Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Da Costa clearly has an Time for something to be done about the use of roads in Kwakwani obsession with the PPP DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Mark Da Costa, in his response published in the Stabroek News dated April 18, to my letter, has clearly indicated that he has an obsession with the PPP and its leaders. This obsession is seen from his constant references to the late Dr.Jagan and then using the good name of Dr.Jagan to get at those who have not only joined the Party he founded but over the years risen to leadership positions both at the level of the Party and Government. Like his colleagues in the opposition, Mr. Da Costa sees skeletons in every cupboard. He seem utterly incapable of coming to terms with the facts that ordinary men and women can make it in life by virtue of
hard work and application. This is true of workers and farmers as it is of business people and those who hold public office. For the benefit of Mr.Da Costa and his ilk, the economy of Guyana is not driven by narco-money and by recourse to corrupt practices and illegal means as M r. G r a n g e r r e c e n t l y alleged. Guyana and by extension the Guyanese people are much better off today than before. This is the Guyana that Dr.Jagan had wanted to see and for which he dedicated his entire life. A Guyana where every Guyanese regardless of race, religion or political affiliation are provided with an opportunity to grow and
develop as far as their ability and talent would allow. Instead of being obsessive about the PPP and its leaders, Mr.Da Costa should try to enlighten himself about the tens of thousands of Guyanese who are today the proud owners of their own homes, vehicles and other consumer goods which they own by dint of hard work and taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the PPP/C Administration. For many, this is a dream come through since under the PNC regime they never saw a way of owning a home and a car. These are some incontrovertible facts that cannot be ignored or wish away Jagnarine Somwar
From page 4 on the pavement, she was resting items flat on the pavement while she packed item on top of item. This should have been done in the confines and comfort of the store and the customer not made to endure that kind of indignity. I pointed out the woman’s travail to all the staff and asked them if they think that that was right. While speaking, I noticed a young lady with whom I’m familiar talking with a woman, whom I was told is the owner of the store. The young lady recognized the obvious indignity I was being asked to subject myself to and steeped forward
to offer an apology even though she was in no way connected to the store, she is just a friend of the owner with whom she was chatting. While she was doing that the alleged owner joined in with the security guard and said, “ I don’t care, if he can’t leave his bag outside put him out the store.” With that I elected to leave the store determined not to ever set foot in there again and will urge all Guyanese to never allow themselves to be subjected to such ignominy and all shoppers should withhold their patronage from the store until they can provide a decent bag-bay inside the store
with a convenient place for repacking. I call on the Guyana Consumers’ Association, the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce, the Private Sector Commission and the Ministry of Trade to immediately take steps to end this degrading practice and develop standards and guidelines for bag bays that will not demean members of the public. Lenno Craig
Diminishing the dignity of shoppers
DEAREDITOR, A recent accident in the Kwakwani Community brought out a very troubling fact about the community’s roads. No one can be successfully prosecuted for any traffic offense in Kwakwani because the roads are not gazetted. A community that is in existence for over sixty years with some of the basic infrastructure which can classify it for township, including Police Station and Magistrate Court, cannot successfully prosecute traffic violators because of ungazetted roads?
We, the residents are really living dangerously and have to be thankful for the mercy of the Almighty. We are calling on all of our elected representatives at the regional and national level, Commissioner of Police and every authority, to thoroughly examine this grave situation with the sole objective to have it corrected
within the shortest possible time. Our Community roads are getting dangerous, with the ease at which we are able to access vehicles and it is imperative that we have systems in place to protect, deter, prosecute and probably able to compensate road users. Jocelyn Morian
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Kaieteur News
Friday May 02, 2014
Large turn-out at May Day rally in New Amsterdam By Leon Suseran With loud chants for housing, higher salaries and better working conditions, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and Guyana Postal and Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Workers’ Union (GPTWU) marched along the streets of New Amsterdam into the compound of State House yesterday during the traditional May Day rally and parade. Simultaneously, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) held a separate march and rally at Port Mourant, Corentyne. Berbice Branch representative of GPSU, Ram Mangru lambasted the government’s poor treatment of workers, and reflected on the wastage of public funds as presented in the 2014 budget. He noted that for the past 20 years, the GPSU could not have gotten the
The GTU contingent yesterday at State House during May Day observances in New Amsterdam. government to “sit around the table to negotiate on wages
Correction/Apology In a letter published in the April 30, 2014 issue of Kaieteur News, two writers misrepresented Education Minister Priya Manickchand. In fact the Minister never said, “If you don’t like your salary, quit”. This was an issue for which this newspaper apologized in the past. We apologise for this slip that caused a republication of this inaccuracy.
and salaries.” He noted how the government has misled public servants and wiggled its way out of negotiations of wages and salaries. “Since 2012 they have not laid the groundwork for negotiations to start! After 21 years in government, we have been having imposition and I am not sure that in 2014, that we would be able to have negotiation concluded with this government for wages and salaries, because I know for sure the GPSU will not sit around the table and bargain
for five per cent.” The GPSU, he added, will not accept anything less than a 45 per cent across-the-board increase in wages and salaries, much to the cheers and applause of the gathering. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian and Shadow Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton, in his remarks as Guest Speaker, noted the disunity of the labour movement in Guyana, and its not being what it used to be
in the past. “The labour movement in Guyana is divided—we have one group of people supporting one body and another group supporting another body; that is not in the best interest of workers.” He urged that the reins be taken back and placed in the hands of the labour movement. “The labour movement has got to demonstrate that it has got a very important role to play not only in the life of the workers, but all the citizens of this country. You have got to go in the frontlines of the battlegrounds.” The APNU partnership, he stated, “is a typical example of unity—the first time when
20 political parties have come together to work best for unity and we are still calling those on board to let us put our shoulders to the wheel and let us take a lead from the book of workers who came together to work for the benefit of all.” He said APNU supports all workers. “What we have got to do is to take into consideration the political reality in Guyana today and that reality is that power lies in the hands of the opposition in the level of parliament.” Samantha Alleyne, Treasurer of the GTU, brought greetings from her leaders as well and Eli Hazel, Chairman of the GPTWU, also brought greetings on behalf of his union members.
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Moscow May Day parade lauds Putin as rebels seize more Ukraine buildings
Pro-Russian armed men guard a checkpoint near the town of Slaviansk, east Ukraine yesterday. REUTERS/Baz Ratner MOSCOW/DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Russia staged a huge May Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square for the first time since the Soviet era yesterday, with workers holding banners proclaiming support for President Vladimir Putin after the seizure of territory from neighboring Ukraine. Thousands of trade unionists marched with Russian flags and those of Putin’s ruling United Russia party onto the giant square beneath the Kremlin walls, past the red granite mausoleum of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin. Many banners displayed traditional slogans for the annual workers’ holiday, such as “Peace, Labour, May”. But others were more directly political, alluding to the crisis in Ukraine where Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March precipitated the biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War. “I am proud of my
country,” read one banner. “Putin is right,” said another. In eastern Ukraine, where a number of government buildings have been seized by armed groups seeking union with Russia, the security situation deteriorated further. Separatists stormed the prosecutor’s office in the city of Donetsk, throwing rocks, firecrackers and teargas at riot police defending officials they accused of working for the Western-backed government in Kiev. Rebels in the city, capital of a province of about 4 million people, have declared a “People’s Republic of Donetsk” and called a referendum on secession for May 11, undercutting a planned presidential election in Ukraine two weeks later. Ukraine’s leaders - who came to power in February when the previous Moscowbacked president was toppled after months of protests - conceded on
Wednesday they were “helpless” to counter the fall of government buildings and police stations in the Donbass coal and steel belt, source of around a third of the country’s industrial output. The International Monetary Fund warned that if Ukraine lost territory in the east it would have to redesign a $17 billion bailout of the country, probably requiring additional financing. Having seized buildings in the capital of the easternmost province, Luhansk, on Tuesday, gunmen took control at dawn on Wednesday in the nearby towns of Horlivka and Alchevsk. Citing the situation in the east, acting Ukrainian President Oleksander Turchinov signed a decree reinstating compulsory military service for men aged between 18 and 25. The Kiev government, along with its Western allies, accuses Moscow of orchestrating the uprising.
U.S. offers to help Nigeria in hunt for abducted girls (Reuters) - The United States said yesterday it had offered Nigeria help in its search for around 200 girls abducted by Islamist militants from a school in t h e n o r t heas t o f t h e country. “We have been engaged with the Nigerian government in discussions on what we might do to help support their efforts to find and free these young women,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told a daily briefing. “We will continue to have those discussions and help in any
way we can.” Suspected Boko Haram gunmen on April 14 stormed an all-girls secondary school in the village of Chibok, in Borno state, packing the teenagers onto trucks and disappearing into a remote area along the border with Cameroon. The brutality of the school attack has shocked Nigerians long accustomed to hearing about atrocities in an increasingly bloody fiveyear-old Islamist insurgency in the north. Harf did not elaborate on
the kind of assistance Washington is offering, but said: “We know Boko Haram is active in the area and we have worked very closely with the Nigerian government to build their capacity to fight this threat.” In fiscal year 2012, the United States provided over $20 million in security assistance to Nigeria, part of that to build the country’s military, boost its capacity to investigate terrorist attacks and enhance the government’s forensic capabilities, she said.
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Kaieteur News
Friday May 02, 2014
‘Litterbug’ fatally stabbed by guard
Undertakers prepare to remove the corpse A man lost his life last night after he was stabbed by a security guard while trying to dump garbage in a Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg premises. The man, who was identified as Nigel Lawson, was stabbed after he was challenged by the guard just
after 20:00 hours. Kaieteur News understands that the security guard who is presently in police custody assisting with investigations, observed the man with the garbage just as he was about to dump it on the property he was guarding. He challenged the
man who put up a resistance. A fight ensued and the guard inflicted several stab wounds to the man’s body. The victim collapsed and succumbed shortly after. The police were called in and immediately cordoned off the area as the dead man lay on the parapet.
Lower taxes will increase travel revenue, says LIAT chief BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The newly appointed CEO of LIAT – The Caribbean Airline believes a reduction in taxation on intra-regional travel will help increase revenues for the governments of the Caribbean and give customers a fairer deal. David Evans, who assumed leadership duties on April 22, acknowledged taxes were important to reinvest in aviation infrastructure, but he would like to see governments fully examine the overall economic and social impact of LIAT. Speaking on the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s Destination Caribbean – a series of live, regional broadcasts on the importance of Caribbean tourism – Evans, a former British Airways executive, stated that the Caribbean tax burden is not significantly
David Evans high compared with other parts of the world. He suggested, however, that a lighter taxation regime would stimulate greater demand and an increase in the “tax take” back to the government. He contended that for
every LIAT employee, four additional jobs in the aviation supply chain were created. “We spend approximately US$12.5 million dollars a year here in Barbados, but all those jobs we create spend a further $25 million and most of that is, of course, taxable revenue to the government,” said Evans. “LIAT is worth – outside of its airline activity – well over US$100 million dollars annually to the region in terms of the jobs it creates and the impact that it has on tourism,” declared Evans who assured viewers that meeting increased demand with more capacity was not a major hurdle. “Any airline faced with increasing demand will be happy with that situation and it would find a way either in its own right or in some sort of a cooperative fashion in order to provide that extra supply or capacity.”
Republic Bank records 6month profit of $560.8m Trinidad Express Republic Bank has recorded a six-month profit of $560.8 million for its half-year ended March 31, 2014, the bank said Wednesday. This represents a 1.5 per cent increase over the same period the previous year. The company’s total assets increased by 6.9 per cent from March 2013, and 1.8 per cent from September 2013; it now stands at $58.6 billion at March 31, 2014, the
bank said in a statement. Republic chairman Ronald Harford said, “Our operations in Trinidad and To b a g o a n d G u y a n a continue to perform well, however, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean are still experiencing economic challenges. As required by accounting standards, we have written down the value of the goodwill on o u r investment in Barbados by $185 million. The effect of
this was offset by a gain of $210 million on the sale of shares held in Visa Inc, which was a non-strategic investment. Shareholders are aware that your bank acquired 40 per cent of HFC Bank Ghana in 2013 and this investment has performed in accordance with our expectation. As previously announced, we are in the process of making a mandatory takeover bid for the remaining shares.”
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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There is a serious crisis in labour in Guyana There is a serious crisis in labour in Guyana. And it has nothing to do with the differences between the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Guyana (FITUG) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC). There is a crisis in labour in Guyana. And it has nothing to do with the cost of living or the Value Added Tax (VAT). There is a crisis in labour in Guyana. And it has nothing to do with low wages or the prospects of the National Insurance Scheme. There is a crisis in labour and at the heart of this crisis are four problems: 1) the shortage of labour, 2) the unreliability of the available workforce, 3) the exaggerated ambitions of those entering the workforce for the first time and 4) poor productivity. The opposition parties
and the labour movement would want us to believe that jobs are short in Guyana. That is far from the truth. What is in short supply is the type of jobs that most persons are looking for; the ones that do not require too much of elbow grease. Our unemployment problem is not about there being jobs but about the type of jobs that most people want, which pay high for little work done. There is no acute shortage of jobs; there is a shortage of labour in the country. There are thousands of persons who no longer wish to work. They get by without having to work. They may have relatives or their partners taking care of them, and most receive healthy remittances from overseas. Why therefore work, when they can sit all day in front of the television
and live the life of Riley. Trinidad is right now facing a shortage of labour and, like Guyana, it has nothing to do with conditions of full employment in the economy. Trinidad has a shortage of labour because there are many workers there who do not wish to do certain types of jobs. For this reason, elements within the private sector of that country have been calling for labour to be imported. The second problem with labour in Guyana relates particularly to self-employed persons. Many of them are unreliable in their attendance. Do you know how difficult it is to have self-employed persons work five days a week. You even have some hire car drivers who can obtain work every day, but who opt to work only four
GCAA’s “systematic breakdown” caused management audit By Zena Henry “A lot of the work of the Board is being stymied at all levels of the Authority. Nobody wants change,” was the opinion of Civil Aviation Board Chairman, Hugh Denbow, as he explained the purpose of a much anticipated management audit of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Relating to an official statement on the upcoming review, Denbow told Kaieteur News yesterday that there appears to be a “systematic breakdown,” in the managerial functioning of the body, and a failure by its officers to effectively carry out their duties. Most notable, he explained, was the inefficiency of the Authority’s officers to function in the areas of oversight; safety and maintenance. He noted also that several complaints by various aviation stakeholders have also prompted the move. Kaieteur News was told that two senior managers at the GCAA are expected to go on leave to facilitate an independent audit of the organization’s management. Denbow explained to Kaieteur News that the audit will help to ascertain breakdowns in the system, and hopefully, the findings will help to facilitate the necessary changes. The chairman went on to say that recently there was the issue of an Air Traffic Controller walking out of the Timehri control tower because he was not relieved from duty when he was supposed to have been. Another incident, he said,
- Board Chairman was when communications giant Digicel requested a noobjection by the Authority for the erection of a communications tower at Kamarang. After construction of the tower commenced, it was later found out that it was in line with the airstrip and would pose a problem for pilots traversing the area. As a result, another location has to be identified. Coupled with these complaints and other issues, such matters have led the Ministry of Public Works and the Aviation Board to conclude that much has to be done to rectify the failure of those responsible for the smooth running of the Authority, Denbow explained. He said that the Public Works Ministry was not pleased with the numerous negative reports and, “it was felt that it was time a management audit be conducted to ensure that staffers are carrying out the task of the GCAA.” The Aviation Board, the chairman continued, has thus followed the instruction of the Minister and “because two critical areas are part of the main probe, we’ve decided that the heads of those agencies should proceed on leave.” Additionally, Denbow related, “we recognize that to achieve US category one status and to conform to international civil aviation standards and recommended practices among other things, we will have to check officers’ relevant qualifications and experience.” As it relates to accidents
and incidents which have been making headlines recently, Denbow said that the Board and the Public Works Minister have also recognized that there is a need to deal with these matters in a timely manner and this too will concern the audit. Denbow explained that the Board is in the process of drafting the audit’s terms of reference, “and it was felt that in order to be impartial we would get an independent auditor.” The chairman was adamant, however, that changes are necessary at the Authority, but the Board is being met with “resistance.” A senior official in the aviation arena had told Kaieteur News on Monday that apart from the managerial breakdown, authorities had also been receiving reports of nepotism (bias) and autocratic behaviour. He said complaints also pointed to reactive instead of a proactive posturing by officers and the non-adherence of systems and policies, “especially disciplinary actions.” In other areas, aviation stakeholders, the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana in particular, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the Authority and have even made suggestions and proposals on how to better, particularly, the local aviation sector. This newspaper was told that the navigation services and aviation safety regulation departments are of particular interest. Safety and oversight will remain the primary concern.
