Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
Notorious gangster stabs cop in daring escape A brave young policeman narrowly escaped death when he was stabbed below his left side jaw with a broken bottle by notorious criminal suspect, Jermaine Jerrick. Jerrick had staged a daring breakout from the Cove and John Police Station lock-ups on the East Coast of Demerara, early yesterday morning. Constable Elton Benjamin was pursuing Jerrick when he sustained the wound that was intended for his throat. His assailant missed. The policeman was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and subsequently sent away. Kaieteur News understands that Jerrick, a member of the infamous Aranka Gang that was terrorizing gold miners a couple of years ago, was on Friday held along with two other men at Cove and John on suspicion of possession of narcotics. He was being held in one of the lock-ups when he demanded to go to the outdoor toilet around 06:30 hours. Constable Benjamin accompanied him and stood guard outside for about five minutes while Jerrick used the facility. “He then push open the toilet door, push me down and started to run,” the young Cop told this newspaper. He ran behind the fleeing prisoner and managed to catch up with him in a rice field about half mile away. Realizing that he was cornered, Jerrick picked up a piece of wood and dealt the policeman a blow to his head but this did not deter the cop who continued to try to apprehend him. They ended up in a nearby trench and Jerrick briefly managed to getaway. He tried stealing a bicycle that was left lying on a dam but abandoned that move when he was confronted by the owner. Again the persistent cop caught up with him and after another brief scuffle they again ended up in a trench. “I held on to him in the rice field, we crossed two trenches and I brought him on the main road.” Sensing that the Cop was not letting up, the notorious criminal suspect
became desperate and grabbing a bottle he stabbed the young policeman. “He picked up a Heineken bottle and I still grab onto him, but he break the bottle and he bore me,” Constable Benjamin related. According to eyewitness, it was a fierce battle but no one went to the Cop’s assistance, although he was fully clad in his uniform and had called out for help. It was only after he was wounded that persons rushed to assist him. “After he juk me, I fall down and concerned citizens pick me up, and when I catch myself, I was at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation,” Benjamin said. He received several stitches to seal the wound under his jaw bone. While trying to escape, Jerrick shed all of his clothes, even down to his briefs, leaving them behind. “He was naked when he ran away, naked as he born,” the constable added. Jerrick was part of a fiveman gang that was captured in 2010 by a party of policemen who were deployed to hunt them down following a reign of terror in a
The clothes left behind by the escapee.
Constable Benjamin displays the wound which is a mere inch from his throat. part of Guyana gold fields, during which they allegedly robbed miners of their production. He had previously served time for similar offences and is said to be very violent in nature.Jerrick also made the news in March 2011 when he severely wounded prison inmate Randy Joseph, a former Buxton gang member, during a fracas in the Georgetown Prison compound where they were both on remand. This was in retaliation to a beating that Jerrick had suffered at the hands of some Buxton gang members a few days earlier. Up to last night the police
had not issued an official statement on the recent escape but a senior police source on East Coast Demerara has indicated that a wanted bulletin will soon be issued. Almost a month ago Police Constable Derwin Pitman collapsed and died in a North Sophia alleyway while chasing a prisoner who had escaped from the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost. While many initially thought that he was electrocuted by the illegal electric wires that crisscrossed the community, a post mortem examination later revealed that he suffered a heart attack.
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Benefits of Struggling A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.
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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
CARIFESTA XI The Ministry of Culture announced that it is about to make the final cut to constitute a 50-person delegation to CARIFESTA XI, which is going to be held in Suriname between August 16 and August 26. It also revealed that for the very first time, each delegation will be paying its own way to participate. The Ministry has budgeted $20 million for the exercise, and this was the reason for the need to place a cap on the number of delegates to the festival. The small number of participants, however, is sure to precipitate disgruntlement in our artistic community, which has been struggling to establish itself into a viable and sustainable entity. It is also somewhat ironic in view of the theme for CARIFESTA XI which is “culture for development” and in view of the decision after the last festival held in Guyana in 2008. It was decided then that CARIFESTA was now a designated regional initiative to develop cultural events. Towards this end, a Task Force had been established “…to develop a comprehensive Regional Development Strategy and Action Plan for the Cultural Industries in CARICOM.” Recommendations were supposed to have been made for an appropriate incentive regime and financing mechanism for the cultural industries, among other developmental areas to be addressed. It would appear that like most initiatives of Caricom, this one has also died stillborn. This is very unfortunate because the culture of the Caribbean is so unique it can be the source of great attraction in a period when the region as a whole is experiencing difficulties with its tourism industry. But more fundamentally the neglect ignores the crucial role culture plays in creating and sustaining a strong society. In 1972 when Forbes Burnham launched the first CARIFESTA in Georgetown it was done in the wake of a number of conferences and meetings of the region’s artists and intellectuals who stressed the liberating potential of our culture. It was a culture that had been formed out of resistance and struggle against unimaginable hardships. It was a culture that could teach the world much - and demonstrate that unlike what we had been taught, we had produced something of value. The world that has grown smaller since 1972, has also grown more complex as different cultures now interacted much more intensively in a pluralistic global environment. The induction of Haiti and Suriname into Caricom during the 1990s, broadened the culture of Caricom to now include the hybrids formed by the interaction of cultures from Europe specifically the British, Dutch and French variants and those from West Africa and Asia (China, India and Indonesia). There are few societies that have such a breathtaking diversity on display. CARIFESTA XI promises to be special in that it will evidently point the region in a direction that will make it even more diversified. The logo now includes the colours of UNASUR. - the Union of South American countries of which Guyana and Suriname will become associate members later this month - which signals the integration of Spanish and Portuguese heritages into our common experience. What history has shown is that to the extent that people can identify with each other, they will cooperate and produce much more energetically. A common culture is what makes people identify with each other. In our region and in South America as a whole, for too long we have been divided by our heritages of being appendages of competing European empires. But through initiatives such as CARIFESTA we can begin to appreciate that we have more commonalities than differences. It is only out of this recognition that we will be willing to make the effort to deepen our linkages in the economic and political spheres that will catapult all of us into living lives of dignity. Europe pulled itself out of war and destruction by stressing a common culture: the economic and political unity followed. CARIFESTA XI, therefore, affords us an opportunity for far more than having a good time. There will be that but there will also be the promise of so much more.
Sunday July 07, 2013
Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
Is the average working class Guyanese better off than they were prior to 1992? DEAR EDITOR, During the Cde Leader’s Government, the Guyana dollar held it’s own against the US currency and Guyanese were respected around the Caribbean community. Now our dollar is comparable to Monopoly money and we are treated like Gypsies by our Caricom neighbors. During the Cde Leader’s Government, we flew with pride on our very own flag carrier. Now we’re treated like second class citizens by BWEE. During the Cde Leader’s
Government, employment in the Civil Service was a career that sustained our families with dignity. Now our Nurses, Police Officers, Soldiers and Civil Servants can barely afford bus fare and are forced to become mendicants. During the Cde Leader’s Government, crime was hardly an issue because of the enforcement of law and order. Now corruption and lawlessness permeates the highest offices in the land and runs the gamut. During the Cde Leader’s Government, women were respected and honored. Now
they are murdered, maimed and abused in staggering numbers by their loved ones. During the Cde Leader’s Government, Guyana boasted the lowest infant mortality rate and the highest literacy rate in the English speaking Caribbean. Now our children are dunces and our infant/mother mortality rate is through the roof. During the Cde Leader’s Government, cabinet ministers and government officials lived moderately. Now the government elites live opulent lifestyles c o m p a r a b l e
to Hollywood celebs. During the Cde Leader’s Government, the people were never taxed and enjoyed free services from education to healthcare. Now the citizens are burdened with almost 20% combined taxes and no longer have access to basic services. Many are asking, “where are our tax revenue going?” Apart from now having access to Flour, Dhal and Sardines- where is the great improvement promised by these Kleptocrats who along with their political backers gorge themselves at the peoples’ trough? Concerned reader
Sunday July 07, 2013
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Something seems to be amiss with the renewal of Mr. Gocool Boodhoo’s contract DEAR EDITOR Something is certainly amiss and amusing where the renewal of Mr. Gocool Boodhoo’s contract is concerned. How come his contract was renewed over the years? Was there any Performance Appraisal done prior to his past contract renewals? If not, it is clearly a breach of managerial principles and ethics. As far as we know, Performance Appraisals are done for all his subordinates before their contracts are renewed.
GECOM should let the public know why this was not done, observing that Dr Bud Mangal pointed out this omission. Further, the Chairman of GECOM owes the public an explanation on why he failed to observe good management practices in doing the CEO’s appraisal. Does the Chairman have a hidden agenda? Is he hoping to get the PRO in line for the CEO’s job by just delaying? Would it be better if the Chairman revert to his animal medicine profession? On the other hand, why is there no
succession planning, training, implementation and audit. If the CEO has reached retirement age, why is it that the DCEO Mr. Calvin Benn cannot succeed him? Messers Benn and Lowenfield have more hands-on accumulated experience on election matters than most staff. Other than that, why is it that lower level staff have to retire at fiftyfive while the Senior Staff can work until they die? In the colonial days, when managerial staff are retained after retirement they do not
occupy substantive positions. Why is GECOM using Contracts to retain retired people in substantive positions, considering that they may be obsolete human stock? We depend on the Opposition Political Parties and international funding agencies to have some reform of the entire election machinery before local government elections are held. Hence, let us have an audit of the use of management toolsby GECOM. We have had enough of caterwauling in the past. Edgar Singh
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Sunday July 07, 2013
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This individual should resign from the Police I have a toilet set that costs almost US$2000 Oversight Committee DEAR EDITOR, It seems that in Guyana today there is no end or limit to the stories of corruption and very poor governance. Each morning you awake to read of a new and more damning revelation that overshadows
the previous day’s malfeasance. As a result major issues of importance are not followed up because those whose job it is to inquire are busy with the new story. One such issue is the role of a former police officer in the Thomas Carroll visa
scandal as related in Davis Casavis’ book. The book has named this individual as someone who was involved in a very dishonest scheme to arrange for the sale of US visas. To date this individual has not asked the court to sanction Mr. Casavis or his publisher. He has instead told the Guyanese people that he addressed the issue some years before. The mere fact that he was named in this book as a participant in this racket should have prompted this ex-policeman to submit his
resignation as a member of the Police Oversight Committee. To date he has not done so and the Minister responsible for the Police who appointed him has not addressed this issue either. Minister Rohee in his efforts to reorganize the Guyana Police Force should not want the Committee cast in a cloud of distrust and dishonesty with the presence of someone like this, and since this individual has not resigned the Minister should remove him forthwith. Or is this an American problem? Concerned Guyanese
DEAR EDITOR, I have been following the issue of the toilet prices proposed in the contract for the CJIA expansion project. I thought I would write about this because I do have a toilet set in my apartment that costs almost US$2000 . It is manufactured by Toto and makes up more than 72% of the toilets used in Japan. This toilet has a warming seat, anus and bidet washing with adjustable water temperatures and water jets, automatic lid opening and flush which utilizes minimal water, music to absorb any sounds coming from the user, a deodorizing feature for eliminating fumes, blow dryer, wireless control panel usually attached to an arm rest or attached to the wall and some also has massage options and portable remote control. I think this toilet is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most sophisticated in the world. It is credited as being eco-friendly since the electricity used is minimal and eliminates the need for toilet paper. I do not use most of the features; the only one that I am interested in is the warming seat that I use during the winter. If this is the toilet that would be installed at the CJIA, I posit that it is not exorbitant and the Japanese tourists that visit Guyana would be extremely happy. Dr. Devon Dublin
Sunday July 07, 2013
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Sunday July 07, 2013
Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
US$7.3M TO FIX PARIKA/ RUBY, OTHER AGRI ROADS …as Guyana taps into Caribbean Development Fund By Neil Marks The government has received US$7.3 million in financing from the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) to fix Parika/Ruby and other roads in agricultural areas of Regions Three, Four and Five. The agreement was signed yesterday between Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Chief Executive Officer of the CDF Ambassador Lorne McDonnough at the Hilton Hotel in Port-of-Spain. President Donald Ramotar witnessed the signing and said that it would serve to boost agriculture production in the areas where the roads would be fixed. The financing provided by the CDF consists of a mixture of loan and grants which together are aimed at supporting the development of small and medium sized agricultural businesses as well as increasing the capacity of
government to support exports. Of the financing, $4.66 million is a loan repayable at a nominal rate of three percent per annum, for 15 years, with a grace period of two years for specified purposes. The rest of the financing is grant funding. According to Ambassador McDonnough, the financing agreement meets the objectives of the CDF. The Fund was set up to attract investment and new industries to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors and to facilitate infrastructural development, among other things. “The application of the loan is expected to increase investment, employment, exports, and household incomes across the productive sectors,” said McDonnough. The project dovetails other road construction projects, such as those being
funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). For example, the Caribbean Development Bank is funding the rehabilitation of the West Demerara road all the way to Parika, East Bank Essequibo. The financing agreement signed yesterday will continue the stretch from the Parika junction to Ruby, from where farmers bring out their produce by boat. From there, the vegetables and fruits are off-loaded unto vehicles and taken to Parika and other markets. Some of the produce is taken to the Agro Processing Facility at Parika where it is processed for export and offloaded at the koker there. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the CDF was proof that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the integration process are working. He said that Guyana was
delighted to see the Fund move from a mere statement in the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to a practical mechanism benefiting the people of the Caribbean. The President said that there is a need to destigmatise agriculture as being reserved for the uneducated and working with the hands. Ramotar said that advances in science, technology and communication should make the sector attractive to young people as a big income earner like other sectors. The President said that Caribbean may very well be spending more than US$5 billion on imported food annually. However, he said that there is no reason why the food import bill should remain so high. Countries in the Region, such as Guyana, with land, water and good farmers, could produce enough food to satisfy the demands of CARICOM.
‘These young girls don’t understand the importance of courting’ — Claudette Austin By Kiana Wilburg Sixty-nine-year-old, Claudette Austin Agricola, remarked, “I remember those golden days as though they were only yesterday. Courting back then was totally different to today. I admit that the times have changed but I often wonder, whether for the better or worse?” Courting is the act or process of learning about someone before getting romantically involved. Ms. Austin believes that this is not always followed among the generation of today and “this is a sad reality.” “Have parents forgotten how important it is to impress
upon the minds of their young sons and daughters the value of courting? Have we lost the ability to truly appreciate the courting process or as the generation today would put it, the dating process? It leaves one to wonder how much these youth really know before having sexual relations with someone.” Ms. Austin explored the topic of dating, as she made several comparisons between then and now. “Back in my days, if a young man wanted to date a young lady, he would have to do the right thing; he would have to write home. He would have to present a letter to the mother or father of the
Claudette Austin young lady he so desires, expressing clearly his ambitions, intentions, family
background, and education among some other things I can’t recall at this point. “But, you know, you had to express clearly and most respectfully what you really want with a father’s daughter. But it sure wasn’t easy pleasing my father at least. I couldn’t even dream about thinking about boys when in school or else my father would have washed my tail with some good licks. “Even talking about the topic of liking boys would earn you a few lashes with a piece of branch from a cherry tree. Today, it shocks me that even some of my nieces and nephews talk about being in a relationship and they are Continued on page 51
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Dem boys seh
Donald thinking bout de Skeldon cane juice factory When Donald Ramotar talk bout de signing that form Caricom he was really thinking bout de stupidness that he got going on in Guyana. He was thinking how he spend US$200 million fuh build a state of de art sugar factory and he get a pile of garbage. De factory ain’t wukking properly. It tekking in de cane and it giving out cane juice. But dem got people who got a cheap cane juice machine that giving better quality cane juice. So Donald was thinking bout those things. Dem boys seh that he was also thinking about de airport toilets because he know that Guyanese should not mek things fuh stranger before dem mek things fuh demself. He know that he ain’t got no special toilet in he house suh he couldn’t understand why Ash Knee and Brazzy and Bharrat would want to put such expensive toilet in an airport. Of course, if is tourism Guyana want to attract, then dem can attract people who would want to see de most expensive toilets in de world. Donald was thinking bout that when he was in Trinidad and talking bout regional integration. Is not that he didn’t like Burnham; is just that he was thinking bout so many things that Burnham slip he mind. In any case, all dem other leaders talk bout Burnham suh he didn’t have to talk bout de same man because as he himself tell dem reporters later, “Too much of one thing good fuh nutten.” And dem boys seh that dem notice that at last it like Donald done wid Kwame at last. Dem have a real girl who sitting down wid Luncheon to share de press conference. Donald did tell dem boys that he got to get rid of Kwame. Wha Kwame gun do? He gun walk about and pretend that he is Donald right hand. Talk half and watch de most expensive cane juice factory operate. Recreation does for you what it says literally. It creates you again. It refreshes the mind, renews the spirit, and motivates the body. Constant working towards some objective can do the opposite, unless we control it by rest and relaxation.
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Sunday July 07, 2013
CJIA’s expansion and the toilet bowl explanation On November 11, 2011, days before General Elections, a major contract to extend the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was signed between Guyana and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a Beijingbased Chinese company. It was agreed that CHEC would build the facility under a “Plant and Design-Build” contract for US$138M. Guyana took a loan of US$130M from China and was expected to plug the balance which would put the project cost to US$150M. In terms of dollar value, the project would be the second most expensive after the US$200M Skeldon Factory Modernisation project. CHEC’s main job was to facilitate the runway extension and build a new terminal building.
- legal experts at odds over “lump sum” contract In justifying the project, government pointed to space constraints and growing tourism as the reasons. Guyana’s geographic position at the northern tip of the South American continent made it ideal as a hub and a link to Asia and Africa, the government said. However, the details of the actual contract signed have raised questions whether Guyana had a good deal. Last week, Kaieteur News reported on a section of the signed contract that indicated that 69 toilet bowls were needed for the new terminal building to be built. Each would cost US$2,121.06 or $424,212 each. This worked out to US$146,353.14 or over $29M for the 69 bowls.
The Ministry of Public Works, under whose purview the project falls, issued a statement on the report by this newspaper. According to the Ministry, the contract signed was a “lump sum” one for that section of the contract. “The articles fail to reflect that under such contracts the cost for each line item usually includes several other costs including materials, labour, overheads, transportation and profit,” the statement said. The Ministry went further, saying that the stated costs of the bowls included the costs of the sewer lines and cubicle doors. “For the particular sanitary items mentioned, there is no pricing stated for
sewer lines, washroom cubicles and doors and the many fittings associated with the washroom; these are all catered for in the line item pricing such as “toilet set” as is the case for all lump sum contracts.” But legal experts versed in the contracts and drafting of contracts has expressed disbelief at the explanation which seemed at odds over what normally prevails. “Lump sum”, they said, is very specific to certain contracts with the CJIA expansion definitely not falling under this category. Already, it was noted that the US$150M price tag could eventually pass the US$200M mark if one is to take into account the interest on the US$130M loan and the filling materials that Guyana will have to provide. The filling material referred to includes sand which will be used to extend the current main runway at CJIA by another 1,000 meters. The US$138M contract with CHEC also excludes all taxes, duties, royalties and fees of all kinds normally imposed by Guyana. With the entire contract vague in its very language,
one lawyer has also questioned the methodology used by Government in ascertaining whether the costs were realistic. Already, the Government has advanced CHEC over US$20M ($4B) to start works. Actual construction has been stalled as the Opposition, during the National Budget considerations of the estimates in April, blocked $5.3B (US$26.5M) that was going to the project, citing concerns over the costs. Guyana could very well face paying CHEC for damages if the construction does not start soon. With regards to the actual contract and the Bills of Quantity which show what will be used in the construction, the particular section where the toilet bowl was described also spoke of pipes, gate valves, showers, urinals, drains, and a host of other items yet the contract remained vague on how the costs were arrived at. The layout of the terminal building is to cost US$42M, according to the contract. According to the online business dictionary, a “lump sum” contract is one under
which a principal (in this case, the Government) agrees to pay a contractor (CHEC) a specified amount for completing work without requiring a cost breakdown. The Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) had this to say about “lump sum” arrangements: “Certain projects lend themselves more readily to the use of lump sum contracting. Florida and Alaska DOT’s Lump Sum Project Guidelines recommend that lump sum contracts are best applied to relatively simple projects with a well-defined scope, a low risk of unforeseen conditions, and not likely to change in scope or provide less than the required quantities. Some examples of projects that fit these criteria are bridge painting, fencing or guardrail installation, intersection improvements where utilities are known, landscaping, lighting, minor road widening, simple milling or resurfacing, signage, traffic signals and sidewalks. Kaieteur News, because of the nature of the actual project and its costs to the taxpayers, has placed a copy of the contract signed between the Government and CHEC on its website, www.kaieteurnewsonline.com.
Tiger Creek Bridge repaired
The Tiger Creek bridge leading to Mahdia, a Region Eight mining community, has been repaired and reopened to traffic, after the Regional Administration had complained about its dangerous state and threatened to close it. The bridge is the main access to Mahdia and is located about four miles from the Brian Sucre Junction. According to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), it requested emergency works on the structure
after several complaints from residents, drivers and miners came in. The Regional Administration had also complained. In early June, a team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), which regulates mining in the hinterland, inspected the bridge and a contract for its rehabilitation was later awarded to MMC Inc., a contracting company. The bridge was built in 1995 but was reportedly condemned after it fell into a state of disrepair.
Sunday July 07, 2013
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Enterprise Primary School scores again The Enterprise Support Group (ESG) New York Inc. has made good on its promise to match the increasing performance of students of the Enterprise Primary School, East Coast Demerara, with monetary rewards. This year, the group doubled its awards scheme in keeping with the improved performance of students who increased the numbers of those gaining places at the country’s top secondary schools. This year, the Enterprise Primary School had 15 students gaining places in the country’s top secondary schools. Last year, ESG Inc made cash awards to 33 students. This year, the group had to up the figure to accommodate the 50 students who were successful at this year’s grade six examinations. The presentations were made at the school’s annual graduation ceremony held last Thursday at the school, through the ESG’s local steering Committee Member, Videsh Lall. The US-based group is made up of former residents of Enterprise who have been rewarding students who by virtue of their performance have been keeping the
surprised at the results obtained by her and the rest of the class. “I expected her to do well. I did not expect her to top but she did. She was competing with other talented children who have the similar ability,” he said adding that while he had tutored top students before, this year’s performance overall was excellent. Apart from the Bishop’s High School, the Enterprise Primary School gained places at President’s College, St. Rose’s and St. Joseph’ High School as well as the St. Stanislaus College.
Top students of the Enterprise Primary School with their teachers after receiving their prizes at last week’s graduation. Enterprise Primary School flag flying high. Lall told Kaieteur News that this year, the group increased its donation to $400,000. “As we promised, better the result, larger the sum of money,” he said. In addition to the students, the group also, for
Execution attempt….
