Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

The Opposition saved Guyana millions DEAR EDITOR, I am responding to a letter in the (March 9 edition) of the newspaper by Minister Robeson Benn.

Without once pausing to establish that the PPP government was legal in 2011 after an election in which they lost the control of the national assembly, Benn then lists some of what he perceives as major projects which were halted by the combined opposition.

The opposition was never consulted on any matter even though it held the majority of the seats in the National Assembly.

Any sensible government would understand that in such a situation the PPP must have realised that it was no longer in charge and had to consult and compromise with the opposition in order that it could get their projects done. It refused and reaped the whirlwind.

But let’s deal with a few specific projects which Benn, named as indicators of progress and even some which he did not name.

Benn alleges that we stopped the University of Guyana scholarship fund?

Actually on February 13, 2015 the Guyana Times, a known PPP mouthpiece, reported the following “Opposition Leader David Granger said that if State funds to the University of Guyana (UG) are not significantly improved, the kind of changes that are needed at the institution will not be possible”.

This does not sound like an opposition which wants less money to flow to the university.

He alleges that the opposition blocked the Amerindian Development

Fund. Yes they did, and analyst Chris Ram told the Kaiteur News on April 24, 2014 that “the $1.1B that the parliamentary opposition did not approve, was said to be used under the Amerindian Development Fund. (It) was exposed as money for uncontrolled vote-buying in the Amerindian communities.

The money had nothing to do with capital expenditure.

Ram also indicated that” “Not surprisingly, n o n e o f t h e P e o p l e ’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Ministers seemed in the least bit embarrassed at being caught red-handed, even as they abused some bemused Amerindians to picket the National Assembly.

“In Parliament during the debates, opposition shadow Finance Greenidge said, “We are not against AmerindianDevelopment, but we are opposed to misappropriation. When we examine the details, $798M of the money allocated was to be provided for a monthly stipend to youths.

But reports from throughout the hinterland show that the money was not being spent for its intended purpose (career development) but rather used to introduce politics into the community.”

Benn then alleges that the opposition blocked the money for the CJIA development project.

The opposition did use its majority to stop allocations to the Airport project since 2012 because it was not properly consulted as to the source o f t h e m o n e y, i t i s encapsulated in this article “CJIA Manager Ghir has revealed that a total of $366.9 million was spent on the airport expansion

project, despite the combined parliamentary opposition disapproving funds during the consideration of the 2013 – 2014 budget estimates. “ H o w e v e r, when quizzed by the media on Friday, January 16 on the source of the money and whether it was from the same funds that were disapproved, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn became seemingly enraged and refused to answer the question bluntly” this man vex that we are asking him where he get this money from and he is breaking the law to do so.

So notwithstanding that the funds were disapproved by the national assembly according to a recent judgement b y t h e c h i e f Justice, Benn continued to spend this money in violation of the national a s s e m b l y ’s wishes representing the majority of the tax payers in this c o u n t r y. H e s h o u l d b e writing his letter from jail.

He then says that the opposition was retarding the Amaila Hydro project in fact when the site global representatives met with the

opposition to explain how electricity rates will drop. Carl Greenidge’s reaction was “that the APNU party’s major concern is the cost to the consumer after Amaila comes on stream.

The government keeps purporting that the tariff will be reduced “but that has been proven not to be so.”

The opposition was right to stop this project they have nothing to apologise for, and we saved the nation’s taxpayers US$ 840 million. It would have made the Skeldon US$200 million expansion a joke by comparison. I say thanks guys.

I normally write only on sugar and broadcasting, sometimes on the law when I have had the privilege to speak to Fenton Ramsahoye, but this is election time and I will keep my promise to attack anyone who is benning up the facts with lies.

The PPP inherited an economy which was growing at 7.7% in 1992, it never grew at that rate since, thanks to the amateurs the PPP put in place to run this country. Very shortly I will start a commentary until elections on channel 9.

Tony Vieira

Securing that...

From page 4 when necessary to defend their interests. In the course of exercising their vote they make or break governments in elections.

In Guyana young people’s politics is shaped by party politics. Since party politics to a great extent is generally influenced by race/ethnic insecurity; our young people’s politics in these circumstances have not been driven by issues relevant to youth interests.

I wish to warn the APNU/AFC campaign strategists that they have to be cognizant of the past and recent history of our young people’s political and electoral behavior.

The party that masters youth mobilization will prevail come May 11, 2015.

Tacuma Ogunseye

Donald Ramotar does not have a strategy to transform Guyana

DEAR EDITOR, In reality, politicians end up doing what their characters oblige them to do.

The character of Donald Ramotar has always been one who is indecisive, lacks conviction and a world-class vacillator. As the Leader of the PPP, he experimented with ideas that were all conceived under the Jagdeo regime without ever asking the hard questions as to their practicality and relevance to improving the well-being of the Guyanese people.

In 2011, when Khemraj Ramjattan and David Granger reached out to the PPP with an olive branch by asking for the tripartite committee to deliberate on all major developmental and political issues, the hardliners in the PPP led by Dr. Roger Luncheon refused to implement any of the proposals from the majority opposition.

The indecisive Donald Ramotar went along for the ride, thus causing his own political demise. He never exhibited an attitude of a President.

Today, the PPP pitch to voters is ultimately a distillation of its leader’s political and ideological bankruptcy. The difference between decision and compulsion helps clear up what is wrong with Donald Ramotar.

The PPP leader’s ratings have sunk to a pit of awfulness that reduces his decision making to somewhere between ludicrous to gross incompetence. Five more days of Donald Ramotar and the PPP is enough misery for the nation much less five more years. The young people are fully aware of this untenable

situation. So this unhappy nation will speak and speak loudly on May 11, 2015.

If the PPP were doing what it ought to be doing for the people, it would have been well primed for power and comfortably ahead in the polls as we speak. They know and I know that as of today the PPP is stuck at 42 percent popularity while the Broad Based Alliance is at 47 percent with 11 percent undecided. It is my conviction even after Babu Jaan; they cannot score the nine percent necessary to be ahead when the results are announced.

So Mr. Ramotar and his compulsion to follow the Jagdeo plan condemn him to failure since 2011. His effort to cobble together enough like-minded voters today by driving a racist campaign with Jagdeo as the lead “cuss bird” will give him a respectable number but it will never be enough to win since his message has little credence with the 20 percent that matters – the “mixed/dougla” people and the first time voters. Game over Donald!

Sase Singh

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Kaieteur News

Cocaine trafficker gets three years City Magistrate Judy Latchman handed a drug trafficker a three-year sentence after he was found guilty of trafficking two grams of cocaine.

Daro Peters, 41, chose to give an unsworn statement.

He told the court that he did not have the drug in his possession.

During the summing up of the evidence, the magistrate informed the defendant that the court believed he had the substance in his possession.

Before handing down her verdict the magistrate took into consideration the mitigating factors and the fact that a strong message needs to be sent to others contemplating of plying the

Daro Peters drug trade.

She also emphasised about the seriousness and prevalence of drug trafficking in society.

The prosecution facts stated that on the day in question the defendant was

stopped and searched by a special constable. Upon searching, the man the police found a creamish substance strapped with rubber bands to his left shoulders. The substance was analyzed by the police and determined to be cocaine.

After hearing he was found guilty, Persaud pleaded with the magistrate.

“Yuh Worship, yuh find me guilty. Please for a chance,” were the words he uttered.

Peters made his first court appearance on February 4, and pleaded not guilty to the charge. On that occasion, police prosecutor Shellon Daniels asked that the man be denied bail since he did not have a fixed place of abode.

Alleged motorbike thief remanded Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry remanded an Albouystown man on Monday after it was alleged he robbed a man of his motorbike.

Ershad Bacchus denied the charge which stated that on March 6, at Albouystown, together with three others and armed with a knife, he robbed Antwan Nauth of one Jialing motorbike valued $200,000.

Police prosecutor Bharrat Mangru’s facts stated that the defendant and the victim are known to each other. He said that on the day in question Bacchus approached Nauth and

stabbed him about the body.

Bacchus then made good his escape with the victim’s motorbike.

Grant related that Nauth went to the hospital to seek medical attention for his injuries.

And on March 7, he then positively identified the defendant as the person who carried out the attack on him.

The prosecutor objected to bail citing the nature, seriousness and prevalence of the offence. He also pointed out to the court that if the defendant is to be released on bail there is a likelihood that he might not return to court for the

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Linden mechanic before court for stolen engine A Linden man was yesterday placed on $100,000 bail yesterday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that Derwin Freeman, a mechanic, stole one six-cylinder caterpillar engine valued $3.5M, on February 22, at Arangoy Backdam, Cuyuni River.

The court further alleged that on the said date, at the same location, Henry Da Silva received one six-cylinder caterpillar engine, valued $3.5M, knowing same to be stolen.

The engine is the property of Ricardo Seelall.

Both Freeman and Da Silva pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Police prosecutor Bharrat

Mangru informed the court that the victim did not want to proceed with the matter against Da Silva.

Seelall took to the witness box and testified that he received $1M compensation from Da Silva and did not want to proceed with the matter. He went on to say that he was not forced or threatened to make the decision.

Subsequently, the matter against Da Silva was dismissed.

Freeman’s attorney, Dexter Todd, in his bail application told the court that his client resides at 11 Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden. Counsel said that he has six children and should be granted bail because he is not a flight risk.

Freeman was ordered by Chief Magistrate Priya

Derwin Freeman Sewnarine Beharry to post $100,000 bail. He was also instructed to report to the officer in charge of ‘F’ Division every fortnight commencing from March 20.

Freeman will make his next court appearance on March 27, at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

No bail for Linden serial robber

Ershad Bacchus commencement of a trial.

Bacchus, a labourer, was subsequently denied bail and ordered to make his next court appearance on March 30.

A plumber was denied his pre-trial liberty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry charged with four counts of armed robbery.

Winston Hinds, a plumber, of 58 Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, pleaded not guilty to all four charges when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The first allegation against Hinds is that he and others, armed with a gun, on November 10, 2013, at McKenzie, Linden, robbed Clayton Thomas of a quantity of gold jewellery valued $800,000.

Particulars of the second

charge stated that on February 9, 2015, Hinds, armed with a gun, robbed Marlon Daniels of his back pack and Blackberry cellular phone all totaling $38,500.

The third allegation claimed that on February 17, 2015, at One Mile, Linden, he robbed Indra Campbell of a cell phone valued $100,000 along $400,000 cash.

Finally, the court alleged that Hinds together with others, on the same day at the said location, robbed Hubert Campbell of a $20,000 Blu cellular phone.

Hinds was unrepresented by an attorney at yesterday’s hearing.

The court was not provided with any facts about what occurred on the day in question.

However, Police prosecutor Michael Grant objected to the defendant being released on bail citing the penalty the offence attracts if the defendant is found guilty; and the fact that a firearm was allegedly used to carry out the unlawful act.

The prosecutor’s objections were upheld by the magistrate and the defendant was remanded to prison until March 17.

The matter was transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Prime Minister Gaston Browne stands behind government’s Sweet Homes deal

During a visit last year, Prime Minister Gaston Browne (second right) accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Fernandez called on to HH Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Ruler of Ajman & Member of Supreme Council of UAE and also inspected Ajman Uptown Project Sweet Homes’.

Daily Observer - Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended the government’s agreement with a United Arab Emirates housing developer as a totally transparent engagement.

The project in question is Sweet Homes which is based in the United Arab Emirates and to which Antigua and Barbuda has linked its Citizenship by Investment Programme.

Observer Media has quoted two lawyers based in the Arab Emirates as saying the deal with Sweet Homes downgrades the citizenship process and could sully the country’s name.

But Prime Minister Browne says anyone receiving citizenship through

the project will undergo more rigorous screening than those using other CIP agents.

“Sweet Homes they have actually engaged a firm in the UAE, an accounting firm, to do due diligence on their behalf and when the applications are sent here the CIP unit here they as well conduct their own due diligence, and we do not have any such arrangement with any other supplier. I think the problem is the one of competition and those who have been operating in the market before, they believe that sweet homes is likely to monopolize the market based on their aggressive marketing,” he says.

The Prime Minister dismisses suggestions that

the country is not benefiting from the deal. He responds by saying, “they have been twinning the advertisement of their real estate with the advertisement of the NDF fund so you still l have to pay the $200,000, you still have to do the due diligence, you still have to come through an Antiguan agent, you still have to go through the CIP unit. We do not see the damage to the business that they see, because what sweet homes is doing is that they are advertising the programme nationally we see it as having the potential of expanding the market rather than diminishing the business of the other suppliers in the UAE”.

CLICO forensic report to be made public Daily Nation - Barbadians in another few days will be able to see the contents of the latest CLICO forensic report.

This follows an order by High Court judge, Justice Wi l l i a m Chandler yesterday morning who gave a directive to unseal the

report.

The in-chambers hearing took place in the Supreme Court and follows a request by the judicial manager, Deloitte Co n s u l t i n g Limited, who in an application called for the unsealing of the report.

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) had objected to the report being released for public viewing.