days per week because they claim they need to rest. Many construction workers in Guyana can obtain regular work five and six days per week. But they prefer to work three days a week. When they obtain “job work” that pays based on the task done rather than being paid for the number of days or hours worked- they are only prepared to work three days per week. The remaining days, they claim they need to rest because the work is onerous. One of the problems that many employers in the construction sector find is that if you pay your workers on a Friday, they will take Saturday and Monday off, because they go and drink rum on the weekends and have a hangover on Monday morning. When you pay them on Saturday, they take Monday and Tuesday off. This has been happening for years now in Guyana and makes the available labour very unreliable. The third problem with labour concerns those who are just out of university and entering the job market for the first time. These persons do not want to take ordinary jobs. They are not interested
in the long road of careerbuilding. They do not wish to work their way up the organizational ladder. They feel that coming out of the University of Guyana, even if it is with a second-rated degree, they have arrived and their stock has risen, and therefore they should receive huge salaries, even though they have little or no work experience and no record of organizational achievements. They need a wake-up call. Employers are not so much interested in all those qualifications behind their names. They want to ensure that those qualifications are backed by practical skills and a track record of achievements. Foremost, employers want to know what you achieved in your previous job and what you bring to their company. This is far more important to them than how many years you spent studying for that university degree behind your name. Finally, there is a problem with productivity. A great many persons in Guyana are working, but what are they doing with the time they spend at work? You give some person a job to paint some part of the office. An
efficient worker should take no more than four hours to complete the task. Instead it takes that worker eight hours. Labour is highly inefficient and costly in Guyana. And this is not just a problem with blue collar workers. Within the media in Guyana there are persons who are producing two or three stories per week when they should be doing that per day. And they have the temerity to complain that the hours are long and the pay is poor. Employers cannot solve these problems with labour. And as such they are looking to import labour. Those who have managed to do so are not complaining. We have seen for example the better worth ethic, the admirable attitude towards work, and the increased productivity for foreign workers in Guyana. It is time to heed the call that was made recently in Trinidad and Tobago. It is time to import labour into Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Friday May 02, 2014
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The visa revocation: A mendicant, primitive country insults the USA It has to be the most comical opera in international relations since Thucydides wrote his fantastic book two thousand years ago on relations among states and titled, “The Peloponnesian Wars.” Any student of world politics would know that Guyana is one of the poorest countries in the world. Any student of politics would know in
terms of quality of life, Guyana ranks very low among the sovereign states that sit in the United Nations. Any student of politics would know that in terms of modern infrastructure, Guyana is a very primitive land. This is a country where in the 21st century, the capital city hasn’t got a proper functioning sewage system. This is a country
that built a bridge four years ago that is the identical version to one that the Allies constructed in the Second World War as seen in the famous movie, “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” This is a country where once you build a house you have to buy a large black tank imported from Trinidad to store water. Central supply of water does not reach any house throughout Guyana at a height of twenty feet above ground level. This is a country where the only university has virtually collapsed. This is a country that only one month ago acquired a modern fingerprinting system for the police that the world has been using decades ago, and it was a donation from the American Government. This is a country where the police began using the speed gun only two years ago after the British Embassy donated six of them. This is a country where at the
beginning of the year the entire police force had only three breathalyzer machines. This is a country where magistrates and judges write down every single word that is said by the person in the witness box, an anachronistic practice the world left behind decades and decades ago. This is a country of 800,000 persons where the population conducting business and trade and financial services in the society is one of the smallest in the world, but a cheque by any of the eminent business companies deposited in bank takes four days before the recipient can have the money. This is a country where a sitting CARICOM Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, in 2010, said that Guyana is an embarrassment to the region because it is an international beggar. Here is where the nudity of Guyana is laid bare. This country never stops begging the Inter-American Development Bank and it starts from the President right down to all his Ministers. Addressing the UN General Assembly last year, President Jagdeo was indignant that the UN raised the economic status of Guyana, thereby taking it off
the list of countries whose poverty rating entitles them to greater UN financial assistance. Knowing that the elevated ranking will result in aid reduction, Mr. Ramotar, in fact, rejected such an improved status. Mr. Ramotar just wants Guyana to keep receiving financial handouts. The government of this kind of hellhole has become bold enough to revoke the visa of a consultant employed by the American Government who was the administrator of a democracy project. This project is needed in this country to teach its people about the lost value of democratic institutions. How institutions should be democratic, accountable and transparent is something we lost since Cheddi Jagan became Premier in 1957 right up to the present moment. This was the asset of the democracy programme. The visa cancellation is the irony of all ironies. The US, which helped Ramotar and Luncheon and company to come to power in 1992, is now told it is interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs because the US is helping us to understand how public institutions should relate to the citizenry. When we beg the US for
Frederick Kissoon Frederick Kissoon money, when we send our wives to get babies in the US so they can become American citizens, it is alright. But not when the US wants to help to strengthen democracy? The visa recall by a virtual nonentity in world politics is a nasty insult that the American people should not accept from Guyana. For far too long the US has turned a blind eye to atrocities committed by the PPP Government and a majority of the population cannot understand why, especially in the area of drug trafficking. Captain David Clarke has named names for the US Government as to who in the corridors of power are involved in drug trafficking. But to date the US has not moved against these people. Will this visa insult be the straw that broke the camel’s back? Every Guyanese, in and out, is waiting to see how the US will retaliate against this nonentity.
Dem boys seh
Guyana is de only country wid a jackass highway lane Guyana is de only country in de world that does create special condition fuh jackass and dem cart. People gun expect that jackass gun go to a pasture, but when dem see jackass and cart pun de highway during peak hours dem can only conclude that is a jackass parade. De traffic back up. People racing to de airport had to fall in de jackass parade. Dem boys now want Donald to build a special traffic lane. After all is he and Clement got to decide wheh de jackass got to parade, because is dem who got to fashion de parade. Is dem who got people tekking so much liberty. Imagine Bharrat get Brazzy to give away some land to de Chinee because dem know that Donald and Rohee deh pun a parade and wouldn’t see nutten. That is not de first thing that dem give away. Dem always giving away something that ain’t dem own. Dem give away de Santa complex, dem give way de land pun de seawall wheh Brazzy and he friends building de Marriott, dem give away de airwaves. Dem boys seh that dem remember clear when Jagdeo give way five radio station to Rob de Earth who marry Jagdeo niece, five to de Pee Pee Pee, five to Bobby and couple as a token to some of dem. When de Pee Hen See and Hay Heff See talk, Jagdeo give dem five— a high five. If wasn’t fuh dem boys, all de giveaway
woulda be a secret, because it was like a secret service was dealing wid dem issues. Nobody didn’t hear bout de land give away to dem Chinee; dem didn’t hear bout de Santa giveaway till dem ask nuff question and while all this happen, Donald claim that he didn’t know. In fact Jagdeo was giving away de whole of Guyana and Donald still claim that he didn’t know. De people of dis country getting fed up and dem gun surprise Donald and de same fat crook, Brazzy. Dem gun get up one morning and tek back all that Brazzy and Jagdeo give away. Donald give away some of he powers too. He give Sam de powers to sign de budget. Normally, Donald does sign it, but this time he couldn’t because he end up in Mexico. Ash Knee was planning to spend de money anyhow and Granger and Ramjattan was planning to jail he and nuff others. That is how Donald call Sam and tell he to sign quick. Midnight ketch Sam pun de seawall and is only when he hear de radio message that he rush down to Ohh Pee. Dem boys hear when he seh that he got to sign de budget before he cuff somebody. And dem boys hear that he like cuff people. Well, he got to cuff Granger and Ramjattan and not dem boys. Is de two of dem did plan to send he people to jail. Talk half and watch out fuh dem jackass and cart.
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
PM signs Budget Bill hours before deadline - Govt. still to decide on the way forward - AG Prime Minister Samuel Hinds
Attorney General Anil Nandlall By Abena Rockcliffe The Appropriation Bill of 2014 has been assented to mere hours before the deadline. The signature of assent is that of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who is currently performing the duties of Head-of State in the absence of President Donald Ramotar. Midnight on April 30 is the deadline for the Appropriation Bill to be assented to as there could have been no expenditure after that date without such legalities in place. At the most recent PostCabinet briefing held on the same day, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon could not have given a specific answer as to whether the Bill would have been assented to or not. Prime Minister Hinds signed the Bill sometime Wednesday night. Kaieteur News contacted two government officials yesterday who refused to comment on whether or not any consideration had been given to send the Bill back to parliament, and efforts to contact the Prime Minister proved futile. Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall told this publication that the government is still exploring its options and is
contemplating whether it will go back to court with the issue of budget cuts. Of course, the issue of whether or not the opposition could cut the Budget was taken before the court by the AG before. On that occasion, Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang had ruled that the Opposition could only approve or disapprove as opposed to reducing the budget. But it appears as though the opposition and government have differing interpretations of this ruling. The government is saying that the opposition can either approve or disapprove the budget as a whole, while the opposition members are saying that they can either approve or disapprove funding for a programme and not reduce. The government had said before that it would be going back to the court, but the Attorney General has stated that “We have not yet decided, as a collective, the way forward. We need further discussions.” The Opposition withheld approval to a number of programmes. Appropriations for several Rights Commissions, the National Communications Network, Government Information Agency (GINA) and other programmes falling directly under the Office of the
President (OP) were affected when the Opposition disapproved funding for the Office of the President’s administration. Disapproval has even resulted in there being no allocation for the President’s security. According to Nandlall “It is an action that no responsible person or body would take. If the President is to respond in such an irresponsible manner, or reciprocate in like manner and instruct the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, to not disperse funds to the National Assembly, we would ultimately have a breakdown of constitutional democracy.” He said that it is obvious that the opposition’s actions can lead to a breach in the President’s security. The Attorney General said that the drafters of the Constitution could have never intended the National Assembly to use its powers to deny institutions, crafted by the very constitution, their funds for functioning, more so to jeopardize the president’s security. “I therefore have no doubt that the National Assembly acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it denied the OP and every other constitutional and statutory office it funds!” Nandlall stated emphatically.
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UG first-year students tackle violence in schools In an effort to address the rise in violence in schools, a group of first-year social work students from the University of Guyana, Tain Campus recently engaged a group of students and other civilians in an interactive workshop at a secondary school in New Amsterdam. On the day of the workshop, about 50 persons, including secondary and tertiary level students as well as parents, guardians and individuals from the community, gathered at the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School for an afternoon of dramatic enactments and discussions focusing on school violence with the budding social workers. According to Marlyn Omar, a member of the team, “The aim of the venture was to sensitize and engage parents, guardians, children and the general public in discussion on the prevalence of violence in schools.” It was noted by Omar that violence in schools has been on the upsurge and it can manifest itself in several different forms. Hence she asserted “my teammates and I focused on the risk factors such as internalizing and externalizing of behaviours,
- calls being made for attachment of social workers to institutions home environment, neighborhood environment and school environment.” “Through drama portraying violence in schools and interactive discussions, attention was given to possible preventions and interventions for cases of violence in schools.” Omar claimed that the group concurred that several other reasons were the contributing factors to violence in schools and “one such major issue raised during the discussion was the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools.” When focusing on the contributing factors to school violence, she noted that the conversation amongst the group shifted to the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools. “Those in attendance claimed that since this Act was established there has been a rise in school violence. That they attributed to the fact that there has been no practical replacement for the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools.”
Many of the adult attendees, she said, reflected on their childhood and opined that the discipline they currently possess is as a direct result of their awareness to sanction for their misdemeanours. She explained that participants admitted that as children they were “punished” hence it resulted in them growing to become disciplined individuals since their parents and teachers ensured that there would have been a keen sense of “consequences for their actions” if acts of disorderliness were performed. She noted that some teachers who were present also made calls for the installment of at least one Social Worker to each school in an effort to fight the battle of violence in schools. Those who presented along with Omar included Celeste Bradford, Miranda Balgobin, Tessa Ramnauth, Doris Sharper, Tracy Samuels, Keishanna Lyte and Samantha Stanwick.
More flexibility in administration of CET - Dr. Luncheon Participating states of the Caribbean Community will now enjoy greater flexibility in the administration of the Common External Tariff (CET). This was related by Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, during his weekly postCabinet press briefing, on Wednesday. “The ruling of the CCJ (Caribbean Court of Justice) in the celebrated case
involving Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) led to formal efforts by the community to address the deficiencies in the treaty…You might recall that in constituting the CCJ specific responsibilities were entrusted on the CCJ to deal with issues arising from the interpretation of the Regional Treaty of Chaguaramas,” he said. Common External Tariff is a customs union created by a group of countries to foster economic integration. The
group enjoys similar customs duties, import quotas, preferences or other non-tariff barriers to trade apply to all goods entering the area, regardless of which country within the area they are entering. On November 14, 2012, the Trinidad Express Newspaper reported that the CCJ dismissed a claim by TCL against the CARICOM Competition Commission. “TCL claimed that the (Continued on page 13)
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Friday May 02, 2014
West Ruimveldt shooting…
Internal Auditing watchdog to repair “Pastor” remains in police custody Ministries’ “eroding” integrity A 19-year-old man who is said to be the main suspect in the shooting of 35-year-old Kurt Brown in West Ruimveldt on Tuesday night remains in police custody. The suspect, whose father claims that the teen has been a pastor for the past seven years (since 12 years old), and an accomplice allegedly shot Brown in the left arm and gun-butted his friend, Calvin Daniels. Daniels was also robbed of a gold band valued more than $600,000. The young bandits then rode towards Mandela Avenue, and one of them rode into t h e J o h n Fernandes Limited c ontainer compound. Residents pursued the duo and eventually caught one of the gunmen. “I approached him and he say ‘sorry sorry is not me,’ and we caught him,’” Daniel
said. The suspect was beaten before he was taken to the police station. Kaieteur News was told that Brown was drinking with Daniels and another friend in Hibiscus Street, when two men on bicycles, and armed with guns, rode up to them. He recalled that one of the men rode directly up to him. “He had a gun and I had a beer bottle and I ask what happen and he shot me,” Brown said. Daniels said that both robbers were on BMX bicycles and were firing as they approached. One bullet struck Brown in the arm. Daniels, who is a miner, said that one of the bandits struck him on the head with a revolver and relieved him of his gold band. Yesterday, the father of the suspect in custody was
adamant that the police have an innocent man in custody. “This is a case of mistaken identity. My son did not rob anyone. They are all wrong. Right now my son needs medical attention because he was beaten and his entire face swell up, and the police just got him in the lockups,” said the man, who refused to give his name. However, the two victims are positive that the individual in custody is one of the two teens who robbed them last Tuesday. “He is the one and I am positive,” Daniel told his publication, adding that he is not too pleased with the investigation so far. “No police contacted us. We don’t know what is going on here.” A police source told this publication that the detainee is likely to be charged shortly.
Woman, 21, found dead in Port Kaituma shop Police are trying to ascertain the cause of death of a 21-year-old woman, whose body was found last Wednesday in a Port Kaituma backdam shop in which she worked. Reports indicate that the employee, Dianne Sam, of Citrus Grove, Port Kaituma, was found dead in a bedroom several hours after she had consumed a combination of alcoholic beverages. A woman who owns the shop said that foul play was
not suspected and that her employee had been suffering from gallstones and was scheduled for surgery. According to reports, Dianne Sam and three other workers were at the shop at around 10.00 hrs on Wednesday, when Sam poured a combination of Guinness, Red Bull, Vodka and Magnum energy drink into a bowl and drank the contents. Kaieteur News
understands that shortly after, Sam complained of feeling unwell and went into her room. At around noon, one of the female workers went to the room to call Sam for lunch, and found her lying motionless on her bed. The worker then contacted her employer and the police were also informed. The body was brought out to the Port Kaituma Hospital while police await a post mortem.
