Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 15, 2012

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Rodney Lives! Abroad On March 23, Walter Rodney would have been 70 years old – if he had not been assassinated. But both his birth and death anniversaries (June 13) went almost unnoticed in Guyana. Not abroad. In mid-April, the panAfrican online newsletter, Pambazuka News, republished his seminal “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” and offered the following tribute.

“From childhood when his politically active parents would take him to the meetings of the then highly radical PPP, the young Walter Rodney had never looked back. An untamable political animal by the 1960s, Walter Rodney began travelling the world as a student of world affairs and an increasingly renowned scholar and activist. Between 1967 and 1968 Baba Rodney lived and taught in Tanzania and Jamaica. This post-colonial period was a time of great political activity for him. He became captivated by the Black Power Movement which was feverishly sweeping the USA and the Caribbean and which eventually consumed him.

This young, exuberant and astute activist grew very critical of the neo-colonial systems which had replaced the old colonial system, but perpetuated the oppression of the majority via a privileged few, working in the interest of their former colonial masters. While in Jamaica, as a lecturer at his alma mater (UWI), in addition to being highly critical of the Jamaican government and ‘middle classes’, he advocated for the working people and agitated for Afrikan history and an Afrikan language to be taught in schools.

But, he did not confine his activism to the academic realms.

He took his message of Black Power, Black Liberation and African consciousness to the streets, the shanty towns and the gullies of Jamaica. In fact, he believed passionately, as he oft time said: ‘The intellectual should make his or her skills available for the struggles and emancipation of the people’.

Consequently, on 15 October 1968, the Jamaican government, led by Prime Minister Hugh Shearer, barred Rodney from re-entering the island, on his return from the Black Writers’ Conference in Montreal, Canada. This sparked a massive revolt on 16 October 1968, known as ‘the Rodney Riots,’ which claimed the lives of several people and caused millions of dollars in damages. It also triggered an increase in political awareness and unrest across the Caribbean, especially among the Africentric Rastafarian sector of Jamaica, which is documented in his book “The Groundings with my Brothers”, deemed to be ‘The Bible’ of the Black Power Movement in the Caribbean.

Walter Rodney moved to Tanzania in 1969, where he and his family basked in the cultural life of this great Afrikan nation and from where he travelled to other parts of the Afrikan continent meeting leaders of nations and liberation movements. He lectured at the University of Dar es Salaam and was influential in developing a new centre of African learning and discussion. In 1972, pained by the devastatingly lasting legacy of slavery and colonialism he was witnessing on the Afrikan continent, he wrote his most highly universally acclaimed book, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa.

In 1974, Baba Rodney, his wife Dr Patricia Rodney and their three children returned to Guyana from Tanzania. The now Swahili speaking proud son of Afrika threw himself into the politics of his country, inevitably, becoming sharply critical of the Burnham Government. He joined the WPA, as a challenge to the incumbent PNC, for political power. And as he grew in popularity he became a rapidly increasing threat to the despotic Burnham and his brutal neo-colonial regime; and therefore a target for vicious propaganda, political assault and eventual murder.

First he was blocked by the Burnham government from taking up an appointment at the University of Guyana; then he was falsely arrested for arson. Alas, on 13 June 1980, a remote control bomb, disguised in a walkie-talkie, handed to Walter Rodney by a military officer, Gregory Smith, was the weapon used to assassinate him. The bomb exploded in Baba Rodney’s lap while he sat in a car with his brother, ending his life - only 38 years young.” A prophet is not recognised in his own country.

Friday June 15, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

President Ramotar’s recent pronouncements is a serious indictment of his leadership DEAR EDITOR, Every Guyanese must be alarmed at two recent pronouncements by President Donald Ramotar; the first of these is Ramotar’s announcement that he has asked his predecessor, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, for help in managing things at Office of the President.

When I read this news item my gut reaction was; oh only in Guyana! Where else could a person who have just been elected president of a country mere six month ago seems to openly confesses his inability to lead the people who just voted for him, and still expects the people to have confidence in his leadership. Why should he stay in office if he needs propping up?

Every voter must be concerned with this ‘Ramotarism’, the Ramotar definition of how to govern a nation.

We should be asking for how long is Mr. Jagdeo expected to serve as Ramotar’s chief helper, and whether the role of this immediate president as ‘helper in chief’ is not sufficient to conclude that Ramotar’s government, will i n f a c t b e J a g d e o ’s government?

Further, wouldn’t it also be fair to conclude that this announcement by Ramotar amounts to a big smack in the face of the people who could not wait for Jagdeo’s departure?

This entire situation is a cause for much concern and demands a complete examination to determine whether Guyanese voted for ‘pig in the bag’; did the PPP/C deceived the people into voting for Ramotar, as a front, to make Jagdeo the de facto president?

This revelation is very disturbing to say the least.

Mere weeks into Ramotar’s presidency Jagdeo attended an official internal summit on behalf of Ramotar.

When questions were asked Ramotar intimated that Jagdeo was attending in his personal capacity but also to represent Guyana.

Today, we are told by President Ramotar that Mr. Jagdeo is operating at Office of the President because he asked him to be there and because he wants his help.

The big question is; was Ramotar ready to lead Guyana on day one?

Or was the decision for Ramotar to be the PPP/C presidential candidate an arrangement to hoodwink the people and make Jagdeo’s third term a reality?

Something smells fishy here; imagine President Obama announcing to the American people that he asked Bill Clinton to help him and for the former president to be at the White House to guide him daily.

The American people will be calling for Obama’s immediate removal. I am not saying that help cannot be sought but for a president to

announce that he has called out, so soon in his term, immediate past president to help on serious matters of policy this state of affairs calls into question the elected president’s ability to lead.

It also exhibits Ramotar’s lack of that kind of political finest most demanding of leaders amongst us.

The second issue I wish to raise and for which the people should be equally outraged is President Ramotar’s announcement that he will not assent to bills passed by the parliamentary opposition.

This comment is unfortunate, exposes a deficit in the area of leadership and diplomacy a n d p r o j e c t s a confrontational and backward posture of the Ramotar/ Jagdeo administration.

It is situations like the ones which now obtains in the parliament that true leaders shine and demonstrates positive l e a d e r s h i p . H o w e v e r, R a m o t a r ’s c o m m e n t s indicates a man with an irrational temperament, who lacks focus, and appears to be oblivious to the fact that striking a conciliatory or compromising tone and projecting a more positive image is critical to the role of leaders in this unique situation, of a parliamentary opposition majority.

Further, Mr. Ramotar

seems to have no concern for the effects of his decision or actions; he must know that his actions can result in a major political crisis, as his decision is likely to stall the legislative agenda of the people.

C l e a r l y, b u t r a t h e r unfortunate, Ramotar has decided to lead in the direction of his party rather than the direction of the people, who make up the parliamentary majority. So the big issue in this posture; is whether democracy has come to mean that the P P P / C ’s i n t e r e s t i s paramount to the interest people of Guyana.

I guess Jagdeo has advised Ramotar that this should be their collective approach, or is it a ‘bully tactic’ to respond to budget cuts! There is no doubt that Ramotar’s confirmation that former President Jagdeo is operating out of the office of the president at his behest, and because he wants his help, apparently in leading the nation, is a highly worrisome reality.

At worst the PPP/C should have been honest to Guyanese and tell them voting for Ramotar was in fact aiding a continuation of ‘Jagdeoism’, at least the party and Ramotar should have been honest with the Guyanese people, but now we know ‘mouth open story jump out’.

The people have heard from ‘the horses mouth’!

Lurlene Nestor

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

The people make the constitution work DEAR EDITOR: A constitution is dead at its heart unless it is activated by the people.

This nation benefitted from significant constitutional reform in the post 1997 elections with millions of dollars spent and the citizens involved in the process through widest consultations.

Yet we continue to hear calls for constitutional change by the very lawmakers and public officials who played a role in modifying the Constitution, have failed to give it a chance to work, or use the judicial arm of government to test it in our “collective quest to create the perfect nation,” as per the Preamble in this very Constitution. Instead we are witnessing constitutional violations by elected officials or delivery of substandard service under the guise that the Constitution hinders better performance.

Regardless of what one may think, the Constitution is paramount and it must be honoured and respected by every citizen, bar none. This country needs to see those placed in position of privilege use this instrument in defence and protection of the citizens.

In its present form the Constitution gives the citizens the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms, makes clear the demarcation of the separation of power, mandates guidelines for accountability by public officials, and outlines how the nation’s resources should be

managed, which offers a good starting point to get to work. And persons must be held accountable to these standards!

The Court is once again asked by the PPP to adjudicate on a legislative decision - the 2012 Budget cuts- and this augurs well for the nation.

As per our Constitution it is the judiciary responsibility to pronounce on the interpretation of the law and it must be allowed to work.

This parliament strengthens the independence and the check and balance of each branch of government- executive, legislature and judiciaryand more so enhances their diverse views. In so doing, when refined, this will provide a better product to move the process of governance further.

Governance is about politics and politics is about people and people’s development. Unfortunately as the PPP activates its propaganda that the framers of the Constitution never intended for the parliament to have such oversight over the executive, it ignores critical components of the framers’ intent.

The framers did not make the president the supreme authority of the land as the PPP tells this nation; they made the president the “supreme executive authority” (Article 89). Two, the framers made parliament the nation’s supreme organ (Article 50), placing the power back into the hands of the people, to chart a course for their collective development.

NOT THIS MOHAN DEAR EDITOR, RE: Letter to the Editor article, “ Ramotar follows a most misguided course of action,” Kaieteur News, May 23, 2012 The above referenced letter has caused me to be demonized by some, praised by others and accused of being a member of the AFC. This is a result of the letter being signed by a, C. Mohan, Guyanese Patriot. Let me make it perfectly clear, I am not a member of the AFC or any other political party in Guyana.

I do not deny being a Guyanese patriot but I am definitely not the author of this letter. I will not take credit, accept praise or be demonized for something I did not do.

The confusion begins because my name is Chuck Mohan. As a political and labor activist in New York for over thirty-seven years and one of the original members of the PPP group in New York, everyone will associate Chuck Mohan, C. Mohan or any variation of the name with me. This is not to say

that someone else could not have the same initials as mine.

It is obvious that this is the confusion with this letter.

Over the past several years I have criticized and praised the PPP administration in the newspaper and on the radio in New York. The PPP leadership is well aware of this. I also criticized the PNC. I use my name Chuck Mohan, never C. Mohan. I never have and never will hide behind an initial to say what I have to say. Everyone who knows me knows that I speak my mind publicly without fear.

I am requesting that since your newspaper is aware of all those who send letters to your newspaper for publication, that you confirm in your newspaper that Chuck Mohan is not the C. Mohan, author of the letter referenced. This can be verified based on the origin of the letter by e-mail, fax, mail etc. I am also requesting you publish this letter in the Kaieteur News.

I await your reply In Solidarity Chuck Mohan

As such ours become the responsibility and duty to make it work and we must at all times seek to do so!

The Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, is urged to rethink his calls for the president to act on various issues, since the responsibility also lies with him to address the areas he seeks the president’s involvement, and which can be achieved via the parliament.

The opposition should also examine the establishment of parliamentary commissions to investigate public officials’ conduct and the management of state entities.

The much awaited inquiry into the 2002-2006 mayhem, plundering of state resources, scams, scandals, and denial of citizens’ constitutional rights are areas deserving of attention and strident action.

Our collective wellbeing is vested and protected in the Constitution which remains our single most important instrument to hold all accountable in furtherance of equitable development and peaceful co-existence. Achieving this requires an ever vigilant civil society and activist parliament.

Together this nation can and must succeed!

Lincoln Lewis

The weaknesses in the Education system

DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of Education will continue to do Region Six great injustice if this visionless Education Department is left to manage.

It is no secret that a crisis has developed in Region Six. This rising incompetence displayed by those entrusted by the Ministry of Education to manage the delivery of Education is sickening and leads to decreased output and increased illiteracy.

Sometimes you have to let these education officers know when they are doing things contrary and for this they target you.

My conclusion is drawn from the following: 1.

This is the only region with medically unfit educators; where teachers absent too often from the schools. I am not talking about release to attend UG or CPCE but the abuse of sick leaves.

The Medical Board should be put to task because something just does not seem right. Long ago this was never so.

2. At the GTU Branch meeting I heard from a head teacher that a graduate senior teacher of Corriverton Primary applied for Whitley Council

Unqualified pharmacists DEAR EDITOR, Some time back in your newspapers I vividly recalled that you carried an article featuring a Vishwamintra Persaud who was charged and remanded to prison for allegedly selling Pharmaceuticals without being a registered Pharmacist.

While this matter is still engaging the attention of the Courts I want to make it clear that Mr. Persaud is not the only one that maybe involved in this practice.

Instead of the Ministry of Health or the relevant authorities going after just one person, Mr. Persaud in this case, they should launch a countrywide campaign to curb this illegal practice. Most times I would enter a Pharmacy I will see some very incompetent person(s) dispensing drugs to the public.

There is supposed to be on display in the pharmacy a certificate of the Pharmacist but most of these drug stores or pharmacies do not have that on display. Instead what you can find is a Pharmacist certificate of the owner of the Pharmacy who most of the times is a qualified pharmacist.

