Kaieteur News

Page 04

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

THE BRUTALITY IN OUR MIDST Guyana is no stranger to unusual deaths but this past week has had its fair share of unusual deaths. One is now left to wonder whether the country is once more trying to establish itself on the map as a crime capital.

Every country has its crime and Guyana is no different.

However, the people of this country are accustomed to the deaths that occur during robberies. Not that this is an accepted state of affairs. Rather, some of these deaths have occurred with such frequency that people just cannot help but notice them.

Indeed this is a relatively new development and it comes at a time when there is a proliferation of guns in the society. Many young men, some barely out of school where they spent years learning nothing and cultivating role models from members of the criminal world, now pick up guns to prey on households.

Sometimes these killings are so senseless that one wonders whether the ignorance of the perpetrators is not the cause for some of them to attempt to show that they are macho men.

There was the killing at McDoom, East Bank Demerara. The bandits had already robbed the household and were leaving when they shot the home owner who happened to be a miner.

The police did an excellent job in identifying the possible perpetrators but they have reached a snag. The victims are refusing to come forward to identify the perpetrators, thus leaving them to perhaps kill someone else during another criminal attack.

Then there are the so-called domestic murders fuelled by a spate of jealousy or a rash of anger. Many of the perpetrators are men who have no compunction about killing their spouses, sometimes so brutally that one wonders whether the killer was of sound mind.

There was the case of the stepfather inflicting no less than two dozen wounds on his stepdaughter. Many others have been equally brutal and while the society is busy trying to organize campaigns designed to stop this level of violence against women the killings continue. It is as though there is an open season on women.

Indeed, some women say that they tolerate the abuse because they see no way of sustaining themselves outside of sharing the same house as the abuser who is seen as the provider. Just recently, a man kicked at his wife, missed and kicked his baby in the head.

He is in prison pending trial. However, his spouse has suggested that she is prepared to share her life with this man who almost killed her child.

There are others. On Thursday night a man used a gun to shoot his paramour then to kill himself. Sometimes the killer hangs himself but in cases where he chooses to run, when caught they often end up with a prison sentence that is seen as inadequate.

But these pale into insignificance when one looks at the killings this past week. Some residents of South Sophia respond to a cry of ‘thief’ from a neighbour. They come out in their numbers. It is shortly after midnight. They chase the suspected thief and beat him mercilessly.

They then dragged him through the streets and strapped him to a post. He might have been dead by then. Somebody gets the bright idea to burn the body. It turns out that the man might not have been a thief after all.

One day later, in Berbice there is a similar cry. This time relatives and friends beat a man and young girl with whom he was walking. They put him and the woman into the trunk of a car and drive them around. The man dies. Had it not been for the police the perpetrators might have escaped.

Then there is the most brutal killing that occurred early Friday morning. A man and his wife are bound and blown up in their home by persons unknown. What could be responsible for this level of criminality?

Saturday May 11, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

Mob violence and the role of the National Assembly DEAR EDITOR, Mob violence continues in Guyana - starting with the citizens from Bare Roots who beat Radika Singh to death in 2007, now the residents in Sophia with the citizen justice meted out to Nigel Lowe and in Port Mourant with the citizen justice meted out to Alfred Munroe.

Stealing receives torture and a death sentence. But this violence is part of our society; some would say necessary because we have not been told differently.

The police have used violence. Sometimes they are charged and sometimes they are not charged.

Some of us shudder and mourn while others celebrate and say yes, good for them that deserve to be beaten and killed.

Johan Galtung proposed that there different types of violence which are interrelated - the personal or direct violence which some of us like, the structural and indirect violence which many of us are victims of and feel we can do nothing about, and the cultural and symbolic violence which many of us uphold as sacred and which we are scared to challenge.

And so it is that the National Assembly recently

agreed to address interpersonal violence and maybe take on the citizens who felt that Radika Singh, Alfred Munroe and Nigel Lowe deserved to die.

But the National Assembly, though, has to take on this year, the issue of beating children.

And this is where the problem lies because if Galtung’s idea is true, that the violence is inter-related, then Guyana’s future will undoubtedly be characterised by increasing intensity in the violence if we keep believing that we must beat children to keep Guyana good.

The Guyana Teachers’ Union in a Kaieteur News article on 30th April, 2013, said they are against the abolition of beating children in school.

The reasoning led by the President and the General Secretary is that they believe that student violence against teachers needs to be met with equal force.

Nowhere though, in the article, does it mention anything about whether the weapons that the teachers have to use, have to be more than what the students will come with.