By Kiana Wilburg The lack of compliance with the Auditor General’s recommendations by some ministries to correct financial irregularities, has only served to corrode the faith in its integrity. But an intervention was started last year by the Ministry of Finance with the establishment of an Internal Auditing Division. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, during his 2014 budget speech, explained that their internal audit capability continues to be strengthened with a high level oversight committee, the Internal Audit Division. The centralized internal audit staff will be tasked with reviewing findings in the Audit Office’s annual report and followingup with Government Agencies to ensure compliance with the relevant laws and regulations. There has been an extensive debate over the fact that year after year, the Auditor General highlights certain financial irregularities and only some are complied with. It is a pattern that has even worried the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman. Trotman had expressed to this publication that such behaviour would only undermine the democracy of the country if it is not corrected. Many Opposition members have even asked why the Auditor General has not made effective use of his powers to ensure that Ministries comply with his recommendations and make sanctions when necessary. However, Auditor General Deodat Sharma explained to this publication that he is not endowed with such powers. He clarified that his office serves as the watchdog of the national purse ensuring that the money allocated to any sector is not wasted, but spent wisely. He added too that under the Audit Act, he has the power to obtain information, evidence, inspect bank accounts and access
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh
Auditor General Deodat Sharma
premises. He insists that nowhere in the Audit Act does it give him the power to make agencies comply with his recommendations. He explained that Part VI of the Act, which speaks to offences, makes clear what can be deemed an offence in the eyes of the Auditor General. The Audit Act specifies legal penalties for anyone who intentionally prevents the Auditor General or an authorized officer in the discharge of official duties, does not comply with any lawful requirement of the Auditor General, provides misleading information, or misrepresents his or her level of authority. If convicted of any of the said offences, a person may be fined up to two hundred thousand Guyana dollars (G$200,000) and spend no more than five years in jail. The Auditor General said that for the first time, in his 2012 report, he outlined how many recommendations were applied and how many were not. He said that this is a critical area and as such he hopes that it is given the strictest of attention. For example, part of that report he referred to said that in relation to the 350 recommendations made in the 2011 Report, 245 were in relation to generalized areas, with the exception of overpayments on construction works and related issues, which totaled 105. At the time of reporting in September 2013, 122 or fifty percent (50%) of the 245
recommendations that were in relation to generalized areas were cleared while 11, or five per cent, were partially dealt with. Sharma insisted that while these irregularities have been highlighted, it is being taken seriously by the relevant ministries, despite what his findings are, and that the relevant ministries are making every effort to correct their systems. With that being said, the AG then expressed that there were instances where he discovered during audits that his findings would be in stark contrast to the reports of the internal auditors of some ministries. He had suggested some time in 2003 that measures be taken to strengthen financial management and compliance with his recommendations, hence the establishment of the Internal Audit Division. The person heading the Department is Chandrawattie Samaroo. The Internal Audit Division, a 14-member “system-corrector” is geared towards bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes by various ministries and budgetary agencies. It monitors and ensures compliance with procedures and laws. When there is room for improvement, the Division makes recommendations for enhancing processes, policies and procedures.
with acting Solicitor General Carol Hernandez, Commissioner of Prisons Conrad Barrow, Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan, Minister of Justice Emmanuel George and the C h i ef State Solicitor Christophe Grant to revisit the matter and to chart the best way forward. Her statement came even
as the Law Association and Association of Law Officers added its voice to the list of those calling for an independent probe into allegations made by former solicitor general Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell, who expressed concern about what she called an “unethical business” venture in prison litigation matters.
Pressure over ‘collusion’ forces T&T PM’s hand Trinidad Guardian - In the face of mounting public pressure, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has ordered Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to revisit allegations of collusion involving lawyers engaged in prison litigation. Persad-Bissessar made the decision Wednesday, calling on Ramlogan to meet
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Non Pareil murder/suicide… UG Vice Chancellor advocates for support Couple to be cremated today - warns that University’s failure is country’s failure
UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi (at right) signs an agreement with GT&T’s CEO, Radha Krishna Sharma, which will see the telephone company directing financial aid to UG. “If UG fails, this country fails,” was the firm assertion of Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Professor Jacob Opadeyi, as he emphasised the importance of the country’s premier tertiary institution. The Vice Chancellor was at the time speaking at a ceremony on Wednesday at which the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) signed over financial aid amounting to $60 million to be utilised mainly in the area of information technology. He pointed out that since the local institution is supposed to be a symbol of growth and prosperity, the country’s keen efforts must be made to ensure that it is able to thrive. “When you talk about Harvard, Oxford (universities), they are symbols of those countries (United States and England), and those countries would not allow anything untoward to happen to those institutions,” Professor Opadeyi keenly observed. Moreover, he stressed that since UG cannot be classified as either a Government or Opposition institution but rather one that belongs to the nation, “we cannot sit back and say okay ‘UG is not doing this, UG is not doing that’. We have got to think of what can we do for UG.’” And it was just such a move that was embraced by GT&T, Professor Opadeyi noted, as he disclosed that it was the telephone company’s Chief Executive Officer, Radha Krishna Sharma, who pursued the University to offer support. “I am very particularly happy that R.K. Sharma came into my office. The right thing is for me to be knocking on doors, which is what I have been doing for
the past year, and I want to let anyone know that if the VC has not yet come to you, you can come to us...You have the responsibility to say this is what I have done for this University...” challenged Professor Opadeyi. He pointed out that if the University is allowed to fail there will be an undeniable impact on the younger generation, even as he speculated that it is often “when your children get to 18, that is when you start determining their future. Where will they go afterwards?” UG, according to Professor Opadeyi, is a facility that is mandated to produce professionals who can help the country to become competitive in whatever it engages. Currently the enrolment at the University stands at under 7,000 but according to the Vice Chancellor “we can do better than that...our enrolment should increase to 10,000, 15,000.”
He however noted that even if 25 per cent of the population have a first degree, it is not merely an achievement to ensure that they are qualified for employment but rather “it has to do with improving our intellect, improving our ability to create jobs (and) not just to look for jobs.” As such, he noted that GT&T’s investment in the University is one that can be deemed as particularly significant since according to him, “when you want to classify whether a University is good to attend, you start by looking at its information technology platform.” The financial support from the telephone company is designed to ensure that, among other things, the University’s Centre for Information Technology is upgraded and maintained. Funding in this regard is slated to be expended over a three-year period in $20 million tranches annually.
More flexibility in... (From page 11) Commission acted wrongly in two main regards: specifically, they said the Commission had not requested their approval to conduct an investigation into their business activities and that the Commission had failed to respect the rights of TCL as an ‘interested party’ according to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. CCJ said TCL’s case arose from the first matter undertaken by the Commission in fulfillment of its role under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to protect and promote competition within the Community.” According to Dr. Luncheon, the March Heads of Government of CARICOM conference held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, opened signatures for the last and approved version of a revision of the Treaty of Chaguaramas that essentially provided greater flexibility to participating states to respond to the functioning of the CET system. “At the bottom line, a facility that did not exist before during a suspension, a facility was introduced that allowed for a hike in the CET that was not permitted in the context in existing provisions under the CET in the treaty,” he said, Dr. Luncheon explained the amended provision would allow participating states, during a suspension of the CET, to approach Council for Trade and Economic Development to increase the CET instead of just removing or reducing it.
The couple found dead in their Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara home last Sunday as a result of a murder/ suicide will be cremated today, according to relatives. The bodies will first be taken to their Lot 165 North ‘D’ Non Pareil Housing Scheme home before going to their respective parents’ residences. At around 21:00hrs, relatives found the bodies of 28-year-old Nandanie Mohan called Michelle on the couple’s bed with a sheet wrapped around her neck while her husband, Vickram Ramdin was discovered dangling from a rafter, just above her at their home. From all indications, the father of two had strangled his wife and then hanged himself. The bodies were discovered by Mohan’s mother, Lachmin, who had gone to the house to check up on the couple. Recalling what happened on that fateful night, the dead woman’s mother said early Sunday she tried numerous times to contact her daughter and son-in-law but failed. Accompanied by another daughter, Simone and the dead couple’s 11-year-old son, Omardat Ramdin, went to her daughter’s house. “The two children does live by me, so I carry they son with us. When we reach, the son take a stick and he was hitting the flooring and saying, ‘Mommy, Daddy wake up,’ but no one answered and the place was locked up.” She added that she started asking neighbours if they saw the couple. “People say that they see them a little before 06:00hrs on Saturday walking. They say he had an umbrella sheltering her and they were
Dead: Nandanie Mohan and Vickram Ramdin
hugging and walking,” the grieving mother recalled. The woman added that after talking to neighbours, as she was heading back to her daughter’s home, she heard a loud scream. “My daughter got into the house and she tell me that Nandanie dead and deh on the bed and Vickram deh hang up.” The police were called in and the bodies were removed from the home. However, relatives of Vickram Ramdin said that the 31-year-old might have committed the act because his
wife of 11 years was cheating on him. Rajnarine Ramdin, the brother of the dead man said “She was working at a snackette at Mon Repos market and a lot of men used to go and drink there and he (his brother) used to go there and drink, and like he see things too. Like it get overbearing and he trip,” the brother opined. The couple was supposed to attend the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court last Monday for a domestic matter.
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Vandalism cost GT&T $32M in 2013 - appeals being made for communities to be vigilant A pricey and usually unexpected dilemma faced by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) is vandalism. And it is the belief of the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Radha Krishna Sharma, that residents can play an integral role in helping to curb such destructive activities. Sharma told media operatives on Wednesday that last year, for instance, the telephone company was faced with a vandalism price tag that amounted to some $32 million. And according to him, at least 15 acts of vandalism saw the service to subscribers being severely affected for extended periods. And it was just over the recent Easter weekend that the telephone company suffered yet another act of vandalism in the Sophia area. Some 15 metres of cable were stolen when vandals targeted a 2400-pair feeder. According to GT&T, the action resulted in the disruption of telephone services in Belvoir Court, Bel Air, Prashad Nagar, Sophia, Blygezight and surrounding areas. It was outlined in a statement from GT&T that the damage was severe and required extensive repairs, including civil works, an undertaking that was expected to be completed over a four-day period in order to restore full service. But according to Sharma, “the technical team worked around the clock and they
GT&T CEO, Radha Krishna Sharma brought back that service within two and a half days.” The CEO in commenting further on the recent act of vandalism noted that while “I don’t know the dollar value on the un-organised, underhand market, I can say it was quite small to whoever did it, but it was disruptive to 1,500 subscribers who were affected.” Vandalism has long been highlighted by GT&T as a hindrance to its roll-out of services nationally, since resources have to be diverted from ongoing scheduled works. It is also the view of the telephone company that acts of vandalism can hamper community welfare and security. Moreover, Sharma is advocating for the support of residents to help safeguard the resources of GT&T that are strategically positioned in various communities countrywide. “This has to be more a
combination of community awareness and law enforcement...and society as a whole has to be aware that an act of vandalism destroys infrastructure and then disrupts service that is so much needed.” Sharma went on to highlight that “it is physically impossible for us (GT&T) to safeguard every piece of network infrastructure in this country, so it has to be a combination of vigilance from communities (and) it has to be some element of law enforcement.” According to the CEO, the disturbing state of affairs is one that has been gaining the attention of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, as well as the Public Utilities Commission, which is tasked with regulating and monitoring the operation of the country’s utility companies. “I have seen the Prime Minister issue a statement. I have seen the PUC issue a statement, and I think that more and more persons recognise what it means to society if you are going to have these irresponsible acts of vandalism,” Sharma asserted, even as he reiterated that the practicality of GT&T safeguarding all of its network infrastructure is rather limited. Moreover, GT&T is urging that communities be on the look-out for vandals and to report such acts to the police and to the telephone company’s vandalism hotline – 0908.
Friday May 02, 2014
GRA boss talks tough as wealthy remain biggest tax evaders It is estimated that the country’s wealthiest, particularly the selfemployed, are deliberately evading taxes in a massive way, only paying about 25 per cent of their obligations. According to tax chief, Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has not been standing by idly and has been aggressively pushing to bring this “hardto-tax” group into the net. “You have to do a lot of enforcement activities, take them to court...” the official told reporters earlier this week. As a matter of fact, audit and verification exercises have been successful in the agency’s collection thrust, with the Debt Management Unit realising more than $8B in revenues. The issue has been a critical one for GRA, with increasing calls for the tax collection agency to become more aggressive. Those calls would come from taxpayers who have been compliant and who say that they are being made to pay for persons who are deliberately evading. The CommissionerGeneral made it clear that the public has a critical role to play, with a responsibility to ensure receipts are collected when making purchases. “When you go to a dentist or doctor, demand your receipts when they charge you $500,000 or $2M for an operation. Demand your receipts, because only by having your receipt they will be forced to report that income to me, please. You the tax payer out there play a very vital role in helping me to
GRA boss, Khurshid Sattaur police the laws.” He said that not reporting will only allow high-income earners to evade taxes. According to a government statement issued earlier this week, Sattaur disclosed that several companies are currently before the courts for tax evasion. The GRA head said employees and business associates need to be aware of the perils. “Those people who are working for COPS, for example, would have never thought that the company would have been subject to bankruptcy proceedings by the GRA, but it happened. You have two other companies that we have asked for bankruptcy proceedings and we are fighting them in the court...they are DIDCO and Friendship Holdings. I have to make these things public because a lot of these employees who work for these entities are not even aware that their employers are tax cheats.” Meanwhile, this year GRA is targeting $135B in collections. “Expect a lot of that from me, to engage in sensitising the public, putting out public notices, holding more workshops, having more educational programmes, you’ll see much more of us. We’ll be more visible this year to ensure that people
understand and honour their obligations more voluntarily.” Speaking about GRA’s measures to ease congestion and waiting time for transactions, Sattaur disclosed that the agency’s online banking feature is not being embraced by tax payers, despite much clamouring for the service in the past. ”Now that we have it here, the poor showing suggests that the tax payers were maybe playing games with us. We’ve only had about 50 transactions so far with remote services provided to tax payers. It is either through the telephone, they can call in, having set up their account of course, call in to Republic Bank or they can go online to Demerara Bank and make their respective payments for any taxes. We’ve had just two persons doing that, I happen to be one of them.” A money transfer facility operated with support from Western Union was a little more successful, with 50 persons using the service. The GRA chief said that additional services were introduced to lessen the waiting time at the busy Camp Street Head Office. Despite these setbacks, Sattaur said the GRA is still persevering with its efforts. “We’re going to bring GBTI and Scotiabank on board very shortly. There was a total lack of interest on the part of Citizens Bank and Baroda. These other banks, we’re working with them, and hopefully soon we’ll have engagements with them, through agreements. There’s a little cost involved, not more than a $100 per transaction, some of it we will bear for the tax payer.” Looking forward to the future, the GRA head said that very soon, tax payers will not be required to file returns physically. Rather, an online feature will be added with a contract already signed. The almost 250,000 tax payers that GRA has on its database will be expected to utilise the online feature.
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Over 15 million NIS contributions not Friend unaware WPA leader yet entered in system - Dr. Luncheon Walter Rodney COI…
tried to invoke disturbances By Latoya Giles Reverend Reuben Gilbert, the father of PPPC Parliamentarian Kwame Gilbert, said that he was unaware that his now deceased friend Dr. Walter Rodney was trying to accumulate ammunition and tried to invoke disturbances against the then ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). Gilbert, who is an Ethiopian Orthodox priest, was at the time being crossexamined by PNC Chairman Attorney at Law Basil Williams at the third hearing of the inquiry into the death of Dr. Rodney. The 78-year-old Gilbert said that he had “loved and was visited numerously” by Rodney, but denied that he knew what was being planned. Gilbert, who admitted that he was former member of the Guyana Police Force, said that he was totally unaware of Rodney’s plans against the ruling party. Gilbert denied being a member of the People’s Progressive Party, even though he had published an article in the Mirror newspaper, which is owned and run by that party. Earlier, the witness had admitted while being led by lawyer for the Commission, Latchmie Rahamat, that he was constantly victimized and was not able to find a job at the instruction of former President Forbes Burnham. Williams brought out the nexus between the witness going to the then Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan for intervention into the matter and not being a member of the PPP, as well as his articles being published in the Mirror. “How could you be allowed to write for the party’s newspaper when you aren’t a member?” asked Williams. According to Gilbert, it was the Secretary of the party who asked whether he would write a “piece” for the newspaper. Williams continued to quiz the witness on whether by writing the article he was throwing his clout at the PNC. Gilbert was adamant that that wasn’t the aim of his piece in the Mirror newspaper. The witness was asked whether he had a copy of the article which he had written, to which he answered in the negative. Gilbert was further questioned about Mr. Jagan’s intervention on helping him find a job. “Couldn’t it be said that you had an association with Mr. Jagan because you were either a member or strong supporter of the
Rev. Reuben Gilbert party?” Williams asked the witness. Gilbert denied this assertion, and maintained that he was not a party member of the PPP. Further the witness denied that he would frequent the party headquarters at Robb Street, but admitted that he would go to a book store which was in the lower flat of the building. Williams then switched his line of questioning towards the link between Gilbert and Rodney. The witness told the Commission that he and Rodney were friends…a friend whom he loved, but he was not a member of his party, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). Gilbert said that he and Rodney became friends sometime in 1978. Williams asked the witness whether he involved himself with the WPA. Gilbert said that he would attend public meetings. “I never became a member of the WPA even though Rodney visited my home numerous times,” Gilbert told the Commission. He claimed that the “population” at that time was dreadfully afraid of the Burnham administration. Williams then questioned Gilbert as to whether he had conducted a “poll” which would help him make such a generalized statement. “No I didn’t conduct a poll…but
heard people talking” Gilbert said. Williams then suggested that he should not say the “population” but rather “some people.” The witness was then asked whether he was interested in being a part of the government, to which he denied. Gilbert was further asked whether he knew that the late Walter Rodney was a political activist. “He was active in politics…that’s what I know,” Gilbert stated. When asked whether he knew that Rodney was trying to infiltrate parts of the government and was trying to recruit people from the Guyana Defence Force, the witness answered in the negative. Gilbert was then asked whether he knew that Rodney was planning to “hijack” a Guyana Defence Force vehicle. “Hijack!?....I know nothing about that,” was the witness’s reaction to the question. Williams went on to question Gilbert about whether he knew that Rodney was interested in modifying “walkie-talkies” to which he said no. “Did Rodney have a conversation with you on taking over the government and preventing the then President Forbes Burnham from leaving Guyana?” “Never...I had no conversation,” Gilbert said. The witness was asked whether he knew that Rodney wanted to capture Burnham before he could have escaped Guyana, preventing him from being granted political asylum, and he again answered in the negative. Williams sought to ask the witness a series of questions about Rodney’s position against the PNC government. The attorney also accused the witness of being selective in his recollection of events which he submitted to the Commission. Williams will continue to cross examine Gilbert today when the Commission reconvenes.
