Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Self-respecting newspapers should not have anonymous writers

This system of transporting prisoners has to be reviewed

DEAR EDITOR, As long as five years ago, I stated that my policy is that I would not reply to anonymous letter-writers and the pen-name columnist in the Kaieteur News, “Peeping Tom.” I believe no academic and/or commentator who believes in open, candid discourse should dishonour their profession by engaging an anonymous debater I am only penning this reply to response to the person that goes under the guise of M Maxwel because there is a Stabroek News dimension therefore one can say I am commenting on that input. The Stabroek input is that M. Maxwell’s real existence has been detailed to the newspaper. But one of my contentions is that both SN and KN should inform readers why the need for anonymity M. Maxwell’s letter (“NYT policy refers to confidential news sources not letter-writers,” Aug 7) says that the New York Times guideline refers only to sources. I don’t know how he/she knows that, because SN didn’t print my NYT guideline which was contained in my letter. But M. Maxwell is right. The NYT document relates to sources only.

And that had to be because the New York Times would not tolerate a weekly anonymous letter writer who comments on general issues rather than inside information of a specific nature If Maxwell did read the NYT policy document he/she would see that it elaborates on the concept of anonymity.

That is my contention with SN with Maxwell and KN with Peeping Tom. Apart from rejecting the use of these fictitious names, I also asked for media responsibility, meaning the two papers should explain why they see the need for the service.

I think in accepting

fictional names, SN and KN should offer their readers an explanation on their acceptance of anonymity.

This becomes more obligatory when both papers announced a policy of the requirement of proof of the real existence of the letterwriter More than ten years ago, I enunciated a policy direction on fictitious names and this arose out of my repudiation of KN’s acceptance of the Peeping Tom column.

I will restate that attitude.

A newspaper should only carry the disclosures and commentaries of people who use pseudonyms out of two circumstances – their lives will be at risk; they face employment termination.

I argued then and will do so now that if there is a whistle-blower in the banking industry, the newspaper should protect the person’s identity.

But there is specificity here. There is a specific area of disclosure – banking only.

Guysuco is very large and if an insider is giving out information to the media then the false name becomes commonsensical. This not the case with Peeping Tom and M. Maxwell.

My position on Peeping Tom and M. Maxwell is inflexible. In the 21st century, respected newspapers should not encourage such practice.

The Peeping Tom anomaly is more egregious.

This person writes on everything under the sun using insulting, demeaning language. As an experienced media practitioner, I see no reason why a newspaper should have a general commentator who has a penname.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

I could understand an anonymous columnist who is a whistle-blower in his/her particular area of operation but not general commentary My point is the SN and KN have never justified to their readers why M. Maxwell and Peeping Tom need to hide their identity.

If the answer is that they are afraid of being physically harmed, then why attack people with your pen in the first place. Take GHK Lall. He performs the identical task M. Maxwell does for the same newspaper. But he is a real man.

If GHK Lall could do it then the Stabroek should ask M. Maxwell why he cannot too. If he cannot then what are the special circumstances? Why not leave candid commentary and journalistic exposure to real people who are willing to take the risk and there are many of us like that in the SN and KN? In a country like Guyana where over seventy percent of the population is under forty years, does the media want to introduce a culture of unjustified anonymity?

Would it not encourage our young people to substitute bravery for a carnival mask? I suspect we will see years more of Peeing Tom (I know the person and he is a he). The same with M. Maxwell.

Very senior people at SN know Maxwell and feel they need to offer Maxwell the favour. I guess this is Guyana were all things do happen all the time Frederick Kissoon

DEAR EDITOR, On Thursday 6th August, 2015 when I was told by a hire car driver at Supenaam that he was assaulted by a prisoner who was at the time in Police custody at the Supenaam Farmers Wharf, I could not believe what he was telling me, so I enquired from more than a dozen persons who I know would normally be there, and the driver’s story was true. Supenaam Farmers Wharf is an area like many other wharf that the speed boats operating from Supenaam to Parika and back would moor so that passengers would embark and disembark. These wharves would also be used for the Police escorting prisoners to and from the Essequibo Coast, to be remanded or serve their sentences, after attending court in the Essequibo Magisterial district. This mode of transportation has been used by the Police for years. But what is totally surprising is how this party of Policemen escorting these

prisoners, and whose duty it is to ensure the custody and care of these men are maintained, allow this prisoner to get within striking distance of the victim or any other person.

We often hear about Police assaulting Prisoners and Prisoners assaulting the Police, but a prisoner in Police custody assaulting a member of the public is strange.

It is confirmed that this prisoner in question is accused of many indictable offences including robbery, and at least on one previous occasion had assaulted a civilian at Parika Stelling while he was also in Police custody in transit from the Georgetown remand facility to Court in the Essequibo Magisterial District.While it is public knowledge that prisoners would travel under heavy Police escort from various court throughout the Essequibo Coast and with the Police vehicle siren blaring, when they reach Supnaam the party of Policemen and prisoners would then use a

boat that would have sometimes a dozen civilians in it. There is always this danger of an escape that can be easily be planned to take place on the river during that journey.

The system and mode of transportation of prisoners has to be reviewed. My understanding is that the prisoner was placed before the court promptly and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. It cannot be disputed that standard operational procedure was not followed by the escorting ranks on that day, and while it must be noted that they are not the ones who decide the way in which prisoners must be transported, it was a clear case of neglect of duty on the part of these ranks.The old saying, nothing happen, nothing said, or if it is not broken you don’t fix it, this practice was going on for years, but it was wrong, it is now broken, we wait to see how early it will be fixed.

Archie W. Cordis Ex-Police Constable.

DEAR EDITOR, The new government has its hands full, so please do not add more to it overloaded program.

What about the Alberttown Police Station with its falling roof, broken window panes and off hinge windows swinging?The list could go on and on as most government buildings were

allowed to deteriorate while government funds were neatly parceled out by the previous government.

Rather, Freddie should urge the government to use all that prison labour idly sleeping and eating and being housed at the state’s expense. Many of those criminals have manual skills that could be properly utilized

in maintaining government buildings.

What about the Courts adding community service to the sentences they pass?

Freddie… while you highlight deficiencies, why not include suggestions for possible solution and action?

Time Freddie, to be proactive, I say.

Carl Veecock

Be pro-active Freddie

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox Mark Jacobs and Courtney Crum-Ewing are not siblings DEAR EDITOR, I’ve had to answer many persons wanting to know why I never told them Courtney Crum-Ewing was my brother.

The newspaper man this morning was most upset, how come you never tell me all this time Crum-Ewing was you brother?

This all stems from the August 11 Kaieteur News article Crum-Ewing, brother protest for justice.

On August 10 we assembled on Avenue if the Republic and Brickdam to remind Parliamentarians and the public of the need for justice for Courtney CrumEwing.

After a few hours two females approached me and one asked me what are you doing out here?

I was a bit taken aback by the question and the approach. I explained to the young lady that she should first identify herself before she started asking me questions. Both young ladies were fiddling with cell phones. I couldn’t tell if they were recording me, communicating with someone else or taking notes on their phones.

I found this strange ad made it known to the young ladies as I stopped multiple times during our brief chat trying to figure out what they were doing.

This sort of behavior

seems quite common among some media operators in Guyana. I was earlier approached by a young man with a camera and microphone who, without identifying himself, stuck a microphone in my face and positioned his camera. Here again I explained to the young reporter that he should first identify himself before he begin asking questions of persons.

Another reporter I presume just stood in the middle of the street, took some pictures and left.

The second or third question one of the female reporters asked me was are you his brother? To which I replied in the negative. I explained that Crum-Ewing was my friend.

The coverage of Courtney Crum-Ewing in life and death by the Guyana press leaves a lot be desired.

I pointed out to the reporters Courtney CrumEwing’s mother who was not interviewed for reasons I cannot fathom. Also present was his sister, girlfriend and three other family members and friends.

For historical accuracy please publish a correction.

I would also recommend Kaieteur News and all media houses in Guyana end the practice of extensively paraphrasing what they say was said and use quotations.

Mark Jacobs

It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Think Tanks can save Guyana from the perils ...

From page 4 wall gets breached and flooding occurs. Apart from the obvious clogged drains, silted canals, blocked alleyways, and undredged outfalls, there is something disturbing about living below sea level in a country like Guyana. The Dutch and English Colonists settled and built plantations along the coastland because of the fertile soil. The Coastland is ideal for planting but its location below sea level makes it the worst place in Guyana on which to build a permanent civilisation, especially in this time of Global Warming, ice meltdown and rising seas.

Yet, we continue with the minuet of life on the coastal plain when we have higher grounds less than an hour’s drive from the City. It is time that we assess how many billions have been spent, how many more is likely to be spent in our life time, the impact of the spending , and what it will take to begin the process of designing a strategic planning engine to develop higher lands for living.

Secondly, we need a Think Tank on how to convert Guyana’s potential to actual wealth. From the 1970s to the present, we have heard the mantra from politicians, diplomats, and those who travel widely in this country; ‘Guyana has rich potential’.

We all believe it, I think. It is time that we convert those possibilities into realities. We know of the abundance of water resources in the Land of Many Waters, yet, apart from drinking the water, fishing in them and sailing, the

waters have been wasted. We have not used it to provide energy, which is our main factor of production, and the most costly. Along with the water sources, Guyana potential for tourism must be studied. Eco-tourism is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world, yet Guyana has not cashed in.

Similarly, Guyana needs a group of scientists to live in our forests and study our flora and fauna with the aim of finding some genetic material that can make products that will be demanded globally. At the launching of the Low carbon Development Strategy some years ago, I made this point publicly, indicating that Guyana can earn far more from its genetic materials than from asking countries to pay for carbon services.

A Think Tank to study Brazil’s economic and social needs in relation to Guyana becoming a supplier will be most strategic. Guyana is a small country with a small population of less than a million people However, with its natural resources still in tact, Guyana can seek to find one or a few goods or services that it can supply Brazil, our neighbour of more than 130 million people. Now that the two countries are linked, it is time for Guyana to maximise the opportunities. If we do not concentrate on Guyana’s potential and exploit it for the good of the nation then our leaders have failed. Potential that remains potential in perpetuity is tantamount to idiocy.

Then there is GYSUCO

and the rice sector. A Commission of Enquiry was recently appointed. A COI will serve a limited purpose. Its findings can be used by a Thank Tank, which will be more strategic in determining the future of the sugar industry. Just as how it is foolhardy to continue living on land that is below sea level, flood prone, and becoming more susceptible, it is nonsensical to continue to put billions every year into an industry that is systemically denude of what it takes to be competitive in foreign markets.

I was pleasantly surprised to read Professor Clive Thomas’ prognosis about GUYSUCO and that of Guyana’s private sector czar, Dr. Yesu Persaud. Both of the learned gentlemen’s comments appeared after my published letter, ‘Sugar is dead horse in Guyana and we should stop whipping it’ (KN, June 19, 2015). Despite what is being said by the experts and non-experts like me, I will submit that a Think Tank will facilitate better decision-making than individual experts. A Think Tank will also give all Guyanese, especially those employed by GUYSUCO, the assurance that the course of action taken will be the best for the nation in the present circumstances.

The same goes for the rice sector. This sector needs a Think Tank. At the recent rice conference, President David Granger said that the rice sector needs to be competitive.

His remarks brought back memories of my involvement with the EC/CARIFORUM Project financed under the 9th EDF, between 2005 and 2007.

This was an 11 million Euro project for the competitiveness the Guyana and Caribbean rice Sector. The project aimed to increase the efficiency and sustainability of the rice industry in Guyana and Suriname, with Guyana being the main beneficiary.

One of the key concerns was the inefficiencies in the production of rice, which contributed to the relatively low

yields as compared to international competitors. Some of the key problems that impact on the regional rice industry are poor quality, low productivity, low rice milling and processing efficiencies, limited rice marketing strategies and inefficient means of generating and transferring technology.

In October, 2005 a rice Financing Conference was held in Georgetown to bring together experts in the fields of agribusiness, investment and banking under the theme: “Increasing Investment flows for Rice and other Agri-Businesses in the Caribbean”. A financing facility was also established as part of EC/ CRIFORUM project. This facility was administered by GBTI and provided loans to rice farmers. It operated as a revolving fund and rice farmers, categorised in three bands: large scale, medium scale, and small scale, were allowed to drawn down millions of dollars, depending on how they qualified.

However, the 9th EDF did not result in increase competitiveness of the rice sector.

The project failed as rice farmers did not repay their loans.

Any similar facility under the new government administration is likely to experience the same fate. The sector needs a Think Tank that will be the vehicle for its total transformation.

Several other areas need Think Tank intervention: Youth Development; Vulnerable Communities such as Linden, Buxton and Pigeon Island; and the return of professionalism in the Guyana Police Force and high-ranking public officer holders. While the new government has been bequeathed sectors and structures that need urgent treatment and cannot await Think Tank treatment, the sustainability and competitiveness of the sectors demand thorough investigation, diagnosis, and treatment that Think Thanks can facilitate.

Lennox Cornette Communications Specialist

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

At least ten killed during Haiti elections, say officials PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (HCNN) — At least ten people have been killed and several dozen others wounded in Haiti during violent incidents related to the conduct of last week Sunday’s legislative elections, described as valid by international observers despite the violence, technical problems and irregularities that tainted the vote.

Five people were killed on

Election Day, one was killed on Thursday and at least four were gunned down during the electoral campaign that led to the Sunday, August 9 ballot, which allowed voters to elect 119 members of the lower chamber and two-thirds of the 30-member senate.

A runoff is set to take place on October 25, at the same time as the first round of a presidential ballot to elect the successor of Haitian President Michel Martelly,

whose term expires on February 7, 2016. Despite a number of irregularities and other serious logistical and technical problems, election and government authorities as well as international observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union said the ballot was valid because problems encountered could not generally alter the results of the vote.

Central Bank to pump more US$$ into market

Trinidad Express - One day after Republic Bank Ltd (RBL) “tightened controls” on the sale of US currency to its customers, the Central Bank is expected to release a larger sum into t h e m a r k e t to clear any backlog requests.

Friday, RBL said it has “not suspended foreign currency sales; rather, it has tightened controls in the sale process, referring all requests for foreign currency to the Bank’s foreign exchange

...Move to clear backlog of requests department for approval”.

On Thursday, the new bank directive was communicated to all branch managers and the bank did not sell any US currency.

“Recently, the foreign exchange market has been experiencing a higher demand for US currency than the available supply, and with the bank currently holding the largest market

share, it has therefore been met with the biggest need to satisfy its customers’ requirements.

This has resulted in a strain on the bank’s resources and in order to ensure equitable distribution of the bank’s available supply to its customers, tighter controls have been put in place,” the bank statement said.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2015

Jamaica on course to pass ninth consecutive IMF test KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Jamaica is on course to pass its ninth consecutive review under the extended fund facility (EFF) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This, after successfully surpassing all the key economic targets set by the IMF for the April to June quarter.

A team from the IMF is currently in the island reviewing the country’s

performance for the quarter under the four-year EFF. Speaking with journalists last week, co-chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), Richard Byles, said the indications are that the country will be given another favourable review by the IMF team.

“I think the news that we have received in the last month has been pretty positive on the economic

front. The current account has been good, inflation has been within target, gross domestic product (GDP), if a little soft, is at least positive, and of course, the debt to GDP, that reduction is quite significant, (and) the primary balance, we have achieved the target,” Byles noted.

The EPOC co-chair informed that for the April to June quarter the country achieved a primary surplus balance of $20.4 billion, which

is $3.4 billion more than the target of $17.0 billion set by the IMF. This, is he said, was mainly due to an improved performance in tax revenues for the quarter, which exceeded the budget by $3.4 billion or 3.7 per cent.

“The main taxes that did well were Company Tax, up by $1.5 billion; Sales Consumption Tax up by $1.6 billion; General Consumption Tax (GCT), (up) $1.1 billion; and tax on interest up by $1.0 billion,” Byles said.

He reported that overall, taxes are 16.5 percent or $13.5 billion better than the same period last year.

Another strong economic performer for the last quarter was the net international reserves (NIR), which at the end of June, stood at US$2.1 billion compared to the target of US$1.4 billion.

“Indeed, at July, we know that the (figure) is US$2.4 billion and the target for July is US$1.5 billion , so the NIR is actually outpacing the target and is now nearly a billion more than the target for July,” Byles noted.

Meanwhile, he informed

Richard Byles

that the country’s current account recorded a surplus of US$39.4 million for the quarter, which is the first in ten years.

The improvement, Byles noted, was due largely to a decline of US$164.8 million in imports of mainly fuel and food.

The current account balance is the difference between Jamaica’s foreign

exchange earnings from goods and services, income inflows and remittances, and all its foreign exchange expenditures.

Other positive economic indicators are a 0.5 percent inflation rate for the month of June, and 0.4 percent growth in GDP for the January to March quarter, compared to the corresponding period in 2014.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

SAJ Rice Mill sacks 17 - workers protest outside Ministry of Social Protection

The Ministry of Social Protection (formerly the Labour Ministry) on Friday morning attracted some of the sacked SAJ Rice Company Limited workers, their friends and union leaders, each with placards in hands held high, depicting their disgust and anger with the way their labour dispute was handled.

The workers are claiming that they were wrongfully dismissed by the company who they also claimed failed to give them adequate notice.

The SAJ Rice Mill Company Limited located at Burma, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara is a milling company that mills and exports rice. The company is owned by Haitians and Columbians Agencies.

“Despite the fact that there has been a change of political administration, they are still employers in this country who are prepared to continue to violate the rights of workers with impunity and to treat workers

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Dem boys seh...

Rohee and Nandlall change up everything

Some people really showing how much dem use to get from Jagdeo. One of de people who use to get things was C-hicken, de top policeman at de Brickdam Police Station. He never had to beg but Jagdeo gone suh he got to beg.

He send out a notice begging fuh a prize fuh a police raffle but dem boys ain’t sure wha he begging for. De notice mek dem boys laugh. De police got a raffle and C-hicken write asking for a stereo set which will be de forth price. “A request is hereby made for a donation for a Fourth Price win of a stereo set.” One man seh that C-hicken forget how to beg.

He ain’t de only one who got problems. Rohee go to Soulja bai and seh that he want a job as communication officer. Before he could done talk, Moses, de one who part de Pee Pee Pee, tell Rohee that he can get de wuk if he can write a sentence wid de word ‘contagious’.

Rohee write that he see he neighbour painting he house wid a one-inch paint brush and that de job will take de kunt-ages. Right away Soulja Bai seh that from wha de Pee Pee Pee lef behind dem, it gun tek dem kunt-ages to fix de kuntry.

Dem got to fix de Skeldon plant, de Barriott and dey still got deal wid that kuntry bai who seh that nobody can’t blame him fuh nutten, not even fuh de mistakes that he mek. He seh that dem should blame that other kuntry bai, Donald Dumb, who think he can sing karaoke and deh hiding behind a plant pot when he singing. Jagdeo seh that he hear that Donald Dumb only push he out he head like a snake peeping out from a hole when de foreigner holler pun him.

And de only reason Donald can go to sing karaoke is because he ain’t got nutten to do. Well Moses and Soulja Bai seh that dem gun find wuk fuh all of dem. But Anil already find wuk fuh heself. This is a man who seh that he was rich till Donald mek him Attorney General.

De people kick him out on May 11, 2015 and he tun and seh that dem ungrateful. Yesterday he show that he find wuk fuh heself when he write a letter in de Big Market paper. He sign de letter Mohabir Anil Protestors in front of the Ministry of Social Protection.

Nandlall, MP. Dem boys want to know since when he tun MP. He is not in Parliament. Well if is suh Anil think de world does wuk, he “We are determining to approached the Union to contemptuously,” said one exercise our militancy and inquire about its operations. better join de company of dem other MP like shriMP, revaMP and protestor.

President of the Guyana bring an end to all acts of However the General Workers scaMP. Of course, even Donald seh that Anil can only be an MP at this time and before de swearing in is because he is a scaMP. Trades Union Congress violation against workers of Union (GWU) visited the Talk half and don’t ask Rohee fuh mek anymore sentence.

Continued on page 14 (GTUC) Norris Witter sent a this country. The rights at clear message to other work are a non-negotiable employers whether state, item.”

