Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

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

Editorial

Churches experience greatest population shift A new survey on religion in America finds that more than one-quarter of American adults (28 percent) have left the faith in which they were raised in favour of another religion. Or, as in my case, for no religion at all – a rising trend in our increasingly secularized society.

It is such a national trend that the largest religious group in 23 states, and counting, is labeled as “unaffiliated,” according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. This “dramatic transformation,” as the study notes, reflects our ever-evolving religious and spiritual landscape. Religious affiliation in the U.S. is both very diverse and extremely fluid,” the study concludes, noting that it is fundamentally reshaping American politics and culture. Beyond the 23 states with the largest religiously unaffiliated populations, there are 15 states where the second-largest religious group is religiously unaffiliated. Indiana fits this latter description, where white evangelical Protestants still comprise our largest religious group (29 percent), followed by unaffiliated (21 percent). In Illinois, unaffiliated ranks Number one at 22 percent, followed by white Catholics at 19 percent.

“Unaffiliated is much easier to say than, ‘I made a choice to not be a part of organized religion,” said Melinda Spangenberg, of Valparaiso. “Simpler to say, but this was not a simple decision. It was an evolutionary process for me.”

She wrote to me a detailed and insightful 1,800-word essay on her process from organized faith to unaffiliated status. Other readers also offered their evolutionary path from organized religion to their personal ethos. If space allowed, I would love to share them with you in their entirety. Each one echoed what Spangenberg told me. “The one thing I had going for me was my unshakable belief in God,” she wrote.

Like many of the disillusioned and disappointed believers who contacted me, Joellen Zegarac, of Hobart, was born into the Roman Catholic faith. Not anymore. I attended private Catholic schools for both grade and high school,” she said. “I married in the church and baptized my children in the Catholic Church. I sent my children to Catholic schools. My generation was taught to believe and never question.” And then all hell broke loose within the Catholic Church, with pedophile priests, cover-ups and financial payoffs to protect the church, she said.

“All the money spent by the church to defend the offenders, and payments made to victims is in itself criminal,” she said. “I am unaffiliated with the church because it betrayed my trust. I have not lost my faith in the Lord, but have lost my faith in the church.” Other once-affiliated believers now grapple alone with other spiritual dilemmas.

“Constant movement best characterizes the American religious marketplace, as every major religious group is simultaneously gaining and losing adherents,” it states.

“Those that are growing as a result of religious change are simply gaining new members at a faster rate than they are losing members. Conversely, those that are declining in number because of religious change simply are not attracting enough new members to offset the number of adherents who are leaving those particular faiths.”

Men are significantly more likely than women to claim no religious affiliation. Jehovah’s Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. Only 37 percent of all those who say they were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses still identify themselves as such, a study says.

In Guyana, there is a similar movement among the religions. The traditional churches have observed a decline in population while the Pentecostal churches have seen dramatic increases. It may be the order of service, or it may be the youthful congregation because most of the churchgoers are very young people with pep in their forms of worship.

These churches are the places where many seek solace and healing because as one medical doctor and church elder proclaimed, the church has the greatest number of AIDS patients.

They all believe in faith healing and desperately need to be healed.

Sunday April 19, 2015

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

Jagdeo’s abysmal, lawless, corrupt and self-serving record DEAR EDITOR, Dishonesty and shamelessness are traits of some politicians and in the instance of Bharrat Jagdeo these seem to be his only attributes. Addressing a gathering in Linden on Sunday 12th April with his usual crassness he laid out what he perceived to be the ills of another government and made promises in his bid for the PPP to win the elections, but what he failed to give the audience was his record. As such, he needs to be reminded that it was under his leadership that Region 10 and its people have been targeted for marginalisation, discrimination, hounded and mistreated in attempt to bring the people of the community to their knees.

These deliberate and sustained policies of his I call economic genocide.

And his record of treatment towards Linden/Region 10 holds true. It was under his administration all bauxite workers in Linden and Kwakwani were sent home in breach of the collective labour agreement between the company and the recognised union. The $2.5B bauxite industry pension plan, the largest single pool of money that was owned primarily by Africans, was broken up by him. As a result no bauxite worker who came through from the 1960s to now can receive a pension after giving of their labour in the prime of their life to build Guyana. This nation is reminded that it was Jagdeo who offered the

residents of Kwakwani an all-weather road, house lot and farm land to support his initiative to give the bauxite company to foreigners. To date the residents are still awaiting the farm land, house lot and all-weather road.

On his first visit to Region 10 in his capacity as president he told the community his government will make Kwakwani, Linden and Ituni the industrial corridor in the country.

To date not one thing has been done to realise this. Instead, Region 10 became his playground to plunder the nation’s resources and disperse them among his clique, foreign and local.

Under Jagdeo’s leadership, (Continued on page 6)

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

Justice Chang will rule in The PS encouraged disrespect favour of Bharrat Jagdeo DEAR EDITOR, It is my opinion that Justice Ian Chang is going to rule in the next two weeks that the law and the constitution were breached when the two term presidential restriction was made.

Thus he will give judgement that Jagdeo could run for a third consecutive term I may not be a great analyst but I believe I am a competent one. I believe in my studies of Guyanese society since I returned home have been have been generally correct. You can deem me chauvinistic but I still hold to the belief that I have a remarkably plausible record on my analyses of the social/ sociological and political landscape in Guyana.

I have written copiously on the judgements of Justice Ian Chang. In my opinion he is essentially driven by an awareness of the political context in which public institutions have to exist in.

This was the point Chancellor Aubrey Bishop made during a delivery to a judicial seminar during the reign of President Burnham and which at the time was heavily criticized by attorney, Miles Fitzpatrick.

There are many more descriptions I can offer on Mr. Chang’s judicial performance but I will leave that for after May 12.

I intend to be open and candid in this short letter and I am not easily intimidated when it comes to offering my opinions and my opinion is that Justice Ian Chang is not a judge I believe that operate in an environment where he puts himself outside the ambience of political currents, especially in the light of his

performance the past five years. I would like to bolster this opinion by saying that I find many of his judgements legally unsound.

I am not a lawyer but I can comprehend the laws of Guyana; any educated person can do so and arrive at a conclusion on the soundness of a judge’s decision. Eusi Kwayana stands out as a brilliant demonstration of that point.

The most noticeable manifestations of this point is the condemnation of Justice Insanally’s decision regarding the use of a mining concession between the miner and the authority of an

Amerindian village by the Guyana Human Rights Associations and Red Thread’s rejection of Justice Chang Chang’s ruling on the rape case of then Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene.

The opposition seems to be elated on his judgement on the IDB spending.

Justice Chang will have the last laugh when he rules in favour of Jagdeo.

As to what will happen politically after the ruling against the two term restriction, then I guess the nation will cross that bridge when it comes to it.

Frederick Kissoon

DEAR EDITOR, I have been following the exchanges in the story of t h e PS Collin Croal’s involvement in the episode with the young girl at Mabaruma and her mother.

Mr. Croal comes out with a statement that “the PPP/C and PYO should not be seen as a football field for a family that has divided political loyalty”. While this may be so, Mr. Croal and his PYO Steering Committee know very well why they would encourage the young lady to continue to be delinquent.

One would have thought that this ‘auspicious’ group would be helping to mould these young minds into proper living practices rather than

use them as players on the political football field.

Why did they not remind this girl that it is okay to be respectful to her mother? Why did they not counsel her if she seemed to be a troubled youth? Encouraging her to hold fast to positive attributes may assist her in being a Progressive Youth.

Why have a discussion with the girl, her father and her sister without her mother being present and then have her speak with a Media

House too?

I consider this as a total infringement of the rights of both the obviously confused child and her mother.

Her father should have insisted that his wife be present since she was integral to the whole episode.

The mother is being castigated because of this divided political loyalty. I am sure that PS Croal knows about this. Her democratic rights are eroded. She was (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur M@ilbox

A substantial part of Linden would All the noise about not be able to pay this exorbitant cost militarization is much

DEAR EDITOR, The proposed electricity increase in 2012 for Linden/ Region #10 that was aborted resulting in the death of three people is clearly resting heavily on the chest of the Government.

Every Minister who visits Linden cannot avoid commenting on it-they always choke on it. For my part, I’m being very forthright, the implementation of such an increase of bringing us on par with folks in Georgetown and elsewhere will “blackout” Linden! A substantial part of Linden/Region #10 would not be able to pay such an exorbitant cost-no way!

It means we will have to reserve the use of electricity for Sundays only.

To pay bills, one must not only have a source of income but more-so an adequate income and that is definitely not so for the large majority; a cursory check will reveal the sad reality of unemployment, underemployment and low pay, then you wonder the reason for beating the drum of disparity with what folks are paying elsewhere.

But that doesn’t change the state of affairs in the region or make it any better.

The danger and troubling social implication that would be created is not difficult to figure out. Isn’t it for the very same reason-high electricity cost-that poor people in Georgetown and elsewhere are losing their lives, having been reduced to stealing it.

It is so unfairly beyond their reach. Oh! let me make

haste to say that I’m 101 percent in agreement that Linden residents ought to behave much more responsibly and ought to be more conservative and considerate in their use of electricity at all times.

And by the way I think that Government Ministers ought to stop being brazenly snickering by comparing their paying of bills with that of everyday people; “I too have to pay my bills.” Hell yes! you ought to, your earnings are over and above to take care of that, and you are not footing your bills simply because of being more responsible and decent than the poor. It comes over like a mockery when you make such comparison-stop it!

With adequate earnings the working-class man will most certainly honour his responsibilities-he knows this, it’s the way of civilised society where services are paid for through various forms of taxation which the people are obligated to so that the Government treasury keeps afloat and from our natural resources, as they are exploited, those are the main ingredients that sustain a Government.

Governments don’t give!

They take! and what sometimes seems a generous gesture by a Government is ultimately the returns that was taken from them in the first place that is being returned in another form, often time when the economy does good-like the “VAT” - and not as gifts or personal hand-outs

by the President/Ministers.

Create conditions for people to grow and they will certainly do what is required of them. Yes, things have changed, yes there was a time when we got electricity dogcheap but that wasn’t quite an additional burden on the company anyway, also it was a concession and inducement for attracting workers into some intolerable hazardous conditions.

Government/Ministers now say in a most abrupt and callous way “duh time done gone, this is no moe a company town” as if the turbulent years of our contribution– the power supply to various parts of Guyana at no cost, was nothing period, hence the moan and groan persistently about the high cost of subsiding electricity in Linden/Region #10, trying to make us feel guilty, unreasonable, dishonest, like rouges.

Tell me what is/was wrong with incorporating into the deal that a portion of power supply be granted to residents as it was in the beginning, you don’t abandon tradition just like that, which industrial enterprise goes into any nation to amass capital and is allowed to trample tradition-oh! this is going to cause some problems!

But this “electricity” remains our only and main saving-grace. Left to us at this point, for there is nothing more, repeat nothing more else left intact from the glory days of bauxite, nothing from all those battles, struggled

and won with the sweat, blood and sinews of the bauxite workers period in spite of their colossal contribution deep from within the “heart of the mines”.

Dear Editor, do you know that there is nothing standing in honour and memory to bauxite workers in Linden Region #10. Sooner than later no doubt we will be blotted out and forgotten!

But we paid our dues to this entire nation like a caring father, yes siree!it is only the absolutely ignorant, the totally dishonest and the unconscionable in the community that would say nay.

Had this mining community been located elsewhere the people therein would have been in a no-less propitious state of affairsdifferent situations different spin-offs, has always been.

And we are not craving any special favours just that we recognised what is.

Editor, let me see if I can fit Mr. Odinga Labumba’s example as an analogy; on the NCN Linden program “Meet the Minister” in asking Lindeners not to abandon the PPP, since much was done for the people and the town, he likened it to a faithful father/ husband who took care of every iota of his responsibilities without fail, was an exemplary father figure in the eyes of his family; then he poses the question: “now if that man came home one night, one night drunk would you walk out and leave him?”

Frank Fyffe

Jagdeo’s abysmal, lawless, corrupt...

From page 4 the power generation plant in Linden was given away to foreigners, and as I write, the steam power plant, an economically efficient plant, no longer exists.

It was his government that removed the turbine from the steam power plant in Linden and took it to Versailles.

Yet he has the temerity to talk about how much billions the government has injected into Linden electricity, after his government carried out a deliberate and sustained policy to degut the community’s electricity infrastructure!

It was during the Jagdeo government the workers’ bid to purchase BERMINE was rejected. In fact, the workers were not even accorded an acknowledgement by the Privatization Unit, headed by Winston Brassington.

The former bauxite plant at Everton was given to one of Jagdeo’s friends, after allowing the calciner to rot because

his government refused the purchase offer of an AfricanGuyanese led group.

During a Jagdeo-led administration the State’s coffers became a personal bank where dissenters were punished and friends could have easy and ready access.

He handled the financial and other affairs of state as though Guyana was his plantation. Under his leadership then Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, together with Oldendorff, established a union for workers to get rid of the then recognised union, and to date that union has been unable to negotiate one agreement with the company or get redress for any transgression committed against any employee.

Now he hits the campaign trail pretending to care about workers. This nation is reminded that as Minister of Finance public servants in 1999 had to strike for 57 days to acquire wage increase. This issue ended up at arbitration,

which is unprecedented in the history of this country.

And in spite of the Armstrong Arbitration award his government refused to honour same in its entirety, a pattern Donald Ramotar has followed suit. To his shameless statement of saving jobs, it was under his leadership 67 workers at BGCI/RUSAL were suspended protesting for improved working conditions.

Under Jagdeo leadership, there was a total breakdown in law and order, disregard for the universal right to collective bargaining and freedom of association, and all fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. It is thanks to him Guyana has earned the reputation of being the most corrupt in the Caribbean.

During his stewardship, hundreds of young men were executed by a government sponsored death squad and in turf wars. Many mothers are still unaware where the bodies of their children are buried. He must shoulder the re-

sponsibility for the deaths of Sash Sawh, Ronald Waddell, Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek, since rather than ensuring justice to the aggrieved he chose to turn these horror stories into partisan politicking.

It is Jagdeo who has made Guyana’s president one of the richest in the Caribbean, as he throws back on a Cadillac lifestyle on the backs of underpaid and overtaxed workers in this donkey cart economy. Under his leadership the narco economy began rivalling the formal economy and drug lords find association with those in the corridors of power.

Jagdeo’s words are never truthful and can never be taken as his bond. This society must therefore judge him on his record, and it is abysmal, lawless, corrupt and selfserving. It is time he gets out of this nation’s life and allows her people to determine what they would like to have away from his gibberish.

Lincoln Lewis

ado about nothing

DEAR EDITOR, At no time has any serving leader of the army (GDF) come out in open support of any government in Guyana. Ex-soldiers have answered Luncheon and the PPP’s accusation quite admirably. As an ex-officer myself, I wish to add my support to this issue and say that Lee Khan Yeu, arguably

the best leader in the 20th century, took bright Majors from the army in Singapore and sent them on Master’s programme abroad to fine universities. When they returned, they were put to serve in the government in high positions. This was not only due to their brilliance but their discipline.

Oliver Hinckson MSc

A great future for Guyana beckons DEAR EDITOR, A great future for Guyana beckons. It is for us as a nation to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that are before us by ensuring that the economic and social gains we have made over the years are consolidated and accelerated.

I have always maintained that the best days are still ahead of us. The potential to transform this country to a high income country are enormous. Few countries in the region, indeed the world are as endowed as we are in terms of natural and mineral resources. We are blessed with rich and fertile agricultural lands and vast swathes of savannah lands.

Regrettably, this potential for development was thwarted by the curse of colonialism and dictatorial rule which spawned several decades of our pre and post colonial history. The vast resources of our country were not exploited for the benefit of the Guyanese people but to swell the pockets of foreign and local vested interests.

It is a lasting shame that

Guyana was left behind despite our vast potential to become most prosperous in the region. The scars of our undemocratic and ruthless past are gradually being erased with the passage of time. We are moving on in the true spirit of peace and national reconciliation.

The tide has now changed and Guyana has now taken its place as a proud and well respected member of the commonwealth of democratic nations. This fresh air of democracy which is now blowing over our land must be appreciated and preserved.

This is not the time to deny our past. Mistakes were made which ought not to be buried in the sands of time but boldly acknowledged. Our democracy was raped and our freedoms taken away. The nation perished under the stultifying environment of repressive rule.

This is the context in which our people must exercise their franchise in the upcoming poll.

Too much is at stake. This election transcends the narrow confines of race and culture. It is about our present and future.

Hydar Ally

The PS encouraged...

From page 5 one of the Community Service Officers and suddenly because she changed her ‘political loyalty’ a message was sent to her that her services are no longer required.

Is this an indication that the CSOs have signed over their allegiance to the PPP/C? Are the CSOs paid from PPP funds or Government coffers to which we subscribe via our taxes?

A mother trying to protect her daughter from making decisions that could be detrimental to her overall wellbeing is not tantamount to a smear campaign. And, I do believe that bringing out the school children at the dormitory to march with PYO

jerseys to a PPP Rally should not be considered as support for the PPP. It is bullyism and the official from the Education Department who made this possible should be asked to resign immediately. Parents are encouraged to leave their children there with the express promise that they would be well supervised, especially after school hours, and not used as ‘players in the political football field’.

There is another very troubling issue concerning some of the female children in the dorms at the Secondary School that is making the rounds. If true, there could be no cover-up.

Sade Matthews

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

US fraud reveals Chavez-connected Caribbean money trail STAMFORD, USA — The collapse in early 2011 of what prosecutors described as Connecticut’s largest ever Ponzi scheme and subsequent criminal and civil court proceedings have revealed a money trail of illgotten gains stretching from one end of the Caribbean to the other, some of which benefited individuals connected to high ranking members of the government of former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez.

Venezuelan financier, Francisco Illarramendi, 45, was sentenced in January of this year to 13 years in prison for running what US federal prosecutors in Connecticut called a Ponzi scheme that resulted in $382.2 million of losses to investors, including Venezuela’s state-owned oil company.

Illarramendi pleaded guilty in March 2011 to five criminal counts including securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice and defraud the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The son of a Venezuelan diplomat, Illarramendi worked for Credit Suisse from 1994 to 2004, and then took a sabbatical to advise Venezuela’s stateowned Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). He then left Credit Suisse to become a hedge fund adviser, and in 2006 founded Michael Kenwood Group LLC, in Stamford, Connecticut.

US authorities said it was there he ran his fraud, which began as an effort to conceal a $5 million loss on a bond transaction.

According to prosecutors, Illarramendi lied to his investors, bribed Venezuelan officials who helped steer $100 million of PDVSA pension fund money to him, and pursued a series of desperate transactions to conceal mounting losses.

The court-appointed receiver charged with identifying and recovering the investment funds for the defrauded investors has accused a Venezuelan government official — Juan Montes, a senior investment manager at PDVSA,

Francisco Illarramendi nicknamed “Black” — of pocketing more than $30 million in bribes in exchange for approving complex “bond-swap” transactions between PDVSA’s pension fund and Illarramendi‘s hedge funds.

After the Illarramendi case was uncovered, the Chavez government said it would cover any losses suffered by the 25,000 PDVSA pensioners.

Prosecutors also said Illarramendi diverted more than $20 million to fund his lavish lifestyle.

On tenth anniversary, CCJ boasts of high quality of court’s jurisprudence PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) celebrates ten years since it began its operations as the exclusive court for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy and as the court designed to replace the British Privy Council as the final court of appeal for the CARICOM region.

In this the tenth year of the CCJ, Dominica became the fourth member state to accept the court in its appellate jurisdiction to replace the Privy Council on 27 March of this year.

Also significant was the appointment of Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, the first female Trinidad and Tobago national to be appointed as a judge of the court. “The high quality of the Court’s jurisprudence is the most important accomplishment of the Court in its ten years. It has addressed a number of very important issues in the original jurisdiction and at the appellate level which has done a lot to clarify the rights of citizens and to give people proper justice in the region,” said president of the Court Sir Dennis Byron, a national of St Kitts and Nevis and a former chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme

Sir Dennis Byron Court. The Caribbean Court of Justice shall perform to the highest standards as the supreme judicial organ in the Caribbean Community. In its original jurisdiction, it ensures uniform interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, thereby underpinning and advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. As the final court of appeal for member states of the Caribbean Community, it fosters the development of an indigenous Caribbean jurisprudence.

