Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
Guyana’s Private Sector has to look itself in the mirror and become part of the solution DEAR EDITOR, Much has been recently reported about a business slowdown in Guyana which began during the election cycle and has not changed since the election of the new government. Some analysts seek glee in stating it is because the new government does not have an economic plan. Others see the slowdown as a natural multiplier effect of the dramatic drop in gold prices and the associated impact it has on the economy. Still others argue it’s the effect of the Antimoney Laundering Bill and the squeezing of the underground economy of drugs, money laundering and other well-known nefarious
activities. Our remittances are almost 20% of GDP; Dr. Clive Thomas states the underground economy is 60% of GDP; VAT is 16%; corruption and the raping of Guyana is a significant percent of GDP. Not discussed are the underlying strategic factors which impact Guyana’s economic ascendancy. Central to this is the role of the Private Sector in Guyana’s economic trajectory. In reality, the Private sector must take more responsibility for the country’s economy and also must be honest in both their capacity, their competitiveness and their expectations. An excellent
Still looking for real change in Mabaruma DEAR EDITOR, The elections have come and gone and a new Government is in place. We, who were in the struggle over the years of PPP dictatorship, voted for CHANGE. It is therefore not rude of us to say that we in the Mabaruma are waiting with bated breath for even a smattering of change. Instead we still see the Lords trumping up over us. We are still getting water through our taps intermittently – like two, sometimes three times a week. Both sides of the road do not get water on the same day. We have to fetch from the other side when it is not our time. We are still being treated to the minute electricity supply even though we are told that the fuel bill per month indicates that we are getting a 24 hour supply (daily). We are seeing items being removed and taken to personal homes and with Government vehicles too. We still see the Ambulance being kept at the home of the ambulance driver. We see the feeble attempt at road repairs maybe in a mad rush to clean up some more dollars from the coffers. We feel limbless. Resident of Mabaruma
example has been in the area of Amaila Falls. While the Private Sector endorses this project they have been economically dishonest in their arguments. Surely, would the Private Sector in Guyana invest in the building of Amaila Falls? Strongly recommended by this author is the need for the Private Sector to perform a SWOT analysis on itself and to create a private Sector National Strategic Plan in which the Government is seen as one of the stakeholders. I would recommend the private Sector use Peeping Tom’s article of January 27, 2015 entitled “A Baby in the world of Giants” for selfanalysis”and I quote “The local private sector is not up to the task of developing Guyana. It is too miniature, mired in smallmindedness, short of entrepreneurial and risktaking drive, and ineffectual in mobilizing resources for large-scale investments. It suffers from high capital rents, infrastructural constraints, poor labour
productivity, transportation and communication inefficiencies, poor domestic demand, and an inability to penetrate foreign markets amongst a host of other limitations too numerous to mention. While there have been improvements in all of these areas over the past years, Guyana is hobbling towards the goal of a strong and, dynamic private sector with the talent, skills and wherewithal to move the economy into another gear. While over the past few years there has also been a phenomenal increase in the number of small businesses that have sprung up, very few of these are providing exportable. Most are servicing the domestic market with the result that for every one new business formed, another is most likely to go bust sooner or later. The private sector in Guyana does not have the resources or the risk-taking ability to drive growth forward in the future. It is doing well for the moment and can justifiably be considered
the engine of growth, given its overall contribution to GDP output”. THERE MUST BEA CHANGING ROLE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR Sustainable development is a marathon and not a sprint. These words of Colin Powell, Former Secretary of State of the USA should be a motto for Guyana. It has also been often stated the Private Sector is the engine of growth with the Government creating the enabling environment of legal, regulatory and fiscal frameworks for economic development and sustainability. Guyana is a low middle income resource-driven country whose main exports are gold, bauxite, sugar, rice, forestry products and seafood. Guyana is therefore a “brown” economy. Brown growth is economic development that relies
heavily on fossil fuels and does not consider the negative side effects that economic production and consumption have on the environment. Richly endowed in natural resources and having a strategic geographical location as the bridge between the Caribbean to South America, Guyana’s GDP has recently been more heavily weighted towards an expanding services sector. Resource driven economies have succeeded when six elements are present: (1) building the institutions and governance of the resources sector; (2) developing infrastructure; (3) ensuring robust fiscal policy and competitiveness; (4) supporting local content; (5) deciding how to spend a resource windfall wisely; and (6) transforming resource wealth into broader economic Continued on page 23
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Kaieteur News
Monday June 22, 2015
Indian Govt. can provide GRPA head unfazed by expertise to resuscitate sugar calls for his removal In view of the many ailments affecting the local sugar industry, including the fact that Guyana is producing sugar at approximately $US800M per tonne and selling it at a loss, $US300 per tonne, Indian High Commissioner Shri Venkatachalam Mahalingam has indicated that the Indian Government stands willing to assist in resuscitating the ailing Industry. According to the diplomat, in view of the stability and success of the Indian sugar market, in particular during the production phase, that success could be transferred over to the local sugar industry through technical assistance from Indian sugar experts. “India and Indian consultants in the sugar industry are very much capable of providing the necessary assistance to Guysuco and the sugar factories in Guyana. That I can say, because we have expertise on crop production, sugar technology, and upgrading sugar factories,” Shri Mahalingam said. While the High Commissioner intimated that so far he has not had an opportunity to discuss collaborative efforts with A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government focusing on the Sugar industry, he revealed that the previous administration (Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic) and the Indian Government were previously at the nesting stage of discussions with Indian consultants on the Sugar industry. He stated that former President Donald Ramotar, along with a team went to India in order to attend a meeting in Mumbai with sugar industry experts, during which the former President was briefed about potential areas of local sugar that assistance could be provided
- High Commissioner
Indian High Commissioner Shri Venkatachalam Mahalingam towards. The High Commissioner also indicated that the former President had visited the Gujarat Sugar Factory and was appreciative of the way in which the factory was run, and of Indian sugar as a whole. “That is just one sugar factory. There are thousands of factories in India, spread over North, East, West and South. And I can confidently say that our sugar industry is very efficient.” He also stated that there are some norms that are prescribed, which most sugar factories in India follow. “Sugar is done based on requirement in the sugar factory. It is not the cut and load method, that is not done in India. There is a structured way in cutting and crushing. Between the cutting and crushing, the time is limited, according to the prescribed time.” The APNU+AFC administration recently approved the release of $3.8B to facilitate the payment of wages and salaries of sugar workers, as well as current payments to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), payments owed to Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and to purchase fertilizers, fuel and lubricant and spares for equipment. This came after a request by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder for a
total of $16B in an effort to resuscitate the industry According to the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, the $3.8B approved also takes into consideration payments overdue to suppliers. The Minister had said that this is necessary to reduce the backlog of debt created by the Corporation, which currently stands at US$90B In regards to the remainder of the Minister’s request, Harmon had stated that Holder would have to return to cabinet, request and justify the release of the remaining $13B, whenever the funds are needed. The Government has also announced a commission of inquiry into the sugar industry in order to determine the future course that the administration should take regarding sugar. He nevertheless made it clear that whatever decisions are taken about the Industry would not be made lightly, especially since 16,000 persons directly depend on the sugar industry for their livelihood. At the Management level, Guysuco has been through major shakeups in recent weeks, in particular with the sacking of its former CEO Dr. Raj Singh, as well as his entire Board of Directors and the initiation of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) with two former CEO’sPaul Bhim and Errol Hanoman to steer Guysuco out of its troubles. India, the second largest sugar producer in the world, has been disaffected by the seven year price low for sugar on the world market, but nevertheless has maintained strong production levels. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), India’s sugar production recorded an 11.5 percent increase as of March 31st, for the 2014-2015 crushing season.
With farmers on the Essequibo Coast once again mounting protests last Friday calling for drastic changes in the local rice sector, Dharamkumar Seeraj, General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GRPA) is unmoved by the calls for his removal, stating that such calls are misplaced. The farmers have maintained that both Seeraj and Jagnarine Singh, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) should be replaced by “competent” persons to ensure that the sector can progress. But according to Seeraj, who has been with the GRPA since 1988, rather than agitate for his removal, farmers should agitate for better pricing for their paddy. In particular, Seeraj pointed out, the Essequibo Farmers’ Association should be calling for A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government to honor its campaign promise to ensure farmers are paid $6000-$9000 per bag of paddy. This promise, Seeraj said, was made on the campaign trail by the coalition prior to the May 11th General and Regional elections to farmers countrywide. According to Seeraj, these promises raised false hopes in farmers’ minds, especially as the regular price of $3000 per bag of paddy was something that was already proving hard to maintain. He also stated that the farmers’ grievances should be directed towards pricing issues, issues that should be taken up by the current administration. Seeraj pointed that neither him nor Jagnarine promised farmers upwards of $6000 per bag of paddy. That promise came from the APNU+AFC. “Instead of calling for me and Jagnarine to resign, they should be calling on the
government to keep its promises,” Seeraj said. He also confronted calls for his removal head on, questioning why farmers would direct their calls for removal towards him, when his Association, as a regulatory body rather than a budgeted agency, did not work with the government. According to the General Secretary, the GRPA has a process through which a new General Secretary is appointed. This, he said, is done through a council made up of farmers, not through the Government or a Minister. Seeraj was also of the opinion that calls for his removal, were political in nature. It is not the first time that farmers on the Essequibo, disgruntled by being owed millions of dollars on a consistent basis, have protested for the removal of the heads of GRPA and GRDB. Poor dockage and weight along with the perception that not enough was being done by Government to deal with the rice surplus on the local market and flooding have also contributed to r ice farmers overall dissatisfaction and there were protests last year against the then Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration. Over the past weeks, the Essequibo Coast from Anna Regina to Golden Fleece has been plagued by incessant rainfalls which, coupled with ineffective drainage, has led to flooding that has destroyed crops. There were protests against the former administration directly before the May 11th elections. On Friday last, it seemed that farmers picked up where they left off. They expressed dissatisfaction with the pace at which the Noel Holder-led Ministry of Agriculture was proceeding, calling for the
General Secretary of the GRPA Dharamkumar Seeraj removal of Seeraj and Singh, as well as CEO of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth. Friday’s protest was led by President of the Essequibo Farmers Association Naith Ram and the placard bearing protestors marched from the Anna Regina High Bridge to the PPP/C party office and back to the bridge. Ram had said that even after March, when farmers would have sold their paddy to millers, they are still owed large sums amounting to over $6B, while the Government itself owes millers over $1B. These scenarios, he had argued, made it hard on farmers and their families, since in most cases farmers were still indebted to the bank. Ram had also declared that following the May 11th National and Regional Elections, almost all of the kokers in the Region were not functioning, resulting in areas such as Capoey, DevonshireCastle and Walton-Hall being flooded out. Ram also argued that while the Region continues to battle with heavy rain and continuously congested outfalls due to the massive build up of silt, he believes that Holder should revisit the contracts that were given to businessmen who were provided with Government machinery to clean those outfalls.
