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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Change attitudes to embrace civilians in your midst By Dale Andrews Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has called for attitudinal changes within the Guyana Police Force to accommodate the employment of 10 civilians within the midst of senior management of the organization. He was referring to imminent employment of the civilians as counterparts at the senior levels to facilitate the smooth and effective implementation of the Force’s Strategic Plans. His call comes amidst mixed reactions within the Guyana Police Force following the initial announcement made on December 31, 2012, when the Minister outlined his long term security plans. The Minister repeated the plan to employ the civilians while addressing officers at their annual conference last week Thursday, pointing out that having civilians employed in their midst is another critical aspect of the reform process. “Historically, except for instances when civilian specialists in the Finance Department and a few other areas, along with barrack (room) labourers were
- Rohee tells Police Officers employed by the Force, all employees of the Guyana Police Force have been generally sworn ranks. “This matter is so critical that there is no window of opportunity for any experiment to be undertaken at this time by anyone,” Rohee stated. According to him, it would therefore be necessary for the management of the Guyana Police Force to take deliberate steps to ensure that the 10 persons are given the space to function within the terms of reference of their employment and for the Guyana Police Force to be receptive to the circumstances under which these civilians are to be engaged. “It is not unusual for civilians to be employed by modern day Police Forces. Internationally, it has been accepted that it is better in some instances to employ civilian specialists to satisfy specific requirements of the Police Forces,” the Minister explained. While the Force has widely embraced the concept, there is still some skepticism, especially among the middle and lower level of
the Guyana Police Force. Ever since the December announcement, there has been a lot of talk within the force about the civilian component. “We are subject to certain rules within the Force while they (civilians) will not be. Civilians come with a civilian mentality, while policemen have a police mentality. It will be a bit challenging but we are open to it,” one middle level rank told this newspaper. Within recent times the relationship between civilians and the police have been strained, a situation that stems from distrust for the law enforcement officers. A senior police rank explained that the civilians will not be involved in the day to day management of the force. Rather they will only guide officers who are not versed in certain aspects of management. “The police should not see the civilians as coming to take over their work. What the minister is trying to do is to create an environment that would allow for a harmonious working relationship between the police and the civilians,” the officer stated.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee interacts with retired police Deputy Superintendent Ingrid Wiltshire. He however noted that there will be some areas that may cause some discontentment. “Civilians are getting more money for the same work,” he explained, while stressing that. “The civilians also have to understand that they are
in a different environment.” According to Minister Rohee, the Guyana Police Force has embarked on an exciting course at this phase of its history. “I urge you to embrace the changes that will and must come in the Force. We are
living in a dynamic world and we must respond to the changes that are taking place around us.” Kaieteur News understands that the civilian engagement within the force may not be for more than three years.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Private media protest unfair distribution of radio licences
KN staffers demonstrating outside the newspaper’s Charlestown offices yesterday Premised on the notion of “if you don’t stand up for something you will fall for anything,” staffers of this publication yesterday took to the streets in protesting mode to further express concerns about the recently publicised unfair distribution of radio licences. Led by Publisher, Mr Glenn Lall, the peaceful demonstration which commenced shortly after 10:00 hours, and lasted approximately two hours, attracted the support of several passersby and equally concerned citizens. Strategically positioned in front of the 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown offices, the KN staffers were soon joined by several other representatives from private media entities including Editor-In-Chief of Capitol News, Mr Enrico Woolford, and Mr Charles Griffith of HBTV Channel Nine. Private individuals were also in solidarity and did not fail to voice their concerns as well during the activity which soon attracted the attention of the Guyana Police Force who sought to ensure that the flow of traffic was not impeded. The vibrant exercise saw protesters expressing disgust over former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s unfair manner of distributing radio licences. In articulating his frustration over the process, Lall, who had in fact applied several years ago for a radio licence, disclosed that the protest action was intended to deliver a clear message of awareness to those who really care about this nation, about the direction in which it is heading. “I initiated this demonstration because my constitutional right, with respect to radio and TV licences, has been violated. To put it in a nutshell...I am insulted,” Lall emphatically
stated. He stressed that the action was prompted by revelations in the National Assembly by the Prime Minister, of various inexplicable allotments of radio and television licences by Jagdeo, days before he demitted office in 2011. Although attempts were previously made to ascertain to whom these licences were granted, there were efforts to treat the state of affairs as a “state secret,” Lall categorically asserted. He pointed out that it took one and a half years before the truth surfaced, and this only came about after moves by the opposition to demand answers in the National Assembly. “Only then this nation, including myself, became aware of who were granted and what was granted. Like myself and other media owners you also may be at a loss having heard the names and companies that were granted. The Mirror and Guyana Times newspapers were each granted five radio channels while Kaieteur and the Stabroek News, the two leading independent newspaper entities, were told to reapply if they are still interested. Could you believe this? How could any sane person justify this?” Lall asked. Insisting that due process was clearly not followed, Lall turned his attention to the fact that entities who have not been in the business for any significant period of time were readily granted licences in front of the likes of Channel Two, Six, Seven, Nine and Thirteen, all of which were in business for as long as television has been in Guyana. “Something is definitely wrong in this country. They are leading us up a gum tree and taking us for granted. What do we do next? What do you think the
The protesters display their placards to the passersby people of this country expect of us as media owners? To sit and take it? No way! Are we to sit and watch a handful of persons take over and influence our lives and those of our children? I don’t think so. I will not,” the Kaieteur News publisher stated categorically. Lall then directed his ire to the fact that cable licences were granted to two of the former President’s close friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong. He sought to explain that with a cable licence an individual or company could in fact “take over the phone industry and facilitate many television and radio channels even as it offers wireless internet services”. However, Lall made clear his conviction on that issue by stressing that all is not as it seems and people should be cognizant of this. “Do you really believe that Vishok (Persaud) and Brian Yong are the owners of those two cable licences? No. Like Mr Omkar Lochan, they are just fronts for former and present government officials.” E-Networks, operated by Persaud, had reportedly
started business the same month it was handed a cable licence and Yong started setting up a similar business, two years prior to when he obtained his licence. “Does that tell you a story? This situation was planned well in advance and executed to perfection. It is discriminatory when you can give so much to your friends,
family and party officials and disregard us who have been in this business for almost 20 years,” a passionate Lall affirmed. “The whole process can be regarded as nothing more than an orchestrated plot by Jagdeo to control the county’s airwaves with the primary aim of putting independent media houses
out of business. If my colleagues wither or flatten out, I am one who will stand up for what is rightfully mine. Kaieteur News will go to the length and breadth of this country to fight this injustice,” said Lall who concluded that “they have not been fair to us because they are afraid of just and fearless people.”
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Chavez and our debt relief The debt-burden albatross on the necks of our Caricom partners has risen to the fore over the past two years. Guyana was once in an even more desperate situation not so long ago. Debt relief was one of the signal achievements of the present PPP regime. However, as is to be expected in such mammoth international tasks, it takes a tremendous number of players to bring matters to a successful conclusion. On the passing of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, an incident has surfaced that explains he had a critical role in the cancellation of a large chunk of Guyana’s debt: US$467 million from the Inter-American Development Bank. The story is told by Greg Grandin in “The Nation” of March 5, 2013, in the obituary “On the legacy of Hugo Chávez “. “When I met Chávez in (September) 2006 after his controversial appearance in the UN, (where he called US President Bush “the Devil’) it was at a small lunch at the Venezuelan consulate. Danny Glover was there, and he and Chávez talked the possibility of producing a movie on the life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, the former slave who led the Haitian Revolution. Also present was a friend and activist who works on the issue of debt relief for poor countries. At the time, a proposal to relieve the debt owed to the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) by the poorest countries in the Americas had stalled, largely because mid-level bureaucrats from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil opposed the initiative. My friend lobbied Chávez to speak to Lula and Argentina’s President Néstor Kirchner, another of the region’s leftist leaders, and get them to jumpstart the deal. Chávez asked a number of thoughtful questions, at odds with the provocateur on display on the floor of the General Assembly. Why, he wanted to know, was the Bush administration in favour of the plan? My friend explained that some Treasury officials were libertarians who, if not in favour of debt relief, wouldn’t block the deal. Chávez then asked why Brazil and Argentina were holding things up. Because, my friend said, their representatives to the IDB were functionaries deeply invested in the viability of the bank, and they thought debt abolition a dangerous precedent. We later got word that Chávez had successfully lobbied Lula and Kirchner to support the deal. In November 2006, the IDB announced it would write off billions of dollars in debt to Nicaragua, Guyana, Honduras and Bolivia (Haiti would later be added to the list). And so it was that the man routinely compared in the United States to Stalin quietly joined forces with the administration of the man he had just called Satan, helping to make the lives of some of the poorest people in America just a bit more bearable.” A month later, on November 17 2006, an IADB press release announced “At a meeting of the Committee of the Board of Governors of the (IADB) in Washington, DC, The Committee of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank today announced that its members reached an agreement on a framework for debt relief for Bolivia, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua... The Committee of the Board of Governors will meet in January 2007 in Amsterdam to define technical details for the implementation of the new debt reduction framework.” In January of 2007, the US$467 million of debt was cancelled in full for Guyana as part of an overall package that cancelled US$4.4 billion in total debt to the five named countries. And so in addition to the relief provided to Guyana for our oil supply through the PetroCaribe facility, the rice contract that has made Venezuela the largest single market for our rice and the placing of the Venezuelan claim to Essequibo on the back burner, the late Hugo Chavez played a role in our debt relief. All Guyanese should salute this champion of the poor of this region and beyond.
Friday March 22, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Leadership styles vary DEAR EDITOR, I have been reading with interest the scholarly articles on LEADERSHIP written by our friend Dr Anand Goolsarran. My understanding is that these are written in the context of Dr Goolsarran’s worthy ‘watch on accountability’; however, it appears that they went beyond that focus and in the process seem to have overlooked a few essential angles of leadership which are pertinent to our current situation. With full appreciation and respect for Dr Goolsarran’s work and in an attempt, vain perhaps, to complement same, I ask that you kindly add the following to the discourse on leadership which is based on my own study of this important subject: “THERE IS NO ONE BEST STYLE OF LEADERSHIP” The Contingency Theory approach This theory suggests that there is no one, universally determined model for effective leadership; the situational variables should determine the best. For example, in an emergency situation an autocratic, dictatorial style becomes imperative; but in a normal or stable situation, a more democratic, participative style might be more effective. The contingency theory emphasizes the need for flexibility based on the “perspective which argues that leaders must adjust their style in a manner consistent
with aspects of the context.” (Huczynski and Buchanan 2007: 710) “The flexible style” demands that the leader acts in consonance with situational dynamics; hence, ironically if there is one ‘best style’ it is the one that is a non-constraining, nonbureaucratic, variable style which gives the leader carte blanche to change his approach, having regard to the extant circumstances; and of course in accordance with the dictates of rational, legitimate leadership. Leadership Styles It has been suggested that there are as many leadership styles as there are leaders. While this might be an exaggeration to underscore a point, it is perhaps true that as individuals, no two leaders are alike. Management writers have grouped tendencies and traits that allow for broad categorization of many individual styles. The more common of these categorizations include the following which flow from the seminal work of Weber (1905), Lewin, Lippit, and White (1939), Burns (1978) et al; (a) The Charismatic Leadership style reflecting the ‘personal’ qualities of the leader, his/her self-belief from which is projected flair, passion, enthusiasm and energy. The fortunes of the organization are intimately tied to the presence of the leader so that the organization can go down if the charismatic leader goes out. (b) The Participative / Democratic / Consultative
style This style encourages full and continuing involvement of the entire “team” in the decisionmaking processes. Motivation is internally generated as team members feel empowered as opposed to the ‘dependency’ engendered by the charismatic leader. (c) The Transformational style This style is visionary, inspirational and highly motivational. The leader uses well-developed communication skills to get people to “buy into” his/her vision and objectives, to exercise delegated authority and manage allocated resources effectively while the leader ‘develops and sells’ new valueadding initiatives as ‘the change agent extraordinaire’ of the organization. (d) The ‘Flexible’ or ‘Situational’ style While the leadership styles mentioned above (and others not discussed herein) are anchored more in the traits and personal characteristics inherent in ‘the leader’, this objective style is based on the dynamics of the situation. It is anchored in the ‘Contingency Theory’ developed by Hersey and Blanchard (1988), who proposed that “successful leaders are those who can adapt their behavior to meet the demands of their own unique situation” Critique of the flexible / situational leadership style (a) Positives: The biggest plus factor of this style is its commonsensical, pragmatic, easily-understood appeal; the need for ‘flexibility’ in leadership and recognition of the contextual / situational
imperatives cannot be discounted. This positive ‘feeling’ is also supported by objective, empirical studies. For example, Daniel Coleman (2000) reports on Hay McBer’s research involving 4,000 executives in a worldwide sample. Coleman concluded that the most effective leaders were those “who are able to switch styles as the situation commands”. (b) Negatives: The effectiveness of this style depends on the leader’s ability to correctly diagnose “the situation” and respond timely and appropriately. The ability of the leader to do so is critically circumscribed by other significant “dimensions of context”, such as the organization culture, working condition, external economic factors, organization design and technology, the expectations of others above and below in the organizational hierarchy as well as their potential perception of a leader who changes his approach often might be interpreted as fickleness or even instability to which they cannot relate easily. There seems to be a crying need for a new paradigm of pragmatism and flexibility; for ethical leaders who can apply common sense to commonly recurring situations. The growing numbers of ‘gurus’ going down the drain and dragging down industry, commerce, country and the common man with them in the so-called “race to the bottom” cannot continue. Nowrang Persaud
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Keep alcohol out of Hindu holidays DEAR EDITOR, Our letter is penned to the legislators and the public with regard to some of the issues we as a Hindus feel need urgent attention and redress. In Guyana, Hinduism, one of the main religions, seem to be treated with disrespect and disregard by the old fashioned laws of Guyana and existing policies. We call for the amendment of these archaic laws to address issues which plague us today! We have noted the following acts which defeat the freedom enshrined in our dear constitution. Ponder on the below mentioned for a while: 1. Designated National Hindu holidays are not given due moral support as the sale of alcohol, which contributes to the desecration of the sanctity of these festivals continues. Currently, the law only prohibits sale of alcohol on Good Friday. We call for the amendment of this law to include all religious holidays. 2. Hindu children and children of other religions are forced say Christian prayers at Government schools. We are asking for a Universal prayer or prayers of all the major faiths to be said at schools. 3. Hindu/Indian music is ridiculed and sometimes banned from the school
settings. But look at the type of music permitted and played at school sports and parties! 4. Hindu art forms and culture are not encouraged at the school level. 5. No time –off is granted for worship by Hindu employees on sacred days such as Ramnavmi, Shivratri.etc. The matters affecting the sentiments of Hindu followers in this country continue to persist. Chapter III, Article 40 of the Schedule to the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,[4] intituled Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual, provides as follows: 40. (1) Every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a happy, creative and productive life, free from hunger, disease, ignorance and want. That right includes the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. How can Hindus acknowledge that they enjoy freedom of religions, expressed as freedom of conscience when they cannot enjoy their festivals in peace? How can Hindus say they are allowed to fully participate in their religion, if employers do not recognize and respect the rights of their employees in matters relating to their
DEAR EDITOR, Really? Really? Did my eyes deceive me or did I see a call in Guyana by Guyanese to come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish celebration. Certainly this must have been by and for the over overwhelmingly large contingent of Irish residing in Guyana. If not, then God help us. Are we that hard up for a party that we are just pulling holidays out of the air? What is the connection between Guyana, Ireland and St.
Patrick? Who was St. Patrick? What did he do? I wonder if these “celebrates” can tell me this without going and Google it. The things that Guyanese should be emulating from the developed world, they are not. It is sad. Why am I ranting about this? Maybe the Irish in Ireland had a good time when they celebrated Mashramani. I feel the same way about Halloween. Talk Half and Hope Guyanese emulate the right things. Monty Chester
DEAR EDITOR, I refer to your headline of Thursday, 21st March, 2013 edition under the caption “Court halts construction of Robert Persaud’s Media Empire”. In your substantive article, you indicated that the bylaw states that no building can be used for manufacturing, trade or business East of Oronoque Street in Queenstown.
I wish to point out that Federal Management System has a large operation in Peter Rose Street. This includes a tower. I also noticed that another tower is being erected in a yard east of Peter Rose Street on the Southern side of Crown Street. Was permission granted for these? If so, is such permission valid? Wesley
Good Gracious, St Patrick’s Day?
Good News for Queenstown Residents
religion? With regard to the consumption of alcohol, we have noted the deliberate attempts to make our festivals impure by our fellow Guyanese. Only last year, this was evident. Along the East Canje Public Road, barbeques and vulgar music emanated from various groups who decided on the night of Deepavali to host street parties. How inappropriate were these acts? Private parties have now adopted a renewed
definition, as “parties kept on the roads”. Imagine people’s freedom of movement was trampled upon, the profanity on Deepavali was perpetrated. Lives were lost in previous years as a result of these “road fairs” yet no one sees it fit or as a moral obligation to society to protect the sacrosanct nature of Deepavali by prohibiting the granting of licenses for these parties? Well, it is true what has happened has happened.
