Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

I WANT MY PROPERTIES BACK

DEAR SIR, More than twenty years have passed since Attorneyat-Law Ms. Sheila Chapman and the Legal Firm of Attorneys-at-Law Sheila A. Chapman, Avril A. Trotman and Raphael C.C. Trotman and others took part in an apparent conspiracy in the full face of the Laws of Guyana to deprive me of my properties. And all my efforts to regain them have so far proved futile.

I had engaged the paid services of Attorney-at-Law Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan to seek remedy for me in the High Court, but apparently because of his declared policy to me for fraternalism to his fellow lawyers, he did not pursue my case in court with his usual zeal. He did not file some requisite pleadings in the matter, thereby causing my case to lapse.

I also applied to the Legal

Practitioners’ Committee with a verified affidavit, in order to seek redress for the injustice done to me. But at the trial, the members there violated their own procedures by rejecting my right to complain to that legal body, and wrote on my case file thus:”Committee is of the view that there is no lawyer and client relationship”.

That devious act was done to me despite the fact that according to the Laws of Guyana Cap 4.01 Legal Practitioners-Item 24 (1): “an application by a client or other persons aggrieved to require a legal practitioner to answer any allegation by such client or person against the legal practitioner . . . . . shall be made to the Registrar and shall be verified by affidavit”.

By that citation, I was a fit and proper person to file such a complaint, and entitled to be heard by the Legal

Can Kendall...

From page 4 revealed that the AFC would win the election. The AFC got less than eight per cent of the votes with PPP about 55 per cent. Isn’t that a case of skewing and why didn’t Kendall criticize it? Aren’t these illustrations the case of verifiable “skewing” in Kendall ’s commentary?

I addressed the query on the existence and activities of NACTA previously.

Essentially it was founded by Dr. Latchman Narain and Vassan Ramracha as a social, educational and research organization and was involved in numerous activities in New York and the Caribbean including donating educational supplies and money to schools and organizations in Guyana.

The AFC has been losing ground while PNC (APNU) has been gaining support.

Interviewers informed me that voters told them they are disappointed with the AFC and found the leadership to be no different from the regular run of the mill politician.

Indeed, everywhere I went, people expressed disappointment with the AFC politics saying they showed themselves to be no different from PPP and PNC (APNU).

People are with their conflicts of interests, handling of Linden and Agricola protests, electricity rates, the budget, sugar workers’ interests, etc.

One businessman, in particular, who gave a lot of funds to AFC in 2011, in my presence and the presence of an AFC leader, said

emphatically he does not want to see them anymore after his family was beaten, sexually molested and robbed during the Agricola protest.

Businessmen are most disappointed in AFC over its position on the AML Bill. One doctor told me in the presence of a M.P, “I can’t vote for AFC again”.

The AFC does not understand its ground supporters and is taking parliamentary positions completely opposed to most of its base.

Kendall claims that I conduct polls in Indian societies. That is not factual as I also conducted and published polls on “ Barbados , Jamaica , St. Lucia , Antigua or any other Caribbean Islands “ which she describes as “where only Blacks reside”.

As I have found in my experience with detractors and critics of the NACTA and TRPI polls since 1990, when findings were not favorable towards a particular party, the polls and the pollsters were attacked. The polls were attacked at one time or another by all the parties, including the PPP when it showed Nagamootoo and Ramkarran, the preferred choice as its Presidential candidate.

The problem with polling in Guyana is that only NACTA ventures (put money where their mouth is in Guyanese parlance) to conduct polls and critics (supporters of PPP, PNC, APNU, AFC, etc.) don’t want to accept the findings.

Vishnu Bisram

Practitioners Committee, as I was aggrieved.

Furthermore, the Committee recorded “final adj. to 27/1/2000 at 3.30 p.m”. in the case file, but when I appeared for the intended hearing of my case at that time, no member of the Committee attended. After making many efforts to be heard there, I recognized that they sent my matter to oblivion!

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there seems to be some hope for me, as that there are now resoundingly clamors for a new global order against crime, as we hear the echoes of disbarments, suspensions and pumpkin suits around us from some notable members of civil society and organizations.

In this situation, I pray for support to my cause from all such upright Guyanese and fraternal overseas missions etc. to let justice be done to me with the involvement of the Attorney General who has undertaken to guarantee the rights of everyone here.

An original detailed release on this issue to the media by me in the year 2009 can be found at the below site:http://www.kaieteurnews online.com/2009/10/25/legalirregularities-frustrate-landissue/ PLEASE NOTE: You may also simply Google: Prakash Persaud for details of the issue.

Prakash Persaud

A CASE OF BEING HELD TO RANSOM

DEAR SIR, Please allow me space to do a follow up on a letter you published for me a few months ago.

It is a letter which described the delay in the powers that be to return my transport which was pledged as security for my daughter, who is a medical doctor, to leave Guyana. The transport is still with these “square pegs in round holes”.

After my letter was published it would seem as if the persons who are responsible for holding up my transport were a bit peeved at me for making it known to the public. So now it is the game of “who mo baad’.

I made an issue of it and I am now going to suffer for fighting for my own rights.

The way I understood the security issue was that I was simply giving the Ministry of Health and the Public Service Ministry a s u r e t y. T h e s a i d s u r e t y was to ensure that my daughter returned to Guyana after a period abroad.

Now that has been done since April 8, 2013, now I am being given the royal run around simply to uplift my transport.

The whole process

should be dealt with in this manner:—Once my daughter returned to work her immediate supervisor would issue a ‘resumption letter’ or a form is completed and sent to the Ministry of Health indicating that she has in fact resumed her duties.

The Ministry of Health then sends the resumption letter to the Public Service Ministry (PSM). PSM then issues a letter to me or someone authorized by me, to take to the Ministry of Finance where the transport is lodged and so can be picked up.

The formalities have long, long ago been completed and yet my transport is held by the PSM and the Ministry of Finance.

Now, after I made my plight known. These bureaucrats are playing hard ball with my transport. Is this how they expect the youths to feel wanted or needed? No one will pledge any security for anyone of these young doctors who have studied so hard and returned to serve their country when all they want is to spend some time abroad.

And to add insult to injury I just saw a certificate issued to my daughter, by the Berbice Regional Health

Authority, which reads OUTSTANDING WOMAN OF 2014. I wonder what does that mean. It would seem to me that this certificate is saying—‘forget the transport keep this instead’.

I was made to understand that I have a ‘big mouth’ and that I like to ‘write letters’ so let’s see who will give me my transport.

I wonder what will happen if I decide to go to Ashni Singh’s office to uplift my transport.

These persons are trying to make criminals out of honest and hard working people. I will wait for exactly five days after the publication of this letter—and I will go to the Ministry of Finance for my transport—personally Thank you Charrandass Persaud

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Kaieteur News

MONDAY IS BUDGET DAY Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, will present Budget 2014 in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Finance Ministry made the announcement via release last evening which said that “It is expected that this year’s budget will continue to promote the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s commitment to accelerate economic growth and social development.

The Ministry said that the 2014 Budget “will emphasize macroeconomic stability through the continued creation of investment opportunities, expanding and upgrading physical infrastructure, improving the quality of social services, and strengthening institutional and regulatory environments.”

According to the release, Guyana’s strong economic performance of recent years has been the direct result of the responsible policy stance adopted, and the prudent and responsible choices exercised and decisions made over the years by the PPP/C government.

“Over the past eight years, Guyana has experienced an unprecedented period of uninterrupted growth, standing out in its economic performance, despite the crises that have enveloped economies in the Caribbean and beyond

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh over those same years.”

The Ministry said that despite the stalemate that has largely consumed the National Assembly within the last three years, Budget 2014 presents another opportunity for all parties to work together in the interest of the people of Guyana.

The Ministry said that the compilation of the budget, which began in June 2013, follows a number of stakeholder meetings which saw participation from the private sector, labour unions and other interest groups.

It said that despite repeated invitations to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), they opted to boycott the consultations.

“Minister Singh nevertheless calls on the Parliamentary Opposition to embrace the opportunity to work together with Government to ensure smooth passage of the budget through the National Assembly in the coming weeks,” according to the Ministry.

This year ’s budget presentation will be the eighth

by Minister Singh, having first presented in 2007 following his appointment as Finance Minister in September 2006.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Robb Street “Granny” execution...

City businessman “offers to pay family $5M” for property One would think that three years after the murder of 72-year-old Robb Street resident, Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris, one city businessman would forget about a bitter dispute over the woman’s property.

It is highly speculated that Fiedtkou-Parris was gunned down three days before a scheduled court date to prevent her being awarded prescriptive rights for her property.

Relatives yesterday confirmed that the businessman is still actively trying to get ownership of the Robb Street property.

This newspaper was told that so persistent was the businessman, that he offered the family some $5M to acquire the property. That offer was however shot down by relatives who thought it was disrespectful to them.

A relative explained to Kaieteur News that the businessman through his lawyer is claiming ownership of the property. However this could not be substantiated since several checks at the court’s registry did not have the businessman’s name on the transport.

Relatives said that they would remain steadfast to ensure that justice is served.

“We want this matter to conclude and we wouldn’t give it up,” one relative told Kaieteur News.

A decision is currently stalled because of the fact that there isn’t a Land Court Judge.

The last judge was Justice Rabindra Rooplall. According to a source, Rooplall retired some three months ago and there has since been no appointment.

This newspaper was told that there’s a commission that deals with the appointment but there aren’t enough members.

Meanwhile, one senior police official said yesterday that the force was still “actively” investigating the matter. The official could not divulge much information since the matter is still pending in court.

Four men - Orin Hinds, 37; Cleon Hinds, 36; Kevin October, 31; and Roy Jacobs, 36 - were all charged with the woman’s murder back in 2011.

They have since been committed to stand trial in the High Court.

I will never agree that...

(From page 3) exposed and trust me, Kaieteur News would be the first to expose it…But Kaieteur News ain’t got a damn thing; Kaieteur News has nothing.

“All it has is tracking this man from one thing to the next and Bobby Ramroop full page coverage, centre spread.”

Rohee further proceeded while gesticulating, “If Kaieteur News has something, publish it. I am challenging the Kaieteur News to do that. It has nothing! If it has something, publish it…Who they thief from, how they thief and what they do with the thieving money?” He then banged his fist on the desk and exclaimed “You publish it.”

The press conference ended shortly after.

The disputed property

Shootout at Issano Landing leaves one dead A shootout at a shop at 14 Miles Issano Landing on Monday night has left one miner dead.

Thirty-year-old Selwyn Bess, of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was the lone casualty.

It is not clear what part he played in the incident, but police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Initial investigations have

revealed that an argument developed among a group of men in the shop, during which shots were discharged.

Police say Selwyn Bess, who was also in the shop during the shooting, was later found dead with a suspected gunshot wound to his chest.

His body is at the Bartica Hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination.

According to the police, a man is in custody assisting with the investigations.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 7

Strategic collaborations crucial to furthering kidney awareness - Foundation Chairman Although human beings can exist with the use of a single kidney, the role of this organ is very crucial to aid an individual’s wellbeing.

This view was particularly emphasised by Chairman of the Kidney Foundation of Guyana, Major General Joseph Singh, during a recent interview.

Moreover, the Foundation since its establishment in 2011 has been seeking to raise awareness in this regard, according to Singh, who amplified the importance of enlightening persons about the important functions that kidneys are tasked with performing.

And this awareness can start with the very basic information, Singh underscored, as he presented a summary of the work of the kidney.

“The human body has blood. Blood is the medium for exchange and metabolism, and all the waste products are channelled by the blood through the renal artery into the kidneys and it is the kidneys’ function to purify that blood and send it back

Kidney Foundation Chairman, Joseph Singh through the renal vein into the other parts of the body.”

Singh speculated that many persons are not even aware that on a daily basis the kidney processes, in a cyclic mode, some 50 gallons of blood which passes through it. This, according to him, is the point where the waste products are separated and passed through the urinary system.

“If you don’t have that

system operating then all of those toxins and salts, extra water etcetera remains in the system and causes damage to the very kidney,” Singh explained.

Moreover, he noted that “when you try to conceptualise these beanshape kidneys and the

functions they have to perform, you understand then why it is so important that you take care of them, and I think we have to start from that level, and when people understand that, go on to how they can prevent damage to the kidney, then go on to other things,” the Kidney Foundation Chairman said.

The Foundation has over the past few years been seeking to forge strategic collaborations in its efforts to continue its mission to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease and its prevention. In this regard, it has been able to establish a linkage with the Ministry of Health, which has in place its own Chronic Disease Committee. And of course the Foundation was invited, and has since accepted, to be a part of that body.

However, the body has not met in quite some time, according to Secretary/ Treasurer of the Foundation, Dr Claudette Harry, who is optimistic that they will “get to start working again soon

because we really need to get on board with this”.

The Committee also has the membership of the Pan American Health Organisation, the local Diabetic Association, the Ministry of Education’s School Health programme and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The involvement of the School Health programme, according to Dr Harry, is instrumental since “they can start teaching children what to expect; and the Agriculture Ministry’s involvement is from the point of view of diet and so on...So there is quite a broad spectrum on that Committee and I think when it starts going again we will get some place because then we will be able to work better on the education aspect of it,” said Dr Harry.

She is convinced that if each group making up the Committee works in their particular areas of influence, there is no doubt that the awareness movement will move forward considerably.

Persons currently

suffering from renal failure in Guyana are able to access treatment at dialysis centres that are situated on the coast.

But, according to Singh, more must be done to cater to citizens across the country as well.

“I think the Ministry of Health is looking at decentralising in order to ensure where the greatest needs are, where the highest percentage of people who are vulnerable are... in terms of putting dialysis in those areas as well,” said Singh.

And already discussions in this regard have started, even as he alluded to the Doobay Renal Centre, which has voiced its intention to partner with credible groups that can provide a building to offer dialysis service. The Doobay Centre, a not-forprofit entity which thrives on donations and fundraising activities, has promised to assist with the acquisition of machines and equipment and even the setting up of a prototype to help put in place such services across the country.

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Kaieteur News

Barbados Govt. announces new tax measures, Opposition Leader warns of more hardship BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbados government says it intends to sell off some assets as it moves to reduce the fiscal deficit by March next year.

Finance Minister Chris Sinckler presenting the Appropriations Bill in the House of Assembly on Monday announced a raft of new tax measures, including an increase in gasoline prices and the sale of the Barbados National Terminal Limited to help ease the financial burden facing the Freundel Stuart government.

