2013

According to Richard, when he went to enquire, he saw his brother sprawled on the road with his bicycle close by. The man related that he called on his workers who were in the tray of his Canter truck to assist him.

They placed the injured man in the truck and took him to the hospital. Pedal cyclist killed in hit and run accident “When we first saw him he was breathing but he died some time after.”

Richard recalled that when his brother returned

from Suriname he asked him for a job. He said that he was making arrangements for his brother to come join his construction crew.

Further, the dead man’s brother said he was informed that after the car hit his brother the driver stopped, came out looked at the injured man and continued driving.

However persons in the vicinity were able to get the number of the vehicle PLL 5558 which has since been provided to the police.

This past week, I was in Washington, D.C. meeting with various U.S. Congressional offices in my capacity as President of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association-Central Florida Chapter. At every office I visited there was an open ear and open reception to Immigration Reform.

Rumors are that the Senate will introduce an Immigration Bill or proposal within the next week.

There are still many back room negotiations going on between various Senators but a final Immigration Bill or proposal is almost complete and the 1500-page legislation will likely contain the following core provisions: 1. Elimination of Brother/ Sister Sponsorship: Under the current immigration system, U.S. citizens can petition for or sponsor their siblings. Although the wait is typically 10-12 years, the spouses and children (under age 21) of the brother/sister of the U.S. citizen are also beneficiaries. The proposed Senate Immigration Bill is said to contain a provision that will eliminate the sponsorship of brother/sisters of U.S. citizens going forward. So, if you have already filed a petition for your brother/ sister, this petition will still be processed and your relatives will receive an immigrant visas when one is available.

However, after the

Immigration Bill becomes law, then there will be no further filings accepted by U.S. citizens for their brothers/ sisters.

2. Mandatory E-Verify for all Businesses: E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. So, under proposal for immigration reform, all U.S. businesses will be required to use E-Verify and must input all employees information into this database to verify their eligibility to work in the U.S. Currently, the E-Verify system is optional for employers.

3. NEW Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) Status: A new immigrant status will be created for the 11 million undocumented called Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status. This will be a third way to obtain legal status in the U.S. Currently, we have two paths to lawful permanent status – family based or employer based. This new RPI status will require applicants to pay fines, pay filing fees, and show proof of taxes paid and no criminal record. The wait time to legalize status will be 8-10 years. Yes, they are proposing that the new

immigrants “go to the back of the line”.

4. Retiree Visa: The Senate Immigration Bill or proposal is said to have a provision for a retiree visa.

So anyone over age 60 from Canada or over age 65 from other countries can get a visa to retire in the U.S. once they show home ownership in the U.S. and proof of health insurance.

Again, the Immigration Bill or proposal is about 1500 pages and has many more provisions and details that have not been released. The positive is that it creates a process to legalize the 11 million undocumented. The negative is that family sponsorship will be limited to only spouses and minor children AND there will be greater enforcement and in turn a higher rate of removal/ deportation in the U.S.

A man is now nursing a gunshot wound to his head after he was shot just after midnight on Friday by a passenger who refused to pay.

The injured man is 59year-old Desmond Marcus of Louisa Row, Wortmanville.

Marcus, the driver of a route 41 minibus, said that he was in the vicinity of National Avenue and Caneview Avenue when a passenger requested to be put off.

According to Marcus as the man was coming out of the minibus he made no attempt to pay the conductor so he decided to ask the passenger for his money.

There was an exchange of words between Marcus and his passenger when the passenger who appeared to be no more than in his early 20s whipped out an object that was wrapped in a handkerchief.

Reports are that Marcus was of the belief that the

passenger was armed with a knife so he ran for a piece of wood since by that time both men were out of the minibus.

According to Marcus the man then pointed the object in his direction and he heard an explosion. Only then did he realize that the man had a gun.

“De first time like de gun jam and is the second time he shoot I get hit.”

Marcus said that the man ran into National Avenue and he quickly jumped back into his minibus and drove himself to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was t r e a t e d a n d s e n t a w a y.

According to the medical records seen by this publication Marcus was given Ibuprofen, a tetanus injection and antibiotics and sent home.

However the man’s relatives were not immediately satisfied with treatment given as Marcus while at home was still crying

out for severe pain. He was again taken to the medical institution and was told that his injury was not life threatening and that he should return on Monday for possible surgery.

The hospital had done an X-Ray that clearly showed the bullet in the man’s head.

The GPHC in a statement on the i s s u e s a i d t h a t Marcus arrived at the hospital about 02:00 hours and was treated and told to return on Monday to have the bullet removed.

But some sources at the hospital said that given the head injury it would have been customary for the hospital to keep the injured man for observation. This must be the first case of a man being discharged with a bullet in his head.

The management of GPHC subsequently recalled the patient and he is now admitted to the institution and is being monitored.

Gail Seeram

Non-paying passenger shoots minibus driver

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Sunday April 14, 2013

OP increases number of super-salaried workers The number of contracted Presidential support staffers, which includes advisors, at the Office of the President (OP), is set to increase by 20 this year and likely to cost taxpayers at least $75M more than 2012.

According to figures contained in the 2013 estimates of the National Budget, under “Presidential Advisory ( C a b i n e t a n d Other Services), the number of contracted employees there will now be 141.

That section of presidential advisors and other support staffers, including non-contract workers to the Cabinet, totals 176 persons.

- Guyana to spend $1.6B more on contract employees this year Advisors include the likes of Parliamentarians Gail Teixeira, Odinga Lumumba and Indra Chandarpal. For the 141 contracted staffers under this heading, the sum budgeted is $380M. In total, the number of contract employees at OP will cost $423.5M this year as against the $343.3M spent in 2012.

The issue of contract workers at OP has been simmering for years now with the Opposition accusing Government of creating highpaying posts to reward party

faithfuls. The Opposition had demanded that Government trim what it believed was a bloated OP. In recent years, the administration has been questioned on this particular aspect during considerations of the budget estimates.

Last year, the combined Opposition of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) used the one-seat majority in the new Parliament to chop a chunk of money from especially OP, affecting

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon a number of the programmes.

This year, the questions over the high-paying contract jobs are again

Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira

Presidential Press Liaison, Kwame McCoy

likely to place OP under i n t e n s e s c r u t i n y, t h e Opposition says.

O n F r i d a y, A P N U Parliamentarians said that they were looking to d i s m a n t l e the contract workers’ system.

AFC has since signaled its intention to reduce the budget of a number of programmes, including the contract workers at OP. According to a notice from AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, the party will be moving to reduce $380M budgeted f o r c o n t r a c t workers to $220M when that particular sum comes up for considerations in the coming days.

Contract workers at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Government are also being targeted for the budget cuts.

Last year, AFCMP, Moses Nagamootoo, likened OP’s Presidential Advisors to “fat cats”.

It was disclosed that Press Undersecretary, Mahendr a R o o p n a r i n e , earns $395,000 per month while controversial President’s Information Liaison Officer, Kwame M c C o y, w a s t a k i n g i n $334,850.

Head of the Presidential S e c r e t a r i a t D r. R o g e r Luncheon, was listed as being paid a salary of

$895,326 while his Deputy, Hydar Ally, $550,064.

Office of the President also pays the son of Former Attorney General, Charles Ramson, $430,196 for the position of Technical Legal Director.

The late Reepu Daman Persaud was listed on June payroll for OP as receiving $412,320 for his services as an Advisor to the President while former Regional Chairman for Region Six, Zulfikar Mustapha earned for himself as Head, Community Relations Liaison Officer some $307,600.

Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira, was taking home $967,985, a salary greater than her boss Dr. Luncheon.

Significantly also this year, government is going to spend $1.6B more or $7.8B to pay contract workers, according to the estimates.

Unions and political parties have been railing against the increase of contract workers by government saying those same workers are denied benefits on the long run.

They also have been accusing Government of deliberately increasing the number of contract workers to erode the strength of the unions, which increasingly have been finding it hard to survive in recent years.

Gunraj Raghubeer, 24, of 26 Gordon Street Kitty appeared last Friday before Chief Magistrate, Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court to answer a charge of fraudulent conversion.

The defendant was not required to plead.

According to court documents, within the months of January and February, Mark Fung of Fourth Sideline Dam , Success, Narine Ramkisson of Lot 92 Success and Latchman Chituaman of 768 Block 8 Mon Repos, gave Raghubeer, $1.3million, $500,000 and $500,000

respectively.

Raghubeer who is a car dealer accepted the sums of money with the understanding that he would deliver the imported cars within an agreed period of time.

When he failed to deliver on the conditions of their signed contracts, the matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged for converting the received monies to his own benefit and use.

The defendant was subsequently remanded and is expected to return to court on April 16.

Car dealer remanded for not delivering on alleged promises

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Lead narrows for Chavez heir amid crime, shortages CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Nicolas Maduro hopes to ride a tide of grief into Venezuela’s special presidential election today and win voters’ endorsement to succeed the late Hugo Chavez, the divisive largerthan-life leader who chose him to carry on the messy, unfinished Chavista revolution.

That will mean inheriting both a loyal following among the poor and multiple problems left behind by Chavez, troubles that have been harped on by opposition challenger Henrique Capriles.

Although he’s still favored, Maduro’s early big lead in opinion polls sharply narrowed in the past week as Venezuelans grappled with a litany of woes many blame on Chavez’s mismanagement of the economy and infrastructure: chronic power outages, double-digit inflation, food and medicine shortages. Add to that rampant crime — Venezuela has among the world’s

highest homicide and kidnapping rates.

Maduro, a former union activist with close ties to Cuba’s leaders who was Chavez’s longtime foreign minister, hinted at feeling overwhelmed during his closing campaign speech to hundreds of thousands of redshirted faithful Thursday.

“I need your support. This job that Chavez left me is very difficult,” said Maduro, who became acting president after Chavez succumbed to cancer March 5. “This business of being president and leader of a revolution is a pain in the neck.”

Capriles, a 40-year-old state governor who lost to Chavez in October’s regular presidential election, hammered away at the ruling socialists’ record of unfulfilled promises as he crisscrossed Venezuela. His campaign libretto included reading aloud a list of unfinished road, bridge and rail projects before asking what goods were scarce on store shelves.

New bid to stop Piarco enquiry Section 34 appeal application

Mira Dean-Armorer

Trinidad Express - An application to stop the preliminary enquiry relating to the Piarco Two criminal charges will be heard on April 26, the same day the individuals and companies charged with a series of fraud offences are scheduled to return before a magistrate.

High Court judge Mira Dean-Armorer fixed the date Friday during a hearing in courtroom 08, at the Hall of Justice, in Port of Spain.

The matter came up for hearing one day after an appeal challenging the judge’s ruling was filed before the Appeal Court. That matter is listed to be heard on May 6.

The judge was initially reluctant to hear the application but was convinced by an argument mounted by attorney Vijay Deonarine that she in fact had jurisdiction after he referred to

specific rules governing civil litigation.

On April 5, the judge had dismissed constitutional motions, filed by United National Congress financiers Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh, which challenged Parliament’s decision to repeal Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act 2011.

The applicants had complained that the retroactive repeal of the legislation by Parliament deprived them of an assurance from the State that they could apply to have their matters dismissed on the basis that they were older than ten years. The judge also adjourned 27 other separate applications filed by several of the individuals and companies charged in the Piarco corruption cases, including Ferguson and Galbaransingh, to October 4.

Those cases related to applications by the individuals under the existing Section 34 legislation, before it was repealed, seeking to have their criminal cases dismissed.

Among the individuals are former prime minister Basdeo Panday and his wife Oma Panday and former government ministers Brian Kuei Tung, Sadiq Baksh, Carlos John and Russell Huggins.

Nicolas Maduro and Henrique Capriles Maduro, 50, hewed to a simple message, a theme of the October presidential campaign: “I am Chavez. We are all Chavez.” He promised to expand a myriad of antipoverty programs created by the man he called the “Jesus Christ of Latin America” and funded by $1 trillion in oil revenues during Chavez’s 14year rule.

His campaign mobilized a state bureaucracy of nearly 2.7 million workers that was built up by Chavez while he cemented a near-monopoly on power, using loyalists in the judiciary to intimidate and diminish the opposition, particularly its broadcast media.

There are no easy answers for the troubles besetting Venezuela even though the country has the world’s largest oil reserves.

Many factories in the

heartland operate at half capacity because strict currency controls leave them short of the hard currency needed to pay for imports.

Business leaders say some companies are on the verge of bankruptcy, unable to extend lines of credit with suppliers abroad. Chavez imposed currency controls a decade ago to stem capital flight as he expropriated large land parcels and dozens of private businesses.

But the restrictions have backfired. In a roaring black market, dollars sell at three times the official exchange rate and Maduro has already devalued Venezuela’s currency, the bolivar, twice this year.

The government blames shortages of milk, butter, corn flour and other staples on hoarding. The opposition points at the price controls imposed by Chavez in an

attempt to cool double-digit inflation.

Siobhan Morden, head of Latin American strategy for Jefferies LLC, said Venezuela risks hitting economic stagnation and Maduro’s options are limited outside an ideological shift. For instance, she said the government has resisted issuing new foreign bonds to raise capital.

Maduro’s “sympathy votes will fade” eventually, Morden said. “Can he survive a six-year term with stagflation? If he feels he has to grow the economy, what will he do given the ideological constraints?”

Capriles said he will reverse land expropriations, which he said have ruined some farms and turned Venezuela into a net importer of food, including beef and coffee.

But even Capriles said

currency and price controls cannot be immediately scrapped without triggering a disastrous run on the bolivar.

As a way of immediately injecting dollars into the economy, he proposes ending the shipment of cut-rate oil to Cuba.

He said he would also reestablish close ties with the United States, which Chavez has vilified since a 2002 coup attempt that Washington initially endorsed.

Maduro made his campaign a paean to Chavez.

He followed his mentor’s playbook of blaming many of Venezuela’s woes on sabotage and subterfuge by “the extreme right,” Colombian paramilitaries, U.S. putschists and other shadowy forces.

Hard evidence is never provided.

“Captured” suspects are never identified.

The government’s media machine, meanwhile, provides a pervasive message aimed at keeping Chavistas on board.

Yadaira Nunez, a 43-yearold grandmother married to a volunteer firefighter, lives with three generations in a wooden shack in a squatters settlement outside the central city of Valencia, but she doesn’t blame the government for worsening blackouts and food shortages.

“Well, that’s also sabotage. You can’t close your eyes to reality,” she said.

“As elections near there’s no flour. Look, my granddaughter doesn’t have milk because we can’t find milk anywhere.”

And for many Venezuelans, it’s enough that Chavez told them to elect Maduro — at least for now.

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Jamaicans cry foul over alleged Trinidad export practices Jamaica Observer Trinidadian exporters to Jamaica have been accused of violating trade rules by misrepresenting products as being of CARICOM origin, allowing them to benefit from lower customs duties and price advantages in the local market.

It’s the latest complaint in a long-running trade dispute between the two Caribbean countries, which have had uneasy commercial relations in recent years.

Opposition spokesman for Industry, Commerce and Energy Gregory Mair raised the alarm to the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, saying that there have been reports of goods being passed off as Trinidadian when in fact they were only repackaged in the twin-island republic.

Goods from CARICOM member states which meet rules of origin are traded dutyfree throughout the region. A Common External Tariff is usually applied on products originating from outside

CARICOM. Mair said the practice would make it even more difficult for Jamaican manufacturers, already being hurt by a flood of cheap imports and high cost of production, to compete.

“The challenge is how does a private sector man — with information that competing products are being brought into Jamaica with material not originated from CARICOM — go into Trinidad to investigate and bring proof,” Mair told Caribbean Business Report Friday.

Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) President Brian Pengelley confirmed that there were concerns over imports not being completely made in CARICOM. “In other words, you could bring in imported peanuts, but all you do is put the peanuts in a little bag.

That’s not what we call a full conversion process,” Pengelley said Friday.

The JMA president said a report had been made to the

Bureau of Standards of Jamaica, which has inspectors at the port.

“I believe they are on the lookout for it and I know some samples have been sent already to the Bureau,” said Pengelley, adding, “We need to really look at that in a hard way to protect ourselves.”

As the nation grapples with a widening trade deficit with CARICOM, now nearly US$1.2 billion ($119 billion), there have been increasing calls by some Jamaicans to pull out from the 15-member regional organisation.

Jamaica has the largest market in CARICOM. The country reportedly imports 30 per cent of total intraregional CARICOM exports, but produces less than two per cent of those exports.

Trinidad and Tobago accounts for the bulk of the trade deficit between Jamaica and CARICOM. This imbalance compounded with several high-profile trade disputes have strained commercial

relations between the two countries.

The twin-island republic’s Government has been accused by Jamaicans of providing unfair energy subsidies to its manufacturers. Trinidad, which is rich in gas and oil resources, supplies energy to its manufacturers at just over three cents per kilowatt-hour, while in Jamaica, it’s supplied at over 30 cents per kilowatthour, giving Trinidadian manufacturers a huge competitive advantage in trade.

Against this background, Mair said that more needs to be done by the Jamaican Government to protect local manufacturers.

“The manufacturers in Trinidad have the full backing of their Government because they recognise that manufacturing is very important for employment, the creation of revenues and the growth of their economy. We in Jamaica have not taken that position,” he said.

Sunday April 14, 2013

PNM asks more about Flying SquadJack again denies any knowledge

Jack Warner

Trinidad Guardian National Security Minister Jack Warner Friday reiterated his position that he knew nothing of the existence of the New Flying Squad Investigations Unit (NFSIU).

Answering renewed Opposition questions about the NFSIU in the House of Representatives, Warner said he was also not aware the National Security Operations Centre (NSOC) had facilitated the establishment of an NFSIU.

On whether he had given any instruction to any official of the Ministry of National Security or any police official to liaise/talk/meet with any person towards the establishment of this socalled crime-fighting unit referred to as the NFSIU, he said: “No, I have never given any such instruction.”

Mervyn Cordner, a former member of the Flying Squad, has maintained he formed the NFSIU with the blessings of Warner’s ministry and the agents acting on the ministry’s behalf assisted them with the start-up. He also claimed the unit had begun helping the police with investigations in the fight against crime.

Yesterday, on questions as to whether he or any agency under his purview had authorised the rental of property or vehicles for the NFSIU, Warner said: “I, as the Minister of National Security, gave no such authorisation to anyone under my purview. I’m not aware of anyone in my ministry who did so.” He also said he had received no reports prepared by the NFSIU.

Sunday April 14, 2013

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Government announces cash for guns scheme DBA SUN - A cash for guns scheme is to get underway next month, Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley announced Friday.

The programme – run jointly with the independent Crime Stoppers group – will see cash rewards for information leading to the recovery of firearms or the arrest and prosecution of offenders.

Mr Dunkley said an advertising blitz for the scheme will kick off this month, emphasizing the independence and confidentiality of Crime Stoppers.

And later in the summer, a guns amnesty programme, where members of the public can turn over illegal firearms, will be launched.

Mr Dunkley said: “We must deploy every resource to rid our country of firearms.

“We expect to achieve some success.”

He added: “I think we should know that the police aren’t exactly sure of the number of guns on our streets.

But we do know from trials and evidence that guns are passed around and have been

used in several shootings.

“Imagine the impact if we take just one gun off the streets and reduce the pain and violence in our communities.”

And Mr Dunkley stressed: “Let me reemphasise that Bermuda has a zero tolerance for illegal firearms and that policy remains unchanged.

“Together we can make Bermuda safer again and together we will make Bermuda safer again.”

Mr Dunkley said that the size of cash awards would depend on the quality of information supplied and be linked to the importance of any guns seized as a result of tip-offs.

He was reluctant to discuss exact amounts, but said the rewards would amount to “significant” sums of money.

And Mr Dunkley said the new initiatives would go hand-in-hand with a gettough policy to plug the gaps that allow guns to slip into the country, mostly from the US. New Crime Stoppers chairman Raphael Simons, a veteran police officer who left

WASHINGTON - CMC – Caribbean countries are likely to benefit from a new US$50 million Energy Efficiency Finance Facility being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The IDB said that the funds would finance companies making investments in energy efficiency and self-supply renewable energy projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It will be supported by seven million euros (One euro =US$1.30 cents) from the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) to mitigate risk of the facility through the provision of partial guarantees to the IDB-financed subloans, which will range in size from US$500,000 to US$5 million.

The IDB said an additional one million Euro from the NDF will provide technical assistance grants related to project identification and feasibility and engineering studies.

The facility will address funding needs in the currently underserved sector of energy efficiency and small-scale renewable energy generation,

where borrowers often encounter high risk premiums, high collateral requirements and inadequate tenors.

It will focus on projects with potential for high financial returns, including increasingly economical technologies such as smartgrid, advanced lighting and solar or biomass power.

“This is a new market in which small loans can produce significant returns,” said Kelle Bevine, head of the Strategy Management Unit in the Bank’s Structured and Corporate Finance Department.

“Amid increasing demand for energy in the region, we can help reduce consumption by making investments in low carbon technologies more financially viable.”

The new facility aims to realize up to US$100 million in climate friendly investment and continues the Bank’s collaboration with NDF, which over the past year has provided technical assistance funding for a variety of energy audits and small-scale energy projects for companies in Central America.

Caribbean countries to benefit from IDB US$50M energy programme

the force with the rank of Inspector and who now heads up the security and fraud unit at HSBC, said the organization was happy to cooperate with police.

He added that Crime Stoppers had received nearly 80 calls last year – half of the number the previous year – but added that reflected a fall in overall crime.

Mr Simons said the group

had paid out $87,000 in rewards – and anonymous information forwarded to police had resulted in $70,000 worth of drugs being taken off the streets.

He added that anonymous tip-offs had not only dealt with murders, drugs and guns, but also immigration offences, the theft of electricity and cable services, as well as taxdodging.

Michael Dunkley

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Sunday April 14, 2013

Mubarak appears in Egyptian court for retrial CAIRO (AP) — The judge in Hosni Mubarak’s retrial recused himself at the start of the first session yesterday, citing a conflict of interest as the former Egyptian president appeared in court for the first time in 10 months grinning and waving to supporters.

The recusal threw the case deeper into disarray after an appeals court in January overturned a life sentence for Mubarak on a conviction for failing to prevent the killings of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ousted him.

The appeals court granted Mubarak a retrial after ruling that in the first trial, the prosecution’s case lacked concrete evidence and failed to prove that protesters were killed by the police during the bloodiest days of the revolt.

Some 900 people were killed in the 18-day uprising, most of them in the initial days.

Hoda Nasrallah, a rights lawyer representing 65 victims’ families in the case, said there is no certainty that the prosecution will provide new evidence this time around to back up the charges.

