Kaieteur News

Online readership yesterday 101,650

March 01, 2013 - Vol. 4 No. 09

Price $80

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Linden Commission of Inquiry finds…

Police culpable in shooting deaths Rohee exonerated Local workers not hired because of new construction technique - denies Marriott employees are Chinese convicts - contractor

Man caught sexually assaulting landlady’s pet puppy

President Donald Ramotar receives the report from Commissioner Lensley Wolfe.

GPL countrywide strike continues and hits hard...

We can barely afford five - Winston percent, much less eight Brassington

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 01, 2013

GPL workers strike…

Labour Minister to facilitate discussions today

GPL’s Main Street branch doors shut Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul has invited representatives of Guyana Power and Light Inc., (GPL) and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) to a meeting today to renew discussions on the wage increase package for employees. Meanwhile, doors to the GPL’s main commercial office at Main Street,

Georgetown, remained closed yesterday as disgruntled workers continued strike action. The employees guided by the Union downed tools on Wednesday and protested the Chief Executive Officer ’s Duke Street, Kingston Office rejecting a five percent all-inclusive package being offered by the power company.

While some staffers stood

in front of the Main Street branch, a majority continued the protests at the Duke Street location. According to Union representative Ramjohn Khan, neither the Union nor GPL has approached each other to recommence negotiations. He emphasised that the Union will not be approaching GPL and indicated that any negotiations will have to be

Workers protest in front of the Duke Street location initiated by the power company. Last week, Dr. Gopaul attempted to facilitate negotiations, but talks brokedown and the Union decided to take industrial action. The Union has tentatively confirmed that it will attend today’s meeting.

Dr. Gopaul asserted that he understands the positions of both parties and hopes that the talks would see a feasible

outcome for those involved.

He said that collective bargaining is a long and slow procedure and needs time and proper deliberations.

He noted that from prior discussions, GPL claims that its agreement with the Union became void about six years ago. The company believes that a new agreement is being negotiated and is treating the five percent all-inclusive

package as the increase. But, the Union is holding onto the 2001 agreement and is treating the across-the-board increase, performance increment, and annual automatic increment as separate. The Union is seeking an eight percent across-the-board wages and salaries increase and rejected the one percent offered by GPL.

DO YOU KNOW THAT JAGDEO’S BEST FRIEND IS THE ONLY PERSON IN GUYANA TO OWN THREE MEDIA HOUSES ...

Radio, Television and Newspaper?

Dr. Bobby Ramroop

1) Channel 28 now TVG 28 2) A radio station - 89.5FM 3) Guyana Times newspaper

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

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GDF Coast Guard celebrates 23 years - Aims at strengthening organisational services As the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard celebrates 23 years in existence, it has embarked on several programmes to strengthen organisational services.

According to Commander Gary Beaton, who made the disclosure at the Anniversary church service yesterday, three metal shark aluminum boats have been procured through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) to help tackle the growing issue of piracy and random attacks occurring in open waters.

Apart from that, the associated training in boat handling, communication, logistics and maintenance have also been highlighted as measures being put in place by the Coast Guard. Another major undertaking the organization is embarking on is “the return of the GDFS Essequibo to 100% seaworthiness”.

“This programme is designed for us to work alongside the Brazilian Navy so as to improve our competence. Importantly, it was designed to test individuals, teams and eventually the entire ship’s company competence.”

These programmes, the Commander highlighted, would only be successful by hard work, dedication and the desire to fulfill the mission of the Coast Guard.

“It will require a commitment to serve from all

our officers and ratings.”

Beaton said it was by no accident that the army celebrates its anniversary with the theme “Embracing our past, enriching our present for total defence.

“I have chosen the theme for the Anniversary for, I believe, an anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday and the hopes of tomorrow, which is also in keeping with the Annual Officers’ Conference 2013.”

Officers were asked by the Commander to see their work in three stages, “The initial phase in which we are trained for role; secondly, working in the environment to achieve competence and stage three, in which we give back to the organization by training persons. Once we achieve the third stage of service, individually and collectively, then and only then can we say the Coast Guard we have achieve adulthood.”

Beaton pointed out that, “As the force faces evolving challenges, we will likewise continue to work together with other state agencies to respond to and defend against threats to our national security.”

A Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate joint operations out of the floating base located in the Pomeroon River is currently in the making.

“As we strive to improve our operational capabilities

An East Bank Essequibo man’s intimate love affair with some domesticated animals duly came to a halt when he was caught having sex with his landlady’s pet female dog ‘Pinky’.

The man, who was described as a Zoophiliac (one who has a sexual attraction towards animals), was arrested and is in custody at the Leonora Police Station, while the six-monthold dog was examined by a veterinary physician, who confirmed that she was the victim of a brutal sexual assault.

Kaieteur News understands that the man had been offered free boarding in the bottom flat apartment of the woman’s house at Tuschen, but as it turned out, his eye caught fire when he saw that the landlady owned several animals. Tuesday night’s discovery was by the landlady herself. This was

after weeks of suspicion that something strange was happening to her animals.

This newspaper was informed that on Tuesday night, she heard her dog screaming and went downstairs to see what was wrong with it. She observed that the sounds were coming from within the apartment that she had allowed the stranger to stay in.

When she peered through an open window, she was greeted with the sight of a naked man kneeling over her pet whose four feet were sprawled in the air.

“I shout out ‘Hello, wha’ nastiness you doing deh?’

He look up and see me and he run to he bed and put on a brief,” the woman told Kaieteur News yesterday, just after having given a statement to the police.

She demanded that the man let her dog out and he complied.

Public Service Minister Westford (left) hands over the books to staffers of the Coast Guard we will simultaneously work to improve our accommodation and socialization,” Beaton asserted.

Added to yesterday’s event, the Army Education Programme, popularly called AEP, accepted a donation of several books from Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford, who was a special invitee, along with MARAD officials, Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best and several senior officers of the army.

Beaton told his officers that they should embrace the power of knowledge and enlighten themselves in this form. Coupled with that, attendees heard that, “Invitations were extended to the spouses of Officers and the ratings, which is in keeping with the truss to place greater emphasis on the

nuclear family.

It is expected that this new initiative will continue to develop so that the resultant stronger families will produce a stronger Guyana Defence Force.”

Beaton emphasised that he has full confidence in his officers that they can achieve all that is being put forward thus ensuring that, “we develop a Coast Guard that will last lifetimes to come.”

Minister Westford said, after congratulating the force on their anniversary, that the books handed over would come in extremely handy as the Coast Guard Commander in his quest to educate his ranks constantly requested the reading material.

She said it would serve them well also since it is based on engineering, boating, marine and other aspects that deal specifically

Man caught sexually assaulting landlady’s pet puppy

The suspect “If you see my dog; like she in pain. So I threaten he fuh tell de police and he lock up de door tight, tight,” the woman explained.

She eventually went to the police the following morning, but by then the man had already fled the premises.

However, he returned later to collect some of his belongings and it was then that he was promptly arrested.

“The Vet examine the puppy and he said that the man interfere with she,” the woman stated.

This might not be the first time that the man would have molested her animals.

According to the woman, she first noticed something unusual with her chickens and a goat she was rearing.

She said that she had heard strange sounds coming from her animals, but never knew the cause.

“I never see he before with the other animals, but I suspected him with the fowls.

I find two ah dem cock-up dead. Then I see the goat vagina swell up. Now I catch he red-handed with my dog,” the woman related.

A police source has confirmed that the man will face bestiality charges soon.

with their line of work.

Westford also indicated to the ranks that they could look forward to magazines and other light reading material.

She stressed that “knowledge

is something that should be grasped and tried to be attained effortlessly because of its benefits and that it is something that no one can take away”.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Banking for Development Today we conclude our survey of why China may be recording record growth for the last two decades: like other high flyers in the last century, it has imbibed the lessons of the historic American experience in the early nineteenth century. These were infant industry tariffs, internal infrastructural improvements, and a sound system of national finance. Today we consider: a sound and appropriate financial system.

It is hard to determine what the characteristics of a “good” financial system are, but we should not assume that this only has to do with stability. In fact, it is hard to describe our prototypical American financial system in the 19th Century as “stable” and as well-functioning. In fact the American banking system was chaotic, prone to crises, mismanaged, and often fraudulent, and yet the US grew very rapidly during that time.

One commentator claimed that “reckless banking, while causing many losses to creditors, speeded up the economic development of the United States, while sound banking may have retarded the economic development of Canada.” Canada was blessed (or cursed, according the commentator) in the 19th Century with being part of Britain, and so inheriting England’s much better managed financial system. The American financial system then (and now) has been very good at providing money to risky new ventures.

It provides capital on the basis not only of asset value but, more importantly, on future growth expectations – and risktaking has been actively rewarded. It also tended to selfcorrect very quickly – in the form of a crisis – and bad loans were written down and liquidated almost immediately. This was certainly painful in the short term – especially if you were a depositor in the affected bank – but by writing down loans and liquidating assets three important objectives were achieved. Financial distress costs were quickly eliminated, capital allocation was driven by profitability, not by implicit guarantees, and assets were returned to economic usefulness quickly.

The bottom-line for countries like Guyana, trying to achieve double-digit growth rates, is that while a ‘good’ financial system must allocate capital efficiently, it must also reward the correct level of risk-taking. In Guyana, the banking system has been much too conservative in its lending practices and has actually stymied the growth of our economy. This conservatism is not only found in its unwillingness to take its own risks in imitating, for instance, the shadow banking system introduced by the western financial system.

China is demonstrating that this type of financial system, which uses wealth management products or WMPs – deposit-like instruments that offer higher yields and are mostly held off-balance sheet – can be critical for intermediating its high savings. Just this week, the government has mandated they have to be registered with the local regulator. In Guyana, the Bank of Guyana offers the banks, awash with deposits, a safe haven in treasury bills. The government has been forced to pick up the investment slack, for which it inevitably misallocates finance, which then becomes a drain on the public treasury.

Unlike private businesses, the government’s investments are not loans which can be written down and eventually liquidated. In fact the IFIs that provide the loans always insist in receiving their pound of flesh, which comes from the taxpayers.

For a good financial system at our stage of development, it is vital that banks become much more adventurous (if they do not want to be ‘reckless’) in their lending policy.

The Chinese shadow banking system has quadrupled since 2008 to about $3.2 trillion or 40 per cent of economic output.

There is no evidence that countries with sound and conservative financial systems grow faster than countries with looser and riskier financial systems (although they do seem to have fewer financial crises.)

So, while the capital allocation process is obviously vitally important, we would also suggest that higher risk taking by banks and the liquidation of bad loans is just as important. Guyana has to move away from providing a vehicle for just allowing banks to only literally mint profits.

Friday March 01, 2013

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

The best and the brightest minds in Guyana are fleeing DEAR EDITOR, As nationals of Guyana, we have been concerned about how poorly employers, particularly the PPP regime, have used the human resources in the country. For too long, this government has allowed the finest minds to be either underemployed or without any positive and active involvement in the country affairs. Yet the state continues to expend significant amount of resources on educating the people and encouraging them to prepare themselves. To what end?

Let’s call a spade a spade!

Almost daily, available jobs are usually advertised in the media and elsewhere by the government in order to satisfy some internal organizational protocol. But government officials merely go through the fraudulent motions of an interview process when they have already decided who the holder of the position will be.

And it is one of their supporters or relatives of high ranking PPP officials.

But the regime has the gall in these advertisements to let potential applicants know up front that they thank them for applying but do not have the decency to even acknowledge their applications let alone call them for an interview. This is the scam that this regime has been involved in for years and it has caused unnecessary grief and pain after those who apply found out after what has happened. To use such a

sinister ploy to deceive the nation indicates how low the administration has descended.

The fact is when the private sector engages in these acts, at least the consequence is personal, and shows up in their bottom line expense sheet. But when the Government does the same, employing only friends and supporters of the PPP despite their lack of ability, qualifications experience and requisite skills, the entire nation suffers.

Let us be clear in saying that we have no difficulty whatsoever with the regime wanting to hire its party supporters and members or people of like thinking in critical policy areas so long as those persons are qualified to do the job.

But this has not been the case at the office of the President and at several other state agencies and departments which have employed hundreds of contract employees who are paid super salaries because they are the children, relatives and friends of the PPP cabal. This is happening in a country where brain cells have gone on strike for an extended period and the loudest mouths in political campaigns are usually rewarded with the most influential positions.

This is wrong and the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal must stop this ignominious and dishonest practice if it is to regain the trust and confidence of the people.

The reality has been since Guyana attained its

Independence on May 26, 1966, party purity and loyalty have become more important than to employ qualified and experience persons to carry the government tasks. Once a political party wins, its candidates begin to circle the wagon of political power. The game is essentially about paying back those who made the win possible.

While the noble intentions of politics are “serving the people’s interests,” the first people usually served are those elected, that is, jobs for the boys.

The bigger question is why most of the educated Guyanese with college/ university degrees are all over the world and not in Guyana.

The answer, we believe, is that we have never found a way as a society to harness and apply the best and brightness minds to address our nation’s challenges at any one time.

The real sadness of all this is that it does not matter

where you come from in society, what your ethnicity is or whether you belong the PPP or the PNC, it was Guyana and the Guyanese taxpayers who have given you a start in life and have prepared you for wherever you now are.

Our continuous poor use of our most qualified personnel is tantamount to perpetrating an injustice on the country which has invested heavily through taxation, blood, sweat and tears in the development of its citizens.

With that said, we always held the view that the real issues we face in Guyana are not only corruption, poverty, crime, joblessness, illegal narcotics trafficking but also injustice! People all over the world have fought and died for their civil rights and against injustice, will Guyanese do!

Regards, Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh.

GPOC responds to P.H Gopaul’s letter DEAR EDITOR, The Management of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) wishes to respond to the Kaieteur Newspaper’s February 27, 2013, letter that was published under the caption, ‘An inefficient Post Office’.

Management wishes to thank Mr. P.H. Gopaul for

sharing his concerns relative to the processing and delivery of mails at the Reliance Post Office.

Please be advised that Mr. Gopaul was contacted and an investigation was launched to address his concerns.

Yours sincerely, Management Guyana Post Office Corporation

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

This letter is about two cases of struggles in Guyana without racial conflict.

DEAR EDITOR, There has not been much examination in public of the legal framework surrounding the events of July 18, 2012 in Linden, Guyana, and no discussion whatever of what happened on the 12th and 15th of August 2012.

I am glad I did not grow up in such a dumb atmosphere.

My mother’s male and female schoolmates would have been visiting her, arguing, and chewing out the rightness and wrongness of the events, even and straight, as we say, with the lawyers, the editors, and the Commission and the readers.

Mr Byron Lewis and Mr Yankee Jervis would have been at shop galleries and street corners questioning the mishandling of things.

This was the atmosphere when the five workers were martyred at Enmore in 1948.

Few households on the East Coast went to bed normally that night.

Those were the days of Jagan in all his glory, before the PPP. There was D.P. Debidin, John Carter, Jainarine Singh, the British Guiana East Indian Association and the British Guiana League of Coloured Peoples, Dr Denbow and CML John and all the Trade Unions, the friendly societies expressing indignation and rallying to the defence of the victims.

Burnham and Sugrim Singh were in England raising hell. No one except the Bookers gang called those

DEAR EDITOR, As a former Member of Parliament, I have been paying keen interest to the National Assembly’s noconfidence motion on the Hon. Clement Rohee as Minister of Home Affairs, and the subsequent gagging in this capacity after the PPP administration refused to respect the House’s noconfidence vote.

I must say I am deeply disturbed by the manner in which this matter is being handled by the Speaker, the Hon. Raphael Trotman. Under the Speakership of the Hon. Sase Narain, protocols and procedures were adhered to like clockwork, and no one was allowed to departure from these standards.

giving solidarity to the victims enemies or disturbers of the peace. Village farmers carried on a ceaseless crossexamination of the State in hundreds of gatherings, and in knots of persons all over the coast.

Ms Caroline Bourne, a Garveyite of Kitty, took her Friendly and Burial Society colleagues, including Laurie de Jonge, a mystic, to Buxton for a memorial service.

It was everybody’s grief, everybody’s case. Everyone would be asking about the reading of the Riot Act. Fast, fast forward to 2012.

In 1948 there was no Bill of Rights in Guyana.

There was the British Common law, as now. In 2012 the freedom of assembly was guaranteed.

by Constitution. The police in 1948 did not deny shooting. In 2012 the police told a Commission of Enquiry that they did not fire the fatal bullets.

This was a new low for the police. Then the lawyer for the Police submitted that the police were covered by a proclamation they read to the crowd under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act. Chronicle had mentioned a proclamation in its second report.

The person reading was a Justice of the Peace because all Officers of the Police Force are JPs. The government action under provisions came from a 1715 British law.

The colonial authority received that law that the two major parties in government modified and revised.

The Guyana version of the law speaks of logies and

plantations, and is loaded with backward notions. It is not one of the better, old laws. However, it is on the statute books and in force.

For the first time since shooting by the police began, the police in 2012 denied shooting the fatal bullets. But yet there was no manhunt for the alleged phantoms. In 1948 they could account for every bullet.

