Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

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Kaieteur News

THE DEATH OF Essential Principles in Collective WALTER WILLIS Bargaining – Public Service

DEAR EDITOR; I learnt with great sadness of the passing of Engineer Walter Willis. To speak of Willis can either be done in a few short sentences or volumes. I choose the former.

I first met Walter on the Essequibo Coast and I have had to interact with him on different levels and circumstances.

Walter was extremely knowledgeble and shared his knowledge and experience freely with both the young and old. He was a gracious general in his own department and a super Guyanese patriot.

Walter’s passing is a great lost, not only to his wife, children and the rest of the family, but to the engineering fraternity and the people of Guyana as a whole. It will not be easy to fill the void created by his untimely demise. I will miss his candour and eagerness to help at all times.

On behalf of my wife, Jennifer and family, we extend sincere condolences to his wife, Dolly, children and the rest of the family. My sojourn in Texas may not allow my presence at his funeral, but I hope that he is put away with his traditional hat with which we all associate Walter as he moved around every part of Guyana.

Hamilton Green, OR. Chairman - CH&PA Board

Food For The Poor assists farmers in Reg. 5 DEAR EDITOR; Members of the Now or Never Farmers Group, The Perth (Central Mahaicony) Farmers Agro-Processing Group and the Woodley Park Farmers Group were the recipients of 17 shade houses and a variety of tools and agro-processing equipment when the non-governmental organization Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFP) commissioned the projects on Wednesday June 29, 2016.

Thirteen 80ft.x 18ft., two 60ft.x 18ft., and one 49ft.x 18ft. shade houses were constructed for 17 women farmers at Woodley Park, one 80ft.x18ft. shade house nursery was built for the farmers of Now or Never village while the Perth (Central Mahaicony) Farmers Group benefited from the upgrading and furnishing of the Farmers Group Agro-processing Centre.

In his remarks at the commissioning of the projects, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FFP Mr. Kent Vincent said that he was pleased to officially open the shade houses. He explained that FFP was vigorously promoting agriculture as a part of its anniversary year and was happy to partner the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) with the p r o j e c t s . M r. Vi n c e n t further stated that he hoped other communities would benefit from the type of assistance FFP can

provide and thanked the donors in Florida for their assistance.

Aaron Ramroop, Coastal Projects Officer of NAREI in his presentation to the farmers of Now or Never said that a part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s mandate was to collaborate with entities such as FFP to assist communities as much as possible.

Describing the project as “Climate Smart Agriculture” because of the changing climate, Mr. Ramroop assured the farmers of Now or Never that NAREI will be working closely with them as it relates to the technical aspect of nurserys and nursery management of the production of the seedlings.

He further stated that the collaborative effort with FFP and the communities was an excellent initiative.

Members of the groups expressed thanks and appreciation for the support received from FFP. They said that with the acquisition of the shade houses, the crops would be protected from the vagaries of the weather and they envisaged tremendous increase in production and productivity.

The members of the Perth (Central Mahaicony) Group said that they too will increase their production with the supermarkets on the coastal areas with the facilities they had acquired.

Food For The Poor

DEAR EDITOR; The restoration of Collective Bargaining in the Public Service between the Public Authority and the Guyana Public Service Union is a welcome development.

This is observing the treaty obligations flowing from the International Labour Convention No. 151 – Labour Relations (Public Service) 1978, ratified by Guyana on June 1982. This Convention provides for the protection of public employees’ right to organize and collective bargaining, procedures for dispute settlement through negotiations, conciliation, mediation, and arbitration.

Convention 151 Convention confers similar rights flowing from Convention No. 98 – Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, applicable to the private sector.

The Public Authorities need to be mindful of International Treaty obligations of International Labour Conventions, ratified

by Guyana, and national laws on the conduct of labour and industrial relations, including Trade Union Recognition Act Chapter 98:07, No. 33 of 1997 which imposes an obligation on the union and employer to bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with each other for the purpose of collective bargaining.

The principles and

practice of good faith bargaining in collective bargaining requires the practice of industrial diplomacy of mutual respect, and trust in civil encounters, including: · Adequate preparations on both sides for serious negotiations · A determination by both sides to forge mutual agreements. · That the negotiating parties have a full mandate to agree on all issues on the negotiating table without frequent adjournments to consult higher authority. The negotiating teams should come to the table knowing fully the absolute limit of concessions and acceptance. · The public service negotiating team should be given the absolute percentage or dollar amount of the wage bill for increases in salaries/wages and allowances which it can distribute and concede through the cut and thrust of negotiations. · Negotiations are private, confidential processes, and should be free from premature media publicity and before the conclusion of full agreement or otherwise. · Communication to the media during the course of negotiations, if necessary, should be by joint releases. · All cost items of salaries/

wages and allowances etc. should be on the negotiation table to determine the total increase in employment costs to the national treasury. · It is prudent to treat all negotiating items – salaries, wages, allowances etc. as a total package with the understanding that agreement on a single item is subject to agreement on all cost items, to avoid a more costly piece-meal approach.

Lack of good faith bargaining constitutes the power approach in labour negotiations including: building up expectations of staff with unrealistic proposals at general meetings, agitation in the media before dialogue/ discussions, ‘negotiating’ in the media, misinformation to the media, unnecessary threats of industrial actions, external influences and pressures, public demonstrations, public agitation, illegal actions, political and external lobbying during the course of negotiations, and personal attacks on the integrity of the members of either negotiating team or on the union or public authority.

The parties should be aware that four possible approaches can be adopted by either or both parties in labour negotiations and in the management of labour conflicts:

Avoidance approach: failure or refusal to deal with the issue; settlement by chance.

Power approach: coercion to force the other side to concede; settlement by force, industrial actions strikes, lockouts, etc.

Rights approach: independent standards of right or fairness; settlement by a labour tribunal, arbitration or by a court of law.

Consensus approach: the best and preferred approach which endeavours to reconcile, compromise or accommodate.

The superiority of the consensus approach reflects settlement by the parties through direct negotiations or conciliation/ mediation, or another mutually agreed means for final resolution One would expect the parties in the public sector would set a good example to the national community by eschewing of the power approach and employing of the consensus and rights approaches in good faith encounters. There is also the assistance of a third party through Conciliation/ Mediation, and finally, in the event of failure of the earlier processes, arbitration or a national commission review with recommendations to the National Assembly which provides the funds.

Samuel J. Goolsarran

Bribery process operates in the ferry system DEAR EDITOR; Please allow me space to respond to Mr. Godfrey Whyte’s letter dated May 04, 2016, captioned, “This person’s story may not be based on facts,” written by the president of the transport union. His letter was in response to my missive titled, “Waiting in vain to travel on the Essequibo River.”

Forgive my late reply but I was only made aware of his response a few days ago.

Mr. Whyte since you took time to meticulously find flaws in my letter let me now pin point some flaws in your system. I’ll respond to my ‘so-called’ inaccuracies that you highlighted based on assumptions and technicalities.

Firstly, on Good Friday (March 25) I was indeed the sixth person in line. Two of the five vehicles that were in front of me were allowed on the boat as they ‘spoke’ to the gate keeper; the others were left just as I was.

These two were allowed on along with a number of others who arrived after me

but also ‘spoke’ to some officials there. Secondly, it would appear that you don’t even know your own system.

If you did you would be fully aware that there are usually trucks there that are given first preference because of the goods that they are loaded with. I did not find it necessary to mention that the trucks were loaded before they began sorting the buses, SUVs, cars etc. That would provide for the fact that 15 to 20 ‘small’ vehicles passed by me. So, to quote your words, the ferry did not leave ‘half empty’. Thirdly, I too, Mr. Whyte, would think it is logically impossible for a vehicle who is sixth in line to be left behind but, yet, it happened.

Mr. Whyte, you bash me for my identity? You need to explain to me how my identity will pay any role is getting this issue resolved.

All I can see is you defending a flawed system and not offering any solution to the issue at hand. I am not going to submit to you and deliver my identity only to be

victimized for speaking the truth. You say you need proof? Worry not Mr. Whyte, the next time I use this service I will be sure to make a video of the blatant bribery so that you and others who claim I am not speaking the truth will have your share of proof. It seems I will have to do this before there is any correctional measure.

I wrote another letter to the newspaper where I tweaked the story to suit another experience of mine that occurred just Thursday 30 June 2016 where I was, yet again, forced to wait 15 hours at the crossing before I could get on the ferry.

This goes to show that nothing has been done since my first letter to have this situation rectified.

The way you are defending this system one

might think this is the first complaint you have received but it’s not is it Mr. Whyte?

Let me take you back a little to articles dated September 28, 2015 in the other media and September 16, 2014 in Kaieteur News where these same issues were highlighted. I know of persons who have admitted that they have paid bribes at this crossing to get unto the boat.

Your system is deeply flawed and instead of being so interested in my identity lets works on addressing the matter at hand. My identity provides no form of help.

Your letter amused me I must say; to see you calling me out on such technicalities rather than offering any assurance that you will have the matter addressed.

Concerned Citizen

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Questions pile up The wrong things the PPP Govt. did to our young people on Rawle Lucas DEAR EDITOR; The development of a nation is vastly dependent on those placed in authority to guide the overall process of ensuring strong efficient institutions that responds positively to the needs of the masses.

Placing an accountant or electrical engineer to function as a Professional Social Worker is recipe for national disaster, just as well as taking a Professional Social Worker to function as an Electrical Engineer.

We as a nation must bring an end to this trend of placing square pegs in round holes if we are going to realize Guyana as a developed nation in our lifetime.

In 1973 at the Treaty of Chagaramus, it was observed that there would have been an explosion of the youth population in the Caribbean community by the year 2000, an agreement was therefore reached to train “Youth” Social Workers who will work with our youths to promote national development all across the Caribbean and Canada, since the Commonwealth Secretariat came on board and financed this Project.

At the end of their training these “youth” social workers were assigned to communities developing youth clubs and sports associations, promoting youth skills training programs and sports and cultural programs which was evident with our dominance in sports in the Caribbean and the establishment of the Guymine games, Guystac Games, Public Service Games , Inter estate games and they also played a major role in the establishment of the

Guyana National Service; the legacy of the vision of our Caribbean leaders.

While this was happening our nation enjoyed relative peace as our young people were gainfully employed and otherwise positively occupied in our communities.

I must remind the nation of our dynamic Youth Services Unit under the guidance of our loved and esteemed Director of Youth, Ms Lynette Seabra, she worked beyond the call of duty and received tremendous support from Youth Workers employed in the unit who were trained by the Commonwealth Youth Program.

When the Government changed in 1992, the Youth Service Unit and the Commonwealth Youth Program were down played or watered down. In 1993 twenty youth workers from Guyana were heading to the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus in Trinidad to pursue The Diploma in Youth and Development run by the Commonwealth Youth Program Caribbean Centre, this part of the program would last two months and the Government at the time was asked to give us a stipend of $5US PER DAY while the Commonwealth Caribbean Center paid for our airfare, meals and accommodation.

They bluntly refused to assist us. I was one on that 20 member team representing Guyana. I called the Prime Minister Samuel Hinds from Trinidad appealing to his good judgement to make this pocket money available . I was bluntly told that the debt burden that the previous Government left did not allows us to receive that pocket money.

We were embarrassed by our Government since as we

interacted with our fellow participants from the other Caribbean territories and Canada we were all without that pocket money to deal with emergencies.

Youth Social Workers were neglected by this new Government that came to power in 1992; many migrated to work in the Caribbean, North America and the United Kingdom.

Those of us who stayed and pursued the Degree in Social Work at the University of Guyana were disregarded and poorly paid, disrespected and placed to do jobs that we were not professionally trained for, which remains very much the same today.

In the year 2000 after I completed a Florida Gulf Coast University — University of Guyana Student Exchange Program in Florida USA which lasted eight weeks engaging in Social Work Field Study, on my return to Guyana I was dismissed from my job as a HIV/AIDS Counselor at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

I had applied for no pay leave to pursue this study which would have benefitted the social policy and programs here at home.

The action of the previous Government to discriminate against Professional Social Workers has affected our youths tremendously. Let us return to the communities with our Social Workers, coaches, sport organizers, skills training officers, etc.

The time has come for us to build training centers in villages to train youths in various skill areas.

We have to help the communities to help themselves. Undergraduates from the University are incapable of dealing fully effective with the problems that confronts our youths in the villages that have been

neglected by the previous regimes.

The community Development Department need trained experienced Social Workers to bring about positive changes in villages through youth empowerment.

I must mention that the Youth Commissioners in Barbados are those who are holders of the Commonwealth Youth Program Diploma in Youth and Development, and they continue to have a dynamic youth program on that Island.

There are many of us here who were trained over the years, I therefore appeal to this Government to put us to work if you seriously need progressive youth movement for national development.

The time for this is right now, to wait may be too late. I must commend the Ministry of Education, Yo u t h D e p a r t m e n t f o r engaging young people in their planned leadership development seminars and workshops.

This is no substitute for employing those trained youth leaders whose training would have covered over three years under the guidance of the Commonwealth Youth Program Director DR Ivan Henry and his dynamic staff to complete the Diploma in Youth and Development.

This inspired many of us here in Guyana to pursue the Bachelors of Social Work Degree at the University of Guyana.

A vibrant Guyana Professional Social Workers Association collaborating with the Government Institutions responsible for Youth and Development will bring about positive changes amongst young people in our communities.

RAS Aaron Blackman

Call for President to remove Lucas DEAR EDITOR; I have read in your n e w s p a p e r Mr. Rawle Lucas’ justification for hiring a young student of his as an administrative assistant. I found the following extremely alarming: 1. Mr. Lucas claimed that he did not trust any staff of the GRA. If Mr. Lucas does not trust the staff of GRA he should not be Chairman of the GRA Board. Lucas has basically branded all staff of the GRA as untrustworthy.

2. This pronouncement by

Lucas is disrespectful to all GRA employees and sends a message to the public not to trust GRA officers.

This statement will result in a significant reduction in public confidence in GRA and its officers and will result in a reduction of voluntary compliance. The will be a concomitant reduction in revenues.

3 . M r. L u c a s h a s basically told the entire Guyanese public that the corporate secretary to the board cannot be trusted.

Why pay a corporate secretary who cannot be

trusted close to half a million dollars monthly?

She should be relieved of her duties.

4. All the previous chairmen of the GRA used GRA staff to prepare whatever documents were required. Analysis is, was and should be done by the GRA employees. Is this Chairman special or is his assistant special?

I hope with all of this analysis and special support the Chairman had over the last year has resulted in a massive increase in the Revenues.

I call on president Granger to remove this Chairman immediately since he has demoralized the entire GRA staff, insulted and disrespected them. In turn the public will be likewise.

The revenue collection agency is of paramount importance and should not be undermined by a power drunk and callous chairman.

President Granger kindly put someone with tact, class, dignity and decorum to manage the Board of the GRA. Renata Persaud

DEAR EDITOR; There are decent and honest employees of the GRA. Undoubtedly there may be rogue elements but by and large the employees of the GRA are hardworking and honest.

This is why it was hurtful for the Chairman of our organization to label all of us as corrupt and untrustworthy to justify the appointment of his unqualified and inexperienced secretary at a super salary (comparative to other employees with similar qualifications and experience).

In light of this statement we, the hard working employees of the GRA have noted that the very Rawle Lucas rehired one Mr. Earl Daniels at the GRA. Can Mr. Rawle Lucas tell us the employees of the GRA and the taxpaying public the following: a. Mr. Daniels was a former army officer and was employed by the GRA after a competitive process. he was employed as Senior Manager Law Enforcement and Investigations Division(LEID). b. The Governing Board headed by the great late Mr. Clyde Roopchand, may god bless his soul, took a collective decision to terminate the services of Mr. Daniels. Can the Chairman say why this was done? c. Can Lucas say whether Mr. Daniels was honourably or dishonourably discharged from the army? d. Can Lucas say why Daniels was rehired without a competitive process in breach of the GRA rules and Board procedures? e. Can Lucas if Earl Daniels was interviewed for the job or was he selected by Lucas for the job? f. Was the vacancy advertised? g. Were there any competent experienced persons within GRA who could have filled this vacancy? h. How many other persons were interviewed for the position? i. Can the Chairman say why Daniels was hired at a higher band in the scale than other Assistant Commissioners? Does he have special knowledge and qualifications? Is he more equal than us? We would be grateful this knowledge so we can also get paid higher on the salary scales. j. Can you tell us whether a comparative analysis of the performance of Daniels as former head of the LEID GRA reveals that he was more competent than other persons holding this position? Was the amount of seizures under his watch higher?