NIS Headquarters With over fifteen million records of contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) yet to be entered and verified, Government has decided that the task must be concluded this year to relief contributors of this burden. This was revealed by Dr. Roger Luncheon, Cabinet Secretary and Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme Board, during his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, on Wednesday. For years, numerous contributors to the scheme have complained bitterly of not being able to access accurate contribution
records. This has frustrated contributors who are oftentimes unable to receive their benefits. According to Dr. Luncheon, at the April 29 Cabinet meeting, members reinforced their earlier pledge to stakeholders to have the backlog of contribution records entered electronically and verified by the end of 2014. He said Cabinet has been notified that the process would be executed by a combination of permanent staff, project staff hired into the service of the scheme specifically for this project, and by outsourcing to private contractors.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasized that that task would require the entering and verifying of over fifteen million records. “Cabinet essentially was being confronted with some concerns whether this task could be accomplished in 2014, and Cabinet’s reiteration was unambiguous. Anything that needs to be done to relieve contributors or the public of this burden of unentered contributions would be undertaken,” he said. Dr. Luncheon assured that all resources necessary would be provided to ensure that the 2014 deadline would remain intact.
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Friday May 02, 2014
Cop under close arrest after teen shot in mouth
Senior Police Officers met with the mother of the shot teen yesterday A 15-year-old was allegedly dragged from his mother’s East La Penitence home around 22:30 hrs on
Wednesday and shot in the mouth by a rank who claimed that the teen had robbed one of his female relatives.
Alex Griffith is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Although the bullet exited just under his left ear, the teen reportedly has to undergo corrective surgery sometime this week. Police in a release said that investigations are being conducted into the circumstances surrounding an incident where Alex Griffith was shot to his mouth by a policeman. The incident occurred during the response to a report of robbery with aggravation committed on a
relative of the rank earlier in the evening. The release further stated that the rank is under close arrest. This publication was reliably informed that the rank in custody was consuming alcohol earlier that day at an East Coast Demerara (ECD) bar. The lawman, who is attached to the ‘C’ Division, was reportedly off duty and rushed to his relative’s aid when she called. Yesterday when Kaieteur News visited the teen at the hospital, he could only communicate by showing signs or by writing. Marcel Griffith, his mother, said that she was at home when the police went and dragged her son out of her home. “Four policemen beat him and were kicking him. He fall down and they keep dragging and kicking him in his belly. When we asked what happen they say that he know about a robbery,” the woman recounted. Kaieteur News was told that around 20:00hrs, a young woman, while making her way home, was robbed by two teenagers. At the time, Griffith was reportedly watching television by a nearby resident where he had gone to purchase plantain chips. “My son keeping telling them that he ain’t do anything and that he went looking at TV and they can go ask the girl. They dragged him there and although the girl tell them my son was by her, they still beat he,” the older Griffith lamented. According to the mother,
Shot teen: Alex Griffith the woman whose home her son was at when the robbery took place told the four ranks that the 15-year-old was at her place. “The lady say he (Griffith) was looking at the TV and she hear a scream. When she run out, she see a girl screaming. The lady say that the girl who was robbed ran to her and asked if she see two boys and she told her that she saw two boys ran into some alleyway,” the mother said, adding that the woman related to the ranks that Griffith was still in her house while this was taking place. Kaieteur News was told that even after the ranks were told that the teenager was looking at the television, they
dragged and dumped him into their vehicle. “I ask them where they taking my son and they tell me to go to Brickdam and they drive off,” the mother related. She said that as she was walking into her house to get ready to go to the station she heard a gunshot. “I say to myself that that can’t be my son…because since them police went here, they wanted to shoot he since in my yard… and when I do find out it was he.” Meanwhile, A Division Commander Clifton Hicken and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Balram Persaud, visited Griffith’s mother and promised that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Insel Air announces special fares Insel Air, the new airline which intends to service the Guyana to Aruba, Curaçao and Miami route has outlined new introductory prices for customers who wish to fly for the first six months. Until September, Insel Air will offer customers introductory fares from Georgetown to Aruba low as US$350, to Curaçao as low as US$299 and to Miami US$321. According to the airline, fares are based on a round trip and are including taxes (except from Curaçao). The Aruba hub also provides passengers excellent connections to Amsterdam, New York and Toronto. Travellers to the United States can conveniently go through pre-clearance in Aruba, which will save them a significant amount of time as they will enter the United States as domestic
passengers. Through an Insel Star Miles membership, travellers save miles per flight which can be redeemed for tickets. Until July 30, 2014, passengers will receive double Insel Star miles on flights from Georgetown to Aruba Insel Air is also known for its on board raffle; on each flight the amount of Insel Star miles required for a roundtrip ticket for the current flight is being raffled. Insel Air (formally Insel Air International B.V.) is a Dutch Caribbean airline that serves as the flag carrier of Curaçao, with its head office in Maduro Plaza, Willemstad. As of 2014, the airline serves 20 destinations throughout the Caribbean, South America and North America Its main hubs are Hato International Airport (Insel
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Hotdog seller, 19, remanded for robbing Chinese shop owner
Air Curaçao) and Queen Beatrix International Airport (Insel Air Aruba) with a secondary hub at Princess Juliana International Airport. Insel Air started operations in August 2006 with one Embraer 110-P1 Bandeirante flying out of Curaçao to the neighbouring island of Aruba. Soon afterwards, it began flights to the neighbouring island of Bonaire and also to Las Piedras in Venezuela. Starting January 2007, the airline began serving the Eastern and Northern Caribbean via Saint Maarten with a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 and with an additional McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in June 2008. Insel Air also added services to Miami via Curaçao and Bonaire at the time. In 2009, the airline began operating four new destinations – Medellin, Charlotte, Barquisimeto and Caracas.
An alleged gun-toting teenage boy was remanded to prison for purportedly robbing a Chinese shop owner of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, articles and electronic gadgets. Matthew Gasper, 19, of D’urban Backlands, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to face one count of robbery under arms. The police alleged that on April 9, last in Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, Gasper robbed Choo Yi Yang of $701,000 in cash and items which included a laptop, iPod, as well as a large quantity of Digicel and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) phone cards. When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty and submitted an application for reasonable bail through
his lawyer, Paul Fung-a-Fat. The Prosecution was led by Inspector Michael Grant who said that Choo is a D’urban Street business owner who was approached by the teen and two others, moments after he secured his business and was venturing home. He explained that the teen brandished a gun and demanded that the man hand over his possessions. After relieving the shop owner of the items and $305,000 in cash, they reportedly escaped. The matter was reported and acting on information received police ranks managed to apprehend Gasper, the Prosecution said. Grant related that the accused was fingered during an identification parade and the charge was subsequently instituted against him. The Inspector offered several objections to bail. He urged the court to consider the serious nature and prevalence of the offence, as
well as the gravity of the charge and the fact that a gun was used in the commission of the offence, and those were sufficient grounds for him to be denied his pretrial liberty. His objections, however, were met with arguments from Fung-a-Fat who contended that nothing was found on his client, no identification parade was conducted, and no confession statement was elicited from Gasper. Furthering his application, Fung-a-Fat said “It was three days after they kept him in the lockups that they came and charged him, your worship.” He described Gasper as a hot dog seller who has had no previous brushes with the law. Notwithstanding his application, bail was refused and Gasper is expected to appear in court again on May 12 for statements. Additionally, the Chief Magistrate granted the defence attorney’s request to “see the case jacket.”
From page 23 minimum of $2.5 million by Cabinet. The Cabinet reportedly directed that the licence fee be calculated at three percent of gross income for the preceding year, but it should be not less than $2.5 million. So even in a case where three percent of the licencee's gross income is less than $2.5 million, that licencee still has to pay $2.5 million. The TV stations are con-
tending that the fee is part of a wider plan to drive them out of business. The issue of broadcasting has been a contentious one between the Government and the Opposition after 11 radio applications were approved for licences by former President Bharrat Jagdeo in late 2011, days before he left office. This was despite a standing agreement for no new licences until new broadcasting regulations and the GNBA
were in place. Jagdeo's best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi 'Bobby' Ramroop received one with multiple frequencies. Also receiving a similar number of frequencies was The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to the ruling party, and Telcor, a company with close links to serving Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud. However, several independent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and Capitol News were
bypassed. The issue has been a hugely embarrassing one for Government. The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, have sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation. The administration has been accused of attempting to take control of the media by its actions.
GuySuCo turnaround among... Linden calls for review of $2.5M broadcast fee From page 19 negotiate principles, we negotiate on issues.” “It is our right as an organization to determine who sits on the Board. “I am not negotiating that, that's my right; you don't negotiate your rights.” Kathy Fowler of the GTUC's Women's Advisory Committee accused the union leaders of failing to earnestly represent workers due to their failure to unite. She highlighted that fifty percent of the workforce is made up of women, yet they are plagued with issues of sexual harassment, exploitation, human trafficking, and poverty among others. She was adamant that more has to be done for women, urging that it could only come by forging stronger ties with each other. GTUC President Leslie Gonsalves, in the presence of the Leader of the Opposition David Granger, told other members that it is time to “get off the fence,” and become more pro-active in defending their rights. He also slammed union leaders for “aiding and
abetting the government's disrespect of workers' rights.” He equated the government's treatment of civil servants to the acts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, before urging the Opposition that it is their duty to restore the adherence of the law when the government ignores the rules of trade unionism. In an invited comment, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader Granger told Kaieteur News that the unions have to take the lead and the coalition will provide support. “We feel the continued division of the labour movement is harming workers' progress. We feel this PPP government has been very disrespectful, especially to GPSU, and every year arbitrarily makes salary changes without negotiations. Our principle is that the trade unions have to take the initiative and do the work.” The APNU Leader reiterated the coalition's commitment to supporting workers, but echoed the union president's sentiment of the need to be pro-active.
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Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale.Call:627-5416
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Pork - $380, Pork Chops - $650, leg pork - $480lb, salted pork $450 (8 Lbs pails) @ Geroge & Hadfield Sts. Red Honda 250 Twister motorcycle – Contact:6713533; 681-2217 Two 212 Carina, 2 AE100 Wagon – Tel:660-0018, 6411040 Honda Welder, 270 Amps, 2002 Tundra – Call:611-5114, 220-4495 Clean garden earth, also Bobcat & Excavator rentals – Tel:626-7127 PORK WHOLE SALE, WHOLE, HALF & QUARTER CARCASS. NO HEAD! NO TROTTERS! – CALL:266-2711, 609-4594 Beverage cooler, great condition – Call:223-9719 Household items: Stoves, bed, couch, sewing machine, closet, coffee dispenser – Tel:223-9719 or 227-1028 Day-beds, office desk, vases, divider, wardrobe, table, radio set, photo frames, etc – Tel:226-2284 2 x M132 Laverda Combine, 3 x Pressure Pump 4x3 for gold field, 3 x 50 H/P 3 Phase Motor – call:627-0447 1-2640 MF Tractor 4wd with 1 – Rome Plough 20 dish, 1CAT Standby 3306,194KVA 3 Phase 60 Cylinder – Tel:6934596 1-CAT 320 excavator, 1-22 RB long boom dragline, 1helmet & hammer, 1-120G motor grader -D4H CAT bulldozer- Good conditionCall:660-4021/275-0578 1 Playstation3 with games $65,000, 1 – XBOX360 with games - $60,000, Used XBOX360 - $25,000, PSP $15,000, DS - $15,000 – Tel:621-7497, 603-8643 Loving, fluffy puppies – Call: 645-0240, 685-0942 One 210 Hyundai Excavator with one complete 6" Dredge and also 4" Dredge Contact: 690-1568 CBR motor cycle- Honda 2007 model with installed power commander - $800,000 neg. Contact Chris Da Silva – 678-0545, 226-4985 & 2237376
FOR SALE Toyota Forklift - Excellent condition, 4,000lbs capacity, 117" Lift, Solid Wheels, Automatic Transmission, 4 Cylinder LPG Motor. Call: 604-6108. Delux pedicure spa chairs, salon chairs, mirrors, stations – Call:223-1719, 600-0036 One Brand new led Television with 3D glass – Contact:623-1615 1–48 Feet Boat with 900lb ice box, price negotiable – Tel:609-0783 SONY PLAYSTATION 2 & 3, AND XBOX360 (ORIGINAL), VIDEO GAME DISCS, WIDE VARIETY AT THE BEST PRICES. CALL “MAX” – 609-8132; 6728569
DRESSMAKING Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration. Lot 153 Barr St Kitty – Call:670-2653, 618-1706
LAND FOR SALE Lot 12 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Market Street – Tel:220-7330 Parfaite Harmonie - $2.2M (Prime High Income Area) (100ft X 50ft), Parfaite Harmonie - $1M, Herstelling - $3M – Call: 675-7292
Double lot with house at East Bank Demerara, one block away from Public Road – Call: 621-1766 Satya Cinema, Good Faith, Mahaicony – Call:641-8472 Transport house & land @ Tuschen old Scheme newly built & visible from the public road – price negotiable – Tel:667-5900 One property for sale at Covent Garden Island, EBD – Call: 265-3586 Prime Property for sale – Light Street, Alberttown – Contact: 639-3619, 619-7299 Lot 1064/65 Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt Park. – Serious Offers onlyCall:615-5844, 619-7299 1 – 2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M – Tel: 642-7898 Houses & land from $15M$35M Vreed-En-Hoop to Parika, Georgetown to Mahaica & Timehri, Parfaite Harmonie - $1M-2.5M – Call: 675-7292 One commercial property located at Broad St, Charlestown, close to the Public Road – Call:615-7526, 661-9885 1 Newly built 2 storey concrete house @ Canal No#2 Belle West - Tel: 6153333; 648-9428 West Bank - $20M, Kitty $32M, AA Eccles - $56M, Land – $400,000 per acre Call Diana :227-2256, 626-9382
Wings Car Rental- Call:6431131 Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 6987807
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One upper flat @ 6th Street Cummings Lodge ECD – Call:622-3580 House @ Lot ‘M’ First Street, Grove Housing Scheme, E.B.D – 3 bedrooms & bottom flat, big yard space – Tel:265-3055, 647-2296 PRIME BUSINESS CORNER, WEST BANK MAIN ROAD (600 SQ FT). $100,000 MONTHLY, SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY. CALL ‘MAX’ – TEL:609-8132; 672-8569 3 Bedroom apartment at ‘B’ Field Sophia - $50,000, 3 months advance- Call:2194583, 223-1719 Store front and small office Haley/Durban Street – Call:223-1719 Barber Station at Lot 109 Durban Street W/Rust, Georgetown – Call:682-6396 Two bedrooms apartment – Call:646-5147 One bedroom apartment – self contained, fully grilled at Land of Canaan, EBD – Contact Navo: 615-9441, 2665563 One nails table – Tel: 628-9297 or 602-5469 Three bedroom apart in Duncan St C/Ville – Call: 6224170
TO LET LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel:644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 6895997
Two Bedroom Apartment on ECD – Tel: 684-8906 Furnished apartment in Eccles with cable, AC, Internet access, etc – call: 233-2770 One 2 bedrooms house at Unity East Coast Demerara – Call: 259-3170, 259-3299 Paradise - $35,000, Eccles $60,000, Ogle – US$750, Atlantic Garden – US$900 – Call Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Progressive Auto Rental - carsCall: 643-5122 or 225-8711, Email:pro_autorental@yahoo.com
Friday May 02, 2014
VEHICLE FOR SALE
EDUCATIONAL Practical Electronic Course beginning May 6th 2014 – Call Abdul Electronics – 226-6551 or 225-0391
1- Toyota Corolla AE100, excellent condition, A/C, mag rims, alarm, DVD player - $825,000 neg. – Call: 2253217, 612-9625, 695-6461 1 – Top Flat at Diamond, $45,000 negotiable – Call:6975933, 231-8567, 638-3622, 6882255
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
TO LET Space for office or canteen in Albertown – Call:225-6458 or 614-8022 Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment in Eccles, for short or long term – Tel:643-1131 One bedroom furnished apartment @ Lot 4 Henry Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown – Call Winston: 660-6446 New modern 2 bedroom apartment @ Bel-Air. Furnished, AC, Hot & Cold, CCTV, Expat preferred, no agents please – Call:692-0986
VACANCY Experienced hairdressers at Magic Touch Salon- Call:2256492 Federal Management Security Services: Armed, Baton Officers, bus drivers. Located @ 120 Peter Rose Street, Queenstown - Tel:2260633, 226-0652, 226-0637 One machinist & one welder – Call:234-0780 or 613-1588 Office clerk senior/junior. CXC: English, Mathematics & computer knowledge an assetCall:225-0188/223-7500 Operators- training will be provided, driver/expeditor, security guards. Apply :Guyana Fisheries Wharf Limited Houston, E.B.D- Tel # 227-8176/7 One female to assort and arrange goods. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Pump Attendant at Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Hire car drivers from E.C.D – Contact A1 Taxi – Call:220-1000 Cashiers at Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Professional HAIRSTYLIST NEEDED at DIVA HAIR SALON, TORTOLA BVI. 5+ years experience required.
