Kaieteur News

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April 12, 2013 - Vol. 4 No. 15

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Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Opposition has no grounds - President for cutting budget Ramotar This is the state of the recently built La Parfaite Harmonie W.B.D. bypass bridge

Guyanese gets EZjet's boss applies Gold 44 years in NY for bail, after trial miner cocaine sex abuse case postponed to October beaten

Court hears bogus cop signs to death accused for, uplifts police radio set - hadofbeen stealing

John Darwin McPherson

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Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

EZjet’s boss applies for bail, gets trial postponed six months EZjet’s owner, Sonny Ramdeo, who is facing fraud charges in Florida, US, has managed to convince the court to postpone his trial for six months.

The new trial date is now October 21.

In the meantime, the embattled executive has now also moved to have the court grant him his pre-trial freedom.

Yesterday, Judge Kenneth Marra, of the Southern District of Florida, agreed to hold a hearing to determine whether to grant Ramdeo bail before his trial.

On Tuesday, the former Windsor Forest, West Demerara resident through his lawyer, Valentin Rodriguez, filed a motion for that Florida court to hear his application for bail.

In January, following his capture by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ramdeo, after being transferred from New York to Florida, appeared before Magistrate Judge Brannon. Ramdeo had waived his bail hearing at the time and he was ordered to be held.

At that time, the 36-yearold was represented by stateappointed lawyer Robert Adler, of the Federal Defender’s Office. After the detention hearing,

Magistrate Judge Brannon ordered that Ramdeo be held.

According to fresh court documents, Ramdeo pointed out that in January, the court specifically found that he did not pose a danger to the community but “did find that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the defendant’s appearance in court.”

The court’s argument for refusing bail at the time was the circumstances of Ramdeo’s arrest itself, his dual citizenship of being an American and Guyanese, and his extensive travel history.

Another argument used was that a large sum of money allegedly stolen from Ramdeo’s employer, Promise Healthcare, still remains unaccounted for.

Ramdeo, in his motion for bail, contended that he was not given a complete and fair opportunity to present evidence. He listed his history of international travel and how that was related to operations of EZjet, a charter airline he owned, the circumstances leading up to his arrest in New York, and his attempts to resolve EZjet financial issues in New York at that time.

The court documents also contended that Ramdeo’s relationship with EZjet and

Sonny Ramdeo Promise Healthcare Inc., and its affiliates, and the relationship to Payserv Tax Inc., a company he owned, could be reasonably interpreted as a bona fide business relationship that was, in fact, not fraudulent – that is, that Defendant never intended to commit fraud.

“Defendant Ramdeo did not speak at his detention hearing. His counsel proffered evidence that Payserv Tax Inc. was a bona fide Florida corporation, and that the Defendant never hid the fact that he was incorporator. Further, counsel proffered that the Defendant had substantial ties to South Florida, having lived here his

entire life, and that there was an extradition treaty with Guyana that would dispel any concerns about risk of flight.”

Ramdeo is also insisting that the three separate counts of wire fraud of which he is accused could not be considered fraud, as the transactions involved (based on the bank records provided to date) were funds that were actually immediately used for tax payments to various taxing authorities (by way of transfers to those agencies).

Ramdeo, in the court documents, said he wanted to be granted an opportunity to present evidence to determine that his “pretrial detention is truly appropriate”.

Ramdeo is well known in Guyana for his one-year stint with EZjet, an airline that started as a charter that had indicated its desire to become Guyana’s flag carrier. It started in December 2011 and was welcomed for its low cost fares.

However, there were questions as to Ramdeo’s financing as it appeared he was running the Georgetown/New York flights at a loss. However, Ramdeo in a press conference in Guyana insisted that the money was his.

Things began to fall apart late last year after a US company that owned the planes that EZjet was using, sued the carrier for

outstanding monies.

Then came the shocking news that Promise Healthcare, another US company that controls a string of hospitals, was accusing Ramdeo of using his payroll company to steal over US$20M from as far back as 2005.

Ramdeo reportedly went into hiding but was nabbed in December in a New York basement by FBI agents who were hot on his trail.

EZjet folded in as the US, Canada, Trinidad and Guyana simultaneously suspended the airline from flying.

US prosecutors are accusing Ramdeo of using some of the allegedly stolen money to prop up the operations of EZjet.

E-governance towers not harmful to humans - Physicist Residents could put their concerns to rest that radiation emitted from the transmission towers under Government’s E-governance project may be harmful to the human body and possibly cause cancer.

This is according to a Physicist attached to the Georgetown Hospital, who enlightened this publication that emissions from a telecommunication tower is less harmful than the sun’s direct rays.

Government is erecting 55 towers in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and 10 to roll out its Information, Communication and Technology programme.

The erection of the towers began in Region Four and has attracted objections from residents in Plaisance and Triumph/ Beterverwagting.

According to the Physicist, the tower would only be harmful if someone is within range of the emission, which is in the stratosphere.

It was noted that only super towers that are sometimes as large as an entire block would be harmful. As such, large companies build them in isolated areas.

Plaisance residents were the first to reject the project because Government wants to erect the tower on their Community Centre ground.

Besides the absence of consultation (which only began yesterday) and Government’s choice of location, residents were worried about the health implications, primarily cancer that the radiation emanating from the tower might have.

Project Manager Alexei

Ramotar had said on many occasions that the telecommunication tower would not have a negative impact on people’s health. He said that the Self-Supporting Telecommunication Tower is being built according to international standards.

Ramotar enlightened that the towers have varying heights: 36 metres, 42 metres, 54 metres, and 60 metres. In addition, these towers are no different to those erected by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.

He said that the towers have 30 years warranty by the Chinese contractor, Huawei.

The contractor has subcontracted certain parts of the project to Colombian, Trinidadian and Guyanese contractors.

Draft pre-feasibility study for new DHB by June The draft pre-feasibility study for the construction of a new Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) is expected to conclude in June.

In the meantime, Government is plugging more money into the entity to enhance the existing structure.

According to DHB’s General Manager Rawlston Adams, the study is examining the two locations and options identified by Management.

The locations being eyed

by Government are either from Versailles, West Bank Demerara (WBD) to Houston, East Bank Demerara or from Patentia, West Bank Demerara, to New Hope, East Bank Demerara.

The company to build the bridge would also have to design the structure.

Adams, during his presentation at the Public

Works Ministry’s third Engineering Conference held earlier this year had noted that the new bridge will be managed by the construction company.

He explained that the company building the bridge will own and operate it. After the company would have recovered its cost, it would transfer the entity to Government.

Adams had said that the estimated cost for the construction of the 2.25kilometre structure is between US$250M and US$300M. The Public Works Ministry outlined that the reinforced concrete bridge should have at least four lanes; p edestrian walkways; navigational channel of 100 metres; air draft of 50 metres; and maximum gradient of five percent.

It was noted that the

completion of a new bridge will take years, and as such, management of DHB will have to continue daily maintenance and rehabilitative works to ensure the existence of the structure.

This year Government allocated $300M in the National Budget for rehabilitation of pontoons, buoys, sheaves and shackles, anchor chains and cluster piles to improve the structural integrity of the Harbour Bridge.

According to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh during his Budget presentation, Government has commenced technical examination of the options for constructing a new bridge across the Demerara River. Government will invite expressions of interest for a public private partnership for this project, he added.

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Four families homeless after Montrose fire Fire razed two houses, leaving four families homeless and millions in losses at Second Street, Montrose, East Coast Demerara, yesterday.

Fire fighters who reached the scene around noon tried unsuccessfully to save the two wooden and concrete buildings which housed more than 20 persons. The blaze scorched an adjacent building which was methodically doused with water. The heat was so intense that two plastic water tanks on the building melted rapidly.

According to one of the occupants of the back building, Sandra Ramatola, she was watching television at the time of the fire, when her 87-year-old mother raised an alarm that smoke was coming from a room as she was climbing the stairway into the home.

“She say ‘watch fire, fire’ and I run and collect my two granddaughters and I rush downstairs and out of the yard,” Ramatola said. “Is a front house and back house, top and bottom, and all awe is family, and now all awe don’t have nothing, we lost everything…all I run out the house with was my cell

The damaged buildings

phone.” Adding that she could not comprehend how the fire began, Ramatola lamented that she finished cooking since 07:00 hrs and no one uses matches in the home, only a lighter for the stove. “I lost all my jewels and money. Everything is gone and now what should I do?”

A resident occupying another building in the yard, ‘Baby’ Parboo said “I hear people say fire and me and everybody run out the house when we see smoke and fire coming from the back house.”

Suping Wong, who occupied the adjacent building, said she received a call at work saying that her house was on fire. However, after racing home she discovered the house in which she lived was severely scorched at the rear.

“I got the call around 1:40 pm and I raced home, and after I raced home I saw it wasn’t my house that was burnt down, but only the room I use was scorched,” Wong said.

Occupants claimed they lost all their belongings and will be staying by relatives for the night while they figure out what would be their fate.

America Street money changer busted with drugs Members of the affected families providing details to a fireman

Kitty seawall stabbing death…

Deportee released on station bail Police have released the 45-year-old deportee who is said to have stabbed an alleged seawall bandit to death, reportedly while defending a vendor who was being robbed.

Kaieteur News understands that the man was released yesterday afternoon on station bail.

It is alleged that the deportee inflicted the fatal injuries after 19-year-old Jamal Harris and an accomplice tried to rob a young vendor whom the deportee was assisting.

Kaieteur News was told that the vendor, who helps to manage his mother’s stalls, was being assisted by the deportee when Harris, approached and ordered the young man to hand over his valuables.

It is alleged that Harris tried to pull a handgun from his waist but the gun became snagged. The vendor allegedly grabbed Harris and threw him to the ground, but

Harris’s alleged accomplice struck him (the vendor) on the head with a bottle. It was said that the second robber picked up the gun, which had dropped, and fled.

Meanwhile, Harris was allegedly scuffling with the vendor when the deportee stabbed him.

According to reports, the badly wounded man then followed his alleged accomplice and the two men entered a black Toyota Raum which drove up to the scene.

An individual who was in the Toyota Raum then drove Harris to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) but abandoned the vehicle and left the scene.

This newspaper understands that the injured vendor turned up at the GPHC for treatment at the same time that doctors were tending to Harris.

Police ranks who were at hospital then took the vendor to the Kitty Police Station. He was released that afternoon.

The deportee later accompanied some of the vendor’s relatives to the station, where he was detained.

Investigators have been gathering information which indicates that the Toyota Raum that Harris had reportedly rented was used in several robberies along the

seawall.

One of the victims was a young woman who was relieved of her phone when two young men armed with knives attacked them.

The owner of the vehicle told Kaieteur News yesterday that Harris had rented the vehicle the same day that this robbery occurred.

Police have detained a popular America Street money changer in connection with a significant drug bust on the East Coast of Demerara.

The man was nabbed with two other men in a car on the Coldingen Public Road, just after midday yesterday.

A search of the vehicle unearthed 10 pounds of marijuana along with US$4,400 and 100 Euro counterfeit currencies.

A police source said that the men were apparently on their way to neighbouring Suriname when they were busted.

Apart from drug trafficking charges, the men could also be charged for the counterfeit currencies.

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Kaieteur News

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

War by other means In his classic book, “On War”, Carl von Clausewitz famously posited that war is merely the continuation of politics by other means. In Guyana, it would appear that our politicians are determined to practice politics as war by other means. The budget, as the instrument that implements the other aphorism that “politics is who gets what, how and when”, has become the latest battleground in this war.

There had been widespread hope after November 2011, that the election results would have forced the warring political forces to cooperate in the governance of our country. The results were so evenly matched, with the PPP controlling the Executive branch and the combined Opposition (APNU plus AFC) controlling the Legislative Branch, that very few could conceive they would continue with their confrontational style. The smaller Opposition party, the AFC, even spoke of voting either with the government or its fellow Opposition party, depending on the issue. Under the new dispensation, non-cooperation would have been a surefire way of ensuring gridlock in governance.

But sadly that is exactly what has happened. We will not rehearse what transpired over the last year, but we hoped that some lessons were imbibed that would have guided the actions of the politicians in the consideration of this year’s budget. But from the manoeuvres that followed the unfortunate illness that has evidently temporarily incapacitated one MP from APNU, Richard Allen, it does not appear as if that is the case.

Whether Mr. Allen was pressured to resign (as the PPP claims) or he did so voluntarily (as APNU claims) his action was conceded to have been precipitated by concerns that the Opposition needed all their forces in Parliament. Those concerns were exacerbated by the PPP’s reaction to Allen’s absence, to ensure the presence of their bereaved MP Vindhya Persaud during the vote on the timing of consideration of the budget estimates. The Opposition, in an unprecedented move, wanted to defer the consideration of the budget line items for a week. Allen’s absence and Persaud’s presence brought the two forces into equilibrium and into a stalemate.

But the battle was soon transferred to another theatre the Business Sub-Committee of the Parliament, where the Opposition had the majority to carry the day. By the time their recommendation reached the floor of the House, APNU already had their replacement for Allen sworn in. They had amassed their full strength for what they obviously see as another battle, which they ‘won’.

The point we are making is that Mr. Allen’s unfortunate incapacitation presented the Government and the Opposition with another opportunity to lay down their weapons and work together to build Guyana. But this has been deliberately ignored. It is still our hope, however, that even at this late stage, good sense will prevail and the two sides will used the extra days to revive the Tripartite talks and arrive at a consensus on the Budget. As Margaret Thatcher said in similar confrontational circumstances, “There Is No Alternative - TINA”.

What are the options before the Opposition-controlled Parliament? The provisional ruling by the Chief Justice that individual line-items cannot be reduced or cut is still in place.

While the leader of the Opposition indicated that he would appeal the ruling, for whatever reason (maybe because it is not ‘final”) he has not done so. In such a case the Opposition would be in contempt of the court if they were to proceed with such cuts. While there is not much the court can do as far as sanctions are concerned, it would not do the Opposition’s cause any good to treat an equal part of the government (the Judiciary) with such lack of respect.

Just as importantly, the electorate is becoming quite fed up with the continued war of attrition and the rising sentiment is ‘a plague on both houses’. We believe that cooperation on the Budget will allow the stocks of all politicians to rise. It has been said that there are no victors in war and this is doubly true when the war is waged within a family..

Friday April 12, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

Bringing an end to the female bias in current education practice DEAR EDITOR, The editorial in SN April 5-13: “Boys and girls: redressing the balance”, is extremely relevant.

The editorial observes that the debate in the Caribbean does not yet appear to have produced an implementable plan to address the problem, and suggests “moving towards a hybrid coeducation system with the reintroduction of some singlesex schools”.

The idea, if properly implemented, does have some merit, if only for reasons of comparative study.

My question is; “Who will teach the boys?”

There is little doubt that the practice of education in Guyana needs to be transformed, and there are at least nine major issues that need to be considered very exhaustively. They are: 1) What purpose(s) must education serve; 2) The provision of adequate finances – the 2013 budget allocation is still woefully inadequate; 3) The reprofessionalization and socialization of teachers; 4) The mobilization of partners in education; 5) The provision of adequate purpose-built physical facilities and grounds; 6) The development of curricular, cocurricular, and extra curricular programs that facilitate educational success; 7) The abolition of sponsored mobility, and the introduction of contest mobility; 8) The development of a “Secondary School Leaving

Diploma” that acknowledges and credits a variety of secondary school career achievements and contributions; 9) The organization of the regional system into “families of schools” under the supervision of a national board of education.

Historically, several factors have contributed to the lack of balance in school curricula, especially the long held and popular misconception of what it is to educate, or what education is all about.

This misconception has in turn led to the belief that academic success is the same as educational success. It is not. Academic success is just one component of educational success.

It is now almost universally accepted that education (or, to educate), is a process of nurturing, and facilitating the development of the innate potentials, intelligences or talents of individuals, by structuring and presenting opportunities and environments conducive to the enjoyment of learning and healthy living.

Each individual possesses at least eight different kinds of intelligences. The degree of development of each varies within and between individuals.

All children should have the opportunity to have their individual intelligences or talents challenged daily.

However, it has been reported (SN 04-01-12,

Jeffrey), that more than half of the 18,000 students who leave school annually, are functionally illiterate. It is evident that after spending 11, 13, or 15 years in the Guyanese school system nearly 10 000 students leave every year without having had any opportunity of knowing their true potential or worth. This is a great tragedy.

The waste of a human mind is a terrible thing, much more 10,000!

The quality of an education system is judged by how well it meets the needs of individual students, individual teachers (since schools are places where teachers are expected to grow and develop professionally), the respective communities and the wider society.

The instruction given in our schools is not educational.

In the vast majority of instances, and at all levels, instruction is mere indoctrination, and learning is by rote. Since children do not naturally learn this way, this kind of teaching interferes with students’ learning and creativity, and in particular has impacted adversely on the school

success of male students.

Recent research suggests that we are not paying sufficient attention to what motivates boys, their needs, their aspirations, or take seriously their interests.

The findings also suggest, that school curricula that emphasize the academics (books only), have served to alienate male students who have greater interest, and success in areas with “hands on”, or practical components.

To redress the curricular balance in our schools will demand three things: a) that the present core curricula be inverted from early childhood through the secondary level; b) that sponsored mobility (level 2,4 & 6 external assessments) be abolished; and c) that the current emphasis on academic excellence be superseded by educational excellence.