The judge in the first trial criticized the prosecution for

failing to provide evidence that police killed protesters.

Protesters accused attorney general’s office of shoddy work in collecting evidence.

The attorney general at the time was a Mubarak-appointee who has since been replaced.

“The investigations took place in just one month, which is not enough time to review all the cases of killings across Egypt,” Nasrallah said. “There are reports in the media that there will be new evidence submitted, but we’re waiting to see if that is true.”

Mubarak’s first trial took place in a charged atmosphere that eclipsed the legal nuances of the case and led to what many saw as a politically motivated verdict aimed at calming a public outcry for justice after nearly 30 years of authoritarian rule.

Rumors had swirled several times in the past year that Mubarak was near death.

However, the 84-year-old appeared upbeat in his first court appearance since his conviction in June 2012.

After being wheeled into the courtroom on a hospital gurney, he sat upright and grinned and waved to his

imprisoned in separate cases.

El-Adly, who was in charge of police during the uprising, was convicted of the same charges as Mubarak in his first trial and also sentenced to life in prison. His sentence was also overturned by the appeals court.

Mubarak was airlifted by a military helicopter to the court while his two sons and el-Adly were driven from Tora prison in the outskirts of Cairo.

The session lasted only a few minutes, ending after Judge Mostafa Hassan recused himself and referred the case to an appeals court to appoint another judge. He did not explain the conflict of interest behind the decision.

As he took the bench, some lawyers shouted, demanding that

he remove himself from the case.

“Sit until you hear what the court’s decision is,” the judge responded.

Immediately after, he announced that the case would be sent to an appeals court. Some lawyers began chanting: “The people demand the execution of the ousted president!”

Local media reports had suggested Hassan might transfer the case to another judge. In October, he caused an uproar among political activists when he acquitted 25 Mubarak loyalists accused of organizing a deadly Camel Battle attack during the uprising. In the attack, assailants on horses and camels stormed downtown Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the protests.

If convicted again, the life sentences for Mubarak and el-Adly could be upheld or their sentences could be reduced. They could also be acquitted but is considered unlikely that they would draw a heavier sentence, such as the death penalty.

In addition to the charges related to deaths of protesters, Mubarak and his sons face corruption charges in the trial along with longtime business associate, Hussein Salem, who is currently on the run in Spain. Five police generals face the same charges as Mubarak with relation to the killing of protesters while a sixth is accused of gross negligence.

Mubarak’s two sons and the six police generals are being retried after prosecutors filed an appeal against their acquittals.

The outcome of Mubarak’s first trial prompted mass protests against the mixed verdict, which sentenced the former president to life in prison but did not offer anything close to full accountability for wrongdoing under his three decades in power.

The scene outside of the courthouse on Saturday reflected the change in the political atmosphere since the emotional outbursts that surrounded Mubarak’s first trial in August 2011.

Hundreds flocked to the courtroom for his first trial and Egyptians and others in the region were glued to televisions in near-disbelief at seeing the former autocrat in a courtroom defendant’s cage — something that symbolized to many the people’s triumph over dictatorship.

(Reuters) - Senators crafting an immigration bill have agreed that foreigners who crossed the U.S. border illegally would be deported if they entered the United States after December 31, 2011, a congressional aide said on Friday.

The legislation by a bipartisan group of senators would give the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally a way to obtain legal status and eventually become U.S. citizens, provided certain measures are met.

But of the unauthorized immigrants, those who entered after the December 2011 cut-off date would be forced to go back to their country of origin, said the aide, who was not authorized to speak publicly because the bill is still being negotiated.

“People need to have been in the country long enough to

have put down some roots. If you just got here and are illegal, then you can’t stay,” the congressional aide said.

The lawmakers - four Democrats and four Republicans - are aiming to unveil their bill on Tuesday, one day before the Senate Judiciary Committee is to hold a hearing to examine the legislation.

Senators and congressional aides have said that most major policy issues have been resolved. But some details still need to be worked out, said sources familiar with the negotiations.

Support has been growing among lawmakers and the public for immigration reform since President Barack Obama was re-elected in November with help from the Hispanic community.

The last time U.S. immigration laws were extensively rewritten was in

1986 and those policies have been blamed for allowing millions of people to enter and live in the country illegally, while also resulting in shortages of high-skilled workers from abroad, as well as some low-skilled wageearners.

Under the bill being crafted, security would first be improved along the southwestern border with Mexico. At the same time, the threat of deportation would be lifted for many who are living in the U.S. illegally. Within 13 years of enactment, those immigrants could begin securing U.S. citizenship.

The bill would increase the number of visas issued for high-skilled workers and create a new program to control the flow of unskilled workers. It would also make it harder for U.S. citizens to petition for visas for their extended families.

Egyptian medics and army personnel escort former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from a helicopter ambulance after it landed at Maadi Military Hospital following a hearing in his retrial in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. (AP Photo/ Amr Nabil)

supporters from inside the metal defendant’s cage. His eyes were shaded behind brown-tinted glasses.

Mubarak’s two sons, Alaa and Gamal, and his former Interior Minister Habib elAdly were in the cage with him. They are currently

Senate plan would deport illegal immigrants entering U.S. after 2011

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Italy’s Berlusconi says he would be the PM candidate if new vote held (Reuters) - Italy’s fourtime Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Saturday he would stand to lead the country for a fifth time if a snap vote is called after centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani again rejected forming a government with his rival.

The February election left parliament split between three hostile blocs, none of which can govern alone, making an early return to the polls a growing possibility.

But for constitutional reasons a new election cannot be called by President Giorgio Napolitano, and so it will be his successor who will have another chance to find a solution that allows the formation of a government, or else dissolve parliament and call new elections.

Voting to pick a new president starts on Thursday.

Berlusconi’s centre right would win a snap vote by a hair, overturning February’s

result that gave the PD control of the lower house but not the Senate, an ISPO poll published in Saturday’s Corriere della Sera newspaper showed.

Speaking to thousands of supporters gathered in a central square in the southern city of Bari, Berlusconi repeated that he was willing to join Bersani to form a right-left “grand coalition” government.

“Or there is an immediate government, strong and stable, or else the Italians should return to the ballot boxes and vote in June,” Berlusconi said.

“We are ready for another vote, and I will be present as leader of the People of Liberty (PDL) party and candidate for prime minister,” Berlusconi said to a roar from the crowd.

In February’s vote, PDL secretary Angelino Alfano was the party’s premier candidate, with Berlusconi saying he would be economy

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad resigned yesterday, leaving the Palestinians without one of their most moderate and well-respected voices just as the U.S. is launching a new push for Mideast peace.

A statement from the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said President Mahmoud Abbas met with Fayyad late in the day and accepted his resignation, thanking him for his service.

According to the statement, Abbas asked Fayyad to continue to serve in his post until Abbas forms a new government.

Abbas was expected to name a new prime minister within days, according to Palestinian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with

regulations.

Abbas and Fayyad had been locked in an increasingly bitter dispute over the extent of the prime minister’s authority. Fayyad offered his resignation on Thursday, but Abbas did not respond to Fayyad’s offer until Saturday.

His departure could spell trouble for Abbas. Fayyad, a Western-trained economist, is well respected in international circles, and he is expected to play a key role in U.S. efforts to revive peace talks.

As part of that effort, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said he plans to announce a series of measures to boost the West Bank economy in the coming days. Fayyad, a former official at the International Monetary Fund with expertise in development, would be key to overseeing such projects.

Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad resigns

Central African Republic council elects President BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Central African Republic rebel leader Michel Djotodia has been elected president by the National Transitional Council.

Djotodia was the only candidate and was elected unanimously yesterday by the 105 members of the National Transitional Council in a ceremony that was attended by political leaders, the press and representatives of international organizations accredited in Central African Republic.

Djotodia led the Seleka rebels who overthrew President Francois Bozize three weeks ago. Djotodia has 18 months to set up elections to select a new leader, according to guidelines set by neighboring countries in the Economic Community of Central African States.

Leaders of the neighboring countries are expected to attend a summit on April 15, 2013 in N’Djamena, Chad, to consider the situation in Central African Republic.

minister. But his remarkable comeback during the campaign to nearly defeat the PD has again made him the undisputed leader of his bloc.

Earlier on Saturday, speaking at a small theatre in an impoverished suburb of Rome, Bersani said he was willing to seek a neutral candidate to be the next president because the constitution says he should be a figure of “national unity”.

But he rejected forming a government with Berlusconi, saying: “A grand coalition is not the right response to the problems of the country.”

Bersani has been under mounting pressure from inside and outside his party to back a government with Berlusconi, who is unpalatable for many PD voters, to end the political stalemate now in its second month.

The PD rally was called as a

“protest against poverty” and Bersani repeated his recipe to try to create jobs and loosen the suffocating austerity that has worsened Italy’s recession, which already equals the longest in postwar history.

But the political deadlock has put the PD at risk of splitting, and employers’ lobbies and labour unions have joined in a call for the formation of a government to make economic reforms.

Silvio Berlusconi

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Sunday April 14, 2013

US, China pledge efforts for nuclear-free North Korea BEIJING (AP) — The United States and China committed yesterday to a process aimed at ridding North Korea of its nuclear weapons, with the Obama administration gaining at least the rhetorical support of the only government that can exert significant influence over the reclusive North.

The question now is whether Beijing will make good on its pledge to uphold “peace and stability” and work with Washington on achieving the goal of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

The declarations from both nations’ foreign policy chiefs came as North Korea appears to be readying a missile test that has caused grave concern for the U.S. and its two close Asian allies, South Korea and Japan.

“We are able — the United States and China — to underscore our joint commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters in Beijing before having dinner with State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

Kerry and Yang said they’d seek a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear standoff, which has only grown worse in recent months under its young leader Kim Jong Un. Since testing an atomic device in February, the North has threatened new tests of

its missile capacity and even talked about launching nuclear strikes against the United States, while expanding its U.N.-outlawed uranium and plutonium enrichment program.

“We agreed that this is of critical importance for the stability of the region and indeed for the world and indeed for all of our nonproliferation efforts,” Kerry said. “This is the goal of the United States, of China” and of other countries that hope to resume nuclear talks one day with North Korea.

“From this moment forward we are committed to taking actions in order to make good on that goal,” he added.

“And we are determined to make that goal a reality. China and the United States must together take steps in order to achieve the goal of a denuclearized Korean peninsula. And today we agreed that further discussions to bear down very quickly with great specificity on exactly how we will accomplish this goal.”

Kerry said U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and representatives from U.S. intelligence agencies would travel to Beijing later this month. Kerry also is sending his deputy at the State Department, William Burns, as part of the effort to “make sure that this is not rhetoric but that it is real policy that is being implemented.”

Yang said his

government’s position was clear.

“China is firmly committed to upholding peace and stability and advancing the denuclearization process on the Korean peninsula,” he said through an interpreter.

“We maintain that the issue should be handled and resolved peacefully through dialogue,” Yang said, adding that China would work with the United States and other nations to resume six-party talks with North Korea that fell apart for good four years ago.

Amid almost daily North Korean threats, the U.S. has been counting on China to force its unruly neighbor to stand down. It’s a strategy that has produced uneven results over decades of American diplomacy, during which the North has developed and tested nuclear weapons and repeatedly imperiled peace on the Korean peninsula.

But with only the counterthreat of overwhelming force to offer the North Koreans, the U.S. has little other option.

In their statements delivered side by side, neither

Kerry nor Yang specifically addressed the immediate crisis: a North Korean test of a missile with a range of up to 2,500 miles that the U.S. believes could happen any day. Later, Kerry said at a news conference that Washington and Beijing “both call on North Korea to refrain from any provocative steps and that obviously refers to any future missile shoot.”

Kerry and Yang focused primarily on the long-term

problem, which is a nuclear program that may soon, if not already, include the capability to deliver a warhead on a missile.

The question of North Korea’s capacity has been subject to great debate in Washington this past week after a U.S. intelligence assessment suggested North Korea had the capacity to put a nuclear warhead on a missile, even if any such weapon would have low reliability.

China has the greatest leverage over North Korea, a country that like few in the world actually cherishes its isolation.

The Chinese dramatically have boosted trade ties with their neighbors and maintain close military relations some six decades after they fought side by side in the Korean War. They provide North Korea with most of its fuel and much of its food aid.

(Reuters) - Financial leaders of the world’s 20 biggest economies will consider next week in Washington a proposal to cut their public debt over the

longer term to well below 90 percent of gross domestic product, a document prepared for the meeting showed.

The proposal, prepared by the co-chairs of the G20

Working Group on the Framework for Growth, follows agreement of the leaders of G20 countries in June last year to set ambitious debt reduction targets beyond 2016, when, under an earlier agreement from Toronto in 2010, debt was to stop growing.

“The co-chairs proposed that: ‘over the longer-term, G20 members should gear their fiscal policy towards achieving a debt level that is well below 90 percent of GDP,’” a document prepared for European Union delegates for the meeting said.

“We take note of the proposal made by the co-chairs on fiscal objectives as a good basis for discussion,” said the document, endorsed by EU finance ministers on Saturday and seen by Reuters.

The European Union itself, however, has a more ambitious debt ceiling of 60 percent of GDP for its 27 members and will suggest a lower target for the G20 would be better, too.

“Our experience with...the 60 percent of GDP reference value shows the importance of a more ambitious debt anchor. Such a debt anchor is needed with a consolidation path that is carefully calibrated to sustain the recovery,” it said.

“Advanced G20 economies

should commit to a common debt reduction anchor including fiscal adjustment plans which point to a clear and credible downward path of general government debt levels,” the document said.

Such targets would be easy for the European Union where the debt ratio is now 90 percent, or even for the United States with a debt of around 105 percent. But they could prove impossible for countries like Japan, where debt is well above 200 percent.

To beat deflation and help stagnant growth, the Bank of Japan has launched the world’s most intense burst of monetary stimulus ever, pledging to inject about $1.4 trillion into the economy in less than two years.

The G20 is expected to discuss the spillover effects on emerging market economies from monetary easing in Japan and other advanced economies, Japan’s Finance Minister Mitsuhiro Furusawa said on Friday.

The massive scale of the BOJ’s stimulus pushed the yen to a four-year low against the dollar this week and has jolted Japanese bond prices, with the 10-year bond yield rebounding to 0.635 percent on Friday from a record low of 0.315 percent hit last week after the BOJ announced its policy moves.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi deliver remarks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing yesterday. REUTERS/Paul J. Richards/Pool

Exclusive - G20 to consider cutting debt to well below 90 percent of GDP: document

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Mahdia stages protest over lengthy electricity shortage For a thriving, round the clock mining location as Mahdia, being unable to access electricity is out of the question, and residents are quite upset over the situation.

Yesterday, a number of irate and frustrated persons, especially business owners, came out in their numbers to express their disgust with an almost three-month 12-hour power shortage.

The Region Eight residents said that the power is being cut off at six o’clock in the morning and is not returned until six o’clock at night. They charged that this is despite being assured by the government that 24-hour electricity was guaranteed to the community.

Added to their frustration, residents said, is that they are still paying monthly bills at the same charge as a 24-hour electricity provision.

Vincent Javier, who operates a small grocery store in the community, said that prior to Mahdia receiving electricity, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told the community that they would be able to get round the clock electricity.

“I asked the Honorable Prime Minister if it would be possible for us to get 24-hour electricity. I asked him if it was feasible. He said yes. He said he is certain we would have 24-hour electricity because

the technicians had done studies. Today they telling us something different and talking about fuel.”

“So who are the technicians, who did the feasibility study?” Javier questioned.

Alliance for Change Councillor, Mahamed Gafoor, said that the Mahdia Power and Light (MPL) would buy fuel with money earned from electricity bills, but the operators are claiming that the fuel is as expensive as if it is being bought in Mahdia.

Mohamed said this is despite news that the fuel is duty free.

He further charged that added to the electricity fees paid by residents the Prime Minister indicated a monthly subsidy of $4M. With this, Gafoor opined, the area should access adequate fuel for a 24-hour service.

June Marcello, another AFC member and Parliamentarian, said that last year’s budget had allocated large sums of money to the Mahdia electricity situation but still they face a grave problem.

“We have brought it to the PM’s attention that the people are suffering and our food is spoiling.”

Marcello said, “The only solution is if they fix the Tumatumari hydro plant and ensure that this year’s budget allocation serves the people well.”

Other residents chanted, “We want light, we need light.” Placards read “Region Eight is part of Guyana; Stop punishing our children; We need 24-hour electricity; REO undermines another region and set up hydro power plant at Tumatumari.”

A male resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he understood that for years MPL had been receiving subsidies until a few months ago when the government allegedly withdrew these subsidies because they could not be accounted for.

“It is only now we really seeing what happening since the money was taken away.”

Shop owners said that

their products are spoiling and no one is going to compensate them. One man said that a large quantity of chicken was spoiled and had to be tossed out. Another said his dairy items also had to be tossed out.

Even on weekdays, residents said, the situation is the same. Students are unable to use computers and other electrical items because of the lack of power. One resident even alleged being told by the Regional Executive Officer that the community did not vote for the current administration so he had no concern.

When Kaieteur News visited the location small generators were heard in

many parts of the community as electricity had been cut off since six in the morning.

Those without generators had to stay without power until it returned.

This publication was however able to catch up with MPL manager Courtney Handy who amidst accusations by residents of fuel theft and sabotage, said that it is not his fault for the outrageous power shortage.

The manager explained that there are simply inadequate quantities of fuel for 24-hour service.

He said that Mahdia has two engines, a large and a small which use 150 and 180 drums of fuel monthly respectively. He said that the money MPL receives is enough to only buy 100 drums

of fuel.

He further said that as of this year the smaller engine experienced technical difficulties and the larger engine is now being used. He however said that even if the smaller engine was working 24 hours, energy still could not be provided since the company would still be 50 drums short.

The community is however calling on the relevant authorities and begging an audience with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. They further called on the AFC to investigate their plight and warned that this is the first step to engage authorities while requesting a speedy intervention into their matter.

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Sunday April 14, 2013

Sunday April 14, 2013

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LEAVE THOSE PORNOGRAPHIC MOVIES ALONE

By Ralph Seeram It was amusing to read a few days ago about the Guyana Police Force seizing hundreds of pornographic DVDs from the market and from street vendors in Georgetown. When you consider the crime situation in the capital city, the unsolved murders, gun violence, the daily robberies against individuals and businesses, you would think that the police would utilize their limited resources to solve crimes as well as for crime prevention instead of wasting it on poor vendors who are just eking out a living selling images of what basically transpires in our bedrooms every night (well for some of us not every night).

If selling pornographic DVDs is a crime in Guyana then the government needs to remove it from its books. I am not talking about selling to minors here. That obviously should remain illegal. I am talking about selling adult movies to adults, grown men

The Alliance for Change (AFC) plans to cut $36 billion from various sections of the 2013 National Budget, but says the government can avoid this by coming clean.

The first cuts could begin tomorrow under the Ministry of Agriculture, for which the AFC intends to cut $814 million under Drainage and Irrigation, which has a total budget of $1.4 billion.

The government has refused to act on an audit report, sent directly to the President, which detailed questionable transactions within the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and recommended the dismissal of senior officials.

The auditor who compiled the report was sent packing.

The AFC has signaled its intention not to approve spending for neither the Cheddi Jagan Airport Expansion Project for which

and women. There is no victim here, what’s the crime here. Further, what transpires in the bedroom is no business of government.

The problem is that society has been indoctrinated by some religions to make sex a dirty word, as if it is not something pleasurable to be enjoyed.

The truth is that Guyana needs to move out from the 18th century into the 21st century. The reality is that pornographic movies are h e r e t o s t a y. T h i s i s probably the largest single industry in the world. The revenues of the porn industry surpass the combined revenues of Microsoft, Apple, Google, eBay, Yahoo and Amazon combined.

It is so big that corporate America has gone mainstream and getting in the act. Companies like Direct TV owned by Rupert Murdoch reportedly earns about US$10M per month; AT&T through its Broadband Internet services, is said to be earning over US$20M a

month while hotels such as Marriott earns millions of dollars per month by offering pornographic movies.

It is said that porn generates over US$500M per month from hotels, contributing substantially to their revenues.

According to Family Safe Media, a few years ago revenues from porn worldwide totaled some US$97B. You know which country generated more revenues— China followed

by South Korea, Japan then the US. This is real folks, it is the real world not the artificial one that the religious would like us to believe.

Do you know when the word S E X i s u s e d a s a search word which country tops the list of request?

Pakistan, followed by I n d i a , E g y p t , Tu r k e y, Algeria, Morocco, Vietnam, Iran and Croatia. Do you recognize the pattern in the countries listed? Eight of those countries are Muslim-dominated countries where women are basically dominated by m e n , where sexuality is repressed.

The US is the largest producer of porn, but do you know the country that is regarded as the second largest producer of porn?

Guyana’s next door neighbor, Brazil.

The world can’t get enough of those Brazilian women. Some of you may be wondering why I am quoting statistics; it is merely to show the big picture that porn movies are not the taboo they once were, at least not in the real world.

Every second some 28,000 people are watching porn.

Seventy two percent of men are reported to visit adult sites as opposed to 28 per cent of women.

But then again the survey showed that 72 per cent of women keep their cyber activities secret, meaning more women than men probably visit porn sites.

Not surprising, some 47 per cent of Christians said it is a major problem in the home.

You don’t have to wonder why.

Of course there is the moral side of the issue as well as what social consequences it has on society. A common argument is that pornography contributes to rape and dehumanizes women. This argument comes from mainly religious/ conservative groups. Various studies have debunked that argument.

In fact, research proves that rapes decreased in

- says Gov’t can avoid cuts if it comes clean - Airport expansion, specialty hospital, LCDS face the axe $5.3 billion is proposed nor the Specialty Hospital for which $1.2 billion has been proposed. In addition, the party has indicated that it will slice funding for the Citizen Security Programme by $500 million, leaving the project with $143 million.

From the electrification under the Prime Minister’s Office, the AFC plans to cut six of the $10 billion that is proposed.

Other big projects the AFC plans to cut are those under the Low Carbon Development Strategy. The AFC plans to cut down those estimates from $20 billion to $1 billion.

Further, the AFC has given notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly that it will not approve the more than

$900 million that was asked for the Guyana Elections Commission under a heading called “other.”

The government has proposed to spend $2.3 billion more on the Amaila Falls access road, but the AFC wants that sized down to $700 million.

And what comes as no surprise is that the AFC, as it did last year, is cutting down the subsidies to the stateowned National Communications Network and the Government Information Agency (GINA) to virtually zero.

The party is required to give 24-hour notice of its intention to deny support for various categories of spending in the budget.