Taxi driver in “stable” condition Leslie Woode, the taxi driver who was shot on Friday in an execution attempt remains a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with a bullet lodged in his head and another, in his chest. Woode, 25, of Campbellville, Georgetown was shot three times about his body around 04:00am on Friday after a green car reportedly pulled up alongside his parked white Toyota 212 on Cummings and Sixth Street, Alberttown and opened fire. He sustained gunshot wounds to his chest, head and shoulder. The 25-yearold underwent emergency surgery on Friday and is scheduled to undergo another surgery soon. Woode has been admitted in the hospital’s HiDependency Unit (HDU) in a stable condition. Yesterday, when Kaieteur News visited the hospital, Woode’s mother said that he is talking but “you can’t understand what he is saying. He is disoriented.” “They tell me that a bullet is still in his head and another one is in his chest. The doctor said that they will focus on removing the one in his chest first,” the injured man’s
mother related. She added that her son’s right lung is damaged. A little after 04:00am on Friday, Woode had reportedly dropped off a group of Brazilian dancers at Cummings Street when another car pulled up alongside his car and opened fire. No one has been arrested as yet.
the first time, recognized the contribution of the teachers who were responsible for the students’ good performances. The Grade Six teachers each received a plaque and a gift. Lall said that it is the hope of the ESG Inc. that the top students return the favour by assisting those who are coming behind them. This year, the school’s top student was Razia Ali who earned a place at the Bishop’s High School. She was awarded $35,000 to go with the several trophies she won. The petit but positive Razia said that she was not surprised by her results. “I knew it!” she declared when asked if she was confident of doing well. She said that she studied hard, giving up television for a while and “digging into the books” whether at extra lessons or in the regular classroom.
She credited her teachers all the way down to grade four and five for her achieving success.
She did not leave out her parents. Her grade six teacher, Calvin Thomas, was also not
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Uninhibited mayhem By Michael Jordan Two gunmen chase a young man into his girlfriend’s house and then rob and rape the girlfriend’s sister on a desolate roadway. A female soldier on her way home is attacked by men in a taxi who snatch her bag and other valuables. A four-year-old boy is lured into a house by members of a juvenile gang and sexually assaulted. These are some of the horror stories that are becoming all too common in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, where young and armed criminals are forcing lawabiding residents to impose a curfew of sorts on themselves. Some residents say that the community of mainly underprivileged families is experiencing an upsurge in crime, from burglaries to rape to attacks by brazen, guntoting youths. It has become so bad that last Friday, community leader Ms. Doris Shelto held an emergency meeting with several young females to warn them to curtail walking at night. “I told them that they shouldn’t come out of their homes at night until we understand what is going on in our community,” said Shelto, who is the founder of the Sophia Sparkle Youth Group and the Sophia Action Group. “I plan to talk to the
mothers, also. It’s getting really tough. Most of the robberies happen when people are coming into the area. They (the bandits) don’t care if you are male or female, they are taking what you got. The past couple of weeks it has been getting more prevalent.” Ms. Shelto’s concern was triggered by two recent attacks on young women in ‘A’ and ‘B’ Field, Sophia. ROBBED AND RAPED One of the victims said that her boyfriend was visiting her around 05:00 hrs on Friday, when two men accosted him some ten doors from her home. The boyfriend immediately ran to his girlfriend’s residence. “I heard him rapping and he said that some men were chasing him,” the woman recalled. But before she could open the door, the men, aged between 18 and 23, had cornered her boyfriend and thrown him to the ground. “I tried to close the door and one of them fired off a shot.” The resident said she then picked up a knife to defend herself, but the robber pressed his gun to her head and threatened to shoot. The bandits then entered the woman’s house and ordered her to hand over her valuables. They then stripped the woman’s sister of her
Sunday July 07, 2013
Sophia under siege A section of B Field, Sophia
jewellery, relieved her of a handbag with cash, then took her out to the roadway and raped her. “I am terrified up to now. We are locking up our house by six-thirty in the evening,” the resident said. The woman later learnt that robbers also attacked and raped another woman from her neighbourhood a few nights ago. And it seems that these marauders strike as soon as night falls. Last Wednesday, a female soldier was attacked and robbed around the relatively early time of 19:30 hrs. She was walking into Sophia in the vicinity of the well located at Plum Park, when some men emerged from a taxi and pounced on her. The men relieved the soldier of her belongings— including a bag containing her army uniform. This desolate area in Plum Park, Sophia, seems to be one of the danger spots. A
security guard was also reportedly robbed of his phone and lunch-bag in this same location about three weeks ago. Some residents explained that they are left particularly vulnerable after sundown because most taxi drivers are too scared to take passengers into Sophia at night. Some drivers are also daunted by the pot-holed roads. One resident believes that there is a network of various gangs, and that there are individuals who tip them off when the police are on patrol. ‘JUVENILE GANG’ Kaieteur News has also received reports of a gang of boys, aged between nine and 13, that operate out of ‘B’ Field, Sophia. They reportedly also prey on residents from nearby communities. At present, police are investigating claims that two juveniles from the ‘gang’ sexually assaulted a four-
year-old boy after luring him to a house in ‘B’ Field, Sophia. A resident pointed out two of the juveniles to Kaieteur News and said that they are frequently locked up by the police. But some of the besieged residents are fighting back, sometimes with frightening consequences. About three months ago, one woman heard her neighbour screaming during the wee hours of the morning. “I heard her screaming for me and when I run to the window, she say ‘they taking my cell phone.’” It transpired that robbers, armed with guns, had forced their way into the neighbour’s house and were relieving the woman of her belongings, including her gold chain and cell phone. But the victim was not prepared to let her precious cell phone go without a fight. “She ran behind them, then I heard a shot and then I heard silence. I say, ‘this girl get shoot’, and then I heard her crying.” The neighbour had escaped unharmed. The escalating crime rate has also forced the lawabiding to look out for one another and protect their community. A few months ago, some residents of ‘B’ Field, Sophia awoke around 02:00 hrs to observe that thieves were trying to make off with lengths of telephone cable. One man was already on a utility pole preparing to cut the cables. The residents immediately used their cell phones to alert each other. “We signaled... and before you could say ‘knife’ all the lights were on,” one woman recalled. Then the neighbours, comprising mainly women, confronted the vandals. The thieves fled, leaving their cutting implements and four
pairs of slippers behind. But this community action could also have tragic consequences, as was the case last May when a group of incensed residents cornered and killed 41-yearold Nigel Roy Lowe in ‘A’ Field, Sophia, after hearing shouts of ‘thief.’ IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITY Giving one reason for the high incidence of crime, one ‘B’ Field resident pointed to extreme levels of poverty in many sections of the community and the fact that many young mothers are bringing up their children without a father present. “This is an impoverished community. I know many houses where the families don’t have proper food to eat.” In a search for solutions, one resident suggested that police set up an outpost near the ‘B’ Field Bridge located near the ‘Blacka’ (Lamaha Canal). This area is said to be one of the ‘hot spots’ for criminal activity. Some have suggested that some of the criminals are from other impoverished communities nearby, and that they enter Sophia via the bridge leading into ‘B’ Field. Others have suggested more mobile police patrols, coupled with improved roads to enable the lawmen to traverse all areas of Sophia. It was also suggested that the police conduct occasional house-to house searches. “They should do a sweep of Sophia; you might be surprised what they would find,” a resident remarked. They are also appealing for more street lights to be erected, since they are reportedly none in areas like ‘B’ Field. BANDING TOGETHER One resident said that while Sophia has a Community Policing Group, the members, among whom are women, are up against criminals who are sometimes heavily armed. “They are up against guns; they are only human. They are also doing foot patrols (along with mobile patrols) and that is even more dangerous.” But the resident believes that one major solution lies in the law-abiding among them banding together against the criminals. Some are already doing this. “We are sensitising the community that neighbours should have phone numbers for each other,” a community leader said. “We have to go back to the olden times and take back our community. The police can’t patrol everywhere. People have to get up and fight.”
Sunday July 07, 2013
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Lethem road paving the way for hydro project…
Guyana, Brazil leaders to receive key report this month Guyana’s collaboration with neighbouring Brazil on a number of large-scale projects, including a hydroelectric facility and paving of the Linden/Lethem road, has moved closer to fruition with a key report now being prepared. Both countries concluded the fourth round of meetings in Brazil recently, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, disclosed Friday. The two countries had established a joint working group to hammer out the details. A report from the working group will be presented to the Presidents of Guyana and Brazil at the upcoming MERCUSOR Summit later this month. Along with the report will be the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will plot the way forward on the implementation of the identified projects. The Guyana-Brazil Working group was formed following the signing of a MOU between the two countries to advance cooperation. Among those areas targeted for cooperation are construction of a hydropower plant and related transmission lines for the energy generated from the hydro plant areas, improvement of the GuyanaBrazil road and the construction of a deep water port in Guyana. Last month, Governor of the State of Roraima Jose de Anchieta Junior, met with President Donald Ramotar to apprise him of the progress. The projects were conceptualised during
bilateral discussions involving the former administration and Brazil’s President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, and according to the Roraima State Governor, are of great importance to both countries. It was agreed, for example, that the hydro project, once established, will source cheap energy for Guyana and supply power to northern Brazil. In February, the two countries set a June target for anticipated proposals including timelines for implementation of the major infrastructural projects. The Linden/Lethem road has over the years been undergoing maintenance works but travel has badly been affected in the rainy season. At the commissioning of the Takutu River Bridge in 2009, the former Brazilian President had assured that the road would be the next major undertaking through the Guyana-Brazil partnership. The Takutu Bridge links Brazil and Guyana with significant trade increases reported since its opening. With Brazil a growing powerhouse in trade, Guyana would badly want to increase ties. Brazil understandably would want the road through Guyana as it will provide a much shorter route to the Atlantic Ocean, thus easing shipping time. It is the plan that container trucks will use the road to either a port in Georgetown or altogether a new one. Neighbouring Brazil,
The Takutu Bridge, Region Nine links Guyana and Brazil.
because of its vastness, has been examining several options of easing its shipping woes, with the Linden/Lethem Road being a highly attractive option for cutting commerce time. They have offered to help fund the construction of the road. Lethem has been reporting increased trade
since the Takutu Bridge was commissioned. The current 265-mile Linden/Lethem trail has been known to become impassable in rainy times, halting activities of miners, forestry operators and residents who would use it. It is filled with river crossings and ruts and there have been calls to pave
it. But this will prove an expensive venture for the Guyana government alone. Brazil had signaled its intentions as early as three years ago to help fund a 220megawatt hydro power project near the border with Guyana. Brazil would purchase around100 megawatts to help
power some of its northernmost areas, closest to Guyana. With the high prices of gold in recent years, Guyana has been seeing an influx of Brazilians especially in the mining districts. It is estimated that over 15,000 Brazilians live and work in Guyana.
Chief Justice rules in Chief-of-Staff’s favour Chief Justice Ian Chang has vindicated the actions of Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best, in relation to three recent matters which were brought before him. The Chief Justice discharged Writs which were filed by four Officers who challenged Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best’s nonpayment of their year-end bonus. The officers had filed a Writ of Certiorari, which stated that the withholding of bonus by the Chief of Staff was unlawful and
unreasonable, and a Writ of Mandamus, directing Commodore Best to pay the bonus. The Chief Justice ruled that the Officers did not have a reasonable expectation of receiving the bonus since they were aware of disciplinary infractions. The Chief Justice also ruled that the Chief of Staff was acting on behalf of the President when he withheld the bonus. As such, the Officers actions against the Chief of Staff were misconceived
because it was an action of Prerogative Writ against the President which is not allowed in law. In the matter of relinquishment of the appointments of three officers who had sued for their yearend bonuses, the Chief Justice discharged that matter in favour of the Chief of Staff, ruling that the action should have been brought against the entire Defence Board and not only the Chief of Staff. With regards to another matter of an Officer, who
filed a Writ of Prohibition seeking right to counsel at a Summary of Evidence proceedings against him, the Chief Justice has ruled that the Summary of Evidence proceeding is merely an investigative and not an adjudicative proceeding and, as such, the Officer has no right to counsel. The Chief of Staff was represented by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, and the Deputy Solicitor General, Ms Pritima Kissoon.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday July 07, 2013
ImmigrationINFO Numerous cases thrown out at Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court Certain Waivers Now Filed In Over the past three weeks, numerous cases have been thrown out by Sparendaam Magistrate Alex Moore. Why? According to the Prosecution, “I don’t know where the case files are and I need more time for statements to be filed.” The aforementioned comment is just one of the “ridiculous excuses” put forward by the Prosecution. Most of the cases are without statements after some of them would have been filed about four to five months ago. Senior lawyers, victims, witnesses and those accused of the crimes, are complaining about the “sloppy work” being done by the Prosecution. Many said that “it is a waste of time. It shows no respect for our time as well. Some of us have to travel all the way from villages over the river just to hear that the case is going to be adjourned until a later date because the Prosecution can’t find the file or has been unable to file statements. This is nonsense man,” explained one of the concerned victims.
- “Prosecution continues to provide ridiculous excuses to hide incompetence…” says Magistrate It is even more appalling that some of the cases that have been filed eight months ago are still without statements and the Prosecution is unable to provide plausible reasons to justify such. Magistrate Alex Moore is heard on several occasions, relating his frustrations in open court as it relates to the amount of times cases are adjourned, only to hear on the fourth or fifth adjournment that the statements have not been filed or the case file cannot be found. One example of note is that of a paper committal for a murder case. After six adjournments, the defendant who was in custody for over a year was discharged after the Prosecution failed to inform one of the witnesses that he was needed for cross examination.
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take three-minute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
The Prosecutor’s excuse for this state of “unpreparedness” was unsatisfactory, according to the Magistrate. He proceeded to update the Prosecution on its “sorely outdated information” presented as an excuse for the witness not being in court at the time. The Prosecution continues to stress that the bulk of the blame should not be placed on them but rather on the investigating ranks who fail at times to carry out instructions and thus leave most of the work on them. They added that the fact that they are unaware of where the case files are is also partly the fault of the investigating ranks as well. However, in reply to the Prosecution’s line of defence, Magistrate Moore explained that, “there seems to be a misconception about the responsibility of files. Not being in possession of a file is no excuse. It clearly shows a breakdown in decorum, propriety and procedure. It is simply blatant disrespect.”
U.S. and Not At U.S. Embassy
By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com Previously, applicants for immigrant visas outside the United States filed Form I-601 or Form I-212 with supporting evidence at a U.S. Embassy or consulate if a consular officer found the individual inadmissible for a reason that may be waived. Beginning June 4, 2012, individuals abroad who have applied for certain visas and have been found ineligible by a U.S. Consular Officer or U.S. Embassy, will be able to mail requests to waive certain grounds of inadmissibility directly to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Lockbox facility (in the U.S.). This change affects where individuals abroad, who have been found inadmissible for an immigrant visa or a nonimmigrant K or V visa, must send their waiver applications. Currently, applicants experience processing times from one month to more than a year depending on which Embassy or Consulate accepted their waiver. This centralization of filing the waivers with USCIS in the U.S. will provide customers with faster and more efficient
application processing and consistent adjudication. It is part of a broader agency effort to transition to domestic filing and adjudication; it does not reflect a change in policy or the standards by which the applications are adjudicated. Individuals filing waiver applications with a USCIS Lockbox will now be able to track the status of their case online. The change affects filings for Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility; Form I-212, Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the United States After Deportation or Removal; and Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, (if filed after a denial of a Form I-601 or Form I-212). The advantages of using a USCIS lockbox are (a) the applicant can avoid a second trip to the consulate/embassy to file the waiver after the consular interview takes place, (b) consulate-byconsulate variations in filing requirements are eliminated, (c) delays in forwarding cases from the consulate to USCIS are eliminated, (d) the applicant will get a receipt notice and can take
Gail S. Seeram advantage of online case status updates and instant email notification when there is a change in case status, such as an approval, and (e) there will be an expected increase in consistency in the standard for approval. In practice, once you attend your interview and you are found inadmissible to the U.S. and your pending petition is denied, then the applicable waiver, supporting evidence and filing fees are sent to the USCIS lockbox in the U.S. (not to the U.S. Embassy). The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) will now be adjudicating or making a decision on these waivers. If USCIS/NSC approves the waiver, then USCIS has to notify the consulate and the consulate has to get the immigrant visa into the applicant’s passport. The whole process from filing the application to getting the visa in the passport (if approved) is more likely to be 6-9 months. Note, this is a new process and until it is fully implemented, we cannot be convinced that the processing times are better than those previously given at the U.S. Embassy. Again, this new process is only available to visa applicants OUTSIDE the United States seeking a waiver for a denied petition based on a ground of inadmissibility.
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Every country has ministerial rascals but… One of the things the people of this land and the international community must drive home to the PPP leadership is that they must investigate financial and moral depravities committed by people within their ranks because as it stands, Guyana is the only country where the government does not act against horrible wrongdoing by high-ranking politicians in power. No one can be that foolish to believe that venal behaviour among governmental leaders is confined to only a particular group of nations in the world. The average citizen from all parts of the globe, if they read their news, would know in the most democratic and powerful of nations, corruption and immoral behaviour among serving governmental leaders can be found. The great United States is no exception. Super-rich Japan is no exception. The democratic nations of the European Union are no exception. Guyana is perhaps the only State in the world where graphic and glaring skullduggery is committed by top serving politicians and
party-aligned bureaucrats and there is absolutely no official inquiry. Jagdeo as President lashed out at corruption in the US involving spending for the Iraqi war. And he was right. What Jagdeo left out and deliberately so in order to avoid being exposed is that there have been umpteen congressional inquiries into misappropriations when they have been brought to the attention of Congress. Under Jagdeo’s twelveyear hegemony, there was only one probe into the alleged misconduct of a high official. I mentioned in my Friday column the inquiry into the Neermal Rekha affair. And the investigation further demonstrated the nastiness of power lustfulness in this country. I say most unambiguously that even in the most brutal dictatorship, a senior official who was found to have signed more than fifty bogus duty concession letters would have been sanctioned. Mr. Rekha was never charged or sanctioned or disciplined. He remains to this day in the same position of Secretary to the Treasury. Which leader in which
country would have tolerated “Killaman”? He drifted from one sordid, abominable indiscretion to another and each time his reward was a higher post. Contrast our sister CARICOM country, Trinidad. Rekha and “Killaman” would have been consigned to the dustbin of politics if they had done in Trinidad what they were accused of in Guyana. In Trinidad, a Minister was sacked because a contract awarded by her Ministry was given to a company of which her husband was one of the managers. Comparing Guyana and Trinidad along a continuum of one to ten, Trinidad would get full marks while Guyana would get none. Each time the depraved ones in the corridors of power open their mouths in rebutting charges of corruption, they tell the nation that corruption exists all over the globe. They think the Guyanese people are fools. People know that the difference between the government of Guyana and other States is that the PPP leaders are shameless when it comes to not acting against the most vicious and horrible
forms of financial illegalities committed within their own ranks. The ABC envoys in Guyana must have been sleeping since Mrs. Jagan handed the presidency to Mr. Jagdeo. And they have slept through the first eighteen months of Ramotar’s presidency. Something has awakened them the past month. They are now pointing to ubiquitous corruption in this land. It is as perennial as the grass, but they must have been taking their perennial naps so they couldn’t see it. Is that something the Ed Duran affair? Are the governments of America, Britain and Canada in possession of evidence that top politicians were involved in helping a US Embassy
official to sell visas? Is this the type of evidence that has finally convinced them? I doubt it! The corruption jumbie stalks this country twenty-four hours every day. I believe the evidence we in the media community have, the envoys and officials in the IDB and World Bank know too. It is not only that corruption is graphic, blatant and pervasive; it is the scale of it that is simply mind-boggling. Billions and billions of dollars have been siphoned off. I met a prominent opposition-friendly lawyer in the National Park who said to me that there has to be some secret reason why the US has not acted against the PPP Government, because the corruption monster is so
Frederick Kissoon gargantuan that the US has to know. I suggested that he hazard a guess. His opinion is that the US Government made a deal with the PPP regime to be provided with intelligence data on Hugo Chavez in exchange for not pressuring the PPP on corruption. He may be right. But what is it that has caused them to wake up?
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Book Review: BOOK: Mystical Speed by Hubert Guscott CRITIC: Dr Glenville Ashby What is likely to happen when five young men: LongPants, Joe, White- Shoes, Trini and Leroy embark on a trip to Jamaica to find the elixir of sprinting? What makes Jamaican runners so competitive? What ingredient produces world champions time and time again? Hard work, determination and grit, for sure. Or is it? What about their food, their language, or even their dance moves? To these American lads it is a phenomenon, an encryption that could only be decoded through careful study and even dreams. Not overly satisfied with their coach, they spy on other Jamaican coaches keenly looking for that formula. In one hilarious scene WhitePants records an exchange
Kaieteur News
Sunday July 07, 2013
A Tongue-in-Cheek look at Jamaica’s Athletic Supremacy between a coach and his athletes. The verbal interaction is incomprehensible, gibberish. – “Morning missa budy buddy. Mi nuh buddy fi you. Who ben tell you. Ten ten a sah. Sah, Sah bye yah. Yah bye yah see. See a go. Go go Falls. Falla, falla ma. Ma ma, jiggy. Jiggy. Jiggy. Flash. The boys jump up and down. “This is definitely a code.” Author Hubert Guscott shrouds the simple truths of industry and faith with esotericism, the occult and folklore. Yes, it borders on the bizarre at intervals but meaningfulness always seeps through. The result is a piece of story-telling - buoyant, jocular and captivating. In a work peppered with Jamaican argot that at times befuddle the American aspirants; the reader is taken on a literary joyride that is
memorably flippant and equally instructive. It is paradox that works for Guscott. He fuses reality with the phantasmagoric, honouring the title to the hilt. Why the supernatural? One can only speculate. Maybe the boys’ encounter with the spirit world increases their faith, unearthing supreme courage to succeed? Maybe, unrivaled accomplishment in this world is driven by an unseen force, a daemon or muse who guides us. Mystical Sprint supports such theories and more. Admittedly, there is little in the way for character development except for the womanizing Long-Pants and the swindling Brother Anancy. Then again, there is little need for extraneity in such a work. Barring a rendezvous and an aborted
conquest turn chaotic with a girl that Long Pants hardly knows, the script stays on course as these five young men comb Jamaica, even falling prey to the duplicitous Brother Anancy as they obsess over becoming the world’s fastest athletes. Mystical Runner is a rare candidate for adaptation - a panoramic look at Caribbean culture - electric, laissez-faire, unpretentious but deeply philosophical, authentic and aphorismic. The lessons learned transcend sports and culture. They are immutable and pedagogical in all endeavours. The boys are gullible, naïve and trusting but are simple and genuine. In one dizzying scenario, the boys are convinced that Jamaican speedsters are wired by an electrical impulse. Observing ace sprinter Marcus
descending the hills with bag in hand singing, “Bagga wire and hold them Marcus,” White-Shoes shouts, “That is the secret, the wires are in the bag.” And in a far more perilous episode they are protected by the ghosts of Cudjoe and the Maroons against the sheer terror of rolling calves and the ghosts of plantation owners. It is a scene in the mountains where they had sought the magic of Jamaican yams courtesy of the wiles of Brother Anancy. In the climactic battle where biblical invocations resound and Psalm 91 is recited over and over, an apocalyptic battle between good and evil ensues. The boys emerge victorious but shaken. Their faith and confidence strengthen after the encounter. They attend a religious service before returning to America where they handsomely win at the renowned County championship. But for all their theories and enquiries they eventually realise that the
Holy Grail or the Philosopher’s Stone lies within, waiting to be discovered. That our ability to conjure superhuman will isn’t alien. That, may be with some assistance from our “guardians,” it is indeed very possible, “Oh, what an eclectic group of good young men determined to humble the competition. More importantly, though, is their obedience to their mothers. In turn, their parents lovingly acquiesce to their wish to travel in Jamaica. Here, I too am moved to cite scripture: “I was once young but now I am old but never have I seen the righteous forsaken or their seeds begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25.) glenvilleashby @gmail.com/Follow me on Twitter@glenvilleashby Mystical Speed by Hubert Guscott Outskirts Press, Inc. 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4787-1327-2 Available: Amazon.com/ Barnes and Noble.com Rating: Recommended
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MY COLUMN
Trying to change history History is full of examples of people trying to rewrite history. In fact, there are times when people wonder whether the facts that they are reading as history are really what took place. There have been times when the dates were wrong and there have been the exaggeration of incidents. Sometimes there have been omissions to the point that when what was omitted is taken into consideration the recorded history is changed, dramatically. Just this week I happened to read something about how the United States of America came by its name. The recorded history attributed the name to a number of people, admittedly though, never definitively. So this past week someone doing research actually credited the name of the country to George Washington. He stumbled upon a letter that had been written before the date many people believed that the name was coined. All this happened 274 years ago, so one finds out that the history can actually be changed. People reading about the United States would get another version of the history of the country. In Guyana, we talk about the Berbice Slave Rebellion and we attribute the date of this event as February 23, 1763. This allowed Guyana to set up the first independent state even before the United States was independent. However, researchers are now finding out that there was no rebellion on February 23, 1763. Our history will be
changed, although I doubt that any discovery would actually make its way into the history books. I am not a historian. Of course in school, I was forced to learn English history. So I learnt about Charlemagne and the King Richards and Jeanne D’Arc, things that should not really interest me, but there were people who thought such things interesting to the point that they needed to be perpetuated. I am still looking at the history of the various wars that occurred in the last century and I am finding out that changes are being made all the time. For example, during the Second World War there was a group of Airmen called the Tuskegee Airmen. They were Black and it turned out that they were among the best airmen to escort the bombers into Europe. However, the history of the war did not really document them. It was not until long after, when many of them had died, that the American authorities actually gave them their due. The history books were changed to acknowledge this group of airmen. President Donald Ramotar made these things come to mind when in Trinidad he sought to rewrite the history of Caricom. Four men initiated the regional integration movement and one of them was Guyana’s Forbes Burnham. This year marked the fortieth anniversary of the signing of the agreement that gave Caricom its existence.
