Kaieteur News

Online readership yesterday 108,642 June 27, 2012 - Vol. 5 No. 26 Price $80

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Five Indian companies bid to construct US$18M specialty hospital P. 8

A vendor sells inches away from the mud

Municipality litters Corriverton market road P. 7

Negligence blamed for One dead, two critical after latest stelling failure SUV slams into P. 11

P. 12

…'patriotic' salvagers spent 22 hours recovering sunken pontoon

parked truck

Page 02

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Chinese and Brazilian stores to be targeted as campaign continues - Analyst The Government Analyst Food and Drug Department, (GAFDD) has said that emphasis will be placed on all foreign entities such as Brazilian and Chinese owned businesses that cater to the local market during their campaign against foreign branded goods.

This is according to a source attached to the GAFDD. This newspaper understands that such entities must clearly state that the products they market are intended for only foreigners.

This the only way that these businesses may be excluded from the campaign.

However, checks will still be made by the GAFDD officials to ensure that the rules are applied.

In addition, the source said the GAFDD would be tracing all improperly labeled commodities back to the importers. This follows an announcement made by the GAFDD that it is pulling from the shelves of local retailers, all the foreign labeled food and drug items.

This newspaper understands that foreign

owned companies that sell their goods to locals must take on the responsibility of the mandatory label requirements that all their labels should be in English because they cater for an English-speaking economy.

According to the source, GAFDD has been working with the importers, vendors and with every link on the local market to ensure that the consumer's safety is not compromised.

The source added that it is important that all labels are written in English, so that consumers can make clear decisions while purchasing goods.

The source also stated that it is in compliance with the laws of Guyana that the labels on food, drugs and other commodities that are to be sold on the local market are clearly understood by all intended users.

When asked if time would be granted to the small vendors who wish to sell off the items, a spokesperson said that it is normal that small vendors, who do not want to comply, seek to stall. “These small vendors would usually ask for time but this is only a means of delaying the process.�

Small vendors had stated that their businesses would suffer tremendous losses, since a majority of the goods they sell have foreign labels.

These vendors say that they purchase foreign branded goods because they cost less.

The law on food and drugs allows the GAFDD to seize and remove all improperly labeled items on the local market and prosecute those found in breach of the regulations.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Page 03

Kaieteur News

Lindeners protest impending electricity hike

By Abena Rockcliffe Yesterday, Lindeners publicly voiced their disapproval of the electricity hike by staging a protest outside Office of the President. Linden is expected to be faced with a hike in electricity rates from July 1.

Since the closure of the bauxite plants in Linden back in the '80s, Government had introduced the electricity subsidies to the area as a means to alleviate the hardships of many who had been laid off. Decades later, not much has changed

as it relates to the availability of jobs in Linden, according to the people of Linden.

Recently, the government decided to move for an electricity hike in Linden.

Yesterday, Lindeners signalled that they are not prepared financially for a raise in electricity rates in the region. The protesters reiterated that it is by no means a case where Lindeners do not want to pay more for an absolute necessity like electricity.

“We simply can't afford it” was the echoed phrase

among them.

With over 40 protesters, almost three fourth of the amount were females. They voiced that they were forced to “do something” about the situation since most of them are single mothers and they struggle, as it is, to maintain their households.

“Moreover, if there is to be an electricity hike, we would have to thief to survive,” expressed one of the irate protesters.

They held cards that read: Linden needs jobs, don't punish we cause we ain't vote fuh cup', 'No

increase in electricity', 'Sam eyes pass we', 'Lindeners must not pay for GPL incompetence,' and 'Will de women in Linden prostitute themselves to pay the light bill in Linden.'

Vanessa Kissoon, APNU parliamentary representative from Linden, voiced the instance of one businessman who currently pays an $80,000 monthly electricity bill; she said that with the hike the business will be indebted to the tune of $360,000 on estimate monthly for light bill.

With that drastic rise, she

DPP drops charges against former CANU officer Magistrate Hazel OctiveHamilton yesterday discharged criminal charges against former Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer Shemika Tennant.

Tennant, Morris Smith, Rodrick Peterkin, and Manniram Prashad were all charged with conspiracy to ship cocaine to the US. The officers were charged in connection with a drug find in the United States where Dorothy Sears was charged for carrying some 24 kilograms of cocaine into the US. The drug was shipped from Guyana through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. It is alleged that on January 12, 2010, Persaud, Tennant, Peterkin and Smith conspired with Dorothy Sears and others to export 24.6 kilograms of cocaine to the United States.

Tennant, through her lawyer Nigel Hughes, had gone to the High Court and had filed a motion asking the Director of Public Prosecutions to show cause

why charges were instituted against her. It was reported that it was Tennant who demanded that the suitcase be searched. However she was advised by a supervisor not to.

The court was informed yesterday that the DPP had withdrawn the charge.

Tennant who spoke briefly to Kaieteur News, said that she feels relieved that the charges against her were discharged.

“I feel relieved…I was innocent from the beginning, but it was a personal vendetta against me.” She said that two years of her life was just put on hold and no one is going to compensate for that.

Hughes had stated that it was a clear case of severe high level perversity of the course of justice. The lawyer had always maintained that

his clients were wrongfully charged. It was reported that on the day in question Tennant, being a CANU rank, was working the baggage scanner when she intercepted a pink suitcase.

Hughes said his client pulled off the suitcase and was about to search it when her supervisor instructed her to let the bag go through without a search.

Nevertheless, Hughes said, his client proceeded to call Shemika Tennant the passenger off the flight when once again she was relative of his (Tennant's instructed to leave the supervisor). passenger alone since the According to Hughes, his owner of the suitcase was a (continued on page 21)

explained that the businessman would then be forced to raise the price on each item being sold at his bakery. She said that the hike in electricity rates will result in the cost of living hitting the roof.

Further, if the man is to close down his bakery, due to him not being able to sustain his business, it would result in 25 more persons being unemployed, Kissoon said.

She said that she does not understand the government's “bullyism and control freakism.” “Could you imagine that this so called caring government wants to reduce the subsidy of pensioners who worked with the electricity company?” asked Kissoon.

This newspaper learnt that only the pensioners who worked at the Linden Power Company will be subsidized.

However, the government has lowered the subsidy from 300 free kilowatts to 50 kilowatts. “It means that pensioners will have to pay at least $12,000 from a $10,000 a month pension.

Faced with the question of why the Government should take heed of 42 persons in protest, Region Ten chairman, Sharma Solomon, said that Linden is more than capable of rounding up more persons to protest for the cause.

However, yesterday's was the start of a sustained,

long and peaceful protest.

Solomon asked for it to be considered that even if the bill is raised by $1, the economy does not permit Lindeners to afford such payments.

Another resident, Winston Smith, said that Linden has been the bedrock of the country's economy and that Linden contributed to Guyana's development and however received “nothing in return.” “Linden is the gateway to the interior but if the problems are not addressed that gateway will close,” said Smith.

The general opinion at the protest was that Linden is being victimized because of the results of the last general elections.

Government had budgeted almost $3B for Linden as an electricity subsidy. The opposition however had argued during the budget debate earlier this year that GPL should move to cut waste and reduce the subsidy by $1B. Dr. Roger Luncheon, Cabinet Secretary, said that government is working on measures that will outline how the tariffs would be structured for residents and businesses in Linden.

E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r, D r Luncheon had claimed that despite the tariff increase, Lindeners will still be paying half of what the rest of the country is doling out.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Corruption has moved to a scale of alarming proportions DEAR EDITOR, The PPP/C claimed that they fought for this democratic process, but they’re behaving worse than Burnham and the PNC, which they proclaimed to be dictatorship. They clearly lost the majority in parliament, but refuse to accept the reality.

The crimes they commit have no place in a democracy, in others countries, leaders and senior government officials, are being investigated based on simple allegations.

But with this government, allegations are serious and more glaring and they are being allowed to be swept under the carpet.

This points to corruption on a massive scale. It seems that the law enforcement officials are powerless to act, and would appear that they

are acting in concert. The implications can of this scenario if allowed to continue can have serious results at all levels.

The corruption has moved to a scale of alarming proportions that never has been seen in this country, and the contempt that is shown to the Guyanese people is beyond comprehension.

Look at the mansions that is being built, and the idiotic responses as to how they came to have so much wealth, is utter trash, we can do what we like they’re saying, for even the Attorney General, is for the wealthy.

So what do we do now?

Wait for what?

Just to give readers a sample of the corruption that has happened in the past, and continuing to date, The stone scam, dolphin

scam, law books scam, lotto scam, duty free scam, visas scam, drugs scam, Extra judicial killings, roger khan and the phantom squad, so named by the lunch man, and the big one, The contracts, pharmaceuticals and construction, and this is not all.

I often wondered, why the European countries, and the USA, Canada and England continued to give this country monies to be administered by this corrupt administration? This boggles the mind.

I often wondered what they’re saying? What they can tell the people?

People with no legal source of income, are flaunting wealth like they won the lotto, which is not so.

Anthony S. Benn

In defense of Minister Rohee

From page 4 duties if he did not take appropriate measures to protect our democracy and our young government.

Then turning her venom on the President, Nestor sarcastically wrote, “When does Mr. Ramotar’s honeymoon period end? He has promised many things to be done in his first year, doesn’t that first year count

from day one when he got the job?” First of all, this woman shows no respect for our President, referring to him as “Mr. Ramotar”.

Secondly, as the PNC/ APNU mouthpiece, Lurlene Nestor knows that the joint opposition has deliberately and maliciously done everything within their oneseat majority to block every aspect of development

Conflict of interest is at...

From page 4 controller in charge’. Instead they are entities owned by the people of Guyana whose views regarding how they should be audited must be respected and upheld. How can the PPP/C claim to have an interest in tackling rampant corruption in the government when its own actions provide enticing landscapes for potential corrupt activities to flourish, and harbor ingrained suspicion? If the PAC vote on Monday 25th June 2012 does not amount to unconcealed conflict of inflict of interest, tell me what does!

I hope this matter will not end here, and I will close by asking the question where lies the ethical and moral compass of the Minister of Finance and his wife, which one of them will do the decent thing and relieve self from the position, will it be the husband or the wife!

Lurlene Nestor

proposed by His Excellency Donald Ramotar and his cabinet.

The budget cuts by the PNC/APNU and AFC were designed to retard progress with the aim of bringing down the PPP/C Administration.

And despite all the talk about “snap election”, our President has repeatedly said he will not initiate this. But if there is a “sinister plot” to deceive the Guyanese people, Nestor knows who the architects are.

For in an attempt to justify potential violence, this ‘prophet of doom’ ends her letter with this threat, “The Minister of Home Affairs has taken action to deliberately cause panic and fear in the nation. He should be held accountable.” But like Aubrey Norton at Linden, Nestor appears to be telling her PNC/APNU supporters, ”We have to be prepared to do what is required to achieve our objective.”

Harry Gill

Let our children know all of our history

DEAR EDITOR, A knowledge of its recent history is important to a people, for their pride and understanding of our place in the world.

History, if properly utilized can also be a useful tool to help leaders and a people avoid repeating earlier mistakes, and identifying their strengths and weaknesses for the general good.

We can ask, why did the Nation States emerge out of the feudalism of Western Europe?

Why did King George Ill of England ignore the petitions of the American colonists?

Why did Military Leaders ail fall in their attempt to invade Russia during winter?

Why did the US get embroiled in Vietnam?

Why did the Jagan / Burnham split occur?

Earlier experiences offered solution, if those involved used history.

Beyond all these, for whatever reason, recent generations of Guyanese seem unhappily starved of some essentials of our history, making it easy for them to fall prey to propaganda, internal and external.