There seems to be a sense, in the reasoning, that the students are to be told

that they are to take the violence when it is meted out as discipline, and do nothing about it.

The tragedy in this stance of the GTU, is that there is recognition, that the teachers have to deal with the problems created in the wider society.

The teachers know that the violence that is meted out in school often reflects the violence at home and in the community. The teachers know that they are dealing with children who are not being parented.

The leadership of the GTU, instead of being the agents of the State in oppressing the children in their care, has a great opportunity to be advocates for the communities from which the children are coming.

Does the GTU care that while it has to deal with violence, with hustling money to buy school items, to combat the failing infrastructure…that things like Casinos are given priority over institutions of learning? Does the GTU feel that its members’ labour is worth less than the ‘advisors’ and ‘assistants’ to the President and that instead of beating the children into submission, that they should be calling for the human

resources needed to reverse the problems they have to deal with?

So how do the teachers deal with the students who might have witnessed the events in Bare Roots, Sophia and Port Mourant and in other places? How do teachers deal with students who are taught to fear police, or to hate police, or to reject authority because authority for those children is enforced with violence?

There is a crisis in Guyana and the solution cannot be war between those who are supposed to be in authority against those who are supposed to subject themselves to the authority.

Red Thread in their letter on 23rd April, 2013 noted that “But how can violence correct violence? In situations like this, we need to be careful to re-examine our values about the rights of the child, and to be ready to take some responsibility for the actions of our children, as they undoubtedly reflect upon ourselves.”

Many people believe that the teachers have stopped beating children in schools.

Some schools (like Queen’s College) let parents know in the welcome kit that the children could be beaten. So this idea that Guyana will (Continued on page 8)

I support Minister Benn’s proactive approach to the seawall lime issue DEAR EDITOR, The Stabroek Business article published May 10, 2013, under the captioned “PSC, Georgetown Chamber at odds over seawall lime ban” reveals a mindset of the (GCCI) President Clinton Urling that is very troubling.

Urling is quoted as saying that “he believes the reasons given by the Works Ministry for banning the weekly Sunday evening seawall lime” were not sustainable as the issues “can be managed”.

Managed by whom?

Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown?

Please! Mr. Urling where have you been living?

It is a fact that every Sunday evening, going on to the wee hours of Monday morning, the seawall area is converted into a lawless party zone, where the southern parapets of the seawall are used to house

various vending activities resulting in degradation of the grass and top soil, exposing the concrete foundation.

This area was not built for this purpose.

It is also a fact that plastic containers and styrofoam boxes and other nonbiodegradable materials are left to clog up the drains both on the southern side of the seawall and are also dumped on the northern side.

Garbage is also dumped in the trench that runs parallel between the southern carriageway of the East Coast Highway from Liliendaal to the western end of Subryanville, and the revetment work on the northern side of the trench running along the same distance.

As a result, almost all the drains are blocked up, leaving the residents of the western Liliendaal, Bel Air Springs, Bel Air Gardens and

Subryanville areas vulnerable to the smallest amount of rainfall. The playfield in Bel Air Gardens becomes a virtual garbagemade lake.

Apart from the garbage, urine and faeces that are left on the parapets in Subryanville and Bel Air Gardens, there is the noise and security concerns that g r i p t h i s c o m m u n i t y.

Complaints have been made public for years now, but Mr. Urling like Rip Van Winkle suddenly wakes up when profits are threatened.

Further, if Mr. Urling had checked his historical facts he would have found out that the free lime he supports originally was held on the seawall between Camp Street and where Celina’s Resort is located, so the Minister is not reinventing the wheel but simply moving Mr. Urling’s fête to the original location.

It is a weak argument to

say that there would be a loss of income to some vendors when juxtaposed against the environmental and infrastructural concerns of the current area under flooding threat.

So it is clear that Mr. Urling is putting profit of a few over the health and safety of a significantly large number of persons.

I cannot help but wonder if Mr. Urling’s view would have been different if the lime he supports were held in the area where he lives or where he conducts his business.

I am therefore voicing support to the Honourable Minister Robeson Benn for the proactive approach he has taken.

I believe I speak for the overwhelming persons who live in the Liliendaal, Bel Air Springs, Bel Air Gardens, Subryanville area, who say well done Minister!

Jerome Khan

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

THE “MELTING-POT” SOCIETY DEAR EDITOR, Arrival Day, which was observed on May 5, was a good time to reflect on the long and difficult road we have traversed as a people and the challenges that lie ahead as we strive to forge a peaceful and cohesive society.