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
France says Iran deal ‘still not clear’ as deadline nears Reuters - France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said yesterday it was unclear whether an international deal could be reached on Iran’s nuclear programme by a June 30 deadline. Fabius has said he would meet his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif yesterday to assess where Iran stands ahead of the final round of talks on its nuclear programme, which begin later in the week. “We need to be extremely firm, at the stage where we are now, things are still not clear,” Fabius said in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Today’s bilateral meeting, on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers’ summit in Luxembourg, will be followed by a meeting between Zarif and all the European parties negotiating with Iran. “Towards the end of next week the ministers will go (to the talks), so I’d like to have an explanation and conversation to see where the
Laurent Fabius Iranians are,” Fabius told reporters in Cairo on Saturday, on the first day of the two-day Middle East visit. In Luxembourg, Zarif will also be meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and ministers from Britain and Germany today to discuss the nuclear talks, an EU source said, calling it “a
political meeting in the framework of ongoing negotiations.” Iran reached a framework nuclear deal with the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany on April 2 in Lausanne. The parties are aiming for a final agreement by June 30 under which Iran would restrict its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. France is deemed to have been one of the toughest in pressing for limits to prevent Iran acquiring an atomic bomb capability, although Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Netanyahu urged Fabius at their meeting on Sunday to “stand firm and prevent a bad deal” with Iran. Israel has sharply criticised the emerging agreement as not going far enough to guarantee Tehran will not obtain a nuclear bomb nor barring Iran from continuing to arm Israel’s enemies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Charleston church holds first service since massacre
Parishioners sing during the Sunday service at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina yesterday, four days after a mass shooting that claimed nine lives (AFP Photo/David Goldman) Charleston (United States) (AFP) - The historic black South Carolina church where a white gunman murdered nine African Americans held its first service since the massacre yesterday, an emotional gathering celebrating the lives of those slain. Several hundred congregants, some tearful, packed the Emanuel African American Episcopal Church for a service led by visiting clergy because the congregation’s pastor was among those killed by a young white supremacist. The service offered stillgrieving Charleston — in another era, the American capital of the transatlantic slave trade — a chance to
mark what many argued was its triumph in thwarting the shooter’s reported aim to foment racial hatred. Celebrants at Emanuel church said the accused gunman — Dylann Roof, 21, from a rural town near the state capital Columbia — had failed miserably in his quest to break their spirit of love and faith. “There they were in the house of the Lord, studying your word, praying with one another,” said visiting minister John Gillison from the pulpit. “But the Devil also entered. And the Devil was trying to take charge,” he said. “Thanks be to God, hallelujah, that the Devil cannot take control of your
people. And the Devil cannot take control of your church.” The crowd spilled out into the street, where loudspeakers relayed songs and sermons from the twohour service live to hundreds of worshippers braving brutal summer heat. A website allegedly created by Roof emerged Saturday featuring a 2,500word racist screed against African Americans, in which he appears in photos holding guns and the Confederate flag, and burning the Stars and Stripes. Roof went on the run after the shooting and was caught a day later in neighboring North Carolina. He is held in solitary confinement charged with nine counts of murder.
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Kaieteur News
Monday June 22, 2015
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Why change a law that does not need to be changed? There has been a call for the former Home Affairs Minister, Balram Singh Rai, to receive his parliamentary pension. He must be one special man for the laws of the country to be changed to accommodate him and him alone. I do not believe that changing of the law should be inspired by the need for one man to receive his parliamentary pension. If, on the other hand, it was found that there are many who were unjustly deprived of their parliamentary pensions as a result of the law excluding them, then this is an issue to be considered.
Unless there is a standard minimum pension, as there is with the National Insurance Scheme, a parliamentary pension for someone who served in the 1960’s for a short time would be extremely small. So long as there are justifiable grounds for the payment of a pension, it should be paid no matter how small it is. Just as changes to the law should not be inspired by the need to ensure that one man receives a parliamentary pension, similarly, changes to the law should not be inspired by the need to deny a former president of his entitlements granted under the law. The new government will
contend that its proposed changes to the Presidents’ Benefits Act is not intended to deny anyone his benefits but merely to cap those benefits. But it is my contention that there is no need for anyone to cap any benefits under the existing law since it is the prerogative of the government to determine what is reasonable from what is not reasonable. If someone is entitled under a law to security, then it is for the incumbent regime to determine how much security that person should have. There may be certain situations, such as when political tensions may be
high, for more security to be provided for a beneficiary, as against that which is provided in normal situations. To cap this particular benefit will create problems. Should the situation in the future justify additional security, then having the provision of security capped will make a legitimate need unlawful. It also makes a laughing stock of Guyana when benefits have to be capped. When President Obama leaves office there will be no need for any law to say that he should only have two or three bodyguards or cap any of the other benefits he should be entitled to. The
Dem boys seh...
Rohee can’t tek he own medicine Old people seh that people mustn’t wish fuh others wha dem don’t wish fuh demself. Rohee jump and call fuh de Surujbally boy to resign. He join wid Donald and de other party boys and picket. Dem boys hear nuff noise when de crowd refuse to accept de election results. Dem boys decide to call de Surujbally boy to find out wha he think bout de call fuh he resignation. He watch dem and shake he head like if he want to tell dem that dem asking a stupid question. Then he seh something that
nuff people never think about. He seh that nobody ever move a vote of no confidence against he. As dem old people seh, mouth open story jump out. Dem boys remember that in Parliament, de opposition did move a vote of no confidence against Rohee. And de man did not resign. Surujbally then ask dem why dem think he should resign. Rohee shoulda lead by example. Well as things go, he ain’t in a position to act against de vote of no confidence and he ain’t got no authority to call pun anyone fuh resign.
Is just like when de bishop Ten Edghill talking bout witch hunt. He was de one when he go to de post office to fire a whole heap of people without giving dem a chance. He walk in because he think he was a big one and he knock off left, right and centre. Now he talking bout how de government knocking off people. Dem boys seh that he either got a memory like a fish or he just like fuh talk. Even Donald ain’t seh a word bout witch hunt because he remember when Papa Cheddi did send Rambo fuh knock off
dem senior managers. Rambo knock off till dem didn’t have nobody to knock off. He knock off de chairman—a man name Bovell—and everybody who he think was a member of de Pee Hen See. Dem boys live to see that Cheddi knock off Rambo. De same Rambo going to Whim today to see Jagdeo in court. He tell dem boys that if he get a chance he would knock off de magistrate if she don’t knock down Jagdeo. Talk half and remind Rohee bout de call fuh he resignation.
government of the United States does not need to specify how many body guards the outgoing President should have. They will make an administrative determination of this based on a security assessment. Why then go to parliament to cap a benefit? Every sitting of parliament costs money and it is total waste of the time of the parliamentarians for them to have to spend that valuable and costly time to pass legislation to cap any benefits to former Presidents when that same effect can be lawfully achieved through administrative action. If it felt that the former President of Guyana has too much security that is necessary for his protection, then just reduce it administratively. No need to cap anything. This argument may be countered by the view that the proposed legislation is to guard against the sort of abuses that took place by the previous administration, and also to guard against future abuses. So the premise is that the capping is necessary to prevent what happened in the past and to prevent the same thing happening in the future. But what if this is a false premise? What if what was presumed to have happened in the past, did not happen at all? Surely this can no longer be the basis for capping the benefits, can it?
When the new government was in opposition, it accused the former President of receiving three million dollars in pension benefits. This came across to the public as three million in pension. But is that so? There was a report in which it was stated that the former President claimed at a press conference that he has not received a cent from the government as pension, since he left. So is it true then that the pension was never either paid or uplifted? And what was the value of the other benefits that were paid to the former President and how do these stack up with, let us say, the benefits to the Leader of the Opposition during the same period. There are the issues that need to be settled before there is a mad rush to pass legislation to cap benefits. But no one in the media has so far asked the new government what were the total pensions paid to the former president, and what is the monthly cost to the treasury of the other benefits paid during this period. It is important that these questions are answered. Why cap the benefits if the pensions were not paid or the other benefits were not abused?
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Govt. must start from ground The Cummingsburg up to fight corruption Accord is not cast in stone – TIGI President
– PM Nagamootoo “Things are going to be dynamic as we go along and we have to look at the dynamics of the situation. I cannot allow myself to fall into a modus of pettiness where I just say, ‘oh, I was promised this and I was promised that and the other thing and I didn’t get it’.” – Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo Following growing unease over departures from the Cummingsburg Accord, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has stated that the Accord is not set is stone and is still under review. Guyana’s newest Prime Minister dismissed suggestions that his position is ceremonial, emphasizing that he is “fiercely involved” in the country’s administration. Nagamootoo made the assertions during Sunday’s broadcast of Hard Talk on 90.1 Love FM. During the hour-long interview, Nagamootoo spoke on a number of issues, including any adjustments to be made to the Cummingsburg Accord signed between the APNU and the AFC in February. According to Nagamootoo, the implementation of the Accord was seen as a way to help the coalition achieve its agreed understanding on a way forward. However, he said, the Accord is not immutable and is therefore subject to change. “The Accord is not cast in stone; things are going to be dynamic as we go along and we have to look at the dynamics of the situation,” he said. In recent weeks, concerns had been raised that responsibilities that had been set out in the Accord for the Prime Minister were not being adhered to. The PM had been designated a number of responsibilities, including the management of Domestic Affairs and the chairing of Cabinet. Clearly aware of the growing unease in the country, Nagamootoo emphasised that there was only understanding on his part in regard to any shifts in the Accord. “I cannot allow myself to fall into a modus of pettiness where I just say, ‘oh, I was promised this and I was promised that and the other thing and I didn’t get it’,” he said. He continued, “This is not about the I’s…This is about us; this is about ‘awe dese’ and this is how the approach to the Accord has to be.”
He further said that the coalition must consider whether the Accord is working well and in totality. “There might be some irritants but I think the idea is for us to fulfill the spirit of the Accord…. We are doing that in the Accord right now and I can tell you this, it has been working…there is a practical side, a pragmatic side and a legal side as to how things have to be done.” However, the PM admitted that there are some areas where questions have been raised over whether they are being done in a way that they ought to be. One of these areas, he said, was the issue of whether he should be chairing Cabinet. He added that the issue had been a contentious one. According to Nagamootoo, he had been strongly endorsed by the AFC as the party’s Presidential Candidate for a number of years while Nigel Hughes had been endorsed as his running mate. However, he said, they had respectfully declined. He further said that he had not been a part of the Accord’s negotiations and subsequently saw that the Accord assigned the PM as Cabinet’s chair. “If I were there I probably would have given a different input into that,” he said. He continued, “I said that at the time people were just trying to make me look good. It’s like, okay, they took away the presidency from this guy, what would make him good? Let’s make him the chairman of Cabinet.” He emphasised that having power was not his main concern. Rather, he said, “the deal breaker was Guyana and if I play a role that helps Guyana, then I will be willing
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo to work with David Granger as the President.” Meanwhile, Nagamootoo emphasised that he is an active participant in the country’s running. He explained that he had been involved in a number of processes, including the reduction in the number of ministries and the designation of portfolios. He added that he also had overall responsibility for Domestic Affairs, a job which has seen ministers routinely calling him to consult on a way forward. “The Prime Minister is more or less a partner of the President and we consult on a number of issues…I am not a ceremonial Prime Minister. I’m a politician and I am fiercely involved in the administration of this country,” Nagamootoo stressed. “In terms of where I am as PM and First VP, I believe I occupy a very strategic role in the administration of the country’s affairs.” According to Nagamootoo, a bi-partisan team is reviewing the Accord with a view to seeing that there is implementation of the agreement. While AFC’s Chairman Nigel Hughes will be leading that party’s team, APNU’s team will be led by Joseph Harmon. The PM further said that two persons have been identified as arbitrators and will be present to referee contentious issues. He indicated that these arbitrators are yet to be identified though some names are up for consideration.
By Desilon Daniels If the new coalition government is serious about fighting corruption, it will need to do so from the ground level, said recently inducted President of the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Calvin Bernard. In an interview with this newspaper, Bernard explained that corruption must be dealt with “from the ground up, in every single sector”. According to Bernard, while the focus should be on each sector, some areas will obviously require more focus than others. One such sector, he said, was the Natural Resources sector. He said that it is paramount that sectors such as the Natural Resources sector are corruption free as they bring in significant money for the country. “They need to look at those sectors and look at the way in which they are governed to see where there are vulnerabilities for corruption or where corruption already exists. Then, they need to devise plans,” he said. He explained that corruption has become so widespread that it has begun to infiltrate all sections of the country and in turn had drastic effects on the populace. “Education, health – all of these things have been so infiltrated and corrupted that regular people cannot access these services and goods that they should be able to access as citizens of Guyana. That’s because the systems
themselves have been corrupted so as to benefit particular persons,” Bernard stressed. He emphasised that there is therefore need to look at all areas, right up to the Office of the Presidency. “We saw recently that in the OP, people were being paid one place and working at the Office of the Presidency, or there were persons working at Ministries where they are receiving pay but it’s unclear what they were actually doing,” he pointed out. He went on to say that, naturally, persons will begin to question to what extent the entire system, and the way in which things are administered, were corrupted. He added that corruption could occur for a number of reasons, including for private benefit, personal gain, or the benefit of a specific group. “If you have sufficient monies you can get by with almost anything,” Bernard added. However, he said, this should not be so and instead represented corruption. “If I got into an accident on the road and damage public property and someone that is in the upper levels of society or someone who is far more affluent gets into an accident and also damage public property, then we shouldn’t be treated differently; we should be subject to the same things. If it’s available that the simple solution is replacing or repairing, then we both
TIGI President, Calvin Bernard should have that option. If it’s a must that I have to go to court, then we should both have to go to court. It shouldn’t be the case where if you got the money you can go off scot free and if you don’t then you spend some time in the lockups before finding yourself before some magistrate,” Bernard said. He further said that issues such as the Public Procurement Commission, the Integrity Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Bill were still concerns of the TIGI. However, he said, the body will also be expanding its understanding of what corruption is to look beyond financial corruption. “We’re looking to broaden that understanding of what corruption is. Corruption might not just be about financial gains and corrupting financial systems but systems that look at the public access to goods and services,” Bernard said.
