Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition January 03, 2013 - Vol. 6 No. 01

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Opposition moves to cap benefits to former Presidents …Govt says Jagdeo will not be affected Vandals caught on camera damaging vehicles as family feud escalates Another death Amputee Labour Ministry looking at row inmate perishes in 'land-grabbing' gets sentence commuted Buxton fire in Co-ops

Region Three councilors walk - say chairman out of RDC meeting disrespectful

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Thursday January 03, 2013

Kaieteur News

Opposition moves to cap benefits to former Presidents …Govt says Jagdeo will not be affected

A

PNU's shadow Home Affairs Minister and security expert, Winston Felix, says that there should be a limit to the number of “guards” assigned to former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

This newspaper on Tuesday had reported that the former President still had his full complement of security personnel, consisting of fulltime members of the Guyana Police Force.

According to Felix, Carl Greenidge's Bill which he tabled to amend the President's Benefits and Other Facilities Act of 2009, has proposed to slice away chunks of benefits that Jagdeo is presently entitled to and limit them to a maximum of 10 years.

Felix said that the wisdom of Greenidge's Bill is obvious.

He said that there needs to be a “cap” on the benefits because there is no limit.

Felix further noted that whatever he receives should be “sensible” and not run into excess or waste.

But Government

Members of Parliament say that the Bill will in no way affect former President Jagdeo since Bills cannot be applied retroactively.

At a recent press briefing Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira said that the amendment could affect future Presidents.

However, given his earlier pronouncements, President Donald Ramotar may not assent to the amendment.

Kaieteur News managed to ascertain that the former President still has his full complement of security personnel, consisting of full time members of the Guyana Police Force.

This situation is even more troubling especially when it is taken into account that the Guyana Police Force is short of ranks to effectively protect citizens.

At present the Force is o p e r a t i n g w i t h approximately 3500 ranks to serve a population of about 720,000 persons. This works out to about one rank to every 205 persons.

But reliable sources say that Jagdeo alone currently

has a total of 12 guards on a 24 hours basis.

There are eight who are split up over two 12 hours shifts at his mansion in Pradoville 2 (Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara) while four others act as personal security to the former President.

Carl Greenidge's Bill, called the President's Benefits and Other Facilities (Amendment) Bill 2012 seeks to render the conditions of the benefits acceptable and predictable and to place a limit on benefits including tax-free concessions and sets out conditions under which these benefits could be enjoyed.

With regard to utilities, Greenidge said that his Bill proposes to cap a former President's monthly payments.

Greenidge said that household staff will be limited to three persons; security personnel limited to two persons and clerical or technical staff limited to three persons all of whom must not be engaged in any political work.

Remembering the fallen

Commissioner of Police (ag) presents a hamper to Ms. Sharon Roberts, wife of Constable Ryan Roberts who was killed in the line of duty, in the presence of Force Welfare Officer Assistant Superintendent Loraine Saul.

During the Christmas Season food hampers were delivered to the relatives of ranks killed in the line of duty. Divisional Commanders were also involved in delivering to those who reside in their respective Divisions.

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Region Three councilors Gold earns US$737M following walk out of RDC meeting highest declaration …says chairman disrespectful

A section of the Region Three councilors venting their frustrations It’s a new year and Region Three Councilors say that they have got a new attitude towards the Regional chairman who insists on treating them in a disrespectful manner. The councilors said that apart from that, they will be making urgent calls to have certain information which should be known, available to them.

Yesterday at the Region Three Democratic Council (RDC) meeting councilors walked out of the monthly meeting, citing the Chairman’s insolence towards the members. The regional councillors from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC), indicated that the chairman is playing political games with the region’s affairs.

They said that when they raise issues highlighting inefficiencies in their community, they are told to, “Sit down, shut up or are threatened to be thrown out the meeting.”

Kathlene Armstrong, APNU representative for Den Amstel said that yesterday was no different. She said, “Councilors decided that they would leave the meeting after they were dissatisfied with the treatment members received at the hands of the chairman.”

The woman said that two members wished to raise issues pertaining to agriculture production; rice in particular and food varieties grown in the region.

T h a t c o u n c i l o r, s h e said, was told in a rude manner that he could go to the Rice Producers’ Association like any other r e s i d e n t . Despite that councilor not finishing his contribution, she said the chairman ordered him to sit and “shut up”.

That was it for the councilors and they walked out of the meeting.

Armstrong said that the councilors are dissatisfied with the dictatorship being shown to the opposition representatives. “We are not prepared in 2013 to take anymore of the dictatorship.”

Perry Birbal said that he was the one who tried to raise the issue that sparked the quarrel. Birbal who represents APNU hails from Wakenaam.

He asked about nurseries and the variety of rice being grown. He said he had another point pertaining to house lots sold in the region for 2012, but the chairman was not having it and Birbal said that he did not get to highlight his concerns.

Armstrong said prior to the misunderstanding, she told the chairman that, “We (councilors) were dissatisfied with the progress made for 2012.”

“The region is in a state of s t a g n a t i o n . We c a n n o t account for projects that were done in 2012.”

Armstrong said that the Regional Executive Officer (REO) then took out his statics to show that 99.7 percent of the works had been completed.

The councilors however argued that they cannot measure success in their region since they are not provided with the works programme. “If you are not on the finance committee you are not given a works programme,” Armstrong noted.

Yet still, she argued that a member of APNU is on the finance committee but after the first meeting of 2012 which was adjourned, the member was never invited to another meeting. “I see this as an effort by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in Region Three to frustrate

APNU and AFC councilors.”

Dr. Kalamal Roy Narine who represents Leguan for AFC interjected that the chairman seems to find answers, telling the councilors that they should go back to their local NDC and IMC for the answers that they are supposed to be getting.

Even after doing so, he said relevant information is still not made available to the councilors.

George Orville Stewart representing Vergenoegen for APNU said that the chairman always uses his authority to “put down” the councilors.

He said that when the chairman is asked a question and he feels cornered he would order the councilor to sit down, shut up or risk getting thrown out of the meeting. “That type of dictatorial attitude is what caused us to walk out,” Stewart said.

Harry Narine Deokinanan, from the AFC, and representing Parika said that he was one of those councilors who was told to “shut up” by the Chairman.

He charged that after one of his colleagues gave their report for 2012, he stood in support of the report and brought up points such as the incomplete school at Canal Number Two which poses danger to students.

He said that he was told to shut his mouth.

Deokinanan said that he had more issues to highlight, but that the Chairman was not hearing him. He was instead warned that he would be thrown out of the meeting.

The councilors are looking for a change in the manner in which they are treated and in which the regional work is being conducted; if not they say further action may be relevant.

Gold declarations reached its highest in recent years, ending last year with a total of $438,645 ounces, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, confirmed yesterday. Given the trading prices at the end of the day, Monday, this would put the value of those declarations at more than US$737 million “I am happy to see the highest-ever declaration of gold, other than when Omai was at its peak,” Persaud said.

“All of the declaration came as a result of the efforts of thousands of hard working small and mediumsized miners,” he added.

Persaud said that this declaration should serve as a motivation to all stakeholders to build a mining sector that is firmly based on the three critical pillars - environmental, social and economic responsibilities.

“I wish to commend the sector and all the players as we work together to address challenges and tap more opportunities in 2013 and beyond,” Persaud stated.

Last year’s declaration

- 438,645 ounces declared was the first such since Omai Gold Mines ceased operations seven years ago.

This puts the sector as one of the highest export earners for Guyana. Figures from the first six months of 2012 indicated that gold earnings were 46 per cent of total exports, earning US$268M. Gold production dipped to 200,000 ounces after Omai left in 2006. Even at the height of Omai, earnings only managed to reach US$123M. The production now is mainly due to the activities of small and medium scale miners with the dealers responsible for the bulk of the purchases.

Were the country to manage the illegal exports of gold, the country’s true figures would far exceed what was declared.

Guyana has been battling leakages of gold for years with a significant amount of gold not being declared and smuggled out to escape taxes.

Brazil and Suriname are reportedly the destinations.

Recently, authorities in

Curacao stumbled upon a heist of 70 gold bars worth an estimated US$11.5 million from a vessel reportedly registered in Guyana.

Media reports at the time of the theft said that 470 pounds of raw gold divided into 70 bars were taken from the boat by six men wearing hoods, masks and jackets emblazoned with the English word “Police”. Seven men have been arrested in connection with that heist.

With the closure of Omai, the government is looking to another mega gold project.

The government is banking on the commencement of operation of the Aurora mine by Guyana Goldfields which is estimated to hold over six and a half million ounces of gold.

The gold price began the New Year on a positive note as a deal to avert the United States’ fiscal cliff fueled a rally in financial markets across the globe.

Yesterday morning the price of gold climbed to $1,695.37 per ounce.

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

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

Why should there be fear about a number?

This is the dawn of a New Year. However, this year is different from all the others that nearly all of those of us alive today have ever witnessed.

This one has the dreaded number, 13. Many who were glad to see the back of the past year never contemplated the implications of this year.

Needless to say, the world is full of superstitious people and it is this superstition that will permeate the atmosphere as the year progresses.

For many, the past year was disastrous and there were those who attributed their misfortune to the fact that the year was a leap year. People expect the worse in leap years.

Whether this is so because of the extra day or just a fear of the unusual will never be explained.

There were about 125 murders, more robberies under arms; just about the same number of road fatalities as the previous years and as usual, the spate of fires.

There were boating accidents, the most horrific claiming six lives. The relatives of the victims would all swear that the year was the worst that they would have encountered.

These were people who could not wait to see the end of the year; they were the ones who welcomed 2013 with open arms.

No one knows what made 13 the unlucky number it is touted to be in the same way that some people claim that the numbers 3 and 7 are lucky. What is known is that there are hotels that would not have a 13th floor so that elevators would not have the number 13 on its panel.

It would be unusual for residences to have 13 openings or 13 flights of stairs or as is the case of Guyana, 13 treaders in a step.

There is no mention of thirteen children in a household.

At least, no one has heard that parents actually killed the thirteenth child.

That may not mean that it never happened but we have not heard of such cases. But then again the thirteenth child may be the lucky one in a family that may have been headed by a single parent mother with twelve children.

Already the year may be seen as bad for some. There were two road accidents that plunged communities into darkness.

That would have been seen as bad for the persons driving the cars and for the people who would have had to endure the power outages.

One person has also died in a fire. Surely his relatives would claim that the year had something to do with it.

He had already lost a leg but they would not have taken that into consideration. Initial reports are that the fire might have been started by the man who wanted to end his life.

And at least one businessman must be cursing the dawn of the New Year. The sun had not yet risen when some hoodlums broke into his store and carted off millions of dollars of equipment and other valuables.

To think that people would blame a year for any misfortune is not beyond comprehension. It is surely a signal that people keep looking for excuses for any misfortune.

This year with the number 13 at the end would also prove to be lucky for some people.

Yesterday a man who for at least two decades lived under the shadow of the gallows had his death sentence commuted to life. He would be one person for whom 13 is a lucky number.

The people who would become millionaires through playing the national lottery would also shout from the roof tops that the year is a good one. There was a woman who won one million dollars bright and early in the New Year. This is a signal year for her.

When all is said and done a year is what people make of it. The influence people exert on their lives would determine success or failure.

There is need for people to take stock of their lives.

Guyana is also preparing to benefit.

The parliamentarians have a duty to the nation to behave in a manner that would promote development and not the rancor that is common among them at this time.

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 3, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

The tale of two Guyanas DEAR EDITOR, Now that you’ve seen the happier feel-good “Guyana at Christmas” postings, there is a darker side to the country that I must share. This is a tale of two Guyana’s, separate and unequal in almost every respect On one hand, there’s the Guyana of the spectacularly wealthy.

The citizens can shop at its most expensive boutiques, live in upscale neighbourhoods and drink champagne at its swankiest nightclubs.

This Guyana is fueled partially by an explosion in gold production and its illegal export, so much so that it has overtaken the narcotics trade as Guyana’s main export.

A recent sign of this bonanza is the fact that someone recently jacked up a very large gold shipment in Curaçao and no one seems remotely interested in claiming ownership.

In Guyana’s cities and towns, gold-funded building construction is creating a mini-boom and together with the Chinese and Brazilian feeding frenzy, is driving real estate prices to insane new heights.

This is also the merchant class that would put on a well publicized party for the less fortunate at Christmas, but proceed to gouge them the rest of the year with overpriced, shoddily-made Chinese merchandise that

now flood the marketplace.

Such contradictions seem to be the rule rather than the exception throughout this Camelot of glitter, gold and drugs wealth.

And their wealth is usually protected behind guarded walls and by a pliant local gendarmerie willing to inflict unspeakable harm in the name of the landed gentry.

I live in the outskirts of this Guyana…when I come home.

Then there’s the other Guyana. The El Dorado of the sufferers...living and working in dark depressing squalor.

This is the Guyana where the city of Georgetown and the countryside have all taken the character of some postapocalyptic movie set.

The land is overgrown and unkempt; the streets are strewn with garbage. And when it rains, the most gentle shower threatens to overwhelm existing drainage systems, clogged with tons of plastic, styrofoam and garbage.

In recent years, a new strain of grass has shown up in Guyana…one that has invaded the canals and trenches.

Travel the countryside and you will find canals completely clogged up...one can actually walk from one bank to the other without getting wet.

In the inevitable flooding, the citizens of this Republic

of the Dammed put up a valiant fight trying to protect their homes and humble possessions from being inundated, but invariably the flood waters win. People are forced day after day, to wade through water strewn with floating garbage and much worse, which then creates a breeding ground for innumerable swarms of mosquitos.

Most would move to higher ground or less hostile territory if they could but remember the “insane” real estate prices I mentioned earlier? Besides, emigration these days is becoming a more difficult enterprise.

To be fair, government has programs in place to issue house lots and these have had some success.

But development has been largely scattershot and, s o m e s a y, t a i n t e d b y political patronage.

In any event, authorities seem neither willing nor able to alleviate this endless cycle of misery, but are happy to engage each other in a bizarre game of fingerpointing and M a c h i a v e l l i a n manipulation. Meanwhile the citizenry, not yet willing to take up pitchforks and torches, collectively shrug their shoulders and wait for the next Christmas or the latest show at the stadium to relieve their unending drudgery and sense of

hopelessness.

The political parties, paralyzed by their own selfish and partisan interests, largely stand by and watch this carnival of misery unfold day after day...and largely do nothing. Within the parties, the energetic, compassionate, creative, committed and valiant are largely subsumed by the cowardly, the lazy, the dimwitted, the unqualified and the self-serving.

And throughout this never-ending ordeal, Guyanese people hang on.

Humour is never far from the surface. People can always find something ironic in this situation.

It is a truly admirable ability to laugh in the face of the gods who would conspire to drive them insane.

There are many more facets to these two Guyanas.

The intellectuals, the media, the politicos and the NGOs can break it down in more profound ways.

Yes, people tend to talk and talk and write copious volumes about this, but I ask...is it not now time for action?

You may feel free to cuss me out if you like, but it is almost impossible to miss or ignore the two nations I see.

That would call for total blindness or a willingness to look the other way.

Can’t do that. I would break my own neck.

Gordon Burnett

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

Government GGMC should not remain a should reconsider liability to Guyana’s tax payers location of the 1823 monument DEAR EDITOR, If the PPP/C government sincerely believes that building a monument to commemorate a slave rebellion would make Guyana a better place and of course, endear itself to African Guyanese, then they should by all means go ahead. But wouldn’t it earn more appreciation if it now reconsiders and builds the 1823 monument at the Parade Ground?

Notwithstanding Minister Anthony’s perception of inadequate land space etc., some do not consider it important or significant.

In the run-up to the 1973 elections, Information Minister Ms Shirley FieldRidley approved 9 (or 12?) political radio broadcasts.

When the decision became public, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham stepped in and slashed it to 3 (or 5?) He wisely judged that the already tense political scene could

ignite out of control. President Donald Ramotar needs to act with similar, decisive astuteness, despite Minister Dr Frank Anthony’s ‘decency’ and best intentions In Mr. Hamilton Green’s hosting at City Hall, of African organizations who are opposed to the PPP/C government’s building a monument away from the 1823 Parade Ground site, one can see what is his priority. The City Hall host still sounds like he considers himself the Mayor of all Georgetown. No one has told the Mayor that Georgetown is filthy and stinks. Even the dead at Le Repentir cemetery cannot rest in peace.

But Mr Green is not aware of these pressing problems.

Even with Cuffy leading a slave rebellion in Berbice, Mr. Forbes Burnham situated the Cuffy monument near his official residence at (Continued on page 7)

DEAR EDITOR, The banning of mercury exports by the United States came into effect on January 1, 2013 (SN, Dec 2012). This followed the EU ban in March 2011. The mining industry could be faced with much higher costs on the procurement and importation of elemental mercury. The way the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is structured would not allow for any real change and to ensure much safer recovery methods for the Small Mining Enterprises in mining.

The GGMC is a selffinancing arm of government and responsible for regulation and enforcement of mining in Guyana. The GGMC collects rents, fees, charges, levies, etc. payable under the Mining Act. The GMCC does not pay any taxes on its income and, if it is incomedeficient, tax payers will have to foot the bill under the Act. In 2011, Guyana registered less than 6,000 kilos of gold from its mines, considerably less than the nearly 19,000 kilos registered

in Suriname over the same period. The Guyanese authorities believe that they see only one-third of their actual gold production due to smuggling. (SN. July 17, 2012).

This would suggest that Suriname is far more effective in regulation and enforcement and, ensuring that all gold production is declared and, also stamping out illegal gold mining and smuggling.

However, the GGMC remains content to enjoy tax-free income, in the knowledge that its future is safe and secure and tax payers will have to foot the bill if and when they fail.

This age-old remit of the GGMC should not be allowed to continue at a cost to hardpressed tax payers. The country has already paid a heavy price, when the Essequibo River was poisoned by Omai Gold Mines Ltd and the Guyana government, as a shareholder. Some 800 million gallons of cyanidecontaminated water ended up in the Essequibo River in August 1995. There is now

the risk of mercury contamination of the rivers.

Mercury is said to be a potent neurotoxin affecting the brain and nervous system. Children, pregnant women and fetuses are all very sensitive to the adverse impacts of mercury. The World Health Organization has recognized this danger in 1991, when it concluded that there are no safe levels of mercury exposure that have ever been established below which no adverse effects occur.

Toxic mercury poisoning is also known as Minamata disease - the neurological syndrome first discovered in the Japanese city of Minamata in 1956. Nearly 1,800 people have died from the disease.

According to available statistics for 2000, Guyana was the main target importer from the UK of elemental mercury of 9.25 metric tons.

By 2004, the US replaced UK and supplied 27.0 metric tons.

(Source: UNDESA/ESD/ UNSD Comtrade Statistics – April 11, 2006). In 2012, the

annual purchase volume of just 3 purchasers of liquid mercury in Guyana was put at some 50 metric tons.

(Tradex, Dec 2012).

To put the figures into context, China has a population of over 1.3 billion, and they currently consume an estimated 200 tons of mercury annually for gold mining.

This type of mining is said to be illegal but everenticing to low-income people in the countryside and, in response to the high value of gold. (Natural Resources Defense Council 2007).

