Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition December 13, 2012 - Vol. 5 No. 49

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

FBI arrests EZjet boss

Arrested: Sonny Ramdeo

Sections of the ceiling at the newly renovated $35M New Amsterdam Magistrates' court

A worker clears the debris

Newly renovated Magistrates' Court falling apart …$35M spent Cayman Islands Kwame McCoy, T&T Minister charged with leader freed on others evaluated failing to take a

bail as corruption radio licence breathalyser test probe continues applicants ...nine days after DPP's instructions

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Christopher Ram offers free legal services to collapsing NIS Legal practitioner Christopher Ram has offered free legal services to the National Insurance Scheme.

Ram said that his offer is being made in light of the difficulties highlighted as major factors prohibiting the institution from meaningfully carrying out its functions as the state insurance agency.

Ram was at the time speaking at a public forum which was recently held at the NIS Brickdam Office. Members of the public were invited to raise any queries they might have had about the operation of the scheme and the recommendation coming out of the Eighth Actuarial Report.

Members of the public were invited to view a presentation which outlined a review of the NIS operations over the past five years and to plan for the future.

The gathering was also afforded the opportunity to voice their opinions and make suggestions for the future of the NIS itself and the recommendations of the independent assessor.

However, two notable recommendations— the increase in contributions percentage from 13 per cent to 15 per cent, and the raising of the age for persons to receive pension—were proposed.

This caused unease in the crowd.

Those two recommendations were met with much opposition by the gathering.

Ram, who was present at the forum having listened to the report about the failures and possible collapse of the Scheme, said that this situation in which the scheme finds itself is a peculiar and historic one.

“Guyana may be one of the few schemes where in an expanding economy the social security scheme is going broke.

That is an unusual feature if not a record,” Ram affirmed.

He added that the possible failure and collapse may be because of some issues that the actuary, perhaps out of fear or diplomacy failed to highlight in his review.

“The problem facing this scheme includes the fact that for more than one decade, the Sixth and Seventh Actuarial reviews have been on the desk of the Board of Directors and the directors have done nothing. If we are expecting them to do something this time, we must be living in dreamland”.

Ram reiterated to the head table which included, The NIS General Manager Terry Thomas; Directors Denise Miller, Linda Gosai, Earl Welch and Chitraykha Dass; that until the question of governance is dealt with forthwith the scheme will never be able to move forward.

“This is not the case in this organization only. If you don’t have capable and competent governors you will always end up in disaster.

“It is not only the board; the Cabinet, the political

Christopher Ram parties, the trade union and the private sector have all sat back and done nothing as this scheme veered toward disaster” Ram stated.

“There is no solution.

Having neglected to do what you should have done ten years ago is not going to get better performance.

Then the scheme pumped $5.7 Billion into Clico and that is a very unfortunate omission by the actuary,” Ram added. Ram said that he has on more than one occasion offered his services to the Scheme given his history of working with the organisation not only locally but overseas. However, to date the Scheme has not seen it fit to take up the offer despite the situation.

“I sympathize with the entire staff of the NIS…The board must be held accountable for every cent,” Ram added.

UG Council approves Dr Opadeyi as New Vice Chancellor Nigerian-born Dr Jacob Opadeyi has been officially named Vice Chancellor to the University of Guyana. The announcement came after a Council meeting at the University yesterday which saw the Trinidad-based lecturer being approved at the level of the Council for the high-profile position.

Since Friday, a Search Committee had identified Dr Opadeyi as the best suited candidate for the post from a list of four who were shortlisted.

He will effectively fill the void left by former Vice Chancellor Professor Lawrence Carrington who proceeded on end-of-contract leave on February 6, 2012. Carrington had assumed duty at the University on April 1, 2009.

This publication was informed that the decision will be formally announced today at a press conference.

Dr Opadeyi’s selection was made by the University’s Search Committee made up of a total of seven individuals, including representatives of the Government, Opposition,

Dr Jacob Opadeyi the University and the Education Ministry.

However, that Committee did not have the final say on the appointment but rather the University’s Council which yesterday approved the selection.

Reports reaching this publication subsequent to the selection were that the choice of the 59-year-old lecturer had raised concern among many at the Turkeyen Campus, despite him being the holder of laudable

credentials. Dr Opadeyi holds a Ph.D in Surveying and Engineering and an Executive Masters in Business Administration.

“He cannot offer the University anything and if his appointment is approved it would mean that those responsible do not have the university’s best interest at heart,” said one official who requested anonymity.

The award-winning Dr Opadeyi was among the four shortlisted from a list of 19 individual who had applied for the post. There are concerns that the Search Committee might have overlooked one of the most suitable candidates for the position in the person of Dr Jaipaul Singh of the University of Central Lancashire. Also shortlisted were Dr Muniram Boodhoo and Dr Rory Fraser, both of whom, along with Dr Singh, are Guyanese nationals and overseas-tenured academics.

The process of selection for the new Vice Chancellor has been touted as one of the most thorough in the 49-year history of the local university.

Thursday December 13, 2012

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Kaieteur News

FBI arrests EZjet boss T

he US' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested embattled founder of EZjet Air Services Inc., Sonny Ramdeo.

Kaieteur News was told that agents zeroed in on him Tuesday evening in New York after weeks of wire fraud investigations.

At the time of his arrest, Ramdeo was reportedly speaking to a senior official of EZjet's Guyana office on Skype, a video call that uses the internet.

It is unclear at this time whether this was how the FBI managed to track him.

Yesterday, management

of the local office in Brickdam, Georgetown, was set to meet with staffers to discuss the implications of Ramdeo's arrest but this was postponed.

Local staffers yesterday confirmed that they were told of Ramdeo's arrest but said that they learnt that he was held yesterday and not Tuesday.

EZjet was suddenly suspended from flying last month by the US's D e p a r t m e n t o f Transportation after Swift Air, an Arizona-based a i r c r a f t c o m p a n y, complained that the low-cost charter owed them a significant sum of money.

Another gold miner murdered in interior Police in the interior are investigating another murder. This time the victim is gold miner Richard Joseph, 21, of Pomeroon River.

Joseph was stabbed to death around 23:00 hours on Tu e s d a y, a t M o n e s e e Backdam, Port Kaituma,

North West District.

According to the police Joseph and another man had an argument during which he was fatally stabbed in his neck.

The suspect has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with investigations.

Guyana, Trinidad and Toronto, Canada also issued similar suspension actions.

Ramdeo, who lived in Florida, had reportedly been on the run since early November as US investigators started probing complaints that he allegedly stole US$5.4M from his employer, Promise Healthcare, and passed it through the accounts of EZjet.

He had also owned a payroll company that managed salary payments for Promise which runs 11 hospitals in the US. The accusations are that he would have illegally diverted the payroll money to the bank accounts of two companies.

The monies, according to a lawsuit filed by Promise Healthcare against Ramdeo and EZjet, were stolen within the last three months.

Ramdeo had denied that he had been on the run but admitted that he was “engaging” the FBI regarding the allegations.

However, the official, a former villager of Windsor F o r e s t , We s t C o a s t Demerara, has not been seen

since last month in Guyana.

EZjet officials in New York where the company had a ticketing office, also said that he has not been seen there.

Ye s t e r d a y, C o u n t r y Manager of EZjet, Rosalinda Rasul, did not respond to calls and emails. A visit to the Brickdam offices found that she was too “busy” to meet with reporters. She was reportedly meeting with local travel agents.

Ezjet became a household name since starting last year December with its low-cost flights. This was more so for the many burning questions over its source of financing and its seemingly “impossible” low ticket costs.

The company had denied persistent rumours that former President Bharrat Jagdeo and his close friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi 'Bobby' Ramroop, who manages Queens Atlantic Inc, had shares in EZjet.

The company had also downplayed the fact that Rasul had been a senior official in Queens Atlantic shortly before EZjet's arrival in Guyana. Ezjet had been

Arrested: Sonny Ramdeo

spending big on advertising to a market of travelers who more than welcomed the low costs.

The company closed its New York office leaving passengers unsure how they will get back hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

Earlier this week, EZjet criticized Government over its decision to grant Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flag carrier status, and vowed to return to full operations by Easter next year.

EZjet said that it has found investors.

It had made no secret that it may have been interested in the status which allows an

airline a number of lucrative concessions in the host country. In Guyana, EZjet is claiming that it owes stranded passengers $38M with 300 passengers still to get refunds.

The company said that it flew more than 500 New York flights since it started last December, transporting two-thirds of the passengers travelling the route with Guyana.

Government had said at the time of EZjet's suspension last month that there may have been some 25,000 to 30,000 advance bookings for the months of November and December 2012.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The school system and its imperfections Four years ago when the nation took notice of the teacher shortage the Education Ministry announced that it would train more thus trying to create a reservoir of potentially good teachers. Indeed, the nation and the Ministry recognized that the experience that the older teachers would have, could not easily be replaced. The government decided that it would rehire some retired teachers.

There have been a few cases of retired teachers being rehired, albeit on a month to month arrangement. There were others who were hired on a contract basis. What was clear was that these efforts were only concentrated in the institutions of higher learning.

The primary schools were left to struggle.

Experts would always say that there is great need to concentrate the education efforts at the bottom of the scale so that those now entering the school system would be given a foundation that would stand them in good stead through their school career.

What we have is a concentration at the highest level and this may be the reason why nearly two-thirds of those leave school functionally incapable of making a positive contribution to the society. Guyana has already been feeling the result of this. There are more young men who are in the criminal enterprise and these days women are also joining this enterprise.

However, attention should be paid to some secondary schools where a teacher shortage is being reported. There are about 100 secondary schools and about 1,000 primary schools spread across Guyana. About 1,000 teachers graduate from the Cyril Potter College of Education each year. Over the past four years one would have expected the schools to have a complement of qualified teachers.

Indeed, the Education Ministry boasted just a few months ago that there were an adequate number of trained teachers in the schools and that it would not be long before every teacher would be a qualified teacher. This leaves us to wonder at the state of affairs at President’s College.

This was an institution that came into being as the primary secondary education facility. It was dubbed the School of Excellence and attracted the cream of the secondary schools entrance examination. Indeed, there were those parents who declined and opted for Queen’s College which had made its name over the more than one hundred years it had been in existence.

It was a live-in facility with everything, from swimming pool, to horse riding facilities to farms that accommodate both crop and livestock and of course, everything that an educational facility could require including matrons to supervise the dormitories.

This school was downgraded somewhat after 1992 to the point where it now experiences a shortage of teachers. Why was this allowed to happen when the nation needs people with brains is anybody’s guess. Unlike the other secondary schools which had a curriculum that prepared the student for life in the metropolis, President’s College prepared the students for life in this country.

It is only now that we find that graduates from this institution are doing what every other student is doing, heading for a foreign country where the grass appears to be greener.

However, there is a teacher shortage and we now hear that the school would be staffed by the crop of teachers coming out of the Cyril Potter College of Education. Certainly, these would be teachers at the lower level of the school since they would not be experienced enough to take the higher classes to the levels desired by a school of such nature.

But this situation is not unique to President’s College. All the major schools have a problem with specialist teachers. There was talk about importing teachers. This was done before and is done by every country that recognises the need for certain teachers.

This is why Guyana lost the cream of its crop.

We know that there is one Mathematics teacher to take Sixth Form children from at least five secondary schools to the Advanced Levels. And this has been the case for a few years. This situation should have been corrected a long time ago but it is not. We can only conclude that we are either dabbling in education or that we simply do not care.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

The Marriott Hotel is a classic case of the misuse of state funds DEAR EDITOR, In light of the ongoing construction of the Marriott Hotel, we again reexamine the issue of the use of state funds without Parliament’s approval and the people’s consent. This is clearly outside of the rule of law and it is an indictment on the government. It is also an insult to the people by the opposition to allow this project to continue without putting up a fight.

Pressure by the opposition must be brought to bear on this corrupt regime to adhere to the laws and rules of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act and by extension the Constitution.

Respect for the rule of law and the people’s right to know is a key ingredient of democracy.

If this administration believes in democracy, then it must act accordingly and respect the democratic process.

Both the opposition and the people are being kept in the dark as to who are the financiers of the Marriott Hotel and how much of the taxpayers’ money is being used to build what we believe will be another white elephant. We call on the government to come clean and tell the people the truth.

In the law, the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act states that all public moneys shall be classified as either – a)

received moneys; b) moneys in the Consolidated Fund, including the Contingencies Fund (under parliament’s control); c) moneys in an Extra-budgetary Fund (such as NICIL, Forestry Commission etc.); d) drawn moneys; or e) moneys in a Deposit Fund.

All of this money, in whatever shape or form is the people’s money and classified as state funds. In 2011 the estimated amount was $160 billion of which some $55 billion is secretly placed in what is called ExtraBudgetary Funds under the direct control of the Minister of Finance.

Only the Minister has access to this money, not Parliament. This $55 billion is not however included in the National Budget and therefore is not investigated by the opposition in Parliament.

Rather, in a most convoluted manner; using unclear regulations, these funds are actually hidden from the Guyanese public.

The Minister is even on record of stating that “NICIL money belongs to NICIL” and not the people.

This is absolute nonsense. We call on the opposition to put an end to this type of abuse of the people’s money.

But how did NICIL acquire its assets and whose properties did it acquire for peanuts and sell at premium prices? It’s all in

the vesting agreement that we will deal with another day to reveal how the poor and the working class are being robbed blindly by the political directorate.

When the above question is answered it will reveal that NICIL’s money belongs to the people of Guyana and must be in the Consolidated Fund and only a deceitful, devious and dishonest cabal would say otherwise. We believe that it is wrong for the government to hide the people’s money and use it as it pleases. Clearly, this is classical misuse of the state funds and should not be tolerated.

In researching the issue it was found that according to the Section 39 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, all these outfits like NICIL must submit to the Parliament quarterly reports on their financial operations.

The Lotto Funds, NICIL, Gold Board, Frequency Management Unit, GGMC, and the Forestry Commission should be providing their respective Ministers with quarterly reports to be submitted to Parliament for public scrutiny.

What Mr. Brassington and NICIL’s Board of Directors are not authorized to do is to allocate these Extrabudgetary Funds for financing risky social and economic development projects such as the Marriott Hotel which is being built at a

time when hotel occupancy rate in Guyana is at an all-time low of 46 percent. Mr. Brassington and Dr Singh are just the caretakers of these funds and therefore are not authorized to spend it without parliamentary approval.

And as we have seen, they have ignored the laws prescribed in the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, violated the people’s trust and have blatantly shown contempt for Parliament.

The opposition should demand that they hand over forthwith a number of pertinent financial records of all the state assets that have been disposed of/sold by the Government through NICIL, and to deposit into the Consolidated Fund all monies from NICIL, save and except cash to pay the operation cost of NICIL for 12 months.

This is what the people expect from the opposition because they elected them to keep a very close eye on how the government spends the taxpayers’ money.

On June 17th, 2012, the government jettisoned Mr. Carl Greenidge’s motion to direct the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and the junior minister, Mr. Juan Edghill to make all moneys available from the coffers for an independent audit of NICIL. It is most unfortunate that the majority opposition to date has not been able to make Continued on page 7

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

Jagdeo and PPP have honoured none of the agreements in the new Broadcast Act DEAR EDITOR, Until recently there has been far too much silence about the legality of the Broadcast Authority placed in the laws of Guyana by Act # 21 of 2011. There are many aspects of this Act which makes it completely unacceptable in a democratic society. And only after the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News’ applications for a radio licence were thrown in the rubbish bin, along with 43 others, did we hear this huge furore about the radio licences granted to 10 friends and supporters of Bharrat Jagdeo in complete violation of our laws just before he demitted office in 2011.

Only the Broadcast Authority could grant a licence, and the fact that they are granting licences to these 10 people selected by Bharrat Jagdeo and discarding the other 45 applications decades after they applied, tells us what sort of authority we have.

In 1995 when the first Broadcast Bill was placed before the public, the Bill stated at the very beginning that the authority must be independent and impartial,

this 2011 Bill does not so state; therefore from the outset we have a law which is not drafted with impartiality, independence and autonomy in mind, it’s a law which creates an instrument of its political masters and should be condemned by everyone, especially UNESCO, the GHRA and the International Community. Clearly with an authority like this, Private Broadcasters who do not toe the government line, will be persecuted for the most trivial of reasons. A gross violation of fundamental constitutional rights.

The following is contained in Guidelines For Broadcasting Regulation (Second Edition) by Ms. Eve Salomon, an international media consultant with particular experience in broadcasting and press regulation. She was Director of Legal Services at the UK Radio Authority and is a member of the UK’s Press Complaints Commission. This work was done for UNESCO and can be found on the internet at http:// unesdoc.unesco.org/images/ 0018/001832/183285e.pdf I specifically want to draw

DEAR EDITOR, The Kaieteur News article of 11 December 2012 entitled “Cobra transferred from Georgetown Prison after 23 months in solitary confinement” has got to be wrong.

Who can believe that in these days of social enlightenment we can even conceive keeping a human being in an area smaller than many dog kennels? I am outraged that we are so barbaric as to confine prisoners to a six foot by three foot cell for almost two years. Can you imagine the public outcry if someone was found keeping a dog locked up for two years and letting it out for just fifteen minutes a day?

According to one study, “Isolation can be as clinically distressing as physical torture.” In fact, several international human rights treatises consider that solitary confinement “fits the definition of torture, and is therefore a violation of human rights.”

Many studies have also shown that prison isolation can result in “severe and lasting psychological damage for inmates isolated for extended periods” and places prisoners “at grave risk of

even more devastating future psychological harm.”

Almost twenty years ago, Miles Fitzpatrick, Brendan de Caires and I were tasked by the then Minister of Home Affairs to look into the conditions of the Camp Street prison. What we saw was revolting, and we made several recommendations for improvement. Over the following years, several revolts by prisoners indicated that conditions had not improved. A few years ago the Minister of Home Affairs was challenged on the conditions of the Brickdam lockup. His response was that prisoners could not expect the conditions of a five-star hotel. So nothing has changed over the past twenty years.

I call on all human rights entities, churches, NGOs and all caring and decent citizens to add their voices to a call for penal reform. By treating fellow humans in the way we do at present, we define ourselves and our society as primitive and sadistic.

Regardless of their offences, prisoners are human beings and must be treated as such. This torture and violation of their human rights must stop.

Clairmont Lye

Prisoners are human beings and must be treated as such

attention to section 2.21.1 Means of appointment: and I quote, “It is vital for members of a broadcasting regulatory authority to be able to function free from any interference or pressure from political or economic forces.

Therefore the means of appointment should be set out clearly in law and should be done in a democratic and transparent manner”.

We are also informed at 5.

(5) that “The law setting out

the conditions of the authority must say what their total employment package will be. Duty free, salary, etc. these must not be left to the discretion of any political person especially not a Minister of the executive”.

I also want to quote the provision of 2.21.4 Funding: “Funding can also be used as a means of exerting political pressure; if the authority does not act in accordance with government wishes,

funding could be withdrawn.

Terms of funding should be set out in law, and wherever possible be kept separate from any potential Political interference.”

