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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

DPP has compromised the integrity of her office - Dr. Hinds

DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack

Sheik Moeen Ul-Hack

Maurice Arjoon

A recently released report by the Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore, has raised shocking questions about the role played by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the 2006 multi-million New Building Society (NBS) fraud investigation.

According to a muchpublicized report of Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore, the DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack, sat at a meeting with her husband, Sheik Moeen Ul-Hack, at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), on January 20, 2007, at which the fraud was discussed with a senior official of NBS. The DPP, a few months later, then went ahead and advised that fraud charges be laid against three senior staffers - Chief Executive Officer, Maurice Arjoon and his two managers, Kent Vi n c e n t a n d K i s s o o n Baldeo.

Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore, following a complaint by Arjoon filed last January that he was maliciously charged and prosecuted, concluded that the three men suffered grave injustice, losing seven years of their working lives and should never have been charged in the first place.

The men, and other staffers, were fired by NBS.

Arjoon has since filed civil court actions against NBS claiming compensation and his benefits.

Former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Henry Chester, DSM, who was hired by Moore to review the police file on the fraud, raised troubling questions about the role of the DPP in the matter.

Chester said that police reports on the fraud indicated that Nizam Mohamed, the NBS Assistant Secretary in 2007, participated in that meeting on January 20, 2007 at CIOG headquarters.

In addition to the DPP and her husband, also there was Zainool Khan Safi. It was Safi who reportedly complained to the CIOG that his wife’s account at NBS had suffered a massive fraud in 2006.

Chester questioned the role of the CIOG and its then head, Sheik Ul-Hack, in the police investigations. There was no statement in the police file from him.

Chester also questioned the seemingly close scrutiny that the DPP was playing in the investigations.

He asked: “Why was the DPP giving short dates for the police to respond to her advice?”

He also specifically asked, “What role did the DPP play in the meeting

which took place at the CIOG on Saturday 20, January, 2007”.

The presence of the DPP at the meeting has also sparked significant debate from letter writers and commentators alike who are insisting that the situation spoke of a conflict of interest, especially as it is now revealed that the managers have been cleared.

Political activist, Dr. David Hinds, believed that the DPP compromised the integrity of her office just by sitting in on a meeting of that Muslim organization and then later advising police to charge the NBS Managers.

Dr. Hinds insisted that DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack should have recused herself the minute the case came before her. In failing to do so, he said that the DPP has essentially compromised the integrity of her office.

He emphasized that officials such as magistrates,

Dr. David Hinds judges and the DPP should always strive to ensure that they are not placed into positions which would result in a clash of interests.

T h e y s h o u l d immediately excuse themselves from such instances, to protect the honour of their office.

Dr. Hinds remarked as well that institutions, in showing impartiality lend to upholding the democratic principles of any nation.

The professor said, too, that over the past 20 years, Guyana has witnessed the (Continued on page 58)

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A hint of elections while the National Assembly remains prorogued is deceptive and cunning

We find it hard to accept that our electricity prices are at par with our circumstances

DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) calls on the opposition to lead a national front approach to refocus nation’s energies on lifting prorogation.

The GTUC reiterates its call for President Ramotar to lift the prorogation of the National Assembly. It cannot be business as usual when it comes to governance, since the business of government is not being conducted based on our Constitution.

Since the President’s announcement to retain prorogation with the hint to name a date early next year for elections, the GTUC is alarmed that society has seemingly taken vacation on this issue.

This issue has gone on the back burner, submerged among other issues, instead of remaining focal. This is like the fabled Dog and the Shadow, where the bone (i.e. prorogation) is dropped to grab at the shadow (i.e. elections) which the President has cunningly introduced as a distraction and succeeded in taking the main issue (i.e. prorogation) off the table.

Prorogation is not dissolution. The President cannot call elections until parliament is dissolved. As it stands presently, parliament is prorogued. A hint of elections while the National Assembly remains prorogued is deceptive and cunning.

Dissolution precipitates elections. The President cannot dissolve a prorogued Parliament. Parliament has to be in session before any dissolution can take place.

Running after elections at this time is like shooting at windmills and allowing the president an unchallenged dictatorship to run the affairs of State without parliament.

Political parties ought to

always be in a state of preparedness for elections.

This is even more so in the context that we have a minority government and given the nature of our politics. Preparation for a possible(?) early elections should not take away from fighting against the act of prorogation. And any efficient political force seeking and worthy to be the alternative government should not have a difficulty multitasking.

Our political leaders are called upon to stop acting like the Pied Piper, leading the nation to its doom. It would be an indictment on the opposition if they allow themselves to be accessory to the lawlessness being perpetuated by the President in his contravention of the spirit and intent of the Constitution. For our political leaders to allow President Ramotar to hoodwink the nation with the offer of elections at the end of the prorogated period is to allow him and to confirm upon him immunity to continue his dictatorial reign.

The lack of strident sustained political response on this issue and disjointed failing results is of major concern to the GTUC. The prorogation of Parliament must be lifted and our elected representatives must be allowed their right to return to work on the nation’s behalf.

President Ramotar is called on to stop the abuse of his privilege and end prorogation forthwith. The

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

Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger, is called on to mount a serious national movement to refocus the nation’s energies and attention on the President’s act of prorogation, and the raping of public coffers, which at this juncture must take precedent over any ‘threat’ of elections.

It appears that some political leaders have been convinced that the only concern of this nation is that of a privileged section of this society only concerned about their economic gains and seasonal profits. This is unacceptable since the interest of all sectors of society and the common good should determine political action on the act of prorogation. Meanwhile the masses continued to be denied participation through their representatives in the highest decision-making forum of the land. Such a violation of right is unprecedented in the history of Guyana, even under the brutal and worst regime of Bharrat Jagdeo.

The GTUC is concerned some of our politicians are failing this nation and undermining democratic processes enshrined in the Constitution.

Leslie Gonsalves President-GTUC

DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to respond to the article entitled “Opposition urges PM to retract plain stupid statements on electricity theft”, which appeared in the Thursday, December 18th, 2014, edition of the Stabroek News. I was addressing the issue of electricity-theft, at the ceremony marking the end of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc.’s Transmission Upgrade Programme, in light of my colleague Member of Parliament (MP)’s - A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Joseph Harmon – call of “Find ways to reduce (electricity) tariffs – get off Guyanese backs”, and the ongoing considerations, at GPL Inc., with various multi-lateral consultants, which could see GPL Inc. reaching for technological solutions that could add, eventually, up to U.S.$ 200 million in investments in our distribution networks and metering (and about 10% in electricity billings) for the most extreme technological solutions to counter what is largely a historical culture of electricity-theft.

I am concerned that without the attendant cultural change, those investments would bring us little; with the cultural change, much less would be needed to be

invested. But we cannot stand still and do nothing, for we are at a critical point.

We, in Guyana, need to review our views and attitudes toward electricity prices. We, Guyanese, find it hard to accept that our electricity prices are at par with our circumstances. But do not take my word! Earlier this year, the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) informed us that in Caribbean countries, where electricity-generation is based on petroleum products, the cost of generation and delivery run between U.S.30 cents and 40 cents (G$63. to G$84.) per kWh. He called for “bold and brave steps toward renewable energies – PhotoVoltaic (PV) Solar, Wind, Hydro and Geo-thermal.

And where are we in Guyana? During last week, at a public presentation on a gold-mine being built in Guyana, it was disclosed, on enquiry of the officials, that their electricity cost is being put at U.S.33 cents per kWh. This company would have made use of the best expertise and experience available, and would have considered the potentially lower cost of heavy fuel oil (HFO), and I am also aware that they commissioned two preliminary studies of hydropower generation at Oko

Falls, a few kilometres upstream on the Cuyuni River.

A number of important points should be recognized in this disclosure. Firstly, the gold company - a competent company - has come up with a self-generation solution at U.S.33 cents/per kWh: this would not be an easy number to better. Secondly, no doubt, they, like all of us, would have been happy to have had a ‘Trinidad situation’ of, say, U.S.5 cents per kWh for generation, but they are not in Trinidad; they are in Guyana, and they have accepted the 33 cents per kWh, and are going ahead with their project on that basis. Of course, they would always be keeping an eye out for, encourage, and test any emerging opportunity for, lower costs.

And where are we in GPL Inc.? Taking account of the different, longer-term mandate of a utility, our new generators have been HFO-fuelled, so that, today, GPL Inc.’s generation is 85-90% based on the lower-cost HFO, giving a comparable all-in generationcosts of about U.S.24 cents (G$50.40) per kWh, compared with U.S.33 cents (G$69.30).

What I am embarrassed about (in the Guyana circumstance) is not Continued on page 6

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P.M Hinds is totally out of place with his electricity loss comments

We find it hard to accept that our electricity...

DEAR EDITOR, The Prime Minister’s talk about electricity loss, and his accusation about where the losses are coming from needs further clarification.

I live in South Georgetown and I have never stolen electricity, (and frankly I don’t give a damn who does) when the company was GEC and now GPL. The Prime Minister

is totally out of place and he needs to shove it.

We the people of this country see the mansions going up and we know all who are the thieves who live here.

In his insinuation, the Prime Minister’s eyes pass me and all the good people of South Georgetown, who deal square with GPL, even though they shaft us.

According to Mr. Granger it is a stupid statement.

“Stupid” would be belittling the word stupid, it needed a better adjective.

However his statement did not surprise, because after you hear the Prime Minister speak once, you do your best not to have that experience again.

Milton Bruce

In the Magistracy, Guyana gets “bun bun” From page 4 One has to understand that with rents in downtown areas sky high, plus utilities bills plus secretarial salaries, these mediocre lawyers will not survive in private practice. In a country drowning in vehicular traffic, a second rate mechanic takes home ten times what these mediocre lawyers earn on Croal Street.

There is an absurd dimension to this intriguing reality.

While dozens of lawyers go hungry, there is a small school of lawyers who simply cannot take off the work load.

The reason for this is that people do not take chances on important cases; they want to feel secure with a top class lawyer. Against this backdrop, I will now attempt an answer to Mr. Carryl’s question. Magistrates get the job because that is their only avenue to survive in the legal

profession. The job is certain because the rush to become magistrates is not fashionable. The State then facing a shortage, takes all kinds of Jim Cock bring ram goat, meaning that the State gets the very bottom of the barrel or in common parlance, “bun bun”.

I say in all honesty, a large percentage of these magistrates are so poor in terms of erudition, scholarship and competence that litigants and accused will not take them if they set up private practice. I come now to an interesting point. These magistrates take excessive latitude in abusing people that appear in front of them and behaving in disgraceful ways because they know the State needs them.

Remove them and the shortage gets more disturbing.

Since 1985, Guyana has not had an adequate number of

magistrates I end with two investigative reports into the magistracy. A woman in tears came up to me and Mark Benschop while we were visiting Dale Andrews of the Kaieteur News at the Caribbean Heart Institute. This was at a time when Blackberry was the fashionable phone and was pretty expensive. She said she didn’t know she had to switch off her phone in court, it rang and the magistrate confiscated it. She didn’t get it back.

We visited the magistrate.

She denied she took possession of the phone. Months after, I met the prosecutor while shopping and he told me the magistrate kept the phone. If the Judicial Service Commission offers me protection from libel, I will name the magistrate Finally, a whistle-blower informed me that there are some magistrates who are involved in an immoral caper with certain lawyers. The magistrates would refuse bail.

This allows the lawyers to charge more to apply to the High Court. The magistrate then makes an extra judicialincome from this game. I close with a caveat – unless there are more watchdogs like Mr. Caryl, these magistrates are going to continue their sadism on the bench Frederick Kissoon

From page 5 generation, but our losses, up to 45% ten years ago, and earlier.

Reduction seems to have stalled a year ago, at about 30-to-31%; about 14% technical, and 16% non-technical. The costs of generation have to be recovered against billings, so the generation component in billing cost is magnified by the losses to U.S.24 cents divided by (100% minus 30%) = U.S.34.30 cents (G$72.00) per kWh. Allowing for, and including, transmission and distribution, as well as commercialisation costs, the average total costs of providing electricity is about G$85. per kWh. And what is GPL Inc.’s average charge? G$67.20 per kWh. Government, on the average, by a variety of mechanisms, has been subsidizing electricity costs by about 20%. No one is on the back of any Guyanese! Indeed, Guyanese enjoy an average of 20% ‘ease’.

A network could not run without some technical losses – the not-so-long-term target for GPL Inc. is ‘total loss of 8%’ - 5% technical, and 3% non-technical.

With this target, the generation component in billing would have been U.S. cents 24/0.92 – U.S.26.09 cents, or G$54.78, per kWh, a potential reduction of G$17.22 per kWh, in reducing losses to the respectable targetvalue. We are known, embarrassingly so, as a country with high electricity losses - 14% technical, 16% non-technical - as stated earlier. I can bear the embarrassment of the high technical losses: it reflects that we have been doing the best we could with the money and other resources that we had. We have been extending electricity to, say, 100 Guyanese house-holds, with resources which better-heeled utilities would have extended electricity to only 50 customers. To get down to 5% technical losses, from 14%, we, roughly, have to doubleup our distribution networks (doubling the number of

conductors, or sizes of conductors, and transformers).

GPL Inc. is getting on with this!

It is the embarrassment of the non-technical losses that I cannot bear. The non-technical losses need, most of all, a ‘culture change’. Barbados boasts a total loss of 6%-to-8%, with no more than 1%-to-2% non-technical.

We should be able to match, and even better, the Bajans. In the course of GPL Inc.’s work with multi-laterals and consultants, meters and metering systems advocated to be impregnable were implemented, but these have brought little improvements, as ways were found to defeat them, often, it would appear, with the connivance of knowledgeable persons, including past and present GPL Inc. employees.

In the course of studies, with consultants, of the losses, GPL Inc., about a year ago, disaggregated the average losses to its 39 feeders across the entire country. This table was presented to Sectoral Committees of Parliament in late 2013 and early 2014. The disaggregation shows up variations of the average losses on each feeder – some are low, at total losses of 10to-12%, and some are large, the largest being feeder SF5 (south and west of Georgetown) with a total of 60% loss - 20% technical, 40% nontechnical. No doubt, if we could disaggregate to smaller areas, we would find even wider variations in “losses”. The implication in smart metering proposal, is disaggregation, down to each transformer with its, say, 20 customers.

We know that, in every location, there are people who do not engage in, or allow, any tampering with their meters – GPL Inc. wants, and needs, everyone to get that way. We can readily recognize how we arrived at the cultural position at which we are today – our history of being victims and being imposed upon, and hitting back whichever way we could. The President of the

CDB has been urging Caribbean leaders to urgently consider ‘renewables’. We have been pursuing the development of Amaila Falls for some 10 years now, following in the foot of the Government of the early 1970s.

With an average generation-cost delivered at Sophia of U.S.10 cents/per kWh over the 20-year BOOT (and US3 cents per kWh, thereafter), total losses reduced to 8%, and retaining G$13 per kWh for transmission, distribution and commercialisation costs, we could see average total cost of about G$36 (U.S.17.2 cents) per kWh. We can get there – Joseph Harmon and David Granger should join with me to get there! Let us embark on Amaila! Let us challenge our Guyanese people to do even better than the Bajans, in this matter of non-technical electricity losses.

We need new attitudes today, in our 49th year of independence. Responsible leaders must lead their people in ways of doing right, and in attitudes that lead to success.

Statements, like those attributed to Mr. Harmon, wittingly or unwittingly provide ‘cover’, or, worse, may be understood to be subtle encouragement to electricity-theft, and there is no basis for his statement. My statements were building soundly, for ourselves, a steadily prosperous life in the not-toodistant future.

I call on my Parliamentary colleagues, Mr. Harmon and Mr. Granger, and, indeed, all MPs, to study the published table and join me in working to reduce electricity-losses. Let us spread faith that through our honest, earnest and hard work, and through thoughtful, thrifty living, we shall reduce electricitylosses. Based on facts, there was no question of race!

Samuel A. A. Hinds, O.E., M.P. Prime Minister and Minister Responsible for Electricity

Sunday December 21, 2014

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Cuba says U.S. must respect its communist system

Raul Castro (Reuters) - President Raul Castro demanded yesterday that the United States respect Cuba’s communist rule as the two countries work to restore diplomatic ties, and warned that Cuban-American exiles might try to sabotage the rapprochement.

U.S. President Barack Obama last week reset Washington’s Cold War-era policy on Cuba and the two countries swapped prisoners in a historic deal after 18 months of secret talks.

Cubans have treated the end of open U.S. hostility as a

triumph, especially the release of three Cuban intelligence agents who served long U.S. prison terms for spying on Cuban exile groups in Florida.

U.S. officials will visit Havana in January to start talks on normalizing relations and Obama has said his government will push Cuba on issues of human and political rights as they negotiate over the coming months. Castro said he is open to discussing a wide range of issues but that they should also cover the United States and he insisted Cuba would not give up its socialist principles.

“In the same way that we have never demanded that the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours,” Castro told the National Assembly.

He again praised Obama for the policy change in a speech that became a partly defiant, partly celebratory show of pride for resisting five decades of U.S. aggression.

Despite the markedly improved tone in relations, Castro said Cuba faces a “long and difficult struggle” before

the United States removes a decades-old economic embargo against the Caribbean island, in part because influential CubanAmerican exiles will attempt to “sabotage the process”.

Obama has pledged to remove economic sanctions against Cuba but he still needs the Republicancontrolled Congress to lift the embargo.

Castro confirmed he will take part in a Summit of the Americas in Panama in April, potentially setting up a first meeting with Obama since they shook hands at Nelson Mandela’s funeral a year ago.

That brief encounter drew wide attention. Unbeknownst to the world at the time, the United States and Cuba were already six month into secret talks set up with the help Pope Francis and the Canadian government.

Castro’s older brother and retired leader Fidel Castro, 88, has not been seen or heard from since Obama’s announcement and he was not at the National Assembly on Saturday. Raul Castro ended his speech with an energetic “Viva Fidel!”

Scanners to detect Ebola at T&T airports

Trinidad Guardian - Three thermal scanners were handed over to the Airports Authority of T&T (AATT) to assist in detecting suspected cases of Ebola entering Trinidad and Tobago. The scanners were purchased from a US firm at a total cost of TT$387,000, said chief executive officer of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Dr Stephen Ramroop, speaking at a handing over ceremony at the VIP Lounge, Piarco International Airport, Friday.

As part of a wider detection system, the scanners will be used at the Piarco and ANR Robinson International airports.

Ramroop said collaborative efforts with strategic partners such as the AATT would enhance T&T’s border security. AATT Chairman Jason Julien said the scanners were not just for Ebola detection but to ensure tighter border control.

“It is not just about the Ebola virus,” Julien said,

Dr Stephen Ramroop adding that the scanners would be used to identify “any threat to the border security of T&T that may have or be related to a weapon or otherwise that could be picked up by a heat signature.” Ramroop and Julien said people would not be singled out or approached by officials and ordered to

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

participate in the detection process.

They said the scanners would be positioned to scan arriving passengers, rather than a specific person—as body temperatures beyond 37 degrees Celsius would trigger off the computerised alarm system. Only then would passengers be taken to the port health officer for further tests. Julien declined to say exactly where the scanners would be located, for security reasons. “We have to be careful how we advertise the protections we have,” he said.

Staff responsible for border access and security would be trained in the use of the equipment and software, Julien said. The AATT was working with the ODPM to facilitate drills and table-top exercises, test emergency response mechanisms and introduce protocols.

Asked how soon the scanners would be introduced into daily operations at both airports, Julien said: “The reality is that we are going to implement it as soon as possible. The reason why we have this here now is before the peak of the Christmas travel season and because of the expected influx of passengers.”

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

ICAN meeting facilitates Open Skies Guyana/Canada Agreement Agents of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) attended an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation (ICAN) meeting in Bali, Indonesia, and were able to sign on to several significant Air Service Agreements.

Extremely beneficial to the Guyanese aviation market, was the agreement of an open sky agreement between Guyana and Canada.

Canada is one of Guyana’s largest air traffic destinations, but up until November when the GCAA team attended the meeting, operators out of Guyana were only permitted to fly to certain locations in the country.

A public statement by the GCAA said that the new agreement between the two countries is imperative given the movement between the two ports. “Of significant importance to Guyana immediately, was the conclusion of a fully Open Skies Air Services Agreement with Canada.”

The aviation body said that the new agreement replaces “the restrictive existing Air Services Agreement signed in May 2005.” The agreement will also create more opportunities for greater air linkages between

... 11 other air services agreements signed the two countries, since it allows Guyanese air operators to access any point in Canada, it was stated.

The ICAN meeting which lasted from November 17 to December 21, was attended

by Director General the GCAA Zulficar Mohamed, Saheed Sulaman, GCAA’s Air Transport Officer, Amanza Walton-Desir, the agency’s General Counsel, and Ramesh Ghir, Chief Executive Officer, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The primary purpose of ICAN “is to facilitate a single forum where Contracting States of ICAO can conduct multiple bilateral (regional or plurilateral) air services negotiations or consultations for the growth and development of international air services.”

Guyana is a signatory to ICAO which has approximately 191 member states. GCAA said that the seventh ICAN meeting brought together 78 Contracting States of ICAO and was the biggest success of all ICAN meetings since its inception in 2008.

“There were more than 600 participants; 550 bilateral meetings and 530 Air Services Agreements and

Memorandum of Understandings negotiated, initialled and signed.

Guyana was scheduled for thirteen 13 formal negotiation meetings with China, Kenya, Curaçao, Singapore, Ghana, United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Canada and Nigeria. With the exception of the Russian Federation, 12 of those negotiations were finalized resulting in the initialing of 12 Air Services Agreements and the signing of 11 Memoranda of Understanding and an Agreed Minutes.

With the exception of Norway, all of the Agreements initialed are provisionally effective until the formal Agreements are signed by the respective Governments, GCAA noted.

“This means that traffic rights allowable under the Agreements can be immediately accessed by the bilateral parties to the Agreements.”

Air Services Agreements were negotiated with at least one country from each of the major continents and regions of the world, GCAA related.

These are Singapore and

China for Asia; Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria for Africa; Curacao for the Dutch Caribbean; Canada for North America; United Kingdom, Norway and Netherlands for Europe and Qatar for the Middle East.

GCAA said that these member states have emerging importance in aviation for traffic connectivity and is necessary in aiding Guyana’s strategic efforts in becoming an international hub to connect with the rest of the world.

GCAA classified Guyana’s participation in the ICAN meeting as a major success.

“Guyana and Curaçao were the first two States to initial an Air Services Agreement and sign a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the exchange of traffic rights between the two countries.

Guyana was also among States with a high percentage of concluded Agreements, that is, a 92 percent conclusion rate.”

The aviation agency related that the negotiation of all of ICAN Agreements will significantly complement the current development initiatives of the Government to facilitate and enhance the country’s aviation sector.

A few continue to criminalize Guyana …‘They behave and operate as if they are too big to be jailed’ - Dr. Thomas Guyana is in a sad state; the country is a victim of gross financial abuses and the culprits somehow feel that they are above the law and cannot be sanctioned.

That is the view expressed by Professor emeritus, Clive Thomas, who said that Guyana has degenerated and that the government continues to criminalize the state.

Dr. Thomas’ presentation was titled “Promotion and degeneration of the criminal state” and came at the recent Working People’s Alliance (WPA) symposium held at the National Library.

The recently retired professor said that the evidences of gross financial abuses reveal a potentially unfolding lethal sequence of political explosions.

He said that the blatant financial lawlessness inevitably fuels both authoritarian and criminal behavior and noted that the mixture of these two “pathological forces” is likely to provoke further systemic and systematic

degenerations of the state.

Dr. Thomas advised that separately and together systemic and systematic degenerations will extend well beyond the characterization of the Guyana state as a vehicle for promoting criminal endeavours.

Thomas said that there is an obvious on-going criminalizing of the state.

In this regard, he said that, even in the face of “growing inequality in economic, political, social and cultural outcomes the ruling cabal of politicians, businesspersons, criminals and hangers-on have put themselves so far above and beyond the law that they behave and operate as being too big to jail”.

PROROGATION FUELS FINANCIAL LAWLESSNESS Dr. Thomas said that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) administration may very well be using prorogation as a tool to further its habits of financial abuse.

Continued on page 64

Professor emeritus, Clive Thomas

President Donald Ramotar

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Dem boys seh...

When you see thiefing shut up Christmas is a time for wishes—good wishes. In other times, when people harm you, you does hear some wish out of this world.

Some people does wish death pun dem mattie while others does want you live on fuh punish.

But this is Christmas and dem boys want to wish many things for Christmas. One thing is at de top of de list. Dem boys want de person reading this to remain alive over de Christmas and to be in good health and to see dem in 2015.

Even Jagdeo and he kavakamites, and Donald Duck too, can’t seh that dem boys wish dem bad because dem is de first set of people that does read this column.

Another wish is that dem kavakamites wife don’t hate dem, not Jagdeo because he nah got wife.