Our government, the opposition parties, civil society, our parents, our University should come together to correct what appears to be a serious lack of our history among our youths — a critical void exists, Speaking recently to a young, seemingly keen reporter at Enmore, she knew little about the history of the Enmore Martyrs and the monument situated in her village.

The photographer knew no more than the young lady; they were both in their 20's.

When I told them how and when the Monument was built, that it was initiated by President Forbes Burnham; how some of us gave voluntary labour to have the Monument completed, they expressed some surprise; the young Enmore resident said, ‘she was never told these things: The details of the incident at Enmore in 1948 were not clear to them.

Later, in the presence of other youngsters, I realized they did not know who is Clive Lloyd, that he was one of our most successful We s t I n d i e s C r i c k e t Captains, Lance Gibbs, Roy Frederick, Alvin Kallicharran, Ronan Kanhai, Robert Christiani and other great Guyanese Cricketers were new news to them.

They never once recalled hearing any of these names.

The Cold War, the Missile Crisis, the 1953 suspension of the Constitution, they could not relate to the excellent Stabroek News Editorial about the Cuban Boxer, Stevenson.

Some corrective measures need to be taken. After all, our belief system and attitudes are conditioned by our knowledge of ourselves.

As these youngsters were leaving, my secretary delivered an invitation from the People’s Republic of China to attend the 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Guyana and China. I asked the youngsters what it meant to them. What was I talking about?

With this experience, I felt compelled to say something for the benefit of our young readers. (Let us hope more of them read].

In the 1970’s, the Cold War was still “hot”. North Vietnam launched an

invasion of the South, both Super Powers had a hand in this and other conflicts around the globe. US President, Nixon was holding talks in Moscow to cool things down. In June 1972, Israel bombed southern Lebanon. Iraq nationalized the Western owned consortium Iraq Petroleum Company, it was East vs West.

While all of this was happening, Forbes Burnham brought to Cabinet a proposal to establish diplomatic relation with the People’s Republic of China. A number of Cabinet Ministers felt it was not a good idea; they shared the fears of every other Caribbean leader believing that such a move will likely anger the West.

Linden S. Forbes Burnham was determined to advance Guyana-China relations. He got strong support from Ptolemy Reid and Hamilton Green and so, on 27th June, 1972, in London, an agreement was signed between Guyana and the People’s Republic of China to establish diplomatic relations.

The late Sir john carter, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, signed on our behalf and the Charge d’ Affairs of China, Mr. Pei, on behalf of China.

Later, Sir John carter was posted to China as Guyana Ambassador, the first country in the region to do so.

Some folks who benefited from China’s cooperation and generosity forget that their party, the PPP, not wanting to annoy the Soviet Union, did not endorse the PNC/ Burnham initiative to bring China into the region.

Let the facts be told. Let our children know all of our history.

Hamilton Green

Page 6

Kaieteur News

MARAD may take over capsized ‘Miss Elliza’ Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) may soon have to assume responsibility for the capsized cargo vessel that is now positioned some distance away from where it turned over west of the Demerara ships channel, Port Georgetown Harbour, more than two weeks ago.

The vessel earlier last week drifted with the high tide and is now positioned behind the Guyana National Shipping Corporation.

Officials of the marine institute told Kaieteur News yesterday that talks are to be held with the boat owner Vijai Sankar.

The issue of salvaging the vessel is expected to be discussed. It was however noted that Maritime Administration is likely to take charge of the boat if the owner abandons it.

MARAD Director General, Claudette Rogers, told this publication that the necessary actions are being carefully thought out before any action is taken to salvage the boat.

The director said that currently, any attempts to move or raise the boat will be

done with the permission of the Maritime authorities as the vessel is now being treated as a wreck.

Rogers said that the capsized vessel is being given special attention by the administration and approaches to salvage the boat are under review.

Rogers added that a task which surrounds salvaging the overturned boat must be approached with caution.

She advised that to save the boat, a technical approach would be required, whilst careful planning and certain skills are required to perform the task.

Rogers said that it is unclear what may be the boat owner’s next step hence the meeting with the Habour Master.

She also said that if the owner abandons the boat it will become the property of Maritime Administration which will be tasked to deal with the drifting vessel.

During a previous interview with the owner of the capsized Miss Ellisa, Vijai Sankar, he said that a Trinidadian team had been brought to Guyana to conduct evaluation works on salvaging the boat.

Kaieteur News later leant that efforts to salvage the boat may cost at least $30M. Yesterday Rogers said that it would take in excess of that sum to salvage the boat.

Sankar had said to this newspaper that on conclusion of the Trinidadian’s probe, he would decide what to do with the boat.

He further said that the

Ministry of Works offered to assist in salvaging the boat but if the sum was too hefty for him to pay, “then the boat might be staying in the river.”

When asked, Rogers said that she didn’t believe that the drifting vessel which moved up river posed any danger to water traffic.

The director said that had that been the case, the administration would have taken the necessary steps.

Rogers said that the job of the administration would now be to issue an advisory to inform of the new position of the vessel.

Apart from that, the vessel is equipped with a buoy which demarks the cargo boats location to passing vessels.

There has however been no sign of missing cook 67year-old Gerald Fraser. The body of the veteran who reportedly went back inside the boat for a haversack is still to be recovered.

On June 8, the cargo boat Miss Ellisa was headed to Trinidad and Tobago with millions of dollars worth of trader g o o d s w h e n a n apparent imbalance of the articles on board, caused the boat to tilt and later capsize.

The boat captain told reporters that as soon as the vessel left Muneshwer’s wharf the crew noticed the imbalance and they tried to return to the port but the boat started to lean on its starboard and within seconds it overturned. Those onboard quickly abandoned ship.

They were rescued by water taxi operators.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Another property for Pest Control boss attacked by arsonist - Relatives worried about persistent attacks

The Sheriff Street building which was attacked by arsonist/s.

Relatives and law enforcement officials continue to remain baffled over the attacks on the now dead Pest Control boss’s properties. Early yesterday morning a storage bond owned by the now dead Mohamed Shahabudeen Bacchus came under attack. The man’s Sheriff Street storage bond was partly torched as arsonists hurled Molotov cocktails at the building.

According to reports, around 03:30 hours fire service and the police were summoned to the area after receiving reports of a fire at the building. Swift action by the fire service averted what could have been major disaster.

One of the dead man’s brothers, Mohammed Bacchus, said that around 03:15 hours he received a call saying that the building was on fire. The man

said that by the time he arrived on the scene the fire was already under control.

This publication was told that there were two security guards on duty at the premises but both claimed not to have seen anything.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that several incendiary devices were found on the premises suggesting that the fire was a clear case of arson. There are also reports that the police are one step closer to making an arrest as it relates to the execution.

Only last Thursday a building which housed the Pest Control Office in Prashad Nagar was also set ablaze. In that fire the damage ran into millions of dollars as dozens of high end products were stored in the building.

Some two weeks ago Mohamed Shahabudeen Bacchus, a 43-year-old Pouderoyen resident, and owner of Pest Control Plus was shot several times while at a bar in Thomas Street, Georgetown.

Police reports stated that two armed men targeted him.

Despite having a bodyguard with him, he was wounded several times, according to reports. One of the gunmen fired several rounds at Bacchus, hitting him in the head and body.

He was rushed to the nearby Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to reports, the slain businessman may have been deliberately targeted by hit men. A previous attempt had been made on his life in 2008.

Another businessman was detained for questioning but was subsequently released.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Municipality litters Corriverton market road

By Leon Suseran A highly unsanitary and unhealthy situation exists along the Market Road at Number 79 Village, Corriverton. Tons of mud and filth have been piled high along the road. And vendors along the road shoulder continue to sell amidst the filth and mud, raising health concerns.

The slushy mud that was excavated from the nearby canal was dumped along the road. According to reports, the canal was excavated by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Skeldon Estate on Friday. Another excavation exercise was performed on Sunday.

The stench was unbearable. One vendor, Terrence Blair, was furious.

“You can see this thing (the mud) how it stink and smelling— this thing affects everybody.

“People come to purchase (items) and they walk with their children. The children fall down on the street and when you talk to the Town Council, it get one of the engineers who say he shoulda throw the dirt pon the whole road! And this is not right”. “Everybody makes a daily livelihood right here and this livelihood causing a whole set of chaos!”

The piles of mud along the roadway, the vendors said, are encumbrances to the entire roadway and all who

ply the daily route to conduct business.

According to the vendors, several persons fell down into the dirty mud earlier in the day. The mud, which was of very loose consistency, was flowing on the roadway, and should there be a heavy downpour of rain, all hell will break loose.

The vendors said, too, that the sugar company “refuses to remove the slushy mud. We are certain this kind of thing doesn’t happen in the city; doesn’t happen in New Amsterdam, but because we are in the country area— nobody ever come to say anything”.

“GuySuCo dig the trench and the council seconded it,” said another vendor.

Another vendor also said that the council has “stopped them from removing the mud from the road”.

However, the Corriverton Interim Management Committee (IMC) told the story from another angle.

Chairman of the IMC, Bhawase Harripaul, told Kaieteur News that he was aware of the slush being piled along the roadway but that the vendors have no right selling there.

The canal, he said, is owned by the sugar corporation. “The process of cleaning the trench started about three to four days ago and they have almost completed the job.”

South Georgetown Secondary School Alumni Reunion set for July 3 The South Georgetown Secondary School Alumni Association Inc. (Guyana Chapter) will be holding its First Annual Reunion and a list of activities has been planned for the week-long event which runs from July 38.

According to a release from the body, the aim of the programme is to assist in the further development of St. Stephen’s Primary School which the entity has adopted.

The list of activities reads: Tuesday, 3rd July, Registration: Princess Hotel14:00hrs; Past Student Meeting –17:00hrs.

Wednesday, 4th July, Prayer Breakfast - Princess Hotel.

Thursday, 5th July,

There is to be an interview on Guyana Today and a Courtesy call on Education Ministry Personnel; Bursary & Scholarship presentations to students of St. Stephen’s Primary School; Friday, 6th July, Cultural Evening – Banks DIH Sports Club; Saturday, 7th July, Gala Dinner & Dance – Princess Hotel, Sunday, 8th July, Past Students Fun Day at Aracari Resort.

For further information contact could be made to Petal Ridley at 265-7030, Arlene Trim on 680-7738 or Shellon Thompson (Allicock) De Cruz on 696-2792.

He said that the mud was thrown on the parapet “and vendors are selling on the road— it is illegal to sell on the road and also on the public road”.

He added that he wants the public to be aware “that the stuff that is coming out of there could be injurious to their health and we have tried to stop the people from selling there, in the midst of the mud and the slush, but they continue and we are fearful that there could be an outbreak of disease”.

Roadside vending has been in existence along the #79 Market Road in Corriverton for years even though the Corriverton Market exists right next door.

The IMC Chairman said that both present and past town councils have tried various measures to get the vendors to occupy the market.

Corriverton is now being managed by an IMC. The previous town council and the current IMC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, tried to remove the vendors.

“First, we asked them to remove the stands, but they were not heeding to the call, so therefore, the Ministry came with the police here and the town constabulary and dismantled many of the stalls.”

The vendors returned the following day. This took place a few months ago.

The Chairman said that the vendors “are giving the council endless problems and as we said, we are not collecting any monies from them— they are illegal—no fees”.

As a result, there is some form of disenfranchisement from the vendors who do sell in and occupy the market Continued on page 23

Page 7

GRA does not selectively enforce the law against taxpayers - GRA head The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has refuted allegations that the agency investigates those who are opposed to and critical of the GRA and its policies.

According to the tax agency, this was brought to its attention after comments

by Alliance For Change executive Mrs. Cathy Hughes on a television programme “Eye on the Issues” hosted

by Mr. Yesu Persaud and aired on June 24, last.