There can be no doubt that we have come a long way since the days of slavery and indentureship. We are now a democratic and free society where there is equality of opportunity for all Guyanese,

regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation. The days when the colour of one’s skin was a prerequisite for social mobility and status have long disappeared. This is why we must celebrate our diversity and strive at all times to be the best we can, in whatever ways we can. In the final analysis, it is the sum total of our collective efforts that provides us with the impetus and national energy to move forward.

It is our embrace of culture that defines us as a nation.

We are culturally rich. Ours is a society that is culturally pluralistic and ideologically and politically diverse. We come from different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities, but we do not allow our diversity to stand in the way of our desire for nationhood and community. This is why there is so much hope for the future of this great country we live in. We refused to be divided along the lines of race and ethnicity despite the intrigues and machinations of our colonial masters. In short,

Guyana has never had and hopefully will never have an illegal government DEAR EDITOR, Is the fact that a view is popular make it right/factual or the fact that a substance is popular make it legal?

I ask this question because of the continuous references to the Government of Guyana from 1968 to 1992, by some letter writers, many of whose own credibility is questionable, as illegal.

I have addressed this issue in your letter columns before, but am ineluctably constrained to revisit it as the debate over the deferral of the Oliver Tambo Award to Burnham rages on.

This letter is not about the award issue, but about this ongoing reference to Guyana once having an illegal government.

This was never the case and the fact that this view is popular does not make it fact.

I, and countless others, did not serve an illegal government.

Guyana has never had and hopefully will never have an illegal government. Cocaine use is popular but illegal.

Prostitution (in most parts of the world) is popular but illegal and the popular view that Guyana once had an illegal government is just not true.

I had the honour to represent Guyana at several international fora, including committees within the United Nations system, and never did any country or any UN official refer to Guyana as not having the right to be there because its government was illegal, even though our positions on international issues were quite often at odds with most of the developed nations of the world.

In fact, within the UN, Guyana often took the initiative on countless issues and Ambassador Noel Sinclair was considered

among the most effective diplomats at the UN. I remember to this day the large turnout of media operatives for a press conference I chaired for Ambassador Sinclair at UN headquarters and the pride of place he and Guyana held amongst the press corps at the UN. (Sinclair and Aristide are the only persons I have seen respond to questions from the media in four different languages.)

I was twice an emissary to the White House - once for

Burnham and once for Hoyte - and never was I told I was representing an illegal government.

In fact in Hoyte’s case I was told “President Hoyte is the legitimate President of Guyana no question about that.”

(Continued on page 8)

we managed successfully to defeat those who sought to divide and rule us. We confronted slavery, identureship, colonialism, neo-colonialism, dictatorial and authoritarian rule, but always emerged victorious with our heads high and our pride undiminished. It was a hard and difficult struggle, but in the end we triumphed.

This is why we have to continue to embrace universal values of unity, freedom and democracy that transcend the narrow confines of race and ethnicity.

Sociologists have long ago debunked the concept of ethnic or cultural superiority.

The fact is that no race is superior or for that matter inferior to any other race. We are all Guyanese regardless of race, ethnicity or political affiliation, and as such we all have an equal claim to our national patrimony.

We must be proud of who we are and of whatever cultural or ethnic stock we came from. Whatever racial or ethnic group we belong to is not of our own making. We had no choice regarding our race even though our culture is shaped to a large extent by

the society or environment in which we happen to live.

There is a tendency to use race and ethnicity interchangeably, even though there is a fundamental distinction between the two terms. Race is biological, but ethnicity is cultural. It is possible to be of one particular race group but belong to another culture group.

Like all diverse societies, there is that process of cultural assimilation which in essence is a blending of the existing cultures into something that is distinctively or uniquely Guyanese. This is reflected in our changing choice of music, food, dance, dress and socialization patterns. Our society is becoming richer (Continued on page 8)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 11,

Ramotar banks on continued EU support

President Donald Ramotar, on Tuesday evening, courted continued support from the European Union (EU), which has largely been responsible for stabilizing the country’s volatile coastline and supporting poverty reduction programmes.

EU funding has largely backed strengthening the concrete barricade along the coast that keeps the Atlantic Ocean at bay and restoring mangroves to lessen the impact of rising seas anxious to overcome the sea defences.

“Small economies like Guyana continue to require the support of the international community if they are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015,” President Ramotar said, referring to the international commitment to stem poverty, halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, and correct other pressing problems.

Ramotar was speaking at a ceremony hosted by EU Ambassador, Robert Kopecky, at his Bel Air Springs, Georgetown residence to mark Europe Day. Under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), Guyana was allocated •51 million, with •14.8 million going to continued support to the sea defences and coastal management, and macro-economic support to the Poverty reduction Strategy and the MDGs.

