Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 21, 2013

CPCE graduates receive free laptops Smiles were on the faces of 36 teachers from Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) Johns Centre on receiving their free laptops last week, courtesy of the World Bank.

The ceremony took place at the college’s secondary centre on the Corentyne.

At the 2012 graduation ceremony, which was held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) for teacher-trainees from the Cyril Potter College of Education, Mr. David Granger in delivering his charge to graduands said, “We are working on the proposal for every teacher to have his/her own computer”.

Just after Mr. Granger completed his charge to the graduates, the principal Mrs. Debbie Thomas told the graduates from the 2010 batch that they will be having free laptops in a matter of days.

Students from the Johns Centre were asked to be at the Berbice centre for 14:00 hrs on Monday 14th January, 2013 to uplift their laptops.

Thirty- six eligible teachers from the 2010 Cohort, Rose Hall Johns Centre received computers.

Ronaldo Eastman, a teacher from a Secondary School in New Amsterdam and Ms.

Diana Algu from Manchester Secondary who copped Best Graduating Student in the Associate Degree in Education (ADE) program were among the recipients.

Mr. Eastman graduated from CPCE with a Distinction.

He started teacher-training in November 2010, with his major being Mathematics and Minor English.

Mr. Eastman, in sharing one of his best experiences while being a student-teacher at CPCE Johns Centre said, “My first and best experience was working with my colleagues, especially my group study team that was set up in New Amsterdam, which included Roxanne Gomes, Shellyann and myself”.

He added, “We took Ms. Beverley Baker’s (Head of Centre) advice and formed a study group. This study group has helped us tremendously, since the time that is allotted for this ADE programme was not enough.

Intense discussions were made during these sessions on modules and concepts.

Because of this, we were able to better handle examination questions more confidently”.

Mr. Ronaldo also shared one of his bad experiences. He said, “receiving results late

Some of the teachers pose with their laptops was very frustrating, not only for me but for my colleagues.

To me, this is not the fault coming from the satellite centres, but more so from Turkeyen. I am positively sure that Turkeyen can do much better”. ”Firstly, I want to say thanks to all those who made this event possible. I can now use this device in my classroom to help deliver the curriculum in a more efficient way since our world is

advancing... it’s about time for teachers to join in”. Eastman stated, “even though we are years behind technology, we are thankful today for this free laptop”.

Ms. Khemwattie Diana Algu, Best Graduating Student country- wide for the ADE programme, in making her comments said, “Receiving timetable a week before examinations was appalling. Turkeyen really needs to work on this

defaulter. Also, the time that student receives the results, my God! This is a pain by its self.

This sometimes really confuses me. Were it not for the study group, I don’t know what would have happened. Nevertheless, my CPCE experience would ever be a part of me. It would be a fascinating story that I would love to share with my children”. Ms. Algu, in extending her thanks for

receiving her free laptop said, “at least CPCE has done one good thing for us, so I would like to extend my gratitude to the World Bank and CPCE for making this possible. She also said, “I want to thank Ms. Baker, (HOC), Mr. Tejpratap, the Secretary, and all the tutors. To my colleagues, kudos must be given to you all”. ADE 2010 graduates from other centres across the country will also receive laptops shortly.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Cops stage dramatic rescue…

Arsonist abducts, stabs reputed wife in backlands A man who had torched his reputed wife’s home last December emerged from hiding at around 05:00 hrs yesterday to abduct and stab the 32-year-old woman in the Queenstown, Essequibo backlands, but quick action by police saved the day.

Lilawattie Dass was rescued from the Queenstown backlands shortly after being stabbed five times. She was admitted to the Suddie Hospital, while the suspect, identified as Linden Johnson, has been detained.

Police said that Johnson had been in hiding after torching Dass’ home on December 14, 2012. She has been staying at the home of her stepmother, Mala Sookra.

Speaking to Kaieteur News from the Intensive Care Unit, where she underwent surgery, Das said she and Johnson had been living together for the past five months. The mother of one explained that at around 05:00 hrs yesterday, she went outside to use a washroom which is situated on the bottom flat of her step mother’s home, when Johnson, who was armed with a knife and cutlass, confronted her.

Dass said that she attempted to run away but Johnson overpowered her and she was forced to accompany her estranged reputed husband to the Queenstown backlands.

Fortunately, police had received a report about the abduction and ranks from a mobile unit cordoned off the area where she was being held.

It is alleged that the suspect stabbed Dass when he realised that the police were closing in on him.

According to Dass, the fugitive cautioned the police not to come close but the ranks issued a warning to Johnson. Dass said she then managed to push Johnson aside and run to the ranks.

Johnson was then apprehended.

A police release said that Dass was abducted around 06.00hrs by a man with whom she had shared a commonlaw relationship unto December 2012, when he allegedly burnt down the house in which they lived and went into hiding.

“Today the man, who was armed with a cutlass, went to the home where the victim now resides and forcibly took her away into the backdam area. The police responded promptly to the report and went into the backdam where they rescued the woman and arrested the suspect.

The woman had marks of violence about her body and has been admitted to the Suddie Hospital, while the suspect is in police custody,” the release added.

In an unusual chain of events, a sister of Dass’ stepmother also had her house torched by an irate

reputed husband last Friday in Queenstown, Essequibo.

The suspect also carries the surname Johnson, but is reportedly not related to the man who abducted Dass.

It is alleged that the 30year-old Matthew Johnson torched the home of the mother of his child, Nelly Sookra. The two-bedroom house was built by Food for the Poor. Ms. Sookra explained that her reputed husband came to her house Friday evening and greeted her and daughter with hugs and kisses.

“He asked me if I love him and I asked him the same,” Sookra related.

She added that Matthew Johnson then proceeded to offer her two hundred dollars which she refused.

The woman recalled that her reputed husband, who appeared to be drunk, began cursing her and her immediate neighbour, pensioner Curtis Austin, before he was seen kicking down the door.

Johnson later took a lighted kerosene oil lamp and threw it on Ms. Sookra’s bed, which went up in flames.

The woman said that they barely made it out alive.

It is alleged that Matthew Johnson was overheard boasting about carrying out the deed.

He was apprehended shortly after at a cook shop in the village.

Arson charges will be soon instituted against Johnson, police said.

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State not fulfilling security obligations to private sector - Granger says businesses forced to overspend to ensure own protection Leader of the Opposition David Granger has chided government for what he says is its failure to fulfill its security obligations to the private sector.

The Opposition Leader said that there seems to be a heavy burden being placed on private persons to ensure their safety, when largely, that provision is an obligation of the state.

The Opposition Leader said that there is great concern over the country’s security situation, since the private sector was ensured that there would be support in relation to security reform.

The business sector contributes immensely to the growth of the nation and Granger was adamant that their services, likewise their protection, are vital in ensuring their continuance.

He added that investment which ensures growth is most important when speaking about the private sector or business community. “We want to see that Guyana becomes a place

safe for investment, safe for businessmen as well as ordinary citizens,” such as fishermen, who do not expect that they would be attacked by pirates when they go out to sea.

Granger charged that likewise in the city and towns, it is unfair for business persons to be paying large sums of money in overheads to provide “security fences, lights, guards, weapons, watch towers and dogs.”

“We feel that there is a heavy burden that is borne by business persons which ought not to be.”

Granger said it should be the state to guarantee these persons security while they can focus on their businesses.

“They have to spend too much on their own security and that is cutting into profits and the earnings of the country,” Granger opined.

Corporation tax and other forms of taxation are being reduced in order to manage the security issue.

As far as the security plan

Opposition Leader David Granger put forward by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee last year December, neither the private sector nor the opposition have seen it, Granger said.

He charged that a security plan cannot be endorsed by the opposition if the Government is not prepared to release it.

Granger continued that he will however meet again with persons of the private sector to discuss issues such as the budget and the security (Continued on page 13)

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Kaieteur News

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

Editorial

White Elephant?

One down to earth description of an ‘optimist’ is a person who returns home, finds his back door broken into and thinks a surprise party has been arranged for him. The new Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy is definitely an optimist. Since assuming his portfolio a year ago he seems determined to ignore the reality on the ground as it relates to the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Strategy (SSMS).

Last October, asked whether the US$200 million dollar investment – the largest in the history of the country – might be proving to be a ‘white elephant’, the Minister retorted indignantly: “”I don’t know...what is a white elephant, because this seems like a factory that is meeting its potential.” He could have turned to the ubiquitous (if sophomoric) Wikipedia which would have informed him: “A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth.

The term derives from the story that the kings of Siam (now Thailand) were accustomed to make a present of one of these animals to courtiers who had rendered themselves obnoxious, in order to ruin the recipient by the cost of its maintenance.”

Let us examine the Skeldon Modernisation from this perspective. It was intended to accomplish two interrelated goals that would combine to turn around the fortunes of our sugar industry that was about to be buffeted by a 36% reduction in our preferential price from the EU. The modernisation would firstly expand the industry’s production by substituting the old Skeldon factory’s production of around 35,000 tonnes with the new factory’s projected production of 110,000 tonnes annually.

Since its commissioning in 2009 (two years behind schedule), with the new factory’s production averaging around 32,000 tonnes, it is suffering at least a two-thirds fall in its expected production. Yet the Minister announced a few months ago that the factory was operating at 65% capacity. But there is another dimension to this massive shortfall in production at Skeldon – one that affects the second goal of the modernisation strategy.

This is the unit cost of production of our raw sugar.

Guyana traditionally has been a high-cost producer of sugar – averaging around US .22 cents per pound - and the industry was viable only because of its ‘guaranteed’ markets, primarily to the EU. The Skeldon expansion and modernisation was supposed to produce its 110,000 tonnes of sugar at around US 8 cents per pound. This was supposed to bring down the overall industry’s cost price on the projected 450,000 tonnes to a rather competitive US 12 cents per pound.

However, rather than lowering the average price of production, the Skeldon Factory has actually pushed it into the stratosphere – averaging almost US 40 cents per pound.

A good indicator of this increase in production costs is the almost one-third increase in tonnes of cane needed to produce one tonne of sugar at Skeldon. What we have suggested in the past and we do so again is that we must re-think the Skeldon Modernisation and make some hard decisions.

From where we stand, it appears that at the very best the Skeldon factory might be tweaked to produce maybe half of its projected production. And this level might be all that is possible because of another crucial shortfall: the inability or unwillingness of private farmers to raise their cultivation from 700 acres to over 10,000 acres, as part of the plan.

At the very best, private farmers have only reached about half of their cultivation and with the factory delivering such atrocious yields, there is absolutely no incentive to ratchet up production. As a matter of fact we can expect some of the acreage dedicated to sugar being converted to rice.

We will not even broach the vexed question of labour.

The question then is whether this level of production makes economic sense to continue with the Skeldon Factory? Or is it time to concede that the factory is a white elephant?

Monday January 21, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

The courts have to start the constitutional reconstruction process DEAR EDITOR, A single judge at the first instance ruling on an issue that goes to the very heart of the nation’s constitutional future and the vitality of separation of powers is not good enough, not when there are Appeal Courts with panels of judges with similar or greater experience to review the same matter.

I read the Chief Justice’s ruling and while I am no attorney, I found the analysis and reasoning questionable and out of touch with the reality that obtains in Guyana. I also found the Chief Justice’s ruling inadequate in addressing some serious concerns about the nation’s abject constitutional structure and a very flawed constitution.

This matter is not about Clement Rohee but about the doctrine of separation of powers in a broken and failed constitutional structure, and one senses the CJ failed to grasp this grand forest for the trees principle here. For the Chief Justice to rule that no distinction can be made between Rohee speaking as a Minister and speaking as an ordinary member of the National Assembly is flawed.

To say Guyana has no separation of powers and that the Executive dominates every arm of government, including the Legislature, is a grand euphemism. Some call our Guyana constitutional debacle a hybrid system when any basic student of politics knows it is a constitutional dictatorship. We have a

President who is not elected on his own in a separate election like the US or Mexico or South Africa. We have a President who essentially cheats his way to power by bypassing a direct election for the Presidency and by piggybacking onto a parliamentary election for members of the National Assembly.

It matters not that this individual would have lost the Presidency to a better candidate if the President was separately elected.

When this President gets into power, whether by a minority or majority of the votes, he gets to assume sovereign and independent executive authority, separate and apart from that same legislature he piggybacked onto to get into power. So, the President uses the legislature electoral process to get into power.

The President cannot get power without the legislature and the existence of elections to the legislature yet the president assumes power after the election that allows him to not only exercise authority that completely separates him from sanction by the legislature but even worse, to handpick members of that legislature to his Cabinet.

Nowhere in the modern world or even in the history of presidential systems has this kind of perverted destruction of the separation of powers taken place like in Guyana. The Guyana President gets a free pass to the presidency by not being subjected to a direct

presidential vote. Then he gets to pick a Cabinet mostly from party members elected to Parliament.

This allows him to interfere, influence and dominate Parliament in sickening fashion. In the USA, anyone who wants to serve in the US President’s Cabinet must resign from their legislature (Congress).

Hillary Clinton is an example of this requirement.

The reason for this is to keep the Executive (government and presidency) separate from the Legislature (Parliament). Not so in Guyana. The constitution allows the President, whose party wins only a plurality of the votes, to openly interfere in a majority-controlled Parliament.

As usual, Ministers dominate their party’s business in Parliament. The President can pick MPs from his own party to all kinds of executive appointments, making them beholden to him and in doing so, allowing him to dominate them in the legislature.

Jagdeo did this to atrocious extremes. So, the President’s Cabinet gets to prance around like peacocks in Parliament, while the opposition majority of Parliament has no ability to prance around in the executive and Cabinet. On top of this bizarre undermining of Parliament, the constitution allows the President the right to dissolve or prorogue Parliament at will. Imagine a man who obtains less than a

majority of the votes dissolving a legislature controlled by a majority who were voted for by a majority of the people!

How in this one-sided assault on the separation of powers doctrine the Chief Justice could fail to distinguish between Clement Rohee, and for that matter any Minister or executive servant who sits in Parliament, right to speak in Parliament in two different capacities as a member of the Executive and a member of the Legislature is beyond me.

In a system where it is patently obvious that the constitution caricaturizes the Legislature and makes it servile to the Executive even when that Executive lacks majority electoral legitimacy, no judiciary can rest on its laurels and adorn itself in abiding within the confines of the letter of the constitution while the nation burns in bitterness, democracy is assaulted and crass disrespect for the rule of law ensues. If this were the case, we would not have cases like Brown vs. Board of Education by the US Supreme Court and other landmark English, American, Canadian and other cases where courts have stood on the side of creating a fair, just and better society.

A list of these cases can be found in Wikipedia. A Legislature dominated by and interfered in by the Executive should possess some power to constrain that Executive when and Continued on page 6

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

The President must back up his calls for cooperation and compromise DEAR EDITOR, The phrase, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but everyone is not entitled to his own facts,” aptly applies to Mr. Ralph Seeram, author of the diaspora piece in the January 20 edition of KN, “Insecure Guyanese men…,” which focused in part on House Speaker, Mr. Raphael Trotman, and which focus I wish to address.

