Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Clinton Urling cannot be trusted Keith Burrowes had to be affiliated to the PPP

DEAR EDITOR, I cannot allow a letter in last Sunday’s edition of the Stabroek News by my colleague, PPP/C Candidate Clinton Urling to go unchallenged. In his letter, “The PPP has to move on without Jagdeo if it is to recapture its former prestige,” it is clear to me that Mr. Urling may be positioning himself to defect from the party he recently supported, in anticipation of being offered a position in the new de facto Granger Administration.

I am also disappointed that Mr. Urling seems convinced that the PPP/C lost this election when all evidence suggest it was rigged with the help of GECOM. Let there be no doubt that I have always respected and admired Clinton Urling’s entrepreneurial skills that have made him a successful businessman. I was pleased with his inclusion as a PPP/C Candidate, and was optimistic of him getting a ministerial position with a PPP/C victory

at the polls. But I never thought of him as an opportunist until now.

Bharrat Jagdeo is undoubtedly extremely popular with those who have supported the PPP/C for many years.

The gigantic crowds he attracted at meetings and rallies during the recently concluded election campaign bore testimony to this.

Those party members who, according to Urling, thought Jagdeo was responsible for the party’s “defeat” are nothing but cowards who, like rats that abandon a sinking ship, sought to protect their own interest.

Urling was well aware of the pressure placed on GECOM to come clean with the results and the noncooperation of GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally and his team despite the presence of fake Statements of Polls -SOPs. So what appeared to be “an information blackout” a

day or two after the election was, I believe, an attempt by those at Freedom House to get GECOM to recount the ballot boxes before disseminating information which could have been inaccurate and misleading.

Candidates were later briefed and given the opportunity to interact with the party leadership at a meeting that Urling attended.

At no time did anyone “whisper and angrily criticize Jagdeo’s divisive campaign rhetoric”.

Not even Clinton Urling.

Are we to believe that no one there had the courage to blame Jagdeo if in fact they thought his involvement cost us the election? I don’t think so.

Bharrat Jagdeo was an asset to the campaign and I’m sure thousands of PPP supporters would concur with me. I also know one prominent PNC-APNU stalwart that supports this argument.

Harry Gill

Underage drinking is ignored here DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me space in your newspaper to voice my concern regarding a particular issue I hope the new government will address and which I feel for too long has been ignored: Underage Drinking.

While countries such as the United States of America and Canada have strict laws governing underage drinking and Guyana has similar laws, it is evident that the laws here are not being enforced.

Our laws state that the legal age limit for alcohol consumption in Guyana is 18 years and children under the age of 16 are not allowed to be in the bar of any licensed

premises or even to purchase alcohol unless they are above 16 years. Additionally, a child should never be asked to go to any licensed premises to buy alcohol.

Upon entering a bar or club overseas regardless of how old a person appears to be, he/she must submit an Identification Card (ID) to the bouncer to see his/her correct age. If a person is underage or does not have their ID card he is not allowed entry into the establishment.

On the other hand, in Guyana once a person pays the entrance fee into a bar or club he/she is admitted entry without them being asked to submit an ID card and sold

alcohol regardless how old he/she is.

One such place guilty of this is Palm Court where on a regular Friday or Saturday night dozens of youths who appear to be no more than 18 years can be seen with drinks in their hands. Liquor shops in Guyana are no less guilty of selling alcohol to minors as well.

It appears as if proprietors are more concerned with making a profit than anything else.

While parents should be held accountable, I do think that we as a nation should also be held accountable for ignoring this issue.

S. Daniels

DEAR EDITOR, Recent public statements to the media by Keith Burrowes: “I am not politically aligned; Governments over the years thought that I was competent for the job and I have succeeded always.”

Mr. Burrowes was appointed Advisor to President Ramotar in 2012, his service was pro bono voluntary and he remained in that post.

He was Chairman of Guyana Chronicle, director at Guysuco and headed the tender committee. These appointments will never be given to someone who is not politically aligned to the PPP. Now if you consider these appointments and the performance of the Chronicle, Go Invest and Guysuco your readers must decide if Burrowes is not politically aligned and competent.

My reason for this public outburst is that it seems as witch hunting is being synonymous with masking justice to the oppressed and wronged, defending incompetence, condoning corruption and allow the Wizards or Witches to find new brooms to fly on in the new administration.

In 2012 Burrowes was the chairman of the Guysuco Tender Board, he subverted the tendering process on instructions from then Minister Robert Persaud to not award a contract legitimately evaluated in ECI favour.

The contract was awarded to a supplier who did not bid or meet the tender requirements. This contract was more than one year late with no penalty to the supplier while the cane harvest suffered.

Having worked 23 years with contracts for Guysuco,

it was one of the few tender processes in the PPP administration that was not corrupted. This came to an end with Robert Persaud as Minister and Burrowes as chairman of the tender board.

In 2013 we were requested to attend a meeting with Burrowes by Guysuco. For the first appointment he was a no show.

We met to discuss an engagement with Guysuco to build a critical component of the Skekdon 2 factory Punt Dumper in order to start the next grinding for sugar production.

Burrowes’s involvement was the authority as Chairman of Guysuco Tender Board to negotiate and award the contract. This was necessary since the contractor that Guysuco selected in the previous tender process was unable to do the project.

The project was completed and worked successfully, Guysuco accepted. We were informed that all payments in this project were suspended, then our bank informed us that Guysuco was demanding the 10% performance bond.

We successfully obtain injunctions, against the bank preventing it from paying the bond and against Guysuco from using the equipment the sugar corporation acquired by false pretence.

Guysuco settled by

requesting the litigation suspension and made full payment to us.

About that time I had a letter published in the press about Alexie Ramotar and the massive failure of the EGovernance and the Fibre Optics project; mind you this was in 2013. Keith Burrowes was advisor to The President.

I was reliably informed that instructions from Guysuco Chairman, Raj Singh, was given to the board of Guysuco Tender Committee Chairman and board member, Burrowes, and management on the non-payment and calling the performance bond.

The reason was victimization for writing the letter about the failed Fiber Optics project and Alexie Ramotar, the president’s son.

I want to suspect that Burrowes was selected to go to Go Invest in collusion given Minister Robert Persaud plans for Burrowes to turn a blind eye on projects that are required to be handled by this agency.

This is my reason to witchhunt Keith Burrowes. He is a very public person with the unlimited access to the Chronicle. This administration must decide whether he could have done all this without an alliance to the PPP administration.

Samuel Barakat, CEO

The New Government...

From page 4 their previous position by such actions over the last two decades. But luck ran out this time around, in spite of all the gifts and money that were thrown at the disempowered simpleminded.

Perhaps that is where our money has gone!

Rosemarie Terborg Davis

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Guyana has been living beyond its means - Anand Goolsarran

By Kiana Wilburg With respect to Treasury Bills, Guyana has accumulated over $80B in debt. And the Consolidated Fund could be overdrawn by as much as $60B. Former Auditor General (AG), Anand Goolsarran in pointing to these startling findings, said that it paints the clear picture that “Guyana has been living beyond its means.”

To cement his point, he examined the explanation given by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan for the Consolidated Fund being in heavy overdraft.

In an interview with Kaieteur News last month, Jordan was making moves to get an understanding of the economy. As he and a special team were still crunching the numbers from some “secret accounts” which functioned under the previous administration, Jordan expressed concerns about the state of the Consolidated Fund.

During a meeting with several officials within the Ministry on May 19, last, Jordan said he was told that the Consolidated Fund being in overdraft is due to the behaviour of the Guyana Gold Board and its failure to reimburse the account.

“The government doesn’t have the kind of money it needs to pay miners, so it draws from the Consolidated Fund and reimburses it when it sells the gold. But there is the practice of “hedging” (A strategy used in limiting the probability of loss from fluctuations in the prices of commodities) after they collect the gold, and there are

- $86B accumulated in debts - Consolidated Fund overdraft could exceed $60B

Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran risks involved in that.

“And if you aren’t good at it you can lose, in the sense that you are forced to sell for a price far lower than what you bought at. I think it is public knowledge that the board got caught in the fall of the gold prices.

“So they might have bought at high prices and may have been hedging, but then the prices collapsed…”

Jordan had said that while he believes that the Gold Board has been drawing heavily from the Consolidated Fund hence the state it is in, he will provide a more concrete position when he is informed of the state of affairs of the Gold Board. He had said, too, that he has asked the Accountant General to provide him with some figures in that regard.

“What I do know, is that I have been told that the overdraft is due to the fact that gold has not been able to reimburse the Fund as yet, which means that they are probably hedging, and that’s my only explanation without seeing the accounts as yet.

But as an economist I can only presume that this is

perhaps the case.”

However, the Former AG, Anand Goolsarran believes that the Minister was sorely misinformed.

Goolsarran explained that there are two bank accounts making up the Consolidated Fund. These are account nos. 400 and 407. He said that the former, ceased to be operational following the introduction of the Integrated Financial Management System in 2004. It was overdrawn by $46.776 billion as at December 31, 2012. This is according to the latest available audited public accounts. It was also not reconciled since 1988.

He said that the new Consolidated Fund bank account no. 407 was also found to be overdrawn by $15.389 billion as at 31 December 2012. This gives a total overdraft of $62.165 billion.

The former AG added that there were a number of other accounts relating to Ministries and Departments which reflected balances totaling $16.559 billion.

“According to the former Auditor General, of the several other special bank accounts held at the Bank of Guyana, eleven accounts reflected balances totaling $4.140 billion. These appeared to be funds that were transferrable to the Consolidated Fund,” Goolsarran asserted.

He stated, “Taking these into account, and excluding the amount of some $4 billion, the accumulated balance on the Consolidated Fund

reflected a deficiency of $45.947 billion as at 31 December 2012. If the transactions for 2013 and 2014 are taken into account, including the unauthorized withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund, the deficiency in the Consolidated Fund could very well exceed $60 billion.”

Goolsarran said that the overdraft situation can be traced back to 1992 and earlier periods. But after an examination of the receipts and payments of the Consolidated Fund from 1992 to 2012, the former AG said that it does not indicate any transactions relating to the Guyana Gold Board. He said that it is incorrect to attribute

the overdraft to indebtedness by the Board.

He said that the evidence suggests that expenditure from the Fund over the years exceeded revenue paid into it.

Goolsarran said that for the period 1992 to 2012, the total revenue paid into the Consolidated Fund amounted to $1.643 trillion while expenditure totaled $1.727 trillion, giving a deficiency of $84 billion.

The Chartered Accountant said, that it is evident that “we have been living beyond our means for decades only to be rescued by borrowings from the issuing of Treasury Bills which attract additional costs by way of interest charges.”

As at December 31, 2012, he pointed out that Guyana’s indebtedness to banks, institutional investors and individuals in respect of Treasury Bills transactions was $86.552 billion.

When Treasury Bills otherwise known as ‘T-Bills’ are bought, it simply means that money has been lent to the government.

The special bills have a face value, but are sold for less than they are worth.

They also have a specified date upon which the face value is repaid.

If Guyana has a T-Bill worth $60, it is sold for $50.

But by a certain date, $60 is what is repaid. The buyer essentially earns $10 for the investment.

Treasury bills are one of the safest forms of investment and are considered risk-free.

We will not be cursed...

(From page 2) natural resources could lead to a rise in the exchange rate.

Lucas stated that, “An additional danger of the Dutch disease is that it leads to a rise in income inequality. In other words, under the law of concentration, a country could move from low levels of income equality to high levels of income inequality, simply because, workers in the oil sector are earning far higher incomes than those left in other sectors.

Oil, in effect, can be a perennial threat to the education and security policies of the new government with its constant pressure on wages”.

He said, however, that there are practical ways to attend to the effects of the Dutch disease - one popular initiative being the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, which the government has already committed to.

He said that the availability of options to confront the Dutch disease eases fears of the phenomenon becoming a debilitating one.

Lucas reminded that at the moment, oil represents the most imposing burden on the production structure of Guyana. He said that a look at the trade statistics tells the story of what Guyana is going through as a result of having to include imported oil in its existing production structure.

The Bank of Guyana (BOG) reported in its Statistical Bulletin that Guyana expended $118 billion on fuel and lubricants in 2013. He said that this single item represented close to one-third of Guyana’s import bill for that year as revealed in the same BOG report.

Lucas said that the situation is even worse when ex-

amined from the perspective of export revenues.

“In order for Guyana to meet its fuel consumption needs, it had to use 42 percent of the money that it got from the sale of the goods that it shipped overseas in 2013.

The effect was that, Guyana had to give up 20 percent of the things that it produced in order to pay for the oil that it used in the production of goods and services in 2013,” he said.

The economist continued, “By producing oil, not only would Guyana be able to retain the $118 billion currently spent, or whatever future sum is spent on oil for alternative uses, it would also be able to add to the anticipated savings with the export revenues that it expects to receive from the sale of oil.

Assuming rational decision-making by the c o u n t r y ’s l e a d e r s , t h e change of the position of oil from expense to revenue in the production structure would also expand international reserves and increase the wealth of the country.”

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Policyholders protest payout to former CLICO directors The Gleaner - The president of the CLICO Policyholder’s Group, Peter Permell, has raised objections to plans to pay TT$48.5 million to 10 former directors and their companies.

Permell, responding to media reports that CLICO had allocated the funds for the payout, said the minorityshareholder group was “not only flabbergasted, we are appalled as this has to be the height of insanity. For it begs the question, how in good heaven’s name could anyone, in their right mind, particularly the central bank governor and the minister of finance, allow 10 individuals, comprising former CLICO directors and senior management, along with their private companies, to be paid any money, let alone TT$48.5 million ahead of the 15,000 bona fide ‘assenting’ third-party policyholders who were promised, but are yet to be made whole?” he said.

The Sunday Express newspaper reported that the money will be paid, without interest, from 2009. The newspaper said that the only director who will not be paid will be CL Financial (CLF) corpo-

Peter Permell rate secretary, Gita Sakal, because the central bank has instructed CLICO to withhold payment because of an ongoing civil matter.

“Our feedback is that many policyholders are beginning to feel betrayed since these CLICO directors are persons who would have contributed in one way or the other by their mismanagement, negligence, inaction or

being complicit in the collapse of CLICO in 2009, and in some instances against whom legal action has been initiated, never appeared before the CLICO commission of enquiry, and to whom Salmon letters outlining the case against them would have already been sent,” Permell said.

He described the 15,000 assenting policyholders as patriots who cooperated with the government and the central bank by accepting the offer of zero-coupon bonds and CLICO Investment Fund units in 2012 and, in doing so, he said, helped save the financial sector from contagion and systemic risk.

“The CPG is therefore calling on the central bank governor and the minister of finance to place an immediate halt to all payments to related parties, and to move, post haste, to ensure that the balance due from CLICO to all ‘assenting’ policyholders is paid prior to the upcoming general elections.”

The former directors of the company had opted to pay a TT$2,000 fine instead of testifying before Sir Anthony Colman’s commission of enquiry into CLICO. CMC

Questions being raised about St. Lucia’s decision to open embassy in Taiwan

Therold Prudent CASTRIES, St Lucia — The announcement on Monday by the government of Saint Lucia that it had established a full-fledged embassy in Taiwan has been described by the Lucian People’s Movement (LPM) as not only baffling from a foreign policy perspective but also raises a number of serious questions concerning the illusionary

bubble within which the Saint Lucia Labour Party government has operated over the last three and a half years.

“Therefore, in light of the fact that Taiwan is not universally recognised as a sovereign state and has yet to settle its dispute with China over its political status, the LPM calls upon the government of Saint Lucia to clarify whether its

decision to open an embassy in Taiwan amounts to a formal recognition or endorsement of Taiwan,” LPM leader Therold Prudent said.

LPM stated further that, given the unsettled nature of Taiwan’s political status, coupled with the own financial constraints at home, it would have been more sensible if the government of Saint Lucia had opted instead to appoint a cultural and economic representative in Taiwan, as opposed to the more contentious and financially burdensome route of establishing an embassy there at this time.

“In light of this startling development, which now requires our nation to divert scarce resources towards maintaining yet another embassy abroad, the LPM calls upon the government of Saint Lucia to provide a public statement detailing the total cost of the operation and whether it has approached the government of Taiwan for financial assistance in this regard,” Prudent concluded.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

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PARDON ME! The power of the Crown to grant pardons to convicts is a reserve power that has been retained in many of the constitutions of post-colonial countries. Guyana has retained such a power in all of its Constitutions.

But while post-colonial societies have retained this reserve power, colonizers, they have failed to ensure that the quality of their institutions is up to that which exists in their former mother countries.

In Pratt and Morgan, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council pointed out that tradition was that person sentences of execution were quickly carried out. There was never the kind of delays that exists today.

