Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

A NEW LOOK AT GUYANA/CUBA RELATIONS DEAR EDITOR, May I wish all in the homeland the best in the New Year. May I share with your readers a compliment to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rashleigh Jackson’s letter regarding the role of LFS Burnham and Guyana in establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Cuba provided solidarity to Cheddi J a g a n ’s i n t e r n a l s e l f government that was under seige with a Trades Union Council 80-day general strike which was organized and financed by both internal and external forces supported by Burnham in the 1960s.

The former Minister is correct that Cuba’s isolation began in the 1960s. Burnham and his government were

actively engaged in the campaign to isolate Cuba.

On Saturday, November 30, 1968 Burnham stated, “ ..The MIR represents in Venezuela the Castroite movement for organized violence and guerilla warfare and has been actively engaged in attempting the overthrow of the Venezuelan government through guerrilla activity and widespread acts of sabotage...

“We have to bear in mind that we are dealing with a movement whose aims of organized insurrection affect many countries in the Hemisphere and we have to guard...in fact, within the last few days, we have been in close communication with the Venezuelan authorities on this matter...”

LFS Burnham also stated

in1962, “The Cubans whom Castro has given no vote do not have a vote here and I do not propose to give them...”

Both LFS Burnham and Shridat Ramphal held a press conference on the said date and circulated a document dated October 22, 1968.

That document alleged that Pedro Beria conspired with the PPP. It contained codes and so forth. That document was published by me in 1982 in a booklet (101 pages) I wrote and the GRRS published: “Guyana A Nation In Ruins/The Puerto Rican Model Failed.”

The Beria Plot document was an attempt to link the PPP with an alleged agent of the MIR to ostensibly overthrow the PNC government. The document most likely was put together by an intelligence

officer or an intelligence agency. This is my opinion as a Historian accustomed to examining documents.

It was the then Venezuelan Government which successfully sought the removal of Cuba as a member of the OAS. The case made by then President Betancourt was that Cuba financed and trained a “guerilla” movement under the leadership of Douglas Bravo, Americo Martin, Teodor Petkoff and others.

These facts merely highlight one of the numerous faces of LFS Burnham and Shridat Ramphal. It does not in any way ignore LFS Burnham’s contribution in establishing relations with Cuba in the 1970s.

Paul Nehru Tennassee

Kleptocrats dominate the leadership DEAR EDITOR, Political Science, like any other science, is an evolving discipline. Apart from the conventional forms of government that we learnt about, Political Scientists are discovering new forms that have emerged since the fall of World Communism.

The PPP/C loves to brag about its dubious democratic credentials, but is Guyana a true democracy? Some thinkers would even say that Guyana is a flawed democracy. From my research, I have to concur with the scientists that discovered the new form of government, that Guyana is now a kleptocracy.

Since I am no expert in Political Science, I would relish the idea of the likes of

Freddie Kissoon researching the philosophical framework of this model, while Professor Clive Thomas researches the economic implications and the legal luminaries do a paper on the legal consequences.

Suffice to say, however, that according to Wikipedia, kleptocracy is defined as “the rule by thieves and is characterised by political and government corruption where the government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its officials and the ruling class at the expense of the wider population, often with pretense of honest service.”

Wikipedia informed us that kleptocratic rulers typically treat their country’s

treasury as though it were their own personal bank account, spending the funds on luxury goods and services. The rulers also secretly transfer public funds into secret, personal numbered bank accounts overseas. This is to provide their continued extravagant lifestyles if and when they lose power.

It was also stated that funds are usually siphoned off from tax payments or money laundering schemes, and the system often degrades the quality of life of its citizens.

Kleptocrats also steal monies from funds that were

earmarked for public amenities such as building of hospitals, roads, railways, schools and the like. This widespread stealing often serves to further degrade the quality of life of the state’s citizens.

Therefore readers, you be the judge. When I read this I thought I was reading about Guyana. I am certain that many of you will think likewise. So the next time the PPP/C-Ieptocrats even mouth the word democracy, you must let them know that democracy is dead - in Guyana anyways.

Carl Parker Snr. Regional Councillor

Parliament must follow up on the Ombudsman report DEAR SIR, Given the findings of the Ombudsman in his report which linked certain high ranking public officials in the trumped up charges against the Managers of NBS, Guyanese now wait with bated breath on how this very serious matter would be addressed by their elected representatives on both sides of the House when Parliament reconvenes.

In any given democracy, conspiring to put innocent persons before the Courts on false charges is deemed criminal and punishable by Law. I trust that there would be a unified approach on the way forward in this matter by our Parliamentarians who should be reminded that a close relative could have been a victim of this most heinous, evil and despicable act.

The perpetrators must not be allowed to go scot free.

Lloyd Latchman

Where are the NIS increases?

DEAR EDITOR, I trust that you are well, enjoying good health. At the NIS 45th Anniversary message, the Chairman of the Insurance Scheme revealed that assets exceed $30 Billion and that it meets its more than $1 Billion monthly benefits expenditure, yet pensioners receiving above the minimum rate are yet to receive the eight per cent increase for 2011 and five per cent increase for 2014.

When will we receive what is due to us pensioners?

There is a contract that says these increases must be paid yearly, dependent on the AWARD yearly made to all public servants.

I call on all PENSIONERS to come forward, sign a Petition to have our due payment made, and made early.

We should liken our situation to ANGELA DAVIS’s “If they come in morning.” It is suicidal and criminal to remain silent, for if they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.

Let us rise up and challenge this injustice immediately.

J. Mukesh

Page 6

Kaieteur News

NRE sector saw “significant inputs and improvements” in 2014 The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and its respective regulatory and supervisory agencies, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, reportedly performed well in 2014.

According to the Government Information Agency, this was attributed to the governance of the sector and the protection of the environment as a result of significant inputs, expansion and improvement during the year.

GUYANA GEOLOGY AND MINES COMMISSION Each of the nine areas under the purview of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) showed marked advancement.

The Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc. trained in excess of 220 interested persons while the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative was employed to advance revenue transparency and accountability.

Under Support for Hinterland Infrastructure, the GGMC spent a p p r o x i m a t e l y

G$1,064,247,723 and G$477,403,837 on road and building infrastructure for 2014 respectively, adding to the ease of movement of people and products.

Environmental Management in the mining sector advanced with the Ministry and WWF Guianas signing a grant agreement ($28M) to support national capacity-building.

The Land Reclamation P r o j e c t saw Government allocating $500M for the execution of restoration, replanting and rehabilitation of areas subjected to mining.

Government signed and ratified the Minamata Convention in 2013 and 2014 respectfully, as this seeks to address a global consensus that mercury use must be done with attention being paid to health and environmental risks.

Government earmarked a sum of $1 Billion for a revolving fund, towards mercury-free mining development, in another effort to safeguard the environment.

The Oil and Gas Policy was approved at the Cabinet level and is premised on investment in upstream

exploration activity, and effectively regulating an upstream oil and gas sector. The extractive industry is targeting primarily the mining sector also, another global initiative to which Guyana has subscribed. Today the country is now linked to the EITI website. Guyana has spent $25M on a consultancy to develop the scope of the study to prepare for that; a firm out of the United Kingdom has done a preliminary report and is due back soon, so that Guyana’s membership in the EITI can be advanced.

A Foreign Direct Investment Study was completed on the impact of investment in the local extractive sector. It catered for the assessment of the impact of investment in extractive industries on fiscal revenues; employment and local content; technological capabilities; and the environment.

The gold trade, covered under the GGMC must be seen in the context of the international drop in price for the metal. The price fell on average by 22% in 2014. Total declaration at December 20, 2014 showed a decrease by 22.61% over the corresponding period in 2013; and gold-purchased, by the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) fell by (Continued on page 8)

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Providence fatal accident…

Suspected getaway driver still on the run The police have intensified their hunt for Asif Khan, the man said to be the driver who abandoned his vehicle two Sundays ago, after a teenage bo y w a s killed and his friends were injured on the Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road.

Khan, a father of two, of Bagotstown, EBD, reportedly fled the scene of the accident, leaving two of his passengers in his vehicle, which bears the registration number PRR 555.

The passengers had revealed Khan’s identity to the police.

This newspaper was told that investigators have searched a number of places for the suspect but have come up empty-handed.

They searched his home, but only his wife and children were there.

Police sources said that the wife informed them that she saw her spouse four days prior to the accident when he left to go into the interior.

She also noted that although she and the runaway driver are married, they do not spend time together.

The accident, which occurred just after 00:30hrs on December 21, resulted in the death of Parmanand

Deokaran, 18, of 233 Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The teen, who sustained head injuries, was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

His friends, Davendra Mangal, 20, of 27 Better Hope, ECD and Kayshane Ramnarine, 17, of 184 Good Hope, ECD, sustained injuries about their bodies.

Nicholas Verasar, who was with the trio at the time of the accident, escaped unhurt.

According to reports, the four friends had just left the Princess International Hotel’s casino and were waiting on a taxi on the East Bank Demerara Public Road when tragedy struck.

Nicholas Verasar told Kaieteur News that he was sitting on a concrete structure in front of the hotel while his friends stood on the road, trying to flag down a taxi.

“They were facing south and I was facing north, so I could have seen all the vehicles that were heading up the East Bank.

My friends were laughing and talking and I see a car, swaying from side to side on the Public Road, heading south,” Verasar said.

Fearing for his friends’ safety, Verasar said he rushed to them, but only managed to

Runaway driver: Asif Khan grab Mangal.

“After I pull him away, I tried to pull Kayshane, but my hand slipped and the car was already close, so I run back, but it end up hitting all three of them and pitch them in the trench,” the teenager recalled.

Meanwhile, Jasmattie Deokaran, the mother of the dead teen, is pleading with the driver to surrender.

She said that he was responsible for the mishap so he should face the consequences.

“He killed my son. My son was the backbone of the home. He took care of me and his siblings and now he is dead,” the mother lamented.

Investigations are ongoing.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 7

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

NRE sector saw “significant inputs...

(From page 6) 41.24%. Dealers’ quantity of gold exported increased by 10.16%, whilst the GGB’s quantity of gold exported fell by 40.26%. Thus, the overall quantity of gold exported is down by 22.73%. Moreover, the value of gold exported by dealers increased by 10.86%, whilst the revenue garnered by the GGB decreased by 43.48% during the comparative periods. The total revenue for the comparative time period fell by 23.45%.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONAGENCY The agency proposed a national ban in the form of the Environmental Protection (Expanded Polystyrene Ban) Regulations, 2015 due to the fact that Styrofoam is adding immensely to the solid waste challenges in Guyana.

Enforcement and Compliance Regulations were advanced as the agency, in partnership with WWF-Guianas (World Wildlife Fund) embarked on a project to strengthen the EPA’s capacity for the management of environmental and social impacts of development activities.