China is the world’s No. 1 gold producer and it saw its output rise again in 2012. The country produced a record 360.96 tons of the yellow metal in 2011, a 5.9% increase, making it the world’s top gold producer for a fifth consecutive y e a r, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e China Gold Association.

China’s gold Further, estimates have suggested that (Continued on page 7)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 3, 2013

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

Minister Rohee should come clean about his visa cancellation DEAR EDITOR, In the mountainous outpouring of the opposition in their exposure of the lack of tenability of Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, not one word was mentioned about his American visa cancellation in 2004/05. Even in Italy under the comical figure of Silvio Berlusconi, that Minister would have lost his job if he couldn’t offer a logical explanation.

The sane mind knows that it cannot be a petty mistake on the part of the State Department in the US, because if it was, why for seven years has Rohee not explained his visa nightmare that prevented him from traveling while he was Minister of International Trade?

Let us say that it is a petty mistake, then Rohee is a very unsuitable candidate for high post, because he put his country, his government and himself in a sordid, messy light, since a minor infraction is interpreted in the worst possible way because the

Minister is reticent.

I return to the sane mind.

The normal mind will not accept that the US Government made a little mistake, because Rohee himself is unwilling to say so, and this is because he knows that his diplomatic and nonimmigrant visas were cancelled while the US investigated him over a period of six months These facts should also go into any decision by the opposition and the country to continue their acceptance of him as minister dealing with internal security. As for his security programme, I think the AFC and APNU made a mistake and they should retract their rejection of working with Rohee’s security programme by insisting that their acceptance of Rohee’s new security overhaul of the police force should be a part of the fundamental restructuring of governance in Guyana, the terrible nature of which is killing this country.

The AFC and APNU

should immediately seek dialogue with the PPP leadership (not government, the former controls the latter as we saw with the mistreatment of Ralph Ramkarran) and tell the PPP that in no uncertain terms can they accept the proposals of police reform, unless there are similar reforms in local government structure, in the Constitution, UG, and the immediate implementation of the constitutional bodies like the Human Rights Commission.

Watch and see who will be on the civilian oversight body for the police force.

This columnist was told a list has been drawn up already.

The following were some the names I was told that were identified at a meeting at Freedom House on Sunday, December 16:- Keith Burrowes, Ramesh Dookhoo, Vic Oudit, Clifford Reis, Gerry Gouveia, John Willems, Dr. Paloma Mohammed of UG, Dr. Marlene Cox of UG, Mr. Al Creighton of UG, Dr. Gobind

Ganga of the Bank of Guyana, Mr. Ron Robinson, Mrs. Annette Arjoon-Martins, Ms Carol Sooba - the Town Clerk, Ms. Jocelyn Dow of the WPA, Ms. Vanda Radzig of Red Thread, journalist George Barclay, Mr. Peter Persaud of TUF, Mr. John Tracey of GBTI, fashion designer Sonia Noel, Dr. Bhiro Harry, Dr. Gancham Singh, attorney Sase Gunraj and Mrs. Merle McCormack.

Those were some of the names given to me by my source that were recommended to be on the civilian oversight board.

I mention these names without any comment. But as an analyst you have to ask why people like Chris Ram, Barrington Braithwaite, Dr. Melissa I f i l l , S h e r l i n a N a j e e r, Vidyaratha Kissoon (no relative), and others like them that those in the opposition feel that they can rely on to do a professional job, never had a mere mention?

Frederick Kissoon

Let’s hope viewpoints aren’t expressed incognito anymore DEAR EDITOR, Thank you for publishing the letter from Concerned Guyanese (KN 31 December, 2012) about my ‘obsession’ with protesting the idea that we Guyanese need any kind of traditional British pub experience with ‘lovely lasses dressed as wenches’.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the contemporary pubs would refer to their female staff as wenches.

The few women and men I know who worked in pubs were also protected from harassment. The culture which referred to some women as ‘wenches’ had no intention of such protections, and asking Guyanese to embrace such a culture is a step backwards in our efforts to promote equality for men and women.

Sexual harassment is often not identified as such, since harassing behaviour is seen to be part of the ‘normal’ masculine interactions. So it

might not be surprising for some people to minimise or deny sexual harassment, even as they think of women as ‘wenches’.

In 2011, there was some discussion between some of our political leaders about the merits of those who drank in rum shops (bottom-house rum shops probably included) or in other places with more discriminating patrons.

Guyana’s concerns about alcohol and the impact on our society are not restricted, however, to patrons of “bottom-house rum shops”, but to all establishments and the industry which operates in an atmosphere free from any kind of accountability.

As we move into 2013, let us hope that all Guyanese, concerned or otherwise, would feel free from fear and be able to identify themselves and own their viewpoints as we discuss issues publicly.

Vidyaratha Kissoon

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

Government should A very interesting piece reconsider location ... from Mr. Freddie Kissoon From page 5 what is now called Castellani House, in Georgetown. It is unkempt, surrounded by filth and drug paraphernalia; it puts to shame and disrespect all which it represents. Did Mr. Green as a PNC minister or anyone else, object to its location or care about its unkempt state as reported in the KN of 29-12-12?

ACDA’s Mr. Elton Mc Rae said that Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony’s decision to erect the monument on Carifesta Avenue is “an insult to Guyanese since it is diametrically opposed to a decision made after a series of discussions involving African historians and cultural leaders in the 1970s”.

Never mind the PNC was in office in the 1970s and President Bharrat Jagdeo had turned the sod for the memorial on August 1, 2000.

Some 40 years later, the PPP/ C government is stumbling in its attempts to fulfill a PNC objective which it did not originally initiate or promise. With the Enmore origin and the Culture Minister blessing the timely rebirth and growth of masquerade bands and flounce, it should come as no surprise when Guyana’s Culture Ministry likewise speedily finances the nurturing and growth of Indian musical instruments such as tabla, harmonium, tassa and of course, Indian dance nationwide.

“It is not an African thing” said City Hall’s Mr. Green who has seemingly come to us in a time machine to offer some thoughts now filtered by the passage of time, regardless of the PNC’s failed efforts to build the 1823 monument in the 1970s. Now

“born again” in the PNC after his expulsion by President Desmond Hoyte, Mr. Green proudly feels that “the move to erect the monument at Carifesta Avenue is all part of a continuous crusade by a disrespectful government”.

Could all Georgetown residents be getting any similar “healthy” disrespect by its Mayor being unable to fulfill his solemn duties?

Nevertheless, Mr. Green still hopes that Minister Anthony, who he believes “appears to be one of the decent ones”, would reconsider the location. In consideration of location relevance, the PPP/ C government should also offer to, respectfully, relocate Cuffy to Berbice where he rebelled, for example Port Mourant. Mayor Green’s “It’s not an African thing”, would be the guiding light.

Sultan Mohamed

GGMC should not remain ...

Frome page 5 C h i n a ’s t o t a l g o l d imports for 2011 will have been some 490 tons double that of 2010, but this may well be an underestimate, possibly a substantial one.

China’s gold reserves stood at 1054 tons in 2008 and this was nearly double the amount previously reported five years earlier at 600 tons.

These could now well be at 2,000 tons or more - but even this is said to be a small fraction of China’s total monetary reserves. Central Bank of China has been hinting that “No asset is safe

now,” and “The only choice of hedging risks is to hold hard currency - gold.”

(Mineweb, Feb 1, 2012).

The demand for gold is likely to increase significantly in the foreseeable future as China takes steps to safeguard the economic interests of its people and, without the widespread use of mercury.

Based on the figures, China consumed around 0.15 metric tons of mercury per each million of her population.

In comparison, Guyana consumes an estimated 50 metric tons of mercury with less than 1 million people.

This would imply that China

is a far safer place than Guyana, when it comes to facing exposure to the risks of mercury poisoning and contamination.

A Minamata should not be left lurking and waiting to happen due to incompetence of the GGMC. The country should not be left exposed to another Jonestown, where the politicians were quick to deny any knowledge about its existence and, where cyanide poison was easily available to cause the loss of some 900 innocent lives in 1978.

Mac Mahase

DEAR EDITOR, A very interesting piece from Mr. Freddie Kissoon titled “A song for me from me on my birthday”. Unlike Mr Kissoon, I have more than ‘researched’ astrology: I have studied it, gained a Diploma from the Mayo School in the 1980s and am a hobbyist.

Many people do not realise that astrology is based on a framework of astronomy and is a bit like weather forecasting, an interpretative art. If one does not have an aptitude for maths, one should not undertake its study, although things have moved on since then and relevant ready-made calculations are available on the internet.

As medical doctors can diagnose a patient’s illness from symptoms described, astrologers can assess a subject’s personality from accurate birth details. It is not just about forecasting trends in a life, described as fortunetelling by some. People whose birth dates are a matter of public record would be surprised at how much the details gleaned from such records reveal about them to

a trained astrologer.

People with the Sun Sign Capricorn are not necessarily tyrants but, as ‘goats’, they are of two types - those who climb higher and higher to reach their goals and those who remain carping and ‘braying’ and generally being miserable. However, they are normally serious-minded people, on the whole, wise beyond their years, and tend to realise their cherished dreams in old age. They prefer positions of control and can be manipulative. Dark personalities. They have to guard against ‘using’ others.

Astrologically speaking, the fact that Mr. Kissoon admits to being an “anarchist and existentialist......a radical academic” means that he probably has personal planets in Aquarius, the planet of revolution and anarchy, and this could trigger ‘strange’ feelings and uncharacteristic behaviour over a period of time.

Everything that is happening worldwide today - the financial woes, the unearthing of crafty and secret deeds in high places, the disturbances of the earth,

etc - was forecast several years ago by the fraternity, and these woes may continue for at least another five years! At the end of these travails, a more humanitarian period may emerge.

I tend to disagree with the view that power in itself is destructive – the abuse of power is, since “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. It is also said that money is the root of all evil. I don’t believe that - I believe that the love of money is. Both power and money can be used to accomplish much on behalf of others. But, used selfishly or perversely, they can do the opposite.

Incidentally, about ‘Karl Marx’s famous quote, “Religion is the opiate of the people”, as I interpreted it at the time of reading Marx, over 30 years ago, the remark was meant to explain that people turned to religion in desperation when all else failed; in other words, ‘religion was the opiate of the people’. I enjoyed Mr. Kissoon’s column. May he have many more birthdays.

Geralda Dennison

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 3, 2013

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 9

Rohee’s security plan…

Opposition, Chamber of Commerce differ on support There have been differing reactions to the recently announced security sector improvement plan, with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) pledging its support, while the parliamentary opposition has vowed to oppose it as long as it is piloted by current Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

On December 31, the Home Affairs Minister outlined an elaborate plan that will see among other things significant changes within the Guyana Police Force and other entities under the purview of his Ministry.

Facing a gag order in the National Assembly, the Minister took the opportunity to detail his five-year plan that will include changes for the Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, as well as the Guyana Fire Service; the employment of specialist civilian professionals within the Police Force and the possible contracting of international police officers as consultants.

Yesterday in a press statement, the GCCI said it viewed very favourably and commends the recent announcement by the Minister, on the adoption and proposed implementation of

strategic plans for the improvement of the country’s security agencies.

“Our private sector members have identified the security situation as a significant barrier to doing business in Guyana and this timely intervention places substantial focus on reducing this impediment. A safe and secure environment attracts capital, encourages growth, and helps to improve conditions that contribute to the overall quality of life of our citizens,” the GCCI stated.

According to the GCCI, meeting the security objectives will be vital for the economy, businesses and society as a whole. The body said that it specifically noted, approvingly, the proposed inclusion of non-state entities, groups and individuals in the implementation phases of the outlined initiatives.

The Chamber said that it stands ready to engage and work with all stakeholders to ensure that the measures and objectives outlined are achieved.

“Similarly, the GCCI views this as a shared undertaking and we are calling on our own membership, on government, on opposition political parties, on labour

Dem boys seh ...

When de Bee couldn’t get a bribe, he sue De year start and more news coming out about some people who help demselves like if dem was a cooperative.

Dem is de same people who use to cuss Burnham when he talk about Guyanese helping demself although he didn’t mean it de way it happen among de Bees.

Dem boys talk bout de tekking till dem get blue and nutten change. Some people woulda shame wid all de criticisms but dem boys seh that de King Rat, and dem other Bees ain’t got no shame. In fact, de more dem boys talk is de more proud dem get.

Dem boys hear how one of de Bees demand a US$500,000 bribe from a man who come in and buy a big store. De man watch this Bee and tell he that money don’t fall from de sky and how he had to wuk hard fuh he own.

De Bee get vex and de next thing dem boys know is that he go to court. Is not de fuss time people try a bribe and when dem ain’t get dem go to court. Some of dem does call in de tax man fuh back dem up and that is why nuff businessman does rather drop a piece bribe, Well this investor go to court and is there he find out that de Bee actually borrow $200 million pun de same store that he sell to de investor. But if he did only borrow was one thing. He want de investor to pay back de money that this Bee borrow.

Dem boys seh that he behave like a man who marry off he daughter and then telling she that she still got to go back to he house to wash, cook and clean. But that is how de Bees always operate.

In this New Year dem boys hope that dem change because bad luck gun surely follow dem.

Talk half and sell some shame to dem Bees.

organizations, and other civil society groups, to support the implementation of the strategic plans to ensure a safe and prosperous Guyana.”

But that call could fall on deaf ears with respect to the opposition, with leaders of both the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity maintaining that Rohee will not be supported as far as the security plan is concerned.

“We are committed to

Clinton Urling

Clement Rohee

supporting security sector reform, yes, we will support any reasonable measure that will make the country safer … but as far as Mr. Rohee is concerned, the National Assembly has taken a position and we do not believe that based on his performance over the last six years that we have confidence in him to push these reforms through,” Opposition Leader and APNU Chairman David Granger was quoted as saying in another section of the media.

Granger said that his party is not against any plan to make Guyana safer but not (continued on page 11)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 3, 2013

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

My Guyanese personality of 2012 We can’t predict life. A person can emerge as a phenomenal human being and change the course of history. Then a situation can arise where social conditions can create groups of people whose energies are so boundless that they change the lives of so many. In 2012, I couldn’t find one person only that stood out. There were three for me- Sharma Soloman, Nigel Hughes and Ralph Ramkarran.

I was involved in Linden from the start with the voices that rejected the electricity hike. As the pace gathered momentum, Sharma Solomon, the Chairman of Region Ten emerged as the voice of the

entire community of Region Ten that rejected the electricity increase.

Powerful in delivery, modest in deportment and with a dedication that inspired the people of Linden, Solomon cut a figure that reminded you of the firebrands in the anti-colonial struggle.

With each day the protest continued, his stature grew.

By the time Linden was overflowing with anger over the shooting to death of three protestors he had become a formidable figure on the national scene.

This young man, acting with others of his make-up could open up exciting

horizons of political change.

He has the qualities to go with him and he is possessed of an integrity that will serve him well in the future. Solomon led Linden into a battle with a government that he unapologetically believes does not serve their interest.

The result is a phenomenal achievement in which the central government can no longer command the people of Linden, treat them they way it wants to or make policies for Linden without Lindeners’ approval.

If any part of Guyana will stand up to a bullying government it is Linden and one man provided the bulk of the passion and energy in

Kanawan develops problems A number of passengers and vehicles were delayed at the Good Hope/Supenaam Stelling on New Year’s Day for at least 90 minutes after one of the two boat recently acquired from China encountered mechanical problems.

Reports stated that the Kanawan was unable to depart the Supenaam/Good Hope stelling at the

scheduled time for Parika, due to a problem with the gang plank attached to the boat.

This prevented passengers and vehicles from boarding the vessel.

Due to the delay, passengers left Supenaam nearly three hours later. An employee at Supenaam confirmed the problem and said that the boat didn’t develop problems during its

journey to Supenaam stelling.

Passengers said that while they are beginning to enjoy the service provided by the two boats.

They added that the problem was not a new one and as such are calling on Transport and Harbours Department to address the fault with urgency before it develops into something disastrous.

creating that situation, Sharman Solomon.

Next is Nigel Hughes. I predicted two years ago that Hughes will invoke the spirit of Walter Rodney and walk like Rodney. Last year I made the assessment that in the shape of things to come, Hughes will make a huge difference.

Born into a political environment in which his father had to face the heat of Burnham’s vindictiveness (Hughes’ father Clarence, was the divorce lawyer for Burnham’s wife at the time and that carried deadly consequences for the senior Hughes), Nigel Hughes comes across as a man who wants to change Guyana and fast.

A brilliant lawyer with a passion for human rights protection, Hughes is all over Guyana trying to right wrongs. From Region Six with flood victims to Region Five with women groups who are looking for empowerment schemes to Agricola with shooting victims to Timehri with residents who are facing housing demolition to the bauxite town with aggrieved Lindeners to Georgetown with African rights activists

that want a monument to be where it historically belongs to Vlissengen Road in South Georgetown where weekly legal clinics are held, Nigel Hughes is walking in the footsteps of what he likes to repeat quite often, “his proud ancestors.” In politics in today’s Guyana, Hughes’ presence counts.

Finally, there is Ralph Ramkarran. I have had my public quarrels with Mr. Ramkarran but I would never deny him the positive role he played in 2012 that may impact significantly on the future shape of this country.

An enduring figure in the PPP leadership because of both his years of service and his father ’s invaluable contribution, Ramkarran showed immense bravery in publicly breaking with a party that he and his father made into an important part of Guyana.

It was not a simple thing to do. Mr. Ramkarran’s psyche must have been burdened for nights and days when he proclaimed his exit from his party. But what was more important was that he knew fully well what would have been the consequences

Frederick Kissoon for his party.

But he felt Guyana should come first. In leaving the PPP, Mr. Ramkarran has told Guyana that he can no longer serve the organization that administers this country because he rejects the style and approach to governance. This will have its inevitable impact on the future of the PPP. We don’t know as yet what the political plans of Mr. Ramkarran are but most Guyanese would know that in a national election the PPP may not survive with a Ramkarran on the opposing side. My opinion is that it will not.

If Ramkarran joins an organization that includes Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan, Gerhard Ramsaroop and Dr. Ramaya, then the Berbice that put power in the hands of the PPP for so long will take it back.

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

Another death row inmate gets sentence commuted Another death row prison inmate has had his sentence commuted.

Yesterday Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes was able to have his client, Oral Hendrick’s sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the High Court.

Back in 1992, Hendricks was 25 years old and working as a caretaker at the Speedway Hotel at Land of Canaan, East Bank of Demerara.

Hendricks was involved in a common-law relationship with a woman, Carol Braithwaithe. She had three small children: Jason Braithwaite, seven; Althea George, four; and Travis Bunbury, two. Carol Braithwaite eventually moved to Plaisance, where she allegedly had a live-in job.

Oral Hendricks was left to take care of Carol’s three children.

This situation continued for several months, until Hendricks eventually took the children to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and left them in the compound.

The children remained at the hospital in the care of staffers, but on Friday, December 10, Hendricks collected the children from hospital officials.

According to police records, on the night of Saturday, December 12, 1992, Hendricks took his reputed wife’s three children to a canal in Depot Dam in Pouderoyen, East Bank Demerara.

It is alleged that Hendricks flung two-year-old Travis Bunbury into the canal and watched the child drown.

He then did the same to the boy’s four-year-old sister, Althea George.

Finally, Hendricks dumped seven-year-old Jason Braithwaite into the canal, but the child managed to swim to the other end.