The cause of the private, local or foreign that workers will not condone demonstrations began two “these atrocities” any longer. weeks ago when employees Witter also mentioned, of the said company

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

Guyana Water Inc operating at a loss While the coalition government may be working to ensure that every Guyanese has access to quality, potable water in every rural and hinterland community, an assessment of the accounts of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has revealed that the company has been operating at a loss.

This is according to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. He noted that an analysis of the state of the

- Finance Minister entity has shown that the economic costs of production of potable water surpass the current tariff, with electricity cost and non-revenue water being key factors affecting financial viability.

To this end, Jordan said that the Government will ensure that improvement and efficiency related to reducing

losses in the production and distribution of potable water are at the top of the list.

The Finance Minister said that the entire reticulation system of the City of Georgetown, along with substantial overhaul of the Shelter Belt facility, will commence shortly.

He said, too, that within the next few months, new treatment plants will be constructed to supplement GWI’s existing production capacity.

In like manner, Jordan said that focused attention will be placed on addressing the gaps in potable water availability in the far flung reaches of the country’s deep hinterland neighbourhoods, since, in many instances, the intensive activities associated with river mining and logging

pollute the rivers and creeks.

The Finance Minister also noted that critical to the sustainability of providing a high quality of water service, is a change in the national approach to managing water resources in Guyana to one of integrated water resource management.

In this regard, he said that the re-establishment of the National Water Council, a new Non-Revenue Water Reduction Plan and Dakoura Creek Watershed Protection Plan will be implemented.

The Finance Minister also disclosed during his 2015 Budget Speech that government will invest $2.9 billion to ensure an improved quality of water supply.

In this regard, he explained that the sum of $422 million is provided for the completion of wells at Goed Fortuin, Hope and Cotton Tree, while drilling and interconnection works for new wells at Port Mourant, and Wakenaam will commence this year.

He said that government will also expend $950 million to construct more wells, install ground storage tanks, and install transmission mains and water meters at Uitvlugt, Diamond and Sheet Anchor.

In addition, Jordan noted

that the extension of distribution transmission mains will be done in areas such Hope Housing Schemes, Stanleytown, Williamsburg, Kildonan and No. 59, 66 and 69 Villages. Under this same provision, he said that rehabilitation works will be done to the Timehri and New Amsterdam Water Treatment Plants.

The Finance Minister said that a sum of $592 million is allocated for Amelia’s Ward and Wisroc interconnection systems, while the upgrading of service connections and metering continues within the same service areas.

Some $130 million has been allocated to improve the water supply systems in areas such as Koko, Mabaruma, and Port Kaituma in Region One; and Mahdia, Monkey Mountain, Princeville and Campbelltown in Region Eight.

A report released last year by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) revealed that 50 to 70 percent of the water produced by GWI, estimated at 123,241,062 m3 in 2013, goes unaccounted for despite advancements in annual billing, while the current sewerage arrangement covers 48,000

people living in Georgetown.

This figure represents just 6.5 percent of the national population, as the vast majority continues to use septic tanks and pit-latrines.

The report also spoke of a US$31.6 million package that was being provided for Guyana’s water and sewerage system.

The previous Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali had told sections of the media that when it comes to reducing those losses, one must understand that the system is old and inefficient.

He even noted that many of the problems are caused by customers. Ali had said that many persons continue to tamper with the system, going as far as breaking pipes so as to redirect the flow of water.

He had even accused several mining operations in Region Eight of perpetrating such acts.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Presidential third term decision…

CJ omitted, ignored certain aspects of law in ruling - Christopher Ram Chartered Accountant and Attorney- at-law, Chris Ram is convinced that Chief Justice, (Ag) Ian Chang omitted or ignored certain aspects of law, when he handed down a ruling that paves the way for a person to serve as President of Guyana for more than two terms.

Sharing his sentiments on the Ram and McRae website, Ram detailed that among other aspects of law, the CJ failed to address Article 65 of the Constitution in the ruling in the constitutional case, which was filed on behalf of Georgetown resident, Cedric Richardson.

The Article speaks of Parliament’s powers to make laws. Article 65 of the Constitution stipulates that “Parliament may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Guyana.”

According to Ram that Article was examined extensively in a highly respected decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal in A.G. v. Mohamed Ally (1987) 41 WIR 176 CA Guyana and was described by the then Chancellor Massiah as words which “do not define and set the limits of the categories of legislation which Parliament might properly enact, but merely state in short formulation, the fullness of Parliament’s legislative authority.”

“At the very least, the Court should have offered some explanation for not considering these words,” he

Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang

Attorney-at-law, Chris Ram

said. Ram said that compounding the error of omission, is that the decision also ignores the Constitution’s specific authority to Parliament to alter the Constitution.

He noted that Article 66 of the constitution states that “Subject to the special procedure set out in article 164, Parliament may alter this Constitution.”

“Mr. Chang has demonstrated a tendency to dissect and examine a single word of the Constitution – as he did in the Budget Cut Case - but yet ignores an entire Article or two!” Ram contended.

The case was filed on behalf of Georgetown resident, Cedric Richardson.

Richardson had sought an interpretation of the provisions in the constitution

regarding the two-term limit for the Guyana presidency.

He questioned whether a referendum should not have been held, instead of the National Assembly having the powers to decide to limit the number of terms of a President to two.

In 2000, the Guyana Constitution Reform Commission recommended a maximum of two terms in office for a President.

The Laws of Guyana were changed in 2001, and assented to by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, which made it clear that, “A person elected as President after the year 2000, is eligible for re-election only once.

However on July 9, the Chief Justice (CJ) ruled that the presidential term limit imposed by the 2001 amendment to Article 90 of the

Constitution is unconstitutional, unless it is approved by the citizens in a referendum.

The Chief Justice had ruled that the approval of the people through a referendum is needed for placing term limits on the Presidency and that the 2001 constitutional amendment is invalid and without legal effect.

Chang, in his ruling, asserted that: “There can be no doubt that Parliament could have altered Article 90 by twothirds majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly.

But in so far as those alterations diminished and further restricted democratic sovereignty which, under Article 164(2) was procedurally protected by the requirement of a referendum for its legal validity and efficacy, the holding of a referendum was required.”

The Attorney-at-law pointed out page 8 of the ruling, in which the acting Chief Justice writes, “The articles of the Constitution

having received the favourable vote of the electorate in a referendum represent the direct vote of the people.” “That is simply not true. The 1980 Constitution was never put to the electorate,” Ram added.

He noted that the CJ also ignored submission by the then Attorney General on the history of the Amendment and the words of the Leader of the House Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud in introducing Bill 14 of 2000 which was passed and assented to by then President Bharrat Jagdeo.

He quoted Persaud as saying that “This Bill broadens the scope of democracy and removes certain powers which are considered dictatorial.”

The lawyer also noted that submissions and cogent arguments made by attorneys involved in the case were

strangely not mentioned in the 37 -page decision.

Ram asserted that “these omissions and commission seem to be of sufficient significance as to undermine the entire ruling, suggesting as it does that the submissions and arguments of the defendants have so little merit that they do not even deserve an acknowledgment by the Court.”

He noted further argued that it is hard to accept that Justice Chang really believes that Act 17 of 2000 setting term limits, a feature of an increasing number of Constitutions, had the effect of destroying or weakening the basic elements of the Guyana Constitution.

This, according to the lawyer is, the only ground on which the Judge could hold Act 17 of 2000, unconstitutional.

It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2015

Juvenile in police lockups…

Trinidad extradites Guyanese to US to face murder charges Rose Hall teen released into mother’s custody

Guyanese national, Balkumar Singh, was on Friday extradited to the United States of America to face charges for murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment and related offences.

According to a statement from the Office of the Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, Sergeant Herman Narace of local Interpol led a party of police officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in the prisoner removal exercise.

Singh was handed to US Marshals at the Piarco International Airport, on a flight that departed at 08.45hrs.

Singh is wanted for the 1999 murder of Abzal Khan and assault of Puran Mohammed outside the Masonic Temple in Hicksville, New York.

Singh, 37, a Guyaneseborn United States citizen with immigration status in Canada, was being sought by US authorities on charges of murder, assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. He has 14 convictions in Canada, including assaults and weapons charges, the release said.

He was detained in T&T on March 27 for violating immigration laws, under the name Shauwn Maharaj. Based on information received by local Interpol, the detainee was positively matched as Balkumar Singh, who is also known by the following aliases: Tevin Persaud, Terry Persaud, Kumar Doodnauth, Terry Singh and Sean Maharaj, the release said.

The Magistrates Court

consented to Singh being extradited to the US without proceedings, which resulted in the Attorney General signing the approval in late July.

Singh was represented in the courts by Attorney at Law Abigail Roach- Thomas whilst Attorneys at Law Vashist Maharaj, Chris Selochan, Netram KowlessarHead of the Central Authority Unit and Kylene Deosingh, represented the requesting the US. According to the Trinidad’s AG office, this latest extradition stands as another achievement for the Attorney General and the Central Authority in the fight against crime.

“The Attorney General is committed to working with law enforcement agencies in the Caribbean and other international bodies to confront and fight the scourge of crime.”

For this year alone, Trinidad has extradited six persons for charges ranging from murder, sexual offences, drug trafficking, money laundering and fraud.

The extraditions included to the US, United Kingdom and the even St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The days of sharing a cell with adult prisoners has come to an end for the 15-year-old girl who was being held at the Whim Police Station lockups on the Corentyne. On Thursday, the teen was let go into her mother’s custody.

The release was made one day after her 48-year-old mother, took to the streets to protest the teen’s detention.

Bridgette Moore had protested the Chancellor’s Office at the Court of Appeal, Kingston on Wednesday, calling for justice.

There she recorded her dissatisfaction with the way her daughter was being passed through the system as a result of decisions Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer had taken at the Albion Court.

The young girl had been remanded during her first court appearance on July 12, last on an assault charge. The majority of the time the teen had been languishing in the Whim Police Station lockups.

Kaieteur News contacted the family by telephone on Thursday and the teen’s mother expressed sheer joy that her young daughter is back in her care. “I’m really glad to have her back after all that she went through,” the

mother of nine said.

Moore said she was summoned to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court the day after her protest where the decision to release the teen into her custody was made.

The 15-year-old was also elated. She described the time she spent in custody as “punishment” as she claims she had been exposed to some inhumane conditions in the police lockups.

The teen was being tossed between places: the lockups in Berbice and the Sophia Juvenile Centre in the city as a result of the remand order the Magistrate had handed down.

According to reports, the 15-year-old was slapped with an assault charge after attempting to defend her pregnant sister, who came under attack from an older woman. The matter was forwarded to the Rose Hall Police Station and the teenager was subsequently hauled before the courts.

At her very first court hearing on July 12, Magistrate Mittelholzer remanded her.

Policy dictates that youths older than 10 but younger than 17, who come into conflict with the law, are

The teen’s mother, Bridgette Moore

not supposed to be detained in the same environment with adult offenders.

The Juvenile Holding Centre, in effect, is the facility where youths should be detained but the girl was being kept in the lockups with older prisoners.

The family of the teenager had called on the relevant authorities to look into the situation with some urgency, especially since the teenager had been returned to the station lockups last week after a brief time at the holding centre.

Kaieteur News understands that a concerned government Minister had played a major role in reuniting the family.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

Analysis of CSEC results reveals improvements in Maths & English The Education Sector has long been struggling to maintain good performances in Mathematics and English.

And a round of applause resonated throughout the auditorium of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) when Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam,

announced that an analysis of the 2015 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination results revealed improvements in the subject areas of Mathematics and English A. Sam conveyed that based on the analysis, there were increases in the Grade One to

Freedom House intruder shot Doctors were yesterday forced to amputate the left arm of an unidentified man who was shot after scaling the wall of the People’s Progressive Party’s Headquarters in Robb Street and allegedly attacking a security guard who was trying to apprehend him.

The intruder sustained shotgun injuries to the left arm and abdomen during the confrontation, which occurred at around 23.30 hrs on Friday.

A police release stated that the man was seen on the roof of Freedom House and was shot when he attacked the security guard with a knife. He has been admitted a patient under guard at the

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Hospital sources said that the man’s unkempt condition suggested that he is a vagrant. Police believe that he might have been attempting to cart off items in the Freedom House compound.

Kaieteur News understands that security camera footage showed the man, and another individual, standing outside Freedom House before he scaled the wall.

According to a source, the intruder had clambered onto a water-tank stand when he was shot.

Police said that the guard was taken into custody but was subsequently released.

Three passes in Mathematics and English A. The Mathematics pass rate this year is 45.07 percent up from 38.75 percent in 2014 and 28.92 percent in 2013 while the pass rate for English A this year is 49.36 percent, an improvement from 46.98 percent in 2014 and 45.69 percent in 2013.

The performance in English B on the hand has remained relatively constant.

In 2014 the Grade One to Three pass rate in this subject area was 61.45 percent and 61.76 percent in 2015.

In the Business Education subjects, the performance in Economics, Office Administration and Principles of Business was excellent, said Sam, as he related that satisfactory performance was recorded in Principles of Accounts with a Grade One to Three pass rate of 65.43 percent.

Excellent performances were recorded in both Information Technology (General) and Electronic Document Preparation and Management, where the pass rates were 89.27 percent and 91.04 percent respectively, the CEO related.

He informed that while excellent performances were recorded in Agriculture Science (SA) and

Chief Executive Officer, Olato Sam Agricultural Science (DA), there was a general decline of Grade One to Three passes in Biology, Chemistry and Physics as compared to the 2014 performance.

Excellent performances were also recorded in Theatre Arts, Physical Education and Sports with Grade One to Three passes being over 75 percent.

Based on the analysis of the results too, the Home Economics subject area of Clothing and Textiles reflected improved performance which translates to 63.41 percent in 2014 as against 75 percent this year.

However there was a decline in the pass rates for Food and Nutrition and Home Economic Management, Sam observed.

The Industrial Technology subjects such as Building Technology (Construction), Building Technology (Woods) and Electrical and Electronic Technology recorded improved performances in Grade One to Three passes.

Sam also spoke of satisfactory performances in Caribbean History and Geography as he related that the pass rate for Caribbean History improved from 56.39

percent in 2014 to 59.7 percent in 2015. The Geography Grade One to Three pass rate for 2015 has been recorded as 53.59 percent, according to the CEO. The Modern Languages subjects of French and Spanish also recorded satisfactory performances evident by the 54.96 percent Grade One to Three pass rate for French, while performance in Spanish declined from 62.61 percent in 2014 to 60.51 percent in this year.

Sam disclosed too that the overall performance in Chemistry, Physics, Visual Arts and Human and Social Biology was unsatisfactory.

The CEO however pointed out in his presentation that there has been a marginal increase in the Grade One to Three passes.

He revealed for instance

that the overall pass rate at the General and Technical proficiencies for Grade One to Three was 62.72 percent as opposed to 60.21 percent in 2014. He however disclosed that the overall 2015 Grade One to Grade Four pass rate was 84.4 percent.

Local candidates wrote a total of 35 subjects at the examination and of these subjects the results indicated excellent performances in 15 subjects where the Grade One to Three passes exceeded 75 percent. These 15 subjects are: Agriculture Science, Clothing and Textiles, Economics, Home Economics Management, Information Technology, Office Administration, Principles of Business, Religious Education, Theatre Arts, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Physical Education and Sport, Additional Mathematics, Building Technology (Construction) and Building Technology (Woods).

Based on the analysis, satisfactory performances were recorded in 13 subjects where the Grades One to Three passes exceeded 50 percent while Grades One to Four passes were in excess of 75 percent. The subject areas in this regard are: Biology, Caribbean History, English B, Food and Nutrition, French, Geography, Integrated Science, Principles of Accounts, Social Studies, Spanish, Technical Drawing, Electrical and Electronic Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology.

SAJ Rice Mill sacks...

From page 9 worksite on July 31 and management responded on August 3 with their letters of termination.

The company claimed redundancy as the grounds for the workers’ dismissals,

Witter explained.

Witter stressed that the termination of Employment and Severance of PAY Act chapter 98:08 stipulates that employers must inform the Labour Ministry before they dismiss any unrepresented union worker.

The protestors managed to gain an audience with Minister Volda Lawrence and Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle. The Minister however, reassured that Government Officials are currently engaged with the matter in keeping with the law.

The distraught workers promised to hold the Minister to her words.

One of the affected workers in an interview with Kaieteur News claimed that the Company is “showing its true colours”.

Another protestor said that he had to undergo surgery and when he went back to work he was told that he had to start over from scratch and would not be paid for the previous months.

Efforts to contact SAJ Rice Company for a comment proved futile.

Sunday August 16, 2015

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Govt. agencies to start producing performance reports To better assess and monitor the performance of government agencies, a new plan is underway for these entities to start producing report cards.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, these reports would be used as management tools by the Heads of Budget Agencies and Ministers to inform and guide national budget discussions; to inform Cabinet and, eventually, the National Assembly.

He said that the Performance Reports on the government agencies would be done on their key performance indicators. He said that the reports would basically be data-driven reviews of the sector’s performance against set targets while establishing repositories of data to encourage better storage and use. He noted that before the

end of the first term in office for the coalition government, a National Performance Report will be produced and laid in the National Assembly. It will also serve as a report card to the people of how government’s systems have delivered in its services to the taxpayers.

The Finance Minister also said that government will be working assiduously to inculcate a culture of data collection, data use, data dissemination and data storage. In addition to this data culture, he said that government will be emphasising the need for such evaluations, since it must be aware of how it is performing so as to take corrective actions wherever appropriate.

Jordan said that government will also strive to ensure that policy decisions taken by the APNU+AFC administration will be

supported by timely, accurate and trustworthy empirical evidence and every Government agency will be mandated to be guided by a strategic plan for their sector.

For consistency, he said that government will ensure that the process or methodology for the exercise of strategic planning is standardised across Central Government.

The Finance Minister asserted that where strategic plans are in place, the government is willing to support a process to have them evaluated so that meaningful data is fed into national and sectoral medium term expenditure frameworks.

To strengthen public expenditure tracking, he noted that his Ministry will also be conducting capacity building training for officers across Central Government so as to impress upon them the

The Guyana Revenue Authority is one of the agencies which will have to produce a Performance Report.

No coming back for Land ...new head to be Registry boss sworn in shortly More than a month after the Head of the Land Registry Juliet Sattaur was sent on leave, it has been revealed that a new head is expected to be sworn in shortly.

The new head has been identified as Rosalie Robertson, an employee of the Land Registry’s office, who has been working in a senior position. Sources say that Robertson has already begun official duties at the government agency as of last week and is simply waiting to be sworn in.

However, the swearing-in process is being complicated for reasons unknown, a source said. Nonetheless Robertson is expected to be

Rosalie Robertson sworn in by as soon as tomorrow.

Last month, Sattaur was

sent on leave amidst complaints over sluggishness in the processing of transactions at the Land Registry. Her leave was effective from July 1 and, according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, was necessary to facilitate a probe at the agency.

With several new housing schemes springing up in recent years, the Land Registry has been overwhelmed with the processing of titles and other transfers.

However, accusations of non-performance did not go down well with Sattaur. The former Registry boss has (continued on page 16)

importance of utilizing this model to improve the delivery of their services to the public.

The Finance Minister said that his Ministry will begin to introduce strategic planning frameworks for the various Administrative Regions. He said that the Regions have

been “treated as poor step children in our strategic planning focus.”

On that premise, he asserted that Regional Executive Officers will now be required to be better qualified and experienced, given the complexity of managing five sectors within each Region.

Further the Finance Minister said that by 2020 Central Government will have

a cadre of trained public officers, who will be applying the basic concepts of monitoring and evaluation.

Recognising that monitoring and evaluation is a relatively new tool within Central Government, he concluded that the Administration intends to disseminate policies widely to guide agencies’ implementation.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

He’s 80, but retirement is not on Hamilton Green’s agenda City Mayor, Hamilton Green

By Sunita Samaroo It’s not often a journalist gets a straight answer out of Hamilton Green. But, there is one issue on which the 80year-old is unequivocal: his retirement.

Sixty two years after he

first entered politics in Guyana, the city’s longest standing Mayor shies from stating what his move in the next Local Government Election will be. Just how long has this familiar face been Mayor?

“Too long,” Green

chuckles. Three months shy of 81 years old, the city Mayor has been maneuvering his way around the political arena since 1953. He has been sitting in the city’s Mayoral chair since 1996, the last time the country has had Local Government Elections.

