Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Page 5

Kaieteur M@ilbox

I issue a challenge to President Ramotar and the PPP regime DEAR EDITOR, Abraham Lincoln defined a hypocrite as the man who murdered both of his parents and then pleaded for mercy on the ground that he was an orphan. And he must have had some measure of foresight, because nothing can be more defining of the PPP regime in power, than that description. I mean if Guyana was not in the throes of perdition, the ‘wolf, wolf’ cry to the international community for succor would be laughable. Especially when one considers that the call emanates from an assembly that refused the aid of international agencies to assist in the reformation of the force. But lo and behold, now in typical fashion of the bully who finds he cannot get his way, they are playing dead to see what kind of funeral they will get. Of course, this is quite typical of the PPP regime.

This is the very regime that locked me away for over five years (in solitary confinement for all of those years) on trumped up

charges, that refused to grant me bail when a jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquittal, now has gone to the OAS accusing me of using my web assets to foment tension. A regime that controls the public media, and uses it to spread negative stereotypes of people of African descent, stereotypes that eerily parallel a pattern seen in South Africa during apartheid, and the American South during the civil rights struggles, dare to accuse others of the very atrocities it perpetuates or encourages on a daily basis. And these people have the bald face effrontery to hurl accusations against people of fomenting divisions and creating tensions in the society.

Mr. Editor, this nation has witnessed the worst spate of vigilante lynching ever experienced in the Commonwealth Caribbean by people associated with this regime. This nation has witnessed a whistle blower (George Bacchus) who outed a senior Minister of the Government as the leader of

this lynching gang being executed along with his brother who closely resembled him. This nation has witnessed testimony being delivered in a Federal Court in Brooklyn that indicts another senior Minister of the Government with procuring electronic assets for a drug trafficker to track and murder hundreds of people in this Guyana. This nation has witnessed testimony by a witness in this case, that this drug trafficker who claimed he was defending this regime, had tortured a young woman for over 18 hours for information on the location of a target he planned to kill.

This nation had witnessed this regime remaining silent throughout this rampage, never once condemning it as was its legal and moral obligation to do, and thus providing the killers with silent approval for their campaign. And now because the people of the nation refused to endorse their greed for total and unconditional power, they react like a bunch spoiled brats and peddle lies

The govt. openly flouts the laws for workers in the traditional public service DEAR EDITOR, The issue of contract workers again surfaced for debate in the National Assembly. This issue should not be confined to the question of payment but should be addressed within the context of how it impacts the society and more so the wellbeing of the worker under the laws and consistent with the rights of the individual.

The issue of contract workers is a trend in both the public and private sectors that has now become epidemic and poses clear and present danger to working conditions.

Let me make it clear, the average contract worker per se is not the subject of contention. The subject of contention is the practice used by the employer to absolve responsibility, exploit the average worker and use contract employment as a political reward or punishment.

A contract employee is required to turn up at stipulated time to start and leave work and in many occasions is occupying jobs that are on the permanent establishment in the respective organization. This means that these workers have to conform to all legal requirements and condition of service that govern the sector they work in.

In the case of the public

service it is found that persons are given contracts to perform duties within departments with jobs that have tenured conditions and are being paid gratuity, and not allowed to work and earn a pension commensurate with the established post.

Often times these workers operate at the behest of operatives who see an abuse of their authority as a management technique.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress is aware that contracts are issued to workers requiring them to pay their own NIS and taxes (PAYE); and are also told they are not obligated to pay taxes.

This is a strategy used by the employer to: 1) not honour its obligation under the NIS law to pay its portion of the workers’ contribution; 2) not to deduct and remit PAYE to GRA; 3) compromise professionalism; 4) coerce workers into unethical and illegal practices; and 5) a Damocles for dismissal should the worker question violation in the contract or poor workplace practices.

In both private and public sectors contract employment is also used as a means to prevent workers from enjoying the right to trade union representation. This practice particularly affects the sector where the representative unions do not carry the PPP’s torch. In the case of the employees who

chose to register with the NIS they are placed in a quandary since having them registered as self-employed would be wrong.

For under the law these workers are employees and should be so given the protection. Further, should there be an accident during and in the course of employment the worker has no coverage under the NIS Industrial Benefit branch since being an employee and not so registered s/he is not so covered and would be denied.

A government in every modern society has a greater responsibility for being a model employer in its practices which include obeying the employment, GRA and NIS laws, and ensuring the workers’ rights.

Yet the nation continues to see a double standard on the part of the government as it openly flouts the laws for workers in the traditional public service even as it upholds the laws for workers in the sector their supporters dominate.

By constitution pension is a right, informed by the principle that the State has primary responsibility to the every citizen, from the womb to the tomb.

And in every society pension is deferred wages, because pension comprises a part of every civilised Continued on page 6

and propaganda to the international community with the hope that this will frighten those who expose their atrocities into silence. They have got to be kidding.

I will issue a challenge in this letter to President Ramotar and the PPP regime.

My challenge is that they give full access to the Organization of American States (OAS) or any other independent international agency, to conduct an investigation in Guyana on the killings that have washed this nation in blood and bodies between 1992 and the present. I challenge them to allow international investigators to identify and interview witnesses, to use polygraph technology to ferret out truth from lies, and to make themselves available to be interviewed under the same conditions. They have used this technology to fire the small worker, but like Orwell’s porcine revolutionaries, refuse to subject themselves to the same set of rules they impose on others. Let the international community come and investigate what has been going on in this country, the larceny and

embezzlement that occurs in the halls of power, the high crimes and misdemeanours that are covered up as long as the offenders are associated with the regime in power.

The Government of this nation will learn that while it is entitled to its own opinion, it is not entitled to its own facts. The facts of Guyana will reveal an administrative trail of this regime that is written in blood, in torture, in anguish, in false arrests and imprisonment, and in corruption on a magnitude never before witnessed since this nation was settled. And these facts will be unearthed by any independent international agency who cannot be bribed or cajoled into denying justice to the innocent for a few dollars more.

Martin Luther King Jr, the late American Civil Rights martyr charged that, “...On some positions cowardice asks the question, is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question, is it politic?

Vanity asks the question, is it popular? Conscience asks the question, is it right? There

comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he or she must do it because conscience tells him it is right....”. And the conscience of many of us will not allow fear, expediency, cowardice or any other impediment to deter us from positions that are right, that are moral, that are ethical, and that are principled. Because the current regime has been privileged by virtue of electoral fortune to exercise ungodly power over this nation for the past two decades, they have come to the erroneous conclusion that this privilege is theirs by divine fiat. Not true. I challenge them to park their hypocritical caterwauling and invite the OAS or the UN to send an investigative team into Guyana, to allow them free access to conduct investigations, and to pledge to abide by whatever findings emerge. Let them walk the walk of transparency, and abandon the propaganda and hypocrisy they peddle like cheap wine.

Mark A. Benschop Former Political Prisoner

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox PPP’S bungling strategy with a plethora of IMCs DEAR EDITOR, We have been without local government elections for the past 19 years and the ruling party is not in the least bothered by this sorry state of affairs and the impact it has on the development of our beloved country at the grassroots level.

The ruling party is hell bent on playing party politics with the legislation at the parliamentary level whilst allowing its Minister of IMCs(Local Government), who is so empowered by the current Act, to fire any and everyone & replace as he sees fit with party supporters in anticipation of the next planned local government elections. The Guyanese people are not stupid; it has taken them 18 years to break from the shackles of race &fear mongering and deliver the PPP with a minority rule

in Parliament and they are carefully watching the way these monsters are managing this economy.

The one laptop per family elections gimmick is now on hold awaiting the next elections. The judiciary is being overburdened and abused by the ‘learned’ Attorney General anytime they cannot get their way and crying foul whenever they lose.

It is amazing how quickly the judiciary acts when the State has a matter to be heard.

I noticed Mr. Raj Singh complaining recently in the press about the GCB matter not being heard after more than 6 months.

The powers that be are holding the judiciary hostage since they are in charge of confirming the appointments of the Chief Justice and the Chancellor. The well

respected Counsel, Nigel Hughes, wrote a very refreshing article about this recently but more and more persons need to come out of the woodwork and call a spade a spade and not wait until they are personally affected by the victimization of these hoodlums.

The Government has so many major problems and concerns with important segments of the economy and widespread allegations of corruption in almost every government department but the only 4 Ministries which are active seem to be the Ministry of Sports & the Ministry of Local Government now specifically tasked with forming IMCs, the Ministry of House lots&Pageants(has really forgotten about Trade & Commerce) and the Ministry of Legal Affairs (outsourcing) tasked with

outsourcing of his Office. I am sure the President is or should be very disturbed at the performance of this particular Minister as he has been a tremendous source of embarrassment to himself, his family, his law firm, his Ministry, the government and the people of Guyana.

He has reduced this once highly prestigious position of Attorney General to a pulp and continues to sink it further every day. He has even now resorted to writing letters to the media comparing himself with the great Cheddi Jagan. Cheddi must be turning in his grave or turning up the waters since he was cremated I think.

Cheddi would never have appointed such an incompetent person for such a respected position. Prior to accepting the AG’s position he had lost every single

cricket matter that he litigated against and is now desperately trying to save his career by trying to litigate a solution through a Cricket Act empowering the Sports Minister to hire and fire as he sees fit just as the Local Government IMC Minister does. This does not work!

Even without the legal power, the Sports Minister has already illegally embarked on forming IMCs and disbanding the legally elected bodies in the cricket & horse racing fraternities with both turning out to be colossal failures.

He has carefully sidestepped the football fraternity obviously, out of fear of FIFA. Clive Lloyd was recruited to be the head of the IMC in September 2011 and also to be a campaign figurehead for the PPP in 2011 during elections but disappeared during the elections and was strongly rebuked by Jagdeo for this absence during the elections to woo the black votes.

Clive allowed himself to be used by this Government and has severely damaged his credibility and reputation and lost a huge chunk of his star capital that he had. His acceptance of the IMC head made him lose his directorship on the WICB and his position

as head of the Cricket Committee of the ICC. Surely, it has been proven that IMCs are not the best path for the resolution of such thorny issues. It is crystal clear that the agenda of the Government is to govern through IMCs and the legislation of powers to MInisters which strategies have proven to be huge failures.

They want to hijack and nationalize the cricket board for political reasons and use same as a campaign tool in the next elections. I say hands off cricket and all other sporting organizations!!!

The opposition needs to step up to the plate and represent the people of Guyana and not allow the Government to take over sports and go backwards like communists Cuba, Korea and China. It was pleasing to see the AFC head, Mr. Ramjattan speaking out very forthrightly about this grave injustice by the Government.

Pay the same relentless obsession to the woes of the state corporations and entities, GUYSUCO, GPL, GWI, UG, NDIA, NICIL, etc by employing competent persons to manage them and hopefully something good will come out of it.

Intikhab Sankar

The govt. openly flouts...

From page 5 oragnisation’s Wage Bill.

When leaders and shapers of society relegate the average worker and citizen to a mentality of subsistence living, instant gratification and subterfuge at the expense of their wellbeing and rights being protected throughout their lives, even when no longer working, as they secure for themselves such right and benefits speaks to the level this country has sunk.

Never before has post independent Guyana seen such an attack on workers and citizens coming from both the private and public sectors.

There is a cardinal principle “do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.”

And since the political leaders will not subject themselves to the violations suffered by the average worker, they have a moral responsibility to lead the charge in correcting it. The average contract worker in the private and public sector engages in a contract of service and under this categorisaton s/he must be the recipient of the benefits and security applicable to the job s/he is required to

perform.

The President, Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament and employers in the private sector cannot be guaranteed a pension or a nest egg at retirement and other pecuniary benefits during their work life as they exploit (knowingly/ unknowingly) and seek to deny such surety to the average worker.

This exploitation is legally and morally wrong, and there needs to be a national conversation on this matter with the intent of bringing an end to the violations.

The reality stated in this letter must be given serious attention by the National Assembly, the nation’s highest and representative decision-making forum.

Systems must be put in place where our Laws are honoured.

There must be clear and unequivocal demarcation and enforcement to ensure the protection of every worker based on duly recognized category of employment, i.e. contract of service versus contract for service and the commensurate benefits that are accrued for the respective job.

Lincoln Lewis

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox Serious problems with CPCE’s Associate Degree programme DEAR EDITOR, We the teachers of the Cyril Potter College of Education, First Batch of Associate Degree Teachers would like to share a burning issue with the media and the public and hope we will get justice for the New Year 2013.

On 25th of October, 2010, batches of teachers were successfully accepted at the Cyril Potter College of Education, both in service and pre-service throughout the country. We were told that we are in the history of the college making the first batch of ADE teachers.

Things were ‘okay’ during the first two semesters. We received modules and lectures. Then from the third semester, we took a while to get started since modules were not ready and lecturers were not easily found since a lecturer was required to have a ‘degree’ in order to lecturer the students.

This went on for the next three semesters. Classes for a semester are usually fifteen (15) weeks. But due to the experimentation on ‘us’ with ADE and the fact that the programme was really prepared for, we suffered by having ten-week semesters, no modules, and a whole lot of discrepancies. We tried to investigate from the principal of our centre, but for some reason they ‘have to cover for the mistakes at Turkeyen campus’.

Results were later distributed for various

semesters after one year. On receiving those results, lots of teachers failed and had to repeat courses. To repeat a course means that all course work and all teaching has to go all over again for another fifteen (15) weeks. But this was not so. We were forced to repeat a course in three weeks. We were at our houses and called out on the morning of exams to go and sit exams. When we tried to work with exams time tables, exams changed like ‘lightening’. If the time table had exams for the next week, we were called out to write exams three hours before the exam really started. Everyone at our centre accepted the fact that we were the experimenters and that we really suffered. We carried the same amount of courses as the Certificate Programme but the big difference with the two programmes is the Certificate lasted for three years and we, the ADE lasted two years. We were forced with the same amount of courses as the Certificate teachers which they had in three years to do in two years.

We were given new courses which the Certificate people did not do.

We carried a course for a very short time by the name of Civic Life and Ethics and that was done a couple of weeks before final exams. We photocopied modules with our own money just to get our work over with. We spent sleepless nights doing

assignments for course work and guess what, the course work never counted. If course work really counted, how come so many failures? If I passed all my final grades, how come I am not graduating?

Course work was supposed to be added to our examination score to give us a final score and based on that final score, which determines if we pass or fail. At CXC students’ SBA scores are added to the examination scores and a final grade is given them. At the University the same thing occurs, so what is the difference with us?

The results that we received so far showed a course grade, examination grade and a final grade. So what is the final grade for?

On the 17th of December, 2012, teachers of the Anna Regina Centre turned out to collect their results for the examinations they wrote.

Graduation was scheduled for 18th of December, 2012. At that late moment the graduants scattered to find outfits and passage to get to the National Cultural Centre for graduation at 1:30 pm on the 18th of December, 2012.

No rehearsals or any kind of formal graduation session was done.

And you know what, on 14th of December 2012, our principal was at Turkeyen awaiting our results to bring down on the coast and guess what, they could not give her at that moment, 3:00 pm,

because they were in board meeting making decision who will graduate and who will not graduate.

We haven’t seen the results for the course we resat and repeated and our final examination score. And the worst part, we received up to fourth semester result on a slip. We haven’t seen a thing on the fifth semester, sixth semester nor repeats or resits. We don’t even know if our papers were marked or what really went on. Some teachers at Turkeyen did not even write all the examinations as the other centres but yet they graduate.

Can you imagine eleven out of twenty seven teachers ‘failed’ as claimed? This has not only occurred at Anna Regina but throughout the country. There is great confusion at Turkeyen with the pre-service students.

How are we to be punished for the negligence of the people who are responsible for the mess of this ADE Programme?

I write seeking justice on behalf of all the teachers who know they passed but because of the negligence of the people of Turkeyen we ‘failed’. I want our status to change like all others from TQM to AM because we endured a lot and we worked really hard to get through this college. I feel our papers were never marked and we just happen to face the unfortunate consequences.

Concerned teacher

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

From the Diaspora ...

IT’S CHRISTMAS, DON’T FORGET THE ORPHANS

By Ralph Seeram Religion aside, Christmas is for children. Now we adults have hijacked it from them, and the business community has commercialized it. Today, Christmas is celebrated universally; it has cut across cultural and religious barriers, along the way the Christ in Christmas has been lost.

Christians and some non Christians will be attending church tomorrow night or in some cases Christmas day.

For some it will be an annual visit to church as if the church does not exist during the year.

Christmas service finds church pews filled to capacity and overflowing.

At my church for the Christmas Eve service the family has to go at least fortyfive minutes early in order for the family to be seated together. The turnout for Christmas service is only rivaled by Easter Sunday service.

Like I said, Christmas was for kids. Children look forward to Christmas; it’s one of those rare occasions where parents get the upper hand with the young ones “you better be good, or Santa will not bring you a gift.

Did I say a gift? Well there was a time when it was only one gift; at least for my generation that was the expectation. It was not an adult event. Adults may recall their childhood days wondering what the mysterious gift under the tree was, and by the way, Christmas tree for us was a “black sage tree”.

We adults think the gifts we r e a m y s t e r y t o t h e children, but the kids were smarter than us. My daughter recently confessed that they always opened the gifts to see what they were and carefully wrapped them back, then pretended they were so anxious to open them on Xmas morning.

To d a y f o r t h e m o r e fortunate kids, its multiple gifts; these days the gifts have gravitated to expensive electronics gadgets, like IPods, WiFi a n d s o f o r t h . To y manufacturers ensure that kids know of these expensive gadgets through advertising on children’s programmes.

For adults, Christmas has become an expensive event. It is gifts for your

immediate relative, extended relatives, friends, neighbours, not to forget coworkers. This year here in the Diaspora I noticed a pull back from the extravagance, maybe it’s the economy.

One indication is the lack of Xmas parties this year.

There was a time when at least two weekends before Christmas, I had to prioritize whose party I was going to.

You attend parties at three or four homes in one night.

Believe it or not, it is a few days to Xmas and I have not attended any party.

I rather suspect that quite a few Guyanese would be disappointed at not receiving monetary gifts from their friends and relatives here in the U S. Some may see a reduction in gifts; this of course has to do with the economy here in the United States.

In our family, we have cut down on the gifts within the family, preferring to send the bulk of money to relatives in Guyana. In fact the largest financial gifts go to Guyana.

This brings me to another topic, and that is children in orphanages in Guyana. I have been reading of visits and donations made to

various orphanages in Guyana, by politicians and companies. You only hear about orphanages at Xmas time. The children are there year round; it would be nice to bring cheer to these kids every day of the year.

Remember, most of them don’t have parents or were abused by them, they need love year round. Go to these children and try to be a mentor for a child, these children not only need love but they have a lot of love to give also.

I wrote last year about companies spending so much money on sports and sponsoring events, but do very little for the most needy and most vulnerable in the Guyanese society—the orphans. I don’t want to name names but these companies know who they are. Their names are always in the sports section of newspapers.

I would ask the executives of these companies to make it a civic duty to visit orphanages and inquire of their needs. Last year on a visit to one prominent orphanage in Georgetown to assist in a donation of some equipment, I was shocked to find the toddlers crawling

around on hard wood flooring in their play room.

