Kaieteur News

Saturday Edition

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July 28, 2012 - Vol. 6 No. 29 - Price $80 kaieteurnews@yahoo.com Website:http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

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PNCR 17 Biennial Congress gets underway ...

55 year-old party charts renewed course for Govt. of National Unity p. 7

UK ballistics expert willing to examine bullets removed from slain Lindeners Dead: Lakeram Persaud p.

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- AFC seeks clearance from Top Cop

Man, 74, surrenders after killing stepson

Man beats peacemaker Porter dies despite airlift to city p.

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p.

13

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Murder suspect Albert Andries sits in a police vehicle after giving himself up.

Linden protest bites deep …

p. 6

Mining, logging camps starved, - fuel skyrockets, Govt. weighs options cash runs out

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 28, 2012

Porter dies despite airlift to city Orin Hutson, 20, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) last evening, a few hours after a truck in which he was traveling, toppled, pinning him for almost one hour.

The incident occurred around 03:00hrs yesterday at Puruni.

Kaieteur News understands that Hutson, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, a porter for almost one year, was among 15 workers heading to Bartica when the incident occurred.

Hubert Thomas, Hutson's relative, said that he was also sitting at the back of the truck when the vehicle toppled.

Thomas recalled joking Hutson. “We were all talking and making jokes when two cruisers were coming towards us. The driver like he tried to brake but like it fail so he swerve in a corner, which was a slope, to avoid colliding with the other two vehicles. The truck ended up over-turning and that is when it pinned Hutson down.”

A very shocked Thomas told Kaieteur News that all the porters escaped without any injuries. “We try to lift

The injured Hutson being taken to the Bartica Hospital

the truck and pull he out.”

According to Thomas, the 20-year-old appeared to be “very healthy. Is only a few scrapes were on his skin.

We took him to Bartica Hospital and while going he was talking good, good. I don't know what happen.”

The visually shaken Thomas said that the doctor at the Bartica Hospital told him that the young porter sustained internal injuries.

“He (doctor) said that he had a fractured rib so they call an ambulance and took him to GPHC.” According to Thomas, the 20-year-old seemed more critical when he was in

the ambulance. “Blood de coming out from he nose and he wasn't talking, but when we were taking him to the Bartica Hospital, he was asking a lot of questions.”

At the GPHC yesterday, Hutson's relatives were gathered in front of the hospital and were crying bitterly.

His mother, Elizabeth Griffith, said that she was at home when she received a call that her son was pinned by a truck and that he was being air-dashed to the Bartica Hospital.

“Oh lawd, that is my only son, that is my only son. Why this happen to me?”

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 3

Linden situation still Venezuelan caught trying to sell flammable, could deteriorate illegal gun and ammunition President Donald Ramotar is heading to Linden today. The announcement was made by the Government Information Agency, yesterday.

The Head of State is now the first Government official to head to the mining town since the protest began last week, and since the police shot and killed three protesters.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, has described the current imbroglio involving massive protests in Linden, the RegionTen mining community and the Executive as a “conflict”. The fact that the parties are meeting and talking is significant, he said.

While he says that the potential still remains for the situation to deteriorate further, the regular engagements between the Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, and members of the Executive, do lend to dissipate the potential.

Dr. Luncheon was at the time speaking to the media during his weekly post cabinet press briefing when he was asked to expand on what he meant by ‘constructive engagement’ with the Regional Representatives.

He said that the meetings are of immense importance given the “conflict” nature of the situation with each side having extreme positions.

“Both sides recognize that there are issues and then of course there are issues,” said Dr. Luncheon. The

…Govt. calls no confidence motion futile - Dr. Luncheon challenges facing the two negotiating teams are surmountable.

Asked to comment on the ‘No Confidence Motion’ against Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Dr. Luncheon said that would be a waste of time and that the stakeholders would have been better served in seeking to address matters such as the electricity tariff and an end to the subsidy.

According to Dr. Luncheon, “The differences (of positions) are surmountable, as profound as they appear to be. I do concede that possibility continues to exist of a further deterioration,” It was at this time that Dr Luncheon “guardedly” spoke of the willingness, regularity and frank discussions that have diminished the potential of exacerbation.

He did suggest that the matter of the electricity tariff and how to end the subsidy could have been better addressed and he reminded of the PNCR leader’s suggestion on many occasions that “the devil is in the details.”

Asked to expand on the binding nature of the no confidence motion Rohee, as against one in the entire government, Dr. Luncheon told media operatives, “in a very pedantic kind of way, he

who appoints is he who disappoints.” He was speaking specifically to the fact that it is only the President who can remove the Minister of Home Affairs from his position.

Dr. Luncheon said that while it may be catered for in other jurisdictions, a motion of no confidence cannot remove a Minister of Government. He pointed to the Constitution which only prescribes how a Minister is appointed.

He says that “it might be in other jurisdictions, but this model that we have here captured in our constitution makes no such provision, does not confer that power on the Parliament.”

The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said that this does not mean that the Parliament cannot debate the motion, but stressed that the desired end result on the part of the opposition, which is to take it to a conclusion of a removal from office, cannot be had.

On the issue of a motion of no confidence in the Guyana Government Dr. Luncheon told media operatives that “a motion of no confidence in the government is explicitly, expressly dealt with in the Constitutional provisions.”

He explained that this is what separates the utility of the effort.

A 25-year-old boat operator from Venezuela will know his fate next Monday when he is expected to be sentenced for having an illegal .45 pistol and illegal ammunition for the said firearm in his possession.

Jesus Alberto was said to have had the prohibited items at Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni River on July 26. The man pleaded guilty to the offence.

Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry, presiding at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, with the help of an interpreter, informed the defendant that for the crime, he could face a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years imprisonment. The sentence carries a fine of $50,000 to $100,000.

The defendant informed the court that his relatives were arranging for a lawyer to appear on the next occasion but he had already pleaded guilty to the offence.

The defendant was asked if he understood what was taking place at the court and whether he wished to change his plea.

It was suggested to the defendant that having pleaded guilty to the offence it was important that he acknowledge and understand what was taking place.

Alberto said that he wished to maintain his plea.

With the help of the translator he heard that on the day in question police ranks acting on information, conducted a

UK ballistics expert willing to examine bullets removed from slain Lindeners - AFC seeks clearance from Top Cop A United Kingdom ballistics expert is willing to come here to examine the bullet fragments that were extracted from two of the Linden victims.

Alliance For Change (AFC) executive member, Nigel Hughes, said yesterday that the expert, Dr. David Robinson, had indicated his willingness to participate in the investigation after receiving a request from the AFC. “He’s prepared to come at 2436 hours notice to view the ballistics tests and also conduct tests,” Hughes told Kaieteur News yesterday.

The attorney said that the AFC has written to Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell requesting permission for Dr. Robinson to view the fragments.

Hughes had said on Thursday that the AFC was sending photographs of the bullet fragments to an overseas ballistics expert, in the hope that the expert could offer an opinion

about the calibre.

Trinidad-based Pathologist, Professor Hubert Daisley, who viewed the autopsies, stated that bronze-tipped rounds were used and that the weapon was a handgun. He believes that they were fired from one weapon.

But even if the calibre is identified, there is still the challenge of matching the fragments to a firearm.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law Enforcement) Seelall Persaud has said that only four shotgun cartridges were unaccounted for from the ammunition that police ranks had at Linden. Shotgun pellets were also extracted from some of the injured.

Persaud said that the survivors have declined to provide investigators with written statements. He has appealed to eyewitnesses to come forward.

Some sources have expressed concern that no attempt was made to examine the

weapons of all of the ranks who were at the protest when the shooting occurred.

This newspaper was also informed that the Crime Scene

ranks were never instructed to scour the area for ballistic evidence or to swab the hands of all the ranks who were at the scene of the protest.

Jesus Alberto search on the man and found the prohibited items hidden in his pants crotch.

The policewoman said that the defendant was arrested and told of the offence and he admitted to the items being his. Alberto was later charged for the offence.

The defendant when given a chance to speak, through the translator said that he was given the gun and ammunition by another Venezuelan to sell and after selling the items he would receive a pay.

The police were also asked how they were able to ascertain that the man had admitted to the articles being his since the response was that the Venezuelan spoke a little English.

The court opted to postpone the sentencing until Monday next. That was done to facilitate the appearance of a representative from the Venezuelan Consulate.

The representative would be present to witness the procedure of the sentencing.

Page 4

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 28, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

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

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

EDITORIAL

That no-confidence vote When a people appear to lose confidence in those who are supposed to lead, they either become apathetic or they seek support from external sources. Sometimes their efforts embarrass those who take their work seriously because that person feels that he or she is being lumped in the ranks of the distrusted.

For some time now people have not been talking to the police because to a man they say that they have no confidence in the police. And they cite numerous reasons, chief among them being the lack of confidentiality. To this day people still say that they have been exposed to threats from the very people whom they reported.

The people say that even before they returned home the people against whom they filed the report would call them threatening and informing them of what they actually told the police. One young woman who was robbed on her way home and who reported the matter to the police, then proceeded to identify one of her attackers, had her home shot up.

What she found strange was the police inaction. There was no arrest although there was a suspect and in the end she was forced to decline to testify. Her attacker walked.

Former head of Citizens Bank, Alan Parris, once said that he would be afraid to report any suspicious bank transactions because if he should make such a report in the morning, by noon when he is driving home he would be dead.

There have been demonstrations of a lack of confidence in other areas. A woman died under conditions that left many unanswered questions. The post mortem was conducted but the relatives were not satisfied so they summoned a foreign pathologist. Needless to say, the local pathologist was unhappy.

The same thing happened on West Demerara when the relatives of a dead girl brought in a foreign pathologist and forced an exhumation. A man dies in the Georgetown Public Hospital while in police custody. There is an autopsy and the relatives asked that there be an independent pathologist.

In this part of the world people also express discontent or a lack of confidence in aspects of the administration. For its part the government says that it has heeded the reports by the people when it comes to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and has replaced them with Interim Management Committees.

The government has repeatedly said that it has no confidence in the city council. This has been the case for years. On one occasion it actually replaced the entire council with an interim management committee.

At the national level the government removes office workers, people in leadership positions, including Ministers and even people in places over which the government has influence when there is a lack of confidence in those persons.

And there have been many instances of the government taking action. It has made no bones that it would not hesitate to dispose of those in whom it has lost confidence.

It lost confidence in former Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe when the latter decided to refuse a request that was presented as an order from Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj.

Slowe was never promoted. In fact, efforts were made to have him removed from the force. These efforts were thwarted by a legal challenge filed by Slowe.

The shoe is now on the other foot. The parliamentary opposition is seeking to express a vote of no confidence in the Home Affairs Minister. All of a sudden this has become anathema. There are many things that are said to be out of place and irregular.

But this is human nature. We do things to others but when the reverse is the case we resent it. This was the case when the ruling People’s progressive Party observed the anniversary of the people it called the ballot box martyrs but frown upon those who were shot and killed although they did much less than those ballot box martyrs. The latter did not seek to attack anyone nor did they prevent the law enforcement officers from going about their legitimate business.

Support for inquiry on collapse of Harbour Bridge

DEAR EDITOR, I endorse the view expressed by Peeping Tom (Jul 24) that an inquiry is needed into the collapse of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The partially sunken bridge has been the subject of discussion everywhere I travelled since early Monday morning when the bridge went out of operation.

People were and still are extremely angry that they lost work and income (businesses suffered losses, farmers lost their produce, government lost revenues, taxis and buses lost money, people were fighting each other at the stelling, etc.) and they blame the government for the bridge being out of commission.

In short, there were serious economic losses, psychological trauma, and inconvenience.

Thus, the nation needs to know the facts of why the bridge collapsed so that corrective actions can be taken to prevent its recurrence.

The inquiry should focus on the overall operation of the bridge and it should be done urgently and it should include all the facts surrounding maintenance work carried out on the bridge, the type of vehicles that were allowed to cross the bridge, a detailed report on the amount of funds expended annually on maintenance work over the

last several years.

People must be brought to account over their responsibilities.

If people are found to be negligent (in the bridge’s operation or its maintenance) or can’t account for expenditures in the upkeep of the bridge, they should face the full brunt of the law – prosecuted if need be and or terminated.

The General Manager, Mr. Rawlston Adams, and the line Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn, are responsible for the operation and upkeep of the bridge. The management of the bridge leaves much to be desired and the Ministry’s supervision is not up to standard.

The General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation and the Ministry need to provide answers to several questions commuters posed, comments made and unverifiable claims about the bridge’s operation and maintenance work as well as exactly what led to the collapse of the bridge.

A few individuals told me that they saw an excavator crossing the bridge in the wee hours of Monday and it could have damaged the pontoon or aspects of the bridge especially if it was under stress for shoddy maintenance work or weak “rotten” pontoons.

Minibus operators told me that “certain bumps on the bridge did not feel right” suggesting the bridge was under stress for “weight”. Others said a few pontoons were in decaying condition and could not withstand normal weight (like that of an excavator).

People complain that virtually no maintenance is done on the bridge and when work is actually done it is shoddy and poor.”Dem a do lie lie wuk”, is how some described maintenance of the bridge.

But I crossed the bridge on Sunday and saw some kind of maintenance work being done – what exactly the nature of the maintenance was, why couldn’t the workers detect something was amiss about the bumps or the pontoons?

