Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Parliamentary team discovers health services woes on West Demerara Even as the Ministry of Health continues to make public statements about its sustained quest to improve health care services in Guyana, it seems as if citizens are a far cry away from being offered anything more than just decent health care.

This reality was most recently highlighted on Friday when the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services discovered several deficiencies at two West Demerara Hospitals.

The team comprised of chairperson of the committee, Indra Chandarpal who sits in representation of the government and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Members of Parliament, John Adams and Renitta Williams.

At the Leonora Cottage Hospital, there were discoveries of a massive drug shortage despite a huge quantity of expired drugs.

There were filthy laboratories, beds without linen and rooms

filled with broken light bulbs.

At the West Demerara Regional Hospital even though that institution seems to be having the facilities, lack of proper administration and organization are purported to be the major problem there.

Those discoveries were made when the Sectoral Committee on Social Services sought to observe the services being offered at the visited hospital with intent to make recommendations to improve whatever is lacking.

The Diamond Hospital was supposed to have been visited yesterday but time constraints prevented that visit.

Speaking to Kaieteur News yesterday, Adams disclosed that the team was initially impressed by Leonora Hospital. He said that the environment was “very clean” but there were other issues.

Adams said that the facility at Leonora was out of what he dubbed “basic drugs.” The Member of

Parliament said that patients complained of having to take prescriptions elsewhere. They had to buy insulin.

John said that the team was met with an explanation that they haven’t been able to source drugs from the newly constructed Diamond bond because the facility is suffering from shortage of staff.

Adams said that the drug shortage situation is puzzling “because we know we passed enough money in the health budget to fully cover the cost for drug purchases. We have been told that the Diamond bond is short of staff. We don’t know how true that is.”

In light of the shortage of staff, the arrangement was for all needed drugs to be sent from the Diamond Bond to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) and to have Leonora requisition drugs from the West Dem facility.

But, checks made on Friday revealed that the WDRH only had enough

medical supplies to sustain service at that facility.

In addition, even with a drug shortage, the team discovered that literally boxes upon boxes of expired drugs are being stored in what used to the mortuary.

Adams told this publication that officials at the Leonora hospital said that the tons of expired drugs were there since 2008, since when the Cubans were running the hospital.

According to Adams, it was there and then recommended that Hospital management see that the area is cleared. He said that the team recommended that the space be used to facilitate a morgue. In addition, a number of air conditioning units were found to be not working, and

the one in the laboratory was fixed only the day before the visit, Thursday.

As inquires were made into that, it was found that the units were damaged as a result of a power problem at the facility. The WDRH seemed to have had fewer issues, but chairman of the visiting committee described the emergency department as a junk yard.

Adams told Kaieteur News that there wasn’t a smooth flow in the process from patients being triaged to them actually seeing the doctor. He said, too, that sections weren’t properly demarcated. “They need technical advice on how to set up the department and get things sorted.”

Chandarpal told Kaieteur

News yesterday that the situation at the Hospitals is not the fault of either the Health or Local Government Ministers. “It is the workers who have the place in chaos; professionals need to start working in a professional way.

“I can’t begin to tell you, but I hope our visit can result in a change. We gave lots of money for health and we need proper health service.”

Kaieteur News has learnt that Regional Executive Officer for Region Three promised the team that within a month the issues will be rectified. The Committee started works in April and has conducted outreach like this before. Adams told Kaieteur News that other visits are planned for next month.

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

Behind the struggle The seemingly intractable battle between our political elites, according to some cynics, may be due to the clash of egos or the drive for power/wealth/status, which might very well boil down to the same thing. But even if this were the case, there would still remain the problem of mobilising voters to rally behind their standards in this age of democracy. Toward this end there is the demand for “equality”, in which some politicians might actually believe.

From this perspective, when we consider the call for a Procurement Commission to be established, it is justified by the claim that contracts awarded under the present system are not being done “transparently” to ensure ‘equality”. Since governmental contracts account for such a huge chunk of our economic activities it is not surprising that there is so much heat generated over the issue.

But if we look a bit closer at the proposal, we wonder whether while a Procurement Commission, while necessary, might not be sufficient to ensure the attainment of the elusive holy grail of “equality”. One of the problems lies in the nature of the goal itself. In our Marxist-dominated climate in the years leading up to and after independence, “equality of outcome” was the cry as opposed to the “equality of opportunity”, which the British pushed in its later days of colonial rule.

Before that of course, the entire system was loaded in favour of the British and their proxies. Those who hanker for the return of the “white man” should remember this small, but not inconsequential, point.

But in the wake of the Washington Consensus doctrines that became our guiding stars in the last two decades, the mantra of “equality of opportunity” once more took centre stage. From the indignant effusions of the Opposition recently, it appears that the Procurement Commission, inserted in the new millennium at the insistence of the multilaterals, will deliver equality of opportunity in the arena of government procurement. They assert that the government has gamed the Procurement Board and the ancillary mechanisms that were designed to satisfy the exact goal.

They see a continued role of Cabinet also stymieing the road to equal opportunity. The Procurement Commission is the only device that will lead us to the promised land.

But there is one problem that is sure to surface even if the Procurement Commission were to succeed in delivering on the hopes of the Opposition. For various reasons, equality of opportunity has never been able to deliver equality of outcome - but it is the latter than the ordinary citizen thinks about whenever he/she hears about “equality”. Let us take education which, even in the British days, was held out as delivering “equality of opportunity” when it came to landing jobs in the civil service, then seen as the nirvana of employment.

While education is available to all Guyanese children, it is not a coincidence that the top one percent in every examination is dominated by students from wealthier homes.

Those students can be sent to lessons, extra books can be purchased, Internet can be available etc. We can even look at something seemingly independent as health: wealthy people live longer than others primarily because they can afford better health care, even though the government facilities are available to all.

Thus, if we return to the vexed issue of government procurement, there is no guarantee that the contracts will not be awarded to the same set of contractors that have now acquired a great amount of experience, not to mention equipment. In the US, this problem was addressed in the 1960’s by an affirmative action programme that reserved 10 per cent of government contracts to constitutionally defined members of ‘minority groups”.

It had to be proven that the latter had been “systematically discriminated against” in the awards of contracts. One member of the Opposition has already mentioned this possibility under the regime of the Procurement Commission when it is constituted.

We would hope that these issues be thrashed out sooner rather than later.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Wealthy business places must not do these heartless things DEAR EDITOR, During the People’s Parliament’s presence at the public park (on High Street opposite Parliament and which has been permanently closed because of our occupation)), we got to know one of the guards, Monty Green very well. He was from RK security service and he got into problems because of his assistance to the People’s Parliament. Last Friday about 15.00 hours, I met Monty who explained a dilemma to me He went to a huge shoe outlet and bought a pair of boots. He said he did not

receive a receipt because the attendant said special sales do not carry receipts. His problem is that he bought the boots for someone who will have to reimburse him. But he had no proof of the amount he paid.

I took the item out of the plastic bag. You are not going to believe what I saw. The boots were of different sizes.

We went to the store. There is a permanent special sales section with the sign, “Goods are not returnable.” There are about ten boxes of absolutely useless footwear. I examined the items myself. These are

things to be thrown away.

Even if you give them away they serve no purpose. They are just goods damaged beyond repair. It was unbelievable that a wealthy firm like this store was selling these things The son of the owner was in charge. He agreed to reimburse Monty. I told him that was not the issue. The point was why the store was putting this rubbish for sale.

My emphasis to the son was that only poor people buy this useless stuff so they are being given a very horrible deal. At the Walter

Rodney Commemoration event later in the evening, I told Tacuma Ogunseye about the incident. He said he made a purchase from the special sale a few years back and when he was ready to use the pair of shoes, he discovered that they were no good The Guyana Consumers Association no longer functions and it is amazing that no group has sought to replace it. Poor, very poor folks are being denied their money’s worth and this nation does nothing about it.

Monty’s friend would (Continued on page 7)

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Burnham the Lion cannot write in his defence, so others must respond to the tales of the hunters DEAR EDITOR, This African Proverb, “ Until the Lion learns to write, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter,” aptly describes the regrettable decision of the African National Congress (ANC) Government of Jacob Zuma, to defer indefinitely the conferral of the Posthumous honor of the Oliver Tambo Award on the late President Forbes Burnham of Guyana.

This fundamental breach of principle has been precipitated by the highly subjective desire of very vindictive individuals whose only mission on their long hunting expedition is to exact vengeance for the alleged transgressions of the great Anti-apartheid giant, Forbes Burnham. Alas, Burnham the Lion cannot write in his defense, so others must respond to the tales of the hunters.

Hunters who seek glorification must be reminded of the Biblical injunction, “Vengeance is mine”, sayeth the Lord. If the lives of all the great world leaders are scrutinized, it would be discovered that none is without spot or blemish. The solemn decision, based on very specific criteria established by the National Commission for the Orders of South Africa as it relates to the contribution to the international fight against apartheid, has suffered a severe trespass by Burnham’s accusers. A more nuanced understanding of this breach is required. The present ANC government seems to have been compromised. Quite apart from those who are overcome by the desire for revenge, the

present South African government displays a level of timidity and cowardice that is unworthy of Nelson Mandela’s ANC. President Zuma must be aware that Forbes Burnham was a fellow ‘Comrade’ in the anti-apartheid struggle.

To be bestowed the recognition of ‘Comrade’ by Nelson Mandela’s ANC during the struggle was to be regarded more than a blood brother. It was a sacred bond that was never to be broken and was always to be honored not ‘because of’ but ‘inspite of ’. It was a bond that was meant to be stronger than any witchhunt aimed at undermining the legacy of the ‘Comrade’.

There are two significant illustrations of the unethical actions of the present ANC. The first is a demonstration of the remarkable level of betrayal of another ‘Comrade’ in the anti-apartheid struggle involving the Tibetan Spiritual Leader The Dalai Lama. In October 2011, the Dalai Lama was invited by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu to celebrate his birthday with a Peace Lecture at a Peace Conference. According to reports out of South Africa,

the ANC Government denied granting an entry visa to the Dalai Lama, who was forced to cancel his trip to South Africa. It is believed that China pressured President Z u m a ’s Government to keep the Dalai Lama out.

Archbishop Tutu labeled the government action ‘disgraceful’ and ‘worse than the apartheid regime’ because according to him, at least you were expecting such a reaction from the apartheid government.

The ANC was accused of selling its principles to the highest bidder, as well as succumbing to commercial pressure and kowtowing to China.

It was reported in the London Globe and Mail newspapers that Archbishop Tutu was so enraged by the Zuma government’s refusal to grant an entry visa to his fellow anti-apartheid ‘Comrade’ that he wagged his finger on television and addressed the ANC Government directly, “I am warning you, one day we will start praying for the defeat of the ANC Government. You are behaving in a way that is totally against the things for which we stood. I am warning

you that we will pray as we prayed for the downfall of the apartheid government.”

Following this incident, many South Africans called for ‘serious soul-searching’ due to fears that Nelson Mandela’s party had lost its moral stature on the worldstage.

The second illustration of the ANC’s neurotic behavior has to do with the upcoming state visit by US President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama to Sub-Saharan Africa from June 26 to July 3, 2013.

The Obamas are scheduled to visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.

According to news reports on the visit to South Africa, the Mayor of South Africa’s mother city, Capetown, Madam Patricia de Lille announced plans to bestow the city’s highest honor, the ‘Freedom of the City Award’ on the Commander in Chief of the United States and his wife.

However, the ANC government has advised President Obama to reject the

Award from Capetown because “the city does not treat its poor well”. In an article written in the Guardian Express Newspaper, Laura Oneale noted, “The only reason the ANC have for objecting to the Obamas receiving the‘Freedom of the City Award’ is that the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), dominates that Province and has in c o r p o r a t e d g o o d governance there.

The ANC calling on the Obamas not to accept this award is ridiculous, the ruling party should know that that America stands for the truth, freedom and justice, something they should try to imitate”.

In closing, it must be stated that this letter is not meant to criticize President Zuma but merely to highlight the fact that the decision by the present ANC government to yield to the wishes of the trespassers does not reflect the high ideals of reconciliation which Nelson Mandela’sANC set for the world

to follow.

If anything good should come out of the deferral of the Oliver Tambo Award to Burnham, I think it should be a sustained lobby by Guyanese for the Mandela brand of reconciliation to occur in Guyana before it attains its 50th Anniversary of Independence. Comrade Oliver Tambo would be a happy man to learn that political and racial reconciliation was attained in Guyana because the Award in his name was deferred to facilitate this noble objective.

I believe that not only the Oliver Tambo Award should be bestowed on Burnham posthumously but also the highest Order of the Caribbean, the Order of the Caribbean Community.

Stanhope Williams

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox The importance of fathers DEAR EDITOR, We are presently making preparations to honor Fathers all over the world on Sunday June 16h which is a very special day for fathers. Let me give a brief history pertaining to father’s day which I believe would be of great interest to my readers. ’ Sonora Dodd, of Washington first had the idea of ‘Father’s Day’ .She thought of the idea of Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909.President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924 supported the idea of a National Father’s Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father ’s Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972.’’

Father’s Day has been a very old tradition since the beginning of time. About 4000 years ago a young boy named Elmusu wished his Babylonian father good health and long life by carving a father’s day message on a card made out of clay. No one knows what happened to Elmusu or his father, but the tradition of having a special day honoring fathers has continued through the years in countries across the world.

The fifth commandment in the Bible is : Honor thy Father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.’’ Exodus 20:12 The word father in the Hebrew is ‘Abba’ meaning father along with the following definitions in Hebrew for Father: ’’source, sustainer nourisher , supporter ,

foundation of that which c o m e s o u t ’’ . F r o m t h i s Hebrew definition we can surely say that the Father is the source and foundation of the family. The family is something very sacred before the eyes of God and must not be taken for granted as many do today in ‘’ live home & common law relationships’’.

We cannot separate the father from the mother or separate the husband from the wife. Marriage is a very sacred institution ordained by God since the beginning of time. God created marriage to be an expression of Himself. When God created marriage he created it absolutely perfect. Man failed God because of sin. Man is really and truly the spiritual foundation of the family.

The first man created by God Adam was fathered and mentored by God himself.

When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, God came down in the Garden and called for Adam not the woman Eve. That was because God gave instructions to Adam and not his wife Eve. Because of the sin of disobedience since the beginning of time man died spiritually, physically,and eternally.

Adam died spiritually because he was expelled from the presence of God, he died physically because of disobedience to God, and he died eternally by being separated from God eternally.

Today we have seen a great moral breakdown in the home and family. We have seen domestic violence caused by so many drunken and immoral fathers. We have seen family separation where

husbands and wives are going their separate ways.

Divorce and more divorce everyday. Child abuse by parents, poverty and separation of children from parents. Why all these social ills? It’s because men have turned their backs on God; they have failed to take up their responsibility as a father who is the source and foundation of their family income. A woman is not looking for a sex champion to be a husband; she is looking for a father in her husband the source and sustainer of her financial and emotional needs. A true father doesn’t only just produce, he sustains, protects, nourishes, loves and supports.

No marriage becomes great if either the husband or the wife is nothing but a taker.

Great marriages are built by great givers. Both partners have to learn how to truly love one another according to holy scriptures. When you get married you don’t automatically live happily ever after. In fact if you and your spouse refuse to change wrong attitudes after you get married, you won’t live happily for two hours.

Marriage is suppose to be a covenant relationship in which two people learn how to compliment each o t h e r. T h i s k i n d o f marriage is achieved when both marriage partners maintain a sense of love and compassion for one another.

Husbands need to show their wives that they are important, they must show them that they care and concern for them as well as their children. Wives needs to be loved not beaten and abused. Our (Continued on page 8)

Wealthy business places...

From page 4 have ended up wearing on the same pair of feet a pair of boots with two different sizes. I call upon Red Thread, TUC, FITUG, PNC, P P P, WPA , A F C , 1 8 2 3 Coalition, P e o p l e ’s Parliament, SASOD and other stakeholders to do something about starting u p a n e w C o n s u m e r ’s Association.

The victims of horrible consumer exploitation are poor people.

Do you know Chinese stores are selling broken chinaware. Go and see for yourself coffee cups and plates that are badly chipped.

These cups can cut your lips or tongue. Poor folks buy them because they cannot do better.

The political parties have constituencies that vote for them that are such victims.

How can any store put up a sign that reads, “Goods to be purchased as they are,” and those items are in sealed boxes. Su p p o s e i t i s rubbish that you unwittingly paid for? So, can gas stations mix their fuel with water with a sign at the pump that says, “We will not accept complaints if spark plugs malfunction due to our gas?”

Why not accept a sign at a supermarket that informs you; “If your beef is mixed with donkey meat we are not responsible.”

I ask the question again: “How can a store sell products that cannot be used? For me, what is most

morally revolting is that multibillion entities are involved.

Last week, I wrote on a peculiar sale I saw at Acme Photo Studio. Three weeks before, I complained that the $5000 AVVIO phone GT&T is selling has a structural fault.

Mine is still malfunctioning. No one does anything about these abuses.

People just get on with their wretched lives in this Kafkaesque, Dostoyevskian, dystopian hell-hole where pain and suffering come to be accepted as inevitable punishment from the ancient Greek gods for simply being born as Guyanese.

You wonder if any Guyanese know the intrinsic philosophical difference between abuse and freedom Frederick Kissoon

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Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Urgent need for reconstruction of the Public Service Commission and Public Service DEAR EDITOR, It must be of interest, both to those more immediately involved, and other relevant stakeholders, to examine closely the published relative values of posts occupied across the Guyana Justice Sector of the Public Service.

This Sector is administered and functionalised largely by

professionally qualified personnel; while however there are components which are staffed by comparatively under-certified (professional/ technical education and training) counterparts a quick comparison may be made among incumbents of posts in: 1) the Ministry of Legal Affairs 2) Supreme Court

3) Magistrate’s Court 4) Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions on the one hand, i) Guyana Police Force ii) Guyana Prison Service iii) Guyana Fire Service on the other hand.

The Table below briefly summarises the comparable status of a sample of the posts involved.

Table - (2013 Estimates) Grade Posts Posts GS12 - Deputy Chief Parliamentary CounselDeputy Registrar of DeedsDeputy Registrar of the Supreme Court- Summary Courts Manager- Assistant Director Public Prosecutions - Director of PrisonsAssistant Commissioner of Police- Deputy Fire Chief GS11 - Legal Assistant to the Chancellor- Senior State Counsel MagistrateSenior Legal Advisor- Law Revision Officer- Principal Parliamentary Counsel - Senior Superintendent of Police- Divisional Officer, Fire Service GS10 Legal Administrative Officer - Superintendent of Police Senior Superintendent Prisons GS09 - Legal assistantParliamentary CounselPrincipal Assistant Law Revision Officer - Assistant Superintendent of Police The full gamut of positions as extracted from the National Estimates 2013, has been composed in a separate Table which space would not allow here.

However, in addition to the foregoing observations, the following may also be worth noting: a) Office of the State Solicitor There appear to be two sets of Senior Posts in this office, i.e, i) “Public Trustee, Official

Receiver” ii) “State Solicitor, Public Trustee, Official Receiver” Unless an editorial error was in fact committed, it certainly needs to be explained how, in the first instance two posts: i) above became merged into one; then simultaneously, these two are combined with a third at ii) above.

For what positions did the budget provide?

Questions can reasonably be asked about the authority for approving the above arrangements. Either the Public Service Commission or the Judicial Service Commission may be expected to be involved. Equally, the Public Service Ministry should statutorily advise on the values to be attributed to these merged responsibilities, but only after a comprehensive review, and reconfiguration of the relevant Job/Position Description/s – for the very good reason that any prospective incumbent of this (mega) position should, in all fairness, be provided with a full understanding of the objectives to be achieved, the

systems and procedures to be utilised, as well as the delivery processes involved; not to mention the priorities to be determined.

Such information would help the candidate, not only to self-assess his/her delivery capability, but also to decide on the adequacy of the remuneration offered.

Against the above background logic suggests that this ‘collection’ of posts previously corrected should have been advertised to allow for appropriate competition and transparent selection of the competencies required for measurable performance. b) There appears to be another editorial error which shows the post of State Counsel Legal Affairs graded GS10 and that of State Counsel in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecution graded GS09. c) The posts of Chief Fire Officer and Chief Magistrate are not included in the 2013 Estimates.

On reflection, apart from the behaviour of the current administration, its partners in governance who repetitiously have

proclaimed their concern for the welfare of Public Servants, have displayed a disturbingly impoverished u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the structures, procedures and processes which influence the functionalities of the Public Service, as well as the status and actual work environment impacting on its human resources.

Even if the particular aberration of a ’multi-faceted’ incumbency (or encumbrance) is an exception, it should not be overlooked. In fact it merely adds to the list of other notable transgressions in the employment and compensation management environment of the Public Service.

Surely all the governance partners are accountable for permitting the deficit in the performance of the Public Service Commission.

This is therefore to urge that something be done immediately, if only as a starter towards a major reconstruction of the Public Service Commission in particular, and of the Public Service as a whole.

EB John

The importance of fathers From page 7 wives need to be loved. They need to be cared for.

They need to be given security and closeness without sixth driving force in a marriage is not sex, that’s why most marriages failed.

Love and affection and sex will work together. Wives need conversation from their husbands. When a married couple is continually conversing with each other, they are forming a closer bond between them. That should always be their goal, because God did not call them to live two separate lives in one house.

The Father’s role as well as the wife is:’’ Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it’’ Proverbs 21:6 the word train in this verse of scripture means to instruct, educate, discipline etc. Every father should remember that one day his children will follow his example. Parents are teachers of their children.

When I see a child cussing, I realize he learned to cuss from his parents. I read a quotation by Anne Geddes :’’Any man can be a father but it takes a special person to be called dad.’’

That is quite an interesting quotation

because there are so many running fathers in the world today. It takes a special person to be called dad. I feel very special when I go shopping with my wife and children.

My children sees me as their financial source.

My daughter can pick up a lot of stuff in a supermarket when we are shopping and just have to say daddy will pay for it.

It’s because she has her trust and confidence in me as her father, nourisher and sustainer.

William Shakespeare wrote: ‘’It is a wise father that knows his own child.’’

A father will only know his child when he takes on the responsibility to care for that child. Father’s Day will be a very sad day for many fathers because they really don’t know their children.

They will not get love and affection from their children because they have deserted them from a very tender age.

Some father will be blessed by their heavenly Father because they have taken up their responsibility to care for their family.

The true essence of fatherhood is for fathers to take up the leading role in their homes because they are the

foundation of their families.

Bad fathers will produce bad children and bad children will create a bad society and bad societies will create a deplorable country all because of poor fathers who are the foundation of their families.

I am very happy when I stand on my church stage looking at fathers coming into the house of God with their wives and children.

If every father would attend church regularly and involve with their priests and religious leaders in church activities we would have a more morally upright society and stronger family values.

Modern psychologists have proven that children that came from good families are the brightest in schools; they also discovered that children that came from broken homes perform badly at schools.

I t ’s a b o u t t i m e o u r fathers of this country start leading their families and become better role models for their children.

I realize that I am getting old because I begin to look just like my father.

May God bless all our fathers in Guyana. My prayers are with you.

Rev.Gideon Cecil

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Dem boys seh The best lesson my ‘Father’ figure taught me Time run out fuh some of de Bees I was asked to write a feature on the ‘the best lesson my father taught me’ (which I did) but I am elated to write one on a man whom I was given the honour to meet over five t i m e s b u t he never remembered meeting me.

Just like the movie 50 first dates, in which the actress was involved in an accident and after that could only have a memory for 24 hours. This however is a similar thing but this was caused by no accident but more of an “old age” defect.

At age six when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up my first answer would be a journalist. Many would ask why but it was always a passion of mine to travel, meet important people and deliver some of Guyana’s most profound stories.

As a child growing up, I was always glued to the television watching, not to

view Pokemon, Spiderman or Tom and Jerry; my interest was always the news. In the media I was given the honour to meet journalists l i k e E n r i c o Wo o l f o r d , Gordon Moseley, Dennis Chabrol, Mondale Smith and Leroy Adolphus all of whom I look up to; but none could match the man who always tells me “Son sometimes the only way to finds things out is to investigate, that is journalism”, he is none other than the “fossil” himself, Adam Harris.

I have met many Editors but this “deep bass” voice man has been an inspiration to not only me but for his over 50 children in the media.

Now many who know me would recognize that I have only been employed with Kaieteur News for almost three weeks and I am now pleased to tell everyone about the best

lesson Adam has taught me.

On e d a y I w a s s e n t o n assignment at Camp Ay a n g a n n a . J u s t 3 0 minutes after I submitted my story I was called by the man who scared you with his thunderous voice. “Son come here. Spell Gary’s last name” So I said B.E.S.S instead of B.E.S.T. For a minute he looked at me and then said, “Whenever you don’t know something try Google it”.

A number of expletives came after the advice before he then said, “I know you will never make that mistake again.”

So on this Father’s Day I want to say thanks Mr. Harris for teaching me how to use Google (I am ashamed of myself).

I look up to him like a father even when I ask him stupid questions just out of curiosity to see the response I would get.

According to the dictionary a father is considered as a figure or a man in relation to his natural child or children.