There were no play mats, there were no walkers for the infants, simple things that corporate Guyana can fulfill, but go unnoticed.

The business community in Guyana needs to step up and pay more attention to these helpless kids; it’s not only a government responsibility, its society’s responsibility.

Nearer to home, it going to be a special Christmas in the Seeram family. We have a lot to be thankful for. There was the addition of our first granddaughter, Abigail, who would be nearly three months old. So there will be an extra stocking hanging and another gift under the Xmas tree, not that she will know anything about that. It’s just we adults satisfying our self.

My three-year-old grandson has already put in his request; he wants a bicycle, not to mention that he has two tricycles in my garage. He wants a “big boy bike”. Unknown to him I have already bought him a two wheel bike with training wheels.

He will soon learn what a “big boy bike” really is when I take off the training wheels.

I have already ensured he has his helmet, knee and elbow pads. After all you can’t learn to ride a two-wheel bike without falling a few times.

Our Christmas meals will still be Guyanese style— the usual garlic pork, pepperpot and black cake to name a few.

Most Guyanese, and for that matter West Indians in the Diaspora, have not lost their tradition, when it comes to Christmas, as evident from the purchases at the Caribbean food stores.

This reminds me that as soon as I finished this article I have to go purchase my cow heel and oxtail early to beat the crowd.

So for my friends and relatives in Guyana, Mara.

Gregory, Adam and Errol, Claire and the rest in Crabwood Creek, have very merry Christmas, have a drink for me. Adam you can eat some pepperpot for me, since you know I don’t drink. To all my readers happy holidays to you all, Merry Christmas.

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

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

Dem boys seh

AN EDUCATION NATION

The People’s National Congress Reform column today is the text of the charge delivered by Brigadier David Granger, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, to graduates of the Cyril Potter College of Education on Tuesday 18th December, 2012 at the National Cultural Centre.

Guyana has changed significantly since Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter graduated with a Class 1 Teachers’ Certificate from the Mico Training College in Jamaica. Mico College is the oldest and most prestigious teacher training college in the Western Hemisphere and Cyril Potter was one of the most outstanding graduates of the class of 1920.

Cyril Potter excelled in his studies and sports at Mico College just as he had at Queen’s College where he won several academic prizes and was a first-class athlete, cricketer and footballer. He returned home to teach at his alma mater and elsewhere. He was later appointed principal of the Government Training College for Teachers which was renamed the Cyril Potter College of Education in 1976 – the centenary of compulsory primary education in Guyana.

Cyril Potter was a patriot.

Talented and versatile, he composed the music for Guyana’s National Anthem and other patriotic songs such as My Guyana El Dorado, A Song of Hope and Way Down Demerara. It would be difficult to find a more worthy person in whose honour the Teachers’ Training College could have been named.

Cyril Potter would have sat as a young graduate of Teachers’ College ninety-two years ago just like you today.

Dressed in medieval gowns – which you never wore before and, most likely, will never wear again – you are participating in an ancient, academic rite of passage. This quaint garb, this elaborate convocation, these fancy certificates, this happy assembly of family, friends and dignitaries are not an inane annual amusement.

They signify public recognition of your assumption of a wider responsibility, of your transition to a higher level of authority and of your acceptance of a heavier burden of duty.

This ceremony is also a celebration of your accession to membership of an education élite. It represents the completion of a regime of rigorous study. It marks the declaration of your aspiration to accomplish the mission of

this institution: To provide the formal education system with academically and professionally-trained teachers at the nursery, primary and secondary levels.

Guyana, today, is a country of bright prospects but also one of colossal complexity. A field of unprecedented opportunities lies before you.

The opportunity for engineers to build bridges and roads to open our vast hinterland and to develop schemes to exploit our hydro-electrical potential; the opportunity for geologists to develop our bauxite, diamond, gold, manganese and quarrying resources; the opportunity for biologists, botanists, zoologists and agriculturists to expand food production; the opportunity to improve communication and human learning; the opportunity for manufacturers, shippers, builders to drive our economy forward at a faster rate.

Where will these scientists come from? They must come from the school system. These opportunities cannot be fully exploited and this country cannot be developed by chance or by conjecture. They cannot be achieved while a large part of the population is paralysed by poverty. They cannot be achieved by the ignorant or the illiterate. They cannot be achieved while so many primary school children cannot qualify to enter secondary school or when thousands of children drop out of our primary and secondary schools every year. They cannot be achieved while schoolleavers cannot find jobs.

They can be achieved only by people with a firstclass education. They can be achieved only by the creation of an ‘education nation’ that brings all our people together in a knowledge society. They can be achieved only by combining our energies, integrating our communities and working together for the common good, rather than pulling apart.

Dark forces – poverty, oppression and hatred – threaten to pull us apart. An education nation ought to be one in which intelligence prevails over ignorance, cooperation over confrontation and national integration over communal disintegration.

The world into which you are graduating today is far different from the one into which Cyril Potter went forth to serve as a teacher ninetytwo years ago. That was a time when the television was not yet invented; when

cameras, radios, motor cars, telephones and even wrist watches were luxurious rarities. You are entering a different world.

This nation cannot afford to be left out of the communication, education and information revolution that has transformed world civilisation.

The words I utter at this very moment could be transmitted at the speed of light around the world – by personal computers, smart telephones, Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.

Images can be sent in real time to almost every country in the world. Your relatives in Lethem, Linden and Leonora can receive photographs of this graduation ceremony and can forward them to friends in London or Orlando in the twinkling of an eye.

Information, technology and science pull us together relentlessly, integrating our communities and connecting our country with the world.

Science, technology and Mathematics, therefore, must be at the core of this College’s curriculum.

The knowledge that you have gained over the past three years at College is a mere drop in the ocean of experiences you will encounter over the next thirty years. You are only now embarking on a more exciting expedition of exploration. The quest for new knowledge and new understanding must drive you forward from this day.

How exciting it would be if, as an intern, each of you could spend at least one semester teaching Guyana’s children from our hundreds of villages – those along the rivers of the Barima-Waini Region; on the mountains of the Potaro-Siparuni; in the savannahs of the Rupununi; by the lakes of the Pomeroon-Supenaam; beside the waterfalls of the Cuyuni-Mazaruni; on the banks of the Essequibo Islands; overlooking the rice fields and sugar plantations of the Corentyne, the fish ports of Berbice and the mines of Upper Demerara.

This joy would reflect the spirit of wonder that should inspire the greatest profession in the nation which you have entered today – teaching.

We know of the challenges that you have faced over the past three years. We are aware of your tiny stipends. We know of the relentless cycle of student assignments. That is why we shall continue to work towards giving ‘one lap top per teacher’ from the first day

he or she enters College.

We are alarmed at the number of untrained and unqualified teachers and the inordinate length of time it takes to earn a full degree.

That is why we shall continue to aim at making every single teacher a university graduate in the shortest time possible.

We know that poor pay contributes to the intolerable teacher turnover rate. That is why we shall aim at elevating teaching to become the bestpaid profession in the entire public service. We want Guyana’s best teachers to remain right here – in Bagotville, in Bartica and in Bath Settlement – rather than fleeing to The Bahamas, to Belize or to Botswana to make their living.

Today, this ancient graduation ritual reminds us that you are participating in a proud pedagogical tradition. Every progressive society in history honours its teachers – the Brahmin, the mwalimu, the rabbi or, as they say right here in the Mazaruni, the enupaneng.

So we honour you today.

Continued on page 11

De Bees gun punish fuh dem cheapness Christmas is a season of peace and goodwill. It is a time for giving and sharing—not give in and share out wha don’t belong to you. De Bees and dem kavakamites ain’t share out nutten not to even dem poor people who dem rob whole year.

Dem ain’t even share out nutten to de people who a wuk wid dem whole year. One cook guh fuh thief a chicken and another thief a piece of ham and she deh at Brickdam Police Station.

Gerry lock up a security guard too. De guard only tek a raise from a friend fuh de holidays because he seh that he boss never give he nutten fuh de season.

Yet dem boys see dem Bees sporting all over de place. And while dem spending all de Ministry money dem ain’t spending de money dem collect as perks fuh simply doing dem wuk.

Cheapness is a bad thing and dem boys seh that people shouldn’t get a surprise if dem hear that nuff of dem Bees in hospital wid severe case of diarrhoea.

When you treat de cook bad she does put thing in de food and dem cook seh that dem gun spend some of de little dem get as salary fuh mek dem Bees realize that dem shouldn’t be cheap.

Imagine dem same Bees tun up at every li’l party that some of dem Ministry hold just fuh maintain dem cheapness.

Some of dem gun be forced to spend because de Man above don’t like bad. He does mek dem get sick.

Perhaps that is why dem tek so much because dem expect fuh pay doctor. Fuh dem who think that dem got to keep every cent dem boys want dem to know that one thing dem never see is people carrying all dem wealth to de grave.

Talk half and cut out de cheapness fuh de New Year.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

GPL still to meet wages rate sought by GPSU, NAACIE

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and National Association of Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), the two unions representing workers at Guyana Power and Light (GPL), have rejected the Company’s offer at negotiations for wages and salaries.

The unions collectively claim that GPL is not

addressing the various aspects of workers’ conditions and is contending that this attitude of management is a violation of ILO Convention numbers 98 and 151 which speaks about the right to be organized and Collective Bargaining.

GPL and NAACIE reportedly submitted proposals to GPL since early

An Education Nation From page 9 We know that you will have to be creative, compassionate and committed if you are to contribute to the construction of a community in which everyone can co-exist and enjoy a good life. Such a community must value cultural differences; it must value the lives of citizens; it must value the rights of children.

Let us, for the children’s sake, hear no more that the Teaching Service Commission has had to dismiss three or four teachers on average every week for ‘misconduct.’

Education is an entitlement.

Primary education has been compulsory in Guyana for 136 years. Article 27 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana states: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university…” Teachers now have an obligation to ensure that education reaches those who can least help themselves – the nation’s children. Teachers must embrace a professional culture – one that imparts a first-class education and one that respects the personal worth of each child.

Teachers are in a unique position to fulfill the motto of this great College – ‘We serve.’

Let those words not remain an inert inscription on the insignia of the College but adopt them as your inspiration to serve.

The teaching profession is one of vast opportunity but it is also one of great responsibility. You are also in a position to lead and serve the next generation.

I started this charge by

reflecting on the service of Cyril Potter – a man who instructed and inspired me several decades ago. I never heard him shout at anyone. I never saw him strike a student. He was a man of culture. He was committed to advancing human knowledge and to building a country in which all Guyanese could live in safety and enjoy a good life.

My charge to you could easily have been: “be like Cyril Potter”. Be good at learning, good at teaching, good at sport, good at studies, good at culture, good at serving, good at tolerating the opinions of others and good at loving Guyana passionately. It was with teachers like Cyril Potter that this profession was built.

I now offer this charge to the graduates of the Cyril Potter College of Education gathered here at this 78th graduating ceremony.

Contribute to the country in which you were born but contemplate a better future for the country in which you want to live. Live in your own community but think on a countrywide and on a Continental and Caribbean scale.

Share your knowledge. Enjoy our unique cosmopolitan society. Employ your energy, your experience, your expertise and your education to build a nation of which we can all be proud.

I charge you to go forth to teach and train the children in your care. I charge you to help to make Guyana an ‘education nation.’ Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter’s long life was a model of dedication to education and to this nation. Were he here today, he would not have given you a less compelling charge.

Congratulations and may God bless you all!

West Demerara water woes continue Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has advised that more areas on West Coast Demerara are being affected by low water service levels due to electricity disruptions affecting GWI water production sites.

GWI is therefore advising all customers on West Coast Demerara who are affected by low service levels that the company is providing full cooperation and assistance to the Guyana Power and Light Company to resolve all issues affecting GWI treatment plants and well stations.

The affected areas include Cornelia Ida, Anna Catherina, Leonora, Zeeburg, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Tuschen and Farm.

this year but did not have any responses to meet until during last quarter.

GPL moved away from the Collective Bargaining process in 2007 and has just been putting offers to the two unions to either accept or reject. The Unions were promised resumed negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2012 but this did not materialize. Again, they are saying the same thing.

According to the unions, GPL made an initial offer to return to the conditions within the Collective agreement which provided for there to be an automatic three percent in scale increment each year and the award of increments based on performance appraisal of staff to a maximum of ten percent together with the offer of one per cent increase in salaries across the Board.

The Unions’ positions were that the conditions within the Collective

Agreement could not be part of Management’s offer since it was a feature of the Collective Labour Agreement.

It therefore left Management’s offer being one per cent across the Board which the Unions rejected and proposed between eight and ten per cent, the payment of the automatic three percent in scale increment from January 1, 2013.

At a subsequent meeting, Management advised that the Board had withdrawn the offer and made a second and final offer of five percent all inclusive. The Unions rejected the second offer which does not address equity and years of experience and creates bunching.

Both unions signaled intention to continue to meet in negotiations and call on GPL to “respect the Collective Bargaining process.”

Page 11

Catholic Christmas Village creates festive stir The Roman Catholic Church of the Ascension Grand launched its Annual Christmas Village in New Amsterdam last weekend. Christmas Villages have become popular in the Guyanese context during this time of Christmas.

Religious organisations like the Church of the Ascension have been hosting the family- events, with the first ever in Berbice, hosted by this church, in 2008.

The event got underway just after 16:00 hrs on the Presbytery grounds. Vicar General Msgr Terrence Montrose, as usual, touched base with the parishioners at the event, after he had said Mass earlier in the day.

There were lots of goodies to eat and drink: Chicken curry and puri; metai; ice- cream; metem-gee; garlic pork (both prepared and bottled); all kinds of fried rice; chicken; Barbeque; all kinds of beverages; pepperpot, souse, pickled onions and the star favourite, punch a crème, which Msgr Montrose brought all the way from Georgetown.

There were Christmas decorations as well as clothing on sale and lots of games for the kids. There were all types of cakes. And Christmas music permeated the festive atmosphere.

The parish complex and outer environment were beautifully decorated with fairy- lights and other Christmas decorations, giving both a look and feel of Christmas.

And oh! Santa arrived in fine style, too; ringing the bell, alerting kids near and far to his presence. Santa Claus made his rounds across the complex greeting kids, even though some were bawling!

Events like these certainly add a thrill to the Christmas season, and create the atmosphere for Guyanese to enjoy their favourite Christmas delicacies, traditionally sought after during this time of the year.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

Govt. to engage GPSU in multi-year Contractor succumbs one day pay package talks – Labour Min. after beating

Moves by Government to pay a five per cent increase to public servants were certainly not intended to halt salary negotiations with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), said Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, on Friday. He was responding to media operatives during a press briefing at his Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown office yesterday.

Alluding to correspondence between the GPSU and the Public Service Ministry, the Minister said, “I think that the matter is continuing.”

He said that Government had taken the initiative to pay the five per cent increase,

which was retroactive from January 2012, in recognition of the fact that the year was coming to an end.

“We had budgeted money and we wanted to ensure that the workers got some payout before the year ends to enjoy the festive season and bring 2012 somewhat to a closure.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Gopaul said that he is of the firm belief that the two bodies (Government and GPSU) will soon continue dialogue with a view to entering into a multiyear pay package.

“We would like to see that happening and we are happy to see it happen with a view to peacefully working out a

resolution to the issue.

“The payout hasn’t brought the negotiations to an end; they are meeting and I am sure PSM has invited PSU to continue its meeting...” said Dr. Gopaul.

According to him, recent tripartite talks had in fact touched on the issue of ‘Social Compact’ and “we are working on it.

We have seen a draft and so if we are able to sign a ‘Social Compact’ it will bring about a greater degree of harmony in the industrial relations level and point the way forward where they will be resolved before dissatisfaction could be aired...We are targeting this

for next year,” said Dr. Gopaul.

This move, he said, is likely to see trade unions, the employers’ organisation and Government engaging in talks.

Dr. Gopaul said that such an undertaking has been realised in Barbados which has a very successful programme in this regard.

They have in fact modified their programmes about five times, he added.

Trinidad, he said, too, has another model of this nature even as he noted that the International Labour Organisation has been playing a significant role in this regard.

A 38 -year-old contractor from Providence, East Bank Demerara, died around noon, Friday, one day after a brawl with another resident of the area.

Roopram Jagdeo was pronounced dead around noon by doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Jagdeo was being treated at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit for injuries to his head.

The dead man’s wife, Bibi Zameena Jagdeo, told this publication that her husband was involved in a heated altercation with another man identified as “Munesh”. That incident occurred around 17:30 at the man’s Back Street, Providence home.

Mrs. Jagdeo said that on the day in question her daughter came running to her indicating that something was wrong.

“I was at the back of the yard and when I reach in front I see me husband in de yard with a piece a wood and this other man at the gate”. The woman said she quickly realized that it was a fight so she held onto her husband and pleaded with him to stay in the yard.

“I hold on to he and the other man had a wood in he hand but me husband pick up a wood and pelt de man and he fall down, so I lef me husband and run to the man fuh help he up and I start wiping the man face with tissue and I beg he fuh stop and go home”.

According to Mrs. Jagdeo she made several attempts to escort the man out of the street but he over powered her and ended back up at her yard.

“The man come back at de gate with a wood and I try to keep my husband in the yard and then the man kick open the gate and start lashing meh husband and me husband fall down and he still keep lashing me husband.”

The woman added that eventually she was able to get the man out of her yard.

“After the man lef we call out fuh help and then we decide to call a ambulance

DEAD: 38-year-old Roopram Jagdeo because me husband start bleeding from his nose, ears and he head.”

The woman said that when she contacted the Diamond Diagnostic Centre she was told that there was no ambulance available and she was advised to contact the police.

Fearing that by the time the police arrived her husband would die, the woman said she called for a taxi and rushed her husband to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. The man was treated but was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Hospital, where he later succumbed.

Meanwhile the suspect has been arrested and is assisting police with investigations.

The dead man’s wife said she was told that the incident stemmed from him trying to borrow the suspect’s bicycle.

“Me hear meh husband went by some people to borrow a bicycle but them tell he that it late and them done chain up the bike, but the same time the man (the suspect) came downstairs and meh husband hug he and he push meh husband down and he fall in de gutter.”

Mrs. Jagdeo said it was that which angered her husband which led to the scuffle. Jagdeo is survived by his wife and their three daughters aged seven to 14.

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 15

THE MARRIOTT HOTEL MOTION IS NOT ILLEGAL The government is not lawfully compelled to abide with a motion passed by the National Assembly. They may be morally bound to so do, but there is no legal compulsion for the government to enforce a motion passed by the National Assembly.

There have been any motions passed in the National Assembly. Not all of these motions create obligations for the government to act. Some do, however. There was a motion passed to bring closure to the death of Walter Rodney, and while the government has tried to give effect to this motion, it was unable to do so because of circumstances which need not detain us here.

A motion was recently passed calling for government to not use taxpayers’ monies for the Marriott Hotel Project unless such funding is subject to scrutiny of the National Assembly. This motion is not unlawful. There is nothing unlawful about the motion.

There is however no legal compulsion for the motion to be enforced.