Was revenue collection greater? We would be thankful for this information. We have a slight idea. k. Can you tell us Chairman if this is a case of cronyism and if this is what we can expect from you as our chairman?

Can you tell us if we will be overlooked for promotion by you in favour of your friends and alleged students? l. Please advise us if the competitive process for filling vacancies at the GRA has been suspended in favour of your personal appointment process and what is this new process? m. Will the competitive process return once you have filled positions with your friends and students? We await your response with bated breath.

Concerned Staff

Questions about this Neighbourhood Democratic Council DEAR EDITOR; Please, if you may, publish my attached letter in the interest of the Enmore Community. Since the last Local Government elections, a number of new Councillors are now on board in the Council. Unfortunately, the Council seems unable to get on with its work because every meeting is broken up.

I am aware that the Region 4 Administration is knowledgeable of what is happening and I am also aware that politics is being used as a football to frustrate the NDC rather than offering proper guidance.

This kind of situation appears to be gaining traction, as we see in Region Five, Region 2 and Region 4.

If this is the spinoff from the recent elections, then we are sliding down hill at a rapid pace with many in authority turning their faces the other way. Thus, in the Enmore area, while the public is expecting certain deliverables, the Councillors are hobbled by dictats from the Regional Adminstration.

It is my humble view that Party loyalty should take second place where local and national development is concerned. The electorate voted for their representatives not to be stumbling blocks but to be agents of change and progress. I am appealing, via this medium, that the news media do an exposë of what is going on at the Enmore/Hope NDC. The truth needs to be known.

Taajnauth Jadunauth Resident and tax-payer

Wednesday July 13, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Govt. continuing business with Baishanlin compromises Guyana’s integrity - Dr. Hinds Recently, government indicated that it is still willing to continue facilitating BaiShanLin’s business operations in Guyana. In fact, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman indicated that the government remains in discussions with the company about the way forward. In this regard, he spoke about a new company that may be coming to take over BaiShanLin. The fact that government continues to facilitate a controversial company— even before the company corrects the wrongs it committed—is a source of severe discomfort for anticorruption advocates like Dr. David Hinds.

During an interview with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, Dr. Hinds said that given BaiShanLin’s “not so sterling track record in Guyana, one has to be somewhat concerned when the government is thinking about continuing to do business with that company.”

Dr. Hinds recalled that BaiShanLin has failed to honour its obligations to Guyana even though it was given so many chances by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government to do so.

The anti-corruption advocate said that BaiShanLin’s behaviour should not attract a reward of favoured status in going forward.

“We have to desist from groveling in the face of these big companies,” said Dr. Hinds.

He added that the politicians must seek to find the middle ground and balance its urge to attract investments, making sure that

they do not compromise the integrity of Guyana in the process of looking for business.

Dr. Hinds said that if the controversial company is allowed to continue as if it did nothing wrong, “we would be sending the wrong message to other investors.”

That message would be that Guyana “is a place where anything goes…basically a free for all.”

Dr. Hinds said that if the APNU+AFC government is serious about ridding Guyana of certain ailments that prevailed under the PPP/C, it would not engage BaiShanLin or allow the company to do business until the company honours its financial obligations. In this regard, the political analyst was taking about the large amount of money that BaiShanLin has outstanding for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Further, Dr. Hinds said that the government should seek to recover those concessions sold to BaiShanLin by other logging companies. Hinds noted that this was done in blatant violation of the laws of Guyana.

He said that the recommendations of the forensic audit into the operations of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) should be heeded with urgency.

Dr. Hinds sought to make it clear that he was not suggesting in any way that government must permanently cut ties with BaiShanLin. He said that if the company chooses to pull up its proverbial socks and show respect for the laws and people of Guyana, government can then seek to

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

BaiShanLin’s Managing Director, Chu Hongbo

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

Anti-corruption advocate, Dr. David Hinds

move forward with the company—but not before.

“If we must then do business with a reformed BaiShanLin, there must be a grace period, after which there must be strict conditions which demand respect for our laws. BaiShanLin or any new owner must face a cooling out period,” said Dr. Hinds.

The company scheduled to take over BaiShanLin is said to be Long Jiang Forest Industries Group.

When he was detailing his trip to China, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that on March 27, 2016, arrangements were made for him to visit Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, a Company situated in Heilong Jiang Province. The Long Jiang Forest Industries Group is a state-owned company that had acquired 55 percent of the shares in BaiShanLin. Harmon said that the company intends to fully take over BaiShanLin in 2016.

The Minister of State also announced that the Vice Director of the Company, Mr. Wong Dong Xu, assured that the Company’s officials would be in Guyana by May 2016 to complete due diligence for the takeover, and to satisfy and expand on the obligations of BaiShanLin to Guyana.

The media has heard nothing about this due diligence since.

Minister of Natural

Resources Raphael Trotman said that the government has told BaiShanLin that it is fully prepared to meet and have discussions with the investor, “so we await a feedback.”

Trotman said that the APNU+AFC government wants it to be made clear that it is not against business.

“We just want business done right; we are not going to say no to a credible company taking over another company or investing in Guyana.”

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Kaieteur News

CITY BUSINESSES TO NOW PAY $25,000 CONTAINER FEE The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Monday took a unanimous decision to implement a $25,000 fee for the operation of storage containers within the city.

The fee’s implementation was officially adapted by the Full Council when they held their Statutory Meeting at City Hall, according to a statement from the entity.

City businesses have been rejecting attempts to collect fees with the new council finding it difficult to enforce.

“The Mayor and City Councilors recognized that previously, business persons and other contain operators have been accessing city streets, and other public spaces with those storage containers free of cost.

However, the containers are sometimes left parked in public spaces for long periods. They take up much space in especially active

locations, and in some cases add to the congestion situation.”

M&CC said that containers - loaded or not contribute immensely to the destruction of city roads. “In some cases they have broken or bent bridge railings and broken off road shoulders, leaving the city to bear the expense. While container users will pay $25,000 to have the storage device parked for 72 hours, Council’s decision also supports a penalty fee of $5000 for every other day the container is left parked in the public space.”

The idea, according to Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, is to ensure that containers are not left parked around the city if not being used.

She explained that the Council was in receipt of complaints by persons who were being affected by the wanton parking of containers in the city.

M&CC will be charging a $25,000 fee for containers parked in the city, a statement said yesterday.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green “The City continues to receive complaints about container trucks also using inner city streets and some residential locations during their routes.”

According to M&CC, the Council is powered under the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01, to implement such fee and

“not a tax” in its bid to manage the operations of containers within the city.

“The regularization of container movement in the city is part of a wider traffic regulation operation being undertaken by the Municipality. The Council had previously published, under Chapter 28:01 the streets to be used by container trucks.

The law says that such vehicles were not permitted in certain areas without the permission of the city.”

Town Clerk Royston King said that other measures are being implemented to ensure the safe and orderly movement of containers, such as monitoring agents to be stationed at wharf and other ports of entry within the capital.

The new council has announced sweeping measures to reclaim the city and collecting hundreds of millions in outstanding taxes.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Revenues increase by $3B due to clampdown at ports, and on illegalities - VAT collections continue to decline – Finance Minister Finance Minister Winston Jordan says that Central Government’s revenues totaled $53.4 billion at the end of April 2016. He explained that this represents an increase of 5.9 percent or $3 billion compared to revenue collections during the same period - January to April - last year.

The economist said that this growth was mainly driven by a number of factors. He said that these include efficiency measures implemented by the Government including “tightening up at ports, new focus on the regions and a clampdown on illegal activities.”

The Finance Minister also stated that increased non-tax revenues (revenue earned from sources other than taxes) as well as tax revenues, contributed to the increase in central government revenues.

He said that the non-tax revenues increased as a result of a payment of $100 million

by DDL and increased spending during Jubilee activities.

The economist said that the growth in non-tax revenues of $4.2 billion resulted from growth in the collection of rent and royalties, mainly driven by increased gold production and declarations As for tax revenues, Jordan said that this increased significantly in April. He said that this resulted in these revenues increasing by 4.6 percent or

Finance Minister Winston Jordan $2.1 billion when comparing January to April 2016 to the same period in 2015.

Noteworthy, the Minister said, is that growth occurred for company, withholding, personal, excise and international trade taxes which increased by 11.9, 18, 8.6, 5.3 and 11.1 percent respectively.

However, VAT revenues continued to decline as at April 2016, compared to the levels achieved in 2015.

Jordan said that from January to April 2016, these revenues showed a decline of 6.3 percent compared to the levels achieved during the same period in 2015.

The Finance Minister said that this continues to result from an increase in zero rated items added to the basket during 2015, combined with a rise in VAT refunds for 2016.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

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Kaieteur News

EDUCATION IS STILL IN CRISIS Let us not be fooled by the deservedly happy faces of those top students who recently sat the National Grade Six Assessment, or what was previously referred to as the Common Entrance Examination.

Those whose names appeared in the newspapers represent the cream of the cream of the crop - the top one per cent of the over 14,000 students that sat these examinations.

There will be another two per cent which represent the cream of the country’s top performers at that level. They will gain spots to the top schools around the country.

For the remaining 97 per cent, however, the results will not be encouraging, and these will be relegated to junior secondary schools, most of which do not perform creditably at the ‘O’ Level examinations.

In short, we are dooming thousands of students to a third rate and fourth rate education, because they are not likely, in the schools to

which they will be assigned, to produce the results that would qualify them for work in the job market.

This has to be one of the great worries facing the Minister of Education who, I believe, is capable of transforming the country’s educational system if he is given the resources and leverage. I believe that he knows the gravity of the crisis. Certainly, the results that he announced this week should cause the government to summon a national emergency of education in Guyana.

There has been no detailed analysis of the breakdown of all the students by region, but from what is discernable from the top 180odd performers, we do have a serious problem.

The bulk of those that were in the top one per cent were from schools in Georgetown. The other Regions did not perform as good in this small sample. I am sure that if we do the analysis down the line to the

top quartile, the results would be shocking.

Increased supervision of schools is not going to reverse this trend. This will only lead to small changes in the percentages, with the education system continuing to fail the overwhelming majority of students. There has to be a comprehensive approach to dealing with this problem, beginning with ensuring that the nonGeorgetown primary and nursery schools are staffed by suitable teachers.

I have said before that retiring teachers at age 55 is not the ideal thing to do, considering the high turnover and migration rate within the teaching sector.

I have no problems with a fifty-five-year retirement within other areas of the government, but I believe that since there is an acute shortage of trained and experienced teachers within the system, and since many of our best brains are to be found teaching in the islands of the Caribbean, in Africa,

Dem boys seh...

EVERY COW DOES CRY FUH HE OWN CALF Crookishness nah you mattee. It is here, there and everywhere. It is wid de young, de not so young, and de old and not so old. It deh from de top to bottom; from garbage collector to Soulja Bai building.

Crookishness has become a way of life in Guyana.

One of Soulja Bai right hand man, Gary de Wuss got land in Pradoville. When he hear that SARU investigating and people gun go to jail, he tell Soulja Bai he ain’t pay fuh de land and he ain’t got no transport.

That was de biggest laugh dem boys get, yesterday.

De next set of crooks is dem old scamps who live overseas. Dem come home fuh jubilee and suddenly dem hear Soulja Bai giving way US$90 a month if you over 65. Every single one of dem, young and old, collect a pension book and lef it wid dem, family.

De Minister now telling dem that before dem even collect de next month pension dem got to prove that them been living in Guyana fuh at least two years straight and dem got to come in person.

Soulja Bai seh no more cockishness. All got to stop.

He also tell dem boys all dem crookishness and skimping plus cheating on projects got to done.

De country got to start getting value fuh dem money. Dem mustn’t build a road fuh last 20 years and bruck up in 20 months.

Dem mustn’t build a koker to last 10 years and it float away in 10 days. Dem mustn’t build wharf wha does float away overnight wid Donald pun it.

Enough is enough. Soulja Bai seh there will be no more cover-up of anything close or resemble scampishness. He seh he don’t care if is dem mudda, dem fadda, dem sister, brudda or dem pickney. All gun go to jail.

And when dem boys talk bout Marcia going to jail Nadir forget to worry bout heself and he start fuh worry bout he pickney.

Dem boys seh dem can understand because every cow does cry fuh he own calf.

He was a man who run from one of dem island to get away from jail after mekking he hand fast and pocket heavy.

He come home and couldn’t pay he mortgage fuh de house he had. And now he own more than he coulda wuk for; plenty, plenty.

Talk half and hope and pray he don’t get ketch up.

and in North America, we need to get back into our schools, especially nonGeorgetown schools, the best teachers we can have, many of whom are retired and at home.

I hope that the Minister of Education gives thought to two pilot projects for out-oftown areas. The first should be to recruit back into the school system some retired trained graduate teachers.

I am sure that many of these teachers will be willing - even if it is on a part-time basis on the existing salary scale - to go back and work with the rural schools. This should help to boost standards in teaching within these schools which now need some affirmative support from Ministries.

The second pilot project

that I would suggest would be to integrate the business community with some of these schools.

In this regard I am not referring to what obtained in the past where some companies adopted schools.

That model may have been applicable when there was a shortage of funds to repair schools, and thus by putting schools up for adoption, guaranteed that they would receive some assistance from their sponsors.

What I have in mind is something much different. I would like business firms and companies to be directly engaged in promoting a mentorship programme within schools by having some of their top executives go into these schools and teach and guide the children.

Given also what the results of this year’s examinations reveal, I believe that the government should move to appoint School Boards in every school in Guyana, and in cases where this may be problematic because of the lack of personnel, to convert the Parent Teacher Associations into interim School Boards.

The overall strategy has to be to allow the educational stakeholders to play a greater role in the education of Guyana’s school children.

This is a far better option than simply going back to the tried, tested and failed system of increased teaching supervision.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...

The monster in Homo sapiens

Here is an extract from a letter Manzoor Nadir, former PPP Minister, wrote to this newspaper in defence of his daughter, Marcia Nadir. His reaction was based on KN’s reporting on the forensic audit of NICIL during the reign of the PPP Government and when his daughter was Deputy CEO of NICIL. The issue at hand is the auditor ’s discovery of the creation of false minutes during the tenure of Ms. Nadir-Sharma.

Here is what Mr. Nadir had to say about his daughter; “She has served this country diligently and is an epitome of grace, professionalism and decency. It is concerningly coincidental that this article appears a day after she had an interview for the top spot at NICIL. Is the article meant to sway decision makers away from her? Your articles will now curtail on her constitutional right to work as employment inside and outside of government.”

Readers should note Mr. Nadir ’s

contention that KN reporting will affect the CONSTITUTIONAL (my emphasis) right of his daughter to work. Manzoor Nadir’s anger tells the tragic tale of one of the inherent flaws of civilization – the innate, cruel selfishness of Homo sapiens, a feature that many animal species do not have, especially cats and dogs.

Manzoor Nadir was directly involved in the denial of employment to dozens of Guyanese by virtue of the fact that the law empowers the Minister of Labour to provide industrial comfort to those who have been arbitrarily dismissed. That is the law and not something that resides as a wish or desire by the Minister. Mr. Nadir did absolutely nothing about the instantaneous dismissal of 57 workers in 2009 when bauxite workers went on strike for increased wages.

So enraged were the unions and the opposition against Nadir that a no confidence motion against Minister Nadir was introduced in Parliament.

Here is an extract from Kaieteur News of June 4, 2010 on the motion in the National Assembly; “The historic motion of “No Confidence” against Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir, which was tabled by Shadow Minister Basil Williams, alleged that Nadir erred in not utilizing the powers which the law reposes in him to act on behalf of the embattled workers.

“In his opening presentation, Williams accused the Minister of blatantly breaching the Constitution of Guyana, as well as noting that RUSAL breached the Collective Labour Agreement it had with the workers and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union.

“According to Williams, despite pleas by several entities, the Minister continuously refused to act on behalf of the workers. The Shadow Labour Minister told the House that every Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) is enforceable by law, and further, the Minister did not require the consent of either affected party to set up an arbitration panel to rule on the matter.”

This is the same Nadir who is fighting for the right of his daughter not only to Frederick employment but to a prestigious occupation that carries a substantial salary. Sadly, those 57 workers lost their right to employment.

The question one should ask Nadir is how does he feel about the dozens of little children of those dismissed workers who had to live and still do, with a lesser standard of living?

How can a human being feel the pain of personal hurt but lack the capacity to understand that other humans have feelings too?

I was fortunate to be in the Kaieteur News offices one night when then Minister of

Works, Robeson Benn, walked in with an angry intention. He went straight to Adam Harris’s desk to complain about KN’s reporting of his son’s arrest. His complaint was inaccurate reporting.