In an immediate response, Opposition L e a d e r M i a Mottley warned Barbadians they can expect more taxes to be imposed during the coming fiscal y e a r a s a r e s u l t of the revenue-raising measures announced by the Finance Minister. She described the new revenue-generating measures as an ambush, adding that the proposed new energy taxes comprising the removal of the subsidies on

Mia Mottley diesel and a BDS$0.20 cents (One Barbados dollar = US$0.50 cents) increase in excise taxes on gasolene from April 1, will in reality also affect households. Sinckler told legislators that in the period 2005-6, subsidies and transfers were estimated at BDS$782.1 million increasing to as much as BDS$1.137 billion by 2007-8. He said the figure increased by another one billion during the 2009-10 period. “This shows that . . . expenditure has been growing, whilst the revenue has been

shrinking. These things began from around 2005 to show up structural problems in the government finances.

It is popular for the other sides and others to give the impression that it was due to government’s fiscal indiscipline and all of these things to give the impression that this entire story can be told from the beginning of January 2008.”

Sinckler said that the situation does not “square with the facts” and “if we are to correct these issues, we have to be honest and fair up front, recognise that government is a continuum.

History did not begin in 2008, but a build-up of challenges over many years”.

He said a study was done by a Governor of the Central Bank spoke about the need for government reform.

“He made the point that government was too big and that 36 cents of every dollar was going to pay wages and salaries and that you had to do something because if you did not address the issue along with other issues Barbados has within the economy, structurally it will come back to haunt us.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Teen accused of firing weapon granted bail Bail was yesterday set to the tune of $125,000 for a 19year-old labourer by Magistrate Faith McGusty when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to be charged for discharging a loaded firearm.

The accused, Sean Barrow, of Lot 8 East La Penitence, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the police, on February 7, Barrow discharged the weapon at a female at East La Penitence, Georgetown.

The case was prosecuted

by Corporal Seon Blackman who did not reveal the details of the misdemeanor but offered several objections to bail. Blackman stated that the defendant had been on the run. He explained that police had made several checks at Barrow’s residence and

places he would normally frequent, but were unable to make contact with him.

The Prosecutor related that it was only last Friday that police, acting on information received, managed to apprehend the accused on Mandela Avenue.

In his objections, Blackman also cited the nature of the offence and the punishment it attracts as grounds for bail to be refused.

He added that the accused is not a licenced firearm holder.

The Prosecutor told the court that the virtual complainant is known to the accused and opined that he could tamper with her since on the day in question he actually fired a shot over her head.

Though the Prosecutor objected to bail, he said that should the court allow bail it

should consider applying conditions and offering it in a substantial amount.

However, the objections were met with arguments from Defence Attorney Patrice Henry who represented Barrow. Henry said that the facts are not consistent with the charge and asked the court to consider bail since it is a summary matter. He revealed that his client is also charged for another matter before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry.

Notwithstanding the Prosecution’s objections, Magistrate McGusty granted bail with the condition that Barrow does not contact the virtual complainant and lodges his passport with the court.

The case is scheduled to be called before the Chief Magistrate on April 7.

St. Lucia minister against decriminalisation of marijuana CASTRIES, St Lucia CMC – National Security Minister Phillip La Corbiniere has hinted that the St Lucia government would not support plans to decriminalise marijuana for medicinal and religious activities.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at their just concluded inter-sessional summit in St Vincent and

the Grenadines discuss the issue of decriminalising of small quantities of the drug as well as exploring the economic benefits that might be derived from marijuana cultivation.

According to the communiqué issued following the talks, the regional leaders agreed to the “establishment of a Regional Commission to address the issues identified and any others deemed relevant in order to provide clear guidance with regard to decisions to be taken”.

The Commissio n i s expected to submit a report to the regional leaders at their annual summit in Antigua in July.

But La Corbiniere, speaking on television, said he remains

unconvinced about decriminalizing marijuana, telling viewers if he had a deciding vote, it would be an emphatic no.

“Maybe part of that relates to the fact that I grew up on the outskirts of the city where I was able to witness first -hand the development of the drug problem. “The problem actually started with marijuana, let us not forget that, it was the drug of choice on the streets for many years, and probably some 10 years after we saw the emergence of cocaine coming into the country,” he added. La Corbiniere said that he had seen youngsters with whom he went to school move from marijuana to hard drugs, and watched generations of families destroyed.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 9

The discourse on inter-ethnic dynamics At times academics can confuse more than they enlighten. This happens more from sins of omission than from sins of commission.

This is not a personal criticism of anyone, just an observation that when writing letters for newspapers read mainly by the average citizen, it is necessary to explain and justify the many propositions made, because unless this is done, the average citizen may not appreciate what is being argued.

It is wrong to assume that by simply stating a proposition without any explanation or justification this would be sufficient for it to be accepted. The proposition may be understood, but it may not be accepted unless it is justified.

We can say that metal is hard and people will accept this because it accords with their own understanding of the nature of metals. But not all propositions are viewed as objective reality, and especially when dealing with social phenomenon, there is a need to explain and then justify any proposition being advanced, particularly for the benefit of the average reader.

Indeed at times even the academically enlightened can come away uncertain as to the validity and soundness of certain propositions. One can, for example, make a statement, as was done in a letter written

by renowned academic Dr. David Hinds, published in yesterday’s Stabroek News, to wit, that in our multi-ethnic society competition for resources and the insecurities that flow from such competition, it is a mistake to ignore interethnic dynamics.

In Guyana it can be easily appreciated that competition for resources can and has generated ethnic insecurities.

But making the case that it is a mistake to ignore interethnic dynamics requires answering why. Why is it a mistake to ignore inter-ethnic dynamics? Is it merely because of the insecurities generated?

So is the reason why inter-ethnic dynamics should not be ignored related to the fact that these dynamics have the potential of engendering fears? Or are there other more compelling reasons for so doing? If so, what are those reasons. Could it be that if left unaddressed, some of these inter-ethnic dynamics can forestall greater economic development and promote instability? The writer leaves us hanging on just why we should not ignore inter-ethnic dynamics.

Dr. Hinds goes on to argue that “our national quest for social, economic and political justice is situated in this basic challenge.” What challenge is he referring to?

Is it the challenge posed by ethnic insecurity or is it the

challenge of competition?

That particular point is not very clear.

He then goes on to state another argument that the quest for economic, social and political justice rings hollow if the “ relationship between nurturing the overarching national community and addressing the condition, desires and interests of its constituent ethnic communities” is ignored.

This is a very strong contention and therefore it needs to be both explained and justified. Why, for example, would the quest for justice ring hollow if this balance between the overall national development and the interests of constituent ethnic groups is not balanced?

Dr. Hinds then goes to make the point that in the process of competition for resources certain narratives of defence are created. One such narrative, he notes, is the myth of innate ethnic superiority. Two such myths are that Africans are not good at business or that they abandoned the plantations because of laziness and the preference for shallow materialism. One anticipated that he would have dismissed these myths, but again he leaves us with mere statements. But it may have been beyond the scope of his letter to disabuse us of these myths.

Dem boys seh

ROHEE SEH JAGDEO NEVER THIEF Tuesday was a day when Rohee tell people that public servants ain’t corrupt. But in de same breath he tell dem same reporters that he had to set up a website name ‘I paid a bribe’ fuh ketch dem police who corrupt.

Is then de things get hot.

Uncle Adam ask he if when he sit down and watch how he colleagues move from rags to riches since dem join de government, if he don’t want to ask dem how dem doing it.

De man seh that some of dem wuk and save, and some of dem never wuk and get.

Dem boys want he explain that same sentence; “dem never wuk and get.”

De question move to Jagdeo. Anil Nandlall who do de transaction when Jagdeo seh that he sell he house, announce big and bold that Jagdeo didn’t got nutten when he tun president. But Rohee seh that Jagdeo had.

He seh that Jagdeo wuk at State Planning under Haslyn Parris and save every cent because he did live at he

mother and he was a bachelor.

Then he tun Junior Finance Minister and he never spend a cent of he salary because he did live wid he mother and father and he was still a bachelor.

Dem boys remember when he and he wife separate in 2007 he seh that didn’t have money, that all he got is $5 million. And he was president.

Well four years later he win lotto and it couldn’t be de local one. It had to be lotto and de Powerball at that, in de United States.

People seh one of de chandelier in he house worth $50 million and dem boys believe that. But he did already own a house which

he and Anil seh dem sell fuh $120 million, but dem boys know different.

Dem boys seh that is only he house worth so much in that area. Do de Maths and that money plus all wha he save couldn’t build de mansion that he put down near de seawall.

Rohee get vex and start knock down he hand pun de table. At one time dem boys believe that he hand woulda bruck. Instead, de table bruck.

But Rohee smart. He nah seh that dem nah thief. He seh that he na agree that dem thief.

If dem tek that is not thiefing.

Talk half and watch how Rohee can dream.

The letter goes on to raise other important questions as to whether the economic system of structural adjustment has disempowered Africans and if African villages are still viable economic units. It can equally be questioned whether the system of structural adjustment has not been harsher on the working class as a whole, than it has been

on any specific ethnic grouping.

The letter raises questions.

These questions should ideally form part of any national discourse on inter-ethnic relationships, because problems within these relations have the potential of engendering feelings of marginalization and these feelings of marginalization can give rise

to conflict and instability.

Conflict and instability can forestall development and worse lead to destruction, injury and deaths.

For that reason, let the discourse begin!

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

I urge the opposition not to vote for the anti-laundering Bill unless…

The vexations between the PPP and the combined opposition over the moneylaundering Bill should open the eyes of all Guyanese of what a self-destructive nation we have become. What this quarrel shows is that love of country is dead in Guyana among those whom the young should look up to.

These people are incredibly shameless. On the one hand, they cry that Guyana is heading for a major

economic disaster which will be devastating. On the other hand, they want elected opposition leaders to morally abandon the hundreds of thousands who voted for them and submit to the sickening demands of a government that has nothing redeemable about it. But most reprehensibly, these sections of the society that want the opposition to pass the Bill see the opposition as idiots that have no dreams and ideas of

their own.

Let’s start with the AFC. The AFC made a strategic mistake from the beginning with the Bill. It should have insisted that the Bill conform to the deepest core of democratic principles. Instead it said it will vote for the Bill if the Government implements the Procurement Commission. This was a piece of cake for those who wanted the Bill and given the AFC’s mistake, the Bill should have

been passed months ago.

What the AFC is asking for is so elementary that for Guyanese stakeholders to avoid calling on the government to establish the procurement body is a shameless act of indecency. Leaving out the billions that PPP leaders and their friends have made through the absence of an effective monitoring mechanism for tenders, the commission is almost a

commonsensical thing.

The commission takes away the passion of incestuous patronage from the PPP leadership in an area that is so vital to democracy.

It makes for transparency in good governance. Why can’t any stakeholder that wants the anti-money laundering Bill passed, lean on the PPP to have the commission ASAP? Which is more disastrous – the absence of the Bill or the commission?

It depends on where you stand. For the business community, it is the Bill. So a compromise could have been pursued months ago. But no!

The PPP must have what it wants because as Rohee puts it, the PPP was democratically elected. Well someone has to ram it down the collective throat of the PPP and the Private Sector Commission that the opposition was democratically elected to the majority in the National Assembly. If those who want the Bill to go through cannot see that the AFC mistake was a gigantic gift, then they are not fit to be part of a democratic world.

Next are APNU’s contentions. Here is where you see how selfish some humans are. APNU has a menu of choices it wants before it approves the Bill.

The list includes local government elections and assent to Bills approved by Parliament, not the opposition Parliament (there is no such concept as “opposition Parliament;” Parliament is Parliament just as the presidency is the presidency).

Why would any Guyanese not see the urgency of local government elections that we have not had since 1994?

Why would any citizen of

Frederick Kissoon this land including the bankers, insurance companies and other business folks not welcome the holding of local government elections? Who has what to lose in the perpetual postponement of these polls? The answer is no one, maybe except the PPP. So APNU says give us the elections and we will vote for the Bill. Recently something happened that showed us the real mischief makers in this country that the Private Sector Commission is so in love with.

Clement Rohee told the nation that GECOM is not ready to have the local government elections this year. The Local Government Minister also said that a majority of the population does not want the elections this year. Yet GECOM has told the Guyanese people it is ready.

Here again it is the nastiness of the PPP laid bare. You must pass the antimoney laundering, but we will not give you the local government poll. You must pass the anti-money laundering Bill, but we will not give you the Procurement Commission.

In other words, we the PPP are an elected government and we must get what we want.

In this madness of morbid inflexibility, some sections of the Guyanese nation, particularly the business community, insist that the opposition must put aside partisan interests and vote for the Bill. It is so contemptuous of the opposition and the Guyanese people that it is simply amazing how the AFC and APNU have kept their cool with these selfish stakeholders.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

$$M IN STEEL PILES FOR PUMP STATIONS Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) received bids for the supply of steel piles to NDIA for the construction of pump station at Joppa Number 43, Eversham, Gangaram, Berbice, Region six and Lima, Essequibo, Region two.

The bids were opened at National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance yesterday.

Meanwhile, there was a solitary bidder for the supply and installation of materials for interconnection of components within the water supply system, Linden, region 10.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs received three bids for the procurement of uniform material and sewing-related materials for regions one, seven, eight and nine.

Under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bids were opened for the Guyana Protected Area System (GPAS) project, phase two, for the construction and supervision component of the staff living quarters, Kaieteur National Park, Region eight.

Page 11

Businesses concerned about Govt.’s non-action towards public corruption Members of the business community have expressed utter dissatisfaction with the way in which the public corruption is being addressed by the government. The business community is of the view that instances of corruption have increased and as such it has said that the situation warrants immediate intervention by Government.

This was revealed when the President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Clinton Urling presented the findings of an attitudinal survey recently.

Urling explained that the report, which is the third to be presented, is geared towards assessing the views of its members on a wide range of issues in relation to the profits and losses of their businesses and their expectations of the economy.

The findings of the report indicate that in comparison to last year, everything from profits to confidence in security provided by the Guyana Police Force is on a downward spiral.

This year, the Industry received responses from 80 of

its members. Urling said that this year’s responses indicate shrinking business performance in 2013 and muted optimism for this year’s economy.

He explained that some 75 percent of the respondents reported a profit position in 2013. However, twenty-five percent reported a loss. This was the highest percentage recorded in the survey’s recent history.