What will happen, we can decide! We therefore call on all Guyanese, all Legislators, all Members of Parliament, all Government Ministers, especially the Ministers of Culture and Home Affairs to act to prohibit the sale, distributions, consumption of alcohol on all Hindu National Holidays. The Christians enjoy the benefit of the law on Good Friday, why can’t the Hindus? We have noted the repeated calls made by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic
Sabha and other letter writers who condemn alcohol consumption and sales especially at these observances, but we believe it is time for someone to listen. The Sabha has commendably ensured that all its events are alcohol free. In fact, other religious communities should emulate this policy from the Sabha in an attempt to curb the disease of alcohol abuse. The Sabha has made strident calls over the year for the amendment Continued on page 7
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Sugar performance in 2012 DEAR EDITOR, Every year I give my analysis of how our sugar Industry performed in the previous year, here is my report for 2012. All estates are showing signs of poor labour turnout. In 2012 the industry showed the factories standing idle, out of cane and not grinding, during the first and second crops, a total of 10,527 hours. The actual time the factories worked during the year was 21,623 hours this means that due to an acute shortage of labour to cut the cane the factories were standing idle 50 per cent of the time during the crops waiting for the cane to be delivered, needless to say that during a substantial part of this time the factory’s workers had to be paid for standing by doing nothing. This alone prompts one to ask why are we struggling with this inefficient and costly industry which we are keeping alive because we are providing work for people who do not exist. It is clear from these figures that for GuySuCo to survive more factories have to be closed or more efficient methods of delivering the cane to the
factories must be developed. This is entirely the fault of the government who should have been aware since 2000 that the workers were migrating away from the industry. In addition, beginning in 2006 the European Union [EU] had started paying the development fund to Guyana which was our compensation for the loss of the preferential price for sugar in the EU markets. The understanding was that this money was supposed to be used to make the industry more efficient and competitive and a substantial part of it should have been used to start the expensive process of converting the land for mechanical harvesting, on all estates, to offset the loss of workers. This money was never released to GuySuCo and as recently as 2008 in a GuySuCo document called “Revised Commentary on Capital Budget 2008”[two years after the compensation to enhance the efficiency of the corporation had started to flow from the European Union] we see the following:
“the limited availability of funds in 2007 saw the factory investments limited to less than G$350 million instead of the G$1.35 Billion requested; and in 2008 the factories asked for $5.6 billion to do their capital works but were only given $2.34 billion, less than half what they needed. The Board of GuySuCo noted in its summary of the 2008 capital cuts that “this starvation of funds will significantly restrict management’s ability to achieve their objectives outlined in the GuySuCo strategy plans”. These were substantial amounts of compensation paid to Guyana starting from 2006 and between 2006 to 2012 the total amount paid was $24.7 billion but GuySuCo got none of it. In 2012 GuySuCo finally got a subvention of around $5 billion from the annual budget but the question remains, today we have a poorly functioning sugar industry which had never received any of the $24.7 Billion released to the Government of Guyana to rehabilitate and make competitive the Guyana sugar
industry and was high jacked by the government to the detriment of the industry and the Guyana cane farmers who were entitled to their share of this money. Robert Persaud, then Minister of Agriculture, should explain what was done with this money and why it was not spent where it was supposed to be spent in the sugar industry which starved as it was for funds has caused it to collapse in this manner in 2012! Given this government propensity for incompetence and corruption the money was clearly wasted on grandiose projects which cannot bring wealth to the nation or its people. The Skeldon factory still shows signs of being a very bad investment, the factory has been literally throttled [as in strangled] down to grind at a rate of 196 tons cane an hour when in fact it was designed to operate efficiently at 350 tons an hour. The effects of this is apparent in its performance; the tons of cane to make a ton of sugar in 2012 at Skeldon was 16.29 whilst just next door Albion only took 10.52
tons of cane to make a ton of sugar, Skeldon therefore took 64.6% more cane to make a ton of sugar than Albion. One cannot buy and build a 350-ton per hour factory and grind at 196 tons per hour, the mills, the power generation depending on bagasse, the vessels for boiling the juice etc. all are underutilised operating at only around 56 per cent of their rated capacity and must have a very substantial effect on the economics of running this costly and inefficient factory, and it is showing. Also incredibly at Skeldon the amount of grinding time lost for mechanical reasons at the factory was 550.51 hours. During 2012 the time lost at all the other estate factories for the entire year 2012 was 2130.55 hours, so this brand new alleged state of the art factory accounted for 25 per cent of the total factory downtime in the entire industry! All the other factories combined recorded a total of only 1580 hours. The total industry production for the year 2012 was 218,069 tons, the lowest in over two decades. The
production of the Skeldon factory was a total of 33,309 tons of sugar; Albion, for example, produced 54,022 tons. By this time, according to all of GuySuCo’s projections, this factory should be producing 100,000 tons of sugar, the disaster that is the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project [SSMP] continues to be an unachievable and therefore expensive goal, and the time has come to ask if it is viable? At the very least a commission of enquiry should be set up to examine what has happened? and what is the way forward if in fact there is one. For example the losses of sugar at the Skeldon factory are frightening, sugar is haemorrhaging at this state of the art factory in massive quantities. In the filter press mud 1.18 per cent of the sugar is lost, the highest in the industry. Albion, for example, was 0.51 per cent, in the molasses 17.49 per cent is lost again the highest in the industry. Albion for example is 9.40 per cent, the undermined losses at Continued on page 7
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
A most noisy situation DEAR EDITOR, Noise seems to be the norm in our society today. You can hear loud music emanating from minibuses, taxis and other privately owns vehicles. Even some lorries that are used for hauling building and construction materials are having huge boom boxes installed. You can hear loud music coming from house parties, bar-b-ques, street dances, village fun days, functions held by government and political parties, sometimes even in once quiet neighbourhoods there seems to be competition between neighbours for the trophy of the bigger noise maker, not forgetting the religious bodies. A few days ago I attended an event where microphones were being used and everything was going well until the speaker took to the stage. It seemed as if he had his own microphone which was turned up higher that every other one. Within five seconds of what I would call yelling on the microphone I got a headache and my ears started ringing. To avoid further discomfort I plugged my ears with my fingers and eventually walked out the building. The troubling thing for me is that the people in that building all seemed either comfortable or helpless, as if no one could put an end to this madness. People meet in that building at least once per week as far as I am aware, to listen to that same gentleman, and they carry along their babies and little children.
Have they ever stopped to think what will happen to their ear drums by the time they are teenagers? Maybe they are saving their monies to purchase hearing aids and pay for treatment for heart related diseases that will follow. As I walked out the compound, I passed by a group of women chatting among themselves and overheard one of them saying that she could not understand half of what this gentleman said because he shouted and yelled too much. I recall speaking to one of the older men of this said group about this matter and he said the man has a big voice. So my response is if he has a big voice, don’t give him a microphone or if he has to use one, then turn the volume down. Simple. There are times when I can hear the music of churches blocks away and people are in those buildings enjoying that noise. My personal belief, which I think can be substantiated by scriptures, is that we have to care our bodies and the level of noise that we entertain in our daily lives is destroying our bodies. People need to stand up and speak out. I did a little research on this matter and here is a tiny bit of what I found out about excessive noise, other than losing your hearing. High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects in humans, a rise in blood pressure, an increase in stress and vasoconstriction, and an increased incidence of coronary artery disease. Sheldon S. Seabra
Keep alcohol out of... From page 5 of the law to prohibit the sale of alcohol on all religious holidays and not only Good Friday. Our society is rapidly becoming the loser in the alcohol abuse battle, perhaps; simply we have not yet matured fully to see that the cons far outweigh the pros. Look at the embarrassing scenario recently involving the students of a Berbice school. Take a visit to our school sports, which should rightfully be called ‘school party’. Students and attendees are intoxicated alike. Therefore, as we look at the current nasty trend involving alcohol and our youths, we need to make a start now to break it up! We, again reiterate our call for all Hindu National Holidays to be declared a “dry day”, meaning no
alcohol beverage must sold and those culpable must be made to feel brunt of the law. We also call on all Guyanese to respect Phagwah, Diwali and other religious holidays and not to engage in acts such as consumption of alcohol which only seek to desecrate these sacred days. Remember: Besides a happy policy as to civil government, it is necessary to institute a system of law and jurisprudence founded in justice, equity, and public right.( Ezra Stiles). This Holi will test the maturity of our Policy makers and the larger Guyanese society on the alcohol issue. Let us respect each other! Submitted by the Members of the Golden OM Dharmic Youth Organization, (Reliance Settlement, East Berbice)
My human rights record is beyond reproach DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Lincoln Lewis’s letter in the Thursday March 21 issue of KN. He wrote; “When he (Freddie) was in good stead with the PPP administration.” My praxis would show that I was never ever in good stead with the PPP administration. It is not in my chemistry to support ethnic parties in power in Guyana and ethically based parties. I have never ever gone on record as supporting either the PNC or the PPP. Shortly after Dr. Jagan became President in 1992, I had three very unpleasant incidents with him and that marked the further deterioration in our relation stretching back to my WPA days. As soon as the PPP came to power corruption began to show its ugly head. My cousin, a customs officer, William Cox, was harassed by Fazil Ally (deceased), Chairman of the Rice Producers Association for questioning the value of a container of a well known Eccles businessman. Cox came to me. I wrote Dr. Jagan. The next day, Mrs. Jagan called my editor, Father Andrew Morrison to warn him about my Catholic Standard column being used to hurt the PPP government. The next one had to do with the dismissal of Malcolm Harripaul from the Fraud Squad by Finance Minister, Bharrat Jagdeo. I remonstrated heatedly with President Jagan because
Harripaul was a patriotic anticorruption public servant. The last one had to do with me openly telling President Jagan that he was deceptive when he told me that Clive Thomas had to apply for the UG vice Chancellor position. I told Jagan to his face that he, Jagan, was asking overseas Guyanese to come and occupy the most important position in the public sector without an application. During this time I was my usual critical self as a columnist with the Catholic Standard, the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News. After Mrs Jagan’s resignation as President, Moses Nagamootoo, asked me to work with him to democratize the state media. Moses Nagamootoo and I have shared a long, friendly relationship going way back to the seventies. When the PPP heard Moses had employed me, at a leadership meeting in Freedom House on November 18, 1999, Moses was given an edict to fire me. I denounced that meeting in my Kaieteur News column for which I was sued for libel by Mr. Ralph Ramkarran. I classified the meeting as evil. Mr. Ramkarran’s position that by extension I was saying that those who attended were evil made him believe that I libeled him. Finally, in 2000, I applied to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Sase Kowlessar, to change the model on my duty free car letter. The car came for a UG lecturer at the Berbice campus. Days later, the Minister
informed me that President Jagdeo informed him that he, Jagdeo, was the person to make that decision. I was entitled by law to pick another vehicle but President Jagdeo gave me the grand runaround for months until Minister Kowlessar took it upon himself and ordered the Secretary to the Treasurer to sign the changed letter. President Jagdeo never forgave Kowlessar for that intervention. This, then, is my relationship with the PPP administration since it came into power. Lincoln can speak for himself whether he had a better or worse relation with the PPP than me. But this I can tell Lincoln, when Raymond Gaskin earned his name as Rambo, advising Presidents Cheddi and Jagan Jagan and Finance Minister Jagdeo and firing African public
servants, this columnist was critical of him (see my Stabroek News column’s condemnation of Gaskin at the time). I should ask Lincoln what was his relation with Gaskin. Gaskin today is the Secretary (he was a few years back, appointed by Brother Lincoln) of the Critchlow Labour College On Benchop Radio, when Mark Benschop and I condemned Gaskin for his PPP servility, the guest of the programme, Lincoln Lewis, proudly proclaimed, “Gaskin is my friend”. I guess by extension Lincoln was a friend of the PPP. Maybe Lincoln should tell us if he thinks Robert Corbin was a friend of President Jagdeo and what was Lincoln’s position on Corbin at the time when all of Guyana was saying there was a close dealing between Corbin and Jagdeo. Frederick Kissoon
From page 6 Skeldon were 6.45 per cent again the highest in the industry. Albion for example was only 1.29 per cent. The boiling house recovery was also unacceptably low the boiling house efficiency was the lowest in the industry at 88.67 cent whilst Albion was 99.52 per cent, and the industry average was 97.40 per cent. The field data is equally depressing the yield per hectare of sugar at Skeldon was 2.81 tons the lowest in the industry Albion by
comparison yielded 5.35 tons sugar per in 2012, but compared to our recent 30 years average of 2.5tons per acre or 6.17 tons sugar per hectare, the industry average in 2012 was only five tons sugar per hectare. I won’t even try to show how this compares with Brazil and Australia but taken as a total around the planet the normal production average is more like 10 tons sugar per hectare. All in all a very dismal performance at all estates but especially at Skeldon. Anthony Vieira
Sugar performance...
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Magistrate traps unfaithful wife - Lover narrowly escapes jail Thirty-three year-old Nicola Clarke was yesterday fined $50,000 after she was caught in a string of lies based on a false accusation she made against a man with whom she had a “one-night stand.” Presiding over the matter was Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The accused, Bevon Mc Leod, a resident of Durban Street, Lodge, was a past lover of Clarke. He told the court that last Tuesday (March 19), he was asked by Clarke to visit her home at George Street, Georgetown, to help with some mechanical work with her car. The accused stayed there almost the entire day until Clarke, who he claimed he caught admiring him whilst he laboured on the car, asked for them to go for a drive. She then asked him to take her to a hotel. They bought some food and beverages and “had
a nice time” at the hotel. As they were leaving, Clarke spotted her husband’s friend and hid in the hotel for a few minutes. She then gave the car keys to Mc Leod and begged him to take the car away from the hotel and he did. When Clarke’s husband was informed of some strange man driving his wife’s car, he questioned her and she told him that she was robbed. Her husband then strongly advised that she report the matter. The matter was reported and the accused was arrested and charged for robbery under arms. Yesterday before the magistrate, Clarke stated that she wished to give no evidence with regard to the matter. Prosecutor Denise Booker asked for the case to be dismissed due to the fact that Clarke gave her a story that was similar to Mc Leod’s statements in private.
The Magistrate who became concerned with this false allegation, asked Clarke to take the stand. Clarke was asked why she wanted to drop the case and she said “I want to drop the case because I am leaving the country soon and I never told the prosecutor anything like that.” Prosecutor Booker objected to that falsehood as well and immediately called on another witness to testify that Clarke indeed told her a similar story. Clarke was caught in a sequence of lies and was cautioned by the Magistrate on how serious of an allegation she had made against an innocent man, and how she could have caused him to be “lost away in jail based on her lie to “cover up” her infidelity”. The complainant was fined and the case against the accused was subsequently dismissed.
Ezra Nedd, a 23-year-old resident of 71 Durban Street, Lodge, was yesterday remanded to prison for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. He appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Prosecutor Corporal Denise Booker , who revealed the facts of the police reports, which stated that on March 19 , about 17:00 hrs, police ranks were conducting a stop-and-search operation on Cemetery Road , when the defendant and occupants of
a vehicle were searched. The police found on the defendant, a black plastic bag which contained twelve tablets, suspected to be ecstasy. When the defendant was asked for a suitable reason to justify his being in possession of the narcotic, he allegedly replied, “Officer is for my personal use.” However, Nedd’s defence given to the court yesterday was drastically different to his initial statement to the police. Nedd, who pleaded not guilty, told the court “Yuh Worship I was walking down Cemetery Road, right, and I
see dis Ziploc bag with tablets inside and when I pick it up, I see the tablets look real nice and colourful, so I say it got to be sweetie and I put it in my pocket. Next ting yuh know, when I walking home now, the police stop me and search me and fine it pon me. I honestly thought it was sweetie, Yuh Worship.” Magistrate Lovell retorted “The moral of the story… don’t pick up strange tablets on the streets” Nedd was subsequently remanded to prison until his trial commences on April 22.
Orin McKenzie, a 31-yearold, who claims to be a resident of Paradise, East Coast Demerara, was called upon yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court to answer to the charges of assault, disorderly behaviour and damage to property. Presiding over the matter was Magistrate Sueanna Lovell, who read the charges to the defendant, all to which he pleaded not guilty.
According to police reports, the accused and his reputed wife were not on terms for some time and as such quarreled constantly. On March 16, the defendant saw the woman, Shonette Daly of Albouystown, eating at the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlet on Vlissengen Road. He approached her and enquired what she was doing there. The woman’s retort sparked an argument. In the heat of the quarrel, the
defendant is alleged to have pushed his wife into one of establishment’s glass windows worth $350,000. The police were summoned and the alleged assailant was detained and taken to the Kitty Police Station where he is also accused of having behaved disorderly. He was then charged for three offences. When asked for his address, the defendant told the court he is a resident of Paradise, but in his statement to the police at Kitty, he told them that he lives in Albouystown. On this basis, the court was not satisfied that the defendant had a fixed place of abode and he was subsequently remanded to prison until his next court appearance scheduled for April 22.
Lodge resident remanded, claims he mistook ‘Ecstasy’ for ‘sweetie’
Husband accused of pushing wife into KFC glass window
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 9
THE STRANGER NEXT DOOR As late as the early 1970s, when night fell, dinner was consumed and the children completed their homework, members of the household would usually sit either in the sitting room or on the verandah and discuss various matters, but mainly the events of the day. In those days there was no television and for news we relied upon the radio. But that was not the only source of information. Those members of the household who worked would return with their own stories and the tidbits of information they had picked up. Even the housewives who went to the market would also return with stories they had heard. At nights, families would sit together and share these stories. They would also find some time to read or play cards before retiring. These activities tended to bond the household and provided an environment in which everyone looked out for his or her own family. Sometimes while chatting on the verandah, you would look over and see your neighbour and his family doing the same. And you would exchange greetings and even discuss matters without having to leave your home.
That was one of the benefits of living in a traditional society. Everyone within a street knew each other. And within the home there were hardly any secrets and even when there was the odd dispute there was no shortage of people to bring the two disputants together. There was also a great deal of communal support. In any village, everyone got to know the other. Even within the towns, it was unusual for a resident to not know the households on the streets in which he lived. Thus, if someone had a problem, he could always appeal to his neighbours for support, which was almost always forthcoming. Such, also, were the benefits of living in a traditional society. There are many reasons why Guyanese survived the hard times of the late seventies and eighties. One of those reasons was due to the free exchange of information that took place within communities. If, for example, the then Guyana Stores would be selling cooking oil the following day and someone in the street got wind of this, that person would not keep this information to himself, but would pass it on to their neighbour.
Dem boys seh... Everything down except de Bees bank account Dem boys wake up de other morning and dem find everything down. GT&T BlackBerry messenger down; Digicel BlackBerry messenger down. When dem try de light switch GPL down. Was a pole fall down. Dem boys seh that de country gon shut-down. Police beating people down, the opposition lying down, Jagdeo run Guyana down, de ministers dem throwing li’l gyal down, Kwame running li’l boys down, and Neeaz throwing li’l children down. Mo Chinese coming down, health care down, GDF helicopters down, all systems fall down... So, yes tings in Guyana Tun Down. Oh yeah. Even Donald sit down and cry because he thing fall down. Dem boys seh that all who thief, dem property should bun down. Barbie radio station should shut down but the nice music he does play can stay on. De other day dem boys see Kwame pull he pants down and wha dem see at he back mek dem fall down. The Rat, Brazzy, and Barbie got Vishok and Brian putting cable down. Dem running all de cable pun de lamp pole like all over de country like if dem got transport fuh dem pole. That is why dem pole falling down. Brazzy telling dem fuh do that. De other day he sit down pun a chair in he office and he tumble down. De doctor did tell he fuh leh he weight go down, but whenever he see food he can’t help but sit down. Luncheon brains run down. He seh that people got to get experience in de media before dem can get radio licence. He seh that dem must have geographical consideration. That mean that dem got to live somewhere. Well dem boys seh that from de licence Ramroop and Robert get dem don’t live nowhere. Dem deh all about. Dem is de people who does cause border dispute. One of dem would cross de Takutu River and claim how Jagdeo give dem permission to transmit from anywhere. Luncheon tongue slip when he seh that Jagdeo use he discretion and give he friends five frequency apiece. Is now people understand wha it mean when people seh that a man ain’t got discretion. Luncheon mean that Jagdeo use selection rather than discretion.