Compare inaccurate reporting to the removal of one’s livelihood.

There can be no comparison.

Benn as Minister of Works, went about destroying the shacks of many little roadside vendors to the extent that the satirical column, “Dem Boys Seh” nicknamed him, “Bruk Up Benn.”

Priya Manickchand called KN to complain about my assertion that under her watch as Minister of Education, nepotism in school placements had increased. But the same lady saw nothing wrong in her refusal to confirm the then Kissoon acting Chief Education Officer, Genevieve Whyte-Nedd.

Whyte-Nedd retired without full benefits.

What people like Nadir did when he wrote his letter; what Benn did when he stormed into the offices of Kaieteur News; what Manickchand did when she called Kaieteur News, was to postulate the existence of superior genes. These three persons were saying they are in a special group of superior humans that should never be offended. The flipside to this theory is that they see others as inferior and thus deserve humiliating treatment.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Contractors vie to drill potable wells at Diamond, Sophia During yesterday’s session of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), bidders vied for a contract to drill potable water wells at two locations, Diamond (East Bank Demerara) and Sophia, (East Coast Demerara), Region number four.

The project, which is under the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), was divided into two lots. The engineer’s estimate for lot one was $90.9M, while the estimate for lot two was $79.2M.

Also under GWI, firms bid for a contract to supply and deliver electromechanical equipment and cables. This project was divided into three lots. The engineer’s estimate for lot one was $15.7M; lot two - $49.4 and lot three -$11M.

Meanwhile, there was a contract out under the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), for expressions of interest from consultants willing to undertake a study to determine the economic impact of air transport on Guyana’s economy.

The final entity was the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. There was a contract for the procurement of dietary supplies.

There were also tenders for a contract to supply 220 snatch blocks for the Demerara Harbour Bridge. This was under the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation. The engineer’s estimate was $19.6M. And there were also bids for the procurement of janitorial and cleaning supplies.

In addition, there was a contract for the construction of a sidewalk at Woolford Avenue.

The engineer’s estimate was $15.9M. Twenty-one (21) firms competed for this contract.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Action plan in place to strengthen accountability of National Budgets – Finance Minister In an effort to promote and ensure accountability when it comes to the National Budgets, a Budget Transparency Action Plan has been put in place. This is according to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

The action plan seeks to strengthen more than ten areas, which include public procurement, consultations on the budget and training of budget staff.

High up on the action plan is to ensure that there are consultations with key stakeholders on proposals to be included in the National Budget.

Jordan said these stakeholders would include the political Opposition, Private Sector Commission, Trades Union Congress, and relevant civil society organizations.

The Finance Minister said that this is being done to promote a participatory approach in budget preparation; to secure ownership of the outcome from key stakeholders; and to ensure greater transparency in the crafting of the National Budget.

He recalled that prior to 2015; there was little or no consultation with the political Opposition. He said that this resulted in three consecutive

years of stalemate, “budget cuts”, unauthorized expenditure, and judicial intervention.

In the preparation of the 2015 Budget, Jordan said that attempts were made to consult with the political Opposition, while with respect to the private sector and other stakeholders, there were detailed consultations.

The Minister of Finance nevertheless indicated a desire for ongoing dialogue in the future, instead of a once-a-year consultation.

With the action plan serving as a guide, Jordan said that he and his team will strive to release the outcome of budget consultations to the public via press briefings and related press statements and on the Ministry of Finance’s website, prior to the presentation of budgets to the National Assembly.

Furthermore, the action plan also seeks to incorporate a strengthened programmebudgeting framework in the National Budget. Jordan explained that this will provide for greater accountability for outputs, outcomes and impacts.

He noted that despite the efforts made to embed programme budgeting as

evidenced by the compilation of Volumes One and Two of the Estimates to the National Assembly, statements of impact and indicators of achievement are not specific and quantifiable to facilitate ex-post evaluation.

Jordan said that he is confident that the action plan in this regard will strengthen the programme of the budgeting system and utilize performance reports within an enhanced Monitoring and Evaluation environment; including measurable indicators that are quantifiable and specific.

The Finance Minister said that effective from the fiscal year 2018 - with respect to all Ministries, Departments and Regions - the National Budget will provide specific details regarding the quantification of outputs, outcome, impacts and indicators of achievement.

The Budget Transparency Action Plan also takes into account, the need to provide specialized training for key staff of budget agencies. The Finance Minister said that this will enable staff to become more proficient in preparing programme budgets.

He noted that over the years, limited training has been provided to budget

agency staff on programme budgeting. As such, he asserted that trained staff will facilitate the preparation of programme budgets and budget agency performance reports.

Effective from this year, Jordan said that all budget agencies will use updated Programme Budgeting Manual. He said that by January 2017, 80 percent of key staff from the Ministry of Finance and budget agencies will be trained.

The Minister also stated that the action plan will serve to ensure that the budget is approved before the start of the fiscal year, and information on it will be disseminated as widely as possible via the media and on Government websites.

A comprehensive procurement plan by budget agencies, in support of the National Budget, is also addressed by the action plan.

Jordan said that this initiative was incorporated into the programme to ensure that each budget agency plans its procurement activities well in advance and executes them in accordance with an approved plan.

With approximately 70 percent of the National

Budget devoted to public procurement, the Finance Minister emphasized that there is need for a more effective system of procurement management.

With procurement plans in place, Jordan said that suppliers of goods and services, and responsible for the execution of works, will be in a better position to plan the offer of their services to the Government. In this way, the economist insists that better quality of goods/ services and works will be offered.

He noted that preparation and publication of a comprehensive procurement plan for the Government by the Budget Agency will be on the Government’s website with effect from 2017.

The Finance Minister said that he also looks forward to the implementation of mechanisms for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). This is also provided for in the Budget Transparency Action Plan.

He said that this is necessary to ensure compliance with international standards.

He noted that no mechanism is in place to provide open and accountable management of natural resources, especially as regards public reporting of revenue derived from extractive

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan industries.

Jordan reminded that in 2011, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment held discussions with the Government of Norway in connection with the Initiative.

EITI is a global standard to promote open and accountable management of natural resources. It seeks to strengthen government and company systems, inform public debate, and enhance trust. In each implementing country it is supported by a coalition of governments, companies and civil society working together.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is already taking steps to advance the application process of being part of the EITI. The deadline is in December.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Finance Ministry takes steps to recover outstanding UG Student loans The Ministry of Finance has been taking steps to recover the outstanding monies owed to University of Guyana (UG)’s Student Loan Agency.

A recent forensic audit into the institution’s Student Loan Agency (SLA) revealed that from the year 1994 to May 2015, some 17,567 or 69.4% of 25,335 student loans were deemed delinquent because students were not honouring their indebtedness.

The audit report contained names of some 488 persons who were deemed “delinquent” in the loans.

The list included the names of prominent Guyanese professionals and politicians.

Commenting on the matter yesterday, a staffer attached to the UG Student Loan Department noted that since the list was published, a significant number of persons have come forward to clear their debt.

“There are at least 17 persons who came forward after the list was published and made payments to the agency. Some persons paid in full while others have made arrangements to pay in parts.

What has happened is some persons have been paying the loans, it’s just that they haven’t cleared them as yet.

Hence their names may appear on the list.”

The SLA employee outlined that while the Agency is responsible for managing certain aspects of the loan, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for making overall determinations and decisions regarding the debt collection process.

Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Finance, Wanita Huburn explained that the Ministry is in the process of upgrading the Student Loan Agency.

According to Huburn, the Ministry has, as a result of the audit, set up a subcommittee to oversee matters of loan recovery. She explained that through the sub-committee, efforts are being made to improve the overall system and

infrastructure of the Agency.

In recently published notices, the Ministry of Finance sought to remind persons with outstanding balances at the SLA, of the payment options available to them.

According to the advisory, the outstanding amounts can be taken via deductions from the salary of places of employ of persons who owed the outstanding debt; standing orders via Citizen’s Bank, Scotiabank, Republic Bank or GBTI or by cash or Managers Cheque at the Student Loan Agency.

Additionally, persons are asked to contact the Student Loan Agency via the Ministry of Finance to discuss their payment plans.

The audit report had indicated that the previous Government– the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had approved some $9,489,453,973 or US$45.5M through the National Budget, for student loans.

According to the report during the period – April 2011 to December 2014, $1,800,000,000 (US$8,571,429) was received through a process w h e r e b y t h e Agency Head is informed by the Budget Department that funds have been approved to be released to the Agency.

Loans issued during the audit period (academic years 2011-2012 to 2014-2015) amounted to $1,581,422,277 of which $1,432,669,005 was issued to students at Turkeyen Campus and $148,753,272 was issued to students at the Tain Campus.

The total number of students who would have obtained loans up to December 31, 2014 was 25,335.

Of the total number of students who received loans (25,335): 4,713 or 18.6% are recent graduates or are still students; 1,776 or 7% were able to repay their loans totaling $679,918,794 including principal and interest.

“Five students had their loans written off while 1,278 or five percent have been paying,” the report outlined.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

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Kaieteur News

SARU trying to recover lands sold to Ed Ahmad The State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) is looking into one of the many cases of assets sold to close friends of former President Bharrat Jagdeo under questionable transactions.

One of the transactions being investigated was between NICIL and Ed Ahmad.

This very transaction was highlighted in the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) audit report.

Forensic auditor, Anand Goolsarran, reported that in December 2008, a total of 13.3 acres of land at Plantation Groenveldt, West Coast Demerara (Block R Leonora) were transferred to South American Woods Inc. This was for the construction and operations of a wood processing facility. Ahmad also had the option of future development in manufacturing, industrial and commercial activities including the construction and operations of a shopping

SARU Head, Professor Clive Thomas

Ed Ahmad

mall. However, this was provided the wood processing facility is constructed first.

Construction was to commence one year later. The purchase price was $80 million.

However, at the time of reporting, Goolsarran found no evidence that the wood processing facility was constructed.

Yesterday, Goolsarran told Kaieteur News that he is aware that SARU is looking into matters where NICIL acted as a selling agent on behalf of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Goolsarran added that he was not sure the stage of that investigation.

When contacted, SARU Head, Clive Thomas confirmed, that his agency is

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday released a 35-year-old miner on $100,000 bail, after he was accused of travelling with a large amount of gold when he was not the holder of an export licence.

The man, Paul Persaud, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on February 5, at the then Ogle International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara, while he was not a producer, Persaud had 15.588 ounces of gold in his possession valued $3,111, 600.

The court was told that the gold was in the form of jewellery.

Persaud of Jackson Street, Tucville, Georgetown, was

represented by Attorney Peter Hugh. Hugh requested for his client to be released on bail because he is not a flight risk.

The attorney said that Persaud has been fully cooperating with investigations being carried out by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU).

According to Hugh, the father of three has no pending or previous matters before the court.

Hugh also made a request for the police to hand over money they had seized from the defendant. The lawyer explained that the money that his client was carrying at the time of his arrest was below the required limit.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru however stated that he was unaware about any

Paul Persaud

Miner accused of carrying gold without export licence — RELEASED ON BAIL

cash being seized from the defendant and said that he would look into it.

The Chief Magistrate advised him that the money should be returned to the defendant if it is not part of SOCU’s investigations.

The matter was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for August 2.

Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Auditor, Anand Goolsarran

investigating the sale of these lands.

However, Thomas said, the investigation has not “advanced very far.” Reason being, the Unit is gravely short of staff.

Thomas said that the need to get matters like these off the ground is one of the main reasons his Unit and associates have been working so hard to get the SARU Bill completed.

There were reports that the portion of GuySuCo land sold to Ahmad was to be converted to house lots.

Ahmad was to make profits of over $600M when he converted the property for which he paid a mere $80M, to a housing scheme that included of a shopping mall, full gas and service station and facilities to house two banks.

Ahmad is also no stranger to negative publicity.

He was charged by US Federal authorities for his involvement in a massive fraud scheme and in 2012, he entered a plea deal with US agents, and was found guilty of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to defraud several lending institutes over a 15-year period.

PAGE 16

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Overseas-based Guyanese must be resident here for two years…

Old age pension law to kick in - PRO

By Rehanna Ramsay Emphasizing that the position of Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, on disallowing overseasbased Guyanese access to the Old Age Pension Scheme is supported by the law, Public Relations Officer (PRO) within the Ministry, Terrence Esseboom has noted that the task of strengthening the system will not be an easy one.

“The Minister has not done anything new. This is the law. The only difference is that it is now being enforced. It has always been there,’ Esseboom said.

“What has happened is that Guyanese are not accustomed to it (the law being applied). That‘s why it feels so strange to many people. But this is not anything new,” he stressed.

He added that the task of rectifying the system will not be easy.

Minister Lawrence recently revealed that the Ministry will soon be putting measures in place to ensure that Guyanese living in other countries do not access a

Guyanese pension, a process she described as “double dipping.”

According to information released from the Ministry, there have been accusations that the Government’s old age pension scheme was laced with fraud, with many persons collecting under false pretence.

Minister Lawrence had outlined that last year this issue was brought to the attention of the staff of the ministry. They were then advised that they will be held responsible and surcharged when books are issued, with them knowing the persons do not live in Guyana.

“Persons desirous of accessing old age pension will have to be living in Guyana for a minimum of two years.”

Speaking to Kaieteur News at the Ministry’s Cornhill Street office yesterday, Esseboom noted the need for sanitization of the Old Pension Fund, which services some 45,000 Old Age Pensioners.

He explained that under the previous system, there was a breach in the system which led to persons living

outside Guyana gaining access to monies from the Old Age Pension Scheme.

The PRO said that there are a number of ways in which overseas- based senior citizens could tap into Old Age Pension Scheme.

“We have some people (senior citizens) who would come home for holidays, annually and wait until the pension books are being distributed, collect the books, and give authorization for someone to collect the money on their behalf, when they are not even living here. That is just one scenario,” he noted.

The PRO reaffirmed that while there are breaches in the system, efforts are underway to bring about reinforcement.

He said that the Ministry will first sanitize the system before introducing the digital data to further strengthen the system against matters of fraud.

Commenting on the controversy over who is eligible for the pension, Esseboom said that it should be public knowledge that the Old Pension Scheme is “a duty free” concession. He stressed that Old Age Pension cannot be earned

through service to Guyana, but it is an entitlement to resident Guyanese seniors over the age of 65 years.

Following the disclosure

by Minister Lawrence, the Ministry of Social Protection had sent out a statement clarifying that Old Age Pension is not an entitlement from employment, as in the case of Government Pension and National Insurance Scheme Pension, but rather Old Age Pension is a monthly payment ($18,200 at present) available to eligible Guyanese aged 65 or older.

According to the statement, it is provided for under the Old Age Pension Act (Chapter 36:03), which clearly states that applicants must meet certain statutory conditions to qualify for Old Age Pension.

These statutory conditions are that the person must have attained the age of 65 years; must satisfy the appropriate authority that he/ she has been a citizen of Guyana for at least ten years immediately preceding his/ her claim for a pension, and the person must have been ordinarily resident in Guyana

during the 20 years immediately preceding their claim for pension.

“In the event that the person is temporarily absent from Guyana, the applicant or pensioner must satisfy the Authority, usually through the provision of the person’s passport and an immigration check conducted by the Ministry, that the period of absence from Guyana has not exceeded two years during the past 20 years, according to law.”

Additionally, a person receiving Old Age Pension may become ineligible if that person is a resident in a charitable institution that provides board and lodging; is in prison or has migrated.

“It is in this context that Volda Lawrence, Minister of Social Protection, has sought to reinforce the laws, stating that persons, whether they worked in Guyana or not, who are now living overseas are ineligible for Old Age Pension in Guyana.”

The Ministry of Social Protection therefore reiterated that persons will only be eligible for Old Age Pension if they satisfy the age, citizenry and residency

PRO of the Ministry of Social Protection, Terrence Esseboom requirements.

“The current policy that both the previous and current government have followed to date, dictates that persons applying for Old Age Pension must have been living in Guyana for at least two years preceding their application.”

The statement outlined that it is precisely this approach that was highlighted by the recently conducted audit as erroneous, since the law actually prescribes that the Old Age Pension applicant “must have been ordinarily resident in Guyana during the twenty years immediately preceding his [her] claim for pension.”

Wednesday July 13, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Lethem Mayor reacts to “disrespectful” remarks of PPP GS Mayor of Lethem, Carlton Beckles, is taking People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, to task for what he believes are disparaging remarks not only about the Region Nine municipality but also Central Government.