Cost, he added, remains a significant concern to the members of the GCCI with 78 percent reporting increased costs in 2013 and 91 percent expecting costs to continue to be on the increase.

Members were asked to identify an agency which they feel needs to be improved or established, and ranking top of the list was the Guyana Police Force, with 72 percent of the members expressing that they believe the operations of the force should be improved.

Coming in next on the list was the City Council with 62 percent. The improvement of the Parliament with 50 percent and the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission with 47 percent

were the other considerations.

However, the perceptions of public corruption have grown to an “overwhelming percent”. The survey reported that 70 percent of the businessmen believed that corruption was high whilst 89 percent believe that government is not doing enough to curb the situation.

In terms of major obstacles that still face businesses, it was found that retaining good employees has become a most worrying issue while crime and security ranked as the second most troubling obstacle with 30 percent. High tax rates and the high cost of electricity and political instability also ranked as obstacles.

When asked about the extent of government’s intervention on responding to the findings of the report, Urling contended that, “policy advocacy does not guarantee policy action.” He expressed that some action was taken at the level of the national budget, but he did not indicate as to whether these concerns of the business community were taken seriously or addressed in any manner.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Crammed classrooms concern Teachers’ Union A call has been made by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) for urgent moves to be made to address recurring situations of large class sizes in the public school system.

According to General Secretary of the union, Coretta McDonald, the issue has for some time attracted the attention of the GTU, with much discussion being held between the body and the Ministry of Education.

“As it is right now, we are going to have some sort of change to this class size issue, because having done surveys we recognised that large classes are going to

create a negative impact in terms of the way in which we deliver in our classrooms.”

McDonald pointed out that addressing class sizes is especially crucial since children enter the school system at different levels of understanding.

“When you have to work with children coming from, let’s say three different levels – those who are ready, those who are part ready and those who are not ready – having a class of 45, you can imagine how difficult it would be to deal with those children.”

McDonald underscored that while some children will

be able to get more attention, there are others who will get little or perhaps none at all.

She made reference to the class levels at which pupils are assessed nationally emphasising that “as a teacher you would always want to have your scores at a certain level, so the children who can work, you are going to push them; those who can hardly do anything, of course you would find some work for them to do but you, as a teacher, would want to maintain your pass grades, and so you are not going to allow 10 children to keep 25 children back”.

And this is the norm that obtains in many schools, McDonald asserted.

Although this existing state of affairs is one that can ultimately affect the teaching/ learning process, the General Secretary, noted that teachers are often more focused on performance rather than individual attention, since performance in the long run can have an impact on the teacher when he/she is being appraised.

“The thing is, teachers don’t want to have Cs and barely Bs and that kind of thing when they are having their appraisals done, because that has implications for your promotion...So teachers are not going to allow this kind of thing to happen to keep them back,” McDonald said.

According to her, the GTU has over the years been furnished with reports of classes in the public school system having in excess of 55 children at both primary and secondary levels. She however noted that while the

GTU General Secretary, Coretta McDonald situation at the secondary level could be somewhat easily addressed as students usually have periods with different subject teachers, the situation at the primary level could in fact prove to be an even greater challenge.

“In the primary school where you have three Grade One classes, if one teacher is absent then the two other

teachers would have to share the classes; if it is the Grade Three or Grade Four classes where you have 30 or 35 in a class and your parallel teacher is absent, then you have to double up the classes, because you can’t leave the children alone,” McDonald emphasised.

She noted that although there are ideal numbers that classes should have at various levels, the GTU has become aware that the situation is one that is created, at times, by the schools themselves. This state of affairs, the General Secretary added, is linked to the fact that schools are graded – A, B, C, D or E – which is based on the number of children registered.

“In order for me to maintain my ‘A’ Grade school, I have to ensure that my numbers are at a certain level...and then some children come to some schools, particularly primary, with letters from the Education Department, and of course, head teachers can’t refuse a child whose parent brings them with a document from the Department.”

This has therefore resulted in some schools that were constructed to accommodate 500 children being saddled with in excess of 600.

“So this is how we have the issues of teachers fighting for space, classes that are crammed; instead of having a Grade Four class with 35 you have four Grade Fours with different numbers, with some being very overcrowded,” McDonald stated.

Moreover, she said that the GTU is poised to continue discussions with the Education Ministry to highlight the negatives of having teachers deal with large class sizes with a view of discouraging the situation.

“Our partners (at the Education Ministry) have seen the wisdom in that and I understand they are going to be quickly addressing that...I think for the new school year that is going to be addressed,” the General Secretary optimistically concluded.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Ethanol production is economically feasible When the current state of affairs in the sugar industry is considered, some members of the opposition have opined that if it were to get much worse or fail, possible diversification to ethanol production and aquaculture would be viable alternatives.

Only recently, Anthony Vieira, agricultural expert of the political opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), in an invited comment expressed this notion, and it has been supported by APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge.

While the idea of the venture has been the root cause of heated comments by the Guyana Cane Farming Committee and even the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who asserts that the government’s plan is to develop both the ailing sugar industry and aqua farming, Greenidge has categorically stated that ethanol production is a “most viable venture”.

The Parliamentarian asserted that even the most successful plan must have the necessary or right environment for all the elements to work cohesively, thereby allowing all to reap the economic benefits.

“We must now rid the

sector of its agronomic problems in order that the benefits from such a viable programme can be had.”

Greenidge was asked to comment on Vieira’s position due to his background in Agricultural Economics, a subject he lectured on for some time overseas. He said that the sugar industry has been severely damaged by two problems: incompetent management caused by political interference and incompetently investing money in the processing aspect of the industry.

“The sugar industry has suffered damage as a result of incompetent management caused by political interference and that is just one side. In fact, there has been damage done on two fronts and that is just one.

The other is that they have taken the money which we had generated and received from the overseas-based markets and invested it in the processing side, but because that was done incompetently, the benefits for processing are far less than they should be.

“In fact it is a burden now.

It is also true that the field operations are struggling and they are struggling because of poor management and interference, and what Vieira

APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge has done is to say well…because the factory side is so inefficient when it comes to sugar, maybe you can consider diversifying the industry in other ways which are more efficient and less problematic. And one of these ways is ethanol production.

“I also wish to stress that he never said to close the sugar industry. One must not be blind to the fact that we are not even meeting our expected production figures…and we are losing millions.”

Greenidge continued: “We have been producing sugar cane for a long time and therefore compared to the rest of the region, and even Brazil,

Judiciary hosts domestic violence workshop

The Judiciary, through its Chancellor, Carl Singh, has upped the ante against domestic violence, noting that more must be done to avoid such cases. So committed is the Judiciary that they have facilitated a two-day workshop with the Supreme Court in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat. The seminar focused mainly on Domestic Violence and ways to curb it.

Yesterday’s seminar attracted several city Magistrates including the Chief Magistrate Mrs. Priya Beharry, along with Deputy Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Divisional Commander George Vyphuis. Also in attendance were several police prosecutors.

Chancellor Singh in his address to the gathering said that domestic violence has become a “stomach-churning experience” to read in the local newspapers. According to Singh the entire issue is horrifying, appalling and are at an alarming level.

“In 2013 Guyana recorded 29 deaths from domestic violence of which 21 included women and girls” Singh noted.

The Chancellor stressed that incidents of domestic violence damage the prospects of social and economic development for Guyana.

“It must be seen as a critical human rights issue, since it impacts on victims’ right to life and security,” Singh said. He said that in order to eliminate it the role of central government cannot be ignored.

Chancellor Singh said that they cannot only outline policies and programmes, but it’s the implementation coupled with meaningful interventions that would make the difference.

Meanwhile, Justice Shamin Qureshi, Director of Programmes for Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association, stressed that every death is one too many, but deaths in Guyana are not as high as in other parts of the world like Russia.

He said that in 2009 Commonwealth countries met in Port of Spain and reaffirmed values in domestic violence.

Qureshi said that the issue at hand deals with equality, access, right to a fair trial and judicial independence.

“It can be prevented and has to be eradicated at all cost ….it is no longer a private family issue, it is a public issue” Qureshi posited.

Presentations were also made by Red Thread’s Karen De Souza. De Souza who was recently awarded for her role in highlighting domestic violence in Guyana, addressed the issue of instances where the police failed the victims.

De Souza gave examples of several cases where the Police, Court or simply Social Workers failed the victims of domestic abuse.

According to her, the legislation provides for quick remedies, but she argued that it is not instituted, in some cases, by the justice system.

De Souza made the case that the absence of equality is the cause for many of the incidents.

“The institutional support mechanism also peddles inequality, telling women that the man is head of the home or that they must stay and try to make the relationship work.”

The two-day seminar aims to provide judicial workers in Guyana with an opportunity to discuss the major issues in domestic violence.

The facilitators include Dr. Dianne Douglas, Clinical Psychologist, Trinidad and Tobago; and Ms. Karen DeSouza of Red Thread, Guyana, Justice Margaret RamsayHale of the Turks and Caicos Islands; Mr. Mark Guthrie, Legal Advisor, Justice Section, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, UK.

Guyana’s sugar industry is by far and without question, ridiculously behind time.

Between the management and the natural characteristics of Guyana, we should have an advantage in the production of sugar cane.

“We should have been modernized and properly managed, and tripling our production, but considering that the sugar industry has contracted so many “diseases” such as poor management, ethanol would be a good way to turn until we can sort out this nonsense that has us producing poorly despite the millions being pumped into the system.

Ethanol would be a good product, because fuel prices are already high and you would get good returns from producing cane which generates ethanol. If rum prices were good, too, we could have concentrated on producing molasses.”

Greenidge also stressed that while based on his research he would support the introduction of the ethanol production, as it is economically feasible for the country, the management problem must be dealt with or else “all the solutions will not be able to save the industry if the government doesn’t

- Greenidge understand that its interference does more harm than good, if any good at all.”

He added that studies on ethanol within the region, as well as globally, have been conducted but it is not a matter of getting a specialized study carried out for the sake of Guyana. Rather, it is for those in the executive to decide when they are ready for solutions.

“I don’t think a special study needs to be carried out; we need to improve the efficiency of field operations so that whatever cane is produced it is done so efficiently, and whatever course we advance on, it would not be held back by these problems.

“If you fix the agronomic problems you can be competitive, especially as it relates to ethanol production, because the country is a major importer of fuel. With ethanol production, the country will stand to benefit, and one obvious example is that we would not have to import from other countries so the transport cost would be eliminated. With that happening we can then concentrate on producing ethanol and mixing it with petroleum and decide in which areas we will use it and benefit most.

“We have no option but to seek other avenues before all our foreign exchange earners fall flat on their faces, and we aren’t far from that stage either,” Greenidge concluded.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

FOR RENT

LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Toyota Forklift - Excellent condition, 4,000lbs capacity, 117” Lift, Solid Wheels, Automatic Transmission, 4 Cylinder LPG Motor. Call: 6046108.

Lot 52 Bella Dam, Pouderoyen W.B.D. Call: 615-4775

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943

One glass-case 5ft X 4ft. Call: 647-1773

Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203 1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933 Fishing boat, 5" nylon Seine, 40 Hp Yamaha - $1.6M - Tel: 267-1563; 691-3501 / 4162667627 One 14" river dredge in excellent condition - Call: 669-8985 One female German Shepherd Pup - Contact: 665-9140 or 639-1431 Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566 One hardly used cradle $20,000 with accessories & one brand new play pen $33,000 - Call: 670-2343 1 Used Model M Truck with winch. Price:$5M negotiable Contact: 601-0763 Organic Herbal medication for all Chronic and Genital sicknesses and diseases.

Call: 671-1518 Tractors: MF285 $2.8mil (neg) Ford 5000 $3.2mil (neg),Both Good Condition -Call 257-0212, 628-8487 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, Nissan Frontier $2.9M, 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, DJSystem - $2.8M– Tel:6959807 1 Yamaha Guitar AC3R and 1 fender blues deluxe tube AMP 40 watts – Tel:6435182; 669-8803 Black & white photocopy and colour copy - Tel:6268586 2 Trucks – Tel:618-1967; 6984321 Tibetan Terrier pupsCall:225-4780; 601-5927 1 smoothie machine,2 ice machine- Contact:2310655,683-8734 New Vendor Mall - Tel:6154775 Original Games - Call:6722566 Greenheart Piles - Tel: 6393450

COMPLETE SAWMILL with all new industrial machine, going business with contract - (Wanted Kabukalli Logs) - Tel:6845868.

Tacoma Tundra lights & Parts - Tel: 641-1127 Blow out sales on Steel Rods: ¼”, 5/8", ½”, 3/8" Call: 657-4072 1 Music system, 3 crown amps, Numark CD player crossover & mixer, 2 base box with 15" Mid range & tweeters - Call: 619-2800 One 6 Base music set in parts – Call: 641-2088; 266-2503 1 Toyota Raum fully air conditioned – Tel:678-6108, 692-8419, 266-2771

2 Income properties at bargain p r i c e - $ 4 0 M negotiable - Tel: 686-4899; 684-3718 Property for sale - Call:6275416 2 Storey concrete building, 7 bedrooms: 4 upstairs & 3 downstairs @ Paradise $5M negotiable Tel:6796377; 667-0064 Unfinished two storey concrete house @ Bladen Hall E.C.D – Call:688-6316 One 3 bedroom house in La Parafaite Harmonie -$16M negotiable – Contact:6221782; 658-5803; 264-0042 Regent Street -US$800,000 negotiable – Call:623-4045 Campbellville (2buildings) $25M, Near Regent Street $35M, Lamaha Gardens $55M – Call Diana:227-2256; 626-9382

Tibetan Terrier mixed with Pekingese puppy – Tel:2270945; 623-8811 Cannon digital camera A720 power shot, 4GB SD card & case asking -$17,000 – Call:663-2079 or 695-3091 Land with foundation and columns @ Tuschen, Middle Income, H/Scheme E.B.E $7M – Call:682-7220; 6020268 Household items: Stove, bed, sofa, dishwasher, dresser, sewing machine, coffee dispenser, printers & more – Call:227-1028; 223-9719 Large beverage cooler, two doors, 3 wheel motor bike – Call:227-1028; 223-9719 SUPER TENT SALE! -Sports bras, body shapers, exercising sneakers & clothing.