However, my father needs another definition because he is just more than a very important person to me; more of someone I still try to figure out even after 20 years of knowing him.

Sometimes I sit and wonder when my dad becomes a centenarian and is asked what’s his advice for young people; I wonder about the things he would say to the reporter then who would have a hell of an interview.

I consider my father, Eustace Vickerie, as my own personal lawyer and that is why the best lesson he would have taught me as

a child would be “Save your money because you will need it really bad one day”.

When I asked my mother how they first met she would always say “He was like an old man but he always kept himself to a standard.”

As a young journalist in the media fraternity dressing up is always something that I don’t really look at when it comes to my appearance.

Like I always say “If I feel comfortable then I will wear it, otherwise I am going to stay home”.

My dad is someone whom I envy because he knows to do absolutely everything from wiring industrial factories to making his annual kites for me and my sisters to go and fly on Easter Day. My most memorable

moment with my dad would be when he stripped an entire bus engine to the tiny parts and put it back together within one week just after the 2005 floods.

I doubted the guy because I said to myself “Mechanic work was never something I saw my father do; but he not only proved a point like he always does but he showed me that being born through his lines is a blessing that has been handed down from generation to generation.”

That was just many of the over one hundred things my father taught me especially to be a gentleman around women.

My father always told me that you can only be the best you can even if you fail at it. Happy Father’s Day Dad. (Javone Vickerie)

The best father any guy would want

When de sun come up nuff men gun have tears in dem eye. Dem is de ones who ain’t got nutten to show fuh being a parent. Dem is de ones who behave like bull dogs, troubling dem women and then running away, regardless of whether de woman get pregnant or not.

Some of dem got money that dem coulda buy anything. Two of dem use to buy dem li’l gyal but today is a special day. Imagine Bharrat paying some li’l gyal a whole heap of money to call he daddy. Well, not he alone because dem got Irfaat, Barbie, Boyah and some men who tun out to be a waste. Dem is de people who going back to de Man above just like how dem come-p-empty handed.

De one good thing is that money can buy certain comforts. Today, a group of dem gun gather and eat and drink and wish one another Happy Father’s Day. Dem who does drink gun get some hamper from Banks

and DDL. Dem gun be better than de set who got to walk to dem rum shop as soon as bird wife wake because dem too ain’t got nobody to give dem a meal.

Dem boys seh that sometimes people does sorry fuh dem and does prepare a special basket. New THRIVING is one of dem that does provide food fuh dem out of pity. Last year, though, after de meal dem didn’t have enough toilet fuh hold dem. Was nuff griping. When dem boys ask wha happen one man claim that he had to get even fuh de hassle dem use to put he through when dem was powerful.

But dem got some men who more than mek up fuh dem who now got to sit by demself like if dem ain’t got owner. But then again, some people got dem mother and dem sister who dem use to ignore during dem better days.

Talk half and watch fuh de tears today

Businessman gets $104M judgment against Tigerwood logging company Local businessman, Kadim ‘Kads’ Khan, owner of Guysons Engineering Limited, has secured judgment to the tune of US$520,000 ($104M) against a former partner who had bought out his shares in a logging company back in 2010 but failed to pay up.

The judgment was made by Justice Rishi Persaud on October 30, 2012 against Timothy John Ashworth-Foster, owner and Director of Tigerwood Guyana Inc. ‘Kads’ Khan, former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran; Sir Ronald Sanders and John Willems along with Foster were all partners in the logging c o m p a n y, Tigerwood, which was established June 28, 2006.

The company had entered into a five-year agreement, starting in 2007, with Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development to harvest logs in the concessions of that organization.

Iwokrama, at the time, was heavily dependent on donors for its operations

Owner of Guysons Engineering Kadim ‘Kads’ Khan and welcomed the opportunity to rein in a reliable cash flow on its own.

However, Khan and Ramkarran sold their shares in the logging company on January 19, 2010, to Foster under a Sale and Purchase Agreement.

Under the agreement, Ashworth-Foster agreed to purchase from Khan his shares in Tigerwood for the sum of US$670,000 to be paid in monthly installments under terms that

if one installment was not paid, the whole amount became due.

A former Parliamentarian and Shadow Finance Minister of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC), Khan claimed that only US$150,000 was paid but nothing after.

As a result, Khan filed a suit against the logging company claiming that he was owed over US$500,000 ($100M).

However, Foster and Tigerwood countered, filing a writ n a m i n g K h a n a n d Guysons Engineering Limited, with the logging company as plaintiff, claiming that Khan laundered $41M through the bank accounts of the company while he served as Chief Financial Officer and an executive between June 2006 and 2010. The m a t t e r w a s , h o w e v e r, thrown out by Justice Persaud.

Foster, according to the judgment made last year, will have to pay the owed money in the sum of US$520,000 from May 1, 2010. He was also slapped with a six per cent interest and costs of $25,000.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur M@ilbox Time to stop playing politics with the sugar industry DEAR EDITOR, The sugar industry, despite its current challenges, still remains a critical component of the country’s overall development. It is the single largest employer of labour, and contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. It is true that the share of that contribution to the GDP has declined over the years due to greater diversification of the country’s economy and the favourable prices for minerals on the world market in particular gold and bauxite.

However, sugar is still holding out as a major player in the economy.

There was a time when sugar was “King”. Those were the days when the industry was owned by expatriates or absentee owners whose main concern was the optimization of profits even at the expense of the sweat and tears of the sugar workers.

The workers were condemned to a life of grinding poverty whilst the managers and owners were enjoying the good life. Most of the profits generated from the industry were sent overseas with very little of it utilized to improve the living and working conditions of the sugar workers.

It was not until the formation of the PPP and the victory of the PPP in the elections of 1953 that some attention was paid to the lot of the sugar workers by the colonial authorities.

One of the first acts of the new PPP government was to pass in the Legislative Assembly the Labour Relations Bill which was intended to recognize any union that had majority support through democratic polls. This law would have most probably recognized the Guiana Industrial and Workers Union (now GAWU) as opposed to the Man Power Citizens Association (MPCA) which for all practical purposes was a company union and therefore not effectively and militantly representing sugar workers.

This was too much for the sugar planters to bear and in collaboration with the colonial office engineered the removal of the PPP from government after a mere six months in office by way of a suspension of the constitution.

The political history of Guyana is closely intertwined with the history of sugar.

Indeed, with the exception of the Amerindians, all the other ethnic groups in Guyana came to the shores of this country to provide labour to the sugar plantations.

Conditions of life were abominable and at times brutal. It was at the graveside of the slain sugar workers in June 1948 that Dr. Cheddi Jagan made a solemn pledge to dedicate his entire life to the cause of the struggling workers which found expression in the formation of the PPP in January 1950.

The ‘Enmore Martyrs” as the five slain sugar workers are now referred to, could be considered as the catalyst in the formation of the PPP, the first mass-based political party in Guyana.

In Guyana, there was a strong convergence between politics and economics, especially in relation to sugar.

As mentioned before, the first duly-elected PPP government of the early 1950’s was unceremoniously removed from office because it sought to enact legislation that affected King Sugar. Sugar workers formed a significant political constituency which along with other categories of workers and farmers was responsible for the victory of the PPP in all free and fair elections held in Guyana.

The PPP has always championed the cause of sugar workers from its very inception. Indeed, it was the PPP that waged the battle for the recognition of the GAWU as the bargaining agent for sugar workers after that aborted attempt in 1953 which eventually led to the downfall of the PPP. It was the PPP that pressed the PNC regime to reduce the unconscionable

levy imposed by the PNC regime on the industry which during the difficult PNC days provided an economic lifeline to the Guyana economy.

Indeed, it took the return of the PPP to political office to bring an end to the sugar levy which in the past was a heavy financial drag on the industry.

Today, the industry is experiencing some challenges which have nothing to do with any lack of interest or attention on the part of government in this vital industry as claimed by opposition elements.

Part of the difficulty has to do with the precipitate drop in the price of sugar which resulted from an end to sugar subsidies from the European Market. Under the Lome Convention, sugar imported from the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries by the European Union countries enjoyed preferential prices for sugar which was way above the world market price.

This loss of that preferential market is a severe blow to the sugar industry from which it is still to fully recover. One way of dealing with that unfortunate situation was to reduce unit cost of production and to explore value-added options including the packaging and refinement of brown sugar.

The Skeldon Modernization Programme was intended to lower production costs through higher levels of factory efficiency and the production of high yielding canes.

This is not to suggest that more cannot be done on the part of management to reduce inefficiencies, both technical and managerial.

The new Skeldon Factory is currently underperforming and the quantity and quality of canes needed to allow for maximum factory throughput leaves much to be desired.

The above notwithstanding, the industry would find it difficult to move forward unless it benefits from significant inflows of capital to allow for re-capitalization and for operational expenditures.

The current administration, cognizant of this reality has provided budgetary support for the industry.

The political opposition, however is unsympathetic and has done everything possible to deny the industry financial support at a time when it is most needed.

The opposition parties are clearly using the industry as a political football. It is time to stop playing politics with the sugar industry.

Hydar Ally

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Guyana reviewing safety, security of stockpiled firearms – UN body to assist

Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, Senior Programme Officer of the Public Security Programme of UNLIREC, Juliet Solomon, Ian Ruddock, Technical Advisor, Stockpile Management and Weapons Destruction, UNLIREC and Home Affairs official during the meeting.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee has reported that Guyana is working in the context of international cooperation with a United Nations body to address the question of stockpiling firearms and ammunition, and how to deal with over accumulation of those that are obsolete.

The UN body, United Nations Office for Disarmament’s Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNILIREC) will guide Guyana on how to dispense with firearms, as well as securing stockpiles in ways that are in keeping with certain international standards.

Two experts from UNILIREC responded to an invitation from the Government of Guyana (GOG) on this mission which has proved helpful to the country.

Minister Rohee yesterday reported that Senior Programme Officer of the Public Security Programme, UNILIREC, Juliet Solomon and Technical Advisor, Stockpile Management and Weapons Destruction, UNILIREC, Ian Ruddock, have visited a number of stakeholders during their visit here to conduct a baseline survey.

“In three weeks’ time, after the visit, we will expect a report. Based on that report, we are expecting some recommendations which the

GOG will study with a view to determining the extent to which we will implement those recommendations,” he stated. Pointing out that there are no sanctions involved if Guyana does not implement the UNILIREC recommendations, he

explained however, “in the context of best practices and your treaty obligations you are expected to do your best to adhere to these principles to which you have signed on.”

Rohee, according to a government statement, said

that while this move by Government is not necessarily a part of the security reform process, “it is part of bringing better management to our armories, whether they are in the Guyana Defence Force, Police Force, Municipalities or Prisons, wherever there may be a stockpile of firearms.

The idea is to bring a better system of management, utilisation, and disposal of those that have become technically obsolete,” he further stated.

The public perception that the weapons stockpile of both the GDF and the GPF is obsolete is a misconception, Minister Rohee stated. He

explained that on an annual basis he presents to Cabinet requests from the GPF for the procurement of firearms and ammunition.

“I know that some of the most modern firearms that the Police Force should have for use in any particular situation, whether it’s a SWAT operation or for any special type of operation, they would have the appropriate firearms and ammunitions for that purpose. They may not be as modern as some Forces have in some industrialised countries, but whatever they request, is what we seek to procure,” he said.

Continued on page 13

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

School uniform voucher First Lady’s message on the occasion of Father’s Day 2013 distribution begins on June 20 I send special greetings to all the fathers of Guyana.

We are truly blessed to have within our midst so many good men singlemindedly dedicated to the well- being of their families and who continue to inspire, guide, protect, care and provide for their families.

They are fine examples of fatherhood.

Unfortunately in our society there are too many

fathers that are avoidably absent from the lives of their children.

I wish to encourage them to find ways of being part of their children’s lives because a father figure is important in the upbringing of our sons and daughters.

Children, too, should work towards becoming closer to their fathers since in so doing the family is strengthened and strong families, as we know, make First Lady Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar better communities and societies.

I conclude with the fervent wish that this Father’s Day will witness sincere attempts to strengthening the bonds between child and father.

Happy Fathers’ Day to all the outstanding fathers of Guyana!

Departments of Education have started receiving school uniform vouchers and distribution will begin in the new week in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten, the Ministry of Education said in a release.

Parents, guardians and secondary schools students with a National Identification Card would be able to uplift vouchers from June 20.

“The early delivery of vouchers to the Regional Offices is to facilitate the setting up of Region specific documentation mechanisms, delivery vouchers to schools and adequate notification to parents,” the release stated.

The school uniform programme that will continue to assist in reducing the financial burden on families

will see one school uniform distributed to every child attending a school in the public education system from nursery to Grade 11.

A complete list of vendors where vouchers are redeemable will be posted at the Regional Education Offices and at every school.

Businesses that have indicated an interest in redeeming vouchers are advised to be ready and are encouraged to make their prices competitive, the Ministry said.

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry will oversee the distribution in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Last year, $296.7 million was spent on the National School Uniform Programme which benefitted over

190,000 children in nursery, primary and secondary schools.

Government is committed to continue implementing programmes aimed at improving students’ attendance, providing them with a better opportunity to complete school and receive a sound education thereby empowering them to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Apart from the uniform programme, the Administration in an effort to increase enrollment and attendance rates of children in schools, as well as reduce the drop-out rate, spent over $1.2 billion on the School Feeding Programme, which benefitted over 64,000 students in 2012.

Mark Tappin, who was deliberately burnt with a torch by a scrap metal dealer located in Cemetery Road, La Penitence is calling on the police to act in a professional manner since he claims that he was treated dismissively.

According to Tappin, two Friday’s ago he was employed by the scrap metal dealer called “Robin” to

unload scrap iron.

“The people that we unloading the scrap metal for, told us that we can keep some of the scraps since it was not part of the delivery, so we decided to pack up back the scrap metal pieces on the vehicle it came on and we decide to sell it.

“Now Robin didn’t like that and he chase we out the yard because he say is his

iron. He then chuck me, and I went into his yard to use the pipe after my hand was nasty and he took a blow torch and burn me on my arm.”

Adding that he ran out of the yard and visited the West Ruimveldt Police Station, Tappin said he was told to get a medical from the hospital.

He said that he was dismissed without being taken seriously.

“Now this man see me on the road and threatened me saying that anytime I go back to the station he will kill me; that he will shoot me and stuff like that.” He said.

Tappin said that he is also seeking compensation for his injuries since he is not capable of working.

“This man could have burnt me in my face or take my hand off if I didn’t run away from him after he attacked me.”

Man fears for life after being burnt by torch

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Crippled at 28, a harrowing experience

By Yannason Duncan For Uttamkumar Isurdeen, 28, the desire to walk again continues to fuel an optimism that is often transformed into constant dreams, which are replicated at nights.

But for Isurdeen to experience a change in his present condition- he has a permanent disability due to an accident he encountered on February 27, 2010, he would need to raise US$16,500.

The money would afford him rehab Therapy and Gait Training to rebuild muscles which would allow some function in his legs. The rehab therapy and gait training would have to be performed overseas.

(Preferably in India).

“I see myself walking ever night in my dreams.”

Isurdeen suffers from a spinal cord compression, a disease where the patient is unable to feel from his knee down.

Almost three years ago, while traveling from Georgetown to the Essequibo Coast, Isurdeen recalled being an occupant in the front seat of the minibus. The speeding bus, he explained, overtook a car hitting the front. Isurdeen sustained the severest of the injuries and was subsequently hospitalized for three months at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

After spending eleven days at the GPHC, Isurdeen was transferred to the Palms where he underwent physiotherapy for the next three months.

Still being unable to walk, Isurdeen’s family approached a private Hospital in the City, where, after been examined by two Indian neurosurgeons (spine specialists) out of India he was told that he would need rehabilitative care and gait training at a higher center.

Isurdeen said a local doctor was adamant that he wouldn’t be able to walk again. However, while respecting that doctor’s medical assessment, he said that with the rehabilitation therapy and the Gait training as well as the calipers, which would divert sensations to his muscles, there is a guarantee of him walking again with the aid of the calipers (at home).

The father of a four-yearold boy had his life changed just two years after he got married to Kumawattie Isurdeen, a teacher attached at the Aurora Secondary School.

What is most worrisome for the former Teacher and construction worker, who

Uttamkumar Isurdeen

previously taught for four years at the Hog Island Primary, is not being able to fulfill his mandate as a father and husband in providing for his young family.

“I never bargain for what have happen to me; it hurts not being able to take care of my family.”

To pass the day, the jovial Isurdeen said he reads all of the daily newspapers,

watches television and interacts with faith believers.

While being able to at least eat on his own, Isurdeen said that tasks such as bathing and getting dressed have to be performed by his wife and his mother Indira Ramlall.

Isurdeen resides at Lot 99, Pomona Housing Scheme with his mother Indira Ramlall and father.

Guyana reviewing safety...

From page 11 The Minister explained that the GPF is expected to follow the introduction of the production of new versions of firearms and follow that by reading up on those matters to enable them to determine what is best for them. “Once they determine what is best suited for them in various operational activities, then they would request the Ministry of Home Affairs to purchase that for them,” he said.

Minister Rohee acknowledged that while the Force does have modern weapons they also have weapons that are many years old, some of which may be termed museum pieces.

“A decision will have to be taken at some point in time to effect their disposal. I don’t think they would want to dispose of every single one. They might want to keep a few just to have an idea of what existed.

“Because when they are doing training they have to point to new recruits what existed before, and show them the evolution of the firearm industry manufacturing and to show them where they were and where they are at this point in time,” the Minister explained.

Page 13

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

ImmigrationINFO Immigration News For Our Community

Dindyal defends salaries Mass Deportation from U.S. – paid to Board of Directors

Over 409,849 Deported in 2012 Attorney Gail Seeram We are in an era where there has been mass deportation of immigrants or aliens from t h e U n i t e d States. The removal of immigrants or aliens (with legal status and without legal status) has amounted to over a million during the past three years.

During fiscal year 2012, Immigration Custom and Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations removed 409,849 individuals from the United States. So, how is Immigration Custom and Enforcement identifying these immigrants or aliens for deportation?

There are a few programmes implemented by ICE that focus on identifying immigrants or aliens that have a criminal conviction or immigrants or aliens that have no legal status.

The two most prominent programmes are the Criminal Alien Programme (CAP) and Secure Communities. Under both of these programs, ICE is able to get specific information on immigrants or aliens being processed or in custody with the police, jails, prisons or reporting to probation.

ICE would ask the local or state agency (police, jail, prison, probation office) to

hold that person (known as an “ICE Hold” or “Immigration Detainer”) until ICE can pick up the person and take them to an immigration detention facility.

Generally, the ICE Hold or Immigration Detainer cannot last more than 48 hours.

Secure Communities: Secure Communities involves sharing fingerprints from local jails with ICE databases.

Almost all jails take the fingerprints of those they arrest and check them against national FBI databases.

In the Secure Communities programme, the prints also get sent to ICE’s civil immigration enforcement databases. If there is a match in the fingerprints, that information will be sent both to the local jail and to the ICE field office.

This allows ICE to be notified every time any local police officers book into jail someone who has an immigration history of any kind. ICE can place a hold request on anyone they wish to apprehend who has been identified by the Secure Communities data-sharing program. If someone does not have a fingerprint match, ICE officers may go to the jail to see if the person is undocumented or otherwise deportable.

Criminal Alien Programme

Gail S. Seeram (CAP): The Criminal Alien Programme operates in jails and prisons around the country. Under CAP, ICE officers regularly call or come to the jail to interview inmates who they suspect may be deport¬able immigrants.

The jail usually forms some kind of agreement – often informal – with ICE to share all booking information with them, which may include agreements to let ICE use jail computers and access local databases.

Jail officers frequently call the ICE field office if they believe they have a noncitizen suspect in the jail, and wish to do an individual check on that person’s status.

Additionally, CAP officers use Secure Communities data and other information to identify any possible noncitizens in the jail, so they can place an ICE hold request on them.

In communities with large immigrant populations, CAP officers may visit the jail every day to interview inmates, take people to immigration detention, or review jail information to find out if there are any noncitizens they have missed.

It is important to understand that immigrants or aliens in ICE custody or detention may still have relief or options available to stay in the United States, but it will require seeking judicial review in the Immigration Court.

During fiscal year 2012, most of the deportee waived a judicial hearing and sought expedited removal from the United States.

…says company can’t afford not to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Bharat Dindyal, has said that in order to get the desired returns, market rates have to be paid to the people employed.

He declined to confirm or deny that the company pays its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Winston Brassington, some $4M per month.

Dindyal said that this is the only country in the world where people believe that there is an ‘inverse relationship’ between the amount of work to be done and the salary to be paid.

In defending the payments made to the top brass in the company namely the Board of Directors, Dindyal said that “when people come to these high stress jobs they demand market rates.”

According to the CEO, the critics inclusive of those in the political opposition are spewing exactly that, “politics.”

Dindyal said that had the naysayers been in government “and know that they have to make the company successful then they know what they got to do.”

Commenting on the critics speaking against the salaries paid to the directors of the company, Dindyal said, “Those statements come from people sitting in the opposition; they don’t have to run the company, and they are not accountable to anybody.”

Asked if the company can afford to pay such salaries to its directors, Dindyal retorted, “Could you not afford it?”

Dindyal recalled that during the 2008 debate when the parties were deliberating over a $3.7B allocation to the power company, one speaker

from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) opined, “if you pay peanuts you know what you get.”

“If you want people who are delivering the goods, then you have to pay them. You can’t say we poor so you pay Guyanese rates…if not forget about performance and employ somebody who you think you can pay.”

Dindyal said that there are performance targets for each of the people in the company’s employ relative to their salaries.

“We have targets for everybody. The only problem with GPL is that you don’t always get the resources to fix all the problems…there are so many things to fix you can’t fix all at one time.”

There have been increasing calls by the Alliance for Change (AFC) for the sacking of the Board of Directors at the power company, given its perceived failure over the years to reduce losses, but according to Dindyal it is a result of the fact that with limited resources the company would have had to prioritize its spending, first focusing on increased generation.

He recalled that in the early 90s, the then Guyana Electric Corporation (GEC) was depending on a feeder station that was over 30 years old in Georgetown, and the Inter American Development bank had undertaken a major overhaul of this facility.

“A lot of the work that was done was condemned and started to fail in the 90s…You had a generation problem, you had transmission and distribution problems, you had a metering problem, you had problems on every front,” said Dindyal.

In such a situation he said that management had to first fix the problem of its power generation. “If you ain’t got generation nothing else works.”

According to Dindyal, in 1992, a team of experts was assembled to address the

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light, Bharrat Dindyal problem of generation at the power company and the following year Wartsila began constructing the first plant.

That added 11MW to the system and in 1995 another 11MW had been added to the national grid.

In 1995 also 4MW had been installed at Anna Regina, while in 1997, a further 22MW had been added to the Kingston plant.

According to Dindyal from 1993 to 1999 the entire focus of the company was on generation.

In 1999 the company was turned over to the expatriate management and nothing was done during this time until 2003 when the current management was returned.

He said, “When management came back we found that they were trying to build a 30MW plant in Garden of Eden.”

According to Dindyal, the European Investment Bank at the time, had committed •30M should the management be able to locate matching funds, but this could not be done.

“We started to pick up the same old machines, we started to do maintenance on it in 2003.”

He said that the current management, managed to hold the system together and Government was well aware of the fact that the power company required significant investment in generation but this did not materialize until 2009.

“We could not imagine that we would have gotten past 2007 without new generation but we survived until December 2009.”

He said that management wanted at the time over 35MW of new generation but government only supplied enough funds for 15MW. Every investment prior to 2011, was “all generation.”

Dindyal said that when the price tag of ‘billions’ is associated with the investment made, to the ordinary man it sounds like a lot.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Girl mauled by Pitbull secures pass for BEI …wrote exams in pain and agony from hospital bed The will power and insistence of little Amanda Phillips, the 11-year-old schoolgirl of Sookhu Street No. 2 Village East Canje, Berbice who was mauled by a pit bull dog on March 17,last, and who had to be hospitalised for a number of weeks paid off.

She was able to secure a pass at the recently released Grade Six Entrance Examinations which she wrote from her hospital bed.

She secured a place at the Berbice Educational Institute.

To her it was satisfying taking into consideration all that took place although her school of choice was Berbice High School.

The child who was hospitalised in the New Amsterdam hospital with injuries to her head and other parts of her body after being attacked by the ferocious animal was initially told that she would not be able to sit her exams, because of the time she was hospitalised and the nature of her injuries.

After making inquiries her parents were told by education officials that she would be assessed and placed into a secondary school. However, it was not

certain what form of assessment would have been done.

The child when told of the development insisted that she wanted to write her exams; for fear that she would be placed in a low school. She continued to insist and after being examined by the doctors she was given the option to either write or be placed in a school.

She eventually wrote her exams from her hospital bed in the Children’s Ward of the New Amsterdam with an invigilator nearby. Although not in the ideal setting and in a lot to pain, agony and distress the child buckled down to the task at hand and came out successful at her SSEE exams.

Her school of choice was Berbice High School, but she fell just short. The teen and her brother were on their way to the shop to purchase some eggs for her mother when the dog scaled a fence and attacked her. She was thrown to the ground and bitten on her head by the roving animal. The entire torment lasted for about 15 minutes.