Government enacted the Environmental Protection (Litter Enforcement) Regulations, with the goal of reducing litter nationwide.

The Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations were gazetted in late 2013. They are intended to provide for the domestic management and conservation of wildlife, to regulate the capturing, gathering, collecting, hunting, killing or taking of wildlife for any purpose. Also the regulations cater for appropriate arrangements for the classification of wildlife and areas.

The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is aimed at implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity, as Guyana has crafted its Strategy and Action Plan for Bio-diversity Conservation.

The ministry advertised for a consultancy to restructure the EPA with the aim of improving its organisational structure, supported by improvements in revenue generation options and commitments to enhancing institutional capacity.

There were 438 applications for environmental permits which are in varying stages of processing. Applications are in the areas of Mining, Forestry, Industry, Infrastructure and Energy, Agriculture, Fisheries and Tourism, Hazardous Waste/ Materials and Air Quality Management.

WILDLIFEDIVISION The Wildlife Import and Export Bill is intended to create a national framework and mechanism to govern the international trade of wildlife in Guyana, while at the same time, fulfill obligations under the

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES). The final bill has already been vetted by the Ministry of the Legal Affairs and was presented to Parliament for enactment.

GUYANA LANDS AND SURVEYCOMMISSION This body works in three general areas, one of which is National Land Use Project which was developed with the support of the European Union (EU). It is not a prescriptive document; it is rather intended to provide the overarching policy framework for land use decision-making coordination amongst land-based sector agencies. The document is still to be completed.

Another aspect, the GIS Policy was submitted to Cabinet for approval and a recommendation has been made for an Advisory Council to govern its implementation. It deals with the use of geographic information systems and the building of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), in pursuit of sustainable national development.

Meanwhile the establishment of the GL&SC’s enforcement unit was approved

by Cabinet to deal with illegal occupation of all state lands and Government reserves.

FOREIGNCOMPANIES Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud stated that foreign companies operate in accordance with the laws of Guyana with no discrimination between foreign or local companies. All across the political spectrum are convinced that foreign potential is essential for producing growth across the country.

Whilst the political spectrum of Guyana agrees that foreign direct investment is essential to catapulting growth in the national economy, Guyanese should be proud of the fact that people want to bring their hard earned investment dollars to develop opportunities for the people of Guyana.

He added that with no ambiguity in terms of the national consensus, specific terms of the details of investment are also very clear and open. These agreements include loans publicly made available with documents being provided to parliament when required. No laws are violated and dossiers of additional information are also provided.

PROTECTEDAREAS COMMISSION The Three Parks Initiative: the Botanical Gardens, Zoological Park and National Park form the core components of Georgetown’s network of green spaces. The ministry has proposed a comprehensive plan with the objective to enhance key facilities and rehabilitation of infrastructure in each of these “green” spaces, and thus increasing the ability to generate

revenue for long-term sustainability.

Meanwhile, the Petting Zoo, part of the Three Parks initiative became operational. It was constructed to improve the aesthetic and educational experiences of children and adults visiting the zoo.

Under the National Protected Area System, the Protected Area Commission, established under the Protected Area Act of 2011, was equipped with a newly constructed office building. It continues to develop and manage Guyana’s National Protected Area System through Management Plans. In 2014, the National Protected Area Trust Fund was launched with an immediate commitment of $2 Billion from Government.

GUYANAFORESTRY COMMISSION The ministry has publicly made available Guyana’s Monitoring Reporting and Verification System (MRVS), Year 4 Report (2013). The findings of this assessment provide a useful basis for planning an on-going monitoring programme, focusing on key hotspot areas.

Guyana and the EU are seeking to form a partnership, under the existing EU FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) Action Plan, that places direct emphasis on recognising all forest legalities: ensuring that the benefits from forest resources utilisation flow to the right beneficiaries; preventing unfair competition between illegal and legal produce; maintaining a low rate of deforestation and forest degradation; making sure of sustainable development of forest dependent communities; and mitigating against climate change in a REDD+ framework.

The support for the REDD+Readiness Programme in Guyana is a three- year, US$3.8 million Technical Cooperation (TC) programme, the objective of which is to assist Government in REDD+ efforts.

The Geospatial Information Management Unit, one of whose main functions is to provide information on monitoring and compliance to the ministry and agencies under its purview, was engaged in mining deforestation analysis, land reclamation project support, Amerindian land titling project support and near real time analysis during the year..

MINING The Minister added that whilst mining is a very critical sector of the economy, it’s not only for gold, but also bauxite.

There has been sustained, as well as intense attention given to what is taking place such as gold prices dropping as much as 22%.

With the miners themselves taking the situation in hand with the removal of mercury within the mining sector, bringing in mercury-free technologies, this has shown that the sector itself is not only adjusting to the economic imperatives, but also social and environmental ones.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 9

PERSON OF THE YEAR 2014 Today is the last day of what has been a very eventful year for the Guyanese people.

The year began with the disclosure that the Guyana Sugar Corporation was in deep distress, but ended with reports that finally the sugar corporation had managed to achieve its production target, as downgraded as it was.

The year also began with the Guyana Public Service Union expressing concern over the government’s retention of retirees. It ended with no change, with a

number of geriatrics still blocking the upward path of younger members of the public sector workforce.

2014 began with concern over the state of many community roads, but it ended with many communities now having their roads redone, a clear signal that the government is readying for elections.

Elections were not on the political radar at the commencement of 2014, but it is now a foregone conclusion that elections will

be held in 2015. This has resulted because a plan by the opposition parties to pass a no-confidence motion in the government backfired when the President did the unexpected and prorogued parliament.

For this act, the only thing of significance to have occurred under his presidency, Donald Ramotar has earned the award of Man of the Year from APNU. It was a satirical gesture by APNU, no doubt to shield its own shame at being outfoxed and

Dem boys seh...

Donald expose Jagdeo Somewhere in de Holy Book it seh, “Out of the abundance of the heart de mouth speakest.”

That mean that wha deh in you heart does come out yuh mouth. Even if yuh try to hide it, even if yuh don’t want talk.

Dem boys seh that if yuh full a kaka, don’t ask wha gun come out.

De whole nation know bout Jagdeo, what he is and what he capable of.

Everybody know how dutty and nasty he is. He mek Varshnie see hell and all it colours and sometimes she couldn’t see at all.

He had she walking and driving like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder wid big dark shades. Donald know all this and he had a taste of it. He start fuh wear dark shades too, because he know wha was coming.

But he grow up different from Jagdeo. He was not a violent, dutty or nasty person. Is a bukta man from Rupununi mek people know Donald change.

He been mekking he

speech busing people. He tell de crowd. “They don’t have a record to be proud of; they don’t have a history that they can be proud of. That is why they don’t like history and they don’t like to hear about de past.”

Right away, de bukta man agree. He seh, “Yea, Yea like Jagdeo.”

Donald get vex, he start fraff. Wha he had in he heart and been trying fuh hide from de public come out. He tell de bukta man, “You don’t know anything bout Jagdeo.

If he was here he mighta slap you.”

Right away de bukta man seh, “You tek me fuh you and Varshnie? I don’t wear dark

shades. Nobody can’t mek me wear dark shades.”

And that is why dem boys believe that he put he security fuh slap up de man and tek advantage.

De man waiting fuh de next time he and dem go back.

He seh knack got knack back and knack back harder than knack. Ask George Bush. He get a taste.

De Bukta man seh he nah de man who pelt Bush wid de shoes and miss. He done got he shoes waiting fuh Donald and he does pelt straight.

Even wid de name Donald Duck, de bukta man want fuh see he duck.

Talk half and watch out fuh de shoe.

outmanoeuvred by the government.

Prorogation was the most important and significant political development in Guyana in 2014. However in this column’s estimation, it was NOT the political development that defined the government over the past year.

The development that defined the PPP in 2014 was its oppressive hand, particularly the oppression that was brought to bear against the publisher of this newspaper, in what was aptly described by a noted intellectual as State terrorism.

Never, since the days of the dictatorship, has various forces within the State conspired to frame the publisher of this newspaper and to unleash a campaign of oppression against him and his newspaper.

The PPP obviously had not learnt from its days in the anti-dictatorship struggle. It had not recalled that the people always come to rescue of those under the hammer of oppression.

And in the case of Kaieteur News, there were persons who did not agree with what was happening, who saw the insidious hand

of oppression seeking to strangle Kaieteur News because of this newspaper’s exposure of the rampant corruption by a gang of cronies and lackeys within the ruling administration.

It is now crystal clear that panic has stepped in amongst those forces that are plundering the resources of the State for the benefit of themselves, their families and their friends.

They have been exposed for the vagabonds that they are, and they are fearful that it is only a matter of time before they end up facing justice and being jailed for their perfidious crimes against the Guyanese people.

They are trembling in their boots because of the exposure of their corrupt and evil acts, and therefore, like a drowning rat, they are flaying crazily.

They are not going to go down that easy though, they are mobilizing themselves and critical players within the State machinery to go after the publisher of this newspaper.

They have joined in an unholy alliance to silence him.

But their plot was unearthed by the people of Guyana and made public. It is now public

knowledge that there is a plot by known individuals who are out to destroy Glenn Lall, the publisher of this newspaper.

They presumed that by pressuring him they could silence him and his newspaper.

They miscalculated. It shows they never understood the character of the man they were going after.

They felt that by using State oppression against him they could intimidate him.

They forgot they were dealing with a man and not a mouse.

Glenn Lall has stood up to their oppression. He has bravely faced his persecution and prosecution. He has not backed down, never will. For his courage and relentless exposure of the sophisticated political and intellectual banditry within the country, Glenn Lall is this column’s choice for Person of the Year 2014.

Continue the good fight, Glenn. The forces against you may be formidable, but the people are on your side!

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The ghost ship passengers will waltz to “Senza Fine” tonight The advertisement of the Marriott Hotel on the back cover of the 2014 telephone directory paints a most tragic canvas of a country with deeply disturbing rulers.

This columnist will not avoid commentary on the need for Guyana to have new rulers and for the PPP personnel that have administered Guyana for twenty-two years to be investigated for the horrible abuse of power.

Here is a part of that advertisement; “Book one of our 197 guest rooms or suites with views of the ocean or Georgetown’s city lights.”

The last few words, “Georgetown’s city lights” tell a story of the complete lack of decency and integrity of those who govern this helpless and hapless country.

Georgetown is a city without street lamps. It is one of the most poorly-lit capitals in the entire world and the worst lit in the CARICOM region. For the government to announce to visitors that they can stay at the Marriott and have a view of the lights of Georgetown is telling a most sickening, sordid, profane lie.

I was born in Georgetown.