EVERTHING MUST GO – Saturday, March 22 @ 38 J Duncan St. – Call:626-6335 Brazilian Virgin Hair , 16"&18", top grade, final sale, low prices Call:626-6335; 6002220 1 Inboard boat 215 HP Perkins engine, 52 Feet length , 50-50 gear box, working condition, price negotiable – Phone:6470699; 220-5271

One 2 Bedrooms bottom flat Tel: 613-6402 MOVE IN ready fully furnished two bedroom upper flat apartment @ Atlantic Gardens - US$1,000 dollars negotiable - Call:600-9981 Hair station to rent, professional hairdresser with client -$7,000 weekly - Call: 645-9266 GT TOOLS RENTAL: TEL: 675-0767; 627-5098 1 Lower Flat 2 bedrooms located at Diamond H/ Scheme, 2nd Bridge - $45,000 negotiable – Call:625-3695; 663-6479 Executive 5 bedrooms house @ Bel-Air Park, automatic gate, garage & generator, A/ C, semi-furnished- Contact: 223-8479;647-3768 - www. spaceseek.gy 2 One bedroom apartment, fully furnished @ Lot 4 Henry Street, Werk-en- Rust, Georgetown – Contact:6606446; 644-6030

LAND FOR SALE

House in Diamond/Grove Tel:692-8513

One Transported large Lot at Zeelught EBE - $2.2M – Tel:617-4439

Three bedrooms top flat Diamond E.B.D – Tel:6851140; 678-9835 Vreed-En-Hoop Junction: games station, stationery shop, photocopying machine & printing store, lessons, internet – Call:680-9905 One upper flat @ 6th Street Cummings Lodge ECD – Call:622-3580

Romrima Trust Versailles @ W.B.D - Tel: 652-3707 50 Acres transported land at Grant Belfield, Lower Pomeroon – Tel:671-8100 House lots in Friendship.

Tel: 692-8513 Parafaite Harmonie - $1.2M Call:675-7292 One Farm at Yarrowkabra 20.1 Acres and one house and land – Call:265-3586

TO LET Apartments to rent in Cummings Lodge - Call:222-4389

FOR HIRE

Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6193660,639-4452 1 -4 bedrooms house at Happy Acres, $300,000 per month – Call:231-7839 Fully furnished rooms for foreigners in Diamond – Call:687-1392

FOR SALE/RENT

Wings Two bedrooms apartment – Tel:643-1131

One treadmill – Contact:6718100

American pool table – Tel: 227-0578; 685-9714

EDUCATIONAL

New Japan Parts & Batteries in stock with a 10% discount @ Ray’s Motor Spares - Tel: 227-2322; 227-2330

Vacant corner lot 58"X30" @ Garnett & Republic Streets, Newton, Kitty – Tel: 645-0616

Balloon decorating classes – April 05 - Call: 225-3133; 6137513 for more information and to register.

One Toyota Tacoma 2006, 12ft Aluminum Boat, Tacoma : rims & tyres – Call:641-6162; 220-1981; 222-5671

2008 Fielder & Axio, fully loaded with bodykit, rims, TV/DVD unregistered - Tel: 617-2891

2 Ton Canter with power gate, unregistered - Tel:6172891

First Class Auto: Avensis, Allion, IST, 212, Premio, Spacio, Raum, Passo, Fielder, Verossa -Call:6098188; 602-6307

2004 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 2700 CC – 4 Cylinder @ 31 Grove Housing Scheme EBD Call: 665-8933; 416-836-1466 1 Toyota Minibus pit-bull, BRR Series, immaculate condition, owner leaving country – Tel:629-3663 1 Toyota Hilux Single Cab 4X4 solid Axle pickup $2.7M Tel: 658-5193; 6382525; 648-4374

Campbellville - $90,000, Queenstown -$US800, Atlantic Garden - $US600.

Contact Diana:227-2256; 6269382

Unregistered Toyota Premio $2.450, Toyota Spacio - $2.250 Tel: 616-3001; 628-4284 Toyota Mark 2 for sale: very good condition - $1.5M negotiable – Call:641-6725 One Raum – PMM series $1.2M – Contact:671-6051

EP-82 Starlet – Call:685-9696

AT170 Corona, automatic EFI, SV10 Toyota Camry Tel: 676-8475

Fully loaded Toyota Rush W/ TV, spoiler, rims, etc, 2008 Toyota Premio – Tel:615-4114

1 RZ minibus, stick gear, BKK series (working Condition) – Tel:693-2174

Unregistered 2002 Toyota Fielder Body Kit, mags, HID fog lamps – Contact:6449277 ($2.2M negotiable)

AT192 - Call: 602-0236

2003 Honda Civic, stick shift, low mileage, music, with rims Tel: 696-4659 1- 2007 Toyota 4X4 Tacoma for sale Call: 670-3328 for more information.

600 CBR BIKE -$350,000, 3VZ Tacoma Engine - $400,000 – Call: 617-7113 Toyota Tundra 4X4, Clean $2.450M – Call:662-6024 One unregistered vehicle, Toyota Premio – Call Sunil:227-5950; 681-5470

1 Foden 20 Ton Double Axle dump truck – Tel:648-6871

Parafaite Harmonie - $1M Call:675-7292 Herstelling (110ftX60ft) $3M -Call:675-7292

1 Stall @ Stabroek Market – Tel:658-0115; 718-7578031

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Toyota 4 runner grey. Good condition – Call:227-1028; 223-9719

Schoonard (100ftX50ft) $1.6M -Call:675-7292

Bush Truck for hire - Tel: 660-3400

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Toyota Raum, Spacio, AT212, AT192, AT170, NZE and L- Touring wagon, Nissan E24 Caravan – Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 One Honda accord DX manual transmission, excellent condition – Call:618-5972; 685-57-27; 218-1204.

1 Freight liner hauler with sleeping cab, 1 -48ft trailor with treated wood – Call: Rakesh 613-6979 1 DAF 4X4 Bush Truck Winch - $3.8M - Tel:6585193; 638-2525; 648-4374 BJJ series, long base RZ minibus – Call:667-6045 Unregistered Toyota Raum 2004 & Spacio -2003 - Tel: 6175536 Toyota Hilux Surf 3RZ engine fully loaded with 20’ Chrome rims -Tel:643-5182; 669-8803 Toyota Fun Cargo, RZ minibus, IST, 4X4 Hilux pickup - Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453

CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Premio, vitz call:6797139,639-4452 Wings Car Rental - Call: 643-1131

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Toyota Tundra bubble back fully loaded with 22" Chrome Rims -Tel:643-5182; 669-8803 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / termsCall:680-3154 (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

Pursue hydro development with zest DEAR EDITOR, Guyana enters the new decade with tremendous transformation opportunities in its energy sectors. All is not lost with the departure of Sithe Global but all is not safe for the nation either. The world has evolved with new actors in the sector such as Brazil.

Guyana faces even greater challenges in this sector from a year ago as a result of the clear and present danger from the Venezuelan political situation.

Although better energy efficiency certainly will help, it is not a panacea and the new renewable energies such as solar power still are too expensive for massive implementation. While natural gas may provide the bridge to the cleaner and cheaper energies of the future, hydropower and wind for Guyana still remains the primary opportunity to transition Guyana to more reliable and cost effective sources of energy.

The PPP Government has to stop all this talk and propaganda and urgently get

the key players in Parliament to return to the table of dialogue from which reasoned conclusion can be arrived at in that tripartite arrangement with a credible facilitator such as the Catholic Church.

This nation has to work out the kinks to bring hydroelectricity back to the front burner. We cannot pander to petty politics. Rule by propaganda cannot be the way out of this developmental cul-de-sac; statesmanship and leadership has to be the way.

The PPP has traditionally ruled with this fear of losing the elections but when you are transforming a nation with a long-term vision, such fear has to make way for a longterm strategy that is professionally executed. Good will always overcome evil.

The Amaila Falls experience has shown that there are many parties including the IDB who are willing to offer themselves as facilitators and even partial financiers but it is up to the political leadership to clearly position the conversation

and seek the cooperation of the stakeholders to develop what is right for Guyana.

We remain convinced that hydropower is right for Guyana; it is economically and socially feasible even though some may continue to have some issues with the environmental feasible, but those issues can be mitigated.

The PPP as the Government of the day, albeit a minority Government, is responsible for providing all citizens with modern and reliable sources of energy.

Now that Sithe Global is out of the picture, the PPP has to urgently engage the Brazilians and the IDB to bring all back to the table to square this Amaila Project away.

The General Secretary of the PPP, Mr. Clement Rohee has delivered a heartwarming appeal to the electorate at Babu Jaan that “whatever mistake they have made, they have agreed to correct”. This is exactly the start that is needed to reprogramme the developmental agenda.

Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish Singh

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 COOL TECH: Repairs Services & Installation of all types of home appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 2332008; 675-4959 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 6626045 Masons seeking job work – Tel:678-9043 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

(From page 22)

WANTED Taxi Drivers – Apply at Gems Taxi – Call:667-9013 1 Live in maid between 4048yrs – Contact:675-5256; 662-9861 1 Whole day domestic – Tel:667-5717; 650-4761 One live in maid for Georgetown preferable from country side – Contact:6995359 Cook & female bouncers.

Apply in person @ El Club Latino, during 4:00pm-6:00pm (Tues – Sat) @ 57 Hadfield & Lime Streets, South Cummingsburg

Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699

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

Call: 660-5257, 647-1773

VACANCY 1 Driver must have a valid Tractor Licence. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek Tw o m a t u r e h i r e c a r drivers to work with taxi services – Tel:611-1018 or 642-6564 Tudor’s Business Linden, have vacancies for Two 2 sales clerks. Apply in person Tel:444-5883 Barbers – Contact:683-1534; 609-4983

CHAINSAW LUMBER: Kabukalli, Shibadan, Silverballi, Simarupa, etc – Tel:653-9752 Live in , live out babysitter Tel: 225-6070 Arc/ Acetylene Welders, good fabricating skills, high rates – Tel:610-2978 Rangers. Must have experienced reading maps and using GPS - Contact: 223-5273/4

One female cook for home in the interior contact: 681-6044 LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869

One mechanic must know about Perkins and Cummings to work interior Contact: 681-6044

Soman Son & Outar Driving School @ Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Experienced Carpenter Call: 668-9863; 625-0930

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Page 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Police reform…

Five recognised for championing cause of consumers No move to deny renewal

of civilian contracts - Home Affairs Ministry

Four of the awardees with their plaques of recognition.

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to mark World Consumer Rights Day, hosted a special ceremony at the International Conference Centre, where five persons were honoured for their sterling contributions over the years towards championing the cause of consumers in Guyana.

The awardees were Mr. Patrick Dial, Retired Justice Prem Persaud, Mr. Clifford Zammett, Ms. Marilyn Collins and Ms. Eslyn Herbert. Ms. Eileen Cox was also recognized in absentia for her more than four decades of work for the rights of consumers.

This award ceremony, which was organized by the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry on Saturday last, was one of the activities held this year as Guyana joined

with the rest of the world to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 under the theme “fix our phone rights”.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Irfaan Ali gave the feature address in which he urged consumers to demand their rights, but not ignore their responsibilities.

He also emphasized Government’s commitment towards supporting the manufacturing and services sectors so as to allow them to adequately and efficiently meet the needs of all consumers.

Ret. Justice Prem Persaud spoke on behalf of the awardees and expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the event for recognizing the work that they had done for consumers in various

capacities and disciplines over the years.

According to GNBS Public Relations Officer, Lloyd David, since 1983, World Consumer Rights Day is commemorated annually by Consumer International, which is the world federation of consumer groups that serves as the only independent and authoritative global voice for consumers.

“Today there are many consumer organisations in Guyana, which include the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards and the Public Utilities Commission, that have joined the fight for consumer rights,” David said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs says it is unaware of any action currently being taken to deny renewing the contracts of members of the Strategic Management Department.

The Ministry was responding to an article published by this newspaper dated 13th March 2014 under the caption, ‘Civilians contract coming to an end, reforms still a long way off’.

The article focused on the possibility that the head of the Strategic Management Department, Patrick Mentore, may not have his contract renewed when it comes to an end next month.

It also dealt with the fact that from an original team of ten civilians, the Strategic Management Department, which was appointed to overlook the police reform process, is down to seven persons after less than a year.

The article must have touched a vital nerve in the Ministry, who in a press statement issued yesterday said that it is concerned about the propensity that is being displayed by Kaieteur News in “misleading members of the public about events that have been occurring in the Guyana Police Force.”

“Perhaps their ‘agents’ have not been forthright in providing to them accurate information about matters relating to the Guyana Police Force in which they seem to

have an interest,” the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the members of the Strategic Management Department were employed on one-year contracts, renewable every year based on their performance.

“They are all aware of the conditionalities of their employment.”

It noted that the implementation for the Strategic Plan of Guyana Police Force is scheduled to be undertaken over a period of five years and very shortly the Ministry of Home Affairs expects the Head of the Strategic Management Department to submit his Annual Report on the achievements of the Department since its formation.

This activity forms part of the Ministry’s monitoring and evaluation strategy to ensure that the modernization process of the Force is kept on track.

The Ministry said that “the modernization process of the Guyana Police Force is not personality driven; therefore if Kaieteur News believes that any individual could stymie the process of the modernization of the Force, the authors of the article are mistaken.”

It said that in keeping with its oversight responsibilities, the Ministry will take all steps

Head of the SMD, Patrick Mentore to ensure that the modernization of the Guyana Police Force continues, “in spite of any attempt to distract our attention’.

There were signs that some members of the Strategic Management Department were less than comfortable working in the police environment. However, Team Leader Rosanne Purnwasie had put paid to that notion.

“All 10 members of the SMD felt very comfortable with being part of the Guyana Police Force. The Interview Panel consisted of a wide range of high profile individuals from both the public and private sectors and they chose 10 strong individuals who are/were very capable of working with the police,” she had said in a statement last year.

Port Kaituma victims laid to rest...

(From page 20) alcohol, began to scream and curse while claiming that persons owed him money.

Kaieteur News was told that his wife, Lurlene McTurkLaCruz, was in the habit of securing herself and children in a bedroom whenever Mr. La Cruz was in one of his drunken rages.

On Friday night, she reportedly again locked herself and her five children, including Lisa La Cruz, in the bedroom.

It is alleged that Mr. La Cruz went out of the build-

ing and switched his generator on and off. He then returned inside and began to bang on the bedroom door and demand that his wife open it.

When she refused, he allegedly shouted, “I going for the gas.”