Under the 23-year rule of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Local Government Elections have not been a common feature.

Now, with the change in government, Green says he is anxious to pass on the mantle and share his experiences, as a statesman, at what he calls an interesting stage in the country’s development.

“I’ve been frustrated and strangulated for the past 23 years,” Greene divulges, alluding to the situations which existed under the PPP/ C rule.

As he explained how the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has been suffocated by government, Green pointed out several initiatives the Council undertook, which were geared towards broadening its revenue base and benefiting the City populace but were subsequently shut down by the then government.

“It’s only because I am a strong person I stayed. The PPP set out to frustrate the operations of the City and the last three years with Sooba (Former acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba) has been madness,” Green commented.

Green believes change is on the horizon. He intends to continue offering his knowledge and expertise in the public service.

“I’ve had discussions with my party and I believe with three generations of public service, I have quite a bit to offer this nation as it has embarked on its road to reconstruction and at the philosophical level for a moral and spiritual revival,” said Green.

He added, “I have the energy and I believe the mental faculties that should allow me to serve for many more years to come.”

For him though, it may not be Hamilton Green holding the office of Mayor. His upcoming political choices, the Mayor said, were well thought over and discussed with his family. There is the likelihood that he will serve in other capacities.

“It was a long road of frustrations. I’m physically fit, mentally alert and my faculties are intact. I am not in the business of retirement. It is not on my agenda,” said the long serving politician.

A former Prime Minister, Green has been in the political arena since before Guyana gained Independence, and he is a far way from bringing the curtains down on his political life.

The Mayor promises to be on the campaign trail with his usual vigor, supporting whoever his party decides to push forward in the upcoming

Local Government Elections.

Green, more known for his roles in the People’s National Congress (PNC), says it is unclear how his party will be contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), whether as part of a coalition which currently runs the government or not.

While the politician would not divulge whether he is interested in being Mayor for yet another term, sources close to his family have said that they are against him recontesting for Mayoral office.

For Green, however, service runs in his veins. With the ascension of the Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change to government, Green has made clear that he is willing to serve at any other level as the party sees fit.

“The frustration has ended. I’ve worked all my life for this day but that is no reason to hold onto this public office. I am willing to serve at any level that my experience in government, dealing with people and vast working in Guyana allows,” said Green.

He hopes that in the few years to come, President David Granger and his Cabinet transforms Guyana into a great country. “Education,” he said, “must be the lynchpin of our development. Change will not take place overnight.”

No coming back for Land ...

From page 15 insisted that she was doing her job as required by regulations and has defended her operations at the Land Registry through letters and conversations with reporters.

Nonetheless, members of the former opposition, now government, had repeatedly called for Sattaur’s removal.

Additionally, Sattaur’s position at the Land Registry had caused great unease amongst the legal fraternity.

Adding to the slew of complaints, Former Head of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) Ronald Burch-Smith, following the installation of the new government, had expressed concern over the Registry’s slothful operations.

He said too that the GBA was eagerly awaiting her replacement.

More recently, Minister Harmon paid a visit to the Registry and deemed the conditions there as

“deplorable” and “unacceptable”.

Harmon had said that he was appalled at the operations and the conditions in which the staff at the Registry are forced to function. He said too that the filing and storing system left much to be desired.

New offices, to be situated on the Avenue of the Republic, have also been proposed to house the Land Registry.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Hemorrhoids - a more common condition than we think

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Worldwide over 10% of our population is estimated to have hemorrhoids (piles) and it is anticipated that one in every two persons will be affected by hemorrhoids in their lifetime.

Given the nature and privacy associated with hemorrhoids, it is often not picked up early by sufferers or they keep it as a secret because of fear of discrimination.

Doing this leads to evolution and complication of the hemorrhoid and it is then when patients often present to the doctor for help.

Knowing if you have hemorrhoids and presenting to your doctor early are vital steps in its management and this will help to prevent it from becoming more complicated.

WHATARE HEMORRHOIDS? Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum which causes its walls to become

swollen and narrow your rectum or anal canal.

They can cause itching and pain. Sometimes they can also make you bleed during a bowel movement. In some cases, you can see or feel hemorrhoids around the outside of the rectum.

In other cases, you cannot see them because they are hidden inside the rectum.

WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING MORE HEMORRHOIDS? The most important thing you can do is to keep from getting constipated. You should have a bowel movement at least a few times a week. When you have a bowel movement, you also should not have to push too much. Plus, your bowel movements should not be too hard.

Being constipated and having hard bowel movements can form hemorrhoids or make existing hemorrhoids worse. Here are some steps you can take to avoid getting constipated or having hard stools: Ï% Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. They have fiber,

The Baccoo Speaks Try as I might I just can’t seem to get people to be careful. The result is the spate of road accidents, and this will continue with another crash on the thoroughfares.

This one would happen at night when visibility is never at its maximum. A speeding car is going to hit someone before crashing into a parked object. ** There is going to be another armed robbery in Berbice, because criminals from the capital have moved out there. A prominent businessman is going to come under attack but he would attempt to defend himself.

And while there is talk about vigilante justice being that which should be avoided, people will take the law into their own hands. ** Holidays can be fun, but tragedy is never far away. A youngster is going to drown while on a picnic. It will matter not that the creek would be shallow.

which helps to increase bowel movements. Ï% Take fibre powders, wafers or pills. You should get 20 to 35 grams of fibre a day. Ï% Take medicines called stool softeners such as docusate sodium (sample brand names: Colace, Dulcolax) or bulk-forming laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives include psyllium seed (sample brand names: Metamucil, Konsyl), methylcellulose (brand name: Citrucel), calcium polycarbophil (sample brand name: FiberCon), and wheat dextran (brand name: Benefibre). These medicines increase the number of bowel movements you have. They are safe to take and they can prevent problems later.

WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY SYMPTOMS? Some people feel better if

they soak their buttocks in 2 or 3 inches of warm water. You can do this up to 2 to 3 times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not add soap, bubble bath, or anything to the water.

There are also medicines that you can get without a prescription. They are usually creams or ointments that you rub on your anus to relieve pain, itching, and swelling.

Some hemorrhoid medicines come in a capsule (called a suppository) that you put inside your rectum.

Others are in the form of a cream that comes in a bottle with a nozzle that you put inside your rectum. It is okay to try these medicines. But do not use medicines that have hydrocortisone (a steroid medicine) for more than a week, unless your doctor approves.

WHAT IF THE SELFCARE STEPS DO NOT

WORK? You should see a doctor if you have any bleeding or if your bowel movements look like tar.

Bleeding could be caused by something other than hemorrhoids, so you should have it checked out. You should also visit your doctor if you are not sure what’s going on or you are having painful defecation.

If you still have symptoms after trying the steps listed above, you might need treatments to destroy or remove the hemorrhoids.

One popular treatment is called “rubber band ligation.”

For this treatment, the doctor ties tiny rubber bands around the hemorrhoids.

A few days later the hemorrhoids shrink and fall off. The doctor can also use lasers, heat, or chemicals to destroy hemorrhoids. But if none of these options works,

Dr. Zulfikar Bux there is always surgery to remove the hemorrhoids.

A diet low in fibre and rich in meats and carbohydrates increases our risk of straining when defecating and hence increases our chances of having hemorrhoids.

Having hemorrhoids is a natural consequence of poor eating.

We should not be ashamed to seek help. The more we embrace it and seek help, the easier life will be with hemorrhoids.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

The case of the murdered goatherd

By Michael Jordan

On October 12, 2001, as she had done since her husband’s death, Savitri Prasad left her home to collect her herd of goats.

But this time, she did not return. It was unusual for Prasad, called ‘Aunty Glory’ not to be at home by 17:00 hours, and so when 18:00 hrs passed and she still had not shown up, her three daughters began to worry.

One of the daughters went to her aunt’s home to enquire about their mother ’s whereabouts, but that aunt said that she had not seen Prasad.

As news of ‘Aunty Glory’s’ disappearance spread around her hometown, Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, villagers began gathering at her home.

Not understanding how someone could have disappeared in their quiet and peaceful village, residents formed a search party.

Deep into the night, close relatives and friends along with villagers combed Zeelugt village in search of the mother of three.

Indrouty Mana, one of Prasad’s sisters, had said that when one of her nieces called to enquire about their mother, she became annoyed.

“I usually pass she at Silk Cotton dam near a light post in the afternoons waiting for her goats. But that particular day, I went home early so I didn’t see she. Night did done fall when one of she daughter come by me and ask me if I see she. From the time she ask me that, I realised that something wrong.”

The niece also said that their mother had gone to collect the goats since earlier that day but had not returned.

“She tell me that she mammy left about 3:30 in the morning fuh go for the goats and that dem can’t find she.

Right away we start asking people in the area, but nobody ain’t know where she gone. People tell we that dem see she standing at the light post, but them ain’t know when she move from deh.”

After the search ended that evening, the missing woman’s sister and other relatives went to the Leonora Police Station and made a report.

The following morning, October 13, at about 06:30 hrs, the search party again began their search for the 48-yearold woman.

“Every morning she does open the goats dem and dem does go down by Boerasirie Creek side to graze, and when afternoon reach dem does find

dem way to the public road where she does be waiting for them,” Mana said.

She said that as the persons searched they ended up at Boerasirie Creek.

Upon arrival there, one of the villagers saw what looked

like a red shirt floating.

A short distance away, another villager found a pair of underwear and a red flag.

Knowing that the woman had left home wearing a red checkered shirt, the villagers took a long piece of wood and

attempted to pull the item to shore. As they did so, they realised that it was not only a shirt; it was the missing woman.

By the time the dead woman’s close relatives reached the creek, the police had already covered the body and were preparing to take it to the funeral parlour.

“Oh my gosh! When I hear that dem find she I couldn’t believe it. She doesn’t go to the back there. I don’t know how she end up there.

Since she husband died about two years before the incident I did tell she to sell out dem goat but she tell me that if she sell dem she gun feel like if she selling she husband out, because he buy dem for she. He was a headmaster,” the woman’s sister said.

She said that after her eldest sister ’s body was found, the police took some ‘sniffer dogs’ in the area.

According to the woman, her sister’s post mortem revealed that she had died from a broken neck.

Her body bore wounds to the right side of the head, face and left forearm. Police had already ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing, since Prasad was still wearing her two gold rings when her body was discovered.

Two days after her death, investigators detained a Guysuco ranger. His long boots and gloves were taken and examined for possible evidence.

Residents had told police that the ranger was in the

Boerasirie Creek area the day Prasad disappeared and claimed that he was acting in a suspicious manner the same night.

During interrogation, the ranger reportedly told investigators that he and Prasad had a relationship and that he had no reason to kill her. He also said that he would frequent the woman’s home. But the dead woman’s relatives said that Prasad had no relationship with the ranger, and that they never saw him at the home.

What happened to Savitri Prasad that day is yet to be answered. A close relative told this newspaper that the ranger committed suicide shortly after being released from police custody.

That prompted villagers to believe that he might have indeed killed the woman.

“My sister was a good woman and a good mother,” her sibling recounted. “She and everybody used to live good. She never used to get into any problem. Today she three daughter left without a mother and a father. She didn’t deserve to die like that.”

If you have any information about any other unusual cases, please contact us by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are 22-58465, 2258458 and 22-58452. You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s : mjdragon@hotmail.com

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Yesu Persaud, Khemraj Ramjattan, Nigel Hughes, Glenn Lall and…

An activist will never get away from the memories of life under dictatorial power.

Wherever you go, there will be a lingering motif to remind you of the reign of dictatorship. Three such memories pierced my heart last week I was in the offices of Transport and Harbours when Bert Wilkinson popped up behind me and said, “why you gat duh steering wheel lock on yuh car fuh; yuh ain’t know times change.” Bert was referring to the large hook I use on the steering wheel. I did that for over ten years because I was honestly afraid that agents from the PPP Government would steal my car and destroy it. Bert was right; times have changed. I don’t have the trepidation any longer, so I should discard Dr. Hook.

Then there is the revelation

by Sean Hinds that he knows who was behind the 2010 attack on me. Thirdly, I took to lunch on Thursday at Excellence Restaurant on Charlotte Street, a group of AFC activists I met during the 2015 election. Dennis Atwell took centre stage. I told the group of the incident in 2012 when Dennis risked his life to save me after some PPP agents broke into my car, stole my documents and lured us into a lonely street in a West Coast village to retrieve them With the election of the APNU-AFC coalition those dangers are behind me. I doubt the PPP can seek to kill me again, because I cannot see the PPP in power again, and at my age if they do return, I would be happily dead and gone. Those were the terrible nights of the long knives.

Last week with those three instances of memories, I

thought of my survival and the people that made such survival possible. Four names came to mind – Yesu Persaud, Khemraj Ramjattan, Nigel Hughes and Glenn Lall When I returned to Guyana after the American invasion of Grenada, I had no money, no job. President Burnham banned me and my wife from employment. My stuff arrived in Guyana weeks after.

I had a colossal library. UG library was bare because of foreign exchange scarcity. UG library needed the books. I needed money. Yesu Persaud through the Partnership of the Americas organization bought my library for the University. Y esu Persaud has always been there for me when times were very, very rough. I remember I had to pay a huge cost over a human rights case I lost when I took UG to court.

He was there to put up that cost. Yesu Persaud will always be special to me When I met Khemraj Ramjattan, he was the leader of the youth arm of the PPP and I was a critic of the PPP. Khemraj never let politics come between our friendship.

I cannot recall the court cases Khemraj has done for me without charging even a dollar. Libel after libel, Khemraj would appear for me. This is a different politician who has a huge future in Guyana.

I met Nigel Hughes in 1989 when the police charged me for arson in front of the UG gate during the protest against the 1989 budget. The WPA arranged for Nigel to appear for me at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. From that day, I came to respect Nigel immensely.

For five years he has defended

me in the Jagdeo libel without any charge. Together with Khemraj, he succeeded in getting Juan Edghill’s attempt to imprison me thrown out.

Nigel and Khemraj have prevented Khurshid Sattaur from continuously harassing me. I believe most sincerely in my heart that Guyana is better off with politicians like Khemraj and Nigel.

I started writing for the Kaieteur News after David de Caires dropped my Stabroek

News columns at the insistence of Miles Fitzpatrick after a complaint made by Jocelyn Dow, an incident, historian Anna Benjamin failed to include when she wrote her history of the Stabroek News.

Looking back at my days at the Stabroek News, it was a most idiotic thing for me to have done. There was absolutely no reason why a dark-skinned nobody like me should have been writing for

a newspaper whose ownership was from the crème de la crème of white society.

Glenn Lall called me in, told me he was starting a newspaper and he would like me to write for it. I have been at the Kaieteur News since then. I think in all honesty, these four persons made my survival possible during the PPP dictatorship.

Maybe one day, if my funds allow, I’ll buy a nice gift for each of them. Maybe Lall

Frederick Kissoon could increase my stipend and I’ll do that right away. I live less than a minute drive from Giftland OfficeMax.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2015

Reducing Crime, Rebuilding Public Trust & Reforming Public Security in a Green Economy (Excerpts from Budget 2015) Vision 2020 is a reflection of our Government’s confidence in our people to function with a One-Nation mindset and build this great land of ours to the benefit of all of us. It envisages sustainable socio-economic development, good governance and human safety within a green economy.

A Green Economy is one in which we have improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It includes a resilient, lowcarbon, socially inclusive economy that provides a better quality of life for all within the ecological limits of our planet. It is built on the basic tenet that people need nature - for now and in the future.

Guyana’s Green Economy must be built around Article 36 of our Constitution that requires that we sustainably extract our natural wealth for the benefit of current and future generations. As a country that is so heavily dependent on its natural resources, we must exploit and use our minerals and other natural resources responsibly, so as to increase the total

stock of (these) resources which is made up of our human, social, natural, and built capital.

The proceeds of resource exploitation must be invested to grow the capacity of our people and society as a whole; to diversify our economy; to improve the sustainable and resilient infrastructure needed for this Green Economy; to establish the robust governance systems that ensure that these gains are sustained; and to ensure that our basic natural asset remains available for our children.

This must not only be measured by the roads that we build, the rivers that we bridge, and the energy that we generate. It necessarily also includes the systems we put in place to ensure that our waterways are conserved for our livelihoods, for our recreation and for our traditions.

It includes the systems for the management of our forests and savannahs which we conserve and sustainably manage, for the soils and freshwater they produce and replenish; for our energy and food production, and for the below- and above-ground resources they contain. It also includes the systems we

put in place to ensure that we receive compensation for the global climatic and ecological services that are intact and sustainably managed ecosystems provide.

The principle of a green economy will pervade all of our sectors and our work.

From the reduction in the use of paper in offices to expanded use of renewable sources for generating energy across the country, from recycling paper and plastics to climate-smart designs for our buildings.

The year 2020 will reveal a Guyana that is demonstrably more environmentally responsible, a Guyana that will be truly considered a Green Economy.

CRIME, PUBLIC TRUSTAND SECURITY SYSTEMS REFORM The crime situation is the most pressing (and the most depressing) problem facing our nation today. The PPP/C administration failed to arrest banditry, piracy and criminal violence among other crimes.

We need radical action to reform our criminal justice system. We need a police force that is more accountable to the public and better able to deal with crime and antisocial behaviour that is (the) anathema to a good life.

The Government is fine-

tuning a comprehensive Public Security Plan with emphasis on:· Aggressively combating crime · Regaining public trust of the police force · Improving police investigative capabilities · Rebuilding an efficient and effective criminal intelligence system · Rebuilding the Criminal Investigation Department · Restructuring recruitment standards · Revitalizing the Cadetship Scheme · Counteracting human, drugs and arms trafficking · Acquiring vehicles (boats and other forms of transportation) and modern equipment to fight banditry, piracy, terrorism and other violent crimes.

Further, we will: (i) implement the recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission; and (ii) seek the assistance of friendly nations and international crime fighting agencies.

Under the Citizens Security Programme, the Government will begin to implement several activities to support the security sector.

One key aspect of this programme involves

evidence-based interventions associated with interpersonal violence, such as parenting, gender values and norms and conflict resolution. In addition, we will proceed with vocational and remedial literacy training of people in communities to enhance their job readiness and their capacity for entrepreneurship.

This programme also involves mentorship, counselling and psychological skills training that will enable people living inside the communities to identify individual and communal/societal problems and develop bottom-up solutions to prevent and fight crime and violence.

Simultaneously, support will be provided to strengthen the Guyana Police Force’s Crime Prevention and Investigative capabilities through training and application of technologically advanced forensic and criminal investigation techniques. Of course, the valuable element of interagency co-operation and coordination will form a vital part of this programme.

In 2015, the Government will establish a command centre to enhance crime response capabilities. Other

interventions include resuscitation of CCTV feeds within the Georgetown to Timehri environs, and dramatic improvements in the 911 emergency services countrywide.

The Government has allocated $21 billion to strengthen and improve our national security services. Of that amount, the sum of $11.9 billion will support the operations of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, the Guyana Fire Service, and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

A further $9.1 billion has been budgeted for the Guyana Defence Force.

These allocations will be used to improve the physical infrastructure, upgrade the (motorized) security fleet, acquire tools and equipment, and upgrade the security features for machine readable passports.

With respect to the programme to decentralize the processes for application and issuance of passports, a sum of $9.7 million has been budgeted.

Among the prerequisites will be the acquisition of the required equipment for the production of machine readable passports.

(To be continued)

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

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MY COLUMN

The idiom that could have started a war Many a war was started because of something silly or because of something misunderstood. I happened to look at a recording of an interview fashioned by Al Jazeera. The topic was the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela. The interviewees were Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge, Mark Benschop on the Guyana side and on the Venezuelan side, a University Professor Jesus Silva and a former Ambassador to Guyana, Sadio Garavini.

Both sides are insistent that the controversy is just what it is, a controversy that needs a peaceful resolution.

However, they disagree on the path to this resolution. It was an interesting discussion, but being a Guyanese familiar with the history of the controversy, I could not help but side with the arguments put forward by Greenidge and Benschop.

There however was one thing that stood out in my mind. At the Caricom summit President David Granger described the recently surfaced controversy as “a monkey on Guyana’s back”.