I have lived my entire life in Georgetown. I know all the

streets in Georgetown with very few exceptions. There are a few roadways that carry lamps, but in each of those streets, more than ninety percent of the beams have never worked since the 1980s.

Boxing Night, I had to drop off my kid’s friends to different locations, so I monitored the lights. What a monumental lie that advertisement carries. There should be a law to jail government officials for lying to the nation.

In front of the Office of the President on Vlissengen Road; head office of the army; police headquarters at Eve Leary; Brickdam police station; fire service at Stabroek Market Square, the large Guyana Revenue Authority building on Camp Street; in front of the Georgetown Hospital on New

Market, Thomas, Lamaha and East Streets, there isn’t even a solitary bulb hanging from a lantern. I have just listed a few here. It is the same on all the streets where the Ministries are.

But hear this one! From the Marriott going east, passing the Pegasus through to the bandstand on the seawall, right to the junction of Camp Road outside the head office of the CID, that street (does it have a name?) never had poles (maybe except telephone poles).

I have bad memories of that particular street. We parked to go jogging, my wife and I, and when we returned, they had broken into my car taking my wife’s handbag.

Any car-thief could have worked his way through all the cars there because the place is a dark avenue.

If any visitor right at this minute goes to the top of the Marriott Hotel in Kingston and looks down on Georgetown, there are no street lights to be seen.

Interestingly, a few Fridays ago, Carl Greenidge walked

with me, Dr. David Hinds and Chris Ram from the National Library after the conclusion of a WPA-sponsored symposium to the Banks DIH outlet at Main and Quamina Streets. He was in search of a taxi and we pointed him to New Thriving Restaurant. We asked him if we should accompany him since Main Street was dark and we were afraid of robbery. Where are the street lights on Main Street?

Old Year ’s Night in Guyana in 2014 will be one of the most interesting nights in the history of the world.

Why? Because dialectics would have come to an end and a country that does not exist, will be existing, but in supernatural forms. Tonight, thousands of rich folks in designer clothes, with expensive cars, the type rock stars are chauffeured in, will be dancing until the morning breaks.

But these people are not real. The country they live in does not exist. Remember Stephen King’s famous novel made into a movie, “The

Frederick Kissoon Shining,” where in a large hotel people were drinking and dancing and Jack Nicholson joined them but they weren’t real? It will be like this tonight.

The movie “Ghost Ship” best describes what will happen tonight. A ravishingly beautiful Italian woman will take the mike and sing the most beautiful Italian love song, “Senza Fine.” And the waltz will be a phenomenon to behold. But the dancers and the ship are just ghosts.

Guyana is the ghost ship.

The last song before morning comes should be from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous Broadway musical, “Cats.” Titled “Memory,” there is a line that says; “The streetlamp dies, another night is over, another day is dawning” The street lamp in Guyana was never alive.

Another day may never dawn.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Roads from Eccles to Great Diamond for upgrades For the construction and upgrading of roads from Eccles to Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara, region four, eight bids were tendered under the Ministry of Housing and Water. The bids were opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Main and Urquhart Streets.

They were divided into five lots and are as follows:

Still in the sector, four bids were opened for the construction of heavy duty Access Bridge at Belle West, West Bank Demerara, region three.

The Ministry of Home Affairs received bids for the procurement of uniform items for Community Policing. It was listed as items 1-3.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received bids for the installation of an electrical and photovoltaic system at staff living quarters, Kaieteur Top, Kaieteur National Park, region eight.

Venezuela reaffirms readiness to settle border dispute The Venezuelan government has released a communiqué in response to the recent statements made

by Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett on the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy, where the Guyanese official noted her country was exploring options other than the Good Offices process, agreed upon by both countries to settle their dispute.

In the communiqué, Venezuela said “it is willing and committed to finding a practical, peaceful, and satisfactory solution to the border dispute. This policy has been endorsed by

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has made a great deal of effort to further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries in all areas, particularly in trade and cooperation via Petrocaribe.”

According to a report in El Universal online news, M a d u r o ’s g o v e r n m e n t remarked it still looks forward to reaching a solution to “finally leave behind the scars left by colonialism in the heart of Our America as it endeavored to divide us to avoid the union of Latin America and the Caribbean...”

The communiqué stressed that appointing

promptly by common consent the personal representative of the United Nations secretarygeneral for the purpose of the Good Offices Process was a good sign.

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly believes that this mechanism continues to be the right political and legal path to settle the border dispute. This explains why it is so critical for the sake of the process that the government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana responds to the requests made by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the prompt designation of the Good Officer.”

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

C’bean body eyes partnership with “Jagdeo mighta slap yuh, because yuh stupid” US to boost sugarcane production Sugarcane being harvested.

Guyana (AP) – A Guyana-based organization that oversees sugar production in the Caribbean says it is seeking to partner with U.S. companies to help save one of the world’s oldest sugarcane breeding institutions.

The Sugar Association of the Caribbean says it is meeting with U.S.-based companies including the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida.

Association spokesman Karl James said yesterday that the West Indies Central Sugar Cane Breeding Station in Barbados needs additional financing, new technology and qualified personnel. The station has been operating for more than 100 years.

Only four of 15 members of a Caribbean trade bloc known as Caricom still produce sugar. They are Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Belize.

President Donald Ramotar recently exposed the violent nature of former President Bharrat Jagdeo when an Amerindian man questioned the former President’s record in office.

President Ramotar was addressing a political rally. He attacked the political opposition.

“They don’t have a record to be proud of; they don’t have a history that they can be proud of. That is why they don’t like history and they don’t like to hear about the past.”

The man retorted, “Yea, yea, like Jagdeo.”

“You don’t know anything about Jagdeo; if he bin hay he might a slap yo, coz you stupid,” the President is heard saying on an audio recording released to the media by a villager.

The Aishalton meeting is among several visits the President has been making around the country ahead of general elections next year.

The trips are not announced to the media, and on this particular trip the President took none of his information officers or the videographer attached to his office.

However, with the release of the Jagdeo slapping comment, the Press and Publicity Unit of Office of the President sprang into action. “(The unit) has noted sections of the media reporting on what is

- Pres. Ramotar tells man during meeting

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

President Donald Ramotar

purported to be a recording of an engagement between President Donald Ramotar and a hinterland resident three (3) weeks ago. Efforts are being made to authenticate the integrity of this recording.”

A statement signed by Kwame McCoy said,” The tenor of the engagement represents the cut and trust (sic) of public meetings.”

“As the New Year beckons, particularly with general elections pending, we can expect many more such attempts at sensational reporting,” he added.

It was at the very meeting that school teacher John Adams said he was slapped

by Presidential Guards for heckling the President during the meeting.

“I don’t like how they are treating especially the Amerindian people. Now, one brave, small person like me spoke and I was slapped,” Adams said yesterday.

Adams has reported the matter to the Police, but does not believe he will get any justice.

‘It look like the DPP and whoever investigating this are all linked to the dirty PPP politics,” Adams added.

The President during his speech berated the Opposition and the private media, namely Stabroek News and Kaieteur News.

Contacted for comment, the President’s Information Liaison Officer Kwame McCoy at the time had said he did not know of the recording.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Day Three:

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Miners report possible sighting of missing plane total search hours flown to date is 29 hours and 54 minutes.

On Sunday, the Britten Norman Islander aircraft 8RGHE disappeared en route to Karisparu.

Captain Persaud and Bisnauth were said to be carrying equipment to the location.

While information is sketchy on the cargo handler, Kaieteur News was told that the pilot’s father-in-law had travelled to Mahdia to ascertain information on his relative.

The pilot’s family, the newspaper was told, has been spending most of their day at the ASL office waiting anxiously for word on their

Search and rescue coordinators will be back at it today.

With still no sign of the Britten Norman Islander aircraft that went missing last Sunday, the search and rescue party is expected to widen its efforts to areas close to the intended destination.

Twenty-seven-year-old Captain Nicky Persaud and 51-year-old cargo loader David Bisnauth have been missing for three days now, after contact was lost with the plane which was making its way to Karisparu – a community in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni).

The plane was attached to Air Services Limited (ASL), a local operator conducting mostly interior flights.

Kaieteur News understands that the search is being concentrated closer to the aircraft’s intended destination because of a possible sighting. It was related that an earlier spotting was reported but this turned up empty.

A release from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed the possible sighting. According to the agency, “eyewitness reports indicate that the aircraft was spotted closer to Karisparu, which prompted the decision to concentrate in areas including Winiperu, Taffy, Black Water and Konawaruk Rivers, which fall

within the already identified area of interest.”

The new area of concentration is 60 square miles and approximately 10 miles from Mahdia based on reported sightings which are being investigated.

“Unfortunately, at 17:20 hrs, operations were suspended due to inclement weather and the impending sunset.”

The search teams were equipped with Emergency Locator Transmitter Locator (ELTL) – a tracking device which aids in the detection and location of aircraft.

The agency reported further that on the ground, Tesouro Resources, a mining

company, through its Finance Manager Ray Beharry, joined in the search.

“Two fixed wing aircraft and three rotor wing aircraft, including one Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter, continued the search yesterday.” Phoenix aircraft was also said to have provided assistance in the aerial search.

“GCAA Investigators and GDF Special Forces remain on standby in Mahdia for deployment.”

The agency recorded flying time logged for the third day of search efforts; the aerial reconnaissance was 11 hours and 52 minutes. The

MISSING PILOT: Nicky Persuad relative. Another day in futility has not been easy, but they are expected to return today.

Page 22

ACCOMODATION SIGNATURE INN: Luxury Suites & Apartments. Free Wi-Fi & Breakfast; AC & Self Contained Rooms @ 83 Laluni Street Queenstown.

Tel: 592-226-2145

VACANCY Live in housekeeper; to care for infant 40-50yrs – Call: 697-8797 IT Technician to install outdoor antenna, must have drivers license. Send application to jobs@awngy.com Experienced salesman/ driver 3 CXC Subjects including Mathematics, apply with 2 references, valid police clearance & driver license - Call: 233-3512 Waitresses to work at a Bar at Agriculture Road –E.C.D Cashier able to work flexible hours and have CXC Maths, send application to jobs@awngy.com 3 Pastry makers, please apply at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm products limited 38 Ketley & Sussex St. Charlestown- Call:225-7864/ 225-8607 One refrigeration Airconditioned traineeCall:231-0655,683-8734

LAND FOR SALE Blankenburg, Public Road W.C.D (38ftX150ft), (39ftX150ft) - $16M each; Back Street, Unity Street La Grange W.B.D 85X750- $16M Call: 666-3619 Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M & $3.5M (110ftX50Ft) Herstelling - $5.5M, Providence -$5.5M, Schoonord -$4.2M, Gove $2.6M –Call:675-7292; 6522018 1500 Acres Transported Land @ Bartica 2 ¾ miles River Front, Virgin Rock, Quarry Resort – Call Mark: 704-465-2222/603-1266 Double Land @ Lot 7 Tuschen E.B.E – Call: 6722215

Kaieteur News

SALON

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

Pitbull bus ($3.2M) Verossa $3.7M, Noah- $2M (All new) Call: 603-9700

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL: CARS & SUV FOR RENTAL-$4,000&UPPERDAYCALL: 643-5122, 219-3900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves.

Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves.

Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 6626045

PROPERTY FOR SALE One house & land in hope low land, E.C.D, one house & land in Bloomfield Berbice Call: 689-5254; 256-0504 Unfinished house at Parfaite Harmony, West Minister, W.B.D - $4.5M – Tel:6610618; 601-3469 Two Storied concrete & wooden house, Enterprise Gardens, E.C.D – Call: 6466357 HEALTH Money Back guarantee; cleaner, clearer younger looking skin in two weeks, also flatter stomach – Call: 684-9409; 699-4211 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table – Call: 277- 0578

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, (SALE) & MORE, JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW - CALL: 675-0767, 667-2535 1 Modern warehouse facility in central industrial area 8000sqft ware house facility 5000 per month – Contact Annie: 695-0333 Business spot to rent on public road- Call:613-0448/ 672-8625 1 Upper flat 2 bedroom concrete apartment @ Grove New Housing Scheme E.B.D (First Bridge) - $45,000 per month – Call:642-1956 Three bedrooms house at 119 Canterbury Walk, BV, E.C.D - $30,000 monthly – Call: 654-6841 Lower 2 bedrooms apartment @ Factory Road, Paradise, East Coast, Demerara; with light & water -$40,000 monthly – Contact: 625-9939 Two bedrooms apartment in Grove Housing Scheme; 3rd Avenue – Call: 622-0784; 6281155 Five bedrooms house @ 107 Lamaha Gardens & large parking, AC rooms, hot & cold, purified water system – Call: 661-8908; 335-3590

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM Untouchable car rental: low rates, low deposits – Call: 677-4613; 226-9668 Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel:698-7807; 690-6494

SALE! SALE! SALE! New model Spacio (2005) TV, Front & back camera; fully loaded $2M- Call: 642-7295 1 - L-Touring Wagon; HB 9912, price $1,050,000 Neg. Call: 680-4990 Toyota Prado, Price$5.5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 One ford IVECO sand truck with Cummings Engine, GNN Series, excellent condition, owner leaving country - Call: 604-6860, 643-2911 2003 Toyota IST; fully loaded with bodykit -$2M, never registered – Call: 628-0909; 260-2327 2005/ 6yrs Silver Toyota Allion, new shape, lights at D.North Auto Sales, low mileage $2.550M – Tel:663-0584 Spacio 2004, Body Kit, rims, camera, spoiler, dark interior, crystal light, new shape (unregistered) – Tel: 617-5536 Toyota Spacio, Body Kit, Rims, spoiler, CD player; never registered - $2.1M – Call: 617-2891 Cheapest: VVTI & 1RZ Stick gear, automatic buses, front view property in Bougainvillea Park, E.B.D for sale. Call: 616-7635

WANTED One manager to work at an out of town hotel - Call: 225-2535; 626-6909 from 9am to 4pm Two wash bay boys @ Classic Ride Wash Bay, Lot 18 Nandy Park E.B.D –Call: 233-5227 Urgently needed live- in waitress- Call:686-3116 One live-in domestic or couple to work in Mahaicony River- Call:225-6571, 644-6905 Live in domestic in Peter’s Hall, 1 week on; 1 week off, 40years plus, starting $13,000.

Call:675-0767, 627-5098 From 2pm -12pm; 4 waitresses to work at Bora Sports Bar at W.C.D – Call: 680-0129; 2761925 TM Driver with mechanical experienced – Call: 684-0172 Hire cars @ Atlas Taxi Service – Call: 218-5593; 218-5594 One male able bodied clerk – Call:225-2313;226-1497 Cooks & waitresses; cashier, cleaners to work at Flambouyant Restaurant & Bar, preferably applicants from E.B.D only – Call: 2332849

Wednesday December 31, 2014

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

Complete Snapper Boats for sale – Excellent Condition – Contact: 648-6815; 641-4506 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 PICK YOUR PIG! CHOOSE YOUR SIZEAND WE WILL HAVE IT READY! CALL: 266-2711 OR 609-4594 Portable sawmill fully hydraulic Th30-25 Timber Harvester – Call: 261-2553 Christmas Sale: Dell/HP Computer with 19" LCDs, laptops - $55,000 @ Futuretech – Call: 231-2206 Promix BX with microrize $10,500 per bag; ask for Rayman – Call: 615-2346; 6280200, 263-5300 1 Toshiba Laptop (17.3inches) 1 5000 Watts Briggs & Stratton generator - Call: 622-0503; 689-9932 1 Numark DM 1295 4 Channel mixer, 1 Teac CD burner uses any blank CD – Call: 6220503; 689-9932 2 Gemini GXA 4000 Watts power amp, 1 Technical Pro 3250 watts pro 3250 watts power amp – Tel: 622-0503; 689-9932 2 SL I serato boxes, 2 Denon 3500 CD Juggler, 2 Gemini GXA 3000 Watts power Amp – Call: 622-0503; 689-9932 Diving Suit – Call: 265-3449; 613-5158 Rubberized Tarpaulins for sale 20X20 - $20,000, any size available – Tel: 657-2304

PEN PAL Companion for retired gentleman 38+ Bobby Other, Worksharp, 92-96 Lord Street, PR8 1JR, England.

EDUCATIONAL Maths Lessons! @ 44 Delph Street Campbellvill – Contact Sir Dass. Call: 6543159; Forms 2, 3, 5 & repeaters, limited space available

TO LET One bedroom apartment for a couple. $30,000 monthly. In Charlestown- Call:223-3958/ 660-9463 Rooms & apartments (furnished & unfurnished) in Eccles & Alberttown- Call: 225-3234

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Municipal nurses still not paid - might withdraw services; colleagues promise industrial action

Nurses protest in solidarity with colleagues, Sharon Chase (left) and Shandra Hanover (second from left).

By Zena Henry The Christmas holiday has come and gone, but municipal nurses Shandra Hanover and Sharon Chase are still to be paid their fivemonth salary following their employment to deliver medical services to health facilities managed by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The nurses launched protest action at City Hall earlier in the month, demanding the money owed to them. However, it appears as though the medical veterans might have to withdraw their services because today the year 2014 ends and they still have not been paid.

This means that vital medical services in less fortunate communities such as Albouystown, La Penitence and such places will have to be withdrawn, especially since the nurses’

colleagues have promised industrial action in solidarity with their fellow workers.

Kaieteur News was told that the payments for the nurses have been approved, but the signature of acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba is required so that it could be paid out. The matter has also reached the attention of Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker, but according to information, the Minister has written City Hall saying that he is not aware of any information proving the hiring of the nurses.

According to Minister Whittaker, he perused the minutes of the Council’s statutory meeting and could not find where the Council approved the employment of the nurses. However in a correspondence to the Minister, Mayor Hamilton Green requested that he indicate who would have provided him with the information, since he claimed

that “it is a habit of Ms. Sooba to alter and adjust the records of proceedings of our (statutory) meetings.”

However, the information provided to the Minister by the Mayor declared that on July 28, 2014, the items up for discussion involved the early retirement of nurses and whether there were replacements for them. It was Councillor Devi Ross who had posed the question on whether the Council was filling vacancies in the nursing positions; stating that pregnant women and children were at the mercy of just two nurses at the clinic.

Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green as the Chairman of the Personnel and Training Committee reported that 135 advertisements were placed and following interviews, three persons were to be employed; Ms. Sharon Chase (no relation to her) and the reemployment of Ms. Sandra Hanover as Midwife and Ms.

Veronica Chisholm. She said there are only three nurses operating at Maternal and Child Welfare Department and when the Nurses are finished attending to over ninety mothers at South Road Clinic they have to conduct the same operation at the Albouystown Clinic.

As it relates to payment, it was pointed out that the Minister was provided with information which said, that payment for the nurses was approved by the Full Council since October 27, 2014, and a motion was passed for the payments to be made by October 31.

On November 24, when the question was asked at another Full Council meeting about the nurses’ payments, the minutes quote Sooba as saying that the matter was still with Minister Whittaker.

The matter was taken however, to the Ministry of Labour since October, and while the women were

advised to stay on the job, there has been no intervention by that agency.

The Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) President Dale Beresford had said that the nurses were hoping to receive their monies before year end, and if not they might have to withdraw their services. He said that other nurses who are quite concerned about the happenings are also contemplating to down tools in solidarity.

Hanover had told Kaieteur News that she has been in the medical profession since 1981. The senior nurse said she had earlier retired from the post as midwife, but had returned to the job given the shortage of nurses.

Chase said she too had started out in the medical profession since 1987, but had worked with various medical agencies in different capacities, until joining the municipal facility.

The women were worried that they would not be able to bring Christmas cheer to their families, while expressing bills backing up at home.

They were joined by their colleagues during the lunch time hour on December 18 to protest Sooba’s office. When the media sought a comment on the matter, her personal bodyguard said she was not available. The nurses are stationed in areas that service mainly depressed communities.

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

CPCE must fully embrace inclusive education – Ed Caesar Even as the education sector basks in the glory of attaining universal primary education and nears the ambitious goal of universal secondary education, there yet remains a crucial need for particular emphasis to be directed to those children within the system who suffer from various forms of disabilities.

This notion was recently amplified by former Chief Education Officer, Ed Caesar, when he addressed a gathering of teachers who graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

And according to him, the tactic of catering to the needs of children with disabilities is certainly not one that Guyana is focusing on in isolation. He disclosed that the United Nations Children’s Fund

(UNICEF), for instance, has been one of the organisations of the world, with a global reach, that has been paying keen attention to children with disabilities.

In fact, he divulged that in 2013 alone, UNICEF was able to promote the rights and wellbeing of millions of children living with disabilities who are among the most likely to be excluded from schools and other opportunities.

As such, he spoke of the need for CPCE to fully embrace the notion of inclusive education by ensuring that teachers and lecturers alike acquire, at least, the minimum competencies to function in an inclusive education environment.

A l t h o u g h inclusive education is

deemed an approach to educate students with different learning abilities, here in Guyana the term speaks mostly to including children with special needs in the mainstream classrooms.

But according to Caesar, embracing inclusive education has not been a notion that is often readily accepted.

He recalled being offered the privilege of delivering the feature address at a Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) Biennial Congress, where he was able to deliberate extensively on the subject of inclusive education. His utterances there would allow him to subsequently be included on a televised programme to again speak on the issue.