However, he or she is often not there, which leaves us the public at the mercy of these highly incompetent individuals who at some point in time I’m almost sure must have given a wrong

medication to someone.

Matter of fact, very recently I went into a drug store to purchase a bottle of Tussadryl multi symptoms.

To my amusement when I asked the individual over the counter if she had that kind of Tussadryl she said yes and handed me a bottle of Tussadryl cough and cold instead. Now if she is going to make such a mistake on a simple over-the-counter drug then imagine what will she do later on?

My take is that instead of going after one individual and allowing it to look as if it is something personal against Mr Persaud it is more ideal to launch a countrywide campaign and justify your actions. In this way we will have the right people to do the job because we cannot afford to have inexperienced persons making mistakes with people’s lives.

Randy Persaud

Leave in October last year to proceed on leave in January.

To this date she has not got the approval and the Whitley Council allowance. The teacher should just sue the Department of Education.

3.

I recall when Leon Suseran, a journalist attached to Kaieteur News, reported on the shortage of furniture at a school in New Amsterdam at the beginning of the school year (2011-2012) he got the fire from Mrs. Bhajan, the Regional Education Officer.

4.

The unfortunate situation with Ms. Hackim at Skeldon Primary School is another sordid story which exposed the inadequacy of the Department of Education.

I am of the view that if the Ministry of Education had intervened there would have been a different turn to this ugly scenario.

5.

Look how the Department of Education slumbered with the incident with the ‘cussing teacher’ at Sheet Anchor Primary School.

The teacher ‘cuss down’ the Grade Five pupils, parents complained to the Ministry of Education and got no satisfaction.

6. Consider the cowboy school, Skeldon High Annexe, by the # 79 market, which is managed by a retiree, and has no connection with the real Skeldon High School.

They don’t even wear the

same uniform and that school since run by that retiree, hasn’t participated in Athletics Sports for about four years now.

7. Incompetence is the order of the day in Region Six. Many instances, persons who can’t function are placed in senior positions and they literally mess up children’s lives.

8.

Another burning issue is the Preliminary Promotion List that is circulating all over the country.

This promotion business is flawed. Every year some teachers get promotion in Region Six. Some teachers have ‘connections’ with high ranking TSC officials.

The appointment committee is in possession of the same criteria that guided teachers to apply for senior appointments. I certainly did not misinterpret criteria A and B for promotion as head of Grade B Primary Schools.

What I find with this region is that these education officers slumber a lot.

They focus more on moving from school to school to belittle teachers than doing their work properly. Some even getting fat on the job.

Honourable Minister of Education please do not allow your efforts to go wasted.

Amit Jaisingh

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 15, 2012

Backer upturns PM’s New GPC boss sues K-News “declaration” initiative twice in two days for $200M …forces House to call on President to duly establish Integrity Commission

By Gary Eleazar A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is ready to submit its declaration of assets but only to a duly established Integrity Commission.

This was the intimation

by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Deborah Backer, who reminded the House that at present there is no commission to declare to, and found the support of the Alliance for Change when one of its Members, Moses Nagamootoo, spoke to the issue of the Integrity Commission.

Backer and Nagamootoo were addressing the Motion put forward for debate by the Prime Minister seeking to “encourage” Members of Parliament to submit their annual declarations to the Integrity Commission.

Backer in turn submitted an amendment to the Prime Minister’s initiative which in

turn called for the President to consult with the Leader of the Opposition and to take steps to “firstly establish the Integrity Commission.”

Backer, in speaking of the amendment she presented to the House, reminded of a letter from the Secretary of the Integrity Commission, “Amanda Jaisingh” and dated May 30, which indicated that there is no functioning Commission, Commissioners or a Chairman in place.

In relation to the requirements of the Integrity Act, Backer said that for it to have life it must have a Chairman, with Commissioners “Would the Prime Minister be kind enough to share with the Guyanese public the name of the Chairman…You see PM, if there is no Commission, who are you to submit to?” Backer asked.

The Prime Minister as he presented his motion to the House spoke to Backer’s amendments and denied that “corruption has reached alarming levels with little or no effort to stem the tide.”

Hinds spoke of the intention of his motion and said that it was in no way draconian, but rather “calls on us to be true leaders in our country and put ourselves in conformity with the Integrity Law.” Backer assured the House that as long as the Opposition Leader is requested to be

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Deborah Backer consulted on the Integrity Commission and one is duly constituted, they (APNU’s members) will be first in line to submit their declarations.

Hinds had premised his motion on the fact that “We who are in public office, we hold positions of authority and in these positions the temptation will come to us…There will be the person that would come to us and put forward proposals for their benefit and for us to share in those benefits. We may be tempted to act when we should not.”

Nagamootoo called the motion a toothless poodle and reminded too that there is no commission in place to make submissions to.

He said also that the Prime Minister’s motion serves only as a deflection from other issues currently dominating such as NICIL and NCN (Continued on page 16)

Dr. Ranjisinghi Ramroop has sued the publishers of Kaieteur News for another $100 million.

Ramroop owns the government-friendly Guyana Times and Channel 28. But his major businesses are a string of pharmaceutical and several other companies.

Opposition parties and at least one major pharmaceutical importer have stated that Ramroop is favoured in the award of contracts for the importation of medical drugs.

This contention is the subject of the latest libel suit.

On Wednesday, Ramroop filed a libel suit over a ‘Dem boys seh” column, seeking damages in excess of $100 million.

In the action filed yesterday, Ramroop seeks to muzzle Kaieteur News from reporting on the importation contracts he gets from the government.

He specifically asks the court to restrain Kaieteur News from publishing the words contained in an article on June 8, 2012, which was headlined “Importers cry foul at US$6.5 secret pharmaceutical award to Ramroop’s New GPC.” In court documents, Ramroop said that the words were falsely and maliciously published and were defamatory.

He said that article was written to mean that the New GPC benefited from a contract for the supply of goods valued at US$6.5 million and that this was in breach of the Procurement Act. Further, Ramroop states that the article was written to mean that the May 30, 2011 contract for the supply and delivery of pharmaceuticals was required by the

Procurement Act to be advertised and put out for tender and the New GPC benefited from the nontendering of the said contract.

According to Ramroop, the article was written to say that the contract was corrupt.

He said that these ‘imputations, inferences and conclusions” are false and malicious. He said that the Kaieteur News was reckless and indifferent and was intended to scandalize him and cause him “public opprobrium.”

In court documents, Ramroop claims to have fixed moveable and immovable assets valued at $1.2 billion, including land and buildings, plant and machinery, office equipment and furniture and motor vehicles located at Farm, East Bank Demerara and elsewhere in Guyana.

In his writ Tuesday, Ramroop said that he is the owner of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Queens Atlantic Investment Inc., New GPC and several companies.

He wants the court to block Kaieteur News from further publishing a column, Dem boys seh, that appeared in the newspaper on Monday, June 11, 2012.

Ramroop claims that he was the one referred to in the June 11, 2012 ‘Dem boys seh”. In his affidavit of support, Ramroop stated that the words in the article referred to him and that the words were false, malicious and defamatory.

He said that the article was written to mean that he is a thief, that he is not a medical practitioner, and that he holds an honorary PhD and not a medical degree. He said that the article suggests that he committed the offence of simple larceny and other types of larceny.

He said that he relies on his reputation, goodwill and integrity in business dealing both in Guyana and internationally for various transactions and in his

New GPC boss, Dr. Ranjisinghi Ramroop professional qualifications.

Dr. Ramroop said that the article accused him of a criminal offence and disparaged him in relation to his profession and his business.

In the documents filed by his attorney Ronald G. BurchSmith, Dr. Ramroop said that he is a businessman since 1991.

Ramroop said he has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from the Indira Gandhi Medical College at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. He said he also has a Bachelor of Science degree from Indore University, Madhya Pradesh, India.

He said he is a registered Medical Practitioner, fully up to date with all his Continuing Medical Education obligations.

He said he worked at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Guyana Sugar Corporation and practiced privately from 1987 to 1999.

He accuses Kaieteur News of referring to himself and former President Jagdeo as sharing a close personal relationship.

Former President Jagdeo had publicly declared that Ramroop is his best friend when questions began to surface about how Ramroop acquired the Sanata Complex.

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Stanford gets 110 years for role in $7B swindle HOUSTON (AP) — Former jet-setting Texas tycoon R. Allen Stanford, whose financial empire once spanned the Americas, was sentenced yesterday to 110 years in prison for bilking investors out of more than $7 billion over 20 years in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed down the sentence during a court hearing in which two people spoke on behalf of Stanford’s investors about how his fraud had affected their lives.

Prosecutors had asked that Stanford be sentenced to 230 years in prison, the maximum sentence possible after a jury convicted the onetime billionaire in March on 13 of 14 fraud-related counts.

Stanford’s convictions on conspiracy, wire and mail fraud charges followed a seven-week trial.

Allen Stanford

Stanford’s attorneys had asked for a maximum of 44 months, a sentence he could have completed within about eight months because he has been jailed since his arrest in June 2009.

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Stanford gave rambling statement to the court in which he denied he did anything wrong.

Speaking for more than 40 minutes, Stanford said he was a scapegoat and blamed the federal government and a U.S. appointed receiver who took over his companies for tearing down his business empire and preventing his investors from getting any of their money back.

“I’m not here to ask for sympathy or forgiveness or

to throw myself at your mercy,” Stanford told Hittner.

“I did not run a Ponzi scheme.

I didn’t defraud anybody.”

Stanford was once considered one of the richest men in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of more than $2 billion. His financial empire stretched from the U.S. to Latin America and the Caribbean. But after his arrest, all of his assets were seized and he had to rely on courtappointed attorneys to defend him.

Calling Stanford arrogant and remorseless, prosecutors said he used the money from investors who bought certificates of deposit, or CDs, from his bank on the Caribbean island nation of Antigua to fund a string of failed businesses, bribe regulators and pay for a lavish lifestyle that included yachts, a fleet of private jets and sponsorship of cricket

tournaments.

Defense attorneys portrayed Stanford, 62, as a visionary entrepreneur who made money for investors and conducted legitimate business deals. They accused the prosecution’s star witness — James M. Davis, the former chief financial officer for Stanford’s various companies — of being behind the fraud and tried to discredit him by calling him a liar and tax cheat.

The jury that convicted Stanford also cleared the way for U.S. authorities to go after about $330 million in stolen investor funds sitting in the financier’s frozen foreign bank accounts in Canada, England and Switzerland.

But due to legal wrangling, it could be years before the more than 21,000 investors recover anything, and whatever they ultimately get will only be a fraction of what they lost.

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 15, 2012

America Street heist…

Woman detained as cops probe execution conspiracy Investigations into last Monday’s America Street heist have taken an unusual twist with police investigating allegations that a key player in the robbery was targeted for execution. They are also investigating links to this report and the execution of Albouystown taxi driver Renee Williams, two months ago.

Kaieteur News has learned that the investigation took an unexpected turn last Tuesday when one of the men detained in Monday’s heist alleged that a key player in the robbery was gunned down. The suspect also identified his accomplice’s alleged executioner, and the individual who allegedly paid for the accomplice to be killed.

Kaieteur News was told that the suspect also claimed

that the individual who plotted his partner’s execution also plotted the execution of 25-year-old taxi driver Renee Williams, who was slain outside his Lot 138 King Edward Street, Albouystown, on April 30.

Williams, a former policeman, was shot twice in the back by a lone gunman clad in black, as he sat in his car with his wife. His killer was never held. Police have described Williams’s death as an execution-style killing.

Kaieteur News has confirmed that the suspect has implicated a 25-year-old woman from Albouystown in the killing. She was detained on Tuesday. The woman has denied any involvement in the two killings and has declined to provide police with a written

statement.

Yesterday, detectives took the woman to CID Headquarters for further questioning.

On Monday, 22-year-old Odel Chase was shot dead during a confrontation with police ranks in Sussex Street.

It is believed that Chase, along with three other accomplices, escaped with $2M at around 20:00 hrs on Monday after holding an America Street moneychanger at gunpoint. They reportedly then escaped in a car before being tracked down to Sussex Street.

Before passing away, Chase identified his accomplices as ‘Omar’, ‘Cow’, and ‘Buck.’

The ranks also recovered a stolen white AT192 Toyota which the gang had used in

their getaway. However, the stolen cash has not been recovered.

Two of the slain man’s alleged accomplices were detained.

The suspect known as ‘Cow,’ is said to be the driver of the AT192 Toyota, which the gunmen had used as their getaway vehicle. He was taken into custody after turning up at the Ruimveldt Police Station at around 21:30 hrs on Monday to claim that he was the victim of a carjacking.

The other man, Damion Allicock, called ‘Buck’ was detained shortly after midnight on Tuesday in Howes Street, Charlestown.

He was previously charged with Odel Chase for robbery under arms.

Police ‘unequal’ in treatment of Islamic group leader – defence PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - The defence for Yasin Abu Bakr, the leader of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen group who is on trial for sedition, Wednesday, told the court that police did not accord the Islamic group leader equal treatment before the law.

Abu Bakr, who once led a bloody, aborted coup against the Trinidadian government 22 years ago, faces four charges in the Trinidad and To b a g o H i g h C o u r t , including sedition and communicating a statement with seditious intent or promoting hostility and illwill, stemming from a sermon he delivered in 2005.

