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December 30, 2012

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

Police to split interior Division with two separate Commanders

Sabrina Budhram

US$2M “Avinash Theatre” Entertainment Complex opens

Guyana/China sign $1B agreement for

A postman and a pastor…

developmental projects Charges recommended Franklyn Baynes is in Pomeroon boat tragedy a 'Special Person’

Page 02

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

US$2M “Avinash Theatre” Entertainment Complex opens

T

he landscape of Wa t e r S t r e e t , Georgetown has been transformed as the new US$2M Avinash Entertainment Complex was formally opened yesterday.

Upon eventual c o m p l e t i o n i n approximately two years' time the Panday family members, who are the proprietors, would have spent US$4M on the multicomplex.

The 'Magic of Movie' theatres will show movies 50 times bigger than the screen at home, and there will be 300-plus seats for patrons who want to use the theater and another drive through theater that caters for 130 vehicles.

“Guyanese can now A section of the seating facility in the theatre

enjoy the long missed cinemas, which were enjoyed by the older parents and siblings, almost two decades ago. It will be a new experience for many Guyanese to look at a show seeing the actors twenty times larger than life,” Proprietor Malcolm Panday said.

“The state of the art theatre is comfortable, air conditioned and equipped with all the modern technologies one can have in other developed countries.

These include a top of the line surround system.”

Admission will be $500 for adults and $300 for children. The two cinemas located in the Panday's shopping mall currently under construction, are

located at Lots A & B Water Street, Georgetown.

Panday said that in the making is also a theatre to screen three-dimensional movies (3D), two drive-in cinemas, restaurant, bowling alley, disco, pool tables and other recreational areas, all coming within the next six months. There will also be a staging area for local artistes to perform and entertain patrons. In addition, he said there will also be a food court and a semi playground for children to enjoy themselves.

The drive in theater also has a pavilion seating area for persons who don't want to be seated in their car.

Adding that the old wharf that was once behind the present building will also

Some of the movie items on display that are to be shown.

be transformed into an entertainment zone, he said that plans are afoot to have jet skis and other items to utilize the waterfront area.

“One can enjoy drive-in cinema movies which can be viewed from a massive pavilion where one can enjoy a meal and look at a movie, while bringing the international theatre concept to Guyana…You can go on Facebook on “Avinash Theaters” to view trailers of the movies showing and show times,” Panday noted.

The brainchild behind the complex, Harry Panday, said that although many may have security as a priority at the complex, there is no need to fear anything since there will be private security for the entire area and since from doing business in the area for over 30 years, the family has found that the

issue of crime is overrated in the zone.

“There are even patrols in the Water Street area constantly.

There has never been any major catastrophe in the area…Even if persons come and park their car in the area they won't have to worry that their cars will be breached and things will be removed since there is an entire 60,000 square feet parking lot factored into the entertainment complex.”

The businessmen also noted that Government should also place street lights in the area since the business zone is being developed.

The theaters will be opened from 15:00hrs for the family period of movies while the action packed and mature movies will be shown after 20: 00hrs.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Food for thought

Beginning A New Year Three farmers gathered to evaluate and share their experiences from the previous year. Each had a square meter of land on which they farmed. At the end of the meeting, the first farmer said, “The situation was very hard and it will be much worse for the new year.”

The second replied, “You are certainly right. As a matter of fact, after working very hard the whole year, from sunrise to sunset, I only gained 1% profit after all expenses.”

Calculating his own numbers, the first farmer replied, “I believe that my total profit is exactly the same as yours, which is 1%.”

The two of them looked at the third farmer and asked, “How much profit did you make during last year?”

The third farmer kindly replied, “Gentleman, with all due respect, I obtained a 5% profit during last year.”

That was followed by a long silence...

“How come? 5% profit?? That is impossible!!!!

How did you do that???”

“Very easy and simple math,” said the third farmer. “I made the very same 1% profit as you did. ... plus 4% that represents the immense pleasure to be able to enjoy this view, milk my cows and enjoy the most of my farm. That gives me 5% total profit.”

Kaieteur News

Page 03

Police to split interior Division with two separate Commanders

A

fter long and c a r e f u l deliberations, the Guyana Police Force is finally contemplating a return to the pre- 1992 position by splitting the large interior division into two separate divisions.

Senior sources in the force have said that instead of the one E&F Division, there will now be two separate divisions headed by two separate Commanders.

For quite a while it was argued that the current E&F Division, which covers Region One, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten, was too large to be effectively controlled by one Commander, whose office is located at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

Under the proposed new structure, E Division will now encompass, Linden, Kwakwani and other parts of R e g i o n Te n w i t h t h e Commander being based at Linden.

The F Division will cover the other interior locations including Regions One, Sections of Region

Seven, Region Eight and Region Nine.

This newspaper was informed that Senior Superintendent of Police, Owen Trotz, will head the Region Ten ‘E’ Division, while Senior Superintendent Ramsey is touted to be the Commander of ‘F’ Division and will be operating from Georgetown.

The current Commander of the Interior Division, Assistant Commissioner Gavin Primo, will be retiring soon.

The move to split the division into two is not new, as they were only merged as one in 1992.

Meanwhile, a major reshuffle of the other Commander positions is imminent with word circulating that there will soon be new commanders of the Force’s main divisions.

According to reliable sources, Assistant Commissioner Balram Persaud will be posted to head the Force’s Administrative section, a post that will be vacated by the retiring Assistant

Commissioner Clare Jarvis.

His post as the head of the Police Operations will be taken by Assistant C o m m i s s i o n e r G e o rg e Vyphuis, who will be replaced as Commander of ‘A’ Division by Derrick Josiah.

J o s i a h ’s p o s t a s Commander of ‘B’ Division will be filled by Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph, who will be replaced as

Traffic Chief by Senior Superintendent Dale Alves, the current Commander of the Essequibo Coast Division.

These new moves are expected to be effected early in the New Year.

And it comes at a time when Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee is expected to outline improved strategies to deal with the country’s security sector.

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial Politicians and Civility The opposition parties have promised to up the ante during the coming year in their efforts to challenge the government in the ‘new dispensation’.

With a raft of measures in store for us – ranging from street protests to picketing exercises (with “educating” civil society thrown in for good measure)and parliamentary shouting matches – it might now be as good a time as any to remind one and all about the value of “civility” in a functioning democracy.

A while back, in our editorial “Civility”, we pointed out that while most persons believe that civility has to do with politeness or good manners, in truth the value goes much deeper. There are actually three facets to civility: civility as respect for others, civility as public behaviour and civility as self-regulation.

If in a democratic polity we are all supposed to be equal – at least before the law – then we have to respect the right of others to hold opinions that may differ from our own: we must respect, and even protect their right to differ from us.

Today there is an element of sententiousness and dogmatism creeping into public discourse, especially from some elements in the media. This is especially troubling: let us remind ourselves of our duty of civility as respect for others.

In the stricture of civility as public behaviour, we are asked to go beyond the normal habits of courtesy imparted among members of a family or community. Concern shown to friends and family may arise from empathy or love, and it is likely to be strengthened by the certainty that we shall have to mix with them again in the future.

Civility towards strangers, however, requires that we behave in certain ways towards people who may mean nothing to us, and whom we are unlikely ever to encounter again.

This facet of civility is most crucial in a divided polity as ours. We must bear in our minds at all times that when all is said and done, we will still have to live with each other in this land called Guyana. We cannot return to the days of hurling invectives at each other even as we pursue courses of action that may be opposed to each other. We have to agree to disagree.

The final element of civility is what one expert calls ‘sacrifice’, or what we might more mundanely refer to as “self-regulation”. Civility involves trimming one’s immediate self-interest—to desist from doing what would most please us for the sake of cordial relations with strangers. Civility means doing the right thing.

In a holistic sense, then, civility is behaviour in public which expresses respect for others and which requires restraining one’s own immediate self-interest when appropriate. Would we not all agree that this quality is very much needed in our society to begin the process of forming “one people”?

We especially commend this “self-regulative” aspect of civility to our politicians in this climate of recriminations and accusations that is being created. We have to look at the big picture and decide on what type of Guyana we wish to create.

We cannot on one hand talk about building peace and trust and then turn around and engage in activities that create just the opposite.

Stridency and exaggerations must especially be abjured in the immediate future.

There is no question that different individuals will always want and desire different and possibly incompatible things, and their unbridled pursuit of their own objectives will unavoidably lead them into conflict.

This raises the question as to how (as well as how far) individual liberties are to be constrained. Ultimately, this will either be achieved by the state apparatus, or through enlightened self-regulation.

As Edmund Burke recognised back in 1791: ‘Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their own disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites.”

We call upon those who would educate “civil society” to first educate themselves in the value of civility in the construction of a democratic polity.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Spare a thought for the residents of Mocha Acradia DEAR EDITOR, This afternoon (Thursday) I had the pleasure for the first time of travelling on the road which is south of the National Stadium and parallel to the Mocha Access Road. This happened when the mini-bus driver, apparently on the spur of the moment, decided that in order to get to Mocha more easily, he could use that route instead of proceeding to the Mocha Access Road, which is currently under reconstruction because it is in a terrible state. I then wondered why the authorities and decisionmakers and advisers and senior public servants did not think of making this road

(south of the Stadium) an alternative route for the residents with light vehicles of Mocha-Arcadia to travel from the community to the East Bank Public Road during the period of road reconstruction.

Over the past two years Mocha residents had to engage in ‘self-help’ work in patching the Mocha Access Road with builders waste, in collecting donations from vehicle drivers to buy a bag of cement to help to fill the pot-holes, in approaching the Ministry of Works Road Engineers to effect some urgent repairs, and finally in taking PROTEST ACTION by blocking traffic on the road when the situation was over-

bearing. This led to intervention by the Police.

The poor condition of the road has taken a toll on vehicles, since we spend more on spare parts, there is more down-time for minibuses with more inconvenience for commuters. Add to this the need to wash vehicles on a daily basis, as if you have been travelling to the Interior.

Add to this the possibility of failing a fitness test for the vehicle, because of brake problems, or because of more quickly developing smooth tires, due to poor road surface. Add to this the increased time taken to traverse the road now under reconstruction. The dice are

loaded in the favour of the State.

All of this unpleasantness and inconvenience and bad blood could have been avoided, if some thought had been given to providing an alternative route for the Mocha residents by way of the road south of the Stadium. This would have been more cost-effective in more than one sense. It is so obvious!

Is nobody thinking? Was no thought given to alleviating the difficulties for the commuting residents of MochaArcadia? Is this deliberate?

Walter B. Alexander Retired Deputy Permanent Secretary

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox GCB Executives are in contempt of court DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Fenton Ramsahoye’s ‘opinion’ published in the media as a paid advertisement is exactly what the title conveys – an opinion, his.

That opinion is at odds with those of other legal luminaries.

It is a presumptuous and somewhat disrespectful as Chief Justice Acting Ian Chang, on 5th December 2012, had summoned the lawyer involved in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) matter and reminded them that the injunction against the GCB Executives Members was still in force.

Consequently, the Law firm of Fraser, Husty and Yearwood issued its considered opinion that, by continuing to holding themselves out as the GCB Executives, those persons had breach the injunction and amounted to contempt of court (letter attached).

Mr. Ramsahoye’s advice made public, for the respondents (the illegal GCB Executives) to ‘strongly resist the order made against them’ constitutes a blatant disregard for the law since the Chief Justice Acting is the authority and whether

anyone agrees or disagrees with his ruling, that ruling must be respected by all parties. Mr. Ramsahoye is therefore showing some amount of contempt for the very law he is expected to uphold.

It is interesting that the Law firm Satram and Satram should seek to engage the services of Mr. Ramsahoye for the interpretation of the explicit ruling made by the Chief Justice Acting. Perhaps the intention was to have a big name associated with the opinion.

Both the opinion and its publication would have cost tidy sums. It is totally unacceptable for the illegal GCB Executives to continue to utilize large sums of GCB money to finance engaging the services of an array of lawyers including Mr. Fenton Ramsahoye, Mr. K. A. JumanYassin, Mr. Roysdale Ford, Mr. Sanjeev Dattadin and Messrs Satram and Satram.

Those monies were expected to be spent to develop cricket at all levels i n c l u d i ng youth development at the schools.

We once again call on the Government of Guyana to defend the law by moving for

contempt against the following persons who continue to hold themselves out as officers and Executives Members of the GCB: Ramsey Ali, Fizul Bacchus, Alfred Mentore, Anand Sanasie, Dru Bahadur, Anand Kalladeen, Colin Europe, Terrence Holder, Rayon Griffith, Nazimul Drepaul, Troy Mendonca Chetram Singh and Lionel Jaikarran.

Finally a process has begun where a Guyana Cricket Administration has been presented to Parliament pursuant to ending the impasse in Guyana Cricket.

Because Parliament is representative of the people of Guyana, Cricket Stakeholders throughout the country have accepted and supported this important process. Sadly however, the illegal GCB Executives have once again exhibited great disrespect by rejecting the Parliamentary process and attempting to hold unconstitutional elections.

It is high time for this dishonourable group to face the consequences of their reprehensible actions.

National Cricket Stakeholders Group

In many cases the ‘lovely lasses’ in the pubs were also subject to sexual harassment DEAR EDITOR It is good to know that the BPG team does not intend to create a misogynistic atmosphere in their traditional pub with “lovely lasses dressed as wenches” and that their references to ‘Lovely lasses dressed as wenches’ was not meant to be derogatory to those women who will be part of their traditional pub fantasy which they will bringing for Guyanese. (Letter by Mr. Avinash Persaud in Kaieteur News of 28 December, 2012) Some people like to romanticize ‘tradition’. It is no secret that the traditional British pub was not meant to be a space for women. In many cases the ‘lovely lasses’ which served were also subject to sexual harassment or meant to provide sexual services to the male clients.

(Patriarchy and Pub Culture, Valerie Hey, 1986 explores this culture).

It is necessary to talk also of the troubles faced by many women (wives and mothers) in that traditional pub culture.

This story about

Frederick Charington’s experience with one family in a pub might ring true to many of the narratives around our alcohol traditions in Guyana.

(Anthony Pantlitz’s letter in the 28 December edition of Kaieteur News reflects on this culture).

Charrington was heir to one of London’s largest breweries. He converted to Christianity. He wrote about an experience he had in 1870 :- “One day, passing the “Rising Sun” at the corner of a little street in the East End, I saw a poor woman with her little children dragging at her skirt, go to the public house.

She looked in and called to her husband, “Oh Tom, To m d o g i v e u s s o m e money, the children are crying for bread”.

The man looked at her, and his only reply was to rush out and knock her and the children down into the gutter.

Just then I looked up and saw

my own name “CHARRINGTON” in huge gilt letters on the top of the public house. I said to myself, “How can I say anything to that man seei n g I a m responsible for their misery”. When he knocked down his wife, He knocked me out of the Liquor Traffic.

It suddenly flashed into my mind that this was only one case of the dreadful misery and brutality, in one of hundreds of public houses that our firm possessed.

The BGP team might want to decide how they will ensure that their traditional pub will offer a different woman-friendly and family-friendly experience from the one offered by the hundreds of pubs which Frederick C h a r r i n g t o n ’s family owned.

Vidyaratha Kissoon

For the best rates, call us on 592225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491

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Kaieteur M@ilbox Mr. Adams was merely calling for an end to political interference DEAR EDITOR, Once again I have noticed a missive written by Mac Mahase attempting to respond to clarifications provided by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission on one of his previous letter to misinform the public and create a sense of instability in the regulation of the mining sector.

Mahase bases his letter on one written by Terrence Adams on November 27 in the SN. He continues to misrepresent Mr. Adams’ letter as part of his own agenda either by omission or design to serve his own purpose.

I would therefore like to q u o t e a s e c t i o n o f M r.

Adams’ letter “some miners were caught working illegally; having approached GGMC and received no satisfaction

they had the audacity to approach APNU for assistance. The party, not understanding the issue, sought the intervention of the Minister, who asked the GGMC to investigate once again. Of course since these miners are blatantly in breach of the law, this could not have been done so easily, so still being dissatisfied, these miners have now approached another political party, the AFC. The Association (GGDMA) submits that this nonsense of trying to justify illegal mining through political interference must stop, and it can be done by GGMC taking condign action against illegal miners in accordance with the mining laws leaving them no alternative but to approach a lawyer and not

a politician.”

Mr. Adams in his letter was merely calling for an end to the political interference

by APNU and the AFC hindering the subject Ministry and the GGMC from effectively address the issue of illegal mining and raiding. I am of the belief that this was the basis under which Mr. Adams wrote that letter which was published November 27 in the SN. With this said, I would like Mr. Terrence Adams of the GGDMA to clarify the st a t e m e n t s w h i c h w e r e made in his letter and which are being continuously misrepresented by Mac Mahase and used to spread misinformation and bring disrepute to the mining sector.

Ganesh Singh

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Police vow to keep the season relatively peaceful Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell, and his Crime Chief, Seelall Persaud, have come in for high praise for the way the Police Force has been so far able to keep a lid on violent criminal through the festive season.

For the first time in years the police can boast that their plan to protect the citizenry from criminal activity during the Christmas season worked almost to perfection.

Apart from a few robberies under arms and one violent murder, there is a lot that the police can claim credit for with the way the security arrangements worked.

“He (Brumell) has allowed his officers to map out their plans and strategies without micro managing things. We were able to put our plans into action, while he gave us the necessary support without much interference. He has done extremely well in tough circumstances,” the senior

Police booths such as this one were set up in several parts of the city to support the several mobile patrol units.

Police Commissioner (ag) Leroy Brumell

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud

police officer told this newspaper.

Many would have thought that with the gunning down of Plaisance shopkeeper, Derrick ‘Backatoo’ Cox two days before Christmas, the police would have been hard pressed to control criminal activity.

However, not only have they managed to curtail copycat actions, but they were also able to apprehend the main suspects in the crime.

Also over the Christmas holidays, the police, thanks to quick response, were able to lay up at least two criminal suspects following robbery attempts on citizens in the city.

The only other major incident over the Christmas period was the disappearance of Guyana Energy Agency employee, Levoy Taljit.

There were a few major armed robberies so far and the police have assured that they will maintain their vigilance,

with the assistance of public spirited persons to keep violent crimes down.

“We cannot prevent all the murders, like the one that happened in berbice,” a senior police official told Kaieteur News.

“But we can certainly try to keep a lid on the violent crimes,” he added.

He credited the relative success of the police to proper planning-analysing crime trends and reports and

properly deploying the necessary manpower to certain areas.

“The Crime Chief and his team have done their fair share in the process too. The crime chief in his year end presentation had identified analyzing crime trends as one of the major keys to fighting criminal activity,” a top CID official said.

In terms of traffic, it would appear that the designated driver syndrome was actively

invoked.

But while many are heaping praise on the police, others are crediting the situation to the vigilance of the citizens.

Then there is the argument that the police had effectively placed some of the troublemakers behind bars for the season.

Whichever way it is looked at, it all made for a relatively peaceful festive season so far.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

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71 graduate from President Barack Obama’s SKYE Caribbean Basin Security initiative

By Samuel Whyte A number of organizations, some new and some not so new, are coming forward to offer skills development and training that will enable early school leavers and school drop outs, single parents and even truants, to be able to get a second chance.

The programme is helping young people to educate themselves and be prepared for the world of work.

One such organisation is the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) Project. SKYE is a project unit that is funded by the United States through USAID as a core component of US President Barack Obama’s Caribbean Basin Security Initiative partnership which is funding six weeks training programme throughout Guyana.

So far 71 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years old, have completed the programme. They graduated with some of the requisite skills from the “Work Readiness “ training programme and are in a position to find meaningful jobs for the first time in their lives.

Recently, a batch of 38 persons who were part of the programme at two centres in Berbice, graduated at a ceremony held at the St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) new multimillion-dollar multipurpose training centre at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.

The two training centres were at The All Saints Presbyterian Development Centre where 15 were trained, and at the SFCD where 23 completed the programme.

The Berbice participants now join 23 from Region Four and 10

Participants pose with Private Sector representative Imran Saccoor; SKYE coordinator Alana Brassington; the only female graduate; and Executive Director of Youth Challenge Guyana, Dmitri Nicholson. from Aishalton in Region Nine who would have completed the programme.

The SKYE Project aims at employment, education and skills-building opportunities for at risk youths. The SKYE Project also focuses on strengthening re-integrated

Cops nabbed demanding cash for returning stolen computer Two police constables are under close arrest after they were caught red-handed returning a stolen laptop computer to the owner in exchange for money.

A police release stated that on Christmas Eve, a taxidriver and his three passengers were held up at gunpoint by two men, at Haslington North, East Coast Demerara.

The robbers relieved their victims of two laptop computers, a quantity of jewellery, three cell phones and a sum of cash. The perpetrators then escaped on a motor cycle.

The release said that last F r i d a y, police investigators received information that the two police constables had approached the owner of one of the computers and had received a sum of money from him for the return of the computer.

The computers had not been recovered by the police investigators during the course of the ongoing investigations.

A sting operation was set up and the two ranks were found with the stolen laptop computer in a house at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

youth into society.

SKYE has four local partners that are responsible for the training, namely Catholic Relief Service (CRS) which works out of Region Nine, Guyana Youth Business Trust (GYBT) which works mainly in Region Ten, Volunteer Youth Corp (VYC) which operates countrywide and Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) which also operates countrywide.

The Berbice segment of

the programme was conducted by the YCG. Present at the graduation ceremony and giving remarks were coordinator of the SKYE Project, Alana Brassington; Executive Director of YCG Dmitri Nicolson; Althea Thomas and Renata Ashley who were the work readiness trainers;, Life skills and livelihood programme manager, Dwayne Mitchell of the YCG; and a representative of the private sector in Berbice- President of the

Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Manager of Republic Bank New Amsterdam Imran Saccoor.

The youths were presented with certificates while a few outstanding participants were presented with special prizes.

Among some of the topics covered were personal development, interpersonal communication, leadership, health and safety at work, customer care, rights and responsibilities, introduction

to internship and financial fitness.

Through the assistance and the intervention of the SFCD some of the graduates have already been able to secure jobs at various agencies in the county.

The SKYE project which is a two-year programme is expected to come to an end in 2015 when more than 1500 atrisk youths in the various regions are expected to be trained.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

ImmigrationINFO™ (Immigration News For Our Community)

Specific Job Skills May Lead to a Green Card Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com Many people become permanent residents through a job or offer of employment.

Some categories require a certification from the U.S. Department of Labour to show that there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available in the geographic area where the immigrant is to be employed and that no A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s are displaced by foreign workers.

In other cases, highly skilled workers, those with extraordinary ability in certain professions, and investors/ entrepreneurs are given priority to immigrate through several immigrant categories.

In all cases, the process involves several steps.

The main ways to immigrate based on a job offer or employment are listed below: Green Card Through a Job Offer: You may be eligible to become a permanent resident based on an offer of permanent employment in the United States.

Most categories require an employer to get a labor certification and then file an

Gail S. Seeram Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, for you.

Green Card Through Investment: Green cards may be available to investors/ entrepreneurs who are making an investment in an enterprise that creates new U.S. jobs.

The dollar amount that must be invested is US$1,000,000 or US$500,000 in a targeted area.

Green Card Through Self Petition: Some immigrant categories allow you to file for yourself (“self-petition”).

This option is available for either “Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” or certain individuals granted a National Interest Waiver. This may include physicians, registered nurses and occupations where there is a shortage of workers in the

United States.

Green Card Through Special Categories of Jobs: There are a number of specialized jobs that may allow you to get a green card based on a past or current job experience.

In some cases, you may be able to file the immigrant petition at the same time that you file for adjustment of status, known as “concurrent filing” while in the U.S. In some employment based categories, there is a backlog to visa availability. If you are not eligible to adjust your status inside the United States to a permanent resident, the immigrant petition will be sent to the U.S. consulate abroad to complete the visa process.

In order to apply for a green card, there must be a visa immediately available to you.

In cases where you have overstayed in the United States and accrued unlawful presence, you may not be eligible to adjust status in the U.S. (or obtain a green card in U.S.) if you have an approved employment based petition.

Sunday December 30, 2012

$40M Rice Factory to be commissioned in January Come next year, a larger quantity of pure rice seed will be produced for farmers across Guyana by the New Rice Seed Factory which will be commissioned in another few weeks, according to Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

The Minister of Agriculture made this announcement during his press briefing yesterday at his head office.

According Dr. Ramsammy, the new factory which is an Agriculture Sector Support Programme (ASSP), is located at Number 56 Village, Corentyne, and is intended to increase G u y a n a ’s c a p a c i t y t o produce pure variety rice seeds for farmers.

He said that the factory cost $40M “but there were associated things that are not included in that cost.” Some of the associated things are the building of a road and installing a built in generator.”

Kaieteur News understands that the production of pure variety seeds is important since Guyana is pursuing a greater yield for rice. The factory will aid rice farmers in obtaining pure variety seeds for the rice they are planting.

The Minister added that

- will help produce more pure rice seeds

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy at present, there is a need for about 180,000 bags of seed paddy to support the rice industry in Guyana. “When it (the new factory) is fully operational, it will be able to produce 20,000 bags of pure rice seeds per crop.”

He added that the level of production is expanding and there will be a need for more than 180,000 bags of seed paddy.

According to the Minister, the Rice Research Centre, a facility that produces pure rice seed that

has the capacity to generate 10,000 bags per crop, when joined with the yet to be commissioned Rice Seed Factory at Number 56 Village, will have a total capacity of 60,000 bags of rice seed.