In 2012 that was not possible. They could not account for tear smoke instruments. Even the police lead counsel had to ask “Where are the missing nine?”

Worse than that, there is the peril to guarantees given in the fundamental rights of our fundamental law, the Constitution.

Many readers will know that while the Constitution brought rights, it also “saved” old laws that offended those rights.

The question is whether a law that is clearly out of tune with the fundamental rights, and “saved” by the Constitution, can then be used as superior to the fundamental rights provisions.

This issue is posed by those parts of Chapter 8:01 when read with Articles 147 and 150. If article 150 means anything, it lays down the circumstances under which the right to freedom of assembly and association and other rights may be violated by force.

Even in those extreme circumstances, article 150 does not seem to sacrifice the right to life.

What are these

The Hon. Trotman cannot make a ruling on any decision if the National Assembly is not in session and he is not in the Chair.

This is similar to a magistrate or judge who cannot make a ruling when court is not in session and they are not sitting in their chair. Another concern is the Hon. Speaker cannot make a ruling like the one he made to lift the gag on the Hon. Rohee without giving the Members of the National Assembly a chance to speak to the issue and where possible vote on it.

I noticed the Alliance for Change (AFC) has said it respects the Hon. Speaker’s ruling but how can a ruling be respected when it violates the

protocols and procedures under which the Parliament and National Assembly function. With standards falling all over Guyana, the last place we need to see them falling is in the country’s highest decision-making forum.

I urge the current Hon. Members of Parliament, including the Hon. Speaker, to stick to the protocols and procedures of the House and to only claim respect for doing what is right.

I also urge the soceity to join me in making sure the right thing is done. Please do not bring this august body into further disrepute and make us the laughing stock of other legislatures around the world.

Yours Sincerely B. Beniprashad Rayman

circumstances that permit suspension of certain fundamental rights? Article 150 sets them out. (a) When Guyana is at war, (b) when there is a proclamation in force and (c) when there is a resolution of the National Assembly stating that democratic institutions of Guyana are in danger.

The Constitution defines “proclamation” as the “proclamation of emergency” by the President. A State of Emergency declared by the chief executive must be printed in the Official Gazette.

It endures and has force for a limited time. After that it may be renewed by the National Assembly.

With the Assembly’s consent it can be in force for up to two years. .

Citizens who had applied for permission, and declared that they would exercise their right to protest for five days, were treated as “riotous and tumultuous” on the very f i r s t d a y. We h e a r d o f attempt to arrest any

lawbreaker.

In deciding how to deal with the situation in Linden in 2012, the rulers of Guyana treated the activity not as protest but as crime. The government’s own statement to the OAS said that the “rampage” began after the shooting.

If we have two standards for “hindering” persons without their “own consent” in their right to freedom of assembly and one standard is some saved law and the other is the fundamental rights of the Constitution, which is the guiding standard ?

Readers should not worry that I am not learned in the law. The government’s lawyers are free to show where I am wrong and teach the population what is right.

There are circumstances needing further probing, The M i n i s t e r, w h o t o o k t h e Oath of Office, gave the media a reason why he could not have talked to Linden on July 18. Phone records demanded by the

victims’ lawyer showed that the minister was attempting to deceive the nation.

The only public figure to comment on this deception was Mr Frederick Kissoon.

Minister Rohee spoke to an officer after the shooting.

That officer had also denied having a conversation that day. In a matter involving lives, law and the Constitution His Excellency President has affirmed confidence in a minister who attempted a brazen public deception.

The point is not whether he ordered the shooting.

The point is that he misrepresented the facts and the President has knowingly protected him from a no confidence vote which he earned.

Where is our customary solidarity with the victims of repression?

Article 150 is part of the Supreme law. It guards against “riotous” government. Uphold it. or repeal it!

Yours respectfully, Eusi Kwayana

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 01, 2013

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

DEAR EDITOR, On the issue of the CCTV/ NCN a newspaper columnist in Guyana is behaving like some of the State- owned and controlled media reporters.

The Government Minister (in this case, the Prime Minister) has spoken so the matter is over! The matter is not over!

The column is so WRONG in so many parts. The columnist has uttered a misguided

opinion about the broadcast spectrum vis a vis the Guyanese economy but let a thousand flowers bloom.

The columnist notes: “ Guyanese must not get carried away by facetious arguments that the broadcast spectrum is limited and therefore it is worrying that a frequency has been assigned to a foreign power, and that this will lessen the opportunities for regional and

local stations to gain entry into the system.

“The problem is not the finite limitation of the spectrum.

The problem is just how many television and radio stations can be sustained in such a small economy.”

The columnist raises separate issues one of which presupposes that Guyana’s economy will not grow.

Over the last few weeks I

have publicly declared my concern about the electromagnetic spectrum. It was never meant to be facetious although I do have a penchant to be that way at times. To me this is a very serious matter of “farming out” frequencies in a manner that is less than transparent.

To throw in Content and Economic sustainability issues is to try to create a diversion from the main issue

under discussion, the allocation of the airwaves.

In the most populous contiguous Regions Three and Four, the VHF channels and several of the UHF are not available if prior occupation and utilization are taken into account.

The admission by the Prime Minister that CCTV needed no licence because China Central TV is merely using a frequency assigned to NCN has furthered complicated the issue. Prime Minister Hinds has either been misled by his technical people or is under a serious delusion that the Government of Guyana is right.

Perhaps when the matter reaches the National Assembly the Guyana Government may admit Channel 27 was never designated by the NFMU for any Broadcasts, Chinese or otherwise prior to 2011.

The documentation from the Chinese side will show that the Chinese engineers working on the project were indeed working on a Transmitter for Channel 29.

As a result of some form of bungling at the administration of the frequencies level or higher, when the Chinese turned up with the gift transmitter which it was going to use under the guise that it was leasing a

carrier, lo and behold, the Guyana Learning Channel registered to the Ministry of Education Government of Guyana was on Channel 29.

The truth has to be somewhere between Georgetown and Beijing.

Guyanese were not made aware an entire Frequency was going to be dedicated to CCTV programming but it was clear that we could reasonably make that assumption since both sides the Chinese and the Guyanese declared that the broadcasts were 24 hours.

The GINA release issued on December 30 2011 certainly did not intimate that the CCTV feed was going to be an 18 hour broadcast feed as the GOG is now saying.

According to GINA the Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Guyana Dr Ouyang stated “With the 24-hour broadcast the Chinese community in Guyana will be receiving sound information about the events that made the news on the Asian continent.”

In the future, I hope Guyanese will become engaged whenever there are bilateral cooperation agreements. I look forward to the ones with Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, India and Cuba.

Yours Sincerely, Enrico Woolford

A division in the ranks DEAR EDITOR, I wish to remind the President and Executives of the Guyana Legion that handover-takeover of the Association Presidency, is not in keeping with the norms of democracy. This practice exists in the Army for active soldiers. We are exand would not entertain nor accept this practice.

Sunday February 25 was both a sad and unfortunate day for ex-servicemen/ women who assembled at the Association headquarters to be officially inducted as active and legitimate members of the Association.

Our contribution was compulsory. As exservicemen we are entitled to privileges and benefits which this regime blatantly and shamelessly denies us, with the excuse that they can only accommodate and recognize one body as the representative of exservicemen.

Our right to membership of the Legion should be automatic and not have to

be confronted by unacceptable obstacles. We demand and command the respect we so deserve from those who attempt to discredit us. This can only be achieved from a united front.

It is hurting that our services to the Nation do not be seen as patriotic after years of self sacrificing devotion. Though the meeting ended abruptly with frustration and disappointment we interacted and relived those cherished and memorable years we spent in the Army, departing with the hope that the officers of the Legion would let good sense prevail by reversing their stance and thus have our applications addressed and processed en bloc, paving the way for smooth and deserving induction of ex servicemen/women.

Our adversaries enjoy the division, because in unity is strength.

Yours faithfully, Umar Saied

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

Letters... Where your views make the news

Is GT&T the best value in Guyana?

DEAR EDITOR, It certainly doesn’t appear that way for Berbicians. On Monday evening, I, like so many other DSL customers, noticed that my broadband service had stopped working completely. This service was only restored the following afternoon, more than 20 hours later!

This service outage affected most business places, and even commercial offices such as banks. I went into a Demerara Bank branch that day during this “internet blackout” and there were no working ATM machines.

There was also a long line of customers, as even the bank’s computer systems were affected. Students who relied on the internet to do research and homework could not do so. Businesses that depend on daily overseas communications over the internet were affected.

Individuals could not email, or chat with their loved ones overseas.

To make things even worse, GT&T has offered no

apology, or explanation of why the internet service was down. It has not stated whether, or how customers, the majority of whom prepay for their service, will be reimbursed for the periods they were without broadband service.

Attempts to call the New Amsterdam business office were futile as their numbers, 333-3800, and 333-3255 were either busy, or rang out. Could it be that the staff at this office are avoiding facing up to customers?

Why is it that Berbicians are being treated this way by GT&T? Why only us? Have you noticed that whenever there are service outages in Georgetown, or in other parts of Guyana, GT&T’s public relations personnel are so quick to issue press releases and apologies, but nothing for Berbicians. I guess we do not matter.

Let me also point out one more absurd act by GT&T. This company has recently announced the roll-out of its Emagine service in this county, and that is something

that all residents are grateful for. Imagine my surprise, and confusion, then, when I called GT&T’s customer service to inquire how I can subscribe to the faster Standard DSL Service, which I had been given a free trial to for one month, that I was told that I had to go in to the New Amsterdam office in person, so do what, I do not know!

This is the utter foolishness of this company.

Here we have them rolling out a modern technology, but in order to access it, customers must use old, antiquated methods to sign up in person at a business office that may be miles away from their home. Why can’t customers just call in and request the service? Or email or fax a written request? What’s the logic behind this madness?

I wish Berbicians had an alternative to GT&T, but I guess for now, we will have to make do with a service that is not the best value for our money.

Sincerely, Disappointed Customer

NEED FOR CHINESE SKILLS EXPLAINED DEAR EDITOR, A few weeks ago I bought a nice shiny new Chinese tyre pump - the kind you pump up and down to inflate your tyre.

I was very pleased with it and when one of my tyres was soft one morning a week later, I proudly connected it and started pumping.

Wow! The air flew into the tyre and it started to inflate but - suddenly - after no more than five or six pumps - bladang! - off flew the pipe from the pump! I had obviously not used it properly.

Last week I needed some

belts for my belt sander and bought some nice Chinese 150 grade belts from a local store. They were lovely and much newer than the old one I had used for the past three or four months and I looked forward with pleasure at sanding up some wood for some project or other.

And indeed I did, with a nice fine dusting of wood coming out of the back of the sander, cutting into the wood and producing a beautiful grain finish. It was so satisfying until - suddenly bladang! - the belt broke right across the part where it is glued together. I was heart-

broken - I’d only used it for a few minutes.

Obviously there is some knack in using these belts which I haven’t quite grasped.

So I can quite understand why we need to have Chinese workers to build the Marriott Hotel. If they are using their own tools and equipment then clearly their experience and expertise is needed since no Guyanese could possibly get much work done with the Chinese items we are presented with in Georgetown.

Peter Bouchard

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Friday March 01, 2013

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

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MORE EYES ARE NEEDED In eradicating corruption in public office, priority should be given to controlling two dimensions of government: the size of government and large-scale public projects.

Experience has shown that corruption is often rife where there is a bloated public bureaucracy. Experience also forewarns about the need to pay great attention be paid to large-scale projects, since this is where there is the greatest risk of massive corruption.

When you live in a small country with a small society, it is unwieldy for government to effectively manage a large bureaucracy. Limiting the size of the public bureaucracy is one means of limiting corruption, because the larger the government, the greater the inability to fully control all operations, and thus the greater the risk of corruption.

No matter how many auditors are placed in the bureaucracy, there will always be transactions that are not above board; transactions that will escape their eyes.

Reducing the size of the public bureaucracy can be an important aid in limiting corruption. Limiting the size of government is, however, different from limiting the scope government.

It is hard today to limit the scope of government’s intervention in the public sphere. Modern governments provide a more extensive

range of services and functions than they ever did before. But the fact that the scope of government is expanding does not mean that the size of government should become unwieldy.

And this risk of a large public bureaucracy is something that needs to be guarded against. In Guyana, one can understand the need for a Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. This is an important sector of the economy that is now driving economic growth and this sector therefore needs the direct attention of a ministry.

But the idea of a Ministry of Defence is a luxury which really cannot be afforded at this time.

Policies and plans are needed to help scale down the size of government without rolling back the scope of government. This can be achieved through a number of measures, including increased computerisation.

A new breed of public service workers are also needed, persons who come to the job with their own tools, including their own computers and stationery, and who do not require the same security of tenure that had characterized the traditional civil service.

A great many services, including legal drafting and representation, should be outsourced, and many

Dem boys seh...

Man trouble lady pet puppy GPL strike. De staff seh that dem wukking and dem can’t get a pay rise although de cost of living gone up. Brazzy is de man controlling de money at GPL and he got to decide how much increase de workers can get.

All through Christmas things go good. De people wuk and dem hardly get blackout. Brazzy and he friends sport at dem house party and people pat Brazzy pun he back. Nobody didn’t expect de strike. Dem boys seh that is when dem hear that Brazzy offer de people a one per cent pun dem salary and some other top up that dem know wheh de money come from fuh build de Marriott. But de thing shameful. Imagine that Brazzy couldn’t find eight per cent to pay de people, but he can find US$60 million fuh build a hotel fuh he and he friends.

De people right to strike. Dem boys seh that dem should go to he house and disconnect de light suh he can know how ordinary people does feel. But then again, he is a man like hide and do things, so he might find pleasure in de dark.

But as old people seh, whatever do in darkness does come to light. Tek de man pun de West Coast. He trouble de lady pet puppy and is only because she did suspect that she ketch he. She hear he how he groaning and calling out fuh “Ow Pinky.” That is she puppy name. This is de same man who did trouble she goat. She see de goat privates swell and she think was marabunta. He also trouble she fowl because she find that two of dem dead.

Dem boys seh that this man is not de only one who does do dem nastiness. Is just that some of dem ain’t get ketch because dem does drive fancy car suh people wouldn’t suspect. Dem is de people who like darkness.

And is not fuh de want of trying that dem boys ain’t ketch some of dem. Is people like dem does be de last fuh get ketch.

Talk half and watch out wid yuh precious animal dem.

services meant only to support a bloated bureaucracy can be dispensed with.

The public service needs to be reengineered to the demands of modern government. Unfortunately the early public service reforms have not been built upon.

The Hoyte administration had rationalised the public service, but had not modernised it or reduced its size. That task has also been neglected by the PPP/C, under whose watch the bureaucracy has increased tremendously. What is needed is a new round of reforms to reengineer the public service.

Accompanying the increase in the size of the public bureaucracy has been

massive infrastructural projects that are being undertaken. This is where there is the highest risk of massive fraud.

The Caribbean does not have developed institutions capable of constraining corruption in these large projects. Even in developed countries, there is corruption in large projects, much less in our part of the world, which does not have the sort of regulatory control and strong institutions promoting transparency and accountability.

In Guyana, there are a number of large-scale projects which need more than an extra eye on them.

These projects need greater scrutiny not because there is evidence of wrongdoing, but because of the high risk of

such conduct. There is the Hope Canal, the airport project and the Marriot Hotel Project to name a few that can become conduits for pilfering from the public purse.

Mechanisms must be created to ensure that every cent that is devoted to these projects is well spent, and not misspent or unlawfully pilfered.

The government tends to feel that the opposition parties are against these projects.

They are not opposed to development. They simply do not want to see monies wasted; they fear some projects are Ponzi schemes and they are suspicious that some major projects may be used to enrich certain cronies of the government.

The opposition would be

hard pressed however to oppose these projects if mechanisms can be put in place to ensure that every cent spent is accounted for.

This function should be performed by personnel independent of the government. International assistance should be sought so that there can be greater confidence in these projects and so as reduce the risk of skullduggery in their execution.

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 01, 2013

=== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ===

“I did not have sex with that woman” This was the statement that landed President Bill Clinton in boiling water.

These were the words that made people the world over laugh at him and get mad with him. Mr. Clinton was simply talking nonsense. But more importantly, he was trying to deceive the world.

For those who don’t know what this was all about, it was Mr. Clinton’s interpretation of fellatio as non-sexual contact.

He was defining sex in the most amateurish way when he denied that the “blow job” Monica Lewinsky gave him constituted sex. To a majority of Americans and to the rest of the world it was sexual contact, it was oral sex or it was sex. Mr. Clinton was simply not being frank and honest.

Years after this silly position of Mr. Clinton, we have a more than atrocious explanation from the current Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee.

When three protestors were shot during the Linden electricity hike protest last July, Mr. Rohee was accused by anti-government critics and opposition leaders of oral contact with the police

during the conflagration. He denied it and he gave two explanations why this could not have happened.

First, he said he just cannot go into a police office and use their communication system.