The focus of all curricula must now be human development. To reiterate, all children should have the opportunity to have their individual talents or intelligences challenged daily.

The core of all school curricula should be Continued on page 7

A malicious statement DEAR EDITOR, This letter is in response to an article in your papers dated April 5, 2013 which stated that Ms.Glynis Beaton was under serious investigation from Young Women’s Christian Association.

WE wish to state clearly that at no time during her tenure at the YWCA was she under any investigation.

This should be considered false and mischievous.

By Board of Management

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news

The Dale Bisnauth many knew A loss to Mahaicony DEAR EDITOR, I, like many people who knew the late Rev. Dr. Dale Bisnauth, am saddened by his passing. I was privileged to have worked listened and learned from him.

Dale was a man of many hats and boundless energy.

He was at one time simultaneously the Pastor of Burns Memorial Church, Moderator of the Guyana Presbyterian Church, Director of Guyana Extension Seminary, Vice President of the Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) and a frequent contributor to the Catholic Standard.

Sometimes I wondered how he managed. Rev. Bisnauth was also very supportive of youth work in his church and took a special interest in their development.

Dale was also very involved in the anti-dictatorial struggle.When the GCC formed the National Crisis Council to formulate a national response to import restrictions, Dale was there.

Prior to the formation of the PCD he also chaired the Political Action Committee.

It was at one of these meetings that he learned from

someone at the University of Guyana that the PPP was in discussion with the PNC to form a joint government. This piece of news was very upsetting to him, since the PPP was an important part of the Committee.

One aspect of the National Crisis Council’s program was to import much needed food supplies to distribute to poor citizens. An approach was made to the then Minister of Home Affairs Kenneth Denny.

We were told that he would not handle the request and we would have to see the Prime Minister Dr Ptolemy Reid.

There was a three-man team who volunteered to meet Dr Reid and of course Dale was one of those along with the late Rev. Oswald Best and Rev. George Richmond.

The outcome of that meeting is the stuff of folklore,it was reported that the exchanges became very heated and Dr. Reid began to froth at the mouth with vexation. He subsequently left to make a call and never returned.The story was repeated often enough to much laughter.

During the strike in Linden in the early 1980’s when roads

were blocked and access to the town was restricted (yes under the Burnham Government the citizens of Linden blocked the roads too), there was an effort by the church to get food relief to the people. When volunteers were sought to assist in the project, Dale was one of the first to volunteer andhe successfullydrove to Linden.

I also remember travelling to Amakokopai, Phillippi and other villages as part of an outreach with Dale and Cary Fraser.

We arrived in Phipillipi and were invited to a big meal of pepper pot (not the coastal dish) for which our stomachs were not prepared, there was only one toilet and darkness was beckoning.

Improvisation was therefore the order of the night.

Dale finished that trip convinced that Keopectate was a magnificent invention.

These are but a few of the memories of the time I shared with Dale.

To his immediatefamily and relatives, I express my deepest condolences. May he rest in peace.

Keith Branch

DEAR EDITOR, The community of Mahaicony recently suffered a great loss. One of its distinguished daughters, Ethleen Downer nee Wilson, died after a period of illness.

She was a profoundly indigenous Mahaiconian.

Other than her birth-place, Mahaicony was the place of her pre-tertiary academic grooming, life-time residence and employment as a teacher.

Indeed, her entire life was spent at Mahaicony.

Her accomplishments are impressive. Doctors, lawyers, social scientists, educators and other senior public servants and business people had been “ p r o d u c e d ” b y h e r. A disciplinarian who embraced the controversial corporal punishment, Mrs. Downer is posthumously praised by many of her former pupils/students for the diet of discipline on which she fed them.

Having being “made”, “kept” and fully “used” in Mahaicony, Mrs. Downer was a pure Mahaiconian, a woman of substance, a highly respected woman, a woman who spent her entire working

life to construct the academic and social infra-structures of her community. Her life in the field of education ended a few years ago when she retired as the head of Mahaicony Secondary School.

The community of Mahaicony is indebted to the late Ethleen Downer nee Wilson. I therefore, feel constrained to call on the residents of Mahaicony, the teachers, students and parent/teacher association of Mahaicony Secondary school, former students of the

school, the Mahaicony business community, the Mahaicony Village Day Committee and even the Regional Education Department to conceptualise some fitting initiative (s) in her honour. An annual Ethleen Downer Memorial Awards for top performers at the CXC or SSEE could be options to explore.

Her memory should live on; she should be posthumously recognised.

May her soul rest peacefully.

Rennie Inniss

DEAR EDITOR, Interesting, the recent Editorial headed ‘Beware the Conmen’.

About the tricksters getting away with the scam because “the cheques are paid close to or after the commercial bank has closed and the business entity therefore has no way of checking the authenticity of the document”.

The answer to this could be to warn the customer at the

time of purchase that such cheques must be presented between... and ... hours that would enable the shop to establish authenticity.

No business should be so “quick to grab every penny that comes its way...and become careless”. This is tantamount to being ‘pennywise and pound foolish’. Take no chances.

Let the seller beware.

Geralda Dennison

Penny wise, pound foolish

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.

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Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news

CHANGE THE GAME – GIVE THE YOUTH COMMAND OF OUR NATION DEAR EDITOR, Revamp the governance structure but Guyanese must not buy into the shared governance theory being sold by some, particularly the PNC/APNU. It is a rat trap to save the day for both the PPP and the PNC/APNU both of whom have successfully pandered their way to a juncture over the cliff and await their precipitous fall into the abyss.

Shared governance is not a prescription that should be sold in a political dynamic that is evidently precocious, moribundly immature and callously corrupt. The PPP and PNC/APNU have kept each other alive. We the people must not save them; let them die.

The theory of shared governance in Guyana will offer no salvation to our failed state. The evidence glares at

each of us. The question that proffers itself is whose leadership has caused Guyana to slide over the last 20 years? Whose leadership has offered tacit cooperation and collaboration with the deviant government? The answers are easy to anyone with an elementary education.

It is the PPP and the PNC/ APNU. Why, then, should Guyanese allow these two

dinosaurs to share governance of our precocious democracy? It is my firm belief that such a proposition within the current political context with its oxymoronic politicians will only cradle the prevailing status quo and worst.

Therefore, the timely intervention of our intellects across the divide, ethnic that is, must begin the process swiftly of reaching for each

other across the spectrum. It is these intellects who rest outside the current political plateau who must now emerge, articulate, crafting as the go the way forward. It is these intellects who must now ensemble the new structure in collaboration with our youth handing the leadership to our youth and guiding them as the search for their own destiny.

The current political system, deformed as it is, must not be reformed and allowed to bring with it the aging attributes of its discourse. Real change is what is needed to return viability to our nation, give fresh impetus to our people and renewed courage and hope to all Guyanese.

Change requires bold demands and strong assertive ideas, therefore our collective peoples must be willing to take the attendant risks albeit under and within a new forum, alienating the old wounds of distrust savagely foisted upon our nation and its people by A PNC reform and now deformed and a wanton degenerate PPP/C as uncivil as they come.

The prospects of an impending snap election ought to heighten a growing skepticism of the electorate.

It is known that the PNC/ APNU cannot win an election without an overwhelming endorsement of the Indo Guyanese vote. It is no secret and therefore no illusion that Indo Guyanese will never endorse the PNC in real termsfor this community the PNC is a curse and understandably so.

In point of fact, it is this very realization that drove a dying PNC to change its cloak twice (PNC/Reform, APNU), an illusion as it were that did not suffice. You can fool some people some time but you cannot fool all the people all of the time. The PNC knows that now, and cannot change its clothes again

hence the argument for shared governance.

In even tenor a majority Afro Guyanese community will not endorse the PPP racist mafia regime though an increasing number from that community are likely to pander to this very regime because their leaders in the Afro Guyanese community have delivered nothing to them in real terms, reducing their constituent’s consciousness to that of bread and butter and survival mode.

The PPP showing at the last poll was indicative of an emerging maturity within the Indo Guyanese community that the party cannot continue to affirm political governance that is shamelessly corrupt and racially driven- there is too much to lose.

The uncontrolled advent of the Chinese is already afflicting a predominantly Indo Guyanese business community forcing many into survival mode. Thronged by the malaise the PPP too have trapped themselves into the vortex where for them too survival rest in contemplative shared governance.

The racial conundrum that has weaved itself into the political culture of post independent Guyana cannot and will not voluntarily suffocate itself, hence shared governance will not be a premise that will absolve this ill that has necessarily postured itself as it would in any multi ethnic and multi cultural society. To each his own will always prevail.

While the argument prevails that our system of governance ought to be rewritten the overarching pandemic of ethnic l insecurity will continue within and under any system of governance mooted and it is this infirmity that feeds the reason d’etre of our nations woes. One may argue that the system of governance is a victim of ethnic insecurity.

John Talbot

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

Letters... Where your views make the news

Questions for Freddie DEAR EDITOR, In a recent letter (KN Mar 25), my friend Freddie Kissoon asked whether the enigmatic scholar Dr. Ravi Dev writes for a competitor newspaper.

The answer is obvious Dev’s name does not appear as a byline in any other paper.

Freddie asked (KN Mar 23) Shri Devanand Bhagwan where he got his statistic that Indians constitute 43% of the population of Guyana and that Indian American dominate the scientific, technical and medical fields and businesses in the US. Time magazine as well as the Economist last year carried extensive coverage of the academic and business success of Indian and Asians Americans.

India Abroad also has

ongoing reports of the achievements of the Indian and Asian American population. The reports noted that Indians and Asians are the highest income earners in America.

Here are some questions for Freddie?

Where did you get your statistic that Indians own 99.99 per cent of the wealth of Guyana? I notice that Freddie had downgraded the stat (Mar 27) to 80% of the wealth. Where did you get that stat?

Fred also claims that that 90% of the new hires of the PPP in top layered positions are Indians. Where did he get that statistic?

In academia, one has to substantiate one’s claim with verifiable proof obtained from reliable and authentic sources

– not guess work. No literature on Guyana has reported the kinds of stats revealed by Freddie. Is this a fantasy claim and bogus research to mislead readers?

Here are some additional questions for Freddie: Why did he lie that his wife was fired from her government position when in fact she accepted early retirement? Why did Freddie claim he was terminated from his post at UG when in fact he had attained mandatory retirement age?

Why did he lie about incidents and was reprimanded by the publisher and editor of his newspaper? Why does he misstate and misinterpret positions of acclaimed writers and theoreticians?

Vishnu Bisram

From page 4 interdisciplinary, consisting of the natural sciences, particularly the biological sciences, applied sciences (agricultural, environmental, health, etc.), technology, and the humanities. This core curriculum can be used as a vehicle for the teaching language and mathematical skills.

This kind of curricular orientation is critical, since a paramount educational goal is the implantation of scientific and technological literacy as part of the common Guyanese culture.

The reorientation of school curricula to embody “hands on” and practical

components, should also go a long way towards the elimination of male dropout.

Remember “Skinny Dog” – a 14 -year old Houston CHS dropout?

Many of these young and vulnerable males are recruited into the ranks of social deviants and criminals.

The economic and social costs of this demographic time bomb, continues to elude Guyanese policy makers.

However, the transformation of academic curricula into quality educational curricula cannot be accomplished without adequately qualified teachers in our schools.

The teacher is the single most important factor in

discovering and nurturing individual talents and potentials. But, teaching in today’s classrooms is far more difficult and complex than it ever was since schooling was established nearly two hundred years ago.

Teachers are now challenged by many new nontraditional professional and social responsibilities, and ought to be adequately prepared and rewarded for their tasks.

Guyana must invest much more to attract great male teachers back to the teaching profession. Great male role models are needed to inspire our children.

Clarence O. Perry

Bringing an end to the...

Obama talks about economy, immigration in meeting with bankers WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - President Barack Obama stressed the need to revive the economy and reform immigration and fiscal policy during a meeting yesterday with some of the world’s most powerful bankers.

The White House had set the agenda for the meeting, a source familiar with the situation said, and the ongoing reform of Wall Street - a hot issue for bank lobbyists - did not appear prominently on the list of topics.

“The president discussed with the business leaders the need to work together on a number of important issues affecting business confidence, economic growth and job creation,” a White House official said in an emailed statement.

Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein

Barack Obama was at the meeting, as were Jamie Dimon, the head of JP Morgan Chase, James Gorman of Morgan Stanley and Brian Moynihan, who heads Bank of America.

The group, which included representatives from the insurance and asset management industries, left the White House at noon in

two vans without speaking to the press. They had been inside for roughly an hour.

The bankers were all members of the Financial Services Forum, which was holding its day-long spring meeting, according to the White House official. The Forum, a prominent bank lobby, said the dialogue had been “constructive.”

Washington politicians and even some regulators have become more critical of the overhaul of the financial sector after the 2007-09 crisis through laws like the 2010 Dodd-Frank reforms and regulatory agreements such as the Basel III capital accord.

Two senators, for instance, have introduced a plan that would force banks to raise far more equity to fund their business, something that would be so costly that the largest banks might need to break up their business.

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Friday April 12, 2013

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

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A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MINISTERS Uruguay was thrown into the international news limelight this past week because of its handling of some very controversial issues. First, there was the vote in the legislature that gave approval to same-sex marriages; then there was the diplomatic tiff that broke with Argentina after the President of Uruguay was accused of making off-the-record and less than flattering remarks about his counterpart in Argentina.

He subsequently apologized by saying that his loose language sprung from his rough history as a guerilla and later as a political prisoner. He spent almost fifteen years behind bars.

Despite his controversial past and the controversial policies that he is supporting, the President of Uruguay is better known for his very austere lifestyle. The BBC has lionized President José Mujica as the poorest president in the world.

Not only is he the poorest, he is the most modest in terms of lifestyle. According to the BBC, President Mujica lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away close to 90% of his salary. The farmhouse in which he lives is said to be owned by his wife and is extremely humble. His only asset in 2010 was an old automobile worth, according

to the BBC, US$1,800.

The BBC quoted him as saying, “I am called the poorest president but I do not feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to keep an expensive lifestyle and always want more and more.”

P r e s i d e n t M u j i c a ’s simple lifestyle is n o t e w o r t h y, e s p e c i a l l y when so many leaders today are being accused of e n riching themselves in office and using their positions to assist their friends.

It also comes at an interesting time in Guyana when the government has announced that it will be establishing a code of conduct for ministers.

This code of conduct for ministers should be extended to all government officials and should cover not only their public behaviour, but also their financial affairs… especially their financial affairs.

This is an important announcement by the government, one made in the National Assembly, and one that should be honoured. If it is, it would be the first time that a code of conduct would have been implemented for ministers and government officials alike.

In the 1970s, Burnham, facing a serious backlash over allegations of

Dem boys seh...

Is nuff stupidness sharing Old people got a saying. When people in de bush ain’t got nutten to do dem does use perfume bottle fuh latrine.

Dem got nuff people like that in de Brickdam Police Station.

Imagine a man walk off de street, report to de Station Sergeant and uplift a walkie talkie.

Dem boys seh that de station sergeant didn’t even ask he wheh he going. De man just give he de thing. And of course de man walk out.

Now dem boys know how dem criminal does know wheh all dem police patrol deh suh dem can carry out de crime.

And is Brickdam police does help dem.

De station sergeant lucky that de man carry back de walkie talkie. But he and all stupid. Imagine he go de next night fuh uplift de radio. That is how he get ketch. And this man got de nerve to tell de magistrate that he ain’t guilty.

Is de same thing happen when a man walk off de street and hide in de Ministry of Agriculture. This man help heself to some computer and although de Ministry got camera nobody ain’t see de man. De security guard use to tun off de camera when de night come.

Is a Minister who see de problem and is then dem see that when de man go in de Ministry he use to pose in front de camera. He get ketch too.

But is de stupidness wha does happen in parliament that got people thinking that de whole country stupid. Imagine that everybody debate de budget and then Ash Knee go to smart de opposition. She know that one sick suh she try to get de vote going. Dem boys seh that dem never see people frighten de hatchet wha de opposition get.

Barbie frighten too. He had plans to charge people fuh anything that fly in de air because Jagdeo sell he a good size piece of de airspace. Now dem boys seh that de man own land, sea and air. Soon he gun send bill to people charging dem fuh de air dem breathe. But that got some serious problems.

Talk half and don’t think bout de stupidness.

widespread corruption within the country, had announced at a Congress of his party that a code of conduct would have been implemented for his ministers. This never happened.

It was one of the many things that Burnham promised that never saw the light of day. Perhaps if it had been it would have helped prevent much of the hemorrhaging of public funds that took place in those days and which saw a super-sized bureaucracy that was riddled with corruption.

The PPP is facing its own crisis today. Numerous

accusatory fingers are being pointed its way. This is all the more reason why the decision to have a code of conduct for ministers of the government is a refreshing development.

For the code of conduct to be meaningful and effective it must be based on the premise that no minister should benefit financially while in office, other that his or her salary and allowances.

No minister should be allowed to acquire any land or property that is owned by the State. No minister should be allowed to profit from any business dealings with the government. In short, when a

minister leaves office, he or she should leave with what they came into office with plus what they would have earned as salaries and employment benefits.

Nothing more!

If prior to becoming a minister, someone owns property or has interests in businesses, whether through ownership of through shares, those interests and assets should be placed in a trust.