Sir Dennis noted that, over the ten years, 160 matters have been filed and 140 disposed in its appellate jurisdiction. In its original jurisdiction, in which the

court presides over disputes arising under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, 18 matters have been heard with 16 disposed.

Perhaps what is even more significant about the work of the court during the period is the fact that it is increasing, as was seen by the 67% increase in judgments delivered by the court between 2013 and 2014.

“The court has, in fact, done a lot of work; it has been well done and it has been received by the persons and corporations who have benefited from the adjudication of the court,” noted Sir Dennis.

In his view “former president Justice de la Bastide insisted on laying down the groundwork for judicial excellence in the CCJ”.

“It is an evolutionary process. The Privy Council having been the final court of appeal of CARICOM countries for hundreds of years,” said Sir Dennis.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of its inauguration, the court will be unveiling a photographic exhibition depicting the history of the court over the last ten years which will be open to the public from tomorrow, at the headquarters of the CCJ in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

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Kaieteur News

JAGDEO TWO-FACED ON ELECTIONS SPENDING - “Condemns spending of State resources during election campaigns in Sri Lanka but brazenly supports it in Guyana” General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity, Joseph Harmon, is not the least bit surprised by the revelation of Cabinet’s approval of state resources for trips for two members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to North America. The trip ended up being elections campaigning.

He said that the Opposition was aware of this sort of behaviour from the government a while now.

“They are only now being caught with their pants down.”

Last week, Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger

Luncheon, was questioned on the approval of monies for a PPP/C delegation to the Diaspora. Two of the officials were PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper and former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The trips are said to be funded by the Ministry of Tourism at a cost of $2.6M. When asked, Dr. Luncheon said, “You can’t expect that these activities conducted by officials and leading to expenditure of public funds would not be graced by a Cabinet decision.

If you ask me, it would be highly improper to spend public funds in that context

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo without a cabinet decision. So it’s a Catch-22 situation. You must have an approval.

“If you want to question if the approval was appropriate I don’t believe

Businessman, wife cleared of fraud charges A popular Lusignan, East Coast Demerara businessman and his wife have been cleared of fraud related charges after the virtual complainant declined to give evidence against them.

Chatterpaul Deo, called ‘Chen Singh’, and his wife, Bibi Faniza Deo, were charged for issuing two bounced cheques for goods supplied to them by a Berbice wholesaler.

The matter was first heard

by Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court in January.

The husband and wife were accused of taking articles valued $2M from Nand Persaud and Company Limited and issuing a bounced cheque on

Bibi Faniza Deo December 22, 2013 at Number 36 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. They were also accused of using the same method to obtain $2.2M in articles from the same supplier two weeks later.

The couple has been in the business of buying and selling for a number of years.

However, at the second hearing of the matter, the supplier declined to offer evidence against the couple.

When the matter was called, Defence Attorney, Jerome Khan, informed the court that the complainant wished to address the court.

Nand Persaud went into the witness box and told the court that he was not proceeding with the matter. In answer to questions from the Prosecutor, the complainant said that he was not threatened or coerced to take the course of action he took.

The Magistrate then had no choice but to dismiss the case against Deo and his wife.

APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon this is the forum for so doing.”

Pressed to give more details, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat said, “I did say that the occasion to respond to that is inappropriate but I will also continue to emphasize that in the context of accountability you have to have an authority to spend the money.

“The issue of whether it is an appropriate expenditure might be entertained by the Auditor General, Public Accounts Committee and such bodies but at the end of the day you have to have Cabinet approval to spend the government money.”

Harmon, upon being apprised of those comments said that the use of state resources for election purposes by the government is not only unfair but unlawful. The APNU General Secretary said that it is something the opposition has spoken against at length.

He added, “Jagdeo went to observe elections in Sri Lanka and he said that he condemned the use of state resources for political campaigning there, but he is Continued on page 12

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Dem boys seh...

Family affairs cost Guyana four bridges Is a long time now everybody been talking how this government is about friends and family. It is now a friends and family affair and everybody know it. Jagdeo give away all de radio licence to family and friends; he tek de best ocean front lands fuh heself and friends and family; he give friends and family de best jobs; and he tek de best pension package in Guyana.

He, Jagdeo, mek he friends and family follow in he footsteps. Bout half de nation scampish and dishonest and all because of him. Rob de Earth marry Jagdeo niece suh he benefit a lot. He get five radio station; he get Minister wuk fuh do whatever he feel like. Just yesterday dem boys learn that he, Rob de Earth wake up de other day and order he Pee Ess fuh double one of he family salary overnight.

When de Pee Ess ask why, he tell de Pee Ess to shut up.

He then tek money from another government entity to top up Parmanand and Anil salary, although he Ministry paying dem two dem full salary. Before de day out, yesterday dem boys learn that Brassington, de fat crook, give one of he buddy de taxi contract fuh de Babbiott. And dem boys believe that he Brassington, de fat crook, got shares in that taxi service, too. That is another family affairs and Donald sit down and watching all this crookishness going on doing nutten. As a matter of fact he hugging de people.

This is de second time Brassington get ketch wid his brothers.

De first time was when he buy $200million shares in Hand in Hand and seh that was he brother buy dem and is he sign.

When dem boys ask him how he can do that he ask if he brother ain’t got right to invest in Guyana. Dem boys done know de answer if dem ask he how come he brother get de taxi contract fuh Bharriott. He gun seh de same thing; if he brother ain’t got right to invest in de Bharriott.

Ashni, de Shaat scamp, hiding behind people all over de place and watching wid he scampish looks at all that going on, trying to roll he tongue here and dere fuh twist up and cover up Jagdeo dishonest actions.

These things can only happen when you deh in something too lang and you get too comfortable. Is like a old friend visit you home and overstay his welcome.

Is only when yuh spend plenty time wid people yuh does get fuh know the real side of dem. Yuh does get fuh see all kinda tings about dem. Dem does show dem real colours that does mek yuh mad blood raise. Tek fuh eggsample, dem contractahs and Jagdeo friends and some of dem government people.

Dem overstay dem welcome far too laang. Dem become professional rogues, liars, scamps, and raw renk thieves.

Dis is not wheh anyone can hit the ‘delete’ button and dem history gon disappear into tin air; Eh Eh; not so.

Dem nasty record and shameful deceit of the people in dis nation shows clearly. De US$200 million Skeldon sugar factory, de US$150 million airport expansion; de $100 million transmission cable line, de US$20 million Hope Canal, and de US$27 million one laptop project, coulda build de bridge to Suriname, another Demerara Harbour Bridge, another one in Berbice, and give us one that connects Essequibo, too.

If you think dem boys talking nonsense do de Maths, de Berbice Bridge only cost US$40 million. And dem boys believe that Jagdeo get a big kickback on that, too.

Talk half and rethink de future.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

Minister doubles PPP Jagdeo’s US$15M Hope Canal lie - told nation in October 2010 fund was tax supporter’s salary overnight Khemraj Parsram an employee within the Environmental Protection Agency got a special boon retroactive to January 2015 when the Ministry of Natural Resources almost doubled his salary.

Parsram came home from Barbados a little over two years ago in response to the call by the government and he immediately gained employment with the EPA as Director of Environmental Management and Compliance and Enforcement Division.

He had joined his fellow directors with a salary of $300,999 per month. But on the recommendation of the

Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Public Service Ministry approved the salary hike to $501,665 per month.

The hik e c a m e e v e n though Khemraj Parsram was assigned no additional duties.

The Natural Resources Ministry is contending that the salary hike can be explained.

And it might, because in the Friday issue of the Guyana Chronicle, on page 2, there stood Parsram with his wife, his two children and his father-in-law proclaiming the virtues of the PPP/C Government.

The

advertisement has Parsram proclaiming that ‘under the PPP/C Government our dreams became a reality.’

And if that is the case he has every right to be proud and because after two years he can own a fashionable house, something that very few can accomplish and what most have failed to do despite working all their lives.

And the EPA is also paying Parmanand Persaud $70,000 a month and Anil Ramlall, $53,000 a month.

This payment is in addition to the salary both men receive from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.

dollars, now 2015 says it’s Petro Caribe loan Work being done on the head regulator component at the East Demerara Water Conservancy, ECD.

In October 2010, the administration of former President Bharrat Jagdeo launched a new project entailing an ambitious 10kilometer drainage canal to reduce flooding on East Coast Demerara.

The $3.6B canal was said to be the largest project to be funded directly from the Public Treasury, Jagdeo had told a large crowd of invitees during a ceremony in the backdam, along the East Demerara Water Convervancy (EDWC, in October 2010.

There had been questions over the technical aspects of the project which is nearing completion and due to be commissioned shortly.

Now more than four years later, Jagdeo has shockingly disclosed that the Hope/ Dochfour Canal project is actually being constructed from a loan that Government took.

Meeting with angry rice farmers last week on the Essequibo Coast, Jagdeo reportedly referred to the ricefor-oil Petro Caribe agreement

Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo with Venezuela signed between Guyana and Venezuela in 2009.

He said that Guyana is not the only Caribbean country that has access to the Petro Caribe arrangement, but other countries have been utilizing the financing for programmes that exist.

He said that US$15M from the loan was used to finance one single project—Hope Canal. It would be the first time that Government or Jagdeo has admitted that the

monies used to finance the canal is actually a loan.

With engineers and others questioning the project itself, Jagdeo back then argued that in the East Demerara area alone, in the MMA section, there is an estimated 30,000 hectares earning US$1,000 per hectare, which translates to around US$30M. If half those crops are lost when the flood waters are released on the land, he posited that would account for US$15M in lost revenue – the cost of the project.

The project was supposed to be completed in two years but has been delayed again and again.

It includes a head regulator at the Conservancy end; the canal itself; a new bridge across the Hope Road where the canal crosses and sluice gates on the Atlantic Ocean end.

In justifying the canal project, Government had also used the 2005 flooding on the East Coast which decimated crops and left billions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses.

PPP running from public scrutiny, debate - Ramjattan

By Sunita Samaroo The continued pussyfooting by the People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) to engage in electioneering debates as well as a public forum organised by civil society is being viewed by A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) as a tactic employed to avoid public scrutiny.

Hot on their campaign trails, the two main political parties for weeks were engaged in talks of two public engagements: Presidential and Prime Ministerial debates to be organised by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) as well as public fora organised by the Guyana Women’s Roundtable (GWR) and Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC).

Despite offering his assurance weeks ago that his

party is willing to have its Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates stand on a public platform and debate those representing APNU+AFC, President Donald Ramotar is yet to make good on his promise.

The coalition has insisted that it would not participate in any debate unless it comes as a package deal involving both Presidential and Prime Ministerial debates and Ramotar accepted the challenge.

He conveyed a message to the effect that the PPP/C Prime Ministerial candidate Elisabeth Harper is pumped and ready to debate Nagamootoo. The President had, in fact, boasted, “Nagamootoo is no match for (continued on page 88)

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

NDC Chairman ignores Local Government Minister … discriminates against Vreed-en-Hoop businessman A Vreed-en-Hoop businessman is at the end of his tether following what he deemed discrimination against him by the Best/Klien Pouderoyen Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region Three.

Godfrey Bess explained that he had been given the “royal runabout” by the NDC for more than a year now.

He explained that in early 2014, he bought a portion of land from a local businessman and had gone through the process of properly setting up the property.

This process included receiving compliance from the

Guyana Revenue Authority, advertising in the Official Gazette, and finally receiving a Certificate of Compliance from his NDC. However, though the first two steps were completed, Bess was held up by his NDC in the final stage.

“The NDC refuses to give my transport clearance and when I would ask questions I’d never get any satisfaction,” Bess said.

He added that two other businessmen, who had bought neighbouring lands, had been given clearance by the NDC with no difficulties.

He further said that a third

businessman came into the area and purchased a sub plot to his land. That man had also gone to the NDC to receive a Certificate of Compliance.

However, Bess indicated that the man had been informed by the NDC to visit the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) and obtain a ministerial order to receive the certificate.

The other businessman, Bess said, followed the NDC’s advice and received a ministerial order. He subsequently received his Certificate of Compliance from the NDC.

Police did not follow protocol for Marriott protest - ex Commissioner Former Commissioner of Police Winston Felix has called the actions of the police force on Thursday morning as being outside their allotted authority.

His comments came as images from Thursday’s standoff in front of the newly built Guyana Marriott surfaced. These pictures showed the police using force against peaceful protestors.

At the time the protestors were not within the hotel compound, nor were they engaged in obstructing entrance to the hotel. They were not even blocking traffic.

Felix laid out what the rights of protestors were and what was the prerogative of the police.

“People are entitled to assembly and to picket, provided they do not block entrances and trespass on property.”

The veteran law enforcement official, who also served as an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, pointed out that none of this occurred on Thursday.

“What I have against this police action is that this did not happen, but they sought to move people from the point

Former Police Commissioner Winston Felix they were protesting to where they wanted them. That is not the duty of the police.”

Felix, who served as Commissioner of Police from 2004 to 2006, said that what the police have the authority to do in that scenario was to ensure that the road was not blocked and free movement to the premises was maintained.

“Once the law is not broken, telling people they cannot go here and they cannot go there is totally out of the question.”

The taxpayer-funded hotel saw heavy police presence and barricades

around its environs. As the proceedings were about to start, protestors who were held at bay by police in front of the nearby Pegasus Hotel, broke through and made their way to the Marriott, waving their placards and chanting loudly.

Among those who were allegedly ‘roughed up’ by the police was A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) candidate Ronald Bulkan, Sherlina Nageer and the Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green.

All this time, Bess said that he was awaiting his certificate. He later visited the Ministry on the advice of the other businessman and there he received an order from Minister Norman Whittaker.

The order, seen by this newspaper, stated, “The Honorable Minister of Local Government and Regional Development can find no just cause or reason why the NDC must not accept any outstanding rates due on the said property by Mr. Godfrey A.F. Bess and issue the latter with a Certificate of Compliance.”

The letter, issued to the Chairman of the NDC, went on to instruct in no uncertain terms that Bess was to be issued with his certificate.

However, Bess said, this order was ignored and instead the NDC Chairman responded that Bess had not submitted all the relevant documents.

Bess refuted the C h a i r m a n ’s c l a i m s a n d maintained, “At no point before the order went to them did they indicate that I had documents outstanding.”

In turn, Bess said he submitted all of the documents he had given to the NDC to Minister Whittaker.

Following the submission, Whittaker issued another

order, reiterating the need for the issuance of the Certificate of Compliance. Once more, the order was ignored.

Bess stated that a meeting was later called by Minister Whittaker and all of the NDC Councillors were invited to attend to discuss the matter.

However, only two of the 13 Councillors attended the meeting. One of the present councillors also reportedly said that the Chairman had ordered all of the Councilors to boycott the Minister’s meeting.

Bess said that the entire process has begun to frustrate him. He said, too, that he is constantly checking with the Minister’s office. However, he said, he was told that there is little that can be done to discipline the Chairman now that elections are due.

He added that he previously had a similar situation with the very Chairman but it had been resolved after the intervention of President Donald Ramotar.

Bess believes that the situation is one born of prejudice. He said that the Chairman is being deliberately discriminatory against him and other businessmen like him.

“It’s making me feel bad as a businessman and it’s making me so frustrated,” Bess said.

He continued, “I’m hurt because I always felt that this was the government’s views being shown by this man.

Usually people get frustrated and let it go but when I went in and kept following it up, I recognised that this is not the government’s position but something personal.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

APNU+AFC, PPP face-off over claims of vandalism, abuse ...both parties file police reports

From left: Government Information Liaison, Kwame McKoy, Presidential Advisor, Gail Texeira and PPP/C Candidate, Charles Ramson Jnr. With Regional and General elections days away, contesting political parties have been seen amplifying their campaign strategies in an effort to come out victorious come May 11.

The race to secure votes, a competitive one in nature, has however resulted in the main political parties, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) accusing each other of vandalism and intimidation.

There have been complaints from both camps that supporters and even leaders have played parts in acts of vandalism and abuse.

As a result, both parties have filed reports with the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Speaking with Kaieteur News on Friday, APNU+AFC Executive, Christopher Jones, said that on Friday morning, members of his party filed a report at the Anna Regina Police Station after facing threats from members of the PPP. He said on Thursday night, a group of party activists were erecting party banners in the region when Senior PPP/C representative and Chairman of Region Two, Parmanand Persaud along with eight other party

activists confronted them.

According to Jones, the PPP/C team threatened his comrades stating, “If ayo only put up the banner, we gun kill ayo and all ayo gun leave right here on the road.’” He said that the persons, concerned by the threats, were forced to leave the area.

The report was made at the Anna Regina Police Station.

Additionally, the party released a statement saying that this was the latest in a long line of APNU+AFC officials being “harassed, abused, bullied, intimidated and threatened by the desperate PPP/C regime.”

The APNU+AFC condemned these acts of aggression and desperation in the strongest possible terms.

“The Coalition also dismisses the malicious claims made by PPP/C officials that there is a centrally organized plan to harass the PPP/C activists.

There is no such plan, and the APNU+AFC calls on the Guyanese people to judge the tone and temperature of the two political campaigns. The PPP/C is clearly propagating messages of division and hate and while APNU+AFC’s campaign is based on national unity, inclusion and harmony.”

The party said in the face

of the cowardly acts of intimidation and aggression by the PPP/C, it continues to call for calm and restraint of its supporters as victory is assured.

Also, as the PPP/C hosted a press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street on Friday, representatives spoke of similar tactics being employed by APNU+AFC. PPP/C Assistant Election Agent for the Georgetown area, Gail Teixeira, said that party supporters have been the subjects of “overt and covert” intimidation from the APNU+AFC camp.

She related that an act of covert intimidation was directed to the owner of a Middle Road, East La Penitence house, a known place of poll since 1977. She said the owner was intimidated and threatened by a group of women that “no one will be allowed to vote” at the said location.

According to Teixeira, the party also reported to the police, cases of what she deemed intimidation at public meetings by persons wearing green and yellow and bearing APNU+AFC paraphernalia.

Teixeira said while the behaviour was witnessed on most occasions by the police, ranks present were most times slow to control the intimidation and attacks being

leveled at the party candidates and supporters.

These cases of intimidation, she said, are escalating to the point where they are being forced to cancel public meetings, as was the case in Sophia recently.

She said that “based on intelligence” the PPP/C had decided against a meeting in Sophia where Dr. Roger Luncheon and PPP/C candidate, Kwame McCoy were scheduled to speak. In one instance, she said, a man who was walking on Camp Street, Georgetown wearing a PPP tee-shirt was physically abused and had to seek medical attention.

Teixeira told media operatives that a vehicle belonging to an APNU+AFC supporter went into the Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara area and was pulling down PPP/C flags while in another instance, it was seen with others seen doing the same along Mandela Avenue.

The PPP/C Assistant Election Agent was convinced that these acts were orchestrated, organised and engineered “centrally.”

The party, she said, views

APNU+AFC Candidate, Christopher Jones these actions as a wanton attack on democracy given that every political Party must be free to mount election related materials.

Freddie Kissoon and AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, were also singled out for alleged intimidation leveled against PPP/C candidate Charles Ramson Jnr. Ramson told the media that while flagging an area along Sheriff Street last Friday, Kissoon and about six others other rolled up in their vehicles and began a verbal abuse against him and other party comrades.

But reports previously came into Kaieteur News, that members of the Progress Youth Organisation (PYO) were caught attempting to remove and deface the campaign posters of APNU+AFC as they replaced them with PPP/C posters.

Ramjattan said that he was returning from a public meeting on the West Coast Berbice when he received reports from persons in the surrounding Sheriff Street area that PYO members were “defacing” paraphernalia belonging to the Coalition party.