The motion is, of course, misconceived. It flows from the erroneous contention that monies of public corporations are required to be passed

through the Consolidated Fund. This contention has been debunked in this column and needs little further elaboration, except to say that it has long been the legal understanding that the owners of a corporation are its masters.

There is an abundance of case law on this issue to the extent that it is now considered a rudimentary principle of commercial business law and is recognized, even in instances where the corporate veil is required to be lifted.

It is therefore surprising and disturbing to hear learned members of the Bar arguing that the monies of public corporations are required to be passed through the Consolidated Fund. Nothing could be more absurd and inaccurate as this contention because by their very nature, public corporations are exempt from this process.

If monies from the Consolidated Fund are required to be used for the construction of the Marriott Hotel, then the opposition has the powers to veto such spending and there is no need for any motion. However, no taxpayers’ monies are likely to be used for this project. The

monies that are likely to be used will most likely originate from NICIL and it is suspected that billions have already been committed to the project by NICIL. The motion, therefore, was ill-conceived.

Instead of taking that approach, the combined opposition should have engaged in a little horsetrading, linking support for next year’s forthcoming Budget to more thorough external scrutiny of the funds being used to fund the hotel project.

The opposition parties are, however, behaving like a battering ram, deluding themselves into thinking that this tenuous majority of one that they possess somehow gives them the right to dictate to the government rather than be the strength from which they should negotiate with the administration.

The opposition parties are acting immaturely and they are going to walk straight into a snap election which they will lose because they have been far from responsible with the use of their razor-slim majority.

The government, of course, sees itself as being under siege and remains inflexible. During the debate

on the motion regarding funding for the Marriott Hotel Project, a number of pertinent and legitimate questions were posed by the opposition. Yet, the government, which has the advantage of access to and possession of information concerning this project, doggedly dodged these questions, and in one instance, seemed more concerned with questioning the credibility of the source of these questions.

It is a disturbing performance of panic and fear by a sitting government, which shows that it feels it is coming under bombardment by the opposition and therefore needs to set up political bunkers.

The opposition wants to scrutinize funding for the Marriott Hotel before it is approved. In support of this objective, the parties argue that their role is to scrutinize the actions of government. They seem to have belatedly discovered this role.

While it is true that the role of opposition is to exercise oversight, such scrutiny is not expected to be direct, because this would encroach on the executive’s prerogative to manage the affairs of the State.

It is not parliament’s role to act like a loan agency and to decide how much and when funds are going to be released for a government project.

Parliament cannot also act as the direct auditor of the project. Their oversight in general is restricted to questioning government‘s handling of the project and making criticisms as the need arises or debating the project.

As such, instead of a motion requiring parliamentary approval of the funds for the project, there should have instead been a motion approving a process through which government would have been asked to

establish an independent monitoring mechanism to ensure that every cent on this project is accounted for.

But to ask the opposition to tailor their motion to this objective would be an exercise in futility because the opposition can be just as intolerant, stubborn and inflexible as the government, which feels besieged.

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

Ravi Dev Column

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Ralph Ramkarran has asked for the PPP to relook at the question of its ideology: I believe that all the political parties ought to do so.

At a minimum it will force them to examine the premises undergirding their actions.

The triumph of the neocapitalist model over the socialist alternative at the end of the 1980s was supposed to have delivered us to the end of history and beyond ideology. The victorious neoliberals felt it unnecessary to articulate an “ideology”.

Its most popular exposition, dubbed the “Washington Consensus”, was merely the title an economist tagged on to his compilation of demands made

by IMF/World Bank on faltering Latin American economies.

That happenstance served to reinforce the seemingly positivistic nature of the new dispensation – this was just how the world was and ought to be – and made debate

appear frivolous and harebrained.

Even now that the neoliberal project has imploded, and fundamental changes are frantically being introduced, the word “ideology’ is still taboo – especially in the economy that sets the tone for the rest of the world – the US. Maybe it is because the extreme ideologies - pure socialism and unfettered capitalism - have failed the test: the former because of too little incentive and the latter because of booms and busts, unproductive speculations and uncontrolled negative externalities.

But as most of the countries attempt to pick up the pieces from the neo-liberal Titanic, they are all adopting policies – to a lesser or greater extent – from the “middleway” social democratic (S.D.) tradition pioneered in Europe over a century ago.

These include a “mixed

economy” of both private and publicly owned enterprises, a wide range of subsidized or publicly provided social services – especially health and education, regulation of enterprises for the benefit of wider societal interests, progressive taxation, rule of law and social justice and entrenched human rights etc.

Those counties that held on to their S.D. policies to a greater degree, such as Germany and India have fared better than those that plunged deepest into the neoliberal vertigo of market fundamentalism – such as Britain and the US. The latter duo’s praxis – dubbed “Anglo-American” capitalism by the Germans, however, have still denied the assumption of any ideology.

At the onset of the crisis, the greatest focus was placed on rescuing the financial system which crumbled because of the false assumption that the self-

catch a hoodlum trying to enter his car. ** The decorative lights are up and so too is the pressure on the electricity company.

There will be blackouts to the extent that one of the returns of power is going to see a fire that no one wants at this time.

The family will be

distraught because the people who live in the house will see all that they had worked for going up in flames.

However, neighbours will avert total disaster. ** People tend to have all manner of things lying around as they struggle to make their home presentable.

It is this practice that would see a child drinking a noxious substance.

The irony is that while people are preparing to make themselves merry some will actually have their spirits dampened—the exact opposite result.

THE BACCOO SPEAKS

Madness knows no bounds. There are many cars on the streets to the extent that people have difficult parking.

People will therefore park some distance from their final destination and with the shopping, they are going to leave some of their items in the vehicle.

This is going to attract those who have nothing better to do than to steal from others. One man is going to quarrel with people in the vicinity whom he believed should have seen the attack on his vehicle.

But it is not all that bad.

One man is actually going to

regulated market could best spread the risks it was supposed to intermediate.

In S.D. fashion, governments have had to move in massively at both the national and international (IMF) levels to stop the hemorrhaging that is still ongoing.

As the crisis inevitably spilt over into the real economy, the major S.D. tools of governmental fiscal and monetary policy were ratcheted up – they had become standard after WWII. This is also ongoing. The U.S. had to inject equity into its largest car makers (it is now selling its shares off) – something that had long been accepted in the mixed economy S.D. framework.

At the G20 meetings all governments are now committing themselves to greater national and international regulation and supervision of financial institutions – a standard S.D. position.

There is now an acceptance of the fundamental S.D. position that government must play a greater role in ensuring that

the goals of society are fulfilled and that the primary goal is that programs must deliver the greatest good to the greatest number and not just the top one percent.

With this in mind, it is quite appropriate that other S.D. programs for social justice are being proposed at this juncture.

The US, which practices most social democratic welfare ideas, is balking at President Obama’s advocacy of a national health care program, but it is only a matter of time before this is abandoned.

The case for widening the S.D. approach may best be made at this juncture in terms of the handling of risks which has been brought to the fore in the financial meltdown.

Social democrats have long argued that the capacity to share and manage risks most effectively is at the societal rather than at the individual level.

The set of policies traditionally associated with social democracy may be regarded as responses to a range of risks facing individuals, from health risks

Ravi Dev

to uncertain life chances.

The neo-liberal critique posited that the S.D. welfare state approach killed initiatives, but we have seen that unregulated markets are not the answer.

The collapse of the neoliberal paradigm does not mean an atavistic return to the ideas, policies and practices of the post-war social democratic era.

Social democrats must learn from the mistakes of that era and retain what was valuable in the failed experiment, including a commitment to sound fiscal policy and a rejection of protectionist restrictions on trade in goods and services.

This constant adjustment to the test of experience rather than arguing only from first principles is the distinguishing feature of the ideology of social democracy.

Page 18

SUNDAY SPECIAL US$20M FRAUD SCHEME…EZJET BOSS BACK IN COURT

Sonny Ramdeo Founder of EZjet Air Services, Sonny Ramdeo, who was arrested two Tuesdays ago (December 11) in Brooklyn, New York, while on the run was set to attend court Monday for a bail hearing.

Ramdeo, facing fraud charges for allegedly stealing US$20M from a US hospital chain, remained in the custody of federal authorities after an initial court appearance on Wednesday, December 12, before Magistrate Judge Vera

Kaieteur News

Scanlon, hours after his arrest by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, through his lawyer, Kannan Sundaram, he immediately moved for bail.

According to court documents filed, the 35-yearold executive waived his right to an identity hearing and preliminary examinations by the court. It would mean that the former Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara resident, who was based in Florida, has signalled his intentions to fight the fraud charges in Florida courts. The bail hearing was set for a Brooklyn, New York court Monday morning.

INTERNAL “HOUSE CLEANING” RECOMMENDED FOR NIS AT PUBLIC MEETING In a public meeting held at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) recently, concerned citizens invited to share their queries and opinions on the financially struggling state company, said that one major factor for renovating the NIS is an “internal cleansing of the institution.”

The meeting centred on

the way forward for the scheme since it had been recently highlighted that within a short number of years, the NIS would reportedly go broke.

Apart from the numerous external issues that the participants had said were plaguing the scheme, they noted that there had to be very essential internal fixtures which would assist the firms refreshment; especially in the “easily additive” area of corruption.

They noted that some of these issues were the work conditions and political interference.

MONDAY EDITION GOVT. SHOULD STOP ‘RUNAROUND’ AND ENGAGE OPPOSITION - AFC The Alliance for Change (AFC) has rejected government claims that the opposition was abusing its one-seat majority, describing it as absurd and ludicrous.

The party scoffed at the Government’s approach to the Organization of American States (OAS), with the complaint that “the opposition is destabilizing Parliamentary proceedings”.

DEAD: 43-year-old Deaplall Muakelall The AFC opined that the Government’s action is an attempt at regaining full control of the State, and thus urged the current administration to “stop running around and engage the opposition”.

The AFC’s leader, Khemraj Ramjattan opined that, “the attempts by the Government to engage international bodies will get nowhere.” He posited that the Government must realize that they must engage the Opposition and other stakeholders in a “magnanimous climate” so that meaningful discussions could be held. He however indicated that such talks would serve no purpose if the Government continues to seek total control.

CHAINSAW OPERATOR CRUSHED BY TREE A father of five died Sunday after being pinned by the tree he was cutting in the Clonbrook Polder, East Coast Demerara. According to reports, 43 year-old Deaplall Muakelall of 13 Section ‘B’ Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara died while villagers tried to remove sections of a fallen tree which had pinned him down after he had cut it with his chainsaw. Kuakelall is survived by his wife and their five children.

TUESDAY EDITION HOUSE VOTES: NO MORE TAX DOLLARS FOR MARRIOTT UNLESS… The National Assembly last evening voted that taxpayers’ money should stop going into the Marriott Hotel project unless first approved by the National Assembly.

Further, the House also voted that all revenue in the account of the government’s investment arm, NICIL, should be deposited into the Consolidated Fund, from which any spending would first have to get the approval of the House.

But the government is not expected to abide by the ruling of the Assembly; it is sticking doggedly to the project, and disagreeing that the

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Claudeene Rampersaud spending is illegal.

That position, however, may not be the end of the game for the seven-seat Alliance for Change (AFC), which signaled its intention to argue its case before the courts.

While defending the need of the project, the government is refusing to make public the studies which show that the project would succeed.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said that the economic, feasibility and environmental impact assessments would be made known to the opposition parties if they accept an invitation to meet at the Office of the President.

But the opposition argued that the information should not be provided behind a closed door. Rather, it should be made public in the National Assembly for the public to know.

AFC Parliamentarian Khemraj Ramjattan said that the money would be best spent on infrastructure projects that are badly needed, instead of the Marriott project which to him, is designed to satisfy just a few.

DENAMSTELWIFE KILLER SENTENCE TO DEATH Dwayne Jordan, who axed his reputed wife, Claudine Rampersaud, to death back in 2007, was Monday

Dwayne Jordan sentenced to death. A moment of silence was observed after the presiding Judge, Justice Navindra Singh, announced that the accused would be hanged until dead. Monday was reserved for Justice Singh’s ruling to be made at the Supreme Court.

The accused was a week ago found guilty of murdering his wife and mother of his four children by a 12-member jury. On June 14, 2007 at Clay Brick Road, Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, Jordan hacked his wife to death using a knife and a hatchet.

The reason? Rumours reportedly going around the village that the woman was having an affair. Rampersaud was a Special Constable attached to the Vreed-en Hoop Police Station at the time of her death.

The prosecution, which was led by State prosecutor Konyo Thompson in association with Renita Singh, had proved their case that Jordan was indeed the perpetrator of the heinous crime. Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes had asked that the accused be able to make a plea of mitigation given the recent 2010 amendment that the death penalty is no longer mandatory. He then referred to the recent case of Lennox Boyce in Barbados, where the (Continued on page 40)

The distraught mother of two of the three children

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

What do people like to read in this season?

I went to the online editions of several newspapers around the world to see what subjects social commentators dwell on during the Christmas season.

I was thinking that it may be burdensome on readers to keep offering them doses of serious topics on world affairs, domestic politics and sociological areas during the holiday season.

The thought also occurred to me that in countries (Guyana including) where Christmas is really celebrated in stupendous ways, it may be best for a commentator to save his/her profound pieces until the season clears up, because few readers touch the newspapers during the Christmas holidays in the way they would do in less hectic times.

What I found was surprising. Not many of the major political and social commentators diverted from their regular terrain. Could one of the reasons be that despite preoccupations with visiting families and friends and a busy shopping schedule, people all over the world want to know what their governments are doing and are still intrigued at this time

of the year by the subtleties, conspiracies and drama of life in their countries?

In Guyana, the Christmas feelings are all over this territory of 83,000 square miles as it has been the past umpteen years, but people are still paying attention to the darker and contentious side of things. People are still talking about politics while Christmas is around the corner.

For example, the intended site for the 1823 monument is a topic for discussion in the light of the explanation of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport. He offered two reasons why the construction will go to Carifesta Avenue by the GDF headquarters.

First, it could not be placed at Parade Ground where the sod was originally turned in 2002 for the erection of the monument because it will encroach on the football field.

Secondly, the prominence of an area was the deciding factor. Both explanations lack credibility.

First, the field at Parade Ground is so large that the monument will in no way affect any sporting activity in that area. This position is simply untenable. Could it be

it is because Parade Ground is also named after Forbes Burnham? This Government gets literally paranoid when anything the PNC Government built since 1964 is given honourable mention.

Secondly, one should reserve harsh words for the Minister’s theory that the monument’s location at Carifesta Avenue was because that is a popular area and it will be viewed by large numbers of people. This is faulty thinking in relation to monuments. Only great national figures have their statues placed in the downtown area.

The reason for this is because they were national figures known for their allembracing national achievements. But even in this context, the Minister is riding on a road of embarrassment.

Cheddi Jagan served the whole of Guyana but his decorated burial site is in the village of Port Mourant where he grew up. It is obvious that Jagan made a request to have his name honoured in the enclave where he was born into.

If one uses the logic of the Minister, then Jagan’s tomb should be placed in a

prominent location in downtown Georgetown.

When a nation erects a statue to a great doctor, lawyer, journalist, professor, scientist, the context cannot and should not be ignored.

If John Jones as a doctor worked for fifty years in the village of Xanadu and saved thousands of lives, why would you locate a monument to him outside of Xanadu? The argument is the same with the 1823 construction. The edifice in memory of the Enmore martyrs is in Enmore and not at Vreed-en-Hoop. A little construction is in Leonora for Kowsilla who was killed in that village by the colonial

police.

If the Minister doesn’t want the monument to be at Parade Ground then he should find a spot that has historical connection to the bravery of the slaves.

Carifesta Avenue has none.

Finally, even though it is Christmas, politics is still dominating the scene. People are saying that the opposition is fighting back. Last week, the opposition gave the Government a dose of its own medicine. It filed a motion in the High Court asking the Chief Justice to quash the writs the Attorney-General (AG) has filed in relation to the Rohee motion.

People told me that if the

Frederick Kissoon AG could go to court to question the decisions of Parliament then the opposition could go too and question the legal validity behind all the writs the AG has filed against Parliament.

It looks like the opposition has awakened from its yearold sleep.

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Art and Book Review: Who shot the Sheriff?

By Dr Glenville Ashby glenvilleashby@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @glenvilleashby Vincentian John Andrews’ Who shot the Sheriff takes place in the edgy enclaves of Kingston, Jamaica. It is boiler room drama that lacks the sophistication of a Tom Clancy novel. Harangued with some editorial hiccups, it is short on colour and atmosphere, but long on life’s timeless edicts. “Sheriff” is entertainingly impactful, but possibly better served oratorically, à la crime reporter, Dominick Dunne.

Scenes appear with a sense of exigency, flowing with rapidity - unburdened with extraneous dialogue and circumstantial detail.

The plot is pedestrian.

Wesley Haynes, a young man from Mandeville is determined to succeed musically. His wary parents succumb to his wishes as he moves to Kingston, notable for churning out some of the island’s famous musical icons. Before this life altering decision, Haynes has already incurred the ire of Mandeville’s sheriff, John Brown - a man disdainful of

Celebrity and law enforcement collide in crime drama this rising young star, and determined to derail his burgeoning career.

A traffic encounter with Brown, and a night incarcerated, has fueled Haynes’ decision to move from the prosecutorial overreach of this crooked sheriff. A major setback in Kingston fails to stutter the meteoric success of Haynes, and international fame, fortune, adulation, and, notoriety, follow - in tandem.

Who Shot the Sheriff? explores humankind’s shortcomings: pride and prejudice; vice and greed; arrogance and entitlement; envy and duplicity; anger and violence. They all parade determinedly alive beckoning us to our demise.

Haynes’ involvement in drug trafficking amid a storied musical career is an enigma that will bedevil readers. Why sabotage his accomplishments?

Is the drug culture so overwhelming that the power of the individual (to choose) is rendered inconsequential?

Is the music industry inextricably bound to drug use?

Although the protagonist resurfaces,

seemingly more adjusted - a family man with a rekindled career after years in prison, his conviction and harrowing experience with the law enforcement, viz., Sheriff John Brown, lingers, tarnishing his character. The stage is set for a “who did it?” legal showdown when the sheriff and his deputy are murdered.

Marked, and in the cross hairs of the Mandeville police department, all road leads to the reggae superstar.

Readers are asked to mull the curious personality of Sheriff John Brown - a megalomaniac, crooked, and obsessed with “lynching” Haynes, years before his super stardom status.

Is it a case of sheer envy, or some inexplicable entanglement, that has its origins in another lifetime? Is it the settlement of some karmic debt, as some might argue? When Haynes was only celebrated on the local circuit, ”Brown knew deep in his psyche that one day he was going to spike Wesley Haynes on the cross, thereby derailing his musical career.” Later, we read, ”Brown had no problem

being the bad cop that would prey Wesley like a big hawk for any chance he could get to pounce. Brown was willing to bend the law, twist or tweak it, or break it in order to come up with the catch inside the net - Wesley Haynes.”

Sheriff Brown is a revolting figure, his demise drawing little in the way of sympathy. But the battle lines are etched in the sand and, despite a paucity of convincing evidence, Haynes is hauled before a Miami judge. The trail, moved from the frenzied atmosphere in Jamaica for fear of prejudicing the case, is anticlimactic, and predictable, with some flashes of a Perry Mason-like drama.