That time was bought

when the AFC and the other Parliamentary opposition parties Wednesday used their majority to push the consideration of the budget estimates to tomorrow.

Ramjattan said the government can avoid the cuts if it simply comes clean on massive contracts which do not meet the test of transparency and accountability.

“If we alter the budget it would be only because the explanations given by the government are unsatisfactory so as to justify the money it is looking for.

“If the explanations given meet the standards of transparency and accountability, then we will not have to cut,” Ramjattan told Kaieteur News.

societies that had more availability of porn. Greater availability and exposure does not necessarily translate to an increase of sexual assaults, the opposite proved true. Exposure to and tolerance of pornography does not cause anti social behavior.

There are some valid arguments against pornography; these are not criminal but rather psychological in nature.

For some it’s the de facto sex education. This could lead to higher expectation of sex partners, or sometimes lead to an inferiority complex meaning that they can’t “measure up”. Porn is basically meant for sexual arousal —short and simple. It is meant to help with the foreplay.

As a matter of fact, when one is pressed for time, porn can speed up arousal and cut down on foreplay time, a kind of a short cut to sex.

The debate can go on and on but the simple fact is selling X-rated DVD should not be a criminal offence.

The bad news for those selling porno movies is that in this internet age and the abundance of free porno sites on the internet those vendors will become obsolete soon. I mean who

needs to buy DVDs when they can go on Youjizz and see everything for free?

For those on the religious side, especially Christians, I will recall a story I read recently where a prisoner after reading a free bible he received in prison, remarked it was the most pornographic book he read, he may have some truth there, just read the story of Lot and his two daughters Genesis 19:30-38.

And while you have the bible in hand you may want to check out Genesis 34:1 the rape of Dinah, as well as the story of Tamar and Judah Genesis 38: and Tamar and Amnon, 2 Samuel:9-20.

These are the written words, could you imagine if they had the DVD technology in those days, we would have been watching instead of reading the bible today.

But then again some would have called for it to be banned as porn. You just can’t please some people.

Reference: for this article includes Family Safe Media, Huffington Post, Professor James B weaver Virginia Polytechnic GarthZietsman ( FreakoStats) and also the good book the Bible.

Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com

The government was especially nervous about the budget proposals for the Office of the President and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The intention of the AFC regarding the Office of the President includes weeding out the super-salaries of some contract employees.

In addition, the AFC has signaled its intention to cut $541 million from the Information and Communications allocation under the Office of the President. The sum of $4.5 billion was allocated for this project.

Regarding the Ministry of Home Affairs, the AFC has slackened from the hardline position it took with regards to Minister Clement Rohee.

The Opposition had moved a motion of No Confidence in Rohee and had said they would not cooperate with him.

However, the AFC is not totally rejecting the budget proposals for the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“We will not be irrational in altering the budget as the government suggests.

“We will be extremely rational so that the taxpayers’ money is not misspent,” Ramjattan stated.

The Opposition has proposed to eliminate the Sports and Arts Development Fund of $100 million unless the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport can come clean on how that same amount was spent last year and say what he proposes to do with that money this year.

Cuts are also proposed in the sum of $224 million to the Board of Industrial Training.

The East Bank Highway Project is projected to need $1.2 billion, but the AFC wants that budget cut to $539 million. (Neil Marks)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

QC Old Boy among winners of UWI engineering competition Three engineering students from the University of the West Indies (UWI), including a former Queen’s College student, got the opportunity of a lifetime when they won the grand finals of BP Trinidad and Tobago’s “Ultimate Field Trip 2013” competition held at the BP TT hospitality suite at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The winners were Omari Blackman, Azam Ally of Guyana, and Ravier Weekes, of the Faculty of Engineering, UWI, St Augustine, members of “Team Innovo”. They received prizes worth TT$10,000, but the real reward is a two-week field trip to BP’s Norway and North Sea (Shetland Islands) operations. While there, the students will meet other international winners from the UK and US, as well as industry experts.

This is the first time steps were taken to encourage intense participation from Trinidad and Tobago. The competition is targeted at Undergraduate and Masters’ students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

It challenges teams of three students to safely and responsibly solve a real-world

problem connected to the growing demand for energy.

Norman Christie, Regional President, BPTT, was pleased with the outcome of the initiative.

“Throughout the competition, we saw participants who epitomise the energy and promise of youth. The judges had a tough job and many of the projects submitted have great potential.

“At BPTT we sincerely believe that investment in young people is a critical part of development and we are especially proud to note that since 2002 we have employed 15 to 20 graduates each year.

The fact that our future is in the hands of these young people is very promising and we are proud of them all,” Christie told participating students.

The scenario for the competition was based on the outlook that by 2030 the world will require 50 percent more energy than is used today. At the same time, due to the rising cost of fossil fuels, the cost of Passenger Kilometres Travelled (PKT) will increase.

Teams were required to develop a single original technology-focused, practical and innovative

solution to significantly reduce the cost of PKT per capita in their country by 2030.

The winning submission centered on a proposed Thermal Energy Recovery System (TERS) that will utilise the wasted heat generated by engines to power or re-charge car batteries. Team Innovo, like the others who participated, were guided by experts who work at BPTT. Speaking on behalf of Team Innovo, Omari Blackman expressed the satisfaction of victory. “We have been working hard since November last year and it feels really great to be selected as the best. We believe that our idea can make a difference and we hope to see it implemented one day.

“Students should enter this competition because the benefits are limitless as you get to meet experts in various fields as well as other creative and pioneering students. We look forward to going on the field trip and BPTT has opened a world of opportunity for us that we intend to make the most of,” Blackman said.

Ally, an old student of Queen’s College, said that he

Guyanese Azam Ally (centre) and his Team Innovo colleagues. joined the competition because it called for applying innovative engineering solutions to real world problems.

Additionally, he said, the opportunity to meet and present to BP executives was

very appealing. “I am currently studying Computer and Electrical Engineering at the University of the West Indies. In the years to come, I intend to use my knowledge and skills to be at the forefront of technological

advancement and innovation in Guyana,” he noted.

The initiative started off with 23 teams that were whittled down to the four final teams following the preliminary and semi-final rounds.

Sunday April 14, 2013

At the moment the centre of attention in the country is on the passage of the National Budget. Everyone wants to know whether the Budget will be passed or whether it will be rejected.

Of course it will be passed. The opposition is not going to plunge this country into another crisis, because they will feel the heat if that happens. At the twelfth hour, a compromise is going to be brokered and the Budget, with some amendments, will be passed.

But even if per chance it does not, the Budget is a secondary to the gravest crisis the people of this country are facing. The problems over the Budget are nothing compared to the crisis that looms as a result of the granting of radio licences by the former President.

The granting of those licences has tilted the balance of power in the media spectrum and tilted it heavily in favour of the all-powerful economic oligarchy. This oligarchy now has an interest in newspapers, radio, television, cable, internet and broadband connectivity.

Almost every home in

Kaieteur News

Guyana has a television.

Almost every household has a radio. Almost every home will soon have a computer and soon every home will have internet access. That is the reach that the oligarchy has. They can get to you wherever you are because they have the technological medium to contact you. They and their friends now have powerful stakes in radio interest, internet and television. In short, they and their cronies have a powerful stake in the mass media.

The people of Guyana must understand the power that has been placed in the hands of the oligarchy as a result of the licences that have been issued and the frequencies assigned. Big Brother has been created. Big Brother will control your life.

He will reach you in the mornings on the radio. He will reach you during the day on the laptops. And he will come home with you through the television. You cannot escape Big Brother.

It is easy to say you can switch him off. You may switch off a channel, but you cannot switch off the power and the influence that comes

with control over a huge section of the mass media.

Do not be fooled by liberalisation. That means nothing. In America the mass media is liberalized, but it is controlled by a handful of powerful companies who have the power and do exercise the power to decide what you see, what you hear, and what you learn.

The opposition is being blinkered by the fact that radio has been liberalised. It is no longer the liberalisation that is the problem, but the obvious imbalance that has been created because of issuance of the new licences.

There is now more than one

station, but the power is still concentrated in the hands of a few who are close to the ruling party and to the government.

That power can be used to control the public, just as is the case in North Korea, where there is a radio in every home and the people are forced to listen to the voice of their leader. The North Koreans hear what their leader wants them to hear.

With this reach, he can have them do what he wants them to do. He can set them against others.

Through the domination of the medium, he controls his people.

Even in a liberalised

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spectrum, the concentration of power in the hands of the oligarchy is a most dangerous development.

They can counter the independent voices. They can dominate the media space by bombarding the people with what they want the people to hear. They can use that power to destroy independent voices. The oligarchy will have greater control over the advertising market and can put others out of business.

Big Brother will tell you what to buy; will tell you what to eat; will tell you what to drink and will then tell you what to read, what to listen to

and inevitably how to think.

Democracy cannot save you from Big Brother because Big Brother will determine what is good for you and what is bad for you. Guyanese have to take a stand against this concentration of power because he who controls Big Brother also controls you.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

The case for compensating the Caribbean

By Sir Ronald Sanders In 1838, British slave owners in the EnglishSpeaking Caribbean received £11.6 (US$17.8) billion in today’s value as compensation for the emancipation of their “property” – 655,780 human beings of African descent that they had enslaved, brutalised and exploited. The freed slaves, by comparison, received nothing in recompense for their dehumanisation, their cruel treatment, the abuse of their labour and the plain injustice of their enslavement.

The monies paid to slaves owners have been studied and assembled by a team of Academics from University College London, including Dr Nick Draper, who spent three years pulling together 46,000 records which they have now launched as an internet database. The website is: ucl.ac.uk/lbs.

The benefits of those monies still exist in Britain today. For example, they are the foundations of Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. But they are also the basis of wealth for many leading British and Scottish families among them the Hogg family – two of whom became Lord Chancellors in British governments.

Dr Draper is reported as

saying of the Hogg family: “To have two Lord Chancellors in Britain in the 20th century bearing the name of a slave-owner from British Guiana (now Guyana), who went penniless to British Guiana, came back a very wealthy man and contributed to the formation of this political dynasty, which incorporated his name into their children in recognition – it seems to me to be an illuminating story and a potent example.”

The Hogg family was not unique. The wealth and political good fortune of 19th Century British Prime Minister William Gladstone had its origins in the £83 (US$127.6) million, at today’s value, of “compensation” given to his father, John Gladstone, for slaves he owned in British Guiana and Jamaica.

But it was not individual families alone that helped to create African slavery and that benefitted from it; it was the British state as whole – its successive governments that provided subsidies for the trade; that adopted legislation that facilitated it; and that were complicit with the governments of their colonies in adopting laws that designated African slaves as “real estate” – people stripped of human identity, including life, and, therefore, to be treated like land, houses

and buildings.

Remarkably, it was also the British State, including the British people, who paid “compensation” to the slave owners while completely disregarding any obligation whatsoever to 655,780 people, who were enslaved and cruelly exploited. To do so, the British government borrowed £20 million which is £76 (US$117) billion, at today’s value, from the Rothschild Banking Empire.

The sum amounted to about 40 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product at the time. As Caribbean Economic Historian, Sir Hilary Beckles points out: “They all recognised that British citizens were socially empowered by the white supremacy culture so effectively institutionalized on a global scale by slave owners”.

British exploitation of people in the Caribbean did not start, or end, with the enslavement of Africans. In a new book entitled, ‘Britain’s Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide’, Beckles, records the systematic “elimination” of the Kalinagos – the original people of the Eastern Caribbean islands. It was the first act of genocide in the Western Hemisphere, and it was executed with the full knowledge and approval of the British authorities.

African slavery was followed in some Caribbean countries – Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname in particular - by indentured servitude of people from India bonded to an estate and its owners, deprived of normal liberties, subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment. It was what the respected British historian, Hugh Tinker, described as “another kind of slavery”.

Each of these episodes of subjugation, exploitation and brutalisation of human beings was justified on the racial supremacy of the white race. And while Britain was the principal beneficiary, other European nations – France, Spain and Portugal especially – shared in the spoils of human degradation.

Except for the blindest and unrelenting apologists for the acts of genocide and enslavement, it is impossible to discard Beckles’ assertion that these were “crimes against humanity”. As he says: “The wealth of the (British) Empire required the abandonment of all known laws, conventions, moral parameters, political practices and legal frameworks and the creation of a new and unprecedented labour system”.

When the vast majority of the original people of the Caribbean were extinguished

forcing the brutalised handful who remained into submission; when slavery was abolished with no recompense to the Africans for the deprivation of their liberty, the people of the Caribbean were left destitute, deprived and disadvantaged.

In Beckles’ words: “They got nothing by way of cash reparations to carry them into freedom. No land grants were provided. No promissory notes were posted”.

That today the people of the Caribbean have built modern societies despite the conditions they were handed at slavery’s abolition, is a tribute to the resilience, capabilities and high quality of human beings that European states considered ‘chattel and real estate’. That they have produced Nobel Prize winners, great athletes and fine intellectual thinkers who have commanded high positions in the international community in business, medicine, the law, and technology is testimony to the wrongness of the “white” supremacist doctrine.

Their achievement reenforces the position that their enslavement, their servitude and the infamous acts of violence against them were wrong, and it cannot be right that those who were the principal perpetrators of those wrongs benefitted while they were left as

Sir Ronald Sanders nothing more than a human catastrophe.

The Caribbean would today have been much further along the road of social and economic development if even half of the “compensation” given to slave owners had been given to slavery’s victims 175 years ago.

There is a compelling case for reparations to the nations of the Caribbean on behalf of the people who were the victims of slavery. Nick Draper and the team and University College London, and Hilary Beckles in his new book have provided the basis for, at the very least, a reparations dialogue.

(The writer is a Consultant, former Caribbean Diplomat and Visiting Fellow, London University) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Sunday April 14, 2013

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Sunday April 14, 2013

Outstanding Home Economist

Catherine Archer

and Education Officer Catherine Archer is a 'Special Person'

By Leon Suseran

A

s a little girl, she would assist her mother with preparation of various dishes which the family would sell at the dances. It was perhaps while partaking in such activities that the young lady fell head over heels in love with the various aspects of life that dealt with Home Economics.

As the years went by, she nurtured her talent in the kitchen and home and furthered her studies in the much-loved field and even represented Guyana at Home Economics Conferences around the world.

Moreover, she has been a well-recognized educator, especially in her capacity as District Education Officer in several parts of the country.

Catherine Doreen Archer was born at Lot 36 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, to Mary and Samuel Archer (both deceased). She attended the All Saints' Anglican School, Berbice High and later, Victoria High School. She subsequently did a few commercial subjects and opted to teach at the Mission Chapel Congregational School.

Catherine then enrolled at the Teachers' Training College and chose to pursue Home Economics as her specialist subject, which she was later assigned to teach at the St. Francis Xavier R.C. School (present- day Port Mourant Secondary), under the headship of Mr. Lionel

Solomon. She worked there until she was transferred to Berbice High.

She later migrated to Toronto, Canada, after being chosen to become familiarised with and trained in preparation for the introduction of a multilateral programme that was to have been instituted countrywide by the then education ministry. This training took place at a Canadian university.

When asked what made her enter teaching, Ms. Archer related that it “was the thing to do at the time”. “I opted for Home Economics

Home Economics stint at Training College, she told her lecturer that she [her lecturer] didn't really teach her anything new, except for the fact that “she taught me the correct names for the things”.

“I learnt the correct terms, but the actual things we did were things I learnt from my mother. Those skills benefitted me for life…And you're willing to pass them on, because you feel, if you die, you die with those invaluable skills, so Home Economics is [for] life”.

Ms. Archer worked at the

“I don't think I would change anything…I would live it the same way. I am quite satisfied with my life and service to humanity and I am trying very much now to serve God in the right way.” because my mother was always doing something related to that. She did catering—those were the days when you sold at dances.

She would sell whether at the police dance or lodge dance. From the day before there was lots of activity in the house.”

“You're baking patties, making stuffed eggs—and you, as a child, you're part of it—you're helping to put the pepper on the stuffed eggs… so you're doing things, you're learning, and I thought when I entered Training College and opted for that, that was most fulfilling.”

Ms. Archer briefly recalled that during her

Hopetown Home Economics Centre in West Berbice until 1981 after which she was assigned as Education Supervisor in Region Three.

She also pursued her Bachelor of Education Degree in Home Economics, after which she returned to Region Six and took up her position as District Education Officer (DEdO).

A number of schools in the region fell under her purview, during which she was responsible for o v e r s e e i n g t h e administering of technical education.

DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER Ms. Archer reminisced

Displaying some of her creative handiwork

about her many years working as DEdO in Georgetown, Regions Three, Five, and Six. “It gave you an opportunity to learn different administrative styles because you worked under different persons and to each one, you saw managerial approaches that were different,” she reflected.

She reminisced about going into the various areas, and particularly remembered the Canals Polder “…it was striking that people were willing to learn.

But don't go to the Canals Polder on a Friday because they have to reap for market on a Saturday”.

The lifestyle and culture of the diverse locales, she noted, made a difference.

“In Region 5, I never got to go in to the riverain areas because it was always difficult in terms of transportation. But in Region 3, people would come out and you would arrange this.

Early in the morning, a small boat would take you into the Parika Backdam, Saxacalli or Lanaballi.

Sometimes you don't know what you're going to eat, where you going to sleep or when you coming out, but you're going because there are schools you need to visit.

It helped that the residents were very friendly.”

She related that it was not really hard being away from home for long periods, because “there was a focus”.

Her father was alive, she stated, thus her mother had

company back at home.

However, it was after her father died, that it was a bit hard for her mom to be alone at home.

During this difficult period, Ms. Archer would sometimes have to rush back home just to make sure mom was doing fine.

She added that she refused a job opportunity out of Berbice as well as an application to further her studies in the form of a Master's Degree, “because I couldn't take her [mom] away from New Amsterdam or leave her alone”.

RETIREMENT Catherine Archer retired in 1997 from the education sector. She then decided to do voluntary work whereby she monitors the School Based Assessments (SBAs) for students writing CXC exams; supervises ACCA Exams and also works with inmates at the New Amsterdam Prisons, “mostly the females, but sometimes I am asked to do work with some individual males”.

Ms. Archer often teaches them how to decorate cakes and suchlike, “so at least they go out with a skill and I

do self-esteem workshops and programmes with them, along with individual counseling”. She was recognized for her valiant efforts at the prison with numerous awards and certificates, both regionally and nationally.

Because she regularly counseled inmates, she related that they started to develop a trusting bond with her.

“Others wanted to talk with me and some days I would go in with the intention of spending an hour and I would end up s p e n d i n g t h r e e hours…When you sit and listen to them, when you leave there, you are tired—but you just have to listen. They found it easier to confide in a stranger and they were very comfortable talking to me and I tried my utmost to guide them along.”

She is also deeply involved in church-related activities, being a devout Anglican at the All Saints' Church. A good planner, she is, in events for that Church such as cake sales, prayer breakfasts, tea parties, (continued on page 33) In Switzerland with delegates from the Philippines for the Home Economics Congress in 2004

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Outstanding Home Economist and Education ...

From page 32 bazaars and the upcoming Mother & Child Pageant for Mother's Day. Even though she retired from practicing Home Economics in schools, etc., Ms. Archer visited a number of countries, where she participated primarily in International Federation of Home Economics Congresses - like the one in 2004 in Japan, where she did a presentation.

Additionally, in 2008, she participated in a similar high level forum in Switzerland. She is a member of the Caribbean Association of Home Economics, of which Guyana is a part.

She also played an integral role in the start-up of the New Amsterdam Action Group (NAAG), a nonGovernmental body that aims at improving the physical environment of the town of New Amsterdam, particularly in the area of solid waste management.

The group did a lot of work with residents of Angoy's Avenue and the efforts proved to be a catalyst in that the government, after the project, decided to rehabilitate the roads in that squatting area.

Ms. Archer related her frustration with littering in the town. “Until the government and the council put strict mechanisms in place that will deter people from dropping stuff along the way, I will not get involved in solid waste anymore”.

ACCOLADES And then there are the accolades. Ms. Archer received an 'Award for Sterling Contribution to Education' from the Region Six Department of Education in October 1994 as well as another for 'Outstanding Contribution to Education' in August 2011.

Other accolades and appreciatory certificates include an Award for 'Outstanding Contribution to the Municipal Agenda Process' from the New Amsterdam Mayor & Town Council in 2004; an award for 'Sustained Collaboration towards the Development of the Guyana Prison Service' (GPS) in September 2010; an honouree award along with 51 other women in Guyana for the International Year for the People of African Descent by the Regional Sub-Committee Region Six on the occasion of the 173rd Anniversary of Emancipation in 2011, as well an award from Director

Ms. Archer (sitting third from left) with honouree teachers of Region Six on World Teachers' Day in 2011 of Prisons, Mr. Dale Erskine of the Guyana Prison Service on the GPS's 26th Anniversary.

HOME ECONOMICS I then asked Ms. Archer what part Home Economics plays in the lives of Guyanese students today.

“It is supposed to be important, but it's sad to say it seems to be dying in the curriculum. I recall the days when the subject was taught in primary schools…but not so today.

It's worrying that not many students pursue it in the secondary schools. You go into some schools and you find very few children writing the subjects… and if they write Food & Nutrition (F&N) and Home Economics Management, you may just find one or two writing the Clothing and Textiles,” she candidly stated.

She bemoaned the fact that the numbers of students entering for these subjects at the CXC level are very low each year as well. “They seem not to be putting the emphasis on Home Economics and its related subjects.”

Ms. Archer recalled primary schools in the Berbice area which offered Home Economics and Industrial Arts many years ago and had very active departments.

“There were schools that offered these like Fort Ordnance, Rose Hall Scots, St. Francis Xavier R.C., Port Mourant, Tain, and Black

Bush Polder primary schools. Little by little, they began to close down—but now it's mainly the secondary schools that carry the technical departments, not the primary…I don't know the justification for that.”

Home Economics, she stated, is not a subject just for the females.

“Fewer males do it—and there was a time that the males tried to get into it [Home Economics] because they wanted to go and work

on ships and they needed to do the F&N programme.

And then you found males in the secondary schools were interested. But it's for everybody—you wear clothes; you live in a house and you have to eat food and live; so that is the subject”, she asserted.

Looking back through the years, our 'Special Person' stated that “I don't think I would change anything…I would live it the same way. I am quite satisfied with my life and

service to humanity and I am trying very much now to serve God in the right way”.

To d a y s h e e n j o y s spending time in the kitchen.

She makes a lovely and delicious serving of guava cheese, a piece of which she gave me to sample.

She also makes guava jelly and bakes cakes, little sources of income for her these days.