One more wish is that dem lef de treasury and Bank of Guyana alone.

De other day dem boys hear bout a bank robbery that de clique try dem best fuh keep quiet because it was very embarrassing.

A man walk in de bank, pull out a gun and seh, “Hevry baddy, lie down pun de ground or I shoot all jack man and hooman.

“Tella, full up da grip wid dollas” After de tella full up de suitcase wid money de robber tun and seh to one of de woman pun de ground.

“You deh; you see a rabbery today?”

De woman seh, “Yes. Me see everything.”

De gunman shoot she dead and seh to de next woman who was lying next to she.

“You deh; you see rabbery today?”

De woman seh “No sah. Me nah see nutten, but me husband beside me, he see everything. He like C fuh Satar.”

Talk half and pray that de husband was not a Brassington.

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Sacked Indian contractor in Specialty Hospital fiasco seeks liquidation The Indian contractor which was sacked by Government in early September over the US$18M Specialty Hospital is in liquidation.

This latest development would bring uncertainty into legal proceedings filed by the Government of Guyana to recover over US$4M. According to information seen by Kaieteur News, the company which was incorporated on September 8, 2008, is an unlisted public company which has its registered office at Mumbai, Maharashtra. Its last reported annual general meeting, according to records, was held on September 28, 2012.

The company has eight

directors.

According to Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, the Surendra contracts in Guyana have continued to raise shocking questions over the manner in which Government goes about its businesses. SECL was awarded the contract to build the US$12.5M sugar packaging plant at Enmore.

Government then, in 2011, turned around and awarded another contract to the company to supply 14 fixed and mobile drainage pump, for US$4M. That contract was under fire as SECL had no immediate history of dealing with pumps.

Under questionable

circumstances again, Government awarded SECL the contract for the Indianfunded Specialty Hospital that is being built at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara.

There were objections by another Indian firm over the award of the contract, with a complaint later filed with Indian parliamentarians.

“I want to go this far and say that the Bank in India is responsible in not screening the participants accessing its funding; or doing at minimum a due diligence or minimum scrutiny of the awardee as recommended by these ‘Chatrees’ in Guyana.

“Even a fourth grader could find out the company’s activities from their web site.

It is so appalling to see monies getting misappropriated and images of the people and of the country, Guyana, getting tarnished.”

The Parliamentarian made it clear that it will be nigh impossible for Guyana to recoup the monies it paid to SECL for the Specialty Hospital.

“Is it coincidence that the Surendra is in liquidation now? I am not sure what chance, if any, will this corrupt PPP Government or any future Government will have to recover the sum of US$4.5M that Surendra was paid upfront.”

Ramjattan also noted that it is no surprise that the Guyana Sugar Corporation

Police warn: No reprieve for law breakers Even as the ‘B’ Division police have their work cut out amidst man power, equipment and vehicular shortage. They are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the peace and the situation under control.

They are prepared to up the ante against law breakers and mischief makers and those bent on disturbing the peace in the country especially during his festive season.

Law breakers are definitely in for a tough time according to Commander of the Police Berbice ‘B’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph.

The police have adopted a zero tolerance against mischief makers. Special attention will

be paid to those disturbing the peace by playing loud music.

He stated that his men would also be turning up the heat on those who do not desist from lighting and throwing squibs and bombs.

This was in response to an issue that residents in Berbice feel that the police force needs to take tougher action against offenders who are bent in breaking the law especially in cases of noise nuisance and road rage.

People have been constantly complaining about the chronic and unending disturbances being caused by those who are allowed to continue for the entire day and night disturbing the peace without much

Commander Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph intervention from the relevant authorities despite numerous

complaints.

The Commander gave the assurance that the police are working to address the issue.

“Like before, we will arrest noise makers and those selling squibs and bombs; we know who those persons are and they will be dealt with.

“A number of persons have been dealt with already; their ‘boom boxes’ have been seized whilst others have been placed before the courts.

Nobody is above the law and if any one feels so, we have news for him. Everybody will be treated the same way. We have zero tolerance approach towards this matter.”

He said that the police are all the time taking different (continued on page 60)

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan has blacklisted SECL from participating in any of its contracts.

“What can be said on GuySuCo’s association with Surendra Engineering? What benefit has the Enmore packaging plant brought to the industry? Where are the irrigations pumps ordered back in 2009-10? Will the defaults and delays on delivery by SECL be followed with any penalties? Hardly likely now that liquidation of SECL has commenced.”

In October, Government moved to the courts to have SECL pay damages to the tune of US$4.2M and $100M. Surendra Engineering, according to court documents, has to make an appearance in the Commercial Court, which Justice Rishi Persaud presides over, on December 3, 2014.

In the statement of claim,

Government said that SECL failed to complete works as specified in its contract.

Government claimed that it fired the Indian company after unearthing a forged a bank guarantee from the Central Bank of Trinidad for the Specialty Hospital project.

Courts documents also allege that Surendra submitted fabricated, unsigned and sometimes inflated invoices for the hospital project with no evidence of actual payments made or to support the expenditure claimed.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon told the media that ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department were working actively with the matter. He said too, that all stakeholders of the contract have been informed of the termination of the contract.

Luncheon also said that the administration was seeking to have officials of the Indian Ex-Im Bank, which funded the project, travel to Guyana to have discussions with them on a way forward on the project.

SECL had denied tendering the fake bank guarantee.

Managing Director, Brijen Parikh, in a statement issued had said that “all such allegations of fraud or financial irregularities are completely baseless and without any merit.”

The company claims it is owed several million US dollars from the Government in respect of work done at the site so far.

Sunday December 21, 2014

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Gold earnings fall 23%; price likely to recover next year – Gold Board As miners continue to grapple with the fallouts from gold prices, Government has reported a more than 20 percent drop in exports and revenues earned.

The situation now has miners thinking hard on postponing plans for investments with a marked decline in production activities.

The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) yesterday, confirming a significant shortfall, said that it has recorded lower levels of gold declaration for the various periods of this year as compared to last year.

“The combined statistics of all mining operations as well as gold dealers’ data for 2014 have indicated that the expected levels of gold output for 2014 will not be met as was originally set at the beginning of the year,” GGB said.

The major reason for this is as a result of the fall in the global price for the yellow metal on the world economy during this year.

Total declaration as at yesterday indicated a 22.61% drop when compared to 2013.

For GGB, gold purchased by its offices recorded a 41.24% reduction when compared to the corresponding period last year.

While exports by private

dealers increased by 10.16%, those of the Gold Board fell by 40.26%. “Thus, the overall quantity of gold exported for the two periods being compared are down by 22.73%. Moreover, the value of gold exported by dealers has increased by 10.86%, whilst the revenue garnered by the GGB has decreased by 43.48% during the comparative periods. The total revenue for the two comparative time periods has fallen by 23.45%.”

According to the Gold Board, in 2013 it was forecast that gold might fall to US$1,050 an ounce before the downturn is over. Gold peaked at US$1900 an ounce before falling to US$1200 an ounce last year.

The price of the yellow metal duly fell by 25 per cent in 2013, when compared to its highest level in 2011 and has made little headway in 2014, despite lots of geo-political uncertainty, the Board said.

It stood at $1,198 an ounce on Friday evening.

WORRY “The sentiment is bearish and miners are being forced to curtail production or shelve investment plans.”

GGB noted yesterday that gold stocks have suffered a miserable few years, becoming a laughing stock even among contrarians.

“However, this despised sector’s seemingly-endless downward spiral has left gold stocks vastly undervalued relative to gold, which drives their profits.

The fundamentally-

The Guyana Gold Board is upbeat that the industry will see better world price next year. absurd disconnect between gold-stock price levels and gold can’t last.”

It is likely that the price may be ready to rise by next year. “And it sure looks ready to end, making 2015 the year gold stocks shine again.”

In the mining industry, the price of gold is the dominant driver of corporate profits by far. “Mining costs are largely determined by the particular deposit being mined, and are largely fixed when any mine is designed and constructed. So gold miners’ profits are almost totally dependent on the price of gold. The higher it happens to be, the larger their margins grow since their costs generally don’t change

much.”

According to the GGB, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment along with its supervisory and regulatory authorities; Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Guyana Gold Board, is continuously working with all stakeholders of the industry, in particular the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, to ensure the sustainability of the sector.

GOVT. INTERVENTIONS Already, a number of interventions have been made. These include duty free concessions for All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), excavators, bulldozers and other machinery, double-cab

pickups, spares and equipment.

A fuel licence has also been granted to the miners’ association and a mercury free mining development fund introduced. Miners also have access to foreign currency with Government taking the lead on the development of infrastructure in some of the key mining areas.

Additionally, GGB said, there are new areas available for mining along with a reduction in the royalty and property rental rates.

Training is being accessed through the Guyana Mining School with a collaborative approach from the government side to speed up the processing of work permits. There has also been an increase in security presence and patrols in the interior along with miners being granted firearm

licences.

GGB was upbeat yesterday, noting that while the year-on-year decline may suggest a weak market, such comparisons are still heavily influenced by the events of last year.

“Longer term analysis shows a market in good health. Year-to-date volumes continue to extend the broad uptrend from the low seen in 2009. The quarterly volatility in the US dollar gold price was among the lowest levels seen over the past two decades, both a cause and effect of the benign demand environment.

The lack of a clear price signal, as well as continuing to digest last year’s demand surge, caused investors to hold back from buying gold.”

The ongoing economic and geopolitical instability encouraged central banks to continue to seek the protection and diversification of gold. “Thus, the broad themes surrounding gold supply during the first half of the year continued to play out in second half.”

The gold situation is being looked on with worry especially as it had served to boost the economy in recent years, becoming the top earner for the economy.

The gold rush had attracted workers in droves for the high-paying jobs. This year, however, the reduced production and exports has pushed back agriculture to the top earner position.

The gold industry situation is more likely now to see Guyana downgrading its growth target from the adjusted 4.5 percent that it announced in its mid-year report.

Sunday December 21, 2014

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Husband of Ocean View accident victim wonders if wife’s killer is enjoying Christmas I wanted someone to fix a door for me and when I mentioned it, he offered to take the job.

We continued to chat and it really dawned on me that here was a man still in deep mourning for the love of his life.

Colin Tull (right) took time out to remember his wife Lovina by painting her tomb yesterday.

By Dale Andrews These past few weeks Colin Tull, a carpenter, has had little time for himself; he’s been busy helping others with the finishing touches to their homes for the festive season.

Tull has deliberately neglected his own house and is drowning himself in work on other people’s houses, hoping that it will muffle the pain he has had to endure for the past 10 months.

Do you remember the woman who was killed by a speeding pick-up driven by a drunken youth, while she

was standing outside the Ocean View International Hotel, awaiting transportation to take her home?

That woman was Lovina Tull, Colin Tull’s wife. I had covered the story; it was very touching for me, since we lived in the same East Coast Demerara village of Melanie Damishana. I had bumped into Tull a few times after but our meeting last Friday was an eye opener for me.

While I was busy preparing my home to brighten the spirits of my household and to accommodate visitors for

the Christmas season, Tull could think of no such luxuries.

He has been mourning his wife’s death ever since that fateful night in February and cannot say when his grief will end.

On Friday I met up with him again. I was cleaning my yard and he rode up on his motorcycle for a bit of banter. Obviously our conversation centered on his wife’s death and the fact that the person who had killed her was living freely in another jurisdiction, having fled before a Magistrate could sentence him.

His efforts are now focused on seeking justice for the death of his wife.

Yesterday he took time to visit her tomb to give it a facelift, convinced in his mind that his wife will appreciate the gesture since she would have been the one

to clean house and prepare for the holidays.

This year however, there will be no such cleaning and cooking.

“I ain’t really got a Christmas, I just hanging in,” he told me yesterday as (Continued on page 64)

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Ronald Daniels - From minibus tout to lawyer

H

e had been a labourer, carpenter, mason, minibus driver, minibus tout and security guard, but now he is a practising Attorney-atLaw. After facing many trials and jumping from one job to the next, Ronald J. Daniels, was finally able to achieve his dream. He was recently admitted to the Bar. He is the son of former Magistrate Fitzgerald Yaw and Marcia Daniels. His petition for admission to the Bar was presented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes.

Daniels attended the Grove Primary School, Central High School and the University of Guyana before proceeding to Hugh Wooding Law School.

Hughes said that Daniels was a new breed of human rights advocate whose

entrance into law augurs well for the profession.

Daniels was one of the paralegals who assisted Hughes on the treason trial.

One of his goals was to become a foremost Caribbean legal advocate advancing the interests of the underprivileged and challenged people. He also had an interest in revolutionizing Caribbean legal systems and Caribbean Politics.

In accepting his petition Justice Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire welcomed Daniels to the Bar and urged him to bring a human rights perspective to the courts.

Justice George commented on the fact that it must be a proud day for his father who previously sat as a Magistrate. In accepting the admonitions of Justice George, Ronald Daniels indicated to the court that it had not been an easy journey

Ronald Daniels (centre)

to get here.

He thanked all those who had assisted him along his journey and it was a privilege to have been admitted before the Judge

who he had always hoped would accept his petition.

Present to witness his admission were Social Activist Mark Benschop, Political Commentator

Freddie Kissoon and WPA member Dr. David Hinds.

Hughes observed that most of the special branch must have spent the afternoon in the vicinity of

the court given the members of the audience who were in attendance.

Daniels is currently practising in Trinidad and Tobago.

Steel pan music - a delight transcending generations in the Caribbean Music is a language of the spirit; it opens the secret of life and brings peace. It abolishes strife.

That is a popular quote of famed Lebanese artist, poet, and writer Khalil Gibran but those words might prove true for local musician, Colgrain Whyte, whose love and passion for playing the steel pan has transcended generations.

Whyte believes that he is very fortunate to have come from a musical background.

Growing up in Charlotte

Street, Georgetown, the father of three recalls how steel pan music has been very instrumental in his upbringing, reforming youth in his community and the Caribbean at large.

“Although it really originated in Trinidad and Tobago, if you look at the history of steel pan music you realize that it played a major role in the upbringing of children around the Caribbean,” Whyte said.

The musician noted that the steel pan might be the

most inexpensive musical instrument.

“It may be the most inexpensive musical instrument in the world. It is crafted from a half of an oil drum; it is easy to make and very fun to play. Children are easily taken by it,” Colgrain explained.

He fell in love with the instrument at just seven years old. Whyte inherited the art of playing the pan from his father, Calvin Whyte, the owner of the Bidco Invaders Steel Pan

Orchestra.

“My dad inherited the band from his cousin, Dan Sandiford, who had migrated to the United Kingdom (UK) leaving his band behind. I remember that the band went on overseas tours to Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and even Nigeria”, the musician said. He recalled that “back in the day,” his father made a career out of playing the steel pans and “it fed the family and sent us to

Local musician, Colgrain Whyte directs a group of boys from the National School of Music during an event at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

school… I had three siblings. We all learned to play the pans.”

But it was the melody of the pans that captivated him to this day. Whyte, who is currently employed as a dental technician continues to play the steel pans.

He has trained many youngsters in the art but explains that it has become more of a hobby for him.

Whyte says that in playing the instrument he finds a way to relax and in the same vein give back to

community and invest in the future generation.

“I’ve had the privilege of training quite a number of youngsters...Some have migrated and are playing in bands overseas. It is a real joy to train them to pass on a skill to the next generation.

My two children also play the steel pans,” he added.

Whyte said the Bosco Boys Orphanage at Plaisance East Coast Demerara, St. Andrews Kirk Church Youth Group and children of the Diplomatic Corps are among the groups he has worked with.

He said that the steel pan is “an animated piece of instrument that cannot be easily replaced. “ “I really don’t see steel pan going out of style. It’s unique to the Caribbean and it is our gift to the rest of the world. The art is an instrumental musical tool in the Caribbean. It our thing so to speak and it will remain one of the things that is special about us.”

During the Christmas season, the musician uses his talent to bring cheer to others; he has had the privilege of performing at Christmas concerts at various venues including Uncle Eddie’s home.

He believes that steel pan music is a real delight that should be experienced by every Caribbean native especially during this festive season.

Sunday December 21, 2014

This Georgetown beauty holds the title of Miss Global International Guyana. She enjoys modeling, spending time with family and friends and reading. Her favourite quote is, “Our deepest fear is that we are inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure.�

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 21, 2014

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These projects have set Guyana backwards The PPP has a point. The opposition has setback the development of the country by about five years by their obstructionist policies.

The opposition parties have nixed important developmental initiatives being undertaken by the PPP as part of its modernization drive. The first of these is the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project. The investors walked after they were not assured of opposition support. The political risk was too great and so the investors issued an ultimatum: either all parties were on board or they would walk. APNU was concerned about the financial architecture and the AFC was waiting on some IDB report. In the end, the investors walked.

The second is the extension of the Timehri Airport. The opposition is not convinced about this project. Many others are also not convinced that we should be going this route.

The PPP will argue that time and the world will not wait for them, and therefore the loss of time in relation to these projects would have seriously hurt Guyana’s developmental prospects.

The government will also point to budget cuts and nonapproval by the opposition parties as a method used to frustrate the government’s

development plans. The government has a point.

But if you examine the Jagdeo regime closely, if you go beyond the appearances, you will discover that the deals that were made under that administration have set Guyana back far more than the opposition’s antics during the 10th Parliament.

T h e l a rg e s t p u b l i c investment made in Guyana was the Skeldon Sugar Factory. This was supposed to be the investment that would have saved the sugar industry. It was supposed to concentrate sugar production at Skeldon and reduce the cost of production.

The factory is still limping along. It has encountered major mechanical defects. Fixing it seems something like high science, because it is taking a very long time to fix these defects. And of course the fixing is costing the corporation a fortune.

The taxpayers of this country are now burdened with a colossal debt because of the construction of this factory, which is not helping Guysuco’s competitiveness.

This translates to a wasted investment and one that has now saddled future generations of Guyana with an onerous debt burden. That failed investment alone has put the county back fifteen

years and has permanently harmed the viability of the sugar industry.

Another factory was built along the East Coast to package sugar for export. At one stage it was being suggested that there was not enough sugar to keep the factory running. This was another massive investment and has set Guyana back b e c a u s e o f i t s underperformance.

There were concerns over the cost of this project.

This newspaper even offered to pay for someone to

undertake an audit of the cost of the factory. The offer was predictably refused by the government.

Then there was the road contract to Amaila that was handed to someone with no known experience in even building such roads. The man was given a fifteen million US-dollar contract and then let go. The final cost of the project is now expected to exceed three times that price. This is money that could have been deployed otherwise to benefit the Guyanese people.

Guyana is building the road with no prospects that the hydroelectric plant will materialize. And now that oil prices have dipped, it is doubtful whether Guyana can even go ahead with the original terms. So what happens to the road built with taxpayers’ monies?

The Marriott Hotel is another project in which billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been pumped. Many knowledgeable persons are predicting that this hotel will become a white elephant. In fact, this hotel is now almost

complete, but the equity investors are not yet on board. This must be the first of its kind in the world.

All of these plans made under the Jagdeo regime have set Guyana backwards.

Far more than anything the opposition has done in the National Assembly.

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Essequibo police host Christmas light-up

Members of the community got an opportunity Thursday evening to witness the first ever Christmas tree light up. The organisers were members of the Guyana Police Force, "G" Division in the Supenaam/Charity district.

The event, in keeping with the spirit of Christmas was held in the compound of the Anna Regina Police station.

Most recently, the Guyana Police Force extended free medical care to the residents of the Essequibo Coast. Seven doctors from outside of the Region volunteered their services for two days.

The attendance was overwhelming.

Sunday December 21, 2014

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Obesity ‘could be a Two judges in separate disability’ - EU courts rule territories arrested for DUI (BBC) Obesity can constitute a disability in certain circumstances, the EU’s highest court has ruled.

The European Court of Justice was asked to consider the case of a male childminder in Denmark who says he was sacked for being too fat.

The court said that if obesity could hinder “full and effective participation” at work then it could count as a disability.

The ruling is binding across the EU. Judges said that obesity in itself was not a disability but if a person had a long-term impairment because of their obesity, then they would be protected by disability legislation.

The case centres around childminder Karsten Kaltoft who weighs about 160kg (25 stone).

He brought a discrimination case against his employers of 15 years, Billund local authority, after he was sacked four years ago.

The authority said a fall in the number of children meant

Just when one thought that the madness would ease it continued just as I warned.

There have been the domestic murders, some too horrible to contemplate.

Fortunately, there will be no more in the coming days because a measure of sanity will descend on the land.

But there will be the robberies at gunpoint because there are still people who want money the socalled easy way. One of them will occur in a relatively quiet area of the city, the perpetrator having followed

Danish childminder, Karsten Kartoft Mr Kaltoft was no longer required.

But Mr Kaltoft said he was dismissed because he was overweight.

‘NO PROBLEMS’ Earlier this year, he told the

the victim from a commercial bank.

The police will be in the vicinity. ** The river will be the scene

BBC that reports that he was so fat he was unable to bend down to tie children’s shoelaces were untrue.

Describing his work with children, he said: “I can sit on the floor and play with them, I have no problems like that.

“I don’t see myself as disabled. It’s not OK just to fire a person because they’re fat, if they’re doing their job properly.”

The Danish courts asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify whether obesity was a disability.

The ECJ ruled that if the obesity of the worker “hinders the full and effective participation of that person in professional life on an equal basis with other workers”, then obesity can fall within the concept of “disability”.

Rulings from the European Court of Justice are binding for all EU member nations.

The courts in Denmark will now have to assess Mr Kaltoft’s weight to see if his case can be classed as a disability.

of another accident as the pilots hustle to capitalize on the crowd at this time.

Fortunately, other boats will be in the vicinity to rescue those who would fall into the water. ** Haste and alcohol would lead to some unnecessary traffic accidents. At the scene of one of them, anger would lead to a very threatening situation. Under such conditions not many wiser counsel would seek to make their presence felt. **

Judge Cynthia Imperato

Judge Ramchand Lutchmedial Not even members of the judiciary are above the law when it comes to break the law.

And this was particular evident that recent reports coming out from the Caribbean and the United States.

NBC 6 in South Florida during the past week reported that deliberations were set to continue in the case of a Broward judge facing Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and reckless driving charges in Palm Beach County.

Circuit Judge Cynthia Imperato, 57, faces up to a year in jail if convicted on the charges, which stem from a November 2013 traffic stop.

Imperato has pleaded not guilty.

According to police, an officer spotted Imperato driving erratically and nearly hitting another car in Boca Raton.

After she was stopped, the officer could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from her breath and noted that her eyes were red and glassy, her speech was slow and slurred, and her face was red and flush, according to the arrest report.

Imperato refused to get out of her car and when the officer opened her door, she refused to walk to the front of the officer’s car, the report said.

Imperato has been a Broward circuit judge since 2003 and ran unopposed in 2010. Her term is set to end in 2017.

And then the Trinidad Express reported that Judge in the morning, defendant in the afternoon is how Justice Ramchand Lutchmedial, vice-president of the Industrial

Court, was slated to spend Monday last, having been charged the previous Friday under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act. Lutchmedial was set to appear before a Tunapuna magistrate charged with failing to submit to a breathalyser test.

He is among several persons making a court appearance for offences related to “driving under the influence” (DUI).

Under the law, a police officer may require a driver or a person in charge of a motor vehicle to provide a specimen of breath for a test at (or) near the place where the request is made, if he (officer) has reasonable cause to believe that the person has consumed alcohol above the prescribed limit. The law also states that a police officer can have reasonable cause to administer a breath test where: (a) he has smelt alcohol in the suspected person’s breath; (b) The suspected person has slurred speech; (c) The suspected person is swerving whilst driving on the road; and (d) Where the suspected person has poor co-ordination.

The judge was arrested and charged during a police exercise in the Chaguanas district on Friday night. According to police reports, officers were conducting an exercise when they noticed the vehicle swerving.

The driver, who turned out to be Lutchmedial, was stopped and officers asked him to exit the vehicle.

The officers made certain observations as he exited the vehicle, according to the report. He was asked to provide a breath specimen. The driver refused and was taken to Chaguanas Police Station where he was charged.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

A wife strangled in Germany and two dead women in Guyana

By Michael Jordan The former American soldier looked me straight in the eye and told me that he was no killer. Maybe so, but surely he must be one of the unluckiest chaps I have ever met. How many guys end up being accused of brutally murdering their wife, their exgirlfriend, and a teenage girl, in two different countries?

I’d called him for an interview about these three still-unsolved murders. Half an hour later, this bearded, bespectacled guy was sitting in our interview room, and we were talking about his former wife’s murder in Germany, and the two dead women in New Amsterdam.

“I killed no one,” he told me. “There are people in New Amsterdam who know what happened to those two young ladies. There are people that know who is responsible for

Chevonne Talbot

Nekescia Rouse

Alexis ‘Keisha’ George

my late wife’s death, and they know it’s not me.”