There are also snapshots of prison life. It can be a withering - a Darwinian experience where only the resolute can survive. For a man like Haynes - well heeled and used to celebrity, adjusting takes its toll.

He must rely on faith.”Haynes’ quiet time is spent reading and writing – ”his small library included a Bible along with motivational literature. He reads a lot from Proverbs, “Ecclesiastes,” and “Revelation. The Book of James” he completely soaked up.” Haynes’ redemption is the existential high point of this interesting work. The author casts a wide moral net.

He tells a compelling story, easily compensating for any

shortcomings.

As a motivational speaker who established Teen Success - an empowerment based organization, Andrews excels as an educator who addresses social issues that affect today’s youth. Clearly, this is a literary effort that lives up to his instructive and pedagogical leanings. It rings with karmic justice - a caveat, extolling virtue, faith, and an unswerving moral fiber. If only Andrews’ characters had

lived up to such high ideals.......

Dr Glenville Ashby, Literary critic, Caribbean Book Review Who Shot the Sheriff? By John A. Andrews Published by Books that Enhance Your Life, USA, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-984980-3-9 Available: Amazon.com/ www.JohnAAndrews.com Rating: Good

Sunday December 23 , 2012

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Rum, Rivalry, Resistance

By Sir Ronald Sanders The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Trade Ministers issued a statement on 11 December stating that “CARICOM countries continue to have serious concerns about the threat to the competitiveness of Caribbean rum in the United States market resulting from the massive subsidies provided by the Governments of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and Puerto Rico to multinational rum producers in those territories”.

After seven months of writing about this matter, I welcome this statement from the trade ministers underlying that “rum production and export are critical to the social and economic well-being of the Region”.

Much valuable time has been lost and much has to be done quickly if the rum industry of the CARIFORUM countries is not to be displaced in the US market.

CARIFORUM consists of the 14 independent CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic.

In previous commentaries I drew attention to the

adverse effects on CARIFORUM countries if the USVI and Puerto Rico governments continue to provide massive subsidies to rum companies in their territories – derived from a tax refund from the US Federal government called a “coverover” tax. To recap, CARIFORUM countries stand to lose US$700 million in foreign exchange annually, the jobs of 15,000 workers directly employed in the rum industry and another 60,000 jobs that benefit from it.

Governments will lose over US$250 million in annual tax revenues.

I have also pointed out that bulk rum producers in some CARICOM states have already lost contracts in the US market valued at millions of dollars because of the cheaper prices of the heavily subsidised USVI rum producers.

This situation will get far worse as these heavily subsidised companies increase their production.

Because I had also pointed out that the CARIFORUM country that would be the biggest loser is Barbados, it is encouraging to see Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart stating in

Parliament on 18 December that “We cannot rule out the prospect of this matter reaching the WTO” although he added “but that is not the first resort expedience”.

Rum exports to the US market in 2010 were worth US$17.2 million to Barbados – twice as much as its exports to the European Union market.

Delay in taking firm action is not in the interest of CARIFORUM countries. The longer they wait to stop these subsidies, the more unfairly entrenched the subsidized companies in the USVI and Puerto Rico will become in the US market.

Diplomatic efforts have been made consistently during the past few months and, by all accounts, the Barbados Ambassador to the US, John Beale, has been particularly active. But these efforts have produced no meaningful results. A letter written on 24 August to US President Barack Obama by St Lucia Prime Minister, Kenny Anthony, as Chairman of CARICOM, has remained unanswered, and a previous letter on 9 August, sent by CARIFORUM Ambassadors in Washington to the US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, received a non-committal

reply in October.

This led CARICOM trade ministers, at their December meeting, to call on the US government “to engage early with Caribbean rumproducing countries with a view to achieving an outcome that will support the c o n t i n u e d competitive access for Caribbean rum to the US market”.

Frankly, there is not much chance of the US government responding to that call, anymore than anyone should expect — as has been suggested — the US Attorney General, Eric Holder, to be helpful because “his parents were born in Barbados”.

The US government did not pick this fight. Neither did the CARIFORUM countries.

The local governments of the USVI and Puerto Rico have created the situation.

Unfortunately, for the US Federal Government it has responsibility for the actions of its territories under international law and treaties.

So, in as much as neither the US government, nor the CARIFORUM governments like it, they have a dispute on their hands, and it cannot be solved by diplomatic consultations

alone. In the US, this is not a matter for the government only; Congress also has a hand in it. And little or nothing will be done without compulsion.

The only compulsion is what some CARIFORUM governments appear reluctant to invoke, and that is to take the matter to the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

C A R I F O R U M governments have received at least three expert legal opinions that WTO rules have been violated by the actions of the USVI and Puerto Rico governments and they have an eminently winnable case against the US at the WTO. There should be no stopping them now.

Throughout its history, rum producers from CARICOM countries have faced unfair rivalry. They have been compelled to resist, as recorded in the excellent account, “Rum, Rivalry and Resistance” by Tony Talburt, published by Hansib in 2010.

Resistance continues to be necessary to safeguard this spirit which is so deeply intertwined with our Caribbean civilization. The government of the Dominican Republic has shown its

Ronald Sanders readiness to proceed to the WTO; indications are that Barbados may now be willing to join. All of the governments of the CARIFORUM countries have a duty of care to their people; they will be doing no more than fulfilling that duty by going to the WTO. At the very least, the governments of Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago should throw their weight behind the Dominican Republic and Barbados.

Those CARIFORUM countries that do not join resistance at the WTO will not only show no spirit, they will also be entitled to no benefits that may be awarded.

And, if none of them do anything other than engage in the delaying exercise of diplomatic consultations with the US, more than the spirituous Caribbean rum will (Continued on page 25)

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Sunday December 23 , 2012

Believe and achieve! Rajkumar Sookraj is a ‘Special Person’

By Leon Suseran Education—pursued by many, every single day, with the hope of having a better standard of life and being equipped with the skills needed to function better in a vastly changing world.

Whether it is accessing a primary, secondary or even higher education, these days, education is valued to a great extent.

This is why many of us make harsh sacrifices to attain a good education, even when we never thought it was in us to do so; to excel, to exceed, to come out on top. How discouraged many of us can become when we stumble along the way; when we fail in life. But the important thing is getting up, dusting ourselves off and trying harder again with the intent to succeed. The story of Rajkumar Sookraj is one just like that. Hailing from a poor fishing family on the Lower Corentyne, his father worked tirelessly in the sugar industry, away from home, leaving his [Raj’s] mother to shoulder much of the responsibilities in the home.

But as we will see, this young, playful and carefree ‘country boy’ met his own set of challenges in life; aimed high in his quest for education and proved to many that one from a poor ‘country’ background can make it to great heights, with determination, and a bit of motivation of course.

He was born at Number One Road, Corentyne, in a community that dealt with mostly farming and fishing.

during the week and come home on the weekends.

However, this did not really affect them much.

“My mother had to take up the responsibility but it didn’t interfere with us much, because despite he (father) was not there, everything was normal, in terms of discipline and every other basic comfort was there”.

There were 3 other brothers and a sister, “but I grew up

“Practically, teachers need to know a lot of stuff about classroom testing, and I felt that if I became specialized in that area and worked at the university, I would be able to impart knowledge to them so that they can help the school system, and this motivated me.”

Most of the men in the village were employed by the nearby sugar estate.

“We had a lot of interaction with friends— cricket, games, and we would help a lot with chores and livestock in the homes and involve ourselves, too, with farming as well”, he reflected.

His father worked at the Providence Estate. He would be away from the home

alone because the others were very big, so I was the child who grew up with my mother and father alone”.

He attended Gibraltar Primary from 1973-1982 and Lower Corentyne Secondary form 1982-1985.

Rajkumar shared a few memories from childhood. “I did stuff normally that boys did…we went to the trench and bathe, and to the cane

fields and get a piece of cane; catch birds—we used to go and play cricket; we had a lovely reef where everybody in the community would meet up there, especially during rainy days, nice grass, and we would enjoy playing softball cricket there”.

In his village during the evenings, they would go out on the dams, also with adults, and play ‘saul pass’ “and you would enjoy, especially during moonlight nights, the neighbours would come together, sit, and the children would play around and we used to play until nine. We had farms and I used to go with my friends and pick mangoes”.

Young Raj got a bit discouraged after his CXC qualifications were “a bit poor”. He credited this to his ‘playful’ attitude. “To me, I wasn’t serious over the schoolwork—I can tell you— I was a real movie fan, so it was like Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we used to run away from school and go and see the 1:15 [pm] show. It was not like I didn’t have potential but the interest…it was like I was involved in stuff boys would normally do and paid less attention to school”.

After being informed that there was a shortage of teachers in the system, he applied to enter the teaching profession and started to teach at Gibraltar Primary in 1987. A few years later, he entered the training college.

Little did he realize that he had a lot of potential during the time he was asked to do some upgrading exams for teachers entering the Teachers’ Training College.

He

Rajkumar Sookraj

performed very well in the exams and went straight into the teacher-training.

Life from that point became a bit more serious for Raj as he began to concentrate more on his studies and life-intended career of teaching.

“That was the turning point and I started CPCE and I came out as the second Best Graduating Student in 1997,” he stated. This was quite the opposite from the high school scenario and his CXC results.

He had indeed become more serious with his work.

“I had this competitive spirit in class that I should rise… you know, and I realized that naturally, I started to perform better and be on top. It was not something I was fighting for.

I was always on top. I just performed well from one time to the next and this motivated me to go forward.”

During these studies, too, his wife passed away after a long battle with cancer. “It was a real distressing time for me”, he recalled. But Raj continued on his path to

seeking education. He later did re-marry.

In his pursuit to climb the education ladder, he applied to study at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) in 2000. He was among the first batch of students at the facility. He later graduated with a Bachelor ’s Degree in Education (Administration) in 2004, topping his cadre of students (primary school teachers) in both the Certificate in Education Programme (2002) and the Degree Programme at the final graduation.

He was then employed at Fyrish Primary in 2005 where he taught for 3 years and returned to Gibraltar Primary as Head teacher in 2009. He later joined the staff of Tain Primary as Deputy- head teacher in 2010. He spent 23 years in the teaching profession.

In 2010, he joined the teaching staff of UGBC as a Measurement & Evaluation Lecturer.

“I really enjoyed (Continued on page 26)

Mrs Bibi Shadick presenting him with the prize for 2nd Best Graduating Student at CPCE in 1997 at the National Cultural Centre

Sunday December 23 , 2012

By Dr. Sewnauth Punalall AFC Executive Member The Christmas celebration is just a few days away and the AFC extends joyous Christmas greetings to all Guyanese as well as all foreign nationals who are presently holidaying in our beautiful land.

When we think of Christmas two priceless things automatically come to mind - peace and joy. The angelic message at the birth of Jesus Christ was “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people…Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:10, 12). Therefore the expectation of Almighty God is for all mankind to live in peace and joy. Regardless of our nature, culture, standards, interests, or aspirations we should strive to live in harmony between and among ourselves so that our communities can be friendly and pleasant.

The Merriman-Webster dictionary defines peace as “Freedom from civil disturbance” or “A state of security or order within a country provided for by law or custom”. However these simple definitions should not lead us to conclude that peace is merely the absence of hostility, or just newly healed interpersonal or international relationships.

Peace involves much more than this. Peace means prosperity in matters of social and economic welfare. For example, a state of tranquility is necessary for one to be in a good state of health. Studies also reveal conclusively that lack of peace breeds crime, for whenever a society enjoys a high level of peace crime is greatly reduced. Further it has been found that peace leads to economic growth and stability.

While investor climate, consumer confidence and other factors are important to attract investors it must be recognized that investors prefer to invest in peaceful nations.

Lack of peace also leads to governmental incoherence. Decades of political power play in Guyana, rather than harmony amongst our politicians, have finally brought our parliament to a state of gridlock.

In order for our nation to leave this state of political deadness behind, the AFC has been

Kaieteur News

focusing on the type of leadership committed to execute the role of peace builders, leaders who are determined to promote equal political, economic, social and civil rights for all Guyanese. The time has come for our nation to be led by men and women who are known for their compassion, integrity and courage.

Stiffness, impatience and anger must give way to flexibility, patience and forgiveness.

Finally we want to point out the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends on happenings. When things are happening we are happy, for example a village day here, or a fair there, or a big lime in the city. When these short-term events are over the happiness ends. However joy is of a more enduring nature.

The AFC, unlike the present administration prefers our hard working people to experience joy rather than the fleeting pleasures which are of short duration. We are interested in imparting into our people that which is enduring. House lot distribution is a typical case in point. When one is allocated a house lot that person is happy. However joy only comes when that person is able to move into a properly constructed home on the lot.

For the minimum wage earner this is impossible. For the family of four or five with two or three children to educate and whose net pay is around $100,000 this new home is a lifetime away. Another typical case is casual employment in this country. When an unemployed individual receives a probationary or temporary employment that person is happy.

Joy comes when that person is confirmed in that position. In order to keep employees under subjugation here, the present administration uses the weapon of casual employment, even of senior government employees. And so the happiness, rather than maturing into joy, turns into sorrow.

In the birth of Jesus Christ Almighty God reached down to man to save him from his sins. If God can reach down to us we should not think twice to reach out to each other. The AFC would like to see a Guyanese nation rich in peace and joy. We call upon all of our Guyanese brothers and sisters to join hearts and hands with us, so that we can together tread this path of national development.

Merry Christmas and we pray that 2013 be filled with Peace and Joy.

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MY COLUMN

The confusion continues This season brings out the best and the worst in people. All through the year I watched women in stilettos going to work.

I always find this amusing because in the places where they designed stilettos and fancy clothes the people reserve their shoes for the office. Because they are sensible they would wear sneakers on the streets for a series of reasons.

One of the reasons is the uneven surface of roadways.

To walk in those heels on the streets could lead to serious injuries so the women do the sensible thing.

In Guyana our women do the opposite; the get into the office and they take off their fancy shoes and plod around in sandals or pumps.

Amazingly, as the season approached I saw quite a few women who sneaked out of office don their flats and walk the streets to go bargain hunting.

I asked myself why they would walk sensibly at this time and torture themselves for the rest of the year.

But there was something

else. All year I couldn’t get a female member of staff to walk even two hundred metres.

Everything needed a taxi.

Some were heading to the Stabroek Market area but they declined to travel in those hire cars. And they could have got away with this because more often than not some of the people who assigned them refused to pay heed to the location of the assignment.

Well this season forced almost all of them to change their habit of doing things the lazy way. And I realized that there is a reason.

For one, the taxi services are very busy coping with those who insist on taking the easy way out.

The result is that these women walk. And it is amazing the distance they put in.

They would walk from store to store, buying little or simply comparing prices. And they all have on sensible shoes.

Another thing that leaves me smiling is the effort people put into making their home presentable. I would believe that this should be a normal thing. The home should be

presentable at all times and perhaps they are. But for some reason people go out of their way to do that bit extra; and I like it.

At my home I opted to do some spring cleaning myself and I was shocked at the amount of dust that had gathered. For the love of me I couldn’t imagine where all that dust came from. I did find some hair in the dust and I immediately knew where my disappearing hair was going—on the floor. I wish I could find money at the same rate I found those bits of hair in the dust.

I had to hire someone to give the old house a wipe on the outside and I was surprised at what some soap and water could do to a building. There were blinds from about six years ago and they are going up. I had washed them the last time they were up, but being in an old suitcase caused them to develop a musty smell. I could not worry because the house started to look nice.

In the market place there was no madness like the previous years. Prices

remained stable and people with their five per cent found that there was a lot more that they could actually buy. And they were buying a lot.

I saw people buying grapes and apples, something that had disappeared when I was so much younger. To this day I do not crave grapes and apples because I have lost the taste for them. Those were the days when Forbes Burnham came up with import substitution.

Looking back I must thank him, because the money I would have spent on those foreign things would now go to the local farmers who keep me fed throughout the year.

There was a time before Burnham’s measure when I remember my mother trying something different on Christmas Day. The big meal was corned beef from the tin.

Of course I was excited. Today I don’t even eat that stuff, preferring to kill myself with the heavy dose of cow face and ears, pig snout and trotters, and all those high cholesterol stuff.

I am looking forward to the holidays. I do enjoy the sight

of happy people and the screaming children, although I am not sure that I would tolerate those screams in my domain.

Missing this year has been the preponderance of Christmas parties. There was a time when just about every Ministry and department hosted one. It must be that despite all the talk about a booming economy, people do not have money to throw around.

I miss those parties, if only for the freeness. Many of them used to feature delicacies that I would not normally see on the table. I remember the seafood party a now dead Agriculture Minister hosted years ago. I splurged then.

These days I am keeping

Adam Harris an eye on January when money will not be at a premium.

That is the month when too many people approach me for a “brace till month end” as though I have a bank vault.

And I wonder whether anyone is thinking about January but then again, life is about now, especially since some people called me to inform me that the world was ending on Friday.

Rum, Rivalry...

From page 21 die; the Caribbean spirit of resistance will die too.

The US Trade Representative’s Office is expert at prolonging “consultations” and delaying WTO arbitration.

But, time is not on the side of

CARIFORUM rums, as Trade Ministers agreed.

(The writer is a Consultant and Visiting Fellow, London University) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

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Believe and achieve!...

From page 22 teaching… I had some nice times—the staff at both schools, was very, very cooperative and helpful and I never faced challenges with them...and I was very cooperative with them”, he said. Not quite satisfied with his education achievements, and still ever so determined to climb further, he enlisted to read for his Masters of Education Degree and graduated in November of this year at the Turkeyen Campus.

“You’re never satisfied, as long you start to qualify yourself with higher education, you always feel that you want to go up more—there is this urge to acquire more knowledge and skills.”

He asserted that it was intrinsic motivation as well as being encouraged by friends to pursue his higher degree.

In 2010, he became employed full-time by UGBC and left the teaching system in the public school. He also lectures on a part-time basis with the Cyril Potter College of Education. He lectures to secondary school teachers in Berbice.

His final thesis dealt with

Measurement & Evaluation, an area he loves very much.

“Practically, teachers need to know a lot of stuff about classroom testing, and I felt that if I became specialized in that area and worked at the university, I would be able to impart knowledge to them so that they can help the school system, and this motivated me”. Our ‘Special Person’ investigated social factors affecting student performance at the National Grade Six Assessment. His findings, he stated, revealed that performance is indeed connected with students’ family income.

“Those who are from the middle-income will generally perform better than those who are from low- income families. It also shows that students who have parents with higher levels of education, like tertiary and secondary education, they will perform better at the assessment in 2010 than those who had parents with only primary levels of education.”

These results, he opined, have implications for our nation.

“As parents, you need to educate yourselves as much

as you can and this would help you to increase your earnings…and your family’s living standards will improve and if that improves, your children can focus more on education…and if they focus more, their performances will improve.”

“I am proof that despite what background or community you come from, you can make it in life—and others out there should not be discouraged, press on and don’t look back from where you come from. Just press forward to reach the top!”