No one is asking our ministers to live as frugally as President Mujica of Uruguay.

But they should not obtain land, contracts or any other benefit not associated with

their remuneration while they hold public office.

They should sign an oath that if it is found that they have benefitted otherwise while as minister, that they would agree to return all property so gained to the state and resign forthwith.

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Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

Freddie Kissoon Column

Political backwardness that is simply incredible The Office of the President last week wrote to the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) to come in for discussion on the 2013 budget. I have no knowledge of the President writing other stakeholders. I only know of ACDA. But it has been reported that the President did have discussions with other important organizations last week on the budget. I am assuming, then, that many stakeholders were invited and not ACDA only.

I was told by very reliable sources that ACDA declined the dialogue. It had to be an

act of extreme insensitivity or unadulterated arrogance to ask an institution like ACDA to go to the Office of the President for budget talks after the budget was officially presented to the National Assembly.

The first thing that would have come out of the mouths of the ACDA delegation was why did you choose not to negotiate with us on the location of the 1823 monument but you want to talk to us about your budget?

Some may find it difficult to accept based on their political perspectives that in writing certain organizations

to confabulate on a budget that is already laid out in Parliament, the presidency has displayed an attitude of deplorable insolence. As late as Sunday, this monumental contempt showed its face at the Plaisance Community Centre ground.

The Government chose to send a Minister born in Plaisance to mollify villagers over the location, on their ground, for one of the e-governance towers. One has to be silly to think that the reasoning behind this move didn’t involve contempt for the Plaisance people. Why send someone from Plaisance?

Why not a persuasively competent negotiator with a good track record of getting results? Why must he/she be from Plaisance? Why must a Berbician politician from the government benches go to Berbice to discuss the justification of the tariff on the Berbice Bridge? Would it not be better to send one of your politicians who is good at explaining the strategy behind Government’s investment policies?

The Office of the President sent Juan Edghill because the thinking went like this: “Man, you from Plaisance; go and try to

persuade them; they will listen to one of their own.” It turned out the opposite way. I was there right in front of Edghill last Sunday and his Plaisance birth meant nothing to the villagers.

No one from the Government, even if from Plaisance, could have convinced them. They did not want the tower on their ground.

Maybe another negotiator would have done a better job.

First, Edghill told the gathering that the relocation of the tower to the site where the old radio station transmitter was could not be open for negotiation because it was already earmarked for construction of the home of the Caricom SecretaryGeneral.

That angered the gathering, because too many alternative plots are available to build a house for the CARICOM head - including at the back of the Secretariat itself where Eddie Boyer is building an upper middle class housing scheme.

The second mistake of Edghill, which reveals his abominable lack of diplomatic skills, was not reported by the press.

In front of the villagers he openly accused me of inciting the villagers then exclaimed that I have nothing to offer them.

This brought rage and anger with shouts such as “Edghill, you aren’t giving us anything but you taking from us, you taking our land.”

The inescapable conclusion is that the presidency felt it could have placated the people of Plaisance by sending a

Plaisance man. Looked at from any angle, this is what Guyanese refer to in common parlance as “eye pass.”

It is the same “eye pass” with the invitation to ACDA. It is an incredibly stupid and arid government that Guyana has. How could any set of rulers take one calendar year to compose the national budget of the country, table it in Parliament, then write stakeholders to extract their ideas about it? Why after and not before?

The answer is “eye pass.”

You feel so contemptuous of your citizens that you can lock them out of consultations then invite them to discuss what you have already done.

In other words, you kill a woman’s husband then you ask her to discuss ways you can save him.

It may sound facetious, but the act of the Office of the President seeking the cooperation of national organizations on the budget, after the Government would have laid it in the National Assembly, reveals the extremely offensive nature of the PPP leadership.

Under no circumstances are these people prepared to dialogue and consult with the opposition, even when they need opposition support to prevent instability.

The prosecution plans to call its final witness in the ongoing carnal knowledge case against embattled broadcaster Chandra Narine Sharma.

CN Sharma is currently dealing with health issues and the carnal knowledge charge which has been engaging the attention of the court for years now.

As the preliminary inquiry nears its conclusion, Police sergeant Neville Jeffers, who is prosecuting the matter has summoned several witnesses to the stand. The case is currently before by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and is scheduled to resume on April 24.

In April 2010, Sharma was charged with carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old

girl.

The girl’s relatives were questioned by ranks at the Criminal Investigation Department at Eve Leary in relations to the allegation.

Sharma had also been interrogated at Eve Leary with regards to the allegations of rape leveled against him by the 13-year-old in a signed sworn affidavit.

This course of action by the police followed reports by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Child Care and Protection Agency of a l l e g e d multiple rapes committed on four underage sisters.

That section of the Human Services and Social Security commenced investigations of its own after receiving reports.

Frederick Kissoon

Final witness for C.N. Sharma carnal knowledge PI

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

Govt. has lost a golden opportunity to develop our nation’s children – APNU’s Amna Ally “If our education system is only focused on academic, exam-oriented people, then the government is losing the opportunity of preparing students to have rounded personalities. Indeed the government has lost that golden opportunity to develop our nation’s children to become good men and women of tomorrow, I urge you to rethink your strategies.”

This assertion was made

by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Education Shadow Minister Amna Ally, who challenged the administration to show value for the money they have been injecting into the Education Sector.

Speaking on Monday last during the budget debate, Ally sought to point out several areas within the sector that are in urgent need of attention.

“We have a shortage of competent lecturers at our training facilities and we need to solve that problem with increased training and

increased remuneration.

They cannot give their best because they are not properly remunerated. They will not spend quality time to deliver since they have to concentrate on other jobs in order to cope with the high cost of living in Guyana,” Ally lamented.

She opined that more focus should be paid in the early stages of a child’s education.

“Injection cannot be made at the secondary level, it has to be at the primary level, because we all know if you do not have a proper foundation when building a house, the entire house will collapse. We have to fix the bottom.” Ally went on to point out to the National Assembly that given her background in the delivery of education, she has found that there are several methods of teaching reading in schools.

She further questioned if these methods are being implemented countrywide.

“Are there any considered incentives for improved

performance?

What additional inputs are given to schools and teachers to address our literacy and numeracy? I urge the government to use some pilot schools in every region to start as a base with new methodologies. These are the nitty gritty that we have to look at if we want to improve literacy and numeracy.”

The APNU Member of Parliament also called on the Government side of the house to seriously consider improved salaries for teachers, as it would contribute to improvement to children’s performances.

“You may want to argue about the Union’s multi-year agreement. It is worth a try. I call for increased salary and improved working conditions and I am positive that there will be improved performance.”

The Opposition then lashed out about the “crumbling Technical Vocational programmes” which she said “will forever be dear to my heart”.

“The preparation for industries and the world of work is very important and our Government has been touting the developmental projects such as the Marriott and the expansion of the CJIA. I have to point out that it would appear that our education system is not geared to prepare anyone to work on those projects.”

To this end, Ally questioned the roles of schools, particularly industrial arts centres and technical institutes, as the Government chose to import skilled persons to work on their highly touted developmental projects.

“Are our technical institutes preparing anyone for the world of work or do Guyanese have to go to China, Brazil, or some far country to learn masonry or carpentry and how to fetch a bucket of stones. We hear of the thousands being trained…where are they?

Why do we have to bring people into work on our developmental projects?”

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has slammed opposition talks about shared governance even as he insisted that such a move could simply mean “a shifting of the contentions and abuse in this House to the Cabinet room...and just imagine a Cabinet that is performing the same way or with the same relations as we have been having here in this House.”

Hinds vocalised these convictions Tuesday evening as he delivered his contribution to the final day of debating the 2013 National budget.

He alluded to his belief that any attempt to force shared governance could in fact easily return Guyana to the 1950s, when according to the Prime Minister “our differences - some explicit, some implicit, some obvious, others unrecognised - they would likely occur again... situations and events which let loose feelings of betrayal, ungratefulness and suchlike.”

Moreover, Hinds announced that it is “for the sake of the youths of today” that he has endorsed remarks made by one of his colleagues, on the Government side, that moves be made to again bring to the House, Government’s proposal for building trust for political cooperation which was first tabled in 2003.

“We think that is the way forward; the risk is still too great. We do not want a repeat of history,” Hinds asserted.

- insists political cooperation is the way forward

when “we of the PPP were being cheated and abused, but also a time when we put Guyana first.”

“We don’t think shared governance in the sense of shared ministries is the critical thing for Guyana, for there are real differences in views, in approaches, and in results between our different parties.”

Hinds also made reference to the difficulties with financial discipline, even as he insisted that “there is a big difference between our parties...there are real differences between our parties”. Moreover, the Prime Minister noted that democracy is nestled in the attempts to work out different views or even as those views arise, as efforts are made to grow and develop.

“We see this as more important and indeed as a first step. The development of trust, in an atmosphere in which we all can live under the Guyana umbrella, aware of our differences, yet extending and accepting hands of assistance from each other, and ready to learn from and teach each other.”

PM slams call for shared governance According to him, much has been said about the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC)’s reluctance, even aversion, to engage and trust but according to him “we of the PPPC have been burnt. Even during the last budget in the engagement to begin a reform of the provision of electricity in Linden...we have been burnt.”

The Prime Minister noted that while that occurrence was limited, it was in fact a pretty painful one, which he insisted was a “moral pervading, painful experience.”

Nonetheless, he disclosed that there has been much talk about the need for not just shared governance, but even shared government.

According to Hinds, it has even been suggested that the president should have made a Cabinet of persons from all parties; a consideration which he noted was certainly appealing.

“It’s certainly an idea that... who could dare speak out against it...and no doubt these calls were well intended...but there are major dangers and unanswered questions in this sort of shared Government.”

As he confidently deliberated, Hinds turned his attention to the late President Desmond Hoyte whom he claimed argued quite profoundly against shared

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds Government before he too eventually gave in to opposite arguments of the People’s National Congress.

According to Hinds, shared governance and shared responsibility are not beyond the ruling party, which he noted, had offered critical support to another President, Forbes Burnham and the PNC, even as it opposed critical exposure at a time

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Guyanese gets 44 years in NY cocaine sex abuse case

New York (poststar) — A Schenectady man who gave crack cocaine to a 14-year-old boy before he repeatedly sexually abused him in Lake Luzerne was sentenced Wednesday to 44 years in state prison.

Roopnarain “Joe” Dukharan was convicted of nine felonies and two misdemeanors after a February trial in which a Warren County jury found he repeatedly sexually abused the boy and traded crack cocaine to drug addicts he brought from Schenectady to Lake Luzerne to clear a piece of land he had purchased.

He had contact with the teen because the youth offered to work for him, helping to clear the property.

Instead, Dukharan, 58, gave him drugs and repeatedly sodomized him over a several-month period.

The boy’s mother told Warren County Judge John Hall that the assaults did significant harm to her son, who is far less trusting than he was.

“It’s very hard not to be angry but we’re all working on it every day,” she told Hall.

Warren County Assistant District Attorney Emilee Davenport, who prosecuted the case, asked for the maximum prison sentence of 67 years, saying Dukharan is “someone who victimizes people when they are at their

most vulnerable.”

Davenport said Dukharan “victimized this child, stole this child’s innocence.”

She said Dukharan would give the workers crack every three hours or so as they worked.

“He used them as slave labour,” she said. “He brought people who were addicted to drugs from Schenectady to Warren County and exchanged drugs for their work.”

Dukharan was convicted of felony counts of criminal sexual act, criminal sale of a controlled substance to a child and labour trafficking.

He will have to serve nearly 36 years before becoming eligible for parole.

His lawyer, James Tyner, painted Dukharan as a hardworking man who emigrated from Guyana and built a delivery business in New York City before moving to Schenectady. Numerous people wrote character reference letters to the court on his behalf, he said.

Tyner said the conviction would be appealed, and that Dukharan was not offering a statement in light of that appeal.

Dukharan also faces felony charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance in Schenectady County for unrelated crack cocaine sales during a police investigation there

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Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

A new Harbour Bridge is more important than a Marriott - AFC’s Ramjattan “There is something about our politics that is a drag on this Guyanese community and that drag is keeping us back,” Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan stated.

In fact, Ramjattan was confident enough to highlight that there is currently not a complete picture available of the financial status of the country, even as he alluded to the fact that there should be huge sums of money in the account of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) which is headed by Winston Brassington.

Ramjattan was at the time making a presentation as part of his contribution to the debate of the 2013 National Budget which concluded in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

According to the AFC Leader, the NICIL account has public funds and “...there are huge s e t s o f m o n i e s i n certain bank accounts, which the Auditor General had indicated clearly ought to be put in the Consolidated Fund and even greater sums in the Guyana Geology and M i n es Commission’s account, Forestry Account and the Gold Board Account.”

Ramjattan related that he

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan had on one occasion made the point that these monies ought to be placed in the Consolidated Fund, because they are public monies and as such ought to be brought to the attention of the National Assembly in order for the necessary allocations to be made.

“Oh yes, the Minister has the right under the constitution to lay the budget, but we have every right, however, to indicate where we feel money ought to be cut. Money ought to be placed in other areas so that we can have what we regard to as that which is beneficial to all and sundry in this country.”

Ramjattan noted that while the budget is a priority and is being placed and positioned, it would in no way mean that the opposition does not love the people of

the country by highlighting that the monies that are going to go from a NICIL to a Marriott ought to go to a new, permanent bridge across the Demerara River.

“What would have been wrong with that? And we are stating that at this stage it might be better a priority than a Marriott. We are saying that we could have started up with certain monies, even if its grants or loans at State Development Bank, through which credit could have been gathered for entrepreneurs...It is our love also, for people, that encourages us to state that those are proper priorities which ought to be implemented.”

Moreover, Ramjattan noted that an accommodation of the opposition, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, is an imperative, even as he added that “we have to listen to each other, and especially the Government, listen to the opposition.”

According to the AFC leader, accommodation of the opposition will seek to ensure that what collectively is best for Guyanese is allowed to make up the content of the National Budget.

The 2013 National Budget, which is valued at $208.8 billion, was recently presented by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, following which the debates commenced, with members of the opposition indicating their intent to slash various sections.

Fallout from ferry service protest…

Ban will be lifted when truck driver makes formal apology - T&HD General Manager of Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Ms. Marceline Merchant says that the driver who was banned from boarding any of the entity’s vessels, because of unacceptable conduct during a protest over irregular ferry service, will only be allowed to do so if a formal apology is issued.

Merchant told this publication that once the man issues a written apology to the department and the supervisor who was on duty at the time of the incident, the ban will be lifted.

Meanwhile, the truck driver, Mahendra Persaud, told Kaieteur News that up to press time yesterday his truck was still parked at Parika as he was awaiting word from the department.

However, when told of the T&HD stance on the matter, the man said he would visit the office today to iron

out the issue and make the apology so that he could go about his business.

Truck drivers from Wakenaam staged a protest over the irregular ferry service from Parika to Wakenaam, on Thursday last. Persaud, who was a part of the protest, only learnt that he was blacklisted from boarding the vessel on Saturday when he turned up at the Parika stelling to be ferried back to Wakenaam.

At the time, Persaud was preparing to be ferried back home with items that were laden on a Canter truck, GKK 5673, which he drives for his grandfather. He said that the items on the truck included perishables.

“The clerk in charge of Parika say that the General Manager say that I get ban and I can’t travel,” he said.

According to Persaud, one of his brothers then drove

the truck onto the MV Malali, but was told by the clerk that he, too, had been banned from using the service.

When his brother refused to move the vehicle, a Transport and Harbours staffer summoned the police, who had the vehicle removed and escorted the brother to the Parika Police Station.

Ranks there reportedly threatened to lock the brother up and seize the vehicle, but he was eventually released.

He said he was forced to leave the vehicle, laden with cement, rice, construction material and also fruits, at Parika. The family eventually hired a boat to transport the items to Wakenaam.

Persaud is querying why he was singled out, when several other drivers were involved in the protest. He alleged that on Saturday he spoke, by phone, to a senior Government official who had reportedly issued the order.

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Bodies piling up in B’ce and families frustrated … Pathologist not available Relatives of the victims of recent motor vehicular accidents in Berbice are frustrated at the nonavailability of a Pathologist to carry out post mortem examinations of their loved ones.

It has been a week since 23-year-old Ganesh ‘Max’ Persaud of 5 Strand, New Amsterdam, lost his life after he was allegedly knocked off his CBR motorbike last Friday, and 47-year-old Joseph Harry of Port Mourant, Corentyne, was crushed to death by a motor lorry of the Albion/Port Mourant Estate, on the same day.

Kaieteur News has been informed that Government Pathologist, Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan, the doctor who usually performs autopsies in Berbice, has proceeded on leave, leaving the district without any replacement.

This newspaper contacted Medical Superintendent of the N/A Hospital, Dr. Vishalya Sharma, who stated that Dr. Nehaul Singh has been identified as a replacement and should arrive soon in Berbice “unless something

comes up”. Also, the family of Gopaul ‘Bangalee’ Jagdeo, the 55-year-old Bell cane loader operator of the Skeldon Estate who drowned in the sugar canefield canals in the Number 79 Village backdam two weeks ago, stated that they had to wait nearly a week for an autopsy to be do ne at the Skeldon Hospital. The time was encroaching on religious funeral rites, which stipulated that the body should have been cremated on the ninth day. Luckily, a pathologist turned up and the autopsy was performed in time for the desired rites.