It is these delays that have opened the floodgates for death row inmates to challenge death warrants. It is these delays which ultimately led to the decision in Pratt and Morgan While the Crown had the power to grant a pardon to persons on death row, the reserve power was based on the notion that it was unthinkable - the long delays

that now exist between sentencing and execution.

In Pratt and Morgan, it was decided that once someone is held on death row for more than five years this can be considered as inhuman and degrading treatment and thus ultra vires of the Constitutions of most countries whose legal systems were inherited from the British.

It was no doubt on the basis or on the same legal reasoning as in Pratt and Morgan, that the High Court of Guyana commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence of a man who had been on death row for nineteen long years.

Before he demitted office, President Donald Ramotar granted a pardon to this individual.

This has stirred a great deal of controversy because the person was convicted for the murder of a child. The former President was roundly condemned for what was described as pardoning a “child- killer.”

What many of the critics ignored was that this “childkiller” was himself barely out

of childhood when he committed the offence. He was still a young man when he was charged with the offence. I believe he may have been only nineteen years old, thus still a teenager.

He could not have been considered a matured person.

We also do not know if he was led astray and what remorse he may have felt in the interceding years.

If instead of originally being sentenced to death he was given a life sentence with the possibility of parole, he may have been out today, because he would have served the number of years normally considered a life sentence.

These things have to be considered before condemning the pardon that was granted to the prisoner. I do not know the circumstances that influenced the pardon and I can understand the pain that the family of the murdered child feels.

But one must try also to get all the facts before rushing to condemnation. And these facts must consider the age at which the offence was

Dem boys seh...

De government was sharing money like dawg sharing fleas When dem boys use to talk how de government sharing out de taxpayers’ money to friends and family people think was joke.

Some accuse dem boys of being de leaders of de opposition and people like Jagdeo, Donald, Rohee and even Babbie use to cuss dem boys at every chance dem get.

Babbie go even more far.

He go to court in New York to stop dem boys from talking.

But that is another story.

And is now dem boys understand why Donald and de whole pack protesting. Is not because dem think dem win de elections, but is because dem want to distract Soulja Bai and he people.

De distraction ain’t wukking, because now people see how de Chat-3 was sharing out money. He go to Canada and find Shaun Samaroo who was ketching he tail.

Shaun Samaroo can’t write a straight line much less a sentence, but de Chat-3 on instructions from Donald Dumb invite him to write a book. And de money dem give him over a few months was enough to build a big house.

Dem boys seh that dem now understand why early this year Shaun Samaroo write how Donald is de best

human being he ever meet.

Now anybody who pouring money in you pocket, you mouth and in you behind got to be de best person in de world. Fuh Shaun, Donald was even better than de Creatah.

Old people always seh that whatever do in darkness does come to light. De skullduggery now coming to light. If de people didn’t vote, just imagine what more woulda happen.

And this is de same transparent government.

Money was sharing out like when dawg sharing fleas and de only people who wasn’t getting was de people who need it.

Inside he office Donald had people who was hacking people computer, writing

facebook message, writing letter to de newspapers and writing blogs.

He was paying dem a good small piece. De change of government ketch some of dem going to Soulja Bai and asking he wha he want dem to do now. He tell dem that he want dem go home.

Now dem boys want to hear all wha people know. And dem people know plenty things. Dem can tell Soulja Bai, but just in case dem frighten, dem can send dem boys a note, just like how Shaun Samaroo did send a note to dem boys bout de money he collect from Donald.

Talk half and watch how Donald and Jagdeo was spending you money—like water pun duck back.

committed, the remorse that the accused would have shown during his time in jail, and the long period that he had served. It must also be considered that his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the Courts.

This is not the first time that persons incarcerated for murders were granted pardons. Indeed it used to be tradition on Independence Day for prisoners to be pardoned. In the past, persons who were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment and who had spent considerable time in jail were pardoned.

This year the practice of granting pardons was reintroduced for Independence. This was seen as a positive development, judging from the absence of criticism. In fact some sixty young persons who were said to have committed nonviolent crimes and who were sentenced to short periods in jail were pardoned. This is in

contrast to the normal practice in other jurisdictions of granting pardons to only those who have already served considerable time in jail.

More pardons for young non-violent offenders have been promised in the future.

But is this the right way to go?

I agree with the argument that these young offenders need to be in school and at home rather than in jail. But is the solution to this problem, the granting of presidential pardons?

Would a better solution not simply be to amend the law to allow our judicial authorities to be able to give non-custodial sentences to young people guilty of petty crimes so that they do not end up in jail in the first place?

Leave the presidential pardons for those who would have spent long years behind bars and who may be truly remorseful over the crime they committed.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

CRITICIZING PRESIDENT GRANGER FROM BEHIND A MOSQUITO NET I got an e-mail from a thread that has seventy persons including many media colleagues and some well-known Guyanese. The content was a critical commentary on David Granger’s handling of power for his first week in office.

Captioned, “Why the Granger presidency is keeping us up at night,” it came from a website named “gtmosquito” which offers personalized, satirical

reporting of news with commentary The article warned its readers that Granger hasn’t started his presidential journey with a saccharine briefcase (my words). The new government should not be irritated with the overall direction of the piece because its inherent value is to warn a nation to keep a meticulous eye on its leaders.

Surely, and I mean surely, given how Dr. Jagan started

in 1992 and the mindboggling descent into ethnic rampage and tropical fascism the past twenty-three years, I could see all Guyanese being comfortable with a constant media surveillance of the governmental journey which began on May 12, 2015. I am a hundred percent positive that thousands of APNU supporters would want the media to watch the new government once the criticism is grounded on the protection

of human rights.

I know this because I am in the streets. I see nothing in that “mosquito” opinion that should upset President Granger or Moses Nagamootoo.

I responded to the email objecting to the continuation of faceless and nameless critics of power. I believe that is not the way to start the new Guyana – it sends the wrong signal to our young people.

It reinforces the culture of fear

and cowardice that took over the land under the PPP. I think that this old cancer cannot be extirpated within months, but we must make a start.

Ruel Johnson replied and informed me that he is the coeditor of “mosquito news” and the administrator for the site. He said I can submit columns if I wanted to, but there will be no payment. I wrote back telling him I expected him to disclose for me who his co-editor is and if I offered a column, I would like to know who my editors are.

Johnson replied and intoned that he couldn’t understand my position since I write for a paper that has the unknown columnist, Peeping Tom. My follow-up was that I couldn’t see the logic in his response. I told him I am associated with a newspaper that has four editors and a publisher who are known in Guyana and I interact with these real, living, visible people.

Again I requested the name of his co-editor. I specifically stated that if he refuses to do so I will respect his decision, but would like to have an explanation.

Johnson didn’t reply. I sent off a mail again to him.

He came on this time, apologized and said he will put my request to his board. I responded, insisting that he name his co-editor or offer a reason for refusing to do so.

After two more e-mails to Johnson, I am yet to hear from him. I would have sent five requests to Johnson for his reaction but he has ceased communication with me.

What is disturbing is that not one of the 69 other persons on the thread even

Frederick Kissoon attempted a half comment on my exchange with Johnson or even attempted to ask Johnson what was so wrong in identifying his co-editor. Is there a reason for Johnson’s protection of his co-editor?

Yes, there must be. I am prepared to accept that. What I cannot accept is Johnson’s deliberate rejection of even offering a plausible statement for not naming the person.

This is coming from Ruel Johnson, a young man who represents the new political culture of bold criticism and open challenge in Guyana. I may be wrong and Johnson should tell me if I am; is his silence a case of Martin Carter’s famous words of a mouth being muzzled by the food it eats?

Friends have told me that the “mosquito site” is financed by the owner of a food business in North Georgetown and that he is the co-editor.

There is nothing wrong with that. What I object to is the deliberate continuation of criticism of public figures by people using pen names. To persist with such a questionable moral position does not help Guyanese to build a society free from fear and fearful of no one.

This is what Johnson at his age ought to be doing. I believe readers who have digested his many letters in the press would expect that of him. So I ask him one more time, Ruel who is your coeditor under the mosquito net?

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Bids submitted for works on 13 schools Bids were submitted yesterday to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, under the Ministry of Education for repairs and maintenance to be done for 13 Primary and Secondary schools. The first of these was for Smith Memorial Primary School. The engineer’s estimate was $5,589,759 GYD.

Cummings Lodge Secondary School was also the first Secondary School slated to benefit from projected repairs and maintenance. The engineer’s estimate is $6,705,298M.

The engineer’s estimate for East La Penitence Primary School was $4,386,878 GYD.

St. Stanislaus College received the Engineer’s judgement of $10,804,541 GYD.

The Engineer’s estimate for St. Ann’s Primary School was $3,795,578 GYD.

The Engineer’s estimate for Kingston Secondary School was $2,709,166 GYD.

The engineer’s estimate for repairs and maintenance on Redeemer Primary was $3,786,035.

The engineer’s estimate for Bishops High School was $12,154,230.

The engineer’s estimate for Ketley Primary School was $4,885,210 GYD.

The engineer’s estimate for Charlestown Secondary School was $10,329,330.

Thomas More Primary School’s engineering estimate was $3,898,808 GYD.

Stella Maris Primary School’s estimate was $8,322,956 GYD.

>>> Continued on page 26 <<<

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Port Kaituma man remanded Double murder suspect captured for ‘weed’ in speakers in Guyana, refused bail in T&T

Clarence Kingston

A shop owner was on Monday remanded to prison on a drug trafficking charge when he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on May 31, at Port Kaituma, Clarence Kingston, 38, had 1134 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Corporal Bharrat Mangru informed the court that on the day in question, around 08:30hrs, the police acting on information went to

the home of the defendant and conducted a search.

The police entered a shop, which is situated in the defendant’s home and searched two speakers. A quantity of leaves, seed and stems were allegedly found in the speakers.

Mangru also stated that the accused provided the police with a caution statement admitting ownership and possession of the drug.

However, Kingston’s

attorney, Dexter Todd, told the court a different story.

The lawyer argued his client would normally rent his speaker boxes. He said that on May 31, the police went to the defendant’s home and searched two speakers he had just received after renting them. He added that the police allegedly unearthed the drugs from the boxes.

Todd explained that the accused does not check the boxes after receiving them, while adding that he has no knowledge of the drug.

The lawyer stated that Kingston is a reputable businessman. He said that he has four children with no pending or previous matters.

He added that his client has been fully co-operating with the police’s investigation.

Nonetheless, Todd’s bail application was refused after the prosecutor advanced that the special reason raised by the attorney did not satisfy the court. Further, Mangru detailed that special reasons should be given to the offence and not the offender.

The matter was transferred to the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate’s Court, and the next hearing will be on July 27.

(Trinidad Express) - A Trinidadian man wanted for double murder has been deported from Guyana to face the charge.

Ralph Ramdhan a.k.a.

Vernon Rampersad, 50, of Mc Bean Village, Couva was deported on Saturday 30th May, 2015, under local police escort.

Ramdhan had been wanted for the murders of Jankie Bachu, Savitri Sultan and the assault occasioning actual bodily harm of Babita Praimsook on August 2nd 2014 at Celestine Drive, Thompson Street, Palmiste.

Local Interpol received information that the suspect had fled the country and thereafter circulated information via Interpol’s network internationally.

Further investigations revealed that Ramdhan was in Guyana and his location was known to local authorities. Intelligence exchange between local Interpol and Interpol

Ralph Ramdhan aka Vernon Rampersad Guyana resulted in the suspect being arrested in Guyana on May 13th, as an illegal immigrant.

The fugitive was charged for illegal entry into Guyana and was convicted and fined $30,000 or to serve 14 days imprisonment and was ordered to be deported to Trinidad and Tobago.

On Saturday 30th May, Ag. Sgt. Herman Narace

from the local Interpol Bureau and Ag. Sgt. Randy Ramjag of the Homicide Bureau South left for the repatriation of the suspect.

Ramdhan was taken into custody by Homicide Officers upon arrival at the Piarco International Airport and conveyed to the Tunapuna Police Station where the warrants were executed on him.

He appeared at the Tunapuna Magistrate’s Court on June 1st, and was remanded in custody without bail. He is to re-appear on June 5th.

Last July, Sultan, 39, and Bachu, 48, were stabbed to death at Celestine Drive, Thompson Road, Palmiste.

Sultan’s cousin-in-law, Babita Praimsook, escaped the knife attack with slashes to her ear and fingers, as she tried to fight off the killer.

Earlier last year, Sultan had taken out a court protection order against the suspect after he followed and threatened to kill her on several occasions.

High Court trial for trio accused of engineer’s murder

DEAD: Abdool Saleem Aziz

Julian Mack

Glenroy Griffith

Three men were yesterday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of electrical engineer, Abdool Saleem Aziz.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry determined that a prima facie case had been made against the trio.

The men - Glenroy Griffith, 21, Jarrell Ward, 26

and Julian Mack - allegedly robbed and gunned down the 23-year-old engineer as he was about to enter his Lot 33 Delhi Street, Prashad Nagar home on October 19, last.

The matter was prosecuted by Police Corporal, Bharrat Mangru, who called several witnesses to testify during the Preliminary Inquiry; including

the deceased man’s uncle and police officers.

According to reports, Aziz, a former employee of Beharry Group of Companies, was shot and robbed by gunmen as he was about to enter his premises.

The University of Guyana graduate was shot four times.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) but succumbed shortly after.

A police release had said that Aziz was confronted by three men, who apparently attempted to rob him, as he was about to enter his premises.

It also said that two unlicenced .32 pistols with a total of 21 rounds were recovered from the crime scene.

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Policies will only be implemented with teachers’ full support – Education Minister The full support of teachers is imperative ahead of the implementation of any policy in the school system.

This view was expressed by Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, when asked about a move by former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, to revise the nursery entry age policy.

The Ministry had introduced the revised entry age for nursery children in September of last year.

Previously a child had to be three years old by March 31 in order to enter Nursery School in September of the same year.

With the revised undertaking by the Ministry, children were eligible to enter the nursery level in September even if they would have turned three in June.

There were reports that some teachers were not pleased with the move, as this meant more work for them, in terms of catering to the needs of the young children in their care.

While the Guyana Teachers’ Union had embraced the move, there were complaints that there was not enough consultation ahead of the implementation of the revised policy.

But this is not likely to happen under the tenure of Dr Roopnaraine. He insisted during an interview with this publication recently that “in any policy direction, we have to ensure that we engage the teachers, we have to engage their union and ensure that when we establish a policy it has the full support of the teachers.”

“If there are teachers who are unhappy with particular policy directions then we have to resolve it.

We can’t have policies that teachers have difficulties with - either because they are not committed to it or they really don’t believe are sensible. I think we have to win the teachers over to any policy we intend to implement in the Ministry.”

And it is the firm belief of the Minister that there are competent enough people at the Ministry who will aid this process forward.

“I told them that with all the accumulated wisdom and experience in the room I was quite sure that the enormous challenges faced by the Ministry will be faced head-on,” said the Minister as he expressed optimism about successfully implementing

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine needful policies.

Manickchand, who had on numerous occasions acknowledged the competence of the Ministry’s staffers during her tenure, had earlier this year offered an update on the nursery entry programme pointing out that “we could have had a major problem on our hands if this was really going to hamper the learning environment for all the children in the classroom.”

But according to her, the Ministry was able to minimise a series of potential problems by inviting about 90 per cent of the entrants’ parents to meetings, ahead of the start of the school year (July/ August 2014 holiday), that sought to solicit their (parents’) support to prepare their children for school. And the end result was a success story, according to Manickchand.

“Frankly we haven’t had any major complaints.

I haven’t heard of any. But nursery-age children are always edgy when they get into schools. First they will bawl the school down for maybe the first week, and they bawl a little bit less for the first month, and by the end of the first term they settle in,” she added.

Another known issue that children face, Manickchand had highlighted was the limited independence, whereby some children were unable to use the toilets or were unable to eat by themselves.

But according to Dr Roopnaraine, once proven to be workable and accepted by all stakeholders, he will be willing to embrace and continue any policy implemented by his predecessor.

Page 13

Page 14

Pirates strike three boats in C’tyne River Pirates continue to attack fishermen with impunity in the high seas even as the authorities try to work on new initiatives to tackle the scourge.

The latest attack occurred on Saturday evening. The victims were badly beaten, their boat along with fish and fish glue were stolen, and they were relieved of personal possessions and left to drift at sea in a small boat.

Pamela Ramkellawan called “Indro” of Lot 163 Pump Street, Port Mourant, yesterday contacted Kaieteur News to relate her story. She said that her fishing boat with a five-man crew was hijacked around midday on Saturday off the Corentyne shore.