Lo and behold, the Venezuelan professor became angry that Granger called the Venezuelan President, Nicolás

Maduro, a monkey. I was stunned at his conclusion, but then I realized that while he spoke English, that was not his native language and certain idioms would not be understood. There was a time many years ago when I was a teacher. There I was on this course and far from being a model student in a classroom.

The lecturer described me as her bête noir. Having done some French, I latched on to the literal translation—black beast. To make it even more embarrassing, the lecturer was white. Bête noir is the idiom for tormentor, but I did not know it at the time.

Many years later in the Kaieteur News newsroom, I happened to describe a reporter, Abena Rockcliffe, as a prima donna. Not knowing the idiom she got angry. In fact, she felt that I was insulting her. She was good to research it almost immediately.

So there I was listening to the broadcast and seeing the anger on the face of the Venezuelan professor. Granger never called Maduro a monkey. The idiom ‘a monkey on one’s back’ is akin to bête noir. It merely means having a problem and indeed the Venezuelan controversy is a

monkey on Guyana’s back.

Of course, there are Guyanese who would conclude that Granger did call Maduro a monkey, because to many of them English is a foreign language. But when I was a boy I was taught that English was my native tongue and that I should be able to speak it fluently. Back then there were teachers who insisted that nothing but English was spoken in the classroom.

How could I forget my primary school head teacher, Wilfred George, now deceased, who accosted me for saying “Didn’t I told you…?” The fact that I never forgot would suggest that I learnt, and I was no more than nine years old. Today I hear the clash of tenses so often that I would not doubt that it is now a subject being taught in schools.

It is no consolation that we hear bad English spoken by people in England or America. Those are the people from the lower echelons in the society. Those who go to school speak very well and it shows when you speak with them on the streets.

It is not unusual for me to talk to people in these countries and hear them say that I speak so well. I would smile and tell them that

English is the only language I know, coming from Guyana.

That is not entirely true. I also speak some Spanish, but they don’t to know that.

I just read the results of the recent external examinations, and of course I saw that we are still struggling with English. Way back then it was a given that passing English was a must. Many of my colleagues who did not get the required five subjects at one sitting passed English.

There are old people who never went to a secondary school that would put many of today’s university students to shame. But that is beside the point. The real issue is avoiding the problems that the Venezuelan professor encountered. I suppose that even Maduro believed that Granger called him a monkey.

At least that would have been an initial belief.

He, however, would have advisors who would have explained the idiom to him. We had to learn idioms in school.

The solution to such a problem rests with reading, which seems to be a dying art.

Young people frown at reading to the extent that they are susceptible to nonsense that leaders dish out to them.

I got a phone call from a

woman who was angry that Bharrat Jagdeo, at a recent press conference, mouthed some things that any reporter worth his salt would have challenged, merely by referring to background.

My employer, Glenn Lall, made it his duty to tell reporters that before they go to a press conference they should be prepared.

Preparation involves reading up on those issues that would have been pronounced on by Jagdeo and any other leader.

But reporters these days merely turn up to report on what is said to them.

The result is that people who know better would sit and fume while misinformation is peddled by the very reporters who should know better. This will have to change.

Adam Harris And I just noticed that President Bharrat Jagdeo in a press statement said, “The person fired amounts to almost three percent of the population of indigenous people living in our country.”

This is a glorious day when one person is equal to three per cent of the population.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

The Budget and Stakeholder responsibilities

By Lance Hinds In his presentation of the 2015 budget to Parliament, the Minister of Finance extolled the virtues of ICT and the critical role it must play in the modernization and diversification of the nation’s economy.

He said that most of the world is now firmly ensconced in the information age and operating in a knowledge economy, and further, that knowledge and intellectual property are drivers of economic value.

Traditional sectors like agriculture, forestry and

mining, as well as shipping, transport and logistics, have been transformed from relatively, low-skilled intensive operations into high technology, knowledgedriven industries. He then declares that: “We in Guyana must strive to harness information, communications and other technologies, to transform, our economy and society, to deliver goods, services and quality of life to our citizens in accordance with the contemporary expectations of the 21st Century”.

He said the government is acutely aware of the need to leverage the potential of the new technologies to expand market reach and create new streams of economic activity so as to generate new and higher jobs for the economy.

He added that in addition to continuing to support the development of business

process outsourcing, the Government will pay special attention to technologybased services, such as management information systems for agricultural operations, forestry and mining.

He introduced the concept of one Government, where the citizens will no longer have to run from agency to agency in pursuit of a singular service.

There must be one window, one port of call, one Government. Recognizing the need for agencies to be prepared for this new paradigm, he advised the House that the Government will, by 2020, enact legislation for electronic transactions/eCommerce, legality and acceptance of digital signatures, and data protection.

It terms of budgetary allocations the Finance Minister advised further that

$1.7 billion was going to be for the purchase of close to 10,000 laptops for distribution to educators, students, institutions, and communitybased organizations. Around US$1 million will be allocated to the e-Government project to deliver the envisaged eGovernment services to our citizens.

Government also plans to implement a national electronic health information system and establish a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology. These are a few of the goodies promised as part the Government’s stated intention to use ICT to improve its efficiency and to prepare the nation to function and complete successfully in a 21st century environment.

I am happy in general with the direction that we have been promised. In terms of modernizing our intellectual property legislation, I would have preferred a definitive statement that it was going to be done and soon. I will assume, however, that is on the agenda, because of Government’s recognition as per the Minister, that knowledge and intellectual property are drivers of economic value.

I am also of the opinion that despite the assurance that 2020 is the ceiling for completion for all the relevant legislation, there is really no reason it cannot be completed by early next year.

The building of an ICT school of excellence is timely, because it has the possibility to develop the skills for immediate private sector needs.

My only concern is, however, that it is established within the context of what we in the sector would like to see done to advance the capacity of the Computer Studies programme at the University of Guyana.

The establishment of a national patient information

system will be a transformational step in the provision of medical services in Guyana. The possibilities of using e-learning platforms to increase access to educational content regardless of location or economic circumstance, is endless.

My thrust this week, however, was based on the following remarks made by the Minister: “One of the first initiatives, therefore, must be the establishment of an advisory body to develop the broad vision of this administration into a detailed plan that specifies the individual projects that must be implemented in order to realize our strategic objectives” This is absolutely correct.

The systems being proposed are substantial. Not all of the agencies that are going to be beneficiaries of the solutions being proposed are ready to support deployments of this kind. There is a lot of work to be done in terms of capacity building and the implementation of required organizational structures.

This requires a short, medium and long term comprehensive strategy to ensure success.

In the context of a national developmental objective, therefore, I would expand the Government’s concept on this towards the development and implementation of a national Information Technology strategic plan for Guyana.

This plan must be based on the vision that the ICT Sector will play a central role in the transformation of Guyana over the next 10-15 years toward becoming a developed country.

This plan must be based on development of the sector on two fundamental pillars; One as a cross-cutting component and enabler supporting the improved efficiency of Government and the productive sectors, and

Lance Hinds also as an independent, dynamic business sector contributing significantly to the national economy.

This plan must establish clearly defined linkages with a number of critical sectors such as education, science, governance, innovation and the cultural and creative industries. The plan must also include an analysis of the current environment, a SWOT analysis, overall vision and implementation framework and an action plan.

The development of this plan must be an inclusive process. I am not by any means suggesting a long consultative exercise, but certainly a structured method of participation and collaboration inclusive of Academia, Private sector and Civil society will produce a comprehensive, realistic plan with multi-stakeholder support and acceptance.

The initiatives announced by the Government during the budget presentation in Parliament are exciting, but they must be done within an implementation framework that will ensure the long term sustainability and success of the solutions that are being proposed.

Lance Hinds is the current President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the BrainStreet Group, an ICT consulting and information services company.

Sunday August 15, 2015

SUNDAY SPECIAL BaiShanLin now transporting stone – pushes local barge operators out Local barge operators are crying foul against Chinese logging giant, BaiShanLin Forest Development Inc, which has come out in full competition against them.

The company, which was granted massive concessions by the past People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) government, is now reportedly contracted to one prominent hardware giant to fetch stone from its quarry to the East Bank Demerara outlet.

BaiShanLin has reportedly brought in scores of trucks to conduct forest activities in their concessions.

However some of these trucks were offering services at a cheaper rate to local loggers.

It would not be the first time that the Chinese logging company has reportedly been using its duty free and other concessions to openly compete with local businesses.

Truckers, who have been hauling logs, have also complained of being robbed of their livelihood through unfair competition.

According to reports reaching this newspaper, BaiShanLin entered into a two-year agreement with local hardware company, Toolsie Persaud Limited, earlier this year, which saw the Chinese company offering to transport as much as 2000 tonnes of stone, at a much cheaper price than local operators.

This, according to one barge operator, meant that the foreign company was offering service charges so low that no construction company would refuse, and they were able to do this through the massive concessions given to them on the basis of their logging operations.

Business community takes fight to criminals…$2M reward for arrest of restaurant owner’s killers Angered by the recent spate of brutal robberies, some members of the business community are saying “enough is enough” and have decided to take the fight to the gangs that seem bent on unleashing a new crime wave on the society.

The August 7 hacking to death of restaurant owner Zhenjz Su and the brutal assault on his wife appeared to be the last straw. The

Kaieteur News

following day, some prominent city businessmen announced that they have posted a $2M reward for information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Su’s killers.

Persons with information can call telephone number 662-4076 and all information will be confidential.

“We are sending out a strong message to those who think that they can just come into our business places and homes and rob and kill,” one of the businessmen told Kaieteur News.

“We will not sit back and let that happen. If the police aren’t getting anywhere, we are prepared to spend our money to get the information and help the police to put these criminals away.”

Zhenjz Su, 35, the owner of the Jade Stone Restaurant in Mandela Avenue, was gagged, bound and chopped to death in the kitchen area of his restaurant.

The killers also dumped sacks of rice on the body.

There are reports that the intruders killed Su after he refused to open a money-safe for them. However, they made off with the day’s sales.

The intruders also inflicted a savage beating on the businessman’s wife, 32year-old Fei Su, who was attacked in her bedroom. She was battered into unconsciousness, with the attackers knocking out some of her teeth.

MONDAY EDITION Granger vows probe into ‘Sash’ Sawh’ murder and other crime wave killings President David Granger last Sunday promised that thorough inquiries will be held into the killings of former Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh and all who were slain during the 2000 and 2008 period.

The President made the announcement at a one-day symposium organized by the Cuffy 250 Committee in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion. The event was held at the Critchlow Labour College Sunday.

Granger said in due course, he will ensure that all those slain during that period have their deaths investigated.

“When you have ministers of government bringing in computers so you can track down people’s mobile phones; when you have a lot of men being shot at the back of their heads with their hands tied; when you have so many deaths which

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The Bai Shan Lin barge being offloaded at Providence. are not being investigated; when you have a minister of government who has been assassinated and you don’t have an inquest into his death, there is something stink and we are going to investigate those deaths,” said Granger.

Govt. appeals Chief Justice’s ruling on two-term limit Not so fast. That is what the government seems to be telling those who are satisfied that former President Bharrat Jagdeo should be allowed to run as a presidential candidate in the next General and Regional Elections.

The new government is dissatisfied with Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang’s ruling that an elected President can run for more than two terms. As a result, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams has raised his hands in objection.

On August 7, he filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court.

In his filed appeal on behalf of the government, Williams stated that he is “dissatisfied with the whole of the decision” handed down by Chang.

The Chief Justice’s (CJ) decision came after a constitutional challenge was taken by Georgetown resident Cedric Richardson.

He sought the court’s interpretation of the provisions in the Constitution regarding the two-term limit for Guyana’s presidency.

R i c h a r d s o n ’s Constitutional challenge was filed in February last by Attorneys-at-Law Emily

Dodson and Shawn Allicock, on behalf of Richardson.

TUESDAY EDITION Finance Minister unveils $221B Budget Closing in on nearly four hours, Finance Minister Winston Jordan delivered his maiden budget which amounted to $221B for the last four months. With the exception of the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT), the APNU+AFC government delivered on the remainder of all of its economic promises to the Guyanese populace and then some.

Salaries and old age pensions were significantly increased, the Berbice Bridge toll was reduced and gold miners finally got their promised tax relief in some regard.

Eager to unveil what the government has been planning since it assumed office, Jordan arrived at the National Assembly at 1:30 pm way before the scheduled time – to prepare mentally it seemed, for the main event of the day.

Though the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) continues to leave its seats on the western side of the House vacant, House Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland noted that the opposition party submitted its names for its parliamentary candidates.

Before revealing the goodies of what was described by many as one of the most comprehensive and detailed budgets in recent times, Jordan chronicled the events which led to the

historic occasion for the fledgling government Monday.

As he addressed the Members of Parliament and the Speaker of the House, he said, “As will be recalled, the Guyanese people came out in their thousands; they were determined to bring an end to the morass, hopelessness and helplessness that had enveloped our country. They were determined to bring an end to a Government that had wreaked havoc on our society – sapping it of its energy and stripping it of its dignity and dynamism.”

Budget 2015… $21B to tackle crime With security concerns rivaling economic considerations for the government’s priority, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has announced that a whopping $21B has been allocated to the security sector to tackle the “most pressing and most depressing problem facing our nation today.”

Presenting the National Budget for the protracted financial year, Jordan outlined a number of proposals that should be the catalyst for an improved Police Force, and is expected to arrest worrying crime trends that have threatened to undermine the security of the nation.

This year’s figure is $1.5B more than that which was allocated for the security sector last year under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic government.

Out of the $21B, a sum of $11.9 billion will support the

operations of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Fire Service, Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), while $9.1 billion has been budgeted for the Guyana Defence Force.

These allocations, according to the Finance Minister, will be used to improve the physical infrastructure, upgrade the security fleet, acquire tools and equipment, and upgrade the security features of the machine-readable passports.

With respect to the decentralization of the application and issuance of passports, a sum of $9.7 million has been budgeted for the acquisition of specialised equipment for the production of machine-readable passports.

WEDNESDAY EDITION Prison officer busted in sting operation A prison officer who was suspected to be involved in underworld activities both within and out of the prison was nabbed on Tuesday following a sting operation.

According to information, officials had conducted a raid on the prison on Monday for illegal items. During their raid they recovered a phone in a cell of a murder accused who is awaiting trial for the capital offence.

Authorities took possession of the phone and made some checks upon which they made some starling discoveries.

A number of phone Continued on page 43

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2015

Investing in an education nation In the 2015 estimates presented to the National Assembly on 10th August, by the Minister of Finance Mr. Winston Jordan, $33 million dollars or 14.9% of the national budget is allocated towards education.

This represents the largest single line item in the entire budget, and is in keeping with our commitment to making Guyana an education nation.

President David Granger has long held the view that the single biggest problem which has dire implications for the future of our nation is our broken education system.

In a charge to graduates

of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) on Tuesday 18th December 2012, Brigadier Granger said, “education is an entitlement.

Primary education has been compulsory in Guyana for 136 years. Article 27 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana states: ‘every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university…’ Teachers now have an obligation to ensure that education reaches those who can least help themselves - the nation’s children. Teachers must embrace a professional

culture - one that imparts a first-class education and one that respects the personal worth of each child…”

We believe that our teachers are integral to the reform of Guyana’s education system. The Partnership is of the view that in order to achieve the level of skills necessary to develop a competent workforce, the starting point is the teacher.

In his charge to the graduates of the CPCE almost three years ago the leader of APNU noted that: “Guyana today is a country of bright prospects, but also one of colossal complexity. A field of unprecedented opportunities lies before you. The opportunity for engineers to build bridges and roads to open our vast hinterland and to develop schemes to exploit our hydro-electrical

potential; the opportunity for geologists to develop our bauxite, diamond, gold, manganese and quarrying resources; the opportunities for biologists, botanists, zoologists and agriculturists to expand food production; the opportunity to improve communication and human learning; the opportunity for manufacturers, shippers, builders to drive our economy forward at a faster rate.

These opportunities cannot be achieved by ignorant people or the illiterate. They cannot be achieved while so many primary school children cannot qualify to enter secondary school or when thousands of children drop-out of school every year.

They can only be achieved by people with a first class education. They can be achieved only by the creation of an ‘education nation’ that brings all our people together in a knowledge society.”

In the 2015 estimates, $1.7 billion has been budgeted for the procurement of 9,609 laptops, which are to be distributed to educators,

students, institutions of learning and communitybased organizations. We are cognisant that ours is a knowledge-based society, and Guyana cannot afford to be left behind in the communication and information revolution that is sweeping the World.

Our teachers must be certified and competent information technology users.

Every school must have fully functional computer labs, so students from Aishalton to Ann’s Grove, Lethem to Linden can have access to the information super highway.

With technology constantly evolving and information technology embracing all aspects of our lives, it is important that our students receive their education in a first world learning environment, from first class teachers.

A Partnership for National Unity supports a plan – the Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment.

That Plan will: “ ensure that every primary school child

starts the school day with a healthy breakfast at school; “ ensure that no child is prevented from attending school because of parental poverty; “ ensure that every primary school child is transported to school by boat or bus; and, “ reward every family that keeps its children in school.

APNU applauds the commitment to education in the 2015 budget by the new coalition government.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, for more than two decades, badly damaged the national primary education system. More than 50 per cent of children at the National Grade Six Assessment fail all four subjects; sixty per cent of children in grades 2 to 4 cannot recognise or read a single word and 40 per cent of nursery, primary and secondary school teachers remain untrained. This investment in education is a step in the right direction to reverse the previous trend.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Sunday August 16, 2015

Sunday August 15, 2015

From page 31 numbers and text messages were found inside the phone, including numbers of the prison officer and text messages sent to him, which suggested that there was regular contact and a good relationship between the two men.

A message purportedly coming from the prisoner was sent to the prison officer using the said phone, asking for another of the previous arrangements to be made.

The officer responded that he needed a certain sum of money.

This was arranged and the trap was set with some marked money for the officer to collect at a certain spot.

As soon as the officer turned up with his bicycle to collect the money, the police moved in and arrested him.

He was taken into custody as investigation continues.

Tax exemptions, concessions last year amounted to quarter of Nat’l Budget “GRA was politically compromised, lacked accountability” – Jordan Tax exemptions and concessions granted last year amounted to an astounding $55B (US$275M), with the new Government on Monday vowing widespread reforms to fix a broken system.

During his maiden National Budget presentation on Monday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan made it clear that the situation was totally unacceptable with evidence that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was politically compromised under the previous administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C).

Speaking on the tax reforms as was promised by the coalition while on the campaign trail for the May 11 General and Regional Elections, the Minister said that among the pledges made was the implementation of an action programme for the first 100 days.

This included the immediate implementation of a phased reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT).

However, according to Jordan, on assumption to office, they found a tax system that is characterized by high rates. This resulted in “innumerable requests for tax exemptions and concessions, which totaled $55 billion, in 2014.”

Also unacceptable was the level of tax evasion that is “clearly unlawful, discriminatory and stifles competition.

Kaieteur News

Jordan said that there was widespread discretionary elements, which have been used to favour and reward friends, rather than encourage development and with little or no compliance.

“In short, Mr. Speaker, the system is broken and we must fix it in a comprehensive manner – one that results in a transparent and predictable tax system that rewards effort, promotes investment, improves our national competitiveness, and removes distortions between and across sectors.”

THURSDAY EDITION Public Service Ministry fraud now in excess of $500M Police investigations into the disappearance of tens of millions of dollars from the Public Service Ministry have now widened to include additional sums.

The tally has now gone beyond $500M, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Wednesday.

Police, who are handling the probe, have a team working at the Ministry of the Presidency to follow the money trail.

Several staffers as well as former Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford and her ex-assistant, Margaret Cummings, are being questioned.

Harmon Wednesday explained that initially, after it appeared something was wrong, police were given the files. They were working on a figure of over $120M. The sums were withdrawn this year from the Ministry of Public Service accounts. It had been transferred from what was known as the Office of the President and was to be used for training of workers in the various regions. However, there was no evidence that the regions were in receipt.

Checks were also made on withdrawals going back to 2012. The amount that cannot to be accounted for is in excess of $500M, Harmon said.

Guyanese were deceived on Amaila project – Govt.

– $1B scheme never contemplated power to E’bo coast, hinterland There are more details emerging over what pushed the new administration to start looking beyond the Amaila Falls hydro electric project.