Secondly, even if he could have done that, he said the distance between Linden and Georgetown does not allow for radio set communication.

Such asininity cannot be and should not be excused by Rohee’s political bosses and the nation of Guyana. It is not true that the police sets do not have a 90-mile range. They do.

I stood right next to Commander Hicken in Linden on July 18, 2011, the first day of protest against the electricity hike and heard him talking to Georgetown on his radio set.

Most abominably, Rohee knew that cell phone signals can travel the world over.

Rohee’s Cabinet career should have come to an end when it was factually discovered that Rohee spoke from Georgetown to a senior police commander in Linden using a cell phone, after the shooting. Months after this disastrous descent into

political depravity, the National Assembly passed a motion of no-confidence in Rohee.

Enter the AFC and Speaker Raphael Trotman.

Trotman has announced that Mr. Rohee would be allowed to participate in the business of the Parliament as an elected Member. I will refrain from critical comment on that decision.

My question to Mr. Trotman is what becomes of the legitimate no-confidence motion?

It is my understanding that if Rohee can speak and introduce Bills, then the noconfidence falls. The AFC has announced that it will abide by the Speaker’s ruling on Rohee. What the Speaker and the AFC have to explain to the Guyanese people is if Rohee returns to full-fledged status as a Parliamentarian, then what becomes of the noconfidence edict passed by Parliament.

The two are in contradiction. If Rohee is allowed to conduct business in the House and refuses to resign and the President refuses to change his Cabinet portfolio then the no-

confidence ruling literally is inapplicable or has no useful purpose.

I can think of a cricket analogy.

The ICC says that a bowler is chucking and therefore is banned until an investigation. Country A then picks him to play a test match against Country B because it says that it does not think he is chucking. Both countries A and B are part of the ICC, but agree to play the test match.

Once they do so, then the ban is effectively removed. The AFC is in a ticklish position and it will be interesting to see how they explain it.

The AFC says it will adhere to the Speaker’s

removal on the ban on Rohee and will choose when to cooperate or not with Rohee (source: KN item - Feb.27, page 14) But does the AFC have a choice? My contention is that it has not got one.

Under the rubric of the no-confidence motion, Rohee is morally obliged to resign and the President is ethically bound to honour the wishes of Parliament and assign him another ministry or remove him from Parliament.

If Rohee and the President reject the noconfidence vote that the AFC helped pilot in the House, then how can the AFC choose on which occasion to

Frederick Kissoon cooperate with Rohee. Moral laws and respect for the tradition of the Parliament would dictate to the AFC that it has to refuse cooperation on every occasion with Rohee.

I am asking the Speaker and the AFC to declare what is the present status of the noconfidence motion.

Today is ‘World Day of Prayer’ Today, March 1, is ‘World Day of Prayer’. It is being observed around the world under the theme, “I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me”.

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who welcome all to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday of March.

It was the Women of France, a six-member committee consisting of women representing various multicultural complexities that initially started observing this day. But after a short while

many years ago, it grew, as t h e Wo m e n o f F r a n c e began receiving the overwhelming support of a number of countries across the globe.

It became a worldwide “ecumenical” movement of which the motto is “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action”. It signifies that prayer and action are inseparable.

Guyanese are being urged to come out and join in the World Day of Prayer by attending various church services across the country.

A service for Georgetown

will be held at St. Andrew’s Kirk, Brickdam, and Avenue of the Republic at 17.00 hrs.

Services will also be held in New Amsterdam, Corriverton, West Coast Berbice, East Coast Demerara (Beterverwagting), East Bank Demerara (Grove & Mocha Arcadia), West Coast Demerara, Linden, Bartica, Rupununi and the Essequibo Coast.

Also on Sunday March 3rd, there will be a service for children and young adults at Calvary Lutheran Church, Alexander Street, and North Road, Georgetown at 15.00 hrs.

US$5M grant to support Govt.’s carbon emissions reduction strategy - IDB A US$5 million InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) grant will support the Guyana Government’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions by re-orienting the economy onto a low carbon path, through the creation of the necessary incentives for the beneficiaries to invest in the low carbon sectors (LCS).

This non-reimbursable investment grant programme is being financed with resources from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) Trust Fund and will be executed from 2013 to 2015 by Guyana’s Small Business Bureau (SBB), in coordination with the IDB, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the International Development Association of the World Bank.

According to the IDB, the programme will consist of two components.

The first will mitigate the structural problems faced by the beneficiaries in the LCS, with regards to their limitations on access to credit.

Three types of financial

products will be supported by the programme: (i) a credit guarantee fund; (ii) an interest payment support facility; and (iii) a low carbon grant scheme to assist potential beneficiaries with seed capital to start up or expand their businesses.

The second component will address the issue of lack of access to proper training, by providing resources for technical and business development training activities for the beneficiaries of the programme.

The IDB further noted that the target beneficiaries of the project are micro and s m a l l enterprises and Guyana’s Amerindian community, which include individuals and groups without access to credit as well as those lacking appropriate business and technical training who have been affected by the restructuring of sectors such as mining and forestry.

During the three-year life of the programme, it is estimated that 2,200 jobs will be created or sustained

in the low carbon sectors with funds from the venture.

This project will contribute to the reduction of economic activity in Carbon Emitting Sectors by facilitating the creation of employment via micro and small enterprises in low carbon emitting sectors as identified in the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy. This will be done by creating incentives in accessing finance and business development training in order to set up and/ or expand a low carbon business.

In his 2012 National Budget speech, Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had noted the importance of this project to the development of Guyana’s private sector: ‘The micro and small enterprise project will address the major bottlenecks in the development of a s t r e n g t h e n e d entrepreneurial and small business sector.’

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Mining firm’s licence for Marudi Mountains under review - company held on to property since ‘90s Authorities are reviewing the licence of Romanex Guyana Explorations Limited, after investigations revealed that the company has failed to carry out exploratory works in keeping with its requirements.

According to a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment yesterday, Romanex was granting a licence to mine at Marudi Mountains, Region Nine, since April 17, 2009.

A site visit by officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), an arm of the Ministry, found no activities.

“A site visit revealed no mining or exploration on behalf of the company was ongoing, while the company

had earlier committed to carrying out exploration activities within the early part of 2013. However, it is evident that no work is expected to commence on the property in the near future as no mining plan has been submitted.”

GGMC said that an investigation of illegal mining in the Marudi area was as a result from the recent Operation El Dorado.

The Marudi Mountain Mining Licence was granted to Romanex Guyana Exploration Ltd. on the 17th April, 2009, after being held as a Prospecting Licence (large scale) from 1990 to 2009 by the said company. It is reportedly over 55 square kilometres.

Miners of that Region Nine area have been locked

GGMC said it found several instances of illegal mining in the Marudi Mountains area, Region Nine, and has ordered the removal of several dredges in a battle with Romanex for a number of years now, with the matter even engaging the attention of the court.

However, most of the

miners have admitted that they have been operating illegally on some of the lands under the Romanex licence.

According to one

Rental for temporary Magistrates’ Court location climbing

The Georgetown Magistrates’ Court is still being renovated For two years now, Government has been renting a building at Middle Street to alternatively house the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The rental for the temporary location is obviously climbing as additional works to modify the Court’s original (Avenue of the Republic) premises is ongoing.

As at the end of February 2013, Government paid $52.8M in rental for the alternative building. Last year, Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, had said that Government wanted to stop renting the premises in February (2013) monthend. But, that has not materialised.

Sources have indicated

that the rental could be far more than the aforementioned figure, with the monthly cost being in the vicinity of US$25,000. Government began renting the premises in March 2011 at US$11,000 (G$2.2M) per month.

This accumulated to more than the reported “just under $50M” the landlord paid for the building from the now defunct Globe Trust and Investment Company limited.

According to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, during a brief interview with this publication yesterday, construction works are still ongoing at the Court. He noted that Government will continue to rent the building at Middle Street until those works are completed.

He indicated that there is more construction to be done in addition to the current modifications but that will be undertaken by another contractor.

Meanwhile, according to Evadney Mangar, Project Coordinator of the Justice Sector Modernisation Programme under the Supreme Court, the additional works identified by the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, and undertaken at a cost of $20M, have been completed.

She had opined that once those works were completed

by February month-end, Court proceedings could have been accommodated as of March 1, which is today.

Justice Singh had requested extra works

totalling about $170M, but following negotiations with Government and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the loan provider, specific works totaling $20M were approved.

PD Contracting Services, who renovated and rehabilitated the Court for $88M, was tasked with installing an independent walkway for Magistrates, construction of the sanitary facility, and ensuring adequate water pressure.

According to Mangar, the contractor has expanded the building to accommodate four additional courtrooms, increasing the number to nine.

Those works cost $69M. Moreover, the old building was rehabilitated at a cost of $19M.

spokesman for operators in the area, Sugreem Singh, of the Rupununi Miners Association, President Donald Ramotar met with miners about two weeks ago to discuss the Marudi Mountain issue.

There are about 300 persons in the area operating.

“Yes, the persons are raiding. Some of them have been living in Marudi for 20 to 30 years. We have been asking for land. Romanex has lands that it had since the ‘90s and doing nothing with it. We

are asking for lands and help.

There were supposed to, under the exploration licence, give up sections of the land back to the state regularly.

This has not been done.”

Yesterday, it was reported that police and GGMC officers visited the Marudi Mountain area to help clear illegal miners. However, there was no word on what transpired there. Already, a petition with more than 200 names affixed has been sent to the government over the Romanex situation.

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Friday March 01, 2013

GPL Countrywide strike continues and hit hard...

We can barely afford five percent, much less eight – Winston Brassington The fact that the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is losing money and requires subsidies from the National Treasury to sustain its operation, coupled with its struggle to meet the high cost of fuel, is a clear indication that the company can barely afford to pay a five per cent inclusive increase much less a union-demanded eight per cent across the board increase.

This assertion was made yesterday by Chairman of the power company, Winston Brassington, during a press conference in the boardroom of the entity’s Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown headquarters.

The press conference followed on the heels of countrywide strike action by National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE)-represented employees, which has affected customers in many sections of the country.

“The fact that we are offering a five per cent increase which has to be a part of the subsidies from Government, means that we are paying more than we really can afford, because we are not making the money,” Brassington stated.

Even in light of this state of affairs, he noted that GPL recognises the importance of its workers, and the fact that some level of increases would be expected. For this reason, he said that efforts were made to offer a reasonable increase package. He disclosed that the wage bill for the NAACIErepresented employees is in fact substantial, with the average cost per member being about G$1.7 million per annum. Moreover, they represent an average cost to GPL of over $140,000 per month, which is in fact quite high, said the GPL Chairman who noted that “they may argue that they don’t see all

of that...that some of it is NIS, some of it is allowances...but that is what it costs the company and that is our real cost for employing them... and it’s a significant number.”

NAACIE employees attached to GPL amount to about 700 individuals, thus the wage bill for this faction of workers translate to some $1.5 Billion, Brassington said.

“I don’t think any other state-owned entity or any other entity with comparable employees that would have a higher average wage bill for employees,” added Brassington, who revealed that GPL has significant amounts of non-salary benefits that also cost the company, and which contributes to the total wage bill.

Moreover, Brassington insisted yesterday that the ongoing strike action can only be considered as “unreasonable” even as he recounted that GPL has over the years enjoyed a good working relationship with NAACIE. He, nonetheless, is optimistic that “in the next few days we will be able to amicably resolve our differences and all of the employees will return to work.” In his attempt to unveil the facts of the situation, Brassington related that GPL offered a five per cent increase, all-inclusive, to NAACIE, an offer which has been rejected, resulting in the strike action.

STATING THE FACTS The GPL Chairman asserted that the offered increase should be taken against the background that in the last six years, substantial increases were paid to employees. He recalled that in 2007, a nine per cent all-inclusive package was offered and in 2008, 2009 and 2010, a six per cent allinclusive package was made available.

In 2011, eight per cent was

GPL Chairman, Winston Brassington and CEO Bharat Dindyal (third and fourth from right respectively) are flanked by other officials at the press conference

The closed GPL New Amsterdam Commercial Office yesterday offered, Brassington added.

“These are significant amounts for GPL to pay,” the GPL Chairman stated, even as he reiterated that the finances of the company have not been doing well.

Brassington disclosed that the company was in receipt of a subsidy from Government to the tune of $6 billion. Initially a $5 billion subsidy was approved by Parliament and late last year it was increased to the former mentioned amount which was requested.

This was however not the first year that Government made available subsidies to the power company, as according to Brassington, subsidies were approved in 2008 and 2011.

In addition to that, Government has loaned GPL substantial sums for investment, all of which have to be repaid, thus, Brassington stressed, “GPL as an entity has not been

generating the cash flow that it requires and is dependent on the treasury for subsidies for its operation and for its capital investment”.

This dilemma, he said, is coupled by the fact that oil prices have been rising, with increases being evident in 2007, 2008 and then in 2011 and 2012. As a result, GPL was forced to spend over $24 billion on fuel alone, representing 83 per cent of the company’s revenue, Brassington disclosed.

“So when we look at the increase we have to offer, it is against this background that every dollar increase that we have to offer has to be received as a subsidy from the treasury and you have to look at it in the context of what has happened to other companies in other parts of Government,” he added.

“Last year there was a five per cent paid to many parts of the Government sector, so our offer is not

unreasonable; our offer is much more than what we can afford, and so today when we look at the position of NAACIE in striking, we believe that they are not telling you the truth about what our offer is and what the state of the finance of the company is...” Brassington also pointed out that every dollar put towards increases takes away from maintenance and investments.

IMPACT OF THE STRIKEACTION The impact of the strike action was especially felt in Essequibo where according to Chief Executive of the Company Bharat Dindyal, Leguan and Wakenaam were Wednesday without lights.

As a result he said that “we are working feverishly outside of GPL to get the assistance of a contractor to operate there.” However at Anna Regina and Bartica, he disclosed that service was provided, although workers

on duty Wednesday night in Bartica were permitted the day off yesterday morning with the understanding that they would have resumed work by afternoon. Anna Regina, however, has benefited from continous service since the strike action, Dindyal said.

The generation capacity in Demerara was however not affected, as according to the CEO, “most of our generation in Demerara is coming from Wartsila. We have contract workers in Leonora and we have senior staffers at Versailles and Garden of Eden who are carrying on the operations.”

In Berbice on the other hand he said that GuySuCo has been providing a significant amount of the power and “we have a skeleton staff both at Canefield and Onverwagt providing service.”

Further, he said that contractors (Continued on page 17)

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday March 01, 2013

Linden Commission of Inquiry finds…

Police culpable in shooting deaths - Rohee exonerated

By Michael Jordan and Leonard Gildarie The five-member Commission of Inquiry has found the Guyana Police Force culpable in the deaths of three Lindeners who were slain on July 18, 2012, when protests erupted in the bauxite mining town.

The report also fully exonerated embattled Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee in the events that led to the tragedy, while chastising the organisers of the protest.

This was revealed by sources privy to the Commission’s report, which was handed over yesterday to President Donald Ramotar by the Commission’s Chairman, former Chief Justice of Jamaica, Lensley Wolfe.

While President Donald Ramotar was yesterday unable to answer questions on the findings as he is still to study it, the Commission’s Chairman, former Chief Justice of Jamaica, Lensley Wolfe, hinted that recommendations made will see justice and once implemented, will “positively” impact the relationship between Lindeners and the government and police.

COPS ALONE HAD FIREARMS Kaieteur News understands that while the Commission unearthed no direct evidence that any individual ranks shot the protesters, the Commission deemed the Guyana Police Force culpable, since there was no evidence that anyone other than the police ranks were in possession of firearms when protestors and persons in the vicinity were shot.

During the hearing, senior police ranks who testified had stated that the civilians were shot with copper-coated shotgun ammunition and claimed that this ammunition was no longer used by the Force. Several civilians, including those who were wounded, had testified to seeing police ranks shooting into the crowd that had gathered near the Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge.

This newspaper was also told that the Commission recommended financial compensation to the families of the three slain men, and similar compensation to the wounded, and for those whose properties were destroyed or damaged in the aftermath of the shooting.

ROHEE EXONERATED The Commission, sources said, c o n c l u d e d t h a t H o m e A ff a i r s M i n i s t e r Clement Rohee was not to blame for the events that led to the shooting of the protesters on July 18.

Rohee had testified before the Commission that he only gave general instructions to the Police to maintain law and order. Under oath, he had also vehemently denied suggestions that he was responsible for the Linden shooting, saying he had been made out to be the “villain” by persons who have a political agenda against him.

Among other things, the Commission of Inquiry would have had to find out whether Minister Rohee gave any general or specific instructions to the Guyana Police Force to maintain law and order in Linden immediately before, during

President Ramotar committed to making public the report on the Linden shootings and immediately after the events on July 18.

However, it was established that phone records tendered indicated that Minister Rohee did not make contact with the then police commander, Senior Superintendant Clifton Hicken using his mobile phone, prior to the shooting.

PROTEST ORGANISERS CASTIGATED The Commission reportedly strongly castigated the individuals who organised the march that led to protesters blocking the Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge and failing to ensure that the protestors did not obstruct the flow of traffic.