According to the woman, her boat which is a 50’ x 8’ craft is blue and red in colour with black stripes. The boat is fitted with a 48HP Yamaha engine and has a cream ice box. She said the boat had on board a 500-lb seine, two barrels of gas, one gas stove, “plenty” food items and over $1.2M in fish and fish glue.

The woman stated that her crew members are known by the names ‘Bai’ who is the captain, ‘Norman’ his brother, ‘Sunny’ their relative and two mother workmen -‘Ball Head’ and ‘Bumpy’. She said that from what she was told, her workmen were fishing when four men, all masked, came up in another boat. The men were armed with a gun and three cutlasses. Without warning, they quickly jumped into the fishing boat and started to beat the occupants mercilessly.

The men then ordered them to load all the stuff in their boat. The fishermen were bound and dumped into the pirate’s boat. The captain was then ordered to drive his boat to two other boats which were also robbed and the fishermen bound and gagged. The pirates then bundled about 15 of them into a small boat and made their escape. They were left to drift at sea.

The woman said that they got word of the piracy on Saturday evening and they immediately launched a search.

Five of the fishermen were rescued by a small boat on Saturday while the others were rescued on Sunday.

The woman and others are pleading to the authorities for help since the fishing boat is their only form of income. She stated that there are 18 of them in the family it is also their only means of survival.

Mrs. Ramkellawan, who said that she can be contacted on telephone number 336-6902 for any information related to her missing vessel, said that the matter was reported to the police. However, she claims that she was told that ‘pirates are criminals and they are dangerous and the police would not go out to sea’.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

LEONORA ‘TORTURE COP’ KICKED OUT OF FORCE - Ramjattan also pushing for dismissal of colleague Corporal Mohanram Dolai, who was found criminally liable for burning a teenage boy’s privates in the Leonora Station lockups six years ago has been kicked out of the Guyana Police Force.

Dolai was given his marching orders last week by Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, following instructions from newlyappointed Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.

Ramjattan confirmed last night that Dolai was fired on his instructions, and indicated that he will be seeking to have Dolai’s colleague, Inspector Narine Lall, given similar marching orders, as he signaled that there will be zero tolerance for rogue cops, under the new dispensation.

“Last week I instructed the Commissioner of Police that in the public interest, both ranks who tortured at Leonora, for which they were found criminally liable, be fired. I understand that the rank (Dolai) that the Police Commissioner could fire, was fired.”

However, Ramjattan explained that Inspector Narine Lall, who was also found liable for the torture of 15-year-old Twyon Thomas, could only be dismissed by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

“I intend to write to the PSC, which is the authority (to rule on dismissal)… I would be doing that tomorrow (today). I will be making the request that in the public interest that the Inspector (Lall) also be fired. You cannot have done this major misconduct and still be retained in the Guyana Police Force, and then be promoted.”

Corporal Mohanram Dolai

Inspector Narine Lall

Ramjattan, who was Thomas’ attorney, said that the argument that Lall was not criminally convicted is misconstrued, since Justice Roxanne George had found Lall and Dolai liable for being responsible for burning Thomas’s genitals while he

2009 made international headlines when a photograph of the lad’s badly burned privates appeared on the front page of the Kaieteur News.

At the time, Thomas was being questioned at the Leonora Police Station in

“We are remedying a situation that had gone horrendously bad…We are going to cleanse the Guyana Police Force of those bad cops…” was in custody at Leonora.

“We are remedying a situation that had gone horrendously bad, and I, as Minister of Public Security would not tolerate that kind of development in the Guyana Police Force,” Ramjattan said.

“I will be looking at other (serious) cases in which there was criminal and civil liability, depending on their gravity. We are going to cleanse the Force of those bad cops.”

The torture of 15-year-old Twyon Thomas in October,

connection with the October 26, 2009 murder of Ramenauth Bisram at his home in Canal No 2 Polder on the West Bank Demerara. Bisram was the PPP/C’s former Vice-Chairman of the Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara Region.

It was alleged that while he was in custody, Dolai, then a constable, and Lall, who was a sergeant, doused the lad’s genital area with methylated spirits and set him alight.

The two ranks appeared in court on November 2009, charged with burning the genitals of a 15-year-old boy with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him grievous bodily harm. They were also charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Nouravie Wilfred.

The criminal case against them was subsequently dismissed in the Magistrate’s Court after the boy and other

Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Public Security witnesses failed to turn up.

But in June 2011, Justice Roxanne George awarded $6.5M in damages to Twyon Thomas. The Attorney General was also ordered to pay $100,000 in costs, while Sergeant Narine Lall and Constable Mohanram Dulai, the two policemen accused of torturing Thomas, were ordered to pay $75,000 each in costs.

The Judge also criticized the actions of Dr. Mahendra Chand, the police doctor who had examined the injured teen while he was in custody at the Leonora Police Station, as lacking “sensitivity and professionalism.”

But the case shot back into the limelight this year when the Guyana Police Force published an order in January 2, 2015, that Sergeant Narine Lall was promoted to the rank of Inspector, and Dolai to the rank of Corporal.

Defending this decision, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said that Lall and Dolai were not found guilty during a criminal trial because their accuser, Twyon Thomas, did not turn up in court to testify.

“We have a policy on disciplining of ranks. Ranks who have been charged and go before the court, if they are convicted, they are dismissed.

If they are exonerated, then they become a member of the force,” the Commissioner said.

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Budgetary resources key for Sexual and Reproductive Health policies

By Nicholas Peters Moving forward should the new administration choose to adopt changes in public health policy, particularly with regard to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), their biggest obstacle would be budgetary resources.

This is according to Executive Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Patricia SheerattanBisnauth in a recent interview with this publication.

During the interview, Bisnauth revealed that her agency, in collaboration with the former Ministry of Health and the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), was working on a Sexual and Reproductive Health policy which is ready to be presented to the new cabinet.

According to the health professional, given that Guyana has recorded high rates of under-aged pregnancy, publicised cases of maternal/infant mortality and reports of deaths caused by poorly administered medical terminations of pregnancy, such policy could be useful in addressing serious problems which face Guyana in relation to reproductive health.

Additionally, Bisnauth said that the policy would address the issue of family planning in Guyana, which she noted as being

significantly low.

“We have only a 43 percent prevalence of contraceptive use when it should be closer to 70 percent, which means we have a large gap in family planning,” said the GRPA official.

There exists a large gap in family planning, said Bisnauth, which indicates a problem with relation to women being able to control pregnancies, including unwanted pregnancies. She said that due to a lack of family planning education and services, particularly in the hinterland and rural communities, there have been a number of unwanted pregnancies.

In the case of Kamili Arjune, who reportedly died following an improperly done medical termination of pregnancy procedure, Bisnauth related that such a case indicated that the deceased did not have the “right information” with regard to the choices she had with her body. She said that in Arjune’s case, five months prior to her last procedure she had subjected herself to a previous one, which Bisnauth viewed as ill advised.

The health professional related that the drafted SRH policy which she and others have worked on would address such key issues in maternal health. She added that said policy is also geared

Executive Director of GRPA, Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth to address the administration of family planning services, sexual rights in terms of health care and adolescent health.

“I think it is the first SRH policy in Guyana and from what I’ve seen it is one that relates to the century that we’re living. It is quite good news for Guyana that the country is forward looking, because these are difficult issues for people,” said the health professional.

Moreover, Bisnauth said that the biggest issue with regard to SRH sector which the new government would

224 cases listed for June session of...

(From page 3) to be heard during the session; only ten criminal matters were completed at the Georgetown Supreme Court.

Of these ten matters, eight were presented in the court while two matters were nolle prosequi by the DPP. Of those eight matters Justice Singh completed two murder trials. ln one matter, the accused was acquitted after the Judge upheld a no case submission and in the other matter, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

Three murder cases were taken before Justice George.

In one of those matters, the accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment. ln the other trial, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict and the accused was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. The third trial, in which three accused persons are indicted, is in progress.

Justice Brassington Reynolds disposed of two matters for the offence of Murder. The jury in the first

matter failed to reach a verdict and the trial judge ordered a retrial, while in the other matter, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser count of Manslaughter and was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.

Justice James BovellDrakes, who sat during the January 2015 Criminal Assizes, continued into this session and completed one matter for the offence of Murder.

That accused was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment after the jury returned a guilty verdict for the lesser count of Manslaughter.

Two matters were nolle

prosequi by the DPP. Of these two matters, one matter was for the offence of Carnal Knowledge of a Girl under 15 years and the other matter for the offence of Murder. In the matter for the offence of Carnal Knowledge, the virtual complainant indicated by writing that she no longer wished to proceed with the matter.

In the another matter for the offence of murder, the accused could not instruct his Defence Counsel for the purpose of his trial and several witnesses were unable to testify.

need to face would be its budgetary resources, should the policy be implemented.

She explained that since SRH issues are most prevalent in hard to reach areas like the hinterland, funding to get to these remote areas and maintaining the services

would be taxing.

However while Bisnauth contended that budgetary resources would be a factor, a more effective approach would be to open up to more partnerships that could address the field of SRH. “Key partnerships are needed to make this effective, because we outlined quite a few things (in the policy) and much of it has to do with money, but a lot of it also has to do with vision and management,” explained the Director.

From the work she has done, Bisnauth related, that the new administration has to examine whether the health care system in all 10 Administrative Regions is functioning effectively. As GRPA has been a consistent partner with the Health Ministry, Bisnauth noted that a review of the training and type of training with health professionals needs to be conducted.

“They need to review the training they’ve been doing and to ensure that there is accountability,” said Bisnauth. She emphasised

that accountability is another important aspect of dealing with problems stemming from SRH issues.

“They have all types of (health) systems in place but there isn’t that accountability,” she added.

According to the GRPA director, for accountability to exist there has to be the right type monitoring methods in place so as reduce the fatal cases of maternal care.

In the context of the cases of improper termination of pregnancies and maternal deaths, Bisnauth said that accountability is needed to limit such “disasters” from repeating themselves, since people’s lives are at risk.

In a recently published article by this newspaper, newly-appointed Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, said that the services of an increased number of well-trained doctors in the area of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, with the support of skilled midwives, could be the solution to tackle maternal and infant mortality rates.

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

GINA, Foreign Affairs Ministry received almost $10M for COI

By Abena Rockcliffe Even as journalist Shaun Samaroo contradictorily sought to defend the fact that the previous government paid him over $16M for his coverage of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney, more information has been revealed about the wanton use of tax dollars for this project.

Information provided on a website gtmosquito.com indicated that the Government Information Agency (GINA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were collectively paid almost $10M for services provided to the Commission.

GINA billed the Commission for “advertising” and was paid just over $5.2M. As far as the public knows, GINA was never an advertising agency. In fact, GINA operates solely on state funds provided in the yearly budget.

The COI was also charged for the rental of cars from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For this, the Ministry was paid over $4.4M. Yesterday, this newspaper published information provided by Attorney General, Basil Williams, to the effect that the previous administration spent over $325M on the

“witch-hunt” it disguised as a Commission of Inquiry.

Williams had told the media that of the expended $325M, $150M was utilized on salaries for the three commissioners, two lawyers and “a certain journalist.”

Williams divulged that the journalist, later identified as Canada-based Shaun Samaroo, was paid US$7,300 per month.

The Attorney General said that Samaroo was handed US$80,300 ($16.8M) for his work, which the PPP obviously found to be quite exquisite.

Samaroo then responded around mid-morning to what he called “erroneous and misleading reports”. He said that “at no time and under no circumstance did the Government of Guyana contract my professional media services, or paid me, to report in the State media.”

However, in his response, the journalist stated that one of the terms of his contract with the government of Guyana was to “Write news reports, stories, features and multimedia scripts around daily happenings at the Commission.

Nevertheless, Samaroo said he contributed several articles to the Guyana Chronicle on the work of the Commission “pro bono…never once receiving

any payment for that work…I also contributed dozens of columns to the Guyana Chronicle without compensation of any sort.

Listed below are the terms of contract as provided by Samaroo: 1. Design and build a global social media platform that generates ongoing professional coverage of the Rodney Commission, in multimedia format – print, video, audio, and electronic; this includes engaging discussions online; 2. Write news reports, stories, features and multimedia scripts around daily happenings at the Commission; 3. Coordinate national and international media organs in full local and global coverage of the Commission’s findings, and testimonies; 4. After the Commission would have completed its work, write and publish a book on the Commission’s work, on behalf of the Government of Guyana; 5. Write the script for, and produce, a Video Documentary on DVD, of the Commission’s work on behalf of the Government of Guyana, at the completion of the Commission’s work; 6. Create an online forum where the full findings, testimonies and reports of the

- Journalist paid $16M mounts defence, further exposes self Commission can be archived and available for global consumption; 7. Network with global organizations, academic institutions and relevant interests to popularize the findings of the Commission.

Initially, when Williams provided the information to Kaieteur News, he said, “They (the PPP) didn’t know the government would have changed,” as he inferred that the PPP thought the information would have never been revealed.

Williams told the media that this “useless” venture has already cost the state too much and the new government will therefore seek to ensure that the Commission wraps up its work soon.

“We are going to wind it down, we can’t afford it.”

Before the CoI is concluded, however, the various lawyers will be allowed to make submissions, after which the Commissioners must present their decision.

Williams said that there will be a sitting for submissions to be made, upon completion of which, the Commissioners would render their decision on the matter.

He said that the lawyers would most likely be given a three-week notice to prepare

their final submissions.

Williams represented the interest of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) at the CoI. Because of his new position, Williams will have to withdraw. He will most likely be replaced by Attorney at Law James Bond.

On June 13, 1980, Dr. Walter Rodney, a scholar, social activist and founder of Working People’s Alliance (WPA) was killed when a device exploded in his car that was parked near the Camp Street Jail.

Following the incident, there was speculation that the event was set up by the then Prime Minister and Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. As such, close relatives and associates of the late historian made numerous requests for a Commission of Inquiry into his death.

Decades after the event, on June 13, 2013, the Government of Guyana (GoG), under the Donald Ramotar Administration, announced that it had approved the establishment of the COI following a request from the Rodney Family.

Public notices on the matter outlined that the purpose of the COI is to receive testimony and evidence from interested

Journalist, Shaun Samaroo parties to determine the circumstances immediately prior, at the time, and subsequent to the incident, in order to determine who or what was the cause of the explosion which resulted in the death of Dr. Rodney.

Among other things, the COI was set up to determine whether the cause of the explosion in which Dr. Rodney died, was an act of terrorism.

Ramotar had said that such an inquiry was necessary to allow Guyana to start the healing process after more than 30 years of uncertainty concerning Rodney’s death, and to avail his family closure.

The inquiry commenced April 2014, and was supposed to wrap up at the end of that year. The government, however, announced that it was extending the life of the Commission, indefinitely.

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Cash-strapped NCN in hot water for paying OP’s phantom bloggers Some of the persons hired to work in a shadowy unit reportedly spearheaded by Kwame Mc Coy, former Press Liaison of the Office of the President, were not even stationed there, as shocking details continue to emerge over the extent of the abuse of state resources under the previous Government.

On Monday, almost two dozen persons were given letters ending their services

by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, after it became clear that they were tasked with doing political, propaganda work for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

According to officials of the Ministry of the Presidency (formerly OP) yesterday, investigations revealed that many of the persons were paid from accounts of the Presidential

Kwame Mc Coy Secretariat and from state agencies, like the National Communications Network (NCN) so as not to raise eyebrows over the amounts.

Some were even operating from their homes.

The two dozen contract

employees were left in limbo after the PPP/C lost the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Questioned by officials at the Ministry of the Presidency, one of the contracted employees who was among the few from the secretive unit stationed at OP, admitted that he was tasked with preparing invoices for persons who did not work at OP but had permanent jobs elsewhere.

OP was also billed for work done. Some were collecting up to $22,000 per fortnight from NCN. It is unclear how much they were collecting from OP. They were tasked with monitoring the local newspapers for letters and articles criticizing Government and countering.

However, the more popular ones included going online to

Collymore, Region Nine REO sent home Former ministerial advisor, Clinton Collymore is among the latest casualties as the new Government continues its transition into office.

Collymore reportedly had his services terminated after failing to turn up to work under the new Minister, Ronald Bulkan.

Confirming that Collymore was sent home last week, Bulkan yesterday disclosed that the advisor had been missing from the Kingston Ministry since the May 11 elections, not turning up until last week.

“He did not hand in any medical; did not report for work and based on advice, we took it to mean that he has left. It was concluded that Mr. Collymore voluntarily breached the public service regulations and therefore he had his services terminated.”

The Ministry of Communities has since asked Collymore to return the keys to his office and vehicles assigned to him.