Ramotar said that Government believes now more than ever, in the need to foster greater partnerships.

He thanked the EU for its assistance towards Guyana’s national development, moreso in promoting democracy and sustainability in the country.

Adding banter to the evening, Ramotar apologised to Ambassador Kopecky, saying that even with the EU’s generous assistance in the area of sea defence, the government could not prevent flooding of the Ambassador’s house.

But he said that it only underscored the need to redouble efforts to combat the effects of climate change, a task which Guyana and EU are at one.

Recently, the EU reacted swiftly to the record overtopping of the sea defences and facilitated the extension of expert mission in coastal engineering design.

The coastal engineering expert recently a s s e ssed the quality and extent of the support provided by the EU in the recent reconstruction of sea defences at various sites along the coast with •17 million Ramotar said that Guyana looks forward to the continued support and continued collaboration with the EU and early implementation of the 11th EDF. He added that Guyana

President Ramotar speaks at Europe Day. In background are EU Ambassador Robert Kopecky, beauty queen Alana Seebarran, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh. views with some concern the new policies and principles

that will govern cooperation as defined in EU’s new

development policy communication: agenda for change.

The new policy, spells out, among other things, a higher profile for good governance and human rights; a higher profile for growth, with a strong focus on leveraging in private sector money; and the introduction of the concept of differentiated development partnerships, with new allocation criteria for aid.

In particular, he said, Guyana’s concern is with differentiation.

The President underscored the need to maintain current levels of EU bilateral developmental assistance to countries of the Caribbean Community and the Dominican Republic (CARIFORUM) and countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bloc.

He said the issue is not merely about economics, but political, given the EU’s historical relationship with

the ACP countries.

He said Guyana and the ACP remain concern about the threats posed by the preferential positions products such as rum and bananas.

The President noted that most ACP countries still depend on commodity products as a crucial generator of economic stability.

“The EU remains a solid and valued partner in Guyana’s development efforts,” Ramotar stressed.

The EU Ambassador Kopecky said that the assistance coming from the EU and other development partners could be deemed as “complementary.”

He said the core of the Caribbean’s sustainability lies in its more profound economic, financial and even political cooperation.

Kopecky said that this would be the only way to rationalise the limited funds and build competitive industries.

Vigilante beating to death…

Home Affairs Ministry urges citizens to let law takes it course Within 24 hours there have been two vigilante beatings resulting in two deaths. These recent actions have sparked a reaction from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry, it is with great concern that it takes note of the incidents.

Hence the Ministry denounces such action by citizens who choose to take the law into their own hands, the Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry, through its statement, reminded citizens that it is the responsibility of the Guyana Police Force to deal with matters of law and order.

“While it is recognized that citizens have a right to defend themselves and property, this must be done in collaboration with the

lawful authority and suspects must be allowed due process.”

The Ministry said it is urging citizens to desist from responding violently as was done against Alfred Munroe of Manchester, Corentyne, Berbice, and Nigel Lowe, of Sophia, Georgetown.

Citizens were also warned that persons who engage in such acts, when found, will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

Notably, the Ministry added that there is a deafening silence coming from the Guyana Human Rights Association and other interest groups, as well as the

Dead Nigel Lowe main Opposition parties, which are usually vocal in their condemnation of lawmen, when deaths occur in the pursuit of criminal elements.

“Consistency rather than selectivity in responding to such occurrences should be practiced by those who claim to be interested in law and order, and the value of l i f e . ” O n We d n e s d a y m o r ning last Nigel Roy Lowe’s nude body was found tied to a utility pole in ‘B’ Field Sophia. Lowe was accused of entering a yard at ‘A’ Field Sophia with the intention of stealing. The mason was first attacked in ‘A’ Field and tied and dragged to ‘B’ Field Sophia where he was tied up and left to die.

The following day at Corentyne, the owner of a business establishment and several persons who were said to be his relatives, (Continued on page 10)

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Page 8

Kaieteur News

Letters... Where your views make the news

Guyana has never had...

From page 8 As indicated in previous letters, Guyana was never thrown out of any international organization or ever sanctioned by any such organization. No Court of Law or International Tribunal ever even held an Inquiry into the allegations of rigged elections in Guyana, let alone rule that the government was illegal. But I suppose in some people’s world ”if they say so is so” and Guyana did have an illegal government. Let them continue smoking, because for them cocaine must be legal.

Now a quick word on the Oliver Tambo Award deferral.