Rohee, during press conference last week, said, “Central Lethem has become a ghost town with considerably reduced economic activity...the state of the community has degraded due to mismanagement by the Municipality and Central Government.”

The critical remarks were contained in an article published in the Sunday Edition of Kaieteur News and captioned “Amerindians should be consulted on development.”

Beckles said he is not prepared to take the remarks contained in the article lightly. He rejected the notion that mismanagement of the Lethem Municipality occurred since he took office in April.

He said that even before the ruling administration (A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) had been in office for just over a year the economic activity had already slowed down in excess of two years prior.

The Mayor claims he was long aware of this development.

He explained that this was particularly evident when the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) established a branch in Lethem and was given special concessions.

The concessions were warranted, he said, because the economic situation could not have ideally sustained a bank. “They were given that so that we can say that a bank is operating in Lethem,” said

Lethem Mayor, Mr. Carlton Beckles Beckles who pointed out that this allowed for the realisation of a commercial area.

However, he added, “While the idea of a commercial area was good, the timing for a commercial area was bad.” He noted that while a number of persons were able to acquire lands in the commercial area, they were faced with the responsibility to commence construction six months after they would have acquired lands, and to complete it within two years.

Loans were made available to these individuals through the bank. Beckles is, however, adamant that “the commercial area was established as a smoke screen.”

He shared his conviction that there was in fact a deliberate plan to give the illusion that some measure of development was occurring in Lethem. “It was built depending entirely on Brazil...The Brazilians were supposed to support it. But

the Brazilian economy has declined,” said Beckles.

He disclosed that while previously the Brazilian Real (currency) was BRL$1 to G$112, it is now trading at as little as G$60 and G$65.

“The Brazilians were the ones who were sustaining the businesses,” said Beckles, who revealed that several of the persons who were able to acquire lands and took bank loans could not have sustained their businesses and therefore started to sublet in some cases to Chinese and Brazilian nationals.

The Mayor noted that the bank has even started a cycle of repossession because some persons have defaulted on their loans.

Beckles lashed out at Rohee for highlighting measures to help bolster the economy in Lethem but failed to do so while his party was in government.

“In 23 years he never spoke about agroprocessing...His Excellency (President David Granger), every time he comes to Lethem, he speaks about agro-processing in all corners of the Rupununi...Being the Mayor of Lethem we are now concentrating on trying to get the Business Ministry to finish the industrial area so that we can have factories being established so that we can create jobs,” Beckles disclosed.

He is confident that once this is in place the economy will revive. “The PPP had it (Lethem) long but they placed the cart before the horse,” said Beckles as he asserted that “Mr. Rohee is simply trying to play a blame game.”

NEW PROJECTS Since taking office,

Beckles (an APNU+AFC candidate) said that his municipality has embarked on a number of projects. Among these he mentioned ongoing rehabilitation of the Lethem market. He said that before taking office, the market had a mere 43 per cent occupancy.

The current state of affairs, Beckles intimated, is that “we now have more applications for stalls than the amount of stalls that we have in the market.”

He added, that while it is not possible to give all applicants a favourable response we are currently trying to, at least, acknowledge receipt of their applications.

Also the municipality is looking to rehabilitate the sports facility at Lethem, which, Beckles said, has been neglected for a number of years. This will involve the construction of a 640foot concrete wall on which businesses can opt to place

advertisements. The money from the advertisements will be used to further develop the facility, Beckles related.

He mentioned other sport development work, and even revealed plans for the soon introduction of a school bus service.

This service will cater to a reduction of the travelling expense parents incur to send their children to school.

According to Beckles, currently parents are expected to pay about $2,500 to get a single child to school but with the bus service this will be reduced to $1,000.

But this is not all the municipality has been doing.

Beckles said that the municipality is even giving attention to streetlights and has already installed some 40.

“From our subvention we have budgeted for more street lights...this Council desires to

see the entire of Lethem with street lights because it is one of the main deterrent to crime,” asserted the Mayor.

Given the efforts that have already been employed by the Lethem Municipality, he said, “It is of concern when a politician can speak so low to achieve cheap political mileage.”

He noted that residents of Lethem are no longer fed merely propaganda but rather they have access to a radio station (95.1 FM) which provides news all the way from Georgetown.

“They can no longer fool the people in here (Lethem)....” said Beckles, as he called attempts to tarnish the reputation of the municipality and Central Government “disrespectful.”

Beckles is convinced that the PPP is hoping to bring the management of the municipality in disrepute in hopes of gaining total control at future elections.

PAGE 26

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Mining company cleared of negligence in Russian geologist’s death

Minister Simona Broomes Amidst questions about a cover-up of a deadly accident last month in the Mazaruni backdam, Government yesterday said that a probe has cleared the mining company of any negligence.

The company, Innovative Mining Inc., owned by busi-

nessman, Parmeshwar ‘Joe’ Jagmohan, came under investigations more than two weeks ago, after it became know that a Russian geologist who was taking samples in a dug trench in Annamuri backdam, Mazaruni, Region Seven, died after the walls caved in.

The company only notified the regulator, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), days after the incident. The accident occurred around June 16th, but GGMC only received the letter on June 23rd - the letter was dated June 20th.

The Russian geologist has been cremated, with his family flying to take back his

ashes.

Yesterday, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, in updating Kaieteur News on the case, said that a GGMC investigator had journeyed to the area over the weekend and according to his report, there appears to be no negligence by the company.

Jagmohan and his team had met with the Minister and GGMC’s Commissioner (ag), Newell Dennison.

The minister said that based on investigations, the company was conducting prospecting work in the trench. However, it appears that loamy walls collapsed

Regional leaders stay away from developments in Suriname GEORGETOWN, Guyana - CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have stayed away from commenting on the decision by Suriname President Desi Bouterse to block the resumption of the so-called “December murders” trial by instructing the public prosecutor’s office to halt the prosecution of all the suspects, including himself, in the case.

The Military Court was scheduled to resume hearings last Thursday in the trial of Bouterse and 23 other people accused of murdering 15 people on December 8, 1982.

Bouterse said that government was invoking article 148 of the Constitution that states that “government decides the general prosecution policy” and that “in the interest of matters of state security government may give the attorney general instructions regarding prosecution”.

The communiqué issued following the CARICOM summit here last week, indicated that the regional leaders “were briefed about the

while the Russian geologist had bent down to dig some samples. Another worker who was nearby attempted to grab his hand but the geologist, whose name was given as Oleg, was buried alive.

According to the mini s t e r, f r o m s t a t e m e n t s taken, it appeared workers scrambled in and dug the geologist out and attempted to give him medical help. They radioed to the city’s office for help and a helicopter that was chartered, rushed a doctor to the backdam area.

“We were told that by the time the doctor arrived, it was too late. The doctor pronounced him dead.”

According to Minister Broomes, the company claimed it made contact with the dead man’s family in Russia, and they were flown in and put up at the Marriott Hotel.

“We were told that man’s family did not want him to be buried here and gave permission for him to be cremated.

They wanted his ashes to take back to Russia.”

The company reportedly claimed that they made the initial reports of the accident to the police and the Ministry of Social Protection.

“The personnel manager did not know that GGMC had to be notified, but this was done a few days later the in-

Miner, Parmeshwar Jagmohan cident occurred.”

The company, which had ceased activities, will be allowed to restart its prospecting work, Broomes said, as there is no evidence of neglect.

Kamla wants CLICO/ HCU report public

Desi Bouterse recent political developments in Suriname” by Bouterse in relation to a ruling by the Military Court in June.

The Military Court had ruled that the Amnesty Law, which the Parliament passed in 2012 and was criticised by human rights groups as an attempt to shield Bouterse, was unlawful.

The trial began in 2007 and, after many adjournments, was set to resume in July with the prosecution indicating the sentence it wanted for the 24 accused men, including Bouterse, who was then the

military ruler of the Dutchspeaking Caribbean Community country.

But Bouterse rejected the Military Court ruling and said that it had created a “constitutional crisis” which had placed the state security in peril.

He also claimed that the ruling had been orchestrated by unnamed “external” forces” who were aiming to create chaos in the country.

In the communiqué, the regional leaders said that they were “informed about the decision of the Government of Suriname to apply Article 148 of the Constitution of Suriname, whereby the Public Prosecutor was ordered to cease the legal procedure in a particular case so as to allow the constitutionally legal mechanisms to fulfil their tasks in an orderly manner.

“Heads of Government noted the information provided by the President of Suriname and expressed their view that the matter was an internal one,” the communiqué noted.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar Trinidad Guardian - The Opposition has written to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley seeking disclosure of the Sir Anthony Colman Clico Report on the basis of the Freedom of Information Act. The Commission of Enquiry (CoE) headed by Sir Anthony Colman had been mandated under the past People’s Partnership administration to probe the reasons for the collapse of the Clico companies and the Hindu Credit Union (HCU) and to make recommendations. Proceedings began in 2011 and hearings concluded in 2013.

Colman submitted a report on the CoE to President Anthony Carmona in June.

After receiving the report, Carmona immediately passed it to the PM. But after giving a statement on the report in Parliament, Rowley said it would be passed to the Director of

Dr Keith Rowley

Public Prosecutions for urgent action, and because it was being forwarded to law enforcement via the DPP, it could not be published nor could copies be provided.

Monday, however, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she had written the PM seeking full disclosure of the report. She noted that United National Congress chairman David Lee had filed a request for the report under the Freedom of Information Act. In her letter to the PM, Persad-Bissessar said she was acting on behalf of Lee. She said taxpayers, who had footed the cost of the CoE, are entitled to access the full report and its findings.

“On the 1st July 2016, the Honourable Prime Minister informed Parliament that the total costs to the taxpayers of this country for the Commission of Enquiry was

$78,488,943.30 and this figure may increase as all of the expenses of the Commission had not yet been totalled,” Persad-Bissessar said.

“In addition to the costs of the commission, the taxpayers of this country also funded the costs of a number of the parties to the commission, such as the Central Bank of T&T and the Finance Ministry. In addition to the costs identified herein, the taxpayers have also had to expend millions of dollars in litigation costs arising out of the collapse of the CL Financial group of companies.”

Persad-Bissessar reminded Rowley of his commitment that “the Government will operate in an open, transparent and accountable manner.”

She said some constituents were now questioning whether the government’s withholding of the report was politically motivated.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Europe in their hands South China Sea ruling will May and Merkel draw battle ‘intensify conflict’: Chinese envoy lines for Brexit clash

Theresa May and Angela Merkel Reuters - Both are pastors’ daughters who excelled as academics before rising to the top of their conservative parties. Now Theresa May and Angela Merkel, equally firm but pragmatic, will go head to head to determine Britain’s future relationship with Europe.

Two years the German chancellor’s junior, May is highly regarded among European officials who largely welcomed news that she will become British prime minister today after David Cameron bows out.

“Very disciplined” is how one senior German official who has worked closely with May described the Oxford University-educated daughter of a Church of England vicar. She has “excellent” re-

lations with French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, a source in Paris said.

Described by one veteran British conservative as a “bloody difficult woman”, 59year-old May will need to muster all the goodwill she can in Europe.

Her task is to deal with the negotiating clout and stamina of Merkel, who in 10 years as chancellor has regularly outlasted other European Union leaders at late night Brussels meetings.

Under the Lisbon Treaty, a deal on Britain’s departure from the EU must be concluded with the European Council, which groups leaders of the 27 other member states.

Merkel’s role, however, is crucial. After Britons voted

for Brexit on June 23, she met the leaders of France and Italy to plan the way ahead for the EU, showing that its biggest member states - rather than its institutions - want to determine this.

Both women, who have been married for decades, saw off male challengers on their way to the top.

Merkel defeated her more flamboyant predecessor, the Social Democrat Gerhard Schroeder, at the ballot box in 2005.

May, who has been British interior minister for the past six years, will become prime minister simply because Conservative members of parliament elected her leader of the ruling party. But the woman who has declared “I’m not a showy politician,” is also replacing a less cautious politician in the pro-EU Cameron, whose gamble in calling the referendum failed.

Merkel and May agree on one thing: in the Briton’s words “Brexit means Brexit”.

Merkel has insisted the result of what was officially an advisory referendum must be respected.

Beyond that, battle lines are already being drawn. May says Britain will not rush to trigger the formal divorce proceedings under the Lisbon Treaty. Merkel, however, wants Britain to make its intentions clear more quickly.

Clinton extends lead over Trump to 13 points - Reuters/Ipsos Reuters - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton extended her lead over Republican rival Donald Trump to 13 percentage points in a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released yesterday, up from 10 points at the end of last week.

The July 8-12 poll showed 46 percent of likely voters supported Clinton, the former secretary of state, while 33 percent supported Trump, a celebrity real estate developer. Another 21 percent did not support either candidate.

That compared with 45 percent who supported Clinton and 35 percent who supported Trump in the five days to July 8.

Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has mostly led in the national online poll this year. The last time Trump came close to Clinton’s popularity was in early May, when his last two rivals for the Republican nomination dropped out of the race

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and party leaders started to line up behind his campaign.

Trump, who is expected to become the official Republican nominee at the party’s convention next week, has since lost ground in the poll as he struggled to refocus his campaign from the Republican nominating contests to the Nov. 8 general

election.

Over the past several weeks, Trump has faced criticism for his past business dealings and has quarrelled with Republican leaders over his rejection of international trade agreements and his promises to crack down on immigration.

Demonstrators chant anti-China slogans during a rally over the South China Sea disputes by different activist groups, outside the Chinese Consulate in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines yesterday. REUTERS/Erik De Castro Reuters - An international tribunal’s ruling denying China’s claims in the South China Sea will “intensify conflict and even confrontation,” Beijing’s ambassador to the United States said yesterday.

The ambassador, Cui Tiankai, also told an international forum in Washington that Beijing remains committed to negotiations with other parties in disputes over the South China Sea waters that have some of the world’s most promising oil and gas fields and fishing areas.

In a case that was seen as a test of China’s rising power and its economic and strategic rivalry with the United

States, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled yesterday that China had breached the Philippines’ sovereign rights by endangering Philippine ships and fishing and oil projects.

The Chinese diplomat blamed the rise in tension in the region on the United States’ “pivot” toward Asia in the past few years. Cui said the arbitration case “will probably open the door of abusing arbitration procedures.

“It will certainly undermine and weaken the motivation of states to engage in negotiations and consultations for solving their disputes,” Cui said. “It will certainly intensify conflict and even confrontation.”

China boycotted the arbitration hearings and described them as a farce. Legal experts and Asia policy specialists said China risked violating international law if it continued to strike a defiant tone and ignored the ruling.

The United States, which China has accused of fuelling tensions and militarizing the region with patrols and exercises, said the ruling should be treated as final and binding.

“We certainly would urge all parties not to use this as an opportunity to engage in escalatory or provocative action,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing.

Reuters - Iraqi government forces advancing on the Islamic State-held city of Mosul retook a village from IS yesterday and linked up along the Tigris River with army units pushing from a separate direction, Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said.

The territorial gain, which followed the recapture of a key air base nearby at the weekend, further isolated Mosul in preparation for a government assault to recover Iraq’s second largest city 60 km (40 miles) to the north.

“Forces from the 9th Armoured Division and the counter-terrorism service liberated Ajhala village north of Qayara base,” Obeidi said on Twitter.

“Our heroes arrived at the riverbank and made contact

with Nineveh Liberation Operation units,” he added, referring to troops who had set out from Makhmour, 25 km east of the Tigris, in March.

The newly retaken terri-

tory still needs to be secured since IS insurgents remain holed up in several towns behind the government’s front line, a military spokesman said.

Iraqi forces link up south of Mosul, tightening noose around Islamic State

Four migrants found dead, 945 rescued from boats in Mediterranean Reuters - Nearly 1,000 migrants were saved in six separate rescue operations in the Mediterranean yesterday, while four were found dead below the deck of their boat, Italy’s coast guard said.

The four dead had suffocated, according to the Malta-based humanitarian group Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), whose Topaz Responder rescue ship recovered the bodies and 400 survivors from the same boat.

Italy has long been on

the front line of seaborne migration from Africa to Europe, and is now the main point of entry after the European Union struck a deal with Turkey to stem flows to Greece amid Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War Two. Slightly fewer migrants arrived on Italian shores in the first six months of 2016 compared with the same period last year, but the number of deaths on the route have risen, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

PAGE 28

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Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc.

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Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045

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Call: 614-5962 One furnished room -$40,000 and one bedroom furnished apartment -$60,000 monthly.