According to sources, the Commission’s report was also critical of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Desmond Trotman for supporting the blocking of the Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge during his testimony.

Trotman had aroused the ire of Commission Chairman Wolfe for saying that he was unapologetic for remarks made in support of protestors blocking the Mackenzie / Wismar Bridge in light of promises made by the government for economic relief in the community.

Trotman at the time was replying to Wolfe, as to whether persons had the right to break the law given the problems facing Lindeners.

This had caused Wolfe to remark: “It is indeed a disappointment to hear a member of the legislature making such statements.”

To which Trotman had replied, “Members of the legislature must understand and emphasize the problems the people are facing, and I say and do so unapologetically.”

President Ramotar had ordered the Commission of Inquiry last August following the July 18 shootings which left Lindeners Shemroy Bouyea, Ron Somerset and Allan Lewis dead, following protests in the Region 10 mining community over plans by government to raise electricity rates.

The protests continued for a month, virtually shutting down mining and other economic activities to

Dead: Ivan Lewis

Dead: Ron Somerset

hinterland areas as roads remained blocked. There were reports of robbery of citizens, and tear gas was used by police in their attempts to clear the roads, as tensions rose. Several buildings, including a school, were burnt with the events severely testing the fledgling Ramotar administration.

Government and leaders of the community in late August finally managed to craft an agreement which among other things, stayed the implementation of the electricity rate hikes and promised the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry.

Government agreed that it would allow international jurors on the Commission.

In September, former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard; former Justice of Appeal, Claudette Singh; former Senator of Trinidad and Tobago, Senior Counsel Dana

Seetahal, former Security Minister of Jamaica, K.D. Knight and former Chief Justice of Jamaica Lensley Wolfe were sworn in a s members of the Commission with government announcing an $80M budget.

Among other things, the Commission was mandated to investigate the death of the three Lindeners; to determine who was responsible; whether police played a role and who gave the order to shoot and whether compensation was merited.

The body completed its last hearing on February 1 and during its tenure visited the mining community.

‘JUSTICE IS SERVED’ According to the Commission’s Chairman yesterday, the hearings were a “grueling” experience.

“But the focus of the commissioners (Continued on page 15)

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Signing officers to be penalised EU calls for proposals in support of FLEGT VPA -related activities for overpaying contractors

By Abena Rockcliffe Signing officers attached to government agencies may now have to take responsibility for overpayments made to contractors as members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) threatens to have them surcharged when the overpaid balances are not recovered.

Both government and opposition representatives at the PAC meeting held yesterday, firmly rebuked the Region six Regional Executive officer (REO) and his team about a number of matters arising out of the Auditor General report as pertinent to that region.

However, one issue that seemed to have been most disturbingly repetitive in the auditor’s report was constant overpayment made to contractors which most times haven’t been recovered.

It is customary for contractors to produce a certificate of completion upon executing the full contractual agreement in order for payments to be made.

Whether the contract was awarded for supplies or construction, at the end, there must be document to show that the terms of contract have been fulfilled by the contractor.

After, the contractor/ Supplier would have formulated the document, an official from the respective agency will have to inspect and sign off.

Situations have arisen

where offers signed for works which may not have been of quality or similarly signed off on stocks that may have been undersupplied.

In situations like these, the auditors may find that that contractor or supplier may have been overpaid. In those cases the monies need to be recovered. Currently, the existing system is for the contractors to refund the money. However, contractors haven’t been working along too well when it comes to returning monies.

Over $10M was noted as needed to be recovered from contractors for works as far back as 2005.

It was pointed out yesterday that that problem was not unique to Region six, however it was one that attracted much brainstorming on how to address it in future.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) committee representative Keith Scott’s position was that contractor’s refusal to refund monies under the circumstances at hand should be deemed a criminal act, but government committee member Bibi Shadick was adamant that contractors should not be criminalised for receiving money on the basis of a certificate.

Her argument was that it is the job of an engineer, or whichever other relevant agency official, to ensure that the job was completed to the required standards. She said that failure on those personnel to effectively executive his/her function

should not result in the onus being left solely on the contactor to return the monies.

“If the contactor returns the money it is good and that should encourage more contractors for that company, but failure to return money should not result in criminalisation… I know it is taxpayers’ money, but we cannot force the contractors.”

Committee Chairman Carl Greenidge referred to the issue of contractors being overpaid as a legal nightmare since the contractor can’t necessarily be taken to court, but he urged that engineers “do what is right.”

However, Manzoor Nadir and Odinga Lamumba, government representatives, saw it differently.

Nadir opined that the contractors should be responsible for repayment because they knew that that the quality would not have been standard or they didn’t adequately supply.

But Lumumba took it to another level when he said that “we should jail them.”

The member’s opinion was that “it is a criminal act, he knows he is overpaid, these guys could put together a document in such a way that it would bypass the engineer… we’ve got to jail them. And when these things happen it goes that the government is thieving. We have to fire some and jail some to get to the core of problems or we will be dealing with the same thing at every meeting”.

paragraphs could by no means be daunting for any reader because (the report) is “well written”.

The former Judge urged that the recommendations be given the “consideration it deserves”.

One of the Commissioners, Dana Seetahal, was missing from the handing over ceremony of the report at the Office of the President as she was ill.

MADE PUBLIC President Ramotar, while declining to take questions on the findings of the report, committed to making it public.

The work of the Commission of Inquiry is but a fulfillment of the

administration’s position to get to the “bottom of the events” and to have an open and favourable inquiry, he stressed. “…We are happy that this is now completed. It will be a very instructive document to guide us in our work.”

The report handed over yesterday to the President was also expected to make recommendations to assist the Guyana Police Force in effectively and professionally discharging their responsibilities in maintaining law and order in similar circumstances and communities without endangering their own safety and that of innocent persons.

Police culpable...

From page 14 was on ensuring justice is done. And we… all of us… are satisfied that justice has been done.

And we are sure that when the recommendations that we have made are implemented, it will indeed have a very positive impact upon the relationship between the citizens of Linden and government; between citizens of Linden and the Guyana Police Force and between the citizens of Linden and their neighbours.”

The Commission of Inquiry would have heard from 71 witnesses including Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee; Top Cop, Leroy Brumell; families of the victims, Members of Parliament and even Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington.

Regarding the report, Wolfe said that 267

The European Union’s (EU’s ) local Office has issued a call for project proposals which encourage the active participation of civil society and private sector organizations in its Forest Laws Enforcement Governance and Trade(FLEGT) and Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) activities in Guyana.

The EU FLEGT-VPA is designed to control the entry of timber into the EU from countries that have entered into such agreements with the EU, and a key element of the FLEGT Action Plan is a voluntary scheme to ensure that only legally harvested timber is imported into the EU from countries agreeing to take part in this scheme.

Guyana had several months ago started formal negotiations with the EU/ FLEGT with the aim of signing a VPA with respect to timber exported to the EU, and this process is ongoing.

In 2011, Guyana exported approximately US$7M in

forestry products to Europe.

The FLEGT VPA will serve to safeguard this market for local forestry products by ensuring that each piece of timber which emanates from the country is traceable.

Once agreed, the VPAs will include commitments and action from both parties to halt trade in illegal timber, notably with a licence scheme to verify the legality of timber exported to the EU. The EU FLEGT arrangement will also serve to enrich the Guyana and Norway partnership by demonstrating the country’s commitment to forest management at a sustainable level and promoting better enforcement of forest law and an inclusive approach involving civil society and the private sector.

The objectives of the EU call for proposals is to select local Non Government Organizations (NGOs) and Private Sector organizations which can prepare and assist civil society and business

organizations in playing an active role in the FLEGT VPA negotiation process.

It also aims to support civil society and private sector organizations’ participation in the implementation of the FLEGT VPA. A release from the EU disclosed that activities of successful applicants will include conducting pilot implementation projects, developing sustainable legal alternatives to illegal practices, reinforcing civil society’s monitoring capacities for sustainable use of the resource, developing tools to monitor the evolution of the natural resource and assisting the private sector in compliance with VPAs. The deadline for submission of Concept Notes is April 1st 2013.

The publication also disclosed that an information session will be held at the office at 11 Sendall Place Brickdam , Georgetown on today, at 10:00hrs.

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Local workers not hired because of new construction technique An artist’s impression of the Marriott-branded hotel currently under construction in Kingston.

- denies Marriott employees are Chinese convicts - contractor

Shanghai Construction Group (SCG), the contractor involved in the building of the US$51M construction of the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, yesterday said that it employed no local workers because of a building technique that is new to Guyana.

The company in a statement provided to Kaieteur News called for “fair reporting” on the construction which has generated much controversy, and said that so far the construction workers on site are “mainly highly experienced construction workers from China.”

“During the beginning phase, we were undergoing the piling works, because SCG Caribbean applied bored concrete piling technique which is a newly piling technique based on Guyana market, hence we have not yet employed local workers.

And in the structure construction period, moreover, it is high building structure in Guyana, for safety and tight construction period’s sake, we postponed plans to recruit local workers.(sic)” SCG said it is now planning to recruit “some local skilled, qualified, lawabiding workers and to contract some local subcontractors. SCG Caribbean could offer necessary job training for these workers.”

With the entire feasibility of the project under question, an investigative report by Kaieteur News a few weeks ago found that no local workers were involved in the current phase of that multimillion US dollar project. It triggered several protests, including from unions, at the worksite and at the Chinese Embassy.

Government has said that language barrier and a lack of skills locally had prompted SCG to exercise its “discretion” to use labour from China. Government had argued that SCG had the discretion as the contractor to hire its own workforce.

SCG yesterday in its statement said that it won the contract, in October 2011, from international bidding and tendering process launched by Atlantic Hotel Incorporated (AHI), the government-owned company that is managing the entire project.

LOCAL BENEFITS It was given a timeline of 24 months with construction starting on August 17th, 2012.

The whole project is expected to be completed by August of next year.

Locally, “SCG is using BK International for concrete and blocks …15,000 cubic meters of concrete, 250,000 blocks; 500 cubic meters of lumber from Gafoors; 1,500 tons of gravel and 2,500 cubic meters of yellow sand gravel from Toolsie Persaud Limited; 1,000 tons of cement from TCL; six security from Bransford Security Service, and garbage service from Cevons Waste every week”.

“We believe that our project has actually contributed to a better enhanced local employment situation,” the construction company said.

A report earlier this week questioning whether SCG was using Chinese convicts as part of its labour force was also dismissed by the contractor who said it was a ridiculous and irresponsible accusation.

China’s laws just simply do not allow citizens serving sentences to leave that country, the statement

stressed.

“All the Chinese workers engaged in the project have clean police records and all of them on the Georgetown Marriott have work permits and multiple-visas to allow them to legally work in Guyana up to the end of the project.”

TOEING THE LINE SCG also said it is carrying out its operations in accordance with the local laws and regulations.

“We are committed to building a modern high-end hotel service to the Guyana people. SCG is pleased to nurture an amicable interaction with local media and welcomes fair and objective coverage on the work of SCG based on facts.”

Since being announced, the Marriott Hotel met with resistance with local hoteliers who wanted to know why government was investing in a private sector project.

In 2011, without knowing who the investors were,

We can barely afford...

From page 12 have been providing emergency services in both Demerara and Berbice.

Reports out of the Berbice area are that workers continued sit-out strike action outside the GPL Commercial Offices. Over one hundred employees, comprising linesmen, clerical and commercial staff, polesmen and transmission and distribution, were among those engaged in the industrial action.

GPL was sent a 28-day ultimatum to review the plan or the workers would take industrial action. This

preceded a breakdown of talks between NAACIE and management of the power company a few weeks ago.

General Secretary of NAACIE Kenneth Joseph had disclosed that the workers were anxious to strike in a bid to force GPL to meet their demands. In fact, he had indicated that the union wanted GPL to respect the bargaining agreement and pay a three percent increase to the workers for 2012 and 2013, retroactive from January 1 of 2012. They are also asking for the increment increase for 2012 and 2013 to be paid.

This publication understands that no

business is being transacted at any of GPL’s offices in Berbice. As a result there were reports that customers are rushing to the Bill Express offices to pay their bills for fear of being disconnected.

In Georgetown, too, the GPL’s main commercial office at Main Street, Georgetown, remained closed yesterday as disgruntled workers continued strike action. The employees guided by the Union downed tools on Wednesday and protested the GPL’s Executive Secretariat at Duke Street, Kingston rejecting the proposed increase.

government through AHI, released US$10M ($2B) to SCG. Last month, more than one year after releasing that sum, government admitted it still has not closed the deal

with the investors.

Then, in shocking disclosures, they said last week that it is the intention to sell the government’s stake in the hotel once it is up and

running.

The National Assembly has not given its blessings for the project as the taxpayers’ dollars being used are controlled by NICIL.

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BBC chair to ensure PM’s complaint is ‘properly pursued’ KINGSTOWN, St Vincent - CMC – The chair of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Trust says he will ensure that a complaint made by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves about two BBC journalists “is properly pursued through the BBC complaints process.”

Gonsalves wrote to Lord Chris Patten on Friday to complain about the “rude” and “unprofessional” approach of journalists Matthew Hill and Paul Kenyon when they

questioned him aboard an airplane in Barbados on February 17 about an allegation.

They asked Gonsalves to respond to an allegation that investor Daves Ames had gone to his office with a bag of money and left without it.

“It is plainly wrong for Mr. Kenyon to peddle a wholly unfounded allegation against me and in the process sully my good name and that of my office. His allegation is false.

Further, the unprofessional

manner in which he accosted me is surely improper,” Gonsalves said in the letter to the BBC chair.

He further reiterated that he deserves the same level of respect accorded to any other prime minister in the world.

“I am available to meet with you at any convenient time to discuss this matter further. In the meantime, I place the aforementioned issues into your hands for consideration and action,” Gonsalves said in the letter to

the BBC chair.

Patten, in his response on Wednesday, said he was “obviously concerned” about what Gonsalves had to say.

He, however, noted the role of the BBC Trust in handling complaints against the BBC. “As you may know, the BBC Trust, which I chair, is a sovereign body of the BBC and its principal strategic authority.

However, the Trust’s role is distinct from that of the BBC’s management and it has

no responsibility for the dayto-day editorial decision or operational matters,” Patten wrote.

“The Trust does have a role in the BBC complaints process, but this is at the final stage, hearing complaints on appeal.

I am therefore passing your letter straight away to the Acting Director-General, who is the Editor-in-Chief of the organisation, who will come back to you as soon as possible.”

Patten said that if Gonsalves is “unhappy with the BBC’s initial response to your complaint you can of course escalate your concerns.

“I have asked to be kept informed about what happens,” he further wrote.

At a press conference on Monday, Gonsalves told journalists of his letter to Patten and said he would await a response before saying what he would consider to be satisfactory

Dr. Ralph Gonsalves redress.

“I put all the issues, as I mentioned, in the hands of the BBC Trust for their consideration and any action.

I leave it open-ended for them.

I will hear from them what has happened and then I will say what I hear from them whether it is satisfactory to me or not. But I am not going to say in advance what is satisfactory to me,” the Prime Minister told reporters.

US official in charge of deportations steps down WASHINGTON - CMC – A top United States Department of Homeland Security official in charge of deportations has stepped down in the aftermath of a flap over the release of Caribbean and other detainees.

Gary Mead’s departure comes after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency on Monday released hundreds of immigrants from jails and detention centers across the country.

ICE said the move comes as automatic US federal budget cuts loom on March 1.

While Mead sent a resignation email to his staff, ICE officials insisted his exodus was not linked to the mass release of immigrants who the government says are not a priority for deportation.

“US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Gary Mead announced several weeks ago to ICE senior leadership that he planned to retire after 40 years in federal service and 6 years at ICE,” said spokesperson Gillian Christensen.

“As planned, and as shared with ICE staff weeks ago, Mr. Mead will retire at the end of April,” she added.

Jay Carney, President Barack Obama’s spokesman, said on Wednesday that the White House was not involved in the plan to release

the detainees.

He said the decision was made by “career officials” at ICE, an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, “without any input from the White House.”

Carney, however, said the released detainees were “lowrisk, noncriminal.”

Christensen declined to give an estimate of how many immigrants, and their nationalities, were placed on “supervised release.”

But advocates and immigration lawyers reported a “mass release,” including dozens of detainees from separate facilities in New Jersey, Arizona, Louisiana, Texas and Florida.

Christensen, however, said ICE is continuing to prosecute cases in immigration court and will seek deportations.

But Republican legislators continue to criticize the releases. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican congressman, who chairs the House of Representatives’ Homeland Security Committee, said he has dispatched a letter to John Morton, ICE’s director.

McCaul said he wants to know details of the releases, including the total number of immigrants, the location of the releases and the reason they were detained.

He said the decision to release the detainees is “indicative of the department’s weak stance on national security.”

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Rowley: Rouge cop chose Reshmi Trinidad Guardian - A senior policeman wrote to Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar in mid-October 2010, recommending that an interim management team, headed by Reshmi Ramnarine, should be appointed at the nowdefunct Security Intelligence Agency (SIA), Opposition Leader Keith Rowley has claimed.