The first audit report was unsealed and released to public scrutiny on February 20, 2012.

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Kaieteur News

Cops angry as CPO refuse to budge…

SOUND THE ALARM - Sickout cripples fire, prisons operations

Trinidad Guardian Yesterday, Police, Fire and Prison officers continued a sickout action over stalled salary negotiations.

At the Roxborough Police Station, one group of officers have been on duty since Sunday, as they were not relieved by their colleagues since the nationwide call for “rest and relaxation” started. The Guardian understands that four persons were on active duty: a Sergeant, a Corporal and two Constables.

Acting Senior Superintendent, Tobago Division, Joanne Archie confirmed that absenteeism was a problem, but said the situation was manageable.

She did not give specific figures.

Fire fighters await relief at Fire Headquarters in Port-of-Spain Monday. Members of the Fire, Police and Prison Services engaged in a sickout action over a collapse in salary negotiations.

“In Tobago, there is some level of absenteeism, however we have our contingency plans in place and all of the stations are operating on an adequate strength,” Archie said.

The Tobago Fire Division

is also affected, according to Assistant Divisional Fire Officer in Tobago David Thomas.

“I cannot say we are in a better position than Monday, but about 50 percent of the officers have not turned up for duty.”

Thomas said that the management systems allowed for the division to carry out their duties in spite of the shortfall.

Asked whether the high level of absenteeism was as a result of the call for “rest and reflection”, Thomas said it was hard to say.

“There is a shortage but we cannot now say if the shortage is as a result of people being ill or other reasons.

So when those persons who have not been at work indicate their reasons for not being here, then we would be able to classify.”

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Former prime minister denies US authorities revoked his visa BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CMC – Former St. KittsNevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas yesterday described as “bogus,” media reports that the United States government had revoked his visa to enter the North American country.

“The document, a graphic of a head photograph of Dr. Douglas with a passport graphic in the background and side bearing a stamp marked, “revoked”, being circulated is fabricated and bogus. It’s not a document that is and ever was in my possession,” Dr. Douglas said in a statement released here. At least one regional news publication reported Monday that Dr. Douglas was stripped of his diplomatic visa “due to his refusal to adhere to international standards and various advisories in the processing of our passports and management of our citizenship by investment scheme”.

The publication said that the new Team Unity government has already met with top US officials and “pledged to revamp the entire scheme in order to restore our reputation and integrity on the world scale”.

In his statement, Dr. Douglas, who lost the February 16 general elections by a 7-4 margin, said that “this is a continuation of the attempts to tarnish my image

Dr. Denzil Douglas and legacy of nearly twenty years of catapulting St. KittsNevis to leading developmental positions in the Caribbean region”.

He said the publication was also “the latest effort in an attempt to distract the electorate from the failings” of the new government headed by Dr. Timothy Harris “to deliver on the promises it made to the people… during the recent campaign”.

Dr. Douglas said that he has been made aware that the government has revoked the diplomatic passports issued to former ministers of the Labour Party administration “even though on assuming office they met in place a policy of former Heads of State and Government and others continuing to hold diplomatic passports.

“In this circumstance where a visa was issued in the

diplomatic passport which has been recalled/cancelled, we’ve been advised that we need to apply for new visas in our regular passports,” he said.

Dr. Douglas said that the “origin of the fabricated document seems to point to an internet-based service which is well known for its propaganda against the Labour Party administration,” and is operated by a well known “propagandist” for the People’s Action Movement (PAM) and the Team Unity.

Dr. Douglas said that the visa issue is the continuation of the “victimization” being meted out to people claimed to be supporters of the last administration, including the former Commissioner of Police who was “”forced out of office although he has unserved years on an existing contract”.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

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BREAKING SAD NEWS One of the most difficult tasks that you can ever face is breaking sad news to others. There is no prescribed approach, for example, as to how you should inform someone that a loved one has died.

Most persons would however advise that this be done with finesse, but just what constitutes finesse in such circumstances is difficult to decide.

Should you, for example, simply come straight out and report that so and so has died? Or should you follow conventional winsome and break the news gently?

I once got a call from a

cousin in the middle of the night. I knew even before he began to “break the news gently” what to expect. Any call in the middle of the night from overseas has to be bad news and invariably it has to be that someone close to me has died.

My cousin began with the usual greetings, as if I cared to be awakened out of sleep to be asked how I was doing.

After what seemed like an eternity answering questions about the well-being of my household, the caller got down to breaking the news gently.

He asked me whether I was standing or sitting and

suggested that I sit. I did not need confirmation. I knew then that my great aunt had passed away and this was what the call was about. When I assured my cousin that I was seated, he said that he had bad news for me.

I knew that already. He told me that something bad had happened. He said that I should prepare myself for a shock and that what he was about to tell me would not be easy.

I was almost tempted to interrupt to inform him that getting me out of my sleep to answer the phone was not easy. After a few more preliminary steps, he let out

Dem boys seh...

A LI’L BOY PUT IRFAAT TO HE PLACE De more you live is de more you learn. That is wha dem boys she, but some people does live lang and ain’t learn nutten.

Tek Anil. He think he smart and he walk wid he chest up in de air and he wife next to him till he meet a bookseller who was conducting a market survey.

De bookseller tell Anil that he got a question but Anil, being de good husband, decide that things like that he gun lef to he wife.

“Which book has helped you most in your life?” de bookseller ask de woman.

The woman replied - “My husband’s cheque book!!

And she ain’t lie. Just like how de li’l boy mek Irfaat know that he should keep he mouth shut if nobody ain’t talk to he. He sit down pun a bench and a li’l boy deh singing, “If me mother is a hen and me father is a cock then

me is a chicken.”

Irfaat tun and tell de boy not to mek noise. De boy watch he and buss out another tune. “If me mother is a duck and me father is a drake then I would be a duckling.” Irfaat then tun and tell he if you mother is a prostitute and you father is a gay boy, what you gun be?”

De boy answer, “Irfaat de Minister.”

Dem boys seh that dem can now understand why de other man who Donald mek a minister ain’t got a wife but he always got he cell phone.

De man and he wife does always go to Barbados pun vacation. In Barbados dem does go pun de beach. This day de woman find Aladdin’s magic lamp and she start fuh rub it. A Genie come out as usual.

The woman look at the Genie and ask him to grant her the following wishes: I want

my husband to have eyes only for me; I want to be the only one in his life; I want that when he gets up in the morning I’m the first thing he grabs and takes me everywhere he goes.”

The Genie turn de wife into an iPhone 6 That is why dem boys seh that when you in love, Wonders Happen. But once you get married, You Wonder what happen.

Some man does find out that at the beginning, every wife treats her husband as GOD... Later, somehow and dem boys don’t know why, de letters does get reversed.

That is why some people does use Jagdeo secret formula for married couples...

“Love One Another” and if it don’t work, bring the last word to the middle!

Talk half and watch how nuff man trying to hide dem cheque book.

the bad news that my great aunt was no more. It took an eternity.

I would have preferred that he had simply shocked the living daylights out of me, coming outright immediately and saying, “Peeper, your aunt is dead.” But the poor fellow must have been worried about such sudden news on my cardiac system.

I once heard a story about a sergeant major who received a telegram that the mother of one of his ranks had died. He summoned the rank and bluntly told him, “Your mother has died!”

An officer who was passing at the time and heard what has transpired summoned the sergeant major and advised him to be more tactful in breaking death announcements to his ranks.

The sergeant major promised to do so in the future.

Lo and behold, the very next day, the sergeant major received a report that the mother of one of his ranks, Tom, had died. He decided then that he would be tactful in informing Tom that his mother had passed on. He thought about it and decided on a course of action.

He summoned all his soldiers and lined them up in

formation.

He then announced, “All those with mothers step forward.” When Tom obeyed and stepped forward, he turned to him and said, “Not you Tom.” A similar thing happened to a man who was on vacation. Before proceeding on his holiday, he left his dog with a friend.

The friend forgot to feed the dog, who died of starvation. Feeling sad about the whole thing he called the man on vacation and broke the sad news to him.

The man reprimanded his friend for being inconsiderate and breaking such sad news to him when he was trying to have a good time on vacation.

He told his friend that instead of simply coming out and informing him that

his dog had died, he could have broken the news in sequence, as for example one day calling to say that the dog was on the roof, the next day that the dog had fallen off the roof and the third day by coming to the point and saying that the dog had not survived.

The friend agreed that he was not considerate enough and decided that the next time something sad happened, he would break the news gently.

A few days later the man on vacation got a call from his friend. The friend calmly told him, “Your grandmother is on the roof!”

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2015

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Jagdeo’s coolie remark and something I never told my lawyers in the libel trial Bharrat Jagdeo descended to the base, to the lowest level of nasty instincts when he chose not to use the word “East Indian” but the term, “coolie” in his vile, perverted attempts to wipe up race poison in Berbice last Sunday.

Mr. Jagdeo has never been a smart person. If he was he would not have sued for libel and run away after the trial began.

Mr. Jagdeo was an intellectually very poor person and that made it impossible for him to have even a modest legacy as President. Jagdeo thinks he was being smart when he used his “coolie” remark.

He told his audience that it was the opposition that said, “…Let’s throw out those coolie people.” Really,

Jagdeo is in love with himself.

He thinks that he can pass on that idiocy and people will believe him? There are a billion ways you can effect a racist saying without you composing the utterance yourself.

So are we to hear tomorrow that Jagdeo will tell Guyanese that in 2012 during the budget cuts, he heard opposition politicians said, “Cut down dem coolie people budget?” Will we read next week that Jagdeo wrote that during the protest against the prorogation, he heard APNU politicians saying, “Dem coolie people must not close down the Parliament?”

Jagdeo thinks he is so smart. He creates a crescendo of racist cyanide and he can say that the words are not coming from him, but he is relating what he heard. The truth is what he heard he never heard and his “race

baiting” is nothing but a faggoted bundle of lies.

I monitored every scathing criticism from the PPP during the 2011 election campaign.

I never heard the story of the early morning beating of drums to the chants of “chase dem coolie people out of office.” Not one PPP leader from the top right down to the bottom ever made reference to that incident during the election campaign of 2011.

Now Bharrat Jagdeo in 2015 told his Berbician followers that he knew about that incident.

There was never such an incident. This was a pure invention of race-baiting by Jagdeo. The people of this nation of every religion, every ethnicity, every culture, and from every station in life must stop what Bharrat Jagdeo intends to do. I don’t feel this is the end of it. This man

intends to invoke at every PPP meeting the poltergeist of race and this entire nation must confront him.

Jagdeo descended to the base when he used his “coolie” remark. Basic decency should have driven Mr. Jagdeo to use the word, “East Indian.” I remember when the Jagdeo libel trial had started, I could have told my lawyers about an incident I witnessed for which I have a credible witness who is a respected former public servant and military officer.

I just didn’t have the stomach to recall such an incident. Those words could not come out of my mouth even though I heard them and they would have helped my defence.

One night in 1994, my long time friend, Malcolm Harripaul, took me swimming at Castellani House. Malcolm and I have been friends since

teenage days. He is a fine Guyanese citizen. At that time, Malcolm held a high position at Customs and Excise. He was an officer in the army.

While we were in the sauna, this man who later became the “Big Man” in Guyana came in. He was with a certain MBA relative and also a person who currently holds a high position in the Bank of Guyana. Once I was there, the discussion had to turn to UG. The Big Man said in front of all of us; “Ya’ll gat dem Bla…. men fu…. dem Indian girls at UG.” He did not say “coolie.” He said “Indian.”

I thought long and hard about telling Khemraj Ramjattan and Nigel Hughes about this incident during the libel trial. But I knew both men would have been uncomfortable with that piece of evidence. I know that would not have come across

Frederick Kissoon as elegant evidence. Deep down I felt mentally uncomfortable going on a witness stand and uttering scatology that should never be remarked in a court of law in such a sensitive libel case involving the sensitive issue of race discrimination.

There is the definite likelihood that Mr. Jagdeo will repeat the “coolie” thing. I am certain in my mind about that.

I am certain that the PPP on the campaign trail can only survive using the weapon of race invocation.

This country has to put a stop to this monstrosity which destroyed this country sixty years ago.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Anti-government protestor assassinated Opposition political activist, Courtney CrumEwing, well known for his oneman protests, was shot dead last evening at Third Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) while urging residents to vote against the ruling party in the upcoming General and Regional elections on May 11.

The 40-year-old CrumEwing of Golden Grove, EBD, was shot about five times.

The shooting is believed to have occurred sometime between 19:40 to 20:00 hrs.

Police in a statement said that Crum-Ewing was walking along the roadway at Third Avenue when a car with four men drove up from which shots were discharged at him, “after which the men escaped”.

Up to press time, the police were hunting for a silver Toyota Premio which is said to be the car used by the gunmen to kill the father of three.The car was last seen in Leopold Street, in Georgetown.

Minutes before he was killed, Crum-Ewing, who made the news for carrying out his one-man protest in front of the Carmichael Street, Georgetown office of Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, late last year, was reportedly heard via a bullhorn, urging residents of the neighbourhood to vote against the ruling party.