According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon Wednesday, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/

C) deceived Guyana on the project. It knew that one of the financiers, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), had no client to develop the project after USowned Sithe Global walked in 2013. The ambitious project, the country’s most has been heavily pushed by the previous administration to solve Guyana’s energy needs, with a capacity of 165 megawatts of power from the Region Eight falls site in the Kuribrong River.

However, the project which was to be funded by Guyana, IDB, Sithe Global and China, ran into early trouble.

The costs of the access roads escalated from US$15 to almost US$40M. The contractor, Synergy Holdings, was fired. Then in 2013, a key piece of environmental legislation was rejected by the Parliamentary Opposition, which had control of the House, effectively stalling the project.

The PPP/C, up to the time it lost the May 11 elections, said it was working to restart the project, talking with the Chinese, among others.

The costs of the project escalated from an initial US$300M-plus to $1B. Over the 20-year period that Guyana had to repay the debt, taxpayers would have had to shell out an astounding US$2.6B, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, said Monday during his National Budget presentation.

As a matter of fact, IDB itself deemed the project too expensive. This the previous Government knew.

FRIDAY EDITION SVN produces top CSEC performer Sixteen-year-old Victoria Najab of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Secondary School will undoubtedly go down in the annals of history having secured 20 grade one passes at one sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. She is arguably the first CSEC candidate to accomplish such a feat.

The first local student who wrote 20 subjects at one sitting was Zimeena Rasheed of Anna Regina Secondary in 2013. She secured 18 grade one passes and 2 grade two passes. The following year Queen’s College (QC) student Elisa Hamilton repeated the feat of sitting 20 subjects and secured 19 grade one passes and 1 grade two pass.

It would however appear that Najab was determined to demonstrate that achieving

20 grade one passes was possible. She was on Thursday named the best performing 2015 CSEC candidate by Chief Education Officer (CEO), Olato Sam. While it was made clear by the CEO that the SVN School had produced several top performing candidates in the past, reports suggest that producing the national top performer is in fact a novel achievement for the school.

SVN is a privately-operated Hindu school located at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara.

The candidate who qualified as the second best performing student, Vamanadev Hiralall, who secured 19 grade one passes and 1 grade two is also a student of SVN. The top performers this year include a few others from the very school.

In announcing the results Thursday during a televised forum held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development, Sam disclosed that of the 12,606 candidates who participated in the examination this year, 47 secured grade one passes or more.

GPL boss axed - Govt. contemplates foreign management The head of the Stateowned power company has been asked to leave as a major shakeup of that entity continues.

On Thursday afternoon, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bharrat Dindyal, was handed a letter telling him that he could leave from Friday. His contract had reportedly

Page 43

expired.

Dindyal, a trained electrical engineer who had been with the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) for almost 26 years, had signaled his intentions since January to former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, that he wanted to leave at the end of June.

However, the new Government did not take a decision with no one named to take over the helm of the power company.

The situation changed after an incident last week in which Dindyal’s deputy, Colin Welch, who heads up Operations, clashed with him at the GPL’s Loss Reduction Office on Sheriff Street.

Welch had reportedly gone there with police to send home two senior managers, amidst an investigation of possible wrongdoing.

Staffers called the CEO who arrived and clashed with Welch. Dindyal insisted that Welch was unauthorized to send home staffers. Rather this fell on the Human Resources Department or the CEO. Dindyal told the staffers to stay put.

An embarrassing video of the clash between the two was recorded and uploaded in the social media, in which cursing was heard. Welch was accused of being a fraud.

SATURDAY EDITION DAX axed on Brazil fibre optic cable contract The new administration has ordered Dax Construction Company to halt works on the Brazil fibre optic cable, amidst an investigation to determine

how much money was spent, as well as the way forward.

The fibre optic cable, which was to bring another source of internet connectivity to Guyana, was a major embarrassment for the previous administration, after it faced delays and other technical issues.

It was part of a bigger initiative to advance Guyana’s e-governance drive and equip 90,000 poor families with laptops and link state agencies into a network.

Dax was contracted earlier this year by the former Government to repair the damaged cable and bring it into operation, in exchange for a number of concessions and partial use of the internet connectivity.

On Friday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, met with Faizal Mohamed, the Principal of Dax Construction Company to discuss the cable project. Also there was EGovernance Advisor, Floyd Levi.“The meeting was called to inform Mohamed that government has commissioned a team of telecommunications experts to review the fibre optic cable laying project that was overseen by former project manager, Alexei Ramotar,” a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency said yesterday.

Ramotar is the son of former President Donald Ramotar. He has been sent home.

During the meeting with Mohamed yesterday, Harmon informed the contractor that all works by Dax were to be halted while the assessment team does its work.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 57

Govt. announces major policy changes to diversify agriculture sector, increase food exports

By Jarryl Bryan The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has long called for diversification of Guyana’s agricultural exports, citing the country’s unhealthy dependence on sugar and rice.

With the 2015 budget presentation on Monday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan laid out the Government’s planned approach.

Budget 2015 saw sugar being given the lion’s share of allocations in the Agriculture sector, with some $8.2B set aside for the troubled GUYSUCO, while the rice sector is set to receive some $23B, to support payments to over 7000 rice farmers who were left in limbo as a result of the empty PetroCaribe fund.

But Guyana has one of the highest import bills in the Caribbean for non-traditional agriculture products.

Cognizant of this fact, Jordan spoke of several policy changes the Government would employ, such as the increase in exports of non-

sugar and non-traditional products by at least 25 percent spanning a five year period.

To meet such an increase, it follows that production must also be vamped up and Jordan addressed this imbalance, stating that with Government intervention agro-processed food such as shrimp, fruits and vegetables would receive greater emphasis, with the aim of increasing production by at least 50 percent.

The Minister pointed to some of the crops that will become the face of the diversification initiative in hinterland areas such as corn, soybean, cassava and legumes, in addition to fish and poultry.

“Research will be intensified on the development of new crops such as carrot, cauliflower, broccoli, turmeric, ginger and black pepper to achieve import reduction, while crop diversification for export will focus on commodities such as coconuts, cassavas, plantains, pineapples, pepper, corn and soybean, with a view to strengthening food security along the Coast and

consumption and improve exports.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan within the hinterland,” the Minister stated.

Livestock Moving on to the livestock sector, Jordan conveyed that Government intended to enforce regulations governing the slaughter of animals, something that has a direct correlation on food safety. He also spoke of placing livestock on a more scientific footing in order to increase domestic

Fisheries Speaking on fisheries, the Finance Minister noted that the contribution of this sector to the GDP had declined, but stated that promoting inland fisheries and aquaculture would mean Governmental assistance to fishermen.

The forms this assistance would take, according to Jordan, are the rebuilding of co-operatives and simplifying the license system for individuals desirous of engaging in artisanal fishing.

Additionally, the Minister revealed plans for the increased presence of fisheries officers.

These officers, Jordan stated, will be placed in every region in order to provide support to farmers.

Agriculture Disaster Management Plan The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) initiated Agriculture Disaster Management Plan will also be revamped, according to the Finance Minister, in a bid to mitigate the risks farmers face

through climate change events. To do this, Jordan stated, the Hydro meteorological Early Warning Systems (EWS) will also be upgraded.

This system came in for heavy criticism during the recent heavy rainfall and flooding that saw significant losses incurred by rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast.

“Government will support restoring and enhancing soil fertility, crop rotations,

efficiency in water use, reduction in the use of chemicals, pesticides and herbicides, and reducing food spoilage and loss by expanding the use of postharvest storage and processing facilities,” Jordan stated.

It is expected that the increased production of agroprocessed goods will be increased by at least 50 percent and will come in effect by 2020.

Page 58

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

Guyanese Restaurateur West Dem. young women undergoing culinary skills training was deep in debt when The second batch of young women has commenced training in culinary skills under the Creating Positive Environments through Safer Communities and Partnerships (CPETS) Projects, on the West Demerara.

The six weeks cookery training programme is being conducted at the Madina Restaurant at De Wi l l e m , We s t C o a s t Demerara, which is owned by businessman Halim Khan.

According to the programme’s facilitator Senior Superintendent of Police Stephen Mansell, the Divisional Commander, the training is geared to empower young women with

she set Schenectady fire

- US prosecutors

Commander Stephen Mansell with some of the participants and the restaurant owner. life skills for their personal development and the country by extension.

At the conclusion of the training, the participants will receive a certificate which

should enable them to go on to institutions of further learning.

The building that was set on fire.

NY (Times Union) -The co-owner of a Guyanese restaurant was deep in debt and behind on her taxes when she deliberately set fire to the business in hopes of collecting on an insurance policy, according to a prosecutor and court papers.

An indictment was handed up Thursday to Visiting County Judge James A. Murphy III, charging Zabeeda Permaul, 54, with first- and second-degree arson and two counts of second-degree insurance fraud, all felonies.

A woman who lived in an upstairs apartment at 1414 State St. had to be rescued by firefighters and was hospitalized with smoke inhalation as a result of the Feb. 22 fire.

Permaul operated Charlie’s West Indian Bakery & Restaurant on the first floor of the building and lived in a second apartment upstairs.

“The defendant did it for financial gain and she did it while she had reasonable knowledge somebody was

present in that building while she set fire to it,” said Assistant District Attorney Kevin Cheung said.

Permaul, who is from Guyana and a married mother of three adult children, was taken into custody and jailed without bail after her arraignment Thursday. If convicted, she could face 25 years to life, the maximum penalty on the top count, Cheung said. Permaul had been free on $100,000 bond after initially being charged with second-degree arson and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Her attorney, Samuel Iroegbu, said his client maintains her innocence. He declined further comment.

Cheung said Permaul owed money to family and friends and was in arrears on her city taxes on the building.

The business, which opened in April 2008, is named for Permaul’s husband.

Investigators said she used an accelerant to set fire to the building’s cellar stairs.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 59

Marriott racks up $60M loss in three months The Marriott Hotel

Three months after Guyana’s flagship hotel opened its doors; it appears that business at the 197-room facility is not doing so well.

In fact, Marriott has racked up a $60M loss up to the end of June, Government officials confirmed yesterday.

The hotel was officially commissioned on April 15, last.

The state-owned hotel’s biggest expense is its electricity consumption. Its monthly bill to Guyana Power

and Light (GPL) is in excess of $25M. This has been a major factor why construction of a critical component of the hotel- the adjoining entertainment complex- has not started.

Marriott’s electricity tab would contrast starkly with that of its nearby competitor, the Pegasus Hotel, whose electricity consumption averages $15M monthly.

Marriott also has a fivemegawatt generator with the capacity to power the

Kingston area. It has been using this from time to time.

Marriott, according to its plans, had anticipated that the hotel would generate income from its rooms, restaurants, bar and grill, fitness centre, vending areas and gift shop and from seminars held there.

Details of how well Marriott performed in filling its rooms and from the other activities were not immediately disclosed.

A feasibility study

conducted by Marriott had catered for attracting customers from Pegasus Hotel. There were other projections.

General Manager of Marriott Hotel, Roberto Grisi, referred the majority of the questions to Atlantic Hotel

Incorporated (AHI), a company owned and operated through the Government, and which owns the Marriott Hotel. AHI is headed by Winston Brassington.

“We don’t disclose that information. We can’t

disclose any numbers because we have a management agreement that’s confidential between AHI and Marriott. AHI can basically disclose at the levels that they see pertinent,” Grisi said.

He contended that Continued on page 64

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

Stolen goat, sheep lead to Suspected ‘Terror Gang’ high-speed chase, crash member remains paralyzed A movie styled midmorning high-speed chase from Canal Number 1 to Canal Number 2, West Bank Demerara has left four persons nursing different degrees of injuries.

The drama, which included armed policemen, saw the totaling of a bus shed; two badly damaged cars, while three alleged animal thieves escaped into the canfields aback of the Alliance community.

The high speed chase began following a report of simple larceny of a sheep and a goat belonging to a female policewoman who resides at Lot 156 Unity Street, La Grange. The perpetrators were men in a bronze car sporting number PPP5502.

Several ranks were on

patrol in the nearby village of Stanleytown when they saw a car fitting the description zooming past and they swung into action, joining other ranks in a civilian car for the chase which had started from Canal Number 1. They joined the chase down the Canal Number 2 road.

Dwarka of Lot 85-86 Alliance, was on his balcony when he saw two vehicles, including the police speed past, heading west on the main road in hot pursuit of the bronze car. But he did not think much of it initially.

About five to eight minutes later, as taxi driver Gopaul Outar with three passengers in his silver car HB 6121 was about to turn east into the main road from the Claybrick Bridge, he was

slammed into by the same bronze car. “Me nah been see them coming and as me about to turn, ‘badam!’ the car slam into the left-side of me car.”

His car spun out of control and as it headed in the direction of the bus shed, he noticed a woman standing under it, but there was nothing he could do to save her. Within split seconds the bus shed came crashing down, pinning the woman under it.

“It was like a movie ...I think she been dead, how the thing sounded so hard, but when we pull she out, she had small injuries,” a bystander recounted.

That woman as well as two other women and a man who were passengers in the Continued on page 64

A month after an early morning shootout between SWAT team members and a ‘terror gang’, at a house in Craig, East Bank Demerara, one of the gang members, 22 year old Warren McKenzie remains paralysed.

Mckenzie of Brutus Street Agricola, received injuries from two gunshot wounds and is still bedridden at the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC).

McKenzie was one of the men holed up in an apartment when members of the police SWAT unit raided the property on July 14, last, which resulted in the death of wanted gang leader, Rolston ‘Sadam’ Morrison.

McKenzie has been identified as one of the suspects in the brutal robbery on Land Court Judge, Nicola Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand. The robbery took place on July 9, last at Felicity East Coast Demerara.

When Kaieteur News visited McKenzie yesterday, he was seen lying in bed under police guard. In a brief interview, the patient claimed that he was shot twice, once to the abdomen and to another location unknown to him.

He explained that he had recently undergone surgery to remove one of the warheads, while the other is still lodged somewhere in his body.

But despite the allegations made against him, the young man said that he was feeling

Suspected ‘Terror Gang’ member, Warren Mckenzie lying in bed at the GPHC. better and hopes to be reunited with his family soon.

McKenzie, who was once a patient in the High Dependency Unit (HDU), has now been transferred to the Male Surgical Ward.

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

GNBS MONITORS TWENTY COMMODITIES FOR COMPLIANCE

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

The monitoring of the quality of products and services in any country is essential towards ensuring that all consumers get the quality, satisfaction which they so deserve and expect.

This can only be achieved if there are established national monitoring mechanisms and systems in place to ensure that goods and services offered to consumers are of acceptable quality.

It is with this view in mind that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) was given the mandate under the National Standards Act of 1984 and its amendment of 1997 to ensure that products offered for sale conform to the requirements of standards. As a consequence, under its National Standards Compliance Programme, twenty categories of imported and locally manufactured products are monitored by the organization.

National Standards are available for a wide cross section of products imported into Guyana or locally manufactured. However, only twenty categories of commodities are monitored by the Bureau of standards

under the national standards compliance programme. These standards stipulate requirements for labeling and or testing for quality, durability, performance etc.

Most of the products monitored by the Bureau are examined to ensure compliance with labeling requirements. The labels of some products, such as household electrical appliances and gas stoves provide guidance and information to consumers that the products which they purchase are fit, safe and suitable for use. These labels must include certification mark(s) which indicate that products were tested by an independent, third party certification or inspection body in the country of origin.

The objective of the GNBS compliance programme is to ensure that consumers are protected from substandard products which are either produced right here in Guyana or are imported.

Products currently monitored by the GNBS are: domestic electrical appliances, tyres (new and used), textiles, garments, footwear, PVC pipes, scales, weights & measures, Animal feed, Furniture, Garments, Gas stoves, Cigarettes, Safety

matches, Safety helmets, Seat belts, Fertilizers, Electricity and water meters, Cellular phones, Christmas Tree and decorative lighting outfits.

It is important to note that the GNBS does not monitor commodities such as Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics, Medical Devices, Plants and Animals parts, Meats and Seafood.

These products are monitored by other Regulatory Agencies such as the Food and Drug Analyst Department and the Ministry of Agriculture.

It must also be noted that commodities can only be monitored when the relevant national standard is in placed.

Upon importation, products monitored by the GNBS are referred by Customs to the Agency for examination by its Inspectors who conduct these examinations either at the ports of entry, points of sale, or at warehouses and bonds. In the case of goods which require storage, it is important that checks are made to ensure that surroundings and practices are maintained to avoid the deterioration of the quality of the products imported or manufactured (example, tyres and animal feeds). Locally

manufactured products are also examined at sale outlets and place of manufacture to ensure compliance.

Products, whether locally manufactured or imported, that are found to be in compliance with their relevant national standards, are released for sale to consumers.

However, in instances where they failed to conform to requirements, the appropriate actions are taken by the GNBS. These actions could include the seizure, request for relabeling, or the submission of the requisite information such as test certificates.

Sometimes, sub-standard products are destroyed or importers are asked to reship them to the country of origin.

The GNBS will continue to monitor the quality of products which fall under its purview to ensure compliance to National Standards and Guidelines, which will ultimately provide consumer safety and satisfaction.

For further information, please contact the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on telephone numbers: 2190065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org.

Page 61

East Canje man charged following shootout with police A man who was allegedly among a gang of eight that attacked and robbed a No.48 village family and subsequently engaged a police patrol in a shootout has been charged for the crime and remanded to jail.

The man Subramanie Narinesammy, 26, who told the court that he is a mason of Cumberland East Canje, Berbice, but had told the police that he hails from 130 East Canefield, East Canje appeared before Magistrate Carlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s court on two charges of robbery under arms and discharging a loaded firearm with intent.

He is accused of robbing Indranie Takeam, female, age 46 years a housewife of $100,000 on Wednesday 8th August at No 48 Village, Corentyne Berbice.

He was also charged for discharging a loaded firearm with intent at police Sergeant Brown, Corporal Joseph, Constable Claxton and Constable Hunte.

That offence was committed the same date while being in company with others and armed with

dangerous weapons to wit guns and cutlasses. He was not required to plead He will have to return to Court on 26th August.

On August 8 at about 01:20 hrs, Police ranks were forced to take evasive action after they responded to reports of a robbery at No. 48 Village and came under heavy gun fire which damaged their vehicle .

Eight bandits armed with guns and cutlasses had invaded the home of 38year-old rice farmer Tagraj Tulshi. The bandits used a chainsaw to cut a hole in the wall through which they gained entry into the house.

At the time six persons were at home – Tulshi, his wife Indranie Takean, 32, their three children ages 12, eight and four years old, along with Tulshi’s mother-in-law.

The bandits’ ill treated the family and escaped with $100,000 and were in the process of continuing their rampage when the police arrived in the area, forcing them to abort their mission.

F o l l o w i n g i n v e s t i g a t i o n s Narinesammy was arrested and changed.

Page 62

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

BUDGET ADDRESSES A FAILURE OF THE PPP, GIVES MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME TO WORKERS

By Ralph Seeram Some of my criticisms of past PPP government were its failure to address issues affecting the working class, especially in the area of delivery of services to the public.

The PPP was so focused on grand projects, like the Hydro Project, new Airport, and Marriot etc. and there was nothing wrong with that approach, but they lost sight of the grievance of the working class; the everyday problems of the working man and woman.

Shortly after he assumed the Presidency, I had an interview with former

President Donald Ramotar, and brought to his attention a pet peeve of mine: - why do people have travel from the top of the Essequibo or from the end of the Corentyne to obtain a passport or birth certificate in Georgetown? I am not even going into other services like licences etc.

As recent as the run up to the May elections, I raised the subject with him again.

This new coalition in just three months in office saw it fit to address this problem.

In fact, it provided instant relief to citizens travelling great distances to uplift a passport.

As most Guyanese know, you spend a day just to apply

for a passport then waste another day not to mention the travel expense to go back to Georgetown to collect the document.

The new government has decentralized the system, and has budgeted for more passport machines; people in Berbice and Essequibo will be able to obtain their passports at various locations within their respective counties.

Earlier this week the APNU/AFC coalition unveiled their $221B budget, which credit must be given to them, considering only being in office for three months.

The budget fulfils some of the pledges made by the Coalition on the campaign

trail and some other surprises.