This tells us that UNESCO is saying that like our Ethnics Relations Commission and the Audit Office, the Broadcast Authority should, by law, be allowed to draw its annual operating funds directly from the Consolidated Fund and not be subjected to

influence by any minister, especially necessary in Guyana, where the government is notorious for breaking its own laws.

In 1995 UNESCO’s Martin Mordecai in analysing the PPP’s first Broadcast Bill noted that “merely stating that the authority must be independent will not make it so, the method of appointment must guarantee that independence”.

Continued on page 6

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

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

Federalism resolves Africans’ demands for equality DEAR EDITOR, “Race is a compelling psychological and emotional aspect of our social and political decision-making in Guyana” Mr. M Maxwell has again reminded us.

Understandably his tepid immersion into federalism requires clarifications.

In a post to the SN of 1121-12 titled “Guyana needs an Obama-type leader” and in the SN the next day titled “federalism is an invitation to disaster” he however seems alternatingly exhilarated and then later shrill in his responses.

Accepting that the federalist remedy is definitely more salubrious, then, any continuation of Guyana’s malady can only witness untrammeled Amerindian deculturalisation, predatory extermination of Indian existence and culture and more violence from gridlock of black hopes. This, of course, cannot be acceptable.

Consider now, his whimsical touting of a racebased formula due to Americans celebrating “Barack Obama is of mixed race and President of a country with deep racial

divisions. - (And) he is viewed as black by the majority of Americans”.

With Mr. Maxwell so obviously pleased, he recommends the same solution for Guyana. Would it conclusively emancipate our political fixations? It is after all only a temporary solution just as shared governance moves the battle from the streets to the yards.

Shouldn’t Guyanese by now have been all aglow with President Donald Ramotar’s originating from Essequibo and even more reassured how much more naturally Guyanese he is “mixed” with Amerindian, African, Portuguese and Indian ancestry?

Consider the injustice imposed on the “mixed” Home Affairs Mr. Clement Rohee, terminating his constitutional rights to freedom of speech in of all places Parliament, is still to be reversed. Get the picture?

What binds Guyanese together? The undeniable fact is nearly half of the population does not know anything substantial of the completely unique and different other. Not so in

America. Few of Guyana’s political parties in our entire history have crafted effective nationwide education policies to address Amerindian, Portuguese, Chinese and Indian history, religion and culture for inclusion in our schools’ curriculum. But the British have.

Consequently can anyone explain why Indian survival must be negotiable and always threatened, including serving as targets for any “mixed” solution to Guyana’s problems?

Even by Mr. Maxwell’s proposal, President Ramotar should be the promised political messiah. But maybe that truly Guyanese President is overqualified – over “mixed” for the job.

Much has occurred since the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 bringing European disease, guns and ‘civilizing’ Christianity resulting in the savage extinction of the native Aztec, Mayan, Incan, Arawak and Carib cultures, whose archaeological ruins outshine many. The conquered had no defence or effective responses to their enemies.

Similarly neither

Amerindians nor Indians can be expected to now participate, acquiesce or condone their cultural extermination. Maxwell’s reach for a made- in-America panacea for Guyana’s problems some 236 years in the making after their independence is obvious. It is a novelty and it seems to work.

But it is also foolish to ignore that Africans were enslaved by whites whereas Indians in Guyana or the entire Caribbean have absolutely no matching enslavement history or guilt. On the contrary, Indians have always been historical victims of targeted African dissatisfaction. This is not to imply that Africans were not attacked by Indians in retaliation and sickening brutality. But omissions can only render Mr. Maxwell’s American misappropriation totally incongruent.

Mr. Maxwell may be

correct in lamenting that ‘“the greatest impediment to the emergence of an Obama figure is our political parties and system. A man like Obama would not make it under the Jagdeoites, or under the PNC and APNU”. Obviously he knows the PNC very well. But he cannot debunk the reality that it was President Bharrat Jagdeo who actually sponsored President Ramotar.

Did anyone doubt Dr Cheddi Jagan’s consistency, abilities or sincerity with the PPP’s exemplary offer for Dr Roger Luncheon - no Uncle Tom - to be the compromise PPP Presidential candidate before the 1992 elections; the 1970s PPP‘s advancing of Mr. Ashton Chase as Guyana’s first ceremonial President and Dr Jagan’s controversial 1960s elevation of Mr. Brindley Benn bypassing the popular Mr. Balram Singh Rai as the PPP chairman?

All questions which Mr.

Maxwell raised about federalism are valid but not insurmountable. Debating about Guyana politics over the last 60 years can only be instructive to facilitate avoidance and comprehensive enhancement in the conclusive changeover to federation.

Guyanese Indians and Africans will always have a lot more in common with each other living in the same federated country. But right now their quest for political power has spun Guyana out of control.

Africans’ rising demands to shape their own separate destiny cannot be ignored and can only find ultimate fulfillment in federation.

As Maya Angelou advised “let’s tell the truth to people. When people ask, ‘How are you?’ have the nerve sometimes to answer truthfully.” Check out her poem “still I rise”.

Sultan Mohamed

From page 6 Our authority, drafted under Jagdeo as Minister of Communications, allows the president to name, without consulting anyone, six of the seven members of our authority and Mr. Ramotar, without shame, has appointed to our authority Bibi Shadick an MP for the PPP; Ramson Jr. ,son of former attorney General Charles Ramson, a recently graduated lawyer who works in the Office of the P r e s i d e n t ; M r. D i n d y a l Permaul, who works for the government as CEO of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority; Ms. Margot Boyce, who works for the government as the coordinator of the One Laptop Per Family project; Gerry Gouveia, a close personal friend of Mr. Jagdeo; Mr. Norman Mc Lean, I will not say much, but he seems to be selected for many commissions and committees and Sherwood

Lowe, the only member allowed to be appointed by the opposition.

In Jamaica, for example, one could challenge all of these people, even Lowe, since their laws specifically state for example that no MP or person who served on any local government position could be appointed to their Broadcast Authority less than 7 years after demitting office as an MP or local government member.

And all nominees must be appointed after meaningful consultations with the leader of the opposition. In such meaningful consultations, the Government side could say that they don’t want Lowe.

By no stretch of the imagination could this be an impartial, independent authority. In addition, it is my feeling, and supported by legal counsel, that this Act violates numerous articles of the constitution - free speech and equality of treatment are just two, a fact which we

intend to challenge in court sometime soon.

Before I close I want to make two points; of the 10 radio licences awarded, the one that was awarded to Bobby Ramroop should not be made an issue of since in a line of equals he is first, I say so since our Appeal Court on October 14, 2009, handed down a decision that depriving VCL28 of a radio licence since 1993 i.e. for 16 years, was unconstitutional and the NFMU was instructed to give them a licence and the government was directed to pay them compensation; Ramroop inherited that licence as the owner of VCL28.

The other nine were a shameless violation of our laws, a parting slap from Bharrat Jagdeo, and should be challenged.

Secondly ,the opposition led by Desmond Hoyte marched from 1997 to 2001 pushing ‘slow fyaah’ and ‘mo fyaah’ pun the PPP, to treat the afro section of our population more equitably. And in the bi-partisan board on Broadcasting which was formed in 2001 as a result of the dialog between Jagdeo and Hoyte, some preliminary agreements were reached between the government and the opposition as to how and to whom the licences for radio and television will be i s s u e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y.

Jagdeo and PPP have honoured none of these agreements in the new Broadcast Act of 2011.

Tony Vieira

Jagdeo and PPP have honoured...

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

Christmas is a standing offence to environmental friendliness DEAR EDITOR, Christmas is a standing offence to the idea and practice of environmental friendliness. Almost the entire population launches upon an orgy of gift-giving, card sending and rubbishthrowing, abandoning any traditional good practices such as the recycling of used wrapping paper, Christmas cards or binning seasonal refuse for eventual collection and disposal.

After all who can know with any certainty exactly where this or that mountain of rubbish came from.

It is December again and here comes a whole array of environmentally unfriendly acts in which Georgetonians are doing no more than trying to keep their immediate patch spotless so as to impress friends, relatives and visitors from abroad. The idea is to earn, or rather finesse goodwill, create social impressions while denigrating the government, the M&CC and those dirty folk down the road. Foreign psychologists call this ritualistic behaviour of always finding fault with others while claiming perfection for ourselves, ‘playing blemish’.

Here it is called ‘playing rubbish. We see everyone else as having the responsibility to pick up after us while we continue to indulge in rubbish roulette.

Some of us have become so good at it we plan to approach the Olympic Committee. We are pitching in the world of

refuse-dumping and rubbish relocating without any thought for consequences, except a combination of trust and instinct that our sallies will pay off and go unpunished.

Some people believe it is ok to buy, beg or steal to acquire Christmas gifts. Some they keep and some they pass on to relatives and friends. But herein lies a great paradox. How do we let our neighbours know that we have been well gifted without reducing Christmas to a mere show and tell occasion thus contributing to the season’s devaluation?

Short of mounting a visible display of all the gifts we received on our bridge, in the driveway or on our front steps and earning the sobriquet ‘churl of the world’ (pronounced as we do), the next best thing is to make sure the rubbish heap nearest our house is impressive. This rubbish piling is fast becoming a status symbol, as neighbours can judge us by the quality and volume of the stuff we publicly discard. Torn wrapping paper, used gift tags and ribbons take pride of place. Ripped product boxes (with non-degradable stuffing) send a powerful message. Our status achieves its highest point when we display all the old items we replaced at Christmas by the roadside. So pile on the obsolete appliances, battered toys, beat up furniture, outdated garments, also the badly discoloured sink and

toilet bowl we no longer need.

It all sends an unequivocal message.

What better means is there than dumping it all on the roadside close enough to our house to suggest ownership but far enough to confuse the uninitiated and the fussy.

Rubbish is faceless and too much like a bad smell - there, but better ignored until time and tide take it away.

In the animal kingdom, those species that have the capacity to hide their waste matter rather than expose their nasty habits to each other gain an evolutionary advantage. What has raised human society above animal barbarism is the capacity to consider our surroundings and treat our proximate environment as an extension of our homes.

This type of sociability is propelled by the economy of regard. Maintaining a clean home and a pristine environment is a form of gifting. Such gifting is appreciated by entire communities and can be life saving. It should be practiced by all persons young and old and in all environments.

So stand your friends another round of beer ensuring the empty cans are not thrown in the trench, on the road, parapet or behind the sea wall! Bin or take home your empty food boxes.

Environmentally speaking these are the best gifts you can ever give and to the largest number of people. A happy and rubbish-free Christmas in the economy of regard.

F. Hamley Case

From page 4 right on Mr. Greenidge’s motion.

Let us be candid, why did the people vote for the opposition AFC and APNU in the first place when from a position of strength they cower to the PPP bullyism?

For them to carry out such a lame duck attempt in Parliament at righting the wrongs committed by the arrogant and contemptuous PPP is politically pathetic?

APNU and the AFC must be aware that they have to be more aggressive in dealing with this political monster if not, they will lose the battle and the trust and confidence placed in them by the people. In other words, they will have no credibility left and this is exactly what the PPP wants.

Why the opposition has not used its majority in Parliament to pass laws to correct past injustices is anyone’s guess?

After one year, the majority opposition has not passed a single law in Parliament to relieve the burden on the poor and the working class. They have

presided over what we have called a “do-nothing” Parliament which is about to recess in a few days.

As we stated, there is some $55 billion outside of the Consolidated Funds and to date, some 12 months after the elections all these funds still remain outside and continue to be misused on shady projects without Parliamentary approval.

The leaders of APNU and the AFC should know from past experiences that they cannot and should not trust the dictatorial PPP. The burden is on the combined opposition to expose the wrongs committed by the PPP and to pass laws to prevent them from happening in the future.

This act of pumping billions of the taxpayers’ funds into the Marriot Hotel without Parliamentary approval is illegal and this illegality must be corrected retrospectively, even if it means putting some before the Courts in a future Government.

This is the ‘Fip’ Motilall saga all over again. It is this same cabal who found all the reasons to justify the reckless financial

support for ‘Fip’, only to have that Ponzi scheme unravel like a pack of cards. Do we have another pack of cards in the making? Yes we do!

Today, because of the scorched earth policy of the PPP administration and their intransigence on the ‘Fip’ Motilall issue, the taxpayers are in the red, having lost hundreds of millions in this scheme that is best described as white collar fraud.

Yet no one has been charged or held accountable. In light of all this evidence, what are APNU and the AFC doing?

In closing we want to let the people know that the barrier to good governance and the lack of transparency is being done willfully by the regime to secretly use the taxpayers’ money to finance projects that will benefit themselves, their business buddies and relatives.

Our hope is for the sleeping opposition to finally awake and put an end to the blatant abuse of power and misuse of state funds.

Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh

The Marriott Hotel is a classic case ...

An unjust damnation of an entire nation by an inscrutable process DEAR EDITOR, I wish to reply to a letter published by your newspaper on 11/12/2012 authored by Mr. L C Ram. This letter purports to respond to some views I expressed in the Stabroek News, 8th December, 2012, on certain disclosures made by Transparency International.

I must first confess that was I overwhelmed by the vile language and viperous tone in which this letter was written. It is clear that Mr. Ram has shifted his personal vendetta from Dr. Ashni Singh and his wife to me and my colleague, Cde. Gail Teixeira.

In an exchange of letters in the press some time ago in respect of a different matter, Mr. Ram launched a similarly diabolical and vengeful tirade against me. What I said then remains most apt: “to these ad hominem remarks I shall not respond and to those venomous levels I refuse to descend. I prefer to predicate my public exchanges on more rational, civil and mature foundations.”

I now turn to the issues raised

by Mr. Ram in his letter.

A distillation of the circumlocutory argumentation of Mr. Ram, stripped of their vitriolic

content, yield the following propositions: 1. that the Transparency International Report is grounded upon some empirical data; and 2. that “corruption” is defined by Transparency International “lexicon as a misuse of public office for private gains,” and presumably, their assessment is therefore confined to public office and public office holders.

These assertions are, at best, palpably wrong and at worse, hopelessly tenuous.

Firstly, it is an axiomatic truth that Transparency International’s methodology is a perception-driven process and not one premised upon empirical evidence. The Report itself, by its own title, unwittingly admits to this reality, as it is styled a “Perception Index Report”. No amount of clumsy ranting and raving can change that methodological fact.

Secondly, a process which seeks to diagnose the level of corruption in a society but confines its assessment only to the public sector, is one that is both woefully myopic and deeply flawed. Using the definition coined by Transparency International, the reality is that

in any society, the other half of a corrupt transaction is, invariably, extrinsic of the public sector. In other words, the private gain which flows from the misuse of the public office, largely, emanates from outside of and not within the public sector.

Therefore, when Transparency International ranks Guyana as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, it condemns the entire State apparatus, including, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature, the Private Sector and the entire citizenry, as corrupt. It does so, not upon empirical verifiable evidence, but upon the perception of people who neither work nor reside in Guyana and whom are virtually unknown to us; and via a process which offers none an opportunity to utter a single word in our defence.

It is this unjust damnation of an entire nation by an inscrutable process with which I take severe umbrage.

No amount of invectives will shift me from this position of principle.

Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall MP Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

18 CUSO volunteers to Kwame McCoy, others evaluated arrive next February radio licence applicants Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) is transferring ownership of the Guyana programme to its strategic alliance partner, the Canada-based CUSO International. Eighteen CUSO volunteers are expected to arrive in Guyana next February. Other batches of volunteers will follow at different junctures.

This is according to CUSO International’s Country Representative, Tara Persaud, who said that the volunteers will be placing special emphasis on youth empowerment. She said that Government and the voluntary organization are yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

CUSO International’s voluntary work in Guyana dates back to 1962 with 73 CUSO volunteers working in Guyana mainly in the Education sector and to a lesser extent in Health, Agriculture and Civil Engineering.

After 1972 there was no CUSO presence in Guyana until 2008 through relationship with VSO. VSO Canada had recruited over 50 volunteers for VSO programmes in Guyana, starting in 1993.

Persaud said that CUSO

International is one of North America’s largest international volunteer-sending organizations with its head office in Ottawa, Canada. CUSO shares VSO’s vision of a world without poverty and has a joint approach of engaging committed, highly skilled volunteers and placing them with carefully selected organizations.

It was noted that both voluntary bodies partnered for a number of years and in recent times their relationship has developed further into a strategic alliance.

“In order to optimise the development impact of working together, they have formalized their relationship through a Strategic Alliance, which was entered into by VSO and CUSO International on November 24, 2011,” Persaud stated. In an attempt not to duplicate efforts in individual countries CUSO International will work exclusively in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. According to the VSO Chief Executive Officer, Marg Mayne, “VSO has been helping communities in Guyana for over 20 years and we greatly appreciate the support of the Government, our partners and other

stakeholders.

“As the Guyana programme transition to CUSO and a new country strategy they will be engaging with some current and some new partners.” Persaud noted that CUSO International is a registered charity, incorporated in Ontario under the Canada Corporations Act. “We have been placing volunteers and implementing development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) since 1961. To date we have placed over 3300 skilled volunteers with public sector and civil society partner organizations in 30 countries: 14 countries in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean and 16 countries in Latin America,” she said.

According to Persaud, “Our programme in the region will build on our work in Jamaica and Guyana. We aim to accelerate youth empowerment by reducing the barriers to economic engagement and redirecting at-risk youth to more positive behaviours. In Guyana we will continue to support the development of hinterland communities.”

The body hopes to work in all CARICOM countries with the exception of Haiti.

President’s Press and Publicity Officer in Office of the President, Kwame McCoy, was among those who approved the issue of new radio licences. One of the licences was granted to the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo in a process veteran broadcaster Cathy Hughes described as unfair.

“It is absolutely clear that the system does not provide fairly and equitably for everybody,” Hughes, a Member of Parliament, said yesterday.

She said that it was unfair that applications that were sitting for some 15 years were not considered when the ten new radio licences were recently issued under the hand of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

One of the new licencees already on air is owned and operated by Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, the best friend of Jagdeo.

Those who evaluated the applicants, apart from McCoy, were Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon; Network Administration at the Office of the Presid e n t , R o y Jagnandan; and Head of the Project Cycle Management Division of the Ministry of Finance, Tarchand Balgobin.

“I don’t see anybody t h e r e t h at could be considered independent or technically competent,” Hughes told a press conference yesterday.

A c c o r d i n g to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, in response to questions posed

by Mrs Hughes, entities with applications more than five years old were written to confirm their continued

interest. Only those who reconfirmed were considered.

But this had to be a blatant untruth. Neither Kaieteur News nor Stabroek News was written to.

Among the criteria used for evaluating the applications were experience and capability in the broadcasting and communication fields, “fit and proper” (background security checks and current and previous business ventures) and “spectrum considerations.”

According to the Prime Minister, no formal scoring system was used to determine who will get a licence, but that the applications were considered on their merits.