But his vocal effort was interrupted when the killer(s) struck.

An eyewitness to the shooting told police ranks that Crum-Ewing was approached by a man who came out from the back seat of a car.

“The gunman shoot he and after he fall, he shoot he several times more,” a police source close to the case said.

Odo Best, who is in charge of A Partnership For National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) campaign in the Diamond area, said that he heard that Crum-Ewing was supposed to do some work in the area.

“He had been working

AFC Chairman, Nigel Hughes comforting the mother of slain activist Courtney Crum-Ewing. with us. I tried calling him several times to liaise with him and he was not answering.”

Ranks only confirmed that the body lying on the road was that of Crum-Ewing when Best called his cellular phone and a cop answered.

Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken, and several of his administrative ranks rushed to the scene last night after hearing about the execution-style killing.

Hicken was heard directing ranks over the radio to “hunt them down. Go find that car.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, who is also Crum-Ewing’s lawyer, arrived on the scene and comforted his wailing family members.

Hughes said he wanted an international independent forensic investigation.

“We will be in contact with an independent pathologist who will have to shadow the police investigators, observing the

autopsy.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs quickly issued a statement around 22:00hrs.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs condemns in the strongest possible terms, the shooting to death of Courtney Crum-Ewing by unknown person or persons this evening in the Grove / Diamond area, East Bank Demerara.”

Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, the statement said, has given orders to the Commissioner of Police to take immediate action “ with a view to getting to the bottom of this execution-type shooting incident, through the most thorough investigation.”

According to the Ministry, though it is early yet to draw any specific conclusion or motive in connection with the perpetration of the “dastardly act”, the general public should be vigilant in respect of any act of violence provoked or unprovoked,

that “might be possibly initiated by those who may have a political agenda. The Ministry notes the deep coincidence between the fatal shooting incident and the earlier swearing in of the new Commissioner of Police.”

The Ministry, in expressing sympathy to family and relatives of CrumEwing, said it is pledging to support the police in their investigations to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.

“The Ministry calls on anyone who may have knowledge about the circumstances /motive surrounding the shooting death of Courtney CrumEwing to give their full support to the police in their investigation.”

At the scene last night were siblings, the fiancée and parents of Crum-Ewing, who is also a former army rank.

Crum-Ewing’s brother, Dwayne, was too shocked to speak, but his mother made it clear that the killers would have to pay.

Courtney Crum-Ewing started protesting and attracted media attention last year after an explosive phone conversation between a senior Kaieteur News reporter and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, surfaced.

The phone call, in which Nandlall was heard warning the reporter to get out of Kaieteur News, because of a possible attack, prompted CrumEwing to start several days of protests in front of the Carmichael Street office of the Attorney General.

Crum–Ewing had said that his protests were because Nandlall’s actions were shameful.

“I have three daughters, a mother, a sister and many female relatives that I care about… so I feel strongly about this issue,” the man said.

He was later reportedly charged with breaching the peace after he used the washroom belonging to the offices of the Attorney General.

The dead man’s shocked siblings.

The scene of the shooting in Third Avenue, Diamond, last evening.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Man throws ‘boiling rice’ on $70M bid tendered for sister, bashes her head with pot two ‘mobile vehicles’

WOUNDED: Natasha Younge A 33-year-old woman was badly burnt yesterday after her younger brother threw a pot of boiling rice on her before bashing her in the head repeatedly with the pot the rice was being cooked in.

This incident occurred around 13:30 hrs in the victim’s backyard. The siblings live together. The woman has been identified as Natasha Younge, a mother of two, of 29 East La Penitence, Georgetown.

She sustained burns to her back, head, neck, abdomen and both hands. She is currently being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for her injuries.

This newspaper was unable to ascertain the severity of her wounds, but a police source confirmed that the woman’s head and back

were severely burnt.

Up to press time, she was in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.

Her brother, who is believed to be in his late 20s, is on the run.

According to information received, Younge and her brother got into an argument early yesterday and he allegedly ran her with a knife. It is unclear what the argument was about. However, this newspaper was told that the matter was reported to the police.

“The police went by the house for him but he wasn’t there. (Later yesterday) Natasha went to school to pick up her son and when she come back he (suspect) went by the door and she told him that the police looking for him,” Faith Demonick, a relative, explained.

She added that the siblings again got into a heated argument.

“He started to curse her. He said, ‘girl what happened to you’ and he threatened to bore her and she told him not to touch her because she is 33 years and he is younger, and then he said ‘you want people come and collect your body’,” the relative noted.

Kaieteur News was told that Younge walked away and went to the back of the yard to pick up her clothes from the line when her brother picked up the rice pot from the stove and ran behind the mother of two.

“He push her down and throw the hot rice in her head and on her skin and then he took the pot and started hitting her in her head. I had to run and get a male relative to come and pull him off from her,” Demonick added.

She said that Younge was rushed to the GPHC while her brother remains on the run.

Investigations are ongoing.

Under the Health Ministry, a lone bid was tendered for the supply and delivery of two mobile vehicles. The bid was opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Main and Urquhart Streets.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works received bids for the supply and delivery of boulders to Endeavour, Leguan Island region three.

For the provision of security services at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs three bids were tendered.

Under the same Ministry, bids were tendered for the provision of security services at the student dormitory.

Finally, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry received bids for the provision of security services at the Amerindian Residence.

ZEEBURG MAN DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FARM The police are investigating an accident which occurred on the East Bank Essequibo (EBE) Public Road in the vicinity of Farm last Monday which has left one man dead.

The accident reportedly occurred around 21:40 hrs.

The dead man has been identified as 27year-old Budhram Sukwah of Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Police said that investigations so far have revealed that Sukwah was driving motorcar PGG 4474, allegedly at a fast rate when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a minibus.

The man was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the minibus is in police custody assisting with investigations.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Global survey shows rising women’s participation in cooperatives An online survey conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Cooperatives Unit and the International Co-operative Alliance shows 75 per cent of survey respondents feel that women’s participation in cooperatives has increased over the past 20 years.

The findings came ahead of a panel and debate held yesterday at the United Nations in New York, called “Cooperatives: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.” The panel was organized as a side event to the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which takes place from 9 to 20 March.

Regarding the survey findings, president of the International Co-operative

Rice huskpowered Gasifier tested...

(From page 20) was installed. From that project, a bankable model was developed.

Ramlakhan and Sons rice mill, located at Exmouth, Essequibo Coast, was the first to take the initiative by purchasing a gasification plant.

The plant arrived late last year and the installation and successful testing has already been completed.

The plant works by the gasses derived from the rice husk. The gases emitted are cleaned of solid particles, tar/ carbon and water/moisture, and directed into the combustion chambers of a 250 kW powergen set, replacing 70 per cent of the diesel required to run the genset.

Ramlakhan was quoted in the release as hailing the Gasifier, stating that it would greatly reduce his energy costs, improve his market viability and also allow him to keep paying a competitive price to farmers for their paddy, making sure they stay profitable.

Energy management and conservation is an important tool to ensure the rice industry meets its critical objectives for short term and long term goals. Enhanced energy efficient technologies for design and profits of rice mills have been identified to improve energy efficiency, lower the industry’s dependence on fossil fuel, reduce the environmental impact, reduce carbon emission and lower cost of production.

Alliance, Dame Pauline Green said, “The Alliance and ILO joint survey highlights the unique effectiveness of the co-operative model in providing women with a dignified way of out of poverty, often away from violence and abuse.”

“I am also thrilled with the survey’s indicators towards a high number of women in leadership positions, particularly in our finance and insurance co-operatives,” she added.

Key findings indicate that co-operatives are having an increasingly positive impact on women – 80 per cent of survey respondents felt that co-operatives are better than other types of private or public sector business in advancing gender equality.

“Co-operatives have a history of contributing to equality as well as to economic and social empowerment,” said Simel Esim, Chief of the ILO Cooperatives Unit (COOP).

“Considering that 2015 marks 20 years since the adoption of the United Nations’ Beijing Declaration on gender equality and women’s empowerment, these survey results reflect a positive trend for women’s involvement and advancement through the cooperative movement,” she added.

The poll of nearly 600 respondents included cooperative practitioners, civil society organizations, academics, and government workers.

Fifty per cent of respondents were from Europe and 15 per cent from both Asia and North America, respectively. The remaining respondents were from subSaharan Africa, South and Central America, and the Middle East and North Africa.

Culture and legal framework are most significant barriers According to survey respondents, cultural issues are the most significant barrier to gender equality encountered by cooperatives. This was overwhelmingly felt by 65 per cent of survey respondents.

Survey respondents also said further support of civil society and recognition by the state would continue to boost women’s empowerment and gender equality through co-operatives.

The poll results show that access to employment is being indirectly facilitated by co-operatives in fields such as housing, healthcare, childcare, and eldercare, which provide women with affordable and accessible services that enable them to work.

Women’s opportunity to

participate in governance highly important About two-thirds of survey respondents felt that women’s opportunity to participate in governance and management is a highly important feature of cooperatives.

While 50 per cent of respondents felt that member education and training were vital for co-operatives, about the same number indicated that in the co-operatives they were most familiar with, there are never training sessions relevant to women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Data gathered from the respondents revealed there seemed to be growing attention to gender issues, movement of women into leadership roles, and the increasing development of women owned co-operatives.

In Europe and North America this was noted to be the case within the financial and social co-operatives specifically, while progress in the agricultural sector was particularly observed within Africa, Latin America, and India.

Page 21

“Mashramani” to be...

(From page 18) those businesses that contribute to the development of the event, rather than those who “piggy-back” off the festivities.

Minister Anthony stressed that while this year’s celebration was met with much support from the business community, it was found that others reaped the benefits of the festivities without contributing to celebrations on a whole.

“We can’t have this type of pirating of the event,” said Minister Anthony, “Businesses would need permission to use the word (Mashramani) from the Ministry.”

The Minister stressed the importance of early preparedness on the part of Guyanese businesses in supporting future Mashramani celebrations.

According to Minister Anthony, the Mashramani Planning Committee is looking to amplify next year’s festivities to commemorate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

“Next year’s celebration is going to be bigger and better to mark our 50th Independence Anniversary. We want a whole year of celebrations and

Mashramani would be the perfect time to jumpstart that celebration,” said the Minister.

Meanwhile, awards were presented to top comp e t i t o r s a t t h i s y e a r ’s Mashramani Costume Band and Float Parade includingDigicel, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

A significant number of accolades were also presented to the Guyana Police Force and fashion designer Olympia Small. The latter was awarded Designer of the Year for her work on the Digicel Mash Band.

Rounding up the Children’s Mashramani Costume Parade were the Happy Hearts Nursery School, Tucville Primary, Cummings Lodge Secondary and the Hinterland Scholarship Division.

Outside the Parade competition, individual winners included Calypso Monarch champion, Manoel ‘King Pearai’ Ferreira and Chutney Monarch victor Roger ‘Young Bill Rogers’ Hinds.

While at the ceremony, Carib Soca Monarch king Jumo Primo still managed to garner notable applause for his winner number “Unruly”.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Salon to rent at 5th Street Albertown – Tel:666-6307; 667-8440 CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

WANTED 1 Male & female to work in the Interior to look after layer birds – Tel: 691-6260 Senior Accounts Clerk, 5yrs experienced, CAT or equivalent.

Email: snow198390@hotmail.com Handyman, care for dogs and yard – Call: 227-2027 Business/Economics Writer, email application to snow198390@hotmail.com

VACANCY RA Soda Factory: Bond Clerk, Accountant, Drivers – Call:330-2399, 330-2772, 6235920 Administration officer CXC subjects or above experience would be priority – Contact number: 668-7104 Alice Zhang, attractive salary.

Female Accounts & Sales clerk also for porters, Apply in person @ Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

FACTORY STAFF, GTI / GITC Male /Female graduates preferred.

CANTER DRIVERS, MARKETINGASSISTANT, Drivers Licence required, GUARDS. Tel: 266 4427 Vacancy for body work man – Tel: 649-0659 Female Accounts clerk for Eccles Location, CAT Level 1, and 1 year experience.

Email: vijai_ramnarine @hotmail.com- Tel: 233-3358 Reception / maid, cook/chef, to w o r k a t H o t e l / Restaurant, apply in person – Tel:223-6284; 231-1908 Pharmacist & Pharmacy Assistant, must have 3 years experienced working within a Pharmacy .Tel:661-3124 International Cruiseline AB Sailors, waitresses, waiters, cooks, receptionists, storekeepers, cleaners, electricians, carpenters, welders, costmetologist, etc – Tel: 231-6296, 650-9880 One driver/salesman to work on water truck, must be living around W.B.D, attractive salary – Tel: 618-4257 Secretary, cleaners, office clerk, waitress / waiters, security officers, drivers, kitchen assistant, restaurant manager –Tel: 603-4094

1 babysitter between ages 4055; must be living on West Bank/ Coast – Contact: 2643268/ 671-9716 1 Live-in waitress with secondary education 1825yrs salary $60,000 monthly.