Kaieteur News was told that Mr. La Cruz had made previous threats to burn his house down, but because he had never carried them out, the family apparently did not take his threats seriously.

However, this time, the businessman reportedly be-

Brazilian remanded for...

(From page 3) in relation to the offence and not the offender must be presented to the court.

Corporal Blackman also cited the nature of the offence and the punishment it attracts as grounds for bail to be refused.

The Prosecutor opined that if DaSilva is granted pre-trial liberty he would not return to face his charges since he is a Brazilian with no permanent ties in Guyana.

The case is scheduled to be called before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the said court.

gan pouring fuel into the bedroom via a barred window.

A relative told Kaieteur News that it was then that Mrs. La Cruz instructed her 12year-old daughter to go to the Port Kaituma Police Station and the child then fled from the building.

But according to a source who spoke to the 12-year-old, the rank who took the report told the child “Tell your stepfather that (name given) say to come to the station.”

The 12-year-old told the rank, “You not listening,” and again explained that Mr. La Cruz was threatening to torch his home.

It is alleged that the rank again said: “Tell your stepfather that—say to come to the station.”

The child returned home but by then the building was on fire. She reportedly then alerted other residents who tried in vain to douse the flames and free the victims from the heavily-grilled building.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Israel vows response as 4 troops wounded by Golan bomb Jerusalem (AFP) - A roadside bomb wounded four Israeli soldiers on the occupied Golan Heights yesterday prompting artillery fire into Syria and a sharp warning that Israel would act forcefully to defend itself.

The army said one of the soldiers was severely wounded in what was the third such incident in two weeks along Israel’s northern frontier, prompting a blunt warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Recently the border with Syria has filled with jihadists and Hezbollah elements, which represents a new threat for the state of Israel,” he said, referring to Lebanon’s powerful Shiite movement, which is fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s troops.

Netanyahu said the ceasefire line in the Golan had remained largely calm, despite the three-year civil war raging in Syria, but that Israel would not hesitate to act in selfdefence.

“We will act forcefully to preserve Israel’s security,” he warned.

Although there was no immediate claim of

Israeli soldiers prepare to evacuate a comrade injured in a blast on the occupied Golan Heights yesterday near the village of Majdal Shams (AFP Photo/Jalaa Marey) responsibility, analysts pointed to similarities with an explosion last week targeting troops along the Lebanese border, which was blamed on Hezbollah, and a similar attempt in the Golan on March 5.

An Israeli security source said Tuesday’s incident targeted a patrol driving along the ceasefire line near the

Druze town of Majdal Shams.

“The soldiers were in a jeep near the fence and they saw something suspicious, so they got out and that’s when the device went off,” the source told AFP. The Israeli army confirmed four soldiers had been wounded by an explosive device, prompting troops to open fire on Syrian

Security surge - Bodyguard beefup for DPP, Kartel prosecutors Jamaica Gleaner Jamaica’s top prosecutor yesterday revealed that the police have increased security around her office and the two prosecutors in the Vybz Kartel murder trial because of “specific and general security concerns”.

As part of the increased safety measures, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn disclosed that close protection security has been provided for Jeremy Taylor, the lead prosecutor in the Kartel case, and his junior, Crown counsel Leighton Morris. Llewellyn, however, declined to discuss the security concerns or the measures that have been put in place by the police, saying that would be inappropriate.

“But they are still in place and will remain in place until I am advised by the police authorities that they are no longer required,” she insisted.

“The welfare of my staff is paramount,” Llewellyn added, while indicating that she was not aware of any death threats against Taylor.

The concerns about the safety of the two prosecutors could mean additional challenges for the police who have already placed in

Paula Llewellyn

protective custody, the main prosecution witness and Stephanie Breakenridge, the sister of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, who Kartel and his co-accused were convicted for killing. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds, who heads the operations portfolio, said he was not prepared to discuss any specific case, explaining that “it would be irresponsible to do so”. “But we have the capacity to protect the country and all its citizens,” Hinds asserted. Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and fellow entertainer Shawn Campbell, better

known as ‘Shawn Storm’, as well as Kahira Jones and André St John, were convicted for Williams’ murder last Thursday. The other co-accused Shane Williams, was acquitted, but remains in custody on another murder charge. A senior law-enforcement source told The Gleaner that the police began implementing increased security measures around Taylor, Morris and the DPP’s office during the 65-day trial.

“There were concerns during the conduct of the trial as it relates to witnesses and counsel [for the prosecution],” the source revealed.

military positions.

“We view the Syrian army as responsible for this incident... this indicates our response to the attack,” military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner told reporters, saying it was the most serious

incident on the Golan since the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in March 2011.

He was unable to confirm whether or not Hezbollah had been involved in the blast, which he said struck “adjacent to the fence, east of Majdal Shams, in the area under Israeli sovereignty.”

Israel occupied the Golan in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981 in a move never recognised by the international community.

The bombing came four days after the blast targeting Israeli troops on the Lebanese border, very close to Syria, which prompted Israel to shell Hezbollah positions over the border.

A Lebanese security source said 10 Israeli rockets had slammed into an uninhabited border area.

On March 5, the Israeli army said troops on the Golan had opened fire on Hezbollah members as they tried to plant a bomb near the ceasefire line. It claimed to have struck the two fighters but did not say what weapon it used or whether they died.

Hezbollah did not

comment on the incident.

Analysts linked the escalation in border tensions to a February 24 air strike which targeted a Hezbollah position in Lebanon, close to the Syrian border, which the Shiite group blamed on Israel.

If confirmed, it would be the first Israeli attack against Hezbollah inside Lebanon since their 2006 war, which killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and some 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

Hezbollah has vowed to respond to the air strike.

“Israel has assessed that Hezbollah would attempt to find a way to express its displeasure, to put it mildly,” wrote defence expert Alex Fishman in Israel’s Yediot Aharonot newspaper earlier this week.

He said last week’s attack was “a message” to Israel that it could not attack Hezbollah positions with impunity, saying: “You overdid it.

When you bomb our weapons convoys in Syria, you are dealing with the Syrians. In Lebanon, you’re dealing with us.”

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Thailand gives radar data 10 days after plane lost BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s military said yesterday that its radar detected a plane that may have been Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 just minutes after the jetliner’s communications went down, and that it didn’t share the information with Malaysia earlier because it wasn’t specifically asked for it. A twisting flight path described yesterday by Thai air force spokesman Air Vice Marshal Montol Suchookorn took the plane to the Strait of Malacca, which is where Malaysian radar tracked Flight 370 early March 8. But Montol said the Thai military doesn’t know whether it detected the same plane.

Thailand’s failure to quickly share possible information regarding the fate of the plane, and the 239 people aboard it, may not substantially change what Malaysian officials know, but it raises questions about the degree to which some countries are sharing their defense information, even in the name of an urgent and mind-bending aviation mystery.

With only its own radar to go on, it took Malaysia a week to confirm that Flight 370 had entered the strait, an important detail that led it to

change its search strategy.

When asked why it took so long to release the information, Montol said, “Because we did not pay any attention to it. The Royal Thai Air Force only looks after any threats against our country, so anything that did not look like a threat to us, we simply look at it without taking actions.” He said the plane never entered Thai airspace and that Malaysia’s initial request for information in the early days of the search was not specific. “When they asked again and there was new information and assumptions from (Malaysian) Prime Minister Najib Razak, we took a look at our information again,” Montol said. “It didn’t take long for us to figure out, although it did take some experts to find out about it.”

Flight 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur at 12:40 a.m.

Malaysian time and its transponder, which allows air traffic controllers to identify and track the airplane, ceased communicating at 1:20 a.m.

Montol said that at 1:28 a.m., Thai military radar “was able to detect a signal, which was not a normal signal, of a plane flying in the direction opposite from the MH370 plane,” back toward Kuala

Lumpur. The plane later turned right, toward Butterworth, a Malaysian city along the Strait of Malacca.

The radar signal was infrequent and did not include any data such as the flight number.

He said he didn’t know exactly when Thai radar last detected the plane.

Malaysian officials have said Flight 370 was last detected by their own military radar at 2:14 a.m. The search area for the plane initially focused on the South China Sea, where ships and planes spent a week searching. Pings that a satellite detected from the plane hours after its communications went down have led authorities to concentrate instead on two vast arcs — one into central Asia and the other into the Indian Ocean — that together cover an expanse as big as Australia.

Thai officials said radar equipment in southern Thailand detected the plane.

Malaysian officials have said the plane might ultimately have passed through northern Thailand, but Thai Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong told reporters yesterday that the country’s northern radar did not detect it.

Calls to escalate Russia sanctions leave EU in a quandary BRUSSELS (Reuters) Mocked by Moscow, the European Union needs to impose far tougher sanctions over Crimea to make President Vladimir Putin sit up and pay attention, but its ability to agree them is limited - and consensus may not be achievable at all.

Russia’s response to the first phase of EU sanctions travel bans and asset freezes on 13 Russian and eight Crimeans - has been dismissive. Deputy PM Rogozin took to Twitter to ridicule the EU and the United States, calling their steps weak and meaningless.

Some EU foreign ministers quietly agree and are frustrated. They wanted harder-hitting sanctions, but EU restrictions have to be agreed unanimously, which means the measures are only as strong as the country with the deepest reservations will allow.

Austria is among the doubters. “Sanctions don’t solve problems,” said Chancellor Werner Faymann.

“The solution can only be

getting to negotiations.”

EU leaders meet in Brussels tomorrow, when they will discuss widening the net, adding names to the 21 already on the travel-ban and asset-freeze list, possibly including oligarchs or people close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Resistance to escalating sanctions, which aim to stall Putin’s drive to bring the Ukrainian region into Russia, is strong.

At a small lunch held a few days before the first phase of sanctions was imposed on Monday, one EU ambassador cautioned against moving too quickly or aggressively on Moscow.

“We don’t want to end up on an escalator where we don’t know where it’s going,” he said, arguing that once you take the first step on sanctions, there are immediate calls for more substantial measures to increase the pressure.

“What do you do when sanctions run out?” he asked, leaving hanging the inference that the EU does not want and could not afford - a more

physical confrontation with Russia. In the end, the ambassador’s country joined the rest in unanimously agreeing the measures which were less tough than sanctions imposed by the United States.

“We have done what we said we could do, but, yes, the U.S. is from Mars, we are from Venus,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who wanted at least four more names on the EU list but was rebuffed by other member states. “I would suggest that we are not overly enthusiastic when it comes to introducing sanctions, because we will pay for it.” While it may be possible to secure agreement among all 28 member states this week for an expansion of the list - diplomats have told Reuters there are up to 100 names under consideration it is unlikely to deter Russia very much. Instead, the critical question is whether the EU can agree on the step that would come after, the escalation of sanctions to include finance and trade, measures that would directly harm Russian exports, businesses and banks - and the EU as a result.

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

Juror in Vybz Kartel case to return to court on March 28 KINGSTON, Jamaica: Prosecutors yesterday morning outlined how a juror in the murder trial of popular entertainer Vybz Kartel allegedly made several attempts, including an offer of half-a-million dollars, to influence his colleagues to return a not guilty verdict.

Kartel whose real name is Adidja Palmer and three of his four co-accused were on Thursday found guilty of the 2001 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

A short while ago, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn revealed that the juror, 50-year-old Livingston Cain, was the sole person who voted not guilty in the 10 to one decision of the eleven-member jury.

The allegations were outlined in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate Court, where Cain made his first appearance on five counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and one count of conspiring with persons unknown to pervert the course of justice.

He was offered bail in the sum of $750,000 and warned not to make any efforts to

Vybz Kartel contact any member of the Kartel jury.

He has also been ordered to report to the Stony Hill Police daily and a stop order has been placed on him at the ports.

He is to return to court Friday, March 28.

Llewellyn told the court that after seeking to convince other jurors to find Kartel and his co-accused not guilty during the course of the trial, Cain approached the foreman

last Thursday and told her he wanted to speak to her privately.

Llewellyn said the foreman accompanied Cain to the Supreme Court library and took along her BlackBerry cellphone because of information she had received from other jurors.

According to the DPP, the foreman recorded Cain telling her he realised that she had some influence over the other jurors and that he wanted her to “come to a not guilty verdict against the five accused.”

Llewellyn said the shocked foreman went back to Cain sometime later in attempt to confirm what she had heard.

It was at this time, Llewellyn alleged, that Cain told the foreman he was offering her $500,000 to release the five accused, and assured her that she would have the money the following day.

The DPP says that’s when the foreman made a report to the Registrar at the Supreme Court, who brought the matter to the attention of the presiding judge, Justice Lennox Campbell.

We have enough water Govt. agency says island won’t run out of precious commodity any time soon Jamaica Observer Jamaica will not run out of fresh water any time soon, the Government agency charged with ensuring the sustainability of the island’s water resources has said.

It might be little consolation for the farmers in the breadbasket parish of St Elizabeth grappling with drought conditions and residents of Kingston and St Andrew enduring nightly water restrictions, but the Water Resources Authority (WRA) said the country uses less than 25 per cent of its reserves per year.

Speaking with the reporters and editors at the weekly Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange yesterday, WRA Managing Director Basil Fernandez said what feeds the perception that there isn’t enough water is the uneven distribution of water resources across the island.

The resources are categorised as groundwater — supplied by springs and aquifers — and surface water — supplied primarily by rainfall.

“Our evaluation indicates that there is enough water... I

Water Resources Authotity Managing Director Basil Fernandez (left) speaking during Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. Beside him is Evan Thompson, deputy director of the Meteorological Service. (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR) don’t want you to believe that because there is drought or dry season, or because you hear that there isn’t enough water in Hermitage Dam means that is the issue across island,” Fernandez said, pointing out that towns like Black River and May Pen “don’t have a problem with water because they have groundwater”.

“We are only using about 22-24 per cent of our available water resources. Roughly 90 per cent of our reserves are tied up in groundwater,” he continued.He explained that

the uneven distribution problem is compounded by a higher demand for water in areas that have the lowest concentration of resources.

“We must understand that water across the island is not evenly distributed, neither in time nor space,” he said, referencing the two periods during the year when the island experiences the highest rainfall — May-June and October-November.

“In terms of spatial distribution, the north-east side of the island gets the highest rainfall.

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Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Preparations going steadily apace... Beacon FC spoil...

From page 35 NAMILCO including Managing Director, Bert Sukhai, Financial C o n t r o l l e r, Fitzroy McLeod and another financial executive, Automaram Lakeram among others.