“Since Guyana needs 180,000 bags, the rest of it comes from the farmers themselves,” Ramsammy added.

Kaieteur News was told that the Government of Guyana is focusing on building these rice facilities because rice is very important to Guyana’s development.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

Dem boys seh

PPPC’s year of bickering boisterously The People’s Progressive Party Civic seems to have failed to learn the lesson of democracy which emerged from the November 2011 General and Regional elections. It came face-to-face with a majority in the National Assembly at the dawn of the New Year – 2012.

That Party, instead of pursuing a path of consultation and cooperation, resorted to its familiar, but futile, tactics of confrontation.

The PPPC’s bickering about its parliamentary minority status started in January and became more irritable and boisterous as December approached.

Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira, in January, expressed the strange view that the former Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran, was the person best suited to preside over the 10thParliament.

“Whoever is the Speaker is expected to be fair and impartial and not be an impediment to Government business… they are expected to fulfill that mandate with an even-hand and Ramkarran has demonstrated this…” she said.

President Donald Ramotar waited ten weeks after his inauguration in December 2011 to formally address the ceremonial opening and First Session of the Tenth Parliament of Guyana on Friday 10th February, 2012.The President’s nearly 4,000 word address, however, managed to ignore the major matters – corruption, criminal violence, poverty, unemployment – affecting people’s lives today.

President Donald Ramotar, four months after the November 2011 General and Regional elections, categorically stated in March that the PPPC did win “a decisive victory of more than 50 per cent of the votes” at the November 2011 elections.

The PPPC filed a legal motion in the High Court and introduced a motion in the National Assembly in a

futile attempt to prevent the majority APNU and AFC from enjoying a majority on parliamentary committees.

Staff members of the National Communications Network, the Government Information Agency and other departments which come under the Office of the President staged a public street protest in April against the decisions by the parliamentary opposition to cut their budgetary allocations for 2012.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, complained in May about the Chief Justice’s ruling against the PPPC administration in its constitutional motion on alleged disproportionality in the composition of parliamentary committees.

The administration then decided to move to the courts to have the 2012 National Budget cuts reviewed and reversed.

President Donald Ramotar, stated categorically in June, “I am making it very clear that I will not assent to any Bill that they [the Opposition] carry unless it is with the full agreement of the Executive and the full involvement of the Executive.”

The National Assembly, after about 10 hours of debate, passed a motion of ‘no-confidence’ in Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee in July. Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall argued that the Opposition’s no-confidence motion in Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee was “precipitous and unconstitutional.”

The Opposition, during the final sitting before the first recess of the 10th Parliament in August, refused to approve financial papers 1 and 2 of 2012 submitted by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh.

The two financial papers aimed at restoring the funds that were cut from the 2012 national estimates – with respect to agencies under the

Office of the President such as the GINA and the NCN, both of which were allocated a mere dollar from the 2012 budget.

Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Na n d l a l l i s s u e d another high court challenge in September, this time to the ‘noconfidence motion that was moved by APNU Leader Brigadier David Granger and passed in the National Assembly.

The constitutional notice of the motion sought to have the Opposition’s motion declared as, “unlawful, a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers, unconstitutional, null, void and without any binding force or effect in so far as it purports to censure and express no-confidence in the Home Affairs Minister.”

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, lamented in October that “legislative practices are being subjected to arbitrary revision; existing legislation has been targeted for reforms and PPPC MPs and Cabinet Ministers have and are being singled out and assaulted unjustly in the media.”

President Donald Ramotar in November complained about the actions of APNU and AFC in the National Assembly and gave an assurance that his administration would take steps in defence of Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee against whom the Opposition passed a motion of ‘no-confidence.’

Anil Nandlall once again moved to the High Court seeking to set aside the order of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, prohibiting Clement Rohee from speaking in the Parliament and referring him to the Committee of Privileges.

The PPPC administration in December released a document titled, “The Government of Guyana’s briefing to international and regional bodies on the post-

November 28, 2011 general elections”, warning the Organisation of American States Permanent Council, international and regional organisations that the developments in the National Assembly and the wider society in Guyana were subverting parliamentary democracy and posing a serious and real threat to political stability.

The People’s National Congress Reform is convinced that it was only the solidarity of the opposition in the National Assembly that forced the PPPC Administration to behave in a more accountable and more responsible manner towards the National Assembly, the courts, the media and the general public, for the delivery of good governance during the year 2012.

The PNCR, despite the PPPC’s monotonous, continuous and boisterous bickering, will continue to work within APNU to safeguard the authority and sovereignty of the National Assembly in 2013.

Money deh in Guyana De country didn’t do too bad this year. Money flow inside and outside Guyana. To prove that this happen all dem boys had to do was see how much gold get ship out de country and end up getting thief. Some poor people get rich and some rich people get more rich.

But Guyana still stretch out its hand to China. Now dem boys know that China got more money than it can count.

De money so much that it own nuff country and got a big share in Uncle Sam. Dem boys had to ask why Guyana still had to stretch out its hand to China. It look like if de government want this country to be an extension of China. Rice, bauxite and sugar mek money. Gold, ganja and coke mek even more.

Dem had so much money floating around that even de bandits didn’t have time to stage no big robbery.

Some of dem was greedy and dem tackle couple people in de country and get ketch. Two policemen try a thing when dem try fuh sell two laptop that some bandits thief from couple people. Dem gun miss de Old Year’s Night sport because dem got to hug up and sleep in a cell.

Of course de biggest crime happen to de Crime Chief in Berbice. He think that because he is de Crime Chief he can wear big gold chain like if he is a king.

A youth man just grab de chain and run. Well dem boys want to see what kind of Crime Chief he is because he got all he detectives at he finger tips and if he can’t find he chain then something wrang.

He got to put out feelers.

Then early last night not too far from a police outpost, some men decide to rob a rum shop. Dem boys hear how dem get away wid $5 million. And people claim how de country ain’t got money But other than that things wasn’t so bad.

Talk half and pray that things ain’t get more bad.

Budget situation a crisis

Page 10

As the year comes to a close, executives for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are contending that the country’s current budget situation is in a dire crisis. The party has charged that the Finance Minister is in breach of Parliamentary decisions by allocating funds to programmes that were cut after the presentation of this year’s budget.

Party Chairman, Basil Williams, argued, “It does not make sense dealing with the next budget. The government in the new dispensation ought to sit all three parties in the Parliament and come up with a budget relevant to the Guyanese people.”

Answering questions pertaining to Parliamentary recourse for the Government’s use of undeclared funds from the country’s Consolidated Funds, APNU’s Rupert Roopnaraine said that the party was able to deny those

Kaieteur News

expenditures that did not conform with the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA), while it allowed those which seemed legitimate, “Although it still did not conform strictly to the act.”

“To the extent that they (Government) spent money that was not authorized by the Assembly there are very strict rules.” This, he said, in relation to the conditions under which money is extracted from the Contingency Fund, and the requirements of accountability which includes returning to Parliament to declare what was done with the tax dollars.

Roopnaraine, however, said, “In the last sitting the Finance Minister and Ministers did not do a very good job in justifying the expenditure they had made,” despite the Opposition allowing the programs to go

- APNU through so that the Contingency Fund could be replenished.

Added to the party’s disappointment towards the Government’s approach on accountability, Roopnaraine said that he does not believe that Parliament has any other recourse in this regard. He noted that the Opposition can guard the Contingency Fund according to the rules of Parliament and the FMAA, but beyond that, “There is not a great deal that we can do.”

Roopnaraine said that the party has already submitted to the Finance Minister a menu of measures that the party is interested in promoting in the 2013 Budget. He mentioned also, the will of the Opposition to have the government engage in tripartite meetings.

Another call for halt of hazardous waste shipment via C’bean Sea Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman, the Hon Dr. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, has reiterated and intensified calls for a halt to the shipment of hazardous waste through the Caribbean Sea, while noting the danger the practice pose to the livelihood of persons living within the region.

The St. Lucian leader made the call last Friday before the transshipment of Vitrified High Level Waste from the United Kingdom (UK) destined for Japan via the Caribbean Sea. Minister Anthony said that it had come to the attention of CARICOM that a new shipment of Vitrified High Level Waste would soon leave the UK for Japan through the Caribbean Sea. “It is with gravest concern that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reiterates and intensifies its opposition to the passage of shipments of High Level Waste through the Caribbean Sea,” Minister Anthony

CARICOM Chairman, St. Lucian Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony expressed.

The CARICOM Chairman noted that the Caribbean Sea constitutes not only a part of the way of life of the Caribbean people but also a principal source of livelihood and socio-economic activity.

“The United Kingdom’s imminent shipment of radioactive waste follows fourteen such shipments to date, each of which has been

Sunday December 30, 2012

strenuously objected to by CARICOM Heads of Government, Caribbean business communities and civil society. In this regard, the Region is particularly disappointed by the continued disregard shown by the United Kingdom for the objections to such shipments given the historical relations which the Caribbean shares with the United Kingdom,” Prime Minister Anthony said in his statement.

The Caribbean is ranked one of the most travelled to tourist destinations in the world. As one of the region’s main sellers, tourism generates large sums of money and the Caribbean Sea which washes the shores of most of those nations is valuable for the continued growth of the industry.

The body of water also servers various other purposes and is home to vast aquatic life. A waste mishap in the Caribbean Sea would prove disastrous for the nations it surrounds.

David Granger

Basil Williams

Dr. Rupert Roopnarine

Williams said that Parliament had cut certain items, but “We learnt that the Finance Minister had in fact spent money in relation to those cuts and purported to say that he was empowered to do that because of the decision of the learned Chief Justice.” But Williams argued that no such ruling supported that contention.

“So what we have is a crisis situation where the Finance Minister is in flagrant violation of a decision of the National Assembly of Guyana.” “Anytime we purport to make further cuts

it would be meaningless if the Minister simply has to go despite the decision of Parliament, and spend money to replenish what we cut.

“We would be like a toothless poodle in the National Assembly.” Williams said that what exists is the Finance Minister in breach of the Opposition’s decision.

APNU leader, Brig. David Granger, interjected, that in relation to recourse on the use of undeclared funds, it boils down to the power of the National Assembly and accountability on the part of the Ministers.

He added that that was the purpose of 2012 Establishing the power of the National Assembly. Now that power has to be shared and involves holding Ministers accountable for their actions.

“That is the lesson of 2012,” Granger said. “And we are going to use our power to ensure that those two principles are upheld in 2013; that the National Assembly has the authority to behave in a certain way as long as it’s in accordance with the Constitution and the Ministers are accountable to that National Assembly.”

Vendor charged for Mandela Avenue accident Ryan Roberts, 22, a vendor of Lot 41 Hadfield Street, Lodge has been charged for the death of Vincent Barkley of ‘D’ Norton Street, Lodge, who was killed early Thursday morning on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

Roberts entered a not guilty response to the causing death charge, when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry last Friday.

His attorney, Melvin Duke, asked for bail. The lawyer claimed that his client has a clean criminal record and poses no risk of flight.

Duke claimed that the pedal cyclist was the one who swerved into his client’s path, causing the collision.

The prosecution did not object to bail but asked that

the bail be set at a substantial amount in addition to the defendant lodging his passport. Roberts was granted $400,000.

According to police, investigations have revealed the accused was driving motor car PKK 5970 at a fast rate along Mandela Avenue when the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with Barkley, a pedal cyclist, who was proceeding in the opposite direction on the other side of the road.

The victim, a father of four young children, was heading home after conducting his routine morning prayers at a nearby Masjid.

According to one eyewitness, Barkley’s twisted body was hurled onto a nearby parapet while the car

Ryan Roberts turned turtle in a wash bay on Mandela Avenue.

Both Barkley and the driver were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where Barkley was pronounced dead on arrival.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Guyana/China sign $1B agreement for developmental projects Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and Zhang Limin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, on Friday signed a $1B economic and technical cooperation agreement to help a number of projects to be agreed on.

Under the agreement, China will provide RMB¥30M (equivalent to US$4.8M or G$998.0M) for the implementation of bilateral cooperation projects to be agreed upon by the two governments, a release from the state media said yesterday.

Last March, a technical co-operation agreement valued at RMB¥30M was also signed to finance development projects.

Recently, in November, both governments signed a concessional loan agreement valued at RMB¥825,000,000 (equivalent to US$130M) for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project. This project entails the construction of a new terminal building, the extension of the runway and the general

enhancement of the airport facilities to accommodate larger aircraft and the increasing arrival and departure of passengers.

The Chinese have been actively involved in a number of other projects.

In January, China delivered two new state-ofthe-art ferries – MV Kanawan and MV Sabanto-- to replace the aging ones to improve river transport between the counties of Demerara and Essequibo.

Over the years, Guyana has seen interventions in health, trade, infrastructure, energy, mining, transport and communication, agriculture and sports and culture.

Larger intervention projects also include the Guyana Power and Light Transmission and Distribution Project which begun in 2010 and is geared to assist in strengthening the current electricity network.

The project aims to stabilize power supply and reduce production costs through the construction of several substations along the coast together with the

Husband and wife fracas...

Jermin Culley refutes wife’s assault accusation Having been accused of assault by his estranged wife, Jermin Culley has come forward with what he calls “the true facts of the matter.”

And the matter is heading for the courts tomorrow.

Offering his version of a Christmas Eve altercation between himself and wife, Francine, outside a city supermarket, Jermin Culley said that she was in fact the aggressor and was the only one guilty of assault. His claims are in complete contradiction to what Francine shared with this publication last week.

According to Culley the only accurate fact presented by his wife concerning the matter was that an individual other than her was driving a vehicle which is registered to him.

He said that although the two have been separated for more than one year he had allowed his wife to use the vehicle because she operates a business.

He related that on seeing a stranger in the vehicle on the day on question he approached it believing that it could have been a ‘trunker’.

“When I start walking up to this vehicle I see this man just jump out and start running...I don’t know if he recognised me or something,” said Culley.

The man said that he entered the vehicle by which time his wife hurriedly came out of the supermarket in “attack mode.”

“This woman scramble me and start trying to pull me out the vehicle and I didn’t do a thing to this woman....I don’t believe in hitting woman like she claimed I did...I have two daughters and sisters and I would never do that,” insisted an evidently enraged Culley.

In an attempt to stop his wife from assaulting him, the man said that he summoned the police. Three male officers on patrol turned up shortly after.

However, he claimed that the officers were not able to render assistance since his wife was the assailant.

“They said they can’t do anything because is a female so they called for a female officer but she never turned up...and I feel really bad that this woman lied on not only me but the officers to say that nothing was done and that I cannot be found by the police.”

He claimed, too, that after exiting the vehicle his wife entered and opted to drive the said vehicle into another vehicle he was driving. He said that his wife’s aggression towards him resulted in him suffering minor injuries to his (Continued on page 12)

installation of transmission lines and fibre optic cables linking each substation.

During 2011, Guyana received another concessional loan of RMB Yuan 215M or US$32M to finance the E-Government Project aimed at improving the communication on infrastructure for Government Ministries and agencies. This project involves the establishment of a data centre and the construction of Long Term Evolution (LTE) towers along the coastal belt to provide reliable internet access.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and Zhang Limin, Chinese Ambassador, signing the bilateral cooperation agreement on Friday.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Reach for the stars tomorrow night at Buddy’s Night Club

Buddy’s Night Club will come alive elegantly tomorrow night (Old Years Night), as the red carpets are rolled out for the “REACH

FOR THE STARS” party.

Walk down the red carpet as you enter to experience the ultimate OLD YEARS NIGHT PARTY.

Patrons can enjoy complimentary NEW YEAR’S PROPS upon entry.

Admission is $4000 and VIP is $7000.

Jermin Culley refutes wife’s...

(From page 11) left hand.

According to the man, on the said evening of the incident he went to the Kitty Police station to report the matter at which point a statement was taken by one Corporal Williams.

He disclosed that his wife subsequently turned up at the police station and also claimed that she was assaulted.

Both persons were charged with assault and released on $10,000 bail.

Culley claimed that his wife is also being charged for malicious damage to property.

According to Culley when his wife turned up at the station there were no marks of violence on her therefore he was the only one required to uplift a medical form to visit a hospital for medical

attention.

“Everything was done on Christmas Eve...and the police were every effective. If she had any injuries she would have been escorted by the police to seek medical attention and that did not happen,” said Culley.

The matter, according to him, is expected to be pronounced on at the Magistrate’s Court.

Sunday December 30, 2012

MARAD recommends charges in Pomeroon boat tragedy Investigators from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) have recommended criminal charges in connection with the recent Pomeroon boat collision that claimed six lives.

A release issued yesterday by the Ministry of Public Works stated that a preliminary investigation into the tragedy found failure to render assistance to the victims as one of several breaches of maritime regulations that occurred during and aft e r t h e accident.

“By way of letter dated December 20, 2012, “MARAD has advised the Commander ‘G’ Division to commence instituting certain charges in keeping with the requisite regulations relative to this incident,” the release added.

The MARAD investigation revealed that the collision occurred after “one or both captains” failed to observe the international regulation for preventing collision at sea and the Guyana Shipping Act of 1998 Sect 225 (1).

The probe also found that a number of breaches had occurred in the Collision Regulations.

They included failing to maintain a proper look out at all times; failing to proceed at a safe speed so as to take proper and effective action to avoid collision; failing to alter the vessel’s course to starboard and failing to render assistance to operator and passengers.

The release did not specify whether the captain of the Region Two vessel was the individual who had failed to render assistance to the captain of the smaller vessel and his passengers.

A police official told Kaieteur News yesterday that a decision on criminal charges could be made by tomorrow.

Both the captain of the Region Two vessel and Regional Chairman Parmanand Persaud refuted allegations that the vessel l e f t t h e s c e n e w i t h o ut attempting to rescue the victims.

The Ministry of Public Works release stated that a preliminary investigation was

- cites failure to render assistance to victims conducted immediately “into this most unfortunate accident and the facts are that on the day of the accident, both vessels were travelling close to the left bank of the river on a reciprocal or nearly reciprocal course when they collided.”

“The collision was caused by one or both Captains of the vessels having failed to observe the international regulation for preventing collision at sea and the Guyana shipping act of 1998 Sect 225 (1). ”Secondly, our investigation revealed that at the time of the collision it was raining but that did not obscure the Captains’ visibility.”

According to the release, prior to this incident, officials from the Maritime Administration Department paid visits and held awareness seminars with operators and passengers in Pomeroon, conducted boat inspections and issued licences to operators.

The Administration also distributed life jackets to some residents in Charity and Moruca areas.

“Periodic visits have been made by representatives from MARAD who are currently seeking to upgrade those vessels which transport passengers in that Region and to hold training sessions for boat operators.

“Although MARAD officials encountered some resistance from residents residing in the Pomeroon areas, we remain committed to our responsibility of ensuring safe operational practices as we strive to minimize maritime accidents on our waterways.”

Finally, there is an ongoing effort to make boat operators more aware of safety requirements and to improve on the quality of their services to the travelling public.”

The Region Two vessel and a smaller boat carrying the captain and six

passengers collided in the Pomeroon during a downpour.

Boat captain Harrynarine Bhagwandeen and passengers Velda Rodrigues, 50; Shawn Anthony, 14; Rajkumar Singh, 14 and his sister Amerieta Singh, 10; and Vincent Singh, 42 were all killed. Little Eli Orlando of Adams Creek was the lone survivor.

Relatives of the victims have accused the captain of the vessel owned by the Region Two Administration of failing to render aid to the victims.

But the captain and Mr. Parmanand Persaud told Kaieteur News that the boat operator discharged his passengers and tried to help the victims.

However, they claimed that by then, two other vessels had gone to the rescue.

The captain also claimed that Bhagwandeen swerved into his path and should have been travelling on the other side of the river.

A passenger from the Region Two vessel had told Kaieteur News that she heard Regional Chairman, Parmanand Persaud, shout: “Captain look out, there’s a boat coming!” seconds before the two boats collided.

The passenger said that the captain swerved and Bhagwandeen’s boat struck the side of the vessel she was in.

The woman said she believes that she and the other passengers would also have perished had the boats collided head-on.

She said that the Region Two vessel was “moving fast” and the boat heading towards them also appeared to be speeding.

Post mortem examinations performed on Rodrigues and her son revealed that she sustained multiple injuries while her son’s spine was broken.

All of the other victims, like Rodrigues, suffered multiple injuries.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Page 14

From the Diaspora...

By Ralph Seeram Old Year ’s Night is probably one of the most stressful times for ladies.

They have to find that special gown for the Old Year’s Night party. They want to make sure it’s a unique gown; it would be fatal if she discovers other women wearing the same gown at the party.

Whether it’s Guyana or here in the U.S, it is the same with women. Men are not too far behind, I recall a friend of mine who thought he had the only shirt of its kind at the party only to discover the porter bringing the ice and “drinks” for the party wearing the same shirt. He immediately went home and changed.

Men generally don’t have much of a choice or problem “dressing” for Old Year’s night party; it is your basic suit, shirt and pants, being a little choosy with the shirt and tie. For women it is an

Kaieteur News

Would it be a Happy New Year for Guyana? entirely different matter, first they discreetly find out from their friends what they are wearing, color, style etc. before deciding what to wear.

Here in Orlando I know of a close relative who goes and buy three dresses (I may add very expensive ones) for that special night. Two as a standby in the event she discovers someone has a similar dress or color. She would wear one to the party and the following day she would promptly return all three gowns tags and all for a refund.

Most stores here have a generous return policy. I doubt whether she could get away with that in Guyana.

So at the stroke of midnight we hug, kiss and wish each other Happy New Year, it is one of those few moments when all cell phone circuits get busy here. For me this would be a happy occasion for a different reason. I will be spending the

night at home celebrating with my grand kids, the youngest only three months old; I have resigned to the fact that Old Year’s party is a thing of the past for me. I will have to leave that to the younger folks.

Tomorrow all the politicians issue their usual New Year’s messages and no doubt will imply how they want the best for Guyana in the coming year. In actuality most of those speeches are insincere; the past year has shown that it was more about the politicians than Guyana.

The AFC has lost direction, the New Year will see it having serious internal differences, with everyone scrambling to get to the top.

APNU for its part, along with the AFC, spent the first half of the year finding its way around Parliament with its new found power, then spending the next half trying to remove a Minister of the Government. In fact the only achievements one can recall

sections of society.

Hindus and Muslims were ready for the holidays which are a continuation of their festivals of Eid and Diwali.

People wanted their homes to look nice, so one of the activities was remodeling the home. Old curtains were washed or replaced. New cushions may be in place along with new spreads on the beds and new pillows to welcome the new season.

In some homes, polishing and varnishing of old furniture and the floor were done. The yard was clean as a whistle.

The Christmas tree is up or a tropical tree on the front yard was lit up. In the past, few people could afford a Christmas tree or even decorations. But as family members migrated and sent home remittances and or decorations, more and more people began putting up trees and decorating their homes with fancy lights. Even the poorest have lights strung up.

The homes and neighborhoods are festooned with trimmings, balloons and other decorations. And the shopping districts are also well decorated but perhaps not as elaborate (except for the wealthy) as in some of the busiest areas in NY. No Caribbean Christmas

is without special music. As in North America, Christmas carols are very popular - the same ones are heard in South America although there are local ones as well. Businesses advertised their Christmas goods and services early and as such radio and television stations started Christmas programming much sooner than in North America — around mid-November.

The music of the masquerade band was evident almost everywhere.

Christmas music was also performed in churches in regular worship services.

Church members also performed as carol singers in public places to raise funds for the church.

The season is associated with giving gifts — to relatives, friends, business associates, children, and the needy. Children were told that their gifts were brought by Father Christmas and that they should hang socks.

They were encouraged to go to bed by midnight so that Santa can bring their gifts.

Gifts were opened in the morning, generally with squeals of delight from the children.

Families prepared food, cakes and other goodies served with traditional homemade drinks. There was a lot of excitement in baking bread or cake.

The season is also a time for new movies and many people would go to the cinemas to view hit movies from India or Hollywood.

Christmas Day is over but the season remains.

Christmas traditions are common worldwide

By Vishnu Bisram

Growing up in Guyana, Christmas was a secular kind of holiday as it signaled the end of the year. In Berbice, I remember the season as being celebrated by every religious group though nonChristians didn’t partake in the religious aspects of the festival.

Everyone, regardless of faith, used to look forward for the season as it was a time for new clothing and special meals. It was a time when the races got together and when there was hardly any conflict.

Some of the secular activities associated with the Christmas are going shopping for new items such as clothing and decoration for the home, gift-giving, feasting, exchanging cards, charity, listening to music, watching the masquerade bands, going to the horse races, and visiting friends and relatives for meals.

The season offered the opportunity for renewal within the home – the equivalent of a springcleaning in New York and many Caribbean people still hold on to that practice in North America and England.

Preparation for the holiday started weeks before Christmas, even among nonChristians and the poorest

Sunday December 30, 2012

for the opposition are unrests at Linden and Agricola and the useless effort to remove Clement Rohee. Can anyone think of anything else?

Perhaps the major disappointment was from President Donald Ramotar.

Guyanese were looking forward to some major changes within the PPP Government.

As the months went by, there was hope that changes will come but the President held on to most of Jagdeo’s Ministers, the very people whom the Guyanese public perceive to be feathering their retirement fund with taxpayers’ money, or to put it more bluntly, the public was expecting Ramotar to get rid of the thieves.