Mr. Seeram asked whether the Speaker is insecure because it seems as if he has to appease the opposition at every turn. Did Mr. Seeram miss the huge debate between the PPP and parliamentary opposition over the Speakership post, in which the PPP proposed Mr. Ralph Ramkarran and the parliamentary opposition settled on Mr. Trotman after Mr. Moses Nagamootoo was rejected?

Speaker Trotman owes his Speakership post to the opposition in much the same way former Speaker Ramkarran owed his Speakership post in the past to the PPP when it had a parliamentary majority. So why is there even a question about Speaker Trotman siding with the parliamentary majority?

The truth is that Speaker Ramkarran has been far more amenable to the PPP regime’s parliamentary agenda than he was to the PNC and later the AFC, and if he wasn’t, then his position as Speaker would not have remained as secure. Has Mr. Seeram ever thought of that?

It was Speaker Ramkarran who once said in a “Special Person” interview with Kaieteur News on June 18, 2009, that “Because I have a leadership position in the PPP, the challenge as Speaker of the National Assembly is ensuring that all sides develop and maintain confidence in my management of the business of the House and that all parties are given a fair shake.

Judging from the fact that both sides of the House are at times unhappy with me, I believe I am succeeding.”

With only one year as Speaker, Mr. Trotman’s job has been made very difficult by the PPP regime rushing to the courts about four times to seek relief from the parliamentary opposition’s votes on various items and issues to frustrate the parliamentary democracy

process. I am sure he wants to be fair to both the government and opposition in Parliament, but he also shares the opposition’s agenda to restore good governance.

Heck, Mr. Trotman has been fighting for government reform while in the PNC, and when that was not a fast-track item for the PNC, he teamed up with Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and Ms. Sheila Holder to launch the AFC in 2005.

But what specifically caused Mr. Seeram to say he suspects the Speaker is insecure in his post is that the Speaker allowed the parliamentary opposition to vote a no-confidence motion against Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Clement Rohee, for failing to perform in his cabinet post, followed by a gag order.

Someone needs to inform Mr. Seeram that this is part of what parliamentary democracy is all about; it is just that for decades we never had a Parliament that was controlled by opposition parties so we never had noconfidence votes, sanctions or gagging orders.

His ignorance of how a parliamentary democracy operates is no excuse or reason for him to jump head first into an empty pool; because if Speaker Trotman found credible reasons to believe the High Court was intruding into Parliamentary matters, then it could definitely threaten the concept of parliamentary democracy. And this is not limited to Guyana, but any nation that subscribes to the parliamentary democracy system.

Thankfully, the Chief Justice’s opinion-based ruling shows that Speaker Trotman does not have to worry about such an intrusion, since the court recognizes Parliament is one of three autonomous bodies that comprise the separation of powers doctrine, and so the court cannot force the Speaker to let Minister Rohee speak in Parliament.

As for Mr. Seeram accusing Speaker Trotman of lacking impartiality, feeling insecure or seeking power and control in the Rohee gag saga simply because the Speaker was once a member of the PNC/APNU and AFC, is to engage in politically

juvenile reasoning.

Did Mr. Seeram ever offer a publicized view when the PPP-controlled Parliament refused to allow a probe into the Roger Khan drugs and extra-judicial killings, or to pass legislation that retroactively corrected an illegality pertaining to government awarding of tax concession to Queens Atlantic II, or to refuse to investigate the government’s role in the collapse of CLICO (Guy) that costs depositors US$34M? Mr. Editor, as we advance into this new year, I wish to urge Guyanese to continue to

adjust to this new political dispensation in which Parliament is controlled by the opposition APNU and AFC and demand the people’s business gets done.

The President must back up his calls for cooperation and compromise by working with the opposition, whose aim is not to seek power through any back door, but to help restore good governance.

The PPP loves to brag that it restored democracy in 1992, but what happened on November 28, 2011 with the combined opposition obtaining a one-seat

parliamentary majority over the PPP was all about voters saying they want a restoration of accountability, transparency and responsibility. Free elections without accountability, transparency and responsibility are a recipe for what we had under Bharrat Jagdeo: pervasive corruption!

By the way, has Mr. Seeram noticed how many hitherto unknown facts and figures associated with state projects and deals have been unearthed since APNU and the AFC took control of Parliament? If anyone is feeling insecure right now it

must be the corrupt cabal!

Finally, in answer to Mr. Seeram’s question as to whether the Speaker will resign if the government s a y s i t d o e s not have confidence in him, let me offer my opinion: the government does not have the votes in Parliament to back up that position, so the decision to resign will then be the Speaker ’s to make.

Otherwise, the government will just have to bear with Speaker Trotman, the way the opposition bore with Speaker Ramkarran from 2001 to 2011.

Emile Mervin

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 21, 2013

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

Who is responsible for the disposal of dead animals?

DEAR EDITOR, On December 3rd, 2012, animal lover Noreen Gaskin saw an animal suffering close to Vlissengen Road and asked me to assist by picking it up. Volunteer Soraya Arjune and I rescued the dog. The poor thing was sick and could not walk properly, so we took it to GSPCA to be put to sleep. I was told by the clinic that they could put it to sleep but that I would have to dispose of the body along with another one from the previous week.

When I asked why they could not keep the bodies in their freezer, they said M & CC cleansing tractor had not picked up the dead dogs for some time and their freezer was full. At about the same time, two men walked in to the GSPCA with a dog in a salt bag but they soon turned around and left.

Outside, I enquired as to the problem with their dog. They said the dog had met with an accident and was going to die so they wanted to have it put to sleep. They also said, “Since the GSPCA cannot keep the body for disposal and we have to go to work, we going to stray the dog.” These pet owners had no idea what to do with the body so their solution was just to stray the dying animal; perhaps a solution for them but for the rest of us just another dead dog on the streets or in the canals of Georgetown.

I asked to see the dog and saw such a sad sight staring back at me. I took a picture and told them to go back and have it put to sleep and I would take the body to Princess Street for disposal. While on my way to the Princess Street location, I saw the Mayor and City Council tractor and stopped to talk to the operators. They said they were heading to the GSPCA so I gave them the three dead dogs.

On Jan 17th, Soraya Arjune and I rescued two very sick dogs from Kitty. Soraya and a passerby lifted the kennels into the GSPCA clinic for the animals to be put to sleep (a fee of$2000 was paid for euthanization by injection). Once again we were told that we had to take the bodies for disposal. The clinic Administrator told Ms. Arjune that she had turned away three persons with sick dogs that morning because they could not keep the b o d i e s . I n f r u s t r a t i o n , I c a l l e d Ms. Pollydore at Solid Waste and she said that the tractor would be going to the GSPCA after lunch to pick up the bodies. We a s volunteers are willing to help the Municipality improve the image and sanitation of the city by helping to control the street dog population but more reliable support services such as body disposal is indispensable.

Some questions we have: Why is there no regular pick up of animal bodies from GSPCA? On those occasions when there is no regular pick up, why can’t the GSPCA hire a driver to take the bodies to Haags Bosch dump site?

Dr. Surjubally in his weekly column writes “Don’t stray your unwanted pets; instead take them to the GSPCA….” If this is done and dogs have to be put down, shouldn’t the GSPCA take charge of storing and disposing of dead bodies?

If the GSPCA does not deal with the bodies they will most likely end up on our streets or in our canals. At the Council forum Friday 11th, I raised this issue. I do hope the authorities take note and some action is taken.

Syeada Manbodh

Re: Joan Chang, gold miner, versus Isseneru Village Council DEAR EDITOR, From the limited Press reporting on this case, it seems that both the Judge and the gold miner, Joan Chang, the holder of the mining licence, who is suing the Isseneru Amerindian Village Council (AVC), are unaware of the laws safeguarding Amerindian rights.

The AVC appears to be within its rights to defend its lands, in the absence of any prior information available to the community about the existence of a mining licence prior to the granting of communal title to Isseneru.

The holder of the licence should be addressing her concerns to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MoAA) because of their apparent error or errors.

The court appears to have been at fault in admitting the civil suit, which is misdirected.

Isseneru Village received communal title in 1997, under the Amerindian Act (AA 1951, amended to 1976). Through that Act, titles were granted

by Ministerial Order (AA 1951, Article 3 (a)): ‘All the rights, titles and interests of the State in and over the lands situate within the boundaries of any . . . Village shall . . . be deemed to be

transferred to and vested in the respective Council for and on behalf of the Amerindian Community’ (AA 1976, Article 20A (1)). The Village Council was established by the Chief Officer of the Minister (AA 1951, Article 18). No existing title to minerals or mining rights in or over any land could have been transferred to the Village Council (AA 1976, Article 20A (2) (b)).

If there were areas covered by pre-existing mining licences awarded by the GGMC, which were included within the Village boundaries by the Ministerial Order in 1997, this was a failure of communication between the MoAA and GGMC to implement correctly Article 20A (1) of AA 1976, not a fault of the Isseneru AVC. It would also have been a fault of intra-government communication for the GLSC to have issued communal title under the State Lands Act 1972, following the Ministerial Order, not realizing a preexisting mining licence issued

by GGMC. Moreover, it would have been a fault of GGMC to have issued a mining licence in the first place over Amerindian traditional/customary lands, which are safeguarded by the ‘quiet enjoyment’ Article 111 of the Mining Act 1989: ‘All land occupied or used by the Amerindian communities and all land necessary for the quiet

enjoyment by the Amerindians of any Amerindian settlement, shall be deemed to be lawfully occupied by them’.

This clause has been in mining legislation in Guyana since 1905. This same Article 111 should have prevented the issue of any mining licence over Isseneru Amerindian Village Lands (AVL) in 1997 until 2006.

Following the enactment of the revised AA in 2006, the AVC should have been involved directly in any negotiations for or issue of a small or medium-scale mining licence; see Articles 48, 49, and 53.

The Judge might also have looked across to the safeguarding of Amerindian rights in our National Constitution (preamble on page 26 and Article 149G on page 89), and in international conventions signed and ratified by Guyana, including the Convention of Biological Diversity (Article 10 (c)) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007.

Instead, as reported in the Press, the Judge appears to have confined her research to the Amerindian Act 2006, and to a novel interpretation of that Act. In the meantime this ruling marks only the latest erosion of Amerindian legal and customary rights over their lands.

Janette Bulkan

The courts have to start the...

From page 4 where it steps brazenly out of line. Rohee still has a right to speak on any matters except to do so officially as a Minister such as presenting official reports. Nothing stops another MP doing this job in Rohee’s stead.

Nothing stops Rohee as a regular MP commenting on that report by that official. If the constitution in such draconian fashion allows the Executive to interfere with the separation of powers doctrine, which is clearly an affront to democracy, why should the National Assembly not have the ability to restrict that interference in preservation of the separation of powers doctrine?

The Executive cannot take the sweet of interfering

in the Legislature but refuse to take the bitter of sanctions against its members there when they step out of line.

The judiciary has a profound role in shaping a country’s democratic future, moreso a country that is crippled by a corrupt and patently failed constitutional structure. Given that both the PNC and PPP have refused to change this constitution with dire repercussions for their constituencies and the country as a whole, the likelihood of a referendum to fix this debacle of a constitution is unlikely to ever occur as long as these two parties hold most of the seats in Parliament.

It is very plausible that even if a referendum is to occur, voter fatigue will see less than 50% of all voters

turn out to vote for it, therefore subduing its legitimacy. So, the courts (judiciary) have to start the constitutional reconstruction process in a measured fashion.

Yes, the big items like that horrendous power of the President to dissolve Parliament at will have to be changed by a direct referendum because of their potential for political violence and bloodshed if used dictatorially. However, there are many areas that can be righted by the courts.

Trotman is right to appeal this ruling to higher courts who engage in grand societal analysis. A higher court may for instance, consider enforcing the National Assembly’s right to gag Ministers to improve the separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature, and in doing so, to improve democracy and governance.

A simple decision like this from the Guyana Court of Appeal or the CCJ effectively reconfigures the Guyanese political landscape for the better.

M. Maxwell

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Construction on GACPA building to begin in March Construction on the old Transport and Harbours building on Water Street in Kingston Georgetown which is expected to house the Secretariat of the Guyana Arts and Craft Producers Association (GACPA) is expected to commence in March.

After it was realized that artists and pottery makers are being faced with the overwhelming challenge of seeking sales for their creations, the GACPA had made a proposal to the government, under the

Jagdeo administration, for the opening of a central arts and craft shopping plaza.

The building is located obliquely opposite the Municipality Abattoir. It was because of the deplorable condition that the building is in that the GACPA was promised a starting sum of $10M to begin construction.

The remaining resources will be coming from fund raisers, donations, and the dedicated backings of Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) and the Caribbean Executive Services

Organization (CESO).

President of the GACPA, Mrs. Denzel Hollingsworth had told this publication that the GACPA in coordination with CESO, are working to make the vision a reality.

It entails a perfectly architected building which can be seen as an ideal tourist destination, with local thriving businesses which will in turn give a tremendous boost to local artists. The time span for this project to be completed with every necessary and luxury amenity is five years.

National School of Dance establishes Region 6 branch

Page 7

Two dead in highway crash Two men were killed almost instantly at around 22: 00 hrs yesterday after the car they were in slammed into a utility pole near Long Creek on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.

The victims have been identified as 33-year-old Safraz Ali of Sara Johanna, East Bank Demerara and Joe Mohammed of Dora, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Reports are that Ali, who is a taxi driver, went to Dora to pick up Mohammed and the men were heading to Georgetown when the driver apparently lost control of his vehicle.

One eyewitness told this publication that when they raced to the scene, Mohammed was already out of the car and Ali was climbing out of the car.

“Like the impact pelt the other man out the car

but Ali climb out the car and as soon as he reach out he fall down and left right deh.”

Meanwhile, by the time other public spirited citizens reached to offer assistance

both men appeared dead.

They were placed in the back of a pick-up and transported to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where they were both pronounced dead on arrival.

Unlicensed patron shoots off outside city nightspot A nightspot patron walked out of Palm Court Saturday night and during an argument with another patron he pulled from his waist a Glock 19 nine millimeter pistol and discharged a round.

This might not have meant much had the patron been a licenced firearm holder. He was not. The police who raced to the scene having gotten the report of a shooting arrested him with the pistol. He could not produce a licence and was taken to the Brickdam Police Station.

He must have been an important person because within minutes people were calling the station seeking his release.

Some of the callers were said to be senior police officers.

Up to last night the patron remained in custody and is likely to head to court today.

Miner murdered in raw gold brawl

Students practicing their dance moves.

The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport has been pushing dancing as a means of maintaining Guyana’s cultural heritage in youths across the country. In this regard, branches of its dance school have been established in Regions Two, Five, and 10 with the latest one in Region Six. As a result more persons have access to these programmes with efforts being placed on revising the curriculum of the National School of Dance so that persons can be certified at the end of their training, a GINA release stated.

On Friday, the Region 6 dance programme was officially declared open by Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony at the Vryman’s Erven training centre.

Ministry Anthony said that the Ministry will be working with the region on a number of cultural areas such as drama and dance. There are also plans to establish a very vibrant programme and offer holistic training so that persons can have a better understanding of Guyanese culture.

This dance school will be operating in similar vein as

the National School of Dance in Georgetown where there will be lessons on techniques and choreographing.