VEHICLE FOR SALE First Class Auto: Premio, Allion, Spacio, Raum, 212, Allex, Runx, IST, Fielder, Bluebird, Axela – Tel:6098188, 638-3045 One 8,000 Ford Tractor, one 450 Ford Towing Truck & size 16 & 17 tyres - Contact Floyd: 694-5599 One RX-8 Mazda fully air conditioned, stick gear, wheel lights, fog lamps, power windows - Tel: 653-2477 2004 Toyota Tundra GNN Series - $1.6M. Owner leaving country - Phone: 6475919 One Toyota AT192, good condition – Price $850,000 negotiable – Tel: 616-1671 2008 Blue Bird - $3M, 2005 Spacio - $2.1M, 2006 Premio - $2.3M. ALL VEHICLES FULLY LOADED & UNREGISTERED- Call:6427295 1 -1RZ, 15 seater, automatic mini-bus, BNN 3760 - $1.5M Negotiable. Good condition, never used for public transportation – Tel:628-0310 ; 672-5429 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30-seater buses; extra-cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Pre-order: AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN RZ & Pit-bull, 7seater Super Customs. Cash/ terms- Call:680-3154 Unregistered Toyota Raum - Year 2004 , black interior, HID lights, power door, TV navigation – Tel:617-5536 Smart Choice Auto Sales: Unregistered: Premio, Spacio, Allion, Allex, IST, 212, Fielder, Voxy– Call:6523820; 665-4529 One new model yellow cab 212, in excellent condition – Call:691-5086 Toyota 4 Runner, great condition – Call:223-9719, 227-1028 One AE100 Corolla Car $450,000, One AE100 Corolla Wagon - $900,000 – Tel: 6116632, 664-3488 One AE100 Corolla, in good condition, engine just overhaul - $600,000 – Call: 592-6920986 1 Carina AT212, PMM Series, very good condition. Leather seats, flash drive deck, rims. Price negotiable – call: 6631576 One Toyota Land cruiser Prado, PMM Series Call: 2250188, 223-7500, Mon-Fri 8:154:15pm, Sat – 8:15-1:15PM Toyota Raum, Spacio, AT212, AT192, NZE ,LTouring wagon, Fun Cargo, IST, Nissan E24 Caravan – Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 (Continued on page 31)
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Support of opposition needed to advance education – Minister Manickchand
Education Minister Priya Manickchand An appeal for the support from the parliamentary opposition to help advance the delivery of education has been made by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand. This move, the Minister said, is one that could see those within the political arena, both Government and opposition, being poised to collectively “treat Guyanese well...it gives us an opportunity to help prepare Guyana’s tomorrow today.” Speaking in the National Assembly during the recent budget debate, the Minister said that although collaboration would be ideal “...we will do it alone if we
have to, but we really want the support of the opposition; their supporters would expect they would do what is right for their children and so while we would do it alone, as we have been doing for the last 20 years, we would really appreciate the members of the opposition.” In further emphasising the importance of c o l l a b o r a t i o n , Manickchand alluded to the wealth of knowledge that could be drawn from persons such as her fellow Member of Parliament, A Partnership for National Unity’s Amna Ally. “She has been a head teacher for many years; she has the experience that I don’t have...I want to hear from her, but wanting to hear from her is a contribution to what the Government’s programme is... I would like to hear from other teachers and parents in the opposition...” The Education Minister made reference to a quote by now deceased antiapartheid activist and former South African leader, Nelson Mandela, that “education is the most powerful weapon in which you can change the world.” Further, she noted another quote by Malcolm X, whom she dubbed another
wise man, which states that “education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” “These are two people who are world renowned and whose wisdom no sensible person would question...These are people telling us clearly if you want to prepare a country for next year or the next 20 years, invest in education...These people are telling us clearly that the most powerful weapon to change Guyana would be education and here is a Government that understands that and invests most (of its) money in the sector of education.” And as part of efforts to invest in education, the Minister said that moves are being made to ensure that equity is realised even in the far-flung regions, an undertaking that will see the Ministry venturing into the hinterland to put in place an education improvement project. “Over the last five years alone we have created over 400 new places for students in dormitories and that is allowing over 400 students every single year to access an education that they could not have been able to access before.” “We are in the best place that we have ever been, but we can do better in certain
areas. So what are we doing? We are studying with the people of the hinterland...so we will be going village to village talking to parents and teachers and students about what are the gaps...” “You have a school but does your school have trained teachers? If the answer is no, do we have housing to put trained teachers in? If the answer is no, then how do we build the housing? Do you have textbooks? Do you have exercise books? Is your school feeding (programme) working? Do we have space in the dormitory to accommodate the students who are coming from far-flung areas?” questioned the Education Minister. She disclosed that moves have been streamlined to allow the Ministry to shortly put in place a strategic project to further improve the delivery of education. “We will begin that shortly, to be implemented as soon as we would have completed our study. It would make for a great headline that we are ready right now, because we have a significant portion of the information we need, but it would be undemocratic if we did not hear first from the people of those villages what it is they would want to see happen too.”
Kwakwani Park resident remanded for hardware store burglary A man who hails from Kwakwani Park, Berbice, was recently remanded to prison by a city Magistrate for allegedly burgling a hardware store at 111 Miles, Mahdia. The accused, Peter Giddings, appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday at the
Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny. The charge states that between April 20 and April 21, last, at 111 Miles, Mahdia, Giddings broke and entered Miner’s Choice Hardware Store and stole a gold chain
as well as a gold and diamond ring. The items listed are said to amount to $266,000 and are the property of the store’s general manager, Gordon Durant. The case was prosecuted by Corporal Deniro Jones who did not reveal the details of
the crime but offered several objections to him being granted bail. The Magistrate upheld the objections and remanded the accused. The case will again be called before Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court on July 14.
(From page 30)
SERVICES A-Z PARTY SERVICE: Let Urgently wanted: One place us plan your child’s, Party! to rent between $12,000 to While You Relax and enjoy $15,000 Please Call: 674-4871 it....... Call:660-5257 anytime Experienced carpenter, PLANNING AN EVENT? PARTY, labourer, mason for job at BIRTHDAY Providence & L.B.I, E.C.D – G R A D U A T I O N , Call:690-7316 (8:00am-5:00pm) W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – Part-time salesman to sell CALL DIAMOND TENTS: l o c a l l y m a n u f a c t u r e d 216-1043; 677-6620 Windows & Doors of High Quality - Telephone #600- Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, 5253 Canada and England. Tel: One mechanic to work in the 626-7040; 265-4535. interior. Must have COOL TECH : Repairs knowledge about Cummings Services & Installation of all Engine – Call:681-6044 types if homes appliances: D.J/Promoter to work at a club Air Condition & in Essequibo – Call:226-9768, Refrigeration units - Tel: 642-7963 233-2008; 675-4959 Experienced diesel mechanic Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, to work in the interior – AC, Washers, Stoves: Call Call:226-9768, 626-6909 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) Urgently needed live-in Repairs, sales & spares air waitresses to work in bar, conditioning, microwaves, offering an attractive salary washer, fridges & stoves. – Call:689-8859 Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, Live-out domestic babysitter 647-2943 and live-in babysitter – Call:225-0188, 223-7500 Permanent & Visitors Visa (Monday to Saturday ) Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant (8:15am-4:15pm) Room D5 Maraj Building Call Skilled carpenters to work in Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Linden- Contact:625-0930; We repair fridge, freezer, AC, 668-9863 washer, dryer call: 231One whole day domestic for 0655,683-8734 Omar East Bank Demerara Area – HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING Call:614-4358 FOR ONLY $10,000Farm workers to work on CALL:694-9843/227-2766 Highway – Tel:644-6693, 695- School bus from Land of 7075 Canaan to Greater We buy all low income lands Georgetown and back – especially in La Parfaite Call:646-5147 Harmonie 218-5591 or 6757292 Home tutoring in Diamond, Children 7 and 8, Time:3-5:30pmContact: 657-8732 One night guard – Call: 2251276, 666-7734 VEHICLE FOR SALE Experienced roti/puri cooks, curry cooks, pastry makers. One Toyota RAV, 4 PNN Apply at Hack’s Halaal, Lot Series- Contact: 650-7875. Serious Enquires only! Sold 5 Commerce Street by first owner! EXPERIENCED DRIVERS: Apply with VALID Police Toyota Avensis, PRR Series, Clearance & Driver Licence. immaculate condition, leather interior, alarm, A/C, TV, 18" – Tel:231-8529, 231-2344 Rims, HID - $3.250 Neg. – Call: Live-in couple. Husband: 609-7257, 602-5794 driving duties; wife: domestic. Good rates & accommodation One BMW 3 Series 2002 up, transmission & computer – Tel:227-1830 box – Call:666-8295 Bartenders & security at El Club Latino – Call:650-4155 or Unregistered 2002 PremioPhone: 227-5950 or 681616-2902 from 10am to 6pm 7117 Cars with drivers to work at base located in Sophia (low Cheapest A – Grade Vehicles In-stock: Hilux 3RZ engine, base fee) – Call:613-1847 Allions, IST, Manual 1RZ bus, Live-in waitress- Call:643- Pit-bull & VVTI Automatic 9007/ 664-1804 buses – Tel:616-7635 WANTED
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Kaieteur News
Friday May 02, 2014
Malaysia releases missing plane report, reveals confusion (Reuters) - Malaysia yesterday released its most comprehensive account yet of what happened to missing Flight MH370, in a preliminary report that detailed the route the plane probably took as it veered off course and revealed the confusion that followed. It showed four hours elapsed between the first sign that the Malaysia Airlines jet had failed to report in when expected to and the decision to mount a search operation and that time included lapses of communication and a false lead from the airline itself. The document, dated April 9, also contributed to a growing safety debate by urging the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the U.N. body that oversees aviation, to consider introducing a system for tracking commercial jets. The call comes ahead of a meeting at the Montrealbased agency later this month to address mounting pressure for improvements to fill communications blind spots over the world’s oceans, but until now regulators have said such systems still need to be proven despite lobbying by the satellite industry. The Malaysian government and military have come under intense criticism for their handling of events on and after March 8, when the Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared with 239 passengers and crew on board. Although the preliminary report issued by the Ministry of Transport leaves many key questions about what happened nearly eight weeks ago unanswered, and is not intended to resolve speculation about the cause, Malaysia may be hoping it
Hishammuddin Hussein
sets the record straight on at least some of the contentious issues. The fate of Flight MH370 remains a mystery despite the biggest search operation in commercial aviation history, and relatives of the passengers on board are desperate for confirmation of what happened to their loved ones. Boeing, the manufacturer of the 777 aircraft, will also be keen to learn exactly what caused the plane to veer sharply off course and disappear from sight, and in particular whether it was mechanical failure or human intervention. While not ruling out technical faults, a parallel Malaysian police investigation has so far focussed on the pilots amid signs that the aircraft followed a twisting and deliberate course for at least the first hour of its journey off course. The report confirmed that military radar tracked a plane as it turned in a westerly direction across the Malaysian Peninsula on the
morning of March 8, and said the radar operator took no further action because the aircraft was deemed “friendly”. In an accompanying statement, Defence and Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the military data was played back that morning and after he and Prime Minister Najib Razak were informed of the possible turnback, military ships and an aircraft were sent to look for MH370 in the Straits of Malacca. The report also described what appeared to be frantic attempts to trace the aircraft, with air traffic control in Kuala Lumpur contacting counterparts in Singapore, Hong Kong and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, when something appeared to have gone awry. Kuala Lumpur was initially informed of a problem when air traffic controllers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, who were meant to take over monitoring MH370 around the time the plane disappeared, said they had not heard from its pilots.
PM Cameron says no political interference behind Adams arrest (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday there had been no political interference in the arrest of Gerry Adams who is being questioned as part of an investigation into one of Northern Ireland’s most notorious murders. “We have an independent judicial system, both here in England and also we do have one in Northern Ireland and there has been absolutely no political interference in this issue,” Cameron told Sky television. “We have independent
policing authorities, independent prosecuting authorities. Those are vital parts of the free country and the free society we enjoy today,” he added. Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said earlier the arrest of Adams was a deliberate attempt by unidentified “dark” forces within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to undermine the peace process and added it was linked to elections later this month.
David Cameron
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 33
Ukraine renews military draft as unrest intensifies DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Ukraine should withdraw its military units from the eastern and southern regions of the country, where antigovernment insurgents are seizing buildings, but hours later, Ukraine’s acting president ordered the military draft be renewed as the unrest intensifies. Although Ukraine last year announced plans to end military conscription and transfer to an all-volunteer force, Oleksandr Turchynov said in his order that the draft must be renewed in light of “threats of encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and interference by Russia in the internal affairs of Ukraine.” Moscow has consistently denounced Ukrainian security forces’ largely ineffectual “antiterrorist” operation against the eastern insurgents and warned they shouldn’t commit violence against civilians. In a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin said the removal of
Pro-Russian activists clash with police in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine, yesterday. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) military units from the south and east was the “main thing,” but it was unclear if that could be construed as an outright demand. Turchynov’s order didn’t specify where conscript-
bolstered forces could be deployed. Earlier in the week, he said police and security forces had been effectively “helpless” against insurgents in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the heart of the
unrest, and that efforts should be focused on preventing its spread to other parts of the country. In the regional capital city of Donetsk, anti-government demonstrators took over the
regional prosecutor’s office yesterday. Several dozen riot police standing guard at the regional prosecutor’s office fired stun grenades and tear gas when some at the front of the crowd of several hundred people attempted to force their way into the building in Donetsk. As the confrontation escalated, some in the crowd threw rocks and managed to wrest away shields from police. An Associated Press reporter saw a handful of officers being dragged away and beaten by members of the crowd. Hundreds of onlookers accompanying the protesters, who included several crying children, shouted slogans and hurled abuse. A car outside the building blared out patriotic World War II music. Inside, a passenger waved a flag bearing a doctored image of Soviet leader Josef Stalin in a black vest and holding a machine gun superimposed with the words: “Death to Fascism.” Upon occupying the building, protesters discarded the Ukrainian flag and replaced it with that of the
Donetsk People’s Republic — a movement that seeks either greater autonomy from the central government, or independence and possible annexation by Russia.Donetsk is the heartland of support for Russia-friendly former President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in February after months of protests in the capital. Opponents of the government that succeeded him have seized buildings in about a dozen cities and towns in eastern Ukraine. Local news website Novosti Donbassa reported that earlier in the day around 30 armed men arrived in six cars in the town of Amvrosiivka, which lies close to the Russian border, and took over the city council and forced the mayor to resign. On Wednesday, insurgents took control of the customs service building in Donetsk and city hall in Alchevsk, an industrial center of about 110,000 people, adding to the scores of buildings taken by the separatists over the past month in the east, where a dozen cities are now in the hands of the separatists.
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Cuba calls terrorism designation by U.S. absurd, manipulative HAVANA (Reuters) Cuba labeled as absurd and manipulative an annual U.S. State Department report that once again designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, a setback for advocates hoping for a change in Washington’s Cuba policy this year. The annual Country Reports on Terrorism issued on Wednesday continued to list Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria as countries that have “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.” Cuba has been on the list since 1982. The designation carries with it economic sanctions beyond those already imposed in the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba. Opponents of Washington’s Cold War-era policy on Cuba had hoped it would drop Cuba from the list this year in a sign U.S. President Barack Obama might want to normalize relations with the communistruled island 90 miles from Florida. Proponents of change drew hope from an Atlantic
Council poll showing a majority of Americans supported normalizing relations with Cuba. They were also encouraged by Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Christ’s opposition to the embargo and reports Cuban-American sugar magnate Alfy Fanjul visited Cuba to seek reconciliation with former rivals. A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department said the government had “no current plans” to remove Cuba from the list. Cuba said it “demanded” to be taken off. “The Foreign Ministry energetically rejects the manipulation of a matter as sensitive as international terrorism by turning it into an instrument of policy against Cuba and it demands that our country be definitively excluded from this spurious, unilateral and arbitrary list,” the government said in a statement late on Wednesday. The case against Cuba has been based largely on its past support for the armed
Basque separatist group ETA, which declared a unilateral ceasefire in 2011 and says it will disarm, and for Colombia’s FARC rebels, who are currently in peace talks with the Colombian government which Cuba is hosting in Havana. The U.S. report says Cuba’s ties to ETA “have become more distant” and it makes note of Cuba’s role in the Colombian peace talks. “There was no indication that the Cuban government provided weapons or paramilitary training to terrorist groups,” the report said. Cuba “continued to harbor fugitives wanted in the United States,” the report said. Cuba countered that some of those received legal political asylum, some decided to live in Cuba after completing their sentences, and that none of them were charged with terrorism. “Even so, political considerations and the need to justify the embargo at all cost ... have won out over rationality yet again,” Cuba said.