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PROPERTY FOR SALE

FOR SALE

2010 IST -$2.6M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2011 RACTIS -$2.6M, 2009 AXIO -$2.4M, 2009 BELTA -2.4M. CALL: 617-2891 Toyota Runx, AT212, AT192, AT170, L-Touring Wagon, Raum, new model Tacoma, Nissan pickup, Honda Capa.

Call: 644-5096; 697-1453

Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

MIX BREED PUPS –CALL: 615-0146 Rambutan seedlings plants $2,000 per plant. Call: 621-4778

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1 L-Touring Wagon (yellow) for sale $750,000 negotiable.

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Narine’s Trucking Service for sand, loam, stone etc.

Delivery-Call: 641-2477 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Are you looking for a babysitter or someone to do light chores? Then call: 6467368

VEHICLE FOR SALE

2005 F350 Ford Pick-up truck, extra cabs, 4X4 diesel, in excellent condition, 4 inch, liftkit, 35 inch tyres. Call:610-5370

INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

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Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO. COM Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

2004 MITSUBISHI CANTER, 4D 33 ENGINE, 2 TON, UNREGISTERED $2.4M. CALL: 642-7295 2010 TOYOTA FIELDER, BODY KIT, MAGS, CD, FULLY LOADED, UNREGISTERED -$2.5M. CALL: 642-7295 2010 TOYOTA PREMIO, FULLY LOADED, UNREGISTERED -$3.3M. CALL: 642-7295

High value transported land and 2 bedrooms newly built house, Greater Diamond E.B.D -$16M negotiable. Call: 265-4338 Two family house at Lot 32 Ann’s Grove Housing Scheme E.C.D -$20M negotiable- Call: 623-5423 2 Storey house, 5 bedrooms semi-furnished, 65 Palmyra Village, East Canje Berbice, price negotiable. Call: 6706688; 621-2066 Property @ Block 8 Mon Repos E.C.D, newly built 3 bedrooms concrete house $14.7M negotiable. Call: 6544312; 657-5330 Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 40X32 House @ Anna Catherina, W.C.D –Call: 6462341; 225-7164 Zeelugt-(2)storey concrete building, Good Hope(2)storey concrete building.

Tel:231-9690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri).

Parfaite Harmony-(2) storey building. Tuschen - 2-storey building. Tel:231-9690,2319693 call between 8:00hrs16:00hrs (Mon-Fri).

Property for sale @ lot 32 Princess Street, Werk-enRust. Call: 621-8767 Fully furnished transported commercial/residential property @ 249 Buzz-BeeDam, Craig, E.B.D; also 3 Canter trucks -$240M negotiable. Call: 652-0519/ 628-6847 3 Bedrooms house in Tucville, asking price $15M, needs repairs. Call: 645-6498 FOR RENT

ACCOMMDATION Harmony Inn: clean, comfortable & affordable apartments/rooms, long & short term – Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694-7817

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PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1 complete 3 storey building for rent at 68 Pike St. Kitty Call: 615-8176 1-2-4 Bedrooms new house to rent @ West Coast Demerara– Call immediately 276-0818 Apartment in Diamond, Section A, Block X: 2 bedrooms apartment -$55,000 monthly. Call: 685-1640 for more info.

Lower 2 bedrooms apartment @ Paradise Public Road, E.C.D. Security Deposit required -$38,000 monthly. Call: 625-9939

German Shepherd puppies, 1 adult German Shepherd, 2 adult Rottweiler. Call: 2202277; 220-8904; 629-1471 One 6 base music set with QSC amps, RCF speakers.

Call: 622-0503; 689-9932 30’ Feet, aluminum jet boat, complete with all spares & accessories (financing available). Call: 668-3130 Property for sale @ North Road Queenstown, bond in Eccles also 1 Toyota Fortuna for sale. Call: 226-9177 & 666-3303 57 Acres of land at Soesdyke , ideal for shopping centre and housing development, also power tools.Call:2654180; 613-9554 Toyota Hiace (pitbull) bus 2008- $1.5M, down payment $100,000 monthly. Call: 6093650; 226-8953 1-Two Piece wall divider in good condition -$15,000 – Call: 665-4944 40 KVA generator, cement mixer, air compressor, tyre machine, bobcat. Call: 694-0535 1-210 Hydraulics excavator, good condition, any reasonable offer accepted.

Call: 610-0515; 216-1390 1 Lifan 110 motorcycle $55,000 press start, 1 wooden queen size bed, -$20,000, 1 television -$18,000, 1 microwave -$12,000. Call: 227-5169

EDUCATIONAL Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs,etc.Call:226-6551;225-0391 Phonics, reading, spelling classes for slow learners etc for summer classes, special private tutoring available.

Call:675-4379 Summer Classes: Phonics, Reading, Language, Mathematics, Art & Craft & fun day (4-12yrs) July 18thAugust 12th @ Roxanne Burnham Gardens-Tel:2182076; 619-4355 Poor Grades or need reinforcement in modern language and mathematics then call: 671-2066/ 669-0525 IAE (Private Secondary School) register for full time (forms1-5) CXC 2017, classes for adults and repeaters. Call: 683-5742 Register now! Computerize Accounting -$30,000, Graphics Program -$30,000, PC repairs @ Micrographics, Vreed-en-Hoop.

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1-2000 Am general 6X6 truck tractor, price -$5.5M negotiable, 1 Chevy 2500 cargo van – $2.4M. Call: 6736034; 664-5319 Muscovy Ducklings. Call: 602-7203

LAND FOR SALE Gold & Diamond mining land for rent in the Ekereku Puruni & Siparuni area. Call: 668-3100 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M &$1.6M, Herstelling 100ftX50ft (corner lot) $3M, Bartica $3M & mining claims.

Call: 611-7223;604-2207 Residential 100X100 lease lot @ Kuru Kururu, first Hill from Soesdyke Junction- Call: 680-6136

VACANCY Professional cosmetologist at Natural Beauty Salon & Spa, 110 Grove, Market Street E.B.D– Call: 652-5800 Control Room Assistants and Visiting Officers. Massy Security (Guyana) Inc. Lot 0 Ruimveldt, Georgetown.Tel: 225-5573/6 Popular East Coast Gas Station (Non-Pareil) Day/ Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant.

Contact: 695-9880 Driver /Porters @ Telles Steel & Hardware. Call: 226-6771; 231-3265 One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician –Call: 231-0655 Continue page 29

Wednesday July 13, 2016

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Cops release Alpha Boat maker charged with killing, Hotel drug bust trio burying uncle in shallow grave Police have released the three hotel employees they had detained during last Thursday’s drug bust that ended with 52-year-old Alvin Joseph being slain.

A police official indicated that the investigators had no evidence to link the trio to the some five kilogrammes of cocaine that the police had seized during the raid at the Alpha Hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

Police had detained a 46year-old driver from Alexander Village; a 16-yearold boy who is employed as a hotel cleaner, a 56-year-old cook and a 30-year-old South Ruimveldt resident.

Kaieteur News was told that the cocaine was found in a car belonging to Joseph, who police allege they were forced to shoot after he shot at them. Joseph was a licenced firearm holder and the 9mm handgun that was allegedly retrieved from him was licenced to a First Avenue, Bartica business where Joseph was employed.

The Police Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the shooting.

Joseph’s son, Damien Tim, is alleging that his father had surrendered when he was shot.

He also denied that his father was involved in illegal activities.

According to the son, Joseph worked for a mining company in Bartica and would frequently visit the capital city to sell gold or to buy spare parts for motor vehicles.

Tim recalled that about four men came to his father’s North Ruimveldt, Georgetown home and picked him up with a vehicle some

Alvin Joseph hours prior to him being shot.

A police release had stated that about 16.40hrs last Thursday, the police, acting on information that a large scale drug transaction was being conducted at a hotel at Ogle, ECD, went to the hotel to investigate. They allegedly came under fire while approaching the suspects with a view to arresting them.

“The police then returned fire during which suspect, Nigel Joseph, 52, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was fatally shot.

According to reports, when ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch arrived, they saw Nigel Joseph running in a southerly direction in the hotel parking lot. It is alleged that Joseph ignored orders to halt, and instead discharged three rounds at the ranks.

The police returned fire, shooting Joseph, who later succumbed. In addition to the cocaine and the pistol, 14 rounds of ammunition were seized and a car was impounded.

Rusal ready to talk...

From page 3 principles in terms of respecting the Constitution of Guyana, the laws of Guyana and the trade union recognition that exist,” Minister Scott noted.

He said that the Russian-owned company has indicated its willingness to facilitate trade unions. “Rusal has agreed to respect the laws of Guyana and to engage with the unions. They have also said that at no point since we have been meeting, that they have had correspondence from any union, but they are open to responding to any unions. They are also not against meeting with the unions to have negotiations on the way forward.”

While the company is cooperating with the Government of Guyana, Minister Scott said that it is important that it understands that trade unions are recognised in Guyana and that the constitution allows for persons to have the right to assemble and to be represented by a trade union body.

Tolpykin Igor, the company's Human Resources Manager, explained that the company has been doing all in its power to ensure that workers are comfortable, and has ensured that they are paid above the minimum wage.

The Human Resources Manager said that the bauxite company is willing to facilitate trade unions and have amicable solutions to any issues affecting workers, and is also encouraging the Ministry to conduct inspections at any time.

In 2009, 57 workers who were engaged in strike action for increased wages and improved working conditions were dismissed by the company. The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers' Union (GBGWU), spoke out against this action.

Earlier in the year, Minister Scott met with the company and subsequently the GBGWU, since it is Government's role to facilitate amicable discussions between unions and employers.

A man accused of killing his uncle and burying him in a shallow grave was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with the capital offence of murder, and made an appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in a City Court.

Lennox Baharally, 34, a father of three, and Rondel Edwards, 19, both of Region Two were jointly charged with murdering his uncle Mohamed Abdool Shameer on April 26 at Jacklow, Pomeroon.

Baharally is a boat maker and Edwards is an apprentice boat maker. It was reported Shameer, a farmer, left his home on April 25, in a paddle boat to visit a friend. He was reportedly on his way back home in the boat when he was run over by a larger boat reportedly piloted by Baharally. The nephew and two other persons including Edwards were allegedly in that boat.

However, it is alleged that after the collision occurred Shameer’s body was pulled out of the water and later found buried in a shallow grave.

Yesterday Attorney Jerome Khan who is representing the accused highly criticized a daily newspaper of “sensationalist-style reporting”. He said that his clients did not kill the man and that it was an unfortunate matter.

According to Khan, a

From page 28

WANTED

Murder Accused: Lennox Baharally

Murder Accused: Rondel Edwards

boat collision had occurred and that his clients had no intentions of killing the man.

He expressed shock that a murder charge was laid against Edwards and Baharally. He said that there is no evidence to charge them for the indictable offence.

Khan explained that Baharally was sailing the boat when the mishap occurred. He said that his clients rescued Shameer after the incident but instead of taking the injured man to the hospital they took him to a river bank.

“It was a boating mishap.

This happens all the time,” Khan pointed out.

The lawyer signaled his intention of filing High Court action and taking any other course of justice.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers said that the police file is still incomplete. He stated that the post mortem report and a

statement from the investigating rank are still outstanding.

The Chief Magistrate remanded both men to prison and transferred the matter to the Charity Magistrate’s Court for August 15.

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Experienced waitress 1830yrs -$70,000 monthly, boarding & lodging free. Call: 610-5043 Night Manager, Security, DJ, waitresses, bartenders, 1 experienced secretary between ages 18-25, must have CXC –Call: 668-8332; 638-5303 Sales representatives wanted, must have valid driver’s licence -Call: 6093650 Experienced bartender, live in/live out waitress, cooks & bouncers needed @ Eden Bar & Lounge, Garden of Eden-Call: 652-0074 Jet & Marack men to work in the interior. Call between 8:30am-4:30pm: 694-2310 One skilled Lathe operator/ welder, one driver/mechanic, live in preferably, high rates.

Call: 227-1830 One driver with both mini bus and taxi license for contract work, living in G/Town. Call: 664-0802 Labourer in cabbage & tomato farm must have 2 yrs experienced, paying $5,000$5,500 per day. Call: 695-6139; 674-5052 Counter attendants, apply at Shanta’s, 225 Camp & New Market Street.

VACANCY 1 Female Accounts clerk, with passes in English & Maths.

Apply in person @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek.

Experienced bar and shop worker for Ekereku Bottom (Interior), between ages 18yrs30yrs –Call: 231-0363 Hotel hospitality, now hiring, front desk agents, waiters, waitress, housekeepers, sous- chef, handyman/ gardener. Call: 603-3205 Exist for one house helper, three days per week, age 35 yrs & older. Call: 617-9883 Cashiers for supermarket – Call: 624-0033 & pump attendants. Call: 680-3863 Senior Account Clerk to work in charity must have a least five years experience.

Contact: 223-5273/4 Bar Manager with at least 5 years experience contact contact 223-5273/4 or email rtilak@adamantiumholdings.com

PAGE 30

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

THE VOICE OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS...

Why are we tinkering with Carifesta Ave?

By Sase Singh

of the 25%. But what about the 75%?

INTRODUCTION A country’s ability to unleash its economic potential is closely linked to the efficiency of its transportation network. So why are we tinkering with Carifesta Avenue, instead of building the Del Conte Road to Bartica? In countries that lack an effective national transportation system, it becomes harder for poor people to break out of the poverty cycle.

Where are the poorest people of Guyana living? In the hinterlands! So why are we not investing more in the transportation network in the hinterlands to bring greater balance in this age of profound inequity in Guyana?

THE HINTERLAND ROADS The condition of the national road network remains inadequate. Only 25% of that network remains fully paved. The other 75% continue to exist in all grades of underdevelopment, from feeder roads (crusher run) to earthen dams that are only properly accessible in fair weather. Why in this era, when there is a desperate need to address the concept of greater accessibility to markets for all of our people, we are making so little progress? After all, investment in roadways like the Parika to Bartica Road (Del Conte Road), Linden to Lethem Road, the Linden to Kwakwani Road, and the Bartica to Mahdia Road can significantly reduce the cost of production and poverty in the nation. So why such limited action since May 2015, after promising so much to these hinterland folks?

Let us look at some history. It was during the Burnham regime that the entire highway network from Corriveton to Parika was upgraded to good standards. The credit for the construction of the Soesdyke to Linden Highway also must go to Burnham. On the other hand, the construction of the Essequibo Highway was done under the post-1992 Jagan Government. To its credit, the PPP also rehabilitated every single one of these main highways post-1992. So the PNC and the PPP have a fairly good track record at taking care

THE DECEPTION OF THE MINISTER I was at the Business Conference in Toronto in October 2015, when the Minister of Public Infrastructure pulled out a presentation illustrating that he wants to build the Del Conte Road and “blah, blah, blah”.

That meticulous presentation outlined a broad picture of what needs to be done. But what has happened since October 2015? Very little!

I even attended the Business Conference in New York in June 2016 at which the Minister was also present, but it appeared that the plans for the Del Conte Road were hurled from the Ministerial Complex in Kingston into the nearby Demerara River. He did not even offer a squeak on that topic. But instead, we heard about all these non-productive projects associated with the “Jubilee celebration” as he now tramps to a different tune that is all covered in subterfuge and Sase deception.

Today the Minister quite craftily offers the nation a new Carifesta Avenue, which is nothing but “smoke and mirrors” rather than real development. The change from the well-constructed Carifesta Avenue to a new road with a monstrosity in the middle will impede future traffic flow. Thus, this project offers no reasonable economic and social enhancers to the people of Guyana.

Yet I was advised that the Minister fork out some G$200 million of taxpayers moneys to fund a project that is well grounded in public waste.

LINDEN TO KURUPUKARI NOT CARIFESTAAVENUE Guyana can only fuel rising prosperity if our policy makers think long-term. Much has

gone wrong on the infrastructure front since May 2015 and the graveyard of unkept campaign promises continue to expand.

As I walked into many villages of Guyana during my 2016 trip, I was amazed that so little has changed in these villages from 10 years ago. There were so many roads in various stages of disrepair and under-development.

The villagers with their own little creativity have used all sorts of fillers from construction waste to coconut shells to preserve the integrity of these roads. For the record, this tragedy did not start under the Granger administration.

But I cannot hold the past PNC government with their 28 years and the past PPP with their 23 years for fixing this. The buck stops with the current office holders but without a development plan in place today, there is little hope.