Students will be taught contemporary, Indian, African, Guyanese and Caribbean dances, among others.

Dancing teachers are currently engaged in training, and in July there will be an annual production at the National Culture Centre (NCC) where all the various dance schools will showcase their talent.

Currently, 25 students are involved in the Region Six dance programme.

Students who are part of the dance programme in Region 6.

One man is now dead and another injured after a row over a missing quantity of raw gold.

The dead man has been identified as David John, 22 years, of Port Kaituma, NWD, while the injured man has been identified as Andre Wallace of Timehri Squatting area.

The incident occurred on Saturday last at around 06:30 hours at Konawaruk, Mahdia.

Investigations have revealed that John and Wallace were involved in an argument with a group of men over the alleged larceny of a quantity of raw gold. They were allegedly beaten by the men resulting in John’s death.

Wallace has since been admitted to the Mahdia Hospital.

No arrest has been made and investigations are ongoing.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Monday January 21, 2013

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 9

THE MAN ON HORSEBACK There used to be a running joke about the late President of Guyana, Forbes Burnham and horseback riding. This was before the joke turned to reality in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The joke stemmed from a gift of three horses which Burnham was said to have received on a trip to the United Kingdom after he became Prime Minister.

When he later visited the

United States, it was said that the then President Lyndon Johnson presented him with a saddle, and the joke was that Burnham was told to go and ride the Guyanese people.

Both countries of course knew that Burnham loved horseback riding and they feted his desire.

The joke about Burnham and horseback riding became a painful reality when Forbes Burnham devastated the

economy of his country and left people who once enjoyed a comfortable living in dire deprivation while he went off on overseas trips with plane loads of officials.

But the lasting image of Forbes Burnham for many remains a leader who loved to ride around on horseback while his people suffered.

Those who still idolize Forbes Burnham wish to get rid of the image of the late

Dem boys seh

De sick get up and walk Cricket does mek sick people get up and walk and that is wha happen de other night. Guyana playing cricket in St Lucia but before dem go to St Lucia dem had to play in Trinidad.

Was up and down batting. Dem win two and lose two. Jamaica beat dem.

Then dem had to go to St Lucia and dem barely scrape through to meet Jamaica.

Nuff people expect dem to lose because Jamaica had Chris Gayle. And dem was right because Gayle slaughter dem. De Jamaicans post de second biggest target Guyana had to chase. Some

sick people roll over in dem bed and decide that dem gun wait pun de doctor.

Well couple minutes later one man who couldn’t even raise he head get up and sit down. Some church people who was praying by he bedside start fuh holler how dem seeing a miracle and that dem prayers wuk. When de man get up and walk two woman faint.

Cricket been pun TV and de man was watching Guyana beat bowling. De thing mek he heart start fuh beat properly; then he heart start fuh race. De next thing people see nuff sick people get up

and jump about. Dem get cured when Johnson lick a six to end de match.

Well dem boys seh that cricket does do nuff things to people dem know because dem see a man bruck up he TV when West Indies lose a match.

Dem see a man forget that he wife send he fuh greens in de market and he sit down wid de greens bag and watch cricket. Is when he go home without de bag that he realize wha he went out for.

Today is another story but then again is cricket.

Talk half and save de TV.

dictator as a man who rode about on horseback looking down on his people. They wish to disabuse the country of the image of Burnham having office workers coerced to work on a plantation which he treated as if it was his own personal property.

Managers of government enterprises were forced to go to Hope Estate on weekends and do work that they would have otherwise consider beneath them. They were forced to literally step into the mud to weed coconut beds and clear drains while the dictator rode around like an overlord belching out orders. It was a most humiliating exercise for these state workers and many wish to remove that terrible memory.

More humiliating was that many of them could not refuse because to do so would be to invite dismissal.

Many also went to be able to get to buy food items. It is an experience that is unthinkable these days. But an entire nation had to go through this because this was what the former dictator wanted.

Burnham did not get his feet muddy on the estate. He was high up on his horse. His feet hung over the sides of his horse and made a

distinctive sight because of the striking leather riding boots which he loved to wear whilst riding.

But Burnham’s fascination with horseback riding preceded the Hope Estate experience. Burnham was a horseman. Just after he took power in the 1960’s he could be seen every morning riding his horse around the city, often with a bunch of children excitedly running alongside the horses.

Unlike many leaders who come down to the level of the people, Forbes Burnham loved to interact with the people from atop a horseback. He used to go through the city meeting his constituents while riding a horse. He would usually end his ride near to the Georgetown Seawall. So his love for horses dated back to his early days as Prime Minister and did not, as so many feel, develop during his latter years when his socialist experiment brought nothing but ruin to the economy.

When things dipped for the worse, food became short and Burnham responded with yet another of his thoughtless ideas. He decided that people should plant every available piece of

land, including the parapets in front of their homes.

Instead of trying to deal with the problems of poor drainage facing farmers, Forbes Burnham decided to make every citizen a farmer.

And so he used to go around on horseback every morning, often in the company of a senior police officer who was also a good rider. He used to go around sharing out cassava sticks and urging people to plant the parapets in front of their homes.

Not many took him seriously but from his position looking down on the suffering people, he did not notice the public indifference to his ridiculous idea.

While no one should ever deny that he was an antiimperialist and was opposed to colonialism in Guyana and elsewhere, Forbes Burnham loved the trappings of monarchial power. He dressed like a colonist, enjoyed their pastimes and according to one political elder, spoke with Churchillian pauses.

And yes he did take Guyana for a good ride.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Monday January 21, 2013

Five murders in first 20 days There have been at least five murders in the first 20 days of the year with Berbice, ‘B’ Division taking the lead with three. Last year during the same period ‘D’ Division kick started with three murders alone, between the period, January 1st to January 20th.

On January 7th last the body of security guard Jagdat Ramcharran, 61 was discovered bound and gagged at the Iskcon Hari Krishna Mandir at Block 6 Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice. To date no one has been arrested.

Initially the police had arrested a man from the area but it turned out there was not enough evidence to press charges.

Meanwhile relatives are claiming that prior to his death Ramcharran had complained to his wife that the very suspect made numerous threats to him. Reports were allegedly made to the police about the threats but no action was ever taken. There are also reports that another caretaker had moved out of the Mandir three days prior to the murder after he too was being threatened by the man who was detained for Ramcharran’s murder.

Dead 29 year-old Patricia Bacchus

Dead: Narindra Thakoor

Dead: 70-year-old Jasmatty Puran

Dead: 65-year-old Jagdat Ramcharran

Dead: 19-year-old Wesley Holder

According to information, on January 7th last at around 03:00 hrs, a worshipper who would visit the temple in the early morning to worship, arrived at the temple for his usual devotion. Upon arriving he would usually be greeted by the watchman who would open the gate.

But when the man arrived no one came to greet him and the gate was locked. After making several calls and getting no response, he scaled the fence and to his horror he noticed the watchman lying on the ground with his hand and feet bound.

A few days later

detectives were called to duty at Angoy’s Avenue where a man hacked his reputed wife to death. On January 16th last Narindra Thakoor chopped 29 year-old Patricia Bacchus to death, almost severing her neck in the process.

Initially Thakoor was arrested after investigators claimed that there was no indication that Thakoor had ingested poison as was told to them by relatives of the dead woman. Later in the day while in police custody Thakoor had to be rushed for medical attention where he later succumbed.

Mere days later another murder was reported in the

Berbice Division as the bound and gagged body of 70-year-old pensioner, Jasmatty Puran, was found in her home at Guava Bush, Albion, Corentyne. Puran’s body was found on Saturday January 19 last.

Her home was ransacked and there are reports that the woman may have been sexually assaulted.

After calls to Puran’s home went unanswered, a nephew, Jagdeo Ganesh went to check on her. Ganesh told relatives that when he arrived at Puran’s home he noticed the gate and the door were open and he went into the yard calling out for her but he got no answer.

According to Ganesh, as he was leaving the kitchen he noticed her feet protruding from an area near the fireside.

He went closer and saw Puran lying on the ground with her face covered with a piece of cloth and her hands bound.

The woman’s body also bore bruises.

An alarm was raised and other relatives raced to the scene. To date four persons have been detained to assist with investigations. One of

the men detained is said to be a deportee who was also detained for Ramcharran’s murder.

Meanwhile ‘A’ Division recorded its first murder on January 11th last with a male commercial sex worker, 19year-old Wesley Holder, called ‘Oraysha’ or ‘Tiffany’ of 65 Cross Street, Werk-enRust being found dead in the compound of St. Phillips Green.

This publication was told that the man’s body bore wounds to the back of the neck, throat and wrists. There were other marks of violence on the body.

Holder was last seen alive at around 21:00 hours on the day before the discovery in the company of another sex worker. Two persons were detained but no charges were laid. Meanwhile, relatives of the dead man are of the opinion that not enough is being done to capture the killers. Police had indicated that a knife and freshly used condoms were removed from the scene. However there has been no indication that DNA testing will be used in an effort to solve this case.

And in ‘F’ Division at least one murder was reported while there are reports of two decomposing bodies being found. On Friday John Friday aka Chris, of Culvert City, Lethem, was found dead in the RDC compound.

The 43-year-old security guard was attached to the Strategic Action Service Limited which provided a service for the Region Nine Administration.

This newspaper understands that shortly after 20:00hrs on Friday, two unidentified men entered the RDC compound and attacked Friday and his colleague identified as Rudolph Bernard. The perpetrators assaulted the two men and quickly turned them into hostages.

Both victims’ limbs were tied and they were gagged with pieces of cloth. They were placed in separate rooms within the RDC building, where Friday died. Four persons are currently in police custody and some $4 M recovered and it is believed that the money was stolen during the robbery.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Fort Wellington Committee hands over multipurpose facility to Police

Commander of Police ‘B’ Division Assistant Commissioner Derrick Josiah (Second from right) accepts the keys to the facility from Gyan Totaram Treasurer of the Station Management Committee.

Guyana’s largest Station Management Committee project was commissioned recently at a simple presentation ceremony held in the compound of the Fort Wellington Police Station.

The facility which houses a canteen and recreational facility was completed in

record time with funding which totaled over $2.2M. This included donations of cash, donations of materials and equipment and hosting a fund rising Bar B Que. 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, dominoes and whist among other games. The facility is also being used as a lunch room.

At the commissioning, the facility was handed over to the Guyana Police Force which was represented by (Continued on page 14)

Monday January 21, 2013

Sugar workers who perished...

(From page 11) after they ventured to clean a clarifier while on duty. Up to the day of the memorial, there was never any formal commemorative event for the victims, even though the Rose Hall Estate toots its whistle every January 13 for the souls lost.

Two men were assigned the task of cleaning the No.3 clarifier. They were supervised

by Process Foreman, Abdul Gafoor. However, shortly after 8AM, shouts were heard, and several workers were seen running to and from the clarifier. Gafoor emerged from the No. 3 clarifier and ran to the No. 4 quad where a switchboard was located. At the switchboard, he obtained a drop cord with a bulb at the end. He used this device to see what was going on in the clarifier. He saw the two workers unconscious.( He then descended into the clarifier for the express purpose of rendering assistance to the workers. He fell on the scroll of the clarifier while descending. Gafoor lost his life in a brave attempt to save the lives of both of his workers.( Another Process Foreman by the name of Peters was informed that Gafoor had fallen into the clarifier. Peters took the precautionary measure of having a rope placed inside the clarifier. The rope was tied to a 63 pipe. Peters then entered the clarifier.

After descending about four feet, Peters found his nostrils burning and breathing was difficult. He then pulled the rope and was barely pulled out of the clarifier.

He lost consciousness shortly after, but survived.

Yassim Khan, a welder, was able to pull him to safety. He

was only about forty feet from the clarifier.( Carron, a porter employed by the factory came on the scene. He tied a rope around himself with the intention of rescuing the workers.

However, before he could enter, Dhanpaul Baijnauth pushed him aside and hurried through the manhole. As Dhanpaul was going down, he shouted out that there were six or seven men at the bottom of the clarifier, including three other workers-Parboo, Seepersaud Sarjudas and Ranjeet Boodram. In fact, he became the seventh victim.

Representative of the Indian Cultural Committee, Mr. Evan Persaud recounted at the memorial, what took place. He said one by one, the men fell into the tank after each tried to rescue the other one.

“When they went in they were being overcome by obnoxious fumes and they were unconscious when they were pulled to the surface…but the brave Mr. Baijnuth went in without a rope and he was left there. When the tank was cut open at the bottom with a torch, and the seven men were taken out, 6 were already dead and Bainjauth was taken to the hospital where he died 10 days later”.

The Rose Hall Estate, in those days, was owned and operated by Bookers and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) had just started up and provided the only monetary compensation to the families.”Bookers wasn’t really interested in paying any monies to the widows”, Persaud related.

“At that time the NIS had just been formed and in the Minister of Labour at the time, Mr. Winslow Carrington, presented the men killed with the

first ever death benefit payout by the NIS—not a lump sum—it was supposed to have given the families of $145,100 in 20 years”.

Ninety- five- year old Grenville Felix, an employer at the time on the day of the tragedy recounted the horror he felt on that sad day. “I remember this day because my first day back from vacation— seven of these workers did not return home alive—everything was normal between 7am and 8am”.

He was around and turned out the same day to work “…and in coming I saw people running, coming towards the boiling house side and I thought something happened and I, too, started to run and then someone told me some men drowned and I was shocked”.

Felix said that he made every effort to save the men’s lives “but we couldn’t do anything with them and I knew one fellow, he died and his brother-in-law died too, who went to see if he could save him… but ended up dying”.

Felix did his utmost to render assistance to the dying men but was not successful.

“Such an incident has never occurred in the history of Guyana”. At the end of the memorial, the factory’s whistle blew off seven times in succession to honour the fallen workers. It was an ominous sound that echoed throughout the East Canje community and even New Amsterdam. The programme was punctuated with poem recitals and tassa drumming.

Water was then poured on sugar cane to signify the commitment of erecting a monument in the near future for the workers who died.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 13

A greater depression

Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson were taking a ride on the Reading Railroad on their way to Wormwood Scrubs when they came upon as motley a collection of clues as ever they found in their long experience in detection.

“Note them well,” Holmes said puffing at his pipe, “a shoe, a top hat, a wheelbarrow, a clothes iron, a battleship, a race car, a thimble and a wee Scottie dog. What in the name of all that’s holy does this tell us, old friend?”

After a few moments of hesitation, Watson replied, “It says we are playing Monopoly and we are going to jail, straight to jail and cannot pass go.” “True,” Sherlock said, “and pretty soon if the makers of the game have their way we will be clueless.”

The British paper “The Independent” reported last week that Hasbro, the makers of the board game Monopoly, are ditching one of the classic tokens in favour of a new playing piece that “reflects the interests of today’s players”. New editions of the family favourite could soon come complete with a robot or a cat, rather than the much-loved Scottie dog or car tokens that players have used for decades. According to The Independent, “In an worldwide online vote, fans can choose to get rid of the likes of the thimble or the shoe – objects crafted in the fashion of items familiar to people in 1930s America – while selecting a replacement.

A diamond ring, a helicopter and a guitar make up the five pieces in the running to be introduced in July.”