And if one member was short of a scarce commodity and another had, you could bet the latter would share with the person in need. This was the sort of mutual support that helped to sustain Guyanese during the hard guava season. With economic liberalisation, things began to change. Liberalism is underpinned by the philosophy of personal initiative: that a man or a woman can become whatever he or she wants through his/ her own effort. Economic liberalism placed the interests of the community as secondary to the individual, and what we
had developing was a rat race, whereby everyone tried to improve his or her own lot without regard to the overall benefit of the community. In the process, social and communal ties which had helped to sustain us for so long began to fall apart. Communities became highly impersonal. And with this impersonality, residents have become strangers in their own villages. People do not mix as before and they also do not lend that degree of support that once existed. And this is one of the main reasons why each day we can pick up the newspaper and be horrified at
what we read. Each day we read about fights within villages, about one person stabbing another over a $500 bet, of neighbour breaking into the home of neighbour, and of friends betraying the trust of each other. Attempts can be made to reverse these negative trends through strengthening community ties, but this task will always remain difficult if liberalisation continues to be the guiding philosophy within the country. Everything cannot be left to the invisible hand of the market. We have got to return to those values which existed
in an earlier time, a time before television, when family members sat together and shared their experiences, their dreams and their fears, a time when a neighbour would come running to your rescue without being asked, and a time when having more than what your neighbour had was not as important as it is today.
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Freddie Kissoon Column
If you ask the average person who will win a snap election they are likely to answer in a peculiar way. It is likely to be that the PPP will get even fewer votes. The reception I have got since rumours of a snap poll began to circulate is that the average citizen does not feel that the AFC or APNU will triumph. But they don’t believe the PPP will win either. They believe that the PPP is still powerful so it will get more votes than their opponents, but they do not believe it will be a parliamentary majority. You can’t blame them.
After five consecutive victories, people feel the PPP cannot lose the presidency. After all, five times is powerful enough to convince John Public. You also have to put into the equation that despite some nasty years in power, the PPP still secured more votes individually than the AFC and APNU. Since the loss of a parliamentary majority, Guyanese are beginning to feel that the PPP is weakening. Factually the PPP had its strength cut down. It failed to go over the fifty percent mark. But how do the PPP leaders
feel? This is where psychology comes in. Since time immemorial, the ordinary human has been unable to understand what makes people with unlimited power tick. After more than two thousand years of civilization the situation remains the same. We mortal humans simply cannot comprehend the thinking of a leader who possesses enormous power over his/her subjects. In simple language, dictators are not people to whom logical analysis can be applied. On the cocktail circuit, in
the home, in the bars and restaurants, you can hear people say; “They want to call snap elections but they will lose again.” But the dictators inside of Freedom House will laugh at you or cynically dismiss your prediction. They don’t feel they will be defeated. The kings and queens of the Fourth Reich in Guyana operate on a different reality plain to the Guyanese people. Armed with money, television stations, radio stations, newspapers and an enormous network of an overlapping, overriding
network of trade union, cultural and religious organizations, the PPP monarchs inside the Fourth Reich deeply believe that a parliamentary majority can be obtained in a general election within the coming months. You and I know that the money and media and networks were all there last year but victory was denied and the margin of ignominy could have been larger if there weren’t forms of disheveled campaigning by both APNU and the AFC. This columnist believed that the AFC neglected Region Three and APNU didn’t use Herculean efforts to get out their Region Four constituencies. If these pitfalls were avoided, the PPP would have suffered a more embarrassing percentage reduction. So will the PPP call a general election this year or early next year? I believe it will. Here are my reasons. First, as history has shown with authoritarian structures, no one has the courage to tell strong-headed autocrats that popularity is waning. No communist or Nazi leader could have dared to say that during emergency meetings. The fear would have been too great. In fact, the fear of being demoted or victimized would have instantly deterred those willing to come forward. Secondly, group-think culture prevents second tier leaders from being frank and honest with their party seniors. In authoritarian systems, no one can think outside the box. Thirdly, and this is specific to the PPP, the messianic culture has
Frederick Kissoon imprisoned all PPP leaders. They are imbued with the gargantuan deception that they have been better leaders, are better rulers, the Guyanese people prefer them and history will be on their side. Cheddi Jagan and his party never thought for a fleeting moment that the PNC would have lasted in office from 1964 to 1992. Jagan thought so because history would favour him over the PNC. Fourthly, PPP monarchs seriously embrace the illusion that since the 2011 election, the AFC and APNU have lost support, recognition and respect. This thinking, of course, is not done in a comparative framework. In the war room inside the Fourth Reich, when meetings are called, each tsar and tsarina pour scorn on the opposition. The weaknesses and failings of the opposition are probably placed onto a big screen where everyone in the room is convoluted with uncontrollable laughter. No one will say that the opposition is falling and so are we so we have to restrategize. Of course not! How can anyone say that? Dictators cannot see reality. Failure to recognize reality has been the downfall of all dictators without exception. Look out for a national election soon.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Mid-morning blaze leaves 11 homeless in Albouystown By Zena Henry Quick action by the Guyana Fire Service yesterday prevented several houses in the Albouystown area from going up in flames after a suspected electrical fire engulfed a two-storey house at Lot 145 James and Victoria Streets. At least 11 family members, including one paralyzed man and six children, are now homeless. Residents related that at around 09:30 hours, an alarm was raised when smoke was seen emanating from the wooden upper flat of the building. They said that immediately after power had been restored following a ‘blackout’, the mishap occurred. Lisa Ashby, 24, said that she had just finished tidying her bedroom when she decided to tend to her paralyzed father who lived in the house’s concrete lower flat. Still in tears, Ashby said she had turned on the light in her father’s room when the electricity returned and seconds later, “I hear people shouting; ‘fire, fire’. So I run to the side step and see smoke coming from a room.” Ashby said she then ran back downstairs and aided her bedridden father out of the building. Vaughnray Ashby, 42, said that for the last 20 years, he has been paralyzed from the neck down. The tearful man, clad only in a bath towel said that it was the only of his possessions that was saved. While in a car, safely out of harm’s way, he related that he was rescued from the house by his daughter, who lifted him to safety. His sister, Carlene Ashby, said she was in the yard washing some clothes when the fire started. She recollected seeing smoke coming from the upper flat. Additional investigations, she said, showed that the smoke was coming from her niece’s room. “I ran upstairs to check on my niece and when I look I see smoke coming from her room.” Meanwhile, Eon Ashby
A tearful Vaughnray Ashby
Carlene Ashby (sitting) receives assistance from her neighbours
The upper flat of the house ablaze
Lisa Ashby said he lives in the upper flat with his partner and their children. He said that he left home around 07:30 hours to take his children to school and then proceed to work. Ashby recounted that some time after 09:00hours, he received a call notifying him that his home was on fire. The man said he immediately stopped what he was doing and headed to the scene. He said that when he arrived, he immediately grabbed a bucket and joined the firemen in dousing the fire. By that time, the upper flat of the house had already been completely destroyed, but the fire was “under control”. The lower flat suffered extensive damage and what was not destroyed by flames was damaged by water which was seen streaming out of the structure. Residents said the fire service arrived about 20
minutes after the fire started. Within 20 minutes of their arrival, the blaze was under control. Fire fighters initially battled the blaze alone as residents reasoned among themselves how dangerous it would be to even go close to the building as sporadic small explosions were heard. An electrical wire also caused panic and sent onlookers running to safety when it became severed. As the fire
died down, residents started to make themselves available in rendering assistance. Fortunately, the fire was contained to only the burning building. Adjacent structures were under threat, but focus had to be placed on saving a house on the opposite side of the street as the breeze sent the flames in that direction. Fear grew when the PVC guttering started to melt and the heat started to peel the
paintwork. Residents expressed shock at how quickly the house was destroyed. The Ashby family said nothing was saved except for the clothes on their backs. “Everything gone, television, laptop, fridge, every, everything done,” Carlene Ashby cried. While commenting on the mishap the woman fainted several times, and when conscious, she
could not control her emotions. “Is not me, I have somewhere I can take my children. Is my brothers and dem children I concern about,” she said, wailing even louder. Eon Ashby vowed that he would not let the disaster discourage him. “As soon as dis done… Once I can clear this out, if is tomorrow self, I gun see what I can do to bounce back.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Govt. breaks silence...
Jagdeo used discretion in granting licences – Dr. Luncheon Government finally broke its silence yesterday on embarrassing disclosures that former President Bharrat Jagdeo essentially gifted a number of radio and cable licences to his close friends and party members days before he left office, by saying that he used his “discretionary power”. But Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, failed to explain how Jagdeo arrived at those decisions. Not only was the ruling party’s newspaper, The Mirror, granted five frequencies, but Omkar Lochan, a Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Resources, under Minister Robert Persaud, was given the same number. Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, also received a similar number. It is unclear what special criteria were used by the former President that placed Ramroop’s application above that of more established media entities. The licences would effectively, in the absence of other players, give the government and its affiliates total control throughout the country as far as radio coverage is concerned. This permission granted to the favoured entities by Jagdeo to broadcast, would have come days before he was due to end his constitutional term and before the November 2011 General and Regional
Omkar Lochan, Deputy PS of the Natural Resources Ministry
Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo
Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop
Dharamkumar Seeraj, PPP/C MP and representative of The Mirror
Elections. Several prominent media houses, like the independently-owned Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, which had applications for the licences were, without explanation, ignored. Yesterday, several private media houses and worried newspaper vendors gathered at the headquarters of Kaieteur News, in Charlestown, and conducted a peaceful picketing exercise. (See story on Page 3) It is widely believed now that those media houses, among them WRHM Channel 7; CNS TV Channel 6, HBTV Channel 9 and GWTV Channel 2, were overlooked because of their criticisms and reports of corruption over time on government projects. Luncheon, during his weekly press briefing yesterday, insisted that Jagdeo’s granting of the
licences had to do with the fact that the previous administration had committed to breaking the monopoly of the radio airwaves held by the state. “That, to us, and the enlightened Guyanese, is the most incisive of events surrounding this entire matter. Cabinet felt that this aspect is inadequately addressed in the media,” the spokesman said. Luncheon, in seeking to explain how some persons received more frequencies than others, said that “geographic considerations influenced frequency allocations.” Government and the Opposition had agreed for no new television and radio licences to be granted until new regulations were in place and a special body established to assess applications for TV, radio and
other frequencies. This was to ensure a level playing field that would have allowed other players to enter the market. In 2011, new broadcasting legislation was passed in the National Assembly and assented to by Jagdeo on September 27. However, days before he demitted office, he granted the radio licences. While the former President has immunity from prosecution, the Opposition and affected media houses are now examining their legal options. Yesterday, Luncheon said that the discretionary powers used by the former President is under the old Postal and Telegraph Act, which preceded the newer Broadcast Act of 2011 that replaced it. However, critics said that while Jagdeo or any President, for that matter, enjoys immunity from
prosecution, morally he should not have approved the licences under his powers as the Minister of Communication and Information. What made it worse is that the licences went to Jagdeo’s close friends and mostly party members. Also criticised is that the fact that he refused to wait until the Broadcast Authority came into being. The Broadcast Act was signed in September 2011. The Broadcast Authority was not established until August 2012. Luncheon also said that government was not “interested in removing the monopoly” to the satisfaction of the media or the applicants. Rather, the interest was more in breaking the monopoly, because of a commitment made. In sending a signal that the government is willing to diffuse growing anger over
the issue, Luncheon assured that more licences are being processed. The Donald Ramotar administration has been under severe pressure to reverse some of the negative images that overshadowed the ruling party in the leadup to the 2011 elections. In addition to the questionable deals sealed almost at the eve of the elections, Jagdeo had rocky relations with many of the independent media houses. President Ramotar has made it clear that he will not be deviating from the developmental course of Jagdeo. There have been accusations that the radio licences granted are part of a bigger plan by members and close supporters of the ruling party to take over the media and telecommunications sector.
Teachers undergoing training at Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana (UG) will now be further equipped to utilize computers as teaching tools to meet the demands of a globalised world. Two computer labs at CPCE and one at UG were commissioned yesterday by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand. The realization of these laboratories is part of the Ministry’s 2008-2013 Strategic Plan funded by the World Bank. Delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony at UG’s Education Lecture Theatre, Manickchand said that the plan sets out to have 50 percent of primary and 75 percent of secondary schools across the country computerised. Further, schools that already have laboratories will be equipped with computers and necessary devices by the
end of the year. And, the Ministry will seek to build laboratories in schools that do not have accommodation. She related that the Ministry is “opening-up the world to teachers” by providing a scope of learning that was not traditionally offered. “Not all necessary information could be disseminated in an eight-hour working day, and as such, access to the worldwide web will help to support the education system.” When teachers graduate from UG with the Bachelor of Education Degree at the School of Education and Humanities they will be equipped with technological skills. Already 5,000 teachers have been trained in Information and Communications Technology. Echoing sentiments of a drama piece done by Lecturer Michael Khan at the event,
Manickchand said that teaching techniques around the world have evolved and educators in Guyana can no longer afford to “teach Arithmetic in the morning and spelling in the afternoon”. She urged the teachers to utilise the facilities Government is providing to move the students ahead. While touring the lab located at classroom J33 in the top floor of the Education and Humanities building, UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, observed that the computers do not have web cameras or built-in cameras. He pointed out that the cameras should be a part of the computer system to enable teachers to record themselves conducting lessons which could either be uploaded to YouTube for students’ learning sessions or be submitted to lecturers for grading purposes.
Dr. Roger Luncheon
Teachers at CPCE, UG beneficiaries of computer labs
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Inaugural Leonora Training Centre batch graduates A section of the graduating class of 2012
Best graduating student, Sheena Goodridge
As 140 youths graduate from the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre at Groenveldt, its Administrator, Ms. Chung Hinds, warned that the entity is not a “dropout” centre. Her statement stemmed from the fact that although being in operation for just over one year, the centre has already recorded a 45 percent dropout rate. Hinds pointed out that
she is extremely satisfied with the results, and is proud of those who chose to stay and endure the hard work. Of the 253 persons who initially started, 61 were female. The courses undertaken by the students included Agri-Mechanic, Carpentry, Data Operations, Electrical Installation, General Office Administration (Office Clerk), Metal Work Engineering, Motor Vehicle Repairs (Cars
and Light trucks), and welding. Despite it being known that these technical areas are male dominated, it was a female who was named the best graduating student of the institution. She is Sheena Goodridge who pursued Metal Work Engineering, something that the young lady loves to do, without even thinking twice about breaking a nail, or getting her clothes
all greasy. In speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, the ecstatic youngster noted that she worked had, putting her best effort in becoming the best graduating student. She revealed that she is already attached to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). She is undergoing a programme there, and it is likely that she will soon become an employee.
Goodridge is aiming at making a thriving career out of Metal Work Engineering, as working with machines is her passion. The other graduates described their time at the institution as one that has taught them many things, and has prepared them for the world of work. They also called on their peers to get enrolled at the centre, and “do something good with their lives”. Meanwhile, in speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education in the absence of its Minister, Priya Manickchand, Assistant
Chief Education Officer Melcita Bovell congratulated the students who chose to complete the various courses, and noted that the parents should be proud, since their children will be leaving the institution with not only skills, but with morals, and respect for what they do, and those around them. She noted that graduating from the institution, are the future builders of Guyana. Their importance in society, she said, is vital, asking the question”What would you do when you need a (fully qualified and capable) plumber?” Bovell also expressed disappointment for those who dropped out of their respective courses, and also called for these dropouts to return in the new school year. In closing, the education official thanked the parents of the graduating students who, by supporting their children, supported the future of Guyana. The Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre was officially opened in November of 2011. The $427.5M institution has the capacity to house 250 full-time students and 200 part-time.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 15
Several injured as minibus, container collide at Coldingen The damaged truck
Yet another senseless accident has occurred on our road, this time on the Coldingen, East Coast Demerara Public Road, resulting in at least 15 persons sustaining serious injuries. The accident which involved two minibuses and a container truck occurred at around 10:00 hours yesterday. Initially there were rumours that persons had died but officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital where most of the injured persons were taken, confirmed that there were no
fatalities. The injured persons have been identified as Ashapria Baslaram, 2, who sustained injuries to her back, Vickram Hansraj, Lisa Narine, Rhonda Eastman, Ramrattie Persaud, Rachael Rambularie, Surujonie Basdeo, Bibi Sakila Alli, Sharif Kadir, Surujdai Bagrinauth, Sunita Samaru, Kumarie Jagnarine and Rodwell Edwards. This publication was told that the driver of the minibus which collided with the truck, Navin Misir, 37, of 160 Newtown, Enmore, is presently on life support
having lost both legs in the accident. Eyewitnesses told this publication that the container truck was heading to Berbice while the route 44 minibuses were heading toward the city when the collision occurred. Sources said while in the vicinity of a turn at Coldingen, the driver of the container truck is believed to have lost control and slammed into the minibuses. A resident of the village said that he was at the time tending to a customer at his nearby shop when he heard a loud “bang” and as
he looked around he saw the truck crash into the front of the minibus. The man said he immediately left what he was doing and went to render assistance. After the truck slammed into the oncoming minibus, another bus which was close behind the container truck crashed into it. The driver of the truck has been taken into police custody. There are reports that the driver related to investigating ranks that his truck suffered mechanical problems.