“I love baking black cake and I like to sew, but it gets tedious sometimes. While I was confined (at home for

awhile due to hipreplacement surgery) and had nothing else to do, I did a lot of patchwork pieces and quilts—all done by hand, and I used to crochet a lot.”

She concluded with words of advice for the young among us.

“Live a life that is meaningful and that will impact the lives of others.

Choose what you want to do, but make sure it is within the context of doing to others as you would have them do unto you.”

Page 34

SUNDAY SPECIAL INDEBTED WIRELESS CONNECTIONS GRANTED RADIO LICENCE There is growing evidence that Government did not tell the truth when it tried to explain the criteria used by former President Bharrat Jagdeo to issue several radio licences, days before he left office in 2011.

In January 2012, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon made it clear that the radio licences were issued to persons who had the financial means.

It simply meant that the applicant had the money to run the operations associated with radio stations – not a cheap venture by any means.

He also said then that applicants should have been “fit and proper” and must show technical and other media capabilities.

Luncheon, in defending the process, said that not all “lagoo bagoo” would have been considered and that the Broadcast Act would have been used in the issuing of those licences. However, Government may very well be hard pressed to explain how one businessman received a licence despite indications that he was in financial difficulties.

It would be hard-pressed to explain how the other, long established media houses who had applications were overlooked, using the same criteria, despite their financial standings.

Businessman Maxwell Thom who traded under the name of Wireless Connections, a popular cell phone outlet that was based at Bourda Market and several parts of Regent Street, was one who received a radio broadcast licence to transmit on 93.1Fm in Georgetown.

According to the November 27, 2012 publication of the Official Gazette, Citizens Bank

Kaieteur News

signaled intentions for an order to foreclose on mortgages in the name of Maxwell Thom and Shelly Thom, both named as principals of Wireless Connections.

The mortgaged properties that the bank wanted to foreclose on were listed as Block XXX, Parcel 1606, of Plantation Ruimveldt and Lot 55 Broad Street, Charlestown.

The Broad Street property is the same lot number where a hotel associated with Thom is being operated.

Thom was also taken to court in 2011 for owing a Regent Street businessman for rent and a judgment was made. Kaieteur News was told that he owes over $6M in back rent on that property, at 130 Regent Street. He is reportedly heavily indebted to Auto Supplies and a number of other places.

Yesterday, Kaieteur News made contact with Thom for possible comments. However, after listening to the reporter, he said he was in a meeting and a call should be made to him again later. However, his cell phone rang out after that.

GANG HITS LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITH BOGUS MANAGER’S CHEQUES Police are tracking a sophisticated criminal gang that has been fleecing local businesses out of millions of dollars using bogus Manager’s Cheques from the various banking institutions.

Within the past month the gang has carted off in excess of $12M in items after convincing unsuspecting businesses that the cheques were genuine.

They have already carted off six complete dredges and several pieces of electronic appliances, including computers from reputable companies.

From all indications, the gang is made up of locals and foreigners, judging from the accents of some of the callers

who make the orders for the items. One businessman told this newspaper that he was hit for $7M by the gang who cleverly used the Easter weekend to perpetrate the scheme.

“These people are so smooth and convincing,” the businessman who operates a manufacturing business told this newspaper. He recounted that last week Tuesday he received a telephone call from a male with a Dutch-sounding accent who enquired about some dredges he had for sale.

He subsequently made arrangements to have the items available for inspection by the person who had expressed interest in them.

According to the businessman, he did not have the slightest inclination that the whole scheme was a fraud, since the caller, who said he was representing the ‘Aranka Mining Company’, kept contacting him on his telephone, all the while building up trust.

MONDAY EDITION “PUT BACK THE TOWER IN PRADOVILLE”PLAISANCE RESIDENTS TELLEDGHILL Angry outbursts, loud singing and attempts to “negotiate” characterized the state of affairs last Sunday at the Plaisance Community Centre where Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill attempted to keep a meeting.

About 300 residents, both young and old, turned out with their placards to meet with the Minister.

However, from all indications, the residents only wanted to hear that the tower would not be placed on their ground, and since that wasn’t the announcement, not much productivity came out of the meeting and it was soon aborted.

Initially when Edghill tried to conduct his meeting, he was persistently interrupted by residents who were

Sunday April 14, 2013

adamant that the tower “isn’t going here.” They made clear their support towards the EGovernance project but stood firm in the position that the tower must be placed somewhere else.

Several said that the tower should be erected in “Pradoville where it was before.”

lot, Carter and Clankein were most seriously injured, although they were able to communicate with persons around. Kaieteur News was told that several of the victims were pinned beneath the mangled truck, and a dragline, from the Barama Timber Company, had to be used to hoist the vehicle off the bodies.

FOUR DEADAFTER ‘BUSH TRUCK’ TOPPLES Four persons were killed and several others injured when a ‘bush truck’ travelling uphill along the Barama main road overturned several times, hurling some of its occupants down a 67-foot valley. The dead have been identified are Richard Doobay, 33, of Riverstown; Pamela Solomon, of ‘B’ Field Sophia; Aubrey Evans and George Persaud, 31, of Lot 77 Angoy’s Avenue Corentyne.

The driver of the truck, who managed to jump out vehicle, sustained injuries and was transported out of the area, along with other injured passengers, with the assistance of an ambulance assigned to the Barama Timber Company Limited.

The injured included Norlando Brown, 20, of Sister’s Village,Wales, West Bank Demerara; Benedict Leonard, of Cordina Ida, West Coast Demerara; Michael Brown, of Corriverton, Berbice; Kavita Kingling, of Wales, West Bank Demerara; Andre Abel, of Mahaicony; Deroy Sealy of Sisters Village; Kavita Clankein, 19, of Patentia, West Bank Demerara; Michael Cater, 28, and Arvin Narine.

Detectives from the Anna Regina Police Station assisted in transporting the dead out of the area. Arvin Doobay, of Riverstown, and Brain Singh, of Bartica were among the survivors.

Five of the grime-covered survivors were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Of the

TUESDAY EDITION WITHDRAWALL JAGDEO-ISSUED RADIO FREQUENCIES NOW – NAGAMOOTOO Former People’s Progressive Party ‘Big Wig’, Moses Nagamootoo, Monday called for the withdrawal of all the radio frequencies that were recently handed out by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, declaring that there will be no compromise on the matter.

Delivering his contribution on the 2013 budget debate, Nagamootoo, who now represents the opposition Alliance For Change, said that there is a serious conflict of interest with regards to the allocation of frequencies.

“It is disgraceful and scandalous. This is naked nepotism,” Nagamootoo declared. In 2011, just before he demitted office, Jagdeo doled out radio frequencies mostly to close associates of the ruling PPP/C regime, in a move that Nagamootoo also described as lawless and discriminatory, since the process was not transparent.

The Broadcasting Bill was passed in the National Assembly on July 28, 2011, and assented to in September, 2011. Jagdeo distributed the frequencies days before the November 2011 elections.

One recipient, Telcor & Cultural Broadcasting Inc., whose principal is Ruth Baljit, the sister of Robert Persaud, was granted five radio frequencies in November, 2011. New Guyana Company

The damaged ‘bush truck’

Ltd., publishers of Mirror newspapers also got five frequencies.

THIEVES CAUGHT ON CAMERA STEALING MIRROR FROM KN STAFFER’S CAR Car parts’ thieves, emboldened by their slickness, decided to strike once again this weekend, but may have picked the wrong target. This time they followed a female Kaieteur News staffer from Kingston to her workplace, on Saffon Street, La Penitence, where they quickly removed her mirror.

They were caught on camera.

The video essentially showed how the parts thieves operate. The burgundy colored Toyota Spacio, with hire car plates, waited until the coast was clear; but its occupants were clearly unaware of the surveillance cameras.

WEDNESDAY EDITION PARLIAMENTARY SEESAW STALLS BUDGET PASSAGE In what was a political see-saw, filled with yes and no votes, the consideration of the estimates of the 2013 National Budget has been held up. The opposition in the wee hours Wednesday morning voted against starting consideration of the estimates on that day, and signalled its intention to weed out projects it says will continue to fester corruption and excesses – a charge the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh dismissed as an old argument.

The Finance Minister said that the opposition is standing in a very lonely place when it comes to their denial of support for the budget. He pointed to the private sector and other stakeholders welcoming the measures contained in the budget. The government wanted the consideration of the estimates to begin as (Continued on page 50)

Sunday April 14, 2013

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Clinging to hope in the face of overwhelming odds - A Sickle Cell patient tells her riveting story

By Sharmain Grainger Medical professionals have over the years warned that life for patients diagnosed with full blown Sickle Cell disease is not only likely to be shortened, but it is highly unlikely that they could lead normal lives.

Sickle cell disease, which is also known as sickle cell anaemia or “SS” disease, is said to be an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder with overdominance, characterised by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. This often results in a child, both of whose parents have the sickle cell trait, becoming diagnosed with full blown sickle cell, a disease more prevalent in Africans.

Once sickling of one’s blood cells occurs, there is always a possibility that immense medical complications will result, which is driven by a mutation in the haemoglobin gene.

Having been diagnosed at the age of nine with full-blown sickle cell, there was not much hope for a normal life for Desiree Fredericks. As the eldest of seven children she grew up with her parents and siblings at Anna Catherina before they moved to Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.

As fate would have it, she was the only one among her siblings with the ailment. She remembers how growing up with the disease was a major challenge as joint pains and other devastating complications would overwhelm her frail body.

“I would feel pain naturally hitting me to the bone... so severe sometimes that I couldn’t even walk,” she recalled during a recent interview.

So distressing was her infliction that she was forced to not attend school on many occasions and would have to be rushed to hospital for emergency treatment constantly. She was required to take a plethora of medication and oftentimes it was those that would help to ease the pain she was subjected to as a result of her condition. She remembers praying to be cured of the condition.

And by early adulthood, Desiree was convinced that the worst had passed. The pains that she had grown accustomed to over the years had subsided. Instead of being rushed to the hospital on a regular basis, her admissions were reduced to a mere three times per year on

average. Life was actually becoming a bit more manageable, so much so that she was even contemplating marriage.

Desiree had grown up in a Christian home and was hoping to find a Christian husband – and so she was sure that Marlon Fredericks was the right one from the getgo. But to her amazement, many of the individuals who were aware of her medical condition were more than eager to warn her intended husband that she may not be the right choice for a wife.

“People used to tell him it wouldn’t be a wise decision to marry me, because people with sickle cell would normally lose their babies,” she recounted.

But their efforts were no match for destiny as by the age of 27, she and her sweetheart had tied the knot.

Soon after marriage she was pregnant with her first child and it was as if she had plunged back into a forgettable phase of her life when she was subjected to unbearable sickle cell crises.

She recalled that throughout her entire pregnancy she was rushed to the hospital every week.

“First it was the Best (West Demerara Regional) Hospital, and when the doctors there would see me coming they used to know exactly what to give me. It was just stomach pain and more pain, but then they eventually couldn’t handle me, so they decided to transfer me to the Georgetown Public Hospital.”

So severe were her crises that both nurses and doctors at the city hospital were forced to vocally register their concern about a full-blown sickle cell patient attempting to carry through with a pregnancy.

“They were constantly telling me ‘you are full-blown sickle cell patient, you know you are not supposed to make children’.”

According to Desiree, medical officials did not fail to remind her repeatedly that not only could her child get the disease, but there was a possibility that she could lose her life in the process.

“There were just a whole lot of negatives I was getting.

One doctor even said that he wouldn’t allow me to go through with the pregnancy because I had become severely ill.”

She recalled how her condition required that she be given medication constantly to ease her pain and she disclosed how prayers were what kept her

going. She remembers “blacking out” as a result of her pains, sometimes, and reviving to the sound of her husband praying over her.

“He, like me, is a true believer in prayers and he would always tell me everything would be alright,” said Desiree of her husband.

By the time she was around four months pregnant, even the doctors were beginning to come to terms with the fact that she was prepared to have her baby.

Moreover, a doctor who had become very familiar with her case had begun closely monitoring the progression of pregnancy and had indicated that a Caesarean Section (CSection) would be necessary by the time she reached the seven-month mark. As such, the doctor requested that an ultrasound be done close to that date to ascertain the position of the baby.

It was during a visit to the Woodlands Hospital to have the process done that Desiree would first learn of the gender of her yet unborn child. Two ultrasounds earlier had not revealed this, as according to Desiree “I don’t know if the baby was hiding or something at the time.”

The latter ultrasound process was quite memorable as she recalled how the attending staffer had asked her what baby she would like to have and “I remember saying how everybody telling me is a boy I’m getting but I feel is a girl.” Much to her amazement, she was informed that of the 30 ultrasounds done for that day she was the only one expecting a girl.

She left the hospital that day with severe stomach pains, but quite elated to share the news with her mother and other family members. Her husband was away on work detail in Mahdia. She remembers how her stomach pains continued throughout the night.

The next day her mother insisted that she be taken to the hospital, which was in fact one day before she was expected to undergo the CSection. Desiree was not due to deliver normally until June 20th 2012, but her doctor had warned that the operation might be the safest thing to do considering her medical condition. He had scheduled her for operation on April 30.

It was the morning of April 29 and her pains had not subsided. It was in fact very different from the usual joint pains that were associated with her regular sickle cell crises. However attending

Desiree Fredericks and her ‘miracle baby’

nurses had assured her that she was not yet ready to deliver, but according to Desiree, “this wasn’t the sickle cell pain. I knew for sure this was some other pain...after all these years you

know that sickle cell pain and that wasn’t it.”

“I had heard people talking about turning pain so I was guessing it was turning pain I was feeling...”

Before the end of the day,

nurses would inform her that she was in the early stages of labour; a process that would last for several painful hours as it was coupled with repeated sickle cell crises.

(Continued on page 38)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

The GPHC’s Burn Care Unit - a crucial lifeline in serious circumstances

By Sharmain Grainger Many were convinced that there was no hope for 39year-old Asgar Mohamed when a power cable snapped in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market in Georgetown, causing him severe burns to his left arm.

There was nothing to suggest that the South Better Hope, East Demerararesident would recover from the injury which had him clinging to life for weeks as he lay in an isolated room in the Burn Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Even medical officials of the public hospital were not confident that Mohamed would have been able to recover from his injury.

But little did they know that he would have turned out to be one of the institution’s success stories. Although it required that his left arm be amputated, Mohamed was able to walk out of the Burn Care Unit a few weeks ago, signalling that he is well on his way to full recovery.

According to Dr Shilindra Rajkumar, the Surgical Registrar attached to the Burn Care Unit, it is never a straightforward task attending to patients with varying forms of burns. In

fact it is oftentimes a battle to save some patients’ lives.

He asserted that Mohamed will go down in the history of the Burn Care Unit as “one of the most difficult cases we would have seen.

Most had given up on him and we can actually say he was a true success story.”

Dr Rajkumar, a product of the first batch of the Surgical Post Graduate Programme offered at the GPHC, explained that burn patients were initially managed by general surgeons, but at the time the outcome was less than what it should have been.

However, following a visit by a team of Canadian medical professionals it was recognised that there was a need for the burn cases seen at the institution to be managed in a more systematic manner. One of the keys to achieving this goal was to designate an area specifically for the management of burn patients since according to Dr Rajkumar “patients used to be managed on an open ward where there were a lot of cross infections. There was need for patients to be isolated,” he noted.

Acting on the recommendation, the administration of the GPHC made the bold decision to

establish the Burn Care Unit in 2002 with the support of Canadian Charitable organisations which donated the necessary equipment.

Two associated Charities - the Guyana Burn Care Foundation and the Canadian Reconstructive Surgery Foundation – both based in Canada, are still today offering support, even as the Unit’s operation evolves.

Initially it was managed by visiting Chinese plastic surgeons, but eventually it was observed that there were some language barriers which warranted that a local medical professional be seconded to the Unit.

Dr Rajkumar was the logical choice, since he had completed a Burn Care course himself in Canada.

Aided by a Chinese Consultant and a Medical Officer, he took up the position at the Unit in 2008 and according to him “I started working closely along with the Chinese (doctors) and we have been trying to get things more streamlined.”

Currently the Burn Care Unit is a six-bed, fully air conditioned facility that provides isolated care to patients with burn injuries.

Patients, according to him, are admitted based on

Sister Yonette Garnett (sitting) and some of nurses attached to the Burn Care Unit.

rigidly monitored criteria, given the accommodation limitations.

He explained that once someone meets the criteria they are admitted to the Unit and moves are immediately made to commence resuscitation.

Often this is a challenge, he noted, since some of the patients admitted do not come from within close proximity as they are transferred from outlying areas.

“They usually come quite a bit late and most of them are not properly resuscitated. We normally start at a step back,” he added, while pointing to the need for persons trained in the area of burn care management at the various health facilities to commence the process. “A lot of the outcome depends on these initial interventions,” he said.

Currently the Unit attends to close to 50 patients per year and of that amount there is a mortality rate of about 30 per cent.

Dr Rajkumar explained that “about 17 of our 50 patients who get admitted would die and a lot of the deaths are not preventable... but some of it...if we do have the equipment to improve care we can drop that mortality rate to somewhere about 10 per cent.”

Although there are currently shortcomings within the Unit, such as the lack of ventilators, Dr Rajkumar disclosed that there are ambitious long term plans in the pipelines which will see the Unit being outfitted with its own adjoining operating room and rooms with ventilators.

“We are looking to have a mini Intensive Care Unit, along with an operating room, where we can actually function independently from the running of the rest of the hospital.

So the idea is for us to manage our own patients with help from doctors out of the Unit, yes, but we will be able to determine when we have our surgeries, when our patients can be in ICU care, because right now we don’t have that privilege.”

He disclosed that an area has already been earmarked for the operating theatre.

Dr Rajkumar is optimistic that in another 10 years or so, the Unit will see at least two of its existing rooms outfitted to the standard of an ICU, complete with invasive monitoring and ventilators.

He has already prepared a protocol for the

Dr Shilindra Rajkumar

improvement plan for the Unit and a detailed list of the requisite equipment has been presented to the hospital’s administration.

Some of the items have been acquired, but additional supportive care materials are yet to be had.

ADEQUATE NURSING CARE In the interim, though, there is no lack for nursing care within the Unit which has been effectively managed by Sister Yonette Garnett ,who has been at its helm since its introduction, save for a threeyear period when she was transferred to Mabaruma, and while she completed her midwifery training.

She disclosed that the Unit, which is a vital part of the public hospital, has been noticeably evolving over the years, pointing out that the capacity for grafting and even outpatient care are offered.

Patients with burns of 20 per cent or more of the body affected in areas of the face, chest, palms, soles of feet and the genital areas are attended to. These, she explained, maybe patients with first, second, third or even fourth degree burns who are referred from other medical institutions or are rushed there with their injuries.

All patients are required to be passed through the Accident and Emergency Unit, she noted. “The doctor there would see the patients and then recommend that they be seen by the Burn Care Unit’s doctor, who would usually conduct a further assessment,” said Sister Garnett.

Once patients are admitted, nurses are always on hand to monitor and ensure that they are adequately infused with intravenous fluids, as according to Sister Garnett, a patient with burns would normally lose fluids through their injuries.

Ahead of caring for patients, though, all nurses or even anyone seeking to visit patients must be properly attired with protective gear inclusive of gowns, caps and

masks in order to minimise the potential of patients being subjected to bacterial infections.

“We know bacteria are always in the atmosphere, but we don’t see them, and since patients with burns have their top skins or the protective barrier of the body removed, if exposed to bacteria it can be harmful to them, hence the need for the protective gear.”

With 12 nursing staffers operating on a three-hour shift system, the Unit operates on a 24- hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis.

Sister Garnett explained that some of the cases that are seen in the Unit have even been linked to suicidal attempts, thus cases are required to be investigated by Social Workers who are informed of all new cases.

While the nurses attached to the Unit are always prepared to take on any challenge that they encounter, Sister Garnett did speak of the importance of special training for nurses to bolster their existing skills.

She also mentioned that the hours of dressing that a nurse may be required to provide to a patient could be very lengthy adding that “you might have to work through your lunch break just to get through hours of needful dressing...It requires a lot of patience and tolerance.”

Although their backs might be in pain when they would have completed a patient’s dressing, the Ward Manager noted that sometimes a mere word of appreciation is a satisfying reminder as to why they are still attached to the Unit.

As such, she noted that those endeavouring to venture into such an arena must first seek to be dedicated and embrace a strong sense of commitment.

“Once you have those you are good to go,” she noted as a satisfying smirk formed on her face, as she noted that her’s as well as the other nurses’ time is well spent providing crucial care in the very vital Burn Care Unit.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 37

Ravi Dev Column

Reepu Daman Persaud was the preeminent Hindu leader of 20th century Guyana, along with Jang Bahadur Singh, who had founded and been chairman of the BG Sanaatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) between 1935 and 1955.

By 1967, when I had become president of my village mandir, Pandit Reepu, as he was known by one and all, was the driving force in the organization as its Secretary.

Reflecting on his career, one has to be astounded at his activism at such an early age. His own father, who had been a pandit at Plantation Diamond, passed away when he was just a child.

He then had to have imbibed the rudiments of being a purohit or Hindu priest under much more difficult circumstances than the then usual route of accompanying one’s father on his ‘rounds’ of pujas and sacraments.

He was a pandit by his teens and an active member of the SDMS. Most nonIndians do not appreciate the pivotal role played by the national religious organizations through the mandirs and masjids in channeling the energies of Indian youths in a positive, structured manner. The organizations became our doors into, and a ladder up, the ‘outside’ world.

Interviewing him once about Jang Bahadur Singh, he

The number of teenaged criminals is astounding and the even the police would be surprised at the age of the new rash of them.

For starters, they all have guns, so in a very short while there is bound to be violent confrontation between these very young boys and the law enforcement.

The first of the confrontations will come when a young gang of three will attempt to rob a city wholesale and retail outlet.

told me he knew the old man well and visited his home regularly as a friend of a younger son, ‘Tappi’.

Pandit Reep had a tremendous institutional memory of the Maha Sabha which, when combined with his role as a pandit, made him a formidable force in the organisation that his colleagues - even more ‘professionally’ qualified ones, could never match.

While Jang Bahadur Singh had been a very conscientious Hindu leader, on the finer points of Hindu Dharma, he had to rely on his trusted co-founder of the SDMS, Pandit Lalman Sukul.

Pandit Reepu combined in his own person, both roles.

Pandit Reep’s seminal contribution to Hinduism in Guyana was his popularisation of the Ramcharitmanas (the exploits of Sri Ram) as the text for explication and exegesis at the mass gatherings called ‘yagyas’. Before him, the major text had been the Bhagwat Puran, based on the story of Sri Krishna.