“The GRA is entrusted with the singular distinction of protecting and collecting the State’s revenue and enforcing the taxing statutes of Guyana. In this regard, the GRA does not selectively enforce the law against taxpayers based on their political affiliation, colour, creed, or religion but rather seeks to impartially enforce the law to protect and collect the State’s revenue in keeping with its mandate,” GRA boss Khurshid Sattaur noted.

Sattaur noted that it would appear that Mrs. Hughes, wife of the prominent attorney Nigel Hughes, is seeking to sensationalize and politicize the GRA’s effort to collect outstanding taxes from Harvest Company Ltd., a company of which her husband is a director.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, the facts relative to this matter are outlined for the benefit of the public who may have otherwise been misled.

“On the 24th June, 2009, the GRA obtained judgment of $ 7,236,032 against the said company and they were granted a stay of execution of six months to liquidate their outstanding liability. Despite being granted this significant amount of time, the company made no effort to settle its indebtedness but instead

- Complainant seeking to sensationalize, politicize GRA’s effort to collect outstanding taxes from Company

GRA Head, Khurshid Sattaur

Executive member of Alliance For Change, Cathy Hughes

accrued further liabilities.

“The GRA was again forced to resort to legal proceedings against the said company and on the 7th July, 2011 obtained judgment in the farther sum $621,097 against the said company. This amount and the previously outstanding sum are yet to be paid.

“Despite these judgments, repeated reminders and constant demands for the company and its directors to pay over to the GRA monies deducted from the salaries from its employees and held on trust for the GRA, the company and its directors continue to

illegally withhold and misappropriate these funds.

The company, accrued a further liability of $4,299,450, and is currently being pursued in the Court by the GRA to secure the taxes deducted from the balance of the employees.

“It is evident that the company and/or its directors have displayed by their conduct a flagrant disregard for the rule of law and the GRA.” The GRA boss said that the agency is not intimidated by politically connected individuals who attempt to utilize their political activities as a cover for a breach of the rule of the Law.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Five Indian companies bid to construct US$18M specialty hospital Five firms from India have submitted bids that were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday, under the Ministry of Education for the Procurement of a

Contractor for the design, building and equipping of a specialty hospital.

The Indian Government had given Guyana an US$18 million line of credit to build a specialty hospital to do complicated surgeries,

ranging from heart operations and organ transplants to cosmetic surgery.

Preliminary works have begun at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara where the specialty hospital is expected

to be established.

The announcement for construction was made in February 2011 by former President Bharat Jagdeo when he returned from India after securing a US$18M line of credit from the Indian Government to build a specialty hospital to do complicated surgeries.

Government had budgeted $150 million to commence the preparatory work to design the 150-bed surgical specialty hospital.

Cabinet awarded $97M to G. Bovell Construction Services

in January, 2012 to commence preparatory works for the specialty hospital. These include the construction of a fence, bridges, and gateways.

The former President had noted that the cost of complicated surgery would be at a fraction of the cost that Guyanese pay for surgery overseas but at the same quality. In time, he said the hospital would open its doors to clients form the Caribbean, Northern Brazil and even from North America, mainly Guyanese in the Diaspora.

However, Jagdeo had

anticipated that construction would have started by the end of the 2011, and for the hospital to open its doors in two years’ time.

Government had signaled that the hospital would be staffed by specialist doctors and the rates would be negotiated with the government and the managers of the hospital. In addition, government has settled on a management partner for the hospital.

The bids submitted for the specialty hospital are as follow:

Meanwhile, bids were also tendered for the procurement of one new enclosed truck for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC.) The bids were:

Two bids were submitted for the procurement of building material for Base Camp Ayanganna for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF.) the bids were:

Government considering Anti-Terrorism Bill - Rohee underscores the need for partnership in terrorism fight Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee says that his government welcomes the partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)/Terrorism Prevention Branch and the Organization of American States (OAS)/ Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE).

This partnership, according to the Minister, has been developed to build overall capacity of Guyana to fight terrorism in all its forms.

Minister Rohee was at the time delivering the feature address at the opening of a four-day Workshop on the Prevention and Fight Against Terrorism and its Financing at the Grand Coastal Hotel at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

According to the Minister, this was not the first time that the UNODC has mounted a mission in Guyana to address the issue. Two other visits were done in 2009 and 2010.

He noted that terrorism is a global problem that could affect the lives of all citizens of the world, since the economies of all countries could be negatively affected by acts of Terrorism, thus reducing the quality of the

lives of citizens.

Rohee pointed to the events of September 11, 2001, when terrorists destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and attacked the Pentagon, as a defining moment in the history of the world.

The events, he said, has brought about a number of changes internationally.

There is now the presence of robust security systems at airports, seaports and other critical infrastructure, has become more evident.

“Guyana has been directly affected by international Terrorism before September 11, 2001. We can recall the Cubana Disaster in 1976 when Guyanese nationals who were on their way to study in Cuba were killed while traveling in a Cubana airline. This is an example of innocent citizens being caught in the web of Terrorism,” the Home Affairs Minister pointed out.

Guyana, he added, has long recognized that there must be regional, hemispheric and International cooperation to fight acts of terrorism and the Financing of Terrorism.

“With that focus in mind we have signed on to at least 12 of the 16 Anti Terrorism

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee Instruments that have been agreed to by the United Nations. Additionally, we are party to Anti Terrorism Instruments that have been sponsored by the Organization of American States,” Rohee declared.

He said that Guyana’s plans to address Terrorism in Guyana is based on three main platforms - Legislative Intervention, capacity building of the Law Enforcement and Regulatory Institutions and allocation of Capital Resources to Law Enforcement and other Agencies.

“As part of this country’s Legislative Agenda to fight Terrorism, we have taken the following steps: one, in 2002 Continued on page 24

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Breaking ranks and sticking together: The dance of the Opposition parties in Guyana

There was a deal between the government and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that old age pensions would be increased in return for APNU’s support for the increase in electricity tariffs in Linden.

This is according to the former Speaker of the National Assembly writing in the Mirror newspaper of April 27, 2012, one day after the infamous Budget cuts instituted by the combined opposition.

There is no reason to question what Mr. Ralph Ramkarran said because this was also the impression that emanated from reports in the media about the negotiations which were taking place between APNU and the government just prior to it joining with the AFC to inflict the most savage onslaught on the

working class since the retrenchment of the 1980’s Presuming there was an agreement between the government and APNU, it may seem to the casual observer that APNU turned three hundred and sixty degrees when it came to its position on the electricity rates for Linden. In fact, during APNU’s presentations on the Budget debate, it was difficult to recall it making an outright rejection of electricity tariffs which is the position that is now being taken by some of its bigwigs in Linden.

The position now being taken by prominent persons associated with APNU in Linden is that the bauxite town cannot pay any increase.

Well If Linden is so badly off that it cannot afford to pay even a small increase in electricity tariffs after virtually enjoying a

give-away bargain for years, then the rest of Guyana should demand a refund from the GPL for the higher tariffs that they have had to pay all these years without the knowledge of what Lindeners were paying.

APNU’s flip-flop should however not be surprising.

Anyone vaguely familiar with the political history of Guyana will appreciate that this twisting and turning is a characteristic feature of Guyanese political parties. The greatest irony of our history is that the very party that led us into independence actually at one stage opposed independence.

The fact of the matter is that there was twisting and turning from the very opening of parliament. First there was the insistence that one of APNU’s candidates become the speaker and a clear decision by that

Dem boys seh

Ralph mek Jagdeo people get dumb If Ralph de Ram was de President then it woulda be a clear case of when I talk no damn dog bark.

He is not de president and is still a case of not one damn dog bark. He seh that dem got rampant corruption from top to bottom.

When de Waterfalls paper seh suh everybody jump up and want sue de paper but Ralph de Ram talk. Gail shut she mouth; Jagdeo ain’t seh one word and Rob Earth trying fuh lie low.

In fact, dem boys seh that Jagdeo hate Ralph de Ram wid a vengeance because Ralph

clean; nobody ain’t got nutten pun he.

He got money and he never build a mansion and that is wha got all of dem vex.

But is de corruption talk that got all of dem silent. Cheddi and Janet daughter did seh de same thing and if wasn’t fuh de Waterfalls paper de story woulda never get out.

Even when she talk, not one damn dog bark. And that is why Uncle Donald should tek notice. But Ralph is something else.

When he been in de fold, when he was de Speaker he didn’t seh nutten bout

CORENTYNE DRUG BUST …duo awaiting charges Around 6:30 am on Sunday, last, police attached to Whim Police Station on the Corentyne carried out what was said to be a routine check on motor car HC 511 driven by Nickel Eastman, 26, of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty Georgetown. The lone passenger was Cleota Harry, 28.

The police stopped the car in the vicinity of Clifton Public Road on the Corentyne and a search was conducted. The ranks found a quantity of what was suspected to be cannabis in the trunk of the vehicle.

The two were both taken to the Whim Police Station where they are awaiting charges.

corruption. When Corbin try fuh talk bout corruption in de Parliament Ralph tell he how he got to come wid a motion.

Poor Corbin, he go home and drink senna and salts till he get a good motion. Ralph still did not entertain de motion. He claim that he was in no position to deal wid it because it cover too much area. Now de same Ralph talking bout corruption.

Dem boys want to know why he don’t tek out a private criminal action gainst all of dem who thief.

He ain’t got nutten to lose because de Waterfalls paper and de Big market paper gun back he to the fullest. Uncle Donald gun give he full support because he want a Cabinet reshuffle. Is time.

Talk half and move against de other half.

partnership not to entertain the nomination of one of the leaders of the AFC on the grounds of his previous high-ranking association with the PPP. In the end, APNU settled for another AFC leader who was not expected to be part of his party’s presence in the new parliament.

This is Guyanese politics for you and more will come.

During one of the earlier sittings of parliament, APNU and the AFC put down some of the line items in supplementary financial papers tabled by the government.

When the government protested the grounds upon which the papers and some of the line items were rejected, AFC broke ranks with APNU and supported the passage of the financial papers.

There however remained the issue of those items which were voted down and it was expected that when these were resubmitted, the AFC would have maintained its position and supported passage. This however was not to happen as both the AFC and APNU said nothing during the debate on the financial paper intended to cater for the replenishment of the Contingency Fund. The paper was not approved.

The AFC therefore seems to be back in tandem with APNU. While they eventually supported cuts in the Budget to the tune of over twenty billion dollars of which $18.5 billion was in respect to the LCDS, if the AFC had its way the cuts would have been more severe and its effects on workers would have been devastating.

Based on what was said to be advice it was receiving, the AFC wanted to cut some $3.6 billion, including cuts to the budget of the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Fortunately, public workers took to the streets and APNU smartly broke ranks and jettisoned this unbelievable proposal by the AFC which would have placed hundreds more on the breadline, crippled the Sports Ministry and see the closure of many of the facilities that it administers. If these cuts had gone ahead, workers in Guyana would have had to hold their bellies and bawl.

The two opposition parties later came together in what is now being described as a political drone strike against the working class of Guyana by cutting line items that have already seen the staff of the Ethnic Relations Commission being sent home and possibly others to follow from other agencies affected by the cuts.

As with any drone strike, there was collateral damage in the form of the sending off of workers. When asked about the workers, the reaction from the AFC was that it had no regrets about what was done.

Page 9

What a thing to say about innocent workers who now have to find a way of putting meals on the table and finding the money to send their children to school for the next two weeks.

With the reopening of school in September where are these workers going to find money to purchase uniforms for their children?

In the meantime, it is likely that parliament will go into its August recess. When this happens some of the very opposition parliamentarians that voted for Budget cuts will be using part of the recess period to go overseas on vacation. They should use that time to reflect on how lucky they are to afford such luxuries while the staff members of the ERC have to worry whether they will afford the bus fare to go to the market.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 27, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Primitive life in 21st century Guyana The Parliament in Guyana has a mountain of primitive legislations to repeal from the twelve years of Bharrat Jagdeo mal administration. In such a formidable task, many horrible Bills will have to wait another decade.