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Kaieteur News
Monday June 22, 2015
Professor Clive Thomas to spearhead state asset recovery - appointed Presidential Advisor on sustainable development
By: Kiana Wilburg Respected local Economist, Dr. Clive Yolande Thomas has been appointed Presidential Advisor on sustainable development. According to the new administration, Dr. Thomas will assume responsibility for economic matters and the State Assets Recovery Programme. In a brief telephone interview, Dr. Thomas said that he is elated to serve in the position and intends to do so with “honour and integrity.” He believes that he will make his country proud and is excited to get to work on the State Assets Recovery Programme, which he spoke to in some of his relatively recent columns. Given his invaluable contributions to shaping economies regionally, and even economic policies at home, Professor Thomas could arguably be considered one of the most prolific Caribbean Economist of his generation. His scholarship spans all aspects of Economics including theoretical, empirical, mathematical, sociological and political. He has authored and coauthored 30 books, research monographs/papers. These include, “Guyana: Countering the Risks of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Arms Proliferation (With Addendum)”; “Eight Essays on the Amaila Falls Hydro Project”; “Thirty Years After the Third World Debt Crisis: Sovereign Debt Stress in CARICOM (With Specific Reference to Guyana)”, and a Study prepared for the
Economist and now Presidential Advisor, Dr. Clive Y. Thomas United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, March 2011, co-authored with Dr. Thomas Singh. Dr. Thomas has also published over 154 academic articles and contributions to books/research monographs and presented invited papers to a similar number of academic conferences, symposia and seminars. His major fields of research interests and publications include Macroeconomics and Finance, as well as in Small and Microeconomies, Development Economics, with special emphasis on growth, trade, finance, agriculture (sugar), environment, and natural resources, Social Sector Economics, with special emphasis on poverty analysis and eradication measures. He was the recipient of the Cacique Crown of Honour for Contributions to Education; Government of Guyana National Awards Scheme in 1994 and the George Beckford Award for Contributions to Caribbean Economy, Association of Caribbean
Economists, in 2001. Since the APNU+AFC government took office, Dr. Thomas in his writings has been calling for a State Asset Recovery Programme. The government took his advice and is currently pursuing such. Thomas insists that it is of critical importance for attention to be placed on recovering stolen public assets. He said that the “rampant corruption under the 23-year rule of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C)” should not be ignored. Dr. Thomas stated that any new government pursuing good governance would seek to recover the nation’s assets, which were mismanaged in “some of the most despicable and corrupt ways.” He had said, “A clear line must be drawn against past illicit/corrupt behaviours in order to prevent their future repetition.” He asserted that the corruption that has been taking place in Guyana can be deemed public and not private, because it is based on fraudulent public procurements contracts, illegal capital flows, particularly illicit misinvoicing of exports and imports and illicit financial transactions, and an underground economy that is driven principally by criminal endeavours illegal evasion of taxes and regulatory evasion. Dr. Thomas believes that the new administration can make bountiful gains by eradicating certain practices.
The economist projected that the APNU+AFC government could rake in a modest $21B in total revenues and another $6B from PetroCaribe savings once illicit siphoning-off practices are halted. “I have also estimated that Guyana can recover almost $333-340 Billion from the areas I cited earlier, but I wish to emphasize that I cannot provide independent valuation of corrupt practices in state enterprises…So the $333-$340B estimation therefore understates the actual size of the pool of annual recoverable stolen public assets. What part of this clearly underestimated pool of stolen public assets might actually be recovered is open to speculation,” he added. Dr. Thomas then proposed a mechanism
whereby the newly-elected government could, “at this unique democratic opening,” embark on seeking resources and justice for Guyanese whose national wealth has been stolen by “the greedy” in recent years. He said that this can be done through some simple steps in which the APNU+AFC administration can proceed with a stolen public assets recovery programme. He said that the first step would be to establish a public body dedicated to the initiative for recovering stolen public assets, followed by invoking Guyana’s responsibilities, duties and entitlements under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). That Convention came into force in 2005. Guyana acceded to it in 2008. It states that: “stolen public assets recovery is a fundamental principle of the Convention”. Further, all 175 UN Members
of the Convention have formally agreed to confiscate such assets, returning it to the state requesting it, “to send a message to corrupt officials that there will be no place to hide their illicit assets”. Further, Dr. Thomas said that the third step would be for the local body suggested at step one, to formally request assistance, technical and otherwise, as is available under UNCAC, whose implementation is supported by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNDOC). Given the coalition origins of APNU+AFC, the economist said that for the fourth step, he would recommend that civil society organizations, especially the internationally-affiliated Human Rights Association, the local chapter of Transparency International, the Trades Union Congress, and private sector, be encouraged to participate in the initiative, as presently permitted.
Cop shot in the head now responding to visitors Victor Fausette, the Police Constable who was shot in the head by a mentally unstable prisoner two Sundays ago, is now responding to relatives. There were speculations that Fausette’s chances of surviving were “slim”, but he continues to show major progress in recovering from the potentially fatal gunshot wound he received. His recovery is being tied to consistent prayers by his mother, who has been
bombarding the ears of God with her cries for mercy upon her son ever since the shooting incident, and the care given by health practitioners at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. The wounded cop’s mother, Marcel Bobb told this publication that her son is coming along well, despite him having a clogged up artery in his right leg, which restricts movement. Doctors have advised that a special medication, which costs over $90,000 for a week’s supply, be bought. She also admitted that he might be having some problems with his memory as he appears puzzled from time to time. When Kaieteur News visited him in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the Georgetown Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Saturday, there were no tubes attached to him as was the case observed during previous visits. Fausette was in high spirits and he pushed himself up into a sitting position to speak with the reporter. He said that he was feeling a lot better but noted that his right leg was feeling a bit numb and he was unable to move it without the support of his arm. On June 7, 2015, Victor
Police Constable, Victor Fausette, smiles in his hospital bed Fausette, of Belladrum, Berbice was shot above the left ear at around 19:00hrs by a “berserk” prisoner, Regan Richards, 18, who had taken away his service revolver. Constable Fausette was attempting to place Richards in the lockups of the Wismar Police Outpost when the mentally ill man attacked him. Nearby residents reportedly heard the gunshot and saw Fausette stagger out of the Police Outpost before collapsing. He was rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital, before being transferred to the GPHC. Richards was subsequently shot dead by a party of policemen who had tracked him down to his home.
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
JUST GREHLIN Whoever said life has its ups and downs was referring more to my weight than my fate. I am a yo-yo or hi-lo dieter, constantly up and down the food and supermarket chains. Recently, when I returned to Trinidad, I found that my waistline was within inches of my chest size and not too far from my height. Given the prospect and embarrassment of having a bed that was wider than it was long, I decided to use my new job to lose weight. Since there was no washroom in or near my office, my first step, as well as my second, third and others in arithmetic succession, was to use a downstairs washroom and try to run up and down. If a person who is more than a little crazy is a “nutcase”, my choice of exercise made me a
“staircase”. I have always wondered why I can lose weight quickly and then regain it even faster. If I count up all the weight I lost I would be invisible. Now I’ve discovered that there’s no glory hallelujah in why sometimes I’m down and more times I’m up in the kilogram count. Science has come to my rescue and told me that it is not my fault. A hormone named “Ghrelin” and not the devil or his food cake, makes me do it. For the scientifically uninformed, a hormone is not a long drawn out cry of pleasure from a lady of easy virtue. It has nothing to do with taking anyone’s genes off. It is a chemical substance produced in an endocrine gland and transported in the blood to a certain tissue on which it exerts a specific
influence. According to Denise Grady of the New York Times News Service, “Ghrelin is one of a complex array of natural substances that carry messages between the brain and the digestive system. Secreted by specialized cells in the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine, ghrelin acts on the brain. It is the first natural appetite stimulant found to be made outside the brain.” While my East-Indian ancestry may have something to do with my pattern of weight loss, it is interesting to note that Ghrelin, although discovered by Japanese researchers in 1995, owes its name to a Hindi word “ghre” meaning “grow”. Based on the evidence my surname should have been “Ghreyal” instead of “Deyal”. Ghrelin stimulates the pituitary gland
to release growth hormone. It makes you hungry, slows down your metabolism and reduces your body’s ability to burn fat. What is worse is that the more you diet the higher your levels of ghrelin rises. People who got ghrelin injections ate about a third more than they would normally eat. According to an Editorial in The New England Journal Of Medicine, “Weight reduction brought about by caloric restriction caused ghrelin levels to increase, suggesting that ghrelin might contribute to the drive to eat that makes long-term success with dieting so rare.” According to Dr. David E. Cummings of the University of Washington who headed a team of researchers studying the impact of ghrelin, “It’s well known that your body works against you
Junior Minister for C’wealth Education Ministers Conference Due to pressing matters at the level of the Cabinet, the Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine would not be able to lead Guyana’s delegation to the upcoming 19th Conference of the Commonwealth Education Ministers (19CCEM) in the Bahamas. The Guyana delegation will instead be headed by Junior Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry. Also scheduled to attend are Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam –Ms. Tricia Teekah -Caribbean Region Representative of the Commonwealth Students’ Association Steering Committee, and Joshua Griffith - President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society. The 19CCEM high level meeting of Commonwealth Ministers is held under the theme: ”Quality Education for Equitable Development: Performance, Paths and Productivity”. The conference aims to follow up on “a major commitment towards the attainment of the
Junior Minister of Education Nicolette Henry Internationally Agreed Goals”, which according to Bahamas’ Minister of Education, were signed on to, in Dakar, Bangladesh and at the United Nations. He said, “This conference will allow us to gauge where we stand with regard to that commitment and accordingly revisit, if need be, mechanisms to accelerate towards the attainment of the Internationally Agreed
Goals, as well as to strategize for aligning Commonwealth priorities with education aspects of the new Post-2015 Global Development Framework.” The Conference will provide an opportunity for the participants to deliberate on the priority and emerging issues, identified by the Ministerial Working Group, which include the persistent inequalities and inequities, worsening income inequalities, high u n e m p l o y m e n t , vulnerabilities of marginalised groups, universality, measurement of quality and unmet education needs. The conference will also elaborate on policy, practice and the strategic actions required in direct response to the new development goals and targets, while exploring trends and innovative practices in education in the Commonwealth. The wide-ranging discussions at the conference are expected to cover a range of educational issues
focusing on quality and skills that meet the dynamic needs of learners, especially the youth and global qualification standards, ICT integration in education and training, opportunities for economic growth and investment, education for sustainable development, and the overall quality of education across the Commonwealth. It is expected that teachers and young people will form part of the different delegations from the Commonwealth countries that will be attending the conference. The Commonwealth Secretariat is expected to officially launch its Fourth Edition of the Commonwealth Education Good Practice Awards (CEGPA) 2015 and there will be a dedicated 19CCEM website which will provide adequate information and details pertaining to the Conference. The 19CCEM commences on 22 June and concludes on the 26 June, 2015.
Bartica to officially secure township status... (From page 15) renewable, the Head of State said it is therefore important for citizens to start thinking of a sustainable economy. In so doing, the President challenged the residents to let reforestation and lesser use of harmful chemicals be foremost as they continue to ply their trades. Meanwhile the residents were also encouraged to get involved in cleaning up their surroundings and beautifying the environs as
they prepare for township status. The Head of State said a collective effort would be needed to bring Bartica to what it should be as a town in every aspect. Also at the meeting, residents were afforded the opportunity to raise some of their concerns which includes the urgent need for a proper waste disposal site and the delay of the requisite permit for a crematorium. Residents of Karrau raised
some concern over land distribution in the village and called for a thorough investigation and audit into the Village Council activities.