Meanwhile, there has been a slight change to the fixtures and when the first whistle goes at 18:00hrs, Riddim Squad will take on Santos FC and not Santos

as was initially scheduled; the Topp XX / Pele showdown remains intact from 20:00hrs.

In total, sixteen teams will throw down the gauntlet for a top prize of $1.2M while the second place finisher receives $600,000.

The third and fourth place finishers will take home $400,000 and $200,000 respectively.

The four top teams will

also receive trophies while there will be other prizes for the Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper and most prolific goal scorer among others. The other participating teams are Buxton United, Alpha United, Western Alpha United, Fruta Conquerors, Monedderlust, Netrockers, BV Triumph United, Guyana Defense Force, Slingerzs, Camptown and New Amsterdam United.

Wednesday March 19, 2014 ARIES (March 21 April 19): An argument with your partner could have you feeling very disheartened and somewhat depressed today, Aries. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 May 20): You might wake up this morning feeling a little less than your usual s e l f , Ta u r u s , a n d y o u might not be able to figure out why. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 June 20): Today, Gemini, you might find yourself getting more irritated than you usually would at the quirks of friends, collea g u e s , p a r t n e r s , a n d children. Nerves could be frayed and tempers around you frazzled. ******************** CANCER (June 21 July 22): Temporary difficulties at home might cause you to want to stay and resolve them rather than go to work or anywhere else. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Some rather unsettling communication s could come your way today, perhaps from out of state. This isn't likely to be anything serious, Leo, but it could be enough to put your nose a little out of joint.

Changes in your neighborhood might interfere with your daily routine. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 Sept. 22): Some minor money matters may need t o b e h a n d l e d t o d a y, Virgo, and you might find this irritating as you probably have other things you'd rather do. The situation could cause some petty friction with family members, but that will pass.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): The healing of a temporary rift with your partner is likely to take place today, with a lot of honest communication and more apologies than are necessary. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): The desire to go off by yourself and enjoy a little solitude is likely to be in conflict with the reality of your obligations today, Scorpio. You could find yourself spacing out at times and unable to concentrate on any tasks at hand, so try to stay focused. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Don't expect any creative projects to go smoothly today, Sagittarius. You could experience mental blocks that you find difficult to get beyond. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Obligations to others could incline you toward staying home today, Capricorn, but important career issues could pull you in to work. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): Today you’re likely to feel torn in two different directions, Aquarius. A part of you could want to sequester yourself somewhere and read, while another part of you feels that you should get out, go somewhere, and do something. ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 March 20):Minor difficulties over money could put you in a state of frustration.

The problems aren’t Earthshaking, but they still need to be handled and could take up a lot of time that you’d rather spend doing something else.

From page 33 played in the game was very high and exhibited sound skills by both sides. I must however complement my defence for being rock solid.

This win should serve as an incentive for Administrators and Clubs to get their act together and let’s continue with the development of football in Bartica.

The victory will also bring back some confidence in fans since the sport has been dormant for over a year. It also shows we have a lot of talent in Bartica.

Hopefully one day Beacon FC will be the number one team in Guyana”, echoed Jacobs in an invited comment.

His opposite, Troy ‘Bugs’ Prescod was gracious in defeat, praising the quality of the game and the performance of his youthful

side, “Beacon were more aggressive and wanted the win more, I am proud of my team’s performance, but Beacon was the better team on the night where a very good goal decided a very good game.”

In the opening game of the double-header, it took Penalty kicks to determine the winner after a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time.

Malcolm Augustus and Rawle Smith were on target for Potaro Strikers, while Anil Williams and player/ coach, Andy Bishop netted for Mel Ballers who won 5-3 in the Penalty shoot out to take 3rd place in the quadrangular Tournament organised by ‘I’ Movement Promotions. Hopkinson Mining and Sky Launch Restaurant & Bar contributed significantly to the tour by the City side.

Blake among big names...

From page 32 Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Jason Young, Delano Williams, Kemar BaileyCole, Ricardo Chambers, Allodin Fothergill, Ristananna Tracey, Bobby Gaye Wilkins and Schillonie Calvert.

MVP will have several athletes such as Andrew Hinds, Winston Barnes, Ricardo Cunningham, Akino Ming, Julian Forte, Rusheen McDonald, Tyquendo Tracey, Carrie Russell, and Christine Day. Akan will also be on the track with Jason Livermore, Oshane Bailey, Dexter Lee, and Ramone McKenzie.

Cameron Blazers will be coming with Javere Bell and Oral Thompson, among others.

Hansle Parchment and Keiron Stewart will represent UWI. Several prep schools will be competing in 4x50m and 4x100m ahead of Prep Champs later in the year.

The field events that will be competed are discus, shot put, javelin, pole vault, long jump, high jump, and triple jump.

The track events are 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m, 100mh, 110mh, 400mh, 4x100m, 4x400m and sprint medley.

The honorees this year are Yohan Blake and Warren Blake.

Scotiabank / Pepsi School Football Academy kicks off From page 34 Ancient County of Berbice this Saturday with the March Pass of teams at the Scotts School Ground, New Amsterdam from 10:00hrs.

This would be followed by a male match between Berbice Educational Institute and Berbice High School.

Meanwhile, the Linden segment will commence on Saturday March 29 with their March Pass of Teams at the Wisburg Secondary School Ground at 09:00hrs.

Two games will follow. From 10:00hrs with a female game between Harmony and Mackenzie High while the males will face off from 11:30hrs.

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Wednesday March 19, 2014

Bangladesh win emphatically in heavy dew Pressure? Not a bit of it.

Bangladesh are strutting their way through Group A with an insouciant swagger, as good as sealing a place in the tournament proper with a second emphatic display.

Dismissing the challenge of Associate sides can be a damned-if-you-don’t, damned-if-you-do-it-well sort of scenario but, given the team’s recent form, it had been by no means guaranteed that Bangladesh would make it through the first round without any scares.

They are not through yet but with a regal-looking net run rate of 2.686 and the weakest team in the group left to play, Dhaka can begin to prepare for bumper fixtures against India and Pakistan, not to mention, West Indies, the defending champions, and Australia. Bigger exploits may still be to come.

Faced with a modest target after Nepal had gamely scrapped through their innings, losing only five wickets but always struggling to score much above six an over, Bangladesh repeated the dose they had administered to Afghanistan.

Paras Khadka, Nepal’s resourceful captain, scored 41 for the second match running and continued to open the bowling with his stately offspinners but this time his side were overwhelmed.

They were not totally outclassed in this match, their

first encounter with a Full Member. They were, however, outgunned, in much the same way their supporters, among the most fervent around, on this occasion had to accept being outnumbered.

Al-Amin Hossain claimed 2 for 17, conceding only a couple of singles off the final over to quell any thought of a more testing total and Bangladesh’s openers again attacked aggressively from the outset. Anamul Haque hit his second and third balls for six and four as 13 runs came off Sompal Kami’s opening over, while Tamim Iqbal’s every contribution was lapped up on his home ground.

A sumptuous strike over long-on was greeted by the word “Tamim-ator” flashing up on the big screen. When he fell after putting on 63 runs with Anamul in 7.5 overs - only the third time Bangladesh’s openers had passed 50 together in T20s and their highest stand - it was almost certain Nepal would not be coming back.

Both wickets to fall were born of Bangladesh’s haste to get the job done, Tamim caught giving Basant Regmi the charge and Anamul run out after a miscommunication with Sabbir Rahman, again failing to build on a promising start. The end came quickly, after Shakti Gauchan had failed with a courageous onehanded attempt to catch

Rahman. Gauchan, bowling the next over, conceded 21, three times hit beyond the boundary boards, and Shakib Al Hasan sealed victory with his fourth towering six and 27 balls remaining.

As in the first match in Mirpur, Mushfiqur chose to bowl. As in the first match, a capacity crowd roared its approval at every run, wicket and catch for their luridly clad heroes. Bangladesh’s kit has made quite an impression at this tournament; thankfully the team’s impact has been even more noteworthy.

A seam attack of Mashrafe Mortaza and AlAmin may not be express by absolute standards but they seemed to discomfit Nepal’s openers, who were far more subdued in their second outing. There was just enough pace and movement, through the air and off the seam, to have Subash Khakurel and Sagar Pun poking uncertainly outside off, forced on to the back foot.

Mushfiqur’s first bowling change brought immediate reward and he continued to deftly rotate his attack, 12 times in total. Khakurel got away with a toe-ended loft back over the new bowler, Farhad Reza, but then fell trying to take on a back of a length ball, sending it high and steepling straight to midoff.

Shakib’s first over was not so successful, as

Anamul Haque plays a drive through extra cover

Gyanendra Malla, who struck 48 in Nepal’s victory over Hong Kong, smoked him over cover to suggest that this would not be such a facile challenge for Bangladesh’s spinners, after they had bamboozled Afghanistan two days ago. Shakib was later denied the wicket of Sharad Vesawkar when Mushfiqur failed to collect the ball low

to his left with the batsman yards out of his ground.

Despite looking a somewhat ill at ease, at 38 for 1 after the Powerplay, Nepal were actually a couple of runs and a wicket better off than against Hong Kong. Al-Amin, switching ends, evened the gap between perception and reality with two wickets in three balls. When Pun drove

on the up to be caught at cover, fireworks whistled into the night sky; moments later Malla was struck on the knee by one that darted back in.

The pyrotechnics crew had not been given time to reload and they were made to wait a significant period before another salvo was required, as Khadka combined with Vesawkar in a fourth-wicket stand worth 85.

Khadka’s second ball was a gorgeously timed drive through extra cover that seemed to telescope away from the sweeping fielder as he gave futile chase. In Greek mythology, it was Paris of Troy who felled t h e seemingly invincible Achilles with a well-aimed arrow.

Paras of Nepal had a little more trouble in locating Bangladesh’s weak spot but he mixed good running with deft strokeplay (and the occasional heave), again laying the foundations of Nepal’s total.

As the season turns in Bangladesh, hotter temperatures meant repeated attempts to keep the grass free of dew, as hessian cloths were dragged across the outfield. But the first group stage has so far been no sweat for the hosts.

Scores: Bangladesh 132 for 2 (Anamul 42) beat Nepal 126 for 5 (Khadka 41, Al-Amin 2-17) by eight wickets.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Shahzad, Shafiqullah power Afghanistan to seven-wicket win Mohammad Shahzad is Afghanistan’s most prolific Twenty20 batsman by a long way. His recent form had been quite poor, as scores of 7, 22, 0, 22 and 0 in his last five innings would indicate. He broke this peculiar streak by hammering 68 off 53 balls as Afghanistan rushed to a seven-wicket win over Hong Kong.

The garnish on the win was provided by Shafiqullah, touted the T20 specialist by captain Mohammad Nabi. He blasted 24 runs off the 17th over, bowled by Aizaz Khan, and later helped himself to 11 off Haseeb Amjad in the following over to ensure Afghanistan won with two overs to spare.

A 150-plus chase looked tricky but Shahzad timed his innings perfectly. He made sure Afghanistan didn’t stutter from the early loss of Najeeb Tarakai, who couldn’t clear the midwicket boundary in the third over. Shahzad added 55 runs for the second wicket with Asghar Stanikzai, who scored slowly, but kept one end tight.

Shahzad survived two dropped catches in the sixth over, though, and three in total. Captain Jamie Atkinson and Aizaz missed him with differing degrees of difficulty.

Aizaz’s chance was a sitter at mid-on. The other drop was in the 15th over when Tanwir Afzal misjudged a chance at third man.

Shahzad continued in his merry way, having already struck a boundary past the wicketkeeper’s right with a ball that struck the back of his bat. Stanikzai fell in the eleventh over, after which Shahzad reached his fifth T20 international fifty. Two balls later, he struck the shot of the day, a helicopter shot, over the midwicket boundary, and didn’t he love it.

Irfan Ahmed made up for his second first-ball duck in the tournament with a stunning catch at deep extracover to get rid of Shahzad, but Afghanistan were on top of the situation. Though Nabi walked to the crease at that point, it was Shafiqullah who finished it in some style making an unbeaten 51 off 24

Mohammad Shahzad

balls.

Hong Kong finished on 153 for 8 in 20 overs, a marked improvement from their meltdown against Nepal. But their start must have made them worry about a repeat of

Sunday night. Irfan missed Shapoor Zadran’s inswinger off the first ball of the innings, the same point at which he had been out to Paras Khadka in the previous game.

But Waqas Barkat and

Atkinson hit back soon after, taking 16 off the fourth over, bowled by Gulbadin Naib.

Atkinson blasted boundaries through the off-side field and one straight down the ground. He also pulled a four and a six, over midwicket, his best shot in a very short innings. He was trapped legbefore by Hamza Hotak a ball after he had struck his fifth boundary, in the fifth over.

Barkat kept his shape well at the other end, despite the two losses. He built a 60-run stand with the fidgety Mark Chapman, Barkat scoring at a run-a-ball and letting Chapman have more of the strike.

Chapman started off very well but just after he had cracked one through the covers, Dawlat Zadran floored him with a quick bouncer. Chapman had looked to charge him, and although he dusted himself and got up quickly, Chapman needed the physio’s attention immediately.

He ended up with the top score, 38 off 43 balls with three fours and a six, coming

off legspinner Samiullah Shenwari. Two of his boundaries came through the off-side, and one could easily imagine the sort of talent possessed by this 19-year old.

Barkat got out to Mohammad Nabi, trying to scoop the offspinner. Babar Hayat also fell to Nabi in the 16th over. Chapman gave away his stumps for Zadran to aim at, and he stung his leg pole in the 17th over.

Nizakat Khan and Tanwir Afzal then took over the last three overs, hitting one six each. Nizakat hammered Hotak over extra-cover, the best-looking shot of the innings, while Tanwir topedged a hoick over third-man in the penultimate over.

The result is effectively the end of the tournament for Hong Kong, while Afghanistan survives for one more potentially pivotal day, March 20.

Scores: Afghanistan 154 for 3 (Shahzad 68, Shafiqullah 51*) beat Hong Kong 153 for 8 (Barkat 32, Chapman 38) by 7 wickets. (ESPNcricinfo)

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Guyanese players dominate Jamaica to host 2014 Caribbean Cup Trinidad’s ‘Silver Bowl’ - Edghill strikes gold thrice, Britton at his best Chelsea Edghill ended Trinidad and Tobago’s Aleena Edwards’ win streak in a pulsating and nail-biting fashion when the Guyanese player came from behind to win a thrilling five-set final in the Women’s Singles of the Silver Bowl Table Tennis Championships at Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas, last weekend.