There is no doubt that Finance Minister Winston Jordan, has made some serious efforts to put extra cash into the pockets of Guyanese.

Starting with the increase in salaries for Public Servants.

Raising the monthly salaries from $39.540.00 to $50.000.00, is a substantial increase.

Minister Jordan should be commended for introducing tax credits for mortgage interests. This is common in the United States.

This is going to be a real help to present homeowners with mortgage and an incentive for future home owners. This means that income will only be taxable after the mortgage interests have been deducted.

If they are not yet doing so Banks will have to issue yearly statements as to the amount of interest paid. Here again the government is putting some extra cash in taxpayers’ pockets.

Since I am a Berbician, of interest to me is a reduction of the Berbice River Bridge tolls. $300.00 is a token amount, which to my understanding is just a start.

It may not be much, but it is a start.

My concern is, will that small savings be passed on to commuters or will hire car drivers keep that for themselves? For instance, for a hire car taking four passengers across the bridge, they should reduce the present fare by $75.00.

Question is, will this happen?

Well, passengers will have to demand their saving.

The nearly $4000.00 increase in pension will be most welcome by pensioners, coupled with the fact that some restrictions have been removed for them to enjoy subsidized rates on water and electricity.

Now I understand the bill merely has to be in their names and not necessarily a property owner.

Honestly, knowing how some Guyanese can be dishonest, I hope we don’t see a sudden transfer of water and electricity bills to Grandpa and Grandma. Please don’t abuse the concession.

Tax concessions to miners and a $500.00 increase for uniforms all help to put extra cash back into the pockets of Guyanese.

This column is too small to deal extensively on the budget, but some things are noteworthy.

A $21Billion allocated to the Security Sector of which $9.1 billion is allocated to the police and other related agencies.

Now with this kind of expenditure, the Guyanese public should expect and demand better service and protection from the Guyana Police Force.

While there have been some visible improvements in fighting crime, the banditry that the country is experiencing now seems way

ahead of the police, who seem more reactive than proactive.

Businessmen, large and small, and I must add particularly Indian business persons, are in fear for their lives in Guyana today.

This new brand of young criminals is not only robbing but also engage in senseless murder.

Corruption is institutionalized in the Guyana Police Force.

I have argued before in these columns that the Government of the day needs to bring in foreign officers to run the police force, from Police Commissioner down to Assistant Commissioners etc. Most of the senior officers have been brought up in this corrupt system, and only a foreign face can come in to clean it up; restore integrity to the Force.

If you don’t believe me go ask people in Berbice if they trust the police, for that matter ask anyone in the street if they trust the police.

Overall, it is my view that the Coalition did a good job in this first stop gap budget.

After they get over their “teething” problems, the real test will be next year.

Meanwhile, you commuters in Berbice demand your $75.00 reduction in toll fare from your taxi driver.

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

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

VEHICLE FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

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Floor sanding & lacquering house plans, estimate & painting –Call: 650-4362

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar

Salon & Spa @ Aracari Resort! Available Now: Hollywood herbal skin whitening cream, scrub & sun block. Phone: 264-3312 or 6003927

Live in waitress –Call: 6048277; 228-5129

Labourers for wood concession -$5,000 per day – Call: 618-0487

Page 63

Experienced legal computer clerk-Phone 624-7087 Experienced Pharmacist to work part time at Lachman Singh Drugs Store- Contact: 622-4746 Live in maid must know to cook- Call: 231-0363 One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician – Call: 231-0655 Taxi Driver for fielder wagon in base –Call: 687-8728 FOR SALE/RENT American pool tables –Call: 277-0578

Going Cheap! A15 Allion in excellent condition. Alarm, AC, Stero etc- asking $1.65Contact: Call: 679-9383 One fully loaded Toyota Fun Cargo PLL 9098, excellent condition with Alarm, CD Player -$1.2M –Call: 641-9923, 627-5382 In Stock @ First Class Auto: 08 Premio, Allion, Runx, Axio, Bluebird, Sienta, Fielder, Rush –Tel: 609-8188, 638-3045 Tractor Massey Ferguson, from Canada – MF165 $1.7M, MF265-$2.1M, MF135 -$1.1M, Ranger Pick Up Truck -$1.4M –Call: 682-5230; 628-9596

Blow Out Sale!!!

Unregistered Toyota IST $2,050,000- Bodykit, TV, Spoiler, Fogs, Alloy Wheels, Crystal Lights & Alarm – Call: 643-6565, 226-9931 Unregistered : 2006 Auris $2.5M, 2003 Spacio -$2.1M, 2001 Carina - $1.9M, 2007 Dualis -$4.6M- Call: 6093650, 226-8953 1-Toyota 4WD extra cab, pickup LH drive –price $1.2M negotiable –Tel: 6688431 Unregistered 2004 IST$1.9M, 2003 Premio -$2.2M, 2006 Allion -$2.3M, 2005 Fielder -$2.35M-Call:6093650, 226-8953 1 Noah 2003, BTT series 4794, mileage 14,000cc, owner migrating –Tel: 604-6146

2004 PMM Lexus IS200, 2,000cc, leather- 53,725KM $2.4M negotiable –Call: 6474800 PJJ Toyota Harries Suv 3,000cc, fully loaded, perfect engine-$2.5M negotiableCall: 647-4800

One Complete land Dredge with two Perkins engine for sale - $ 1.5M -Call: 684-6048 or 689-0217 XBOX 360 original game dics used at the cheapest prices also do online shopping, for more info contact- Call: 6527560 or BBM 56868255 One welding machine- Call: 687-7725 52ft complete cabin cruiser.

In excellent condition- Tel: 592-654-2817, 592-622-2958 Lister Pitter AC1 6B-HP, generator 4KW, 110/220 Volts on wheels –Call: 6841068

TO LET Newly built 2 bedrooms apartment: bath, toilet, kitchen, sitting area on High Road Greenwich Park, Parka –Tel: 649-6202/664-3508 Lodge Apartments (Vlissingen/Durban): unfurnished -$40,000$90,000, furnished-$500USD monthly-Call: 677-9638 Lodge (Vlissingen /Durban): Professional/office/business (no food retailing) space- Call: 677-9638 Three bedrooms concrete top flat in Cane View Ave. South Ruimveldt Gardens $90,000-Call: 218-1949 APARTMENT AT GROVE$50,000 –TEL: 644-5151 2 Bedrooms apartment, UG Student or working couplefully grilled, toilet and bathCall: 654-9807

Large Red snapper fishing boat 66ft, with 85 traps, all licenses working, 3yrs old – Call: 674-3735; 652-8970 Marine Parts, inboard engines, gear box, shaft, propellers, gland, all electronics, etc –Call: 6743735/ 652-8970 One transport property on Duncan Street, laser level, De walt Drill and refrigerator. Call: 600-7864 One Stall @ Stabroek Market, One STHL motor blower, one Tiller, 33.5 Farm land @ Kuru KuruCall: 225-7794, 679-1151 Green Heart Lumber: 10X10, 1 1 X 1 1 , 1 2 X 1 2 , 13X13,14X14,15X15,16X16, 17X17 and 18X18- Call: 6393450 One 4" & 6" dredge complete (new) for sale, price to sellTel: 667-7512 or 625-9358 Dachshund, 7 weeks old and de-wormed -$12,000 – Tel:216-0521; 642-8671 One Yamaha 2006, R1 1000cc-$600,000- Owner leaving country-Contact: 664-4101

One new model Toyota Axio, unregistered rims, TV, Back Camera, Fogs lights, etc-Call: 612-6215 Toyota RAV 4, late PMM series, fully powered, first owner -$2.5M-Contact: 6216363 (anytime)

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

One 928F Caterpillar Wheel Loader- Contact # 650-0402/ 260-4988 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVEAUTORENTAL: CARS & SUV FOR RENTAL$4,000 & UPPER DAY-CALL: 643-5122, 219-3900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

Bobcat cement Mixer, air compressor, tyre machineCall: 694-0535 Double stack pizza oven with accessories and dough mixer for sale, willing to train - $180,000Call: 674-6455 5 Toyota Coaster, 1 Mitsubishi 30 seater, 1-320C bucket, must be sold- Call: 648-0121; 628-1832 Continued on page 64

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

Marriott racks up $60M loss...

From page 63

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Hair & nail station: qualified technician @ Alyssa Beauty Salon & Tattoo Parlour, 103 Regent & Wellington Sts. (Multi Complex Mall) –Call: 684-1062 Property for rent at #2 Canal Polder- Tel: 613-1860 2- Two bedroom apartment for rent @ Mon Repos, North East Coast, price $60,000 –Call: 688-6005 2 Properties @ Bel-Air Park all convenience , furnished US-1800 & 4 bedrooms unfurnished US2,200, newly renovated –Tel:231-7839 (working hours)

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.

Republic Park Phase 1, 4 bedrooms, 48M, negotibale Call:645-2580, 609-6516 Yarrowkabra Linden Highway 200’X100’ fully fence, house, chicken & pig pen –Call: 6760931 One 3 bedrooms 2 storey concrete house @ 8 Street Foulis H/Scheme –Call: 2563360 or 685-8485 House for sale @ Lot 180 Block 8 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Price $25M negotiable –Call: 266-0309; 626-6555 67 First Street Garden of Eden E.B.D –Tel: 639-8376

Two bedroom apartment to rent in Sophia -$35,000 –Call: 613-1847 New spacious 2 bedroom apartments with kitchen, bath, camera, grill, fenced, secured yard, Vreed-en-Hoop – Call: 682-5230; 628-9596 2 (Two) bedroom house at Zeelught-Call:662-7600; 6171300 Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar, also wanted 1 live in house keeper -Tel: 659-3865; 629-2424, 227-2993 One two bedrooms apartment @ 128 Middle Road La Penitence, working couple preferred-Call: 2255533 2 Bedrooms apartment in Cummings Lodge –Call: 2223750 on weekends only 2 Bedroom apartment @ Samatta Point, Grove- Call: 602-3585

EDUCATION Enroll Now At Xenon Academy! Tank Street Grove, E.B.D: Nursery, Primary & Secondary- Call Sir Bharrat 643-4045; 2662551 Makeup Classes @ La Vie Est Belle. Come register and be apart, its life changing!

Call:682-9699; 218-2092 Spanish Classes!!! Learn Spanish in 3 Months: Introductory, Intermediate, Advance, children creativeSaturday –Tel: 673-8605.

Register Now!!!

Simpli Royal School of Beauty – Pamela Dillon: 6654565; 225-2303. Hair, Skin, Nail Technology, easy payments.

Lessons: Maths, English, Accounts, Physics, Social Studies and office Administration, Location: Campbellville –Contact: 6106087

LAND FOR SALE Providence$3.5M, Herstelling -$3.5M & $2.5M, Farm - $2.2M, Parfait Harmonie -$1.2M, $1.5M & $2.8M, Eccles -$5MCall:611-7223; 604-2207 Transported house land Richmond Essequibo, large lot, next to Nursery School, full up high, fruit Tree-$4.5Tel: 682-5230; 628-9596

LAND FOR SALE Luxury Gated CommunityMall, Pool, intelligent security system, well, solar.

Selling @ 6USD per Sq.ft – Call: 609-0783

From page 59 Marriott was “exceeding the numbers”.

Attempts to seek answers from AHI, which is a Government shareholder company, were futile, with Brassington’s office demanding the questions be emailed to Brassington himself.

It has not been a smooth road for the US$58M hotel, which first opened its doors with former President Donald Ramotar and former Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh cutting the ribbon. There were protests from civil society questioning the spending which was done without the approval of the National Assembly.

The hotel was hailed by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic

LAND FOR SALE Land for sale at Webster’s Avenue, Buxton for $1.6MCall: 696-8391 Land at long Creek on Highway 100ftX200ft –Tel: 679-7159; 685-8926 Land @ Parfaite Harmonie & Tuschen -$1.5M each, 1-2 storey property @ Crane – Call: 604-6724 Land @ Anna Catherina W.C.D - $6M – 3,200.00sq.ft – Contact Ramesh: 688-8195 Professional Realty: we buy/ sell/rent/value your real estate –Call:694-3875; 6490353, 654-6198

(PPP/C) government as a special project designed to boost tourism and hospitality.

But with questions over costs, and the secretive investors, the project remained under a shadow.

Among other things, the previous administration had been bent on transferring 67 percent control to a shady Hong Kong investor, despite the fact that almost all the monies spent were from Government coffers. The previous Government refused to entertain investment offers from local businesses.

The elections of May 15, last, put paid to the fact that the hotel can be transferred to any foreign entity.

The new government has signaled an intention to sell the Marriott.

The project experienced more hurdles when Parliamentarian, Desmond Trotman, filed a court case blocking the hotel from seeking to mortgage the lands and the hotel. In the end, AHI secured debentures to the tune of some US$27 million.

News that the contractor, Shanghai Construction Group, imported Chinese labour, with few jobs provided for locals and a slew of tax breaks and concessions

General Manager of the Marriott, Roberto Grisi.

In background is Winston Brassington. to the hotel, raised the ire of the local business community which claimed that the situation created an unfair playing field, giving the Marriott brand a huge advantage over them.

But according to the General Manager, “Marriott doesn’t have a single concession as a company.

The concessions are for the AHI Company.”

Marriott currently benefits from a 10-year waiver on Corporate, Property and Withholding Taxes, which came into effect from the first year of commercial

operations.

The hotel has hired 235 workers, of whom five percent came from overseas.

The General Manager also revealed that on the Executive Committee, the Directors of Human Resources, Engineering and Finance are all Guyanese.

Grisi was optimistic that with the advent of oil, Guyana’s economy would perform much better and create conditions for the successful operation of the Marriott. Already, Exxon Mobil employees have started utilizing the hotel.

Stolen goat, sheep...

From page 60 silver Toyota Carina were rushed to the West Demerara Hospital for medical attention.

When Kaieteur News

arrived on the scene, a police vehicle drove away with a goat and a sheep in its tray.

The animals were actually removed from the trunk of the crashed bronze car, which was identified as the one from which three young men had hurriedly exited with minor injuries before making a dash through an open yard.

“Me been going to help dem cause me think was a crash but then dem run through here and nearly jam me down and go in the cane field…but it look like dem get some injuries, cause dem was bleeding,” Dwarka said.

The front of the bronze car they abandoned was submerged in a drain.

Meanwhile, many villagers on the scene relayed stories of an upsurge in theft of their sheep and this was confirmed by police ranks.

While the three thieves were not caught, they were identified as young men aged in their early 20s. This publication has since learnt that the animals which were at the center of the highspeed chase were positively identified as belonging to woman police Shondel Sparman and they have since been returned to her.

(Mondale Smith)

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Corruption eating away at India ‘like a termite’: Modi

Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra of corruption, we have to start Modi warned yesterday that from the top,” said Modi. corruption was eating away at “Corruption is like a terIndia “like a termite” as he mite, it spreads slowly, used an independence day reaches everywhere, but it can speech to pledge his commit- be beaten with timely injecment to eradicating graft and tions.” poverty.

Modi’s speech comes afIn an address from Delhi’s ter some of the most senior Red Fort, Modi sought to si- figures in his Bharatiya Janata lence growing doubts about Party became embroiled in his leadership after key re- corruption scandals, includforms stalled in a rancorous ing Foreign Minister Sushma parliament session dogged by Swaraj and the chief ministers allegations of corruption in- of Rajasthan and Madhya volving some of his top lieu- Pradesh states. tenants.

The scandals have been Modi, who has a reputa- particularly embarrassing as tion as a hardline Hindu na- Modi’s election win last year tionalist, also warned against was built in part on a pledge the “poison” of communalism to clean up government after in a wide-ranging speech that a series of scams under the lasted for more than an hour. previous Congress administraBut it was his comments tion. on the dangers posed by corModi said there had been ruption that drew most atten- no cases of money being sition, including his admission phoned off on his watch and that the problem went right to that a new law on declaring the top. income had led to the disclo“I want to reaffirm that this sure of around one billion dolnation will get rid of corrup- lars in hitherto hidden assets tion. We can rid the country which will now be liable to tax.

Other economic reforms however have snagged in parliament, including a national sales tax that the government sees as crucial to firing up growth.

While the economy is growing at around 7.5 percent, it still needs to pick up pace to elevate the hundreds of millions of people still mired in poverty in the world’s second most populous nation.

The right-wing premier, who has been accused of being too close to big business, portrayed himself as a champion of the poor by promising to help farmers and lowercaste dalits, formerly known as untouchables.

Modi set a 1,000-day deadline for every village in India to get electricity, urging state governments which are responsible for power to ensure every community is finally linked to the national grid.

“Even after so many decades of independence there are 18,500 villages in India which do not have electricity,” he said.

“I appeal to the states and all other stakeholders to connect these villages with electricity system within 1,000 days.”

Frequently mopping his brow on a swelteringly hot day, Modi said he had striven to enable 170 million people to open bank accounts for the first time under a governmentrun scheme.

“The poor are at bottom of the pyramid of development and we have to strengthen the base of the pyramid. If they are empowered, no one can stop us,” said Modi who came to power in May last year.

(AFP)

Iranian hard-liner says Supreme Leader opposes nuclear deal TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is opposed to a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers, a prominent hard-liner claimed yesterday.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the daily newspaper Kayhan and a representative of Khamenei, made the comments in an editorial yesterday. It was the first time someone publicly claimed where Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, stands on the deal.

Khamenei has not publicly approved or disapproved of the deal. However, he has repeatedly offered words of support for Iran’s nuclear negotiators. Moderates believe the deal would have never been reached without Khamenei’s private approval.

Iran’s parliament and the Supreme National Security Council will consider the agreement in the coming days. The deal calls for limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.

Shariatmadari said in the editorial that many parts of the deal threaten Iran’s independence, security and “the sacred system of the Islamic republic of Iran” and would be “disastrous” if implemented.

He also referred to a speech by Khamenei last month during which the ayatollah said, “Whether this text is approved or disapproved, no one will be allowed to harm the main principles of the (ruling) Islamic system.”

The editorial noted: “Using the phrase ‘whether this text is approved or disap-

proved’ shows his lack of trust in the text of the deal. If His Excellency had a positive view, he would have not insisted on the need for the text to be scrutinized through legal channels ... It leaves no doubt that His Excellency is not satisfied with the text.”

Another prominent hardliner and Khamenei representative, Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda, recently said the deal “crossed the red lines.”

He said Khamenei said outsiders should never be allowed access to Iran’s security apparatus, but the deal violated that by allowing inspection of military sites.

However, Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces and a close Khamenei ally, backed the deal last week despite having concerns.

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Sunday August 15, 2015

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 67

Link between youth unemployment and crime rate highlighted in National Assembly …Govt. recommits to youth development While there has been much talk about the new administration’s apparent lack of care for the youth, based on the fact that President David Granger selected a “graying cabinet,” Finance Minister, Winston Jordan recently renewed government’s commitment to the development of Guyanese young people.

The Minister did so as he delivered his first Budget speech to the National Assembly last week.

Government had taken a beating over for the fact that its youngest Minister is over 40 years with many young people taking this to mean that President Granger sees no place for the youth in government.

The merging of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport with the Ministry of Education, even though APNU+AFC admitted during the election campaign that much more needs to be done for the youth, was met with disapproval. The fact that the Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment, Aubrey Norton, is far from being considered a youth, did not appease those who were feeling neglected.

However, the government is saying that it is still very much in favour of the youth

of Guyana.

Addressing the House Speaker, Minister Jordan highlighted that youth in the national development process is critical to the long term survival of Guyana.

He said that a recent study by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has put youth unemployment in Guyana to be about 40 percent, “a staggering percentage when it is considered that 60 to 65 percent of the population is aged 40 years and below.”

The Minister said that the main challenges affecting youth remain “high unemployment at every level, teenage pregnancy, single parent homes and poor wages. These manifest themselves in anti-social behaviour, such as crime and drugs, poverty and reduced life expectancy.”

In that very speech, the Minister said that the crime rate is the most distressing and depressing situation currently facing the nation.

He also said that the

government has therefore budgeted $21B to finance the fight against crime in Guyana.

There have already been 98 murders for the year and an alarming amount of armed robberies, some deadly and some with severe injuries sustained to the mind and body of the victims.

Indeed most, if not all of those arrested for murders and armed robberies this year can be considered youths. And in some cases youths have been the victims, as gang violence seems to be gaining prominence in Guyana.