CNN’s take on the story was different. “Poor pullstring Woody didn’t have it this bad in ‘Toy Story.’ Sure, he felt pretty awful when Andy demoted him from top toy in favor of Buzz Lightyear, that way-cool spaceman who liked to shout ‘To infinity, and beyond!’ But at least he didn’t get thrown out of the closet.”

The CNN feature on the

replacement of the tokens continued, “Tell that to the timeworn tokens of Monopoly: the shoe, top hat, wheelbarrow, clothes iron, battleship, race car, thimble and Scottie dog. One of them is being forced into exile — taking a ride on the Reading or perhaps left to shuffle along the streets of Atlantic City, New Jersey, muttering about the glory days. Not to pass GO. Not to collect $200.

Rather, to go directly to jail.”

Monopoly has monopolized the evenings of many families initially in America and then throughout the world since it was marketed by Parker Brothers in the aftermath of America’s Great Depression in the 1930s. Its locale is Atlantic City as it was then. Some of the original tokens like the lantern, cannon and rocking horse have gone. In 1999, the last time the public voted for a new Monopoly token, the sack of money lost out and is no longer in the most recent editions of the game.

When it comes to new stuff, I am a techno-freak but when we talk Monopoly, I am a traditionalist. It is true that I got an ancient edition on sale in a mall because it had remained there for many, many years gathering dust.

Regardless, I cling to my moneybag like Donald Duck’s Uncle Scrooge, sail along in my Rolls, use the old iron instead of wasting money on electricity and when told about the replacement of the tokens says, “Bah Humbug!”

I am not alone in this.

Lowen Liu, writing for Slate, a US-based online magazine, in an article headlined, “Monopoly Token Will Ruin Game, Possibly America” warns of the dire social consequences of getting rid of “the humble thimble, the laceless workboot, the iron (no electric model, this one you had to heat in a stovepipe oven), and the current bottom-feeder, the wheelbarrow…

The proposed replacement tokens? An anthropomorphic robot, a diamond ring, a guitar, a cat

State not fulfilling...

(From page 3) situation. That meeting, he said, is scheduled for the new week.

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

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in a press statement had related that private sector members identified the security situation as a significant barrier to doing business in the country.

“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 had stated. The GGCI said that they too were committed to supporting security sector reform and any reasonable measure that would make the country safer.

with sizeable bling on its collar, and a bleeping helicopter. Not a one of them symbolic of the laboring class.”

While satirical in style, Liu’s article supports the views of those of us who still play with the old tokens and are now going through our own great depression at the news that one will be replaced. So what does this say about us? According to The Independent if you choose the Racing car, “Your flashy ways conceal deeply ingrained sexual insecurities, but at least you are always nice to your mother.”

The Top hat says, “You are a power-crazed egomaniac who wouldn’t think twice about screwing over your best-friend for a promotion or parking space.

You compensate for these personality flaws with snappy dressing.” The Scottie-dog reveals, “You are a fullygrown woman who habitually speaks in a baby voice, or the downtrodden, long-suffering husband of such a woman.”

The Iron means, “You are a hip, young urbanite whose ironic selection of the iron conveys your contempt for bourgeoisie values such as tidiness.” If you choose the

Battleship, “You are overweight”; the Old boot, “You are a working class hero possessed of unusual good looks and great integrity”, the Wheelbarrow, “You are cheery and good at gardening, but a bit thick” and the Thimble, “You are always offering unsolicited, yet insightful advice to friends.

Unfortunately, your irritating manner and poor personal hygiene means they are unlikely to accept it.”

As they alighted at Victoria Station, Watson said,

“Holmes, I think we should immediately ask our friend Lestrade to arrest Hasbro for seeking to put a cat among the pigeons.” Holmes sighed and said wearily, “Watson, get rid of that thimble immediately and hold my top hat while I get rid of this dratted dog that is following us. Most likely it is Moriarity in disguise.” *Tony Deyal was last seen asking who would have thought that getting rid of a flat iron would be such a burning global issue.

Page 14

Kaieteur News

Fort Wellington Committee hands...

(From page 12) Commander of Police B Division, Assistant Commissioner Derrick Josiah and other senior officers of the force and division by Mr. Gyan Totaram, Treasurer of the station management committee.

Giving a back ground of the conceptualization and completion of the project was Treasurer Mr. Gyan Totaram stated that the project came about after the station management committee was put in place by Assistant Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, officer in charge of Sub Division No 3 West Berbice a short while after he was posted there.

He said the need arose after it was noticed that there was no proper facility in the West Berbice area for the police officers to train and relax. The men said that on many occasion, ranks, scouts and members of the public can be seen sitting on the steps of the station, braving the sun which was not a good sight.

The idea was bandied about and with the kind blessings of Assistant Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan and the management of the Berbice Division. They decided to undertake the project with the determined aim of completing it in record time.

He stated that after all the

logistics were completed the committee got down to work and was fully supported by the senior ranks and management of the police B division with the police being involved all the way.

Chairman of the committee, Cecil Ramdatt, stated that by his own admission he did not expect such a major project to be completed in such a short time. He stated that being involved in other committees before most times it was just talk. He commended the other members of the committee and was loud in praise for the sterling leadership of ASP Ramlakhan stating that the GPF needs more officers like Ramlakhan.

Giving the feature address was assistant Commissioner Josiah who congratulated the members of the committee on behalf of the Commissioner of Police and senior members of the Guyana Police Force. The commander alluded to the fact that the completion of the multimillion dollar facility is an indication that the police and community can work together. He said that the project showed the worth of station management committees and called upon other station management committees to step up and get involved.

Mr. Josiah also congratulated Ramlakhan for his leadership and the way he

is getting things done. He noted that he went on leave soon after the idea came about and by the time he returned the project was well on its way.

Also delivering remarks was Regional Chairman Region No 5, Mr. Bindrabhan Bisnauth and members of other station management committees in Berbice who all congratulated the members for a job well done.

The gathering was serenaded by saxophonist Godfrey Richmond.

The project which involved building a canteen and a shed in the compound is also being used as a recreational facility for both police and members of the public. The facility is also being used to conduct training for ranks, scouts and others using the confines of the station.

The members of the committee are Chairman Cecil Ramdat, Secretary Arjune Singh, Treasurer Gyan Totaram; the assistant secretary treasurer is Fazal Habibulla, while the committee members are Dorothy Peters Thakoor Persaud and Khemraj.

Assistant Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, Chief Inspector Gregory Springer, inspector Dennis Stephens and Station Sergeant Kwesi Gravesande are the ex officio members.

Monday January 21, 2013

M&CC repeats call for municipal court to tackle delinquent tax payers The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has reiterated calls for a Municipal Court to be established so that the Council can meaningfully deal with delinquent tax payers.

Mayor Hamilton Green told reporters that because of the socio-political business environment, tax payers are using various means such as the courts to avoid paying their taxes.

He is of the view that a Municipal Court would go a long way in aiding the Council to rake in outstanding monies owed by private persons and entities. Green further believes that with the prosecution of those offenders, tax collection may become an easier task for the Council.

The Mayor, at a press conference early last week, said that the Council’s cash flow remains low because of its inability to adequately acquire outstanding monies owed to the Council. That difficulty, he said, has been in existence for some 20 years, but apart from that, Green said the Council now has to deal with those delinquent tax payers who are approaching the courts to prevent the Council from collecting what is due.

It is for this reason, he stated, that a request was made several years ago for the implementation of the Municipal Court.

“What we needed and requested several years ago was a Municipal Court.”

Green recollected that it was under the watch of then Chancellor, Desiree Bernard,

Mayor of City Council Hamilton Green that the call for the special court was made.

“They promised to join us in our request to the Government for a special Municipal Court. When we take people to court for environmental offences and taxes, and the lawyers don’t turn up and our officers are kept for days, it is stressful and we really don’t have the personnel,” the Mayor said.

The Court Green said, never manifested. A ticket system was also requested, but that too, the Mayor said, never manifested. When the Chancellor and the relevant persons had at the time assisted with the court and had identified a specific magistrate, Green said after a few cases, the magistrate had been removed to an interior location.

In the meantime, City Hall continues to experience serious systematic problems.

The Council has been long time complaining about the Government refusing to offer

assistance, especially to tackle the ongoing garbage situation.

They have charged on many occasions that the Council receives no money from that state and has to make do with the little the organizations rakes in.

Deficiencies has been preventing the City Council from efficiently executing their duties, and executives say that they are trying various ways to get the funds needed to operate an effective council, despite, the current political situation, the lack of financing and the shortage of personnel.

To the end of last year, the Council was able to draw in close to $140M through its 42day amnesty period. Mayor Green said more individual taxpayers had responded to the amnesty period to clear outstanding rates and taxes owed than the businesses that owe the Council huge amounts.

During the amnesty period, businesses that were before the Court for not paying the Council rates and taxes were given an option to settle out of Court. Of the 20 businesses that were before Court only four decided to settle.

Those who had paid their taxes within a certain time frame were given varying waiver on interest.

Ironically, the Council stated, the problem of delinquent tax payers remain with the larger debtors who have shown a preference to use the Court for nonpayment, instead of the amnesty period.

Guyanese murdered in Trinidad…

T&T cops check camera footage for killer’s ID Relatives of 28 year-old Tyrone Achia who was gunned down on Tuesday last in Trinidad said they have been reliably informed that officials from the Twin Island have surveillance footage from the area.

A relative of the dead man told this publication last evening that investigators are currently looking at the tape with the hope of identifying Achai’s killer.

Meanwhile, relatives were able to ship his remains back to Guyana and arrangements are being made for burial.

However, relatives said they are awaiting the arrival of one of the man’s siblings who is currently at sea but is expected home soon.

The dead man’s mother, Shanaz Achia said her son last spoke to her on Monday and did not indicate that he was

having any trouble. The woman said her son had been living in the Twin Island Republic for the past five years but would return to Guyana at every chance he got.

She told this publication that her son was a supervisor at a restaurant and bar.

She added that he was renting an apartment but moved to another building just across the road and would still frequent the previous apartment.

“The owner of the apartment asked him to move to another apartment since her mother alone stayed in it and she is an elderly person.”

Mrs. Achia said on Tuesday night her son went to the old apartment to do his laundry and when he was returning to the apartment he currently occupied he was

Dead: 28-year-old Tyrone Achia shot.

The victim last visited Guyana in December of last year when he returned to attend a cousin’s wedding.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Monday January 21, 2013

Senior Democrat says Senate UK PM to deliver long-awaited to finally pass a budget EU speech this week

WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) Senate Democrats for the first time in more than three years will pass a budget, a senior Democratic lawmaker said yesterday, fulfilling a basic task that Republicans have been urging them to do.

Senator Charles Schumer said, however, the spending plan will include proposed new revenue despite Republican warnings that they will not go along with any more tax increases.

“We’re going to do a budget this year and it is going to have revenue in it, and Republicans ought to get used to that,” Schumer of New York, the Senate’s No. 3 Democrat, told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

President Barack Obama’s Democrats control the Senate, but have not passed a budget since 2010 amid disagreements within the party over possible spending cuts, particularly in entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security.

This has drawn the ire of Republicans who accuse them of a dereliction of duty

Charles Schumer that has undermined efforts to reduce spending and the U.S. debt.

Washington is expected to reach the limit of its $16.4 trillion borrowing power by early March, and lifting the debt ceiling will allow the federal government to continue its work uninterrupted.

Republican leaders in the House of Representatives, in a major concession on Friday, said they would be willing to raise the debt limit for three months and, at the same time, drop their demand that any increase in the government’s

borrowing power be matched in spending cuts.

But Republicans said they would require the Senate to finally pass a budget that could include spending reductions as well as changes in the tax code.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, appearing on NBC with Schumer, called the House Republican plan “a step in the right direction” and accused the Democraticled Senate of not doing its job. Schumer called the House Republican offer “a major victory” for Obama, who has vowed to refuse to negotiate with Congress on the debt limit.

Besides, Schumer said, “We need a budget .... It’s a great opportunity to get us some more revenues.”

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said he is ready to focus on spending cuts in any budget negotiations, but considers tax increases a closed matter.

The White House had said it would accept the three-month plan so long as it was not conditioned on spending cuts.

LONDON (Reuters) British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to deliver his hotly anticipated speech about his plans for Britain’s membership of the European Union this week, Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday.

After months of speculation, Cameron had been scheduled to deliver the speech on Friday in the Netherlands, but it was postponed because of a hostage crisis involving Britons at a gas plant in Algeria.

“It will happen in the coming week. We will make an announcement about exactly when and where tomorrow,” Hague told the BBC. In the speech, Cameron is expected to spell out his plans for Britain’s membership of the 27-nation bloc and to promise to put any deal he struck to the British people in a referendum.

According to excerpts of the planned speech that were released before the decision to postpone it, Cameron will say that Britain will drift out of the EU and the European project will fail unless the bloc tackles three major problems.

The excerpts identified these as the euro zone debt crisis, faltering competitiveness and declining public support.

David Cameron Some critics say a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU would be a reckless gamble with the country’s future economic prospects and place in the world.

They accuse Cameron of taking a huge risk in order to placate hardline eurosceptics in his Conservative Party who are worried about an electoral threat from the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which campaigns for an exit from the bloc.

Appearing on a BBC television political program on Sunday morning alongside UKIP leader Nigel Farage, Hague rejected the suggestion that Cameron’s speech was all about Conservatives “running

scared” from the UKIP threat.

“No, it’s about doing what is best in the interests of this country and of course also about democracy in this country,” Hague said.

“We want to get a better relationship with the European Union. There are changes we want in that relationship. But we also need to see how the changes in the euro zone are affecting the European Union, how that affects this country and the relationship of the countries of the EU together.

“When we have done those things there is a strong case for fresh consent in this country, for the people of this country having their say.”

Farage suggested that the idea of a long-drawn-out renegotiation of the terms of membership followed by a referendum years away was a convoluted way to try and keep Britain within the bloc against the wishes of the people.

“We’ll get the speech, and then the Conservative Party will launch a five-year campaign to try and keep us in the European Union,” he said. “What Mr Cameron ought to do is say: ‘Right we’re going to have a full, free and fair referendum on this before the next general election.’”

U.N. report finds torture of Afghan detainees, secret sites KABUL (Reuters) - Almost a third of all detainees recently transferred to Afghan control have been tortured and Afghanistan’s spy agency is operating secret facilities to avoid international scrutiny, a United Nations report released yesterday said.

The findings could complicate the already thorny issue of how to manage the security transition ahead of the withdrawal of NATOled troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year. Hundreds of detainees are being transferred from NATO to Afghan control as part of that transition.

Based on interviews with hundreds of detainees between October 2011 and October 2012, the 139-page report found “credible and reliable evidence” that more than half of those interviewed experienced torture or abuse.

Of the 79 detainees interviewed who were transferred from NATO to Afghan control during the 12 months, 25 were tortured, a rise of seven per cent over the previous year’s report.

“The (Afghan) government’s efforts to address torture and those of ISAF (NATO’s International Security Assistance Force), although significant, have not resulted in a marked improvement and reduction in the use of torture,” said the report.