While there was a reported “face off,” the incident attracted the attention of many in the public, Ramjattan related that the issue was resolved amicably. The PPP/C said that it is calling on the Police to pay heed to its concerns/ reports and to do what is necessary to ensure an election that is free from fear and intimidation.

Teixeira is also calling on the opposition coalition to speak out against the behavior of its supporters, adding that despite the ongoing situation, they have not once spoken out against it.

Jagdeo two-faced on...

From page 9 doing the same thing here.”

Harmon said that he is utterly disgusted

by Jagdeo’s behaviour in “condemning the spending of state resources…” in one country but brazenly being a part of it in Guyana.”

The politician told Kaieteur News on Saturday that not only is the former President shameless, given his actions, but emphasized that “the nation should see him as nothing less than a big hypocrite.”

He said that it is for this reason and more that A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) believes that the electorate will reject the message of Jagdeo and that being offered by his other PPP/C followers.

The politician continued, “Jagdeo is just a terrible human being. He has said publicly that he will not run for public office and I challenged him about it and told him that you have to include elected offices and no sooner did he make that statement, he is on the list…how can you trust him on or off the platform? This is the caliber of leadership they have there and they have no one else to bring back.”

The APNU Executive member said that no complaint was made to the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) about this abuse of state resources since it is his belief that the entity has no legal authority to prohibit such.

He said that it can only make a statement on the matter.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

CARICOM restates commitment to Int’l Decade for African Descendants The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has restated its support for the International Decade for People of African Descent and has made clear its attempt to address the burning issues of racism, prejudice and intolerance.

This position was reaffirmed Tuesday in New York when St Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador to the United Nations, Rhonda King, insisted Caricom’s commitment to the International Decade for People of African Descent, as pronounced by the United Nations (UN), which began on January 1.

Addressing the just concluded International

Reparations Summit there, King said the accompanying Programme of Activities for the Implementation of the International Decade will contribute to the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and to its Programme of Action, and raise awareness in combating racism, prejudice and intolerance.

In a CMC report on the summit, King said that Caricom sees the International Decade for ‘People of African Descent, with its theme, ‘People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development’ as, “an important space for diplomatic engagement”. The

One thing that always seems to happen involves cocaine. Some say that the lure of money is crucial but there are those who are keeping an eye on the movement. Last week there was a big bust; another is on the cards.

And the main person behind it would provide no surprises. ** An incident will leave people talking for quite a while. There would be the report of child abuse and the culprit would be a close family member.

Once more the society would call for stiffer penalties but then again, some parents opt to take money by way of compensation.

** Weekends are always bad for some motorists. One young driver is going to cause a collision that would leave one man seriously injured and bring out the crash truck. But the biggest worry would come from the crowd. Many would try to get at the errant driver and even the level-headed among them would be unable to contain them.

envoy said that, “The programme of activities which accompanies the Decade will address many of the concerns of the African descendant communities.”

“We can no longer accept a mere nibbling away at the edges of these concerns. Until and unless the issue of reparatory justice for slavery is addressed, due recognition, justice and development for People of African Descent will remain incomplete.”

In this context, King said the steps to be taken by the International community, and international and regional organisations during this Decade, as outlined in the Programme of Action, will include engagement with people of African descent.

With respect to the steps and measures to be taken by the UN General Assembly, King said these will include the decision to establish a forum to serve as a consultation mechanism to be provided by one of the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms, such as the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent or the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

This year marks the convergence of several events, including the launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent; the transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the Post-2015 Development Agenda with its Sustainable Development Goals and Financing for

Development component; and the 70th Anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations. King said Caricom maintains that “we have arrived at the crossroads of new possibilities.”

Delegates at the major reparations summit, organised by the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), agreed to consolidate the growing African global reparations movement and to call on all civil society organisations and governments in countries around the world, with Afrodescendant populations, to establish national reparations commissions or committees.

The IBW is a leading research, policy and advocacy group with offices in New York and Baltimore.

Ms. Verene Shepherd, Chair of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, also urged support for the proposed International Decade for People of African Descent.

Shepherd earlier made the call while presenting a report to the UN General Assembly Third Committee, which deals with Social, Humanitarian and Cultural matters.

The report from New York said that the committee is currently discussing issues relating to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the right to self determination.

According to her, the “People of African descent have for centuries been victims of racism, racial discrimination, enslavement and denial of their rights”.

She expressed support for

SVG’s Ambassador to the UN, Rhonda King designating the period 2015 to 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent, while noting that the draft programme of action for the proposed international decade would be centred on the theme, stressing the need to recognise people of African descent as a distinct group.

Shepherd also called for efforts to address the historical and continuing violations of their rights, including the denial of equal access to justice, reparations and protection under the law.

She said the “indigestible fishbone of slavery” continued to stick in the throat due to the persistence of its legacies over 500 years.

“The impact of slavery and colonialism were most obvious in the Americas and on the African content itself,” she added.

The UN in its attempt to recognize African Descendants who still face various forms of restrictions launched the decade with the intention of removing stigma and other obstacles that directly affect these persons.

United Nations General Assembly President Sam

Chair of the UN Working Group of Experts, Verene Shepherd Kutesa stated during the launch that, people of African descent still face racism in every country, region and continent of the world.

He said that, “Over the next ten years, people everywhere are encouraged to take part in the global conversation on the realities faced by people of African descent.” Kutesa who is a national of Uganda called the Decade’s launch a historic achievement.

“The Decade will allow us to explore the challenges faced by people of African descent due to pervasive racism and racial discrimination engrained in our society today,” he noted.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

ImmigrationINFO Immigration News For Our Community

By Attorney Gail Seeram Effective September 1, 2013, Form DS-261 replaced the paper-based Form DS3032, when selecting an agent or attorney to act on your behalf for the visa centre processing of an immigrant visa or green card being issued through a U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

submit DS-261 or how does my agent or attorney submit DS-261?

Answer #1: When the National Visa Centre sends the visa bills, they also send a case number and an invoice ID. You would go online to https://ceac.state.gov and select DS-261 and follow the instructions to log-in and input your agent or attorney information.

How to Complete Form DS-261 The DS-261 is a fully integrated online electronic visa application form used to collect the necessary application information from persons seeking immigrant visas and his/her agent or attorney. This online form is completed and submitted

online to the Department of State via the Internet through the Consular Electronic Applications Centre (CEAC).

The form may be partially completed, saved online to finish, and submitted later; or the forms can be completed and submitted in a single

session.

If the DS-261 is completed and an agent or attorney is authorized to act on your behalf, then the agent or attorney can do the following: access your online case file, submit Form DS-260 immigrant visa application for all traveling immigrants, submit the visa fees on-line, make case inquiries to the visa centre on your behalf, receive emails from the visa centre on your behalf and submit documents to the visa centre on your behalf.

In the situation where you want to change your agent or attorney, then simply complete a new Form DS-261 on-line and submit it online to the visa centre.

On Form DS-261, an agent can be a family member acting on your behalf, because you don’t have access to a computer, or an agent can be a professional such as an attorney. Beware of using

Attorney Gail Seeram immigration service providers and designating a service provider as your agent on Form DS-261.

Many immigration service providers are known to take visa fees from clients but not submit it online to the visa centre.

It is recommended to use a reputable immigration attorney when choosing to designate an agent on Form DS-261 to act on your behalf during the visa centre processing of the immigrant visa or green card. Our office is experienced in completing Form DS-261 and acting on our client’s behalf in submitting all required documents and fees to the visa centre. We would be happy to help you! **** Question #1: How do I

Question #2: C a n someone other than the petitioner or beneficiary submit DS-261?

Answer #2: Yes, once your agent or attorney is given your case number and invoice ID, they can log-in to the visa processing website and enter their information and be assigned your agent.

Question # 3: Can DS261 be submitted by mail or completed by hand?

Answer #3: No, DS261 can only be completed electronically or online through the https:// ceac.state.gov website. It cannot be printed and submitted by mail.

For more information, contact Gail Law Firm: Email: Gail@GailLaw.com Phone: 1-877-GAIL-LAW or 407-292-7730 www.My Orlando Immigration Lawyer.com FREE in-office consultation - FREE Live Chat

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 25

MY COLUMN

Jimmy Carter is coming...again Former United States President, Jimmy Carter, is said to be heading back to Guyana in time for the elections. I remember when he came ahead of the 1992 elections. Desmond Hoyte was President and all votes were counted centrally.

Carter met Hoyte at the request of the then opposition and there were changes. I remember going to the press conference after they had met.

Hoyte and Carter shared that press conference and many things were spoken. For example, the People’s Progressive Party opted to have the elections postponed until the new measures were put in place and there were many measures.

Carter got Hoyte to agree to have the vote counted at the place of poll despite the contention that in some areas the community would know that not everyone supported a certain party. He also got Hoyte to agree to revamp the elections commission.

Overseas voting had already been abolished, again at the request of the PPP. For its part, Dr Cheddi Jagan agreed to continue the economic measures Hoyte had put in place. Indeed, I sometimes raise my eyebrows in surprise when the PPP talks about the state of the economy in 1992. The change had already begun and such was its influence that Dr Jagan vowed to continue

whatever Hoyte was doing when Carter came.

I still remember the joy the PPP felt when it got those changes and so the stage was set for the elections of 1992.

It is history that the PPP won those elections, but what the PPP is not saying is that it caused Jimmy Carter to vow never to return to Guyana, because the then President Bharrat Jagdeo refused to accept the changes proposed

by Carter in the interest of national development.

At the time there were talks between the PPP and the People’s National Congress, because there were things that were not being honoured. Carter came to ensure that nothing untoward occurred in the country, but Jagdeo told Carter that he was not prepared to accept some of Carter’s proposals. So Carter told a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel that he was done with Guyana. He did not have good things to say about the government

back then. Something must have happened to get him to change his mind. I still remember him heading to Venezuela and I told myself that Guyana had really lost a great ally. Now Carter is coming back.

Many of today’s voters were too young to remember Carter coming to Guyana but those who did, smiled and pulled out a saying that PPP supporters made popular in Guyana ahead of the 1992 elections. “Anywhere Carter goes there is a change in Government.”

The advertisements tout the great things that the PPP did during its tenure, but something must be wrong for so many people to want to see the back of the government.

Of course, there were the numerous extra-judicial killings, rampant corruption which the PPP attempted to deny, the discrimination and of course, the absence of collaboration between the government and the

opposition over crucial things. In these later years I saw the attacks against the British, American and Canadian envoys who dared to criticize some of the decisions by the government. For example, the then American ambassador Brent Hardt was critical of the manner in which radio was liberalized and he got what has become known as the feral blast from Education Minister Priya Manickchand.

To her credit, Priya was being a good servant of the government. The feral blast

had to be delivered and the Foreign Minister was not there, so at the Cabinet level, the abhorrent task fell to her.

British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre was critical of the decision by the government to not hold local government elections and he got a dose from the government. The attacks against the envoys came just as they were at the end of their tour of duty.

Canadian envoy Dr Nicole Giles got hers soon after she got here.

There are many things that have happened since Carter was last here. For one,

Adam Harris many of the people who wanted him here back then have died, not least among them Fr Andrew Morrison and David de Caires.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

A steady diet of election time rhetoric “Controllers, abusers and manipulative people don’t ask themselves if the problem is theirs. They use it as another chance to plant the blame on someone else.”

This is a telling quote from an American writer that fits the Guyana situation perfectly.

Another writer said, ‘The most dangerous liars are those who think they’re telling the truth”. The shoe fits the ruling party’s published excerpts of their 2015 Election Manifesto.

There are few ways to describe the droll, repetitive, rhetorical utterances printed in the preamble.

“We have experience in building a country and improving people’s lives…all our people have an equal chance to live in peace, progress and prosperity…”

One can only assume that this reference was to the friends and families of the

PPP’s elite. Contrary to their boast, the PPP has in fact taken away many of the freedoms, pride, dignity and hope of the ordinary Guyanese.

One of their claims is indeed true – they have truly “changed the way our people dream” by effectively dissolving their hope of living in a secure country that accommodates their efforts to earn a decent living.

Fisherfolk in the Corentyne and the Essequibo have been consistently attacked at sea by homegrown pirates, robbed of their investments (boats, nets, engines, glue, knives, ice bins and their catches) and often killed or thrown overboard alive. They complain that to date promises were all that they have received from the Agriculture Ministry.

The President boasted in 2011 that 80,000 house lots

were distributed. In 2015, the numbers have risen, but what concerns the Coalition is that the Ministry of Housing demands excessive payments of more than $1M for bushy plots with no infrastructure (roads, electricity, water and peripherals).

The hapless citizens in search of their dream to own their homes, have to take recourse to the private commercial banks for funds to build, then wait for years for the necessary infrastructure to be installed.

Those who haven’t the means to secure bank loans remain homeless. The more determined citizens squat on public reserves and unregulated areas, living in makeshift tents made from plastic, cardboard and petrified wood.

EDUCATION & JOB CREATION The PPP/C’s 2015

manifesto reeks of a cut-andpaste job. It contains meaningless phrases with no resonance for struggling business owners who have been searching in vain for the skills they need to expand and diversify.

The larger enterprises have the most pressing need for the expertise of university graduates.

For many years they have been lodging the same complaint – that vacancies do exist within their operations for engineers, agriculturists, lawyers, chemists, social workers, communicators, doctors, dentists and ICT specialists to name a few.

They look to the University of Guyana and the technical institutes for people to fill these vacancies but end up right where they began.

They complain that every year the graduates from these institutions fail to meet required knowledge benchmarks, even after participating in skill-specific on-the-job training.

They complain that they have been asking the university’s administration to re-calibrate the archaic curricula in almost every discipline to fit the unique needs of Guyanese industries.

For years these requests from entrepreneurs in the rice industry, in building materials production, in food production, and even in machinery repairs and distribution, have fallen on the PPP’s deaf ears.

Nothing has changed at UG and now the staff and student bodies are protesting the appalling physical conditions, their inadequate emoluments and unfair conditions of service.

On the other side of the coin, the possibilities for personal and professional

development of graduates at home come to a screeching halt when they are unable to find jobs to add expertise to their qualifications. It is no wonder that the majority of tertiary level graduates leave Guyana to develop other countries. The number of high functioning lawyers, teachers and engineers of Guyanese origin abound in the Caribbean, in North America, Europe, and as far away as Sweden, Switzerland, Africa and China.

Unless a concerted effort is made to revamp the University of Guyana, its physical facilities, its libraries and research facilities, the calibre of its lecturers and support staff, the course content in every single faculty, and unless the dark spectre of politics is removed from the Administration of this learning institution, Guyana will continue to lose the billions of dollars expended every year to provide tertiary education for our youth. If ever there was a lose-lose situation, this one breasts the tape!

For the umpteenth time the PPP/C has promised the Guyanese people that they will develop “a number of initiatives to facilitate job creation” e.g. “regional industrial sites, incentives to employers for job creation opportunities, the development of entrepreneurship and apprenticeship programs and the establishment of business development services”.

This one is as old as the sands. Industrial sites – we heard that in 1992.

A number of Guyanese and overseas-based private companies are already providing business development/support services e.g. Qualfon, Nand Persaud Company et al.

Does the PPP plan to continue to usurp even more

business space and compete with these service providers and investors? The business community is painfully aware that they lose capacity, trained skills, customers, local and foreign markets, and revenue to plough back into their business for sustenance.

In essence, their life’s blood diminishes when they are forced to compete with government agencies in the same space.

SECURITYAND THE QUALITY OF LIFE The right of every citizen to enhance their quality of life in a safe and secure environment is enshrined or implied in every chapter and statute of the Constitution.

Throughout two full decades of PPP rule, citizens have endured major crimes that cost Guyana too much of its valuable human resources including children, youths and women. The party in 2015 declares “We have to wage a major fight against crime”.

Is this a case of the Rip van Winkle syndrome or just another opportunity to throw more meaningless words at Guyanese people?

The underground community of criminals has grown stronger, bolder and more innovative for one reason, i.e. there has been no sustained programme to fight crime. Criminals operate as if with impunity and the blessing/assistance of the people who are supposed to serve and protect us.

Every day hard-working citizens are robbed of their money, their property and their lives. It is unacceptable that grieving relatives could hold out little hope for justice.

The Minister of Home Affairs commissioned a spanking new multi-milliondollar Forensic Science Laboratory less than a year ago but today, April 2015, it is unoccupied, while ostensibly the Ministry mends the damage caused by a recent electrical fire.

The Ministry has failed to report on the state of the delicate testing apparatus which were procured for a handsome $49.79M. There have been scattered reports of a small number of criminals being positively identified following through tests at the lab which proves that the facility is needed.

The PPP/C’s leadership has proven to be weak, mediocre, visionless and incapable of managing the nation’s finances for the country’s growth.

The party’s ineptitude has left Guyanese with few options. We must rescue this nation and light a new path leading towards real growth.

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men ambushed him and opened fire on his vehicle.

SUNDAY SPECIAL PPP/C PM CANDIDATE EXPOSED FOR $700M -PM HINDS MISLED FOREIGN INVESTORS Five years ago, the price of gold was beginning to rise and many investors were positioning themselves to cash in on the expected boom. At the time, Guyana was poised for the takeoff.

One such investor was a female Canadian Gemologist of Indian origin.

She had saved up a few hundred thousand United States dollars and since Guyana was primed for foreign direct investment, the woman immediately jumped at the options available.

She travelled to Guyana, which is known for its vast reserves of gold and diamond, with the aim of investing her money even if it meant partnering with a local gold mining company.

She met with Prime Minister Sam Hinds who directed her to the executive of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

Hinds also reportedly recommended Regan Pollard, whom he described as a diamond and gold exporter. ”He (Sam Hinds) told me he thought that he (Pollard) was credible,” the woman told this newspaper.

She did not question Sam Hinds’ recommendation of Pollard since an official of the GGMC had mentioned him along with a few others during a previous discussion.

She also learnt much later that his mother, Elisabeth Harper, was also a senior Government official.

She said that she invested US$300,000 and her US partners invested US$2.5 million for a total of US$2.8 million.

Coming from North America, where corruption is not the norm and where the rule of law is one of the hallmarks of life, the investors were optimistic that their investment would be safe.

Their dreams were eventually shattered after the business arrangement with Pollard went sour.

The investors subsequently moved to the court to compel Pollard to honour his obligation.

The lawsuit was filed last December and was set for a first hearing in February.

According to the investor, they recently learnt that Pollard’s mother Elisabeth Harper was named as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the PPP/C and they were incensed.

Apparently not wanting the matter to derail her Prime Ministerial ambitions, Harper

WEDNESDAYEDITION RAMOTAR PROMISES SMALL MINERS WHAT HE FAILS TO DO AS PRESIDENT – KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN

and her son have reportedly been desperately trying to contact the angry investors to come to an amicable solution.

“We want our investment returned. My life has been completely broken by this mother and son. I have no life, no place to live.

Even my hedge fund partners are angry with me because I had introduced them to Regan,” the Canadian investor stated.

APNU+AFC NOW SUFFERING FROM JAGDEO’S UNJUST RADIO STATIONS Former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s controversial approval of radio licences to especially close friends and party members in 2011, is coming back to haunt the Opposition, big time.

The first report of the elections watchdog body, the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), for the period of March 1 to March 31, 2015 is out.

Coverage by the new radio stations monitored, revealed that they were overwhelmingly in favour of the Government and the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Four radio stations were monitored - NTN 89.1 FM owned by Anand Persaud; IRadio 90.1 Love FM owned by the sister of Minister Robert Persaud; 93.1 Real FM owned by Maxwell Thom and the Government-owned NCN 102.5FM. The MMU did not explain, in its report, why it did not monitor Radio Guyana Inc. (RGI) 89.5/87.5 FM, a radio station owned by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, and accused of being heavily biased in favour of Government.

The first three stations were the ones approved by Jagdeo.

According to the MMU report, NTN 89.1 radio news

gave Government and the PPP/C more than 75 percent coverage with only a small portion going to the Opposition A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). Its general programmes were 100 percent positive for Government during the period March 1- March 31.