Kaieteur News understands that it is a regular occurrence across the

health sector in Region 6, whereby families have great difficulty and endure long waiting times to have autopsies done on their deceased relatives and it is adding to their frustrations.

“It is so sad that after five days have passed and the sixth is almost coming to an end and still yet a Doctor is not available to do a PM on the body of the late Joseph Harry”, said one of the man’s relatives, Ouditnarine Tejpertab, yesterday.

“The family is so frustrated since their hands are tied when it comes to make final arrangements to lay the body in its final resting place.” This newspaper understands that other dead bodies are piling up at the various hospitals, awaiting post- mortem examinations too.

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Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

Nandlall says budget is “the most welfare oriented”

By Abena Rockcliffe Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, during his contribution to the budget debates, made quite an interesting analogy to explain the opposition’s quest to cut Budget 2013. So detailed was his description as he sought to link the opposition’s mission to a sexual act that House Speaker Raphael Trotman saw the need to ask him to move on.

Stating that the budget is the most “welfare oriented” of those presented within the last six years, Nandlall said that he sees not why the opposition would want to cut its estimates, describing the development as political masturbation.

He told the National Assembly on Tuesday last that “…this budget touches the life of every single Guyanese and fundamentally, they, the Guyanese people have recognized that.

Nandlall said that “indeed and in fact” the only persons he knows in Guyana who do not support this year’s budget are those who make up the joint parliamentary opposition.

As he sought to convince that the opposition just wants

to chop the budget, Nandlall asserted that intentions to slash have been expressed even prior to its presentation.

He said he gathered the impression the opposition parties feel that they are somehow hurting the Government but “they are hurting the Guyanese people when they cut the budget. They are putting us in a state of antidevelopment when they cut the budget. It is not about the Government.”

“So determined are my people on the other side to cut the welfare of the Guyanese people that they are engaged in all form of machinations.”

The Attorney General pointed out that two weeks ago, he listened to a television programme featuring A Partnership For National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and AFC executive member Moses Nagamootoo, speaking about Budget 2013 and plans to deal with it.

He said that he “could have seen the excitement in their eyes” as they were discussing the “instruments” that they will use to cut the

cutting exercise as they seek their political orgasm they will break the interest of the Guyanese people, they will mess up the lives of the Guyanese people.”

At that point Speaker Trotman stopped him saying “I think your analogy… You have made your point and I ask that you move on from

there please.”

Nandlall continued: “They are going to cut the budgetary allocations to the Amaila Falls project. Mr. Speaker, why is it the Guyanese people in the year 2013 are not entitled to a reliable, cheap and renewable source of electricity?”

“Their Government wants to give it to them but the Opposition wants to deny them. Another project that they have identified is the new Specialty Hospital. In the year 2013 are the Guyanese people not entitled to the best health care in the world?” he asked.

Just then an opposition member heckled, “we cutting it because it’s too much money going in y’all pocket, y’all thieving too much.”

Another project he identified is the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and asked “are the Guyanese not entitled in the year 2013 to a modern airport?”

Again a comment came from the other side: “That is another bogus project.”

But Nandlall continued,

asking: “Mr. Speaker, what wrong have the Guyanese people done? What sins have they committed not to be entitled to facilities that are available to people all over the world?”

“There is also another side to the cuts proposed,” Nandlall informed, “There is a legal side. This House is the premier law-making institution of the land and this House, therefore, has a responsibility to ensure that the Constitution of the country and the laws of the land are obeyed. This House cannot take a position that is contrary to the Constitution and contrary to the Law.” As he referred to the court ruling, Nandlall said, “Justice Chang in a 34-page ruling outlined why the Opposition has no power to cut the budget. Justice Chang said s o i n a r u l i n g a n d M r.

Speaker, if the Parliament is going to take a position that they are not going to obey the laws of the land and they are not going to obey orders of Court… well, they do so at their own peril.”

On April 5, last, police in Linden acting on a tip-off swooped down on a marijuana farm at Old England Upper Demerara River and destroyed approximately 5,000 plants, some of them four feet in height. The crop weighed 7,000 pounds.

Three camps were also

destroyed in the process on that farm. One of them had freshly cooked food, but no one was seen on the farm and as such no arrest was made.

Yesterday at 05:00hrs Linden police again swooped down on another ganja farm, again at Old England, Upper Demerara River.

On two acres of land there were seven beds. In the nursery were 18,000 plants and in the farm there were 15,000 plants ranging in height from one to four feet.

The crop weighed some 80,000 pounds.

The farm was again destroyed by the police.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall was quite energetic during his presentation budget.

“Mr. Ramjattan spoke very passionately about the size of his instrument that he will bring. He said the bigger the budget the bigger the size.”

Nandlall went further, stating that “When I look at the gentlemen on the television it appears as though cutting the budget was some form of political masturbation to these men, so excited were they. But I want to tell them, Mr. Speaker, that when they engage in that

Cops destroy 90,000 lb ganja in Linden

Court hears Brickdam police surrender headset to bogus cop A man who pretended to be an active rank of the Guyana Police Force and managed to obtain a radio headset from the Brickdam station is now cooling off in the Camp Street Prison.

Casey Maloney, an exrank of the Guyana Police Force, pleaded not guilty when the charge of intent to defraud was read to him yesterday by Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Attorney at Law, Paul

Fung-A-Fat, who stood in Maloney’s defence stated that his client was instructed by another officer to enter the Station and retrieve the headset, and he did not do so by pretending to be what he is not.

Prosecutor Vi s h n u Hunte begged to differ with regard to the lawyer’s line of defence. He related to the court that on April 6 and 7, the 21-year-old Maloney, of Third Street Agricola, entered the

Brickdam Police Station claiming to be Special Constable Maloney, and during his period of pretence, he signed, uplifted and lodged the handset after use.

Prosecution strongly objected to bail based on the punishment the misdemeanor attracts and if granted the bond he may not return for his trial.

The defendant, who was subsequently remanded, is scheduled to return to court on April 24.

Opposition has no grounds for cutting budget – President Ramotar From page 8 by a Chief Justice are subject to an appeal that may be taken as far as the Caribbean Court of Justiceand that may very well be a course for the opposition, if the government is to again run to the courts.

Opposition parties had earlier in the year expressed dissatisfaction in relation to tripartite talks in preparation of this year’s budget. They

are additionally adamant that the law provides for parliament to have the last say on Budget estimates.

Referring to the C J’s ruling on last year’s budget, Greenidge had stated that, “No one judge in Guyana has the final say”, expanding on his point that the laws of Guyana are there to govern and that the opposition has a right to cut. He charged that persons may interpret or

choose to intercept the law differently.

Several agencies such as the National Communications Network (NCN), the Government Information Agency (GINA) and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) had monies allocated to them slashed, when the opposition attempted to have their say in relation to funds necessary for the functioning of certain state entities.

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

- had been accused of stealing Relatives of 25-year-old John Darwin McPherson, who met his demise on Wednesday last, are still trying to wrap their minds around the story fed to them that “just an allegation” of him stealing, warranted him being beaten to death.

McPherson’s mother, Barbara James, told Kaieteur News that around 10:00 hrs Wednesday, she received a call from her nephew relaying information that her son was being mercilessly beaten in the interior.

She said that her nephew previously worked at the mining camp at Oku Backdam, Cuyuni where McPherson had been operating intermittently for the last two years. James said that her nephew, whose name she didn’t disclose, told her that one of his associates called

and informed him that “Darwin getting beat up bad.”

James said that after she ended the conversation with her nephew, she immediately called her son’s boss to query about his state. She said that the employer (name given) told her that he received information that her son was beaten and had sustained a broken hand.

“He also told me that ‘they bringing him out (to Bartica)’ and he promise that if he hear anything more he would call.”

James said that being in receipt of that information and somehow fearing the worst, she immediately prepared herself and headed to Bartica.

According to the woman, she waited until after 17:00hrs when her fears were confirmed “he promised to

Beaten to death: John Darwin McPherson call back and he did, but not with good news at all. He told me that they were bringing out the three boys who get beat up, but one of them dead. So I ask him which one and I

Motorcyclist injured in accident with diplomat’s vehicle

The damaged bike An East Coast Demerara motorcyclist sustained head injuries following an accident i n v o l v i n g a d i p l o m a t ’s vehicle outside the Brazilian Embassy on Church Street, at around 16:00 hrs yesterday.

According to one report, Errol Brown, of Claybrick Road, Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was riding east along Church Street when he slammed into the vehicle, which was about to turn into the embassy driveway.

However, an eyewitness

alleged that the diplomat struck and then drove over Brown while turning into the driveway.

The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in an unconscious condition.

He has since been admitted.

Three men appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer to the charge of trading in obscene objects.

Presiding over the matter was Magistrate Sueanna Lovell.

Mahadeo Boodhoo of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, and Obed Batson of Block ‘E’, South Sophia, both pleaded guilty to the offence, with explanation, but just offered an apology to the court for their actions.

Court documents revealed

that during a Police campaign which was conducted on April 5 against the selling of the sexually explicit films, in the vicinity of Stabroek Market as well as Waterloo Street.

Three men were arrested in this regard. They were later charged with the said offence.

The two were consequently fined $25,000 or an alternative of 6 months imprisonment.

The third defendant, Dwayne Smith, 32, of Diamond, pleaded not guilty to the said charge and

explained to the court that he was simply keeping watch for a friend whilst he returned a defective DVD player to a Chinese store and was subsequently arrested during the raid when ranking officers discovered that his friend’s stall contained pornographic video.

He added that this was also explained to the police but they paid no attention to his appeal.

Smith was granted bail in the sum of $20,000 and is due to return to court on May 27.

Two fined for selling porn DVDs

called my son’s name and he confirmed that is he.”

Mc Pherson was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bartica Hospital.

Police confirmed that a team is headed to the location to conduct further investigations, since word is that another victim of the deadly beating is “still tied” at the area where the incident occurred. Conformation on whether that individual is indeed there, and is dead or alive, hasn’t been made.

This publication was told that three persons have been detained and are assisting with investigations.

Barbara James and her sister said that they received word that three men with the aliases ‘Vishnu’, ‘Curry’ and ‘Ronald’ all from the “out and bad crew” were part of the beating.

Meanwhile, the dead

Page 15

man’s girlfriend, Nikita Mootoo, said that she last spoke to McPherson on Tuesday around 21:00 hours and he expressed fear for his life.

“He tell me that he boss man give he a illegal gun to keep so he put it in he bucket and he went and work and when he come back he ain’t find de gun,”.

Mootoo said her boyfriend further related that he did not know what the outcome could have been as he was fearful that his boss had left to call in the police.

“He tell me, ‘baby, I ain’t know wha tomorrow gone hold fuh me’ and I tell he babe I gon pray and fast fuh yuh”.

However, Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the youth who stole the gun was tackled at a nearby camp and is believed to have stolen a ‘mat’ which collects gold

during mining.

Apparently, after he was found, he was dealt a sound thrashing and he “started calling names” to stop being beaten.

Word is that a team then went and called McPherson out of his camp, tied him up, and started beating him too.

An aunt told Kaieteur News that when she visited the parlour yesterday “he was still tied up like an iguana, with mud all over he skin.” She said that dislocations to one of his arms were visible at three different spots.

His mother’s sentiments were: “Whenever he come down he used to stay at my home (Plum Park, Sophia). He is my only son. I really can’t even catch myself how this thing hit me so hard… and the worst part is that they stain he name.”

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

Nandlall says budget is “the most welfare oriented”

By Abena Rockcliffe Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, during his contribution to the budget debates, made quite an interesting analogy to explain the opposition’s quest to cut Budget 2013. So detailed was his description as he sought to link the opposition’s mission to a sexual act that House Speaker Raphael Trotman saw the need to ask him to move on.

Stating that the budget is the most “welfare oriented” of those presented within the last six years, Nandlall said that he sees not why the opposition would want to cut its estimates, describing the development as political masturbation.

He told the National Assembly on Tuesday last that “…this budget touches the life of every single Guyanese and fundamentally, they, the Guyanese people have recognized that.

Nandlall said that “indeed and in fact” the only persons he knows in Guyana who do not support this year’s budget are those who make up the joint parliamentary opposition.

As he sought to convince that the opposition just wants

to chop the budget, Nandlall asserted that intentions to slash have been expressed even prior to its presentation.

He said he gathered the impression the opposition parties feel that they are somehow hurting the Government but “they are hurting the Guyanese people when they cut the budget. They are putting us in a state of antidevelopment when they cut the budget. It is not about the Government.”

“So determined are my people on the other side to cut the welfare of the Guyanese people that they are engaged in all form of machinations.”

The Attorney General pointed out that two weeks ago, he listened to a television programme featuring A Partnership For National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and AFC executive member Moses Nagamootoo, speaking about Budget 2013 and plans to deal with it.

He said that he “could have seen the excitement in their eyes” as they were discussing the “instruments” that they will use to cut the

cutting exercise as they seek their political orgasm they will break the interest of the Guyanese people, they will mess up the lives of the Guyanese people.”

At that point Speaker Trotman stopped him saying “I think your analogy… You have made your point and I ask that you move on from

there please.”

Nandlall continued: “They are going to cut the budgetary allocations to the Amaila Falls project. Mr. Speaker, why is it the Guyanese people in the year 2013 are not entitled to a reliable, cheap and renewable source of electricity?”

“Their Government wants to give it to them but the Opposition wants to deny them. Another project that they have identified is the new Specialty Hospital. In the year 2013 are the Guyanese people not entitled to the best health care in the world?” he asked.

Just then an opposition member heckled, “we cutting it because it’s too much money going in y’all pocket, y’all thieving too much.”

Another project he identified is the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and asked “are the Guyanese not entitled in the year 2013 to a modern airport?”

Again a comment came from the other side: “That is another bogus project.”

But Nandlall continued,

asking: “Mr. Speaker, what wrong have the Guyanese people done? What sins have they committed not to be entitled to facilities that are available to people all over the world?”

“There is also another side to the cuts proposed,” Nandlall informed, “There is a legal side. This House is the premier law-making institution of the land and this House, therefore, has a responsibility to ensure that the Constitution of the country and the laws of the land are obeyed. This House cannot take a position that is contrary to the Constitution and contrary to the Law.” As he referred to the court ruling, Nandlall said, “Justice Chang in a 34-page ruling outlined why the Opposition has no power to cut the budget. Justice Chang said s o i n a r u l i n g a n d M r.

Speaker, if the Parliament is going to take a position that they are not going to obey the laws of the land and they are not going to obey orders of Court… well, they do so at their own peril.”

On April 5, last, police in Linden acting on a tip-off swooped down on a marijuana farm at Old England Upper Demerara River and destroyed approximately 5,000 plants, some of them four feet in height. The crop weighed 7,000 pounds.

Three camps were also

destroyed in the process on that farm. One of them had freshly cooked food, but no one was seen on the farm and as such no arrest was made.

Yesterday at 05:00hrs Linden police again swooped down on another ganja farm, again at Old England, Upper Demerara River.

On two acres of land there were seven beds. In the nursery were 18,000 plants and in the farm there were 15,000 plants ranging in height from one to four feet.

The crop weighed some 80,000 pounds.

The farm was again destroyed by the police.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall was quite energetic during his presentation budget.

“Mr. Ramjattan spoke very passionately about the size of his instrument that he will bring. He said the bigger the budget the bigger the size.”

Nandlall went further, stating that “When I look at the gentlemen on the television it appears as though cutting the budget was some form of political masturbation to these men, so excited were they. But I want to tell them, Mr. Speaker, that when they engage in that

Cops destroy 90,000 lb ganja in Linden

Court hears Brickdam police surrender headset to bogus cop A man who pretended to be an active rank of the Guyana Police Force and managed to obtain a radio headset from the Brickdam station is now cooling off in the Camp Street Prison.

Casey Maloney, an exrank of the Guyana Police Force, pleaded not guilty when the charge of intent to defraud was read to him yesterday by Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Attorney at Law, Paul

Fung-A-Fat, who stood in Maloney’s defence stated that his client was instructed by another officer to enter the Station and retrieve the headset, and he did not do so by pretending to be what he is not.

Prosecutor Vi s h n u Hunte begged to differ with regard to the lawyer’s line of defence. He related to the court that on April 6 and 7, the 21-year-old Maloney, of Third Street Agricola, entered the

Brickdam Police Station claiming to be Special Constable Maloney, and during his period of pretence, he signed, uplifted and lodged the handset after use.

Prosecution strongly objected to bail based on the punishment the misdemeanor attracts and if granted the bond he may not return for his trial.

The defendant, who was subsequently remanded, is scheduled to return to court on April 24.

Opposition has no grounds for cutting budget – President Ramotar From page 14 by a Chief Justice are subject to an appeal that may be taken as far as the Caribbean Court of Justiceand that may very well be a course for the opposition, if the government is to again run to the courts.

Opposition parties had earlier in the year expressed dissatisfaction in relation to tripartite talks in preparation of this year’s budget. They

are additionally adamant that the law provides for parliament to have the last say on Budget estimates.