Attorney Wayne Sturge

said that although Abu Bakr has been charged for sedition, among other things, politicians and calypsonians

who make hostile statements all the time do not attract police attention.

“Anybody could say

Barbados to strengthen position in CARICOM BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - - CMC – Barbados is sending a 15-member trade mission to St. Vincent and the Grenadines later this month as it seeks to further strengthen its position within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) market. The mission from June 25-28 is being spearheaded by the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC), working in collaboration with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Hotel and Tourism Association.

The visit to St. Vincent follows a successful multisectoral mission to St. Lucia and Grenada last year and the

organisers said that it forms part of the BIDC’s plans to broaden Barbados’ export base within the Caribbean and Latin America.

“The mission is part of a major effort to consolidate and grow Barbadian exports within the region. CARICOM represents a market where quick gains can be realised from new and traditional export products and is at the same time, an ideal entry point for first-time exporters to become immersed in conducting international business,” said BIDC Director of Export Development and Promotion, Sonja Trotman.

anything except Abu Bakr.

That’s not equality before the law,” Sturge told the court.

He made the contention as a police constable became the first witness for the prosecution in the trial’s first full day here on Wednesday before High Court Justice Mark Mohammed and a ninemember, all-female jury.

Granger calls for corruption purge - cites bogus pharmaceuticals, misuse of state resources and conflicts of interest among other instances David Granger, leader of the Parliamentary Oppositon, last night rebuked members of the House and the Prime Minister and called for an end to the annual ritual of a debate on the Integrity Commission.

Granger told the House, “If we are looking for corruption, look at the mother of all scandals… we must look in the Executive Branch.”

Granger charged that seeking to root out corruption at the level of the legislature is ill-conceived and that the energies should be focused on the Executive Branch.

He spoke of seeking out corruption where it involves bogus pharmaceuticals, misuse of state resources, ministry letter heads and conflicts of interest among other instances.

Granger said that a dulyconstituted commission must be empowered with investigative capability.

He called on the House to establish a full-fledged commission, saying that he does not want to be written to again by the secretary of an entity that is not even functional requesting declarations Speaking to the penalties mentioned in the form of

David Granger publishing names of those in default of the Integrity Act, Granger said that when complaints are made, the commission must be able to investigate, and for moves be made to the Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue criminal charges.

“We want to see the enforcement of the code of conduct,” said Granger, adding that it is an indictment that 21 years later; the House is still engaged in the annual ritual of a debate over the Integrity Commission.

(See related story on page 6)

UK warns Argentina over Falklands “aggression” LONDON (Reuters) Prime Minister David Cameron warned Argentina yesterday that London stood “ready and willing” to defend the Falkland Islands, 30 years after Britain recaptured the South Atlantic archipelago whose sovereignty remains a hotly-contested issue.

In a speech to commemorate the 1982 British victory over Argentina,

Cameron accused the Argentinean government of “aggression” and said there would be “absolutely no negotiation” over sovereignty of the tiny islands, about 300 miles off the Argentine coast.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent months, especially since British companies have started to carry out offshore

oil exploration. Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez has reasserted claims to the scattered islands, known in Spanish as Las Malvinas.

“My message to the government of Argentina is this. The UK has no aggressive intentions towards you,” Cameron told an audience including British veterans of the two-month war to retake the Falklands which resulted in the deaths of 255 British and about 650 Argentine soldiers.

“But do not underestimate our resolve. Threats will not work. Attempts to intimidate the islanders will not succeed.

Because Britain stands ready and willing to stand up for the Falkland Islanders at any time.”

Britain says there could only be talks on sovereignty if the islanders wanted them.

The islands’ government said on Tuesday it would hold a referendum, probably next year, of its 3,000 inhabitants to see if they wanted to stay part of Britain’s self-governing overseas territories.

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

The opposition is not in disarray After last night’s vote in the National Assembly, the Guyanese people should be in little doubt as to the position of the combined opposition.

They have exposed themselves as not knowing what they are about, being unmindful of their expected role, not being able to maintain a consistent line of argument and with a penchant for placing the interests of the Guyanese people second to that of exercising political power.

The government must now understand the danger that is facing this country because of the lack of a principled opposition. They must not try to mend fences with the combined opposition. The government should also stop being drawn into constant dialogue with them and most certainly must now put together an effective public relations team to expose the opposition’s antinationalist positions.

The government has a matter before the Courts concerning the Budget cuts and it should focus a great deal of attention on obtaining external legal help to support the Attorney General in prosecuting this case.

The government should leave nothing to chance, because they are dealing with a sinister opposition which can no longer be trusted and which must be exposed as being up to no good. As such they should bolster the legal representation in the case before the Court. The government cannot leave the arguing of this most important case solely to the Attorney General.

He needs help to take on a case of this magnitude and the government should invite representation from senior counsel in the United

Kingdom.

Important constitutional issues are at stake and the government cannot afford to be complacent with this matter as the ruling party was with the elections which it presumed it would have won by a landslide.

Last evening’s vote in the National Assembly is the final nail in the coffin of a national unity government. No one can now logically expect that the reasonable can sit with the unreasonable and achieve any progress.

The opposition does not understand that the budgetary process is not an exact science. And therefore they cannot appreciate that there will always be unforeseen, unplanned and under- and over-estimated provisions in any Budget.

But the government has placed itself in a most awkward position by bringing these Bills to debate, especially considering that a matter is before the Courts, in which the government is arguing a line that can have implications for supplementary provisions.

The government must also not expect any consistency from the opposition. Neither must they assume that the opposition is in disarray. The opposition is not in disarray. The opposition is simply is using its one-seat majority to demonstrate its power drunkenness and to make the government look bad.

The government should feel no regret that the financial paper was not subjected to approval. It did its part by bringing it to the House. Once the government is convinced that the spending was done in compliance with the law, then the failure of parliament to approve the Bills cannot be

laid at the feet of the government. There will be no constitutional crisis over this non-approval and the work of government will not be affected.

The actions of the opposition in the National Assembly is holding the nation up to ridicule, and therefore it is only right and proper that since the courts are the guardians of the Constitution and the upholders of the law that the government should resort, where necessary, to the Courts for redress.

This will make our

constitutional democracy stronger, even if there is an opposition that with each sitting is raising serious concerns about their ability to understand and appreciate their responsibilities.

What is even clearer is the fact that the government and the opposition stand at two extremes and there can be no more rapprochement between the two sides. The government must therefore begin to get serious with this opposition and stop trying to bend over to reach agreement with them.

It should now signal the

end of the tripartite process.

It should now signal that local government elections are going to be held under the old laws, whether the opposition likes it or not. It should now signal that just as how the opposition can bring motions to remove the status of Budget agencies from the service commissions, the government can do the same for the Guyana Elections Commission.

It is time for the government to get down to the business of running this country without the input of the opposition.

The

opposition has demonstrated that it has no useful role to play in the affairs of the nation and should not be invited to any more meetings, because they can no longer be trusted to act in the interest of the nation.

It is time for Guyana to move on, without the combined opposition on board.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Friday June 15, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

President Ramotar not Donald Ramotar is the Head of State It is sad that the President of a country can make such a fundamental mistake about the elementary principles of modern government. Donald Ramotar did this when he spoke about the opposition in Parliament. The PPP has a leader. His name is Donald Ramotar. When that said man, Mr. Ramotar, won the plurality of votes in the last general election and became the President of Guyana, he became the Head of State not the PPP Head of State.

Mr. Ramotar is the leader of the PPP, but he has another role which is separate and distinct from his political office. He is the elected Head of Government and State. A citizen that belongs to the AFC or APNU cannot refer to

Mr. Ramotar as the PPP leader of the country, he is not. He is the constitutional head of government.

On that identical basis, the President and the State have to recognize that there is a Parliament. When that Parliament acts, it is not the APNU or AFC acting. It is the Parliament. When Parliament passes laws, it is not laws passed by the opposition.

They were approved by Parliament.

The statement by President Ramotar that he will not assent to legislation without input from the Executive is derecognizing Parliament when the House performs its function as Parliament. When the National Assembly passes a

law it is not the opposition that does so, it is Parliament.

One would have hoped that after so long in Parliament, Mr. Ramotar would understand how the Constitution works.

There is no legal concept in Guyana that goes by the name of an opposition GECOM Commissioner. There are six GECOM Commissioners. That is what they are - GECOM Commissioners. When PNC leader Robert Corbin sought to remove Mr. Vincent Alexander as a GECOM Commissioner he could not do so, because Alexander was not a PNC Commissioner that could be recalled by the PNC. Only Parliament could remove a GECOM Commissioner.

There aren’t words to describe President Ramotar’s understanding of the separation of powers. The President is saying that the Executive must have an input in laws passed by Parliament.

If the Executive cannot do so then the Executive will not approve of the documents Parliament legislated upon.

There is no law or constitutional article that allows that to happen.

When Parliament approves a Bill it does not have to seek the input of the Executive. For the purpose of practical politics, it can do so, but it does not have to. The Executive cannot go on not assenting to Bills on the basis of lack of Executive input. It can reject Bills based on their

A controversial hike of electricity rates for Lindeners is to be implemented from July 1, government announced yesterday.

According to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, during his weekly press briefing, a $1B reduction in the subsidy by the opposition Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) during the recent passage of the 2012 National Budget, necessitated the increase.

Government had budgeted almost $3B for Lindener as an electricity subsidy. The opposition

however had argued during the budget debate earlier this year that GPL should move to cut waste and reduced the subsidy by $1B. Luncheon said that government is working on measures that will outline how the tariffs would be structured for residents and businesses in Linden.

Earlier this year, Luncheon had claimed that despite the tariffs increase, Lindeners will still be paying half of what the rest of the country is doling out.

The announcement of the hike in April and slashing of the subsidy has been met with protests by especially

Lindeners.

Luncheon had said that it is a fact that residential usage in Linden is double compared to what is being used in the city and other parts of Guyana. Business use of electricity there also was high - at one and half times higher than elsewhere.

Since the closure of the bauxite plants in Linden back in the ‘80s, Government had introduced the electricity subsidies to the area as a means to alleviate the hardships of many who have been laid off.

A Chinese company, Bosai, has since taken over some aspects of the bauxite

industry there while RUSAL, a Russian owned bauxite company, has taken over the operations at Aroaima and Kwakwani.

There have been criticisms of the government’s move to reduce the subsidy which in effect forced the current electricity rates there to be hiked.

But Government says that there have been plans in the making for a while to bring the rates on levels acceptable to the rest of the country.

Opposition parties have accused Government of a revenge act by slashing the subsidy following their massive losses in Linden, a traditional support base of the People’s National Congress, which forms a major part of A Partnership for National Unity, one of the two opposition parties in Parliament.

contents, not on lack of Executive participation.

Nowhere in the world does this happen.

What the President doesn’t understand is that the power of the Executive and Parliament are derived from the will of the people in an election. The will of the population gives the Executive the power to govern. The very will gives the Parliament the authority to draft and pass laws. This is the priceless separation of powers that John Locke adumbrated and is so pronounced in the constitutions of India and the USA Why should any citizen recognize the jurisdiction of President Ramotar? If you ask a schoolchild he/she will tell you that Mr. Donald Ramotar was elected as President of Guyana. By the identical process, Guyana’s 10th Parliament was shaped by the votes of the electorate. If there is a concept of the opposition in Parliament which Mr. Ramotar alluded to when he said he will not assent to Bills passed by the opposition, then there has to be a concept of the PPP inside the presidency.

If the Executive cannot

Frederick Kissoon accept a majority opposition in Parliament that is legally elected, then why should that opposition accept a PPP-led Executive?

The essential weakness of the governmental leaders since the 2011 elections is they are claiming legal legitimacy for the basis of their power, but denying the very legal validity to an elected Parliament. This has serious and dangerous implications for the stability of the country, especially State employees and the security forces.

Why should State employees and the public sector realm recognize the legitimacy of the Executive only and not that of the supreme organ of the land, Parliament? And if the Executive branch denies the legal basis of Parliament’s right to make legislation, where does that leave State employees whose duty is to uphold the legal documents of the land, the most important of which is the Constitution?

Dem boys seh...

Bharrat Ramroop strikes again Guyana really corrupt. Dem boys seh corruption reach alarming proportions. It is now widespread. It suh widespread that when you talk people running to de court fuh shut you up.

De whole country now tun a circus—a thiefing circus.

De circus got a ringmaster and he name Bubbie Jagdeo. He got nuff clown. De biggest one is Bharrat Ramroop. The rest of dem is de acrobats and de best of dem is Brazzy. He is also de biggest. Dem boys imagine what he look like in he twopiece dutty bathing suit.

Some of de duttiness coming to de front. Dem nastiness coming to light one by one. Dem boys know all gun come out, sooner rather than later. And that is wha some of dem frighten. Don’t be surprised dem boys gun get a ton of lawsuits trying to stop dem from talking.

Dem get one lawsuit de other day and before dem coulda find a lawyer another one come. Dem boys expect one more today and couple more fuh de rest of de month.

Dem boys want dem fuh know that dem got belly, decency, and honesty that dem can handle de lawsuit by de hour. Nutten gun stop dem from informing de nation what dem kava ca mites do to de people and de country.