Hendricks, it is alleged, pursued the child and slit his throat with a knife. He then held the child’s head underwater to ensure that he was dead.

The following day, Hendricks went to a brother’s home in Depot Dam, Pouderoyen, where he told his sibling what had transpired. The brother and another man raced to the canal where a frantic search began for the missing children. First, they located the bodies of Travis Bunbury and Althea George. Jason Braithwaite’s body was found later in the afternoon.

Shortly after, Oral Hendricks surrendered to police at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. On December 15, 1992, he was charged with murder. During his trial, Hendricks’s two attorneys claimed that their client had an alibi and knew nothing of the gruesome crime.

Hendricks, they said, had loved the children as if they were his.

Prosecutor Shalimar AliHack presented evidence which showed that after the children were slain, Hendricks had gone to Plaisance and told his reputed wife, Carol Braithwaite, that his sister had taken the children to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and that the authorities were refusing to return them to him.

But a witness for the prosecution stated that the children were handed over to Hendricks on Friday, December 10, 1992, the day before they were murdered.

In addition, the prosecution provided a statement which showed that Hendricks had confessed to killing the children.

In his statement, the accused alleged that he had murdered the three children because he was angry with their mother. On Tuesday, February 5, 1996, a sevenman, five-woman jury found Hendricks guilty.

Before passing the death sentence on the accused Chief Justice Cecil Kennard asked Hendricks what he had to say. “I did not commit this crime,” was Hendricks’ terse response.

In 2000, Hendricks’s attorneys filed an appeal against his sentence but the appeal was rejected. That same year, a death warrant was read to the accused.

However, Hendricks remained on Death Row.

From page 9 under the stewardship of the current Home Affairs Minister.

“Mr. Rohee has demonstrated that he does not have the competence to make this country secure and he does not have the confidence of the majority of the National Assembly. We have no reason to believe that he will do over the next four years what he has failed to do over the last six years,” Granger stated.

And AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, while expressing satisfaction that the plan included civilian oversight, maintained that Rohee was not the man to lead it.

“The trouble we have now is that the strategy is supportable … but at this stage I have no confidence in that Minister and if it is going to be implemented under his stewardship it will undermine our confidence in the efficacy of its implementation,” Ramjattan was quoted as saying.

The National Assembly had narrowly passed a motion of no confidence in the Minister of Home Affairs, after it was put forward by the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition.

But on the last day of 2012 Rohee had said that his Ministry wants a constructive engagement with the parliamentary opposition, since according to him, there must be an engagement that will be structured, sustainable and all-embracing, with well established reporting and accountable mechanisms worked out and approved by both sides.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs is prepared to bring to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for deliberations, the Strategic and Implementation Plans for the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service, as well as its projections for the 2013 Budget for the Guyana Police Force.

The Ministry is agreeable

to the setting of agreed and specific timelines for reporting back to the Oversight Committee on the progress and challenges that have arisen to facilitate or hinder implementation of the Strategic Plans earlier mentioned.

The Ministry is prepared to make itself available regularly to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector in an effort to ensure greater transparency and accountability of its activities and those of the Departments that fall under its jurisdiction.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is convinced that in the spirit of compromise and accommodation, the maintenance of peace and good order in our country can be further advanced,” Rohee had stated.

Opposition, Chamber of ...

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Kaieteur News

Labour Ministry looking at ‘land-grabbing’ in Co-ops The Ministry of Labour has observed what has been deemed very disturbing features within Cooperatives, whereby members have been engaging in illicit activities as it relates to land transfers.

This was the assertion of Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul, who revealed during a recent media briefing that “we are monitoring those, especially when it comes to what we consider landgrabbing or illegal selling off of shares in these Coops.”

In this regard, the Minister said that a number of Land Cooperatives have therefore come under scrutiny and efforts are being made to actively move to regularise such actions by using the laws to the fullest, if required. Such interventions are now essential, the Minister said, to ensure that the illegal activities are brought to an end thus prosecution will take place where necessary.

He disclosed that several Coop members have in fact been disenfranchised and “we are hoping to give back the members their lands. There have been instances of big business interests taking over huge portions of land belonging to Cooperatives and we will be actively pursuing those with the view of regularising and

correcting the situation,” said Dr Gopaul. He emphasised that Cooperatives were not meant to be given to “big landlords” but rather they were intended for the “small man” with a view of helping to raise his standard of living, whereby he is gainfully employed. However, this state of affairs has been linked to the fact that there is a shortage of staffers required to man such activities in the Division. And it is the expectation of Minister Gopaul that fervent efforts will be focused on this dilemma.

“We hope to have regional officers in addition to the few we have in Regions Six, Five, Three and Two, and we hope to strengthen the other regions with rice and cane farming activities.”

According to the Minister, both the Cooperative and Friendly Societies posed a challenge to the Labour Ministry last year as a result of a significant staffing shortage. The situation has however faced the Ministry for a number of years, Gopaul admitted. He disclosed that apart from the Chief Coop Development Officer, there were only two officers at the commencement of last year.

The Ministry was able to bring in two additional officers, but a request has since been made for a further six or seven officers at the Regional level, to

cater to inspection and coordination as it relates to cooperative ventures, said the Minister.

This is especially required in the counties of Essequibo and Berbice, particularly the upper Corentyne area, he added.

However, the Minister said that there were training programmes last year for the officers on staff who were able to undertake a number of scheduled field visits and there were a number of audits during the course of the year.

The Ministry was also tasked with intervening in a number of disputes within Coops. Minister Gopaul disclosed that disputes are normally sent to arbitration and last year there were a total of 18 such processes. Twenty-seven of the disputes were within Coops while the Friendly Societies accounted for 13, he added. He disclosed that efforts were also made last year by the Labour Ministry, to effect amendment of the rules of Friendly Societies and Cooperatives, which saw 24 such rules being amended.

Intervening measures, the Minister assured, were not done without interactions with stakeholders, as about seven such meetings were held during the past year.

Thursday January 3, 2013

New Telecoms law could be passed today The government is looking to get new legislation for the telecoms sector passed in the National Assembly today in hopes of putting an end to the so-called telephone monopoly held by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, GT&T. The Bill is to provide for the establishment of the Telecommunications Agency “and for a regular, coordinated, open and c o m p e t i t i v e telecommunications sector.”

Digicel Guyana, which credits itself with bringing down the cost of handsets and slashing by half local rates in its six years of operations here, has argued that its ability to generate a better profit is stymied by the telecommunications monopoly.

The company has especially been held back from offering international services.

With over 100 sites countrywide, the company has tabulated its subscribers to be about 250,000.

Inbound and outbound calls through Digicel’s network are routed through GT&T, since the company is

the only one with an international licence in the telecommunications sector.

Digicel has forever complained about its inability to operate the way it wants, and the only gateway is legislation.

The company has called for a timeline for the liberalization of the sector.

Even if legislation is passed today, there is no telling when the legislation would be implemented.

The legislation was due for the last Parliament, but was subsequently pulled by the government and the two companies engaged in a public debate about who was responsible, with Digicel accusing GT&T of threatening legal action if the law went through. GT&T rubbished the accusation.

Digicel has argued that businesses should thrive on merit and through competing vigorously, “not by sitting on a guaranteed monopoly for two decades that grants it significant advantages over other operators.”

The company said that the decision by the government to stall the legislation meant that

international calling rates remained high.

Recently, the government said that there is no deliberate move to delay the liberalisation of the local telecommunication sector since such a process is critical to the country’s national development strategy.

The Bill could have gone to Parliament earlier, but the government decided to hold off allowing for further consultation with Digicel and GT&T. The Bill calls for a number of changes in the policies and operations of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which regulate rates, and as such an Amendment to the PUC Act is also due for passage in the House today.

The new legal framework created is “characterized by transparency and nondiscrimination in the issuance and monitoring of licenses and authorizations to use the spectrum, seamless interconnection and access between and among telecommunications networks and services and price regulation where required to ensure competition and protect consumers.”

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Two seniors missing under strange circumstances

T

he distraught families of two elderly persons are feverishly seeking the public's assistance to find their missing relatives.

The children of 82-yearold Margaret Harris, and 74year-old John Morris both of Mocha, East Bank Demerara, said that their parents' disappearance is extremely strange and they are at a lost as to what may have happened to them.

Feeling like they have exhausted all avenues, the relatives are begging the public to assist in locating their parents.

Harris's daughters; Faye Wickham and Claudette Pancham, said that their mother has been missing for nearly seven weeks. They said that on November 17, last, their mother who sells broom in the community, left for the lands aback of the Mocha village around 13:30 hours.

Pancham said that her mother lives with her younger sister, and on the day of her disappearance, the woman had ventured into the farmlands where she has her farm, to strip broom. The woman never came home and this prompted a search party.

According to the sisters, persons living along the way to their mother's farm remembered seeing Harris going into the backdam but had not seen her return. She was at the time wearing a

Thursday January 03, 2013

Kaieteur News

74-year-old Morris John blue dress, black shoes and a straw hat. She had a cutlass and two dogs with her. The family is saying that no trace of the woman can be found.

When the search was conducted, strips of coconut branches were found which indicated that the woman had finished stripping her broom.

“Not the cutlass, not even a side of her shoe could be found, to say at least something may have happened,” the sisters lamented. The dogs did return home but they failed to lead searchers to the woman.

For almost two weeks, the sisters said searches were conducted. These were taken as far as Ogle, Lusignan and Diamond but still no trace of the elderly woman.

John Morris's children, who assisted in the search for Harris, are now searching for

82year-old Margaret Harris him. His kids; Simone Daniels, Augustine John and Melvina Daniels, all of Mocha, said their father went missing eleven days ago.

Two Saturdays ago, the man went to his home which happens to be in the Mocha Backdam, but was not heard from again.

Simone Daniels said her father lives with her but would spend time at her younger sister. She said that on the day of her father's disappearance, he told her that he was going to visit another sibling who lives in Sophia.

Around 10:30hours that day, she said that her father returned to Mocha and stopped at his younger daughter's house before going home.

Daniels said she informed her father that she and her children would be

sleeping at the younger sister and he opted to go home alone. Around 17:30 hours, Daniels said her father returned to her sister's home to get his lighter which he had left there. He then returned to his home.

Knowing that their father is an early riser and would normally be by the sister before noon, the woman became curious as to why their father had not yet visited and decided to have their children take food for their father. Daniels said she sent her children ahead.

Before she could reach her home she said she saw the children returning with the food and her daughter was crying.

When she asked, the child said that her grandfather was not at home.

Daniels said she hurried to her house only to find it wide open but no trace of her father. At the time, John was wearing a “Nike hoody,” grey jeans, long boots and a blue cap. He had in his possession his lighter, a torch light and a knife.

Despite the numerous searches, John is yet to be located. The police have intervened in both missing cases but still no luck. The families are however asking that more effort be placed into finding the missing persons. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of John is asked to call 674-0638 or 688-2277. For Harris' family call 217-0338.

Squib throwing leaves man with split lip

The injured Dahadur

W

hile many celebrated the N e w Ye a r with lots of love and l a u g h t e r, 2 2 - y e a r - o l d Prakash Dahadur broke 2013 at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) - this was after a squib landed on his mouth.

The Metro employee received two stitches for the wound he sustained.

Dahadur of Lot 364 Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) said that he was standing by his gate a few minutes before 2013 when he felt a sudden and painful impact on his mouth.

“I was standing by the gate and I feel a hard hit on

my mouth and blood started to run so I run inside. After I feel the hit I done know is squib,” the 22-year-old man recalled. He said that he does not know who threw the explosive device.

Late last year a woman was arrested in connection with a squib throwing incident that occurred at the La Penitence Market and left a woman with burns to her arm and abdomen.

A police source yesterday told Kaieteur News that squibs are illegal and if a person is caught with the miniature explosive device he or she will be arrested and placed before the Courts.

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Increase in neighbourhood police on the cards The Home Affairs Ministry plans to flood a number of communities with Neighbourhood Police in an effort to clamp down on the growing incidences of domestic violence and child abuse.

This initiative was announced by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee last Monday during the unveiling of a national security plan.

Rohee told the gathering at the police officers' training centre that his Ministry is of the view that a new preventative and proactive approach is required on the issue of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.

In this regard, the Ministry is of the view that an expanded physical presence on the ground for the purpose of information-gathering and prevention could go a far way in preventing and reducing these unwanted incidents.

“An appropriate approach in our view would be a three-pronged approach. First, would be to recruit larger numbers of Social Workers who would be stationed at an appropriate location in each Station/Magisterial District or National Democratic Council, and second, increase the numbers of Neighbourhood Police who patrol the neighbourhoods 24/7, principally by day since, on the one hand, the Police do not have the numbers to patrol on foot in each village day and night while on the other hand, members of Community Policing Groups are active usually by night,” the Home Affairs Minister explained.

“The answer therefore lies in the recruitment of more Neighbourhood Police,” he added.

Advertisements will soon be placed in the media inviting persons to apply to be members of the Neighbourhood Police.

According to Rohee, Cabinet has approved the recruitment of 100 Neighbourhood Police ranks. He said that the Ministry will work closely with the Ministry of Human Services with respect to the possible recruitment of an increased number of social workers.

Thursday January 03, 2013

Kaieteur News

Bandits hit Cell Point on New Year's Day A city businessman was yesterday counting his losses after brazen burglars broke into his Cell Point store on Regent Road, Bourda shortly after 5:00 hours on New Year's Day and escaped with an undisclosed quantity of articles and the Old Year's Day sales said to be some $1.8 million.

The bandits, despite the presence of the next door City Constabulary, escaped with a large quantity of cellular phones, artificial jewelry, MP3 players, one flat screen television, brand name watches and just about anything of value that remained in the store.

Kaieteur News was told that one man was caught inside the building hiding in the ceiling. He is in police custody. Proprietor Davenand Singh said that he was at home welcoming the New Year when he received a call from MMC Security Service informing him about the robbery. It was shortly before 7:00 hours A frustrated Singh said that Tuesday's incident was the third time bandits stormed his property but it was the first time he had lost so much.

The businessman, who up to press time yesterday could

One of the shattered glass cases

not put a figure to his losses, said that the robbery was a major setback for him.

Kaieteur News understands that the bandits gained entry into the business by wrenching open the shutter at the front of the building and smashed the glass door. They then crawled through the opening and once inside they smashed almost all the glass cases which contained the

valuable items.

Singh said that he is now thinking about suing the security service which he has been paying every month to protect his property.

According to Singh, when the bandits entered his business, the alarm immediately went off but the security service called him at 06:53 am and this was only after the City Constabulary

learnt about the incident and called the security service.

“When those men enter my place the motion detector would have sensed them and the signal would have gone off in the area and MMC would have also get the signal,” Singh said.

Kaieteur News was told that constables heard when the glass cases shattered but they thought it was squibs.

Thursday January 03, 2013

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Kaieteur News

Vandals caught on camera damaging vehicles as family feud escalates

A

n escalating family feud between two Canadian-based Guyanese brothers is threatening to get ugly and once again the police are being blamed for allowing the situation to spiral out of control.

The latest saga in the ongoing battle has seen the destruction of a few unregistered sports utility vehicles and threats to commit murder.

Abdool Gafoor, one of the parties in the feud, told Kaieteur News that he is fearful for his life as well as that of his wife, since he is convinced that the damage to his vehicles was perpetrated by his bitter rival.

The businessman claimed that on Tuesday night his rival attacked him with a piece of wood, inflicting damage to his head and other parts of his body.

And as if that was not enough, a group of men who Gafoor believes was hired, barged into his yard and proceeded to break the windscreens and windows of two Toyota Tundras and a Toyota Tacoma leaving damage costing more than $2M. But in a twist to the drama, the other party is alleging that one of his vehicles was also vandalized and produced the evidence of a badly damaged minibus.

Gafoor owns the Reeaz Auto Mart at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. This is situated on a portion of

family land, alongside that of his brother Ramzan Gafoor.

The feud apparently began way back in 2009, when his business, along with several unregistered vehicles was destroyed.

Although he suspected that it was the work of a relative, no one was held responsible by the police.

“I came back to Guyana leaving my relatives in Canada to establish a business, working hard,” he told this newspaper.

Just when Gafoor thought that he had seen the last of the attacks on his business, Tuesday night turned out to be a nightmare.

But according to Gafoor, trouble was brewing a few weeks ago when the relative with whom he is having a family dispute came into Guyana.

He explained that he is currently engaged in a High Court battle with the relative over a piece of property.

Gafoor stated that he began receiving death threats, and the surveillance cameras which he had established around his premises, were deliberately damaged, in apparent preparation for what would eventually follow.

The businessman said that he reported these matters to the police and invited them to come to his property to see the damage, all to no avail. All the while he continued to receive death threats from the relative in question.

He said that on Tuesday

he had a physical confrontation with the relative during which he sustained injuries.

It was while he was receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital that thugs barged into his yard damaged his vehicles even as his wife stood watching helplessly.

However, she managed to take photographs of the persons breaking the windows of the vehicles.

“When my wife saw them coming, she turned to them and said, 'I know y'all',” Gafoor stated, adding that this led to his relative turning back and running out of the yard to avoid his photograph being taken.

“One of the guys with him, covered his face and proceeded to break up three of my vehicles to the value of $2M,” Gafoor explained.

He said that he subsequently reported the matter to the police at the Vigilance Police Station, and this time around, ranks visited the scene.

Late yesterday afternoon, the relative in question was in police custody assisting with the investigations.

“My wife was upstairs in the verandah when she saw these guys in my yard, breaking my vehicles and she called to the station but there was no rescue,” Gafoor stated.

Gafoor told this newspaper that he is disappointed with the way his matter was treated by the

Surveillance camera captures one of the hooligans damaging Gafoor's vehicles.

One of the damaged vehicles.

police. This police \inaction is causing it to escalate to this extent.

“The previous arson, nobody has been charged, the matter just disappeared,” Gafoor stated, adding that the relative had assaulted his wife with a gun and the Guyana Police Force has

never charged him for that offence.

“Mr. Bharrat came to Canada and invite Guyanese to come. But what he didn't tell them is 'when you come here, you will go back to Canada with no money or maybe you will lose your life',” Gafoor declared.

“Right now, me and my wife are thinking about leaving and going back to 'my country'. I had to go and buy dogs and security cameras for my own protection.

The Guyana Police Force is weak,” a bitter Gafoor told Kaieteur News.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 3, 2013

Mixed New Year’s messages from parties…

Ramotar prepared for discussions, AFC wants “skeletons” confronted The year 2012 has drawn to a close but it will go down as one not to be easily forgotten when the history books are written.

Not only were the Opposition and Government grappling to deal with new realities of the governing People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) not having a majority after two decades in office, but the courts were tested to the limits over decisions in Parliament.

Despite all the internal turmoil, the country still managed to record a four per cent growth in gross domestic product (GDP). It will be the seventh consecutive year that Guyana has seen positive growth.

In his New Year ’s message, President Donald Ramotar made it clear that the performance would come in the face of the global economic crisis.

“We have managed the economy very well and have made progress in continuing to expand our economic base.”

He noted that although

- Granger wants 2013 dedicated to youths

President Donald Ramotar Guyana is a “small, vulnerable economy”, its policies have allowed the economy to remain resilient to the external challenges that we face.

The President made particular mention of education as a high point.