The Hindus had just moved out of the logees and the text’s strong focus on values hit a chord as they reconstituted their way of life.

He also followed Jang Bahadur in another role - that of a politician. Jang Bahadur had acted as a political representative and trade unionist for sugar workers for many years after he had been elected to the Legislature in

elections from 1928 to 1947.

In 1953, he was defeated by the PPP’s candidate. By the time Pandit Reep campaigned for the PPP in 1957, Jang Bahadur had passed away the previous year. When I first met Pandit Reep in 1967, he was already a PPP parliamentarian, since 1964.

Hari Persaud (who was to later become my first father in law) was the SDMS West Demerara Praant’s president.

A full decade older than Pandit Reep, he was a fervent supporter.

When Hari Persaud spearheaded efforts to establish an SDMS high school in the district in 1968 (where I became a teacher) I had the opportunity to observe Pandit Reep’s ‘can do’ attitude up close.

The school at Leonora was completed and running in a matter of months. I also saw up close the rigging of the 1969 elections in the SDMS. Scheduled to be held in Essequibo, by the time Pandit Reep, Hari Persaud and others reached the stelling, they were told the elections were already over. Sase Narine, who I was told had been passed over by Dr Jagan to be a PPP candidate in favour of Pandit Reep, had taken over the SDMS and pledged fealty to the PNC. Pandit Reep has been trenchantly criticized by many, including myself, for making the Dharmic Sabha, which he founded in 1974,

** There will be another killing in the gold fields and again there will be reports of someone trying to rob the other. It is not that the society

is not aware that the seasoned criminals have all migrated to the hinterland where more can be had for even less work. ** River disasters are nothing new, but the increasing frequency is. In the coming days there will be another river mishap caused by a craft that would have an inexperienced pilot. Again there will be fatalities. As fate would have it, one of the craft would be transporting supplies for a government location.

from what should have been a specifically Hindu organisation into a de facto Hindu arm of the PPP. His riposte to me was that this was a development forced by the PNC’s hijacking of the SDMS. He argued that while all sorts of political ‘tendencies’ had been present in the SDMS, this was impossible in Dharmic Sabha when the SDMS appropriated the pro-PNC space. Guyana had become a place where you were with the PNC or, by the latter’s definition, against the PNC. I was to meet Pandit Reep next when I came with a delegation to invite leaders to the 1st Global Convention of

People of Indian Origin in 1989. At his mandir in Campbellville I was to encounter his strong stance on a nationalistic Guyanese Hinduism.

He made it very clear that in its sojourn in Guyana, Hinduism had evolved to deal with its environment and this had made it immeasurably richer. One of these adaptations was on the question of caste: he was willing to train anyone who wanted to be a pandit.

When I organized a yagya at De Willem on behalf of Hari Persaud in 1991 the Vyaas, of course, was Pandit Reepu, and we had many long conversations.

Ravi Dev

He was confident of an upcoming PPP victory and was positive that Hinduism would find a much more hospitable milieu under the new dispensation. Even as a Minister of government, he continued with his role as a pandit and, of course, as guru to his thousands of chelas.

My sincerest condolences to the family of this maha Hindu leader.

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

Wastage and ‘fat’ in the budget taking money away from critical areas The 2013 National Budget debate has concluded and now Members of the National Assembly will turn their attention to examining each line item, each allocation - and the government will have the opportunity to justify each allocation.

The Alliance For Change is of the view that most of the allocations are indeed necessary and do serve the best interest of Guyanese, and will therefore support these allocations by voting in favour of them.

On the other hand, there are some allocations where the government has provided very little details, forcing the AFC to propose that such allocations be amended.

However, should the government provide good and sufficient reasons for such allocations, it will get the support of the AFC. Then again, there are allocation set aside that are simply not necessary at this time and only serve to increase our national debt or fuel corruption.

As the line-by-line examination of the estimates proceeds, the AFC’s approach will be to support necessary and meaningful spending and priority projects, even as it trims off excesses and wastage, so that savings can be reallocated to other critical areas.

Only recently, residents of the East Bank of Berbice protested, because once again they were being told that no money was available to rebuild their main road.

If the government should practice prudent spending and cut wastage and ‘fat’ from the budget, these savings along with money stashed away in slush funds and other funds not deposited into the Consolidated Fund, can go towards critical projects like the East Bank Berbice Road, a new bridge across the Demerara River, teachers’ accommodations at hinterland communities or a range of other projects which are desperately needed.

While the government would want the population to think that the best possible use of money has been put forward and that the 2013 budget has a ‘basket of goodies’ especially for low income earners, closer examination reveals a few wormholes in the ‘goodies’.

Like David Copperfield, the Finance Minister during his presentation, with dramatic effect and to resounding applause from his colleagues in government, announced the lowering of Income Tax from thirty-three and one-third percent to thirty percent, a reduction of three and one-third percent.

The only things missing were the dimmed lights and enchanting music. The Finance Minister, like a great magician, held out the lowering of Income Tax and captivated his audience.

Following the presentation of the estimates, the headlines the next day proclaimed, ‘Income Tax Reduced’. This became the new ‘buzz’ around town and many

people, from all walks of life, hailed the lowering of the income tax.

The captive audience paid little attention to what was occurring on the other side of the stage. The increase in NIS contributions! For those persons earning more than $50,000 per month, from June 1, 2013, an additional 1% will be deducted from their gross earnings.

Let us examine the effect of the lowering of Income Tax and the increase of NIS deductions on a person earning $75,000 per month. This is the earning of many teachers, nurses, firemen, prison officers, clerks and so many others in the public sector and many more in the private sector, including security guards.

Before June 1, 2013 the deductions would be – PAYE (Income Tax) $8,325 and NIS deductions $3,900 leaving net earning of $62,775.

From June 1, 2013 the deductions would be – PAYE (Income Tax) $7,500 and NIS deductions $4,650 leaving a net earning of $62,850.

The increase in disposable earning for this person is a paltry $75 and the government would want us to rejoice over this. What can you do with an additional $75? This is not even enough to buy a ‘soft-drink’.

What the Honourable Minister and the PPPC government have attempted to do, is a sleight of hand, where they distract you by making a lot of noise and waving around of the lowering of Income Tax and slyly slip in the other hand, the increase in NIS deductions.

This is the first bit of trickery the AFC has uncovered in the PPPC 2013 National Budget Estimates. The truth behind the illusion created by ‘The Great Ashni’ has been revealed! Again this year, we see the Estimates loaded with ‘Miscellaneous’ expenditures and ‘Other’. Vast sums have been allocated to these shady expenditures and the government would want the opposition to approve these expenditures. The AFC, like it did last year, will be demanding details for these line items.

It is absurd for the government to think it

can list billions of dollars as ‘Miscellaneous’ expenditures and have it approved by the National Assembly. The AFC would be failing in its responsibilities to the people who voted for us, and indeed the entire electorate, if we do not demand explanations for these allocations.

Another set of expenditures to be carefully examined are those described as ‘Fuel and Lubricants’. Here again vast sums have been allocated. It begs the question, how many vehicles do some of these ministries and departments have?

The 2013 budget estimates make provision for considerable infrastructural works. How can we be assured that these projects will deliver value for money?

The Public Procurement Commission, which is designed to be the ‘watch-dog’ over public contracts, to ensure that tax-dollars are not filtered away into private purses while taxpayers are left with sub-standard projects, has not been set up.

There are some contractors who have failed to perform on contracts they were awarded, yet the government continues to award more contracts to these ‘slippery’ contractors.

The government, while it is blowing its own trumpet over the largest ever budget, has failed to show how it intends to create employment for the thousands of young people without jobs.

During the 2012 Budget Debate, the government in its request for a $5 billion bailout for GPL was questioned on the need for the allocation. This year, they have allocated a further bailout for GPL but within the past year, GPL has failed to make any advance in reducing line loss.

Does GPL deserve a bailout while the same managers who failed to improve the company’s performance are still at the helm? Did GPL implement the improvements it promised with the bailout it received last year?

As the Assembly examines the estimates, it is up to the government to provide the information that would secure the support of the opposition.

The ball is in the government’s court!

Clinging to hope in...

From page 35 “The pain just kept on coming and going and it went straight into the night and I remember how they had to keep giving me medication for pain because they said I was having a crisis along with the birth.”

Attending nurses were forced to call in the doctor who had planned her C-Section and a decision was made to rupture her water bag in order to accelerate the delivery. By this time one of Desiree’s cousins, a midwife, was also in the delivery room rendering her assistance. There was a team of about five midwives and two doctors attending to her and it was clear she was having no ordinary delivery. And as if things were not already complicated, as suddenly as the pain overwhelmed had her the previous day it ended.

Desiree recalled how she informed her cousin that she was feeling absolutely no pain, an announcement that stirred the medical team attending to her into a bout of hysteria. She remembers hearing her cousin saying “this can’t be a good thing. And then I hear a doctor start saying ‘this is the same thing that happen to that Linden girl that died’.”

Unable to control her emotions, Desiree said that her only resort as she lay helpless in the delivery room was to say a silent prayer for help.

“I said Lord I have been faithful to you all

these years and I truly need you to come through for me now.” Soon after a “nipping” pain would start and before long her first child was delivered.

But neither baby nor mother was yet out of the woods, as according to the medical team not only was the baby not responding well but Desiree’s afterbirth was taking way too long to emerge. However, soon the baby would show encouraging signs of life, and another doctor decided to physically remove the afterbirth. Desiree and her baby would spend two weeks recovering in the hospital and since being discharged neither has warranted emergency admission to any hospital. In fact, the proud mom revealed that all of her sickle cell symptoms have since disappeared, a state of affairs she premises on her unwavering belief in God. Moreover, Desiree has been seeking to present her life story as one which amplifies her conviction that “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. My advice is to never give up; don’t entertain fear or doubt, if you tell yourself that God can see you through a situation always believe it...I am living proof of that”.

She reflected on how she overcame everything negative said about her life and today has a sweet daughter – Malia Mera Nissi Fredericks – who will celebrate her first birthday in a couple of weeks.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 39

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Maybe even the basics of politics President Ramotar doesn’t understand Any schoolboy, if his advice is solicited by the joint opposition, would tell this nation that nothing will come out of the exigent dialogue the President will have with the AFC and APNU tomorrow morning on the budget. If President Ramotar does not understand the fundamental, really basic points of politics (that any student of politics can learn from Plato’s ‘The Republic’, written two thousand years ago), then there will be no agreement.

This columnist is predicting a collapse of the confabulation in the morning.

First, President Ramotar made a statement that is not only strange, but weird. He said that Minister Irfaan Ali told him that today was out because Ministers are otherwise engaged.

This is incomprehensible political behaviour by the President. He is telling this country that it was Irfaan Ali that had a say in why the talks couldn’t be held today. A more elegant approach was for Ramotar to simply say that his Ministers were not

available over the weekend.

In quoting Ali, he made himself look like he was not in charge (which many, many think he is not).

Secondly, when one considers that a national budget is one of the fulcrums on which modern nations stand, then what could have been so overriding that Ramotar could not have summoned his Cabinet for the weekend discussion with APNU and the AFC? This columnist is openly cynical in writing that maybe the non-availability this weekend of some of the presidential underlings may have more to do with la dolce vita than matters of State.

After all, the contempt shown by the PPP Government from the Jagdeo presidency to the current ruler is not something that our little autocrats try to hide. I could well imagine, a Minister saying; “Ya’ll try deh, I ain’t leffing me weekend lime for no budget talks.”

President Ramotar is feigning ignorance of the existence of realpolitik which

has been part of world politics hundreds of years before a German writer gave it that name and a German statesman put in on the 19th century map. Or is it that he is not prepared to sit down and agree to formulas of compromise and reconciliation?

Mr. Ramotar, in examining the agenda of the combined opposition which is to be discussed in the morning, announced that the requests of the opposition are not related to the actual contents of the budget. Surely, no ruler of a country could be this naïve.

Before I expand, I repeat a little hypothetical story when writing on the budget impasse last year at this time. If you can only get your fruits onto the main road using a waterway owned by your neighbour, then you have to concede your strategic weakness and offer him concessions. You can’t give in to his demand that he wants half the amount but if he is reasonable, then you have to dialogue with him.

Let me build on that reasoning. Suppose you sell your fruits for ten dollars to a supermarket, and your neighbour tells you that he now wants you to sell half of the amount to his brother’s supermarket for the same ten dollars. Realpolitik demands that you tell your traditional customer you have to cut down on the amount you will sell him in the future.

Mr. Ramotar does not like that the opposition demands the implementation of the Human Rights Commission; of a reconstituted Integrity Commission; Police Service Commission; Teaching Service Commission; Election Commission; the resuscitation of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal among others. Why Mr. Ramotar cannot exchange these for the opposition support of the budget makes absolutely no sense.

These Commissions are what every citizen would find useful in enhancing the distribution of justice in Guyana.

In none of the demands of

the joint opposition is there any unreasonable request which when granted will leave the opposition with an expanded power base. The very opposition leaders will have their assets investigated if you have a professional Integrity Commission and they make false declarations.

But more importantly, many of these applications on the opposition agenda are constitutional fixtures that must be recognized by the Government of Guyana.

There will be a breakdown for one fundamental reason.

The PPP has its own epistemology. The party will never concede that its words

Frederick Kissoon and concepts can be challenged and the epistemology may be derived from false knowledge. As soon as the talks open in the morning, one of the powerful princes that has the same power as Ramotar will jump up and say we only want to talk about what is inside the budget. The opposition will then leave.

Page 40

Book Review:

By Dr Glenville Ashby Adrian Augier’s Navel String is a paradoxical treatise. A fine work that reveals the inexorable pain of displaced souls.

It’s “Socratic,” didactic and compelling, with a palpable sense of foreboding, a looming spectre of a dissociative identity in need of repair.

Augier wobbles, psychologically. No fault of his. It’s the way of the authentic poet - blessed and cursed. His work bears this out. In discursive moments,

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

A poetic call to Identity and Nationhood he tackles the assault on nature, remaining figuratively robust...But it is his psychocultural journeys that claw at you, clinging, hauntingly.

Where is Augier’s navel string? Where are ours? Is it in this land we have forcibly adopted, or is it elsewhere?

There is no easy response.

The draw of the drums and the beckoning of the ancestral past cannot be dismissed, although we have tried. We are part of a cultural gestalt. It is suicidal to disengage. “No, it is not forbidden to go fetch what you have left behind, but

hurry. And look well, believer, on the glorious Sankofa’s tail,” he writes in Sankofa, Song of Job. A people, a nation, and a sense of self are keys to actualization. Lo, this hasn’t been our experience. Hence the insomniacal spells, the yearning, the cries to be heard, and the anguish. This is the power of Augier’s work He excels philosophically, and can also rile the burdened from their slumber.

A provocateur, he is. His anger boils over. Meanwhile, lyrically, he waves a hypnotic wand. His words are

poetically biting, at times loud, and never short on imaginative clout. In Who Cannot Sleep, he writes: “And fear, recently insubstantial becomes suddenly bone, incarnate muscle, violence so irrepressible that it will find a weapon to avenge the deeds that signed away the future.”

In that thematic vein is “Listen to the Dark Young Men.” On this sociohistorical canvas, the perennial plight of those beaten down is painted in bold colors. His fiery pen talks to you: “They could leap and

leave behind the servitude, the persistent poverty, or, just as easily they could stay, and any day, set aflame the city.”

Two worlds co-exist, but the author is imprisoned in his home, his native land, the land that evokes beauty and delivers pain. Its folklore is frightening, embedded in magic, the mystical. It’s awe inspiring and welcomes the enquiry of the artist, but also horrifies him. The Soukouyan and Ladjablesse mystify and defy explanation. It is a bittersweet pill to swallow, leading Augier to ask rhetorically “You should run, but where?

This is the $64,000 question that bestrides “In Return to Lusca.”

Its ambivalence underscores Augier’s undertaking.

“Seeking salvation, an early poet eyed her soul and called this island Lusca - an anagram for saint or child, or worse, a blessed abomination, a bolom drunk with laughter caught in the stunning light of early morning-after.”

And in the Psalmic reverberations of “Did I not lift Mine Eyes,” Augier has produced his most evocative piece. It encapsulates the darkness and extinguished hope of so many of his renditions. It is bold, putting God on the spot. Why? Why can I not hate? Why cannot I exact revenge? Augier asks

questions we dare not ask, although we have entertained them, silently, with guilt.

“Did I not hold firm in the heated breath of their brewing storms and pray to you through all temptations?” he asks....”Did I not kneel? Lord, you know all not I, who can only look upon your hills, but if not from you and son then whence, how, and why not now, cometh our help?”

Augier’s world is dark, almost. Devastation awaits our progeny as he warns in “Inheritance.” May be there is but a sliver of hope. But that seems always smothered by the reality of life’s brutality.

However, not many poets can lift the spirit with pain. Augier does. There is a light in the abyss flashes of enlightenment. Augier’s pain eventually transcends the physical, till it no longer exists. Curiously, it eventually assumes a transcendental and ineffable emotion that somehow comforts the reader.

Feedback: glenvilleashby @gmail.com Follow me on Twitter@glenvilleashby Navel String by Adrian Augier, 2012 Peepal Tree Press www.peepaltreepress Available: amazon.com Rating: Good

Page 46

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

Korean rapper Psy chases new megahit with “Gentleman” video Hips swinging, South Korean rapper Psy launched the dance and video of his new song “Gentleman” at a packed Seoul concert on Saturday, with nearly 160,000 tuned in online to see if he could carry off a repeat of his megahit “Gangnam Style.”

The video for “Gangnam Style” is the most watched ever on YouTube with more than 1.5 billion hits, and its horse-riding dance has been imitated by thousands around the world, from Eton schoolboys, to U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon.

But a recent challenge from the “Harlem Shake” global dance craze upped the ante for “Gentleman”, and the 35-year-old Psy has made it clear he was aware of the high expectations.

“Of course I feel more burden than before, because lots of people are watching,” he told a news conference before the concert. “(Today’s show) is a performance of thanks for the ‘Gangnam Style’ success.”

The video for “Gentleman”, whose refrain is “I’m a mother father gentleman,” featured a fast, hip-swinging dance by Psy in his trademark sunglasses and a variety of jackets, from baby blue to hot pink and sparkly white.

Fans, many of them dressed in white as Psy had requested before the concert, packed the 50,000 seats at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium.

The concert was also streamed live on the Internet.

“Gentleman”, released on Friday at midnight, had more than 1.2 million hits on YouTube for the song alone before the concert. It was 90th on the Apple iTunes store

chart.

“I thought it was really good, really funny.

It is hard to compare with the classic though.

‘Gangnam Style’ is perfect,” said Mark McKeon, a 25-year-old English teacher at the concert, who said he thought the new song still would do well.

Others said the video helped. “When I listened to just the song, it wasn’t good, but it is now okay with lots of dancers dancing together,” tweeted one Korean man.

ROCKY ROAD TO FAME Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, graduated from Berklee College of Music in the United States but had a rocky decade in show business before “Gangnam Style” rocketed him to global fame.

His debut 2001 album, “Psy from the Psycho World”, ran into trouble with the authorities for “inappropriate content” in the lead song, which was seen as sexually suggestive. He was charged with possession of marijuana in 2002.

He released five more albums.

Psy’s brash style - at Saturday’s concert, he danced to a Beyonce song in a skimpy bodysuit - contrasts sharply with the polished stars that dominate K-pop, an increasing presence on the world stage.

A Music Industry White Paper published by the Korean Creative Content Agency said sales of K-pop outside Korea surged 135 percent in 2011 to $196 million. In 2006, overseas sales were worth $16.7 million.

“Gangnam Style” racked up 3.59 million digital sales in the United States and Canada

last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BDS, ninth in the best-selling list. It was third on Amazon’s MP3 song bestseller list for 2012.

But it has been challenged by “Harlem

Shake”, an electronic dance track by DJ Baauer released last year that went viral as a YouTube craze after Australian teenagers posted their version of the dance, sparking thousands of imitations.

BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT Just when you thought Ant and Dec were gone from your Saturday night TV schedule, they pop back up again for another series of Britain’s Got Talent. This year’s acts will be aiming to put on quite the show, and follow in the footsteps of champion pooch Pudsey.

David Walliams, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell are in flying form tonight, as they sit down for round one of this year’s auditions. Who’ll make it all the way to The Royal Variety Performance? Your guess is as good as ours.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

Watch out how you energize If you see how Nursey gets vexed about people leaving their empty drink bottles at clinic and at the school! All I can say is don’t let her catch you leaving any drink bottles around. She says that she has noticed most of the drink bottles are for energy boost. “Why do all these people need so much energy? Too much of these drinks are not good.” Of course I had to ask Nursey what she meant.

Nursey said that drinks that say they will boost your energy or energize you for sports contain an ingredient called caffeine.

Caffeine is actually a drug or an ingredient found in tabs such as Aspirin, but it is also found in coffee or tea or even chocolate. It can help to relieve pain or headaches when you take it in tabs or keep you more awake when you take it in tea or coffee. Like all drugs, too much is never a good thing.

A cup of coffee might contain 100mg of caffeine, a cup of black tea around 50mg, and a cold coke 30mg. Some energy drinks can have anywhere from 70mg to 200mg of caffeine. You also have to be careful because not all amounts of caffeine are reported on the label of the energy drinks.

If the drink add ingredients like guarana, a natural form of caffeine, it might not be listed on the label, but still adds to the amount of caffeine in the drink.

The safe level of caffeine for adults to have is about 200 to 300mg (about 2 to 4 cups of coffee depending on how strong you make it).

Too much caffeine can cause you to have problems

sleeping, bad feelings, anxiety, dehydration or your body not getting enough water, and in some more extreme cases heart problems, especially if you have high pressure. Many of the energy drinks also have “nuff” sugar, so drinking too many over time could also cause problems with gaining too much size and diabetes.

If you are using these drinks for athletics be aware that caffeine can actually dehydrate you or leave your body needing water, which is not good for working out.

Additionally, it can make your heart work a lot harder because it is beating faster because of the caffeine and your exercise. A drink like water or Gatorade might be a better choice for people wanting to replenish their bodies after exercise.

Another thing that can be dangerous is taking alcohol along with energy drinks.

BeenieMan has the “Rum and Red Bull” song, but Nursey wonders if he really knows the effects of drinking all two.

Adding an energy drink or caffeine to alcohol makes you feel more awake and not realize you are as drunk or high as you really are. The caffeine can make us drink more than

we normally would or try to drive a car because we think we are okay, which can be very dangerous.