That agreement was signed in Trinidad and became known as the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The founding fathers, Burnham, Trinidad’s Eric Williams, Jamaica’s Michael Manley and Barbados’s Errol Barrow, all affixed their signature. Those records are there and the original document exists in the archives. It cannot be wished away. It was therefore surprising that President Donald Ramotar travelled to Trinidad and sought to change the history of the regional integration movement. The summit decided that it would recognize the founding fathers and speaker after speaker spoke of the foresight of these men. Then it was Donald Ramotar’s turn. For him, Burnham did not exist; he was not there to sign the Treaty of Chaguaramas. President Ramotar spoke of the wisdom of the founding of Caricom and he spoke of the role of Dr Cheddi Jagan in the fight for regional integration, but nothing about Burnham. He obviously forgot that Cheddi Jagan refused to join the West Indies Federation. That he refused to allow University of Guyana to be a part of the University of the West Indies. In fact, Cheddi
Jagan was not a regional integration person. It was as if the name stuck in his throat or that if he were to mention it then he would collapse and die or run to some church to seek absolution. History will show that Burnham was not the best thing to face the People’s Progressive Party that Donald Ramotar now heads. History will show that Ramotar and his followers both at home and abroad, campaigned
unceasingly for Burnham’s removal from office. This never happened. Indeed Ramotar would have hated Burnham with a vengeance, but to go on a global stage and to try to wish away Burnham was something stupid. It was embarrassing, to say the least, that everyone at the summit recognized this, and they must be saying that Guyanese must be the pettiest people in the world. Trinidad’s Kamla Persad-Bissessar is from a
Adam Harris party other than Eric Williams, but she recognized his role. Donald Ramotar could not appreciate Burnham’s.
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Sunday July 07, 2013
(Part 2)
OUR ARCHDUKES OF UNPRINCIPLEDOM - PPP & Procurement By Khemraj Ramjattan, AFC Leader Last week I cleared the air as to what the PPP’s position was in 2003 on the Public Procurement Commission. Just to repeat for emphasis, its position was that once this Public Procurement Commission comes into being as commanded by our Constitution since 2001, Cabinet’s role in all matters concerning procurement awards will cease. This position was merely to fool everybody, because since that time this most important Commission deliberately was not constituted. Not being constituted and made operational permits a massive gorging at the trough. That the joint Opposition can leverage its coming into being, and has recently been doing so, the PPP Government has been forced now, one decade later, to lift the veil and pronounce that before it constitutes the Commission it wants what it calls a no-objection power over all contracts to be awarded over the amount of G$15M. Shed of its technical description, a no-objection power in the Cabinet means a power to object to any award over G$15M being made by the Public Procurement Commission. So the ultimate authority will still be ceded in the Cabinet in relation to contracts over G$15M. This was never what the Constitution Amendment of 2001, (articles 222 W to 222
EE), intended. It never was what the PPP Government mouthed as being its position in 2003. Cabinet in Guyana, from whichever Government that Cabinet is formed, ought not to have, nor should be allowed, any role whatsoever on the granting or nongranting of awards concerning procurement of services, goods and materials. At the last meeting of the AFC and President Donald Ramotar at Office of the President, I had asked the President to present his arguments as to why he now wants this no-objection power as a condition for the constitution and operationalisation of this Commission. He indicated that Dr. Luncheon will send me the arguments. Dr. Luncheon has since done so. It is here stated verbatim: “Cabinet No-objection serves the following: 1. To examine and confirm adherence with procedures by all levels of the procurement system of awards exceeding G$15M. 2. To exclusively exercise the discretion of recommending or not recommending awards resulting from compliant procurement procedures whose execution are judged by Cabinet to be contrary to or inconsistent with sound current sectoral financial and economic realities. For example, a properly executed procedure that leads to a potential award that the government deems unacceptably too high or too low or that fails to accord with current reality in a sector.
Neither the NPTAB, the procurement entity, nor the Public Procurement Commission is vested with powers to exercise such discretions. That discretion is uniquely and exclusively reposed in the Executive and is not delegated to any other Authority statutorily or constitutionally. In essence, where else than at the level of Cabinet can the following considerations be brought to bear on awards of contracts: 1) The price for the successful bidder is too high or too low 2) The potential award conflicts with acutely developing situations in the Sector that warrant the annulment of the tender, e.g. GOG -Donor engagements Acute sectoral shocks Acute adverse financial sectoral developments Such situations demand timely and appropriate responses that are outside of the remit of any authority other than that of the Executive. “ I was not surprised at the tenuity of this attempt at Government’s rationalisation. This attempt vindicates the control-freakism which has pervaded all quarters of this Government. I want to deal with Dr. Luncheon’s purported reasons seriatim. His first reason not only constitutes a duplication, but, moreover, is a complete usurpation of the function of the Public Procurement Commission by the Cabinet. Our Supreme Law granted
Khemraj Ramjattan to the Public Procurement Commission, by Article 212 AA (1), (a) and (d) this identical function which Dr. Luncheon argues must inhere in the Cabinet. Once this function is explicitly stated to be elsewhere, Cabinet is ousted from executing such a function. This is what Article 212 AA (1) (a) and (d) says: “The functions of the Public Procurement Commission are to monitor and review the functioning of all public procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with law and such policy and guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly… and monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to adherence to regulations…” Wordy but not worthy, Dr. Luncheon’s second reason is wholly luncheonesque. It is lengthy and lacks clarity and is intended to be so. But even if it is broken into parts to get some meaning out of it, it is still hugely flawed. Take this part, for example: “To exclusively exercise the discretion of recommending or not recommending awards resulting from compliant procurement procedures
whose execution are judged by Cabinet to be contrary to or inconsistent with sound current sectoral financial and economic realities.” To this I wish to question that if Cabinet clearly defines projects which are consistent with national needs and priorities or its policies, how will these projects be inconsistent with sound current sectoral, financial and economic realities? To illustrate, if the national need as determined by the Cabinet is to have a sugar refinery and packaging plant in keeping with its policy to improve the sugar industry, this project must have been consistent with sound sectoral, financial and economic realities. Our Cabinet would be out of its mind to propose as a project to send a man to the moon as that would be inconsistent with any sound sectoral or economic realities. If that were so our entire Cabinet should be shipped off there permanently. Take this other part which he argues, namely, when “the Government deems a potential award unacceptably high or low or fails to accord reality.” To this I wish to rebut that this is exactly what the Public Procurement Commission functions are all about, to monitor the awards of the Tender Boards, which by the way would have benefitted from the Engineer’s Estimates done by Government personnel. If the first instance award is too high or too low or fails to accord with reality, the Public Procurement Commission is to remedy this under the Constitution. Not Cabinet! So the argument that the Procurement Commission is not vested with any discretion or authority, statutorily or constitutionally, is misconceived. I do not
think Dr. Luncheon read the entirety of the functions of the Public Procurement Commission in Article 212 AA. He would have seen this discretion, and jurisdiction and power, “to initiate investigations to facilitate effective functioning of procurement systems, to investigate cases of irregularity and mismanagement and propose remedial action.” Is this not sufficient to take care of situations when awards are to high or too low or not in accord with reality? What else could the Constitution be speaking about or intending to get at? And “remedial action” necessarily must mean annulment of an award that is so outrageous. But even if Dr. Luncheon is looking so hard and yet not seeing these discretions and powers granted to the Public Procurement Commission by the Constitution, then I wish to relieve him of his fears. Rather than renege and somersault on an earlier position by proposing that Cabinet should exercise such discretion and power, he should under Article 212 AA (2) ask the National Assembly to grant these other discretions and powers to the Public Procurement Commission which he thinks are absent. This is what that provision says: “In addition to the functions prescribed in this Constitution, the functions of the Commission may be provided for by law; any addition thereto in the Constitution shall be approved by the votes of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly but the removal or variation of any function shall be by the votes of not less than two-thirds of such members.”
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SUNDAY SPECIAL DIAMOND ROAD WIDENING …CONTRACTOR, ENGINEER CAUSE MILELONG TRAFFIC JAM DAILY- GOV’T OFFICIAL The progress of East Bank Demerara Public Road widening works at Diamond is once again in the spotlightthis time, for the slothful rate of progress. This is interrupting the smooth flow of traffic. According to a government official, the Public Works Ministry is cognizant of the lengthy and fuel-consuming wait commuters have either turning into Diamond Housing Scheme or heading to Grove. The road widening programme between Providence and Diamond was awarded to three contractors—Dipcon, GuyCo Construction and BK International. BK International is responsible for the Diamond section. One government official said that he has been far behind schedule for a long time. He was approached repeatedly by the Public Works Ministry’s Engineer and was told to complete the road leading into Diamond Housing Scheme. This failure is creating a mile-long traffic jam daily. One engineer said that most of the work should be undertaken at nights when there is little or no traffic. That is how the first stage of the East Bank four-lane highway was built. During peak hours, the workers would halt work to allow for the smooth flow of traffic. This is not being done by this contractor and traffic jams are the usual thing. No work is being done at nights so the project is lagging far behind schedule. CORRUPTION ISSUE TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT INVESTMENT
Kaieteur News
SEMINAR It was supposed to be a straightforward two-day forum geared to improve Guyana’s investment profile. But the Guyana Investment Seminar, organized mainly by the diplomatic community and a number of prominent sectors, was anything but that. On Friday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Government went on the defensive, maintaining that the local investment climate remains healthy, but that a few things need fixing. This was minutes after a regional expert, hired to implement a crime and security strategy for CARICOM, said that there is a perception that corruption is prevalent or endemic in Guyana. Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, made it clear that his government was unhappy over the agenda for the seminar which while it dealt in no small way with crime and security of Guyana, failed to address burning issues of cost of power and bandwidth. The Minister, clearly at odds with the tone of the seminar, also echoed President Donald Ramotar, who on Thursday blamed international perception reports for negatively affecting investments to Guyana. The government was one of the organizers with the High Commission of Canada as the lead organiser. MONDAY EDITION JAGDEO ADMINISTRATION ACCEPTS 69 TOILET SETS AT $424,000 EACH IN AIRPORT CONTRACT The Bharrat Jagdeo-led administration that secretly inked the contract for the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), agreed to pay China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) a
staggering $424,212 for a single toilet set. In that contract with CHEC, the Guyana Government agreed to a price of $29.3M for the 69 toilet sets This publication found on sale Sunday in Georgetown, toilet sets selling retail, one for $33,600 and another for $22,000. Checks at other suppliers have revealed toilet sets on sale for as low as $15,500 while others can be found for $30,000 or even $20,000. Outspoken columnist and author of the Sunday Stabroek Business Page, Christopher Ram, in his continued analysis of the once secret airport deal between the then Jagdeo Government and the Chinese Contractor lambasted the administration over what it had signed on to. Ram said that at present it seems that Guyanese seem to have lost the capacity to be offended, shocked or even becoming angry but “maybe, just maybe, the toilets and urinals are the tipping point.” Ram, in dissecting the various aspects of the controversial contract said, “Before getting into those mega-bucks let us look at the prices being charged for some of the items we all can identify with, things like toilet sets and urinals, washbasins, sinks and showers.” DRUNK DRIVER KILLS KEY WITNESS IN VIGILANTE MURDER CASE A woman who was a key witness in the May 9 vigilante-style killing of Alfred Munroe, was herself killed Sunday after being struck by a speeding driver. Annie Persaud, 22, called ‘Short hair,’ was struck down early Sunday morning on Portuguese Quarters Public Road, Corentyne. She succumbed several hours later. The driver was detained.
TUESDAY EDITION MAN DIES TRYING TO RECOVER STOLEN CAR MIRRORS The bravado of a 37-yearold auto electrician cost him his life when he tried to intercept members of a spare parts-thieving gang on Sunday night. Jagdeo Thakurdeen, called ‘Blondie’, of Django Town, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, was hurled from a car after he had jumped onto its bonnet in an attempt to apprehend the persons who had stolen the mirrors off his friend’s vehicle. His body was discovered lying on the Good Hope Railway Embankment around 22:00 hours, next to the crashed car from which he was hurled. This was after a high speed chase. Thakurdeen had been clinging to the bonnet of the car from La Bonne Intention a few miles away. Initially, the police began treating the matter as a simple fatal accident. GUYANAAGREES TO PAY CHINESE CONTRACTOR CHEC $297,000 EACH FOR URINALS IN AIRPORT CONTRACT …CAN BE SOURCED HERE FOR $13,000
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The Guyana Government has agreed to pay China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), $297,694 for the supply of each of the six urinals to be installed in the expanded Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). A similar urinal is retailed in the capital for prices ranging from $12,000 to $20,000. Checks at retail outlets revealed that urinals were being sold for $11,995 at National Hardware, $13,148 at Gafsons Industries and $17,900 at Hamsons General Store. The $297,694 that Guyana has agreed to pay CHEC for a urinal excludes VAT and all duties and taxes required to import the items from China. Under the contract document, the goods, technologies and services to be used are to be purchased from China “preferentially”. WEDNESDAY EDITION GUILTY!!! EX-COAST GUARD RANKS SENTENCED TO DEATH The three ex-Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard ranks charged with the August 2009 murder of Bartica gold miner Dweive Kant Ramdass, were Tuesday all found guilty and sentenced to death by Justice Franklyn Holder. The judge had earlier summed up the case and the 12-member jury returned later in the afternoon with a unanimous verdict after a little more than half an hour of deliberations. The defendants – Sherwin Hart, Devon Gordon and Deon Greenidge – were found guilty of the murder which occurred on August 20, 2009 at Caiman Hole in the Essequibo River. The prosecution’s case was that the men forced Ramdass into their boat and took him to the aforementioned location where they relieved him of $17M in cash he was carrying in a box to Bartica for his employer, before dumping him overboard. Senior State prosecutor Judith Gildharie-Mursalin
presented the case, while Attorney at law Latchmie Rahamat represented the three accused. As the verdict was being read to the three men, one could hear loud gasps from the dock. From their facial expressions, they all appeared shocked by the verdict. One of the men’s relatives burst into tears. The woman had to be consoled by other relatives who were inside the court. PRESIDENT RAMOTAR CALLS FOR NONINTERFERENCEAT US PRE-INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION The fact that the relationship between Guyana and the United States has evolved since forging diplomatic ties in 1966, was highlighted Tuesday evening by President Donald Ramotar as he offered remarks at the 237th Independence Day celebration of the United States hosted by Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt, and his wife at their residence. However, even as he spoke of the friendly ties the two countries share, the Guyanese Head of State, in diplomatic style, emphasised the need for the relations to always abide within “the principals of mutual respect and understanding and noninterference in each other’s affairs.” “These are the important principles laid down by the United Nations following the terrible consequences of the Second World War, which should always be our guide. That is the right of nations to self-determination. That is what our early leaders were trying to assert in the struggle for independence and in post-Independent Guyana.” THURSDAY EDITION US CONSULAR OFFICER UNDER PROBE IN VISA RACKET More than a decade after the Thomas Carroll visa scandal was exposed, the Department of State of the (Continued on page 37)
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Ronald Gajraj, Gail Teixeira and Clement Rohee – the last three Ministers of Home Affairs appointed by the People’s Progressive Party Civic – have pursued a public security policy which has failed to make the country safe and citizens secure. The ministers have preferred to concentrate on a series of short-term remedies aimed at controlling day-to-day policing instead of introducing a coherent, comprehensive, long-term security sector reform strategy. They studiously avoided reforming the Guyana Police Force in any serious way. This approach resulted in a bizarre relationship with Axel Williams; employment of the Peruvian Leonardo Caparros Gamarra; the attempted recruitment of American Bernard Kerik and other questionable appointments. It has also led to the adoption of a rash of half-baked, semi-functional security schemes such as the Neighbourhood Policing Programme, Community Policing Groups, Crime Stoppers Scheme and the Citizens’ Security Programme – all aimed at increasing ministerial control. None of these has ever delivered the security dividend the country deserves. The PPPC administration ignored the report of the National Steering Committee on Crime which conducted public consultations in 2002. It ignored the recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission which was
Kaieteur News
established in 2003. It ignored the advice of the National Commission on Law and Order which it established in 2005. It ignored the numerous studies from United Kingdom experts – including those from the Metropolitan Police and the Scottish Police College. It ignored the British DfID-sponsored Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) for which the memorandum of understanding was signed on 10th August 2007. The PPPC decided instead to introduce the Citizen Security Programme (CSP) which has been funded by a US$19.8 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).CSP, however, is not a relevant response to the current crime crisis. It has not emerged from the numerous local efforts, experiences and exertions of the many committees and commissions. It does not fully incorporate the recommendations for rectifying specific problems of public security. The Citizens Security Programme is a scheme that was invented by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) to suit postcivil war situations in Latin American states such as El Salvador and Guatemala not everyday law-enforcement in Guyana. The IDB has financed CSPs in Colombia, Chile, Honduras, Nicaragua and Uruguay, states which have completely different criminal, communal and cultural profiles to Guyana. CSP is also not national in scope. It has been tailored to deal only with certain types
of crimes, common to the supposedly troublesome Demerara-Mahaica and East Berbice-Corentyne regions. CSP ignores serious crimes. It provides no enforcement response to everyday armed robbery, piracy, narcotics-smuggling, gun-running and trafficking in persons in the Barima-Waini, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Potaro-Siparuni, Rupununi and other hinterland regions which fuel crime in the rest of the country. The PPPC was bent on borrowing money to spend on the CSP model, because it placed total control in the hands of the political minister. Rohee, however, has been in no hurry even to introduce the palliative measures provided for in this programme. He had all the time in the world to think about CSP. The IDB, seven years ago in June 2006, announced the approval of a US$19.8 M loan to support the programme. Rohee sat at the table at the very Ministry of Home Affairs alongside Minister of Finance Ashni Singh and then IDB resident representative Sergio Varas-Olea at the signing ceremony for the contract for the programme in January 2007. The current CSP variant – Ministry of Home Affairs-Citizen Security Programme: Institutional Modernisation of Guyana Police Force – was developed by Capita Symonds of East Grinstead, West Sussex, England. The main document was sent to the Programme Co-ordinator since 23rd February 2011. Rohee
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then waited 22 months before holding a press conference on 31st December 2012 to present selective excerpts of the plan to the public. The current CSP proposes changes only in four areas – administration, successionplanning, professionalization and public relations. That’s all! The original CSP was predicated on fostering dialogue with the people –a disposition rarely displayed either by the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Guyana Police Force. The programme, if it is to succeed, needed to establish community action councils to initiate discussions and arrive at solutions which are community-owned, community-led and community-driven, not ministrymandated. The programme ought to have encouraged popular participation by employing community action officers to help to organise residents into groups to find local solutions to criminal violence. CSP has not worked because it was never intended to. The PPPC administration, if it to avoid collapse in the security sector, must ensure that its Minister of Home Affairs desists from the sort of micro-management and overbearing control of officers’ careers. He must adopt modern managerial structures and systems to develop policies to fight criminal violence. These are the realities of the public safety environment today. These are Rohee’s responsibilities.
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From page 27 United States of America is once again probing alleged improprieties involving one of its Consular Officers. The investigations are reportedly centered on the sale of US visas at the US Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana by Consular Officer Edy Duran. The embassy on Wednesday confirmed reports that a probe was underway, stating that “the Department of State is aware of allegations of improprieties relating to a Consular Officer formerly assigned to Georgetown, Guyana.” “The Department takes all allegations of misconduct by employees seriously. We are reviewing the matter thoroughly. If the allegations are substantiated, we will work with the relevant authorities to hold anyone involved accountable,” the Embassy’s press release stated. Kaieteur News understands that Duran is back in the United States of America, having had his tour of duty truncated at the Georgetown Embassy where he was reportedly dealing mainly dealing with marriagerelated visas. Reliable sources have informed that while he is not under arrest at present, his services have been terminated. He arrived in Guyana in July 2011 and his tour of duty should have ended in September 2013. He is now in the US having left here just under three weeks ago. He is not at his native Mission, Texas but in Virginia. A source told this reporter that the fact that Duran is in Virginia would suggest that he “is in a lot of trouble”. GOVT. DEFENDS $424,000
Kaieteur News
TOILET BOWLS FOR CJIA —SAYS PRICE INCLUDES DOORS, FITTINGS, PROFITS, LABOUR Government has defended the cost of toilet bowls for the US$150M expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). On Wednesday officials said that the contract signed was a lump sum one for that section of the contract. “The articles fail to reflect that under such contracts the cost for each line item usually includes several other costs including materials, labour, overheads, transportation and profit.” According to the contract signed between Government and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) on November 10, 2011, the new airport wanted 69 toilet bowls costing US$2,121.06 each. This worked out to
US$146,353.14 or over $29M. This translated to $424,212 for each bowl. In defending the contract price, the Ministry of Public Works said that it wished to “clarify” and “correct the renewed misconceptions being carried by Kaieteur News” on CJIA’s expansion project. The Ministry said that the stated costs of the bowls included the costs of the sewer lines and cubicle doors. “For the particular sanitary items mentioned, there is no pricing stated for sewer lines, washroom cubicles and doors and the many fittings associated with the washroom; these are all catered for in the line item pricing such as “toilet set” – as is the case for all lump sum contracts.” FRIDAY EDITION RAISED EYEBROWS
OVER FLYGUYANA REPRESENTATIVE The idea of seeking to remedy the current shortfall in airlift to Guyana is a welcomed one, but eyebrows are now rising over information emanating out of the United States about representative of newlyintroduced airline entrant Fly Guyana. Hopes are that the presumably promising charter is not a repeat of the recently failed EZjet, owned by Sonny Ramdeo. The government informed via press statement over the weekend that Harry Chowbey, representing Fly Guyana, registered his desire to start operating the Guyana /New York route by October this year. The Ministry of Tourism and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) described it as, “One of the most exciting pieces of news.” But how exciting are
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allegations of Fraud ( i n t e n t i o n a l misrepresentation); conversion, breach of written contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, negligent interference with prospective economic advantage and breach of fiduciary duty? At least that was what Chowbey was accused of back in 2005, when he was made president of the then California-located company, Victorville Aerospace. The information about the court case (http:// www.fearnotlaw.com/articles/ article10091.html) says that a lawsuit was filed against Chowbey when he was alleged to have “embezzled a substantial sum of money from company’s bank account.” RAMOTAR SOUNDS URGENT CALL FOR GREATER INTEGRATION - AS CARICOM OBSERVES 40TH ANNIVERSARY Leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Thursday returned to historic Chaguaramas to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the regional trade and integration bloc. Their message was clear – despite the pessimism, CARICOM remains relevant, with President Donald Ramotar saying the need for integration is even greater today than on July 4, 1973. On that date, the leaders of Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas, establishing CARICOM. “Today even though much has changed and we have made some progress, the need for integration is probably greater now than when the Treaty was signed years ago.