Referring to the C J’s ruling on last year’s budget, Greenidge had stated that, “No one judge in Guyana has the final say”, expanding on his point that the laws of Guyana are there to govern and that the opposition has a right to cut. He charged that persons may interpret or

choose to intercept the law differently.

Several agencies such as the National Communications Network (NCN), the Government Information Agency (GINA) and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) had monies allocated to them slashed, when the opposition attempted to have their say in relation to funds necessary for the functioning of certain state entities.

Friday April 12, 2013

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:25 hrs. Sign On 08:30 hrs. This Morning 09:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly and Michael 10:00 hrs. Roseanne 11:00 hrs. The View 12:00 hrs. Prime News

Kaieteur News

12:30 hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30 hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00 hrs. The Talk 15:00 hrs. Cold Case 17:00 hrs. Charmed 18:00 hrs. World News

18:30 hrs. Nightly News 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Channel 8 News 21:00 hrs. Movie: Exorcist II: The Heretic 00:00 hrs. Sign Off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Friday April 12, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You may be so excited about what’s ahead that you can’t get much work done today, but your feelings have to take a back seat to practicality.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): Yo u r f r i e n d s a n d coworkers may look to you for guidance today, since you seem to possess a clear mind and sound judgment.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): You may feel like you’re being unfairly restricted if you have too many commitments on your calendar today. Your imagination is on overdrive and you don’t want to waste all your creativity on your job.

CANCER (June 21–July 22): Concrete plans can drive you toward making conservative decisions at work today, but you won’t likely be satisfied now unless you add a bit of risk to the picture.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Your indecision may be challenging today as you figure out how to seek pleasure while also fulfilling someone else’s expectations.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Relentless Pluto reminds you to let go of control as it begins its retrograde period today. Fortunately, you can turn your key planet into your best ally as long as you step up to tackle an emotional issue that you were previously trying to ignore.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): The cost of pleasure may actually be higher than you think now, but you might not realize it until after you say yes.

CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): You are often the champion of responsibility, yet today your key planet, Saturn, receives an electric jab from spontaneous Uranus, prompting you to make a quick escape.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): Exhilarating adrenaline rushes motivate you to do something beyond the ordinary today.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18): You crave the excitement of variety in your daily routine, but today everything could become too chaotic to manage.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Having a good time while also doing the right thing often requires more effort, but today all the pieces fall into place.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): Your plans for a vacation might run into an unexpected obstacle today, especially if your dreams are too big for your budget.

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Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Now Central Bank, CLICO sue Sakal Trinidad Guardian Former corporate secretary of CL Financial (CLF) Gita Sakal is being sued by the Central Bank and insurance giant Colonial Life Insurance Company (Trinidad) Ltd (CLICO). The suit against Sakal was filed in an amended claim in the Port-of-Spain High Court last Wednesday and seeks to recover millions of dollars.

Sakal now joins her former CL Financial bosses, Lawrence Duprey, Andre Monteil and three companies—CL Financial Ltd, DALCO Capital Management Ltd and Stone Street Capital Ltd—in the claim filed by the Central Bank and Clico. Evidence in the case will not be made public, following an application by both Duprey and Monteil’s attorneys last year, in which the men sought the protection of the courts to have the matter heard in camera.

Judicial sources say when the matter came up for hearing before Justice Mira DeanArmorer in the Port-of-Spain High Court, legal counsel for both Duprey and Monteil argued that their clients were

currently the subjects of an ongoing criminal probe, and should the proceedings of the civil trial be made public, such exposure could possibly prejudice their case. The lawyers asked for the proceedings to be sealed and Dean-Armorer granted the request.

Duprey and Monteil are accused of mismanagement of Clico, and misapplication and misappropriation of the prized insurance giant’s income and assets to the detriment of its policyholders and mutual fund investors.

Sakal is being accused of placing her personal interests above CLICO and its policyholders, as well as assisting in breaching various procedures, protocols and mismanaging the assets and mutual funds held in Clico.

Last December, Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, in a media release, said the police had started a criminal investigation into the conduct of individuals and corporate entities involved in the collapse of CLICO and related companies. Gaspard warned that the media

St Kitts explores setting up embassy in Cuba

Dr Denzil Douglas BASSETERRE, St Kitts CMC - The St Kitts government is exploring the possibility of establishing an embassy in Cuba next year in an effort to strengthen the existing relationship between both Caribbean nations.

Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas gave the commitment during a courtesy call by Hugo Ruiz Cabrera, who assumed the post of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, following the departure of

Jorge D Payret Zubiaur, ambassador of Cuba to the federation of St Kitts and Nevis.

According to a government statement, Douglas and the new Cuban diplomat also discussed several areas of cooperation of a bi-lateral nature in education, health and agriculture.

Currently, about 40 St Kitts and Nevis students are pursuing degrees in Cuba, the majority being in medicine.

The statement said that since 1998, “Cuba has been maintaining a medical brigade through a steady deployment of medical practitioners in a variety of areas,” such as gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology and pathology.

Ruiz’s most recent posting abroad spanned 2005-2010 in St. Lucia, where he oversaw the Misión Milagro Programme, the Comprehensive Health Programme, the Energy Saving Light Bulb Project, the introduction of the Nursing Scholarship Programme, as well as the establishment of the Ophthalmology Clinic at the Victoria Hospital.

“should not publish or broadcast anything which might jeopardise, hinder or otherwise prejudice the investigation or any possible proceedings which might result from it.”

He also wrote to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Sir Anthony Colman, QC, who is currently overseeing the Commission of Enquiry into Clico and the Hindu Credit Union, over the public hearings, saying if the enquiry went on or continued to be held in the public domain

it was likely to delay a prosecution and jeopardise the police investigation.

Both Colman and Ramlogan refused to stop the enquiry or have the proceedings held in camera.

Ramlogan also refused to advise the President to vary the enquiry’s terms of reference. Colman said it was ultimately up to the Government to decide whether the enquiry should continue in light of a police probe.

Duprey and Monteil were

initially slated to give evidence at the enquiry.

However, they subsequently indicated to Colman that following consultations with their legal team, they would not be appearing owing to the criminal probe against them. Sakal has appeared before the enquiry on several occasions and during her testimony admitted to earning a multi-million-dollar salary and bonuses. The Government has so far spent some $20 billion on bailing out Clico.

Gita Sakal

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Kaieteur News

Caribbean shows comeback in growth performance WASHINGTON - CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says low-income countries (LICs), including the Caribbean, have “bounced back” in the past two decades.

An analysis in the Washington-based financial institution’s latest Wo rld Economic Outlook (WEO) suggests that “dynamic lowincome countries are on a stronger economic footing today than before the 1990s, and, therefore, better placed to stay on course.”

After a first wave of growth takeoffs—expansion in per capita output for at least five years averaging at least 3 ½ percent a year—by lowincome countries in the 1960s and early 1970s, there were fewer in the 1980s, the report says.

According to the report, growth in many of these countries decelerated as global economic conditions deteriorated, adding that a second wave of takeoffs started in the 1990s.

The IMF says a key concern is whether recent takeoffs by low-income

countries could unravel like some did in the past, especially if global growth remains sluggish. The study suggests that such risks are lower today, with the authors finding that recent takeoffs by low-income countries lasting longer than those before the 1990s.

“There also seems to be more at play than strong global conditions in helping takeoffs, as many low-income countries, whether resourceor manufacturing-oriented, were unable to take off, despite supportive global conditions,” said John Bluedorn, one of the study’s authors.

He said takeoffs in both generations typically paid off, with a 50–60 percent rise in per capita income over the 10 years after takeoff, in contrast to much smaller gains for lowincome countries that did not take off.

“This is an important message for some two-thirds of today’s low-income countries that have yet to experience a growth take off,” said Jaime Guajardo, another author of the report.

The research finds important similarities between takeoffs in both generations.

Both see higher investment rates and export growth than low-income countries that could not take off.

The IMF says this underscores the “wellestablished roles” of capital accumulation and trade integration in development.

Drawing on historical experiences, the study documents that, although low-income countries were able to take off by reducing imbalances, not all maintained their progress.

Those that persisted in addressing vulnerabilities or implementing reforms that helped raise productivity enjoyed sustained growth, the study says.

“The key takeaway for today is that LICs must avoid over-stimulating demand or accumulating excessive external debt despite ultra-low global interest rates,” said Rupa Duttagupta, who led the research work.

Friday April 12, 2013

Fidel Castro appears near tears over Chavez in Cuban TV report (Reuters) - Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro looked downcast and near tears as he listened to a song about his friend and ally, the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in a news report aired on Cuban state television yesterday.

The unusual report, nine minutes in length on a news program, was the first public glimpse of the impact of Chavez’ death last month on the 86-year-old Castro, whom the Venezuelan socialist openly revered and considered his political father and mentor.

Castro, recorded in a rare public appearance on Wednesday for the opening of a school, put his hand over his eyes, his lips trembling, and appeared to fight back tears during the song “The Return of a Friend,” which he introduced as having been written and recorded by several musicians to remember Chavez.

Chavez, 58, died on March 5 in Caracas after a long battle with cancer, much of it fought in Cuba under the

Fidel Castro supervision of Cuban doctors.

“Nobody thinks that he has gone, he went for a moment to mass. He will return with Sandino, with Che, Marti and Bolivar,” the song went, referring to several late Latin American revolutionary figures - Augusto Sandino, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Jose Marti and Simon Bolivar whose names are often invoked in Cuba.

Long close-ups of Castro were interspersed with video

of him and Chavez in their many meetings.

“Really, the song is pretty,” the gray-haired Castro said hoarsely to the room of students, school workers and officials, some of whom were moved to tears as they watched.

Castro and Chavez forged a strong friendship and political alliance early in Chavez’ 14 years in power as he poured oil and money into Cuba to help it emerge from the economic ruin that followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the communist island’s previous top ally.

Their close relationship continued after Castro, aging and infirm, resigned the presidency in 2008 after 49 years in power and was succeeded by younger brother Raul Castro, who is 81.

Fidel Castro and Chavez spoke often, corresponded frequently and plotted jointly to promote leftist governments in Latin America and diminish U.S. influence in the region.

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 21

US$87 billion needed to fight HIV/AIDS BRUSSELS, Belgium – CMC – The United Nationsbacked Global Fund says it needs an estimated US$87 billion to bring under control the threat posed by HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, during the 2014-2016 period, in the Caribbean and globally.

“If we don’t seize this moment, we will be dealing with these diseases for generations,” said Mark

Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, on the second of a two-day conference with donors and other partners here.

“These moments don’t come very often,” he added.

“We can achieve a historic change in the world, and that is what we are on this planet to do.”

According to a needs assessment by the Global

Caribbean Airlines to cut back on Jamaica flights

Clint Williams Kingston Jamaica – CMC Head of Communications at Caribbean Airlines, Clint Williams has confirmed reports that the airline will be cutting back on the number of flights to Jamaica.

For several weeks it was rumored that flights to Jamaica would be reduced and on Tuesday during a sitting of Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee, Transport Minister Dr. Omar Davies, told the committee that no information was forthcoming from Caribbean Airlines.

However, Williams told Radio Jamaica in an interview on Wednesday that the decision had been made to reduce the flights and this becomes effective April 16.

He stated that it was made based on the travel patterns observed, and as part of the move for the airline to become more efficient.

“You will see that the schedule which comes in effect April 16 reflects a reduction in some flights where we saw that there was excess capacity in the load factors. We are not high now we will consolidate it to one where there will be a higher load factor,” Williams said.

He said some of the scaling back had already started.

“We have reduced frequencies on a number of routes where we see that there was excess capacity, where loads were not as full.”

Caribbean Airlines, which began operations in 2007, acquired Air Jamaica in 2011.

The Jamaican Government has a 16 per cent stake in the Trinidadian air carrier.

Meanwhile the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has raised concern about the reduction in flights.

Spokesman on Transport, Karl Samuda, said the decision is contrary to the deal which was reached for the airline to acquire Air Jamaica.

“At the time of the divestment we certainly did it on the basis and had the clear understanding that not only would Caribbean Airlines continue to service, but hopefully in the near future expand the number of flights to Jamaica and from Jamaica.

To hear now that they are cutting back, in addition to being disappointing, may well indicate the extent to which the airline is under financial pressure,” Samuda said.

Not in LIAT! Barbados Nation Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell has made it clear that his country is not pumping any funds into LIAT until the regional airline gets “its act together” and reduces its wastage.

Speaking Wednesday at a Press briefing at Highgate Gardens, St Michael, Mitchell, who is embarking on his fourth term as leader

of the “Spice Isle”, said that LIAT continued to be an inefficient operation.

“I will not continue to invest in an operation if it continued to be inefficient and not responsible,” he said.

Mitchell said he planned to meet with LIAT chairman Jean Holder on how Grenada could help the struggling airline become more responsible and provide increased services.

Fund and partners, the fight against HIV/AIDS alone will cost about US$58 billion in 2014-16, with additional $15 billion for tuberculosis and $14 billion for malaria.

The assessment was drawn up with technical partners at the UN World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, Roll Back Malaria and the Stop TB partnership.

In addition to the needs assessment, delegates at the meeting heard presentations on new advances in science

and implementation that can increase the impact of Global Fund investments to support partners fighting the three diseases.

The UN said health officials also showed how a big increase in impact could be achieved in many countries by focusing efforts on “hot spots,” where disease is most heavily concentrated, and by acting before diseases spread out of control.

Forecasts presented to

delegates showed that, with adequate funding, more than 18 million adults eligible for treatment could be on antiretroviral therapy by 2016, up from 8 million; that almost 6 million p e o p l e c o u l d b e saved from TB; and that 196,000 more lives could be saved every year from malaria.

In December, the WHO warned that funding for prevention and control of malaria – which kills an

estimated 655,000 people every year and sickens millions more has leveled off after rapid expansion between 2004 and 2009.

In a statement accompanying the release of its annual World Malaria Report, the UN health agency said, “These developments are signs of a slowdown that could threaten to reverse the remarkable recent gains in the fight against one of the world’s leading infectious killers.”

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EU ban on naked sovereign credit G8 ministers fail to agree on default swaps unnecessary – IMF Syria; no plan on North Korea (Reuters) The International Monetary fund said the European Union was moving in the wrong direction by banning the use of a hedging strategy related to sovereign credit default swaps.

In a report published yesterday ahead of its annual meeting April 19-21, the IMF said the ban on so-called naked SCDS is not supported by any empirical evidence and could in fact lead to more instability in the financial markets.

Credit default swaps act as a kind of insurance for investors who own debt, in this case debt issued by sovereign nations, against potential default or restructuring.

“Overall, the evidence here does not support the need to ban purchases of naked SCDS protection,” the IMF said, adding that negative perceptions about the instruments are not backed up by empirical evidence.

An EU rule came into effect November 1 that banned speculative trading in

the contracts. A naked contract means the investor does not have an offsetting position in the underlying asset even though they own protection against a rise or fall in the price of the asset.

At the height of the financial crisis, CDS came in for major criticism and were seen as one potential destabilizing factor in the market. The IMF says this is difficult to assess since risks affecting SCDS are the same as those affecting other areas of the financial system.

According to the IMF study, the SCDS market had a net notional value of $3 trillion (1.9 trillion pounds) at the end of June last year, compared with $50 trillion for total government debt outstanding at the end of 2011.

In the CDS market, net notional positions generally represent the maximum possible amount of money that will change hands between those who sold and those who bought credit protection in the event of a default or restructuring.

“The recent European ban

on purchasing naked SCDS protection appears to move in the wrong direction.

While the effects of the ban are hard to distinguish from the influence of other policy announcements, the prohibition may have already caused some impairment of market liquidity,” the IMF said.

The IMF study found the SCDS market and the sovereign debt market are both equally influenced by financial market risk factors.

However, if there is a liquid SCDS market, it will react faster and incorporate information quicker during times of financial market stress relative to the bond markets.

“Overall, SCDS markets do not appear to be particularly more prone to high volatility than other financial markets,” the IMF said.

Nor do the price movements in the SCDS market appear to lead to increased costs for sovereigns selling debt in the markets.

LONDON (Reuters) Foreign ministers from the G8 group of rich countries failed to patch up deep divisions over Syria or come up with a concrete plan on North Korea during a meeting in London yesterday.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking after talks with his counterparts, admitted the world had done too little to try to resolve Syria’s two-year-old conflict, in which an estimated 70,000 people have been killed.

“The United Nations Security Council has not fulfilled its responsibilities because it is divided. That division continues. Have we solved that division at this meeting? No. We didn’t expect to do so,” Hague told reporters.

“The world has failed so far in its responsibilities and continues to do so.”

North Korea’s threats of war and Iran’s nuclear program were also high on the agenda of the ministers’ talks in London but little substance came out of their private meetings with members of Syria’s opposition on the sidelines of the gathering.

William Hague Actress Angelina Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, addressed the ministers, urging more action to prevent sexual violence against women in conflict zones.

On North Korea, the G8 condemned Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons “in the strongest possible terms” but announced no specific steps.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, foreign

ministers from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia urged North Korea to “refrain from further provocative acts”.

“If the DPRK (North Korea) conducts another missile launch, or nuclear test, we have committed ourselves to take further significant measures,” Hague said, without giving more details.

A U.S. official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said the ministers had discussed the role of China which is not part of the G8 - in addressing North Korea’s threats, but that nothing specific had come out of the talks.