“This raises concerns at a time when the government is taking over almost full responsibility for conflict-related detainees from international military forces.”

The European Union said in a statement it was “deeply concerned” by the report and

urged the Afghan government to “bring the perpetrators of such acts to justice”.

A spokesman for the National Directorate of Security (NDS) referred Reuters to President Hamid Karzai’s office for comment. Karzai’s spokesman said a statement would be released on Monday.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) interviewed 635 conflict-related detainees held at 89 facilities across Afghanistan by Afghan security forces and the NDS. The report is the second by UNAMA to highlight widespread abuse within the Afghan detention system.

The United States and other ISAF nations halted transfers to nine Afghan-run facilities after the mission’s October 2011 report alleged that hundreds of detainees — including children — held by NDS and the Afghan security forces were tortured or abused.”This situation raises continuing concerns about states’ legal obligations prohibiting them from transferring detainees to another state’s custody where a substantial risk of torture exists,” Sunday’s report said.

NATO-led forces in Afghanistan have been handing over detainees to Afghan control gradually ahead of the withdrawal of most international forces.

The report outlines a harrowing list of fourteen methods of torture, including beatings with pipes and wooden sticks, twisting of genitals, extracting fingernails, electric shocks and threats of execution and rape.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Obama sworn in for four more years in office WASHINGTON (AP) — Stepping into his second term, President Barack Obama took the oath of office yesterday in an intimate swearing-in ceremony at the White House, the leader of a nation no longer in the throes of the recession he inherited four years ago, but still deeply divided.

The president, surrounded by family in the ornate White House Blue Room, was administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts. With Obama’s hand resting on a Bible used for years by Michelle Obama’s family, the president vowed “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” echoing the same words spoken by the 43 men who held the office before him.

“I did it,” Obama whispered to his youngest daughter, Sasha, as he wrapped her in a hug moments later.

The president said the oath in just minutes before noon on Jan. 20, the time at which the Constitution says new presidential terms begin.

There was little pomp and circumstance Sunday — Obama walked into the room flanked by his family and exited almost immediately after finishing the oath.

He’ll repeat the swearingin ritual again today on the west front of the Capitol before a crowd of up to 800,000 people.

Only about a dozen family members were on hand to witness yesterday’s swearing in, including the first lady, daughters Malia and Sasha, and the president’s sister Maya Soetoro-Ng and her family. Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and the first lady’s brother, Craig Robinson, and his family were also on hand, along with a few reporters and photographers.

Yet the mood in the nation’s capital was more subdued during this year’s inaugural festivities than it was four years ago, when Obama swept into office on a wave of national optimism, becoming the first AfricanAmerican to hold the nation’s highest office. Since then, he has endured fiscal fights with Congress and a bruising reelection campaign — and has the gray hair and lower approval ratings to show for it.

Ahead of his swearing-in yesterday, Obama, along with Vice President Joe Biden, solemnly honored the nation’s fallen soldiers during a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

On a crisp, sun-splashed morning, Obama and Biden placed a large wreath adorned with red, white and blue ribbon, in front of Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknowns. Holding

President Barack Obama is officially sworn-in by Chief Justice John Roberts in the Blue Room of the White House yesterday. Next to Obama are first lady Michelle Obama, and daughters. (Photo/Larry Downing, Pool. their hands over their hearts, the two leaders stood motionless as a bugler played “Taps.”

From Arlington, Obama joined his family at a church service celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. The president’s public swearing-in today coincides with the national holiday marking the fallen civil rights leader’s birthday, and Obama has invoked King’s memory throughout the lead-up to the inauguration.

The Rev. Jonathan V. Newton, an assistant pastor at Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, prayed for God to prepare Obama for battle, “because sometimes enemies insist on doing it the hard way.”

Biden took the oath of office earlier yesterday morning, surrounded by family and friends for a brief ceremony at the Naval Observatory, his official residence in northwest Washington. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, appointed by Obama as the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court, administered the oath of office to Biden, who placed his hand on a Bible his family has used since 1893.

Among the 120 guests on hand to witness the vice president’s second swearingin were Attorney General Eric

Holder, departing Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and several Democratic lawmakers.

A crowd of up to 800,000 people is expected to gather on the National Mall to witness Obama’s second swearing-in, which will take place on the Capitol’s red, white and blue buntingdraped west front. Roberts, who famously flubbed the oath of office that Obama took in 2009, will administer the oath today.

Sunday’s smaller ceremony was a function of the calendar and the Constitution, which says presidents automatically begin their new terms at noon on Jan. 20. Because that date fell this year on a Sunday — a day on which inaugural ceremonies historically are not held — organizers scheduled a second, public swearing-in for today.

Once the celebrations are over, Obama will plunge into a second-term agenda still dominated by the economy, which slowly churned out of recession during his first four years in office. The president will also try to cement his legacy with sweeping domestic changes, pledging to achieve both an immigration overhaul and stricter gun laws

Algeria says will not let foreigners guard its oil facilities ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria will not allow foreigners to help secure its oil facilities, Oil Minister Youcef Yousfi said yesterday during a short visit to the In Amenas gas plant.

“It is out of the question to allow foreign security forces to handle the security of our oil facilities,” Yousfi was quoted as saying by the official APS news agency.

Yousfi, speaking after Algerian forces ended a hostage crisis at the plant in the Sahara desert, said that security would be reinforced at oil facilities.

He added that damage at the plant was not very significant, and that the Tiguentourine plant should resume functioning after two days.

despite opposition from a divided Congress.

But for one weekend at least, Washington was putting politics aside. Obama called the nation’s inaugural traditions “a symbol of how our democracy works and how we peacefully transfer power.”

“But it should also be an

affirmation that we’re all in this together,” he said Saturday, as he opened a weekend of inaugural activities at a Washington elementary school.

Obama and Biden were to address supporters Sunday evening at an inaugural reception.

The president planned to save his most expansive remarks for today’s inaugural address to the crowd gathered on the Mall and millions more watching across the country and the world. Obama started working on the speech in early December and was still tinkering with it into the weekend, aides said.

Sean Payton, a Democrat visiting Washington from Highland Ranch, Colo., said he was hoping to hear more patriotism and less politics from Obama. “I’m just hoping for a nice, eloquent speech that makes people feel good about being an American,” Payton said.

Local officials were busy touching up Washington for all the hundreds of thousands of guests arriving for today’s swearing-in. Work crews were trimming overgrown grass and trash from walkways along city underpasses, erecting first aid tents and setting up traffic detours. Swarms of tourists easily roamed city streets yesterday ahead of the pedestrian gridlock sure to come with Monday’s full inaugural program.

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Monday January 21, 2013

Euro zone surveys to offer Syrian opposition seeks Qatar hope as Japan eases backing for transition government LONDON (Reuters) - The prospect of stronger European manufacturing surveys and decisive monetary easing in Japan this week ought to bolster confidence that the global economy can look forward to better days. It is definitely not yet time to break open the champagne.

The index derived from polls of purchasing managers across the euro zone, though recovering, is likely to remain well below the 50 threshold that signals expansion.

If the Bank of Japan bows to political pressure and relaxes policy more boldly, it is because the country’s noxious cocktail of a huge debt burden, deflation and dwindling external surpluses threatens an eventual fiscal crunch. And an expected contraction in Britain’s economy when fourthquarter figures are released on Friday will be a reminder, as was Germany’s grim end to 2013, that Europe has to dig itself out of a deep hole.

“The real hard economic data are still very negative,” said Bert Colijn, an economist

in Brussels with the Conference Board, a business research group. “There are improvements, but it still doesn’t look that bright.”

However, he said the economic news from the euro zone rim was not quite as troubling, and the mood was brightening among the core countries of the single currency area. Lena Komileva, managing director of G+ Economics, a London consultancy, said it was hard to argue against investors’ new-found appetite for riskier assets given that the volatility of equity prices was approaching historical lows and yields on corporate bonds had fallen sharply.

“Financial stress indicators signal a significant improvement in the health of the global economy,” she said. Friday’s solid fourthquarter economic data from China reinforced that view.

Economists polled by Reuters expect an uptick in Thursday’s advance purchasing managers’ indexes for France and Germany as well as for the euro zone as a whole.

Germany’s IFO business

confidence survey on Friday is also projected to have risen for the third month in a row.

“The fact that business confidence measures are coming in more positive is a good sign,” Colijn commented. Commerzbank said its leading indicator for the German economy reached an all-time high in December after the European Central Bank’s pledge to buy the bonds of troubled economies eased fears of a break-up of the euro.

“We assume that increasingly more companies are gaining confidence and viewing business prospects more positively,” said Commerzbank economist Ralph Solveen. BNP Paribas is also bullish on Germany and is looking for a marked pick-up in growth.

In addition to the ECB’s safety net, the global manufacturing cycle is pointing up, while a strong labor market and easy financial conditions are supporting consumption, economists Evelyn Herrmann and Ken Wattret said in a report.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) The head of Syria’s opposition coalition has flown to Qatar to secure promises of financial aid for a transitional government in rebel-held areas, sources at negotiations in Istanbul said yesterday.

The talks on agreeing a transitional government had been hit by disagreement over whether a transitional government could survive when the Syrian National Coalition President Moaz Alkhatib left in the middle of deliberations, the sources said.

“It seems that there won’t be a government unless Sheikh Moaz comes back from Qatar with enough to convince enough members of the coalition that any government they set up will be viable,” said one coalition member who did not want to be named. The talks launched Saturday are the opposition’s second bid to form a transitional government, with its credibility at stake as the country slides into sectarian conflict between majority Sunnis and President Bashar al-Assad’s minority Alawite sect.

The Syrian opposition is set for more talks in Paris on January 28, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told radio station Europe 1.

The 70-member coalition, dominated by Islamists and their allies, was formed with Western and Gulf backing in Qatar at the beginning of December. Power struggles among its members have undermining efforts to agree a transitional government.

The United Nations says 60,000 people have been

Moaz Alkhatib killed in the almost two-year revolt against Assad. A collapse of the country could draw in rival powers in a region where the Sunni-Shi’ite faultline has deepened since the Arab Spring revolts began in Tunisia two years ago.

Some coalition members doubt a transitional government is viable yet.

“There is agreement on the need to establish a transitional government but the majority opinion favors not to form it now without secure areas to operate in and enough international support and guarantees for direct recognition,” Coalition member Ahmad Ramadan said.

“Otherwise the government will be born paralyzed,” he added.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the only organized force in the Syrian opposition, has made it clear it does not favor a government at present. But opposition sources said the Brotherhood could change its

mind if regional powers, especially Turkey and Gulf states, throw their support behind the project.

“Between the military effort and humanitarian and administration needs a transitional government needs up to $40 million a day to operate. There is no point creating a government that cannot meet the aspirations of the revolt,” another source said.

Assad’s forces massacred over 100 Sunni men, women and children when they overran an opposition-held district in the central city of Homs last week, in the latest in a string of ethnic cleansing of Sunni areas, according to opposition campaigners.

They said the massacre was part of a campaign to secure an open corridor for Alawite forces deployed on hills in Damascus and coastal bases. The Alawites, who have controlled Syria’s military and security apparatus since the 1960s, follow an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam and comprise about ten percent of the population.

A few names have emerged as possible contenders for the prime minister job. The best known was that of Riad Hijab, the highest-ranking official to defect since the revolt, who does not enjoy a good relationship with the Brotherhood.

“Hijab was proposed as prime minister today but angry shouts rang immediately that he is a Baathist,” said one member, referring to Assad’s ruling Baath Party, in which Hijab served for decades.

Former Secretary of State Rice joins CBS News

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just in time for inauguration coverage, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has joined CBS News as a contributor.

Rice, who served as secretary of state during President George W. Bush’s second term, made her debut on “Face the Nation” Sunday and will be included in inauguration coverage today.

CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager and president David Rhodes made the announcement yesterday, saying Rice “will use her insight and vast experience to explore issues facing America at home and abroad.”

Rice was the first AfricanAmerican woman to serve as secretary of state, following Colin Powell in the office. She was Bush’s national security adviser during his first term

Condoleezza Rice and worked on the National Security Council under his father, President George H.W. Bush.

As secretary of state, Rice warned of weapons of mass destruction in pressing for war in Iraq that killed more than 4,400 Americans. No

weapons of mass destruction were found.

More recently, Rice was part of the team offering Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney general strategy and advice on foreign policy.

Her primetime speech at the Republican National Convention in August received raves. She did not mention President Barack Obama by name, but spoke of the crisis in education and the need for immigration laws that protect the country’s borders while meeting economic needs. She also said that although there was a sense that for far too long America has carried the burdens of supporting free people and free markets, but that if the United States does not lead no one will lead, fostering chaos.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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IDB signs technical cooperation Envoy says Venezuela open to better ties with U.S. agreement with the Bahamas CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s government is open to improving troubled ties with Washington and is considering a U.S. proposal for the return of anti-drug agents kicked out of the country eight years ago by President Hugo Chavez, a senior official said.There has been no word from Chavez since he had cancer surgery in Cuba five weeks ago, so every move the government makes in his absence is being picked over for clues to what the OPEC nation might look like in a post-Chavez era.

Speaking to Telesur, a TV network set up by Chavez to counter Western media influence, Venezuela’s ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Roy Chaderton, said U.S.-Venezuela relations were “not hot, not cold. Zero degrees.”

But he said there were efforts to find common ground.

“There are things that are being done with a great deal of seriousness and a lot of caution,” Chaderton said late on Saturday.

“We are not obliged to have bad ties with governments which have different visions to ours ... I hope pragmatism prevails in this initiative and we reach a fair place of mutual interest.”

Officials say Chavez’s condition is improving but delicate after the 58-year-old suffered complications from his surgery in Havana on December 11, his fourth operation in just 18 months.

His heir apparent, Vice President Nicolas Maduro, said yesterday that Chavez was coming out of the complex post-operative period and beginning a “new phase” of his treatment.

Maduro said more details would be given in official bulletins.

“We’re always optimistic.

Sooner rather than later we are going to have the president

Roy Chaderton here with us,” the former bus driver and union leader told another Venezuelan TV network.

“His mood remains the same as always ... the spirit of victory, a special wish to see how the fatherland that he has dedicated all his force to, his whole life, continues to grow.”

Many Venezuelans suspect, however, that the socialist’s 14 years in power during which his fiery criticism of the United States helped turn him into one of the world’s most recognizable and polarizing leaders - may be coming to an end.

In one typically headlinegrabbing move, Chavez halted cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2005 after accusing its agents of spying.

Venezuela, which shares a long, largely unpoliced border with Colombia, has become a transshipment point for Colombian cocaine on its way to consumer nations. Asked about the possible return of DEA agents to Venezuela, Chaderton confirmed it was being discussed. “It is one of the many hopes of the United States and it is a proposal,” he said.

“Our government will decide, the competent national authorities, the

justice minister, the director of the O.N.A. (anti-drug agency),” he said. “It is a matter which has to be studied by the politicians and the experts.”

The government says it has invested heavily in fighting narcotics and points to the extradition to Colombia and the United States of high profile accused druglords as evidence of its efforts. It has also taken part in joint operations.