Must be honest & willingCall: 610-3974 One handy boy to work in a shop in the interior- Call: 6916260 One Accounts Clerk – Call: 614-4358 Office clerk: CXC English, Mathematics. Live in, live out babysitter/domesticCall:219-5354 Truck driver to work in G/ Town- call: 218-5105 Urgent male shop assistant to work in Interior, salary $90,000 monthly. Age 21-35Call:664-5199 Female to work in Restaurant in the Interior, salary $90,000 monthly. Age: 25-40- Call:6645199 One live-in domestic to work.

Age 35-45- Call:664-5199 To buy, Toyota IST – Tel: 6101111 One half day domestic, apply in person, 53 Grosenor Street Ave, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, opposite Raj Yoga Centre.

Arc/Acetylene welder, fabrication and mechanical, driving skills - Tel: 227-1830 Essquibian/Berbcian, Live in domestic, excellent rates, light duties – Tel: 227-1830 HEALTH For Doctoring: Stroke, Fits, ERD problems & cleaning faces – Tel: 231-0774; Cell: 671-9450 “Bush Doc”

FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Toyota Prado, Price$5M Neg. Call: 643-2403

American Made, Aluminum ladder 24ft -$38,000 & 32ft $52,000 –Tel: 602-5794; 6097257 3 Engel moulding machine – Please Contact: 695-0333

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Advertisements; Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves.

Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 6626045 Mahadeo Construction for all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376 Accounting & Taxation Services: tax returns, compliances, financial statements. Avinash Persaud Tax Consultancy, 163 Parika, EBE – Call: 260-4762.

Desmond Repair Services: AC, fridges, gas stoves, microwaves etc. (on the spot repairs) - Call: 678-8683 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734

Responsible hire car driver and contract cars – Tel: 2260765 Need worker to work in Trinidad, 1 office clerk, 1 domestic between age 35-25, text or call: 1868-755-1990; 1868-683-1528

Wednesday March 11, 2015

TO LET 4 bedroom house, AC, Security camera, GEB alarm, telephone, 2 vehicles parking, etc @ Friendship E.B.D- Tel:674-6363

1.60 everude engine, caterpillar skidder spare parts, modulim truck spare parts, 75 Yamaha spare partsTel:672-9272; 261-6634 1-XR-650L Motor Cycle, excellent condition- Tel:2271014; 678-5499 Brand new XBOX one with kinect, free fifa 15 game$110,000 negotiable – Tel: 6876750 1 Music system, 80 mercury engine, 40 Tohatsu Engine, Hilux extra cab fiber glass cover – Tel:672-9272; 2616634 VIDEOGAME PACKAGE, NEW RCA 21" TV, SONY PLAYSTATION2 WITH 2 CONTROLLERS, 2 GAMES, ONLY $50,000 – CALL MAX – TEL:6098132; 672-8569 Great Deals on video games and all consoles – Call: 6722566; 265-3232 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943 SPECIAL DEALS ON YAMAHA OUTBOARD ENGINES: 90HP 4 STROKE, 75 HP 2 STROKE, 50 HP 4 STROKE – CALL: 6836721 Alligator trucks + spare parts, portable sawmill – Contact: 681-5839; 663-2291 1-16FT BOWRIDER FIBERGLASS BOAT, 85HP OUTBOARD ENGINE WITH 25 GAL BUILT IN FUEL TANK, SEATS, 9 TRAILER INCLUDED – CALL: 683-6721 One Diesel generator 7500 (14hours used) $300,000, car deck $8,000, new prestige car alarm- Call:695-6461, 6397758 One 15 Yamaha outboard engine next to new- Call:6884139

Fully Furnished vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours – Call: 227-1218 One bedroom apartment to rent @ First Street Cummings Lodge H/S – Tel: 222-3435

Used King size sleish bed with double box spring and mattress $180,000- Call:6655811, 668-8220

FOR SALE/RENTAL American pool table – Tel: 277-0578

One 15 Yamaha outboard engines, next to new- Call: 688-4139

White & Brown eggs, ducklings also – Tel:6887291; 652-6425

2005 F350 Ford, door ½, fully loaded 4X4, diesel, automatic, leather interior, 35" tyres & rims; excellent condition – Tel: 610-5370 1 Toyota Vigo, manual transmission – Tel: 600-5759 Two Tacoma 2006- price $3.9M negotiable, 2009 $4.6M, negotiable. Silver, crash bar & alarm- Call: 6956461, 639-7758, 656-9990 HB yellow AT192; good condition - $850,000 negotiable – Call: 647-0271 One Nissan X-Trail, year 2004, PRR series. Fully loadedPrice $3.1M Neg- Call: 6470016 PPP Series Rav-4 - $3.2M Contact:225-9230; 623-0368; 225-1005 L-Touring Wagon, excellent condition -15" rims; DVD, TV, R. Start Alarm - $1.3M negotiable – Tel:667-9013; 233-2538 2 Toyota Premio, 1 -2005 model. In immaculate condition. Owner leaving country - Call:678-0109/ 6182576 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, Spacio, Fielder, Carina 212, Sienta, IST – Call: 652-3820/665-4529

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1 -8000 SQ Feet ware house, located 20 miles from City $5000USD monthly – Contact: 695-0333 1- 95X50 business place for rent located at Mon Repos Public Road E.C.D –Tel: 627-6789 One 3 Storey building at 104 Regent Street – $9,000.USD negotiable – Tel: 223-6299; 617-7028 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 6750767, 627-5098 Wash bay and snackette at Lot 15 Good Hope E.B.E – Tel: 663-2882 Barber Chairs on Durban Street near Smyth Street $6,000 weekly- Call: 682-6396; 692-9806 Prime business place for rent on Sheriff street only for offices- Call: 627-6740 Concrete 3 bedrooms upper flat house fully grilled, parking available @ Agricultural road Mon Repos, E.C.D- Call:687-1050

Allion PRR, DVD deck, reverse camera, alarm, HID, hardly used (40,000KM) $2.1M- Call:616-3566 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 RZ BSS Series, remote start, alarm, TV Deck, Reverse Camera, Fog lights – Tel: 6155784 One AT212 New Model PRR series; excellent condition, price $1.2M negotiable – Tel: 653-0120 DAF Truck, GRR 9599 – $4,000,000 Tel: 693-8349

PROPERTY FOR SALE Two storey, 3 bedrooms house with furnished kitchen, 36X40 & yard space @ Land of Canaan New SchemeCall:690-6570, 685-9994 Business property located @ Supply public road, E.B.D. Entering either by river/ public road- Call: 698-8100 Flat concrete house for sale in Grove with land spaceCall: 679-3913 1 Flat concrete house @ Kururu Kururu Linden Soesdyke Highway, size 38X20, land 100X200 – $8M negotiable-Tel: 592-6616073; 694-1090

CAR RENTAL

LAND FOR SALE

DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel:698-7807

50 Acres titled farm land @ The Belle, Upper Dem, River Front - $100M Negotiable, serious enquiries only! Tel: 669-8152 Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M, $1.3M –Tel: 675-7292 Continued on page 23

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

City Hall employee not paid for eight months after employment

GLGOU President, Dale Beresford

Unpaid employee, Nnesha Hinds

Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba

By Zena Henry Another City Hall staffer seems to be suffering in the face of the ongoing split between the Council’s executive and administrative arms.

Twenty-year-old Nnesha Hinds has been employed as a Clerk Two in the Mayoral quarters of the agency for more than eight months now, but has never received a salary.

This is because the Mayoral section of the Council and the Town Clerk’s office cannot see eye to eye on the young woman’s employment. The two sides have been having their own in-house quarrels and the staffer, in this case, is caught in the middle.

The Mayor’s quarters say that the young woman was hired after all agency procedures were observed, but acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba is opposing this, claiming flaws in the way the employment documentation was handled.

Hinds told Kaieteur News yesterday that she was confirmed as a Council staffer since July 1 of last year. She said she heard that there was an opening in the Mayor’s quarters for the post of Clerk Two, and applied for the position. She said she was employed after being interviewed by the Mayor and the Personnel Officer.

However, when time came to be paid the month following her employment, Hinds said she received no pay slip which would have indicated that her pay was ready.

Hinds said she made

inquiries into the availability of her salary but was told by the Personnel Department that her file was with the Town Clerk.

Months passed and still no salary was available to the young woman. Hinds said she engaged the Labour Ministry which she understands made contact with Sooba, but “still nothing”. Out of sheer frustration, Hinds finally tendered her resignation, but said she was persuaded to return to work by the Mayor who advised her not to give up her money so easily.

President of the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU) Dale Beresford has intervened in the matter and is planning to highlight this issue and that of Council Communications Officer Royston King to the Labour Minister when the two sides meet for the monthly tripartite meeting today.

King’s salary was arbitrarily slashed in half by the Town Clerk, after she and the Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker cried foul against a letter King wrote to a charitable organization about a tax waiver.

King was at the time acting Town Clerk when he was instructed by the Mayor and Councilors to send a correspondence to the notfor-profit Beacon Foundation, stating that their request for tax exemption was approved.

The Municipal and District Council’s Act says that exemptions by the Council body can be granted to charitable, not-for-profit organizations.

King was subsequently charged in the Magistrate’s Court, for forgery, days after the Council filed a legal suit against a $27M tax waiver granted to a popular businessman.

Sooba instructed the waiver based on a letter of consideration sent by Minister Whittaker.

King’s salary reduction was as a result of the court case, Sooba had stated.

Beresford told Kaieteur News that if he does not get a favourable response in Hinds’ and King’s matters, the union will be taking the issues to court.

Beresford said that his understanding from the Council’s Personnel Department is that Sooba had the young woman’s employment file and up to yesterday she (Sooba) asked the Personnel Officer to demote the young woman to a clerk one staff before she could be paid. The Personnel Officer has reportedly refused, saying that all procedures were followed and the young lady’s qualifications are in tune with her position.

Beresford said that he understands from the Labour Ministry that when Sooba was contacted some time back about the woman’s pay, she hung up the telephone on the labour officer. Hinds have since sent a complaint to the Ombudsman.

When Kaieteur News made contact with the Town Clerk, she accused the union president and media operatives of harassing Hinds and claimed that the young woman had burst into her office in tears before hanging up her cellular phone.

Last year December, at least two nurses, supported by their colleagues, protested City Hall after the Town Clerk refused to pay them after five months on the job.

Christmas had passed and Shandra Hanover and Sharon Chase were still not paid when despite being approved by the Mayor and Councilors, the Town Clerk refused to approve their salary. After employment in August, the women were finally paid last January after much public display.

$1.2M culvert to ease...

(From page 20) been encouraged to continue to support the IMC/NDC in the quest to further develop the Bartica area.

Although its headquarters was destroyed by fire a few years ago, reportedly at the hands of arsonists, the IMC/NDC has been able to continuously realize many successes much to the satisfaction and benefit of the Bartica neighbourhood.

Officials within the IMC/NDC have credited its many achievements to its open door policy which supports close collaboration with residents.

“With effective leadership, a competent Chairman, committed and dedicated councilors, the IMC remains on a mission to improve the neighbourhood of Bartica,” said Public Relations and Press Officer, Sherwyn Downer.

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

Venezuela’s sabre rattling DEAR SIR, Just weeks before our much anticipated general and regional elections- March 15, 2015- the Government of Venezuela is, once again, echoing an all too familiar sound of discontent, to prevent our country from developing.

The Venezuelan Government has written the Country Manager of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, objecting to the dispatch of a rig to dig an exploratory oil well in the concession granted by the Government of Guyana.

It is not the first time that Venezuela has attempted to hinder Guyana’s development.

There is a long and tedious history of this behaviour on the part of Venezuela, against our every attempt to explore and develop our resources in that particular area.

Some time ago, Venezuela seized the RV Teknik Perdana which was conducting seismic surveys in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone in

October 2013.

Records in our national archives will show that Venezuela, under President Raúl Leoni Otero, published an advertisement just around mid- 60s, in the Times newspaper of London in 1968 that Essequibo belonged to Venezuela.

But in this moment of a real challenge by Venezuela to affect Guyana’s development we as a nation as a people need to find the most appropriate approach to address it.

As yet, the current government has been unable to prevent Venezuela from scaring away potential investors to invest in that region.

More, the PPP/C administration has made some very serious mistakes in the way it has handled our foreign policy. Recall Government’s position on the United Kingdom/ Argentina situation over Falkland Islands.

Recall Guyana’s abstention at UN on a crucial vote involving Russia against

The pain of forgetting the mistakes of the past DEAR EDITOR, I am responding to a letter written by one Balwant Persaud if he exists. The reason I question that he exists is that no party would have such a person within its ranks making these largely unsubstantiated and embarrassing charges against a party which he/she supports and presumably loves.

I do agree that some sort of poll ought to have been conducted to determine how such a coalition will be received by the public.

The standing ovation APNU/AFC got at the National Park on Mash Day tells me that this coalition is now massively supported by the public, in addition to the very large crowd [some say 500 persons] which turned out to the launching of the coalition at the Pegasus despite poor advertising was for me eye an opener.