“I was unable to determine what exactly Mr Collymore was doing at the Ministry. Did he submit reports of his work? He was entitled to a driver, gardener, a whole host of benefits…but we don’t know what he was doing. I heard that the vehicle assigned to him from the Ministry was seen parked on many occasions at Freedom House, the party’s headquarters, when he was supposed to be at work.”

REO, Region Nine, Claire Singh

Ministerial Advisor, Clinton Collymore

Minister Bulkan said he had instructed his staffers that he wanted to talk to the advisor when he turned up at the Ministry. “He did come one day last week. But I could not see him as I was engaged.”

Collymore is a seasoned campaigner for the PPP/C with significant experience in especially the hinterland communities. He was a candidate for the party also.

Also sent home recently by the Ministry was Claire Singh, the Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine.

“We are carrying out a number of investigations into a number of reports we have received. There is also

evidence of maladministration in that region. The REO was due for some leave and we have sent her on same.”

Also sent home recently from the Ministry was its Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal. Croal, also a PPP/C candidate, had reportedly tendered his resignation to take the campaign trail, but attempted to withdraw it after his party lost.

The newly established Ministry of Communities, which has responsibilities for housing and water, local government and regional development, is one of the biggest in the David Grangerled government.

Facebook and launching attacks on persons who made comments that were negative to PPP/C. “In other words, the people of Guyana were paying for people to go online and surf Facebook,” a source close to the investigations at the Ministry of the Presidency said yesterday.

Over the last year, the phantom workers, who included relatives of a former senior Minister and a Parliamentarian from Berbice who works at NCN, went after personalities including Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon and Publisher Glenn Lall.

They would also single

out controversial projects that were under scrutiny by the Opposition and defend them. Many of them reportedly created Facebook accounts using fake names and were tasked with preparing reports of their work to Mc Coy. “As of now, we are not sure how much monies were being paid and which other ministries were doing the paying. What we do know is that this scenario is precisely why we were raising issues over contract employees. We can’t have people working and we don’t know what they are doing. This is criminal.”

The phantom unit and the payments from NCN has also

raised questions over the role played by that state entity in issuing payments, despite knowing that the contract workers were not stationed there.

“We are looking at the entire operations of NCN and it is operating in a deficit and yet it found monies to pay these phantom bloggers.”

A few years ago, NCN told Parliament that it was grossing almost $500M annually in revenues but wanted a subsidy to help it through.

Under the description for payments, most of two dozen or so contract employees were described as ‘Work Processor Operator’.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Bids submitted for works on 13...

>>> From page 11 <<< East La Penitence Primary School was the only school that was expected to benefit from work being done exclusively on its fence.

Provision of Stationery Supplies

Provision of Dietary Supplies

For the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, several necessary services to ensure the smooth running of the hospital were highlighted for bids.

Provision of janitorial and cleaning supplies Finally, three companies bid for the provision of Security Services to the Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was earmarked for several programs designed to enhance the airports hygienic overview.

Removal of domestic and international waste - engineer’s estimate $7,621,200 GYD.

The engineer provided an estimate of $4,436,562 GYD for cutting and removal of grass.

Landscaping and Maintenance of indoor and outdoor plants. Engineer’s estimate -$8,340,000

Fallen tree blocks roadway A tamarind tree which is said to have been standing for more than 50 years fell from a yard onto the roadway knocking down a utility line in Goedverwagting on Sunday last.

According to reports, the owner who resides in Sophia later visited the premises, inspected the scene and left without saying a word to neighbours, even though they asked him what his position was about the situation.

Traffic flow subsequently ceased because the roadway is a popular entrance to the area, and even the utility wire was dangling precariously, almost to the ground.

“No vehicles can pass in or out the street … How he gun block the roadway… everybody was expecting him to come back, up to now he can’t come,” a concerned resident said.

Villagers are now pleading with the authorities to have the matter dealt with.

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Flood waters recede in most parts Forklift driver gets five of city, pumps back in operation years for causing death

In an effort to ease the impact of flooding in coastland areas, experts at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have been working to ensure that the drainage systems around Georgetown are in adequate working condition to deal with the impact of the continuing rainfall.

Recent downpours have caused massive flooding in various parts of the city and coastland regions.

On Monday, several outfalls and pumps were inspected and assesses by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Engineering Consultant, Walter Willis during a walkabout.

During the assessment, experts expressed the need for clearing of several main drains and canals to allow the free flow of water and drainage into the main canal and waterways. It was also reported that at least six pumps that were commissioned to assist the drainage system had not been functioning for some time.

An outfall aback of Muneshwers Limited at Water and Church Streets was also examined.

- Ministry of Public Infrastructure Anil Rambarose, a manager at the company, said that given the manner in which flooding affects the operations of residents, businesses and other entities, the company has opted to join the countrywide clean-up initiative and assist by clearing the aforementioned outfall.

He said that Muneshwers will take responsibility of clearing and maintaining the structure as well as manholes situated on the property.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure reported that flood waters have receded from most areas in Georgetown which were inundated.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) statement, the Ministry officials said that three pumps have been repaired and were put into operation on Monday; one on Sussex Street, another at John Fernandes Ltd, repaired by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and the third at Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt.

It also pointed out that all

sluices are operating, with the exception of the one at Lamaha Street which is being repaired, and a privatelyowned one at Meadow Bank South, as they are completely blocked. The Ministry reported that at least 11 other sluices are working and discharging flood water, and were only closed for a while when the tide turned back and necessitated this action.

Meanwhile the National Weather Watch Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest forecast for June 3, states that all regions can expect fair to partly cloudy skies to be interrupted by cloudy spells with scattered showers. The rainfall is expected to range between 0.0 mm and 10.0 mm (0.393701 in).

Marine users and sea bathers are advised that moderate to rough seas can be expected with swells reaching heights of 1.8 to 2.1 metres in open water.

The Spring Tide Advisory is in effect until Sunday, June 07, 2015. Residents of coastal, low lying and riverine areas are advised to take necessary precautions against possible flooding.

DEAD: Latchman Sukdeo A forklift driver was handed a five-year jail term by Magistrate Ann McLennan,

after he was found guilty of causing the death of a senior bookbinder attached to the University of Guyana.

Balgobin Persaud, 69, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was convicted for driving a motor forklift in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Latchman Sukdeo, on August 6, last, at Dennis Street, Campbellville.

Several witnesses were called to testify on behalf of the prosecution.

According to reports, Persaud had left an establishment in Campbellville, and when he turned into Dennis Street, two metal spikes from the forklift collided with the motorcycle that Sukdeo was riding.

The injured man was

rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he succumbed while receiving treatment.

Persaud first appeared in court on August 26, last, and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was released on $1M bail after his attorney, Lawrence Hamilton, asked that he be released on reasonable bail.

The lawyer had told the Court that his client is married with three children and is not a flight risk.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Advertisements; Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

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WANTED 1 Maid, 40years and older to work in SurinameContact: (+597) 322-5442; (+597) 651-6666 Taxi Drivers wanted at Princess Hotel - Tel: 616-5419 Farm workers male only – 3045 years old –Call: 265-3586 1 Mechanic to work in the Interior must know about Cummings & Perkins Engine.

Tel: 691-6260 Need an advisor to help with setting up a new Private School, email details to mozatart@yahoo.com 1 Maid to wash and clean in the interior-Tel: 691-6260 Contract cars & experienced drivers –Contact: 227-1721 or 660-6102 One mature and knowledgeable, live in maid, preferably from the country areas. Phone: 691-7790 Staff for plant shop, Located in Georgetown, Plant knowledge an advantage.

Tel: 643-4049 One live in domestic to work in Mahaicony River. Tel:2256571; 644-6905 Receptionists, bar attendants (shift work), live in handyman, apply in person. Tel: 223-6284 Experienced cashier: must know point of sale (shift work) @ Fortune House Restaurant, 98 Sheriff Street.

Live in domestic must know to cook Indian dishes, salary $70,000 monthly - Tel: 610-3974 Female to work in prodcution department - Call: 644-5151 One live-in person to care for an elderly man in Georgetown- Call:223-9888 1 family to work & live in for an elderly man & living @ Timehri (living accommodation free) - Call: 223-9888 Urgently needed live in waitress-Tel: 693-4154 1 Maid to wash and clean @ E.C.D-Tel: 603-5416; 644-9802 Experience female accounts clerk- 4 years working experience. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry stelling Stabroek Experienced pastry makers, Roti/Puri & Curry, cook, cleaners, apply @ Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street.

Mechanic trainee to work in workshop age 17-25 – Call: 660-1269; 616-6007

VEHICLE FOR SALE Caldina Wagon PMM 753 Call: 613-1286 1 Toyota Hilux Vigo 2003, 1 Lexus IS200 – Call: 610-3707 Unregistered fully loaded, Toyota IST $2M - Call: 6917475

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 12 Offices @ 220 South Road G/Town –Tel: 227-1042, 6013369 1 (3) bedroom house situated at 17 Herstelling New Scheme - Tel: 233-5240 or 689-6965 Five bedrooms house, 107 Lamaha Gardens & Large Parking; AC Rooms Hot & Cold, Purified Water System Call: 661-8908, 335-3590 One bedroom apartment, for rent located in Eccles, Old Road, E.B.D –Monthly fee $35,000 –Contact: 610-0640; 223-6987 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: office, storage bond or other business. Call: 680-9905 Hall for wedding, all occasions, seawall view @ 44 Public Road Kitty –Tel: 231-1908/12 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE- CALL: 675-0767, 627-5098 One 3 bedroom upper flat apartment for rental in 5th Avenue, Diamond H/Scheme E.B.D. Tel: 662-9335 New spacious 2 bedroom apartments with kitchen, bath, camera, grill, fenced, secured yard, Vreed-en-Hoop - Call: 6825230; 628-9596 Rooms with Wifi internet, furnished / bed optional, students welcomed- $20,000 per month – Call: 223-1757 (after 6pm)

FOR SALE/RENT 1 Three Storey building, established business- Call: 227-1042; 601-3369 1-2000 HP TUG, fully equipTel: 662-1124

1 L-Touring Wagon, excellent condition - A.C Alarm & Remote start, flair kit, CD player, 16" mags, price $1.3M - Tel: 626-2884 Minibus BKK Series; price$950,000, owner leaving country –Tel: 222-6628 or 692-2602 V8 Titan (2005) KIA SPORTAGE 2003 - Call: 275-1230 Noah and Voxy Unregistered.

Call: 668-0000, 603-7900 Star Cars Auto Sales: In Stock, Premio, Vitz, Bluebird, IST, Alteeza, Benz C200, Spacio –Tel: 679-3140 1 Noah BSS excellent condition-$1750, 1 Noah recently registered, blue bird Sylphy 2006 (unregistered) – Tel: 652-0709; 614-4777 Toyota Hilux 5L Manual $2.350M negotiable –Tel: 684-1776; 617-8188 (2) 75 DAF GHH 7237, GNN 5366, 1 IST Car PMM 755 – Contact: 613-5212, 664-1030 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Unregistered Corolla Fielder 2003, body kit, fog, rear spoiler, dark interior, roof rack Call: 617-5536 Massey Ferguson 399 Contact: 601-9903 1 Toyota Prado & Toyota Hilux both in excellent condition, owner migrating – Call: 601-0053; 691-8079 One tractor operator to work in Mahaicony River must know about rice work. Tel: 225-6571; 644-6905 Toyota Allex, Raum, BB, AT192, AT212, Premio, Hilux Pick up, RZ minibus & Pitbull, Nissan Blue Bird –Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 1 212 Carina AC, CD, Mags with wood finish interior, PNN, never work hire, excellent condition -$1.150 – Call: 619-1047 Tractor Massey Ferguson from Canada: MF 135- $1.2M, MF 165 -$1.8M, MF 265 $2.1M, ranger pickup -$1.5M Tel: 682-5230, 628-9596

Wednesday June 03, 2015

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Prado, Price$4.4M Neg. Call: 643-2403 1 Toyota Premio (PNN Series) in immaculate condition. Including: mag rims, HID lights, alarm. $2M negotiable- Call:679-9800 One Toyota Allion 2004 Model & 1 new & unregistered Mazda Axela, excellent condition -Tel: 649-0956 2-20 Ton American dump truck- Tel:661-6161

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

One Mitsubishi freezer canter- GPP 4798- Call:6225717 Complete engine/ electric Lucas Mill - $1.2M. All mill spares and frame - Call: 693-5281 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc call:225-9032,647-2943

Unregistered Nissan Bluebird 2006 for sale $2.650M negotiable – Contact: 689-7325/644-9277 04 BMW 318I (MYSTIC BLUE) M SPORT PRR 9445 , DVD DECK, REMOTE STARTALARM, REVERSE CAMERA -$3M. CONTACT FARAD: 619-4544

1-Miller Welder, Duetz engine (diesel) –Tel: 661-6161

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $18M neg. Tel: 625-5461.

DAF truck: flat rack, Perkins eagle turbo, 350LM, 12.17LT, 350HP, GVW 32,000KG, mileage 71,000kmCall: 676-9413, 223-0050

1-20 KVA generator, like newTel:661-6161 One accent Hyundai- Price $250,000 neg. Contact: 6101-2007 Audi A4, excellent 0517 condition- $2.7M negotiableTel: 661-6161 1- AT170 EFI car for parts, 2004 Spacio -$2M 2008 1-AT170 Stick shift driving Fielder (new shape) -$2.5M Tel: 677-5041 unregistered –Tel: 617-2891 Rare and expensive stamps 1 RZ BGG 6179 in good first day covers/post cards/ condition- $600,000 – Call: coins & paper moneyContact: 227-6817; 624-7341 601-3253 Brand new 2 storey, 3 2002 Yamaha R6, in excellent bedrooms building for sale condition, owner leaving country – Call: 661-2953; 650- in 5th Avenue, Diamond H/ Scheme E.B.D. Tel: 662-9335.

5500 One two stroke 90 Yamaha outboard, one 14ft aluminum boat, one 25 Yamaha 4 stroke outboard – Contact: 601-1138

Property at Covent Garden E.B.D, serious inquiries – Call: 265-3586 Property at Kersaint Park LBI, price $13M negotiableContact:664-1865; 698-5713 Property for sale or rental located in Eccles. Contact: 602-8703 Residential lots ad houses for sale at Eccles, E.B.D $7.5M. Tel:592-227-2913 or 689-3033 1 Flat concrete house 20X38 feet, land space: 100X200 feet. Tel: 694-1090 or 661-6073 Transported concrete property for sale at Lot 458 Block “8” Mon Repos, E.C.D, Top flat 2 bedrooms, bottom flat 2 bedrooms -$20M. Tel: 625-1514 Property @ Lot 63 West Ruimveldt, Estate Housing Scheme Georgetown – Contact Mark: 618-9744 Property at William St Campbellville, 2 family – 3 bedrooms over 2 bedrooms, 3 Baths 50FTX100FT lot.

Call Cheryl: 226-8915 (9am4:30pnm) & Winston (917) 202-7444

Crashed Toyota IST 07 Model. Price negotiable, tel: 614-1443 XBOX One, XBOX 360, PS2, PS3, PSP and Nintendo DS system, plastic barrels $6,000-Call: 603-8643; 6217497; 649-3277 One Toyota Forklift 2004, 10,000 lifting, 8ft fork, fuel propane 3 stages lift, sliding fork- Call: 629-7444 15-15-15 fertilizer, going cheap-Tel: 266-2711; 6094594 New 16" Bore Tractor driven, trailer pump, new utility, 4 wheeler box, trailer low prices –Tel: 227-1830

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 Continued on page 29

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 29

Rehab of municipality buildings…

Administration has to be “straightened out” first - City Mayor He said too that, the government continuously denied the council every opportunity to raise money, and no organization can be effective without management. He explained that the monies that would have been earned by these fund-raisers would have contributed to the maintenance of municipalityrelated facilities.

Now, with Sooba’s inability to hinder the progress of City Council, the Mayor is optimistic that there would be improvements. He noted that while the administration is being sorted out, the council has been responding to the various clean-up campaigns around the city.

City Hall is one of the structures in need of repairs.

From page 28

VACANCY Cutter/straight stitch/ button tack/hole operators.

Call: 222-2541 (8:00am4:00pm Mon-Fri) One male technician with complete secondary education, electrical knowledge & fluent in Portuguese, email: vacancy@gsatconnection.com One female clerk - Call: 2315171 Work from home, earn $5,000-$20,000 daily Call Monday-Friday 9am-5pm #233-6517, 638-0595 www.jobfairworldwide.com Drivers, security guard, office staff, to work In Georgetown –Tel: 218-5105

LAND FOR SALE Work on municipality buildings will commence after the city council’s administration would have been “straightened out” according to the Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green.