In September, Venezuelan officers captured a top Colombian trafficker, Daniel “Crazy” Barrera, near the border in a raid that Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said was directed from Washington by a Colombian general and included the help of U.S. and British intelligence agencies.

The latest political spat between Washington and Caracas took place as recently as December, when Venezuelan officials were furious after President Barack Obama criticized the ailing Chavez’s “authoritarian policies and suppression of dissent.”

Venezuela’s government called them “despicable comments at such a delicate moment”, and said Obama was responsible for a major deterioration in relations.

Spurred on by years of Chavez’s tirades about the “Yankee empire”, many of his loyal supporters suspect the United States of being behind a wide range of threats to his self-styled revolution including a coup that briefly toppled him in 2002.

Stressing the need for mutual respect, Chaderton made clear that Venezuela needed no U.S. stamp of approval or card of good conduct.

“We are not going to take part in an improvement of relations at the cost of being ‘certified’ by those who have no authority to do so,” he said.

WASHINGTON - CMC – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Bahamas to the tune of US$200,000 to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the passage of Hurricane Sandy.

The agreement was signed on Friday by IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno and junior minister Ministry of Finance in the Bahamas Michael Halkitis at the Second Annual IDB Caribbean Governors’ Meeting held in Jamaica.

Based on the assessments carried out by the Government of The Bahamas, the IDB said Hurricane Sandy “significantly affected economic activity and caused damage to public infrastructure in the affected islands.”

It said estimates show that the damage reached about 9 percent of the Bahamas’ Gross Domestic Product

(GDP), or US$702.8 million.

The storm caused two reported d e a t h s and inflicted the most severe damage in the Southeastern, Central and Northwestern islands – particularly on Cat Island, Exuma, Grand Bahama and Long Island, the IDB said.

It said about 488 people were forced to utilize shelters during and as a result of the storm – 51 in New Providence and 437 throughout the Family Islands.

Cat Island and Exuma, which took a direct hit, experienced the most extensive damage in the form of flooding, structural damage to homes, downed trees and utility poles, the IDB said.

“IDB’s assistance will support Government efforts to provide humanitarian relief to the affected populations in the hardest hit islands, including the provision of resources and materials for transport as well as removal

Luis Alberto Moreno of debris,” the statement said.

“The increasing vulnerability of the Bahamas to the effects of climate change cannot be overstated, and this hurricane and the devastation, which it has caused, is another reminder that much is yet to be done in building the resilience that can position the Bahamas to prepare for and handle these eventualities,” it added.

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Fear fuels not guilty verdicts WESTERN BUREAU: There are growing fears in St James that guilty men are being allowed to walk free because jurors are too afraid to deliver the correct verdict.

Last week, judges assigned to the St James Circuit Court lamented the overwhelming number of notguilty verdicts returned by juries in the last two weeks.

“Even in cases where the quality of the evidence is good, they still find the defendants not guilty,” lamented High Court judge Paulette Williams.

Williams blamed the situation on the jury system, the crop of jurors, and the fear of reprisal.

“Very few persons are turning out to serve as jurors, and I am not sure those who do are able to grapple with the quality of the evidence,” she bemoaned during a cocktail reception hosted by Custos of St James Ewen Corrodus.

“So far, everybody put before them has been found not guilty because they are afraid to serve justice,” argued Williams even as she pointed out that since she had been on the bench, she

had had no knowledge of any retaliation against a juror.

“Yet they are reluctant to find people guilty,” added Williams. Mr Justice Donald McIntosh, who is having the same challenges with cases in his court, concurred.

McIntosh reminded the audience of mainly business people that it was the jurors in the parish who set the standard of justice.

He blamed the business community for not allowing some staff members to serve as jurors as well as persons of a certain ilk who refused to take part in the system.

“You all should have an interest in seeing it work,” McIntosh stated as he lambasted those who believe they are too important to serve as jurors.

“They think it is menial, a waste of time, and puts them in danger without understanding the importance of the task,” added McIntosh. He gave a chilling warning of the implications.

“When you let out people whose offence is murder, it sets the stage for others to do the same because the jurors are going to let them

off,” he said.

McIntosh pointed fingers at some justices of the peace, who, he said, gave excuses to persons who didn’t want to report for jury duty.

Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Barnett also bemoaned the not-guilty verdicts, arguing that this was an injustice to the country’s children.

“The bulk of our list (in St James) is sexual offences, not murder anymore,” Barnett revealed.

She gave the example of a 12-year-old girl who knew the man who allegedly molested her, yet he got off free.

“He was her stepfather.

He admitted that he spent the entire day with her. She said he had sex with her - she had semen on the inside of the blouse - but the man refused to give a sample of his DNA, so it couldn’t be tested.”

A total of 34 cases are being tried over a three-week period in the St James Circuit Court with the bulk of the cases being sexual abuse.

However, the only guilty pleas so far are those where DNA analysis links the perpetrator to the victim.

Monday January 21, 2013

‘History in the making’

T&T receives first tranche of US$546.5M IDB loan Trinidad Express Government Saturday signed an agreement with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for the largest loan ever granted to any country in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Minister of Planning and the Economy Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie and president of the IDB Luis Alberto Moreno signed off on a US$246.5 million facility, the first tranche of a US$546.5 million loan, which is to be used towards a three-phase wastewater rehabilitation programme in the country.

The signing took place at the Hilton Trinidad, and Moreno described it as a history-making moment.

“This is the largest loan that the bank has done in any country of the Englishspeaking Caribbean. It is close to $250 million. The first phase that we are bringing is very significant as it will increase access to wastewater collection and treatment services to a large segment of the population and therefore it will help decrease the uncontrolled discharge of the untreated wastewater into the environment.

“And in the case of Trinidad and Tobago it is estimated that only 30 per cent of the population is connected to wastewater collection systems and that many more are still abandoned or malfunctioning,” Moreno said.

It is estimated that in the Caribbean region as much as 80 per cent of all wastewater is discharged into the

lanning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie, (L), exchanges greetings with president of the Inter-American Development Bank Luis Alberto Moreno after they signed off on a US$246.5 million facility at Hilton Trinidad in St Ann’s yesterday. (Trinidad Express photo) Caribbean Sea, he said.

Tewarie, who broke down the details of how the money will be spent to implement the programme over five years, said it will begin with the construction of two new and improved wastewater treatment plants, “one in San Fernando and the other in Malabar.

Then there will be institutional strengthening of (the Water and Sewerage Authority) and that will focus on policy reforms and institutional reforms”.

“In addition there will be after the successful completion of phase one, the commencement of the other

two phases. Phase two will involve another US$100 million and will focus on the continuation of the institutional strengthening of WASA and the integration of the sewerage work for the connection to the newly constructed wastewater treatment plants at San Fernando and Malabar.

“And phase three, which will involve another US$200 million in loan financing, will finance the expansion of the wastewater collection system to move the entire population and various catchment areas through a centralized catchment base system,” he said.

IDB to present new study on cost of crime in the region WASHINGTON - CMC – Experts and academics will gather at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) this week to discuss new data showing the impact of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The event – “The costs of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean: Methodological Innovations and New Dimensions” – will

take place at the IDB’s headquarters in Washington on Thursday and Friday.

The IDB said the studies will look at the impact of crime in areas ranging from property values to domestic violence in seven countries of the region.

The financial institution said Latin America and the Caribbean suffer from some of the world’s highest rates

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of homicide and other crimes, and is home to 20 of the world’s most violent cities.

The IDB said the research findings are the result of a contest jointly convened by its Research Department and Institutions for Development Division. Of the 117 submissions received, eight will be presented at the seminar by their authors.

The agenda includes discussions on violence and women, on the cost of crime on youths, and on the economic impact of drugrelated homicides in Mexico, among others, the IDB said.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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$700M in contracts to prepare grounds to build houses for sugar workers Jamaica Gleaner - The government has issued contracts worth an estimated $700 million for the preparation of infrastructure to support the construction of houses for close to 900 sugar workers.

Head of the Sugar Transformation Unit (STU) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, George Callaghan explains that the objective of the programme is to relocate persons who are currently living in dilapidated facilities in the sugar barracks on four sugar estates, to new housing units in new communities with proper facilities such as roads, water, electricity and bio-digester sewage system.

The contracts for the construction of the housing units are expected to be tendered shortly, according to Callaghan. As such the resettlement will benefit approximately 876 sugar workers and their relatives who have been living in Old Sugar Barracks located in the

sugar dependents areas of Westmoreland, Trelawny, Clarendon, and St Thomas.

The estimated cost for the project is $1.7 billion, of which roughly $700 million is earmarked for infrastructure work such as roads, electricity, water and biodigester sewage system, and $1 billion for the construction of 398 housing solutions.

The project is supported by the European Union (EU) under its Sugar Sector Budget Support Programme (SBS). The EU’s SBS is funded at close to $9 billion over five years, with the aim of assisting in the economic diversification, social resilience and environmental sustainability of sugar dependent areas.

The concrete housing units will consist of one, two, and three bedrooms and will be allocated to the recipients depending on the size of the family to be re-settled. The average cost to construct the one and two bedroom units is $2.5 million, while the three

bedrooms will cost between $3 million and $4 million.

“Persons will be relocated, Barham, Shewsbury and Muesmore; those relating to the Long Pond and Hampden factories in Trelawny will be relocated to Spicy Hill. For St Thomas which has the two biggest location sites, persons will be relocated to Hampton Court and Stokes Hall, Golden Grove. For those at the Monymusk Estate in Clarendon, the relocation site will be Springfield in southern Clarendon,” Callaghan outlines.

Share-Con Limited has been awarded the contract for the construction of the Muesmore infrastructure in Westmoreland, while D.R Foote Construction has been given the contract for Barham and Shewsbury also in Westmoreland.

Alcar Construction and Haulage Company Limited is contracted to Stokes Hall in St Thomas, while the one for Hampton Court was awarded

One of the dilapidated sugar barracks to Pavement and Structures Company Limited, also in St Thomas.

In the case of Spicy Hill in Trelawny, the contract went to D.R. Foote Construction, while the Steel Construction Company Limited got the contract for Springfield in Clarendon. Titles will be prepared for all units in the

new settlements, for which the beneficiaries are expected to pay between $30,000 and $40,000 to get.

The new settlements are expected to support social services infrastructure for schools, shops, community centres, police stations, where necessary. Land space will also be made available for

additional housing as well as small-scale economic activities.

The entire programme he says is expected to be completed by the end of the 2013/2014 financial year. “All the infrastructure work has to be completed before the houses are built,” Callaghan states.

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Monday January 21, 2013

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Businessman moves to High Court over Central Garage sale Businessman Sri Chaitaanand Yoogeandra has moved to the court against Central Garage and Dhanraj Persaud, stating that he acted as the broker during the sale of the entity but never received the two percent commission to which he was entitled.

According to Yoogeandra, in his affidavit of support, on August 21, 2007 the defendants “Central Garage and Dhanraj Persaud� entered into a written agreement of sale. It was noted that Dhanraj bought the property which was being sold for $46M. It was further stated that Dhanraj paid the representatives of Central Garage some $9.2M advance.

It was a term of the said agreement that the remaining $38M will be paid on the

passing of the transport, free of all encumbrances.

Yoogeandra in his affidavit explained that the vacant possession according to the agreement was to be given to Dhanraj upon the passing of the transport. Yoogeandra noted that on August 29, 2007 Dhanraj, who resides overseas, entered into another agreement of sale and purchase where he sold all his rights, title and interest of the property to him.

On June 3, 2008 Dhanraj executed a deed of assignment (an agreement under which some or all assets of an insolvent debtor are assigned to a trustee, for selling them and distributing the sale proceeds equitably among the creditors). Even though all this was done Yoogeandra, claims that the

representatives of Central Garage failed to convey the title of the property to him.

As result of the failure on behalf of central garage, Yoogeandra, according to court documents, said that he has suffered losses.

It was stated that he was unable to earn rent from the said property at a rate of $US62, 700 per month for a total of 33 months which is totaling at $413,820,000.00, as damnified.

Yoogeandra said that on August 21, 2010 he saw an advertisement in the Official Gazette. He said that a new company was advertising to sell the property. The matter between the parties is pending before Justice Rishi Persaud in the Commercial Court. The matter is expected to continue Wednesday.

Monday January 21, 2013 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): The little emotional obstacles that have been making a new relationship complicated are behind you -- and today you two can really gain some ground. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your new-found happiness can bring joy to a lot of other people today. They appreciate this good news almost as much as you do, you know! So spread the good word and let everyone in on what has been making you smile lately. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Stories from the past are great places to find inspiration for your future, so start a few conversations with family members soon. Ask some probing questions and try to learn as much as you can about who you used to be -from their perspective. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): There is a place and a time to be diplomatic, but today ain't it. You need to flex your muscles and take control -- all of this nice stuff is keeping people from arguing, but it's not helping get anything done. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Just because you are right about something today doesn't mean that everyone else is wrong. You've got to be magnanimous about your opinions and understand that there are many different ways to see an issue. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): It might feel like the rest of the world (and the people in it) don't have much to offer you right now -- but try not

to spend the entire day by yourself. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): A friend of yours has been walking on the wild side for a bit too long -- you might want to give them a reality check today before they start taking things too far. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Today, fresh air is the best treatment for whatever ails you, from a blue mood to a headache. So get out there into the wideopen outdoors and breathe deeply! ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Your popularity has been soaring lately, but today it might have to come back down to earth -- at least for a while. There will be a situation where you just won't be able to oblige people as much as they would like you to. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Your imperfections are unique, and they do have positive affects to your life -if you will only let yourself see that! You know how to set your own parameters and come up with something extraordinary, and that kind of creativity does not come along very often. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):Try to spend some time interacting with the few people who don't always agree with everything you say. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): If you are thrilled with a new relationship, today is the right day to start putting more effort into encouraging its growth.

The new entity where the Central Garage was formerly located

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. World 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 20:00 hrs. Channel 8 News 21:00 hrs. Movie: The Train Robbers 23:00 hrs. Hawaii Five-0 (New Episode) 00:00 hrs. Sign Off

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 21, 2013

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Developing countries can prosper despite current global setting - Former Foreign Affairs Minister explains in new book

Displayed copies of the book.

Small and developing countries are at a more advantageous position in the current global environment, when they work together in concert on a given issue.

Former foreign diplomat Rudy Insanally explains in his new book, Multilateral Diplomacy – For Small States, “The art of letting others have your way.”

A mixture of personal experiences and practical manual, “Multilateral Diplomacy – For Small States” is a distillation of the author’s extensive diplomatic understanding in service to his country and the wider international community.

Insanally, who held the

portfolio of former President of the United Nations General Assembly and former Foreign Affairs Minister of Guyana among others, gives an insider ’s account of the workings of multilateral diplomacy and very useful views on how small states may enhance their participation in the field.

Written from the perspective of small states, the book analyses the particular vulnerabilities and potential for small countries to overcome challenges to influence international affairs, despite the disadvantages of size and expertise to break into dialogue, tackling global

issues.

“Not only do most of them suffer from the constraints of size and financial resources, but they also lack the strategic clout to extract meaningful concessions… nevertheless, I believe that with the use of skilful diplomacy, they often can achieve their goals,” Mr. Insanally said, at the book’s launch last Friday.