In the U.S, those workers would be roasted – they would be grilled on the type of work carried out and their inability to recognize that something was amiss. Sources tell me that tens of millions of dollars are spent annually on maintenance work – on what?

One bus operator told me he read in the media sometime in May that a pontoon was stolen or moved from the bridge and found in the Mahaica area. If that is indeed the case, then security on the bridge is poor. We are

told two pontoons were taking on water — clearly inspection lapsed or is not a priority for management. The pontoon could not have leaked suddenly. Are or were the pontoons seaworthy?

When was the last inspection of the pontoons and why weren’t the leaking pontoons discovered?

There were some individuals who invoked a conspiracy theory to explain the collapse of the bridge, with some saying there was sabotage related to other events that preoccupy the nation and grabbing news headlines.

Also, a few persons swore that pins from pontoons were removed to affect the alignment of the bridge. Was there a conspiracy to undermine the bridge?

We need to know the facts of what really happened to the bridge. The life of the nation was disrupted and it suffered tremendously over the three days that the bridge was out of operation and even now it is not fully operational as there is weight restriction preventing certain equipment and vehicles from crossing.

Let there be a thorough inquiry on every aspect of the bridge’s operation and let the facts come out. It can’t be business as usual or else we will have the same disastrous outcome.

Vishnu Bisram

Madness in the face of the enemy DEAR EDITOR, An acceptable definition of madness is to do the same thing over and over again, yet expect a different result.

In 1961, two months before the PNC contested the general elections, Mr. Sydney King, then General Secretary of the PNC, had a public falling out with party leader Forbes Burnham. The PNC entered that election a fractured group and lost the elections. Several party members broke away with King who later became a founder member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Several decades later Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte suffered a similar fate when PNC strong man and senior central executive member of the party Mr. Hamilton Green left the PNC and formed his own political group (Good and Green for Guyana) GGG; this group later contested elections against the PNC. Green, a popular party leader, took several party members with him and in the process fractured the PNC. The insurgencies continued throughout Hoyte’s leadership of the party as several young turks smelled blood and circled in for the kill.

After Hoyte’s demise, new party leader Robert Corbin suffered the same fate, when he and Central executive member and PNC Member of Parliament Mr. Raphael Trotman had a public falling out and Trotman left the party and became a founder leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC).

The PNC was further weakened as several senior leaders fought publicly in what many would characterize as nasty fights for political power and office.

The schisms and fissures grew and Robert Corbin as party leader contested the 2006 elections as a weak candidate atop a house divided.

As the PNCR prepares for its 17th biennial congress, one can see the same players employing several of the same

tactics that were used against Hoyte and Corbin in the fight for political power and party leadership. The viral letter writing that seeks to publicly destroy image and character.

The social media disinformation and denigration, the lies and rumours have all gone into high gear as the usual suspects wage open warfare against their kith and kin.

The party battle song urges members to “hold the line of battle comrades link your arms in unity, organize and charge the forces of our…enemy….” But these insurgents who have been waging war within the party for the past 14 years don’t see the enemy as the PPP/C, no, these perpetual combatants point their guns inwards and wage a war of attrition with so-called friendly fire.

With APNU having the PPP/C in a defensive and weakened position after last November’s election, one would have expected that commonsense would have prevailed and the forces within the party would have rallied in unity to mount a formidable campaign to oust the “real” enemy of the people, the corrupt and antiworking class, anti-poor, racebaiting PPP/C. But the tireless warriors for power, headed by their field General, have advised their followers that the leadership provided by Brigadier David Granger which brought them within sight of victory must be changed. Eight months ago they entrusted the entire country into his hands, presented him as suitable (Continued on page 5)

Indigenous vs. Amerindian DEAR EDITOR, I was confused by the headline “Indigenous Peoples Commission hands over first report to House Speaker”.

More attentive persons would recognise the euphemistic use of the terminology ‘Indigenous’.

The Speaker should invite Parliament to examine its accuracy in relation to the contentious law enacted and titled the Amerindian Act 2006. This is a familiar exercise of ‘smoke and mirrors’, for at

the time of its promulgation, substantive ‘Amerindian’ communities were stoutly resisted when they pressed for the law to be entitled Indigenous Peoples Act. Surely there is the taint of dissemblance in conjuring up an ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Commission’ in contradiction of the law!

Whereto should the amendment be applied?

E B John

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Twiddling thumbs until the next police shootings

DEAR EDITOR, As was reported in the Kaieteur News paper on 9/14/ 2011 a man in a tree warranted shots being fired at him by the police. It is about time that the police in Guyana be given some sensitivity training about how to handle simple problems.

The police were called because a man was up in a tree and refused to come down. This action caused the police to fire multiple shots at the man. I am concerned that the police in Guyana have lost their sense of responsibility.

The above statements were made last year showing the Guyana police insensitivity. In that writing, I called for the police to be trained.

The mere fact that the police have the authority to shoot anyone, with impunity, shows that the police commissioner, Minister of Home Affairs, The President and any other who has the authority to influence the behaviour of the police

should be removed from office, with sensitivity training given to every person joining the police force.

Who has the ultimate authority to see that the police are trained in the simplest form of public response? If that person failed to ensure that the police cease and desist from injuring and killing any citizen for the most trivial of public misbehaviour, then that person does not need to remain in that position of authority.

Blame should also be placed at the doorstep of the public. There were no protests against the police when the man in the tree was shot at. This action by the police was in evidence before.

We, the people, have seen what the police will do for the simplest of public misbehaviour, but we continue to tolerate this ghastly over-reaction by the police. We were witnesses to the constant injuring of the public by the police. Yet we

the people shrugged our shoulders because we were not the injured party.

Guyana went ahead and bought a huge water cannon to quell crowd misbehaviour, yet when the water cannon’s use would have been preferable, real bullets were used instead, resulting in injury and death of innocent citizens.

Today, we the public stand in astonishment only after the police kill and maim.

Those Linden killings could have been avoided. We do not have to be surprised at the police action when it is common practice of the police to kill or injure the public without an enquiry.

Those in authority allow the police to determine who is a criminal and who is not.

Consequently, no attempt is made or no behavioural mandate is given to the police.

There is no standard of behaviour that is in place for the Guyana police to adhere to when dealing with the

Madness in the face of the...

From page 4 to lead the nation. He rose to the task and rallied a fractured party and nation, held together a ten-group partnership that energized the electorate and produced a parliamentary majority in the National Assembly (along with the AFC). Now according to these perpetual warriors, David Granger is not good enough to lead their party.

The great Santayana cautioned that those who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat it…and if the past skirmishes for the leadership of the PNC teach us anything, it is that the public spats, the defamatory character of the leadership battles, and the ugly and insidious nature of the campaigns waged by the usual suspects, only serve to further erode public confidence in the PNC as a political institution in Guyana and further weaken the party base.

It is a turn off, and instead of winning hearts and minds, it scares good people away, who want no part of the ugly and crass name-calling, backstabbing and intellectual dishonesty that characterizes these battles.

Only in the PNC can a popular leader riding a crest of national popularity; a leader with an unblemished record; a leader who has made the party relevant again, be challenged by a man with no proven track record. In my opening I said that madness is to do the same thing over and over again, and expect a different result. I contend that the authors of these insurgencies must be madmen

and women. I ask, what have they gained from these insurgencies? How has their constant fight for power and personal office advanced the cause of justice and a better life for the struggling masses?

How many more will have to be savaged, demonized and brutally destroyed before their campaign for leadership

ends?

Losers lose and winners win, is an oft-used cliché, but the formula employed over the last 14 years by the usual suspects is a losing formula as evidence by their track record, but don’t tell them that, for they are convinced they are winning.

Mark Archer

public, therefore, the police make up the only response they know, “shoot to kill” and as such, the hunt continues with dire consequences.

The pending action, or call by the President to revisit the issues, is more for political expediency.

There is fear that this protest could get out of hand and cripple the nation. So

what we are seeing is a selfprotective act and not an act to change the status quo, thereby improving and changing the behaviour of the Guyana Police Force when dealing with the public.

The public must ask this question, of the numerous police shootings how many inquiries were held and how many policemen have lost

their jobs, and/or, been sent to prison?

Meanwhile, the people of Guyana continue to endure it, while the political operatives stand around and twiddle their thumbs while answering the public questions and concerns in broad generalities. Until the next police shootings.

Patrick Barker

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Kaieteur News

Linden protest bites deep…

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment yesterday met with representatives of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Forest Producers Association (FPA), to look at ways in which the Ministry can lend support to ensure that items of produce are taken into logging and mining camps.

Since the commencement of the protest by Lindeners, miners, forestry producers and workers within the bauxite industry have been suffering because transportation of fuel and food into the area and to the mining camps is almost at a standstill.

Alternative mechanisms to ensure that produce enter mining camps in a low cost way, delay the implementation of the new Export Lobby, the establishment of a hotline number so that forestry and mining operators can make contact and the development of alternative routes if there is a recurrence of the issue, are some of the mechanisms the M i n i s t r y i s currently implementing.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Mining, logging camps starved, Govt. weighs options

The team which was lead

by President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Mohindra Chand, who updated the Minister on the present price gouging they face to take their produce into the backdams.

“We have been getting lots of calls from businesses that are currently unable to get anything through the road blocks…Apart from the price gouging for basic foodstuff, we are forced to have our produce air-dashed and this is costing us a lot,” Chand said.

Currently, operators are forced to pay $75,000 per barrel for fuel and the operators are looking to the Ministry for support and guidance on the way forward.

Chand, who pledged on behalf of the forest industry to give the necessary support to the Ministry, stated that there is currently little fuel supplies left in Kwakwani, Region Ten where a significant amount of logging is being done.

Khalawan, a representative of the FPA, also spoke of how the present situation is hurting the

- fuel skyrockets, cash runs out

Representatives of the Forestry Producers Association (FPA), and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) during a meeting with Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud in the Boardroom of the Ministry industry and operators who are working for an honest living. “There is no means of

even getting cash into the camps. We have to pay workers as well as manage our operations…We would normally rely on getting cash from the banks in Linden but this is a ‘no- no’ because of the situation,” he said.

According to Khalawan, more than 25 workers have since been sent packing from the Coldingen, East Coast Demerara location because he is unable to supply lumber for the operations.

Buyers are also threatening legal actions against suppliers for breach of their contractual arrangements

to supply on time.

Minister Persaud, while acknowledging the situation, committed to ensuring that alternatives are developed so that work can progress.

Foreign buyers are cancelling their orders under the basis that Guyana is unreliable, he said.

He denounced the actions of the protestors, stating that workers want to continue to ply their trade and encouraged the Lindeners to not be misguided by extremists with their political motives.

Government is currently

holding regular meetings with the Opposition and Region Ten officials to look at ways in which the issue can be resolved and which will bring a sense of normalcy to the mining town.

“People’s livelihoods are at stake and this form of action must stop…however. I don’t anticipate that the situation will prolong much longer,” he said.

The meeting with the forestry operators is one of a series being held by the Ministry to resolve barriers so that operations can progress smoothly.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is deeply concerned about the prevailing situation in Region Ten. A statement from the organization noted that it has been more than a week since the fatal shooting of protestors and despite negotiations between the government, opposition parties and the Regional Democratic Council of Linden, the environment in Linden has not returned to normalcy.

“Particularly disturbing is the fact that the access ways and roadways into Linden remain blocked and permission has to be sought from unknown entities and individuals to enter the town. This

situation is a grievous one and has made it impossible for businesses that use the roadway or operate in the area to conduct commercial transactions.”

The GCCI noted that as a result, businesses have had to use alternative and more costly means to execute their operations which have led to some businesses being unable to meet their contractual obligations to customers and suppliers.

“Some, especially export oriented businesses, even face the risk of losing their contracts and markets.

The Chamber has received numerous complaints from businesses operating in Linden that they have been unable to operate for over a week and this is putting immense

pressure on their operations and some are fearful that if the situation persists they will have to close their establishments permanently, the statement said.

While the Chamber recognises the right to peaceful and legal civil protest and actions, this should not infringe on the rights of other citizens to conduct their business and activities.

“We therefore call on all the stakeholders involved to be responsible and ensure that there is free passage and movement through Region Ten. “Additionally, we call on the government and authorities to ensure that law and order prevails in Linden.”

Linden situation bothers Georgetown Chamber

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 7

PNCR 17th Biennial Congress gets underway...

55 year-old Party charts renewed course for Govt. of National Unity

By Gary Eleazar The People’s National Congress Reform yesterday opened its 17 th Biennial Congress at its Headquarters Congress Place. The highlight of this year’s Congress is expected to be the race for party leadership.

Brigadier (rtd) David Granger’s challenge for the post of leader of the party is not a foregone conclusion.

Chairman of the party, Bishwaishwar ‘Cammie’ Ramsaroop whose post is also being contested was greeted with a resounding applause as he welcomed the delegates, Members of Parliament and special invitees to the opening and delivered the charge.

He immediately reminded those gathered of the events in Linden on July 18 and said that it is a sad irony that the event took place on the birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela.

The Chairman used the opportunity to thank and single out Robert Corbin who closes his reign as leader of the party.

He was adamant that the party is at a historical crossroad and urged that the PNCR is the only hope for Guyana seeing a Government of National Unity. “The “ P e o p l e ’s P r o g r e s s i v e Party Civic’s (PPP/C) days are numbered…We cannot relent now.”