From what he says, his troubles began around April 2004. Back then, he was a Specialist in the US Army, married to 30-year-old Chevonne Talbot, and living at a US base in Germany.

According to him, he was also serving in Iraq and his marriage was on the rocks.

“I came back from combat in April of that year to find that I no longer had a wife; that someone (else) was in my place.” The ex-soldier said he found out about his spouse’s

infidelity from provocative text messages that were sent to her.

The ex-soldier said that he confronted her and later told his wife that he wanted a divorce.

But on October 12, 2004, Chevonne Talbot was found lying face-down on the bathroom floor in the army housing unit at Hainerberg Housing Area, in Germany, where the couple had lived.

It was her husband who found the body.

“I found her dead. I found her in the bathroom. From the way her body was positioned, she looked like she was trying to enter the tub and slipped. I moved her and tried to resuscitate her. I called my unit and they dispatched the MPs, and they dispatched the ambulance… and half an hour later they pronounced her dead.”

But a bathroom fall hadn’t killed Chevonne Talbot.

Someone had tied a scarf tightly around her neck and also used it to bind her hands behind her back. An autopsy would reveal that she had died of ligature strangulation.

Her husband gave the police a statement, and it is this statement that reportedly turned him from grieving spouse to murder suspect.

According to the exsoldier, he had told police that it was he, and not his wife, who was having an affair. This apparently led detectives to believe that he was concealing a motive for the crime. He admitted that he had also tried to kill himself after her death.

“I became a suspect because of that lie. I had no reason to want her dead when I had already made up my mind, six months before her death, that I was divorcing her.”

Several months later, he was charged with murder.

However, he was eventually freed on May 1, 2007, since, according to the ex-soldier, he was able to account for his movements at the time of his

wife’s death. He said that a female prosecution witness, who was also his next-door neighbour, also placed him away from the scene.

“There was conflict in the time of death, because I showed up at work early and left work and came back a few hours later; and what was being said was that I went home, killed her, and came back to work.

“But that young lady next door told investigators that there was no way that she (the wife) could have been dead before two o’clock in the afternoon, because she saw her taking out the garbage at around two. I found her two hours later. Her testimony debunked the testimony of the pathologist who said that she died in the morning.

“She was the person who gave me my salvation, because without her testimony of seeing my wife at two o’clock in the afternoon, I wouldn’t have been in this interview with you, I would have been at Fort Leavenworth doing 99 years.”

And according to his story, there was a prime suspect in his wife’s death. He said that the individual was a male friend of his wife. He claims that the individual told investigators that he was watching television at the time when Mrs. Talbot was slain.

The former U.S. soldier returned to Guyana in December 2008, and shortly after, started a relationship with 25-year-old Nekescia Rouse, who lived at Smythfield, New Amsterdam.

He says that it was a one-week affair.

“I flew into Guyana a few days before Christmas 2008. I was walking down Main Street, New Amsterdam, and I saw her. It was brief…one week…but from there we developed a friendship.”

But at around 06:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2009, a resident of Smythfield, New Amsterdam, stumbled on a gruesome scene. Lying in a yard under a tree was the mutilated body of a young woman. She was identified as 18-year-old Alexis ‘Keisha’ George.

About 30 minutes later, the body of another woman was found in a house some 150 metres away. The second victim was Nekescia Rouse, the former soldier’s exgirlfriend.

Both women had lived with Rouse’s mother at Smythfield.

They had both sustained stab wounds to the neck and other parts of the body.

Investigators suspected that the women were attacked in the house in which Rouse’s body was found, but that Alexis George had managed to run outside before collapsing and dying in a neighbour’s yard. It was unclear how the killer(s) had gained entry to the house to attack the two victims, though there were suggestions that the individual (s) had entered via a verandah door. One detective surmised that the women knew their killers.

“There was no forced entry to the house. Whoever did this was more or less invited in or frequented the premises.”

Detectives scoured the murder scenes and even searched inside a septic tank for the murder weapon. They never found it.

Detectives learned that Nekescia had gone out with friends on Valentine’s Night and had returned home during the early hours of the Sunday on which the women were slain.

According to reports, June Rouse, Nekescia’s mother, had received a rather strange call on her mobile phone at around 05:20 a.m. on Sunday, February 15. The caller, whom she did not recognize, reportedly enquired ‘where Nicky deh?’

Shortly after the murders, police detained seven individuals from New Amsterdam. Among them was the retired US Army soldier who had been accused, then cleared, of killing his wife in Germany.

A former policeman who had gone out with Nekescia Rouse on Valentine’s Night, and who had frequented the home, was also taken into custody.

The former soldier told me that he had called Nekescia on February 14, to wish her ‘Happy Valentine’s Day.’ He estimates that this call was made some 12 hours before she was slain.

Like the two slain women, he was also living in Smythfield, New Amsterdam.

But he also claims that at the time of the tragedy, he was stricken with kidney stones.

The painful condition, he says, had kept him in bed and practically unable to move around.

He says that on Sunday, February 15, 2009, several armed policemen came to the house where he was staying.

According to the man, he had known the purpose of their visit, since someone had (continued on page 32)

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 23

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Guyana: To rise tomorrow to dwell among the dead In the history of human civilization, defeat is never seen as defeat once you tried.

The psyche of the loser remains intact once the battle was a well-fought contest.

Humans feel that they won even if they lost, because the fight was great.

A sports team will never be psychologically traumatized if their defeat was narrow. It is a harrowing experience if in a game of international cricket a team has to make 200 to win but was bowled out for 60. It is the same in every field of endeavour, be it a school debate or frenzied political competition for high office.

In Guyana, the scariest thing about living here is that as you close the window, turn off the lights, go to bed, you know the morning will bring the same misery – the defeat was a horrible one because no

one tried and it will be the same for days, months and years to come. There will be some mental comfort that when you close the window and turn off the lights, you know the loss was not all that bad because the efforts were valiant and people tried.

In Guyana no one tries.

No one gets angry. No one raises a voice. And the coffins in the mental cemetery multiply. It is a depressing sight and one that defies logic and explanation.

So we wake up the next morning and we hear about the little girl who had her twenty bottles of water confiscated by the Ministry of Works. Her crime was she was selling the water on the parapet. If she was not arrested, total sales for the day would have been $2000 at $100 per bottle.

We wake up the next

morning and we find out that another death that should not have happened has happened at the Georgetown Hospital.

And no one wants to voice an opinion that many Cubantrained doctors are not even competent at the level of a trainee nurse.

We wake up the next morning and find out that a worker dies on the job of a rich employer and there is no investigation by the relevant Ministry, no payment to the family and his young children will join the ranks of the doomed.

We wake up the next morning and we read that the future of a young, seventeenyear-old boy is exterminated forever because he will have to spend three years in prison for possession of a smoking utensil. He will meet his friend in the jail whose luck ran out when the police found him

with a “joint” during a raid in a working class district.

We will wake up the next morning and read about one of the untouchables whose speeding car killed an untouchable and no police action was initiated because the driver belonged to a group of untouchables whose money and access to the power establishment put them above the law.

The victim came from a different kind of untouchables – the lower caste as we know in Indian Hindu culture, whose life has no value, at least in comparison with the upper castes.

We will wake up one morning and read a decision by the constitutional court that makes no sense, perhaps has no sense at all, and no sense in law itself. We close the windows, turn the lights off, go to bed knowing when

we wake up the next day, the constitutional court will provide us with more mysteries. We will wake up once more and recoil from the fact that another birthday bash has taken place at the Convention Centre, where the music, gyrating bodies and broken beer bottles tell the story of lost civilization in the lost city of El Dorado.

We will get out of bed the next morning and learn that another of the Philistines in the power-establishment has used the lawns of another respected public institution to slaughter animals for the wedding of another family member. This time it was not only goats, but pigs and cows.

The blood and stench will remind us of the coffins that are piling up in the sociology of Guyana’s soul.

In life, as in sports and as in politics, you don’t mind

Frederick Kissoon losing once you showed grit and determination but most of all effort, yes effort, just a little of it.

In Guyana, you feel a bit optimistic that as you close the window and turn off the lights and put yourself down, there was at least a little effort that went into protesting the overwhelming presence of cruelty, immorality, indecency, depravity, venality and plain semi-civilized conduct. But in Guyana, a dead society closes its blinds, locks its windows and rises tomorrow to live among the dead.

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President Donald Ramotar, in a friendly review of his tenure by the Government Information Agency (GINA) on 12th December, entitled: “More could have been accomplished - President Ramotar - as he looks back on his three years in office,” described his three-year tenure of office, as ‘mixed.’

He was actually sworn into the presidency on 5th December 2011. The reality is that the Ramotar presidency is worse than ‘mixed;’ he has, simply, failed the ‘Duck Test’ in its most vital aspects.

The ‘Duck Test’ is a form of inductive reasoning that suggests that a person can identify a subject by observing that subject’s habitual characteristics.

Hence, “If a bird looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.”

The ‘Duck Test’ can be applied appropriately to President Donald Ramotar, who, in the space of three years, has evinced distinguishably habitual characteristics. He has blatantly broken his own election manifesto promises to

Kaieteur News

hold local government elections within one year of being elected; pledged not to assent to bills and not to implement resolutions passed by the National Assembly with which the People’s Progressive Party did not agree and failed to prevent his Minister of Finance from spending money that had been disapproved by the National Assembly.

Donald Ramotar, to make matters worse, has prorogued the Parliament of Guyana to prevent debate on his and his ministers’ performance, to prepare the PPP’s elections campaign and to allow his administration to continue spending state funds without the scrutiny of the National Assembly.

Ramotar, in so doing is behaving like a dictator. ‘The Duck Test’ could well be applied to him: If the President talks like a dictator, walks like a dictator and acts like a dictator then, he is probably a dictator.

Ramotar’s retarded style

of governance, however, has come at a cost. It has taken a toll on the entire nation, making his brief presidency the worst in Guyana’s history.

Ramotar, himself, seems to have conducted the ‘Duck Test’ on his own performance.

Ramotar has failed the ‘test’ of governance. He will be remembered forever as the President who inflicted the greatest damage on parliamentary democracy by his 10th November prorogation of parliament. Guyana’s National Assembly has now not met to discuss the people’s business for five months.

The pernicious prorogation proclamation was Ramotar’s way of avoiding debate on his own performance and that of his cabinet. He, moreover, has failed to conduct the prescribed periodic local government elections provided for and protected by the Constitution.

Ramotar and his Minister of Home Affairs have failed the ‘test’ of making this

country safe for citizens, visitors and for investors. The combination of corruption, cronyism and other crime has taken a toll on the quality of life.

The number of armed robberies is increasing.

Banditry in the hinterland, maritime piracy along the coastland, fuel-smuggling, gun-running, contraband smuggling and suicides continue to propel a high rate of emigration to safer countries.

Ramotar and his Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport have failed the test of educating, employing and empowering young people.

They been unable to produce a comprehensive National Youth Strategy and, as a consequence, there is no national strategy for providing jobs for thousands of young people who leave school every year. The PPPC administration fails to understand that unemployment is the central issue affecting young people.

Ramotar and his Minister of Finance have failed the ‘test’ of controlling public finance excesses.

The Minister of Finance had to be referred to the Committee of Privileges twice

Sunday December 21, 2014

this year, first, because he refused to comply with Resolution 15 that was passed by the Assembly on the 27th June 2012 which required him to lay a report in the National Assembly on all ExtraBudgetary agencies including the Guyana Development (Lotto) Fund and GGMC and directed him to pay all monies being held by these agencies into the Consolidated Fund and, second, for spending money in excess of the sum approved by the Act of Parliament No. 10 of 1 2014.

Ramotar and his Minister of Health have failed the ‘test’ of implementing a comprehensive primary health care strategy. The country is still frightened by recurrent reports of outbreaks of Chikungunya disease. The persistence of other vectorborne diseases – such as dengue, filaria and malaria – is a threat to public health.

Ramotar and his Ministers have failed the ‘test’ of providing adequate public infrastructure for a developing country. Ramotar inherited a bundle of flawed public infrastructure projects from his predecessor. He had no strategy of his own and failed to record a single success.

The contract to construct

the road to the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Inc (AFHI) project had to be withdrawn from Synergy Holdings.

The Atlantic Hotels Inc (AHI) project, popularly referred to as the ‘Marriott Hotel’ project, is still mired in controversy. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) extension project faces challenges as a result of poor planning on the part of the Government of Guyana.

The 560-km Fibre Optic Cable Project (FOCP), managed by the President’s son, Alexei Ramotar, is in jeopardy. The contract for the Specialty Surgical Hospital (SSH) awarded to Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited (SECL) had to be terminated on grounds of fraud and non-performance.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Luncheon, had to apply the ‘Test’ to the President’s bizarre prorogation gambit.

Luncheon is quoted by GINA, on 3rd December, as admitting that “the government has not been able to achieve the objectives of the…prorogation.” That was an understatement!

Ramotar, in fact, has not been able to achieve any meaningful objectives on anything – democratic governance, economic development, human safety or social cohesion. Donald Ramotar, simply, talks like a dictator, walks like a dictator and acts like a dictator.

Sunday December 21, 2014

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My column

Me and my Christmas thoughts At this time of the year even warring nations seek a truce. It is as if the season brings a peace of its own, and for me, it surely does. From the start of November when the radio begins to blare the Christmas tunes, I suddenly feel different. I go back in time when I was young and all excited about the thoughts of the Christmas parties and the meals.

The decorations would go up in the various stores and on the homes. I remember on one occasion a community got together to decorate the street.

These days Courts, the furniture giant, does this each year and creates a beautiful sight, especially at nights when the lights go on in the streets. One night, I actually took a seat on a bench under the trees and simply gazed at the lights above my head and went back in time.

It was a wonderful feeling, and it has stayed with me until now, except for those moments when grim news greeted me in the newsroom. I am of the view that at this time of the year, just about everyone looks forward for the change in diet and so many other things that happen at Christmastime.

There was the news about this man who went berserk

because his estranged woman opted to move on with her life.

It is not that this couple had children together but as someone said, jealousy is a bitch. During the conversation I caught myself saying that if a woman wanted to leave me she has every right, because she is not property.

But this man must have felt that he owned the woman.

The fact that he used a cutlass with deadly effect suggested that he could not love the woman. He killed her mother, her daughter and her paramour who, incidentally, left his wife at home to share another bed.

The crazy thing is that if a man is so bold to vent his spleen, then he should be bold enough to face the consequences. This man has disappeared. He is not alone.

Hours later a man in the eastern part of the country slit his wife’s throat. He too has since disappeared.

This must have been the season for men killing their wives because across the Atlantic, in Brooklyn, New York, there was this man who also killed his wife and her lover. This situation I found rather funny because they

found the lover naked outside an apartment.

Obviously the man and the woman stripped in the bitterly cold weather for the proverbial roll in the hay.

Surely, they did not bother to lock the car, or the fear that sprang up when the husband suddenly appeared led to confusion. This killer did not run.

Instead, he drove the car with his dead wife’s body to some location where the police found it.

He is now in jail and there are those who are in sympathy with him. Who wants to be in jail at Christmas? I suppose there are some people who will only regret being there when they are caught. Take the idiot who at knifepoint attempted to relieve a woman of her phone.

In crowded Georgetown this act borders on the ridiculous.

He has a few months to ponder but then again, some say that in jail some people hone their criminal skills.

But the season is not about grim things; it is about peace and joy. I am not seeing the quantity of decorations that I would normally see on the homes at this time, but I am seeing the crowds in the marketplace. I have not attempted

to go by the stores because I no longer have children who would crave toys.

Even my grandchildren are too old for toys and my greatgrandchildren are too young to appreciate the bigger toys or any toy for that matter given their short attention span.

On the streets the traffic is crazy. I have never seen so many traffic ranks in the city in my whole life, not even when there was a state visit.

There I was at a crossing at Cummings and Robb Streets waiting for the traffic on the right of way to flow when an idiot slams into the back of my car. There was no damage done, neither was there an apology.

I am certain that there will be worse, given the impatience that prevails these days.

There are the people who are in my shoes, harking for company at this time, so the only thing that comes to their mind is the alcohol. I have a friend who enjoys himself by having a drink and when the alcohol creates that buzz, then the conversations would begin and the laughter would flow.

But when it is all over,

there is the longing for the days past when the children were around and the house seemed full. And strange as it may seem, there were children back then who are now parents. The other day I sat and watched one of these families return from a shopping expedition. They probably felt as I did way back when I had cause to do the same thing.

For all the nostalgia, I still embrace the season because for one, I am alive and healthy.

I have a roof over my head, unlike the family in La Penitence who lost their home on Friday.

And indeed, fires tend to be common at this time of year.

Perhaps the power company tries too hard or perhaps,

Adam Harris people simply create fire hazards. I hear that some fairy lights are. There are still a few days left before the big day and I intend to enjoy them, because as soon as Christmas Day passes I experience a low, as though I have lost something special.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

Guyana needs new strategic vision and focused leadership

By Moses V. Nagamootoo, AFC Vice-Chairman On January 17, 2003, I published an article under the caption above. The landscape that I described in that article has not changed much, except that Guyana is facing a worse crisis than in 2003. The prorogation and resulting dissolution of parliament by President Donald Ramotar to avoid a defeat of his corrupt, unpopular, minority PPP government, would become the proverbial match that could ignite new political fires.

Then, I said that the country was in “turbulence”.

Today, we are in the eye of a political storm. How we could get out and even go past this situation, was the subject of the impugned article, which then President Bharrat Jagdeo described as “trash”, and for which Stalinist elements in the PPP wanted to lynch me for “anti-party” views. Slightly abridged, I wish to share it, once again:RACE & POLITICS In 1992 the PNC was defeated. The chain of stolen power was broken. Most Guyanese were euphoric

when Cheddi Jagan became President. He recognised that a change of government, important for democracy, was only skin surgery. He wanted social transformation, as the real issues were closer to the bone.

Those were, and have been while the PNC held unbroken power: fear of racial domination, racial insecurity and racial discrimination. I can still see him in my mind’s eye proclaiming on an historic May Day at National Park, “there would be no discrimination, no victimisation, no recrimination”.

That did not deter the loser PNC from upping the racial suspicions, accusing the new government of “ethnic cleansing” of its African supporters. Then it claimed that Africans were “marginalised”.

I have no doubt that those ideas of racial subjugation formed the ideology of what started after the PPP came to power as a PNC proxy fight from its African support bases, at first in places like Vergenoegen and Georgetown, and later in Buxton.

COALITION BUILDING But while Dr. Jagan lived, a lid was placed on open ethnic insurgency. His message of “racial/class/ ideological balance”, “inclusion and partnership” and national reconciliation was neutralising broader sectors of the society. This he had worked for since the split in the PPP. And as the PNC grew unpopular, he had held the hope for a significant crossover of Afro-Guyanese to his party. He practiced consensus and coalition building at all levels. He embraced the finest amongst the Africans, notably the late Walter Rodney, and courted them actively to his side.

He canvassed for interracial electoral combinations, proposing running mates such as Dr. Clive Thomas, Mr. Ashton Chase and Mr. Samuel Hinds. He was unabashedly bold when he suggested Dr. Roger Luncheon as a compromise presidential candidate for the 1992 elections. In an abortive bid, I similarly advanced his daring proposal for the 1997 elections to deny the PNC in

that election of its race card against the PPP. [One extremist element in the PPP leadership chopped down my proposal with one, disdainful, racist cutlass: “we na ready fuh a blackmaan yet!” In a political sense, both the proposer and the proposed were destroyed].

After the 1994 local government elections, Dr. Jagan devised what was described as the “Mandela Formula” of power sharing at the municipal level. After his death, those brilliant moments faded...

PRESSURE POLITICS Statesmanship in Guyana since 1997, alternated with savagery. We have witnessed the daily diet of racism, the chronic hatred and, of course, fires and crimes.

The Herdmanston Agreement and the St. Lucia Accord were palliatives not solutions. They gave us time but did not take us over the line of distrust/hostility to tolerance/engagement, much less on the road to reconciliation.

The much vaunted but failed dialogue between President Jagdeo and Mr. Hoyte became a fragile fence nailed together in a high wind of hatred. Past suspicions overshadowed the talks. No one wanted to be accused of giving an inch more than is prudent, to appear weak or, to be guilty of, to use the treacherous word, “appeasement”.

In the end when Hoyte thought that he was emptyhanded, he left the table.

Dialogue and negotiation had given the people hope. Now, after the failure, it may not be unkind if history were to write about our leaders as people who had missed a chance.

The time has come when

we have to let go of the past.

It is the past that is intruding in the present and blocking the way to the future.

But I know that there are people around who cannot let the past go. The past wants revenge, like the ghost of Hamlet’s father.

SHARED GOVERNANCE Take for example the issue of “shared governance” or whatever other labels it is given. I am amazed by the summary disposal of this rather old idea in pro-PPP letters that fall short of context or timing or analysis of the mood of people.

Writers are ready to say that it has not worked in the past, and it would not work in the future. No attempt is made to analyse the scope and limitation of the coalition idea in the context of the new body of constitutional changes.

No attention is given to the need in specific conflict situations to allow an opponent to debate changes rather than try to wrest them by other means. It is plain, blunt dismissal of it. It’s always about the past, and about selling out.

Power and its manipulation seem to be a life and death game. For some, power has a front door and a back door.

Some reason that the PPP can always come in the front door through periodic elections. It has the electoral arithmetic to ensure this. So, it is being advised to shut the back door lest the PNC sneak into the powerhouse.

No one bothers over such trivia as to what happens if someone desperate enough to get in, decides to break the whole house down!

In our common Guyana home there must be room for

Moses V. Nagamootoo, AFC Vice-Chairman everyone. There must be a place for Indians and Africans, and for all other Guyanese ethnic groupings. We have to deal with our present by building structures for the future.

I believe in the power of the future to over-ride the past. The future wants us to bury our failures, our burnt hair and “singed” minds.

If we can put the past behind where it belongs, we can re-image our country. We can begin to see not its divisions, its hatred and its poverty but its potential for unity and the prosperity of our people in the future.

REDEFINE DEMOCRACY I believe that though democracy was restored in 1992, we have - since the prorogation of Parliament lost whatever claim we had to being a democratic state.

Our democracy must have room, in the context of our ethnic-based voting pattern and political loyalties, for both winner and loser. This makes it an inclusive, national democracy that is, at the same time, participatory and revolutionary. The essence of our democracy must be bipartisan, and the approach to major problems must be united and national.

Plainly put, it requires maximum cooperation between the Parliamentary political parties. It must not be a piecemeal measure or an opportunistic excursion. It must be an institutional arrangement that brings the parties together and working on a mutual agenda.

The time is now for us to bring an end to our intransigence. We need new thinking and courage to go forward.

Guyana’s greatest test is that of leadership. It is the leadership of all the Parliamentary parties sharing a common vision for the good of Guyana.

(First published on 17th January, 2003 in Guyana Chronicle)

Sunday December 21, 2014

SUNDAY SPECIAL MAN STABBED TO DEATH AT MOTHER’S WAKE A family already in grief has been plunged into more sorrow following the stabbing to death of a man who was acting as a peacemaker at his mother’s wake.

Dead is Surujpaul Ramnarine 51, a father of five, of Blairmont Village, West Bank Berbice. Reports are that Ramnarine was stabbed in his chest around 12:10 hrs on Saturday morning after he intervened in an argument between the man who killed him and his nephew.

At the time family members and relatives were holding a wake for Ramnarine’s mother at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice. The woman died last Tuesday. According to information, the suspect is an in-law of the dead woman.

JAGDEO INVESTED $20B FROM TREASURY TO ENRICH SELF, FAMILY AND FRIENDS Kaieteur News has been at the forefront of reporting on corruption and other questionable deals in which billions of taxpayers’ dollars were blatantly used to secretly fill the pockets of a few. As a result of extensive

Kaieteur News

research and consultations with worried industry experts, Kaieteur News has unearthed a massive scheme by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who when at the helm of power in Guyana, engineered the heist of the telecommunications industry.

The plan was to use monies from the national coffers to finance a number of seemingly unrelated projects that cost Guyanese in excess of US$100 Million ($20B).

GT&T signed a US$30M deal with Suriname to land a submarine fibre optic cable in Guyana.

That cable has the capacity to service the demands of Guyana, five times over, providing ‘lightning speed internet service’ to the country by increasing its available bandwidth 3,000 fold.

The Jagdeo administration announced shortly after, much to the surprise of Guyana, that it was no longer interested in holding onto its shares in GT&T. That 20 per cent shareholding was one of the most lucrative investments for Government, earning as much as $500M a year. By the time GT&T’s fibre optic cable landed in Guyana, Jagdeo

announced that Government had already made a down payment for its own fibre optic cable coming from Brazil. He said that the government cable will facilitate E-Governance-an ambitious US$32M plan to increase efficiency in the public service.

MONDAY EDITION GENERATE YOUR OWN ELECTRICITY IF GPL PROVES BURDENSOME – PM HINDS TELLS GUYANESE Prime Minister Samuel Hinds wants any Guyanese who feels that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is burdening them, to start generating their own electricity since they have a right to do so as is provided in the Laws of Guyana.