“If you’re educated, it will get you out of poverty and you can help people; and if it gets you out of poverty, it means a better living standard for you and your family and you can make society better.”

Apart from lecturing, Raj is involved in counselling youths in his community. He also enjoys reading and listening to music and assists UGBC with its Annual Reading Programme with under-performing children in the Corentyne area. He also assists kids in his area with Mathematics and English, especially during the August holidays. “I like adventure. I like going out—in my younger

days, I used to go out on nature walks”.

He did have a role model whom he looked up to. “I looked up to Dr Joshua Ramsammy, my neighbour and a lecturer at UG Turkeyen and I was telling myself—that since he was from a similar family background like I was—if he can do it, why can’t I? He was one of the motivating factors.”

His principles in life…

“Always do what you like and like what you do and it will move you forward and so, if you are a teacher, it means you like teaching, so you must perform to the best of your ability. If one does not like what they do, they need to look for heroes, for people who can motivate them, to look for people who would positively impact their lives.

Everyone out there has a contribution to make to society, but you have to believe in yourself.”

“Try to do what is right and if you know somebody that is doing something that is not right, why should you go and do the same thing?”

When asked to share words of advice for teachers, he said, “Teachers are moulders of the nation and

Mr Sookraj and his family (from left): Devan, Maria, Sharda and Avinash they are the greatest beings who would have walk this earth, and teachers should take into consideration what they do and how they do it because they are teachers all around the clock and eyes are on them, and students are very sensitive. The students pay keen attention to teachers’ lifestyles and the

teachers can easily lose respect if they don’t conduct themselves properly in society and in the school.

He concluded by reiterating that poverty is no stumbling block for someone to move up the ladder in life.

“Honestly, it’s quite simple. If you believe, you can achieve!”

Receiving an Award for Best Graduating Student (Certificate in Education) in 2002 from Mr Imran Sacoor (right) of Republic Bank

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Bermuda cabinet agrees to ten per cent pay cut Bermuda- The new cabinet of Premier Craig Cannonier has pledged to take a 10 per cent cut in salaries.

Cannonier’s 12-member cabinet, which includes two women, was sworn in on Thursday night by Governor George Fergusson. But there was no place for a member of the opposition Progressive Labour Party (PLP), whose

14-year reign ended in a dramatic 19-17 defeat on Monday.

After being sworn in on Tuesday as Premier, Cannonier kept a pre-election promise by offering a place in his cabinet to a member of the PLP, but it declined the offer, citing party policy.

“I am proud to be standing here today with the first cabinet of Bermuda’s first

OBA government. A team of working men and women, fresh faces, experienced hands, all dedicated to making this island work better for the people of this country,” said Cannonier.

“A team that has come together from all backgrounds, all walks of life, to be a public service government, getting things done, putting people first.

T&T to upgrade with detection of passport fraudsters

The Bajan government had denied cruise workers were detained in Miami.

Ministry denies Barbados workers ‘detained’ in Miami Barbados– The Barbados government has sought to clarify media reports that claimed several nationals had been detained in Miami while on their way to take up employment with Norwegian Cruise lines.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security said that four Barbadian workers left the island for Miami over the weekend “to assume employment as crew members” with the Norwegian Cruise Lines.

According to the statement, new crew members assigned to cruise ships enter

Miami on a transit visa and not on a United States nonimmigrant visa.

“As a consequence, the holders of the transit visa must be thoroughly processed before they are released from the Immigration area. This process has, in the past, lasted between three and four hours,” the statement said.

It said that crew members from several cruise lines enter Miami at the same time and they are directed to a particular area where they are interviewed and requested to provide fingerprints, by Customs and Border Patrol agents. The Ministry said

that officials from the Barbados Liaison Service in Miami who work with the External Employment Programme are not permitted entry into the Customs and Immigration areas in Miami.

But it said the workers in question were screened and dealt with by the US authorities and that Barbadian authorities had been assured that “that there were no issues with our Barbadian workers”.

The ministry also confirmed the workers are now “safely on board ships of the Norwegian Cruise Lines”.

(Caribbean360)

Banned Black Mosquito Coils Seized By Customs Dept The Jamaica Customs Department is reporting that over the past two months, it made five major seizures of Black Mosquito Coils at various ports and business premises in Kingston.

It says the item which is being imported under the name “mosquito medicine” is not approved for use in Jamaica and as such is a banned item by the Pesticide Control Authority.

It is also warning the public to discontinue

any use of this harmful product and its importation.

The customs department says penalties being levied against importers include severe fines associated with false declaration, unmanifested goods, excess goods and breach of import permits.

Importers are being advised that any attempt to rationalise the import of Black Mosquito Coils will not be tolerated.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

“I have spent the past two and a half days talking with each new minister and I can say that they are fired up and ready to get down to the people’s business.

Outgoing premier Paula Cox and one of her predecessors, Dame Jennifer Smith were among the PLP’s major election casualties. The PLP will hold a special delegates’ meeting on Friday to select a new leader.

As expected Bob Richards, the son of former premier Sir Edward Richards, is the new Finance Minister, while the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) deputy leader, Michael Dunkley, has been handed the key ministerial post of Public Safety.

Lawyer Mark Pettingill, who thrashed close friend and former PLP cabinet minister Dale Butler, is the island’s new Attorney General.

Two members of the cabinet - Minister for Home Affairs Michael Fahy and Education Minister Nalton Brangman — will sit as

Snators in the Upper House, leaving Cannonier still to appoint three other members of his Senate team.

Cannonier said the primary focus of his new government “is to get our economy growing again, creating the conditions for new jobs and opportunity ... creating conditions to help people meet their daily needs; to ease the pressures they face. “The work ahead will not be easy, but we will get the job done. One of my government’s goals is to change the way we conduct politics, to bring forward a new emphasis on cooperation and collaboration.

“In keeping with this plan, I extended an invitation to a PLP MP to join the cabinet but they declined, citing a party position to not accept such an offer at this time. We will continue to push forward with plans to grow co-operation and collaboration amongst the elected leaders of the country.”

He said another important

goal for the government is to close the gap that has grown between government and the people.

“In keeping with this plan, our cabinet ministers will take a 10 per cent pay cut effective immediately.

“The people of this country are going through very tough times, and it is essential they know that their elected representatives are with them. We cannot expect Bermudians to tighten their belts without their leaders doing the same. Sacrifice must be shared,” he said.

The Bermuda Employers Council has congratulated the new OBA government.

“We support the new government’s intention to form a Tripartite Economic Advisory Council.

Involving the union and employer representatives to come to grips with our prolonged economic problems, declining real income while carving a road to recovery can only benefit the island,” the private sector groups aid. (Caribbean360)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Pope pardons ex-butler who stole, leaked documents VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI granted his former butler a Christmas pardon yesterday, forgiving him in person during a jailhouse meeting for stealing and leaking his private papers in one of the gravest Vatican security breaches in recent times.

After the 15-minute meeting, Paolo Gabriele was freed and returned to his Vatican City apartment where he lives with his wife and three children. The Vatican said he couldn’t continue living or working in the Vatican, but said it would find him housing and a job elsewhere soon.

“This is a paternal gesture toward someone with whom the pope for many years shared daily life,” according to a statement from the Vatican secretariat of state.

The pardon closes a painful and embarrassing chapter for the Vatican, capping a sensational, Hollywood-like scandal that exposed power struggles, intrigue and allegations of corruption and homosexual liaisons in the highest levels of the Catholic Church.

Gabriele, 46, was arrested May 23 after Vatican police

In this file photo taken Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI, right, arrives in St. Peter’s square at the Vatican for a general audience as his then-butler Paolo Gabriele, bottom, and his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein sit in the car with him. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File) found what they called an “enormous” stash of papal documents in his Vatican City apartment. He was convicted of aggravated theft by a Vatican tribunal on Oct. 6 and

has been serving his 18month sentence in the Vatican police barracks.

He told Vatican investigators he gave the documents to Italian

journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi because he thought the 85year-old pope wasn’t being informed of the “evil and corruption” in the Vatican and thought that exposing it

publicly would put the church back on the right track.

During the trial, Gabriele testified that he loved the pope “as a son loves his father” and said he never meant to hurt the pontiff or the church. A photograph taken during the meeting Saturday — the first between Benedict and his once trusted butler since his arrest — showed Gabriele dressed in his typical dark gray suit, smiling.

The publication of the leaked documents, first on Italian television then in Nuzzi’s book “His Holiness: Pope Benedict XVI’s Secret Papers” convulsed the Vatican all year, a devastating betrayal of the pope from within his papal family that exposed the unseemly side of the Catholic Church’s governance.

The papal pardon had been widely expected before Christmas, and the jailhouse meeting Benedict used to personally deliver it recalled the image of Pope John Paul II visiting Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish gunman who shot him in 1981, while he served his sentence in an Italian prison.

The Vatican spokesman,

the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the meeting was “intense” and “personal” and said that during it Benedict “communicated to him in person that he had accepted his request for pardon, commuting his sentence.”

Lombardi said the Vatican hoped the Benedict’s pardon and Gabriele’s freedom would allow the Holy See to return to work “in an atmosphere of serenity.”

None of the leaked documents threatened the papacy. Most were of interest only to Italians, as they concerned relations between Italy and the Vatican and a few local scandals and personalities. Their main aim appeared to be to discredit Benedict’s trusted No. 2, the secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Vatican officials have said the theft, though, shattered the confidentiality that typically governs correspondence with the pope. Cardinals, bishops and everyday laymen write to him about spiritual and practical matters assuming that their words will be treated with the discretion for which the Holy See is known.

Sunday December 23 , 2012

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Obama tries to rescue fiscal talks for post-Christmas deal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Friday tried to rescue stalled talks on a fiscal crisis after a Republican plan imploded in Congress, but there was little headway as lawmakers and President Barack Obama abandoned Washington for Christmas.

In remarks before flying to Hawaii for a break, Obama suggested reaching a shortterm deal on taxes and extending unemployment insurance to avoid the worst effects of the “fiscal cliff” on ordinary Americans at the start of the New Year.

“We’ve only got 10 days to do it. So I hope that every member of Congress is thinking about that. Nobody can get 100 percent of what they want,” said Obama.

Obama said he wanted to sign legislation extending Bush-era tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans in the coming days.

The Democrat appeared to be offering bickering lawmakers a way to fix the most pressing challenge - tax cuts that expire soon - while leaving thorny topics such as automatic spending cuts or extending the debt ceiling for later.

Obama called on lawmakers to use the holiday break to cool off frayed nerves, “drink some eggnog, have some Christmas cookies, sing some Christmas carols,” and come back next week ready to make a deal.

Negotiations were thrown into disarray on Thursday when House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner failed to convince his fellow Republicans to accept tax cuts for even the wealthiest of

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the fiscal cliff at the White House in Washington. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Americans as part of a possible agreement with Obama.

“How we get there, God only knows,” Boehner told reporters on Friday when asked about a possible comprehensive fiscal cliff solution.

If there is no agreement, taxes would go up on all Americans and hundreds of billions of dollars in automatic government spending cuts would kick in next month actions that could plunge the U.S. economy back into recession.

Obama spoke to Boehner on Friday and held a face-toface White House meeting with the top Democrat in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Before his defeat in Congress, Boehner had extracted a compromise from Obama to raise taxes on

Americans making more than $400,000 a year, instead of the president’s preference of those with income of $250,000 a year.

But with talks stalled on the level of spending cuts to which Obama would agree, Boehner attempted a backup plan to raise taxes only on those making more than $1 million a year - amounting to just 0.18 percent of Americans.

Boehner’s reverse in the House was worse than first thought. A key Republican lawmaker said Boehner scrapped the vote when he realized that between 40 and 50 of the 241 Republicans in the House would not back him.

Obama and his fellow Democrats in Congress are insisting that the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes in order to help reduce federal budget deficits and avoid

India police use water cannon, tear gas as gang-rape protests intensify NEW DELHI (Reuters) Indian police used batons, tear gas and water cannon to turn back thousands of people marching on the presidential palace on Saturday in intensifying protests against the gangrape of a woman on the streets and on social media.

The 23-year-old victim is battling for her life in hospital after she was beaten, raped for almost an hour and thrown out of a moving bus on a busy New Delhi street last Sunday.

Five people have been arrested.

The protesters, largely college students, are demanding the death penalty for the accused and safety assurances for women.

New Delhi, home to about 16 million people, has the highest number of sex crimes among India’s major cities. Police figures show a rape is reported on average every 18 hours and some other form of sexual attack every 14 hours.

Appealing for calm, India’s junior minister for

home affairs, R.P.N. Singh, said the government had listened to the protesters.

“We have assured on the floor of the house and on every platform possible that strictest action will be taken against the accused.

The police have been asked to show restraint but I want to

deep spending cuts.

Republicans control the House and Democrats control the Senate.

Stocks dropped sharply early Friday on fears that the United States could go fall back into recession if politicians do not prevent it.

But major indexes lost less than 1 percent, suggesting investors still held out hope that an agreement will be brokered in Washington.

“I think if you get into midJanuary and (the talks) keep going like this, you get worried, but I don’t think we’re going to get there,” said Mark Lehmann, president of JMP Securities, in San Francisco.

Boehner, joined by his No. 2, Eric Cantor, at a Capitol Hill news conference, said the ultimate fault rests with Obama for refusing to agree to more spending reductions that would bring down America’s $1 trillion annual deficit and rising $16 trillion debt.

“What the president has proposed so far simply won’t do anything to solve our spending problem. He wants more spending and more tax hikes that will hurt our economy,” Boehner said.

Democrats responded with incredulity.

House members, heading to their home states for the holidays, were instructed to be available on 48 hours notice

if necessary.

“They went from ‘Plan B’ to ‘plan see-you-later,’” Obama adviser David Axelrod said on MSNBC on Friday morning.

The crumbling of Boehner’s plan highlights his struggle to lead some House Republicans who flatly reject any deal that would increase taxes on anyone.

R e p u b l i c a n Representative Tim Huelskamp criticized Boehner’s handling of the negotiations, saying the speaker had “caved” to Obama opening the door to tax hikes. H u e l s k a m p , a dissident first-term congressman from Kansas, said he was not willing to compromise on taxes even if they are coupled with cuts to government spending sought by conservatives.

Fiscal conservatives “are so frustrated that the leader in the House right now, the speaker, has been talking about tax increases. That’s all he’s been talking about,” Huelskamp said on MSNBC on Friday morning.

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Sunday December 23 , 2012

Vice president quits as Egypt votes on constitution CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt’s vice-president resigned yesterday as Egyptians voted in a referendum that is expected to approve a new constitution that lays the foundations for the country’s transition to democracy but will strip him of his role.

Authorities extended voting by four hours in the second and decisive round of the plebiscite on an Islamistdrafted constitution that the opposition has criticized as divisive and likely to cause more unrest. Just hours before polls closed, Vice President Mahmoud Mekky announced his resignation, saying he wanted to quit last month but stayed on to help President Mohamed Mursi tackle a crisis that blew up when the Islamist leader assumed wide powers.

Mekky, a prominent judge who said he was uncomfortable in politics, disclosed earlier he had not been informed of Mursi’s power grab. However, the timing of Mekky’s move appeared linked to the fact there is no vice-presidential post under the draft constitution.

Mahmoud Mekky In a resignation letter, Mekky said that although he had held on in the post he had “realized for some time that the nature of political work did not suit my professional background as a judge”.

Islamist supporters of Mursi say the charter is vital to move towards democracy, nearly two years after an Arab Spring revolt overthrew authoritarian ruler Hosni Mubarak. It will help restore stability needed to fix a struggling economy, they say.

But the opposition says the document is divisive and has accused Mursi of pushing through a text that favors his

Islamist allies while ignoring the rights of Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the population, as well as women.

“I’m voting ‘no’ because Egypt can’t be ruled by one faction,” said Karim Nahas, 35, a stockbroker, heading to a polling station in Giza, a province included in this round of voting which covers parts of greater Cairo.

At another polling station, some voters said they were more interested in ending Egypt’s long period of political instability than in the Islamist aspects of the charter.

“We have to extend our hands to Mursi to help fix the country,” said Hisham Kamal, an accountant.

Queues formed at some polling stations around the country and voting was extended by four hours to 11 p.m. (2100 GMT).

Unofficial tallies are likely to emerge within hours of the close, but the referendum committee may not declare an official result for the two rounds until tomorrow, after hearing appeals.

As polling opened yesterday, a coalition of

Egyptian rights groups reported a number of alleged irregularities. They said some polling stations had opened late, that Islamists urging a “yes” vote had illegally campaigned at some stations, and complained of irregularities in voter registration irregularities, including the listing of one dead person.

Last week’s first round of voting gave a 57 percent vote in favour of the constitution, according to unofficial figures.

Analysts expect another “yes” yesterday because the vote covers rural and other areas seen as having more Islamist sympathizers.

Islamists may also be able to count on many Egyptians who are simply exhausted by two years of upheaval.

Among the provisions of the new basic law are a limit of two four-year presidential terms. It says the principles of sharia law remain the main source of legislation but adds an article to explain this further. It also says Islamic authorities will be consulted on sharia - a source of concern to Christians and

other non-Muslims.

If the constitution is passed, a parliamentary election will be held in about two months. If not, an assembly will have to be set up to draft a new one.

After the first round of voting, the opposition said alleged abuses meant the first stage of the referendum should be re-run. But the committee overseeing the two-stage vote said its investigations showed no major irregularities in voting on December 15, which covered about half of Egypt’s 51 million voters.

Even if the charter is approved, the opposition say it is a recipe for trouble since it has not received sufficiently broad backing from the population. They say the result may go in Mursi’s favour but it will not be a fair vote. “I see more unrest,” said Ahmed Said, head of the liberal Free Egyptians Party and a member of the National Salvation Front, an opposition coalition formed after Mursi expanded his powers on November 22 and then pushed the constitution to a vote.

Protesters accused the president of acting like a pharaoh, and he was forced to issue a second decree two weeks ago that amended a provision putting his decisions above legal challenge.

Said cited “serious violations” on the first day of voting, and said anger against Mursi and his Islamist allies was growing. “People are not going to accept the way they are dealing with the situation.” mAt least eight people were killed in protests outside the presidential palace in Cairo this month. Islamists and rivals clashed on Friday in the second biggest city of Alexandria, hurling stones at each other. Two buses were torched. The head of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group that represents Mursi’s power base, said the vote was an opportunity for Egypt to move on. “After the constitution is settled by the people, the wheels in all areas will turn, even if there are differences here and there,” the Brotherhood’s supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, said as he went to vote in Beni Suef, south of Cairo.

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From page 18 Caribbean Court of Justice found that the death penalty was no longer constitutional.

WEDNESDAY EDITION SIX DEAD IN POMEROON SPEEDBOAT CRASH Six people including three children perished at around 17:30 hrs Tuesday in the Pomeroon River after a speedboat owned by the Region Two administration struck the vessel in which they were travelling.

Eyewitnesses said that the Region Two vessel, which was occupied by several regional officials, was heading out of Siriki, in the Upper Pomeroon, when it “rode over” a smaller boat, which then crashed into a large mangrove swamp.