The Party Chairman

impressed on delegates that following the November 2011 elections the PPP has become even more “intransigent.”

“The PPP/C is now like a wounded animal; a wounded animal is most dangerous because it is staring death in the face.”

The Party Chairman made special mention of what he called skullduggery at the Guyana Elections Commission and reminded that the commission was prepared to make the final announcement minus 10,000 votes counted for APNU. He said that there is none that can “deny we witnessed a new incarnation of the PNCR at the last election…we were deceived by machinations and skullduggery of the Commission.”

Ramsaroop was adamant that the Commission as constituted, has got to go.”

He did take a swipe at the membership of the party reminding that at the last election thousands of PNCR members didn’t register to vote and on Election Day sections of the support base “didn’t turn out to the polls.”

“We can’t win like that,” slammed Ramsaroop. He reminded that the ground

work in preparation for the elections has to be completed and, “We have to show the PPP/C that change has come.”

Kabaka’s Lieutenant This is Robert Corbin’s final PNCR’s Congress as Leader of the Party and following the pleasantries, gifts and words of praise, he said farewell as leader. He will tomorrow contest a post on the Party’s Central Executive Committee.

Introduced as one of the Kabaka’s (Linden Forbes Sampson) most trusted Lieutenants, Corbin delivered his final address to the PNCR as Leader in what was clearly an emotional goodbye.

He warned the congress to be aware of the “wild men in our midst.”

Corbin expressed appreciation for all who attended the congress. He said that they were truly representative of the 10 regions of the country.

He was in particularly high in praise for those delegates who had travelled from the now troubled mining town “We are validating the struggle of our forebears,” said Corbin even as he asked that the Congress “pay

homage to those whose shoulders we stand upon.”

Corbin used the opportunity to single out for special mention slain persons such as “Donna Mc Kinnon, Donna Herod, Ronald Waddell and more recently, the Linden Martyrs.”

“Let us redouble our efforts so that their sacrifice will not be in vain.”

Corbin said that the timing of the 17 th Biennial Congress is historic in that for the first time it is being held in an atmosphere where the National Assembly cannot be controlled by Freedom House or Office of the President.

He impressed on the Congress that despite the fact that the partnership did not secure the Executive the objectives of the APNU remain within grasp and urged that the delegates seriously address this issue.

Oscar Clarke, the Party’s General Secretary in his message to the delegates at

yesterday’s opening ceremony said that “by any objective account this was a period of great challenges for our party.”

He pointed to the litany of consecutive defeats at the hands of the People’s Progressive Party Civic from 1992 to 2006.

The PNCR did not contest the 2011 Regional and General Election as a singular entity given that it opted to partner under A Partnership for National Unity.

Clarke also lamented the political infighting which began after the 1992 election, which according to the General Secretary “only intensified” after the death of Hugh Desmond Hoyte.

He credits Robert Corbin as the person who saved the party from complete

destruction.

“A United PNCR: Securing our future through a government of National Unity,” is the theme chosen for the 55 year-old PNCR’s17th Biennial Congress.

According to Clarke, the theme “acknowledges the fact that our future as a party and country would be secure only when we are convinced, and can therefore convince others for a Government of National Unity.

Notable among the awards, plaques and recognition was that of the p a r t y ’s l o n g e s t s e r v i n g and one of the oldest members, Cecil Cunha, who even serenaded the Congress with a Sound of Music rendition on his harmonica.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 28, 2012

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

CONFLICT OF INTEREST Ever since the confirmation of the appointment of the wife of the Minister of Finance as an audit director within the Office of the Auditor General of Guyana, there has been a tsunami of opinions on whether a conflict of interest exists.

The latest person to join in the exchanges, even though admittedly reluctantly, was the former Auditor General of Guyana, Mr. Anand Goolsarran.

In a letter in last Sunday’s edition of this newspaper, the former Auditor General called on both parties affected by the conflict of interest to do the right thing. He noted that “one party has to divest himself/ herself of this undesirable situation.”

That is hardly a new call.

But what distinguishes the Auditor General’s letter from other similar appeals for a solution is that his letter unintentionally illustrates two examples of the operation of the concept of conflict of interest, both of which involved him.

It has been noted that some commentators have sought to divide the concept of a conflict of interest into two parts: potential conflict of interest and actual conflict of interest.

The distinction is tautological. As a concept there is no separation between the actuality of conflict of interest and the potential for conflict of interest.

A conflict of interest is where two interests are opposed to each other. Once there is an appearance or likelihood of bias or prejudicial interest as a result of the clash of interests, there is a conflict of interest. The actual bias or the tainting of a process by prejudice does not have to actually happen. The mere likelihood or appearance is sufficient.

This was made clear during the legal trial of Augusto Pinochet the former President of Chile who was arrested in Britain based on an extradition request made in Spain.

In the extradition hearing, the House of Lords by a vote of 3-2 found that a case had been made out for Pinochet to be extradited. However, Pinochet challenged this decision by claiming that one of the judges was associated with Amnesty International which had supported his extradition.

A second panel of judges heard this challenge and it was upheld. They agreed that the previous decision by the law Lords was tainted because of the conflict of interest involving the judge who was found to be associated with Amnesty International even though the association had nothing to do with the making of policy and was merely restricted to raising funds for the organization.

The case in effect turned on the mere appearance of bias which was sufficient to

Dem boys seh ...

Ohh Pee does pay de sweet man and de sweet woman Uncle Donald going to Linden fuh talk to de people. He send message and he going with de whole army. Nuff of dem Minister who shoulda go before Uncle Donald now decide that dem gun guh wid he.

All of dem suddenly know that dem got to demonstrate that dem got interest.

But de story gun get sweet. Uncle Donald give order fuh de army and de police to clear all de blockage. Dem boys seh that de Linden people planning fuh he and all of dem who move de blockage. Unless Uncle Donald decide fuh live in Linden then as soon as he gone de blockage gun put back.

Gail seh that she going too but that is another problem. Dem Linden women want to know what she does do fuh de money she getting. And she getting more than Luncheon. That already causing problems.

Moses who part de Red Sea done seh that de government running a Dharm Shala. People who can hardly walk does collect dem pay. Moses want know wha dem does do fuh de money. He seh that when he been in de party he never use to get money like that but Anil seh that de same party use to find perks fuh he.

Moses seh that he use to wuk fuh he perks but de wuk wha some of dem who collecting does do is put on dem clothes in de morning and climb de Ohh Pee step. He seh that he woulda climb de step every day, 100 times a day fuh that kind of money.

Even some of dem sweet woman getting in de money. Dem boys seh that is a nice arrangement. And is now dem understand how some of dem does got three sweet woman and how Kwame got two sweet man. Ohh Pee does mind dem.

Talk half and waif fuh de other half.

taint the first hearing.

There was no need to establish that there was any actual bias. There mere appearance or likelihood of bias was sufficient to establish a conflict of interest. This has become the litmus test for conflict of interest.

In Mr. Goolsarran’s letter there are two examples which illustrate this concept very clearly. He noted that the wife of the now Minister of Finance had worked as his personal assistant at the Office of the Auditor General.

She later married the future Minister of Finance and they proceeded overseas when the future Minister won a scholarship to study for his doctorate.

Upon their return, the wife,

Mrs. Gitanjali Singh, was interviewed for a job at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Mr. Goolsarran admits that he was in the panel that selected her for the job.

This was a clear case of a conflict of interest because she was formerly his personal assistant and his presence on the panel that selected her could have given rise to concerns about objectivity and fairness.

He may have been fair and impartial in selecting her for the job. But this is not the relevant test. Once it was possible for there to be likelihood or appearance of bias because of his previous association as her boss, he would have been in a conflict of interest.

He further claims that he was not there when Ms. Singh was reemployed at the Audit Office but when he demitted office in 2005 she would have been promoted to Deputy Auditor General.

At the time, her husband would have been the Budget Director in the Ministry of Finance.

The Budget Director is responsible for the technical preparation of the expenditure plans of the government. If his wife was at the time the Deputy Auditor General with responsibility for scrutinizing government expenditure, a conflict of interest existed because there was the potential of a professional interest clashing with a private interest in the

sense that the then Budget Director was the husband of the Deputy Auditor General.

Did the former Auditor General when he demitted office in January 2005 not recognize this conflict of interest?

It is important for the present controversy within the Audit Office to be sorted because as the former Auditor General says, it does have implications for the “ integrity, credibility and professional independence of the Audit Office.”

Digicel complies with regulator’s call to halt rates reduction

Digicel has complied with calls from the regulator, Public Utilities Commission (PUC), to cancel its announced rates reduction. Yesterday, days after publicizing up to 80 per cent reduction in the rates, the mobile company announced the suspension of international rates reduction.

In text messages to its subscribers, Digicel made no mention of orders by PUC to withdraw the advertisements of the rates reduction.

“Digicel regrets to inform you that low international calling rates have been suspended due to a court order obtained by GT&T. The fight goes on!”

The issue is revving up to be a nasty one between the former state-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Digicel.

Digicel has been battling Government and GT&T for the removal of the 20-plus year-old monopoly signed in the 90s with the latter. It is currently mandated to route all international calls through GT&T. Last year, legislations to liberalise the telecoms sector were tabled in Parliaments, shortly before the November 28 General Elections, but withdrawn at the last

Digicel has complied with PUC’s orders

moment after the PPP/C Government said that it has received last minute submissions which made it imperative to not go ahead.

Last Friday, High Court judge, Justice Rishi Persaud, ruled that the monopoly held

by GT&T to provide telecommunications service or to regulate voice and data transmission over the internet is unlawful and void. This (continued on page 10)

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 28, 2012

GRA Refutes Claims Made in Kaieteur refused to follow agency’s News Article - Importer procedures - Khurshid Sattaur The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is refuting the claims made by importer Bashoon Habeeb in an article which appeared in the July 21, 2012 edition of the Kaieteur Newspaper under the caption ‘Customs seized $$$millions in goods imported from Suriname’.

Commissioner General, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur, speaking on the matter, said, “The article contained a number of inaccuracies and it would appear as though the intention of the article was to malign the image of the

organization.”

According to the agency, on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 8.00 hrs, the agency received information that the motor vessel ‘Victoria’ which departed Nickerie the previous afternoon (Monday, July 16, 2012) laden with goods did not report to Customs at Corriverton.

This was not the norm, since all boats arriving in Guyana are required to report to the Customs on the day of arrival and pay all applicable duties and taxes.

At 14.30 hrs the vessel ‘Victoria’reported to the Customs at Corriverton and permission

was given for the vessel to offload. However, the importer, Bashoon Habeeb, refused to offload the goods, when she was informed that the import documents were not processed and that the goods would have to be lodged in the GRA’s bond, pending investigations.

Subsequently, on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 15.00 hrs, the agent of the ‘Victoria’once again reported to the Customs officials at Corriverton. The goods were discharged and taken to the bond pending the outcome

of the investigative report. The report was received on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 8.00hrs and revealed that the quantities discharged, matched the quantities stated on the cargo manifest submitted by Customs Officials in Nickerie.

This information was further substantiated by the written statements of the boat crew.

As a result of the above, instructions were given on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 9.30 hrs for the payment of taxes and fine to be imposed for the

contravention of Section 28 of the Customs Regulations of the Customs Act Ch: 82:01.

The Customs declarations were then processed, allowing the importer to pay the relevant taxes and the goods were subsequently released to the importer at 11.00 hrs.

GRA further noted that importers arriving with goods from Nickerie are required to report to Customs the following morning for the payment of duties and taxes on all the items imported.

During several meetings held with Importers at Corriverton, Customs officials were informed that some boats remain on the water overnight and discharge the goods which are not listed on the cargo manifest before reporting to Customs.

As such, it would appear that despite efforts to facilitate importers in Berbice and the expeditious processing of documents without comprising revenue collection, some recalcitrant importers are bent on giving the GRA a bad name, Sattaur said.

Mr. Mohamed Latiff whose photograph appeared in the newspaper was very vociferous at a previous meeting held with importers. He stated that boats remaining on the waters overnight are engaged in discharging excess goods in

smaller boats and as such these boats should be detained for investigation. Mr. Sattaur contended that Latiff is now aggrieved since the importer involved in this matter is a relative of his.

He has always had a grouse with GRA’s efforts to put systems and procedures in place to correct the blatant smuggling activities taking place in Berbice.

At a recent meeting held in Georgetown with importers, Mr. Latiff became agitated, abusive and walked out of the meeting when a colleague confessed that the values declared by business persons importing goods into Corriverton from Nickerie are done on fraudulent invoices designed to represent ridiculously low values.

The agency has been making enormous strides in minimizing smuggling in the County of Berbice and intensified these measures in August 2011. The Guyana Revenue Authority will continue its anti-smuggling activities as part of its efforts to safeguard the country’s revenue, the GRA head vowed.

The agency is also appealing to persons with information regarding smuggling to report same to its Law Enforcement and Investigation Division on 226-2060. All information will be kept in the strictest confidence.

Digicel complies ...

From page 9 week, Digicel signaled its intentions to immediately reduce its international rates with some countries seeing as much as 80 per cent slashing.

GT&T, however, managed to appeal the judge’s decision and also to secure a court order to stop the rates reduction of Digicel until the outcome of the appeal case.