The financial and economic crises that began in Europe and North America have impacted heavily on our region and clearly the need for us to have greater integration has become more urgent,” Ramotar said. In a re-enactment of the signing ceremony 40 years ago, President Ramotar did what Forbes Burnham did back in 1973 for Guyana, but while he saluted the courage and foresight of the original founding fathers, he stayed away from mentioning Burnham’s name, something that the other Prime Ministers did not shy away from doing. In fact, at the opening c e r e m o n y We d n e s d a y evening, the Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart quoted Burnham on the need for the integration of the countries of CARICOM. SATURDAY EDITION BUILDING EXPO TO CHURN OUT 1,000 NEW POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS At the end of this year’s International Building Expo, 1,000 potential homeowners would not only secure their house lots but would have accessed financing from financial institutions to erect their dream homes. This was according to Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali, at the opening ceremony Friday evening on the tarmac of the National Stadium, Providence. The tarmac was transformed into a market place for goods and services in the building and construction sector, financial sector and home furnishings. “Silica City”, the exposition’s centre piece symbolizes a significant stride for the housing sector as it seeks to provide residential and commercial development simultaneously among hills and valleys. This initiative is as a direct result of limited land on the coastland. Kuru Kururu has been identified as the community the Ministry wants to open-up for this t r a n s f o r m a t i v e development along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Selling the idea of “Silica City” as a desirable location Ali said Kuru Kururu is 43 kilometres away from the Demerara Harbour Bridge, 37 kilometres away from Diamond and 11 kilometres away from Splashmins. Ali said that with the right infrastructure and public transport system this investment could be done in a sustainable manner.
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HERBAL STIMULANT KHAT TO BE BANNED The herbal stimulant khat is to be banned by the government, against the advice of its own Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. In January the ACMD said khat should remain a legal substance, saying there was “insufficient evidence” it caused health problems. But Home Secretary Theresa May has decided to ban it, saying the risks posed could have been underestimated. Khat will be treated as a class C drug, like anabolic steroids and ketamine. The Home Office said the ban was intended to “protect vulnerable members of our communities” and would be
brought in at the “earliest possible opportunity”. Khat is already banned in most of Europe and in a number of other countries, including the US and Canada. The UK’s decision to follow suit is based on security and international considerations, in particular concerns the UK could be used as a transit route for khat to other European countries. “Failure to take decisive action and change the UK’s legislative position on khat would place the UK at a serious risk of becoming a single, regional hub for the illegal onward trafficking,” Mrs May said in a statement. But campaigners said they were “disappointed and
concerned” at the government’s decision to reject the advisory council’s advice. “A more proportionate alternative to banning khat and criminalising its use would have been an import ban or making it a supply
offence only as applies, for example, to controlled anabolic steroids,” said Martin Barnes from charity Drugscope. Khat is traditionally used by members of the Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities. The Home Office commissioned a review by the ACMD and, reporting its results in January, it said
chewing khat produced a “mild stimulant effect much less potent than stimulant drugs, such as amphetamine”. The ACMD found “no evidence” khat, made from leaves and shoots of a shrub cultivated in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and containing the stimulant cathinone, was directly linked with serious or organised crime. But the government said on Wednesday that it was concerned that a lack of evidence could have led the ACMD to underestimate the risk to communities posed by the drug. Somali groups in the UK had told the ACMD that use of khat was a “significant social problem” and said it caused medical issues and family breakdowns.
The ACMD said withdrawal symptoms such as tiredness and depression were associated with khat, and recommended that the NHS should educate the public about these where necessary. A government spokesman said ministers wanted to allow police officers to use their discretion when dealing with low-level possession offences, much in the same way they approach those carrying cannabis for personal use. But repeat and serious offenders would face criminal sanctions, the spokesman added. Chief Constable Andy Bliss, speaking for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said “there could be a case” for treating khat possession in this way.
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Art under attack show to feature damaged Christ statue Over the centuries art works have been smashed, slashed, defaced, even bombed. Now the Tate has unveiled plans for the first exhibition to explore physical attacks on art in Britain from the 16th century to the present day. Art under Attack: Histories of British Iconoclasm opens at Tate Britain on 2 October. The centrepiece of the show is a damaged sculpture of Christ that lay hidden for hundreds of years beneath a floor of a London chapel. The Statue of the Dead Christ (c. 1500-1520) is missing its crown of thorns, arms and lower legs - thought to be the result of a brutal attack by religious reformers in the 16th century. It’s a hard exhibition to
make because very often we are dealing with fragments” The statue was discovered beneath the chapel floor of the Mercers’ Hall in central London in 1954. Experts think it may have been buried to protect it from further damage. Tate curator Tabitha Barber said she was “delighted” that the the Mercers’ Company had loaned the sculpture to the exhibition. “Confronted by the statue today, its emotional impact is still such that the danger of such images feared by 16th century reformers - the confusion between the real and the represented, or the sinful worship of an image instead of God - is near enough to be imagined. “This incredible loan will help us to explore the methods
The Statue of the Dead Christ was discovered in 1954 and is on loan for the first time and motives behind attacks on art in Britain over 500 years.” ‘Too topical’ At Friday’s launch at Mercer’s Hall, Tate Britain director Penelope Curtis admitted that the exhibition was almost “too topical” given a recent spate of attacks on art in the UK.
Britney Spears: I’m Working on “My Most Personal Album Ever” Oops, she’s going to do it again! Britney Spearstweeted about her upcoming new album, revealing that it’s not what most fans would expect. “Really excited 2 give u a taste of my new album…can’t wait 2 share what I’ve been working on,” the formerX Factor judge wrote on July 3. “Going to be my most personal album ever” she added with a smiley face. The 31-year-old singer’s upcoming album, which will.i.am is executive producer of, is tentatively due for the end of the year. Of the news that the record — which will be Spears’ eighth album — was voted “the most anticipated event of 2013” by Billboard.com’s annual mid-year poll, the mom
of two tweeted she was feeling “a lot of pressure.” Pressure aside, the blonde beauty is hard at work perfecting the much-awaited record. “It’s definitely at the beginning stages right now,” she said of the recording process while talking to Ryan Seacreston June 17. “But I want to definitely take this album and have a new approach with it and make it a little different than anything I’ve ever done.” Spears’ last album was 2011’s Femme Fatale. She last premiered her new song “Ooh La La” from theSmurfs 2 soundtrack on June 17. This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Britney Spears: I’m Working on “My Most Personal Album Ever”
Last October, a Mark Rothko mural was defaced with a marker pen at the Tate Modern gallery. A week ago, Constable’s The Hay Wain was targeted by a protester in the National Gallery. Ms Curtis said she had conceived the idea for a show about art attacks before she joined the Tate three years ago. “It’s a hard exhibition to make because very often we are dealing with fragments, and things which were hidden,” she said. The show explores why art has been attacked for religious, political or aesthetic
motives. Exhibits include fragments of a statue of William III and Nelson’s Pillar destroyed in Dublin during anti-British attacks in 1928 and 1966 respectively. A portrait of Oliver Cromwell hung upside down by the staunch monarchist Prince Frederick Duleep Singh (1868-1926) will also feature. Attacks by suffragettes are represented by two paintings, Edward BurneJones’s Sibylla Delphica, attacked in Manchester Art Gallery in 1913, and John Singer Sargent’s Henry
James, slashed at the Royal Academy in 1914. The curators stress that the exhibition is not about acts of random vandalism but “iconoclasm” - acts of destruction inspired by an ideology. The show will also consider how artists themselves have used destruction as a creative force. A piano destroyed by an axe by Ralph Montanez Ortiz in 1966 will go on display for the first time accompanied by an audio recording of the event. Asked about the security arrangements for exhibition, Ms Curtis told the BBC that the said that security levels at Tate Britain changed “week by week depending on circumstances”. Recent attacks on art works, she said, had been an “unhappy coincidence” while the exhibition was being put together.
“We all regret what’s been happening recently because it’s made it too topical almost,” she added. (BBC)
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The Butterfly From page 33 factors. They protect themselves by a variety of means. Chemical defences are widespread and are mostly based on chemicals of plant origin. In many cases the plants themselves evolved these toxic substances as protection against herbivores. Butterflies have evolved mechanisms to sequester these plant toxins and use them instead in their own defence. These defence mechanisms are effective only if they are also well advertised and this has led to the evolution of bright colours in unpalatable butterflies. This signal may be mimicked by other butterflies. These mimetic forms are usually restricted to the females.
Behavioural defences include perching and wing positions to avoid being conspicuous. Some female Nymphalid butterflies are known to guard their eggs from parasitoid wasps. Eyespots and tails are found in many lycaenid butterflies. It is thought that their function is to divert the attention of predators from the more vital head region. An alternative theory is that these cause ambush predators such as spiders to approach from the wrong end and allow for early visual detection. A butterfly's hind wings are thought to allow them to take swift, tight turns to evade predators. (Source: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)
Remigrant Scheme... From page 36 mortgage to $15M. It is a good question. For many, a mortgage ceiling of $15M would give them the home they want. The current $12M ceiling is cutting it too close. What I was told is that while there has been an application to the Government to have the limit raised to $15M, it has not yet been approved. Obviously, I would want to believe that considerations for raising the limit would depend on a number of factors, including the impact on the economy. However, I will raise this issue with the Government in the coming days to find out the reason for the delay. I am heading to Provi-
dence today. Hope the rains hold up and maybe I can have a barbecue leg or something at the Expo. Next week, we will review the show and its impact. In the meantime, use the opportunity to visit the show, talk to the suppliers and financial institutions, and maybe use the opportunity to ask the Housing Ministry officials there the status of your application for a house lot or a 'turn-key' home. I do hope that some good deals are made. In the meantime, enjoy the weekend and don't forget to write us on any suggestions, comments you may have. You can reach us at gildarie@yahoo.com.
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Issuance of photocopied NIS forms unacceptable The unacceptable “culture” of public medical practitioners occasionally issuing patients photocopied National Insurance Scheme (NIS) forms bearing the doctor’s signature, has to change, says Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer. According to Dr. Persaud, although NIS refuses to accept the photocopied forms because that would be to breach that organization’s protocol, healthcare professionals are not doing something illegal by issuing the forms. He explained that sometimes a medical doctor is swamped with work and having such forms on hand help to reduce the workload.
- Chief Medical Officer
Dr. George Norton
Dr. Shamdeo Persaud
But persons turned away from NIS because of this “culture” are displeased and are demanding better from
the public health system. A woman, who recently tested her eyes at West Demerara Regional Hospital’s
‘These young girls don’t understand... From page 9 still in primary school. Times have really changed. “Like my grandmother used to say, they just too hot and brazen. What is even more surprising is this whole live home situation among girls and boys who are just 16 and 18 years old. In my time, such practices were forbidden and frowned upon,” related the insightful woman. The grandmother of three explained that courting is of critical importance. Both men and women too often take for granted the fact that it takes time to understand a person. “Everyone puts their best foot forward for the first few months. It is imperative for partners to take their time and get to know each other. When I compare the way this ideal was seen then and n o w, it is disheartening. It is as t h o u g h , t h e r e is a total disregard for this process and I believe if taken seriously; it would save a lot of time wasted in some relationships. “I recall the time when I graduated from high school and there was a young man that was totally in love with
me. I was fond of him too but in those days a young lady is taught not to reveal too much of her emotions. Her mystery was something to be protected. “He must always wonder how you feel about him and not the other way around. So when he finally mustered the courage to write home for me, my father who somehow knew how that I had a liking for him, gathered the family together and read the letter aloud. I was nervous. At the end of the letter, I saw my mother smiling so I figured that was a good sign. “Daddy paused for a while and then mom broke the silence and said she was impressed but my father, on the other hand, rudely shouted that he was not and that the letter was filled with horrible punctuation marks, a few misspellings and his letter could have improved in its attempt to reflect his mannerisms. “My father eventually decided that he could come over for lunch. Just when I thought in his strict mind that he would somehow approve, he told the love of my life that I am too young for a
relationship and he is too young as well. He told the boy that I am too young to understand the responsibilities of being a woman in a relationship. “To this, my fiancé said that he understands and explained that he is willing to wait eight more years or until my father believed that I would be ready. But, my stubborn dad told him, don’t even bother waiting. She is not for you anyway. “The point of this little episode is to show that back in the days, whatever is the judgment passed by a parent, it has to be respected. You dare not disrespect your parent, but today? Look is like you can’t even talk to some of these young girls. “If they believe they like somebody then to hell with your advice. If they feel like after two weeks of talking that they found their soul mate and th e y r e a d y t o l i v e home, which I believe is a cultural disease and a total disregard for the respect and sanctity of a marriage, then that is what they do. The value system has been lost among our young girls today.”
Gauze removed from woman’s... From page 16 had grown back wasn't level but then it started paining,” said Moore, who stated that she was eventually forced to visit the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. She was given some tablets to ease the pain but that did not help her concerns. A subsequent x-ray revealed nothing, prompting medical personnel to deduce that Moore probably was stung by an insect and it became infected. “It was just a lump and nothing was showing on the skin,” she recalled. And since the pain didn't ease, Moore said that she
returned to the hospital last month and was admitted for three days after which she was discharged but was given July 3, 2013 as a date to return. The attending doctor was in fact treating the lump as an abscess and upon her return to the hospital he administered anaesthetic to the area before cutting the lump and proceeding to squeeze it. Although she was looking away she could not help but hear when the doctor exclaimed, 'Oh my God what is this?' “I said doctor don't tell me is what I thinking,” recounted Moore, who said she along
with a nurse witnessed the doctor remove a bloodied gauze from her foot. “He run to the phone and called some other doctor and had a conversation,” before completing his work on her foot, she recalled. Although bandaged, her foot now has a gaping wound but according to Moore she is thankful that the gauze was detected and removed. However, the mother of one said that she felt compelled to highlight the matter in the media in hopes that medical personnel would be more careful when attending to patients in order to prevent another such occurrence.
Low Vision Department, made some unflattering comments about the inconvenience she faced. According to the woman, her eyes were tested by a refractionist, who informed her that she was eligible to benefit from NIS spectacles voucher. The woman was issued with a photocopied NIS form bearing a doctor’s signature. “NIS refused to accept the form and so I went back to the hospital and I was told that this usually happens. Apparently, a meeting was held the same morning and the matter was raised but it seems the refractionist has no control over things. In the end I had to buy my
spectacles. I just wasted my time,” the woman said. According to Dr. George Norton, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament and Ophthalmologist, this situation derives from having “half done products” operating without supervision. Following a mini investigation, the Ophthalmologist told Kaieteur News that the refractionist is operating without the supervision of an Optometrist. He said that the refractionist cannot sign NIS forms. He reasoned that if NIS does not recognize the signature of a refractionist then those persons should
not operate without supervision or issue forms. According to Dr. Norton, the Low Vision Department is housed in a condemned building that is used to store old furnishings. The waiting area for patients is uncomfortable and open. In addition, the area where the refractionist operates is cooled by a fan. Dr. Norton said that the “dark room” should always have curtains over the window and the environment should be cooled by an air conditioning unit. Echoing Dr. Norton, the Chief Medical Officer, said no refractionist should perform duties without supervision. But, he is unaware of the situation at West Demerara Regional Hospital and has promised to investigate the matter.
BK Int’l distances self from... From page 7 of the expansion project, are grossly ill-informed and irresponsible. “Had Mr. Harmon taken the time to consult with BKI and with the Ministry of Public Works, the company would have readily placed the facts causing the delay at his disposal.” Without providing a date as to when the project is expected to conclude the press statement addressed the numerous appeals made by the contractor for the relocation of utilities. According to the release, the contractor began works on the project in January 2012 but was forced to suffer continued delays caused by the failure of the client (Government) to make adequate and timely provision for the removal and relocation of the public utilities within the project area. Nascimento made it clear that the company cannot proceed with its project construction if public utilities, such as power lines, gas lines, telephone lines and utility poles, are not removed and relocated by the contractors engaged to do this work. However, during an interview with Public Works Ministry Engineer, utilities (telephone, power lines, and water) were removed. The only possible hindrance that remained was the gas lines but
according to the engineer, following discussions with management of the Demerara Distillers Limited it was decided that a sleeve would have to be placed over the gas line that is near the bridge. According to Nascimento, “BKI has written numerous letters of complaints from the commencement of the project to the Resident Engineer and Team Leader of the Consulting group responsible for this project registering its concern about these delays.” Apparently, since February 2012, the failure to relocate utilities preventing the contractor from proceeding as scheduled would result in the company claiming costs and extension of time. This has been placed on record. “BKI has pointed out to the Consultants that the company has been required to maintain a full complement of personnel and equipment on site while being unable to proceed with planned construction activities at considerable loss and expense to the company,” Nascimento added. “Since that time, BKI has been forced to constantly and continuously write the Consultant. The company has pointed out that, particularly in the area between DSL and the Diamond Housing Scheme
intersection, the concentration of utilities servicing commercial banks, a petrol station, a beverage company, installed by GWI, GPL and GT&T are a cause of major delay.” According to Nascimento, last year June, the company notified the Consultant and Government that it “will suspend all works on the project with immediate effect” until the matter of the relocation of utilities, still to be solved, had been addressed. “However, in the interest of the project, BKI did not suspend works. The Consultant was written again in August last year, again in October and again in November,” he said. Nascimento stated that the consultant was written to in March by the company placing its readiness to begin works at the Diamond High Bridge. But, the relocation of the gas line servicing DDL and water mains under the bridge had not been decided on. “This major hindrance to the progress of construction work on the project continues to exist and is completely out of the control of the contractor. In addition, a late introduction varying the contract for concrete drains on the carriageway have further delayed the contract,” Nascimento added.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday July 07, 2013
Building Expo 2013…
GPL gives tips on electrical installations to homeowners By Rabindra Rooplall If you are a homeowner or business owner there are important things you need to know. According to Guyana Power Light (GPL) in order to protect property from fire and to prevent damage resulting from electrical installations there are guidelines to follow under the new Electrical Sector Regulations coming into effect. According to GPL representatives at the Building Expo, the National Electrical Code will mean greater convenience and consumer confidence as fire and other safety hazards associated with installations should be greatly reduced. WHATARE THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR REGULATIONS? The National Electrical Code will be the standard governing all electrical work, including construction, installation, maintenance, repair, upgrade, replacement,
An electrician executing works enhancement, and the inspection and testing of such works. The National Electrical Code will mean greater convenience and consumer confidence as fire and other safety hazards associated with installations should be greatly be reduced. (1) Only a person licensed by the Government Electrical Inspectorate (GEI) can install, alter, repair, refurbish, modify or extend any installation. An installation means any
Education Ministry... From page 50 remains committed to do its best to ensure more teachers are trained to teach this subject, everyone has to play their part. Unless there is a general change in attitude towards arts education, teachers
would not choose to specialize in this area. The private sector, the community and other organizations can play a pivotal role in the promotion of arts education by collaborating with the ministry and by supporting its programmes.
electrical appliance, wire, electrical cable, circuit, wall socket, equipment, machine, motor or other apparatus on the consumer’s side of the point of supply. (2) The licensed person who will be responsible for performing the installation must apply for and obtain a permit before beginning the installation. (3) The property owner or duly authorized person must submit an electrical plan to the GEI. The GEI is the body mandated to enforce the NEC regulations. (4) Once the electrical plan is approved, the GEI will issue a permit to perform the installation. No electrical installation should begin without this permit first being obtained. (5) Only electrical items that are suitable for the intended purpose and which do not present a safety hazard
may be installed. The National Bureau of Standards may be consulted for advice on whether an electrical item is suitable for its intended use. NEED FORAPERMIT… Consumers must adhere to the Regulations if they are the owner of a building on which works are being done or if there are the Electrician/ Contractor/Electrical Technician who will be working on an installation. Specifically, the NEC covers: Installations, upgrades and repairs in all buildings (residential, public and commercial). Lighting and power installations and the installation of apparatus such as generators, transformers, switchboards and large storage batteries. How does someone obtain a permit for an installation?
The electrical contractor is identified to perform these works. Plans and specifications of proposed installations must be submitted to the Government Electrical Inspectorate (GED.) Before issuing a permit to perform any installation, the GEI may inspect the premises where the installation will take place. When an application for an installation is approved, a permit will be issued to the property owner. A copy of the permit must be posted on the premises where the installation is to be performed and cannot be removed until the GEI has inspected and approved the installation. All installations must be inspected, approved and certified by the GEI before electricity is connected or re-
connected. This requirement is waived for properties disconnected for six months or less, due to non-payment or change in occupancy without alterations or additions to the installation. The installation cannot be concealed by boarding or other building construction before it is inspected. Inspection certificates expire 10 years after the date of issuance for private residences and three years after the date of issuance for other buildings. WHATARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE OWNER OFA BUILDING? Consumers must provide diagrams and schematics for the installation and facilitate the inspection of the installation by GEI so that the safety of the installation can be determined. Consumers must submit the original inspection certificate approving the installation of GPL or any other public supplier of electricity before connection or reconnection of the electricity to the premises. If GPL or any other public supplier of electricity reasonably believes that it would be unsafe or damaging to it works to supply electricity to the premises, it shall not connect or reconnect the supply of electricity.