The President gave this undertaking and noted that several other Amerindian villages have been calling for same.
when you try to lose weight. What’s new is the possibility that a rise in ghrelin is the way it’s done.” What Dr. Cummings and his researchers found out is that ghrelin rose sharply before meals and fell shortly after meals. This demonstrated quite clearly that it causes you to feel hungry and makes you want to eat. After the people in the experiment lost an average of 17 percent of their body weight, ghrelin output rose about 25 percent. In fact, after they lost the weight, their ghrelin levels were almost as high as when they started the diet. It seems that in our hunting and gathering days as a Stone Age species, we had periods of feasting followed by famine. Fasting was compulsory and not a choice. The people with the most fat survived. Evolution ensured that the children and children’s children of the original Fred Flinstones and Barney Rubbles would have big Bam-Bams and other progeny. That’s the bedrock issue. There are some options like “blockers” or the use of Leptin, an appetite suppressant. There is also a hormone, Peptide YY3-36 or PYY, which switches off the urge to eat. The most popular route in Trinidad these days
is gastric by-pass surgery or stomach stapling. In gastric bypass, surgeons sew off all but a tiny pocket at the top of the stomach. One of the interesting outcomes is a reduction in ghrelin levels. People who have this type of surgery generally continue to lose weight. I plan to by-pass the bypass or to pass on it. I will stick to the tried, although not entirely true. According to the researchers, the combination of diet and exercise, done regularly, can help me to lose about 20% of body-weight. I can maintain the weight-loss if I successfully fool my grehlin by not acting as if I am starving. This is easier said than done. Under stress, we all revert to our comfort foods, behaviours and zones. I am trying bowling in the cricket nets and to my son. Something seems to be working since I am now below two-hundred pounds and my waistline is lethal – a .38 special edging closer to a .357 which, though a magnum, makes me a sleek son of a gun. Until the grehlin stages a comeback and I run out of ammunition. *Tony Deyal was last seen saying that if you want to look young and thin, hang around fat people.
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Kaieteur News
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Monday June 22, 2015
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Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
Guyana’s Private Sector has to look itself in...
From page 5 development.Guyana is struggling with most of these areas. In order for the Private Sector to become the true “engine of growth” and a codevelopment partner with the Government, it has to reengineer itself. It has to become more visionary, more inclusive, more strategic and more aligned with national development goals. A sober analysis of the Private Sector would reveal several characteristics. First, the Guyana private Sector it is a relatively young Private Sector which has been operating in a free enterprise mode for less than 30 years.Second, the Private Sector is technologically unsophisticated having never gone through an industrial revolution primarily because European and particularly colonial powers decided Guyana would be a cheap raw producing export country.
Third, the Guyana Private Sector is comprised of very small companies with profits less than US$10 million except for the mainly monopoly positioned and vertically integrated third generation family owned businesses. Guyana has no multinational companies; no true international companies but has many resellers of global brands. It has a few large export focused extractive foreign owned companies which provide very little skills transfer; technology transfer or high paying jobs for local nationals or true sustainable development. Fourth, access to capital is one of the major constraints to Private Sector development and growth in Guyana. The reality is that access will continue to be a fundamental issue until other structural and institutional arrangements are simultaneously addressed. Fifth, a fundamental ethnic imbalance structurally
exists in the Guyanese business community. Amerindian and African Guyanese play no significant role in the economy for many historical and political reasons. Key to re-engineering itself is the creation of its own holistic growth vision.Over the last 30 years, the Private Sector in Guyana has had to operate within the frameworks of the Economic Recovery Program (ERP); the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP); the National Development Strategy (NDS); the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Competitiveness Strategy (CS). In all of the above referenced Government driven plans, the Private Sector has played second or third fiddle. The NDS, for example, the plan with the most direct involvement of the Private Sector, there has been no concerted effort by the Private Sector to ensure it was implemented. Rather there has been opportunistic
strategies employed by several large companies to entrench their monopolistic tendencies. The Guyana 21 Plan which was a blueprint for sustainable national development was an integral part of the NDS and would have transformed Guyana and the private Sector. It would have made Guyana the Singapore of Latin America serving the huge 200 million plus Brazilian market primarily through a road and freight railway services to Brazilian companies; a deep water harbour; an expanded airport located away from the current limitations of the current airport, a free enterprise zone; several bridges strategically located across Guyana to provide the necessary infrastructure for sustainable growth and which would have opened up much more productive agricultural lands to make Guyana the breadbasket of the Caribbean. Recently Brazil, as a member of BRICS, is now engaged in
Some authoritarian efforts needed... From page 4 enrichment and murder prevailed unchecked, and now, with the reckoning with the book-keepers in the interest of the nation, they have the audacity of Barabbas to pronounce themselves as witch hunted ‘Honest Thieves’. They must be unmasked and imprisoned. How then, do we proceed to erect the mental bastions to cultivate the discipline and self-esteem crucial to stem the tide of almost daily murders, a large number revealed to have been committed by drug affected minds. Mothers beaten by children ‘who want a raise fuh smoke’. This severe situation cannot be addressed other than by a physical and mental philosophy under the guidance of disciplined tutelage. Many myths for political malice have been constructed to demonize organizations like the Guyana Youth Corps, the National Service and the Pioneer Corps, a concept that we particularly borrowed from Israel that exists/ed in most of the countries we admire. These organizations have trained thousands of young Guyanese, exposing them to skills and ideas that have broadened their horizons. I can testify to that. To conclude this chapter I must insert the fact that those organizations were not political centres, yet the PPP demonized them to the point of self imposed ostracizing of its own constituency from participating in its skill training, to keep this country racially divided, to sustain its political existence, at all
costs. Finally, it must be recognized, that for the PPP, Its most effective bargaining tool to justify its right to power has always been the emotional frenzy of racist rabble rousing. I sat in a friend’s office and he played Forbes Burnham’s 1966 inauguration speech on Youtube. Burnham, 49 years ago was talking about the PPP in 2015. Bharrat Jagdeo was fully aware of what this type of instigation did in the 60’s, of the deaths and mutilations caused, when he attempted to recreate a similar atmosphere in 2015 to hold on to political power over a nation that he had morally and economically devastated. This mythology of racist fear mongering has to be addressed, and with clinical examination stripped, exposed and legally punished, because its impetus is Evil. A deceptive cloak adorned as a defence in the event of the public exposure of mundane transgressions, then the cloak of this sinister mythology is invoked, with intent to entrance and insulate its guilty target group. Casting its primitive arcane fictions onto its multitude who are lured by the enchanting music of this and that Snake Charmer, that summons and perpetuates its venom of ‘we against dem’ through its fabricated chants, as a survival mechanism, to the detriment of the collective harmony of all, in the multiethnic and multicultural societies they by choice inhabit, who may be, and
most times are, oblivious of how dangerous its venom is. Discipline of the mind determines answers. Swami Aksharananda must explain the ‘atrocities’ of the PNC’ as he indicated in his letter, Stabroek News April 28, 2015, and he must define these ‘atrocities’ in the ghastly context that the term is used, and would be interpreted in our current consciousness. He must begin from 1957 to 1992. Likewise, must Ms Ryhaan Shah, Ravi Dev writing as Sultan Mohammed and others whose racist insinuations emerged from the same cauldron Bharat Jagdeo was vigorously stirring at Babu Jaan. This malevolent mythology of Fear must be unviled, and not allowed to recoil to its pit and spill its venom another day. I can recall Dr. Denis Williams explaining to me while at Baribina in the North West in 1982-3 about the predicament of ‘Odo’ as he called President Burnham, in respect to the rise of The House of Israel. He was contending the bewildering situation of how so many Afro Guyanese were ready to be regimented in a cultic situation, as Black Jews. Without realizing that it was impossible for a ‘Rabbi’ to be named ‘Washington’, yet there were princes, Queens ect. The sect had a radio programme where Guyanese were delivering themselves with a southern American drawl, and they eventually bought into the politics of the day. The historical realms that
David Hill [Rabbi ] had tapped into were based on fact; the ancient Israelites, Hebrews, were black Africans. But those realms belonged to rare, private study, and had nothing to do with our school system. What Hill did with our people was pure Creative Drama and showman ship. But dangerous nevertheless. At present, ‘folly’ is shouting loudest, and there’s a general opinion that public office means ‘hustle’ rather than service and anything from an ‘Upgrade status’ first timefire arm licence to a driver’s licence can be bought, to the detriment of public safety. The reconstruction has to begin somewhere, M. Maxwell, and all of us must use the example of our history. Every British Governor that came to this country was a Military officer, [ Most of the public works of barbarian England were built by Roman generals [ many were Africans ] and Roman military engineers.] The very social structure of Georgetown evolved from a French Naval Officer [1782] who pronounced and commenced his pronouncement “To establish a capital, which would become a business centre; where religion would have a temple, Justice a palace, war its arsenals, commerce its counting-houses and industry its factories, where also the inhabitants might enjoy the advantage of social intercourse.” Unquote: Thus, the beginning of our Georgetown. Barrington Braithwaite
establishing a BRICS Key to the Private Sector becoming the “engine of growth “is a significant improvement in national competitiveness. Guyana’s National Competitiveness Strategy has three essential components: core policies, sector policies and policies targeting strategic subsectors of activity. The core policies are geared towards improving competitiveness across most sectors of the economy to generate a business-friendly investment climate. Yet, Guyana has been bleeding human capital which is the single greatest issues associated with competitiveness The Private Sector has to become more proactive in creating national development. Climate change is a serious threat. The invasion of Guyana by economic citizens also has to be factored in. The Guyanese Private Sector has to pursue different strategies from the past. It can immediately seek to do six important actions. The first is its internalization of the Low Carbon Development Strategy and the development of strategies by leading Guyanese companies to lead the charge in these sectors and to be the drivers of export diversification. Secondly, the Private Sector has to develop a process within which they can work with the Government of Guyana to reconcile and integrate the LCDS development pathway of 2008 with the National Development Strategy (NDS) of 2006. The second challenge is the need for the Private Sector to become the “engine of growth” in Guyana. To do so, the Private Sector must focus on (1) product and export diversification (2) innovation and entrepreneurship (3) adopting new modern technologies to achieve competitive advantage, and (4) visioning and seeing CSME partnerships and the need for clusters as necessary prerequisites for global competitiveness. For innovation and the introduction of more technology, STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are the foundation. This means there is a need for a different alignment of these topics in the school system and more Private Sector government dialogue in these areas. Guyana’s LCDS is also about global warming, climate change mitigation and adaptation. This is the second goal and Guyana is pursuing this goal using REDD+ to prove its LCDS model to the world. One of the seventeen projects is the
Cunha Rehabilitation Project Climate which will help to address flooding. (Appendix A). Climate change is a major threat to Guyana’s development as Guyana is very vulnerable to flooding and extreme weather patterns. Georgetown, the capitol of Guyana, is located 2 meters beneath the sea level of the Atlantic Ocean. In 2005, for example, Guyana lost approximately 60% of is GDP because of heavy rainfall which flooded Georgetown and the East Coast.The Caribbean Climate Change Community Center has also projected severe impacts on Guyana and Caribbean islands in the next 30 years .Guyana’s exposure to climate change is therefore a very significant risk to its development, brown or green, if this exposure to floods is not scientifically and politically well managed. CSME To this noble task, let us now unreservedly, commit our Party and ourselves”.For example, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), the flagship of the Caribbean Community, will create a single economic space which will allow for the more efficient utilization of regional resources and provide access to a market of over 14 million consumers. It will also encourage international standards of production, enforced by the Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality. In time, Guyana will have increased access to capital, skills, and other inputs from across the region and the strengthening of the legal framework to facilitate the pooling of CARICOM resources will enable Guyana and all the Community to be more effective in international negotiations. This environment will provide the platform to enable Guyana and all the Community to integrate effectively and competitively with the rest of the global economy through creating the conditions to enable our goods and services to compete and win in both intra-regional and extra-regional markets.2 Companies in Guyana need to become more focused on export and product diversification. To do this Guyana, it must focus on (1) product and export diversification (2) innovation and entrepreneurship (3) adopting new modern technologies to achieve competitive advantage, and (4) visioning and seeing itself as a CSME businesses. The Private Sector in Guyana has to look at itself in a mirror and become part of the solution. Eric Phillips
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
British business leaders plan campaign for EU exit Reuters - A group of British business leaders and entrepreneurs are preparing to launch a campaign for Britain to leave the European Union at a planned membership referendum, a major donor to the UK Independence Party said. Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU ahead of a vote by the end of 2017, and is this week due to set out his reform plans in more detail at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels. The group, which the Sunday Telegraph reported would be called “No Thanks - We’re Going Global”, is backed by UKIP donor Arron Banks and property investor Richard Tice. So far it has raised 7 million pounds ($11 million) of a planned 20 million pounds. “This is too important for politicians to be taking the lead, it has got to be business, and the wider public,” Banks told the paper. “They can
David Cameron endorse it and support it but they will not be involved in the campaign.” Banks said the group, due to launch in September, had also been talking to sports stars and leading figures in medicine, science and the military about getting involved in the campaign. Lawmakers from Cameron’s Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party have already formed two separate groups ready to campaign to leave the EU if the British leader does not
succeed in his renegotiation efforts. Cameron, re-elected for a second term last month, has spent the past few weeks meeting with EU leaders to discuss his plans ahead of Thursday’s European Council summit. He has said he is confident of securing concessions and favours Britain remaining in a reformed union. The changes he is seeking include boosting the bloc’s economic competitiveness, protections for nonmembers of the euro zone, an opt-out from the EU’s p r i n ciple of ever-closer union, and tighter curbs on EU migrants’ access to British welfare payments. The Sunday Times reported that aides to Cameron had told Eurosceptic Conservative lawmakers that his renegotiation plans go further than he has made public, including “rebranding” Britain as an associate or trading member of the bloc.