But I have read the APNUAFC Manifesto many times and there are some good ideas there, so why are they not being actioned? For the nation’s benefit, I have Singh summarized some of the campaign promises below: · Prioritize the construction of the Linden to Lethem Highway (Is this Project still on the table?) · Restructure the Central Transport Planning Unit (NOT DONE) · Prepare a new road and river transportation master plan (NOT DONE) · Construct a network of hinterland road that will enable access to waterfall sites, ecotourism locations and hinterland industrialization (NOT STARTED) · Explore the option of a second Demerara Harbour Bridge (in progress) As one of its foundation principles, the Team Granger also stated that it would “immediately” commence negotiations with State and Federal Governments in Brazil to pave the Linden to Lethem Road and the

Mahdia to Bartica Road. The Oxford Dictionary defined “immediately” as “without delay”.

So there is enough evidence of much idleness at public policymaking in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Such idleness can only be driven by three reasons – one, the absence of the transportation master plan and two, gross incompetence at visioning the future and three, corruption. The evidence has started to come out that infrastructure projects in 2016 are being framed to drive squander-mania and everyone knows the best buddy of squander-mania is graft.

SO WHAT’S NEXT? Even the now departed Deputy US Ambassador Mr. Hunt got it when he clearly outlined that our future as a country lies with Brazil. In that interview, he was at pains to encourage the Granger Government to take urgent action at enabling the projects to make this a reality. But President Granger seems to be getting little intellectual cooperation on this front from his Infrastructure Minister.

So what’s the plan? The recommended game plan is to at least start these projects.

We cannot complain about resources since the 2016 Budget was the biggest budget ever at G$230 billion. However in the absence of the master plan, we are flying “blind like a bat”.

This current status quo on the infrastructure portfolio is purposeless leadership. Such a situation will directly retard the transformational process that can actualization of the nation’s wealth potential.

Right now the policies and actions coming out of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on the road-building front, resemble the act of “running on the spot”. It is time someone put some “shellacking” on the decision makers in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure since for how long more must the people wait until the leadership in that Ministry wake up from their slumber in Kingston.

Please feel free to share your feedback at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

Special department set up to handle national events President David Granger on Tuesday established the Department of National Events, under the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Department will be headed by Colonel Nazrul Hussain of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and will be tasked with the planning and execution of all national events in the country.

President Granger, in an invited comment, said that national events are occasions for the country and Guyanese people to feel pride and patriotism and the events must, therefore, be planned and executed in such a manner, that these feelings are expressed and felt by all Guyanese.

“Public events are important for our political culture, for our national identity; who we are. My expectations are that Guyanese must feel proud of their national symbols, monuments, their national

festivals. We have already seen over the last year how proud Guyanese feel even to see the national flag being raised and we want to ensure that this feeling permeates Guyanese at all levels and in all of the regions and my expectations are that Guyana will emerge more unified and more proud of their identity, history and heritage than ever before,” President Granger said.

The Head of State noted that national events, especially of a large magnitude, require extensive coordination and collaboration among a number of Ministries and Government agencies.

Therefore, he said, it is important for someone to assume specific responsibility for these events so that they receive the required attention. ”We want to ensure that they [national and international events] are done and performed in a very high

standard and there has to be a high level of coordination as well. Many of these events involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education which has responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of the Presidency, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Ministry of Communities.”

President Granger assured that Guyanese can expect events of excellence, reflective of nationalism and pride.

“People are very proud of Mashramani, they are proud of Independence, they are proud of Enmore Martyrs, they are proud of honouring our Veterans on Remembrance Day, they are proud of Emancipation Day and all of the other celebrations and I expect that once they are well organised, there will be greater participation and there will be greater satisfaction on the

Colonel Nazrul Hussain, Head of the Department of National Events, under the Ministry of the Presidency. part of the general public. This is what we want to see, Guyanese who are proud of being Guyanese,” the President said.

Col. Hussain said that he is honoured by the responsibility bestowed on him. He vowed to ensure that all events under his watch are

executed in an efficient manner. ”I am elated to be selected to head the Department of National Events as was established in the meeting today and the President based on the previous events, would like us to do things with a better flare, with the watch word being excellence.

“This department was established to standardise all of our national activities and to execute all national activities with excellence in mind. It will entail having a dairy, which reflects all of the national events and observances and to plan and execute some of the traditional and some new ones that we will be working on and to ensure that we have a manual of standards that we can refer to ensure that there is no deviation from the standard of excellence that we are going to establish,” he said.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Brazil’s Lula says Rousseff can escape impeachment Brasília (AFP) - Brazil’s suspended president Dilma Rousseff could still wriggle out of a looming impeachment vote, her ally and predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said yesterday.

Lula, Brazil’s most prominent leftist leader, told Radio Jornal that Rousseff’s case is not hopeless, despite months of mounting pressure on her to be removed from office.

Previous votes in the lower and upper houses easily passed the simple majorities needed to send her to trial for allegedly breaking budgetary laws — a case she claims is a coup d’etat.

However, when the Senate votes again in a final session on August 25-27, it must reach a two-thirds majority and the result is expected to be far closer.

“To defeat the impeachment is easier than before,” said Lula, who was president from 2003-2010 and founded the Workers’ Party, which has been in power for 13 years.

Lula said Rousseff, 68, needs to secure support from

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a handful of extra senators to swing the vote. “Dilma depends on only six votes,” he told the radio station from northeastern Pernambuco state.

The Senate must vote by 54 votes out of 81 for the impeachment to pass. In that case, Rousseff foe Michel Temer, who is currently serving as interim president, would stay as president until the next scheduled elections

in 2018.

If the vote fails, Rousseff would return to office. However, she is seen as badly weakened, with rock bottom popularity in a country that blames her for a deep recession, massive corruption and months of political instability.

Temer and Rousseff are both invited to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which start in Rio on August 5.

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Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 13, 2016

Kaieteur News

Two Indian ministers resign a week after Modi’s cabinet expansion Reuters - Two Indian ministers resigned yesterday, a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expanded his powerful inner circle to improve the efficiency of his administration.

India’s president, on Modi’s advice, has accepted the resignations of Najma A. Heptulla, the minister of minority affairs, and G.M. Siddeshwara, the junior minister of heavy industries, the government said in a statement.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a junior minister in the minority

affairs ministry, has been given independent charge of the ministry, while Babul Supriyo, a singer-turned-politician, would take up the junior minister’s portfolio in the heavy industries ministry, the statement added.

The government did not give a reason for the decision.

Modi inducted 19 new ministers into his cabinet last Tuesday to bolster his two-year-old administration but drew criticism that he was backtracking on a promise of lean government.

Narendra Modi

Venezuela takes over KimberlyClark facilities: official Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela’s embattled government said Monday it would take over operations at facilities where US consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark just shut down, citing unworkable economic conditions.

“We are going to sign, at the workers’ request... to authorize immediate occupation of the workplace known as Kimberly-Clark de Venezuela... by its workers,” Labor Minister Oswaldo Vera said at the facility’s plant in the central city of Maracay.

The country’s economy has been hard hit by the plunging value of its main export, oil.

Analysts also criticize its state-led economy of gross mismanagement leading to shortages of toilet paper, diapers and food.

Vera signed the document to loud cheers; he said machines would be back in operation within hours.

“As of today, Kimberly-Clark’s doors are open and its production on line,” the minister said, recalling that President Nicolas Maduro has warned that companies that cease production stand to lose their facilities.

The American company announced on

Saturday it would cease production. It said it was impossible to get enough hard currency to buy raw materials, and that inflation was surging.

“Kimberly-Clark made the decision to suspend operations in response to the continued deterioration of the economic conditions in the country,” a statement read.

“The company was forced into this action due to circumstances beyond its control and acted appropriately in executing the suspension of operations.”

Kimberly-Clark said it “remains concerned for the safety of its former employees in Venezuela.”

It warned at the time that if the Venezuelan governments takes control of KimberlyClark facilities and operations, “it will be responsible for the wellbeing of the workers and the physical assets, equipment and machinery in the facilities going forward.”The personal care goods giant said it would re-evaluate conditions for resuming its operations in the future if conditions change.

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Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 13, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Rio’s combative mayor slams critics of his Olympics role on Twitter

Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes runs after a news conference at the Olympic City museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 5, 2016. (REUTERS/BRUNO KELLY)

Wednesday July 13, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Short trips will be educational. Overindulgent people will cause disruptions in your life. You will meet new and exciting people if you attend social activities or sporting events.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Romance could be exciting if you are spontaneous. Any renovation or decorating to your home should include the whole family. Do not let the reactions of others get you going.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't let your jealous imagination play games with you.

Help if you can, but more than likely it will be sufficient just to listen. You should consider getting your whole family involved in a project at home.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You could meet potential new mates if you go out with friends or take pleasure trips.

Don't get involved in other people's private doings.

Communications with loved ones may be strained.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Problems on the home front might be a little disconcerting. Do not allow colleagues to hinder your ambitions.

Listen to the complaints of others.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You will have the getup and go to contribute a great deal to groups of interest. Opportunities for new friendships

are apparent. Family outings will make you feel secure and happy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Sudden changes will occur through communications with friends or in-laws. Your colorful conversation may attract new mates.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You will do extremely well if you get involved in competitive activities today. Be courteous if you wish to avoid major delays. You will have the stamina and the know how to raise your earning power.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may find yourself changing plans for some form of entertainment. Discover opportunities based on the individuals you mingle with today.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You're best to channel your energy into work. Be careful not to misplace your wallet or belongings. Curb your mood swings; they could result in loneliness.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Stick to your own projects and by the end of the day you'll shine. You will have no problem getting your point across to those in a position to help you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your disciplined attention to jobs will enhance your position. You will learn valuable skills if you sign up for seminars today.

(Reuters) Just days before Rio de Janeiro hosts the Olympics, the city’s Mayor Eduardo Paes has taken to Twitter to slam critics of his role in preparing for the Games.

Paes tends not to pull punches with critics, sometimes literally. In 2013, he hit a constituent in the face after the man lambasted the mayor as he dined with his wife.

This week, Paes took to social media to engage opponents in digital fisticuffs, responding to profanity-laced Tweets that were sent his way.

On Sunday, Paes responded to one Tweet, saying the sender should “Stop being so grumpy. Go drink a beer, play some soccer, go to bed early, go to church, hang out with your girlfriend.”

It was retweeted 191 times and ignited a running conversation.

“You drank a lot today, didn’t you, mayor?” responded one woman, whose profile photo depicts her guzzling a mug of beer.

The mayor’s press team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Paes has grown increasingly irritated with the criticism of Rio’s preparations for the Olympics.

The event begins Aug. 5 as Brazil faces its worst recession since the 1930s, an increase in crime, and fears about the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

Impeachment proceedings will likely see suspended President Dilma Rousseff ousted just after the Aug. 21 closing ceremony.

Additionally, federal prosecutors are investigating several Olympic projects for suspected corruption - the mayor strongly denies any graft and the Rio state government has been blasted for failing to clean the sewage-infested bay where Olympic sailing

events will take place.

Paes was defiant in the face of science while responding to a recent study that researchers had found drug-resistant super bacteria on Rio’s most popular beaches and in waters where athletes will compete.

“If there were any super bacteria, there would not be a single Carioca alive,” he Tweeted Sunday, using the nickname for citizens of Rio. He pointed to Rio’s long history of successfully pulling off big events as proof that all will go well with the Olympics.

The city annually hosts

millions of visitors for Carnival, one of the world’s biggest New Year’s Eve parties, and was widely lauded by tourists during the 2014 World Cup. Amid the criticism, the mayor at times retained a sense of humour.

One man Tweeted that Paes’s suggestion that the state government allows the Flamengo and Fluminense football clubs to run Rio’s famed Maracana stadium was “the only decent thing you have done during an awful administration.”

Paes cheekily replied: “Cheers! At least there was one!”

Fly Jamaica Regal...

(From page 34) Minister of Public Security and second Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan, minister of Education Dr. Rupert Rupnarine, minister of Sport Nicolette Henry, the United

States Embassy, Crown Mining Supplies, Ansa Mc Al, Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for making the trip possible.

(Zaheer Mohamed).

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 13, 2016

I’m no traitor, insists Ban match-fixers for cleared Russian Klishina life, says Pietersen MOSCOW (Reuters) Long jumper Darya Klishina, the only Russian athlete cleared to compete in this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio, says she does not feel a traitor.

The 25-year-old was given the go-ahead on Sunday by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to compete internationally as a neutral athlete after a successful appeal against a blanket ban on her country’s track and field athletes for systematic doping.

Klishina, whose best performance at a senior global event was fourth at the world indoor championships in Istanbul in 2012, thanked the IAAF for giving her the chance to compete in Rio in a post on her Facebook page shortly after the decision.

However, a number of Russian fans were not happy and accused Klishina of being a traitor for not showing solidarity with other Russian sportsmen and women.

“I would like to point out that I didn’t start training in the USA with an American coach a month before this situation turned out the way

Darya Klishina during an attempt.

(REUTERS/SERGEI KARPUKHIN) it did. I have been there for three years.

“Therefore, I think it is wrong to criticize me and call me a Russian traitor,” said Klishina in an interview with the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF) website www.rusathletics.com.

“I am still really waiting and hoping that I will not be going to Rio alone. I want to believe that the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, following its decision on July 19, will give us a positive decision.”

She added: “Now we all

need support. Let’s unite and we will believe right to the end that we will compete in Rio as a team.”

The IAAF banned Russia’s track and field athletes last year after a World Anti-Doping Agency report uncovered systematic state-sponsored doping within the country.

The ban was extended last month, ruling the country’s athletes out of next month’s Olympics, subject to an appeal by the ARAF to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

(Reuters) Banned Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir would not have the chance to return to the sport on Thursday after serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing if former England batsman Kevin Pietersen had his way.

He believes any player caught fixing the outcome of matches or incidents within a game should be given life bans.

“People always deserve a second chance in life but sport is different,” the 36year old wrote in his column in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

“We are paid to play a sport we love and are damn lucky to lead the life of a professional cricketer. There can be no way back.”

Amir returns for Pakistan in the first test against England at Lord’s after a five-year exile imposed after he admitted deliberately bowling a noball in the fourth test against England in 2010.

Pietersen, who played in that match, which England won, said spot-fixing revelations dampened the

Kevin Pietersen during the pro-am BMW PGA Championship. (Action Images / Andrew Boyers Livepic) mood in the victorious dressing room.

“The story broke on the Saturday night and we all felt sick on the final day of the game. We felt empty when we took the wickets to win the match and did not celebrate,” he added.

“The relationship between the two teams was fractured because we all knew the damage it would do to cricket.”

Pietersen, who last played for England in 2014, said there was no excuse for cricketers.

“In cricket the education

players receive is so thorough. I have sat through so many (anti-corruption lectures) that I could probably give my own, so ignorance of the rules is no defence,” he said.

“I understand that in the sub-continent cricketers come from villages where there is poverty and deprivation.

“They get the chance to play international cricket and earn massive sums of money and are exposed to temptation. But to bowl a no ball to earn more money is just greed.”

Efimova free to compete in Rio after FINA drops drugs charges MOSCOW (Reuters) Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova is free to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio after the World Swimming Federation (FINA) dropped doping charges against her, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

“We received an official notification from FINA just an hour ago that all the charges [against Efimova] had been dropped. She is free to compete. No punishment has followed,” her lawyer, Artem Patsev, told the RSport news agency.

Efimova, a bronze medallist from the 2012 London Olympics and a four-time world champion announced in March that a doping test from February had shown she had taken the banned drug meldonium.

She was subsequently banned from all competitions.

Patsev said that he was “expecting FINA to take this decision”, especially after the 24-year-old breaststroke specialist had a temporary suspension lifted in May.

Yulia Efimova (RUS) checks her time after completing the final qualifying heat of the Women 200M Breaststroke. (Reuters) She was added to Russia’s roster for the games in June.

“We are all really happy for Yulia. She will join up with the team in Rio de Janeiro on 1-2 August,” Patsev concluded.

Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list of banned substances as of January 1, 2016. However, after a wave of positive tests, WADA admitted in April

that positive tests could be overturned due to a lack of clear scientific information on how long the drug takes to be excreted from the body.

E f i m o v a w a s disqualified from swimming for 16 months in May 2014 after traces of the anabolic steroid DHEA, which speeds up metabolism and helps with weight loss, were found in her system at an out of competition test in Los Angeles in 2013.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

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World Record Hat-trick for Tyler Orderson of Guyana Karate College

World Record Holder Tyler Enrique Orderson

Students who took part in the grading exercise.