Persons who suffer from pressure (hypertension) or sugar (diabetes) should really not take these drinks. It can cause these diseases to get out of control. Also, many of these energy drinks will add Ginseng, which is also a natural caffeine, but it does not mix well with many different types of tabs. If you take aspirin, insulin for diabetes, or a blood thinner if you have pressure, too much Ginseng from energydrinks can cause problems with these medications.

Energy drinks are okay every once and a while, but not all the time or many in one day. As with all things, you should read the ingredients label and see what the drink has in it. If it has too much caffeine or something you don’t know, ask your own health professional to make sure it is okay for you.

If you do need to stay awake for something important, try getting a good night’s sleep, eating a good meal, and sometimes doing some exercise can all get you through. As Nursey says, be careful with those energy drinks.

I will be back next week to tell you more interesting things that Nursey says. Until then! ***** If you have any questions about energy drinks, other health issues please e-mail nurseysaysguyana@gmail.com.

Krista Brooks is a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer working with the School of Nursing, which trains Nursing Assistants, Professional Nurses, and Midwifery Students.

A small amount of daily exercise can help teen smokers cut down on or quit their harmful habit, according to a new study.

Researchers looked at 233 teens at 19 high schools in West Virginia, which has one of the highest smoking rates in the nation. Nearly 13 percent of people under age 18 in the state are smokers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All the teens in the study were daily smokers who smoked an average of half a pack a day on weekdays and a pack a day on weekends.

They also had other unhealthy behaviors.

“It is not unusual for

teenage smokers to engage in other unhealthy habits.

Smoking and physical inactivity, for instance, often go hand in hand,” study lead author Kimberly Horn, associate dean for research at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, in Washington, D.C., said in a university news release.

The teens in the study were divided into three groups: one group took part in a smoking cessation program combined with a fitness program, another group took part in the smoking cessation program only and the third group heard only a short antismoking

lecture.

All of the teens increased their amount of daily physical activity just by being in the study. Those who increased the number of days in which they did at least 20 minutes of exercise — equivalent to a short walk — significantly reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked.

Teens were more likely to quit smoking if they took part in the combination smoking cessation and fitness program and increased the number of days in which they did at least 30 minutes of exercise, according to the study, which was published online April 9 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

By Krista Brooks

Krista Brooks

To Stop Smoking, Teens Should Start Moving

Page 47

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

Cardboard painted to look like concrete (Extract from the Address presented on Tuesday 9th April 2013 by Brigadier David Granger, MP, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, on the Motion by Dr. Ashni Kumar Singh, MP, Minister of Finance on 25th March 2013, for the Approval of the Estimates of the Public Sector and the Budget for the Financial Year 2013).

The National Assembly was presented once again with a budget that has been crafted and drafted by the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration without meaningful consultation and collaboration with the majority in this Assembly.

This Budget, despite its promise – Overcoming Challenges Together: Accelerating Gains for Guyana – is exclusionary, not inclusionary. There has been no sincere ‘togetherness’ in its preparation.

This was a cardboard budget that has been painted to look like concrete. The

gloss of goodies is only a thin veneer, without substance.

The minority People’s Progressive Party Civic administration cannot attempt to exclude the majority side from contributing to the preparation of such an important measure as the Budget. The administration must not presume that it can continually ignore the public will. The debate showed that it was only through the contribution of the majority side that the Executive was made aware of the real situation on the ground affecting all of the people.

Guyana, under this Budget, is more likely to continue to face the same challenges for another year as it does today. The Budget did articulate some so-called ‘medium-term’ objectives (4.1) but did not provide the resources to realise its rhetoric.

What provisions are there, for example, to reactivate dormant institutions such as the

Ombudsman and the Public Service Appellate Tribunal that ‘inspire confidence and provide protection’ to aggrieved citizens? What funds have been allocated to build bridges and highways from Linden to Lethem; from Bartica to Mahdia; from Annai to Achewuib?

How does the Government plan to develop a comprehensive infrastructure network? What financing has been made available to give citizens access to high quality education at the University of Guyana? What assets will be acquired to make our hinterland and coastland safe from everyday banditry and piracy to attract investors?

How will this Budget provide every young person with the opportunity to find rewarding and productive employment?

The Budget raises more questions than it provides answers. The truth is that all of these dreamy promises have been on paper for the last two decades. The nation, however, wakes up every

morning to the dreary reality of crumbling roads, broken schools, an underfunded university, shaky institutions and a growing army of jobless youths. This Budget simply does not furnish the funds needed to transform its concepts into concrete achievements. The most serious challenges facing families are the unavailability of jobs; the quality of education in primary and secondary schools and at the University of Guyana; the daily threats to human safety which include three armed robberies every day, two murders every week and 12 fatal accidents every month and the threats to public health – such as the recent deaths of three persons and affliction of over 500 in the Barima-Waini Region.

A Budget ought to be a plan, an economic plan, a financial plan. It must be forward - not backwardlooking if it is to be of any value. It must have a clear vision – a projection of what needs to be done tomorrow to solve today’s problems and the resources to achieve those objectives. It is not an exercise in accountancy and is not meant to be a treasurer’s report about assets and liabilities, revenue and expenditure. The sitting of the National Assembly is not an annual general meeting of a friendly society.

The Budget should point the economy in the direction of dynamic national transformation, marshal the people’s efforts and draw on their entrepreneurial energy to overcome those challenges together.

But public confidence in the ability of the PPPC to run the economy has

slipped, slid and slumped, especially among the youth, the workers and the labour unions which represent them.

The general aura of gloom of poverty and the prolonged public security crises and rising cost of living has seen support draining away from the PPPC. Our Partnership deliberately designated 2013 as ‘The Year for Youth’ in January and the authors of this Budget did do a clever cut-and-paste job from APNU’s press statements.

Apart from token allocations and superficial measures, however, it did little to address the deep-seated problems facing young people.

The underlying hope was that the Budget would take reasonable and realistic measures to encourage job creation – a task that has gone unaddressed for too long. A country that still needs to build drop-in centres for street children and night shelters for the destitute, is surely facing a social catastrophe. A country that is happy to boast of its success in seeking foreign assistance to build a ‘Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration’ at Onverwagt must really ‘deh bad.’ A country that is stuffing its prisons with hundreds of mainly young inmates means that we are sleepwalking into a social nightmare, not waking up to an economic dream. We would be worse off if we ignore the impending social catastrophe which these developments foreshadow. The ranks of the destitute, the homeless, the poor and street dwellers are swelling under the burden of

David Granger oppressive budgets like the one before us. The growth of this social underclass during the PPPC’s 20-year regime is a man-made catastrophe, not an act of God. Poverty can be reduced. That, however, would need the creation of a safe environment, the adoption of sensible public policies and, most of all, an inclusionary approach to governance.

Guyana is at a crossroads.

The National Assembly has an obligation to design plans and strategies to overcome the economic, political and social challenges. It must forestall any folly that might prolong the nightmare of insecurity and disunity or that can lead us down the path of deeper distrust.

This cardboard Budget 2013 will have little lasting impact on education, youth employment and poverty. It must be amended if the people are to see real change in their lives. There is no way the country can move forward with such a budget that continues to disregard the needs of the most important factor in national development – the people!

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 49

MY COLUMN

Jagdeo studied the radio landscape When the news came that President Bharrat Jagdeo had liberalised radio, there were many happy faces. Guyana had at last moved away from being the only country with a solitary media house that controlled all radio.

Many years ago there were two radio stations, one of which was governmentowned because the then government saw the need to have a voice using the most efficient means of communication.

The privately-owned Radio Demerara focused primarily on the business community and indeed, the private media tend to lean toward the private businesses. One reason may be that the private businesses tend to keep the private media afloat by virtue of advertisements.

But there is another reason. Governments, by nature are dictatorial. They tend to concentrate on taxes and when the books need to be balanced they simply tax the business community more. Private radio thus offered the private businesses a voice to direct their challenge to any government imposition that

they found unconscionable.

For reasons still unclear, the government-owned radio station that sprang up turned out to be a better station than the privately-owned station.

It might have been because the conservative business community could not be bothered too much about what the radio did.

The government radio, on the other hand, had direction.

It recognized that it was exceedingly good at entertainment but more than that, it knew that once the ordinary man had a voice then it was on the right track.

In the end the private radio folded and the government acquired its assets. That was almost five decades ago and radio remained in public hands until Jagdeo’s decision to liberalise it. Because it is so pervasive, people fail to appreciate the importance of radio.

Those who knew only radio and the newspapers appreciated the power of radio. It was their link to the outside world and the major means of communication between people with information and those who needed to know. It was also their source of

entertainment.

With advancing technology the radio became ubiquitous. The transistor had arrived, replacing the bulky tubes and so cars and every mobile unit had one installed. There were the pocket radios for those who had no cars. The radio was everywhere.

Even today with competition from television there is no stopping the radio.

Because of the ease with which it transmits messages, politicians and decision makers knew that the radio was a gold mine. The shrewder individual recognized radio for its ability to transmit subliminal messages.

People hear things without listening and often wonder at their actions or their response to a certain message. At no time would they recognise that the simple radio had a major role to play.

Jagdeo is no fool. He knows the power of radio so when he liberalised it, he ensured that the people who would do his bidding got the kind of radio that would blanket Guyana. The government-owned National Communications Network

has been reaching across Guyana, but the absence of people who could use radio properly caused many of the messages to be lost. But radio did give the government an advantage.

I have been in communities where there are no television sets; where the only means of getting information was the radio.

Under such conditions people tend to believe what they hear on radio. Jagdeo knows this.

In the end we now have a situation where the ruling party, with support from a man who made his millions from the government and from Robert Persaud, who is not only a Central Committee member in the ruling party but who is also a government Minister, is joining the stateowned radio station to provide information countrywide.

Imagine the government wanting to send out a message that could change a situation. It has the advantage of four radio stations to do this. To endorse the message these radio stations will effect the broadcast at different times. The result would be phenomenal.

Those who have a counter message would be hard pressed to combat the initial message heard myriad times prior to the counter message. And the society should recognise that the other radio stations are primarily into entertainment.

None of those owners have any political affinity to the political parties in opposition to the government.

These owners are also within their right to refuse anything brought by anyone, so immediately one can see the political opposition being at a tremendous disadvantage, a situation that would remain until they could themselves acquire a radio licence that would afford them the power to provide countrywide coverage.

The government says that it is prepared to grant licences to the various applicants, but what it is not saying is whether it will grant licences to allow any applicant to provide a national service. For one, the extension would be costly.

Those who have the ability to broadcast countrywide, by association, can share facilities such as towers and repeater stations.

But this is to be expected,

Adam Harris because the entire situation was properly planned. The protest by those who need radio licences but have been denied must be seen in this light.

There is another crucial factor and this has to do with the people to help with the broadcast. There is not an amazing reservoir of radio savvy people. Therefore, those who have been provided with the first jump with the available staff have a distinct advantage.

When Jagdeo liberalised radio he studied the landscape and smiled because he had the answer.

Today we see the answer.

Whether this situation could be reversed is now being examined. Whether it would is another matter.

Page 50

From page 34 early as Wednesday. The opposition wanted it to start on Monday and that’s what happened just after midnight. In a Business Sub-Committee of the Parliament, the opposition outnumbered the government (Five-Four) and had its way.

RELOCATION OF PILES NOTAN INDICATION THAT TOWER LOCATION BEING CHANGED – PROJECT MANAGER The removal of piles from the Plaisance Community Centre ground is not an indication that Government has rescinded its decision to erect one of its E-governance transmission towers there, says Alexei Ramotar, Manager of the E-governance Unit.

Residents who sat under the pavilion Tuesday ‘guarding’ the playfield were elated when the contractor removed the piles from the East Coast Demerara location.

They are determined not to leave until the hole that the contractor dug to erect the tower is filled.

The residents were of the impression that Government had recanted its decision following their heated

Kaieteur News

interaction with Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill. But it has since been revealed that the E-governance Unit is using the material to commence works on another site along the East Coast Demerara, while the impasse is being addressed. Ramotar did not want to comment on whether Government has decided to find an alternative location to erect the tower, but did confirm that the timber piles are being relocated to be utilised at another site.

THURSDAY EDITION OPPOSITION TO GRILL GOVT. ON 2012 DRUG PURCHASES Government’s drug purchases are set to come under intense scrutiny again when deliberations on the 2013 estimates of the National Budget begin on Monday.

This year, Government has hiked the estimates for purchases to $4.6B, up $275M above last year’s voted amount.

For the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) $1.8B has been set aside – up from the $1.67B spent last year. The remaining

$2.8B is for the different programmes under the Ministry of Health. This particular expense has been a contentious one for a number of years after revelations that one company with close ties to former President Bharrat Jagdeo, benefitted from billions of dollars in contracts to supply drugs and medical supplies. Other suppliers have complained that they were sidelined with the prequalification process rigged in favour of the company at the centre of the controversy.

According to officials of both A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC), the two opposition parties in the National Assembly, they are highly interested in how government spent the billions last year.

APNU, AFC VOTE TO DEFER ESTIMATES, PUT DENT IN GOVT’S PLAN The government Wednesday lost its battle to have the consideration of the budget estimates begin.

Consideration of the estimates means that the National Assembly would have to go through the budget proposals line by line and either

approve or disapprove.

The opposition used its majority vote to decide that consideration of the estimates should begin on Monday, allowing it time to decide what it will cut.

The opposition has signalled its intention to weed out projects it says will continue to fester corruption and excesses. In a Business Sub-Committee of the Parliament, the opposition outnumbered the government and had its way. Once the matter was taken back to the full House, the opposition again outnumbered the government thus stopping the government in its tracks.

The deciding vote belonged to Renita Williams from Moruca in Region One. She was sworn in as a new Member of Parliament within the Opposition Coalition APNU following the resignation of Mr. Richard Allen.

FRIDAY EDITION OPPOSITION HAS NO GROUNDS FOR CUTTING BUDGET – PRESIDENT RAMOTAR Following intense debates in the National Assembly and hints of slashing another budget, President Donald Ramotar has asserted that any moves by the opposition parties to cut this year’s budget would be without grounds, thus highlighting vindictiveness on their part.

Speaking briefly to media operatives Thursday, Mr. Ramotar opined that, “As far as the debate is concerned, (Moses) Nagamootoo summed it up that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) won the debate, but still they want to cut the budget.”

“It seems to be so illogical. If you won the debate you expect that you have convinced them, but they’re still cutting the budget. So obviously they have no grounds and this is now down to vindictiveness.” On the issue of cutting funds, the President asserted that more than the government, the country would be at a loss. It would mean less resources

Sunday April 14, 2013

being spent on the country and slowing down the pace of development that we are anticipating.”

When asked about the government’s next move in anticipation of the expected budget cuts, President Ramotar said that he is unsure, but the administration would be watching carefully at all the related developments. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of his ministers during the budget debates.

GUYANESE GETS 44 YEARS IN NY COCAINE SEX ABUSE CASE New York (poststar) — A Schenectady man who gave crack cocaine to a 14-year-old boy before he repeatedly sexually abused him in Lake Luzerne was sentenced Wednesday to 44 years in state prison.

Guyana-born Roopnarain “Joe” Dukharan was convicted of nine felonies and two misdemeanors after a February trial in which a Warren County jury found he repeatedly sexually abused the boy and traded crack cocaine to drug addicts he brought from Schenectady to Lake Luzerne to clear a piece of land he had purchased.

He had contact with the teen because the youth offered to work for him, helping to clear the property.

Instead, Dukharan, 58, gave him drugs and repeatedly sodomized him over a severalmonth period.

SATURDAY EDITION OPPOSITION DEMANDS NCN FRAUD REPORT -OR AGENCY RISKS LOSING $162M BUDGET SUBSIDY 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 Friday, 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 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.

WOMAN, 89, BRUTALLY MURDEREDAT COVE AND JOHN 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 Friday 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 Friday 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.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column When an anonymous friend is better than no friend at all

DEARABIGAIL, I am torn. I know that my fiancé’s friend constantly cheats on his new fiancée. I have never met the girl, but this man is moves around the country to see girls he has met, and God only knows what he is doing.

He concocts big cover-up stories about his movements.

If I were being cheated on, I

would want someone to tell me, especially before the wedding. What should I do?

Should I not say anything?

Send her an anonymous message? If she would only check his phone, she would have all the proof she needs in text messages and photos.

Friend Dear Friend, This is a thorny problem, and there is never a one-sizefits-all answer. In the situation you describe, I would split the difference.

That is, I would get word to

this woman, even though you don’t know her and recommend she look at her fiancé’s cell phone. That way you have not actually turned him in, but you have allowed her to discover the incriminating information herself.

Ordinarily, anonymous notes are suspect, but in this particular situation, I don’t see why wanting to help a young woman avoid a serious mistake should earn you an enemy for life. (And there’s always the chance that she will marry him anyway.)

Sunday April 14, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You’re tempted to act like a wise guy today, speaking before you think about the consequences of your sharp words. But don’t be so quick to use laughter to mask your feelings. If you are responding via email, read each message twice before sending it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): If you’re obsessing over unimportant details today, set aside the rational thoughts that arise from your overloaded nervous system.

Instead of wasting energy defending your beliefs, create a coherent spiritual vision from your experiences.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): You may need to update your budget at home or review recent expenditures at work.

You might even be required to justify certain expenses.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Aim high when setting goals this week because you are entering an energetic period where you can accomplish more than you expect.

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 might feel somewhat detached from your immediate surroundings today. It’s as if you are hidden in a murky swamp looking up at the world. But everything seems warped out of shape by the ripples on the surface of the water.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): A healthy sense of certainty is usually a positive trait, but not if you believe that you’re the only one who truly understands what’s going on today. Unfortunately, you might have to accept that you don’t have a monopoly on the truth.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Some aspect of your spiritual vision is feeding your current success and inspiring the recognition you are receiving from your peers.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Be careful what you say today and how you say it.

You’re moving faster than anyone around you and there is a possibility for a misunderstanding if you leave something important out of your communication.

CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): There could be so many loose ends to tie up today that finishing your work may seem like a hopeless cause.

Everything is taking longer than you expect and your regular approach doesn’t seem to be working so well now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): Your attention may be focused on everything except work today because you are enjoying the variety of diversions that find their way to your door.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): You may be more interested in sharing your current feelings or reminiscing about old memories with your family than you are in doing your chores.

Page 51

DTV CHANNEL 8 09:25 hrs. Sign On 09:30 hrs. Turning Point 10:00 hrs. Kickin' It 10:30 hrs. Lab Rats 11:00 hrs. The Amazing Spider-Man 11:35 hrs. Avengers 12:00 hrs. Movie: Baby Snatcher 14:00 hrs. Movie: My Baby is Missing

16:00 hrs. Movie: Hush 18:00 hrs. Catholic Magazine (Faith in Action) 18:30 hrs. Know Your Bible 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Once Upon a Time 21:00 hrs. The Good Wife (New Episode) 23:00 hrs. The Mentalist (New Episode) 23:00 hrs. Sign Off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 52

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

US-based Guyanese donates football equipment to St. George’s Champions of the recently concluded Petra/ Milo Schools Football Championship, St. George’s High School were the recipients of a quantity of football equipment compliments of US-based Guyanese Joseph Godfrey, who made the presentation at the school on Thursday.

Godfrey handed over the Nike Size 5 Footballs along with shin guards and hoses to the victorious team in the presence of Petra officials, the Head Mistress, teachers and students. According to CoDirector of Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca, the donor was introduced to them through a friend after expressing how impressed he was with the work the Organisation was doing.

“It was through Mr. Estwick Northe that we established contact with Godfrey and after consulting with an old student Mrs. Angeline Dyer-McCarthy it was decided that the reigning champions be the recipients of the gift hence today’s

activity,” Mendonca told the media.

Godfrey in his remarks said he was indeed impresed with the work that the Petra Organisation was doing, especially in the area of junior development and after consultation with his friend Northe, he was pointed to Mendonca, who was very receptive to the idea and the rest is history. He promised further assistance in the future. Dyer-McCarthy in her presentation spoke of her passion for sports and her alma mater and after being asked to identify a school she immediately chose St. George’s as the institution to benefit from Godfrey’s goodwill. This gift adds to the grand prize of $200,000 which will to a project of the school’s choice for winning the tournament. Mendonca, shortly after the conclusion of the ceremony was seen locked in discussions with the Head Mistress and teachers to ascertain what project of choice was decided on.

US-based Guyanese Joseph Godfrey (centre) is seen handing over one of the footballs to Petra/Milo Tournament MVP Royston Dublin in the presence of the students, while Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca is seen standing at left and old student Mrs. Angeline Dyer-McCarthy is extreme right.

Annual Trinidad and Guyana SC U-13...

From page 56 year sponsoring the Inter school U-13 Football Extravaganza.

He pledged to continue doing the activity on a bigger s c a l e i n t h e foreseeable future.

Daniel stated that most

of the prizes that are presented are from friends and associates in the Twin Island Republic. He noted that the group also provided TV sets for the Nursery Schools.

President of TGSCOP, June Britton, said the organization reaches out to

the needy and Secondary Schools through sport and also provides equipment.

Coordinator of the event, former national player Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey, noted that the tournament serves as a stepping stone for young players. He thanked the

sponsor for coming on board and the school for agreeing to take part in the tournament. Humphrey will be assisted by Nigel ‘Busit’ Felix, Kenrick Bowry and Randy ‘Blades’ Sears. Kick off time each afternoon is 14:00hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 53

“SPEED, DANGER, ANGLES, TURNS AND CURVES – GOLF AND FORMULA 1 HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON!” Colin E. H. Croft Golf is, to me, the only sport that is not entirely a game, but more a science. It is also quite unforgiving!

I love golf, but do not play it; yet. Who knows?

There is still time, but if I could come back in another life, as another relatively good sportsman, I would be a Formula 1 racing driver!

Speed is real!

My entire experience of actually playing golf is exactly one afternoon’s experiment, while teaching Mathematics and Sports in Berkshire, England, in 2007/8. I was quite terrible but enjoyed it immensely!

Having run on many around the world, I also love golf courses, for different energies they demand, if you use them, as I did in my cricket-playing days, covering mile after long mile.

They were all good!

Nothing, not even beaches, which I used much too; I lived near famous Unity beach in Guyana; could beat the undulating surfaces of golf courses for strengthening sinews and straining stamina.

Golf lives!

I caddied for West Indies opener Desmond Haynes and others when we toured New Zealand on that still remembered ill-fated tour of 1979/80, after we had beaten Australia, in Australia, for the first time. I did similarly for Richie Benaud and Tony Greig in later fun times, while doing commentary in Australia!

So, looking at the 2013 Masters, one could only

Tiger Woods

appreciate the stunning geometry, the tight angles and absolute engineering, even the slight “English’, on some strokes.