Minister Jordan, in his speech, said that government is committed to ensuring a safe and secure society for all.

He told the House that following wide consultations with various youth groups and other organizations, a draft of the National Youth Policy 2015 has been completed. The first-time Minister said that the National Youth Policy 2015 aims to build a nation where Guyanese youth are safe and healthy, have equal access to

opportunities, can participate in public life and are empowered to meaningfully contribute to Guyana’s sustainable development.

Jordan said that the “comprehensive document” captures the government’s vision for the youths of Guyana and caters for the needs of youth between the ages of 15 and 35 years, which is over 50 percent of the population.

The Minister said that once the draft is accepted, a National Youth Policy Action Plan will be quickly crafted and implemented.

Further, the Minister told the House that government is cognizant that youths are constantly looking for avenues for growth, and as such, the administration will review the existing youth development programmes with a view to enhancing the employability of Guyanese youth while promoting new initiatives for social and

economic advancement.

Also, Jordan said that the government will upgrade the facilities at the Sophia Training Centre and collaborate with the private sector to create job opportunities for the over 200

trainees.

He also promised that his government will design tracer studies to effectively monitor the employment of all trainees under national youth programmes.

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Kaieteur News

Jack: I’ll crawl on my belly to remove Kamla

Jack Warner Trinidad Guardian - ILP leader Jack Warner says he will do anything he can to remove Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar from office on September 7.

Warner said this during a meeting of his party at the basketball court in Sherwood Park, Arima, on Thursday night.

He told supporters he was responsible for PersadBissessar being elected Prime Minister “and it must be I who must remove her from there.”

Warner said, “And if I have to crawl, if I have to creep, if I have to go on my belly, for Kamla to go, I will ensure that (happens).”

Warner, who resigned from the PP Cabinet in 2013 after allegations of wrongdoing in his capacity as Fifa vice president, said

Kamla Persad-Bissessar Persad-Bissessar “does not claims from the PP that he was know how to govern” and not criticising the PNM in his should not be given a second campaign. term.

“Why should we do that?

Warner said the campaign Rowley is not the being conducted by Persad- Government, he is in Bissessar was stolen from the Opposition, as we are. So we recent UK election campaign. don’t have to attack the PNM, That claim has been denied we attacking Kamla,” Warner by government officials. said.

Warner said his ILP would Warner claimed the PP not contest the St Joseph and was no longer united, adding Tunapuna seats so as to that the UNC was contesting allow for a straight fight the polls by itself. “When I between the PNM and the PP. buss the next mark you will He said, however, the ILP see scandal,” he said. He said “shall campaign in those two the ILP would be presenting constituencies. We shall tell all its candidates today at our supporters in those Montrose in Chaguanas from constituencies who not to 6 pm. vote for, because at no time He said an ILP must we do anything to government would deal with jeopardise our chances at the traffic problem in the moving Kamla from office. country by opening the PBR This election is do or die.” to all motorists, establishing Warner also responded to a park and ride system, and building new roads.

He said the PP Government had done nothing significant for the people of the East-West corridor except build police stations and a jail.

Sunday August 15, 2015

Education Ministry to provide 100 math and science scholarships KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Ministry of Education will be providing 100 scholarships and bursaries to teacher trainees specialising in mathematics and science subject areas.

This initiative is to address a shortage of qualified mathematics and science teachers in the education system, and is open to individuals pursuing a bachelors degree in secondary education in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.

This was announced by Minister of Education Rev Ronald Thwaites at a press conference on Thursday at t h e m i n i s t r y ’s H e r o e s Circle head office in Kingston, to provide details of the 2015 results of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

Thwaites said this move is significant, considering the

Ronald Thwaites decline in the percentage of prism through which passes in the science employmentand development subjects at the CSEC level, is going to take place in the Century,” the when compared to last year. 21st For biology, 69.4 per cent of ministersaid.

Thirty scholarships will those who sat the examination scored grade one b e offered to persons pursuing science education to three passes.

There was a 60.5 per cent degrees starting in September pass rate for chemistry; and 2015, and 70 to those pursuing secondary 62.5 per cent for physics.

“Science, after-all, is the education in mathematics.

The Gleaner - Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell says the new agreement between the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) and New Fortress Energy for the supply of gas could be the catalyst to establish Jamaica as an energy hub for the region.Under the agreement, US-based New Fortress Energy will provide JPS with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for its 120-megawatt power plant at Bogue in Montego Bay, St James.Paulwell notes

that the agreement represents a major outcome arising from the significant policy shift by the Department of Energy of the US Government to authorise the export of LNG to Jamaica.

He says based on the level of stakeholder participation that guided the process leading to the agreement he believes the development has been one of the most profound examples of private and public sector collaboration and

LNG agreement could help establish Jamaica as energy hub – Paulwell

achievement.The talks involved the United States Department of Commerce, the Office of the US President and the Government of Jamaica as well as the two commercial entities.

The LNG supply agreement will facilitate the delivery of gas to the JPS by early 2016 and has now enabled the company to begin the infrastructure work in short order and hasten the generation of electricity in a more cost-effective manner.

Sunday August 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 15, 2015

Greek PM faces revolt after eurozone approves huge bailout Athens (AFP) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was yesterday battling a major revolt amongst members of his radical-left party who oppose the third huge bailout for the crisis-hit country.

Finance ministers from the 19-member eurozone approved a package late Friday that will see Greece receive 86 billion euros ($96 billion) over three years in exchange for far-reaching pro-market reforms.

The green light for the deal, designed to stop Athens from defaulting on its huge debts and crashing out of the euro, came hours after Greece’s parliament voted through the agreement after a bitter all-night debate.

A third of MPs in Tsipras’s radical-left party Syriza rebelled against him and he only managed to win the vote with opposition help — prompting fresh expectations that he will be forced to call early elections.

But Tsipras insisted the bailout was in Greece’s best interests, saying: “The agreement will advance Greece by making its financial system

Alexis Tsipras more stable, starting right ously close to tumbling out of now.” the eurozone and into the unSyriza swept to power in known, but six months of January on a wave of public fraught negotiations had paid anger against steep tax rises, off. spending cuts and reforms “Together, we have looked demanded by Athens’ credi- into the abyss. tors — the EU, European CenBut today, I am glad to say tral Bank and International that all sides have respected Monetary Fund — in ex- their commitments. Greece is change for two previous bail- living up to its ambitious reouts. form commitments,” he said in Critics accuse Tsipras of a statement after six hours of caving to blackmail from the gruelling talks in Brussels Fricreditors in agreeing to more day. painful reforms in exchange Greece will receive a first for badly-needed cash. instalment of 13 billion euros European Commission next week, helping cover a debt head Jean-Claude Juncker payment due to the ECB next said Athens had come peril- Thursday.

Italy: At least 40 migrants dead at sea, 320 others rescued

An Iranian migrant collapsing next to his son and crying wife moments after a small group of exhausted migrants from Iran arrived by paddling an engineless dinghy yesterday. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis ROME (AP) — At least 40 migrants died yesterday in the hold of an overcrowded smuggling boat in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya, apparently killed by fuel fumes, and some 320 others aboard were saved by the Italian navy, the rescue ship’s commander said.

“The dead were found in the hold,” Cmdr. Massimo Tozzi, speaking from the navy ship Cigala Fulgosi while the rescue was still ongoing.

Asked by RaiNews24 how the migrants died, Tozzi said “it appears to be from inhaling exhaust fumes.”

When rescuers stepped aboard the boat, the bodies of migrants were “lying in water, fuel, human excrement” in the hold, Tozzi said.

The death toll was not yet final.

“They are still counting the victims,” Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told reporters.

Tozzi said the survivors included three children and 45 women, some of whom “were crying for their husbands (and) their children who died in the crossing.”

The scenes, captured early yesterday by Associated Press journalists on a moonless night, came as Turkish authorities reported that 2,791 migrants have been caught in the Aegean Sea in the past five days alone, most of them Syrians.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 71

Djokovic reaches semis, Nishikori... Williams dominates Vinci to...

From page 75 Canadian showing. “It took a long time to finally beat him, but I’m very happy to win my first match against Rafael,” said Nishikori.

“I knew I have to be aggressive, so I have to change some tactics to play against Rafa.

“Everything was feeling well today. I felt like everything was going in.

“I mean, he’s still not maybe 100 per cent, but he’s Rafa.”

Seventh seed Nadal was playing in Canada for the first time since winning his third title here in 2013 and he now stands 28-7 in the country.

Djokovic found himself down a set and a break against Gulbis.

Gulbis, whose career best was a Roland Garros semi-final in 2014, has since gone into a funk in 2015.

But he forced his world number one to save two match points in the second-set tiebreaker of a thriller lasting two and a half hours.

Djokovic levelled at a set apiece and reestablished order as he ran away with the third set for the win.

“Ernests was a better player for two sets unfortunately he missed two match points,” Djkovic said.

‘MUSCLE IT OUT’ “I wasn’t very happy with my game. But

you have to muscle it out sometimes and I had to put in the effort.

“One day you play well, the other you don’t. It’s important to stay committed to every point, believe, fight. That’s what gets you out of trouble.”

Djokovic is bidding for his fourth Canadian title and the win puts him into a semifinal against unseeded Jeremy Chardy.

Chardy booked his first career appearance in the semi-final of an ATP Masters 1000 event, struggling for three hours to defeat John Isner 6-7 (9/11), 7-6 (15/13), 7-6 (7/4).

Chardy overcame 32 aces from the big American to reach the final four.

The match, which began two hours late due to rain, lasted three hours and eight minutes. “I’m very proud to reach my first Masters semi-final,” said the 49th-ranked winner who levelled his season record at 18-18. “I was lucky to come back in the second.

“I’m really happy. I stayed really focused and really strong in my head the whole match.”

Chardy advanced with 12 aces and a single break of serve while saving break points on six of seven occasions.

The Frenchman has cast a spell over Isner in their career meetings, winning all four of their matches including at Roland Garros in the second round in May.

Sunday August 16, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Reciprocate by offering helpful hints. Your determination and stamina will make your work look flawless and effortless.

TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Deception will play an important factor in relationships. Changes in your home environment are likely.

Be discreet about your personal life or whereabouts. Be mysterious.

GEMINI (MAY22-JUNE 21) Look into the cost factor, but don't try to get backing yet. Don't start any arguments unless you're prepared to accept irrevocable results. Keep an eye on your weight.

CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) You must act quickly. Attend trade shows that will allow you to look at new products. Proceed with caution if operating equipment or vehicles.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Your energetic personality will make you the center of attention at social gatherings. Short trips will prove to be more fruitful than you imagined.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept.

23) Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Now is a good time to ask for favors.

You can deal with large institutions or government agencies successfully today.

LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) If you are in the midst of a financial deal, this is your lucky day. You can't make things better if you don't know what to fix. Sudden changes of heart may cause disruptions in your domestic scene.

SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Don't be too open or put your faith in unreliable coworkers. Having your own business is a good idea. Go on business trips if at all possible.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Don't count on correspondence to clear up major problems. Your dramatic approach to life has probably gotten to your mate.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Be primed to use your intellect in order to get what you want. Contracts will not be as lucrative as you think. A new relationship can be yours if you get out with friends.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) You're best not to get involved in joint financial ventures. Romance can surface if you get into some of those fitness programs you've been putting off.

PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Your personal partner may be less than willing to accommodate you today.

Sooner or later your partner will have had enough.

From page 73 really helped. The last couple of matches it was OK,” she said. Williams won 76 percent of her first serve points and saved five of six break points on her serve.

Vinci, who reached the final of the Nurnberg tournament earlier this year, made four double faults and won just 40 percent of her second serve points. The world number 53 lost in the first round at Wimbledon and the French Open this year.

Williams next plays Swiss Bencic who beat fifth seeded

Ana Ivanovic in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in a night match.

Romanian second seed Simona Halep advanced to the semi-finals by roaring back to defeat Polish sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 06, 6-3, 6-1.

Halep next will face Italy’s Sara Errani, who defeated Ukraine qualifier Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-4 in another semi-final. Radwanska won the first seven games of the match and looked in control.

But Halep battled to 3-3 in the second set and then seized command, winning

eight games in a row to reach the brink of victory.

Radwanska held at love in the penultimate game but Halep matched her in the concluder to claim her 300th career singles victory after one hour and 40 minutes on the court.

“It was a tough match,” Halep said. “She played an amazing first set. I couldn’t move my legs first set. I made many mistakes,” she said.

“But I kept my concentration and changed a few things and was able to come back.”

National Intermediate named after...

From page 76 and the Champion of Champions would be named after Guyanese fighters of worth.

Blackmoore was at one time rated number one in the world and regarded as one of the best counter punchers in the sport.

His lifting of the Commonwealth title sparked wild celebration in Guyana and upon his return home he was feted and showered with gifts by the Forbes Burnham government.

The skilful orthodox fighter made his professional debut at age 23 in 1974 and hung up his gloves 12 years later. Ninvalle opined that that the 65-year-old Blackmoore, who resides in the USA, must

“Team spirit, dynamics...

From page 72 proof could not be fully ascertained, not to mention suggested run-ins with drugs-taking, not the performance-enhancing kind, by several players, at the very least bringing disrepute to our teams.

So, team spirit, dynamics and cohesion are not the same. Winning is the main catalyst! Enjoy!

E-mail address = c.e.h.croft@gmail.com

Herath takes seven to spin...

From page 77 class bowler.” The second test, the last for retiring Sri Lankan batting stalwart Kumar Sangakkara, will start on Thursday in Colombo.

Scores: Sri Lanka 183 (Mathews 64, Chandimal 59, Ashwin 6-46) and 367 (Chandimal 162, Mubarak 49, Thirimanne 44, Ashwin 4114) beat India 375 (Dhawan 134, Kohli 103, Saha 60, Kaushal 5-40) and 112 (Herath 7-48, Kaushal 3-47) by 63 runs.

be among the top five fighters produced by this country.

The GABA boss disclosed that the former Commonwealth champion welcomed the news earlier this

week and asked that others be remembered in the same way. The names of Mike Parris and Patrick Forde have come up and should be duly recognized.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 16, 2015

GT Beer/Petra Organisation Futsal Competition...

“Team spirit, dynamics and Agricola out to prove that recent performance is no fluke cohesion - Not the same!”

- Sparta will have to establish that they are the real kings

Sparta Boss’s lynchpin Sheldon Shepherd seen in attack in a previous tournament.

Fresh off their dream win in the Second Ground Entertainment ‘Ballers in the Summer’ Knockout Competition on the West Side, upstart Agricola will aim to show fans and foes that their win was no fluke when they open up against Kitty Weavers in the inaugural GT Beer / Petra Organisation Futsal Competition tomorrow night, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The East Bank Demerara-based champs is the new the talk of the town after registering wins against established teams such as Sparta Boss, North Ruimveldt, Queen Street of Tiger Bay and West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ in

what must be considered to be their best performance to date.

The team’s livewire Kacy John is once again expected to play an integral role in their quest for victory, but so too are penalty specialist Glen Eastman and Gordon Grant.

Kitty Weavers is a very strong team and should provide a stern test for Agricola. They are expected to have in their line-up players the calibre of Sherwin Vincent, Wendell St. Hill, Quincy Madramootoo and Terrence ‘Ole Head’ Lewis.

In the first encounter, Albouystown square off against Globe Yard and this should provide an exciting start to the tournament with Marlon Nedd and Roy Cassou anticipated to lead the charge for a win for Albouystown, while the experienced Sherwin Grimes is the main threat for Globe Yard.

The third game will see North Ruimveldt take on West Back Road and even though some may be tempted to believe it is a safe bet to place a wager of the former, the latter should not be taken lightly.

Gerald Gritten is the old master and his performance usually has a telling effect on opposing teams, while Joshua Brown is another player of high quality.

West Back Road did have had some upset victories in the past against strong teams and it is this record that gives them an outside chance of springing another upset.

Jamal Haynes and Philip Rowley are the main threat for West Back Road.

The curtains come down with the clash between Sparta Boss and Alexander Village.

The defending national champs had their reputation dented by Agricola, but with such a star-studded lineup that includes Travis Grant, Gregory Richardson and Sheldon Shepherd it is difficult to right them off.

Shem Porter, Jermin Junor, Chavez Hescott and Leon Yaw are perhaps the most experienced unit in the competition, having excelled in this format for a number of years and could be classified as a dangerous side.

Kick off time is 19:00 hrs.

Colin E. H. Croft

Despite contrary suggestions, team spirit and team cohesion are not the same thing. All teams have strengths and weaknesses, but misunderstanding team dynamics could and have caused potentially match or series-winning teams to lose!

Some might recall the poignant scene in that great 1959 film “Ben Hur”, when larger-than-life star Charlton Heston ‘spoke’ to his white horses while preparing them for the still unbelievably wellfilmed, award-winning ‘chariot race-to-death’ scene.

One horse, ‘Aldebaran’, was so fast that the Prince of Hur had to coax the animal into waiting for the others, while another horse, ‘Antares’, was praised for steadfastness; slower, stronger, more consistent, the rock; Heston realizing that to win, all four horses had to operate as one team!

Of course, Heston’s team of whites beat the usuallyvictorious team of black horses anchored by his once friend, selfish Roman Tribune Messala, who was also fatally injured during that race.

But can anyone explain why, everywhere, including the Caribbean, anything that is supposedly ‘good’ is depicted in white, while ‘bad’ is always shown in black?

Discussions another time!

Also, decades ago, flightdeck crews on larger passenger and military airplanes consisted of at least four people in that ‘office’;

Enmore Masters win Trevor Wharton birthday competition Despite fine all-round display from Deonarine Trevor Wharton celebrated his 51st birthday with a 15-overs three-team softball cricket competition in his honor on Friday night under lights at the DCC ground in Queenstown.

Wharton spent most his days as an Umpire and bookscorer (mostly in softball cricket these days) and had his spouse, who prepared a pot of delicious ‘Cook-up’, his two little boys and his Foodlights softball cricket teammates with him to celebrate his landmark.

On the field in the semifinals, experienced Ricky Deonarine stroked a classy 40 for Floodlights before returning with the ball to

capture 4-37 but his wonderful all-round display was not enough to prevent his team from going down by four wickets with 12 balls to spare to Savage Masters.

Deonarine provided excellent support for Khalid Baksh who fashioned an impressive innings before he fell three short of his half century as Floodlights reached 147-7 when their 20 overs expired under a clear night sky.

When Savage Masters began their run chase Walack Joseph hammered a confident 42 and got support from Hurbie Gentle who made 24 and veteran left-hander Wayne Jones was dumped for

six to end the match in emphatic fashion for Savage Masters.

In the final, which pitted the winner of the semi-final against Enmore Masters in a game reduced to a 15-over affair due to time constraints, Savage Masters reached 1056 from 15 overs with Uniss Yosuf leading the way with 21.

Haradeo Jailal wasted little time in dispatching the bowlers to all parts of the field in an aggressive 43, while Nigel Bissu was equally dismissive in his 37 to entertain a fair size gathering which included for West Indies batsman Travis Dowlin and rejected West Indies t20 all-rounder Chris Barnwell.

Trevor Wharton Floodlights next big venture is planning their tour to Canada which could see an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team making the trip to North America.

(Sean Devers)

captain-pilot, co-pilot, navigator and flight engineer; all with only one objective as a team; to get their airplane safely, efficiently, to its destination.

Nowadays, due to improved technology and a relatively new phenomenon, Crew Resource Management (CRM), started only recently in 1990, just two humans ‘manage’ most flight-decks.

That latter concept became reality after many airplanes had accidentally crashed due to captains and flight crews differing in thoughts and deeds, causing confusion and hundreds of deaths too.

So, supporters during West Indies cricket’s halcyon days; from beating England in England; 1976; which started WI’s run as unofficial Test World Champions, to WI losing that crown to Australia in Jamaica; 1995; 20 years of absolute, orgasmic euphoria; would have thought that those successive, successful WI teams had both team spirit and cohesion too. Maybe!

For uninformed, presently delusional and forgetful WI supporters, WI’s Test team lost only one Test series from 1976 to 1995, against only then lowly-ranked New Zealand in 1979/80.

After being demolished 51 by Australia 1975/6, WI’s team, under then captain Clive Lloyd, afterwards captained by (Sir) Vivian Richards, shook the cricket world to its very core, a period for WI cricket’s dominance that will never return in our life-time.