The Guyana Karate College (GKC) last Monday (July 11, 2016) held the second of its triannual grading examinations for this year for students belonging to its dojos, at the Carifesta Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

It was a special evening that was filled with passion, apprehension and grueling martial arts displays especially for the younger children many of whom undertook these grading examinations for the first time. The occasion coincided with the GKC’s tenth anniversary of its establishment, and for very first time the students w e r e e x a m i n e d simultaneously by several high ranking officials of the world karate governing body the International Karate Daigaku, that is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

The Canadian Judging team was led by Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-a-Tai, the Guyanese born Chairman and Chief Instructor of the IKD who is a 9th degree black belt with

over fifty years experience in karate-do, and included his wife Sensei Maureen Woona-Tai, an 8th Dan, Sensei David Pykea 7th Dan, Sensei Bernice Hughes a 7th Dan, Sensei Janice Pyke a 6th Dan, Sensei Michelle WoonA-Tai a 4th Dan, and Sensei Ken Woon-a-Tai a 4th Dan. For the local examiners Sensei Jeffrey Wong a 6th Dan who is the Senior Instructor of the College along with Sensei Lavern Jones a 5th Dan were involved in grading the students.

The highpoint of these grading examinations for the GKC was the attainment of a Sandan rank or third degree black belt by Twelve year old Tyler Orderson, making him the youngest Karateka across the world under the umbrella of the IKD to accomplish this feat.

This is his third record breaking achievement as he has also earned the accolades of being the youngest 1st degree black belt globally when he was a mere seven years old and the youngest 2nd degree black belt at nine years old.

Accompanying him in acquiring the sandan ranking

was his batchmate, sixteen year old Alyssa Persaud, both of whom are A+ students of the prestigious Marian Academy.

Additionally, obtaining the 3rd degree black belt were Leon Burnett and Roland Fanfair.

Attaining the Nidan Rank or second degree black belt was Jonathan Connelly of New Guyana School, whilst gaining the Shodan rank or 1st degree black belt were Alyssa Ramotar also of Marian Academy and Kellisa Jupiter of Westfield Preparatory .

More than forty other Karatekas were promoted from 10thkyu all the way to 1stkyu with some of them performing exceptionally well skipping grades. Those included Jose Rodrigues skipping from 8thkyu to 6thkyu, Amber De Goeas from 8th to 6thkyu, Sophia Mittelholzer 7thkyu to 5thkyu, Somlata Bispat 7thkyu to 5thkyu, Sherlock Scott 7thkyu to 5thkyu Joshua Gibbs 7thkyu to 5thkyu.

It was an evening of deep pride and gratification for the Senior Instructor Sensei Jeffrey Wong who has

Moruca Region 1 Digicel Schools Football playoff

Port Kaituma get past Matthews Ridge in latest play Play in the Moruca Region 1 Digicel Schools Football playoff continued with Port Kaituma winning the latest match in that leg of the tournament.

Monday, Port Kaituma defeated Matthews Ridge 2-0 with Thomas Caesar in the 18th and Joshua Williams 63rd the players on target.

The action continued

yesterday with Santa Rosa playing Mabaruma Secondary, while today Port Kaituma tackle Hosororo with the winners to contest the regional final on Friday.

dedicated the last ten years of his life to the development of karate-do in Guyana and the Guyana Karate College, seeing this institution start from scratch growing quickly into a leading martial arts institution in the country with the enviable record of bringing back the most medals for Guyana at the Caribbean, South A m e r i c a n a n d Wo r l d Championships in addition

to excelling at many local tournaments in individual and team kumite, kata, bunkai and enbu.

He along with the Chairman of the IKD Master Frank Woon-a-tai whose main goal is to be of service to young people throughout the world by helping them find direction in life, met with the parents and the Karatekas after the grading session where the updated

them of the progress of the GKC and the plans for the future including the completion of its new headquarters and main dojo at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, the enlargement of its student population and the expansion of tailored training options for females, business persons and preparing for the possibility of Karate-do debuting in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday July 13, 2016

RHTYSC/TCL Cricket Academy, Republic Bank Camp off to successful start – Southland International makes contribution

Southland CEO Irzad Zamal (right) hands over donation to Mark Papannah of RHTYSC, MS.

Members of the Academy and holiday camp take time out for a photo.

The 2016 edition of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s TCL Cricket Academy and Republic Bank Grade 6 Educational Camp got underway at the Area ‘H’ Ground on Monday with dozens of Youths in Attendance.

The Academy is being sponsored by Trinidad Cement Ltd at the cost of $230,000, while the Republic Bank is sponsoring the Educational Camp at the cost of $160,000.

Club Secretary/CEO

Hilbert Foster, who is overlooking the operation of both projects, expressed his satisfaction at the attendance rate, the positive attitude and the commitment of the youths. The Academy got underway with coaches Delbert Hicks and Eon Hooper taking the excited cricketers throughout a series of physical exercises in fielding drills.

Coach Winston Smith, the most experienced of the coaches then led the players in a special 3 hours coaching session on

batting.

The holiday Camp started with forty eight Grade 6 Students in attendance under the guidance of experienced tutor Pamela Adrian. The students are been taught Maths, English ‘A’, English B, Social Studies, Integrated Science and Basic Spanish with the main aim of assisting them to make a successful transition to the Secondary level.

The long serving Secretary/CEO urged the youths to take advantage

of the opportunities been given to them by the RHTYSC, TCL and Republic Bank. He spoke broadly on the importance of discipline, respect for authority and the importance of education.

The RHTYSC, he stated was totally committed to assisting every youth in Berbice to fulfil their potential in education and sports but would not tolerate any form of indiscipline from any player or student.

The academy would be completed on the 23 of rd

July while the Camp would last for five weeks.

Meanwhile, beverage distributor Southland International of Eccles Industrial Site handed over a donation of 20 cases of water to assist the Club in hosting the cricket academy.

S o u t h l a n d International CEO Irzad Zamal stated that his company was pleased to assist Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation as it was highly impressed by the work of the Club.

The RHTYSC, Zamal stated was a role-model organisation and his company would continue to assist in the future.

RHTYSC, Executive Mark Papannah in accepting the donation stated that his organisation appreciated the contribution of the Southland International a n d a s s u r e d representatives of the company that they are playing a major role in assisting his Club to develop Guyana’s future cricketing stars.

Fly Jamaica Regal All stars, Masters claim NYSCL titles Fly Jamaica Regal All stars and Masters once again proved their prowess in the softball arena, but this time off the shores of Guyana.

Both teams added another title to their collection of prizes after winning the New York Softball Cricket League All Stars and Masters tournament which was contested in Queens recently.

Regal All Stars the Guyana Softball Cup (GSC) open 2015 champions overcame NYSCL All Stars by two wickets in the 25over final at Roy Wilkins Park, thereby claiming the Independence Cup. Set 198 for victory Regal, recovered from a precarious 84-7 to achieve their target in 23.4 overs. They were largely indebted to Richard Latiff and Safraz Esau; the pair added 111 for the eightwicket to resurrect their innings after Bobby Prahalad picked up some early scalps to give the host the upper hand. The experienced Latiff, GSC 2015 open MVP batted with composure in top scoring

Members of the victorious Fly Jamaica Regal All Stars and Masters teams with their accolades. with 74 while Esau remained unbeaten on 44.Latif struck five fours and one six while Esau hit one four and three sixes. Prahalad had 3-24.

The home team innings was built around useful knocks from Kaleem Bux who hit an even half century, Andrew Gonsalves 25 and Prashad Mahadeo 22. Delory Perreira took 2-30.

In an all Guyanese affair Regal who won the GSC masters 2015 crown defeated Guyana Floodlight

Softball Cricket Association XI in the Masters final.

GFSCA batted first and managed 149-3 off 20 overs.

Rama Malone slammed 62; Wayne Jones got 39 not out and Jagdesh Persaud 23.

Mahendra Hardyal spearheaded Regal chase with an authoritative unbeaten 52 which included nine fours. Eric Thomas scored 43 not out (2x4,4x6) as Regal reached their target in 18.2 overs.

Latiff was given the most

v a l u a b l e p l a y e r, b e s t batsman and man-of-thematch in the final awards in the Independence Cup while Bux (fastest half century), Dharanpaul Singh of New York Enforcers (6-28), Azumadeen Mohamed of Queens All Stars (93) were all rewarded for their efforts.

In the Legends Cup Hardyal was voted the manof-the-match and took the prize for scoring the fastest fifty while Jagdesh Persaud claimed the MVP. Regal

Mahendra Hardyal (right) collects his man-ofthe-match prize from a NYSCL representative skipper Troy Kippins took the trophies for taking the most wickets and best figures (6-11).

The tournament was organised as part of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Both teams collected an eagle trophy while the All Star team

pocketed US$4,000 and The Masters unit grabbed US$3,000.

Both teams have expressed gratitude to Fly Jamaica, Regal Sports, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, (Continued on page 31)

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

PAGE 39

Hearts of Oak Master’s 19th Annual Football camp starts Monday July 18 One of Guyana premiere August holiday activity, the Annual Hearts of Oak Masters Football Club (HOOMFC) “teach them Young” football camp, will be staged this year from Monday 18th July to Friday 19th August 2016 at the Scot Church ground, Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam and the nearby Prison Officers Sports Club and the All Saints Primary School.

The programme which is in its 19 year will once again be held five days weekly from Mondays Fridays from 09:00hrs 13:00 hrs.

T h e o rg a n i s e r s a r e catering for youths from age six years up and will be targeting both boys and girls.

During the camp the youths will be taught the finer points of football which includes both theory and practical. The programme also caters for the

Flashback of last year’s event.

developing of their interpersonal skills and relationship.

The practical sessions will entail showing the youngsters the various ways in receiving, passing, shooting, taking, dribbling, goalkeeping and throwing the football among other points. The youths are also expected to be schooled in

discipline, etiquette, good table manners and general education which will also include session on HIV and AIDS. Physical fitness is also expected to be an integral part of the sessions.

According to the organisers the main aim of the programme is to have the youths better able to appreciate the rules and

regulation of the game, improve their knowledge and skills and understand general sportsmanship and have a better human relationship with others and improve their discipline generally.

The organisers this year is looking to do a few things differently like offering incentives as a form of

encouragement for outstanding performances during the programme.

The youths are also expected to be involved in exchange visits at the end of the camp.

Certificates and other memorabilia are expected to be given to the participants at the end of the activity while the more outstanding

players are expected to be selected to participate in a tour to the other parts of the country.

The HOOMFC is expecting a good response as school is out and the programme has now become a part of the youths annual out of school package.

During the sessions a number of prominent persons are expected to visit and impart their knowledge with the participants during the packed programme.

Once again the HOOMFC are seeking the support of the general public and the business sector for assistance, especially footballs to make the programme a success.

Interested persons can make contact with Neil Humphrey or Secretary Kenrick Bowry, Randy “Blades” Sears or any other member of the club.

(Samuel Whyte)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

The Chanderpauls join the Sebastiens as father, son with century at Regional U-19 level

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and son Tagenarine Statistician Charwayne Walker today looks at the father son teaming that excelled at country and regional level in cricket.

As he notes, when G u y a n e s e Ta g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul reached three figures against the Leeward Islands during the 2013 Regional Under-19

Championships in St. Kitts, he joined his father Shivnarine who scored 136 and 139 respectively against Trinidad and Tobago in 1992 at Bourda and 1993 at Warner’s Park in St. Kitts.

The Chanderpauls became the second father and son duo to achieve this feat which was first done by Windward

Islands Dominicans Lockhart and Liam Sebastien. Lockhart scored 125 against Trinidad and Tobago in 1975, while Liam scored 125 against Guyana in Jamaica in 2002.

Strangely enough, the Chanderpauls, Shivnarine and Tagenarine and the Constantines, Lebron and Leary are the only father and sons that feature together in a Regional First Class match.

The Constantines played together against Barbados at Bourda in 1936, while the Chanderpauls emulated the feat in 2014 against Trinidad and Tobago at the Queens Park Oval.

Please find below Guyanese Centurions at the Regional Under-19 level since 1970.

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Sparta Boss march to semifinals in MoH Soft Shoe Football Defending champion Sparta Boss marched into the semi-final round in the Ministry of Health Soft Shoe Football Championship after the defeated Queen Street Tiger Bay 5-0 on Monday at the Ministry of Education ground.

Devon Millington and Gregory Richardson led the scorers for Sparta Boss with doubles either side of half time. Millington was on target in the ninth and 20th minutes, while Richardson netted in the eighth and 24th. Dennis Edwards in the 30th minute completed the tally.

Sparta are down to face North East La Penitence in the next round after the latter defeated Sophia 3-1 on penalty kicks. The two teams were locked 1-1 at the end of normal and extra time.

Dwayne Lowe scored for Sophia in the 21st minute, while Devon Charles

equalised in the 29th. The other semi-final will pit Broad Street against Tucville after the pair recorded victories over Kitty and Globe Yard respectively.

Broad Street defeated Kitty Weavers 3-1; thanks to a Leon Richardson double in the 12th and 16th minute, while Jamal Cozier added to the score in the 28th minute.

Colin Clark in the 24th minute made the lone response for the losers.

Tucville overcame Globe Yard 6-4 on sudden death penalty kicks after the contest ended locked at 5-5.

Dennis Edwards scored a double in the 19th and 23rd minute as well as Kareem Knights with a brace in the 25th and 28th minute, with Tefon Daly adding the other in the 22nd minute.

For Globe Yard, Delon Lanferman had a hat-trick in the third, 12th and 27th

minute. He was assisted by a double from Andrew Murray Jr in the ninth and 20th minutes.

Action continues tomorrow at the Tucville ground from 20:00hrs.

The winner of the tournament collects $300,000 and the Championship trophy, while the second placed side will receive $200,000 and the runners-up accolade.

The third placed team receives $100,000 and the respective trophy with the fourth place finishers pocketing $50,000 and a trophy.

Individual prizes will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Highest Goal Scorer. Among the sponsors on board are: Ministry of Public Health, GTT, Lucky Dollar, Nigel S u p e r m a r k e t , J u n i o r ’s Jewellery, Star Party Rentals and 2-J’s General Store.

St. Lucia repels strong Antigua and Barbuda challenge to win Eastern Caribbean Volleyball title ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC- St Lucia rebounded from a set-down and fended off a spirited-fight back from Antigua and Barbuda to be crowned champions of the U-23 Eastern Caribbean Volley Championships here on Sunday.

St. Lucia lost the first set by two points, stormed back to win the second also by two points, won the third, lost the fourth and recovered to capture the match winning fifth set by two points in a tense and keenly contested finals at the YMCA. The St. Lucians silenced a boisterous home crowd to prevailed 28-26, 29-27,2517, 25-15,15-13.

“Wow! What can I say? It was a hard fought victory.

I’m elated with the win,”

said head coach Kendell Charlery.

“Antigua gave us all we could handle. We showed a lot of composure and managed to pull it out”.

Antigua and Barbuda’s head coach, Colin Thomas blames the loss on mistakes that their opponents exploited.

“I thought that we came into the game quite prepared ready to bring the fight to St Lucia. They’re usually the championship team to beat,” said Thomas.

“We made some simple mistakes that St Lucia took advantage of as they should.

The guys fought and stuck together as a team and brought back the game which went down to the wire”.

The Eastern Caribbean

Under 23 title has earned St Lucia the right to compete in the Continental Championship slated for Mexico in September.

Meantime in the consolation match, Dominica defeated St Maarten in straight sets, 2523, 25-20, 25-22, to finish third in the tournament.

Augustine Faulkner from St Lucia was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament while Best Scorer was Jamarie James from Antigua & Barbuda.

The Best Blocker award went to Shaquille Rombley from St Maarten, while best digger honours went to Shannon Botelho from Bermuda and best setter Corey Simas, also from Bermuda.

ASK YMCA dojo for IKD Caribbean Karate Championships The Association do Shotokan Karate (ASK) YMCA dojo will once again be representing Guyana at the 14thInternation Karate Daigaku (IKD) Caribbean Karate Championships, which will be held from the 19th – 23rd July, 2016 in Kingston Jamaica.

The ASK team consists of seasoned medalist Roger

Peroune, Keith “The Bulldozer” Beaton, Leah Shariff, Daniel Jailall, Kelly Ann Fortune, Trevon Miller and Jordan Kong.

New to the international arena but not strangers to the local karate scene are Av i n a s h R a m g o l a m , Shakeem Walcott, Hodael Agard, Minakshi Pooran and Tabita Goolsarran.

The Team is being lead and trained by Sensei Amir Khouri (6th Dan) and assisted by Sensei Roger Peroune (4th Dan).