MONDAYEDITION PPP LINDEN RALLY…RAMOTAR PROMISES LINDEN MORE JOBS, PAVED LINDENLETHEM ROAD As elections loom closer and politicians are hot on the campaign trail, a team of high ranking officials from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) made their way to Linden on Sunday last where hundreds converged to hear just what the party will do if given another term in Government.

A section of Burnham Drive, Silvertown, Linden was decorated with red, yellow and black flags and banners encouraging the faithful PPP/ C supporters to vote for its Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar and Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper.

The PPP was in town but Linden, a known Opposition stronghold, was also decorated with many flags of the Opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).

However, that did not deter the PPP who wasted no time in rolling out attractive election promises and wounding criticisms of the Opposition.

The crowd was addressed by quite a few party members including Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo but at the sound of Ramotar’s name, the audience screamed, danced and waved their flags and empty cups.

Ramotar, during his almost hour-long presentation de-

scribed the strenuous task he faced in dealing with the joint opposition during the Tenth Parliament on several matters.

He told the gathering that if elected, the PPP will not only pave the road from Lethem to Linden but will work towards the overall economic development in the region.

Lindeners were assured that they will benefit from high paying jobs if the PPP is given another chance.

Carter Centre has been coming for elections starting back in 1992. It is headed by former US President, Jimmy Carter, who had led a team back then to Guyana.

Surujbally expressed his satisfaction that the Carter Centre is once again taking a keen interest in observing elections in Guyana.

THREE CHARGED FOR KILLING GGMC ENGINEERAND STERLING PRODUCTS GUARD

TUESDAYEDITION CARTER CENTRE TO FIELD 42 OBSERVERS FOR ELECTIONS With less than a month left for the General and Regional Elections to be held on May 11, 2015, the Carter Centre is progressively establishing its presence in Guyana.

A precursor team of medium term observers visited the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on April 10 to meet with the Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, to discuss the strategic directions of their Observer Mission.

Team Leader and Assistant Director, Global Development Initiative, Jason Calder, indicated that the Carter Centre may be looking to establish a core medium observer team of four persons to lead its mission, statement from the commission said yesterday.

The Carter Centre plans to have six medium term observers comprising three teams of two persons each, which can be deployed by April 22. The Carter Centre is expected to have at least 30 short term observers deployed closer to the Election Day. A total of 42 persons are expected to complete the Carter Centre’s Observer Mission.

Calder also discussed a preliminary logistical plan for the three medium term observer teams, including one team to cover Regions 2, 3, and 7; another for Regions 5 and 6 with one for Regions 1, 8, and 9.

After months of investigation, police have charged three men in connection with the murders of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) engineer Trevor Abrams and Sterling Products Limited, security guard, Wilfred Stewart.

Steven Prescott, also known as ‘Assassin’, along with Orin Arthur and Rayon Paddy, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The first charge was read to Arthur and Paddy. Particulars of the charge stated that on December 24, 2014, at Providence, East Bank Demerara, they murdered Wilfred Stewart, during the course of or after a robbery.

Prescott and the two other accused were further charged with the murder of Abrams, which occurred on February 21, at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Prescott was represented

by Attorney Peter Hugh, while Attorney Sonia Parag represented the other two defendants.

According to Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharrat Mangru, investigations are still ongoing into the two matters. The trio will make their next court appearance on April 28. Abrams, 32, of Samatta Point, East Bank Demerara, was riddled with bullets on February 26, 2015, at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara, after heavily-armed

A promise by President Donald Ramotar to help small miners acquire lands for their operation after he is elected has come in for scathing criticisms by the Opposition. On Tuesday the APNU+AFC coalition described it as pure elections gimmickry. ”Here is a man who is the President, the most powerful man in the country, promising to deliver something that he has the power to do right now.

He wants miners to wait until elections are over and is asking them to vote him back in.

Does he think people are stupid?” ”This is the man who promised to revisit the Value Added Tax when he wasn’t yet president. He promised to review the radio frequencies distribution; he promised to put a clamp on corruption and he promised local government elections within a year.”

The comments were made Tuesday by Alliance For Change (AFC) leader, Khemraj Ramjattan.

Last weekend, President Ramotar during a campaign rally in the Essequibo River community of Bartica, spoke of the need to strengthen the various sectors, including the Mining sector.

He promised to ensure that “small miners have an opportunity to get their lands to do mining and more than that, we will review some of the large holdings that many of the ‘big people’ had and (are) not using them.”

Small miners have been clamouring for lands and have accused the authorities of favouring mostly big miners in their allocation system.

THURSDAY EDITION LUNCHEON REFUSES TO IDENTIFY US$6M DRUG SUPPLIER Despite being asked Wednesday to reveal the identity of the person or company awarded a billion-dollar drug contract for a local hospital, the lips of Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon remained sealed.

During his weekly press conference held at the Office of the President, the politician cited the contracts for which Cabinet gave its “no objection”. Among those (Continued on page 67)

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Police responsiveness will require a clear organisational culture shift

By Dale Andrews Having dealt with the issue of police response timing in some detail, I wish to acknowledge the many positive comments and suggestions I have received from serving and past members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

I would also like to recognize the valuable contributions from the manin-the-street who felt that I should write on the manner that the police respond to calls and reports by members of the public.

I have no axe to grind, but these inputs indicate that these articles are achieving the objective of generating comment and constructive criticism on matters related to the GPF and its administration and operations.

First off, it should be made quite clear and unambiguous to all members of the GPF that like other police forces, the police are there to serve the public. Essentially, the police are servants of the people, albeit servants with vast discretionary powers over the people.

However, the

Guyanese people have needs which must be met if the GPF is to honestly boast of the existence of a harmonious relationship with all communities.

In recent weeks all of us have been aware of victims and surviving relatives expressing dissatisfaction with the way the police treat with the loss of their loved ones or even the loss of property. This article will examine the needs of victims; the factors which are necessary for an enhanced police response to victims; and the benefits and challenges of an enhanced response to victims.

For the purpose of this discussion we will define a victim of crime as “a person who has been injured either physically or emotionally due to the occurrence of a crime.

Victims include individuals who have been direct targets of violence or property loss or damage, their family members, and people who experience emotional trauma as a result of witnessing such an incident” (Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims: A 21st Century

FLASHBACK: Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell meets Agricola residents who were protesting the killing of 17-year-old Shaquille Grant.

Strategy). Problematic will always be the question about whether the police responding within 15 minutes of receiving a call for assistance is appropriately responsive to the needs and

sensitivity of the victim(s) and the situation.

VICTIM NEEDS The document referred to above was developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and identifies seven critical victim needs including: (i) safety, which speaks to protection from intimidation, and re-victimization; (ii) support, which

addresses the need for the police to be knowledgeable about victim referral services where professionals can provide ongoing support and assistance; (iii) information, where the police inter alia provide victims with status updates of the investigation and the prosecution where charges have been laid; (iv) access, refers to an enhanced police capacity to help victims with special needs and circumstances, such as people with developmental or physical disability, diminished competency, or mental illness

to participate fully in the investigative process and access applicable supportive services; (v) continuity is about the need for police collaboration with victim service providers and other criminal justice professionals to ensure that victims receive consistent information and support throughout their involvement with the justice system; (vi) voice speaks to the need to empower victims by encouraging their active participation and listening to their concerns; (vii) justice is the need to directly improve victims’ sense of safety and wellbeing by conducting thorough investigations, follow-ups, and doing their part to hold offenders accountable.

The authors also feel that adequate policy making may ensure that policies and protocols can effectively guide the police to meeting victims’ needs, and create a sense of security that law enforcement is working in their best interests (pp23-24).

However, victims’ needs should not be viewed in isolation since the foundation of the enhanced response to victims requires four core elements which have proved effective namely: (i) leadership, where the success of the strategy will depend on the early buy-in and commitment on the part of GPF administration who would inter alia be expected to define intermediate and (Continued on page 29)

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Police responsiveness will require a clear...

From page 28 long-range victim response outcomes; (ii)partnering could encompass a range of nontraditional allies including faith communities, businesses and volunteer groups as well as civic and community organizations (It is noted that the GPF has already started to move in this direction with its partnership initiatives); (iii)training signals an awareness that to effectively respond will require adaptation as technology, crime analysis, investigation techniques, and resources evolve bearing mind that victims have different needs and circumstances; and (iv) performance, monitoring the force administration should document and analyse baseline data about the quality and status of the current victim response before defining the GPF’s enhanced victim response goals. It is only then that the administration would be able to determine the relevant resources, strategies and approaches, as well as expected short-term impacts and long-range outcomes.

To return briefly to the subject of monitoring progress, we should note that this may require new and innovative ways of looking at data already gathered and not necessarily in major new investments in data collection and analysis.

On that score, the GPF would need to determine appropriate data collection points. Monitoring progress toward victim response goals will not necessarily require significant new investments in data collection and analysis, but it may entail new and innovative ways of looking at information already gathered for other purposes.

BENEFITS It is an indisputable fact that any programme to enhance the police response to crime victims will be subject to budgetary and service demand considerations.

However, these should not prevent the GPF from improving its investigative capability and introducing an organized follow-up system.

It has been shown generally that victims who believe they have been treated with empathy and respect by the police are more likely to cooperate with law enforcement and make efforts to minimize their potential risk of re-victimization.

Additionally, an enhanced response, which includes treating victims’ issues as high priority, offers several prospects for the police to increase their service efficiency and effectiveness.

These include opportunities for leadership and innovation, reinforced focus on law enforcement responsibilities, increased job satisfaction, and greater cooperation and appreciation by citizens and victims.

CHALLENGES According to the IACP, implementing a strategy to improve the police response to victims is likely to be met by several challenges within the GPF including: competing priorities; lack of buy-in; insufficient training resources; and an organisational incapacity to measure success.

On the external front, the anticipated challenges are the competing objectives between victims, law enforcement, and criminal justice partners; limitations of victim services; lack of services for victims of nonviolent crimes; media coverage and portrayals of law enforcement and factors that hinder the police’s ability to respond to victims.

POLICIES Among the factors that negatively impact on the police’s ability to respond to victims are those related to people with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, abused vulnerable elderly persons, the substanceimpaired and individuals who have suffered multiple victimizations, all of which may need to be considered if service is to be equitable across victim types.

One peculiar situation which Guyanese are familiar with is when the police themselves are alleged to be the perpetrators of the crime.

It is therefore left to the administration to develop appropriate interventions if it is to respond effectively through thorough training, supported by clear policies and protocols. These would help ranks in their assessment of circumstances to determine why a victim may not be cooperating in the investigation or may inadvertently be endangering himself or herself or others.

This article is not meant to suggest that improvements in the police response to victims of crime will be an overnight matter. Some aspects of a response strategy could be implemented almost immediately, while others may be possible after many months or even several years.

But what is undisputable is that for the police response initiative to succeed it will require a clear and unequivocal organisational culture shift.

Dale Andrews is a senior crime reporter and can be reached at dale_ crimechief@yahoo.com

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Philosophy and the mind of the PPP supporter I was always attracted to the study of philosophy even though as a semi-literate boy on D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, I never dreamt in my wild imaginings, I would graduate at the university level in the subject and teach it to students at a university.

I was first introduced to the subject when I was just sixteen. My mother’s cousin had a gambling den at the corner of Bent and Hardina Streets in Wortmanville, and while visiting to beg him for money, I would see the philosophy books on the table and pick them up.

I read a couple of pages, Back in those days, the eccentric brother of the famous Dr. Rawle Farley used to visit our yard on D’Urban Street and that was the beginning of my own discovery of what I wanted and who I wanted to be. He liked philosophy too, and so he spent virtually countless days helping me to understand the contents of philosophy books.

As an unemployed sixteen-year-old youth, my sister got me a job at the Michael Forde Bookshop of the PPP under Freedom House.

It was at that point I knew I wanted to go to university and study philosophy. I stole Socrates, Plato and Aristotle while working at the bookstore, read them, didn’t understand a thing and kept reading them over and over.

Karl Marx and Bertrand Russell were easier to understand. From those days at the bookstore, I knew there wasn’t anything that would stop me from going to university to

study philosophy.

My favourite philosopher is Friedrich Nietzsche.

My favourite philosophy book is Martin Heidegger ’s “Being and Time” (one of the most fascinating books ever written).

My preferred philosophical thought is existentialism.

Philosophy is a very dark and disturbing journey into the nature of Homo sapiens and the purpose of life.

Once mastered, it drives a pessimism into the inner recesses of your soul that is irremovable.

Once you study philosophy, your mind becomes a permanent windmill tilting forever between a pessimistic comprehension of the Human Condition and a sempiternal optimism that one day, life will have a meaning that provides salvation for civilization.

Nietzsche calls it the coming of the Übermensch.

The distinct advantage philosophy has over many other forms of knowledge is

that it prepares you to understand nature and people.

You get a better insight into the frailties of the human mind, than say, the sociologist or historian.

The human will never surprise you in what they do, no matter how iconoclastic or unimaginable or deceptive behaviour becomes, once you have a philosophical background. I believe it was my philosophical training that deterred me from ever having a 9 to 5 job or ever wanting to join a political party or ever judging someone because of his race or religion or culture.

It was my philosophical outlook that caused me to remove any barrier in my choice between white people music and the sound of Motown, rhythm and blues and reggae that I grew up with in Wortmanvile. I admire and enjoy the philosophical songs of the Beatles as much as I am a fanatical embracer of Bob Marley.

Philosophical musings

have overtaken me since the 2015 election campaign began.

And no matter how saturated you are with the thoughts of all the great philosophers, let no one fool you; humans are inexplicable creatures.

Can we ever understand Homo sapiens?

Since the campaign began, I had to travel often to Berbice in the nights to appear on Berbice televisions as a guest.

Always we travel back to Georgetown way into the midnight hour. It never fails to lacerate my mind how Berbicians can tolerate and vote for a party that has been in power for twenty-three years yet they live in darkness.

There is a mile of road before you come to the bridge that is enveloped in complete darkness. Surely, Berbicians cannot miss that contempt.

Didn’t they deserve to have a lighted road on the way to and from the bridge?

From the time you hit

Frederick Kissoon Mahaica going to Berbice or leaving Berbice, Region Five, and huge chunks of Region Four have no lights. The Corentyne highway is a dark monster waiting to get you.

One of these nights before the campaign ends, I am going to dirty my underwear because I am always nervously scared when the driver is negotiating those long miles of darkness at midnight.

I saw these parts of Guyana when I was a tiny tot.

What has changed since t h e n ? A n d o n M a y 11 people will vote for such heartless politicians.

Philosophy has failed us.

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Ten reasons why the PPP lost the youth vote The People’s Progressive Party has been fooling young people for over two decades.

It has now discovered, not surprisingly, that it has lost young people’s confidence and support.

First, the PPP failed to realise that ‘unemployment ‘is

the central issue affecting young school-leavers. The PPPC’s disregard for measures to deal with the massive jobs’ crisis has had unfavourable consequences.

Children who do not complete their elementary education satisfactorily will find it diffi-

cult to get jobs as adults. The majority of young university graduates, unable to find employment, remain under- or un-employed, or join the throng of thousands who emigrate every year. Young people suffer most, owing to the fact that school-leavers

are inexperienced and have a long wait before they find their first job.

Second, the PPP failed to repair the broken public education system. Public schools are producing an increasing number of illiterate and innumerate young people.

Failure rates at the annual National Grade Six Assessment examinations are astronomically high. The Ministry of Education reports that about 6,000 children drop out of our primary and secondary schools annually. The chronic crises and the current controversy at the University of Guyana are examples of the administration’s lack of concern for students and their education.

Third, the PPP, as a result, has failed to stanch the flood of school dropouts. It has presided over an unequal economy in which there are few new job opportunities for youths. These, and the rising number of teenage pregnancies, are all signs of a desperate social predicament. The PPPC failed young people and is robbing them of their future.

Fourth, the PPP ignored young people’s legitimate aspirations for the government to promulgate a coherent national youth policy that would that would guide youths in the future. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport has brazenly publicly announced on several occasions that the National Youth Policy would be reviewed. The problem is that he has promulgated no such ‘Policy.’ The result has been that youths continue to face difficult lives in the land of their birth.

Fifth, the PPP created a plethora of ‘so-called’ youth programmes. These were designed to create the illusion of education and develop-

ment. They have, however, failed to solve the problems facing young people. Despite the ferment of initiatives – CSP; NTPYE; PYCI; PYARG; YAEP and YEST – there have been few new job opportunities. Too many Guyanese youths still leave school unskilled, enter the workforce for the first time and are obliged to resort to the informal sector for employment in lowpaying occupations. Four out of every ten youths face a jobless future.

Sixth, the PPP has failed to introduce measures to resolve social problems facing youths, especially the need to curb the rate of juvenile suicide. Happy people do not kill themselves. Official data indicate that suicide became a serious public health issue in Guyana only within the last decade. Suicide is ranked seventh of the ten major causes of death. The suicide rate is approximately 20-25 per 100,000 persons in the population and it has been consistent for years. Data indicate that suicide became the leading cause of death among young people 15-24 years of age and the third leading cause of death among persons 25-44.

Seventh, the PPP failed to conduct inquests or inquiries into the deaths of young people or to publish reports of their being victims of police brutality and torture. The result has been that young people have seen themselves, disproportionately, as victims of violence. The government also failed to publish reports on the predicament of juveniles in the New Opportunity Corps. These are all signs of a dangerous and deteriorating social situation.

Eighth, the PPP failed to introduce measures that would prevent so many

young men and women from being given custodial sentences for misdemeanours and minor offences. Such measures could reduce the huge prison population (of which youth are said to comprise 75 per cent) and give young people an opportunity to lead ‘law-abiding’ lives.

Ninth, the PPP refused to explain, or apologise for, the grossly disrespectful conduct of the President towards a young mathematics teacher at Aishalton Village, Rupununi, on 3rd December 2014. Reports of that event incensed young people, teachers and residents of the hinterland and coastland. It was symbolic of the state’s attitude to youth and will not be forgotten easily.

Tenth, the PPP, to confirm its casual attitude to youth affairs, cynically dawdled as the world celebrated the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding – IYY – during August 2010August 2011. The PPP still continues to pay scant attention to events which indicate a willingness to treat youth development as a central national governmental activity.

The PPPC has sowed the seeds of disdain for young people’s concerns. It will reap a bitter harvest at the forthcoming general and regional elections, the outcome of which, inevitably, will be determined largely by the way that young people vote.

Young people will not vote for the PPP because that party in government has failed them.

They will vote for APNU and AFC – the inclusive coalition, because that coalition will improve the standard of education, ensure their personal safety and introduce a genuine national youth policy that will guarantee “a good life for all”.

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(From page 27) awarded for the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM), the Head of the Presidential Secretariat said, that Cabinet also gave its blessings for the procurement of medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporat i o n , t o t h e t u n e of US$1.05M which is equivalent to $219.8M. There was another award for which Cabinet granted its ‘no objection’.

That was that for drugs for the said hospital at a cost of $1.16B. However, when asked to disclose the name of the preferred bidder for the health contracts, Dr. Luncheon said, “I generally have not used this occasion to either confirm or deny the identity of bidders.”

In relation to when the bid was opened for the drugs and if it was in keeping with the purchasing trends of the Ministry of Health, the Cabinet Secretary could not at the time, give a definitive answer.

He did state, however, that given his awareness of the enormity in providing free health care for the entire nation, he can say without hesitation, that the annual purchases for drugs and supplies exceed the sum of the two said awards for which Cabinet granted its no objection.

GECOM CONFIRMS 8 POLITICAL PARTIES FOR MAY 11 POLLS - OAS SENDING 12 OBSERVERS An a g r e e m e n t w a s signed Wednesday by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the Electoral Observation Process of the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

The agreement, according to GECOM, was compiled by the OAS and inked with the OAS Chief of Mission, Lisa Shoman and the Commission.

The agreement clearly outlines the conditions under which the OAS will execute its electoral observation exercise, before, during and after the conduct of the May 11 General and Regional polls.

GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, after the signing, took the opportunity to brief the OAS team on GECOM’s current state of preparedness for the efficient and transparent conduct of the upcoming elections. ”He i n d i c a t e d t h a t GECOM has already written

still lagging way behind target. As of last weekend, just 54,766 tonnes of sugar or 63 percent of the crop has been produced in the seven estates of Demerara and Berbice. This is way shy of the 86,201 tonnes that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had set the industry for the first crop.

While GuySuCo has not officially announced the target for this year, the delay in completing the first crop will have further implications in the rising costs for the industry, which has been struggling with efficiency problems for years now.

SATURDAY EDITION 100-KILO COCAINE BUST…CANU RANKS UNDER CLOSEARREST OVER MISSING COKE

to the eight political parties contesting the May 11, General and Regional Elections, informing them of their eligibility.

He also mentioned that GECOM is on the verge of posting the Official List of Electors (OLE).”

Surujbally also disclosed that GECOM has already finalized all the polling stations to be utilized on Election Day and is currently engaged assiduously in refresher training of polling day staff.

FRIDAYEDITION US$60M MARRIOTT OPENING GREETED BY PROTEST - APNU+AFC BOYCOTTS CEREMONY Anticipations were high for the much-touted grand opening of the Marriott Hotel at Kingston, the first of its kind in these parts.

It was supposed to be a major project initiated by the former administration and now being completed by the Donald Ramotar government. Ahead of the May 11 general elections, it was

expected to be a proud moment. B u t t h e e x p e c t e d spectacular event complete with pomp and fanfare fizzled Thursday, falling short of expectations.

The mostly taxpayerfunded hotel saw heavy police presence and barricades around its environs, and as the proceedings of the event geared to start, protestors who were held at bay by police in front of the nearby Pegasus Hotel, broke the barrier and defiantly stood in front of the Marriott, waving their placards and chanting loudly.

There was a glaring absence of the Opposition at the event even though they were formally invited. Also absent was former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the man who pushed for the project despite misgivings by the Opposition.

Members of the coalition, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) were among the protestors.

The police were unable to hold the demonstrators back, leading to a face-off at the entrance of the new hotel.

SUGAR PRODUCTION WAY BEHIND TARGETAGAIN

The current sugar crop is likely to be extended to the end of May with production

Two officers of the country’s main anti-narcotics unit are now the subject of a police investigation after it had been discovered that a quantity of cocaine has disappeared from its stores.

This comes less than 24 hours after Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) agents swooped down on a Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara house where they unearthed more than 100 kilogrammes of cocaine during an undercover operation.

Acting on intelligence, anti-drug agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) raided the house and seized the illicit substance and a large sum of money in both local and United States currency.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

Understanding Chagas Disease (From the Desk of the Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman) This is a vector-borne disease which affects between six to seven million people worldwide. It is found mostly in Latin American countries but has also been found to be present some parts of Guyana - mainly Region One and other Hinterland Regions.

Chagas disease was discovered in 1909 by a Brazillian doctor named Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas.

There are not many cases that are recorded or reported yearly in Guyana but we have stepped up testing for diagnostic confirmation and also strengthened our clinicians to detect and treat accordingly.

The disease is transmitted by a bug which is called the triatomine bug which carries the parasites called T. cruzi.

When this bug bites an individual it tends to leave faeces behind. As the person scratches the affected area they introduce the parasites

to the wound, mouth or eyes and the parasites enter the body this way. Other less conventional ways of contracting Chagas disease can be blood transfusions from infected donors, mother to child transmission (infected mother that has delivered her new-born baby), organ transplant (organ from an infected donor) and accidents in a laboratory.

Once an individual is infected he/she will exhibit mild or no symptoms which last for approximately two months.

Some visible symptoms are headache, fever, muscle pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, enlarged lymph nodes, difficulty breathing.

The most characteristic signs are skin lesions or a purplish swelling of the lids of one’s eyes. When a patient becomes chronically affected (over a period of time without being treated) the parasites hide in the digestive and heart muscles and over time cause severe damage to these organs.

As much as 30 per cent of

The triatomine bug patients affected suffer from heart problems and 10 per cent suffer from digestive problems, mainly enlargement of different parts of the digestive tract. As the years go by, persons may suffer sudden heart failure and neurological destruction and suddenly die.

Once diagnosed early, this disease can be treated effectively and there is a chance for 100 per cent cure. However, if not treated early, the cure is less effective. Medication is not advised for pregnant women, persons with kidney or liver failure and persons with neurological or psychiatric disorders.

There is no vaccine available to prevent Chagas disease, and the only effective methods to protect individuals remains effective vector control techniques such as the spraying of the walls and interior of homes and buildings with insecticide (known as indoor residual spraying), advising the public to practice good food hygiene (preparation, storage and transportation), improvement of housing to ensure that bugs do not hide in specific areas, personal prevention in the use of bed nets or long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), screening of blood donors and screen-

ing newborns of infected mothers to ensure that children do not have the disease.

The Vector Control Services Department of the Ministry of Health has taken this disease very serious and has had several training programmes to ensure that health care workers are well trained to make a diagnosis and treat this disease. We have had one of the world’s leading consultants from Brazil visit Guyana recently and with the help of the Pan American Health Organization we have trained several medical doctors and laboratory staff to make correct diagnosis and treat patients safely and effectively. We have boosted the capacity of the Vector Control Services as well as staff at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. We plan to ensure that all regional personnel are further trained and refreshed with new tools available to ensure quality diagnosis and treatment is available countrywide to all individuals.

We urge the public to be

Dr Reyaud Rahman vigilant and look for the signs and symptoms mentioned and if an individual suspects that he/she may have contracted Chagas disease, please visit your nearest health centre, health hut or health facility to get a blood smear done or check up to rule out this most destructive disease. Health care workers can only do so much, but the power remains with the affected person to seek help and get treated in order to preserve their lives and live happier and healthier.

What can go wrong with the feet of a diabetic patient?

By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj Dear readers, I am pleased to present some common foot lesions that a diabetic can experience. Your feet are at risk because diabetes can cause damage to the nerves and the blood supply. This damage is more likely if: · You have had diabetes for a long time · Your blood glucose levels have been too high for an extended period · You smoke · You are inactive.

Below is a list of foot problems that anyone can get.

However for people with diabetes these common foot problems can possibly lead to infection and serious complications, such as amputation (surgical removal of a limb).

1.

Smelly feet (Athlete’s foot).Many people may experience itching, redness, and cracking of the feet

due to a fungal infection.

Germs can enter through the cracks in your skin and cause an infection. Uncontrolled infections can lead to ulcers, abscesses etc. Ask your doctor to recommend a medication for athlete’s foot.

2.

Fungal infection of nails. Nails may become discoloured (yellowishbrown or opaque), thick and brittle, and may separate from the rest of the nail bed.

In some cases, the nail may crumble. The dark, moist, and warm environment while wearing shoes can promote fungal growth. Also any injury to the nail can put you at risk for a fungal infection.

Fungal nail infections are difficult to treat. Medications applied directly to the nail are available, but they might only help a small number of fungal nail problems. Oral medications (pills) may need to be prescribed by your doctor. Treatment also may include periodic removal of the damaged nail tissue.

3.

Calluses.Building up of hard skin, usually on the underside of the foot. This is cause by uneven distribution of weight on the bottom of the forefoot or heel.Calluses also can be caused by improperly fitting shoes or by a skin abnormality. Keep in mind that some degree of callus formation on the sole of the foot is normal. Proper care is necessary if you have a callus. For

excessive callus, debridement (removal) is necessary. Use cushioned pads and insoles in your shoes. Medications also may be prescribed to soften calluses. DO NOT try to cut the callus or remove it with a sharp object.

4.

Corns. Build-up of hard skin near a bony area of a toe or between toes. Corns may be the result of pressure from shoes that rub against the toes or cause friction between the toes. Proper care is necessary if you have a corn. Do not use over-the-counter remedies to dissolve corns. DO NOT try to cut the corn or remove it with a sharp object.

5.

Blisters. Blisters can form when your shoes constantly rub against the same spot on your foot. Wearing shoes that do not fit properly or wearing shoes without socks can cause blisters, which can become infected.

When treating blisters, it’s important not to “pop” (break) them. The skin covering the blister helps protect it from infection.

6.

Bunions. A bunion forms when your big toe angles in toward the second toe. Often, the spot where your big toe joins the rest of the foot becomes red. This area also may begin to stick out and become hard. Bunions can form on one or both feet. They may run in the family, but most often are caused by wearing high-heeled shoes

with narrow toes. These shoes put pressure on the big toe, pushing it toward the second toe. The use of felt or foam padding on the foot may help protect the bunion from irritation. A device also may be used to separate the big and second toes. If the bunion causes severe pain and/ or deformity, surgery to realign the toes may be necessary.

7.

Dry skin. Dry skin can crack, which can allow germs to enter. Use moisturizing soaps and lotions to help keep your skin moist and soft.

8.

Foot ulcers. Break in the skin or a deep sore, which can become infected. Foot ulcers can result from minor scrapes, cuts that heal slowly or from the rubbing of shoes that do not fit well. Early intervention is important in treatment. Ask your doctor for advice on how to best care for your wound 9.

Hammertoes. A hammertoe is a toe that is bent because of a weakened muscle. The weakened muscle makes the tendons (tissues that connect muscles to bone) shorter, causing the toes to curl under the feet.

Hammertoes can run in families.

They can also be cause by shoes that are too short. Hammertoes can cause problems with walking and can lead to other foot problems, such as

blisters, calluses, and sores.

Splinting and corrective footwear can help in treating them.

In severe cases, surgery to straighten the toe may be necessary.

10.

Ingrown toenails.

Ingrown toenails occur when the edges of the nail grow into the skin. They cause pressure and pain along the nail edges.

The edge of the nail may cut into the skin, causing redness, swelling, pain, drainage, and infection. The most common cause of ingrown toenails is pressure from shoes. Other causes include improperly trimmed nails, crowding of the toes and repeated trauma to the feet from activities such as running, walking, or doing aerobics. Keeping your toenails properly trimmed is the best way to prevent ingrown toenails. If you have a persistent problem or if you have a nail infection, you may need a doctor’s care.

11.

Plantar warts. Plantar warts look like calluses on the ball of the foot or on the heel. They may appear to have small pinholes or tiny black spots in the center. The warts are usually painful and may develop singly or in clusters.

Plantar warts are caused by a virus that infects the outer layer of skin on the soles of the feet. DO NOT use overthe-counter medications to dissolve the wart. If you are not sure if you have a plantar

wart or a callus, let your doctor decide.

12.

Fixed joints. Some patient may experience no movement in the ankle joint or the joints of the large toe.

13.

Burning, stinging and biting, sensation to feet.

This is referred to as neuropathic pains. Patient sometimes experience sleepless nights as a result of this problem. Consult your doctor when experiencing this.

14.

Changes in skin colour. Dark discoloration, leather like appearance of the skin, and loss of hairin the lower extremities is possible due to peripheral vascular disease. Many may also experience cold and clammy feet with swelling (edema).

For all diabetic patients it is important to do a 60-second screening test that will help to screen the foot for any of the above mentioned foot problems. If you have diabetes, contact your doctor if you are experiencing any of the above mentioned problems: Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj@yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic.

Patient education plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of diabetes and any other illness.

Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on diabetes in the next publication.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

WINDSOR FOREST KOKER COLLAPSES Residents viewing the damage at the Windsor Forest koker, yesterday.

The force of the river and neglect by those in authority to fix a damaged koker at Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, (WCD) are likely the main contributing factors for its collapse.

Yesterday, residents reported that troubling situation finally reached its peak, as the high tide and water pressure rose around noon, causing a portion of the structure to cave in resulting in flooding of the nearby canals and trenches.

The situation also signaled possible disaster to the small agricultural community.

This newspaper understands that numerous reports of a small crack in a koker were made to the Regional Authorities and forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) but to no avail.

While some persons declined to comment on the occurrence for fear of victimization others who gathered at the outfall to witness the situation expressed their disappointment at the authorities for ignoring their calls.

One such person is Ayube Mohamed, a fisherman from the community. In venting his frustration, Mohamed noted that the situation could have been avoided had the authorities heeded the complaints made by residents.

Mohamed expressed concern that that situation could escalate and cause considerable damage to the community which caters to fishermen and rice cultivators.

“Been one small crack, Awe call till awe weary and dem nah come fuh fix am… me know because me does wuk out here. Dem prefer bring one big pump and put am down dey what nah serve none purpose …All dem interested in is fuh full dem

pocket because watch, the koker break in. Then dem a tell people fuh vote. Vote fuh what not that? Is time fuh a change.” the man said.

Another resident related that instead of rehabilitating the koker, the authorities opted to commission a brand new Surendra Engineering pump system.

“Dem nah look fuh the lil crack but dem look fuh put down a new pump. Me nah see the uses fuh the pump yet expect fuh put money in some contractor pocket,” the resident stressed.

Rajendra Bissessar, a member of the APNU/AFC was also present. Bissesar was headed for a forum in the Region when he noticed the broken structure and decided to stop. He viewed the situation as a perfect example

of poor workmanship.

Bissessar noted that issues like these occur when officials don’t take the time to carefully assess a problem before investing time and resources in a project.

“This problem could have been avoided had the relevant persons taken the time to assess the situation,” he said noting that the issue could lead to a natural disaster.

Meanwhile, residents said that efforts were underway to have the situation remedied. Kaieteur News was told that a neighbourhood contractor had been called in to temporarily stop the breakage. The contractors were expected to place “stop logs “in place of the breakage as soon as the tide subsides.

Page 85

Community Health Worker makes her mark as midwife Once a pregnant woman is certain that she is ready to deliver, her next decision would be to contact Esther Charles. Charles’ popularity is widespread throughout the Amerindian Community of Mashabo, mainly because she is the only person in her Community who has been delivering babies for the last 28 years.

She has been rated good at what she does.

Charles learnt the art of delivering babies outside of the hospital setting after she would accompany her mother, 74-year-old Rita Abrams, who operated as a midwife in Mashabo many years ago.

Charles learnt by mere observation and gradually developed her skills over the years.

She herself started to do house to house deliveries as a young woman until her quality of work gained recognition by Health workers, at the Suddie Public Hospital. She eventually landed a job as a Community Health Worker.

“When I see some of the children in my Community that I would have delivered, I does tell their parents to take care of my grandchildren for me.”

Charles, 54, said that whenever she is not looking out for the children she would have delivered, she usually renders assistance to them in the best possible form she can.

Sometimes that help would come in the form of steering that child in the right direction with good advice.

When Charles was a 23-year-old woman, she was afforded an opportunity to attend a workshop at the Suddie Public Hospital, her first of many. That opportunity arose after a senior doctor attached to the Suddie Public Hospital recognized the successful deliveries that she (Charles) had performed in Mashabo.

Transportation costs, Charles said, was way too costly for women to venture out of Mashabo to go to the Suddie Public Hospital to deliver their babies. A Health Post was needed. That facility was constructed several years ago and has assisted pregnant mothers from having the hassle to go to Suddie to do deliveries.

With her prominence, operating as a Community Health Officer, Charles said

Esther Charles

pregnant mothers now have a safe place to deliver. Difficult cases, which Charles said are few, would be referred to the Suddie Public Hospital.

The mother of seven said that she once had to walk out of Mashabo to get to the Huis t’ Dieren Health Center where she worked previously. Charles also did domestic work before operating fully as a trained Community Health Worker.

Over the years, the Community has been equipped with a Health Post and families owning their own boats now have an improved life. Things are less stressful, Charles said.

Charles who would retire in November is uncertain whether she would be re-hired on contract by the Region Two Administration.

Acknowledging that she wouldn’t be able to operate independently either, she said that she would probably operate a grocery shop and plant a kitchen garden to continue to earn.

The midwife admitted that she is fortunate to have acquired a skill which is now sustaining herself and family. She said that a lot of young women in Mashabo do not know to read and write and this issue needs to change in order for growth of her people to occur.

She is encouraging young people to educate themselves since a sound education can rescue one from poverty.

(By Yannason Duncan)

Berbice Police ready for election activities The police in B Division Berbice, have stepped up preparations for the election season as Election Day draws nearer.

On Tuesday Commander of ‘B’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph met with ranks throughout the division at the Prison Officers Sports Club in New Amsterdam.

Among the topics discussed was the conduct of ranks before, during and after the elections.

Commander Joseph advised ranks that they should not get involved or make political statements of any kind and not to wear any clothing depicting logos of any of the political parties contesting the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

The top police officer cautioned the ranks to maintain a high level of professionalism and their integrity during this period.

Mr. Joseph also

addressed the issue of corruption, police attitude and conduct towards members of the public in general and during road

blocks.

All road blocks as far as possible must be conducted in front of stations, he said.

He added that ranks must be

fully dressed in uniform bearing their badge of ranks and also name tags.

He that said if it becomes necessary for the roadblock

to be conducted away from the station a marked police vehicle must be used and ranks should be fully dressed in their uniform.

Page 86

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

COALITION MORE SUDS THAN SUBSTANCE

By Ralph Seeram I am beginning to think that the PNC-led coalition APNU/AFC is just a “one trick pony”, a one issue group, just bent on replacing the PPP government based on corruption issues.

Yes the coalition’s message is “change” but what voters are not hearing is change to what. Has anybody heard what concrete plans

APNU/AFC has to take Guyana to the next level economically, to improve Guyana’s economy which has a consistent average annual growth rate of four per cent recognized as among the best in the Caribbean and Latin America?

Change so far must be for the AFC to get 12 seats and for Moses Nagamootoo to be Prime Minister with some powers that normally rests

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

with the President of the country.

What kind of “change the opposition is talking about?

As far as I gather, their first order is to “jail some PPP Ministers” if they get in office.

Well change has to be more than that. It seems to me that the APNU+AFC coalition is more interested in getting into power, than the interest of the people.

If you want to dispute this, it’s over two months since the Valentine Day wedding. The wedding vows (Cummingsburg Accord) only talks of dividing the spoils of office, who get what office, Moses has to be Prime Minister. Anybody heard so far what’s in the marriage for the ordinary Guyanese? After all it’s over two months now; the electorate needs to know more than just “jail some PPP”

ministers.

For some who may not know the term “where’s the beef” it stems from an old Wendy’s commercial, where a little old lady was disappointed when the burger she bought had more filling than actual beef. It became synonymous with “give me substance not fluff” or as the law will say facts give me facts, show evidence not hearsay.

At time of writing the coalition said that they may release their manifesto in stages this weekend.

So I was looking at the issues that this “unity coalition” and its supporters dealt with these past few weeks, that can win those votes.

APNU/AFC has been finding it difficult to “dig up dirt” on Prime Ministerial

candidate Elisabeth Harper.

So this week they found some “dirt”. Harper signed as a guarantor on a loan for her son. That’s it folks. Her son got into a business dispute with partners in a venture, agreed to repay, mother signs as guarantor and that is so bad from the APNU/AFC perspective.

Apparently the coalition has no idea how the business world operates. Elisabeth Harper should have condemned former President Bharrat Jagdeo because of allegations made by his wife.

She should have condemned Jagdeo based on allegations mind you, not facts, and that will help the opposition win votes.

Let’s see what else of national importance APNU/ AFC came up with this week.

Oh children of PPP officials on the list of PPP candidates.

That’s so horrible.

You know they do not call election season the silly season for nothing. Only election season you can hear nonsense like what Moses Nagamootoo said, that he is not Indian but Guyanese.

Moses is a very confused man or sly politician.

When he was in front a pro APNU crowd he endeared himself as Guyanese. What confuses me is that this same Moses Nagamootoo promised to deliver 11% Indian votes mainly in Berbice because of his “Indianess”. Is there such a word? Honestly I would like Moses to go Port

Mourant or Whim and tell the people there he is not Indian, but you and I know that won’t happen.

By the way, when did this Indo Guyanese or Afro Guyanese enter into the Guyanese language? Growing up in Guyana, it was always you are an Indian or East Indian or coolie, African or Blackman.

Where did this Indo or Afro stuff came from? Let me make it very clear. I do not view the words coolie or Blackman as derogatory, as some try to make out to be.