South Africa opposition calls for investigation into Bashir’s flight out JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s main opposition yesterday called for a full investigation into the government’s failure to arrest Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, who is due to face charges of genocide at the International Criminal Court. The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it wanted the Public Protector’s office to determine who was responsible for authorizing the use of state resources to enable alBashir’s departure. Last Monday, before a Pretoria court ruled that the leader should be held in the country and the ICC’s arrest warrant executed, Bashir flew out of the Waterkloof Air Base heading for Khartoum. Bashir, who has controlled Sudan for over 25 years, has been indicted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He
Omar al-Bashir was in Johannesburg for an African Union summit. South African officials did not respond to requests for comment, while President Jacob Zuma avoided questions on the subject after a Q&A session in parliament was abandoned on Thursday. “As the days pass since
Sudanese President Omar alBashir fled the country, a growing body of evidence points to an elaborate and well-coordinated plot by the Presidency, in collusion with the Security Cluster, to facilitate his escape,” the DA statement read. The party said it had forwarded a motion to have Bashir’s departure debated in the National Assembly on Tuesday, adding that it would quiz foreign minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane at a committee early on Tuesday. The South African government has maintained that Bashir along with all delegates attending the AU summit were granted immunity. The United Nations and the U.S. State Department have both expressed disappointment at South Africa’s failure to detain Bashir.
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Pentagon chief planning for longer-term rift with Russia
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter testifies before a House Armed Services Committee hearing on U.S. Policy and Strategy in the Middle East, accompanied by U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martin Dempsey (R), on Capitol Hill in Washington June 17. Reuters/Carlos Barria Reuters - The United States and its NATO allies are preparing militarily for the prospect that their rift with Russia could outlast President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said yesterday. Russia’s intervention in Ukraine has put NATO allies in eastern Europe on edge and
triggered a series of military moves by the alliance, including an acceleration of exercises and the creation of a NATO rapid response force. Carter, speaking at the start of a week-long trip to Europe, said the United States hoped Russia would return to a forward- looking course and noted areas of
Greece has submitted new debt proposals to creditors - France’s Hollande MILAN (Reuters) - Greece has presented new proposals to its creditors as it tries to stave off the risk of a debt default, French President Francois Hollande said yesterday. “Greece sent to the European Commission, and I think to the institutions - that is the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank - its new proposals,” Hollande said during a press conference with Italian premier Matteo Renzi in Milan. Hollande said that some countries may have a copy of the new proposals but that it was the institutions that would conduct talks with Greece to reach a solution.
diplomatic cooperation with Moscow, including talks over Iran’s nuclear program. But ongoing changes to NATO’s military posture, which are meant in part to deter a Russian intervention, illustrate preparations for longer lasting tensions, he said. “The adaptations I was talking are specifically in anticipation that Russia might not change under Vladimir Putin, or even thereafter,” Carter said before landing in Berlin. Asked whether he thought Putin might change course, Carter said he hoped so, but “I can’t be sure.” Putin was elected president in 2012 for six years. Under Russian law, the head of state is limited to two consecutive terms, so he could run again in 2018 for another six-year mandate. Carter’s trip will flag many of those adaptations by NATO, starting with getting a first-hand look at some of NATO’s new rapid response forces in Germany today. In Estonia, Carter will climb aboard a U.S. warship fresh from Baltic Sea drills. Carter could also offer more details on plans to preposition heavy military equipment, officials say.
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Kaieteur News
Monday June 22, 2015
Owen Arthur: Sinckler could bring Dem down
Owen Arthur
Daily Nation - On the defensive a day after being slapped down by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler over comments he made about Government’s savings bonds, Arthur has issued a different warning. The St Peter Independent Member of Parliament has told the country that Sinckler’s brash nature could be the cause of the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) demise. He told the SUNDAY SUN Saturday that Sinckler was doing the DLP a disservice. “It was a speech in which [Sinckler] helped in large measure to draft in 1994 that [Sir Lloyd] Sandiford uttered that caused five members of DLP to vote against the Dems in the House and if the DLP is not careful, it is this Chris Sinckler and his brashness that is going to bring them down again,” he added.
Jack has more PP exposés Claims of money laundering and a front man to hide cash are at the top of the list of Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner ’s latest planned exposé on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Though Warner is keeping the details on the matter for his press conference carded for Tuesday, the Sunday Guardian learned that Warner plans to link one of PersadBissessar’s close associates to a series of financial transactions kept deliberately under the radar. While keeping his guns trained on Persad-Bissessar, Warner is still insisting that he is not in any war with the PM or her cabinet members. “I am not at war with the Prime Minister, I am not at war with anyone,” Warner told the Sunday Guardian. When questioned about his continued attack on Persad-Bissessar, Warner said he was attempting to atone for the wrong he did to the country when he helped bring the People’s Partnership into government back in 2010. Warner plans to drop bombshell after bombshell in the build-up to the general election on September 2015. Warner said he planned to “unmask” Persad-Bissessar so that the country will know exactly who they voted for back in 2010. “I did the country wrong five years ago and I need to correct that,” Warner said. He said Tuesday would not be the end of his revelations, but he planned to continue unveiling more and more information on PersadBissessar and her Cabinet as the election campaign intensified. “More is coming in the fullness of time,” he said. On Thursday, Persad-
Bissessar said the Kristyan Gokool that Warner asked about was her neighbour and to her knowledge, he never received any Government contracts. But Warner was not satisfied with that response and said that it was now up to him to “clear the air” on the real relationship between Persad-Bissessar and the Gokool’s. But while the country waits to hear what else Warner has up his sleeve, at least one government minister is saying he had enough. Speaking to the media at a key handover ceremony in Edinburgh 500 yesterday, Housing Minister and Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal said he was “fed up” of Warner and called on the media to stop giving him the attention. “I think the media in this country is the only one who takes him seriously,” he said. When asked to comment on the issues raised by Warner in the past week, Moonilal said he was no longer commenting on Warner. “I personally am sick and tired like you are of Mr Warner and all of this mauvais lange and bacchanal and old talk...” Moonilal said. He said Warner should be focusing on the fact that while there were some 79 days before the general election, he only had 49 days to the end of his extradition matter. “He should really focus on that...” he said.Moonilal said if it wasn’t for Warner, the People’s National Movement (PNM) would have nothing to say on their own platforms. “If Mr Warner did not exist there could be no PNM meeting or labour rally in Fyzabad.” Diverting from the topic of Warner, Moonilal said he was “saddened” to see how badly the labour movement was fragmented under the leadership of Oilfields Workers Trade Union (OWTU) boss Ancel Roget.
Jack Warner Moonilal was referring to the fracas that broke out at the labour rally on Friday when Public Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke was physically removed from the meeting by riot police. “Very, very sad day for labour when workers and their representatives are denied access to public space, denied access to march and participate in a rally,” he said. When the media attempted to redirect the questions to Warner, Moonilal said he was trying to move the media away from that issue but recognised that it was not working. “I think this is the only media across the globe that gives him that kind of prominence,” he said, adding that Warner had been reduced to a punch line for foreign comedians. “It is not something I am prepared to comment on, but I am extremely sad because I think the next step is to ask for counselling. I think Warner needs some measure of counselling and prayer,” he said. Moonilal said he would not be surprised if Warner claimed to have a file on the dog living in the Prime Minister’s compound. “He has gone to the dogs,” he added.
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Venezuela anti-government Barbados government to address march demands election date cell phone use in schools Caracas (AFP) Marchers hit the Caracas streets Saturday to demand elections and the release of jailed Venezuelan opposition activists including figurehead Leopoldo Lopez, who has been on hunger strike since May 24. The crowd of about 500 was called out by Lopez’s wife, Lilian Tintori, for a march that ended in Jose Marti square in the capital. “If you want Leopoldo to stop his hunger strike, set a date for the elections,” Tintori told the crowd, in remarks aimed at socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela is due to hold midterm elections in 2015, but no date has been set. Maduro has insisted the vote will go ahead as it is required. Critics charge that he is trying to delay until the last
Leopoldo Lopez possible minute to undercut the opposition. Lopez, who leads the Voluntad Popular (Will of the People) party, went on his hunger strike demanding that the election date be set and
that international monitors be in place. Lopez, 44, has been held at a military prison outside Caracas since he was arrested in February 2014 on charges of inciting the violence that killed 43 people and wounded hundreds as Venezuelans protested against Maduro’s government last year. Maduro has rejected criticism of his hardline approach towards his opponents and blamed the country’s deteriorating economy on the United States. The OPEC member’s economy is reeling from a collapse in crude oil prices, soaring inflation, a shortfall of hard currency and chronic shortages of basic goods. Venezuela is also the world’s second deadliest country in the world, according to UN data.