Dem boys plan fuh keep dem busy fuh de rest of dem life because dem mustn’t enjoy wha dem thief. Dem boys know that dem uncomfortable, that dem don’t sleep in de night and mess all day. De Protector is no more. He losing he grip from de Treasury while he kava ca mites losing dem mind.

Dem running helter skelter. One of dem holla when he hear bout Allen Stanford, de big one who get 110 years in jail, in Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam don’t mek joke and dem boys hear that some of dem stop travel. One of de Bees stop going to America. He hear that de FBI got de pumpkin jumpsuit at de airport waiting fuh he.

Talk half and watch out fuh de other half.

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Styrofoam crackdown Attorney General appeals imminent amidst garbage woes Chief Justice’s ruling Attorney General Anil Nandlall has filed an appeal against Chief Justice Ian Chang’s ruling in relation to the composition of the Parliamentary Committees, which had seen the AG move to the court, insisting that the composition of the committee should remain the same as it was prior to the November 28 polls.

When the ruling PPP held control of the Parliament, it had five seats on the committee.

However, following the November 28 polls, which gave the opposition a majority in the National Assembly, the PPP’s seats were reduced to four by an opposition vote. As a result, an equal four seats each were voted for the governing PPP and the major opposition APNU. The AFC, the other opposition party, has one seat.

The AG in his appeal said that he is dissatisfied with the decision of the Chief Justice.

Justice Chang dismissed the government’s case, saying that the AG made his complaint to the wrong forum and that the court cannot inquire or interfere in the proceedings of the National Assembly.

“The forum for a complaint of this nature is the National Assembly,” Chief Justice Chang said in a 30page decision.

Nandlall asserted that the CJ erred in law when he treated the proportional representation in the National Assembly (or 10th Parliament) as a domestic or internal matter from which it could depart in its establishment of Committees

- claims CJ erred in law

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Chief Justice Ian Chang

of the said Assembly. The AG said that the CJ also erred in law when he did not consider the principle of proportionality prescribed for the country’s national elections and embodied in Articles 60 and 160 of the Constitution, and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000 was not applicable to its pivotal Committee -the Committee of Selection - and other such relevant Committees.

Nandlall also contends that the Chief Justice dealt with the power of the National Assembly to regulate its own procedure, he failed to give due weight and effect to the subjection of this power to the provisions of the Constitution which included the basis of representation therein.

Further, Nandlall stated that the CJ erred in law in so far as he considered that the Standing Orders of the National Assembly were not

subject to the Constitution and he (Justice Chang) totally overlooked and did not deal with the submissions made to him that the Standing Orders were recognized by Guyana’s law and had to be construed with modifications and qualifications to bring them in conformity with the Constitution touching inter alia proportionality.

The Attorney General contends that the decision of the Chief Justice was erroneous in point of law.

Nandlall asked that the decision of the court be set aside and reversed and judgment entered for the Appellant.

The government is annoyed that the opposition, which has controlling power in the National Assembly, moved to give it one seat less on the committee of selection.

This committee is responsible for nominating all other committees of the Parliament.

Government plans to introduce legislation to reduce the importation of Styrofoam boxes and plastic containers, as a means to battle the garbage problem. (KN File Photo, June 2012) Government has announced moves to introduce taxes and other disincentives to reduce a major problem with styrofoam boxes and plastic containers.

Speaking with reporters yesterday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, disclosed that the waste disposal problem facing the country has prompted the administration to launch its “Pick It Up Guyana” campaign.

The country has been battling a growing problem of waste disposal, made worse by widespread use and importation of the non-

biodegradable styrofoam food boxes, plastic soda bottles and aluminum tins.

Waterways and drains have been clogged by the containers, with millions spent to clean up afterwards.

It has been blamed for flooding and the unsightly look of several wards of the city and the country.

According to Luncheon, government is looking at legislation that will reduce these imports and encourage the use of recycled materials.There are also likely to be measures put in place to encourage more investments into waste disposal and even in

expanding in areas of recycling. As a matter of fact, government-sponsored events will be banning the use of the Styrofoam boxes, plastic bottles and aluminum containers. There will be “zero tolerance” for littering under new measures to be introduced, the official said.

Already, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is moving to collaborate to come up with strategies to deal with solid waste disposal issues. There will likely be considerations for the establishment of community dumping sites, Luncheon said.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Pile shortage pushes back roll on/roll off ferry use

Friday June 15, 2012

- at Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration

“…end of July or early August” - Benn

The Kanawan (in photo) and Sabanto will not be in use for several more weeks

By Gary Eleazar The two US$14M Roll on/ Roll off ferries are yet to be used more than six months after their arrival in Guyana, and according to Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, commuters plying the Parika/Supenaam route will have to wait until next month end or early August before these vessels can be used.

The ferries, Sabanto and Kanawan, have Amerindian names. Kanawan means ‘big canoe’ and Sabanto means ‘beautiful one’.

The Public Works Minister was at the time responding to his shadow colleague in the House, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Joseph Harmon, who sought clarification on why the ferries have not yet been put to use.

Benn told the House that the Ministry has been working feverishly to ensure that the roll on/roll off

facilities (the trouble-prone stellings for which more than half a billion dollars have already been spent) are completed. Benn blamed the delay in launching the roll on/ roll off ferry service on design changes and a difficulty in sourcing certain supplies required for the project.

He drew specific reference to the need for 75 ft. greenheart piles as a result of modifications to the design and said that the commodity has been difficult to source.

The Minister did seek to assure the House that by the end of July the service should be fully operational, but left room for error, and said that the outside date for the launch of the service would likely be the first week in August.

Benn had, at the end of May, while speaking to this publication, also blamed the poor management of time by the contractor, B.K.

International, as a major cause for delays.

“We had anticipated that the ferries would have been able to go over to Essequibo to start training routes and thereafter we would have had an earlier date of the ferries between Parika and Supenaam,” Benn admitted.

The two ferries arrived in December, but modification works to the two stellings remained incomplete despite several deadlines being given, starting from February.

One of the major problems had to do with the concrete piles being driven. Some broke and had to be replaced and driven again.

“We have had to replace and drive new piles, but primarily, we have not been able to get our contractors to extend hours to bring it to completion. Parika (stelling) is fundamentally finished. But there are a couple of (mooring) bollards to be put in place.”

President Donald Ramotar and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre share a toast to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and Diamond Jubilee.

The United Kingdom has promised more aid for Guyana, including spending millions of dollars to boost exports and boost two-way trade.

The announcement that the UK will set up a trade and investment office and take over the agriculture diversification project from the United States, came at an event last evening to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and her 60th year on the throne.

British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre said that the UK will spend 1.5 Million pounds to help boost export products in the agriculture, fisheries and horticulture sector. The project had initial funding from the United States Agency for International Development, but will be taken over by the UK from September.

Ayre announced that the High Commission in Georgetown will be setting up

a Trade and Investment office to help deepen economic links in a more structured and systematic way by enhancing two-way trade and investment flows.

He said the office would cover both Guyana and Suriname and represents a significant investment in both countries at a time of continued austerity in the UK. President Donald Ramotar, who attended the celebrations with First Lady Deolatchmee, welcomed the announcements. He called for the Commonwealth, which the Queen heads, to support the Iwokrama International Centre.

Ayre said that the Queen was pleased that her son, Prince Charles, was the patron of Iwokrama. The envoy himself hailed Iwokrama as having real value on the global stage as a living laboratory, “helping us to understand the threats and opportunities posed by

climate change and how sustainable development is a key conservation strategy.”

“I applaud President Ramotar ’s ongoing commitment to the Centre whilst acknowledging that the wider international community needs to do more to support and promote this valuable global resource,” Ayre stated. He said that he will continue to work with the British government and the Commonwealth to deliver this.

President Ramotar thanked the Commonwealth for its support of Iwokrama, but urged for much more to be done. He said Guyana would be showcasing its sustainable development initiatives at the Rio+20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro later this month.

Ramotar also thanked the British for their help in the search for oil offshore Guyana.

The High Commissioner (Continued on page 31)

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Opposition throws out voted down $$M again …Speaker urges Parliamentary parties to seek out greater collaboration

By Gary Eleazar Following a ruling by Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman, that Financial Paper #9 representing some $79M expended from the Contingencies Fund in 2011 can be resubmitted for consideration, the joint Opposition again voted down the expenditure.

The monies were originally voted down by the Opposition in March when Financial Paper #7 was being debated.

At that time the Speaker of the House had advised Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, that he can re-submit the financial papers to the House for approval or disapproval.

Following this, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Carl Greenidge, again sought Speaker Trotman’s intervention.

In a missive addressed to Trotman, the Former Finance Minister said that the Parliamentary Standing Orders pertaining to the issue of the Financial Papers were unambiguous.

The Speaker disagreed with this assertion.

Greenidge did mention an expectation that the Government would have approached the Opposition “to solicit their agreement to explore a possible way

Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman forward in this matter.”

This did find favour with the Speaker, who in his ruling on the matter advised that, “There are definitely many lacunas in the legislative architecture for financial management, and it is urged that the Parliamentary Parties seek consensus, as other countries have done, in fashioning constitutional and legislative amendments to better regulate the conduct if the procedure for government to receive permission for spending: whilst not unduly unfettering the right of either to discharge its constitutional mandate to fiancé its budget and to approve such spending.”

Following the ruling by the Speaker, the House resolved into a Committee of Supply where the Members of Parliament are given the opportunity to seek clarification on the expenditure or propose amendments.

APNU and its Parliamentary sidekick, the Alliance for Change (AFC) remained silent as the Speaker afforded the opportunity for scrutiny.

At the vote, the joint Opposition again disallowed the $79M which formed a part of the Supplementary Expenditures for 2011.

With the expenditure not receiving Parliamentary approval, the Contingencies Fund will remain void of $79M, given that without Parliamentary approval the Contingencies Fund cannot be replenished.

The monies voted down again include $29M paid over to Bovell Construction Services for the site preparation for the Indian Specialty Hospital at Turkeyen, and a $25M allocation to Office of the President - this money the House was told, was used for expenditure associated with the conferment of National Awards and other events hosted by the State, particularly the swearing in of the new Cabinet and Head of State.

Page 13

Robb St. murder accused to face PI - Paper committal withdrawn The preliminary inquiry (PI) into the death of 72- year -old Robb Street resident, Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris, is expected to commence on June 28, following the withdrawal of the paper committal previously afforded to lawyers representing the four men accused of murdering the elderly woman.

Orin Hinds, 35, of Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, East Bank Demerara, Cleon Hinds, 34, of 23 Middle Road, Albouystown, Kevin October, 29, of Second Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara and Roy Jacobs, 34, of Evans Street, Charlestown, made another appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

At present the matter is presently before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell, but since that court’s head is on leave, Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty presided yesterday.

Previously, a paper committal was granted to lawyers operating on behalf of the accused. Before that notification, the four accused had been shuttling back and forth to the court during a seven-month incarceration period, without their matter getting underway, since many discrepancies were recognized.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers on that occasion, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to start the preliminary inquiry into the matter. He also said that the application for paper committal by the defence could not be processed since investigations into the murder were still ongoing.

The main difficulty the prosecution said it faced in the paper committal, was the ongoing investigation that was likely to see others being arrested in connection with

the murder.

After arguments from Attorney-at-law Basil Williams who was critical of the length of time the men had been incarcerated and the continued delay of the matter’s commencement, the court ordered the paper committal and the prosecution was supposed to file statements.

Yesterday, Inspector Stephen Telford addressed the court on the prosecution’s behalf. He said that heeding the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the matter facing the murder accused should be conducted by way of a preliminary inquiry to determine whether enough evidence exists to get a committal to the Supreme Court.

Telford stated that the prosecution was facing difficulties, since the defence lawyers could not agree on the paper committal of the PI. According to Telford, attorney Basil Williams, who is representing Hinds, had opted for the paper committal, while Mishka Puran, who is representing Jacobs, was for the PI. Telford assured that the prosecution was ready to commence the PI. He submitted that the prosecution has 15 witnesses to complete the pre-trial

Murdered: Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris matter and was prepared to produce at least three of those persons on the next occasion. The date for the PI’s commencement was subsequently given.

The hearing transpired in the absence of Williams. The lawyer had sent a notice to the court informing that he would not be available for the day. Puran was present, while October’s lawyer was absent.

Cleon Hinds is unrepresented.

On June 30, 2011, armed men stormed the home of the Robb Street woman and riddled her with bullets. She died a short time after.

Investigators revealed that Parris’s death appeared to be a hit. It is alleged that Parris’s attackers were paid to end the elderly woman’s life.

Page 14

Kaieteur News

Friday June 15, 2012

- Minister Ali

Some of the house lot applicants await their turn during the One Stop Shop at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.

Over the next few months the newly established housing schemes along the East Bank of Demerara will see some major

developments valued at some $ 4.1 B. This is according to Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, who said that plans

are on stream for a well at Providence at a cost of $120 M; upgrade of roads in the Diamond Housing Scheme to the tune of $70M and a new access road to Mocha to the tune of $350 M. The Minister made the announcement yesterday during yet another ‘One Stop Shop’ which was held at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Already for the year, the government has developed more than 17,000 house lots, over 30 kilometres of roads, more than 30 kilometers of pure water network and 20

An applicant is given advice by one of the officials new access bridges.