The ten-time Trinidadian national champion fought so desperately to keep the streak alive that she saved an incredible eight match points before finally hitting a forehand long to put an end to one of the most dramatic sets of table tennis seen in Trinidad in a very long time.

Edghill, the 2012 Caribbean Under-21 runnerup, who was Guyana’s Junior Sportswoman of the Year last year, her third such accolade, jumped for joy after clinching the marathon game on the 12th match point, 22-20.

The 16-year-old Edghill led for most of the decider, but she had been forced to play catch-up leading up to it as she had to battle back after losing both the first and fourth games. The final score was: 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 2220.After winning all four tournaments she contested at home last year, Edwards was triumphant in the Classified

Championships in January and was one point away from capturing her sixth major title in succession before the prolific Guyanese stopped her.Edghill, who had taken down Edwards in three straight games en route to being crowned champ in the Super Singles Tournament the last time she was in Trinidad December 2012, also captured the Under-18 and 21 Silver Bowl titles.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Shemar Britton gained sweet revenge when he won the Men’s Singles title after Trinidad’s Arun Roopnarine had beaten him en route to picking up the Under-18 crown. The left-handed Britton had the last laugh when he won the clash of the teenagers for the men’s crown. The 15-year-old Queens College student, who was our Youth in Focus three weeks ago, had gone under after securing the first two games, but bounced back from a game down twice to eventually prevail 6-11, 11-6, 6-11, 13-11 and11-7.

Britton also gained sweet revenge over Aaron Wilson as he trounced the Tobago Open champ 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 in the quarter-finals after losing in four games when they squared off in the Under21 semis. The top-ranked junior in Guyana then

whipped Alaric Humphreys 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 to book his place in the title match.

Roopnarine, who trailed Kenwin Small 7-9 in the decider before winning the last four points to survive the “round of 16”, gained revenge over Humphreys’ brother Curtis, 13-11, 10-12, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8 in the other semi-final.

Defending champ Reeza Burke was the top seed, but the five-time national champ was stunned 3-11, 16-14, 5-11, 13-11, 12-10 in the first round of the knockout draw by another Guyanese, Edghill’s brother, Kyle.In the women’s semis, Chelsea beat 2012 champ Linda Partap-Boodhan 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, while Edwards got the better of 1963 (not a misprint) national champ Merle Baggoo 11-3, 11-9, 1210. Baggoo had shocked Brittany Joseph, who was crowned 2012 national champ at age 14, 14-16, 11-4, 12-10, 11-3 in the quarters.

Former Caribbean Boys’ Champion and Men’s Singles bronze medallist, now national coach, Idi Lewis, who operates out of the Malteenoes Sports Club, is the Coach of the Edghills and Britton, and was on the recent tour to Trinidad compliments of Wartsila. (Edited and reprinted from the Trinidad Express)

EBFA Coaching Programme hailed a success Field session set for today

Coach Ralph Green has the rapt attention of the coaches during his presentation United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B License Coach Ralph Green’s coaching session with Coaches attached to clubs affiliated to the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) on Monday last has been

hailed a success.

Participants were lectured to on the role of the coach, traits of a top coach, role and responsibilities of a player and coach, laws of the game, fitness and communicating with players (what and what

not to say). There was also an interactive session that saw the full participation of the coaches.Today from 17:00 at the Grove Playfield, the coaches will benefit from an on field session that would be conducted by Green.

Jamaica Observer JAMAICA will host the 2014 edition of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Championship, top regional football officials confirmed Monday.

The biennial tournament is expected to be staged during the FIFA calendar window of November 10-18 and will be hosted in picturesque Montego Bay, Jamaica’s tourist capital.

CFU General Secretary Damien Hughes, in confirming the development, gave reasons the island was granted hosting rights over other bidders.

“We selected Jamaica because we have confidence in the country to mobilise all the relevant stakeholders — the corporate aspect, plus they have the ability to motivate people to come out and support the games.

“Also, we are satisfied with the quality of the facilities, plus the CFU is of the view that Jamaica is well positioned to achieve the objectives,” he said.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Captain Horace Burrell was delighted with Jamaica being granted the hosting rights for the Caribbean’s top tournament, a qualifier for the prestigious CONCACAF Gold Cup. “At this stage of our football development, this is exactly the medicine that the doctor ordered... this is a tournament that is sometimes elusive for Jamaica, and I am just happy that we have been able to pin it down,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Burrell, a CONCACAF vice-president, said this year’s tournament will be special for numerous reasons, claiming that “based on the ingredients, this is shaping up to be the best ever”.

“Firstly, the tournament will be held during the FIFA calendar window, which means that all eight finalists will have their top overseas players, which will ensure the tournament has star power, plus high quality of play.”

As a qualifier for the Gold Cup, only the top-four finishers of the Caribbean Championship usually advance to CONCACAF’s marquis event. But there’s a new format this time around.

“A new and exciting element to the regional tournament is that the fifthplace finisher in Montego Bay will have a chance to qualify for the Gold Cup in a play-off with the fifth-place team from Central America,” Burrell revealed.

Jamaica, who won the tournament the last time they hosted it in 2008, have a

painful memory of the last championship held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2012.

As defending champions from Martinique in 2010, the Reggae Boyz, in the height of their World Cup qualifying campaign, gave a dismal showing and consequently failed to emerge from the group phase in 2012.

That meant they did not progress to the Gold Cup of last year, squandering a great opportunity for invaluable match practice for the final stage of their Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

This time around, as hosts, the Boyz are expected to finish in style, and should Burrell’s rhetoric be taken seriously, all will be done to avoid a repeat of the Antigua fiasco.

“I am still hurt by what we did in Antigua, and we can’t afford for that to happen and we are not in the Gold Cup...some people are yet to fathom the impact of not playing in the Gold Cup...I think it hurt our World Cup efforts, plus our FIFA ranking,” Burrell noted.

The JFF boss explained that once again Montego Bay, for its obvious advantages, was chosen as host city for the Caribbean Championship, adding to its list of credits.

In recent times, as Montego Bay slowly establishes itself as the “football capital of Jamaica”, the tourist mecca hosted the CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship in 2011, where Jamaica qualified for the Mexico tournament, and last November it welcomed seven CONCACAF countries for the Women’s Under-17 equivalent.

“The JFF decided on Montego Bay because of the support of Montegonians for football, plus the stadium is well-maintained and will cost less.

“Also, Montego Bay, as a tourist destination, has it advantages from a business perspective...there are great hotels, they know how to receive and treat visitors, plus the international media will want to cover whatever happens in Montego Bay,” Burrell said.

At the 2012 Caribbean Championship, the tournament was staged

without a title sponsor, and it’s been an uphill task finding one since cellphone giant Digicel pulled the plug.

“We are working around the clock to have a title sponsor, but it has not been easy...we have been looking around and engaging people, so hopefully we will succeed.

“But from a local perspective, in terms of organising the tournament on the ground, we are going to require all hands on deck to ensure success, and that’s why we will be engaging the hotel sector, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, associated sectors, and the wider business community of Montego Bay,” Burrell outlined.

When reached Monday, Mayor of Montego Bay Glendon Harris said he was delighted by the fact that his city is being recognised once again as the preferred place for hosting international sporting events, which is in keeping with his philosophy of sport tourism.

“It means a lot that this tournament is coming to my city, and the fact that we embrace it goes to show that we take sport tourism seriously,” he said.

“This will certainly be an additional boost to the local economy; businesses will definitely benefit. And I must say that I am particularly grateful to football, in particular, and what it has done and continues to do for Montego Bay...just look at what’s happening to our Montego Bay United, they are comfortably on top of the Premier League,” added Harris, who will chair the local organising committee.

Nations desirous to join Jamaica in November will have to compete in a CFUorganised qualifying tournament to be staged in groups region-wide.

Please send your letters, comments and suggestions to: 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown. Email us at: Kaieteur_Kaieteurgy @yahoo.com, or fax us at: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Taylor guides Windies Yamaha Caribs school UG Wolves 31 -12 to warm-up triumph Dhaka, Bangladesh – West Indies Women started their preparation for the ICC Women’s World T20 2014 on a bright note by winning its first warm-up match against South Africa Women by 52 runs at Krira Shikkha Protisthan in Savar, Bangladesh yesterday.

After electing to bat, West Indies overcame an early setback in the form of Kycia Knight’s wicket to post 123-4 in 20 overs, a fighting score at best. But, on the day, it was sufficient as South Africa was bowled out for 71 in 18.5 overs.

Natasha McLean chipped in with a 24-ball 26 before being caught behind off Dane van Niekerk, but it was Stafanie Taylor’s unbeaten 45 that made all the difference.

Taylor’s innings included three fours and six.

When Sun Luus dismissed Deandra Dottin cheaply in the 11th over, West Indies was 71-3. Taylor and Chinelle Henry then associated for a 54-run stand that provided West Indies some respectability. In her four overs, Shabnim Ismail returned 2-12, while van Niekerk and Luus took one

wicket apiece.

A brilliant effort by West Indies’ bowlers then ensured that South Africa surrendered without putting up a real fight.

Except for Trisha Chetty and Yolandi van der Westhuizen, who top scored with 24, none of the other South Africa batters could even reach double figures.

Anisa Mohammed, the right-arm spinner, and medium-pacer Dottin returned figures of 2-6 and 27 respectively. West Indies plays their second and final warm-up match against Australia on Friday.

Qatar 2022 World Cup committee denies wrongdoing Reuters - Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organizing committee has denied being aware of any alleged payments by the disgraced former head of the country’s soccer association to an exvice president of FIFA. Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday that a company under the control of Mohamed Bin Hammam paid $1.2 million to Jack Warner, the former president of North American soccer’s governing body CONCACAF and a member of the FIFA committee which chose the 2022 World Cup hosts.

One of Warner’s companies requested that payment in December 2010, the Telegraph said, two weeks after a FIFA vote selected Qatar to stage the 2022 tournament ahead of rival bidders the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

Qatar ’s organizing committee has always denied any wrongdoing and on Tuesday again reiterated that its practices were above board.

“The 2022 Bid Committee strictly adhered to FIFA’s

bidding regulations in compliance with their code of ethics,” the Committee said in a statement.

“The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and the individuals involved in the 2022 Bid Committee are unaware of any allegations surrounding business dealings between private individuals.”

The Committee declined to comment on further questions asked by Reuters.

The Telegraph also alleged that $750,000 was paid to Warner ’s sons, citing documents it says indicate the various payments to Warner family members were to “offset legal and other expenses” and “professional services provided over the period 2005-2010”.

It was reported in March 2013 that an FBI probe into corruption in international soccer had recruited Warner’s son Daryan as a co-operating witness. Opting to host the world’s biggest soccer tournament in a tiny desert state where daytime summer temperatures rarely fall below 40 degrees Celsius has provoked widespread anger.

Among those opposing

the decision have been Europe’s leading clubs and human rights groups highlighting dire working conditions in Qatar’s construction sector. FIFA president Sepp Blatter previously admitted the governing had made a “bad mistake” over the bid processes for choosing the 2018 and 2022 World Cup venues, which were held simultaneously and led to the suspension of two Executive Committee members who attempted to sell their votes for cash.

Qatari Bin Hammam, the ex-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and a former member of FIFA’s executive committee, challenged Blatter ’s re-election as president, but days before the 2011 vote Bin Hammam was accused of trying to bribe Caribbean officials to vote for him in a plot orchestrated by Warner.

Bin Hammam and Warner both denied wrongdoing, but Warner subsequently quit his FIFA and CONCACAF positions and Bin Hammam was banned for life from all FIFA and soccer activities.

Blake among big names for UWI Track Meet

Jamaica Observer - THE 12th UWI Invitational Track & Field Meet runs off this Saturday at the UWI Usain Bolt Track at Mona in Kingston starting at 10:00 am.

According to Grace Jackson, chairman of the organising committee and the meet director, “The meet will have several top-class athletes competing on the

track this year. It will be highclass competition on the track, starting with field events at 10:00 in the morning, while the track events are scheduled for a 1:00 pm start.”

Based on the entry list, the bulk of the athletes are drawn from the local clubs and institutions, including Racers, MVP, Akan, Cameron Blazers, UWI, and UTech,

among others. Athletes from the UWI St Augustine campus will also be on the track as the only overseasbased team.

Kim Collins of St Kitts & Nevis, who has been training and living in Jamaica for some time now, will be competing at the meet for the first time.

Racers athletes include (Continued on page 29)

The final game of round 1 of the Bounty Farm 15’s first division league played Sunday 16th saw a near full strength Yamaha Caribs multi task highly touted opponents UG Wolves with an on field 31 -12 power point presentation in the art of attacking Rugby that is sure to give them an A+ should they take the lessons to heart.

Led from the front by National Players “Professors” Theodore Henry (3 tries) and Claudius Butts (1 try and 3 conversions) with Walter George at the Back along with a try by Grantley Williams, a resurgent Yamaha Caribs shrugged off losses from earlier games to demonstrate exhilarating and skillful Rugby in a highly charged and robust game which saw Caribs player Akeem Fraser being shown the yellow card

by Referee George David who managed to keep a tight grip on the proceedings, at times incurring the wrath of both team’s coaches for perceived unwarranted penalties.

The Wolves simply could not penetrate the extremely tough defensive wall put up

by Caribs despite coming

Theodore Henry

Claudius Butts

agonizingly short of the try line several times eventually settling for two penalties tries and one conversion by Lawrence Adonis junior.

Points standings at the end of round 1 reveal GDF in the lead with 2 wins and 1 loss (121 points scored for and 84 against) followed by UG Wolves 2 wins 1 loss (72 points scored for and 76 against), Caribs in third with 1 win 1 loss 1 walk over (45 points scored for and 72 against) and Hornets in the

cellar with 2 losses and 1 walkover (39 points on the scoreboard with 59 against).

Round 2 (final round) commences Saturday with GDF coming up against Yamaha Caribs and Sunday UG Wolves coming up against Pepsi Hornets. Kick off time is 4 pm sharp.

The stakes are expected to be upped as Caribs and UG seek to overhaul the GDF runaway train and Hornets in must win mode if they are to challenge.