“So now we know the answer to how Reshmi Ramnarine was selected and appointed, on the recommendation to a new Prime Minister by a rogue police officer,” Rowley alleged on Tuesday night at a PNM meeting in St Augustine. The Reshmi Ramnarine issue was one of the earliest furores to hit the new PP administration in January 2011 after Ramnarine was appointed SIA director.

Amid criticism of the Government over her appointment and lack of qualifications, Ramnarine

PM wanted SIA ‘spies’ out... resigned days after the issue became public.

On Tuesday night, Rowley read from the police officer’s letter to the Prime Minister on the SIA. Rowley’s office yesterday supplied a full copy of the letter from the Special Branch officer, which was headed “secret.” The Opposition office also released a report, marked as being from the senior superintendent to then Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, dated October 2010, which said the phones of the Prime Minister and members of her Government were tapped between 2008 and 2009.

Rowley said the officer’s letter to the PM on the SIA issue made it clear the officer had been contacted by the Prime Minister. Noting the PM heads the National Security Council (NSC), Rowley said the Prime

Minister went to the police officer and “asked him what to do.” Rowley said “superintendent so-and-so “was reporting directly to the PM, unknown to the police commissioner and NSC, and covered himself when he said in his letter that the Prime Minister had called him.

He quoted from the letter: “At 12.15 pm on October 11, 2010, I was contacted by the honourable Prime Minister ...”

Rowley said the officer “slandered everyone who he wanted to get out of the way of the security system” in the letter by naming some SIA staff as “supporters of the PNM and extremely loyal to Mr So-and-So...” He said the police officer ’s letter identified six telephone intercept officers and read out: “Susan J, Anna M, Conard B, Christopher F, Ann C, Arlene V...”

He said the letter went on

Obeah and whipping can’t help us now!

Jamaica Observer – Opposition Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz has criticised his colleagues in Parliament for focusing on three bills removing flogging from the criminal law books, while ignoring more current issues like crime and the economy.

On Tuesday, Vaz told the House, during the debate on the Bills, that while the removal of flogging from criminal laws was important, he felt that the timing was bad when crime and the economy were more pressing problems demanding the immediate attention of Parliament.

“When you have the NHT issue that is on the minds of everybody in Jamaica and the hottest topic item in Jamaica, and we are here talking about obeah and whipping! I am not saying it should not be addressed. All I am saying is that with the limited time that we meet, and the amount of legislation that we have left over from successive administrations, serious times require serious a c t i o n s , ” Va z t o l d t h e House.

He noted the urgency with which two bills — the Larceny Act and the Obeah Act — were amended and a new Law Reform bill repealing all legislation with provisions for flogging and whipping

Daryl Vaz was passed over the last two weeks, and questioned whether the public agreed that they were priorities.

“Is this something that we need to be doing at this time in 2013, when we have some of the greatest

challenges, not only facing the world but facing our beloved country?” he asked, noting that there were long outstanding crime bills to be tabled and debated.

“The fact of the matter is that it (flogging) has been on the books for time immemorial, and the truth of the matter is that neither the obeah, neither the backra master nor the slave can help us now as we speak in 2013,” he contended.

“As legislators we need to make sure... to get our house in order and get to some serious business,” he concluded.

The three bills, which were passed by the Senate on February 15, were eventually passed by the House of Representatives Wednesday.

to say that 25 other people whose names followed were “very loyal to Mr So-and-So.” Rowley noted that when the PM was leaving for Jamaica in 2010, she said she was firing SAUTT officials. He claimed that was also linked to the police officer’s letter, which told her who was PNM in the unit and that some staff still maintained close links with the PNM. He said the officer’s letter then made recommendations, which he read: “The situation at the SIA warrants immediate attention. If sensitive information from that unit is allowed to be clandestinely sent to leading members of the PNM, it would undermine the legitimate constituted Government of T&T and ultimately lead to its downfall.” Rowley said the police officer was reporting to the Prime Minister, knew who “was PNM” in the unit and recommended they be removed and the PM fired all of them.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar , Reshmi Ramnarine He said the officer recommended that the SIA director, as well as others mentioned in his report, should be relieved of their posts immediately and the Prime Minister also complied.

He read out the officer’s recommendation B in his letter that “an interim management committee, headed by SIA’s Reshmi Ramnarine (Technical Operator)”, should be appointed immediately.

The copy of the letter, issued by the Opposition office yesterday, said an interim management committee, headed by Ramnarine and several other named officers, “should be

appointed immediately to protect the assets of the State until Mrs Julie Brown completes her assignment” with one Dr Gibran. Rowley said the letter went on to make similar recommendations, including steps to merge the SIA, SSA and SAUTT with other agencies into a new intelligence agency headed by one “Mr Ganpat.”

He said: “That brings us to the point of the Flying Squad. This is where the idea of a National Security Operations Centre came from.” Security sources said yesterday that the officer Rowley spoke of is a senior Special Branch member who was on leave.

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HAITI’S DUVALIER FINALLY IN COURT TO FACE ABUSE OF POWER CHARGES P O RT- A U - P R I N C E (Reuters) - Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier faced corruption and human rights charges in a court yesterday for the first time since a popular revolt forced him into exile in 1986, and denied responsibility for abuses under his 15-year rule.

Individual government officials “had their own authority” the 61-year-old Duvalier said when asked about his role as head of state from 1971 to 1986.

“Under my authority, children could go to school, there was no insecurity,” he told the court.

Duvalier had boycotted three previous court hearings, and Appeals Court Judge Jean-Joseph Lebrun responded to his last failure to appear a week ago by issuing a warrant ordering prosecutors to ensure his presence for Thursday’s

hearing, under police escort if necessary.

Duvalier, dressed in a navy blue suit and tie, quietly slipped into the courthouse unescorted early on Thursday, arriving in his own car several hours before the hearing started accompanied by his longtime companion Veronique Roy. Hundreds of Duvalier supporters gathered outside the courthouse soon after his arrival, chanting “Long Live Duvalier.”

The pre-trial hearing was held to determine what charges Duvalier may have to face, and it is the first time he has personally been obliged to address crimes allegedly committed during his rule.

The case is being closely watched by international human rights observers who consider it a landmark case for Haiti’s weak justice system after decades of dictatorship, military rule and economic

mayhem.

“Duvalier got away with everything all his life, and now he’s being forced to face his victims across a courtroom,” said Reed Brody, a spokesman for Human Rights Watch.

“It’s a powerful message.

This is the sort of thing that could restore Haitian faith that justice is possible,” he added.

Several people who said they were victims of Duvalier’s rule attended the hearing and voiced satisfaction that he had finally appeared in court.

“He will have to face history in court, just like other dictators around the world are facing,” said Alix FilsAime, who was imprisoned by Duvalier’s government.

Reynold Georges, who heads Duvalier’s legal team, argued unsuccessfully at a hearing last week that his client’s presence in court was

we’re accompanying him.”

The vice president has used similar phrasing in the past, saying on Dec. 20 that Chavez “is fighting a great battle ... for his life, for his health.”

Chavez hasn’t spoken publicly since before his latest cancer operation in Cuba on Dec. 11. He returned to Venezuela on Feb. 18, and

the government says he has been undergoing more treatment at a military hospital in Caracas.

Maduro also called for Venezuelans to keep praying for Chavez and to remain loyal to the president. He said Chavez’s health had suffered because he had dedicated himself “body and soul” to his work as president.

Chavez himself has previously acknowledged that he was neglecting his health in recent years, often staying up late and drinking dozens of cups of coffee a day.

The president has undergone surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments since June 2011, when he first announced his cancer diagnosis. He hasn’t specified the type of cancer or the exact location in his pelvic region where his tumors have been removed.

Venezuela VP: Chavez ‘battling’ for life

Hugo Chavez CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s vice president said yesterday that President Hugo Chavez is fighting for his life while he continues to undergo treatment more than two months after his latest cancer surgery.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on television that Chavez “is battling there for his health, for his life, and

Gastroenteritis outbreak at hospital HAMILTON, Bermuda CMC - An outbreak of gastroenteritis has struck almost 30 patients and staff at the King Edward VIII Memorial Hospital in Bermuda.

This has resulted in the quarantine of one of the wards at the institution. A spokesperson from the Bermuda Hospital Board said access to Gordon Ward is

likely to be restricted through today.

Five staff members also show signs of the stomach bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

According to the Hospital, on Wednesday 15 patients fell ill but so far seven have recovered. The bug also hit 14 employees.

“Gastroenteritis can be caused by many different

organisms, but samples to date have tested negative for many of the common causes,” the spokeswoman said.

Sick patients have been placed in isolation and visitors and staff must wear protective clothing on entering the hospital. The garments are discarded on leaving.

Visits, new admissions and transfers are also being restricted at the Gordon Ward.

not required.

Duvalier was briefly detained on charges of corruption, theft and misappropriation of funds after returning to the impoverished Caribbean nation in January 2011 following a 25-year exile in France. Those charges are still pending.

Separate charges of crimes against humanity filed by alleged victims of wrongful imprisonment, forced disappearances and torture under Duvalier, were set aside by an investigating judge last year because the statute of limitations had run out.

But the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, has warned Haitian authorities that there is no statute of limitations under international law for serious violations of human rights.

“I encourage the judicial authorities to act on their responsibilities and ensure the victims are provided with the long overdue justice they deserve,” Pillay said in a

statement last week.

Critics say prosecutors have been too lenient in Duvalier’s case. President Michel Martelly’s government recently renewed Duvalier ’s diplomatic passport, saying he was entitled to it as a former head of state.

Duvalier, who inherited the title “President For Life” at the age of 19, is alleged to have fled Haiti with more than $100 million stashed in European bank accounts in 1986 after street demonstrations and riots broke out in a number of cities.

His departure ended nearly three decades of dictatorship begun by his father, François “Papa Doc” Duvalier, in 1957.

The Duvaliers enforced their rule with the aid of a feared militia, the National Security Volunteers, better known as the “Tonton Macoutes,” who were blamed for hundreds of deaths and disappearances.

Soon after he returned to

Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier Haiti in 2011, taking up residence in a villa in a posh suburb in the hills above the capital Port-au-Prince, Duvalier issued a brief apology “to those countrymen who rightly feel they were victims of my government,” the first ever public recognition of abuses under his rule.

While in exile Duvalier acknowledged privately that killers in his government went unpunished, according to Bernard Diederich, a New Zealand-born journalist and author of several books on Haiti, including a biography of the younger Duvalier.

“He always passed the blame to others,” said Diederich, who conducted four long interviews with Duvalier in the late 1990s.

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African leaders call for U.N. mandate for Mali mission

Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma (L), Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe (C) and Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore attend a summit of West African regional bloc ECOWAS on the crisis in Mali and Guinea Bissau, at the Fondation Felix Houphouet Boigny in Yamoussoukro yesterday. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon YA M O U S S O U K R O (Reuters) - West African leaders yesterday called for a regional military operation against al Qaeda-linked rebels in north Mali to be transformed into a U.N. peacekeeping mission as quickly as possible to secure desperately needed

funding.France sent troops into its former colony last month to drive out Islamist fighters, claiming their seizure of Mali’s north last year posed a threat to international security.

Paris hopes that from March it can start withdrawing its 4,000 troops

but is awaiting the effective deployment of an African force (AFISMA), plagued by logistical and financing setbacks.

Meeting in Ivory Coast’s capital Yamoussoukro, presidents from West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS backed calls from France, the

United States and Mali itself for the mission to receive a U.N. peacekeeping mandate.

“This shouldn’t distract from ongoing operations on the ground,” ECOWAS commission president Kadre Desire Ouedraogo told Reuters.

“It’s simply an indication that, once peace has returned, we need the support of the United Nations system both for logistical and financial support.”

Some two thirds of the 8,000 troops of the Africanled mission (AFISMA) have deployed to Mali.

Many still lack the capacity to carry out combat operations and remain in southern Mali, leaving French forces and around 2,000 troops from Chad to secure northern towns and hunt down Islamist fighters

hiding in desert and mountain redoubts.

After struggling for months to secure funding for its deployment, international donors pledged over $455 million for Mali at a meeting in Addis Ababa last month.

With the number of troops more than doubling since deployment plans were first hashed out last year, ECOWAS projects the cost of the mission at nearly $1 billion this year.

Transformation to a peacekeeping mission would ensure funding from the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and facilitate the deployment of air assets essential for moving troops in Mali’s vast northern desert.

However, a decision by the U.N. Security Council remains weeks, if not months,

away. France’s U.N. envoy said on Wednesday that the Security Council would ask Secretary-General Ban Kimoon to report by end-March on the possibility of creating a peacekeeping force.

Despite the rapid French advance which has seen the Islamists’ former urban strongholds rapidly retaken, security on the ground in Mali remains tenuous, amid a mounting wave of guerilla raids on towns and suicide attacks.

French and Chadian forces are currently hunting die-hard Islamists holed up in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains.

Algerian television reported on Thursday that French troops there had killed Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, a leading al Qaeda field commander.

Congress renews Violence Against Women Act WASHINGTON (AP) — The House yesterday passed and sent to President Barack Obama a far-reaching extension of the Violence Against Women Act. The vote came after House Republican leaders, cognizant of divisions in their own ranks and the need to improve their faltering image among women voters, accepted a bill that cleared the Senate two weeks ago on a strong bipartisan vote.

The bill renews a 1994 law that has set the standard for how to protect women, and some men, from domestic abuse and prosecute abusers. Yesterday’s 286-138 vote came after House lawmakers rejected a more limited approach offered by Republicans.

It was the third time this year that House Speaker John Boehner has allowed Democrats and moderates in his own party prevail over the GOP’s much larger conservative wing. As with a Jan. 1 vote to avoid the fiscal cliff and legislation to extend Superstorm Sandy aid, a majority of House Republicans voted against the final anti-violence bill.

Obama, in a statement, said “renewing this bill is an important step towards making sure no one in America is forced to live in fear” and said he would sign the bill “as soon as it hits my desk.”

The law has been renewed twice before without controversy, but it lapsed in 2011 as it was caught up in the partisan battles that now

Nancy Pelosi divide Congress. Last year, the House refused to go along with a Senate-passed bill that would have made clear that lesbians, gays, immigrants and Native American women should have equal access to Violence Against Women Act programs.

It appeared the scenario would be repeated this year when the House introduced a bill that didn’t mention the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and watered down a Senate provision allowing tribal courts to prosecute nonIndians who attack their Indian partners on tribal lands.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., who has spent months working on the issue, defended the Republican plan: “Our goal in strengthening the Violence Against Women Act is simple.

We want to help all women who are faced with violent, abusive and dangerous situations. ... We want them to know that those who

commit these horrendous crimes will be punished.”

But the House proposal encountered quick and strong opposition from women’s groups, the White House, Democrats and some Republicans, and on Tuesday, the GOP leadership agreed to give the House a vote on the Senate bill. It passed immediately after the House rejected Cantor’s bill, 257-166, with 60 Republicans voting against it.

The GOP decision to show the white flag came after the party’s poor showing among women in last fall’s election and Democratic success in framing the debate over the Violence Against Women Act as Republican policy hostile to women.

President Barack Obama won 55 percent of the women’s vote last November.

Republican presidential candidates haven’t won the women’s vote since 1984, when Ronald Reagan held a 12-point lead over Walter Mondale among women.

The anti-violence bill should never have become partisan, said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a sponsor of the Senate bill. “That is why I applaud moderate Republican voices in the House who stood up to their leadership to demand a vote on the Senate bill.”

The Senate passed its bill on a 78-22 vote with every Democrat, every woman senator and 23 of 45 Republicans supporting it.

A turning point in the debate came earlier this (Continued on page 25)

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Van Rompuy tells Britain - leaving EU “not free”

Herman Van Rompuy (Reuters) - One of Europe’s most powerful officials cautioned Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday that leaving the European Union could cost Britain dear and that the bloc’s other leaders do not want to renegotiate Europe’s founding treaties.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Britain had a chance to play a leading role in building the European economy now the euro zone had the “artillery” of economic tools to get itself out of the worst crisis in its history.

But Van Rompuy laced his speech in London’s financial district with a clear warning to Cameron: Europe will not

countenance any attempt by Britain to win an a-la-carte membership, picking and choosing which of the European Union’s rules it will follow and which to reject.

“Leaving the club altogether, as a few advocate, is legally possible,” he said.

“We have an ‘exit clause’.

“But it’s not a matter of just walking out. It would be legally and politically a most complicated and unpractical affair. Just think of a divorce after 40 years of marriage.”

“Leaving is an act of free will and perfectly legitimate but it doesn’t come for free,” he said in a speech to bankers and politicians at the Guildhall, an 800-year-old institution that is a symbol of British merchant power in the City of London.

Cameron has promised to try to claw back powers from the EU and put any new settlement to voters in an inout referendum by the end of 2017, heightening fears that Britain could leave the club it joined 40 years ago, in 1973.