Speed, lie, line, pitch, wedge, flight, putts, wind speed, all need tremendous concentration and special abilities, if one is to relax and to perform well!

That 13th hole at Augusta is a dog, but it is the 15th, a seemingly innocuous divot that, given the breezy, sometimes tough conditions, could; have done too; jump up and bite players in the nether regions!

And, “Tiger” is back, playing brilliantly this year, and looking for yet another “Green Jacket”. It just goes to show that anyone can make a come-back, given what he has endured in the last several years.

But the player who looks good for 2013 Masters honours is Jim Furyk. With

that “monkey” on him now, Jim will probably drop several strokes by Sunday evening, but be assured that he will fight all the way!

When Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods arrived at Augusta for his first ever Masters; 1997; his first comment was: “The grass here is just as green as that on any of my practice courses, and the trees look even smaller than I imagined them to be. All I will do, then, is go out there and play my normal game!”

After only turning professional in 1996, “Tiger” won that, his first major, by an astonishing 12 strokes!

The most impressive aspect of both Woods and Furyk, in 2013, is their lean bodies. No protruding bellies here.

They both actually look like jockeys, so slim and sleek they appear. In another world, had they designed thusly,

Powell hopes to stay...

From page 56 and move on to the next one.”

His chances of breaking through at a major meet aren’t getting any easier. After all, Bolt is in his prime and fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake appears to be the next big thing. The Americans still have Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay running at an elite level.

“In my expert opinion, Asafa’s chances at a title are years in the rearview mirror,” Boldon said. “But I’ve always been seen as an Asafa basher.

That’s not the case. In a lot of ways, he might be my favourite Jamaican sprinter of all time. ... It’s just all those guys are still around and they aren’t afraid of him in a championship.”

Throw in the towel?

Hardly.

He’s practising with a different mentality this season, putting in even more work in the gym.

This from a sprinter who’s gone under 10 seconds around 80 times in his career, which is more than Lewis and Greene combined. Powell broke the world mark on June 14, 2005, when he crossed the finish line in 9.77 seconds at a meet in Greece. Two years later, Powell bettered the record, going 9.74 in Italy.

That held until Bolt broke it in May 2008, eventually lowering the mark to 9.58 with his performance at worlds in 2009.

“We have a good rivalry, a friendly rivalry,” said Powell, who also shares a love of cars with Bolt, and is currently restoring a dark blue 1972

Chevy Malibu. “When we’re on the track, it’s a serious business. Off the track, we’re good.”

Powell’s schedule will have him competing quite a bit internationally in May and then backing off before worlds just to stay fresh.

After all, that elusive individual title would go a long way in cementing his place in track history.

“Everyone always says I’m the first one to really help Jamaica take over the world. I was the one who started that,” Powell said. “Everyone remembers me for that — remembers all the times I ran.

They see the potential, that I have in me to break the record.

I want people to remember me as one of the greatest sprinters ever.”

they could even have been Formula 1 drivers!

Talking about speed, engineering, tough conditions, slim fit, angles and corners, Formula 1 is the bomb!

I have been fortunate to attend a few races, starting in 1977, while I played county cricket for Lancashire. I went to Silverstone, England, to look at my own F-1 hero, back then, USA’s Mario Andretti.

Mario won most races that year, but another pure driver, and magnificent survivor, in every way, Austria’s Niki Lauda, won that year’s Championship.

The excitement was truly unbelievable!

Last year, I saw both Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and my present day F-1 favorite, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonzo, while in London.

Paraphrasing Tiger’s comment for his first visit to Augusta, they looked small!

Somehow, looking at Tiger Woods in Augusta this weekend reminds me much of Lewis Hamilton; intense, cool, focused, yet somewhat playful, full of fun. These guys are really special sportsmen!

Yet, they are dead serious about their respective sports, and can be so explosive too.

They live well, have expensive tastes, and are themselves expensive, and try to enjoy life to the fullest, but they are also some of the world’s most distinguished sportsmen, noting the fact that, at least in Formula 1, death is only about six inches away!

Probably the best racing driver to have lived was Brazilian ace Ayrton Senna.

Even he, like many others, perished when their fully scientific machine, built similar to modern day fighter aircraft, simply failed!

Indeed, Lauda, himself a three-time F-1 World Champion, who now manages Hamilton’s Mercedes team, is a miracle man, having somehow survived a horrendous car fire during 1976 German Grand Prix.

The present lack of détente or any sense of friendliness between Red Bull F-1 team-mates Sebastien Vettel and Mark Webber also brings great pulsations to this weekend’s Chinese F-1.

Woods, Furyk, Vettel, Webber, Alonzo and so many

Colin E. H. Croft golfers and F-1 drivers have just one major ambition in common. They all want to win. They give no quarter and ask none whatsoever.

These guys will do whatever it takes, as demonstrated by Vettel weeks ago, to be successful. Expect Woods too to be in the mix come Sunday. Enjoy!

Lewis Hamilton

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 14, 2013

Blairmont No 4 win Attorney Tajenarine Ramroop 10/10 softball cricket competition Blairmont No 4 came back in the finals and put their best foot forward when it mattered most to upstage favourites and previously unbeaten Blairmont No1 by eight wickets to take the final of the Blairmont Premiere League Inter Settlement 10/10 softball cricket completion which was played at the Blairmont Settlement cricket ground.

The competition, which

was sponsored and organised by Attorney at Law and former cricketer Tajenarine Ramroop for teams in Blairmont and Ithaca villages, saw play in both male and female categories.

Six males and two female teams participated in the competition.

The teams taking part competed on a round robin basis with the top two teams

emerging to contest the finals; with Blairmont No 1, 2, 3 and 4, Ithaca and Veterans coming out tops.

In the final, Blairmont No4 won the toss and inserted No1 to take first strike and they reached 84 all out in 9.3 overs with Khemchand Persaud 29 and Jugeshwar Singh 17 being the top scorers. Bowling for No 4, Lakesh Takeram had

impressive figures of five wickets for seven runs from his two overs.

In reply, Blairmont No4 pair of Vejai Farad with an unbeaten 52, which include 6x6 and Sohanlall Bissonlall 23 not out, were in devastating form as they clobbered the bowling to all parts of the field as their team raced to 86-2 for the win and take away the Attorney at law

Tajenarine Ramroop trophy and $20,000. Bowling for No1 Zai Karim picked up both wickets.

In the female game, Blairmont No3 defeated Blairmont No2 by eight wickets to cop the female version of the competition.

Batting first No2 reached 79 with Soma Kissonlall cracking 41 and Zena Singh 22 being the principal scorers.

Bowling for NO3 Babita Dwarka took two wickets. In their reply, No3 led by Dwarka with 38 Not out raced to 82-2 in 8.1 overs and she was well supported by Orica Felix with an unbeaten 19 as they hurried their team to victory.

A number of individual prizes were presented to the outstanding individual performers with Vijai Farad copping the man-of-thematch award and the batsman with the most runs in the finals. The best wicketkeeper prize went to Carlos Holmes.

The Best Bowler award went to Leslie Amsterdam, the emerging player award went to D. Rasheed, while Dewan Persaud copped the trophy for taking a hat-trick.

On the distaff side the player of the match went to Babita Dwarka for scoring 38 and taking two wickets.

Soma Kissonlall got the award for scoring the most runs in the finals. Theresa Cozier with figures of 4-14 and Vasha Basdeo with 3 wicket got prizes for their bowling performances.

Most Outstanding emerging female player award went to Kimberly. All the outstanding individual players were presented with trophies. In all 16 matches were played and the tournament was sponsored to the tune of $120,000.

According to MR Ramroop, who was a former magistrate, the main idea of organising the competition is to keep the youths off the street and off of drugs, alcohol and other illicit activities.

Mr. Ramroop used the opportunity to call on the government to come forward and help the communities by organise community and sporting activities. The villages are made up of mostly sugar workers from the nearby Blairmont Estate and farmers. A number of other activities have been organised by Mr. Ramroop including a tapeball competition involving Police, Blairmont Community Centre, Blairmont Settlement, De Edward and Ithaca.

Ann’s Grove United SC gets Ministry of Sports support

Major Raul Jerrick (left) accepts items from Mr. Alfred King, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, in the presence of Ms. Dellon Adams - Secretary.

The Ann‘s Grove United Sports Club, formerly Ann‘s Grove Line Stars Football Club, under new management, on Friday 13th April, 2013, received a number of items from the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, at the Ministry‘s Main Street Office, to assist its football Club.

The new management team is Major Raul Jerrick- President Mr. Errol Nedd- 1st Vice - President, Mr. Alwyn Sertimer- 2nd Vice- President, Ms. Dellon Adams- Secretary, Ms. Luan Gooding- Treasurer and Ms. Rhonda Monize- Asst. Sec. / Treas. Patrons of the club to date are: Mr. Patrick Langhorne, Mr. Trevor Hytmiah, Mr. Vincent Jerrick and Mr. Floyd Denny.

In a simple ceremony, the Permanent Secretary underscored the Ministry‘s commitment to youth development and promoting sports in the country; he encouraged the executives to continue to work with youths in the area.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

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The Judo Association is an unconstitutional body - Blackman The Judo Association of Guyana formerly the Guyana Judo Association is an unconstitutional body, this is according to former Secretary William Blackman.

Blackman pointed out the association held its Bi Annual General meeting recently at the Olympic House with only two executive members present; the Vice President and the Treasurer, but the constitution states that the entire executive must be present for the meeting to be held. He stated that other members of the executive had resigned and as such the remaining two executive members should have vacated the positions to pave the way for new elections.

Blackman said that the Judo Association is made up of two clubs namely Kitty Jamaat and Rising Sun House of Water. He indicated that the previous executive had changed the name. “When you have a name change only the assets can be registered under the new name not the liabilities this was done,” added Blackman.

Blackman told Kaieteur Sport that the financial statements were flawed. “It was pointed out to the previous executive, by myself and Andy Moore, at a meeting held recently but they still went ahead with the elections without even bothering to correct it or offered an explanation. There were no 2012 financial statement only the 2010 and 2011 statements were audited and the constitution states that there must be an audited financial statement for elections to be held,” stated Blackman.

The former Secretary said he cannot understand the present constitution stating that both Annual and Bi Annual general meetings must be held. “It’s either of the two, you can’t have both.

Further, notices sent out for the elections were not signed by the secretary since the secretary had resigned. The previous body was keeping meetings without a quorum, this was brought to the attention of the facilitator Charles Corbin but nothing

was done, the technical director had also resigned but suddenly showed up for the elections,” Blackman informed.

He also said that none of the minutes were signed by the president or the secretary and as such will not be considered authentic. “I was offered a post but declined since the system was flawed,” said Blackman.

Andy Moore who owns a Judo school said the present executive only cares about power and are not interested in the development of the sport.

“They received G$5M from the world Judo Association but the money was not spent on the development of Judo. Anidan Judo students are not being given a fair chance, the outlying areas should be looked at, after 10 years only 35 students are practicing Judo locally which is not good enough, and there is no progress,” he argued.

He said that there was a typographical error in the constitution in article 4.4.3

And they are off...

Bush Lot United Turf Club expected to sizzle in today’s $6.5M, 70 horses showdown

By Samuel Whyte And they are off…, famous words to start horserace’s and today will be no different when the Bush Lot United Turf Club runs off its annual one day horserace meet at their venue at Sea View Park Bush Lot, West Coast, Berbice as the horse racing band wagon swings to the Western part of Berbice as the cream of the country’s top horses take to the track.

According to coordinator Lakeram Buddy Sukhdeo, all systems are in place and an action packed day of racing is anticipated. The venue is in excellent shape and some fast times are anticipated. He anticipates that a bumper crowd will swarm the venue for the sprint classic.

The seven race card has over $6.5M in cash trophies and other incentives up for the taking and a riveting day of racing is anticipated.

The full list of events and some of the animals entered for the day are- The feature event for Animals classified D and lower will see the likes of Diamond Dazzling, Fresh Again, Serenity, Zelick, Appealing Harvest, Funny factor, Embalm My heart and Miss Karina among others competing to the winning $500,000 and trophy over

1600M. Among those entered in the F and lower race for the first prize of $360,000 and trophy over 1400M are Feels Like Gold, Swing East, Captain Crook, Traditional man, Weekend Surprise and Ferry Landing.

Horses such as Katrina, Sango, Royal Passion and Magga Line are among those contesting for the $400,000 and trophy on offer in the for three and four year old maiden animals, Guyana bred and born 1200M race.

The contentious G and lower matchup for a winner’s take of $250,000 and trophy will see among them Ameera’s Joy, Captain Crook, Feels like Gold, Ferry landing, Red cloud, Third World and Traditional man compete over 1200M. Cat Messiah will be looking for another win when it takes to the track in the I and lower event, but will first have to get past the likes of The Gump, Mary Ann, Speed Vision, Mona Lisa and Sango as they compete for $240,000 and trophy over 1200M. The J class 1000M event will see the animals such as Speed Vision, Cat Messiah, Mona Lisa, Windy Killer, Miss Katrina, Royal Passion, Royal Intention, Mary Ann, Silver Kid, Kevin, Magga Line,

Blessed Child, Little Angel battling for the $180,000 and trophy.

The K and lower gallop over 1200M for a take home reward of $140,000 and trophy such as Angel Black, Earth Angel, Jet the Jamming, Indian Dancer, Little Angel, Alana, Wicked Revenge, Royal prince, Dem a watch me and Magga Line.

Among the sponsors on board are Banks DIH, Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff of the Shariff racing stable, Inshan Bacchus Business Enterprise, Digicel, Trans Pacific, Rohit Lumber yard, Hot and Spicy, Hand In Hand Insurance, Buddy Shivraj, Shano Seenarine, Digicel, IPA, Kumar Sree Krisenjee, Lakeram “Buddy” Sukhdeo, Jumbo Jet, Guyana Tourism Authority and businessman Premo Baldeo among others.

Leading individual performers including top jockey, stable and trainer will be presented with prizes and trophies compliments of the organisers.

Persons with last minute queries can still make contact with Coordinator and Treasurer Lakeram Sukhdeo on Number 232-0558 or 6720810 or President R. Jagit (tel 232-0231).

Race time is 12:30 hrs.

under the caption ‘Biennial General Meeting’ which was changed at an ‘executive meeting’ and that is unconstitutional, since such errors can only be changed at a Special General Meeting.

Moore stated that Black Belts are being given away to people who do not practice Judo.

Moore further informed that his school was rejected by the executive. “They wrote a letter to the Olympic House

stating that my school do not have adequate space for Judo and at the same time myself and Blackman were conducting classes with the prison service. My school is the biggest in Guyana, a number of media visited but nothing was done, because of my love for the sport I will always stand up for it,” he concluded.

Blackman has a second Dan Black Belt, while Moore has a fourth Dan Black belt.

William Blackman

Eion ‘Wico’ Leitch a talent...

From page 57 played the opening match against Suriname because the appointed Captain Auric Tappin failed to receive an early release from his employers Omai Gold Mines.

Leitch scored 12 pts in the opening victory but was omitted when the two times Caricom All Star Guard was finally released.

Although he was a prolific scorer in division one action he was ignored for National selection for the 1995 Caricom championship in the Bahamas and the 1996 Championship

in Trinidad, the reasons for his exclusion was beyond Basketball. Before his addiction ‘Wico’ Leitch was the player every youngster wanted to emulate.

International Tours Suriname Jamaica Suriname Barbados Career High 19 Points vs DC Jammers -1993 - National Sports Hall Caricom championship high - 12 pts vs Suriname 1994 Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

Leitch’s First Caricom Championship Team (1988): Leon Christian - Captain Auric Tappin Mark Agard Robert Cadogan Robert Byass James Brusche Eion Leitch Gavin Cummings Brandis Carmichael Heinrod David Troy Thomas Nigel Hinds Mike Brusche - Coach Vincent Alexander Manager

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Powell hopes to stay NAMILCO/Bakewell T20 Champion of Champions Tourney healthy ahead of worlds Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Jamaica Observer ASAFA Powell has broken the 10-second mark in the 100 metres more times than anyone in history. Only he doesn’t have the titles to show for it.

Powell is hoping to stay injury-free this season and finally shed a label that’s trailed him around the track — best sprinter never to win an individual crown at a major event. He will get another chance this August at the World Championships in Moscow.

He can’t remember the last time he was completely healthy. It seems he’s always contending with a balky hamstring or a nagging groin ailment, like the one that caused him to pull up in the 100 at the London Games last summer.

Sometimes, Powell just can’t help but wonder what he might have accomplished had he stayed healthy.

“A lot of things would’ve been different,” the 30-yearold Powell said in a phone interview from Australia, where he was scheduled to

race before withdrawing due to a tweak in his left hamstring.

“I would be running a lot faster. The competitions would be a lot better, I think. I would’ve accomplished a lot more at World Championships. For years, I could’ve been winning all these World Championships, the Olympics.

“Those things, I’ve thought about.”

There was a time not too long ago when the Jamaican sprinter ruling the track was Powell, holding the 100 world record from 2005 until Usain Bolt claimed it in 2008.

And while Bolt has captured back-to-back Olympic titles in both the 100 and 200, Powell has never won a title of his own on the biggest of stages. For all his fast times, he just can’t seem to replicate that speed at worlds or the Summer Games.

Just why that is has left many puzzled.

“I think that Asafa clearly doesn’t deal well with the pressure of a final,” said Ato Boldon, a four-time Olympic medallist and NBC sprint

analyst. “Because if you lined Asafa up with the rest of the planet, I don’t think there are more than one or two that should ever beat him on any given day. But when the planet lines up and it’s for a championship, he hasn’t been able to deliver.

“It’s frustrating because if you were in a lab and you wanted to create the perfect sprinter, he would look like Asafa Powell. Physically, Asafa Powell is the perfect height, weight and build, everything for a sprinter.”

Powell has finished no better than fifth in three 100metre finals at the Olympics.

Last summer in London, he pulled up early because of his groin and wound up eighth.

Also, Powell wasn’t able to help the Jamaican 4x100metre relay team defend its title. Four years earlier in Beijing, Powell brought home the gold with a strong anchor leg.

“It was hard,” Powell said of sitting on the sideline as Jamaica won in a worldrecord time. “Brush that off (Continued on page 53)

Kaieteur Sport continues to feature the teams that will be competing in the inaugural NAMILCO/Bakewell/Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club T20 Champion of Champions tournament set to bowl off on Sunday April 21.

Focus today will be placed one of Berbice and Guyana’s best, the Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets (RHTG&G).

Over the last five years, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club has dominated cricket in the Ancient County at all levels and the RHT Gizmos & Gadgets First Division side has quickly developed into one of the best in the Ancient County.

RHTG&G and Albion Cricket Club will start as joint favourites to win this competition with the former opening their account in this inaugural tournament against Port Mourant at the Skeldon Ground on Sunday April 21 from 09:30hrs.

National player Delbert Hicks will lead a strong RHTG&G with Shawn Pereira as his deputy. Able support in the batting will come from West Indies player Assad Fudadin, Rajiv Ivan, Dominic Rikhi, Renwick Batson, Jason Sinclair, Khemraj Mahadeo, Clinton Pestano and Royston Crandon.

Medium pacers Pestano and Fudadin will most likely share the new ball backed up

Clinton Pestano

Eon Hopper

Shawn Perreira

Delbert Hicks

by Renwick Batson.

Their capable spinning attack is in the safe hands of leg spinner Shawn Perreira, left armer Ravi Narine and off spinners Hooper, Rikhi, Ivan, Lloydel Lewis, Shailendra Shameer, Mahadeo and the experienced Crandon.

Promising 17 year-old wicketkeeper Askay Homraj has also been included in the squad for the tournament.

The full squad reads: Delbert Hicks, Dominic Rikhi, Renwick Batson, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon,

Jason Sinclair, Clinton Pestano, Rajiv Ivan, Eon Hooper, Lloydel Lewis, Shawn Perreira, Shailendra Shameer, Ravi Narine, Khemraj Mahadeo, Devin Baldeo, Askay Homraj and Daniel Lewis.

Manager is Patrick Lewis with Coaches duties undertaken by Michael Hyles.

The Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets team recently won the Busta Champion of Champions in November 2012 and Tenelec 50 overs in April 2013.

Annual Trinidad and Guyana SC U-13 schools football launched in Berbice Young footballers in schools in the New Amsterdam / Canje area will have an opportunity to strut their stuff when the fourth edition of the annual Trinidad and Guyana (T&G) Sports Club and Outreach Programme (TGSCOP) U-13 Inter Secondary school football competition is held at the All Saints Scott Church ground in New Amsterdam.

The competition will be played in collaboration with the Hearts Of Oak Masters Football club.

This is the fourth year of the competition. Eight schools are slated to take part namely; defending champions - Vryman’s Erven Secondary School (VESS), Berbice High School (BHS), Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), Vryman’s Erven Secondary School (VESS), Tutorial Academy Secondary (TASS), Canje Secondary School (CSS), New Amsterdam Multilateral

Secondary School, (NAMS), Overwinning Secondary School (OSS) and School of The Nations (SOTN).

The competition will be played using the round robin format and the schools have been divided into two groups and matches will be played throughout the week with the two top schools in each group advancing to the semifinals and final which will be played on Friday at the same venue. Group A comprise of TASS, SOTN, VESS and OSS, while group B is made up of BHS, CSS, NAMS and BEI. The top team is expected to be presented with the Trinidad and Guyana (T&G) Sports Club and Outreach Programme trophy and 15 gold medals, while the runner up will collect a trophy and 15 silver medals. Trophies and other incentives will also be given to the other participating teams.

A number of individual

prizes will also be presented, including the Most valuable Player, Best Striker, Best defender, best midfielder, Best Goalkeeper, most promising player(s), most goal scorer. Players will be presented with jerseys, trunks, shin pads, hoses, boots, balls among other things.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, sponsor Isaac Daniel, a resident of Trinidad and a regular visitor to Guyana stated that he started to organize the activities some nine years ago. He loves to visit Guyana and would come regularly on holidays mostly in the East Canje area. During his early visits he noticed that there is a lack of organized recreational activities and he decided to do something. He started by organizing village games, then nursery school activities. This is his fourth (Continued on page 52)

Sunday April 14, 2013

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EION ‘WICO’ LEITCH A TALENT RUINED Charwayne Walker continues his look at the outstanding basketball players who represented Guyana at the National and International level with some degree of distinction. This week we look at a talent that did not reach its full potential, Eion ‘Wico’ Leitch. Who would have predicted that after Eion ‘Wico’ Leitch’s elevation to the National Captaincy in 1993, the 1994 Caricom Championship opening match against Suriname would be is last outing in National Colours.