Just before he left office in the run up to the November 28, 2011 elections, Jagdeo granted licences to Dr Ramroop’s Television Guyana, the Matthews Ridge Community Council, Little Rock Television Station, Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprise, New Guyana Company Limited, National Television Network, Hits and Jams Entertainment, Wireless Connections, Mr Rudy Grant, Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting, and Linden Wireless Communication Network.

For Hughes, a Parliamentarian with the seven-seat Alliance for Change (AFC) the process smacks of favouritism to benefit those closely aligned to the Jagdeo government.

She said that she knows personally of one application by someone who has been recognised as a pioneer in the broadcast industry in Guyana and the Caribbean,

but this individual was not given a licence.

While it is the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) that determines the frequency under which the stations will broadcast, the Minister of Information – a portfolio assigned to the President – has the prerogative to grant licences.

Enrico Woolford, who studied international telecommunications policy, has repeated his call for the NFMU to publish who is allocated or operating on what frequency, either for public or cable broadcasting.

“The airwaves are a limited public resource and the public needs to know who owns what or who was allocated what,” Woolford stated.

The licences under Jagdeo may very well have been issued under the Wireless and Telegraph which has now been overtaken by the Broadcast Act. Recently, the Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority, Bibi Shadick, said that previous applications for radio and television licences, some of which were pending for years, have been set aside.

Hughes said that she expected that the licences granted just before Jagdeo left office would have been set aside and have those applicants abide by the new rules.

Hughes said that the system under which those licences were issued under Jagdeo smacked of secrecy.

She said that the matter of issuing a licence should be as open as possible given the important role broadcasters play in society.

Magistrate threatens to discharge murder PI over absent police witnesses The persistent absence of police witnesses has prompted Magistrate Alex Moore to threaten to discharge two accused in the November 2010 murder of Chateau Margot supermarket owner, Dennis Ramah.

The Magistrate issued the threat yesterday after the two detectives who were integrally involved in the case failed to show up at the magistrate’s court yesterday when the matter was called, much to the frustration of the victim’s relatives.

The Magistrate is conducting a Preliminary Inquiry into the murder of the 64-year old businessman which occurred when bandits stormed his L&D Supermarket on November 16, 2010.

During the robbery, Ramah was fatally shot but

Dennis Ramah not before he had chopped one of the bandits.

It’s been almost two years and still the police witnesses have not testified. A frustrated relative of the businessman recalled one occasion when the Detectives were present

to give their evidence and this was not done. He said that since then, every time the matter is called, the policemen are absent.

“These men were caught red handed and they might walk free because of the police,” the dead businessman’s relative stated. The two accused are Victor Bobb, 26, of “B” Field, Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, and Quincy Arthur, who was allegedly chopped by the businessman before he died.

A source at the Sparendaam Police Station told this newspaper that the two Detectives were in the vicinity of the court when the matter was called yesterday.

However, there appeared to be some miscommunication.

The source assured that the ranks will be available for the next court hearing.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

The dilemma of treating the mentally ill who are also destitute There are a great number of suspected mentally ill persons walking around the streets of the country. There are a great many others who are not mentally ill but simply destitute who are treated as “mad” people.

Mental illness is a disease like any other illness. It afflicts the mind instead of the body but because the mind controls bodily functions and actions, an illness of the mind can have degenerative effects on the physical ability and constitution of mentallyill patients.

There are treatments for mentally ill patients, but these are often extended and costly.

As such, there has not been any significant attempt at addressing mental illness as a serious public health concern. Perhaps because there are more mentally ill persons off the streets than on the streets, it is assumed that the problem is under control.

Another reason may be the difficulty in identifying from among the destitute just who are mentally ill and just who are only simply deprived and mimicking madness just as a survival mechanism.

If it is tough off the streets, imagine how tougher

it is on the streets for those who have to exist day-to- day, hand- to- mouth, without permanent shelter and often having to relieve themselves in public.

As such there is need for a plan to address the growing numbers of destitute and the mentally ill persons on our streets. We should not wait until a major international event is held before taking steps to shelve these problems temporarily.

During 2007, the government in the haste to present a good face for the hosting of Cricket World Cup undertook a last minute effort to bus many destitute individuals into shelters. The public was assured that this would have been a continuous effort.

Today there are just as much, if not more destitute persons on our streets than there were in 2007, questioning just how effective and sustained has been the campaign to get dwellers off the streets and into a more comfortable environment where they will be less exposed to risk, can be given regular meals and a place to sleep and eventually reintegrated with their families and friends.

Dem boys seh...

Sonny get ketch in he shorts

De other day two people, one of dem a premier and de other a former premier end up getting charge wid corruption. Dem feel that because dem was de leader dem could thief and set up good things fuh dem friend.

Well dem heading to jail.

That is wha dem boys does call from beast to priest; from president to jailbird. Is only in Guyana dem things don’t happen because de courts frighten that de day gun come when dem judge gun get jail.

And is not that dem judge safe. A policeman stop a judge pun de road and demand a raise.

Another one mek a senior judge get up from a seat in de police station. But dem same judge frighten to put dem hand pun de government people.

In Trinidad dem got a minister who think he is Killa Lall. He drink up he likker and decide to drive like if he own de road. But he is no Killa Lall and a policeman stop he.

Dem boys seh that de policeman nearly get drunk from de fumes that come from de Minister. When de policeman tek out de

breathalyzer fuh get a record that could stand up in court de Minister talk fat and drive way.

De news meet de Prime Minister who know bout drinking and she seh “Charge de bastard”. De Minister appear in court and is watching jail. If he don’t go to jail is shame bush.

Dem boys seh that nuff people in Guyana don’t know bout shame. That is why dem does do all kind of things because dem don’t know bout shame. Dem like de mad people who does walk down de road naked.

But one man know bout shame. Sonny from de Easy Come Easy Go airplane know that he gun end up in jail and he shame suh he hide.

He think that everybody stupid suh he talk to Rosalinda pun Skype because he know de Feds does check telephone. He didn’t know that dem does check computer too.

Dem pick he up in he shorts alone and is winter.

Everything freeze. Now he got to face Auntie Dora.

Talk half and wait fuh de news pun Sonny.

Then a few years ago there was a campaign to remove persons off the streets. It was even reported that some of the persons removed were placed in the mental hospital in Berbice.

Unfortunately, one of those individuals escaped from that institution and drowned in one of the rivers in the area. This raised concerns not just about the institutionalizing of persons but also about the security at the said institution.

It had long been reported in Guyana that the security at the mental hospital in the past had left much to be desired since in the past persons from that institution could have been seen regularly and unsupervised wandering all around a town in the area.

A number of questions therefore emerge. What are the procedures that are used to determining admission to a mental institution? And have persons been forcibly institutionalized in mental

asylums in Guyana?

There has so far been no evidence that any illegal actions have taken place as regards the institutionalizing of mentally ill persons within Guyana. But at the minimum no person should be admitted to a mental home or institution without a medical referral from a competent professional.

Since a mentally ill person cannot be expected to make a rational decision to be admitted, the laws of most

countries usually provide for that person to be institutionalized upon the recommendation of medical professionals.

The situation is obviously compounded since a person cannot be assumed to be mentally ill, taken off the streets, seen by a doctor and then referred to a mental institution. If the Continued on page 10

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

=== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ===

A car filled with policemen three days outside my home My neighbour told me that a car filled with policemen was at my gate. The next day another carload arrived; I wasn’t at home. Another neighbour informed me. Then the third day, I was at home. I came out and spoke to Inspector Parris of Brickdam station. These visits occurred on August 16, 17 and 18 of this year.

The reason why the police came to see me, was to secure a statement on the attack I suffered outside the National Assembly on the stroke of midnight of August

15 (making it August 16) when I left the People’s Parliament (which began on that date) and crossed the road to get into my car parked outside the church next to Demico opposite the National Assembly.

Inspector Parris was courteous and professional.

He wanted the statement urgently so the investigation could proceed.

The person who witnessed the deadly assault was Michael Carrington of the Alliance for Change. I was walking with him but he

paced ahead as I reached where my car was. Carrington heard the screams and ran towards the “terrorist.” As the goon ran east up Brickdam three person tried to stop him – Dennis Atwell and Fitz Ralph from the People’s Parliament, and the security of the St. Stanislaus School.

All of these details were put into my account.

Six months after this dastardly threat to my life, I have not heard back from Inspector Parris. But more importantly, I see Michael Carrington, Denis Atwell and

The dilemma of treating the...

From page 9 person is taken to a hospital or clinic and is then seen by a doctor, then the person can lawfully be institutionalized.

But who takes the person to the hospital or clinic? If someone is forcibly taken away to be seen by a doctor, can that person be said to be unlawfully abducted?

If Guyana is to address the high incidence of destitute persons on its streets, it cannot do so without examining the laws and regulations pertaining to the institutionalization of the mentally ill.

And for the simple reason that amongst the hundreds of destitute on our streets, there are many mentally- ill persons and how these persons are going to be treated is another problem.

Then there is the financial concern. In a country in which there is competition for health resources, it is never going to be easy for governments to convince the public that more should be spent on the mentally ill.

In fact, if the average citizen knew just how much money is required to be spent to treat a mentally ill person

back to good health, that citizen would gasp at the sums and many perhaps would argue against such expenditure.

This is always unfortunate because mental illness is not incurable; most mental conditions are treatable and in fact, if treated early, allow the patient to return to a normal existence.

Mental illness is also like any other illness and just as how great sums are going to be spent this year on dialysis, then perhaps some attention should be paid to the cause of the mentally ill.

Fitz Ralph everyday and because the People’s Parliament is still there where it originally began, I still see the St. Stanislaus security guard quite often. None of these gentlemen has had a visit from the police. None of them was ever contacted. In other words, there was never an investigation into the assault. And how do I know this?

If there was, then it is one of the strangest inquiries any police force anywhere has ever completed. I was never contacted for further details.

None of the witnesses were invited to offer their account.

The owner of the car (the licence plate was given to the police) in which the hoodlum escaped was identified and when the press contacted him, he said, his licence plate was used to frame him. I heard nothing about the car owner afterwards.

Now here is a strange development that I never wrote about. The next day Fitz Ralph and I went to the police outpost inside Parliament’s compound. My request was for the names of the guards stationed that night when the incident occurred. The officer in charge refused me the information and all the

policemen we spoke to just didn’t want to talk about the attack. I guess the investigation ended the day it started and it never got started.

Citizens would know that surveillance tapes are placed on the electrical posts all around Georgetown. With the attempted arson of the building that houses several Magistrate’s courts on Croal Street, the police said they are studying that particular tape.

What about the cameras on the very next street where I was attacked? If there is a camera at High and Croal Streets, then one assumes there is another one at the very next junction – Brickdam and High Street.

The tape is being studied to ascertain who the arsonists were but not my attacker.

So what is the conclusion? I will leave it up to readers but this I know and this I am absolutely sure about. Michael Carrington who ran up to the thug when he was punching me in the head is a key witness and since that midnight drama on August 16 to the time of this publication, the police have not contacted him. The second thing I know which is really a belief of mine is that

Frederick Kissoon the police take a low profile when it comes to events as the attack on me for the simple reason that the police know that politics is involved and when it comes to politics, it is time to tread carefully.

Of course I could be completely wrong. There may have been a studious pursuit of the different angles of the violent assault and it was just a random beating by a crazy person. Well at least if the police came to that conclusion, courtesy should have been shown to me by informing me of the findings.

Of course I would have asked the police what methods they used to arrive at that judgement; could be the surveillance tape. But why weren’t Carrington and I not shown the tape. Maybe we just might have identified the real culprit.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 11

More companies seek Group undertakes crematorium - Complaints project for West Berbice PUC services Manager Several companies are now taking advantage of the services offered by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a development which has effectively seen many moving away from court proceedings which at times could prove to be lengthy.

This is according to PUC Complaints Manager, Raymon Cummings.

He said that once complaints are brought to the attention of the Commission a period of 120 days is allotted within which the matter should be resolved once it is related to billing.

“A lot of companies have issues with all of the utilities...First companies would choose the way of the court to file an injunction which can cost a lot, but some have learnt of our efficient service,” Cummings mused.

However, if matters are not resolved within the stipulated period, the PUC has the authority to make an order based on evidence provided to it. Efforts are usually made by the concerned parties to provide as much evidence as possible so as not to depend on a ruling from the

Raymon Cummings Commission.

According to Cummings, even before consumers, either residential or commercial, take their complaints to the PUC they should first seek to ensure that the respective defaulting utility companies are given a fair chance to respond.

“They (consumers) must first q u e r y t h e m a t t e r before coming to us. You ought to give the company a chance to deal with the matter because sometimes consumers come here and if they had gone

to the company to deal with the company it could have been resolved.”

Cummings added that while there have been mounting complaints over the years; those that are brought to the attention of the PUC are but a fraction of the number that actually occurs.

“Every now and then people approach you and they tell you about a problem they would’ve had for a number of years...”

It is for this reason that the PUC has in place a public education programme aimed at sensitising the public, Cummings said. During the course of this year efforts were made to target communities on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara and continuous efforts are made to reach persons in the capital city.

“We always try to meet people in Georgetown because we find that people from all over the country frequent the market places and other places.”

Earlier this year the PUC sought to extend its reach to the county of Berbice and (continued on page 16)

A community service group headed by Mr Nowrang Persaud, an exDirector of GuySuCo and DDL and a Senior Official at the United Nations, has started the construction of what would be Guyana’s first modern- day Crematorium in Region Five, West Bank Berbice.

The group, the Blairmont Crematorium and Memorial Garden Society, was recently formed to execute the $15M project.

Demand for cremation facilities as an alternative to burial, is growing for various reasons including the congestion and difficulties in maintaining burial grounds.

To date residents of West Berbice are using a ‘makeshift’ cremation site on the seadams.

Mr Persaud stated that there is a real need for such a facility in West Berbice. “I have experienced the difficulty and hardships and primitiveness of going to the seashore and sea– dams where simple conveniences like bathrooms for the women, we do not have.

The result is that he got together a group of publicspirited persons from West

Mr Nowrang Persaud Berbice to form this Society.

“We have been raising funds to establish a modern, stateof-the-art kind of crematorium that will focus on relieving the pain and suffering that are associated with death.”

Persaud added that the project will also feature the element of beauty and nature.

“This is why we have the memorial gardens, which, just by the ambience that will be created, will remind people that there is life after death”.

P e r s a u d said that

GuySuCo has donated one acre of the land and the location will be very accessible and very close to the Berbice River. The access road to the site will be very easy so that persons can drive right up to the pyre. Visitors, mourners and well- wishers can have facilities for car parking, he said. “ There will be large, shaded trees that provide shade and ambience and there will be space that provides seating for about 200 persons”. The group has also secured corporate donations but it is trying to involve community- minded persons in the fund- raising efforts. About$3M has been raised so far.

Work is currently going on at the site; the access road is being constructed. “The pavilion itself is being built with angle iron in order to discourage rotting. We have already built the stand for the water- tank and very soon, Ghansham Bharrat, who built pyres for the Ruimzeight Crematorium is coming to visit the site and he will guide us in building our pyres”.

The long- term plan of the (continued on page 27)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Guyana Labour Laws now available in Portuguese …to benefit Brazilian employers …Labour Laws in Chinese translation soon to be available For the benefit of the Brazilian community operating businesses in Guyana, the Ministry of Labour has made available several pieces of Guyana’s Labour Legislations available in Portuguese.

Several copies of the laws intended to guide the manner in which employers and employees operate in Guyana’s busin e s s environment were distributed yesterday at a training seminar for Brazilian shop, hotel and restaurant owners.

The seminar was the first of its kind in Guyana and was held at the M i n i s t r y o f Labour’s boardroom, Brickdam. Similar seminars will soon be held in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine primarily targeting the mining sector- where

Brazilians are major employers.

In addition, the Ministry will be translating similar pieces of legislations in Chinese for Chinese nationals operating businesses in Guyana.

Though, there are other foreign nationals conducting businesses in Guyana the Brazilians and Chinese have become dominant employers.

According to Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, this initiative derived from complaints of breaches of Guyana’s Labour Laws by foreigners. He noted that upon investigation it was realized that the breaches occurred because the foreigners were unaware of the Laws.

Dr. Gopaul said that the breaches were rectified. The Ministry also found that the

breaches did not result from disrespect or disregard of the laws. Rather, they were due to a lack of understanding.

It is hoped that the circulation of the Laws in Portuguese would enable Brazilian business owners to operate within the confines of the Laws of Guyana.

The p i e ces of legislations made available include Holiday with Pay Act; Minimum Wage Act; Condition of Employment Act; Termination of Employment and Severance Act; and Occupational, Health and Safety Act. Cognizant that some in authority ‘shake down’ foreigners, Dr. Gopaul said that Brazilians are now equipped to prevent being discriminated against. “In fact, we assure everyone doing business in Guyana a level playing field,” he added.

The Minister assured that the Government of Guyana welcomes foreigners to conduct business in Guyana and hopes they are equally rewarded for investments made. He encouraged those present to report instances where officials are demanding rewards.

According to Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle,

Brazilian business operators in attendance at the seminar the distribution of the translated legislations is timely since it is the Christmas season and the work hours for some entities may be longer.

He noted that the seminars will be an ongoing feature.

The idea of the seminar became a reality through the Ministry; the Guyana Brazil Development Institute; and Brazilian Mining and General

Association.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Guyana Brazil Development Institute, Rogeria Feiriera, who was tasked with interpreting the speeches of the various speakers expressed appreciation for the seminar and the translated laws.

She related that it is important for foreigners to get to know the laws since

they sometimes setup businesses and need to know the laws.

The Brazilian Mining and General Association is seeking to have the Laws o f G u y a n a translated in Portuguese available on CDs. This was revealed by Antonio Szale of the Association, who pointed out that about 80 percent of Brazilians in Guyana do not speak English.

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Colombia Trade Expo concludes this weekend

T

he Colombia Trade Expo stop and shop is in its final week.

Shoppers will have their last chance to grab items that are not available locally.

This Expo will be packing up this Sunday at the Thomas Lands YMCA, Kingston venue. The 35-person group that mans 25 booths also plans to visit New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The trade fair has traveled to various Caribbean nations over a 30year period.

This is the first occasion the trade show has visited Guyana.

The Colombian entrepreneurs who are here to offer their services to the local populace have a variety of items such as: engraving photos on steel pendants, paintings, magic glass cleaners, gardening products, electrical appliances, kitchen sets, household appliances, jewelry, and beauty products amongst other items.

One of the organizers, Johnny Hernandez, said persons can have a demonstration of any item before they make a purchase.

One of the booths offering paintings

He noted that some s to ck s h av e d ep leted , however, many other items

are available for persons who would have an interest in having something unique.

Other booth holders disclosed that patrons should visit the expo since many of

the items on display will have some interest to them also, many of the items will

have discounted prices. The event is closing off this weekend.

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Newly renovated Magistrates' Court falling apart …$35M spent A worker clears the debris

Sections of the ceiling at the newly renovated $35M New Amsterdam Magistrates' court

The New Amsterdam Magistrates' Court is collapsing after millions of dollars were spent and the building handed over to the authorities less than a month ago.