The PPP knows who they are; every “rum shop drinker” knows who they are. I should be careful not to paint the entire ministerial Cabinet with a “broad brush”. In the midst of all the accusation of corruption in the Government, no one has pointed an accusing finger at Prime Minister Sam Hinds. No one as far as I know has accused him of any corruption.

In fact, someone joked to me that he may be the poorest Minister in the government.

Sam Hinds is a decent man; he needs to step away from the “crowd”.

So what I am I looking for in the New Year for Guyana? I have my wish list which will be wishful thinking. I want politicians to put aside their differences and put Guyana first; I want to see a reshuffling of the Cabinet, get rid of the thieves.

I would like to see the government more open in terms of how taxpayers’ money is spent. I get the impression that some in government think it’s their money.

I want to see an end to corruption in the Guyana Police force, especially among traffic police officers. The Commissioner of Police knows the harassment drivers face from officers soliciting bribes, yet nothing tangible has been done or appear to have been done. I want to see CANU and the police force bring the big drug lords to justice.

How come you catch only the mules? I want all drivers

in Guyana to take a rivers education course before renewing their licences; this will eliminate half the drivers and half the road deaths. My greatest fear when I come to Guyana is being killed in a road accident.

I want the Government to pay more attention to those at the lower end of the economic ladder; the prosperity the government talks about does not appear to have reached those at the bottom. I want the passport office taken away from the police; merge it with the public service that has branches throughout the country.

Passport, vehicle licences and birth certificates need to be decentralized. In this computer and internet age why Guyanese have to travel to Georgetown for these services, it is highly ridiculous. I can go on with my wish list, but as I said before it is wishful thinking.

No one listens. I hope President Ramotar is reading.

Happy New Year Ralph Seeram can be reached at ralph365@hotmail.com

Woman seeks compensation for son’s severed toes Anita Fredericks, the 18year-old who lost four of his toes from his left leg, is imploring some form of compensation from the power company for the injuries her son sustained on Christmas Eve Night.

Mrs. Fredericks argued that taking into consideration the fact that her son would be at home unable to work for the next year, he would need some form of financial income to take care of his basic needs.

Fernando Fredericks worked as an excavator

operator in the interior.

Mrs. Fredericks said that she was advised by members of the police force to inform the Guyana Power and Light Company about the incident.

Fredericks added that the power company has not responded by offering any financial compensation as yet.

To date members of the power company should have been made aware of the incident since members at the Anna Regina Branch were informed and were advised

t o s u b m i t a w ritten statement to the Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Fredericks noted.

On December 24, last, Fernando Fredericks was standing at the Anna Regina bus shed when an electrical pole fell during a freak storm and crushed his left foot.

Fredericks lost four toes in the mishap and was admitted to the male ward at the Suddie Public Hospital.

He has since been released but continues to complain of severe pain.

“Magical Ball” to drop on Old Years Night at Palm Court This New Year’s Eve, Palm Court will be having its “Magical Ball,” dinner and dance soirée which includes the majestical ball drop at midnight.

This handcrafted six-foot ball, made of steel and aluminum, will be suspended in mid air and on the stroke of midnight the ball will drop from dozens of feet above the ground. The ball drop signifies the beginning of a new year. The ball would be decorated with thousands of mini LED lights and that in itself will be one not to miss.

This event will be the beginning of a new tradition

at Palm Court and in Guyana.

“As we create a Times Square-like atmosphere in our very own Main Street - This will be the start of new tradition for Guyanese as Palm Court will host this magnificent ball drop annually and every year they will make it bigger and better!”

“We encourage the general public to come out; bring your friends and family and witness history being made on Main Street on December 31 at Midnight! It’s going to be beautiful and breathtaking!”

This event also marks

Palm Court’s first formal New Year’s Eve Celebration in its newly opened ‘Kokomo Room’ - on the second level.

This room is an exclusive venue designed to comfortably seat 200 guests for this grand celebration.

Guests who purchase tickets will have exclusive access to the balcony where they can overlook the ball drop at midnight. Also included in the price of the ticket are: an extravagant buffet dinner, premium all inclusive open bar all night long and a DJ from NY City to have patrons dancing the night away.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Enough capital available to complete $3B Hope/Dochfour Canal project - Ramsammy

By Rehana Ashley Ahamad Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, has said that monies allocated for the construction of the $3B Northern Relief Channel at Hope/Dochfour on the East Coast of Demerara, will not run out and leave the project stalled.

Ramsammy made this announcement during his end of year briefing on the Agriculture Industry in Guyana, yesterday.

He told media operatives that the project is still expected to be completed on the extended deadline of May-June 2013.

“The excavation of the channel is approximately 80 per cent completed.

Works on the Public Road Bridge, outfall structure and the head regulator continued in 2012 and the completion of the Relief Channel and commissioning will be in 2013,” the end of year report

stated.

The sluice, Dr Ramsammy explained is 30 percent completed, with the head regulator being 40 percent completed, and the bridge, 35 percent. There is $500M remaining of the allocated $3B, which Dr Ramsammy reiterated, will be sufficient to complete the remainder of the project.

As of last September, the status of the project was given at an approximated 75 percent completion, with a

whopping $2B being spent.

Hope Canal has been identified as one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in Guyana's history.

Former Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who initiated the project, had estimated an 18-month completion after construction commenced in February 2011. The nation is now days away from 2013.

N o n e t h e l e s s , Ramsammy is hopeful that there may not be a need to further extend the duration of the project.

The canal is being constructed to ease the pressure of water on the Conservancy at times when

An addition to Kaieteur News

it has reached its maximum capacity. The areas of East Coast Demerara and West Berbice are flood-prone areas and are heavily affected by excessive rain, overflow of the Conservancy and rising sea levels.

The project has four major parts, with the first being the actual excavation of the 10.3km long earthen channel from the East Demerara Water Conservancy to the coastal spill off at the other end of the Canal.

The other three parts of the project are the civil works – a three-gated conservancy head regulator, a 300 feet long bridge across the East Coast Public Road

and the eight-gated high level outfall at the Atlantic end of the Canal.

The Ministry of Agriculture, through its National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), is responsible for the excavation aspect of the project, while the civil works is being undertaken by the three contractors- BK International, DIPCON Engineering, and Courtney Benn Contracting Services.

Officials have said that the head regulator will release the waters of the conservancy into the canal and control the level and intensity of the release, based on the drainage needs at the time.

Kaieteur News reporter, Keeran Singh –Danny gave birth to her first child at 00:05h yesterday at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Here she cuddles her new born baby boy, Dave Demitri Danny who arrived weighing seven pounds.

CONGRATS to Dave and Keeran Danny.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

PNCR remembers Syria executes 200 in one day Desmond Hoyte

The People's National Congress Reform remembered the life and work of former President and Party Leader, Hugh Desmond Hoyte at a commemorative ceremony on December 22, at the Seven Ponds, Place of Heroes, in the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown.

Mr. Desmond Hoyte, born in 1929, served as President

from 1985 to 1992.

The early morning ceremony was chaired by PNCR Member of Parliament, Ronald Bulkan, and was addressed by Shadow Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge. Both Mr. Bulkan and Mr. Greenidge credited Mr. Hoyte with introducing a visionary economic recovery

programme.

Ms Patricia Hoyte, sister of the former President; Mr. Sase Naraine, former Speaker of the National Assembly; and Mr. Roshan Khan, Managing Director of RK's Security Services, were among the invitees. PNCR leader, Brigadier David Granger and other officials laid floral tributes.

(CNN) -- Russia's top diplomat and an international envoy to Syria warned Saturday that the Middle East nation's conflict is becoming more militarized and sectarian, further endangering the region.

The statements came on what may be the bloodiest day since the unrest's start 21 months ago: At least 399 people were killed yesterday, the opposition Local Coordination Committees said, the highest daily death toll the group has ever reported.

The figure includes 201 people who a captured Syrian soldier said had been executed in Deir Balbah, outside of Homs, after Syrian forces won a battle there, an LCC spokesman said.

The Syrian government has not commented on the alleged mass execution in Deir Balbah. But Syrian state TV did show images of dead bodies and seized weapons in tunnels in that city it claims were being

used by "terrorists," the term it routinely uses to describe opposition fighters. A corresponding report on state TV's website, citing a source, said "explosive devices weighing between 15 (and) 50 kilograms" were seized, and Syrian troops "killed and injured several terrorists in the area, while the rest fled."

C N N c a n n o t independently confirm casualty and other reports as Syria's government has severely restricted access to the country.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Lakhdar Brahimi, the joint U.N.Arab League envoy, held a meeting aimed at halting any such violence by bringing both sides to the negotiating table.

Brahimi warned the civil war was devolving into fighting between factions jostling for power, rather than an effort centered on bettering the lives of all Syrians.

"I think Sergey Lavrov is absolutely right that the conflict is not only more and more militarized, it is more and more sectarian," Brahimi told reporters after the talks in Moscow.

Their meeting appeared to signal a shift

by Russia, which has staunchly opposed efforts by the U.N. Security Council to oust Syrian President Bashar alAssad, a longtime ally.

Moscow remains opposed to any foreign intervention. But as the conflict rages and the casualty count climbs to an estimated 40,000, Russia appears willing to look at options for a political transition in Syria.

"Russia is in contact with all sides in Syria. Our priority is to stop violence," Lavrov said, adding only Syrians ultimately should decide their fate. "A lot of things now depend on external players. It's very important to stop actions that lead to militarization."

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

A postman and a pastor…

Franklyn Baynes is a 'Special Person’

By Dale Andrews

A

s a young man, F r a n k l y n Baynes felt he had a calling to serve God in a very big way. But fitting that calling in between 34 years in the postal service wasn't easy.

So when he retired from active work at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and dedicated most of his time in service to the lord, his calling was manifested and he is relishing it to the fullest.

Our 'special person' this week has been a blessing in the lives of many to whom he

Growing up in the village of Ann's Grove, a young Franklyn had no choice but to attend church every Sunday, for although his father was not really a church member, “he was a religious man” and he insisted that his children, including Franklyn, visit the Ebenezer Congregational Church in the village.

In those early days, his Sunday School teacher got him involved in singing and almost every other thing that a young talented boy could engage in while at church.

Coupled with this, as he puts it, “my father never used to make joke with

“Look to God, he is our only tower of strength.

The politicians can't help us; the politicians themselves need help…. Everybody has been looking after themselves and that is bad.

If we continue like that, it will not work.” has ministered while serving in the Wesleyan Church in Guyana for more than three decades.

Such is the nature of his work these days that he only managed to steal a few minutes to sit with Kaieteur News (15 minutes to be precise) just before rushing off to officiate in the marriage ceremony of a yet another young couple.

As a matter of fact, Pastor Baynes has done similar ceremonies more than 1000 times, something that he takes pride in.

certain things. If he bought a pair of pants for you or a shoe, you got to wear it to church first before any party,” Baynes recounted with a slight chuckle.

With that indoctrination, he began committing himself to the church; though as a teenager “it was not a full commitment”.

He switched churches and began attending the Church of God of Prophecy, also in Ann's Grove, which was held under 'Saffie bottom-house'.

There must have been

something about this bottom-house congregation, for out of it came a number of pastors, including Baynes himself.

But it was not all smooth sailing for him, for like most teenagers, negative influences threatened to steer him away from his calling.

“From about 17 to about 21 years old, from that period, I walked away.” It was that time when young men were looking for wives and the church was a little far from their thoughts.

Around that time he had left Ann's Grove for the Corentyne and the influence that his family had on him, especially when it came to attending church, was not there. He was actually on his own and vulnerable.

“I just went off, start going to parties and sport like any other teenager, until 1976, when the lord put his hand back on my life.”

That was the year he found a soul mate who was inclined to serve the lord, and his love for her was so strong that he was forced to follow her in service to the lord. To this day, they remain husband and wife.

“She was not fully committed, but her parents were; she had to go to church and I started going too and then in 1976, I made a full commitment to the Wesleyan Church this time,” Baynes recalled.

That year he became a member of the New A m s t e r d a m We s l e y a n Church and was associated with the Courtland Wesleyan Church, which his girlfriend, now his wife, attended.

During this time he became a youth leader and Sunday School teacher. He also rose to Vice-Chairman (taking care of the Pastor) or as Baynes put it “watching the Pastor back”. Although

Franklyn Baynes

Performing a water baptism on a new member of the congregation.

he was an active postman, his work in the church was not too demanding.

“It was a bit tough,

because when I came home from work I had to go and do church business, but not being a full-time Pastor, I just fit in and did what I had to do.”

But in January 1984, still a postman, Baynes took up the pastorate of the New A m s t e r d a m We s l e y a n Church. He pastored that church until the end of November 1986.

After leaving New Amsterdam, Baynes returned to the East Coast of Demerara when he took over the Nabaclis Wesleyan Church on December 7, 1986, a position he still holds today.

In the interim he also pastored other churches, including the Haslington Wesleyan Church, which is now the Restoration Wesleyan; the Springs of Life in Georgetown and the Ann's Grove Wesleyan Church.

He was eventually ordained on November 29, 1990.

“As a Pastor, one has to shepherd the flock.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the good shepherd and we

are the under shepherds giving guidance, spiritual, financial and scriptural. We set the example,” he said.

But one of the things that stood out throughout the early days of his ministry was his work to regularize the union between many common-law relationships.

“What has stood out over the years is that at one time about one-tenth of the membership was people who I actually marry.

There were a lot of people who were actually, what we call… living home.

And we know that isn't in line with God's teaching.

So I worked with them, and the joy is to see those people married, and it was I who married them, and they eventually became members of the church. That's a real satisfaction.”

In the early days when Baynes took over the Nabaclis Wesleyan Church, the building was an old wooden structure; small with zinc sheets for windows, the back stairs were falling apart. Piece by piece he managed, with his (continued on page 21)

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

System failure blamed for youth's gruesome death Police and Social Services agencies should T have acted more decisively - relatives

he various systems that have been put in place to assist the underprivileged and abused youths like Devon Da Silva, also known as Devon Lewis, have failed miserably and are now being blamed for the youth's gruesome death.

During the wee hours of last Thursday morning (December 27), residents of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, were jolted out of their slumber with the devastating news that the 18year-old Da Silva had been brutally murdered - stabbed to death while in bed with his 18-year-old girlfriend, Ashley Whyte called 'Toya' at her parents' home, Lot 112 Sisters Village, by a jealous male relative who was obsessed that the youth had rejected him.

The question being asked is why Da Silva had to die so senselessly. It also begs the question if the various systems that were supposed to be in place to protect abused teens like the victim were indeed working.

Especially so when numerous reports we made to all the relevant agencies and authorities of the abuse which included threats and attempts on Da Silva's life that the teen was being made to endure by his obsessed and jealous step uncle, the murder suspect, Roy Lewis.

The teen died before receiving medical attention while his killer reportedly ingested a bottle of poison and is still a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The youth, who was allegedly forced into a longstanding intimate relationship with Lewis, was reportedly asleep beside his girlfriend, when the suspect reportedly entered the house and stabbed him several times about his body. Da Silva and Whyte were together for six years and lived in the same street, as well as attended the same primary and secondary schools.

The man was reportedly seen earlier during the day and night at a fun day which was held nearby, stalking the youths and showing them a knife which he was carrying, but they did not take him seriously. Ashley Whyte had stated that the suspect was calling Da Silva's mobile phone all the time and the teen after awhile had turned

the relationship and started to spurn Lewis's advances.

He stopped accepting gifts from the man and eventually sought employment at the Providence Cement Packaging plant (formerly Bermine). Subsequently, the accused stopped working on sea and also sought employment at the same entity, so as to be close to Da Silva. He started puncturing Da Silva's bicycle wheel and reportedly attempted to feed him food laced with poison on a few occasions and throw suspicious liquids in his drink.

The tormented teen, in his continued effort to shake off the obsessed former partner, sought employment in the interior and was away for over two and a half months. He had travelled home only on Saturday last to be with relatives and his girlfriend for the Christmas

A photo of Devon Da Silva and Ashley Whyte, taken hours before Da Silva met his demise off the instrument. Whyte stated that they decided to leave the fairground early and went to her home.

She subsequently returned to the fairground and bought some food, before returning home. She and her boyfriend then retired to bed. Her brother, who is a policeman stationed at the Fort Wellington Station, left the house during the early morning hours for work. The door was apparently not locked after that. The predator after secluding himself used the opportunity to enter the house and bolted the door from inside before going to the bedroom and inflicting the grievous injuries on Da Silva. It was not determined if Lewis ingested the poison before or after the act.

Whyte's parents, Philbert and Janice, slept downstairs in the two-storey house.

Philbert Whyte had related that he awoke to a commotion and the screams of his daughter. He rushed upstairs, but the door was bolted. He and his wife started to bang the door until Ashley managed to open it.

He was confronted by the suspect armed with a long, bloodied knife. They got into a tangle and he was able to wrestle the knife away from the alleged assailant before tossing him over the landing when he fell and broke the fence below.

Da Silva's stepfather Carlos Lewis and his mother Roxanne struck up a relationship when he was a toddler. His step father took him over and even changed his surname to Lewis. At the time, the accused who was a seaman was living at the same home. The youth was about 14 years old when the accused first forced him into an intimate relationship, by forcing him to have anal sex with him. This was after he was seduced, forced, threatened and showered with lavish gifts. After the situation became overbearing and out of control the two 'lovers' were evicted. The accused moved out and gleefully accepted Da Silva as his companion.

The teen, although being forced and threatened, eventually decided that he did not want to continue with

season.

Ashley Whyte's parents had reportedly informed the police and Child Welfare Department about the situation of an adult living with a teenager. But nothing was done. The Welfare Department, they said, had failed to act. Da Silva eventually walked out on the man and returned home. The suspect however would have none of it.

Mrs. Whyte stated that “Devon wanted to move on with my daughter, so I thought it was best to report the matter to the Welfare Department because of the constant torment from Roy (suspect).” She stated that she also reported the matter to the police, and although a restraining order was out against the man that didn't help.

He still tormented the young man.

After his

relentless pursuit the matter ended up in court in May last, with the suspect being charged with using threatening language.

This was after he had attacked Da Silva and placed a knife to his throat, threatening to kill him.

The man had threatened the youth's life for spurning him and telling people that he had anal sex with him.

This happened in the presence of a number of persons.

A c c o r d i n g t o information, the suspect during that encounter, whilst placing the knife to Da Silva's throat had reportedly stated that “Remember what I tell you. I will kill you if you leave me and tell anybody about us.” Da Silva, who is the second of five children, was injured during that melee. According to (continued on page 20)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Guyana nets bigger fish hauls in 2012 …but piracy, fuel costs prove daunting T he country's fishing industry has shown significant growth over the last 11 months, but pirate attacks and costs of fuel continue to pose the greatest of challenges. There have been a number of fishermen killed and reports of stolen boats, engines and catches over the past months with few arrests made. A number of fishermen also remain missing since the attacks.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture in its year-end report, the fishing industry continues to grow in economic importance in Guyana, providing a source of relatively cheap animal protein and employment for many persons in the rural areas.

“It also ensures that the population remains among the highest per capita consumption of fish and fish products within the region.

However, there is an increasing pressure on the marine resources as such measures are being taken to ensure that the fishing industry remains sustainable.”

Aquaculture production

Piracy attacks and fuel costs have been the biggest threats to the fishing industry over the past year, government says.

between January to November saw farmers harvesting approximately 239 metric tonnes, a slight increase from last year figures. For November, marine production figures

for the same period indicate production of approximately 47,000 metric tonnes, already surpassing last year total figures.

Revenue collection from licencing of various

activities in the marine subsector indicates a figure of over $24M, increasing over last year's by $7M. According to the Ministry, regarding the potential for sports fishing, a Draft Inland Fisheries Policy and Strategic Plan has been completed and workshop held to prepare an action plan.

“Currently, the draft is being finalised to be presented to the Fisheries Department for review and to be presented to the Minister of Agriculture for approval and subsequent i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . We continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism in the development of the Rockstone Fish Festival and also with other partners to develop sport fishing as a viable enterprise in the hinterland regions.”

The development of aqua-culture and Fish Diversification Program, which includes farming of tilapia and hassar, saw more lands being put in use - some 3,000 hectares (ha) in total.

“While about 2,500 ha of this is brackish aquaculture along the coast, about 500 ha of fresh water aquaculture is

now producing tilapia and other fish for local and i n t e r n a t i o n a l consumption.Approximatel y 60,000 tilapia fingerlings were produced to date at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station and made available to local aquaculture practitioners.”

Meanwhile, on the issue of ensuring that Guyana complies with global standards of sea fishing, the Ministry disclosed that its Fisheries Department is collaborating with the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOSP) in pursuit of the Marine Stewardship Council Certification on the sustainable exploitation of seabob resources.

“It is expected that by next year all trawlers would be equipped with VMS (Vessel Monitoring) devices for better management of the industrial fleet. Plans are also in place for the implementation of the bycatch reduction (BRD) devices on trawling nets.”

These measures, the Ministry said, along with others will ensure that conflict among the industrial fleet and the many artisanal

fishers will be reduced as there will be the capacity to keep track of the industrial fleet to prevent encroachment on the fishing grounds of the artisanal boat.

Damage to seines and other equipment will be reduced also. This year, a 6% reduction of the number of fishing trawling fleet was implemented.

“Another close season has been implemented from August 28th 2012 to October 08th 2012 for all vessels harvesting seabob as one of the measures in ensuring sustained production. These measures are all implemented with the aim to ensure that the fisheries sector remains vibrant and thus ensuring food security, income generation for the rural population and poverty reduction as employment is generated along the production process all the way to market.”

US inspectors were also in Guyana to check on trawlers in the fishing zone to ensure that they are complying with the use of the turtle excluder devices.

The US is Guyana's biggest customer for fish and shrimp.

According to the Ministry, Guyana continues to collaborate with the region through the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) to assess the stock within the region and nationally.

During the year also, a meeting was held between the Ministers of Agriculture of Guyana and Suriname on possible collaborations and a fishing agreement is currently being formulated for discussion at next meeting.

“The constant threat of piracy also would be addressed in the agreement as well as the licensing arrangements and it is envisaged that some regulations would be harmonised so that the fisherfolks from both sides would be able to work in a more secure environment.”

System failure blamed for ...

From page 19 relatives, the system failed him miserably. “This was not an overnight story. This was a story of an abused youth who was taken advantage of since he was in his early teens.

He was defenseless, helpless, threatened and seduced. He was left alone at

the mercies of his predator and although he tried desperately to help himself, with the matter being reported to all the relevant agencies - the police, welfare and probation, nothing much was done.”

One relative opined that “They should have protected the youth “not only girls are

being abused, males too, and it comes in different forms.”

They are calling for stiffer laws to be put in place.

Another relative wondered what will happen if the suspect survives and decides to plead guilty to manslaughter…if that would be accepted instead of murder.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

A postman and a pastor …

From page 18 small congregation, to extend it.

But then it was realized that merely extending the building was just adding new pieces to an old structure; hence a decision was taken to build a new church. It took a relatively long time to actually build the new church, four years to be precise. But the finished structure is one to be proud of.

It has the capacity to hold about 600 worshippers, and has a pastor's office with washrooms. Baynes was also instrumental in the construction of the church at Haslington.

“They had no building at all, while we had a building at Nabaclis. So that was satisfying.”

All this time, Baynes was juggling his postal work (having risen to the level of post master) with pastoring the churches. So it was some sort of a blessing when he retired from the GPOC to concentrate on serving the lord full-time.

“After retiring, when I see the amount of work I'm doing now, I'm wondering how could I have done all that work, because now it's tough.”

Baynes has been on the Wesleyan Church's National Board for 14 years, 10 of them as the Treasurer, as well as the Assistant District Superintendent, even while pastoring the church at Nabaclis.

He is now the Chairman of the Non Pareil/Victoria Ministerial Fellowship, an organization which he said is doing quite well in terms of bringing the churches together for worship.

According to Baynes, this movement was born out of an inspiration he received

Officiating at the marriage of one of hundreds of couples that came before him.

from God. At first he was a bit apprehensive about the challenge to start the fellowship, but he pressed on, and it was amazing how many pastors responded. It's been four years now and the fellowship is growing.

“Of course, with home and a wife and some other things, it's hard work, and I wonder how I used to do all this work and was still working as a postman. But I am enjoying it because that was my calling.

Dealing with people is challenging, but you know you will make it because God calls you and when he calls you, he's going to be with you. He did not promise it was going to be a bed of roses.”

He recalled a minor setback to his ministry when in 1988, a few members of

the church challenged his leadership, in what was somewhat a mutiny.

But that challenge was soon put to rest and Baynes ,with renewed energy, went about doing the Lord's business.

“When things are going smoothly, you might tend to slacken your prayer life, but when things start to get rough, you realize that you have to get help. You have to find time to get to God with fasting and prayer.”

It was with this in mind that Baynes recalled a special moment of his life in the Ministry. There was a time when there were very few males in the church.

Baynes was not satisfied with only shepherding those members who were already in the church; he wanted to fulfill the biblical calling of being a fisher of men.

He realized that something had to be done to rectify this situation; so together with two female church members, Sister Edna English and Sister O l g a J a ff e r a l l y ( b o t h deceased) they set out to

“right the wrong”.

“We came together and said we got to pray for men, and we began fasting and praying… for years. Our time was twelve o'clock every Wednesday, and then men started to come; young

men…I always talk about this, because that's memorable. Men did come,” Baynes said.

The cycle of serving the Lord in a special way has not stopped with Baynes himself. All of his children have been “saved”. In fact he has a son, who was his Assistant Pastor and is now a Youth Pastor in a New York, USA church, almost a fulltime pastor.