One such law is the Narcotics Act which provides for three years’ imprisonment if convicted for the possession of a marijuana cigarette.

We Third World people love to cuss down our former white masters. But can we non-Caucasian people match

the white man’s quality?

There is a school of thought that shamelessly concludes that the Caucasian race is genetically more superior in intelligence than the darker races in human civilization. I don’t believe that.

But I do know that the primitive nature of Third World people and their leaders encourage white racists in Europe, Australia and the US to think so.

We may hate them for seeing us in such inferior terms but the post-colonial

word is very much a region of the world that has not kept up with modern psychology.

VS Naipaul is in his mid seventies and will go to his grave believing that the nonCaucasian world is inferior to Anglo-Saxons.

Maybe even in parts of the Third World, racist, genetic arguments hold. The Bollywood film industry glories white complexion.

They obviously think the lighter your skin, the better is the quality of your blood.

In Guyana, a marijuana cigarette can cause an innocent college student to end up in jail while possession of the same amount is legal in Holland.

Being found with a mere utensil for smoking pot carries the same penalty as possession of the drug itself.

How can any government have on the statute books, legislation to jail people who are found with a utensil for smoking marijuana? How could President Desmond

Hoyte’s Government have been so stupid as to put that anachronism into the Narcotics Act? By the same logic, the police should charge every human being who does not have a job as a cane cutter found with a cutlass.

Suppose I find a pipe for inhaling marijuana and I kept it. Why should I be punished if I did not put the thing inside of it and smoked it? There is mace that women carry in their handbag in case they are attacked.

But shouldn’t possession of that be illegal? What if the woman carries it around to rob taxi drivers? It is the same logic with the marijuana utensil.

If a man is not a fisherman, what is he doing with fishing net in his car trunk? Maybe it is to throw around the body of women whom he kidnaps to rape.

But at a road block the police would never question a driver about what he is doing with the net in his car.

This is a country where primitive laws are used to permanently imprison people who are freed of jury trials in

the High Court.

The DPP can now appeal criminal matters that the defence won before a judge and jury. There is now an automatic appeal once a murder accused is freed.

When the law came in, you thought that such appeals would be rare, centering on glaring cases of the misapplication of the law.

The DPP would appeal an acquittal of d e a t h b y dangerous driving when the facts revealed that the driver was badly intoxicated and the surveillance camera showed that he zigzagged into the p a t h o f t h e pedestrian. Surely, something is wrong with an acquittal there.

What happens in the High Court these days is the prosecution automatically gives notice of an appeal once a murder accused is freed.

Then there is bail.

The prosecutor inevitably requests the denial of bail. So you spend five years on remand; a judge and jury free you but you languish in jail for another five years because you cannot post

Frederick Kissoon bail.

I did two columns on the Mahaicony dance hall organizer who was charged for tax evasion of a few thousand dollars by the GRA (oh my God was a travesty!).

When bail was posted at $45,000, his family could not find that amount and scared like hell, he broke away from the police escort and jumped into the Mahaicony River where he died.

What I did not know until two weeks ago when I read it in KN is that the rank shot at him while he was drowning.

In a modern land, that policeman, the GRA lawyer and the magistrate would have been charged with gross human rights violations. All three are still in their respective jobs and perpetual angst is tormenting my psyche.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 11

One dead, two critical after SUV slams into parked truck

DEAD: Chaitram Singh

CRITICAL: Bissoondatt Narine

CRITICAL: Gopaul Brignandan

One man is dead and two others critically injured after the Honda CRV in which they were travelling crashed into the back of a parked truck on the Novar, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara Public Road on Monday night.

Chaitram Singh, 54, of Lot 11 Good Faith, Mahaicony, succumbed to his injuries while he was being treated at the Mahaicony Hospital around 22:50 hours.

His friends, 57-year-old Bissoondatt Narine, of Novar, Mahaicony and Gopaul Brijnandan, 59, of Dundee, are receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Hospital where they were taken early yesterday morning.

Police, in a statement, said that their investigations revealed that Singh was driving motor vehicle PKK 9600 along the Novar, Mahaicony Public Road when he lost control and collided with motor lorry GJJ 4906 which was parked on the road.

From all indications the men were heading to a wedding house in the area after imbibing somewhere else, when the crash occurred.

The owner of the truck, Amo Prashad, told this newspaper that he had parked his vehicle on the parapet in front of his house since Monday morning.

He said that he was asleep on Monday night when he heard two loud impacts and upon looking outside, he saw that a sports utility vehicle was pinned under the tray of his truck.

“This vehicle lash, pitch and like he come again and hit. We come down and like the vehicle engine (CRV) de still running, like foot right down to de accelerator and music playing inside. I just switch it off because fire de starting,” Prashad told Kaieteur News.

He said that he saw three men lying unconscious in the vehicle.

“Buddy, all three ah dem

man dead, dead drunk. We assist dem, tek dem out and so and dem go down to Mahaicony Hospital. All three ah dem de alive, but not long after, I think, de driver died,” Prashad stated.

Haimkumarie Singh, the wife of Chaitram Singh, said that her husband, who was a joiner by profession, had borrowed her son’s vehicle to go to work at Unity, Mahaica.

She said that he must have picked up his two friends on his way back home.

According to Mrs. Singh, a relative called her and told her that her husband was involved in an accident.

“Although it was late in the night, Mrs. Singh said that she left her home and went to the hospital where she saw her mortally wounded husband.

“He died about 15 minutes after reaching the hospital,” the woman said.

At the home of Bissoondatt Narine, relatives were desperately hoping that

ASL plane didn’t crash at Mabaruma - Manager Operations Manager of Air Services Limited (ASL), Annette Arjoon-Martins yesterday refuted reports that the Cessna Grand Caravan had crashed onto the Mabaruma Airstrip in Region One on Sunday.

Ms. Arjoon-Martins explained that the Cessna Grand Caravan sustained a puncture upon landing.

“The pilot suffered a puncture; it did not blow out. The tyre started to slowly deflate and Captain Totaram remained in control of the aircraft during the entire incident. The

The mangled Honda CRV in which the three victims were travelling. he recovers from his present critical condition.

A male relative at the Novar home told media operatives that Narine who was sitting in the front passenger seat is suffering from a fractured neck and four broken ribs.

He had celebrated his 57th birth anniversary on Sunday.

“They lef fuh go tek a drink and like they must be get invite to de wedding and they decide fuh pass round,

and is going they de going deh now and dat happen,” the relative said.

Lynette Brignanand told this newspaper that her husband left home around 14:00 hours on Monday.

She said that she received a telephone call from an unknown caller who told her that her husband was involved in an accident and that they needed her son at the hospital.

She accompanied her son

to the hospital but she did not go inside.

While waiting outside, she started to cry but was quickly consoled by medical personnel at the hospital.

“They say he was better than when he arrived there first,” Mrs. Singh said.

She explained that at the Georgetown Public Hospital, doctors operated on her husband’s throat which was injured as a result of the accident.

Guyana Stores loses over $1.6M during burglary The area used for entry

aircraft was brought to a stop still on the runway, no toppling over as reported.”

Adding that the passengers disembarked, Arjoon-Martins said that within two hours another aircraft was sent in with engineers to assist with fixing the tire. The aircraft then returned to Ogle airport with all its passengers.

It was previously reported that the 14-foot aircraft with registration 8R-GAS after touching down suffered a blow out of one of the wheels. This caused the plane to topple.

However, this was not the case.

The Cessna Grand Caravan in working condition at the Ogle Airport yesterday.

Yesterday morning, the Guyana Stores estimated approximately $1.6M in losses through a break and enter at the store’s universal department.

The discovery of the forced entry was made around 7:45am by guards who were about to begin the “day shift.”

The night guards said that they knew nothing of what was going on. The guards explained that about 23:00hrs Monday evening, they went to the back of the building and returned to the front at 3:00am yesterday

morning. Up to that time, nothing strange was detected.

When checks were made to estimate the losses, the store’s management discovered that over $1.6M in products were stolen.

Among the losses were: educational games, a large quantity of “brand name” male dress pants, stationary, school clothes and deodorants.

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, ranks were examining the area of breakage for prints and other potential clues.

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Kaieteur News

Member countries of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) now have a more focused agenda for improving sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, coming out of the Sixth Meeting of the CRFM’s Ministerial Council, hosted recently in Nassau, Bahamas.

Outgoing Chairman of the Ministerial Council, Minister Hilston Baptiste, of Antigua and Barbuda, urged the incoming Chairman to provide strong and decisive leadership so that the CRFM would remain relevant to the needs of the region.

“If we are to continue to benefit from the resources of the sea, we have an imperative to do all in our power to protect our resources for the many livelihoods which depend on them,” said the new Chairman of the CRFM Ministerial Council, Hon. V. Alfred Gray, recently appointed Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government in The Bahamas.

In his opening address, Minister Gray noted that fisheries contributes two per cent of the Bahamas’ national

GDP, employs more than 12,000 Bahamians, with lobster alone generating more than US$75 million in export earnings each year.

CRFM Executive Director Milton Haughton, who has worked in fisheries management for over 25 years, noted the results of numerous studies that have confirmed the health benefits of eating fish each week.

He pointed to brain development in children and brain health in adults; as well as a lower risk of asthma, dementia, depression and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and heart disease.

During their daylong deliberation, Ministerial Council members reiterated their commitment to regional cooperation, and enhancing the role of the CRFM Secretariat and the operation of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, made up of Chief Fisheries Officers and Director of Fisheries.

They also thanked FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) for agreeing to assist with a performance review of the CRFM, and a new Strategic Plan

to guide the work of the organization for the next 10 years.

Highlighted were the need for coordinated regional action to control the negative impact of the invasive lionfish on marine ecosystems and fish stocks; and the negative impact of unprecedented large quantities of Sargassum seaweed that inundated the waters and coastline of the Eastern Caribbean Islands in the latter half of 2011.

The meeting noted with grave concern the reappearance of the seaweed this year and urged Member States to monitor the situation closely and take preparatory action to minimize disruption to fisheries and other economic activities in the coastal areas, should the phenomenon also pose a problem this year.

The Sixth Meeting of the Council also addressed the development of a strategy and action plan on disaster management and climate change for fishing communities, and actions to better mitigate impacts on marine resources and livelihoods of fishers and fishing communities.

Lodge CDC wants its building back

Lodge Community Development Centre, now fully operated by the VSO Guyana Members of the Lodge Community Development Council are calling on the relevant authorities for assistance to reclaim their community development center from Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) Guyana.

Yesterday Mr. Vincent Phillips, secretary of the Lodge Community Development Council, said that the development centre was handed over to the community in 2004 by former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

He added that the VSO was given the opportunity to occupy the upper flat of the building for temporary computer classes. However in 2006 former chairman of the Lodge Community Development Council, Gladston George, unknowing

to the council gave full ownership of the development centre to VSO Guyana.

As such, the council has been unable for the past few years to have any of their functions held at the building, since they are prevented from entering the building due to the installation of an electronic security system, installed by VSO Guyana.

Phillips added that since then a number of letters have been sent to the former president and to the current president Donald Ramotar venting the frustration of the council. He said neither of the two has responded to any of their letters to date.

The council is calling on the relevant authorities to have their building returned to them so that they can

Vincent Phillips, continue their work for the further development of their community. The community development building is used for community meetings, medical outreaches and it also houses the community policing group.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Negligence blamed for latest stelling failure

By Gary Eleazar Negligence and carelessness on the part of those tasked with the responsibility of mooring the loading ramp for the Supenaam Roll Off/ Roll On stelling are to be blamed for the structure submerging on Saturday morning.