CARICOM at 40: An alternative... From page 45 categorization, regulation and modernisation of ports. Energy security has now become imperative particularly as, with the best will in the world, the Venezuelan government will not be able to continue the terms of the Petrocaribe arrangement that amounts to budgetary aid for many CARICOM states. The region has to develop its abundant resources of renewable
energy to reduce costs and make itself competitive in manufacturing and tourism. According to Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, China's President Xi pledged US$3 billion in loans to the Caribbean for infrastructural and other development when he visited Port-of-Spain last month to meet nine Caribbean leaders. If that pledge bears fruit, it would be beneficial to
encourage Venezuela to join a relationship with the Chinese and CARICOM countries in which money is dedicated to regional spending on food security, maritime transportation and energy security. Such a development would encourage a range of public sector-private sector partnerships in shipping, port development, agriculture/ fisheries and energy infrastructure that would lift the region economically, solve several of its pressing problems, and float the national economies of CARICOM. These investments are vital to improving the efficiency and competitiveness of CARICOM countries, and to achieving a higher sustainable rate of economic growth to reduce the high debt of almost all of them and enhance the livelihood of their populations. It is such a big regional approach that is needed. After 40 years, petty and insular nationalism should end – its failure is evident. (The writer is a Consultant, Visiting Fellow at London University and former Caribbean diplomat) Responses and previous commentaries: www. sirronaldsanders.com
Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 53
IS THE GUYANA GOVT CHARGING TOURISTS A TAX ON THEIR PETS? By Ralph Seeram I could not believe what she was telling me. She said that the Customs Officers at the Cheddi Jagan Airport charged her $10,000.00 duty on her pet dog, a tiny four pound dog that she carries in her pocket book. “Are you sure it was for the dog and not something else?” I asked in disbelief. “No”, she replied. “They told me I have to pay the duty on my pet and I can ask for a refund later. I can’t believe it, and they want tourists to come to Guyana, I didn’t even get back my money,” she added, “but that is another story”. I will explain later why she did not get her refund on the tax on her dog; it was another piece of stupidity in government departments. She said that she made sure she had all her documents for her dog including veterinary records to ensure there was no issue when she arrived at Timehri Airport. The Guyana- born U.S citizen was one of many readers who would normally comment on my columns. She read my article last week on “Cow Dam” and Smythfield. Her great grandparents as well as her mother were from Smythfield, and she recalled as a “little girl” spending holidays in Smythfield, New Amsterdam. She emailed me because she wanted to know more of her relatives. I gave her my phone number so we could
talk and “fill in the blanks”. As we were speaking on the phone, I could not help wondering how stupid it was on the part of the Guyana Government. Is the government so desperate for money, that is has to tax pets coming into the country? With all this talk of building a new airport to accommodate this anticipated influx of tourists, somebody had better tell the Minister of Tourism that Americans take their pets seriously. Unlike some Guyanese, they do not view their dogs as “rice eaters”. These pets are like family, they are treated like family, and if they are going to be harassed at the airport they will not make Guyana a destination. Some may ask why bring their pets? The answer is simple. If you have a pet in the U.S and want to travel, you either have to let a friend take care it, use a pet sitting service or take it with you. Now it might be more economical to pay the air fare (in the above case she paid US$400.00 for the pet’s airline ticket. Yes they do charge for travelling with pets). Pet sitting service is expensive. Sometimes you can’t be apart from your pet. As to the second part of her frustration, getting the refund of the tax on her dog, here is another piece of nonsense being implemented by Government agencies. I want to know who in the Guyana Government is the
head of the “fashion police”? Who in government came up with the idea of what is decent clothing and what is not? What I am going to tell you is something I can relate to. When my reader went to get the refund from the relevant government agency, she was told that she could not enter the building. She had on an armless blouse. Women can’t enter a government building if they have on a sleeveless top. What a load of nonsense, with all the problems with crime and drugs in Guyana, you would think they will use their resources much more efficiently than to worry about a top without sleeves. So this Guyana-born tourist was denied entry to recoup her money. So frustrated she was that she told them that if the government was so “badly off” they can keep the “f……ing money”. Now do you think that she would be a returning tourist? Some years ago on a visit to Guyana, I accompanied a woman to the New Amsterdam hospital where she was taking her very sick brother. The guard told her that she can’t enter because of her blouse; it had no sleeves. I asked the guard how being without sleeves is going to affect the patients in the hospital, besides what is more important, arguing about the sleeves or taking care of the patient? It was no fault of the guard; she was just carrying out instructions. Fortunately
I knew someone working at the hospital. That person came and escorted us in. On another visit I went to make a donation to a technical training school in Skeldon. At the gate the guard told me I couldn’t enter. The reason? I had on short pants. I could not believe what I was hearing. I can’t go in because my pants were short. I would really like to know which IDIOT in government came up with this nonsense. I told her I am from the U S and I am here to deliver a donation. She was adamant; I can’t go in with short pants. Now when I visit Guyana most of my pants are cargo shorts. In a hot country like Guyana it is the ideal
clothing, yet some fool in government feels short pants are indecent. Is there nothing more important for the government to worry about than short pants? I had to let her call the principal who instructed her to let me in. Another time a few years ago, I went to help a relative pay off her electric bill, which was in arrears. She was given money before to pay off her bills, which she did not, so I wanted to personally ensure it was paid off. Again I was told I can’t enter because I had on short pants. She however was agreeable and let me in. I think she figured it was
more important for the electric company to get their money. What is the electricity company doing in the fashion business? What makes them an expert in fashion? I know they are experts in blackouts, but fashion experts, they are not. So somebody in Government needs to rethink its policy on pets for tourists, and the government needs to get out of the fashion business, leave that to Michele and other models, I mean short of going in naked what’s the problem? Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com
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Kaieteur News
FOR SALE
WANTED Live In Live Out Babysitter Domestic - Call: 225-6070 Office Clerk: CXC English/ Mathematics- Call:225-0188/ 225-6070 Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665 Experience taxi- minibus drivers and dispatchers at Princess Hotel Contact:6165419, 265-7076 Female Domestic & Office Employees For An Expanding Company In Trinidad, 18-35yrs: Email:rattan.david@ yahoo.com- Call:690-1855/1868-389-8454 West Site Taxi service: Wanted experience dispatcher & contract carscall:613-0419/ 600-0699 One experienced driver, gear & automatic: Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with application, 5 Commerce Street (1) Waitress 18-25 yearscall:653-6017 Skilled Carpenter and Mason, must be able to work with limited supervisionCall:602-9469/625-0930 City Taxi Service: Contract Cars Needed- Call:6601100 Three (3) waitressesCall:650-3699 Machine Operator to work in Garment Factory- Call:2222541 Urgently wanted land to buy in Parfait HarmonieCall:675-7292 Experienced Roti/ Puri cook, pastry makers, kitchen assistant, cleaners & handy boys: Apply @ Hack’s Halaal 5 Commerce St.
WANTED One experienced female cook to cook for family in Interior- call:697-6747 25-35 years live-in domestic, Georgetown area- Call:2271830 One domestic between the ages of 35-45 years. Call:663-4866 One live-in maid, must be able to cook, 30-50 yearsCall:671-9715 Driver for Toyota Raum, preferably from West Bank/ West Coast Demerara- Please contact:614-3280 1 Weekends Dispatcher, full time cars: De General Taxi Service, 120 Regent StreetCall:231-8888/ 231-2900 Three (3) waitressesCall:650-3699 Experienced workers for land dredge- Call: 681-3801/6728566 Drillers, major drilling Suriname: 3 yrs experience on hydraulic drills- Call: 001-597426-920. Ask for Melissa Carpenter/ Mason with own tools: Apply @ Guyana Variety Store & Nut Centre38 Cummings & Middle Street Able bodied Handyman with experience: Apply @ Guyana Variety Store & Nut Centre38 Cummings & Middle Street One live-in domestic for general house work (Monday to Saturday)- call: 647-1985 One domestic Monday to Saturday to come & go- Call: 647-1985 One experienced Painter with tools: Apply @ 38 Cummings street Guyana Variety Store & Nut Centre
1 Male to work at a Car Wash from Kitty or C/Ville- Call:6108561 Wanted urgently: Driver and Porter to work on canter- Call:649-9876/6163802/222-3927 One experienced Shop Assistant to work in InteriorCall:697-6747 AutoCAD draftsperson versed in computer operations, Land surveying drafting, job training provided: Email: nylsemployment@gmail.com Live in waitress- Call:6439007/ 697-2978 Experienced Taxi Drivers. Call: 667-9013/ 627-9424
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY M E R C U R Y (QUICK SILVER) 9 9 . 9 9 9 9 5 % PURITY - $15,000 PER POUND CALL:604-6108 Pure Bred Rottweiler pupsCall:650-8496 500 Ton Cargo Ship with Contract- call: 687-6174 32 Disc roam plough: Bargain price $1.6M negotiable- call:678-0224 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Dell laptops & desktops complete computers from $55,000 Futuretech. Call: 2312206 1- Perkin 4108 on bedCall:626-3817 5 Month Male RottweilerCall:220-6879 Male Enhancement Viagra: 4 in a Pack For $3000- Call: 642-6664/ 638-1627 Property for sale @ Canal #2, 1 Mazda Demio, 1 Pressure Washer, Still garden pump: Owner leaving countrycall:691-0875 1- 10 RB Dragline, 1- F150 Ford Truck- Call: 687-6174
Two (2) bedrooms furnished apartment in Georgetown for short term local and overseas guestsContact:699-7559 2 Bedrooms House @ Diamond: Call Candie:6708793/685-5710 2 bedroom upstairs apartment. Yard and fence fully concreted, next to SOL, BB Rome, E.B.D: $60,000- Tel: 658-5452
1 Toyota PGG series $700,000 (Negotiable)- Call: 690-3995 (1) Jialing JL 100-3 Motor Cycle in excellent condition: Minimal usage: Prices negotiable- Call:220-0890/ 691-5952 or 657-3682
Fluffy pups call: (Home) 2225671, cell: 641-6162 Nail Plates & Anchor Seal: 4×6, 3×6, 4×8- Call: 265-3541/ 695-4785 2 Bedford MJ trucks, price negotiable. Call Kim:658-5193 Terrier Pups for saleCall:649-4247 Pure Bred Rottweiler puppies; Romel:653-6281 6" & 8" Flood control pump with engine, tool sets, ploughs, chippers, slasher, massey ferguson loaderCall:675-9314 Pure Bred Rottweiler puppies Call: 227-8028, 604-7105 155 Leyland DAF excellent working condition: Price $3.5M (negotiable)Call:656-8346
FOR RENT
VEHICLE FOR SALE Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car, 5 speed, CD player,18" rims, HID lights, $3M cash: excellent condition- call: 621-4000, 690-6000 Mercedes Benz A-140 PMM series, automatic, fully powered, need repairs, sold as is- $2.3M- Call: 621-4000/ 690-6000 Cherokee Jeep, automatic, 4 doors, projection & LED lights, 15" mag wheel, good condition $1.7M cash- Call: 621-4000/ 690-6000 Stretched Limousine Lincoln Town car, automatic, seats 12 persons, perfect for rentals, going as a business- Call: 621-4000/ 690-6000 Cheapest- Premio, Spacio, Hilux, Stick Gear Buses- Call: 616-7635 2000 Tundra 4×4 3.4L V6 excellent condition: black with off-road package- call: 651-6050 Toyota Hilux pickup, extra cab 2L engine $3.2M- Call: 2642682/649-0707
Used Massey TractorsMF175, 275, 1100, 1130, Ford 5000, Yanmar Vegetable Tractors square axle & wheel- Call: 675-9314 Promix starting at $ 7 , 5 0 0 , green formula (growing mix)- Call: 6152346/263-5300 Gowns, Shalwars, Khimar, Scarves, Khimar accessories and much more. Dates for Ramadaan available. Halaal Heaven. Call: 226-0311, 667-8141 Fluffy Dashund PuppiesCall:666-5199/ 669-8421
TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments @ Eccles call: 689-6668 Secret Villa apartment, fully furnished apartments Land-of-Canaan E.B.DCall:266-5243/266-5245 Harmony Inn: Fully furnished,air conditioned apartments; Parfaite Harmonie, 5,000 Per night call:668-0306, 694-7817,602-8769 Diamond $35,000; Eccles $55,000; Queenstown $140,000; Nandy Park US$1200- Call Diana @ 2272256/ 626-9382 One bedroom house @ Mon Repos, E.C.D- Call:698-6764 Two stories, 3 bedrooms house @ Diamond SchemeCall: 609-9909/233-5476
MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499.
Sunday July 07, 2013
VEHICLE FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
New canter truck and Verossa in immaculate condition- Call:692-5363
We buy & sell vehicles for cash & we do trading-in of vehicles: 30 Seater Busescall:680-3154
New ATVs: Introductory price $1,450,000 (Duty Free)Call:691-0234 Glanza EP 91 Starlet Turbo charged, stick shift- Contact No.648-3248
Toyota Starlet Turbo: Working A/C, interior in excellent condition- Call:4446183 or 686-0910
Unregistered Toyota Sienta: 7 seats: 1500cc- Call:617-5536
1- 8340 (4) Wheel drive Ford and 135 MF tractor: In excellent condition: Please call:601-7535
Toyota Corona 170: Good working condition: HB series: $375,000- Call:665-8995
1 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 – 1997; $1.6 million; not registered Phone:265-2103, 611-0674
2008 Honda CBR, 600RRCall:610-0785
RZ mini-buses BMM & BNN series, AT192, 212, AT170, Tacoma, Canters, NZE & cheap cars- call:680-3154
2- 07 Toyota AvensisCall:698-0674 Leading Auto: Unregistered Runx, Premio, 212, Allion, Spacio, IST- Call:677-7666/ 610-7666 One Toyota Ipsum, automatic, fully loaded, double sun roof. Call:612-2258
1 Mercedes Benz C200: PNN 6967- Call: 680-4990 / 2773033 1 To y o t a R a u m , Vi t z , AT212, AT192, AT170, Ceres, Hilux Pickup Solid DEF, EP82 & 71 StarletCall: 644-5096 / 697-1453
One Toyota L-Touring wagon, automatic, A/C, mags, PLL series. Call:612-2258 Mitsubishi Pajero (Immaculate condition); automatic, fully loaded, 4×4, price $2.8M- Contact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902
1 Toyota G-Touring wagon PHH series $900,000, 1 Toyota AE 192 PHH series $800,000 (negotiable) owner migrating- Call:673-9138/ 641-6239
AT170 Toyota Carina (private), automatic, fully powered, mags, CD player, price $675,000- contact Rocky: 225-1400 or 621-5902
New 2013 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs- Call:691-0234
AT212 Carina (private), automatic, fully powered, A/ C, CD player, price $1.375Mcontact Rocky: 225-1400 or 621-5902 Toyota extra cab pick-up (22 R engine) manual, (EFI) 4×4, (GPP series) price $2.5MContact Rocky 621-5902/2251400 1 Toyota RZ long base (EFI bus) manual, Mag rims, BLL series $1.350M: Excellent condition- Call Rocky 6215902/225-1400 1 To y o t a R a u m ( P M M series) automatic, fully powered, price $1.4M, hardly used- Contact Rocky 621-5902 Quantum Auto 2004 silver Spacio & Silver Premio with Alloy wheel & dark interior: Excellent condition- Call: 6247684/617-2378 Nissan pick-up in excellent condition, suitable for small business or farmers: Price negotiable- Call: 616-0504/ 223-2068 Toyota Altezza, PNN, triptronic- Call: 622-0108 Mecedes Benz- 190E, automatic, flair kits, mag wheels, need repairs, sold as is $475,000- Call: 621-4000/ 690-6000
1 Leyland DAF 60 single axle & dump- Call:613-6615/216-1315
Just arrived: New RX8 cars & Spacios- Call:684-3374Clean! Clean! 2 Ford F150: Price $4.5M & $3.5M- Call: 643-5249 / 2654979 2006 320i BMW- body kit, sports tuned, immaculate condition, low mileage: Price $4.8M negotiable- Call:6240371/629-6264 Toyota Alex (2004): Mags, black interior, CD, rear spoiler, never registeredCall:269-0432/686-0323 Toyota Fielder $2.1M, Premio $2.6M, Axio $2.9M: Vehicles fully loaded & unregistered- call: 617-2891 Lexus, Pitbull never registered- Call:655-0800/ 263-5300 First Class Auto: Spacio, IST, Verossa, 212- Call:6098188/ 226-2689 1 Toyota Land-cruiser Prado PMM series- call:225-0188/ 225-6070 One Mitsubishi Canter, 16 feet tray: GNN series: Price $3M- Call:612-0320 HILUX SOLID DIFF: 2L Diesel Engine, Excellent condition: UK Auto 60 Brickdam- Call:227-0424/ 676-6429 (Continued on page 56)
Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 55
Page 56
Kaieteur News
Sunday July 07, 2013
(From page 54)
FOR SALE
LAND FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Ford super duty/ power stoke truck, Massey Loader, Many tools, Yanmar Vegetable tractors, Roto Tiller- Call:675-9314
House lot for sale: Friendship EBD & drafting of house plans. Call: 2230733, 223-0730
Commercial / Residential property 150’ x 45’ Building 70’ x 30’, Kitty ($4M per year income) (Negotiable) 6727390 / 672-8569 / 609-8132
1 Two Storey Business Property (Transported): Brickery Public Road, East Bank Demerara. Call: 660-8128
CITY TAXI SERVICE (SINCE 1968)- CALL:2256222/ 226-7150/ 2261088/ 225-8600/ 227-1101
Town & Country Real: 5bedrooms concrete 2 stories $35M: 225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390
Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, m i c r o w a v e s , washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool. Call: 225-9032, 647-2943
One (1) Dell Desktop Computer complete with one (1) HP Printer- Call:681-5441 Daschund mixed with Pekingese pups six weeks old $15,000- Call:677-2476 1- Bedford Model M, GFF series: 30 Dell desktops: 260" Samsung flat screen LED/LCD- Call:255-0347/ 664-2020/ 625-0931 Pressure Washer, 10 inch Craftsman table saw, Heavyduty right angle Milwakee drill, Pair wood clampscall:223-5641 1 Complete 4 cylinder Kubota engine on bedcall:666-4000/257-0193 1 Baby Play Pen & diaper changer; 1 Baby swing; 1 Imac computer; 1 printer; 1 Whirpool dryer; 1 Welding plan. Tele: 662-6045 3 Fiber Glass Boats And Trailer $1.4M (Negotiable) Can Be Sold Separately, Best Offer AcceptedCall:699-1711 Large land @ Bagotville, W.B.D: Great for farming/ residence $6.5- Call: 6000036/223-1719 Gold & Diamond land, Berbice district (1)- Call: 6000036/223-1719 GPS NAP 76 Garmin brandCall: 600-0036/223-1719 RABBITS -$2000 each- Call: 650-0814 3 Piece sofa set & fridgeCall: 650-0814 Generator 28KVA silent with storage tank SDMO Mitsubishi engine, need repairs $500,000- Call: 6214000/ 690-6000 Generator 10KVA Lister Pitter (England) with exhaust system and tank 3 cylinder cash $850,000- Call: 621-4000/ 690-6000 Household appliances: Generator 7500 watts, music set etc. Call: 2690959 Household items for sale at affordable prices- call: 6211485 CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www. progressive autorental. com Premio, Vitz call: 689-6668 A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807
2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 2 House Lots (39×150 & 38×150) $16M each: Blankenburg public road, W.C.D- Call: 658-0132 Grove/Diamond $5M, $5.5M, $4M, $6.5M, $3.5M: 6727390, 225-0854, 2250843 Eccles New Scheme 50 x 100 $5.5M: 6727390, 2250854, 2250843 Republic Park 7 Bedrooms, 2 Stories Concrete, Fixed kitchen very spacious $40M, 2250854,2250853,6727390 Tuschen 5 Bedrooms, 2 Stories concrete $29.5M: 2250854,2250854,6727390 Parfait Harmonie- $1.5M, $2M, $2.5M: 2250853, 2250854, 6727390 Tushen Flat house 2 Bedrooms concrete double lot $9.5M: 2250854, 2250853, 6727390 Middle Street Poudroyen 2 Bedrooms Flat house 39x150: 2250854,2250853,672-7390 Garden of Eden, EBD Roadfront 45x80 Lots $5M. Riverfront 50x300 Lots - Asking $15M– Call Derek @ RLTPRO 592650-1234 32 Acres for sale, Lot 5 Content, Mahaicony, E.C.D: US$175,000: Call: 813-3194 2 1 9 : rpooran@tampabay.rr.com EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CLASSES: Phonics, Language, Mathematics, Art & Craft & Fun day: (4-12 years)- July 15th- August 15th: Roxanne Burnham: Call 619-4355/ 2182076 SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Cosmetology, Nail Technology and Wig making courses @ BeautopiaCall:604-3002/629-3497 CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, Call: 670-0798. Also Wedding dresses for sale Courses for: Bridal accessories, Cake decoration, Floral arrangements, Cake & Pastry. Contact Sharon:672-8768/ 223-3303
Land 50’x 90’, with foundation, Posts, Roof etc. Building 30’ x 50’, Parfaite Harmonie, WBD $6.8M (Negotiable) 672-8569 / 6869888/ 609-8132 W.B.D, Current Operational: Business Property, Land 200’x25’: Ideal Location $50M (Negotiable) 672-8569 /686-9888 / 609-8132. Versailles W.B.D new Exclusive large 2 storied 5bedrooms house with extra lot, (Gated Community): 6728569, 686-9888,609-8132 HERSTELLING & PROSPECT- CALL:6677659 Country Estate Home, Beautifully Landscaped 3.2Acres Fruit Farm, Hague, WCD. New Price $50M– Call Derek @ RLTPRO 592-6501234 2 Storey concrete house: 32’×55’: 3 Bedrooms: Block 8 Mon Repos, E.C.D $36MCall: 642-2116 2 Storey business premises: 94 Campbell Avenue, C/VilleCall: 680-8857/647-300-4294
Vacancy exists for security guard: Apply at Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Stabroek, G/Town
Alexander St between Regent & Robb $60M: 6727390, 225-0843, 225-0854
1 General domestic must know to prepare vegetarian meals: Apply @ Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Stabroek, G/Town
House and Land @ D’Edward, W. C.B. Call: 6892973/698-3703 Going concern building: Prime area Sheriff street by owner- Call:682-7733
Salesboys, salesgirls and security guards: Apply @ Avinash Water streetCall:226-3361/ 227-7828
West Bank $18M, Bel-Air Park $45M, Campbellville $30M, AA Eccles $65M- Call Diana @ 227-2256/ 626-9382
One female shop assistant, age 35-45 years, preferably from W.C.D or W.B.DCall:655-8688 for information
Charlotte between Cummings & Orange Walk Bourda $50M (Neg) 2 Stories-3 bedrooms: 6727390,2250854 ,2250843
Electrician, Welders & Fabricators (3 years experienced), Machinist: Apply @ Technical Services Inc. 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site, E.B.D
North Rd 2 Storey Building: Business Premise $1.5US (Neg): 672-7390, 225-0854, 2250843
Princeton College: CXC classes for day and evening students: Register for summer classes 5-18 yearscall:690-5008 Summer Computer Classes: Ages 5-13: Starting at $6,500 and up @ MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-EnHoop- Call:264-3057 Get trained as a live-in Caregiver to live and work in Canada, under Canadian curriculum- Call:227-4881/ 416-674-7973 CXC Maths, English, Business and Science, January/ June 2014- Call Imperial College at 227-7627/ 683-5742 Advance Diploma in Computer Technology for students completed CSEC 2013: Register now @ MicroGraphics Technology, Vreed-EnHoop- Call:264-3057
1- Road Foreman- Full timeCall:603-4524
Diamond main road property 5 bedrooms flat house $37M: 225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390 Diamond/Grove 2 Stories Concrete Newly Built: Automatic Gate/Garage, Spacious Kitchen& 4 Bedrooms $36M: 6727390, 2250854, 225-0843
House Plans, estimates and construction- Contact T.Boodhoo 625-9883 / 6759296 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call:2310655, 683-8734 Omar Georgetown Computer repairs & virus cleaning in homes- Call:675-7292 TransponderTV: No Monthly Fees, No Hidden Fees, No Additional Charges: 250 Channels + 50 HD Channels- Call: 675-3201 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call: 225-6496, 662-6045, 223-8115 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766 Austin’s Repairs & Services: We repair fridges, freezers, washers, A/C, dryers & House wiring etc.Call:685-2588/ 629-8136
2 Storey Building 70 x 28 Land 150 x 45 Kitty $75M (Residential/Commercial) Main Rd:672-7390, 225-0854 ,225-0843 Newly built concrete 3bedrooms house in Parfaite Harmony $19M, $17M, $8M: 672-7390, 225-0854, 225-0843
EDUCATIONAL SUMMER CLASSES: July 15th – August 15th: Phonics, Mathematics, Language, Spanish, Craft, Tours & Fun day: Garnett St. KittyCall:654-8650
VACANCY
Versailles 5 Bedroom House with modern facilities and beautiful landscape- Call: 592-684-9203 / 592-624-8704
SERVICES
Need a Babysitter/ Caregiver? Call:694-0689/ 691-8699 FOR RENT 1- 3 Bedrooms newly built house @ Canal #2- call:6910875 Luxury house, 5 bedrooms self contained, maid quarters & lovely patio, security $2600us: 2250854, 2250853, 672-7390 Fully furnished apartment for rent- Call:682-7733
3 Stories, 6 Apartments, 8 bedrooms Corner house, Charlestown $32M: 6727390, 2250854, 225-08433
Ideal business spot at 14 Peters Hall public road, E.B.D- Call:233-5110/ 6680309
Diamond 6 bedrooms, 2 families House $26M: 2250854, 2250853, 672-7390
3,000 Sq.Ft. building prime location W.B.D public roadCall:610-2227
Parfaite Harmony 2 Bedrooms Flat house Unfinished $6.5m (neg) 2250854,2250853,672-7390
NEWLY BUILT TWO STOREY BUILDING, MC DOOM PUBLIC ROADCALL:600-1375
Lodge H/S 2 Storey Concrete (needs repairs) $14M neg: 672-7390, 225-0854, 2250843
Business place located @ 94 Tushen New Scheme main road- Call:655-6945
2-bedroom flat house, on land 35x150, Poudgroyen, W.B.D $6.5M 672-8569,6869888,609-8132 Parfaite Harmonie-2-stories, concrete 3-apt, 5-bedrooms, 3 toilets & bath. Concrete yard $18.7M (Neg):672-8569/ 686-9888/ 609-8132
Furnished (2) Bedrooms house @ Crane H/Scheme $45,000- call:671-6855 One- (2) Bedrooms apartment for rent- Call:617-3001 Small Bachelor’s apartment to rent @ 2387 Diamond H/ S- Call: 602-9302
Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves, TV: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) TV repairs, DVD, Microwaves, Amplifiers, Stereos, Washing machines etc. Call: 693-2683 Brian Moe @642-3543: Computer Technician: Home and Office visits at your comfort!! HEALTH Enhance your health with genuine herbal supplements- Contact: Hazel’s Herbal Store @ 244 D’Andrade Street, Newtown- Call:226-9136
LEARN TO DRIVE B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Lodge- call:2250150,229-7258,680-6826 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166, 622-2872, 615-0964
Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 57
Ravi Dev Column
A Sugarcane Industry (The following are the concluding excerpts from the 2008 five-part series on reviving the sugar industry) Regarding the plans for the industry, there was a Strategic Plan unveiled in 1998, but which has been revised several times in the intervening decade - primarily to deal with the changing global environment for sugar. The lands for sugar were going to be increased in Berbice and there was going to be a diversification, within the industry: co-generation of electricity from bagasse for sale to the national grid, alcohol production from a new distillery and a refinery for producing white sugar. There was going to be the packaging of some sugar for the retail trade - initially at Blairmont - which could increase its value immensely. Most recently we heard of the possible production of Ethanol. We believe that the industry can be made viable within a regime that more clearly articulates the de facto change in strategy from a sugar industry to a sugarcane industry. The change is more than semantic. At the most mundane level it stresses the
The police thwarted a robbery because they are alert. They are aware that people who conduct business at the commercial banks often walk out with large sums of money. They therefore monitor the banks and that is how they were able to spot a bunch trailing one such individual. The action by the courts in this case would leave the society angry. The courts are to dispense justice but sometimes what passes for justice is not what the society wants. However, there will be another targeting and this time the police would be
fact that all the end products – sugar (bulk and packaged; raw and refined), electricity, alcohol, ethanol - depend on sugar cane being supplied and therefore its production must be given the central role in any future strategy. For instance, in the Skeldon Sugar Modernization Project (SSMP), the impression was given that in the US$180 million investment, somehow the factory alone was going to save the industry. But the factory’s cost will only be justified if we produce the requisite sugarcane at the lowest cost. Each ensuing product from the sugar cane can then be applied towards the over cost of its production – not just sugar. In addition to the abovementioned product mix from sugar cane, we suggest that the production of biogas be made standard at all sugar factories – including the ones in Demerara. Molasses and bagasse are not the only waste products in the production of sugar from sugarcane - the wash and press-mud are extremely rich in methane or bio-gas – which can be extracted and bottled for commercial sale or
for providing fuel to the fleet of vehicles used in the sugar cane cultivation. The vehicles would have to be slightly modified. A month ago, DDL announced that it was installing a bio-gas plant to extract methane from the wash produced in its distillery. This technology is not an insignificant one and it forms the basis of Europe’s strategy to reduce its dependence on gas from Russia. There would be a huge savings for our sugarcane operations, resulting in a drop in unit costs. The generation of electricity from bagasse ought to be seen not simply as a subsidiary operation from the production of sugar, but as an economic enterprise on its own merits. Mauritius embarked on this road since the mid-eighties and ten out of its present factories have co-generation capabilities that, by 2004, exported 240MW of electricity to the national grid: this is about equal to our entire generating capacity (226MW). There are plans to further consolidate their factory operations and increase the quantity of cogenerated electricity for export. For the Demerara
even more aggressive. ** A schoolboy is going to be caught up in a very adult activity. Just out of school, he is going to succumb to peer pressure and be part of a gang that would venture on a robbery. His situation would now
cause the spotlight to fall on parents, one of whom would be found to have been involved in criminal activities, and for the record, would have just been released from prison. ** Berbice is home to the new batch of criminals. A family would be visited by some gunmen only because some overseas-based relatives would have arrived. Neighbours are going to respond and the outcome would be ugly. The attackers would be trapped; the eventual shootout would see one innocent person injured.