“The second one, he used to play instruments and sing and preach in the church. But he is away now, I know he is still at church but I don't know if he's preaching still.”

His wife, who is popularly known as Sister Baynes, has been a tower of strength in his ministry. He credits her with giving him the inspiration to undertake the pastorship when he was called to do so in 1983.

“I started thinking that I would not be able but she said 'No, God will help you'.

I had started to think, 'where would I get things to preach for a whole year and then another year' but she said 'No, Franklyn, put it to God'.

And I took her advice and the Lord just helped,” Baynes declared.

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Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Interesting Creatures...

Lamini

L

amini (members are called laminoids) is a tribe of the subfamily Camelinae. It contains two genera and four species, all exclusively from South America: llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos.

The former two are domesticated species, while the latter two are only found in the wild. All lack sexual dimorphism. The four species can interbreed and

produce fertile offspring.

The digestive system of laminoids allows them to digest certain toxins.

Laminoids also lack a gallbladder. The alpaca, a domestic camelid, weights between 50 and 65 kg (110 and 140 lb), while its height at the shoulder is 94–104 cm (37–41 in). It is slightly larger than the vicuña.

Normally, the alpaca is found in the Andes in Peru and Bolivia, though it also

inhabits northern Chile and northwestern Argentina.

There are about 3.5 million alpacas in the world.

In the 1980s, alpacas started being exported to other countries for farming purposes: they can be found in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, though the vast majority still reside in South America.

The alpaca is mainly used for its wool. Out of the domestic camelids, the alpaca produces wool with longer and finer fiber than the llama, with a diameter of 18–25 micrometers per strand.

The guanaco is a wild camelid, standing at 100–120 cm (39–47 in) at the shoulder and 150–160 cm (59–63 in) at the head. It can weigh up to 140 kilograms (310 lb). Its pelage is longer than that of the vicuña but shorter than that of the alpaca; it is considered to be of excellent quality and has a light brown, reddish, or brownyellow color. The diameter of its fleece's fibers varies between 16 and 18 micrometers.

Ninety per cent of the world's guanacos are in Argentina, distributed from the islands of Beagle Channel and the southern extremity of the Patagonia to the Puna grassland in northeastern Argentina.

Guancos can also be found in Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru.

The llama is the largest of the extant camelids and weighs 130–150 kilograms (290–330 lb) with a height of 109–119 cm (43–47 in) at the shoulder. Llamas are not a natural species; rather, they

were domesticated by the Peruvians and Bolivians of the highlands. Commercial trade led to the llama's current abundance in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and northeast Argentina.

There are bands of llamas in the United States, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand.

The colour and length of the llama's wool is variable, depending on the race. The diameter of llama wool's fiber varies between 20 and 80 micrometers, depending on whether the llamas were raised for its wool or as a pack animal.

The vicuña is the smallest camelid, with a shoulder height of 75–100 cm (30–39 in) and a weight of 40–60 kg (88–130 lb). Its coat is mainly beige in colour and is said to make "the best wool in the world", with the average fiber diameter between 11 and 14 micrometers. Like rodents, the vicuña has continuouslygrowing incisors. It lives only in areas of high altitude – 3,200 m (10,500 ft) or greater – in the highlands of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. (Source: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

British High Commission throws support behind YCG

W

ith financial support from the British High Commission, Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) is poised to introduce its newest initiative which will cater to youths who have not been able to benefit from existing national programmes.

At least this is according to Executive Director of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mr Dmitri Nicholson, who revealed that the strategic move is designed to offer opportunities to youths with a view of helping them to develop greater skills and gain job opportunities.

According to Nicholson, YCG is looking to launch the new venture next month, even as efforts are made to introduce additional programmes, while at the same time improving those in existence.

During the past year, he reflected, although YCG was faced with a number of challenges there were many productive outcomes.

“The organisation was able to serve the interests of youths more as it started new projects and strengthen existing one,” he noted, as he disclosed that efforts were made to bring to fruition a new project with USAID/SKYE which allowed for more than 400 youths to be furnished with training for the workplace.

“Of the total trained, about one quarter have gained employability skills, knowledge and behaviours to be successful entry-level workers,” Nicholson divulged.

Through its sustained programme to recruit volunteer teachers, YCG was able to further support the Education Ministry's delivery of education.

Currently there are 40 volunteer teachers spread across the country reaching approximately 800 children at the primary school level.

According to Nicholson, the volunteers are recruited and prepared by YCG, the Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO) and the Education Ministry for one-year stints. During this period, he pointed out, they are supported by YCG to ensure that their experiences are enriching and that they perform effectively.

Added to this, YCG, during the month of September, launched an inquiry-based science

education programme in four primary schools, two each in Region Four and Region Six. “The support provided through this initiative will equip the schools with science kits to aid teachers so that the science scores in schools will improve,” said a confident Nicholson.

Further still, he said that teachers will have interactive sessions where they will share their strategies and other creative techniques with their colleagues in hopes of bettering the science results in schools.

This move, which is being supported by Exxon Mobil, represents an extension of a pilot project which was introduced by the Education Ministry.

The NGO was also, during the past year, able to continue supporting Amerindian communities through a project designed to enhance the skills of the community leaders and youths of Regions Eight and Nine. This venture was financed by the European Union, and according to Nicholson, focused on areas such as effective planning, finance management skills, community mobilisation and project management skills.

He related that one cohort of 30 persons has been exposed to this training initiative in Region Nine and another similar-sized batch will start in Region Eight next year.

Health was also high on YCG's agenda during the past year with efforts being engaged to maintain interventions aimed at preventing HIV in some farflung areas of the country, particularly Region Eight.

Nicholson revealed that YCG has been able to maintain a mobile HIV testing and prevention unit which is funded through USAID/GHARP II Project, an initiative which reached mainly miners, sex workers and other at-risk populations in the Region.

“YCG has reached more than 300 persons from these key populations over the course of the year with services that improve their health and develop selfesteem and encourage safer behaviour...YCG has also increase the delivery of condoms and other safe sex material to the Region to ensure that the population has limited access to prevention supplies so that their risk is significantly

reduced,” Nicholson said.

Turning his attention to international volunteerism, the Executive Director noted that although there was a decline in the number of short term volunteers managed by YCG, two groups successfully undertook missions in Guyana.

Included was a task to support the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project to provide community awareness and mobilisation around

mangrove protection.

International Volunteers were also recruited and dispatched by YCG's Canadian partner (Youth Challenge International) as part of a more than 15-year relationship.

Commenting on YCG's Women's entrepreneur and networking project which started in 2011, Nicholson said that it has now taken on a life of its own allowing for beneficiaries to choose their goals and move forward to start their own organisations.

YCG Executive Director, Dmitri Nicholson Such moves will be sustained in the New Year, as according to Nicholson, YCG “remains committed to the development of youth development and Guyanese

communities and will be looking more closely in 2013 towards developing long term partnerships with the private sector to expand our efforts.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 27

My column

Waiting for 2013 with open arms The year is about to end.

There are just a few hours left, but nothing tells me that I will not see the New Year.

This is something that I have been doing for a very long time because over the past thirty years I have celebrated the New Year with people who did not live to repeat the celebration.

My mother gave birth to nine of us—one died before I was born—and while we were kids fast asleep, my mother would rouse all of us to welcome in the New Year.

We slept on the floor, so she would have to kneel and wake every one of us.

It meant nothing to us because the place looked the same. We would look outside and at times there would be moonlight, but certainly the place did not change. I for one could not understand this fascination with a New Year. It was not until I became older and recognized the value of life that this tradition that my mother shared became meaningful.

Today, at midnight, I try to call every brother and sister—and the eight of us are still alive as is my mother— to wish them a Happy New

Year. My children are also involved in this ritual, although they are now not living with me and for them there are more important things in life.

As I entered my twilight years, the dawn of the New Year took on an even added significance. The morbid side of me reminded me that each New Year brought my destiny with death closer and made me realize that I should enjoy every day to the fullest.

However, I take some comfort from the research someone did. The findings duly informed me that people tended to die closer to their birthdays. My birthday is November, so at the start of the year I convince me that things would be good for at least ten months of the year.

There is more to the New Year. There are the preparations and I enjoy them. There was a time when I was married and I looked forward to that midnight kiss and whatever followed.

Those days are gone, but I still look forward to the cookup. Even if I say so myself, I do cook a mean cook-up.

This year, I will be with three of my sisters and my

mother who came from overseas to celebrate a Guyanese Christmas. During Boxing Day they came to my house, as did some aunts and cousins whom I had not seen in years. My eldest daughter was there with my granddaughter —I only have two granddaughters, but six grandsons—and I felt great.

Even as I write this I am planning a grand welcome for the New Year. I can’t drink as I once did because the next day makes me pay dearly.

However, I can still trip the light fancy—this means dance—and I intend to. I am going to catch up with people with whom I will share images of the year now fast approaching its close.

And what would be some of those experiences? As a reporter many stories cross my desk, some of them most harrowing. There was the woman who lost her home to fire caused by some lamp. She is said to be living under a tent at the burnt-out site.

Then there was the other woman whose son torched her house because she refused to pay heed to his drug-addicted antics. There was the boating accident that

claimed six lives—six people who did not live to see the Christmas—so near yet so far away. It was Prime Minister Sam Hinds who once reminded me that there’s many a slip between cup and lip. There were good stories too. A young man pushes his paramour out of harm’s way just before a car kills him; a young Queen’s College student who thrived on three hours sleep per day to do well.

I am going to talk about the flea infestation at Queen’s College.

I travelled to the Falklands and had a mind-blowing experience. I met people whose lifestyle is so casual that they are bound to live stress-free lives. Imagine living in a country in which no one can get permission to carry a weapon for personal protection. There is just no threat to defend one’s self against. I saw penguins and sea lions; huge geese and I froze my privates to almost nothingness. The place was very cold.

The attacks on fishermen range high in my memory as do the fraud at National Communications Network and the mess in which the

now dead police commissioner Henry Greene found himself. In fact, Henry Greene’s story was for a long time the talk of the town this past year. This was a fellow I knew and it hurt me to see him struggle in the face of the allegations.

I saw people who argued that they were law-abiding forget all about the law to hound Greene. They forgot about someone being innocent until proven guilty.

In their mind, Greene was guilty until proven otherwise.

My classmate Roger Luncheon is bedridden for now and the New Year would meet him not being able to move around as much as I will.

His birthday is fast approaching, so he had better develop his armoury to survive to see yet another New Year. My boss, Glenn Lall, took on the mantle as the crusader against corruption.

For his efforts he is attacked constantly. The other people

Adam Harris have been good to me this year, but my colleagues at Prime News take the cake.

They placed me on Facebook more than anyone else.

I love them all—Prime News and Kaieteur News people alike. My numerous friends who kept in touch with me all year cannot be forgotten. Just the other day it was 2000 and people were scared about computer crashes. Twelve years have passed and nothing has changed.

Resolutions? None. I can’t seem to keep any.

Happy New Year.

We are life savers, you should be one too!Donate blood today!!!

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

We will continue to stand by your side As 2012 draws to a close and as we look back at our efforts as a nation over the past twelve months we inevitably ask ourselves what we have achieved and what could we have done differently.

The year started with much promise as new era seemed within our grasp.

We actually dared to hope that finally a new day of inclusion, equal opportunity and justice would dawn on this country of ours.

But as the months passed and the time flew by, it seemed as if dayclean was just beyond our reach.

There have been varied opinions on what we as a country have achieved this year. Sometimes we even despair at our inability to take ourselves in a new direction beyond the limitations of our fears, prejudices and inadequacies.

But before we can dream of a new day we must first confront the reality that we

have created for ourselves and address it with all its wants and shortcomings.

Our institutions continue to be a source of great concern. We have either been poorly served or not served at all.

It was not a happy year for law enforcement, fighting corruption or accountability.

In addition, far too many of our citizens were gunned down at the hands of the state.

Citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest

paid the ultimate price for exercising that right.

Young men were executed by law enforcement officers, while those in whose charge who we placed the responsibility to protect and serve seemed to be only interested in protecting and serving themselves.

During the past year we witnessed the unprecedented declaration of hostilities between the executive and legislature. Where there was hope it was rapidly replaced

by disappointment and resignation.

Our farmers and other wealth creators continued to mistreated and taken for granted.

And typically in our own inimical style we spent an awful lot of time casting blame and apportioning guilt rather than walking together towards the sunshine of justice, equality and equally shared prosperity.

Until we are prepared to confront the skeletons which constantly challenge the rule of law, address and resolve the differences which separate and divide us as a nation, we will continue to condemn ourselves to a less than just and fair society.

What is clear after twelve months is that the present constitutional arrangements have not delivered to the people of the country a unified, just, fair and prosperous society.

It is the hope of the AFC that in the new year we will address those aspects of our constitution that require our most urgent attention and best efforts to ensure that everyone is afforded a fair and equal place in the decisionmaking arms of the state, including the executive.

We are far too mature a nation to consider returning to the polls under the present constitutional and electoral arrangements. Those citizens who feel perpetually excluded under the existing constitutional arrangements, whether at a local government level or nationally, will with justification, inquire whether their dreams and aspirations are not worthy of the national consideration.

We believe that despite

the challenges we faced as a nation during the past year, we discovered a lot about ourselves as a nation that gives us hope for a new day with different arrangements.

For armed with the knowledge of our inadequacies we can only but address them and move forward together towards a nation which guarantees all her citizens a place in the sun.

We assure you that we in the Alliance For Change will continue to stand by your side as we seek to bring about the political changes that will lead to lasting improvements in the lives of the people of this country.

In and out of parliament, we have led the struggle against corruption and opened the eyes of the pubic to the lack of accountability and transparency surrounding multi-billiondollar contracts and the operation of state agencies.

We have visited all ten administrative regions of this country during the past twelve months and can assure you that our efforts against corruption are being met with widespread approval.

We have engaged the other political parties on a number of issues with varying degrees of success and remain committed to meaningful dialogue and consensus building.

We also engaged stakeholders in the private business sector and shared information on our policies and positions on various issues.

The AFC wishes you a very prosperous new year and may we all join in the national effort to create a fair, just and prosperous Guyana.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

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U.N. confronts failure of diplomacy in Syria UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Attempts by the United Nations to end the bloody 21-month-old Syrian conflict through diplomacy have been a resounding failure and there is little reason to expect a quick change given the Russian-U.S. rift on Syria.

After a year of intensive diplomatic efforts by the world body, U.N.-Arab League peace mediator Lakhdar Brahimi of Algeria has made no more progress than his predecessor, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in getting the government and rebels to come to the negotiating table, or getting Russia and the United States to overcome their deep disagreements on Syria.

Brahimi heads to Moscow yesterday to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the United Nations said, but expectations are low. Syria’s opposition leader rejected an invitation from Russia to attend peace talks, which was a blow to Brahimi’s efforts.

At the heart of the diplomatic roadblock is a

seemingly unbreakable impasse on the U.N. Security Council, where Russia and the United States, both vetowielding permanent members of the 15-nation group, are seeing their bilateral ties deteriorate.

There is no reason to expect anything different in early 2013. After three joint Russian-Chinese vetoes on Syria, the Security Council has all but given up on the issue.

“It’s very depressing to be a party to failed diplomacy,” a senior U.N. official told Reuters. “There’s no end to the (Security Council) deadlock and as long as that deadlock remains, it’s hard to make a difference beyond humanitarian aid, and that’s not easy.”

In addition to generally rocky relations between Washington and Moscow, Russia has strategic reasons for standing by Assad. He has been a staunch ally, a major purchaser of Russian arms and host to Russia’s only warm-water naval port.

But even Russia realizes Assad will likely be ousted sooner or later.

Lakhdar Brahimi

Annan, the first U.N.Arab League peace negotiator to try to end the escalating civil war, focused on getting Syrian President Bashar alAssad’s government and the opposition to agree to a ceasefire.

With neither side willing to lay down its weapons, a frustrated Annan announced his resignation in August, saying the divided Security Council had undermined his efforts. He urged Russia, China and Iran to do more to push for an end to the bloodshed.

Brahimi is concentrating on healing the rift between Russia and the United States

as the conflict in Syria becomes increasingly gruesome and sectarian, U.N. officials and diplomats say.

Disagreements between the United States and Russia or China on the 15-nation Security Council are nothing new. They have had sharp differences on crises in Georgia, North Korea, Myanmar, Zimbabwe and elsewhere that have prevented the council from taking any meaningful action.

But the deadlock on Syria is especially frustrating for U.N. officials and diplomats, who complain the United Nations has been confined to

the sidelines as the corpses pile higher.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly urged countries to unite in support of Brahimi’s efforts but that has not happened.

“We do not see any prospect of any end of violence or any prospect of political dialogue to start,” Ban told reporters last week.

Brahimi is convinced that ending the U.S.-Russian rift is the key to unraveling the Gordian knot that has prevented a negotiated end to a war in which 44,000 people have died.

The crux of their disagreement is whether Assad should go now, as the rebels, Washington and the Europeans want, or later, as Moscow would prefer, after a period with a transitional leadership that could include members of Assad’s government. Russia has repeatedly said it is not wedded to Assad, although it has refused to abandon him.

“For (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, it’s all about not compromising with America at the moment,” a senior Western diplomat said.

The latest example of worsening U.S.-Russian ties is Moscow’s new ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children, a move that came in retaliation against U.S. human rights legislation aimed at Russia.

Diplomats and analysts say it is not Brahimi’s fault that he has failed. The veteran Algerian diplomat played down hopes that he could succeed from the outset.

Richard Gowan of New York University said Brahimi’s modest approach has restored some of the U.N. credibility that was lost while Annan was the Syria mediator.

“But (Brahimi’s) current peace plan is at least half a year out of date,” Gowan said.

“The rebels simply will not buy it.”

Brahimi is pushing for a transitional government and has suggested he wants to build on an international agreement signed in Geneva six months ago that envisioned a provisional body - which might include members of Assad’s government as well as the opposition - leading the country to a new election.

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Sunday December 30, 2012

DEATH OF INDIA RAPE... Cough syrup suspected From page 28 southern India, a group of women marched to demand severe punishment for the rapists. Protests were also held in the cities of Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.”For some reason, and I don’t really know why, she got through to us,” well-known columnist Nilanjana Roy wrote in a blog on Saturday.

“Our words shriveled in the face of what she’d been subjected to by the six men travelling on that bus, who spent an hour torturing and raping her, savagely beating up her male friend.” Sonia Gandhi, the powerful leader of the ruling Congress party, directly addressed the protesters in a rare broadcast on state television, saying that as a mother and a woman she understood their grievances.

“Your voice has been heard,” Gandhi said. “It deepens our determination to battle the pervasive and the shameful social attitudes that allow men to rape and molest women with such impunity.”

The victim and her male friend were returning home from the cinema, media reports say, six men on their bus beat them with metal rods

and repeatedly raped the woman. Media said a rod was used in the rape, causing internal injuries. Both were thrown from the bus. The male friend survived. The six suspects have all been arrested and are in custody.

The attack has put gender issues centre stage in Indian politics. Issues such as rape, dowry-related deaths and female infanticide have rarely entered mainstream political discourse.

Analysts say the death of the woman dubbed “Amanat”, an Urdu word meaning “treasure,” by some Indian media could change that, although it is too early to say whether the protesters calling for government action to better safeguard women can sustain their momentum through to national elections due in 2014.

The outcry over the attack caught the government offguard and it was slow to react.

It took a week for Singh to make a statement on the attack, infuriating many protesters who saw it as a sign of a government insensitive to the plight of women.

The prime minister, a stiff 80-year-old technocrat who speaks in a low monotone, has struggled to channel the

popular outrage in his public statements and convince critics that his eight-year-old government will now take concrete steps to improve the safety of women.

“The Congress managers were ham-handed in their handling of the situation that arose after the brutal assault on the girl. The crowd management was poor,” a lawmaker from Singh’s ruling Congress party said on condition of anonymity.

Commentators and sociologists say the rape has tapped into a deep well of frustration many Indians feel over what they see as weak governance and poor leadership on social issues. A global poll by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in June found that India was the worst place to be a woman because of high rates of infanticide, child marriage and slavery.

New Delhi has the highest number of sex crimes among India’s major cities, with a rape reported on average every 18 hours, according to police figures. Government data show the number of reported rape cases in the country rose by nearly 17 percent between 2007 and 2011.

in 33 deaths in Pakistan

Pakistani volunteers carry a wounded bus passenger following a blast in Karachi, Pakistan yesterday. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan) LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani authorities are investigating allegations that cough syrup has killed 33 people over the past three days, a government official said yesterday, the second time in recent months medicine is suspected of causing multiple deaths.

Also yesterday, an explosion ripped through a passenger bus while it was at a terminal in the southern city of Karachi, killing six people and wounding 52 others, police and hospital officials said. It’s unclear if the blast was caused by a bomb or a gas canister exploding.

The deaths from the cough syrup occurred in the eastern city of Gujranwala and nearby villages, said local official Abdul Jabbar Shaheen. Another 54 people thought to have consumed the syrup are also being

treated at city hospitals.

Officials believe the victims drank the syrup to get high, he added.

Tests show the victims’ stomachs contained dextromethorphan, a synthetic morphine derivative used in cough syrup that can have mindaltering effects if consumed in large quantities, said Shaheen. Investigators are trying to determine if the victims drank too much syrup, or whether there was a problem with the medicine itself, he said.

Twenty-three people died in the nearby city of Lahore in November after drinking bad cough syrup sold under the brand name Tyno. They were also described at the time as people who consumed the drug to get high.

Shaheen said the cough syrup involved in the

Senate leaders...

From page 27 If McConnell and Reid can manage to reach a deal on inheritance taxes and raising income tax rates on the wealthiest, they likely would throw into the compromise some other fiscal cliff solutions.

Those could include extending an array of other expiring tax breaks, such as one that encourages companies to conduct research and development.

Also, Congress wants to prevent a steep pay-cut in January for doctors who treat elderly Medicare patients.

Lawmakers also want to

prevent middle-class taxpayers from inadvertently creeping into a higher tax bracket, known as the alternative minimum tax, intended for the wealthiest.

If the Reid-McConnell effort fails, Obama has asked the Senate to hold a vote on Monday on a “basic package” that would stop taxes from going up on the middle class and would extend long-term unemployment benefits that are about to expire. If it passed the Senate, its fate would be in the hands of the Republican-controlled House.

incidents in and around Gujranwala was not sold under a single brand. He said some people in the city make cough syrup to sell specifically to drug addicts, and officials are trying to arrest them.

Officials temporarily closed one Lahore-based pharmaceutical company whose cough syrup was found in the possession of some affected in Gujranwala.

They are investigating whether it caused any of the deaths, said Shaheen.

The blast that ripped through the bus in Karachi on Saturday set the vehicle on fire and reduced it to little more than a charred skeleton.

Police were trying to determine whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or a gas canister, said police spokesman Imran Shaukat. Many buses in Pakistan run on natural gas.

The explosion killed six people and wounded 52 others, some of whom were in critical condition, said Seemi Jamali, a doctor at the hospital in Karachi where they were being treated.

Karachi has a long history of political, ethnic and sectarian violence. It is also believed to be home to many Taliban militants who have fled U.S. drone attacks and Pakistani army operations in the country’s northwest.

Also Saturday, gunmen opened fire on a vehicle carrying police officers in the southwestern city of Quetta, killing three of them, senior police officer Hamid Shakil said.

No one claimed responsibility but authorities have blamed local insurgents for such previous attacks.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

LIAT given green light to purchase new aircraft BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Shareholder governments of the regional airline, LIAT, have given the green light to plans to renew the airline’s aging fleet and the expansion of its operations.

The shareholders-St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda- met here on Friday and according to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, part

payments have already been made for the new planes.

“We have made some payments already some shareholder governments towards the fleet renewal and the idea is to have a mix of 48 and 68 seaters between next year and 2014,” Gonsalves said, adding LIAT was also looking at a mixture of purchasing and leasing the French-made aircraft.

“We have given a tentative yes to the board exploring a jet service beyond

the 68 seaters and we are looking for strategic partners in that regard,” he added.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer described the meeting as “a sort of watershed if you like in the history of LIAT in the sense that we have now come to terms with the fact that LIAT is a living organism in this region and in order for us to become or remain relevant and to be able to deliver the service for this region then

we have to move in a particular direction”.

Dominica which recently became the fourth major shareholder of the Antiguabased regional airline defended its decision to pump millions of dollars into the cash-strapped company.

“I have asked those who criticise us to close their eyes for a few seconds and picture LIAT not flying to Dominica for one day, not for one week, for one day and one can appreciate the implications for

our economy whether it is bringing people into Dominica or getting people out of Dominica or getting our agricultural produce out of Dominica.

“The Dominica government recognises that we cannot continue only having Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines carrying the weight of this very important element of the economy,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said.

Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, said his island is committed to the efficient functioning of LIAT and that his administration would make sure that opportunities for wastage were minismised and that the airline remained viable.

“And, it can only remain viable if it is financed, and Barbados, therefore, has had no difficulty in committing itself to that course of action.

So, as the largest shareholder at the present time we felt that it was our duty to live up to our regional obligations and we are doing just that,” he added.

“LIAT, over the last 56 years has contributed in no small way to the deepening of the regional integration movement, making regional integration not an abstraction but a lived experience for the people of the Caribbean.

“And, since Barbados has always been in the forefront of promoting regional

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves integration, of course we have a natural attachment to LIAT and its success,” Stuart said.