Burnham once told me in a face to face conversation that he was not responsible for Rodney’s death.

He invoked the QC boy bond and went on to name six suspects in the Rodney assassination plot, some of whom he said he was very mad with because they too were QC boys.

That conversation arose out of a statement made to the press in New York by Ambassador Sinclair contradicting a remark by Mrs. Burnham to Guyanese

journalist Claude Taitt that “Rodney was just a man” and that too much was being made of his death.

That was an unfortunate remark from Mrs. Burnham and Ambassador Sinclair wasted no time in pointing out that Guyana and the world had lost a great son. Mr. Burnham told me that he admired Ambassador Sinclair for standing up for his classmate Walter Rodney.

Is Burnham deserving of the award? The Lord moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform!

Wesley Kirton

The “melting-pot” society From page 8 because of our diversity.

Sociologists refer to societies such as ours as the ‘melting pot society’. We have to, at all times, guard against ethnocentrism, that is, a tendency to see others through the prism of one’s own ethnicity or culture. As mentioned before, there is no “backward” culture as there is no ‘superior’ culture since all cultures have relevance to the particular conjuncture of time and place.

This is why the decision to designate May 5 as Arrival

Day and to declare the Day a national holiday is a commendable one. All our ancestors regardless of race, religion or creed were forced by circumstances to endure the horrors and tyranny of plantation life. Out of their collective efforts and sacrifices, a nation was forged. It is our duty and responsibility to continue the search for a society which would make our ancestors proud. The challenge facing us today is to find a solution that adequately addresses the fears, insecurities and

anxieties characteristic of plural societies such as ours.

The solution cannot be found, as some have argued, in the language of federalism or partition which will only serve to exacerbate our differences, real or imagined, but in greater inclusivity and political accommodation. We have to work steadfastly to create a more just and tolerant society, where all Guyanese are provided with the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the exciting task of nation-building.

Hydar Ally

Mob violence and the...

From page 4 become worse if children are not beaten in schools is a myth, given that Guyana’s mess now is in a society in which children are beaten in schools and homes. The only difference now is that the children are fighting back in different ways.

Kaieteur News on April 28, 2013 carries an interview

with another teacher, Mr Phillip Deobhajan MS. The article said that “He does not support the use of corporal punishment, rather the use of special sessions to “motivate and change children’s behaviour—counseling and guidance is very important in schools…we had it years ago but I doubt whether we still have this today”.

“When we were young teachers, every week we visited the parents, especially of those children who were absent frequently. The teachers formed themselves into groups and travelled into the communities to meet parents, but I don’t see this happening today.”

So in order to deal with the problems of the home in the school, the school had to visit the homes. This is probably still happening in some areas of Guyana. Nowhere in the GTU stance does it seem to give room for the possibility that teachers like Mr Deobhajan would be able to take the leadership in creating a different kind of society which deals with all of the types of violence. There are many teachers who do not believe that it is necessary to beat children. Those teachers need to be recognised as the leaders and be given the support to push for the change we need. The National Assembly should be voting for the actions needed to create the change in the schools and communities instead of hearing how important it is to uphold beating children as sacred while dealing with other forms of interpersonal violence.

Vidyaratha Kissoon

Saturday May 11, 2013

Cruelty in Sophia…

Mason died of fractured skull, Mocha man died of TB Sophia mason, Nigel Lowe, who was beaten to death on Wednesday last died as a result of shock and hemorrhage due to a fractured skull which was caused by a blunt instrument.

The post mortem was done yesterday at the Georgetown Public hospital

by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh.

Up to press time yesterday four persons were still in police custody assisting with investigation.

On Wednesday morning most of Guyana was shocked as images of a naked dead man tied to a utility pole began circulating. The man Nigel Roy Lowe, of Joe Singh Drive, Sophia, was accused of stealing and was severely beaten to death in ‘B’ Field Sophia.

This publication was told that Lowe had emerged from a latrine in a yard occupied by his mother’s tenants. An occupant of the house raised

an alarm. Reports are that a large crowd converged and attacked Lowe in ‘A’ Field Sophia.

Source say Lowe was then tied and dragged over to ‘B’ Field Sophia where he was tied to a utility pole and left to die. A heap of wood was packed over the man’s body.

Investigations are ongoing.

And a post mortem on the remains of 33 year-old Mark Anthony Fredricks has revealed that he died as a result of tuberculosis.

Fredericks of Barnwell Squatting Area, Mocha, East Bank Demerara died following an altercation with a woman at Barnwell Squatting Area.

On Saturday last police detained a pregnant mother of four who allegedly stabbed a drunken and amorous Fredericks Friday evening while both were at a ‘wake house’.