Return of Lula as Brazil’s president unlikely, but possible BRASILIA (Reuters) - It’s the catch phrase of the moment in Brazil’s capital, seen on posters and even a few bumper stickers: “Come back, Lula. As President Dilma Rousseff sags in polls ahead of this October’s election, there are growing calls for her popular predecessor and mentor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to take her place as the Workers’ Party candidate. Lula, who presided over an economic boom as president from 2003 to 2010, remains Brazil’s most popular politician by far. His legendary schmoozing ability and pragmatic policies are a source of nostalgia among many investors and others frustrated with Rousseff’s more hermetic personal style and heavy hand in the economy, which has sputtered on her watch. The clamor for the 68year-old former metalworker’s return has gained support in Congress, including among members of Rousseff’s own coalition. Twenty legislators from the mid-sized Republic Party signed a manifesto this week saying that Lula’s leadership was necessary “at this time of crisis in Brazil and abroad.” Party whip Bernardo Vasconcellos hung a photo of Lula in the party’s office and
told reporters: “It’s not that we don’t want (Rousseff); We want Lula.” Sources close to both leaders told Reuters that, despite the groundswell, Rousseff is almost certain to be the Workers’ Party candidate this year, although they declined to totally rule out Lula’s return. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they attributed the “Come back, Lula” movement to natural pre-election jitters and jockeying by parties seeking favors ahead of the election. Despite her recent slide in polls, Rousseff retains a lead of about 15 percentage points over her nearest rival in opinion polls and remains very popular among Brazil’s poor. Lula has repeatedly declared in public that he will not run, and will support Rousseff. Nevertheless, when asked if there was any scenario under which Rousseff would step aside as a candidate in October, one source replied: “Only if there’s a catastrophe.” That source declined to elaborate. But government officials have worried about several potential problems before the election, including a further downturn in the economy; an embarrassing
logistical meltdown during the World Cup in June and July; or widespread, violent street protests during the soccer tournament, similar to a series of demonstrations that rocked the country last year. A congressional inquiry into alleged mismanagement at Petroleo Brasileiro SA could also bring complications, since Rousseff was the state-run oil company’s chairwoman before becoming president. The Workers’ Party is expected to formally launch Rousseff’s candidacy at a party convention in June. Under Brazilian electoral law, however, the party could switch candidates until about three weeks before the October 5 vote. Jose Chrispiniano, Lula’s spokesman, said via e-mail: “In the 2014 elections, Lula will not be a candidate. He will be an electoral sponsor of President Dilma Rousseff.” Given Brazil’s recent history, a renewed clamor for Lula was probably inevitable. Helped by high prices for its commodities and a boom in consumer credit, Brazil’s economy grew a torrid 7.5 percent in 2010, Lula’s final year in office. Overall, during his presidency, some 30 million people were pulled out of poverty.
Friday May 02, 2014
Newly arrived virus gains foothold in Caribbean KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — A recently arrived mosquito-borne virus that causes an abrupt onset of high fever and intense joint pain is rapidly gaining a foothold in many spots of the Caribbean, health experts said yesterday. There are currently more than 4,000 confirmed cases of the fast-spreading chikungunya virus in the Caribbean, most of them in the French Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Martin. Another 31,000 suspected cases have been reported across the region of scattered islands. The often painful illness most commonly found in Asia and Africa was first detected in December in tiny St. Martin. It was the first time that local transmission of chikungunya had been reported in the Americas. Since then, it has spread to nearly a dozen other islands and French Guiana, an overseas department of France on the north shoulder of South America. It is rarely fatal and most chikungunya patients rebound within a week, but some people experience joint pain for months to years. There is no vaccine and it is spread by the pervasive Aedes aegypti mosquito that
transmits dengue fever, a similar but often more serious illness with a deadly hemorrhagic form. Dengue had been largely contained to southeast Asia, but reinvaded the Caribbean in the early 1980s and then spread to numerous other countries throughout the hemisphere. Since then, health authorities have not been able to control dengue and it is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some spots in Latin America. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring the uncontrolled spread of the new vectorborne virus in the Caribbean and has been advising travelers about how best to protect themselves, such as applying mosquito repellant and sleeping in screened rooms. It is also closely watching for any signs of chikungunya in the U.S. “To help prepare the United States for possible introduction of the virus, CDC has been working with state health departments to increase awareness about chikungunya and to facilitate diagnostic testing and early detection of any U.S. cases,” said Dr. Erin Staples, a medical
epidemiologist with the CDC. In the Caribbean, concern about chikungunya is growing as many countries enter their wettest months. The only way to stop the virus is to contain the population of mosquitoes — a task that commonly relies on individual efforts such as installing screened windows and making sure mosquitoes are not breeding in stagnant water. Experts say eradicating vector-borne diseases like chikungunya once they become entrenched is an extremely difficult task. Dr. James Hospedales, executive director of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency, recently described the virus as the “new kid on the block.” In late April, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Antigua & Barbuda became the latest Caribbean countries to report confirmed cases. In the Dominican Republic, there are now 17 confirmed cases and over 3,000 suspected ones in several of the country’s provinces. Marie Guirlaine Raymond Charite, general director of Haiti’s health ministry, said there are several suspected cases of chikungunya but nothing has been confirmed yet.
PM promises over 21,000 jobs in 2014/15
Jamaica Observer PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller said Wednesday that her Government will create some 21,000 jobs during 2014/15. The prime minister, who was speaking in the Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, explained that close to 80 per cent of the jobs will be created under the Government’s minimum wage emergency works scheme, the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), and its rural food productionboosting agro parks development programme. Simpson Miller explained the job numbers as follows: JEEP to employ 12,000; over 5,000 to be employed on the Agro Parks projects; 2,000 direct and indirect jobs generated by the scrap metal trade; and 2,000 more spaces for Jamaicans on the overseas employment programmes in the United States and Canada. However, the employment
Portia Simpson Miller figures given by the prime minister are likely to raise some questions, as they did not add up to new jobs. The Government had originally stated that some US$5 million (J$5 billion) of the US$353 million (J$35.3 billion) which will be spent on the three-year Major Investment Development Programme would be allocated to JEEP this financial year. Minister of transport, works and housing Dr Omar Davies told the contract-signing ceremony at the Jamaica Conference
Centre in Kingston on March 18 that the first round of the new phase of JEEP, under a project involving the 63 members of parliament (MPs) each being allocated $10 million, or a total of $630 million, which began in March, would employ a total of 12,000 people. Wednesday also, the prime minister did not refer to any other JEEP project planned for 2014/15, raising some concerns about whether the entire $5 billion, originally announced for the programme this year, will actually be spent.It was also obvious that the 5,000 agro parks jobs include the 225 farmers and 839 labourers already employed to the seven parks in operation. Minister of agriculture Roger Clarke told the House of Representatives last week that the other two agro parks, which will complete the total nine parks envisaged under the programme, will be implemented this financial year
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Okagbare believes she can beat Shelly-Ann at JII Jamaica Observer KINGSTON, Jamaica — 2013 World Championship 200m bronze medallist, Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria believes she can pull off an upset over World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce tomorrow at the Jamaica International invitational (JII) at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. Reports from Nigerian-based websites such as pmnewsnigeria.com quote an optimistic Okagbare speaking from her base in the United States of America in a statement from the Blessing Okagbare Foundation. According to the reports,
the five-time Nigeria 100m champion and African record holder stated that: “Jamaica is a country of champions. Everyone knows about their prowess and their enviable success on the track, but I’m determined to compete on the big stage and prove myself.” Okagbare was beaten into third by Fraser Pryce and Murielle Ahoure with American Allyson Felix out injured at the IAAF World Championships last year in Moscow, Russia. This time around the Nigerian is confident that she can rearrange the positions in her favour. “I believe it is
doable [beating Fraser-Pryce in her native country]. My records will always get better and so I can only train harder, grow my aspirations and keep my belief aflame,” Okagbare is reported as saying. The Women’s 200m tomorrow is expected to be a highly competitive event with World Champion Fraser Pryce going into the half-lap event against the Olympic champion Felix and an Okagbare eager to make her mark on the sprinting world. World Championship silver medallist Ivory Coast’s Ahoure will not be participating.
Friday May 02, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A neighbor or relative might volunteer to help you with some chores around the house, Aries, but you could sense that his or her heart isn't in it. This person is probably thinking about things and just needs some kind words and a little advice. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Paperwork involving money could be a real drag for you today, Taurus. You'll have to get it done, but you'd rather be elsewhere. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A contract of some kind, perhaps involving the home, might need some careful consideration today, Gemini. You could find it a little difficult to understand, as it could be full of fine print and legalese. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You might pick up some rather disturbing thoughts from a friend, neighbor, or relative, Cancer. This person could be upset over something and not communicating his or her feelings. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Some gossip about a friend could reach your ears today, Leo, and it might seem a bit shocking at first. Money could be involved. However, don't accept what you hear at face value. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you might find yourself the center of attention, Virgo. Friends could ask for some information they know you have. It might involve telling a story or giving practical advice.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might take up some sort of occult study, such as astrology, numerology, or alchemy that seems like Greek to you at first, Libra. As a result, you could be tempted to abandon it. Don't! SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A friend might be in such a dour mood that you wonder if this is the same person you know and love, Scorpio. During the day you might be tempted to try to analyze what's going on, but this is apt to raise more questions than answers. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) A friend or romantic partner might need your advice, Sagittarius, and want to discuss a few things that you don't really understand. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you might read a book on exercise or nutrition that seems a bit unsettling, Capricorn. According to the book, you're doing everything wrong! AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) YMemories and emotions welling up from the past might excite your creative impulses today, Aquarius. You may not quite be able to understand what all of this means, but the pictures should keep coming to you nonetheless. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A subject you're researching, perhaps for a class or workshop, might prove more difficult than you expected, Pisces. The resources you consult might be very scholarly and thus difficult to read.
Friday May 02, 2014
Stag Beer/EBFA Division One League
Grove beat Diamond 2-0 to reclaim lead Grove Hi Tech Football Club regained the lead in the Stag Beer sponsored East Bank Football Association division one League yesterday with a 2-0 win over Diamond United at the Grove Playfield. The win continues the trend of the lead changing among the leading teams as the battle for the winner’s prize of $300,000 and bragging rights as the best in the association persists. The lone game on Labour Day, a day set aside for workers to celebrate their hard work over the past year, saw Grove going to work very early in the showdown. Diamond could have hardly settled in and found themselves trailing when
Wayne Andries blasted home in the first minute of play. Certainly, the boys from one of the biggest areas on the East Bank did not bargain for that but they gradually worked their way back into contention by limiting the many forward moves by the host team. However, Diamond found themselves further pegged back when Timothy Griffith doubled the advantage for Grove in the 23rd minute. Grove, as they had set out to do, asserted themselves by netting early goals to put the opposition on the back foot. But it was not all smooth sailing thereafter as Diamond eventually found their range and were rock solid
defending whilst creating problems for the home team whenever they got into the final third. The second half could have seen Diamond reducing the deficit and even drawing the game but did not sink the chances they created as they piled on the pressure on the Grove defence and goalkeeper, Michael Matthews. The three points they gained from the game take them to 15, two more than Agricola who have played one game less. Diamond remain on four points from five matches. Rivalry will continue on Sunday with a double header and one game on Monday. On Sunday, Timehri Panthers will come up against Soesdyke Falcons from 13:00hrs with the feature bringing together Mocha Champs and Herstelling in what is anticipated to be a keen battle as both teams are chasing their first points of the league. The lone game on Monday will see Agricola taking on Kuru Kururu Warriors from 15:00hrs.
IOC awards Caribbean.... From page 43 on your cellphone,” he said. “Every single Caribbean athlete that will compete at the Olympic Games in Rio will have face time on ESPN,” he continued. “Every single cent that we make here will go back into supporting athletes. This, what we doing here today, will be the biggest thing that will ever happen to Olympic sport in the Caribbean,” reiterated Romany. Scott McGlone, ESPN’s director of programming, was pleased to announce their agreement with CBI. “The Olympic Games as we all know are the pinnacle of all sporting events around the world. We plan to bring in all of our production expertise in our coverage of Rio 2016. “It is our plan to bring the coverage to the Caribbean islands in the way they want to see the Games. We want to bring you the stories that matter to the Caribbean people. We can’t wait to get started and we look forward to 2016 in Rio,” said McGlone.
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Letter to the Sports Editor
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GCB U-19 inter county 3-day tournament
Is Administration harming Berbice in strong position Guyana’s football? for first innings honours DEAR EDITOR, Suspending local federations? Placing eight year bans on senior officials? A letter produced by the Vice President of the National football federation publicly asking for the resignation of its President? Guyana has become all too used to problems within the administration of the Guyanese Football Federation (GFF) over the last few years, but events of the past few months have reached the level of soap opera proportions. Progress and advancement of football in Guyana have been severely hindered, and in the case of the National team, sacrificed, all in the name of ‘politics’, a concept meant to benefit a nation, not prove to be a detrimental. To place the situation into context, we need to head back to the 22 year reign of the GFF by Colin Klass, a man who in 2011 was one of a number of Caribbean officials banned by FIFA after he was found ‘’to have breached various articles of the FIFA Code of Ethics following an investigation related to the special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) held in Trinidad & Tobago on 10 and 11 May’’ and consequently Klass was banned from any footballing activity for 26 months. During Klass’s reign as President of the GFF from 1989-2011 Guyana made little progress for a nation with such depth of footballing talent, the annual funding the GFF received from FIFA ($250,000) seemed to disappear and in return no facilities were developed or any indication given as to where the money was being
spent, plans for a football stadium to be built never materialised, there was no transparency within the GFF and this stopped any real development being made in Guyanese football. To solely blame Klass for this however, would be naïve, there was a general council behind him signing off his decisions and often complaining about Klass’s leadership but never taking action, a lack of accountability that meant Klass was able to rule the GFF for twenty two years. Once FIFA banned Klass in October 2011, Guyana coincidentally started achieving as a team, qualifying for the semi-finals of CONCACAF World Cup for the first time in its history only a month later. Franklin Wilson served as the interim President of the GFF during this period and in April 2013, elections were held to find a new permanent leader, an election which Christopher Mathias won against stiff competition from former players Aubrey ‘’Shanghai’’ Major and Ivan Persaud. Matthias promised sweeping changes and the beginning of a new chapter for Guyana’s football, including reforming the National Squad (which hadn’t played a game for over 6 months by that point) and implementing the FIFA Goal project, which was designed to ensure footballing facilities in Guyana were developed, a project which the Klass administration failed to utilise despite receiving funding. Things appeared to look good for football in Guyana. However, this optimism began to gradually fade as a period of quiet and inactivity dawned for the next few
months: the National Team remained without any fixtures, no signs were given that successful manager Jamaal Shabazz or any member of his staff would be re-hired, and no indication was given that work on the FIFA Goal Project would commence, in September a FIFA Development Officer, Howard McIntosh, even expressed concern at this lack of progress. In 2012, the GFF (led by Franklin Wilson) had received a substantial payment (thought to be $1.2m US dollars) to swap venues for their final ‘’home’’ World Cup Qualifying game against Mexico, so instead of a final game in front of Guyanese fans, the match was held in Houston, Texas, as a means to attract Mexican fans to the game and make the tie even more financially profitable. This absurd deal (Guyana is the only country I know of to have sacrificed a home international game for money) was made by the GFF Council and yet it was never declared what the money would be spent on, or where it has been invested. Instead, Guyana’s football has not benefitted from the deal, the players featuring in the game received little notice in regards to the venue change, and despite being a decision made by the previous administration, Matthias has not updated the public on where the money went, or even set up a finance division in the GFF to clarify what is happening to incoming and outgoing funds, the current level of debt the GFF faces is also a mythical number which has not been made public. (To be continued) Santokie Nagulendran Editor’s note: Because of its length, we will carry this missive in two parts.
No NBA owners agreeing to side... From page 38 N e w Yo r k , m o s t o f t h e clubs in the league — including the Clippers — put out statements supporting the league’s moves. Five ownership groups, not including the Clippers themselves, could not be reached. None of the teams contacted by AP said they would vote in favour of Sterling retaining his ownership, and most teams requested that their stance be kept private. “The Commissioner was correct to ban Mr
Sterling from all official NBA business, to levy the stiffest allowable fine, and we will support his recommendation to press for Mr Sterling to relinquish his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers franchise,” read a statement from Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and team president Michael Reinsdorf. For Sterling to be forced to sell, 75 per cent of NBA clubs would have to vote in favour of such a move. That means if 29 teams vote, Silver would have to get 22 yes votes. If all 30 clubs have a vote,
the number needed for passage rises to 23. “I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him,” Silver said. Fox News reported that Sterling said on Tuesday he has no plans to sell the club. Under NBA rules, the league will have to present Sterling with some sort of notice announcing that it intends to seek the termination of his ownership, and give him an opportunity to respond. At some point, the league’s board of governors would then be called, presumably for a vote.