Recently appointed chief executive officer, Captain Ian Brunton, said a decision had been taken to reduce the “number of airplanes that we are going to immediately purchase to five” resulting in a savings of millions of dollars.

“We are definitely getting four starting somewhere between May or June 2013 but we are looking to change the entire fleet and have 12 new airplanes by the end of 2014,” he said, adding that the company has negotiated a commercial loan “that will be very favourable because of the significant developmental effort that LIAT makes in the region” in order to carry out its expansion plans.

LIAT flies to 21 destinations in the region and has 1,000 flights weekly.

CARICOM wants halt to shipment of hazardous waste through Caribbean Sea GEORGETOWN, Guyana - CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has called for an end to the shipment of hazardous waste through the Caribbean Sea. “It is with gravest concern that the Caribbean Community reiterates and intensifies its opposition to the passage of shipments of high level waste through the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean Sea constitutes not only a part of the way of life of the Caribbean people but also a principal source of livelihood and socioeconomic activity,” said CARICOM Chairman Dr Kenny Anthony.’

Anthony, who is also the Prime Minister of St Lucia, made the call ahead of the trans-shipment of Vitrified High Level Waste from the United Kingdom to Japan through the Caribbean Sea. “The United Kingdom’s imminent shipment of radioactive waste follows 14 such shipments to date, each

Dr Kenny Anthony of which has been strenuously objected to by CARICOM Heads of Government, Caribbean business communities and civil society.

“In this regard, the region is particularly disappointed by the continued disregard shown by the United Kingdom for the objections to such shipments given the historical relations which the Caribbean shares with the United Kingdom,” Prime Minister Anthony said in a statement.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Ravi Dev Column

Islamic Government

After several rounds of voting in Egypt, the latest being the referendum affirming a new constitution, western observers continue to express alarm over the victories of President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. They are concerned about the ‘democratic’ commitment of those that form the government, dubbed “Islamicists” because of their commitment to an Islamic conception of politics.

The issue of “politicised Islam” has wider relevance that just Egypt. The western world, especially the US, insists that “good governance” and “democracy” are two of the planks on which it will conduct its relations with other states.

Such a view, however, makes some assumptions about political participation that clash with Islamic thinking, which guides more than a billion people across the globe. Iran provided an

The year is fast coming to an end and the Grim Reaper is conscious of this.

He is very busy scouting locations for the weakest and the mentally ill. In Guyana there are many of these.

Two of them will be driving machines that can kill whomever they hit and even the driver.

This is going to be the case within a few hours.

Alcohol will play a significant role and the carnage would leave people aghast. *****************

earlier opportunity for the west to go beyond their reflexive denunciations of “violations of democracy” and grapple with an alternative paradigm for arranging the affairs of mankind than the nation state that we are used to.

While Imam Khomeni was, and most of Iran is, Shia, compared with most of the rest of the Islamic world who are Sunni, their scholars and religious leaders, by and large, do not differ on the central point that Khomeni made in his foundational treatise Islamic Government.

To wit that Western powers are determined to twist the meaning of Islam in order to serve their “imperialist agenda”.

“The preachers they (the imperialists) planted in the religious teaching institution, the agents they employed in the universities, government educational institutions, and publishing houses, and the orientalists who work in the service of the imperialist

states—all these people have pooled their energies in an effort to distort the principles of Islam.”

Whether one agrees with Khomeni or not that there is a conspiracy in action, it is now widely accepted (in western academia, at least) that “religion” is a social construct, which can be deployed as a trope to mask socio-political agendas. The problem manifests in the first instance in the way in which the term “religion” has come to be understood in the west as opposed to that in Islamic doctrines.

While there are definitions of “religion” in every area of study in the west, the presumption that there was some objective thing called “religion” out there in the world has only recently been accepted in academic circles as a fiction.

As Talal Assad pointed out, we cannot discuss religious concepts and symbols outside of the social system that bequeathed meaning on

There is a respite from fires but there are crazy people.

The recent full moon has not helped. A man is going to be angry at his parents because they would not support his alcoholic habit.

The result is that he is going to do one of the most stupid things. He is going to set fire to the house.

The grief that he would bring to the family would only be equaled by the grief he would cause when he kills himself. ******************** Smiles abound. A newspaper is going to welcome a new addition to its fold although the addition would not be able to work there for many years to come.

The new addition would be a child of a staff member.

those concepts and symbols.

Islam and Christianity were nurtured in different societies.

In the west, Christianity is the paradigmatic “religion”, which provides their generic categories to define all other religions. In the evolution of its position, the Christian concept of “giving unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” produced a dualistic division of the sacred and the profane and the fundamental notion of “secularization” that religion was confined to a private space and not to be intertwined with affairs of state.

Almost every Islamic scholar and every “Islamicist” politician vehemently reject this apolitical definition of “religion” when it is applied to Islam. It is difficult for westerners to conceive of a situation where even those Muslims who may condemn violence as a political tool would accept the position of Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian thinker, executed in 1966, who regarded all secular forms of government, including democracy (and socialism) as blasphemy, pure and simple.

In Islam, one cannot divorce

God from governance.

Some Muslims would extend the argument that all human agencies of power are a violation of the sovereignty of God and the best that can be done is for governments to be guided by the tenets of the Qur’an as interpreted by the religious scholars. This is the position that Imam Khomeni took when he expounded the concept of velayat-e faqih - guardianship of the jurist - as government appropriate for Muslims.

Most Muslims would accept this notion of religious guardianship over the body politic and it is this position that troubles western observers. The latter, however, would not accept that their notions of ‘democratic’ government were also guided by ‘religious’ precepts – in their case Christianity. The European “Enlightenment” project might have given such precepts a different epistemological basis, but their ontological foundations remained unchanged.

Islamists, in Egypt and elsewhere, reject the western notion of ‘democracy’

Ravi Dev

divorced from the tenets of Islam. It is pushed, they believe, by those who wish to keep Muslims subjugated, since it would serve to prevent deviation from the Sharia – the word of God. By definition, under this worldview, such rule has to be just – since the Sharia can properly prescribe no other path. While scholars may sometimes differ on specific applications on the tradition, once one accepts the concept of “guardianship”, the foundation can never be eroded, since the entire edifice could possibly collapse.

Unless the west understands this concept of governance, they will continue to be ‘disappointed’ with the unfolding of the “Arab Spring” in all the Islamic countries – whether Sunni or Shias.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Venezuela VP in Cuba to visit ailing Chavez HAVANA (AP) — Venezuela’s vice president arrived in Havana on Saturday in a sudden and unexpected trip to visit President Hugo Chavez as he recovers from cancer surgery.

Communist Party newspaper Granma published online a photo of a smiling Vice President Nicolas Maduro being greeted at the airport in the Cuban capital by the island’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez.

“From there, (Maduro) went directly to the hospital where President Hugo Chavez Frias is receiving treatment to greet his family members and Venezuelan Science and Technology Minister Jorge Arreaza Monserrat, and to discuss with doctors the adequate moment to visit the President the same day,” the paper said.

Granma added that Maduro was accompanied by Venezuelan Attorney General Cilia Flores.

The previous night in Caracas, Venezuela, Maduro did not specify how long he would be away but said

Energy Minister Hector Navarro would be in charge of government affairs in the meantime.

Maduro’s announcement came at the end of a long speech at the inauguration of a state governor, and he offered no information on the purpose of his visit beyond seeing Chavez.

In a speech Saturday, Venezuela’s National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello said only that Maduro went to Cuba to visit with Chavez and urge him “to follow his treatment.”

Venezuelan press officials in Caracas said they had no additional information Saturday.

Maduro’s trip comes amid growing uncertainty about Chavez’s health.

The Venezuelan leader has not been seen or heard from since undergoing his fourth cancer-related surgery Dec. 11, and government officials have said he might not return in time for his scheduled Jan. 10 inauguration for a new sixyear term. There have been no updates on Chavez’s

condition since Maduro announced Monday night that he had received a phone call from the president who was up and walking.

Venezuela’s opposition criticized Maduro for what they said was a lack of transparency surrounding Chavez’s health.

“What I still don’t understand is who is president,” Lawmaker Alfonso Marquina said.

“Who is governing the country now? As for the purpose of this sudden and improvised trip, only the national government knows.”

Maduro is the highest ranking Venezuelan official to visit Chavez since the surgery. Bolivian President Evo Morales traveled to Cuba last weekend in a quick trip that only added to the uncertainty surrounding Chavez’s condition. Morales has not commented publicly on his visit or even confirmed that he saw Chavez while he was there.

Before leaving for Cuba, Chavez acknowledged the precariousness of his situation and designated

In this photo provided by Cuba’s state newspaper Granma, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, left, talks with Venezuela’s Vice President Nicolas Maduro, center, as Venezuelan Attorney General Cilia Flores watches at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana yesterday. (AP Photo/Granma, Juvenal Balan Neyra) Maduro as his successor, telling supporters they should vote for the vice president if a new presidential election was necessary.

Although Chavez has delegated some administrative powers to Maduro, he did not leave the vice president officially in charge of the presidency.

Venezuela’s Democratic Unity bloc of opposition parties suggested Saturday it was time for the government to declare the president temporarily absent from power.

“They are trying to hide what every day is a fact: The government does not want to recognize that there is a temporary absence of the president from his duties,” the bloc said in a statement.

On Friday morning, Maduro read a New Year message from Chavez to

Venezuelan troops, though it was unclear when the president composed it.

“I have had to battle again for my health,” Chavez said in the message. He expressed “complete faith in the commitment and loyalty that the revolutionary armed forces are showing me in this very complicated and difficult moment.”

A group of opposition candidates demanded Friday that Maduro provide an official medical report on Chavez’s health. Lawmaker Dinorah Figuera said the country needs “a medical report from those who are responsible for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of the president.”

“The Venezuelan people deserve official and institutional information,” Figuera told Venezuelan media.

A legal fight is brewing over what should happen if Chavez, who was re-elected in October, cannot return in time for the inauguration before the National Assembly.

National Assembly Diosdado Cabello insisted Monday that Venezuela’s constitution allows the president to take the oath before the Supreme Court at any time if he cannot do it before the legislature on Jan. 10.

Opposition leaders argue the constitution requires that new elections be held within 30 days if Chavez cannot take office Jan. 10. They have criticized the confusion over the inauguration as the latest example of the Chavez government’s disdain for democratic rule of law and have demanded clarity on whether the president is fit to govern.

Bolivia expropriates Spanish energy subsidiaries LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — President Evo Morales nationalized electricity distribution subsidiaries of the Spanish energy company Iberdrola in a public ceremony yesterday.

Morales issued a decree allowing the takeover of shares in Empresa de Electricidad de La Paz (Electropaz) and Empresa de Luz y Fuerza de Oruro (Elfeo), which supply energy in the Andean nation.

In the ceremony at Bolivia’s government palace, Morales also announced the expropriation of an investment management company and a service provider belonging to the Spanish energy giant.

Morales said he had

“been forced to take this step” to ensure that electric service rates remained “equitable” in the regions of La Paz and Oruro. Soldiers guarded the installations of the electricity distribution companies, marked with signs reading: “Nationalized.”

The decree read by Morales also calls for Iberdrola to receive indemnification after an independent firm is hired within 180 days to determine the value of the nationalized shares.

Telephone calls and emails seeking comment from Iberdrola in Spain were not immediately answered.

Morales in May also nationalized Transportadora

de Electricidad belonging to Spanish company Red Electrica, which controlled 74 percent of energy transmission in Bolivia.

In his first year in office in 2006, the Bolivian president nationalized the oil industry through a renegotiation of contracts with a dozen oil companies, including Repsol, Petrobras, BG and Total.

In 2009 Morales transferred to state control the country’s largest telephone operator, which had been controlled by Italy’s ETI, and in 2010 he did the same with the four largest power generators, which had belonged to French-owned Suez, Rurelec of Britain and also to Bolivian shareholders.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column He wants more from me than I can offer DEARABIGAIL, How do I put on the brakes with a man who wants more from me than I want from him? I told him on our first date that I am not looking for anything “serious”; I don’t have the time or the energy to invest in an intense relationship right now.

He said He understood, but has proceeded to try to “girlfriend” me.

He bought me a Christmas gift and has upped the ante to one call per day, which is exactly what I didn’t want. I don’t know what to do that won’t seem heartless or dismissive.

Denise Dear Denise, The most heartless thing you can do is keep this from

him. Tell him flat-out the everyday calls are too much, and affirm your commitment to avoid commitment.

It’ll feel like a slap in the face to him, because all rejection does, so you’ll feel like the jerk. But every day you don’t speak up is another brick in his belief that he’s in a relationship.

If he doesn’t get the message, then stop seeing him. Feel mean now or monstrous later.

Sunday December 30, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Although you might try to convince yourself that you’re free from emotional attachments, there’s a problem with this approach today.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A clash with a good friend could be circumvented today, but it will take some serious restraint on your part. You might feel as if someone is baiting you, but it’s actually your own worries that create the biggest problems now.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You might have a challenging time explaining your feelings today because it’s easier to just keep them to yourself. Even if you know what you want to say, the words just don’t come out the way that you think them.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be hypersensitive today with the evocative Moon back in your sign. But being around too many people can be overwhelming now and you’re tempted to retreat in order to honor your own need for boundaries.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You could be feeling a bit uneasy today without knowing why you can’t settle down. Your free-floating anxiety may not be connected to any one event; it might be related to a more complex set of emotions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You’re tempted to dig in your heels and hold out for exactly what you want, but the end game of your current strategy isn’t dependent on your stubbornness. In fact, your lack of flexibility complicates things and moves you even farther away from your ultimate destination.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Although you could be eager to embark on your next great journey, it may be discouraging to admit you haven’t even bought a ticket yet.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your current uncertainty could put you in a more conservative frame of mind, prompting you to question your ability to reach your long-term goals.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You realize the necessity of making changes to your daily routine, but you might not understand just yet how big this shift will be.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You are thrilled about the possibilities ahead, but too much optimism may inspire you to act impulsively. This is no time for foolish obstinacy because it only amplifies the stress.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You want to break free at any cost, especially if you feel as if you’re stuck in an unchangeable situation.

You are ready for action since you’ve already spent enough time contemplating all your options.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You’re still processing a lot of information that recently came into your awareness, but it’s not easy to integrate so much data all at once. Nevertheless, you might feel as if a deadline is quickly approaching.

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09:30 hrs. Touching Lives 10:00 hrs. Pair of Kings 10:30 hrs. Crash and Bernstein 11:00 hrs. Movie: Salem Falls 13:00 hrs. Movie: Terror in the Family 15:00 hrs. Movie: Betrayed at 17 17:00 hrs. Family Feud 18:00 hrs. Catholic Magazine (Faith in Action) 18:30 hrs. Know Your Bible 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 21:00 hrs. Madea’s Witness Protection 23:00 hrs. Sign Off

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Extra pounds may put you in the hospital, study finds (Reuters) Regardless of lifestyle and other healthrelated factors, heavier people were more likely than lean ones to be hospitalized for a variety of conditions, according to an Australian study.

What’s more, this was the case not just for obese people but also for those who were merely overweight as well, the researchers wrote in the International Journal of Obesity.

Among middle-aged adults, researchers found that every extra body mass index (BMI) point - equal to about 2.7 to 3.2 kilograms (six or seven lbs) - was tied to a four percent higher chance of being admitted to the hospital

over a two-year period.

“There is considerable evidence that severe obesity is bad for your health, resulting in higher rates of disease and consequently higher use of health services and higher death rates,” said lead author Rosemary Korda, from the Australian National University in Canberra.

“What this study shows is that there is a gradual increase in risk of hospitalization as BMI increases, starting with people in the overweight range. In other words, even being overweight (but not obese) increases your risk.”

Korda and her colleagues

recruited close to 250,000 people aged 45 and above from New South Wales. After surveying them about their height, weight and other health and lifestyle issues, the researchers tracked participants through hospital data.

Over the next two years, they had more than 61,000 total hospitalizations lasting at least one night.

Korda’s team found that among people considered in the normal range for BMI, there were 120 hospitalizations for every 1,000 men and 102 per 1,000 women each year. For those considered severely obese, on the other hand, there were

203 hospitalizations for every 1,000 men and 183 per 1,000 women, on average.

Overweight and moderately obese people had hospitalization rates somewhere in between.

A BMI of 25 to 30 is classified as overweight, while obese is from 30 on up.

That pattern held up even after taking into account whether participants smoked, how physically active they were and their general health at the start of the study.

Extra weight seemed especially to play a role in people’s chances of being hospitalized for diabetes, heart disease, chest pain, arthritis and asthma, the researchers reported.

“Extending the research to overweight individuals... is

a unique contribution,” said Robert Klesges, a preventive medicine researcher from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. “Basically it tells tens of millions of Americans that, ‘you are now at risk’,” added Klesges, who wasn’t involved in the study.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just under 36

percent of American adults are obese. Another 33 percent are overweight.

“While increasing weight leads to increasing risk, this also means that a gradual decrease in weight is likely to gradually decrease your risk - ie, if you are overweight or obese, even small decreases in weight may make a positive difference to your health,” said Korda.

Forget diets: Cutting fat keeps you slim (Reuters) A review of 33 trials involving 73,589 men, women and children in America, Europe and New Zealand found that choosing low fat foods helped people lose around 3.5 pounds, slim their waist-lines and cut bad cholesterol - all without dieting.

Researchers who led the study said its results prove for the first time that people can lose weight without trying to.

“The weight reduction..when people ate less fat was remarkably consistent - we saw it in almost every trial. Those who cut down more on fat lost more weight,” said Lee Hooper from the University of East Anglia medical school, who led the work.

“The effect isn’t dramatic, like going on a diet,” she said, adding that the research specifically looked at people who were cutting down on fat, but didn’t aim to lose weight - so were continuing to consume a normal amount of food.

“What surprised us was that they did lose weight, their BMI (body mass index)

decreased and their waists became slimmer,” Hooper said. The lower fat eaters also kept their weight down over at least seven years.

The review commissioned by the WHO’s Nutrition Guidance Expert Advisory Group (NUGAG) after a request to update their guidelines on fat intake - will now form a crucial part of global recommendations, the researchers said.

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Together, strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases are the biggest killers worldwide and claim more than 17 million lives a year, according to the WHO. More than half of Europeans are obese or overweight, and in America more than 35 percent of adults and almost 17 percent of children qualify as obese.

People are defined as overweight if their body mass index or BMI - a ratio of weight to height - is more than 25 kg per metre squared (kg/m2) and obese if it is more

than 30 kg/m2.

Among the 73,500 people taking part in the studies analysed by Hooper’s team, there were varying ages and states of health. The researchers compared those eating less fat than usual and those eating their usual amount of fat, and measured the effect on weight and waistline after at least six months.

The results, published in the British Medical Journal, showed that eating less fat reduces body weight by 1.6 kg, cuts BMI by 0.56 kg/m² and reduces waist circumference by 0.5 cm.

Hooper’s team found that reductions in total fat intake were also linked with small but statistically significant reductions in cholesterol and blood pressure, suggesting a lower fat diet could have a beneficial effect on this heart risk factors.

Carolyn Summerbell of Durham University, who coled the research, said the trick to slimming down and staying that way was to find a way to eat what you can stick to for life.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Page 38

SUNDAY SPECIAL DR. LUNCHEON UNDERGOES EMERGENCYSURGERY

Dr. Roger Luncheon Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon underwent emergency life-saving surgery on Saturday December 22 at the Caribbean Heart Institute. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital two days prior, after he complained of respiratory problems.

Two weeks earlier, he had to be rushed to hospital after he suffered the adverse effects of a fall. The surgery was to remove what was described as a large clot near his heart. The condition is

Kaieteur News

described as pulmonary embolism.

A source at Office of the President said that Dr. Luncheon is lucky to be alive.

The source disclosed that the Cabinet Secretary had been in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital when he showed signs akin to developing a heart attack. Immediately he was transferred to the Caribbean Heart Institute where cardiologist Dr. Gary Stephens undertook an emergency intervention procedure.

He inserted a series of filters to prevent the clots from going to the heart and the lungs.

Had this happened the Cabinet Secretary would have certainly died, the source said.

GOVT. TO ENGAGE GPSU IN MULTI-YEAR PAY PACKAGE TALKS LABOUR MIN. Moves by Government to pay a five per cent increase to public servants were certainly not intended to halt salary negotiations with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), said Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul. He

Sunday December 30, 2012

The burnt remains of Sewdat Arjune’s bike. was responding to media operatives during a recent press briefing at his Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown office.

Alluding to correspondence between the GPSU and the Public Service Ministry, the Minister said, “I think that the matter is continuing.” He said that Government had taken the initiative to pay the five per

cent increase, which was retroactive from January 2012, in recognition of the fact that the year was coming to an end. “We had budgeted money and we wanted to ensure that the workers got some payout before the year ends to enjoy the festive season and bring 2012 somewhat to a closure.”

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

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

MONDAY EDITION MOTORCYCLIST BADLY BURNT AFTER COLLISION WITH CANTER A motorcyclist, Sewdat Arjune, 21, of Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, sustained severe burns last Sunday after his bike burst into flames during an accident with a truck. The incident occurred at around 11:35 hours on the Williamsburg Public Road,

Corentyne. This publication was told that the truck bearing the slogan ‘Jealousy kills’ made a sudden U-turn on the public road and ended up in the path of the motorcycle. The vehicle was driven by Mohan Mohammed of Lot 475 Number One Road, Corentyne. An eyewitness, Police Prosecutor Roberto Figueira, said the driver of the Canter came out of a spare parts store and made a U-turn in front of the CBR that Arjune was riding, causing him to lose control and end up under the truck. This was followed by a loud explosion and a fire erupted under the canter.

Arjune was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital with severe burns to his lower body. The man’s motorcycle was burnt beyond recognition.

SHOPKEEPER, 71, SHOT DEAD BY BANDITS A major section of the East Coast Demerara village of Plaisance is mourning the slaying of popular shopkeeper Derrick Cox who was shot dead by bandits last week Saturday night (Dec 22).

The 71-year-old businessman, who operates a

grocery on 71 Ramos Street, Plaisance, was shot in the chest and died before he could receive medical attention. Cox, who is popularly called “Backatoo,” was alone in his shop when he was attacked and from all indications put up a fierce fight with his killers before he was shot.

“He started hollering for ‘Thief! Thief! Murder!

Murder!’” a relative who lives in the same yard told this newspaper. There was evidence that the killers hurriedly escaped, as several currency notes were scattered on the floor of Cox’s shop.

Reports indicate that the killers fled the scene in a car.

A resident said that shortly after hearing the gunshots, she saw two men running from the direction of the slain man’s shop towards a white car which was parked at the eastern end of Ramos Street.

The resident said that the occupants then sped west along the street.

Some close friends said that Cox was washing some utensils at a pipe outside his shop when the bandits attacked him.

TUESDAY EDITION REMIGRANTS’ HOUSE LOTS COST FOUR TIMES MORE THAN JAGDEO’S Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, is hoping that all future eligible persons acquire house lots at a comparative market value to what former President Bharrat Jagdeo and a few of his closest allies acquired theirs in Pradoville Two, (Sparendaam) East Coast Demerara.

Hughes, who had virtually taken on members of the ruling administration by himself on the National Communications Network “corruption debate” had lashed out at the circumstances under which (Continued on page 41)

The dead shopkeeper’s premises shut following Saturday night’s shooting

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 39

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

A song for me from me on my birthday Today is my birthday. I am Capricorn but I really don’t give a damn about zodiacal signs. But many persons in all the countries I have made friends have said to me that I have a Capricorn character.

People around the world really do believe in this zodiacal thing. You wonder if there is any truth to it.

I haven’t researched it but if history has produced tyrants that were Capricorn then the whole thing about Zodiacs is nonsense. This is one Capricorn that cannot hurt anyone. I have never hurt anyone and never will.

They say Capricorns tend to be aggressive people. That I can confirm. But they also say that Capricorns are disciplined, patient humans.

That may not be true. I have never had a sustained period of discipline in my life.

My wife said the only time she saw patience in me was when we had to wait a long time before our names were called for our American visas.

She told me she couldn’t believe I could be disciplined and patient and sit still for hours.

I read what the qualities

of Capricorn are and I am not sure I fit the description. In the realm of philosophy, I am anarchist and existentialist.

Capricorns are not embracing of such conceptualization. A majority of the peoples of this world do not use anarchist in the philosophical sense, tending to use the word in its everyday b a n a l i t y, meaning people who like to create confusion and violence.

Anarchism is a philosophy that is very suspicious of power.

Anarchism believes that power is essentially an opiate.

Remember Karl Marx’s famous quote, “Religion is the opiate of the people?”

Well anarchism substituted power for religion.

This is one of the strong beliefs I hold about life. I honestly feel power has a controlling influence over people and that explains much of the destruction of life throughout history.

In fact, power has destroyed every conceivable revolution that promised so much from the French Revolution onwards, including all that followed since then – the US, Russia,

China, Algeria, Yemen, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and the anticolonial Third World struggles. I have my doubts that South Africa will remain intact after Mandela dies. I do not see a democratic Palestine after its creation but I do support its birth from Israeli domination.

Look what power has done to the PPP. So many of us struggled closely alongside Cheddi Jagan, his wife, Reepu Daman Persaud, Roger Luncheon, Donald Ramotar, Clement Rohee, and the rest of the lot. During the days of President Burnham, these were your Third World revolutionaries. Power has created evil in the PPP after 1992.