But many of those teams, including those in which I played, were never fully cohesive or connected, even if definitely mean-spirited, despite many thoughts to the contrary!

Tales permeated on my first overseas tour, to Australia 1978/79; Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket; when I was openly accused by team-mates who now hold quite high positions in WI cricket, as being gay, that suggestion erupting because I was not a whore-monger like many were!

While I have nothing against any sexual persuasions, and no, I have never been gay, my sole purpose in that series was simply to be as fit as ever, bowl as well and as fast as possible, for I was only trying to make a living, remembering that I had just, in 1977, started my international career.

But I can boast, to this day, that I was the only player on WSC-WI who never became injured at any time

Colin E. H. Croft during that three-month tenure in Australia 1978/79 or for the full WI tour early 1979.

Less you forget, all WI players who had signed for WSC in 1977/78/79 had been officially banned from ever representing the region again by then WICB, that attitude historically, openly led by late, hopefully unlamented, hypocritical Peter Short, (Sir) Clyde Walcott and Jeffrey Stollmeyer.

Most might also remember that the singular reason that we were returned to WI’s official fold in 1979 was that WI had been defending champions from ICC Cricket World Cup 1975, since noone had any real confidence that WI’s then 2nd team, led

by Alvin Kallicharran to India in 1978/79, could have defended that first ever WI international tournament win again in 1979.

Thus, by quite noisy representation by the Caribbean’s collective population’s cricketing voice, much more than WICB’s, available and fit WSC-WI players were recalled to normal WI duty.

Several situations during my Guyana and WI tenures occasioned team-mates to be literally, physically, at each other ’s throats, with me eventually not only being referee but peace-maker too.

The irony of those situations was that no spectator could have known the difference next day on the field, since the guy who nearly maimed the other also caught out some opposition’s batman, only to be warmly embraced by the potential victim-bowler from the previous night’s activity!

There have been many well-known and acknowledged thefts of jewelry and equipment from me and other players that could only have been completed by other teammates, even if ‘court-like’ (Continued on page 71)

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Golden Jaguar Beresford Williams dominates Vinci targets success in Europe! to reach Toronto semis

By Santokie Nagulendran Despite being disappointingly eliminated in June’s World Cup qualifier against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, many players in the Golden Jaguars side used the matches to stand out and give exceptional performances.

One such player was midfielder Brandon Beresford, 23, who made his senior debut for Guyana as an 18-year old in 2010, and went on to score the opening goal during the firstleg of the World Cup qualifier in St Vincent this past June.

Having also represented Guyana previously at an Under-20 level, Beresford, who resides in USA and recently graduated from Graceland University, is currently in England and scored the winner for English Club Yeovil FC whilst on trial in a pre-season friendly last week. Beresford kindly took some time out to speak on his career to date: Santokie Nagulendran (SN) -Firstly, what is your link to Guyana and was it a country you had visited before playing for the National Team?

Brandon Beresford (BB)-Both of my parents are Guyanese. My mother is from Bartica and my father is from Georgetown. I had visited Guyana before I’d been called up, once before when I was very young.

(SN)- How did the call-up to the National Team come about? What club/team were you playing football at the time for and was it a surprise to get called up?

(BB)-The first call up came in 2010 while I was at Graceland University in America.

Guyana came to my hometown Atlanta to play a match against Guatemala. I’m not quite sure how, but I know that my father had a big part in contacting the federation regarding me playing with them in the game. I didn’t know that I was going to get the call up until a couple days before, so it was a big surprise to me.

(SN)- Did the experience of training/ playing with the Golden Jaguars this year develop your overall game?

Did Coach Shabazz give you any specific advice to help develop?

(BB)-Yes it did help. Playing at a higher

Brandon Beresford, moments after scoring in World Cup qualifying.

Santokie Nagulendran level will always help to further develop your overall game, and when you bring in the like of professional footballers who have had experience in leagues in Europe who you have to compete with for a spot on the team and in the starting line-up you either rise to the level of those players or get left behind.

I have not had much interaction with Coach Shabazz outside of National team camps and matches, however Coach Shabazz has always encouraged me to adapt to the needs of the team, and this has contributed to my growth as a player.

More importantly is the fact that he has rewarded the work that I have put in with the opportunity to be the starting centralmidfielder for the National Team.

(SN)- Would scoring a goal against SVG in a World Cup qualifying game rank as a career highlight for you?

(BB)-Easily the greatest moment in my career so far. To score a goal on the international stage is something that some people can only dream of doing, to do so in a World Cup qualifier is even more amazing and I have been blessed enough to have the opportunity to actually do it.

(SN)-You’re currently in England at the moment and scored a goal recently for professional club Yeovil FC, did you find playing in England more physically demanding than the States and do you ultimately hope to forge a career in England?

(BB)-The football in England is definitely different from that in the States, but I believe that it is something that I can adapt to with time. The experience with Yeovil was a great one given the fact that I got the call about the game less than 24 hours before. Scoring what turned out to be the winning goal in 45 minutes of playing time was the icing on the cake. I would certainly love to play in England as it has one of the best leagues in the world, and my Guyanese team-mates who play here in England have all been very encouraging and willing to help me out if I need it. I believe there has been some very strong interest from Yeovil Town FC as well as some other English clubs, but obtaining a work permit to play in England is quite difficult, even though my father’s family are originally from here and Guyana is part of the British Commonwealth.

(SN)- Finally, if another call-up came for the Golden Jaguars, would you be happy to return to the team?

(BB)-Certainly, representing Guyana is something that I look forward to for years to come.

Toronto (Canada) (AFP) World number one Serena Williams continued her march towards her fourth Toronto title with a 6-4, 6-3 dismantling of Italy’s Roberta Vinci in the quarter-finals of the WTA Rogers Cup. The 33-year-old Williams extended her Toronto match win streak to 14, powering her way past Vinci by blasting 12 aces in the 78-minute centre court match.

“Overall it was well fought,” Williams said. “I definitely feel it’s another step in the right direction.

“I don’t feel like I’m at my best or anywhere near it, but it’s the right direction and I want to keep going.”

She moves on to face 18year-old Belinda Bencic in the semi-finals at the hardcourt warm-up event for the US Open, the year’s final Grand Slam tournament that begins August 31.

Williams could win her fifth Grand Slam title in a row and complete a calendar year Grand Slam by defending her US Open crown. That would also give her 22 Grand Slam singles titles, matching Steffi Graf for the most in the Open era. Williams won in Toronto in her last two appearances in 2011 and 2013. Her first title here came in 2001.

She pulled out of the Stanford tournament last week with an elbow injury but says it is no longer a problem.

“I had a day off and it (Continued on page 71)

Serena Williams of the US plays a shot against Roberta Vinci of Italy during the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Canada, on August 14, 2015 (AFP Photo/Vaughn Ridley)

Simona Halep of Romania plays a shot against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Canada, on August 14, 2015 (AFP Photo/Vaughn Ridley)

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Sunday August 16, 2015

Explosive day anticipated today at Guyana Cup Horserace meet The Port Mourant Turf Club at Port Mourant Corentyne, Berbice is the venue where thousands of horserace fans are expected

to swarm for the eagerly anticipated ninth annual Guyana Cup meet being staged by the Turf Club and Jumbo Jet Enterprise.

With the over 100 horses down to compete in the 10 races and with $25M in cash and prizes on offer those on hand will have a thrilling time.

The event this year is being held with the full backings of the Government of Guyana and the blessing of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and has a full complement of sponsors led by Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited and Telecommunication power house Digicel among a host of other sponsors from all across the country.

All systems are in place and President David Granger, who has been invited, is expected to be among those in attendance.

The full list of events, distance and horses are as follows:- The feature A and lower race already with its 16 starters being the most for an A class event in the Guyana Cup for a $3M winner’s purse and the Guyana Cup Trophy from a generous $6M prize package is over 1800M. Those entered includes A class champion Score’s Even, defending Guyana Cup Champion CP Got Even , Jack in My Style, Street Prince, Giants Time, Spit Fire, Princess She Not, Diplomatic Cat, Kazi Azaria, Perfect Wind Strom, Goodwill Boy, Three D, Lady Budapest, Western Charm, Bridal Stone Corner and Run Nana Run. That event is expected to be a scorcher since it has horses of all caliber entered including the sprinters, the finishers and those that can compete in any distance.

The Co-feature 1600M event for 3 yr old horses, bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies for $2M and trophy is also expected to be a blinder as the likes of It’s My Choice, Goldikova, Storm Bird, Keep on Swinging and Settling Star rare expected to renew their rivalry.

The Two year old West Indies Bred horses are expected to hit the track for the first time and an unknown group including Isn’t She Charming, Maid Of The Cat, Red Rocket, Wichie Poo, Jumbo’s Gift and Fire in Line will all look to take the early advantage as they battle for

Two of the Trinidadian Jockey that will be on show. Nobel Abdrego (right) and Prayven Badrie. the first prize tagged at $1.2M and trophy over 1000M. Anyone of the horses entered in the E and lower 1400M event with the likes of Passion For Song, Swing Easy, Appealing Harvest, Right To Rule, Tiz ‘A’ Holiday, Run Nana Run, Goodwill Boy, Plum Plum, Church House and Red & Lovely could race away with the f $1M prize and trophy.

The race for four year old West Indies bred animals for a winning take of $900,000 and trophy also has a competitive field that included Release the Beast, Unsettled; Just Call Me Boss and Quiet Dancer among the lot in the 1mile race.

Appealing Harvest, Quiet Dancer, Storm Bird, Rossetta, Comprador, Precise Gold, Monsoon and Bridestone Corner leads the line up in the event for horses classified F3 and lower for a winning pocket of $800,000 and trophy over 1200M. The G3 and lower race is a 1200M event and a large field has been assembled to compete for the $600,000 and trophy available that includes - Sent From Above, She So Special, Fresh Again, Bird Man, Sweet Return, Chelsea, Caisse, Comprador, Goldikova, Weekend Surprise, Precise Gold, Quiet Storm, Anfield, Monsoon, Top Of The Line, Cat Messiah and Today Is My Lucky Day. The battle will continue in the contest for Two Years Old Guyana and West Indies Bred J class horses for a winner’s money of $400,000 with the likes of a Piece Of Cash, Massapequa Dr, Amazon Warrior, She Is A Messiah, Slim Shady, Affinity, Red Jet, Party Time, The Girl Is Mine, Royal Stallion, Golden Kid, De Gump, Secret

Escape, Mutiny (Swift Away), Smarty Light, Famous Pride, Red Region, Happy Time, Prince Bayaya, Call She’s Royal, Delion And Iron Man competing in the large field.

It is not expected to be an easy gallop in the ‘I’ and lower race with the likes of I Will Get, Another, Cat Messiah, Mary Ann, Prince Bayaya, Piece Of Cash Red Jet, and Slim Shady set to go over 1000M for the pole position takings of $350,000 and trophy.

The final race has is over 1200M and is for unclassified animals (K and L class) with the winner taking home $150,000. Among the starters are Plain Land, Black Bush Baby, Mutiny (Swift Away), Wicked Champion, Forgiven Kid, Royal Progressive, Progressive Kid, Amigo, Liquid Lion, Red Steel, Mystery Man, Blue Lighting and Chronic.

Apart from the fascinating horseracing action expected to unfold on the track, there will also be added attractions for both adults and kids.

Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited, Digicel and most of the other sponsors will have giveaways and special packages all day on their products for those in attendance. Vehicles for sale are also expected to be on display.

Among the Big stables that will be on show includes the Jumbo Jet with 17 entries, Shariff with 10, Jagdeo with eight, while others such as Elcock, Bacchus, Crawford also has numerous entries.

Also over a dozen foreign and overseas based Guyanese jockeys have landed to do battle with their Guyanese counterparts who have vowed to defend their turf at all cost.

The Mighty Crown Vibes sounds system has been contracted to provide musical vibes for the day and after show, while Hot and Spicy will take care of the delicacies.

Incentives will be available for the top Jockey and runner up, the top stable and champion trainer among others compliments of the organizers. The coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed Junior. Show time is 12:00 hrs.

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Confident Guyanese Team attends ITF Circuit

A

Guyanese team embarked this weekend to make their mark at an I n t e r n a t i o n a l Te n n i s Federation (ITF) competition in the twin islands of Trinidad & Tobago.

The team left last Friday and will be playing qualifying matches during the weekend to make it into the main draw, which will be played between August 17th to 22nd at Shaw Park Tennis Facility, Tobago.

Coach Shelly Daly Ramdhyan has great expectations for the team especially the under14s. She noted that the U18s will be tougher since they need to win at least three matches to gain entry into the main draws but is still demanding everyone to play to their best.

The nine members representing Guyana comprises from the Boys U14: Jordan Beaton, Hemraj Resaul, Keenan Persaud, Mark McDonald and new comer Ariel Khan; Boys U18: Daniel Lopes; Girls U14: Kalyca Fraser; Girls U18: Nicola Ramdyhan and Aretta Dey. Higher expectations are placed on the U14s especially Kenan Persaud and Hemraj Resaul whom had a good run last ITF competition as they were able to book a spot in the finals. Mark McDonald is also one to keep an eye out for as he is riding the confidence of being 2015 GBTI Boys U18 winner.

Ariel Khan makes his ITF

debut and he did note that he is a little nervous but excited to compete.

Lopes, who is the U18 Boys #1, will play his first U18 ITF match. He relayed the level will be tougher but has prepared mentally and tactically. “The matches are more mental, tactical and physical because everyone hits the ball harder, run faster so I have to be more prepared.”

His mixed doubles partner, Aretta Dey, will showcase her skills after a two-year hiatus from the ITF circuit. “I worked on my serves and ground strokes.

The recovery is slow but winning the GBTI mixed doubles has given me more confidence.”

Resaul noted that there are good players but is training to better his results.

“I tried to get more court time and push in 6 hours of training everyday.” He aims to take the U14 title.

Coach Shelly said, “The readiness is there because of the GBTI tournament and P&P Camps which would have given them a competitive boost and a higher competitive level.

They had intense training right down to the end.” She did point out the main limitation of preparing for international tournaments which is the lack of an excellent playing surface.

Despite not getting on better surfaces earlier, she is grateful to GBTI and Harry Panday for allowing the team to conduct practice matches at their facilities.

Djokovic reaches semis, Nishikori finally solves Nadal

M

ontreal (AFP) - Novak Djokovic had to fight off an upset bid from qualifier Ernests Gulbis, defeating the Latvian 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Montreal Masters.

But Rafael Nadal, like Djokovic a former champion at the event, was unable to escape an on-form Kei Nishikori as the fourth seed sent out the Spaniard 6-2, 6-4 thanks in part to six double-faults from Nadal.

The red-hot Nishikori is riding a wave of momentum from his hardcourt title last week in Washington and will next face second seed Andy Murray who beat French 10th-seeded holder Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-4 and took revenge for a semi-final loss a year ago in Canada.

Nishikori won his first match against Nadal after seven losses, taking just under 90 minutes to advance in his best (Continued on page 71)

FROM RIGHT: Daniel Lopes, Mark McDonald, Kalyca Fraser, Aretta Dey, Coach Shelly Daly Ramdyhan, Hemraj Resaul, Ariel Khan, Jordan Beaton, Nicola Ramdyhan and Keenan Persaud after a practice session.

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Sunday August 16, 2015

Hadaiw’s ton leads Everest Masters to Trophy Stall trophy As CID kept in shackles

By Sean Devers

CID team (Commissioner of Police Seelal is 7th from left with long sleeve) took the runner-up spot.

Sahadeo Hadaiw used heavy artillery against the Police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Camp Road in one-sided shootout that lasted a little less than three hours on Friday night.

Hadaiw blasted three fours and 10 sixes in an explosive undefeated even century for Everest Masters before he surrendered his wicket to allow his teammates to engage the CID team in battle.

Hadaiw, a former senior Inter-County player for Essequibo, got good support from former West Indies under-19 batsman Hemraj Garbarran who made 37 not out and shared in a halfcentury fourth wicket

partnership with Surindra Etwaroo, who finished unbeaten on 29 as the home side reached 212-3 off their allotted 15-overs in the softball cricket contest under lights.

When the Lawmen began their reply they were kept in shackles and shot out for 149 in the penultimate over despite a fluent 53 decorated with two fours and six sixes

by Richbland Blanum and Commissioner Seelall Persaud who made 43 as Ronald Jaisingh bagged 4-6.

After the game Hadaiw was presented with the Manthe-Match award, while Everest Masters received the winning Trophy Stall Trophy from Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud. All trophies were donated by Ramesh Sunish of Trophy Stall.

National Intermediate named after local boxing legend Lennox Blackmoore

T

he Guyana Amateur Boxing Association is continuing its rebranding exercise and has named next month’s National Intermediate competition after former lightweight and junior welterweight boxer Lennox Blackmoore. The competition would now be known as the Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate.

Blackmoore was a gangly 27 year- old when he w o n G u y a n a ’s f i r s t Commonwealth title. He defeated Nigerian Johnathan Dele on points in Lagos in October 1977 to lift the lightweight title. President of the GABA Steve Ninvalle reiterated that the association is attempting to preserve Guyana’s rich boxing history.

He noted that earlier this month the GABA branded the National Novice with the name of Guyana’s first world champion Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis. Ninvalle declared that the two other statutory competitions for the year, the National Open (Continued on page 71)

Lennox Blackmore

Steve Ninvalle

Sunday August 16, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 77

Herath takes seven to spin Sri Lanka to comeback win at Galle

GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Rangana Herath picked up seven wickets in a sublime display of left-arm spin bowling to power Sri Lanka to a spectacular comeback win by 63 runs against India on the fourth day of the opening test at Galle yesterday.

Trailing for most of the match after being all out on the opening day for 183, the hosts scythed through the Indian order with 37-yearold Herath adding six wickets to his overnight dismissal of opening batsman Lokesh Rahul for his 22nd five-wicket haul in tests.

Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal, who took five wickets in the first innings, provided superb support by picking up three more in the second innings as India, who resumed the day on 23-1, were shot out for 112 an hour after lunch.

Ajinkya Rahane (36) was

the only Indian batsman to provide some resistance but he too fell to Herath, edging the wily spinner to home captain Angelo Mathews at slip.

Sri Lanka looked dead and buried on 95-5 on Friday after conceding a firstinnings lead of 192 but D i n e s h C h a n d i m a l ’s swashbuckling unbeaten 162 allowed them to stage a fightback and set India a victory target of 176.

“What an absolute turnaround it was,” home captain Angelo Mathews said at the presentation c e r e m o n y. “ I t h o u g h t Chandimal was outstanding.

He single-handedly got us a fighting score.

“We were down and out for past three and half days and we had to give it our best shot.”

The hosts, who lost their last test series at home to Pakistan, put immense pressure on India with tight

bowling and some smart catches in the first session on Saturday.

India failed to find scoring opportunities, with first-innings centurion Shikhar Dhawan, unbeaten on 13 overninght, taking 36 balls to score his first run in the morning.

That came from a streaky four with the ball narrowly missing the leg stump after taking an edge.

Herath, who has been off form lately and went wicketless in the first innings, struck with his first ball of the day, sending nightwatchman Ishant Sharma out leg before.

He also accounted for the wickets of Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin, while Kaushal picked up India captain Virat Kohli and then took a sharp return catch to send back Dhawan.

Amit Mishra was the

final man out to Kaushal, sparking wild celebrations by the Sri Lankans.

“We got no one or nothing to blame but ourselves,” Kohli said. “We failed to capitalise on taking the first five wickets (in the second innings). “ We s h o u l d h a v e finished the game off in that particular session. One bad session and things can turn around totally.

“Big, big credit to Rangana the way he bowled today. I think he’s a world(Continued on page 71)

Kumar Sangakkara is carried on a lap of honour, Sri Lanka v India, 1st Test, Galle, 4th day, August 15, 2015 ©AFP

t r o Sp

Explosive day anticipated today at Guyana Cup Horserace meet The action promises to be intense as jockeys and their mounts seek to claim the lucrative prizes on offer in the Guyana Cup meet.

Herath takes seven to spin Sri Lanka to comeback win at Galle

Rangana Herath is all fired up after getting the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane, Sri Lanka v India, 1st Test, Galle, 4th day, August 15, 2015 ŠAFP

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