“The wish to redefine your country’s relationship with the Union has not gone unnoticed,” said Van

Rompuy, a former premier of EU founding member Belgium. “I cannot speak on behalf of the other presidents and prime ministers, but I presume they neither particularly like it, nor particularly fear it.”

Cameron, a Conservative who says he wants Britain to stay inside the world’s biggest economic bloc, warned in a speech on January 23 that the European public was disillusioned with the EU and that Britain needed a new settlement.

British opponents of the European Union say it is a doomed project which has been imposed on European populations by an arrogant elite and that Britain should seek to go it alone.

Van Rompuy said Europe’s leaders could not afford complacency and that bold reforms were needed to strengthen the euro zone, but that the integration ahead did not require further treaty changes.

“I see no impending need to open the EU treaties,” he said, adding that Britain’s ambivalent relations with Europe were undermining its

negotiating position.

“How do you convince a room full of people when you keep your hand on the door handle?”

Van Rompuy’s insistence on no treaty change undermined Cameron’s strategy for getting Britain a new type of EU membership, said former EU Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

“The prime minister has made great play of radical treaty change - which he believes is necessary, which will provide the vehicle for the repatriation of powers that he

wants. President Van Rompuy seemed to shoot that fox,” Mandelson told Reuters.

“If there is not going to be such a new treaty, I don’t know what the alternative vehicle will be for what the prime minister wants: you cannot have a unilateral negotiation.”

Van Rompuy said a club producing one fifth of global gross domestic product gave its members a clout they would not have alone. But he dodged a direct question on whether a provisional EU deal

to cap pay bonuses would damage the City of London, a major contributor to Britain’s economy.

He said the 2008 global financial crisis had exposed the weakness of the European common currency project and kept open the chance of further “aftershocks”.

“Talk of imminent breakup has vanished. It is finally sinking in that the euro is here to stay, and that this is due to deep political determination,” he said. “Even if there may be turbulence ahead, we have the artillery we need.”

As Pope Benedict steps down, group asks U.N. to act on abuse ROME (Reuters) - On the final day of Pope Benedict’s papacy, a victim support group asked the United Nations to censure the Vatican for failing to protect children from sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy.

Speaking at a press conference meters from the walls of the Vatican City yesterday, the head of the

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said his group had made a formal submission to the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child.

“It’s a long submission of 30 pages based on government reports by five different nations,” David Clohessy told reporters, surrounded by photographs

of children he said were members of his organization, at the age they were abused.

“We hope that the U.N. speaks out very forcefully and says that the Vatican is in violation of the treaty that it agreed to honor.”

The SNAP submission argues that the Holy See has violated the U.N. Convention (Continued on page 24)

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As Pope Benedict steps down... Former aide to Canadian From page 23 on the Rights of the Child, which it signed in 1990, on four counts including a failure to cooperate with criminal investigations and failing to protect children.

The crisis over the abuse of children by clergy, which has bankrupted several U.S. dioceses, cost the Church billions in compensation claims worldwide and haunted it throughout Benedict’s papacy, has returned as cardinals prepare to enter a conclave to elect the next pontiff.

Catholic activists have petitioned U.S. cardinal Roger Mahony, who shielded

priests known to be abusers from legal scrutiny in the 1980s, to exclude himself from the election of the man Catholics consider Christ’s vicar on earth.

Clohessy called on the next pontiff, expected to be in office by March 26, immediately to discipline bishops who have protected predatory priests in their dioceses.

“This is the largest religious institution on the planet, with immense power centered right here. With a stroke of a pen the pope could make an enormous difference,” Clohessy said.

Sexual abuse cases began

coming to light in the 1980s and became a major crisis in 2002, after reports in the U.S. media.

When he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict was appointed by Pope John Paul to lead the Vatican office charged with investigating abuse.

As pope, Benedict did more than any previous pontiff to address the issue, meeting victims several times and apologizing for abuse.

However, Clohessy said this did not go far enough.

“He had both the power and the knowledge to make an enormous difference, and we believe he refused.”

India’s high earners bemoan tax surcharge MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - High-earning Indians gave a collective groan yesterday when the government imposed a 10 percent surcharge on their income, following a global trend which it expects to be popular in an election year.

Just 42,800 of India’s 1.2 billion people will be affected by the extra take on pay above 10 million rupees, according to the finance minister.

The measure will be in place for one year.

“There are substantial number of people with good income who are not paying

taxes and the focus should have been more on bringing them under the tax net,” said Sunil Duggal, CEO of consumer goods maker Dabur India (NSI:DABUR.NS News).

“He should have ensured compliance so that more people who have avoided taxes are brought into the net of taxes,” said Issac George, director of GVK Power & Infrastructure Ltd (NSI:GVKPIL.NS - News).

Dozens of corporate executives, watching a telecast at an industry event in New Delhi, exchanged

nervous smiles as Finance Minister P. Chidambaram introduced the surcharge in his budget speech.

Chidambaram, seeking extra cash to fund a dash for growth, said he expected those affected to pay up “cheerfully.”

The ruling Congress faces elections by May 2014 and the tax move is likely to play well with its largely rural and poor core supporter base.

India had 125,500 dollar millionaires in 2011, according to a Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management world wealth report released last year.

PM dumped after child porn comment

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office quickly distanced themselves from former Harper aide Tom Flanagan on Wednesday after the political commentator said viewing child pornography did not harm others.

Flanagan was a campaign manager and chief of staff for Harper or the Conservative Party at various times before the Conservatives took power in 2006, and has long been a commentator for CBC. At a seminar at Alberta’s University of Lethbridge on Wednesday, he took issue with the Conservative “jihad” on child pornography.

The CBC dumped him as a political commentator and Harper spokesman Andrew MacDougall said his remarks were repugnant and did not reflect the Conservative government’s view. “...you know a lot of people on my side of the spectrum, a certain side of the spectrum, are bent on kind of a jihad against pornography and child pornography in particular, and I certainly have no sympathy for child

molesters, but I do have some grave doubts about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures,” Flanagan, a political scientist at the University of Calgary, told the seminar on Wednesday night.

He said there was a real issue as “to what extent we put people in jail for doing something in which they do not harm another person.”

Flanagan apologized, but not before the CBC fired him and Alberta’s conservative Wildrose Party, for which he was campaign manager last year, said he would have no future role.

CBC News Editor-in-Chief Jennifer McGuire said: “While we support and encourage free speech across the country and a diverse range of voices, we believe Mr. Flanagan’s comments to have crossed the line and impacted his credibility as a commentator for us.”

MacDougall tweeted: “Tom Flanagan’s comments on child pornography are repugnant, ignorant, and appalling.”

In a later statement, MacDougall noted Conservative measures to toughen penalties for making

or accessing child porn, and said Flanagan had not represented government views for some time.

“The tragic reality is that child pornography hurts children. Pedophiles abuse children, and then trade these pictures on the Internet. Once online, these images haunt victims long after the sexual abuse occurs,” MacDougall said.

Flanagan in a statement condemned the sexual abuse of children and the use of children to produce pornography, but drew a distinction between that and the use of porn.

“Last night, in an academic setting, I raised a theoretical question about how far criminalization should extend toward the consumption of pornography,” he said.

“My words were badly chosen, and in the resulting uproar I was not able to express my abhorrence of child pornography and the sexual abuse of children. I apologize unreservedly to all who were offended by my statement, and most especially to victims of sexual abuse and their families.”

Assad deluded by his inner circle, U.N. envoy Brahimi says CAIRO (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been convinced by his inner circle that his country is the victim of a broad conspiracy led by terrorists, U.N./Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said yesterday.

Brahimi said hope for a solution to the crisis, which began as a peaceful prodemocracy uprising but has turned into a conflict on largely sectarian lines, lay in the hands of Russia and the United States.

More than 70,000 Syrians have been killed in almost two years of fighting. Damascus refers to the rebels, who range from local fighters to foreign jihadists, as “armed terrorist groups”.

“He (Assad) sees the protests as a universal

Bashar al-Assad conspiracy against his country fuelled by terrorists.

And his inner circle is the one that convinces him of that,” Brahimi said during a visit to the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

Syria’s main opposition coalition this month endorsed an initiative by its president, Moaz Alkhatib,

offering to talk to Assad’s government about a political transition based on his departure after 13 years in power.

Brahimi praised Alkhatib’s initiative, saying it had embarrassed the Syrian government, and called on Washington and Moscow to take a lead.

“If Russia and the United States reached a real agreement, it would be easy for an international decision to be taken, but past meetings between the two states’ foreign ministers and their aides were disappointing,” he said.

Russia, one of Assad’s two main foreign backers along with Iran, has recently distanced itself from him and stepped up its calls for dialogue as his prospects of retaining power have decreased. However, it still insists that Assad’s departure, a main demand of the opposition, must not be a precondition. Washington has repeatedly called on Assad to step down and says he has lost his legitimacy.

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U.S. to give Syrian rebels medical, food aid, not arms ROME (Reuters) - The United States said yesterday it will for the first time give non-lethal aid to Syrian rebels and more than double its aid to Syria’s civilian opposition, disappointing opponents of President Bashar al-Assad clamoring for Western weapons.

The United States cast the aid as a way to bolster the rebels’ popular support. It will include medical supplies, food for rebel fighters and $60 million to help the civil opposition provide basic services like security, education and sanitation.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced the new steps after a meeting of 11 mostly European and Arab nations within the “Friends of Syria” group.

The aid did not appear to entirely satisfy the Syrian National Council opposition, a fractious Cairo-based group that has struggled to gain traction inside Syria, especially among disparate rebel forces.

“Many sides ... focus (more) on the length of the rebel fighter’s beard than they do on the blood of the children being killed,” Syrian National Coalition President Moaz Alkhatib said at an appearance with Kerry and Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi. In what analysts described as a sign of disappointment, Syria’s political opposition has postponed talks to choose the leader of a provisional government, two opposition sources told Reuters in Beirut.

Opposition leaders hoped a Saturday meeting in Istanbul would elect a prime minister to operate in rebel-controlled areas of Syria, threatened by a slide into chaos as the conflict between Assad’s forces and insurgents nears its second anniversary.

While one source said the meeting might happen later in the week, a second source said it had been put off because the three most likely candidates for prime minister had reservations about taking the role without more concrete international support.

“The opposition has been increasingly signaling that it is tired of waiting and no one serious will agree to be head of a government without real political and logistical support,” said Syrian political commentator Hassan Bali, who lives in Germany.

Bali said the United States and other members of the core “Friends of Syria” nations appeared intent “on raising the ante against Assad but are not sure how.”

A final communique said participants would “coordinate their efforts closely so as to best empower the Syrian people and support the Supreme Military Command of the (rebel) Free Syrian Army in its efforts to help them exercise selfdefense”.

More than 70,000 Syrians have been killed in a fierce conflict that began with peaceful anti-Assad protests nearly two years ago. Some 860,000 have fled abroad and several million are displaced within the country or need humanitarian assistance.

The United States has given $385 million in humanitarian aid but U.S. President Barack Obama has so far refused to give arms, arguing it is difficult to prevent them from falling into the hands of militants who could use them on Western targets. A U.S. official told reporters it would give the aid only to carefully vetted fighters, adding the United States was worried that “extremists” opposed to

democracy, human rights and tolerance were gaining ground in the country.

“Those members of the opposition who support our shared values ... need to set an example of a Syria where daily life is governed neither by the brutality of the Assad regime nor by the agenda of al Qaeda affiliated extremists,” the official said.

If sending non-lethal assistance goes smoothly, it could conceivably offer a model for providing weaponry should Obama ultimately decide to do so.

The continued U.S. refusal to send weapons may compound the frustration that prompted the coalition to say last week it would shun the Rome talks. It attended only under U.S. pressure.

Many in the coalition say Western reluctance to arm rebels only plays into the hands of Islamist militants now widely seen as the most effective forces in the struggle to topple Assad.

However, a European diplomat held out the possibility of Western military support, saying the coalition and its Western and Arab backers would meet in Istanbul next week to discuss military and humanitarian support to the insurgents.

With fighting raging on largely sectarian lines, French President Francois Hollande said at a Moscow summit that new partners were needed to broker talks on ending the crisis, winning guarded support from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We think that this dialogue must find a new form so that it speaks to all parties,” said Hollande, giving few details of his proposal.

Putin said Russia - one of Assad’s staunchest allies would look at Hollande’s proposal, “which I think we

Congress renews Violence...

From page 22 month, when 19 Republicans, led by Rep. Jon Runyan, RN.J., wrote a letter to their leadership urging them to accept a bipartisan plan that would reach all victims of domestic violence. The letter, Runyan said, was a catalyst in showing the leadership “a willingness of people in the House to really compromise” and see that the Senate “has a pretty good bill.”

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a Native American, also wrote his Republican colleagues saying he was voting against the House alternative because “it falls short of giving tribes what they need to keep their women safe.”

Indian women suffer incidents of domestic violence at rates more than double national averages, but Indian courts don’t have jurisdiction over non-Indians, and federal prosecutors don’t take up about half the violence cases on reservations because of lack of resources to pursue crimes on isolated Indian lands. The Senate bill would give Indian courts the ability to prosecute non-Indians for a limited set of crimes limited to domestic violence and violations of protecting orders. Opponents have said that raises constitutional issues.

The Violence Against Women Act is credited with

helping reduce domestic violence incidents by twothirds over the past two decades.

The Senate bill would authorize some $659 million a year over five years to fund current programs that provide grants for transitional housing, legal assistance, law enforcement training and hotlines.

The Senate bill adds stalking to the list of crimes that make immigrants eligible for protection and authorizes programs dealing with sexual assault on college campuses and with efforts to reduce the backlog in rape kit analyses.

It reauthorizes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) speaks with Syrian National Coalition President Mouaz al-Khatib, next to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, during meetings at Villa Madama in Rome yesterday.

REUTERS/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool (ITALY - Tags: POLITICS) could consider with all our partners and try to carry out.”

Russia has said Assad’s departure must not be a precondition for talks and a political solution, while the West has sided with Syria’s opposition in demanding his removal from power.

Kerry’s offer of medical aid and food rations fell far short of rebel demands for sophisticated anti-tank and

anti-aircraft weapons to help turn the tables against Assad’s mostly Russiansupplied forces.

It also stopped short of providing other forms of nonlethal assistance such as bullet-proof vests, armored personnel vehicles and military training to the insurgents.

Last week the European Union opened the way for direct aid to Syrian rebels, but

did not lift an arms embargo on Syria. Kerry said the U.S. role should not be judged in isolation but in the context of what other nations will do.

“What we are doing ... is part of a whole,” he said. “I am absolutely confident ... that the totality of this effort is going to have an impact of the ability of the Syrian opposition to accomplish its goals.”

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Friday March 01, 2013

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NCN CHANNEL 11 03:00 hrs – Movie 05:00 hrs – Inspiration 05:30 hrs – Newtown Gospel 06:00 hrs – NCN Late Edition News(r/b) 06:30 hrs – BBC 07:00 hrs – Guyana Today 08:00 hrs – Bollywood Hits (R/B) 09:00 hrs – Stop the Suffering 10:00 hrs – Remembering Dr. Cheddi Jagan 11:00 hrs – History 12:00 hrs – CNN 12:30 hrs – NCN Newsbreak 12:35 hrs – Feature 13:05 hrs – The Interview r/b 14:00 hrs – NCN Newsbreak 14:05 hrs – Movie

16:00 hrs – NCN Newsbreak 17:00 hrs – Anderson 18:00 hrs – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30 hrs – Pulse Beat 19:00 hrs – Al Jazeera 19:30 hrs – Close Up 20:00 hrs – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:10 hrs – Grow with IPED 21:00 hrs – Between the Sticks with the GCA 22:00 hrs – NCN News Late Edition 22:35 hrs – Caribbean Newsline 23:00 hrs – Movie DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55 hrs. Sign On 09:00 hrs. This Morning

10:00 hrs. Live! With Kelly and Michael 11:00 hrs. Roseanne 12:00 hrs. The View 13:00 hrs. Prime News 13:30 hrs. The Young and the Restless 14:30 hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 15:00 hrs. The Talk 16:00 hrs. Cold Case 18:00 hrs. World News 18:30 hrs. The Wayans Bros 19:00 hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00 hrs. Channel 8 News 20:30 hrs. DTV’s Festival of Biblical Movies for the Lenten Season: “The Book of Ruth” 00:00 hrs. Sign Off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Friday March 01, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You’re not so impulsive today and you may withhold your feelings to strengthen the emotional foundations upon which you are building your life.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You’re concerned with making a relationship last; there’s no flash-in-the-pan show for you today. No colorful fireworks or temporary fixes will do the trick.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may be particularly hard on yourself as you strive for perfection today, while others only see your wellrehearsed rituals. You appear to be a true magician, fascinating everyone with your hands waving wildly in the air.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your intuition continues to lead you in the right direction as you make big plans for the future. Somehow, you are downloading data directly from the cosmos today, so don’t spend too much time questioning how you are learning what you know.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You have the authority to alter the course of events at your workplace now. If you can focus on the tasks right in front of you, then you are able to have positive impact on the larger issues, too.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You now have the necessary tools to create enough stability in your life that you can balance your need for fun with your desire to go the distance and reach your destination.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) It may be bothersome to have to deal with mundane issues like running errands and cleaning the house. Even if you’re bored with your domestic duties now, this is a great day to do your chores because it frees your mind to reflect on your past and think about your future.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You are determined to climb the ladder of success now and are committed to working extremely hard to prove that nothing can stand in your way.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Take action while you have the chance, for what you start today will likely stand the test of time. You have an air of confidence about you that allows you to explore emotional realms that don’t often feel as safe as they do now.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You are in touch with your own values today and understand the impact they have on your career objectives.