Fredericks and his alleged assailant were said to be

under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.

The slain man’s mother said that she had seen her injured son shortly after he was stabbed and that he had identified his assailant as ‘Simone’.

It is unclear why no attempt was made to take the wounded man to a hospital.

A sister of the suspect said that her sibling alleged that she had escorted Fredericks parents’ home shortly after midnight and was walking on a dam when Fredericks, who was under the influence of alcohol, grabbed her from behind.

It is alleged that despite the woman’s pleas, Fredericks pushed his hand into the woman’s underwear, which led the woman to draw a knife and stab him.

It was only until several hours later that the family learnt that Fredericks had died. The woman was arrested.

Pregnant nurse robbed at gunpoint near WDRH Following the attack on a female staff nurse in the vicinity of the West Demerara Regional Hospital, (WDRH) employees of the institution are once more calling on the relevant authorities to address appalling circumstances under which they are required to work.

Kaieteur News understands that on Wednesday night, Asante Sauers, a pregnant staff nurse, who is attached to the Paediatric Ward of the hospital, was robbed at gunpoint. The nurse was relieved of her personal belongings. The armed attacker is said to have escaped with a handbag containing the nurse’s cellular phone, identification card, a sum of cash and other personal items around 22:00 hours on Wednesday.

The nurse was reportedly leaving the hospital vicinity after working a fraction of the night shift.

Although the nurse did not sustain serious injuries, sources attached to the hospital told this newspaper, that Ms Sauers was treated and admitted to the facility to be monitored throughout the night, as she had complained about having pain in her abdomen.

She was subsequently sent home the

following day.

Workers said that over the years from time to time, several persons including hospital staff have been robbed and visited with various misfortunes along the area known as Best Road.”

“The road which leads directly to the hospital is dark and lonely, due to the absence of adequate street lights and no other form of security. Nurses working the night shift walk in groups to avoid this kind of trouble,” one staffer pointed out.

Kaieteur News understands that the constant procession of issues facing the health facility have been ignored by those at both the regional and administrative levels.

Hospital employees noted that they are having difficulty in getting the attention of the relevant authorities at Regional Democratic Office.

Regional Executive

Officer Donald Gajraj has been unwilling to cooperate with the Hospital’s administration to rectify the current problems affecting the development of regional institutions. Several calls made to the office of the REO for a comment proved futile.

“It is necessary for the appropriate safety measures to be implemented so as to safeguard workers and clients of the hospital, we were asking for a police outpost and “operational” street lights along the road this was not done,” a hospital source stated.

This publication was told that in the interim, a community vigilante policing group will be patrolling the area, to ensure the safety of those working in the neighbourhood, especially during the dark hours.

Meanwhile, police investigations in the recent robbery are ongoing.

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 9

GEORGETOWN IS HEADED FOR RUIN Encouraging illegal vending and restoring Georgetown are two incompatible objectives.

The capital city can never be restored to any state of orderliness if illegal vending is not wiped out. Encouraging vendors to remain on the pavement will not lead to orderliness.

By now it should be clear to the government that it makes no sense trying to restore Georgetown.

This is a lost cause.

Georgetown cannot be restored, ever. It is destined to undergo further decline and to end up in ruins.

It does not matter that all the businesses exist in Georgetown or the prime real estate.

Commercial activity will eventually move to areas contiguous to new housing settlements, the two largest of which are at La Parfaite Harmonie and Diamond.

The latter, Diamond, will become the new capital of Guyana if care is taken to avoid the same mistakes that are being made in Georgetown.

There has to be proper zoning and there has to be zero tolerance for vending.

As such, the government should work with the neighborhood councileventually to become a fullfledged municipality- to design a plan for the development of Diamond as a township.

The commercial banks have sensed what will eventually emerge and this is why they have established

branches in those communities. The area already has a diagnostic hospital. It needs playfields and recreation centres and it will be ready for township status.

Already real estate prices in Diamond have soared and they will not get cheaper.

The prices of property in that area will rise steadily and will eventually match that of the prime real estate in other parts of the country.

Within the next twenty years Georgetown will be a ghost town and therefore there may be a desperate attempt by those who have sunk large investments in Georgetown to support its restoration.

No restoration is possible, however, when persons are being overtly encouraged to squat and vend all over.

There are parts of central Georgetown that some citizens do not venture into because the traffic is chaotic, you hardly have space to walk on the pavements, it is nasty and there are illegal vendors all around.

This situation with illegal vending has long got out of control.