On Thursday, too, the PUC, which has the authority to regulate rates of the country’s utility companies, wrote Digicel to “forthwith withdraw the notices which your company caused to be published” advertising drastically reduced rates for international calls.

GT&T’s injunction had prevented Digicel from “advertising, commencing, running or operating an international call service other than through interconnection with GT&T or without first obtaining a licence to do as required by the provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1990.”

The interim injunction further restrains Digicel from fixing, advertising, charging or collecting other rates in respect of such services without first obtaining the approval of the PUC, after the

Commission has had a public hearing as required by the PUC Act. Digicel has been fighting for years now to remove the monopoly.

“Digicel has been pushing for many years to have this outdated monopoly brought to end. This decision of the High Court is wonderful news for the Guyanese consumer. We intend giving the people of Guyana something that they have never seen before in terms of value and service on international calls,” said Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Dean earlier this week. But the move by Digicel was stopped in its tracks by PUC. “The Commission wishes to advert your attention to the fact that the PUC by order had fixed rates, including those for overseas destinations, which rates are still in effect. Your company is also aware that rates for telecommunication service must be approved by the Commission and there are statutory procedures prescribed for the application of same,” the PUC noted.

PUC had written the company seeking an explanation.

Digicel has vowed to fight the matter in court.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Page 11

Kaieteur News

ASL commissions new departure lounge at Ogle, two aircraft Air Services Limited has officially launched its spanking new departure and VIP lounge at the Ogle Airport.

During the auspicious opening, the company which has been in existence for 50 years also commissioned two Cessna Grand Caravans which will be added to the fleet of aircraft. The lounge has been named the Yacoob Ally Departure Lounge.

On the occasion Annette Arjoon-Martins, Operations Manager, said that the event shows an obvious development story for her organization. “I suggest to you that a simplified story of a country's development can be seen in the story of individual companies, such as ours, on their private development path at the same time”.

She reflected that fifty years ago, when Guyana was a young country, struggling to develop, the ASL business, being a young one at the time, came into being with one Darter aircraft intended to meet the needs of the A. Mazaharally and Sons timber operations.

Back then, ASL had five employees. Today the company has 23 aircraft, 18 employees and operates approximately 150 flights per week.

“To look at both the economy generally, and ASL specifically, is to see the wheels beginning to turn, economies beginning to expand, opportunities opening up – for the country, and for us”.

She said that as Guyana's economic expansion continues, expansion has come, as well, to Air Services as it keeps pace with the increased demand for safe, affordable local air service.

“We connect travelers to some 60 airstrips scattered across our country”.

Further, Arjoon-Martins lamented the fact that while that picture is the story of Air Services, it is also the story of Guyana's development.

“We are a reflection of what has taken place in our country...our generally known expansion has paralleled that of Guyana”.

Adding on the other aspect of development which ASL has seen over the year, Arjoon-Martins said that ASL's flight school is now offering pilot training for the Private Pilot to the Commercial Pilot licences

and Instrument Rating accreditation.

“We started in 2003 with one flight instructor. It has expanded. We now have flight instructors from the USA, Jamaica and as far away as Syria and Egypt…We are fortunate to have them because of the high level of experience they bring, but clearly it is the economic development here that now provides opportunities for such specialists to work in Guyana.”

Historically, in our development, Air Services Limited has operated the workhorse Britten-Norman Islander sourced from the UK, The Isle of Wight specifically where they are built. “Our Cessna aircraft were sourced from North America.

“Recently we have looked for trading partners nearer to home, and mindful of the South/South emphasis, I am happy to report that all of the nine Caravans in our fleet were profitably sourced from Belize and Nicaragua.

“I would like to thank Citizens Bank for its invaluable support to us from the beginning of this upgrading of our older piston engine fleet to the fuel efficient and faster turbine aircraft.”

To look carefully is to see that this change taking place at ASL is happening in the wider country, as well, as both private sector and government are moving to new partners and new suppliers leading to further development, she added.

“We have new bridges in

Guyana; the construction sector is busy; and several other government projects are on the drawing board to improve our infrastructure.

“That improvement is reflected in Air Services.

Today we are proud of the fact that we will soon have the most advanced state-ofthe-art fuel farm at Ogle Airport, oblique to our hangar. It will be of a standard comparable to what exists in more developed

countries. That's certainly something to celebrate.”

“Recently, another cause for elation was the achievement of our own Captain Feriel Ally, my younger sister, becoming qualified as the first female captain of a Cessna Grand Caravan in Guyana.

“A little aside here is the fact that some four years ago, our brother, Captain Mazahar Ally, had actually named one of the Caravan

aircraft after her and this is GFA which are her initials. I realize now it wasn't just a family thing; Maz had bigger plans for her and was simply predicting the future!”

The two Caravans which were commissioned are named after two outstanding ASL employees —Mr. Bhesham Persaud, the ASL Quality Manager and Mr. Chandrashekar Balgrim, a veteran aircraft engineer.

These two Caravans were purchased specifically to service the expanded schedule to Lethem and for tourism flights.

Further ASL has received permission from government, and security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, to operate a helicopter service in Guyana. The company is looking at the possibility of bringing a Bell 206 to deliver service.

Kaieteur News

Page 12

Saturday July 28, 2012

Linden vows continued struggle “No retreat, no surrender!”, was reiterated by speaker after speaker at yesterday’s meeting at Wismar to mark the 10th day of Linden’s struggle against increased electricity tariffs for the mining town.

To date the proposed hike has not been withdrawn

by Government, as residents have been demanding.

Instead there has been talk by Government, of

putting the increase ‘on hold’, a position which Lindeners have roundly condemned and rejected, as totally unacceptable.

Though disappointed that a few high profile diplomats that were slated to attend the meeting did not show, Lindeners defied heavy afternoon showers and showed up in their numbers. They were addressed by Regional

Chairman, Sharma Solomon, and several other speakers.

Regional Chairman Solomon said, “This is not a Regional Chairman struggle; this has always been an inclusive struggle, that would have taken into consideration all the stakeholders, including our business community, our religious community, our pensioners and all the key

players that are here to serve you.

“I am not here to say I am your leader; I am your biggest servant, and I will continue to be in service to you for as long as you want me to.”

Solomon said that he has sacrificed a lot.

He said that he has not been sleeping for days, not seeing his home for the past ten days and not seeing his

mother for the past couple of days. He had done all of that because it is his intention that ‘we should have a better Linden’, he said. “ We a r e h e r e t h i s afternoon so that we can update you. We can update you as far as we have been struggling in the people’s struggle.

This is our tenth day, and I want you to know that only three days ago sugar workers

at Albion, would have finished their tenth day of struggle, and would have in the process lost between $10 million and $ 15million but you know what, those sugar workers have benefited based on their ability to struggle.

“I am not comparing our struggl e t o t h e s u g a r workers, but I’m saying to you, that in remaining resolute, you will get what you want- you will get what you deserve; which is justice and better living for all of Linden and Region Ten.’ “We have advanced our position and we had agreed that we will not go to the public with our discussions.

Unfortunately, we noticed the government has difficulty keeping its honour.

I have not breached that.

You would have not heard from me what came out of those discussions; because those discussions are still in the discovery stages.

“It is unfortunate however that we saw right after those discussions, which the Government would have released that we have come to an agreement.

We have no agreement, absolutely no agreements.”

Solomon noted that what they did have is a ‘draft understanding’ on those positions that were advanced.

He expressed his disappointment that Government had asked him not to divulge their discussions to the media, but yet they themselves had done so.

“They came to us on Monday, and said that they would reach with us on Tuesday, but that never (continued on page 18)

Saturday July 28, 2012

Page 13

Kaieteur News

Man, 74, surrenders after killing stepson

Murder suspect Albert Andries sits in a police vehicle after giving himself up.

A 74-year-old man has already surrendered his fate having admitted to fatally stabbing of his 34- year-old stepson.

The man waited patiently for the police to arrive, 30 minutes after stabbing his stepson, Lakeram Persaud called 'Boja', 34, twice in his chest during an early morning argument at the two-storey house they shared with the dead man's m o t h e r, R a m k u m a r i e Manbahal at Lincoln Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara.

Police in a statement yesterday said that they are investigating the murder of Lakeram Persaud, which occurred about 05:45 hours yesterday.

According to the police, initial investigations have revealed that Persaud was involved in an argument with his stepfather during

which it is alleged that he was fatally stabbed to his chest with a knife.

The 74-year-old suspect in his defence, said that he could no longer take the physical abuse to both his reputed wife and himself from his stepson so he decided to “put a stop to it.”

But his story differs significantly from the version given by his reputed wife, who claimed that he was always the aggressor in the several confrontations that he had with the deceased.

Speaking with this newspaper shortly before he was taken into custody by the police, the suspect who gave his name as Albert Andries said that he has been living with the dead man and his mother on and off for the past five years.

He said that during this period, he and Persaud who

The dead man's mother, with her clothes spotted with blood is revived by a relative after she collapsed yesterday.

was a drug addict would have frequent arguments that would sometimes lead to physical confrontations.

He said that as a result of this he had moved out from the home but returned a few days ago to take care of his reputed wife.

Persaud occupies the upper flat of the building while the suspect and his reputed wife slept downstairs.

“He came down this morning fighting we down fuh food, so I open de door fuh he come in. but he nah wait fuh dat, he break de step and right away he rush to me.

I run away and he come back, I had me knife with me, ah won't lie, and he chucking me, chucking me and I jus had fuh bore he.

Two bore I give he and dat was all…he lay down deh,” the suspect told this newspaper.

“I had to defend meself; dem people does gat knife,” he added.

But Ramkumarie Manbahal had a vastly different story. She said that she was lying in her bed when her son came downstairs to make her 'tea'.

Since the door to her apartment was padlocked,

she asked Andries to open it and let her son in.

“When he open de door, de boy go fuh wash he face in de bathroom and he (Andries) go behind de boy.

Me run behind am and me say 'ow, ow Albert nah do dat'. he say 'Me go kill am' and by de time he throw me down and me nah able. He grab me son and he bring am till outside by de fridge and he stab am. De boy fall down pon me,” Manbahal recalled.

She said that although the two men would often have heated arguments she was unaware that her son had any recent problem with her

Dead: Lakeram Persaud reputed husband.

“He does deh steady after de boy, like he nah want see de boy,” said Manbahal. She (continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Page 14

Saturday July 28, 2012

Hundreds flock Leonora Primary School for Guyana Watch Medical Outreach - team treats 2,271 patients in five days Sixty-eight-year-old Sunita Ganga, of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara walked out of the

The pharmacist distributing medication to patients

Leonora Primary School smiling yesterday, her hands filled with free medication for her ailments that

included high blood sugar.

She was among the scores of residents from Den Amstel, Stewartville and other nearby communities on the West Coast Demerara who turned up at the free medical clinic put on by Guyana Watch, a nongovernmental organization made up of mostly overseasbased Guyanese that has

been bringing a team of doctors to Guyana for the past 20 years.

Sandra Singh, of Den Amstel, said that she decided to go see the “white doctors” because at the local health centre where she goes, she is being forced to wait for several hours before she sees the doctor. Singh is a diabetic. Yesterday she

Dr. Reddy as he extracted a child's tooth

visited the doctors and had a complete check-up done.

“I am thankful for de little I get. This de second

time I come here and I getting good stuff. When I go to dem other health centres I does got to wait long, long but here I was seen by a doctor. In less than an hour I get treatment. I glad if them coulda at least come here two times a year.”

She thanked the doctors (continued on page 17)

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 15

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Office Clerk, Minimum 3 subjects CSEC, Apply : Avinash Water Street 2263361, 227-7828 Driver (Lorry); apply with written application, two references & police clearance to the manager NS Trucking & Grocery Supplies Call: 227-7350 FOR SALE/RENT 2 bedroom house 97 Pearl East Bank Demerara call:2239362 DRESS MAKING

TOUR 29th July Santa Mission, 1st5th August Fort Island Call Joy 218-1285, 649-9059

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1 Supervisor Xenon Night Club, Accomodation will be provided Call:223-5273-4

LAND FOR SALE 1 ½ acre, 48ftx1300ft V/Hoop Call: 627-9351

John Dickinson Exercise Books (Large Quantity) wholesale only Call:6191105,622-3766 V8 Titan 2005 4 wheel drive automatic $3.5M Call Gary :275-0028 Dell computers complete with 17 & 19 inch LCD from $50,000 Future Tech 2312206 1 Bobcat & trailor Call:6460101

Brandnew American made Crosely 10.5 cu ft Refridgerator for sale $75,000.697-5677 Custom printed paper cups Call:231-8819,613-5645 Large bobcat skid steer 3000 lbs capacity $3.8M Call Gary 275-0028 Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stovetimers, gear boxes, pumps , etc. contact 225-9032, 6472943 Kia sportage 2002 cow milage $2M, Call Gary :2750028 Doberman pups Call:6666714, 226-9548 2 English 4 cylinder, Perkins,’35’ tractor Eng, 1 fully rebuilt, 1 needs repair, price : Both Engs $650,000 Call: 624-9149, 671-4707 PROSPECTING GOLD DETECTOR $125,000.