Caesar, however, recounted that at least two callers to the very programme were adamant that they did not want their children to be schooled with children with

disabilities.

“How selfish can we get?” questioned Caesar as he intimated that many children are subjected to situations that are not dissimilar.

He recounted the situation of a young boy who entered the nursery level school, but was hardly able to say a word.

“The teachers worked with him; toiletry was learnt at that nursery school and when that young boy got into trouble he began to call the names of at least two teachers...he developed and he began doing things on his own,” Caesar recalled. However, this did not mean the end of discrimination for this young boy as, according to Caesar, graduating from nursery level did not mean he was easily accepted into a primary school as a pupil.

This state of affairs was described as “another sad aspect” of the society’s

Former Chief Education Officer, Ed Caesar view of the disability situation.

A few years ago, Caesar was at the forefront of a small survey to ascertain what parents expected of the school system. And the findings revealed that parents wanted the school to prepare

their children to live and work comfortably in a peaceful society. However, most importantly, he disclosed that parents wanted their children to acquire many subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

Caesar said that from all indications “this is also an expectation of our Ministry of Education, the leading stakeholder.”

But according to him, a situation that often obtains is that “we celebrate obvious successes, but fail to focus on basic transition developments”.

Addressing this, he noted, would require that CPCE’s focus on a pedagogical transformational phase must therefore prepare teachers to identify weaknesses in their charges, account for them, correct them and celebrate development, a situation that is expected to cater for inclusive education.

Missing teen’s body found floating...

(From page 3) back, the woman husband say ‘y’all could check in de bush y’all gon find him’. And den dey cuss us and say ‘tomorrow morning y’all gun find he dead’,” Jankie Seetaram said.

That turned out to be true because when they returned to the Timehri Police Station about 06:00 hours yesterday, they received a telephone call that a body is in the water.

When they got to the creek their worst fears were confirmed. The body of Dhaniram Ramgopaul was seen floating in the waterway.

The woman said that when the body was pulled out from the water, she observed that there were black and blue marks on the torso, which suggested that the young man was beaten.

“The blood was fresh, the body was fresh, the tummy was just beginning to swell and the pirai eat on it. It had some black and blue marks on his neck,” Seeteram said.

The family believes that if

the police had been forceful in searching the woman’s bathroom on the first visit to her home, there was a possibility that Ramgopaul might have been alive.

“I can’t understand why the police at Timehri did not search that bathroom. I am telling you that that boy was alive in that bathroom last night (Monday),” maintained a close friend of the family who was with them at Timehri yesterday.

The family believes that after Ramgopaul was killed, his body was taken back to the creek and dumped to make it appear as if he had drowned. “ We h a d a b o u t t e n divers there, then we had a boat, we had a cast net. We search that area back and forth. The Amerindian man he did a good diving, he went to the corners them he self. They bring pitch forks to see if they would jam anything, and that body was not there. After that a set of people come and was in the creek and nothing

come up,” Seetaram said.

The dead teen’s father, Kunjbeharry Ramgopaul, was too distraught to speak initially, but he is also of the opinion that if the police had responded promptly to the reports that they received, they could have saved the lad’s life.

He questioned why the

police did not search the woman’s house when they went there first. He also questioned why the woman’s husband was not taken into custody also.

However, the police are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination as they continue their investigation.

60 percent of the economy...

(From page 17) promoted and trained, henchmen are sought after and rewarded for their role in certain corrupt activities.

“But let me just add to what Dr. Thomas cited. C.Y. Thomas is saying that when the parallel economy is as large as it is in Guyana, it is difficult to really gauge the pace of growth and levels of economic variables such as savings. Almost by definition, the full extent of economic activities is hidden from view and official scrutiny.

He is also saying that the state has been criminalized, in that the key state agencies work in collaboration with

agents and institutions of the parallel economy.

He mentioned the Ministry of Finance which, of course, oversees NICIL, which is a key device for taking decisions and has been at the helm of some of the most corrupt projects that have indebted the nation for years to come,” Greenidge expressed.

He concluded that the consequence of all these factors is that the economic growth, instead of building and using functional skills such as entrepreneurship and banking for example, uses predominantly other skills such as “con men and traders”.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Bunting vows to ‘choke off Mixed views after viral video shows supply of funds’ to gangs officers beating disabled man Jamaica Observer - Security Minister Peter Bunting has vowed that the police will be taking back public property used by criminal organisations to fund their operations, as part of the Government’s plan for a further reduction in major crimes.

Criminal gangs, in a major extortion racket, have ‘captured’ bus and taxi parks in a number of towns across the island, collect money from drivers who use them and use it to fund their underground operations.

A tough-talking Bunting, in on interview on the JIS television programme Issues and Answers, said several town centres across the island will be targeted as the strategy is to “choke off supply of funds” from organised crime networks. “...Wherever criminal groups have commandeered parking lots, and they proceed to operate it as commercial parking facilities, or where they have commandeered any public space, or public facil-

Peter Bunting ity, and using it to turn a profit and to extort payment from public passenger vehicles, the police are targeting these areas to choke off the fuel for criminal organisations,” said the security minister, noting that once money is dried up from the criminal groups their existence will also fade.

Bunting, meanwhile, reported that the decline in major crimes in 2014 was done with fewer arrests and less than 15 curfews. He said in the past there would have

been “thousands of curfews across communities where young men were rounded up by the security forces”, but it has proven that crimes can be contained when policing is intelligence- driven.

“We made a deliberate decision that only in the most exceptional circumstances (I would) approve a curfew.

This year we only had 14. We have also reduced the number of arrests,” the minister pointed out.

Bunting said, too, that so far this year police fatal shootings have been reduced by 50 per cent, with 300 fewer persons losing their lives.

“We have close to 700 fewer victims of serious and violent crimes this year, including murder, shooting, rape, and aggravated assault,” he said.

He added that 192 fewer persons have been murdered this year.

“What is important is the most effective use of police resources. We are about smarter policing,” said the security minister.

Trinidad Guardian - While two Special Reserve Police officers are being investigated for assaulting a wheelchair-bound man in San Fernando, those who witnessed the incident are supporting the officers’ actions.

Workers along lower High Street told the T&T Guardian that around 4 pm Saturday, the man was begging for money and hurling disrespectful and racist remarks to passers-by before he was pushed and slapped by male and female officers assigned to the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) at the Mon Repos Police Station.

Snr. Supt Cecil Santana said an investigation was launched after a video of the incident was posted on Facebook. Up to Monday, both officers remained on the job, while the man, who has an address in Gasparillo, was yet to be interviewed and has not reported the incident.

“The two officers have been identified and an investigation has been launched by the Professional Standards Bureau on instructions from the acting Commissioner of

An image from Facebook capturing a plain clothes policeman slapping a disabled man in a wheelchair on Saturday on Lower High Street, San Fernando.

Civil servants group insists no more wage freeze Falling oil prices won’t affect $15

O’Neil Grant KINGSTON, Jamaica President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association, O’Neil Grant, is reiterating that the

union will not support another round of wage freeze and has called for the government to reject any such plans.

Public sector workers have been under wage restraints for five years.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), with which Jamaica has a four-year standby loan agreement, has reportedly urged the government not to lift the wage freeze. But Grant says government workers have been holding strain for far too long and need an adjustment in wages and salaries in light of the harsh economic climate.

According to him, public sector workers are under sig-

nificant pressure with many of them taking out loans to provide for themselves and their families.

Grant says the association and its members will stand firm against any attempt to extend the wage freeze.

Grant was speaking on Independent Talk on Power 106 FM.The government and unions representing public sector workers are slated to begin wage negotiations next month.

Under the IMF deal, the Government has agreed to reduce Jamaica’s public sector wage bill to nine percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2016.

Police, Stephen Williams.

We are treating it seriously and we can assure that no

stone will be left unturned and the appropriate action will be taken,” Santana said.

minimum wage - Labour Minister Trinidad Express Labour Minister Errol McLeod has assured workers that falling global oil prices would not affect the Minimum Wages Order, which takes effect from tomorrow.

The order states that the national minimum wage for all workers will be increased to $15 per hour.

McLeod said, “The Minimum Wages Order, as advertised, will take effect from the 1st of January, 2015. And if the price of oil had gone up instead of falling down the Minimum Wages Order will

still be pegged at $15 an hour effective January 1, 2015.”

Brent crude settled at under US$60 per barrel Monday.

Finance Minister Larry Howai announced an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour in his 2014 national budget presentation.Howai said the increase was actually recommended by the Minimum Wages Board in its 2014 report. The board conducted a survey and found businesses were already paying rates above the previous minimum wage of $12.50 an hour.

The Ministry of Labour

and Small and Micro Enterprises Development has announced via an advertisement in the daily newspapers that the Minimum Wages Order 2014 comes into effect tomorrow.The order stated that the national minimum wage for workers of Trinidad and Tobago shall be at the rate of $15 per hour, exclusive of gratuities, service charges and commissions.

It does not apply to trainees in training schools approved by appropriate Government agencies, schemes developed from time to time by other Government ministries, registered apprentices, students on vacation jobs and persons who volunteer services to registered charitable organisations and social ervice agencies registered with the ministries with the responsibility for social services youths, sports, community development or gender affairs.

The order does not give authorisation for the reduction of wages paid to employees receiving wages in excess of the minimum wage and changes in the existing terms and conditions of any worker to effect a lowering of such terms and conditions.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

First Ebola victim may have been infected by bats

NEW YORK (AP) — A team of researchers think they may have pinpointed how the Ebola epidemic in West Africa started — with a small boy playing in a hollowed-out tree where infected bats lived.

The researchers explored an area in southeastern Guinea where 2-year-old Emile Ouamouno fell ill a year ago and died. Health officials believe he was the first case in the epidemic, which wasn’t recognized until spring.

The Ebola virus wasn’t

found in the bats they tested so they weren’t able to prove the source, the scientists reported in a study published Tuesday. But they believe the boy got Ebola from the furry, winged creatures that had lived in the hollow tree.

“As a scientist, I can say it’s a possible scenario,” said one of the study’s authors, Fabian Leendertz of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin.

An outside expert said the researchers’ work was thought-provoking.

“They didn’t find smoking guns” but perhaps broadened the thinking about what sparked the epidemic, said Stephen Morse, a Columbia University infectious disease expert. The Ebola epidemic is the worst in world history, blamed for killing nearly 8,000 people across West Africa this year, mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The epidemic’s exact origin has never been determined, but the virus is thought to spread to people

(Reuters) - The United States called on Tuesday for the release of U.S. citizens held in Iran, but denied a report that Washington had proposed a prisoner exchange for a former U.S. Marine.

A lawyer for Amir Hekmati, an Iranian-American former Marine jailed in Tehran, was quoted in a report on Tuesday on Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency as saying that the United States had sought his release through a prisoner swap.