“We have achieved universal primary education, we are well on our way to achieving universal secondary education and more of our

Opposition Leader, Brigadier (ag), David Granger young people are accessing tertiary and university education than ever before.

Our children who wrote the CXC examinations have once more captured most of the awards, given by the Caribbean examination and certification board.”

Regarding a specialty

AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan hospital to be built at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, this year construction will begin, the Head of State said.

“Our housing programme has helped to fulfill the dreams of many to own their own homes. We will continue to seek more innovative ways to help more of our people to experience the security of having their own roof over their heads.”

REGRETS/ COMPROMISE Regarding the problems in Parliament, Ramotar expressed regret. “I had hoped that with the new configuration in Parliament that we would have had more cooperation and engagement. In fact, I was quite hopeful and had mentioned in my swearing in speech my willingness to work with the other political parties in Parliament. Unfortunately, this was not to be.

Instead, what all of us have observed is that the National Assembly was transformed into an arena where the main objective and obsession of the opposition was to score partisan political points counter to our national interests.”

He bemoaned what was described as “unconstitutional motions” being regularly taken to Parliament. “In defence of the rule of law and the Constitution, we have had to resort to going to the Courts.

In fact it is these same misguided positions and actions that led to some citizens being harassed and abused in Agricola and the unfortunate loss of lives in Linden.”

But all is not lost, the President said.

“Clearly we need more dialogue and discussions in our society. History has

shown that a nation’s all round progress is always enhanced when honest debates, dialogue and compromise are the tools used in the body politic. While the government has been willing and has moved even more than halfway to meet the opposition and compromise, we have not seen that same willingness from the other sides.”

He urged the opposition to “reconsider” its positions and “recommit” itself to the development of Guyana.

Despite a no-confidence motion and the Opposition’s continued refusal to acknowledge the presence of Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee in Parliament, Ramotar remained positive in his message for how 2013 will unfold.

“This New Year, 2013 promises to be a very exciting year for us. We hope to carry forward the major projects all of which have the potential to accelerate our growth rate.

We intend to continue to invest in our people. We are working to construct new schools in the interior to ensure that all of our children, no matter where they are have a chance at a secondary education.”

This year, too, government’s fibre-optic cable is to become operational with internet services to be extended right across the coastland and the interior.

“It is our expectation that this will create IT jobs not only in the centre at

Georgetown but from Charity to Moleson Creek and into our interior. All of these initiatives will make steady advances towards a modern economy and society.”

YEAR OF THE YOUTH Meanwhile, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, Leader of the A Partnership For National Unity, believed that Guyana’s future, in 2013 lies in the hands of youths.

APNU holds 26 seats in the National Assembly. Together with the other opposition, Alliance For Change (AFC), the opposition holds a commanding one-seat voting majority.

“Young people today constitute 70 per cent of our prison population. They are the majority of our poor and unemployed. They are our street children and child labourers who are being robbed of a bright future.

They deserve better.”

A former army head, Granger wanted 2013 to be one in which fewer youths become victims of crime or are forced to grow up in hunger, poverty, on the street or in jail.

“Guyana’s ‘Year for Youth’ must be one in which our young people can be educated in well-equipped and well-staffed schools; in which the high rate of dropouts from primary and secondary schools is reduced; in which young school-leavers can expect to be employed and in which the (continued on page 19)

Arrests made in missing Guyanese man investigation (Cayman Islands) -Two women have been arrested and are currently detained in police custody in connection with the investigation relating to the missing person Hemerson Raymond Gonzalez.

A police operation Wednesday morning resulted in the arrest of a 25-year-old woman from an address in Canyon Dawn Drive, Savannah. She was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. A second woman, aged 19 years, was also arrested in the Prospect area on suspicion of misleading the police and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

“Mr. Gonzalez’s mother has been informed of these developments and is being

Hemerson Raymond Gonzalez supported by a RCIPS family liaison officer,” a police spokesperson said. (cayman27.com)

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 19

Man jailed for breaking Ramotar prepared for discussions... into plumber’s home A resident of Mocha Arcadia will spend the next two years in jail even after repaying his victim for what he had stolen from him.

The man, Stephan Henry, appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court where Magistrate Leslie Sobers handed down the sentence.

Back in November Henry was charged with break and enter and larceny.

It is alleged that on November 27, last, at Mocha Arcadia, he broke into the dwelling place of Berkley Gordon and stole one flat screen television set worth $140,000, one desk top computer valued at $160,000 and a bag with cash totaling $250,000.

The court was told that on the day in question the VC secured his home and left for a funeral.

When he returned he noticed that his home had been broken into. The matter was reported and acting on

information, the police arrested the accused who subsequently admitted to committing the crime.

The court was informed by the Police Prosecutor that the accused even escorted police ranks to a house where some of the stolen articles were recovered. The accused was then charged.

To the charge the accused pleaded guilty and indicated to the court that he was willing to repay the virtual complainant for the items.

However the accused had requested that he be given time to accumulate the money to repay the VC. This was granted and during yesterday’s court hearing the last sum of $160,000 was paid back to the VC. However under the law, despite the fact that Gordon was compensated the accused was informed that it will not spare him from jail time. Henry was sentenced to two years in prison.

Christmas Eve fracas lands couple in court Businessman Jermin Culley and h i s w i f e , Francine Culley, of Francine’s Fish Shop, Sheriff Street, appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell on Monday following their December 24 fracas.

Culley, of 93 Regent Street, Georgetown, was charged with unlawful wounding, while his wife Francine, of Lot 28/60 Ketley Street Charlestown, had two charges read to her. She is accused of malicious damage to property and unlawful assault.

According to the allegations, Jermin Culley unlawfully wounded his wife while she assaulted him and damaged the bumper and rear lights of a motor vehicle that belonged to Errol Chapman.

Both parties pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jermin Culley was

represented by attorneys at law Gordon Gilhuys in association with Tanya Warren Clement, while Attorney -at- law Omeyana Hamilton provided legal representation for Francine Culley.

The lawyers asked that their clients be admitted to bail. Ms Hamilton submitted to the court that the issue stemmed from a domestic dispute between the couple. Jermin Culley was placed on $30,000 bail while his wife was released on $50,000 bail.

Jermin Culley in offering his version of a Christmas Eve altercation between himself and wife, outside a city supermarket, said that the aggressor in the issue had been his wife.

He refuted claims made by the woman earlier that week that he had assaulted her.

Amputee perishes in Buxton fire A 65-year-old amputee perished in a burning building yesterday becoming the first fire casualty for the new year.

The charred remains of Dennis Marks who lived alone were recovered from the rubble of his single-flat wooden house situated at Lot 12 Cummings Street, North Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

This was after efforts by neighbours to rescue him from the inferno failed.

Kaieteur News understands that around

18:00 hours, neighbours saw smoke coming from Marks’ house, but by the time villagers responded to the alarm raised, it was too late.

No one could say what caused the fire, but there is speculation that it could have been a suicidal act.

Fire tenders from GuySuCo and Mahaica responded, but only to douse the embers so that Marks’ remains could have been recovered. Investigations are continuing.

From page 18 high rate of migration of educated graduates is lowered.”

The AFC, too, regretted 2012, which did not deliver as was expected. But the party was not to be blamed.

“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 day clean was just beyond our reach. There have been varied opinions on what we as a country have achieved this year.”

CONFRONT THE SKELETONS The AFC, whose former leader, Raphael Trotman, was elected Speaker of the National Assembly, the first for the Opposition since the PPP/C took power in 1992, was alarmed over the country’s handling of law enforcement in 2012.

Of especial concern was the country’s fight against 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.”

The AFC said that the past year witnessed 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 be 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.”

AFC believes that until Guyana is prepared to confront the skeletons which constantly challenge the rule of law, a ddress and resolve the differences which separate and divide the country as a nation, it will continue to condemn itself to a less than just and fair society.

AFC hoped that 2013 will address aspects of the constitution that require its 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.”

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Thursday January 3, 2013

Region Five Administration had successful year - Chairman The Region Five Regional Administration hosted a press conference to brief the media on their achievements for the year 2012.

Speaking at the press conference which was held at the Region Five boardroom, Regional Chairman, Bindrabhan Bisnauth, described it as a very successful year in which it would have completed 99 per cent of its work programme with a few expected to be completed in a matter of days.

He stated that the administration was allocated $14.B this year. Other funds were used in the region, courtesy of the various ministries and other donor agencies.

Education received most of the financing from the budgetary allocations.

Several schools were repaired and some extended. “The administration also provided

fuel to transport students residing in the Mahaicony and Abary Creeks to their respective secondary schools.

Three new computer centres w e r e o p e n e d a t three schools in the region.

Much attention was also placed on the sanitary blocks, fencing and the general surroundings of several schools to make the schools and compounds student friendly.

B i snauth stated that health did extremely well.

There were no maternal deaths for the year. The Mahaicony Diagnostic Centre and the Fort Wellington Cottage hospital played their parts with a number of admissions, deliveries and had thousands using the outpatient facilities.

Maintenance and enhancement works were also

Regional Chairman Region Five, Bindrabhan Bisnauth, flanked by his senior Regional Officers at the press briefing. done to both hospitals and a number of health centres in the region.

In agriculture the Regional Chairman also stated that the sector did reasonably well.

For rice, 56,837 hectares were sown and produced a harvest of 241,979 metric tonnes of paddy, which yielded 157,286 tonnes of rice

with an average yield of 4.6 tonnes per hectare.

Meanwhile, sugar just fell short of its target but cash crop production is on the increase.

One of the biggest challenges facing the region is the distribution and management of water.

The Chairman said that he regretted the losses suffered

by farmers in the Region recently due to flooding and other uncontrollable circumstances.

He stated that the administration was affected by the 2012 National Budget cuts.

During the year the region undertook a number of projects with assistance from The Basic Needs Trust Fund

(BNTF), Food for the Poor (FFP), The St Francis Community Developers (SFCD) and the police among others.

Accompanying Bisnauth at the press briefing were Vice Chairman Ron Peters, Regional Executive Officer, Regional Education Officer Own Pollard and some other regional officials.

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

Soesdyke children murder PI …

Wife wraps up testimony with a tearful story Onica Blanchard, the wife of John Blanchard, who is accused of killing their three children, wrapped up her testimony at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

Over the past few weeks Mrs. Blanchard had been giving evidence against her husband as his ongoing PI. However, during yesterday’s hearing as Mrs. Blancahrd was wrapping up her testimony she burst into tears. After she had testified, the woman asked the sitting Magistrate, Leslie Sobers, for permission to address the court and permission was granted.

A tearful Mrs. Blanchard told the court that while living with her husband and children the family was struggling to make ends meet, financially. The woman further told the court that before leaving for the interior her husband promised to take

care of their three children, Joy, Belika and Daniel.

She said that it was agreed that she would go to make a better living for her family. The woman sobbed saying “I went and this is what happen”.

The matter will be called again on January 17 when another witness will be called by the state. Already Mrs. Blanchard’s mother has given evidence against her son-in-law.

On October 11, 2011, Blanchard was detained for allegedly chopping his three young children to death.

Belika Blanchard and her fiveyear-old brother Daniel Blanchard died instantly. Sixyear-old Joy Blanchard subsequently succumbed to her injuries.

The family resided at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, and according to persons, at the time of the incident, the children’s mother had left for the interior

where she sought a better job. It is alleged that the chopping incident stemmed from a phone conversation Blanchard allegedly had with the woman moments earlier.

Blanchard who sold clothing to sustain his family had reportedly been experiencing difficulty with his companion. The two had allegedly spilt up with the woman leaving the children behind. It was indicated that Blanchard had sought the support of his younger sister on the night of the incident.

The younger sister claimed that Blanchard had tried to contact her but was unable to do so.

The death of the children sparked nationwide interest and outrage. Blanchard was attacked twice while in police custody. The man had been beaten severely by fellow inmates who sought to teach the alleged “child murderer” a lesson.

New Amsterdam man’s throat slit on New Year’s morning …assailant hospitalized after sound thrashing The New Year ’s celebrations of a New Amsterdam family were cut short with the news that one of their own was seriously wounded.

Chris Burrowes, 39, called “Bully” of Alexander Street New Amsterdam and a dental technician, was on Tuesday morning around 06:00 hrs slashed across his throat by a man who is a deportee from the USA and who was said to be a one-time friend of the victim.

Burrowes was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where he remains a patient in a critical condition.

His assailant Hansel Andre Lewis, called ‘Smiley’, 33, of Angoy’s Avenue was moments later arrested at home, but not before being taken out of his bed and given a severe beating and had to be rescued by the police.

He was hospitalized, but was subsequently released and is in custody at the Central Police Station. One of Burrowes’s siblings was arrested and is also in custody. According to reports Burrowes and his assailant were among groups of persons imbibing and ushering in the New Year outside a popular bar on Republic Road, NewAmsterdam.

Information is that the two men had an old grievance which reignited during the night.

According to information, persons who were around, tried to get the men to go their separate ways.

According to an eyewitness

Chris Burrowes several persons tried to prevent the men from fighting, but to no avail. The eyewitness said that Burrowes did not want Lewis around and unsuccessfully tried to get him to leave.

Another eyewitness stated that after a while all he saw was “blood spraying from “Bully” throat and the man holding he neck.”

He said that Burrowes started to walk back towards the bar staggering and walked into Charles Place where he collapsed in front of his parents’ home which was not far from where they were imbibing. Burrowes told relatives that “Smiley did this to me.”Lewis in the meantime walked away and went home.

According to Burrowes’s brother, Stanley Ramsammy, he spoke to his brother who

is the third of eight siblings earlier in the night in the vicinity of the bar which is not too far away. He said that he left and went away. He was greeted with the news later that his sibling’s throat was slashed.

He stated that the family wants justice for his brother.

He said that despite his brother might have some bad habits, no one has a right to take a weapon and slit his throat. He said that the family is still grieving over the death of another brother, Trevor Kissoon, a taxi driver whose battered body was discovered on the Number Seven Public Road, East Coast Berbice.

The matter is currently engaging the attention of the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court and is expected to be called again on January 12.

After Burrowes collapsed holding his neck from which he was bleeding profusely, his family tried desperately to assist him by wrapping it with bed sheets. Police who arrived on the scene rushed Burrowes to the New Amsterdam Hospital where emergency surgery was performed.

Owner of Rainbow Generation Bar, Tony Cadogan, stated that both Burrowes and Lewis were banned from entering his premises due to past incidents.

“They were not drinking here; they were outside.” He stated that earlier they men were in a scuffle.

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Thursday January 3, 2013

Linden woman walks away with $1M One Linden mother collapsed after learning that she was one million dollars richer as the “Ariel Christmas Surprise Promotion” came to an end. Karen Inniss picked the lucky envelope ahead of four other participants.

The final drawing and presentation was held yesterday at ANSA McAL Trading head office, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

Ms. Inniss who hails from Cinderella City, Amelia’s Ward Linden fainted when it was revealed that she had picked

the envelope with the grand prize. Upon regaining consciousness, Ms. Inniss was overcome with joy and stated that “God answers prayers.”

She said that she has been a loyal user of Ariel soap powder but only managed to drop three entries into the competition. “I was unsure if I would win but I kept praying because my wish for 2013 is to finish building my house and God knows I need it.”

The other persons who were pulled for the grand draw were Kalawattie Samaroo of

Plantation Hope, Venezula Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice; and J. Marshell of Key Drive, Enterprise Garden, East Coast Demerara.

The two won themselves a 42" Television each.

Jacqueline Williams of Onderneering, Essequibo Coast and Chandradat Lachman of East Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice each won Whirlpool Washing Machines.

Colin Baptiste, Brand Coordinator for Procter and Gamble, said that he was thrilled with the success of the promotion because Ariel customers were rewarded for their loyal support of the brand.

He noted that the promotions of ANSA McAL are developed with the mind set to ensure maximum customer satisfaction hence t h e p r i z es are carefully chosen. Colin has promised ARIEL customers to look out for more amazing promotions.

The ARIEL CHRISTMAS SURPRISE Promotion started on September 19, 2012 and concluded on December 14, 2012 with six drawings which saw 30 lucky Ariel customers walking away with fabulous prizes.

- As Ansa McAl promotion ends

Winner ! Karen Inniss

Thursday January 3, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Addressing NCDs high on Health Ministry’s 2013 agenda With a view of better addressing the challenge of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), the Ministry of Health is looking to expand its delivery of service, particularly in the capital city of Georgetown.

At least this is according to Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, who revealed on Monday that “we are going to be pushing NCDs.” He was at the time addressing a press conference at the Ministry o f H e a l t h ’s B r i c k d a m , Georgetown headquarters, at which point he disclosed that great focus will be directed to city public health facilities since those accommodate about one quarter of the population.

Added to this, he said that there is a strong primary health care network, which is characterised by the more than 10 health centres operated by the Ministry of Health from Industry at Greater Georgetown to Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara.

Some health facilities, he said, are also operated

by the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown so “we have the infrastructure and we are going to be doing an analysis...As a matter of fact analysis is ongoing to see what are the gaps we need to address to bring these health centres up to speed to make them points of service that can address the NCDs epidemic,” said the Minister.

This renewed effort which is to be realised this year will see the Ministry focusing on four categories of diseases, among them cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, diabetes, chronic pulmonary diseases and cancers.

During the course of this year, the Minister anticipates that all of the target health facilities and even an additional few will be able to tackle the existing chronic pulmonary diseases trend.

“At these facilities you will have nebulisers so that a child or an adult suffering from pulmonary diseases.

For example, an asthma

case doesn’t have to go down to the Georgetown (Public) Hospital in all of that furore and terror that happens there...when the child is all uncomfortable and then you have to be fighting in a crowd...”

The measures that the Ministry is poised to engage, Dr Ramsaran said, will be based on World Health Organisa t i o n (WHO) standards and on the recommendations of its recently held Assembly, and even more recently, the 28th Regional Sanitary Conference of the Pan American Health Organisation for the Americas.

At those fora, the target disease groups were identified, and according to Minister Ramsaran “the Ministry has been working with an international flavour to address them and nothing is preventing us from doing it.

We have the health centres; we have the expanded work force and now I have two of my managers who will come together to see it happen.”

Civil society in the Caribbean calls for an end to the death penalty Representatives of civil society from the Caribbean called on Governments in the region to take steps towards abolishing the death penalty.

The call is being made by representatives of nongovernmental organizations from Guyana, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the Greater Caribbean For Life network and Amnesty International.

Executions in the Caribbean are rare, but death sentences continue to be handed down by many Caribbean courts, often in violation of international human rights law and standards.

Many of the criminal justice systems in Englishspeaking Caribbean countries are struggling with caseloads that far exceed their capacity. Inadequate legal representation, lack of witness protection programmes and poor forensic services are also common.

These deficiencies, allied to the police’s lack of adequate training, resources and poor investigative capacity as well as corruption often result in violations of due process or the death penalty being imposed on prisoners suffering from mental disabilities.

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago still retain the mandatory death penalty for

murder, even if international and regional human rights bodies have found the automatic and mandatory imposition of the death penalty to be an arbitrary deprivation of life as it does not allow the possibility of taking into account the defendant’s personal circumstances or the circumstances of the particular crime.

While the world is moving away from this punishment, with more than two-thirds of the countries having abolished the death penalty in law or practice, a number of governments in the region have recently attempted to pass legislation aimed at facilitating a return to hanging in response to high levels of violent crime.