Confirmed dead are boat captain Harrynarine Bhagwandeen; Velda Rodrigues, 50; Shawn Anthony, 14; Rajkumar Singh, 14 and his sister Amerieta Singh, 10; and Vincent Singh, 42. The lone survivor, Eli Orlando, of Adams Creek, was admitted to the Suddie Public Hospital. A hospital source said that his condition has improved.

GOVT. NOT PUNISHING DEFAULTERS DESPITE GLARING EVIDENCE AFC, APNU The administration’s failure to take timely sanctions for failures on a number of multi-million-dollar contracts and possible fraud at state agencies has seen a number of concerns raised by the Parliamentary Opposition.

A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) Tuesday criticized the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for “refusing to take action despite knowing that hundreds of millions of dollars may have been wasted or stolen through fraud or corrupt practices”.

There has not been any serious reported case of civil servants being taken before the courts for the recovery of monies nor charges laid for any corruption in recent times.

Government has been denying that there is serious corruption in Guyana.

While the administration has said it penalized contractors for underperformance and tardiness, it has not been forthcoming in providing information on how many, if any, financial sanctions there may have been. According to APNU, issues like the investigations at National Communications Network (NCN); the delays and suspension of Synergy Holdings as the contractor of access roads to the Amaila

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23 , 2012

Falls Hydro Project site; the spending of taxpayers’ money on the Marriott Hotel and the EZjet fiasco, are but a few of the instances where legitimate questions are being asked as to how state funds are being spent.

THURSDAY EDITION SUPENAAM STELLING DESIGNER ROCKED BY CORRUPTION ACCUSATIONS A unit of SNC Lavalin Group Inc. said on Wednesday that a senior executive left the company earlier this month, just ahead of corruption accusations by Bangladeshi authorities, according to a report in the Globe and Mail newspaper.

Bangladesh’s AntiCorruption Commission has accused Kevin Wallace, former president of SNC’s Candu Energy Inc nuclear power unit, with conspiring to bribe Government officials, the newspaper said, citing a commission report.

Wallace, previously a project manager at SNC overseeing mining and industry projects, resigned from the Montreal-based company in early December, a Reuters report said Wednesday. In a brief press release, Candu said that on December 10 Wallace had left the company and an acting president would fill his position until the board of directors appointed a new president.

SNC said on Wednesday that it has not received a copy of the Bangladesh report and learned of the investigation through the media. The company also said it would not comment on personal files of former employees, or their reasons for leaving the company. Attempts to reach Wallace were unsuccessful.

The report is the latest development in a mounting corruption scandal at SNC. Earlier this month, the company said it would suspend payments to its former chief executive, following his arrest on fraud charges by Quebec police.

SNC Lavalin is the same company that helped design the Supenaam ferry stelling which suffered problems with its loading ramp in early 2010, causing government to spend millions more to fix.

The Guyana Government had ordered a probe but no single party was found guilty.

NO FORMER PRESIDENT GRANTED STATE LANDS No former president was ever granted state lands or properties while still in office, a document released by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission shows.

The document was released following a question

The 200/201 Camp Street property which now houses several sections of the GRA raised by Parliamentarian Carl Greenidge in the National Assembly. Greenidge asked for a list of all the transactions involving the granting of titles to state lands and properties to former Presidents or Prime Ministers while they were still in office.

He wanted to know the price per acre, the total cost, the size of the plot and other terms and conditions of acquisition.

In response, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds released a list produced by the Lands and Survey Commission which showed that none of Guyana’s Presidents acquired state lands. The list included late Presidents Arthur Chung, Desmond Hoyte, Dr Cheddi Jagan and Mrs Janet Jagan, along with former President Bharrat Jagdeo and current President Donald Ramotar.

However, the then President Bharrat Jagdeo, while in office, bought state lands sold by the Ministry of Housing. In the list, former First Lady, the late Viola Burnham was leased 12.49 acres in Durban Backlands.

The lease was issued in 1972 and was stated as now being expired. In 1991, a transport was passed for part of the lands.

FRIDAY EDITION GOVT SPENDS $480 MILLION TO MODIFY CLICO BUILDING The government on Thursday revealed that it has spent a whopping $480 million (US$2.4M) to modify the former CLICO building on Camp Street, Georgetown, and wanted a further $170 million to complete it for rental to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). However, the opposition Parliamentary parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), voted against the additional spending.

The building now

belongs to the National Insurance Scheme, and Minister within the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill said that the GRA would offset the cost that the government has spent on the building.

Edghill said that there have been negotiations on a rental agreement, but while figures have been “floated”, no concrete or final price has been arrived at.

However, APNU Parliamentarian Jaipaul Sharma, expressed surprise that certain branches of the GRA have already moved into the building, but no tenancy agreement has been concluded. Edghill said that the GRA is consolidating its offices in one location and hence the building had to be modified to accommodate all of its operations.

POMEROON TRAGEDY…CAPTAIN SAYS OTHER BOAT SWERVED INTO HIS PATH A passenger from the Region Two vessel that was involved in Tuesday’s deadly crash said Thursday that she heard an official shout: “Captain look out, there’s a boat coming!” seconds before the two boats collided.

The passenger said that the captain, known as ‘Buddy’, swerved and the other boat struck the side of the vessel she was in before “pelting up in the air and going into the bushes.” The woman said she believes that she and the other passengers would also have perished had the boats collided head-on.

The passenger’s account appears to confirm accounts given by the captain of the Region Two vessel and Regional Chairman Parmanand Persaud, who both said that the smaller vessel had headed into their path. The boat captain, who was released on station bail Thursday, stated that the other boat should have been travelling on the other side of

the river. The captain and Region Two Chairman Persaud denied that they left the scene without attempting to assist the victims. Persaud told Kaieteur News that the captain discharged his passengers and went back to help the victims but by then, two other boats had already gone to the scene and reported that all the passengers were dead.

SATURDAY EDITION US$200M SKELDON FACTORY 65% OPERATIONAL, BUT ONLY PRODUCES 20% Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, on Thursday said that the Skeldon Sugar Factory is operating just over 50 per cent of its capacity, and that millions of dollars being spent to modify the factory will still not bring it to its full operational capacity.

The Skeldon estate was designed to produce 110,000 tonnes of sugar per annum.

In 2010, production was 33,237 tonnes and in 2011, production was 29,410 tonnes.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo had vowed to see the factory up to its full capacity.

Responding to questions from People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, Ramsammy said that the factory is “operating at an average 60 to 65 percent capacity.”

He said that redesign works by South African firm, Bosch, will start after the current crop.

However, Ramsammy pointed out that critical works such as modification to the punt dumper design and replacement of the structure is not catered for in the Bosch contract. The defects which will be fixed due to the Bosch redesign works are those related to the bagasse feeding system and the cane

conveyor system. Installing a condensate tank and obtaining a clean water supply to the factory are also on the cards.

Dr. Ramsammy said that the Skeldon factory has been providing power to the national grid.

GUYANAAPPROVED FOR US$45M IN NORWAY FUNDS Guyana has been approved to receive an additional US$45M from the Government of Norway for its climate services in maintaining extremely low levels of deforestation while advancing the nation’s landmark Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

This now brings all three contributions from the Norway-Guyana climate and forest partnership to a total of US$115M since the programme was announced in 2009, the Office of the President announced Friday.

Guyana and Norway, in November 2009, signed the historic deal that will see the Scandinavian country invest $250m (£150m) to preserve the rainforests of Guyana.

According to Office of the President yesterday, there are now clear signs that the monies are beginning to flow to important climate change and poverty alleviation investments that will improve the overall economy, support Amerindian peoples’ development and land rights while keeping carbon pollution well below the rates of leading developed countries.

Money from the allotted US$115 million, which is facilitated through the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), is now beginning to flow to investments identified in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, including the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.

Sunday December 23, 2012

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The Abigail Column Accept tiny flaws and find peace DEARABIGAIL, My husband and I have been married for just under a year, and frankly, the “newlywed period” is not necessarily as sweet and easy as I expected it to be.

I guess part of the problem is that every relationship I’ve ever been in prior to this one has ended (obviously) so I find myself scrutinizing things that could be blips - for example, a couple

of months without sex - for evidence this relationship will go bad. It’s kind of (ticking) my husband off. He doesn’t think our problems are not that serious. So maybe it really is just me.

First Year Dear First Year, Discuss it with those you trust, by stating: “I have a lot of insecurities about my marriage, and I find it really difficult to discuss this stuff with you.” If you don’t think you can say it in person, call or leave it on a voice mail. It’s

essential that you start telling the truth.

Your hesitation to speak and accept uncomfortable truths is part of the problem in your marriage. Be honest.

Consider, too, that your husband doesn’t want to talk, he just wants to be - with you, and without being picked apart. You can choose to trust that you’re together for good reasons, and choose to let that guide you for a while at home.

Start creating warm moments with your husband instead of retreating into your doubts.

Sunday December 23, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Reality may not come through for you today in the way you expect. You need to pay careful attention to what’s happening now because you can easily convince yourself things are better than they truly are.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Sweet Venus, your ruling planet, forms a tense opposition to permissive Jupiter today, making it difficult to manage your desires. You feel as if you’ve waited long enough; you’re ready to get what you want.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Unavoidable obligations may be stacking up today, making it difficult to kick back and enjoy yourself.

However, your desire for pleasure is strong now that jolly Jupiter is activating your key planet Venus — and you see no reason to deny your fate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might feel tired today, and may not want to spend your entire day trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. You’re eager to break the mold of responsibility and let others fend for themselves.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may be worried that your plan won’t lead to success today, but that won’t prevent you from going ahead with your idea, anyhow.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your resistance to having fun today may originate from your desire to nurture others instead of yourself.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is a day created for you Lions to purr and play like carefree kittens.

Unfortunately, your funloving ways are not an excuse to escape from your responsibilities.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Following the rules of expected behavior is tricky today. Although it’s normally easy for you to stay on track, you’re intrigued by the alternatives now and might not be too concerned with the opinions of anyone else.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You can turn a fleeting conversation into a longwinded philosophical debate or a passing celebrity crush into a major love fantasy because everything is taking on larger than life proportions now.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Pampering yourself can be somewhat disconcerting because you are overly concerned about how you could be more productive today.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) An authority figure may remind you to complete your unfinished chores, but you aren’t very interested in doing the right thing today.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You are being pulled in two directions today, and there’s no need to try to resolve the dilemma right away. On one hand, you feel a growing sense of urgency to express whatever’s on your mind.

NCN CHANNEL 11 05:00 hrs - Inspiration 05:30 hrs - Newtown Gospel 06:00 hrs - NCN NEWS (rb) 06:30 hrs - Tomorrow’s World 07:00 hrs - Voice of Victory 07:30 hrs - Voice of Islam 08:00 hrs - Lifting Guyana to Greatness 08:30 hrs - President’s Diary 09:00 hrs - Ravi D show 10:00 hrs - Homestretch Magazine 10:30 hrs - Weekly Digest 11:00 hrs - Movie 12:30 hrs - GRA in Focus 13:00 hrs - Dharma Vani 14:00 hrs - Stacy and John Shopping Time 14:30 hrs - Catholic Magazine 15:00 hrs - The Naked Truth 15:30 hrs - Preventing Violence Through the CSP 16:00 hrs - Family Forum 16:30 hrs - Shape 17:00 hrs - Farmers’ Connection 18:00 hrs - NCN Week in Review 18:30 hrs - Guysuco Roundup 19:00 hrs - Round Table 20:00 hrs - Kala Milan 20:30 hrs - Live Interview With Rick Ramotar 21:00 hrs - African Moves 22:00 hrs - Movie NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 0430h - Cricket:- T20 ADELAIDE STRIKERS vs SYDNEY SIXERS 0805h - Sa Re Ga Ma (Musical Notes) A Live Call-In Program 0930h - Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2012 1030h - Sunday Morning Fiesta with Angelica 1130h - Guyana’s Entertainers Platform 1200h - Hinduism in a changing world presented by Pt. Ravi 1230h - LET’S TALK with LAKSHMEE 1300h - DVD Movie:- I M 24 (Eng: Sub:) *ing Rajat Kapoor, Ravir Shorey & Neha Dhupia 1500h - Sa Re Ga Ma 2012 1600h - Teaching of Islam 1630h - Pre Xmas Special Live with Janet Johndourie 1730h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) - Serial 1745h - Birthday Greetings / Death Announcement & In Memoriam 1800h - Mere Awaaz Suno Live with Anand Persaud 1900h - Geet Gaata Chal Live with Joel 2000h - Sa Re Ga Ma 2012 2100h - Indian Soap - Sapne

Suhane Ladakpan Ke 2130h - Indian Soap - Rab Se Sohna Isshq 2200h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 2230h - Indian Soap:- Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 2300h - Indian Soap:- Punar Viivaah 2330h - Cricket:- 2ND T20 SOUTH AFRICA vs NEW ZEALAND DTV CHANNEL 8 09:25 hrs. Sign On 09:30 hrs. Touching Lives 10:00 hrs. Pair of Kings

10:30 hrs. Crash and Bernstein 11:00 hrs. Movie: Fifteen and Pregnant 13:00 hrs. Movie: She’s Too Young 15:00 hrs. Movie: Blue Lagoon: The Awakening 17:00 hrs. Family Feud 18:00 hrs. Catholic Magazine (Faith in Action) 18:30 hrs. Know Your Bible 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 21:00 hrs. DTV’s Christmas Spectacular 23:00 hrs. Sign Off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

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Sunday December 23 , 2012

Sunday December 23, 2012

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Banks Beer / GFA Knockout Cup

ANOTHER REGION 10 TEAM ADVANCES - Riddim Squad also move on Linden teams continue to emphatically proclaim their intentions to remain in the fray for top honours in this year’s Banks Beer / GFA Knockout Cup with Blue Berry Hill FC following in the footsteps of Kwakwani Strikers after edging Ann’s Grove All Stars 3-2 in the first game of a double header played on Friday, at the GCC ground.

In the feature clash, Riddim Squad, one of the teams favoured to reach the last four was pushed to the limit by a determined Beacon side, before prevailing 1-0.

In the opening encounter, Ann’s Grove All Stars took the lead through Oswald Duke, who netted in the 9th minute of play, before Blue Berry Hill responded six minutes later when Troy

Miller pierced the goalkeeper from close up.

Bouyed by their quick response, the Lindeners pressed forward menacingly and got their reward when Romel Bristol scored one minute before the half time whistle sounded to give them the lead heading into the break. On the resumption, Ann’s Grove All Stars searched relentlessly for the equaliser and got it five minutes into the final period through Kevon Barry, who placed his effort past the Blue Berry Hill goalkeeper.

After that it was an all out attacking display by both teams and the fair-sized crowd was truly entertained even in the not so perfect conditions.

Both teams came close to taking the lead, but poor finishing combined with competent goalkeeping put

paid to any team gaining the ascendancy.

However, just when the fans felt it might be a case of extra-time being summoned to determine which team advances, Ann’s Grove All Stars Travin Daniels committed a cardinal sin four minutes from full time, scoring in his own goal to hand the Lindeners not only victory on a platter, but a place in the next round.

In the marquee matchup, favourites Riddim Squad did everything else right except score more goals as they nipped Beacon to progress to the next stage thanks to an Amos Ramsay31st minute strike.

Even though some may blame the unfriendly conditions as being chiefly responsible for upsetting the normally free flowing style of

::: Letter to the Sports Editor :::

Duplicity is rife in National Football DEAR EDITOR, Since the publication of my letter in your newspaper – 12.12.12 captioned “Shabazz’s Resignation” of which I’m extremely grateful, and I must express my profound gratitude, however, over a two day period I had received a few phone calls with two of the callers being in total disagreement with my recommendation/suggestion “no club, official or player should be banned, sanctioned or suspended for supporting the filing of the injunction by the GFA executive against their GFF cotemporaries.”

The injunction contravened the statues of FIFA that I’m fully aware of by way of memory for over 2 decades, which didn’t entail any research. And further it ought to be enshrined in every constitution of associations and affiliates of the GFF (General Council). “Every decision made/taken by an executive shall remain binding and isn’t revocable by a Court of Law” (words to that effect). But this doesn’t nullify an appeal to i.e. Executive, General Council, CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA. Meanwhile, the period under review (1 ½ yrs) the Georgetown Football Association was ostracized from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), albeit, not a part of the football family and fraternity, to the extent that they can’t attend General Council Meetings of the GFF, simply because the GFA took the GFF to Court, and of course the “riot act” had to be read and enforced, with endorsement from the General Council, which is supposed to be the “Highest Decision Making Forum.”

But nevertheless they are “toothless poodles”! In a similar manner, when a player is “red-carded” his place immediately is in the dressing room and definitely not on the

substitutes bench or in the stands.

So, how come the upholders of the FIFA statue, can conveniently utilize individuals from the ostracized association for its national interest? Is FIFA aware of this?

And what of the General Council, did any member indicate that such actions are bringing the game into disrepute, wherein executive members of Santos and Riddim Squad were being used in managerial roles of the Golden Jaguars.

In addition, the Head of Coach of Fruta Conquerors, coaching a junior national team in a CFU Competition, which was preceded

by Georgetown participating in a GFF interassociation youth competition, while not foregoing the selection of junior and senior players for national representation.

Since all are involved and all are consumed, towards bringing the game into disrepute, nevertheless, this is a clear indication that “duplicity is rife in national football.” And should the imposition of sanctions remain a front burner issue against the GFA, then sanctions ought to be imposed against the Federation’s Executive and General Council also, at the behest of CFU. And by the way with the injunction still in place, FIFA hasn’t banned Guyana, since the Golden Jaguars continued to participate in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers until elimination, while executive members continues to attend congresses and meetings of CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA, and the subvention hasn’t been withdrawn.

Maybe, it should have, and the first to leave the Secretariat, would have been the super salaried workers.

Lester Sealey

Action in the feature clash on Friday evening between Beacon and Riddim Squad, at the GCC ground.

play of as evidenced by the amount of chances they squandered.

However, an argument could be made that they were extremely unlucky not to have netted more goals, hitting the crossbar and uprights on no

less than two occasions, while it took some superb stops by the opposition goalkeeper to deny them as well.

Action in the competition resumes today with another double header at the same venue. In the opening fixture,

Blue Berry Hill tackle Northern Rangers, who will be making their first appearance in the competition, while Santos FC and University of Guyana square off in the feature matchup.

Kick-off time is 18:00 hrs.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

Western Tigers FC/ Alpha ‘United advance to next round after convincing K&S victories Western Tigers FC bought back memories of their tournament winning feats in the 2009/2010 edition of the Kashif and Shanghai Football extravaganza with a brilliant display of classic football and mauled Grove Hi Tech 7-0 when action in the 23rd edition of the Kashif and Shanghai Football extravaganza continued at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground Friday evening last.

Devon Millington scored in the 31st, 33rd, 50th, 86th and 89th minutes with support from Shawn ‘Bubbly’ Beveney and Paul Giles, in the 79th and 80th minutes respectively.

Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United FC was also in good form and on the back of a triple from the quintessential Dwight Peters, which included a penalty in the 50th minute, overcame Rosignol

United FC 3-1 after Delbert Wilson narrowed the lead in the 67th minute.