Cops deny burglary suspect died from beating - PM reveals victim had head injury Police and relatives of a 44-year-old burglary suspect are giving conflicting claims as to how he ended up dead from head injuries he sustained in a cell. Ramesh Ramsarran, of Plantation Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, was detained last week in connection with the theft of a gas stove and a cooking gas cylinder from a house on the West Coast of Demerara. On Monday, he was found in an unconscious state in the Wales Police Station lockups and succumbed the following day in the West Demerara Regional Hospital. A post mortem examination gave the cause of death as cirrhosis of the liver and blunt trauma to the head. Police sources told Kaieteur News that other prisoners alleged that Ramsarran had suffered an
epileptic seizure. According to a police official, the pathologist indicated that Ramsarran had apparently struck his head during the seizure. The prisoner’s relatives confirmed that he was an epileptic, but refuted suggestions that he sustained his injuries during a seizure. A sister who viewed his body said that the top of her brother’s head was swollen. Her opinion is that Ramsarran would have struck his face or the back of his head if he had fallen during his fit. The woman told Kaieteur News that her brother moved from Le Ressouvenir to Canal Number Two, West Bank of Demerara about two years ago, where another sister lives. However, she said that Ramsarran began drinking heavily and began to live like a vagrant, while doing odd-
jobs in nearby communities. According to the sister, Ramsarran was given refuge beneath a house in Canal Number Two. She said that her brother would guard the property when the couple who owned it travelled to the interior. She explained that a few months ago, her brother alleged that he saw a man leaving the property with a gas cylinder. Then, last Saturday, the couple alleged that someone had stolen a gas stove and other valuables from their home while they were away. Police subsequently arrested Ramsarran and four other men in connection with the burglary. A police official told Kaieteur News that Ramsarran admitted to stealing the gas cylinder and identified the individual to whom it was sold. However, he denied stealing the gas
stove. According to Ramsarran’s sister, all the men, except her brother, were released. The woman alleged that on Sunday, another sister went to the Wales Police Station and observed that her brother’s cell was soaked. She said that Ramsarran also claimed that some police ranks had beaten him. She alleged that one of the ranks ignored suggestions that her brother be hospitalised. The sister said that she was told that Ramsarran would be charged on Monday. However, when she visited the Wales Police Station on Tuesday, she was told that her brother had been admitted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. She then visited the hospital, only to learn that her brother had died.
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Friday March 22, 2013
Refunds ready for stranded EZjet passengers from Monday More than three months after the sudden suspension of low-cost carrier, EZjet, passengers stranded in Guyana are set to start collecting their refunds from Monday. However, according to the Ministry of Public Works, because of the large number of claims, passengers will only be receiving 64% of their ticket costs. The monies will be taken from a US$200,000 cash bond that government has been holding at Scotiabank. Only those who have satisfied the established criteria, following completion of the verification process, will be receiving the refunds the Ministry said. Payment will commence on Monday between 09:00hrs to 11:00hrs and 13:00hrs to 15:00hrs at the Ministry’s Central Accounting Unit, Fort
Angry EZjet passengers at the EZjet offices in December.
Awaiting trial: Sonny Ramdeo Street, Kingston. Hundreds of passengers were left stranded after US authorities suspended EZjet’s licence in November following a complaint from the company that leased
planes to EZjet that it was owed hundreds of thousands of US dollars. Government took over the refunding process after angry passengers descended on numerous occasions on
EZjet’s Brickdam offices. The administration had warned that the US$200,000 bond would not have been enough to refund passengers fully. EZjet executive, Sonny
Ramdeo, himself is now facing an April trial for allegedly embezzling US$20M from a US hospital chain with which he had been working, providing payroll services. He was on the run
for months from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before agents cornered him in a basement in Queens, New York. He appeared in a New York court where his detention was extended and he was later transferred to Florida to face the wire fraud charges. Ramdeo, 35, and formerly of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, started EZjet in late 2011, as the cheaper alternative to fly on the New York to Guyana route. However, from the onset there had been questions over the source of Ramdeo’s finances for the airline which at first glance seemed unable to maintain itself based on the low fares. Government had continuously defended EZjet’s presence, saying that the market was badly in need of such an airline.
Bosai workers down tools By Enid Joaquin “We ain’t want NAACIE, because dem ‘nah see’ wha go on, dey for de company and de Government not fuh workers, so right now we want a new Union fuh represent we!” That was the consensus of workers of Bosai Guyana Inc. who yesterday downed tools to protest several issues affecting them. Topping their list of grievances was the dust nuisance within the mining areas where they work. According to the workers, they need a water truck to continually douse the areas where they work and traverse, because the clouds of dust that billows around them every day, makes breathing very difficult, and has even caused one of their colleagues to be hospitalised due to the dust that has accumulated in his lungs. They also complained that the bus that transports them to and from the mining sites is a ‘dust collector,’ and therefore not fit to be on the road, as when it rains, they get wet, and when the weather is dry, the dust envelopes them. “Right now we need a new bus, and an air-conditioned one; because them ‘big ones’ when dey going into the mines, dey driving in airconditioned Prado, with all the windows roll up. We want de same kind of treatment. We are human beings too. And if they can’t
- Voice health concerns, want new union representation get a water truck let them engage the fire tender to wet the place every day, because we can’t continue like this.” “This dust ain’t healthy at all, because it blocking up people lungs, and if we get sick from it the salary we working for can’t cushion us,” one bulldozer operator pointed out. “And we working hard…real hard, because we already make we target for this quarter, so management got to look out for we- we need we target money. But instead of that when we reach we target they change, they don’t stick to the initial plan, they change it to a higher target; when they do that they only frustrate the workers,” one worker lamented. Workers also complained that there is no ambulance, in the event that there is an emergency in the mines. They are also calling on the Management of Bosai to stop victimising them, when they stand up for their rights. “We need officials from the Ministry of Labour to come and visit and see the conditions we work underand we ain’t want them to just come at the Plant and stand at the fence and look around, we want them to go into the mines, and see the sea of dust we have to contend with every day.” Guyana Public Service
Union Region 10 representative Maurice Butters who was on hand to speak with the workers said that his union is ‘very much behind’ the workers and is prepared to support them in their struggle. Butters said that he empathised with the workers as quite a few of them had met him individually in the streets on numerous occasions and complained about the prevailing issues. He added that he hoped that the issues could be dealt with urgently, and to the workers’satisfaction. He expressed dissatisfaction with the way the foreigners ‘come into this country and behaving as though they own it’, in reference to both the Bosai situation and other issues relating to the RUSAL operations at Aroima. Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon later yesterday morning met with the workers and after listening to their grievances, told them that most of the issues that they were complaining about (including money) he and a team of concerned stakeholders had recently engaged the company on. “ We a r e a l w a y s concerned with what is going on with Bosai, and we found t h a t t h e y a r e not honouring a lot of their commitments, so we decided to meet with them to look at some issues; and we were given the assurance that they would be looking into a lot of those, beginning as early as tomorrow (today).”
Friday March 22, 2013
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Friday March 22, 2013
Guyana, Haiti ink agreement to encourage food traceability
Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Richard Casimir and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett sign the agreement (GINA photo)
President Joseph Martelly (L) and Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque during yesterday’s press briefing A Memorandum of Understanding was yesterday signed between the Heads of State of Guyana and Haiti which will pave the way for the Haitian food safety and traceability initiative to be adopted here. Following a meeting held at the Office of the President yesterday between Presidents Donald Ramotar and Joseph Martelly, the latter being the Chairman of Caricom, the ambitious accord was signed by Haiti’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierre Richard Casimir and Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, on behalf of their respective nations. Speaking of the development yesterday was President Martelly, who revealed during a press conference at the Caricom Secretariat, that the signing occurred following discussions with the local Head of State. That meeting also saw the two deliberating
on decisions that were earlier made regarding security, the reform process in Caricom, preparation for the focus on transportation and launch of the approved Caricom Aid for Trade Strategy. “We also discussed moving ahead with a concentrated programme of assistance to help Haiti participate more fully in Caricom,” President Martelly disclosed. Moreover, it was agreed that a team from the Caricom
Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General Irwin LaRocque who also shared the spotlight yesterday, would visit Haiti for a full and comprehensive briefing on the activities of Caricom and “how this important work can directly assist Haiti.” The planned discussions, he said, will be held with the Government of Haiti, Ministers and other officials, as well as with the private sector and civil society. According to President Martelly, the discussions will have a focus on the specific things that Haiti has to do to participate fully and benefit from the Caricom Single Market and Economy. He disclosed, too, that in the area of health, Haiti has been an integral part of regional initiatives such as the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/ AIDS (PANCAP) and very soon “we will explore with the newly established Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), collaboration in other areas of specific interest to Haiti.”
Turning his attention to the work of the Caricom Secretariat, President Martelly disclosed yesterday that there is a lot that is being done at the Regional level to be supportive of Member States adding that “we must tell our people and officials about this so that they can appreciate our Caricom more, not only the good work that is being done by the Caricom Secretariat, but also by our institutions and agencies.” President Martelly’s visit here represents the first time that he has come to Guyana since taking up the Chairmanship of Caricom on January 1, 2013. He will serve in that capacity until 30 June, 2013. His visit officially commenced on Wednesday and will culminate today. During the first day of his visit he met with Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, and had discussions with his executive management team on matters which came out of a meeting held in Haiti last month, with a view to moving forward with some of the decisions that were derived.
These, according to Martelly, include improving food safety and traceability, which he noted, is important to take advantage of the trade opportunities, both globally and regionally, even as efforts are made to ensure that products meet the standard demanded by the various countries. The Haitian President insisted yesterday that Haiti is currently taking the lead in this area adding that “in fact last (Wednesday) night my Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs held discussions on this matter with the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Tourism, of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs and the Secretary General and his technical officers.” Martelly disclosed that at that forum, an agreement was made that a team from the Caricom Secretariat would travel to Haiti in a few weeks to see the work that is already being done in Haiti and to discuss the possibilities of applying the Haitian project of traceability and its approach to all Caricom members.
The Eastern Hog Island Farmers Development Group is calling on the government to “stamp out corruption” as it is effectively stifling business in that community. In a letter to the president seen by this newspaper, the body, on behalf of all farmers in the community, stated that it is particularly dissatisfied with the “substandard work” that has been done on a koker being built at Sand Creek. This newspaper understands that the structure, budgeted at a cost of $17.4M, has started since 2011, but remains incomplete. According to the community group, farmers have been affected tremendously over the years and have suffered great financial losses due to flooding and “inadequate control of water to take out our produce from the
backdam.” The letter stated that apart from the fact that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA)’s excavator was being used by the contractor for the last month, and “is presently parked in his compound,” farmers are concerned about the poor quality of work. Some examples of “substandard” works cited are that “second quality greenheart was used to build the koker, there is an absence of stop log or groove, there is no system to open koker door and the diversion is leaking.” It was further stated that “Contractors dig big holes around the structure to backfill the structure and refuse to full them leaving the dam with holes containing water.” It was also stated that
“the dirt used to backfill the structure contains lots of old woods (sic).” The letter stated that when farmers objected to the abovementioned problems, they were ordered to keep 300 ft away from the site According to the Eastern Hog Island Farmers Development Group, water has been steadily overtopping and it appears as if the structure will soon collapse. The body stated in its letter that several efforts were made to have NDIA “send better engineers” to assess the situation, but to date none has been made available. The group said that it is calling on the NDIA to make the correction “so that farmers can continue to produce more and live without fear. We are tired complaining to NDIA.”
Hog Island farmers call on govt. to “stamp out corruption”
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Venezuelan police fire tear gas during clash ahead of vote
Nicolas Maduro (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas in downtown Caracas yesterday as antigovernment student protesters clashed with supporters of late President Hugo Chavez in an increasingly volatile atmosphere ahead of next month’s election. Several hundred students were marching to the election board’s headquarters to demand a clean vote when they were blocked by government supporters who hurled stones, bottles and eggs at them, a Reuters witness said. Some of the students threw stones back, other
witnesses said. “We were holding a peaceful march. ... All we want is democracy,” said law student Eduardo Vargas, 19, whose eye was injured in the incident. “We’re all Venezuelans. We just want a fair vote.” Police fired tear gas towards the 150 or so government supporters and formed a cordon between the two sides. It was the first outbreak of violence since an election was called on April 14 for the South American OPEC nation following Chavez’s death from cancer two weeks ago. Both candidates, acting President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Henrique Capriles, have been trading personal accusations as they rally supporters for the vote. One onlooker, Gustavo Malave, a 78-year-old who works for one of the socialist “community councils” set up during Chavez’s 14-year rule, blamed the students for starting the trouble. “The clash began because the opposition started throwing stones,” he said. “I
Former Premier declares innocence
GEORGETOWN, Cayman Islands - CMC – Former Premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush has reiterated his innocence after being formally charged with two counts of misconduct on Wednesday. “I have done nothing illegal, and will defend every one of these charges. As I’ve stated since this campaign against me began over three years ago, I am innocent. I will continue as the leader of the United Democratic Party, with its full support. These charges will not deter my faith and dedication to all the people of Cayman and to the United Democratic Party,” said Bush in a release late Wednesday. Bush, 57, will appear in court next month, to face four counts of Breach of Trust by a member of the Legislative Assembly and five counts of theft. The United Democratic Party has vowed to stand behind their leader , noting that the charges came as no surprise as the former Premier had previously indicated that he expected charges to be brought just before the upcoming elections and expects other charges to be brought in the continuing
McKeeva Bush effort to affect his re-election campaign. “The UDP Party stands behind the Honourable McKeeva Bush and is proud to have Mr. Bush as its Party leader. He has diligently looked after the people of the Cayman Islands, from all walks of life, for over thirty years and despite this campaign to embarrass Mr. Bush, his family, the United Democratic Party and its supporters, he fully intends to continue to do so. Our country has faced adversities before and like before, the UDP will stand united with the people of the Cayman Islands to face these challenges.”
support Chavez and Maduro. Chavez set this course, and it’s going to continue for 40 or 50 years.” Before the clash, the students had been marching to the election headquarters singing the national anthem and carrying signs including “Free and fair elections” and “Nicolas is a liar.” “The students are saying to the world and to the country that we are in the street. We want transparent
and free elections,” said one student leader, Victor Fernandez. With sympathy over Chavez’s death galvanizing government supporters, Maduro, 50, a longtime socialist stalwart, is favourite to win next month’s vote. Two polls published this week put the former bus driver ahead of Capriles by more than 14 percentage points. Capriles, a 40-year-old state governor, accuses
Maduro of being a nonentity who is exploiting the emotion around Chavez’s death. He wants voters to focus on daily problems confronting Venezuelans ranging from potholes to high crime rates and corruption. Capriles, a centrist politician who says Brazil’s free-market economics with strong welfare policies is his model for Venezuela, lost to Chavez last year by 11 percentage points.
Henrique Capriles
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Friday March 22, 2013
Mom Abducted, UN calls for end to Killed, Body Burnt political impasse Trinidad Express - The body of a woman was found in the back seat of a burning vehicle in Carlsen Field, near Chaguanas, yesterday morning. Police believe the body was that of Jennifer Ali, who was abducted outside her home around 6 a.m. The murder toll now stands at 97. Ali, 44, was entering her car at her Siewdass Road, Freeport, home when three men approached and bundled her in the back seat of her Isuzu 4x4 pick up. Relatives witnessed the abduction and began searching for Ali. An hour later, they were called to Carlsen Field, where police found the burning vehicle. Ali’s charred remains were found in the back seat. Police believe she was shot in the head. She was employed as a labourer at the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation. The body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James.
...second murder yesterday, 97th this year
A wedding day photo of murdered Jennifer Ali and husband Hydar Ali Police said DNA samples would be taken to confirm the woman’s identity, however Ali’s relatives are already convinced. Ali’s husband, Hydar Ali, is a self employed contractor, according to relatives who spoke with Express reporter Susan Mohammed at the family home.
Ali was the mother of 14 year old girl and 12 year old boy. Relatives said Ali was the “Mother Theresa” of the village and cared for everyone. No one could say what could be the motive behind the killing and said Ali was never before threatened. Ali’s killing was the second homicide yesterday.
NEW YORK, USA — Breaking the political impasse that has plagued Haiti for some 16 months is crucial to achieve progress and consolidate democracy in the country, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday. Legislative and elections were due to take place in January 2012 at the latest, but in spite of an agreement signed in December between the executive and legislative branches to form an electoral commission, there have been no new developments. “In the absence of these elections, over the past year we have seen the replacement of some 130 elected municipal governments with presidential appointees,” said the acting special representative of the secretary-general and head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Nigel Fisher. At the legislative level,
the mandate of one-third of Haiti’s senators expired in May 2012 and more terms will end in early 2014, impairing the Senate’s functions, Fisher warned. “Holding credible elections in 2013 is fundamental to reinforce Haiti’s democratic institutions, strengthen the rule of law and respond to the urgent needs of Haiti’s citizens such as employment and social protection,” he said. The Caribbean nation has been re-building since the earthquake that struck in early January 2010, killing some 220,000 people and making 1.5 million others homeless, in addition to causing widespread destruction – particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince – and a major humanitarian crisis. Fisher added that, over the past year, Haiti has continued to face many challenges, including a slow economic growth rate that fell below forecasted levels, high
unemployment rates, a recent spike in cholera cases, two tropical storms, and regional droughts that have exacerbated the high levels of food insecurity facing many households. “Progress on elections has become the barometer for measuring progress towards a more inclusive political culture and for addressing institutional and development challenges, but Haiti faces many challenges beyond the electoral process alone,” Fisher said, adding that in spite of these obstacles, advances are still being made and the security situation remains stable overall. Regarding the cholera epidemic, Fisher said the UN is committed to continue its support and to redouble efforts to mobilize the significant additional resources needed to fight this disease, improve water and sanitation, and strengthen the national health care network.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Police officer denies cavity search and mistreatment of Shanique Myrie BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC - A Barbados police officer accused of conducting a cavity search on Shanique Myrie denied the allegation when she took the stand before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday. Constable Sirphene Carrington also insisted that she did not make any derogatory remarks or searched the luggage of the Jamaican national who was denied entry into the island on March 14, 2011. During cross examination Myrie’s Attorney, Michelle Brown sought to suggest that Carrington was “gruff, rough and boisterous with her client”. Brown told the court that prior to taking Myrie to the bathroom during which a demeaning vaginal search was conducted, Carrington said she hated Jamaicans and accused Jamaicans of being liars who came to Barbados to steal men. “Ms Myrie was never in the bathroom. Ms Myrie was not subjected to a cavity search...,” Carrington said. Carrington, who was assigned to the Barbados Drug Squad, for two years, testified that she was present during an interview conducted by her superior officer, Constable Everton Gittens but she hardly spoke during the interview, which she estimated lasted for about 15 minutes. Carrington maintained that Gittens did not search Myrie’s bag or her cell phone - rejecting claims levelled by Brown. The police officer said Myrie was questioned in
relation to the purpose of her visit to Barbados, where she was staying and her relationship with her host. Carrington told the court that after the interview was completed Myrie was taken to Customs where her bags were searched by officials there. Carrington said no drugs were found and Myrie was returned to the Immigration office. The police officer said she left the airport along with Gittens soon afterwards. But Brown sought to bring into question the accuracy of Carrington’s statement suggesting that it was near identical to the one provided by Gittens. Carrington maintained it was written by her and no one helped her to word the statement. Gittens had delivered his testimony ahead of Carrington’s. Pressed why Myrie was selected for the police interview, Carrington told the court that as a normal practice police interviewed passengers who are referred to the Immigration Supervisor. Gittens also told the court that he had a feeling Myrie was a drug courier but he later dismissed the thought after conducting an “extensive interrogation” with the Jamaican national. He told the court he felt Myrie came to work. The police officer said Myrie was not under arrest and if she wanted to she could have left. Gittens, who is also assigned to the Barbados Drug Squad, strongly denied suggestions he showed
Shanique Myrie Myrie blue folders which represented Jamaicans who had tried to enter Barbados with illegal drugs. Gittens also rejected suggestions from Myrie’s lawyer Nancy Anderson that he cut a slipper owned by Myrie, denied her a phone call and threatened to take here to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to be x-rayed for drugs, while attempting to persuade her that if she told him the truth he would help her. “I did not make any threats to Ms Myrie,”he said. During Brown’s cross examination, the police constable stoutly defended his colleague Constable Carrington. He said Carrington had not made any derogatory statements to Myrie neither did she take her to the bathroom. “I was the senior officer on duty, no such statement would have been made by Ms Carrington. “Ms Carrington did not go to any bathroom with Ms Myrie, “he said.