“Those reports are not accurate,” U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke

told a news briefing.

“The U.S. government has not proposed a prisoner exchange for Mr Hekmati ... We do however call on the Iranian government to release Amir Hekmati immediately, as well as detained U.S. citizens Saeed Abedini and Jason Rezaian, and to assist us in locating Robert Levinson.”

Hekmati was arrested in August 2011, his family says, and convicted of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, a charge his relatives and the U.S. government deny.

Iranian-American Christian pastor Saeed Abedini was sentenced to eight years in prison last year for undermining Iran’s national security by setting up home-based Christian churches.

Jason Rezaian, an IranianAmerican dual citizen and the Washington Post’s bureau chief in Tehran, was charged this month after being detained for more than four months.

Robert Levinson, a private detective and ex-FBI agent, disappeared during a trip to an Iranian island in 2007.

U.S. calls for release of Americans in Iran, denies swap deal

Page 27

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Bodies, debris from missing AirAsia plane pulled from sea off Indonesia

A search and rescue worker prepares to load body bags onto a flight to Kalimantan in Pangkal Pinang, Bangka (Reuters) - Indonesian rescuers searching for an AirAsia plane carrying 162 people pulled bodies and wreckage from the sea off the coast of Borneo on Tuesday, prompting relatives of those on board watching TV footage to break down in tears.

Indonesia AirAsia’s Flight QZ8501, an Airbus A320-200, lost contact with air traffic control early on Sunday during bad weather on a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

The navy initially said 40 bodies had been recovered, although other media later quoted the head of the search and rescue agency, Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo, as saying only three bodies had been retrieved. The plane has yet to be found. “My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ8501,” airline boss Tony Fernandes tweeted. “On behalf of

AirAsia, my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am.”

The airline said in a statement that it was inviting family members to Surabaya, “where a dedicated team of care providers will be assigned to each family to ensure that all of their needs are met”.

Pictures of floating bodies were broadcast on television and relatives of the missing already gathered at a crisis center in Surabaya wept with heads in their hands.

Several people collapsed in grief and were helped away.

Yohannes and his wife were at the center awaiting news of her brother, Herumanto Tanus, and two of his children who were on board the doomed flight.

The Tanus family had been on their way to visit Herumanto’s son, who studies in Singapore and who traveled to Surabaya on Monday after the plane went missing.

“He cries every time he watches the news,” Yohannes said.

The mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, comforted relatives and urged them to be strong.

“They are not ours, they belong to God,” she said.

SEARCHING THROUGH THE NIGHT A navy spokesman said a plane door, oxygen tanks and one body had been recovered

and taken away by helicopter for tests.

“The challenge is waves up to three metres high,” Soelistyo told reporters, adding that the search operation would go on all night. He declined to answer questions on whether any survivors had been found.

About 30 ships and 21 aircraft from Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and the United States have been involved in the search.

The plane, which did not issue a distress signal, disappeared after its pilot failed to get permission to fly higher to avoid bad weather because of heavy air traffic, officials said.

It was traveling at 32,000 feet (9,753 metres) and had asked to fly at 38,000 feet, officials said earlier.

Pilots and aviation experts said thunderstorms, and requests to gain altitude to avoid them, were not unusual in that area.The Indonesian pilot was experienced and the plane last underwent maintenance in mid-November, the airline said.

Online discussion among pilots has centered on unconfirmed secondary radar data from Malaysia that suggested the aircraft was climbing at a speed of 353 knots, about 100 knots too slow, and that it might have stalled.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 29

Dr Laila Mintas: National legislation... GAPF 2015 season to lift off on...

From page 30 online gambling industry worldwide. But what does all this mean for the threat of match manipulation? Not every match worldwide is offered on the international betting market of course.

The bookmakers usually evaluate which matches might be of interest to their customers and provide odds for these matches accordingly. As it needs a betting offer that can be abused in order to earn money illegally through placing a bet on a manipulated game, it can be generally assumed that as soon as a match is offered on the betting market, there is a potential risk for it to be manipulated.

Thus, being offered on the international betting market means that there is lot of interest by the community on the specific game or tournament, but it can also put the game also into the focus of criminals to be targeted for match manipulation.

However, in this context it

should also be noted that betting can have a positive impact on sports as the industry players generate significant sponsorship income - common practice, for example, in Europe. But is the betting industry paying twice?

It usually has to pay out the unjustified winnings to the criminals that fixed games and thereby suffers financial damage. The betting operators might have information that is needed to investigate manipulation cases and that can be shared with football and law enforcement. For these reasons, the betting industry should be understood as a potential partner in the fight against match manipulation.

According to the International Criminal Police Organization INTERPOL, match-fixing has now morphed into a significant business for Organised Crime.

It has become such a lucrative business that the criminals that were involved in crimes like human

trafficking or drug dealing are shifting to match-fixing.

Due to the fact that in some of the low or not regulated betting markets, for instance in Asia, huge stakes can be bet on the outcome of one single game, these observations are not surprising. It has been noted that players, referees and other officials worldwide have been approached by criminals in order to manipulate matches in exchange for monetary benefits. (Inside World Football) To be continued…

Dr. Laila Mintas is Director of Sports Integrity at CONCACAF. A lawyer, she was formerly Head of Legal and International Development for FIFA’s Early Warning System (EWS) in Zurich. She previously practised law at international law firm White & Case LLP, headquarters in New York, and has lectured law at the Humboldt University of Berlin. She is a professor for Sports Law at St. Johns University/ISDE in New York.

Wednesday December 31, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Are you going to be available to other people today? Someone in your entourage may need to confide in you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You have a tendency to want to explain everything that goes on around you, Libra.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may come in contact with someone today with whom you enjoy a highly emotional exchange. You may even fall in love!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Scientists seem to live in a world apart from the rest of us, Sagittarius, and from the events in everyday life, because they're so absorbed in other realities.

It's possible that you're having some ups and downs in your love life at the moment. Someone may be asking you to play another role than you're used to playing in your relationship.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you may get the opportunity to feel proud of yourself. But don't let things get too out of hand.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your consciousness is traveling, and you probably couldn't care less about the details of the events going on around you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Even if you're a good judge of character, Virgo, the people who know you say that you base your opinions on your personal feelings, which often affect your good judgment.

Talking just isn't one of your specialties. Everyone has his/her own role, and yours is to take action and create, not talk about doing it.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You're often like a Zen master who doesn't say anything to pupils for months, until the day the pupils begin to not believe any more and find themselves growing indifferent to the whole thing.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) One of your family members or friends may need to talk to you, and you need to listen attentively to what they have to say.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may have understood lately that it's useless to undertake anything new when you're confused.

From page 33 Sub Juniors, Juniors and the Masters teams will be announced following the conclusion of the January competitions.

Current Guyanese Caribbean Record Holders Women Open category 84+kg weight class Dawn Barker - Squat 240kgs Men Junior category 53kg weight class Gumendra Shewdas - Squat 192.5kg, Bench Press 77.50kg, Deadlift 207.5kg and Total 497.5kg 66kg weight class Vijai Rahim - Squat 250kg, Deadlift 250kg, Total 627.5kg 83kg weight class Anis Ade Thomas - Squat 252.5kg,

Deadlift 292.5kg, Total 672.5kg 105kg weight class Kenneth Melville - Squat 282.5kg, Bench 155kg, Deadlift 257.5kg, Total 695kg Men Open Category 59kg weight class Vijai Rahim - Deadlift 225kg 66kg weight class Vijai Rahim - Squat 250kg, Deadlift 250kg, Total 627.5kg 74kg weight class Osmond Mack - Squat 255kg 74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby - Deadlift 267.5kg Total 645.5kg 83kg weight class Randolph Morgan - Squat 300kg, Bench 220kg, Deadlift 330kg, Total

837.5kg Men Masters One Category 74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby - Squat 255kg, Bench 137.5kg, deadlift 277.5kg Total 670kg 120kg weight class John Edwards - Squat 350kg, bench 220kg, Total 860kg Men Masters two category 74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby - Squat 255kg, Bench 137.5kg, d e a d l i f t 2 7 7 . 5 k g To t a l 670kg 83kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby - Squat 255kg, Bench 137.5kg, deadlift 277.5kg Total 670kg 93kg weight class Errol Henry - Deadlift 242.5kg

Leslie Amsterdam, Carl Moore influenced...

From page 33 ground into one of the better venues in Berbice.

Beharry holds several public portfolios including Chairman of the Albion Lights Committee, serving council of the Regional Democratic Council, Region 6, heading the Health, Youth & Sports Sub Committees and Vice-Chairman of the recently resuscitated Region 6 Road Safety Association.

He claims that the biggest challenge for his Administration is to ensure that cricket is played at all levels. “At present there is a lack of threeday cricket and we need to get three-day cricket back.

I have already written to big prospective sponsors to sponsor the tournament. If I don’t get one sponsor I intend to start a drive by all stakeholders and call it the ‘Friends of the BCB 3-day first division competition” Beharry disclosed.

The new BCB Head plans to work with the Education Ministry to reintroduce school cricket at U-15, U-17 and if possible, add U-13 school cricket. He also hopes to improve relationships between cricket clubs and develop strong discipline among the players.

“I plan to make strong representations for Berbice Umpires and help them to recruit and educate more Umpires.

We have plans to construct our own Board Office and to be more professional in the way we conduct our business. We are hoping that at the completion of the next GCB elections we could have more dialogue with our parent body” Beharry explained.

“Being President never really crossed my mind but I was encouraged to go for it because of my experience in cricket administration and because I was a former player. I want to see Berbice cricket

take off and I want the best people on my team.

“Mr. Moore told me before the elections that he would be supporting Mr. Seubarran because he was the sponsor of the team that Mr. Moore managed.

So I knew that Mr. Moore would have voted for him.

However, as President I am willing to offer Mr. Moore a position on my Board because it does not matter who you

voted for. Once you are the best for any position and would work for the interest of the cricket that’s the important thing,” Beharry, who has Vemen Walter, who also voted against him as his First VicePresident, concluded.

Can Beharry be the man to take Berbice’s cricket forward for the next two years? Only time will tell but he comes to the job well equipped to deliver.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Dr Laila Mintas: National legislation needed in the fight against match manipulation

Dr. Laila Mintas In the first of a regular series of columns on sports law and sports integrity, Dr Laila Mintas, CONCACAF Director of Integrity, examines the scale and threat of match manipulation to football globally, the difficulties encountered in effectively fighting it, and the urgent need for countries to bring in national legislation to battle the organised crime syndicates.

There can be no doubt that corruption in sports, particularly, match manipulation (or ‘matchfixing’ as it is often named) is one of the greatest threats to the integrity of sport competitions worldwide that also have the potential to affect the sporting industry globally. If the outcome of a game is determined before it started, football stands to lose a lot more than just its credibility. Allegations of match-fixing and corruption, have already led to cancellation of sponsor contracts and, longer term, fans will stay away.