Anyone ever heard of an “Amerindian Guyanese” (now that will be a misnomer), a “Putagee” Guyanese, and Chinese Guyanese? Politics makes some of us do silly things, like denying your race to win votes.

So far, in this silly season the opposition has been all “suds and froth”, all bubbles, no substance, no beef. It’s about 21 days to elections.

The voters are hungry to hear what the PNC-led APNU/AFC can do for them or better than what the PPP has laid out in their Manifesto Version 2.0.

Empty slogans like “time” and “change” telling youths you going to finds job without telling them how , smearing characters do not satisfy electorate appetites will not win elections, “Where’s the beef” Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com and on Facebook.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Page 87

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Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building visadocumentsgy@yahoo.com Call : 225-6496, 662-6045 BrianMoe@642-3543; Computer Technician; FB:Brian.Moe.165; Home and office visits at your comfort!!

Accounting & Taxation Services: tax returns, compliances, financial statements. Avinash Persaud Tax Consultancy, 163 Parika, EBE - Call: 260-4762.

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Stunning designs, Assortment, colourful plant choices, Professional Landscapers Tel: 219-0468/ 648-1821 Balloon decorating for birthdays, weddings, anniversary etc, make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 Eagle’s fridge re-gas - $8,000 & washing machine repairs.

Phone: 697-2969, 646-0966 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL:6294946 OR 225-4822

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TO LET Kitty two bedroom apartment, Cable TV, parking, Internet, Security Cameras -$100,000 monthly –Tel: 645-0247 Spacious upper flat three bedrooms with one master, at Fist Bridge Grove, New Housing Scheme – Call: 642-0550 One apartment for rent @ Mon Repos, First Street E.CD –Tel: 220-7330 3-Bedroom unfurnished bottom flat in Sa Silva Street, parking for 2 cars, overhead tank, fully grilled, price $80,000- Call:616-0537 Eccles furnished include apartment, cable, internet, A/ C etc – Call: 233-2770 One two bedroom bottom flat at East Bank Demerara - $40,000 monthly –Tel: 666-5114

Male seek mature woman, who’s honest, Cool personality, believe in love. We here today….. Call: 687-5837 Guys & Dolls; meet your match singles only! 1 Hour link –Tel: 592-223-8237; 6486098; 8:30am-5pm (both phones same hours)

LEARN TO DRIVE

DRESSMAKING Learn to cut & sew at Enid Dressmaking, certificate classes @ Lot 66, 6th Street Alberttown –Contact: 2239106 or 643-7966

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

1-4 pieces suite, 1 wardrobe, 1 vanity, 1-4 burners gas stove, 1 double bunker & single bed with mattress – Contact Bibi: 664-3454 1- Salon sink and chair, 1 massage table, a quantity of salon cosmetics & a quantity of cake stuff –Contact: 6643454 Cummings complete genset generator 4CYL 30KVA, 2011 Ducati 1198’s superbike, pearl white, CH series original –Tel: 684-2838 Lot 1, 2 bathtubs, bathroom fittings & fixtures & toilet set, shower fittings -$150,000 & 1 Dell Desktop, computer & HP Scanner - $25,000 – Call: 601-5285 Male Enhancement - Tel: 642-6664 Taylor soft serve cone machine, Belshaw donut machine, Hamilton Beach3 head Blender, DVD movies & 7 Disc burner-Tel: 683-5234 1 Mini marine tanker capacity 11,500 Gallons – Tel:227-1744 or 657-9237 One new Samsung refrigerator (French door with drawer), size: 35.78"WX70"HX35.67"D – Contact: 622-5512; 687-5006 Hymac, 200KVA CAT generators, portable, hours 07115, G3 John boat 14Ft, 25HP 4 Stroke Yamaha, 399 Massey Ferguson tractor – Tel: 601-1138 Unregistered 2006 Toyota rush - $2.9M negotiable, unregistered 2007 Mitsubishi hard top convertible -$2.8M negotiable, owner migrating – Call:629-2314 International Truck and trailer –Tel: 624-4076 Canadian Books, students pursuing: Accounting, Economics, Electronics, Statistics, Computers, Cooking, Pharmaceutical Mechanics, Service manual, DVD Movies- Tel: 683-5234 1- 318 BMW and register, cash 3.2 M, down payment 1.2 M- Contact # 616-0429

Need your income taxes prepared. Call: 644-6077 PEN PAL

FOR SALE

Shalom Enterprise @ Lot 2 Croal Street, enquire about on international drivers permit “join us on facebook” –Tel: 622-8162; 227-3869 Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Ice cream cone, vanilla powder mixture, toppings syrup, caramel, strawberry, butterscotch, blueberry & chocolate-Tel: 683-5234 Pure bred German shepherd pups –Tel: 220-2277; 2208904; 629-1471 Madza Axela bumper for sale –Tel: 691-5485 Continued on page 88

Page 88

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

PPP running from public scrutiny...

(From page 87)

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Prado, Price$4.7M Neg. Call: 643-2403 Canter Truck, 3 Ton with tail lift, asking -$1.50M negotiable, very good condition, owner residing overseas –Tel: 687-4992; 6957845 Deals! Deals! Deals! Venus Auto Sale, new model Toyota Spacio, front and back camera/TV/CD/Navi – Call: 682-5117 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154

FOR SALE Invertertec Automatic back up power home/businesses batteries included & remote alarm systems that will call owner. Call: 226-2646 New Hollingsworth Tractor, in good condition - $2.5M – Tel: 618-1129; 699-1711; 6605271 Outboard Engines, Yamaha: 15, 40, 48, 150, 200 & spares at giveaway prices –Tel: 6181129; 699-1711; 660-5271 Great Deals on video games and all gaming consoles – Call: 672-2566; 265-3232

New Model Allion $3.300, 2004 Spacio $2.050, Registered Spacio $1.7M Call: 655-3400 To y o t a Vo x y t o b e registered in “B” series $2.1M & ‘G’ series $1.7M - Tel: 617-2891 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom, Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Blow Out Sales @ Star Cars Auto Sale- Premio, Spacio, Bluebird, IST, Benz, Alteeza, free alarm- Tel: 679-3140 Mercedes –Benz C200 Kompressor, left hand driver, automatic, 2005 model, low mileage, excellent condition, negotiable –Call: 624-5130 Unregistered Toyota IST fully Loaded - $2.1M – Call: 657-1796 1 L-Touring Wagon, flair kit, remote start- $1.450,000, 1 Honda CRV, $1.850, 000, 1AT192 - $850, 000. All in good condition, price negotiable –Tel: 626-2884 Toyota Fun Cargo, PMM series, 1300cc, HID lights, AC -$1.150M –Tel: 677-9544 1 Toyota Vigo, manual transmission – Tel:600-5759 Honda CRV 2001, Excellent Condition, price $2,050,000 – Contact: 624-6099 Mitsubishi Galant 1994-1996 Sold as parts.

Body Condition Good. $600,000.00 Tel:216 1079 6168027 3000GT sports car, 3000cc 5 speed, 18 mag wheel & alarm.

All $1.2M cash- Call:6214000

PROPERTY FOR SALE Grove Public Road property -$19M – Tel: 613-5645

From page 10 Harper, I am sure Harper can account for herself.”

A ‘change of heart’ seemingly followed as the PPP later officially communicated last week that the “handlers” of Harper have decided against such a move.

The debates have not been the only source of contention.

A forum arranged to facilitate public interaction between Ramotar, his Prime Ministerial running mate and members of the public was postponed after the party cited “air conditioning” and “space” constraints.

This came two days after APNU+AFC Presidential candidate, Brigadier David Granger (Ret’d) and party executive, Catherine Hughes would have already made good on their promise and faced the public for a twohour interactive session last Monday.

Their counterparts were expected to face the public in like fashion but when the PPP/ C’s turn came, an excuse was sent ahead of their scheduled appearance.

“Space” and airconditioning” had become the problem but both the organizers of the public forum and Hughes have rubbished claims that either element was

Three Bedrooms transported property at Good Hoop E.C.D –Tel: 621-1722 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) – Call: 660-1353,216-4338 Diamond -$22MM, Caneville $2.4M, Parfaite - $6M, La Grange -$22M, Roxanne Burham -$20M & Gated Community, Enterprise, Ogle –Tel:231-2199; 618-7483 Water front house on 4 acre land @ Parika, Land on Friendship, Public Road, Unfinished 2 storey house @ Sophia –Call:629-7611 (1) 2 storied concrete corner property, 3 bedrooms upstairs, 4 self contained apartment downstairs, land: 95X65 & house: 65X32 – Call: 642-0867; 644-6479 Prime commercial property @ Cummings & Middle Sts, Alberttown, Georgetown, 3 Lots, 2 Buildings - $105M negotiable (Sold as package) – Phone: 621-4000 Single lot: One concrete and wooden house and land in Pigeon Island- $3.5M –Tel: 621-4000 2 Lots with house @ Pigeon Island, large land, $7 Million Negotiable – Tel: 621-4000

One Toyota Cami PLL Series$1.3M negotiable –Call: 6793410 Toyota BB 2007, 40,000km only, auto start, 18" rims, triple Double Lot, 2 Zeelught E.B.E TV system, back-up camera with concrete house -$8M Cash– Tel: 621-4000 $2.2M- Call:621-4000

VEHICLE FOR SALE Dodge stealth sports car, 3000cc, automatic, fully powered $1.1M neg- Call: 6214000 Mercedes Benz S300, fully armored, fully powered, leather, 19"rims & more $1.3M- Call: 621-4000 Nissan maxima need some repairs but selling “as is” with documents $140,000- Call: 621-4000 1 Toyota Tacoma pickup in need of repairs, GJJ series, price negotiable –Tel: 6190256 (8:00am-8:00pm) One (1) Flat Bed Leyland Truck, One (1) Cement Mixer Truck- Contact # 650-0402/ 260-4988 Blow Out Sale!!! Unregistered Toyota IST - $2,150,000Bodykit, TV, Spoiler, Fogs, Alloy Wheels, Crystal Lights & Alarm – Call: 643-6565, 2269931 One Honda Civic 1500cc ESI, excellent condition, lady driven –Tel: 223-0849 One Toyota Premio & Toyota Spacio, excellent condition, owner migrating Tel# 6182576 or 678-0109

APNU+AFC Executive, Khemraj Ramjattan

APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate, David Granger

PPP Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar

an issue.

Moreover, when contacted yesterday PPP’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee told Kaieteur News that when his party makes a decision with respect to participation, they will let the sponsors of the event know.

These “turn of events” have led Vice Presidential Candidate of APNU+AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan to conclude that the incumbent PPP/C is running from the public. In fact, the longstanding politician is convinced that the ruling party is “scared to death” and has been using excuses to avoid public scrutiny.

The APNU+AFC Executive Member told Kaieteur News that the excuses put forth by the PPP/ C for avoiding these public engagements is simply the tactic the party employed to avoid exhibiting the low quality of the politics they are offering.

“They would not be able to answer certain questions coming from an open floor,” opined the former Presidential Candidate of the Alliance for Change (AFC).

“They want to avoid questions because they would not have credible answers for what may be coming from an audience.

They want to avoid and evade

the people – that’s what they’re doing…I could conceive no other reason but that they are running away,” he added.

The APNU+AFC politician is of the belief that the PPP/C Leaders will only participate in “propaganda” and would at all times avoid fora that weigh in on accountability.

According to Ramjattan, it is clear that the PPP/C Presidential and Prime Ministerial hopefuls do not compare to those from the APNU+AFC camp. He is certain that should the parties appear on any forum together, his party will trump the PPP/ C. Ramjattan said, “Every politician in a democracy certainly must allow him or herself to be examined…but they don’t want to be examined, they don’t want to be scrutinized. Everything that they say, the public will see through. They are scared to death and I understand why: they are going to lose; this is why they are jumping like a kangaroo,” the politician emphasised.

“The Important thing in all of this for the PPP is to not exhibit the substandard quality of politicians they have. I am certain that Moses is going to annihilate Harper and I am certain that Granger

will destroy Donald Ramotar…by their (PPP/C Candidates) own demeanor and answers, they are going to self-destruct,” Ramjattan affirmed.

Additionally, GWR Founder, Dr. Dawn Stewart yesterday said though she had received no word from the PPP, she remains hopeful that the public forum will be executed since it presents a great opportunity for leaders to address the public on relevant issues and policies.

She said that persons have had a chance to view the first forum since it was not restricted.

Asked about supporting bodies and their view on the delay, Dr. Stewart said, “Everyone is willing and waiting…as soon as they give us a date, we will make it happen.”

“We’ve been receiving many phone calls and messages from the public asking when will the forum be rescheduled and we have promised that as soon as we get a date (from the PPP) we will inform the public.”

“They promised that they’ll give a date. I want to stay optimistic – everyone says I shouldn’t – but I see this as a great opportunity for the leaders to address to talk to the public,” Dr. Stewart said.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 89

Brassington ‘gifts’ brother sole Dr. Yesu Persaud wants to see change, urges Constitution reform contract for Marriott taxi service One of the country’s most prominent businessmen, Dr. Yesu Persaud, believes that the time has come for a change and for the country’s Constitution to be reformed.

Persaud, who built the Demerara Distillers Limited into a powerhouse with its world renowned, award winning El Dorado rum line and soft drinks and created Demerara Bank and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), has been critical for some time about the Constitution which he argued gives the Government too much power without accountability.

In return, he has also been scathingly criticized by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for his comments.

The businessman, who has also been instrumental in establishing the Private Sector Commission (PSC), and setting up the Caribbean Containers Inc., helped to change the Government in 1992 when the PPP/C swept to victory amidst widespread calls for a new Government.

Now more than 22 years later, it seems his decision to urge for change then has taken him full circle.

The 87-year-old made it clear that while he is not endorsing any political party, he believes that a change in Government is necessary.

“I hope there is a change because change is inevitable…and if you have a change, you have to have a Government that is determined… (and has) unquestionable sincerity in what they do. Otherwise we going nowhere,” he said during an exclusive interview with this newspaper.

Dr. Persaud, who has received a national award in Guyana and several from the region and even from India for his contributions, warned the Opposition to step up their campaign to get their message out if they intend to win the elections on May 11.

Guyana is heading to early polls after President Donald Ramotar suspended Parliament in the face of a noconfidence motion against his Government late last year.

Making it clear that he is no politician and even from the days of The Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy (GUARD), Persaud said he has no such ambition. GUARD had been vocal in the lead-up of the 1992 elections, drawing large crowds at meetings in the city.

Dr. Yesu Persaud “I never endorsed anyone, even during GUARD… All we wanted was a change…We ourselves could not make changes. We were never politicians.”

The businessman, who has also been a vocal human rights advocate, noted that elections create an atmosphere where people expect to better off than before. Issues like salaries and education all play a big role in allowing voters to make up their minds in these elections.

Among some of the biggest tasks of a new Government will be tackling corruption. Dr. Persaud believed that mechanisms will have to be put into to stamp it out. Acknowledging that corruption exists in other countries, the businessman made comparisons to other jurisdictions like the Arab states where tough actions, even beheadings, are taken against thieves.

A “ruthless” stance has to be taken here too.

The issue of corruption has been major one for consecutive PPP/C administrations. However, Government has yet to take a tough stance.

Guyana could do well to look towards neighbouring

Trinidad and Tobago where female Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has sacked more than a dozen ministers in recent years.

Dr. Persaud was also convinced that businesses are operating on an uneven playing field.

He would be referring, of course, to complaints by businesses of a few operations which have been given granted generous tax breaks, among other unfair benefits.

With regard to the Constitution, Dr. Persaud explained that he had been advocating for its change for years now. He had even approached former President Cheddi Jagan to scrap it and start the reformation process.

He believes that Guyana can pattern its laws (the Constitution) after that of India which has rigid systems in place.

The coming elections have been described as a tough for the incumbent PPP/ C because of the dynamics involved. Not only have accusations of corruption been rife against Government officials, but angry rice farmers and gold miners and the swing votes from the youth votes are likely to be the major catalyst.

Patrick’s Taxi Service, owned and operated by Patrick Brassington, has been granted a contract with the Marriott Hotel as the sole provider of taxi services to the hotel brand.

This came to light even as there is no word on any tender ever being made to the public seeking a taxi service for the newly commissioned hotel, which has on its board of Directors, Brassington’s brother, Winston Brassington, who is also the Chairman of Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI).

Patrick’s taxi, which is based in Cowan Street, Georgetown, was first registered as a taxi service on May 19, 2011.

Owner of Pegasus Hotel, Robert Badal, explained that in the case of hotels, many people are granted contracts for supplying taxi services, rather than one. According to him, there is a good reason for that.

According to the businessman, if there is ever a dispute between the hotel and the taxi service and they withdraw their service, it would result in numerous guests being stranded.

Badal went on to lay out the correct procedure, stating that in his operation it is not a first come first serve. He also said that prospective taxi services go through a complete vetting process, to determine the best services that will be granted contracts.

The Guyana Marriott Hotel was officially commissioned on Thursday, amid protests from social activists during the opening ceremony. The protestors were forcibly restrained by officers of the police force, even as the President’s entourage swept past them into the Marriott compound.

The ceremony also faced a boycott from opposition figures, who had been belatedly invited to the event.

The 197-room Marriott Hotel in Kingston was hailed

by Government as one of the special projects to boost

Patrick Brassington

Winston Brassington

tourism and hospitality. But it started off on a rocky road.

From the transfer of the lands to the murky details of the financing, there were many questions from the Opposition, leading to clashes even in the National Assembly.

It was only after continuous pressure that Government finally released a partial feasibility study of the project.

From the inception of the project, it has been one filled with controversy, as billions of taxpayers’ dollars were spent by Government on the edifice and without the authority of the National Assembly. It was supposed to be a private/public partnership project. In the end, it ended up mostly a Government one. No big worry, except that Government is now planning to transfer a majority stake to a shadowy Hong Kong investor.

The lack of transparency and plans by Government to sell 67 percent of its equity to the equity investor for a mere US$8M, along with a host of tax concessions have angered Opposition as well as

other hoteliers who have been struggling to fill rooms.

More than US$35M of taxpayers’ dollars was initially sunk into the hotel’s construction with no evidence of the hundreds of jobs promised during the construction to locals. The Chinese contractor, Shanghai Construction Group, reportedly imported scores of workers. The still-secret concessions and other benefits of the Marriott Hotel have also been heavily criticized not only by the Opposition, but by other hotels which said the unfair playing field gave Marriottbrand structure a big advantage over them and would spell the death knell for them.

Last year, the Opposition, through Desmond Trotman, a former Parliamentarian, filed a court case blocking the hotel from transferring the lands and mortgaging it. It effectively blocked more than US$20M from coming in from the investors.

The calls are now on for Government to sell shares of the hotel to locals instead of a virtually unknown foreign investor.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

‘No enquiry into $400m legal bill’ Trinidad Guardian - There will be no enquiry into the $400 million expenditure on legal and other fees at the Ministry of the Attorney General during the tenure of former attorney general Anand Ramlogan.

This was stated by Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar Friday as she responded to questions from Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley during Prime Minister’s Question time in Parliament.

“The answer is no. May I remind this Honourable House that the Attorney General has accounted for these fees inclusive of a breakdown. He also indicated that 95 per cent of the cases undertaken in which external legal counsel were retained have in fact been won by the State. A n d further $2 billion have been recovered for Trinidad and Tobago out of the matters in which said counsel were retained,” she said.

Rowley asked whether the Fraud Squad would be called in given the number of

“discrepancies” associated with the $400 million expenditure.

The Prime Minister said the allegations levelled against these fees have been related to issues of quantum.

“There have been no allegations of fraud and so the issue of fraud does not arise.

Should the Opposition have information otherwise we would be happy to learn from them what information they have. But thus far, in the public domain and within the Office of the Attorney General, there have been no allegations of fraud, and therefore the answer is no as to calling in the Fraud Squad,” she said.

On the issue of the leasing of the lands on which the Chaguaramas Convention Centre and Hotel stand, the Prime Minister said this lease did not come to Cabinet for approval. She said the CDA operated according to the act and that the act indicated that they had the position to execute a lease.