With diplomatic efforts deadlocked, Syria’s protracted conflict remains the biggest headache for global powers, and Hague described it as the world’s top destination for jihadists.

The rebel al-Nusra Front fighting President Bashar alAssad pledged allegiance to al Qaeda leader Ayman alZawahri on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that Syria could become a hotbed for Islamist militants in the region.

North Korea’s leader showing he’s in charge WASHINGTON (AP) — North Korea’s new leader is using the threat of a nuclear strike to get concessions on foreign aid rather than trying to trigger military conflict, top U.S. intelligence officials told Congress yesterday.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the House intelligence committee that he thinks new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is trying to show the U.S., the world and his own people that he is “firmly in control in North Korea,” while attempting to maneuver the international community into concessions in future negotiations.

“I don’t think...he has much of an endgame other than to somehow elicit recognition,” and to turn the

nuclear threat into “negotiation and to accommodation and presumably for aid,” Clapper said.

Clapper said the intelligence community believes the North would only use nuclear weapons to preserve the Kim regime, but says they do not know how the regime defines that.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said at a different congressional hearing that he does not believe North Korea, nor Iran, have the technical ability to reach the continental U.S. with its nuclear weapons yet.

“Now does that mean that won’t have it or they can’t have it or they’re not working on it?” Hagel said. “No. That’s why this is a very dangerous

situation.”

Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, testifying with Hagel before the House Armed Services Committee, would not say whether North Korea has the capacity to arm a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead.

“But they have conducted two nuclear tests,” Dempsey said Wednesday. “They have conducted several successful ballistic missile launches. And in the absence of concrete evidence to the contrary, we have to assume the worst case, and that’s why we’re postured as we are today.”

CIA Director John Brennan and Clapper both said judging Kim’s actions is tougher because he hasn’t been in power long.

Friday April 12, 2013

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More than 2,000 invited “Hard work starts now” as Senate takes up gun control to Thatcher funeral LONDON (AP) — Invitations to Margaret Thatcher’s funeral are going out to more than 2,000 celebrities, dignitaries, colleagues and friends of the late British leader — from former U.S. presidents to “Dynasty” star Joan Collins and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Invitations were printed yesterday and will be mailed out today, the government said.

Thatcher, who died Monday at the age of 87, will be given a funeral with military honors at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday.

Though not officially a state funeral, it is the grandest such service seen in Britain since the death in 2002 of the Queen Mother Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth II will be among the mourners — the first time the monarch has attended a prime minister’s funeral since the death of Winston Churchill in 1965.

The invitation list includes all surviving U.S. presidents, British politicians past and present, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Canadian Prime

Margaret Thatcher Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said the list — drawn up by Thatcher’s family, her Conservative Party and the government — includes representatives of 200 states and organizations with whom Britain has normal diplomatic relations.

Invitees include the ambassador of Argentina, with whom Britain, under Thatcher, fought a 1982 war over the Falkland Islands.

Most countries will be represented at the funeral by ambassadors or other

officials. Downing St. said the only current and former world leaders invited were those who had a “close connection to Baroness Thatcher.”

A representative of Nelson Mandela — whom Thatcher once called a terrorist — has also been invited.

Some of those figures most closely associated with her 1979-1990 tenure already have said they will not attend. Nancy Reagan, widow of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, will send a representative, and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says poor health prevents him from coming to London.

Entertainment figures include Collins, Lloyd Webber and his sometime lyricist Tim Rice, novelist Frederick Forsyth, singer Shirley Bassey, “Top Gear” TV host Jeremy Clarkson and fashion designer Anya Hindmarch, who made some of Thatcher’s famous handbags.The dress code for the funeral calls for day dress, morning dress, dark suit or “full day ceremonial without swords.”

(Reuters) - The Senate cleared the way yesterday for debate on proposals to curb gun violence, rejecting an effort by conservative Republicans to block consideration of gun-control legislation prompted by the Newtown school massacre.

The Senate voted 68-31 to open what will likely be weeks of emotional debate on President Barack Obama’s proposals to expand background checks for gun buyers, tighten restrictions on gun trafficking and increase funding for school security.

That margin easily cleared the 60-vote hurdle needed to break a Republican filibuster on a bill that has sparked intense lobbying on both sides, including by families of the victims of the December 14 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, as well as the powerful gun lobby led by the National Rifle Association.

“The hard work starts now,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said after the procedural vote to open debate, which was watched

Harry Reid by some family members of the 20 children and six adults killed by the gunman in Newtown four months ago.

The measure, which would be the first major guncontrol legislation to pass Congress since 1994, still faces significant hurdles, including weeks of expected debate in the Senate featuring many amendments that could make the bill unacceptable to senators who now support it.

If it clears the Democraticled Senate, it would face a tough reception in the Republican-led House of

Representatives.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner would not promise a House vote on any gun bill produced by the Senate, saying it probably would be sent to the House Judiciary Committee for review.

“I fully expect that the House will act in some way, shape or form,” Boehner told reporters on Thursday. “But to make a blanket commitment without knowing what the underlying bill is, I think, would be irresponsible on my part.”

Sixteen Republicans joined 50 Democrats and two independents in voting to open Senate debate on the gun-control measure.

Voting to block debate were 29 Republicans and two Democrats - Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Mark Begich of Alaska, who face tough reelection campaigns next year in conservative, gun-friendly states.

The White House said Obama spoke by telephone after the Senate vote to relatives of those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

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Italy’s center-left leader denies party about to split

Pier Luigi Bersani

ROME (Reuters) - Italy’s Democratic Party (PD) chief Pier Luigi Bersani yesterday denied an imminent split of his center-left bloc, the largest in parliament, amid increasing criticism of his leadership during a prolonged political stalemate.

The PD is divided over whether to join forces with its center-right rival Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who says a “grand coalition” is the only way to break the political impasse caused by

February’s inconclusive national vote.

Bersani has repeatedly ruled out an alliance with Berlusconi, an unpalatable figure for many PD voters, but high-ranking party officials increasingly argue that the party must open a dialogue with the 76-year-old media tycoon.

The February 24-25 election gave the center left control of the lower house but not the Senate, where o n l y a n alliance with Berlusconi’s center right or

Beppe Grillo’s 5-Star Movement would permit the formation of a government.

The PD c h i e f ’s attempts to woo the antiestablishment 5-Star Movement failed and he now hopes to be able to form what would in effect be a minority government tolerated by rival parties.

The strategy has come under criticism, however, with Rosy Bindi, the party president, telling the daily La Stampa newspaper yesterday it would allow Berlusconi to pull the plug on the government whenever he wished.

“We’d be putting ourselves entirely in his hands,” she said.

Bersani’s main rival in the party, Matteo Renzi, the 38year-old mayor of Florence who lost a primary last year to lead the center-left in the election, has also criticized his leader’s strategy, saying that it is wasting vital time.

“They have to hurry up.

I personally have said from day one that it would be better to vote again because when there’s no clarity, it’s better to do it again,” he told La7 television on Thursday.

“But if they want to get an agreement between Bersani and Berlusconi, they should get on with it.”

The dissent has piled pressure on Bersani, a 61year-old former industry minister, who has been criticized by many in the party by failing to translate the solid opinion poll lead it enjoyed before the election into success.

Yesterday, he dismissed speculation that the party was on the verge of splitting, telling reporters: “We don’t have problems of this kind.”

As the stalemate has dragged on, the parties have begun preparing for the next

major battle, the election of a new president of the Republic to succeed current head of state Giorgio Napolitano, whose term ends on May 15.

The vote will be vital because with Napolitano’s mandate running out, constitutional rules prevent him from dissolving parliament, leaving it to his successor to call new elections if no accord can be found to allow the formation of a government.

Voting by the two houses of parliament as well as by representatives from the regions, will begin on April 18 but may take several days to complete.

Bersani, who met Berlusconi on Tuesday to talk about the presidency, has opened up to talks with the center right to select a new head of state and yesterday met Berlusconi ally Roberto Maroni, leader of the Northern League party.

Va r i o u s n a m e s h a v e been floated in the press, including former prime ministers Giuliano Amato, Romano Prodi and Massimo D’Alema and former European Commissioner Emma Bonino but all have aroused objections and no clear favorite has emerged.

Separately, Grillo’s 5Star Movement (M5S) opened an online vote to allow supporters to nominate candidates for the presidency prior to a vote on the 10 leading names on Monday.

“The Bed and Breakfast couple, Bersani and Berlusconi, are deciding in their secret salons a deal on the president ruling out any form of popular participation, while the M5S is opening an open and democratic process,” Grillo said on his blog.

Friday April 12, 2013

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Guides are subjected to change without notice

Friday April 12, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You may be so excited about what’s ahead that you can’t get much work done today, but your feelings have to take a back seat to practicality.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): Yo u r f r i e n d s a n d coworkers may look to you for guidance today, since you seem to possess a clear mind and sound judgment.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): You may feel like you’re being unfairly restricted if you have too many commitments on your calendar today. Your imagination is on overdrive and you don’t want to waste all your creativity on your job.

CANCER (June 21–July 22): Concrete plans can drive you toward making conservative decisions at work today, but you won’t likely be satisfied now unless you add a bit of risk to the picture.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Your indecision may be challenging today as you figure out how to seek pleasure while also fulfilling someone else’s expectations.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Relentless Pluto reminds you to let go of control as it begins its retrograde period today. Fortunately, you can turn your key planet into your best ally as long as you step up to tackle an emotional issue that you were previously trying to ignore.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): The cost of pleasure may actually be higher than you think now, but you might not realize it until after you say yes.

CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): You are often the champion of responsibility, yet today your key planet, Saturn, receives an electric jab from spontaneous Uranus, prompting you to make a quick escape.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): Exhilarating adrenaline rushes motivate you to do something beyond the ordinary today.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18): You crave the excitement of variety in your daily routine, but today everything could become too chaotic to manage.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Having a good time while also doing the right thing often requires more effort, but today all the pieces fall into place.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): Your plans for a vacation might run into an unexpected obstacle today, especially if your dreams are too big for your budget.

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Friday April 12, 2013

RAVENS GRIND OUT HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY

By Edison Jefford Following two consecutive losses, Ravens grinded out a hard-fought victory against the Republic Bank Nets in a deciding GeorgetownAmateur Basketball Association (GABA) Division I game Wednesday night on Burnham Court.

The 51-47 points win kept Ravens’ hope of a final three

ranking in the League alive as they held on for a 4-2 win/loss record, which levelled with Colts for third in the rankings currently and will make the remaining games for both teams extremely crucial.

Shooting guard, Ryan Stephney shot his way to 14 points while Akeem Kanhai had 12 points and Jermaine Slater 11 points for Ravens

Wolf’s Warriors...

From page 34 Warriors is from the West and Superstars XI from the East.

The finals will be held at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground on Sunday and is being billed as the perfect show down to crown the end of phase one of the DT/Chow Pow challenge Series with phase two to begin in May and pool of teams increased to thirty-two to be held on the East Coast of Demerara. The tournament is being organized by Yolo Entertainment and Advertising Inc. and sponsored by Digital Technology, Jailing, Giftland Office Max, Creative Jewllery and Pawnshop, NTN 89.1

Radio and Banks DIH among others.

The tournament is being run in collaboration with the Guyana Softball League. In addition to the cricket there will be Ravi B, Fiona and others to entertain after the cricket and building the excitement to another level in an after cricket mega show.

There will be a number of exciting off field games to treat the fans. The fans are urged to buy their tickets early at the following places to avoid the confusion. In Georgetown: at Giftland OfficeMax, Water & Holmes Street and on the East Bank Demerara at Digital Technology’s Head Office, Diamond Public Road.

that lost to both Pacesetters, who has a 7-0 record and Pepsi Sonics, who boast a 51 record in the League.

For Nets, Pelham Doris had 15 points while Fabian Johnson and Darrion Lewis had nine points each. Nets slipped to a 4-3 record in the League. It proved difficult for them to pull off what would have been a crucial win with all the loud infighting.

The first quarter ended 14-10 in favour of Ravens after a slow offensive start for both teams that continued in the second quarter. Slater nailed two shots after a scoreless three minutes to give the Ravens an 18-10 lead five minutes before halftime.

Veteran Ravens forward, Seraiah Clarke launched a defensive battle among the two teams when he forced several stops to ensure Ravens maintain their lead before the break. Stephney finished three free-throws that helped Ravens to a 28-19 lead at halftime.

However, Nets regrouped and returned in the third period energised. The momentum led to a 4-0 run after strong drives from Mortimer Williams, but Clarke

VINTAGE! Veteran Ravens Forward, Seraiah Clarke anticipates the drop after getting inside the paint for an old-school layup Wednesday night on Burnham Basketball Court.

finished an And1 play that quelled the brief run for Nets early in the penultimate period. Nets smartly went to their big men for answers; Johnson’s put back hauled them to within two of the Ravens before Drumson McCulley put one high off the glass for 34-32 lead.

Ravens appeared to fall asleep on the defensive end for about five minutes.

But the Republic Bank Nets did not seize the opportunity. Instead, several

quarrels erupted from their bench that led to the instant dismissal of stand-in coach, Michael Richards, who deputised in the absence of Shane Blair.

In the midst of their on and off court quarrels, Stephney landed a buzzer-beating three-pointer to cap an 8-0 run for Ravens that gave them a 39-34 lead at the end of the third period. Nets tried to regain their momentum in the last quarter but it proved futile.

Doris landed a three-point jumper to make it a two-point game down the stretch, but Stephney answered back with a big shot from downtown with under a minute to play, which basically sealed the deal for Ravens. In the opening game of the night, Colts defeated Eagles 72-44 with Evans Johnson and Elebert Thornhill scoring 16 points each for Colts.

Courtney Taylor had 13 points and Kevin Higgins 11 points for Eagles in the game.

Friday April 12, 2013

Tenelec Inc. 50 overs C/ship...

Berbice cricket powerhouse, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets (RHTG&G) on Saturday last defeated Universal DVD Young Warriors (UDVDYW) by a massive 180 runs to lift the 2012 Tenelec Inc 50 overs title.

Playing at the Albion Community Centre Cricket ground, RHT Gizmos & Gadgets added to their growing list of County titles with solid performances by batsman Jason Sinclair and Shawn Pereira.

Winning the toss and batting first in bright

Kaieteur News

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets crush Universal DVD Young Warriors to lift title sunshine, RHT Gizmos & Gadgets were given a good start of 31 in 8 overs by openers Dominique Rikhi (07) and Renwick Batson before Rikhi was trapped LBW by medium pacer R. Phill.

Batson was then run out for a well played 26 (4x4) at 37 for in the tenth over. Jason Sinclair and skipper Delbert Hicks then added 90 for the next wicket in 21 overs before Hicks was bowled by off spinner Linden Austin for 40 (4x4 1x6).

Sinclair and an aggressive Khemraj Mahadeo then carried the score to 190 for 3

Johnny too bad - There will be no rock for rescue

By Rawle Welch When the signal is made to indicate the commencement of voting today in the Guyana Football Federation’s Electoral Congress, affilates who have the mandate to vote should put the interest of football first and not bother about fear of reprisal that held a firm grip on the sport for over two decades.

Much has been written about the four candidates vying for the Presidency, namely Ivan Persaud, Christopher Matthias, Alfred King and Aubrey Major. The day has now arrived for the selection of one of those four to manage the affairs of the country’s football.

Among the changes that many within the fraternity are hoping that a new executive will be prepared to effect are the restructuring of the current style of governance.

Such a style was not entirely embraced. It demands constitutional reform- a feature critical to the rebuilding of confidence and fostering inclusivity; it demands the creation of a c o m p r e h e n s i v e developmental plan that focuses on holistic progress from the youth level right up to the seniors; and improved relationship between stakeholders such as the Government and corporate community. The new executive must develop the habit to be transparent and accountable.

The old regime clearly lacked the will to be accountable and accommodating. Aubrey Major, who has been an integral figure in the current setup that has racked up a debt burden of an estimated

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$50million, has been inflexible to appeals to give an account of the monies derived from the Mexico switch.

His close association with the organisation that played a significant role leading up to the World Cup campaign is worthy of note.

Much has already been said about the undemocratic behaviour of the GFF of which he is a part, an entity that until this day still drives fear into the hearts of those who dare to oppose.

Today, the electorate must act in unison to rid the football community of individuals who are bent on self interest and on promoting cronyism.

Just as the lyrics of the reggae song ‘Johnny too Bad’ recorded by the group, Slickers, aptly said, ‘when you run to the rock for rescue, there will be no rock’.

There should be no hiding place for those who govern by the iron fist and who resented the views of others.

The time for change has come and all those who are willing to give the young footballers at home a chance to reach the levels attained by a predominant overseasbased ‘Golden Jaguars’ must do the right thing and relieve the sport of the current oppressors.

It will also provide a new executive with the opportunity to instigate a forensic audit to undetstand the real issue with the non release of the financial agreement with the Mexico game and other related matters. As the saying goes, ‘every long rope has an end’.

This rope has reached its end.

by the 43rd over when Mahadeo was bowled by off spinner Kevin Ramdeen for 35 (4x4 1x6). All-rounder Clinton Pestano then blasted a quick 31 off 14 balls (3x4 3x6) to push his team to 225-5 before he was bowled by Ramdeen.