The Alpha/Rosignol United duel started at a fiery pace with the former team looking threatening as they invaded the latter’s goal. The strike combination of Peters, Chris Nurse and Kelvin McKenzie teamed up and weaved circles around the opposition’s strikers but failed to breach the defence cordon.

The Berbicians, led by the aggression of Curtis Moore, Kelvin Joseph and Olvis Mitchell, counterattacked and indeed looked threatening and when Tyson Carmichael pounced on a loose ball and delivered a powerful kick that narrowly missed the opposition’s goal, the cheering fans settled down for an exhilarating duel.

Mitchell featured once again, dribbling the ball deep into the Alpha’s territory but wasted a superb play, blundering just near the goal mouth for their custodian, Richie Richards to safely

Devon Millington

Dwight Peters

scoop up.

The Berbicians demonstrated good technique early in the game with excellent combinations but faltered on the conversion. Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams then made his presence felt after collecting a pass and charged to Rosignol United’s goal. He let loose a ‘stinger’ that had goal written all over it but Rosignol United’s custodian plucked the ball out of the air.

Undaunted, Abrams collected a pass shortly afterwards and raced down the left wing. With the opposition’s defence advancing ominously, Abrams passed the ball to a

charging Peters who charismatically completed the play. Abrams should have made it two up when he had only the goalie to contend with but somehow managed only a tame strike that ended up in the clutches of custodian, Keith Fraser.

Rosignol United then called in Curtis Moore at the expense of Kyron Lynch mere minutes before striker Delbert Wilson struck the ball past the clutching fingers of Fraser to narrow the lead in the 68th minute and it was game on.

It appeared as though the Wilson success was just the tonic Alpha needed as shortly afterwards Kithson Bain launched a robust attack but his kick, delivered with terrific force, was rendered inconsequential by a diving

Fraser who punched it onto the touchline.

Alpha then made their first change, sending in Abrams for Manasseh Primo. A determined Bain then replicated an earlier kick which, ironically, received a similar treatment when Fraser once again flicked it to the side of the goal. Peters featured once again, just before the final whistle when he deceived Fraser, sending in the perfect shot and despite his earlier acrobatic feats, Fraser just could not intercept the ball.

The players will move over to the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground this evening when Milerock tackle Den Amstel starting at 18:00hrs followed by Silver Shattas up against Uitvlugt two hours later.

Metro Office and Computer Supplies on board for KMTC Xmas horserace meet Chief Executive Officer of Metro Taajnauth Jadunauth presents the trophy and the cheque to Cecil Kennard in the presence of other staff members.

Metro Office and Computer Supplies has been associated with the Kennard Memorial Turf Club for several years and their continued sponsorship symbolizes that ongoing relationship and recognition that the “King of Sports” is a part of sporting mosaic in Guyana. Proprietor of Metro Mr. Ron Ramnarayan is a descendant of the Kharaj family who were founder

members of the then Bush Lot Turf Club Corentyne some sixty years ago.

At a simple ceremony held yesterday at Metro Office in Quamina Street, chief Executive Officer of the company presented $1,000,000 and a trophy which will be awarded to the winner of the feature event; B Class and lower for a distance of one mile. He said that the company is once

Public being deliberately...

(From page 47) Association, Roger Harper disclosed that this is a good opportunity to fix the cricket fiasco.

“Now that there is a selective committee in parliament, I think there should be a permanent solution to both the DCB and GCB issues,” Harper

informed.

The release further stated all properties which were once owned by the Demerara Cricket Board are now transferred over to a private limited liability company bearing the name DCB Inc. without the knowledge and consent of the stakeholders of Demerara cricket.

again happy to be associated with the event and this is the fourth year they are on board.

Meanwhile, Justice Cecil Kennard thanked the company for their contribution and he has been given the assurance of their continued support. He also indicated that another race has been added to the programme which is J 3 and lower, for a distance of 6 furs with the first prize being $100,000. The second prize in this category will take home $50,000 while the third place will cart off $25,000 and $13,000 for the 4th finisher.

The meeting will be held on Boxing Day at Bush Lot, Corentyne Berbice and among some of the horses slated to take part are The Message, Diamond Dazzling, Mission King, Dubai Dutchess, The Baliff, Grande Roja and Home Bush Baby.

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 45

Nets squander chance for first Division I title

Ravens take a photo opportunity after beating the Republic Bank Nets for the Phillip George Legacy title Friday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Republic Bank Nets squandered its opportunity to win its first Division 1 title Friday night in a spirited effort that they failed to sustain against Ravens at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in the final of the Phillip George Legacy Championship.

Raven’s endured a late surge from Nets to win the first division final 60-57 in overtime after the regulation

period had yielded a 51-51 result. Ravens did not look like the favourites as they were predicted to be before the game. Ryan Stephaney was Most Valuable Player after scoring 15 points, while Ryan Gullen added 14 points for Ravens. Mortimer Williams had a game high 17 points for Nets while Fabian Johnson and Pelham Doris had 10 points each.

Nets came out firing in the first half, banging their bodies and working the ball inside to take the first half 28-22. After the halftime break, Gullen fired Ravens ahead with his jumpshooting that included sharp mid-range and outside jumpers.

It was Gullen who rose to the occasion with his team down one point to sink a big jumper that gave the Ravens a one-point advantage with

Pacesetters won the third division title in the Phillip George Legacy Championship Friday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

14.7 seconds left in the game.

However, poor free-throw shooting from the Nets sent the game into overtime.

Ravens used their experienced to hold on to the 60-57 win.

Meanwhile, the third division final saw Pacesetters basketball club cruising to an eight-point win over the Colts, who hosted the tournament in honour of its late coach

Phillip George.

It was never really a close contest as the Colts never got closer than four points after the first quarter ended 8-12 in Pacesetters favour.

Colts kept up their intensity throughout the game, but always trailed and eventually fell to the Pacesetters 59-67 at the end of regulation time.

Jermaine Taylor who

copped the Most Valuable Player award scored 15 points for Pacesetters while Ruel Ritch had 10 points in the win.

Evan Johnson did his best to keep Colts in the game with 17 points while Drexel Aaron contributed 13 points.

The organisers of the tournament handed out the winning trophies and cash incentives after the game and thanked the sponsors.

Page 46

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

Sehwag likely to be picked for Pakistan ODIs ESPNCricinfo - The India selection panel, headed by former batsman Sandeep Patil, will meet at the BCCI headquarters on Sunday morning, hours after the conclusion of India’s second Twenty20 International against England, to finalise the squad for two T20Is and

three ODIs against Pakistan.

For the T20Is, the selectors are likely to retain the same fifteen chosen against England. For the ODIs, the big question is whether Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar will make the cut. While Sehwag is set to be given

“another opportunity” to prove his utility, it is unclear what lies ahead for Zaheer and Tendulkar, who is believed to have made himself available.

Zaheer had made himself unavailable for the England T20Is after being dropped for the fourth Test, and played

Trophy Stall continues support for KMTC Boxing Day Meet

Proprietor of Trophy Stall of Bourda Market Ramesh Sunich hands over the Champion Jockey Trophy to President of the Club Ret. Chancellor Cecil Kennard recently.

Proprietor of Trophy Stall of Bourda Market Ramesh Sunich continued his support for the Annual Kennard Memorial Horse Race Meeting which is normally held on Boxing Day, at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot, Corentyne. According to Sunich, the

instead for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in order to get match-fit. He will most certainly no longer be considered for the shortest form of the game, which means the selectors are set to stick to the policy of presenting an opportunity to young fast bowlers.

Similarly, Sehwag, who had also made himself unavailable for the England T20Is, is likely to be sidelined, with the selectors having an eye on the 2014 World Twenty20.

When it comes to the ODIs, ESPNcricinfo understands Zaheer has already communicated to the selectors that he would prefer to be at his best ahead of the Australia Test series, which starts in February.

If the selectors adhere to his desire, India’s pace attack may look brittle; to add experience, the selectors could either turn to Ishant Sharma or S Sreesanth, who took 4 for 28 for Kerala against Jharkhand on Saturday in his second game on comeback.

While Ishant played his last ODI more than 18 months ago, Sreesanth has been

Ishant Sharma could be selected for the Pakistan ODIs if Zaheer Khan is not © AFP

competing with Munaf Patel and Ashish Nehra in the race for the most injury-prone fast bowler in Indian cricket.

Tendulkar has been picking and choosing the 50over format ever since his double hundred against South Africa in February 2010.

However, with his recent struggles, it remains to be seen if Patil and Co. take the bold step by dropping him (or resting, as is the norm in Indian cricket whenever a senior player is dropped) in order to build the team for the future. With Tendulkar ’ stature and the inability of the previous selection panel to send any message to him, it would take nothing less than

a miracle for the selectors to adopt the Australian way.

However, the Tendulkar issue will crop up only if the selectors decide to stick to their earlier announcement of selecting the T20I and ODI squads on the same day. But going by the England series, don’t be surprised if they end up deferring the ODI selection. After all, they announced the squad for the first two Tests against England when it was first said it would be only for the first Test. And then, they named the squad only for the third Test when it was declared they would be doing so for the remaining two Tests and the following T20Is.

Amateur Boxers turn in good displays at GBA DDL U-16 tourney

gesture is in memory of his late father Neville Sunich, who was a jockey and played an integral role in the development of the sport during his lifetime. President of the Club, Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard received the trophy on behalf of the entity.

GBA President Steve Ninvalle (seated 2nd left) and DDL Rep Alexis Langhorne (seated left) and other officials share a photo with the young boxers after the event.

Several amateur boxers displayed promising talent as the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) brought the curtains down on its activities for 2012 with the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) sponsored Under-16 tournament at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis gym in Albouystown yesterday.

GBA had a busy year and the boxers will now focus on the New Year after a break for the Christmas Holidays.

Among those turning in impressive

performances were: Quacy Wright, Jamie Kellman, Jakeel Cadogan, Shaka Moore, Odenny Moore, Anton Wolfe, Orwyn Harris, Christopher Mansfield and Kevon Mullings.

Officials of GBA and DDL were on hand for the event and both expressed pleasure at the performances of the young fighters with DDL pledging to continue supporting the association. Full details of the results from the fights in tomorrow’s edition.

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 47

Public being deliberately misled on impasse in Guyana cricket - NCSG The National Cricket Stakeholders Group which is made up of the Berbice Cricket Board, Georgetown Cricket Association, East Coast Cricket Board, the Upper Demerara Cricket Association and the West Demerara United Cricket League at a press conference held at Manila Hotel, Pere Street Kitty yesterday said that the public has been deliberately misled on the crisis that has enveloped Guyana’s cricket over the past two years by the present group of GCB members.

They further stated that the West Indies Cricket Board for its part has shown total disregard for the Laws of Guyana, the sovereignty and the cricket stake holders of Guyana as they continue to aid and abet the illegality in Guyana’s cricket. Despite strenuous appeals by the stake holders, the WICB refused to investigate the serious charges of corruption and instead, readily accepted the illegal GCB executive.

According to the group there is a court order that has clearly injuncted those persons holding themselves out as executive members of Guyana Cricket Board. On July 10th, 2012, the Annual General Meeting of the GCB was called to order without the requisite quorum and elections were held illegally as only one of the three county boards took part and only 10 of the twenty seven delegates participated.

The Guyana Cricket Board Tuesday last indicated that they are moving to set up a committee in order to repair the fractured Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), which was split into two factions in 2011, among other issues affecting the sport locally.

Claude Raphael a member of the group said it is unacceptable the GCB selected a committee to resolve the issue in DCB. Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board Angela Haniff said the BCB do not received funds from the GCB. “The GCB do not pay the administrator of BCB but still continues to pay the Essequibo Cricket Board Administrator. Our cricketers are being victimized, a national U-15 team was selected earlier this year and not a single player from the Ancient County was on the squad,” she added. She said she was served with a dismissal notice by the GCB but was unaware of her

employment. Haniff is calling on the government to institute contempt of court proceedings against the members of the GCB. The group is contending that the GCB’s decisions are now bent on further disrespect, by ignoring the parliamentary process that has begun and is intended to bring relief to the chaos in Guyana’s cricket. The stake holder’s sessions offered important solutions to the cricket crisis at both the GCB and DCB levels and have been documented for submission and consideration during the parliamentary process.

Parliament, which effectively is representative of the people of Guyana, will shortly be presented with a cricket Administration Bill 2012 which is expected to pave the way for democratic and transparent elections to be held for the DCB and GCB. President of the East Coast Cricket Board, Bissoondyal Singh said that a proper constituted Demerara Cricket Board should be dealt with first.

“Now that the bill has gone to parliament the stakeholder will submit their recommendation to the select committee that will solve the problem of the DCB so there will be three proper constituted county boards that will eventually lead to a properly constituted the GCB,” Singh stated.

The release further indicated that the system is

Members of the national cricket stake holders group at the press conference yesterday. clearly flawed and has created much contention as some Associations scramble up “makeshift teams” and create “phantom clubs” for sole purpose of increasing their voter representation. In 2003, the outcome of the DCB elections resulted in court action. Justice Aubrey Bishop eventually arbitrated in that matter and presented his judgment which established that the GCA and the ECCB had more voting delegates than the EBDCA and WDCA. Again in 2010, the outcome of the DCB elections ended up in court with two factions claiming to be the rightful Demerara board.

“Only the established clubs would be recognized and the “phantom clubs” would be removed from the equation,” the press release

Guyana supports Williams for PUKO President The Guyana Karate Association (GKA) is endorsing Darryl Williams for the President of the Pan American United Karate Organization (PUKO).

Williams’s experience, knowledge and experience makes him the right candidate for the position. He has served in both the technical and administrative areas of karate for over twenty years and he is a Vice-President of World United Karate Organization (WUKO) and Liaison Officer for WUKOUSA. He is ranked as 7th Dan in Shito-Ryu Karate.

PUKO is made up of karate federations from North,

Darryl Williams Central, South America and the Caribbean. The main objective is to foster good relationships via competition, workshops and the promotion of karate.

indicated.

Meanwhile, Singh said that based on the stakeholder sessions, the Upper Demerara Cricket Association was recommended to be part of the voter representation of DCB constituent members.

Marvin Burns, a member of the Upper Demerara Cricket

Association said that the association welcomed the move, since they were seeking membership of the DCB for the past ten years.

He indicated that this is the right time to deal with the issue since parliament is dealing with the current administration bill. “We are

suffering due to the problems in cricket, we will not accept being run by the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association, Upper Demerara can manage themselves”, he added.

President of the Georgetown Cricket (Continued on page 44)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

“Have a wonderful sporting Christmas 2012! The year has been very enjoyable!”

Happy Christmas 2012 to all and to all, have a magnificent time!

Hey, despite sometimes severe external stimuli, we have made it! We are still here!

That alone is tremendous cause for outright celebration, for our time here is always going to be limited!

Eat, drink and be merry, for you really do not know if you will be around for the similar event in December 2013. Also, whatever you do, at least be safe! There is no need to push that life envelope!

If you are Christian, I expect that Christmas 2012 would be as special as any previous Christmas too.

There is always much to be thankful for; personally, collectively, sports-wise, world-wide; even if you did not get everything you may have wanted this year. This has really been quite a wild year!

Already I have had many Christmas gifts, at varying times in 2012, too many to

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson and Captain Darren Sammy

Colin E. H. Croft

mention, personally, professionally and sportswise. 2012 has been a very good year indeed, even without any vino at all!

The sports and politics of 2012 have been quite intriguing, so utterly invigorating, that no-one, certainly not me, should have needed anything else, not even “Five Hour Energy”, or similar, to give high spirits!

One of my Christmas 2012 gifts is that my beloved Manchester United, but severely hated by some

unguided folks, is at the top of the English Premier League, despite the creaking old bones of veterans Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, whose collective age is nearing 100 years!

How do they do this, MUFC, year after eternal year? Maybe it is just simply ‘Christmas Miracles’! That Sir Alec Ferguson is a megagenius is beyond doubt. No team in the EPL has had more injuries already this year than Man U, but somehow, they still manage to break

Bradley Wiggins (Grange Communications UK) Christmas Day ’12 top of EPL. That transfer, at a cost of only US$40 million, of Robin van Persie, from Arsenal to Man U, must be the absolute buy of the year!

After all, USA President Barack Obama and his shambolic challenger, Mitt Romney, spent, between them, the unbelievable sum of over US$4 billion on that last election. Total, true madness!

So, already, Sir Alec is highlighting ‘RVP’, who has scored an amazing fifteen goals so far since his summer signing, as the next Eric Cantona, another MUFC “mini-god”.

Such comparisons are Magi’s Gold!

Hey, speaking about “The Chief”, Barack has been having a field day since November’s elections! Not since “Uncle Bill”, William Jefferson Clinton, has any incumbent US president been so dominant in retaining his title. If it was a boxing match, Romney would have been permanently retired. He is!

Barack even surprised his own Democrats, so total and cumulative was his victory, winning every main state.

My first “real” vote anywhere, for B-O, here in

Florida, where futile efforts of the Republican Governor, shortening days for early voting to help Romney, and even after late totaling, actually counted!

The Republicans have not yet woken up from that drubbing, much less to understand what is actually now taking place, but, as I noted previously, POTUS is talking very loudly and carrying a great veto stick!

Yes, West Indies male cricketers celebrate Christmas 2012 as World Champions, again, a phenomenon not enjoyed for nearly a decade now. Winning ICC WT-20 2012 was one gift we all thoroughly enjoyed!

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson and Captain Darren Sammy deserve very much credit indeed!

Not since Christmas 2004, after Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw put on a ninthwicket stand of 71 to enable West Indies to beat favorites England in Champions Trophy 2004, have West Indies enjoyed such a bumper; several ‘bubblies’ too; season. That is certainly reason No. 1 to be cheerful; yes, No1!

I was extremely fortunate to be in United Kingdom, working, from March to September 2012, so that I could experience what were easily the greatest Olympics Games ever; 2012 surpassing magnificent Sydney 2000.

Those six months were as enjoyable, sports-wise, as anything I have done in my life! While there were really magnificent performances, including Usain Bolt’ incredible “Double” in 100m and 200m, my favorite event at London 2012 was cycling, which I do myself, as often as possible, to keep in some shape as I approach 60.

To see Bradley Wiggins “Wiggo” - cop the British “Sportsman of the Year 2012” award, after winning both Tour de France 2012, and London 2012 Olympics Gold, taking the “Time Trial”, all in one year, absolutely unprecedented, was magic!

Like Bolt, Wiggins is a phenomenal athlete!

Another old favorite, San Francisco 49ers, in USA’s grid-iron National Football League, are also, like Man U and West Indies, at top of points table as Christmas 2012 comes around; No. 1!

I came to live in Florida in 1981 when Joe Montana and Steve Young, quarterbacks, along with the incomparable Jerry Rice, wide receiver, and Roger Craig, running back, were destroying teams. Their uniform, that orange and maroon mix, somehow reminded me of the Caribbean kaleidoscope! So, folks, raise a sporting cold one for me.

Happy Christmas 2012! Enjoy!

Morale-boosting win for Nations Cup hosts South Africa DURBAN (Reuters) South Africa received a timely boost ahead of hosting the African Nations Cup next month when they began their pre-tournament preparations with a 3-1 home win over Malawi in Durban on Saturday.