When the first initiatives to prevent match manipulation were instituted a few years ago the focus was on raising awareness about the phenomenon. With the increase of match-fixing

scandals worldwide and its adverse impact on the integrity of Football but also on other sports such as Tennis, Snooker, Cricket, Badminton, Volleyball, Horse Racing it is progressively accepted that a multi-faceted approach to match manipulation is essential and that a comprehensive strategy that addresses this challenge successfully must be embraced by all stakeholders in unison, if the game is not to be reduced to a farce.

Manipulation in sports competitions has been in existence since time immemorial – for as long as human beings have challenged each other through sports there has always been attempts to influence the outcome of the competitions. The first cases of sport manipulation go back to antiquity.

However, in the 21st Century it has taken on an aggressive and widespread dynamic with the advent of sophisticated technological developments which has established a new dimension of threat to sports.

Match manipulation and the betting market In general; match manipulation is defined as any act of influencing the course or result of a match in a manner contrary to sporting ethics. Every agreement about the match must be prohibited, irrespective of the purpose. There is a distinction between two different forms of match manipulation depending on the reason for the fix.

One is the sport manipulation that happen because of ‘sporting reasons’ or ‘tactics’. An example in football is the agreement between two teams in order to avoid the relegation of one

team. Usually, no financial exchanges take place between the parties and all persons concerned are subject to the regulations of the football organisations.

Thus, within the autonomy of sports, football organizsations are able and obliged to handle these cases by themselves.

The other, more dangerous match manipulation is the one that is linked to the betting markets. Criminals offer money to persons involved in the sport, for example, players or referees in exchange for influencing the course or result of a match in a certain way and in order to then bet on the agreed outcome and to earn unjustified winnings in the international betting market.

Betting on sports in general and on football in particular has become a significant industry. Apart from ‘pre-match betting’ – where the bet is placed before the football match started, so called ‘live betting’ has become more popular as the bet can be placed while watching the game.

In addition betting is no longer limited to the outcome of football matches, but has now progressed to placing wagers also on single events that occur during a game such as the first yellow card, the number of corner kicks or penalties given during the game or halftime by the referee (often referred to as ‘spot-fixing’).

Since not only the final result of a game can be fixed for betting purposes but also

those ‘small events’ during a game, it is more precise to speak of ‘match manipulation’ instead of the more popular term ‘match-fixing’ as the final outcome of a game might not be influenced.

According to Sportradar AG, the market leading supplier of sports and betting-related data services, it is estimated that a total of $925 billion is bet worldwide every year on various sporting events only by licensed bookmakers.

Of this $925 billion, around $490 billion of turnover is generated by bets placed on football. This amounts to 53% of all global betting activity. These figures reflect football’s dominance as the world’s most popular sport.

It is estimated that around

70% of all sports betting now takes place in the Asian markets. When defining the type of betting transaction, it is very difficult to evaluate the classification of the Asian markets.

This is because bets are mainly placed with credits and paid in cash, and on these grounds the financial transactions usually occur offline, even if bets may be placed online. Further to Sportradar, online betting accounts for approximately 35% of global betting turnover, excluding the Asian markets.

However, it is estimated that the ratio of online/offline betting will move closer to 50/ 50 in the next 10 years due to the continued growth of the Continued on page 29

JFF could benefit from FIFA US$1.3-m Christmas bonus

...But Burrell cautions not all member associations may be eligible Jamaica Observer President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell says a Christmas bonus from world governing body FIFA will go a “far way” in funding the country’s programmes in 2015.

But he cautioned that members have to meet FIFA’s requirements to become eligible for the lucrative payout.

Recently, FIFA announced that one-off financial contributions of US$1.05 million will be made next year to each of its 209 eligible member associations.

In addition to the first US$250,000 bonus already made available, it means that each association could be given as much as US$1.3 million of one-off payments over the 18 months from June 2015. The overall FIFA bill for this comes to US$271.7 million.

“Like all the national associations around the world, any funding that comes in is really going to be appreciated because we have nine national teams now: men and women participating in the various projects and various competitions and so on and it takes money. Even if we get a million [dollars] that will not be enough, but it would certainly go a far way,” he told the Jamaica Observer Monday.

The JFF president did not

confirm how much funding Jamaica would be entitled to, as according to him, there are criteria set by FIFA which have to be met by member nations.

“We know that there are some incentives coming, but in terms of quantum and how it will be dispersed...we have not yet been notified in that regard. They are not going to just give it out like that. There are projects which should be identified and this is how the system works. The finer details have not been announced and we have to bear in mind that there are requirements.

“I am sure some national associations might not be eligible... like if their financial audit is not up-to-date, and many national associations do not have their audit accounts up-to-date, so it is all these things,” Burrell said.

Using a “very busy” 2014 as a benchmark, Burrell estimated that the minimum budget for Jamaica’s 2015 programme should stand at US$5 million (about J$600 million). “We would want to look at 2014, which was a very busy year for us and we would need, I would think, no less that $5 million to adequately fund our programmes in 2015. We have Gold Cup, we have the Copa America and we have World Cup qualifiers.”

The local football boss urged sponsors to buy into

Jérôme Valcke the various national programmes.

“We still have a very far way to go and I’m using the opportunity to ask corporate Jamaica for their help because football is certainly a tool to market their products,” Burrell said.

In a letter to FIFA members, Jérôme Valcke, the secretary general, confirmed that FIFA members would receive an “additional bonus” of US$500,000, “in connection with the final financial results of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil”. This would be in addition to a US$300,000 payment to those participating in 2018 World Cup qualifiers which was first alluded to following a recent FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Marrakech, Morocco.

“Consequently and in summary,” Valcke wrote, “this means that in 2015, each

member association will be entitled to receive US$1,050,000: US$250,000 for the 2015 Financial Assistance Programme (FAP); US$500,000 as a one-off financial bonus; and US$300,000 as support for the preparation of and participation in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.”

With reserves of some US$1.4 billion, the organisation has the capacity to afford a period in which expenses outstrip revenues.

It is also possible that FIFA has generated enough extra revenue in 2014 and 2015 to allow these payments to be made while remaining in surplus. However, with a single quadrennial event — the World Cup — still accounting for the vast majority of the organisation’s income, retention of a significant reserve is plainly desirable.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Kaieteur News

Australia v India: MS Dhoni secures Test draw but loses series

Steven Smith leads his team off, Australia v India, 3rd Test, Melbourne, 5th day, December 30, 2014. © Getty Images Australia drew the third Test against India to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

The home side declared on 318-9 at lunch on the final day, setting India 384 to win in 70 overs.

Virat Kohli (54) and Ajinkya Rahane (48) led India’s resistance after they lost three wickets for 19 runs.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin then survived a nervous final hour to push India to safety, as they closed on 174-6.

Australia resumed their second innings on 261-7 and had been expected to bat aggressively to add runs quickly before declaring, but Shaun Marsh and Ryan Harris

took their time in a 69-run partnership, also knowing a draw would be enough for Australia to clinch the series.

Marsh was run out for 99 shortly before lunch as he attempted a rash single to bring up his first Test century on home soil.

After the break, Harris struck with the second ball of the second over to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan for a duck before Lokesh Rahul continued his forgettable Test debut by falling for one to a Mitchell Johnson short ball, following his three in the first innings.

Josh Hazlewood then claimed his first Test dismissal of the Test, trapping opener Murali Vijay lbw for 11 to leave India 19-3 after 8.2

overs. But Kohli and Rahane steadied the innings to leave Australia needing seven wickets in the final session.

Kohli fell to the first ball after the tea break, caught at backward square leg, before Chetshewar Pujara was bowled by Johnson for 21 while Rahane was caught at mid-wicket off Hazlewood, to leave India on 142-6 with 15 overs remaining.

However, Dhoni, who announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket after the match, and Ashwin saw off 11 of the overs before a draw was mutually agreed with four overs remaining. The result sees Australia regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

(BBCsport)

Page 31

It’s crunch time as Alpha and the GDF battle for top spot

By Michael Benjamin Over the past few weeks, football buffs have witnessed several exciting matches when the nation’s top teams engaged in several action packed affairs, each nurturing ambitions of clinching the ‘Holy Grail’ in the 4th Annual GFA/Banks Cup Round Robin Knockout tournament.

Now, the weeds have been separated from the crops, football lovers are licking their lips in anticipation of a potential thriller as Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United prepares to throw down the gauntlet on the Guyana Defense Force and even before that, Pele and Western Tigers will set the pace in the third place playoff at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence tomorrow evening.

Alpha United’s domination of the tournament has propelled it to the top of Group ‘A’ after crushing victories over Blackwater (170), Northern Rangers (16-0), the Guyana Police Force (20), GFC (3-0) and eventually Western Tigers, 3-1; the lone goal they had conceded in the tournament. Fans had already visualized Alpha eventually progressing to the finals but they had predicted a showdown with Pele in the New Years Day clash.

This was not to be as the soldiers fought like tigers to end regulation time at a 3-3 stalemate before pulling the rug from under Pele’s foot with a 3-2 win from the penalty spot.

Obviously, the two most

Selwyn Isaacs

Travis Grant

deserving teams will face off for top honours and one should not rule out any of those teams simply by their earlier performances. The soldiers will obviously bank on their most experienced quartet in Selwyn Isaacs, Delroy Fraser, Eusi Phillips and William Europe.

They will also feel that they may have a psychological advantage after defeating ‘The Hammers’ 2-1 in the quarter finals (of this very tournament) last year. We tried to contact the GDF coach, Denzil Thompson for his thoughts but his phone repeatedly went to voice mail.

Coach of the Alpha unit Wayne Dover, remains unperturbed and though exuding confidence of winning the game, shied away from a prediction.

“The game of football is

won on the field and I am confident that the guys will implement and execute the game plan,” he said.

Dover reminded of his team’s ability and said that they had won the inaugural tournament after defeating Fruta Conquerors 1-0 to take the honours in the inaugural championships.

The ‘Hammers’ had then forfeited their chances at replicating the first year’s feat after pulling out of the 2nd edition of the championship due to a controversial scenario.

Nevertheless, those players will certainly remember the 2-1 loss at the hands of the soldiers in the quarter finals last year.

The fact that the soldiers are on top of their game coupled with this psychological factor may inspire their confidence to a victory. This is a clash between two strong teams and one thing is for sure, the winner will have to dig pretty deep to clinch the accolade.