The people, it seems, have by their actions, spoken.

I don’t need a poll now to tell me that this was the right thing to do.

As for the coalition aggravating racial politics and division, I do not see Persaud’s argument at all.

I t ’s v e r y o p a q u e a n d obscure since I see this coalition as the first time that we have seen any attempt in this country to mend the racial division

which has existed since independence and I congratulate the parties for overcoming the difficulties of doing it.

Persaud tells us that we must “Study the past and you will know the future.”

I have to say that I have never heard this saying before, but if we study the past we will find that Sir Winston Churchill when Prime Minister of England during World War II, made a pact with Stalin to fight the greater evil of Hitler.

He was highly criticised in the British House of Commons,since up to then Stalin had been perceived by the British and indeed Churchill and the US president Roosevelt as evil.

When faced with the criticism Churchill responded that he would make a favourable comment in the House of Commons about anyone willing to help him fight the devil [Hitler] The quote I know is, “Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it” Guyana is what it is today, due to racial strife.

And this racial strife has thrown up the PPP of today, a huge pack of thieves who are incompetent to service the nation and unwilling to obey the laws of our country since they believe that they are above it.

Name withheld

Crimea. Recall government’s treatment of US Ambassador Brent Hardt and UK High Commissioner Andrew Ayre on their encouragement to the government on strengthening the pillars of democracy in Guyana.

The point is that government’s actions and behaviour in the past, in foreign affairs, could be a cog in the wheel to mobilizing much- needed international support to its territorial cause.

I believe that it will take the strong and strategic leadership of Presidential Candidate Mr. David Granger, the solid coalition- APNUAFC —and the unswerving support of every Guyanese to address this aggression by Venezuela.

Mr. Granger, with his understanding and knowledge of history and international relations, his military discipline and experience and his ability to stimulate and begin a national conversation on this issue, is very well placed, at this moment, to deal with this daunting challenge to our territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Even so, Mr. Granger continues to support the government to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity.

I have noted his substantive response to this challenge.

I am positive that Mr. David Granger and the APNUAFC will keep Guyana safe from the hands of those, who are seeking to grab our resource- rich areas and to prevent us from developing as a nation.

Patricia Chase- Green Deputy Mayor Georgetown

(From page 22)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2015

“One Billion Rising” forum Health Ministry hopes to continue zeroes in on gender inequality relationship with CHI – Minister Although global efforts are already quite visible as it relates to realising gender equality, the fact remains that gender inequality still exists, and has potential daunting impacts for a world in which men and women are forced to coexist. Moreover, achieving equality is a process that would require a paradigm shift of the perception of inequality.

At least this is the deduction of University of Guyana Lecturer and Trustee of the Guyana Foundation, Mr Eric Phillips.

Phillips’ disclosure was forthcoming as he addressed the third consecutive ‘One Billion Rising’ forum recently held at the National Library in Georgetown. The forum is one spearheaded by the Sisterhood of Support, Service and Sustainability (S4 Foundation) and was held under the theme “Men and Women Standing Shoulder to Shoulder for Gender Equality and the World we Want.”

Phillips, in a rousing speech that boasted of insights into how women’s empowerment and revolution can be achieved, sought to use examples and analogies from history, famous women, philosophy, and even his audience’s preconceptions to shine light on some of the real reasons inequality exists. He was then able to skillfully highlight pertinent ways to bring about change that “we all desire.”

In keeping with the theme, the diversity of speakers at the forum included Retired High Court Judge and Retired

Specialist Consultant in International Conflict Resolution and President of the United Nations Association of Guyana, Justice Donald Trotman; Mrs. Diana Swan-Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer of the Women and Gender Equality Commission and Ms. Chelanna Providence, Social Change Coordinator of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination, who spoke in the stead of the group’s Managing Director and Founder, Joel Simpson.

Also among the speakers at the forum was Sister Jean of the Brahma Kumaris.

As part of his task of delivering remarks at the forum, Justice Trotman, shared an international perspective on gender inequality, beginning historically with the United Nations’ role in policy-making to the present-day organs and multi-national facets that fund and proliferate the cause.

In the quest to achieve equality through the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, the UN has been able to observe that “in many countries, gender inequality persists and women continue to face discrimination in access to education, work and economic assets, and participation in government.

For example, in every developing region, women tend to hold less secure jobs than men, with fewer social benefits.”

As part of her contribution to the forum, Mrs. Swan-Lawrence, cited

numerous cases of hate crimes occurring in political and decision-making offices both in the Caribbean and abroad that were fueled by gender inequality.

Ms. Providence, however, opted to detail gender discrimination locally against the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and its implications both on societal prejudices and the mandate of the judicial system in the same regard.

The ‘One Billion Rising’ forum officially kicked off with Mrs Swan-Lawrence paying tribute to the late Dr Faith Harding followed by a song dedicated to Dr Harding’s memory performed by a local gospel artiste. The forum’s entertainment included Songs by Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Jingle and Song Competition winner, Ryan Hoppie, musical interludes by Max Massiah and Ras George, dance performances by the all-male youth group, Animation, and also the Nadira and Indranie Shah Dance Troupe.

There was also a live selfdefence demonstration by Massiah, who is affiliated with the Maximum Sports Combat and Strength Show.

Other highlights of the forum included the premiere of a Short Film entitled “My Revolution Is…” in keeping with the 2015 ‘One Billion Rising’ theme of Revolution.

It also entailed a special message of solidarity from Mr Clive Atwell, the reigning WBC/CABOFE Junior Welterweight Champion.

Despite reported concerns about the future of the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), coupled with plans by the Ministry of Health to bring on board a number of overseas-based partners to aid the delivery of cardiac care, Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran is adamant that the CHI’s role is yet important to the local health sector.

During an interview with this publication, he said that although moves have been made to build the cardiac capacity of the public health sector “we would still want that (CHI) relationship to continue.” The Minister was at the time seeking to appease concerns suggestive of a strained relationship between founder and Chief Executive Officer of CHI, Dr. Gary Stephens, and the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Stephens had intimated concerns about the possible closure of CHI, if efforts were not made by the Ministry of Health to swiftly put in place a new Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) laboratory.

CHI opened its doors in 2006 as a public/private partner to offer quality cardiac care. However, Dr. Stephens at the end of last year expressly spoke of a possible collapse of the institution. “Any day now our machine can suffer a catastrophic failure, and even if it doesn’t, I don’t see us surviving the next six months,” Dr. Stephens asserted in December.

This publication understands that it was around 2011 that the management of CHI had consulted with Government

Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran about acquiring a new Cardiac Cath Lab, in light of the fact that its equipment was nearing the end of its lifespan.

Reports are that there were expectations that moves would have been made to put in place a lab that could do both cardiology intervention and cardiac surgery in a single room, using a Hybrid machine. With a Hybrid machine in place, CHI, and by extension Guyana, would have been the first in the Caribbean to offer such advanced technology.

Construction of the Cath Lab should have been completed within two months, but 14 months later works were still being done, thus, the Hybrid machine which was delivered by the United States-based General Electric was left sitting on the ground floor of the hospital covered by a tarpaulin.

The state of affairs was understandably a cause for concern to Dr. Stephens.

But according to Minister Ramsaran, although “we have been busy building capacity”

there still exists a need for collaboration with CHI which is a company that is legally incorporated here in Guyana.

“I don’t want to get in the head of Dr. Stephens; I don’t know that he has expressed confusion (but) we are moving ahead as per normal creating this wide, expanding, non-exclusionary (partnership)...welcoming everybody on board, providing of course that they have the necessary requisite and claim to fame,” said the Minister.

As he shared his conviction that Guyana is as good as any place in terms of offering quality health care, the Health Minister amplified the need to focus more attention on cardiac care.

“Things are happening to develop our cardiac services, and so a main part is training.

We can have the best equipment; we can have the best services, but we need the training of our young doctors and nurses...”

He further emphasised that key and critical in the delivery of this level of health care is ensuring that quality post-operative care is available to patients, who he noted, are particularly vulnerable.

“So it is not simply doing the high-end stuff in the theatre...Where is the Anaesthesiologist afterwards?

Where are the specially-trained nurses afterwards? Where are the ICU services for these patients, both paediatric and adults and so on?” the Minister asked, as he sought to underscore that Guyana is on course to ensure that all of these needs are effectively catered to with the support of strategic partners.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

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Wednesday March 11, 2015

Cuba throws weight behind Venezuela in row with US

Havana (AFP) - Cuba rallied behind Venezuela yesterday, offering its closest ally “unconditional support” after US President Barack Obama authorized new sanctions against officials of the turbulent South American oil producer.

The Cuban reaction marked its first public confrontation with the United States since the two countries began discussions in December on fully restoring diplomatic relations.

Cuba joins other leftist regional governments in closing ranks with Caracas in the deepening US-Venezuela row.

An official statement published in the island’s state-run media called Obama’s executive order implementing the sanctions “arbitrary and aggressive.”

“Cuba again reiterates its unconditional support and that of our people for the Bolivarian Revolution, the legitimate government of President Nicolas Maduro, and the heroic brotherly people of Venezuela,” the statement said.

As Venezuela’s economy spirals and Maduro cracks down against dissent, friendly nations said they would not

tolerate foreign interference.

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister warned Monday that the Southern American bloc UNASUR would not allow foreign intervention or a coup in Venezuela.

The European Union said Tuesday it has no plans to follow the US lead and impose sanctions on Venezuela.

In Caracas, an irate Maduro pushed back against the new sanctions.

Shortly after they were announced he recalled his envoy to Washington and late Monday he denounced the US action as “the most aggressive, unjust and harmful blow against Venezuela.”

Maduro called the sanctions a “rude outburst” from Obama while surrounded by dozens of ministers and military leaders at the presidential palace.

“You have no right to attack us and declare that Venezuela is a threat to the people of the United States.

The threat to the American people is yourselves,” he said in the speech that lasted over two hours.

Venezuela’s economy is in crisis, with soaring inflation and many basic goods unavailable or out of reach of

most pocketbooks on the black market. Maduro has responded by stepping up a crackdown on dissent, arresting opposition figures and frequently speaking of coup plots.

In activating the sanctions, Obama called the situation in Venezuela “an extraordinary threat to the national security” of the United States.

The sanctions targeted Venezuelan officials who the United States said were linked to human rights abuses, including a crackdown on anti-government protests last year that left 43 people dead.

US bank accounts and property of seven officials, including a police chief and intelligence chief, were frozen by the sanctions.

They extend and implement other penalties against the Venezuela adopted by the US Congress last year.

“No one has the right to intervene in the internal affairs of a sovereign state or to declare, without foundation, someone a threat to national security,” Cuba said.

“How is Venezuela a threat to America? A thousand miles away, without strategic weapons or having the means or staff to plot against the American constitutional order, the declaration sounds barely credible,” the Havana statement said.

Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro congratulated Maduro on his “brilliant and brave” stance against the US in a letter also published Tuesday by the Cuban press.

“Your words will go down in history as proof that humanity can and must know the truth,” Castro wrote.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Iraqi troops, militia retake strategic Venezuela’s Maduro seeks decree powers to face U.S. ‘imperialism’ town north of Tikrit from Islamic State (Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro was seeking special decree powers from Venezuela’s parliament on Tuesday in response to new U.S. sanctions, drawing opposition protests of a power-grab.

If as expected the government-controlled National Assembly approves his request for an “Enabling Law”, it would be the second time the 52-year-old successor to Hugo Chavez has gained these expanded powers since winning election in 2013.

“I’m going to ask for an anti-imperialist Enabling Law ... to preserve the nation’s peace, integrity and sovereignty,” Maduro said in a speech late on Monday night.

Opposition leaders slammed Maduro, saying he was using the worst flare-up with Washington of his nearly two-year rule to justify autocratic governance, sidetrack parliament and distract attention from Venezuela’s grave economic crisis.

“Nicolas, are you requesting the Enabling Law to make soap, nappies and medicines appear, to lower inflation?” satirized opposition leader Henrique Capriles. “It’s another smokescreen.”

Confirming Venezuela as Washington’s No. 1

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro gestures during a meeting with supporters at Miraflores Palace adversary in Latin America after a rapprochement with Cuba, the United States has taken its gloves off against Maduro, qualifying his government a security threat and sanctioning seven officials.

In terminology that has also been used for measures against nations like Iran and Syria, President Barack Obama’s government declared a “national emergency” due to “the unusual and extraordinary threat” from Venezuela.

A visa ban and financial block was slapped on

seven officials, ranging from the head of national intelligence and a state prosecutor to the national police chief and various military officers, for their alleged role in repressing Maduro’s domestic opponents or corruption.

Alongside the seven on national TV late on Monday, Maduro hailed them as “heroes” and named one interior minister.

Despite improving ties with Washington, communist-run Cuba was quick to join Venezuela’s mockery of the U.S. language.

Reuters) - Iraqi troops and militias drove Islamic State insurgents out of the town of al-Alam on Tuesday, clearing a final hurdle before a planned assault on Saddam Hussein’s home city of Tikrit in their biggest offensive yet against the ultra-radical group.