The United States of America continues to be the only executioner in the

Americas, but even there positive signs have shown that the country is progressively turning against the use of this punishment, most recently with a moratorium on executions declared in the state of Oregon and abolition of the death penalty in Connecticut.

The death penalty violates the right to life as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Governments in the English-speaking Caribbean continue to cling to their belief that the death penalty is a key answer to public security concerns, despite the lack of evidence that the death penalty helps reduce crime.

While deeply sympathizing with the victims of violent crime, the undersigned organizations hold that the death penalty does not make societies safer.

Civil society also called on the authorities of Caribbean countries which retain capital punishment to implement effective and constructive solutions to criminal justice issues and to remove the death penalty once and for all from the law books.

CHALLENGING THREATS Even as the Ministry seeks to address the NCDs, the Minister said that there are four existing threats that must be arrested - abuse of alcohol, tobacco consumption, sedentary lifestyle and improper diet.

The latter, will see the Ministry looking at the use of sugary foods, especially sugary beverages among children and fatty foods.

Another component which the Health Ministry has added especially for the local population is that of salt, said the Minister.

“These are some of the things we are putting in our strategy and we want the media to help us project this...the NCDs, and at the same time the threats we are dealing with; threats

that tend to reinforce these disease patterns in the population.”

Engaging this strategic move, the Minister said, will entail the launch of a programme being dubbed ‘Wellness Warriors’ which he anticipates will encourage the active support of the media. This programme is expected to see persons whom he described as “community champions” being educated on a mass scale about the categories of NCDs as well as the threats.

“This will ensure that everywhere...under ever leaf and at every corner and on every culvert or curb we have a wellness warrior. At the same time we will be utilising traditional partners who we find that we have not exploited their potential, such as the

school system.”

Accordingly, healthy lifestyles will be fully promoted in the school system, said the Minister, even as he amplified that the health sector is very concerned about childhood obesity.

This state of affairs, he explained, has been linked to the food items available at schools’ canteens.

“So we are going to be working with the schools more vigorously and more innovatively, hopefully with the support of the media, to promote it in the schools, the health clubs and what we can call key opinion leaders among the students and pupils, so that they can become our change agents to influence the adult populations at home to fight against NCDs.”

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Thursday January 3, 2013

Availability of illegal pesticides “reduced” The availability of illegal pesticides on the market has declined by one percent. This is according to the end of year report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Enforcement activities were carried out specifically under the Board’s “Zero Tolerance against Illegal Pesticides Campaign” and this was done in collaboration with the Customs and Trade Administration and the Guyana Police Force,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie

Ramsammy continues to warn persons, particularly farmers, against purchasing pesticides and other toxic chemicals from unlicenced distributors.

Ramsammy explained to reporters that farmers who have suffered damage caused by the use of substandard chemicals bought from unlicenced distributors, cannot and will not be entitled to any form of representation or compensation from the Agriculture Ministry.

He advised persons to be on the safe side and ensure

that they ask vendors to view their licence for selling and importing these toxic chemicals.

The issuing of these licences was done under the arm of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) of the Ministry of Agriculture Inspection and Enforcement Unit. Its aim is to strengthen numerous chemical management instruments in Guyana so as to ensure safe use of chemicals in the food production chain.

The Board has worked

Some of the illegal pesticides that were seized during past raids by authorities closely with all importers of pesticides and toxic chemicals last year, issuing 1587 licences for imports.

Licencing is carried out so as to gather all relevant information on chemicals such as quantities, names, types, target pest and use patterns of these chemicals.

There are now 154 vending sites for pesticides.

“The Board has the mandate to ensure that only

safe chemicals are imported, sold, and used in Guyana. It also helps to monitor food for pesticide residues,” the Agriculture Ministry’s year-end report stated. The report went on to establish that only registered products are imported and used here in Guyana.

The registration process, it explained, helps to ensure that products imported are not

banned or severely hazardous pesticides, especially since pesticides are poisons and pose a severe threat to human health.

It is therefore imperative for these to be screened at the highest level before they are used in crop production here.

In carrying out this mandate, the Ministry executed public awareness as well as training countrywide.

This is to ensure that food producers adhere to the use of legally registered pesticides.

In 2012, a total of 1470 farmers have been trained in various agriculture communities. This training is key in helping farmers become aware of the legal and illegal products, as well as dose rates, and how to protect themselves and the environment.

The training was also conducted in schools in the form of a competition.

Nonetheless, the Ministry continues to confiscate unregistered chemicals from unregistered locations. And, as part of its efforts to equip agricultural food producers in Guyana, the Board also distributed measuring utensils, information booklets, gloves, and respirators to all participants, free of cost.

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Venezuela opposition: Chavez secrecy feeds rumors CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s opposition yesterday once again criticized the secrecy surrounding the condition of President Hugo Chavez more than three weeks after his cancer surgery in Cuba.

Opposition coalition leader Ramon Guillermo Aveledo said at a news conference that the information provided by government officials “continues to be insufficient.”

Chavez has not been seen or heard from since the Dec. 11 operation, and Vice President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday said the president’s condition remained “delicate” due to complications arising from a respiratory infection.

Maduro also urged Venezuelans to ignore rumors about Chavez’s condition.

Aveledo said the opposition has been respectful during Chavez’s illness but that “the secrecy is the source of the rumors.”

“They should tell the truth,” Aveledo said, noting that Maduro had pledged to provide full reports about Chavez’s condition. He reiterated the opposition’s call

for the government to release a medical report, and said all indications are that Chavez won’t be able to be sworn in to begin a new term on Jan. 10. If Chavez can’t take office on that date, Aveledo said the constitution is clear that the National Assembly president should then take over temporarily until a new election is held. He said what happens next in Venezuela should be guided by “the truth and the constitution.”

If Chavez dies or is unable to continue in office, the Venezuelan Constitution says a new election should be held within 30 days.

With rumors swirling that Chavez had taken a turn for the worse, Maduro said on Tuesday that he had met with the president twice, had spoken with him and would return to Caracas on Wednesday.

“He’s totally conscious of the complexity of his postoperative state and he expressly asked us ... to keep the nation informed always, always with the truth, as hard as it may be in certain circumstances,” Maduro said in the prerecorded interview

Supporter of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez attend to a ceremony in his honor in Caracas Old Year’s Night. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins in Havana, which was broadcast Tuesday night by the Caracas-based television network Telesur.

Both supporters and opponents of Chavez have been on edge in the past week amid shifting signals from the government about the president’s health.

Officials have reported a series of ups and downs in his recovery — the most recent, on Sunday, announcing that he faced the new complications from a respiratory infection.

Maduro did not provide any new details about

Grenadian politician officially charged with domestic violence The New National Party Caretaker for St David, Gabriel Henry has been officially charged by police for “Assault with a dangerous instrument, to wit: a cutlass” and is now on EC$6000.

His arrest stems from an incident on January 1st 2013, where according to reports, he used a cutlass to hit his female companion.

He is schedule to make his first court appearance at the St David magistrate court on Monday January 07th 2013.

The New National Party says they are aware of the domestic incident involving

Gabriel Henry and has instructed the disciplinary arm of the party to investigate.

A release issued by the party states, “we are committed to making no further public statements that will negatively impact on such.

However, as a general point of policy, the NNP categorically denounces any acts of violence, particularly against women, regardless of circumstances.”

“Additionally as a compassionate gesture we have also suggested to all parties linked to the incident to seek the necessary counseling that we think will help them on a personal level.”

Martelly’s plan for CARICOM

Michel Martelly

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – CMC - Haiti’s President Michel Martelly has started his six-month role as chairman of the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping pledging to help CARICOM unite and overcome its economic problems as well as improve the socio-economic well being of the region’s population.

“In my capacity as Chairman of the Community, I resolutely commit myself and my country to this noble and urgent necessity,” he said, adding that Haiti gladly embraces this opportunity to provide leadership to the integration process for the next six months, and looks forward to help strengthen the

Caribbean Community.

He said during his stint which coincides with celebrations marking CARICOM’s 40th anniversary, he will seek to unite the region even further so that it can “overcome serious economic, environmental, and social challenges affecting the region.

“I, therefore, invite member states to converge their efforts in order to achieve the necessary structural changes to increase the well-being of our peoples,” Martelly said, noting that the Haiti is also observing its 209th anniversary as an independent country under the theme “Freedom and Unity”.

Chavez’s complications during Tuesday’s interview.

But he joined other Chavez allies in urging Venezuelans to ignore gossip, saying rumors were being spread due to “the hatred of the enemies of Venezuela.”

He didn’t refer to any rumors in particular, though one circulating online had described Chavez as being in a coma.

Maduro said Chavez faces “a complex and delicate situation.” But Maduro also said that when he talked with the president and looked at

his face, he seemed to have “the same strength as always.”

“All the time we’ve been hoping for his positive evolution. Sometimes he has had light improvements, sometimes stationary situations,” he said.

Maduro’s remarks about the president came at the end of an interview in which he praised Venezuelan government programs at length, recalled the history of the Cuban revolution and touched on what he called the long-term strength of

Chavez’s socialist Bolivarian Revolution movement.

He mentioned that former Cuban President Fidel Castro had visited the hospital where Chavez was treated, and praised Cuba’s government effusively. “Today we’re together on a single path,” Maduro said.

Before his operation, Chavez acknowledged he faced risks and designated Maduro as his successor, telling supporters they should vote for the vice president if a new presidential election was necessary.

Maduro didn’t discuss the upcoming inauguration plans, saying only that he is hopeful Chavez will improve.

The vice president said that Chavez “has faced an illness with courage and dignity, and he’s there fighting, fighting.”

“Someone asked me yesterday by text message: How is the president? And I said, ‘With giant strength,’” Maduro said. He recalled taking Chavez by the hand: “He squeezed me with gigantic strength as we talked.”

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Chavez’s VP says ailing leader still ‘delicate’ CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s vice president returned home yesterday from a visit with Hugo Chavez in Cuba and says the ailing president’s condition remains “delicate” three weeks after his cancer surgery.

With rumors swirling that Chavez had taken a turn for the worse, Vice President Nicolas Maduro said Tuesday that he had met with the president twice and had spoken with him.

“He’s totally conscious of the complexity of his postoperative state and he expressly asked us ... to keep the nation informed always, always with the truth, as hard as it may be in certain circumstances,” Maduro said in the prerecorded interview in Havana, which was broadcast Tuesday night by the Caracas-based television network Telesur.

Both supporters and opponents of Chavez have been on edge in the past week amid shifting signals from the

government about the president’s health. Chavez has not been seen or heard from since the Dec. 11 operation, and officials have reported a series of ups and downs in his recovery — the most recent, on Sunday, announcing that he faced new complications from a respiratory infection.

Maduro did not provide any new details about Chavez’s complications during Tuesday’s interview.

But he joined other Chavez allies in urging Venezuelans to ignore gossip, saying rumors were being spread due to “the hatred of the enemies of Venezuela.”

He didn’t refer to any rumors in particular, though one of them circulating online had described Chavez as being in a coma. Maduro said Chavez faces “a complex and delicate situation.” But Maduro also said that when he talked with the president and looked at his face, he seemed to have “the same strength as always.”

“All the time we’ve been hoping for his positive evolution. Sometimes he has had light improvements, sometimes stationary situations,” he said.

Maduro’s remarks about the president came at the end of an interview in which he praised Venezuelan government programs at length, recalled the history of the Cuban revolution and touched on what he called the long-term strength of Chavez’s socialist Bolivarian Revolution movement.

He mentioned that former Cuban President Fidel Castro had been in the hospital, and praised Cuba’s government effusively. “Today we’re together on a single path,” Maduro said.

Critics in Venezuela sounded off on Twitter while the interview was aired, some saying Maduro sounded like a mouthpiece for the Cuban government. In their messages, many Chavez opponents criticized Maduro for the dearth of information

Hugo Chavez he provided, accusing him of withholding key details about Chavez’s condition.

Chavez’s political opponents have complained that the government hasn’t told the country nearly enough about his health, and have demanded it provide the country with a full medical report. Even some of his supporters say they wished they knew more.

“We’re distressed by El Comandante’s health,” said Francisca Fuentes, who was

walking through a downtown square with her grandchildren Tuesday. “I think they aren’t telling us the whole truth. It’s time for them to speak clearly.

It’s like when you have a sick relative and the doctor lies to you every once in a while.”

Chavez has been fighting an undisclosed type of pelvic cancer since June 2011. He has declined to reveal the precise location of the tumors that have been surgically removed.

The president announced on Dec. 8, two month after winning re-election, that his cancer had come back despite previous surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

“There’s nothing we can do except wait for the government to deign to say how he is really,” said Daniel Jimenez, an opposition supporter who was in a square in an affluent Caracas neighborhood.

Jimenez and many other Venezuelans say it seems increasingly unlikely that

Chavez can be sworn in as scheduled Jan. 10 for his new term. If he dies or is unable to continue in office, the Venezuelan Constitution says a new election should be held within 30 days.

Before his operation, Chavez acknowledged he faced risks and designated Maduro as his successor, telling supporters they should vote for the vice president if a new presidential election was necessary.

Maduro didn’t discuss the upcoming inauguration plans, saying only that he is hopeful Chavez will improve.

The vice president said that Chavez “has faced an illness with courage and dignity, and he’s there fighting, fighting.”

“Someone asked me yesterday by text message: How is the president? And I said, ‘With giant strength,’” Maduro said. He recalled taking Chavez by the hand: “He squeezed me with gigantic strength as we talked.”

Dancehall’s angry nature hurting acceptance, says Beres

Beres Hammond KINGSTON, Jamaica Beres Hammond has made a career singing ballads like One Step Ahead and Come Back Home, positive songs that have made him one of reggae’s great hit makers. But he believes foreigners are becoming turned off contemporary Jamaican music because of its negative content. “Wi always sound

like wi quarrelling, it’s as if these artistes don’t have any bright days,” said Hammond.

He has some advice for his younger colleagues.

“Try a smile an’ the world will smile with you.” The 58 year-old Hammond blames dancehall’s angry nature for the precipitous fall of Jamaican music sales in the United States, the world’s

largest market. Last year was especially dismal, with yearend figures from SoundScan showing no dancehall performer making an impact in that country.

SoundScan is the company that provides music sales data for major publications like Billboard.

Hammond told the Jamaica Observer he felt the disenchantment with new music out of Jamaica while on the road late last year promoting his double album, One Life, One Love, which was released jointly in November by VP Records and his Harmony House Records.”People say these artistes are angry all the time.

You are angry on record but

at the same time your personal life is not that bitter because you are making good money, so why the anger?” he asked.

Hammond wrote the 20 songs on One Life, One Love which consists of lovers rock

and message songs. While he broke through as a balladeer in the late 1970s with the Willie Lindo-produced Reggae Soul album, Hammond notes he has been writing ‘conscious’ songs since his days with progressive reggae band

Zap-Pow early that decade.

It is lover’s rock, however, that has made Hammond a dancehall force. He teamed with Lindo again in the mid1980s for the massive dance hit, What One Dance Can Do, and has not looked back.

Police probing discovery of a newborn’s decomposed body Barbados Nation - Police are investigating the discovery of a newborn’s decomposed body in a St James home on Boxing Day. Reports indicate that the baby was delivered of a young woman, who not too long ago had also given birth to a baby girl and abandoned her.

Public relations officer Inspector David Welch yesterday confirmed that the police

were probing the death of a newborn girl, and said investigations were at “a sensitive stage”.

The mother, Welch added, was not in custody and a post-mortem was being done to determine the cause of death of the infant.

A source close to the investigation told the MIDWEEK NATION yesterday that the tiny body was discovered wrapped in a sheet in a chest of drawers.

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Unions angered by Government Fiscal consolidation inevitable - BITU, NWU insist on public sector wage talks in the Caribbean - says IMF Jamaica Observer - Trade union leaders are hopping mad that the Government is intent on going into an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) without responding to their three-month-old wage claim for public sector workers.

In a release, president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) Senator Kavan Gayle expressed concern that the statement issued by the Ministry of Finance and Planning last weekend on its failure to reach an agreement with the IMF may have given the impression that public sector wage talks have been exhausted.

President of the National Workers Union (NWU) Vincent Morrison said that he will be writing minister of finance and planning Dr Peter Phillips this week proposing a meeting with the trade unions as early as possible this month to start negotiations.

“A discussion on the way forward is absolutely necessary at this point. There have been consultations, but after consulting we have not moved on,” Morrison said.

Trade union sources have informed the Jamaica Observer that since they served a wage claim on the Government last September, it was discussed at a meeting of the Public Sector Monitoring Committee (PSMC) that month and a committee appointed, but the committee is yet to meet.

“We had expected that Minister [Horace] Dalley would have called us to a meeting and we could review the claims and start the process of general collective bargaining by now,”

Kavan Gayle

Vincent Morrison

Morrison said.

The Observer learnt that Dalley, the minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, after weeks of delay tried to convene a meeting of the committee last week, but was unable to get a commitment to meet during Christmas week.

At least 10 major trade unions, which are members of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), served a joint 25-point wage and fringe benefits claim on the Government on September 13 for the 2012/14 period. The unions had accepted a wage freeze for 2010/12 earlier this year.

The JCTU said then that a wage freeze for 2012/14 was still not an option for public sector workers, and that they could not resign themselves to the position that the Government does not have the ability to pay increased wages and, therefore, nothing could be done for the workers.

They said they were “still expecting something of value”.

“As far as we are concerned, the ministry is yet to make any serious response to those claims, apart from a statement made by the minister, Dr Peter Phillips, that the trade-off is either wage restraint or the cutting of

positions,” Senator Gayle said in his release.

Gayle explained that there is still “frustration and disappointment” among public sector workers about the benefits from their sacrifices, including: the freezing of their wages and fringe benefits; non-payment of agreed benefits, including allowances; freezing of employment and appointments; and failure to remit NHT, NIS and other statutory deductions to respective agencies resulting in loss of or reduced benefits for the workers.

“As responsible citizens, the trade unionists recognise the need to take into consideration the Government’s ability to pay and inflation in going forward, but there must be discussions that lead to a compromise, not an ultimatum,” Gayle insisted.

He said that the Government must also understand that whatever sacrifices are made by the workers in the process, must be in the interest of all Jamaicans, including the working poor and the most vulnerable, and should involve increasing the threshold of the social security net and expanding the base to cover as many poor Jamaicans, as possible.

Chairman of Electoral Commission steps down Professor Errol Miller has officially stepped down as chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ).

He told the RJR News Centre Tuesday night that he submitted his letter of resignation to GovernorGeneral Sir Patrick Allen on Monday.

His replacement is expected to be announced shortly. A source told RJR News that word on the new ECJ chairman could come in a few days.

Professor Miller headed the Electoral Commission since its formation in

Errol Miller December 2006. The Commission’s functions include establishing policies governing the registration of electors and giving advice to the Director of Elections.

Last month the spotlight was turned on the ECJ after the Auditor-General’s Department uncovered discrepancies in salaries paid to the director and deputy director of the Commission.

Other breaches uncovered included the Commission’s dead electors processing procedures, governance structure and it was also revealed that since the Electoral Commission commenced operations in December 2006 it had not produced financial statements in according with the ECJ Act. (RJR News)

WASHINGTON - CMC An International Monetary Fund (IMF) working paper says since growth in the current global economic environment is “virtually nonexistent,” significant fiscal consolidation is inevitable in the region.