The child was picked up, wrapped in a sheet and rushed to the New

Speedboat captain under police guard Palo, the Wakenaam speedboat Captain who was involved i n t h e b o a t collision, on Friday resulting in the death of Ganesh Roopnarine, a/k “Shines”, of West Coast Demerara , is hospitalized and under police guard at the Suddie Public Hospital.

Palo, the only name given for the man, is said to be suffering from hypertension.

He also sustained a blow to his back.

After Friday’s collision with Roopnarine’s boat, Palo’s boat which was transporting five persons to Wakenaam eventually sank.

He had successfully managed to steer his boat ashore.

Meanwhile, a Captain from another boat rescued passengers who remained in Roopnarine’s boat and transported them to the Supenaam stelling.

Initial reports have suggested that Ganesh Roopnarine, who was killed was making a trip to Parika, Friday afternoon, around 4:30hrs. The report added that Roopnarine was forced to

attend to his engine. He was said to be doing this when he was hit from behind.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Suddie Public Hospital. He had fallen overboard and never regained consciousness.

FLASHBACK: Phillips in hospital immediately after the attack.

Amsterdam hospital where she was admitted and taken for emergency treatment.

During the operation doctors had to shave off some of the hair from the girl’s head which exposed some deep wounds. She received more than 10 sutures on her head.

The child still feels effects of the wounds and scars from the frightening ordeal and is still in need of medical attention. Her parents are in need of help to assist her and the other sibling through school.

Dr Roy Nankumar, 58, a Dentist of 336 Sookhu Street No.2 Village East Canje Berbice was charged and released on self-bail with setting a ferocious dog in rabid state to be at large.

In court he pleaded not guilty. The doctor has refused to assist the child.

That matter is continuing.

Page 15

Govt. to guarantee GPL payments for Amaila Falls electricity The Guyana Government is looking to increase the limit on total guarantees that can be issued under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act. The new proposed limit is $150B (US$750M) and according to the Ministry of Finance, the proposed increase in the guarantee limit, follows on the commitment to the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project.

The increase seeks to guarantee that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) honours its financial commitments under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to be entered into between the power company and Amaila Falls Hydro Inc (AFHI).

Under the PPA, GPL commits to purchase the power from Amaila for an average annual capacity payment.

Government’s obligation is in the form of a Performance Guarantee.

The Ministry of Finance says that “the Performance Guarantee is not a guarantee of debt but rather a guarantee of GPL’s obligations under its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to pay for power delivered from the hydro facility.”

GPL expects when the Amaila Falls project comes online in 2017, to receive over 1,000 gigawatt hours (GWH) of power.

This according to the Finance Ministry, which says that the project will save approximately US$200M annually in avoided fuel cost in exchange for paying on

…shares confidential Power Purchase Agreement with APNU average, an estimated amount of US$100M to $110M per annum over concession period of20 years.

The Amaila Falls Hydro Electric project is a proposed Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) project and will revert to GPL/Government at the end of the concession period at no cost.

The Amaila Falls hydro project is expected to have a life of approximately 75 years.

The Government has shared the commercial agreement governing the transaction on a ‘confidential basis’ with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), including the PPA, which details GPL’s obligations.

The government says that it is looking forward to continuing discussions with the Opposition on the details surrounding the transaction and expects to have further meetings with the Opposition prior to bringing the proposed motion to increase the guarantee limit for a vote in

the National Assembly.

The motion is expected to be debated shortly in the National Assembly.

The guarantee limit was last raised in 1980 from $500M to $1B. Based on the US Dollar exchange rate in 1980, the guarantee at that time was equivalent to US$400M. Adjusted for US inflation from 1980 to 2013, the equivalent figure in US dollar terms, today, would be US$1.1B. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Thursday last tabled an amendment to the HydroElectric Power Act, in the National Assembly.

The Bill confers on the President, the power to create hydro-electric offset reserve areas and rules for the establishment of the said areas, and for the conservation and preservation of the environment and ecosystem surrounding the hydroelectric resources in Guyana.

Sunday June 16, 2013

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Sunday June 16, 2013

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RATES AND TAXES ARE PREPAID T

h i n g s a r e b e c o m i n g gloomy at City Hall. It was threatened last week with disconnection because it reportedly owes the Guyana Power and Light at least one billion dollars.

It should however consider itself lucky. Unlike many consumers, it still has electricity despite owing the power company. Perhaps it should be encouraged, like other consumers, and like the AFC is encouraging the government, to move towards prepayment.

This would mean that it would only be able to consume what it can afford while it decides how to settle its humongous arrears with the power company. This is not the first time that these arrears have been a problem.

City Hall was disconnected in the past and there have been all kinds of justifications for its stance over what it is owed.

At one time, it decided that it too was owed, since GPL's power poles were being planted on council's lands. This is a wrong-andstrong argument. There was never any agreement, historically, about the power company having to pay for its power poles. In fact, the power company is providing a public good and if it has to pay rent for its poles, it would be unable to provide that public good at an affordable cost.

Already the power company is in red and the opposition has not approved the full subsidy that the

government wanted. With half of the projected subsidy not approved, the only logical thing for the power company to do to avoid going under is increase tariffs, which it is allowed to do under the laws of Guyana.

The AFC does not agree that tariffs should be increased. Instead it feels that the government should prepay its light bill so as to bail out the GPL. That is asking the government to dig a hole to fill a hole, because after the government would have prepaid its electricity bill what happens when that money too runs out in the face of high fuel costs.

The opposition, of course, is not going to take any responsibility for forcing the GPL to increase tariffs. It is not going to accept that it is its own refusal to approve the subsidies that has led to the need to increase tariffs. Yet it wants the government to pass a subsidy to a private firm Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated. It wants this to happen just so that it can satisfy a promise it made to the people of that area to reduce the toll.

The Opposition approved the subsidy for power to Linden, but for the rest of the country, the subsidy has been slashed in half, because it wanted GPL to justify the need for the high subsidy.

Unfortunately, both of the engagements between the government and the opposition are not bearing fruit, and perhaps both sides need to change their

negotiating teams to see if reasonable compromises cannot be had.

There is no doubt that both sides would wish for all electricity subsides to be phased out. It is a drag of critical resources when each year billions of dollars have to be deployed to ensure that the GPL does not have to increase tariffs.

The government wants the full subsidy restored. The Opposition says that the subsidy has to be justified.

So what is keeping both sides from meeting, examining the numbers, and determining how much is needed and what should be the GPL's responsibility upon receipt of this subsidy.

These are technical issues that should be discussed by the politicians in the presence of technical persons on both sides. If GPL is claiming that the increase in the cost of fuel justifies the need for the full subsidy, then it should come forward with its numbers to show that the increase in fuel prices necessitates the need for the full subsidy which the government has proposed to be transferred to the GPL. It is unreasonable for the Opposition to link reduction in commercial losses to the subsidy if GPL can establish that the full subsidy is needed to offset fuel

purchases.

If, however, the subsidy is also needed to fund capital works, then the Opposition is in its right to seek to ensure that any disbursal from the treasury for this purpose is linked to a programme of reduced commercial losses.

The bulk of these losses is non-technical in nature, and is as a result of persons stealing electricity. But what about those entities that owe large sums to the GPL, should they continue to enjoy transfers from the treasury when they are in arrears to the

power company?

When a municipality cannot pay its own electricity bill, it is time to bid it good riddance. But is the opposition willing to go down that road? It should note that citizens are required to prepay their rates and taxes, and if despite this the council still is indebted to the GPL, then

perhaps there is a need to remove this Council. Or increase rates and taxes by 26%?

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Hubern Isaacs fathered 43

were in order. No one went away and leave anyone. I told them who don’t like it leave, and no one left.

They shared the house work, cooked the food and every night belonged to someone. One night I pleased

one, then it was another and another, then.... it would start all over again. It was a very good relationship.” Of the three women, Isaacs said two had children for him, while the other lost her baby.

When asked, Isaacs sighed “Oh my Lord” he estimated that were there no miscarriages by any of the women he bred, he might have had over 50 children. “I would have had more than 43; I lost a lot of children.

I have children in the interior that have not been c o u n t e d , i t ’s b e c a u s e I don’t know them; some by Amerindian girls. I was wild i n t h e N o r t h We s t , Matthew’s Ridge..... where I lived for five years.”

Mr. Isaacs will however face a sad Father’s Day this year. And though it is a regular thing to gather for the annual celebration, this year the family will be celebrating the life of 32year-old Elon Isaacs who passed away last Monday after the ATV he was riding crashed into a lamp post.

Elon was supposed to celebrate his 33 rd birthday next month, but Mr. Isaacs is preparing to bury his son on Monday. Elon spent two weeks in a coma in the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. “I don’t have a Father’s Day and I am not too fussy to celebrate

anything,” the father told this newspaper.

“I begged them not to bury him on Father’s Day. Even last night, (Friday) I was trying to come to the wake but I couldn’t, I was down, really down; it’s my fourth son I’m losing now and I can’t take it anymore. I am just asking God to help me bear up.”

Isaacs said his first son who is really the eldest child, died a long time ago. He drowned in the Corentyne River, but his body was never recovered.

The next death occurred in front of their Supply home when a senior member of the police force struck dead his son with his vehicle several years ago.

Another one committed suicide, he said, while the latest died as a result of the motorbike accident.

Isaacs said he hopes that some time after the funeral, he would be able to get together with his children as planned and head to the creek for a grand time.

He said it is one of his favourite times when he is able to see his children together.

Despite them living in various locations of Guyana and outside of the country, the family get-togethers are the best. It is even more fulfilling, he said, when the offspring of his children’s generation flock him.

A woman was among two people who were shot around 20:00 hrs yesterday after bandits invaded a house in Nutmeg Street, Festival City.

Sources said that Ruth Grimes, who is about 31, was shot in the abdomen while George Grimes, said to be about 67, was shot in the shoulder and leg.

A third relative, identified as Kevin Rodney, 31, was reportedly struck in the head with a handgun.

They were still being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation at press time.

Kaieteur News was told that the victims were at home when three men barged in, shooting Ruth and George Grimes and gun-butting Kevin Rodney.

The bandits eventually escaped with a laptop computer, a bag with undisclosed items and a gold chain. Meanwhile, police were

also probing the shooting of Christopher Gonsalves, called ‘White Boy’, in James Street, Albouystown.

According to reports, Gonsalves, said to be a scrap metal dealer, was shot in the left leg at around 20:00 hrs by two men who on a motorcycle. Information suggests that he is the victim of a vendetta between two families.

He has been admitted to the GPHC.

By: Zena Henry It is safe to say that whether ‘ o l e s k o o l ’ o r contemporary, every man prides himself on seeing his offspring.

It is even more auspicious when the number of children born to a man is great because according to societal behaviours, that gives him his ‘ratings’. Well if that be the case, rate Mr. Hubern Randolph Isaacs also known to his friends as ‘ the Beast’.

T h e 7 9 -year-old who was raised at Lot 44 Supply, East Bank Demerara, fathered 43 children. Back in his days, the ladies nicknamed him ‘Nice Boy’; because of his persona. He was charmer, but what drew them close Isaacs said, was his wonderful voice, for he had a knack for singing.

‘And boy I used to dress. I also did calypso. I was 1977’s CARIFESTA champion so the girls used to run behind the old man.”

But while all was well with the ladies, Isaacs noted that the men were annoyed.

They hid their women because they feared that whenever the ‘Beast’ was around, it was no time to ‘slumber with your chick.’

Being the fifth of 32 children, Isaacs is no stranger to a large family. The oldest survivor of Mr. Isaacs’s merry lot is Daphne Isaacs, she is 50- years-old, while the youngest is Abena Isaacs, 17.

“All my children carry my title,” he said proudly.

The first child was born in the early 60s when Isaacs was about 20 years old. At that time, he said he was married to his first wife and worked as a surveyor with the Lands and Surveys Commission.

The first wife bore him five children, and a second wife bore him the same number.

The rest of the children were ‘outside.’

“One time I had six kids born one year, and then three in one month, all from different mothers. But h o n e s t l y

43 pickney- Mr. Isaacs flanked by some of his off spring, the youngest to far left speaking,” Isaacs said to Kaieteur News, “I never had the privilege of raising all my kids together because I was here there and everywhere.”

The first set of children, Isaacs said, had to the best of him. “My work was surveying and I did that for 11 years, so I was in the interior, but even there, my girls were with me attending different schools.”

Isaacs continued that despite being unable to raise all 43 of his children he was able to play some part in their lives and leave some impact on them. “Because everybody was able to get a little touch, even though they weren’t living with me, as long I have something it was for them; even if it means leaving myself undone, they had to get what they needed.”

Isaacs continued that taking care of his children was no easy task, and at

times it took more than one job to tend to them. After surveying, he joined the army before venturing back into the interior. He was then employed with Demerara Timbers while working at GTSL, driving transport buses.

Despite the hardships and the losses, Isaacs said he is very proud of his children and proud of himself. “I feel proud of my children.

As I said I never had the chance to mind them whole heartedly as I would have wanted because back in those days I was a ‘sweet boy’ moving around, singing and dancing, but I am proud of my children who have done very well for themselves.”

‘Life has been good to me,” Isaacs related. “At one time I used to live in a house with three girls. That was around 1973 to 75. They

Bandits shoot woman, relative during Festival City robbery

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Kaieteur News

CPL says New GPC was ‘targeted’ for Guyana franchise The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) says it specifically targeted the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC) to buy the Guyana franchise.

The League promises to become the Caribbean’s most lucrative and popular form of cricket, the game which has established itself as the national sport in territories across the Region.

“CPL (has) been very specific in targeting strategic partners who we understand can bring a lot of value to the teams, the locality, the community and the league,” Rhonda Kelley, spokesperson for the League told Kaieteur News.

The CPL is not disclosing any information about the cost of the franchise in Guyana or the other five territories, namely Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua.

Asked to what extent national governments in the Caribbean are supporting the league, Kelley said “there is a sponsorship opportunity for each Government that CPL is offering.”

This year’s CPL will start on June 30 and concludes on August 24.

“GPC /Limacol is a fantastic example of this and

…value of franchise kept confidential

Guyana franchise partner dr ranjisingh bobby ramroop and CPL CEO Damien o’donohoe we are honoured and privileged they have become the very first Franchise holders in this incredible sports entertainment product,” Kelley added.

This week, the CPL announced New GPC, owned by executive Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, as the franchise holder for the Guyana team.

The Guyana team would bear the New GPC’s Limacol brand, which is popular throughout the Caribbean and further afield.

Dr Ramroop has been a controversial figure in Guyanese politics. He is the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The biggest scandal involving Ramroop is the widespread claims that Jagdeo favoured him with multi-billion-dollar contracts to import m e d i c inal drugs for the country’s health service without a competitive bidding process and on terms that lacked transparency.

Further, it was under Jagdeo that Ramroop bought the sprawling Sanata Industrial Complex just outside the city for below market value.

Through that transaction, he was granted concessions not allowed in law. Jagdeo later got his legislators, who then had majority controlling power in the National Assembly, to fix up the laws to accommodate the concessions that were handed to Ramroop.

Further, just before he left office, Jagdeo handed Ramroop five radio frequencies to broadcast.

This matter is now the subject of a High Court challenge by local media owners who claim the process was discriminatory.

CPL officials met with local government officials in May, but the League says that the government did not suggest or in any way frontload Ramroop to be the franchise holder.

“There is no Government influence in any way,” Kelley said when asked about the government’s role in Ramroop’s acquisition of the franchise.

She said: “…CPL was very specific on who it approached and how. NEW GPC was specifically targeted and approached by CPL as a company that added immense strategic value to the CPL.”

Sunday June 16, 2013

Cops fail to link ‘rival’ to sawmill supervisor’s murder - no prints on bloody hammer He’s still the prime suspect in the murder of his alleged rival, but police were yesterday forced to release a West Coast Demerara man arrested last Tuesday for killing sawmill supervisor Kemraj Singh.

Investigators have failed to find any evidence linking the suspect to the death of 26-year-old Singh, who was found with his head bashed in and throat cut on May 28, last.

Kaieteur News understands that detectives found no fingerprints on a bloodstained hammer they retrieved from the scene.

While police have received reports that the suspect was seen at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara around the time the murder occurred, the suspect reportedly maintained that he was in Leguan attending a wedding when Singh was slain. He also reportedly admitted to knowing the slain man and the 17-year-old girl at the center of the dispute between the two men.

In telephone interviews with this newspaper, the suspect had maintained his innocence but had refused to go to the police to clear his name.

He was finally detained last Tuesday.

Police are working on the theory that Singh was murdered because of his relationship with a teenage girl who had eloped

Kemraj Singh with him.

Singh had reportedly told some relatives that persons had threatened to kill him before his scheduled wedding. Kaieteur News understands that on the night of May 27, a friend visited Singh at a shack, which is located at the Land of Canaan sawmill where the victim was employed. At the time, Singh was having dinner and he reportedly told the friend about his upcoming wedding.

The friend reportedly left after Singh indicated that he wanted to rest.

At around 14:50 hrs the following day Singh’s battered and mutilated remains were found on a bed in the shack. A bloodied hammer was found nearby, and a post mortem revealed that the victim was struck at least three times to the head with a heavy object.

Government questions “secret” meeting Trinidad Express Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon Friday denied that his meeting with Opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley at his home on May 15 was “secret” or breached any protocol.

Gordon, in a telephone

interview Friday, said the meeting lasted less than 20 minutes.

“Other than small chat, all that was discussed at that meeting was disclosed in the aide memoire,” Gordon said, referring to the aide memoire which the Integrity Commission office made public on Wednesday.

“There was absolutely no breach of protocol. Why would I put the meeting on record if I thought there was,” he said.

Gordon also defended that meeting, saying that in his capacity of Integrity Commission chairman, he was prepared to meet with any Government member who called him with an “urgent matter”.

“I am prepared to meet with any Member of Parliament, either the Opposition leader or the Attorney General at my home or otherwise if something is urgent,” Gordon said.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

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MY COLUMN

Father’s Day? That is a strange observation Guyana is never out of strange happenings. In fact, scarcely a day goes by without people scratching their heads and wondering at what could have caused the nonsense. We start with the case of the policeman running after an escaped prisoner.

Two policemen went after the prisoner and lost him.

That is not unexpected in some communities where there are so many nooks and crannies into which a person could disappear. Then there is an astonishing discovery—a policeman is found dead on the track. People suspect murder, but there are no marks of violence on the body.

A post mortem reveals that the policeman died of cardiac arrest, but this was a young man who never displayed any sign of a heart problem. Yet society has a way of finding reasons, so people claim that the policeman came into contact with an exposed electric wire that had been illegally connected. And indeed there were illegal connections, but no one has been arrested.

The next strange thing happened to another young person. In her seventeen years this girl behaved as though she was three times older. She did tell the police that she was 22. Her parents had long given up on her because she insisted that she was old enough to take care of herself.

A plane lands and this girl behaves as though she is approaching a car so she walks into a spinning propeller.

There was no security at this hinterland airstrip as has been the case for decades. The arrival of an aircraft is a holiday event and people lose all sense of responsibility.

They did say that she was going to the pilot to collect a package.

And just as the week is winding down a boat captain is killed. His boat reportedly develops some problem and there he is fixing or trying to fix the problem. Another boat comes out of the blue and strikes him dead. One is left to wonder at the extent of careless on the waterways in the same way that there is excessive carelessness on the hinterland airstrips.

So here we have three cases that should keep the police busy, but the woes for the police do not end there.

There are motorists on the roads who are equally careless; behaving as though there is no tomorrow.

People on West Demerara spotted a car buried in a swamp. There is no report of any accident and surely the police report nothing. The society is left to worry about what is happening. People simply do not care but then again, there are those with so much money that anything goes. A car accident is nothing to worry about. “We will buy another.”

Guyana insists on telling the world that it is a poor country, but the way its people behave one is left to wonder whether this is really true. The news came that one of the richest men in the country actually bought a T20 franchise. The sum paid

for the franchise is undisclosed and try as reporters might, they are not being provided with the answer.

A cricket franchise is not expected to be cheap because the cricketers do not come cheap these days. They play a few matches and they become millionaires. One would expect the franchise holder to pay each player a few million dollars in local currency. Those who are already internationally famous are paid a lot more.

I asked myself how is it that a Guyanese, a man from a poor country, could buy a franchise when there are others in other countries who are supposed to be so much richer but who cannot buy a franchise. Is it that Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop is richer than Ansa McAl? Is he richer than ‘Butch’ Stewart who owns so many Sandals hotels that exist in so many Caribbean islands?

If that is the case, then some of the allegations made against Ramroop and his friendship with the government may hold water.

The story must be told but when told, will the head of the Guyana Revenue Authority tell us about the paper trail and the taxes paid as this man accumulated his wealth?

However, there is another strange thing, but this has been happening from time immemorial. Today is Father’s Day. Just a few weeks ago the world observed Mother’s

Day. The shops trotted out just about everything and these were sold so fast that the shop owners wished that every day could have been Mother’s Day, which it should.

I walked around the stores and it was as though there was nothing exciting happening. I saw some of the offers, but it was as if the merchant community knew that creating a special day for fathers was like flogging a dead horse.

I fathered three daughters and they always ensured that they got something for me. I always got a book or some cologne or a card proclaiming me to be the best dad in the world. But then again, I was a good father, because these girls always collected something from me to give to their mothers.

One of my daughters-inlaw always made certain that Father’s Day was special. She would come and cook up a storm. She gave me my first pedicure and this was on Father’s Day. I was one of the lucky fathers. I still have two boxes of chocolate, gifts from my eldest daughter and granddaughter on Father’s Day. Why are fathers so ignored? That is a silly question. Many are hardly around; some forget that they are fathers and there are those who want to be fathers in many households. Imagine getting all those children and their mothers under one roof. I remember providing my wife with breakfast in bed and cooking lunch on Mother’s Day. I never got a meal in bed unless I was ill.

Adam Harris Suffice it to say that some children would be heading to the cemetery to paint the tombs or to do some weeding.

I will spare my children that task. I will be cremated.

To those good fathers, enjoy the day.

To those who make the rest of us feel despised, it is still Father’s Day.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR SUGAR WORKERS IS IMPERATIVE

By Moses Nagamootoo & Sasenarine Singh Today, June 16, marks 65 years since five sugar workers - Rambarran, Lall a/k Pooran, Lallabagee, Surujbally and Harry, were killed by British colonial police, The Five are revered as the “Enmore Martyrs”.

In 1948, the Enmore Martyrs fought for favourable conditions of work and for union recognition. Their sacrifice eventually won the latter, which ironically came under threat in 2010 when, under the Jagdeo-PPP regime, the sugar union GAWU was threatened with derecognition. At that time Nanda Gopaul, now Minister of Labour, and Donald Ramotar, now President, were directors of the sugar corporation.

Since Enmore, the sugar industry came a far way. Many gains have been made for the workers. Colonial plantation ownership has been replaced by state control and direction of an industry that was the reason for slavery and indentureship.

Today, however, changes in the sugar trade protocols together with mismanagement and political incompetence have torn the industry apart. Sugar workers are on the bread-line again, struggling not only for improved conditions of work but, this time, for survival.

If the cold-blooded and calculated suppression of a peaceful industrial protest in 1948 shocked the conscience of those who were indifferent to the plight of sugar workers, today the near financial

bankruptcy of the industry and uncertainty in the sugar belt cry out for national attention.

The primary responsibility for this parlous state lies with the post-Jagan PPP Government. It is a sad but true reality that the PPP leaders continue to see sugar workers merely as a bloc, ethnic vote.

For them, political “loyalty” is more important than putting bread on the table of the workers and their large families.

ECONOMIC SECURITY Since 2010, as a son of the sugar belt, Moses Nagamootoo summoned Guyana to “light a candle for sugar workers” for which the PPP cabal had threatened to expel him. He has joined with genuine patriots in the Alliance For Change (AFC) who do not share the PPP’s narrow interest. The AFC is committed to long term economic security in the sugar belt.

How does the AFC hope to achieve this?

For a start, the sugar industry ought to produce ethanol. The AFC Action Plan advocates a National E10 (10% blend of ethanol into gasoline) which would immediately enhance the cash-flows in the industry.

Workers’ wages would be guaranteed.

The AFC would transform the sugar belt from a subsistence level industry, with “slave-like” conditions of employment, to a value added industry that focuses on mechanized harvesting, ethanol production, packaged sugar and alcohol production.

The party would create new job opportunities in the industry rather than put people out of work. Between the years 1999 to 2012, direct employment in the industry shrunk by some 9,000. The marginalization of workers saw production drop from 325,317 tons of sugar in 2004 to 218,070 in 2012 – all-time lowest production.

ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS This decline in output is due to a combination of: (a) inappropriate Government policies which under-utilize and even waste scarce resources; negatively impacting on the corporation’s agricultural practices and factory maintenance programme; (b) loss of key line-management personnel and a declining labour participation due mainly to political interference and low wages and salaries and (c) a very poorly executed investment in the Skeldon Sugar Factory resulting in a legacy of mechanical defects.