The power base of executed former president Saddam’s clan, Tikrit is the focus of a counter-offensive against Islamic State by more than 20,000 troops and Shi’ite Muslim militias known as Hashid Shaabi, b a c k e d by local Sunni Muslim tribes.

If Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government is able to retake Tikrit it would be the first city clawed back from the Sunni insurgents and would give it momentum in the next, pivotal stage of the campaign - to recapture Mosul, the largest city in the north.

A Reuters photographer saw dozens of families, who earlier fled al-Alam to escape Islamic State rule, r e t u r n to the town, celebrating and slaughtering sheep for the victorious forces.

“I announce officially that the town is under the total control of security forces, the

Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) units and local tribal fighters,” said local mayor Laith al-Jubouri.

“We rejoice in this victory and we want al-Alam to be the launchpad for the liberation of Tikrit and Mosul,” he told Reuters by telephone.

Mosul in the far north is the largest city held by the ultraradical Islamic State, who now rule a self-declared cross-border caliphate in Sunni regions of Syria and Iraq.

But the ultra-radical group over the past few months has gradually lost ground in Iraq to the army, Shi’ite militias and Kurdish peshmerga forces, backed by air strikes carried out by a U.S.-led coalition of mainly Western and allied Arab states.

The United States says Baghdad did not seek aerial backup from the coalition in the Tikrit campaign. Instead, support on the ground has come from neighbouring Iran, Washington’s longtime regional rival, which backs the Shi’ite militias and has sent an elite Revolutionary Guard

commander to oversee part of the battle.

The Iraqi army and militias now control the two towns to the north and south of Tikrit along the Tigris river and appear ready to move on the city itself.

Security officials said the assault could start as early as Wednesday, although the 10day campaign has so far been marked by gradual and steady advances rather than rapid attacks. Security officials said Islamic State fighters blew up a bridge over the Tigris on Tuesday, aiming to hinder any advance. Both al-Dour and al-Alam lie on the east bank of the river, opposite Tikrit. But the army has a large military base on the same western side from which it could send forces into Tikrit.

Hundreds of Shi’ite army recruits who abandoned the Speicher military base last June were shot dead in one of the biggest mass killings carried out by Islamic State fighters.

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Wednesday March 11, 2015

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Williams to lead E’bo in GCB U-17 Inter-County tourney Inter-County U-17 50-over tournament which bowls off today.

Sachin Persaud will serve as his deputy.

The full squad reads;

Mark Williams (Capt.), Sachin Persaud (Vice Capt.), Joshua Jones, Beesham Moses, Matthew Chung, Mahendra Persaud, Shaquille Sue, Kevin Christian, Troy Drakes,

Shamar Britton, Manoj Ramraj, Travis Drakes, Joel Fortune and Wayon Frentz.

The Coach is Forbes Daniels and Nazeer Mohamed is the Manager.

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Polly takes indefinite First Class break

Raffik & Sons Construction 20 overs tourney

RHT Bakewell win again, Mahadeo continues to impress Rose Hall Town Bakewell (RHTB) won their fourth consecutive game in the Raffik and Sons Construction 20 overs tournament when they defeated Yakusari Cricket Club of Black Bush Polder by seven wickets at the Area ‘H’ ground.

Reduced to 15 overs a-side due to extra moisture on the pitch, RHT Bakewell won the toss and invited the visitors to take first strike.

Yakusari were restricted to 90 for 9 off their allotted 15 overs.

Rajesh Lalu hit the top score of 41 (4x6) and was supported by Churaman Ayana 20 and Naipaul Ayana 15. Bowling for RHT Bakewell, off-spinner Mahadeo impressed

this season with 3 for 9 from 3 overs while left arm West Indies female pacer Erva Giddings took 2 for 12 and veteran left arm spinner R. Lewis had 2 for 28 all from 3overs.

Needing to score 91 off 15 overs to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament so far, RHT Bakewell reached 93 for 3 off 11.3 overs; Mahadeo returning with the bat to score an even 50 (2x4 5x6) while Vishal Crandon chipped in with 18. Azam Khan on 5 and Jason Anderson 6 were unbeaten when victory was achieved.

The team would now take a break from the Raffik tournament as the New Building Society 40 overs would commence from this weekend.

Wednesday March 11, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Take care that your selfesteem doesn't depend on what other people tell you, Aries.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may run into roadblocks today, Libra, but don't worry.

These are things you are capable of working around.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your self-esteem should be good now, Taurus. You will find that you can make great strides on long-term projects.

This is a good day to put your nose to the grindstone and get to work.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your mind is sharp today, and your willingness to work is equally strong, Scorpio. Use this powerful combination of forces to your full advantage.

You will find that your brain is like a powerful steel trap.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may be a bit aggravated today, Gemini. People seem to be more of a hindrance than a help to you. Don't be too accusatory until you make sure that you're operating honestly and productively.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may get out of bed with a jolt, Sagittarius, indicative of the fact that there are forces prodding you from almost every direction.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have a unique opportunity to review plans and foundations that you've recently put into place.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your laziness isn't making it easy to get out of bed, Leo. In fact, all you may want to do today is absolutely nothing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may but heads with someone who's equally unwilling to budge, Virgo.

Use this conflict as a lesson in perspective. Understand the motivation of the opposite side.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) It isn't a good idea to blame your troubles on others, Capricorn. The only one that you really have to blame is you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today it may seem like you're trapped in a power struggle that you can't get out of, Aquarius. The problem is that this struggle may have very little to do with you and your actions.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your solid, grounded, and steady approach may be challenged today, Pisces.

Someone with a strong ego could punch holes in the plan you've so carefully laid out.

Kieron Pollard with his son Kaiden Port-of-Spain, Trinidad West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard is to take an “indefinite break” from first class cricket, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket officials have confirmed. The confirmation came shortly after Pollard took five for 36 Monday for T&T in a 175-run loss against the Windward Islands in the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) at the National Cricket Centre in Couva.

He will be out of the Red Force team for their next PCL four-day match against current leaders Guyana Jaguars in Guyana starting Friday.

“Pollard has informed the TTCB that he is taking an indefinite break from first class cricket,” said the TTCB facebook page. “Pollard is now unavailable for selection for the remainder of matches in the WICB Professional Cricket League Four-Day tournament”.

Earlier this season opening batsman Adrian Barath pulled out of the team saying he, too, was taking a break.

Pollard’s announcement comes on the heels of countrymen Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons’ retirement from Test cricket.

Simmons is currently in the West Indies ODI team taking part in the ICC World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board would like to thank Kieron Pollard for his services in the first-class match against the Windward Islands,” said another post on the TTCB facebook page.

“The board wishes him the best during his period of indefinite leave from first-

class cricket and wishes him an early return”.

Media reports from Port of Spain said Pollard sent an email to the CEO of the T&T Cricket Board and the

team selectors informing them of the situation. Pollard’s appearance against the Windward Islands was his first match for T&T since the Nagico Super50 t o u r n a m e n t i n J a n u a r y, hosted by T&T. He returned to the T&T line up against the Windwards after recovering from a leg injury. “He (Pollard) said the stress and strain of the four-day cricket was taking a toll on his body,” said T&T Cricket Board chairman of selectors Alec Burns.

“Well it is up to him, when he is ready he will return.”

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and batsman Mark Deyal have been included in the T&T squad to face Guyana in the next round of the WICB four-day competition.

Gabriel replaces Daniel St Clair, who is suffering with a kidney infection and Deyal comes in for Akeal H o s e in, who has had a disappointing season.

(CMC)

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Wednesday March 11, 2015

GFA President, Vernon Burnette, resigns from the position There seems never to be a dull moment in football and just when it appeared as though the Normalization Committee has managed to restore some order to the sport, President of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), Vernon Burnette, has dispatched a resignation letter to the Presidents of the affiliated clubs of the GFA. The correspondence was bland and did not give any

particular reason for his decision even though the former GFA boss did express regrets for having to make such a decision. Below is the full text of the correspondence: Presidents Affiliated Clubs Georgetown Football Association Dear Sir/Madam, Letter of Resignation from the Georgetown Football Association It is with much regret that

I have made this difficult decision to resign as the President of the Georgetown Football Association with effect March 31st, 2015.

It has been both a difficult a n d c o m p l e x period for the football fraternity, however at the same time we have made great strides within the various Leagues and competitions.

More specifically, the standard of play within our team has

improved significantly.

It has been a wonderful experience to be a part of such a professional organization working along with the clubs and their membership.

I would like to thank all the players, clubs and fellow executive members for their support, loyalty, professionalism and passion they demonstrated towards the game.

Special thanks to the

coaches for their hard work and dedication and also the loyal fans who made competition enjoyable.

Finally, I would like to make myself available to assist the executive if the need arises.

I wish to thank everyone for granting me the opportunity and privilege to serve.

Yours Sincerely, Vernon Burnett (President GFA)

Vernon Burnette

Local based Jags commence training today ahead of encampment on Friday Head Coach of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Senior and Under-23 teams, Jamaal Shabazz has called up 18 local players who will commence training today ahead of encampment on Friday for the March 22 friendly international against St. Lucia at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The players will be

involved in an actual game situation which would be used to assess their physical readiness.

Guyanese fans can look forward to seeing a number of young local based players being considered for this game and a few overseas based the likes of Brandon Beresford among others.

Following is the list of players called:

Banks DIH, Ryan Crawford TC stage fun day and Gymkhana Easter Sunday The Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club ands Sports Facility of Alness Corentyne, Berbice will come alive on Easter Sunday, April 5th beginning at 10:00 hrs.

The occasion will be the Hogstye-Lancaster sports and family fun day and Gymkhana. The activity is being sponsored by among others, Banks DIH Limited and the Regional Administration.

According to coordinator Ron Elcock, there will be a slew of activities all day long which are expected to run way into the night: including domino competition, duck curry cook off and bar-b-que, Bingo, Gymkhana, athletics, donkey races, sack races, lime-n-spoon, pony rides.

There will also be dancing competitions, greasy pig, greasy pole, kite flying competition and a number of traditional games. A number of prizes and giveaways will be available.

Popular stereo sets will provide musical compliments while a talent show will be a main feature in the evening featuring select local artiste and a surprise guest artiste.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

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CONCACAF Under-17 Championship

Canada defeat St. Lucia, stay unbeaten San Pedro Sula, Honduras – Canada trail Mexico for first place in Group B on goal difference only after beating St. Lucia 3-1 in the 2015 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship on Monday at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

The result eliminated Panama from contention, but set-up what promises to be a tense last day of Group B play tomorrow, as Canada (3-1-0, 10 points), Mexico (3-1-0, 10 points) and Costa Rica (3-01, 9 points) all have a chance to finish atop the table and earn a direct place in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. In an encounter that was marked by another laudable St. Lucia (0-0-4, 0 points) performance, the Canadians took a 34th minute lead.

From the right side, the influential Munir Saleh played a short pass to Tristan Borges, who delivered a superbly weighted diagonal

ball into the box for Daniel Sagno. The Vancouver Whitecaps youth standout controlled with his chest and right-footed home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Just a minute later, Duwayne Ewart doubled the advantage.

The midfielder ran onto a ball played out of the back, headed it into the box and coolly finished from seven yards off the hand of goalkeeper Viannie George.

Similar to the entire tournament, however, St. Lucia did not divert from their game plan and saw that persistence rewarded in the 44th minute. Zachernus Simon’s header off a left-sided cross from Jamie Prospere was saved by goalkeeper Luciano Trasolini. The rebound fell to Cassius Joseph, who found the back of the net from inside the goal box to make it 2-1.

The second half was a rather tame affair, but Canada

Action from the game between Mexico and Haiti. Photo, Mexsport. were able to put another goal on the scoreboard.

In the 57th minute, Ewart tried to dribble into the middle of the St. Lucia box.

The ball was deflected by a defender and rolled to the left, where a grateful Ballou Tabla was there to right-foot into the far-side netting and complete the scoreline.

Berbicians defy BCB and will play in GCB Inter-County tournament …After BCB injuncted yesterday An Injunction was filed yesterday afternoon preventing the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) from performing the role as governing body for cricket in the county of Berbice and was granted with immediate effect forcing the Berbice under-17 team to be pulled out of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U-17 Inter-County 50-over tournament which begins today.

However the story took a new twist when the players reportedly decided to remain and play under another name and not representing the BCB. This was confirmed last night by Coach Andrew Percival, the former Guyana batsman.

The injunction was filed

by Secretary of the Port Mourant Cricket Godwyn Allicock and President of the West Berbice Cricket Association David Black and

the matter will be heard on Friday at 08:30 hrs at New Amsterdam Magistrates Court Justice Nareshwar Harnanan.

Blacks and Allicock filed the injunction claiming the BCB’s Elections which were held at the BCB office was illegal.