plantations, the cogeneration potential would be augmented if the present four factories in East and West Demerara were consolidated into two – one in each sector. This would only make redundant some of the factory workers who could be employed in the cogeneration plants and other plants that will be proposed. If the power generation is evaluated from its own capabilities, some of the Type III lands in Demerara that give such poor yields for sugar cane could be converted into fuel cane that are hardier but generate more fibre and thus more energy in power generation. Unlike the sugar cane, the fuel cane can also be harvested in sub-optimum weather since sunlight to
maximise sucrose content is not a factor: the number of available days in the wetter Demerara Plantations could then be increased, lowering unit costs. While the administration recognises the need for shaking up the present management team from their complacency, there has to also be a complete reorganisation of that team to deal with the new orientation. The field operations will have to be given greater weight in the allocation of management responsibilities and consequently a commensurate increase in management status and remuneration. The field will have to be accepted as the place where “the action is” – especially in the Demerara Plantations,
Ravi Dev
where the soils and rainfall (heavy) are least favourable for the cultivation of sugarcane. We will have to retain or regain some “old head” field managers who will ensure that we do not embark on inappropriate innovations such as “high density planting” taken from the totally different Australian experience. Corruption, which eats away at least a quarter of the profits of the industry, must be tackled vigorously.
Page 58
Kaieteur News
Sunday July 07, 2013
Fire destroys disputed property, arson suspected Seventeen persons, among them eight children, are now homeless following a suspicious fire which ripped through two wooden houses and scorched another on Camp Street yesterday. When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene scores of persons had gathered in the parking lot of the Guyana Revenue Authority and around the street. The parking lot was the scene of another fire a few years ago and the victims were same owners of the properties that went up in flames yesterday. According to an eyewitness, Dillon Frazer, who said that he was riding along the street, said that he was startled by the sight of smoke billowing from both houses and a woman calling for help at the other house. “When I ride through the street I see smoke start coming through the roof and the people dem inside start run out. People go over in the next house and start tek out the things,” the man said. He added that a young woman and baby wrapped in a white cloth were rescued from the house while other persons, including a number of young children were also saved from the building which had already engulfed in flames.
The 69 year old woman who was saved from the burning house. “The people de screaming when they come out of the house but they had another old lady been in the next house. So two boys run in and bring she down the step,” the man added. A woman who lived in the house where the fire started said that all she was able to save was bag with some clothes and the attire she was left with. “I was in the kitchen cutting up some chicken when I hear me nephew and Some of the items that were saved
The destroyed houses
he three friends them calling for me son,” Vanessa Collymore-Fortune said. The woman noted that her brother who previously owned the home might have had an agreement with a Water Street businessman whose associates had visited them last December, claiming that the entire lot was owned by the man and that they should remove from the premises. “I know my God is big and
I will be standing firm because is my own and I ain’t giving nothing up. They got to kill me for it,” said Collymore-Fortune. The woman said that she hired a lawyer to look into the matter and to have it resolved “once and for all”. She added that although most of her personal documents were destroyed in the blaze, she still has the documents for the house and land she owns at present. Junior Hendricks one of the young men who helped rescue the elderly woman, said, “We and three other young men broke down the door and saw the woman trying to get out as smoke filled the house.” “I been at the head of the road with some boys and when we look up the in the air we see the black smoke start full up the sky so we run down the road and see the girl with the baby crying in front the first house,” Hendricks said. He added that after persons related to them that the woman was still trapped in the house they immediately broke into the house and brought her down the stairs; placing her in a nearby car where she remained and watched as flames started to
scorch her home. “We rush to get her to out of the house because the entire place is wood and then boards from the other house start collapsing”, the young man said. Hendricks added that during the rescue effort an electric wire which was attached to one of the houses broke away from the lantern pole sending dozens of spectators running for their lives. The 69 year-old woman Jacquelyn Swartz who thanked God for saving her said she was watching one of her favourite television shows when she was alerted by the neighbour next door. “She keep shouting ‘Miss Schwartz’ and I kept saying ‘yes’ but it was like she didn’t hearing me and then I saw the thick smoke coming through the back entrance. So I tried to make my way out when two young men help me down the stairs,” the woman said. The woman who resided at the home for the past 37 years said that she lived with her daughter-in-law, son and a cousin. The woman however said that two months ago a well known businessman tried to buy the property because he had previously purchased the area from the late Ricardo Rodrigues. “I showed him my transport then he realized he had no grounds, so he left and then is when the whole nightmare began…” the
distraught woman said. Saving only a small Vaseline container which contained some gold jewelry and the clothes on her skin, Margo Elias said that she was unaware how the fire started. “I hear a big boom and I run out of the middle house where I lived and all I see was fire. “I ain’t know how the fire start but all I know I hear something explode and I see people running and a girl running with her baby. I thought was a fight then I see smoke and I run out behind them” the woman lamented. Some of the occupants not at home at the time the fire eventually arrived on the scene. A scene of chaos erupted after one woman who walked around as if she was looking for something kept screaming, “Where is she?” A few minutes later she was then reunited with her relative. The Guyana Fire Service who was said to have arrived 40 minutes late was able to save the third structure and the other two houses. The smell of Pitch Pine wood was present in the area and this suggested that the houses were built a number of years ago. Within 15 minutes, both wooden structures were destroyed. The families estimated their loss to be in the millions of dollars. Another sister, Yvette Collymore, said that the family was on high alert since last week. The woman said that since they received threats last year December they were very cautious. She told Kaieteur News that last week they saw a young man suspiciously wandering around the yard. Collymore said that after the man saw he was being watched he left. The woman said that the family always lived in fear that one day those threats would become reality. Police are conducting investigations into the fire.
Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 59
OF ‘POLITICAL SUBSTANCE’: ASSASSINS OF CONVERSATION Reflections on the 1980 Exhibition, ‘Images’ of Dudley Charles by Bernadette Persaud Assassins of conversation They bury the voice They assassinate, in the beloved Grave of the voice, never to be silent. - Martin Carter INTRODUCTION The following article, commenting on the ‘political substance’ of an exhibition entitled, Images, by the distinguished Guyanese artist, Dudley Charles, was published 33 years ago in the Catholic Standard on 19 October 1980. The paintings in that memorable exhibit daringly critiqued the legendary ‘Anancy’ (Forbes Burnham) holding court in a brutal arena of ‘sharp steel’ and interrogated the assassination of Walter Rodney. Though the themes of Charles’ canvases remain topical and the death of Walter Rodney heatedly debated today, we would like to bring to the attention of a new generation of artists and art students the incontrovertible fact that works of ‘political substance’ have always been part of Guyanese Colonial/ Postcolonial art-history – from E R Burrowes, Philip Moore, Stanley Greaves to Dudley Charles, Bernadette Persaud and Desmond Alli, among others, in and out of the mainstream. Contrary to what has been dangerously propagated by the National Art Gallery, there is no contemporary artist who is ‘a pioneer in the political substance of his messages’ (See catalogue entitled, ‘Innovators’, February, 2013). Works of ‘political substance’ (sic) and overtly political works, critical of the status quo, have never been snuffed out – even when reduced to a trickle, in the most desperate of times (as Charles’s exhibit so aptly illuminates). For the young artists of Guyana, this is the most important lesson of that 1980 exhibit of Dudley Charles: ‘never to be silent’, never to be complicit with the questionable doings of the status quo – at all times despite the ever present “assassins of conversation”. Catholic Standard 19 October 1980 REFLECTIONS The just concluded exhibition at the Umana Yana featured daring and revolutionary images. Charles’ new forms, with their full –blooded vigor and intrinsic honesty, starkly
Study, Anancy Story, 1980. Dudley Charles 1
Study, Anancy Story, 1980. Dudley Charles 2 contrast with those which have in the past graced the Umana: studied, clever concoctions of form and colour, by his contemporaries – excursions into the realms of Cubism, Surrealism, Primitivism and other fashionable ‘isms’ – pale into insignificance next to his images of pain, pathos, cruelty, horror and oppression. It is a momentous happening in the field of Guyanese Art! The Artist has finally managed to transcend the ongoing intellectual agony over Identity and Roots. He has dared to respond as a human: has refused to be numb and detached; and this constitutes a landmark when one considers our arid aesthetic traditions over the last decade. GRIM, GHASTLY POLITICAL IMAGES Charles’ obsession, for many years, with images of
the Old Colonial House (obviously encouraged by his patrons) illustrates visually
the old futile quest for identity. In this exhibition (25th September - 2nd
October, 1980), which features not only his latest work, but a selection of his earlier pieces, one sees clearly that the Gothic and Georgian paraphernalia of intricate tracery, turned balusters, carved mouldings, and ghostly presences, are all superseded by grim, ghastly, political images. Most significant was the central, overwhelming image of ‘Anancy’ – a green, loathsome presence emerging from a primeval jungle. Such images as ‘Death of a Slave’, ‘Anancy Story II’, ‘Landscape (Shadows)’, the ‘Crucifixion’, and the ‘Transfiguration’, became charged with new meaning in the presence of this legendary character. ‘Anancy Story II’ depicts sinister, sharp forms, fused into a closely-knit, dynamic design. One can almost hear the clanging of dark metal and cries of agony. Surely this is a part of the tragedy of our society. DEATH OF WALTER RODNEY ‘Death of a Slave’, captures, not merely that terrible moment when Walter Rodney is killed, but shows dramatically that in death, his is the final victory. For though the body lies blasted apart, the arm rises, outthrust, defiant, in a seemingly clenched fist – a symbol of his undying hope and utter belief in man…’dear Comrade, I salute you and I say/ Death will not find us thinking that we die.’(MC) One views the ‘Crucifixion’ with a mixture of revulsion and anger. It is a cruel caricature of a man whose life was an embodiment
of genuine compassion and humility: a man reduced to a laughable, ‘comic-strip’ figure. This canvas shows an ill proportioned body strung up on a cross – which captures of course his real crucifixion after the death: a broken body, ridiculed, cartooned, flayed and the nails finally driven in …… ‘he was a bright chap, after all’ ……..One can almost hear the Comrade Minister chirping…. And finally, in the ‘Transfiguration’ one sees the body still on the Cross, enveloped in clear blue flames, the face warm, vital and aglow, as in life – but the heavy-lidded eyes, forever closed in death. It is an utterly simple composition, its rigid symmetry reinforced by a rhomboid-shaped frame: a moving testimony to a people’s sublimated grief. No one can leave such an exhibition undisturbed. Bernadette I Persaud October, 1980 (Re-published, with slight revisions, through the kind permission of the Catholic Standard) The editor of The Arts Forum Column and The Arts Journal, Ameena Gafoor, may be reached by e-mail: theartsjournal@live.co.uk or by Telephone: 592 227 6825. The art editor of The Arts Forum Column and The Arts Journal, Bernadette Persaud, may be reached by e-mail: bernadettepersaud5 @hotmail.com or by telephone: 592 220 3337
Page 60
Kaieteur News
Sunday July 07, 2013
EBD four-lane expansion...
BK Int’l distances self from slothfulness of project BK International contracted to widen the East Bank Demerara Public Road into a four-lane thoroughfare is not taking responsibility for the slothfulness of the project that causes daily traffic jams. In fact, the company cited numerous requests to the project’s consultancy team requesting the removal of utilities. According to the company’s Public Relations Consultant, Kit Nascimento, in a press statement yesterday, “BKI wishes to point out that the current traffic congestion on the East Bank Demerara Public Road is not in any way related to or affected by the construction works currently
being carried out by the company.” Almost daily, even without the presence of machinery carrying out works on the roadway, commuters are faced with mile-long traffic congestion. From observation the turning lane into the Diamond Housing Scheme is limited because of construction works. Vehicles destined either for inside the housing scheme or Grove sometimes forms one long line. A Government official said that the contractor and engineer were told to complete a section of the roadway to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic since the inconvenience
is known. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joe Harmon, who understands the plight of commuters called on parties involved to hasten the pace of the project. He suggested that the workload was probably too much for the contractor because of the numerous projects being undertaken at the same time. Nascimento said, “BK International further wishes to point out that the assertions made by APNU Parliamentarian, Mr. Joe Harmon, with regard to the delays experienced by the contractor on the construction (Continued on page 51)
Warner launches new party, PM says he wants to bring down government PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - Former Trinadad national security minister Austin ‘Jack’ Warner Friday night launched his Independent Liberal Party (ILP) as he seeks to be retained as the parliamentary representative for the Chaguanas West constituency in Central Trinidad. But in an immediate response, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar told supporters of her ruling United National Congress (UNC) that Warner’s move was designed “to bring down your duly elected government”. Warner, who resigned his post as both a government minister and parliamentary representative following the release of a CONCACAF Integrity Report that accused him of financial fraud as a
deliberate plan to mislead. The report accused Warner of using deceptive methods to secure funds from CONCACAF and FIFA, as well as induce FIFA to transfer funds earmarked for development purposes to bank accounts he controlled. Warner has questioned the procedure used to gather the information for the report, describing it as flawed. He resigned his seat in parliament telling supporters he needed a fresh mandate from his constituents. But Warner, 70, was by-passed in favour of the Khadijah Ameen, 32, who is also acting chairman of the ruling party, a post Warner also vacated in April.Persad Bissessar said that Warner had his eyes not only on Chaguanas West but the entire country, hence the formation of the party. “It is not just for
Chaguanas West, it is an attempt to bring down your duly elected Government. Mark my words,” she told supporters Friday night, questioning whether her former cabinet colleague would now put up candidates against the UNC to contest the upcoming local government election. Former justice minister Hubert Volney, a former High Court judge who was sacked during the Section 34 controversy, has since thrown his support behind Warner. Warner said that government officials had become arrogant about the contracts they farm out to their friends and family who never supported the UNC while it was in opposition and who were now benefitting more than “you the members and supporters”.
Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
Brazil’s Rousseff denies plans for post-protest Cabinet shakeup SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff firmly denied yesterday any plans to shake up her Cabinet, following the country’s largest protests in 20 years. In a written statement, she called talk of ministerial change “unfounded speculation” and reiterated a plan developed with state governors and local mayors to address concerns raised last month in cities across Latin America’s largest economy. More than 1 million people took to the streets at the peak of the demonstrations, which were fueled by frustration with deplorable health, education and public transportation services, a high cost of living, and outrage at the $14 billion Brazil will spend to host the 2014 World Cup. In response, Rousseff, a pragmatic leftist
who was once jailed for conspiring against Brazil’s military dictatorship, laid out proposals to expand public services while ensuring fiscal responsibility, crack down on corruption and hold a non-binding national vote, or plebiscite, to see what other changes Brazilians wanted. But many doubt she can deliver on the plebiscite before presidential election next year. The latest survey by pollster Datafolha showed her approval ratings fell by 27 percentage points in three weeks, a sign the wave of discontent poses a serious threat to her likely re-election bid. A presidential spokesman told Reuters on June 25 that Rousseff would stand by Finance Minister Guido Mantega, who has been in office for more than seven years, denying rumors he would take the fall after the protests.
Sustainable tourism issues to be discussed in Trinidad PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Destination stability and competitiveness in the current global environment, are some of the issues that will be addressed at the upcoming Sustainable Tourism Conference to be held here April 15-18. The 14th annual conference of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will feature Carlos Vogeler, the regional director for theAmericas at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Vogeler has been
stressing the need for tourism planners and practitioners to embrace both the technological and climatic changes that impact on sustainability, he has also called on tourism-related businesses to be sensitive to the needs of the community even while they focus on profit and return on investment. The conference will also hear from Jake Kheel, the environmental director at the Punta Cana Resort and Club in the Dominican Republic who will present examples of
solutions that the company has developed in response to some of the tourism industry’s greatest social and environmental challenges. A youth form with the theme “The Wisdom of our Next Generation – Sustaining our Tourism with YOU-th,” will provide an opportunity for the region’s youth to present their perspectives on sustainable tourism through drama. The CTO has been staging its Annual Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development since 1997.
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Snowden’s fate unclear Islamists reject Egypt’s choice of PM, call for more protests despite asylum offers MOSCOW (AP) — Edward Snowden has found supporters in Latin America, including three countries who have offered him asylum. But many obstacles stand in the way of the fugitive NSA leaker from leaving a Russian airport — chief among them the power and influence of the United States. Because Snowden’s U.S. passport has been revoked, the logistics of him departing are complicated. Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia have made asylum offers over the past two days, but the three countries haven’t indicated they would help Snowden by issuing a travel document, which he would need to leave Russia. The former NSA systems analyst, who is charged with violating U.S. espionage
Edward Snowden laws, is believed to be stuck in the transit area of Moscow’s main international airport after arriving June 23 from Hong Kong. Russia doesn’t appear willing to help him leave the airport, with Kremlin spokesman Alexei Pavlov saying yesterday the issue of Snowden’s travel documents
is “not our business.” On Monday, President Vladimir Putin said Snowden would be offered asylum in Russia if he stopped leaking U.S. secrets. Snowden then withdrew his Russian asylum bid, a Russian official said. While President Barack Obama has publicly displayed a relaxed attitude toward Snowden’s movements, saying last month that he wouldn’t be “scrambling jets” to capture him, other senior U.S. officials have used unusually harsh language that they want him back. White House spokesman Jay Carney said China had “unquestionably” damaged its relationship with Washington for not returning Snowden, who recently turned 30, from semiautonomous Hong Kong while he was still there.