Rowley wants PM to clear air on probe into minister’s son Trinidad Guardian Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is again calling on Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar to clear the air on allegations that the son of a Government Minister is detained in the United States and was assisting investigators with a certain probe. He made the call during a meeting of the People’s National Movement in Arima on Tuesday night. The Prime Minister has maintained she has no information on the matter. The Sunday Guardian reported the matter exclusively two weeks ago. Rowley said the PM had a responsibility to speak out on it. He added: “If a member of
Dr Keith Rowley our Cabinet has connections to a person, when there are allegations floating all around the world about criminal
conduct, mainly money laundering, it is irresponsible for the Prime Minister to turn a blind eye and pretend she doesn’t know what is going on.” He called on PersadBissessar to make a comprehensive statement on the matter or resign. He said he was “not asking the PM to condemn the young man. I am not asking her to make unfounded allegations against Mr Warner.” Rowley said he was asking her to use the respect and sovereignity T&T has in the United States to get the T&T ambassador to ask the US State Department “what is going on with your minister and his appendages.”
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Foreign business sector lacking, says Arthur Barbados is nowhere near to realizing its full potential from the international business sector. That’s the view of former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who thinks that Barbados as compared to competitors such as Bermuda, has merely scratched the surface of this sector. The Opposition Member of Parliament for St Peter was speaking Wednesday night in the House of Assembly on the Estimates of Revenue And Expenditure. He said the sector had a curious allocation of responsibilities where the responsibility for policy is in one ministry while the institution responsible for implementation is in another. “In 1994, international business was located in the ministry of finance, there wasn’t a ministry of international business. When the Democratic Labour Party came back to office in 2008, they relocated part of international business in the ministry of finance under the minister of state and it has followed him.
Owen Arthur “I believe that the kind of problems that you have had in moving from policy formation to implementation are not going to be easily addressed, unless that issue is solved,” he said. Arthur, 63, the longest serving current MP, told the chamber that the sector required nimbleness in legislation and policy direction. He said the challenges this country was facing in the sector were multiplying and
will continue to multiply. Arthur said the challenges required a coherent response which was not being presented. He said that Barbados has to start to give enterprises a reason to locate and to expand here. “Issues which were not important in the past become important now if we are to stabilise the sector and expand it. Matters pertaining to the ease and cost of doing business in Barbados become important,” he said. Arthur said he was disappointed that Barbados was no longer supporting the internationally recognised Doing Business Survey in which economies are ranked on their ease of doing business. He said that Barbados had not participated in the survey since 2007 and no longer knows where it stands in relation to its competitors. Arthur said there was a false concept that the international business and financial sector must be based on the importation of capital. (Barbados Nation)
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Friday March 22, 2013
Obama makes direct peace appeal to the Israeli people JERUSALEM (Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama appealed directly yesterday to the Israeli people to put themselves in the shoes of stateless Palestinians and recognize that Jewish settlement activity in occupied territory hurts prospects for peace. In a showcase speech in Jerusalem to Israeli university students, Obama coupled his plea with an acknowledgement of the Jewish state’s security concerns in a region destabilized by the West’s nuclear standoff with Iran and civil war in Syria. But he urged Israel’s younger generation to demand that their politicians take risks for peace in an address interrupted frequently by applause, including a standing ovation for the president during a brief outburst by a heckler. “You must create the change that you want to see,” he told his youthful audience. Obama, on his first official visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank, said only peace could bring true security, but he did not offer any new ideas on how to
U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledges the audience after delivering a speech on policy at the Jerusalem Convention Center, yesterday. REUTERS/Jason Reed revive Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, stalled since 2010. “Given the demographics west of the Jordan River, the only way for Israel to endure and thrive as a Jewish and democratic state is through the realization of an independent and viable Palestine,” he said.
It was a clear warning that Israel’s continued hold over the West Bank, territory captured along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, would ultimately lead to an Arab majority in land controlled by the Jewish state. “Israelis must recognize that continued settlement
activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an independent Palestine must be viable, that real borders will have to be drawn,” Obama said, stopping short of calling for a construction freeze. “Put yourself in their (Palestinians’) shoes. Look at the world through their eyes,” he said. “It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of her own, and lives with the presence of a foreign army that controls the movements of her parents every single day.” Obama has received an effusive welcome in Israel since his arrival on Wednesday, hoping to reset his often troubled relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “America will do what we must to prevent a nuclear Iran,” he told his enthusiastic audience, reinforcing a main theme of his visit to Israel and adding that Washington and its allies still thought there was time for a diplomatic solution. Sprinkling in Hebrew words meaning “you are not alone”, Obama said: “Today, I want to tell you - particularly the young people - that so long as there is a United States of America, ‘ahtem lo levad’.” In a brief statement after Obama’s speech, Netanyahu thanked him for “his unconditional support for the state of Israel” and said he shared the president’s view
that peace, ensuring Israelis’ security, should be sought. Obama has faced the tough task of winning over skeptical Israelis after he bypassed their country in 2009 when visiting Egypt and offered a “new beginning” to the Muslim world in a speech at Cairo University. Four years on, students at the school said Obama had not lived up to his promises. “I don’t see any change in American policy toward the Middle East since Obama’s speech,” said Mayada Mohammad Yousef, 19. “This is because Obama promised the implementation of a twostate solution and to stop settlements ... and he has not achieved any of this.” The mood was also tinged with disappointment in the West Bank city of Ramallah, which Obama visited before his Jerusalem speech. Meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for three hours, Obama pressed the Western-backed leader to drop his demand for a settlement freeze before peace talks can resume. The core issue now, Obama said at a news conference with Abbas, was hot to achieve sovereignty for Palestinians and security for Israelis. “That’s not to say settlements are important. That’s to say if we solve those problems, the settlement issue will be resolved,” Obama said. About 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian judge rules next week on whether President Mohamed Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood is illegal, in a case that has put the group on the defensive and may stoke political tension. Seeking to shield itself ahead of the ruling due on Tuesday, the Brotherhood announced this week it had gained new legal status by registering as a nongovernmental organization, reversing a previous decision not to do so under existing laws. Brought by antiBrotherhood lawyers, the court case points to the deep antipathy some harbor towards a group that was formally dissolved in 1954 and forced to operate underground until President Hosni Mubarak was ousted two years ago. The impact of any ruling against the Brotherhood is likely to be more political than practical: analysts find it
inconceivable that the state will take any measures against a group that is now at the heart of power. But such a decision could stir more rancor against the Islamists as they face increasingly violent protests. Hardcore activists have called for more demonstrations outside the Brotherhood’s headquarters today. A ruling against the Brotherhood would “add fuel to the acrimony between the Brotherhood supporters and detractors”, said Elijah Zarwan, a Cairo-based political analyst. It might also trigger more lawsuits against the Brotherhood. The courts have had a major impact on the political transition to date, cancelling elections this year and dissolving parliament last year. Pointing to the chances of a ruling against the Brotherhood next week, a report by a panel of judges
Jerusalem, home to 2.5 million Palestinians. Most countries regard Israel’s settlements as illegal. Israel cites historical and Biblical roots to the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Ramallah, about 150 Palestinian demonstrators protested against Obama’s visit. Held back by ranks of police from nearing Abbas’s compound, they raised their hands to wave away the helicopter that brought Obama to the city. “We want RPGs (rocketpropelled grenades), not collaboration with the CIA,” they shouted. Obama, embarking on a second and final four-year term in the White House, has made clear he is not bringing any new peace initiatives and has instead has come to Israel and the Palestinian Territories on a “listening” tour. But he said his new secretary of state, John Kerry, would spend a significant amount of time and energy trying to narrow differences between the two sides as the United States seeks to move them back to the negotiating table. A U.S. official said Kerry would return to Israel for talks after accompanying Obama to Jordan today and tomorrow. As a reminder of the everpresent risks in the region, Iranian state television quoted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying Tehran would raze Tel Aviv and the city of Haifa if Israel carried out veiled threats to attack Iran.
Court ruling hangs over Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood
Mohamed Mursi published on Wednesday upheld the view that the group had no legal status. “The legal argument is that this group was dissolved in 1954,” said Shehata Mohamed Shehata, one of the lawyers behind the case, adding that he wanted the group’s name banned, its offices closed and its finances frozen.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
India court upholds actor Sanjay Dutt’s conviction
In this Sept. 12, 2006 file photo, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt leaves a special court trying the cases of those accused in the 1993 Mumbai bombings in Mumbai, India. (AP Photo/Rajesh Nirgude, File) NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s Supreme Court yesterday upheld the weapons conviction of Bollywood leading man Sanjay Dutt and ordered him to report to prison within four weeks in a case linked to the deadliest terror attack in Indian history. Dutt’s failed appeal of his conviction was part of a broader ruling by the Supreme Court on cases stemming from the 1993 bombings that killed 257 people in the financial hub of Mumbai. A total of 100 people were convicted of involvement in the blasts. The court upheld the death sentence given to
Yakub Memon, who is a brother of Ibrahim ‘Tiger’ Memon, a suspected mastermind of the bombings who remains at large. However, the court commuted to life in prison the death sentences given to 10 other men convicted of carrying out the blasts. Some of the men have been in prison for nearly two decades. Dutt, 53, originally had been sentenced to serve six years in prison on the charge of possessing an automatic rifle and a pistol that were supplied to him by men subsequently convicted in the bombings. He served 18 months in jail before he was released on bail in November
2007 pending an appeal to the top court. The court shaved one year off his sentence yesterday and ordered him imprisoned within a month to finish out the remaining 3 1/2 years of his sentence. Dutt had earlier been acquitted of the more serious charges of terrorism and conspiracy. In a statement released to the Indian media, Dutt said he was “heart-broken” and “shattered and in emotional distress.” “If they want me to suffer more I have to be strong,” he said. Dutt told reporters that he was consulting experts to explore his legal options.
GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations launched an investigation yesterday into what it said were widespread and systematic human rights violations in North Korea, some of which “may amount to crimes against humanity”. The U.N. Human Rights Council unanimously passed a resolution brought by the European Union and Japan, and backed by the United States, condemning alleged North Korean torture, food deprivation and labor camps for political prisoners. The 47-member forum set up a three-member commission of inquiry for one year and called on Pyongyang to cooperate with the team of experts, including Marzuki Darusman, its special rapporteur on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). “The creation of the commission of inquiry sends an important message that the
global community is paying close attention to the situation in the DPRK, not just on the nuclear front, but also especially on the human rights front,” U.S. Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe told reporters in Geneva. The investigation will “help focus the spotlight of sustained international scrutiny on one of the world’s darkest and most secretive regimes”, she said. Navi Pillay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, called in January for an international investigation into what she said may be crimes against humanity, including torture and executions of political prisoners in North Korean camps. She said Pyongyang’s network of political prison camps is believed to confine at least 200,000 people and has been the scene of rapes,
torture, executions and slave labor. Neither North Korea’s closest ally, China, nor Russia are currently members of the Geneva forum, and thus have no vote. More U.N. sanctions were imposed on Pyongyang this month in response to its third nuclear test on February 12, including tougher financial penalties to try to curb its nuclear arms program. During the Human Rights Council debate, North Korean Ambassador So Se Pyong rejected the resolution as “an instrument that serves the political purposes of the hostile forces in their attempt to discredit the image of the DPRK”. “As we stated time and again, those human rights abuses mentioned in the resolution do not exist in our country,” So said, warning that the sponsors should be held accountable “for all serious consequences”.
U.N. starts inquiry into torture, labor camps in North Korea
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Syrian rebels capture areas near Golan Heights BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian rebels captured one village and parts of others on the edge of the Golan Heights yesterday as fighting closed in on the strategic plateau that Israel captured from Syria in 1967 and later annexed, activists and officials said. If the rebels take over the region, it will bring radical Islamic militants to a front-line with Israeli troops and give them a potential staging ground for attack on the Jewish state. One of the rebel groups involved in the fighting, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, is an Islamic militant group. One of the worst-case scenarios for Syria’s 2-yearold civil war is that it could draw in neighboring countries such as Israel or Lebanon. Israel has said its policy is not to get involved in the Syrian civil war, but it has retaliated for sporadic Syrian fire that spilled into Israeli communities on the Golan Heights. There have also been clashes with Turkey, Syria’s neighbor to the north. And Israel recently bombed targets inside Syria said to
include a weapons convoy headed for Hezbollah in Lebanon, a key ally of the regime in Damascus and an arch foe of Israel. The battles near the town of Quneitra in southwest Syria sent many residents fleeing, including dozens who crossed into neighboring Lebanon. The fighting in the sensitive area began Wednesday near the ceasefire line between Syrian and Israeli troops. Syrian rebels are made of dozens of groups including the powerful, al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, which the Obama administration labels a terrorist organization. Syrian TV said yesterday that Syrian forces “restored peace” to Khan Arnabeh and the Tilal al-Ahmar villages in Quneitra province “after eradicating large numbers of Jabhat alNusra terrorists,” the term used by the regime to refer to the rebels seeking to topple President Bashar Assad. The Britain-based activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said earlier that rebels had seized control of Khan Arnabeh and parts of villages a few kilometers
(miles) from the cease-fire line with Israel after fierce fighting with regime forces. It reported that Syrian warplanes and artillery bombarded the villages of Tseel, Shajara, Jamlah and Nafea. Jamlah is where rebels captured earlier this month 21 U.N. peacekeepers and held them for four days before setting them free. The Local Coordination Committees, another anti-regime activist group, reported heavy fighting in the nearby village of Sahm al-Golan and said rebels are attacking an army post. The Observatory said seven people, including three children, were killed Wednesday by government shelling of villages in the area. An estimated 70,000 people have been killed in the past two years of conflict in Syria, according to the United Nations. Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Observatory, said the fighting around the town of Arnabeh intensified Thursday, a day after rebels captured it. He added that the rebels captured two nearby army posts.
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House averts government shutdown, backs Ryan budget (Reuters) - House of Representatives Republicans yesterday approved a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown, in a further easing of the partisan budget wars that have consumed Washington for months. The Republicancontrolled House voted 318109 to approve legislation that keeps government agencies and programs funded through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, sending the measure to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. Current spending authority was to expire on March 27, but Republicans chose not to use the threat of federal agencies running out of money and shutting down as leverage to demand deep spending cuts. Instead, they want to wage a campaign for deficit reduction centered on proposals from House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Shortly before approving the spending bill, the House backed a budget blueprint offered by Ryan to eliminate
Paul Ryan U.S. deficits within 10 years through deep cuts in healthcare and other social programs. The funding bill for the rest of this fiscal year, which the Democratic-led Senate approved on Wednesday, keeps in place $85 billion in automatic spending cuts, known as the “sequester.” But it takes some of the sting out of those cuts by allowing the military and several domestic agencies to shift some money within their reduced budgets to higher
priority activities. Passage of the funding measure gives Congress breathing room for a few months to argue over which party has a more viable budget vision before they face another showdown this summer over raising the federal debt limit. Ryan’s budget, marked by deep spending cuts to social programs and repeal of President Barack Obama’s health care reforms, defines Republicans’ positions in the rest of this year’s fiscal battles and in congressional elections in 2014. The House voted 221-207, largely along party lines, to approve Ryan’s non-binding budget resolution, with all Democrats and 10 Republican conservatives opposing it. The Ryan plan aims to drastically shrink deficits over the next decade and reach a small surplus by 2023. Like previous budgets that made him known as a fiscal hawk and helped him become the Republican vice presidential candidate last year, it proposes major changes to the Medicare health care program for the elderly.
Friday March 22, 2013
Murdoch attacks David Cameron over press regulation (Reuters) - Media mogul Rupert Murdoch sharply criticised British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday for agreeing tougher press regulation, saying the new system was a “holy mess” and that Cameron had disappointed his supporters. Cameron struck a surprise deal on Monday with his junior coalition partners, the Lib Dems, and the opposition Labour party, that will allow a new regulator to be set up with the powers to levy large fines on newspapers and oblige them to print prominent apologies where appropriate. “UK holy mess with Internet unworkably included,” Murdoch wrote on social media site Twitter yesterday. “Cameron showing true colours shocking many supporters.” The Sun newspaper, which is owned by News Corp, of which Murdoch is the chairman and chief executive officer, also delivered a front-page critique yesterday of the government’s annual budget. “Budget coverage as approved by the Ministry of Truth,” it quipped, referring to the fictional Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s “1984” novel about a totalitarian state.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch Cameron acted to strengthen regulation of the press following public anger over phone hacking by some tabloid newspapers, including Murdoch’s now defunct News of the World, and after a judge-led inquiry showed how widespread it was. He had previously said he didn’t think it was necessary to enshrine the new system of self-regulation in law, but agreed to allow parliament to approve two amendments as part of a compromise, which he said strengthened the new system, but which press critics said undermined freedom of expression. The system will be voluntary, but there will be
strong financial incentives to encourage news media to opt into it. Politicians from across the political spectrum backed it as did a group representing victims of newspaper phone hacking. But some of the country’s biggest press groups have signalled they are unhappy and are still considering how to respond, with some talking of a boycott, a legal challenge, or an alternative regulatory system. At least two news magazines have already said they won’t be joining the new system. British politicians have criticised Murdoch, a U.S. citizen of Australian origin, for seeking to influence politics through his still sizeable media assets in Britain. But Murdoch has shrugged that off. Earlier this month, he had dinner with the leader of the anti-European Union UK Independence Party, a party that has become an electoral headache for Cameron ahead of a 2015 general election. Critics said at the time he was trying to encourage dissent in Cameron’s Conservative party to destabilise the prime minister, whose leadership has come under pressure from within his own party.