US-based Caribbean families torn apart by drug deportations – report LOS ANGELES, CMC -– A major human rights group here says thousands of Caribbean families in the United States have been torn apart in recent years by detention and deportation for drug offenses. In its latest report Human Rights Watch said that disproportionately harsh laws and policies relating to drug offenses can lead to deportation for lawful permanent Caribbean and other residents and unauthorized immigrants alike. The 93-page report, “A Price too high: US Families torn apart by deportations for drug offences,” documents how the US regularly places legal residents and other immigrants with strong ties to US families into deportation proceedings for
drug offenses.Often, those offenses are decades old or so minor they resulted in little or no prison time, the report says. Deportations after convictions for drug possession in particular have spiked, increasing 43 per cent from 2007 to 2012, according to US government data obtained by Human Rights Watch through a Freedom of Information Act request. The report is based on more than 130 interviews with affected immigrants, families, attorneys, and law enforcement officials, as well as new data obtained from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Deportations of non-citizens with drug convictions, and especially with drug possession
Antigua extends amnesty for non-nationals ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) - An amnesty programme geared towards giving non-nationals the opportunity to regularise their status, has been extended. According to Acting Chief Immigration Officer Annette Mark, during this grace period, it is hoped that people will regularise their status. “The amnesty is a pardon,” she said. “Basically, it’s for those persons who are here illegally, those persons who have gaps in their time, and persons who have applied already to the passport office and have been denied,” Mark told Observer radio on the weekend. “So, I’m encouraging persons to come forward….otherwise, after this period, our enforcement department will be out in full force looking for persons who are here illegally,” she said, adding that during a meeting at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, it was decided that the deadline would be set to September 15, giving individuals at least 90 days to be informed. The amnesty was granted to non-nationals under the Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Act 2015 on April 8.
convictions, increased significantly from 2007 to 2012, the report says. In addition to the 43 per cent increase in deportations after convictions for drug possession during that period, the report says deportations after convictions for sales, smuggling, manufacture, or trafficking increased 23 per cent. For more than 34,000 deported non-citizens, the most serious conviction was for marijuana possession, according to the report. Human Rights Watch said it requested information on the immigration status of deported non-citizens in its Freedom of Information Act, but said ICE, in its response, claimed not to keep such records. Human Rights Watch said an appeal is pending. Under US immigration law, expunged or pardoned drug convictions can still result in deportation, according to Human Rights Watch. It said drug offenses also bar non-citizens from gaining lawful resident status, even if they have close family relationships with US citizens that would otherwise qualify them for green cards. Although it is possible for a non-citizen to apply for a waiver for offenses such as assault or fraud if they can show a US citizen family member would suffer extreme hardship if the non-citizen could not gain legal resident status, the only waiver possible for drug offenses is for a single conviction for possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana, Human Rights Watch said.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Minister of education, science, technology and innovation, Ronald Jones, has hinted that changes will be coming in September to address the use of cell phones in schools in Barbados. Speaking last week, the minister said this would not be in any wanton way but would be to ensure the use of the technology with a sensible set of policies. Observing that there were contradictions with respect to cell phones in school, Jones said: “I can see photos and videos of a class or classes and teachers on their cell phones in front of the children. I can see that… That is the contradiction of our reality.” Acknowledging that we were in the era of technology that was constantly changing, the minister stressed: “We can’t shut children away from technology use and particularly that for educational use. If we look at how it is used sometimes we would say we can’t do it. But it would take a whole day to go through every bag in every school searching for a cell phone or some other piece of technology. “Am I going to put the laptop out of school? They have all of the apps and software that you can find on a smartphone… every single thing that you can find is in the computer, the laptop, the iPad or tablets. All of those
Ronald Jones things are there and I don’t think we can shoot ourselves in the foot by saying ‘move all of them out of school’,” he stated. The education minister contended that we had to consider a wider policy that zeroed in on learning that still had built into it certain controls. “You can’t take out your cell phone in the classroom and make a call just like we say to the teachers ‘you can’t be using the classroom to make calls in front of the children’. You’re adults but use that for your staff room,” he said, adding that it was not about a relaxation in the policy but the writing of a new policy that took into consideration the need to use the technology for learning. Recalling there was a group in Barbados which said it wanted Wi-Fi made
available across the island, the education minister said: “That is a brilliant endeavour but to give the Wi-Fi and then you don’t have the other technologies to go with it is really counterproductive.” He also noted that the ministry was doing a lot of work to ensure there was good curriculum material for all of the technological tools. Jones further pointed out that the ministry wanted to see students acting as “a voice for reason”, and more supervision undertaken by adults. “We need to do a little more supervision of our children and talk to them about the ethical, sensible use of technology rather than some of the sensational,” he said, noting that some people might not be aware of the existence of the computer misuse legislation which had the ability to trace most of the material back to its origin, even to those who passed it on. Maintaining that children learned by the use of technology, the former educator noted that the ebook was cheaper and more enduring than the hardcover paperback. “So, all of that has to be part of the transition. Schools themselves will have to monitor, police, and support the transition that will come. It is because of the educational value that we will also have to get in stride,” he said.
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Kaieteur News
Monday June 22, 2015
TEACHERS FIRM
That house is not mine…
JTA hangs tough, rejects Government’s wage offer
PM denies $6M next door mansion was bought through Kristyan for her
Excited teachers celebrate the rejected wage offer at the JTA’s special conference to vote on the Government’s latest wage offer at the Jamaica College auditorium. The Gleaner - A proposal for a freeze of income tax from the salaries of teachers for the next two financial years received the most support Saturday as members of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) debated the Government’s seven per cent wage offer. With militant teachers adamant that they would not accept the current wage offer, the income-tax freeze was voiced as one of the few measures which could be put on the table for the seven per cent over two years to be even considered. During a marathon special delegates’ conference called by the JTA at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College in St Andrew, the teachers also rejected what they described as a “Nicodemus late-night phone call” from the Government’s chief negotiator, Horace Dalley, upping the book, software and technology allowance. The JTA is seeking 15 per cent in year one (2015-2016), and 10 per cent in year two (2016-2017). “The results are as follows: A total of 315 ballots
were registered. There was one spoilt vote, 71 voted to accept and 243 voted to reject,” announced JTA President Doran Dixon at 2:40 p.m., 40 minutes after delegates were issued ballots to votes. “On Monday, we will communicate the decision of the delegates to the minister of finance and we are going to demand an urgent meeting to continue these negotiations. We accept the results, and we move forward, full speed ahead. The struggle continues,” were Dixon’s final words to the conference. Close to 500 delegates were expected to attend the conference and more than 400 were in attendance, representing 78 district associations of the JTA, which represents some 24,000 teachers and principals. However, with or without Dalley’s call offering to increase the book, software and technology allowance from $141,000 to $171,000 in the first year and from $147,000 to $177,000 in the second year, it seemed the die was cast long before the teachers assembled to consider the offer and vote. After a patient, three-hour presentation of the current offer to the teachers by Dixon, teacher after teacher who spoke, many leaders in the various district associations of the JTA, made their intentions clear. Dixon listened as delegates vented, sought clarification and urged other delegates to vote “right”. Speaking in clear, unhindered, and calm voices, they urged the Government to find more money. “We have been in continuous dialogue with the Government’s chief negotiator, the Honourable Horace Dalley, and we
negotiate hard, but with respect,” said Dixon, prior to the vote. Asked if the percentage increase was the only sticking point in the negotiations, Dixon said: “The entire package is rejected.” Among the already agreed positions now rejected by the teachers is duty allowance, which was to increase by $2,000 in the first year and a further $1,000 in the second year. The JTA is seeking a $30,000 increase in the first year and a further $30,000 increase in the second year. A 100 per cent increase, from $750 to $1,500 in special duty allowance, was also an agreed position. This is an allowance for national events. The Ministry of Education has also agreed to the appointment of one teacher qualified in physical education, music, visual arts and information technology in primary schools, and a technology integration specialist for all schools. The JTA wants, and the ministry has supported, payment for unutilised casual and vacation leave, the assignment of plant managers for schools with enrolment in excess of 800 students, and that $10 million be made available for the professional development of teachers. The teachers body is also asking for 10 social workers to be assigned in each of the ministry’s regional offices; that sixth-form teachers who teach 50 or more per cent of their classes at that level be remunerated at the level in the lecturer’s scale; a special administrative allowance be paid to principal in the schools with enrolment in excess of 300 students; administrative leave for vice-principals in off-site campuses; and the right to reopen negotiations.
The house at Estate Drive, Phillipine (right) located next to the private residence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, which was purchased by Kristyan Gokool at a cost of $6M three years ago. Photo Dexter Phillip Trinidad Express - Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar has denied that the $6 million mansion located next door to her private residence in Phillipine, south Trinidad was purchased for her. The deed for the Estate Drive property lists Kristyan Gokool, 35, of Papourie Road, Lengua Village, Barrackpore as purchasing the multimillion-dollar property on November 22, 2012 without a mortgage. However, the mansion remains unoccupied since being purchased and renovated. Responding to questions sent by the Sunday Express Saturday as to whether the $6 million mansion was purchased by Gokool for her, Persad-Bissessar said: “Absolutely not true.” As to whether Gokool was ever invited to any functions or receptions held at her private residence or at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, Persad-Bissessar said: “He has, just like some of my other neighbours.” Asked to explain the nature of the relationship she had with the Gokool family, Persad-Bissessar said: “No relations except that of same good relations with all my neighbours.” It was corruption accused Jack Warner who threw out the question “Who is Kristyan?” to PersadBissessar last Wednesday at a political meeting in San Fernando. Warner said: “Kamla for your sake and the country sake, tell them who is Kristyan. That is all. Tell the country who is Kristyan, Kamla. I go further to tell you to tell Jit Hardeen, a special
reserve police officer, ask him to tell us who is Kristyan because if she does not and he does not in two weeks’ time I will.” And in response to whether she knew Hardeen, Persad-Bissessar said: “No. I was informed, however, that he was the driver of former minister of the people Glenn Ramadharsingh.” Gokool made no secret of his presence at functions hosted by Persad-Bissessar when the Sunday Express caught up with him in February at his parents home in Barrackpore. When asked if he was ever invited to the private residence or official residence of Persad-Bissessar, Gokool said: “The Prime Minister is my neighbour. You must do good with your neighbour. The Prime Minister also has a son and we talk. It is true — I do good with them. When the house was renovating we use to talk often. I talk to them. If they are having something I get invited.” Asked specifically whether he had purchased the house for Persad-Bissessar he said no. And according to Gokool the only reason he has not moved into the renovated mansion is because one of his children is ill. Gokool said back in February: “At this point I do not know when (move into the house). I do not know if you have children but if you do, you will know how hard it is. It is a worry. My son is only ten weeks and the doctors told us that he has a stomach problem. We are young and we need help with our children? That is why I am still here. That house is for my family.”
The two lots of land on which the mansion stands formed part of one-acre 20 parcels of land that was purchased by PersadBissesssar ’s husband Gregory Bissessar for $85,000 in 1990. However, due to a family dispute 12 years ago a consent order was made and Bissessar’s brother Lenin Bissessar and his wife Ukie became the new owners of the two lots of land in 2003. Two years later, British couple Achillea and Catriona Achilleous bought the land from Lenin and Ukie Bissessar for $1million and built a fourbedroom mansion. The Achilleous family, however, in 2012 placed the mansion on the market for sale, asking for $6.5 million. Official documents also list Gokool as purchasing a $3.1 million parcel of land that is located obliquely opposite the mansion along Estate Drive. Gokool is the son of businessman Daniel Gokool who is listed as a director of Danny Enterprises Ltd. He has a twin brother named Kristofferson. Danny Enterprises Ltd is on record as receiving State contracts. The company was one of the four contractors hired to repair the collapsed Mazanilla-Mayaro Road in November last year. Checks on various websites show that Kristofferson is listed as a director of Trade Investment & Foreign Business Development (TIFB) in Panama. He is also listed as a director of Panama Asphalt, INC. Dad Gokool is also listed as a director of that company.
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 29
EXCLUSIVE - Banks did not do enough to police FIFA transactions, says global agency LONDON (Reuters) A global group of government anti-money-laundering agencies said that financial institutions have not done enough to police suspicious financial activity by officials at football’s global governing body FIFA, and cautioned banks to step up scrutiny. The warning from the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force came in the wake of last month’s indictment by the U.S. of nine current and former FIFA officials and five business executives on a series of corruption charges, including bribery, money laundering and wire fraud. With the U.S. investigation continuing to widen, and a separate Swiss probe gearing up into whether there was corruption involved in FIFA’s awarding of the hosting rights to Russia and Qatar for the next football World Cups in 2018 and 2022, the warning will add to banks’ concern about handling certain football accounts for organizations and individuals. Some European and U.S. banks had already stepped up scrutiny of FIFA-related accounts and at least one said it had stopped handling FIFA business for some time because of corruption allegations. In a statement FATF said that “recent reports about alleged corruption and money laundering activities on a large scale by several high-ranking FIFA officials underscore how important it is that financial institutions identify and monitor high-risk customers.” It said that financial institutions “do not appear to have given a sufficient amount of scrutiny to the
financial activities of the officials concerned, as many of these allegedly corruptionrelated transfers passed through the international financial system undetected.” FATF, whose members include the U.S., China, Brazil, Switzerland and many other European countries, said that an “ongoing public debate about the integrity of an entity should raise flags to financial institutions. As a result they should treat customers that are related to that entity as high risk customers.” Reuters was told about the statement, which appears to be dated June 16, by a European official with knowledge of the FIFA case. It can be found through a Google search but does not appear to be accessible through the FATF website. FATF officials could not be immediately reached for comment on why that was the case. NARCOTICS CONTROL REPORT While the indictments were only issued on May 27, for many years there has been widespread media coverage of alleged corruption at FIFA and its regional affiliates, including several books published on the issue in the past nine years. There had also been news reports about the FBI probe. One question being asked in U.S. banking circles is whether banks are acting quickly enough to flag activity once they have had subpoenas for information about an account from the authorities, said one source close to the industry.