CAIRO (Reuters) Liberal politician Mohamed ElBaradei was chosen as Egypt’s interim Prime Minister yesterday as the transitional administration fought to restore calm after at least 35 people were killed in Islamist protests that swept the country. ElBaradei, a 71-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner and former U.N. nuclear agency chief, had been favorite to head the temporary leadership installed by the military after it ousted elected President Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday. He was holding a second meeting of the day with interim head of state Adli Mansour late yesterday ahead of his expected appointment. Tens of thousands of Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood supporters took to the streets on Friday to protest against what they
2 KOREAS TALK AT BORDER ON STALLED INDUSTRIAL PARK SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Delegates from North and South Korea held talks yesterday on restarting a stalled joint factory park that had been a symbol of cooperation between the bitter rivals, but there was no word on whether any significant progress had been made as discussions went into the night. The Kaesong industrial zone, just north of the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, was the centerpiece of inter-Korean projects hatched during a previous era of warming ties. But it was closed in April as tensions rose between the rivals when South Korea held military exercises with U.S. troops not far from the border. North Korea pulled its 53,000 workers out of the industrial park, and South Korea then ordered its managers to leave as well, against their wishes. Representatives from the two sides met yesterday in the truce village of Panmunjom inside the DMZ
Suh Ho, the head of South Korea’s working-level delegation, left, shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Park Chol Su during their meeting yesterday. (AP Photo) for working-level talks. A delegate from South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which is in charge of relations with the North, said before leaving Seoul that the sides would discuss retrieving products that the South Korean managers left behind at the complex and inspecting the facilities. They also agreed to
discuss restarting work at the park. The talks started just before noon, and were still going yesterday evening. South Korean businessman Han Jae-kwon, president of an emergency committee for restarting the park, said he was watching for news on the talks’ results at his home in the southern city of Daegu.
“I hope they could narrow their differences,” he said. The park, which brought together North Korean labor and South Korean capital, resulted in nearly $2 billion a year in cross-border trade before its shutdown. It was the last remaining joint project between the two Koreas as relations soured over the past five years.
Mohamed ElBaradei called a military coup, and clashes between them, security forces and antiMursi protesters left more than 30 people dead. Within minutes of the news that ElBaradei would be named, a senior Brotherhood official said that the Islamist movement would reject his candidacy and any other measures implemented by the armybacked administration. “We reject this coup and all that results from it, including ElBaradei,” Farid Ismail, of the Brotherhood’s political wing the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), told Reuters. He described ElBaradei as “Washington’s choice”, a reference to suspicions among Brotherhood members of U.S. complicity in Mursi’s overthrow. An Islamist coalition led by the Brotherhood also called for another wave of demonstrations on Sunday, raising the prospect of further violence that has thrown the most populous Arab nation of 84 million people into fresh turmoil. Those reactions underlined the challenges facing transitional powers as they seek to implement a military roadmap leading to fresh elections. While the ouster of Egypt’s first freely elected president was greeted with jubilation on streets crammed with millions of people, his
many supporters feared a return to the suppression that the Islamists endured for decades under autocratic rulers. The army has given few details and no timeframe for elections, adding to political uncertainty at a time when many Egyptians fear that bloodshed could polarize society still further. Mursi’s dramatic removal and subsequent violence is the latest twist in a tumultuous two years since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in the Arab uprisings that swept the region. At least 35 people died and more than 1,000 were wounded in violence on Friday and Saturday, with the army struggling to maintain order in Cairo, Alexandria and other cities and towns, where rival demonstrators fought street battles. The most deadly clashes were in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, where 14 people died and 200 were wounded. In central Cairo, protesters clashed late into Friday night with stones, knives, petrol bombs and clubs as armored personnel carriers rumbled among them. It took hours to restore calm on the Nile River bridges around the landmark Egyptian Museum. Anti-Mursi activists remained encamped in a suburb of the capital, but Cairo and others cities were relatively calm as darkness fell yesterday. While the Brotherhood has insisted it will not resort to violence, some radical Islamists have no such inhibitions. Yesterday, a Coptic Christian priest was shot dead in Egypt’s lawless North Sinai province in what could be the first sectarian attack since Mursi’s overthrow, raising concerns about the potential for further religious violence.
We cannot determine our destiny, but we do have a choice of a philosophy that will influence the direction of our life.
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The Abigail Column Ex-fiancée ponders options with cheater
DEARABIGAIL, I have been in a relationship for more than two years. For most of that time, we have been engaged. I recently discovered that my fiancé was texting and talking to a woman from work. When I questioned him about it, he admitted that he had slept with her. I broke off the engagement and broke off contact with him.
He continues to contact me. He says he loves me and that it will never happen again. I love him but don’t think that the odds are good for this working out. I hate the idea of going back to a cheater. How can I believe his assurances that it won’t happen again? How can I trust him again? Am I crazy to even think of going back to him? Crazy Dear Crazy, You’re not crazy to reconsider this relationship — especially if he is working
hard to win you back. It would be crazy, however, to jump right back into an engagement with someone who has cheated. If you are willing to try again, and if he is willing to be constant, steady, faithful, truthful and — most important — to talk about his motivations and behaviour, then you could give it another try, although I agree with you that the odds for success are not great. If you do get back together, take marriage off the table until you have been together — faithfully — for another year.
Saturday July 07, 2013 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): A flash of insight helps you up the ladder of success. You’ve got an original way of doing things that sets you apart from the crowd. While everybody else is worried about fitting in, you’re focused on standing out. ***************************** TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): You could get the training you want by taking the unorthodox route. Studying with an expert or reading manuals on the side will put you ahead of the pack. ***************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): Planning for the future will give you financial independence in your golden years. It’s never too late to start a savings account or an investment portfolio. If you’re unsure where to begin, you can always take a course in personal money management. ***************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Lessons you learned long ago could come in handy quite unexpectedly. A business or romantic partner who needs reassurance may be acting out. Take this opportunity to provide practical support. ***************************** LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): It feels like a breath of fresh air now that changes are taking place on the work front. Perhaps you’ll be moved to a nicer office. Maybe you’ll be given a different set of responsibilities. ***************************** VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): A person who invites you to express your feelings turns out to be a valuable ally. Don’t be surprised if romantic sparks begin to fly. If you’re already in a relationship, this new friend will prompt you to put more emphasis on romance.
LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): You’re thinking outside of the box, which yields fantastic results. Home life becomes particularly rewarding when you reallocate chores among relatives or roommates. ***************************** SCORPIO (OCT 23 NOV 21): Your social life is picking up quite a bit, allowing you to mix with all sorts of interesting people. If you’re looking for love, be sure to attend a social gathering in your neighbourhood. ***************************** SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): Your home life is undergoing a period of flux, which can be alternately favourable and challenging. Today, however, the transitions are benefiting you, especially financially. You may get a chance to live closer to work, which saves you time and money. ***************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): An unexpected trip allows you to express yourself in ways you ordinarily wouldn’t. It’s such a relief to mix with people who don’t know your history. Now you’re not burdened with these stories, you can make a fresh start. ***************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): You have talents that you haven’t explored, mostly because of your present situation. Somehow, you haven’t felt comfortable venturing into unfamiliar territory. ***************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Even though you have lots of friends, you don’t feel compelledtofollowintheirfootsteps. Instead, you’re determined to forge your own path.
Guyana beat Jamaica to register... From page 69 but no one was able to ascertain the truth of this statement as Trotman was hardly on his feet for the duration of the fight. Moore wasted little time and before the first round was through, Trotman had tasted canvas three times. Moore was merciless and drifted Trotman after several wicked combinations. The referee hovered close by until an especially wicked right hook crashed into Trotman’s jaw and sent him tumbling to port canvass. He rose just as the referee waved the proceedings off at 1:20secs of the second round. In earlier predictions, Trotman had hinted that he had something up his sleeves quite forgetting that professional boxers are
required to strip their shirts. The crowd was left to assume that by doing so whatever was up his sleeve disappeared. Otherwise, Lewis was his usual indiscipline self, leaving the ring in a huff and generally displaying unadulterated dissent. Indeed it was a fight where neither boxer managed to fully take control as reflected by the eventual scores. Thorne’s scorecard read 40-36 in favour of Lewis while Hopkinson and DeSantos saw the bout at a 38-38 stalemate. Boxing administrators had promised a firestorm. Earlier they had to contend with raging winds and a mini hurricane that forced a postponement. Last Friday night, the elements relented
for the boxers to take over. Indeed, those pugilists did not disappoint and the CASH suffered a more terrible fate than the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground with hailstones and fire characterizing the respective bouts.
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‘POISE, PURPOSE AND AGGRESSION NEEDED TO PEAK AT THE PROPER TIME!’ Colin E. E. H. H. Croft Croft Colin Today’s (Sunday) game, West Indies vs Sri Lanka, could turn out to be the best game yet of the series. With its last game’s effort v India, Sri Lanka, perhaps still smarting from poor showings at Champions Trophy 2013, probably suddenly realized that there really is nothing to fear in this Tri-series. Conversely, West Indies will want to make serious amends for quite a poor effort, and subsequent result, against the same opponents last Friday. How could a team be so cold, with 25,000 similarly warm bodies in joyous, carnivalesque attendance? Anyway, acknowledged, on recent results and reckoning, as best international soccer team and One-Day International cricket
team in world sport, Spain and India, last week, were in exactly the same quandary! When it really should have mattered most, to win respective games, both fell flat, beaten badly by two enterprising outfits, Brazil and Sri Lanka. SL and Brazil realized that in order to beat India and Spain, they had to change their approach, not be defensive, but to take the world champions out of relative comfort zones. Both Brazil and Sri Lanka had one aspect, two words, in common last week. Massive aggression! In Spain’s case, they probably thought that that thumping they received from Brazil in the Confederation Cup 2013 final was just an aberration, a one-off. Having played so well since winning FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, and,
had it not been the Brazilians who so decidedly destroyed them, Spain might have gotten away with that thought too. But the Samba Boys upped their tempo considerably in that final at the famed Maracana Stadium. Brazil must have learned from Spain’s game against Italy, which Italy were unlucky to lose, noticing that if the ball was moved very quickly, then Spain could crumble, like any other team under great pressure. India too could have used an old excuse - cricket tiredness – after that battering by Sri Lanka at Sabina. Instead, India reverted to what got them to No. 1 in the first place; strong, in-your-face, purposeful batsmanship, down to No. 7, even with the absence of regular captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Stunningly aesthetic, classical Rohit Sharma and “The Basher”, Shikhar Dhawan, looked so at ease putting on a smooth 123-0 in 23 overs, to be followed by mesmerically exciting Virat Kohli with a magical 122. In Friday’s game vs West Indies at QPO, cricket’s world champions powered forward, grappling and clawing themselves out of the hole dug in Jamaica, caused by the dexterity of Sri Lanka’s batting. Dwayne Bravo’s use of his bowlers also confused. There is nothing written that says that any bowler must be fully used simply because he is playing. One-day cricket is a changing phenomenon by the delivery! How could two front line bowlers, Kemar Roach and, to a lesser extent, Tino Best, be allowed to complete 10 overs
Root to open as England name Test squad England have confirmed the ascent of Joe Root to opener for the Ashes by naming a 13-man squad devoid of surprises for the first Investec Test at Trent Bridge, beginning on Wednesday. The return of Kevin Pietersen, who missed England’s last three Tests against New Zealand with a knee injury, means Nick Compton drops out, while Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have both been passed fit. The announcement means there is no late reprieve for Compton, who scored back-to-back Test centuries in New Zealand in March but struggled in the return series. He was left out of England’s warm-up match against Essex, with Root moved up to partner Alastair Cook and Jonny Bairstow retaining his place in the middle-order, and despite making runs in two successive tour matches against Australia he has lost his place after nine Tests and 479 runs at an average of 31.93. Root made 41 and 26 at
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were both named in England’s squad for the first Test © PA Photos
the top of the order against Essex, while Bairstow was not at his most fluent in scoring a brace of twenties. England, however, had signposted their thinking with the announcement of the squad to play Essex, when the national selector, Geoff Miller, described Root as “currently the best opening partner for Alastair Cook”. The young Yorkshire pair are the only members of the squad yet to play in an Ashes Test. Compton made just 39 in four innings against New Zealand in May and Andy Flower, the England team director, said after the Headingley Test that Compton had to get back to scoring runs for his county. He made a century and two fifties in first-class cricket for Somerset, as well as 79 playing for Worcestershire against the Australians, and the decision to drop him against Essex prompted Compton to claim he had not been given “a fair crack of the whip” by England. Pietersen is back after
several months out with bruising to his right knee bone, having only played one first-class innings since March - although that was a knock of 177 not out for Surrey two weeks ago. Tim Bresnan is involved with the Test side for the first time since elbow surgery over the winter and will likely vie with Steven Finn and Graham Onions for the third seamer’s spot. Onions’ inclusion could also be precautionary, after Broad missed the game against Essex and required a cortisone injection in a
shoulder injury sustained during the Champions Trophy final - although he declared his confidence that he would be “100 percent right” on Thursday. Swann, too, was briefly the subject of anxiety after being struck on the forearm by Essex’s Tymal Mills but fears of a broken bone were quickly dispelled. England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.
each, for a combined 120 runs, while the two most frugal bowlers on the park, Darren Sammy – 8 overs for 28 runs, and Marlon Samuels - 8 overs for 39 runs, were not be allowed their full quota? Batsmen Roach and Best did win that game for West Indies in Jamaica last week, but this was a new time! Sri Lankan Upal Tharanga must have heard my bellows. No cricket team can rely on only two batsmen to survive and win in today’s world. For SL, those are Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Tharanga’s 174 no vs India was a welcomed arrival for his team and highly reminiscent of pulsating, flashing blades of another left-hander, Sanath Jayasuriya, who, in cahoots with Romesh Kaluwitharana, advised by then captain Arjune Ranatunga, totally changed the batting attitude to ODI’s in 1996 World Cup. Jayawardene’s cool approach, with that pristine century vs India, was the exact balance to Upal’s charge! Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels are now where Chris Gayle was before the games in Jamaica. Before his 109 against Sri Lanka two Fridays ago, Gayle’s last significant ODI score, of fifty or more, was fifteen innings previously; 125 against New Zealand, also in Kingston, in July 2012. Desmond Haynes probably put it best: “Reputations do not make runs. Batsmen who buckle down do!”
Colin E. H. Croft Ten innings ago, in February 2013, “Polly” made 109 no in a losing cause against Australia, but has not passed 50 in nine ensuing ODI innings since. Similarly, Samuels has not made substantial ODI scores, no innings over 50, since his 126 against Bangladesh in December 2012, also nine ODI’s ago. Pollard and Samuels need great runs to make up for debilitating, distressing lack of input at the crease. This cannot be good enough from West Indies premier batsmen. Much more buckling down is required! West Indies also seem to be depending much too much on Gayle’s production, while his energetic opening partner, Johnson Charles, is evolving into the most devil-take-thehindmost style batman ever! Last Friday, India bashed West Indies. Last week, Sri Lanka massaged India, while Brazil undermined Spain with increased speed and aggression. So let it be for this final push to the final for West Indies, against a rejuvenated Sri Lanka! Enjoy! E-mail: c.e.h.croft @gmail.com
7th Caribbean & 14th IPF/NAPF/FESUPO Pan American Powerlifting C/ships
Gumendra Shewdass is Pan Am Sub-Jr. Champ; Gold for Chesney and Edwards Guyana’s powerlifters ended the Caribbean segment just as they started – with a gold medal – when the curtains came down on the 7th Caribbean Powerlifting Championships at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Miami, Florida, USA yesterday. The unofficial Caribbean champions for yet another year closed off the individual competition in grand style and fittingly, by Colin ‘Mr. Clean’ Chesney who made it count this time in terms of excelling. Competing in the 120kg class and ranked third behind fellow Guyanese ‘Big’ John Edwards and number one, Carlos Rivera of Puerto Rico,
Chesney powered his way to the gold medal leaving in his wake Edwards to become the local undisputed king of the heavyweight category. Chesney totaled 802kg to Edwards’ 790kg, vindicating the confidence the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation has shown in him over the years. But the Big Man Edwards was not going to leave the 14th Pan American Championships without something special of his own. When the weights were settled, ‘Big’ John proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is the undisputed Pan American Masters 1 Champion and did
so in grandiose style by destroying old nemesis Claudemiro Nasciemento of Brazil who bombed out under pressure, John proving that his win in South America was no fluke. Rising Under-18 Star, Berbician Gumendra Shewdas won the Pan American Sub-Junior gold with 485.26 Wilkes Points. He defeated Canada’s Carson Dougall who went into the championships as the number one ranked in this category. Dougall ended with 371 Wilkes Points. USA’s Austin Gauldin was next with 355 Wilkes Points followed by Jorge Lopez of Costa Rica with 349. Another Guyanese athlete, Karel Mars who was
competing in the 105kg class unfortunately bombed out attempting 325kg on his first lift rather than establishing his safety mark first. Mars attempted what was his best lift on the first try. According to reports from Miami, based on results tallied to date Guyana were set to retain the Caribbean Team Champions trophy beating into second place Puerto Rico followed by Trinidad and Tobago. The final scores were to be announced at the Banquet last night. Additionally, for the Pan American segment, Guyana was locked in a four way fight for second place with USA, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
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CHRIS FROOME IN YELLOW AFTER STAGE WIN
Chris Froome took a commanding lead in the Tour de France, winning the eighth stage and first summit finish at the Pyrenean resort of Ax3-Domaines. It’s the second year in a row that Froome has won the first mountain stage, and tactics of his team, Team Sky, were similar. They took the initiative early in the stage, controlling the pace on the first big climb, the Col de Pailhères, even as the Colombian Nairo Quintana attacked and crested the summit a minute in front. Froome’s Sky team-mate Peter Kennaugh took over at the front of the chasing
group, leading them down the descent and on the lower slopes of Ax-3-Domaines. Sky seemed to be lacking numbers, but when Froome attacked, around 5km from the summit, nobody could follow. The double winner Alberto Contador was among the strugglers, as was the 2011 winner Cadel Evans. By the summit Contador had lost one minute, 45 seconds, with Evans even further back. And there was a bonus for Froome and Sky when his Australian team-mate, Richie Porte, counter-attacked. He came in 50 seconds behind Froome and now sits second overall, leaving Sky in a dominant position with two weeks still to race. Not only did Froome beat the likes of two-time Tour winner Contador and Quintana by one minute, 45 seconds, he also put more than four minutes into 2011
champion Cadel Evans. Alejandro Valverde, who was third on the stage, lost 1’08" but is third overall, 1’25" behind Froome. Slovakia’s Peter Sagan picked up 10 points in the green points jersey classification after finishing behind Andre Greipel in the day’s intermediate sprint, which came just before the mountain ascents. With the four riders in the breakaway claiming the big points on offer, German Greipel won the race from the peloton to claim 11 points, with Britain’s Mark Cavendish getting nine points. Sunday’s stage nine is a second and final day in the Pyrenees. The 165km race starts in Saint-Giron and features four category one mountain climbs and one category two ascent but finishes with a descent into Bagneres-de-Bigorre.
Bryan brothers make history Wimbledon doubles win means they now hold all four Grand Slam titles US twins Mike, left, and Bob Bryan hold aloft their historic trophies
American twins Bob and Mike Bryan became the first tennis pair to hold all four Grand Slam doubles titles at the same time in the Open era. They came from behind to make history after a nervous start threatened to ruin the record books.
Their eventual victory also completed the so-called Golden Bryan Slam, which takes into account the brothers’ Olympic triumph last year. Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman were the only other doubles partnership to hold all four majors
simultaneously - but that was back in 1951. Given that the Bryans were on a 23-match winning streak coming into the final, the result was hardly surprising. In fact it was far more of a shock when the Croat, Ivor Dodig and his Brazilian partner, Marcelo Melo raced to a 5-1 first set lead. Even though the Bryans began to wake up, they still lost that set 3-6. And Melo might have been dreaming of becoming the first Brazilian to win a Wimbledon titlle since Maria Bueno way back in 1966. But from that point on, the Americans achieved their usual superiority with a winning blend of close understanding, strong serves, clever variety and pure athleticism. As their comeback turned to glory, the Bryan twins dropped only eleven points in fifteen service games. A large crowd stayed behind on Centre Court, so they could say they were there when the most potent doubles pairing of all time cemented their place among the sporting greats. They applauded warmly when Bryan and Bryan celebrated with their trademark “chestbump.” Now the tennis afficionados of Wimbledon will hope for some more history, of a very British kind, today.
Team Sky’s Froome celebrates as he crosses the line during stage eight
BOLT WANTS TO DOMINATE UNTIL 2016 PARIS (AP) - Older and wiser, Usain Bolt is out to dominate his rivals on the track at least until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The six-time Olympic champion, who is competing at the Areva meeting in Paris on Saturday, looks to be back in shape after his form and motivation were questioned following a defeat by American sprinter Justin Gatlin at the Golden Gala on June 6. Bolt has recovered since then by winning the 200 at the Bislett Games and running 9.94 on home soil over 100 metres at the Jamaican trials on June 21. And he clearly wants to keep that form going. “I want to continue dominating until the next Olympics. I have to work hard, train hard and stay focused,” Bolt told a news conference yesterday. “I’ve won everything already, but now it’s to show that I can be a dominant sprinter. You want to dominate for the rest of your career.” In some ways, losing to Gatlin may even have helped the tall Jamaican to get back into his stride. “I figured out what I needed to do to get back on target,” he said. “I’ve been working hard, I’ve been focused, I’ve been sacrificing a lot, so now I’m on target.” Bolt, who turns 27 in August, is preparing for next month’s World Championships in Moscow by racing the 200 metres in Paris, the ninth leg of the Diamond League. It’s a meet where he will face compatriots Warren Weir and Nickel Ashmeade, along with former 200-metre European champion Christophe Lemaitre of France. And it’s a meet he is clearly relishing. “I really enjoy running big races before championships. It tells you where you are and tells you what you need to work on,” he said. “I know these young guys are stepping up and they’re going to come running and pushing you to the limits.” Bolt is under no illusions about the task facing him on Saturday, and also further down the road as a new generation of sprinters emerges. Weir won the 200 in Shanghai and New York in May, and clocked 19.79 in Kingston last month.
Usain Bolt
However, Bolt reckons he has experience, as well as speed, on his side. “It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be challenging because there’s always going to be younger, faster kids coming up and challenging you,” Bolt said. “I look forward to the young kids coming up and I look forward to beating them also. “I think I’ve learned a lot over the past few years. You learn that some things you can’t do. When I was younger, I used to do a lot of different things. But now I have to sacrifice a lot more ... because the older you get, the more your body reacts to certain things. So I think I’m going wiser definitely.” After the Areva meeting, Bolt will compete in the 100 and the 4x100 relay in London on July 26-27. That will be his final major meeting before the worlds, which start on August 10 and where Bolt plans to win three gold medals. And he is still sparing a thought for 2016, and defending his Olympic titles at the Rio de Janeiro Games. “I want to go for Rio to be three out of three,” Bolt said. “If I want to get there, I have to make sure every year I’m on top of things. I can’t jump off any season. I have to make sure every year I keep pushing myself to keep a certain standard.”