That is according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report. On Friday last the Prime Minister made an appearance on a programme on the stateowned National Communications Network (NCN) and sought to rubbish the concerns of the Opposition about the efficiency of the power company and the costs consumers have to pay for their power supply.

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MISS GUYANA CRACKS TOP 10 AT MISS WORLD 2014 PAGEANT… Guyana’s very own Rafieya Husain managed to be one of the top 10 contestants in the Miss World 2014 pageant, which was held Sunday night in London. This marks Guyana’s first time in over 40 years in making it this far in the international competition, since Nalini Moonasar was adjudged Third Runner-up in 1971.

Husain took to the popular social media site, Facebook, to give thanks to all her supporters. At the time she remarked that she was still in “a world of emotions”. She remarked that despite being sick on the night of the competition, she gave it her all, and was proud to represent Guyana in the pageant.

The other nine contestants who also topped the competition were Miss India, South Africa, England, Brazil, Hungary, Kenya, the United States, Mexico and Australia.

In addition to cracking into the top 10, Miss Guyana won the title of “Beauty with a Purpose”, which she shared with India, Kenya, Brazil and Indonesia.

TUESDAY EDITION WANTED COP, ACCOMPLICE KILLED AFTER STORE ROBBERY The rope finally ran out on fugitive cop turned bandit, Warren Anthony Blue, when he and an accomplice were shot dead by his former colleagues during a robbery on a Montrose, East Coast Demerara supermarket last

night. Blue, who disappeared two years ago before he could appear in court to answer a murder charge relating to the death of Agricola youth, Shaquille Grant, was killed while fleeing the scene. His accomplice whose name was given as “Chiney” was killed inside the business place.

This was after they had shot the proprietor of the Lahago Supercenter, Latchmie Baburam, 52, and robbed the establishment of an undisclosed amount of cash.

A police press release stated that at about 19:00 hours Monday, two men armed with a firearm entered the Lahago General Store and held up the owner, Latchmie Baburam. The perpetrators took away $140,000 after shooting and wounding her to her foot.

The police said that public-spirited members of the community and police ranks who responded quickly to the report confronted the perpetrators. During an armed confrontation the two suspects were fatally shot.

WEDNESDAY EDITION JAGDEO STIFLED GUYANA’S TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, through his actions, deliberately stalled Guyana’s technological development by more than four years.

Industry experts have opined that had he made use of the advanced facility Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) - which in 2010 already had the high speed fibre optic

cable in place - Guyana would have been on par with the rest of the Caribbean. The GT&T cable has the capacity to service the demands of Guyana and five other countries like it.

There was consensus that all major Government facilities would have been connected via fibre optic. The plans to enhance the public service operations would have been in place.

A range of services such as “E-Health” allowing for video consultation, movement of information from one health centre to another and tracking disease outbreaks would have made life for the medical personnel much easier.

Regarding security, there would have been quick transmission of information including video and data between police stations with an enhanced database.

The police would have been better informed, able to conduct speedy background checks, monitor people, vehicles and police operations. It could have realized a faster implementation of surveillance mechanisms across the country, using cameras.

SECOND SLAIN BANDIT ID’D AS UG GRADUATE Computer scientist a few years ago, bandit in 2014; that’s how life turned out for 24-year-old Mahendra Sukull,who was shot dead by police on Monday night during the robbery of a Montrose, East Coast Demerara supermarket.

Sukull, called ‘Vickey’ of (Continued on page 27)

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Sunday December 21, 2014

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Europe told ‘rise to your responsibilities’ …as Int’l Decade for People of African Descent approaches Pro-vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies and Chairman of the Caribbean Reparations Committee, Dr. Hilary Beckles, recently delivered a feature address to the United Nations in New York, USA, as that international body gears to usher in the International Decade for People of African Descent.

This auspicious commemoration which commences on January 1, 2015 and concludes on December 31, 2024, is geared at promoting several aspects of African culture and life following the systematic destruction of same during centuries of African enslavement, specifically by European nations.

To a gathering of prestigious personages including Sam Kutesa, current President of the United Nations General Assembly, and members of international civil societies among others, Dr. Beckles declared that the legacy of slave societies are still alive and well today.

Beckles thus urged European

nations to remove their heads from the sand and take responsibility for the legacy which still plagues the descendants of Africans.

Beckles said that today societies are at the dawn of this 21st century, and “humanity still struggles to come to terms with the legacies of the crimes committed against its African family. Aspects of these legacies are as alive today as they were two centuries ago.”

He said that everywhere that African enchainment and enslavement became the basis of societies and economies, their descendants today cannot assume the human right to breathe the air of freedom and justice.

“Plantation slave drivers and overseers have been replaced by public prosecutors and militarized police, and the human right to life, denied Africans during the 400 years of the barbarity called chattel slavery, continues to be contested.”

The racism that informs that contestation defines and distorts the primary social

relations of humanity, he opined. He reminded that, “In 1781, the English Law Lord, Judge Mansfield, in an effort to purge African enslavement from his homeland, and to confine its vulgarity to the colonies, insisted that his country folks at home should breathe neither the foul air of slavery nor endure the stench of its stain.

Today, 233 years later, millions of African descendants are still breathing the foul air that blows from the stench of slavery. In their quest to inhale the free air of justice and democracy they are seized by the throat and their breath taken away in a fashion reminiscent of centuries ago.”

“I can’t breathe,” Beckles said, has now become the universal ideology of the African diaspora, most vocal in the United States of America where African descendants are brutally policed in their pursuit of social justice, economic enfranchisement, and existential dignity.

“No longer do we have to

watch the construction in movies of the destruction of black life, nor journey to the journals of history to see and read of this deadly mentality, bred in slavery, legally at work, officially sanctioned, and in triumphant celebration. We see it every day in our streets as they go about our daily business.”

Humanity cries for the victims of these crimes, he sympathized.

“We cry out for humanity’s descent, deeper and deeper into the despair of the dungeon that is the legacy of African enslavement – the greatest crime against it, in and before modernity.”

There has been a steadfast refusal by the beneficiaries of these crimes to formally recognize their nature and nurture. It is this refusal of recognition that drives the legacies of these crimes into our social realities and facilitates life taking policing in communities, said Dr. Beckles.

“This denial stands undiminished in the face of a mountain of evidence that

Dr. Hilary Beckles cries out for ownership, responsibility and accountability. Denial and silence are now the mother and father of a new generation of hate crimes, squeezing black life from already impaired lungs. They are today’s breath takers, as hate and greed were in earlier times.”

The Reparations Chairman went on to say that,

“The names on the cold, stone-like face of silence and denial must be known and called to account. Portugal continues to deny its slavery crimes, yet we know that this nation was the largest shipper of enchained African bodies across the Atlantic. To Portugal we say “Rise to your Responsibility”.

Great Britain denies, yet Continued on page 32

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Book Review Review:: Reviewer: Dr Glenville Ashby Battered and impoverished, many have written off Haiti. A blighted nation, forever caught in the jaws of doom, they have concluded. But in this deftly edited compilation of essays that captures the history and culture of a people after the devastating earthquake in 2010, such apocalyptic musings are clearly absent.

This seminal work is compartmentalized. Essays fall under four categories: ‘Survivor Testimonies’, ‘Politics, Culture and Society’, ‘History’, and ‘Haiti and Me’.

The slew of brilliant and articulate ‘presenters’ are understandably nostalgic, wrenchingly pained, but markedly optimistic and defiant, almost in locked-step with the people of whom they write. No doubt, Haiti will rise again, they predict.

Notably, there is no one single offering that eclipses another. Every writer soars, each perfecting a chosen theme and serving as a passionate griot and a reservoir of social conscience.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

Haiti: The never-ending struggle Book: Haiti Rising: Haitian History, Culture and the Earthquake of 2010 Editor: Martin Munro They complement each other, avoiding a trite, repetitious and laboured endeavour.

Jason Herbeck’s ‘When There Is No Echo’ sets the stage with a loud depiction of the unyielding fury of that fateful day. His writing is edgy, raw and alarmingly vivid. It’s revelatory, capturing the depth of human suffering. Its prosaic brilliance is unmatched. He pricks the senses, leaving readers confounded and disturbed.

How can a nation, already painfully bruised, be at the receiving end of more misfortune? His opening salvo captures the chills he experiences long after the earthquake.

“Two months later, the voice still rings clearly in my ears. At once haunting and now strangely familiar, it is that of an older woman whose shrill, raspy cry carried into the deep blue sky over Port-auPrince during the days following the earthquake.

Although I heard it from a small courtyard surrounded by cement walls, the piercing refrain reached swiftly and without refrain.”

But there are some themes

that are indelibly cemented long after the last page is turned. In ‘Religion in PostEarthquake Haiti,’ penned by Leslie G. Desmangles and Elizabeth McAlister, a riveting interreligious dynamic is clearly defined. Indeed, an event of biblical dimensions as echoed by then US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, deserves an explanation, especially in a region steeped in religiosity, if not superstition. Was it an act of fate, of nature, or of God? US evangelist Pat Robertson is convinced that God is the puppeteer of Haiti’s Holocaust, a punishment, no less for a nation culturally drenched in Voodoo. This is an essay that showcases the hubris and self-righteousness of evangelical groups that offer help, but for a price. A shameless and repulsive quid pro quo.

And there is their penchant to use force, to erase Voodoo from their midst. This speaks volumes. Theirs is a vexing, vacuous, and medieval approach to a mundane issue. Ironically, the belief of Voodoo practitioners:

that deforestation and pollution were the undercurrents of the disaster appears more realistic. The Roman Catholic Church, hit hard by the maelstrom also offers a more sobering explanation.

Masterfully, Desmangles and McAlister have examined enculturation and the emergence of syncretic religious beliefs as reflected in Catholic-Voodoo relations, and the degree to which religious beliefs are driven by natural disasters.

In ‘Port-au-Prince, I Love You,’ writer Matthew J. Smith serves up a chronicle from the top drawer. It is emblematic of the paradox that Haiti has become. There was an era when Haiti was that fountain quenching one revolutionary thirst after another. It was a one-time showcase of ethnic pluralism and a theatre with unimaginable artistic and literary appeal. Haiti mesmerised and inspired politicians, activists and notable writers, even amid economic embargoes, invasions, diplomatic isolation and a slew of dictators that pillaged an already wobbling economy.

Haiti was the citadel of regional consciousness, indirectly affecting politics in Jamaica through J. Robert Love and the pioneering work of writers, such as J. Montaque and Rudolph Bonitto. “Haitians,” Smith writes, “never needed the affirmation of others to realise how special their capital was.”

And although there is an undercurrent of hope, his words are cautious: “This is their Port-au-Prince: a broken shell that can no longer protect them. The children of history now live a dystopian nightmare choking on the

smell of death around them.

And in ‘Art in the time of catastrophe,’ Madison Smartt Belle delves into the Haitian artistic archetype. It reads more like the psychoanalysis of a people than an art review.

The writer’s observation is telling, as it raises questions on the collective consciousness of a nation, from which inspiration is tapped. Haitian artists subconsciously feed off each other, surrendering their individuality for a singular cultural identity.

Bell discusses the liberating attribute of art and how it serves as a panacea for a pained nation. Of the shared consciousness of the artist,

he states, “The presence of a shared unconscious creates an opportunity for the soul to be freed from the self, from the egoistic limits of the “I.” In Haiti it’s an extraordinary force, one of which the First World is no longer familiar, the force which has brought and will bring Haiti back from the worst of disasters.”

Other renditions of the Haitian experience follow with like colour, mood and authenticity.

The result is a compelling statement on a nation’s existential struggle. But an overriding question remains: Can Haiti really untie the knots of oppression? The writers featured in ‘Haiti Rising’ surely hold fast to an optimistic view. A leap of faith, some might argue. But surely, the resilience and creativity of the Haitian people should be enough to discredit naysayers. That Haiti will emerge from the ashes of despair may not be illusory, after all.

F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby Haiti Rising: Haitian History, Culture and The Earthquake of 2010 Edited by Martin Munro Publisher: UWI Press, Jamaica, West Indies A v a i l a b l e : w w w. u w i p re s s . c o m / Amazon.com ISBN: 978-976-640-2488 Ratings: Highly recommended

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So you’re having chest pains; Is it a heart attack?

- Here’s what Dr. Zulfikar Bux has to say about this issue Chest pain is one of the most common complaints that patients present with at the Emergency Room. It’s not always straightforward to figure out the cause of your chest pain, and the work up can be straightforward or become tedious.

There are numerous causes of chest pain; from acid reflux to the morbid “heart attack”. We will all have an experience with chest pain at some point in our lives.

Determining if it’s a heart attack is not easy, but knowing if you’re high risk for a heart attack may help you decide on your need for medical intervention.

A heart attack, which is medically known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when there is insufficient blood flow to a part of the heart causing injury to the muscles of that area. This is usually due to a blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart.

This blockage would have developed over time, usually from fat and cholesterol deposits. One of the common symptoms associated with having a heart attack is chest pain.

more with acid reflux.

DIFFUSE CHEST PAIN The chest pain from a heart attack is usually more diffused, while chest pains from other systems are generally more fixed.

MIGRATION OF CHEST PAIN Having chest pains that radiate up your neck, arms, jaw, or to the right or left side of your chest, increases the likelihood of it being a heart attack.

AGGRAVATING FACTORS Usually, chest pains that Dr Zulfikar Bux The chest pain associated with a heart attack can be varying, but over time medical experts have found certain characteristic traits of the pain that increase the likelihood of it being a heart attack. We will now analyze the features of a chest pain which may indicate it being a heart attack.

NATURE OFTHE CHEST PAIN A chest pain from a heart attack is usually described as a tight, squeezing, or heavy pain. Pain from breathing is sharper in nature while burning pain usually goes

come on after exertion, stressful situations or cold weather, are more indicative of a heart attack than other causes.

Chest pain aggravated by a cough is most likely respiratory in origin, while those aggravated by spicy meals may be from origins in the stomach.

CHEST PAIN ASSOCIATION Chest pain associated with sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, fatigue or fluttering of the heart, increases the likelihood of it being from a heart attack.

DURATION OF CHEST PAIN Chest pains lasting for more

than five minutes increase the likelihood of it being a heart attack when compared to those lasting less than 5 minutes.

The more of these characteristics you have, the higher the likelihood of you having a heart attack. In addition to chest pain, there are other factors which increase your risk of having a heart attack. We will discuss them in a subsequent article.

It is important to also know that if you’re having chest pains with no immediate relief, its best to visit a physician for a second opinion.

Understanding the characteristics of one’s chest pain is very helpful to physicians when they are questioning a patient to determine their risk of a heart attack. The more you know about your chest pain, the better it is for you, your doctor and of course, your heart.

(Dr Zulficar Bux is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Vanderbilt University and Medical Center and holds the position of Head of the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.)

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Sunday December 21, 2014

A wife strangled in Germany... Europe told ‘rise to...

From page 22 already called him to inform him of Nekescia Rouse’s murder. He alleged that without mentioning the double-murder, the policemen said they wanted to search the premises.

“One detective said that he saw blood on my clothing.

They took my sandals, because they said they saw blood on the sandals. No blood was ever found on my belongings.”

According to his story, without being read his rights he was booked; and without ever producing a writ, police kept him in custody for over 72 hours.

“I never thought that I would spend the next six days and nights handcuffed and locked behind prison walls.”

He said that he was moved

from one police station to the next…”every day, sent to someplace more inhumane.”

On February 20, 2009, he was eventually released on $100,000 station bail. The former soldier says that police never returned his belongings.

Investigators apparently are yet to unearth any tangible evidence to implicate anyone in the double-homicide.

He insists that he could not have committed the heinous double-murder without someone spotting him, since there is only one way in and out of the area where the victims lived.

But the ex-soldier complains that although “my integrity has been cleared,” there are still some individuals who continue to tarnish his name. He was reportedly also threatened a few months ago.

“I’m constantly vilified.

Wherever I go I’m accused of being a murderer,” he says.

You know what? I’ve spoken to killers before. I’ve spoken to a guy on death row; an affable, smiling guy, who they say gutted a woman like a fish and tied a crankshaft and cement block to her body so it could sink in the Demerara River. He says he didn’t do it.

There’s another gentleman —an upright individual in society— who

missed death row by the skin of his teeth. I believe, in my bones, that he strangled an 11year-old girl and tried to make it look like suicide. He says he’s innocent.

And at the time when I did that interview, I wasn’t sure if this man was innocent or not.

But about a week later, I spoke to a pastor who told me about a disturbing encounter he’d had with an individual who was questioned by the police about this case. The pastor told me that the individual had issued violent threats to him.

That interview left me with a sense of unease, an eerie feeling that the circumstances surrounding a strangled woman in Germany, and two others young women knifed to death in Guyana, may possess a common thread.

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. Our numbers are 22-58465, 2258473 and 22-58458. You need not disclose your identity.

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

From page 29 we know that it was the greatest profit maximizers and extractor investor in African slavery. To Great Britain we say “Rise to your Responsibility”. France denies, yet we know that it fought the bloodiest war of all to prevent enslaved blacks from breathing the air of liberty, fraternity.

Haiti emerged the leading global symbol of black freedom, resilient and respected, but covered in the ash of French retribution. To France we say “Rise to your Responsibility.”

The Dutch deny, yet we know that they were first to develop the trade in enchained African bodies as a modern, global, corporate enterprise.

To the Dutch we say, “Rise to your Responsibility”. Spain denies, yet we know that the Spanish were first conceptualized and practiced the idea that African enslavement should follow the genocide they imposed upon the natives of these Americas.

Norway and Denmark, not to be left behind, joined in and prospered, as did the Royals of Russia and the Aristocracy of Austria who were as financially enriched as the beyond the scenes slave investing Swiss and Swedes.”

All of Western Europe, Dr. Beckles declared, combined with their ‘American’ colonies created the cradle of western financial modernization based upon the most lucrative sustainable investment of all times – the enchained, enslaved African body as commercial property.

This silence of the enslaving nations, and their political allies, must be broken and their denials ended, Beckles insisted. “Then, and only then, will African descendants breathe freely the air of life and justice.”

The International Decade for People of African Descent was resolved on December 23, 2013 under the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”.

The main objective of the International Decade is to promote respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for people of African descent, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

(To be continued next Sunday)

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Cutting loose the shackles of the past: Cuba and the US

By Sir Ronald Sanders The US is cutting loose the shackles of the past by establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba after 53 years. But the first blow in the Western Hemisphere against those shackles was struck by four governments of the English-Speaking Caribbean.

Today that single act should be a source of great satisfaction to leaders who put themselves, their governments and their countries at risk for a principle in which they believed.

In 1972, Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal, then Foreign Minister of Guyana, told the Cuban Foreign Minister, Raul Roa, “Trust me”. The exchange took place on the eve of a meeting of Foreign Ministers of NonAligned countries in Guyana. Cuba was then almost completely isolated in the world and especially in the Western Hemisphere following the US diplomatic and trade embargo of 1961.

In the Hemisphere only Canada and Mexico retained any relations with Cuba.

Ramphal’s reassurance to Roa was in response to the Cuban Foreign Minister’s statement that he had brought to the Non-aligned Foreign Ministers’ meeting “a draft Diplomatic Relations Agreement”. Roa had done so because G u y a n a ’s t h e n P r i m e Minister Forbes Burnham had intimated his interest in “discussing” diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Recording this landmark moment in his memoir, “Glimpses of a Global Life”, Ramphal recalls telling Roa that Guyana would establish diplomatic relations with Cuba “but would prefer to give the three other independent EnglishSpeaking Caribbean countries the chance to join us in doing so”.

Within three months, Ramphal, on behalf of Burnham met, in the following order, the leaders of Jamaica, Michael Manley; Trinidad and Tobago, Eric Williams; and Barbados, Errol Barrow.

Ramphal’s appeal was “to justice, to history, to regional solidarity”. Together the four leaders announced that they would “seek the early establishment of relations with Cuba, whether economic or political or both”.

The decision these leaders took was no easy

Sir Ronald Sanders one. The ‘cold war’ feud between the US and the Soviet Union was raging, and the countries of the Americas - with the exception of Cuba – were subject to coercion by the economic and military power of the US. Further, the US was still very much in the mode that the Caribbean was its backyard. Therefore, the powers in Washington were accustomed to dictating the dominant order in the Region and toppling those they disliked. The leaders’ decision required vision and courage. But, most of all, it required unity.

The leaders did act in unison, recognising the leverage that a joint position gave. The result was that four small English-Speaking nations did what much larger and stronger nations were reluctant to do.

They collectively bucked the might of the US for what they thought was right.

So, on 8 December 1972, the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba was announced by Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago s i m u l t a n e o u s l y.

As Ramphal recalls in his memoir, “The effect of this sovereign collective Caribbean act of principle was immediate.

The hemispheric embargo of Cuba was not just dented; it collapsed. Today, Cuba has formal diplomatic relations with 160 countries”. And, momentously, it will shortly add to the list, the nation that has been its longest adversary and nemesis, the United States of America.

The people of the Caribbean have every right to be proud of the position that their leaders took 42 years ago. The diplomatic boycott and trade embargo was wrong-headed when it was implemented and it continues to be unreasoning now.

It should be recalled that in 1961, the US government (Continued on page 42)

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Interesting Creatures‌

The White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced to New Zealand, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Bahamas, Lesser Antilles, and some countries in Europe, such as Finland, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. In the Americas, it is the most widely distributed wild ungulate.

In North America, the species is widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains, but elsewhere, it is mostly replaced by the black-tailed or mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). In western North America, it is found in aspen parklands and deciduous river bottomlands within the central and northern Great Plains, and in mixed deciduous riparian corridors, river valley bottomlands, and lower foothills of the northern Rocky Mountain regions from South Dakota and

Wyoming to southeastern British Columbia, including the Montana Valley and Foothill grasslands.

The conversion of land adjacent to the northern Rockies into agriculture use and partial clear-cutting of coniferous trees (resulting in widespread deciduous vegetation) has been favorable to the white-tailed deer and has pushed its distribution to as far north as Prince George, British Columbia.

Populations of deer around the Great Lakes have also expanded their range northwards, due to conversion of land to agricultural uses favouring more deciduous vegetation, and local caribou and moose populations.

The westernmost population of the species, known as the Columbian white-tailed deer, once was widespread in the mixed forests along the Willamette and Cowlitz River valleys of western Oregon and southwestern Washington, but today its numbers have been

considerably reduced, and it is classified as nearthreatened.

Some taxonomists have attempted to separate whitetailed deer into a host of subspecies, based largely in morphological differences.

Genetic studies, however, suggest fewer subspecies within the animal’s range, as compared to the 30 to 40 subspecies that some scientists described in the last century.

The Florida Key deer, O. virginianus clavium, and the Columbian white-tailed deer, O. virginianus leucurus, are both listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. In the United States, the Virginia white-tail, O. virginianus virginianus, is among the most widespread subspecies. The white-tailed deer species has tremendous genetic variation and is adaptable to several environments.

Several local deer populations, especially in the southern states, are descended from white-tailed deer transplanted from

White-tailed deer various localities east of the Continental Divide. Some of these deer populations may have been from as far north as the Great Lakes region to as far west as Texas, yet are also quite at home in the Appalachian and Piedmont regions of the south.

These deer over time have intermixed with the local indigenous deer (O. virginianus virginianus and/ orO. virginianus macrourus) populations.

Central and South America have a complex number of white-tailed deer subspecies that range from Guatemala as far south as Peru. This list of subspecies of deer is more exhaustive

than the list of North American subspecies, and the number of subspecies is also questionable. However, the white-tailed deer populations in these areas are difficult to study, due to overhunting in

many parts and a lack of protection. Some areas no longer carry deer, so it is difficult to assess the genetic difference of these animals.

(Source: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Cutting loose the shackles of the past: Cuba and...

(From page 34) had other options before it, but rejected them. Among the options was to recognise the Fidel Castro-led government and to engage in the development of the country.

By discarding that option, the US opened the door to heavy-handed Soviet influence in Cuba; to the Castro government building-up a fortress mentality in defence of itself; and, as part of the latter, a stifling of dissent and criticism which worsened over the years.

Only the most hardheaded and belligerent of the anti-Castroites in the US, or anywhere else, would disagree with President Obama that “we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values through engagement”.

Over the last 53 years the US has expended a great deal of resources in pursuing what Obama has rightly described as “an outdated approach that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests”.

Those resources could have been better spent on advancing the social progress of Cuba, demilitarizing the government, and allowing Cuba to fulfill its potential for economic prosperity and been a greater contributor to Caribbean and hemispheric social development than it now is.

Nothing can stop the establishment of diplomatic relations now, and not even a Republican President in 2016 would contemplate such a move. In fact, the Presidential candidates of both the Republican and the Demo-

cratic parties would be quietly delighted that Obama has taken this particular iron out of the fire. However, Obama now has an uphill task to get Congressional approval to end fully the commercial, financial and economic blockade of Cuba that is codified in US law.