At the field level, the best practice of replanting canes every five years has been abandoned. Workers are advising the AFC that the average period of replanting now ranges between eight and twelve years. The best practice of “flood fallowing” every five years (which requires land to lie flooded and fallow for 6-9 months to improve the structure of the soil, reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizer and assisting with the control of weeds, pest and disease) continues to be delayed.

Inadequate resources have resulted in drainage, irrigation and field infrastructure being neglected. These poor standards of maintenance in the industry continue to increase the water table, contributing to poor productivity, increasing the bagasse and trash content, and therefore reducing the cane quality delivered to the factory. At Enmore, the poor use of mechanical harvesters (whopper-choppers), for example, results in mud being deposited in the factory along with the harvested canes.

Our observation is supported by the GAWU, which cautioned that “there is a need for GuySuCo to pay cognizance of the neglect that occurred in the sugar industry…especially in the cane fields”. Union President Komal Chand pleaded for the

industry to return to a state where “good quality cane can once again dominate the fields”.

The overall effect of these adverse factors is a sustained deterioration of the cane/ sugar ratio from 10.88 in 2000 to 12.69 in 2012. It must be noted that the poor performance at the Skeldon Factory continues to compound an already difficult situation in the industry. Mr. Tony Vieira had highlighted that in the year 2012, it took “16.29 tons of cane to produce one ton of sugar at Skeldon” vs. a ratio of “10.52 at Albion”.

In 1990, the worst year in Guyana’s recorded sugar history, factories were grinding for a mean of 44% of the in-crop season. In 2012, it was reported that the factories were grinding for a mean of 50% of the in-crop season. By international standard, net grinding time should not be less than 80%.

Why are the sugar mills in Guyana grinding at such a low rate?

It is evident that the crisis in the sugar industry is due to poor and visionless leadership, which is why AFC has called for the entire Board of Directors to be revamped.

CASH FLOW SITUATION The CEO of GuySuCo confirmed that the 2013 first crop production was the “lowest ever first crop on record” - just shy of 48,000 tons.

This will translate to a further deterioration in the cash flow crisis at GuySuCo. It is crucial that management keep its eye on the Cash Flow reality, rather than on some nebulous set of targets and budgets. Every single decision, including capital investment, must be anchored in the cash flow reality on every estate. GuySuCo should no longer depend on bailout packages from taxpayers.

When Booker Tate took over the management contract in 1990, they recognized the most important input was the human resource. They increased the wages by over 200% between 1990 a n d 1992. This strategy reduced labour unrest significantly and saw an influx of new labour into the industry.

The AFC in its 2011 campaign demanded a 20% across the board increase in wages for all workers. The AFC has amended its demand to 10% for those at the bottom of the wage scale to stimulate

a repeat of the labour relations success achieved by Booker Tate. The PPP overlords refused to budge.

The AFC has even mapped out how these increases could be funded — by charging NDIA a premium rate for technical assistance in times of flooding; renegotiating the shipping contracts to secure better value; negotiating a reduction in the interest rates with the banks; boosting packaged sugar production; cutting administrative cost by weeding out multi-milliondollar perks for cronies; asking the Ministry of Commerce to foot the bill for Marketing and Distribution expenses; re-negotiating the pension’s agreement with the Unions; identifying more nonvalue added cost streams in the industry and weeding them out swiftly without political interference.

TURNAROUND PLAN How long will the GuySuCo Board be allowed to tinker with the Turnaround Plan? It is the considered view of the AFC that the entire board should be fired forthwith; they are now negative equity to the industry.

GuySuCo desperately needs a new board of seasoned talent, knowledge and competence.

The new Board members must have access to line managers to share ideas on a programme of rehabilitation and rationalization to enhance the efficiency on each estate by allowing them to contribute towards fixing the problem.

The end result from such a plan is that the GuySuCo Board, senior management and line-managers must have cash flow numbers per estate/ cost centre on a weekly basis to make decision at different level.

PRACTICAL STRATEGIES As the CEO had said, the “amount of cane planted is not enough” and “private farmers at Skeldon are hesitant and uneasy about growing more cane” because of the financial risks. What has the Government done about this reality?

Why not stimulate public/ private partnership with the private planters to get all the new fields at Skeldon mechanized and planted within a defined time by using the billions from NICIL/ LOTTO funds finally for a national project that is beneficial to the nation? Why not use these funds to leverage more funds from the

banking sector to accelerate the mechanization and planting schedule to feed the Skeldon Factory?

The CEO of GuySuCo must be given the full freedom to act in the areas relevant to capping the financial leak.

GuySuCo should consolidate the operations of more Estates, for example – one Administrative Manager for all of West Demerara and the same for East Demerara and sell some of the excess houses in the process.

FULLTRANSPARENCY But before all of the above can materialize, the policy makers have to seek the buyin from all the stakeholders, whether they are in the Unions, the Parliament, or the Private Sector. Now is the time for full transparency and to open GuySuCo’s books for the key stakeholders.

The AFC notes that the Minister of Finance announced that there is a new three-year turnaround plan for Guysuco for 2013-2016. Why not lay it in Parliament; publish it in the national newspapers to build a winning coalition around the solutions to save the industry?

AFCAGENDA The AFC remains committed and focused on an agenda to protect the economic security of the sugar belt. We believe that an international Technical Mission should be invited to properly analyse GuySuCo with a view of recommending necessary value added measures to accelerate the implementation of the 20132016 Turnaround Plan. We continue to support all measures to enhance the agronomical practices in the field to boost yield; to plant more cane especially at Skeldon; to encourage cooperative/peasant cane farming; to overhaul the Skeldon Factory and finally to accelerate the mechanization programme.

We must ensure that the children of sugar workers would work in an environment where skills and technology would be a requisite qualification, and not condemn them to be virtual mules in the fields, under the sun, cutting and fetching canes as the slaves and indentured workers have done. Should this continue, the sacrifice of the Enmore Martyrs would indeed be in vain.

The time to rebuild and modernise the sugar industry is now. Too many lives depend on this!

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Ravi Dev Column

A house for a home

About to return to Guyana in the late ‘80s, I ran into Albert Baldeo, who’d been a magistrate in Guyana.

Assuming I’d be practicing law in Guyana, he assured me that his home in Bel Air and his office near the courts were just the things I needed to purchase. I told him that even though Tom Wolfe had vouchsafed that “you can’t go home again”, I was going to do just that. Home for me was on the sugar estate of Uitvlugt.

Attending Brooklyn College from1972, when Jewish Flatbush was being overtaken by West Indians, made me realise that whatever else I was, the West Indian component was ineradicable.

But life in an apartment never filled my idea of a house much less a home. The “American Dream” of the house in the suburb and the two cars in the driveway beckoned and was achieved by 1979.

Working by then in mid-town Manhattan (40th and Broadway), northern New Jersey was but a stone’s throw away across the George Washington Bridge. The real estate agent suggested two locations, Tenafly and Teaneck.

The former was lily white while the latter had been the first town in New Jersey to voluntarily desegregate in the 1960s. I wanted my children to live in a mixed town and attend mixed schools: Teaneck had an interesting mixture of whites, blacks, Orthodox Jews and assorted minorities. What I noticed was that most of the Blacks were professionals who had migrated from Harlem across the Hudson. The kids fitted in; but for me while there was now a house it was never “home”.

Returning annually to Guyana from that year, and making the final move a decade later, I spent a couple

of years in Uitvlugt itself, then onto neighbouring Zeeburg and De Willem.

The thought was a simple one: critiquing the political and social order, I assumed it would help to be among the people who were facing the greatest pressures then - the sugar workers. In the street where I lived in De Willem, were the homes of several of the men who had been charged for treason and tortured for plotting an alleged WPA attack on the state back in 1980.

I had always found it anomalous that so many of the persons who purport to represent workers were so far removed from the day-to-day realities of the latter’s lives.

This is not to say that one cannot empathise with those who experience different circumstances from one’s own - this is, after all, the function of good literaturebut that to actually share them brings a great immediacy

THE BACCOO SPEAKS Each day the extent of illiteracy is being felt across the country. For starters the people who appear to be incapable of controlling jobs are capitalizing on the money in the hinterland. The difference is that these are the people who operate on the inability to reason.

So far there have been four killings in the past week because of simple misunderstandings and the belief that money is always there to take care of every problem.

And because of the money the police are going to make a hash of the investigations so that the

relatives of the victims will adopt the old biblical adage of an eye for an eye. ** The recent secondary schools entrance examinations will see some parents leveling accusations against the examiners. Of course the Education Ministry will find that there were

markers who did some unusual things but not enough to change the final outcome.

But some accusations stick, especially when some parents expect a lot from their children. One particular good thing will be revealed.

A child who was almost a vegetable will do well for his situation. ** The guns are out again and once more there will be talk of vendettas. This follows every drug bust.

This time the shooting will take place outside a nightspot. The police will be left scratching their heads.

to one’s sensibilities.

Living in a “bottom house” for the next decade, during which I was catapulted into politics, forced me however to reflect on Thomas Wolfe’s final message: “You can’t go back home to your family, back home to your childhood ... back home to a young man’s dreams of glory and of fame ... back home to places in the country, back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting but which are changing all the time – back home to the escapes of Time and Memory.”

Yes things do change especially in a Guyana that had just emerged from two decades of dictatorship. Most of my generation had long moved on to foreign shores and those who had remained were altered in ways that I sometimes found disconcerting. For too many, life was literally a “hustle”.

There was a cynicism about governments and politicians that went very deep: everyone had to be engaging in a hustle. Which idiot would really be acting altruistically?

It can become very tiresome.

By the time I was ready to build and move the family into a “proper” house when I left politics in 2006, I had achieved some of my aims at least. The house was on the spot in Uitvlugt where my father had moved from the logees near the sugar factory back in 1953.

The second was to pass on a lesson without words to my two Guyana-born children: that happiness did not only have to depend on having a “big house”, which they now had.

The big house in the “exclusive community” - even gated - was by then the epitome of the “good life” in this new Guyana. I could go along with the “big house”

Ravi Dev

but I drew the line on the “exclusive community” bit. I remembered visiting India to search for the village of my forefather who had emigrated to De Willem back in 1888.

Taken to the village of Ishmailpur, I was struck by the segregation of the Brahmin section and the “others” - also sub-segregated.

That was not a “full circle” I wanted to draw.

The other cautionary tale was my experience at Teaneck, NJ. The blacks who left Harlem, depleted it of the human capital that could have help lift it out of its morass.

Why should we do the same in Guyana?

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

The People’s Progressive Party …more centralistic than democratic Hari Narayen ‘Ralph’ Ramkarran’s detailed diagnosis of the disease that is daily debilitating the People’s Progressive Party, has exposed that party’s dysfunctional internal procedures.

The PPP is preparing for its much postponed 30th Congress on 2nd - 4th August at Port Mourant, Corentyne, but change should not be anticipated.

Little is expected to occur to alter that Party’s collective mindset, the composition of its collective leadership, and its collective approach to the way it has been governing Guyana over the past two decades.

This might seem perplexing to the general public, but not to hardcore party officials who profit most from the parasitical, highlycentralised system of control it has imposed on the state.

The PPP was established 63 years ago as a mass-based party. It aimed then at mobilising the masses – the greatest number of Guyanese from all social strata and ethnic groups – to challenge the

colonial order of the day. It was very successful for the first five years. Many poor Africans and Indians and a few prominent Portuguese and Chinese, flocked to the Party. The PPP was elected to office for seven years in 19571964.

The PPP in 1969, five years after losing office, transformed itself from being (in its own words) “a loose mass party into a disciplined Leninist-type of party.” It felt that this was essential for it to regain and retain political power.

The Party, with this transformation, adopted Leninist organisational principles and methods which it defined to be: “democratic centralism and collective leadership in decisionmaking”, among other things.

The PPP’s present Constitution – designed to entrench the ideology of Marxism-Leninism and assist in the transformation of the party to a Leninist party of the new type” – was adopted in 1977, long before most living Guyanese were born. Little

has changed. Control of the Party’s Central Committee and Executive Committee has been inherited by a cabal of members who have scant interest in socialist or Marxist principles. The current Constitution places control of the party in the hands of its leaders, not its members.

The PPP’s leaders simply do not want to relinquish this control that luck and long service have bequeathed to them. This is because, as Ramkarran has warned, “the PPP’s detailed economic policy choices are subject to the influence of the growing and increasingly powerful entrepreneurial and bureaucratic class who benefit enormously from procurement and other government activities.”

The PPP’s leaders have found it profitable to preserve the system it adopted 44 years ago and the Constitution it promulgated 36 years ago.

This explains, for example, how the Party has been functioning without a ‘party leader’ since Cheddi Jagan’s death 16 years ago. Central

Committee members adhere to these organisational practices and principles, especially democratic centralism, an invention not of the philosophical Karl Marx, but of the conspiratorial Vladimir Lenin.

Democratic centralism was defined by its author as, “freedom in discussion – unity in action.” This means that, once a decision had been arrived at, it was no longer open to dissent. All members are required to accept the applicability of those decisions and, thereafter, to subordinate their own individuality to the majority.

This obsolete system prevailed in the Soviet Union and other communist countries, and is widely regarded as more centralistic than democratic. Ordinary party members elect delegates to Congress, who elect the Central Committee, who then elect the Executive Committee, who then elect the leaders who run the Party. Ordinary members, simply, are not allowed to elect Party leaders ‘directly.’ They, therefore,

have no real control over who will emerge eventually as their leaders. This is exactly what led to the alienation that was evident on the Corentyne in the November 2011 General and Regional elections.

Congress after congress, decade after decade, the same two or three dozen faces seem to reappear on the Central Committee, despite the fact that the PPP commands an electoral vote of over 160,000.

Central Committee members once installed in office or in the Cabinet, similarly, become virtually immune to removal, regardless of how corrupt or incompetent they are.

This explains how leaders in former Communist regimes – such as the Castro family in Cuba and the Kim family Korea today – remain unremovable for decades.

This is an example of essential Leninist authoritarian practice which distrusts the freely-expressed, but wildly unpredictable, will of the masses, but places supreme confidence in a small, self-perpetuating elite group.

Intelligent, young Guyanese, in

this era of improved education and communication, resent being dictated to by such a group, or to be part of such a system. Some young rebels tried to change this highlycentralised Leninist system at the 27th Congress of the PPP in July 2002. Their motion for the posts of leader, chairman and general secretary to be openly contested was defeated, partly through the efforts of veterans who, expectedly, seem serenely satisfied with the status quo.

The PPP (in its own words) is no longer a ‘mass party.’ It is a political machine primed to win and wield power. Simpliciter.

Ordinary Guyanese who constitute the majority of the population, however, should understand better how a ruling party’s adherence to the archaic doctrine of democratic centralism can affect the destiny of the nation.

As the PPP approaches its next Congress in August, its General Secretary Donald Ramotar should remember the old aphorism, “He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils”.

Page 38

Book Review:

By Dr Glenville Ashby Adrian Augier’s Navel String is a paradoxical treatise.

A fine work that reveals the inexorable pain of displaced souls. Its “Socratic,”didactic and compelling, with a palpable sense of foreboding, a looming spectre of a dissociative identity in need of repair.

Augier wobbles, psychologically. No fault of his. It’s the way of the authentic poet - blessed and cursed. His work bears this out. In discursive moments, he tackles the assault on nature, remaining figuratively robust...But it is his psychocultural journeys that claw at you, clinging, hauntingly.

Where is Augier’s navel string? Where are ours? Is it in this land we have forcibly adopted, or is it elsewhere?

There is no easy response.

The draw of the drums and the beckoning of the ancestral past cannot be dismissed, although we have tried. We are part of a cultural gestalt. It is suicidal to disengage. “No, it is not forbidden to go fetch what you have left behind, but hurry. And look well, believer, on the glorious Sankofa’s tail,” he writes in Sankofa, Song of Job. A people, a nation, and a

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

A poetic call to Identity and Nationhood sense of self are keys to actualization. Lo, this hasn’t been our experience. Hence the insomniacal spells, the yearning, the cries to be heard, and the anguish.

This is the power of Augier’s work He excels philosophically, and can also rile the burdened from their slumber.

A provocateur, he is. His anger boils over. Meanwhile, lyrically, he waves a hypnotic wand. His words are poetically biting, at times loud, and never short on imaginative clout. In Who Cannot Sleep, he writes: “And fear, recently insubstantial becomes suddenly bone, incarnate muscle, violence so irrepressible that it will find a weapon to avenge the deeds that signed away the future.”

In that thematic vein is “Listen to the Dark Young Men.” On this socio-historical canvas, the perennial plight of those beaten down is painted in bold colours. His fiery pen talks to you: “They could leap and leave behind the servitude, the persistent poverty, or, just as easily they could stay, and any day, set aflame the city.”

Two worlds co-exist, but the author is imprisoned in his home, his native land, the land that evokes beauty and

delivers pain. Its folklore is frightening, embedded in magic, the mystical. It’s awe inspiring and welcomes the enquiry of the artist, but also horrifies him.

The Soukouyan and Ladjablesse mystify and defy explanation. It is a bitter-sweet pill to swallow, leading Augier to a s k r h e t o r i c a l l y “ Yo u s h o u l d r u n , b u t w here?

This is the $64,000 question that bestrides “In Return to Lusca.”

Its ambivalence underscores Augier’s undertaking.

“Seeking salvation, an early poet eyed her soul and called this island Lusca - an anagram for saint or child, or worse, a blessed abomination, a bolom drunk with laughter caught in the stunning light of early morning-after.”

And in the Psalmic reverberations of “Did I not lift Mine Eyes,” Augier has produced his most evocative piece. It encapsulates the darkness and extinguished hope of so many of his renditions. It is bold, putting God on the spot.

Why? Why can I not hate?

Why cannot I exact revenge?

Augier asks questions we dare not ask, although we have entertained them, silently, with guilt.

“Did I not hold firm in the heated breath of their brewing storms and pray to you through all temptations?” he asks....”Did I not kneel? Lord, you know all not I, who can only look upon your hills, but if not from you and son then whence, how, and why not now, cometh our help?”

Augier’s world is dark, almost. Devastation awaits our progeny as he warns in “Inheritance.” May be there is but a sliver of hope. But that seems always smothered by the reality of life’s brutality. However, not many poets can lift the spirit with pain. Augier does.

There is a light in the abyss flashes of enlightenment. Augier’s pain eventually transcends the physical, till it no longer exists.

Curiously, it eventually assumes a transcendental and ineffable emotion that somehow comforts the reader.

Glenville Ashby Feedback : glenvilleashby @ gmail . com Follow me on Twitter@glenvilleashby Navel String by Adrian Augier, 2012 Peepal Tree Press www.peepaltreepress Available: amazon.com Rating: Good

The book cover of Navel String

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

I finally found the childhood memory I was looking for On Friday afternoon, I was the first person to be in the auditorium of the National Library, waiting for the Walter Rodney Commemoration event sponsored by filmmaker Clairmont Chung.

Clairmont was putting on his film on Walter, plus his book launch of his work on the great Guyanese hero.

I was early because I wanted to collect two books Clairmont had brought for me when he came into Guyana a few days ago. The Library official told me that Clairmont was expected at 16:00 hours, but after half an hour’s wait I decided I would make a spin and return.

I went CD shopping at what may be one of Guyana’s historic sites, Matt’s Record Bar. This place has been around for ages and I always say to my friends that if Austin’s Bookstore and Matt’s Record Bar should leave the Guyana landscape, I don’t think this country will be the same again. I honestly hope that they never go out of existence and stay with Guyana forever.

I wanted the latest album by that fantastic diva that Burt Bacharach created, the aunt of another great diva, Whitney

Houston, the inimitable Dionne Warwick. You are not going to believe this, but I tossed aside the latest album

by Elton John after buying it.

I feel John’s days of creative composing after the soundtrack of the Lion King are gone. The new material lacks the cutting edge that made Elton John a global phenomenon. But judging from her new material, Warwick can stand the test of time.

Entitled “Now”, the cuts are rearrangements of the Bacharach hits that made her as famous as Elton John. I wanted to hear her version of my favourite Bacharach composition – Love’s Still the Answer. Plus she covered in her new album a fantastic love song I loved when I studied in Canada – “99 Miles from LA”.

While looking at the shelves, the famous name in music archives turned up –the owner of the store – Aubrey Baptiste. I told Aubrey I had been looking for years now for a ‘60s Ska tune by the name, “Bombshell.” It is no exaggeration; for years and

years I have been looking for “Bombshell.” Jamaican Ska was very famous in Guyana, yet no music vendor at the Stabroek Market Square could find Bombshell. You name any Ska song from the sixties and they had it, but they never heard about Bombshell.

Aubrey said, “Freddie wuh wrang with yuh maan, I have Bombshell.” He turned to his sales attendant and said, “Nichola, find Bombshell for Freddie, it is on one of dem Ska compilations.” They looked and the item was invisible. I put on Dionne Warwick and drove to the National Library to see a good film on Walter Rodney.

Just as I was about to park, Aubrey called, “Freddie I found it.” I drove back to Matt’s and bought.

“Caribbean Classics, Vol. 2” in which cut nine was “Bombshell” by Ike Bennett & the Crystallites. It is an instrumental Ska tune where the saxophone goes through a variation of pitches that makes it a very accomplished use of the saxophone that could be compared to soulful strut on the American blues scene. I always wanted

“Bombshell” to keep my company. I wanted to covet a wonderful memory of growing up in Wortmanville in South Georgetown. I don’t ever want to be separated from my Wortmanville roots. I want to always remain a working class boy from Wortmanville.

Bombshell was the first song I danced to as a boy who frequented the Saturday night dance halls in Wortmanville.

The place was the threestorey Lodge building at the corner of Lime and Hadfield Streets.

Interestingly, the structure still stands there but is in terrible condition and may be pulled down by the City Council. When that happens,

a part of my Wortmanville memory bank will die.

I never took the floor anymore after dancing Bombshell. All my friends laughed at me. They all described my movement as ape-like (actually I believe dancing is a genetic reminder of where Homo sapiens came from). In working class areas, the taunting can be devastating. I was never made to forget that I looked like a fool dancing Bombshell. From that night, I knew I had a natural impediment – I couldn’t dance and I wanted to dance so badly. I think it had a profound effect on my psyche.

David Hinds, Tacuma

Frederick Kissoon Ogunseye and I left the Walter Rodney event and went to go lime at Stabroek Market Square. As Tacuma entered my car, I told him to listen to a CD I just bought. I was playing Bombshell. We limed late into the evening, with me being oblivious to my security situation, and I drove home late that night playing Bombshell on my car stereo over and over. Some memories never die.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

Cancer-free Sports Journalist Being proactive undoubtedly... thankful for this Father’s Day “I am a living testimony that God saved my life for a reason and if he could do it for me he could do it for you.

My best Father’s Day gift ever is having the opportunity to spend it with my sons,” a tearful Sean Devers said.

Last October, Devers, Guyanese cricket broadcaster and journalist, underwent surgery in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago to remove a cancerous brain tumor. His journey to that operating theatre was made possible through prayers, financial assistance from companies and individuals and most of all, his will power to live.

“My mom did not go to Trinidad but she texted me every day. My eldest son,

Sean Devers and his three sons Ricardo, spent most of the time with me just after the surgery. I stayed at my dad’s house when I went up to the States.”

He recently returned from the United States of America.

His tests were clean and he is expected to undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in August this year. A cancer-free Devers (Continued on page 63)

From page 50 help. “I trusted God for wisdom, but when I did understand a little of what was really going on I was devastated...It wasn't easy to accept,” she admitted.

Claudia eventually heard about a Rehabilitation Centre that was situated at Oronoque Street, Georgetown, and soon after started taking her son there twice weekly. He was one-year-old at the time.

However, because of her teaching career she couldn't continue taking the time to travel all the way to Georgetown to attend sessions. As such she decided that everything she learned at the Rehabilitation facility she would practice with Denbert at home. She even decided to set up a mirror, similar to what she saw at the Centre, so that he could see himself as she helped him learn to walk.

Claudia also acquired a go-cart which, according to her, also helped in her attempt to develop his motor skills.

It all paid off, because by the time he was five years old Denbert, though nothing like a normal child, was able to walk on his own.

“He was slumped over, had his head descended, but he was walking...” said Claudia, who regarded the day

her son started walking as “my big day.”

However, the screams and the constant drooling did not subside and there still wasn't much support from the community.

“It just was not a natural thing for people in the community to see a differentlyable child, but I had to be there for him and I used to let it appear as if it was alright...I had to be more than a mother to Denbert; I had to make the sacrifice and I wasn't prepared to let go.”

Potty training was an extraordinarily difficult task, but eventually he was able to get a hang of it, Claudia reflected.

Although he seemed incapable of talking, she was encouraged by the fact that her son was walking and made the bold step of taking him to the school where she taught. And much to her amazement, many of the teachers accepted him, but that wasn't true for several parents whose children were attending the school.

Some were in fact very sarcastic in their remarks when making reference to Denbert.

And by the age of 11, the Head Teacher of the school was not too willing to have him remain there any longer; after all he was way past the recommended age limit for such an institution.

However, Claudia's spirit was certainly not daunted, in fact she got even more ambitious and decided to request of the then Head Master of the Dem Amstel Primary School to accommodate Denbert there. The response was favourable, which was perhaps due to the fact that he had an aunt teaching at the school.