The first effort in this regard unfolded at City Hall when the acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba was sent on administrative leave close to

a week ago.

While city markets and other municipality buildings are in a dilapidated state, there must be good officers to monitor operations concerning these buildings, Green emphasised.

According to Green, the council cannot afford the rehabilitation of these buildings, and fundraisers to

facilitate repairs had been hindered by the Local government and their placement of Sooba as Town Clerk.

The Mayor had indicated that with the involvement of the then Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker, Sooba had been ignoring every decision and proposal made by the council.

The Mayor had told this publication that “the decisions of the Mayor and Councilors were being challenged by the Town Clerk and Local Government.”

He said that the Municipality does not have the funds to facilitate works, due to the Local Government’s denial of funds to maintain various facilities.

Land at Farm East B a n k Demerara Call: 668-0000, 603-7900 10 Acres Kuru Kuru, High Way Roadside for Resort Business –Tel: 601-3369 or 227-1042 Commercial lots available at Eccles E.B.D $14M - Tel:592227-2913 or 592-689-3033 Parfaite Harmonie (80FTX50FT) -$2M, Tushen $2M. We buy all low income land –Call: 611-7223

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Page 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

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

Just some facts for Freddie Kissoon DEAR EDITOR, We are writing in response to The Freddie Kissoon column in the Tuesday, June 02, 2015 edition of the Kaieteur News titled “A challenge to BK International.” While we do not take the so called “challenge” seriously we do have serious concerns about the misinformation that Mr. Kissoon continues to peddle in his columns about BK International.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Kissoon misses so many things claiming that he was at an AFC meeting or function; it is unclear why as a columnist he finds it necessary to constantly state that we was with the AFC when things took place. We hope that Mr. Kissoon does not intend his statements to be taken as a reflection of AFC positions or policies. The AFC may need to make a clear statement on this matter.

Further, in his columns, he seems compelled to mention his campaign with the AFC for the Procurement Commission and links that with BK

International’s success at winning government contracts. Mr. Kissoon also continues to suggest that BK’s success was dependent upon Mr. Jagdeo’s presidency.

At the risk of repetition, we wish to make it clear that BK International was a successful construction company long before Mr. Jagdeo became president. BK International was the first local company to break the stranglehold that international construction firms had on major infrastructural works in Guyana funded by the multinational financial institutions (IFIs).

Prior to BK’s success, all major public infrastructure works were carried out by companies such as Taylor Woodrow, Ballast Nedam and others.

For the record, Mr. Brian Tiwarie started out as a businessman in the early 1980s and by 1983 he had established and operated his company B & K Transportation and

Construction Services. That early company quickly became owner and operator of the largest fleet of vehicles (road and river) and equipment in Guyana and was working on a number of significant construction jobs.

In 1993 BK International was established as a successor company to B & K Transportation and Construction Services and all other business activities conducted by Mr. Tiwarie.

BK International has had considerable success as a construction and also as a diversified entity. The company established subsidiaries including BK Marine, BK Farms and BK Quarries.

BK International has a long and successful history in public infrastructure works on projects funded by the EU, CDB, IDB, and the World Bank. During the period 1995 to 2002 BK International successfully completed many projects mainly in the area of sea defence financed by the IDB. BK was the first

Still unprofessional DEAR EDITOR, I am not a Facebook fan but to say that I am horrified that someone would make the type of racial slur that a police sergeant is alleged to have posted on that social media with respect to the recent flooding, is putting it mildly and brings into focus the commitment of the Minister of National Security to reform the Guyana Police Force.

Since the GPF through the immediate past Minister of Home Affairs, announced that it was going through a process of reform one would like to know just how far along the force has gone.

If that Facebook posting is confirmed then that body has gone absolutely nowhere. The fact that police ranks are still behaving unprofessionally suggests

that old attitudes and behaviours still prevail and the reform slogan is just that a slogan.

Editor, up to now the ordinary citizens have not been told what to expect of this reformed GPF; we are still to be informed whether the police really understand our security needs.

One wonders if the police even know how to conduct a community assets assessment to better access the available skills in order to better serve communities in a real collaborative way.

All we have received thus far are hollow statements made conveniently to appease a populace under siege from criminal elements and criminality.

Guyanese are fed up with a police force that is doing

absolutely nothing to improve the way police business is conducted.

Prior to acceding to the new government coming into office we were regaled with the then opposition’s concerns about crime, police misconduct and the works.

Now that the monster is to be confronted we are still to hear that the issue of the two torturers is resolved; the ‘F’ Division Headquarters is now in the interior; about what the reform plan has achieved.

It all comes back to smoke and mirrors and that is what we can expect in coming days because the truth of the matter is that no one is really serious about reforming a body that everyone loves to use and abuse.

Edmund Syfox

Distorting history DEAR EDITOR, It seems as though the PPP does not know when to call it a day. It is still in campaign mode. I decided to attend the Flag raising ceremony which was planned long before the elections, and which was billed to be held in St. Ignatius.

To say that the programme was poor would be a gross understatement, but when the ex Vice Chairman gave his address then all the mediocrity was on full display.

Imagine, in the presence of school children, who were smartly attired in their uniforms, the hopeless gentleman informed those present that Mr. Jagan was at the centre of the Independence struggle and was ably assisted

by the likes of Peter D”Aguiar and Stephen Campbell, but Mr. Burnham was presented with the Instrument of Independence.

At this point there was no holding back the crowd. Chants of Granger reverberated around the venue thus making it impossible for the hapless, now embarrassed ex Vice chairman to complete his speech.

The flag was hastily hoisted and the crowd dispersed.

My hope is that the children present at that apology of a flag raising cremony do not take what they heard as gospel, and that the Education system will do all to correct this gross piece of misinformation.

Carl Parker

Guyanese-owned Construction Company to undertake a major sea defence project financed by United States PL 480 / World Bank at La Belle Alliance, Essequibo in 1997. In 2003, BK successfully executed the construction of 2.1 km Sea Defence at Mon Chosie, West Coast Berbice, the largest to be awarded to a Guyanese company at the time.

Mr. Kissoon conveniently mixes our projects with the issues of the procurement commission but fails to do the necessary research to make his case. Every major public infrastructure project awarded to BK International was after there was a public tender published.

Before BK International’s bid could receive cabinet’s ‘No-Objection’ it had first been approved by the banks.

The banks would not approve a tender if we were unqualified.

For contracts we were awarded we have the skilled and qualified technical experts, the general labour force and the equipment to carry out the project to design specifications. It should be noted here that we have built up a team of qualified local experts.

Had Mr. Kissoon done his homework he would have discovered that BK International did not win every tender it responded to, including bids submitted during the tenure of Mr. Jagdeo as president. In recent

years both the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News have been regularly publishing the submitted bids after the Tender Box is opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

Those papers also publish the awardees at the end of the process. The information on BK’s rate of success is in the public domain.

Just as an illustration we wish to point Mr. Kissoon the fact that a Bid for Upgrading of Access Roads and Bridges (Re-Tender No. 2) Lot 2 – Ruby Paved Road (Public Road to Ruby/Parika Cross Dam to ParikaPrimary School)was opened on September 16, 2014 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). BK International participated in the tender process but the project was awarded to one of our competitors.

Investigations revealed that this competitor seriously breached the NPTAB rules on ‘conflict of interest’ but was still awarded the contract ahead of BK International.

We submitted the lowest qualifying bid.

BK lodged a complaint and wrote to Dr. Roger Luncheon on October 1, October 10 and November 25, 2014 citing unfair competition.

The project was still awarded to our competitor.

This is not the only occasion where BK International was the victim in the tender process and had

our complaints fall on deaf ears while the Peoples Progressive Party was in government. It should also be noted that on several occasions over the past twenty years BK International has had to take action in the courts to ensure that we got justice and were not given a raw deal although on each of these occasions we were the most responsive bidder.

Mr. Kissoon said that he missed what Mr. Tiwaire said on television. We wish to advise that Mr. Tiwarie also said that he too campaigned and voted for change. Mr. Tiwarie campaigned with the APNU+AFC, while Mr. Kissoon continues to say that he campaigned with the AFC, missing the coming into being of the coalition.

Finally, on the matter of the campaign for change, Mr. Tiwarie and the BK Group of companies look forward to a level playing field for businesses and wait with anticipation for the establishment of the Procurement Commission.

We believe that when the Procurement Commission is in place there will be no favouritism and companies like BK International can be awarded public infrastructure projects based on a more transparent process and fair examination of our track record, capacity and competence.

Alex Graham Tagman

Lauding Jagdeo’s virtues DEAR EDITOR, Extend to the past President Jagdeo and the PPP/C their well deserved appreciation.

It was good that Guyana’s National Stadium was there, such a grand, marvelous venue for the occasion, to host the inauguration of President David Granger.

I was half expecting that the MC would have extended some words of appreciation to the past President Bharat Jagdeo for boldly and courageously pushing forward against criticism from many directions to have that facility built and available.

Always a stickler for sustainability, past President Jagdeo sought and obtained significant assistance from the Government and people of India, trimming the design to minimize first cost, and putting off some things which were added at later stages - the stadium lights, the professional stage and paving the internal parking areas.

He urged the design and

layout for multiple uses – football, concerts and fairs, etc.

Even the unpaved parking lot has been pressed into use as a building material storage and soil blending area. We have in Guyana, now, one of the best and most utilized stadiums awaiting Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary!

It was with similar attention to detail that past President Jagdeo led the construction of the Guyana International Conference Center (with assistance from the Government and people of China), thus having it available for proud naming as the Arthur Chung International Conference Center (not an inappropriate name).

And, earlier, in a similar way he had led in Guyana eventually satisfying the commitment made by the then President Burnham in 1973 to provide a headquarters building for CARICOM. Jagdeo, matching from our own funds a grant from the

Government and people of Japan, was adamant that we do the best within our means and circumstances and at the same time adequately satisfy the needs of form and function. Do you recall the controversy then about the Caricom Headquarters building? It may yet become the next facility for proud naming!

Jagdeo needed to be bold and brave; the faint-hearted would make little headway, particularly in Guyana and with a new vision.

Often, one has to press ahead differently from what many might be calling for.

Henry Ford, a pioneer in the mass production of motor vehicles is said to have remarked that if he had listened to the farmers he would have bred a stronger horse and listening to the city dwellers he would have had bred a faster horse.

Cde Samuel A. A Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 31

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

U.S. House panel seeks to ban Allies back Iraq plan against ISIS, Baghdad seeks more help funding for U.S. embassy in Cuba Western and Arab states carrying out air strikes on Islamic State fighters backed on Tuesday Iraq’s plan to retake territory from the jihadist movement after being accused by the Iraqi premier of not doing enough to help Baghdad push back the insurgents. Around 20 coalition ministers met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Paris, in part to persuade his Shi’ite Muslim-led government to repair relations with Iraq’s Sunni minority to strengthen its campaign against the Sunni Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Despite a show of unity, Abadi appeared to reject suggestions that Baghdad was paying insufficient attention to reconciliation with Sunni.

He said the world had “failed” Iraq, highlighting the significant number of foreign Islamic State volunteers entering Iraq from countries in the coalition.

“The talks allowed us to reaffirm our unity and joint determination to fight the terrorists of Daesh (Islamic State),” French Foreign Min-

ister Laurent Fabius said after the meeting.

“This military strategy is inseparable to implementing political reconciliation in Iraq,” he told reporters.

“There isn’t on one side the military and on the other political.” Abadi said he was committed to Sunni-Shi’ite rapprochement but accused the internationalcoalition of not doing enough to tackle Islamic State, which swept across swathes of northern and western Iraq in 2014 and now holds about a third of the country.

“We can make sacrifices to fight Islamic State but the international coalition has to support us,” he said.

Abadi said his forces were making headway against Islamic State but that Baghdad urgently needed more intelligence and weapons, including anti-tank guns, from the coalition. He said Baghdad had received very few arms or ammunition despite coalition pledges to provide more. “Almost none.

We are relying on ourselves,” he said, noting that

he was awaiting United Nations approval to buy weapons from Iran and Russia.

“The air campaign is useful for us, but it’s not enough.

It’s too little. Surveillance is very small. Daesh is mobile and moves in small groups,” said Abadi.

U.S. ANTI-TANK ROCKETS DELIVERED The Pentagon, confirming a Reuters report from on Monday, said the United States had delivered anti-tank rockets to Iraq.

“We’re giving 1,000 to the Iraqis immediately. The other 1,000 are being held,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told a news briefing.

The Pentagon said the other 1,000 were for training Iraqi forces and future contingencies.

Last month, the Iraqi government had its worst military setback in nearly a year when Islamic State seized Ramadi from a weakened Iraqi army.

The capital of the overwhelmingly Sunni province of Anbar is 90 km (55 miles) west of Baghdad.

WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - A proposed U.S. House of Representatives appropriations bill released yesterday would prohibit funds for an American embassy or other diplomatic facility in Cuba beyond what existed before President Barack Obama’s December announcement that he would move to normalize relations with Havana.

The measure also would restrict funds to facilitate the opening of a Cuban embassy in the United States, increase democracy assistance and international broadcasting to Cuba and provide direction to the State Department on de-

nying visas to members of the Cuban military and Communist Party.

Some members of Congress, led mostly by Republican Cuban-American lawmakers, have objected to the U.S. shift in Cuba policy. They want Cuba’s government to do more to improve human rights on the island, release U.S. fugitives living in Cuba and allow free elections before easing restrictions on trade, travel and diplomatic relations.

They have pledged to use bills such as appropriations legislation to try to block the initiative by Obama, a Democrat.

“I think we have been very clear with our challenges with what’s gone on in Cuba, from human rights, from what’s happened there, and we have a difference of opinion with the administration and we have a right to express it,” Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House Majority Leader, said at a news conference.

The United States formally dropped Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism last Friday, an important step toward restoring diplomatic ties but one that will have a limited effect on removing U.S. sanctions on the Communist-ruled island.

PM rejects IMF advice to cut wage bill

Gaston Browne Daily Observer - Prime Minister Gaston Browne, in interpreting the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) call to reduce the wage bill as a code to lay off workers, has replied to the with a resounding the “no” to the body’s suggestion to retrench workers in the public sector.

“The major recommendation is to cut costs. My question is from where? Our debt payments are $450 million annually and salaries and wages $350 million; to be covered from $600 million in revenues.

We cannot unilaterally refuse to pay debts and we will not retrench,” Browne said.

The IMF has warned that the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) administration’s current policies do not appear sustainable. In its third postprogramme monitoring assessment, the IMF said urgent steps are needed, including immediate spending cuts.

But Browne believes that the ABLP is on the right path and will fix the fiscal problems in time.

“Antigua and Barbuda’s fiscal imbalance is structural

and will take about a decade to resolve with prudent fiscal management. We have been containing expenditure and increasing revenue through the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP). Our capital spending is very low with only $14 million allocated to Public Works for road works,” said Browne.

The prime minister threw the ball back in the IMF’s court and suggested that they point to specific areas for cuts and, perhaps, the tongue-in-cheek suggestion to wipe off the country’s loan, something that Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Lennox Weston on Monday suggested would never happen.

“Perhaps the IMF should indicate from whence should these cuts come? I have a suggestion. Why don’t they wipe off their loan and give us some breathing space?” posited Browne.

The IMF is encouraging the authorities to adopt a comprehensive medium-term fiscal consolidation programme starting in June

2015.

Its directors say the government should immediately start announcing new measures including steps to lower the wage bill. They further advise strengthening tax administration to improve collections, cutting spending on goods and services and giving less money to state owned enterprises or statutory corporations.

They also suggest improving expenditure and payment control, reducing public sector cross debts, and strengthening oversight of state-owned enterprises.

But Browne said the only thing the IMF advises that the ABLP is not doing is cutting the wage bill and he maintains that his stance will not change.

“Retrenchment would plunge more of our people into a life of poverty which is extremely high.

Despite all of the adjustments that were made by the IMF under the UPP regime, over 20 per cent of the population was unemployed and over 35 per cent lived in poverty. The hard cold recommendation of the IMF to retrench is contrary to my government’s people empowerment p h i l o s o p h y, ” said Browne.

However, the IMF had a lot o f p o s i t i v e s t o s a y about the ABLP administration. It recognised that funds from the CIP are helping the situation, but warned the extra money should not encourage the government to loosen plans to sort out its poor financial situation.

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Six regional banks implicated in Fifa scandal Trinidad Guardian - Six banks from the Caribbean, three of which are from T&T, are listed as having completed wire transfers of large sums of money for the Fifa officials who were charged by the US. On Wednesday last, former Fifa vice president and MP for Chaguanas West, Jack Warner surrendered himself to the Fraud Squad of the T&T Police because of the US indictments in New York.