Both Sensei Khouri and Sensei Peroune are hopeful with the performance of the team based on the current training regimen and also the Dojo’s performance history.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

PAGE 41

Mohamed, Lynn power Warriors to 8-wkt win Ends Guyana leg with 5 wins from 6 matches

Michael Hussey (Ashley Allen/Sportsfile)

Correction to Bodybuilding story

Miss Bikini Kavita Ganpat collects her prize from Jamie Mc Donald of Fitness Express.

(Zaheer Mohamed photo) Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation staged its 2016 championships on Sunday night at the National Cultural Centre and Kaieteur Sports mistakenly stated that Miss Bikini winner Kavita Ganpat was a member of the Tag Mahal

gym. However, Miss Ganpat is a member of the Fitness Paradise gym.

We apologise for that error.

We congratulate Miss Ganpat and Fitness Paradise for their success and offer best wishes in their future endeavours.

By Sean Devers Despite having to work today, a capacity crowd turned up at Providence last night to see the Guyana Amazon Warriors rebound from a stumble Sunday night when they lost to TKR, to register an emphatic eightwicket victory over the St Lucia Zouks in match 13 match of the Hero CPL t20 cricket to end the Guyana leg at the top of the points table with five wins from six matches.

Dubbed the biggest party in sports, the fans had a rollicking time as Man-ofthe-Match Jason Mohamed, whose 43 lasted 29 balls and included four sixes and a four and Australian Chris Lynn, who made 38 from 29 balls with a four and two sixes, shared in an unfinished 84-run third wicket stand.

Dwayne Smith (32) had earlier added 55 for the first wicket with Skipper Martin Guptill (19) to power the Warriors 139-2 with 16 balls to spare in reply to the 138-6 from 20 overs made by the Zouks despite a superbly crafted 51-ball 64 decorated with seven boundaries from 41-year-old Aussie Mike Hussey.

Sohail Tanvir (2-31) and Adam Zampa (2-30) were the most successful bowlers for the Warriors who travel to Jamaica for their next game against the Tallawahs.

Zouks lost their first two wickets in the first over bowled by Tanvir’s after the Warriors had won the toss in damp conditions.

Johnson Charles played a wild swipe and skied a catch to mid-off before his team had scored, while Shane Watson stroked the Pakistani pacer gloriously to the cover boundary before edging a cut to the Keeper to leave the Zouks on 4-2 after one over.

Andre Fletcher (16) struggled for 29 balls on low and slow track before he was LBW to Zampa to leave the Zouks on 41-3 in the 10th over.

David Miller joined Hussey and danced into Zampa and dumped him for the game’s first six in the

14thafter the Zouks had reached 50 off 11.2 overs.

The Aussie and South African slowly pressed on the gas and added 40 between the 10th and 15thovers to take the score to 84-3.

Hussey late cut Emrit for two fours and pulled him sweetly for a third off three balls to register his 35thfifty from 39 balls with six boundaries.

But just when the partnership was gaining momentum on the slow outfield, Miller (23) pulled Zampa for Mohamed to hold his sixth catch in the Guyana leg of the competition to leave the Zouks on 103-4 from 17 overs.

Darren Sammy, leaders of the t20 World Cup Champions, pulled Tanvir viciously for four and steered him for another boundary before Hussy peppered Tanvir for a blistering four to square-leg as 18 runs leaked from the 18th over.

Emrit got rid of Sammy (11 from 6 balls) and Hussey off successive balls in the penultimate over and from what looked like a 150 total tuned out to be 12 less than that as Tanvir conceded just eight runs from the last over.

Hussey grew up in Perth Australia and the manner in which he adapted to the sluggish surface here was a batting clinic for Caribbean youngsters watching and was the main reason his team managed to score 94 from the last 10 overs.

The Warriors began their chase with 13 off the first over bowled T&T left-arm spinner Derone Davis, who was deposited for six by Martin Guptill.

Watson’s next over cost just one run, but runs were leaking from the other end, Smith banged the first ball from Kyle Mayers for four before the Bajan pacer saw Sammy at cover floor Guptill on nine.

Sammy again dropped Guptill (9) in the next over to dismay of Watson who was already beginning to celebrate. To add salt to the wound, two boundaries including a flamboyant flick

Chris Lynn was again in good nick for the Guyana Amazon Warriors ©CPL/Sportsfile

by Guptill finished off the over.

Smith banged Mayers for a couple of murderous boundaries and when Guptill, who seemed to have ‘Garlic’ in his pocket, flicked Grant Elliott for four, Providence was on fire as the six ‘Power-Play’ over produced 46 runs.

Smith launched into Davis and clobbered him for six to post the 50 in 6.3 overs and the weeknight crowed were dancing and madly waving CPL and Guyana flags.

Davis silenced the raucous fans when he had Guptill, caught and bowled, to break the 55-run opening stand.

Shane Shillingford removed Smith two runs later and Zouks were back in the fray but the noise level reached a crescendo when Mohamed dumped a full toss from Davis into the Red Stand.

The inform Lynn used his feet to Shillingford and lofted him into the Orange stand which looked like Pink due to exposure to the weather and after 10 overs the Warriors were 85-2.

Left-arm spinner

Christopher Ramsaran was greeted with a humongous six by Mohamed and the biggest party in Sports was well and truly on.

In heavy dew which made gripping the ball a difficult task for the bowlers and Lynn’s six, 20 rows back into the Red Stand, brought up the 100 in 12.3 overs.

The 50-run stand came from 38 balls with a scorching cover-drive for four by Lynn and 24 runs were needed in the last five over. Mohamed smashed Shillingford and was dropped by one of his team mates in the dug-out.

Mohamed pulled Watson for another six and along with Lynn who went into the stands to shake hands with the fans saw their team to victory.

S c o r e s : S T. L U C I A ZOUKS 138 for six off 20 overs (Michael Hussey 64, David Miller 23; Sohail Tanvir 2-31, Rayad Emrit 225, Adam Zampa 2-30).

AMAZON WARRIORS 139 for two off 17.2 overs (Jason Mohammed 43 not out, Chris Lynn 38 not out, Dwayne Smith 32; Derone Davis 1-31, Shane Shillingford 1-28).

Kaieteur News

PAGE 42

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Local Tennis team competing in Jamaica event

The respective Girls and Boys players on the team representing Guyana at the Blue Mountain Tennis tournament in Jamaica.

A junior team of tennis players departed Guyana last Friday to participle in the Blue Mountain Tournament

being currently contested in Jamaica.

That tournament runs for five days with categories:

U12,14,16 and 18...Boys and Girls being contested.

G u y a n a h a s representatives in the

U12,14,16 Boys and Girls...there will also be doubles in all the categories and a team

event.

The next tournament the players will be contesting is the ITF junior also in

Jamaica.

That tournament starts on Saturday 16th July and ends on 23rd July.

RHTYSC, MS Cricket teams launch 3rd edition of Youth Information Booklet Collaborate with Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd on project In a continuing quest to assist in Berbice to fulfil their potential, the eight cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS has officially launched the 3rd edition of their Youth Information

booklet. The booklet forms a part of the RHTYSC, MS massive Say No to Drugs, Suicide and Crime and Say yes to Life, Education and Sports Campaign. The 40page booklet was edited by Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and published at the F and H Printery in

Georgetown with sponsorship from the Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd. Club Secretary/CEO and Editor Hilbert Foster stated that the booklet would be distributed free of cost to schools, youth and sports o r g a n i s a t i o n , N G O ’s , Government Agencies,

Berbice University of Guyana Campus, religious organisations among others.

The Magazine, Foster stated was researched and produced by the RHTYSC teams and it’s Educational Committee. The booklet includes articles on a wide range of topics of interest to

Latter stage of Mayor’s Cup football set as teams battle for Aruwai Resort first prize Action set for Victoria ground Sunday The Teams remaining in the Mayor’s Cup football championship will have one thing on their agenda, making it all the way to cash in on the Aruwai Resort of Bartica first prize and trophy.

The battle for quarterfinal places will result in action on Sunday at the Victoria Ground on the East Coast of Demerara with a triple header starting from 5:00pm.

Play was originally set for the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground but due to the staging of a city competition and the weather, play had to be rescheduled from last weekend and is set for Sunday.

Opening play brings together Camptown and Uitvlugt, while at 7:00pm, Riddim Squad will challenge Eagles of Linden as they all

Lennox Arthur seek places in the quarterfinals. The first quarterfinal game will be the nightcap at 9:00pm. Ann’s Grove will take on Cougars in that game which will see

the winner march closer to the money round.

After Sunday’s action, more play has been fixed for next Friday, July 22 at the GFC ground with another triple header. Police oppose Pouderoyen, Santos battle Beavers and Western Tigers collide with Den Amstel.

Coordinator Lennox Arthur indicated that all the remaining action is set for the GFC ground with playing days fixed for July 24, 27 and 31 when the final and third place game will be contested.

At stake in the competition is the top prize of $700,000 and a trophy donated by Aruwai Resort.

The second place team pockets $300,000 and the Ansa McAl trophy, while the third place team carts off

$200,000 and the John Fernandes trophy. The fourth place finishers will receive $100,000 and the Ministry of State trophy. Ricks and Sari has also donated hampers which will go to the winning team, while tournament’s top goal scorer will get a three piece suite compliments of AH&L Kissoon Furniture Store.

Top Brandz of Broad and High Streets, distributors of Interstate vehicle batteries, is among the key sponsors on board assisting the tournament.

Apart from Aruwai Resort and Top Brandz, among others on board are: Ansa McAl, Minister of State Joe Harmon and his ministry, John Fernandes, Ricks and Sari and AH&L Kissoon.

y o u t h s a n d sportsmen/women including General Sports Etiquette, A sportsman as an Ambassador, How to behave during a public ceremony, Importance of education for sportsmen, The Importance of Reading, D o ’s a n d D o n ’ t s o n Facebook and Manners at School for Students.

The booklet also features articles on Drug Abuse, Importance of Education for youths, HIV/Aids, Peer Pressure, Basic Public Manners, Public Speaking, Teenage Pregnancy and PreMarital Sex, Basic Advice f o r Te e n a g e f e m a l e s , Choosing friends, Respect to your elders, Personal Hygiene and appearance, Manners in the Classroom and How to handle a job interview. In an effort to educate youths on Guyana, the booklet also features Facts about Guyana, Members of the Guyana Government, Facts about your country, the National Pledge and the National Anthem.

Messages from the RHTYSC Secretary/CEO and Beharry’s Marketing Executive Anjulie BeharryStrand along with a profile of the company are also included.

The long serving Secretary/CEO expressed

confidence that the booklet would achieve all of its objectives of making a positive difference in the lives youths by getting them to avoid social ills that can affect their personal development and guiding them along the correct path to success. Guyana, Foster stated needs everyone of its citizen to develop and cannot afford to lose any of its most precious asset, its youths.

The RHTYSC would like to express gratitude to the Management of B e h a r r y ’s , e s p e c i a l l y Anjulie Beharry-Strand, Satesh Singh and Kamini Naresh, Gregory Rambarran of DTV-8 and F+H Printery Establishment.

The eight teams involved in producing Guyana’s only youth information booklet are the Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermiade, Metro Females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under 21 and First Division.

Persons and organisations interested in obtaining a copy of the booklet can call 337-4562 or email foster_hilbert@yahoo.com.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday July 13, 2016

Bahamas, Barbados triumph in CBC Female Championship

PAGE 43

Matthews breaks Tour jinx as Froome stays in yellow

Orica-BikeExchange rider Michael Matthews of Australia reacts on the podium after the Tour de France cycling race 197 km (122.4 miles) Stage 10 from Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra to Revel, France. (REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA)

Brionte Riley (right) of Bahamas is about to score valuable points for her team.

The Bahamas and Barbados registered victories when the female segment of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) U16 championships got underway yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Bahamas defeated Suriname 59-54 in a thrilling encounter to get off their campaign on a positive note.

Suriname got the better of the opening exchanges as they won the first quarter 1613. However, the Bahamas

fought feverishly and led by one point at half time with the score on 29-28.

The Bahamas used their speed to good advantage in the third quarter and took a six point lead at the end of the session; 47-41. Suriname showed determination and with 55.4 seconds remaining and with the score at 57-54 in favour of the Bahamas in the last stanza, Suriname’s Cyaram Kensmil had an opportunity to reduce the lead, but missed two free throws. However, Valicia

Demeritte picked up two points for Bahamas to seal victory for her team.

Demeritte scored a game high 27 points with 11 rebounds, while Janea Bowleg got 11. Anita Tolud led the scoring for Suriname with 17 points with six rebounds and three assists; Mirelva Marcia contributed 16 including five rebounds.

Barbados earned a hard fought victory over Antigua and Barbuda, winning the duel 39-36. Barbados took the first quarter 7-6, but

Antigua and Barbuda bounced back in the second quarter leveling the score 1717. Although Antigua and Barbuda showed determination, Barbados took the lead at the end of the third quarter 27-23, and maintained their lead through out the duel.

Zahra Ashby got 12 and Rashana Thorne nine for the winners, while Karel Knight and Rayana Regis scored 12 each for Antigua and Barbuda.

(Zaheer Mohamed).

Guyanese girls suffer heavy loss against BVI Guyana suffered a heavy loss against the British Virgin Islands (BVI) last night when the girls’ competition of the 2016 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships bounced off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Hosts, Guyana lost 18-

54 in their first game in the four-team group. Guyana’s offence collapsed despite them creating some easy chances.

The Guyanese girls, though putting up a spirited effort, did not make any of their shots in the first quarter while only scoring five points in the entire first half

with BVI going into the half with a 25-5 points lead.

Guyana threw up 56 attempts, connecting on only 12.5% from the field with zero shots falling from beyond the arc after attempting seven from threepoint range.

Forward, Shauliqua Fahie dropping 24 points for

BVI while collecting a monster 21 rebounds.

Guyana’s best scorer was Jada Mohan who had 11 points on 4-29 shooting from the field. Mohan, however, exited the game with an ankle injury midway through the fourth quarter and did not return for the Guyanese.

REVEL, FRANCE (Reuters) Michael Matthews turned the page on years of bad luck in the Tour de France to complete his set of grand tour victories when he won the 10th stage after a royal breakaway on Tuesday.

The Australian, with three Vuelta and two Giro d’Italia stage wins to his name, outsprinted his breakaway companions after 197km from EscaldesE n g o r d a n y, A n d o r r a , benefiting from the support of two of his Orica-Bike Exchange team mates.

World champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), who reclaimed the green jersey for the points classification from Briton Mark Cavendish, took second place and Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) finished third.

Matthews missed the 2014 Tour after sustaining injuries in training and last year, he abandoned after breaking four ribs.

“And this year already I had crashed twice. I was almost giving up on this race, thinking maybe the Tour de France is not for me,” he said.

Briton Chris Froome (Team Sky) retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after finishing safe in the main peloton 9:39 off the pace.

“The start was pretty full on, there was a lot of work for my team mates to control the race,” said Froome.

“But it was pretty straightforward from there.

However, it’s a good day to tick off.”

The stage got off to a nervous start on the category-one climb to the Port d’Envalira, as riders were keen to win places in the day’s breakaway which took its final shape after about 60 kilometres.

ROYAL BREAK It was a royal break as six of the 15 fugitives had already worn the yellow jersey and nine of them were Tour stage winners.

With 24km left, Sagan’s brutal acceleration on a small rise split the group and only seven, including two of Matthews’s team mates, remained in front.

Matthews benefited from compatriot and team mate Luke Durbridge’s work to keep the chasers at bay and then stayed in Sagan’s wheel as his other team mate, South African Daryl Impey, led the group in the lead-up to the final sprint.

Impey also attacked on the short climb up the Cote de Saint Ferreol close to the finish, forcing Sagan to make efforts that probably left the Slovak short of juice in the finale.

Matthews then delivered with an impressive burst of speed over the final 200 metres.

“I would not have won without Luke Durbridge, and Daryl Impey attacking in the climb and leading out the sprint,” said Matthews.

Wednesday’s 11th stage is a 162.5-km ride between Carcassonne and Montpellier that should favour the sprinters before Thursday’s trek up to the intimidating Mont Ventoux.

t r o Sp

Mohamed, Lynn power Warriors to 8-wkt win Ends Guyana leg with 5 wins from 6 matches

Jason Mohammed copped the man-of-the-match award for another excellent showing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence ©CPL/Sportsfile

Rayad Emrit (L), Martin Guptill (M) and Adam Zampa (R) acknowledge the cheer of the fans, Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Lucia Zouks, CPL 2016 © CPL/Sportsfile

Guyanese girls suffer heavy loss against BVI

Shauliqua Fahie releases a floater in the lane despite Jada Mohan and Kesann Charles’ trap defence in the paint.

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