Following the World War era, which is the beginning of modification of the nature of multilateral diplomacy, the book focuses attention on prominent issues on the United Nations (UN) agenda like development, globalisation, peace and security, human

rights, disarmament, and the environment.

Meanwhile new issues such as missiles, drug trafficking, terrorism and information technology that stem from the post globalisation period have made the negotiation procedure more difficult for small state pioneering diplomats.

In addition, the former Foreign Affairs Minister explained that the awkwardness of different and unrealistic opinions by almost 200 countries combined with the broadened participation at the multifaceted level and the reluctance of large and powerful states to “relinquish their dominance in international affairs” adds to this challenge.

In her remarks, current Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett noted that “Few have the distinguished career and firsthand experience as that of Ambassador Insanally which gives added credence to the contents of his book… it will be unfortunate if the experiences and lessons learnt from a distinguished diplomatic career spanning over four decades, go unwritten and consequently not shared with others,” Mr. Insanally, who is

Rudy Insanally, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN signing one of his books.

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, told the gathering that his faith in small developing countries derives from the experiences of those that have crafted initiatives that are today ratified and gained international recognition such as the Law of the Sea, the International Criminal Court which was advanced by Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Insanally says that proceeds from the book, will be

devoted to providing prizes for young diplomats who need some encouragement in their careers and to charitable organizations.

The book, which is available for sale at the Austin Book Store, contains a number of his addresses and speeches mainly at the United Nations. Copies were also presented to the University of Guyana, the National Library, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Kaieteur News

YCT donates to Watooka Nursery School

Monday January 21, 2013

Drunk minibus driver leads Police on high-speed chase

The fate of the minibus after the high speed chase.

Teachers and students gather around the donated items.

The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) on Friday handed over stationery and office supplies to the Watooka Nursery School. The items donated were furnished by overseasbased Guyanese Sahaboob Yassin.

The donated items include markers, pencils, crayons, play dough,

exercise books, construction paper, scotch tapes and other play materials for the children of the nursery school. Some of the items will also be distributed to research centers that are being established in the town of Linden.

The donation was part of YCT’s continued drive on youth empowerment and

Unidentified man killed in Corentyne accident A man who is still to be identified was on Saturday evening killed after being struck by a car on the No.1 Road, Corentyne. The incident occurred at approximately 21:30 hours.

According to the police the driver of motor car PMM 9379 was proceeding along the roadway when it is alleged that the pedestrian attempted to cross the road and was struck down. He was

pronounced dead on arrival the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The driver is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

The victim is of East Indian descent, appears to be in his mid-sixties, of medium build and brown complexion, and was clad in a blue jersey, dark blue jeans, and a pair of black slippers. The body is at the New Amsterdam Hospital Mortuary.

community development by engaging varied communities through mobilizing resources, offering donations, and instituting programs to improve the literacy of Guyanese youths and children.

In expressing gratitude the Headmistress of Watooka, Ms. Lynette Welch, indicated the items donated will serve to improve the work of the school.

The President of the YCT, Mr. Jermaine Grant, was delighted to offer the donations to the school from which the community of Linden will benefit.

The donation is a follow up to YCT’s initial engagement in the community of November 2012 after Mr. Yassin donated one million dollars towards the reconstruction effort of the One Mile Primary School and 12 computers for the research centers to be established in Linden.

A high speed chase early yesterday morning involving a drunk and unlicensed minibus operator and a police rank on motorcycle ended at Coldingen with the bus turning turtle several times before landing in a dried out drain.

The chase began at Mon Repos some six miles from where it ended, after the minibus operator tried to escape apprehension for an earlier accident.

The owner of the minibus, who was reportedly driving the vehicle at the time of the chase, was taken into custody at the Vigilance Police Station, where a breathalyzer test revealed that he was way over the prescribed alcohol limit.

He is not the holder of a driver’s licence.

In the presence of several eyewitnesses, he admitted that he was indeed drinking all night Saturday into yesterday morning.

Yet he still attempted to solicit passengers at the East Coast Demerara bus park before heading to his destination at Enmore.

While on the way up the East Coast Demerara, the bus came into contact with another vehicle at Ogle but the driver failed to stop.

The driver of the other vehicle pursued him and the chase continued through Mon Repos where a policeman on a motorcycle joined in.

Although, he was signaled by the cop to stop, the errant minibus driver drove even faster, endangering the lives of several other motorists.

“De man nearly clean up a set of people pon de pedestrian crossing,” the cop later told his colleagues.

He tried desperately to keep up with the speeding bus which was veering in and out of traffic, but his motorcycle was no match.

Eventually, the driver of the minibus lost control of the vehicle as he tried to negotiate the treacherous Coldingen turn and after crashing into the aluminum rail the bus ended up in a ditch on the opposite side of the road.

Apart from the driver (owner) another man who normally drives the bus and a woman emerged from the overturned vehicle.

The man was taken to the Georgetown Hospital for medical attention while the woman went home unhurt.

Local Govt. Ministry prioritising staff development The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is endeavouring to improve and widen the capabilities of staff of the central ministry and the ministry’s organs.

A GINA statement said that in 2012, the Ministry had planned a retreat for its staff, and according to the Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal this was recently held.

The retreat looked at the achievements of 2012, goals for 2013, value for money, communication channels, feedback mechanisms, waste disposal and the development of the Ministry’s five-year strategic plan.

One of the high points emanating from the retreat was the importance of focusing on human resource development – whether at the local or/and international level because human resource development is an important component for the

growth of any ministry, Croal said.

He noted that last year about a dozen new staff was added to the Ministry’s complement.

The first engagement of human resource development will be occurring at the international level as three persons from the Ministry, including the PS, will be representing Guyana at Pan Commonwealth Executive Programme for local government chief finance officers from February 4-9 at the University of Birmingham.

This programme is being sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat and it is expected that the participants will have an opportunity to share experiences that are taking place in both developed and developing countries, with respect to municipal development and financing.

“It is our goal for this year

that we will continue to ensure that all our employees are in one way o r t h e o t h e r benefiting from some sort of training that will expand their repertoire in terms of work and how they go about their everyday duty,” the PS said.

Apart from the retreat, the Ministry also held a Regional Engineering and Works Department workshop which brought together engineers from all the regions. Due to its success, similar sessions will be held regionally.

The Ministry has also planned a workshop for Environmental Health Officers which will be held on January 23 at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC). At that session a presentation will be made by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, and discussions will focus on matters such as waste disposal, inspections and timely delivery of work.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 27

ST. GEORGE’S, BISHOP’S REGISTER WINS - QC, South Ruimveldt battle to intense draw Action in the Petra/Milo Under-20 Schools Football Competition continued yesterday with three more matches, at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

In the opening match, St. George’s Secondary defeated Tutorial High School 2-0 then Bishop’s High School scraped past Cummings Lodge Secondary 3-2, before South Ruimveldt held Queen’s College to a 3-3 draw.

St. George’s owed their win to Azuma Small in their clash against Tutorial, whose lethal finishing proved to be the decisive factor. He accounted for both goals which were scored in the 37th and 58th minutes.

Game two saw an aggressive Cummings Lodge team settled by Bishop’s as they conjured up an amazing come-from-behind win.

Cummings Lodge orchestrated an offensive attack from the onset from the opening whistle scored two

quick goals. The first was scored as early as the eighth minute by Hudqon Henry then his teammate Russell Madramootoo netted the second goal in the 15th minute.

However, the spirit of the opposition was not daunted as they pulled one back in the 23rd minute compliments of Nathanael King. His teammate Shamul Lewis found the equaliser in the 33rd minute which made it more interesting.

In the second half, the lone goal was scored off the boot of Lewis in the 62nd minute, a goal that the opposition had no answer for.

The day wrapped up with a thriller, a see-saw battle that saw South Ruimveldt taking the lead against QC in the 22nd minute when Steffon Enno scored, but the equaliser came in the 34th minute from Stephen Rutherford.

At the stroke of half time Rutherford took the lead for

Action in the clash between Queen’s College and South Ruimveldt yesterday.

QC when he found the back of the net.

The second half began with QC leading 2-1 before they made it a twopossession game in the 51st minute when Rutherford completed his hat-trick.

South Ruimveldt happened to pull one back in

the 54th minute when Enno completed his brace. Five minutes later Keith Caines made it an even game once again when he found the equaliser for South Ruimveldt.

The game remained in the balance until the regulation time whistle was sounded.

Meanwhile, captains of the respective teams in keeping with one of the regulations of the tournament spoke about the need to eradicate gender-based violence.

The two captains of Queen’s College and South Ruimveldt said that domestic

violence is a violation of human rights, adding that no one has the right to hurt or torture another person.

They added that real men don’t have to abuse to show how strong they are. They advised that to be a real man you have to stand up against gender based violence.

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Kaieteur News

Aubrey Hutson is new AAG President

The new AAG Executive takes a photo opportunity with President, Aubrey Hutson (seated second left) and Vice-President, Gavin Hope (second, right) yesterday following the AGM and Elections.

Owner of Office Machines Electronics Lab and President of the Running Braves Athletics Club, Aubrey Hutson became the new Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections yesterday.

Hutson won the vote for President 6-3 from Deputy Superintendent of Police, Colin Boyce, who had occupied the seat for the last four years and who is credited with digging athletics out of the dormant two decades

Claude Blackmore had held the seat.

Digicel’s Sponsorship and Events Manager, Gavin Hope was elected VicePresident along with A Partnership for National Unity Member of Parliament, George Norton, who was not present at the AGM. Cheryl Sam was elected Treasurer, while Police Inspector, Amanda Hermanstine was elected Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer.

The Executive will meet and appoint the General Secretary. Leslie Black, John

Martins, Wayne Walcott, Mark Scott and Faye Naughton were all named Committee Members; the constitutional life of the AAG extends for four years.

“I would like to give special thanks to Mr. Colin Boyce for the contributions he has made to the sport on and off the track. His name will forever be a household name in athletics,” Hutson said in his brief acceptance remarks at the YMCA yesterday.

He told the representatives of the nine clubs that were present that

athletes will only be selected to represent Guyana on merit and warned them that “no favours were promised to anyone” as he summoned them to work with the administration to develop the sport.

Boyce congratulated Hutson and also pleaded with the athletics community to give him support as he also committed to helping the new President. Boyce had made it clear before that should he be re-elected, his second term would have been his final term.

Monday January 21, 2013

Promoter Seon Bristol seeks to finalise ‘Hurry Up’ vs Dharry clash Promoter Seon Bristol of Briso Promotions is in the process of getting Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore and Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry to finalise the arrangements for their imminent clash in the boxing ring.

Moore had earlier indicated that he is ready and willing to accept any challenge that USA based Dharry offers and is promising to school him in the elementary aspects of boxing. Responding to a recent challenge issued by the Dharry camp, the 32-yearold super bantamweight Moore promised to “overload” Dharry’s circuit if he should have the gall to step into the ring.

“I have heard that Elton has issued a challenge to me.

When I meet him in the ring he will see how out of place his challenge is. Dharry is nowhere near Leon Moore and I’ll prove that by knocking him out in five rounds. I’ll give him a round for each letter of his first name,” Moore had said.

Bristol told Kaieteur Sport that this fight would be a crowd pleasing one and he will leave no stone unturned to make it a reality as a promoter.

He said fans are looking forward for this bout. He noted the obvious talent of the two boxers and what they will bring to the ring and predicted and entertaining and explosive meeting judging from their performances.

Asked when he is hopeful of having the bout staged, Bristol indicated that he has put forward a request to the Guyana Boxing Board of Control for March 30 or around the Easter period.

Questioned on a possible venue, the Promoter noted that he is looking at either the National Park or the National Stadium with the Cliff

Seon Bristol Anderson Sports Hall the other in the event of adverse weather. He also stated that the admission will be very reasonable to ensure a large cross section of the fans can come out.

Bristol is in the process of getting the fighters together to agree at a suitable contract.

Both men had expressed their willingness to fight however both had indicated that the other should come to their weight limit.

Moore fights at 122lbs while Dharry campaigns at 118lbs. Bristol noted that he will seek to have them agree for a catchweight encounter, which will see them coming to a middle ground position of 120lbs in a non-title contest.

He hopes that both fighters would be reasonable in the negations and arrive at a suitable agreement and give fight fans what they are looking for since they have both called out each other.

The Promoter responding to questions on other quality fighters appearing on the programme mentioned the talented Clive Atwell, Edmond DeClou and Simeon Hardy as some of the addition crowd pleasers he would be seeking to add further excitement to the card.

APNU congratulates GFA “The leader of the opposition Brigadier David Granger MSS MP, along with members and supporters of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) would like to congratulate the members of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) on a successful Annual General Meeting and elections,” the party said in a release.

The release continued, “Brigadier Granger and the APNU congratulate Mr. Vernon Burnett on his reelection as President of the GFA. APNU congratulates the newly elected members of the executive and wish them a successful period of service to the football community.

APNU sees Saturday’s election as a significant first step forward towards reconciliation, rebuilding and redevelopment of football in Guyana.”

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 29

K&S Chico Junior Under-13 Football Championships

Soesdyke Primary School dominates penalty shootout to clinch title Soesdyke Primary School triumphed 1-0 on penalty kicks to defeat Grove Primary School to become the champions when the curtains came down on the inaugural Kashif & Shanghai Chico Junior U-13 Football championships at the Georgetown Football Club Ground yesterday afternoon.

In all, there were three matches and all but the Company Road Primary/Uitvlugt Primary encounter ended in nil all stalemates after the youngsters turned in masterful performances that sent the game down to the wire at regulation time; penalty kicks were necessary to separate the teams.

Activities got underway with Company Road Primary and Uitvlugt Primary battling for the 5th and 6th places which the former team won after Anthony Rodney stitched in a goal in the 24th minute.

Beterverwagting could have averted the penalty kick scenario but Jamar Robinson blundered badly when he missed a penalty kick early in the second half of the game forcing the proceedings into penalty kicks where West Ruimveldt Primary prevailed to seal off the 3rd place. Their opponents finished

4th.

Grove Primary and Soesdyke Primary School, egged on by cheering parents and teachers, engaged in a robust contest that went all the way into penalty kicks to determine the champions.

But even before that, as the game wound down, and with a penalty shootout looming, Grove striker, Kurwayne Lyte was gifted a penalty after he was fouled in the box during a goal scrimmage. His teammates watched in dismay as the Soesdyke custodian scooped up his lame attempt.

During the shootout several players rued their luck after kicking wide of the goal or into the clutches of the respective ‘keepers.’ In the end, it was the Soesdyke custodian that made the difference with a ferocious kick that eluded his opposite number to earn the eventual champions the prestigious accolade.

Eight teams competed in the tournament with one team, Tucville Primary, being subjected to disciplinary action after contravening the rules. They were not debarred from continuing in the competition but chose to boycott the proceedings.

Apart from the lucrative prizes put up by the main sponsors,

The young ball weavers of Soesdyke Primary show off their newly acquired accolade in the company of their parents and other supporters.

Beharry’s Company Ltd, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) on each team will receive BMX bicycles donated

by Victoria’s Fashions of Church and Light Streets. The organizers are currently deliberating to select the

respective MVPs on the teams which will be known later in the week at a presentation ceremony.