A few Cuban-Americans, who are now members of Congress, will oppose lifting the embargo. But, businesses in the US have long been upset that they have been blocked from commercial transactions in Cuba while Canadian, Mexican and European Union companies have been investing, acquiring and profiting.

Those US businesses want a share of a big market that is only 90 miles from their shore. So businesses will be a counter-force to the antiCastroites.

In the meantime, there are executive measures that Obama can take to ease the embargo, and clearly he intends to do so.

Of course, there will be consequences of all this for Caribbean countries that will have to sharpen their tourism and export strategies and improve their climate for US investment.

But that is a subject for another column; for now, the Caribbean’s people should reflect on how by working in unison their leaders of the time helped to correct a grievous hemispheric fault and brought a large measure of respect to their nations.

(The writer is a Senior Fellow at London University)

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during a heated argument at their Block ‘E’, South Sophia residence on August 6, 2012.

According to reports, the accused shared a turbulent one-year relationship with the victim before she was eventually killed. Gilgeous’s body was discovered by relatives who ventured into the apartment building in search of her. Lo Hing was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence, but maintained that he was innocent of the crime.

From page 27 Ramtahal Street, Prashad Nagar, was positively identified Tuesday, hours after he and former policeman Warren Blue were shot dead during an armed confrontation with policemen.

There are reports that instead of surrendering to the lawmen after he was cornered inside the Lahago Supercentre, Sukull unwisely tried to shoot his way past them and was subsequently taken out.

Sukull’s involvement in the crime and subsequent death came as a shock to many of his friends who are at a loss as to why someone who had a potentially great career ahead of him would venture into armed robbery.

According to reports, Sukull came from a decent family and attended private school all the way up to the secondary level. He then gained a Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Guyana, after which he embarked on many private jobs that reportedly paid him well.

40-FT. WHALE WASHES ASHOREAT KITTY Workers attached to the Ministry of Public Works and Police ranks had their work cut out for them as hundreds of curious persons converged Tuesday morning to view the remains of a 40-ft Sperm Whale. The massive mammal was discovered ashore at the Kitty Seawall, in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy.

It was almost as if there was a national event at the seawall as the presence of the dead whale attracted large crowds of young and old spectators and a massive traffic jam.

Onlookers braved the rain as they snapped photos, retrieved skin as souvenirs, and even climbed onto the whale’s back. The whale had reportedly been struggling in Guyana’s waters for some

time. According to an official from the National Wildlife Management Committee, Annette Arjoon, this fact was brought to their attention since Sunday last.

THURSDAY EDITION TWO MONTHS AFTER AG THREATENS K/NEWS… DPP’S STILL PUSSYFOOTING ON DECISIONTOPROSECUTE - “HER INACTION REFLECTS HER POLITICAL PREFERENCE” – DR. DAVID HINDS Given the inaction by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, in the matter involving Kaieteur News and Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, a group of concerned citizens staged another demonstration outside the DPP’s office on Wednesday.

They were continuing to voice their disapproval at her handling of the issue.

More than a month ago, the AG was recorded issuing threats to the Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall and his staff. The issue has since been filed and is awaiting recommendation from the DPP on whether the charges will be pressed against the AG. Among the protestors were Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall, Chartered Accountant and Attorney-atLaw Christopher Ram, political activist Dr. David Hinds and columnist Frederick Kissoon.

While at the demonstrations, Dr. Hinds recommended that the best course of action for the country is to have Ali-Hack removed from the offices of the DPP and conduct a commission of inquiry on the matter. Hinds stressed the need for an audit of all the public offices in the country, stating that it will take a long time to “clean up the mess in the country.”

According to Hinds, this

mess has compromised constitutional offices, like the DPP. They have been politicized by the government thus resulting in their ineffective dispensation of their duties.

JUDGE GIVES GIRLFRIEND KILLER 83 YEARS Any plans of spending Christmas outside the walls of the Georgetown Prisons, ended abruptly for Paul Anthony Lo-Hing on Wednesday after he was sentenced to serve 83 years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend, Shoala Gilgeous.

Lo-Hing, a resident of South Sophia, was facing retrial for the murder before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed twelve-member jury at the High Court in Georgetown.

Lo-Hing’s last trial was conducted before Justice Diana Insanally; it ended in a hung jury hence the retrial.

According to the evidence provided in court, Lo-Hing strangled Gilgeous

FRIDAY EDITION JEALOUS CANE-CUTTER SLAUGHTERS THREE – ONE CRITICAL A jealous cane-cutter slaughtered his wife’s lover, his mother-in-law and nineyear-old step-daughter after forcing his way into a house at Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, at around 00:30 hrs Thursday.

The alleged killer, identified as Joshua Franklin, also hacked off his spouse’s left hand at the wrist and chopped her about the body before fleeing the scene.

The woman, Geeta Boodhoo, was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she underwent surgery.

Those killed were identified as 55-year-old Bibi Zalima Khan; her nine-yearold granddaughter, Ashley Boodhoo, and the alleged lover, Floyd Drakes, 30, all of Tuschen.

According to information received, Joshua Franklin smashed his way through the louvre panes of the house he once lived in with his reputed wife, four children and two step children, before beginning his rampage.

KAIETEUR NEWS IS A VICTIM OF STATE

TERRORISM – DR. THOMAS At a Working People’s Alliance (WPA) symposium held Thursday, Professor Emeritus Clive Thomas spoke profoundly about what it means for Guyana to have a sitting Attorney General who vehemently threatened an institution. In Dr. Thomas’ eyes, Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s actions have further descended the country into a criminalized state. Upon such basis, Dr. Thomas said that Kaieteur News (KN) is a victim of state terrorism.

The recently retired professor told this to approximately 150 persons who gathered at the National Library’s conference room.

The event was a symposium that focused on “prorogation and its aftermath.”

Former Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge and Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram also spoke at that event.

SATURDAY EDITION ANOTHER MAN KILLS WIFE A woman was brutally killed on Friday, allegedly by her husband. Dead is Mohanranie Udaray, called ‘Sherry’, 28, a mother of one of lot 17 Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

The woman was found with a wound to her neck after she was allegedly involved in an argument with her reputed husband. She was found lying in a pool of blood in an unconscious state.

It is understood that the woman who is a housewife, hailed from Black Bush Polder and was living with the 43year-old man said to be a boat captain on one of the small boats that ply the Corentyne River to Suriname.

According to reports, the

couple lived in the upper flat of a two-storey house. The woman had been the victim of constant abuse.

PRES. RAMOTAR’S PRESIDENCY HAS BEEN NOTHING BUTA COMPLETE FAILURE GRANGER After assessing the performance of President Donald Ramotar’s administration for the past three years, Opposition Leader, David Granger unequivocally concluded that the government has been nothing but a complete failure.

The Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), made this statement to members of the media on Friday at his end-of-year press conference, which was held at the Herdmanston Lodge, 65 Anira Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

Granger asserted that Ramotar, in a friendly review of his tenure conducted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) on December 12, described his three-year tenure of office as ‘mixed’.

The politician reminded that Ramotar was sworn in on December 5, 2011, but opined that the reality is that his Presidency is worse than ‘mixed’ for it has simply failed in its most vital aspects.

He cited some of these as democratic governance, public security, youth strategy, control of public finance, public health strategy and infrastructural plans.

Granger said that President Ramotar will be forever remembered as the one who inflicted the greatest damage on parliamentary democracy by his November 10th, prorogation of the Parliament.

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Potassium-rich foods cut stroke, Addressing death risks among older women medication usage

and non-adherence (From the desk of the Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman)

Postmenopausal women who eat foods higher in potassium are less likely to have strokes and die than women who eat less potassium-rich foods, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.

“Previous studies have shown that potassium consumption may lower blood pressure. But whether potassium intake could prevent stroke or death wasn’t clear,” said Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Ph.D., study senior author and distinguished university professor emerita, department of epidemiology and population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. “Our findings give

women another reason to eat their fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are good sources of potassium, and potassium not only lowers postmenopausal women’s risk of stroke, but also death.”

Researchers studied 90,137 postmenopausal women, ages 50 to 79, for an average 11 years. They looked at how much potassium the women consumed, as well as if they had strokes, including ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, or died during the study period. Women in the study were stroke-free at the start and their average dietary potassium intake was 2,611 mg/day. Results of this study are based on potassium from food, not supplements.

The researchers found: · Women who ate the most potassium were 12 percent less likely to suffer stroke in general and 16 percent less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke than women who ate the least. · Women who ate the most potassium were 10 percent less likely to die than those who ate the least. · Among women who did not have hypertension (whose blood pressure was normal and they were not on any medications for high blood pressure), those who ate the most potassium had a 27 percent lower ischemic stroke risk and 21 percent reduced risk for all stroke types, compared to women who ate the least potassium in their daily diets. (sciencedaily.com)

When we visit the doctor and medication is prescribed to us to manage whatever disease affects us, one of the major problems which happens over and over is the use of the tablet for a few days then we stop using the medication because we feel a bit better, or we stop using the tablet because it has not stopped the problem instantly. This is a major problem in Guyana and many parts of the world. We however need to be educated a bit more on the reason why we are taking a particular drug, how it will help us, and what the side effects are.

Many Guyanese feel that if they have no symptoms from a particular disease, the disease will not harm them.

This is truly a myth, as some very common diseases in Guyana like high blood pressure and even cholesterol do not present with any symptoms/bad feelings. By not using medication, this allows the diseases mentioned to further damage your heart and vessels.

One common experience which has affected all Guyanese from time to time occurs when we have a relative or friend that was not previously sick and one day we hear or got a call that the particular person has gotten a heart attack or just collapsed

and died. This is a shocking call at all times and most untimely. However this would be due to the fact that the person had an underlying disease such as high blood pressure and cholesterol or other silent diseases and was not managed with any medication or used the tablets whenever they felt like it.

Non-adherence to medication is a huge public health problem, according to a World Health Organization report published in 2003 which stated that in developed countries adherence rates averaged 50%. I can only imagine what our adherence rate in Guyana would average, but I could imagine it would be very low, based on the patients I see daily and their adherence to medication prescribed.

I would also speculate that hospital admissions are related to medication adherence as persons who do not use their tablets would have to return to the hospital due to their illness getting worse. In the USA between one-third and twothirds are related to poor medication adherence or usage.

From high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, our risk increases significantly, and also increases our chances of becoming disabled or dying directly from these diseases. Some persons constantly come to our office saying their pressure has only gone up 10 or 20. Believe it or not, this is

Dr. Reyaud Rahman also significant as 10mm Hg in systolic and every 10mm Hg increase in diastolic pressure double your risk of having a stroke and ischemic heart disease.

It is strongly advisable to use all medication which is prescribed by a doctor. If you have side effects from a particular tablet, return to the doctor and explain what your problems are. If you do not feel satisfied with your doctor, see another doctor, it is your right to choose a health care provider who you are comfortable with and who treats you with the respect that you deserve.

The most important thing is to continue to use tablets for your illness and use all as directed. If you do not use the tablets you will not feel better and your illness will get worse, and in some cases lead to premature/ early death.

Let us prevent this from happening and change the way we look after ourselves and our families. Encourage and ensure that our loved ones take their tablets. Some illnesses will not disappear, but they can be managed, and we can continue to live normal healthy lives by using our tablets.

Skipping meals increases children’s obesity, cardio metabolic risk Children who skip main meals are more likely to have excess body fat and an increased cardiometabolic risk already at the age of 6 to 8 years, according to a Finnish study.

A higher consumption of sugary drinks, red meat and low-fat margarine and a lower consumption of vegetable oil are also related to a higher cardiometabolic risk. “The more of these factors are present, the higher the risk,” says Ms Aino-Maija Eloranta, MHSc, who presented the results in her doctoral thesis at the University of Eastern Finland.

The dietary habits, eating behaviour and dietary determinants of excess body adiposity and cardiometabolic risk were

investigated in a population sample of 512 Finnish girls and boys 6 to 8 years of age participating in the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study.

Cardiometabolic risk was assessed by a continuous metabolic risk score computed using Z-scores of waist circumference, fasting serum insulin, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Children who skipped meals and ate more protein were more likely to have excess body fat.

Uncontrolled eating behaviour, such as eating fast, emotional overeating and a lower satiety responsiveness

were also associated with higher body adiposity.

The study also showed that most children’s diet was far from ideal. Less than half of the children ate all three main meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner - every day.

Instead, snacks were a major source of energy and sucrose.

A minority of the children

consumed vegetables, fruit and berries as recommended.

As many as a quarter of the children consumed sugary drinks daily.. The intakes of saturated fat, sucrose and salt were higher and the intakes of dietary fibre, vitamin D and iron were lower than recommended among the children. (sciencedaily.com)

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Chris Brown says SORRY to Rihanna goes topless for sizzling Karrueche Tran as break-up photoshoot and claims: “Any man takes ANOTHER public twist that tells me what to do is sexy!”

Chris Brown appears to have had a change of heart after publicly dissing his girlfriend Karrueche Tran. It comes after he accused her of going on dates with Drake while he was in jail which led to them announcing their split.

But Chris has now said sorry for his actions and once again blamed his behaviour on being ‘young and dumb’.

In yet another Instagram post, the singer wrote: ”Being young and dumb is one of my strong suits and emotional at best. I love hard and react impulsively when I’m hurt at times.

“I don’t think social media is a place to air out or hash out personal problems and a n*** feel hella WACK for doing it. “ So I AM APOLOGIZING I live in a glass house and the same s**t that makes me great also is my curse.

“Everybody know I love that girl. I don’t care how my image my look to the public because I’m still gonna be the best at what I do. I just want baby girl to know I apologize!”

On Friday he wrote that

she had only visited him once while he was in jail.

In response to his accusations, model Karrueche wrote: “I refuse to be repeatedly mistreated by someone that claims to love

me. That’s not love. And if that’s what you define as love then I don’t want it. If you can’t love me the right way then don’t love me at all. Don’t be mad at me because I prefer to be happy.” (mirror.co.uk)

Beyoncé’s ‘DRUNK IN LOVE’ lawsuit is just her latest scandal

One year after the release of her self-titled album, Beyoncé’s music is being closely analyzed yet again and not, this time, from her Beyhive.

The singer is one of many who’s been accused of sampling without permission throughout her career.

Questions of authorship and of sampling are particularly pernicious and difficult to solve in the recording industry; just this month, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Beyoncé’s

husband Jay Z for his sampling of a single syllable from a funk song. A new lawsuit filed by Hungarian singer Mitsou alleges that Beyoncé, Jay Z, and producer Timbaland used her song “Bajba, Bajba Pelem” at the start of “Drunk in Love.”

While musicians of all stripes can get hit with lawsuits given the unclear standards around sampling and the ephemeral nature of authorship, Beyoncé’s been hit more frequently than many of her contemporaries. Being

queen, it’d seem, has a headache-inducing cost - as several of her songs and videos have come in for criticism. “Baby Boy”: One of Beyoncé’s first solo singles was alleged by songwriter Jennifer Armour to bear substantial similarities to her “Got a Little Bit of Love for You,” which had been submitted as a demo to Beyoncé’s label. “Armour cannot prove Beyoncé had access to Armour’s demo tape before composing the allegedly infringing elements of her own song,” the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in a decision declining even to address the songs’ similarity.

“If I Were a Boy”: The lead-off single for Beyoncé’s album I Am… Sasha Fierce was penned by songwriter BC Jean, whose own version of the song was rejected by her record label. After Beyoncé discovered the song and recorded it, a Fox News gossip columnist wrote that Jean had been “strong-armed

by Beyoncé’s people.” (www.time.com)

The pop star, who leaves little to the imagination in a shoot for Elle magazine, also reveals she is actually SHY in a new interview. It’s wellknown that Rihanna likes a bad boy - she dated Chris Brown after all.

And now the pop star has revealed if she wasn’t a famous singer, she would be a wife, and she loves being bossed about by the opposite sex, saying: “Any man that tells me what to do is sexy!”

We think a few feminists might have a thing or two to say about that. In what is being advertised as one of her most shocking interviews to date, the 26-year-old star, who looks flawless in her new cover photo and spread for Elle Magazine, also revealed she is terrified by the thought of giving birth.

She also says her greatest hangover cures are: “Ice, Chinese food! And an upsidedown trash can and towels, preferably next to the toilet.”

Interesting. We wonder how many times she’s had to set that up in her bathroom.

RiRi looks stunning in a number of designer outfits on the cover of the magazine and in the accompanying shoot, including a gorgeous

yellow dress and a breathtaking lace black gown.

The brunette beauty also claims people’s biggest misconception of her is that she’s overly confident when in fact she’s actually SHY. Who would have thought it?

In the December issue of the title she opens up about fame, her upcoming eighth studio album, her plans for the future and how she was left star-struck when she met Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul.

(mirror.co.uk):

Nicki Minaj’s ex-boyfriend becoming suicidal over break-up The ex-boyfriend of Nicki Minaj is taking their break-up INCREDIBLY hard ... to the point he’s having suicidal thoughts.

Safaree Samuels is confiding in friends that he’s an emotional wreck over his breakup with Nicki after a 12year relationship. He’s become a shut-in, spends days and nights smoking weed, and has talked openly about suicide.

Safaree is telling friends he won’t get in touch with Nicki because she’s now hooked up with Meek Mill.

He says it’s torture for him, because he believes Meek Mill destroyed his relationship with Nicki over false claims he cheated.

Safaree’s friends say they’re scared these are more than idle threats. They’ve urged him to see a shrink. The problem ... he’s seeing one whom he says has been giving him meds that make him even more emotional. (www.tmz.com)

Sunday December 21, 2014

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US$18M Hope Canal set for Dec. completion More than two years past the deadline, a $3.6B manmade canal critical to help drainage on East Coast Demerara, is nearing completion with just few minor works left to be done.

A c c o r d i n g t o Government officials on Friday, contractors are concluding a few aspects on both the canal and the high level discharge sluice in time for the December 31 deadline.

The project was launched in October 2010 and funded directly from the coffers - an initiative that Government said was the largest of its kind using public funding.

The Hope Canal, as it is known, linking the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) and the Atlantic Ocean, on the north, was conceptualized after the crippling 2005 floods which left East Coast Demerara under water and billions of dollars in losses.

According to Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in a Government statement giving an update on the project, which had been delayed time and again, Hope Canal which many viewed as almost impossible, and which was heavily criticised, is almost operational.

During an inspection visit to the project Friday, Ramsammy noted that the entire project has been under intense scrutiny and criticism, and by very experienced professionals.

“We are thankful for their ideas; we are thankful for their input, but sometimes we all have to come together when we are doing important things; things that are needed; things that are new.”

He called for the older,

experienced engineers to help the younger ones. ”Guyana will not be able to stand as is. If we are going to progress we will have to bring new things that many of the young engineers may not have had experience with, but so too have the old experienced professionals.”

Whilst the project benefitted from input a b o a r d , i t w a s conceptualised, designed and constructed by Guyanese professionals.

Ramsammy insisted that 20 years ago such a project w ould not have been possible in Guyana.

“Even if we had conceptualised it then, we would have had to bring in international consultants, international engineers to design and even bring international contracting firms. This thing was built by a Guyanese contracting firm with Guyanese staff and was designed and put into place by Guyanese professionals.”

Accompanying Minister Ramsammy on the site visit was Chief Executive Officer (CEO,) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA,) Lionel Wordsworth, who noted that the authority is currently concluding some remaining aspects of works on both the canal and the high level discharge sluice, for the December 31 deadline.

The super structure of the high-level sluice was expected to be completed yesterday.

He noted that the eight gates are already in place and what would follow are the installation of the lifting mechanism, the cementing of the very top and the construction of a control room, all of which are expected to be tied up by year-end. All that will

A view of the Hope Canal Bridge, completed in February 2014

Excavator completing the tying of the embankment to the bridge and the high level discharge sluice

The Hope Canal eight-door high level sluice at the Atlantic Ocean end which is almost completed. remain is some landscaping work that will be done in the New Year.

Wordsworth said that at the head regulator, during the week, the engineers started opening and closing the gates. “Not (by) allowing water to come through, but to make sure that they close freely the way we want to before we make that final cut in the conservancy dam to

make that connection to allow water to come into the channels.”

The engineers are also working on connecting the canal to the two other structures. “We would have had in place, whilst construction was going on, some accesses across the channel to allow movement of equipment, fuel and such, and we are now in the

process of removing those and tying the embankment to the bridge, and of course the high level discharge sluice,” Wordsworth explained.

Government is also working to cut a new access road for residents who live in the area.

All the super structure of the Hope Canal project is set to be completed by December 31. The project

itself will become operationalised in early 2015, the Government statement said.

The $3.6B, fourcomponent project comprises a canal, a highlevel sluice outfall structure, a conservancy head regulator and a public bridge. The latter was completed and (continued on page 62)

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Sunday December 21, 2014

Gunman shoots New York Overseas-based Guyanese take Christmas cheer to BV children cops, one dead, other critical Santa Claus distributing gifts at the Beterverwagting Daycare Centre

In an effort to spread Christmas cheer in their hometown, some overseasbased Guyanese have donated a number of gifts to more than 110 children in the village of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

The donation ceremony was organized by Edgar Henry and Sadhu Hoppie, yesterday afternoon.

Both men are Beterverwagting natives who have been making such

donations to the local children for nine years. The occasion saw the distribution of gifts by Santa Claus to the excited kids of the Daycare and other children of the village.

Henry, a New Yorkbased Guyanese, said that he hopes his involvement can inspire a sense of “giving back to the community” within the children.

“My father was the Headmaster at the local

government school when I was younger,” explained H e n r y. H e s a i d t h a t throughout the years he and other Baronians (natives of Beterverwagting), have been contributing to development in the Village. He said that they would like to see the new generation continue their legacy.

The Daycare Centre in which the donations were made was a result of funds raised by the Baronians and Friends organization of the United States.

A teacher at the Daycare, Yvette Somerset, described the donation as a huge benefit to the village children, especially those who don’t normally receive gifts for the season.

“It helps many children have a good Christmas,” said the teacher. “Not all of them are able to have the Christmas that so many other children are used to.”

A New York City police officer was killed and a second officer was in critical condition yesterday after they were shot as they sat inside a patrol car.

The attack took place in Brooklyn at around 3 p.m., the New York Daily News reported.

“The perp came out of the houses, walked up behind the car and lit them up,” a high-ranking police official told the Daily News.

An NYPD spokesman confirmed to Fox News that two officers were shot in the incident and were immediately moved to a nearby hospital. Police later told the Associated Press that one of the officers had been pronounced dead.

The New York Post reported that both officers were shot in the head at point-blank range.

“It’s an execution,” one law enforcement source told The Post. The gunman just started “pumping bullets”

into the patrol car, another source said.

The suspect then fled to a nearby subway station before he was shot and killed. It was unclear whether the suspect was shot by police or committed suicide. The shooting comes at a time when police in New York and nationwide have been criticized by some over the circumstances surrounding the chokehold death of Eric Garner, a black man who was stopped by police for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.

Demonstrators around the country have protested since a grand jury decided on December 3 not to indict the officer involved in Garner’s death, a decision that closely followed a Missouri grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

S e v e r a l N e w Yo r k officers were assaulted during demonstrations,

including one that drew thousands to the Brooklyn Bridge.

The president of the police officers union, Patrick Lynch, and Mayor Bill de Blasio have been locked in a public battle over treatment of officers following the decision not to indict the officer in Garner’s death.

Just days ago, Lynch suggested that police officers sign a petition that demanded the Mayor not attend their funerals should they die on the job.

The last shooting death of an NYPD officer came in December 2011, when 22year veteran Peter Figoski responded to a report of a break-in at a Brooklyn apartment. He was shot in the face and killed by one of the suspects hiding in a side room when officers arrived.

The triggerman, Lamont Pride, was convicted of murder and sentenced in 2013 to 45 years to life in prison.

DPP has compromised...

(From page 3) further erosion of confidence in certain offices. He emphasized a g a i n t h a t t h e O m b u d s m a n ’s r e p o r t reveals how compromised the integrity of the DPP’s office is.

Hinds said that the office of the DPP is very important especially in a political system that is continuously affected by certain irritants. He said, too, that the judicial system is important to the functioning of a democratic society. Dr. Hinds also criticized the inaction by

the DPP following the police report that they sent a file to her office on the damning threats against the staff and Publisher of Kaieteur News by Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

It has been over a month since the file is said to have been with the DPP and it continues to languish in her office.

The political activist said that in any democratic state such a matter involving public security with regard to a national newspaper should have been dealt with expeditiously.

He said that the

unsatisfactory action by the DPP on the matter leaves much to be desired.

More importantly, he said that the delay could suggest that “she (AliHack) is not in charge.”

Hinds is not the only one. A letter writer, Cecil Thomas, last week called on the DPP’s husband to explain why the NBS fraud was discussed at the CIOG and why his wife, the DPP, was present.