Strange enough Leitch’s first match in senior colours was also against Suriname 1988 at the same venue, his entry to the Sport of Basketball was paved by the late Phillip George. So it was no surprise why ‘Wico’ was so dominant offensively and as a defender he was second to none.

Unfortunately the discipline he displayed on the Court was sadly lacking off it.

Leitch battle with banned substance brought a premature end to a career that promised so much but before that moment of madness the former Sacred Heart Star boy was a crowd pleaser.

‘Wico’ first outing in National Colours was August 1985 with the National Under-19 team to Suriname. His apprenticeship continued the following year 1986 when the National Under-19 team engaged the visiting USA High School team Palmetios in several matches in Georgetown and Linden.

The following year 1987 after some outstanding performances for Colts United at the First Division Level and Cummingsburg in Inter Ward action, ‘Wico’ was selected for Region 4 for the Guyana Games series. He

experienced limited court time because the triumphant Region 4 line-up had the likes of Mark Agard, Robert Cadogan, Ray Williams, Brandis Carmichael, Leon Christian, Dave Trotman, Eon Andrews and Nigel Hinds, but the experience young Leitch gained would later prove invaluable.

After the Guyana Games tournament Barbados Senior National team visited and Leitch was selected in a strong Georgetown line-up for the opening cash. Playing his first Senior Game against Foreign opponents ‘Wico’ was Superb. Although he failed to find favour with the selectors for that International Series he was destined to become Phillip George and Colts United First Senior National Player.

Moment of truth August 1988 Guyana hosted the seventh Caricom Championship and there were loud cheers from the Colts United supporters at the National Sports Hall when ‘Wico’ replaced Auric Tappin in the dying moments of the opening Victory against Suriname. Leitch also featured in other games against Antigua, Jamaica, Aruba and Bahamas.

1989 first run in with the G.A.B.F. After some dominant performances for Colts at the first division level, ‘Wico’ was the talk of Georgetown basketball and in 1989 the Guyana Games Basketball Rivalry continued between Region 4 and Region 10 and ‘Wico’ was not daunted by the presence of Region 10 Caricom All Star Guard Auric Tappin and in a fierce battle of an established and an emerging Guard, tempers flared resulting in a fistic battle and Leitch was later penalized severely by the G.A.B.F.

Ravindra Jadeja pulls off a heist ESPNcricinfo - The last time Royal Challengers Bangalore went to Chennai, Virat Kohli lost a won match when he bowled one over. The captain this time, Kohli lost a won game by handing over the ball to RP Singh, who conceded 16 in the last over, including a huge no-ball, which was caught at third man and would have won them the match had RP not overstepped - it was meant to be the final ball of the game. Laughing all the way to the win was Ravindra Jadeja, who mixed educated edges and meaty blows superbly to take Chennai Super Kings home with 38 off 20.

After Ravi Rampaul and R Vinay Kumar removed the openers to reduce Super Kings to 10 for 2 in four overs, it was all uphill for the home side. Suresh Raina and S Badrinath rebuilt but when they fell Super Kings still needed 88 off 46. Vinay brought it to 65 off 30, conceding only six in the 15th over. Dhoni and Jadeja kept on hitting the odd boundary, one of them right out of the stadium, but the asking rate kept going up. With 29 required off the last two overs, Rampaul seemed to have sealed the deal with the wickets of Dhoni - for 33 off 23 - and Bravo - for 8 off 3 - in the 19th over. However, Kohli had a situation on his hands. Vinay had bowled out, and he had to choose between Daniel Christian and RP because the left-arm spinners would have turned or angled the ball into Jadeja’s natural swing. Christian had gone for just 13 in two overs, but has had a forgettable record bowling the final over in IPL games.

So RP it was, and RP it was who bowled two length balls at the top of the over. Jadeja edged the first over short third man, but absolutely smoked the next one over longon. The pressure was squarely on Royal Challengers now. Wearing the orange cap, reclaimed through an anchoring fifty earlier in the innings, he misfielded the fourth ball at long-on, allowing the second. He had done so earlier too. Chris Morris, who had taken

The name’s Jadeja, Ravindra Jadeja: another day, another win © BCCI

three wickets including the big one of Chris Gayle and two during the slog overs to keep Royal Challengers down to 165, accepted that couple and followed it with a single to make it two required off the last ball. Surreal scenes followed. RP bowled a bouncer, Jadeja ramped it straight to third man, Kohli thought he could yet end up on the right side of it until he saw the outstretched arm of the umpire and the celebrating Jadeja, who seems to be unable to do any wrong this season even if he tries.

Replays showed this wasn’t just any ordinary no-ball, RP had overstepped by a foot. Kohli backed RP in the public, but there might be words spoken behind closed doors.

Royal Challengers will also look at the last over when they batted, when Arun Karthik kept heaving and wasting deliveries as opposed to bringing to strike AB de Villiers, who scored a manic 64 off 32, full of sweeps against fast bowlers.

Scores: Chennai Super Kings 166 for 6 (Jadeja 38*, Rampaul 3-31) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 165 for 6 (De Villiers 64, Kohli 58) by four wickets.

The diehard Leitch was banned for six months by the G.A.B.F resulting in him missing Guyana’s three Internationals against Barbados in December 1989 at the National Sports Hall. ‘Wico’ returned to action the following year 1990 for both Colts and Georgetown in Inter Sub-association tournaments he also was outstanding in Inter Ward action for South Cummingsburg but had to wait until 1991 for International Opponents, because the G.A.B.F failed to send the National team to the 1990 Caricom Championship in Trinidad there were no Foreign invaders neither.

He returned to international action in February 1991 for Georgetown against Senators of Barbados at the National Sports Hall and after outstanding performances for Colts and Georgetown ‘Wico’ was selected for his second Caricom Championship, the host was Jamaica. Although he was Mark Agard’s back-up at the Point Guard position he gave a good account of himself under tremendous pressure.

After Jamaica, Leitch’s next international assignment was Suriname for a Goodwill Series with the Auric Tappin led National side, this time he was the man calling plays, as ‘Wico’ explains the following year, August 1992, he contested his toughest series as a National Player. The German professional team TTN Bomery visited the land of the Mighty Kaieteur Falls for three matches. The tourist arsenal included two former NBA Players, two members of the German 1992 Olympic team and a 7ft 4 inches centre. Leitch was appointed Captain for all three matches,

the local side loss widely but as he explained playing against such opponents was a blessing in disguise for Guyana’s Basketball.

Please note that was the only tour by a European Professional Club to Guyana.

1993 first taste of National Captaincy after the Germans visit the National selectors appointed ‘Wico’ as National Captain for three international matches against Barbados at the National Sports Hall. With Leitch at the helm, Guyana playing with Rookie guards Lugard Mohan, Rawlwin Loncke, Rookie forwards Ralph Scotland and Kerwin LaFargue humbled the visiting Barbados in the series opener, but that was only a small consolation for Leitch and the boys because the lads from ‘Bimshire’ rebounded and took the series two games to one.

His next international series in charge was a triangular tournament involving Guyana, Suriname and DC Jammers. Leitch led Guyana to the finals but again he failed to bring the bacon home, this time Guyana succumbed to the Washington based DC Jammers. After that tournament the National Skipper’s problems with banned substance intensified.

He left his beloved Colts and joined Rivals Pacesetters, but things off the Court remained the same. The following year 1994, Guyana acquired its first foreign coach, Erik Rashaad, and ‘Wico’ Leitch was included in a 17 man Squad for a Goodwill series in Barbados. After the Bridgetown outing coach Rashaad announced his squad for the 1994 Caricom championship in Georgetown and the name Eion Leitch was missing. He was recalled and (Continued on page 55)

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Stipend in line for France in collaboration with Digicel conducts 2-day Coaching Course amateur boxers - Ninvalle

Guyana Football Federation Technical Development Officer Lyndon France (background) seen during a pep talk with the participants of the Digicel 2-day Coaching Course that started yesterday, at the Company’s Head Office.

Guyana Football Federation Technical Development Officer Lyndon France opened a 2-day Coaches Workshop at the Digicel Head Office in Kingston yesterday.

France, who recently returned from a Coaching Course that was conducted by the Chelsea FC in Trinidad and Tobago, was afforded the

opportunity to attend the event thanks to Digicel.

According to Lavern Fraser-Thomas, who is the National Co-ordinator of the Annual Digicel Nationwide Schools Tournament, France’s attendance was primarily due a commitment the Compnay has made three years ago when it embarked on the huge project of

assisting in the development of football at the junior level.

“The main objective then and now was to allow interested persons to be exposed to the rudiments of coaching so that they could return back to their respective schools and impart that knowledge,” Fraser-Thomas told a fair-sized gathering of coaches and teachers who

attended the sessions.

Fraser-Thomas said they she was happy to see representatives from schools from most of the Regions, informing that all except for one Region was not present, but that was unavoidable.

She added that it was her wish that what was taught during the sessions would be used to the benefit of the students who’re getting ready to participate in the compettiion set to start later this year.

France in a brief introduction said he was happy to have been afforded the opportunity to attend the Course, adding that he will endeavour to impart as much as possible what he had learnt over the next two days.

Some of the topics that will be taught include –Sports Medicine & First Aid, attributes and role of a coach, facilities, equipment and gears, laws of the game, methodical principles and methods, practical receiving of the ball, practical driving of the ball and nutrition, among others. Also, in attendance yesterday was Digicel CEO Gregory Dean, who spoke of the aim of the Company as it relates to their involvement in the sport.

He reminded that the emphasis of their invollvement was always on development, adding that a feature that is consistent in all countries is that much importance is paid on a strong junior developmental programme.

Dean was adamant that Digicel alone will not get the job done and is willing to partner with other interested stakeholders.

He commended the sponsors and organisers of programmes such as the Scotia Bank and Milo tournaments which he said complemented their efforts to foster development at the junior level.

“We’re going to remain receptive to other ideas to enhance the product, while we need feedback and suggestions that will enable us to improve the tournament,” Dean said.

He reminded that Digicel is not necessarily in the football arena so whatever ideas and feedback they get is welcomed and willl stand ready to partner with others to provide a better product.

The CEO extended thanks to the participants for attending and wished that France will be able to impart what he had learned in Trinidad and Tobago that will ultimately benefit the sport.

The Course concludes today.

Elite amateur boxers attached to the Guyana Boxing Association will soon get some much needed assistance following a meeting between the GBA and the Guyana Olympic Association. GBA president Steve Ninvalle confirmed yesterday that stipends are in line for several elite boxers, a recommendation that is included in the association’s four-year Road to Brazil plan.

The issue to give stipends to boxers has been overlooked for some time but was brought to the front burner following a recent meeting between GBA and the K Juman Yassin led Olympic Association.

“We were cogent when we sat with the GOA and I think that they understand the need to implement such a programme. Boxers need to be given the chance to concentrate more on the sport. This is a small but significant step in the right direction as it relates to our possible participation in the 2016 Brazil Olympics,” Ninvalle declared.

GBA held a meeting with several elite fighters last Thursday where the president updated on the new development. “To say that they were enthusiastic would be an understatement. We explained what was expected from them and what they can

Steve Ninvalle expect from the collaboration between the two associations. We expect to start with six fighters, one of whom will be a female,” Ninvalle added.

According to Ninvalle, GOA president Juman Yassin is pushing to have the first disbursement in May and noted that GBA and the Olympic Association will be working out a system pertaining to how and when the fighters will be paid.

It was also noted that the successful boxers will have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the programme and those being accepted will have to sign an agreement with the GOA and GBA to ensure they fulfill their part of the bargain. The exact criteria is being finalised by those responsible and will be communicated to the boxers shortly.

Caricom Rice Mill T\20 cricket –North E’bo

Persaud guides Devonshire Castle to victory Basil Persaud slammed an unbeaten half century as Devonshire Castle defeated Young Achievers by 10 wickets when play in the Caricom Rice Mill twenty\20 competition continued recently in North Essequibo.

At Walton Hall, Young Achievers were bowled out for 108 in 17.3 overs , batting first with Sunil Dhanraj scoring 24 (1x6,2x4) ; Manoj Lall picked up 3-12, Dinesh Chattergoon 2-4 and Ramesh Narine 2-17. Devonshire Castle then responded with 109 without loss in 17.3 overs.

Persaud stroked five sixes and four fours in his innings while Avinash Persaud made 28.

At Lima at 09:30 hrs, Walton Hall defeated the host by 39 runs. Walton Hall took first strike and posted 151-7 after the overs were reduced to 18. Navin Bahadur led with 47(2x4, 2x6). Lima were skittled for 112 in 15 overs with Devindra Lall scoring 37 and Roopnarine Ramnarine 27; Latchman Singh grabbed

4-14 and Vishal Lall 2-20.

At Lima at 13:30 hrs, Charity beat Gunners by 4 runs. Charity batted first strike and made 131-5 in 15 overs with Romel Stanislaus scoring 37 (5x4, 1x6), Noel Evans 27 (2x4) and Jonathan Gopaul 22 (1x6). Navin Singh and Hemant Beharry claimed 2 wickets each.

Gunners replied with 1277 in 15 overs. Devon George made 41(1x4, 2x6) and Greyson Paul 33 (1x4, 3x6). The game was reduced to 15 overs.

At Walton Hall, Titans overcame Young Guns by 8 wickets. Young Guns managed 95-4 in 12 overs.

Devendra Jaipaul made 31 (4x4) and Suraj Lall 26 (5x4).

Titans responded with 100-2 in 6.1 overs. Keron Sewnarine top scored with 48 (6x4, 3x6) and Glendon Smith chipped in with 24 (3x4, 1x6). The game was reduced to 12 overs.

The competition continues today with Charity facing Lima at Lima and Walton Hall hosting Young Guns.

Sunday April 14, 2013

Kaieteur News

GCA\Noble house Seafoods 2nd division 2 day final

GCC IN CONTROL Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) are in control against Police in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association\ Noble House Sea Foods second division 2 day competition which commenced yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground Bourda.

GCC won the toss and elected to bat scored 321 in 88.4 overs before they were bowled out at the close on the first day. The host lost three early wickets before Almando Doman and Martin PestanoBelle, GCC’s most consistent batsmen throughout the tournament, featured in a fourth wicket stand of 80 after GCC were reduced to 15-3.

The pair came together after Manny Forde, Fadil Umrow and Ray Barker fell cheaply.

Barker threw his bat angrily after he was given out run out, idling out of his crease.

The penalty for a player bringing the match into disrepute was set at five runs at the pre-match briefing, however by close of play a decision was not yet made on the incident.

Pestano-Belle retired hurt on 43 due to cramps, and Doman was caught by Kevin Leitch at point for 43 in 66 balls. Devon Lord fell soon after for 11 before Bernard Bailey and Treon Forde

joined forces in another useful partnership which again stabilized GCC’s innings. The two took their team to lunch at 162/5; Forde was dropped on 8 by Police captain Fitzroy Culley.

In sight of a century Forde missed a Randolph Knights delivery with the second new ball and was lbw for 86 from 130 balls, with eleven fours.

The pair put together 95 for the sixth wicket.

Bailey hit a couple brittle boundaries over mid on and mid off against the gentle medium of Troy Benn before losing his middle stump to the same bowler; he made 64 from 94 balls in 117 minutes with seven fours.

Pestano-Belle resumed his innings, and with Samuel McKenzie once again helped GCC strengthened their position. McKenzie was eventually lbw to Pernell London soon after Bell edged Kevin Leitch to slip for 64. Bell scored 64 in 126 balls with nine boundaries, while McKenzie scored 15 and he departed with the score 309 for 9. Cleyon Critchlow and Kevin Plants rallied the score to 321 before Critchlow was dismissed by Vishal Jaigobin.

Randolph Knight finished with 2 for 24 for Police to be the pick of the bowlers, while Leitch had 2 for 79.

BCB/ Carib Beer T20 final...

Archrivals Albion & RHTG&G to clash today The Albion Community Centre on Sunday is expected to be filled to capacity today when old rivals Albion and Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets (RHTG&G) square off in the final of the 2012 Carib Beer / Berbice Cricket Board Twenty20 tournament.

The two teams have been the dominating forces of the game in Berbice in the past decade, meeting in numerous finals during that period.

Enjoying home advantage is always a plus for Albion and they will be going all out to make it work for them with players the caliber of Narsingh Deonarine, Devindra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Jonathan Foo, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Sharaz Ramcharran and David Latchyna.

RHTG&G’ lone Test player, Assad Fudadin will be the spearhead of his team’s challenge for the title along with Delbert Hicks, Rajiv Ivan, Jason Sinclair, Renwick Batson, Eon Hooper, Dominic

Rikhi, Clinton Pestano and Khemraj Mahadeo.

Which ever team handles the pressure better can very well walk away with the top prize. Sharp fielding and containing bowling are attributes that can also separate the two sides; both teams featuring experienced, tested, tried and proven players. Game time is 13:30hrs.

But before the final, Bermine and West Berbice will meet in the third place play off from 09:30hrs.

Bermine will be led by Joemal LaFleur, Stephen Latcha, Keion DeJesus, West Indies female cricketer Tremayne Smartt and Damon Vantul. National pacer Keon Joseph along with Troy Halley, Keith Fraser, Kwesi Mentore and Stephan Adams would spearhead West Berbice challenge in a game too close to call.

The winner collects $60,000 and trophy while the runner-up will receive $30,000. The third and fourth placed teams along with the player-of-the-final would also receive prizes.

Page 59

NEW GPC ON BOARD FOR GCB U-15 INTER COUNTY TOURNEY

Marketing manager Trevor Basoo (left) presents the sponsorship cheque to the chairman of the GCB competition committee Colin Europe in the presence of cricketers from the Essequibo team and other officials of the sponsor and teams.

By Zaheer Mohamed The new Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC Inc) has thrown its support behind the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), sponsoring the inter county U-15 tournament under its Limacol brand.

Speaking at the launching which took place yesterday at the GCB board room, General Manager of the New GPC Inc, Ravi Ramcharitar said they are pleased to be associated with the competition which will be called the Limacol Cup. “We want to get involved at this level since this is where new talents are discovered. The company also manufactures other pharmaceuticals and next year we want to take the competition to other communities,” stated Ramcharitar.

Marketing manager of the new GPC INC Trevor Basoo informed they will be giving Limacol to all the participating

players since it is very important for them. He also thanked the GCB for giving them the opportunity to be part of the tournament. “The company will continue to sponsor the competition once their expectation is realised”, he added.

Basoo stated that the company which is the Caribbean’s oldest and largest pharmaceuticals manufacturer of generic products wants to foster growth in the game of cricket and develop young players.

He pointed out that the U-15 stage is the best level as it is the foundation of competitive cricket.

The marketing manager also stated that they are hoping for the competition to become a nation wide one and a tournament which youngsters will look forward to.

Secretary of the GCB Anand Sanasie thanked the

company for their support and said the format is similar to the of the WICB U-15 tournament.

Vice President of the board, Fizul Bacchus thanked the media and said they are looking forward to their continued support.

“This competition will be used to select the national U15 team, the GCB is very pleased to have Limcaol on board and is looking forward to have a long lasting relationship with the brand.

Chairman of the competition committee Colin Europe informed that the competition will be played on a round robin basis and teams will be awarded bonus points for every wicket taken by a fast bowler.

The competition gets underway tomorrow with Essequibo facing Berbice at Enmore and the President XI playing Demerara at Everest.

Fixtures read as follows:

Sunday 14th and Monday 15th of April Essequibo vs Berbice at Enmore, umpires are Delvin Austin and O. Archer.

Randolph as standby.

Demerara vs President XI at Everest, umpires D. Nagasar and O. Samaroo, Andrew Allen as stand by.

Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th President XI vs Berbice at GCC, umpires Montgomery Chester and S. Coonjah, Saeed Mohamed as stand by.

Essequibo vs Demerara at Wales, umpires, Cyril Garnath and Andrew Allen, D. Nagasar as stand by.

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st Essequibo vs President XI at DCC, umpires Saeed Mohamed and O. Samaroo, Delvin Austin as stand by.

Berbice vs Demerara at GCC, umpires Montgomery Chester and S. Coonjah, D.Nagasar as stand by.

t r o Sp

Matthias eager to begin healing process - expresses thanks to FIFA / CONCACAF

Newly elected President of the Guyana Football Federation Christopher Matthias (3rd left) poses with fellow executive members (from left)- Keith O’Jeer, Ivan Persaud, Collie Hercules, Vanessa Dickenson and Rawlston Adams on Friday evening, at the Pegasus Hotel.

N

ewly elected President of the G u y a n a Football Federation (GFF) Christopher Matthias speaking during his acceptance speech shortly after the conclusion of the Electoral Congress that was held in the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel called for the beginning of a process of healing.

Matthias, who defeated for Organising Secretary of the GFF Aubrey Major 11 votes to 6 after the other two candidates Ivan Persaud and

Alfred King, were eliminated after the first and second rounds of voting, said it was necessary for such call to be made due to the wounds that the fraternity suffered over a prolonged period.

According to the President, who was speaking in the presence of Electoral officials Emily Dodson, Steven Lewis and Mark Wa l d r o n , F I FA a n d C O N C A C A F representatives Bruce Blake a n d C o s t a k i s Koutsokoumnis, he urged

that constitutional reform, administrative soundness, technical and tactical correctness, transparency and accountability, together with equitable disbursement of resources, dialogue and inclusivity and effective marketing of the game be the priority of the new administration.

He then thanked the Electoral Committee, FIFA and CONCACAF representatives and all those who played an integral role in aiding his ascendancy to the top post and the past

administration for their support throughout a period that was turbulent at times.

Koutsokoumnis in his remarks spoke of his satisfaction and pleasure at the way the process was conducted, adding that democracy and transparency featured prominently during the Congress and assured that his report to FIFA will be a positive one.

“It is about time that football related activities move on in Guyana and I would like to extend thanks to the Electoral Committee

for the work they’ve done.”

He mentioned that they (FIFA) will be watching and if needed will always be available to offer assistance.

Blake extended thanks on behalf of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb to the new executive and the previous administration for hosting them and promised to be ready to assist in any way possible.

He, too, thanked the Electoral Committee for doing a wonderful job and expressed hope that the new

executive will see it fit to find a way to utilise their services in the future. “I hope that the new GFF understand their responsibilities,” he said.

The other members of the executive are: Ivan Persaud, who will serve for 2 years; Collie Hercules-4 years; Rawlston Adams-4 y e a r s , w h i l e Va n e s s a Dickenson and Keith O’Jeer are the committee members.

Matthias when contacted informed this newspaper that a meeting with the new executive is tentatively set for Tuesday.

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