Also at the ‘One Stop Shop’ yesterday some 1075 lots were allocated. The recipients were also given the opportunity to meet with officials of banks and other lending agencies who were onsite at the stadium. Also present were insurance companies and several entities which supply building materials.

The Minister also took the opportunity to make public the cost for the lands available in the Providence area. He noted that the Government has been doing

its best to subsidize the cost for each house lot. According to Ali, the cost to develop each plot of land cost the Government some $1.4M while the highest cost for a plot of land is $1.2M. The Providence Scheme will have lots allocated for a fire station, day care centre, water treatment plant, school and a recreational facility.

“The low middle income lots are subsidized by $1.1 M, the middle income lots have been subsidized by $900,000” the Minister pointed out. He further stated that already they are working on another 480 house lots in the second phase of the remigrant scheme and the second phase of the Herstelling Scheme.

Further, while boasting of his Ministry’s development, Ali said there will also be a

historic transformation of what used to be canefields and backlands.

“We are working to ensure that at the end of the development there will be a direct link from the East Coast to the East Bank of Demerara… that is the vision that we are looking at”.

“Our vision is to integrate the East Coast with the East Bank and for the first time we will have a secondary access moving through from the East Bank through the East Coast,” Ali boasted.

Meanwhile, as the Ministry prepares to host its annual Building Expo - which will be held from July 6 to July 8 - the Minister took the opportunity to invite persons to visit the event as they embark on the journey of building and owning their own homes.

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Commercial food manufactures should embrace safety, standards

Under the theme “From farm to fork: Safe food, Secured markets and Sustained profits” the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) in collaboration with the Support for Competitiveness Programme (SCP) hosted a symposium yesterday for food manufacturers, food establishments, restaurants and fast food outlets.

The seminar was held at the Regency Suites Hotel at Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

According to Public Relations Officer of GNBS, Lloyd David, the event was a collaborative effort seeking to increase the competitiveness of local businesses in the area of food safety and standards.

He explained that a major challenge of the GNBS is its inability to garner sufficient funds to conduct an aggressive communication campaign in Guyana to create an understanding and appreciation for standards and the underlying but important role standards play in the development of our economy.

However, he noted that in an effort to address this challenge, technical assistance was sourced under the Guyana Economic Opportunities/ United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (GEO/ USAID) project which is coordinated by the Support for Competitive Programme, to develop and execute a comprehensive GNBS communication strategy which would create the awareness of standards and standardisation.

“The goal of this communication strategy is to provide a framework from which the GNBS can focus its communication efforts so that there is greater impact, as it relates to standardisation, in the future.” David said.

“I need not highlight the stringent requirements and standards that are available to ensure food safety locally and abroad, but I would like to encourage each business represented here this afternoon to begin to gear itself to the meet the changing dynamics of the world of trade today and the future.”

Technical Officer of GNBS, Trumel Redmond, said the objective of the

- GNBS programme deals with the scope of the food chain from the farm to the consumption of foods.

He said the event deals with recognizing and identifying hazards that can occur at any stage of the food chain, it also describes approaches that can be used to control the effects of the hazards.

Adding that food safety hazards deal with the biological, chemical or psychical agents in foods, Redmond explained that biological agents deal with bacteria, viruses, parasites and aflatoxins; Chemical agents are pesticides, cleaning chemicals and veterinary residue while physical hazards are glass, metal, stones, plastics and wood.

He noted that the key concept deals with the sequence of the stages and operations involved in the production, processing, distribution storage and handling of foods and its ingredients primarily from production to consumption.

Underscoring that the GNBS facilitates the development of standards through various technical committees, he pointed out that the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system deals with assurance of food safety which can be corrective or preventative.

“Corrective deals with companies adhering to national or international objectives for food safety. By applying HACCP, the company can assure that these objectives are met.

Preventative deals with the hazard analysis; potential hazards that need to be controlled to prevent potential harm to the consumer are identified,” Redmond stated.

Noting that GNBS can help business develop in all areas, Redmond said the agency can provide consultancy services, training programmes on HACCP and ISO 22000, which is needed, since there is a constant change in the arena as time goes, where society will be only supporting organisations with standards.

Several of the participants at the seminar

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Fetus in hotel bin…

Mother still on the run Up to press time yesterday police were still not able to locate the woman who dumped a fetus in a city hotel bin on Wednesday.

According to sources close to the investigation, the woman’s reputed husband has since been r e l e a s e d f r o m p o l i c e c u s t o d y as lawmen are still seeking the woman whom they were told,

fled to Bartica.

Early Wednesday morning, Police were called in to the hotel after an employee who was about to empty the bin, found the fetus.

When the police arrived, a man who had visited the woman at the hotel indicated that he had an idea who may have dumped the fetus. The man related to investigators

that he and his reputed wife had a misunderstanding and she had threatened to abort their unborn child. He however noted that he did not believe that the woman would have made good on her threats. He was only aware until he saw police at the hotel.

Investigations are ongoing.

Backer upturns PM’s...

(From page 6) among others. Nagamootoo told the Prime Minister that maybe he was barking in the wrong yard when it comes to integrity of Members of Parliament.

“No one can deny that every single child can observe the ostentatious lifestyle of many in public office…We can see the evidence of the Pradovilles

and people are asking q u e s t i o n s everywhere…Where have we lost the moral compass?” asked Nagamootoo.

He then pointed out that “minor and mini officials are involved in double dipping and triple dipping.” He said that some Members of Parliament are holding several State portfolios and “are dipping and some people dip

thrice in the State coffers.”

Nagamootoo spoke of mushrooming pools and mansions and the amassing of wealth for which there seem to be no questions asked.

Other speakers to the motion include, Gail Teixeira, Dr. Vindya Persaud and Reverend Kwame Gilbert who reminded of a military saying, “comply and then complain”.

Friday June 15, 2012

Porter crushed by log after truck overturns A 30-year-old Linden man was crushed by a log, and several persons suffered various degrees of injuries, after a truck suffered a blowout and subsequently overturned on the Ituni trail at around 09:00hrs yesterday.

The dead man, Allan Kishore Mendonza, of 42 Lower Kara Kara, Linden, who worked as a porter on the truck, was reportedly sitting in the trailer of the vehicle with a few other men when the accident occurred, in the vicinity of Goat Farm, Ituni .

The truck, GPP 1190, with trailer TPP1162, was driven by its owner Seuchand Swammy, who was reportedly hired by a logger to transport greenheart piles.

Mendonza was employed

by Swammy, who is himself a logger, but occasionally works on hire for other loggers, transporting their logs out of the ‘backdam’.

Mendonza was the reputed husband of Geneva Persaud, and is the father of their nine month old child.

According to reports, Mendonza was Swammy’s only employee on the truck at the time of the accident.

The other persons who were injured had reportedly ‘hitched’ a ride.

The injured were brought out to the Linden Hospital Complex, where they received emergency medical attention shortly after noon, while the body of the dead man was brought out a few hours later.

Mendonza’s relatives, including his reputed wife Geneva Persaud, rushed to the hospital after the body was taken there, before it was transported to the Upper Demerara Mortuary.

Persaud was inconsolable and too distraught to speak

to this newspaper.

Her mother, Taslena Persaud, who was also present at the hospital to view the body, said that her daughter Geneva had last seen her husband on Wednesday morning when he left for work.

The woman noted that her son-in-law had worked with Swammy ever since he was a teenager.

Meanwhile the truck driver’s wife, Marva, noted that in all the years she has been with her husband, and throughout which time he has been involved in logging and hiring, he has never been involved in a fatal accident.

Seuchand Swammy is

Dead: Allan Mendonza presently assisting police with investigations.

Geneva Persaud being supported by a friend.

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Greenidge forced to withdraw motion on financial autonomy of Audit Office A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Carl Greenidge was forced, on Wednesday night, to withdraw his motion seeking financial autonomy for the Audit Office of Guyana, after the Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, pre-empted the demand.

Greenidge did confuse some in the House when he spoke to the motion on the financial independence of several service commissions.

During the course of that debate - which saw the House approving financial autonomy for the Judicial, Police, Teaching Service and Public Service Commissions – the APNU parliamentarian continuously referred to the motion on the Audit Office and its objectives in the past tense. This was despite the fact that the motion had not been called up for debate.

It was at the time of the debate on the substantive motion on the Audit Office, and the manner in which that

body receives its money to conduct its functions, that Greenidge confirmed in the House that the Finance Minister had pre-empted his demand. Dr. Ashni Singh exercising his powers as Finance Minister at the time of the presentation of the Budget, had laid an order allowing for the Audit Office to draw its money directly from the Consolidated Fund en bloc, on the very day that Greenidge’s motion was originally tabled.

This would allow the Head of that Agency (which in this case is Auditor General (ag) Deodat Sharma) to determine how the resources are allocated to the Audit Office. The debates that followed the 2012 presentation of the estimates are believed to be responsible for overshadowing the order made by the Minister, which caused Greenidge to backpedal on seeking Parliamentary intervention.

Greenidge’s motion had sought to call on the House to resolve to: “remove the

Audit Office from the Schedule of Budget Agencies and restore it to its rightful place as an autonomous agency drawing directly on the Consolidated Fund and that these changes be reflected in the Annual Estimates to be submitted by the Minister of Finance for the approval of this.”

The APNU MPs course of action was premised on what he calls a legislative obligation “that the Auditor General shall act independently in the discharge of his functions.”

The Opposition has for several years called the manner of allocating monies to the Audit Office as a subvention agency, a mechanism to curtail its function and independence.

The Audit Office of Guyana scrutinizes the expenditure of public funds on behalf of Parliament. It conducts financial audits of all publicly-funded entities, including donor-funded entities, local government agencies and trade unions.

Amidst a shortage of chicken on the local market, government on Wednesday announced that it has granted temporary licences for 12 persons to import one million pounds.

The licences are to expire in three months, on September 12th.

According to acting Commerce Minister, Irfaan Ali, the decision was made in

response to the increase in price for chicken; and was also arrived at taking the interests of local chicken producers into consideration.

“As a consequence, the importers were granted a fifty percent (50%) waiver on duty instead of the sixty percent (60%) they requested by way of applications for permission to import eight million pounds, over the next six

months.”

The Ministry said that the licences would expire on September 12 to prevent hoarding of permits by persons who may be inclined to capitalize on future vagaries of the market.

At the end of the period, the effect of the decision will be reviewed by the relevant Ministry to ensure consumers can obtain the commodity in adequate supply and at affordable prices.

In explaining the decision, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said that increasing activities in the hinterland with gold mining, among other things, have led to the huge demand, with a rise in prices on the coast. He also emphasized that the licences are temporary.

Questioned whether the government consulted with the producers and whether authorities were aware of accusations that baby chick importers and hatcheries could be deliberately starving the market so as to drive prices up, Luncheon noted that the decision was “mainly compelled by the high prices and shortages”.

Small scale chicken farmers have been complaining bitterly of stunted growth and a shortage of baby chicks in recent times. Many, facing severe losses, have pulled out of business.

By Gary Eleazar

12 businesses permitted to import chicken until mid-Sept.

Friday June 15, 2012

Local labs can get accreditation within C’bean Caribbean laboratories and other such institutions will no longer have to look outside the region for their accreditation, according to Public Relations Officer of Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Lloyd David.

The signing of a statement of technical cooperation in Barbados on April 27, between the region’s two national accreditation bodies (NABs) – the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) and the Trinidad and Tobacco Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS) – signals the growth of the coordinating mechanisms within the region for accreditation and conformity assessment.

According to Marguerite Domville, Chief Executive Officer of JANAAC, “the main objective of such an agreement is the mutual benefit in the development of accreditation in the Carib b e a n r e g i o n a n d individual benefits in the respective countries.”

The aim of the Technical Cooperation is to facilitate the incorporation of a regional accreditation mechanism known as the Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) and the need to foster national, regional, inter-regional and international schemes for operation and recognition of reliable accreditation bodies.

The CCA Scheme is being coordinated by the CARICOM Regional

Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and will enable focal points within each CARICOM Member State to form a region-wide network of expert accreditation services to industry and commerce.

“With the introduction of this Scheme, laboratories within the region would no longer be required to seek accreditation from an independent body overseas or to look outside the region for assessors through costly and logistically frustrating processes,” said Mrs. Domville.

“Through the coordinated mechanism, accreditation services would be provided cost-effectively to regional laboratories in countries that do not have national accreditation bodies.”

Deryck Omar, Executive Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards which has responsibility for TTLABS noted that “the original focus of the NABs was on the need to accredit laboratories in the medical field; however, the focus has broadened towards laboratories that certify food safety, thus enabling exporters to soon access accredited laboratories to ensure their products are certified and will therefore be accepted overseas without costly additional inspection and testing.”

Omar highlighted that “in the near future, the CCA

Scheme will also turn to providing accreditation to inspection bodies, organizations that perform inspections in the key areas of tourism, construction, food and the environment.”

The signing was undertaken during the Tenth Anniversary Ceremony of CROSQ where Mrs. Domville spoke to attending guests of the benefits that would be derived from the strengthened partnership under the CCA Scheme.

She highlighted the hard work that was required to bring about the Cooperation, thanking her staff and the staff of TTLABS for their dedication and commitment to ensuring that the mechanisms for the Scheme were in place.