Kaieteur News' Berbice correspondent, Samuel Whyte, reported that portions of the ceiling kept falling on litigants and that he escaped injury “by the skin of his teeth.”

The staff and litigants were there around 15:40 hrs on Wednesday in what they considered the newly refurbished multi-milliondollar New Amsterdam Magistrates' court at Vr y h e i d R o a d , N e w Amsterdam.

They had to scamper for their lives. Many did not escape unhurt after parts of the ceiling came tumbling,

with a thud bringing with them pounds of bat dung .

The rehabilitation cost more than $20M. The work lasted over two years.

Residents and lawyers are saying that it is money wasted and an investigation should be launched immediately into the 'slapdash' work done on the facility.

Journalists who were visiting the court at the same time were lucky to escape the collapsing ceiling.

One lawyer joked that the government knew why it did not do a formal ceremonial opening of the facility because it would have fell on the President and his entourage.

The court was repaired under the Inter American Development Bank justice improvement programme.

Woman in custody after fleecing church members of ‘Penny Bank’ A woman was taken into police custody yesterday after fleecing members of a church in Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The perpetrator was taken into police custody after reports were made that the annual ‘penny bank’ was lost after it was withdrawn from the bank.

“Hundreds of church members bank their money and record it in a booklet every time they give the woman money.

This is sickening. In the second week of December people normally collect their money for the Christmas, and now she say that when she draw it from the bank she

lost it.

She tell somebody else that she get rob,” one church member said.

The police were then summoned by irate church members to investigate.

One woman who attends the church said the situation is very disappointing, since the woman acted on behalf of the Church and lots of trust was place in her to keep contributions to the ‘penny bank’ intact.

Several church members gathered at the Mahaica Police Station to give statements after venting their frustration about the issue.

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GWI partnering with GPL to resolve service delivery Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) says that due to voltage fluctuations on West Coast Demerara, customers served by four GWI water production facilities are experiencing low service levels. The affected well stations include La Grange, L’Ortoire, La Parfaite Harmonie and Westminster.

According to Divisional Operations Manager, Marlon Daniels, “These well stations are all interconnected and

serve customers in the communities of La Grange, Bagotville, Nismes, all of Canal # 1, Independence Street, and the entire La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme. Whenever one of these wells is out of operation, all the aforementioned areas suffer from low service levels.”

Daniels said that GWI is partnering with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to resolve all issues affecting service delivery.

He further stated, “Over the last month and a half, the quality of power received by our well stations has been unreliable, which, due to the delicate operating parameters, has caused one or more of these pumps to malfunction at peak periods, particularly the one at Westminster.”

GWI apologizes to affected customers and wishes to assure that all measures are being taken to restore normal service.

More companies seek PUC services From page 11 there are plans being mulled to expand as far as Region Two and 10. While this strategic move is aimed at making people aware of their rights and obligations it is certainly not a move towards soliciting more complaints, Cummings asserted.

He pointed to the fact that the ideal complaint is caused when people try to raise their issue with the respective utility companies and the matter is not resolved in a fair manner. According to theComplaints Manager, the PUC has a significant role to play in genuine matters which are of a complicated nature.

However, he noted that there are some complaints reaching the PUC that should never reach the level of the Commission if both companies and consumers

do the right thing.

He alluded to instances where people receive estimated bills for a period of time and then a subsequent actual reading reflects a higher usage rate. Cummings is insistent that such situations should never happen since according to him “people should be able to read their own bills and meters and understand what it says...these are everyday occurrences but when there are complicated matters we can deal with them.”

Cummings said that the Commission is mandated to investigate all complaints. He added that when a significant trend of complaints is observed they are usually brought to the attention of the Chairman, Justice Prem Persaud, who in turn convenes a meeting or writes

to defaulting utility companies based on the seriousness of the complaint.

He explained that for matters that are perceived as serious issues “we look at them based on regulations which we use to monitor what happens...It is not about fair or not but it is based on what the regulations say.”

“We are like the police...If there is no law there is no offence.

We don’t make the law, we enforce it.”

Tasked with a regulatory, investigatory and enforcement mandate which governs the operation of the Guyana Power and Light Company, the Guyana Water Incorporated, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and Digicel, the PUC offers services that are free of charge and open to both companies and individuals.

Two Chinese nationals were each fined $75,000 with an alternative of three months in prison for forging work permits.

Yan Zhan Chow and Zhing Hing Chow pleaded guilty when they faced Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry, yesterday.

The couple, restaurateurs from East Canje, Berbice,

admitted that they conspired together with persons unknown to forge work permits purporting to show that they were genuinely issued by the Central Immigration Authority.

According to the charges both Chow and his wife presented to immigration officers, Gonsalves and

McLennan two Republic of China passports with counterfeit work permits affixed.

The court was told that the couple legally entered Guyana via the Pomeroon crossing but later decided to forge the document to continue with their business operation in the Berbice area.

Chinese fined for immigration breach

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Murder rate worrying - Brumell - another hinterland Detective wins Best Cop award Despite keeping criminal activity down to a relatively manageable level, the current spate of murders is worrying Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brumell and his organization.

The Commissioner made the disclosure during his first address as Head of the Guyana Police Force at the organisation's annual Christmas awards ceremony, yesterday. The venue was the Police Officers' Mess Annex, Eve Leary.

So far this year, the Force has recorded 128 murders, three more than the corresponding period last year.

“The number of murders we have is quite worrying…and some of these murders when you examine them, are for menial things,” Of the total number of murders, 55 were disorderly types and 24 were domestic related.

“I want to advise us, if we can't take a drink without getting violent, we have to desist (from drinking). If we have wives and we don't have self control over our wives, let our wives go, don't get involved,” the Acting Commissioner declared.

He is particularly concerned about the high level of domestic violence which he said sometimes leads to murder. He had this advice for the men. “We must not raise our hands and hit women…let them hit us, provided that they don't disfigure us…We must take it,” Brumell said. His comments drew murmurs from the audience, which was made up of mostly male members of the Force.

The Commissioner urged his officers and ranks not to get involved in these indiscretions.

Yesterday saw, for the second consecutive year, a Detective from the Police Interior Division copping the organisation's annual Best Cop Award.

This year's best cop award went to Sergeant Garfield Headley, who was responsible for investigations into 11 murders in his division. He managed to solve seven, through painstaking work and dedication.

Sergeant Headley was also instrumental in recovering two all terrain vehicles that were integral elements in armed robberies in the interior.

His work is all the more commendable since the interior comes only second

to the Police A Division in the number of murders so far for the year, having topped the list last year.

For his efforts, Headley was awarded a total of $400,000 cash and a trophy from the Guyana Police Force, along with a trip to Kaieteur Falls, a dinner for two, and a stay for two at a popular local resort, compliments of a local business entity. He was also presented with a monetary award by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners' Association.

His runner-up was Cadet Officer Rovin Dass of the Tactical Services Unit.

And once again, national athlete Sergeant Natasha Alder copped the Force's Sportswoman of the Year Award, while national bodybuilder Corporal Randolph Morgan was Sportsman of the Year.

Popular traffic cop, Corporal Gavin Boyce copped the Best Cop for the A Division for making over 700 traffic cases, and he warned that he intends to increase this figure in the coming year if motorists continue to breach the laws.

Detective Constable Kevin Martin won the East Coast Demerara Division's Best Cop Award for his outstanding work that led to the solving of a number of crimes in that district.

The Force has come in for a fair share of criticisms this year, stemming from the fatal shooting of three Lindeners during unrest there over the proposed hike in electricity rates; the killing of Agricola teenager Shaquille Grant, which also led to protests and the killing of Damien Belgrave allegedly by police ranks outside the White Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street.

However, according to the Force's Administrative Officer, Assistant Commissioner Clare Jarvis, “This does not mean we do not have hardworking ranks.”

This year, 1659 ranks will receive monetary rewards.

But while there were some outstanding performances from some ranks, others had given the Force a bad name prompting Acting Commissioner Brumell to urge those who are still law abiding, not to be tempted.

“It's not nice when a policeman or a policewoman has to be charged and placed

Best Cop 2012 Sergeant Garfield Headley (right) poses with (from left) Force’s Admin. Officer, Assistant Commissioner Clare Jarvis; Runner-up Best Cop Cadet Officer Rovin Dass and Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brumell. before the court and the magistrate says 'remand!'.

Because the persons that you put in jail, you have to go and join them and when you go, they will say, 'I welcome you!'” Acting Commissioner Brumell said.

He reminded his ranks

that they are ambassadors of a disciplined organization and their actions could go a far way in determining the behaviour of the society at large.

He referred to a correspondence he received in which a member of the

public commended a rank for his professionalism and expressed the desire to receive more such correspondences.

“I want to let you know that we are the servants of the country. We must not behave as though we own the

people out there and want to talk to them anyhow,” the Acting Top Cop stated.

“How some of us talk to people out there, we cannot talk like that at home. At home we have to be circumspect or else,” he added.

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Geologists warn deadly tsunami T&T Minister charged with failing to take a breathalyser test risk in the Caribbean overlooked SAN FRANCISCO, United States - CMC Geologists in the United States have warned that deadly tsunamis threaten the Caribbean and are an overlooked hazard in the region.

Scientists attending the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) here noted that the Caribbean’s beautiful tropical islands and coral reefs are strung along the junction of several major and minor tectonic plates.

They said many of the islands sit above a subduction zone, where two plates meet and one “slides protestingly under the other, down into Earth’s mantle”.

Geologists said other islands, like Haiti, “straddle strike-slip faults, where plates slide side by side”.

The scientists warn that more than 40 nations and territories in the region could suffer damage from a tsunami from the subduction zones.

They said landslides from volcanoes falling into the sea are another hazard.

In addition, the scientists cautioned that “Haitian-style strike-slip earthquakes” can trigger submarine landslides, stating that the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2010 in Haiti had caused a local tsunami on the south shore.

Geologists at the AGU meeting also noted that

earthquakes in Europe are a “documented source of tsunamis in the Caribbean,” including ones from as far away as Portugal.

For instance, geologist Brian Atwater of the US Geological Survey told the meeting that a 1755 earthquake in Portugal sent a tsunami westward across the Pacific, washing over Anegada Island in the British Virgin Islands.

Geologists said historic accounts detail up to 100 possible tsunamis in the Caribbean, with 27 since the 16th century.

Christa von HillebrandtAndrade, manager of the U S N a t i o n a l We a t h e r S e r v i c e ’s Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program, said more than 3,500 people died in tsunamis in the Caribbean between 1842 and 2010, compared with the 579 in the eastern Pacific - Hawaii, Alaska, and North and Central America - in that same time period.

She said half of those deaths (1,600) came from a tsunami in 1946, associated with an earthquake in the Dominican Republic.

Scientists at the AGU meeting compared the 2010 devastating earthquake in Haiti and Sumatra, Indonesia, for their complexity and the risk of tsunamis and giant earthquakes.

Scientists said the two studies unearthed historical reports that show the eastern Caribbean’s 1834 Lesser Antilles earthquake was as intense as Sumatra’s 2005 Nias earthquake, a magnitude 8.7, which killed 1,300 people in Indonesia.

“There really is a preponderance of evidence for a very large magnitude earthquake,” said Susan Hough of the US Geological Survey (USGS), adding “the simplest explanation is that it was a Nias, Sumatra-style mega-thrust rupture”.

Geologists said, currently, tsunami warnings come from Alaska or Hawaii. But von Hillebrandt-Andrade said the United States and its partners in the Caribbean are moving toward completing a local warning system based in Puerto Rico by 2014 and funded by the United States.

She disclosed that a Caribbean tsunami information center will be hosted in Barbados.

“By having a warning center in the Caribbean, not only would we be able to research the sources of the tsunamis much better, but we’ll also be able to do a quicker analysis and also have products that are culturally and socially useful for the decision-makers in the countries,” von HillebrandtAndrade said.

Soca star has to face the music TT PM comments on court ruling involving Montano

Machel Montano PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has said that international soca star Machel Montano will have to “pay” for breaking the law after he was convicted earlier this week of five criminal offences.

“I am very sorry for what has happened. I think he is a great musical icon. We all agree on that.

We are very proud of his talent, but when you break

the law, you have to pay for it,” Prime Minister Persad Bissessar told reporters Tuesday night during her annual Christmas Gift Outreach in Mayaro.

Montano and Kernel Roberts, the son of deceased calypso legend Aldwyn “Kitchener” Roberts, will reappear in court on January 12, next year for sentencing.

Montano, 36, was accused of assaulting four people and using obscene language during a fracas outside a nightclub in the capital on April 26, 2007.

Roberts, the composer of several of Montano’s hits, was found guilty on two charges of assault.

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar , who has appeared on stage with the singer over the past few months, said she would not comment on the verdict “in any adverse manner” and that she has not spoken to Montano, his lawyers or to

his family on whether they would be appealing the magistrate’s ruling.

Montano has been courted by the four-party coalition People’s Partnership administration, and used to stir the patriotism of citizens during the nation’s 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations.

E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r, Planning and Development Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie announced a $5 million deal in which Montano w o u l d p a r t n e r w i t h the government to compile a CD to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence.

The state-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), which has a big endorsement deal with Montano, has issued a press statement, standing by him.

Persad-Bissessar said she could not comment on the TSTT endorsement.

...nine days after DPP’s instructions

Collin Partap Trinidad Express - Nine days after Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard instructed police to charge former government minister Collin Partap with failing to take a breathalyser test, police have acted.

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams at a media briefing at Police Headquarters, Port of Spain yesterday morning, said

there was no delay on his part to act.

He said a summons was served on Partap yesterday and the former Minister in the Ministry of National Security is expected to appear before a magistrate next month.

Partap, the Member of Parliament for Cumuto/ Manzanilla, was fired by Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar on August 25, hours after he was involved in a confrontation with police officers outside the Zen nightclub, in Port of Spain.

According to police reports in the case, Partap was stopped by cops for activating the emergency siren and blue swivel lights at the corner of Keate and Frederick Streets, Port of Spain, where he was asked to take a Breathalyser test.

Partap initially refused, according to the police, and was detained and taken to the Belmont Police Station where he contacted his lawyer.

It was only after the arrival

at the station of acting Commissioner Williams about one hour later that Partap submitted to the test and was found to be within the legal limit.

The case has been followed closely by the media and it took police close to two months before investigators submitted a file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on October 21.

However, that file was deficient as a critical piece of evidence was missing and a requested was made for the police to obtain the information before the DPP made his decision.

The missing information was later submitted and the DPP gave instruction for police to lay a single charge of failing to submit to a breath test be laid against Partap.

His advice, which was given on December 3, remained untouched at the Commissioner’s office for four days, as Williams was out of the country.

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Venezuela’s Chavez in “complex” post-operation state: VP CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in a “complex” condition and facing a tough recovery after his latest surgery for cancer in Cuba, Vice President Nicolas Maduro said yesterday.

Looking grave-faced in an address to the nation, Maduro urged Venezuelans to unite in prayer for their 58year-old president, and to keep faith that Chavez would return soon.

“Yesterday’s operation was complex, difficult and delicate, so the postoperation process will also be a complex and tough process,” Maduro said, flanked by ministers who flew in overnight after accompanying Chavez in hospital.

Maduro, whom Chavez has named as a preferred successor should he be incapacitated, offered no medical details but called on the nation to stay united and in prayer.

“We maintain...faith that with God’s help we will

overcome and sooner rather than later we will have our commander president here.”

Supporters have been holding prayer vigils around the South American nation, while opponents also sent the socialist leader best wishes for a successful recovery.

The stakes are enormous - not just for leadership of a nation with the world’s largest oil reserves but also for allies around Latin America and the Caribbean who rely on Chavez’s generous oil subsidies and other aid.

President Raul Castro’s communist government in Cuba is particularly vulnerable because of its dependence on more than 100,000 barrels of oil per day from Venezuela.

After 14 years of acrimony with the bombastic Chavez, Washington is watching the situation closely, too.

Venezuela’s government said on Tuesday night that a six-hour operation - Chavez’s fourth in Havana since mid2011 for a recurring cancer in

the pelvic region - had concluded “correctly and successfully.”

No medical details were released, leaving Venezuelans again guessing about what type of cancer Chavez was suffering, and if all malignant tissues had been completely removed.

Opposition leaders criticized the government for lack of transparency, comparing the handling of Chavez’s cancer with the detailed doctors’ reports made public during other Latin American leaders’ bouts with the disease in recent years.

Chavez changed the panorama before flying to Cuba by naming Maduro as his chosen replacement and urging Venezuelans to vote for him should an election be triggered by his departure from office.

Maduro, who is also foreign minister, is handling the day-to-day leadership of government.

Other senior figures such as Congress head Diosdado Cabello and Energy Minister

Venezuela’s vice President Nicolas Maduro (C) flanked by cabinet members statement about President Hugo Chavez’s cancer surgery in Caracas December yesterday. REUTERS/Handout/Miraflores Palace.

Rafael Ramirez were with Chavez in Havana for his operation but flew back in the early hours.

Chavez’s aim is to be home and well enough for the scheduled January 10 start of his new six-year term but there has been no word on when he might be able to fly back to Caracas.

“We continue praying for this post-operation phase, where he must continue overcoming difficulties. May God give him strength,” priest Walter Nabea said in a Caracas square where Chavez

supporters have been gathering in solidarity.

State media were showing around-the-clock homages to Chavez. “He is a second Jesus Christ,” a female supporter beamed in one.

The Chavez health saga has eclipsed the buildup to regional elections on Sunday that will be an important test of political forces in Venezuela at such a pivotal moment.

Of most interest in the 23 state elections is opposition leader Henrique Capriles’ bid to retain the Miranda governorship against a

challenge from former vice president Elias Jaua.

Polls have been mixed with one showing Capriles way ahead and another giving Jaua a 5 percentage point lead.

Capriles must win if he is to retain credibility and be the opposition’s presidential candidate-in-waiting should Chavez’s cancer force a new election. Even though it may be premature, many Venezuelans already are asking themselves what a Capriles versus Maduro presidential election would be

SANTIAGO, Chile CMC - The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says the region will see stronger economic growth in 2013, despite ongoing uncertainties at the international level, particularly the difficulties faced by Europe, the United States and China.

According to the Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2012 the region will experience economic growth of around 3.8 per cent next year.

ECLAC’s executive secretary Alicia Bárcena said the region will end 2012 with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.1 per cent, “which is higher than the expected figures for world growth (2.2 per cent), but lower than the 4.3 per cent posted in 2011.

“This shows that the world economic crisis had a negative but not dramatic impact on the continent, as the region maintained a certain resilience to external shocks throughout the year,” she said.

ECLAC said that Latin American and Caribbean economies remain largely dependent on world economic trends in 2013 and that the most likely scenario is that slow growth, and even recession in some cases, will continue in Europe during 2013, “although this might also give rise to agreements that could gradually lead to a resolution of the financial, fiscal and competition imbalances that are currently in place”. The ECLAC document notes that in the United States, the probability of fiscal agreement increased following the recent presidential elections.

It states China could post higher growth rates this year or maintain current levels, depending on the extent to which it manages to boost internal demand and keep inflationary pressure under control, at the same time as recovering export growth.