I honestly believe deep in the inner valleys of my mind that the Burnham Government was more caring and patriotic. Do you know the last public appearance Cheddi Jagan made before he became president in 1992 was at my class at UG? I almost lost my job for that.

It was through the instrumentality of the PPP that my UG contract was terminated last January, five

months before it expired.

I keep away from power.

In my twenty-six years at UG I never showed any interest in becoming dean of my faculty or head of my department.

I had the chance of a lifetime of rising far from being an ordinary lecturer at UG, but for me it wasn’t a chance of a lifetime. I wanted to remain a human rights activist.

This opportunity arose shortly after the 1992 elections.

The UNDP Rep, Mr. Juan Larraburri was leaving and through the intervention of Mr. Yesu Persaud I was offered the second top post at the UNDP, second to the Resident Rep from abroad. I turned it down.

I wanted to be the radical academic that I was.

Interestingly, guess who I recommended for the job?

One of the most enduring PPP members and a top stalwart of the PPP, Ms. Merlin Udho.

At the time she was the wife of PPP big wig and later Trade Minister, Michael Shree Chand. The same party of Ms. Udho hounded my wife out of her job at Go-Invest. This is what I mean about evil

being created by the possession of power.

So where do I go from here? I guess I was destined to do what I am doing. I will go on to do what is inside my chemistry. I have no regrets in the way my life turned out and I would do it all over again. Next year’s birthday (if I live) will find me doing the same thing.

Here is a song, “Dare to Live” that I dedicate to myself on my birthday today. Go to YouTube and watch Laura Pausini and Andrea Bocelli perform a truly amazing song.

I love it because I believe in the lyrics. Here are some of the lyrics.

Try looking at tomorrow not yesterday And all the things you left behind And all those tender words you did not say

Frederick Kissoon The gentle touch you couldn’t find In these days of nameless faces There is no one truth but only pieces My life is all I have to give Dare to live until the very last Dare to live forget about the past Dare to live giving something of yourself to others Even when it seems there is nothing more left to give.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Special Feature: Book Review

Explosive book defends Jewish rejection of Jesus

By Dr Glenville Ashby Follow me on Twitter@glenvilleashby glenvilleashby@gmail.com The Jews’ rejection of Jesus has always stirred controversy. Author David Kinghoffer explains the rationale behind this position in this well annotated pageturner that chronicles that pivotal point in Western History.

Deftly written, animated, and charged with characters that come alive, Kinghoffer attempts to exonerate the Jews from all culpability in the crucifixion of Jesus. Not that he ignores the complicity of the High Priest Caphias and the Sanhedrin in indicting the Christian Messiah.

He understands their role, but opts to view this historical drama through a Jewish lens. He begs the question: What else could have been expected of the Jewish people when a new doctrine threatened their God given traditions? It is a valid

question.

More importantly, the author makes a compelling argument that all of Jewry may not have heard of Jesus, curiously alluding to the ministry of John the Baptist as larger. He cites the paucity of writings on Jesus by the famous 1st century historian Josephus, to prove his point.

While many today will allude to the endurance, ubiquity, and influence of Christianity to challenge Klinghoffer’s claims, his work is worthy of consideration.

Jesus, the author posits, was an orthodox Jew who broke from rabbinical authority by questioning oral tradition. For example, Judaism requires a quorum of ten for prayers to be performed. Jesus counseled to pray alone.

And when the Messiah admonished a young man to follow him and “let the dead bury the dead,” he again contravened traditions on Jewish burial rites. In other words, Jesus viewed oral traditions as the mere

teachings of men, that may have little in the way of spiritual enlightenment.

Klinghoffer writes: “For Jesus, oral tradition was a man-made accretion without transcendent authority,” and cites the following, attributed to the Christian Messiah: “For the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God.” A protean in the classical sense of the word, Jesus was an exorcist, miracle worker, Messiah, and son of God. Yet, the author argues, these were not unique characteristics in that era.

The Talmud, the sacred book documenting Jewish traditions and history is replete with Hasids or pious ones who performed wonders. Hanina ben Dosa, a Galilean, like Jesus; and Honi, the Circle Maker were just two of the many Jewish mystics who befuddled the multitude.

Even in his role as the Messiah, Jesus was hardly unique. Again, there were many purported Messiahs before Jesus’ time – and many

with larger followings. Some met their deaths at the hands of the Romans, while others drifted into oblivion.

Kinghoffer presents a scenario that gives Jesus little credit for originality. The question is: Why should the Jews at that time have believed in this newcomer? Even the term “Son of God,” is said to have been used by God in the Talmud as he addressed the 2nd century Rabbi Meir, and Hasid Hanina Ben Dosa.

Yet, some dye-in wool Jews, such as the Nazarites, believed in Jesus the Messiah, while the Ebionites went one step further, attributing divinity to him.

Such groups were called Minim, and were deemed syncretic in the eyes of Jewish orthodoxy.

Nevertheless, they were all Jews, following the dietary laws, and those pertaining to circumcision.

Such were Jesus’ apostles, except Luke who was a gentile.

The birth of Christianity, according to the author was created by Paul who was bent on abrogating, even subverting both the oral tradition and the Torah. Paul became an existential threat to the immutable covenant that God had made with the Jewish people, even more than Jesus.

By 70 AD with the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Romans and the tepid response by the Minim, Orthodox Judaism condemned the Jews for Jesus movements, severing all ties with them. More and more gentiles were proselytized in the process.

Klinghoffer sees the ascension of Jesus as God, as an intellectual, if not a political evolution with the Nicene

Council in the 4th century – a development that every Jew viewed as an anathema, given their strict monotheistic doctrine.

Arguably, Jesus himself would reject the Christian doctrine as promulgated by Paul, according to Klinghoffer.

In the second half of the book, the author provides a fascinating account of Jewish - Christian polemics in the immediate centuries after Jesus’ death, a time when the Christian persecution of Jews was non-existent.

Christian apologists, such as Tertullian, Origen, and Justin Martyr challenged well known Rabbis on the Jesus question. On each point, the rabbis rationally supported their position..

However, the overriding question remains: Has the author ably defended the Jewish rejection of Jesus? Yes, convincingly and easily. His thesis is straightforward. He writes: “The Hebrew prophets describe the elements of a

messianic scenario that could not easily be overlooked. It includes the following: an ingathering of the Jewish exiles, the reign of a Messianic king, a new covenant with the Jews based on a restored commitment to observance of the commandments, a new Temple, the recognition of God by the world’s people.”

For the majority of Jews back then, Jesus, who professed a spiritual kingdom not of this world, failed this very basic litmus test.

Dr Genville Ashby, literary critic - Caribbean Book Review Why the Jews Rejected Jesus by David Klinghoffer Three Leaves Press. a division of Random House, Inc., New York ISBN 0-385-51022-5 Available: Barnes and Boble.com/Amazon.com Ratings: ***** Essential

Sunday December 30, 2012

From page 38 Jagdeo acquired his twoacre plot of land at Sparendaam.

According to reports, which were confirmed during last September debates, Jagdeo acquired his land at Pradoville 2, at a “market value” of $5M per acre, a price that was justified by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.

But when compared with the price that the government is offering land to remigrants at Providence, East Bank Demerara, Jagdeo and his associates have actually secured a sweet deal, Hughes said.

Officials from the Ministry of Housing have confirmed that persons applying for a 8,000 squarefoot house lot in the remigrant housing scheme are being asked to pay $7M per lot. One acre gives five house lots. The house lots are 8,000 square feet. The area of the plot is less than a quarter of an acre of land. Compared to what former President Jagdeo paid, the remigrants are being asked to pay almost six times more for a comparative plot of land.

ADS IN KN RECRUITING PERSONS TO EARN $2M MONTHLY…SCAM OR ABOVE BOARD? A number of advertisements on how to make big money have been appearing in the classified ads section of Kaieteur News in recent weeks. They offered the possibility to earn “US$10,000 per month from home. The ads included: ”US$10,000 per month from home. We will teach you how.

Join a successful company.”

- “Sales Leaders: Can you recruit and train? It’s your turn to make big money. US$$$.”

-”Start your own business and be your own boss. No selling involved.

Anyone can participate.”

-”International company seeks independent business associates for expansion in Guyana. High income, low startup.” All the ads listed the telephone numbers as 613-1616/ 675-8402. It did not list a landline.

For many, US$10,000 ($2M) is money that takes years to earn while for others it would be an impossible amount to accumulate in savings. But the ads even offered the chance to earn this amount without having to invest any money. Kaieteur News’ call to one of the numbers was answered by a person with a foreign accent who agreed to set up a meeting for the next day.

FRIDAY EDITION PEDAL CYCLIST KILLED ON MANDELAAVENUE Forty-four-year-old Vincent Barkley of ‘D’ Norton Street, Lodge, was killed early

Kaieteur News

Thursday morning in an accident on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown. According to a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Office, investigations have revealed so far that motor car PKK 5970 was allegedly speeding along Mandela Avenue when the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with Barkley, a pedal cyclist, who was proceeding in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. The car

Dead: Vincent Barkley was reportedly being driven by a 28-year-old Hadfield Street, Lodge resident.

Barkley, a father of four young children, was heading home after conducting his routine morning prayers at a nearby Masjid. According to one eyewitness, Barkley’s twisted body was hurled onto a nearby parapet while the car turned turtle in a wash bay on Mandela Avenue.

Both Barkley and the driver were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where Barkley was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver was treated and subsequently released into police custody. He is assisting with the ongoing investigations. Barkley’s family was told that his legs and hands along with a few ribs were broken.

APNU ‘CONFIDENT IN ANY SNAP ELECTIONS’ A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has indicated its readiness for snap elections if that be the case in the New Year. At a press briefing held at the Office of the Opposition leader Thursday, APNU head David Granger said that, “From the mood of the public, the Government is on the back foot and is against the ropes.”

The party, he said, is convinced that “the moral tide has turned against the Government”. When asked about the party’s financial position, it was noted that it was not about money, but the fact that public support has been drifting from the ruling party. “There has been no leadership and no move towards national unity and there has been no change in

the quality of Governance.”

Granger said he is confident that the Opposition is more beloved by the population as a whole. When asked about calling elections by bringing a vote of no confidence against the current Administration, it was noted by APNU’s Rupert Roopnarine, that there are outstanding issues in relation to any type of election being called which includes local government elections.

He highlighted that in 2011 there was major dissatisfaction in the running of the GECOM Secretariat.

“There are elements of the GECOM Secretariat that we would like to see back off before we can engage in any electoral process. There is the issue in relation to national elections about the ad hoc electoral system we continue to use.”

SATURDAY EDITION MISSING GEA EMPLOYEE’S VEHICLE FOUND IN HIGHWAY TRAIL The Toyota Raum belonging to missing Guyana Energy Agency employee, Levoy Taljit, was found Friday midday in a trail at Yarrowkabra, about a mile off the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.

But police have still not found any trace of 25-year-old Taljit, who disappeared on Sunday last. Kaieteur News understands that residents in the area noticed the vehicle, PNN 8315, and called the police.

This newspaper was told that only the battery and some of the electronic appliances, as well as the keys were missing. An official said

Missing: LeVoy Taljit that Crime Scene ranks found no trace of blood on the vehicle or other evidence suggesting foul play.

Investigators believe that the vehicle was taken to the location about three days ago, since they found no sign of fresh footprints at the scene.

Police scoured the Yarrowkabra backlands for several hours without finding a trace of the missing man and some sources lamented the absence of proper tracker dogs to aid in the search.

Page 41

On Wednesday, a search party was also organized by relatives and friends of Taljit, but they also turned up empty-handed. Kaieteur News understands that investigators have received information that someone used Taljit’s mobile phone on Thursday. Taljit, who is of Amerindian and East Indian descent, was reported missing last Sunday.

He was last seen wearing a burgundy-coloured Tee shirt and faded blue jeans.

THIEVES SENT 30 GOLD BARS TO US BUYER VIA FEDEX Authorities in Curacao and the US have made some major breakthroughs in the investigations into last month’s multi-million-dollar gold bar heist in Curacao.

According to news reports from that Dutch Antillean island, police in recent days arrested six suspects, including a prominent downtown jeweller, Giovani Regales.

A large quantity of the gold bars has been seized in Curacao, Kaieteur News has since learnt.

Curacao’s police in a

statement yesterday said that of the seven persons arrested, one of them is from Bonaire, another Dutch Antillean island; three from Venezuela and the remainder from Curacao. One of the suspects was since released while the others are still being interrogated. During the investigation, the police said that they have confiscated articles that are “very important for the case”.

It is believed that at least two of the gold bars were found at the jeweller’s business place.

Curacao police said that in the preliminary part of the investigations, the Customs also participated actively.

“Furthermore because this investigation has some international aspect to it, the Police Corps had communication with the authorities from these countries. The investigation in this case continues.”

The arrests were conducted at several locations in Curacao on Thursday.

Investigators were able to recover 26 gold bars in recent days, Kaieteur News was told by a reliable source. A small quantity of the 70 bars of gold

was from Guyana while the rest came from Suriname, this newspaper understands.

It is believed that the gang made contact with one of the US buyers and sent 30 bars via FedEx. However, the buyer, already notified of the stolen gold, alerted the US Customs and the bars were returned to Curacao where authorities immediately seized it.

It is believed that the stolen gold bars became too hot for the bandits to sell in Curacao and the stash was then taken to the US. Investigators are reportedly eyeing at least one Customs official in Curacao as being one of the masterminds in the heist which made headlines worldwide.

Kaieteur News learnt that since the heist, at least one local gold dealer was in the United States warning buyers to be on the lookout for the bars which have their own distinguishing features.

The November 30 heist by bandits dressed in police clothes on a Guyanaregistered boat at a Curacao port, sparked an international investigation that spanned the US and Guyana.

Page 42

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

The five murdered grandmothers

Sukhdai-Ramkilaum

By Michael Jordan Do the names Kharpattie Shivnauth and Rajkumarie Mahadeo mean anything to you? They don’t? How about P r a m p a t t i e R a m s u n d a r, Khirul Najidam and Sukhdai Ramkilaum? Still nothing?

I’m not surprised. They were not young or glamourous. But they had a few things in common.

They were all elderly women, they all lived alone, and they were all brutally murdered between 2009 and 2011. Three lived on the East Coast of Demerara, some eleven miles from each other; a fourth lived on the West Bank of Demerara and the fifth

Prampattie Ramsundar

Khirul-Najidam

Rajkumarie Mahadeo

in Greater Georgetown.

Now don’t get me wrong.

I’m not yelling ‘serial killer’, though even some police are wondering if there is a pattern here.

On Friday, August 28, 2009, Bhemwattie Ram, a resident of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, realised that she had not seen her active and healthy 80-year-old grandmother, Kharpattie Shivnauth, for the day.

Shivnauth, called ‘Ma’, lived alone in her Lot 66 Independence Street, La Grange home.

‘Ma’ was an active individual who was usually up and about in her yard by 05:00 hrs. On Fridays, in particular, she would pick flowers and then pray in a

small temple in her yard.

The worried granddaughter contacted the elderly woman’s son, who lived a short distance away.

At around 19:00 hrs, the son, Gopaul Nauth, accompanied by a few other residents, ventured into Shivnauth’s home. Not seeing her in the hallway, and getting no answer, they ventured into her bedroom.

They found Kharpattie Shivnauth lying nude on her bed. Someone had tied her to the bed with strips of cloth.

Another piece of cloth was tied around her mouth. It was later revealed that she was suffocated and sexually assaulted. The victim’s gold earrings, gold ring and gold

bands were missing.

Shivnauth’s two-bedroom house was ransacked, and the son surmised that the killers made off with cash that his mother had stashed in her home. He speculated that his mother’s killers gained entry by climbing through an open eastern window, which had no panes.

Kharpattie Shivnauth was last seen alive the previous night (Thursday August 27), when she had attended a Mandir in the community.

A hire car driver had dropped her home at around 20:00 hrs. She had reportedly rested briefly in a hammock under her house before going upstairs.

Almost immediately, police began to focus on a man who lived a few houses from Shivnauth’s.

Relatives alleged that the man was seen acting suspiciously outside the victim’s home on the night on which she was believed to have been slain. About two weeks before her death, the same man had reportedly tried to sell Shivnauth a gold chain.

The elderly woman had ordered him off her property.

Relatives described the individual as a drug addict who had recently moved into the area. Someone who knew the suspect also claimed that the man’s jersey and his cutlass were found in Shivnauth’s home.

Despite these leads, police were unable to link the man to Shivnauth’s death and eventually released him. No one else was ever detained.

Gopaul Nauth, the victim’s son, said that despite her age, his mother was healthy and did all of her own chores. At the time, he appeared to be convinced that more than one individual killed his mother.

“My mother was strong…is not only one person strangle her.”

Like Kharpattie Shivnauth, 78-year-old Rajkumarie Mahadeo was also healthy and active.

Unfortunately, she also lived alone in her Lusignan, East Coast Demerara abode.

She habitually woke up early to tend to her cows. Most of the children she had raised single-handedly after her husband’s tragic murder.

They had planned to give her an overseas Christmas vacation in December 2009.

But at around 05:45 hrs on Christmas Eve 2009, Mahadeo was found dead on the parapet outside her yard.

She was still wearing some of her jewellery when her body was found.

A post mortem revealed that she had been strangled.

It is alleged that Mahadeo had received some threatening phone calls a few months before she was slain.

The individual was questioned but was never charged and no one else was detained.

Mrs. Mahadeo’s children issued a reward for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of her killers. To date, though, no one has come forward with any information that could result in charges.

In mid-February, 2011, some residents of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, were awakened by a woman’s screams. Those screams seemed to be coming from the Lot 88 Second Street home of 64-year-old Prampattie Ramsundar called ‘Aunty Daro.’

One neighbour peeped through her window and observed that Ramsundar’s front door was ajar. She called out to the elderly woman, but got no answer. When the neighbour peeped outside about an hour later, Ramsundar’s door was closed.

Later in the day, Ramsundar was found dead in the bottom flat of her home.

Her hands were bound and a telephone cord was wrapped around her neck. Ramsundar’s house was ransacked and there were ashes inside, indicating that her attackers were smoking in the house.

A sister, who found the body, said that over $500,000 in cash was missing.

According to the sister, there was no sign of forced entry to the victim’s house.

She believed that this suggested that her slain sister knew her attacker and willingly opened her door.

Later that day, a police tracker dog led investigators to a house some two corners away from the slain woman’s house.

The house was reportedly occupied by a man who was often abusive to Ramsundar.

The woman’s killer remains unknown.

In early March of 2011, two schoolgirls found the body of 74-year-old Khirul

Najidam, called Babloo Saddick, in a store room located in the lower flat of her 1215 Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt Park residence.

She was bound and gagged and her home was ransacked.

Najidam was last seen alive around noon on the same day she was slain.

The victim had operated a small confectionery stand.

At around 15:00hrs that day, a group of school children went to the woman’s house to make a purchase.

After calling and getting no response, two girls ventured further into the yard and found the woman’s body in the storeroom.

One neighbour claimed to have seen three young boys running from the house some time before 15:00hrs, but thought nothing of it, since some persons would often try to steal the woman’s fruits.

The following month, the partly nude body of 68-yearold Sukhdai Ramkilaum, called ‘Mama Rose’ and ‘Rosaline,’ was found in a pool of blood in the bedroom of her Lot 80 Vryheid’s Lust North residence. Her throat had been slit and her home was ransacked.

Like the other victims, Ramkilaum also lived alone.

The dead woman’s nephew, who lived next door, said that the first sign that he and his wife got that something was amiss was when the woman didn’t respond to calls the afternoon before.

His wife then observed blood dripping from the floor boards to the ground below.

The nephew then contacted the police, who accompanied him to the house where they made the grisly discovery.

A police rank speculated that a ‘sadist’ or two may have been seeking out elderly women who live alone. “We can’t do away with this theory,” he said.

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

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: mjdragon @hotmail.com.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 49

Underdogs Northern Rangers, - Team support GDF into semi-finals crucial today

U

nderdogs Northern Rangers gave themselves a great opportunity to enhance the financial viability of the club after beating their more established counterparts Santos 2-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Banks Beer / GFA Knockout Cup. In the first game of a scheduled double header, Northern Rangers led by goals from Jermaine Scott (53rd) and Omally Nassy (63rd) produced an inspired offensive performance and then duplicated that with a superb defensive display to nullify every threat created by the Santos forwards.

They will now face Sunburst Camptown, a team regarded as one of the best when it comes to money tournaments, for a place in the New Year’s Day final which carries a top prize of $4million.

In the feature contest, the Guyana Defence Force cruised past the last standing team from Linden, Netrockers by a 4-1 margin. The prolific Eusi Phillips netted a brace in the (7th and 69th) minutes, while

Marlon Benjamin (63rd) and Ryan Morrison (84th) completed their tally. Oswin Hope (67th) minute strike had made the game interesting for a short time, before the soldiers hit top gear and put the encounter out of reach.

The Army, who are among the pre-tournament favourites, will now battle Riddim Squad in what is anticipated to be a tough encounter for a final spot. Once again, midfield talisman Sceyon Hope, whose sublime volley broke the hearts of Fruta Conquerors in their quarterfinal fixture, will be called to duty to lead their quest for victory.

He is expected to be supported by the likes of Llyleton Ramsay and Sheldon Hope, while the Army’s task force will include the nippy and elusive Benjamin along with Phillips and Morrison, all of who have looked in superlative form throughout the tournament.

The Rangers versus Camptown matchup should be another bruising affair and even though the latter’s reputation is well known, Head Coach of the Rangers Gordon

Action in the clash between the GDF and Netrockers which the former won to advance to today’s semi-finals.

‘Ultimate Warrior’ Braithwaite’s technical and tactical understanding of the game is second to none and there is no doubt he will be making the necessary changes to disturb the opposition tactics.

Apart from Nassy and Scott, Sherwin Vincent has also looked in menacing form and he too may very well have a say in how the game finishes. Camptown’s charge for a place in the championship game will rest on the performances

of Anthony Sancho, Troy Prescod and Rishawn Sandiford.

All four teams have massive following and it is anticipated that a packed GCC ground will be on hand to witness two semi final clashes that promises fireworks.

Page 50

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Olympics sparkle at height of magical British summer LONDON (Reuters) London defied Britain’s wettest summer for 100 years, potential transport and security chaos and a depressed economy to stage a marvelous 2012 Olympics during a magical year for British sport.

Over the past century Britons have become resigned to watching the rest of the world beat them at games they had either invented or codified at the height of the island nation’s imperial splendor.

This year, to their fans’ surprise and delight, British teams and athletes surpassed themselves across a range of sports, including third place in the Olympic medals’ table behind the world’s two great economic powers the United States and China.

Englishman Bradley Wiggins, who looks like a throwback to the English beat groups of the swinging sixties with his mop of hair and straggling sideburns, became the first Briton to win the Tour de France prior to taking a fourth Olympic gold medal.

After finishing runner-up in four grand slam finals during a vintage era for men’s tennis, Scotland’s Andy Murray finally made the breakthrough as the first British male in 76 years to win one of the big four titles with victory over Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open.

And Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, winner of four PGA titles including the PGA championship by a record eight strokes, was awarded the annual Jack Nicklaus award for player-of-the-year.

At the age of 23 he was the youngest recipient since Tiger Woods in 1997.

At the heart of the year’s sporting action, London staged the summer Olympics for the third time to unanimous acclaim throughout the world.

Under the assured stewardship of organizing committee chairman Seb Coe, as adroit in the convoluted realm of sports politics as he had been on the track while winning two Olympic 1,500 meters titles, the London organization was impeccable.

Transport, one of the biggest worries in a cramped and crowded city, worked smoothly with enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowds flocking to venues sprinkled among some of London’s more celebrated landmarks.

Rain fell nearly every day during the early part of a gloomy summer before an overdue burst of hot sunshine in the week leading up to the Games in late July.

Thereafter the weather reverted to a more familiar English blend of the good, the bad and the indifferent without causing any serious disruptions.

Even the admission by a private security firm a fortnight before the 16-day festival that it could not supply enough guards proved an unexpected bonus.

Thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen stepped into the breach and their disciplined professionalism and unfailing good humor

daughter of a Jamaican father and English mother Jessica Ennis finished first in the heptathlon. Greg Rutherford, the great-grandson of an England soccer international, won the long jump.

Usain Bolt, who had made a mockery of the world 100 and 200 meters records in Beijing, shrugged off doubts about his form, fitness and the threat of training partner Yohan Blake, who had beaten him twice at the Jamaican trials, to become the first man to retain both Olympic titles.

classics.

Abandoned at the age of two by his alcoholic Australian father, himself a professional cyclist who was found dead of head injuries on a street in 2008, Wiggins fought his way out of a council estate with gritty determination and drive.

His victory in the Tour, possibly the greatest individual British sporting achievement of the year and followed by a fourth Olympic gold, was accompanied by unwelcome if not unexpected

collected gold in the singles and doubles during a winning streak when she added the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles to her trophy cabinet.

POULTER LEADS FIGHTBACK McIlroy also played a full part in the year’s most remarkable comeback. After confusion over a tee time, he needed a police escort in his haste to reach the Medinah course on the final day of the biennial Ryder Cup between Europe and the United States when the hosts needed only

Athletes stand together on the Queen Victoria Memorial during a parade of British Olympic and Paralympic athletes in front of Buckingham Palace in central London September 10, 2012. REUTERS/Shaun Botterill/Pool further boosted the feel good factor. The day after a quirky but compelling opening ceremony fusing historical and cultural glories with quintessentially British eccentricity, Michael Phelps took to the pool.