The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce in Jamaica, incorporated in March 2007, to provide accreditation services to Conformity Assessment Bodies, (CABs) such as Laboratories, Certification and Inspection Bodies.

The Trinidad and Tobago Laboratory Accreditation Service (TTLABS) operates as the sole national laboratory accrediting body for testing and calibration laboratories and is a fully owned government organization fulfilling its mandate under the authority of the Standards Act No. 18 of 1997 of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has embarked on a radio programme, titled “GWI’s The Flow”, to enhance its customer service and public relations.

According to the water utility, the programme will be broadcast every Sunday from 19:30 hours on the Voice of Guyana 102.5 FM or 560 AM. The premiere episode will commence this Sunday, June 17, 2012.

Broadcaster Keane McRae will provide a variety of family-themed music and entertainment as well as vital customer service updates regarding all the services provided by the water utility.

GWI’s Chief Executive, Nigel Niles, is the programme’s first scheduled guest and will reflect on the Company’s Tenth Anniversary Celebrations as well as answer any questions

or queries posted by customers via the company’s social media page.

According to Public Relations Officer, GWI, Timothy Austin, the broadcast is also designed to answer questions and queries from customers.

“We are inviting customers to post any questions regarding GWI’s services, particularly those related to their water service charges and billing,” stated Austin, “these questions will be answered on t h e broadcast every week by GWI officials. We are aware that customers continue to have numerous queries about their service charges, as well as burning issues such as the Pensioner’s Subsidy for water paid by the Government of Guyana.

We urge customers to post on our social media fan page or e-mail our Public Relations

Department with their queries.”

The PRO further stated that customers will also be given the opportunity to call in and have their questions answered live on air in subsequent broadcasts following the launch on Sunday.

Customers can post their questions and queries for the radio broadcast via GWI’s Facebook fan-page available at www.facebook.com/ everydropcountsgy; alternatively customers can send questions via e-mail to pro@gwi.gy “GWI’s The Flow” is the newest addition to the Company’s public relations initiatives which include the “Community Connect” outreach programme, “H20 Kidz ‘n’ Action” school workshops and weekly television broadcast, “GWI’s Customer Alert”.

- GNBS

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column How do I tell my parents I’m pregnant?

DEARABIGAIL, I am pregnant and my exboyfriend is the father. He broke up with me before I found out I was pregnant.

He’s going out with another girl now and acts like he doesn’t want anything to do with me or our baby! Neither my parents nor his parents know yet. How do I tell them?

I don’t want to go through

this as a single parent. What should I do?

Worried Dear Worried, If you have decided to keep the pregnancy, you need to tell your parents.

Many parents, perhaps most, will be more supportive than you imagine. Maybe mom and dad, or people close to them, have gone through similar experiences.

They may be upset at first, and disappointed; but, trust that they will help you decide about your next steps.

However, if you are afraid they would be so upset.

Your ex-boyfriend and his parents may or may not be involved in your present or future decisions. I suggest that as hard as it will be, that you face the inevitable, and sit down with one or both of your parents, soon.

Friday June 15, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Your charm will be your greatest asset today, so unleash your brightest smile whenever you can. And try to keep smiling even if things become less than pleasant. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Are you starting to feel overwhelmed? It's time to swallow your pride and ask for the help you know you need! Most people are flattered when they are asked to step in and lend a hand, and the people around you are ready and waiting to be asked. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Someone's ambiguous comments will start to get on your nerves today -- why won't they just come out and say what they mean? If you want to get to the truth about what they think, then today you need to come right out and ask them. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Put some more effort into your career today, and get ready to do the work you've been putting aside. It's a good idea to assess your current situation and think about whether or not it may be time to set your sights a bit higher. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Secrets are being shared today, although what you hear may not surprise you too much. Try to stay in the role of 'listener' instead of 'spreader.' ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Your analytical skills are good for business dealings and financial matters, but you most certainly cannot employ them in any of your love or social relationships right now. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct.

22): If there is a person in your life who you are getting a bit sick of, or someone who is just plain outstaying their welcome, today is the day to (gently and diplomatically) tell them what you are feeling. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): If your life were a boxing match (and your opponent was complacency), you have definitely won this latest round! Congratulations -now, get back to your corner and regroup for the next round. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Your mind will be focused on the future today, and you will be able to make one quick fix that creates a much easier path for you to follow in the future. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): If you are going to be near or among any children today, you will be able to feed off their boundless energy and discover a new, goofier side of yourself. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): If you find yourself bored today, it is a sign that you need to make a few changes in your life. These could be simple changes in your routine, but it is probably more effective to make some complex changes in one of your closest relationships. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Someone you deal with on a daily basis has been looking out for your best interests, and will tell you about something you should know today. This insider information will help you avoid merely taking the path of least resistance and will enable you to take a deliberate path.

Page 31

UK pledges more aid...

(From page 12) said that increasing prosperity in Guyana has resulted in opportunities for UK companies, be there those already operating such as Mott Macdonald, Tullow Oil and Petropavlosk, or for

those who wish to enter the market but have not yet done so. President Ramotar welcomed the fact the Caribbean arm of the British government’s Department for International Development has increased by 50% the

amount of money the UK will spend in the region on a range of development issues, including tackling the effects of climate change, strengthening security in vulnerable communities, and promoting renewable energy.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00hrs. The A-Team 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00hrs. The Wayans Brothers 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 21:00hrs. DTV’s Summer Movie Fest 23:00hrs. Sign Off

08:00hrs – Bollywood Hits (R/ B) 09:00hrs – Stop the Suffering 10:00hrs – CCTV 11:00hrs – History 12:00hrs – CNN 12:30hrs – NCN Newsbreak 12:35hrs – Oral Tradition 13:05hrs – Movie 16:00hrs – Cartoons 17:00hrs – Anderson 18:00hrs – NCN News Magazine – Live

18:30hrs – Pulse Beat 19:00hrs – Al Jazeera 19:30hrs – Close Up 20:00hrs – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05hrs – Grow With IPED 20:05hrs – Feature 21:05hrs – Between the Sticks 22:05hrs – NCN News Late Edition 22:35hrs – Caribbean Newsline 23:00hrs – Movie

NCN CHANNEL 11 05:00hrs – Inspiration 05:30hrs – Newtown Gospel 06:00hrs – NCN Late Edition News(R/B) 06:30hrs – Farming Today (R/ B) 07:00hrs – Guyana Today

Page 32

Kaieteur News

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Waitress to work in a bar Call: 661-8965

East Street $45,000,Albertown US $750,Republic Park US $1500,Bel-Air US $1900 Call Diana: 227-2256,626-9382

One experienced general maintenance man Call: 6278126,679-8689 Family person to take care of sawmill Yarrowkabra 2612553 1 Carnegie trained cook 2035yrs Call: 614-4358 Jet and Marack men to work interior Call: 694-2310 Mini-bus or Mini-van to rent Call:643-3446 At Kesh Palace 1 kitchen assistant & waitress,Free Accomodation Call: 6165559

Eccles new scheme furnished apartment Call: 233-2770 1- Two bedroom selfcontained, fully grilled apartment- situated at Land Of Canaan. East Bank.

Navita : 266-5563,615-9441 Fully furnished 3 bedroom top flat US$950, Republic Park 2 flat 3 bedroom fully furnished US$2,800, Kitty 2 flat residence/business US$1,200, 609 2302/645 2580/ 233 5711

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Male tool room clerk, computer literate. Apply Technical Services Inc. 1823 Eccles Industrial Site EBDem Call: 614-4358

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Call Abby: 216-1950, 6197603, 666-5241

One tractor to rent, preferably four wheel drive Call: 264-2271 Girls to work as waitress,Age 18-25 at Enmore Call: 256-4096 1 handy-boy to work $35,000 per month.Living accommodation and meal free Call: 628-1756,228-5655

We refill HP cartridges for $1,800. Call:650-7699 Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & Stoves.

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Attractive live in waitress Call: 228-5129 Person to cut from masterpattern and seamstress with factory experience Call Sharmie: 225-2598 1- Small engine mechanic,1handyman Call: 2332408,233-2631 Salesgirl D. Singh & Sons Call: 226-0881

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Canter driver $22,000, porters $16,000 weekly, ladies to do cleaning to work in Tuschen, EBE Call: 684-8231

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We do ink refill for Canon, Lexmark, Dell,HP. Typing services available Call: 2318181

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June offer, pedicure $2000, manicure $800, hand tips $2000, toe tips $700 Call Fiona: 651-9418

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2 Bedroom toilet & bath,$4 million Call: 616-1093

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Girls to work in production department Call: 625-5461

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Cosmetology courses Call: 225-6026,682-2604

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FOR SALE Toshiba Satellite Laptop 4GB Memory & 320GB Hard Drive, 15.6" LED HighDefinition Widescreen Display, Built-in Webcam & Microphone. BRAND NEW. SEALED. $120,000. TEL: 683-3161 OR 684-6007

LAND FOR SALE

TV repairs, DVD, Micro waves, amplifier, stereo, washing machine etc. and house wiring Call: 693-2683

Progressive auto rental, cars from $4,000 per day. Call: 6435122, 656-0087, www.progressiveautorental.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale at EnmoreFoulis. Contact 2550584 or 696-3186

Electrical installation domestic & commercial maintenance & repairs also AC installation , estimates , call Marlon Tel: 216-0934,626-6298 or 669-8992 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000 Call: 694-9843

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Counter servers, pastry makers, roti cooks. Apply Hack’s Halaal,5 Commerce St. 9-11AM.

SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Sabita - Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/ 223-8115/662-6045.

Friday June 15, 2012

LEARN TO DRIVE Prudential learning “ Training to Pass” automatic also stick/ manual 642-4827.

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Gold detectors, waki- takis for mining camps, laptop repairs Call: 609-7625,6693405

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Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Wismar end Lodge fairytale journey From back page of the defending champions, Albouystown from the 2012 tournament. However, their fairytale run ended when they met the team from the western half of the Demerara River in Linden. The truth is the bourgeoning presence of Kendall and Howell affected the team’s rotation when it mattered most in crunch- time.

To add insult to injury, and as this writer had predicted, Wismar’s shooting ability was merciless; the team sunk Lodge/Meadowbrook.

Pollydore ignited Wismar’s offence early in second quarter with the team returning to its youth, Williams and Adams included, despite the presence of the senior players, who came in for the all important game. Wismar stuck to its game-plan and used the bench sensibly.

Williams, Doris and Johnson pounded the ball in the paint, and helped Lodge maintain their 34-30 lead with two minutes left before half-

time. Wismar responded with its bench, and a 9-0 run gave the Linden-based team a 3934 points’ lead at halftime.

A baseline move for Adams and a big three-point jumper from Williams continued a 19-6 run for Wismar, which put them up with two minutes left in the penultimate period. However, Kendall’s ‘and-one’ finish and Lodge’s quick offensive blitz reduced Wismar’s lead.

The third quarter ended 59-53 with Wismar in command. Lodge cut the lead to 59-58 as Kendall finished a baseline lay-up. Lodge then took 61-59 lead with Drumson McCulley ‘and-one’ move with six minutes left in the game that was hanging in the balance.

The two teams traded points until Jones nailed a wide open three-point look to put his team in the driver’s seat. Mark Louis then followed with another missile from downtown that gave Wismar a 71-64 points lead

with two minutes left in regulation time.

Lodge feverishly tried to catch Wismar, but their efforts were in vain as Nichola Jacobs upped an intense defensive strategy to sustain the lead and win the game.

Jacobs joined Ann Gordon as the other female coach of a senior men’s team in the national competition.

Gordon is the coach of the Kwakwani team. Earlier in the night, the national senior women team defeated the junior national women 56-39 in the first of a three-game series. Jacobs top scored in the game with 16 points while Amerie Alphonso scored 14 points.

For the junior girls, point guard Lowquantor Gibson and Ginelle Ifill both finished the game with 10 points apiece. The competition continues tomorrow night at the Sports Hall. North Ruimveldt will take on Diamond/ McDoom in another quarterfinal showdown.

“I take full responsibility for...

From back page a more open way; it will take time and playing more matches at this level. The staff, the players, the federation and the nation have to go through these labor pains.

It is necessary labor pains for Guyana to reach that new level, before that baby of football progress could be born, we must as a country go through these pains”, he stated passionately.

Shabazz continued further on the same tangent by saying: “We must face disappointments like these when we are beaten on our doorsteps against a superior opponent. It’s not a pleasant situation, but it’s one where we have to learn from these hard lessons. I am strong enough to take full responsibility and the blows that don’t break our backs here, will strengthen it.

FACING UP TO REALITY A sharp reality check assessment, Shabazz begun to look ahead at Guyana’s remaining four games in the group, where he then went on to summarize where Guyana currently stands in CONCACAF compared to their position in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), while using the progress of Venezuela in South American football as a yardstick of where the Jaguars could be one day.

“We will learn from this experience, we have four (4) more matches in the group.

But more importantly we have to look for opponents superior to us, to expose the players, so that they can con-

stantly become aware of playing at this level from teams currently involved in CONCACAF and South American (CONMEBOL) World Cup qualifying.”

“It’s best we face these opponents now, take our battering and learn from it. The people must face up to reality and we will grow.

There was a time when Venezuela was the whipping boys of South America, now Venezuela is amongst the top (5) countries in that Region and they recently defeated Argentina (1-0 on October, 2011) “, Shabazz explained.