World Cup 2022 bid investigation reveals former FIFA vice president was paid millions by Qatari company An investigation conducted by the Telegraph has revealed payments of nearly $2 million from Qatari ex-Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam to former FIFA vice president Jack Warner and his sons shortly after Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup. FROM THE TELEGRAPH: Jack Warner, the former vice-president of Fifa, appears to have been personally paid $1.2 million (£720,000) from a company controlled by a former Qatari football official shortly after the decision to award the country the tournament.

Payments totalling almost $750,000 were made to Mr. Warner’s sons, documents show. A further $400,000 was paid to one of his employees.

It is understood that the FBI is now investigating Trinidad-based Mr. Warner and his alleged links to the Qatari bid, and that the former FIFA official’s eldest son, who lives in Miami, has been

Jack Warner helping the inquiry as a cooperating witness.

Warner resigned from his posts within FIFA in 2011 after both he and Bin Hammam, who was an opposition candidate to Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, were suspended over allegations that they conspired to bribe Caribbean football officials to vote for Bin Hammam in the FIFA election. Bin Hammam was given a lifetime ban that

was later annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The documents uncovered by the Telegraph reveal sizable payments from Bin Hammam’s company to Warner, his two sons and an employee shortly after Russia and Qatar won the votes to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively, in December 2010.

The payments were processed by a bank in New York, which the paper claims has drawn FBI interest. The Telegraph confronted Warner about this matter, putting a camera in his face as he walked down the street, and he refused to respond.Even if these payments are somehow revealed to be bribes for World Cup bid votes, it seems unlikely that hosting duties will be taken away from Qatar. Revelations that hundreds of migrant workers have died engaging in slave labor to build Qatar’s infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup have done nothing to convince FIFA to change course, so a few more bribery accusations are unlikely to do that either. FBI involvement could impact that, but operating above the law is what FIFA does best.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Page 33

D’Andrade powers to Giftland OfficeMax, Woodpecker road race win in Trinidad Hugh Ross Classic Body Building & Fitness Show

Trophies and Sports on board

Guyanese distance athletes, Lionel D’Andrade and Kelvin Johnson continues to dominate Road Races in Trinidad and Tobago when they finished first and second respectively in the Male Open event at the Annual Spiritual Shouter Baptist Road Race on Sunday.

- Johnson finishes second D’Andrade finished in a golden time of 24:29, defeating eventual runnerup, Johnson, who ran 24:46 and Trinidad’s Curtis Cox (26:33).

D’Andrade has been working on his speed after

finishing fourth overall in Wartsila’s 20K Road Race three weeks ago. The Guyanese duo is gearing for the 2014 race calendars in Trinidad and Tobago with another 5km race this coming Sunday.

Berbice Bridge Company Inc. Supports KMTC Phagwah Meet

Christel VanSluytman, Team Leader - Marketing & Production of Giftland OfficeMax hands over the cheque to Hugh Ross.

Chief Executive Officer of the Berbice Bridge Company Omadat Samaroo (left) presents the cheque and trophy to Cecil Kennard.

Tinelle Beckles, Sales Representative of Woodpecker Trophies and Sports presents the cheque to Dexter Garnett.

As the time winds down to the staging of the Fourth Hugh Ross Classic Body Building and Fitness Show set for March 29, at the National Cultural Centre, corporate support continues to flow.

Joining the list to ensure the a quality experience in every regard are Giftland OfficeMax and Woodpecker Trophies and Sports.

The two entities handed over their contributions to Hugh Ross Classic Committee Chairman Hugh Ross and Finance officer Dexter Garnett, respectively.

Christel VanSluytman, Team Leader - Marketing & Production of Giftland OfficeMax presented her companies contribution to

Ross noting that they were happy to be a part of the show for another year.

Giftland, VanSluytman noted, has been playing its role with regards to sports development across the board in Guyana and has been working along closely with a number of bodybuilders by providing them with endorsement deals over the years.

“The Hugh Ross Classic Show is just another vehicle which Giftland OfficeMax uses to fulfill our corporate responsibility towards our sportsmen and women and we are elated to be on board.

We wish the organisers and the athletes a successful show.” Tinelle Beckles, Sales Representative of Woodpecker Trophies and

Sports in handing over the cheque to Garnett noted too that they have been supportive of the Hugh Ross Classic and Body Building Show before and will continue to play their role in support of local athletes.

Both Ross and Garnett expressed gratitude to Giftland OfficeMax and Woodpecker Trophies and Sports for their show of confidence in the show which is set for Saturday March 29 at the National Cultural Centre beginning at 19:00hrs.

Tickets for the show are expected to go on sale this week. IFBB Professional bodybuilder Jeff Beckham is the Guest Poser and will be in Guyana from next Monday ahead of the show.

Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) has thrown their support behind the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Phagwah Horse Race Meet which is set for March 23 at Bush Lot Farm Corentyne. Yesterday at the company’s office, Main Street, Chief Executive Officer of the BBCI Omadat Samaroo handed over a cheque worth $282,000 and a trophy to President of the KMTC Cecil Kennard.

The cash will be given to the winner of the J 3 and Lower ($150,000), runner up in the J 1 and Lower ($75,000), third ($38,000) and fourth place ($19,000) in the I and Lower events.

Speaking at the simple ceremony Samaroo said that they are happy to be on board and will continue support to horse racing. “The company has decided to come on board mainly due to the fact that horse racing creates lots of

excitement for Berbicans and also the profits generated from this event will be used to upgrade the facilities”, he added. Kennard thanked the entity for their contribution and noted the importance of sponsorship in sports. He informed that the track is in good shape and they have so far received sixty entries for the Meet. He stated that an exciting day is anticipated and called on the fans to support the event.

Beacon FC spoil Camptown sweep A spectacularly executed direct free-kick by right back, Kurt Welcome dashed all hopes Sunburst Camptown Football Club had of making a clean sweep of their two-match tour of Bartica.

In Monday night’s final encounter played at the Bartica Community Centre ground before a sizeable crowd, Welcome produced the winner from 25 metres out when he perfectly curled an outside right footer

around Camptown’s wall that left second half custodian Oswald Cornette unmoved ten minutes from full time.

The game, which was evenly contested throughout, had home fans willing their side on at every play and when the deadlock was broken there was an eruption and celebration and thereafter Beacon controlled things.

The win stretched Beacon’s unbeaten run in

over a year and according to Coach, Captain and Goalkeeper, Kwesi Jacobs togetherness has been the key.

“We have been together since Coca Cola schools football and understand each other and that is the main reason we have been unbeaten in over a year. We also put a lot of emphasis on developing sound Technical skills.

The level of football (Continued on page 29)

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Kaieteur News

Gayle, Santokie deliver warm-up win Fatullah, Bangladesh – A typically blazing unbeaten 38-ball 58 from Chris Gayle helped World Champions West Indies brush aside England by seven wickets in their first ICC World T20 warm-up match in Fatullah yesterday.

At Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Eoin Morgan (43 not out), the stand-in captain after Stuart Broad’s injury, was the lone glimmer of hope for England as Krishmar Santokie and Sheldon Cottrell restricted it to 131-7. West Indies overhauled the target with little fuss, getting there with 23 balls to spare.

Chasing 132, West Indies illustrated why it is considered so formidable in the 20-over format, with Gayle and Dwayne Smith (36), the openers, going at a little over nine per over in a 78-run opening stand. Tim Bresnan was the most bruised bowler in England’s attack, taken off after conceding 29 in two overs.

Smith smacked four fours and two sixes in a 30-ball knock before being caught by Jade Dernbach off James Tredwell. West Indies had a minor hiccup when Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels were dismissed in consecutive overs, but Lendl Simmons creamed 15 runs off the 15th over, leaving Gayle to complete the formalities. Gayle slammed six fours and two sixes during his knock.Earlier in the day, England opted to bat and lost

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Scotiabank / Pepsi School Football Academy kicks off

Krishmar Santokie

David Coates (centre) is flanked by Mario Padmore (right) and Kevon Roach

Michael Lumb (14) after an expensive first over bowled

by Santokie but continued to live dangerously. Cottrell then removed Moeen Ali for a 16-ball 22 to help reduce England to 48-3 in six overs.

Morgan, however, was not one to be cowed into submission. He was the chief aggressor in two 33-run stands, first with Jos Buttler

and then with Ravi Bopara.

But with wickets tumbling at the other end, Morgan was forced to be more circumspect than he would have liked.

Morgan struck four fours and a six in his 42-ball knock to guided the England innings, but with Gayle going full throttle, the total proved to be insufficient.

The 4th edition of the Scotiabank / Pepsi School Football Academy officially got underway on Saturday last in Georgetown with the traditional March Pass of the competing at the Ministry of Education, Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue.

Ms. Jennifer Ciprianni of Scotia Bank and Mr. Larry Wills of Demerara Distillers Limited bottlers of Pepsi took the salute at the March Pass. Mr. Lawrence Griffith the Tournament Coordinator gave the welcome address and was high in praise of the sponsors for their continued contribution.

Following the March Pass a female game was played between the defending champions Tutorial High and returning

participants East Ruimveldt Secondary. The kick off was taken by Larry Wills of DDL. The game ended 0-0 after 70 minutes of entertaining and crowd pleasing football from both sides. Both teams showed glimpses of better things to come in the future and the other teams have to look out for these two teams.

Both teams were made up of members of the Little D I VA F l a m e s F e m a l e Football Club and their higher level of play was evident.

The Competition continued on Sunday March 16 with Tutorial High males coming up against Campbellville Secondary at the same venue. Tutorial came out victorious by a 5-0 margin.

David Coates netted a hat-trick (10, 29, 42) and was ably supported by Mario Padmore and Kevon Roach with one each in the 50th and 68th minute, respectively.

The score line should have been greater after Te m a u l D o w l i n o f Campbellville Secondary deliberately handled the ball in the penalty area in the 18th minute; the ensuing penalty kick was taken by Allistar Frank who struck the ball over the bar to the amazement of his team members and supporters.

Ms. Brenda Harmon, Organising Committee Member, gave the vote of thanks and complimented Scotiabank and DDL for their support. Also singled out for special mention were the Min. of Education, Min. of Culture Youth & Sports, Guyana Football Federation, Guyana Football Referees Council, Guyana Football Coaches Association, the Press, the management team of the Min. of Education Ground, the heads of all the respective schools, teachers, parents, family members of the players, coaches, referees, spectators and supporters and the students themselves for making this venture a success.

The Competition continues in Georgetown on Sunday with one game which features Lodge Secondary and Charlestown clash in a female encounter commencing at 09:30 hrs at the Min. of Education ground.

Action moves to the (Continued on page 29)

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Webster upstages Dinanath to claim Hadi’s Golf tournament

Page 35

Bounty Farm Ltd on board this Sunday’s GMR&SC Race Meet

Bounty Farm Ltd representative Roger Perreira hands over the cheque to GMR&SC Desiree Lee recently.

The respective top performers in last Saturday’s Hadi’s Golf tourney display their prizes. Overall winner Shonella Webster is 2nd right.

The magnificent performance of Mohanlall (Santo) Dinanath, paring the course with a gross score of 70, a rare feet among Golf players at the Lusignan Golf Club, was over-shadowed by players Chatterpaul Deo, Shonella Webster, Brian Hackett, Mike Gayadin who each ended with net 66 in the Hadi’s Worldwide Inc.

medal play tournament, last Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club.

As was predicted in the lead up to the competition the field was wide open and it took several count backs of the the back nine scores, to declare Shonella Webster winner of the first place trophy, with Mike Gayadin second and Brian Hackett

third. The best female player with the lowest gross was Joann Deo with a gross of 94 with “Santo” Dinanath capturing the prize for the best gross with his superb 70 as well as the nearest to the pin prize for the ball closest to the hole on the par 3 hole No. 4.Mark Chung r e p r e s e n t i n g H a d i ’s Worldwide Inc.

congratulated all the winners and said that he was happy to see so many players and spectators in attendance, and promised a repeat sponsorship next year.

Club captain Chatterpaul Deo noted that many new players are coming out and was pleased to see Dino Bissessar and Richard Haniff among players in the field.

New Era Entertainment Futsal semifinals on tonight

T

he New Era Entertainment, Cell Smart, Mackeson Futsal tournament has reached its semifinal stage, which will be contested tonight at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Hard court in Linden.

The first semifinal game kicks off at 7:00pm with Bloomerdale Russians clashing with Hustlers, while at 8:00pm an exhibition game featuring Promoters vs Top Class will add to the entertainment.

The second semifinal is fixed for 9:00pm and will be a meeting between Silver Bullets and Hard Knocks. The final of the tournament will be played on the March 22nd at the MSC Hard Court.

Silver Bullets will hope to stamp their mark on the tournament despite challenges from the other sides.

Bounty Farm Ltd added its name to the list of corporate entities to offer support for this Sunday’s Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) Race Meet when Company Representative Roger Perreira handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to Race Secretary Desiree Lee recently.Lee after receiving the support thanked the Company on behalf of the club, while

reminding that the entity has been a consistent supporter of motor racing over the years.

Meanwhile, the country’s top racers in all the different categories will be on show along with competitors from the Caribbean and the USA. Some twenty-seven races are carded for the day and qualifying will be done shortly before the start of the first event.

Fruta Conquerors One Love Reloaded football competition

Preparations going steadily apace for qualitative tournament It’s just a week to the launching of the 7th edition of Fruta Conquerors / NAMILCO / One Love Reloaded football competition, scheduled to kick off at the Tucville Ground Sunday March 23 next, and the organizers are sparing no effort to stage a qualitative tournament’ President of the Fruta Conquerors FC, Wayne Forde, said that his team is engaged in infrastructural and other works and are feverishly addressing their tasks to spruce up the ground f o r S u n d a y ’s o p e n i n g ceremony.

“We have managed to secure the services of Courtney Benn Contracting Service, through the intervention of Odinga Lumumba, to roll the ground and provide other auxiliary services,” said Forde. He expressed gratitude to his benefactor and assured that

Wayne Forde every bit of assistance is appreciated.

Sixteen of the nation’s best football teams will engage in the march past ceremony at around 16:00hrs on Sunday and the occasion will be graced by Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds and several bigwigs of (Continued on page 29)

t r o Sp

Guyanese players dominate Trinidad’s ‘Silver Bowl’ - Edghill strikes gold thrice, Britton at his best

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Shemar Britton

Chelsea Edghill and Idi Lewis

Taylor guides Windies Gayle, Santokie deliver warm-up win to warm-up triumph P.32

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Chris Gayle

Stafanie Taylor

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