Eon Hooper was then dismissed for 06, Sinclair (81*) and Askay Homraj (03*) carried the score to 242 for 6 at the end of the 50 overs.

Bowling for UDVD Young Warriors, Kevin Ramdeen took 2 for 29 off ten overs and Linden Austin 2 for 37 from eight overs.

In response, Young Warriors Universal DVD raced to 30 without loss in five overs before opener Farouk Hussain was caught by Askay Homraj off the bowling of Eon Hooper for 19 (3x4). Shimron Hetmyer was trapped LBW by his national Under-19 skipper Shawn Pereira for 10 at 32 for 2 in the 8th over.

Young Warriors never recovered after Hetmyer’s dismissal as leg spinner Pereira and the highly impressive off spinner Eon Hooper bowled well in tandem and they were eventually skittled out for 62 in 24.1 overs.

Only Ishwar Singh of the remaining batsmen got into double figures with 12 as Pereira claimed 5 for 22 off ten overs while Hooper had figures of 2-10. Loyydel Lewis and Delbert Hicks took a wicket a piece for the champions.

BCB Public Relations Officer Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony described the Tenelec Inc. tournament as a huge success

The winning Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Team and praised the management of the USA based Company for its continued investment in Berbice.

Tenelec Inc., Foster noted over the past eight years has sponsored cricket tournaments at the first division and Under-15 levels.

The long serving cricket Administrator specially thanked Mr. Bobby Deonarine, uncle of Test player Narsingh Deonarine for his support.

Foster stated that Berbice players were a special bunch as they have over 20 tournaments at all levels to contest. Foster congratulated the champions RHT Gizmos & Gadgets while urging Young Warriors Universal DVD to regroup for the new season.

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets took home $100,000 and a trophy while Young Warriors Universal DVD collected $60,000. Man-of-the-finals Jason Sinclair also collected $10,000 and a trophy.

Skipper Delbert Hicks received winning prize and trophy

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Friday April 12, 2013

Gayle completes another demolition job Chris Gayle took centre stage once again for Royal Challengers Bangalore, after a rare-slip up in their previous game. He consigned a quiet start to a chase of 155 to a distant memory with another calm demolition job of an opposition team, backed up by his captain Virat Kohli, as Kolkata Knight Riders suffered their second defeat in a row following a promising start to their new season as defending champions.

Gautam Gambhir guided the Knight Riders batting,

happy at being asked to bat during the toss, but the total his side managed proved below-par on an excellent track for batting. The Royal Challengers seamers bowled impressively to restrict partnerships after they had begun encouragingly, and struck in the late overs to stifle an attempted surge. It kept Knight Riders down to a chaseable score, and Gayle made it look worse than it was.

Gambhir was at ease piercing the gaps through the in-field, dispatching Moises

Henriques, who opened the bowling, through the leg side and RP Singh past point and extra cover. Muttiah Muralitharan was driven through off, smacked over mid-on, and slog-swept, all this during a half-century stand with Jacques Kallis that promised to take Knight Riders beyond what they eventually got. Kallis sliced Vinay Kumar to deep point, but the promotion of Yusuf Pathan to No.4 triggered an acceleration. Yusuf struck his first three balls, all from Vinay,

for boundaries to different parts of the ground, before whipping Jaidev Unadkat for six over midwicket. But Royal Challengers pulled things back, breaking the stand when Yusuf holed out to long-on off a slower delivery from Henriques. Gambhir and Tiwary put together a spirited partnership of their own, but the pair, together with Eoin Morgan, fell in a space of two overs at the death. RP leaked a few fours, but picked up three wickets and ran out Ryan McLaren in his final

Chris Gayle

spell. The last four overs, which began with seven wickets in hand, yielded just 31 runs.

Knight Riders would have expected a closer contest, having limited the hosts to 21 for 1 in the first five overs of the chase. But both Gayle and Kohli compensated for their early restraint. They targeted McLaren - who was replacing Brett Lee - first, Kohli whipping him for two fours through the leg side and Gayle swinging him for two massive sixes near cow corner. Kohli cashed in on anything bowled too straight, dismissing Pradeep Sangwan for two consecutive sixes.

The occasional relief for Knight Riders came through Sunil Narine’s miserly spell and when Sangwan managed to york Gayle, though not well enough to beat his defense, but there was a generous supply of length balls against a batsman well set and in the groove to finish things off quickly. Gayle picked out the deep midwicket area, sending Sangwan again, and L Balaji,

over the ropes before reserving the same treatment for Kallis twice in an over.

Changes of pace, cutters, and variations in length were all futile against Gayle, who was the architect of another dominating Royal Challengers performance.

Just how will bowling attacks find a way through that formidable trio of Gayle, Kohli, and AB de Villiers?

Meanwhile, Pune Warriors ended an elevenmatch losing streak across two IPL seasons by registering a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals at their home ground. After being humiliated by Kings XI Punjab in their last match, Pune were better prepared this time with Yuvraj Singh back in the side.

The star player made his presence felt as Pune restricted Royals to a modest 145 and then smashed the winning runs with a towering six that crowned his 28-run cameo and ended the chase with eight balls to spare.

(ESPNcricinfo)

GCC and Police to clash in GCA\Noble House 2nd div. final Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Police will clash in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)\Noble House Sea Foods 2nd division competition starting on Saturday (tomorrow) at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, from 10:30hrs.

The Police team will come from Fitzroy Cully (Capt.)

Troy Benn, Darson La Rose, Randolph Knights, Amir Mohamed, Rawle Haynes, Kelvin Leitch, Sheldon Agard, Collist Cort, Stephan

Blacks, Eric Angel, Mark Cumerbatch, Parnell London and Vishal Jaigobin. Jermain Neblett is Coach with Rodwell Henry as Manager.

GCC comes from Devon Lord, Manny Forde, Fadil Umrow, Ray Barker, Martin Belle, Almando Doman, Trion Forde, Bernard Bailey, Samuel Mc Kenzie, Kevin Plants, Cryon Critchlow, Shamar Graham and Ronaldo Mohamed. Monty Lynch is Manager/Coach.

The Umpires for this fixture are Montgomery Chester and Ryan Banwari.

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 33

::: Letters to the Sports Editor :::

Sealey’s Support for Matthias et al! ALLY SUPPORTS MAJOR DEAR EDITOR, After weeks of campaigning, endorsements, support and pledges of development, accountability, transparency and numerous letters along with interviews and articles. Four presidential candidates namely: Aubrey ‘Shangai’ Major, Christopher Matthias, Alfred King and Ivan Persaud will all converge on Friday, April 12th, 2013 at the Le Meriden Pegasus, the venue for the Ordinary Congress of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) with the most important item on the Agenda; “Elections of Office Bearers”.

With former President, Mr. Colin Klass being unable to contest the presidency, due to the imposition of a 26 months ban compliments of FIFA, due to ‘financial impropriety”. The stage’s now set for a fresh red carpet to be rolled out, ushering in “the Dawn of a new Era”! New in the sense that never before in Klass’ autocratic rule, has so many individuals stepped up to the podium, in pursuit of the presidency.

However, the football fraternity in unison must all say thank you to Klass for his selfishness. That for his 22 years of dictatorial policies, he never pulled under his wing at least 1 person, to pursue training as a successor. While he would have further entrenched himself on subcommittees of CFU, CONCACAF and eventually FIFA! But no, his vision was an iron-fisted rule, which continued to promote personal self-aggrandizement and continued underdevelopment of the sport!

Editor, because of my outspokenness, I, was sidelined and overlooked, never having the privilege of being chosen to attend an overseas International Administrator’s Course, which would have benefited Guyana significantly.

Nevertheless, despite retiring I’m still around, providing meaningful advice whenever it’s needed. Could April 12, finally break the jinx of almost a 40 year dominance, of a Georgetown presidency in the sport?

Finally, in my opinion it should, which would automatically rule out Matthias for the presidency.

Chris, my friend with no offence meant, two years as Hon. Secretary, GFA is too short a period for elevation to the presidency of the GFF. Rather a Vice-Presidency for both yourself and Alfred King would suffice, with Ivan Persaud as a Committee Member and Major the presidency.

Such an executive would display a keen sense of inclusiveness and allowing all bygones to be bygones.

While focusing on the task ahead of truly being committed of total football development! In addition to disposing of unwanted baggage that is on your slate from the GFA, since none of them fits the bill of being GFF executive material at this time.

Abide your time Chris, and await your turn, don’t be judged as a 2nd Klass! If this is achieved I’ll be the first to congratulate you.

Respectfully Yours, Lester Sealey

DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me some space in your sports page to show my allegiance and support for what I think is best for Guyana Football as a donor. As the owner and Chairman of Air Services Limited, Guyana, I am pleased to endorse Mr. Aubrey “Shanghai” Major and his professional team of businessmen to charter a new course for Guyana football.

Of the four (4) candidates contesting the Presidency of the Guyana Football Federation, without a doubt Mr. Major is the most prepared and the most experienced to take up the mantle and fill the void that currently exists in the Federation.

It is time that we bridge the gap between the Administration of football and the players and I am confident that no one will do this better than Mr. Major and his team.

He has put together a lineup with resumes that are impressive, and speaks to the weight of proficiency and management expertise that Aubrey and his team have to

offer in turning around the sport into a marketable and business entity that would propel the sport into a new direction for all players, coaches, trainers, medical team, administrators as well as the country at large will benefit tremendously, since this new vision would definitively attract sports tourism. As a supporter and sponsor of the Guyana National Football Team, I am pleased that someone I know and respect has positioned himself to have a significant impact on football in Guyana.

Mr. Major, whom I met through seeking support for the welfare of the players and

management staff, always find a way to persuade me in critical financial times of business to support. It is based on those qualities among others that from there on I adore this gentleman for his unselfishness.

As such, I have no reservations in endorsing Mr. Aubrey Major for President of the Guyana Football Federation, along with his team of professional businessmen and I am confident it is a decision well made.

Respectfully Yacoob Ally Chairman Air Services Limited

Astonished at Marlan...

From page 36 is your democratic right to have your own view and support of who you wish, Mr. Cole should argue on the record, not on personal, unfounded attacks that any reasonable person could see are clearly malicious. To Mr. Major I say to you, you should answer Mr. Cole’s questions, when he accounts for the money he couldn’t have, when he was Secretary of the GFA. Sherwin Grant Former player and now a supporter of the game

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Friday April 12, 2013

Digital Technology/Chow Pow’s T10 Challenge Series...

Wolf’s Warriors, Superstars XI, Trophy Stall Angels and Regal Champs into finals Wolf ’s Warriors, Superstars XI, Trophy Stall Angels and Regal Champs are the men’s and women’s finalists of the inaugural Digital Technology/Chow Pow’s 10/10 Challenge Series after posting semi-final wins against their respective opponents last Sunday, at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground.

Eight of the best softball teams clashed in the semifinals with each of them harbouring the ambition to grab a place in the final to contest for $1million in cash and prizes and bragging rights of being the first to be crowned champions of the 10/ 10 Challenge series.

The semifinals exceeded expectations as riveting cricket along with the off field games had fans in awe all day, tensions rose, tears flowed and the sixes and fours were too numerous to count.

In the first semifinal, 4R Lioness that included West

Indies star player Shemaine Campbell in the ranks faced a well prepared unit called Regal Champs.

With the experienced Campbell in the team, one would have thought that 4R Lioness would have prevailed, but that was not to be as Regal Champs romped to a 13 runs triumph and secure a place in the final.

Sent in to bat first, Regal Champs roared 118-2 in 10 overs ( Natasha Daniels 42 (1x4) off 27 balls at the important #3 position along with Matana Cambridge 33 (2x6; 3x4) off 14 balls in a partnership of 30 in 14 balls, took the wind out of 4R. Extras contributed a healthy 16.Oma Mohabir took 1-18 from 2 overs, being the lone hand in the bowling.

4R Lioness in reply, was restricted to 105-4 when the overs expired. Shemaine Campbell scored a brisk 42 (2x6; 3x4) off 23 balls to make a fight of it, but wickets

Part of the action in last week’s semi-finals of the Digital Technology/Chow Pow’s T10 Challenge Series at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground. tumbled at regular intervals which made the task monumental. Tight bowling

by Cindy Chunoo 1-13 off 2 overs, Paula Wison 1-10, kept building the pressure.

In the other female semifinal, Trophy Stall Angels sent Mikes Wellwoman packing after registering a 15run win to set up a dream final

against Regal Champs.

Trophy Stall Angels batted first and made 111-4 in 10 overs, Roxanne Demonich blasted 48 (2X6;2X4) off 25 Balls and in the latter half of the innings big hitter Monica Seales smashed 25 not out off 13 balls. Zola Telford took 116 from 2 overs.

Mike’s Wellwoman replied with 96-6 in 10 overs with Telford returning with the bat to top score with 30 (1X6; 3X4) off 20 balls, while Katana Mentore coming down the order at #5 remained unbeaten on 23 off 16 balls to saved them some embarrassment.

Junel Nero with 1-12 off 2 overs and Rookminie Persaud 1-7 off 2 were the pick of the Angels bowlers.

When the men took to the field for their semifinal encounters, the excitement rose to another level. The upset team of the tournament, Recharge, was put to the test by an experienced Superstars 11 team from Mahaica, before they succumbed by 21 runs.

Recharge XI won the toss and inserted Superstars XI into bat and they were off to a flier with the opening

batsmen putting on 54 in 5 overs to place the opposition under pressure.

They eventual made 1268 in the process losing 5 wickets in the last 3 overs in an attempt to score more quickly. SeuchanBoodhoo led the way with 32 (4x6) off 11 balls and Imran Hassan the other opening bat made 22 (1x6; 2x4) off10 balls.

Recharge XI bowling that started wayward after showing signs of nerve, came back in the latter stages with Ramdial Shamlall taking 3-22 and VickramKissoon 3-16 of their 2 overs to bring some respectability to the proceedings.

Recharge XI were then restricted to 105-9 in 10 overs.

Only Komal Singh with 42 off 12 balls which included 5 towering sixes showed some fight to the opposition.

Superstars XI bowling was on target as Rohit Dutchin with 3-10 and Narendra Singh 2-17 made a mockery of Recharge batting other than Singh.

Tears flowed from some of the Recharge players as the reality of not being in the finals stepped in, but they are a team to watch in the future.

The next encounter put the icing on the 10/10 cake for the day. The mighty Wolf’s Warriors took on the powerful Speed Boat team.

Wolf ’s Warriors were inserted by Speedboat XI and scored 115-9 in 10 overs with Skipper Amreth “Rocky” Jairam paving the way with a swashbuckling 52 ( 7x6) off 24 balls with next best score coming from Safraz Karim 19 (3x4).

ShazimHussain with 2-13 and Greg Singh 2-19 were the principal bowlers.

Speedboats XI in reply were limited to 93-9 in 10 overs.

They had recovered from being 3 wickets down for 10 runs at one stage until Safraz Esau came in. He eventually top scored with 24 off 10 balls with 3 sixes, but after he was removed the innings went into a downslide.

The destroyer was Vishnu Tannechandra, who was virtually unplayable as he snared 6-7 from 2 overs and Diaram Persaud took 2-4 from 2 overs, the other wicket taker.

This win set up a final which is being dubbed the battle of the East versus West. Wolf (Continued on page 30)

Barbados hammers T&T by 10 wickets inside 2 days At Queens Park Oval - Barbados beat Trinidad and Tobago by 10 wickets in 2 days.

Barbados reached their winning target of 45-0 with Kraigg Brathwaite scoring an unbeaten 26 and Rashidi Boucher 11. Earlier, Trinidad and Tobago were skittled for 129 in their second innings; Imran Khan scored 33 with Lendl Simmons and Reyad Emrit hitting 26 each; Sulieman Benn snared 5-49 and Jevon Searles 3-26.

Scores Trinidad and Tobago 109 (Imran Khan 30, Miguel Cummins 7-45) and 129 (Khan 33, Sulieman Benn 5-49) lost to Barbados 194 (Jevon Searles 56* I. Khan 3-29) and 45-0.

At Vivian Richards Cricket Ground:

Leeward Islands lead by 19 runs with one wicket in hand against Windward Islands.

Leewards were bowled out for 129 batting first. Kieran Powell led with 51, while Sylvester Joseph supported with 33; Shane Shillingford grabbed 7-45, Garey Mathurin 2-38.

Windwards replied with 268. Liam Sebastien scored 93, Shane Shillingford 42 and Gary Mathurin 30. Yannick Leonard took 4-63, Sherwin Peters 3-19 and Nelson Boland 2-49. Batting a second time Leewards are 158-9 at stumps on day 2. Kieran Powell top scored with 51 and Devon Thomas made 28; Liam Sebastien claimed 4-30 and Shane Shillingford 3-45).

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

Ministry of Trade & Tourism on board for BLUTC Horse Race Classic

Ameera Bacchus of Bacchus Construction presents the cheque to President of BLUTC Rooparam Jagit. At centre is Lakeram Sukdeo.

As race day draws closer, a bevy of sponsors have come on board to join hands with the principals of the Bush Lot United Turf Club (BLUTC) for their one-day Horse Race Meet set for this Sunday at the club’s track, Sea View Park Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice.

The Ministry of Trade & Tourism through the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and a number of new entities has chipped in with support.