“Guyana can be considered one of the top (5) teams in CFU, but in CONCACAF we still have a long way to go. But we are on the journey and that’s the important thing, we are on the path of going to the next level and on that path we have some tough hard lessons to learn and the game against Costa Rica was one of them”.

CROWD REACTION Finally Shabazz thanked the crowd for showing up at Providence and encouraged them to continue to maintain

a consistent level of support whether the team is celebrating high’s similar to victory versus Trinidad and Tobago last November or low’s versus Costa Rica.

“I want to thank the public for coming out and giving that total support. Thanks to the politicians also since a lot of them were all there.

The 12th man did show up, they did us very proud and on behalf of players, staff and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) I want to thank them”, noted Shabazz in a humble and appreciative tone.

“But I want to say to them also, don’t be faint hearted and weak, we in this thing together and they have to stand with we; cause support means help and it’s when you’re down you need the support, not when you’re up.

The same support that we had for each other, when we came across the Atlantic as sons and daughters of slaves and indentured labourers, is the same way we have to support this effort to the end since the end will be best for the believers.”

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Page 34

Kaieteur News

Fixtures set for this year’s Digicel Nationwide Schools Football tourney One hundred and fifty-four (154) schools across Guyana have confirmed participation in this year’s Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Tournament which is scheduled to start today with a Grand Opening Ceremony and a solitary match, at the Georgetown

Cricket Club Ground from 15:00hrs.

Here below is the fixtures for the respective Regions and dates for matches to be played.

Meanwhile, the quarter-finals will be played on July 11, semi-finals two days later with the final set for July 15.

GFF Super League continues Sunday Competition in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League championship sponsored by FIFA under the Win in CONCACAF with CONCACAF Initiative is set to continue on Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club Ground with a double header.

With all the teams who were missing players who were on National duties expected to have them back again, Sunday’s double header promises mouth

watering action.

Defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United, presently leading the standings with 19 points, the same as BK International Western Tigers, will lock horns with West Demerara’s Seawall FC in the opening game at 18:00hrs.

Alpha will be seeking to consolidate their position at the top having played one game less that the Tigers; Alpha is also the only unbeaten team to date.

Sunday’s main attraction brings together West Demerara’s Den Amstel and Western Tigers in what is anticipated to be a fierce battle with Den Amstel holding their own in their first year at this level.

Alpha will be in action again on Thursday June 21 at the GFC Ground when they come up against Upper Demerara’s Milerock at 19:00hrs.

GFF SUPER LEAGUE 2012 POINTS STANDINGS Teams Points Alpha United Western Tigers Rosignol United Amelia’s Ward Pele Den Amstel Milerock Buxton United Seawall Victoria Kings

8 9 8 7 8

P

W

D

L

GF

GA GD

7 6 5 5 9 8 2 9 1 9

6 1 1 0 4 3 2 2 2 0

1 1 3 3 1 3 3 1 5 2

0 18 21 16 5 2 9 6 8 8

22 5 15 17 14 14 10 7 14 9

5 13 6 -1 15 12 -1 19 -6 26

17 19 16 15 -1 2 8 -12 5 -17

19

13 12 7 2

Friday June 15, 2012

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 35

EURO 2012: Spain’s Fernando Torres’ Two local titles on the... brace KO’s Republic of Ireland Torres’ powerful finish from 10 yards opened the scoring inside four minutes.

David Silva’s composed effort just after the restart doubled the advantage, Torres poked in a third after a quick break and substitute Cesc Fabregas drove in a fourth.

The victory was enough to move Spain above Croatia, who they face on Monday, at the top of Group C. The Republic’s previous successes in major competitions had been based on organisation and discipline.

But their performance in their first major tournament in a decade can be summed up by the fact that, including their 3-1 defeat to Croatia, they have conceded a goal inside four minutes at the start of each half they have played.

Before their sobering loss to Croatia, the Irish had never conceded three goals in a major competition but they

have now done so twice in five days on the way to losing consecutive matches in a major tournament for the first time.

For Spain, who drew their opening game 1-1 with Italy, this was a ruthless reminder of their ambition to become the first team to win three consecutive major tournaments, 24 hours after Germany drew the focus with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was also boosted by the performance of Torres, who replaced Fabregas in the starting line-up and scored his first competitive international goals since September 2010.

For all the pre-match rhetoric, and a history of battling performances by the Republic, the concession of a yet another early goal left Giovanni Trapattoni’s gameplan looking redundant.

Simon Cox, drafted in to replace Kevin Doyle up front

only to be withdrawn for Jonathan Walters at the interval, forced an early save from Iker Casillas but the defending champions took just three minutes to move in front.

Richard Dunne did well to block Silva after Andres Iniesta had guided in an intelligent pass, but Torres drifted around Stephen Ward before thumping a shot over Shay Given. From that point on, Spain were able to strangle the game, controlling possession deep inside the opposition half.

When the Irish did manage to win the ball back, wingers Damien Duff and Aidan McGeady were generally too deep to contribute in attack and Robbie Keane was invariably too isolated to be picked out.

Silva had a low shot held

by Given and Torres prodded wide at the near post before Keith Andrews had a shot deflected wide and Dunne

missed with a header at the other end. Iniesta had a powerful effort pushed away

by Given, Silva headed over and Gerard Pique failed to make the most of a free header from Silva’s corner.

When Cox finally picked out Keane in a dangerous area, the Irish captain’s effort was easily blocked by Pique. The pattern was never likely to change and after Given palmed away an Iniesta shot three minutes after half-time, Silva calmly waited for the room to guide a shot into the bottom corner.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Silva clipped a ball in behind the defence for Torres and the Chelsea striker prodded past Given. And there was still time for substitute Fabregas, who had come on for Torres, to drive in a powerful cross-shot to add a fourth and further underline Spanish superiority.

Tiger Woods in solid US Open start as Phil Mickelson struggles Tiger Woods laid down a marker with a solid 69 as playing partners Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson struggled on day one of the US Open at Olympic. Woods went into the clubhouse in a share of second at one under, three behind leader Michael Thompson (66).

But five-time runner-up Mickelson was out of sorts and carded 76, while Masters champion Watson took 78.

The world’s top three Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood were playing together in an afternoon group.

Woods, back up to fourth in the world after his recent win at Memorial, looked in complete control of his game as he kicked off his challenge for a 15th major title and first since the 2008 US Open. He began with five straight pars after starting at the ninth before dropping a first shot at the par-four 14th.

The former world number one made amends with a birdie at the 522-yard par-five 17th and fired back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth, the latter courtesy of a 30-foot putt, before a final bogey on the sixth.

“I played well - I felt like I had control of my game all day and stuck to my game plan,” said the 36-year-old. “We knew it was going to be quick, but we didn’t

think it was going to happen overnight. I was really, really surprised how much it changed it was just like they used [underground aeration system] sub-air on the whole place and you had to make adjustments.”

Of his long birdie putt at the fifth, he added: “It was a fluke - that putt was off the green. I’d left myself a tough putt. “I was very pleased with every facet of my game and I stayed very patient.”

Mickelson lost a ball with his first shot and had to return to the tee and his day continued in similar vein. He followed his opening bogey with two more in the next two holes and struggled throughout off the tee.

“I didn’t play very well, obviously,” said the four-time major champion. “It was a tough day playing the way I did and three-putting the fourth really hurt. “I’ve got a tough challenge just to get to the weekend. I will see if I can shoot under par maybe that will get me there.

“Tiger struck it really well.

He had real solid control of his flight and trajectory.” As for losing his opening shot, he said: “It must have stayed up because nobody saw it.”

Watson, who looked a shadow of the man who triumphed at Augusta in April, said: “The course beat me up today. It’s a lot better than I am - it beat me by eight.

“It’s disappointing and it

doesn’t matter what tournament it is.”

Watson said of Woods’s

performance: “That was the old Tiger. That was beautiful to watch.

From page 36 Boxing Council (WBC) 50th anniversary card where the benefits include lucrative purses and a place among the elite in the WBC top ten world ratings.

Obviously Declou would want to tenaciously hold on to his title since it was this accolade that has been the catalyst for his CABOFE achievement. McRae would be out to distort DeClou’s ambitions which should set the stage for a grand showdown.

Otherwise, Jones would feel that his task would be simple against a fighter that is still to register a win from three professional bouts since his debut earlier in the year.

To his credit, George did put up a spirited battle against James Walcott in his last fight

but the latter pugilist utilized his vast experience to prevail.

Against Jones, George would once again face an experienced opponent and will have to pull off all the stops if he is to survive. The organizers are awaiting the list of boxers that will contest in the amateur segment of the programme. Activities will be recorded for airing one week later.

Friday Night Fights is an initiative of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) in collaboration with the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA), the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCY&S).

Admission prices are $1000 and $500 for adults and children respectively.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Croatia earns vital draw against Italy to leave Group C wide open Croatia knew three points in Poznan would clinch their last-eight spot following an impressive opening 3-1 win against Republic of Ireland.

The Italians appeared in total control after taking the lead through Andrea Pirlo’s wonderful first-half free-kick.

But Mandzukic’s third Euro 2012 goal means the Italians may now need a big win over Ireland to progress.

That will depend to an extent on Spain’s fortunes against the Irish in the group’s evening kick-off.

For their part, Croatia appeared happy with a point after struggling to match a slick Italian side who dominated the first half thanks to a midfield masterclass from the evergreen Pirlo.

Much of the pre-match talk had centred on the midfield battle between

veteran Juventus star Pirlo and his Croatia counterpart Luka Modric. But the Tottenham playmaker failed to match Pirlo, who dictated the game and set up waves of Italian counter-attacks.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had stuck with the 3-5-2 formation used against Spain, which meant no room in his starting XI for Sunday’s goal scoring substitute Antonio Di Natale. Instead Mario Balotelli retained his place, and he was heavily involved in the early stages as Italy settled quickly.

The Manchester City striker had a trio of golden opportunities before the quarter-hour mark but failed to beat Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatia goal after slightly hesitating on each occasion.

Fittingly, it was the 33-yearold Pirlo who opened the scoring, his free-kick dipping

over the Croatian wall and past a helpless Pletikosa from 20 yards.

But Italy seemed to run out of energy in the final third of the match as Slavan Bilic’s men upped the tempo in search of an equaliser. Croatia are the tallest squad in Euro 2012, with an average height of 6ft 1in, and they looked to use their aerial advantage, full-backs Ivan Strinic and Darijo Srna pressing forward to supply crosses for strikers Nikica Jelavic and Mandzukic.

And it was a pinpoint Strinic delivery that enabled Mandzukic to control before firing into the roof of Gianluigi Buffon’s net off the post.

Ultimately Italy, who had failed to win their second group match in each of their last five tournaments, paid the price for not making their early dominance count.

Mario Mandzukic celebrating the equalizing goal

Kieran Powell, Assad Fudadin join West Indies A Team Gros Islet, St Lucia - The West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Selection Panel has called up Kieran Powell and Assad Fudadin to the West Indies A Team 13-man squad for the third Digicel “Test”

against India A at Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

The pair returned home earlier this week from the West Indies Test Series in England.

West Indies A and India A are level 1-1 in the three-match

Digicel Series. India A won the opening match by two wickets at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

West Indies A bounced back to win the second match by 125 runs at Arnos Vale in St Vincent.

The third Digicel Test starts on Saturday at Beausejour.

Powell, 22, is a tall lefthanded opener; while Fudadin, 26, is a left-handed middle-order batsman who bowls right-arm mediumpace. Powell played all three Test matches in England.

Fudadin made his Test debut in the third and final match at Edgbaston.

West Indies A Team Squad Veerasammy Permaul (Captain), Jason Holder (Vice Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Kyle Corbin, Assad Fudadin, Delorn Johnson, Kevin McClean, Kieran Powell, Donovan Pagon, DevonThomas (wicket-keeper).

Friday June 15, 2012

24th Fight Night Guyana extravaganza

Two local titles on the line

Kwesi Jones Local middleweight champion, Edmond Declou will put his title on the line against Trinidadian based Guyanese pugilist, Joel McRae while bantamweight champion Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry will square off with Rudolph Fraser, but for the local Super Bantamweight title, both over 12 rounds when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) stages the 24th edition of Friday Night Fights at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Friday June 29 next.

Kwesi ‘Lightening Struck Assassin’ Jones will also be up against Berbician, Kelsie George in a 6 rounds Light/ Heavyweight scrap while debutant, David Thomas will start off the night’s proceedings with a 4 rounds Jnr./Welterweight scrap against Gladwin Dorway.

The boxers convened at the Avenue of the Republic office of Abdool and Abdools Insurance Brokers yesterday afternoon where

Rudolph Fraser they consummated the deal by signing their respective contracts.

Fraser is confident that he could overcome Dharry and said he has opened camp some two weeks ago.

Indeed, one cannot take Fraser lightly since he has shown marked improvement over his last three fights.

He won two of them against Barbadian based Guyanese, Gardiel Roberts while he held Lindener, Cassius Matthews to a 6 rounds stalemate.

In Dharry, he will find a complete boxer capable of quartering the ring and unleashing pin point combinations. It was this mode of attack that was responsible for former Bantamweight champion, Dexter Marques’ humiliation when the two met for the former’s title last year.