According to the 166page indictment in United States vs Jeffrey Webb, et al, in which many senior Fifa officials and others are charged with multiple counts of racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud involving US$150 million, six Caribbean banks are listed as having completed wire transfers of large sums of money for the defendants.

The regional banks listed in the indictment are: First

Caribbean International Bank (Bahamas), Barclays Bank (Cayman Islands), Fidelity Bank (Cayman Islands), First Citizens Bank (T&T), Intercommercial Bank (T&T) and Republic Bank (T&T).

None of the banks has been charged with any crime, or regulatory violation.

On Friday, the Bankers’ Association of T&T (BATT) stated that it remains committed to working with local and foreign regulators and law enforcement agencies as the investigation progresses.

“The Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BATT) has taken note of the fact that certain local commercial banks have been named in the indictment raised against the Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West, Austin ‘Jack’ Warner,” the association said in a release.

“BATT wishes to acknowledge that banks, as responsible corporate bodies, are committed to co-operat-

Jack Warner ing fully with regulatory and law enforcement agencies when engaged on matters of a regulatory, legal and/or criminal nature,” it noted.

Warner is currently free on $2.5 million bail.

More than 1,000 JCF members out ‘sick’ The Gleaner - The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says about 1,000 of its rank and file members have not reported for duties yesterday.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Assan Thompson, gav e t h a t u p d a t e o n Power 106 FM earlier yesterday.

Dozens of JCF members represented by the Police Federation started calling in sick from late Monday crippling the functions of the po-

lice force.

They are taking action to press their demands for an improved wage offer from the Government.

Assistant Commissioner Thompson, told Cliff Hughes on his programme this morning that senior officers along with members of the Jamaica Defense Force are helping to lessen the effects of the police protest.

The senior policeman is seeking to assure citizens that their protection is being safe-

guarded.

Trainees from the Jamaica Police Academy have also been called in to give assistance.

Our news centre Monday night obtained a copy of a message that one police source says was sent to members warning about a hurricane which would make landfall.

The police use code words to discuss their strategies and it’s understood that a ‘hurricane’ means five days of sick leave.

Tributes pour in following the death of Dominica’s sixth president ROSEAU, Dominica Dominica’s sixth president Dr Nicholas Liverpool has died.

The 80-year-old passed away Monday in Miami where he had been receiving medical treatment.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said Liverpool’s death has robbed the country of “a most revered ambassador for and of this country”.

Liverpool served as president from October 2003 to September 2012.

“Just over six months ago the nation gathered enmasse to salute and celebrate the life and times of Dr. Nicholas Liverpool.

We recognized then, as we do now, that this was a Dominican of extraordinary tal-

Dr Nicholas Liverpool ent and achievement; yet a humble gentleman who had a moment and a listening ear for everyone with whom he came into contact,”

Skerritt wrote on his Facebook page.

He said all flags in Dominica would be flown as half mast from today until the day after Liverpool’s burial.

The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) also paid tribute to Liverpool, saying that he “served Dominica with distinction on many fronts”.

Expressing condolences to his family, the party said: “While the sense of loss and grief may be at times overwhelming, may they find solace in the fact that the name of their husband, father and friend has been indelibly marked in the history books of our island state.”

Page 33

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Divers comb capsized China ship, European Parliament retaliates Premier Li orders transparent probe over Russia entry ban

A woman is helped after being pulled out by divers from a sunken ship More than 200 divers combed a capsized Chinese ship in the Yangtze River on Wednesday looking for more than 400 missing people, many of them elderly Chinese tourists, as Premier Li Keqiang called for a transparent investigation.

Only seven bodies have been recovered so far and 14 people found alive. Among the few rescued was an elderly woman who had been trapped in an air pocket in the ship, which capsized during a freak tornado on Monday night.

The disaster could be China’s worst shipping accident in nearly 70 years and possibly the worst in East Asia since a ferry sinking in South Korea in April 2014 killed 304 people, most of them children on a school trip.

State television carried pictures of rescuers, some standing on the ship’s upturned hull, working through the night.

Premier Li, who rushed to the scene to oversee rescue efforts, called for “regular and

transparent updates” on the rescue and investigation, and said authorities must ensure adequate personnel and funding.

Relatives, angry at what they perceive as a lack of information, have scuffled with officials in Shanghai. All of the passengers on board had booked their trips through a Shanghai-based travel agency.

A passenger manifest carried by state media showed those on board the Eastern Star ranged in age from three to more than 80. There were 456 people on board when the ship capsized.

China’s weather bureau said a tornado had buffeted the area where the ship was cruising, a freak occurrence in a country where twisters can happen but are uncommon.

The ship’s captain and the chief engineer, who were among the few to be rescued, have been detained by police for questioning. An initial investigation found the ship was not overloaded and had enough life vests for its pas-

sengers.

The ship overturned “within one or two minutes”, Xinhua news agency quoted the captain as saying. He was dragged out of the water near a pier just before midnight on Monday.

The Eastern Star, which had the capacity to carry more than 500 people, was heading to the southwestern city of Chongqing from Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province. It sank in the Jianli section of the Yangtze.

Accidents of this magnitude are uncommon in China, where major rivers are used for tours and cruises. A tug sank on the Yangtze while undergoing sea trials in January, killing 22 of the 25 people on board.

In the worst previous incident of its kind in China, the steamship Kiangya blew up on the Huangpu river in 1948, killing more than 1,000 people.

The Eastern Star is owned by the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation, which runs tours along the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze.

The European Parliament retaliated on Tuesday against a Russian entry ban on European politicians and military leaders, saying Moscow’s envoy to Brussels was no longer welcome at the assembly and Russian lawmakers would be vetted before being allowed in.

The statement by European Parliament President Martin Schulz came a week after the Russian foreign ministry compiled a blacklist of 89 politicians, military and intelligence officials including outspoken critics of Russia.

“Martin Schulz today informed the Russian ambassador to the EU that ... he considers that it is now justified to take appropriate measures in response,” Schulz’s office said.

Those measures include blocking free access to Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian

European Parliament President Martin Schulz ambassador to the European Union, meaning he would only be allowed into the parliament under special circumstances.

Members of the Duma,

Russia’s lower house of parliament, and the Federation Council, the upper house, will only be granted access on a case-by-case basis, Schulz’s office said.

Schulz has also suspended a committee made up of Russian and EU lawmakers that meets several times a year to improve ties.

The steps underscore the worsening standoff between the West and Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.

Since Russia annexed Crimea in March last year, the EU has imposed economic sanctions, visa bans and asset freezes on scores of Russian and Ukrainian citizens and organisations.

Moscow denies Western accusations that it is supporting pro-Russian separatists battling government forces in Ukraine, where 6,200 people have died in the fighting.

Relatives, politicians call on Iran to free detained Americans Senior U.S. congressman on Tuesday accused the Iranian government of spitting in America’s face by holding U.S. citizens while negotiating an end to sanctions in return for curbing its nuclear program.

At a House of Representatives committee hearing, relatives of three detained Americans, Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati and Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, said they should not be forgotten in the effort to seal a nuclear deal with Iran by a June 30 deadline.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution calling on Iran to immediately release the three and to provide information about Robert Levinson, an American missing in Iran since 2007.

Committee Chairman Ed Royce, a Republican, said the detentions showed Iran’s “contempt” for the United States.

“If top Iranian officials cannot be counted on to assist these wrongfully jailed Americans, can they be counted on to honor the commitments they make at the negotiating table?” he asked.

Eliot Engel, the senior committee Democrat, said that while the cases should not be tied in with the nuclear

Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian talks, it would be “ludicrous and outrageous” to have a deal with Iran that did not include freeing the Americans.

“I feel so angry that at a time when we are sitting with Iran ... to discuss a new arrangement between our two countries ... they continue to poke us in the eye and continue to spit in our face,” Engel said.

This was especially so given what he called the ongoing “show trial” on espionage charges the Washi n g t o n P o s t ’s J a s o n Rezaian, he said.

Sarah Hekmati, whose brother Amir, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in August 2011 while visiting his

grandmother in Tehran, said her father was suffering from terminal brain cancer and had several strokes in the last year.

“Our father holds on hoping to hold Amir in his arms again, but fearful that he will not,” she said.

Amir Hekmati was convicted of spying for the Central Intelligence Agency, a charge relatives and Washington deny.

Current and former U.S. officials have acknowledged that Levinson was a source for the CIA when he disappeared in 2007 from Kish Island, an Iranian resort in the Gulf.

Abedini, an IranianAmerican Christian pastor, was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2013 on charges of undermining Iran’s national security by setting up homebased Christian churches in Iran.

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

FIFA scandal deepens...

(From page 36) wise would have gone to South Africa to support the World Cup to the Caribbean Football Union, where Warner was president.

The indictment said that the high-ranking FIFA official identified on Monday as Valcke caused $10 million to be wired to accounts controlled by Warner, who subsequent l y d i v e r t e d p o r tions of the money for his personal use and to personal accounts, the indictment said.

SUSPENSION AND BANS In Zurich, Enrique Sanz, the General Secretary of

CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Association Football), was suspended and Congolese Football Association (FECAFOOT) officials Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas and Badji Mombo Wantete were provisionally banned by FIFA’s Ethics Committee.

In Paraguay, a judge on Monday ordered house arrest for the former President of South America’s Soccer Federation, Nicolas Leoz, accused of involvement in the scandal.

England called for a boycott but a senior UEFA official cast doubt on an outright move, while Sweden’s soccer authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a boycott,

Swedish FA Chairman KarlErik Nilsson told Reuters.

Following Blatter’s re-election as FIFA President, the English Football Association’s chairman Greg Dyke said his organization would support any boycott led by UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations.

English Football Association board member Heather Rabbatts said she was withdrawing from FIFA’s task force against racism and discrimination with immediate effect. “Like many in the game, I find it unacceptable that so little has been done to reform FIFA,” Rabbatts said in a statement.

(Reuters)

Wednesday June 03, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Some past stories may come back to haunt you today, Aries. If you once held a government post, for example, a journalist could undercover some error that you made years ago and publish it in today's newspaper!

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The day may give you great insight into the decisions you face concerning your future.

Now is the time to decide on your priorities. Do you want a career right away or would you prefer to continue your studies?

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may be taking stock of your professional life, Taurus. If this is so, be careful to balance strategy with personal objectives.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Prepare for a somewhat stressful day. Your family life may be marred by some disagreements.

There's some likelihood you will feel as though your territory is being invaded and your range of action limited.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Something strange may happen today. Someone in your family may reproach you for having chosen your profession.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Authorities who have been your guides up to now may confront you. The hour is here to set aside your fears and lead yourself along your path.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) The day is likely to be confrontational. The latest developments in your career have offered you so little encouragement that you're tempted to cut back on your efforts, but your financial situation is forcing you to try even harder.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're likely to experience a day of thoughtfulness and reflection, Virgo. Your state of mind will resemble that of a person who has just rebelled against everything and is now in search of a new vehicle for self-fulfillment.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may have planned to isolate yourself in order to get things done, but that won't be possible. It's like a force is destabilizing your professional life. Nothing seems to go right today.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) People seem fussy about your way of doing things today, Capricorn. Try as you might, it seems there's no pleasing the authorities.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your characteristic independence may play some tricks on you today. What you say won't be approved of as easily as usual.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Here is a day that may make you think you aren't exactly in the right place in your profession. Could it be that your current position is too traditional? You're someone who wants to expand on all the ideas that you have at any given moment.

Page 35

BCB launches fundraiser....

(From page 41) cricketers. It was also noted that because of lack of sponsorship, the tournament was missing in Berbice for many years.

The recently elected board promised that three day cricket will return to Berbice and is making sure that that promise is fulfilled. The release stated that Berbice continues to produce cricketers for Guyana and the West Indies despite receiving no funding from the parent body for over five years and will continue to do so despite the challenges.

The Caricom Championship will see the top eight T20

first division teams in Berbice taking part in a ten over knockout competition with the final of 20 overs to be played under lights for a top prize of $80,000 and trophy.

The runner up will receive $40,000 and trophy, with the losing finalists $15,000 each.

Man of the match in every game will be rewarded. Action begins at 10:00am sharp.

The board initially planned a feature game under lights between Berbice Senior team and a Senior team from Demerara. However, the Guyana Cricket Board refused permission and as a result, only teams from Berbice will participate. The BCB ex-

pressed disappointment with the GCB decision. The board however, will continue to work to further develop the game in the ancient county.

The board is appealing to all cricket lovers in Guyana and in the diaspora to come on board to make this competition a reality. The board is also calling on former Berbice players for assistance. Contact can be made on telephone numbers 333-2375, 655-4140 and 623-6875.

Many gate prizes will be up for grabs for the fans with a well stock bar and musical entertainment available.

Games for the young and old will be there.

Chandrika could become Guyana’s...

(From page 42) desperately search for an opener to partner the young but highly responsible 22year-old Kraigg Braithwaite who already has four Test hundreds including a double.

Chandrika first represented his country when he played as a 14-year-old in the Regional Under-15 competition. After scoring heavily for Guyana in the 2006 Regional Under-19 tournament he was selected for the West Indies U-19 side in the 2007 Senior Regional 50-over tournament.

He also played at the Re-

gional U-19 level in 2007 scoring one century at this level from 10 games and was a member of Guyana’s winning team both years under Steven Jacobs’ Captaincy.

The Demerara opener played for the West Indies ‘A’ against Pakistan ‘A’ in two 50over matches in the West Indies in November 2010 and in two First-Class matches against Bangladesh ‘A” in the West Indies the next year.

In September 2010 Chandrika represented Sagicor in a triangular 50-over series in Toronto, Canada,

against Canada and Bermuda before touring with the Sagicor team in 2011 for a quadrangular 50- over series in Dubai which included the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and the senior West Indies team. He scored a fluent 114 against Afghanistan.

But Chandrika, who was awarded the Most Improved Player’s trophy at the Sagicor High Perfomance Centre five years ago, should know that he has been selected on pure potential and he would hope to rectify that with a debut century in Dominica.

GBBC President Peter Abdool agitates...

(From page 43) was the catalyst to the many other world champions that have succeeded him and as such he must be given that respect. “He came to a door that advocated ‘world champions only, no Guyanese allowed’ and he simply kicked it down,” Abdool emphasized.

Indeed, the GBBC boss summed up his contention when he said, “Lewis’ singular achievement represented a culmination of all of the countless years of toil and effort of all who preceded him – our amateur ranks through which he had come, our loyal and dedicated trainers, cornermen, sparring partners, the Guyana Boxing Board itself and the many, many loyal supporters over the years. His spectacular seizing of the world title was at last, justification for all of the hard work over the years; a vindication as it were, that it had not all been in vain – that our great and unyielding belief that our fighters were among the very best in the world was finally proven and justified in spectacular fashion for all the world to see.”

It is this conviction that has informed Mr. Abdool’s conviction that a national monument is just reward for such a great son of the soil.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

FIFA scandal deepens as Blatter aide linked to payments U.S. prosecutors believe FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s top lieutenant made $10 million in bank transactions that are central to the bribery investigation of the world soccer body, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s Secretary General, is described in an indictment filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, as an unidentified “high-ranking FIFA official” who in 2008 transferred the sum to another FIFA official, Jack Warner.

Valcke is not named as a defendant and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

He was not immediately available for comment. A spokes-

woman for FIFA said the $10 million in bank transactions were authorized by the thenFIFA Finance Committee chairman. The Finance Committee chairman was Julio Grondona, who died last year.

Valcke and Blatter are the top two officials within FIFA. Valcke’s connection to the case was first reported by The New York Times. The Times said Valcke had written in an email to the newspaper that he neither had authorized the payment nor had the power to do so.

As new questions arose in the FIFA scandal, more officials were arrested, suspended or banned on Monday, and countries were weighing a World Cup boy-

cott amid controversy over the re-election of Blatter as FIFA president on Friday.

As news broke of Valcke’s alleged connection to the case, FIFA announced that Valcke would not attend the opening of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 due to begin on Saturday as previously scheduled. ”It is important that he attends to matters at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich,” FIFA said in a statement.

WHY ARE THERE NO INVESTIGATIONS INTO SEPP BLATTER?’ Warner, a former FIFA vice president, is among 14 FIFA officials and corporate executives charged by the U.S. Department of Justice last

Warner deliberately acting delusional to avoid corruption trial, claims Trinidad minister

Warner gestures next to Rekha Ramjit, chairwoman of his Independent Liberal Party during the rally, hours after leaving the police last week. (Reuters) Daily Mail - Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner has been accused of being deliberately ‘delusional’ to try and dodge trial in America on mental health grounds.