Kaieteur News visited this Parika facility yesterday and learnt that the ramp was attached to a temporary support beam, the end which was to be affixed to the Supenaam Stelling.

That pontoon was simply to hold the ramp in place until it was transported to the Supenaam Stelling where the end that was being supported by the pontoon would have been removed and physically attached.

This publication has learnt that as it was moored alongside the Parika facility the tide receded. This caused the temporary support pontoon to become lodged under a concrete column. When

…‘patriotic’ salvagers spent 22 hours recovering sunken pontoon the tide again rose, the stuck pontoon became even more tightly lodged. It continued to come under escalating pressure before it finally submerged.

This publication understands also that the inlets (man-holes) on the pontoon, which are normally sealed air-tight, were also not secured properly, causing water to seep into the iron structure and lending to problems.

The pontoon has since been salvaged and is now moored safely at the Supenaam facility.

SALVAGE MISSION Leroy Benjamin, originally from Agricola but now based in Parika, was the man who sprung into action when the situation arose.

He sits at the helm of “Benjamin’s Marine and Salvage

Services”. He received the call for assistance from the “Harbour Master.”

Benjamin sat with this publication yesterday and related his tale. According to the 61-year-old salvage operator, when he was called Saturday last he immediately ventured out to survey the works.

He decided that he would be a part of the solution rather than sit and complain and partake in the blame game.

Benjamin lamented the fact that the current ferries that ply the route which the Roll On/Roll Off ferries are supposed to service are in desperate need of retiring.

Benjamin said that commuters badly need to have the new ferries in operation and he wanted to play his part. He along with Kevin Glasgow, (continued on page 25)

Probe uncovers massive irregularities at City Hall Though City Hall struggles to pay salaries and this is the case again this month. Councillors recently voted themselves an increase of 33 percent in allowances for this year and an eight percent increase for the other workers.

“On a regular basis only about 19 Councillors attend meetings. About 10 to 11 Councillors always absent.

The Council is wholly dysfunctionally represented as it is by various factors and they spend a lot of time dealing with inconsequential items and in my opinion, waste a lot of time babbling sheer nonsense.”

This is according to Ramon Gaskin in a document prepared on his observations of City Hall and acquired by Kaieteur News. It is unclear where City Hall would get finances for the increases but the document highlights rampant corruption among the hierarchy of City Hall.

This same Council is fighting to have the three senior officers—Town Clerk Yonette Pluck, Treasurer Andrew Meredith and City Engineer Gregory Erskine— recently mired in fraud allegations, be sent on vacation leave to facilitate internal investigations.

However, the document disclosed that there is another member of the organization’s hierarchy that is misusing resources. Mayor Hamilton Greene was named as one of the individuals involved in fuel theft at City Hall.

According to Gaskin, on average, Green utilizes $89,140 per month while the three other officers, Pluck, Meredith and Erskine use $190,280 $70,310 and $180,900 per month respectively.

The document also stated that the Mayor’s residence is secured by nine ranks of the City Constabulary, which has 146 personnel. There are additional security guards.

It is a usual cry of the City Constabulary that the body has insufficient manpower to secure market places, Council’s buildings and the streets of Georgetown. With market places lacking security, consumers and vendors have been prey to criminals.

Gaskin also noted discrepancies in the sale of Greene’s last vehicle. However, he was not provided with the requested information on that sale. During Gaskin’s investigation in late May it was discovered that of the seven new trucks provided to the Council, only one was working. The remaining six were “down” for repairs but no one was attending to these trucks.

In addition, Lugger Bobcats Excavator and other equipment were also said to be down for repairs. “It was observed that several items of equipment were being cannibalized. There clearly is need for a general overhaul at this location,” he said.

The Workshop Manager responsible for these repairs is in receipt of $500,000 Petty Cash float. Gaskin was not

provided with information on this spending even though a request was made.

Apparently, a scrap metal business called “Good Crop” Scrap Metal is operating out of the premises at Princes Street. “It is difficult to assess how much Mayor and City Council (M&CC) scrap metal located at Princes Street finds its way into the large 40-foot containers, which are loaded up with scrap,” Gaskin stated.

Currently, the Auditor General’s office is investigating the sale of the Council’s old incinerator (Old Smokey) located at Princes Street. Council is awaiting the findings of that investigation.

Another discrepancy, the document revealed, was the payment of $2.8M to Ms. Vonetta McDonald for 75 percent of “work” done.

Meredith was instructed by Erskine to make that payment.

The document stated that the “letterhead” for the invoice had no address and no phone number, and is in the name of MTN General Contracting and Transportation Services.

Gaskin said, “There is no such entity in the phone book, nor is there a Vonetta McDonald.

There is extremely “funny” business that truly warrants the intervention of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Guyana Police Force, as with the theft of fuel.”

He said there is no Assets Register showing the assets of the M&CC with values attached except for buildings such as Stabroek Market.

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Guyana signs petroleum deal with major US Oil Exploration Company

Minister Robert Persaud and team in discussion with the United States Ambassador, Mr. Brent Hardt and Senior Executives of Anadarko.

The Government of Guyana has signed an Agreement with Anadarko Guyana Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko), a United States of America-based company to undertake exploration in the deep waters of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone.‘ The Company had sought to engage the government to conduct exploration activities last year and had submitted technical proposals and held a series of discussions with senior Government officials, including President Donald Ramotar.

The discussions resulted in an agreement to commence studying available data for the concession acreage, which will be referred to as the “Roraima Block,” in greater detail with a view to identify leads that could

result in prospects favourable for drilling to locate potential resources of petroleum.

Minister Robert Persaud presented copies of the signed agreement between the Government of Guyana and Anadarko to Mr. Andrew Mehlhop, Exploration Manager, South America, Anadarko. Also present were Mr. Brent Hardt, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Richard Lapin, Project Advisor, International Negotiations, Anadarko, Mr. Joslyn McKenzie, Permanent Secretary, MNRE, Major General (rtd), Mr. Joseph Singh, Chairman, Board of Directors, GGMC, Ms. Karen Livan, Commissioner, GGMC, Mr. Newell Dennison, Manager, Petroleum Division, GGMC and other officials.

Anadarko is among the world’s largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and

DPP drops charges against former ...

From page 3 client then, in an attempt to save herself, made an entry to this effect in a log book. He said it was later discovered that the said pink suitcase was found with 24.6 kilogrammes of cocaine and one Dorothy Sears was arrested and

charged in the US. He went on to state that Tennant has given a statement to this effect to the police while her supervisor also give a statement supporting what Tennant said. Efforts yesterday to contact the DPP office proved futile.

production companies with approximately 2.54 billion barrels of oil equivalent in proved reserves at year-end 2011 Further, the signing of the agreement comes at a time when drilling on several fronts have occurred, only recently a license was awarded to NABI Oil and Gas Inc. to undertake drilling on the coast of Guyana at Drill Mahaicony. In addition, the Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment to establish a Petroleum Advisory Board to overlook the Oil and Gas sector, while the Commonwealth Sector is reviewing Guyana’s regulations governing the petroleum sector to make it more investor friendly to ensure Guyana benefits from the opportunities of finding oil.

The government is also collaborating with a number of external partners, including the US, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago to enhance its capabilities in the development of the oil and gas sectors. The Government of Guyana will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure necessary precautions and environmental safeguards are in place to develop a sustainable oil and gas industry.

Page 21

APNU accuses PPP of unprincipled action A Partnership for National Unity has said that at the end of Monday’s fourth sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during this Tenth Parliament, the PPP members taking advantage of the absence of AFC member, Trevor Williams, took the unprecedented step of forcing a vote on a matter before the Committee.

The subject of the discussion was the appointment of 11 members of staff of the Auditor General’s Department. The Office has for some time been the subject of long consideration by the PAC because most of the staff members being proposed for appointment by the Auditor General were not considered to be adequately qualified to fill the positions.

For this reason they have been acting for years.

Mr. Deodat Sharma, the Auditor General, has been acting for seven years.

Without warning, at the last meeting of the PAC on June 18, 2012, the PPP members reversed their position on the appointments and as a prelude began challenging

the right of the members of the PAC to question the proposal for appointments made by Mr. Sharma.

APNU said that on Monday, the PPP members, contrary to the consensual approach normally used for decisions of the PAC forced a vote to appoint all the staff including those whose appointments they had previously opposed, because they have not met the qualifications required for the posts.

“It is widely understood that the purpose of the PPP decision was not really to appoint the other members but to promote the wife of Dr. Ashni Singh,” APNU contended.

APNU and AFC members had been arguing in the past, and the PNCR before them, that auditors have a professional responsibility to avoid being involved in auditing accounts in which they and their close relatives are involved.

Dr. Singh is the Chairman of the Board for a variety of entities including the National Industrial and Commercial

Investment Limited (NICIL), Bank of Guyana, and National Procurement and Tender Administration. The National Assembly has called for a forensic audit of NICIL, APNU noted.

The political grouping added that the Ministry of Finance is in control of a large number of public entities of significance and especially those where there have been questions about their practices.

“The danger of appointing the wife of the Minister of Finance to be responsible for the audits of public enterprises such as NICIL is certainly a conflict of interest.

“APNU has proposed and continues to do so that it is urgent and in the best interest of transparency that the President appoints a substantive and qualified Auditor General. It is unfortunate that the PPP’s unprincipled action is likely to undermine the integrity of the analyses and recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General.”

People try various methods to ferry drugs to their intended destinations, even using discreet and private parts of their bodies.

A convicted prisoner who was so determined to enter the New Amsterdam prison with a quantity of marijuana found out that wherever you hide the drugs you may still be caught.

That was the situation with convicted prisoner

Tameshwar Persaud, an inmate of the New Amsterdam Prison and of Look Out, Parika, East Bank, Essequibo.

He was nabbed on June 4, last.

According to prosecutor Corporal Roberto Figueira, on the day in q u e s t i o n , Persaud was among a group of prisoners taken out of the Penitentiary to run an errand.

At the completion of the day’s task the prisoners were returned to the prison

where they were checked before being allowed into the prison. When Persaud was checked he had a black Plastic bag hidden in his anus.

The bag, when retrieved and checked, contained leaves, seeds and stems of the marijuana plant.

He was arrested and charged. He pleaded guilty.

Before being sentenced he begged the Magistrate for a small sentence.

The man was expected to be released from jail soon.

Prisoner hides drugs in anus, jailed for three years

Page 22

Kaieteur News

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WANTED One 4D36 diesel fan cylinder engine head Call: 697-4403

1- Male of female to look after layer birds in the Interior Call: 696-2698

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Wednesday June 27, 2012

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FABS RENTAL, cars & jeeps rental Call: 600-6890 or email fabsrental@yahoo.com (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Giant tree crashes down on sleeping family’s home Sandra Garraway and her family are considering themselves lucky to be alive after a massive palm tree came crashing down on their Lot 483 North East La Penitence home early yesterday, even as they slept.

The tree, which was located on a dam at the southern side of the home, shattered windows, a fence, a section of the roof. It also crushed a washing machine that was outdoors and destroyed a kitchenette.

No one was hurt, but the family has been left traumatised. There are several other giant and rotting palm trees on the same dam, and Ms. Garraway is fearful that the family would not be so lucky the next time one falls.

Ms. Garraway recalled that around 01:00 hr she was awakened by a ‘crashing sound.’

At first, she believed that

- City Council ignored pleas to cut down tree the family was under attack.

“It sound like gunshots.

We start scream and by the time we scream we hear like an earthquake.” That was the sound of the tree sliding from the roof to the ground.

“When we come outside we see the house mash up.”

After assessing the damage, Ms. Garraway hired a crew to saw off a portion of the tree that was in her yard and haul it and other debris away. That cost her $20,000.