Fraser will be required to dig deep if he is to overcome the ‘Coolie Bully’ but he is on a high following his recent victories and has assured that

he will enter the impending bout with blazing fists.

Declou had prevailed over McRae in an earlier bout but the latter fighter has since upped his game and obviously would be looking to reverse the decision.

This may be more easily said than done since over the months Declou has managed to build quite a reputation for himself and would be bubbling with confidence.

The rangy fighter from Linden has switched camps from the Young Lion’s Gym in Wismar and now operates at the Andrew ‘Sixheads’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown.

Declou had stated that his decision to switch camps stemmed from a paucity of credible sparring partners in the Mining City.

The wisdom of his decision was noticeable in his subsequent engagements and he went on to capture the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) title and cement a spot for the impending World Continued on page 35

President Hunte hails Doctrove as outstanding servant of cricket St John’s, Antigua – President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte has hailed Billy Doctrove as an outstanding servant of West Indies cricket and one of the leading Regional umpires. The Dominican Doctrove announced his retirement from the ICC Emirate Elite Panel last week.

“It is with a mixture of regret and pride that I offer best wishes and sincere gratitude and thanks to Billy Doctrove on his retirement from international cricket umpiring,” President Hunte said.

“Billy has been an outstanding and faithful servant of West Indies and

world cricket for fourteen years and we will be the poorer for his decision to now serve from off the field,” Dr Hunte added.

“We wish him the very best during his retirement and look forward to his contributions in other areas,” Dr Hunte remarked.

“The WICB will examine how best to suitably honour Billy for his service to the game and how he can contribute to the development of young umpires who can emulate him and Steve Bucknor who was the trailblazer,” Dr. Hunte said.

The 56 year-old Doctrove, also a FIFA accredited referee, stood in 38 Tests, 112 One Day Internationals and 17 T20 Internationals. He officiated in

the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 in Barbados.

Doctrove made his debut on the international stage in April 1998 at Arnos Vale, St. Vincent when he stood in a West Indies v England ODI. He followed up with his Test debut two years later at the Antigua Recreation Ground when the home side faced Pakistan.

Doctrove was elevated to the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires in 2004 then to the Elite Panel in 2006.

The players pavilion at the newest international venue in the Caribbean – Windsor Park in Doctrove’s native Dominica – is named after the country’s celebrated son.

Friday June 15, 2012

Gibson picks Windies to win ODI series

Southampton, England – Ottis Gibson said he was confident West Indies could win their series of three One-day Internationals against England, which opens on Saturday here. The Windies Coach said the arrival of reinforcements to the squad, which included the return of Chris Gayle, meant the visitors had their best chance of success on their tour of United Kingdom.

West Indies on Thursday Ottis Gibson continued their preparations for the ODI series at the match venue, the well- s e l e c t i o n b e c o m e s a appointed Ageas Bowl, problem when they have so where the first ODI will be many. contested. With the weather “But we are looking much kinder, the players had forward to the series and a full outdoor net session expect it to be quite and also had the option of competitive. Our fans that personal time in the indoor have travelled to the Tests centre. with us and watching us get “With all the new beaten are all eager to see players arriving, plus the how we will do in this ODI way we have played all series.” summer, when we have Gibson welcomed the fought and did not achieve return of Gayle following much in the way of winning, the settlement of the we believe we have got a talismanic opener’s dispute real chance to win not just a with the West Indies Cricket game, but this series,” he Board. said.

“He has always been a “We have a very strong bit of a prankster around the team on paper, but it is about dressing room and he is going out and executing. We being his normal self,” said will be planning well over Gibson. “The team has the next couple of days for always integrated guys very England and looking to do well. That has not changed. the right things and try to He has fitted in well and he win this series. This will be a is raring to go.” good series for us and a test Gibson added: “He has of where we are in ODIs.” had his say. He said what he Gibson said West Indies wanted to say and got things had an abundance of off his chest. resources, particularly in the “He has seen the new batting with a number of environment. He has seen explosive players. But he what we are trying to do. I said finding the right am sure that coming back he balance to the side, and from will buy into it. We have the players will inevitably spoken, and he is very much determine the outcome of on board with what is going the series. on.”

“We want players that Squad - Darren Sammy are going to win, whether (Captain), Dwayne Bravo they are six-hitters or not, (Vice Captain), Tino Best, but everybody has got a role Darren Bravo, Johnson to play,” he said.

Charles, Fidel Edwards, “It is about finding the Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, right balance, the right mix Kieron Pollard, Denesh of players...It’s all about Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, putting it together on the day Andre Russell, Marlon and we have seen instances Samuels, Lendl Simmons, of players when shot Dwayne Smith.

Remaining matches – June 16: 1st One-day International – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton 19: 2nd One-day International (d/n) – Kia Oval, London 22: 3rd One-day International – Headingley Carnegie, Leeds 24: Twenty20 International – Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Kaieteur News

Page 37

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Friday June 15, 2012

Shabazz gives thumps-up to the Scotia Bank/Pepsi Schools football tournament

H

ead Coach of the ‘ G o l d e n Jaguars’, Guyana’s flagship football team, Jamaal Shabazz, has

complimented the efforts sponsors Scotia Bank and Pepsi have been giving towards the development of local football at grass-roots level – through the ongoing

Scotia Bank/Pepsi n a t i o n w i d e S c h o o l ’s football tournament.

Shabazz expressed reasons why he is of the view that such tournaments are

crucial for the future of football in Guyana.

“Tournaments like the Scotia Bank/Pepsi school football tournament are very important since it deals with

the future of production of players for the country. It’s just as important as the o n g o i n g Wo r l d C u p

qualifying matches and possibly even more important, because it’s at that early age young players get the exposure in a controlled environment that enables them to start showing signs of technical and tactical ability to be able to play at the next level”, explained Shabazz.

He continued: “So Scotia Bank and Pepsi must be applauded for this type of investment. So many times people want to raid the barn, nobody wants to plant the corn, this step by Scotia Bank and Pepsi is a real important step in terms of development. Because any programme for it to sustain itself, it needs a nursery and I think this is what such a programme can do for Guyana football and people who are behind it such as Mr. Colin Baker, Lawrence “Sparrow” Griffith and everyone else working behind the scenes to make this happen must be commended.”

Shabazz concluded his views on the subject by encouraging the business community to follow the lead of Scotia Bank and Pepsi, since a consistent pool of the next wave of local ‘Golden Jaguars’ stars always needs to be produced and only through such tournaments can this be guaranteed.

“This is indeed something that can serve Guyana’s football in the long term and I encourage other sponsors to do similar to Scotia Banks and Pepsi”, Shabazz stated.

“I remember once when Tr o y M e n d o n c a w a s President of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), he had many youth tournaments at every level from Under-11 coming right up, this is what is needed to keep producing players.

Players like Anthony Abrams, Charles Pollard, Kayode McKinnon and Gregory Richardson will not be around forever, so we need to keep producing players”

Friday June 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Nationwide Schools Football Competition...

All systems in place for today’s start; New age limit suits Bygeval

A

ll systems are in place for today’s opening of the Second Edition of the Annual Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition which takes place with a single match between Buxton and Bygeval Secondary schools at the GCC ground, commencing at 15:00hrs.

This year has seen a significant increase in the amount of schools participating in comparison with last year’s tournament which saw 122 teams from across the country in attendance with Government Technical Institute (GTI), being crowned inaugural champions after defeating Linden Technical Institute in the final.

This year the Organisers have changed the age of eligibility after complaints from most schools about the distinct advantage that the Technical Institutes have over them in terms of the quality of players that represented them as against those from the Secondary Schools that fielded much

younger players with lesser experience.

The concerns were taken on board and Digicel made the decision to change the age of qualification to 18 years and under thereby making the playing field level.

It is expected that Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, who kicked off the tournament last year will once again be present to perform a similar task, while Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and or representatives of the Ministry will be there to participate in the proceedings in addition to Digicel’s CEO Gregory Dean, Head of Marketing Jacqueline James and other top Management staff, will be on hand to witness first day’s action.

Meanwhile, Physical Education teacher of Bygeval Raymond Daw in comments to the media said that despite the lack of a proper facility to train, he expects the team to do well simply because of the new

Beverage Companies in Dominoes Showdown El Dorado Conquerors, Team Banks & Ansa Mc al

L

eading local b e v e r a g e companies Banks DIH Limited (Team Banks), ANSA Mcal and Demerara Distillers Limited (El Dorado Conquerors) will square off in a threematch Dominoes series beginning today at Banks DIH Sports Club at Thirst Park starting at 17:00 hours.

Banks DIH 10-member team will be captained by Orin Sandy and will include Owen Grannum, Arthur Sagon, Matthew Glenn, Shawn Stephney, Shon Butters, Lawrence Rodney, Suraj Ramkarran, Sherry Martins and Alexis Grenardo. The manager is Troy Peters.

Marketing Executive Troy Cadogan will spearhead the ANSA Mcal line up which features Nigel Worrell, Nigel Dodson, Chris Pasramen, Shawn Fraser, Shawzaban Khan,

Colin Baptiste, Jamaal Douglas, Ovid Pollard and Jason Greene. DDL will have in their lineup Colin Bernard, Ricky Jumana, Ulric Athkinson, Floyd Scott, Niaz Ally, Carl Kanto, Hemwantie Persaud, Ishwar Mohabir, Jennifer Sukhoo and Haman Sooklall.

ANSA will host the second round at their head office at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara while the third round will be hosted by DDL at a venue to the finalized.

Trophies will be presented to the top two teams. There will also be prizes for the Most Valuable Player, Player with the best aggregate, Player sharing the most loves.

Banks DIH Public Relations Officer Troy Peters said the tournament is being played to foster goodwill among the three companies.

age limit.

“Due to the inclement weather we’ve had a setback in our preparations which forced us to use the tarmac because the multipurpose centre was being used for exams”.

Bygeval Secondary is the current defending champions for Region 4, they were knocked of the competition last year by the Government Technical Institute who later went on to win the tournament.

Bygeval will be captained by Samuel Charles.

t r o Sp

Wismar end Lodge fairytale journey

By Edison Jefford There was too much at stake for experiments, which c a u s e d Lodge/Meadowbrook to completely miss the narrative that had gotten them so far in the National Community Basketball League that continued Thursday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The result was that Lodge/Meadowbrook, who was unbeaten before, suffered a costly 73-70 loss that booted them from the tournament. Wismar entered the quarterfinals as the clear underdog in the matchup and has now won itself a place among the Final Four.

Shooting guard, Chris Williams scored 17 points while Quincy Jones returned to the fold scoring 15 points as Harold Adams added 14 points. Wismar entered the game with one loss in the group and with its junior players carrying most of the offensive weight.

C o n v e r s e l y, t h e approach that had placed Lodge/Meadowbrook among one of favorite teams to win the tournament, flew out the window. Veteran forward, Dane Kendall had 16 points with the guard, Antwan Austin and Mertimer Williams adding 15 and 14 points.

Wismar shot the ball at a very high percentage with Wi l l i a m s a n d N e v i n Grenville nailing three-point jumpers to hold a 13-12 lead in the first quarter. The two teams exchanged points before a fast-break play helped Lodge to a 26-19 lead within the last minute.

However, Marlon Pollydore landed a big threepoint jump shot to cut lead as the opening period ended 2622 in favor of Lodge, who shifted from running their offence through Pelham Doris to Darian Lewis to Kendal. Kendall was not a part of the team’s early success.

His minutes, like Sheldon Howell, grew for the quarterfinals and Lewis, who gave the team that youthful spark that got them

- Senior women take 1-0 series lead

Wismar’s Quincy Jones drives against Lodge and gets the attention of all the ‘big men’ in the paint at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Wednesday night. this far in the tournament, warmed the bench. It was though the old vanguards were bent on absorbing the success of the otherwise

balanced team.

Lodge/Meadowbrook had beaten quality teams like

Plaisance/Vryheid’s Lust and Albouystown in their journey to the quarterfinals.

They defeated those teams comfortably, starting the exit (Continued on page 33)

“I take full responsibility - Coach Jamaal for the defeat” Shabazz

‘

Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz has stated he has taken full responsibility for the teams 0-4 defeat at the hands of Central American football giants Costa Rica in their third round fixture 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifying game at Providence Stadium on Tuesday evening.

In a very open a frank interview, Shabazz elaborated extensively on every conceivable aspect of the aforementioned encounter.

“I take full responsibility for the teams’ performance. It’s a lesson for me and all of us that we cannot play open and we have to defend deep against every team in this group and when the opportunity presents itself then we can attack”, Shabazz noted with a cautious tone that coincided with the cautious nature of the tactical approach he mentioned.

He continued: “We were and I was naïve to start to try and defend higher up the field and Costa Rica just cut through us like a hot knife through butter and it is an important lesson in my career, that the different levels in the game calls for more respect to be given to Jamaal the opponent regardless if we are home or Shabazz away - a strong opponent is a strong opponent.”

LABOR PAINS OF DEFEAT The Trinidad native continued his synopsis were too careless instead in not being by equating the current state of the national compact and tight and defending deep for our football team’s development, as that of dear lives. The time will come when Guyana mother in labor before she brings forth her will be able to compete against these teams in (Continued on page 33) baby. “We did get behind them a lot, but we Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210