On the racist views of former CDA member Jaishima

Kamla Persad-Bissessar Leladharsingh, the Prime Minister, in response to a question from Jack Warner, said she was “repelled” by Leladharsingh’s statement but she did not think that his views prejudiced the actions of the board. “I think the Member for Chaguanas West would have been on the Cabinet committee responsible for boards when the persons were recommended for placement on these boards. “That board consist of independentminded individuals who are unlikely to be unduly influenced by any other single member,” she said.

The Prime Minister also stated that notwithstanding the fact that Trinidad and Tobago did not have a US ambassador for the past two years, and there was a charge d’affaires running this embassy and the relationship between the two countries had not suffered. She was responding to a question from Rowley.

The Prime Minister was at the time justifying the fact that the embassies and high commissions in Costa Rica, London, Ottawa, and the United Nations were led by members of staff who were not substantive heads of mission. She said the embassy in Costa Rica was headed by Candice Shade, an acting foreign service officer IV who is acting as charge d’affaires; London by Tedwin Herbert, foreign service officer V; Ottawa by Vanessa Ramhit-Ramroop, acting foreign service officer III; Permanent Mission to UN, by Eden Charles, ambassador acting as charge d’affaires.

On the issue of Petrotrin, the Prime Minister, in response to a question from Point Fortin MP Paula GopeeScoon, said Petrotrin had denied that Jeff Clark “is, was, or ever at any time, been an agent of Petrotrin nor has Petrotrin ever authorised Mr Clark to act on its behalf for the return, recovery or direction of any of its funds to any destination accounts regarding Petrotrin and Maritime.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

AFGHAN BLAST KILLS 33; president blames Islamic State

People run for cover after an explosion in Jalalabad J A L A L A B A D , Afghanistan (Reuters) - A suicide bomber in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad killed 33 people and injured more than 100 on Saturday, setting off a blast outside a bank where government workers collect salaries, the city’s police chief said.

President Ashraf Ghani blamed Islamic State militants, without giving further detail.

If true, it would be the first such major attack carried out by the group in Afghanistan, marking a significant step in its expansion into South Asia.

Up until now militants claiming allegiance to Islamic State in Afghanistan have been widely identified as former Taliban fighters disillusioned with their leadership. The Taliban itself condemned Saturday’s attack as “evil”.

The explosion smashed windows and sent debris flying across a tree-lined street, filling the air with smoke and dust.

“It was a suicide attack,” police chief Fazel Ahmad Sherzad told a news conference. He added that officials were investigating witness reports of a second explosion after people had rushed to the area to help the wounded.

Police said a later blast that shook Jalalabad was a controlled detonation after experts discovered a further bomb close to the scene of the initial explosion.

Local media said a former spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility on behalf of the Islamic State in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The spokesman could not be reached and his connection to the group could not be verified by Reuters. Islamist militants of various hues already hold sway across restive and impoverished areas of South

Asia, but Islamic State has started to draw support from younger fighters in the region, impressed by its rapid capture of territory in Syria and Iraq. President Ghani visited Washington last month and warned that Islamic State posed a “terrible threat” to his country.

TALIBAN EXECUTIONS Taliban insurgents denied responsibility and did not comment on the alleged Islamic State link. The militants, who were ousted from power by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001, rarely claim attacks that kill large groups of civilians, saying they target foreigners or the Afghan military and government.

“It was an evil act. We strongly condemn it,” the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters.

Elsewhere, in the eastern province of Ghazni, the Taliban announced the execution of three men accused of murdering a couple during a robbery, saying they had been tried by an Islamic court.

The men were shot dead in front of a crowd by Taliban fighters, according to a Reuters witness. A video of the killings showed the men were made to sit with their

eyes blindfolded and their hands tied at the time of their execution. “(They) killed a female doctor and her husband ... inside their house and then they took all their assets, jewelry and cash,” the Taliban said in a statement.

After the initial shots were fired, one fighter continued to shoot at the bodies while the crowd of villagers cheered.

This is the first year Afghan forces are facing the Taliban with very limited international support on the ground, although help with intelligence and special operations will continue through 2016.

On Saturday, parliament approved the nomination of 16 ministers, leaving only the position of defense minister vacant because the president and his coalition have been unable to agree on a candidate.

The vacancy has frustrated military officials who say the army has been left rudderless in the face of escalating violence by the Taliban. NATO, which at its peak had 130,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, has only a small contingent of around 12,000 troops left and most are involved in training.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

Car bomb kills three outside U.S. consulate in Iraq’s Kurdish capital ERBIL (Reuters) - A car bombing claimed by the Islamic State killed three people on Friday outside the U.S. consulate in Erbil, in a relatively rare attack in the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

No U.S. personnel were hurt in the blast, according to the U.S. State Department, which said a “vehicle-borne improvised explosive device” exploded right outside the entrance to the heavily fortified compound.

Iraq’s Kurdish region is an important partner for the U.S.-led coalition in its campaign to “degrade and destroy” the Islamic State group, which overran large parts of Iraq last summer and threatened to reach Erbil.

A Reuters witness heard the blast, which was followed by gunfire and a column of black smoke high above the Ankawa district, a predominantly Christian neighborhood packed with cafes popular with foreigners.

“It seems the consulate was the target,” Nihad Qoja, the mayor of Erbil’s city center, told Reuters. The head of security for Ankawa

said three people were killed and 14 wounded.

“They (Islamic State) want to show they are present,” Sherzad Farmand said.

Islamic State also claimed responsibility for two car bombings in the Baghdad that killed at least 27 people on Friday.

“The fighters of the Islamic State detonated two car bombs in the heart of the Iraqi capital this evening and a third in Erbil,” the group said via its news agency.

U.S. officials said they found the Islamic State claim of responsibility for the Erbil consulate attack credible. “We have no reason to doubt their claim of responsibility,” a U.S. counter terrorism official told Reuters.

Such attacks are relatively rare in Kurdistan, which has managed to insulate itself from the worst of the violence afflicting the rest of Iraq.

The last major attack in Erbil, also claimed

by Islamic State, was in November, when a suicide car bomber blew himself up outside the governor’s office, killing five.

‘Mysterious’ disease kills 18 in Nigeria: official

Two children hawk their wares in Akure, Ondo State in southwestern Nigeria.

Lagos (AFP) - A “mysterious” disease that kills patients within 24 hours has claimed at least 18 lives in a southeastern Nigerian town, the government said Saturday.

“Twenty-three people (were affected) and 18 deaths were recorded,” the Ondo state health commissioner, Dayo Adeyanju, told AFP. The government spokesman for the state, Kayode Akinmade, earlier gave a toll of 17 dead.

“Seventeen people have died of the mysterious disease since it broke out early this week in Ode-Irele town,” Akinmade told AFP by telephone.

The disease, whose symptoms include headache, weight loss, blurred vision and loss of consciousness,

killed the victims within a day of falling ill, he said.

Laboratory tests have so far ruled out Ebola or any other virus, Akinmade said.

The World Health Organization meanwhile said it had information on 14 cases with at least 12 dead.

“Common symptoms were sudden blurred vision, headache, loss of consciousness followed by death, occurring within 24 hours,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told AFP by email, adding that an investigation was ongoing.

Another WHO spokesman, Gregory Hartl, told AFP that according to a preliminary report, all those affected began showing symptoms between April 13 and 15. Akinmade said health officials and experts from the

government and aid agencies, as well as WHO epidemiologists, had arrived in Ode-Irele to search for answers. The state’s health commissioner, Adeyanju, told AFP that he and his officials had gone on a “field visit with the WHO, UNICEF, NCDC (Nigerian Centre for Disease Control)”.

“This was basically a case search to unravel the cause (of the disease),” he said in a text message.

The WHO’s Jasarevic said blood and urine samples had been taken from two victims and cerebrospinal fluid from another.

“All samples have been sent to Lagos University Teaching Hospital this morning, and results are still pending. Investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 93

Lewis Hamilton on pole position at Busta Soft Shoe Football Competition Bahrain Grand Prix, Vettel second continues tonight at GFC BBC Sport - Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton took his fourth straight pole position in 2015 as he beat Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying.

Hamilton displaced Vettel by 0.411 seconds with the very last lap of the session as the second Mercedes of Nico Rosberg could manage only third. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen fended off the threat from Williams’s Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa to go fourth.

The result sets up a fascinating race between Mercedes and Ferrari today.

Ferrari have shown stronger race pace than Mercedes in practice and the grand prix, which starts at 16:00 BST and is live across the BBC, could be decided on which team can make their tyres last best.

That was the decisive factor when Vettel beat Hamilton to take a surprise victory in the second race of the season in Malaysia three weeks ago.

Rosberg’s failure to join his team-mate on the front row raises the possibility of Mercedes using him to help defend Hamilton’s lead in the race, a strategy that team boss Toto Wolff has said might be used if the team were facing a strong challenge from Ferrari.

Wolff said before qualifying: “We had a solid gap last year which allowed us to keep the strategy always very neutral.

“This year because Ferrari is clearly there and have won a race and will be very quick around here we could split the strategies in order to win the race.

I wish I could guarantee a one-two but it is not going to be the case easy.”

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was seventh, ahead of Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, who gave his team by far their best grid result of the year.

Two other notable perfor-

mances came from Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz, who took ninth ahead of Lotus’s Romain Grosjean, and Fernando Alonso, who got a McLaren-Honda into second qualifying for the first time this season.

The Spaniard was ninth in first qualifying and was 14th in second qualifying, when he improved by 0.2secs on his Q1 time. Alonso’s team-mate Jenson Button will start last after his car broke down on his first lap out of the pits.

Button said: “It’s a shame.

I had good pace in practice - I was 11th and there was more to come. I can’t say what’s wrong. I’m guessing it was electrical; the car just shut down.”

There were some big scalps in first qualifying as both Pastor Maldonado - who had been the quicker Lotus driver all weekend - and Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat were eliminated.

Sunday April 19, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may feel a little under the weather today, Aries. You may even develop sniffles or a sore throat.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You might feel lonely and insecure due to lack of contact with a close friend or romantic partner, Taurus. You might wonder if the person has forgotten you or simply doesn't care anymore.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Juggling work and home may seem difficult today, Gemini. Work responsibilities may weigh on your mind to the point where they interfere with the harmony of your home life.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) If you have to deal with some disappointment today, try not to let it get you down, Cancer.

You may receive a letter or phone call that brings less than favorable news.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You might have a sore throat and mild cold symptoms today, Libra. It may affect your ability to work. Chances are that you're an active person.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Spend some quality time with your partner today, Scorpio.

Perhaps he or she is a little jealous of your friends or feeling left out.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may want to take a day off from your obligations, Sagittarius, perhaps to take care of unfinished creative projects.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may reminisce today, Capricorn. Perhaps you're thinking about friends and family who live far away. You could feel a bit nostalgic, not to mention blue, thinking about times long past.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be worried about your financial situation today, Leo. You might feel a tug at your purse strings.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Money matters might be a bit tangled today, Aquarius.

There may be an unexpected delay in receiving funds due you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) An unexpected event might cause you to be temporarily separated from your partner today. Confusion about the incident and your mate's role in it might plague you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may need reassurance today, Pisces. Trouble with friends or a romantic partner may have you feeling unloved, insecure, and emotionally blocked.

Play in the Busta Soft Shoe Football Competition continues today with six more matches at the GFC ground, starting from 19:00 hrs.

In the opening encounter, Tucville take on Kitty Weavers and this game will be followed by the clash that fea-

tures Cross Street of Wert-enRust versus Stevedore Housing Scheme.

The action continues with West Back Road engaging Globe Yard and this encounter precedes the Ballerz and Broad Street affair.

Festival City then clash

with Leopold Street, before Bent Street and Albouystown square off in the final game of the night.

Play in the competition resumed last evening following the cancellation of Friday night’s round of matches.

Devers responds to Umpires...

(From page 96) their intention to do so.

Banwarie’s childish tirade confirms that he is not mature enough to move forward in his Umpiring career and I find it very disrespectful of Banwarie to describe my report as an ‘half-

baked article’ and me as arrogant without any proof of what I described of his actions in handing over the cap before he called ‘OVER’ as untrue.

I will let those who were at DCC on the day the story was written judge if what I

wrote was true or not. Grow up Umpire Banwarie and if you can’t take the heat then stay out of the Kitchen.

Respectfully, Sean Devers International Cricket Broadcaster & Sports Journalist

Eleven years on, Pepsi stick...

(From page 98) completed over 800 selfdevelopmental programmes under the sub-headings of sports, culture, religious, antidrugs, anti-suicide, pro-education, charity, awards and are currently playing a major role in the club’s Silver Jubilee anniversary celebrations.

Profound gratitude was extended to the Management of DDL and Pepsi for their continued confidence in the club. Special mention was made of Marketing Director Mrs. Sharda Chand and Brand Manager Larry Wills.

The two Pepsi teams, he stated would continue to represent the popular brand with discipline, commitment, passion and hard work.

WICB to meet with Caricom...

(From page 95) Caricom Committee on Cricket Governance and the WICB. Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell will chair the meeting, which will also be attended by The Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, the current Caricom chairman; Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, chairman of the Caricom Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket; and St Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

The meeting will be staged on the eve of the second Test between West Indies and England which starts the following day at the National Cricket Stadium. The three-Test series is level 0-0 after the first Test ended in a draw Friday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Brand Manager Larry Wills in brief comments, stated that Pepsi was pleased to be associated with the RHTY&SC, an organization with a remarkable record of achievement. Wills urged the

players to be disciplined at all times and to be proud ambassadors of the Pepsi brand.

Wills congratulated the club on its Silver Jubilee anniversary and wished the members more success in the future.

Page 94

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 19, 2015

“Hail West Indies – Captain Ramdin, Coach Simmons should be very proud!”

Colin E. H. Croft West Indies could have won Test No. 1 v England, but for mistakes from selectors, captain and players, and lack of knowledge of how to win.

A creditable draw was a very good result.

Had WI had a better fourth front-line bowler - Devendra Bishoo from the Test squad, or Veerasammy Permaul from those originally called up - instead of Suleiman Benn, or had captain Denesh Ramdin used his premier bowler, Jerome Taylor, in more concise spells, then England would not have made 399 after being 34-3 in its 1st innings.

England did give themselves and WI a chance, by declaring, but that first innings saved England!

Ramdin and new Head Coach Phillip Simmons should be very proud for the way their players not only took to new leadership, but also took England head-on, with no fear.

Less we forget, WI, described as “mediocre” by ECB

Chairman Colin Graves, was supposed to have been blown away. Where exactly does that leave England now?

Graves should have noted one mantra from late, great, highly respected Australian icon, Richard Benaud, known to all as “Richie”, whose loss has been universally lamented.

Richie’s mantra, to be adhered to forever, was – “Put your brain into gear first before putting your mouth into gear!”

Having had the honor of completing many stints of commentary with Richie, I am quite proud, as not many West Indians have had that absolute pleasure. He was ‘simply marvelous’, an excellent, world-class cricketing allrounder, possibly an even better Sports Journalist and Commentator, a consummate professional.

What a cricketing friend.

We shall all miss him dearly!

So, for WI v England, Simmons could well be benefiting from efforts of much

maligned past Head Coach Ottis Gibson, who, while not being as successful as required, certainly started instilling that necessary aspect into efforts of most WI players – discipline.

This phenomenon of successors benefiting from predecessors is not new to WI either.

Sir Frank Worrell is lauded as being the main architect in achieving togetherness in WI cricket, circa 1960’s, but it was his successor as captain, Sir Garfield Sobers, who reaped most of that team’s benefits.

While Sir Frank’s team was extremely popular, they also lost regularly. It was Sir Gary’s team which was noted as World Champions, after beating Australia in 1965, then England in 1966!

Clive Lloyd too did similarly to Sir Frank when he became WI captain in 1974/5.

Lloyd created, with the help of nucleus Deryck Murray, Gordon Greenidge, Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran and Sir Andy

Assuria Open Singles Tennis Classic

Razick and Grant dubbed the Marathon Men On Thursday evening at the Le Ressouvenir Tennis Club on the East Coast of Demerara, the Assuria Open Singles Tennis Classic Over35 Men’s category got underway with two very fit and very determined men with similar game strategies, the US American Diplomat Mr. Albert Razick and popular international recording artist Mr. Rudy Grant.

In the first set Razick played with a lot of composure, moving Grant around the court with several cross court slice backhands keeping Grant on the move. As Grant decided to come in closer to the net Razick would play high forehand topspins to the baseline leaving Grant stranded near the net.

This led Razick to a 5/1 lead in no time at all leaving Grant with a lot to think about as Razick rolled on to take the first set 6/2.

Razick expressed surprise at Grant’s fitness even though he was warned by a few players that the match would take a long time and that he should be prepared for a few hours on the court with Grant.

Grant rallied stroke for stroke in the second set to edge out Razick to take the set

Roberts, a colorful canvas of superlative, world-beating, athletic cricketers not ever seen previously and not likely to be ever seen again.

When Lloyd passed the captaincy to Sir Vivian Richards, WI were again World Champions.

Sir Viv, celebrated for not ever losing a Test series as captain, was handed a team that was well honed, thoroughly experienced and knowledgeable, each player knowing his exact role. Under Sir Viv’s captaincy, WI could not have lost a Test series even if they tried to do so!

Unfortunately, Simmons and Ramdin do not have such luxuries, but already evident is that the two Trinidad & Tobago natives seem to be working from the same page.

Realistically, WI’s Test team needs at least one additional front-line bowler, probably two front-line batsmen, and, with Jason Holder’s excellent achievement of a maiden First Class and Test century, perhaps another similarly producing all-rounder.

Kemar Roach, Taylor, Benn and Holder will not, collectively, not now, not ever in

7/5. In the deciding third set, it was a battle about who could outsmart the other with drop shots, lobs, and heavy forehand topspin from corner to corner. But Grant, with all to play for at 5/5, had to serve a few bombs to eventually take the lead at 6/5 as Razick watched how quickly the set disappeared from his clutches when he lost his service game on a few missed smashes. This gave Grant the set and match 2/6, 7/5, 7/5 a grueling two and a half hours later.

After the match, Grant said that it was a pleasure to play a gentleman as good as Mr. Razick and he hopes that

they meet again on the court.

Grant was happy that he could avenge his quick loss to Carlos Adams 6/2, 6/3 just two nights earlier in the Mens Over-45 Singles category.

In other matches, in Men’s Over-35 Singles, Sanjeev Datadin def. Harry Panday 4/ 6, 6/0, 6/3. In the Men’s Over45, Harry Panday def. Bo Arbogast 6/3, 1/6,6/3.

The tournament continues this weekend with exciting Men’s and Ladies Open Singles and Novice Medley Singles categories played yesterday and today at the National Racquet Centre starting from 8:00am.

lengths. 42-16-132-3 were not impressive, but Holder is young and has much learning to complete.

At least, he is fast becoming that much needed bowling all-rounder!

Marlon Samuels delivered more than twenty-five overs in Test No. 1, with only one wicket to show, suggesting that there is a dire need for either another functional frontline all-rounder, a better No. 4 bowler, or in desperation, a fifth bowler, for WI to win regularly.

Hopefully, yesterday (Saturday), Phil Simmons had several relaxing liquid livations for his 52nd birthday, as his captain, Denesh Ramdin, and his team, did him proud. Enjoy!

Email: c.e.h.croft@gmail.com

Raj Singh Insurance U-19 three-day Inter-County cricket

Berbice finish unbeaten to capture title

By Sean Devers

Albert Razick (left) and Rudy Grant after their marathon effort.

the future, put fear into opposing Test batsmen’s heads, even if those four do try hard.

Taylor got five good wickets in Test No. 1, and should be at his sporting peak at 30 years old, but he averages just three wickets per Test.

If each bowler in a fourman bowling attack, as WI has, averages that, then WI will never dismiss any Test team twice without six or seven run-outs!

Roach looked underpaced, needing match-fitness and much work. With past injuries, perhaps his best is already gone, but his 1st Test production was commendable – five wickets too – even if, in the 2nd innings, he lacked pace and penetration when necessary for a good second innings effort.