The family is incensed at City Hall, since they claimed that they have been pleading with officials there since last year to cut the rotting tree down.

When heavy breeze blows, the tree would be rocking,” Ms. Garraway’s husband, Leyland O’Neil, said.

Kaieteur News was told

(From page 22) VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 622-1610 1 New Model 212 & 2-RZ Excellent condition & 1 3 Y Minibus Call: 678-0191,2201693 or 658-7034 Toyota Runx, special edition, PNN $2.3M, New Model Nissan Wingroad Sports Wagon $2.3M unregistered Call: 6122522,645-5893 One Allion for sale $2.1 million Call: 647-9470

Ms. Garraway points to one of the shattered windows. that a City engineer had visited the home and had

Woman remanded for scalding 12-year-old with boiling rice water A mother was on Tuesday remanded to jail on a charge of Inflicting grievous bodily harm after she allegedly threw a pot of boiling rice water on her 12 year old daughter. The incident is said to have occurred last Thursday. The woman, Mohini Mohabir, 34, of 219 New Scheme, Port Mourant was arraigned at the Whim Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Fabio Azore.

Kaieteur News understands that the woman claimed that the girl has her own way and does not listen to her. On the day in question the woman had sent her daughter out on an errand and the girl did not return.

Upon inquiry the mother learnt that the girl was hiding. It is understood that when the child did return home the mother took a pot of boiling rice water and doused her.

The child who is the elder of her two children and also lives with her stepfather in the house, received burns to her left arm and portions of her back.

She was rushed to the Port Mourant hospital where she was treated and sent away.

The matter was reported and the woman was arrested and charged. She was not required to plead. The woman, who was barefooted, was remanded to jail until July 9.

promised to use an excavator to bring the tree down. He never returned.

“It seems like somebody got to die (before City Hall acts),” Ms. Garraway said.

“We missed death. I thank God we still alive to tell this story.” She said that City Hall staffers visited the premises and promised to get rid of the other trees threatening the home. However, Ms Garraway is not optimistic that this will be done.

Last year, five-year-old Tammica Hackett, who lived just a few houses away from Ms. Garraway, was killed after a palm tree from the same dam fell on her home as she slept.

Municipality litters Corriverton market...

From page 7 “because they are paying fees and they are quarreling; they are legal; we can’t stop the people from selling on the road, and the vendors in the market are not getting sales at the back there”.

He does not believe it is safe for the mud to have been dashed along the market road. “No, it is not safe to walk down there, that road was rented to us by GuySuCo; we paid a token fee, but then GuySuCo, which has a lot of lands at the back there, want to do drainage and irrigation.

“When the rain falls in this town, that thing (the canal) becomes a reservoir and it could be a threat to people’s lives; disease can break out”.

He added that the company “could not have taken the slush mud somewhere else”.

When asked, what was the plan for the mud along the road?, he said, “It will remain there, permanently, to build the shoulders on the road”.

He said that the slush “will go down because a lot of stuff, vegetation is under there, so after a time, it will go down”.

When told that some persons fell in the mud while shopping along the roadway,

the IMC Chairman said, “Some of the people are to be blamed, too, because they knew mud is there and they should have used the other entrance.”

The Town Health and Sanitary Inspector, Roopnarine Sookhu, is very concerned about the hazardous situation “and we told him to issue letters to those persons and we will make a public statement on television tomorrow.

The Chairman said that the illegal vending situation in the town has got out of control at the moment and accused the vendors of even building toilets on the nearby Anglican Church’s burial ground— “They are desecrating those tombs!”

“We asked GuySuCo to clean and excavate the canal because the school was complaining and the children were saying that the water was stink— The scent was atrocious— and we asked GuySuCo to open and reactivate the koker so there can be free passage of water.”

The IMC, he said, had several meetings with the vendors, the last being two weeks ago, and even prepared individual agreement papers for them to sign and occupy

a newly- constructed $15M section of the Corriverton Market which can accommodate 34 vacant stands, but the vendors declined.

“We offered them alternative places to do business and they failed”.

The council, he said, even agreed to renovate the old Municipal Nursery School in order for the vendors to occupy and sell in the market building. “This is how we try to treat these people”, he said.

But the vendors rebuffed the IMC Chairman’s comments. Blair, who represented several of the vendors, said that according to his understanding of the town by- laws, roadside vending can take place about 100 yards from the market and that they (the vendors) are within the legal parameters.

Blair further stated that the previous town council, headed by Former Corriverton Mayor, Roy Baijnauth, took the vendors to court “and we win them in court—they took us to court five times and all five times we win!”

He added that the court “banned them (the town council) from carrying we

there! Why the court banned them? They lose because the first time, second, third time, the fourth time and when they carried we the fifth time, the man (Magistrate Krishendat Persaud) expelled the whole case and said that it was wrong and anybody could sell anywhere, once you didn’t leave your structures on the street!”

“Is a pack of liars and thieves— vagabonds— they thieving the people money— victimise you! What they should be doing, they ain’t doing!” he argued.

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Page 24

Kaieteur News

Government considering...

From page 8 the (Criminal Law) offences Act chapter 8:01 was amended by Act No.7 of 2002 to Criminalize Terrorist Acts; two, the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act No.13 of 2009 was approved by our Parliament.

It is aimed at addressing issues of Money Laundering including the Financing of Terrorism.”

However, the Minister noted that Guyana has not completed its Legislative process, in that the government is considering proposals that would eventually lead to the submission of an Anti-Terrorism Bill in Parliament.

And in recognition of the reality that there must be in place adequately trained

officials to prevent, investigate and prosecute persons who may want to engage in Terrorism, the Minister said that Guyana has been making efforts to ensure that adequate training is made available to the Staff of the relevant Agencies.

The present workshop, he said, represents one of the activities aimed at strengthening Guyana’s capacity to fight Terrorism.

“The Government of Guyana, over the years, has within its limited resource base, been directing significant sums of money to acquire the requisite equipment to support the respective Law Enforcement Agencies to enable them to carry out their Terrorism Prevention and detection activities. We will continue to

inject the requisite funds to those Agencies. Guyana as part of the World Community will continue to work with our Partners to fight the scourge of Terrorism,” Rohee said.

He added, “Our work will be made easier if all countries cooperate to combat the threat of terrorism. The eagerness that has been demonstrated by the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch to mount this Workshop is commendable and signals the intention of the United Nations to play a leading role in the fight against Terrorism.”

The Minister urged the participants of the workshop to use this unique opportunity that has been provided to assist them in having a better understanding of the issues surrounding Terrorism.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00hrs. The A-Team 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk

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Wednesday June 27, 2012

The Abigail Column I don’t love him anymore DEARABIGAIL, I’m having a problem with my boyfriend of five years. I don’t think that I love him anymore!!! What should I do?

Desperate Dear Desperate, While it may feel uncomfortable or unexpected, or both, falling out of love with a boyfriend of five years is normal.

Exploring your feelings regarding your boyfriend and

the reasons why you may have fell out of love with him may be a helpful first start for deciding what you “should” do.

You seem conflicted about the thought of not loving your boyfriend anymore. As such, you may want to consider asking yourself the following questions.

Does the fact that you may not love your boyfriend anymore bother you? How long have you felt this way?

Do the two of you have mutual respect, friendship, and trust?

Do you feel that your

relationship is a caring one?

Does your relationship enhance or diminish who you are? Do you feel that you need some time apart? Can you picture him as a life partner?

What would your ideal relationship (with or without your boyfriend) look like?

You may also decide to have couples counseling if you feel the need for it.

R e m e m b e r , understanding your feelings and communicating with your boyfriend are promising steps to helping you feel comfortable with any decision you make regarding your relationship. Good luck!

Wednesday June 27, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): There are two families in your life -- the one that contains the people you're related to, and the one that includes the friends you choose to have in your life. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): If you're planning a gettogether with friends, try to plan it around a meal. There is nothing quite like socializing over food to get people laughing and feeling good about themselves and each other. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Just because one of your friends is being tight with money right now doesn't mean that they aren't up for some serious fun! ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): As soon as you wake up in the morning, you'll feel full of good energy -- so good, in fact, that you must see it as a responsibility. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): An unexpected encounter with an old friend might start off a bit awkwardly today, but their naturally warm personality will thaw whatever icy chill you were sensing. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Wherever you spend most of your time today, you will find encouragement from the people you are surrounded by. At the office, coworkers are suddenly ready to help out on big projects or small. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Consider teaming up to get where you want to go

right now. Often, two heads are better than one, and you might need the friction of someone else's perspective in order to achieve that high polish on your ideas. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): More than any other day this week, today is a very good day to get what you want. Your charm and intellect are both at their highest peak, and you'll be able to negotiate like an expert. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Today, if you just follow your mood, you will be all right. Do not over-think things and do not try to change your mood -- if you're feeling blue, you're feeling blue for a reason. **************** CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): A lot of new ideas will be suggested to you today, and your first instinct might be to push them all way.

They're too new for you to feel comfortable with them, and that's understandable -but if you let your fears take over right now, you could regret it later. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): It might not be very easy to say something to a friend that you know you have been needing to say, but nothing worth doing is ever easy, is it? ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): You have a big supply of strength buried deep down inside of you right now, and when you combine it with your creativity, there is nothing that can slow you down today.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Corentyne resident jailed on drug charge Rabindranauth Reddy called, “Ravi”, a labourer of Lot 961 Hampshire, Corentyne, Berbice was on Monday sentenced to three years in jail by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo when he appeared before her at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court and pleaded guilty to the c h a r g e o f possession of narcotics.

According to prosecutor Corporal Roberto Figueira, on Saturday June 23, last, a mobile police patrol in the

Rose Hall Town noticed Reddy acting in a suspicious manner.

He was stopped and was fou n d t o b e c a r r y i n g a whitish substance in his hands.

The substance was retrieved and he was arrested and taken into custody.

When the substance was tested and weighed it was found to be 1½ grams of cocaine.

He was charged and appeared in court on Monday and pleaded guilty.

Gun charge pending Police are to lay charges against 28-year-old Rawlin Gobin, of Martindale, Pomeroon, who was arrested with an unlicensed firearm at Charity car park, Monday night.

According to a police report, the man who is from the Lower Pomeroon, was

arrested by police ranks at Charity at a roadblock.

The man was seen acting in a suspicious manner in the vicinity of the Charity car park and ranks proceeded to conduct a search on his person.

Gobin was subsequently arrested.

Miners alleged physical abuse

by Port Kaituma police Ubert English, 30, of Port Kaituma is among a group of 12 persons who were alleged physically abused by police officers from the Port Kaituma Police Station.

English, the General Manager of the Macaw Mining camp also located at Port Kaituma, told this publication yesterday that last Wednesday evening upon arriving back from a meeting with a customer he discovered that the mining camp was ransacked and a large quantity of gold was discovered missing.

He added that upon making the discovery he alerted his co-workers. The police were also informed.

English said that the police arrived on Friday June 22 and they were all taken to the police station for statements.

He said that they were placed in the lockups after

Man remanded for Berbice taxi driver’s 2010 murder A man who was alleged to have murdered a taxi driver in 2010 was yesterday remanded to jail by Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, yesterday.

Stephen Campbell, of Lot 5 Number Seven Village, Berbice, was not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder.

The police said that between June 9 and June 10, 2010 at Number 7 Village, Berbice, he murdered Trevor Kissoon. Attorney-at-law Patrice Henry is appearing for the accused.

Police prosecutor Phillip Sheriff, said that the victim was a taxi driver employed at a taxi service. The deceased responded to a call for a pick up at Canje Turn, but calls to his radio and handset went unanswered.

The following day, the prosecutor said, the deceased’s battered body was found next to a trench. The prosecutor said that the victim had multiple injuries to the head and about his body.