Even if the injunction is thrown out the young Berbican cricketers would have been forced to miss today opening game and tomorrow’s second round encounter which are both scheduled to be played in the City thus potentially robbing the players from Guyana’s second largest County a fair opportunity of gaining selection on the National under-17 team to participate in the Regional tournament in T&T. When Kaieteur Sport arrived at the GCB hostel at LBI on the East Coast of

Demerara last evening the players were on the bridge of the GCB owned facility awaiting transpiration to take them back home.

On the advice of the BCB Lawyers, none of the players or management were allowed to speak to the media.

A source close to Berbice Cricket stated that the players worked very hard for this tournament and they are all disappointed to hear they could not participate since they were well equipped and eager to showcase their talent.

The source informed that the now injuncted Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has to fund the cost for the players to return home from the hostel at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara but that was not to be as the players, who are all under the age of 18 took matters into their own hands.

Tomorrow, Canada will square off against Panama and St. Lucia will meet Haiti (0-0-4, 0 points) in an allCaribbean match-up.

Mexico and Costa Rica will battle in the tripleheader’s opener.

LATE GOALS LIFT COSTA RICA PAST PANAMA Costa Rica used an own-

goal and a late tally by substitute Jostin Daly to secure a vital 2-0 Group B win over Panama on Monday at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano. The game had huge playoff implications as the Central American rivals entered level on six points and, with four teams battling for three final-day spots, the winner would hold a tiebreaker advantage. Up until the own-goal, the game was an evenly played, physical and scrappy affair with both sides trying to avoid errors. Panama midfielder Jose Luis Rodriguez was red carded a minute into second-half stoppage time, forcing his teammates to play a man down during three minutes of added time. Mexico tops Haiti Pablo Lopez converted a penalty and added an assist to help Mexico defeat Haiti 20 at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano. Haiti (0-0-4, 0

points) was officially eliminated with the loss, but showed much improvement after allowing 14 goals in its first three matches.

Goalkeeper Constant Bernado made seven saves, including a couple spectacular ones, as the Haitians played the defending champion even for the opening half hour. Mexico will finish group play tomorrow against Costa Rica, but even with a win there would need a Canadian loss or draw in its next two games to seal the group title, a trip the final and an automatic berth in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

Otherwise, goal difference could become a deciding factor. The Tricolor holds a seven-goal advantage, but Canada has a game in hand.

They drew 1-1 on March 6. With the win, Mexico extended its CU17 unbeaten streak to 22 consecutive games. (CONCACAF)

Points Standings post Round 8 of R4D St. John’s, Antigua – Following are the Official Points Standings after the eighth round of matches in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-

Day Tournament ended on Monday.

Abbreviations: Pts-total points, M-matches, W-won, L-lost, T-tied, I-incomplete match, A-abandoned

m a t c h , DP-Abandoned match due to dangerous pitch, MR-match referee awarding match, Batbatting points, Bowlbowling points

Remaining matches.

(Home teams mentioned first; all matches start at 10 a.m. local time)

Kensington Oval Leewards Hurricanes vs Jamaica Franchise – Warner Park Guyana Jaguars vs T&T Red Force – Guyana National Stadium ROUND 10 March 20 to 23

Windwards Volcanoes vs Guyana Jaguars – Windsor Park T&T Red Force vs Leewards Hurricanes – National Cricket Centre Jamaica Franchise vs Barbados Pride – Sabina Park

ROUND 9 March 13 to 16 Barbados Pride vs Windwards Volcanoes –

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2015

International Basketball returns to Guyana tonight

By Edison Jefford International Basketball will make its return to Guyana tonight when Bermuda take on Guyana in the first of three games scheduled in the 2015 Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) International Basketball Series at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The night officially begins at 7pm when Colts United take on Eagles in the preceding game with the featured Guyana vs. Bermuda clash following from 9pm.

GABF President, Nigel Hinds, told the media yesterday that he is anticipating an exciting series.

“We look forward to this kind of competition. This is

good for Guyana’s basketball; to have you (Bermuda) here with players, who have played in Europe, and all over the world, very good for our basketball,” Hinds told a media conference at WindJammer Hotel.

The GABF President informed that the series is aimed at giving Guyana exposure ahead of their participating in the Caribbean Basketball C o n f e d e r a t i on (CBC) Championships in June.

Hinds is of the view that Guyana are ready for the Bermudians challenge.

“We have prepared under the leadership of Coach, Darcel Harris,” Hinds said, adding that in his view, Bermuda is one of the top teams in Caribbean basketball and Guyana defeating Bermuda “will be a plus for them on the road to CBC 2015”.

Harris concurred with Hinds when he indicated that Guyana will be giving more than 100% to be in a winning position tonight. “The guys

GABF President, Nigel Hinds (centre) addresses the media yesterday in the presence of National Coach, Darcel Harris (on his left), some of the Bermudian players on his right and other officials from Guyana at WindJammer Hotel. are ready and hungry to play some ball,” Harris said, as he urged Guyanese to support the team in their Championship bid.

Bermuda’s Chris Crumpler told the media that it was a pleasure to be in Guyana for the first time and the series

will definitely be “some good basketball”. He indicated that the Bermudian team is here to compete, hinting that Guyana’s A-game is expected.

The International Basketball Series continues tomorrow night before a break on Friday when the

Barbados and SVG play to dramatic draw in friendly

Barbados (pictured) celebrates after scoring against visiting St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Bridgetown, Barbados Tevin Slater struck late to earn visiting St Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) a thrilling 2-2 draw against Barbados on Sunday night at the National Stadium, completing their two-game friendly series.

The Vincentians had led on three minutes through Juma Gilkes, but fell behind after Hadan Holligan equalised in the 12th minute and Romario Harewood doubled Barbados’ lead five minutes later. After the break, Barbados missed on several opportunities to extend its advantage, while Slater clinically provided the punishing finish in the 86th minute.

SVG head coach Cornelius Huggins believed his side should have taken full honours. “I think we deserved to win that game,” he said.

“We had several opportunities that we should have capitalised on, but, all in all, we have seen plenty positives and the negatives we can go back home and work on.

“One of the main things we need to work on fitness. I think that is key, along with the roles and responsibilities of some of the players.

But we have to work a lot on fitness because a lot of the players pulled up [during the game].

” Meanwhile, Barbados’ technical director Marcos Falopa said the game had allowed him to assess the squad properly, especially with just two weeks remaining ahead of the opening 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“It was a very hard game, but we expected that,” remarked the Brazilian. “Their team is very strong with their possession of the ball and are very counter-attacking and are strong physically. But again, our team showed a strong reaction, but at the end of the day they showed some mistakes, which we have to correct. “I expected

to win the game, but that is the game of football.

Sometimes when you play, they score and then you score. In the second half they were very counterattacking…they found the spaces and scored the goal.”

The Barbadians fell behind early, when Gilkes collected a pass played across the face of the goal and tucked in from close range.

However, the host quickly found its stride and was back on level terms soon afterward.

Captain Mario Harte squared a ball across the area for Holligan to score with a diving header from two yards, following miscommunication between goalkeeper Lemus Christopher and his backline.

Christopher was then culpable in Barbados’ second goal, as his clearance found Harewood, who easily slotted the ball home.

The second half proved an open affair with both teams going close, before Slater ran on to the end of Emerald George’s defence-splitting through-ball, to beat goalkeeper Dario Weir four minutes from time.

Barbados won the first friendly 3-1 on Friday.

Guyana Olympic Association hosts the teams at a luncheon. The final of the three-game series is scheduled for Saturday night.

Each night features preceding games.

Comedian Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine is the nightly

host with halftime entertainment scheduled on each night.

The GABF indicated that it has done all within its scope to ensure that an atmosphere of peace is enforced as the Guyana Police Force will be providing security.

Brian Cookson: Doping young cyclists is ‘child abuse’

Grooming young cyclists to take drugs is “nothing short of child abuse”, says International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson. A 227-page report into doping, published on Monday, claimed youth cycling was particularly vulnerable.

“I want to look into that with a bit more seriousness,” said former British Cycling Federation boss Cookson. “I think it may well be [happening] in certain parts of the world, it’s not widespread but let’s look at it.”

The report stated that “anti-doping testing is concentrated at the elite level so doping may go undetected at lower levels”.

It added that “if youth riders want to reach higher ranks, the incentives are there to dope at an early age”.

Cookson told the BBC: “One of the things that caused me real concern was the suggestion that there may be evidence that doping is creeping into the youth ranks as well.

“Frankly, if people are supplying youth riders with doping products and procedures, that’s nothing short of child abuse.

“People should be subject to criminal proceedings.”

The Cycling Independent Reform Commission, set up in January 2014 to investigate cycling’s problems with doping during the 1990s and 2000s, was heavily critical of the sport’s leadership.

The report cleared former UCI bosses of outright corruption but censured them for a litany of failings. One of the criticisms was that the UCI did not really want to catch cheats and therefore turned a blind eye to anything but the worst excesses. (BBCsport)

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Ashwin, Dhawan make it nine in a row India confirmed the top spot in their group, took their winning streak in World Cup matches to nine, their longest and now only behind the great Australian run between 1999 and 2011, and also maintained their record of bowling oppositions out in this World Cup, claiming their 50th wicket in five matches in the 49th over of Ireland’s innings.

Ireland scored the highest score against India in this World Cup, William Porterfield and Paul Stirling registered the best partnership - 89 - against them, Niall O’Brien came within one run of the best individual score against their unbeaten opponents, but India’s excellent offspin bowling and aggressive captaincy restricted them to 259, well below par on a flat pitch, small Seddon Park boundaries and given Ireland’s weak bowling.

Shikhar Dhawan, with his second hundred this World Cup, and Rohit Sharma knocked the runs off with ease. Porterfield and Stirling attacked the Indian quicks with gusto, reaching 57 in nine overs before R Ashwin dragged them back.

A period of quick overs and slow runs followed, and when Niall O’Brien began to

pull Ireland back out, Ashwin came back to start another slide. Ireland went from 206 for 3 to their eventual middling total. This was the first time any batting side tested India. Unlike, say South Africa, India refused to go on the defensive.

Ravindra Jadeja didn’t have a great day, but Suresh Raina filled in superbly. He took out Ed Joyce to go with Ashwin’s scalps of Stirling and the in-form Andy Balbirnie. Between them Ashwin and Raina bowled 20 overs for 78 runs. That’s where the match turned.

When spin came on in the 10th over, with the run rate over six and no wicket down, you would have f o rg i v e n a f e w o t h e r established captains defensive fields. MS Dhoni, the best captain of spin in limited-overs cricket, had a slip, a leg slip, and men saving singles even after the Powerplay was over.

It also asked a lot of the bowlers. Anything half bad was bound to go for boundaries. Jadeja was only half bad in the 14th over, and was taken for a four and a six. Dhoni had no qualms taking him off and going to Raina immediately.

Even before Raina came on, though, Stirling tried to

Shikhar Dhawan’s trademark hundred celebration. ©AFP chip Ashwin over cover.

Ashwin had bowled until then 17 balls for 12 runs, giving nothing away. It required Stirling to manufacture something. He tried, but could not open the face enough, and holed out to long-off.

Now Raina and Ashwin began to run through their overs quite economically.

The pressure was palpable.

Dhoni could read the batsmen’s minds. He told Raina Joyce was under pressure and looking for a big hit. Raina stayed accurate. Joyce looked for a forceful back-foot shot to a full ball.

Overs flew by. When Niall O’Brien took risks

against Rohit Sharma in the 30th over and hit two fours, India had bowled the 15 preceding overs for 45 runs and surely in under 45 minutes. The first sign of pace - Mohit Sharma - in 23 overs meant Ireland felt obliged to push the scoring.

Except that Mohit didn’t provide any pace, and Porterfield fell to a slower ball.

This wicket was as much Mohit’s as the spinners’ who had created the pressure.

Niall O’Brien wasn’t done yet, though. In the Powerplay he mounted another attack, and India were tested yet again by the 61-run stand between him and Balbirnie.

And again Ashwin provided the answers, getting Balbirnie on the sweep in the 39th over.

Mohammed Shami chipped in immediately with Kevin O’Brien’s wicket, and Niall O’Brien found himself under pressure again amid the falling wickets. When he moved across the stumps to try to hit Shami into the leg side, he chipped straight to square leg in the 43rd over. It was now going to be difficult for Ireland to bat out the overs. They couldn’t.

To turn this chase into a contest, Ireland needed early wickets.

Dhawan provided them two opportunities, but John Mooney and Porterfield dropped him on 5 and 10 respectively.

Now Dhawan has a sensational record when he is dropped. Even against South Africa he was dropped

by Hashim Amla. At 174 he and Rohit put together India’s biggest opening stand in World Cups, and their partnership aggregate soared to 1760 runs, the fourth-highest for India.

Dhawan moved to No. 2 on the runs list this World Cup, second behind Kumar Sangakkara.

Once he reached the fifty Dhawan accelerated even as

R. Ashwin ©Getty Images Rohit fell to a somewhat lazy dab, playing Stuart Thompson on.

Dhawan went from 50 off 54 to 96 off 74 before bringing up the hundred with the 84th ball he faced and getting out to the 85th.