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Pure Breed Pitbull pups, vaccinated & dewormed, 9 weeks old, $35,000, call: 6429753, 622-1217 Rotor- NZE, IST, Runx, $6,000, Sterring end- IST, 170, $2,000, Liner- NZE, IST, Allion $3,500. Call: 654-6394 Pure Breed Labador pups, parents imported, black & yellow. Call: 627- 1360 Earth delivery to spot also bobcat & excavator rentals 626-7127 Used laptop computer $40,000 to $65,000 Call:2270095 Diving Suit, call: 613- 5158, 265- 3449 Sale! Sale! Big Blow out Sale at East Coast Enterprise for more information, call: 6642209 Foreign use engines 55-332 Cummings, 6 Bt call Anil:615-3023 Technics Receiver, stereo integrated amplifier, AM & FM, Cd player, tape deck, one pair speaker boxes ( New) 216- 0671, 622- 0267 Tiberian Terrier puppies, by pair and singles, call Jem: 6168005/223-6463

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Payment packages & discounts available. Call: 683-5742, 227-7627 Study in Canada! Mohawk College # 1 for student, satisfaction in Ontario.

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5 acres transported Land, water, phone, electricityNEG, call: 612-5398/673-8165 One 3 ton freezer Canter GJJ9256. 4D 35 Engine, call: 2209325/220-3133 D6M, LGP Caterpillar Bulldozer High Track Wide Track 0 hour on moto. Call: 339-4876/676-2521 MAC STUDIO FIX POWDERS $7,900, SACHA 2in1 $2,000 MAKE UP – top Brands, BLACK OPAL $2,700 Tel :647 -1773 1 10RB Dragline, 1 240 Massy Ferguson tractor Call: 687-6174 One wooden boat, just cork, sand & paint, 53-9-5 ½, excellent condition, Call: 2620316 Neo Sport Diving Suit Call: 227-0702, 681-8292 XBOX 360 elite 120GB, Price $45,000 Call: 639-7114, 6745625 Compact 5x4 Sharp Electronic Dictionary & Thesaurus.

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FOR SALE SAMSUNG CHRONOS 7 LAPTOP: INTEL CORE i5, 8GB MEMORY, 750GB HDD, 14'’ LED HIGH DEFINITION, WINDOWS 7. NEW / SEALED $180,000. TEL: 683-3161 Going cheap…used clutch & pressure plates, compressors and hydraulic pumps. Call:661-3043 Caterpiller backhoe model 426c. Call: 651- 8870, 233- 6161 100 Honda scrambler bike, Electric wheel chair, call: 2336161, 651- 8870 2005 Tacoma 4 cylinder, call: 651-8870, 233-6161 1 stainless steel meat saw, meat grinder, display freezer cold storage room, call: 6518870 2009 Seadoo Jetski, 18ft x 7ft fiberglass speed boat 175 YAMAHA, call: 233- 6161, 651- 8870 (Continued on page 20)

Page 16

Kaieteur News

ImmigrationTALK: Questions & Answers By: Attorney Gail S. Seeram Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. Many of you have questions on backlog time and eligibility – we seek to clarify these issues and more.

We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com.

Question #1: I am a U.S. permanent resident for 3yrs, if my fiancé comes to the U.S. on a 10yrs multiple visitor’s visa can she stay if I marry her?

If yes, what do I have to prove to the Immigration Authorities for this to get legal status in the U.S.?

Answer #1: I would advise against your fiancé coming to the U.S. and over staying. Since you are only permanent, a visa for your spouse would not be immediately available.

According to the July 2012 visa bulletin, visas for the spouse of a permanent resident are available for petitions filed on or before February 2010 – so there is a two-year backlog. She would not be permitted to remain in the U.S. for two-years without status. Only the spouse of a U.S. citizen can overstay and obtain a green card in the U.S. without any penalties.

Gail S. Seeram Question #2: My sister who is a U.S. Citizen has made a petition for me and my brother since 2005. At that time we were both single.

However, a lot of time has elapsed and we both got married and my brother has a baby; I don’t have as yet. I would like to know how much longer we will have to wait?

Would our family be able to go with us when our papers finally come through?

Answer #2: According to the July 2012 visa bulletin, visas for the brother/sister of a U.S. citizen are available for petitions filed on or before January 2001 – so you have about a four-year wait. Your family such as your spouse and children (once under age 21) are included in the petition and can get visas under the petition. Make sure their names are added to the

petition when the petition is processed at the National Visa Center and the U.S. Embassy.

Question #3: My mother, who is a U.S. citizen, filed for me and my son six years now, my priority date is April 1, 2006 and I am a F1 category. I submitted all the documents they required since February 2011 and to date I haven’t heard back from the Visa Center. Now I would like to know if all the documents I submitted are expired, what has happened to our Police Clearance etc? Also my son has acquired the age of 21, what will happen to him on my appointment? Will he be able to go with me?

Answer #3: According to the July 2012 visa bulletin, visas for an unmarried child of a U.S. citizen (F1) are available for petitions filed on or before July 2005 – so you have about a one year wait.

When the visas are available, you will probably have to resubmit updated medicals, police clearance and affidavits of support to the U.S. Embassy. As for your son, when the visa is available, you will have to recompute his age under the Child Status Protection Act to see if he is qualified for the visa.

Question #4: M y parents have their green card since 2005. They are both in there 70’s and live in Guyana.

In order to upkeep the green card, they have to enter the U.S. every six months.

At their age traveling becomes difficult. Could they attempt to give up the green card and apply for a ten-year multiple visa through the embassy.

Answer #4: Yes, this would probably be the best option for them. If they are not living in the U.S. (as required by law for permanent residents) then it’s just a matter of time before immigration takes away their green card. They can surrender the green card at the U.S. Embassy and ask for a visitor’s visa.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Guyana’s greenheart vs. pine …

New Jersey city battles over use of hardwood on boardwalk Ocean City, New Jersey Several boardwalk merchants came before the City Council at its July 26 meeting to express their concern over the use of southern pine for the boardwalk decking.

Piggybacking on an announcement from city business administrator Mike Dattilo at the July 12 meeting that the administration is looking at other options besides pine for the boardwalk reconstruction project, the business owners said hardwood was the best option.

John Stauffer, President of Johnson’s Popcorn, said he had researched what he called an environmentally friendly hardwood called greenheart wood, which comes from Guyana in South America.

Stauffer said this material is renewable and sustainable,

and that it would be viewed favorably by many who opposed the use of endangered hardwood.

Stauffer commended the administration for maintaining the boardwalk, but noted that over the last five years, there have been 22 claims for trips and falls on the boardwalk.

“The most important reason for using the tropical hardwood is safety,” he said.

The second, he said, is economics.

Stauffer said that engineering reports over the last few years agree that hardwood is the best for decking the boardwalk.

Stauffer provided a packet of information and a sample of the greenheart wood to council for their review. He suggested that the use of hardwood be put on the ballot so the residents can decide

what should be used.

A second resident also urged the council to use hardwood. “Please deck the boardwalk with hardwood,” he said.

Wes Kazmarck, President of the Boardwalk Merchants Association, said he would like to back up Stauffer’s comments. He and his family own and operate the Surf Mall.

“The pine is just awful on almost every level,” he said.

Another resident said he was against the use of rainforest wood.

“We’ve had this town divided probably for 10 years on pine versus rainforest wood,” he said. “I do not think this is the time to bring it up again.”

“Please let’s put an end to this talk on hardwood, pine.

It’s rainforest wood,” he said.

(Ocean City Gazette)

Taxi driver shot at following collision A typical case of fleeing the scene of an accident, yesterday almost ended in serious injury or even death as a bullet grazed a taxi driver who chased a minibus that “bumped” into the car he drove.

Shortly after 14:00hrs, a bus bearing number plate BGG 8427 collided with Green Ice taxi HB 6085 that was transporting a pregnant woman in labour.

The errant driver fled the Norton Street and Louisa Row scene after the accident.

However, he was chased by the taxi driver identified as Dennis Yorris. The chase ended at Ketley and Sussex Streets where the drivers had a confrontation. The bus driver was identified as Oliver Isaacs.

As the confrontation continued, a passerby stopped his car bearing number plate PJJ 5799 and set about siding with the bus driver who reportedly had no

The taxi driver shot at

licence.

The so-called defender of the taxi driver railed at Yorris with firearm drawn. Somehow he discharged a round. The single bullet grazed Yorris.

When police arrived at the scene and requested the spent shell to be handed over,

the unidentified firearm holder refused. “I will take it to the station myself.”

This newspaper understands that only the minibus driver was arrested and remained in custody while the firearm owner is at large.

Man, 74, surrenders after ...

From page 13 said that she often put Andries out of the house for her son's sake.

Neighbours who had converged at the scene said that although Persaud was a drug addict, he was not a person who was violent and he never molested anyone.

Kamini Charitar, the estranged wife of the now dead Persaud, and mother of his 12year-old son, told members of the media that she refused to

believe that he was killed when she first got the message.

She said that although he had his problems, he was very peaceful.

“People would do he things and he wouldn't do dem nothing,” Charitar said.

Police said that based on the conflicting reports they have received they will prepare a report and send it to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

New Health Authority Board challenged to UG Fellows share One World Youth Project improve health care delivery in Berbice

The new BRHA Board members with Mr. Armogan and Minister Ramsarran A new Board of members of the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) was installed recently by Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The health services in the Berbice area have, in recent times, come under heavy criticisms ranging from the long waiting times at the New Amsterdam Hospital to allegations of poor treatment of patients at the National Psychiatric Hospital.

Numerous maternal deaths and at least one mysterious death of a teen at the Skeldon Hospital recently have been some of the numerous concerns about healthcare delivery in the Ancient County.

The BRHA is tasked with keeping functions and policymaking at the levels of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and promote actual health-care

delivery at the acceptable levels.

Region Six was chosen in 2005 to have the first Regional Health Authority since that region offers all five levels of healthcare, health posts, health centres, district and regional hospitals, and the two national hospitals, the National Psychiatric and Opthalmology Hospitals.

Region Six also has riverain areas, towns and interior locations hence the region was chosen to pilot the BRHA in 2006 by then Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

Dr. Ramsarran noted that there is a need for the Regional Health Authorities because of Guyana’s size. Instead of having all ten regions in charge of health, Ramsarran said, there was a decision to amalgamate the units into one branch “for synergies instead of having small regions having all of the bureaucracy

for a health sector within that region, you needed to unite certain things”.

He noted that there are numerous health care facilities across Guyana but many are not run by the Ministry of Health but by the regions themselves.

When the country is finally reconfigured, Ramsarran announced that there will only be four RHA...”so the MoH will be just like the provider of policy, technical skills for the regions and these RHA’s will be in different clusters....and you will be having four health authorities...so that the administrative functions are devolved”.

Region Five, he noted, has an important role to play within the new BRHA, “because Regions Five and Six are being united.”

Hinterland regions, he said too, will be united for administrative purposes and

Hundreds flock Leonora Primary School ...

From page 14 for coming to Guyana to offer their assistance.

Savitree Narine took her seven-year-old son to visit the paediatricians. She said since last year her son caught an infection on his hand and it is not “going away no matter what medication I use. I am so fed-up because I bought everything people tell me about. I took him to private, public but it is the same thing.”

“They give him two sets of cream and some vitamins. I am just praying that this thing works.”

She was thankful for the medication she received from the Guyana Watch team. She said that she is also happy for

the advice she received from the doctors. “You don't find doctors taking their time and give you advice. They does hurry, hurry and look at you to go home,” Narine stated.

But it is not only the patients attending the clinic who find satisfaction. General Doctor. Kevin McCabe said that he is “extremely happy” to be in Guyana to offer his service. McCabe said it is his third year here, doing voluntary work.

According to the general practitioner, since he is here, he has seen about 200 patients so far.

He said that most persons he has seen so far are either suffering from arthritis, highblood pressure or high-blood

sugar.

“You have to expect that because here in Guyana the people are walking a lot and are doing a lot of work, so when they reach 50, they start suffering from pains,” McCabe said.

The team also saw 52 children from the Kitty Orphanage and 19 from the Prabhu Sharan Orphanage.

Guyana Watch was established 20 years ago when a group of overseas colleagues and friends saw the need for health care in Guyana.

In just five days, the team of doctors has seen 2,271 patients. Today the Medical Watch team would be visiting the Belle West Primary School.

nimbleness of administration as well as monitoring and evaluation.

The new members of the BRHA are CEO, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo;, Anil Beharry, Chairman; Paul Ramrattan, Riyon Peters, Leslie Cadogan, Permanent Secretary of MoH; Deena Panday, Vishnu Doerga, Andrew Harricharran, Ram Mangru, and Dr. Mohammed Yacoob.

The new members were charged by the Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, to stand firm in their duties to ensure the two regions have better health- care delivery systems so that criticisms being leveled against the health services delivery in those regions can be reduced.

The Regional Health Authority concept or idea was developed many years ago as part of the health sector reform project in Guyana with assistance from the International Development Bank (IDB).

It was a compulsory measure taken by the IDB that made it essential for the government to put the money to use to start looking at regional health authorities, and “not throw all the money behind the MoH”. “They (the IDB) were insisting that we go the way of RHAs and we had lots of meeting with the IDB and representatives to deal with us”.

There are over 20 health centres in Berbice. Region Six alone stretches from Baracara along the Canje Creek to Orealla along the Corentyne River. “It’s a pretty big region and very extensive and the spread is extremely large. You have a lot of work to do in terms of movement and you have to be very mobile”, he charged the new members.