During this period, Claudia was able to complete her studies at the Teachers' Training College and she applied for a transfer to the Den Amstel School to be close to her son. By this time, she recalled that the squint in Denbert's eyes had disappeared and his ability to do little things was noticeably improved.

He was accepted in the school environment, as children were taught to respect and help him. They had gotten so accustomed to his presence that he was even included at playtime. “Even now when some young men see him they would sing to him 'hands up and take a five..., are you ready? Let's go, Denbert,' and he responds to them,” said an evidently elated Claudia.

She is confident that her son was able to learn a great deal, even two times tables, during his time in school.

He remained at Den Amstel Primary until he was 28 years old, a decision he made all on his own, because his favourite teacher had left on Whitley Council leave.

Today, Denbert remains dependent on his mother, who sacrificed everything, even her marriage, to continue to care for him.

Although retired from teaching conventional school, Claudia continues to embrace her God-given gift to help children with varying forms of disability at her home, as she continues to show her only son unconditional love, the way God intended.

And according to her, he is a most loving son.

She recalled being diagnosed with diabetes and quite unwell for a period, in 2002.

Discerning her condition, Claudia recounted how her physically challenged son would awake each hour of the night and pray for her in his own way. Today her diabetes is in remission and she and her son have a bond that only a mother and son who understand each other can have.

“Taking care of Denbert hasn't been easy, but I am glad that I was given the privilege to do this because more than anything I believe he is my guardian angel,” a confident Claudia asserted.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

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I LOST THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

By Ralph Seeram As I wrote my articles she was always by my bed pushing her warm soft body to my side, my stomach.

Sometimes she used my legs as a pillow, and when she was in a demanding mood she placed her head on my laptop keyboards, stopping me from typing. It was the sign that she needed attention.

I would have to stop typing and give her a massage, especially on the nape of her neck; if she was satisfied she would then cuddle between my legs and sleep there for the rest of the night.

That has been the relationship between Chelsea and me for the past ten years.

She slept on my chest, my side, on my legs, I could not move a leg or turn; I was restricted to sleeping to one position, on my back, if I moved to disturb her, she would give me the look of protest for disturbing her beauty sleep.

About eighteen months ago I wrote an article about Chelsea, how demanding she was. At six in the morning if I am not out of bed she ensured that I wake up to give her a daily morning treat, she would come on my chest and kiss me. If that failed, she would knock stuff off the night stand and as a last resort shake the

venetian blinds. This made such a loud noise that it sure got my attention.

I wrote then how Chelsea had an operation to remove a tumor which was a side effect of some rabies shots she received years ago.

Everything seemed well for a year then the tumor returned.

She underwent another surgery to remove the new growth, but now the vet said there were no guaranties that the cancer will not return. It did, so she had another operation.

When it returned for the fourth time I took her to the veterinarian again, who on examination gave the news I was afraid of; the cancer had spread and another surgery will not help, Chelsea was on borrowed time.

After three surgeries and thousands of dollars I was helpless to do anything for her. I would have spent my last penny if it could have helped her. And so the agony began. Chelsea my love, my pet cat was in her final days, I inquired if she was suffering any pain to which the vet said no.

The time came last week, but Chelsea told us earlier.

She started to isolate herself, she started to hide in secluded spots under the beds; she did not want us to see her. I had to take her treats to her, she would not come

out. For the first time she would not sleep on my bed, but under. She told us it was time, and my daughter Gail made the arrangements with the vet.

This past week was one of the most difficult period in my life, from the time the decision was made to put her to sleep I must have cried a hundred times. The thought of witnessing the final days of my love was very emotional.

Maybe only pet owners may understand my feelings.

We did not regard Chelsea as a cat but as part of the family.

She was regarded as the “first grandchild” and was treated as such, she was family, I could not believe how emotionally attached I was to Chelsea. Last Sunday was the appointed day to put her to eternal rest.

My daughter, Gail, and I took her to the vet’s office, while in the waiting area Chelsea allowed me to pet her again, it was like her old self looking forward to a massage which I gave her, brushed her fur, as if it was her last wish.

She knew the end was near, but she was ready, she looked pleased and happy, she gave me the “look” as if to say it was okay.

Before the vet came I hugged her, kissed her, I told her I have to do this, as I loved her and I cannot see her suffer, I told her, “You have been a loving

cat Chelsea, and I love you so much, go with all my love”.

With my tears on her furry cheeks they put her to eternal sleep.

On the drive back home I rested her little coffin on my lap, taking her home to be buried. I reflected, for all our human endeavors in life striving for material things, we are not better off than our pets. At the end of the day, we are reduced to be placed in a box just as Chelsea was.

No cars, no house, no “things” we strive to accumulate, we only go in a box.

Later, my daughter had a service to commemorate the happy life Chelsea had. We recalled how she was a frequent flyer between New York and Orlando, who had to get her individual seat on the plane, her mischievous ways knocking over stuff, sleeping on the “forbidden” living room set.

I recall setting out all my clothes, the night before travelling to Guyana, only to see her scampering and disarranging all the clothes.

There are so many things I am going to miss about her in the coming months Yes; Chelsea had a wonderful 13 years of

life. My son Calvin and I buried Chelsea later that afternoon; we wrapped her in her favorite towel with her name embroidered, packed her favorite brush, and placed her in the grave in her favored curled position. My daughter planted a rose plant atop her grave, as I threw the last sand on her grave, I spoke to her

again telling her how I loved her and that she is going will all my love.

My daughter presented me with a picture album of Chelsea with the words “No longer by my side, but always in my heart”.

Ralph Seeram can be reached at ralph365@hotmail.com

Page 54

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Attractive salary. Call 2193970 Barber @ TJ’s All Star Barber Shop: Grove Public road, E.B.D- Call:609-6952/ 6429139 Workers for Land DredgeCall:623-2728/ 667-5717 Cashiers, Drivers- Lorry, Beverage Salesman: Survival Shopping Complex: 173 Sherriff St. Call:227-5286/90 Mechanic with 20 years experience seeking contract overhauling of engine (Perkins, Cummins, John Deere & CAT)- Call:691-8178

Contract Cars Wanted: City Taxi Service- Call:660-1100

Looking for an Ideal Ranger/ Surveyor Technician? Then Call:662-0113 Female workers needed: 3 CXC subjects or sound secondary school education- Call: 612-1595 1 Nail Technician and 3 Barbers: Address: 1 Smyth & Durban St, Werk-en-Rust: Call: 674-8555 Driver- Call: 225-0188/ 2256070 West Site Taxi service: Wanted experience dispatcher & contract carscall:613-0419/ 600-0699 Mature live-in domestic: Small family: Good accommodation and rates: Light duties- call: 613-3091

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY M E R C U R Y (QUICK SILVER) 9 9 . 9 9 9 9 5 % PURITY - $20,000 PER POUND CALL:604-6108

Honda generator on wheels, 3500 watts: Gasoline: Hardly used- Call:674-4649

RZ mini-buses BMM & BNN series, AT192, 212, AT170, Tacoma, Canters, NZE & cheap cars- call:680-3154

Mercedes Benz S300 armored, powered, leather seats, Auto, 19" rims, CD player, sound system $3.5M cash call:621-4000, 690-6000

Asphalt Roofing Shinglescall:266-2711/609-4594 15-15-15 Fertilizer in damaged bags, large quantity available- call: 266-2711/609-4594 1 Lincoln 225 amps welder generator set- Call: 641-0600 Pig feed, Duck feed & Shrimp meal- call:266-2711/ 609-4594 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 1- 500 Ton Cargo Ship with Contract- call: 687-6174 Purpleheart panel doors $28,000: Sizes (30", 32", 34", 36") × 80- call: 688-9712/ 6390501 R o t t w e i l e r, B r a z i l i a n , German Shepherd puppies: Hunting dogs (Pointers) fully vaccinated- Call: 6822148/655-8674 Live/pluck chicken call:6504421,220-9203 Clearance Sale: Greenheart Lumber, Slabs, Strips & Firewood: Toolsie Persaud Ltd. Lombard St. G/TownTel: 226-4920/226-4071-5 Electric Snow cone machines- call:266-2711/6094594 Male Enhancement Viagra: 4 in a Pack For $3000- Call: 6426664/ 638-1627

One girl to work in shop: Age 17-24: Salary $45,000 monthly: Text 694-6004 VACANCY One fitter machinistTele:234-0780, Cell: 613-1588 or 694-8450 24 hour East Coast Guyoil needs day & night pump attendants, sales girl, Experienced Fuel Tanker Driver- Tele: 688-9611/6842838 1- Civil Engineer (Full Time), Truck Drivers, Skid Steer & Excavator Operators, Security Officers & Accounts ClerkCall: 603-4524 Female Factory Workers from Land of Canaan areaCall: 266-4427

One Attractive waitresscall: 678-1481

Hire Car Drivers & Body Work Men: A-1 Taxi- Call: 220-1000

Printers: To operate Heidelberg & AB Dick PressCall: 269-0044/ 671-5270

Experienced female bartenders and cleaners- call: 225-8572 Between 7am-9am

Sunday June 16, 2013

Household items for sale at affordable prices- call:6211485 SDMO Generators, diesel, silent with tank 28 KVA: Not working $500,000- call:6214000/690-6000 Clark Forklifts 2,000; 3,000; 4,000 lbs lifting capacity: Needs minor repairs, sold as is $375,000- call:621-4000/ 690-6000 22" Chrome rims (6 holes) with tyres, set of 4 $400,000call:621-4000/690-6000 IPhone 4s-$110,000; Blackberry Bold4 -$64,995; PSP-$59,995; PS2 -$54,995, Wii Systems, Video Cameracall:225-4631 Cheap Earth delivery to spot ECD & EBD call:627-9977, 698-0182 Clean Garden Earth builders waste, also Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing & leveling- call:616-0617 or 6633285 New Automatic Spice/ Powder Packing Machine, Adjustable Filling, Date Coding. Taiwan Made Price GY$2.5M #690-7593 One Tyre Breaker in good condition- Price negotiableCall:220-6356 Master Craft Tools for sale: Spanner Set, Socket Set, Circular Saw, Jigsaw, DrillsCall:689-0486 or 225-5486 Green Coffee available from A & S Imports- Call:694-2386

1 Baby Play Pen & diaper changer; 1 Baby swing; 1 Imac computer; 1 iphone; 1 Whirpool dryer; 1 Welding plan- Tele: 662-6045

Nail Plates & Anchor Seal: 4×6, 3×6, 4×8- Call: 265-3541/ 695-4785

3 Phase Induction Motor 10HP/460-V, 125 HP Yamaha Outboard engine: New Condition- Call:693-3747

1 All purpose Washing Machine, never used Frigidaire- Call: 610-8083/ 642-3092

Original Timberland Boots, T-Shirts, Cargo Pants, Wallets, Nike T-Shirts, Black Nike Sneakers- Call 676-5696

Original games for sale call:265-3232

Quality concrete blocks made to order, up to 15% off regular price- call: 227-0572/ 625-6100 Located @ 3897 Profit Square South Ruimveldt Gardens- Call: 649-2810/ 6948247: Serious enquires only.

Dell laptops & desktops complete computers from $55,000 Futuretech call: 2312206 Pitbull puppies 8 and 9 weeks old: Fully vaccinated & dewormed: Parent importedCall:624-7991

Pure Breed Rottweiler puppies for sale- Romel @ 653-6281

Games for PS 2, $900,PSP $900, Xbox360 $2600, PS 3 $2600, call:672-2566 Promix starting at $7,500, green formula (growing mix)Call: 615-2346/263-5300 1- 10 RB Dragline, 1- F150 Ford Truck- Call: 687-6174 1 Hiab Truck- Call: 618-1967/ 698-4321 192 Drum $5,500: 192 Rotor $6,500- Call:654-6394/2276689 Sheep for Sale- Call:695-6139 1- 21" RCA Television, 1Toshiba Laptop- Call: 680-0223

Toyota AE 100 PHH seriesCall: 673-5882 1 Ford Ranger 2000 ModelCall: 225-0709/641-2905 We buy & sell vehicles for cash & we do trading-in of vehicles: 30 Seater Busescall:680-3154 93 L.H.D Honda Accord- Call: 623-8909/672-2002 UNREGISTERED SOLID DEF2005 RAUM $2.150,000; 2 TON ISUZU DUMP TRUCK $2.3MCALL: 227-1737/641-1800 Toyota Premio & Allion: Excellent Condition: PPP Series- Contact Donna 2275404/ 666-5195 Cruiser Auto Sales: Unregistered: Toyota Fielder, New Raum, Noah, Mazda, Axela- call:603-9700 1 Toyota Land-cruiser Prado PMM series- call:225-0188/ 225-6070 New RX8 (red) Rotary 7 speed engine, new rims, tyres, music-kickers, Lambo doors- call: 627-8786 Massey Ferguson 6140: 4×4 Turbo: $3.2M negotiableCall: 688-6274 or 691-3851 1 Mitsubishi Galant: Excellent Condition: A/C, Automatic with Tiptronic, music, 15" rims: Price $1.1M neg- Call: 612-6693 Honda ATV 500 4×4: New $2.6M- Call: 624-5000 Toyota IST PLL 7683- Call: 639-9553 One Toyota Vios: In Immaculate condition, PLL series- Call: 609-7175 One Long Base RZ Mini Bus: In good condition $750,000Call: 219-2133/ 691-2635 F-150 $900,000; Raum $2.2M; Spacio $2.3M; Premio $ 2.7M: Unregistered - call: 641-6516 or 264-2644 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Allion, IST, Premio, one registered ISTCall: 652-3820/ 665-4529

Mitsubishi 3000GT, 3000cc sports car, CD player,18" rims, very fast, must see price neg. call:621-4000, 690-6000 Mercedes Benz 190E fully powered, flair kit, mag wheel, needs repairs sold as is $500,000 call:621-4000 Cheapest- Premio, Spacio, Hilux, Stick Gear Buses- Call: 616-7635 HILUX SOLID DIFF Pickups, AC, 33×12.50 MT tyres, Unregistered, Excellent Condition- Call: 691-2077 Mitsubishi Pajero (Immaculate condition); automatic, fully loaded, 4×4, price $2.8M- Contact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 AT170 Toyota Carina (private), automatic, fully powered, mags, CD player, price $675,000- contact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 AT 212 Carina (private), automatic, fully powered, A/ C, CD player, price $1.375Mcontact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 Toyota extra cab pick-up (22 R engine) manual, (EFI) 4×4, (GPP series) price $2.5MContact Rocky 621-5902/ 225-1400 1-Suzuki (RI) Jeep, automatic, fully powered, A/ C, Immaculate condition price $1.1- contact Rocky 225-1400 or 621-5902 1 Toyota RZ long base (EFI bus) manual, Mag rims, BLL series $1.350M: Excellent condition- Call Rocky 6215902/225-1400 Toyota Raum: PNN seriesCall: 611-2181/ 664-0909 1 Toyota Dyna open back canter: GKK series: 1 Owner: Excellent conditionCall:684-8231 2- 2008 Toyota Premio TV/ DVD & push button start, 2006 BMW320i -Tele:615-4114

RZ two bus with TV $2.6M: Corollo Axio $3.2M- Call: 6695172/ 655-3400

1 Toyota Fun Cargo, AT192, AT212, Ceres, Axela, Runx, Hilux Solid DEF pickup, EP71 & 82 Starlet- Call: 6445096

One AE100 Corolla $650,000: One AT192 $900,000: One AT212 $1050,000M- Call: 611-6632

One AT192 motor car for spares $300,000 (negotiable)- Call:629-9436

First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, 212- Please Call: 609-8188 / 226-2689

Unregistered Toyota Sienta 7 seats: 1500cc- Call: 617-5536

Four Toyota Tacomas from 2005-2007 model. Call: 6574114

Lexus, Pitbull never registered- Call:655-0800/ 263-5300 (Continued on page 56)

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 55

Page 56

Kaieteur News

SERVICES

EDUCATIONAL Imperial College- Register Now: CXC 2014 fulltime/ lessons/adults classes: Excellent results-call: 6835742/227-7627

First Choice Laundromat: $700 per load: Dry cleaning of Wedding Gowns, from $5000: Gents Suits $2500Tele: 225-6337

Diploma in Computers for 2013 CSEC students: 9 courses $35,000: MicroGraphics Vreed-en-Hoop 264-3057: Registered now

Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves.

Ultra Cool. Call: 225-9032, 647-2943

Computerized Accounting Packages For 2013 CSEC Students: Quickbooks, PTree, etc. Micro-Graphics Vreed-en-Hoop 264-3057

We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699

Summer Computer Classes: Ages 5-13 starting from $6,500: Micro-Graphics Vreed-en-Hoop 264-3057: Registered now Summer Classes: Floral Arrangements, Cake Decoration, Cake & Pastries: Ages 13+: Enroll Now, contact Sharon: 223-3303/ 672-8768 SUMMER CLASSES: July 15th – August 15th: Phonics, Mathematics, Language, Spanish, Craft, Tours & Fun day: Garnett St. KittyCall:654-8650 Learn to bake and decorate cakes- call: 231-1360/6819461

SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad.

Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD tele:265-4138,652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children Earn a certificate in Cosmetology, Nails & Facial courses at Beautopia- Call: 629-3497/ 604-3002 Relax $2500, colour $2000, finger tips $2200, toes $600, pedicure $2500, facial $2500- Call:2258701/622-2643 CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email w w w. p r o g r e s s i v e a u t o rental. com Premio, Vitz call: 689-6668 Untouchable Car Rental: Low Rate , Low Deposit call:231-8653,621-6827 Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807

WE FILL OUT VISA FORMS: USA, UK & CANADA & CREDIT CARD SERVICES CALL: 231-5789 ONLINE SHOPPING ZERO COMMISSION, WEEKLY SHIPMENTS,AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX.CALL:2315789, 225-9030 Georgetown Computer service in homes- Call:6757292 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766 Blackberry unlocking $1500- call: 675-2239/ 6527560 Technician specialized in repairs & servicing to washers, dryers, fridges, A/ C units & stoves: Home Servicing available- call: 661-5099 R o c o t s To o l R e n t a l : R a n s o m , Ta b l e S a w, Compactor, floor sander, Bobcat etc.- Call:675-0767 TransponderTV: No Monthly Fees, No Hidden Fees, No Additional Charges: 250 Channels + 50 HD Channels- Call: 675-3201 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Call The USA For $10 Per Minute- Call: 672-4090 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call: 225-6496, 662-6045, 223-8115 Cupboards, bars etc.

Beautiful designs, durable, sprayed: Affordable prices: Over 30yrs experience- Call: 674-4649 Brian Moe @642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!!

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964 B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Lodge- call:2250150,229-7258,680-6826

Sunday June 16, 2013

CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, Call: 670-0798. Also Wedding dresses for sale We present cake decorating classes on various techniques: Beginners classes- Call Karen on Tele:226-0125/648-2207 or 601-6762

PROPERTY FOR SALE Tuschen Housing SchemeCall: 692-3454/616-7632 McDoom $17M: Prospect $13M: Earl’s Court $38M: Main Street US$4.2M- Call Diana @227-2256/ 626-9382 Town & Country: Real 5 bedrooms concrete 2 stories $35M: 225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390 Alexander St. between Regent & Robb $60M: 6727390, 2250843, 225-0854

TO LET Furnished Apartments For Overseas Visitors- Contact: 699-7559 Fully furnished short term apartments @ Eccles call: 689-6668 Secret Villa apartment, fully furnished apartments Landof-Canaan E.B.D- Call:2665243/266-5245 2 Bedrooms apartment at 143cc Eccles, Pk $50,000Call: 233-2219/ 604-1788 From $100,000- $160,000- Call: 675-7292 155ft×40ft two stories building to rent for long term usage: Ideal spot for business- Contact: 658-4785 Eccles $40,000: Diamond $35,000: South $130,000: Campbellville $150,000- Call Diana @227-2256/ 626-9382

FOR RENT Vreed-en- Hoop junction: Play School, Taxi Service, Classes, Salon, Office, Canteen, Barber Shop, Photo Studio- Call: 680-9905 Rooms - Call: 225-3234 2 Self- Contained Apartments in Industry: Furnished/ Unfurnished- call: 222-6001 Fully furnished Salon with A/ C in Georgetown- Call: 6411892 serious enquires only.

1 Nail Technician with customers to rent, nails tableCall: 602-5469 Eccles- 2-bedroom,concrete upstairs: Newly refurbish ($50,000)- 672-7390, 2250854,225-0843

Furnished classrooms available: Suitable for day classes, lessons & lectures: 71 Croal Street, Stabroek: Tel: 624-5741 Furnished 2 bedroom apartment in Linden for short term local & overseas guestsCall:614-4415/ 444-4704 Apartments & Houses to rent $50,000 upward: www.spaceseek.gy: Contact: 223-8479 or 647-3768

FOR RENT Self contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Contact: 2272993

CSEC IT training videos + Apps: Office 2010, Auto CAD 2012, Peachtree: Start early- Brian@642-3543

Prashad Nagar Luxury House, 5-bedroom selfcontained: Maid quarters & lovely patio. Security: $2600 US. 672-7390, 225-0854,2250843

(BODY WORK) & Spray paint your vehicle at an affordable cost: Fast, efficient & reliable- call Kenneth 222-0811/619-4550

Salon Stations: All modern convenience: Busy neighborhood: $7,500 per week- Call: 225-2303/6816156/625-9345

Charlotte between Cummings & Orange Walk Bourda $50M (Neg) 2 Stories3 bedrooms6727390,2250854 ,2250843 North Rd 2 Stories Building: Business Premises $1.5 US (Neg): 672-7390, 225-0854, 2250843 2 Stories Building 70x28 land 150x45 Kitty $75M (Residential/Commercial)672-7390, 2250854 ,2250843 Newly built concrete 3 bedrooms house in Parfaite Harmonie $19M, $17M, $8M: 672-7390, 225-0854, 225-0843 Diamond main road property 5 bedrooms flat house $37M: 225-0853, 225-0854, 672-7390 Diamond/Grove 2 Stories Concrete Newly Built: Automatic Gate/Garage: Spacious Kitchen& 4 Bedrooms $36M: 6727390, 2250854, 225-0843 Diamond Flat House Newly Built $17.5M: 6727390, 2250854, 225-08433

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Newly Built 5 Bedroom Selfcontained: Double Garage, New Kitchen: Super Condition W/C/D $69M: 6727390, 2250854, 2250843

1 Two Storey Business Property (Transported): Brickery Public Road, East Bank Demerara- Call: 660-8128

Lodge H/S 2 Stories Concrete (needs repairs) $14M neg: 672-7390, 2250854, 2250843

Wanted in confidence a serious investor(s) for pig and poultry farm, could start almost immediately- call: 6446551

2nd lot, Flat 2-bedroom,on land 35x150, Pouderoyen W.B.D $6.5M 672-8569,6869888,609-8132

House and Land @ D’Edward- Call: 689-2973/ 698-3703 2 Storey concrete house: 32’×55’: 3 Bedrooms: Block 8 Mon Repos, E.C.D $36 MilCall:642-2116 Mahaicony creek 3 Bedrooms, 7 acres land: access by creek or branch road- call: 621-4000/ 690-6000

LAND FOR SALE House lots 50’×118’ New Hope E.B.D: Negotiable prices.

Call: 266-2711/ 609-4594 Grove/Diamond $5M, $5.5M, $4M, $6.5M, $3.5M672-7390, 225-0854, 2250843 Eccles New Scheme 50 x 100 $5.5M- 6727390, 2250854, 2250843 Parfait Harmonie- $1.5M, $2M, $2.5M- 6727390, 2250854, 2250843 Tuschen- $1.5M, $1.8M, $2M, $2.5M- 6727390, 2250854, 2250843 Vreed-en-Hoop- 1.1 Acres $13M- 6727390, 2250854, 2250843 Pearl E.B.D- 5 Acres $22M (Neg) - 6727390, 2250854, 2250843 Bagotville 416ft×62ft $3.2M, Schoon’Ord $2.4M 100ft×50ft, Parfaite Harmonie $1M- Call:6757292 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at Parika- Call:226-7968 Land for Rice, Sugar, Cattle etc: More than 600 acres on East Coast Demerara- Call: 678-1454

2 Storey Concrete House: Alexander St Kitty 60x80 Land $47M: 6727390, 2250854, 2250843

3 Bedroom upper flat 2 bedroom lower flat; situated in front area of Diamond H/ Scheme. Contact: 681-5790

3 Bedrooms House @ Silver City, Wismar LindenCall:685-2005/ 680-5408

(From page 54)

Parfait Harmonie-Land 50x90 with Prepared Foundation, Posts, Structure, roof, Nice design $6.8M: 672-8569,6869888,609-8132

MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:609-4036 The Gent’s spa: Come be pampered by beautiful sophisticated masseuses four hands special call:6575979 Qualified Therapist: Pinch nerve, painful body, extreme tiredness, organ failure in Males, neck & shoulder pain- Call Sally @649-4227

Parfaite Harmonie-2-storied, concrete 3-apt 5-bedroom, 3 toilet & bath. Concrete yard $18.7M (Neg): 672-8569,6869888,609,8132 Versailles W.B.D. new Exclusive large 2 storied 5bedroom house with extra lot, (Gated Community): 6728569, 686-9888,609-8132

PEN PAL Male seeking Hindu female for serious relationship: Age 24-29- Text: 679-6648

Sunday June 16, 2013

SUNDAY SPECIAL GNIC DEMANDS $79M FOR UNAPPROVED WORK ON MV KIMBIA A row is brewing between the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) over repairs to the MV Kimbia.