However, India needed only 70 at that time, and got them without drama.

India 260 for 2 (Dhawan 100, Rohit 64) beat Ireland 259 (N O’Brien 75, Porterfield 67, Shami 3-41) b y 8 w i c k e t s .

(ESPNcricinfo)

Schalke go out fighting as Porto cruise Cristiano Ronaldo helped himself to one goalscoring record and equalled another as holders Real Madrid booked their p l a c e i n t h e U E FA Champions League quarterfinals.

Ronaldo is now the alltime leading goalscorer in European competition after two goals in the upset 4-3 defeat against Schalke took his total to 78, surpassing the previous record held by another former Real stalwart, Raul.

But, perhaps more importantly for his intense rivalry with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Ronaldo equalled the Argentinian’s Champions League record of 75.

And there was more than a touch of irony that the record-breaking goals should have come against Schalke, the club where Raul ended his playing days after being deemed surplus to requirements in Spain.

Real’s 2-0 win in the first leg in Gelsenkichen saw them squeeze into the last eight 5-4 on aggregate.

Ronaldo scored twice for Real in the first half, his header in the 25th minute from a corner by Tony Kroos cancelling out an opener for the Germans by Christian Fuchs five minutes earlier.

That equalled Raul’s record of 77, and then, after Klaas Jan Huntelaar had restored Schalke’s lead, Ronaldo equalised for a second time with another header just before the break, with his 78th European goal in all.

Ronaldo, 30, who collected the FIFA Ballon d’Or in January, just seems to go from strength to strength.

Last year he led Real Madrid to their tenth European Champions title, but their first in 12 years, smashing Messi’s record of 15 Champions League goals in a single season with 17 in

Ronaldo headed the ball past goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther during his side’s match against Schalke just 11 appearances along the way.

This season, he has already netted 30 times in the league and eight times in the Champions League, matching Messi goal for goal.

It also means he has now

scored 60 times in 59 Champions League appearances for Real.

But he still ended up on the losing side on the night.

Early in the second half, Karim Benzema put the hosts in front but Schalke earned a fully-deserved win

thanks to further strikes from Leroy Sane and Huntelaar.

Real had come into the game unbeaten in 21 Champions League games at the Bernabeu, but that record was under threat from the off in a wretched performance that was only salvaged by

R o n a l d o ’s p r e d i a t o r y instincts.

Four-star Porto fly past Basel Porto remained unbeaten in the Champions League this season and qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2009 as they defeated Swiss side Basel 51 on aggregate.

Goals from Yacine Brahimi, Hector Herrera, Casemiro and Vincent Aboubakar, combined for a 4-0 win at the Estadio do Dragao, and continued Basel’s poor form in Portugal as their coach Paulo Sousa endured a miserable return to his homeland.

The first leg had finished 1-1 three weeks ago in Switzerland.

The Swiss champions have yet to win on six trips to Portugal while Sousa, a former Benfica and Sporting Lisbon midfielder, saw his side fail again in their bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. (FIFA)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Female ruggers observe Int’l Women’s Day with warm-up game on Sunday With their return to top flight rugby imminent, the national female squad has been intensifying preparations ahead of the NACRA Sevens scheduled to be staged from June 13-14 in North Carolina, USA. The provisional squad which is being prepared under the watchful eyes of former national players Laurie Adonis and Elwin Chase engaged in a scrimmage over the weekend in observance of International Women Day, at the National Park Playfield.

The female ruggers are former three-time NACRA champions, but have been absent from the tournament for the past three years (since 2011) and will no doubt be eager to make a triumphant return to one of the biggest tournaments in the Region.

The warm-up game was played in the 7s format, the same arrangement for the tournament in the USA and according to a release the ladies will continue to train everyday leading up to departure.

The national Ladies squad pose for a photo op along with Coaches Elwin Chase (right) and Lauries Adonis recently.

Confident boxers depart for Inter Guiana Games in French Guiana

By Michael Benjamin We e k s o f d i l i g e n t training under the stewardship of Cuban coach, Señor Francisco Hernandez Roldan, with support from a battery of national coaches, expect to bear fruit when the boxers depart Guyana this morning for French Guiana to compete against Suriname and the host nation in the inaugural Tri Nation Inter Guiana boxing competition on Saturday.

Those pugilists selected for national duty are female boxers Taseka Howard (54kgs) and Dwon Thompson (80kgs) while the male team comprises elite boxers Delon Charles (56kgs), Aquincy Harvey (64kgs), Glenroy Smith and Eon Bancroft (69kgs), Dennis Thomas (81kgs) and Trevon King (90kgs).

Another coach, Steel Crawford will support Roldan while Germin Craig and Medford Wilson will travel in the capacity of Referee/Judge. The manger is Gordon Nedd. The above tournament was birthed after GBA President Steve Ninvalle engaged in dialogue with his counterparts from Suriname and French Guiana late last year with the aim of strengthening relations while creating opportunities for international exposure for his charges.

Since then, a team of two French boxers, Leonardo Mosquea and Kesney Joseph, accompanied by the Technical Director of the

Guyana to play back to back friendly internationals -St. Luica on March 22; Grenada on March 29

Female boxer, Taseka Howard (l) mixes it up with Delon Charles during sparring sessions French Boxing Association, Jack Chinon arrived in Guyana and held d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h M r.

Ninvalle on a wide cross section of boxing issues.

Mr. Ninvalle had then dispatched an email to President of the French Boxing Association, Rolland Robeiri, to discuss Guyana’s participation in those championships as well as devise ways of strengthening relations between the two entities.

The GBA President had engaged the principals in fruitful discussions and it is those negotiations that are now bearing fruit. Mr. Ninvalle journeyed to the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym yesterday morning to deliver a pep talk to the boxers and boost their morale. He urged them to be good ambassadors and to abide by the rules of the sport.

The GBA President also stressed on the need to be disciplined and reminded the boxers that they were saddled with a duty to uphold a rich tradition established by their predecessors. Meanwhile, the boxers were taken

through their final routine on Monday afternoon at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym, Independence Boulevard.

Señor Roldan said he was pleased with their application and commitment. The Cuban coach concentrated heavily on strategies and techniques even as he underlined the importance of fitness.

The boxers all shared the ring which was divided into 4 parts with a stout length of rope. They were drilled on defensive and offensive tactics before intensifying activities on the heavy bag.

Shortly afterwards, they engaged in fifteen minutes of speed work on the jump rope before wrapping up sessions with calisthenics and abdominal exercises.

Roldan feels that the boxers are fit and ready to take on their opponents and predicts that they will achieve many medals. The boxers will arrive in the French territory approximately 2 days prior to the competition which is viewed as favourable time to become acclimatized to their new environment.

Football fans are in for a great treat with back to back friendly internationals set for later this month.

After not having any action for well over two years, it can’t get any better with the Guyana Football Federation Normalization Committee pulling out all the stops to ensure the Golden Jaguars are a well oiled unit heading into the initial phases of the CONCACAF Preliminary Competition for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.

Guyana, ranked 166 in the latest FIFA Coca Cola Wo r l d R a n k i n g s w i l l welcome the St. Lucians, ranked 140 on March 22nd at

the Guyana National Stadium, Providence and Grenada, the Spice Boys one week later, March 29th at the same venue.

Grenada stand at 155 in the world.

Like the Guyanese, St. Lucia and Grenada will commence their quest for Wo r l d C u p 2 0 1 8 Qualification in CONCACAF Round Two qualifying on June 8th this year.

St. Lucia will face Antigua and Barbuda; Grenada oppose Puerto Rico while Guyana set to oppose vincy heat, St. Vincent & the Grenadines in matches 9, 10 and 8,

respectively.

Round One play will kick off on March 23, the schedule is as follows: Match 1: Bahamas v Bermuda Match 2: British Virgin Islands v Dominica Match 3: Barbados v U.S. Virgin Islands Match 4: Turks and Caicos Islands v St. Kitts and Nevis Match 5: Nicaragua v Anguilla Match 6: Belize v Cayman Islands Match 7: Curacao v Montserrat The respective winners from the home and away ties will advance to Round Two.

Specialist take Joseph Dominoes title Specialist marked 48 games to win the Faye Joseph four-game 20/20 Dominoes tournament which was contested r e c e n t l y a t J o s e p h ’s residence, Gaulding Place,

South Ruimveldt.

R and R placed second with 39 games while Golden Masters finished third on 31.

Andrew Mendonca and Paul Lewis chalked up 11 games each for the winners

while Orin Favourite scored 10 for R and R and Dellon Griffith 10 for Golden Masters.

Specialist pocketed $90,000 and R and R $30,000.

Wednesday March 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Guyanese have home-court advantage

By Edison Jefford

Basketball Club.

Guyana's senior male basketball team bounces into action against Bermuda, which is regarded as one of the top teams in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) block, tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, in the feature of two games scheduled.

Name: Stephon Gillis Position: Shooting Guard

Following their fifth place finish at the CBC Championships in the British Virgin Island, Tortola last year, Guyana looks to continue its ascendency in the sport region against a team that boasts a talented roster from tonight in the first of three games.

Kaieteur Sport presents some of the players, who will be wearing Guyana's colours at the indoor venue tonight is what is expected to be a massive showdown.

The International Series forms part of Guyana's preparation for CBC 2015 scheduled for June.

Name: Ryan Stephney

Name: Rodwell Fortune Position: Point/Shooting Guard

Base: Georgetown

Position: Guard Height: 6'1” Club: Dyna's Ravens Base: Georgetown, Guyana

Notes: Burnett is perhaps the only defensive guard in the country with a prolific offensive ability to score at will once he gets into the paint.

Notes: Stephney has been a regular fixture on the senior national team and is the senior starting guard for national champions, Dyna's Ravens.

Name: Darcel Harris Position: Head Coach Domestic Club: Dyna's Height: 5'7” Club: Dyna's Ravens Base: Georgetown

Name: Ryan Gullen Position: Forward Forward Height: 6'6” Club: Retrieve Raiders Base: Linden Height: 6'0” Club: Courts Pacesetters Base: Georgetown

Height: 6'2” Club: Dyna's Ravens Base: Georgetown, Guyana

Notes: Former National Junior Basketball Captain; Kanhai has graduated to one of the most dominant senior players last year with his finishing ability that included several show-time dunks. He was named GABF Player of the Year last year.

Notes: Siland represented Guyana at the Caribbean Basketball Championships two years ago in the Bahamas as well and has been one of the most dominant presences in the paint locally.

Caribbean Basketball Championships in the Bahamas and also plays in the paint.

Name: Neil Marks Position: Small/Power

Name: Akeem Kanhai Position: Guard/Forward

Height: 6' 2” Club: Dyna's Ravens Base: Georgetown, Guyana

Club: TGH Pacesetters Base: Georgetown

Notes: Gullen has cemented his place as a national senior player after making his second CBC appearance last year with his impressive work ethic.

Notes: Gillis represented Guyana at the Caribbean Basketball Championships two years ago in the Bahamas. Gillis has been a consistent member of Guyana's Senior National team.

Notes: Marks represented Guyana at the Caribbean Basketball Championships in the Bahamas and has an excellent parameter shooting game that should be an asset against Bermuda.

Name: Nikkoloi Smith Position: Point Guard Ravens, Georgetown Experience: Former National Point Guard; Won 2014 National Club Championship as Ravens Head Coach.

Name: Randy Richardson Position: Small Forward Height: 6'4”

Name: Junior Hercules Position: Manager Domestic Club: Plaisance Guardians

Name: Royston Siland Position: Power Forward

Height: 5'10” Club: Plaisance Guardians Base: Georgetown

Name: Shelroy Thomas Position: Guard Height: 5'11” Club: Colts United Base: Kwakwani, Guyana Notes: Thomas will be making his national senior debut after his outstanding national junior run at the Inter-Guiana Games. He plays domestically for Colts

Notes: Fortune represented Guyana at the Caribbean Basketball Championships two years ago in the Bahamas. Fortune is a skilful inside-out player.

Notes: Smith came through the National Junior ranks and was rewarded for his explosive tempo in the guard position.

Club: TGH Pacesetters Base: New Amsterdam Height: 6'4”

Notes: Richardson represented Guyana at the

Name: Travis Burnett Position: Point Guard Height: 5'11” Club: TGH Pacesetters

The other members of Guyana's National B a s k e t b a l l Te a m a r e Jermaine Slater (Forward, Dyna's Ravens), Terron Welch (Guard, Half Mile Bulls, Linden), Dave Causway (Guard, Colts United), Jason Squires (Guard, Pepsi Sonics) and D o m i n i q u e Vi n c e n t e (Guard, Dyna's Ravens.

t r o Sp

Berbicians defy BCB and will play in GCB Inter-County tournament …After BCB injuncted yesterday

The Berbice players who were awaiting transportation at the GCB Hostel to head back home last evening had a change of heart.

Local-based Jags commence training today ahead of encampment on Friday

The Golden Jaguars doing some warm up exercises at the GDF ground in January ahead of the Barbados friendly.

International Basketball returns to Guyana tonight Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210