In partnership with the University of Guyana (UG), international non-profit organization One World Youth Project (OWYP) selected two distinguished student Fellows to attend a leadership conference in Boge Village, Kosovo this month.

They attended with their peers from the U.S., Pakistan, Turkey, and Kosovo.

The University of Guyana (UG) students Ryan Hoppie and Onika Stellingburg represented the University of Guyana at the annual One World Youth Project Summer Training Conference. They participated in rigorous workshops and worked at building a global community between themselves and their colleagues from around the world.

Through experiential learning activities at the conference, fellows have developed skills in project management, organization, team building, conflict resolution, facilitation, professionalism, decisionmaking and leadership.

The purpose of the conference was to prepare the 12 student Fellows from around the world to lead and manage the OWYP education project in their own communities, implementing a 21st century education curriculum in surrounding middle schools and building a global mindset among local youth.

“This is the first time that something of this nature, a programme that directly empowers Guyanese youth through education, is being implemented in Guyana,” said Ryan Hoppie. “I’m very, very excited to be a part of it.”

“Although I’ve been to many workshops before, this was a hands-on conference with a specific aim in facilitating cultural communication and education among youth,” adds Onika Stellingburg, UG student Fellow. “It has given me a chance as a leader to improve my skills, even after I leave the conference, these are skills that I still can use and will use to bring about positive change in my community.”

One World Youth Project (OWYP) is an international education non-profit organization that partners with universities and engages university students as global leaders in their local communities.

Through an extensive combination of in-person and online trainings, university students become mentors for students aged 10-14 years, facilitating a year-long global competence curriculum in local middle schools.

The university students connect these middle school classrooms with classrooms

abroad for cultural exchange, equipping youth with the tools, like cross-cultural communication, necessary to thrive in the 21st century world.

Most importantly, at the conference, fellows have been forming long-lasting bonds transcending cultural lines through facilitated dialogues on diversity, empathy and cross-cultural understanding.

These bonds will help fellows manage the one-year programme in coordination with their counterparts around the world, learning transferable skills in project management and coordination.

“The most amazing thing about the programme is that the fellows actually have the opportunity to practise international project management by coordinating remotely with peers in another country to bring crosscultural programming to their respective communities,” said OWYP executive director, Jess Rimington.

“Cross-border communication, project management, responsibility, accountability, collaboration and organization – all on a global level. These skills are empowering our students with the opportunity to be leaders in our increasingly globalized 21st century.”

“It was expected and seen that by the afternoon we had all formed meaningful bonds with each other. All the activities done today gave us a chance to work with each Project Manager Fellow from all of the other countries thereby facilitating crosscultural exchanges even within the workshops, which made the learning process fun and interactive,” wrote UG students, Hoppie and Stellingburg.

“Some of us came representing one or two cultures but now we embody several. One World Youth Project is what it is because we encompass and represent the entire world.”

The universities represented at the conference were the University of Guyana (Georgetown, Guyana), Boston University (Boston, U.S.A.), Georgetown University (Washington, D.C., U.S.A.), National University of Sciences and Technology (Islamabad, Pakistan), University of Prishtina (Prishtina, Kosovo) and Istanbul Bilgi University (Istanbul, Turkey).

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Harbour Bridge Collapse ...

Management still assessing cost

Demerara Harbour Bridge Management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) is still assessing the cost it incurred to execute emergency rehabilitation to the section at the western end which collapsed on Monday disrupting the flow of traffic for three days.

The collapse occurred hours after workers removed a pontoon to repair corroded connections. Two temporary pontoons broke off and sank shortly after the bridge reopened from an early morning closure. It caused the two westernmost spans to buckle at the connections and to be partially covered by river water.

The entity, which is dependent on Government subsidy, lost much needed revenue during the period.

But, DHBC’s General Manager, Rawlston Adams stated it is unreasonable for management to comment on revenue loss when individuals and companies would have suffered greatly.

Adams said that to prevent any mishaps management has decided to reassess all temporary pontoons to ensure they could be used. He related that these old pontoons have been around since the existence of the structure in 1978 but they have never failed.

Adams noted that the temporary pontoons are maintained regularly, in fact, the two pontoons which failed on Monday were recently rehabilitated.

He emphasized that maintenance is a major part of the structure’s continuitydaily the structure is inspected and necessary works are carried out. Some works need careful planning as such they are compiled in a work plan which is executed in order of urgency.

Adams said that shortly, management will be changing the pontoons at the retractor spans and anchor blocks will be installed at the retractor and acceptor spans.

Linden vows continued struggle From page 12 happened. We told them that the principal issue of electricity comes off the tableWe don’t want to hear a hold on increase on electricity tariffs, we said we have problems especially with that language because they could hold it from July 1, and implement it from August 1.

Solomon pointed out that they told them that what they would encourage is a technical team to discuss the effects of implementation, of

whatever comes out of the discussions.

Solomon said that he pointed out to them that if they were so confident of the success of the mechanisms that would be put in place, “then let those things work and then we will pay.”

He posited that the economic realities on the ground must reflect the ability for Lindeners to deal with even $1 increase in hardship.

“Your quest for what we have been struggling for is to

Woman died of strangulation The report emerging from the post mortem performed on 22-year-old Rohanie Tegwantte and her reputed husband, 24-year-old Rabinandan Ramadhar, revealed that Tegwantte died as a result of asphyxiation due to manual strangulation.

Ramadhar died as a result due to asphyxiation due to hanging. The post Mortem was performed by pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh.

The death of Rohanie Tegwanttee,a/k Vado, was first relayed to her mother, Dularie Tegwanttee, by the

young mother’s reputed husband, Ramadhar, informing Tegwantte that he had killed her daughter.

Ramadhar, according to reports, later took his own life.

Police, after being informed about the incident on Sunday, subsequently discovered Ramadhar hanging from a tree in the Riverstown back dam.

They also discovered Tegwantte buried by her head in a trench in that same area.

The deceased couple recently buried their youngest of three small children.

ensure we have a better Linden and Region Ten.” Solomon also proposed erecting a monument for the three slain Lindeners, who were killed by police on July 18, on the Watooka Farmers Tarmac, which to date is yet to serve its purpose.

“The Tarmac will not be for Market but for our Martyrs!” he announced.

Other speakers at the meeting included Dr. David Hinds, Lincoln Lewis, Jonathan Adams, Pastors Selwyn Sills and Rennis Morian, Frederick Kissoon and Minerva Munroe.

All the speakers exhorted Lindeners to keep fighting for justice, and their rights. The speeches were punctuated with popular culture ‘battle’ songs exhorting people to stand up for their rights.

Hinds exhorted the youths to form themselves into youth clubs, and to take their education seriously. He also called on teachers to slash lesson fees by half, so that more young people could benefit.

He also encouraged the opening up of literary centres, where young people could be educated. The religious community, meanwhile, planned a massive interfaith service for Sunday at 10am at the tarmac.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Man beats peacemaker A man was yesterday placed on self bail after appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer a charge of assault. The man, 43-year-old Paul Louis of Lot 43 East Ruimveldt, was placed on bail after facing Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry for reportedly giving another man a sound thrashing when he intervened as a peacemaker in a quarrel between Louis and his reputed wife.

It is alleged that Louis, on July 26, last, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown unlawfully assaulted Winston Small. The

defendant said he was innocent.

Prosecutor Simeon Payne said that the defendant and the victim reside in the same apartment.

Payne said that on the day in question, the defendant was having an argument with his girlfriend. In the process, the man allegedly began to beat the woman about the body.

The prosecutor added that Small objected to the defendant reportedly beating his girlfriend and intervened in the matter to separate the

persons and render assistance to the woman.

Because of the intervention, Louis reportedly turned his attention to Winston and he began to choke the man and beat him about his body.

The matter was later reported to the police station and Louis was arrested and charged for the offence.

The prosecution did not object to bail and the court placed Louis on self bail. He will return to court on September 27 for the continuation of the matter.

Cop jailed for drug possession Former policeman, Antonio Singh Balroop, 24, of Lot 5 Reliance Settlement, East Canje, Berbice, who was a serving member of the force when he was caught with 17 grams of marijuana at the home of a remand prisoner, was yesterday jailed by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo.

The Magistrate was sitting at the Reliance Magistrate’s court. The prisoner, with whom the policeman was allegedly found, had a cache of high power weapons in Adelphi, Canje.

The prosecution’s case was that around noon on Friday December 3, 2010 a party of policemen was in the Adelphi area on an anti crime

patrol when they visited a certain home in the village.

Upon arriving at the premises they noticed a black bag which contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems of the marijuana plant.

Singh’s National ID Card and other articles belonging to him were also in the bag.

The prosecution had stated that Singh subsequently admitted to ownership of the bag.

He was immediately taken into custody and subsequently charged.

He had pleaded not guilty in court and was remanded to jail.

The prosecution had asked that bail be refused due to the nature and gravity of the offence.

A t torney at Law

Antonio Singh Balroop Mursaline Bacchus eventually petitioned the High Court and Singh was granted bail.

Balroop had only graduated in 2009 from the Felix Austin Police College.

His younger brother Vivian was brutally murdered at the Number 63 beach just over a year ago.

Man who stabbed uncle to be sentenced on Monday A 25-year-old mason from D’Andrade Street, Newtown, was yesterday remanded to jail until next Monday when Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry is scheduled to sentence him. The mason pleaded guilty to stabbing his uncle in the back with a knife.

Crisco Hinds appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge of unlawfully wounding his uncle, Stanford Williams on July 26, last, at D’Andrade Street, Newtown.

Prosecutor Simeon Payne told the court that the defendant and the victim know each other and live in the same dwelling place in Newtown.

Payne said that the uncle got up around 06:00 hours the morning of the incident and was heading to take a shower. He walked through the kitchen, Payne said, where the defendant was also present. The n e p h e w, s h e s a i d , t h e n picked up a knife from the

Crisco Hinds kitchen counter and stabbed the uncle twice.

According to Payne, the uncle made a report to the Kitty police station where he was given a medical certificate form to take to the doctor. The man was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he received medication for his injuries.

On the police medical certificate read by the court, it was revealed that the victim had two lacerations both about two centimeters long; one on the left arm and the other in the upper chest.

The defendant however challenged the claim of the police. He insisted that he only stabbed his uncle once in the back. Hinds said he knows nothing about the other stab.

The court further learnt that almost three years ago the defendant was imprisoned for two years.

He told the court that he was charged for robbery and had served his time. He was only released six months ago.

The mother of the defendant and sister of the victim intervened. She told the court that she lived in fear of her son and the threat, she said, he posed to her family.

The court postponed the sentencing until Monday.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Saturday July 28, 2012 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): A situation around the home may have you completely bamboozled but you are bent on solving the problem. ****************************** TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): Working against time can bring some frustration but whatever your aims, you are determined to succeed. There’s a need to be patient with a younger person or someone whose inexperience threatens to interfere with your plans. ****************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): Something like a lost item or a missing receipt or bill could have you puzzled early on in the day. Trying to get to the root of this problem could take up a lot of your time and will make you moody. ****************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Step away from current worries and anxieties as you are too close to the matter in hand to be able to see the whole picture. It is not a good day to allow yourself to be guided wholly by instinct. ****************************** LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): You are starting to develop a greater understanding and interest of all that’s going on in the world. Expect to find yourself becoming increasingly inquisitive and decisive. ****************************** VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): Group ties and financial obligations shared with others are in the spotlight. If there is friction within these boundaries, today will bring your chance to clear this up once and for all.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): Demands from an older person, cantankerous associate or boss will test your peace loving mettle. There are moments when you might feel as if everything and everyone is against you. ****************************** Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21): You may through choice or circumstance, be forced to sever some form of association, either involving a close friend, partnership or business link. ****************************** SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): An edgy atmosphere may be noticeable in a place you usually find relaxing.

You want to have fun but other people seem to have other things on their mind. It would be best to keep to your own concerns and to steer clear of problematic areas. ****************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): If new family or domestic arrangements aren’t working, you may have to revise your strategy. Not everyone you are with today will be co-operative so be prepared for opposition and conflict. ****************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): Getting the balance in communication won’t be easy but you will achieve agreement if you work at it. ****************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): There may be the need on more than one occasion to remind others that ‘talk does not get the job done!’ People rally around to help with a difficult project but it could be a case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

NCN CHANNEL 11 02:00 – NCN Late Edition (R/B) 02:30 – Late Nite with GINA 03:00 – Feature 04:00 – Summer Olympics 2012 – Swimming 05:30 – Newtown Gospel 06:00 – NCN Late Edition (R/B) 06:30 – CIOG Ramadan Prog.

07:00 – Ebezener Praise Time 07:30 – BBC 08:00 – Pulse Beat 08:30 – Cartoons 09:30 – Feature 10:00 – 1ST Test MatchWest Indies VS New Zealand- DAY 4 12:00 – Cricket Info & Quiz 12:40 – Cricket Resumes 14:40 – Feature 15:00 – Cricket Resumes 17:00 – Save the Children 17:30 – Choices

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18:00 – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30 – Law Enforcement & You 19:00 – Let’s Talk Tax 19:30 – President’s Diary 20:00 – 3d/daily millions/

play de dream/lotto draw 20:05 – Bollywood Hits 21:05 – Summer Olympics 2012 – Opening Ceremony Highlights 22:00 – Summer Olympics 2012 – Table Tennis (M&W)

Guides are subjected to change without notice

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Kaieteur News

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Junior Jaguars face T&T in final game today It will not be an easy task coming up against the home team in their final group game of the CFU / CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Under17 game this evening at the Hasely Crawford in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, but Head Coach of Guyana’s Junior Jaguars, Sampson Gilbert is backing his charges to represent.