Sheriff said that investigations over a period of time led to the accused. He requested that the accused be remanded to jail. The Magistrate then remanded Campbell.

An autopsy performed on the deceased in June of 2010 revealed that the victim died of shock and haemorrhage.

The results showed that Kissoon sustained a laceration to the brain as a result of a fractured skull.

Information had revealed that the caller who requested

a taxi at the Canje Turn just after 23:00 hours on the night of the incident, specifically wanted the particular model vehicle Kissoon was driving, a Toyota Carina. The person had placed two phone calls and had waited until it was available.

Reports were that another taxi service received calls asking for a ‘pick up’ in the said model vehicle.

The body of 27-year-old Trevor Kissoon, of 25 Alexander Street, New

Page 25

Amsterdam, Berbice was fished out of a canal at Number Seven Village, Berbice. He was an employee of the J&N Taxi Service.

The police received a tipoff that a body was floating in the said waterway. It was later identified by family members as the body of the taxi driver.

This publication was told that the accused did not admit to the murder but reportedly said that he was in company of those responsible.

…at issue is missing gold from mining camp giving their statements and on Saturday the police began beating them. He added that the police officers also made attempts to hang them by handcuffing them and taking ropes and trying to pull them up to the ceiling in the police station.

English said black pepper was also poured in black plastic bags and placed over their heads.

The disgruntled miner

said that the proprietor of the mining camp whose name was given as Mr. Yoyo Stull is currently out of country and the operation is being spearheaded by his nephew.

This publication understands that the men were taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital yesterday for treatment and were then taken back to the lock ups.

The relatives of these miners are calling on the

relevant authorities for assistance since they are unable to get their family members out of the lock ups.

They have been incarcerated since last Saturday.

One relative told this publication that they have tried all means to get their family members out, but all proved futile. This was compounded by the fact that there is no lawyer available in the district.

Negligence blamed for latest ...

From page 12 who operates a speedboat service in the locale, spearheaded the salvage operation which saw at least 20 persons being called into action for some 22 hours.

Benjamin, through his company, supplied two tugs, each with a seven man crew, two divers as well as four pump attendants. Glasgow supplied the needed speedboats for the operation as well as ancillary manpower to aid in the salvage mission. The team went into action about 17:00hrs on Saturday several hours after the pontoon had sunk and this mission was not over until midday the following day.

Benjamin was in loud praise of what he called his A-Frame.

Benjamin displayed his A Frame for this publication and credits it with being critical in hoisting the sunken pontoon to the surface level.

Benjamin’s A-Frame can be described as a massive makeshift crane erected and affixed atop a pontoon.

Underscoring the point that it was his sense of national pride that caused him to spring into action, Benjamin said that he and the Ministry of Public Works are yet to work out the details of how much the operation costs, in terms of how much he will receive for his services.

He explained that when the issue of cost came up when the salvage mission was proposed to him, this was the least of his concerns.

The main thing, he said was to get the ramp and pontoon out of the water and affixed to its Supenaam destination.

He did say that transporting the ramp and pontoons over to the Supenaam stelling cost $650,000 but said as it relates to the actual salvage operation he is yet to work out the details with the Works Ministry.

Government Engineer Walter Willis accompanied the pontoon which has since been transported to the

Supenaam destination.

Benjamin credits his role in salvaging the pontoon and ramp to his years of training in the field.

The experienced marine salvager began working at the then Guyana Timbers in 1968 before he moved to Demerara Timbers. Benjamin praised the Guyana Defence Force, particularly the Coast Guard Division. He said that he has undergone a lot of training through this arm of the defence force and credits individuals such as a Colonel Harry Hinds, Burgess and the current Commodore Gary Best.

Best he recalls, at the time was “2 IC” (Second in Command) of the Defence Force. He has abundance of knowledge in the marine field.

Speaking to the constant critics of the project, Benjamin urged that all should be involved and play their part in getting the facilities into operation. “We badly need these ferries working,” says Benjamin.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Mohandatt to spearhead Brooklyn Bulldogs this weekend Former national junior guard, Richard Mohandatt will spearhead the Brooklyn/Queens Bulldogs in the National Community Basketball League (NCBL) I n t e r n a t i o n a l We e k e n d after he migrated to the United States of America last year.

Mohandatt, who is the most recent member of the team that Bernard Daniels coaches, will have all his previous experience of playing at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall at his disposal. He will be readily supported on the team’s first tour to Guyana.

The other notable players that form part of the Brooklyn/ Queens Bulldogs include Triston Lake, Ashford Johnson, Ronald Alkins and Ronsard Humphrey. The team’s first game jumps off on the opening night, Saturday, of the three-night event.

Daniels most recent success includes the fact that he led the Guyana female

Richard Mohandatt

Bernard Daniels

national team to their first Gillian Brazier basketball title in Antigua and Barbuda earlier this year. He will certainly be here to prove that his Bulldogs are dangerous.

The Brooklyn/Queens Bulldogs will face the NCBL All-Stars in game one of the double-header scheduled for Saturday night. The second game is the big one; the muchanticipated rivalry gets on the

way between Guyana and D.C Jammers.

Brooklyn/Queens Bulldogs: Richard Mohandat, Ronsard Humphrey, Marlon Thorton, Ashford Johnson, Triston Lake, Ronald Alkins, Warren Butts, Wilfred Branche, Randy Jaggernauth.

Bernard Daniels (Head Coach) and Rundell Ramsay (Assistant Coach).

After bad start, Nadal wins in 3 sets...

From back page was hardly troubled after that and served out the match with an ace.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams did much better than big sister Venus at Wimbledon, defeating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-4 Tuesday in the first round.

Playing on the same Court 2 where Venus lost in straight sets a day earlier, Williams took command by breaking her Czech opponent three times in the first set. The players then traded breaks twice in the second before Williams broke again in the 10th game, converting her second match point when the 62nd-ranked Zahlavova Strycova sent a forehand long.

Williams was 46-0 in the first round of Grand Slam tournaments before losing her opening match at this year’s French Open. Serena Williams was made to work hard for her Wimbledon first-

round win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

The four-time champion, whose sister Venus was beaten on Monday, had few problems in the first set but was broken twice in the second. The sixth seed recovered to seal a 6-2 6-4 success to join defending champion Petra Kvitova in round two.

Kvitova, 22, fought back from a shaky start to beat Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanmuradova in straight sets. The Czech was broken in the first game of the match

by Amanmuradova but eventually regrouped to win five successive games. The second set was also tight, but a single break was enough for 22-year-old Kvitova to seal a 6-4 6-4 win after a 25-minute delay for rain.

She will meet Britain’s Elena Baltacha or Karin Knapp in round two.

“It’s unbelievable to come back her as defending champion, some nice

memories came to mind,” Kvitova told BBC Sport. “In the beginning I was really nervous. In the first match on grass it’s always tough to know what to expect, but I tried to play my game and go forward.”

Williams, meanwhile, will take on either Johanna Larsson of Sweden or Hungarian qualifier Melinda Czink for a place in the last 32. Playing on the same Court Two where Venus perished on Monday, Serena broke her Czech opponent three times in the first set.

Breaks were traded in the second before Williams converted her second match point in the 10th game of the set.

Elsewhere, Russian 12th seed Vera Zvonareva completed a three-set win over unseeded German Mona Barthel in a match held over from Monday, but 19th seed Lucie Safarova was beaten in straight sets by Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

GVF hands over competition balls to BVA

GVF Vice-President and National Coach, Levi Nedd (right) hands over the balls to BVA Secretary Errol Chase in the presence of BVA President Gregory Rambarran (centre).

Sunday, the Berbice Volleyball association received ten (10) Mikasa MVA200 volleyballs from the Guyana Volleyball Federation. The official handing over of the balls was done at the GTM Hard-court in New Amsterdam before the start of the BVA’s Trophy Stall Competition.

In the absence of GVF President, Lennie Shuffler, GVF Vice-President and National Coach, Levi Nedd handed over the balls to BVA Secretary Errol Chase in the presence of BVA officials and clubs affiliated to the

association.

Over the past year and a half, the BVA has been the most vibrant of the GVF’s affiliates and lack of proper competition balls had curtailed the playing of competitions and hampered the preparation of affiliated teams.

However, the acquisition of the balls will now enable teams in Berbice to train harder to improve their game.

The BVA expressed gratitude to the GFV for the balls and hoped that such balls will be available more regularly.

Top horses on show in 2nd Digicel/Ansa...

From back page store for turfites.

Digicel was represented

by Manager Gavin Hope and Public Relations Officer, Shonette Moore, while Ansa McAl’s representatives included Public Relations Officer, Darshanie Yusuff, Nigel Worrell and Advertising Manager, Ramesh Rupchand.

Interim chairman of the GHRA, Justice Cecil Kennard was also in attendance as was organizer, Compton Sancho.

Ms Moore expressed delight on behalf of her company for once again being afforded the opportunity to be good corporate citizens. She reminded of Digicel’s commitment to such activities ever since it has acquiesced to support the first edition of the meet. She said that

the Digicel top brass has been extremely pleased by the organizing techniques of the officials at the conclusion of activities last year that they had readily agreed to sponsor this year’s event.

Ansa McAl would be sponsoring the event under the Carib Beer label and Ms Yussuf also expressed delight at receiving an opportunity to contribute to the development of the sport. She said that the main objective of her firm was to ensure that the communities benefit from its input. She also said that while her firm has been sponsoring other sports activities, it has not been deeply involved in horseracing. “It is the confidence demonstrated by Digicel which prompted our involvement and Ansa McAl is delighted to join forces with the telephone company,” concluded Ms Yusuf.

Mr. Rupchand endorsed Yussuf’s sentiments while informing that Digicel’s executives are currently planning a grand concert to cap activities at the meet. He said that it was all a part of the public oriented spirit of Digicel.

Mr. Kennard was indeed grateful for the support received from the two

corporate giants and aptly expressed these feelings. He issued a call for the involvement of more corporate entities but admitted that sports organizations should merit the support by the way they administrate. He said that the inability of executives of the former GHRA to properly administrate the sport has seen the installment of the current IMC. The chairman promised to rectify this anomaly even as he issued a call for the enactment of the requisite legislation towards the smooth running of the sport.

Mr. Kennard concluded by assuring sponsors that all efforts are being made to ensure that they receive value for their money. He listed two pressing concerns currently receiving attention. These include punctuality relating to the commencement of meets as well as adequate spacing of meets to avoid overcrowding.

Mr. Sancho admitted that Digicel’s input was timely and very welcome. He opined that such support has resulted in massive improvement within the fraternity. This includes larger prizes, the involvement of foreign jockeys and horses which translates to more qualitative races.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 27

“B-S would get you nowhere – A truly disappointing tour by West Indies to England 2012!”

Colin E. H. Croft There is that old saying: “Do not bull-s..t a bulls.…er!” Boy, in West Indies cricket’s case, that is so true!

That should even be the motto of West Indies cricket.

Despite “B-S” congealed by head coach Ottis Gibson and captain Darren Sammy, and strange, sudden emphasis on West Indies “A” team, nothing can hide facts that West Indies cricket team’s tour to England was a dismal failure in every aspect!

To politically but incorrectly dilute the effect of nothingness in senior West Indies cricket, no-one seems to want to acknowledged that West Indies 2012 tour to England was totally, diabolically so, an exact waste of time. Nothing that we did not know of beforehand happened!

Ironically, by end of both Test and ODI series, West Indies team leaders on tour were even suggesting the same thing: “We are going to do our best not to be whitewashed!”

Where exactly is this progress? West Indies were quite poor on this tour. Both know that well too!

As Michael J. Fox said in the film ‘The American President’; “If you lead people into a desert, and they then see a mirage, thinking that they have seen water, they could even be convinced to drink that sand, as they really do not have any other choice!” That sounds so much like present-day West Indies cricket!