Winner of a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps faltered initially, finishing fourth in the 400 meters individual medley behind fellow-American Ryan Lochte.

By the end of the opening week, the American through sheer willpower was back to his best, finishing his competitive career with 18 gold medals from four Games.

They included four golds in London and 22 medals overall to make him the mostdecorated athlete in Olympic history ahead of former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who collected 18.

FINEST HOUR While Phelps was gracing an Olympic pool for the last time on the middle Saturday of the Games, the nearby Olympic stadium erupted during Britain’s finest Olympic hour.

Reflecting the face of modern multi-cultural Britain, Somali immigrant Mo Farah won the 10,000 meters and the

Jamaica swept the 200 medals and Bolt finished a triumphant week for his tiny Caribbean nation by anchoring the 4x100 relay team to a world record and establish beyond any doubt that he is the greatest sprinter to step on to a track.

Kenya’s David Rudisha provided the most spectacular individual performance on the track, spread-eagling the field to break his own world 800 meters record without the benefit of pacemakers.

Chelsea kicked off the British sporting summer with an unexpected triumph in the Champions League final, defeating Bayern Munich on penalties at the Allianz Arena to win the European club title for the first time.

After the west London club had eliminated favorites Barcelona in the semi-finals with a scrupulously disciplined defensive display, Didier Drogba leveled the scores in the 88th minute of the final with a header before converting the final spot kick in the penalty shootout.

ARMSTRONG SCANDAL Wiggins, who had survived the worst life could throw at him, triumphed in the most brutal and demanding of the European road cycling

baggage. Given the sport in general and the Tour in particular are notoriously drugtainted, Wiggins was forced to endure a barrage of questions about doping during and after the race.

“If I doped I would potentially stand to lose everything,” he responded.

“My reputation, my livelihood, my marriage, my family, my house... my Olympic titles, my world titles.”

The questions, to Wiggins and his rivals, will not go away soon.

Later in the year, American Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency published a report accusing him of being involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen”.

Armstrong continued to deny ever taking drugs but elected not to contest the charges, which the sporting authorities took as an effective admission of guilt.

Murray’s breakthrough came after he avenged his Wimbledon final defeat to Roger Federer to beat the Swiss master in the Olympic final. Serena Williams

4-1/2 points from 12 singles matches to win.

Instead, the Americans conceded 8-1/2 points to the Europeans who won 14-1/2 to 13-1/2. McIlroy prevailed over the previously undefeated Keegan Bradley and German Martin Kaymer sank a fivefoot putt on the 18th green to secure the 14 points Europe needed to retain the trophy.

Englishman Ian Poulter, who like the late Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie before him reserves his best for the Ryder Cup, turned around Europe’s fortunes by earning one of two points in the fourballs on Saturday. Poulter, possessor of one of the more startling wardrobes in a sport not noted for sartorial restraint, was one of eight players to win on Sunday to finish with a 4-0 record overall.

Although another Briton, Jenson Button, won the final Grand Prix of the season in Sao Paulo nobody could deny Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, who at the age of 25 became Formula One’s youngest triple world champion. The German was last on the opening lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix but fought back in a damaged car to finish sixth.

One arena where a British

national team performed much as it always does at major tournaments was in the national game of soccer.

For once, under a new coach Roy Hodgson, expectations were not exaggeratedly high for England before the European championships jointly hosted

by Ukraine and Poland and losing on penalties to Italy in the quarter-finals was greeted with a resigned shrug rather than outraged indignation.

Spain, the country who took 44 years to win a major tournament, became the first to win three in a row, retaining the European title after triumphing in the 2010 World Cup. They destroyed Italy 40 in the final and their endlessly inventive midfielder Andres Iniesta was named player of the tournament.

Iniesta’s Barcelona team mate Lionel Messi was carried off in a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious knee injury after colliding with Benfica goalkeeper in a Champions League group match on December 5.

Four days later the Argentine scored both goals in a 2-1 La Liga win over Real Betis to overhaul German Gerd Mueller’s previous record of 85 goals in a calendar year set in 1972. Both goals were set up by Iniesta.

Pele’s record of 75 scored in 1958 was already well behind him and, at the age of 25, Messi is in exalted company.

“Leo is supernatural. He doesn’t have limits,” marveled Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

Britain’s golden year lingered into December, with yet further cause for celebration through sports developed in Victorian public schools whose passion for organized games inspired Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics.

England, 12/1 outsiders before the match, thrashed world rugby union champions New Zealand 38-21 at Twickenham to bring an abrupt halt to increasingly fevered speculation that the current All Blacks team are the best side ever to play the game.

Then the England cricket side, humiliated in the first test of a four-match series in India, bounced back with captain Alastair Cook leading by example to win the next two by convincing margins.

The last test was drawn and England sealed the series 2-1, their first test series victory in India since 1985 and India’s first home series defeat in eight years.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Neymar to stay in Brazil until 2014 BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — Brazil star Neymar is to stay with Santos in his homeland until at least after the 2014 World Cup, according to his father Neymar da Silva.

Neymar senior said his son did want to play in Europe to further his career development but told Friday’s Barcelona-based Sport daily: “This is what he wants (but) he will do it in 2014.” He added that was why his son’s Santos contract had been shortened from 2015 to 2014 to allow him to showcase his talents through to the World Cup on home soil as a home-grown star.

Even so, his father warned that “if Neymar is not happy” or Santos found that it would be better to sell him on financial grounds, then that could conceivably be an option.

Were that to transpire then the 20-year-old forward is set to head off to Spain’s La Liga with Barcelona.

“Barca, of course.

Barcelona’s football is similar to that of Neymar, isn’t that

so?” asked Neymar senior.

Even so, while admitting to early contacts with the Catalan club, he conceded that “it could be Barca will not want him in 2014”.

Barca’s Brazilian connections stretching back across the decades could play a part in Neymar’s future destination as “Neymar has his idols and it is normal that he would want to triumph where Romario or Ronaldo (played)”.

Brazil are hoping the country’s growing emergence as a world power could allow Neymar to feel he can stay at home for now at least rather than follow the well-trodden path to Europe. “Neymar has broken the mould of Brazilian footballers who left to pursue the best financial offer without taking their own personal situation into account,” said Neymar da Silva.

Neymar has already turned down one chance of a move to Europe — rejecting a £36 million move to Chelsea two seasons ago and his father said his son was only thinking about his

Weather holds key in India-Pakistan...

From page 58 defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia, following the Asia Cup, would have hurt.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Mohammad Hafeez’s demotion from the opening position seemed to work for him in the T20s. In both games, he compiled halfcenturies, playing a crucial role in Pakistan’s successful chase in the first T20 and nearly repeating it in the second.

It was the quality of his shots that stood out. In Ahmedabad, his first scoring shot was an audacious scoop that nearly carried over the fine-leg rope.

His knock featured late cuts, the drive over extra cover, consecutive slogged sixes over deep midwicket and a booming straight drive to bring up his fifty.

In his last three ODIs, Hafeez has scores of 78, 23 and 4 - all as an opener - and with Ahmed Shehzad not in the one-day squad it remains to be seen if he will open with Nasir Jamshed.

Ashok Dinda shrugged off a horror final over in the T20 against England in Mumbai with 3 for 36 in Ahmedabad against Pakistan.

Death bowling has been an issue for India of late, and Dinda’s late spell set a good example. A slower ball, bowled from the back of the hand, knocked down Umar Akmal’s middle stump, and his final two overs went for just six runs each. His wickets of Hafeez and Kamran Akmal, both caught in the deep, ensured the game was India’s.

TEAM NEWS Pakistan have retained the allrounder Shoaib Malik and left-arm seamer Mohammad Irfan for the one-dayers, in recognition of their good performances in the T20s.

There was talk of retaining Shahid Afridi as well, but he hadn’t done enough to merit selection, thereby putting his one-day future in doubt.

Younis Khan and Umar Gul return to the squad after the axe for the series against Australia in August.

Virender Sehwag returns to the ODI squad after being dropped for the T20s.

Yuvraj Singh will play his first one-dayer since returning from illness while Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be in line for an ODI debut after an impressive performance in Bangalore.

development as a player.

“Neymar needs to grow and mature... many (players) left and suffered abroad. What Neymar loves is to play football. We will do everything as well as possible to ensure he plays until he is 35.”

Sport on Thursday quoted the player as saying he would see out his contract until 2014, insisting he is happy with Pele’s old club Santos, and only then think about whether a move to Europe would be in his interests.

Page 51

NEYMAR (right)... has already turned down one chance of a move to Europe

Page 52

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

United, City & Spurs win on goal-laden day Manchester United beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to preserve their seven-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, who, at a numerical disadvantage, scraped to a 4-3 win at Norwich City.

The Red Devils quickly got down to business quickly and went ahead in the ninth minute.

The scorer wore a blue and white shirt, however, with Baggies defender Gareth McAuley inadvertently shinning the ball into his own goal after Ashley Young drove a low cross across the face of goal.

Former United goalkeeper Ben Foster tipped a Young shot on to the crossbar, but United were not able to breathe easily until substitute Robin van Persie curled a glorious shot into the top-left corner in the last minute.

Manchester City lost Samir Nasri to a first-half red card at Norwich, but edged an open-ended encounter thanks in no small part to Edin Dzeko, who scored twice and might have had a hat-trick.

The Bosnian, who has had to become accustomed to a role

Robin van Persie celebrates scoring his team's second goal (Reuters)

on the substitutes’ bench this season, struck twice inside the opening four minutes to put the visitors control at Carrow Road.

But Norwich hit back through a deflected Anthony Pilkington free-kick, and the visitors were then dealt a blow when Nasri was sent off for aiming a head-butt at Sebastien Bassong.

Sergio Aguero’s deft, lobbed finish restored City’s two-goal cushion in the 50th minute and although Russell Martin headed in for Norwich, Dzeko made it 4-2

when his shot hit the post and bounced in off Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn.

Martin scored again with 15 minutes to go, prodding in from close range after City failed to clear a corner, but Roberto Mancini’s men were able to hang on.

Aston Villa’s recent miseries continued as they sank 3-0 at home to Wigan Athletic. Goals from Ivan Ramis, Emmerson Boyce and Arouna Kone put paid to Paul Lambert’s young team, who have now shipped 15 goals in three games after losing 8-

0 to Chelsea and 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.

VILLA, FULHAM WOES CONTINUE, SPURS MAINTAIN FORM Villa would have slipped into the relegation zone had third-bottom Southampton not been denied victory in a 3-3 draw at Stoke City by a sensational 25-yard strike from Cameron Jerome.

Southampton had led 3-1, and played against ten men following the 71st-minute dismissal of Steven N’Zonzi, but second-bottom Reading did a better job of defending a lead in a 1-0 home win over West Ham United.

Fulham’s dismal form continued, meanwhile, as they lost 2-1 at home to Swansea City. In the lunch-time game, Tottenham overturned a halftime deficit to win 2-1 at Sunderland, provisionally moving them into third place.

Spurs bossed the first half at a rain-sodden Stadium of Light, hitting the bar through Emmanuel Adebayor, but fell behind in the 40th minute when John O’Shea scored after Hugo Lloris had saved superbly from Steven Fletcher. However, a Carlos

Cuellar own-goal saw the visitors draw level three minutes into the second period, before man-of-thematch Aaron Lennon completed the comeback with a composed finish in the 51st minute.

Andre Villas-Boas’ side have taken 19 points from a possible 24 and are now a point above third-place Chelsea, who have two games in hand and visit Everton on Sunday.

TEN-GOAL STUNNER IN NORTH LONDON The day finished with a thrilling encounter at the Emirates stadium, where a topsy-turvy game ended in an Arsenal landslide as they beat Newcastle United 7-3.

Arsenal’s record scorer Thierry Henry was in the Position Team 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Tottenham 4 Chelsea 5 Everton 6 West Brom 7 Arsenal 8 Stoke 9 Swansea 10 Liverpool

stands watching his beloved former club and he was on his feet after 20 minutes thanks to Walcott’s opener - a fine curled finish following an Henry-esque break from the halfway line.

Newcastle pulled level through Demba Ba, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored, only for Ba to grab his second to make it 2-2.

Arsenal looked set for a disappointing draw after Sylvain Marveaux equalised following Lukasz Podolski’s header, but Walcott turned on the class to put the Gunners 4-3 up. The former Southampton man set up Olivier Giroud twice and added his much-deserved third strike in injury time with a deft chip over Tim Krul.

Played GD 20 22 20 19 20 10 18 20 19 9 20 3 19 14 20 4 20 5 19 2

Points 49 42 36 35 33 33 31 29 28 25

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Australia’s “Mr Cricket” Hussey to retire

Page 53

‘Lucky Gold’ looking to end the year with more gold

Mike Hussey (Reuters)

MELBOURNE (Reuters) Mike Hussey will play his final test against Sri Lanka next week and retire from international cricket at the end of the Australian summer, the veteran batsman said, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

The rugged 37-year-old, known affectionately Down Under as ‘Mr Cricket’ for his all-consuming passion for the game, will sign off at the peak of his powers, having scored three centuries in his past five tests.

Hussey, speaking in an interview with Nine Network, said he wanted to bow out on a high and that family life would become his priority. “I was actually quite excited to tell (my children) this morning that I’m not going to go away and play for Australia anymore,” he said.

“They were happy but not as excited as I thought they were going to be, so it was a bit of shock.”

Shut out from the peerless Australia team that dominated world cricket for over a decade, Hussey had to wait until he was 30 for his test debut, against West Indies in 2005, by which time he had amassed a mountain of first-class runs.

Although scoring one and 29 in his first test in Brisbane, Hussey scored consecutive centuries in his next two matches and went on to score another 17 in his lateblooming career.

Hussey’s career dipped in 2008-09, but he dug himself out of a prolonged form slump with two centuries in Australia’s home Ashes series loss in 2010-11 and has continued to dominate bowlers around the world since.

“I know how low I felt when my head was on the chopping block and I was maybe one innings away from being dropped from the team,” the Western Australian said on Saturday.

“It’s not a nice place to be.”

FANTASTIC MEMORIES

An aggressive left-hander who charges between the wickets and always looks to score, the middle order batsman will play his 79th test against Sri Lanka in Sydney and brings 6,183 runs at an outstanding average of 51.52 into the match. The Perthborn Hussey has also scored over 5,000 runs in one-day internationals and will sign off with matches against Sri Lanka and West Indies in January and February.

The sight of the everreliable Hussey walking out to the pitch following a top order collapse has been a comfort to cricket fans Down Under in recent years, with the test team struggling to rebuild following the retirements of a golden generation of cricketers.

His shock decision is a major blow ahead of a tour to India and the back-to-back Ashes series in 2013, however, and follows the retirement of another prolific runscorer in former captain Ricky Ponting, who called it a day after the third test match against South Africa earlier this month.

Already battling for cohesion with a brittle top order, Australia will need to anoint a replacement quickly but will be hard pressed to find a batsman of Hussey’s pedigree, and with his ability to play spin on India’s pitches. Hussey said he was looking forward to soaking up his valedictory test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a dead rubber after Australia sealed the series 2-0 with their win in the second test in Melbourne on Friday.

“It’s one thing about playing for Australia, it’s always a lot of stress and a lot of pressure to perform,” Hussey said. “I feel like I’m coming into this last test match with no pressure at all.

“It will be nice to sit back when it’s all finished and really reminisce over some fantastic memories and some great wins for Australia.”

Lucky Gold in front with Jockey Chandra onboard on the outside, distances itself from its opponents in the Two year old non winners event to take the win at the KMTC meet.

After registering its first victory in the horseracing circle in Guyana, the two year old Bay Colt, Lucky Gold of the Mootoo Stable will be looking to continue in the same vein and extend the winning streak when it takes to the track today in the events for two years old horses.

The animal was in winner’s row on Boxing Day at the KMTC horserace meet in the two year old event for non winners over 5Furlongs.

Ridden by the experienced Prem Chandra, Lucky Gold did

not depend on luck but class as it romped home unchallenged, battering its rivals to snatch the gold worth $250,000 and trophy for its first win.

Owned by Indira Sukdeo and trained by Sanjeev Mootoo, the animal of No30 Village West Coast Berbice has been improving all the time and among the money in the last few meets in took part in.

According to the owner the animal seems to have now hit good form. The trainer Mootoo said, “Like people

and anything else some animals take longer to develop, but when they do, its trouble.” He stated that, “As a trainer and training horses over the years you spot defects early and try to correct them as early as possible. With the right kind of food which includes a number of different mixtures and the right exercise the animal can reach the top.”

The animal trains at various venues on the West Coast of Berbice including Rising Sun, Bush Lot United and No6 depending on where

it has to race and the type of races it will be involved in.

The event also will dictate the type of training it has to undertake.

Apart from competing in the two year old category it also competes in the J, K and L classes, but with its recent win it will definitely be moving up in class.

Lucky Gold will be looking for many more gold medals and Pole position placing and according to the handlers it will definitely not be depending on Luck.

(Samuel Whyte)

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Kaieteur News

>>> Letter to the Sports Editor<<< DEAR SIR, Reference is hereby made to the above caption as it relates to an article captioned “Beenie Man not at GFC ground on New Years’ Day” – Kashif and Shanghai’s Major by Donald Duff published in SN-23.12.12. `Sir, before I divulge the harsh but sad realities of the situation as it unfolded within the article, May I enquire who actually is in charge of the GFA, since from all indications it’s definitely not the President, whose authority on pertinent issues is being undermined.

Sunday December 30, 2012

GFA Executive, who’s In Charge?

While I must acknowledge that the Hon. Secretary, like all other Secretaries is the Chief Administrative Officer.

Nevertheless, it’s the President, who remains and maintains his “status quo” as the Chief Executive Officer.

Or, at least is supposed to.

With the individual, emanating from a highly professional background such as the Guyana Defence Force, definitely much is left to the desired with this public comment; “When contacted President of the GFA, Vernon Burnett said he had not seen a letter from the secretary of

the GFC regarding the issue.”

Editor, within this day an important issue such as the acquisition of the GFC ground for an after football finals concert featuring ‘Beenie Man’ on New Year’s Day and the CEO, does not know that the Secretary of GFC, had written the GFA, indicating that the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation had earlier secured the venue, for the finals of the Beharry Group of Companies sponsored Chico under-13 round-robin/knockout competition. And it’s out of concern that an

advertisement is being aired on the local airwaves, highlighting GFC, as the venue for the concert/show.

Finally, since “there is more in the mortar, than in the pestle,” then one can only conclude that the GFA’s President may also not be aware of the following: i) Approaches were being made to Pele players to participate in this year’s GFA/Banks Beer K.O Competition, with substantial financial remunerations, amounting to $800, 000. ii) An offer of $100, 000 being made to a FIFA accredited Referee Instructor,

towards coordinating the appointment of referees and their assistants. Fortunately, the offer was not accepted, but this did not deter a referee initially from the Referees Council of accepting an offer which entailed financial remuneration.

At the end of the day GDF would have in the past provided officers, whose contributions to the administration of football was commendable. Readily coming to mind is: Messrs: Godwin McPherson (deceased); Michael

Atherley, Frankie Bispham, Davey DeAbreu, John Flores and Tyrone Smith. None of whose shoes you cannot attempt to fill!

So, your tenure as President, from all indication is bordering on mediocrity, as those under your command are bent on achieving their own objectives, in pursuit of their own agendas. “When the battle is over and lost, it’s the high command that is blamed; definitely not the lower ranks,” Is this a sign of a “coup d’état”?

Lester Sealey.

Clive Atwell stops...

For the second time in 18 months, Atwell (left) and Lake will go after each other and the latter boxer has promised to reverse the decision From back page tactics for the imminent. For the first time since returning to the local ring, Dharry displayed erratic tendencies, maybe from over anxiety. His punches lacked timings and on too many occasions he allowed the Bajan to lure him into a senseless brawl.

This was most evident in the 2nd round when the referee took away a point from Dharry’s score after he struck Blackman while he was down.

Otherwise, it was a literal walk over for Dharry who forced the ‘third man’ to call a halt at 2:10secs of the second stanza.

Dorway was in an expansive mood and volunteered to teach Pile how to do the famous Samba dance. He was such a good teacher that he needed just 1:10secs to achieve the feat.

A left hook sent Pile to the canvass and he rose with a few tottering steps. Apparently not satisfied that his student had a hang of things, Dorway added a straight right to the left hook. This time Pile rose and added a few other

steps to those already learned. Still not satisfied Dorway struck again and Pile tumbled down. He rose and did such a good imitation of the dance that the referee gave him an A grade before halting the session.

James Walcott won a majority verdict over Kelsey George in their return catchweight encounter to replicate the decision of their inaugural bout. Walcott was virtually unchallenged as he scored punches at will while George provided great target practice. The judges’ score were reflexive of the lopsided bout. Rawle Aaron saw it 5955, while Bernard DeSantos and Trevor Arno both saw it 60-54, all in favour of Walcott.

Mark Austin seems to be concentrating on the revitalization of his career after recent back to back losses. He was sharp and his punches had more zip. Austin also gave away 10 pounds, weighing in at 162 to his opponent’s 172. He went on to take the 4 rounds by a unanimous decision.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Shariff Racing stable presents hefty sum towards Port Mourant event

By Samuel Whyte All is set and a bumper crowd is expected to swarm the Port Mourant Turf Club today for their Old Year’s day one day horserace meet set for the club’s entity Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice.

Nine events are listed on the days programme with over $8.5M in cash and trophies up for grabs.

Yesterday the principals of the Shariff Racing Stable presented a cheque for a substantial amount to the PMTC for the successful staging of the event. The presentation was done at the Entity No 6 West Coast Berbice farm and racing stable. Top Jockey Colin Ross did the honours for the Shariff racing stable, while William LaRose accepted on behalf of the PMTC. The full list of events and sponsors are as follows -The feature B class event has an impressive lineup that includes Score’s Even, Settle In Seattle, Mission King, Marathon man, California Strike, The Message, Grande Roja, Face The Fire, Got To Go, Renia Del Cafe, One Crazy Cat and Serenity compliments of Banks DIH Limited for the hefty first prize of $1.5M in cash and trophy over the 1600M. The Three Year old cofeature event for Guyana and West Indies Bred Horses has a winning prize of $600,000 also over 1600M. A ding dong battle is anticipated with the likes of Settle in Seattle, Serenity, Silent Lizzy, Fly in the Park, Third World, Windy War, Pride and Joy, Rosetta, Come dance with Me and Red Cloud among the 13 entries looking to take top honours.

The Two year old open event for Guyana and West Indies Bred Horses over 1200M will see Silent Night, She So Special, Lucky Gold, Easy To Win, Royal Passion Peace of the Cash competing for the $500,000 top money.

The E class event has the likes of Sleeping in Town, Swing Easy, Home Bush Baby, Traditional Man, Appealing Harvest, Dubai Duchess, the Bailiff, Marathon man, among others competing for the $500,000 winners money over 1200 meters.

The G1 and lower race will see the winner getting $400,000 over the 1400M distance. Among those

entered are Damascus Dream, Celebration Love, Face the Fire, Top of The Line, Quiet Storm, Captain Crook, The Girl them Sugar, The Bailiff and Maya among others.

Savion are among the ‘I ‘and lower animals that will be competing for the $200,000 winners money over 1200M. Joyful Victory, Funny Side, Wicked Intention, I Want Revenge, Princess Renuka and Watch My Shadow will be among the horses to watch in the H class race for a winner’s money of $300,000 and trophy with the distance being 1000M. The race for Guyana bred Two year old horses will see the winning horse taking home $300,000 and trophy also over 1200M. Among those set to take off with the top prize are Gold Rush Monsoon, It’s my Turn, The Wild Grinder, The Legend and Another Jet. The race for animals classified ‘I’ and lower which will go over a distance of 1200M for a wining take of $200,000 and trophy has the likes of Savion, Princess Renuka, The Gump, Blessings, Mona Lisa and Royal Time among the 15 entries.

The final race is for animals classified J and lower over 1000M for a first prize of $150,000, which has 22 entries and among them are Try again, Apostle, Smarty Light, Royal Intention and Modern Cowboy.

The top individual performers which include the top Jockey, top stable and top trainer among others will be presented with trophies and other accolades compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall, Bourda Market.

Among the sponsors are Banks DIH Limited, The Shariff Racing Stable, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Geddes Grant, Republic Bank, Chris Jagdeo Construction, overseas based Guyanese Deodat Kaiso , A Ramcharitar Construction, Ashrafally “Papie” Supermarket, Fazil Yunas Construction, Balram Shane General Store, Romel Jagroop Construction Company, Rambrich Company and Poonai Drug Store among others.

Persons wishing to make last minute queries are asked to contact Krishna Jagdeo on 322-0369, C. Ramnauth on telephone numbers 337-5311 or 697-9696 or Jumbo Jet office on numbers 232-9711, 2320633 or 624-9063.

Race time is 13.00 hrs.

Jockey Colin Ross (left) of the Mohammed ” Nankoo” Shariff racing stable presents the cheque to William La Rose of The PMTC. Champion Horse Settle In Seattle survey the scene in the back ground along with stable-hands.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

RHTY&SC describes 2012...