The paper, dubbed “The Challenges of Fiscal Consolidation and Debt Reduction in the Caribbean,” examines debt dynamics in the Caribbean and discusses policy options for reducing the high debt levels.

Based on empirical studies of factors underlying global large debt reduction episodes, the paper says “important policy lessons” are drawn for the Caribbean.

The analysis shows that major debt reductions are associated with strong growth and decisive and lasting fiscal consolidation efforts. It says better control of the public wage bill, increasing public sector efficiency and tackling transfers are the obvious targets to reduce spending.

On revenue, the working

paper says there is “ample room” to reduce tax expenditures, eliminate distortions while broadening the tax base.

“Fiscal consolidation needs to be complemented by a comprehensive debt reduction strategy including tax policy reforms and structural reforms to boost competiveness,” the paper urges.

It states that Caribbean economies face high and rising debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratios that “jeopardize prospects for medium-term debt sustainability and growth.”

The working paper points out that the global financial crisis “worsened the already high debt burdens in the Caribbean,” adding that the crisis and subsequent slow recovery in advanced countries had a “significant adverse effect undermining growth in the largely tourismdependent Caribbean, exposing balance sheet vulnerabilities built up over many years.”

As a result, the working

paper says the ratio of public debt to GDP increased by about 15 percentage points between 2008 and 2010.

It was noted that Caribbean commodity exporters rebounded rapidly after the crisis, buoyed by high commodity prices, stating that their debt ratios have stabilized at “relatively low.” The working paper says several countries have made attempts at reducing debt, mainly through “ad hoc restructuring or fiscal consolidation.”

The IMF working paper also pointed to the region’s small size and geographical location which makes it “highly vulnerable to a host of frequent shocks, against which it is costly to insure.

“As a result, Caribbean economies have had a silent debt crisis for the past two decades, contributing to a high debt-low growth trap’.

The IMF working paper says Caribbean countries can draw lessons from successful fiscal consolidation efforts in other regions to guide their fiscal consolidation efforts.

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U.N. lifts Syria death toll to “truly shocking” 60,000 A M M A N / G E N E VA (Reuters) - More than 60,000 people have died in Syria’s uprising and civil war, the United Nations said yesterday, dramatically raising the death toll in a struggle that shows no sign of ending.

In the latest violence, dozens were killed in a rebellious Damascus suburb when a government air strike turned a petrol station into an inferno, incinerating drivers who had rushed there for a rare chance to fill their tanks, activists said.

“I counted at least 30 bodies. They were either burnt or dismembered,” said Abu Saeed, an activist who arrived in the area an hour after the 1 p.m. (1100 GMT) raid in Muleiha, a suburb on the eastern edge of the capital.

U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said in Geneva that researchers cross-referencing seven sources over five months of analysis had listed 59,648 people killed in Syria between March 15, 2011 and November 30, 2012.

“The number of casualties is much higher than we expected and is truly shocking,” she said. “Given that there has been no let-up in the conflict since the end of November, we can assume that more than 60,000 people have been killed by the beginning of 2013.”

There was no breakdown by ethnicity or information about whether the dead were rebels, soldiers or civilians.

There was also no estimate of an upper limit of the possible toll.

Previously, the opposition-linked Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group put

the toll at around 45,000 confirmed dead but said the real number was likely to be higher.

Muleiha, the target of Wednesday’s air strike, is a residential and industrial area in the eastern Ghouta region of Damascus that also houses a Syrian air defense base.

Video footage taken by activists showed the body of a man in a helmet still perched on a motorcycle amid flames engulfing the scene. Another man was shown carrying a dismembered body.

The video could not be verified. The government bars access to the Damascus area to most international media.

The activists said rockets were fired from the base at the petrol station and a nearby residential area after the air raid.

“Until the raid, Muleiha was quiet. We have been without petrol for four days and people from the town and the countryside rushed to the station when a state consignment came in,” Abu Fouad, another activist at the scene, said by phone.

In Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad’s forces fired artillery and mortars at the eastern districts of Douma, Harasta, Irbin and Zamlaka, where rebels are active, activists living there said.

Assad’s forces control the centre of the capital, while rebels and their sympathizers hold a ring of southern and eastern suburbs that are often hit from the air.

The Observatory said a separate air strike killed 12 members of a family, most of them children, in Moadamiyeh, a southwestern district near the centre of Damascus where rebels have

fought for a foothold.

The family of an American freelance journalist, James Foley, 39, said on Wednesday he had been missing in Syria since being kidnapped six weeks ago by gunmen. No group has publicly claimed responsibility for his abduction.

Syria was by far the most dangerous country for journalists in 2012, with 28 killed there.

The conflict began in March 2011 with peaceful protests against four decades of Assad family rule and turned into an armed revolt after months of government repression.

Insurgents trying to topple Assad see his air power as their main threat.

They hold swathes of eastern and northern provinces, as well as some outlying parts of Damascus, but have been unable to protect their territory from relentless attack by helicopters and jets.

In the north, rebels, some from Islamist units, attacked the Afis military airport near Taftanaz air base, firing machineguns and mortars at helicopters on the ground to try and make a dent in Assad’s air might, the Observatory said.

The al Qaeda-linked alNusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham Brigade and other units in northwestern Idlib province were attacking the base, which is near the main north-south highway linking Damascus to Aleppo, Syria’s biggest city, the Observatory said.

In recent months, rebel units have besieged military bases, especially along the highway, Syria’s main artery.

The Observatory’s director, Rami Abdelrahman, said the attack was the latest of several attempts to capture

Free Syrian Army fighters and civilians search for bodies under rubble after an air strike by a fighter jet loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo’s al-Marja district Monday. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman the base. A satellite image of the airport shows more than 40 helicopter landing pads, a runway and aircraft hangars.

Syrian state media gave no immediate account of the Damascus air strikes or the fighting in the north.

Both sides have been accused of committing atrocities in the 21-month-old conflict, but the United Nations says the government and its allies have been more culpable.

In the latest evidence of atrocities, Internet video posted by Syrian rebels shows armed men, apparently fighters loyal to Assad, stabbing two men to death and stoning them with concrete blocks in a summary execution lasting several minutes.

Reuters could not verify the provenance of the footage or the identity of the perpetrators and their victims. The video was

posted on Tuesday but it was not clear where or when it was filmed. However it does clearly show a summary execution and torture, apparently being carried out by government supporters.

At one point, one of the perpetrators says: “For God’s eyes and your Lord, O Bashar,” an Arabic incantation suggesting actions being carried out in the leader’s name.

Egypt’s Brotherhood says UAE arrests unfounded CAIRO (Reuters) Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood said yesterday some of its members had been wrongfully arrested in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on allegations of helping to train local Islamists in subversion tactics.

“I know 11 people were detained. I know that some of them are from the Brotherhood,” said Mahmoud Ghozlan, a Brotherhood spokesman in Cairo. “The claim that they are a cell seeking to destabilize the country is devoid of truth.”

The arrests came to light on Tuesday when a UAE newspaper reported the authorities had arrested an “Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood cell”, citing an unnamed source.

The oil-rich UAE, which has long voiced distrust of the Muslim Brotherhood that helped propel Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi to power this year, arrested about 60 Islamists last month, accusing them of being linked

to the Egyptian group and plotting to undermine governments in the Gulf region.

In what appeared to be an effort to ease tensions, Egypt’s intelligence chief, General Mohamed Shehata, headed to the UAE for talks, airport officials said.

An aide to the Egyptian president also handed over a message from Mursi to UAE’s president, a statement from the Egyptian presidency said, without giving details.

“We are in contact with the authorities there and will see what will happen in the next period,” Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr was quoted as saying by the state news agency.

The son of one of the arrested Egyptians said in Cairo that his father, Ali Sonbol, is a medical doctor and is not involved in political activities.

“They didn’t say where they were taking him and what were the charges,” Ahmed Sonbol told Reuters.

“The Egyptian embassy only

assured us that he was detained by UAE authorities and he is well.”

UAE officials were not available for comment.

Relations between Egypt and the UAE soured after Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak - a longtime Gulf ally - was toppled in Egypt’s 2011 revolution.

Last month, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan summoned Egypt’s ambassador over claims carried by Egyptian media the UAE was behind a plot against Egypt’s leadership, saying they were “fabricated”. Thanks to their state-sponsored cradle-tograve welfare systems, the UAE and other Gulf Arab monarchies have largely avoided the Arab Spring unrest which has unseated long-serving rulers elsewhere in the past two years.

The Brotherhood has sought to reassure Gulf states it has no plan to push for political change beyond Egypt’s borders.

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Bigger fights loom after “fiscal cliff” deal WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans looked ahead yesterday toward the next round of even bigger budget fights after reaching a hardfought “fiscal cliff” deal that narrowly averted potentially devastating tax hikes and spending cuts.

The agreement, approved late on Tuesday by the Republican-led House of Representatives after a bitter political struggle, was a victory for Obama, who had won re-election on a promise to address budget woes in part by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

But it set up political showdowns over the next two months on spending cuts and on raising the nation’s limit on borrowing.

Republicans, angry the deal did little to curb the federal deficit, promised to use the debt ceiling debate to win deep spending cuts next time.

“Our opportunity here is on the debt ceiling,” Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said on MSNBC, adding Republicans would have the political leverage against Obama in that debate. “We

Republicans need to be willing to tolerate a temporary, partial government shutdown, which is what that could mean.”

Republicans, who acknowledged they had lost the fiscal cliff fight by agreeing to raise taxes on the wealthy without gaining much in return, vowed the next deal would have to include significant cuts in government benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid health care for retirees and the poor that were the biggest drivers of federal debt.

“This is going to be much uglier to me than the tax issue ... this is going to be about entitlement reform,” Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee said on CNBC. “This is the debate that’s going to be far more serious. Hopefully, now that we have this other piece behind us - hopefully - we’ll deal in a real way with the kinds of things our nation needs to face,” he said.

Obama urged “a little less drama” when the Congress and White House next address thorny fiscal issues like the government’s rapidly mounting $16 trillion debt load.

The fiscal cliff

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) walks with House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) to a meeting with House Republicans on the “fiscal cliff” budget deal on Capitol Hill in Washington Tuesday. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts showdown had worried businesses and financial markets, and U.S. stocks soared at the opening after lawmakers agreed to the deal.

The Dow Jones industrial average surged 262.45 points, or 2.00 percent, at 13,366.59.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 29.79 points, or 2.09 percent, at 1,455.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 77.45 points, or 2.57 percent, at 3,096.97.

Leading Chinese firms eye Israeli technology investments (Reuters) - Leading Chinese companies are looking for investments in Israeli technology to help boost their growth and development, similar to what U.S. companies have done in the past two decades.

A delegation of senior Chinese business leaders visited Israel last month in search of opportunities, pressing ahead with the trip despite rockets that fell in the commercial centre of the country during fighting with Gaza militants.

The delegation, led by Ronnie Chan, chairman of investment holding company Hang Lung Group, included the heads of Lenovo Group, China’s top grains trader COFCO, investment banking and private equity firm Hina Group, China Merchants Bank and JP Morgan Chase in China.

Chan noted that many technologies in applications and products from companies such as Google and Intel originated in Israel, and Chinese companies would like to explore similar ventures.

“The sky is the limit,” Chan told Reuters.

“Some companies can set up research and development centers here, some can bring Israeli companies to China, some can open up the Chinese market for Israeli companies. I have no idea where this will lead.”

Chan, a property magnate, said his family business owns technology companies around the world but has no investments in Israel.

Lenovo’s operations in Israel had been limited to sales and support, but the company recently made its first technology investment, for an undisclosed amount, in venture capital firm Vertex. “Definitely we are interested in Israel’s technology, to grow our company, to grow our business,” Chief Executive Yang

Yuanqing said, adding that the investment in Vertex was just a first step.

Lenovo, which is on track to become the world’s No. 1 PC maker, is interested in information and mobile technology.

Bilateral trade between China and Israel totaled $8 billion in 2011, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

Chinese have invested $3 billion in Israeli companies to date. The biggest investment was the $1.4 billion acquisition of 60 percent of MA Industries, the world’s largest maker of generic crop protection chemicals, by China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) in late 2011.

“Since 2010, we saw for the first time significant Chinese investments in the real economy in Israel - in traditional industries like MA Industries and also in the high-tech sector, in biotechnology and agrotechnology,” Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told Reuters.

Edouard Cukierman, managing partner of private equity funds Catalyst Investments, which organized the delegation’s trip to Israel with the Foreign Ministry, said the visit by the Chinese companies could lead to acquisitions, investments in research and development centers and even the establishment of their own local operations.

“We are following up with each one of them, preparing specific action plans for each one of them,” Cukierman said. “They believe they can benefit from innovation in Israel more than the Americans did.”

Catalyst Partners is establishing a $100 million China-Israel technology fund that is expected to close in the first half of 2013.

Cukierman hopes to eventually reach $200 million.

The crisis ended when dozens of Republicans in the House of Representatives buckled and backed a bill passed by the Democraticcontrolled Senate that hiked taxes on households earning more than $450,000 annually.

Spending cuts of $109 billion in military and domestic programs were delayed only

for two months.

Economists had warned the fiscal cliff of across-theboard tax hikes and spending cuts would have punched a $600 billion hole in the economy this year and threatened to send the country back into recession.

R E L U C T A N T REPUBLICANS House Republicans had mounted a late effort to add hundreds of billions of dollars in spending cuts to the package and spark a confrontation with the Senate, but it failed.

In the end, they reluctantly approved the Senate bill by a bipartisan vote of 257 to 167 and sent it on to Obama to sign into law.

“We are ensuring that taxes aren’t increased on 99 percent of our fellow Americans,” said Republican Representative David Dreier of California.

The vote underlined the precarious position of House Speaker John Boehner, who will ask his Republicans to reelect him as speaker on Thursday when a new Congress is sworn in.

Boehner backed the bill but

most House Republicans, including his top lieutenants, voted against it.

The speaker had sought to negotiate a “grand bargain” with Obama to overhaul the U.S. tax code and rein in health and retirement programs that will balloon in coming decades as the population ages.

But Boehner could not unite his members behind an alternative to Obama’s tax measures.

Income tax rates will now rise on individuals earning more than $400,000 and families earning more than $450,000 per year, and the amount of deductions they can take to lower their tax bill will be limited.

Low temporary rates that have been in place for the past decade will be made permanent for less-affluent taxpayers, along with a range of targeted tax breaks put in place to fight the 2009 economic downturn.

However, workers will see up to $2,000 more taken out of their paychecks annually with the expiration of a temporary payroll tax cut.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 03, 2013

Central African Republic rebels halt advance, agree to peace talks Supporters of Central African Republic President Francois Bozize demonstrate at the airport in Bangui. REUTERS/Luc Gnago

DAMARA, Central African Republic (Reuters) Rebels in Central African Republic said they had halted their advance on the capital yesterday and agreed to start peace talks, averting a clash with regionally backed troops.

The Seleka rebels had pushed to within striking distance of Bangui after a three-week onslaught and threatened to oust President Francois Bozize, accusing him of reneging on a previous peace deal and cracking down on dissidents.

Their announcement yesterday gave the leader only a limited reprieve as the fighters told Reuters they might insist on his removal in the negotiations.

“I have asked our forces not to move their positions starting today because we want to enter talks in (Gabon’s capital) Libreville for a political solution,” said Seleka spokesman Eric Massi, speaking by telephone from Paris.

“I am in discussion with our partners to come up with proposals to end the crisis, but one solution could be a political transition that excludes Bozize,” he said.

Bozize on Wednesday sacked his Army Chief of Staff and took over the defense minister’s role from his son, Jean Francis Bozize, according to a decree read on national radio, a day after publicly criticizing the military fo r f a i l i n g t o r e p e l t h e rebels.

The advance by Seleka, an alliance of mostly northeastern rebel groups, was the latest in a series of revolts in a country at the heart of one of Africa’s most turbulent regions - and the most serious since the Chadbacked insurgency that swept Bozize to power in 2003.

Diplomatic sources have said talks organized by central African regional bloc ECCAS could start on January 10. The United States, the European Union and France have called

on both sides to negotiate and spare civilians.

Central African Republic is one of the least developed countries in the world despite its deposits of gold, diamonds and other minerals.

French nuclear energy group Areva mines the country’s Bakouma uranium deposit France’s biggest commercial interest in its former colony.

News of the rebel halt eased tension in Bangui, where residents had been stockpiling food and water and staying indoors after dark.

“They say they are no longer going to attack Bangui, and that’s great news for us,” said Jaqueline Loza in the crumbling riverside city.

ECCAS members Chad, Congo Republic, Gabon and Cameroon have sent hundreds of soldiers to reinforce CAR’s army after a string of rebel victories since early December.

Gabonese General Jean Felix Akaga, commander of

the regional force, said his troops were defending the town of Damara, 75 km (45 miles) north of Bangui and close to the rebel front.

“Damara is a red line not to be crossed ... Damara is in our control and Bangui is secure,” he told Reuters. “If the rebellion decides to approach Damara, they know they will encounter a force that will react.”

Soldiers armed with Kalashnikovs, rocket propelled grenade launchers and truck-mounted machineguns had taken up positions across the town, which was otherwise nearlyabandoned.

Some of the fighters wore turbans that covered their faces and had charms strung around their necks and arms meant to protect them against enemy bullets.

Chad’s President Idriss Deby, one of Bozize’s closest allies, had warned the rebels the regional force would confront them if they approached the town.

Chad provided training and equipment to the rebellion that brought Bozize to power by ousting thenpresident Ange Felix Patasse, who Chad accused of supporting Chadian dissidents.

Chad is also keen to keep a lid on instability in the territory close to its main oil export pipeline and has stepped in to defend Bozize against insurgents in the past.

A CAR government minister told Reuters the foreign troop presence strengthened Bozize’s bargaining position ahead of the Libreville peace talks.

“The rebels are now in a

position of weakness,” the minister said, asking not to be named. “They should therefore stop imposing conditions like the departure of the president.”

Central African Republic is one of a number of countries in the region where U.S. Special Forces are helping local soldiers track down the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group which has killed thousands of civilians across four nations.

France has a 600-strong force in CAR to defend about 1,200 of its citizens who live there.

Paris used air strikes to defend Bozize against a rebellion in 2006. But French President Francois Hollande turned down a request for more help, saying the days of intervening in other countries’ affairs were over.

Trade, tax, transparency on June G8 meet agenda - UK

David Cameron (Reuters) - Trade, tax compliance and promoting greater transparency will be the main focus of the next meeting of leaders of the Group of Eight major economies in June, Britain said yesterday as it assumed the group’s rotating presidency.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he hoped the group’s seven other member nations - the United States, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, Canada and Germany - would join Britain in trying to “fire up economies and drive prosperity”.

“At the heart of my agenda for the Summit are three issues - advancing trade, ensuring tax compliance and promoting greater transparency,” Cameron said in a letter to other G8 leaders.

The next G8 meeting is expected to be held in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland.

On trade, Cameron said deals between the European Union and Canada, Japan and the United States was on the table, and efforts are also expected to be made to close international tax loopholes and strengthen global tax standards.

Cameron also hopes to boost transparency and accountability of aid spending.

The British prime minister said the G8 economies together account for around half of the world’s economic output and so should be able to achieve ambitious goals.