Dr Roodal Moonilal, a Government minister in his native Trinidad and Tobago, said Warner’s odd defence of FIFA corruption and money laundering charges against him were a ruse to appear mentally unfit.

It follows a series of bizarre incidents involving the disgraced official since he surrendered himself to authorities last week, the Trinidad Express reports.

Last week the 72-year-old was freed from prison due to ‘exhaustion’ only to be seen partying with supporters hours later. Days later he cited an article by satirical news outlet The Onion in an attempt to counter the criminal charges against him.

But Dr Moonilal, leader of Government Business, claims the eccentric behaviour may be a cynical attempt to avoid

extradition to America.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s trying to build a case in defence to suggest that he’s medically and mentally unfit to face a trial in the United States,’ he said.

‘It could well explain some of the delusional statements that he makes, if it is that one day he would raise a defence of being mentally unable to stand trial in the United States.’

Warner, who was forced to quit FIFA as Vice President in 2011 over allegations of bribery, is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the US Department of Justice with running a criminal enterprise that involved more than £100million in bribes.

Prosecutors say Warner solicited bribes worth £6.5million from the South African government to host the 2010 World Cup and diverted bribes for personal use.

He was granted a $395,000 (£257,000) bond but spent the night in jail.

The next day, he refused to speak to reporters due to exhaustion but was later seen donning a garland and whipping a partisan crowd of political allies into a frenzy with an energetic and defiant speech professing his innocence.

‘If I have been thiefing FIFA money for 30 years, who give me the money? How come he is not charged?’ he asked the crowd.

‘Why only persons from Third World countries have been charged?’

On Sunday, he uploaded an eight-minute video to his Facebook page, speaking about ‘a trying week’ with regards to FIFA corruption charges but mistakenly believing an article using satire which said the United States will host the World Cup in 2015.

Now Trinidad government officials have been forced to deny his latest claims that he accompanied Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar to meetings with contractors to seek financing for election campaigns.

Dr Moonilal, whose party the United National Congress have not commented formally on the case, questioned his honesty.

‘I don’t know who in the world today is prepared to believe Mr Warner, Mr Blatter, Mr Webb and others. It is really a sad thing when people utter things in public and you really can’t believe anything,’ he said.

‘I thought the experience last Wednesday would in a way calm him down and allowed him to reflect on his own mortality, political and otherwise. His recklessness continues.’

Wednesday with running a criminal enterprise that involved more than $150 million in bribes.

Warner left jail in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday after he was granted bail, according to local media. “Why are there no investigations in Asia, or in Europe?” Warner asked German magazine Stern in an interview released on Monday. ”Why are there no investigations into Sepp Blatter?

No other person has brought so much shame and disgrace on FIFA.” A court transcript released on Monday said that Warner’s son, Daryan Warner, secretly agreed in 2013 to cooperate with U.S. authorities and to admit to participating in a World Cup ticket-reselling scheme.

Like his brother Daryll, Daryan had agreed to assist U.S. authorities as part of separate plea deals.

The transcript, ordered

released by a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, contained Daryan Warner’s guilty plea.

The $10 million payment is a key feature of the indictment accusing Jack Warner of taking a bribe in exchange for helping South Africa secure the right to host the 2010 World Cup. The indictment said an arrangement had been made with FIFA officials to have $10 million that other (Continued on page 35)

Tsonga, Wawrinka prevail but Federer’s gone with the wind Swirling winds caused mayhem and chaos at Roland Garros yesterday, with Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Stan Wawrinka emerging unscathed to set up a French Open semi-final. On a day when Wawrinka would have hoped to bask in the glory of beating his more celebrated rival Roger Federer 6-4 6-3 76(4) for the first time on a grand slam stage, it was a freak accident that set the claycourt major abuzz.

Tsonga had whipped the delirious Court Philippe Chatrier crowd into a frenzy as he charged into a 6-1 5-2 lead against Japan’s Kei Nishikori when piercing screams were suddenly heard from high up in the stands.

A large rectangular side panel had fallen off from underneath the TV commentary boxes, hitting spectators sitting on the top row. The incident even caught umpire Carlos Bernardes unaware, as he tried to resume the contest by calling for “Quiet Please” before he realized that everyone was distracted by the mishap which left a silverhaired fan and two others injured. As the stricken fans were led away by first-aiders, Tsonga and Nishikori were ushered off court for what turned out to be a 40-minute disruption, during which 12 rows of spectators were evacuated and the area cordoned off.

The unexpected break initially did nothing to stall Tsonga’s momentum and he returned to finish off Nishikori in the second set. But after the Japanese hero threatened to gatecrash the French party by roaring back in the next two sets, Tsonga sunk to his knees in triumph as he once again raised hopes of ending France’s 32-year wait for a men’s Roland Garros champion with a heart-pumping 61 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 victory.

Gusting winds also proved problematic in the two women’s quarter-finals to take place on day 10 of the championships — but 2008 cham-

pion Ana Ivanovic and Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova weathered the conditions that periodically turned the courts into red dust bowls to set up a last four date.

FEDERER OUT-WITTED For men’s second seed Federer, however, hopes of a second French Open crown were gone with the wind as he was outplayed, outthought and out-witted by a rival he had beaten in every one of their previous four grand slam meetings.

Federer’s wife Mirka hid her worried eyes behind dark shades and bit her nails ragged as the match neared its inevitable conclusion, with a forehand volley from Wawrinka killing off the 2009 champion’s chances of adding to his haul of 17 grand slam trophies. ”Many things... didn’t go well, but mostly it’s because of Stan’s quality of shot making, forehand, backhand, serving big when he had to,” said the 33-year-old. “It was tough. Would have loved to have won the breaker, would have loved to come back in the first set, but wasn’t so. “(The conditions) were tough. So it’s impressive the way Stan was able to play.”

A day after knocking out 2014 champion Maria

Sharapova, Safarova’s excitement kept soaring as she stormed into her first Roland Garros semi-final with a 7-6(3) 6-3 win over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza. ”It’s not easy because you have so many emotions going on... I couldn’t really fall asleep yesterday evening, and then I woke up so early,” said Safarova, who is bidding to become the first Czech to triumph in Paris since Hana Mandlikova in 1981. ”So I was a little tired in the morning. But the will to win and to be in the semi-finals was so big that once I stepped on the court I was just fighting and playing really well.” Ivanovic’s boyfriend, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, looked far more animated than his Serbian girlfriend when she completed a 6-3 6-2 win over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

Whooping and exchanging high-fives with the rest of Ivanovic’s entourage in the player’s box, Schweinsteiger stood up to give the seventh seed a standing ovation as she reached a grand slam semi for the first time since her 2008 Paris triumph. ”I’m very, very thrilled to be in my first semi-final since 2008. It’s been a long road,” summed up Ivanovic.

(Reuters)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France returns the ball to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their men’s quarterfinal match. Reuters/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 37

Craig, Williamson spin NZ to famous win

Mark Craig appeals for the final wicket ©Getty Images Hearts and minds are one thing but what New Zealand really wanted to win was this Test. At Headingley, the ground where they first claimed a Test victory in England more than 30 years ago, they had to battle the weather, which took almost a day out of the game, and an England side still swaggering from their heroics at Lord’s last week.

They overcame both with time to spare, having scored 804 runs at almost five an over and twice rattled through England with pace, swing and, on the final day, spin.

Every member of the side contributed to their victory in the second Investec Test, one which levelled the series and preserved a two-year unbeaten run.

In 54 Tests against England in England, it was only New Zealand’s fifth victory and their first of the 21st century.

Mark Craig followed some lower-order slugging and immaculate slip catching with three wickets on a wearing surface, finishing England’s resistance by having Jos Buttler lbw without playing a shot.

Kane Williamson also picked up three-for with his par t - t i m e o f f s p i n , a f t e r Trent Boult, the jointleading wicket-taker on either side, had struck twice early on to set New Z e a l a n d o n t h e i r w a y.

That England extended the

game into the final session was chiefly down to dogged half-centuries from Buttler and Alastair Cook.

Obdurate crease occupation is Cook’s greatest strength and he absorbed 171 balls in making 56, bowing his head over the bat like a monk at prayer.

Buttler showed a different side to his game by playing with admirable restraint during his lengthiest Test innings, in terms of balls faced.

England had gone to lunch five down, any bravado about attempting to chase 455 scattered to the far corners of the Yorkshire Ridings.

Cook was their chief hope of saving the game but he fell shortly after having become the youngest man to record 9000 Test runs - when he failed in an attempt to reverse his lbw decision against Williamson, who struck in the first over of a spell for the second time, Brendon McCullum knew things were going his way.

Buttler made it through to tea, surviving a review for caught down the leg side off Tim Southee and a working over by Matt Henry, who followed a throat ball with one that took the outside edge and fell short of slip; Buttler also required treatment after a length delivery from Henry leapt to strike him a vicious blow on the hand.

He was later doubled up

by the same bowler, winded by a blow to the stomach. It was an apt representation of England’s pummelling.

New Zealand had enjoyed a perfect morning, Boult and Craig taking two wickets apiece in the first hour to help New Zealand once again seize the initiative.

Only a scattering of spectators had braved another icy day - despite reduced ticket prices - as the people of Yorkshire wisely decided England were not worth the investment.

This was a working Tuesday, after all, and England did not get close to replicating the final-day drama served up against Sri Lanka at Headingley a year ago, never mind their Auckland rescue act against McCullum’s New Zealand in 2013.

Still, for the couple of thousand in attendance as well as those watching on television screens around the world, there was much to admire in the way New Zealand went about their business, each wicket celebrated with joyous collective abandon.

McCullum’s side have not lost a Test series since their last visit to England and they have won many more admirers besides for the spirit in which they approach a challenge.

It made the absence of a deciding Test all the more disappointing, though both

sides could take credit from the fact that no two-match series has ever enjoyed such a glut of run-scoring (not to mention 78 wickets as well).

If England did intend to

play positively and keep the threat of a world-record run chase in the back of Kiwi minds, it was not easy to discern. Five of the first six overs were maidens, one of which included the wicket of Adam Lyth, caught behind after nicking yet another good one from Boult.

With Boult making the ball swing under grey skies and McCullum able to do much as he pleased with his fielders, England regressed into the defensive posture that has frequently cost them in recent years.

Lyth was always the likelier of England’s openers to press New Zealand back with his strokeplay but his dismissal without adding to his overnight score brought the seemingly illat-ease Gary Ballance to the middle.

Despite an attempt to counter a perceived weakness against full, swinging deliveries by batting out of his crease (before stepping back in as per his trigger movement), he was undone by the skills of Boult for the second time in the match. Lightning struck twice, this time via a full ball deflecting off the pads and into off stump.

The offspinner Craig, who England dealt with brusquely at Lord’s, was able to settle into a rhythm from the

Kirkstall Lane End and he gained rich reward halfway through the session, removing Ian Bell and Joe Root within the space of three deliveries.

Both fell to excellent legside catches, though the decision making - from Bell in particular - was questionable.

Having seen McCullum instruct Kane Williamson to go and stand at leg slip, Bell went back into his crease and steered the ball obligingly straight to the fielder, who scooped it off the ground with glee.

Root struck his leg glance much more powerfully, only for Tom Latham’s woolly jumper to absorb the impact and his hands to gratefully clutch the ball.

Root had declared on the fourth evening that England still had a chance of chasing 455 but a slim chance had become no chance by the time he was the fourth batsman out inside the first hour. England attempted the talk but it was New Zealand who walked it.

New Zealand 350 (Ronchi 88, Latham 84, Broad 5-109) and 454 for 8 dec (Watling 120, Guptill 70, Craig 58*, McCullum 55) beat England 350 (Lyth 107, Cook 75, Southee 4-83) and 255 (Buttler 73, Cook 56, Williamson 3-15) by 199 runs.

(ESPNcricinfo)

President on rejected council idea Roseau, Dominica (CMC) – President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dave Cameron says one of the reasons for rejecting the idea of a Council to oversee West Indies Cricket is because it would not have been an elected body.

The recommendation to implement a Council was made by former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson, who, in 2007, chaired a Committee, which included Dr. Ian McDonald and Sir Alister McIntyre.

The committee presented their findings to the Julian Hunte-led organisation after carrying out a review of the governance of West Indies cricket, commissioned by the then WICB president Ken Gordon. ”The board rejected that idea, the board felt that at every step of the way we are all elected members,” said Cameron as he addressed a town hall meeting here on Monday night. ”Why should we all be elected, work in cricket and then there is some eminent counsel chosen by whom to

Dave Cameron

elect and lead this body” The report, also known as the Governance Report, examined all the major facets of West Indies cricket and advanced solutions to issues of leadership, marketing, Board structure and the relationship between the Board and players.

The Patterson report also recommended the formation of a reconstituted body called West Indies Cricket to oversee cricket in the Caribbean. Cameron said the WICB has implemented

“about 80 to 90 per cent” of the Patterson report. ”The big thing we haven’t implemented is a council…that would sit on top of the West Indies Cricket Board”, he said. ”You may say well, who are you accountable to.

I am accountable to you all and that’s why we are here this evening…we are accountable to the territorial boards who have elected us and to the governments of the region…”

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 03, 2015

U.S., Germany fancied at landmark Women’s World Cup Canada will host the largest Women’s World Cup in history over the next month where the neighboring United States are a hot favorite to snap a 16-year title drought at soccer’s showpiece event.

With a legal fight over the use of artificial turf now in the rear-view mirror, Canada will kick off the June 6-July 5 tournament against China in the first international competition to be played entirely on plastic pitches.

Eighth-ranked Canada qualified as hosts and are hoping the backing of a passionate fan base and the experience of winning a bronze medal at the London Olympics can carry them deep into the tournament.

The United States will face stiff European opposition led by continental champions and top-ranked Germany, as well as an Asian challenge spearheaded by holders Japan, who beat the Americans on penalties in the 2011 World Cup final.

Taking place for the seventh time, the Women’s World Cup will feature an expanded field of 24 teams, twice as many as when it started back

USA forward Abby Wambach (R) addresses the media as GK Hope Solo (L) and MF Megan Rapinoe look on at the USA women’s national soccer team media day in New York, May 27, 2015. (Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports) in 1991 and eight more than in the last three tournaments.

The 24 nations will be divided into six groups of four, with matches taking place in six cities across Canada. The top two teams in each group will make it through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the four best third-placed teams, and all eyes will be on Canada’s near neighbors, who are hotly-tipped to win a third world title.

The Americans will cross the border having won the last

two Olympic gold medals, but despite the growing popularity of the sport in the United States, they are without a World Cup win since securing their second title in 1999.

The heartbreaking loss on penalties to Japan in 2011 will loom large in the minds of those who took part, but Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan are likely to team up again up front as they look to avenge that loss.

Though the Americans are a popular pick to take the tro-

phy, it is European champions Germany who are ranked number one in the world, with the United States just behind them in second.

POTENT DUO Anchored by Nadine Angerer in goal, the German side is full of pace and power, and with the potent duo of Anja Mittag and Celia Sasic up front, they will be a handful for any side.

The Germans are part of a wave of European teams all

in with a realistic shot of making the semi-finals.

European runners-up Norway will provide a physical test for their opponents, and in teenage striker Ada Hegerberg they have one of the rising stars of the game. Sweden are well-organized by former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage but will have to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to survive a ‘Group of Death’ featuring the United States, 10thranked Australia and African champions Nigeria.

Slick, tough and skillful, France will also be aiming to go deep in this tournament, and even if England, Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain lack the depth to go all the way, all are capable of causing an upset in the knockout stages.

Asian champions Japan arrive to defend their World Cup crown with a strong squad that may be short on wellknown names but is bristling with speed and passing ability. Australia are still smarting from a 1-0 defeat to Japan in the Asian Women’s Cup final a year ago, and the Matildas will be looking for another strong showing in Canada.

There are however problems in terms of opening up the tournament to 24 teams. Despite the presence of a skillful Brazil side, the South American contingent is perhaps not as strong as they could be.

At 33 in the world, Nigeria are Africa’s top-ranked contender, and there is a risk that smaller nations such as Thailand, Ecuador and Ivory Coast could all be on the end of some hidings in the group stage.

Top players criticized the decision to play all games on artificial turf, with many alleging gender discrimination in a lawsuit, since dropped, against FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association as every men’s World Cup has been on real grass.

For all the controversy over the surface, every one of the 552 players taking part in the biggest women’s soccer tournament in history will have a level playing field when they arrive in Canada.

It will then be up to them to decide who lifts the Women’s World Cup trophy in Vancouver on July 5.

(Reuters)

Draw Produces Intriguing Matches for 2015/16 SCCL Group Stage tested on a round-robin, home-and-away, four-game format, running August – October.