Cricket Manager Patrick Lewis with six of the Patricia Moniz Trust Fund Awardees From page 61 Cricket Academy, Republic Bank (Guy) Educational Camp, Tribute to Heroes, Lower Corentyne Educational Awards Scheme, CSEC Outstanding Students Awards, Port Mourant Secondary School Teachers Programme, Tribute to Retired Teachers, Scotia Bank Tribute to Outstanding Lower Corentyne Teachers, Panorama Television Programmes, Anti-Drugs Billboard, Busta Champion of Champions, Father and Mother of the Year, Patricia Moniz Trust Fund, Western Union Junior Cricketers Programme, Feeding of the Poor Programme, Christmas Charity, Basil Butcher Junior Cricketers Programme, Annual Review Magazine, Distribution of School Bags to less fortunate students, Financial Donations to Sportsmen including Powerlifter Vijai Rahim, Donations of books to Libraries and Monthly Food Hampers for less fortunate families.

The Club also shared out over $12M worth of clothing, footwear, educational materials, food items and hygiene kits to the less fortunate while it also sponsored trophies, medals and prizes for 32 sporting and educational activities in Berbice including football, volleyball, basketball, cycling, chess, dominos, bodybuilding and school’s athletics.

This year, the RHTYSC also used its good relationship with sponsors to raise over $4M in cash for the Berbice Cricket Board and organised $10M worth of cricket gears and items to assist over 40 clubs in Berbice.

In addition the Club co-sponsored a total of 45 programmes/activities for the BCB and also produced the Berbice 2012 Review Magazine. The Independence Day T20 Tournament organised by the Board and Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Development Association to raise for charity was also the brainchild of the RHTYSC CEO Hilbert Foster, along with the tournaments for clubs within each zone in Berbice.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club also sponsored several activities for the BCB for Christmas this year including toys and hampers for less fortunate children and senior citizens. They also organised a four-team T20 Day of Champions in honour of Assad Fudadin; honoured Shivnarine Chanderpaul and also made a financial contributions to ailing former West Indies player Ivor Mendonca.

During the year (March 2012) the club also received the Berbice Cricket Board Club of

the Year 2011 and the prestigious International Olympic Committee Award for Sports. President Donald Ramoutar handed over the Award in March to Patron Beverley Harper.

The Club’s successes during the year is being ascribed to the hard work of all its members and Foster stated that the dedication of President Keith Foster, Treasurer Dawn Hicks, Organising Secretary Ravi Narine, Office Manager Eon Hooper, Cricket Manager Patrick Lewis and members the likes of Renwick Batson, Leon Wiggins, Angela Haniff and Agnes Crawford played a great part.

Special mention was also made of Patron Beverley Harper who continues to be a tower of support. The Club also expressed gratitude to its numerous sponsors including Gizmos & Gadgets, Bakewell, DDL/Pepsi, Farfan & Mendes Ltd, Metro Office Supplies, Banks DIH, Ansa McAl, TCL, Busta, John Fernandes Ltd, Sterling Products, Edward Beharry, Food For the Poor, GT&T, Western Union, Scotia Bank, Republic Bank, Universal DVD, Ming’s, Ricks & Sari, F&H Printery, H.A Snacks, Bounty Farm, NAMILCO, New GPC, Bissans, BCB, The Trophy Stall, Lifetime Realty, Lens Craft Optical, Impressions, A. Ally & Sons and DTV-8 among others.

Also acknowledged was the outstanding contribution of the media for their coverage of the club’s activities especially DTV-8, LRTVS CH 10, TVG, NCN Radio and Television, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Guyana Times and Guyana Chronicle.

Special mention was made of journalists Gregory Rambarran, Franklin Wilson, Claude David, Calvin Roberts, Leon Horatio, Donald Duff, Avinash Ramzan, Rajiv Bisnauth, S. Ramnauth and Marlon Munroe.

The major disappointment for the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club was the non repair of the old pavilion at the Area ‘H’ ground despite the commitment of several senior government officials who the club had approached.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club is also bitterly disappointed that the Mayor & Town Council of Rose Hall Town has failed to provide security for the Area ‘H’ ground despite the heavy investment made at the venue and the constant breakings by thieves.

The long serving Secretary/CEO also disclosed that the Club has already worked out its work schedule for 2013 and a total of 165 programmes/activities have been planned.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 57

“Happy New Year 2013 – We can only hope for even better than in 2012!”

Colin E. H. Croft 2012 was some year! 2013, which could be considered a “gap” year, with expectations already building heavily on Brazil’s 2014 Soccer World Cup, among other hopes, would have to do exceptionally well to be close.

All we can hope for is the best!

“Happy New Year 2013”!

For prosperity, I have heard that in southern USA states such as Tennessee and Louisiana - there is a myth concerning foods, readily available in the Caribbean, which produce riches and abundant life, if the meals are eaten either on December 31 in the ending year, or January 01 of the starting year.

All you need to cook, and eat, are black-eyed peas, collared greens and corn bread, stuff that every kitchen Caribbean woman knows about, and your new year can be exceptionally productive and financially rewarding. I do not know about you, but I will comply, as all of this can also be good for you!

Anyway, with its geographical proximity and especially aviation-related ties to Caribbean and Americas, people I know, me too, are salivating about attending FIFA’s 20th World Cup - the first was held in 1950 - 12 June to 13 July 2014, Brazil soon to be hosting twice, to join Mexico, Italy, France and Germany.

But FIFA Brazil 2014 is still at least eighteen months away, as the calendar flies, from where we are now.

After the excellence in sports, all over the world in 2012, it really will be very difficult indeed for 2013 to have any kind of same

Usain Bolt

Sebastian Vettel

Colin E. H. Croft

intensities, same rivalries and same regularity as was present in ultra 2012.

London 2012 Olympics was the bomb! From the opening ceremony, with Daniel Craig; “Bond – James Bond”; performing a mystifying parody with Queen Elizabeth II - some are still unsure as to whether the Grand Lady actually parachuted into the opening ceremony – the entire show was extra prima first class!

The wait, tension, outright euphoric confusion for Usain Bolt’s explosions, in streets, bars, ghettos even, of London, were palpable. In all of my years of going to United Kingdom, since my first visit in 1972, I have not seen the country so totally friendly and enraptured with any event.

London 2012 rocked!

2012 had more great speed too! Formula 1 racing was exceptionally good in 2012, much safer too, with youth reemerging. My favorite driver, Spain’s Fernando Alonzo – “El Nano” - just failed to regain the world championship; he last won in 2006; even with a Scuderia Ferrari car which no-one rated at all! No-one can fault the effort, calmness, absolute professionalism of defending

2010 and 2011 world champion, Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, driving for Red Bull. At only 25, Vettel has already surpassed another F-1 ace, now deceased Brazilian Ayrton Senna, as the youngest triple world champion.

Vettel completed the circle by being third to get three consecutive championships; only legends Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio and Germany’s Michael Schumacher, a Vettel hero, have done so!

Oh, personally, even as I enjoyed 2012’s sports, I still found several weeks to get another ‘gong’ – USA Department of Transport (DOT) Commercial Driver’s License – which allows me to drive 18-wheeler trucks and buses. It was damned tough, but the old brain, nearing 60, seems to be still intact; maybe!

One personal aspiration for 2013 is to learn Spanish and Portuguese. It is my fault that I do not know more, since I lived in South Florida 1981 1992. I should have learned them then.

No stress. I have great hope that Rosetta Stone’s instructions and directives will guide me through those labyrinths!

2013, from what I have

Controversial former England...

From page 58 was someone that really took the fight to Australia, but he took the fight to everybody. “Win, lose or draw he was the first guy in our dressing room with a couple of beers in his hands.”

COMBATIVE CHARACTER

Greig’s recruitment to WSC’s cause put him at loggerheads with cricket’s conservative establishment and he was stripped of the England captaincy in 1977. His international career ended that year after he had made a typically whole-hearted contribution under Mike Brearley to England’s Ashes success at home.

Along-time resident Down Under, Greig later became a cricket commentator with Channel Nine, having been promised a “job for life” by Packer.

A combative and occasionally abrasive character, Greig’s booming voice and signature white hat featured on Australian television screens for over three decades, but his battle with cancer prevented him from taking his position behind the microphone for the current 2012/13 season. “It’s a great loss to world

cricket. To me personally I’m shattered,” said former Australia captain Bill Lawry, who spent decades alongside Greig in Nine’s commentary box.

“World cricket’s lost one of its greatest ambassadors.”

Tributes flowed for Greig, who went from being a villain to a highly-respected cricket pundit in his adopted country.

“RIP Tony Greig!! You have left a great footprint on the world of cricket. My condolences to the Greig family,” retired West Indies batting great Brian Lara said in a post on his Twitter account.

“Not only was he a wonderful player and a very successful player for England, I think he was a wonderful guy,” Australia captain Michael Clarke told Australian television.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier said Greig had been “an extremely talented all-round cricketer and captain”.

“He was a giant of a man who played a major role in the changing face of cricket during the 1970s,” Collier said in a statement.

read, could be sad, for this coming carnival could also mark the end of the Brian McFarlane odyssey into carnival in Trinidad & Tobago, a combination that has become synonymous with style, exotic colour, and extravagant pageantry. If this is true, his massive style will surely be missed!

How 2013 treats another T&T world-class super performer, Machel Montano, could be very interesting indeed, as soon, in January even, he is to come up for sentencing, having been found guilty of several mano-

y-mano offences. I am not an expert in legalese, but I sincerely wish him all the best!

Unfortunately, I must end 2012 with the death of a very good friend, as we remember Scotsman Robert Burns’ Auld Lang Syne: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne?”

There have been many important people who left us in 2012, including singer Whitney Houston, jazz-man extra-ordinary Dave Brubeck, Myron “Mike” Wallace, that magnificent “60 Minutes”

presenter, not to mention Lance Murray, whose efforts for Trinidad & Tobago in cricket administration was so special.

Even as I was writing this piece, news came from Australia that someone that I have had tremendous respect for, former highly competitive cricketing opponent and pointed cricket commentator, and one, like me, who always spoke his mind, Tony Greig, the former England captain, had died on December 29.

2013 must break that late 2012 gloom. There must be a silver linings after dark clouds.

Enjoy 2013!

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Controversial Weather holds key in India-Pakistan series opener former England ESPNCricinfo - India’s win in the second T20 in Ahmedabad is good for the context of the tour; the 1-1 scoreline sets up the threematch one-day series nicely.

The T20 was closely fought, but some improved death bowling helped India save face after two consecutive T20 losses. The two teams haven’t seen much of each other in the last two

years, with India winning all three one-dayers in that period - their most recent meeting was in Mirpur this March for the Asia Cup. This short one-day series promises to be just as competitive, provided the weather doesn’t stand in the way. It has been raining in Chennai since Friday and more rain is forecast for Sunday. A 9am start means

there’s less time for the outfield to dry up. Bizarrely, this is the first time India will be playing a one-dayer at home in 2012, having played games in Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

If the wet weather persists, there’s a chance this series may only properly start in 2013, which is just a few days away. Pakistan have fond memories of Chepauk,

where Saeed Anwar scored his iconic unbeaten 194 in a one-dayer in 1997 and where they staged one of Test cricket’s most remarkable comebacks. Pakistan can do with the happy vibes, because despite the Asia Cup win they haven’t had the happiest year in one-day internationals, winning six and losing ten. The series (Continued on page 51)

captain Greig dies

Tony Greig

MELBOURNE (Reuters) Former England captain Tony Greig, one of the architects of cricket’s World Series revolution in the 1970s, has died at the age of 66 after suffering a heart attack at his Sydney home on Saturday.

Greig, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in October, was taken to a Sydney hospital but died at about 1:45 pm (0245 GMT).

“The staff of the emergency department worked on Mr Greig to no avail,” a spokesman at St Vincent’s hospital told local media.

A larger-than-life figure standing 6ft 6in (1.98 metres), South Africa-born Greig was an outstanding all-rounder who played 58 tests for England from 1972-77, scoring 3,599 runs at 40.43 including eight centuries and claiming 141 wickets at 32.20 each. He was also a brilliant slip fielder, taking 87 catches in test matches.

Greig could bowl at either a lively medium-pace or, on occasion, employ quickish off-spin, using his height and bounce in the latter style to take 13 wickets and win a test match in the Caribbean.

But Greig and controversy were never far apart and on the same West Indies tour in 1974 he ran out Alvin Kallicharran while the batsman was walking back to the pavilion after the last ball of the day had been bowled.

Technically Kallicharran was out as the umpire had not yet indicated play had officially ended, but after spectators invaded the ground and threatened to riot, the batsman was recalled.

Later that year on the Ashes tour of Australia, Greig sometimes seemed to be playing the Australians on his own as Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson blitzed the hapless England batsmen with their pace, menace and bounce.

He was promoted to the captaincy in the following year after England lost the first Ashes test at home and immediately infused his own aggression and determination into the team who drew the next three tests against one of the strongest sides in history.

WEST INDIES OUTRAGED However, in 1976 Greig attracted further unwanted controversy before a series against West Indies when he said he intended to make the tourists “grovel”.

The use of the word by a white South African in a time of heightened racial tensions enraged the West Indies, whose fast bowlers noticeably lifted their pace when Greig arrived at the crease on their way to a 3-0 series victory.

Greig’s biggest impact on the game came after he joined forces in 1977 with late Australian businessman Kerry Packer to set up the breakaway World Series Cricket (WSC) competition.

Media magnate Packer’s concept, aimed at securing cricket broadcast rights for his Channel Nine in Australia, shook up the game’s world order by pioneering limited overs matches played at night and turning cricketers into full-time professionals.

Greig’s signature lent credibility to WSC and he played a key role in recruiting disaffected players to the controversial competition which lasted only two years but permanently changed the face of the game.

“He influenced all those guys from overseas, certainly, and the West Indies to join World Series Cricket and it was great for cricket what he had done,” former Australia batsman Doug Walters, who played in the WSC competition, told Sky News.

“Greig was one of the great competitors of cricket...he (Continued on page 57)

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

T&T will defend title strongly says Williams Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – Trinidad & Tobago coach David Williams is confident that he has the right pieces in place to mount a challenge to win the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament for an unprecedented third straight year. The former West Indies wicketkeeper and assistant coach re-taken the reins of directing strategy for the twoisland republic’s national team and has brought his usual calm, measured approach to the job. He expects a major challenge from the other six teams, but believes the Red Force have the depth to win again.

Last year, they had an early slip-up against Windward Islands, but rebounded to hammer all their opponents, including an easy win over Jamaica in the Final.

“We have a good mix of youth and experience,” said Williams, “...and once we play to our true potential, we can win the tournament again.

“We’re fully confident. . .The team we have is one with lots of experience. I’m certain once we have experience, we can win the tournament again.

“We have quite a few players who were members of

David Williams the victorious West Indies teams, as well as others who are capable of great things at this level. We have included a few new, young players who are eager to represent T&T. The signs are all positive.”

T&T have a few of the best T20 players in the World. They include all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, power-hitter Kieron Pollard and ace spinner Sunil Narine – all three were important members of the West Indies team which won the ICC World T20 Tournament in Sri Lanka in October.

T&T participated in the Champions League in South Africa earlier this year and a defeat to Yorkshire in the first

qualifier ended their run before it even began.

Williams is hoping to have another shot at that competition next year, the prize for the 2013 Caribbean T20 winners.

“In South Africa it was tough,” he explained. “We knew (if we lost) one game, we were out. We did prepare very well prior for that tournament, but we just didn’t play well enough in that game, particularly when bowling. That knocked us out.”

This year’s Caribbean T20 will see a change in format this year with all the teams facing each other in a round-robin stage.

Williams welcomes the change, which he believes will not affect his team’s chances to keep the trophy in T&T. “The round-robin didn’t happen in South Africa, which was a one-off qualifier,” he said.

“We’re happy with the new format. We’re happy to play against all the teams and that augurs well for the team that wins the tournament.” The T&T players have been in camp for a few weeks and this will lead straight into their opening match against Jamaica before home fans at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday, January 6 here.

Leewards aim to end CT20 drought St. John’s, Antigua – Leeward Islands are on a mission to see them go where they have never gone before in the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament.

They have assembled early for a pre-tournament training camp to get mentally and physically ready as they take on the region’s best from January 6 to 20.

They have struggled in the CT20, failing to reach the Final Four in the three tournaments. They suffered two defeats and had a nodecision two years ago, lost three times before securing their first win over Canada last year, and also had three defeats and a victory – again over the Canadians – this year.

The selection panel of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association made a huge call when they recalled Sylvester Joseph as captain. The 34year-old, also known as “Bouncing”, last played at the regional level four years ago and his return has been heralded by Head Coach Stuart Williams.

Joseph will bat at the top of the order alongside left-hander Kieran Powell, who made a wonderful breakthrough on the international scene with three Test hundreds in the space of six innings last year. They will

Stuart Williams be joined by Chesney Hughes, the big, hard-hitting lefthander, who will be looking to stamp his authority.

“The idea is to have stability starting at the top,” said Williams. “With Joseph coming back and Powell finding his feet, they should be able to set a platform for the innings and for the team.

“I’m not just speaking about the CT20, but also in the Regional Super50 and 4-Day Tournaments which are to follow.” Williams said: “He (Joseph) has performed well in the past with the bat and as the leader. He was the logical choice. He brings experience and maturity on and off the field and merits his place in the team.

“I think this is a step in the right direction this year and will bring some stability to the set-up. He knows what he’s about and the team will benefit from having him around.”

Williams expressed excitement about what is in store from his team, which has a rich blend of youth and experience.

They have picked two wicketkeepers, the livewire Devon Thomas and the highlyspirited Jahmar Hamilton, both graduates of the Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre.

The bowling is led by Gavin Tonge, a strongly-built pacer, and Anthony Martin, the feisty leg-spin bowler and former skipper. “We have Thomas, who is a West Indies senior player and one in the team to whom we will look for big performances,” said Williams.

“We also have Hamilton, who just completed an excellent stint at the Sagicor WIHPC and we expect these two to do very well for us.”

Williams concluded: “The senior players are all seasoned campaigners and we will look to players such as Tonge and Martin to get wickets for us, maintain pressure and help us to win matches and look to advance this year and not have to go back home after the first round like we did before.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 30, 2012

Permaul expects “very best” from former champs, Guyana Georgetown, Guyana – Newly-appointed Guyana captain Veerasammy Permaul insisted that his team will be “at their very best” when they play in the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament next month.

The recently-minted West Indies left-arm spinner said that the talk in the camp was about a repeat of two years

ago, when they won the inaugural tournament with a thrilling defeat of Barbados in the Final at Queen’s Park Oval, where the first half of next year’s tournament will be staged.

“It will require a total team effort,” he said. “It’s a really big tournament and we want to do well all-round. “We have to perform at all levels.

We have some very experienced batsmen – who we all know are capable match-winners. Our bowling is solid, and once we can restrict teams, we can chase down totals.”

Permaul added: “We are looking to win. There is no doubt about that. We have to go into the tournament thinking that we are capable

of winning.

“We will have to be at our very best, but we know we have the players who can deliver when it matters. I expect the very best from every man.”

Guyana’s batting is led by durable West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who at age 38. Alongside him are former West Indies captain

Veerasammy Permaul

Ramnaresh Sarwan, who will bring experience and skill to the batting line-up.

They are backed by lefthanders Narsingh Deonarine and Leon Johnson, as well as a revitalised Jonathan Foo, who will look to repeat his heroics of 2010. Permaul will lead Guyana’s bowling attack, which also includes legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who won the ICC Emerging Player-of-the-Year award last year, as well as all-rounders Christopher Barnwell and Steven Jacobs.

After the celebrations two years ago, the Guyanese have struggled. They failed to reach the Final Four last year, and were again booted out at the preliminary stage last year when they managed just two wins out of four matches.

“We have to play what we know and what brought us success before,” said Permaul. “We have an experienced team and, as always, we want to do the people proud. They deserve the very best from us.”

Permaul has a good record as captain having led the West Indies A-Team to a series win against India-A in the

Caribbean earlier this year. He said he wanted to play a major role in taking Guyana to success and felt he was bowling reasonably well and was working hard on his batting technique. “I don’t plan to do anything spectacular, just do the simple, basic things that have worked time and time again,” he said. ”The key to my bowling is accuracy and consistency.

I look to build pressure on the batsmen and try to force them to make the mistake. I’m not a big spinner of the ball so I have to aim to work people out and make them play into my hands.”

He said: “I work really hard. It’s the only way I know how. I’m not one of the ones where people would say ‘has natural talent’ and I’m not ‘flashy’. “I like the training and I like going into the nets and working on new things.

It is the way I have always been and I enjoy doing it that way.” Guyana will open their campaign against Combined Campuses & Colleges under the lights on Monday, January 7 at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Sunday December 30, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 61

RHTY&SC describes 2012 as difficult but very successful - Fudadin’s Test debut highlight of the year

G

uyana’s leading Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports C l u b (RHTY&SC) has described 2012 as highly successful despite facing great hurdles along the way.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the high cost of transportation, sport gears, electric bills and overall office expenses were the main factors that affected the Club in 2012 but described the four break-ins at the club office as soul breaking and disastrous.

The Club he said continued to divert millions of dollars of sponsorship to the Berbice Cricket Board in an unselfish move to assist in the development of the game in the Ancient County.

On the field of play, the highlight of the year was the

Test Debut of Assad Fudadin against England. The club’s various cricket teams also performed well, winning several tournaments i n c l u d i n g t h e Memorex/Leslie Amsterdam Under-17, NBS Second Division and Busta Champion of Champions.

The First Division Team was also runner-up for the 2011 Tenelec Inc. Cup which was completed this year and 2012 Ramcharitar Cup. To date the Club has also reached the finals in the Neal & Massy Intermediate, quarter finals of the Elizabeth Styles Under-19, Tenelec Inc. Under-15 and the semi finals of the Tenelec Inc. division one 50 overs.

At the Berbice level, the following players played; Arif Chan, Daniel Lewis, S h a i l e n d r a S h a m e e r,

Viendra Gooniah, Shawn Pereira, Loyydel Lewis, Clinton Pestano, Dominique Rikhi, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Rajiv Ivan, Eon Hooper, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Nikita Toney, Melanie Henry and Phaffiana Millington.

Representing Guyana were; Arif Chan, Shailendra Shameer, Shawn Pereira, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings a n d M e l a n i e H e n r y.

Campbelle and Fudadin represented the West Indies at the highest level. Esuan Crandon Coached the Guyana senior team while Shawn Pereira Captained the Guyana Under-19 side.

The seven cricket teams of the Club are: Rose Hall

Town Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female and Gizmos & Gadgets First Division.

Collectively, these teams organised over 70 self d e v e l o p m e n t projects/programmes in 2012 including feeding of the poor, raising funds for children who needed s u r g e r y, e d u c a t i o n a l scholarships, television programmes, and donation to clubs and NGO’s among others.

At the educational level, Shailendra Shameer and Arif Chan passed a combined 20 CSEC subjects which included seven (7) grade ones.

The veteran club secretary/CEO also

Assad Fudadin being honoured for making his Test debut disclosed that the club this year completed a record 165 off the field activities including their Annual

Awards Ceremony where over $2.5M worth of prizes were distributed, TCL (Continued on page 56)

t r o Sp

Clive Atwell stops Revlon Lake’s flow Dharry, Dorway also to win lightweight crown register knockout victories

By Michael Benjamin The prize was the local lightweight title held by Barbados based Guyanese, Revlon Lake, and Clive Atwell, while at the pre-fight press conference, told Lake that he would have knocked him out, relieving him of the accolade. In a classy act reminiscent of the Roberto Duran/Sugar Ray Leonard welterweight shindig, Atwell delivered on his promise and stopped his man in 2:35secs of the third round when they met on ‘Night of Champions’ boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Friday evening last.

In all, there were three knockouts, none more brutal than the bantamweight clash between Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry and Barbadian

Ricardo Blackman. It took the Dharry a mere 2:10secs of the second stanza to convince the Barbadian that he had no business in the same space as him (Dharry) in their scheduled 8 rounds encounter.

Gladwin Dorway was also in a devastating mood and disposed of Shawn Pile in 1:10secs of the second round.

T h e n i g h t ’s proceedings got underway on a positive note for Mark Austin who pounded out a lopsided unanimous verdict over Troy Lewis in their 4 rounds catchweight affair.

Atwell was pure class as he stepped up the pace from the very first gong in a businesslike approach. He delivered some crisp jabs and followed through with vicious right crosses that

The ‘Coolie Bully’ (right) has stated that he is in no mood for play tonight and has threatened to ‘dun Blackman’s dance’ very early. Blackman promised, not only to dance the entire tune but to triumph when it concludes

pushed Lake backwards.

Atwell then trapped his man in the red corner and delivered some pinpoint shots that forced Lake to cover up. The Barbados based Guyanese then reasserted himself and stitched in a few salvoes just before the end of the round.

Atwell continued where he had left off in the previous rounds and peppered Lake with jabs and right crosses.

Lake spent most of the round in a self preservation mode, covering up for all he was worth. He did manage to stitch in a few tame punches but could not stave off the venomous attacks of Atwell.

The newly crowned lightweight king applied the heat in the third frame and had Lake scuttling around the ring seeking refuge.

Atwell relentlessly pursued his man and delivered some telling blows that had Lake swaying like a ship on the stormy seas. Yet Lake refused to quit. His courage was truly inspiring but when Atwell landed a crisp three punch combination, Lakes legs became rubbery. The referee jumped in just as Atwell delivered several unanswered punches and Atwell had completed him mission in 2:10secs of the second stanza.

The Dharry/Blackman fight was a total mismatch with the dreadlocked Bajan taking a barrage of punches from the onset. He received several crunching offerings early in the first round and his show of defiance was merely regarded as delay (Continued on page 54 )

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