It is not, has never been, about the poor trying to survive.

Those who vend are not there because of poverty.

They are there because they are being allowed to get away with it and when this happens what inevitably develops is an uncontrollable situation.

Dem boys seh ...

Craziness tek over Guyana Is madness and more madness. A man going home across de Harbour Bridge and nearly end up in de river. Dem boys seh that when de man see wheh he was going he behave like if he drink Epsom salts and cascara at de same time.

Then Jagdeo seh that Guyana lose all its skills. Well some criminals show that dem got skill. Dem mek a bomb pun de spot and blow up a house in a place wheh people coulda sleep wid dem door open. Dem kill two people. One of dem who dead was a woman.

Criminals normally spare de woman life as dem vigilante in Berbice show. Dem beat de man to death but dem just brush up de woman.

A man kill a young girl and heself because he want married and he mother tell he that he should get a house before he think bout wife. Dem know that people losing faith because even de government losing faith.

Some reporters try to find out about Amaila Falls hydro project and dem hear de disappointment in de Lunch Man voice. He tell dem reporter how everything is only promise at this time. But when dem go to parliament fuh de money last year and this year, dem was certain because dem see money.

But from de start people had problems wid de project.

Jagdeo talk too smooth and Brazzy was more smooth. He was sure that Fip Motilall would done de road. Now dem boys can’t hear a peep from dem and de Lunch man only groaning how things ain’t too nice.

It got to be sheer madness in this place.

Talk half and watch more madness.

This cannot be good for business.

Imagine you establish a multimillion- dollar business and then someone comes and squats right in front of your business, taking over the parapet and everything.

Customers no longer want to venture into your store and you lose.

How can this be right?

How can businesses be asked to pay millions of dollars in rates and taxes on top of income taxes and yet someone who is not part of the legitimate economy and pays no rates and taxes to the municipality is allowed to illegally compete with your business on the condition that they place their rubbish in a plastic.

No society has ever developed when there is such a flagrant disregard for the law and when this disregard is openly encouraged.

It is law, however inequitable and unjust it is, that protects the citizens and ensures stability.

Wh e n there is d i s r e g a r d f o r t h e l a w, i n c l u d i n g constitutionalism, then those who need protection will wake up and find that

the law is not there to p r o t e c t them and the inevitable consequence is anarchy.

The tragedy of Georgetown is not that it cannot be restored. It can be restored if there is a commitment to law and order.

Georgetown does not need a restoration plan at present. It needs local government elections to allow for local democracy to prevail.

The greatest tragedy is, however, that local government elections will not bring about change.

The people of

Georgetown will go to the polls and return, this time with a larger majority than in 1994, the very forces that have overseen the ruination of the capital city.

Georgetown in any event is terminally ill.

How more irredeemable can things get than having persons, some of whom were said to be illegal vendors, picket the Ministry of Local Government calling for the removal of the acting Town Clerk?

And this is why it is a waste of time and money

trying to save the city.

Government and businesses should begin the long process of relocating and allow the city to die a natural death.

Home Affairs Ministry...

From page 6 were seen mercilessly beating two persons - 45-year-old Alfred Munroe called ‘Guana Man’ of Ulverston, Corentyne, and Anne Persaud, called ‘Short Hair’ of Rose Hall, Corentyne.

The two persons were accused of stealing from the business place.

A source close to the investigation had told this publication that whilst the beating was taking place, at a location called Bound Yard, passersby objected and urged the perpetrators

to take the two badly injured persons to the nearest police station - the Rose Hall Town Outpost.

When ranks at the outpost were notified about the incident and realized that the victims had not yet been brought there, they went to the scene to investigate.

Upon a r r i v i ng, the ranks were told that the two persons were already taken to the station, but the individual transporting them had used a different route.

According to a police

statement, “The police subsequently intercepted the vehicle at Wil l i a m s b u r g , C o r entyne, and found Alfred Munroe called “Guana Man”, 45, of Manchester, C o r e n t y n e , a n d A nnie Persaud called “Short Hair”, in the trunk of the vehicle tied with rope and with visible signs of injuries about their bodies.

They were taken to the Port Mou r a n t H o s p i t a l where Alfred Munroe succumbed to his injuries while Annie Persaud was treated and sent away.

Page 10 2013

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 11,

Murder/suicide couple was scheduled to be married yesterday

By Rabindra Rooplall As police investigate a murder/suicide case involving Vijay Arjune, 24, and his pregnant girlfriend, Parbati Raghoo, 19, Thursday evening, relatives are blaming each other for the shocking deaths as the couple had planned on getting married this month.