Only the eight first-place

teams will progress to the quarterfinals, which will kickoff in early 2016.

The full schedule for the group stage will be an-

nounced in the coming weeks.

The groups for the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League, in order of position drawn, are as follows:

RHTY&SC Raffle

Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Draw.

Miami - The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) on Monday evening conducted the draw for the 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) at the New World Symphony Center on Miami Beach, sorting the 24 participating clubs into eight groups of three for the eighth edition

of the continental championship in its current format.

Reigning Champion Club America of Mexico, which captured their sixth CONCACAF Club title in April by defeating Montreal Impact of Canada, headlines Group E. Finalists in 2011, Real Salt Lake open their third appearance in the CCL in Group G.

Winners of Mexico’s Clausura competition Santos Laguna, was drawn in Group A. Caribbean Football Union Club Champions Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago headline Group D, CS Herediano, champion of the Costa Rican Summer Tournament and a semi-finalist in the 2014/15 edition of the Champions League, will compete in Group B. The groups will be con-

Ticket #105 wins return ticket to USA compliments of Fly Jamaica The holder of ticket #000105 is the winner of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Silver Jubilee Anniversary raffle. The winning prize is one airline ticket to the USA compliments of Fly Jamaica.

The other winning numbers are 2nd - 4561, 3rd - 0394, 4th - 4530 and 5th - 4160. The drawing was done in the presence of several members of

the public including Assistant Superintendant Puran and several members of the Guyana Police Force.

The raffle was done in conjunction with the Guyana Police Force and as a result hundreds of less fortunate students across Berbice would receive schoolbags under the GPF and RHTYSC Community Outreach Programme.

The RHTYSC is express-

ing gratitude to the Commander of ‘B’ Division Mr. Brian Joseph and his Staff, the Ministry of Education Region 6 Department and the Management and Staff of Fly Jamaica for their cooperation in making the raffle a success.

Persons with the winning tickets are asked to contact the club on Telephone # 337 4562 to uplift their prizes.

Wednesday June 03, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Blatter rocks world soccer by FIFA’s Sepp Blatter ‘under quitting FIFA amid scandal investigation in US’

Sepp Blatter Sepp Blatter rocked the world of soccer on Tuesday by unexpectedly quitting as FIFA president in the face of a corruption investigation that has plunged the game’s governing body into the worst crisis in its history.

Blatter, 79, announced the decision at a hastily arranged news conference in Zurich, six days after the FBI raided a

hotel in Zurich and arrested several FIFA officials and just four days after he was reelected to a fifth term as president.

Blatter said an election to choose a new president for the deeply troubled organization would be held as soon as possible. A FIFA official said that could happen any time from December this year

to March of next year. ”FIFA needs profound restructuring,” said Blatter, a Swiss national who has been a dominating presence at FIFA for decades. “I have thoroughly considered my presidency and thought about my presidency and the last 40 years of my life,” Blatter, speaking in French, told the news conference. ”I decided to stand again to be elected because I was convinced it was the best option for football. “Although the members of FIFA gave me a new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world.”

Blatter’s decision was immediately welcomed by his most prominent critics. European Football Federation Chief Michel Platini, a French former international soccer star, said: “It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision.”

Greg Dyke, chairman of the English Football Association, said it was “good news for world football”. He then asked: “Who got him? Who shot him? What happened between then (when he was elected) and now?”

Panama falls to Austria in U-20 World Cup

Panama’s Jomar Diaz (left) jumps for a header with Florian Grillitsch of Austria.

(Photo: FIFA via Getty Images) Wellington, New Zealand – Despite a pair of penaltykick saves by goalkeeper Jaime De Gracia, nine-man Panama (0-1-1, 1 point) dropped a 2-1 decision to Austria (1-1-0, 4 points) in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup yesterday at Westpac Stadium.

The Canaleros took a lead thanks to a thunderous rightfooter by Fidel Escobar, giv-

ing them hope that a first-ever win after 14 all-time games in the competition was possible.

Both Austria goals came before the benefit of a two-man advantage.

In the first minute of firsthalf stoppage time, Panama captain Chin Hormecha was credited with an own-goal for redirecting Martin Rasner’s 45-yard free-kick with his head beyond De Gracia, who dived

in desperation to his right.

Six minutes after the break, the Austrians got on the scoreboard again as Valentin Grubeck deftly headed Bernd Gschweidl’s left-sided cross into the right side of the net from the edge of the sixyard box.obar had given Panama a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute.

After completing a giveand-go with Jesus Gonzalez on the left, the Sporting San Miguelito defender fired in from 20-yards out for his second goal in as many outings.

De Gracia kept the CONCACAF runner-up in the match, thwarting penalty kicks by Florian Grillitsch and Markus Blutsch, in the 64th and 83rd minutes, respectively. Hormechea was ejected in the 80th minute for a second caution, while Luis Pereira was sent to the dressing room for a handball in the box two minutes later.

The Panamanians close out Group B play on Friday against Ghana (1-1-0, 4 points), which beat Argentina (0-1-1, 1 point), 3-2, also yesterday.

(CONCACAF)

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is being investigated

by US officials as part of their inquiry into corruption at the world football body, US media say.

The news came hours after Mr Blatter announced that he was stepping down from his role.

US prosecutors launched a criminal inquiry last week, with seven FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland, part of a group of 14 people indicted.

Two days after the arrests, Mr Blatter was re-elected president of FIFA. However, he said on Tuesday that it appeared the mandate he had been given “does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world”.

Mr Blatter said: “Fifa needs profound restructuring.” ’Rampant corruption’ The BBC’s Nick Bryant in New York says that several US officials told the New York Times that they are hoping to gain the co-operation of some of the FIFA figures now under indictment on charges of racketeering and money laundering to try to build a case against Mr Blatter.

In announcing the US prosecution last week into what she called the “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted” corruption in world football,

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch did not address Mr Blatter’s position directly.

But she did say that this was the beginning of the investigation, not the end. She also called for a new start at FIFA. Our correspondent says it is primarily the US investigation that has plunged the world football governing body into its most serious crisis. Earlier the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, who is involved in the US prosecutions, all said they would not comment on the Blatter resignation.

In its prosecution, the US justice department said 14 individuals were under investigation worldwide for allegedly accepting bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m (£97m) over a 24year period.

Two vice-presidents were among the seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich. They all await US extradition proceedings. The arrests overshadowed the vote for a new president, which Mr Blatter won, defeating his sole challenger, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan.

Prince Ali withdrew despite forcing a second round, having lost the first by 133 votes to 73.

Announcing his exit yesterday, 79-year-old Mr Blatter called an extraordinary FIFA Congress “as soon as possible” to elect a new president.

The Swiss, who has been FIFA President since 1998, said: “The next ordinary FIFA Congress will take place on 13 May, 2016 in Mexico City. ”This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the executive committee to organise an extraordinary congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity. ”This will need to be done in line with FIFA’s statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign.” The extraordinary congress is expected to take place between December 2015 and March 2016.

Further allegations of corruption emerged yesterday with claims that FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke was linked to an alleged $10m (£6m) payment of bribes over South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup. He denies any wrongdoing.

A separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated is also under way.

(BBC)

Muirhead - Dispute to be resolved soon St.John’s, Antigua - A dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over an abandoned series could be resolved before the end of June, WICB CEO Michael Muirhead has indicated.

Muirhead is reporting that discussions between the WICB and BCCI have been progressing well and a final agreement could be reached later this month during a meeting in Barbados.

The BCCI is claiming US$42 million in compensation after West Indies cricketers, led by Dwayne Bravo, abandoned the Test and ODI series in India last year. ”Discussions have been going very well,”Muirhead was quoted by the Express in a brief telephone interview. ”When we meet in Barbados this month we are hoping to have a resolution finalised and documented.

Michael Muirhead Beyond that I can’t say anything”.

Last year, tensions between the BCCI and the WICB erupted when Windies pulled out of the five-match series after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on October 17 due a pay dispute.

The BCCI subsequently slapped the US$42 million claim on the WICB and also suspended bilateral relations with the WICB until the dis-

pute is resolved.

The meeting, between WICB and BCCI, will take place on the sidelines of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Annual Conference which will take place in Bridgetown from June 2226. “It will be separate,” Muirhead explained.

“This is a BCCI and WICB issue and we will deal with it with BCCI while they are here”.

Page 40

Kaieteur News

Silver Jubilee Anniversary 1990 – 2015

RHTYSC to host Assuria Insurance Co. 5-Overs tourney on June 21 The Cricket Development Committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Sunday June 21st, would be hosting another cricket tournament for teams in Berbice.

The Assuria Insurance Company one-day 5-overs tournament at the historic Albion Cricket Ground for the twelve of the top Second Division teams in the Ancient County would take place.

This is the second such tournament of this nature that Guyana’s leading youth and sports club would be hosting in the past two months after successfully hosting the Ansa McAl 5-overs tournament which was won by Courtland Cricket Club.

RHTY&SC according to Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster has an unmatched record in Guyana for hosting success-

ful cricket tournaments and playing a major role in the development of the game.

The tournament would be sponsored by Assuria Insurance Co., which has its head office in Suriname.

Foster, disclosed that the insurance company would be opening a branch in Rose Hall Town and one of the aims of the tournament is to promote the company and its business.

Competing teams are Young Warriors, Courtland, RHT Bakewell ‘A’, RHT Bakewell ‘B’, Albion, Block 4, Port Mourant, Yakusari, Tamarind Root, D ’Edward, Blairmont and Whim. The first round of six matches would be 4-over affairs while the second round, semifinal and final would be 5-overs each.

The draw for the tournament would be done on Thurs-

day June 18th, at the Area ‘H’ Ground in the presence of all the captains of the participating teams which would have to submit a 15-man squad to the club by June 15th.

Only two first division players would be allowed per team while players debarred by the three county boards would not be allowed to play.

Teams can submit their teams to email address foster_hilbert@yahoo.com.

The winning team would take home $70,000 and the Assuria trophy while the losing finalist pockets $30,000 and a trophy and the losing semifinalists $20,000 and a trophy.

The RHTY&SC has expressed gratitude to Mr. Yogindra Arjune and the Management of Assuria Insurance for their sponsorship of the Silver Jubilee Tournament.

Ambrose: Taylor can do a lot for Windies

Shai Hope and teammates during practice. WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Roseau, Dominica Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc will showcase their fast-bowling expertise over the next couple of weeks as Australia battle West Indies in a two-Test series.

Johnson tore England apart in the 2013-14 Ashes, seizing 37 wickets at an average of 13.97 across the five games, while Mitchell Starc proved a batsman’s nightmare at the recent World Cup, the master of the yorker ending the tournament with 22 scalps.

Yet neither are considered the best quick bowlers in the world by West Indies bowling coach Curtly Ambrose, a man who pocketed 405 Testmatch wickets at a lick under 21.

“I would say Dale Steyn,” Ambrose told Sky Sports after being asked who the finest seamer on the planet was. ”He has the pace but knows fast bowling is not just about bowling fast.

He knows how to work

batsmen out and that’s what great fast bowlers need.”

Steyn could soon follow England man James Anderson in moving past the 400-wicket milestone in Tests, the 31year-old is perched on 396 heading into the Proteas’ July series in Bangladesh.

Numbers like that are a distant dream for West Indies’ current speedsters Jerome Taylor (114), Shannon Gabriel (31) and Jason Holder (13) but Ambrose insists each man has bundles of talent. ”Jerome can be a much better bowler than he is,” said Ambrose. “He swings the ball at ease and can bowl with real pace, so what I am working on with him is his patience – when he becomes a patient bowler he can do a lot for West Indies cricket. ”Holder is a wonderful talent and has the makings of becoming a great all-rounder, while Shannon, who came into cricket very late and is still learning the art of fast bowling, has the pace and

work ethic to be a real handful.”

Ambrose’s team won many admirers during their recent tussles with England, with a largely inexperienced outfit bouncing back from defeat in Grenada to win in Barbados and draw the threeTest series 1-1.

And the former Northamptonshire bowler is confident the Caribbean clan can impress again against Australia if they show enough determination.

“Australia are aggressive and are going to be a handful but we have to be up for the challenge,” added Ambrose. ”It is not going to be easy but if we show some fight and believe we can compete against them we will b e o k a y. ” Watch West Indies’ two-Test series with Australia live on Sky Sports, starting with the first game, in Dominica, from 2.55pm on Wednesday.

(Sky Sports)

Wednesday June 03, 2015

WICB Town Hall meeting in Dominica deemed a success Guyana next stop on July 22 WICB President and Vice President hosted their second Town Hall Meeting at the Fort Young Hotel in Dominica on Monday evening. The meeting allowed the public to air their views on several issues affecting West Indies Cricket.

The first such meeting was held in Barbados last week and attracted a poor turn-out but Monday’s meeting in the Nature Isle was deemed a success.

According to reports reaching Kaieteur Sports, Vice-President Emmanuel Nathan told the gathering that WICB is looking to set up academies around the entire Caribbean. ”We are looking to provide opportunities at all levels” Dominican Nathan said.

The interactive session Town Hall meeting was hosted by Nathan and WICB President Jamaican Dave Cameron, who were both reelected for a second two-year term in March.

One man in attendance said he loved how this West Indies team looked, adding that the players seemed motivated and ready to take on the Australians who began their two-test series in Dominica today.

Responding to his question, what more can we do to help the players? Cameron told the fair size turn out at posh Hotel in front of the Caribbean Sea on Victoria Street, Roseau, that the WICB will look to implement more ‘men-

Dave Cameron

tal skills’ Coaches in West Indies cricket at all levels. ”We aim to help our players in every way” said Cameron, who was commended for organising a weekend retreat in Barbados two weekends ago to forge a way forward in getting a closer working relationships will all stakeholders in cricket, especially the players.

The Dominica Town Hall meeting provided a forum for the largest stakeholders in West Indies Cricket (the fans) to get the opportunity to ventilate their concerns.

Cameron encouraged the Dominican Fans, who will miss seeing Shiv Chanderpaul bat at the Windsor Park where he scored the first ever Test Century at that Venue in 2011, to come out and get involved since he said that everyone needs to become part of West Indies cricket at all levels.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is provid-

ing several scholarships to the WICB to aid in the overall development of West Indian cricketers and Cameron thanked UWI for their tremendous assistance to cricket in the region.

Pitches in the Caribbean have gotten lower and slower over the years and is a major concern. Cameron disclosed that UWI in St Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago was working with WICB in partnership to examine things like soil types and aspects of Pitch preparation to come up with the “best pitches” moving ahead. ”We need you to encourage not discourage, to build up not pull down, cricket belongs to all West Indians. We are the West Indies” the President concluded. The Next Town Hall Meeting is set for Guyana on July 22, at possibly the Pegasus Hotel while two days later another Town Hall Meeting will be held in Trinidad and Tobago.

(Sean Devers)

GASA Independence National Long Course C/ships

George, Mahaica, Olaleye and Carter Golden on penultimate day On the third and penultimate day, Monday of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Independence championships which splashed off on Saturday last at the National Aquatic Centre Liliendaal, Onika George, Paul Mahaica, Tommy Olaleye and Donna Carter were all racked in gold medals.

George was reined in gold medals in the Girls 15 -17, 50m Backstroke and the 200m Freestyle. In the Boys 8 & Under, Paul Mahaica also swam away with 50m Backstroke and the 200m Freestyle gold medals.

Later in the Boys 11-12, 200m Tommy Olaleye swam a very gusty race to stay in front from start to finish win-

ning Gold but it was Donna Carter’s power finish that stole the limelight in the afternoon swim sealing the win and Gold in the Girls 11-12 50m Backstroke.

Aleka Persaud who has proven that she is the best Girls 8 & Under athlete in the country, took Gold again on Monday in the 50m Backstroke and the 200m Freestyle to add a couple more to her collection from the other days.

Raekwon Noel also won Gold in the Boys 9 -10 200m Freestyle followed by Leon Seaton who was also Golden in the same age group but in the 50m Backstroke.

Kenita Mahaica won Gold on Monday in the Girls 13-14

50m Backstroke which will make her coach very happy.

In the Boys 13-14 50m Backstroke, Nathon Hackett swam the race of his life to hold off all challengers by a finger touch at the finish to take Gold.

Antonio Hussein won the Gold in the 200m Freestyle; Sekhel Tzedeq achieved a similar feat in the Boys 50m Backstroke by cruising home to win easily adding another one to his collection.

In the Boys 18 & Over 50m Backstroke, Trumaine Cole raced away from the field to take home a well deserved Gold also while in the same age group but on the distaff side, Athena Gaskin swam well to take Gold in the same event.