Two goals in the first 13 minutes got the home side off to a rollicking start as they swarmed over their opponents to score through Lehlohonolo Majoro and

Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Both were tapped in from close range when Malawi’s goalkeeper Simplex Nthala failed to deal with a seventh minute shot from Lerato Chabangu and a 13th minute cross from overlapping fullback Siboniso Gaxa.

Malawi threatened to claw their way back into the game after Joseph Kamwendo converted a penalty two minutes into the second half.

However South Africa

restored their two-goal cushion with a penalty of their own 15 minutes from the end, converted by Swedishbased midfielder May Mahlangu.

Bafana Bafana play two more warm-up games against Norway on January 8 and Algeria four days later before they kick off the Nations Cup at football City in Johannesburg on January 19 against the Cape Verde Islands.

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 49

Herath’s ‘modesty’ at odds with stats...

ESPNCricinfo - Among the current Test crop, Rangana Herath is perhaps cricket’s least likely athlete. Barely 5’7" with a physique better befitting a shopkeeper, at a glance, or at first meeting, no one would guess he was 2012’s most successful bowler.

He has piled up 60 wickets at 22.03 this year, and with only one more Test to play before year’s end, he will remain atop the list. His name may barely register in a conversation about the best bowlers in operation, but he will not be irked by that. It is not that Herath takes no pleasure in personal achievements; he knows his international tally by heart, and has a firm eye on the Test bowler’s rankings, where he is fourth. But he is aware of his own limitations sometimes to a fault.

Despite having surpassed Graeme Swann’s 2012 haul with a second-innings five-for on a barely helpful Hobart surface, Herath named Swann the premiere spin bowler in the world in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test, citing Swann’s consistency over the past two seasons. The numbers do not bear Herath’s modesty out.

It is almost natural to wish to apply a caveat to the volume of Herath’s recent riches, given his seemingly pedestrian method. He does not impart a great deal of spin on the ball, and he lacks Swann’s height or Saeed Ajmal’s trickery. He is said to be the father of the carrom ball, but in that, he is like Buddy Holly or Nikola Tesla the man whose genius inspired a swathe of better

Rangana Herath, the leading wickettaker for 2012, has not yet mastered self-belief. If his numbers are anything to go by, it is time he began counting himself among the world’s best presented, more successful imitators. He removed David Warner with that ball in Hobart, but even Herath does not seem taken with the delivery, especially in Tests, where it is often out of sight.

As such, it is difficult to reconcile Herath’s harvest with the apparent skill on display, and the most obvious criticism to hurl is that his plunder has been reaped on a buffet of turning home tracks.

Though that may be true, the others high-up on the wicket-taker’s list have also played on pitches that suit their bowling. Swann has played 14 Tests to Herath’s nine, and has also bowled in two more Tests in Asia than Herath. Three matches were in the UAE, where Ajmal and Abdur Rehman so brutally laid bare England’s susceptibility to spin.

He played twice in Sri Lanka, before taking on West Indies and South Africa at home. And the four Tests in India to finish the year were largely on tracks even more tailored to suit spin than is normal in the subcontinent.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad are also in this year’s top five, but they have played more Tests and have significantly higher averages, and although Vernon Philander has also only played nine matches, New Zealand, England and

Australia are hardly daunting destinations for bowlers of his ilk. Only Saeed Ajmal, who has played six Tests, all in Asia - and whose haul in the three-match series against Sri Lanka was identical to Herath’s - can hope to claim parity with the left-arm spinner on statistical grounds. It is also worth noting that in three fewer Tests, Ajmal is 21 wickets shy of Herath’s tally.

Herath may not lack in awareness of his own game, which he has built upon the pillars of flight, dip and subtlety. He has filtered those qualities almost to a formula that spin bowling coaches might buy by the bottle, to gift to a burgeoning generation of youngsters more occupied with the mystery and variation that is valued in Twenty20 cricket.

But Herath has not yet mastered self-belief, and if his numbers are anything to go by, it is time he began counting himself among the world’s best.

In his first match in Australia, he has already achieved what Muttiah Muralitharan could not in five attempts; a five-wicket haul.

Yet in the first innings in Hobart, Herath’s bowling was defined by its restraint. There was little turn on offer, but perhaps such rigid service to economy and accuracy does not befit Sri Lanka’s primary

Rising Sun end of Season Horse race meet off Next race date set for Mashramani 2013 After a week of controversy and high powered meetings, some semblance of calm has been returned to the horseracing fraternity.

The Kennard Memorial Turf Club will have their race on the 26th of December, Boxing Day and the Port Mourant Turf Club will follow closely behind with a meet on the 30th and the Rising Sun Turf Club asked to take the 6th of January.

However, the Rising Sun Turf Club has decided to call off their meet. The club will now concentrate on their Mashramani meet in February.

Nine races were carded for the day with a whopping $7M in cash, trophies and other incentives being up for the taking.

Fans can expect a grand event and in comfort after sprucing up works had already commenced for the earlier date.

The events listed were the feature B class encounter which has a winning purse of $1M and a total purse of close to $2M and trophy over 1600 M. The other events were the three year old event for Horses Bred and Born in Guyana and the West Indies.

The D Class race, the event

for two year old horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies, The race for F class animals, The G and lower showdown, a race for H class horses. There are also two I class events. The first is for horses classified ‘I’ and lower and the other for horses classified I3 and lower and those with one win.

For further information persons can contact Fazal Habibulla at Chester Fry Bush Lot West Coast Berbice on Tel No 232-0232 or 648-6522, 6577010, Inshanally Habibulla on tel No 623-4495, 623-5453 or 2323295. (Samuel Whyte)

match-winner. He prefers to have men on the fence throughout his spells as well, but he has been effective across all formats when batsmen have tried to attack him, and past evidence suggests he will become even more of a threat if batsmen are tempted to hit him aerially. For now, though, he remains unambitious when the pitch is still ill-suited for spin.

“Whatever the situation, you have to react to it,” Herath said. “In Australia in the first day and second day, you need to bowl a bit tight and help others. Especially the fast bowlers - not like in Sri Lanka. That’s how wickets behave here. When I got some assistance in the second innings, I got five wickets. There’s something different in the first and second innings.”

In the four matches Sri Lanka have won since Murali’s retirement, Herath has thrice delivered the game’s most telling contribution. During the recent series against New Zealand, the captain Mahela

Rangana Herath

Jayawardene nominated Herath the second-best Sri Lankan bowler he has encountered in all his years in the game. With 41 wickets in 2011 as well, Herath has made more breakthroughs than any other bowler in the

last two years. At the MCG, if he can play like the bowler who owns that record, perhaps a pace attack lacking penetration will have less to do, and Sri Lanka could be that much closer to that maiden Australian win.

Page 50

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 23, 2012

Vibert ‘Bartica’ DeFreitas - Former Guyana Int. 1976 - 1980 World Cup Goalkeeper - 1990 Statistician Charwayne Walker continues his series on Guyana’s World Cup players; today we are pleased to feature Vibert ‘Bartica’ DeFreitas, former Guyana International 1976 – 1980; World Cup Goalkeeper – 1990.

The question consistently asked by football fans throughout Guyana is who was the best goalkeeper for the National team between 1976 and 1978?

Three names often come to mind, Wendell Sandiford, Denzil Thompson and Vibert DeFreitas.

Sandiford graduated from the Inter Guiana Games series in 1973, 1974 and 1975. His club mate Denzil Thompson, who was also selected in the 1973-1974 Inter Guiana Games squad, was Sandiford’s backup in both series.

While both Pele FC custodians were exposed to International Youth tournaments, DeFreitas, who originated from the Gold Mining Town of Bartica,

arrived on the International scene with limited exposure.

He made his hometown proud when he was included in Guyana’s first World Cup training squad in 1975. He experienced limited time in his first and second series against Bare of Brazil and Texaco of Trinidad and Tobago both series were contested at Camp Ayanganna.

DeFreitas’ first tour overseas was in January, 1976 to Brazil with the World Cup squad. After the Brazilian tour, DeFreitas appeared in four friendly Internationals, against Cuba at Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Burnham Park - New Amsterdam and GCC ground, Bourda.

His next International game was against the touring St. Mirren Division-One team from Scotland but Pele FC’s Wendell Sandiford was the man chosen for duties between the uprights.

Sandiford was also one of the reserves keepers when Guyana defeated Suriname 2-

0 in a World Cup Qualifier at GCC on July 4, 1976. The selectors continued with Sandiford as their first choice goalkeeper for the return fixture in Paramaribo; Guyana lost that encounter 0-3 and exited the 1976 World Cup campaign.

DeFreitas’ next international call-up was October, 1976 for two friendly matches against Cura Coa at GCC. The following year, 1977, DeFreitas was the man between the uprights when Guyana defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

He got injured in the second match of the series at GCC which was drawn 1-1.

With DeFreitas sidelined for the series finale, Trinidad took full advantage of the inexperienced Denzil Thompson and goals by Stever Khan and Leon Carpette gave the Soca Warriors a 2-0 victory and the series trophy.

DeFreitas returned to national duties and was spectacular against Barbados at the MSC ground where

Guyana triumphed 2-0 in the series opener, October 1977.

He was flawless in games two and three that were drawn 00. All those results were enough for Earl O’Neal’s men to lift the series trophy.

Cuba’s Under-23s was DeFreitas’ next international opponents in 1977; the tourist’s won the opener at the MSC ground 1-0 courtesy of a Francisco Lopes thunder bolt that gave DeFreitas no earthly chance in the 65th minute.

He was fearless in the second match that ended 1-1 at Burnham Park in New Amsterdam. DeFreitas was let down by Dennis Solomon in the third match at M.S.C Ground. Solomon pulled down a Cuban striker and Roberto Espinosa made no mistake with the penalty,

equalizing for his team in the 74th minute for well earned draw.

DeFreitas’ heroics in the final contest at GFC inspired Guyana to a 2-1 triumph that leveled the series one all. The next year 1978, DeFreitas toured Barbados and Trinidad for Goodwill matches.

He was also the first choice keeper for International matches against Suriname in Paramaribo and at MSC against Kwang Tung Province and the touring Russian Textile team at GCC, Bourda.

Guyana played no international matches in 1979 so DeFreitas had to settle for Inter Sub Association and First Division matches.

Guyana returned to World Cup action in 1980 and DeFreitas and Denzil

Thompson were the men that shared goalkeeping duties in qualifiers against Grenada, Suriname and Cuba.

In the Cuba encounter at the MSC ground, Guyana lost 0-3 and that was DeFreitas’ last match in National colours.

INTERNATIONAL TOURS 1976 Brazil with World Cup Squad 1976 Suriname World Cup Qualifier 1978 Barbados Goodwill Tour 1978 Trinidad Goodwill Tour 1978 Suriname Nations Cup 1980 Grenada World Cup Qualifier 1980 Suriname World Cup Qualifier 1980 Trinidad two Friendly Internationals 1980 Cuba World Cup Qualifier

Barry’s late winner helps City overcome Reading

Manchester City’s Gareth Barry (R) challenges Reading’s Mikele Leigertwood during their English Premier League soccer match at The Etihad stadium in Manchester, northern England, December 22, 2012. REUTERS/Darren Staples LONDON (Reuters) Manchester City needed Gareth Barry’s stoppage-time winner to earn a 1-0 win at home to bottom club Reading on Saturday and exert some pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United.

It looked like being a day of frustration for the champions against a side thrashed by Arsenal on Monday, but Barry’s header broke Reading’s resistance and moved City to 39 points, three behind United, who play at Swansea City on Sunday.

A second-half penalty by Mikel Arteta earned Arsenal a 1-0 victory at Wigan

Athletic as the Gunners moved up to third place in the Premier League. North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur fell out of the top four after a 0-0 home draw with Stoke City.

Everton moved into fourth, making light of Marouane Fellaini’s absence through suspension to win 21 at West Ham United, who had Carlton Cole sent off.

Norwich City’s long unbeaten league run came to an end at West Bromwich Albion, where they took the lead but slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Arsenal, Everton,

Tottenham and West Brom all have 30 points, with Chelsea, who face Aston Villa on Sunday, on 29.

Queens Park Rangers’ revival under new manager Harry Redknapp was halted by a 1-0 loss at Newcastle United, for whom Shola Ameobi scored late on.

Sunderland eased away from the bottom three with a 1-0 victory at Southampton.

In other results: Wigan 0 1 Arsenal, Newcastle 1 - 0 QPR, Southampton 0 - 1 Sunderland, Tottenham 0 - 0 Stoke, West Brom 2 - 1 Norwich and West Ham 1 - 2 Everton.

Sunday December 23, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 51

Eoin Morgan six off last ball levels Twenty20 series BBC Sport - Eoin Morgan hit a six off the final ball as England squared the twomatch Twenty20 series against India with a dramatic six-wicket victory in Mumbai.

The hosts, asked to bat first, made the most of some wayward bowling to post 177-8 as Virat Kohli topscored with a dashing 38.

In reply, Michael Lumb scored 50 and Alex Hales 42 before Yuvraj Singh put the brakes on with 3-17. But captain Morgan (49 not out) and Jos Buttler (15 not out) led England home.

It was England’s highest successful run chase in Twenty20 internationals and scuppered India’s hopes of usurping Sri Lanka at the top of the International Cricket Council rankings.

Jade Dernbach made the breakthrough in the second over of the India innings when Ajinkya Rahane advanced down the pitch and sliced to debutant Joe Root, in for Danny Briggs, at third man.

India had to wait until the

fourth over for their first boundary when Kohli whipped through mid-wicket and cut through point off successive Dernbach deliveries.

But Stuart Meaker’s entry into the England attack sparked India into life. The Surrey fast bowler’s first over went for 15, including five leg-side wides, and Luke Wright’s first over cost 20 as the imperious Kohli unveiled shots all round the wicket.

Meaker halted Kohli’s charge, trapping him lbw, before Yuvraj pulled a Wright long-hop to Root at long-on.

Gautam Gambhir fell for a watchful 17, top-edging Wright to Tim Bresnan at third man, and by the middle overs the tourists had wormed their way into the contest.

Rohit Sharma came out playing shots, including a magnificent drive over midoff, before James Tredwell bowled him for 24.

With Sharma gone, Suresh Raina took the reins, hitting Meaker for three fours and a

six in his final over. Dhoni joined in the fun, smashing Dernbach for two sixes in an over, before perishing for 38 when he mistimed a pull off Bresnan to Samit Patel at midwicket. In the final over, Ravichandran Ashwin fell to Dernbach and Piyush Chawla was run out from the final ball, but the hosts’ total was more than respectable. Opener Lumb got England off to a flyer, although he must have been relieved he was spared an early trial by spin, given his hesitance against the slower ball.

He hit Parvinder Awana for a four and a six in his first over and it got worse for Awana when he dropped a sitter on the mid-wicket boundary offered by Hales.

England’s opening pair, aided by some typically indifferent fielding from India, rattled along at almost 10 an over as Lumb reached his first Twenty20 international fifty from 32 balls. Yuvraj, introduced in the ninth over, had Lumb stumped off his

second delivery, and trapped Wright lbw for five before Morgan and Hales set about building a restorative partnership of 29. However, Hales became Yuvraj’s third victim when he pulled to Ashok Dinda at deep backward square leg.

Patel was nearly out first ball as Chawla was unable to take a difficult catch running round at deep backward square-leg, but he fell for nine when he skied Dinda to Gambhir at mid-wicket.

England needed 29 to win from 13 balls, which became 23 from 12 when Morgan hit Dinda for six over wide longon. Buttler then struck a four and a six from the penultimate over from Awana, the second boundary a majestic straight drive that left England needing nine to win from six balls. Morgan and Buttler could manage only six from the first five balls of Dinda’s final over before the bowler pulled out of his final delivery, with Morgan stepping across

Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler saw England to a six-wicket win (BCCI) his stumps. Dhoni called his players in for an extended conference but Morgan remained unfazed, hitting Dinda straight over his head as England won the first Twenty20 international to be held at the Wankhede

Stadium. England return to India in January for five oneday internationals.

Scores: England 181 for 4 (Lumb 50, Morgan 49*, Yuvraj 3-17) beat India 177 for 8 (Dhoni 38, Kohli 38, Raina 35*) by six wickets.

Chico Junior U-13 Round Robin Football tournament...

t r o Sp Soesdyke, West Ruimveldt Primary Schools commence on winning note

The participating teams led by the Chico Mascot during the March Past as Prime Minister Samuel Hinds (4th left) and other officials of the sponsors, Ministry of Education and organisers applaud.

F

our schools have notched up convincing victories when the inaugural Chico Junior U-13 Round Robin Football Lien tournament got underway at the Georgetown Football Club Ground yesterday afternoon.

However, up to press time only two matches were concluded.

In the first Soesdyke Primary School had inflicted a 9 nil drubbing over Company Road Primary, while West Ruimveldt triumphed over Uitvlugt Primary 5-0. Tevin Marshall (5), Tyrone Khan and Nickozie Hope (2 apiece) were on target for Soesdyke Primary School, while Japheth Singh (2), Daventai Mars, Anton Porter and Romel Jaundoo (1 apiece) contributed for the West Ruimveldt Primary School.

Two other matches were scheduled to be contested and results will follow in a subsequent edition.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds visited the venue and later took the salute along with head of Physical Education, Nicholas Fraser and members of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation.

Mr. Hinds lauded the organizers for organizing the event saying that it presents the perfect opportunity for

the children to showcase their talents. He further committed to support the venture as well as solicit government support towards the longevity of the tournament.

He also thanked the Ministry of Education for coming on board and giving their fullest support to the tournament.

Co-Director of the K&S Organisation, Kashif Muhammad acknowledged the unselfish input of the main sponsors, the Beharry Company, while intimating that the decision by his benefactors to support the tournament is indicative of the quality of their business enterprise and those who manage it. “Investment in our young people, whether in the field of education, health or sport is an investment in the future of our country and I want to let all those of you who are participating in this event know that we in the Kashif & Shanghai Organization are immensely proud to be associated with this initiative,” he concluded.

Muhammad is also of the view that such a tournament is imperative towards the continued development of football and the changing image of the game. He assured the gathering that the tournament is merely the beginning of a long journey

even as he assured them that the Kashif & Shanghai organization is resolutely focused on youth development through sports.

In brief remarks Mr. Fraser congratulated the organizers for the initiative while noting that the tournament will now force e d u c a t i o n o ff i c i a l s t o broaden the calendar of events to facilitate the tournament as the children would now look forward to it during the Christmas season.

He said that officials at the Ministry of Education are extremely delighted to accommodate the tournament even as he extended heartfelt gratitude to the Beharry principals for fulfilling their corporate mandate.

Eight teams are vying for top honours in the tournament which concludes on January 1 next. Apart from the lucrative prizes put up by the main sponsors, the lads will have more reasons to perform at their best after Victoria’s Fashions of Church and Light Streets donated several BMX bicycles which go to the MVP in each team.

The tournament is being contested simultaneously with the annual K&S yearly football event which concludes on January 1 next with the finals at the same venue.

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