T h e We s t e r n Ti g e r s and Pele shindig should provide the palate pleaser for the main course and the former team will bank on the skills of Phillip Rowley, J o s h u a Britton, Marvin Joseph and Randolph Wagner; all have been consistent performers during the tournament and much is expected of them. Konata Manning is back on the Pele team after playing club football in the USA. He will receive support from two other front men in Calvin Shepherd and Deon Alfred in their quest to topple the Tigers.

The stage has been set; the players are ready to deliver the goods. It’s now lights on and camera running and tomorrow night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence it will be action as four teams take to the field, all with ambitions of winning.

Dhoni retires from Test cricket MS Dhoni has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect following the drawn Test against Australia in Melbourne. Virat Kohli will take over as India captain for the final Test of the series, which India have already lost, in Sydney.

Dhoni was batting on 24 when the Test was called off early at the MCG - four overs were left and India had four wickets in hand - and he made no mention of his retirement during the customary captain’s press conference at the end of the match. The announcement was made via a BCCI press release shortly after and it cited “the strain of playing all formats” as the reason. “One of India’s greatest Test captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the test rankings, MS Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test

cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket,” the board said. “BCCI, while respecting the decision of MS Dhoni to retire from Test cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India. Virat Kohli will be the captain of the Indian team for the fourth and final Test against Australia to be played in Sydney.”

In recent months Dhoni suffered from fitness issues, missing five ODIs against Sri Lanka in November because of a hand injury, which also sidelined him from the first Test against Australia in Adelaide. In addition to the pressure of leading India in all three formats, and the Chennai Super Kings franchise, for six years Dhoni has also had to play an extraordinary amount of

matches. Since the start of 2008 - taking into account international matches across formats, IPL and Champions League T20 games - Dhoni has played 398 matches, the most for any cricket during this period. Suresh Raina is second with 369 games.

Though Dhoni’s place in India’s Test side has not been under question, his batting form took a dip in 2014 and he averaged only 33 in 17 innings this year. His wicketkeeping has also deteriorated, in particular his ability to move laterally to take testing catches. India’s overseas results have also suffered under Dhoni’s leadership in recent years.

Since 2011, they have won only two out of 22 away Tests and lost 13.

Dhoni, however, is India’s most successful captain, having presided over 27 wins

MS Dhoni captained in 60 Tests, easily the most for a wicketkeeper. © Getty Images in his 60-Test tenure, which began in 2008. His first Test as captain was against South Africa in Kanpur in April that year, because of an injury to regular captain Anil Kumble, and he took over full time after Kumble retired following the Delhi Test against Australia in October. Dhoni led India to the No. 1 Test ranking in 2009, a position

they enjoyed until the tour of England in 2011.

Overall, Dhoni played 90 Tests in a career that began in 2005 and scored 4876 runs at an average of 38, with a high score of 224 against Australia in Chennai in 2013.

As a wicketkeeper, he effected 294 dismissals, the fifth highest in Test cricket.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Vitamalt / Aqua Mist sponsored WDFA KO Cup

Four top finishers receive prizes Representatives of the four top finishers of the just concluded Vitamalt / Aqua Mist sponsored West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Knockout Cup received their prizes, during a simple ceremony that was conducted in the boardroom of main sponsor Banks DIH yesterday.

Also in attendance at the occasion were President of the WDFA Nigel Garraway, Aqua Mist Brand Manager Errol Nelson, Malts Brand Manager Clayton McKenzie, Vice-President of the WDFA Christine Smith and Communications Manager Troy Peters.

Garraway in his remarks first thanked the Management and Staff of Banks DIH for partnering with the WDFA through the two brands, before extending the same accolade to the teams, fans,

other sponsors and the media.

He then gave a brief overview of the tournament, adding that it was well run and even thanked the Executive of the Association for not only putting together the event, but also ensuring that it was run with the professionalism that every sponsor and fan love to be associated with.

He then spoke of the support offered by the Guyana Police Force and extended thanks to the entity, while also informing that the tournament was played in memory of the late Assistant Commissioner Derek Josiah and whose family, including his wife and children were consistently present at the matches.

Nelson, who addressed the small gathering after, expressed similar sentiments to that of Garraway, singling

out the fans as the main reason for the tournament’s success. He made special mention of the winner Slingerz FC, but also took the time to congratulate all the other teams for adding to the success of the competition.

Nelson praised the Organisers for ensuring that the tournament was well run.

McKenzie said the tournament was an energyfilled one which was supported and embraced by all the fans that turned out to cheer their respective teams.

He reminded that the event had energy similar to that of the product which it was sponsored under that of the Vitamalt Plus which provides vigor and vitality for both players and fans. It was also mentioned that individual prizes were given to the Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper and Highest Goal scorers.

TNT take Wiltshire Dominoes title

The victorious TNT team TNT tallied 41 games to capture the Mark Wiltshire four-game dominoes title when the final was contested on Sunday last at R and R

Sports Club, Meadowbrook.

Mix Up took the runner spot with 32 games while Sparton who drew the bye to the final, placed third two games back.

Shawn Morgan and Ryan Boodhoo scored 11 and 10 games respectively for the winners while Mark Wiltshire made 11 and Clarence Whitehead 10 for the runner up team. Sparton’s leading players were Kanhai Samaroo who scored 10 and Leroy Edwards eight.

Meanwhile, Mix Up chalked up 41 games to win the semi final encounter which was contested on Boxing Day at Strikers Sports Club.

TNT finished second on 35 ahead of OPKO with 29.

Gilbert Mendonca scored 10 games and Rawl Peters eight for Mix Up while Trevor Smith and Sean Morgan registered 11 and 10 in that order for TNT. TNT pocketed $60,000 while Mix Up took home $20,000.

Wednesday December 31, 2014

Lil’ Rick and Skinny Fabulous to headline after football show Stag Super XV1 Finals

Football fans and players attending tomorrow’s final of the inaugural Stag Super XV1 knock-out competition at the #5 ground West Coast Berbice are in for a treat after the on field action ends in the championship match between Grove Hi Tech and Ann’s Grove.

Ansa McAl through its stag brand known throughout the Caribbean has ensured that fans will kick off the New Year in true Caribbean style and has engaged the talent of Caribbean artistes Lil’ Rick and Skinny Fabulous for a massive after football show.

Ricky Reid aka Lil’ Rick, a Barbadian by birth is best known for his “wuk up” performance, a Bajan term used to describe his enviable pelvic gyration.

He has undisputedly earned himself the infamous title as the “Hypa Dawg.”

Guaranteeing his fans non-stop hype from the moment he enters the stage, they watch in awe as he commands crowds of screaming fans to attempt his well choreographed movements.

Gamal Doyle aka Skinny Fabulous is the unmistakably energetic Soca artiste from St. Vincent & the Grenadines, better known as Skinny Fabulous.

This talented and versatile artist demonstrates his quick wit and the capacity to mesmerize the crowd while he is on stage. Always willing to push the boundaries of Caribbean music, Skinny Fabulous has a style that falls somewhere between soca and dancehall.

These two sons of the Caribbean will add the final touch to what is anticipated to be an enthralling evening

of football which will bring the curtains down on two weeks of exciting rivalry between sixteen teams drawn from the Berbice, East Demerara and East Bank Football Associations which collaborated with Ansa McAl for this tournament.

Emerging as the finalists are East Bank’s Grove Hi Tech and East Demerara’s Ann’s Grove.

They defeated their Berbice opponents in their respective semi finals at the Buxton ground on December 28 last, New Amsterdam United and Cougars. At stake is a top prize of 1.5 million dollars with the loser receiving $500,000.

The two semi final losers will play the third place game tomorrow from 18:00hrs with the winner set to pocket $300,000 and the loser, $100,000.

Banks DIH, Trophy Stall lead support for Rising Sun New Year’s Day horserace Meet

By Samuel Whyte The final race for the 2014 horse racing season is set for the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast, Berbice.

The date is Thursday 1st January 2015, tomorrow. With horseracing having a busy year in 2014, all the top horses will be hoping to put in a good showing to end the season with a bang.

Seven races are carded for the day with close to $8M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for the taking.

Preparation works have been completed at the venue.

Sprucing up work was done on both the grand stand and the other stand.

The toilet facilities were also given a face lift and the track is in the best of conditions.

The list of sponsors is led by Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited, Trophy Stall Bourda Market, Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service, Shariff Business Enterprise and Racing Stable, Poonai’s Pharmacy, Chester Fry of Bush Lot West Coast Berbice, Hablaw Meat Centre and Businessman Rohan Oudit.

The feature event on the programme is the D class race, while there is an event for Three year old Guyana and West Indies bred and E class horses, one for G1and lower horses and another for two year old Guyana and West Indies animals.

The feature B class event will once again see the top

Over $8M up for grabs runners battle for championship honours with prize monies tagged at close to $3M with a first prize of $1M and the Banks DIH Trophy over one mile.

All the top runners in Guyana have been lined up to take part with Guyana Cup Champion CP Got Even, expected to get stiff competition from the inform Treacle, Guyana Cup Rematch champion Curfew Tower, Princess She Not, Grande De Roja, Run Nana Run, Jack Is My Style, Rock Movie Star and the newly imported Tis a Holiday from The Elcock stable.

With the much talked about three year old event for horses bred and Born in Guyana and the West Indies now being combined with the E and Lower, another exciting contest is promised.

Any one of the horses can run away with victory for the $500,000 winner’s money and trophy.

With the likes of Spit Fire, Just call Me Boss, Unsettled, Releases the Beast, Swing Easy, Settle In Seattle, Rosetta and It’s My Turn in one event it definitely promises to be a cliff hanger.

The G1 and lower showdown has the likes of Appealing Harvest, Cassie and Damascus Dream set to go over 5 furlongs.

There is an event for G3 maiden and H and lower winners which is expected to see the continued battle

between Easy To Win and Mary Ann, but they will have to first get past horses such as Red Cloud, Super Bowl, Sent From Above in the 5 furlongs event.

The race for two year Guyana and the West Indies bred horses will see horses including Its My Choice, Midnight Blue, Lock Song, Miss Lova Lova, Atlantic Storm, Settling Star and Shooting Star competing over 6 furlongs.

There are two J class events, one for J3 animals and the other for J1 horses.

Both races are 5 furlong events.

A number of racehorses have lined up to compete including Sunny Silence, Royal Stallion, Smarty Light, Royal Intention, Magnum and Red Jet. Ramesh Sunich proprietor of Trophy Stall of Bourda Market will once again be providing awards for the top individual performers including the top jockey, trainer and stables.

The Race will be held under the rules of the Rising Sun Turf Club and bugle time is 13:00 hrs.

For further information persons can contact Fazal Habibulla at Chester Fry Bush Lot West Coast Berbice on Tel No 232-0232 or 6577010, Inshanally H a b i b u l l a or Donald or Zaleena Lawrie on telephone no 225-4530, 225-4565 and Dennis DeRoop on 609-9143.