Unsurprisingly, Benn continues to be poor, being neither frugal nor wicket-productive. This should be his last hurrah. Match figures of 536-200-2 are not good enough even for the beach!

Holder is still bowling at way-too-short lengths. While he gets the ball to swing or deviate off the pitch, his deliveries mostly miss edges of bats due to lack of fuller

Essequibo enjoyed a commendable Raj Singh Insurance Inter-County under-19 threeday cricket tournament before saving their worse performance for the final day of the competition as Berbice registered their third consecutive win with an innings and 100run third round win against the lads from the Cinderella County at Enmore yesterday.

Berbice resumed the final day on 273 and were bowled out 74 minutes into the day’s play for 331 as overnight batsmen Daniel Lewis, who made 67 not out and Retesh Umroa put together a record 101-run eight-wicket stand before fast bowler Kemo Paul trapped Umroa LBW at 302-9.

Lewis, who was later named the Man-of-theMatch, found the boundary six times from 181 balls, while Umroa’s innings included just two fours from 121 balls as left-arm spinner Akeenie Adams captured 4-48, Looknauth Chinkoo 2-67 and

Keanu Harry 2-40 took the wickets for Essequibo who slipped from 35-0 at Lunch to be all out for 94 as Lewis (411), Joel Seetaram (2-19) and Khan (3-9) did the damage for the champions.

Parmesh Parsotam (25) and Nathan Persaud (19) added 46 for the first wicket before Leon Andries trapped Parsotam and Seetaram got rid of Persuad without addition to the score and Travis Drakes (4) to leave Essequibo on 583.

Paul played half forward and was LBW to Kassim Khan for 13 at 71-4 but nobody else in the order reached double figures apart from Chinkoo as Essequibo collapsed to defeat.

At the presentation ceremony Marketing Manager of the GBC Raj Singh, whose Company sponsored the competition paid a glowing tribute to former West Indies batsman Alvin Kallicharran’s work with the youngsters since he arrived in Guyana.

Singh, who missed most of

the tournament due his overseas commitments, informed that the National under-15 team competed well in the Inter-County U-17 competition and having the National under-17 team playing at U-19 Inter-County level will do well for their cricket development.

Kallicharran said that in the two weeks he has been here he has seen some very good cricket and also some very bad cricket. He told the youths that it was important to balance the pluses and the minuses and to look at what they have achieved in this tournament.

“I want you to improve on the pluses and to work on the minuses and make a habit of consistency” Kallicharran said.

Berbice collected the championship trophy while Lewis collected the Man-ofthe-Match award, while Berbice captain Shemron Hetmyer received a bat from the sponsor for scoring the only century in the competition.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 95

CFU Championship shines a light on state of Guyanese football

By Santokie Nagulendran This past week has seen the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Championships take place, with clubs from across the region vying for a lucrative spot in the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League, and a chance to face teams from USA, Mexico and Central America in front of major crowds. Guyana had the fortune of having two club sides entered into the tournament: 2013/14 Super League winners Alpha United, and runners-up Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

However, whilst these were the best two sides in Guyana last year, their contrasting fortunes in the CFU Club Championships this year highlights the problem within domestic football in Guyana: aside from the lack of a domestic league this season, there is also a major gap in quality between the one professional team in the league, Alpha, and the rest of the teams who have traditionally featured in Guyana’s Na-

tional league.

Last season, Alpha United, the kings of Guyanese football for the past few years, were the first Guyanese team in history to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, where they were given a brutal introduction against some of the best sides in CONCACAF. The team seemed to be stuck in a footballing catch 22: too good for the domestic league in Guyana, where they won all 15 of their games easily, yet not good enough to compete with the best teams in CONCACAF. Alpha’s lack of real challenge from other clubs in Guyana had in essence, stifled their development, as competition is the best form of development for any footballing side. However, this year, there have been slight developments.

Bakewell Slingerz FC, covered in last Sunday’s column, surprisingly defeated Alpha United in the final of the 25th Kashif and Shanghai tournament. This firstly suggests that in the future they could

rival Alpha as Guyana’s most dominant side and provide much-needed competition to the National League. Secondly, the rare loss by Alpha to a fellow Guyanese side forced Coach Wayne Dover to self-reflect and analyse what needed addressing in his team. The fact that Alpha failed to score against Slingerz in the K&S finals made Dover reflect on the finishing qualities of the team, and Kithson Bain, a striker from Grenada, was added to the team to ensure a lack of goals did not hinder the team in the CFU Championships as it did against Slingerz. If Alpha had not faced a challenge from Slingerz FC, they would not have been forced to reflect on and consequently develop their team for future performances. Competition in Guyanese football is what is badly needed.

Thus, in their first CFU game against Surinamese champions Inter Moengotapoe on Wednesday, Alpha were effective and assured up-front, scoring three goals and creating enough chances to

WICB to meet with Caricom tomorrow ST JOHN’S, Antigua — The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has welcomed its meeting with the Caricom Committee on Cricket Governance this coming tomorrow in Grenada.

All 18 directors of the WICB including President Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron and Vice-President Emmanuel Nanthan, along with Chief Executive Officer Michael Muirhead and Corporate Secretary Verlyn Faustin will meet with the CARICOM Committee at the Silver Sands Beach Resort.

“This will be a big oppor-

Dr Keith Mitchell Prime Minister of Grenada tunity for us to fortify our relationship with Caricom,” said

WICB Chief Executive Officer Michael Muirhead.

“We believe that the governments of the Caribbean are among the group of key stakeholders in West Indies cricket and we want to engage them on some of the critical matters relating to the advancement of the sport in the region.”

The two sides will discuss: (1) reform and governance of West Indies Cricket; (2) matters with the Board of Control for Cricket in India over the aborted West Indies Tour of India last year; and (3) the relationship between the (Continued on page 93)

RHTYSC Ansa McAl Mash Day Cup

Block 4 Tain and Yakusari Cricket clubs declare strong teams for Championship Plans for the first ever Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Silver Jubilee’s Ansa McAl Mash Day Cup continues to forge ahead with two of the twelve participating teams declaring their fifteen man squads.

Block 4 Tain and Yakusari Cricket Clubs have both named strong teams with the hope of wrestling the beautiful Ansa McAl trophy and the winner’s package of $70,000.

The twelve teams that would be contesting the one day five overs tournament on May Day at the Area ‘H’ Ground are: Young Warriors, Courtland, Fyrish, Albion, Jai

Hinds, RHT Bakewell ‘A’, RHT Bakewell ‘B’, Tamarind Root, Chesney, Tain Block 4, Whim and Yakusari of Black Bush Polder.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC Hilbert Foster stated that the club apart from celebrating its Silver Jubilee would also be using the tournament to promote its Say No to Drugs/Suicide and Yes to Education/sports message and funds raised would be used for the club’s cricket development programme.

The teams declared are: Tain Block 4 – Mahendra Baldeo – Captain, Mahendra Maynard (Vice Captain),

Imran Khan, Veeram Baldeo, Wesley Charles, Winston Smith, Marlon Kumar Budhram, Dhanraj Janack, Chandradat Jagdat, Mahendra Persaud, Jamal Jarvis, Govindasammy Kishnasammy, Dhanraj Dewlar, Kushar Sugrim and Jaipersaud Rawanna.

Yakusari Cricket Club – Karrim Amin, Naipaul Iyana (Captain), Rajesh Lalu, Ryan Bownath, Rajendra Bownath, Khelawan Phagu, Chermani Iyana, Ramesh Iyana, Keshore Iyana, Terrence Budhu, Altaf Mohamed, Karamchan Singh, Vijay Iyana, Rayman Bownath and Jason Watson.

score more. Kithson Bain was amongst the goal-scorers and as a result of that performance, today at 4pm, Alpha will play Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago to see which team will qualify for the next round.

GDF, coached by Denzil Thompson, (former coach of Guyana’s National Team in 2014), are officially, if the league is to be used as a standard-bearer, the second best club side in Guyana. However, their performances in the CFU Championship this week have shown how far behind they are in terms of the rest of the Caribbean. A 7-1 drubbing to Trinidadian side W Connection was followed by a 2-2 draw with Antiguan side SAP, which ultimately eliminated GDF from the tournament.

The lack of competitive domestic games this season hindered GDF, as did the strange

decision by the club to opt out of the Kashif and Shanghai Tournament and miss the opportunity of competitive games in order to practice for the CFU Championships.

Without the introduction of a professional league in Guyana, teams from the country without the professional status of Alpha will languish and routinely face heavy defeats when facing professional sides such as W Connection in these regional competitions.The CFU Championships have produced contrasting fortunes for Guyana’s representatives, whereas Alpha have shown they are one of the best sides in the region, GDF have shown that other Guyanese teams, who are not professional, are nowhere near the standard required for regional competitions. A professional league in Guyana is needed if

Santokie Nagulendran

teams from the country want to develop and prosper in tournaments such as these, and whilst it would take many years to implement a fullyfunctioning league in Guyana, the rewards will be priceless for football in the country.

GTA expresses sadness at passing of Mohamed Feroze Khan The Guyana Tennis Association and the tennis community at large mourns the recent passing of sports enthusiast Mr. Mohamed Feroze Khan, proprietor of West Indian Sports Complex.

In a release the GTA stated, “Feroze was an avid tennis player who ensured that he made his mark in tournaments on the local scene over the years with his consistent form of maintaining long rallies.

He was also a keen supporter of tennis development, always willing to lend a helping hand to the GTA especially for juniors, while genuinely recognising the efforts of the association to keep tennis alive in Guyana.

His donations to tennis and unwavering contributions to various sports will never be forgotten and will continue to serve as an inspiration to other sports enthusiasts and players.” “Our condolences go out to his beautiful family, especially his respected sons Javed and Imran.”

Mohamed Feroze Khan (left) is seen making a donation through West Indian Sports Complex to top seeded Jeremy Miller in 2011.

West Indies names squad for 2nd Test against England The West Indies Cricket Board announced a 14-member squad yesterday for the second Test against England, starting on Tuesday at the Grenada National Stadium.

Commenting, Head Coach Phil Simmons said he was pleased with the fight-back on the final day of the first Test, which ended in a draw at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

“We saw a really good display on the final day, which earned us a draw. It was a tough situation, but Jason Holder played really well to get his first Test century and we also saw a courageous effort from the captain (Denesh

Ramdin) and Kemar Roach at the end.

We had some good moments in the first match and as a team we will look to improve when we play the second Test. We believe we can win, and we will play to win.

We know the areas where we need to improve and what is required to win.”

FULL SQUAD: Denesh Ramdin (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (Vice Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Braithwaite, Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith and

Jerome Taylor.

Coaching staff: Phil Simmons (Head Coach), Sir Richie Richardson (Manager), Sir Curtly Ambrose (Bowling Consultant), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist), Hector Martinez Charles (Fitness Coordinator), Richard Berridge (Video Analyst), Fitzbert Alleyne (Massage Therapist), Philip Spooner (Media Relations Manager) Fixtures: APRIL Tue 21 to Sat 25: 2nd Test – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada MAY Fri 1 to Tue 5: 3rd Test – Kensington Oval, Barbados

Page 96

Kaieteur News

Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets Berbice Edition

Unruly Gang, NA Kings reign supreme on opening night Despite the steady rainfall that threatened to put a damper on opening night of the inaugural Guinness ‘Greatest of De Streets’ Berbice Edition, a large crowd braved the weather to witness an exciting commencement to the popular street format, at the Berbice River Stelling Tarmac on Friday night.

Watched by New Amsterdam Mayor Claude Henry, Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste and Outdoor Events Manager Gavin Jodhan, Canje got things underway with a come from behind win over We Them Boyz in an encounter that went down to the wire.

In another exhilarating matchup, East Bank Gunners outlasted Fiesta Boyz 3-2 on penalty kicks after the game ended in a pulsating 3-3 stalemate.

The most impressive victory of the night was registered by Unruly Gang who

inflicted a 7-0 drubbing over Courtland Black Sharks, while New Amsterdam Kings nearly matched their performance after crushing Lochaber Boyz 50.

The competition was scheduled to resume last night with the penultimate round with the finals set for tonight, at the same venue.

In the night’s full results: Canje beat We Them Boyz 32 Canje scorersSherwin Parris Selwyn Parris Rondel Hazel We Them Boyz Kevin Dey (double) New Amsterdam Kings bt Lochaber Boyz 5-0 NA Kings scorers Adrian Adams (double) Leonardo Adams Samuel Johnson Delroy Deen East Bank Gunners bt Fiesta Boyz 3-2 on penalty kicks after the game ended 3-3

East Bank Gunners scorers Ronaldo August (double) Lomel August Fiesta Boyz scorers Dason Rose Shakeel Batson Delroy Adams Courtland Stars bt Up Top Ballers 3-1 Courtland Boyz scorers Michael Cummings (hat-trick) Up Top Ballers scorer Compton Watts Rosignol conceded a walkover to Corriverton Manchester bt Big Ballers 3-2 Manchester scorers Keron Grenville (double) Diondre Tappin Big Ballers scorers Worach Roach Winston Benjamin Unruly Gang crushed Courtland Black Sharks 7-0 Unruly Gang scorers Delroy Ferdinand (hat-trick) Devon James (double) Sherwin Halley Spartans won by walkover from Five Yard Out

GCB/Raj Singh Insurance Brokers Inter County U19 tourney

Hathiramani grabs six as U17s, Demerara play to a draw

By Zaheer Mohamed Off-spinner Sagar Hathiramani grabbed six wickets as the Select U17 team and Demerara played to a draw when the third and final round game of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Raj Singh Insurance Brokers inter-county U19 three-day tournament concluded yesterday.

Chasing 251 for first innings points, Demerara resumed on their overnight score of 52 without loss and finished the day on 219-9 off 75 overs. The entire first session was lost due to rain and when play finally began after lunch at the Everest Cricket Club, opener Ronaldo Renee (17) was bowled by Hathiramani without adding to his overnight score.

Sherfene Rutherford, who resumed on 30, timed the ball well and soon reached his fifty off 77 balls. The left hander then punched pacer Carlton Jacques to the point boundary before Hathiramani sent back Tevin Imlach (02) to leave the score at 66-2.

After hitting eight fours, Rutherford was caught at slip off left arm spinner Ashmead Nedd for 60 while Hathiramani bowled Chetnarine Pooran (00), leaving Demerara in a spot of bother at 114-4.

Sunday April 19, 2015

Silver Jubilee Celebration 1990 – 2015

Sentinel Security, Ansa McAl, Goodwood Racimg Service, Ricks and Sari join sponsors Bounty Farm Ltd, Sterling Products Ltd, 4R and Da Silva Optical also onboard The year- long Silver Jubilee Celebration of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organization, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club continues to attract the support of corporate Guyana as the club strives to fulfill its target of 200 programmes/activities for 2015. The programmes are to be held under a wide range of subheadings including sports, cricket development, awards/ honour ceremonies, pro-education, anti-drugs, anti-suicide, charity, coaching, youth and community development.

The latest donors to come on board are Ansa McAl, Farfan and Mendes Ltd, Sterling Products Ltd, DeSinco Trading Ltd, Guyana Beverage Company, New GPC Inc, Scotia Bank, Former Registrar of the University of Guyana Vincent Alexander, Sentinel Security, Goodwood Racing Service, 4R Bearing, Corbin Media Group, Bounty Farm Ltd, Da Silva Optical and Joey Christian of Brutal Sounds.

Farfan and Mendes Ltd, Sterling Products Ltd, New GPC Inc, Ansa McAl, Busta and DeSinco Trading Ltd made financial donations to the club’s Silver Jubilee Souvenir Magazine, while Ansa McAl and Ricks and Sari Agro Industries contributed several hampers to the Tribute to Heroes Programme.

A large quantity of cricket

Mr. Brown of Sentinel Security Ltd hands over trophies to RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster. trophies were donated by Mr. Patrick De Groot of Bounty Farm Ltd, Ricky Deonarine of 4R Bearing, Simeon Corbin of Corbin Media Group and Noreen Gaskin of Sentinel Security, while Bounty Farms and Joey Christian donated special gifts for the Tribute to Cricketers Programme. Dr. Phillip Da Silva of Da Silva Optical, Mr. Vincent Alexander and Chetram Singh of Goodwood Racing Service all made financial contributions to the club’s cricket development and Tribute to Cricketers programme.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to all the donors and stated that the club has already completed 62 of the programmes/ activities and is very confident

of surpassing its target of 200 by mid-September. Special emphasis is being placed on the cricket nursery section of the RHTYSC and massive investments are being made to make sure that new talents are unearthed for the future.

The RHTYSC is determined to maintain its status as one of Berbice’s top cricket teams along with Albion despite losing several of its best players to migration and releases and as such is seeking to nurture talents for the future. An aggressive membership drive is been conducted via the primary and secondary schools in the Lower Corentyne area, while club coach Delbert Hicks is conducting a broad based cricket development programme.

Letter to the Sports Editor

Devers responds to Umpires Yisrael & Banwarie Sherfene Rutherford collects his man of the match prize from selector Nazimul Drepaul Askhaya Persaud slammed six with seven overs remaining in fours, but after adding 24 for the day’s play. the fifth wicket with Travis However Mark Hamilton Persaud, he was caught off (18*) and Carlton Jacques pacer Joshua Jones for 35 who (09*) held their nerves to see also sent back Travis Persaud their team to the close withfor 13 as the U17s continued out further hiccups. their quest for first innings Hathiramani who finished with honours.

6-59, dedicated his perforMalcolm Hubbard and mance to his late mother; Ershad Alli frustrated their Jones had 2-45 and Nedd 1opponents somewhat with a 33.

32-run seven-wicket partnerSherfene Rutherford was ship, but Hathiramani ended given the man of the match their resistance by uprooting award for scoring a half centhe stumps of Alli for 15. tury and picking up four wickHubbard pulled Jones over ets. mid-wicket for a maximum beScores: U17s 251 all out fore Hathiramani, who main- (Raymond Perez 69, Ronaldo tained a steady length, had Mohamed 69, Adrian him caught for 32 (2x4,1x6). Sukwah 52, Sherfene RutherThe spinner then bowled ford 4-30, Ershad Alli 3-28, Daniel Basdeo (02) to leave Hubbard 2-28). Demerara Demerara in danger of con- 219-9 (Rutherford 60, ceding first innings at 196-9 Hathiramani 6-59).

Dear Editor, Permit me to respond to Umpires Mikoowanyah Yisrael and Ryan Banwarie who together conspired to do a great hatchet job on my character and reputation but failed to mention that they were called to a hearing by the Match Referee Mr Colin Stuart to deal with the issue and Banwarie told Stuart that he might have unconsciously been in the process of handing the bowler’s cap to him before calling ‘over’.

As the pair, who consider themselves as ‘Professional Umpires’ whatever that means, quite rightly stated ‘When the umpire considers the ball dead he would loudly call ‘OVER’ to let ALL the players know.

But unfortunately for Banwarie he DID NOT call ‘OVER’ loudly to let ALL the players know and admitted to

me that he might have been in the process of handing the bowler his cap before the call of ‘OVER’ which he did in full view of the all of the spectators including the President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and an official of GCB who is also the President of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) where the game was played.

The DCC president, from the upstairs pavilion, even stopped Mr Paul from leaving the field by asking the Umpires who had gotten together to address the incident to allow the Demerara Captain to recall Paul, who was then on 52. This was not done.

Banwarie’s actions in handing the cap to bowler before he had called ‘OVER’ and the manner in which the incident was addressed suggested poor match management skills.

Many people at the ground saw his actions and did not hear him call ‘OVER’ before he began the process of giving the bowler his cap, and which caused Mr Paul to be of the impression that it was the end of the over. For Mr Banwarie to now deny that he was not in the process of handing over the cap before calling ‘OVER’ is very dishonest of him and brings into question his integrity befitting an Umpire who desires to reach to highest level.

I can call several witnesses to verify what I wrote and call on the GCB and its Match Referee to make public the findings of the inquiry and I wonder if the Guyana Cricket Umpires & Scores Association condones such acts of two Umpires writing to the Media without first informing the Association officially of (Continued on page 93)