If he refuses to answer, Thomas suggested that the current CIOG President, Mr. Fazeel Ferouz, should then provide a comment.

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Kaieteur News

Achievers’ Academy takes Christmas cheer to GPHC Paediatrics Ward

Two fifth form students of Achievers’ Academy donate some of the quilts they made specially for the children of the GPHC paediatrics ward Tw e l v e f i f t h f o r m students of Achievers’ Academy of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, brought early Christmas cheer to patients of the Paediatrics Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital, on Friday.

In the company of about three senior teachers and the owner of the private learning institution, Miss Carol Ann Munroe, the students donated teddy bears, toys, entertaining games, quilts they made along with story

books that focused on the birth of Jesus Christ and the history of Christmas.

One student read one of the books to a young boy while another fifth former gave a teddy bear to another child in the paediatric ward.

Munroe said that the school has always been involved in charitable activities but this is the first time that it has taken the joys of this festive season to the hospital.

One student, Ronaldo

Fernandes, said that he feels happy to know that he can bring delight to the children of the Paediatrics Ward.

“Our teacher always tells us that it is important to learn to care about others and not just ourselves. I feel very happy to just be here and let these children know that people out there still care about them. I don’t know what some of them are in here for but I want them to feel the Christmas spirit no matter what they are facing,” he remarked.

Mrs Munroe asserted that she is pleased with the efforts of her students who were very eager to participate in the event. She assured that it would not be the school’s last visit to the patients of the GPHC.

Sunday December 21, 2014

‘A’ Division second best cop promoted For some ranks in the Guyana Police Force, being promoted during their first five years on the job is almost impossible but things turned out a bit different for one policeman.

In a very short time, Constable Derwin Eastman, became a Police Corporalthis is something that doesn’t happen often.

He was given an ‘on the spot’ promotion by the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.

Eastman, who became a policeman in 2012, was commended for his exemplary work in the force on Friday last at the Brickdam Police Station annual Christmas luncheon and awards ceremony.

E a s t m a n , t h e ‘ A’ Division second best cop, was responsible for the solving of 11 urders in the division, two attempted murders, 55 robbery under arms, 19 robbery with violence,10 narcotics cases and 28 simple larceny cases.

He was also responsible for the arrest of 16 wanted persons and he managed to recover three stolen motor cars.

This year’s second best cop had a total of 376 arrests.

He was the rank responsible for the solving of the October 19 murder of Abdool Saleem Aziz, the 23year-old Electrical Engineer who was gunned down in front of his Delhi Street, Prashad Nagar home.

For that, four men from Sophia are in prison.

Eastman walked away with a number of prizes including a 32-inch flat screen television, a bicycle, jewelry and two trips, among other things.

Corporal Eastman (left) and Anthony Lowe m He smilingly accepted his tokens on Friday but when the Commissioner announced that he is now a Corporal, the young cop was visibly shaking.

In an interview yesterday, Eastman said that he is still overwhelmed. He said that the promotion came at a “nice time” for him and his family.

Eastman, who was 2013’s best cop, said that he will be aiming high next year.

Walking away with the best cop award was Anthony Lowe, a CID rank stationed at the Brickdam Police Station.

He was responsible for recovering of eight firearms

and the solving of a number of high profile murders within the district.

Lowe was one of the ranks, who worked assiduously to solve the brutal slaying of 43-year-old businessman, Ashook Ragghu.

Ragghu, of Lot 77 Pike Street, Campbellville, was shot in the chest while his wife, Shyrazadi Ragghu was robbed of $4M. She was also shot to her thigh.

For that murder, several persons were placed before the court.

Lowe said that he is very happy to be the Division’s best cop for the year. He said that he too will be aiming high.

Police warn: No reprieve...

From page 10 initiatives in respect to law enforcement. He is urging the public to inform the police and to report to any senior officer if the police do not take action.

He also stated that action will be taken against

those playing loud music in vehicles, especially those in parked vehicles outside popular ‘hang out’ spots and along Main Street, New Amsterdam. “As long as the law permits, action will be taken. The police are already monitoring some of

those areas.”

With respect to those bent on selling and lighting squibs and bombs during the Christmas season. The police will step up the campaign against those persons and they will be prosecuted again.

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

US woman indicted for defrauding illegal Guyanese, CARICOM nationals US (CMC) — United States law enforcement authorities have indicted a woman who allegedly promised green cards and work permits to undocumented Caribbean immigrants.

They said Nickya Wittington, also known as Nicky John, 27, has been charged with stealing US$12,850 from the immigrants.

The Brooklyn native was charged after she falsely promised to help an undercover detective obtain the same documents.

“This defendant is accused of preying on some of the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, adding that the Immigrant Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case so as “to stop such opportunists from targeting undocumented individuals”.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement New York special agent, James T. Hayes, said: “This defendant’s alleged actions served not only to victimise immigrants attempting to comply with federal laws, they also threatened to undermine

An American woman has been indicted for defrauding illegal Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals. confidence in the federal government.”

Thompson said Wittington has been arraigned by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which she is charged with first-degree scheme to defraud, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree attempted grand larceny, fourth-degree grand larceny and petty larceny.

She was ordered held on US$5,000 bail and to return to court on February 4, 2015.

If convicted of the top count, she faces up to seven years in prison.

According to the indictment, from June 10, 2014

to December 9, 2014, Wittington falsely claimed she could obtain green cards and work permits for the alleged victims in exchange for about US$7,000 to US$10,000, and allegedly took down payments ranging from US$1,000 to US$6,000 cash to get the process started.

The victims, who were originally from Guyana, Jamaica, Ghana and Liberia, met the defendant through mutual acquaintances, Thompson said.

The defendant was charged after allegedly taking US$3,250 from an undercover detective posing as an undocumented immigrant in exchange for a green card.

‘Uncensored 6’ promises rib-tickling entertainment

Two of the acts that are due to tickle the audience at ‘Uncensored 6’.

The most anticipated show of the year is back. In its sixth edition, UNCENSORED will be staged on December 27 and 28 at the National Cultural Centre.

The show provides a showcase for young standup comedians.

Its dual emphasis is on “discovering” great comedic talent with the purpose of promoting it to both the entertainment industry and to the Guyanese public, as well as, showcasing the works of seasoned professionals and well-known stars such as Henry Rodney, Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones, Leza ‘Radika’ Singh, Kwasi ‘Ace’

Edmondson, Odessa Primus and Kirt ‘Chubby’ Williams.

UNCENSORED is the largest live stand-up comedy show in Guyana. While it targets an adult audience, the past five shows have all been sold out, featuring over 20 performers who provided killer comedy every single time.

‘UNCENSORED 6’ promises to be no different with a line-up of promising debutants such as Michael Ignatius, Max Massiah, Brian Goodman, Sean Thompson, Mark Luke Edwards, Savitri Singh and Patrick Chanderban.

They will compete on

December 27 for the coveted title of King or Queen of Uncensored Comedy and for three spots on Sunday night.

It will be stand-up comedy unleashed and at its best.

Tickets for the show cost $1000 (balcony); $1500 (auditorium rear); and $2500 (auditorium front) and are available at the National Cultural Centre; Giftland OfficeMax; Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop; Gizmos and Gadgets; Payless Variety Store; Nigel’s Supermarket and from Sir Mars.

The laughter starts at 20:00h and patrons are advised that dress code is in effect.

Page 61

GECOM commissions new office at Charity With elections imminent in the New Year, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has officially opened a new office, at Charity, Pomeroon.

The building which will house a number of employees was constructed at a cost of $15M. To facilitate the official opening of the new Essequibo office, yesterday, Deputy Chief Elections Officer Mr. Vishnu Persaud, and Logistics Manager, Mr. Colin April, attended a simple ceremony at the new Charity office.

Also in attendance were

Registration Officer attached at the Anna Regina office, Roxanne Smith and Mr. Doodnauth Singh.

Persaud said that it was necessary for GECOM to have acquired a permanent office especially in Charity, Essequibo since registration of persons in that district is important in the light of brewing elections.

He called on the staff to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times, being civil to people who would be visiting the office for registration and other purposes, since the image of GECOM’s is one to

be protected, and one which further transforms to elections management.

Persaud said that the new Charity office will serve residents of Paradise, Charity and persons in the Pomeroon River. Activities will be heightened as elections activities intensify.

The Guyana Elections office was first established in October 2005 at Charity. The new GECOM office was completed on November 12.

Prior to the new and permanent office, staff members were housed in the Agriculture Extension Center, at Charity.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

LET’S PUT THE SPIRIT OF GOODWILL BACK INTO CHRISTMAS

By Ralph Seeram It’s called the season of goodwill, a season when relatives and friends should forget their differences and join in celebrating the birth of Christ. No doubt Christmas has lost its religious significance, hijacked by commercialism, but never the less it has transitioned into universal celebration.

For me Christmas is also a time for reflection, sometimes

very sad, as you realize that there are some friends and relatives not around anymore, not as fortunate as you are to celebrate another Xmas.

Christmas is that time of the year when we remember friends and relatives even though we did not “break a voice” to them during the year. We take our time to write cards, or as some do these days send greetings electronically, then we discover than some that were

on our list last year have transitioned this life.

Whatever we wanted to tell the departed becomes too late. We had the opportunity to tell them while they were alive, but as usual we waited until Christmas, when it’s too late.

Too often we do not realize that the spirit of goodwill should be a year round event, not just for individuals but for big business also. In Guyana you probably read how so and so company brought Christmas cheer to some orphanage, senior citizens home or some poor communities.

The problem is that those individuals or communities need our goodwill throughout the year.

And while we are at the subject of giving, I wonder where or when the spirit of giving gifts to children was hijacked by us adults. Now it’s not a children’s affair; we grown-ups feel that we should also be getting gifts as if we are kids also.

Time was when you gave the family or household a gift.

That was it, one gift for the family. Now it has transitioned to individual gifts for each member of the family or household. We now feel that we are obligated to give and receive gifts, then we complain how Christmas has become expensive. Those of us in the Diaspora know how expensive it is when we get our credit card statement at the end of January.

For the past few years,

with the exception for the immediate family, my gifting has been restricted to the needy, the people more in need, people where the gift is not an ornament sitting year round it the house, but what would make a direct impact on them economically.

I do not buy gifts; I do not have the patience for it; I can’t be bothered if this person would like this, if this will fit, and whether it’s a fitting gift. I do monetary gifts; to be honest its fewer headaches for me. In any event most of my monetary Christmas gift goes to Guyana.

And speaking of Guyana I was lying in my grandson room’s cuddling up with him and telling him that he has got to be nice or Santa would not bring him any toys, and believe me he doesn’t need another toy.

He promptly informs me that there is no Santa; that his gifts are already under the Xmas tree.

You can’t even fool a five-yearold about Santa these days.

As I sat watching the unlimited number of toys in his room (believe me you can shop in his room for toys) I reflected on the dark days of the 70’s in Guyana when I wanted to buy toys for my two kids. There were no toys,

this is no joke. There were no imported toys. The only toys that were available were locally made wood toys.

Those black cakes were also made with locally made fruits.

(They still are).

When one looks back on those dark days of the 70’s and 80’s this generation of Guyanese has a lot to be thankful for compared to their parents. Despite the faults of the government (and since it the season of goodwill we will leave that subject for another day) Guyanese have very little to “bitch and moan about”.

Just take a walk down Regent Street in Georgetown. There was a time when at Christmas those stores will have only essentials in stock such as rice, sugar, oil and little else.

There was nothing like Xmas trees, (I made mine, actually my wife made one from a black sage tree) lights, toys and the plethora of goods both Christmas and non Christmas goods. When I reflect on this I can’t help but say that Guyana has come a far way from the dark days of the 70’s and 80’.

In the spirit of goodwill I am asking you my readers to

remember the friends and family you are not on speaking terms with. Pick up the phone, or if easier send them an email greeting, a card, Skype or Ovoo or all the other modern means of communication, which by the way is so easy now. Don’t hold grudges; break the” ice”.

After all, who knows if you or, for that matter, they will be around come Christmas 2015.

By then it would be too late.

You don’t want to be like people crying over the deceased who while alive they had not spoken to in years.

So this Christmas Day as you celebrate in true Guyanese fashion, pepper pot, roast pork, garlic pork, curry duck or lamb, black cake or fruit cake, be thankful to your God for his blessing, and remember the less unfortunate.

For you my readers, my friends in Guyana, the Sukhraj family, Gregory, Joey, Adam and some of you, and you know who you are, have a very Merry Christmas.

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

$3.6B Hope Canal set to ...

From page 57 commissioned last February.

The 10.3km canal will allow excess water from the conservancy to drain into its via the three-door sluice at that end, and run along the excavated channel and spilling into the Atlantic via the eight-door high-discharge sluice structure.

Government had signed a

contract with consulting firm CEMCO on March 19, 2009 to deliver design options. The value of that design contract was some $56.4M. Using long-boom excavators, Government turned to its engineers for the canal but had contracted out the bridge and the sluices to private construction firm.

To justify the project,

Government had argued that East Demerara area alone, in the MMA section, there is an estimated 30,000 hectares earning US$1,000 per hectare, which translates to around US$30M. If half those crops are lost when the flood waters are released on the land, that would account for US$15M in lost revenue – the cost of the project.

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

ACCOMODATION SIGNATURE INN: Luxury Suites & Apartments. Free Wi-Fi & Breakfast; AC & Self Contained Rooms @ 83 Laluni Street Queenstown.

Tel: 592-226-2145

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045

VACANCY Work from home & earn $5,000-$20,000 daily; www.jobfairworldwide.com Tel:233-6517; 622-1957; 9am5pm Mon-Fri & Saturday 10am-4pm Male & female workers: managers, accountants, checkers, salesperson & housekeepers @ RA Soda Factory – Call: 330-23992772; 623-5920 Exist for one accounts clerk; apply in person at Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

Immediate: Ice machine operators (training provided) & night security to work @ Ice Factory in Meadow Bank – Call: 2311408; 642-9191

Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves.

Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL: 6294946 OR 225-4822 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 Services & repairs to gas stoves, washing machines, electric stoves, deep fryers Call: 688-0183

CANTER DRIVER/ SALESMAN and Factory Assistant living on E.B.D, free accommodation also available. 266 4427

Cake ordering: Black cake & sponge cakes – Contact Mandy: 656-1818

Experienced salesman/ driver 3 CXC Subjects including Mathematics, apply with 2 references, valid police clearance & driver license – Call: 2333512 Pump attendant at Shell Providence E.B.D (shift work) 5AM-3PM & 3PM12PM

Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

LEARN TO DRIVE

HEALTH Money Back guarantee; cleaner, clearer younger looking skin in two weeks, also flatter stomach – Call: 684-9409; 699-4211

Office clerk & domestic needed to work in Trinidad must be single & have secondary education – Call: 1868-2840586; 1868-6831528 Cashier able to work flexible hours and have CXC Maths, send application to jobs@awngy.com

EDUCATIONAL

American Pool Table – Call: 277- 0578

Pre- Christmas Give away $25,000 OFF 9 Course Computer Diploma.

Promotion ends this week!

Micrographics, Vreed- EnHoop. Call: 264-3057

CATERING Monica’s Finger Licking Bar-B-Que, any amount to order- Call: 661-6793; 6772482

Free Course on getting to know your bible. Write to “Rev” J. Devonish, PO.BOX102526; Georgetown Guyana.

FOR SALE/RENT

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, (SALE) & MORE, JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW - CALL: 675-0767, 667-2535

Page 63

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

Exercise equipment: Treadmill, cardio, bicycle, infant bed, swing & high chair – Call:600-1329 2 German shepherd, puppies, eight weeks, fully vaccinated, mother black & father white Contact: 626-0953 Complete Snapper Boats for sale – Excellent Condition – Contact: 648-6815; 641-4506 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 PICK YOUR PIG! CHOOSE YOUR SIZEAND WE WILL HAVE IT READY! CALL: 266-2711 OR 609-4594

Business place for rent at Lot 7 Durban Street Lodge, Price $25,000 – Call: 687-5324

400lb 5 inch Catguts seine for sale – Contact: 220-7655; 6959860; 698-8998

Rooms & apartment in Eccles; rooms in Alberttown – Call: 225-3234

Two AT192 for sale – Call Shawn Bishop on: 699-9381 or 691-9835 Evinrude outboard engine (new) 3-15HP; Can-am ATV 4X4 500cc; Sea Doo Jet-Ski 1500cc with trailer - Tel: 6003171; 648-3171

3 Bedrooms house at 19 Goedverwagting. E.C.D opposite Pradoville, 2 months deposit upfront.

Call: 222-9098 or 614-9516 for details 1 Modern warehouse facility in central industrial area 8000sqft ware house facility 5000 per month – Contact Annie: 695-0333 Property for rent in Bel-Air Park – Call: 694-6606 Two and one bedroom apartment; furnished or unfurnished @ Eccles “AA” – Tel:686-5625 Office space @ Kitty – Call: 652-8322 Three bedrooms; 1 self contained house with A/C, parking, full furnished, young professional Scheme Eccles - $1700US neg. Call Sonia: 666-4882 Business space @ Middleton St. C/Ville – Call: 650-0716; 667-7836 1 Upper flat 3 bedrooms apartment @ Ixora Ave. Eccles - $80,000, available February 2015, serious enquiries – Contact: 905-216-8822, email: questions4eccles@yahoo.com One bedroom apartment in Grove E.B.D – Tel: 687-7376

XBOX 360 4GB - $40,000, XBOX 360 20GB- $45,000, XBOX360 250GB - $55,000 with original games/ controller – Call: 683-8386 1 – Nissan canter; needs repairing, going cheap$500,000.00 – Call: 228-5655; 628-1756 20ft fibre glass boat and Toyota Spacio- Tel: 617-3001

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Parika (Butcher Shop Street) - One (1) Lot 38' X 150' $ 7m Contact 650-0402 - for serious inquiries

Toyota Mark 2 - $2.2M neg.

BMW 318i - $2.2M neg.

Toyota Tacoma (RHD) (Auto/4WD) - $1.2M neg. – Call: 653-2005 R1 2007; Candy Red motor cycle, never fall; 40 original paint 1100 miles $7,000US or best offer – Call: 623-4045

Blankenburg @ The Back Of Gas Station (3) Lots @ 75' X 76' Each. $20M for all 3 Lots.

(1) Lot for $10m - Contact 650-0402 Prime water front land located at Port Kaituma/ North West, approximately (110ftX100ft) business spot - Contact: 601-5500; 693-9348 Parfaite Harmonie - $1.3M, $1.5M & Business spot $3.5M, Herstelling - $5M, Providence - $5M, Grove $2.8M – Call:675-7292; 6522018 Blankenburg, Public Road W.C.D (38ftX150ft), (39ftX150ft) - $16M each; Back Street, Unity Street La Grange W.B.D 85X750- $16M Call: 666-3619 Mahaica Creek: River Front, 5 Acres - $5M - Tel: 600-3171; 648-3171 Three Acres transported house lots and 1 Acre rice land @ Golden Grove W.C.Berbice – Call: 603-2095

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM Untouchable car rental: low rates, low deposits – Call: 677-4613; 226-9668

Portable sawmill fully hydraulic Th30-25 Timber Harvester – Call: 261-2553 Stalls at Robb Street & Bourda –Contact: 695-1359 between 9am -11am Tibetan Terriers pups (FLUFFY) – Call: 222-7891; 609-9202.

New/used salon equipment for sale, excellent conditionCall: 664-5401; 615-5343 Imported German shepherd and Siberian huskies for sale – Call: 664-5401; 615-5343 Christmas Sale: Dell/HP Computer with 19" LCDs, laptops - $55,000 @ Futuretech – Call: 231-2206

PROPERTY FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie: one house lot with a 10-10 concrete building $1.1M neg. Call:6139196

LAND FOR SALE

MASSAGE Massage Therapy - Call: 6748147

PROPERTY FOR SALE Six acres prime roadside land and metal workshop in Corriverton, can be sold with or without workshop.

Call: 626-6245 One house & land in hope low land, E.C.D, one house & land in Bloomfield Berbice Call: 689-5254; 256-0504 2-Storey concrete house, virtual 2 units, 55 section ‘B’ Non Pariel, E.C.D Quick Sale Call: 651-8901 House & Land @ Cemetery Rd. Helena No.1 Mahaica E.C.D. Land (65FTX150FT) $13M- Tel:689-0820, 6743902 Two storey; 2-3 bedrooms apartment at Tuschen H/ Scheme East Bank Essequibo – Contact: 6502982

Pitbull bus ($3.2M) Verossa - $3.7M, Noah- $2M (All new) – Call: 603-9700 SALE! SALE! SALE! New model Spacio (2005) TV, Front & back camera; fully loaded - $2M- Call: 6427295 Spacio 2004, Body Kit, rims, camera, spoiler, dark interior, crystal light, new shape (unregistered) – Tel: 6175536 1 - L-Touring Wagon; HB 9912, price $1,050,000 Neg. Call: 680-4990 Christmas Sale! 2003 Toyota Premio - $2.2M; never registered – Tel: 617-2891 Toyota Prado, Price$5.5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 One ford IVECO sand truck with Cummings Engine, GNN Series, excellent condition, owner leaving country - Call: 604-6860, 643-2911 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 Nissan Titan 4X4; fully loaded; good condition; price $2.5M neg. Call: 6201026 1 Toyota Rav4; year 2000 - $2M neg. PKK Series; great condition - Tel:612-8803 One Rav Four vehicle in good condition; PKK series; Price $1.7 M or any near offer Contact: 611-7104 Blowout Sale! – Unregistered 2007 Madza Axela - $2,350,000 – Crystal Lights, Alarm, Steering Wheel Audio Control . Call: 643-6565, 2269931 Blow Out Sale!!!

Unregistered Toyota IST $2,200,000- Bodykit, TV, Spoiler, Fogs, Alloy Wheels, Crystal Lights & Alarm – Call: 643-6565, 226-9931 One Yamaha Rava125 Motorcycle and Kinlow KL110 motorcycle – Contact: 682-3942; 615-6474 or 6788236 Newly registered Toyota Allion with Body Kit – Call:667-4774 (Continued on page 64)

Page 64

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

Education Ministry focuses on vulnerable in newest Strategic Plan (From page 63)

TO LET One upper flat 2 bedroom concrete apartment at Grove New Housing Scheme (First Bridge) - $45,000 per month Call: 642-1956 Newly constructed 2 bedrooms apartment in safe environment – W.C.D- Call: 698-6496 Queenstown: newly constructed office space, air conditioned, washroom & kitchenette included.

500sqft - $80,000 Tel: 6003171; 648-3171 LARGE 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT, LARGE VERANDAH, PARKING FOR 2 VEHICLES @ LAMAHA GARDENS $80,000 MONTHLY – CALL: 609-8132/ 672-8569 (MAX) 1-Two bedroom apartment, grilled, tiled@ Middleton St. C/Ville - $60,000- Call:6500716; 667-7836.

WANTED One night shift supervisor at shell Providence E.B.D, Submit application to shellramsburg@gmail.com One secretary Guard - Tel: 218-5105 Live in couple: husband for driving & Wife for domestic & Arc/Acetylene welder – Tel: 227-1830 One live in domestic must know to cook Indian Dishes 25-50yrs; salary - $60,000 monthly- Tel: 610-5043 A house lot/ 2 bedroom property to buy on the East Coast/East Bank Georgetown area – Contact Anthony Bowen: 609-6505 One live in experienced waitress must be honest & courteous 18-25yrs; salary $50,000-$60,000 monthly – Tel: 610-5043 Contract vehicles also mini bus and hire car drivers – Call: 645-0025

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel:698-7807; 690-6494

Salesperson 24 -32yrs to work from 5pm to 1am, attractive salary – Contact: 661-5013 Sales person 22-28yrs to work from 3:30am to 9:00am, attractive salary – Contact: 661-5013 Porters, apply at Wieting & Richter Ltd C o o k s , p a s t r y m a k e r, counter clerk; apply to Kiskar Veggie Hut: Camp & Durban Street. – Call:2314971

Priya Manickchand, Minister of Education (centre) and other officials.

Although, from all indications Guyana has been able to achieve respectable rates at the different levels of education, there yet exists a notable challenge in schooling two specific categories of children.

These, according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, are ‘at risk and vulnerable’ children as well as those who have ‘special education needs’.

The Minister said that a primary priority area to help address the schooling needs of the two subgroups is to bring them into school and help them to complete the requisite stay.

But according to Manickchand, once the target students, like those in other normal groupings, are enrolled into the schools system there is also another challenge that exists – to keep them in school. “...Once in school, the focus, even for the two subgroups, would be to maximise their learning achievements,” said the Minister.

Addressing this state of affairs has been carefully noted in the Ministry’s newest Strategic Plan.

The Plan, which will span a period of 2014 – 2018, is one that was designed to cater to all levels within the education

system and will therefore help to guide the operation of the Ministry over the next five years.

Manickchand said that in designing the Plan, a wide variety of stakeholders, both within and outside of the Ministry, were consulted.