It is hoped that oil will not become an additional cause of instability for geopolitical reasons, it added.

The overview notes that continuously buoyant internal demand in many of

the region’s economies will result from improved labour indicators, increased bank credit to the private sector and rising commodity prices that will not fall significantly despite high external uncertainty.

But it warns that Caribbean countries will “remain fiscally fragile, and will require reforms accompanied by external support to ensure sustainable fiscal consolidation trajectories”.

According to Bárcena, the challenge for Latin America and the Caribbean is still to “increase and stabilize investment growth, and not to depend exclusively on consumption as a means of driving structural change with equality, incorporating technical progress and delivering sustainable growth”.

Bárcena said the main impact of the deterioration on Latin America and the Caribbean is in the trade sphere, as growth in the region’s export values fell sharply from 23.9 per cent in 2011 to an estimated 1.6 per cent in 2012.

ECLAC predicts upturn in economic growth for the Caribbean in 2013

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UN announces $2b project Jamaica to benefit from to eradicate Haiti cholera new agreement under EPA

Ban Ki-moon UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon has announced a US$2.27 billion initiative to help eradicate cholera in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Cholera has killed at least 7,759 people in Haiti since the outbreak started in October 2010 and blamed on a unit of UN peacekeepers from Nepal.

More than 420 have died in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

The UN Secretary General said bilateral and multilateral donors have so far given US$215 million and the UN has committed another US$23.5 million for the initiative, which will mostly focus on improving clean water and sanitation infrastructure.

But Ban said Haiti alone will need US$500 million over the next two years to implement its national cholera

plan and promised to “use every opportunity” in the next months to advocate for more funding for the plan.

“We know the elimination of cholera is possible. Science tells us it can be done It can and will happen in Haiti.”

UN deputy special envoy for Haiti, Paul Farmer, has been appointed as the secretary-general’s special adviser for the cholera initiative and he will be working with the UN in the coming months to seek contributions from governments, multilateral organisations, the private sector and individual philanthropists.

The Dominican Republic will require US$70 million over 10 years to implement its cholera eradication plan.

Fisher said the country will invest heavily from its own national budget, although it, too, needs resources.

“But Haiti is much more constrained financially, and you’ve heard that significant funding is urgently needed,” said Nigel Fisher, the humanitarian coordinator for the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

Fisher said 70 per cent of the US$2.2 billion for the Haiti initiative will go toward developing water and sanitation infrastructure. The rest will go to other projects including delivering vaccines to high-risk areas such as densely populated urban neighbourhoods and isolated rural districts.

Sanitation access in Haiti is the worst in the Western

Carrington speaks ahead of ACP Summit

Edwin Carrington MALABO, Equatorial Guinea - CMC - The seventh summit of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping opens here today, but there appears to be agreement that not a whole lot has changed in the context of past and present issues going before the leaders of

the 79 countries.

Former ACP Secretary General Edwin Carrington, who now serves as Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that while “the spirit among delegates remains good and the hopes are high, a successful outcome hinged on support by ourselves as ACP countries and our main partners in the European Union”.

For his part, the current ACP Secretary General Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas agrees and cites the need for a relationship among the partners that “would tackle the common problems that ACP countries have and see how Europe can share some experiences with us in terms of development and the fight against poverty.”

Hemisphere. About half the people in the country of 10 million have no bathroom at all.

The situation has been made worse by a 2010 powerful earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 people and left more than a million others homeless.

The UN has already spent $118 million on responding to the cholera epidemic in Haiti.

Fisher said 850 people have died from cholera this year.

The Government of Jamaica and the European Union (EU) have signed a $240.7 million (•2.25 million) agreement to implement a Capacity Building Project under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The EPAis a trade agreement between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips; Head of the EU Delegation to Jamaica, Belize,

Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cayman Islands, Her Excellency Ambassador Paola Amadei; and Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Director General, Dr. Gladstone Hutchinson, signed copies of the agreement Tuesday, during a ceremony at the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ).

The Capacity Building Project is intended to create an enabling environment to support increased compliance of Jamaican agriculture and

agribusiness exports, with international quality standards, to EU and other markets.

This will be achieved by strengthening the capacity of facilities, which support the export industry, in order to promote export competitiveness and food security, as outlined in the National Export Strategy (NES), and the country’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica, being administered by the PIOJ.

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Cayman Islands leader freed on Fed makes new rate pledge bail as corruption probe continues as it launches fresh stimulus

McKeeva Bush (Reuters) - The embattled leader of the Cayman Islands was released on bail after a second day of questioning yesterday, following his arrest on suspicion of theft and corruption in the notoriously secretive offshore Caribbean financial centre.

Premier McKeeva Bush, a veteran politician and head of one of the world’s bestknown tax havens, was detained on Tuesday at his home by members of the Financial Crime Unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

He was freed on police bail late on Tuesday, following a full day of questioning by the authorities, but was taken back into custody for further questioning yesterday morning, police said.

Yesterday afternoon, police spokeswoman Janet Dougall said in a statement that the 57-year-old premier had been “placed on police bail until early February 2013, to allow further investigations to take place both here and abroad in connection with the allegations made against him.”

The statement added that “a considerable amount of property, including computer equipment” had been seized during searches stemming from the investigation of Bush, which was “still very active.”

Police and other officials have declined to spell out specific details of the probe targeting Bush, saying only that it included allegations of theft, misuse of a government credit card and abuse of office over the alleged importation of explosives without valid permits. The explosives were to be used by a local firm in a large construction project.

Bush himself has not spoken in public since his arrest but his chief of staff urged Caymanians to pray for him and to keep in mind that everyone is “innocent until proven guilty.”

A veteran politician, Bush has been the target of ongoing corruption probes for more than a year now.

Bush’s arrest on Tuesday drew pointed calls for his resignation to avoid further embarrassment to the palmfringed financial hub, which is the offshore home for most of the world’s hedge funds.

“The eyes of the world are now focused on the Cayman Islands and watching what happens here,” said an editorial in the online edition of the Caymanian Compass newspaper.

“If Mr. Bush refuses to do the honourable thing and step aside at least until the police say they aren’t going to bring charges or he is exonerated, the world will view our country as something akin of a Banana Republic. This cannot be allowed to happen,” the newspaper said.

Bush was elected as premier of the island chain, a British Overseas Territory with a population of 55,000, in 2009 and he also serves as finance minister.

Earlier this year, Cayman Islands Police Commissioner David Baines said Bush was the subject of three police investigations, two of them involving what Baines described at the time as financial irregularities.

Bush publicly denied any

wrongdoing.

Officials from Bush’s United Democratic Party are examining the impact of his arrest on the government, according to a statement from Deputy Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly.

“We the government understand the gravity of this matter,” she said.

Bush is the longestserving member of the Caymans Legislative Assembly. His arrest came a day after the assembly adjourned for the rest of the year.

That appeared to rule out any immediate legislative action to try to see him removed from office through a no confidence motion.

WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) In an unprecedented step, the Federal Reserve said yesterday it would hold interest rates near zero until the unemployment rate falls to 6.5 percent as it launched a new round of bond purchases to stimulate the economy.

The central bank said its commitment to hold rates steady until its new threshold was reached would hold as long as inflation was projected to be no more than 2.5 percent one or two years ahead and inflation expectations were contained.

Fed officials, who revised their forecasts for economic growth and inflation next year lower, replaced a more-modest

expiring stimulus program with a fresh round of Treasury debt purchases.

“The committee remains concerned that, without sufficient policy accommodation, economic growth might not be strong enough to generate sustained improvement in labor market conditions,” the Fed’s policy-setting panel said in a statement.

Fed officials committed to monthly purchases of $45 billion in Treasuries on top of the $40 billion per month in mortgage-backed bonds they started buying in September, as financial markets had expected.

Under the “Operation Twist” program that will expire at the end of the month, the

Fed was buying $45 billion in longer-term Treasuries with proceeds from the sale and redemption of short-term debt.

The new round of government bond-buying it announced yesterday will be funded by essentially creating new money, further expanding the Fed’s $2.8 trillion balance sheet.

Fed policymakers voted 11-1 to back the new plan.

Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker dissented, as he has at every meeting this year, expressing opposition both to the bond buying and the new economic thresholds.

Stocks added to earlier gains and long-term government bond prices fell on the Fed’s announcement.

Egypt opposition urges “no” vote on divisive constitution

Anti-Mursi protesters attempt to open a gate leading to a road in front of the presidential palace in Cairo. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh CAIRO (Reuters) Egypt’s liberal and secular opposition has urged its supporters to vote down a divisive constitution put forward by Islamists, and set conditions for taking part in the referendum that will be hard for organisers to meet.

Islamist President Mohamed Mursi touched off a storm last month when he awarded himself sweeping powers to push through a hastily drafted basic law that he sees as an essential part of Egypt’s transition to democracy.

The streets of Cairo and other cities have been the scene of often violent demonstrations by protesters opposed to a constitution they see as favourable towards the Islamists, and by pro-Mursi groups who back the document.

Seven people have died in the latest clashes between Muslim Brotherhood and opposition supporters. The presidential palace is surrounded by tanks, barbed wire and concrete barricades, although the army has not used force against protesters.

Efforts to resolve the worst political upheaval since the fall of Hosni Mubarak almost two years ago suffered a blow yesterday when the army called off planned “unity” talks involving rival factions, after an army official said the military was seen to be taking too political a role.

With the first round of polling in the Arab world’s most populous nation only two days away, the opposition set out a list of demands for a fair vote that will test the organisers.

The opposition said it

would still call for a boycott unless the referendum is held with full supervision by judges, security guarantees, and local and international monitoring. It also wants the vote held on one day rather than the two - December 15 and 22 - that the government has chosen.

State media said the twoday voting plan had been adopted because many of the judges needed to oversee the vote were staying away in protest at the decision to hold the referendum.

Voting therefore had to be staggered to move around those judges willing to cooperate, suggesting that it will be difficult to meet the opposition’s demands for voting on only one day under full judicial supervision.

“We will vote ‘no’,” opposition politician and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa told Reuters.

Leftist Hamdeen Sabahy of the Popular Front added: “The Front decided to call on the people to take part in the referendum and reject this draft constitution and vote no.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Syria’s Assad reported to use Scud missiles against rebels MARRAKECH, Morocco (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have fired Scud-style ballistic missiles against rebels in recent days, U.S. and NATO officials said yesterday, in what U.S. officials described as an escalation in the 20month civil war.

The United States, European powers and Arab states bestowed their official blessing on Syria’s newlyformed opposition coalition yesterday, despite increasing signs of Western unease at the rise of militant Islamists in the rebel ranks.

Rebels battled Assad’s troops on the outskirts of his Damascus power base. Their advances in the past two weeks have prompted their international allies to talk of the 20-month-old conflict finally entering a decisive phase.

In Damascus, a massive car bomb and two other explosions hit the main gate of the Interior Ministry.

Lebanon’s al-Manar television, which supports Assad’s Hezbollah allies, said

four people had been killed.

“Allied intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets have detected the launch of a number of unguided, shortrange ballistic missiles inside Syria this week,” said a NATO official in Brussels.

“Trajectory and distance travelled indicate they were Scud-type missiles.”

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the use of Scuds.

U.S. officials said they were not aware of any previous uses of the missiles.

It was not immediately clear why Assad’s forces would deploy Scuds, which can have a range of up to a few hundred km and are bestknown internationally from the 1991 Gulf War when Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein fired them at Israel.

The Soviet-designed missiles are unguided and inaccurate, and are not usually seen as a weapon of choice for the sort of internal anti-guerrilla war that the government is waging against small, mobile rebel bands.

Assad’s forces have in the past relied on artillery, helicopters and attack jets, all of which are much more useful in close urban combat.

However, the lightly armed rebels are increasingly obtaining better weapons to fight back, including the ability to shoot down aircraft.

Last week NATO decided to deploy U.S., German and Dutch batteries of Patriot air defense missiles along the Turkish-Syrian border, saying its main worry was the prospect of Syrian missiles being fired across the frontier.

That decision means hundreds of U.S. and European troops being sent to the border for the first time since the war began 20 months ago. Syria and Russia called it a pretext for the Western alliance to become drawn into the war.

Western countries at a “Friends of Syria” meeting in Marrakech, Morocco rallied around a new opposition National Coalition that was formed last month and is led by a moderate Islamist cleric, Mouaz Alkhatib.

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Iraq, Saudi on OPEC collision course over next oil curb

(Reuters) - A new rivalry at the top of OPEC has emerged, pitting up-andcoming Iraq against undisputed oil cartel heavyweight Saudi Arabia.

Having overtaken Iran as OPEC’s second biggest producer, a rejuvenated Iraq is beginning to worry Riyadh.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries the opening salvos were fired in the struggle over who takes responsibility for cutting output if oil prices, comfortable for now at $109 (67.5 pounds) a barrel, start falling.

OPEC agreed to retain its 30-million barrel-a-day output target and meet next on May 31, but many market observers think supply restrictions will be needed sooner rather than later if producers want to prevent slow global growth and fastgrowing inventories sending prices tumbling.

After 20 years of war, sanctions and civil strife that left its oil industry in disarray, Iraq is no mood to consider curtailing output just as it starts to take off.

“Iraq will never cut production,” said Iraq’s OPEC Governor Falah Alamri.

“Some countries that have increased their production in the last two years - they should do so. This is a sovereign issue, not an OPEC issue.”

That was a clear reference to Saudi Arabia, which this summer lifted output to a 30year high above 10 million barrels a day to prevent oil prices ballooning after Western sanctions on Iran halved its production.

The view from Riyadh, said delegates at the meeting, is that Iraq should contribute to the next round of OPEC supply curbs.

A senior Iraqi official warned that if Saudi pushed that line there would be “dark days ahead” for OPEC, saying Baghdad would not even consider output restraints until 2014.

“Every additional barrel that Iraq produces reinforces its confidence and its expectations that higher production is achievable - and it will negotiate on that basis,” said Iraqi expert Raad Alkadiri of Washington consultancy

PFC Energy.

“Now OPEC is dealing with a much more confident Iraq and Baghdad is looking at regional politics and is less willing to compromise.”

“Iraq is impervious to arguments. It says that it was subject to sanctions for so long that it has a free pass to rebuild its economy,” said Neil Atkinson, director of energy research at Datamonitor.

Output from OPEC is already down sharply from the highs of the summer when the Saudi surge took the 12-member group to nearly 32 million bpd. Production in November was down to 30.8 million with Saudi easing to 9.5 million.

But OPEC may need to ease further to balance the market in the first half of next year when, demand depressed by a stagnant economy, its own forecasts indicate the requirement for OPEC crude will come in at only 29.25 million bpd.

“We’re concerned by the drop in demand and the high level of stocks,” said Algerian Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

After fraught 2012, EU leaders hope for summit deal

Indian state vote may be first step to Modi versus Gandhi face-off

(Reuters) - After a hectic year of crisis management, during which Greece had a close brush with the euro zone exit, European Union leaders aim to strengthen banking oversight and work on wider reforms at their sixth summit of 2012 starting today.

With Silvio Berlusconi vowing to contest an Italian election early next year, a full bailout of Spain still on the cards and a German general election in September casting a long shadow, 2013 promises to be the EU’s fourth turbulent year in a row, and that’s without mentioning Greece, Ireland or Portugal.

The immediate priority is to agree on the framework for a banking union across the euro zone and wider EU, putting the European Central Bank in charge of banking supervision to strengthen risk management.

A meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels on Wednesday seemed close to a deal on which banks the ECB will oversee and how its powers will be checked, paving the way for leaders to approve it today or tomorrow.

If there is an agreement,

Angela Merkel and the European Parliament gives its assent, the ECB should start monitoring the biggest banks from March next year and be responsible for up to 6,000 banks from January 1, 2014.

Completing such a complex process would be one of the EU’s biggest achievements since the region’s debt crisis erupted in early 2010, and might go some way to severing the so-called doom loop between indebted banks and shaky governments.

But it would only be the first step in building a banking union, that also entails creating a resolution authority and fund to wind up failed banks and coordinating deposit guarantee schemes across the euro zone to avoid bank runs.

The exercise is likely to take several years and officials see it is just the first part of a master plan to bolster the architecture of the euro zone and prevent any repeat of a crisis that nearly tore the single currency project apart.

It promises to be a long and tortuous journey requiring political commitment from euro zone and non-euro members alike, something that countries such as Britain, with a restive Eurosceptic population, will find particularly stressful.

“I feel that this political will is still present, otherwise I would not be here anymore because I would have failed during the euro zone crisis,” Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council who chairs EU summits, said this week ahead of the award of the Nobel peace prize to the EU.

Gujarat’s Chief Minister Narendra Modi addresses his supporters during an election campaign rally ahead of the state assembly elections at Dokar village in the western Indian state of Gujarat. REUTERS/Amit Dave/Files NEW DELHI (Reuters) India’s Gujarat state will hold a potentially game-changing vote today that could help decide whether Chief Minister Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, becomes India’s next prime minister.

If, as many polls predict, Modi wins a fourth term as chief minister of the state, he is expected to project himself as the presumptive prime ministerial candidate for his right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a general election due in 2014.

Gandhi’s ruling Congress party has declared that he will be the face of its election campaign

but has stopped short of saying he would become prime minister if the party was re-elected for a third term. Nevertheless, he is widely viewed as the party’s top candidate for premier.

While analysts warn there is no certainty that either man will become their party’s nominee for the top post, many in India are already talking about a potential Modi vs Gandhi clash in 2014 that would pit the charismatic but controversial chief minister against the heir to the country’s first family.

Whoever becomes prime minister will take the helm of Asia’s third-largest economy at a critical juncture in India’s history as it tries to lift millions out of

deep poverty and make the leap to become a global economic power.

Gujaratis are voting in a staggered election, with the second vote on December 17.

The results will be published on December 20. The margin of Modi’s victory will help determine whether he wins his party’s backing to lead the election-year charge.

Analysts agree that Modi, 62, would be a formidable foe for the Congress party if he can triumph over both BJP infighting and fears within the party and its allies that he is too divisive a figure to take on the dynasty that has ruled India for most of the post-independence era.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council yesterday condemned North Korea’s missile launch and will continue discussions on how to respond to Pyongyang’s violations of a U.N. ban on North Korean ballistic missile development, the council president said.

“Members of the Security Council condemned this launch, which is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874,” Moroccan U.N. Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki, president of the Security Council this month, told reporters.

“Members of the Security Council will continue consultations on an appropriate response,” he said after a closed-door meeting on the North Korean missile launch.

Loulichki recalled the council’s April 2012 warning to Pyongyang that the council would act in the event of any further rocket launches.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also strongly condemned the launch as a

“provocative act” in breach of Security Council resolutions banning Pyongyang from developing ballistic-missile and nuclear technology.

Several council diplomats said they hoped the 15-nation body would consider adopting a binding resolution, possibly expanding existing U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.

The White House said North Korea would face “consequences” for its rocket launch and that the United States would work with international partners to further isolate and punish Pyongyang.