Iran will destroy Israeli cities if attacked: Khamenei DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned yesterday that the Islamic Republic would destroy the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if its nuclear infrastructure came under attack from the Jewish state. Israel puts little stock in big power negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s uranium enrichment - which Western nations suspect is a conduit to nuclear weapons capability - and has repeatedly hinted at pre-emptive war against its arch-enemy. During a visit to Israel on Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledged its security concerns, saying, “America will do what we must to prevent a nuclear Iran.” But he also said big powers believed there was still time for a diplomatic solution. Russia said Iran and six global powers made headway in expert-level talks this week to ease the 10-year-long standoff over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, but the risk of backsliding towards confrontation remained.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Higher-level political talks between the powers and Iran are to resume in the Kazakh city of Almaty early next month, part of a concerted effort to avert another Middle East war that could balloon oil prices and wreak havoc on the global economy. Khamenei, in a televised speech marking the Iranian new year, said: “At times the officials of the Zionist regime (Israel) threaten to launch a military invasion but they themselves know that if they make the slightest mistake the Islamic Republic will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground.” But the top Shi’ite Muslim cleric, Iran’s most powerful
figure, dismissed any threat from Israel, describing it as “not big enough to stand out among the Iranian nation’s enemies”. The standoff now turns on Iran’s enrichment of uranium to a fissile purity of 20 percent, which the West sees as a big step towards processing the material for use in nuclear bombs. Tehran says 20 percent enrichment will yield solely fuel for a medical research reactor, and that its nuclear quest is wholly peaceful. “ We h a v e t o l d y o u numerous times that we are not after nuclear weapons,” Khamenei said, addressing Washington in front of thousands of adoring faithful who had come to the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad to hear him speak. He responded coolly to recent U.S. suggestions of direct talks between the two countries, which have had no diplomatic relations since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and the ensuing hostage crisis involving American diplomats in Tehran.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Message of Appreciation on the Occasion of 100 Years of Aviation in Guyana By Joseph G Singh Major General (retd) On Sunday, March 24, 2013 an event will be held on the Lawns of Castellani Pool to celebrate 100 years of Aviation in Guyana. As a frequent flyer in the hinterland for 47 years, I wish to offer this message of appreciation to the men and women who served in the local aviation sector over the past 100 years. They demonstrated true pioneering spirit, a commendable sense of professionalism, patriotism and humanity, in ensuring that the aviation services, facilities and standards evolved, as far as was humanly possible, in consonance with the development and security imperatives of Guyana and the expectations of our people. While acknowledging the establishment and role and functions of the international aviation services offered during periods of our history, I shall confine my contribution to the domestic aviation arena. My own familiarity with the aviation sector commenced during the days
of Lieutenant Colonel (USA Reservist) Art Williams and Harry Wendt, who operated out of then Bookers’ Ogle Airstrip. I was then a youngster of 7 or 8 years in the early 1950s and lived in an estate Range near to the pasture on the eastern perimeter of the small Ogle aerodrome. My friends and I would sit by the pasture and watch in amazement as the fragile looking aircraft landed and took off. Later, in the late 1950s, while travelling from the West Bank Demerara to College on weekdays on the steamer the SS Queriman, then plying the Demerara River between the ferry stellings at Vreed-enHoop and Stabroek, Georgetown, I became familiar with the flights of the British Guiana Airways ‘Grumman Goose’ amphibious aircraft, operating out of the ramp at Ruimveldt, East Bank Demerara. The Grumman Goose would move off from the Ruimveldt Hangar down the wooden ramp into the Demerara River, taxi out to midstream, turn into the wind, the twin engines would be revved up to full power, and the ‘Goose’ would then surge forwards with the bow waves
By Joseph G Singh Major General (retd) spreading outwards in its wake, on the port and starboard sides, as it gained speed and took to the air. In those days there were very few landing strips in the hinterland, and stretches of the rivers, which were free from obstructions, would be marked as Landing Pools such as at Garraway Stream and Kaieteur Top in the Potaro River. The Grumman aircraft provided the link for mail, medical supplies, fuel and rations for government administrative offices and trade stores in the hinterland,
and delivered equipment and supplies in the mining districts. It was during my military service from 1966 that the importance of the air links to and from the coast really struck home. Where national defence and security imperatives in the hinterland would have entailed use of tortuous logistic supply lines by river and trail, the aircraft became an indispensable asset. Troop deployments depended on the Grumman aircraft in areas where there were no landing strips and, where these were available, the DC3, the Twin Otter, the Caribou and the military’s sixseater Helio -Courier (nicknamed Rudolph because of the red painted propeller cone), were the lifeline of military operations. It was during such deployments and operations that the professional and personal relationships among operational troop commanders and command pilots and co-pilots, were cemented and evolved into friendships for life. Whether you nodded off on a long flight or remained anxiously peering through the aircraft windows at the terrain below, forward and aft, looking for familiar features in the landscape, would have been a rule of thumb reflection
of the degree of confidence you vested in the aptitude of the command pilot and copilot. Those pilots, who bravely flew through adverse weather, with darkness closing-in, in challenging terrain and without use of modern navigational aids, to make that one final resupply trip or to do a casualty evacuation from a remote airstrip at night in poor conditions, became legends in their time. More so, the bravery of pilots, aircrews and ground staff, during actual operations in defence of Guyana’s territory, has been deservedly acknowledged and exemplified by the award of the Cacique Crown of Valour to Captain Roland DaSilva, the Golden Arrow of Courage to Lieutenant Colonel Michael (Taffy) Chan A Sue (deceased) and Captain Philip Jardim, and the President’s Commendation for Brave Conduct to Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Anthony (Tony) Mekdeci. These men and their colleagues, such as Malcolm Chan A Sue, Guy Spence and Derek Murphy, were cast in the mould of the legendary Art Williams, whose pioneering flights in support of the Boundary Survey team in the south east of British Guiana during the period 1936 to 1938 and his
daring exploits in ‘bush flying’, made him a justifiably larger than life pilot. The aviators of the 1950s and 1960s influenced a new cadre of pilots in the 1970s, who were recruited by the Guyana Defence Force to staff its Helicopter and Islander fleets. Many of these gravitated to the expanding civilian aviation companies but maintained their reserve officer status so that they could be mobilized for special operations or exercises. As the 100th anniversary of Aviation in Guyana is being observed, my contemporaries and I from the late 1960s would unhesitatingly acknowledge that our operational missions and responsibilities were made easier by the unfailing support, commitment, patriotism and courage of a hardy band of aviation colleagues in the early postIndependence years. On behalf of former comrades in arms, I extend to all pilots, aviation engineers, technicians, ground staff and administrators, our heartiest congratulations on the attainment of this significant milestone in Aviation in Guyana and wish you continuing development, success and safety for the future. Happy 100th Anniversary!
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Outgoing Brazilian Attaché honoured with Military Efficiency Medal Brazilian Military Attaché, Colonel Wilson Mendes Lauria was yesterday awarded the Military Efficiency Medal (MEM) at a special farewell luncheon in his honour at the Officers Mess at Base Camp Ayanganna. The Defence Board agreed to confer the honour on Col. Lauria in recognition of his sterling and exceptional service to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and in contributing to the strengthening of ties between the GDF and the Brazilian Armed Forces. The award is presented to persons rendering valuable service beyond the call of duty to the GDF and to those who have contributed to the strengthening of its bilateral ties with other armies. The Citation accompanying the Award reads in part: “...On assuming command, you not only continued the work that was being done but expanded and strengthened all areas of cooperation between the armed forces of our two countries. It is not only your performance as Military Attaché in the field of military co-operation with the Guyana Defence Force but also the quality of leadership you demonstrated in the exercise of the function entrusted to you by the Brazilian Armed Forces. For this reason, the Guyana Defence Force awards the Military Efficiency Medal for service of a high quality and facilitating a high and sustained level of interaction between the armed forces of the Federative Republic of Brazil
By Zena Henry
Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best affixes the Military Efficiency Medal to the uniform of Colonel Wilson Mendes Lauria. and the Guyana Defence Force.” GDF Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best congratulated Colonel Lauria on an excellent tour of duty. “This marks another milestone in the excellent relations which exist between the GDF and The Brazilian Armed Forces,” he said. The Commodore noted that the relations are underscored by cooperation agreements which the two militaries have signed. “The highlight of your tenure has been the expansion of maritime cooperation which has brought significant benefits to our Coast Guard,” he best stated. “The GDF looks forward to the continued
strengthening of these ties and to further joint training and repair of the GDFS Essequibo in a Brazilian dockyard,” he added. In addition to presenting Col. Lauria with the MEM, Commodore Best also presented him with a commemorative plaque, a gift and a friendship ring. Colonel Lauria thanked the Chief of Staff, the Officers and Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force whom he referred to as his friends. The Colonel became a bit emotional when he said that friendship was the best gift he received while representing his country’s military in Guyana. “The most important accomplishment (for me) was to create a strong
relationship. Without a strong relationship nothing can be achieved,” he said. “The best gift I have received is your friendship,” he added. Colonel Lauria indicated that although he will not be in Guyana, he will, through his next appointment, continue to work with Guyana and provide support for the GDF. “In my next job, I will deal with Brazil’s neighbours on issues related to security cooperation. I will also be waiting for you at the World Cup next year and maybe also at the Olympics in 2016,” he concluded. The Colonel presented Commodore Best with a DVD entitled “SANTOS - 100 Years”, which tells the story of the greatest football club ever known in Brazil.
Joint Opposition have taken their parliamentary dysfunction to heights of “unacceptability” By Latoya Giles Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday said that the Joint Opposition Parties have taken their Parliamentary dysfunction to heights of unacceptability after they rejected Minister Clement Rohee and his Firearms (Amendment) Bill. According to Luncheon, Cabinet contends that “rejection of the Bill must be thrown in their collective faces at every possible opportunity, nationally, regionally and internationally”. “The poverty of their position is revealed by the contemporary talk of their intention to resubmit the very same Bill, whose enactment
Bogus education official returns, enters city secondary
- Dr. Luncheon they submit as an opposition Bill.” Luncheon told the media that this was the latest and incomprehensive act, and has grave implications for the country, specifically with gun crimes and Guyana’s commitment to gun control and gun control efforts domestically and abroad. “The question must be asked whether this practice by the opposition w i l l b e resorted to again in the parliament.” The Bill, it was stressed, is aimed at strengthening local laws and conforming to international treaties and agreements in Caricom. During the minister’s presentation,
Rohee had noted that the amendment would make the trafficking of firearms and firearm/ammunition components unlawful. No opposition member contributed to the debate and the only other MP to speak was R o h e e ’s colleague Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett who emphasised the need for Guyana to join the world in the fight against gun crimes. She noted that an AK47 can be bought for US$200 and alluded to Rohee’s statement that this is because of the porous nature of Guyana’s borders. Rohee, in the wake of the Bill being voted down had
said, “If they think this is a defeat for me it’s a victory for the government, because they (Opposition) will now have to explain why they would be voting against a Bill that is aimed at stemming the flow of firearms into Guyana as a whole or components”. According to Rohee, the message being sent now seems to be that “we don’t mind firearms entering Guyana.” Responding to Opposition Leader David Granger’s comment to the media that it was more dangerous to have him (Rohee) in place than to support the Bill, the minister had stressed that no one should be scared by Granger’s remark.
Apparently, six months’ imprisonment was not enough for a man who for the second time entered a local school posing to be an official from the Ministry of Education. Yesterday, 24-year-old Collis Peters was arrested and taken to the East Ruimveldt Police Station after he walked into the Ascension Secondary School and told teachers that he was a senior member of the ministry. Teachers were however taking no chances and immediately called in the police since they were not informed that any education official would be visiting and the man was unfamiliar to them. School staffers further made contact with the Education Ministry and it was confirmed that the impostor was not one of their staffers. In 2011, Peters was sentenced to six months in jail after entering the Golden Grove Secondary School on the East Coast of Demerara and taking it over for almost two weeks. Peters was able to convince staffers there that he was a legitimate official and managed to change school hours and administer corporal punishment to
students. Peters even had the whole school singing happy birthday to him. He had told teachers that he was the Deputy Education Officer of Region Two, sent by the Chief Education Officer to look into administrative matters at the school. Teachers however became suspicious when the fraudster had spelling issues in note taking. Some of his actions they said also seemed unfit for an education official. After making the necessary calls it was later revealed that Peters was indeed “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”. Students of the Golden Grove school had also staged a mass protest in front of the police station following the man’s arrest, demanding that Peters be released so they could return the beatings that he had administered to them. Teachers and students had also spoken out about the man being able to access the school. Chief Education Officer Olato Sam told Kaieteur News yesterday that administrative measures have been put in place to identify all education staffers. He said that any official engaging a school must provide relevant document, making it easier for recognition.
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Friday March 22, 2013
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Guides are subjected to change without notice
Friday March 22, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): Things are looking good, but conflicts hidden beneath the surface may suddenly explode today. The fireworks begin as your key planet Mars aligns with shocking Uranus to clear the bank of fog that recently moved in. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): Memories that you thought were long gone may now resurface with a sense of immediacy that shocks you into a momentary awakening. Passions express from the deepest recesses of your subconscious mind today. GEMINI (May 21–June 20): You are figure skating on very thin sheets of ice today. As graceful as you may appear now, beneath the cool veneer is a pool of hot molten lava. CANCER (June 21–July 22): An ongoing dilemma is very stressful now and seems to require immediate resolution. You know what you want, but anxiety comes from your uncertainty about how hard to push the river of feelings. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): Power plays may define your current circumstances, yet there is more going on than meets the eye. Your motivations, too, are more complicated than they seem. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): Your usual cool, calm and collected demeanor is nowhere to be found today. Your mind is caught in a powerful whirlpool of intense feelings, needs and circumstances.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): Sometimes you need to step outside of people’s expectations and do what you believe must be done. Being the peacemaking diplomat is not what the planets have in mind for you today. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): You get a fleeting glimpse of a bigger truth now, which can help you find your way through self-imposed restrictions. Don’t avert your eyes when the lightning strikes today. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): Unusual events on the home front may put you in touch with a new perspective on old memories. It’s as if the lights are turned on and you can see what you’ve been missing all along. CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): Although you may be rewarded for your role in the community or your family, there’s a part of you that just wants to cash it all in today and be free from the restraints of obligations. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): You are totally hyped up now and it’s hard to control the thrilling feelings that are running through your body. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): Your self-confidence is operating at a high level today and you believe that others should take more notice of your valuable contributions. Fortunately, the rocket has been rolled out onto the launch pad and ignition will follow shortly.
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
::: Letters to the Sports Editor :::
Was the Berbice Football Association AGM legitimate? SPORTS EDITOR, Mr. Franklin Wilson, President (ag) of the Guyana Football Federation, have a moral and constitutional obligation to the footballing fraternity, to act hastily in annulling the results of the recently held AGM of the BFA, on 16.03.13 at the Association’s Office. Wilson’s failure to act would definitely tarnish his image, despite the fact that he has failed to receive a nomination for the presidency of the GFF, when the AGM, is convened
on 12.04.13. But he must also take into serious consideration his appointment to CFU’s Futsal Committee! Meanwhile, with “Conflict Resolution” an integral part of FIFA’s Statutes, in addition, Parliamentary Procedure provides Wilson with ample grounds to declare the BFA’s Electoral Process “null and void”. This is primarily due to the Association’s failure to produce an audited financial statement over the last two
years, which should have relegated the Association’s status with the GFF, to an associate! Editor, I always had my reservations about the “modus operandi” of the BFA, more so, when an allegation of “fraud” had surfaced a few years ago, but was swept under the carpet by Klass. Wasn’t this out of loyalty and subservience to the then president, who could have always counted on Berbice, for its two votes? Is it, “the more things change,
Hemraj Garbarran is not the highest scorer in a Regional U-19 match at Bourda DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me space to correct Guyana’s Times Sports Reporter Avenash Ramzan. In Thursday Edition 2013-03-21 Mr. Ramzan whilst featuring former West Indies Under- 19 Player Hemraj Garbarran, mentioned that Garbarran’s 158 against Canada during the 2000 Regional Under-19 championship still remains the highest individual score at the World famous venue by an Under-19 batsman in Regional cricket.
For the records Carl Hooper scored 180 vs the Leeward Islands at Bourda in August 1985 during the Northern Telecoms sponsored Regional Under-19 Championship. Hooper’s 1985 heroics is only bettered by another GCC member Leon Johnson whose 200 not out vs Barbados at stubbs in St. Vincent in 2005 is still the highest score by a Guyanese at the Regional Under-19 level. Charwayne Walker
the more they remain the same”? That only recently Mr. Lawrence Griffith, an employee of the GFF, who was honoured recently by the Referees Council, performed the duties of the Returning Officer, while the Federation’s 3rd Vice President, Mr. Duane Lovell, the Referees Council Treasurer, represented the Federation’s interest! Isn’t this a “travesty of natural justice and due process”? As the bigger picture surrounding that entire scenario, defies the logic of “Fair Play”! Whereas with the President of the Referees Council, by way of nomination and seconding (Referees Council)
contesting the presidency of the GFF provides a distinct and unfair advantage, Since both individuals prior to the commencement of the AGM, would have interacted with the entire executive, albeit, campaigning! In this aspect the results of the Elections of Office Bearers must be nullified and be deemed null and void. Finally, it’s either a fresh AGM is reconvened with Wilson representing the interest of the Federation, and the General Secretary, or his Deputy, performing the duties of Returning Officer. Additionally, the candidacy for the respective positions of the Federation’s AGM
should be included on the Agenda, while a 2/3 majority must be obtained, in relation to the clubs voting rights pertaining to their Financial Statements. The BFA President cannot pronounce on such a sensitive issue, when his two years old administration by a similar token cannot produce a Financial Statement! If the clubs must wait until May, (2 months away) then O’ Jeer must give the clubs an ample opportunity to do the same, or the GFF, nullify the voting rights of Berbice, at its AGM. Frankie, at least demit office as President (ag), on a high note, with your head held high. Lester Sealey
Why not support the GHRA than condemn? DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me a section in your sport column to ink my letter to bring a few clarifications of your sport journalist Mr. Samuel Whyte article on Regularizing Guyana Horse Racing Authority featuring some lack of knowledge and research on March 19, 2013 edition. The Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) was established with members of all seven (7) now existing race tracks that are registered with the deeds registry. However, it was read that a particular horseracing entrepreneur is calling for the disbanding of the recently installed GHRA, and replacing it with an interim body. Both Journalist Samuel Whyte and this popular owner were well aware that the entire 2012 horseracing season in Guyana was managed by an IMC (interim management committee) body that was installed with support of all the race clubs and had members serving on it. Everyone in the horseracing industry was
made aware that the IMC board would come to an end on the break of the New Year 2013. And that the IMC would be disbanded and a new GHRA body would be installed to pave the way to help with the regularization through the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports. All race clubs were represented at the installation of the new GHRA body. Those representatives were the members who were only allowed to nominate and cast votes for each position. The meeting was attended by all stakeholders of this great sport including major sponsors and horse owners who were pleased with the steps of the GHRA installation. These parties commended the new GHRA body for once again trying where many have failed in previous attempts. We should all remember that there was a lapse for a few years after Mr. Vic Odit’s short stint with the GHRA for the same back stabbing and lack of support from certain people in the sport. Pertaining to the race date
South Ruimveldt...