However, experts question the group’s continuing relevancy given it does not include rising powers China, Brazil or India.

Thursday January 03, 2013

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. GMA 10:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly and Michael 11:00 hrs. The Ricki Lake Show 12:00 hrs. The View 13:00 hrs. Prime News 13:30 hrs. The Young and the Restless 14:30 hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 15:00 hrs. The Talk 16:00 hrs. MacGyver 17:00 hrs. The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 hrs. World News 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 21:00 hrs. The Big Bang Theory 21:30 hrs. Two and a Half Men 22:00 hrs. Person of Interest

Kaieteur News

(New Episode) 23:00 hrs. Elementary (New Episode) 00:00 hrs. Sign Off MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 Sign on 06:00 hrs - Islamic Perspective 06:30 hrs - News Update 07:00 hrs - DAYBREAK 08:00 hrs - Dabi’s Musical Hour 08:30 hrs - Avon DVD Club music hour 09:15 hrs - Top Notch Music Break 09:30 hrs - Caribbean Temptation Music Mix 10:00 hrs - Amanda’s Costume Jewellery Music break 10:30 hrs - BBC World News 11:00 hrs - National

Geographic 12:00 hrs - The View 13:00 hrs - Weekly Digest 13:30 hrs - The Young and the Restless 14:30 hrs - Days Of Our Lives 15:00 hrs - General Hospital 16:00 hrs - The Bold and the Beautiful 16:30 hrs - Cartoons 17:00 hrs - Birthdays and other greetings 17:15 hrs - Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30 hrs - CNN News 18:00 hrs - Sitcom 18:30 hrs - Jai Santoshi Ma 19:00 hrs - Soul Melodies with Trans Globe 19:30 hrs - News Update 20:30 hrs - Winners Row Quiz 21:30 hrs - English Movie: Hit and Run

Thursday January 03, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You are enthused about putting in a day of hard work today, but the details may require too much time and energy for your liking.

However, if you become bogged down by a minor matter, consider that this isn’t where your attention is most needed.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Creating balance is what you Libras do best since you prefer staying cool and reasonable under all circumstances. However, if someone gets under your skin and agitates your feelings today, you might not keep your reaction to yourself.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) While others seem uptight or nervous today, you may appear quite confident and calm. Your optimistic attitude and polished appearance make a great impression on your peers.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your friends may attempt to convince you to do something that doesn’t sound like the smartest move now. It’s very important that you trust your instincts over someone else’s argument — even if you have to stand up for your beliefs.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You feel extra clever today and are up for the challenge of getting your life back in order. But a problem may start at home with something relatively unimportant; unfortunately, even the smallest loose thread can unravel the largest fabric.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Using your sharp wit as a weapon today is less admirable than simply telling the truth. Don’t just settle into a defensive posture if it feels like someone is attacking you.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You will accomplish a lot more today if you can focus on just one thing at a time. Of course, it’s easy to be pleasantly lured off track when pets or children are in the picture.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You typically like your world to be clean and polished, but you might get a little dirty today.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Your laissez-faire approach might get you into big trouble at work today, especially if you try to avoid the most logical solution.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Life feels a bit calmer today as the Moon moves through earthy Virgo. Try to make choices that stabilize a current situation while simultaneously planning for your future.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It’s difficult to slow down enough today to give your feelings time to fully express in the way you need. You tend to be uncomfortable when you are feeling vulnerable, yet emotional intimacy may be the key to your growth.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may want to avoid tackling a difficult family issue today, but it’s still probably a good idea to face an existing conflict head on.

23:00 hrs - News Update 23:00 hrs - Movie: Hit and Run Continues Sign off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 31

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 03, 2013

Sturridge quits Chelsea for “humongous” Liverpool shootout win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final in May and has had an injury-plagued campaign this season.

Sturridge started 49 games and made 47 substitute appearances in three and a

Daniel Sturridge celebrates after scoring against Birmingham during their FA Cup football match at Stamford Bridge in London February 18, 2012.

REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

LONDON (Reuters) England striker Daniel Sturridge described his new club as “humongous” after joining Liverpool from European champions Chelsea for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday. “I am humbled and happy to be here (at Anfield),” the 23-year-old told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.com). “(Manager) Brendan Rodgers

half years at Stamford Bridge, scoring 24 goals. He has won four England caps and featured in the British team at the 2012 London Olympics after overcoming a bout of meningitis.

Sturridge is expected to be

at Anfield for the league game against Sunderland later on Wednesday (1945 GMT) and could make his debut for fivetimes European champions Liverpool at minor league Mansfield Town in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

Venus lifts US to victory...

said he sees me here for a long time and I also see myself here for a long time.

“It is a humongous club, for me one of the biggest in the world, and to have the fans and world-class players we have here is amazing.”

Liverpool did not disclose the length of Sturridge’s deal but said he had signed a longterm contract.

The player struggled to

hold down a regular first-team place after joining Chelsea from Manchester City in 2009.

Sturridge enjoyed his best spell with the London club under former manager Andre Villas-Boas at the start of last season but was sidelined again when the Portuguese was replaced by Roberto Di Matteo in March.

He was an unused substitute in the penalty

From page 33 continued to struggle with his game.

Williams, who has been troubled by injuries and illness in recent years, dismissed any suggestion she was off colour during the match against Johansson.

However, Williams admitted even she thought the match had slipped away.

“I was thinking that if I am going to lose this match, let me at least try to work on my game with the Australian Open coming up,” she said of the second set. “Mathilde is a good player and she was determined to seal the win for her team.

“She was playing well and not making a lot of errors.”

The eighth-ranked

Tsonga made a perfect start to the new year by demolishing world number 14 Isner in under an hour, 6-3, 6-2.

Tsonga easily blunted the power serving of the lanky American to win in just 55 minutes. Isner had strapping on his right knee and didn’t always appear to be moving totally freely, but later said he only had some lingering soreness in the knee and that it didn’t affect his game.

Tsonga, now coached by Australian Roger Rasheed, went into the match with just

one win in his four previous clashes with the American.

The Frenchman said he was reaping the early rewards of working hard on improving his mobility during the offseason ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam, with the Australian Open starting on January 14.

“I was a bit quicker on court than before,” he said.

“It is a good sign for the rest of the competition and Melbourne. “I was moving well and this makes me a better player.”

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thursday January 03, 2013

Kaieteur News

Table Tennis and other sports gear and equipment presented to police

Member of the Station Management Committee, Arjune Singh, presents some of the Table Tennis equipment to Officer In Charge of the No3 subdivision Assistant Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan.

The Station Management Committee of the Fort Wellington Police Station situated on the West Coast Berbice, which is part of sub division N03 of B Division, in their continued quest to make the station a model for others to follow, has undertaken a number of initiatives so as to make the lives of the officers and residents in the area a more community friendly one.

Recently the committee donated a number of sports gear including the entire Table Tennis outfit to the administration of the station.

The community recently supervised the construction of a multimillion dollar multipurpose hall in the station compound which is arguably the largest Station Management committee project in the country. The sub division is headed by Assistant Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan.

Police on the West Coast of Berbice, which houses three stations, namely Weldaad, Blairmont and Fort Wellington which is the operational headquarters was void of a recreational or

lecture facility, thus the undertaking by the committee members to undertake the project.

The one flat building will house among other things a canteen, a lecture hall, a rest and waiting area and a facility to host indoor games, such a darts, Table Tennis, Dominoes and whist’s among other games. The facility is also being used as a lunch room.

The members of the committee are Chairman Cecil Ramdat, Secretary Fazal Habibulla, Treasurer Juan Totaram, while the committee members are Dorothy Peters, Arjune Singh, Thakoor Persaud, Deonarine Singh and Khemraj. Assistant Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, Chief Inspector Gregory Springer and Station Sergeant Kwesi Gravesande are the ex-officio members.

Recently executive member Arjune Singh presented a number of sports gear including the entire Table Tennis apparatus to the Administration of the station to be used by ranks, scouts and others who use the facilities. (Samuel Whyte)

Overseas based...

From page 36 where he came from.

Randolph Roberts, who is also Coach of the Flying Ace Club, expressed gratitude on behalf of the club and wished Benjamin success in the future. He stated that more businesspersons should take a page out of Benjamin’s book and come forward and

assist. He also expressed the hope that other former cyclists, especially those overseas, should also come forward and do something tangible especially to assist the youths. All the top cyclists in the country are expected to participate. The race will be coordinated by Roberts. (Samuel Whyte)

Page 33

Newcastle give Chelsea permission to talk to Ba LONDON (Reuters) Newcastle United have given European champions Chelsea permission to hold transfer talks with 27-year-old Senegal striker Demba Ba. “Chelsea have made an official offer for Demba Ba which has triggered the release clause in the player’s contract,” Newcastle said on their website (www.nufc.co.uk) on Wednesday.

“The club have given the player permission to speak to Chelsea and therefore he will not be included in the squad for tonight’s (league) game against Everton.”

Newcastle, who are sixth from bottom in the table, did not give details of the release clause but media reports suggest it is around seven million pounds ($11.38 million).

Ba has been a mainstay in attack for the north-east club since joining from West Ham

United on a free transfer in June 2011.

The striker, who previously had spells with Rouen, Mouscron and Hoffenheim, needed eight games to score his first Newcastle goal but he ended his drought in style with a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Ba finished the 2011-12 campaign as the club’s top league scorer with 16 goals including another hat-trick against Stoke City. He has continued his free-scoring ways this season, bagging 13 league goals to lie joint second in the overall chart behind Manchester United’s Robin van Persie (16).

Chelsea are desperate for backup in attack for Spanish international Fernando Torres who is the London team’s most-used outfield player this season.

Options up front have been limited following the

Newcastle United’s Demba Ba reacts during their English Premier League match against Manchester United in Newcastle, northern England, October 7, 2012. REUTERS/ Nigel Roddis

exits of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou in the close season and the decision to allow Romelu Lukaku to join Premier League rivals West Bromwich Albion on loan.

England forward Daniel Sturridge has joined

Liverpool following an injuryinterrupted season with the Stamford Bridge club.

Chelsea can go back up to third in the league if they win at home to neighbours Queens Park Rangers later on Wednesday.

Venus lifts US to victory in Hopman Cup PERTH, Australia (AFP) — Venus Williams lifted the United States to victory in their Hopman Cup tie against France Tuesday.

The USA pairing of Williams and John Isner beat the French team of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mathilde Johansson 2-1 to remain unbeaten in the mixed teams tournament, but only after a remarkable comeback led by Williams when the Americans twice appeared on the brink of defeat.

After Tsonga beat an outof-form Isner in straight sets, Williams looked down and out when she dropped the first set to Johannson and trailed 4-1 in the second.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion was all at sea against the 87th-ranked Johansson, appearing restricted in her movement and lacking the usual power in her game.

But just when the cause looked lost, the world number 24 climbed off the canvas to

win in three sets, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Johansson was breaking the Williams serve almost at will for most of the first two sets, but the American found her service range just in the nick of time and turned the match on its head.

The Americans then claimed the tie with a comefrom-behind 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 108 win in a match tiebreak in the deciding mixed doubles, where Williams again lifted them to victory as Isner (Continued on page 32)

Venus Williams

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 03, 2013

Petersen prospers after Kiwis bowled out for 45 CAPE TOWN (Reuters) An undefeated century from Alviro Petersen helped South Africa reach 252 for three after they had skittled embattled New Zealand for 45 on a spectacular opening day of the first test on Wednesday.

New Zealand, dogged by the controversy surrounding the sacking of former captain Ross Taylor, capitulated to the South African pace attack with their innings lasting 19.2 overs as fast bowler Vernon Philander completed remarkable figures of five for seven.

“Hearing on Monday that I was fit to play really spurred me on, and I always love playing at Newlands. It’s my home crowd and my home venue, and this is where I love to play my cricket so I’m very happy,” Philander, who recovered from a hamstring tweak to play, told reporters.

Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn cleaned up the tail, the latter picking up his 300th test scalp and South Africa’s perfect day was complete when all-rounder Jacques Kallis passed the milestone of

13,000 test runs shortly after tea. New Zealand’s total was the eighth-lowest in test history and the lowest since 1974, only Kane Williamson reaching double figures with a score of 13.

South Africa had two overs to face before the lunch break and captain Graeme Smith became the 11th victim of the morning session when Doug Bracewell trapped him lbw for one.

But Petersen and Hashim Amla consolidated in the second session and a century stand put the hosts in total control of the game.

Amla fell for 66 shortly before tea but Petersen reached his fifty off Bracewell in the first over after the interval. Kallis brought the crowd to their feet when he blazed a boundary through backward point to become only the fourth player and first South African to score 13,000 test runs. Kallis cruised to his 57th half-century but the second century partnership of the innings ended when Trent Boult had the all-rounder caught behind for 60 with the total on 212 for three.

Jacques Kallis became the fourth player to 13,000 Test runs (Getty Images)

Vernon Philander took five wickets in the first five overs he bowled (AFP)

The stylish Petersen has been criticised for failing to convert starts into big scores, but he silenced the doubters

when he brought up his fifth test century in the penultimate over with a guided shot behind point for two.

Petersen will resume on day two on 103 with his partner AB de Villiers on 19.

Philander earlier claimed

five quick wickets as South Africa made New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum pay for choosing to bat first.

IGNOMINIOUS PROCESSION Philander struck in the second over when he had Martin Guptill caught behind for one.

That triggered an ignominious procession for the New Zealanders with Philander removing McCullum, Dean Brownlie and Williamson in his next three overs as the visitors lost their top order for 27 runs inside 10 overs.

Morkel (three for 14) soon got into the act, removing James Franklin caught at first slip for one.

Steyn reached the 300 mark when he returned after a barren first spell to remove Bracewell’s off-stump with a fine out-swinger.

Morkel claimed the wickets of Jeetan Patel and Boult before Steyn picked up the final wicket when Daniel Flynn, who survived 28 deliveries, skied a catch back to the fast bowler.

“We treat each game with respect, and we’ve got to start off fresh tomorrow morning,” Philander added. “There’ll definitely be a little bit in the

Alviro Petersen got to his fifth Test ton (Getty Images) wicket tomorrow morning. I don’t think it’s going to be as easy in the second innings, so I think the bowlers are going to have to work hard and stay disciplined.”

Scores: South Africa 252 for 3 (Petersen 103*, Amla 66, Kallis 60) lead New Zealand 45 (Philander 5-7, Morkel 3-14) by 207 runs.

The highs and lows of basketball in 2012

Unfortunately 2012 marked another low productive year for basketball in Guyana following a lack of initiative and enthusiasm from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) that forced individual programmes to keep the sport alive.

Chris Bowman continued his Government-supported National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF) that has gained momentum and grown to become the premier schools basketball event in Guyana.

Ann Gordon firmly established herself as the leading youth basketball coach in Guyana when she won the main titles with her Kwakwani team. Yet the federation seems inhibited from Gordon as a precious resource in advancing youth basketball programmes.

Then there was the launch of the National Community Basketball League (NCBL), which was in effect, the rebranding of the Inter-Ward Basketball Championships.

Robert Cadogan and Kwame Mentor spearheaded the NCBL project that is incomplete.

Ann Gordon This brings us to a low point for basketball in 2012.

The NCBL was struggling for corporate and spectator support, but the Coordinators could have completed the competition; it seems as though they lost interest and the tournament was abandoned.

It is not the only event with the incomplete distinction. The GABF is yet to host the final of the National Division I Championships. This year will mark three years since the federation has failed to bring together Ravens and Pacesetters for the final.

It is another low point last

year with the competition seeing another year fizzle out without being held. The NCBL and the GABF Division I contest are incomplete, which seriously affected the proliferation of the sport.

Ansa McAl under its Mackeson brand rescued basketball to some extent when it hosted Smooth Moves II. The competition resurrected teams at the grassroots level and offered the highest cash incentive of $1M in the sport at any level.

Basketball needed the injection.

The Pepsi Sonics ‘Refresh Yourself ’ tournament and Colts’ Phillip George Legacy tournament closed the year on a high in Georgetown while the Linden also hosted back-to-back tournaments that got the new administration there up and running.

But analysis will show that apart from the DC Jammers tour last year, the GABF did very little to advance the sport in Guyana, leaving such initiatives up to clubs and private entities.

The sport in Guyana is crying out for leadership as another year begins.

Thursday January 03, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Any lingering doubt put to rest

By Rawle Welch If ever there was any lingering doubt as to which is the biggest yearend sports event, the tens of thousands of spectators who turned up at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground to witness the finals of the Banks Beer / GFA Knockout Cup emphatically put to rest that uncertainty.

Since its inauguration last year, the event which was organised to reward teams that were not invited to the other yearend tournament, has enjoyed tremendous support from the general public and must now clearly be considered the bigger of the two competitions.

With Jamaican Dancehall King Beenie Man in attendance, over 25,000 patrons trekked to the world famous Bourda venue to witness the finale of a tournament which started on

December 16 and had prize money totaling in excess of $9miillion up for grabs.

The Organisers and sponsor Banks DIH must be grateful to the management of the GCC for allowing them the use of the facility in spite of the inclement weather which threatened to put a damper on the tournament in the early stages, while the patience and fortitude displayed by the fans must come in for honourable mention as they resisted all attempts to dissuade them from supporting the event.

What was witnessed on Tuesday evening surely is enough to prompt swift and serious dialogue between the respective parties to establish a contract of agreement for the future use of the ground, while assisting in the improvement of permanent seating accommodation and all the other issues related to hosting the event must also

be of priority.

The fans have played their part in easing the stranglehold of power that resided in one entity and it is now up to the GFA to repay them for their loyalty and helping to reduce the monopoly and pompousness that characterised football at yearend previously.

The chains have been broken and the GFA is now being urged to carefully study the reason (s) for its success and stay on course and do nothing stupid because the consequences could be disastrous.

There are quite a few issues that need to be addressed and among them are the oversubscribing of the Members Pavilion which was transformed into the VIP Lounge, adequate seating accommodation for the Press Corps and comfortable access to the gate of entry leading into the ground

are successful on the regional scene and who we are confident will step up when the opportunities are provided to them.”

Hunte said: “On the commercial side, with Digicel, Taj TV, Admiral, Verus International, Scotiabank, Sagicor, Sandals Foundation, various tourist boards, as well as various other suppliers and providers, West Indies cricket now has an extensive network of sponsors and partners,” he said. “But even as we continue to build relationships with various sponsors we need to ensure that we secure part or title sponsorships for our domestic tournaments which still need the support of our corporate sector.”

Hunte said the WICB was grateful for everyone that had played a part in making the past year successful.

“The board of directors

commend the players, the team management and match officials, the WICB staff and all those who work tirelessly for the success of West Indies cricket,” he said.

“2012 has been a year of success for West Indies cricket, but it was as a result of careful planning and a determination to change course from years of downward spiralling.”

He said: “We must now strive to continue on the path of development and progress which will ensure the future success of West Indies cricket. “The WICB Strategic Plan 2011-2016 charts the way forward and we have already seen the benefits and success of this critical guiding document. We must now resolve to stay the course, take the difficult decisions and commit to the success of West Indies cricket.”

Hunte hails notable...

From page 37 continues to build from strength to strength and are now ready to move into the upper echelons of the women’s international rankings,” he continued.