If you have recently been uncertain about your goals, your perspective grows sharper now.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Relationships continue to be a challenge, but now you have authoritative Saturn acting as your guardian angel, ensuring that you don’t lose touch with reality. This is an excellent time to reel yourself in and to tow the party line.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your life may not feel very exciting now, but you have worked long and hard to create the stability you’re experiencing. Instead of trying to turn things upside down, chill out long enough to enjoy the tranquility you’ve earned.

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Badree and Barnwell mean business as world champs take on Zimbabwe North Sound, Antigua – Christopher Barnwell says he is looking for consistency with bat and ball while Samuel Badree will look to build the pressure on Zimbabwe when they line up for West Indies against Zimbabwe in what promises to be an actionpacked two-match T20 Series this weekend.

The two were among the

leading performers at last month’s Caribbean T20 tournament and earned callups for the two matches on Saturday and Sunday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. First ball on both days is 2 pm (1 pm Jamaica Time).

The world champions West Indies held a morning training session at the match

venue on Thursday and afterward Badree – the wily leg-spinner – and Barnwell – a strongly-built batting allrounder – outlined their game plans for when they face the visitors.

“I’m looking forward with great expectations to the matches ahead. We had a good One-Day Series against the Zimbabweans where we

won all three matches, and we will also look to win both Twenty20 matches,” said Badree.

“In T20 there aren’t really any underdogs. I will look to have two good games against them and continue to showcase my talents for the West Indies on the international stage. The key to bowling in T20 cricket is

consistency and that helps to build the pressure on batsmen. I will look to maintain the pressure we have created.”

The 31-year-old schoolteacher from Trinidad made his T20 International debut last year against New Zealand and was immediately successful. He contributed significantly to the West Indies’ sensational run when they captured the ICC World T20 trophy in Sri Lanka last October.

Barnwell made his T20 International debut in 2011 and played four times that year. He has been recalled on the weight of some matchwinning performances which took Guyana to the finals of the Caribbean T20 last month.

The 26-year-old said: “It is a wonderful feeling to be back at this level. I had a very good Caribbean T20 and I’m confident I will do well here against Zimbabwe. I feel I am in the right frame of mind and

in good form with the bat and ball.

“I always believe I have it in me to win games. I have brought Guyana out of some difficult situations when the pressure was on, and I believe I can transfer those kinds of performances the international level, once I get the opportunity,” he added.

In additional to his powerful batting, Barnwell has the added skill of mediumfast bowling. He will line up alongside skipper Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard – who were all World T20 winners last year.

West Indies will have another training session on Friday morning at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Beach F’ball tourney...

Vasco advances; Shattas 3 Wisroc 3 Vasco continued its winning ways and disposed of Alikyu 5-2 when play in the Guyana Beach Football Association (GBFA)/Banks DIH League tournament continued at the Bayroc Sand Reserve Ground Linden, over the past weekend.

Michael Wilson, recently sidelined after sustaining an injury, celebrated his return with a hat trick while his team benefited from a defensive error by Alikyu’s Kevin Plowell. It was a crucial loss for Alikyu which could check their advancement and hamper their chances of moving up the league table.

In the other match, Silver Shattas and Wisroc played to a 3-3 stalemate after a hectic ‘no holds barred’ encounter. Clifton Alley, Andre Samaroo and Damion Williams netted for Shattas while Orande Wills, Colric Beckles and Deshawn Joseph contributed for Wisroc.

The players were back in action last evening when Alikyu took on Winners and Eagles competed against Silvertown.

Wisroc and Vasco were also scheduled to oppose each other.

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Unique Ent. / Banks Premium Beer Futsal Classic...

New Era Russians face Hard Knocks in dream final tonight New Era Russians

Hard Knocks Players From the time the tournament begun last month, the two sides were heavily favoured to reach the finals and the pundits and supporters of the two sides were correct in their judgment that the two sides were the most superior of the 32 teams that contested the inaugural hosting of the tournament.

New Era Russians and Hard Knocks; two teams who demolished the rest of the competition easily to set up tonight’s dream finale in the Unique Entertainment/Banks Premium Beer Futsal Classic comes to an end.

It was the most talked about tournament to ever be

played in Linden, being graced with hundreds of supporters on a nightly basis, with them being captivated by the high energy filled games as the players duel to see who will walk away with the $500,000 first prize.

The Russians who players under the New Era Entertainment umbrella, will look to their captain Travis Watterton who have not failed them so far in the competition, while their goal keeper Odell Allicock has been ‘brick wall’ in between the goals for his side.

Travis Grant, Dingo Green along with Dwayne ‘Uncle’ Charles are the other key players for the opposing New

Era Russians.

But the most talked about team in the tournament, Hard Knocks, will be the Russians’ hardest opponents ever faced. Led by skillful John Waldron, Hard Knocks have devoured their opponents in dramatic fashion on course to the finals.

The hard hitting Randy Small along with the crafty Alister Johnson can cause some trouble for Allicock, providing that they can penetrate the defence of the Russians.

It’s a close call for anyone who would want to put a wager on his/her favourite but one thing for certain, the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard

Elder De Groot falls to...

From page 35 round last year after playing with a -25 handicap.

Khalil’s older sister, Ashley Khalil pulled off and stunning win against Mary Fung-AFat after losing the first game. Khalil struggled to find her stroke in the first game and surrendered to the reigning Under-19 Caribbean champion 7/15. Fung-A-Fat shot

out to an early lead in the second game as well before Khalil managed to settle down and reel her back in.

Khalil won the second and third games 15/13 and 15/5 respectively.

The tournaments which was organised by GSA in collaboration with Digicel Guyana and sponsors Bounty Farm Limited, will conclude on Sunday.

Court will be rocking tonight, leaving one to wonder if it would have enough space to hold the crowd anticipated for the great showdown.

Meanwhile, the third place play off between Silver Bullets (lost to New Era

Russians) and Top Class will serve as a perfect appetizer to the epic anticipated finals.

While second place will go home with $300,000, third place finishers are set for to be rewarded with the $150,000 cash prize.

Banks DIH under their premium beer brand, will also be doing its nightly give-aways and its mentioned that for tonight’s finals, patrons will be heavily rewarded for the support shown to the tournament so far.

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GMRSC INTERNATIONAL DRAG RACE MEET - Keen racing anticipated on Sunday With its popularity growing increasingly this Sunday Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMRSC) International Drag Race Meet, at the South Dakota Circuit is anticipated to enjoy massive support according to a source close to the fraternity.

With racers from

Suriname, who have named a strong contingent and a couple of racers expected from Trinidad and Tobago anticipated to compete against Guyana dragsters motor racing fans will be in for a treat when competitors take to the starting line in pursuit of championship honours.

Scrabble players battle over weekend in National Open Scrabble players are scheduled to be in action once again when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) stages an open tournament this Sunday at the Malteenoes Sports Club, Thomas Lands.

The organisers are mulling a 2 tiered competition but according to Public Relations Officer, Moen Gafoor, this decision is dependent on the number of players registering for the tournament. As such, players are asked to indicate very early whether they will be competing. The tournament commences at 10:00hrs but the registration period gets underway at 09:45hrs. Participants are required to contribute $500.00 at time of registration which represents a reduction of $200.

Those arriving late will have to pay the entire $700 registration fee. The top three players will win trophies while there will be a special prize for the best player outside of the top ten rankings. Persons with boards and clocks are also urged to have them available at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start.

Fans will have the opportunity to determine which country is the best among the three nations and an occasion that is anticipated to be just as action packed as previous Meets, making it a must for those who love to see demonstrations of skills and daredevilry.

According to the official, the foreign teams have already stated their intentions to come down to the South Dakota Circuit, the home of motor racing in Guyana and dominate the local drivers, while the locals have responded by saying that they will defend home turf at all cost.

Suriname which has been Guyana’s biggest threat will once again have as part of their team the fast Typhoon which is no stranger to these shores and has been a thorn in the flesh of our machines, while additional information coming out of the Dutch territory is that a quick Supra will also be making the trip.

Two competitors takes the starters’ orders at a pervious Drag Meet.

However, on the local end the likes of Anand Ramchand’s Supra and Rondell Daby’s lightening fast Red Evolution will all be battling to ensure that at the end of the day, the top honours will be shared by the Guyanese.

Among the other big names expected to represent the ‘Land of Many Waters are Afraz Ally, Syed Ali, Danny

Persaud and Sanjay Persaud.

The source further informed that the Superbikes category is also expected to add to the excitement and Stephen Vieira, Carlos Rodrigues, Carey Griffith will be looking to not only outdo each other, but all the other contenders as well.

The official added that race fans, for the first time will have the opportunity to

experience the Porta Tree Timing System which is equipped with specialized starting lights and allows quarter mile speeds to be recorded.

Races commence at 12:00 hrs and admission for adults is $1000, while children under12 and vehicles are free. The day’s activities also come with the compliments of Banks DIH Ltd.

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

Semi-finalists decided in Mackeson ‘Street Football’ Challenge in Linden The popular Topp Class ended the hopes of one of the tournament favourites, Hard Knocks, condemning them to a 0-3 loss while New Era Russians ensured that El Dorado were not on course for gold, beating them 2-0 at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Hard-Court.

We Are De Boss triumphed over Phoenix 1-0 and Retrieve Unknowns cooled off Hot Skull 3-0 Wednesday night to also advance to the semis of the Mackeson ‘Street Football’ Challenge that started in Amelia’s Ward last Sunday night.

Playing in front of another bumper crowd, which continually followed the encounters, Retrieve Unknowns were led to their victory through the superlative strikes of Jamal Rogers, who headed past the Skulls to send his team to the semis.

The semifinals and final of the competition are slated for

tomorrow night at the MSC Hard-Court.

After that win from Retrieve Unknowns, the Christianburg-based side, Hard Knocks were easily dismantled by the strike force from Topp Class. Jermaine Grandison, Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens and Ashton Angel were on target for Topp Class.

Following the upset win, Phoenix, which consist mainly of players from Blueberry Hill were needled out of contention as they came up against We Are De Boss who beat them 1-0 off the lone strike of the game from Shawn Seaforth.

In the feature game of the night, New Era Russians

controlled the pace well, powering their way over Silvertown’s El Dorado, who was shut out 2-0 as Travis ‘Chicken’ Waterton and Terrence Aaron finished with solid goals.

It means that with all to play for tomorrow night, the semifinals and final should once again be well-attended as the football fans converge to see the four semifinalists battle it out to cash in on the lucrative first place award.

Ansa McAl under its Mackeson Brand is the sponsor of the tournament.

The top team will walk away with $250,000 and trophy while second place pockets $150,000 and trophy; third place $100,000 and trophy and fourth place $40,000 and trophy.

In addition, the interactive promotions to get the fans involved where there will be giveaways on game nights will continue. The Most Valuable Player will also be rewarded.

WICB 4 Day Tourney - Rd 3...

Edwards ton puts Barbados in command; Jordan bags 7 Kirk Edwards slammed a fine century as Barbados closed day 2 of the third round of the West Indies Cricket Board 4-day tournament against Combined Campuses and Colleges on 355-9 at the three Ws Oval. Edwards stroked 109 and got support opener Kraigg Brathwaithe who scored 90; Shane Dowrich is not out on 45.

Akeem Dewar snared 6 wickets for CCC who were skittled for 109 in their first innings. Christopher Jordan bagged 7-43 and Ashley Nurse 2-30.

At Arnos Vale, Guyana

lost first innings points to the Windward Islands. Batting first Guyana were bowled out for 151 with Assad Fudadin scoring 55. Shane Shillingford snared 4 wickets while Delorn Johnson and Liam Sebastien had 3 each.

Windwards then replied with 276. Keddy Lesporis made 39 as Devendra Bishoo bagged 5 wickets. Guyana were 49-2 at stumps on day 2, batting a second time.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul is unbeaten on 29 and Leon Johnson on 9; Shillingford took both of the wickets to fall.

At Warner Park, Trinidad and Tobago were in a formidable position against Leeward Islands. After taking first innings honours Trinidad and Tobago were 40-1 when time was called on the second day.

Earlier T&T posted 279 in their first innings before restricting Leewards for 194 with Sylvester Joseph top scoring with 68.

Austin Richards Jr. chipped in with 28 as Imran Khan captured 4\62,Yannick Carriah 3-35 and Amit Jaggernauth 3-39. T and T are leading by 125 runs.

Page 33

GAPF Novices - Female lifters to headline season opener - BHS to host on March 17

Not since 2007 when Linden experienced a female invasion of over 6 lifters has powerlifting seen the influx athletes on the distaff side.

With East Coast seeking to create history challenging with three (3) ladies and New Amsterdam countering with two (2) for a total of five, this year’s Novices Championships is set to take New Amsterdam by the storm.

A total of 14 male and 5 females are set to showcase their strength in search of bragging rights as the best in the various categories of the Novices competition.

The second category featuring National Sub Juniors (Under-18) and Juniors (Under-23) will see

the likes of 2012 runner-up Junior Sportsman and Caribbean gold medalist Gumendra Shewdas throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of the juniors including his brother Suraj.

All juniors will have a chance of making the junior national squad as this year’s Caribbean Championships is being held consecutively along with the Pan American Championships in Orlando Florida, USA in July.

Final selection will be made within one week of the results to allow the lifters enough time to obtain their visas before date of preliminary nominations April 1.

An added attraction will see guest lifters Fazim Abdool attempting to achieve qualifying lifts in the 93kg class as against his normal 105kg along with Colin “Mr. Clean” Chesney who was unable to compete at the

seniors due to injury.

National Open and Junior champion in the 59kg class, Vijai Rahim may not make the National team due to technical rules from the governing body the IPF as a result of his inability to maintain his bodyweight within the 59kg class.

Reports out of Hardcore Gym claims that Rahim has gained weight. The down side to this means that unless Rahim can establish a qualifying total in the higher class 66kg he will not be eligible for selection.

The junior championship is the last chance for Rahim to qualify having already gained selection in the 59kg category.

Clubs and individual lifters participating are once again reminded that they must register with the Organizing Secretary Mr. Denroy Livan between 08:00 and 16:00hrs on telephone # 226 1553.

Page 34

NBS 2nd Div. 40 over...

The 2012 New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40 over cricket competition, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) for teams in the Ancient County, continued recently with three batsmen recording centuries.

Slamming the highest score of the competition so far was Young and Restless opening batsman, Narendra Harelsingh, who slammed 136 (15x4 10x6) in his team’s total of 210 in 30.1 overs against Betsy Ground Triple Star.

Only one other batsman, Latchman Singh (14) reached double figures as five batsman were sent back without scoring. In Betsy Ground’s reply, their opening batsman, Samuel Sanicharra, led the way with an unbeaten 106 (10x4 4x6) which spearheaded them to victory at 211 for 5 in 30.5 overs.

After Bristol Warriors had scored 195 for 7 in 40 overs against Celebrity

Kaieteur News

Friday March 01, 2013

Centuries for Harelsingh, Sanicharra & Narine; Baldeo grabs 6 Times, the latter team’s opening batsman, Daryl Narine scored 100 (10x4 3x6) to lead them to an easy 6 wicket win with 9.2 overs to spare.

Courtland All Star did well to bowl out Albion Community Centre for a paltry 78 in 22.4 overs but when they batted, they ran up against the off-spin of 17year-old Balchan Baldeo, who opened the bowling with pacer, 15-year-old Kevendra Persaud and were in turn skittled out for just 35 in 11.1 overs with Baldeo picking up 6 for 10 from 5.1 overs, the best bowling figures in the competition so far and his second consecutive 6-wicket haul after taking 6 for 21 against Jai Hind. Persaud took 3 for 18 from 6 overs.

Mahendra Anand scored 60 and Fiyuz Mohamed 54 not out to steer No. 55 Mayflower to 228 for 3 in 30 overs against No. 52 Survival who gave a good chase but with No. 55’s off-spinner, Oudal Budhram picking up 4 for 10, they could

only reach 207 for 8 in their 30 overs. Also scoring a half century was Lennox Cummings foor No. 1 Road.

Collated scores from the matches played: At Goed Bananen Land Betsy Ground Triple Star beat Young and Restless, the latter tallied 210 in 30.1 overs; Narendra Harelsingh 136, Dinesh Rameshant 2 for 32, Dinesh Gopaul 2 for 36 and Mohamed Khan 2 for 39.

Betsy Ground Triple Star 211 for 5 in 30.5 overs; Samuel Sanicharra 106, Avinash Khandai 29 not out and Latchman Singh 2 for 42.