“You can fool half of the people all of the time, or you can fool all of the people half of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Also, the only person that you cannot fool at all is yourself!”

The tour started on a terribly negative note, with some better cricketers not being available for playing,

EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to a technical glitch, Colin Croft’s article was not received on time and carried on Sunday last as is customary. However, Kaieteur Sport carries the article in the interest of the many fans and readers who find ‘Crofty’s’ pieces interesting and informative. Enjoy.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels cross for a run as James Anderson looks on, England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord's, 1st day, May 17, 2012 political or profitable reasons, but, except for sporadic instances, everyone, except, it seems, West Indies team personnel, were extremely disappointed!

When West Indies, according to pundits, managed to lose by “only” 20 to Australia recently; West Indies losing by “only” three wickets (1st Test) and 75 runs (3rd Test), respectively; most were convinced that the tour of England would have been better.

Absolute madness! The tour of England was a totally retrograde step in this team’s development. What was certainly obvious is that many, maybe most, of our supposed top team cricketers lack abilities to play well at that level! Despite the massive smoke-screen effort, it was really quite embarrassing!

The only international game West Indies could have won was Test No. 1, at Lords, which West Indies lost by “only” five wickets. That

West Indies even managed to last five days was due almost entirely to batting efforts of Shiv Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels, and herculean input by fast bowler Kemar Roach. Even their focused contributions could not avoid the very obvious.

Had it not been for those three, that Test experience could have been even worse, if that could have even been contemplated. The entire façade was complete shambles initially, and ended badly too!

By Test No. 2, West Indies were struggling to even be on the same game and Test arena as England. The beating in Test No. 2 was even worse; England winning by nine wickets. Where, exactly, was the improvement? “You can fool….etc!” Even West Indies players did not believe they could win anything!

So Sammy got his first Test hundred and Samuels another, but by the time Test No. 2 ended too, England was

so far ahead in abilities and substance that they even rested their better bowlers for Test No. 3, acknowledging recognition that West Indies was what they actually thought; very second rate!

Test No. 3 saw some pyrotechnics, courtesy of Tino Best and wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin, but even that could not disguise the fact that West Indies were so far behind that it really did not matter!

So, we all thought that West Indies was a better oneday team than one for Tests.

We even hoped that the return of Chris Gayle and Co. would aid West Indies efforts.

We were all, extremely, badly wrong!

During the ODI at Kia Oval, comments were even overheard that “all West Indies stars have returned, yet they are still playing as badly as previously managed!”

Even opposing supporters were resigned!

These days, because of

the use of technology and the visage of television, ‘live’ into every home, it is almost impossible to hide behind shadows. Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Gayle were indeed back in the ODI team, but their overall contributions were more fantasy than real substance. None of them contributed substantially, so nothing changed for the results for West Indies!

ODI No. 1 was so poor that West Indies had already lost when threatened rains eventually came. By then, England had pummeled 2886, twenty-five of fifty overs, bowled by a combination of Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine allowing an expensive 158 runs, while getting only two wickets!

When West Indies batted, they were soon all out for 172 in only 33.4 overs; a really putrid effort indeed!

Gayle’s inclusion in ODI No. 2 suggested help was at hand. ‘DRS’ saw to it that he would not contribute fully.

My belief, for what it was worth, was that he was correctly adjudged out; LBW. In the olden days, that would have been given “not out”. With new technology, split-second timings can be measured!

West Indies lost ODI No. 2 by the massive margin of 8 wickets, England getting the required, paltry 239 in only 45 overs, for loss of only two wickets. In ODI’s, that is as bad a beating as can be had anywhere!

West Indies now plays New Zealand, starting next week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - two T-20-I’s, five ODI’s, two Tests. With many recycled “A” team players who do not seem to be able to make it permanently, properly and substantially into the senior team again available, expect familiar names.

Disappointingly so, at

Colin E. H. Croft last, West Indies would now be playing at its own poor level, as they and New Zealand are, respectively, rated No. 7 and No. 8 (Tests), No. 8 and No. 7 (ODI), No. 9 and No. 4 (T-20-I’s).

The cricket itself would probably be competitive between these two teams, but it must say something odd about us that we would be whooping and applauding the dregs of world cricket’s standings!

The series might even be enjoyable and exciting, relatively speaking, but when West Indies plays New Zealand, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe or any of the Associate countries, simply to be compared to their present meager output, then reality tells how far removed West Indies is from the summit!

At least, one would expect that since the opposition is nearly at that very nadir level of international cricket, a few new names would get outings for West Indies, none more so deserving than young left-arm medium fast bowler Delorn Johnson and right-arm pacer Kevin Mc Lean; two for the future.

Otherwise, interestingly, recent deserved knighthood of Wesley Winfield Hall, that fast bowler who started it for us all, counteracted the very hilarious escapades of another recently unfrocked “knight”, R. Allen Stanford; jailed for “only” 110 years.

Who says West Indies cricket gives no pleasure?

Enjoy!

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 27, 2012

‘Bolt can tap dance if he wants’ Gardener gearing for MCYS 5km ...Gatlin talks - hopes for sponsorship to up a storm after compete in future oversea races 100m win

Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay served notice they will be ready to challenge Usain Bolt at the London Olympics in the 100 metres.

EUGENE, Oregon (AFP) — Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay served notice they will be ready to challenge Usain Bolt at the London Olympics in the 100 metres after qualifying for the Games with impressive times on Sunday.

Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion who could not defend his crown in Beijing while serving a four-year doping ban, won the 100 final at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in 9.80 seconds, the third-best time in the world this year.

“I think there’s a lot left in the tank,” Gatlin warned. “I was pleased with my time and the effort I left on the track.”

Gatlin, who won the world 60m indoor crown earlier this year, lowered his own season best from the 9.87 he ran to win last month in Doha and served notice he was aiming at reigning Olympic champion and world record-holder Bolt.

“I don’t think I would come back to a sport where I’m OK

getting second or third,” Gatlin said.

Bolt owns the year’s best two 100s, having gone 9.76 to win at Rome last month and 9.79 to win on June 7 at Oslo, and his Jamaican compatriots Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell were also ahead of Gatlin on the 2012 list until Sunday.

“We all have our eyes on that prize we want to get at the end,” Gatlin said. “If there are three Jamaicans we have to get out of the way, that will be our goal.”

Gatlin, banished for much of Bolt’s rise to stardom, said he was ready for any mind games or Bolt’s trademark archery-styled theatrics at the start line.

“I love entertainment,” Gatlin said. “If he wants to tap dance, that’s fine. His lane is as long as my lane. I have to worry about me. If that gets him in ‘the zone’, that’s fine, let him do that.”

Gay, the former world

champion who underwent hip surgery in 2011 and only ran two weeks ago after 50 weeks off, was second in 9.86 with Ryan Bailey third in 9.93 for the last London berth.

“I just wanted to make the team,” Gay said. “That’s probably all I could ask for right now. I feel like I’m on the way up.”

Gay’s time ranks seventh

on this year’s world list and puts him fifth among performers behind Bolt, Gatlin, Blake and Powell. “I’m just going to continue to take care of my body and stay healthy.

That is the big thing,” Gay said. “A lot of these guys are already sharp and running great times. I believe it’s going to be tough (in London). “I’m just going to go fight them.”

Walter Dix, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist and 2011 world runner-up, was eighth in the final in 10.95 after straining a left leg muscle in the earlier semi-finals, an injury that could hinder his hopes in next week’s 200.

“I don’t think it’s that bad,” Dix said. “I’ve got a couple days to recover. We will see.”

West Indies A Team for Digicel One-Dayers St George’s, Grenada — The Selection Committee of the West Indies Cricket Board yesterday announced a 13-man West Indies A Team squad for the three-match Digicel One-Day Series against India A at Queen’s Park Stadium in Grenada.

The Selectors have made several changes following the Digicel T20s in Trinidad last weekend. They have called up players with international experience including batsmen Adrian Barath, Kirk Edwards and Assad Fudadin; left-arm spinner Nikita Miller; and fast bowler Nelon Pascal. Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich has been called up as a replacement for Devon Thomas, who has a knee injury.

West Indies won the three-match Digicel “Test” Series 2-1. The two-match Digicel T20 Series ended 1-1.

FULL SQUAD:

Veerasammy Permaul (Captain), Adrian Barath, Nkrumah Bonner, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich (Wicket-keeper), Kirk Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Jason Holder, Delorn Johnson, Nikita Miller, Jason Mohammed, Nelon Pascal and Kieran Powell.

Digicel Series Schedule 1st Digicel Test: India A won by 2 wickets 2nd Digicel Test: West Indies won by 125 runs 3rd Digicel Test: West Indies won by 10 wickets 1st Digicel T20: West Indies won by 3 wickets 2nd Digicel T20: Tie India A won after One-Over Eliminator 1st Digicel One-Dayer: Wednesday, June 27 2nd Digicel One-Dayer: Friday, June 29 3rd One-Dayer: Sunday, July 1

Guyana’s top masters athlete, Llewellyn Gardener stated that he will be looking to register a better performance than his last one at the upcoming Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCY&S) 5km this month end.

The monthly 5km is organised by the Minister of CY&S, Dr. Frank Anthony, Director of Sports, Neil Kumar and the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Colin Boyce.

Gardener turned in a time of 1hr 36mins 11seconds to win the Masters category of the recently held Independence Half Marathon.

Gardener disclosing that he is training diligently for the upcoming 5km and stated that he usually uses the National Park and the Camptown Football ground to conduct his training session on a daily basis, “I would use the National Park and the Camptown Football ground to do my speed work and would use the main road (from Campbellville to the University of Guyana) for my over distance work,” he said.

The veteran athlete who started his athletic career, which is still successful, in his high school days (at the now, New Campbellville Secondary School), also work out in the National Park’s Michael Parris Gym, to strengthen his muscles as over distance work is not all that will carry him throughout the races.

The 56 years old masters athlete, who resides in First Street Campbellville, revealed

Llewellyn Gardener that he was last year defending masters champion athlete for the Tele Sur 10km which was held in Suriname.

Gardener, 2012 Independence Half Marathon champion (masters) was unable to defend his title at the Tele Sur 10km due to financial problems.

Gardener is also the winner of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, in conjunction with the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) inaugural ‘Mexico/ Guyana 20K Road Race. The race which started from the village of Non Pariel ECD, to the Mexican Embassy Brickdam, saw Gardener clocking 1hr 23mins ahead of Errol Warde (1:27:42secs) and Silas Brummell (1:29:54secs).

Gardener who is also a top masters’ athlete in Caribbean would be very grateful for any sponsorship for his future overseas competitions.

Interested persons or business entities can contact Gardener on 647-8742.

Deplorable and unsightly...

From page 31 of their mission.

Apart from restoring the field for use by the students, the group is also toying with the idea of transforming the plot of land into a community oriented, recreational centre where members of adjoining communities can engage in sports and cultural activities.

While this projection is in its embryonic stage, the group is adamant that the clearing process must first be realized and it is awaiting word from those corporate entities to which they have written.

Indeed, the field has had its glory days during the late seventies and early eighties when top local athletes exhibited their wares during athletic meets. During the late eighties, the field was transformed to a dumpsite

and shortly after such activity was abandoned, ‘squatters’ had taken over, constructing shacks on the plot of land.

They were forcefully removed and a team from the Mayor and City Council had cut the field but the grass has since grown and the field is now reverted to dense undergrowth and an unsightly mess.

It is also a double plot, one of the largest playfields in Georgetown, occupying approximately 12.75 acres and measuring 841ft by 612ft.

That is why the executive of the NRMSOSA is confident that the facility could be of use to school children and residents of the community.

They said that they will soon be approaching the business community to offset the huge costs of the project.

(Michael Benjamin)