“Stafanie Taylor was confirmed as the leading player in women’s cricket after she won the ICC Women’s Player-of-the-Year award and now stands alongside Anisa Mohammed, Shanel Daley, Merissa Aguileira and Deandra Dottin as some of the finest female cricketers in the World.” Hunte said the developmental programme of the WICB was also stronger now than it has ever been.

“From our Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket programme through to our Digicel Grassroots Cricket, Sandals Under-15 High Performance camps, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 tournaments, Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre and the West Indies A-Team, there are ongoing development programmes at every level of West Indies cricket,” he said.

“We have completed the full circle of the foundations of development, it is now for us to remain on course, put in the hard work and reap the rewards and benefits which will follow.” He noted: “The WICB is immensely proud of the success of the Sagicor WIHPC programme in particular.

“We have seen players graduate to the international stage and proven themselves, and we continue to see a host of talent who

Wiltshire Dominoes set to start on Sunday Mark Wiltshire Dominoes competition is set to get underway on Sunday, January 6th at Transport Sports Club from 14:00 hrs.

Teams from Georgetown, Linden, Essequibo, West Coast Berbice, West Coast and West Bank of Demerara are expected to participate.

Entrance fee is $9,000.

The first placed team will take home$200,000, a trophy and 9 medals, while the second and third placed finishers will receive $100,000

and $50,000 respectively. The fourth placed team will collect $20,000.

Other prizes up for grab are $5,000 for the best female player in the tournament, $2,000 for the female player sharing the first love, $3,000 for the male and female sharing the first double love, $2,000 first love in the finals and $3,000 for the most valuable player in the finals.

The finals will be played at Dynasty, Aubrey Baker Road on Saturday January 19th.

Jamaican Dancehall King Beenie Man bellows out one of his songs to the thousands of fans that attended the finals of the Banks Beer / GFA Knockout Cup on Tuesday evening at the GCC ground. among others.

These are some of the areas that will have to be examined carefully and solutions arrived at to make next year an even better one that the previous two years.

The overwhelming

support has provided a large degree of optimism and positiveness to the sport which has performed exceedingly well on-field, but has suffered negatively from the ongoing wrangling between the Guyana Football

Federation and the GFA which has badly affected the s p o r t ’s image, especially within the corporate community.

The fans have responded it is now over to the GFA and Banks DIH Management.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 03, 2013

Overseas based Guyanese cyclist sponsors season opening cycle race Sunday in Berbice Overseas based Guyanese and a former national cycling champion Wilbert Benjamin continues to show benevolence to his home county. Benjamin will on Sunday 6th January give cyclists an opportunity to start the cycling season early when he sponsors a national open cycle road race in Berbice.

Back home on holiday, Benjamin a former member of

the Flying Ace Cycle Club, is also in the process of opening a sports store “Benjamin Sports” at his home village of Fyrish Corentyne, Berbice.

The race, which is open to cyclists through Guyana, which will be the first for the year for the year organized by the Flying Ace Cycle Club and is also the first in the country, will be held as the season opener. The 40 miles event will pedal off from

Fyrish Village in front of the store and proceed to NO43 Bridge before returning to its place of origin.

There will be prizes for the first six finishers, the top two juniors and the first two females to cross the finishing line, while there will also be eight sprint point prizes up for grabs. The organizers are also pondering on presenting special incentives for the Flying Ace club riders.

Benjamin a native of Berbice was a former national cyclist who represented Guyana at both the junior and senior levels including the Pan Am and the Texaco games. In the junior division he was on the bike at Inter Guiana games among other sojourns. He was also a former school and junior champion who won the national school championship on three

Former national Cycling Champion Wilbert Benjamin (left) presents the sponsorship amount to FACC Captain Neil Reece at his store, while Randolph Roberts look on. consecutive occasions. He still rides in his adopted home land of Canada where he also operates sports stores.

Benjamin along with his older brother Gary, who still rides in the veteran category, made a potent combination for Berbice. He returns home on a regular basis and would assist his club and teams in whatever way possible including sponsorship of races. He also recently

assisted national female cyclist Marica Dick with cycling equipment.

Benjamin in brief remarks stated that he always wanted to do something for his home country and people who helped him. He stated that it is his way of giving back to his country, club, village and sports that nurtured him and helped in his development.

He will always remember (Continued on page 33)

GBA donates gear to Republican Boxing Gym

Ms. Keisa Chase, GBA’s AssistantSecretary/Treasurer (left) present the gear to Ms. Parkinson, Assistant Secretary General of the Prisons.

The Guyana Boxing Association recently donated boxing equipment to the Georgetown Prisons/ Republican Boxing Gym. This is in fulfillment of an earlier promise made to Director of

Prisons, Mr. Dale Erskine.

The equipment will be used to facilitate the resuscitation of Amateur Boxing in the Georgetown Prisons, who over the years has produced some top notch boxers.

Thursday January 03, 2013

LABA/Malta Supreme Basketball finalists decided...

Kaieteur News

Page 37

POLLYDORE LEADS ROYALS IN KINGS UPSET 59-50 AS JETS EASE PAST BULLS 61-51

The fourth ranked team Victory Valley Royals upended top seed Kashif and Shanghai Kings in dramatic fashion 59-50, while number two Amelia’s Ward Jets staved off another upset by winning by a ten point margin 61-51 against third seed Half Mile Bulls, when the semifinals of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) organized Malta Supreme Christmas Basketball Championship were played on Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

Playing in the night cap on the double header, Kings seemed to be enjoying their game as they played to their pace and with set plays, using the big mismatch of no one available for the Royals to mark centre Jason Alonzo, as they led through three quarters of the game at 18-15, 29-26 and 43-39 going into the final stanza of play.

With a large crowd gathered for semifinals night and the east versus west of Linden rivalry at its best, no one could have expected better on a night when the matchups were intense indeed. It was at this stage that the Royals’ dangerous pair of former Under-19 nationals guard Marlon Pollydore and forward Chris Williams along with forward Orlando Glasgow combined to seize control from the Kings with their game of sound fundamental play and eye popping transition

Shane Webster (Jets)

Michael Turner (Bulls)

basketball.

They wrestled control form their opponents in a flash as their flashy steals ignited some break away baskets as Marlon Pollydore first scored a layup and then knocked one from beyond the three point line followed by another by Williams. The quick moving inside game of power forward Harold Adams in tandem with Pollydore and Williams snatched the initiative before a stunned Kings side, featuring such big names like national skipper Steve Neils (Jr.) former national Under-19 captain Marvin Hartman, past national centre Jason Alonzo and forward Abdulla Hamid and an out of touch former Under-19 shooting guard Orin Rose.

Alonzo was in a no nonsense mood but the speed and agility of the Royals in the dying moments of the game put paid to his hopes of carrying the Kings to victory as he dominated for 13 points

as Hartman had 12 and Abdulla Hamid eight with Omally Sampson getting seven.

Royals can thank themselves due to the energy and passing of their best players as Pollydore had a game high 18 points, Adams contributed 16, Orlando Glasgow supported well for his 12 as Williams, who had five of his seven points scored in the crucial final quarter of the game.

In the first game Jets propelled by national centre Shane Webster, who had a game high 24 points, proved too much for a spirited showing by the Bulls who had won the last BOSAI Open Challenge tournament in November but were unable to reach the finals of this championship.

Captain Kevin ‘Two feet’ Joseph had 13 and then returning swingman Neil Simon added 19 for the Jets who won by comfortably. For

St. John’s, Antigua – President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte has described 2012 as “a watershed year in West Indies cricket”.

Noting that there were a number of historic events in the year, Hunte said that West Indies cricket is better positioned for the rest of the decade on many fronts.

“Most significantly is that the West Indies team won the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament and are World champions again after a period of drought,” Hunte noted.

“We must recognise and hail the efforts of Darren Sammy and Ottis Gibson, along with Team Manager Richie Richardson and the senior players in particular.”

Hunte added: “Shivnarine Chanderpaul continues to be an outstanding performer in Tests, once again attaining the top ranking as a Test batsman.

“Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo are some of the finest and most entertaining players in the shorter formats in particular, and they are our foremost cricketing ambassadors when in West Indies colours and when they are in other colours flying the West Indian flag in the various leagues around the globe.”

Turning his attention to off-the-field, Hunte was high in praise for the partnerships and agreements the WICB was able to secure and

finalise during the year.

“We also saw the launch of the Caribbean Premier League, which will come on stream next year, and we were able to secure a major television rights deal with TAJ TV, which will ensure the financial viability of West Indies cricket for this decade,” he said.

Hunte also recalled that the regional governing body had managed to increase the number of central retainer contracts from 15 to 20, while a large pool of regional players are set to start receiving regional retainer contracts from next year as part of the licensing agreement with Verus International for the CPL. “Our women’s team (Continued on page 35)

Hunte hails notable year for Windies cricket

Victory Valley Royals Fabulous Five that pulled them past Kings; (from left) Stephen Couchman, Orlando Glasgow, Harold Adams, Marlon Pollydore and Chris Williams after the game. the Bulls, Michael Turner continued with his scoring form with 17 points.

The losers will play for the

third place, while the winners will clash for the championship title on Saturday when the finals are

set to be played at the tournament venue the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 03, 2013

Buxton United FC is new K&S Football kings - Cart off Lion’s share of prizes They started their journey as the underdogs; the most unlikely to cart off the honours but when the smoke had cleared, Buxton United FC emerged as champions, defeating Amelia’s Ward on sudden death penalty kicks when the finals of the 23rd edition of the K&S football extravaganza concluded at the National Stadium Providence, Tuesday evening last. Apart from the $4M first place prize, the Buxtonians carted off the lion’s share of the prizes after their Captain, Dwayne Jacobs was adjudged Most Valuable Player and drove off with the 2200CC Toyota Alex motorcar donated by Beharry Auto Sales.

The Buxtonians were not finished yet as their coach, Herbert McPherson, was singled out for his coaching prowess and won the 110CC motorcycle on offer.

Jacobs’ achievement was most deserving following the expertise employed in

piloting his men to the top.

He has also been the lynchpin of his team’s successes that led to major upsets of powerhouses, Western Tigers FC and Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United in their quarterfinals and semifinal encounter.

Jacobs continued his quintessential role from the first whistle of the Amelia Ward game when he was fed a dolly of a pass from the centre. He intercepted the ball just outside the box but failed to make the conversion.

The dependable, Michael Phyll, best remembered for his game saving strike against Western Tigers, presented Jacobs with another opportunity shortly afterwards but Amelia Ward’s custodian, Odel Allicock, was on top of his game and averted any disaster. The Buxtonians were very persistent and during the early exchanges several of their players rose to the occasion including Pierre

Joseph and Clive Andries.

Their efforts dwindled to naught after staunch defensive tactics from the Linden team. The nil all score line at the intermission was indicative of the fierce rivalry.

Both teams approached the second session with new resolve and Keon Norville could consider himself

unlucky after skillfully dribbling past the Amelia Ward’s defence cordon and unleashing a mighty kick which the goalie managed to scoop up.

Both teams enjoyed glorious moments with the Amelia Ward’s strike force constantly invading the Buxton’s half. Buxton’s custodian, Jason Cromwell earned his keep between the uprights with several valiant saves. Amelia Ward’s striker Trenton Lashley could rue his luck after receiving a pass while all alone with the goalie.

Maybe out of anxiety or he might have been thrown off by the advancing Cromwell, resulting in a skewed strike that sailed over the uprights.

Keoma Sullivan was also guilty of much haste after he mistimed a kick and sent the ball wide of the goal.

As the minutes ticked away, the players became involved in a frenzy of activity with each team attempting to seize the initiative. It was around this time that Oswald Benjamin received a yellow card after aggressively approaching the goalkeeper.

Both teams then upped the ante, each attempting to surge ahead. It was a tough and spirited battle but the final whistle intervened and kept them at a nil all stalemate.

Extra time failed to break the deadlock and penalty kicks ended on a 4-4 stalemate

presenting a sudden death scenario where the Buxtonians prevailed.

Alpha United regrouped after their humiliating 2-1 loss to the eventual winners when they inflicted a 3-1 drubbing over arch-rivals Pele FC in their third place playoff game.

Kithson Bain scored in the 39th minute for the winners while prolific striker, Dwight Peters netted a double in the 50th, from the penalty spot, and the 74th minutes. Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson scored a consolation goal in the 45th minute for Pele. Amelia’s Ward will get $1M while Alpha receives $750,000 and the team finishing fourth, Pele receives $500,000.

Sarwan assists Prabhu Sharan Orphanage Former West Indies captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, on Monday last hosted a lunch for children of the Prabhu Sharan orphanage at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara.

The attractive middle order batsman who was born in Wakenaam, and was brought to the city as a four-year-old, said that he felt the need to do something for the less fortunate, especially since this was the time of the year for sharing and caring for those in need.

“Giving back to society gives me a great feeling. I have done it a few times before, everyone is not fortunate as us and especially at a season like this I try to reach out to those unfortunate ones, try to make them feel comfortable at this time of the year,” Sarwan stated.

Sarwan, who is part of the national T20 team for the 2013 Caribbean T20 tournament, said he plans to build a foundation for the less fortunate. He informed that with the help of others the project can become a reality.

Sarwan, who is currently serving a twoyear contract with English County side Leicestershire, last played for the West Indies in June 2011 during the second Test against India in Barbados, has appeared in 87 Tests, scoring 5842 runs at an average of 40.01 with

15 centuries and 31 fifties. His career-best 291 made against England is the highest Test score by a Guyanese. In 173 ODIs, he has amassed 5644 runs at an average of 43.41 with four hundreds and 38 half-centuries.

Meanwhile, the Prabhu Sharan Orphanage which was founded on August, 17, 2005 caters for Hindus and orphans from various religious and social backgrounds. It currently provides accommodation for 21 orphans, from 7 to 17 years. Orphans, who have reached 18 years and would have completed their secondary education, are also assisted with job placements while those desirous of acquiring tertiary education continue to be supported by the orphanage.

The orphanage was established under the Mission Statement: “The heart of our goal of this sacred mission is to make every sacrifice for the incarnation of the children through education to enable them to reach their optimum potential.”

It depends solely on donations from the general public, non-governmental and government agencies and overseas based Guyanese who raise funds on a regular basis to ensure its sustainability. Also visiting the orphanage on Monday was Guyana’s National Football team Captain, Chris Nurse.

Thursday January 03, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Banks Beer / GFA KO Cup

SUNBURST CAMPTOWN NEW CHAMPS - Northern Rangers upset GDF They are always considered dangerous when it comes to money tournaments and it is a pity that a promising Riddim Squad side had to find that out for themselves after succumbing 2-0 to Sunburst Camptown in the final of this year’s Banks Beer / GFA Knockout Cup which ended on Tuesday evening, at the GCC ground.

Played before what was undoubtedly the largest crowd to ever assemble at the world famous venue, Sunburst Camptown led by a brace from striker Devon Forde in the 51st and 60th minutes carted off the top prize of $4million leaving beaten finalist Riddim Squad to take home a hefty $2.5million.

Meanwhile, Northern Rangers FC upset Guyana Defence Force FC 3-1 in the third place play off for a payday of $1.5 million, while the Army received $1million.

In an atmosphere that mimicked Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, Camptown displayed the tactical sharpness and mental resilience befitting champions as they resisted a spirited Riddim Squad side in a lively final.

With thousands of fans urging on their respective teams in conditions that were clearly the best experienced underfoot for the entire tournament, the first half started out at a hectic pace with both sides trying to grab the early initiative. Affirming their tactical proficiency, the Mocha outfit started to dictate proceedings with the Campbellville based unit defending stoutly, while posing a significant threat on the counter attack.

The blueprint continued throughout the exchanges as stout defending championed the cause of broken plays and mistimed passes. Buoyed by their fanatical following, Riddim Squad came close to breaking the deadlock, but the dependable Oswald Cornette stationed between the uprights brilliantly averted any danger.

Clearly getting the better of the attacking exchanges and dictating the tempo through their efficient passing range, Riddim Squad continued to look more purposeful in mid-field and the attacking third as the opposition struggled to find their rhythm.

The Hope brothers Sceyon and Sheldon along with Lyttleton Ramsay produced some fine runs, but some dogged defending by the Camptown backline nullified their efforts.

Both teams tried to consolidate their respective positions and with the interval approaching the intent of both sides became clearer as they pushed forward for the lead.

However, after 45 minutes of play, none were able to score, sending the contest into a second half slugfest.

On the resumption, the battle of attrition continued with end to end action as they fought for the ascendancy, while at the centre of the enthralling battle stood Referee Wayne Griffith, who along with his assistants did a marvelous job to keep the proceedings under control.

The deadlock was finally broken as a moment of mental indiscretion lead to Forde’s strike which sent the Campbellville side’s band of supporters into wild celebration.

Shocked by their dilemma, the Mocha based unit attacked desperately to restore parity, only to be found wanting as they were easily dispossessed by the robust Camptown defence.

Riddim Squad, a team with less experience than their nemesis at the championship level uncharacteristically struggled to regain the attacking potency after falling behind and gave away possession with alarming frequency and nine minutes later paid for their recklessness when Forde completed his double.

Dejected by the prevailing state of affairs, lobbed passes highlighted the urgency of

the Mocha outfit as they desperately tried to find a way back into the game, only to be uncovered continuously on the counter attack.

Camptown’s inspirational leader Reshawn Sandiford had a glorious chance to put the game to rest, but missed an open goal from point blank range much to the mortification of his teammates and supporters.

As the game neared its inevitable conclusion, a sense of anticipation overtook the sold out arena as spectators flocked to the touchline in anticipation of the unavoidable final whistle. The outcome was finally cast in stone as time expired, sending players, spectators and members of the coaching staff rushing hysterically onto the playing area celebrating in a sea of palette revelry.

In the first game, Northern Rangers showed the tenacity and grit to upset a tough Guyana Defence Force unit.

The first half began with both teams trying to seize the early initiative. Palpably on the ascendency and dictating the rhythm of proceedings, the army men constantly pressed forward with Northern Rangers clearly on the back foot and desperately defending not to concede.

The stalemate was broken compliments of Desford Williams strike in the 20th minute to bring loud cheers from the Army faithful. The game quickly opened up as both teams attacked feverishly trying to strengthen their opposing positions. Balance was restored in the 37th minute compliments of Frederick Boyce. The open nature of the game continued as the half time interval quickly approached. The second half

started out as a replica of the first, before a brief moment of abandon in defensive function allowed Denroy Bowen to score in the 55th minute to give Northern Rangers the shock lead.

The boys from Kitty

further strengthened their position courtesy of a magnificent Omali Nassy strike in the 70th minute.

The upset was finally complete as the final whistle sounded.

Marketing Executive Carlton Joao made

the presentation of prizes to the four teams.

Meanwhile, it was announced that the eighteen teams that participated in the competition will divide equally 30% of the gate receipts after all expenses are paid.

t r o Sp Buxton Skipper Dwayne Jacobs gets a big hug from Co-Organiser Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major as the East Coast team prepares to collect the trophy from Sports Minister Frank Anthony.

Buxton United FC is new K&S Football kings Cart off Lion’s share of prizes

Sales & Marketing Executive Carlton Joao (back row) hands over the winning trophy to Sunburst Camptown Captain Reshawn Sandiford in the presence of teammates Tuesday night.

Sunburst Camptown new champs

- Northern Rangers upset GDF

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