At Rose Hall in Canje Celebrity Times beat Bristol Warriors by 6 wickets. Bristol Warriors 195 for 7 in 40 overs; Quacy Kendall 36 not out, Frederick Pestano 26, Andre D’Freitas 26, Devendra Ramoutar 2 for 30 and Wahied Edwards 2 for 64.

Celebrity Times 198 for 4 in 30.4 overs; Daryl Narine 100, Totaram Seenanan 40 not out and Amir Seecharran 2 for 32.

Daryl Narine

Balchan Baldeo

At Courtland - Albion Community Centre beat Courtland All Star by 43 runs.

Albion Community Centre 78 in 22.4 overs; Troy Matheson 3 for 5 and Michael Cummings 3 for 28. Courtland All Star 35 in 11.1 overs; Balchan Baldeo 6 for 10 and Kevendra Persaud 3 for 18.

At No. 55 - No. 55 Mayflower beat No. 52 Survival by 21 runs. No. 55 Mayflower 228 for 3 in 30 overs; Mahendra Anand 60, Fiyuz Mohamed 54 not out, Chandalall Persaud 26 not out

and Michael Kendall 2 for 38.

No. 52 Survival 207 for 8 in 30 overs; Michael Kendall 25, Ravin Toolsie 25, Oudal Budhram 4 for 40 and Vishal Narine 2 for 50.

At No. 19 - Kendall’s Union A beat No. 1 Road by 14 runs. Kendall’s Union 180 in 32.4 overs; Daniel Baker 42, Ravin Seecharran 25, Joel Johnson 4 for 19 and Levi Thomas 3 for 60. No. 1 Road 166 in 33.1 overs; Lennox Cummings 54, Joel Johnson 39, Steven Ramlochan 4 for 30 and Martin Baker 3 for 38.

Narendra Harelsingh

Samuel Sanicharra

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

Bounty Farm Mash Handicap Tourney...

Elder De Groot falls to younger sister; wins for Joseph, Khalil, Xavier Raphael deGroot gave a valiant effort, but nevertheless succumbed to his sister Ashley deGroot when the Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA) Bounty Farm Mash Handicap Tournament continued on Wednesday evening, at the Georgetown Club’s Squash Facility.

Raphael, who is 22 yearsold, three years older than his sister, conceded the first game despite an impressive comeback to close the deficit.

Raphael was hindered by his -10 handicap while his younger sister Ashley (0) started with a clean slate at zero. The gruelling encounter saw the squash sibling battling down to the wire engaged long rallies for nearly every point. Both players appeared exhausted by the third and final game after Raphael had equalised by winning the second game 15/ 10.

But it was Ashley who hung in there and proved to be the fitter of the deGroots, withstanding a late surge by her brother while outworking him during the final points to take the match 15/11.

Raphael confessed after the game that his sister’s superior fitness was her greatest asset as she managed to eliminate him from the main draw. Raphael will now be competing in the classic plate round while Ashley advanced to play former Caribbean Junior champion Jason Ray Khalil

Ashley DeGroot

Ashley Khalil

T&T’s Age Group Long Course Swimming C/ships The first day of the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad & Tobago (ASATT) National Age Group Long Course Championships saw Joshua Romany (Unattached) besting the qualifying time for World Juniors (25.47) when he swam the preliminary round of the Boys 15 - 17 50m butterfly in 25.22, with David Mc Leod (Atlantis) second in 27.29 and Jonathan Ramkissoon (Titans) third in 27.68.

The finals of this event was set for last (Thursday) evening. Romany also convincingly won the finals of the 400m freestyle in his age group in 4:10.03, making the CCCAN qualifying time (4:11.49) for that event ahead of Jabari Baptiste (4:26.58) and Jivan Chee Foon (4:41.99), both of whom also swam Unattached. Tidal Wave’s Jeron O’Brien

(2:33.37) posted a Carifta B time (which is 2:33.66) as well as CCCAN qualifying time (which is 2:34.47) when he won gold in the Boys 15-17 200m breaststroke final ahead of Jonathan Ramkissoon (2:33.78) who collected silver and Jonathan Gillette (2:36.26) of Marlins who won the bronze medal.

In the finals of the Boys 18 & over 200m breaststroke Atlantis’ Abraham Mc Leod won the gold medal in 2:28.26, a qualifying time for CCCAN, ahead of UTT’s Mosi Denoon (2:39.45) and Torpedoes’ Ooronko Forde (3:01.33).

Atlantis’ Jada Chai (31.66, a CCCAN qualifying time) was among the notable performers in the juniors swimmers as the top qualifier in the preliminaries of the Girls 11-12 50m fly, trailed by Marissa Pakette (33.44) of Point Fortin Aqua Darts and

Deshor Edwards (33.98) of Silver Sharks Swim Club. In the Boys’ equivalent, Tidal Wave’s Kael Yorke was the top qualifier for tomorrow’s final when he won in 30.58, a Carifta B time, ahead of Silver Sharks’ Jeron Thompson (31.92) and Blue Dolphin’s Marc Anthony Beckles (33.96).

Titans’ Amira Pilgrim posted a Carifta B time when she won the preliminary Girls 13-14 50m fly in 30.93 ahead of Torpedoes’ Jewel Mulrain (32.55) and T’Shelle Williams (32.96), also of Titans.

Kristin Julien (Titans) who has already qualified for World Juniors, was the top qualifier going into the finals of the Girls 15-17 50m fly when she touched the wall in 29.80, ahead of Unattached swimmer, Jessica Gay (31.48) and Titans’ Johnnya Ferdinand (32.86).

Competition continued last evening.

“The Patron Beverley Harper, President Keith Foster, Executive and Members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would like to express congratulations to Shemaine Campbelle on her achievement of scoring a c e n t u r y f o r t h e We s t Indies.

Her achievement of scoring 106 for the West Indies vs Sri Lanka in the 2nd ODI is very special for us and has left each one of us very proud of the little girl who we all so dearly loved,” the club stated in a press release.

“The Rose Hall Town

Youth & Sports Club since its formation in 1990 has recorded a number of achievements and Shemaine’s century in the first ever by a Guyanese for the West Indies at the International One Day level and second overall by a female West Indian. Shemaine has now scored centuries at the club, inter-county, Caribbean and now International level. Since joining the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club at the tender age of 13 years, she has always been discipline, committed and hard working.

We always had confidence

that she would excel at the highest level and we are all confident that this is just the start of remarkable achievements to come.”

“The members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would like to reassure Shemaine of our continued love and support. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club strongly believes in unity of purpose and collective love and as a club we are determined to stand by each other side in dark and bright times.”

“Congratulation to Shemaine and May God Bless you,” the release ended.

RHTY&SC congratulates Shemaine Campbelle

Steven Xavier

Nyron Joseph

on Thursday.

Although he has the most severe handicap of the tournament (-20), Khalil took out Jonathon Antczak (+6) quicker than most of the other matches on night two. Khalil came back from -20 before winning 15 points to close out Antczak who only scored

four points in the first game.

In the second game Antczak barely scored one point before Khalil won 33 straight points to book his place in the next round of the tournament. Khalil won the tournament in 2011 and was the champion of the plate (Continued on page 31)

Jairam back as head of Draughts Association - aspires to broaden scope of participation Jairam was re-elected as the President when the Guyana Draughts Association (GDA) held its fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) at their headquarters, 185 Waterloo Street, South Cummingsburg, Saturday afternoon last.

Patrick DeFreitas was also unanimously returned to the position of Vice President while Mitra Persaud gained the nod for the Secretary position. Charles Hetemeyer was elected as the Treasurer while newcomer to the GDA, Anthony Leonard clinched the position of Organizing Secretary.

Mark Braithwaite and

Page 35

Wayne Forde are the two trusties while other Executive Members are Balleram Ramdeen, Marlyn Ali, Glenrick Jardine, Troy Griffith, Khemraj Pooranmall and Attorney-at- Law, Elias Gentle.

Shortly after the voting process, the newly elected officials engaged in meaningful discussions towards the continued development of the sport.

They have signaled an intention to have the sport formally introduced into the school curriculum even as they agreed to amend some of the rules that govern their proper functioning.

Mr. Leonard has been

tasked with the responsibility of initiating constructive dialogue with officials of the Ministry of Education to ensure the realisation of the school programme.

Jairam noted that draughts form an integral part of the curriculum in schools in Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago and vowed that under his stewardship the sport would attain similar heights to those attained in other Caribbean territories.

The GDA President also informed the membership that their input has been integral and will be depended upon over the year as he aspires to retain a strong unit.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Friday March 01, 2013

Yolo Entertainment, the Infinity Colour Shop collaborate - assists Wales Community Centre

Infinity Colour Shop’s Amrita Persaud hands over the paint to Industrial Welfare and Community Development Officer of Wales Community Centre Chelrawtie Persaud Wahab in the presence of GSL President Halim Khan and Yolo Ent. Chris Gopaul.

As part of its contribution to the development of sport and sporting facilities in Guyana the Yolo Entertainment Group in collaboration with The Infinity Colour Shop yesterday donated ten gallons of paint to the Management team of the Wales Community Centre ground for the repainting of the commentator’s booth.

The presentation was made at Infinity’s Colour Shop location situated at Princess and High Streets, Georgetown.

Yolo Entertainment will be staging the upcoming inaugural “Chow Pow’s 10/10 Softball Challenge Series” which will see twelve of

Guyana’s’ best male and four female softball cricket teams vie for one million dollars in cash and prizes.

Yolo’s Director Kirk Jardine stated that his organization was happy to have made the donation and promised similar collaborations in the future.

“We not only want to stage quality events, but also provide support to communities around the country in any way we can,” Jardine told this newspaper.

Industrial Welfare and Community Development Officer of the Centre ChelrawtiePersaud Wahab who was on hand to receive the donation said that the paint will go a long way in the

resuscitation of the facility since many local and regional matches are played at the venue.

She extended heartfelt thanks to the Organisers and the Infinity Colour Shop. She was presented with the paint

by Infinity Colour Shop’s Sales Rep Amrita Persaud.

The business entity has been in existence for over fifteen years, serving Guyana with the superior Sissons brand of paints and unmatched customer service.

Also on hand to witness the presentation was Guyana Softball League President Mr. Halim Khan.

The GSL will oversee the running of the challenge series.

GCB congratulates Sarwan and Campbelle The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) extends congratulations to Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shemaine Campbelle on their successful achievements against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka respectively.

Sarwan, who was absent from West Indies cricket for 18 months and had a low scoring series in Australia last month, scored a much needed century against Zimbabwe in the second One Day International (ODI) on Sunday.

After being pushed down the order in Australia and in the first ODI against Zimbabwe, he was given the

opportunity to open the batting and, and he capitalized. The flamboyant right hander crafted his century by batting through the innings, facing 143 deliveries. He finished on 120* which is his highest ODI score, with nine boundaries and two sixes.

On the other hand West Indies Women’s team allrounder, Shemaine Campbelle, was adjudged the player-ofthe-series against Sri Lanka which the Caribbean side won 2-1. The 20-year-old Guyanese is a right handed batter and a leg spin bowler.

She accounted for four wickets in the series and

totaled 143 runs, 105 came in the second ODI which was in a losing cause. Her fighting 37 in the third ODI saw West Indies clinching the series.

The GCB believes that Sarwan is still arguably one of the most fluent and attractive batsmen in the world, and is delighted that he found some form and is optimistic he will improve quickly and reach the top of his game again.

The Board is also pleased with Campbelle’s improvement in her batting.

She has become a responsible and crucial player in the team and wishes her continued success.

Friday March 01, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 37

Stag Beer West Side C/ship semis on tonight Flat Screen TV added to MVP prize; Double Standard taxi on board

Leevar Duncan hands over the MVP Flat Screen TV Club Rep. Errol Baird.

Double Standard Taxi Service’ Ganga Persaud presents their contribution to Hilbert Franklin of Slingerz FC.

The Den Amstel Community Centre Ground on the West Coast of Demerara is the place to be this evening for the semi finals of the Stag Beer West Side knock-out football competition.

In the curtain raiser from 19:00hrs, the home side, Den Amstel will collide with Seawall United while the feature game brings together tournament host Slingerz FC and Uitvlugt in game that is expected to produce fireworks.

Both Coaches in the feature game have expressed confidence in winning the game and earning a spot in the championship game.

Uitvlugt’s Coach Herrif-Roy Simon said that while they welcome the formation of a new club on the ‘West Side’, his side will remain confident heading into the tonight’s clash since Slingerz’s must earn their status and not be given same based on the array of talent on their roster.

Apart from the attractive cash incentive for the top teams, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament will be presented with a Flat Screen TV, compliments of Leevar Duncan and Big Yard Wash Bay. Duncan said that he’s happy to play a part in the tournament which he mentioned has brought some life back to the sport on the West Side.

Also joining the list of sponsors, is Double Standard Taxi Service and the proprietor mentioned that after handing over an undisclosed sum of cash, that his giving to the tournament is a way of his entity giving back to the players who have been supportive of his business over the years.

The finals of the competition will be played on Sunday March 3 at the same venue.

El Salvador qualifies for first U-20 World Cup - Mexico also through Puebla, Mexico - Last July, El Salvador and Panama met in Central American qualifying for the 2013 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.

Abdiel Arroyo gave the Panamanians an early 1-0 lead, but the Salvadorans stormed back to triumph, 4-3. Jairo Henriquez scored two goals and Jose Pena added one in a winning effort.

Fast forward to Wednesday last, as El Salvador and Panama faced off at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc, this time in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF tournament, with a place at 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup at stake.

Eerily similar to the initial encounter, Panama took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute, only to see El Salvador rally for a 3-1 win and qualify for the U20 World Cup. To make matters even more coincidental, Henriquez tallied twice and Pena once.

Football is proven again to be a wonderfully unique sport, as the victory marked the first time that the Cuscatlecos have qualified for the FIFA competition. The loss, though, was a blow to the Panamanians, who cruised through the group phase, as well as the first half.

The Canaleros had a chance to go ahead in the third minute, but Amet Ramirez - the tournament’s top scorer with four goals smashed a penalty kick off the left post after a handball

infraction in the Salvadoran box.

El Salvador will have precious little time to celebrate its historic accomplishment, before meeting host Mexico in the semifinals today.

The Mexicans continued their good form by eliminating Jamaica with a 4-0 win at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey.

Armando Zamorano opened the scoring in just the 12th minute, with a long range shot from outside the area that took a fortunate carom off Jamaican defender Alvas Powell before eluding netminder Rashaun Patterson. The visitors responded by trying to come forward with numbers, creating a series of half chances that threatened to breach Mexican goalkeeper Richard Sanchez’s goal for the first time in the tournament.

But rather than the Jamaicans finding the equalizer, it was Mexico which got a second three minutes before the half. A well-placed cross from the right wing found a streaking and completely unmarked Marco Bueno, who made no mistake with a crisp header from point blank range.

Mexico continued to pressure as the second period began, but it was only midway through the half that they would add a fourth. Wingback Francisco Flores took a long look at a free kick from the left, before ringing home a stunning shot from 35 yards.

The local team capped the scoring with 15 minutes remaining off another set piece. This time it was Jesus Escoboza who whipped in the free kick from the right wing, sailing the ball just over the crowd and into the corner of Patterson’s net.

Jamaica had its best chance in the 79th minute, when Romario Jones slammed a free kick from the edge of

El Salvador celebrates

the area off the Mexican crossbar.

With the win, Mexico joins Cuba, El Salvador and the U.S.

as the fourth qualifier from the CONCACAF region to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. That contingent will also

battle it out for the regional championship, beginning with the tournament semifinals today.

t r o Sp Fazia’s Collection / WDFA U-17 Girls Inter Sch. Tourney...

Zeeburg needles Uitvlugt; to face Leonora in Saturday’s final

Zeeburg Secondary School Under-17 Girls Team

A

mouthwatering climax to the inaugural Fazia’s Collection sponsored West Demerara Football Association Girls Under-17 Inter Secondary School tournament is anticpated on Saturday afternoon at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground, West Coast Demerara.

In the final semi final encounter on Wednesday afternoon at the same venue, Zeeburg Secondary needled a defiant Uitvlugt Secondary on account of a well directed 14th minute free kick by Margaret Pillay.

The free kick was rewarded as a result of Uitvlugt’s goalkeeper stepping outside the box with the ball in hand; and that was all the opportunity that Zeeburg required to book their place in the championships game tomorrow.

Zeeburg did not have an easy time against the Uitvlugt girls and had to defend for all their worth, led by Mariam Pillay they played composed and compact in their defensive third thwarting many attempts by Uitvlugt.

Leonora had stormed into the championship game following a massive 10-0 triumph over St. John’s Secondary with Abioce Heywood creating history by scoring 7 of her team’s goals. Tomorrow’s final game has all the ingredients for a fitting climax to this history making tournament, the first of its kind on the West Side for girls.

St. John’s and Uitvlugt will face off in the third place game from 14:00hrs to be followed by the big clash at 16:00hrs.

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