The main bone of contention is an additional $79M being requested by the GNIC for additional repairs which the T&HD is saying were unapproved. In fact the T&HD is sticking to the original contract sum of $118M and is only prepared to approve an additional $10.8M for variations. And while the bickering is continuing, the vessel’s return to operation is delayed, resulting in extended hardship for residents of the North West District.

From all indications, the GNIC took the initiative and went ahead and effected critical repairs that were way above the contracted sum, a move that has not gone down well with the T&HD. GPL SLAPS CUSTOMERS WITH 26.7% RATE HIKE Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has announced moves to introduce a massive 26.7 per cent hike in electricity rates to recoup significant losses as a result of fuel price increases. The announcement last week Saturday came six weeks after the Opposition, during the considerations of the country’s budget, slashed $5.2B from a governmental assistance programme. A large part of the subsidy represents monies from a Chinese loan to run new transmission lines on the coastlands and for the

Kaieteur News

construction of seven new substations designed to reduce GPL’s leaky systems.

According to GPL, on May 15, 2013, it submitted its Final Return Certificate (FRC) to the regulatory body, Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for an increase in tariffs of 26.7 per cent effective May, 2013. “The new rates have not taken effect but the GPL Board is actively engaged in planning its implementation,” a statement from the power company indicated last week Saturday.

MONDAY EDITION WOMAN’S BODY FOUND WITH BELTAROUND NECK - HUSBAND CLAIMS SUICIDE Police on the East Coast of Demerara were last weekend probing the highly suspicious death of 31-yearold wife Vanessa Seeram. The

woman was discovered around 23:00 hours on Saturday, sitting in a chair with a belt tightly wrapped around her neck at her De Hoop, Mahaica home.

The woman’s husband is claiming that his wife, who has been described as a suicidal alcoholic, took her own life. However the woman’s relatives are convinced that she was murdered judging from the position in which her body was found, and investigators did not rule out foul play.

Seeram’s husband told police that he and his wife had a misunderstanding earlier on Saturday after which he left the house and went to the outdoor toilet. He said that when he returned later that night, he found Seeram sitting motionless in a chair with her son’s belt wrapped around her neck and tied to one leg

of a bed.

None of their three children was at home at the time of the incident. Seeram’s husband immediately raised an alarm and he and his 15 year old son who had also returned home rushed to inform Seeram’s relatives. The husband reminded investigators that his wife had attempted suicide on a previous occasion by dousing her body with kerosene and then setting it alight.

KATO SCHOOLCHILDREN FETCHING LOGS FOR HOT MEALS… REGIONALADMIN. WAS INFORMED ON THREE OCCASIONS As controversy continues to surround the feeding programme at Kato Primary School, the Regional Democratic Councilor at the centre of the issue, Neim Mohammed Gafoor is maintaining the credibility of his claims.

“I have proof to support what I’m saying… the matter was brought up to RedO and subsequently to Minister Ganga Persaud but he didn’t pay heed to what was happening. I do not have the Education Minister’s number so I took it upon myself to expose this sort of exploitation of young children,” he said. Two Thursdays ago, Alliance For Change (AFC) Parliamentarian Ms Valerie Garrido-Lowe backed Gafoor ’s claims. Lowe revealed in an invited comment Sunday that contrary to what was written in a Stabroek News article, the issue of the children fetching the logs was brought before the administrative body, at least three times.

TUESDAY EDITION POLICEMAN FOUND

Page 57

DEADAFTER CHASING ESCAPEE A Police Constable collapsed and died under mysterious circumstances while chasing after an escaping bandit early Monday morning. Constable 21600 Dorwin Pitman, who was attached to the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost, was discovered lying motionless in an alleyway at North Sophia minutes after he pursued a bandit who had bolted from the lock-ups.

There was no immediate indication of what might have caused Pitman’s death. Police in a press release stated that Constable Pitman was found lying on the ground in an alleyway. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The police statement explained that around 07:30am, Constable Pitman went to the lockups at the Prashad Nagar Outpost to feed prisoners, when one of them, Akeem Edwards pushed down the rank and ran out of the Outpost.

“Constable Pitman and another rank gave chase behind the escaping bandit, during which Pitman was subsequently found in the alleyway. Edwards was in the lockup for possession of narcotics and was scheduled for court Monday,” the police statement said.

Acting Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell expressed deep shock at the young cop’s passing.

GOVT. REFUSES TO DISCLOSE IDB CONCERNS ON US$840M AMAILA FALLS PROJECT Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, Monday refused to disclose any concerns that the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) may hold, regarding the

construction of the US$840M Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project. The Finance Minister was at the time addressing members of the media at the party’s weekly press engagement at Freedom House. He said that the due diligence being conducted by the IDB is at an advanced stage. IDB is investing US$175M. “I wouldn’t want to preempt the conclusion of the work by saying what the concerns are,” Dr Singh said, but he did disclose that all of the partners have been collaborating. He said that each of the institutions involved would have its review processes that are ongoing; each of the hurdles met thus far have been overcome.

“The major international partners are at an advanced stage of due diligence….once complete we should see the project approved.”

Dr Singh said that he would not want to be tied to a date for financial closure, only to say that progress is being made.

WEDNESDAY EDITION GPL DISHONESTABOUT US$38M LOSS – CHRIS RAM Business columnist and accountant, Christopher Ram, joined calls for a full probe without delay at the state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL).

Ram, in a letter to the editor said that GPL in late April said it needed a 17% increase in tariffs because of the $5.2B budget cuts. Yet, in May it submitted documents to PUC saying 26.7% is needed.

Ram also claimed that GPL’s figures on its losses of $7.6B (US$38M) last year are incorrect.

“Contrary to what (Continued on page 62)

Page 58

Kaieteur News

‘Smoking’ Alcohol and the Sobering Risks of Ingestion Fads Drinkers who’re bored with alcohol in liquid form, or hoping to skip the calories, have found a way to “smoke” their favorite spirits.

Vaporizing alcohol in either dry ice or through a specially made device has taken the Internet by storm, even if it is not readily available at your local watering hole. Multiple videos show young people as they inhale alcohol in an effort to get drunk faster.

Broderic Allen of Dallas, 25, made headlines last week when he said “smoking” alcohol helped him lose weight by allowing him to ingest it without the empty calories. Allen, who started to inhale alcohol after seeing his friends try it, said he didn’t

believe he was putting his health at risk.

“It’s just a label, when you say, ‘Smoking alcohol,’” Allen told ABCNews.com. “I looked it up before I tried it and there have been no studies being

done to determine if it’s bad for the lungs.”

But even without official studies, experts warn that “smoking” alcohol and similar alcohol-ingestion fads can be dangerous.

Dr. Brett Roth, medical director of the North Texas Poison Center in Dallas, said there have been a number of alcohol fads in the past decade, from “drinking” liquor through the eyeballs to alcohol enemas, or “butt chugging,” that started as a joke, but led to sobering consequences.

“There’s a novelty in danger that attracts people who want to do things a little differently or add a little excitement,” said Roth, adding that he knew of one death by poisoning from an alcohol enema. “Young people are attracted [to these fads] in that way.”

Roth concedes there is no definitive data to explain how breathing alcohol vapor is bad for your health, but he points out that the alcohol goes straight into the bloodstream through the lungs. The upshot is that alcohol travels directly to the brain instead of first passing through the stomach lining or liver, as in a drink.

“People need to realize this will knock them out very quickly,” Roth said. “It’s much different [than drinking alcohol.]”

Sunday June 16, 2013

Experts Warn Eyeball Licking Trend Can Injure the Eye, Damage Sight

A new trend among Japanese teenagers called oculolinctus, also known as “eyeball licking,” or “worming,” is currently sweeping across the internet in videos and photos.

The bizarre trend has started popping up on Youtube, Tumblr and Twitter.

The practice, in which teens show affection by licking their partner’s eyeballs, may have started with a scene in a music video released last year from the Japanese band Born, which features a dramatic slow-motion scene of oculolinctus.

But experts are concerned that even if oculolinctius is done sparingly or on a dare,

it could have very real consequences. Dr. Robert Cykiert, an associate professor in the department of ophthalmology at the New York University Langone Medical Center, said the surface of a healthy eye is normal mostly sterile, while the mouth is filled with bacteria and food particles.

“When you get licked on the eye, you’re transferring dangerous bacteria to the eye,” said Cykiert. “It’s a very dangerous trend, to say the least.”

Cykiert said transferring bacteria to the eye leaves people with a higher risk of contracting conjunctivitis or, more seriously, a corneal ulcer. “[People] may have scarring of the cornea that can be permanent depending on the bacteria in germs … it may cause a perforation or hole to develop,” said Cykiert, who has had to give some patients with corneal ulcers a cornea transplant. While Cykiert said he hasn’t seen evidence of “eyeball licking” in the U.S., he warns that teens should be wary of trying out the trend to prove their adoration as they can permanently damage their sight.

Instead, Cykiert suggests, “sticking with hand holding and kissing, stuff that’s been around for millions of years.”

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Dark ‘Man of Steel’ groomed to reboot Superman film franchise “Man of Steel,” the latest iteration of the Superman series, lands on the big screen on Friday with the hopes that the dark, action-heavy film can revive the classic comic book superhero as a Hollywood franchise.

But director Zack Snyder, who is best known for 2007 action film “300” and 2009 superhero flick “Watchmen,” told Reuters that it was a delicate balance staying faithful to Superman’s story without retreading earlier film and television versions.

“I think a mistake would be to consciously ask, “What mistakes have they done in the past?’ That type of reactive approach - that’s going to end in disaster,” Snyder, 47, said.

“The way we looked at it was like, ‘Let’s say we just found these comic books under our bed and this character, Superman, seems pretty cool to make a movie about,’” he added.

The Superman comic, which artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel debuted in 1938, has been brought to the big and small screen about a dozen times, most notably in the four-film series starring Christopher Reeve from 1978 to 1987.

“Man of Steel” tells the origin story of the DC Comics superhero, played by British actor Henry Cavill, setting up the film as a springboard to reboot a franchise that failed to take off in 2006 with director Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns.

Studio Warner Bros. enlisted director Christopher Nolan - whose three Batman films grossed more than $2 billion worldwide between 2005 and 2012, according to box-office tracker Boxofficemojo.com - as a producer and story writer to help shepherd the film along.

ALL-AMERICANALIEN “Man of Steel” begins with Superman’s birth as KalEl on the planet Krypton. As

the last hope for his society’s survival amid an insurrection, his parents send him to Earth where he is raised as Clark Kent in Smallville, Kansas.

By framing “Man of Steel” as a coming-of-age story, Snyder is also able to tap the science-fiction unique to Superman that other superhero stories, like Batman, do not have.

“He’s able to look at humanity objectively because he’s not human, and that element combined with the sci-fi school made me really go after that aspect of it as hard as I could,” he sal elaid.

The film documents the young life of Clark Kent from bullied and sensitive

schoolboy to itinerant loner endowed with otherworldly strength, laying the groundwork for a consistent, relatable Superman that Snyder said he wanted in the character.

Snyder also said he leaned on Clark Kent’s allAmerican values and farmboy upbringing by Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane) when it came time for Superman to emerge to save the planet from Kryptonian warlord General Zod. “He’s like a firstresponder. ... He’s a volunteer in a lot of ways, and I think that because he’s that ultimate, selfless character, you end up (with) a personality type that goes along with that,” Snyder said.

“I think as soon as you start to work on him it’s going to be muddy and weird,” Snyder said about his reluctance to modify Superman from his comic book origins. “There’s a pure thing inside of the Superman character.”

“Man of Steel” also stars Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Michael Shannon as General Zod. Warner Bros. is part of Time Warner Inc (Reuters)

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Starz Orders New Drama from 50 Cent Starz has ordered Power, a new drama series from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the network announced Friday.

Created by Courtney Kemp Agboh (The Good Wife), who will also serve as an executive producer and showrunner, Power chronicles the life of James “Ghost” St. Patrick, a New York City nightclub owner who also runs a prosperous drug network. Unfortunately, when he tries to leave his criminal ways behind him, his marriage, family and business all come under threat.

“We are thrilled to add Power to our growing original programming lineup for 2014,” Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement.

“Curtis has a unique and specific vision for the series, lending it an authenticity and voice rarely seen. Courtney has created a rich world and characters not often explored in contemporary drama. There is a rawness and soul to the

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson character of Ghost as he struggles to live between these two worlds that we believe will leave an indelible mark on the audience and stay with them after the credits roll.”

The first season will consist of eight episodes and will begin filming in late 2013.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

Moderate Rohani wins Iran presidential election in landslide DUBAI (Reuters) Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani won Iran’s presidential election yesterday, the interior ministry said, scoring a surprising landslide victory over conservative hardliners without the need for a second round run-off.

The outcome will not soon transform Iran’s long tense relations with the West, resolve an international crisis over its pursuit of nuclear power or lessen its support of Syria’s president in the civil war there - matters of national security that remain the domain of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But the president runs the economy and wields important influence in decision-making. Rohani’s resounding election mandate could provide latitude for a diplomatic thaw with the West and more social freedoms at home after eight years of belligerence and repression under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was legally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

Celebratory crowds assembled near Rohani’s headquarters in downtown Tehran a few hours before his victory was confirmed.

“Long live reform, long live Rohani,” chanted the throngs, according to witnesses at the scene.

“Ahmadi, bye bye,” they added in reference to Ahmadinejad, another witness there said.

Others flashed the victory sign and chanted slogans in favor of Mirhossein Mousavi, who reformist supporters believe was robbed of the 2009 election by what they say was vote rigging to return Ahmadinejad to office.

“Mousavi, Mousavi, I got back your vote” and “Mousavi, Mousavi, congratulations on your victory,” the crowds shouted. “Many people are holding Rohani posters,” said

Hassan Rohani

one witness in Tehran. “Some are hugging and crying. We are all so happy here. We can’t believe there is finally a change.”

Another eyewitness named Mina told Reuters tearfully by phone: “I haven’t been this happy in four years.

I feel that we finally managed to achieve a part of what we have been fighting for since the past elections. They finally respected our vote.

This is a victory for reforms and all of us as reformists.”

Rohani will take up the presidency, the highest elected office in Iran’s hybrid clerical-republican system, in August.

Security forces crushed protests following the 2009 election - several people were killed, hundreds were detained. Mousavi and his fellow reformist candidate are still being held under house arrest. Authorities say the election was free and fair.

Iranian authorities and the candidates themselves, including Rohani, discouraged large street rallies this time round to forestall any possible flare-up of violent instability in the sprawling OPEC member state of 75 million people.

Though an establishment figure, Rohani is a former chief nuclear negotiator known for

his nuanced, conciliatory approach. He has pledged to promote a policy of “constructive interaction with the world”, but no surrender to Western demands for a nuclear suspension, and enact a domestic “civil rights charter”.

Rohani could act as a bridge-builder between hardliners around Khamenei who reject any accommodation with the West and reformers marginalized for the last four years who argue that the Islamic Republic needs to be more pragmatic in its relations with the world and modernize at home in order to survive.

His wide margin of victory revealed a widespread reservoir of reform sentiment with many voters, undaunted by restrictions on candidate choice and campaign rallies, seizing the chance to rebuke the unelected power elite over Iran’s economic miseries, international isolation and crackdowns on secular lifestyles.

In an apparent move to convey political continuity to both domestic and foreign audiences, Khamenei congratulated both the people of Iran for the high turnout in the polls and Rohani for his electoral success.

U.S. puts jets in Jordan, fuels Russian fear of Syria no-fly zone BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United States said yesterday it would keep F-16 fighters and Patriot missiles in Jordan at Amman’s request, and Russia bristled at the possibility they could be used to enforce a no-fly zone inside Syria.

Washington, which has long called for President Bashar al-Assad to step down, pledged military support to Syrian rebels this week, citing what it said was the Syrian military’s use of chemical weapons - an allegation Damascus has denied.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has approved a Jordanian request for American F-16s and Patriot missiles to remain in the Western-backed kingdom after a joint military

exercise there next week, a Pentagon spokesman said. Western diplomats said on Friday Washington was considering a limited no-fly zone over parts of Syria, but the White House noted later that it would be far harder and costlier to set up one up there than it was in Libya, saying the United States had no national interest in pursuing that option.

Russia, an ally of Damascus and fierce opponent of outside military intervention in Syria, said any attempt to impose a no-fly zone using F-16s and Patriots from Jordan would be illegal.

“You don’t have to be a great expert to understand that this will violate international law,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Britain moves on tax dodges ahead of G8 summit (Reuters) - Britain turned up the pressure on other rich economies to clamp down on secretive money flows at a summit this week by pressing its overseas tax havens into a transparency deal and announcing new disclosure rules for British firms.

Prime Minister David Cameron wants to make progress on closing global tax loopholes when he hosts a meeting of leaders of the Group of Eight economies in Northern Ireland on Monday and Tuesday.

“It is important we are getting our house in order,” Cameron said in a speech in London yesterday after representatives of overseas tax havens linked to Britain agreed to sign up to an international transparency protocol.

“It is a very positive step forward and it means that Britain’s voice in the G8 and the campaigning on this issue around the world for proper taxes, proper companies and proper laws ... will be stronger.”

Ten territories and selfgoverning regions will join the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters which has been agreed by more than 50 countries.

They also pledged to produce plans on how to provide more information on

David Cameron the ownership of so-called shell companies.

Those included in the agreement were Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Anguilla, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. The convention will help developing countries trying to trace money they suspect belongs in their state coffers, to request tax information from offshore centres.

Also on Saturday, the British government said it will introduce new domestic rules to combat tax evasion and money laundering, by forcing shadowy “shell” companies to throw off their cloak of anonymity and reveal who really runs them.

Under the new British rules, companies will be required to obtain and hold information on their ownership and control which will then be held in a central registry, available to police and revenue agencies.

Chancellor George Osborne said it was essential that British law enforcement and tax authorities had access to information about the ultimate owners of companies, and it was time for others to act.

“These commitments demonstrate the concrete action we are taking ourselves but it is vital that we take collective international action through the G8 to tackle the international challenges of tax evasion, money laundering and illicit finance,” Osborne said in a statement.

But aid campaigners said Britain’s action will count for little if the rest of the G8 - the United States, Japan, Canada, Russia and Europe’s biggest economies - does not follow suit.

Global tax evasion could be costing more than $3 trillion (1.9 trillion pounds) a year, according to researchers from Tax Justice Network while as much as $32 trillion twice the size of U.S. gross domestic product - could be hidden by individuals in tax havens.

Southern African leaders urge Zimbabwe to postpone election MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Regional presidents meeting at a special summit on Zimbabwe want President Robert Mugabe to delay crucial elections set for the end of July by at least two weeks, independent monitors said yesterday.

The Crisis Coalition, an alliance of Zimbabwean prodemocracy and rights groups in the Mozambique capital, said a summit communiqué was being prepared that would urge Mugabe to ask his nation’s highest court to rescind a ruling ordering him to hold elections by July 31.

Mugabe will be asked to seek at least a two-week extension of the ruling and hold polls not before Aug. 14, the group said.

The official communique has not yet been formally released. No confirmation was immediately available from the secretariat of southern Africa’s political and economic bloc, known as Southern Africa Development Community, or SADC.

No comment was given by Mugabe or his delegation.

MacDonald Lewanika, the Crisis Coalition director, said in a Twitter feed from the Maputo convention center that regional leaders agreed the election “is not timedriven but process driven” and more time was needed finalize preparations and voting reforms.

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Friday that Mugabe’s unilateral proclamation of the July 31 election date breached terms of the power sharing agreement forged by regional leaders after the last violent and disputed elections in 2008. That agreement required the coalition partners to agree on policy decisions and the holding of elections, he said.

Tsvangirai, in a shaky coalition with Mugabe, said democratic reforms also demanded in a new constitution and by mediators ensuring free and fair polls cannot be completed

by July. Polls after Aug. 14

would clash with one of the world’s largest tourism gatherings, the United Nations World Travel Organization summit, that Zimbabwe is set to host on Aug. 24.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma, the chief regional mediator on Zimbabwe, started closeddoor talks with Mugabe, Tsvangirai and other regional leaders earlier Saturday, officials said. Zuma said in a statement the leaders were to consider “a roadmap” to elections in Zimbabwe.

But a top Mugabe party official told South African state radio Saturday the summit will only seek financial help from the region to fund polls in July.

The Crisis Coalition said at the beginning of the talks that early elections risked not being recognized regionally or by Zimbabweans themselves unless reforms are in place and political violence and intimidation are brought to an end.

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From page 57 whichever accountants loosely might have said, GPL did not lose $7.6 B in 2012. It lost $4.872B, but is now playing around with a book entry of $2.795B of Deferred Tax which any accountant ought to know is not a recurring charge. Dishonestly it seems, the company is using this charge to come close to the figure of $7.750B which it is asking the PUC to approve.”

PAC ABORTS DELIBERATION OVER NOMINEES The weekly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, held on Monday last, ended in disagreement as members who sit on the body in representation of the opposition, rejected “frivolous” excuses put forward by members representing the government with regards to the nominees for the Public Procurement Commission. In light of this, Kaieteur News has learnt that uncertainty lurks as it relates to the way forward with the setting up of the Commission.

The agenda for Monday’s meeting included the consideration of the nominees. However, that proceeding was halted.

Reports are that when the consideration process started, and government representatives were asked for their nominees, Advisor to the President, Gail Teixeira, told the committee that there are much more important issues that need to be addressed. She told the Committee that there were several issues discussed at the level of the tripartite meetings that the other Members of Parliament from the joint parliamentary opposition—A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)

Kaieteur News

and Alliance For Change (AFC)—aren’t aware of. Her suggestion was that those matters be discussed instead of nominees for the Public Procurement Commission.

However, APNU representatives Jaipaul Sharma and Keith Scott, AFC representative Trevor Williams and Committee Chairman Carl Greenidge, all rejected Teixeira’s suggestion.

THURSDAY EDITION WOMAN LOSES HEAD TO PLANE PROPELLER A 17-year-old female was reportedly chopped to death late Wednesday after ending up in the path of a propeller in a gold mining district in Region Seven. Dead is Raquel Joseph. A team from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority flew into the area Thursday morning to start investigations into the incident.

GOV’T COURTS APNU ON AMAILA FALLS The government on Tuesday evening courted the country’s main opposition coalition APNU on the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. APNU has been clamouring for full disclosure on the project, but the government had argued that confidentiality issues prevent it from divulging information to the public. As such, at Tuesday’s closeddoor meeting, APNU was given those confidential documents and that party committed to studying them, Joseph Harmon told Kaieteur News.

Harmon was in the meeting with Opposition Leader David Granger and President Donald Ramotar and his team. Apart from Harmon, Granger took along other senior executives of APNU, including Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, Carl Greenidge and Lance Carberry. Those included on the President’s

team were Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, Chairman of the Board of Guyana Power and Light, Winston Brassington and Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira.

In a previous meeting with the Alliance for Change (AFC), the President had expressed concern over the budget cut for the project.

Funding for the Amaila Falls project was included in the $19 billion slashed from the budget for the Low Carbon Development Strategy. The party had assured the President that the AFC would support the project once it is approved by the due diligence study by the InterAmerican Development Bank.

The President expressed concern that lack of approval might send the wrong signal to the IDB, but the AFC did not agree.

FRIDAY EDITION US$19M CITIZEN’S SECURITY PROGRAMME… IDB INVESTIGATES

FRAUD The US$19 million Citizen’s Security Programme, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is under investigation for fraud allegedly conducted by its coordinator Mr Khemraj Rai. Kaieteur News understands that the Washington-based IDB sent investigators to Guyana after a consultant with the project raised an alarm. The Bank’s Office of Institutional Integrity is investigating the allegations. The man who raised the allegations is Mr Viddiadat Jaisari of Number 7 Village, West Coast Berbice.

He was contracted by the Ministry of Home Affairs as a construction supervisor from November 2011 and was assigned a salary of $250,000.

This newspaper understands that when the allegations were made against Mr Rai, the IDB immediately sent in the investigators. The allegations are essentially that a company was set up to benefit specifically from the small contracts. That company was in Mr Jaisari’s name and a joint bank account was set up with Rai as one of the principals of the account.

Jaisari reportedly raised an alarm after he discovered that his company’s name was being used, allegedly without his knowledge, to bid for contracts. The company was awarded the contracts, which were sometimes executed by another of Jaisari’s relatives.

It is claimed that Rai mostly managed and withdrew money from the account of the company under Jaisari’s name. Jaisari is claiming that he never signed the documents bearing his signature.

GPL CEO SAYS…CRITICS ARE ACTING OUT OF COMPLETEAND TOTAL IGNORANCE “They are acting out of complete and total ignorance…We can’t put it anyway better, they are totally ignorant of the

Sunday June 16, 2013

Guyana Power and Light (GPL).” These were the words of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL, Bharrat Dindyal, who Thursday in an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News fired back at critics of the power company.