The talk around is that

From page 21 Referee Canaan St. Catherine, the score read Guyana 6, BVI 0. Like against Trinidad who were leading the BVI 10-0 at half time of their game, the young Guyanese turned up the pressure in the final 45 minutes. The BVI did mount quite a few raids on the Guyanese defence but solid defending of their territory by the Junior Jaguars kept their enemy at bay.

Parks opened proceedings, goal wise in the second half when he breached the BVI’s defence and goalkeeper Akeem Pope four minutes on and his effort was followed by Steffon CAR RENTAL Progressive auto rental, cars from $4,000 per day. Call: 6435122, 656-0087, www.progressiveautorental.com Al’s Car pick up, canter rental Call:698-7807

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Enoe’s first goal in the 58th minute and one minute later Captain Fletcher achieved his helmet-trick; Guyana increasing the lead to 9-0.

Parks was again in the limelight in the 68th minute; Knights completed his brace in the 76th minute with the score reading 11-0, Guyana.

As the minutes ticked away and the dejected faces of the BVI players became more and more evident, the job of the young Guyanese was not over just yet.

Parks ensured that the advantage was further increased by two goals as he inked his name on the score sheets in the 87th and 89th minute, {taking his tally to 7 in two games} handing Guyana a comprehensive 130 win and three points to be level with Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago heading the table with 6 from their two wins while the BVI languishes at the bottom without a point.

so far in this group having won both their games to date against the BVI and Suriname.

And while that is so, Coach Gilbert said that he is backing his charges to hold their own against the T&T side and what is expected to be a hostile home crowd this evening.

“In preparation for the tournament we always knew that exposure would have been one of the areas we would have been lacking in.

In the first game although we played well tactically we showed some nerves and even though we were able to equalize after Suriname

scored a bit more exposure would have seen us doing even better.”

Gilbert notes that in the game against the BVI they were able to execute better in terms of their finishing and being more confident as a team.

“We changed the formation of the team to achieve a more attacking style and it paid off. In my capacity as Head Coach and the staff, we think that going forward there’s a lot that we can achieve and this game against Trinidad we are looking forward to a better performance overall.”

Game time is 19:00hrs today.

Entries close tomorrow for KMTC Post Emancipation Race Meet Entries for the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC), Sunday August 5, Post Emancipation Race Meet at the club’s Bush Lot Farm Corentyne headquarters close tomorrow.

The event is being conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and all of the rules of that body would be employed. Late entries would not be accommodated.

Horse owners can register their horses by contacting Justice Cecil Kennard (226-

1399, 225-4818, or 623-7609) or Roopnarine Matadial aka Shine (325-3192).

Horse owners are reminded they must have their animals examined by the vet by 11:00hrs on race day.

The day’s events include the ‘I2 & Lower’ will see the winner carting off $200,000, the feature B and Lower class over a distance of one mile will see the winner collecting a $1.5M purse. There are races for 3 years old, the ‘G & Lower’ and the ‘H & Lower’ class among others.

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Coach Gilbert confident his charges will represent the T&T side will be gunning for some sort of revenge since it was Guyana’s Golden Jaguars, the senior team that knocked them out of the senior World Cup Qualifying campaign on that memorable day 11. 11. 11 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

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Saturday July 28, 2012

From page 23 Towler and Nigel Bryan in 53.5 seconds. Shawn Semple was equally impressive as Collins in the Men’s ‘A’ Class 400 meters when he sprinted down the homestretch to clock 49.5 seconds ahead of Mason and Trevor Scotland.

Jonas, who tied for the runner up female position with Alder, also won the Women’s 1500 meters in a time of 5:32 seconds ahead of Eva Harry who clocked 5:43 sec-

onds. Scotland (4:27.3 seconds) was denied the opportunity to stand on the highest spot on the podium when Dennis Horatio registered 4:27.3 seconds to win the race.

Another upset was created in the Women’s Invitiational 1500 meters as thirteen years old Cassy George of Linden outran junior distance queen Jevina Straker.

Cleveland Thomas (4:12.3 seconds) of Running Brave easily took the Men’s 400

meters ahead of Police Youth Club athlete Clavin Thomas.

Point standings in the ‘A’ Class category are as follows: Guyana 301 points, Trinidad and Tobago 92 and Antigua and Barbuda 30 points.

Troy Williams was awarded the Champion athlete of ‘B’ Class category (male), while Keith Roberts was the ‘A’Class Champion athlete.

Tiffany Carto was the Youth Club female champ as Tevin Garraway was the male.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

It’s Downes vs Miller for the GBTI Men’s Open Title

The eagerly anticipated rematch between top two seeds in the GBTI Men’s Single Open will happen tomorrow afternoon after both Jeremy Miller and Anthony Downes posted impressive wins in their semifinal encounters.

Miller was especially impressive as he put on a high intensity effort against junior Gavin Lewis which had the younger Lewis running down powerful grounstrokes all night and totally exhausted after the match. Miller who is mostly a baseline player hit heavy topspin shots which had Lewis in retrieval mode and unable to take the initiative. Lewis put up a brave effort as he matched Miller in several rallies including a memorable one where he

CFU U-17 WCQ...

Junior Jaguars club BVI 13-0; T&T beat Suriname 3-1

Rematch of last year’s final returned two overhead smashes before winning the rally.

Miller was not to be denied a spot in the finals and he advanced with a 6-2 6-1 win over Lewis who represented Guyana in the last Junior Davis Cup. Miller will face Anthony Downes in the finals in a repeat of last year’s finals which had a memorable three set encounter between the top two players in the country.

Downes, who has rounded into form as the tournament progressed, had his hands full with consistent performer Leyland Leacock who threatened to take the first set when serving 5-4 and up a break.

Downes however dug deep and

eliminated the unforced errors that he was committing as he broke Leacock’s serve to tie the match up.

Leacock at the same time seemed to be struggling as Downes turned on his game and took the set 7-5.

Leacock’s drive to win the game seemed to dip in the second set as Downes started to hit more winners and had Leacock on the defensive.

Downes completed the second set 6-2 to book his rematch with Miller in the finals which will take place tomorrow afternoon at the GBTI Recreational Centre in Bel Air Park. The Mixed Doubles and Men’s 35 finals will be played today.

Japanese swim coach lauded for excellent job as ‘Learn to swim’ programme concludes Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar extended gratitude to Japanese swimming coach, Kumiko Inuzaka when the curtains came down on the ‘Learn to swim’ programme, staged under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the National Sports Commission, at the Colgrain Swimming Pool, Camp Street Georgetown, yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Kumar complimented the organizers and extended special gratitude to Ms Inuzaka, praising her commitment even as he urged the participants to put the lessons learned into practice.

Mr. Kumar said that he is confident that once the youngsters remain committed to their tasks and once they

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employ the strategies learnt, Guyana could very well have a strong swimming presence in the 2016 Olympics. He also complimented the parents for the interest shown as well as the encouragement they gave to their children.

Coach of the Guyana Amateur SwimmingAssociation (GASA), Stephanie Fraser, feels that the sessions were extremely useful and served as the catalyst to the children’s development.

She commended Ms Inuzaka while noting that she possessed a great sense of humour which made the lessons enjoyable and easy to conceive.

Ms Fraser further lauded the techniques of the coach and singled out her application in biomechanics and her shrewd ability in correcting the students when

they failed to apply the lessons learned.

Mr. Gervy C Harry, Official in the Department of Youth and Sports, was heartened by the number of attendees. He said that officials anticipated just about 50 participants but the number was more than doubled.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kumar handed over two gifts to Ms Inuzaka as a token of appreciation. One of the gifts was a personal presentation while the other was given on behalf of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Mr. Frank Anthony.

Several parents also made similar presentations including Deborah Dey, Ms K Razak, Bibi Somar and Reni Persaud. The swimming course commenced on February 16 last and concluded yesterday.

Guyana’s goal scorers from left; Franklyn Parks, Steffon Enoe, Jermaine Fletcher, Kareem Knights and Mark Wrong.

Guyana’s Under-17 Junior Jaguars rebounded from their opening 3-1 loss to Suriname on Tuesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago to club the British Virgin Islands 13-0 in their second game of the Caribbean Football Union / CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying competition on Thursday afternoon at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

Led by their leading marksman, Franklyn Parks who blasted the nets on five occasions, the young Guyanese earned their first points in this group which will see only the winner advancing to the CONCACAF round of qualifying.

Cementing their claim for that spot was home team Trinidad and Tobago which defeated Suriname 3-1 in the feature game of the double header card.

After T&T demolished the BVI in their first game 230, the Junior Jaguars sensed that their prey were already

wounded by the home team so they {Guyana} went for the kill without any wavering thoughts.

Their intentions of going for a huge win were recognized seven (7) minutes into the game when Kareem Knights netted the first of his double. Thereafter it was a steady trek back to the middle for the BVI to spot the ball for the restart of proceedings.

As witnessed in the BVI’s game against the Twin Island Republic, they are a far way off the standard of the other teams in this group, so far conceding 36 goals; that tally is likely to increase when they take on Suriname in their final game today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium with Guyana tangling with T&T in the main event.

The buzz and desire to sink their opponents as deep as they could was evident in the positive and bubbling body language of the young Guyanese.

Forward Franklyn Parks, who comes from a family of footballers, his older siblings

Elroy and Daxton no strange names to Guyana’s football, passing on the standard to the younger Franklyn who has proved his worth already for Guyana at this level.

Parks in tandem with his Captain, the short but speedy Jermaine Fletcher, who recorded a helmet-trick, combined to ravage the BVI’s defence, the two accounting for 9 of Guyana’s 13 goals.

Following the opening goal off the boot of Knights, there was some amount of resistance by the BVI up until the 23rd minute when Fletcher took matters into his own hands as he scored the next three goals himself; hitting the network in the 26th and 28th minute also.

Fletcher ’s fourth was netted in the 59th minute.

Mark Wrong joined the party with a goal of his own in the 30th minute before Parks opened his account four (4) minutes later, Guyana’s 6th of the half.

When the half time whistle was sounded by St. Lucian (Continued on page 20)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday July 28, 2012

Gayle, Powell tons give WI edge Young athletes light London 2012 Chris Gayle celebrates his 14th Test century

Kieran Powell cuts during his 134 Centuries by Chris Gayle and Kieran Powell, who put on 254 for the first wicket, put West Indies on the path to securing a sizeable firstinnings lead, but a few late strikes after tea gave New Zealand an opening.

Gayle and Powell extended the hosts’ dominance by batting out the morning session, but the other top order batsmen couldn’t quite carry on after making starts.

Assad Fudadin and Narsingh Deonarine made patient half-centuries to ensure that West Indies didn’t capitulate after the start provided by the openers and by stumps West Indies still held the upper hand, leading by 91.

New Zealand created opportunities with the swing on offer with the new ball, but once the batsmen had seen off that period, the visitors were left waiting for mistakes.

New Zealand were hurt by the fact that their best and most experienced bowler, Daniel Vettori, couldn’t pick up a wicket. Kane Williamson bowled 20 overs, the most he has ever bowled in a Test, and picked up two wickets.

Gayle carried on from where he left off, piloting the innings.

Given his stupendous limited-overs form, a Test century was there for the taking against a bowling attack low on confidence and form. Gayle started the day with a flat six over long-off off Vettori to take him to the nineties. Keen to reach his landmark in style he pulled a short delivery by Chris Martin and just about cleared the rope to get from 97 to 103. Gayle punched the air and acknowledged his 14th Test century, one that will be talked about for long, given that it came after an exile of one-and-a-half years.

New Zealand relied on Neil Wagner’s reverse swing to possibly sneak in a wicket or two with the old ball. With the ball swinging in sharply

towards the pads, a silly midon and short midwicket was placed for the checked drive.

It didn’t change New Zealand’s luck as Powell managed to chip it over midwicket and keep out the fuller deliveries. One one occasion, Gayle miscued an on drive and yet managed to beat mid-on comfortably. It was that sort of morning for New Zealand.

The patient Powell couldn’t resist a slash over gully that brought up the double-century stand, the ninth in West Indies history.

It was also the highest partnership for any wicket by West Indies since December 2010, when Gayle last played a Test. It only underlined Gayle’s impact in the side and why they missed him so much.

Gayle offered his second chance of the innings when the ball turned, kissed the glove and lobbed to first slip where Ross Taylor fluffed a straightforward take. New Zealand didn’t get too many chances coming their way, and they will wonder what could have been had they halted Gayle on 36 yesterday.

Gayle added only four to his score after lunch when he tried to clear Williamson over long-on but was caught well in front of the rope. Powell got to his maiden Test century with a flourish just as Gayle had done earlier, with a boundary. There were fielders placed on the deep on the on side and he managed to place it between the two with a strong pull off Wagner.

It was the first time in 13 years that both West Indian openers had hit centuries, the last pair being Sherwin Campbell and Adrian Griffith in Hamilton in 1999.

The new ball, taken after 83 overs with West Indies at 269 for 1, posed questions straightaway as Doug Bracewell teased the lefthanders with his inswing.