By Zaheer Mohamed Berbice are in a strong position for first innings points against the President’s XI in their first round game of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) inter county U-19 three-day tournament. In reply to the President’s XI first innings total of 138, Berbice were 97-2 in 25 o v e r s at stumps on the opening day yesterday at the Enmore Community Centre ground. Opener Shimron Hetymer, who is not out on 64 (8x4) and Akshay Homraj (16*), saw Berbice to the close with an unbroken third wicket stand of 40 after they lost Balchan Basdeo (08) at 29 and David Latchaya (06) with the score on 57. Hetymer flicked medium pacer Ronaldo Mohamed for six over square leg
Hetmyer slams unbeaten half century before thumping his very next delivery for four in the same region to get his innings going in the second over. He executed a number of lovely shots on both sides of the pitch and reached his fifty off 68 balls. Moriah has so far taken 1-24 and Ershad Ali 126. Earlier, the President’s XI were bowled out in 71.4 overs just after tea after they were inserted by Berbice. Pacer Niall S m i t h g o t t h e breakthrough when he uprooted the stumps of Ryan Shun (10) with one that came back into the right hander with the score on 16. Sunil Singh (20) and Aviskhar Sewkarran (16) featured in a second wicket stand of 46
with level headed batting in brilliant sunshine. However, the Berbicians were rewarded for consistent bowling when both batsmen fell in the space of two runs, leaving the score at 643.Travis Persaud and Vishwanauth Ramlakhan (15) added 36 for the fourth wicket, but when Ramlakhan went for 15, the President’s XI suffered a mini collapse which saw them losing their last five wickets for 38 runs. Apart from Persaud who top scored with 31 (2x4), no other batsman managed to reach double figures. Off spinner Sharaz Ramcharran grabbed 4-10, while Viendra Gooniah claimed 2-21 and Arif Chan 2-17.
GNIC avenge defeat in GCA’s Carib Beer t20 cricket
Assad Fudadin was in positive mode yesterday and pulled Dennis Squires for a six By Sean Devers On a gloriously sunny afternoon at the recently refurbished Malteenoes Sports Club ground in the City, GNIC avenged their lone defeat at the hands off DCC with a 44-run victory against the Queenstown unit in latest action in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Carib Beer first division t20 cricket competition yesterday. An attractive unbeaten 58 from wicket-keeper Dexter Solomon, 36 from Ronole Bourne and a cameo 26 from Test left-hander Assad Fudadin spurred GNIC to 1595 on a track with good carry before the Woolford Avenue side restricted DCC to 115-9 when their 20 overs expired in front of a small but noisy crowd. The win was crucial in deciding the top two teams from zone ‘A’ as both DCC and GNIC advanced to the ‘final four’ of the competition
to join Police and GCC who qualified for the Semis from the other zone. In what was basically a match for psychological supremacy in the event that they have to meet again in the final, Fudadin started in very positive fashion instead of pushing and poking like he did in the recently concluded Regional four-day Tournament. The 28-year-old Fudadin, with three Tests to his name, showed glimpses of the ‘old’ Fudadin with a muscled pull for six off spinner Dennis Squires on top of MSC pavilion and followed it up with a scorching on-drive in the same over to give GNIC a good start. Bourne played an array of delightful shots in his entertaining innings with Solomon finishing off things with a flurry of boundaries in his half-century. Left arm back-of-the-arm spinner
Totaram Bishun and offspinner Kevin George, both former Guyana under-19 players, picked up two wickets each for DCC. DCC were handicapped from the inception when Andrew Lyght, the son of prolific Guyana opener the late Andrew Lyght, was not allowed to bat until last as punishment for undisciplined behavior while fielding. Guyana 50-over Skipper, Christopher Barnwell, hit four fours and a six in a quick-fire 34 and got token support from National all-rounder Paul Wintz (20) and Squires (17) as former Guyana youth left arm spinner Leroy Bristol took 219 and Alistair Ifill, who removed the dangerous Barnwell, captured 2-23. Veteran off-spinner and chairman of the WICB selection panel Clyde Butts was his usual economical self and conceded just 11 runs from his three overs.
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Kentucky Derby favorite California Chrome draws No. 5 hole USA Today Sports LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Favorite California Chrome, bidding to become the first Californiabred horse to win the Kentucky Derby in 52 years, got the No. 5 position in the starting gate for tomorrow’s race in the draw held Wednesday at Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia made California Chrome a 5-2 favorite on the morning line. He was followed by Hoppertunity at 6-1 from the No. 11 spot and Wicked Strong at 8-1 from the No. 20 spot in the 20-horse field. Jockey Victor Espinoza, who will ride California Chrome, was in the No. 5 spot in 2002 when he won the Derby on War Emblem. “I like it … my lucky number,” said Espinoza. California Chrome’s 77year-old trainer, Art Sherman, welcomed his jockey’s endorsement of the gate. “That’s good enough me. He’s got to do the riding. I’m going to be doing the rooting,” said Sherman. California Chrome, who led the points standings in qualification for the Derby, is the only California bred horse in the field. The last California native to win the Derby was Decidedly in 1962. Sherman can become the oldest trainer to win the Derby. Charlie Whittingham was 76 when he trained 1989 Derby winner Sunday Silence. “At this stage of my career, I feel really blessed to be here,” said Sherman. Sherman said that ideally he would have liked California Chrome to have drawn a gate a bit further out in the big field. “I would think about seven or eight would have been my logical place, but hey, listen, if he’s good enough he can win from five,” said Sherman. Lucky spot aside, Espinoza did acknowledge the No. 5 spot will require some adjustments. “Yeah, probably,’’ he said. “Now that I know what post that I have, then I have to figure out how I’d like how to ride California Chrome.’’ This will be the 140th Derby. In the history of the race, eight horses have won
California Chrome steals a hat from assistant trainer Alan Sherman following a morning workout at Churchill Downs on Tuesday. (Photo: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports) from the No. 5 gate, most recently Funny Cide in 2003. But California Chrome will have to buck a recent trend. Four of the last six winners and three in a row have come from the six-horse auxiliary starting gate at Churchill Downs, spots 15-20 on the outside. Sherman said he hopes his horse can avoid the early traffic on the inside and “just sit and float into the first turn, which is going to be a cavalry charge.” Espinoza said he felt more nerves for the draw than he typically feels before a race. “I’ve never been in the draw before. This is my first time because I always fly in like a day early,” he said. “ … It just seemed like everybody was so nervous. They don’t want to get the one hole, including myself.” Though eight horses have won the Derby from the No. 1 gate, no horse has done it since Ferdinand in 1986. It is not a coveted spot when there are 20 horses in the race. The No. 1 spot went to Vicar’s in Trouble, who was second in Derby qualification points. He was 30-1 on the
morning line. I know we didn’t have much choice,” said trainer Mike Maker. “ … Maybe our riders will be friendly and five each other enough space. Hopefully, we get a good break out of Vicar like we usually do.” Vicar’s in Trouble will be ridden by Rosie Napravnik, bidding to become the first female jockey to win the Derby. She was fifth last year on Mylute, best finish ever by a woman jockey in the Derby. Napravnik faces a fourday suspension for a bumping infraction here in the recent Derby Trial race, but it won’t start until after the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Todd Pletcher has four horses in the race, including 10-1, who will start from the No. 4 post position. “Good spot for him,” said Pletcher. “He won the Arkansas Derby out of the No. 1 hole. He’s fine with being on the side.” Candy Boy, 20-1, will be ridden from the No. 18 position by 51-year-old Gary Stevens. “It’s OK. I’d rather be outside than in,” said trainer John Sadler.
Friday May 02, 2014
Donald Sterling ‘tyrannical’ in court, NBA will learn USA TODAY Sports The NBA’s constitution and bylaws lay out a speedy resolution for termination of ownership, but that does not take into account the possibility that Donald Sterling drags the league into a long court battle over Commissioner Adam Silver’s decision to attempt to force him to sell the Los Angeles Clippers. At least one person who has battled Sterling in court — lawyer Carl E. Douglas — thinks that’s exactly what will happen, and the NBA is prepared for that. “Donald Sterling is a surly, defiant, tyrannical rich guy who is a bully and used to having his way,” Douglas said. The NBA’s finance advisory committee — which is considered the league’s executive committee — will convene Thursday via conference call to discuss Sterling and the league’s next steps. That committee comprises Miami Heat owner Micky Arison; Los Angeles Lakers president and governor Jeanie Buss; Oklahoma City Thunder chairman Clay Bennett; New York Knicks owner James Dolan; Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck; Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver; San Antonio Spurs chairman Peter Holt; Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon; Toronto Raptors chairman Larry Tanenbaum; and Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, who is the chair of the committee and interim chair of the Board of Governors. Each has voiced support for Silver, who banned Sterling from NBA for life, fined him $2.5 million and said he will force Sterling to sell the team.There is a process and timeline the NBA must follow in order to oust Sterling, and that is detailed in its constitution and bylaws. Silver has three days to provide Sterling with the charges, Sterling has five days to respond and the Board of Governors then will vote within 10 days of Sterling’s response, according the constitution and bylaws.
Banned Clippers owner Donald Sterling has a litigious reputation. (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports) In a best-case scenario, NBA owners could vote to remove Sterling and force him to sell the team in mid-May. It requires a vote of threequarters of the Board of Governors to terminate Sterling’s ownership. But Sterling is expected to throw up a roadblock, filing an injunction to stop the NBA from proceeding. One possible route Sterling could take is claiming an antitrust violation and saying the NBA is trying to undermine the value of his franchise and injure the competitive process of the league. Reached by e-mail, longtime Sterling attorney Bob Platt, who is listed as the team’s general counsel, said he had no comment. Lawyers are debating the merits of potential claim, and antitrust attorney Jeffrey I. Shinder doesn’t think Sterling would have a strong case. “While a tactical antitrust suit is certainly possible, it should fail,” he said. “Sterling will be hard-pressed to show injury to competition as opposed to his own selfinflicted injuries. The repugnance of his conduct and its potential harm to the league and to the Clippers
would easily support the NBA’s defense of such a suit.” At the very least, it could drag out the longer than the NBA wants. Sterling relishes litigation and has a history of being plaintiff and defendant. He once sued former Clippers coach Bill Fitch for not actively looking for a job after the team fired him, and former Clippers coach and GM Mike Dunleavy went to arbitration when Sterling stopped paying him after Dunleavy was fired. Former Clippers coach Bob Weiss went to court and fought for money he said Sterling owed him. Douglas represented Hall of Famer and former Clippers executive Elgin Baylor in Baylor’s 2009 age and racial discrimination suit. “Over the course of six or seven deposition sessions and I examined him in trial, he consciously will do or say anything to support his position,” Douglas said. “When we would have our depositions, he would snarl his answers. His lawyer is part of law firm (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips), and they are accustomed to steamrolling everyone.”
No NBA owner agreeing to side with Sterling MIAMI, USA (AP) — A majority of NBA ownership groups reached on Tuesday by The Associated Press say they will vote to force embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell his club. The teams were contacted by AP on the specific
question of whether Sterling should be forced to sell, and 16 ownership groups said yes, while another eight declined to reveal their stance. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants Sterling to sell as part of the extremely stiff series of sanctions brought against the league’s
longest-tenured owner in response to racist comments. Silver banned Sterling for life, fined him US$2.5 million, and said he will press the other teams to support his desire to make Sterling sell. Within minutes of Silver announcing the sanctions in (Continued on page 37)
Friday May 02, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 39
GSCL Inc Independence Cup bowls off tomorrow By Zaheer Mohamed The inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) in collaboration with the National Sports Commission, Independence Cup will commence tomorrow at several venues in the city. The launching and draw took place Wednesday at GNIC SC Woolford Avenue. The tournament will be contested in three categories; male open, male over 40 and female. In the first round games in group A in the male open category, Regal will battle Smith XI on pitch one and Trophy Stall will take on Farm on pitch two at the Everest Cricket Club. In the second round on the same day, Farm will play Smith XI and Trophy Stall will face Regal. On Sunday Smith XI will challenge Trophy Stall and Farm will entertain Regal in the third round. In group B at St. Stanislaus, Karibee Boyz will match skills with Memorex on
pitch number three and Speed Boat will come up against Wolf’s Warriors on pitch two. Wolf’s Warriors will play Karibee Boyz and Speed Boat will face Memorex in the second round. On Sunday, Speed Boat and Karibee Boyz will face off and Wolf’s Warriors will face Memorex in the third round. In the female segment, 4R Lioness will battle Karibee Girls in the first round, while the loser will play Trophy Stall Angels in the second; Trophy Stall Angels will then take on the winner of round one in the final group A game tomorrow. On Sunday in group B, Mikes Wellwoman will battle Regal Champs in the opening game; the loser will play Lady Jags in the second, while game one winner will take on Lady Jags in the third match at GNIC. In the over 40 division, Frontline will challenge Regal Masters in the opening group A fixture, the loser will then face
Members of the head table share a moment with Director of Sport Neil Kumar (third from right) during the launching. Parika Defenders in the second match before game one winner entertain Parika Defenders on pitch three at Everest. In group B, Industry Superkings will match skills with Floodlight in the first round, the losing team will battle Enterprise Legends in the second game and
Enterprise will play game one champion in the third match on pitch one at St. Stanislaus. All preliminary round games start at 09:00 hrs each day. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semis which will be followed by the final on Monday at Everest. Speaking at the
LALTA ‘RISHI’ DIGAMBER RETAINS WDCA PRESIDENCY
launching, Director of Sport Neil Kumar informed that he has an initiative with the Diaspora from USA and Canada and along with the GSCL to play a tournament on a home and away basis in 2016 when Guyana will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. He complimented the GSCL for organizing the competition and said he is happy that females are taking part, adding that softball has come a far way. First vice president of the GSCL, Ian John stated that they decided to host the tournament after their success in the recent Republic Cup. He said that the competition will be keenly
contested since the leading teams in Guyana will be participating. He challenged the NSC to promote the sport in schools so that more females can get involved. John thanked the sponsors, while GSCL PRO Calvin Roberts gave the assurance that the competition will be successful. The competition is being sponsored by Goodwood Racing Service, Trophy Stall, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Digimax, Guytrac and Agri Parts, RAJ Precious Metals, Automobile Power Products, Dereck Variety Store, Tony’s Variety Store, Romain Car Wash and Star Party Rentals.
GCA/Brain Street U-15 semis
Barlow bowls TSC to victory, GNIC thump MSC
The WDCA executive: seated from left, Anand Sanasie, Lalta Digamber. Sejwattie Ramrattan and Hardeo Oudit, while standing from left, Krishnchand Mangal, Robin Khan, Navindra Persaud, Omar Hussein, Reeaz Deen, Dhanpaul Ramesh Persaud and Sudesh Persaud. West Demerara businessman Lalta ‘Rishi’ Digamber retained the Presidency of West Demerara Cricket Association unopposed for a second consecutive term. The p r o p r i e t o r o f B r a n d i ’s Furniture and West Side Agricultural Products has been at the helm of West Demerara Cricket since April 2012. Pursuant to the WDCA Constitution and notices published in the Guyana Chronicle, the Biannual General Meeting was held at the Wales Community
Centre on 30th April 2014, w i t h t h e Wa l e s E s t a t e Industrial Welfare Officer Mrs. Ive Persaud performing the duties of Returning Officer for the Elections. Also returning unopposed to office were Vi c e P r e s i d e n t A n a n d Sanasie, Secretary Sejwattie Ramrattan, Treasurer Hardeo Oudit, Assistant Secretary Krishnchand Mangal and Marketing Officer Sudesh Persaud. The new faces on the Executive are Reaz Dean as
Public Relations Officer and Omar Hussein, Chairman of the Competitions Committee. The General Meeting also appointed Five (5) members to the Competitions Committee namely: Dhanpaul, Ramesh Thakur, Navindra Persaud (Georgie), Ramesh Persaud and Robin Khan. In his comprehensive Executive Report, President Digamber outlined the achievements and works of the association over the past two years and gave a forecast on future plans. He was quite emphatic in stating
that quite a lot of work was done resulting in West Demerara producing national youth cricketers. He praised the WDCA Under-19 team for its consistent performance. Mr. Digamber, who would be serving his final term since the WDCA Constitution does not permit him to serve more than Two (2) consecutive terms, also boasted of the strong financial position of his association. He complimented his Vice President, Treasurer and Marketing Manager for this achievement.
Transport Sports Club (TSC) will clash with the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ Brain Street U-15 tournament after recording convincing victories in their respective semi-final games yesterday. At GYO, TSC overcame DCC A by 107 runs. TSC batted first and posted 216-9 off their allotted 50 overs. Colin Barlow stroked 67 not out, Mark Ramsammy supported with 37 and Joel Spooner 21. Sagar Hathiramani captured 3-25, Otto Jones 2-32 and
Bhojnarine Singh 2-43. DCC A were bowled out for 109 in 28 overs in reply. Hathiramani top scored with 43 not out, while Ashmead Nedd, Christian Hampton and Jones made 12 each. Barlow grabbed 6-29, Anthony Antonio 2-21 and Ramsammy 2-33. At GNIC, the host overcame Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by 10 wickets, MSC were skittled for 47 after taking first strike. Orlando Ghisiawan bagged five wickets. GNIC knocked off the required target in three overs ending on 48-0. The final will be played on Saturday at MSC.