“The president is concerned about North Korea’s behavior,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. “It has chosen not to (abide by its international obligations) and therefore there will be consequences for that.”

Carney stopped short of specifying what actions Washington might be considering against North Korea, saying U.S. officials first wanted to see what decisions were made by the

U.N. Security Council.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice declined to comment on what the United States would like from the council but said Washington wanted a “clear and meaningful response.”

“Members of the council must now work in a concerted fashion to send North Korea a clear message that its violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions have consequences,” Rice told reporters. “In the days ahead, the United States will work with partners ... to pursue appropriate action.”

French U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters before the council meeting that Paris would “consider it logical to sooner or later have a resolution.”

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant echoed that sentiment, saying the council “should react strongly to this provocation.”

A senior Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity that the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea were among those who would like to see U.N. sanctions expanded.

U.N. Security Council condemns North Korea launch, weighs response

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Two shootout bandits on six charges each Two of the four bandits who were involved in a gun battle with police that ended in three of them being shot and seriously wounded on Sunday, were yesterday arraigned on six charges.

The men, Keshwar Harrinarine called “Bread” 32 a Hire car driver of Fyrish, Long Dam; Corentyne, Berbice and Parmanand Joseph, 24, also a hire car driver of Johns, Corentyne Berbice appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo on Wednesday at the Reliance Magistrate’s court on six charges.

The men while being in company with others on Sunday at Rose Hall, East Canje, Berbice discharged a loaded firearm at police Cadet Officer Roger Pilgrim with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.

They are also charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Police Corporal Randy Hamilton with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.

Another charge read that on the same day they discharged a loaded firearm at Doodnauth Moses with

intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm. The bandits are also charged with being in possession of a firearm without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Another charge is that they were in possession of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The men are also charged with attempting to burgle the dwelling house of Ragesh Parsram at Betsy Ground, East Canje Berbice.

They were refused bail and will have to return to court on January 16, 2013.

Two other men who were captured, Deodat Seecharr a n , called “Pop Corn”, 20, of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice and Zaheir Abdul, 22, of New Scheme Adelphi, East Canje Berbice are still hospitalised in the city.

Seecharran was shot to his left buttock; Abdul was hit on his left hip; and Harrinarine to his right buttock. Joseph who was the getaway car driver was intercepted with vehicle HC 1390 in the area and could give no plausible excuse as to why he was there.

Keshwar Harrinarine

Parmanand Joseph

The men were captured after a foiled robbery on the home of 78-year-old remigrant Guyanese Nankumarie Sookhoo, at Lot 3 Betsy Ground, East Canje. In the house too, was her son-in-law Rajesh Parsram, who is a foreman at the Rose Hall Estate, his wife and two children.

After being thwarted the men opened fire on the occupants of the house.

The police were summoned and on arriving at the scene were greeted with a volley of gunfire from and the bandits who engaged the cops in a more than three-hour gun battle until they were cornered

in the St Patrick’s burial ground at Rose Hall, Canje. The police recovered one shotgun, pellets empty casing, boots, caps and jerseys.

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Brazilian and Guyanese faced with unlawful possession charges David Singh was yesterd a y r e f u s e d b a i l when he faced Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry.

The accused was charged with trafficking in narcotics.

The allegation is that on December 10, last, at Kanawaruk Junction, Essequibo, Singh had 400 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The unrepresented accused pleaded not guilty.

The matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s court for January 16.

Meanwhile, a Brazilian national

s t a tioned at Mahdia appeared in court charged with possession of explosives without authorisation or licence.

On December 8, last, the accused, Patrick Da Silva, was in possession of components of an explosive device without a permit. Da Silva pleaded not guilty.

He was represented by Attorney at Law Glenn H a n oman who made a successful application for bail. Da Silva was released on $75,000 bail and ordered to return to the Mahdia Magistrate’s court on December 16.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Giftland Office Max makes donations to 12 orphanages Giftland OfficeMax launched its 12 Deals of Christmas, recently, and to parallel the launching, made a donation to 12 orphanages.

Public Relations Manager of Giftland Officemax, Compton Babb, said, “The goal is to reach every orphanage and shelter. It is heartwarming to demonstrate today that Giftland Cares, providing every home with Christmas Cheers.”

He added, “A community is made up of individuals.

Everyone has their part to play in building a caring community.

Virtually everyone at some point in his life will need to be cared for by that community. The community is us.

If it’s denied the nourishment it needs for survival it will fail to flourish.

A plant without water will die and so too will the spirit of our community.”

Donations were given to Berbice Anjuman Orphanage, Camal Home for Battered Women and Children, Hauraruni Girls Home, Joshua Children’s Centre, Red Cross Convalescent Homes, Shaheed Girls Orphanage, St. Ann’s Girls Orphanage, Drop-in-Centre for Children, Cornelia Ida C h i l d r e n ’s Home, R u i m v e l d t C h i l d r e n ’s Home, Divine Charitable Society, Enmore and The Palms.

Group undertakes ...

From page 11 Society, Persaud stated, is to have a gas-operated facility to cremate the dead, “which will provide the opportunity to do cremation irrespective of weather conditions.

Persaud revealed, too, that once completed, the modern facility will be open to the general public and to

persons of all religious background.

Due to maintenance and other costs, a minimal fee c o u l d b e charged for use of the facility.

The expected completion date of the facility is mid-2013, but this is obviously dependent on donations and of course, the weather, Persaud said.

(from extreme right) Public Relations Manager of Giftland OfficeMax Compton Babb with representatives of the various homes which receiveddonations.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Thursday December 13, 2012

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. GMA 10:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly and Michael 11:00 hrs. The Ricki Lake Show 12:00 hrs. The View 13:00 hrs. Prime News 13:30 hrs. The Young and the Restless 14:30 hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 15:00 hrs. The Talk 16:00 hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00 hrs. MacGyver 18:00 hrs. World News 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements

Kaieteur News

20:30 hrs. DTV’s Christmas Spectacular 22:00 hrs. Person of Interest (New Episode) 23:00 hrs. Elementary (New Episode) 00:00 hrs. Sign Off MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 06:00 hrs - Islamic Perspective 06:30 hrs - News Update 07:00 hrs - DAYBREAK 08:00 hrs - Dabi’s Musical Hour 08:30 hrs - Avon DVD Club music hour 09:15 hrs - Top Notch Music

Break 09:30 hrs - Caribbean Temptation Music Mix 10:00 hrs - Amanda’s Costume Jewellery Music break 10:30 hrs - BBC World 11:00 hrs - National Geographic 12:00 hrs - The View 13:00 hrs - Village Talk 13:30 hrs - The Young and the Restless 14:30 hrs - Days Of Our Lives 15:00 hrs - General Hospital 16:00 hrs - The Bold and the Beautiful 16:30 hrs - Cartoons 17:00 hrs - Birthdays and

other greetings 17:15 hrs - Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30 hrs - CNN News 18:00 hrs - Sitcom 18:30 hrs - Jai Santoshi Ma 19:00 hrs - Soul Melodies with Trans Globe 19:30 hrs - News Update 20:30 hrs - Winners Row Quiz 21:30 hrs - Let’s Talk Tax: 22:00 hrs Movie: Snowglobe Christmas 23:00 hrs - News Update 23:00 hrs - Movie: Snowglobe Christmas Continues Sign off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Thursday December 13, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Creative sparks fire your intellect today as the Moon joins Mercury in visionary Sagittarius. The next few weeks hold many adventures in store for you, but now they begin as a mere thought.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The pace of your daily life picks up during the next few weeks, and the busyness isn’t just about the holiday season.

You may find yourself taking a more philosophical approach to interactions with friends.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You feel as if your life is on track, even if you have some dissatisfaction with your current situation. This is a delicate transition though, since you’re questioning surface appearances now as you look for the meaning behind the circumstances.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may feel the energy lighten up as communicator Mercury leaves your intense sign for the more philosophical world of Sagittarius. The Archer controls your ideas now, aiming the arrows of thought toward the next great adventure in your life.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your ruling planet Mercury remains in your 7th House of Significant Others until the end of the year, encouraging you to communicate within the agreed limitations of your relationships.

You’re not as content being witty and clever now; instead, you prefer to explore abstract realms to expand your thinking.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You are entering a highly active phase that persists until the end of the year. Your mind is on fire with new concepts and you’re itching to share them in any way possible. All manners of communication seem urgent these days; it’s a fantastic time to engage anyone with your ideas.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be on-edge during the next three weeks as your thoughts resist settling into the normally nurturing waters of your emotional world. You might even try to move your feelings into a more spiritual place.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your down-to-earth approach to life may have to take a back seat now to a more expansive and optimistic view. Pay attention to your daydreams because they can play a significant role in the coming weeks.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You are extra feisty with the Sun, the Moon and Mercury moving through fellow Fire sign Sagittarius and your 5th House of Playfulness. Burn off some of your mental energy by being more spontaneous than usual.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You’re trying to do the right thing socially, but a conflict that hasn’t been resolved may linger for a while longer. Thankfully, you have great use of your mental faculties now that Mercury is visiting your 11th House of Networking.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your key planet Mercury may be problematic now as it visits expansive Sagittarius. Since you are often the Tamer of Details and Sagittarius is the King of Grandiose, there could be a tug-of-war that stretches you between the very big and the very small.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It’s your time to step into the bright lights and receive the recognition you have earned.

Whatever you say these days has great impact because your words hit home with those who look to you for guidance.

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Kaieteur News

Clippers beat Bulls to win seventh straight (Reuters) - Chris Paul stood tall in the final minute to protect the Clippers’ lead and help Los Angeles to a 9489 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, their seventh straight victory.

With Los Angeles leading by just two points in the last minute, Paul twice pushed the Clippers’ edge back to four with a jumper and two free throws and finished with his team’s final five points to seal the road victory.

It was the seventh

successive win for the Clippers (15-6), their longest stretch since taking eight straight in the 1991-92 campaign. “Our team is amazing because it’s a team effort every night,” Paul told reporters. “We don’t have a guy who’s going to score 30 or 40.”

Paul finished with 18 points, Blake Griffin added 22 and 10 rebounds and Los Angeles also got 34 points from their bench.

Carlos Boozer led the way

with 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, who fought back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to make the Clippers sweat.

Chicago (11-9), still playing without Derrick Rose as well as Richard Hamilton, had a three-game win streak snapped.

Trailing early, the Bulls surged ahead in the third where an 18-6 run gave them a 60-57 advantage. Italian shooter Marco Belinelli added a three-pointer during

the stretch and tallied 18 points but he made just six of 22 field goal attempts.

The Clippers turned the tables late in the third quarter as their reserves made an impact.

Matt Barnes finished with 14 and Jamal Crawford also added 10 off the bench.

“This was a good road win for us, we’ve struggled on the road this season,” Barnes said. “It took a little bit to get going, but we hit our stride.”

Thursday December 13, 2012

= = Letter to the Sports Editor = =

Unfair practices in Berbice cricket DEAR EDITOR, By 12:30pm Sunday afternoon at the Community Centre Ground, popularly known as the Back centre, Corriverton, it appears that all was not well. The hype and enthusiasm for the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organized finals of the Upper Corentyne T/20 had less than 100 persons.

And this was already through the first half of the first match. Even by the end of the day this had not grown to more than several hundred other than the several thousand expected.

The week before the community was bombarded with advertising from TV and public address systems.

From there things only grew worse. When winners and prizes were announced at about 5:30pm there were audible murmurs from the assembled players – “unfair, not true, something wrong …” and much worse. The winner received G$20,000 and a trophy, runner- up $10,000 and a trophy, third place $5,000 and cash prizes for the best batsman and bowler in the final. This appeared wholly unexpected and considerably far below what was promised or anticipated.

Over the past week it had already gone around the community that prize money was no obstacle.

After practice Friday afternoon, 8th December, 2012, one club participating in the final was certain that its promise of making the final would be a net $75,000 $80,000.

Similarly, at the popular Grill Bar in Corriverton on Saturday evening the claims were equally extravagant and certain.

Organisers were well aware that this was in fact happening and deliberately encouraged it to attract attention and audience.

When asked to verify the claim one of them indicated that the BCB had already been promised in excess of $300,000 sponsorship.

Even if we lower the latter by $100,000 then there should have been at least $200,000 in prize money and not the paltry sum of a little over $50,000 that was made available.

Was this a deliberate attempt by the organizers and BCB to delude with a smoke and mirrors system of organization/management?

Why were players and clubs not officially informed, in writing, of the prizes so there could/would be no confusion between expectation and eventual prizes?

What made matters worse is that the BCB made no effort to explain how much monies were collected and how it was spent; and since the BCB is not a firm believer in independent audits that’s where it may remain.

At least two of the clubs and players involved in the final matches are understandably upset.

One provided details of their costs and showed that the five matches they were asked to play – travel, balls, umpiring, lunches, amounted to more than $60,000. If they knew this was the deal they certainly would not have participated.

They argue further, since this was not part of the BCB’s regularly scheduled matches they ought to have been given at least half the cost of participation.

One cynical comment that ended the discussion, “Man, de people come to promote dem self and we de ass to follow. De only ting is, we half poorer than yesterday.”

The other curious incident at the game was the announcement at half time of the final match. BCB announcement: “Teams that were so informed were asked to meet in the pavilion for the promised meeting”.

Half an hour later one colleague emerged with broad smile on his face. It was an election and not a meeting.

Selected clubs, apparently, were called days before and informed of the meeting.

Those who seemed to be in the know, at least half a dozen, were quick to impose order on the rest who appeared uncertain and restive about an unannounced election.

No public announcement, no notice or forewarning.

This was a select group by the BCB, with a prearranged agenda meeting behind closed doors.

What is dangerous here is not only the callous disregard for the merest requirements of fairness, transparency and decency but the fact that the BCB is a member of the Government-inspired IMC that seeks to impose its vision on the rest of us.

Rishee Thakur

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

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All the World Cup venues will be ready, says Brazil BRASILIA (Reuters) Manaus, one of the 12 cities due to stage football World Cup matches in Brazil in 18 months, will be ready on time, despite fears expressed by FIFA, Brazil’s deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes said on Wednesday.

“There is no threat whatsoever to any of the 12 host cities not being ready in time,” Fernandes told international journalists. “We are confident that all the host cities are confirmed and there are no threats to any of them.”

Last month, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke expressed concern that Manaus would not be ready in time.

“For us, the Brazilian government and our partners at municipal and state level the World Cup is an historic opportunity to ferment national development and that involves establishing regional development throughout the country,” Fernandes said on

Wednesday.

“Manaus is in the heart of the Amazon jungle and that has added to the complexity of organising the World Cup there. It is not an area that has easy access as other cities do so it demands special attention because of the specific nature of the city.

“But we are in continuous discussions with the state government in terms of guaranteeing that all essential investment in terms of having the World Cup there is in place.

“I don’t think it is correct to say it is behind schedule with respect to what is essential for the World Cup to be there but there are a number of special challenges. Boats have to get there because they are going to be used as accommodation during the World Cup. We have to discuss whether people will stay there for the games or stay in other regions and fly in for games. There is no

An aerial view shows the construction site of the Arena da Amazonia, or Vivaldo Lima Stadium, as it is rebuilt to host the 2014 World Cup, in Manaus October 18, 2012. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly obstacle in place that will threaten Manaus hosting matches in 2014.”

Fernandes said the government was well aware

AFC not in support of Guyana Cricket Administration Bill

Khemraj Ramjattan Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader, Attorney- atLaw Khemraj Ramjattan stated that they are not in support of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill presented by the Government. He was speaking at a press conference held by the party yesterday. He said the Government wants to control and that he is happy with the West Indies Cricket Board attitude in relation to the bill.

He indicated that there was a layout in India where the Government did something which was acceptable by all stake holders without having any control over the cricket board. He indicated that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board is corporatized by their legislation and the Government has nothing to do with the control, management and running the affairs of their cricket. Why not take that kind of legislation? Ramjattan asked.

He said he spoke to the Attorney General Anil Nandalall and the Minister of Sport Frank Anthony about same. He informed, if we want a solid piece of legislation governing the issue we must not only corporatize the GCB and the County Boards but the Clubs and various Associations as well.

“This is where the problem will come because those underneath the boards like Clubs and sub Associations by virtue of what Chief Justice Ian Chang has ruled, it would mean the base (bottom) would be made up of legal non entities, because right now he is saying the GCB and County Boards are not corporatized, that is why it is illegal for what they are doing”. “If you are going to make those two boards legal (country and county), and the base then, people who are going to elect them, we have to also legalize their status”, stated Ramjattan.

“We don’t want a pyramid where the top is legalized and the bottom which is the cross section of who are involved not having a status. That is what this legislation does not address”, he added. “We have to now do something to incorporate all clubs so that they can have status and voting rights, because remember this crisis came because some people

were saying clubs were forming Phantom clubs so they can get delegates to vote for them to win elections. If we don’t get the voting rights of members at the bottom regularized, what is going to happen at the top; It is still going to be tarnished and tainted with the illegalities”, Ramjattan further stated.

The West Indies Cricket Board recently responded to the amended constitution put forward by the Government IMC informing that they could not accept the proposals being made, some of which gave the Sports Minister much power in the running of the affairs of the GCB. This practice of government interference in sport is being frowned on by many governing sports bodies including the ICC, the governing body of cricket.

Football (FIFA) has a zero tolerance attitude in dealing with government interference.

The WICB just recently rejected the Guyana Government IMC appointed team for the regional T20 tournament, rather accepting the GCB selected one. The need for the sport to be sorted out in Guyana is necessary because of the effect on development and other cricket related matters including no regional and international matches being played here due to the current situation.

that operations and management of Brazil’s airports needed to be improved before both the World Cup and next year’s Confederations Cup tournament which is taking place in six of the 12 World Cup venues.

“What you are seeing

today at the airports will not be the same as you will see for the tournaments. We have plans in place for match days, and match days minus one and plus one. We are confident the operations in the airports will be vastly improved.”

While there is work still

to be done at all the stadiums, the first to be finished, the 65,000-seater Arena Castelao in Forteleza will be inaugurated on Sunday with president Dilma Rousseff attending a concert by a local band. The first match will be played there on January 27.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Messi keeps on scoring as Real lose 2-1 at Celta MADRID (Reuters) - The apparently unstoppable Lionel Messi extended his record goals tally for 2012 to 88 when he scored twice to earn holders Barcelona a 2-0 win at second division Cordoba in their King’s Cup last-16 first leg on Wednesday.

Real Madrid, the 2011 winners, fell two goals behind at La Liga rivals Celta Vigo but Cristiano Ronaldo’s late strike to make it 2-1 put the 2011 winners in a reasonably strong position ahead of next week’s second leg at their Bernabeu stadium. Messi’s Argentine compatriot, Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa, had a wretched night when his side

were dumped out by third tier Basque neighbours Eibar on away goals in their postponed last-32 second leg.

Mikel Arruabarrena’s 72nd-minute penalty for Eibar at the San Mames sent the Segunda B side through after the second leg ended 1-1.