From page 39 declare a winner until penalty kicks did so. The final and third place playoffs is set for tomorrow, at the same venue, starting from 16:00 hrs. In the day’s full results: Game 1 St George’s High School 2 v/s Carmel Secondary School 1 Goal Scorers St George’s High School Asumah Small 56th min Jameel Wilson 70th min Carmel Secondary Moses Gritten 11th min
Game 2 South Ruimveldt Secondary 4 v/s Tucville Secondary School 4 South Ruimveldt on 4-2 on penalty kicks. South Ruimveldt Secondary Martin Adams 20th min Steffon Enoch 56th min Levi Canterbury 63rd min Keith Caines 86th min Tucville Secondary School Kevin Andrews 6th min Dorwin Filter 44th & 84th min Ryan Blackman 73rd min
allocations for 2013 it was outlined to all seven (7) tracks present that they will not be allowed no more than four (4) race dates for the year. With tracks keeping their traditional dates this year following the small confusion during the latter part of 2012 between two (2) clubs that had to be resolved by the Director of Sports. Why place our racing in the hands of the Ministry of Agriculture? We should all embrace the new body to make it work. What must be noted is that the Secretary of the new GHRA is a Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and a member of the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club & Sport Facility (formally Alness Turf Club) who represented that club at the meeting at which they were allowed to nominate and vote. Yet we call on organizers to install technology to help in our judging but yet this particular horse owner is a frequent visitor to top horserace tracks overseas and was once of the main driving force behind the RCMTC&SF. So why is it that his club does not include a photo finish camera, as on numerous occasions this same horse owner was not pleased with feature race results at his track? Yet others are condemning the few people that are trying on their own to make this work. So rather than claiming that he has the sport at heart he should be embracing the Guyana Horse Racing Authority and share his vast knowledge with the body so that we can move back to the once glory days of horseracing in Guyana. Thank you. Anil Bhola
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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REPUBLIC BANK NETS TRAP COLTS By Edison Jefford A worrying trend for Colts became apparent Wednesday night when the top bracket first division club slipped to its second straight loss on Burnham Court in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Division I League. Colts collapsed in the second half as they did against Pacesetters last weekend to develop a trend that should worry their Coaches. The collapse allowed Republic Bank Nets to trap them for a 71-59 win that continued Nets’ local ascendency. Veteran guard/forward, Pelham Doris came good for Nets with 21 points while Darrion Lewis 16 points and Hodayah Stewart 14 points offered support for the team that now boast a 3-1 win-loss
- Buxton Heat continue run record for third in the League so far behind Ravens and Pacesetters. Dave Causway had 21 points and Sheldon Thomas scored 10 points for Colts that slipped to a 2-2 record following the loss. The reformed Colts went into the clash with an impressive record of toppling top teams in Georgetown since its reemergence last year. From the first half, it seemed as though they were on track to continue those performances with a hot offensive start; Nicko Fraser finished a turn-around jumper in the paint, after Thomas landed a three-pointer to help Colts take an early 9-2 in the game. However, Nets as was
developed throughout the game kept coming back after Colts runs, which eventually frustrated Colts. Lewis threw up a three-point jumper to equalise at 9-9 with less than four minutes to play in the first quarter. Thomas finished a fastbreak layup that allowed Colts to take a two-point lead. An intense battle on both ends of the court allowed three scoreless minutes to elapse. The initial period ended 11-9 in favour of Colts that was on an early rampage. Fabian Johnson finished five points in a minute and a half to give Nets a 14-11 lead, but that was not enough to put Colts away early. Causway dished a no-look pass to Alwyn Bellamy
Fun and frolic as Camptown FC stages Easter weekend sports extravaganza
The Easter weekend will soon be upon us and kite flyers and revelers would flock to fields and other open places to fly their kites as well as engage in picnic activities. Even as these revelers seek out safe places the executive members of the Camptown Football Club would like to encourage them to visit their Campbellville
Housing Scheme playfield when, in collaboration with patron of the club, Junior ‘Dice’ Francis, they present the 3rd edition of the Easter extravaganza, a solid week of fun filled family oriented activities. Apart from the fun and frolic, organizers have also planned a two days winnertake-all mini football
tournament between four teams. Camptown FC will oppose Fruta Conquerors on March 27 shortly before Alpha United take on Slingerz. The two winning teams will then clash on April 3 at the same venue in the final where the winner will pocket $200,000 in the winner take all affair. There will also be an exhibition match between an All Star team up against New York Stars. Also on April 1, Energy Entertainment will hold a kite flying competition and a fun day on the Camptown field. Fans will be entertained with several 5 a-side football games for lucrative prizes. There will also be a bun eating competition as well as a kite flying competition where the best three competitors will receive lucrative prizes. The organizers would like to encourage the attendance of all Guyanese in what they term good clean fun.
From page 38 assist me in procuring a new bike,” Vieira said. The Caribbean champ, who was presented with a cheque for an undisclosed sum by Junior Supervisor Priya Bisessar, also extended his gratitude to the Management and Staff of the Company which he pointed out has stood by his side in the time of need. He also recognised the input of Fitness Trainer of Top End Performance Training System Kezqweyah Yisrael, who he credited for
helping him recuperate following a career threatening injury, while motor bike tuner Marcel Profitt was duly recognised for his assistance over the years as well. Commenting on his preparations and chances of continuing his dominance on the local scene, the easy going speedster informed that he will be using a borrowed bike, but is still hoping to get adjusted to it in time for Sunday’s showdown with some of the best racers in the category. As for his fitness, Vieira
said that he is feeling fine and even though it is the first Meet of the season, he is confident and believes that his experience and superior skill could keep him at the top of the podium. Twenty-two races are carded for the day and competitors will line up in all the different categories in what is already being hyped to produce some exhilarating performances. The first race is set to begin at 09:00 hrs with the line-up of competitors set for 08:30 hrs.
Two of the members of the Camptown organizing committee, Telson McKinnon (L) and Troy Prescod (R)
Continental Foods Inc. supports...
cutting on the baseline to again equalise 15-15 as a measured battle ensued. Fraser completed yet another fast-break while Colts pressed for steals then Thomas drilled a big threepoint jumper for a 20-15 lead midway through the second quarter. Causway continued his onslaught to lead Colts to a 25-21 lead at halftime. It was the only two
Nets’ Fabian Johnson (left) gets inside traffic along the baseline for a left-handed layup on the Burnham Basketball Court in the GABA League Wednesday night.
competitive quarters of the game since Republic Bank Nets took control from the third period, outscoring Colts 30-17 in the penultimate period of regulation time. Nets gave a deflated Colts no chance to unwind from its fourth quarter trap. In the first game, Buxton Heat continued its run in the Division III League, improving its record to 3-1
with an impressive 59-50 win against Plaisance Guardians. Quincy Newton had 22 points with A. Williams putting up 11 points. For Plaisance, Kelvin Yorrick had 15 points as the team’s slide down the League ladder got some assistance. The GABA Division I and III League continue tonight on Burnham Court with another double-header.
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Hafeez out obstructing the field in Pakistan victory DURBAN (Reuters) Mohammad Hafeez became the first batsman given out for obstructing the field under new rules on Thursday
before Pakistan defeated South Africa by three wickets to level their one-day series 2-2. The opener changed his
AB de Villiers evades one that gets big on him (Getty Images)
running line while attempting a second run and was struck by a throw from AB de Villiers aimed at the non-striker’s end. He was given out by third umpire Billy Bowden, becoming the first player to fall victim to the new International Cricket Council rule that prohibits batsman from intentionally changing their running line to intercept the ball. Hafeez is only the sixth player ever in international cricket to be given out for obstructing the field. Pakistan, chasing 235 to win at Kingsmead, stuttered to 33-3 before a 153-run stand between captain Misbah-ulHaq (80) and opener Imran Farhat (93) laid the platform for victory. “It was a much-needed victory for us, everybody put in 100 percent. It was a combined effort. You dream of a start like we got with the ball, all of the bowlers bowled well,” Misbah said. The decider is in Benoni on Sunday with Pakistan holding the chance of ending their nightmare tour with a series win. South Africa lost two
wickets with the first two balls of their innings after winning the toss and electing to bat, a disastrous start in which Hashim Amla was caught by the wicketkeeper and Colin Ingram bowled by Mohammad Irfan. It was a set-back from which they never quite recovered, although AB de Villiers (75) and David Miller (67) put on 115 for the fourth wicket to see the home side to a below-par 234 for nine in their 50 overs. All of the Pakistan bowlers played their part in restricting the runs, with the pick being Saeed Ajmal (three for 42), Junaid Khan (three for 45) and Mohammad Irfan (three for 46). “I thought we fought back well with the bat, but we came up 20 runs short. They bowled really well in the first 10 overs again,” said South Africa captain de Villiers. “We then lost our way in the field, we just didn’t put on the pressure for long enough.” Pakistan were in early trouble in their reply but recovered with a Kingsmead
Imran Farhat pulls (AFP)
one-day international record stand for the fourth wicket by Misbah and Farhat. Both departed before the end and despite a scare when Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz lost their wickets, Pakistan
coasted home with eight balls to spare. Scores: Pakistan 236 for 7 (Farhat 93, Misbah 80) beat South Africa 234 for 9 (De Villiers 75, Miller 67, Ajmal 3-42) by three wickets.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
GSA Toucan Industries Kool Aid junior skill level tournament
GMR&SC March 24 Meet...
Arjoon recovers to overpower DeGroot
Continental Foods Inc. supports Superbike champion
Sixteen-year-old Victoria Arjoon regrouped from her Tuesday night loss to Steven Xavier with a resounding straight-game win against Ashley DeGroot on night two of the Toucan Industries Kool Aid Junior Skill Level Tournament at the Georgetown Club on Wednesday night. Arjoon, who attends St George’s School in Kingston Rhode Island, prevailed in
three close games (11/9, 11/9, 11/7) against DeGroot, who was the 2012 runner up in the under-19 category of the Caribbean championships. Arjoon, who is a four-time junior Caribbean champion, is currently in Guyana on vacation from school, but is training to represent Guyana at the Caribbean championships again this year.
Xavier completed his second win of the tournament from an entertaining contest against 2012 Caribbean under-19 champion Mary Fung-A-Fat. Xavier prevailed 11/6, 11/9, 11/7, while Nyron Joseph took apart Benjamin Mekdeci with a plethora of powerful drives in the other category A encounter. Joseph, who is also the Caribbean under 17 champion, also has two wins to his credit in category A. Rebecca Low, who was defeated by Alexander Cheeks on opening night, savoured some revenge by defeating Cheeks’ older sister Kristina Cheeks in straight games. Taylor Fernandes was also able to withstand a strong challenge from fast improving Avinash Odit. Akeila Wiltshire comfortably defeated Andrew Peroune, while younger brother Shomari Wiltshire schooled Mahendra Khusial also in straight games. Pablio Mundini was able to prevent a Wiltshire hat trick of wins on night two, by defeating Larissa Wiltshire 11/7, 14/12, 11/6.
Caribbean and Local Superbike champion Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira receives a cheque from Continental Foods Inc. Junior Supervisor Priya Bisessar on Wednesday afternoon, at the Company’s Head Office. He is the defending local and Caribbean Superbike champion for the past two years and Guyana’s Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira speaking with Kaieteur Sport at the Head office of his main sponsor Continental Foods Inc, Industrial Site said that he is rearing to go on Sunday when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) stages its first
Meet of the year, at the South Dakota Circuit. Vieira disclosed to this newspaper that the Company has already bought him a 2013 Suzuki GSX R 600cc motor cycle, but that it would not be available until the first leg of the Caribbean Championship scheduled for Jamaica. The local speedster was thankful for the support
offered over the years by Mr. Puri of Continantal Agencies, who according to Vieira has been extremely kind in contributing largely to success. “I would like to personally thank Mr. Puri for his support over the years which have increased with every good performance and his latest involvement has been to (Continued on page 35)
Diamond Mineral Water Cycle Youth Programme for National Park tomorrow Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) under its Diamond Mineral Water brand yesterday handed over a cheque to President of the Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club, Hassan Mohamed for hosting his Eighth Annual Youth Programme March 23 at the National Park. Sales Manager at DDL, Alexis Langhorne also presented the Club with Diamond Mineral Water that will be used to rehydrate the cyclists during and after the race. In handing over the cheque, Langhorne noted that DDL has always been keen on supporting cycling in the country and this year has been no exception. “We are very proud to be using our Diamond Mineral Water brand and product to help the cyclist perform at their optimum. Diamond Mineral Water has been supporting these races for the past eight years and is quite happy with the planning and execution of the competition,” Langhorne said. The partnership was hailed as an incredible impact on the sport since it has provided cyclists the
Sales Manager at DDL, Alexis Langhorne hands over the cheque to President of the Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club, Hassan Mohamed yesterday. opportunity to compete and enhance their skills. “Diamond Mineral Water is proud of its contributions toward the spectrum of sports in Guyana and is committed to the development and promotion of sports as a healthy form of entertainment,” Langhorne continued. Ian Jackson will attempt to defend his title in the featured 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race, which
he won last year. A new Champion will be crowned in the junior race, as last year’s winner Raynauth Jeffrey has moved up to the senior level. Shameer Baksh is the defending champion of the Veteran’s race. Other races for the day include the BMX Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14 years, Uprights and Mountain Bikes. Officials from DDL will be on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Milo/ Petra Organisation Under-20 Schools Football Competition...
South Ruimveldt, St. George’s to contest final tomorrow Tournament favourites Tucville will not have the opportunity to challenge for the title after they were booted out of contention by South Ruimveldt, who defeated them 4-2 on penalty kicks in their semi-final matchup on Wednesday, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. Playing in the Milo/ Petra Organisation Under-20 Schools Football Competition, the heavily favoured Tucville unit succumbed to the eventual finalist after regulation and extra time failed to separate the two teams deadlocked at 4-4 in a pulsating contest that had the respective supporters on their feet. The opening game produced a similar scenario with favourites Carmel joining Tucville in the playoff for third place after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of a resilient St. George’s unit, who once again proved that
they are the most difficult team to beat in the tournament. Moses Gritten opened the account for Carmel as early as the 11th minute when he took full advantage of a poor clearance from a crooss from the left flank that bounced right in front of him and he lashed the ball into the back of the net. That strike brought loud cheers and celebrations from the Carmel band of supporters and even though St. George’s came close on at least two occasions to find the equaliser including a penalty kick which was fired high over the crossbar, the half came with no addition to the scoreline. On the resumption, the St. George’s side raised the tempo and created some good chances to gain the equaliser, but stout defending supported by alert goalkeeping erased their opportunities. They, however, was able
to level the proceedings through Azuma Small, who pounced on a silly back pass to the keeper, who instead of hitting the ball out of the danger zone attempted to dribble the oncoming player, but only succeeded in being dispossesed causing the centre forward to gain control of the ball and stab it into an empty goal. That made it 1-1 in the 56th minute of play. With both teams searching for the ascendancy and the fans were treated to a fine exhibition of skills as the mid-fielders produced an enchanting display. All this time though, the prolific Marlon Nedd was effectively marked out of the game through an intelligent strategy directed by the St. George’s Coach. It emphatically read if St. George’s were to be beaten it would not be through the goal scoring porwess of Nedd, who was a non factor for the duration of the game.