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Kaieteur News

GCA\ Noble House Sea Foods 2nd division tourney

Bell, France, Dhanram hit half centuries in latest action Martin Pestano Bell, Trevon France and Omesh Dhanram slammed half centuries as action in the Georgetown Cricket Association\Hadi’s first division 2 day tournament continued Saturday with three matches.

At GYO, Georgetown Cricket Club declared their first innings on 297-8 in 60 overs after taking first strike against Gandhi Youth Organisation. Martin Pestano Bell top scored with 52(7x4) while Trevon France supported with 51(9x4), Elon Fernandes 49(4x4,2x6) and Devon Lord 20. Navin Bal took 2-54 and Mosi Edwards 1-16.GYO in reply ended the day on 52-6 in 14 overs.

Joseph Shivgobin made 21 while Cleon Critchlow has so far taken 4-27.

At MYO, Police scored

219 before being bowled out in 48.1 overs versus Vikings.

Randolph Knights led with 53(7x4,1x6) and got support from Shameer Fazal 38,Troy Benn 33, and M. Persaud 23. Blair Haynes and Ravi Persaud grabbed three wickets each while Mohamed Hassan picked up two. Vikings were 16-3 at stumps in response. Miguel Persaud is unbeaten on 07 and Shane Bacchus on 02 not out.

At DCC, University of Guyana gained first innings points from the home team.

DCC were bundled out for 156 in 38.4 overs, batting first.

Linden Smith was their leading run scorer with 44(5x4,3x6),while opener Kemol Savory made 37 and Leron Primo 30. Omesh Dhanram captured 4-32 and Dwayne Dodson 2-26. UG

Omesh Dhanram then finished the day on 1659, Dhanram returned to score 80, while Royston Alkins made30. Dexter George has so far taken two wickets. The competition continues today.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Monday January 21, 2013

Djokovic dream still alive after Wawrinka test M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) Novak Djokovic survived an almighty scare from an inspired Stan Wawrinka in a five-hour, five-set thriller at the Australian Open on Sunday, reaching a 15th consecutive grand slam quarter-final but only after digging himself out of a huge hole.

For the first 50 minutes of the contest, Wawrinka played as if possessed by his compatriot Roger Federer and confounded the world number one with brilliant backhands and ferocious forehands to notch up five straight breaks of serve.

Even when Djokovic had weathered the worst of the storm and clawed his way back from 6-1 4-1 down to win the second and third sets, the world number 17 made the Serbian earn every point and forced a decider after a dramatic tiebreak.

The Swiss blew four precious break points in the ninth game of the fifth set and Djokovic converted his third match point with a brilliant backhand winner to seal a 16 7-5 6-4 6-7 12-10 win.

In a conscious echo of his win over Rafa Nadal in last year’s nearly six-hour final on Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic ripped off his shirt and roared in delight at a victory which kept alive his hopes of a third successive title at

Melbourne Park.

Wawrinka, who left the court with tears in his eyes, was distraught after coming up short despite playing the match of his life.

In the women’s draw it was business as usual as Maria Sharapova progressed with brutal efficiency to reach the last eight having lost just five games all week - an Australian Open record.

Agnieszka Radwanska continued her perfect start to the year with her 13th successive victory to set up a quarter-final with Li Na, while David Ferrer eased further into the gap in the draw left by his injured compatriot Nadal.

TIPSAREVIC RETIRES Injury-hampered fifth seed Angelique Kerber crashed out, however, and she was joined at the exit by men’s eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic, who retired from his tie with a foot problem after spending more than 11 hours on court in his four matches.

Sharapova has achieved her four wins in just 249, earning more than $1,000 a minute given the $250,000 purse for quarterfinalists.

The second seed was held up briefly when her serve deserted her in the first set but she still hammered Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-0 6-1 to set up a

repeat of last year’s last eight clash with compatriot Ekaterina Makarova, who upset Kerber 7-5 6-4.

Ferrer has reached the quarter-finals for the third straight year with much less hoopla than Sharapova but with almost as much efficiency.

On Sunday, he prowled the baseline of the Rod Laver Arena to great effect and ended the challenge of error-prone Japanese Kei Nishikori 6-2 6-1 6-4.

Fifth seed Berdych had said playing big-serving South African Kevin Anderson would be like facing himself but the contest only really came to life in an epic third-set tiebreak, which the Czech won 15-13 to claim a 6-3 62 7-6 win.

Radwanska made four unforced errors to 34 for Ana Ivanovic in their fourth round tie and sealed a 6-2 6-4 rout of the former world number one with her seventh ace.

Li converted all five of the break points she earned in her 7-6 6-1 win over Julia Goerges to reach the last eight of a grand slam for the first time since she won the French Open.

Almagro was the beneficiary of Tipsarevic’s retirement. “That’s not the way you want to win,” said the 10th seed, who was leading 6-2 5-1 when the Serbian decided he could not continue.

Ravens win again - hold off Jets in...

From page 32 Jets point guard, Rodwell Pellew got the crowd going early when he opened the game with a three pointer, then Shane Webster finished in the paint to give the home side a 5–0 lead early but national point guard, Rodwell ‘Kobe’ Fortune lit one up from ‘down-town’ then Ryan Stephney who poured in a game high 22 points, rallied his team-mates effort to bring the visitors back in the contest.

The first quarter ended with Ravens taking a 16–11 points lead in the game, however the home crowd stood and cheered their Jets side, who responded with 15–7 early in the second.

Ravens had no answer for forward, Devon Thompson and the Webster brothers’ combo of Shane and Allister as the Jets took 26–23 point lead at half time, much to the delight of the crowd at hand.

The seesaw battle between the two sides continued through out the

third quarter but then Stephney, the eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP), carried his team’s scoring and caused some amount of trouble for the Jets defence.

Akeem Kanhai, a Linden native who also was a former player of the Jets received thunderous applause from the crowd when he was introduced in the game line up, but those cheers turned to boos as the game progress since he was a nuisance playing the guard position.

Kanhai would eventually finish the game with 14 points most of which were scored in the second half when he teamed up with Stephney to reap havoc on the Jets back court.

Jets won the hearts of their supporters for their spirited all-round team performance with their centre Shane Webster leading their charges, pounding away on the Ravens in the paint.

Kanhai scored six crucial points for the Ravens who were down 58 - 55 with just

about two minutes remaining in the game but the Jets lacked the finishing touch to claim bragging rights.

The home side allowed Ravens to control the last two minutes of the game at both ends of the floor coupled with a good bench rotation by Darcel Harris to win the contest and the Trophy.

Apart from Stephney and Kanhai, Rodwell Fortune is the only other Ravens player to score double digits, netting 12 points. Shane Webster was the Jets top scorer with 18 points, as Keon Cameron and Devon Thompson both shot 11 points.

After the game, the crowd was entertained with some breathtaking dunks by Tyron Hamid who wooed them with stuff never before seen locally.

The Jets and Ravens basketball club together thanked Trophy Stall, Major Sports Centre and Ansa McAl under their Stag Beer brand, for making their encounter possible.

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 31

GROVE PLAYFIELD EXPANSION PROGRESSING Ever since visiting the Grove Playfield close to three months ago works have been progressing at a satisfactory pace according to Businessman Clive Matthews who has been funding the developmental works to date.

East Bank football has been experiencing challenges with regards to having a venue of their own to facilitate regular matches and tournaments; this scenario, Matthews i s a i m i n g t o change once and for all in order to have the youths not only in Grove but in the East Bank Football Association ( E B FA ) exposed to regular games.

It is with this vision in mind that Matthews, who is also the First Vice President of the EBFA decided to invest some of his own monies in extending the Grove Playfield towards the Southern and Eastern ends in order to make it at least the minimum size by FIFA standards.

Matthews has disclosed that to date they have spread 120 truckloads of mud mostly at the Southern end of the field which is being extended by some 30meters while at the

The Southern end of the Grove Playfield where extension works have been ongoing.

Eastern end it will be extended by 20meters.

It was disclosed that the Grove NDC along with the business community will be supporting the venture by doing the revetment works

when the extension is completed in order to secure the ground from erosion.

Matthews is projecting that the field extension should be completed by April this year when the revetment

works should commence.

It was also disclosed that works on upgrading the community centre has not started but will sometime soon. Matthews is aiming to refurbish the existing

structure and expand by going upwards with a pavilion and dressing rooms.

Asked, how he intends to raise the relevant funds to make his vision reality, Matthews said that

approaches will be mad to the NDC and the business community to buy into the initiative that will surely benefit the Grove and surrounding villages as well as the EBFA.

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Monday January 21, 2013

GCB senior 4 day inter county tourney Windies women beat South Africa to clinch T20 series Demerara on top against GT&T

B’ce, Adams Grabs 7-wkt haul for E’bo but President’s XI fight back

Winners West Indies women celebrate with trophy after beating South Africa in the T20 series.

West Indies women defeated South Africa by 6 wickets with 16 balls remaining in the final match of their T20 series in St. Lucia to clinch the series 2-0.

South Africa Women batting first and reached 94/6 (20 Overs) with Mignon du Preez 26 and Trisha Chetty 22 leading the way, while Shanel Daley claimed 3-22 for the home team.

West Indies Women replied with 97/4 (17.2 Overs) to claim their victory. Shemaine Campbelle 33 and Natasha McLean 23 were the top batters for the Windies. Marizanne

Kapp took 3-3 for South Africa.

The Player of the Match Award went to Shanel Daley. She finished with figures of 40-22-3. She also chipped in with 9 Runs, while she also claimed the Player of the Series Award.

Scores: South Africa Women 94/6 (20/ 20 ov) Mignon du Preez 26, Trisha Chetty 22; Shanel Daley 3-22: West Indies Women 97/4 (17.2/20 ov) Shemaine Campbelle 33, Natasha McLean 23; Marizanne Kapp 3-3.

Result: West Indies Women won by 6 wickets (with 16 balls remaining).

By Zaheer Mohamed Demerara were in a strong position against GT&T Berbice, while the President’s XI fought back against Essequibo at the close of play on the first day in the third and final round of the Guyana Cricket Board Senior 4-day Inter County tournament which got under way yesterday.

GT&T Berbice took first strike at Everest and were off to a good start with Sewnarine Chattergoon and Richard Ramdeen putting together 37 for the opening stand before the aggressive Ramdeen nicked a delivery from pacer Paul Wintz to wicketkeeper Joseph Perry to be dismissed for 31.

Wintz then had Gajanand Singh leg before for 01 and Chattergoon caught behind for 13 as GT&T Berbice found themselves in trouble at 46-3. Off-spinner Zaheer Mohamed then accounted for Fudadin (03) while Zamal Khan was bowled by Wintz for 04 to leave the score at 58-5. Delbert Hicks and Jason Sinclair then featured in a 6th wicket partnership of 74 with sensible batting on a two

Rajendra Chandreka

Anthony Adams paced track. Mohamed then halted the recovery period by trapping Hicks and Sinclair leg before for 40(3x4, 1x6) and 36(2x4,1x6) respectively at 153-7.

Amir Khan then got into the act by removing Clinton Pestano (12), Eon Hooper (06) and Gudakesh Motie Kanhai (05) as GT&T Berbice were bowled out for 168 in 57.3 overs. Keon Joseph was left not out on 03 while Wintz

who bowled with aggression captured 4-32, Khan picked up 3-28 and Mohamed 3-47.

Demerara in response were 87-1 at stumps with Rajendra Chandrika unbeaten on 46 and Shemroy Barrington not out on 17.

Keon Joseph made the break through when he had Robin Bacchus caught by Hooper for 17.

At Wales, the President’s XI won the toss and decided to bat but medium pacer Mark Tyrell ruined their decision when he accounted for Kevon Boodie (00) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (09) to leave them at 20-2. Elton Baker and Devon Clements then added 35 for the 3rd wicket before Baker was trapped leg before

by Anthony Adams for 14.

Clements was then bowled by Royan Federicks for 20 as the President’s XI found themselves in a spot of bother at 64-4. Anthony Bramble and Dexter Solomon put together 37 for the 5th wicket before Vijay Surajpaul accounted for Bramble (36).

Adams then wrapped the rest of the batting by removing Solomon (16), Raj Nanan (08), Steven Latcha (04), La fleur (26) and Seon Daniels (00) as the President’s XI fell for 157 after facing 82 overs.

Brandon Bess was left not out on 04 while Adams, who bowled with good control, finished with 7-33; Mark Tyrell, Royan Federicks and Surajpaul took one each.

Essequibo in response lost Norman Federicks, who was bowled by Daniels for 03, as they ended the day on 041. Royan Federicks is unbeaten on 01. Both games continue today.

Ravens win again - hold off Jets in Linden thriller Watched by a very vocal capacity crowd at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court Saturday night, the Georgetown-based Ravens defeated Amelia’s Ward Jets 65–61 to lift the Trophy Stall silverware in the Jets Basketball Exchange Classic.

In the supporting game of the evening, Kashif and Shanghai Kings made light work of Retrieve Raiders, trashing them 70–49 to cart off the Major Sports Centre trophy. The basketball crazed community of Linden was entertained from jump-ball by the two teams as they were never a dull moment in the 40 minute encounter.

For the want of bettering themselves and some different taste of competition, the two sides met in a friendly clash but made it absolutely clear that either of them will settle for nothing less than a win.

Ravens headed to the Mining Town already having a perfect start to the year, winning two tournaments, the Phillip George Memorial and the Albert Bentick Championship, while the Jets have been finishing in the runners-up spot over the last year, most recently in the LABA Malta Supreme Championship.

Continued on page 30

Monday January 21, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Nearly $1 million up for grabs in Unique Ent/Banks Premium Beer Futsal Tournament

Premium Beer Brand Manager Jeoff Clement (3rd right) hands over a replica of the sponsorship cheque to Organiser Marlon Washington in the presence of Banks DIH officials on Friday.

Nearly $1million will be up for grabs when Unique Entertainment stages the Banks Premium Beer Futsal Knockout Tournament which starts on Friday, at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hardcourt.

The Launch of the tournament which was conducted on Friday in the Boardroom of title sponsor Banks DIH will see thirty-two teams vie for a first prize of $500,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up collects $300,000 and a trophy and third place $150,000 and a trophy.

According to Organiser Marlon Washington, who along with the Company’s PRO Troy Peters, Premium Beer Brand Manager Jeoff Clement, Outdoor & Events Manager Mortimer Stewart, Company official Mike Fung and Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo-Hen was present at the occasion, there will also be prizes for the MVP and Highest Goalscorer.

Washington said the

tournament is exclusively for teams in the Upper Demerara area, but attempts are being made to accommodate a team from Kwakwani.

The Organiser additionally informed that the LEAP Building in Mackenzie is the location where teams interested in participating in the competition could go to register.

Meanwhile, Peters responding on behalf of the Company expressed how pleased they were to be associated with another sporting venture in the community, adding that it is another clear example of their commitment to assist in the development of sports within Region 10.

“The residents of the Linden community know all about our loyalty to them, especially in the area of sports and I can safely say that we have a lot more planned in 2013 for the people in Linden,” Peters disclosed.

The competition runs until February 19 with the staging of the finals.