Eibar, who held Bilbao to a 0-0 draw in the first leg, will play Malaga in the last 16, with a quarter-final against Barca or Cordoba the prize for the winners. On the other side of the draw, Atletico Madrid have one foot in the last eight after forward Diego Costa scored twice in a 3-0 win at home to city rivals Getafe.

Atletico, resurgent under Argentine coach Diego

Simeone, would play second division Las Palmas or Real Betis in the quarter-finals, with the pair meeting on Thursday.

On Sunday, World Player of the Year Messi overhauled Gerd Mueller’s goals record for a calendar year of 85 set in 1972 and he took only 11 minutes on Wednesday to add to his haul in a vibrant atmosphere at Cordoba’s packed Arcangel stadium.

David Villa sped clear on the left and he squared for Messi to clip the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar from close range with the Cordoba goalkeeper stranded.

Fielding a near fullstrength team despite the

Barcelona’ Lionel Messi looks on during their Spanish First Division soccer match against Real Betis at Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville December 9, 2012. REUTERS/ Marcelo del Pozo

lowly opposition, Barca controlled the game in the second half before Thiago Alcantara released Messi on the left in the 74th minute and he finished low into the corner.

Barca coach Tito Vilanova said Messi’s injury scare in last week’s Champions League match against Benfica, when he bruised a knee in a clash with goalkeeper Artur, had sharpened the 25-year-old’s hunger for goals.

“I think he’s so happy after the fright against Benfica that now he’s even more motivated,” Vilanova, whose side are six points clear at the top of La Liga and through to the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition, told a news conference.

Bruno Lucena, head of Flamengo’s research and

statistics department, told Brazilian sports daily Lance that he had calculated Zico scored 89 goals in 1979 and Messi’s record is not valid. The statement could not be verified.

WILD CHALLENGES Real struggled against a well-drilled Celta side in rainlashed Galicia and fell behind when Mario Bermejo fired between reserve goalkeeper Antonio Adan’s legs from a narrow angle in the 54th minute. Cristian Bustos made it 2-0 moments after coming off the bench in the 78th with a superb long-range effort that arrowed into the top corner before Ronaldo, who was lucky to be on the pitch after throwing himself into a couple of wild challenges, pulled a goal back three minutes from time.

“It was a tough game but I think that Cristiano’s goal gives us plenty of hope for the return leg,” Real director Miguel Pardeza said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus. “We are going to play at our stadium which is an example when you have to play this kind of match and we are confident of getting through,” he added.

Sevilla virtually assured themselves of a berth in the last eight when they crushed La Liga rivals Real Mallorca 5-0 in Palma, Alvaro Negredo scoring twice to set the 2010 winners on their way.

Valencia moved closer to a place in the quarter-finals and a possible meeting with Real when Dani Parejo and substitute Roberto Soldado struck in a 2-0 win at Osasuna in their last-16 first leg on Tuesday.

Haiti beat Antigua; qualify for Gold Cup T&T also through after beating Dom Rep. 2-1 St. John’s Antigua - A costly 1-0 defeat at the hands of Haiti on Tuesday sent host Antigua and Barbuda crashing out of the 2012 Caribbean Cup finals. It was the second disappointment recently for the tournament host, which only a few short months ago missed out on a place in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying for Brazil 2014. The result means that Haiti wins Group A with seven points, three ahead of runner-up Trinidad & Tobago. Both sides earned berths at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, plus advanced to the Caribbean semifinals.

The Haitians started the game in a more aggressive posture, even though it needed only a draw to progress. They seemed to relish playing in front of their opponent’s home supporters and stuck to a well-conceived

game plan.

Antigua had precious few true scoring chances, as dangerous forward Peter Byers - who scored 10 goals in 12 World Cup qualifiers received little service.

The game for all intents and purposes ended in the 19th minute, when an ambitious attempt off the foot of Haiti’s Leonel St. Preux was partially saved by goalkeeper Molvin James. The ball landed in front of Jean-Philippe Peguero and he made no mistake to put the 2007 Caribbean champion ahead with his second goal of the finals.

Antigua tried its best to find the equalizer before the half, but the combination of Byers, Gason Gregory and Quinton Griffith could not get the open look that they needed.

The Trinidadian players, who beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 in the evening’s

opener, stayed to watch the game, knowing that their tournament existence was at stake. A draw would have eliminated the Soca Warriors, since they would have then been even on four points with Antigua, but would have been eliminated due to a Sunday loss to the Benna Boys. The second half saw Haiti remain on the attack and they even had two goals called back for offside.

Antigua were kept on their heels and had difficulty breaking down the Haitian duo of Meschack Jerome and Jean Monuma Constant, both of whom executed tackles in expert fashion.

Haiti, which will be making its fifth Gold Cup appearance, is scheduled to face the Group B runner-up Friday in the semifinals. Trinidad & Tobago has not played in a Gold Cup since 2007 and will meet the Group B winner in the knockout round.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Victoria’s Fashions supports as Chico Junior U-13 set for kickoff - Outstanding players to win BMX cycles The eight teams vying for top honours in the inaugural Chico Junior U-13 Round Robin Football Lien tournament, scheduled to get underway from December 22January 1 next will start their battle to the top in just ten days and aside from the lucrative prizes put up by the main sponsors, the lads will have more reasons to perform at their best.

This follows a donation of 8 BMX bicycles by Victoria’s Fashions, Church and Light Streets, yesterday afternoon.

Proprietor of the establishment, Riuzane Cruz handed over the donation to one of the K&S Directors, Kashif Muhammad at her business place yesterday afternoon.

The businesswoman extended best wishes to the organizers and said that despite her business is of Brazilian heritage she enjoys the patronage of the Guyanese community. As such she said that she felt obliged to support the cause

especially since the tournament aids in the development of young people.

Mr. Muhammad was deeply touched by the gesture and extended heartfelt gratitude to the proprietress. He said that the bikes would be given to the Most Valuable Player on each team. Naturally, with every player setting his eyes on the prize, the standard of play would be lifted. He urged the public to support the business place as such support would serve as adequate recompense for their kind chivalry.

Meanwhile, the institutions that will be participating in the tournament are; Tucville Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary, Beterverwagting Primary, Grove Primary, Uitvlugt Primary, St Gabriel’s Primary, Soesdyke Primary and Company Road Primary, The tournament has earlier benefited from the largesse of the Beharry’s

Representatives of the sponsors pose with some of the bicycles that will be given to the outstanding youth players. From left: Kashif Muhammad, Riuzane Cruz, Yure Ryvas and Yago Marcos Group of Companies who had acquiesced to a sponsorship deal that involves more than $M1.5, and a further commitment to maintain such chivalry over the coming years. Their benevolence supported an earlier

T&T’s McLeod swims to 100m breast record in Turkey - now ranked 22nd in the World The Amateur Swimming Association has congratulated Abraham McLeod for his superb performance on Day 1 of competition at the World Short Course Championships taking place in Istanbul, Turkey.

Trinidadian McLeod is now ranked 22nd in the World in the 100m breast after he finished his heat in a time of 59.35 behind eventual top seed going into the semifinals, Kevin Cordes (57.66) of the US. McLeod has the distinction of being the first swimmer in this country to

Abraham McLeod swim under 1:00.00 in this event. He will also swim in the

200m breast and 50m breast later on in the week.

Abraham’s elder sibling Joshua, was also in action on the first day and he is now ranked 35th in the World in the 100m fly after completing his heat in 53.20. Ryan Lochte was the top finisher going into the semi-final round in a time of 50.16.

T & T Olympian George Bovell III is also participating in this meet and will be in action in today’s (Thursday) morning session when both he and Joshua McLeod swim in Heat 15 in the 50m free.

Mayor Green Birthday Inter-Ward final shifted to Sunday December 30 The climax of the Mayor Hamilton Green 78th Birth Anniversary Inter-Ward KO soccer tournament fixed for the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground tomorrow has been shifted to December 30 at the same venue.

When the finals are held on December 30, four quarterfinals, and two semifinal matches will be contested.

The action will see

Stewartville tackling Alberttown moments before Goed Fortuin oppose Newtown Kitty. Uitvlugt will then tackle Grove shortly before Den Amstel square off with Kingstown.

Consequently, the winner of the Stewartville/Alberttown encounter will go head to head with the winner of the Uitvlugt/Grove match, while the winner of the Goed Fortuin/Newtown Kitty affair

play the winner of the Den Amstel/Kingstown shindig in semi-final matches.

Those winners will then clash for the top prize of $200,000 with the runners-up receiving half that amount.

Further, members of the winning team will receive hampers donated by Ricks and Sari. But even before that, there will also be an exhibition match between Seawall and a Police team.

contribution by Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds of the winning trophy and a large cheque.

These contributions will be used to transport the teams to the various venues, supply meals and uniforms among other things. Each team will

also receive playing kits and text books while players will receive trophies.

Guyana Football Federation Competitions Coordinator, Lawrence ‘Sparrow’ Griffith will be lending his expertise to the organizers in a similar

capacity.

The action commences with the opening ceremony on Sunday 16 at the GFC Ground, Bourda and ends at that very venue with the finals, third place playoff and prize giving ceremony on January 12 next.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Can brittle India stop England?

Tim Bresnan could be recalled by England if Steven Finn is ruled out of the final Test (AFP) Cricinfo - This could be a momentous Test match. From England’s point of view, a win or a draw would secure a series victory in India for the first time since 1984-85. For a new captain, Alastair Cook, that would be a herculean achievement, especially given the various issues he

has had to deal with in the early months of his leadership.

Then there is India. It would be foolish to write them off despite the margins of defeat in the last two matches, but there is a feeling of significant change being on the horizon. Although a

series-levelling win could buy key figures some time, (despite papering over cracks being dangerous) it is not inconceivable that a series loss will see the end of MS Dhoni as captain, the end of Sachin Tendulkar and the end of Duncan Fletcher as coach.

That ‘perfect storm’ scenario is unlikely, but even the fact it warrants discussion highlights India’s predicament.

As has been the case ahead of each Test in this series, the pitch has been the focus of much attention although, sadly for comedic effect, there hasn’t been the sight of a groundsman being in the middle of a row. What do India think is best?

England have shown over the last two matches that they are comfortable on a variety of surfaces. It was the slowest, lowest, pitch of series, in Ahmedabad, that caused them most problems.

It’s a sign of the problems England have had in 2012 that defeat in this Test would make it the most losses they have suffered in a calendar year. However, some big

lessons have been learned and there is a sense that the team is back on track.

Finishing with a series win in India would be substantial proof of that.

WATCH OUT FOR...

Test match No. 194 for Sachin Tendulkar. Could it be his last? Nobody knows what he is thinking about the future, but his powers are waning. There is a series against Australia next year, so maybe that will be time when he goes, but sooner rather than later the day will come for India. Does it need to be dragged out to a bitter end?

This is not to say he can’t score runs - he fought doggedly for his 76 in Kolkata - but this is not the Sachin Tendulkar who has entertained the world for more than two decades.

James Anderson produced one his finest overseas performances in Kolkata and even three wickets in each innings did

not do justice to the skill he showed. He may well need a similar return in Nagpur and it is looking as though he’ll have an even greater burden on his shoulders after the emergence of Steven Finn’s injury. There is also the opportunity for one last duel with Tendulkar. The pair will not meet again at Test level.

TEAM NEWS There will be at least two changes for India after Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh were dropped, but such is the state of chaos around the team it is not clear which way they’ll go. It might be back to three frontline spinners, meaning a recall for Piyush Chawla, and Ajinkya Rahane, who averages 63.35 in first-class cricket, could debut at No. 6.

The other options include Ravindra Jadeja as an allrounder at No. 6 with a balanced attack. Ashok Dinda and Parvinder Awana were both playing Ranji Trophy until yesterday so have not

had much time with the squad.

England have been hit by a significant blow with Finn suffering a back injury, which makes him very doubtful.

Stuart Broad is ruled out, so Tim Bresnan appears favourite to replace him, despite a poor year in Test cricket, although Graham Onions would also have a strong case. There are suggestions that Samit Patel’s spot at No. 6 could go to Jonny Bairstow. Patel has not looked out of his depth, despite not converting starts into a substantial score, and it would be a harsh omission.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS “White and dry,” was the basic description of the pitch on the eve of the Test. It had not been watered for two days so it will spin, the question is how much and how soon. The weather won’t be an issue with daytime temperatures in the low 30s.

Brazil’s Corinthians reach Club World Cup final Paolo Guerrero (2nd R) of Brazil’s Corinthians heads the ball to score against Egypt’s Al-Ahly during their Club World Cup semi-final soccer match in Toyota, central Japan December 12, 2012. REUTERS/Yuya Shino

TOYOTA, Japan (Reuters) - Corinthians beat African champions Al-Ahly 10 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Club World Cup but the Brazilian side failed to impress as they set up a potential showdown with Chelsea.

Peru striker Paolo Guerrero twisted superbly to head the winner for the Libertadores Cup holders on the half-hour mark to the delight of the Corinthians fans in Toyota.

“We were expecting a difficult match,” Corinthians coach Tite told reporters. “We had huge responsibility on us to win and mentally we were under a lot of pressure.”

Corinthians, the first team since 1978 to win South

America’s premier club competition without losing a game, survived a second-half onslaught from Egypt’s AlAhly to advance.

Chelsea, whose defence of their Champions League title ended in the group stage last week, face Mexico’s Monterrey in the other semifinal in Yokohama on Thursday (1030 GMT).

The Chelsea players, stopping to watch the second half of the game in Yokohama’s mixed zone after training, will have seen precious little to worry them from the Brazilians.

Ramy Rabia and Elsayed Hamdi missed gilt-edged chances for Al-Ahly, whose players are still scarred by a stadium riot in which more

than 70 fans died earlier this year.

Al-Ahly coach Hossam El Badry could hardly mask his disappointment after his side failed to take their chances after dominating the second half. “I’m frustrated that we lost because it was a really good performance,” he told reporters. “We made a mistake and got punished but we deserved to win the game.”

European sides have won the last five editions of the Club World Cup, Barcelona lifting the trophy in 2009 and 2011.

Many fans have made the long trip from Brazil to cheer on Corinthians, the first winners of the FIFA competition in 2000.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Despite the challenges...

(From page 37) of our administration as we need to find a way then to provide the environment and opportunity for them to play.

The major impediment to doing this successfully has been a lack of human resources. In the absence of a paid coach who can go into the school system and introduce and coach the game, we cannot increase the numbers in the way we would like. Our local coaches all have jobs and this is another significant difference between Guyana and the other hockey-playing nations as they all have professional and semi-professional coaches even at the school level. We have managed to secure the services of a few individuals who visit schools maybe once per week to conduct training sessions and this has had a positive effect already on the game, but we are trying to find a way to increase this to more schools.

The lack of an artificial pitch for hockey presents a catch 22 situation since the presence of a pitch itself is very likely to encourage players to the game as was evidenced by other hockeyplaying nations like Uruguay and Venezuela. The game is far more enjoyable on an artificial pitch and young players quickly experience greater success and therefore encouragement in the game.

An artificial pitch also can be used in any weather and so during the rainy months our players do not have to await a last minute decision to know

whether or not training or matches are cancelled. In fact since artificial pitches play better when they are wet, the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Federation seriously considered moving their outdoor season to the rainy months.

We have made several attempts to petition for funding toward an artificial pitch with the most recent being during the Pan American Games in 2011 where the Pan American Hockey Federation held its Congress. These so far have fallen on deaf ears and so we are left to defy the odds by trying to produce the kind of performances in international competitions that can attract some attention to our need.

This is a slow process, however, and a difficult game to win.

Hockey in Guyana will probably never have the kind of funding necessary for regular travel to gain valuable international exposure. The next best thing, however, leads us back to having an artificial pitch installed locally.

While we always have to incur the expense of travel to train and compete on artificial surfaces, our neighbours enjoy the benefits of visiting teams which can afford them the same exposure at little or no cost. Guyana is a relatively inexpensive destination for many of the countries in the Pan American region with competitive pricing for living expenses such as hotels, meals and transportation.

This coupled with our central

geographic location makes Guyana an excellent destination for international teams. The success of our annual Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival is testament to the greater possibilities of sports tourism in Guyana. We feel confident that given adequate facilities, we can transfer the success in hosting the indoor game to that of the more subscribed outdoor game.

KN-What is next for this team and for women’s hockey internationally?

PF-Despite the unlevelled playing field described above, our ladies have qualified for the PAHF Cup in September 2013 to be staged in Mendoza, Argentina. They upset several higher ranking nations to qualify for this event and therefore deserve the opportunity. However, this is a very expensive undertaking and they will be facing the top 7 teams in the Pan American region, including Argentina which is ranked #2 in the world. Given our inability to prepare on the correct surface between now and then however, this remains an issue for much discussion over the next few weeks.

The players are very motivated and have shown great dedication to training over the past few years and their performance on the pitch has improved constantly.

This will need to be taken into consideration when the Guyana Hockey Board makes its final decision on the future.

Atkinson opens bid at World Short Course meet Jamaica Observer JAMAICAN swim star Alia Atkinson will open her campaign at the 11th FINA World Swimming (Short Course) Championships at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday in the Women’s 50m breaststroke.

The 24-year-old, three-time Olympian will compete in lane four of heat eight and with the fastest qualifying time of 29.87 seconds, she was expected to advance to the semi-finals later in the day.

Atkinson will also compete in the 100m medley today in heat six of seven where she will face favourite Zsuzanna Jakabos of Hungary. The Jamaican has a qualifying time of 59.96, compared to the Hungarian’s 59.15 seconds.

Overall, Atkinson will also have to contend with another

Alia Atkinson has fastest qualifying time in Women’s 50m breaststroke Hungarian Katinka Hosszu, 58.83 seconds, and Germany’s Theresa Michalak, 59.62 seconds.

The semi-final of the 100m medley and the final of women’s 50m breaststroke will also take place today. At

the last World Short Course Championships in Dubai in 2010, Atkinson finished sixth in the 50m breaststroke final and failed to advance from the preliminaries in the 100m medley.

Page 35

L’Equipe hands France’s top awards to Serena and Bolt PARIS (Reuters) - Jamaica sprinter Usain Bolt, who retained his three Olympic titles at the London Games, was named sportsman of the year by French daily L’Equipe on Wednesday while American tennis player Serena Williams took the women’s prize.

Bolt had already received the main French sports award in 2008, after he won the 100 meters, the 200m and the 4x100m relay at the Beijing Olympics, and in 2009.

“It has been a great season.

I worked a lot to win again. It has been a real pleasure and an honor to defend my titles,” Bolt told the new L’Equipe 21 TV channel.

“Now I look forward to Rio to break some records,” added Bolt about the 2016 Olympics. Serena Williams, who finished the year third in the WTA rankings despite winning Wimbledon, singles and doubles gold at the Olympics and the U.S. Open, took the women’s award for the for the first time.

The 31-year-old was handed the trophy by the

Jamaica’s double Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt stikes a pose while inaugurating a Puma store in Barcelona November 23, 2012. REUTERS/Albert Gea former world number one Martina Hingis.