This, she said, resulted in the Plan focusing on increasing the learning achievements at all levels of education and for all sub-groups and decreasing the difference in learning outcomes between sub-groups especially students in Coastal and Hinterland schools.

A ccording to the Education Minister, the recognised learning outcomes of primary concerns are literacy and numeracy followed by Science and Technology, subject areas that will be given especially closed attention.

And there might already be significant results in terms of improved attendance rates.

But according to the Minister, quantifying this state of affairs may not be possible at this point as enrolment rates cannot be credibility estimated until the new census data on the size of the population by age has been released.

Nevertheless, she said, “Guyana seems to have

Husband of Ocean View accident victim...

(From page 15) he cleared what had grown around his wife’s tomb in the Paradise cemetery.

“She would have been

cooking a lot of food, baking black cake, sponge cake, whatever. She like those things.”

He spoke to me as if his wife was at home doing just

Overseas-based Guyanese...

From page 59 again next year. I have done it before but this is the first time I’m going so grandiose,” a cheerful Jackman said.

“We’re looking to do this annually and if I could get my Guyanese counterparts to do the same thing as me it would be good. The idea is to come and give back to the kids.” Bowen told Kaieteur News, “I haven’t been to Guyana in fifteen years and it’s such a joy and a privilege to be here and join with Karen to bring joy to the children at Christmas time.”

Jackman and her troopers also got help in pulling off the event from villagers and friends. The Christmas party also provided each child with a sumptuous meal. Each child was given US$1.

The objective of the outreach was to expose children to the festivity of the Christmas season.

that, but I sensed that deep down inside of him, he knew that he was a lonely man for the Christmas.

When I asked him what are his plans for the Christmas now that his wife is no longer there and the fact that they had no children together, his response was to the point; “I don’t know what will happen. I don’t even know if the house will fix away for Christmas because she’s not there. The pain is still there; you must feel a way because we were that close.”

He’s not even too sure if he will be visiting other relatives and friends, so devastated he still is.

But he is sure that some of his relatives will come to comfort him during this period which is bound to cause

him much grief.

But while Tull is grieving, he couldn’t help but think about his wife’s killer 25year-old Hafraz Mangroo, who is said to be a nephew of Education Minister Priya Manickchand.

“I wonder if he’s enjoying Christmas. I would want to know if he would sit down at home and enjoy a Christmas, knowing what he did. I want to know if he family would be happy for the pain he is causing me, when they tek he and send he out of the country,” the grieving husband said.

“If I had done that to their family, how they would’a feel towards me?” he asked.

I thought about my family and I realized how fortunate I am.

achieved respectable rates at the different levels of education.”

The Minister has informed too that there have been clearly identified initiatives to be pursued, with the guidance of the Strategic Plan, that are aimed at achieving six intermediate outcomes.

And, according to her, progress on these outcomes is expected to translate into improved learning outcomes for all sub-groups.

But achieving this goal, the Minister noted, will require, among other things, that the performance of all Government Departments responsible for implementing the Strategic Plan’s priorities are improved.

Also, there will be need for the establishment of a functional accountability system that creates incentives to improve students’ learning outcomes, even as moves are made to improve the quality of school facilities, the quality of teaching and the curriculum.

Also needful, the Minister said, is the availability of teaching/learning materials and the alignment of materials in the curricula of

training programmes, and even an improved and revised curricula that is coupled with increased instructional time.

But according to the Minister, any five-year plan in any sector and in any country is potentially vulnerable to events beyond the sector’s control.

These, Manickchand added, can include political instability in the country, changes in the Government’s priorities on which the Plan depends, and, according to her too, “changes in the priorities can occur when the party in power changes...”

Changes in the Plan could be linked to economic disruptions to undermine the Government’s funding base for the Plan and changes in donor funding, said Manickchand.

And according to her, “any of these events can happen in Guyana over the next five years but their probabilities are judged to be moderately low or low.”

She premised her theory on the fact that the education sector has always been regarded as a major priority, and went on to point out that “with this administration evidencing stable support for the sector we are in the process of refining the costing of this Plan which we expect we will be able to release in publication (form) by mid-January.”

According to Manickchand, over the years of the present administration in office there has been robust support to the education system reflected by at least 15 per cent of the national budget, being directed to this sector.

A few continue to....

From page 9 He said that in this regard, it must be observed that the People’s Progressive Party PPP/C Government has effectively exhausted the limits of its minority status coming out of the 2011 elections.

Thomas said that the PPP/C government “with its authoritarian and criminal admixtures, when faced with a no-confidence motion it could not win, has had to respond to the crisis of governance in the only way it could, with yet further excursions into lawlessness and undermining of the Constitution.”

Dr. Thomas said that objectively, prorogation facilitates the entrenchment of executive financial lawlessness, abuses and irregularities.

He reasoned that if Opposition surveillance of the Executive’s financial misbehavior has been constrained within a functioning National Assembly, then it is very ikely to be much more so following its prorogation.

Furthermore, he pointed out, prorogation quashes ongoing financial matters before the National Assembly; “principally in this regard are Financial Paper 1 of 2014 and possibly others related to unauthorized and excess expenditures for 2014, as well as withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund; the laying of the2013 public accounts for audit; and the Anti -Money Laundering & Countering of Financial Terrorism Act (AML&CFT). As a consequence therefore, prorogation diminishes oversight and control of the Executive.”

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 65

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

PNM puts foot down on San Fernando Easy…

No more time for Manning …Late nominees won’t be screened

Trinidad Guardian - The People’s National Movement (PNM) leadership has made it “absolutely clear” that San Fernando East nominees who submit their papers after the December 22 deadline will not be screened. This rules out participation by incumbent San Fernando East MP Patrick Manning, who will undergo his health assessment between December 23 and 31.

He was awaiting the results before giving his constituency word on whether he would be contesting, or whom he would recommend in his place.

But up to Friday the San Fernando East office confirmed that no one had submitted a consent letter indicating they were interested in being nominated, nor had any party group sent the San Fernando East executive a copy of any nomination. “So if the deadline is next Monday, San Fernando East has no nominees as of now; I don’t

know if this will change by Monday,” San Fernando East PRO Anthony Clarke said Friday.

The PNM leadership’s statement came Friday in a brief release from general secretary Ashton Ford, following signals from San Fernando East that nominations might not come in until early January due to the Christmas holidays. The unit recently agreed to comply with the leadership’s directive to have its party groups submit nominations for the candidacy, despite its desire to have Manning assess his health and inform the unit on January 2 on whether his health would allow him to contest After the San Fernando East executive distributed nomination forms to chairmen and secretaries of the 38 party groups on Thursday, it received feedback that officials did not anticipate nominations until early January—around the same time the unit had initially proposed.

Officials said Friday that the PNM’s constitution states that groups must have a minimum of seven days to submit nominations. After receiving the leadership’s mandate to comply earlier in the week, they met party group officials on Thursday and the seven-day period began from then, they contended. They said that period would end on Christmas day, not December 22.

Following a T&T

Guardian article which noted the constituency’s situation on Thursday, Ford—who said he was going on vacation from Thursday—issued a brief statement Friday. “I wish to make it absolutely clear that the deadline for nomination of candidates for the San Fernando East constituency will close on December 22 at 4.30 pm at Balisier House, Portof-Spain. “Nominees who submit their papers after the deadline will not face the screening committee.”

This means nominations will close before Manning completes his health assessment between December 23 and 31. Unless he gets his assessment and makes his decision by December 22, he will not be among the nominees.

Manning had no comment Friday on the latest development or whether he would expedite his assessment. Clarke was also uncertain if the executive might receive any consent letter or nomination copies this weekend.

“It’s difficult for people to reach party group members at this time,” he said. He said the constituency office, which was to closed for business Friday, will continue to operate up to December 22 to facilitate the process. Nominations are to be sent to Balisier House with copies to the executive.

PNM national executive sources said in situations where a constituency had no nominee, the screening team often sent the unit back to get nominees.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — The government of Barbados last week reiterated its full and complete commitment to the court-approved restructuring plan for CLICO International Life (CIL) and its associated companies.

In keeping with this commitment, consistent with the recommendations of the plan and following the accepted legal requirements governing how such matters are to be dealt with, government, through the ministry of finance and economic affairs, has established a new company to initiate and manage government’s participation in the implementation of the court-approved restructuring plan.

The directors of the company held their first meeting with the minister of finance, Christopher Sinckler, and senior officials of his ministry, at which they were appropriately briefed as to their mandate and responsibilities in effecting the proposed restructuring of CIL. The c o m p a n y ’s directors are expected to meet with the judicial managers to be fully apprised as to the current administrative and financial status of CLICO. Once this part of the process is complete, the initial short-term capitalisation of CLICO through the new company will commence.

Meetings will also be held with all other critical

stakeholders, including the Barbados Association of Policy Holders and Investors (BIPA), as well as national and regional regulators.

The ministry of finance and economic affairs said that, contrary to any impressions that may have been drawn from recent media reports, the government of Barbados cannot under law transfer any financial resources directly to C L I C O o r the judicial managers from the Consolidated Fund.

Such resources can and will be transferred to the new company for the management of its affairs and the execution of the proposed restructuring of CLICO once all of the necessary arrangements are in place.

Patrick Manning

Barbados government committed to CLICO restructuring plan

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

North Korea denies hacking Sony, U.S. stands by its assertion (Reuters) - North Korea said on Saturday U.S. accusations that it was involved in a cyberattack on Sony Pictures were “groundless slander” and that it wanted a joint investigation into the incident with the United States.

An unnamed spokesman of the North’s foreign ministry said there would be serious consequences if Washington refused to agree to the probe and continued to accuse Pyongyang, according to North Korea’s U.N. mission and the official KCNA news agency.

The United States stands by its assertion that Pyongyang was to blame, a White House National Security Council spokesman said on Saturday, in response to the remarks.

On Friday, President Barack Obama blamed North Korea for the devastating cyberattack, which had led to the Hollywood studio cancelling the imminent release of “The Interview”, a comedy on the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In its first substantive response, the isolated North Korea said it could prove it had nothing to do with the hacking attack.

“We propose to conduct a joint investigation with the

President Barack Obama

U.S. in response to groundless slander being perpetrated by the U.S. by mobilizing public opinion,” the North Korean spokesman was cited as saying by KCNA. “If the U.S. refuses to accept our proposal for a joint investigation and continues to talk about some kind of response by dragging us into the case, it must remember there will be grave consequences,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman was quoted as making similar remarks in a statement issued later by North Korea’s U.N. mission.

NSC spokesman Mark Stroh dismissed this, saying: “We are confident the North

Korean government is responsible for this destructive attack. We stand by this conclusion.”

“The Government of North Korea has a long history of denying responsibility for destructive and provocative actions.”

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Friday it had determined that North Korea was behind the hacking of Sony, saying Pyongyang’s actions fell “outside the bounds of acceptable state behavior”.

Obama said North Korea appeared to have acted alone.

Washington began consultations with Japan, China, South Korea and Russia seeking their assistance in reining in North Korea. {ID:nL1N0U32BR] Japan and South Korea said they would cooperate.

China, North Korea’s only major ally, has yet to respond, but a Beijing-run newspaper said “The Interview” was not a movie for Hollywood and U.S. society to be proud of.

It was the first time the United States had directly accused another country of a cyberattack of such magnitude on American soil and set up a possible new confrontation between longtime foes Washington and Pyongyang.

Obama said he wished that Sony had spoken to him first before yanking the movie, suggesting it could set a bad precedent. “I think they made a mistake,” he said.

“NOT CAVED IN” Sony Pictures Entertainment Chief Executive Michael Lynton insisted the company did not capitulate to hackers and said it was still looking for alternative platforms to release “The Interview.”

This week, a spokeswoman for Sony had said the company did not have further release plans for the $44 million film starring Seth Rogen and James Franco.

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 69

Pitbulls crowned Mackeson Remembering Guyana’s...

- with defence of ‘Kings of the Rim’3x3 Basketball title Pitbulls, a four-man configuration out of the Ravens Basketball Club, was crowed Mackeson ‘Kings of the Rim’ Saturday night at California Square, East Ruimveldt after edging nemesis, Pacesetters ‘A’ in another riveting final among the two teams.

In the usual format, the two teams have faced-off many a times, creating some epic duals in the process. This time they took their club’s umbrage to the streets after surviving their Georgetown zone competition and three rounds Saturday night.

National guard, Ryan Stephney took control of Pitbulls’ offence down the stretch to secure a 17-15 win in the national final. With the scores locked at 14-14 and both sides over the allotted foul limit, Stephney pioneered a 3-1 run in the final seconds for the win.

Stephney scored both free-throws in crunch time to push his team to a 16-14 advantage, which ultimately led to the win and most likely the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after finishing with 11 of his team’s 17 points in the game.

Pacesetters ‘A’ have only themselves to blame for the loss after dominating the first five minutes of the game with guard, Travis Burnett putting on a show for patrons. Burnett led Pacesetters ‘A’ to a 7-3 lead with assistance from Royston Siland.

With just over five minutes left on the game clock, Pacesetters ‘A’ accumulated their seventh foul, forcing doubt on defence.

Stephney took advantage of the free passage that was created as a result and led his Pitbulls team on a 9-3 run with three minutes to play.

The rest became history as Pitbulls continued to tear into Pacesetters’ doubtful defence on their way to winning the title they last won in 2012. The dual was a battle among two former champs as Pacesetters ‘A’ is also a former winner in 2011.

Pitbulls bounced away with $500,000 and trophy, while Pacesetters will pocket $300,000 and the runners-up trophy. Each zone winner will also receive $25,000 respectively. The presentation of prizes will be held on Tuesday at Ansa McAl Headquarters.

In their Group ‘B’ final, Pitbulls overcame Colts ‘A’ 15-10 while Pacesetters ‘A’ crushed East Coast-based TRS Raptors 14-5 in the Group ‘A’ final before Pitbulls and Pacesetters ‘A’ faced-off in the championship game.

In the group stages, Pitbulls survived Nikkoloi Smith’s marksmanship to edge Colts ‘B’ 10-9 while crushing Linden-based, Jets 102 in their opening game. Pacesetters ‘A’ maintained their perfect record until the final after beating Linden’s Royals 10-9 and dismissing Den Amstel 12-2.

In other games, TRS Raptors thrashed Den Amstel 11-1 while Colts ‘A’ beat Jets 16-6 to ensure a place in the group final. Colts ‘A’ edged Colts ‘B’ 9-7 while TRS Raptors made light work of Royals 16-1 to decide the top four teams Saturday night.

Sunday December 21, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Aries, you may have been a little difficult to be around lately. You like to treat yourself to a little moodiness from time to time, but the people around you might appreciate a little cooperation.

caused you some pain.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You have the gift of being able to get your great ideas across to others. In your family, you may be the one who teaches your children about life and its responsibilities.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) One thing is for sure, Taurus, you'd rather be in bed with a good book than out in the stressful world.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There may be tension in the air as you go about your day, Scorpio. The leftover fatigue from the past few days is starting to wear on you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your greatest quality is generosity, Gemini. Your nature isn't to give to others in order to get something back but for the pleasure of giving.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) It's important to take a hard look at yourself and know where you're going, Cancer. A little self-analysis never hurt anyone, especially when you feel like you aren't getting anywhere.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You don't live your life by society's rules, Sagittarius.

Your freedom is what is most important to you.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Capricorn, life around you today almost seems like a (bad) dream. It's almost as if people are talking, but nothing intelligible is coming out of their mouths.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Leo, you have a tendency to run away from confrontation, but today you might not be able to avoid it.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You can't spend all your time running from one activity to the next, Aquarius. You need to take a break from time to time.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may feel a little weary today, Virgo. It's a good time to take stock of your life. You may have gotten some news about someone that has

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today's planetary configuration has you wondering about an aspect of your life that causes you a good deal of hardship, Pisces.

From page 67 foreign-based players.

Good news has recently arrived with the announcement this week by the Normalisation Committee that they have activated the Women’s Football Committee of the GFF, to be led by committee member Stuart May. There will be a focus on developing the women’s game at a grassroots level, and engaging communities where women’s football is not played much. Finally, the committee also announced that the Women’s under-23 team will be playing in 2016 Olympic qualifiers next year.

The future of Guyanese football looks bright at the moment, there seems to be definitive and concrete plans put in place by the Normalisation Committee to ensure the long-term development of the game for both Men and Women. For the Women’s team, the dream of becoming the first team

All roads lead to The Port...

From page 69 Corner and Its My Turn.

The G1 and lower 1200M race for the $500,000 and trophy will see the likes of Appealing Harvest, War Craft, Silent Night will renew their battle with Fresh Again Damascus Dream, Princess Alicia, Monsoon, Rosetta, Joyful Victory, Mission King, Royal Empire, It’s My Turn, Bridal Stone Corner and Top Of The Line looking for the win.

Other events will see the two year old event for Guyana bred horses over 1200M for a winning purse of 300,000, the H1 and lower 1200M race for a winner’s money of $250,000, the ‘I3’ and lower 1200M event for a take home pay of $200,000, the J3 and lower 1200M event for a $150,000 first prize.

The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organizers. The coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed junior. Race time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

Another double header set for...

From page 71 of the right upright, goalkeeper Kevon Barry did not have to do anything.

Earlier, Ann’s Grove were denied the chance of doubling the lead owing to some fine work by National Under-17 custodian Quazim Yussuf in goal for Agricola.

from the Caribbean to qualify for a World Cup can begin again, hopefully with a team that contains Guyanese both born abroad and those who

developed their footballing talent in Guyana. With the right infrastructure in place, Guyana’s Lady Jags can roar again.

Simmons, Grant, Hussein...

From page 70 21:10:00) – Bronze medal 200M Backstroke (2:46:98; entry time 2:39:03) - Silver medal 100 Backstroke (1:15:19; entry time 1:13:710) – Silver medal 200M Freestyle (2:24:42; entry time 2:23:61) – Bronze medal Amy Grant (Girls 11 – 12) 1500M Freestyle (24:44:69) – Gold Medal Antonio Hussein (Boys 11 – 12) 50M Freestyle (28:15) CARIFTA -C time – Bronze Medal Raekwon Noel, Ethan Gonsalves, Elliott Gonsalves, Vladimir Woodroffe (Boys 8 and Under) 4 x 50M Freestyle Relay (3:04:69) - Silver Medal Raekwon Noel, Ethan Gonsalves, Elliott Gonsalves, Vladimir Woodroffe (Boys 8 and Under) 4 x 50M Medley Relay (3:34:30) – Silver Medal

Page 70

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

“West Indies must enjoy Christmas 2014 in South Africa anyway!”

Says Colin E. H. Croft Happy Christmas 2014!

Like West Indies in South Africa, try to be safe. If unsure, abort!

WI’s Christmas dinner in SA would probably not taste as well as it should, after Test No. 1, but they could taste, sparingly, of SA’s absolutely magnificent wines.

Remember, Test No. 2 starts on Boxing Day! But, as Jim Belushi also suggested in that great 1980’s comedy ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’, and I always reiterate too; “When all else fails, start drinking heavily!”

This is as good a time for that as any!

Anyway, it is normal, even when WI was at the very top of its game in 1970’s, 80’s and

90’s, to start especially a 1st Test of any series conservatively, for any team would hope to learn on-tour conditions.

However, as adroitly suggested in my preview of this SA v WI series last week, when I highlighted five bowlers, WI selected one bowler too few, only four, and one batsman too many, for Test No. 1 v SA. Over the last decade or so, WI have started Tests concentrating on not losing instead of being aggressive and able enough to think about winning. To those who played in that golden era, that is a concept that is still hard to fathom. Winning was; always should be; the main objective!

On a hiding to nothing, as

suggested by pundits, WI should have come out punching above its weight, purposeful and aggressive, with five bowlers instead of standard four, taking the attack to SA. That is the only way to try to derail SA; get wickets at regular intervals. WI cannot out-bat SA! This reasoning takes on even more importance since three of the four bowlers had to be faster bowlers, and, as is well known, to win any Test, the victorious team must take twenty wickets.

But one also has to be very realistic. Any four of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, yours truly, Malcolm Marshall, Sylvester Clarke and Wayne Daniel, or Curtly Ambrose,

GBA’s Woodpecker Products Annual Christmas Singles Tournament...

Ramdhani siblings dominate

Robin: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Jonathan Mangra: 21-11, 21-11 Narayan Ramdhani defeated Christopher Persaud: 21-6, 21-19 Narayan Ramdhani defeated Avinash Odit: 2111, 21-15 Avinash Odit defeated Ronald Chang Yuen: 21-16, 13-21, 16-21 Jonathan Mangra defeated Christopher Persaud: 2117, 23-21 Jonathan Mangra defeated Ronald Chang Yuen: 21-17, 21-13 Overall Results: Under-13 Girls Singles 1st place- Priyanna Ramdhani 2nd place- Abosaide Cadogan 3rd place- Siya Persaud & Priyanka Shivnauth 4th place- Sudarshini Sooknarine Under-15 Boys Singles: 1st place- Tyrese Jeffrey 2nd place- Ransell

Selector Clive Lloyd, that are really needed to get into especially bowling rhythm, then work-loads were bound to be high. Hence injuries could occur!

Roach has been good for WI, and Taylor, at 30, more mature and a leader, but neither of them could guarantee fitness even when in proper bowling tune. For them, with Cottrell, who had only one Test before No. 1 v SA, to get wickets and control the game, with spinner Benn, was asking much too much.

Hence, one of Shannon Gabriel or Jason Holder, the other faster bowlers on tour, should have been considered, and included, at the expense of a batsman, probably Devon Smith.

Gabriel has played in nine Tests for twenty-two wickets, while Holder only had one game, for two wickets. But if batting was the concern, Holder, a budding fast bowling-all-rounder, might have filled that role with good lower order batting. Leon Johnson could then have again opened the batting.

Johnson got a good debut half century opening against Bangladesh. While SA has the world’s best fast bowler, Dale Stein, and one of the world’s most consistent faster bowlers too, Vernon Philander, as its disposal, with

adversity comes determination. As an opener, Johnson would have coped well enough!

Realistically, if Shiv Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels do not produce massive scores, WI will almost always get less than 300 runs per innings. That, in both innings, almost always guarantees a loss!

Roach’s injury is not as serious as first though, but would cause concerns for Tests No’s 2 and 3, if he plays in them at all. Truth be told, he should be rested from the ODI series, with the bigger thought of proper rehabilitation and recuperation in preparation for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, a bigger event.

WI may not have much to celebrate after Test No. 1, but they must be much more adventurous in team selection for Test No. 2; start with five bowlers; to have a relatively better showing.

Enjoy!

Jason Holder appointed West Indies ODI Captain

Outstanding performers with their hardware Narayan & Priyanna Ramdhani made a clean sweep of titles when the Woodpecker Products Annual Christmas Singles concluded yesterday at the Queens College Badminton Courts with the Round Robin Singles Tournament.

The Ramdhanis won all the Singles events in the different categories and carting off all the first prizes and matches were played in the Under-13, 15, 19 & Open Events. The Presentation was made by Parents present and Mr. Quanli Yang of China Harbour Engineering. The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) thanked Ms Fernandes for making this tournament, which ended the Badminton season for the year, possible once again.

Final day matches were: Under-19 Ladies Singles Round Robin: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Abosaide Cadogan: 21-6, 21-8 Open Men Singles Robin

Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop, were not available, so one has to make do with what one has for selections.

Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell and Suleiman Benn make a decent bowling attack, but probably not one to have had SA shaking in their socks.

Instead, SA’s batsmen filled their boots with runs galore, ending up much more like a long practice batting session than WI would want to accept!

WI were bound to find out that SA’s batting, on the best batting strip in South Africa - Centurion - would have been awesome, even with SA’s two greatest recent run-getting luminaries, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, now permanently absent; fully retired!

Alviro Petersen, Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis, the indomitable Hashim Amla, unbelievably talented AB de Villiers, debutant Stiaan van Zyl and wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock still present a formidable batting line-up for the hosts. Only four WI bowlers for this long line-up were asking for trouble from the get-go.

As none of WI’s bowlers had had what can be thought of as a “good roll-out”, proper preparation games under their belts, as suggested by Chief

Ramsaroop 3rd place- Akili Haynes Under-15 Girls Singles: 1st place- Priyanna Ramdhani 2nd place- Abosaide Cadogan 3rd place- Siya Persaud & Priyanka Shivnauth Under-19 Boys Singles: 1st place- Narayan Ramdhani 2nd place- Jonathan Mangra 3rd place- Ronald Chang Yuen Under-19 Girls Singles: 1st place- Priyanna Ramdhani 2nd place- Abosiade Cadogan 3rd place- Amanda Daniels & Nyckelle Yearwood Open Men Singles: 1st place- Narayan Ramdhani 2nd place- Jonathan Mangra 3rd place- Christopher Persaud & Avinash Odit 4th place- Ronald Chang Yuen

WICRICNEWS - The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday announced that allrounder Jason Holder has been appointed West Indies One Day International Captain. The 23-year-old Holder takes over from Dwayne Bravo.