::: Letter to the Sports Editor :::
ECCB and GCA set the record straight DEAR EDITOR, We note that an article in the Kaieteur News of 20 March 2013 that a body calling itself the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) has announced that it is staging an Inter-Association Under15 Competition. The article further stated that the DCB has been recognized by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) as the sole administrative authority for cricket in Demerara and that the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) and the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) have ignored their parent body (the DCB). The GCA and the ECCB need to set the record straight on the misinformation being peddled by this illegal DCB. Apart from Raj Singh, the other purported members of the DCB are not known to the public. We made many requests, including one to the President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dr. Julian Hunte, to disclose the names of the persons holding themselves out as Executive Members of the DCB. This is the first time since the formation of the DCB in 1992 that the Committee Members of that Board are not known either to the constituent members or to the public. This is a very secretive arrangement and does not bode well for the decency and transparency of cricket administration in
Guyana. In June 2011, Justice James Bovell-Drakes injuncted both the Raj Singh / Anand Sanasie faction and the Bissoondyal Singh / Roger Harper faction preventing them from acting as the DCB. In January 2013, Madame Justice Diana Insanally granted an order preventing the holding of election of the DCB on the 25 January 2013 or at any other time. The Raj Singh / Anand Sanasie faction disrespectfully proceeded to hold the elections on the 25 January 2013. However, because of the court orders the Bissoondyal Singh / Roger Harper faction has not performed any duty or function of the DCB and definitely did not attend any purported elections of the DCB. Remarkably, this phantom group calling itself the DCB has not only illegally imposed itself on the administration of Demerara cricket but has now carried their illegality to a new low by selecting U15 teams in discriminatory manner for the GCA and the ECCB. The GCA and the ECCB have properlyconstituted Executive Committees and because of their strong cricket structures, have produced and continue to produce outstanding national cricketers at all levels. The other two (2) constituent members of the DCB - East
Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBDCA) and the West Demerara Cricket association (WDCA) - do not have any cricket structure in place and yet it is these two (2) Associations which disrespected the court, held illegal elections and now with apparent impunity hold themselves out as the DCB. This phantom DCB does not have the legal or moral authority to stage any cricket competition nor to select teams especially from those areas which have dissociated themselves from that illegal group. The GCA and the ECCB would like the public to know that our associations are not involved, in any way, in this under-15 competition run by the supposed DCB, and did not select a team to participate in the competition. Therefore the teams selected by the DCB are not representative of the GCA or ECCB. We wish to categorically state that, in addition to respecting the court orders, we fully support the Parliamentary process which we expect will bring order to the prevailing chaos in Guyana cricket including the holding of decent and democratic elections of the DCB. Roger Harper President, Georgetown Cricket Association Bissoondyal Singh East Coast Cricket Board
Action in the encounter between South Ruimveldt and Tucville which the former won on penalty kicks. Jameel Wilson became the hero for St. George’s when he netted in the 70th minute and thereafter dogged defending and the occasional sweeping counter attacks kept Carmel at bay until the final whistle sounded. It was another trademark result for St. George’s who has shown that the end result is what matters and is not bothered by how victory is achieved. The feature clash was definitely a crowd pleasing slugfest that fans must have enjoyed. Tucville started out in attacking mode and Kevin Andrews gave them the lead in the 6th minute, before Martin Adams responded 14 minutes later to level things. The red hot Dorwin Filter regained the lead for Tucville in the 44th minute and they held that advantage until the half time whistle sounded. The final period was entertaining at best as the two teams seemed to stand toe to toe with attacks and counter
Jameel Wilson (left) and Azuma Small pose for a photo op follwing their win against Carmel. attacks the order of the day, before Steffon Enoch levelled the contest in the 56th minute of play. They took the lead for the first time in the game through Levi Canterbury in the 63rd, but that was followed by a leveller from Ryan Blackman 10 minutes later for a 3-3
deadlock. Filter added his second in the 84th, before Keith Caines brought it back on par two minutes later which reamined that way until the final whistle came to extend the drama into extra time which too failed to (Continued on page 34)
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Mayor’s Cup Football Championship... Camptown Football Club were required to dig deep and called on all of their resources to eke out a 2-1 victory over Golden Grove FC when action in the Mayor’s Cup football championship continued at the Georgetown Football Club ground, Wednesday evening last. Fruta Conqueror’s FC also lived up to expectations and swamped Mahaica FC 5-0 to stamp its
Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Camptown FC stage miraculous comeback; Fruta Conquerors swamp Mahaica FC dominance and move on to the next round. Golden Grove FC started as the underdogs but exhibited staunch determination from the very first whistle. The exchanges were crisp and Camptown, with such stars as Reshawn Sandiford, Devon Forde and Telson McClennon, were hard pressed to keep them in check. The early dominance of the boys from Golden
Grove was further underlined when Rollex Glasgow weaved his way from way past the halfway line and past the opposition’s defence. He then had to contend with Camptown’s goalie but he adroitly dribbled past him and gently tapped in the ball in the 25th minute. The intense battle continued with both teams enjoying marvelous moments but Golden Grove fought
furiously to retain their lead. Telson McClennon almost changed the dynamics for Camptown when he sprinted from deep into his half in a marvelous solo run that looked like sure goal; his advances were checked just near the goal mouth as Golden Grove defence refused to say die. Desperate to bring the situation back to equilibrium, McClennon featured again
Camptown’s marksmen from left, Telson McClennon and Devon Forde revel in their team’s victory less than five minutes later when he dribbled to the opposition’s goal but what looked like an excellent chance for the equalizer fizzed like a damp squid after Golden Grove goalie scooped up the ball. Keville Frank then launched an attack as Camptown players upped the pressure but his shot, though fierce, slammed into the left goal post for the Golden Grove custodian to retrieve. Golden Grove tenaciously guarded their slim lead and went in at half time on the ascendency. Camptown had a reputation to preserve and from all indications meant to preserve it; they attacked with venom, creating some marvelous opportunities but it was clear that their opponents were not prepared to lie down and die. The game became very competitive as first one side and then the other dominated the proceedings. However, time, that important variable, was dwindling away yet the Golden Grove players refused to wilt; Keville Frank tried to equalize the situation once again after receiving a pass directly on his instep just outside the 50 yards box. He
swiveled and shot the ball with force but rued his luck as the ball slammed into the left post. The referee then ruled on two minutes added time. It was then that Devon Forde collected a pass and dribbled to Golden Grove’s goal and slammed home the equalizer. Less than ten seconds later, the whistle sounded sending the players into extra time. Camptown players then asserted themselves and when Telson McClennon was fed a pass shortly after the whistle into that session, he left no room for debate when he tucked in the decider. The Conquerors team is still bristling after surrendering the just concluded Namilco championship and chose to take the spite from Mahaica FC. Travis Thornhill netted twice with support from Eon Alleyne, Pernell Shultz and Jamaal Greaves. Activities continued last evening when Western Tigers clashed with GCC and Pele against Den Amstel. Tonight’s matches pit the skills of Santos FC against Seawall, while Alpha United take on Seawall. The action gets underway at 18:00hrs.
EBDFA\Trophy Stall U-23 football...
Diamond Utd and Kuru Kururu Warriors register wins Diamond United and Kuru Kururu Warriors registered victories when action in the East Bank Demerara Football Association U-23 knock out competition continued last Sunday at Grove. Anthony Angoy led Diamond United to a 4-0 victory over new comers Herstelling FC with goals in the 66th and 68th minutes, while Eric Williams and Nathaniel Paul scored in the 6th and 31st minute respectively. In the second encounter Kuru Kururu Warriors defeated Timehri Panthers 1-0. Nijoun Hooks found the back of the net in the 10th minute with a lobbed shot after seeing the opposing goalkeeper off his line. The competition continues on Sunday with Grove Hi – Tech FC playing Soesdyke Falcons at 13:00hrs and Agricola Red Triangle FC doing battle with Mocha Champs at 15:00hrs.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 41
Gayle, Chanderpaul grind Zimbabwe ROSEAU, DOMINICA Veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul fashioned his 28th Test century and climbed to eighth on the all-time list of runscorers, while Chris Gayle posted his 15th Test hundred, as West Indies took a vice grip on the second Test against Zimbabwe here yesterday. At the close of the second day at Windsor Park, West Indies had reached an imposing 382 for eight, a lead of 206 runs heading into Friday’s third day. The 38-year old Chanderpaul made 108, an innings that propelled him past Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene on the all-time list with 10 830 runs in his 149th Test. He faced 284 balls and struck 13 fours, to record his second century at the venue and his first against the African side. Gayle, meanwhile, struck 101 from 145 balls with 12 fours and one six, to record his second century against Zimbabwe. Not to be left out, Denesh Ramdin helped himself to his
tenth half-century in Tests, an attractive 86 that helped West Indies assert control of the game in the post-lunch session. Off-spinner Prosper Utseya, who came in for a hiding from Gayle in the first session, finished with three for 60 while seamer Kyle Jarvis (2-82) and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (2-82) picked up two wickets apiece. Resuming the day on 114 for two, the Windies had the worst possible start when Marlon Samuels was bowled off the first ball of the day for his overnight 26. Seamer Tendai Chatara angled in a full length delivery which swung away late and spectacularly plucked out the right-hander’s offstump. Gayle and Chanderpaul then steadied the innings with a 67-run, fourth wicket stand that pushed the Windies in sight of the 200-run mark. The left-handed Gayle, resuming on 61, emerged from a cautious start to rip into the Zimbabwe bowling with a series of telling blows. After quietly moving into the 80s,
he suddenly exploded with a six over mid-wicket off medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza and then raced up to 99 with two consecutive sixes off Utseya. A single to point off the next ball raised three figures for Gayle but he perished soon afterward as he failed to clear the ropes with Utseya, and was brilliantly held at long off by Jarvis, running around and diving. Chanderpaul and Ramdin then killed off any hopes Zimbabwe may have harboured of remaining competitive, as they combined in a 173-run, fifth wicket partnership which consumed the post-lunch session. The obdurate Guyanese was characteristically unflappable, but was quick to put away anything loose, and reached his half-century about half-hour after lunch when he came down to Cremer and worked him through wide mid-wicket for four. Surviving two halfchances at bat-pad off Cremer, Chanderpaul remained composed and reached his
landmark with a pull for a single to deep square leg off Jarvis. Ramdin joined in the fun, taking two boundaries from the first over after lunch from Jarvis before lofting Cremer over long-on for six. He raised his half-century with a streaky shot for two to third man that also brought up the 100-run partnership. When the new ball was taken, Ramdin greeted Jarvis with two thunderous off-side boundaries and seemed almost certain to reach his fourth Test century before he played back was plumb lbw to Cremer at 354 for five. He faced 147 balls and cracked eight fours and a six. His dismissal triggered a slide as the Windies suddenly lost four wickets for 16 runs in the space of 42 deliveries. Captain Darren Sammy holed out to long off Cremer for nine and Chanderpaul followed with four runs added at 370 for seven, when he drove low to cover point where Sean Williams claimed the catch. Television replays showed the ball may have touched the turf.
Chris Gayle
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Kemar Roach was bowled first ball as the Windies lost their way but Tino Best, on 11 and Shane Shillingford, on four, saw their side to the safety of the close. Scores: ZIMBABWE 175 (Brendan Taylor 33, Vusi Sibanda 32, Sean Williams 31; Shane Shillingford 5-59,
Marlon Samuels 3-15, Shannon Gabriel 2-10) WEST INDIES 381 for eight (Shiv Chanderpaul 108, Chris Gayle 101, Denesh Ramdin 86, Marlon Samuels 26, Kieran Powell 24; Prosper Utseya 3-60, Kyle Jarvis 2-82, Graeme Cremer 2-102)
GRFU AGM set for April 7 at Olympic House The Guyana Olympic House on High Street, Kingston is the venue for Guyana Rugby Football Union’s (GRFU) April 7 Annual General Meeting set to elect office bearers. According to a release from the Union, all positions that form the executive will be contested. The incumbent President is Col. John Lewis. Starting time is 11:00 hrs.
Page 42
Kaieteur News
Friday March 22, 2013
Coach bans 13-yr-old “We would like to see gold medals”
Raymond Perez Jnr. Thirteen year old Georgetown Cricket Club cricketer Raymond Perez Jnr who was included in the Georgetown U-15 team to contest the Demerara Cricket Board Inter Association tournament has been given a one month ban by the club’s coach. According to the player he was included in the club’s team to contest a first division match last Saturday but told the coach he was unable to play due to house chores. “I didn’t know that I had to turn up at the ground the following day, I received a call from the coach Sunday morning who asked me to
show up but I told him that I can’t make it because I just woke up and didn’t have breakfast. He spoke to my mom and told her that I must not go back to the club for one month and he (Perez) must decide if he wants to play for the club in the future”, the player said. The player stated he joined the club 6 years ago. He declared that he cannot play in the current DCB U-15 competition which is used to select the Demerara inter county team due to the ban which started last Sunday and when it is finished the current competition will conclude. The player father Raymond Perez Snr told Kaieteur Sport he is concerned that his son who is a talented cricketer has been banned at this time. He also stated that the ban was reduced to 20 days. When contacted the coach said it is an internal matter for the club. However a source close to the club indicated that they do not want to jeopardize the player’s career but has no room for indiscipline.
Guyana to resume battle ...squads selected After a period of two weeks rest, the Guyana 4-day and 50-Over teams will resume their battle in the Regional Competition at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on March 30, 2013. The host will take on the Combined Colleges and Campuses from March 30 to April 02 in their 4-day encounter followed by their 50-Over Day-and-Night contest on April 04th. Then from April 10th – 14th, Guyana will go up against the mighty Jamaicans, followed by their 50-Overs matchup on April 07 which is also a Day-and-Night fixture. This will be the first set of Regional Matches in Guyana in a long time and it should give some confidence to the home team which have not done well in the Competition so far. The 4-day matches will start at 10:00 hrs each day, while the 50-Overs will start at 14:00 hrs. And, admission to the 4-day matches is free,
while a cost of $500 will be attached to tickets for the 50Overs matches. Earlier today, National Senior Selectors met and selected both teams for the remainder of the tournament. The 4-day squad reads Rajendra Chandrika, A s s a d F u d a d i n , L e o n J o h n s o n , Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, and Zaheer Mohamed. The 50-Overs squad reads Trevon Griffith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, L e o n J o h n s o n , Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Anthony Bramble, S t e v e n J a c o b s , Devendra Bishoo, Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l , Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Rajiv Ivan, and Zaheer Mohamed. Meanwhile, practice sessions will be at the National Stadium, on March 25th, 26th and 28th.
- Minister tells CARIFTA team
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony (centre) takes a photo opportunity with the members of the CARIFTA Games team and AAG Officials yesterday. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony yesterday urged the CARIFTA Games Track and Field team to bring home gold medals when the team paid him a courtesy call before it departs Guyana for the March 29 –April 1 Games in the Bahamas. “I would like to urge you athletes to go out and do your best because we would like to see gold medals,” Anthony urged, while pledging his Government’s full support of the team where possible. . “I want to say, as it is customary, that the team that is going out has the full support of the Ministry in moving forward because when delegations go out to these Games they are really going out as Ambassadors of Guyana,” he said. He said that the various challenges of the sport must be used to fuel development. He said that the construction of the Synthetic Track and Field Facility at Leonora is one of the ways his Government is investing
in the sport. He urged the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to put their development plan in place as it is the greatest challenge to his Ministry. “While we’re very confident of getting all the engineering for the track done
our greatest concern is that we would like to see programmes being put in place,” Anthony said. AAG President, Aubrey Hutson expressed his confidence in the athletes and stated that the AAG development plan will soon be issued.
The CARIFTA team comprising of nine athletes namely, Jevina Straker, Cassey George, Jason Yaw, Tirana Mitchell, Alita Moore, US-based athletes, Kadecia Baird, Ashley Tasher and Syron Mackenzie will leave Guyana on Sunday for the Games.
AFS Shipping cricket in Wakenaam...
Maria’s Pleasure, Sans Souci Jaguars and Zeelandia victorious Maria’s Pleasure, Sans Souci Jaguars and Zeelandia recorded victories when play in the AFS Shipping Twenty\20 cricket competition continued last Sunday in Wakenaam with three matches. At Maria’s Pleasure, the host overcame Noitgedacht by 7 wickets. The visitors batted first and were skittled for 63 in 12.2 overs. Extras contributed 25 as Lenard Lewis bagged 3-8, Kennard Lewis 2-3 and Marsh Singh 213. Maria’s Pleasure replied with 64-3 in 5 overs with Bernard Lewis scoring 26; Ahmad Khan took 2-12. At the Wakenaam Community centre ground, Sans Souci Jaguars defeated Zeelandia by 55 runs. The Jaguars took first strike and managed 100 all
out in 19 overs. Siddiq Mohamed led with 24 (3x4, 1x6) as Ajay Ghansam grabbed 4-20 and Darmin Pooran 3-10. Zeelandia in response fell for 45 in 9.3 overs. Moin Khan claimed 3-2, Zameer Zaman 3-5 and Mohamed 3-6. At the said venue, Zeelandia got the better of Sans Souci by 8 wickets. Sans Souci were bowled out for 89 in 12 overs, batting first with Gurnauth Khemraj top scoring with 38 (2x4,2x6) as Yougeshwar (only name) snared 3-20 and Ajay Ghansham 2-35. Zeelandia then knocked off the required target in 10 overs as they finished on 90-2. Jadukul (only name) led with 34 while Ghansham chipped in with 23; Vickram Ramnarine had 2-12.
Friday March 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 43
t r o Sp Shiv Chanderpaul gathers runs during his hundred. (WICB Randy Brooks).
Chris Gayle works a ball into the on side during his century (WICB Randy Brooks).
Denesh Ramdin acknowledges his half-century (WICB Randy Brooks).
R
OSEAU, DOMINICA - Veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul fashioned his 28th Test century and climbed to eighth on the all-time list of run-scorers, while Chris Gayle posted his 15th Test hundred, as West Indies took a vice grip on the second Test against Zimbabwe here yesterday. At the close of the second day at Windsor Park, West Indies had reached an imposing 382 for eight, a lead of 206 runs heading into Friday’s third day. The 38-year old Chanderpaul made 108, an innings that propelled him past Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene on the all-time list with 10 830 runs in his 149th Test. He faced 284 balls and struck 13 fours, to record his second century at the venue and his first against the African side. Gayle, meanwhile, struck 101 from 145 balls with 12 fours and one six, to record his second century against Zimbabwe. Not to be left out, Denesh Ramdin helped himself to his tenth half-century in Tests, an attractive 86 that helped West Indies assert control of the game in the post-lunch session. Off-spinner Prosper Utseya, who came in for a hiding from Gayle in the first session, finished with three for 60 while seamer Kyle Jarvis (2-82) and leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (2-82) picked up two wickets apiece. Resuming the day on 114 for two, the Windies had the worst possible start when Marlon Samuels was bowled off the first ball of the day for his overnight 26. Seamer Tendai Chatara angled in a full length delivery which swung away late and spectacularly plucked out the right-hander’s off-stump. Gayle and Chanderpaul then steadied the innings with a 67-run, fourth wicket stand that pushed the Windies in sight of the 200-run mark. The left-handed Gayle, resuming on 61, emerged from a cautious start to rip into the Zimbabwe bowling with a series of telling blows. After quietly moving into the 80s, he suddenly exploded with a six over midwicket off medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza and then raced up to 99 with two consecutive sixes off Utseya. A single to point off the next ball raised three figures for Gayle but he perished soon afterward as he failed to clear the ropes with
Utseya, and was brilliantly held at long off by Jarvis, running around and diving. Chanderpaul and Ramdin then killed off any hopes Zimbabwe may have harboured of remaining competitive, as they combined in a 173-run, fifth wicket partnership which consumed the post-lunch session. The obdurate Guyanese was characteristically unflappable, but was quick to put away anything loose, and reached his half-century about half-hour after lunch when he came down to Cremer and worked him through wide mid-wicket for four. Surviving two half-chances at bat-pad off Cremer, Chanderpaul remained composed and reached his landmark with a pull for a single to deep square leg off Jarvis. Ramdin joined in the fun, taking two boundaries from the first over after lunch from Jarvis before lofting Cremer over longon for six. He raised his half-century with a streaky shot for two to third man that also brought up the 100-run partnership. When the new ball was taken, Ramdin greeted Jarvis with two thunderous off-side boundaries and seemed almost certain to reach his fourth Test century before he played back was plumb lbw to Cremer at 354 for five. He faced 147 balls and cracked eight fours and a six. His dismissal triggered a slide as the Windies suddenly lost four wickets for 16 runs in the space of 42 deliveries. Captain Darren Sammy holed out to long off Cremer for nine and Chanderpaul followed with four runs added at 370 for seven, when he drove low to cover point where Sean Williams claimed the catch. Television replays showed the ball may have touched the turf. Kemar Roach was bowled first ball as the Windies lost their way but Tino Best, on 11 and Shane Shillingford, on four, saw their side to the safety of the close. Scores: ZIMBABWE 175 (Brendan Taylor 33, Vusi Sibanda 32, Sean Williams 31; Shane Shillingford 5-59, Marlon Samuels 3-15, Shannon Gabriel 2-10) WEST INDIES 381 for eight (Shiv Chanderpaul 108, Chris Gayle 101, Denesh Ramdin 86, Marlon Samuels 26, Kieran Powell 24; Prosper Utseya 3-60, Kyle Jarvis 2-82, Graeme Cremer 2-102).
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