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Kaieteur News
Howard Eastman registers spectacular knockout to stay in contention for big payday
Friday May 02, 2014
UG Inter Faculty Cricket finalists decided The University of Guyana (UG) Inter Faculty Cricket continued on Tuesday with semi-final action at the Turkeyen Campus. The first semi final saw the Faculty of Social Sciences defeating the previously unbeaten Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry and Berbice Campus (Tain) maintain their unbeaten run by getting past the Faculty of Technology. In the first semi-final, Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry made 158 for 8 off 20 overs with Ojasvi Kandhi making 47 and David Warner scoring 34. Dennis Heywood
had 2-19. In reply the Faculty of Social Sciences scored 159 for 2 off 16.3 overs. Leon ‘Boo’ Williams smashed a delightful unbeaten 77. He got good support from former Essequibo and Guyana youth player Royston Alkins (32) and Melroy Stephenson (23*) The second semi final saw UG’s Berbice Campus (Tain) defeating Faculty of Technology. A late start resulted in the overs being reduced to 17 per side and Tain made 109-8 off their allotted overs. Andy Mohan (30) and Vishal Mahabir (27) were the main scorers while
Lloyd George took 3-9. Technology were then bowled out in 16.3 overs for 78 despite 36 from Afzal Baksh and 21 from Chevraj Boodoo. Daryl Thompson starred with the ball by picking up 6-14 off 3.3 overs.The final and third place will be contested today. The two semi-final winners, Social Sciences and Tain clash in the final and the third place play-off will feature the two semi-final losers Agriculture & Forestry and Technology and is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs. The final is fixed to start at 13:00hrs. (Sean Devers)
Woodpecker backs Arrival Day T20 in Enmore Eastman and Spencer square off shortly before the exchange of blows in their fight. By Michael Benjamin Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman unleashed a two fisted attack that had Jamaican, Derrick ‘Guts’ Spencer reeling and eventually counted out in the second round when the action in the preliminary round of the Wray & Nephew Contender Series continued at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium, Old Hope Road, Jamaica, Tuesday evening last. The lanky Eastman is the only local boxer remaining in the tournament after Guyana’s three other representatives, Revlon Lake, Anton Greene and Gladwin Dorway, were ejected from the tournament after losing their inaugural fights.
Reports out of Jamaica had the ‘Battersea Bomber’ ahead and in total control of the bout. The Guyanese pugilist employed a two fisted attack that had his Jamaican foe reeling just before a wicked right cross sent him crashing to the canvass. He valiantly attempted to rise but his legs were rubbery, forcing the premature stoppage. Further, Eastman was by far the more experienced after amassing an impressive record 47 victories, 37 of which were by knockout or technical knockout. He suffered 12 losses and would best be remembered for his epic encounter against former world champion, William Joppy which he lost controversially even after
scoring a knockdown in the ninth round. Eastman also fought Bernard Hopkins in 2005 for the undisputed middleweight title but lost that bout. The tournament is now in the penultimate stage of the preliminary round and Eastman still has a lot of fighting to do before entering the money rounds. His next bout is another 6 rounder and he will also be required to engage in an 8 round contest as well as a 10 rounder. Should he succeed, Eastman stands to collect the title of Wray & Nephew welterweight Contender 2014 and a first prize of $2 million. The second prize is $500,000 while the third and fourth place prizes are $250,000 and $200,000 respectively.
Trans Pacific supports Arrival Day T20 Trans Pacific Motor Spares and Auto Sales has thrown their support behind Arrival Day T20 competition in Enmore which is slated for May 5. The company handed over a cheque of an undisclosed amount to host Quest International Wednesday at their location at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. Sales representative of the Trans Pacific, which currently has a one week Mother’s Day promotion with 20% down at their stock yard in Sheriff Street, Amar Ramsook, stated that they are happy to be part of the competition since it will bring excitement to the community. Representative of the organisers Benedict Prince expressed gratitude to the entity for their input and informed that the competition promises to be an exciting one.
Supervisor of Woodpecker Maria Hintzen (second from right) presents the first place trophy to Benedict Prince, while Randy Nelson (right) and Tinelle Beckles display the other prizes. Quest International has received the backing of Woodpecker Products for the hosting of their Arrival T20 tournament in Enmore on May 5. The entity has sponsored the first and second place team trophies as well as the man of the match prize in the final. Speaking at a simple ceremony at their location
in Alberttown, Supervisor of Woodpecker Maria Hintzen said they are happy to be associated with the competition and it is their way of giving back to the society. Planning and Organising Officer of Quest International Benedict Prince thanked the entity for their support.
Fifties from Sattaur, Singh...
Randolph Singh, Keon Morris and Brian Sattaur all scored fifties for Demerara yesterday Sales Representative of Trans Pacific Amar Ramsook (right) presents the cheque to Benedict Prince.
From page 41 another delightful boundary. But just when it seemed Essequibo would go to bed without losing a wicket,
Persaud (14) gifted his wicket with a careless on-drive and was taken at mid-on as Kevin Paul made the break-through at 21-1.Peters (3*) and
Shivendra Hemraj (0*) then saw their team safely to the close. Play is scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs on the second day today.
Kaieteur News
Friday May 02, 2014
Page 41
GCB Inter-County 3-Day U-19 Cricket
Fifties from Sattaur, Singh & Morris give Demerara 1st day honors against E’bo By Sean Devers Half-centuries from Brian Sattaur (62), Randolph Singh (64) and Keon Morris (59) gave home team Demerara first day honors against Essequibo in the opening round of their Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) three day Under-19 cricket encounter at the DCC ground yesterday. The trio got support from Kemo Savory and Steven Sankar who both made 44 as Demerara were dismissed for 341, twenty minutes before the close. When stumps were drawn Essequibo had reached 23-1, still behind by 318 runs. In sweltering heat on a good track and fast outfield Essequibo won the toss and invited Demerara to bat. First-Class left-hander Tagnarine Chanderpaul edged senior Essequibo fast bowler Kemo Paul to second slip before Demerara had scored. The pugnacious Singh, already with National youth team experience, stroked 10 fours and a six in a typically attacking knock and along with Ronaldo Renee (13) added 63 for the second wicket before left-arm
spinner Akila Adams trapped Renee LBW. Sattaur was then caught and bowled by Ricardo Peters at 86-3 before Singh and Sherfane Rutherford, who both reside in the village of Enmore, consolidated the position with positive stroke play to take their team to 143-3 by Lunch. The fourth wicket pair increased their partnership to 79 before the left-handed Singh flirted with a ball pitched outside off-stump from the impressively quick Paul and was caught behind. Rutherford (27) was bowled without addition to the score as Demerara lost two wickets at 163. They lost two more wickets, including Savory by Tea, which was taken at 277-8 with Essequibo expecting to wrap up the innings shortly after the break. However, Morris, who clobbered four fours and two sixes in his unbeaten fifty, got excellent support from National under-19 legspinner Sankar and the two put together 78 for the ninth wicket before off-spinner Peters bowled Sankar at 302-9.
Demerara’s Randolph Singh goes over the top in his top-score at DCC yesterday
Another frustrating last wicket stand with Kevin Paul (15) kept the lads from the Cinderella County in the field as they took the score to 341 before Paul was bowled by Paul Williams. The 18-year-old Kemo
Paul, who has been representing Essequibo for the last two years in senior Inter-County cricket, finished with 3-58 and impressed the small but vocal crowd with his pace and control.
Adams (3-49) and Peters (2-43) provided good backup with the ball for the team from Guyana’s largest but least populated County. When the visitors began their reply Avenash Persaud looked accomplished and
stroked Morris, who also bowled with good pace, to the point boundary for consecutive fours before elegantly finding the gap between cover and mid-off in Morris’ next over for (Continued on page 40)
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Kaieteur News
Banks DIH presents floodlights to MSC ground
Friday May 02, 2014
Geron Williams doing well in the USA - currently competing in Ctits “Speed Week” Geron Williams
Shondell Easton, Banks DIH Linden Branch Manager presents one of the electric lamps to Secretary of the Mackenzie Sports Club, Robert Langevine, while Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon (right), Mortimer Stewart (left) and other officials look on. Banks DIH Limited presented nine complete sets of electric lamps to the Mackenzie Sports Club to enhance the lighting at the sports facility in the Mining town. The presentation took place yesterday, May 1st, at the MSC pavilion and was attended by Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon, Banks DIH Limited officials and executives of the MSC and the Upper Demerara
Football Association. Banks DIH Limited Communications Manager, Tr o y P e t e r s s a i d t h e floodlights were purchased after a request was made by the Upper Demerara Football Association ( U D FA ) d u r i n g t h e inaugural GT Beer Football tournament played at the MSC ground late last year. “Banks DIH has fulfilled its promise as we continue to foster a closer relationship
with the executive and members of the Mackenzie Sports Club and the people of Linden,” he added. President of the MSC, Avery Trim expressed gratitude to Banks DIH for the kind gesture noting that the contribution was made possible through the intervention of the UDFA. “This will go a far way to enhance the lighting at the MSC and all sports disciplines and the Linden
community will benefit tremendously from the floodlights, he added. Banks D IH Linden Branch Manager Shondell Easton made the presentation to Robert Langevine, Secretary of the MSC. Also in attendance were Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart and football officials Collie Hercules, Clyde Brusche and Claude Williams.
Banks DIH Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Tournament
Silver Bullets display ominous form in opening engagement Reigning champions Silver Bullets sent an ominous warning to all pretenders to their throne when they inflicted a crushing 7-0 drubbing on High Stars as play in the Linden segment of the Banks DIH Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Competition continued on Wednesday evening, at the Mackenzie Bus Park. Appearing in the fifth game of the night, Silver Bullets conquerors of Assassins in last year’s final, e a s e d t o v i c t o r y, compliments of a treble from Colwin Drakes, who found the back of the net in the 4th, 8th and 17th minutes of play respectively. He received support from Robin Adams, who netted a brace in the 2nd and 5th minute to go with a similar display from Jermaine Samuels. Samuels’s efforts came in the 9th and 15th minutes
of play respectively. In the first game of the night, Speightland defeated Rough and Rugged 2-1, with Allen Creighton (4th) and Michael Rondell (16th) being the goalscorers for the victors, while Lee Ross pulled one back for Rough and Rugged in the 8th minute, nullifying Creighton’s opening goal. Eagles scored a 2-0 win over Trainline Warriors, while Star Boyz blanked Street Vibes 6-0, with Ron Fiedtkou firing in a hat-trick in the 3rd, 8th and 14th minutes, supported by solitary strikes from Jermaine Grandison 4th, Dexter Garraway 9th and Delon Duke 16th minutes respectively. Attackers won from Hard-Knocks 2-1 on penalty kicks, while Ituni defeated Silent Assassins 3-2 also on penalty kicks. Bloomerdale Russians through goals from Shawn Daniels (8th) and Carlos Grant in the 17th
Action in the Linden segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Competition.
defeated South Stars 2-0. The final game of the night saw Retrieve Unknowns defeat Ripping Bullets 4-0 with Darrel George (2nd), Jameel Caesar (6th), Kennard Simon 12th and Travis Adolph, the men on target respectively.
All the winners have now booked their places in the round of 16 which was scheduled to be played last evening, at the same venue. M e a n w h i l e , quarterfinals and semifinals will be hosted tonight at the Silvercity Hardcourt.
Guyanese cyclist Geron Williams has been holding his own, competing with Team Foundation as a member of their Elite Travel Team in the USA. This is the second stint Williams is h a v i n g w i t h Te a m Foundation; his first was last year as a Developmental Rider. The 22 year-old Williams, this year graduated to the Elite team and since travelling back to the USA in March has
continued to impress. Competing in the Downtown Walterboro Criterium, Crits “Speed Week” series of races, (Men Pro 1/2 category) on Wednesday last, Williams finished 5th from a field of 58 riders. He is currently 9th overall in the Men’s standing after round 5 of 11 and 2nd in the Under-25 category and aiming to be the number one overall. Williams will be in action again today.
Parker helps Spurs take series lead T H E A S S O C I AT E D PRESS - Tony Parker had 23 points hours after the birth of his first child and the host San Antonio Spurs never trailed in a 109-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, taking a 3-2 lead in their first-round series. Manu Ginobili had 19 points and Tiago Splitter added 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Spurs regained home-court advantage against their intrastate rival. Tim Duncan added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Kawhi Leonard had 15 points for San Antonio.Vince Carter scored 28 points, making numerous heavily contested shots for Dallas, which will host Game 6 on Friday night. After averaging 16 points in the first four games of the series, the Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki found his shot and scored 26 points.
Carter’s 3-pointer with three minutes left pulled Dallas within 98-94 but Parker followed a minute later with his only 3-pointer of the game, punctuating the shot with a loud scream. Parker had his finest start since the series opener despite playing on little sleep after his fiancée Axelle Francine gave birth to their son, Josh, in the early morning. Parker mixed in three driving layups and two midrange jumpers to start the game shooting 5 for 7.“Coming into the game, I told him this is perfect for you,” Duncan said. “This is what he does in situations like this where he doesn’t get a lot of sleep or is in a stressful situation.” ROCKETS 108, TRAIL BLAZERS 98 Dwight Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds to help host Houston win and stay alive against Portland.
Kaieteur News
Friday May 02, 2014
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IOC awards Caribbean broadcast rights for Rio Olympics Jamaica Observer - THE Caribbean region will finally get its own Olympic coverage as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) the broadcast rights for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil. American-based sports network ESPN will be the o ff i c i a l p r o d u c e r a n d distributor of the event for the region that will have a distinct Caribbean flavour, it was announced at the press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel Wednesday. ESPN with its two stations will produce at least 200 hours of high-quality content throughout the region encompassing at least 26 countries. With that in mind, no local television station or cable provider will have exclusive rights to the event, which will also be available to radio stations, thus providing a lot of options for the public. Caribbean Broadcasting Incorporation (CBI) has been formed by CANOC to manage the broadcast rights to create long-term sources of funding of which sporting bodies, and particularly athletes, will benefit. This is a special milestone in the history of Caribbean sports and in particular in the annals of the Caribbean National Olympic Committee (CANOC). CANOC Chairman Steve Stoute, the president of Barbados Olympic Association, noted that the success of the Caribbean athletes will provide commercial advantage for the region and expects to deliver this through their strategic partnership with ESPN. “Of paramount importance in the CBI initiative is that of equal opportunity for all. We aim to create a sustainable platform for development of sports in the small islands. It’s not an easy task to alter the solo dynamics that are the legacy of our region,” said Stoute, who is also the second vice-president of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO). “We are as passionate
about regional integration as we are about sports. For too long too many have capitalised on our skills, our talent and our capabilities, resulting in missed opportunities for us,” he argued. Michael Fennell, president of Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), said he was very pleased to be representing the JOA and the Olympic movement in this very historic event. “The subject of broadcasting major events and in particular the Olympic Games, has been a sour point for many years. This is something we have been accustomed to seeing on an American channel, which is really broadcasting for the American population. Sometimes we have seen a British channel broadcasting for the British,” noted Fennell. According to Fennell, an attempt by Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) in 2000 never reached the standard required and SportsMax’s effort in 2012 had mixed success and was not totally satisfying. Michael Romany, CEO of CBI and one of the brainchilds from Trinidad and Tobago, said the integrated model they have established would distinguish the future of professional sports in the region. “ To d a y y o u a r e witnessing the beginning of something new and empowering, not just for the sporting fraternity, but for the wider community as we work collaboratively to generate revenue streams within the region through broadcast rights,” Romany reiterated. “The ESPN brand and track record afford us assurance of success in the quality and reliability of the broadcast and a ready infrastructure for delivery to subscribers,” he added. According to Romany, there will be special in depth, behind-the-scenes features on Caribbean athletes and teams leading towards the Rio Olympics starting soon. The focus will be on the region and from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony, the Caribbean will be featured whether you are in a car, on a cruise on the
beach. It will be available on every gadget possible, according to Romany. “Imagine you are in Montego Bay and Usain Bolt is going to be running or Shelly-Ann is going to be running and you can see it because it will be available (Continued on page 36)
CANOC Chairman, Steve Stoute (left) and Michael Fennell (right), President of the JOA , along with Scott McGlone (second left), ESPN’s Director of Programming, and Michael Romany, CEO of the CBI. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)
t r o Sp Stag Beer/EBFA Division One League
Grove beat Diamond 2-0 to reclaim lead P.36
Battle for supremacy between Diamond United (black & orange) and Grove Hi Tech at the Grove Playfield yesterday. (Inset) Wayne Andries who was on target
GCB U-19 Inter County 3-day tournament
Berbice in strong position for first innings honours Hetmyer slams unbeaten half century
Travis Persaud plays through the offside during his top score
Howard Eastman registers spectacular P.40 knockout to stay in contention for big payday
41
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