WICB thanked Bravo for his service to West Indies cricket in the capacity of the ODI Captain after taking over from Darren Sammy a year ago. The recommendation for transition of the captaincy role was made by the Clive Lloyd chaired Selection Panel and was approved by the Board of Directors.

Lloyd said that Holder’s appointment was with an eye to the future.

“Jason is one of the good, young players who we believe will form part of the long-term future of West Indies Cricket. We expect him to be around for a very long time. He is a young man with a very bright future. We have

invested in him. He was part of High Performance Centre and he also played for the West Indies Under-19 Team and the West Indies A Team,” Lloyd said.

“He has played ODIs for the West Indies before and has done well. We know he will continue to grow and demonstrate leadership. He has a very good cricketing brain and has the makings of a very good leader,” said the former legendary West Indies Captain as he gave the stamp of approval to Holder.

Lloyd added: “The selectors decided that now is the time to make the transition and Jason will have people around him to help and guide him. Some might say it’s close to the time of next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but we know that we have a good One-Day team which can do very well.”

Holder has appeared in 21 ODIs and has taken 29

wickets. He is highly regarded in his native Barbados and the wider Caribbean as possessing an astute cricketing mind and desirable leadership qualities. He previously served as Vice Captain of the West Indies A Team. Holder has also appeared in one Test and a T20 International.

His first assignment will be the West Indies five-match series in South Africa which follows the Test and T20 series.

WEST INDIES ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL SQUAD Jason Holder (Captain) Sulieman Benn Carlos Brathwaite Jonathan Carter Sheldon Cottrell Narsingh Deonarine Leon Johnson Chris Gayle Denesh Ramdin Andre Russell Marlon Samuels Lendl Simmons Dwayne Smith Jerome Taylor

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 71

Remembering Guyana’s historic Lady Jags

By Santokie Nagulendran A football team from Guyana has only qualified for a major International tournament once in the country’s history… and it wasn’t the Men’s team.

In 2010, Guyana’s National Women’s team, aptly named the ‘Lady Jags’,

made history by qualifying for that year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup held in Mexico, a tournament featuring the best women’s sides in the region and also serving as qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. As with the Men’s National team, recent years have seen the progression of the Lady Jags halted, but it’s

important to remember the history the Lady Jags created.

The route to 2010’s Gold Cup was not easy for the team; they initially earned wins over St. Vincent & the Grenadines (1-0), Suriname (20), St. Lucia (8-0) and Barbados (3-0,) but eventually finished second to Trinidad and Tobago in their Caribbean qualifying group,

Sunich Memorial trophy presented for Kennard TC Xmas meet top jockey

Ramesh Sunich hands over the champion jockey trophy in honor of dad Neville Sunich to Justice Cecil Kennard.

The Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) will stage it end of year meet dubbed ‘Boxing Day horserace meet,’ on Friday December 26 at their Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne racetrack.

Seven races are carded with the feature attraction for horses in the A3 & Lower category battling for over one million dollars in cash, over a distance of 6 furlongs.

Other races will be for G3 and Lower horses over 5 furlongs, the J3 & Lower, D3 &

lower, J1 & lower and the I1 & Lower among others. As is customary Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall has sponsored the trophy for the best Jockey on show.

This trophy is presented every year at the Kennard event in memory of Sunich’s dad Neville, who was an outstanding rider in his time. Last week Ramesh Sunich handed over the trophy to Justice Cecil Kennard for the top rider.

Triple header football, fund raiser at Linden tonight One of Guyana’s top football clubs Slingerz of West Demerara will invade Linden for a date against Linden’s Milerock tonight at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground as part of a triple header for the on-going Modernisation Committee’s fundraising drive.

Former national club champions Milerock, once the pride of the Mining Town, will be in a specially arranged encounter against Slingerz, which be played following an under-19 game between the best Linden Under 19 players from East and West and a grudge game between Linden’s Masters and their Georgetown counterparts.

The Slingerz side will have among their lineup two of Linden born players in Clive ‘Clivo’ DeNobrega and Deon Charter along with such caliber players like forwards

Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams and Devon Millington who have represented this country at the senior level, Rondel Hudson, and their captain Tichard Joseph.

Milerock will see this game as a warm up for their Boxing Night game in the Upper Demerara Football Association / GT Beer Christmas championship.

However, why such a formidable opponent for Milerock is anybody’s guess?

The Slingerz side will leave no stone unturned when they take to the field and Milerock with a young side will have to be at their best to come away with a win. Their players should include striker Bryan Johnson, midfielders Ron Fiedtkou, Denzil Fordyce, Joel McClean, defenders randy Hohenkirk and Jermain Grandison and goalkeeper Mark Leacock.

The Georgetown Veterans are likely to include Frank ‘English’ Parris, former nationals Chris Barnwell and Mikey Layne and Terrence ‘Old Head’ Lewis, Natty Wiltshire, Lloyd Smith, Gavin Gibbons and Rawle Overseas’ Jones.

Linden Masters shall come from among others former national striker Bryan Joseph, Abdulla Hamid, Troy ‘Powers’ Easton, John Wayne Milo, Richard Haynes, Ashton Angel (Jr.), Sheldron Noel, ‘Buck’ Mark Williams, Clint Easton and Rawle Adams in goal.

The night’s fundraiser starts at 6:00pm between the junior sides from the east and west of Linden and the second brings together Georgetown and Linden Masters at 8:00pm and at 9:30 pm the big clash between Slingerz and Milerock.

and thus had to face Cuba in a two-legged play off during June and July 2010 to determine who would qualify.

The first leg saw the Cubans earn a 1-0 win in Havana, but the Lady Jags stormed back during the second leg in Providence stadium, goals from Captain Ashley Rodrigues, Brittany Persaud and Justine Rodrigues ensuring a 3-1 victory and qualification for Guyana. After the game Ashley Rodrigues commended the team spirit in the camp, saying: “There are a lot of leaders out there and together we all helped to push each other. It is not just an individual, everyone steps up when they have to and that is what made us successful.”

Unfortunately the team failed to win a game at the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup held later that year in Mexico, at one point they were 2-2 with hosts and eventual runnersup Mexico, but ended up losing the game 7-2.

Nevertheless, the fact they even qualified for such a tournament was something for the nation to celebrate and applaud: they were only a few

games away from becoming the first Caribbean side to qualify for a Women’s World Cup. Sadly, the Senior Lady Jags faded into obscurity after 2010 to such an extent that under the Christopher Matthias-led GFF, a Guyanese women’s team was not even entered for the inaugural Caribbean Women’s Cup held earlier this year. In 2011, the U-20s side took part in CFU qualifiers for the 2012 U-20 World Cup, however after a good start they failed to progress past the second round of qualifiers, yet the team showed promise of potential. However, as with the Men’s team, an opportunity to develop and build upon the success of both the Junior and Senior women’s team was ultimately lost due to the affairs of the administration running football, and in this case, the U-20 side was left in the footballing wilderness due to inactivity.

The majority of the successful 2010 Senior Lady Jags, formed and coached by technical director Mark Rodrigues, were foreignbased, and thus there were

some critics who argued the need for more local-based females in the team.

Certainly, whilst there is currently no real avenue for senior females in Guyana to develop their football skills, the experience of playing in a National Team with overseas players who ply their trade for colleges or professionally abroad would be priceless for local-based players. In 2013, Guyana’s under-17 Women’s team, made up exclusively of local players, lost all three games in a CFU tournament and conceded 44 goals in the process, including a 19-0 loss to Haiti and this really outlined how far the Women’s game in Guyana needs to improve in order to compete with the best teams in the Caribbean.

Such results highlight the state of the Women’s game in Guyana at the moment, and the need to incorporate foreign-based players into the National set-up as a means of improving results and also benefiting the development of locally-based players. As with the Men’s team, the best way to form a National team is to blend local talent with (Continued on page 65)

Page 72

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

GFA/BANKS BEER CUP ROUND ROBIN FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT...

Alpha United detain Police; Blackwater FC defeat Northern Rangers

By Michael Benjamin Alpha United FC’s early domination of the GFA/Banks Beer Cup Round Robin football tournament has propelled them to the top of Group ‘A’ after crushing victories over Blackwater (170) and Northern Rangers (160). The pundits had already predicted a similar thrashing over the Guyana Police Force when those teams clashed as action continued in the tournament at the GFC Ground last Friday evening.

True to prediction, Alpha prevailed, but the lawmen turned in a determined performance and made their nemesis work overtime, restricting them to a 2-0 victory. Daniel Wilson continued his rich vein of form to score in the 11th minute, while Dwight Peters extended the lead from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.

In the opening fixture, Blackwater defeated Northern Rangers 3-2 following successes by Angus Barker (20), Stephon Christopher (47)

and Jamine Beckles (52) for the winners, while Shawn McCalmont (10) and Gregory Jones (58) narrowed the margin of victory for the losers.

The Police had, earlier in the tournament, dished out a 3-0 drubbing to Blackwater FC and approached the Alpha game with similar tenacity.

The lawmen met their opponents head-on, attacking and counterattacking with gusto.

Dwight Peters made the first decisive move for Alpha when he weaved his way down the left flank to the opposition’s goal.

The effort was flawless and looked sure goal until the Police custodian, Darius Frank, moved forward and in one fluent movement, kicked the ball into the centre of the field.

The persistency of the ‘Hammers’ strike force was evident as they upped the ante and one minute after the botched chance Alpha struck through a perfectly timed strike from Wilson.

Alpha’s striker, Adrian

Adonis, then sent in a stinger after receiving a pass from the right flank but once again, the Police custodian proved his worth, tipping the ball over the uprights. Moments later, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant sent in a stiff jab after weaving his way past the opposition’s midfielders but once again the Police custodian performed his theatrics to keep the ball out. Several other raids by Alpha’s front men were intercepted by a strong Police defence and Wilson’s success was the only reward for the Alpha team at the end of the first session.

They had also lost the services of Manuel Vargas who received an instantaneous red card in the 15th minute following an infringement and subsequent verbal altercation with the referee.

The Police retained their competitive spirit into the second session and Rawle Haynes presented a dangerous preposition on the right flank. Dwayne Jacobs had been quiet for most of the game but came to life early in

the second session, valiantly sprinting forward, only to be checked by Atto Wallace on the defence cordon.

The Alpha strike force were working in tandem but the Police remained undeterred and Rawle Haynes came ominously close to equalizing the situation after a solo effort that brought him in close proximity of the Alpha’s goal; he became over anxious and spoiled the chance down the side of the goal.

Manasseh Primo then took charge after receiving a dolly of a pass and was on the verge of scoring an easy goal when the Police goalkeeper advanced and

improperly brought him down; the referee decided to punish the infringement with a penalty kick. Dwight Peters was given the responsibility and his power shot zipped past Frank with unerring accuracy.

Thereafter, both teams attacked but despite the ‘big names’ in the Alpha team, the lawmen pressed on hoping for a change in fortunes.

Primo featured once again when he latched on to a ball and adroitly dribbled to the opposition’s goal.

He looked all skill and poise until he administered a ferocious shot that sailed high in the air landing on North Road.

The clock was ticking away the seconds and in an effort to narrow the score, the Policemen started to compile constructive passes but were swarmed

by Alpha’s midfielders.

The final chapter was read out when one of Alpha’s strikers launched a free kick over the fence and the referee’s whistle coinciding with its fall into oblivion.

Play continued at the GFC Ground last evening and resumes at the same venue at 18:00hrs today with another potentially scorching double header. Beacon FC will oppose Camptown, while Riddim Squad match skills with Santos FC.

Steyn six completes West Indies humiliation ESPNcricinfo - Dale Steyn had bided his time while South Africa built a position of supremacy against West Indies, but when he stirred the effect was lethal.

West Indies were blown away within 15.3 overs, their last seven wickets falling for 55 runs. It was a feeding frenzy and Steyn was the central figure, licking his lips over a morning spell of six for 31 in seven overs.

What ails West Indies?

Are the Caribbean islands so locked into an instant world that they no longer have the wherewithal to play Test cricket? A Test between the sides ranked No 1 and 8 in the world always had the potential for a mismatch, and South Africa’s victory by an innings and 220 runs - a win achieved by playing efficient but by no means unstoppable cricket illustrated just as much.

Steyn had not taken a wicket in the first innings; he groused at a niggle or two when South Africa imposed the follow-on and left the field for most of the third evening, only bowling five deliveries.

But South Africa were blasé about talk of injury.

A good night’s rest sustained him. He beat Leon Johnson’s outside edge with the last ball of his first over, had him caught at the wicket with a rising delivery at the start of his third over and from that point restated his reputation as one of the finest fast bowlers in the history of the game.

Steyn against Chanderpaul promised a contest.

Chanderpaul squeezed a boundary through third slip and gully, squared

up in the stroke. The crab sensed the tide was rushing out. Steyn banged one in short and Chanderpaul stooped into a ball that did not rise as much as he anticipated. AB de Villiers, deputising behind the stumps for the injured Quinton de Kock, who is out for the rest of the series, completed an easy catch.

Steyn was now all malevolence.

Even with only four wickets down, the suspicion was that the Test might be over with indecent haste.

Steyn’s removal of Marlon Samuels in his next over was even nastier. Samuels’ intention was to work him to the leg side but the ball bounced more from a good length and as Samuels flinched back the ball arced gently off a leading edge to cover. The Centurion pitch, which had behaved impeccably on the first three days, was by now standing in Steyn’s corner.

And so it went on. The captain, Denesh Ramdin, lasted two balls. He pushed blindly at the first and gained a boundary through point that he knew he did not deserve.

Steyn responded with a short one, as if offended, and as the ball flew off the shoulder of the bat, de Villiers sprung in front of Amla at first slip to take the catch. When Steyn is in this mood, expectation makes men giants in the close-catching cordon.

The overs at the other end, whether propelled by Vernon Philander or Morne Morkel, had merely seemed back-up entertainment while Steyn rested. It felt like an error in the programme when Steyn went an over without a

wicket, even more so when Morkel intervened, jagging one back at Jermaine Blackwood. His bottom hand flew off the handle - the West Indies looked spooked - and from the released glove the substitute, Temba Bavuma, took a good catch at short leg.

With Kemar Roach not batting, South Africa only needed two more wickets.

That they would be taken quickly was never in doubt.

Steyn’s fifth was a regulation catch at first slip; his sixth another leading edge - Jerome Taylor and Sheldon Cottrell two tail-enders out of their depth. Somewhere amid the final throes, Sulieman Benn managed a faint riposte by whacking Morkel through midwicket.

But the presentation platform was hauled out with lunch still 70 minutes away.

West Indies had been dismissed twice in four sessions.

In Brisbane, a proper Test series was enthralling crowds, India ultimately overpowered at The Gabba. Elsewhere in Australia, the Big Bash was providing more instant gratification. In South Africa, the No 1 Test side felt itself all-powerful as an emphatic victory was completed.

It no doubt felt gratifying.

But it was best not to analyse it too deeply, even allowing for the classical sight of Dale Steyn sniffing the muggy Centurion air in anticipation of the easy pickings to come.

Scores: South Africa 552 for 5 dec (Amla 208, de Villiers 152, van Zyl 101*) beat West Indies 201 (Smith 35, Philander 4-29) and 131 (Steyn 6-34) by an innings and 220 runs.

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 73

All roads lead to The Port Mourant Turf Club today for Guyana Cup Re-match

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he day has finally arrived and all roads lead to the Port Mourant Turf Club where thousands are expected to throng the venue for the much anticipated multimillion dollar Guyana Cup rematch horserace meet organised by the Port Mourant Turf Club in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables.

With over 90 entries were received for the nine races and with $10M available an action packed day of racing in anticipated.

Among the sponsors on board are Beverage giants Banks DIH, Edward B. Beharry & Company, Sheriff Racing Stable, Poonai & Poonai, Taljit Enterprise, Mark Morgan, Toolsie Persaud LTD, Sankar Auto Works, Atlantic Mining Supply, Colin Elcock Racing Stable and Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service and racing stables, Candy Corner, Asuriea INC Insurance Company, South Land INC, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Rising Sun Turf Club and Romel Jagroop Construction among others.

Last minute adjustments have been made to the programme with the feature D class event expected to be the race of the year.

CP Got Even will be looking to repeat its Guyana Cup triumph, but the lineup is telling and anyone of the

horses could come home as winner with the inform Treacle, Princess She Not, Grande Roja, Got to go, California Strike, Jack in My Style, Curfew Tower and Red and Lovely and Captain Crook completing the star studded field. The prize is a mouthwatering $1.5M and the Banks DIH Trophy.

Equally intriguing will be the Co-feature 1600M event for 3 years old West Indies bred horses for $1M and trophy. Any one of the animals could race away with this event with Just Call Me Bass and Unsettled, Beast, Royal Empire, Settling Jet, Shooting Star, Quiet Dancer the newly imported Spit Fire leading the charge.

Its My Lucky Day could very well be the horses to beat as it competes against Mid Night Blue, Atlantic Storm, It’s My Choice, Loch Song, Settling Star, Keep on Swinging and Mr. Lover Lover in the 1200M event for West Indies bred horses for the $600,000 winners money and trophy.

There is an impressive lineup assembled for the E and lower 1500M event for the first prize of $600,000 and trophy.

Among them are Captain Crook, the Message, Appealing Harvest, Swing Easy, Right to Rule, Battle Hymn, Mission King, Good Will Boy, Bridal Stone (Continued on page 69)

Super 6 Football tourney kicks off in Bartica tomorrow

A

Super 6 F o o t b a l l tournament will kick off tomorrow evening at the Bartica Community Centre starting from 6:00pm. Coordinator of the event is I Salaam. The tourney involves Beacons, Rising Stars, Wolves United, Milballers, Riverview and Potaro Strikers. Opening action will see Potaro Strikers facing Rising Stars, while the nightcap brings together Milballers against Riverview.

Matches will continue on Tuesday with Beacons versus Potaro Strikers and

Wolves United against Milballers. On Wednesday Wolves challenge Riverview and Beacons tackle Rising Stars. The respective winners face off in the semifinals fixed for Saturday with the Grand Finale on Sunday.

The teams are battling for a first prize of $200,000, the second prize is $100,000 and third $50,000.

The event, which would add to the Chris tmas celebrations in Bartica, has been sponsored by Whitter Aka ‘Plain man’ Mining, Hopkinson Mining and Miles Jones Mining.

Plenty similar action is anticipated today.

Page 74

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 21, 2014

ASATT TRINIDAD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP...

Simmons, Grant, Hussein and Boys 8 and Under Relay Team win medals in Trinidad Fifteen local swimmers from the Dorado Speed Swim Club, Orca Swim Club and the Silver Shark Swim Club competed at the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) Club Invitational Swim Meet held from December 11 – 14,

2014 at the Marlins Swim Pool situated at St. Anthony’s College Grounds, We s t m o o r i n g s . T h e Guyanese returned home with nine medals.

The annual Long Course 50m Inter-Club swimming championship, which marks the beginning of the Trinidad

long course season, was sanctioned by the World Governing Body FINA thus results attained at this meet can be used as FINA qualifying times for International championships in 2015.

Further, the results will earn participants FINA

ranking points which allow swimmers to attain a world ranking. A total of 34 clubs from Jamaica, Barbados, Florida (USA), St. Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, and host Trinidad and Tobago participated.

The Guyanese

Amy Grant and Raekwon Noel

contingent returned with a total of 9 medals.

Amy Grant swam a personal best time in the 1500m freestyle where she took Gold to break her own National Record which was 27:58:00 setting a new Long Course time of 24:44:69.

She also shattered the

and the manager was Ms. Dawn Noel.

The team expressed thanks to the following sponsors for making this trip possible: John Fernandes Ltd, Guyana Oil Company, C & V Shipping, P & P Insurance Brokers, CCS Guyana Ltd,

Soroya Simmons

Antonio Hussein Guyana Long Course 50m Butterfly Record which was held by Onika George with a time of 37:31 stamping her name in the Record Book once again with a time of 34:52.

The participating swimmers were well supported by the Guyanese delegation comprising of six parents, two coaches and a manager. The coaches were Stephanie Fraser (head c o a c h ) a n d Ta t i a n a Woodroffe (assistant coach)

M r. O r l a n d o R o g e r s , Movement Auto Rentals & Bus Service, Rawle & Dwight Ferguson, Chanel 72, Jiffy lube, Ramchand Auto Sales and Banks DIH. Amy Grant was sponsored by her uncle Eddy Grant.

Here are the results of the Guyanese top performers: Soroya Simmons (Girls 15 years and over) topped the medal standing with 5 medals, they were: 800 M Freestyle (10:51:28; entry time 11:41:30) – Silver medal 1500M Freestyle (20:49:97; entry time (Continued on page 69)

Sunday December 21, 2014

Kaieteur News

Another double header set for #5 ground today; Grove Hi Tech & Ann’s Grove advance

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he battle for supremacy in the inaugural Stag Super XV1 knock-out football tournament will continue today at the #5 ground West Coast Berbice with another double header featuring two home teams.

First up at 18:00hrs will be Timehri Panthers and New Amsterdam United.

The Timehri boys will be led

by Troy Johnson, Seon David (Captain), Rodwell Grant (goalkeeper), Christopher Messiah, Alvin Adams, Oren, Samuel, John and Lawrence Steele, Hubert Adams and Delon Douglas.

New Amsterdam will look to the likes of Captain Adrian Adams, Leonardo Adams, Jovano DosSantos, Devin Ferdinand, Travis Williams, Devon James, Dane Johnson, Jason Drakes, James Isaacs, Samad Arokium and Dwayne Hazel as they seek a place in the quarter finals but Timehri will have other ideas.

The feature clash brings together home side Rosignol United and Mahaica Determinators in an Ancient county / East Coast showdown. Rosignol will go into the game as odds on favourites to win given that they are a GFF Premier League team but that status will not faze the East Coast side as they too, are on a mission to prove they have what it takes to win too.

Rosignol’s Captain, Curtis Moore will lead their quest with support from Newt Mahaica, Keenon Rajgopaul, Olvis Mitchell, Calvin McKenzie, Oswin Michael, Javell Fraser, Akheem Hutson, Mark Wronge, Shane Gangoo and Dewayne Perry.

Determinators’ challenge will center around Travis Charles, Charles, Andrew Williams, Kurt Roberts, Azumah Roberts, Mikel Benjamin, Quincy H o l d e r, J u l i a n H a r t e , Sherwin Hermanstine, Tryon Rutherford, Samuel

Charles, Royden Ramsey, Kevin Porter Abrams Brown, Delon Perreira and Keith Grimmond.

Meanwhile, Grove Hi Tech and Ann’s Grove of East Demerara are the latest teams to book quarter finals spots following their roundof-16 matches on Friday night at the Grove ground, East Bank Demerara.

Grove defeated BV Triumph United 2-0, while A n n ’s G r o v e b o o t e d Agricola Red Triangle 1-0.

Both winners sealed their advancement in the competition which has a top prize of 1.5 million dollars in the first half. Grove’s leading marksman Domini Garnett wasted little time in handing his side the ascendancy.

Nine minutes into the game, Garnett was on target much to the delight of the appreciative crowd on hand.

And even before the BV side could have conjured up a plan to keep the home team a t b a y, t h e y f o u n d themselves trailing 2-0, Orson Francois hitting the ball past custodian Darren Marks in the 14th.

The exchanges continued at a fast pace between both sides but there were no more goals which meant that Grove have moved on to a quarter final on Christmas day against the winner of the round-of-16 clash between Buxton United and Kuru Kururu Warriors set for next Tuesday at the Victoria ground.

Friday’s opening game saw Ann’s Grove spoiling the Agricola Red Triangle party by the lone goal of their encounter which came off the boot of Quincy Johnson in the 29th minute. Agricola only have themselves to blame since they squandered a number of opportunities including a penalty late in the second period which would have changed the complexion of the game.

Kacy John was the culprit, putting the ball wide (Continued on page 69)

Grove on the offensive against BVTU

Page 75

Ann’s Grove #9 Troulin Daniels controlling the ball closely watched by Agricola’s Devon Jeffers.

t r o Sp

Jason Holder appointed WI ODI Captain

Steyn six completes Windies humiliation Pitbulls crowned Mackeson ‘Kings of ‘KINGS OFthe THERim’ RIM’ Jason Holder is the new Windies ODI captain.

(Windies cricket)

Dale Steyn celebrates after getting Shivnarine Chanderpaul out caught behind. (AFP)

- with defence of 3x3 Basketball title

Pitbulls’ Akeem Kanhai goes solo in the paint against the three Pacesetters defenders for a right-handed lay-up Saturday night at California Square, East Ruimveldt.

Mackeson Brand Manager, Jamaal Douglas (fourth, left) poses for a photo opportunity with the successful Mackeson ‘Kings of the Rim’ team, Pitbulls Saturday night at California Square, East Ruimveldt.

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