Also in March, in a routine report on narcotics control that was little noticed at the time, the U.S. State Department expressed concern about how loopholes in Swiss law which affected FIFA had created potential for corruption and money laundering. The report is commonly used by U.S. banks to assess the risks associated with foreign customers and correspondent banks. “Sports associations like the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) or the International Olympic Committee are not businesses but associations. They do not pay taxes and, as associations, are exempt from the Swiss anti-corruption legal framework,” the State Department said in the report. “The exception provided to these entities makes them more vulnerable to money laundering activity. The government should consider efforts to change applicable laws with respect to these organizations, many of which are suspected of corruption,” it said in reference to the Swiss government. Despite all the warning signs, the indictment outlines dozens of questionable transactions that banks in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere allowed to go through, many of them in the past few years. In the indictment, U.S. prosecutors say that the defendants and their coconspirators relied heavily on the U.S. banking system to promote and conceal their schemes. The acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New
York, Kelly T. Currie, told a news conference when the indictments were announced on May 27 that bank actions would be reviewed to see if they knowingly facilitated bribes. The banks concerned have not been accused of wrongdoing. EARLIER WARNINGS FATF has expressed concern in the past about football being a vehicle for money laundering. In 2012, the group issued a warning that as the sport grew, “the investment of money into the sector has increased exponentially, and some of this has criminal connections.” “Despite the rapid growth and high-visibility of the football sector, however, football’s regulatory structure has not yet caught up with these changes,” FATF warned then. Earlier, in July 2009, FATF issued a 40-page paper entitled “Money Laundering through the Football Sector”. The document said that football faced numerous vulnerabilities to money laundering, including a lack of professional management at various levels. FATF said that it would be discussing the issue at a meeting the group is holding, starting Sunday, in Brisbane, Australia, including “whether any further standards or guidance are necessary or whether the current standards are adequate if properly applied.” The involvement of antimoney-laundering monitors in current investigations of FIFA corruption was highlighted last week by Michael Lauber, attorney general of Switzerland.
Bolt confirmed for National Senior Trials Jamaica Observer WORLD and Olympic champion Usain Bolt will compete at next weekend’s JAAA National Senior Championships that will be held between Thursday and Sunday at the National Stadium. Multiple sources told the Sunday Observer that Bolt will contest the men’s 100m that will be run between Thursday and Friday with the final set for 9:15 Friday night. His inclusion in the event could set up a mouthwatering final that could see Bolt, Asafa Powell, former World Championships gold medallist Yohan Blake, bronze medallist at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow two years ago Nesta Carter, Nickel Ashmeade and the upand-coming pair of Julian
BOLT... worried about his form at the moment. Forte and Andrew Fisher. Bolt is the defending champion in both the 100m and 200m at the World Championships after winning the double two years ago in Moscow, Russia, and has a bye to the event, but opted
to compete at the four-day championship after a string of slow times. His latest below-par effort being a 20.29 seconds clocking in the 200m at last weekend’s IAAF Diamond League meet in New York. Bolt holds the 200m record
of 19.19 seconds. After his run Bolt, who took most of last year off, was at a loss as to what had caused his slow times and had suggested that he would have to run more races to get himself back into top form, thus his decision to run at Trials. He might have dropped an even more obvious hint at the pre-race press conference in Manhattan last Friday when he told the media that “oneoff races” such as the ones on the circuit would not be beneficial to him to get him into top form. At Trials, Bolt will race three times in over two days — the quarter-finals at 6:55 pm on Thursday and semisfinals at 7:10 pm Friday, two hours before the final is scheduled.
Lauber, who announced his FIFA investigation on the same day that U.S. authorities revealed the indictments, told a news conference in Berne last week that his investigators were examining sets of suspicious transactions related to FIFA. He said that these
transactions included 104 banking relationships, some of which involved multiple accounts, as well as 53 suspicious transactions which had been flagged by Swiss financial institutions to Switzerland’s anti-money laundering agency, known as the financial intelligence unit.
From page 22
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Kaieteur News
Rampant Germany, gritty China advance into quarters EDMONTON, Canada (Reuters) Twice champions Germany and a resurgent China reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup after contrasting victories the first matches in the knockout phase of the competition on Saturday. Germany crushed Sweden 4-1 in Ottawa with Celia Sasic scored in each half against a disappointing Swedish side. Anja Mittag and Dzsenifer Marozsan also found the target for the pre-tournament favorites. A 12th minute goal from Wang Shanshan was all that separated China from a lively Cameroon with some resilient defending ensured a place in the last eight for the 1999 runners-up. The knockout phase continues on Sunday with Brazil taking on Australia, France up against South Korea and hosts Canada facing Switzerland. Germany’s resounding
victory against a traditionally strong Sweden sent a clear message that Silvia Neid’s team have a real chance to go all the way and join their male counterparts as world champions. Neid found no need for false modesty about the performance of the 2003 and 2007 champions. China’s win came without their head coach Hao Wei on the bench as he served a one-match suspension but his assistant Chang Wei Wei was delighted with the way his players stuck at their task. China will face the winner of the match between the second ranked U.S. and Colombia in Edmonton on Monday with Cameroon counterpart Enow Ngachu thinking the Chinese could produce an upset if they meet the United States in the next round.
Monday June 22, 2015
Rosberg gets the jump on Hamilton in Austria
Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany celebrates with the trophy after winning the Austrian F1 Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring circuit in Spielberg, Austria. Reuters/Laszlo Balogh
Germany forward Celia Sasic (13) collides with Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl (1) as defender Amanda Ilestedt (14) defends during the second half in the round of sixteen in the FIFA 2015 women’s World Cup soccer tournament at Lansdowne Stadium. (Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports)
SPIELBERG, Austria (Reuters) Nico Rosberg won the Austrian Grand Prix for the second year in a row on Sunday with his championship-leading Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton losing out at the start and having to settle for second. Hamilton’s lead in the Formula One standings was cut to 10 points after eight of 19 races, the Briton making a poor getaway from pole position and being beaten into the first corner by the determined German. The victory was Rosberg’s third of the season, to Hamilton’s four, and left
Colombia draw 0-0 with Peru in dull Copa America tie TEMUCO (Reuters) Colombia were left sweating on their Copa America hopes after a lacklustre 0-0 draw with
Peru on Sunday. The result took Peru into the quarter-finals but Colombia’s advance is
dependent on the result of the day’s later match between Brazil and Venezuela. Colombia were the better
Colombia’s Jeison Murillo heads the ball while jumping over Peru’s Paolo Guerrero during their first round Copa America 2015 soccer match at Estadio Municipal Bicentenario German Becker in Temuco, Chile. (Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)
side and Peruvian keeper Pedro Gallese got down well to stop Radamel Falcao opening the scoring in the third minute. Pablo Armero then shot into the side netting after a defence splitting pass from James Rodriguez. Jackson Martinez missed a great chance to guarantee Colombia’s advance when he scuffed a weak shot straight at the keeper in injury time. The draw left both Colombia and Peru with four points in Group C and ended Ecuador ’s chances of progressing as one of the two best third-placed teams. The other two teams in Group C, Brazil and Venezuela, both need to win to guarantee their quarter-final place. The winner of Group C will play Paraguay in the quarter finals, while the team in second place will face Bolivia. Uruguay, one of the guaranteed best third-place teams, face hosts Chile.
him on 159 points to his rival’s 169. Asked why he did not drive every race like that, Rosberg smiled: “I will try from now on,” he told reporters. “It’s an awesome feeling of course to win again here. The start made the race. “It really worked out perfectly today,” added the German, who turns 30 next weekend. Any hopes of a chase to the end disappeared when Hamilton, who finished 3.8 seconds behind, collected a five-second penalty for crossing the white line as he left the pits on the 35th of the 71 laps. The double world champion recognized that he was never close enough even without the penalty. “Nico did a fantastic job today. He was quicker during the race, I had a bad start which lost me ground,” said Hamilton in podium interviews conducted by former F1 racer Gerhard Berger. “I was pushing as hard as I could.” A small consolation for Hamilton was the fact that he led for three laps while Rosberg pitted, allowing him to equal triple champion Jackie Stewart’s 45-year-old record of leading 17 successive races. Brazilian Felipe Massa finished a distant third for Mercedes-powered Williams after holding off Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who lost crucial seconds on his one pitstop when the right rear wheel gun jammed. “I just managed to keep the line and not make any mistake and just use a little bit of experience,” said Massa, who started on pole last year, after his 40th career podium. Vettel’s team mate Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren’s
Fernando Alonso collided and crashed into the barriers after the second corner, bringing out the safety car for five laps. The McLaren ended up on top of the Ferrari, fortunately without hitting Raikkonen’s head or hands, and perched on the barriers. Stewards investigated after the race and decided to take no further action against either driver. SCARY MOMENT Alonso, who had started on the back row after collecting a 25-place drop following engine and gearbox changes, said the collision with his former Ferrari team mate was a scary moment. “Kimi had a lot of wheel spin out of turn two. We were overtaking him and he lost the car on the left. I was on the left. I could not see anything. I looked in the mirror and saw a car under my car,” he said. The Spaniard waited for Raikkonen to get out of the car before they walked away together. Never one to waste words, the Finn described the incident as ‘not ideal’. Williams’s Valtteri Bottas finished fifth, ahead of 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Nico Hulkenberg in a Force India and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado seventh for Lotus. Max Verstappen, the 17year-old Dutch rookie, was eighth for Toro Rosso after struggling to control his car on worn tyres at the end and Mexican Sergio Perez made it a double points finish for Force India. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo grabbed a consolation point for the unhappy hosts with 10th place. Only 14 of the 20 cars finished, with both Hondapowered McLarens out of action after just 10 laps.
Monday June 22, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Federer rules Halle for eighth Rock solid Australia eliminate Brazil in last 16 time with win over Seppi HALLE, Germany (Reuters) Roger Federer won the Halle Open for a recordextending eighth time on Sunday by beating Italy’s Andreas Seppi 7-6(1) 6-4 in a successful dress rehearsal on grass ahead of Wimbledon. Defending champion Federer, who has now won Halle more times than any other tournament, captured his fourth title of the year after victories in Istanbul, Dubai and Brisbane to take his career haul to 86. “It is a special moment for me, to win this tournament an eighth time,” the 17-times grand slam winner said courtside. “I have always enjoyed amazing support
here all these year. I always enjoy it here and it is one of my favourite events. “2013 was difficult, 2014 was better and now 2015 after this week is even better and I hope I can keep it up,” he said with Wimbledon starting on June 29. The Swiss top seed, who has won Wimbledon and Dubai seven times, saved two set points on his serve when he trailed 5-4 in the first set. He dug deep to level for 5-5 in his 10th final appearance in Halle. He then crushed the Italian in the tiebreak, losing only one point, to take the first set. Seppi, who reached his
second final of the year after Gael Monfils and second seed Kei Nishikori retired in his two previous matches, earned another break opportunity at 2-2 but he sent a backhand into the net. World number two Federer then squandered three breakpoints at 4-3, allowing Seppi to hold on and win the 10-minute game. He did everything right, however, two games later to earn two match points and finished off the contest with a spectacular overhead smash. “I will be here next year,” Federer told the crowd. “I will work had and hopefully I will stay fit and be back.”