The Olympics were all important in the annual poll with judo heavyweight gold

medalist Teddy Riner and 400m freestyle swimming champion Camille Muffat winning the gongs for French athletes.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars, BBL...

Malinga helps Stars thrash Scorchers Cricinfo - As heavily as the rain tumbled at various stages in Perth tonight so too did the wickets and records at the WACA ground, as Perth Scorchers were thrashed by Melbourne Stars in one of the most bizarre games of cricket ever witnessed in Australia.

After Lasith Malinga ripped through the Scorchers, taking record figures of 6 for 7, to bowl the home side out for just 69, the Stars were 0 for 29 after two overs of the chase when rain halted play at 6.39pm local time. Under normal circumstances, the side batting second has to bat a minimum of five overs to constitute a match. The match had to recommence by 7.52pm to ensure a five-over chase.

The rain stopped, but the confusion was caused by the revised Duckworth/Lewis target, which was 5. In which case, only one ball was required to be bowled as the score had already been reached. The Scorchers argued the ground was unfit for play, but Hilton Cartwright

bowled one ball without issue, the players shook hands, and the Stars walked off as winners by ten wickets.

The confusion of the result overshadowed the star performance of the night.

Malinga took the secondbest figures of all time in domestic T20s to help dismiss the Scorchers for the lowest total in Australian T20 cricket. Had Malinga not delivered two wides, he might have claimed the record from the unlikely holder, Somerset’s Arul Suppiah.

With intermittent rain throughout the day, Stars captain Shane Warne had no hesitation in bowling first on a lively wicket. It paid dividends with four wickets in the first four overs. James Faulkner had Herschelle Gibbs dropped first ball as it reared off the gloves and went through two sets of hands, that of wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb and first slip Cameron White, although it was incorrectly ruled leg byes. Gibbs fell three balls

later for a duck, bunting a fullpitched ball back to Faulkner.

Malinga then knocked Marcus North’s off stump out of the ground the next over, before Faulkner induced a nick off Simon Katich to leave the Scorchers reeling at 3 for 7.

It became 4 for 16 when the debutant Marcus Stoinis closed the face on one that seamed away and parried a leading edge to gully. Another T20 debutant Cartwright and veteran Adam Voges tried to salvage the innings and got through the next four overs unscathed.

Enter Warne, with his supposed bruised ego from opening night. His control of a slippery ball was, well, Warne-esque. He delivered the perfect slider to Voges to trap him lbw. Having held Malinga back for the middle order, Warne called upon his trump card the following over to finish off the innings. A brilliantly disguised slower ball had Cartwright spoon a catch to midwicket. Malinga then delivered a thunderbolt

Lasith Malinga took six wickets to help skittle Perth Scorchers out for 69 (Getty Images) outswinger past the edge of Nathan Coulter-Nile before trapping him plumb in front with another superb slower ball. Malinga’s fourth and last over was another exhibition in deception. Tom Triffitt fell in identical fashion to Coulter-Nile, before Joe Mennie became the sixth victim for the Sri Lankan as another slower ball hit the base of off stump.

Extras was the third-

highest score for the Scorchers as their total of 69 eclipsed the previous lowest Australian T20 total of 71, which New South Wales managed three seasons ago at the same venue.

The chase began nervously as Simon Katich dropped Luke Wright at midoff the third ball. Wright then smashed five boundaries, the same number the Scorchers managed, in the next eight

deliveries before the heavens opened and mass confusion reigned.

After the drama, the Stars won their first match of the tournament while the Scorchers started their campaign with back-to-back losses.

Scores: Melbourne Stars 29 for 0 (Wright 23*) beat Perth Scorchers 69 (Malinga 6-7) by ten wickets- D/L Method.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 37

GFF Super League...

Alpha, Pele, Western, Buxton in winner’s row; Den Amstel & Rosignol draw Defending champion Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United racked up another three points as did Buxton United Sports Club, Pele and Western Tigers when play in the Guyana Football Federation Super League continued last Sunday at three venues.

Suffering at the hands of Alpha United at the Buxton Community Centre Ground in feature play was Upper Demerara’s Milerock FC, Manasseh Primo leading the victory charge with a brace with one each from the consistent Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams and Marvin Joseph who opened the scoring in the 37th minute.

The experienced Alpha side took apart the younger and inexperienced Milerock unit that stood firm in the first 45 minutes with the score reading 1-0. However, as the game matured, Alpha gradually took control despite Milerock showing stout resistance; the losers however cracked up in the last

15 minutes.

Second half substitute Primo who replaced Joseph in the 63rd minute, netted the first of his double in the 75th minute and formalized the score line in the 90th. In between his goals, Abrams (85) stuck in one of his own.

Milerock was able to pull one back. Both teams utilised their full quota of substitutions.

In the opening game, home team Buxton United returned to winnings ways by needling a stubborn Amelia’s Ward United; the multi talented Clive Andries scoring the winner 3 minutes to full time in the bruising encounter. Buxton made two of their three subs while Amelia’s Ward took their full quota in their quest to at least earn a share of the points but that was not to be as Buxton took the available three.

Over at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground, West Coast Demerara, Uitvlugt Warriors, which had earlier toppled the defending champions Alpha and also

recorded a come from behind win over Milerock were not able to find that same fire as they went under to Pele, 3-0.

Gregory Richardson netted all three goals for the City based side, opening his account from as early as the 6th minute. Pele never allowed the home team to find a rhythm and shooting range, as Richardson was a constant feature in the final third of the Uitvlugt half.

Uitvlugt, led by former National defender Orville Bobb tried their best to contain Pele even as they strived to draw level but those ambitions went with the Atlantic wind as Richardson sealed their fate in a ten minute burst. He slammed in his second goal in the 63rd minute and the third, 10 minutes later which effectively knocked the wind out of the sails of the home team. Uitvlugt made a single sub while Pele doubled that.

In the other game, the other West Demerara team, Den Amstel Porknockers had

JCA aims at foreign stars for JPL KINGTSON, JAMAICA President of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Lyndel ‘Muddy’ Wright, says his administration will be taking steps to sell the existing franchises to companies and investors and include Caribbean players during the staging next season of Jamaica Premier League T20.

The league, modelled off the popular Indian Premier League and the Australia Big Bash, ended last Sunday with the University Dynamites defeating favourites HalfWay Tree Sparks by seven wickets in the final at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

“This season was a good start and the plan is to build on the foundation that has been laid and make the JPL bigger and better in years to come,” said Wright.

“We plan to approach companies and investors next season with the intention of them becoming owners of the franchise and have Caribbean and international players participating.

“It is a costly dream, but it is one we the JCA believe is necessary if we are going to move the sport forward and try and win back the support

of spectators, especially as it relates to a younger generation and women.”

FRANCHISE TEAMS The league, which was sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), through the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), saw the traditional club and parish associations being replaced with eight franchise teams Kingston Hurricanes, May Pen Earthquakes, Ocho Rios Chargers, Spanish Town Chargers, Mandeville Thunder, MoBay Sixers and the finalists, University Dynamites defeating HalfWay Tree Sparks.

The country’s top players, including West Indies representatives Jerome Taylor, Nikita Miller, Danza Hyatt, Krishmar Santokie, were then assigned to the franchises based on the geographic location of their clubs and parish associations.‘ “Judging by the response of the various stakeholders that were involved in the league, I think it is safe to say the staging of the first season was a success,” Wright explained.

“Players, coaches and managers all said the league was a breath of fresh air and

provided them opportunities to improve their game.

“It was also good to see that wherever the games were held there were spectators, who enjoyed the cricket and participated in the proceedings.”

THANKFUL Wright, who is also a director of the West Indies Cricket Board, also said he was grateful for the support of the TEF and other minor sponsors, who made the league possible.

“We would like to thank the TEF through the JTB for their support of Jamaica cricket with the JAM T20 last year and the JPL this year, and hope that they will continue their association in years to come.”

West Indies and Dynamites batsman and Nkrumah Bonner was named Player of the Tournament, and for his effort claimed $50,000, while young leg-spinner Cassius Burton, who took four for 11 in the final, walked away with the Player of the Final award and $25,000.

The Dynamites, in addition to the winners trophy, took home $500,000, while the Sparks were awarded $200,000 for being runners-up.

Gregory Richardson

Manasseh Primo

Clive Andries

to dig deep to earn a share of the points against Berbice’ Rosignol United.

Both sides, featuring a number of young and talented players went about their quest for full points in businesslike manner but it was the Berbice side that would have cantered into the lead, silencing the home crowd in the 17th minute.

Delbert Wilson was the player who handed his side the lead but the going was

never easy. While the Berbicians strived to maintain and even stretch the advantage, Den Amstel constantly worked towards drawing level but they had to wait and did show a high level of patience and maturity.

They were finally rewarded in the 65th minute when Travis Hilliman found the back of the nets much to the delight of his teammates and their fans. No further goals materialized and both

teams walked away with one point each.

Rosignol made two second half changes as opposed to three by Den Amstel during the course of the encounter.

And at the BV Ground, the lone encounter saw the home team going down to Western Tigers by the lone goal of the match which was scored by Rudolph Wagner in the 15th minute of another tough match-up

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 13, 2012

Holder aims to use Bangladesh experience as stepping stone Bridgetown, Barbados – Allrounder Jason Holder believes a good showing in the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s season could see him being catapulted into the forefront of the thinking of the WICB Selection Panel.

The giant 21-year-old bowls right-arm fast medium and is also a stylish lower-

order batsman. He had his first taste of international cricket during the just concluded tour of Bangladesh, but did not play a match. He was called up as a replacement for Tino Best, who was ruled out with an injury. On his return home, Holder is expected to turn out in the ongoing inter-parish 20/ 20 tournament in Barbados.

According to him, his only off-day during the Yuletide Season will be Christmas Day. “When I return home it is back to the nets for me ... won’t be any time for off days.

I have a big season ahead of me starting with the Caribbean T20. I will spend some time with my family and relax on Christmas Day, but

Jason Holder

apart from that, I will be hitting lots of balls, bowling lots of balls and doing lots of fielding drills,” Holder said.

“There is no time to take off. The selectors gave me a golden opportunity to go on the tour of Bangladesh and even though I didn’t get a game, I felt I did what was required. I want to make sure

that I remain in the minds of the selectors and to do that I have to perform in a big way when I play in the regional tournaments next year.

There’s a lot of cricket next year and there will be lots of opportunities to showcase my skills.”

Holder was overlooked by the Barbados selectors and will play for Combined Campuses and Colleges in the Caribbean T20. He is also looking to make a mark in the WICB Regional four-day competition and Regional Super 50 tournament – both of which bowl off in February.

The West Indies will be in Australia from January 29 to February 13 for five OneDayers and a T20. They return home to face Zimbabwe in three ODIs, two T20s and two Tests from February 22 to March 24. In June the Windies travel to England for the eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy.

“I think I have a point to prove after not being selected in the Barbados team. I wanted to play for my country first. I believe everyone dreams of playing for their country. I’m pumped up for all the games, I’m feeling confident and want to prove my worth. I have played for CCC before and I know everyone in the team quite well. We have a good team

and a good structure. We need to come together and play as a unit. Don’t be surprised if we shock a few people,” he said.

Looking back on his time in Bangladesh, Holder said it was not spent “warming the bench”. He noted “there was lots to do and lots to learn” – a natural progression from what he did while a member of the Sagicor High Performance Centre.

“This tour was a very good learning experience. I fully enjoyed every moment and the camaraderie in the camp was great. I’m looking to work my way fully into the West Indies team. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience while in the nets and just having discussions with my team-mates and the coaching staff,” Holder added.

“Obviously, there’s nothing quite like being out there and playing in the middle, but I didn’t get that opportunity in the middle, so the next best thing was to make the most of my time off the field. I worked really hard in the nets and tried to develop a few new skills. It was also good to get a firsthand look at conditions and the cricketing landscape in Bangladesh as well as get an experience the culture of the country.”

GDA\Bryden and Fernandes Darts tourney

Rambahrose, Fulton take male and female single’s title Lallchan Rambahrose defeated Anil Latchman 3 games to 1 in a best of 5 set to emerge champion of the Men’s Singles category when the Guyana Darts Association\Bryden and Fernandes tournament concluded last Sunday at the CCWU. Sherwin Green beat Norman Madhoo 2-0 in a set of 3 to win the third place play off.

The Ladies final was won

by Christina Fulton who overcame Shondell Hyles 2-1

in 3 set contest.

Sherwin Green and Antony Bissoondyal got the better of Chris Ramnauth and Sudesh Kumar 3-0 in a set of 5 to take the luck of draw doubles crown.

The open doubles segment was won by Norman Madhoo and Nicholas Seetaram, the pair got the better of Sudesh Fitzgerald and Christopher Fulton in 3-2 in a 5 set match. Cash prizes were given to the respective winners and runners up as well as the third place player.

Thursday December 13, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Despite the challenges, female hockey on the rise - Next stop PAHF Cup in Argentina Women’s hockey has been on the rise for the past three to four years and even though Guyana as a country has not been able to make a significant mark as yet regionally or internationally, there is no doubt that the sport has become more visible and has enjoyed a fair measure of success, particularly the women’s segment, over the period.

The national women’s hockey team recently participated in the World League which was staged in Trinidad and Tobago and Kaieteur Sport posed a few questions to Head Coach Philip Fernandes and here are his responses.

KN-Describe the World League and what it means to participate.

PF-The Hockey World League is the first truly global competition for hockey which therefore provides an opportunity for all nations to be recognized worldwide on the international stage. The World League takes place every two years and begins with all teams competing in their local regions with the top finishers moving onto the second round of four. In the case of Guyana, we were therefore invited to compete in a tournament staged in Trinidad which involved other teams of this region.

Throughout the year this takes place in several different parts of the world and rounds will continue until the field is narrowed to the final eight teams. Aside from the prestige of winning this event, the final placements will be used in the future to determine those who qualify for the Hockey World Cup and Olympics.

This was the first time ever that Guyana has been represented in a world level tournament as previously our international meets have all been Caribbean or Pan American based. Although our team was very inexperienced and new to this level of competition, it was a tremendous experience for them to be there and extremely valuable to have Guyana make an appearance in such a high profile event.

KN-What were your expectations at this tournament and were you satisfied with the result?

PF-We went into the tournament with the full understanding that the level of competition would be very high and the likelihood of qualifying to the second round was pretty difficult.

Our World ranking going into the tournament was 58, tied for the bottom place in the tournament with Venezuela, while we would be competing against teams ranked as highly as 23 in the world. We spent a lot of time and effort in preparation so that we could at least produce the best performance possible given our limited resources here in Guyana. Our primary goal is never to win the big tournaments as we are not yet at that level, but to improve our performance and give a better showing of hockey with every international competition.

We ended up finishing in 5th place out of 6 teams. This result will improve our world ranking, but it was a little disappointing as we certainly dominated the possession during the games against Barbados and Venezuela and should have come out with a winning result on both occasions. Our inability to convert scoring chances really hurt us, despite having more chances than our opponents. Both of those matches resulted in 1-1 drawsand while we won the subsequent penalty shootout against Barbados, we lost the one against Venezuela. The top three teams, Canada, Uruguay and Trinidad were beyond our reach as was evident by their large margins of victory nevertheless our matches against both Trinidad and Uruguay were more competitive than they were one year ago.KN-What are the major factors preventing a better performance for Guyana?

PF-There are three major factors that separate Guyana from most or all of the other teams competing in International hockey. The first is our small pool to choose from. There are only about 50 females playing hockey currently in Guyana.

This is a big problem and one that we hope to rectify through our recent focus on schools hockey and junior division competitions.

Countries like Canada and Uruguay have over 5,000 females playing the game, while Trinidad, Venezuela and Barbados have somewhere between 200 to 500 players.

The second major factor is the lack of an artificial pitch on which the game is played internationally. Some 20 years ago, the FIH (Federacion Internacional de Hockey) made it mandatory for all international hockey matches to be played on an approved

Action in the clash between Guyana (red and white) and Uruguay at the World League.

artificial grass surface.

Hockey therefore migrated from grass to artificial pitches in all, but the very few countries who could not afford such a pitch. Of the more than 60 teams competing in the World League, only Guyana and Papau New Guinea do not have an artificial hockey pitch.

To train on grass and compete on artificial pitch successfully is extremely difficult as the game is completely different in terms of the skills used and the way the ball responds to the surface. As a result of this difference, the performance of our team drops significantly every time they play their first match in any international tournament and improves slightly with every subsequent game. Of course once a tournament is over then that familiarity is once again lost until the next time they travel to compete.

The third factor of course is the lack of funding for regular competition. This is a problem that plagues many of our sports disciplines in Guyana and one that is not at all easy to solve. Hockey in Guyana does not receive any external funding at all, neither from the International governing body or any other source. This means that our players themselves usually have to raise all the money required to travel and compete. The national women’s hockey team was fortunate enough to receive a substantial team support grant from Olympic Solidarity through the Guyana Olympic association back in 2010 and this provided a vital start to getting the women’s programme back on its feet.

Since then, the players have

to find the time and effort to raise the necessary funds to compete internationally in addition to the rigorous training involved. While other nations therefore can travel frequently to compete

internationally or host visiting teams leading up to major events, Guyana can seldom afford that luxury.

KN-How does the Guyana Hockey Board intend to correct this situation?

PF-We have found that there are a lot of young people interested in playing sports in Guyana if presented the opportunity.

This has therefore been a shortcoming (Continued on page 33)

t r o Sp Members of the Guyana team going through their paces yesterday afternoon at the National Stadium, Providence.

T

he national cricket team’s preparation for 2013 Caribbean Twenty\20 tournament was yesterday affected by the inclement weather when their practice match against a Rest XI was called off after 1.5 overs at the Guyana National Stadium.

The Guyana team were 12-1 after they decided to bat first.

They lost the wicket of Derwin Christian who was run out with out scoring. Trevon Griffith was unbeaten on 2 and Ramnaresh Sarwan was not out on 7.

Fitness trainer Orin Bailey however conducted a training session after the rain ceased in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Coach Esuan Crandon in an invited comment said there is lots of work left to be done as part of their preparation but is satisfied with the fitness level and form of the players. “I am happy with the commitment shown, the players are improving in all aspects of the game, there is always room for improvement and we are hoping to get in as much work as possible before we depart for the tournament, especially in the batting, bowling and fielding departments”. “The guys are confident”, added Crandon.

Manager of the team Alvin Johnson said two practice matches are slated for December 19 and 22 at the stadium under lights. “We are looking forward to these games since all our matches in the first round will be played in the nights”.

Guyana will take on Combine Campuses and Colleges in their first game before they face Barbados and defending champions Trinidad and Tobago at the Queens Park Oval.

Johnson, who is a retired Headmaster, stated that two wins should guarantee them a place in the final four. “We are looking to win all our matches in the first round and take it from there. The team spirit is high and the guys are hungry for success.” All-rounder Stephen Jacobs and Assad Fudadin have commenced training with the team and it is expected that captain Veerasammy Permaul will join the squad shortly. th

Rain stops play in national cricket team CT\20 practice game

nd

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