“It is especially unfortunate, the aspersions emanating from the Alliance For Change camp. I don’t know who is advising them, they are so astonishingly wrong that it begs the question why aren’t they trying to get facts, why aren’t they trying to understand what is going on before talking.”

According to Dindyal, among the incorrect notions being peddled by the combined opposition is that the money that had been transferred to the power company by government through the budget is sourced solely from taxes in the Consolidated Funds and considered “gifts.” Dindyal said that the monies represent loans that government has sourced for GPL through agencies such as the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Venezuela, under the Petrocaribe arrangement, and China.

SATURDAY EDITION BOAT CAPTAIN KILLED IN SUPENAAM COLLISION A 32-year-old boat captain was killed around 17:00 hrs on Friday following a collision with his vessel and another boat at Supenaam, Essequibo.

Ganesh Roopnarine, called ‘Shines’ of Lot 9 Barnwell, West Coast Demerara, was reportedly hurled overboard after the other vessel slammed into his.

The victim was reportedly repairing his engine when the mishap occurred.

Roopnarine reportedly suffered multiple injuries and succumbed before he could be taken to the Suddie Public Hospital.

Kaieteur News

understands that Roopnarine had loaded his vessel, ‘Water Girl,’ from the Supenaam Stelling around 16:30 hrs.

When the vessel was some 500 yards from the stelling, it developed engine trouble.

Roopnarine was reportedly trying to fix his engine when another boat, named ‘Wakenaam,’ slammed into his. Kaieteur News understands that the boat’s bow struck Roopnarine and he was hurled into the water.

Rescuers placed the badly injured man in another boat and attempted to rush him to the Suddie Public Hospital but he succumbed during the journey.

According to reports, the pilot who crashed into Roopnarine’s boat attempted to flee, but was apprehended by residents.

SOLDIER FOUND DEAD IN LAMAHA SPRINGS HOUSE - BLOODSTAINED KNIFE NEAR BODY Police have questioned several people in connection with the suspected murder of a 38-year-old soldier, whose body was found around 01:00h Friday in his locked house at Lot 40 Lamaha Springs.

Lance Corporal Akini Sampson was found lying facedown in his bed by his stepson, Kester Williams, who was forced to pry open a window to gain entry to the property. Kaieteur News understands that the bed was blood-soaked and a kitchen knife with bloodstains was found near the corpse, which was in the early stages of decomposition.

Close associates of the dead soldier described him as a ladies’ man and said that he was involved in recent disputes with a man with whose wife Sampson was having an affair.

Neighbours confirmed seeing the woman with whom Samson was having an affair, entering his house with him late Wednesday night.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column Accept tiny flaws and find peace DEARABIGAIL, My husband and I have been married for just under a year, and frankly, the “newlywed period” is not necessarily as sweet and easy as I expected it to be.

I guess part of the problem is that every relationship I’ve ever been in prior to this one has ended (obviously) so I find myself scrutinizing things that could be blips - for example, a

couple of months without sex - for evidence this relationship will go bad. It’s kind of (ticking) my husband off. He doesn’t think our problems are not that serious.

So maybe it really is just me.

First Year Dear First Year, Discuss it with those you trust, by stating: “I have a lot of insecurities about my marriage, and I find it really difficult to discuss this stuff with you.” If you don’t think you can say it in person, call or leave it on a voice mail. It’s

essential that you start telling the truth.

Your hesitation to speak and accept uncomfortable truths is part of the problem in your marriage. Be honest.

Consider, too, that your husband doesn’t want to talk, he just wants to be - with you, and without being picked apart. You can choose to trust that you’re together for good reasons, and choose to let that guide you for a while at home. Start creating warm moments with your husband instead of retreating into your doubts.

Sunday June 16, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You might believe that you can rationalize the most outrageous ideas today, but no one is buying your version of the story.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): There is no valid reason for anyone to question your integrity today because you’re consumed with doing the right thing. Although, you might normally take time to hear someone’s ideas before saying no, even the slightest hint of a problem will send you back to the safety of your more simplistic plan.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): You may be engaged in a battle with yourself today as the narrowly focused Virgo Moon squares the willful Sun in flighty Gemini. You’re able to think like a laser beam which can certainly sharpen your analytical skills.

CANCER (June 21–July 22): You naturally feel more secure if you err on the side of being silent, rather than becoming overly emotional to make your point. Thankfully, you don’t have anything to prove, so being right might not matter all that much.

LEO (JULY 23–AUG. 22): It may be difficult to step out of the spotlight, but playing a supportive role is your smartest move today.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): People have a challenging time reading your energy today because you seem both cautious and exuberant. It’s difficult to understand how you can act respectful one moment and rebellious the next.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Your mind is probably already made up, but you might not be ready to announce your decision today. It isn’t that you’re trying to hurt anyone’s feelings; it’s just that you want everyone to make their choices based on his or her own best interests.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): Making the best use of your time today is crucial, for you won’t be satisfied if you’re unproductive while hanging out with your friends.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): A bit of good oldfashioned common sense goes a long way today as you handle family politics. Instead of attempting to take responsibility for something that’s out of your control, narrow your perspective and put your efforts toward transforming that which you can change.

CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): Even though you are normally capable of tackling a complicated job by breaking it down into smaller tasks, you seem to be at the very top of your game now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): Unspoken emotional concerns complicate your family relationships now.

Although your intentions may be clear to you, it’s still challenging to bring the complex web of feelings out into the open so everyone can deal with things as they are.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): Yo u m a y f e e l a s i f someone is raining on your parade today by criticizing your efforts or micromanaging your work.

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Cancer-free Sports...

From page 52 could have the MRI done locally.

Last week, Devers returned to his job as a Sports Journalist at Kaieteur News and has had offers to resume his radio commentary career. But, for now the 43-year-old father of three is just thankful to be alive and is taking one day at a time.

He has found a new meaning to life-- cricket is no longer his major priority.

Devers is now a born-again Christian and has replaced his cricket bat pendant on his chain with that of a crucifix.

“When I thought I would die I turned to Jesus to save me and he gave me a second chance. So many people supported me with prayers or donations and I believed that God would not waste their efforts by not healing me.”

Devers believes that his recovery is part of God’s plan and he wants to help other cancer victims. Within the near future he hopes to create a fund that would probably be managed by the Cancer Institute to help persons

finance their operations.

He recalled that with the help of former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara, individuals and large companies he received the necessary medical treatment.

Devers noted that there needs to be more public awareness of cancer. “When I experienced my first seizure I didn’t know what was happening to me. And, when I was in Trinidad and the US I saw many advertisements informing about cancer. I think we need that,” he said.

“I what to thank Michelle, the mother of my two younger sons for the great job she did with the boys when I was away for those nine months. And, the people in Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua and the USA who did fundraisers for me. I am grateful to every one of them, especially International cricket broadcasters Tony Cozier, ‘Reds’ Pereira, Fazeer Mohammed and Andrew Mason who organized radio and TV shows for me across the Caribbean.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 65

‘50-overs craziness! Unfortunately, West Indies’ bark much louder than its bite!’

Colin E. H. Croft Firstly, the days that my prodigies arrived on earth were the happiest, most interesting days that I have ever had. I was not sure if to shout, cry or laugh. I certainly celebrated!

So, even if you are single mothers, doing masterful almost impossible jobs as both father and mother, or if you are really fathers, if only by biology, or idealistically, real male heroes of your offsprings: “Happy Father’s Day!” Now, people called what happened at Cardiff ‘cricket drama’. I think it was plain cricketing stupidity!

West Indies cricketers, mostly fathers themselves, must be ruing their lack of timing, lack of game sense even, in that game v South Africa. They easily had the game in their hands, and then just threw it away!

Knowing that rain was always going to be a factor, all bits of information and appreciation were necessary.

How could West Indies not know par scores, each over, as suggested by DuckworthLewis computations?

It was not difficult to have that information. Indeed, the par score was actually highlighted on the score-board, so please do not tell me about “drama.” This was just plain crap cricket by West Indies!

Windies pair of Darren Sammy (left) and Dwayne Bravo are left bewildered after the Umpires indicate that they will halt play as the rains came. (WICB) When Kieron Pollard was out, trying to bludgeon another boundary, when just a single would have sufficed, and keep his wicket, to put West Indies into semi-finals with one wicket less, and better Net Run Rate than South Africa, one had to remember events at Guyana National Stadium, in 2009, v England.

Then West Indies Coach John Dyson, thinking that West Indies were ahead, actually called his batting players in, allowing them to leave the field, thinking that WI had won. They were actually two runs behind!

Dyson suggested that he had read down the wrong column. Ironically, at the time, only Shiv Chanderpaul queried that decision. I remember suggesting that Dyson should have been fired on the spot! If he was an aviator, he would have killed people every week! One must always know one’s tools used for work!

But pressure was always on West Indies last Friday.

They goaded, even boasted, that they would win!

West Indies should not have had to scramble to get just 231 from 31 overs; 7.5 runs per six-ball over. Was

BLAST FROM THE PAST

South Africa’s bowling, Dale Stein et al, that good? I say a resounding “No!” When at the crease, West Indies seems to faze into an aura of melancholy, that open space between heaven and hell known as “purgatory”, where self-assuredness seems to fail them when really needed.

I had previously warned that 50 overs are not T-20’s.

When West Indies played India, that aspect was obvious, West Indies struggling to make that adjustment.

None of West Indies’ wickets v India were the results of great bowling.

India’s spinners simply strangled West Indies’ much vaunted and celebrated batting line-up, with great

patience.

Over 50 overs, the bark of West Indies seems much louder than its bite, especially against spin bowling!

Our big T-20 hitters have been unable to come to terms with patience, manipulation and determination to go past an energetic 40 or 50 of hitting out, and to try to stay the full course of the 50-over innings.

The statistics told a strange tale when West Indies batted v India, making just 233 in 50 overs, an innings that put Windies net run-rate low, forcing that all-or-nothing game v South Africa, to qualify for semis.

With its on-paper batting might, Windies should never have been in this quandary of NRR! But the signs were already there, when West Indies played that first game against Pakistan.

After dismissing Pakistan for a paltry 170, thanks to three wickets each from Kemar Roach and Sunil Narine, West Indies should have walked the required 171, at just 3.42 runs per over.

Pakistan knew that they had to dismiss West Indies to win, since it would have been very difficult to be on the defensive for only 170 runs.

At 6-137, then 7-143, West Indies were in deep mire.

Chris Gayle’s 39 was the innings’ highest score, with only two other scores of 30.

Had it not been for wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and tail-enders Roach and Narine, West Indies would have been garroted.

Colin E. H. Croft West Indies’ throttle was fully retarded when they played India. None of the batsmen seemed adventurous enough, being as tied down and thrust up as ever. It was if West Indies actually feared India!

But what exactly is to be feared from India, except its batting?

Certainly its bowling holds no terrors!

Gayle, Darren and Dwayne Bravo, Pollard, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels and Johnson Charles, is as good a one-day batting line-up as West Indies could probably presently muster.

Yet, the highest score in the three preliminary games in Champions Trophy was Charles’ 60 against India.

Sammy’s 56 no v India was West Indies’ only other half century of the entire tournament. That is quite poor! Shameful!

West Indies talked much but did not deliver. I expected them to go to semi-finals, maybe even win. Now, the excuses, bilge and rhetoric will entail. Meanwhile, India and Sri Lanka arrive soon.

Enjoy!

Hosts under pressure...

On August 25 1995, Andrew Murray travelled to Cannet, France and took on Ike Quartey for the World Boxing Association (WBC) welterweight title but failed after Quartey turned up the heat to end the bout in the 4th round.

Murray was highly touted to win the bout after his then manager, Odinga Lumumba arranged for him to undergo a training stint at the Kronk Gym, Detroit NY, under the tutelage of the late legendary trainer, Emmanuel

Steward. His shrewd managerial tactics had also earned Lumumba the WBA Promoter of the Year accolade.

Both Steward and Murray have since passed away but those memories live on.

Kaieteur Sport dug into its archives and relived those memories and in this photo, Murray has his hands wrapped by Steward just before commencing a training session while his trainer, Colin Morgan and Lumumba pay attention.

From page 67 target him early with some spin although with Graeme Swann rarely used in the Powerplay that appears unlikely.

Team news Jonathan Trott has recovered from the thigh strain that kept him off the field for most of Sri Lanka’s run chase at The Oval. With Bopara’s lower-order hitting power there are unlikely to be changes to the attack although James Tredwell is unlucky to be on the sidelines.

Tim Southee is an injury doubt but Grant Elliott is likely to be available for selection. If Southee doesn’t make it, Elliott could strengthen the batting or they could bring in Doug Bracewell or Ian Butler. Luke Ronchi has struggled since his return to international

cricket and could need a strong finish to the tournament to retain his place.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS The surfaces in Cardiff have ranged from highscorers (India v South Africa and South Africa v West Indies) to a grungy low-scorer (New Zealand v Sri Lanka).

The slightly odd dimensions to the ground, with long corners, can make it hard to defend.

However, if the forecast is to be trusted the pitch may not be uncovered. The BBC forecast suggests rain from 12pm with it getting heavier towards evening.

Page 66

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

NSC shrouded in secrecy

By Edison Jefford The National Sports Commission (NSC) has been in the public domain through programmes for eons, yet the internal operations of this constitutionally described public sport institution remains shrouded in immense secrecy despite its recent resurrection.

According to the NSC Act 1993, the Minister of Sport has the unilateral authority with approval from Parliament to order the formation of the Commission, which occurred recently, without the courtesy of public disclosure for sport associations and aficionados.

Kaieteur Sport was reliable informed that the members of the Commission have been meeting on a regular basis and will continue to meet to enact a National Sports Policy that has also been kept out of public domains.

The minister also has sole power to appoint NSC members, which must not be less than six nor more than eleven in numbers and shows knowledge and “experience of, and shown capacity in, matters relating to sports generally”.

Conrad Plummer was appointed NSC Chairman, which again, according to the NSC Act 1993, is a decision of the minister. It is not clear whether Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony acted in his constitutional capacity regarding the new

Neil Kumar

Frank Anthony

Commission.

The other members of the most recent Commission are Vidushi Persaud, who is an Attorney-at-Law; Shawn Richmond (a senior Guyana Revenue Authority official); Hector Edwards (former Guyana Cycling Federation President); Dr. Pradeep Balram (Vice-President of the Guyana Table Tennis Federation); Steve Ninvalle (Assistant Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports); Peter Abdool (Guyana Boxing Board of Control President); Frank DeAbreu (Head of DeSinco Trading); Cheryl Thompson (Guyana Cycling Federation President); Alisha Fortune (former national sprinter) and Peter Greene (Rugby/Powerlifting head).

“The names of the members, including the Chairman as first constituted and every change in the

membership thereof shall be published in the Gazette,” the NSC Act 1993 states. The Gazette is a public document that would have exposed the above names, which was not done apart from the anomaly of not formally introducing the members of the Commission to the media.

The members are appointed for no less than two years and may be reappointed at the discretion of the minister. The Commission after consultation with the Minister has the authority to appoint a Director of Sports to properly discharge its functions.

The Director of Sports then becomes the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission. However, without a properly constituted Commission between 2009-2013, the ministry has had a Director of

Sports identified as Neil Kumar.

As described in the NSC Act 1993, the Director of Sports ought to be an officer the Commission employs at its discretion and not a political appointee. First among the four responsibilities of the Director of Sport, is managing the Secretariat of the Commission.

“Ideally, the Director of Sport should be a Public Servant and not a politician, which will allocate more time for him to deal with the development of sport and the execution of NSC functions and not all the politicking we see from the current Director,” a ministry source told this newspaper in a brief comment.

According to information received, the Director of Sport operates in contravention of the rules of the NSC and makes decisions that the minister should make according to the NSC Act of 1993; it was disclosed that the Director of Sport acts unilaterally of the Commission.

The constitution of the NSC is pellucid; the structure ideally should be the minister as head, who appoints the Commission with its Chairman and members.

The Commission then in consultation with the minister appoints the Director of Sport.

It is for Anthony to decide whether or not, what is constitutionally defined is being followed within his ministry.

GCB U-17 inter county tourney

Hetymer hits half century as GT&T Berbice overcome E’bo by 54 runs Led by an attractive half century by Shimron Hetymer, GT&T Berbice defeated Essequibo by 54 runs in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) inter county U-17 50 over tournament yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Essequibo won the toss and inserted GT&T Berbice who were bowled out for 136 in 31.2 overs after the game was reduced to 39 overs due to rain.

Hetymer and Balchand Baldeo added 20 for the opening stand before Baldeo was trapped in front by Kemo Paul for 04 in the 4th over. The consistent Paul then bowled Leon Andrews (07) to leave Berbice at 33-2.

Hetymer then shared in a third wicket stand of 64 with Brandon Persaud before left arm spinner Akenie Adams had Hetymer caught for a well played 60 in the 19th over; Hetymer stroked three fours and two sixes.

Essequibo then fought themselves back into the contest with tidy bowling and fielding as GT&T Berbice lost their last 7 wickets for 39 runs.

Brandon Persaud supported Hetymer with 29(4x4) as Paul, who encountered an injury while bowling, grabbed 4-22 off 6

GMRSC 2nd National Race Meet

overs, while Adams had 2-21, Keano Harry 2-37 and Parmesh Parasotam 1-24.

Essequibo started their reply badly losing Natan Persaud who was leg before to Grisean Grant for 04 with the score on 10.

Parsotam and Keano Harry steadied the chase to some extent with a second wicket stand of 33.

The duo rotated the strike nicely before Harry was bowled by Balchan Baldeo for 08. Parasotam, who hit six fours in a top score of 40, and David Williams, took the score to 67 with eventempered batting, but when Williams was stumped off Daniel Lewis for 14 the rest of the batting failed to carry on as Essequibo were bundled out for 83 in 19.2 overs as Left arm spinner Parmanand Ramdhan, who bowled with good control and variation, bagged 5-5 from 3 overs; Brandon Persaud took 2-8 while Balchand Baldeo and Daniel Lewis had 1 each.

The competition continues today with Berbice taking on Demerara at the said venue in the final round. A victory for Berbice will guarantee them the title, but if Demerara triumph or the fixture is rained out Essequibo will lift the crown. (Zaheer Mohamed)

CMRC CAMPAIGNERS LINE UP FOR JULY 7 RACE MEET

Fresh off some encouraging performances during the opening leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), local speedsters will have the chance to duplicate that display when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMRSC) stages its second National Race Meet on Sunday, July 7, at the South Dakota Circuit.

In an invited comment, Manager of the Club Rayon Samaroo told Kaieteur Sport Friday that racers from Canada, the USA and Suriname have already confirmed their participation and the Meet is anticipated to produce some scorching performances judging from what was witnessed in Jamaica last month where Guyanese drivers Afraz Allie, Syed Hassan and Kevin Jeffrey racked up valuable

points for Guyana in the CMRC. They, however, will be going up against some formidable opponents on the local scene and to say that they will dominate the day’s events is not a foregone conclusion.

Jeffrey, who campaigns in the Group 4 category will have reproduce the Jamaica performance where he chased done the likes of points leader in the CMRC Doug Gore and defending Caribbean champion David Summerbell Jnr, to repel the efforts of Andrew King and Mark Vieira, while Allie and Hassan, two of the leading drivers in the Group 2B Division, apart from their own rivalry will also have to deal with the skills of Suriname’s Oliver Tjin Liep Shie, Danny Persaud and John Joseph.

Samaroo added that the

Superbikes category also promises to be just as exciting as the cars with the young brigade of Matthew Vieira and Nikhil Seereram expected to continue their competition and this will supplement the ‘big boys’ scrap that features Stephen Vieira, Carlos Rodrigues, Kwame Ridley and Carey Griffith.

The go-karts category is also billed to provide excitement and once again the young drivers are expected to take centre stage with Stanley Ming Jnr and Wayne Elliot Vieira throwing down the gauntlet on veterans Marcus Fiedtkou and Stanley Ming Snr. Samaroo confirmed that all the categories have been subscribed and racing fans can be assured of a full and exhilarating day of daredevilry.

Part of the action at a previous Race Meet at the South Dakota Circuit.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 67

INDIA CRUISE TO WIN OVER PAKISTAN BBC Sport - India underlined their Champions Trophy credentials and secured bragging rights over Pakistan with a comprehensive eight-wicket win in their dead-rubber clash at Edgbaston.

Already confirmed as winners of Group B and assured of a place in the semifinals, India maintained their 100% record by chasing down a Duckworth-Lewis-revised target of 102 with 19 balls of their 22 overs to spare.

A woeful Pakistan, who exit the competition nursing three defeats in as many games, were bowled out for 165 inside 40 overs on a surface true enough for Shikhar Dhawan to make a dashing 48 off 40 balls in India’s rain-interrupted chase.

The weather, which caused four delays - the longest being for two-and-ahalf hours - was the greatest threat to an India win that delighted the pale blue contingent in a boisterous yet good-natured sell-out crowd.

Victory was based on a disciplined bowling performance and a polished fielding display that is fast becoming the norm.

“The whole team is doing well in all three department,” said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. “Individuals are taking responsibility and it’s working really well.

“We are the top fielding side in world cricket right now and we need to keep that intensity up.”

India’s opponents in the last four will be the Group A runners-up, which could be England depending on the outcome of their final roundrobin game against New Zealand on Sunday and Australia’s meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday. Man of the match Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 2-19 from eight overs, one of four India bowlers to take two wickets as Pakistan lost their last seven for 55 runs. Not once in the tournament did they pass 170.

Although they were not

helped by losing the toss, and rain lopping 10 overs off their innings when it was 19 overs old, any sympathy evaporated amid a clutch of rash shots.

“It was a disappointing performance again with the bat but the weather played its part and it was difficult with so many stoppages,” said Pakistan captain Misbah-ulHaq. The first interruption did for Mohammad Hafeez, who was superbly taken by a diving MS Dhoni off Kumar, before Kamran Akmal was caught at leg slip via inside edge and Dhoni’s pad as he aimed an ambitious drive at Ravichandran Ashwin.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik succumbed to the accurate Ravindra Jadeja either side of Asad Shafiq being taken down the leg side off Ishant Sharma for 41.

Wahab Riaz played on pushing forward at Ashwin, Saaed Ajmal drove Ishant to short extra-cover, and Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan

Besides the spin bowling, India were superb in the field too (AFP)

were run out off successive balls, the latter almost comically when he set off in search of a single after driving the ball into the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

In reply, Dhawan batted with the abandon which brought him centuries in the

first two games, no matter that an initial target of 168 off 40 overs was reduced to 157 off 36 before the final rain interruption saw that revised once more.

Having seen Rohit Sharma clip Ajmal tamely to midwicket to end a fluent opening stand

of 58, he cut Riaz to third man with 24 needed for a victory which had long since been secured.

Scores: India 102 for 2 (Dhawan 48) beat Pakistan 165 (Shafiq 41, Bhuvneshwar 2-19) by 8 wickets (D/L method).

England v New Zealand, Champions Trophy, Group A, Cardiff

Hosts under pressure; poor weather looms

Jonathan Trott appears to have recovered from his injury (Getty Images) ESPNcricinfo - Déjà vu, anyone?

These two teams have certainly seen plenty of each other over the last few months. This match, though, is arguably the most important of the lot with a place in the semi-finals at stake. In theory it’s win or bust for England, while a defeat for New Zealand would leave them needing Australia to beat Sri Lanka but not by enough to overtake their NRR. However, it looks unlikely to even be that simple. The weather forecast for Sunday in Cardiff is not great. The groundsman has talked

of a potential washout. That scenario has receded a little but would hurt England and put New Zealand through on four points.

Then it would be England needing Australia to win (but, again, not by enough to lift their NRR much) in order to progress. Everyone still with us? If both remaining group matches are washed out, England and New Zealand would go through.

Given the way the weather can change, let’s presume the match goes ahead. It has been a difficult few days for England, who bowled poorly against Sri Lanka when they failed to defend 293 and then rumours emerged about the condition of the ball after the umpires changed it. How quickly fortunes can change. Everything was rosy for them after victory against Australia.

One debate is whether England’s batting has the power to really damage teams. Yet, with a bowling attack of their supposed strength a total of over 290 should have been defendable. Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott are doing their roles, but the problem has been that Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler have not fired, leaving just Ravi Bopara to give innings a late lift.

There is not much England and New Zealand won’t know about each other.

If pre-game advantages are being sought then it was Brendon McCullum’s team who won the bilateral series 2-1 earlier this month.

They edged home against Sri Lanka in the group stage and could have had a tough task to chase 244 against Australia so there are a few

questions marks over their batting.

With the ball, however, they have been excellent. Daniel Vettori’s return has boosted their options and Mitchell McCleanghan has provided wicket-taking threat much like Geoff Allott did at the 1999 World Cup in England. Everyone, though, will be watching the weather. New Zealand may not say it, but they won’t mind if it rains all day.

WATCH OUT FOR...

Alastair Cook is facing an important day or so. Much stock had been put in England’s chances of going deep in this tournament and those hopes are on a knife edge.