Murray outclasses Anderson to take fourth Queen’s title LONDON (Reuters) Andy Murray warmed up for Wimbledon by winning backto-back matches at the Aegon Championships on Sunday as he scooped his fourth title at Queen’s Club by dismantling big-serving South African Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-4 in the final. To the delight of the home crowd, the world number three showed no sign of weariness when returning to court two hours after completing his semi-final against Viktor Troicki which had been held up by rain the previous evening. He had resumed at 3-3 in the first set against the Serb and quickly established control to come through 6-3 7-6(4). Murray was confident his return of serve would enable him to cope against the lanky Anderson, who went into the final having thundered down 96 aces in his three previous matches. So it proved, even though Anderson fired down two more aces in his first service game and soon reached three figures for the week. The top seed’s returning nevertheless enabled him to make a crucial breakthrough once in each set and his own serve never let him down. A range of dropshots and lobs also proved too subtle for Anderson, and also suggested that Murray was in fine fettle ahead of Wimbledon which starts on June 29. The first break came in the fourth game, when Murray confidently returned a 141 mile-per-hour serve, forcing his unseeded opponent to net a volley. Anderson was broken
Great Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates winning the final with the trophy. Action Images via Reuters / Paul Childs with a series of superb shots to fall 3-2 behind in the second and was unable to recover. Murray sealed victory when the South African went wide on a service return, allowing the Briton to join John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick from the modern era as four-times Queen’s winners. The Scot’s titles have come in alternate years — 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. “Both matches today were good performances and I played a little bit better as the week went on,” Murray said in an on-court interview. “It’s been a great week for me and hopefully I can continue that form through to Wimbledon.”
Murray even believes he is in better form than two years ago, when he won Wimbledon by beating Novak Djokovic in the final. “I’m playing better than then, I feel,” he added. “But it’s extremely difficult to win these events when everyone is improving all the time. “You are playing against some of the greatest players that have ever played so you need to keep working hard and I still feel there are things I can improve on.” Anderson will also hope for a good run on the All England Club grass after an impressive tournament. “I played some good tennis throughout the week and I can take a lot of positives from it,” he said.
Australia midfielder Emily Van Egmond (10) celebrates the 1-0 victory against Brazil during the second half in the round of sixteen in the FIFA 2015 women’s World Cup soccer tournament at Moncton Stadium. (Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports) MONCTON, Canada (Reuters) Brazil were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday after suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat to a battling Australia in the round of 16. A goal from substitute Kyah Simon 10 minutes from the end earned Australia a place in the quarter-finals where they will face the Netherlands or Japan. It was the first — and only — goal that Brazil conceded in this tournament but it cost them dearly. In the group stage the ‘Canarinhas’ won all three of their games without conceding but when it came to the crunch they failed to create enough problems for a rock solid Australian defence. Their star performer, fivetimes World Player of the Year Marta, looked far from her best as she was neutralised
by Australia’s disciplined marking and ability to close down space. For Australia, the win was the first they have ever achieved in the knockout stage of a World Cup and will go down as one of the most famous victories for the Matildas. It was an intense physical battle on a wet artificial surface with chances at a premium but those few opportunities were created by the south Americans. Brazilian midfielder Formiga had the first truly threatening attempt on goal in the 28th minute when her swerving shot from 25 metres was superbly saved by Australia keeper Lydia Williams. Marta should have done better in the 62nd minute when Christiane found her on the left but her low shot to the near post made it too easy
for Williams. A minute later Formiga rose well to meet a corner from Andressa but her header struck the post. But then came the killer blow. After Brazil gave the ball away in midfield, Lisa De Vanne broke down the right flank and fired in a low shot which Brazil keeper Luciana spilled out and Simon pounced to slot home. Inevitably Brazil threw everything forward in search of an equaliser but, apart from a Christiane header that Williams dealt with comfortably, created little. “We controlled the game, the statistics show that, the chances showed that but we lost the game and we are out,” said Brazil coach Vadao. “Australia were very efficient and clinical when it counted with the goal, congratulations to them.”
Palace Taxi Service, Restaurant... From page 35 BCB and the UCCA are pleased with the support from businesses and private individuals in the Upper Corentyne area and this support has helped the progress of the game in that area, Berbice and Guyana as a whole. He called on the young cricketers to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the BCB for the game provides lots of financial gains these days. The BCB is working feverishly to make sure that three day first division cricket returns to Berbice. The board is also calling on former
Berbice players for assistance. Contact can be made on telephone numbers 333-2375, 655-4140 and 6236875. Emails can also be sent to abeharry1970@yahoo.com a n d ros_haniff2001@yahoo.com. Others sponsors on board so far are: Sentinel Security Inc, Republic Bank Guyana Ltd, Sandeep Ramdas of Ishmail Poultry Establishment (Pampey) and Safraz Photo Studio. The teams involved are: Upper Corentyne/Skeldon, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Albion, Young Warriors/ Edinburg/Rose Hall Center,
Police/Bermine, Blairmont/ West Berbice and Bush Lot/ D’Edward. Meanwhile, the combined Blairmont/West Berbice team has been named and is as follows: Krishandat Ramoo (captain), Nick Ramsaroop (vice captain), Quacey McPherson, Rafael Estriado, Kevon Jawahir, Keith Fraser, Mahendra Singh, Steffon Adams, Parmanand Ramdhan, Andrew Dutchin, Avishkar Sewkarran, Carlston Nurse, Derrick Cadogan, Waqar Hassan. Manager Shabeer Baksh and Coach Adrian Amsterdam. Entrance is $300 for adults, children under 12 free.
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Kaieteur News
2015 HERO C’BEAN PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCH REPORT 2:
St. Lucia Zouks and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel play to ‘No Result’ Both teams get a point
Andre Fletcher, the St Lucia Zouks top run-scorer in the 2014 CPL, scored 57 at the Beausejour Stadium yesterday. (CPL) CPL – Gros Islet, St Lucia: The St. Lucia Zouks and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel got their Hero Caribbean Premier League underway, but unfortunately a game that was well poised was ruined by a rain storm that left the field unfit for play. The home side would have been confident of victory having set the Red Steel a target of 180 to win. Only five balls were bowled in the second innings of the game so no result was possible. The Zouks got off to a phenomenal start on an excellent pitch at the Beausejour Cricket Ground that offered pace and bounce reaching 53-1 inside the Powerplay overs. Andre Fletcher was in brutal form from the very start on his way to a swashbuckling 57. He nearly departed in the first over when he chipped the ball to midwicket off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo but it fell agonisingly short of the diving fielder.
Kevin Pietersen hit a quickfire 42 including 3 sixes at the Beausejour Stadium. (CPL)
While Fletcher was in fine fettle Johnson Charles could not match his returns. The best of his shots came off the bowling of Jacques Kallis whom he smashed down the ground for four. Off the next ball he chipped a Kallis off cutter into the waiting hands of Johan Botha at a short midwicket, dismissed for just 16 off nine balls. That brought Kevin Pietersen to the crease who didn’t play with the same force with which Fletcher was hitting the ball, but he looked in excellent touch and seemed to be timing the ball well. He was happy to work the ball around and give the strike back to Fletcher. The Red Steel spinners, Botha and Sulieman Benn, tried to combine to keep the scoring under control in the middle overs but both Fletcher and Pietersen were able to rotate the strike and find the boundary. They brought up a 50 partnership in just 37 balls, getting there
Puerto Rico stun Curacao 5-0 in CFU Women’s U-20 Qualifiers Puerto Rico Women’s National Under-20 players got off to stunning start by defeating Curacao 5-0 in the 2015 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Under 20 Qualifying preliminary games which started on Friday last in Puerto Rico at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. It was Adriana Ortiz who stated the ball rolling as early as in the 3rd minute followed by a goal from Angela Vanquez in the 30th and Marianee Hernandez in the 35th to end the first interval 3-0. Curacao improved on their defensive tactics holding off the Puerto Ricans for the better part of the second half but were surpassed in the 82nd minute when Marjorie Irizarry netted the first goal of her double followed by her second in the 90+2 minute ending the game 5-0. Meanwhile, in the other game played at this same venue between Antigua & Barbuda and Anguilla ended in a stalemate.
when Pietersen launched Benn for a huge six over wide long on. That shot off the tall off spinner seemed to be the catalyst to Pietersen moving through the gears, although there was an extremely close LBW shout when the Englishman tried to switch hit Kevon Cooper. Pietersen departed for 42 off 26 balls when he tried to hit Samuel Badree for six into the wind only to get caught on the boundary. Fletcher ’s excellent innings came to an end when he became the second wicket for Kallis when he was caught by Botha at long on. The Kallis spell of 2-31 was the best return for any Red Steel bowler and although it has been some time since he last played competitive cricket he clearly has not forgotten how it is done. Some lusty blows from Darren Sammy and a wellmade 27 off 16 balls by Henry Davids got the Zouks up to a very competitive total of 1796. They would have felt confident of defending that score with a bouncy track and three fast bowlers at their disposal. The Red Steel began their chase well enough, with Jacques Kallis scoring 10 runs in the five balls that he faced. Both came from boundaries. The first a glorious straight drive for four and the second a flicked six over midwicket. Unfortunately that was when the rain came and despite the best efforts of the ground staff a heavy downpour then turned to persistent drizzle. It stopped raining but the ground was not fit for play before the official cut off time and the game had to be abandoned.
Monday June 22, 2015
Mitchell Rogers wins WBF Caribbean heavyweight title in convincing fashion A two years hiatus from the boxing ring would affect the performance of many a boxer but former local heavyweight champion, Mitchell Rogers, defied conventional wisdom, and after a two years layoff, rebounded with a unanimous decision over Trinidadian, Kirston Manswell, when the two faced off in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, last Friday evening. The fight was the main attraction of a card on the Floyd Trumpet’s Promotions and lasted the full twelve rounds. However, reports out of the Twin Island Republic stated that Manswell was a tough customer and survived
knockdowns in the 11th and 12th rounds. The win earned Rogers the World Boxing Federation Caribbean heavyweight title but most importantly, placed him on a pedestal to launch unto the international scene. Shortly after the bout, an overjoyed Mitchell said it was nice being back in the ring. His previous fight had been a winning effort against his countryman, Anthony Augustin but he has already surrendered his local heavyweight belt, won from Leon ‘The Lion’ Gilkes, to another of his countrymen, Kurt Bess. Commenting on the fight, Rogers said that though he was out of the ring he had
been attending the gym and staying fit. He said that he was placed on stand-by and the fight was only confirmed a mere two weeks before fight night. “But I was mentally prepared and only needed to refocus on the fight itself,” explained Rogers. He also said that his spirit has been invigorated and he intends to be in the gym regularly for upcoming bouts. “I have been assured of regular fights now that I’ve won this belt and I intend to take full advantage,” said Mitchell. He has now chalked up 10 wins from 13 fights and in looking forward to his next engagement within the next 4 months.
Brazil into last eight at Copa America
Venezuela’s Miku (on ground) scores a goal past Brazil’s goalie Jefferson (left) during their first round Copa America 2015 soccer match at Estadio Monumental David Arellano in Santiago, Chile. (Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) BBC Sport - Thiago Silva and Roberto Firmino scored in each half to seal Brazil’s place at the quarter-final stage of the Copa America as they defeated Venezuela 2-1. Silva volleyed home a corner from Robinho - starting in place of Neymar following his tournament ban - early on before Firmino converted Willian’s cross, with Miku scoring a consolation. Brazil will now face Paraguay in the tournament quarter-finals on Saturday. Colombia and Peru also qualified after drawing earlier in the day. It was just the response manager Dunga would have desired from his Brazil side following the defeat by Colombia which had left their hopes of progressing in the
balance. They were cheered on from the stands in Chile by key forward Neymar, whose four-match ban for clashing with Colombia players in the aftermath of Thursday’s match is being appealed by Brazil. The gulf in class between the two teams meant his absence was not especially felt, however, with Silva quickly handing Brazil the initiative when he converted Robinho’s corner with an emphatic volley which was too powerful for Alain Baroja. The Venezuela goalkeeper went some way to redeeming himself four minutes after the restart when he reacted quickly to palm away a thumping Silva downward header which seemed
destined for the bottom corner. Firmino soon doubled the advantage though when he completed a slick move sweeping home Willian’s cross after the midfielder had combined well with Chelsea team-mate Filipe Luis down the left channel. Miku gave Venezuela hope when he nodded in a loose ball after Brazil goalkeeper Jefferson had done well to tip a Juan Arango free-kick against the post. A tense finale ensued and Miku almost sent his side through to the knockout stages in added time when found unmarked inside the penalty area only to fail to cleanly connect with a cross.