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German GP: Lewis Hamilton on Abigail McDonald retains national pole ahead of Sebastian Vettel scrabble crown after clinical display By Michael Benjamin
Lewis Hamilton won his third pole position of the season in his Mercedes Lewis Hamilton beat Sebastian Vettel to pole position at his Mercedes team’s home German Grand Prix. Hamilton knocked the world champion off top spot with the very last lap of qualifying by 0.103 seconds. Red Bull’s Mark Webber was third from Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean and Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo. Fernando Alonso will start eighth, one place behind team-mate Felipe Massa, after Ferrari qualified on the slower ‘medium’ tyre with a view to the race. The ‘soft’ tyre on which all those ahead of the Ferraris will start begins to rapidly lose pace after about five or six laps whereas the medium runs for more than 20. Alonso will be hoping to move into the lead as the front-runners pit early and end up with a better finishing position as a result. But the strategy did not work for Vettel when he tried it in China earlier this year, a decision Alonso later described as “strange”. Hamilton produced a remarkable return to form after struggling badly throughout
the three practice sessions this weekend. Before qualifying Mercedes said they did not know how Vettel could have been more than 0.6secs ahead of their fastest driver, Nico Rosberg in final practice. Hamilton was 0.5secs slower again. Rosberg was knocked out in second qualifying after Mercedes made the error of not sending him out for a second run at the end of the session. The German, who has won two of the last three races, was knocked out of the top 10 as other drivers improved their times and he dropped from second to Hamilton to 11th in the last four minutes of the session as he sat in the garage. The man who knocked him out was Raikkonen, who moved up to second after himself dropping out of the top 10 in the closing minutes. Mercedes’ error was a boost for Button, who sneaked into the top 10 with a lap 0.664secs quicker than team-mate Sergio Perez, who qualified 13th. On the occasion of the team’s 600th
grand prix, both Williams cars failed to progress beyond the first knock-out part of qualifying and will line up 17th and 18th, Valtteri Bottas 0.014secs faster than Pastor Maldonado. Caterham’s Charles Pic beat Marussia’s Jules Bianchi by 0.126secs to win the battle of the backmarker teams. Marussia’s English driver Max Chilton was 1.035secs off the pace of his French team-mate. There were again no tyre problems following Pirelli’s decision to bring a new design to this race after the six on-track failures during last Sunday’s British Grand Prix. Ahead of this weekend, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), of which all but three of the drivers are members, said they would “immediately withdraw” from the race meeting if the problems were repeated. Vettel said that in the race the drivers would leave any decision on safety to race director Charlie Whiting, who can hear their radio transmissions to their teams.
Karate Federation is still the leader Instructors who are connected with the Trinidad and Tobago Karate Federation (TTKF) are more marketable because of their credentials ‘beyond Black Belt’. Many of them are now pursued by other countries for their skill and expertise. TTKF instructors have recognised coaching licenses; CPR/First Aid certified and has a clear criminal background. These three credentials along with a valid Blck Belt certificate will open doors both regionally and internationally. TTKF is the only umbrella body in the Caribbean that has been offering these courses and
Virginia Seebaran TTKF President programs to its members since 2007. The unification (among all instructors) is the referee and
coaching programs. These have raised the bar so high that others have to catch up. The American Sport Education Program (ASEP) has certified over fifteen coaches. They are now preparing for the TTKF Technical Coaches license. TTKF has three World United Karate Organization (WUKO) Continental Referees - Anthony Parris, Lex Springer and Nicholas Seebaran. TTKF says it believes that if the instructor improves, the students will also improve. They will not have a choice. For more info log on to www.ttkf.org.
Abigail McDonald turned in a clinical performance to defeat Moen Gafoor 3-0 to take the 3 best of 5 duel and the National Scrabble crown when those two faced off in a highly anticipated clash for that accolade at the Bank of Guyana Sports Club yesterday afternoon. The erudite word former won the first set by a spread of 26 after amassing 375 points to Gafoor’s 349. She tightened her hold on the accolade in the second sitting, scoring 466 points to Gafoor’s 396 to prevail by a spread of 70. McDonald then dug in and rebounded after trailing her opponent by more than 50 points, with the bag nearing exhaustion, to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat with a stunning victory by a close spread of 3 points. Former National and Caribbean champion, Fred Collins finished in the third place while Devraj Deonarine finished fourth; Leon Belony ended the tournament in the 5th place. Deonarine was also adjudged best newcomer after finishing the tournament on 17 ½ points with a positive
spread of 1420. Gafoor returned to take the prize for the most bingos (62) and the highest game score (716) while top seed, James Krakowsky copped the prize for the highest single play (136). Delivering brief remarks after the tournament had concluded McDonald heaped praises on Gafoor for rising to the challenge. She disclosed that she had undergone a period of illness just before the start of the tournament and was in doubt of competing. She also admitted the Gafoor had been a worthwhile opponent that had pushed her to her limits where she was required to dig deep to retain her crown. McDonald concluded by reassuring her colleagues of her commitment to the development and promotion of the sport. Mr. Gafoor humbly conceded that McDonald was a phenomenal player with remarkable aptitude and love for the sport. He also admitted that she had tested him to the hilt and deserved to retain her crown. “In the end it all boiled down to superior word knowledge, patience, strategy and
shrewd ability,” Gafoor said. He admitted that he had had favourable luck with the bag but lost to someone of better intellect and application. “She deserve the accolade; there is no doubt as to who is really the champ,” Gafoor concluded. Meanwhile, Marketing Manager (Courts Guyana Ltd), Pernell Cummings congratulated McDonald and said that he is satisfied by the organizers’ efforts. He committed to future support but beseeched the organizers to work ardently to have the sport installed in the schools while introducing it to the communities. Mr. Collins delivered the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to the Governor of the Bank for assenting to their use of the facility. He further thanked Courts for its chivalry and reminded that the furniture giants have rendered firm support in the past. The hard work of Technical Director Elton Chase did not go unnoticed and once again he was commended for performing credibly. All of the participants also received acknowledgement certificates.
Wimbledon 2013: Marion Bartoli beats Sabine Lisicki to win title France’s Marion Bartoli won her first Grand Slam title with a dominant 6-1 6-4 victory over German 23rd seed Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon final. Bartoli won the first set in 30 minutes as Lisicki failed to cope with the occasion of a first Grand Slam final. The 23-year-old cut a fragile figure and was reduced to tears in the second set, helpless to prevent Bartoli from lifting the Venus Rosewater dish. Bartoli ended with an ace, collapsing to the ground once victory was hers. When the stunned 15th seed rose to her feet, she celebrated by climbing to the players’ box to embrace family and friends. Among those whom Bartoli hugged was her mentor and 2006 Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo, the last Frenchwoman to win at SW19, and her father and former coach Walter. Bartoli had bossed her opponents throughout the tournament and another commanding victory over Lisicki means she is now only the sixth player in the Open era to win a Wimbledon title
without dropping a set. It was a final few had predicted and inexperience on such a grand stage perhaps explained the edgy opening from both finalists. The unconventional French number one surrendered the first game of the match with a double fault but her rival followed suit, double faulting to allow Bartoli to level at 1-1. Thereafter Bartoli, five years her opponent’s senior and seeded eight places higher than the German, settled the quicker, taking the second of two break points in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead. She had returned brilliantly throughout the Championships - making 81% of her returns prior to the final - and her ploy of returning from inside the baseline proved key to success over a big-serving rival known as ‘boom boom’ in Germany. Her main weapon neutralised, Lisicki double faulted again in the sixth game before directing a forehand long to gift Bartoli a 5-1 advantage. With the match only 30 minutes old, Bartoli secured the opening set with Lisicki
clearly ill at ease on the same court where she had shown such composure to knock out top seed Serena Williams in the fourth round. The German had opportunities in the second game of the second set but Bartoli held firm and a third Lisicki double fault gifted Bartoli three break points in the third, the Frenchwoman finishing it with an overhead at the net to move 2-1 up. And when another double fault presented her opponent with a break point in the fifth game, a clearly distressed Lisicki dissolved into tears. The German recovered herself but could not prevent Bartoli breaking to lead 4-1, and when the Frenchwoman held for 5-1 a rout seemed imminent. The seventh game duly brought two Championship points for Bartoli, but Lisicki not only held serve she then broke back, before another hold narrowed the gap to 5-4. If Bartoli was feeling the pressure, she showed no sign as she served it out at the second attempt, concluding an impressive performance with her second ace of the match.
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Kaieteur News
Wartsila presents gear to Jetty FC
Wartsila’s Operation and Maintenance Manager, Colin Roberts (second, left), shares the moment with members of the Jetty FC and WDFA President, Jevon DeCosta (right) yesterday. Power suppliers, Wartsila yesterday presented a quantity of football gear to the West Demerara-based Jetty FC in a simple presentation ceremony at their Kingston Power Station, stating that it is for a very worthy cause as the club was without gear. Speaking to Kaieteur Sport briefly, Wartsila Contracts Manager, Arron Fraser said that the Jetty FC is a very young team with a lot of potential to grow and develop hence Wartsila take pleasure in aiding in that process of growth and development. Fraser said that the home of the club in
West Demerara is close to where Wartsila is currently in the process of constructing its new plant. In addition, it was disclosed that Wartsila’s Operations and Maintenance Manager, Colin Roberts, who was instrumental in lobbying for the support, hail from West Demerara. The gear includes 18 complete sets of football kit; Jetty FC is currently competing in the STAG Beer West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Division I League. Suspended WDFA head, Jevon DeCosta was also among those present yesterday.
Guyanese Kadecia Baird strikes gold in the 400m CAC Championships MORELIA, Mexico - CMC – Guyana’s teenage sprinter Kadecia Baird ran a season’s best 51.32 seconds to win the Women’s 400 metres at the XXIV Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Athletics Championships yesterday. The 18 year-old also booked a place on Guyana’s team for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Russia with an “A” standard qualifying time. Baird overcame challenges from Chrissan Gordon of Jamaica (52.52) and Kineke Alexander of St Vincent and the Grenadines (52.81) to win her first major title since securing a silver medal at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics in Barcelona, Spain last year. Baird’s mark highlighted some good performances for Caribbean athletes yesterday including Jarrin Solomon of Trinidad & Tobago, Shane Brathwaite of Barbados and Monique Morgan of Jamaica. Solomon won the Men’s 400m (45.54), ahead of Omar Johnson of Jamaica (45.67) and Gustavo Cuesta of the Dominica Republic (46.20). In straight tussle between Brathwaite and Wayne Davis II of Trinidad & Tobago for the men’s 110m hurdles’ title, the Barbadian prevailed in 13.70. Davis, who earlier advanced with the fastest qualifying time of 13.50 took the silver in 13.75 and Yordan O’Farril of Cuba was third in 13.82. Morgan continued the Caribbean’s domination on the track, copping
a victory in the Women’s 100m hurdles in 13.25. Kierre Beckles of Barbados secured the silver in 13.37 and LaVonne Idlette of the Dominican Republic settled for third spot in 13.41. On the opening day, Levern Spencer of St Lucia set a meet record and made the “A” qualifying standard in the Women’s High Jump for the IAAF World Championships 2013. Spencer cleared the winning height of 1.95 metres to erased her previous championship record of 1.94m set eight years ago in Nassau, Bahamas. Her compatriot Jeannelle Scheper picked up the silver medal with 1.92m and Saniel Atkinson of Jamaica was third with 1.84m. In other Caribbean results, Andrew Fisher of Jamaica (10.14), Andrew Hinds (10.19) and Ramon Gittens of Barbados (10.19) ensured a Caribbean 1-2-3 finish in the Men’s 100m. Shery-Ann Brooks completed the sprint double for Jamaica when she stopped the clock at 11.21, ahead of Marielys Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (11.24) and Aleen Bailey of Jamaica (11.34). Chad Wright of Jamaica and Cleopatra Borel of Trinidad & Tobago continued their dominance in the field. Wright copped the Men’s Discus with a throw of 60.79m while Borel was a comfortable winner in the Women’s Shot Put with 17.56m. Guyanese Adam Harris finished 6th in the 100m final in 10.24 while fellow Guyanese Winston George finished 9th in heat one of the 400m in 46.94.
Sunday July 07, 2013
Amerindians aspire to represent Guyana at cricket… A number of Amerindians and river rain communities are coming together in an effort to address a number of issues facing them. This was the disclosure made in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sports with Secretary of the Veed – EnRust Sports Club, James Allicock. Allicock stressed that it is every Amerindian or young person from the river rain community’s dream to play someday for Guyana. He noted that a number of Amerindians dreams about playing for Guyana and noted that persons representing Guyana comes mainly from coastal areas while those from river rain communities are ignored. “Someday I believe that we will see an Amerindian not only playing for Guyana but also for the West Indies team and this dream is a common one among many young Amerindians. We must understand that these communities have a lot of very talented Amerindian and other players but I guess it’s because we are regarded as ‘buck people’ as they refer to us,” James said. The club official pointed out that they have sought the assistance of several corporate companies but have been turned down noting that this may be because companies do not see publicity returns. “These communities are heavily populated so there is no doubt that sponsors will benefit in terms of their messages going out but it seems that everything today depends on the extent and level of publicity as some companies feels that they are not getting enough mileage for the monies that they would spend here,” he argued. He noted that what further compounds the problem is the fact that because there are not many big businesses in their communities garnering the required sponsorship to offset many cists is high thus frustrating any efforts by community members to push the sport. “There are many persons within these communities who are willing to help but you have to take into consideration that they are hardly any jobs and or businesses in here so it’s virtually impossible for us to really help out youths,” he bemoaned. James pointed out that, executing competitions
within the river rain communities are very expensive noting that this is due to transportation among other factors but stressed the desire and need to see major changes in how these clubs are treated. “Today just like on the coastal areas we are faced with similar social issues affecting our young children and being able to create avenues and platforms so that our young people can desist from these ills and activities would help us in growing better communities. Many times all we seek is to be given a level playing field so that regardless of which community a child comes from that he/she can make the national team as each citizen should have equal right,” he declared. The Sports enthusiast stressed that the reason why
players from these communities are not making the national team is not a case of ability but rather a case of them being stigmatized and discriminated. Adding their voice to the call, Coach of Santa Mission Sports Club, Roy Samuels said that he would like to see equal opportunities for all stressing that a number of Amerindians and or river rain community residents can and would make the national team. “We are determined to see the end to this problem and I am of the firm belief that someday we will be able to see young talented Amerindian boys and girls making Guyana and west indies cricket teams, it’s just a matter of time but while we wait for this to be a reality we are determined to do whatever we can,” Samuels declared. (Andre Nelson)
5 year-old Marley Watson gets his Blue stripe Marley Watson
Five year-old Marley Watson of Bassai Karate Dojo International (BKD-I) in Orlando was promoted to 10th Kyu ‘A’ ( Blue Stripe) after training for three months He skipped two levels because of his high level performance . Besides demonstrating all basics, he did three katasShiho Uke,Heiko kata Dai itchi and Heiko Kata Dai Ni with correct timing, accuracy and speed. The young Shito-Ryu karateka will be competing in the upcoming USA Invitational tournament.
Sunday July 07, 2013
Kaieteur News
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From a hurricane to a raging inferno, Dexter Gonsalves claims national Lightweight belt By Michael Benjamin The old Guyanese idiom that ‘lil axe does cut down big tree’ could not have been more effectively exemplified than when Dexter Gonsalves faced Revlon Lake for the National Jnr/Lightweight title in the 28th edition of Guyana Fight Night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Friday evening last. The former pugilist employed a vicious two fisted attack and blasted the latter into oblivion and left those in attendance awestruck by such brutality. Debutant, Romeo Norville commenced his professional career on a winning note with a convincing majority decision over veteran, Eversley Brown in their 4 rounds Middleweight clash and was emulated by Welterweight, Laured Stewart who easily outpointed Anson Green over 4 rounds. All three judges, Bernard DeSantos, Rawle Aaron and Carlton Hopkinson scored the fight 40-35 in favour of Norville. Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore endorsed his sobriquet and needed just 1:20secs of the 2nd round to ‘hurry up’ Errol Trotman while Troy Lewis and Kelsey George fought to a draw in their 4 rounds Catchweight affair. Following the abortion of
the card after a mini storm on the West Coast last week, fans were assured of a firestorm and both principals in the main bout seemed bent on fulfilling that prediction from the very first gong. Gonsalves opened his account with several crisp jabs and right crosses but Lake matched his blows with a few left hooks and looping rights. Gonsalves, a tall wiry pugilist continued to throw piercing jabs and right crosses while dancing out of range while Lake continued attacking, lashing out with venomous left hooks and right crosses. The fight developed into a brutal confrontation in the third round as both fighters met in centre ring, each unleashing wicked body and head blows. The tide began to turn at the halfway stage of the third stanza when Gonsalves unleashed several salvoes that slammed into Lake’s face, transforming his countenance into a bloody mess, still Lake continued to advance. The onslaught continued into the fourth stanza and though Gonsalves stayed ahead he was not having things entirely his way; a determined Lake upped the ante and for the first time in the bout Gonsalves backed off. Lake pursued his man and
connected with looping punches that brought the small crowd to life even as Gonsalves quickly reasserted himself into the fray. The wiry Gonsalves regained control at the start of the 5th frame and pummeled Lake with hard combinations. Once again, the blood began to flow but Lake refused to back off. Gonsalves then unleashed several bombs to Lake’s unprotected head yet Lake determinedly stood his ground and landed a few salvoes of his own. The action slowed in the 6th round with both pugilists enjoying good moments. In the meantime, the crowd remained on its feet with both gladiators enjoying favourable support. If there is anything to be said about Gonsalves it’s that he is disciplined, fit and focused. Despite the crowd shouting instructions and egging him on, his ears appeared to be glued to his corner as he adhered to the instructions of his trainers, Joseph Murray and Sebert Blake. When the bell sounded for the start of the 7th round, Gonsalves bounded out and met his man halfway of the ring. Lake’s face was bruised and battered and though his handlers had worked on the cut, blood still oozed from the
Usain Bolt wins Diamond League Paris 200m in fastest time of year Usain Bolt recorded the fastest time of the year as he won the 200m at the Diamond League meeting in Paris. The six-time Olympic gold medallist clocked 19.73 seconds to beat fellow Jamaican Warren Weir (19.92) and France’s Christophe Lemaitre (20.07). Olympic champion Greg Rutherford pulled out of the long jump, little more than a month before the World Championships, after sustaining a hamstring injury. Rutherford jumped 7.99m in round three before withdrawing from the event, which Jamaican Damar Forbes (8.11) won from Briton Chris Tomlinson (8.08). Bolt, meanwhile, showed there was no reason to be concerned about his slow start to the season. This was the Jamaican’s second outing over his favoured distance this year after clocking 19.79 in Oslo on June 13. “I’m happy with myself,” said the 26-yearold, the world record holder in both sprint events. But he added: “I still need to work on a few mistakes.” American Tyson Gay, Bolt’s main sprint rival, won the US World Championships trials in 19.74 last month. He was also victorious in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne on Thursday in the second fastest time of the year. Rutherford, meanwhile, jumped 7.99m in
round three of the long jump, won by Jamaican Damar Forbes (8.11) from Briton Chris Tomlinson (8.08), but withdrew in the next round. Britain’s European indoor 400m champion Perri Shakes-Drayton clocked 53.96 seconds to finish second in the women’s 400m hurdles behind Olympic bronze medallist Zuzana Hejnova (53.23). France’s Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie (5.92m) claimed victory in the pole vault. World and Olympic champion Kirani James, from Grenada, won the head-to-head with American Lashawn Merritt in the 400m, clocking the first time under 44 seconds in the world this year. James (43.96) was followed home by Merritt, who finished second in a season’s best 44.09, with American Tony McQuay (44.84) in third. Reigning 10,000m Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba, of Ethiopia, won the 5,000m in 14 minutes 23.68 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year, while Britain’s Stephanie Twell (15.18.60) ran a season’s best to finish 11th. Elsewhere, Jamaican double Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also ran her best time of the year, 10.92 seconds, to win the 100m, while Olympic champion Robert Harting, from Germany, claimed victory in the discus with a throw of 67.04 metres.
Lake is being assisted up by referee Ian Jardin, virtually signaling the end of his resistance in the bout.
wound. However, the Barbados based Guyanese must be given kudos for a brave display. He attacked his man in centre ring and both pugilists exchanged delightful combinations. The two boxers then went into a clinch when Gonsalves stepped back and clipped Lake with a short punch to his chin. Few saw the blow but everyone witnessed its effect as Lake tumbled to the canvass while Gonsalves sprinted to the neutral corner. Lake attempted to rise but his legs refused to cooperate. Referee, Eion Jardine cradled him in his arms before waving the bout off at 2:40secs of the 7th round. Stewart was all business from the first gong when he connected with a left jab and right cross that sent Green down for the referee to institute the mandatory count. He rose and resumed combat but Stewart failed to
Regional U-17 cricket Guyana severely dented any hopes of Jamaica retaining the Regional Under17 title with a crushing 87 run victory at Shaw Park yesterday in the fourth round of the Regional under-17 limited overs cricket competition in Tobago. In a low-scoring affair, no Guyanese batsman got past Keanu Harry’s 35 while no Jamaican got past 20. Jamaica won the toss and inserted the Guyanese. The opening partnership put on 35 runs. This was followed by a 45 run partnership for the second wicket. Guyana looked solid up until losing their second wicket with the score on 89. In a matter of five overs, they were reeling at 108/5. They lost two further wickets with the scores on 124 and 130. However, Brandon Prasad (29) and Harry (35) finished off the innings on a
take advantage and Green managed to weather the storm. The two boxers engaged in close exchanges at the start of the second round and after a vicious flurry had landed on his temple, Green once again took to the canvass. He rose and once again Stewart attacked, bent on finishing it this time. He dealt his man several crunching blows which Green managed to withstand while retaliating with tame blows. The action slowed in the third round but Stewart still managed to stay ahead as Green found him a difficult and elusive target. The debutant continued where he had left off in the third round and pummeled his man with several hard shots with Green attempting to seek refuge in a clinch. Stewart would have none of it and wriggled free before landing several combinations that
had Green tossing. He, however, managed to withstand the onslaught until the bell mercifully intervened. Rawle Aaron and DeSantos gave the bout to Stewart 4034 while Andrew Thorne supported with a score of 3935. Brown’s coach had predicted fire and brimstone but apparently his charge was not aware of the plan. As a matter of fact, he could be thankful for Norville’s limited experience. The latter boxer sent his man to the canvass in the second stanza and fans thought that he was on his way to fulfilling an earlier prediction. This was not to be as Brown managed to weather the storm and despite being woefully outclassed, managed to stay around to the last bell. The ring announcer introduced Trotman as standing 5 feet tall (Continued on page 63)
Guyana beat Jamaica to register first win
Parmesh Parshotam high to lift Guyana to 189/7 from their 50 overs. At the top of the order, Parmesh Parsotam (23), Ronaldo Renee (26) and Shim Hetmyer (27) all had starts but failed to convert them into anything significant. Spinner, Abhijai Mansingh grabbed 322 to be Jamaica’s best bowler. But 189 still looked an
underpar score for the Jamaicans to chase. However, from a position of relative comfort at 42/1, the Jamaicans slipped to 59/5. There was a 29 run partnership between Mansingh (16) and Rajon Nichlason (5) but when Mansingh went with the score on 88/7, another slide occurred that would see the Jamaicans slip to 102 all out, and an 87 run defeat. Mansingh and Ahmad were joint top-scorers with 16. Keemo Paul and Parmesh Parsotam both took three wickets for Guyana, the latter being named Man of the Match. In other games, Trinidad and Tobago defeated Barbados by two wickets and the Windwards beat the Leewards by 61 runs. Barbados and T&T are joint leaders going into the final round today.