And then there are the accusations being thrown around involving his team. Cook also admitted his innings against Sri Lanka, a stodgy 59 off 85 deliveries, did not help the momentum. Throughout his career he has responded to pressure with

outstanding performances, so don’t be surprised to see another.

Martin Guptill has good recent memories against England having taken back-to-back hundreds during the one-day series, including a record-breaking 189 not out at the Ageas Bowl. In the Champions Trophy he has twice succumbed to loose drives against the seamers, but it will be interesting to see if England (Continued on page 65)

Campbell-Brown Jamaica Gov’t announces 16M tests positive budget for in & out of comp testing OLYMPIC sprint star Veronica Campbell-Brown has plunged Jamaican athletics into crisis after testing positive for a banned substance. Campbell-Brown - who won Olympic 100m bronze in London and is the reigning 200m world champion, is Jamaica’s most decorated female athlete.

The 31 year-old, who comes from the same area of the Caribbean island as Usain Bolt, has won a staggering 16 Olympic and World medals during her career. She is only the second woman in history to win two consecutive Olympic 200m titles, after her victories at the 2004 and 2008 Games.

But it emerged she tested positive at the Jamaica Invitational Meet in Kingston on May 4 and is now facing a two-year ban which means she would be unable to defend her world 200m title in Moscow in August.

Testers discovered the presence of a diuretic in her system, which

Veronica Campbell-Brown acts as a masking agent for performance enhancing drugs and is banned by the World AntiDoping Agency.

Campbell-Brown travelled to the WADA headquarters on Thursday ahead of the B sample results which on Friday confirmed the positive test. She had been due to compete

at the Jamaican world championship trials this weekend but will now miss that.

Campbell-Brown is the female equivalent of Usain Bolt on the island — carrying her country’s flag during the athletes parade at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Games in 2008 — and the news that such a high-profile athlete has tested positive will shock the sport.

It came just 24 hours after 400m sprinter Dominique Blake was handed a SIX year ban after testing positive at the Jamaican trials a year ago when she booked her place in the 4x400m relay at London 2012.

Concerns have been raised over Jamaica’s anti-doping regime for some time and the number of tests it carries out.

And only last week the Jamaican Government announced a $16 million budget for testing athletes in and out of competition — up 14 per cent — in a bid to step up the integrity of its anti-doping system. (The Sun)

Page 68

Kaieteur News

CLASSY BRAZIL TOO GOOD FOR JAPAN Former Manchester City striker Jo tucked the ball away for the third goal late on (Getty Images)

BBC Sport - Neymar’s spectacular third-minute goal set hosts Brazil on their way to a comfortable victory over Japan in the opening game of the Confederations Cup. The Barcelona striker met Fred’s knockdown on the edge of the area with a blistering shot into the top corner.

Paulinho made it 2-0 from a Dani Alves cross and Oscar sent Jo running clear to add a third goal in injury time. The game was the first

international match to use goal-line technology, but it was not needed for any decisions.

With less than a year to go until Brazil hosts the World Cup finals, this is a tournament that will act as a dress rehearsal for the South Americans - on and off the pitch.

The nation’s infrastructure will be under scrutiny over the next two weeks but at the revamped Estadio Nacional in Brasilia,

one of the stadia for 2014, the only work in progress of interest was Brazil’s team.

Going into their first competitive fixture in 23 months, Luis Felipe Scolari’s side had won just two of their previous nine games, and desperately needed a positive performance in front of a demanding home crowd.

So Neymar’s superblytaken goal, after only two minutes and 53 seconds, did much to lift the pressure on him and his team-mates.

Barcelona’s new £48.6m striker, who sealed his move to the Nou Camp from Santos earlier this month , had not scored in his last nine international matches and has been criticised for his performances by the Brazilian press.

His finish, after Fred chested Marcelo’s driven cross into his path, should only earn him plaudits however, with Neymar bending his body to guide an unstoppable strike past Eiji Kawashima.

Japan, who are so far the only country to have qualified for the World Cup, threatened an immediate response but Keisuke Honda could not convert Shinji Okazaki’s cross at the far post.

That was the story of the game for the Blue Samurai, who enjoyed some neat build-up play but fell short in front of goal.

Brazil will undoubtedly face much tougher tests, especially in 12 months’ time, but they will be encouraged by the inter-play of their front players and could have extended their lead before the break when Hulk fired into the side netting and Kawashima denied Fred.

Sunday June 16, 2013

Neymar opened the scoring with a perfect longrange strike which flew beyond the goalkeeper and nestled in the back of the Japanese net (EPA)

Instead they scored a second goal immediately after the interval, when Paulinho controlled an Alves cross and slammed home a shot that Kawashima reached but could not keep out.

From then on, Brazil seemed content to dominate possession rather than look to create more chances, a strategy that could have

backfired if not for a fine save

by Julio Cesar from Japan substitute Ryoichi Maeda.

But an opening win for the Selecao in Group A was already secure before former Manchester City striker Jo came off the bench to make it 3-0, running on to a precise pass from the tireless Oscar and slotting home.

::: LETTER TO THE SPORTS EDITOR :::

Raj Singh responds to newspaper article DEAR EDITOR, I trust that my unsolicited response to the anonymous article appearing in the sports section of Wednesday’s issue of the one of our leading newspapers headlined “Anandjit says not his signature on document submitted to Parliamentary Select Committee” and prominently featuring photos of Mr. Anandjit and myself is given equal prominence in your next edition. It is totally outrageous that a supposedly responsible newspaper such as the one in question would hasten to print such a defamatory article without first exercising some basic journalistic ethics and principles. They say that a picture tells a thousand words and these photos and article are ample justification of this assertion.

Firstly, I must express my utter disappointment with this rather imbalanced and unprofessional article which did not even reveal the name of its author or reporter. This article screams of veiled and subtle accusatory undertones strategically aimed at besmirching the character and integrity of this author.

Secondly, there was absolutely no contact made with this author or any attempt made thereat by any reporter regarding the statements contained in this article. In view of the totally unethical, irresponsible and biased article, I am compelled to respond to this wicked and malicious witch hunt against me, both personally and professionally.

Please be advised of the following: 1. That I, Raj Singh, individually, was not invited to make submissions to the Special Select Committee of Parliament, but rather the entity, Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), was invited to make submissions. The letter of invitation from Dr. Frank Anthony, as head of the Select Committee, was sent to my Church St. Office address.

2. In addition, Raj Singh did not make any voluntary submissions to the Select Committee of Parliament resulting from the newspaper ads as is being insinuated by the Clerk of the National Assembly’s letter. The submission was made out in the name of the Demerara

Cricket Board pursuant to the direct invitation from Dr. Anthony.

3.

Further, the distinguished Clerk of the National Assembly is somewhat confused as there is no faction of the Guyana Cricket Board nor did the Select Committee invite the GCB to make any submission on the voter allocation issue of the DCB. 4. That the Select Committee was investigating the voter allocation issue surrounding the Demerara Cricket Board. In the process of compiling our submission, it was necessary for us to conduct detailed research of files and documents from several years prior, which were not very easily available.

We even had to request an extension from the Select Committee to complete our submission, which submission was eventually made on 26th April 2013. The DCB was then invited by the Select Committee to make its oral presentation on May 13th 2013 and this DCB delegation of 4 Executives and our Administrator was led by its President.

5. That I became

Secretary of the DCB in January 2009 and President of the DCB in January 2011.

The document that is alleged to have been forged was submitted to the DCB sometime in 2008.

6. During the process of accumulating the requisite documents for this submission, we had to consult and communicate with current and previous Executive Committee members of the DCB. Some documents relating to competitions played during my tenure at the DCB were obtained from the files of the current and previous Competitions Committees of the DCB from as far back as 6 years ago. These fixtures were necessary to establish and determine the allocated voting delegates at general meetings of the DCB. I cannot and will not comment on the genesis of these documents but I CAN STATE, QUITE CATEGORICALLY, THAT NONE OF THESE DOCUMENTS WERE CONSTRUCTED BY MYSELF OR ANY OTHER DCB EXECUTIVE/OFFICER THAT ASSISTED IN THE

PREPARATION OF OUR SUBMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENTARYSELECT COMMITTEE. 7. Pursuant to the letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly, this matter is currently being investigated by the Guyana Police Force.

The investigating Officer has made contact with me and I have since communicated with him on numerous occasions in the past week or so and have fully cooperated with this investigation. I am aware that the GPF is currently awaiting the return from overseas of the said former Exec of the DCB who hails from the East Coast of Demerara and is an Exec member of the East Coast Cricket Board and is the person alleged to have handed over the document to the DCB. One of the other senior Officers on the East Coast Board has bluntly refused to provide a statement to the GPF. 8. That the document containing Mr. Anandjit’s signature, that is alleged to have been forged, was handed over to the DCB by the Competitions Committee of the DCB from those years.

The Competitions Committee member was quite adamant that the said document was submitted to him by the abovementioned Executive Committee member of the East Coast Cricket Board and he has since provided a written statement in this regard to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

9. The DCB would like to urge the GPF to conduct a complete and thorough investigation of this alleged forgery, including but not limited to obtaining fingerprint samples from all the parties involved, and then having their handwriting expert determine his final conclusion based on the samples obtained. We also urge all the parties involved to fully cooperate with the GPF in its investigation and we eagerly await the public announcement of the final report from the GPF on this matter.

We encourage all media personnel to exercise true journalistic ethics and principles whilst refraining from casting aspersions on anyone before the investigation is concluded.

Raj Singh

Sunday June 16, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 69

MESSI OVERTAKES MARADONA IN ARGENTINA GOAL RECORDS WITH STUNNING HAT-TRICK

Lionel Messi fires home his penalty kick (AP) Daily Mail - Lionel Messi overtook Diego Maradona’s goal tally for Argentina on Friday night with a hat-trick

as he helped his country trounce Guatemala 4-0 in a friendly.

The Barcelona superstar

pulled level with Hernan Crespo on 35 goals but is still 21 behind the legendary Gabriel Batistuta.

People often argue over whether Messi is better than Maradona was but there will be no contest in the scoring stakes - at just 25 years old Messi is likely to finish his career as his country’s top scorer He returned to the starting line-up after coming from the bench in the previous two matches because of a recent injury and immediately took centre-stage. He opened the scoring with a long-range strike, set up Augusto Fernandez for the second goal and then converted a penalty to draw level with Maradona.

But early in the second half he received from Ezequiel Lavezzi and side-footed home cooly to seal the win. He was given a standing ovation

13th P&P Insurance Brokers Nat. Park Meet

DeNobrega takes top spot in feature; Jeabon Crawford wins juvenile race Team Coco’s Paul DeNobrega rode to victory in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race when the 13th Annual P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited 11Race Meet concluded at the National Park, yesterday.

The event, which saw 33 riders facing starter’s orders, saw a number of the riders being lapped early in the contest. From the onset it wasn’t going to be easy sailing as seasoned campaigners, Raymond Newton and Godfrey Pollydore set a blistering pace from lap one as they set

themselves apart from the pack.

But they were caught on the third lap by the pack and from this juncture; Pollydore, Shane Boodram and DeNobrega delinked themselves from all and never looked back.

DeNobrega crossed the line in One Hour 21 Minutes 09 Seconds prevailing in a sprint home ahead of Pollydore and Boodram in that order. Walter GrantStuart, Michael Anthony and Hamza Eastman completed the top six positions in that order.

Three of the eight spring prizes were taken by DeNobrega with two each to Pollydore and Boodram,

while Christopher Holder took the other.

The juvenile 10-lap contest was taken by Corentyne rider Jeabon Crawford in a time of 23 Minutes 07 Seconds. Mario King and Hamza Eastman were second and third.

Another Corentyne based rider, Romello Crawford, won the 12-14 years 3-lap showdown from Alfie Sonoram and Jason Jordon in 11 Minutes 59 Seconds, while Junior Niles was again his dominant best in the 5-lap veteran’s Under-50 clash, crossing the line in 12 Minutes 53 Seconds ahead of Bochel Samaroo.

Following are the results of the other races:

Prior to the presentation of trophies and cash incentives, Account Executive of P&P Insurance Brokers, Vikash Panday in remarks said that they were once again pleased to be associated with the sport in Guyana, noting that they have been on board since 1993.

Panday informed that

many of the youngsters who have now come of age were part of their programmes over the years, an achievement which they are proud of.

“As a responsible business entity, we are conscious of our obligations to the community and we seek to discharge that responsibility by supporting many projects and events

including this one today. I wish to congratulate all the winners and urge those who did not do too well, not to lose heart but to work harder and success will come your way.”

National Coach Hassan Mohamed, organizer of the event, also came in for high praise for his continuing efforts in keeping the sport riding on.

By Franklin Wilson

when substituted not long afterwards.

But former Argentina fitness coach Fernando Signorini has warned that Messi might not be fit at the 2014 World Cup because of burn-out.

‘Before, in the 60s and 70s, players would play 80-90 matches a year, but [Messi], the number one in the world, is playing over 120 if you count Barcelona and the national team’, he is reported as saying in Marca.

‘Messi had gone three years injury-free, but two and a half months ago he strained

a muscle just before the first leg of the semi-final against Bayern Munich in Germany, and he was put back on the bench for the return leg. Then he got injured again and now he is being reduced to second-half cameos.

‘What the wonderful player I have known since he was a kid needs is a holiday with his wife and son. With the demands of the modern game, it’s impossible to play more than 100 games and still always be 100 per cent.

‘Fitness coaches aren’t always as necessary as people think. Admitting as

much has got me into hot water with some of my esteemed colleagues before.’

He added: ‘Vicente Del Bosque recognised that a number of his players picked up fewer injuries when they did less training.

‘Groin strains are one of the most fashionable injuries today, but they never used to exist before.

Many things happen now that we weren’t aware of in the past because it used to be much more about a player ’s technique and playing style than about gruelling fitness work.’

6th JKA/WF America Karate Camp & 7th Nat. Tourney – USA

Guyana team bag 27 medals – 9 Gold, 11 Silver, 7 Bronze Guyana’s 17-member Japan Karate Association/ World Federation (JKA/WF) National Park Dojo team to the 6th annual JKA/WF America Karate Camp and 7th annual National tournament held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, June 6-9, captured a total of twenty-seven (27) medals (9 Gold, 11 Silver, 7 Bronze).

The training camp commenced on June 6 and ran until the 8th with the tournament taking place on Sunday June 9.

Based on reports from New Mexico, the tournament was challenging but from the start, 7-year-old Jared Yassin (7th KYU - Green belt) and 6year-old Shabaka Martin (8th KYU - Yellow belt) took double Gold and Silver respectively in their division.

Nine-year-old Ronoko Vaughn (8th KYU – Yellow belt) won 1 Gold and 2 Silver while another 9-year-old, Camiel Melville (5th KYU – Purple belt) captured 1 Gold and 1 Silver for Kata and Kumite in their division.

Eight-year-old Kristian Chaves (4th KYU – Purple belt) won 1 Gold and 3 Silver medals for individual Kata and Kumite as well as for Team Kata. Fourth KYU – Purple belt, Loren Black who is 11years-old, copped 3 Gold and 1 Silver medal for her individual Kata and Kumite and Team Kata event contests. Third KYU – Brown belt, 10-year-old Reyad Yassin also made good his performances count by securing 3rd (Silver) for individual Kata, Kumite and Team Kata along the inherited Gold that was given him.

The children Team Kata was one of the many highlights at this year’s

tournament for Guyana with the combination of 10-yearold Reyad Yassin (Brown belt), 8-year-old Kristian Chaves and 11-year-old Loren black - both Purple belt athletes – taking the second place against the ‘Teenage Trio Sensation’ from the Mountain State Team of New Mexico {all three being 2nd Dan – Black belt athletes}.

But the young Guyanese team which lost by a mere .4 of a point to their teenage counterparts was applauded for their outstanding efforts by the winners and the many spectators noting that the Guyanese are a well coordinated unit.

Based on the Guyanese performance, the New Mexico team was moved and motivated to the extent that they collectively agreed to reward their Gold medals to the Guyanese stating that they are the true winners despite entering at such a disadvantage.

This also gave added motivation to 14-year-old Akil Vaughn (3rd KYU – Brown belt) who placed 3rd in Kumite in his division.

Continuing the high level of performance in the adult color belt division, 53-yearold Maxene Joseph (7th KYU – Green belt) of the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission, Brickdam, got double Silver medals and Vishnu Ramlagan racked in double Bronze medals in their Kata and Kumite contests, respectively.

Another major highlight came in the Black belt adult male Kumite division, when First Dan Shermon Best formerly known as Shermon Kyte of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Camp Street Office, penetrated this division and

became the first to do so internationally.

Best earned second place to win Silver against the Mexican and well defended Panamanian, making a name for himself, while earning additional respect for JKA/ WF Guyana and Guyanese competitors.

The Guyana team was much-admired and recognized for the huge sacrifice it made to travel that distance and the many sacrifices they would have made to raise money and to put on such showmanship, displaying the true spirit of competitiveness and camaraderie.

Days prior to the tournament, the team attended three consecutive days of Training clinics and a one-day Judges clinic (for Black belts and officials), both conducted by special guest Instructor - Master Yoshiharu Osaka (8th Dan) who is the Vice Chief Instructor of the JKA as well as the General Manager of Technical Division of the JKA. Much was imparted to the participants from this experienced practitioner.

The team also had to acclimatize themselves in just a few days as Santa Fe’ is in excess of 7,000 feet above sea level where the air is thin and dry.

Local Instructors’ Sensei Chaves and Singh along with the team are expressing gratitude to the Planning Committee, sponsors, friends, family, parents and the many well wishers that supported their cause.

Team Guyana comprised of fifteen (15) competitors and two (2) officials, they were also accompanied by six (6) parents.

Page 70

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 16, 2013

Berbice Bridge Company SPORTS GEAR PRESENTED sponsors airfare for Guyana TO CORENTYNE CLUBS Powerlifting Federation Boxing, Football and cricket among beneficiaries The Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) handed over a cheque to Mr. Peter R. Green, President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation.

The assistance will go towards offsetting costs for travelling and accommodation expenses for persons that would be participating in three International Championships in Florida USA. The BBCI then decided to come on board and agreed to sponsor the air fare and a belt for Mr. Vijai Rahim.

On June 13, 2013, Mr. Omadat Samaroo, Chief Executive Officer, Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) handed over the cheque to Mr. Vijai Rahim at the Hard Core Gym in Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice.

The Company said that it will continue to sponsor other events subjected to the availability of funds at that time and is looking at a wider cross section of sports and other charitable, noncharitable, Government, NonGovernment and inclusive of Entertainment organisations and events.

Mr. Omadat Samaroo, Chief Executive Officer, Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) handing over cheque to Mr. Vijai Rahim and Coach Mr. Farook Abdol at the Hard Core Gym The BBCI stated that it does not only play the role of collecting tolls and facilitate vehicles crossing the Berbice River Bridge and vessels transiting through the Retractor span and under the High Span, but also discharges it’s corporate

responsibilities, that is being a good corporate and more importantly play an integral part in the development of sports and charitable and non–charitable organisations in close proximity of the Bridge or in Region 5 and 6.

(Leon Suseran)

DEONARINE HITS TON IN ANOTHER WI A VS SL A DRAW Narsingh Deonarine converted his overnight halfcentury into triple figures as the rain-hit 2nd ‘Test’ at Arnos Vale finished in a tame draw, as expected.

The weather was no different from Days two and three, as heavy clouds watched from above during the entire’s day’s play. But for once there was no rain interruption.

The day started badly for West Indies A as Kraigg Brathwaite only managed to add seven runs to his overnight score before being bowled through his defence

by Malinda Pushpakumara.

He went for 77, effectively ending a 127 run partnership with Narsingh Deonarine. But the latter continued in the rich vein of form he looked to be in Friday.

As Pushpakumara caused trouble at the other end, taking the wickets of Jonathan Carter (18) and Chadwick Walton (22), Deonarine stood firm. But Walton would see Deonarine to his century before departing. It was his call for a quick single that would take Deonarine to triple figures.

On the stroke of Lunch

Narsingh Deonarine though, trying to take on Pushpakumara, Deonarine held out to Vimukthi Perera at deep mid-wicket. His innings of 109 had brought the break.

West Indies A were 258/7, having scored 103 runs in the session but losing four wickets. The tail whittled after Lunch, with the last three wickets falling for 34 runs as the West Indies A were bowled out for 294, giving Sri Lanka A a first innings lead of 20.

Both Pushpakumara and Suranga Lakmal finished with four wickets each.

So could the Windies A pacers give the visitors a scare and make a late match out an already drawn contest? It could have been

when Dimuth Karunarathne was well caught at third slip

by Leon Johnson, leaving Sri Lanka A at 8/1. Sheldon Cotterell had struck the early blow. But joy had quickly turned to tension as Udara Jayasundera and Kithruwan Vithanage pummelled the Windies A pacers. As if they were gearing up for the two T20s to come, both lefthanders struck boundaries to every part of the ground. In 11 overs, Sri Lanka A had raced to 75/1. Carter suffered the worst of the onslaught as the 11th over went for 16 runs, which included two sixes from Withanage. Both batsmen would take their team to Tea at 83/1 or 103/1 inclusive of the lead.

On the resumption, Carter would get his man as Vithanage tried cutting a wide delivery, only to get a topedge to Brathwaite at cover.

He scored a quickfire 42. But there wasn’t much to gain in the final hour as Jayasundera got to his 50, both teams shook hands and called it a draw at 4PM AST. Sri Lanka A’s second innings finished on 140/3. The series was also drawn 0-0. (windiescricket.com)

A number of Sports clubs on the Corentyne Berbice were the recipients of the second and final batch of sports gear promised to them compliments of the Ministry of Home Affairs - Citizen Security Programme as part of its Rapid Impact Projects and Handing over of Sports Gear in collaboration with the St Francis Community Developers (SFCD).

The activity was held on Friday 14th June at the SFCD new, state-of-the-art two story concrete training centre and Conference Hall. Three clubs were the beneficiaries namely the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports- five boxes of cricket balls, the Rose Hall Town Football club-a number of footballs, hose, skipping ropes, shin pads and nets among other accessories, the Rose Hall Town Jammers Boxing Gym received a horde of boxing gear and equipment including gloves, speed ball, punching bags, guards, skipping ropes and other equipment. The SFCD was the recipient of a number of indoor games including dominoes, cards, scrabble, chess, Chinese checkers, and draughts among other indoor games materials.

Speaking at the simple ceremony was coordinator Mr. Alex Foster who is also the President of the (SFCD), Friends of St Francis, partners of America and the Chairman of the Rose Hall Town/ Williamsburg Community Action Council.

Foster in remarks, welcomed those in

Cricketer Eon Hooper collects the boxes of cricket balls from Coordinator Alex Foster.

attendance and was loud in praise for the initiative taken to assist people at the grass root level. He noted that he is very pleased to know that the collaborative efforts are touching the lives of many Guyanese, especially the ordinary persons.

He encouraged those receiving the items to care them and put them to full use.

Foster also urged the recipients to not be satisfied in only playing at the local level, but to strive for higher heights and possibly represent the country.

A number of projects were also successfully undertaken

by Foster and his local group including- building a Library at the lower Corentyne Secondary School, a play park

at the Rose Hall Town Nursery school, a Computer Room built at the Rose Hall Town primary school, construction of the fencing and a rubbish bin at the Port Mourant Secondary School, construction of an Incinerator at the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School and undertaking the Electrical Installation at the Friends of Rose Hall Town building.

The Rose Hall Town Area H Football field is also being rehabilitated with the area being graded and fenced.

The inclement weather has put a hold on work which should also see the drains being dug and the field being filled and new gold post are also being installed. (Samuel Whyte)

Smythfield Rockers upstage New Amsterdam Warriors in Berbice Basketball competition Basketball action continued in the Berbice Basketball Association (BBA) First Division top Six Basketball competition sponsored by Ansa McAl Guyana Limited under its Mackeson Brand with one game on Friday on the Vryman’s Erven Basketball court.

In the intensely contested game Smythfield Rockers of New Amsterdam continued their winning ways with a hard fought 39-32 victory over top team New Amsterdam Warriors when the two teams locked horns in game two of the competition in an all New Amsterdam affair.

The game lived up to anticipation as the two top teams held tight using defence and counterattacking strategies to thwart their opponents.

The contest was a see saw affair throughout with the competition so intense that the scores were tied at the end of the first three quarters. It was not until the last quarter that the Rockers were able to sneak ahead as the Warriors fought with all of their resolve to regain control.

At the end of the first quarter the score

was dead locked at seven apiece as both teams felt out each other with defence play. Both teams opened up more in the second segment, but were still locked at 17-17. The third did not produce much as the teams ended on 2222 apiece.

The final session was hectic and which saw the most points being scored as both teams brought their best game to the fore; however the Rockers were superior in the end as the game ended 39-32 in their favour.

For Smythfield Rockers Randy Richardson poured in a game high 13 points. Richard Bowen with 10 points led the way for the Warriors The competition continues today with New Amsterdam Warriors coming up against Fyrish Black Sharks in what is expected to be another keenly contested encounter.

The other teams participating in the competition are East Canje Knights, Rose Hall Town Jammers and New Amsterdam Prison.

At stake in the competition is $80,000 for the winner and $20,000 for the second placed team among other incentives. (Samuel Whyte)