The GTA as part of it tourism drive is committed to broadening its spectrum in Sports Tourism. Also jumping on board are Trans Pacific Motor Spares, Rohit Lumber yard, Hot and Spicy Food Beverages, Banks DIH Ltd, Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff of the Shariff Racing Stables, Inshan Bacchus Business Enterprise, Baijnauth Sawmilling, Hand in Hand Insurance, Buddy Shivraj, Shano Seenarine, Digicel, International Pharmaceutical

Agency, Kumar Sree Krisenjee, Lakeram “Buddy” Sukhdeo & family and businessman Premo Baldeo.

Over $ 6.5M in cash, trophies and other incentives are at stake. Seven are carded for the day and already over 70 horses have been entered.

The feature event for D class horses has an encouraging $500,000 for the winner; the race will be over a distance of 1600M. The F & Lower race has a top prize of $360,000 over 1400M. The prize money for the three and four year-old maidens, bred and born in Guyana stands at $400,000 for the distance of 1200M. Attractive prizes are also at stake for the other events which are anticipated to be exciting contests. Top individual performers including the top jockey, stable and trainer will be rewarded with trophies, compliments of the organisers.

Some of the horses entered so far are Diamond Dazzling, Majestic, Fresh Again, Ameera’s Joy, Karina, Red Cloud, De Gump, Alana, Damascus Dream, Silver Kid, Embalm My Heart, Red and Lovely, Flying Baby, Funny Factor, Diamond Dazzling, Spice, Dream Boy Feels Like Gold , Angel Black, Technology, Got To Go, Home Bush Baby, Settle In Seattle, Third World, Top Of the Line, Cat Messiah, Captain Crook, Serenity, Roxona, Mary Ann, Lovely Linda, Royal Intention, Magga Line, Champ, Silent Lizzy, Wild Grinder, Gold Rush, Mr. Kool, Flying Object, Little Tip Top, Pixie Fire and Mona Lisa.

Interested persons can still make enquiries with coordinator and Treasurer Lakeram .B. Sukhdeo on 232 0558 or 672 0810 or President R. Jagit on 232 0231. Gallop time is 12:30hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

LDA and EDC tournament underway

Oswald Charles (right) presents the cheque to Mark Wiltshire.

Ten teams have already qualified for the playoffs of the Linden Dominos Association (LDA) and Exodus Dominos Club (EDC)

nationwide tournament which commenced recently.

According to Organiser Mark Wiltshire, the competition will climax on

May 4 and 5 in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden.

He said that Bosai Mining Company, Banks DIH and Ansa Mc Al have thrown their support behind the competition which is still open to any team. Mix Up, KTS, Lions and B 6 of Georgetown, Exodus, Bidder, Winners and Champions of Linden, Lotto and Blood Sport of Bartica are the teams that have gone through to the playoffs.

Yesterday, Oswald Charles of EDC handed over a cheque for an undisclosed amount to Wiltshire who thanked Charles for the support and is appealing to other members of the business community for assistance.

Page 35

NCN U-15 Inter Zone cricket

Lower Corentyne and New Amsterdam/Canje advance to final This year’s edition of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) National Communication Network (NCN) Under-15 Inter Zone tournament got cracking on Saturday last with Lower Corentyne and New Amsterdam/Canje advancing to the final after securing victories in their first round matches.

The tournament is being utalised to select the Under-15 Inter County team having selected the four teams for this tournament based on performances in the Tenelec Inc. Under-15 Inter Club tourney.

At the Blairmont Community Centre ground, Lower Corentyne defeated West Berbice on first innings to advance. Batting first after losing the toss, West Berbice were dismissed for 71 in 36.3 of their allotted 40 overs; Saheed Khan top scored with 20 and Titus Webster supported with18.

Bowling for Lower Corentyne, Sylus Tyndall took 4 for 12 and Veeramootoo Senwansane 3 for 11. In response the visitors reached 80 for 4 off their allotted overs to claim a vital first innings lead of 9 runs.

Matthew Hardyal 15, Adrian Sukhra 14 and Veeramootoo Senwansane 12 all reached double figures while Joshua Harrichan 16 and Keiron Cort 12 added 35 crucial runs in an unbroken 5th wicket partnership.

Kris Ramnarine took 2 for 20 runs from 11 overs while Rameshwar Somwaru and Titus Webster took a wicket a piece.

Batting a second time with a deficit of 9 runs, West Berbice were bowled out for 73

with Webster 23, Joseph Nicholson 15, Bramdat Singh 14, Kris Ramnarine 12. Off spinner Joshua Gobin snared 5 for 17 runs from 10 overs while Senwansane took 3 for 10. Needing to score 65 for an outright win, Lower Corentyne reached 20 for 4 before time ran out; medium pacer Titus Webster completed a fine all round performance with 3 for 8 runs from 4 aggressive overs.

At the Skeldon Community Centre ground, excellent all round play from Joel Seetaram led New Amsterdam/Canje to first inning points over Upper Corentyne. Batting first after winning the toss, the visitors were bowled out for 135 in their 40 overs; Kevin Sinclair 33, Kyle Michael 22 and Seetaram 20 being the principal scorers.

Bowling for Upper Corentyne Vickram Laljit took 4 for 31 and Abdul Ajib 2 for 17.

The home team in response fell for 89; Nicholas Seenarine topped with 20; Seetaram claimed 4 for 27 and Tyrell Peters 3 for 15.

Batting a second time with a first innings lead of 46, New Amsterdam/Canje reached 90 for 4 when stumps were drawn. Joel Seetaram 33 (4x4) and Kyle Michael 20 were the principal contributors. Vickram Laljit and Abdur Ajib claimed two wickets each for a disappointed Upper Corentyne side. Upper Corentyne and West Berbice would clash in the third place game while Lower Corentyne and New Amsterdam/Canje faces off in the final on a date to be announced. NCN Radio will provide ball by ball coverage of the final.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

T&T Martial Arts Karate C/ships...

Harpy Eagles Martial Arts Academy captures 3 Gold 6 Silver 3 Bronze medals

Proud Achievers! Sensei Troy Bobb (right) pose with the other members of his Academy in Trinidad & Tobago Guyana’s Harpy Eagles Martial Arts Academy has continued its fine showing at Regional and International events, this time the Academy led by Sensei Troy Bobb raked in a total of 12 medals at the just concluded Trinidad and Tobago Martial Arts Karate Championships held on Sunday April 7.

Bobb, no stranger to doing Guyana proud led from the front when he won gold in the Kata competition and was also declared the Wind Grand Kata champion, he campaigned in the 35 years and over category. The baby of the team, Twyle Kirk Shuman competing in the 5-years and under male competition, won silver medals both the Kata and Sparring.

Marcus Massiah Stevenson who contested the 8 to 9 years male division took

silver in Kata and bronze in Sparring.

One of two females on the team, Zoann Breann Shuman took silver in Sparring contesting the 10 to 12 years competition.

The other female, Crystal Emanuel captured gold in Sparring for her Academy in the 13 to 14 competition along with silver in Kata and bronze in Weapons.

The other gold medalist was Isaiah Makonnen Stevenson in the Sparring competition. Stevenson also hauled in a silver medal in the Kata and bronze in Weapons.

According to Sensei Bobb, the next event for the Harpy Eagles Martial Arts Academy will be the ANFMA National Championships scheduled for May 24 and 25 in the United States of America.

Friday April 12, 2013

Astonished at Marlan Cole’s rantings As a football devotee, I wish to start off by saying that it takes a lot to surprise me!

However it was with great astonishment that I greeted the article in the Stabroek News, titled “Cole says Major was part of Klass’s unethical regime” which was based on an interview with Marlon Cole.

I found his comments and the article as a whole for that matter, very strange, since while holding the position of Secretary for the GFA, Cole’s name for a long time was synonymous with that very word “unethical”; Cole’s tenure as secretary was marred by controversy with failure to produce any financial statements or to otherwise account for monies spent that led to numerous accusations of fraud and subsequently led to a no confidence motion for him and his regime.

This all culminated in his removal. Needless to say, he is not exactly the most credible of sources, especially on matters of purported financial irregularity. However in the interest of clarification, as a football supporter and someone supportive of Mr. Major’s candidacy, I find it necessary to lend my voice to the representations.

I remember reading that Cole while Secretary for the GFA, had asked Klass quite a number of times for extension after extension to facilitate the “righting” of his accounts while he was a part of the GFA. To this day, it is still unclear as to where the funds went or whether he was ever

able to account for over Six (6,000,000) million dollars that ought to have been accounted for.

That unfortunately is the only memory of his regime that anyone in the football fraternity is left with.

Moreover, Cole also served as the President of the Conquerors Football Club and lost his position there as well, purportedly for misappropriation of funds.

The pattern is clear. Mr. Cole is now Co-Director of PETRA, we can only hope that the pattern doesn’t continue with his newest endeavor.

Mr. Cole in my opinion was clearly launching a personal attack at Mr. Major, since he cannot speak to his record, which is solid and commendable and for all to see. His public support of Christopher Matthias comes as no surprise as they both have a lot in common based on records and only solidified my argument that this article was nothing short of an illadvised smear campaign for obvious reasons and should only be seen as an attempt to further his own ambitions.

Mr. Cole brought up a number of extraneous and already settled issues that have little or no bearing on Mr. Major’s tenure as Organizing Secretary of the GFF. Cole went as far as questioning the GOAL Project and whether it is being done. Naturally, the fact that building and construction happens in stages has eluded Mr. Cole.

The entire matter with the switching of the match from Guyana to the USA is public record and statements explaining and clarifying the entire operation were released. That is now a finished issue that Mr. Major had little control over.

Why in Cole’s opinion this is somehow his doing, or why he should be asked to speak on the matter? Mr. Major is not the head of the Federation and is not authorize to make public pronouncement of sensitive matters.

In Mr. Cole’s personal tirade he went as far as questioning the functionality and legitimacy of the Electoral Committee endorsed by FIFA to elect the new President, and in the process criticized all the other associations for basically, not doing the nomination the way he wanted it to be done; coincidentally, the way he wanted it done was the same way the candidate he is supporting did it. Naturally, he doesn’t question the legitimacy of the Electoral Committee where his candidate is concerned or his

candidate’s nomination.

The most distasteful part of the article to my mind has got to be Mr. Cole’s blatant disrespect of the National Players. He proffered quite foolishly and without justification that he “empathized and sympathized” with any player who supported Mr. Major because of their “lack of judgment” and opined that the only reason they supported Mr. Major is because he “may have afforded them phone calls”!

While I found this as utter balderdash and borderline unintelligent, and should be seen as an affront to rational thinking, it begs the question, who died and made Mr. Cole the last pronouncer on things right and wrong?

Furthermore, how dare he insinuate that the players only supported Major because of a few phone calls!

His callous thinking didn’t stop there, his contempt for the National players continued when he basically asked them to prove to him that they have some “viable living sustenance”.

What nonsense! The fact that the players have survived and continue to live without asking Mr. Cole for a morsel is testimony to the fact that they have “viable living sustenance” and if we are to agree with his gauge of success “erecting a property”, those who do not have a property, must be well below the poverty line! I’ll have Mr. Cole know that Mr. Major was one of the instrumental people in ensuring that National Players are paid and stopped playing for free.

If anything by his own admission, he has said that he is surprised by the support for Mr. Major, that is because people recognize his contributions to the sport and more notably they recognize that he is best suited for the position.

Since Mr. Cole is supporting Mr. Matthias, I have to wonder if that old saying is true though... do birds of a feather truly flock together? I do remember that Mr. Christopher Matthias was also removed from his post as President of the GFA also for issues of financial irregularity.

In addition, he recently received the endorsement of Mr. Terrence Archer, former Guyana National Football Captain and Former Manager of Republic Bank; he too was removed from the Bank under allegations of multi-million dollar fraud and other financial irregularities. So the flock is surely taking shape!

I wish to say finally that it (Continued on page 33)

Friday April 12, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 37

t r o Sp

Jamaica take first innings - hosts routed for 96, points from Guyana Baugh hits 2nd fifty

By Zaheer Mohamed Jamaica are in firm control against Guyana at the end of the second day of their West Indies Cricket Board Regional 4-day game Carlton Baugh smashes a yesterday at the Guyana boundary off Steven Jacobs National Stadium, Providence.

Jamaica took a firstinnings lead of 112 after Guyana were bowled out for 96 in reply to the visitors 208.

Batting a second time Jamaica recovered from 875 to be 183-5 when bad light stopped play, with Carlton Baugh on 59 and Jermain Blackwood on 41. The pair added 96 for the sixth wicket after Steven Jacobs put them on the back foot.

Jacobs removed opener Danza Hyatt for 40 and Nkrumah Bonner for 01 to leave them on 52-2 after openers Hyatt and Brenton Parchment added 48.

Jacobs’ consistent line and length once again paid off when he trapped Parchment leg before for 19 at 69-3. Tamar Lambert and Jermain Blackwood took the score to 87 before skipper Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l struck. He first sent back Lambert for 19 then had David Bernard Jnr. caught by Leon Johnson without scoring as Jamaica lost 2 wickets without addition to overnight 78, caught and ease against pacers Cotterell Anthony Bramble and h r s . B A R B A D O S At Vivian Richards the score.

However Baugh and bowled for 81; Sheldon and Andrew Richardson. s k i p p e r Ve e r a s a m m y HAMMERS T&T BY 10 Cricket Ground: Leeward Blackwood took Jamaica to Cotterell was left unbeaten Fudadin was first to go when Permaul added 27 for the WICKETS INSIDE 2 DAYS Islands lead by 19 runs with he was run out for 01 while eight-wicket but At Queens Park Oval - one wicket in hand against the close with levelheaded on four.

Joseph finished with Chandrika, was trapped leg Bramble fell on the Barbados beat Trinidad and Windward Islands. batting in hazy conditions. figures of 4-53 while before to Cotterell without stroke of lunch, to David Tobago by 10 wickets in 2 Leewards were bowled Baugh who was put out for 129 batting first. down by Leon Johnson on 10 Devendra Bishoo had 3-51. scoring leaving the host at 5- Bernard Jnr. for 15. The days.

Guyanese went to the break Barbados reached their Kieran Powell led with 51, drove Jacobs down the R o n s f o r d B e a t o n , 2.

Veerasammy Permaul and Leon Johnson (00) then at 53-8 eight with Permaul winning target of 45-0 with while Sylvester Joseph wicket for a boundary before Steven Jacobs had 1-27, 1-31 pulled Richardson to fine leg not out on 20.

Kraigg Brathwaite scoring supported with 33; Shane hoisting Devendra Bishoo where Cotterell held an easy A f t e r t h e i n t e r v a l an unbeaten 26 and Rashidi Shillingford grabbed 7-45, for a maximum. He stroked and 1-32 respectively.

Earlier, Veerasammy catch before Chanderpaul B e r n a r d J n r. t r a p p e d B o u c h e r 11 . E a r l i e r, Garey Mathurin 2-38. six fours and one six, while Permaul was the only Hemraj (00) was taken off Ronsford Beaton in front for Trinidad and Tobago were Windwards replied with Blackwood is on 41 with two b a t s m a n t h a t o f f e r e d Cotterell with the score on o n e b u t t h e s t u b b o r n skittled for 129 in their 268.

Liam Sebastien scored fours. Jacobs has so far Permaul shared in a last second innings; Imran Khan 93, Shane Shillingford 42 picked up three wickets for resistance with 49 (4x4), as 10-4.

Without addition to the wicket stand of 35 with Keon scored 33 with Lendl and Gary Mathurin 30.

43 while Permaul ended the Guyana were bowled out in 3 0 .

5 o v e r s .

A n t h o n y total Steven Jacobs (00) lost Joseph before Bernard Jnr. Simmons and Reyad Emrit Yannick Leonard took 4-63, day with two wickets for 49.

Bramble (15) and Narsingh his stumps to Cotterell who bowled the latter for six. hitting 26 each; Sulieman Sherwin Peters 3-19 and Earlier, Jamaica with an Deonarine (13) were the then bowled Narsingh Permaul innings lasted for Benn snared 5-49 and Jevon Nelson Boland 2-49. overall lead of 295, resumed Batting a second time day two on 204-9 with o n l y o t h e r G u y a n e s e Deonarine for 13 as the left 58 balls and included four Searles 3-26. batsman to reach double hander decided to leave a fours and two maximums.

Scores Trinidad and Leewards are 158-9 at Baugh on 78 and Sheldon figures after Guyana started ball that came back from Cotterell and Bernard Tobago 109 (Imran Khan 30, stumps on day 2. Kieran Cotterell on 03. They only their first innings in the outside off stump at 25-6.

Jnr. finished with 4-31 and 3Miguel Cummins 7-45) and Powell top scored with 51 managed four more runs to It was soon 26 for seven 18 respectively while 129 (Khan 33, Sulieman and Devon Thomas made the total in 2.5 overs before opening session.

Guyanese openers Assad when Devendra Bishoo was Richardson ended with 2 for Benn 5-49) lost to Barbados 28; Liam Sebastien claimed Keon Joseph removed Fudadin and Rajendra c a u g h t b e h i n d o f f 31 for Jamaica. The game 194 (Jevon Searles 56* I. 4-30 and Shane Shillingford Carlton Baugh Jnr. who Chandrika never looked at Richardson without scoring. continues today from 09:30 Khan 3-29) and 45-0.

3-45). added just three to his Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210