There were a couple of marginal lbw shouts against

Powell and Assad Fudadin, but the ball looked to be missing the leg stump. The left-handed pair looked more comfortable with the ball swinging away as they fetched boundaries through the off side.

Powell looked good to carry on to a big hundred when he took on Wagner for three consecutive fours through the off side, including a scoop over midoff. However, he fell off the fourth, chasing a delivery well wide of the off stump and feathering an edge to the keeper to give a pumped-up Wagner his first Test wicket.

Marlon Samuels survived a testing first delivery, deflected down the leg side, and a run-out. Samuels failed to carry on after making a start, inside-edging Martin to his leg stump. Martin struck again in the first ball of his next over when he had Shivnarine Chanderpaul gloving a snorter to Kruger van Wyk. It was his sixth first-ball duck and third against New Zealand.

The double-strike suddenly put West Indies on the back foot, but Deonarine and Fudadin did well to weather the storm. Fudadin played shots on both sides of the wicket and picked up seven boundaries, but like Gayle, perished while going for the big hit. Denesh Ramdin chopped a short delivery onto his stumps shortly before close, joining the list of those who threw their wickets away.

Deonarine played a couple of adventurous strokes, including a straight six off Wagner as he neared his fifty. As a statement of intent, he swung the last ball of the day for a boundary.

New Zealand did well to script a comeback in the final session, but another tough day awaits. Scores: West Indies 442 for 6 (Gayle 150, Powell 134, Fudadin 55, Deonarine 54*) lead New Zealand 351 by 91 runs.

Olympic flame as games begin The Queen has declared the London Olympics officially open, before seven young athletes were given the honour of lighting the ceremonial flame.

The show featured celebrities and sportspeople from all walks of British life, including David Beckham, Bradley Wiggins and Daniel Craig as James Bond. Games chief Seb Coe welcomed the world to London, saying the event celebrates “what is best about mankind”.

The three-hour spectacle was watched by TV audiences around the world.

The identity of who was to light the symbolic flame had been shrouded in secrecy ahead of the ceremony. Opting for young athletes over one of Britain’s sporting greats, the group of seven each lit a single tiny flame on the ground, which triggered the ignition of 204 petals. Long stems then rose towards each other to form a cauldron, signifying unity. Flag-bearer Sir Chris Hoy earlier led out Team GB, who were dressed in white and gold tracksuits, to loud applause.

The show, billed as a quirky take on British life, started with iconic images of London and Britain being beamed to the world, and all four countries of the UK were represented in song.

The field at the stadium in Stratford in east London was turned into a green meadow, with a cast of 10,000 volunteers taking roles from British history. The show took the watching world through “great revolutions in British society”, from an agricultural setting through to the Industrial Revolution itself.

Steelworkers began forging material that transformed into golden Olympic rings, which lifted into the air to be suspended above the performers.

‘EVENING MR BOND’ There were cheers too as the crowd saw a film featuring an unlikely meeting between the Queen and the 007 James Bond. “Good evening Mr Bond,” the Queen said in the clip, before they left together, apparently heading towards the Olympic Stadium in a helicopter.

A helicopter then flew over the stadium to the sound of the Bond theme tune, as two figures parachuted down, one dressed as the monarch.

As if by magic, the Queen appeared in the stands - part of a crowd of about 80,000 - amid cheers. The BBC’s Claire Heald, at the stadium, says: “It was quite quiet among the crowd, after the excitement of a sky-diving Queen.

But Bowie, Queen (as in the band!) and New Order fit the sparkle of the stadium and lift the mood.”

The ceremony also celebrated the National

Health Service by featuring a cast of 1,200 volunteers recruited from hospitals all over the country, including Great Ormond Street children’s hospital in London.

Another tightly-kept secret was how the torch would make its final journey from central London down the River Thames to the stadium in east London. That job fell to former England football captain Beckham, who was shown steering a speedboat past Tower Bridge.

A spokesman for Games organiser Locog confirmed that the star drove the boat down the river live. “A bit of the close-up was preshot but he drove it live,” he said.

The athletes taking part in the Games - led, as tradition dictates, by the Olympics’ spiritual home Greece - made laps of the stadium bearing their nations’ flags. There were huge cheers for the Irish team - and for Usain Bolt, carrying the flag for Jamaica.

A Red Arrows fly-past marked the start of the pre-show at the symbolic time of 20:12 BST (19:12 GMT). And Wiggins, wearing a yellow jersey, rang the largest harmonically tuned bell in the world to launch the opening ceremony.

As the show began, its artistic director Danny Boyle pledged a ceremony with a theme of “this is for everyone”. The Oscar-winning film director added that it contains “a celebration of the creativity, exuberance and, above all, the generosity of the British people”. He said there were to be “no spectators - everyone in the stadium will be part of the magic”.

He later tweeted: “Thank you, everyone, for your kind words! Means the world to me.”

Earlier, crowds of people, many of them dressed in their nation’s colours, streamed into the Olympic Park for the show.

Our correspondent says transport to the stadium ran smoothly and the crowds moved quickly through security. The day of celebration began at 08:12 BST (07:12 GMT) with a mass bell ringing. Big Ben rang for three minutes for the first time since King George VI’s funeral in 1952.

Some 15,000 sq m of staging and 12,956 props were used, and the event boasted a million-watt PA system using more than 500 speakers.

Thousands of fans also gathered at other outdoor locations across the capital to watch the show on big screens. The Queen and Prince Philip earlier hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for foreign dignitaries, where she wished guests a “successful, enjoyable and memorable Games”.

Priyanna Ramdhani in the medal hunt at Pan Am Junior Badminton tourney The XXI Pan American Junior Badminton Championships which is being held in Alberta, Canada continued with the Doubles and Mixed Doubles Events.

Guyana’s Priyanna Ramdhani once again reached the SemiFinals in the Under-11 Mixed Doubles and also in the Singles Consolation Round. She will battle for the silver and gold.

Priyanna Ramdhani (Guy) and Gustavo Salazar (Peru) defeated William Creaser/ Ashley Chung (Can) 21-4, 213 to position themselves for a shot at the gold medal in the U-11 Mixed Doubles.

In results from the Matches Played: Under-11 Mixed Doubles Quarter-Finals:

Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY)/Gustavo Salazar (Peru) defeated Filipe Lemos/Vitoria Brunetti (Brazil) 21-10, 21-17 Under-11 Mixed Doubles Semi-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani (Guy)/ Gustavo Salazar (Peru) defeated William Creaser/Ashley Chung (Can) 21-4, 21-3 Under-11 Girl Singles Consolation Round Quarter Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani (Guy) defeated Jeslun Chow (Can) 21-16, 21-6 Under-15 Boys Doubles: Narayan Ramdhani (Guy)/ Jesus Murillo (El Salvador) lost to Vinicius Gori/Gabriel Moreira (Bra) 24-22, 21-16 Jonathan Mangra/ Jonathan Persaud (Guy) lost to Takeshi Isa/Diego Mini

(Can): 21-11,21-11 Under-15 Mixed Doubles: Narayan Ramdhani/ Ambika Ramraj (Guy) lost to Anson Lee/Giselle Chan (Can):21-13, 21-8 Jonathan Mangra/Nadine Jairam (Guy) lost to Cesar Brito/Bermary Polanco (Dom.Rep.) 21-7, 21-11 Under-19 Boys Doubles: Avinash Odit (Guy)/Carlos Acosta (Peru)Phillip Chew/ Jeffrey Kuo (Can): 21-2, 21-3 A total 15 countries are taking part in the event. They are: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Venezuela and host country Canada.

Saturday July 28, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Headquarters take Police Athletics title again

By Juanita Hooper Headquarters came out victorious again in the Annual Police Athletics Sports yesterday evening to retain their title when the final day of the three days championship was held at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

Headquarters, with the best athletes in the force, amassed 475 points to win overall. Their closest challengers ‘A’ divison settled for second place again with 373 points as ‘B’ Division and Country concluded the day’s event with 207.5 and 172 points respectively.

Alita ‘Logga Logga’ Moore of Headquarters, who was adjugded the Open female champion athlete, outclassed her rivals in the Women’s 100 meters and 200 meters and the Triple Jump on day two to accumulate 30 points.

Moore clocked 12.1 seconds in the Women’s 100 meters ahead of Leota Babb who finished closely behind with a time of 12.5 seconds.

The athlete returned in the 200 meters, powering off the turn with her rival Babb who was once again beaten

- Guyana win A Class

The winning Headquarters team along with senior Police Officers celebrate victory following their win yesterday. on the homestretch. The race was won in a time of 24.6 seconds.

Keith Roberts and Terry Easton won their 200 meters in the Men ‘A’ Class and ‘B’ Class finals respectively in 22.5 seconds and 21.8 seconds. Derwin Eastman the defending 200 meters ‘B’ Class champion relinquished his title to Easton after crossing the

finish line second to clock 22.7 seconds.

Eastman (11.4 seconds) was defeated in the Men’s B Class 100 meters by Adrian Gomes who clocked 11.01 seconds.

Roberts, a senior athlete in the force, registered 11.6 seconds ahead of his fellow lawman Shawn Semple in the Men’s A Class 100 meters to contribute 18

points to Guyana in the International category.

Shawn Dyer of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 22.6 seconds.

Open runner up champion athlete Natasha Alder won the Women’s Senior Officers 100 meters in a time of 12.8 seconds ahead of Nadrine Rodrigues (13 seconds) who is presently nursing an

hamstring injury.

Rhonjay Prince ran away with the Junior Officers 100 meters ahead of Ronald Ali in a time of 12.5 seconds.

Patrick King and Alicia Fortune stamped their authority in the Men’s and Wo m e n ’s 1 0 0 m e t e r s Invitationals ahead of their rivals in 10.7 seconds and 12.2 seconds.

The Women’s ‘B’ Class

400 meters saw Shauna Thornill rebounding from two upsets (100 meters and 200 meters) earlier in the day to claim to the race ahead of crowd’s favourite Janella Jonas in a time of1:01.4 seconds.

Mandella Collins claimed the Men’s ‘B’ Class 400 meters with a commanding win ahead of (Continued on page 20)

Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships...

Brodras, Cadets, Tigers secure victories

T

he Annual Noble House Goals Galore Indoor H o c k e y Championships lived up to its name on the first night of action as traditional favourites were placed under severe pressure to score goals even in the handicaps.

In the Goals Galore clash, teams begin with different goal tallies aimed at making more competitive matches so the top teams start with a goal deficit.

The senior division produced two upsets on opening night as the GCC Brodras who began with a one goal handicap of +3 goals to Old Fort’s +2, managed to use their tremendous speed and fitness to hold a one goal lead to the end.

Old Fort scored first in the 11th minute to draw the score even through a wonderful counterattack that was finished off by Dwight McCalman. The red and white Old Fort then pulled one ahead through a John Abrams shot and seemed

destined for victory. GCC’s DeGroot brothers, however, would register one a piece in the closing minutes for the 54 comeback victory for the Brodras.

The Hikers Cadets took the stage against their senior counterparts the Generals in the other senior division match of the evening. The Cadets, one of the most exciting teams to watch, and with a +3 goal advantage at the opening whistle, would prove too much for the Generals. Robert France with a field goal and Shane Samuels, a penalty corner, were the first two players on the score-sheet and drew the Generals within one by the end of the first half of play.

The Cadets, however, matched the Generals in scoring during a second half of field goals with two goals by dribbling ace Aroydy Brandford and teammate Yonnick Peters. Samuels and France were on target once again in the second half for the Generals, but this was not enough to avoid the 5-4 defeat.

Tigers Kerensa Fernandes (white) battles partially obscured Hikers Diva, Shundell Durant, while teammates rush to support.

Mark Sergeant led the charge of the GCC Pitbulls against Old Fort in the junior division with a brace of goals and supported by a single from Michael Craig. Young Old Fort who began the match with a one goal deficit, scored first through Omar Hopkinson, but failed to maintain their form, losing in the end by 9-6.

Newcomers Saints took the Flora GCC Tigers to the wire with a valiant attempt at the victory. The Tigers, comprising of several female national players began with a 5-goal deficit and came out pressing from the opening whistle.

Captain Sonia Jardine got the first of four goals in the very first minute, Marzana

Fiedtkou added a second through a penalty corner five minutes later and Jardine would score two more before the half. The second half brought another goal from Jardine and a double from Tricia Woodroffe for the Tigers but the goal to draw the biggest uproar was that of Saints’ Paramanand Dindial who put back a

penalty corner rebound. The Tigers secured the victory in the final minute of the match by 7-6.

The Hikers Revelation and GCC Snipers ladies sides battled to an entertaining draw as the Snipers needed 6 goals to even the scores and managed only in the final minute of play. The Snipers goals came through doubles each

by Carol Caine, Shebiki Baptiste and Brennette Gordon.

The Flora GCC Tigers returned for their second match of the evening against the Hikers Divas and pulled off a 7-4 victory. With the Tigers managed to make up the pre-game four-goal deficit by the half and would register three more by full time to secure the win.

Marzana Fiedtkou, Gabriella Xavier and Trisha Woodroffe each scored doubles while Sonia Jardine added one more.

The tournament continues tonight with the finals set for tomorrow from 17:20.

t r o Sp

Young athletes light London 2012 Olympic flame as games begin

Reuters Photos

Gayle, Powell tons give WI edge

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