The couple was found dead in a rented car, PNN 9189, on an isolated spot at Caledonia Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) with apparent gunshot wounds to the head.

Arjune lived at Lot 4, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara while Raghoo called ‘Priya’ is from Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. A firearm was recovered at the scene. Their bodies were taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour.

Relatives of Arjune, called ‘Kevin’, a popular auto electrician, said he had relationship issues but they never suspected that it would lead to such an end.

Yesterday, relatives visited the police station to collect Arjune’s jewelry that was on his possession when he died.

However, they were told “is only fine jewelry the man had on nothing much, but I know he wore all his jewelry, now the police claim to don’t know about all his jewelry.”

Arjune left home on Friday last to visit Suriname with his fiancée after he claimed that he was in distress and needed time to figure out his relationship and issues at home.

The couple returned on

- Teen was pregnant when killed Wednesday and stayed at Raghoo’s home in Soesdyke.

However, the duo was set to visit Arjune’s parents but never reached.

The worried parents decided to journey to Soesdyke in search of the couple.

They saw the car at Caledonia but did not realize it was the car their son rented.

Upon returning on the same path they discovered their slumped bodies in the vehicle after stopping to check.

“I was rapping on the window; I thought they were resting in the car. But then we realised something was wrong,” Arjune’s father, Robin Persaud said.

He explained that both families agreed that the couple would have been married; however, “both side parents went and ask home and thing but is just because my wife’s brother got murdered last year in Diamond scheme and we tell them they should wait and get married next month instead of this month.”

Adding that his son was a quiet boy who did his auto electrician work, Persaud said the relationship Arjune had with his girlfriend was one that had its own problems with infidelity.

Relatives of Parbati Raghoo also reiterated that the couple left last week to go Suriname to sort out some issues Arjune had been having at home and with their marriage.

They were also accompanied by Raghoo’s

The two bodies in the vehicle on Caledonia Public Road, East Bank Demerara Thursday night.

Dead: Parbati Raghoo Dead: Vijay Arjune sister and they returned Wednesday last.

“His mother had problems with her son’s previous relationships.

However, she liked Priya a lot and they had planned to get married but there was a problem with the family arrangements. His family wanted him to get his own home and vehicle before he settled down. But Arjune was frustrated and wanted to get

married because the girl was pregnant.” Raghoo’s relatives noted.

“He was very frustrated, on the same day it happened he even said while sitting on the step that he would kill her and himself if things don’t work out,” another relative disclosed.

At the scene, the mother of the dead woman stated that they left her home about 17:45hrs Thursday to go to the home of Arjune’s mother.

After some time elapsed, the

Yesterday, Shawn Yhap, who was charged with simple larceny, walked out of court a free man. After five adjournments, it transpired that not a single statement was filed for the commencement of trial and as such, the defendant who has been held in custody for the past two months, was released.

In spite of the five opportunities which would have presented themselves for the filing of statements to be done, the prosecution revealed to the court that the reason for this delay was that the defendant had other pending matters before other

courts but this reason, as explained to this newspaper, was deemed “illogical”.

Owing to the fact that in any matter, both defendant and the virtual complainant deserve a speedy trial, the grounds for the dismissal of this case prompted investigations into finding the root cause of the delayed filing of statements.

Many defendants as well as complainants have complained about the drawn out process involved in the filing of statements. “We have lives. It is frustrating having to put off so many things in our daily routine just to attend court only to hear

parents of both parties decided to phone them repeatedly, but there was no answer. Their suspicions grew and the worst fears were confirmed when they discovered the duo in the parked car.

The mother of the dead girl, Raywatie Raghoo, said that Arjune took the life of her daughter and knew exactly what he was doing.

“He said that his mother tormented him and he was frustrated; he had two previous relationships and he couldn’t live with the girls.

His mother caused him to lose the relationships. She used my daughter to help Arjune forget about the other girl.

They came and ask home for my daughter and we made an agreement, now she stressed her son and look what happened; I lose my daughter also.” Raghoo’s mother said, “This boy mother made me lose my daughter!

They were supposed to marry legally yesterday!”

Relatives of the two are assisting police with their investigations.

that statements are not filed.

It is frustrating.”

Moreover, this newspaper was made to understand that the fault of delayed filing of statements is not entirely the fault of the Prosecutors of the Magistrates’ courts.

Kaieteur News was told that when cases are filed, they are taken to the Brickdam Police Station where they are lodged. It is then expected of the Prosecutors to relate to the investigating ranks what is required for the next court hearing. Though it is the responsibility of the investigating ranks to document the statements, it was further explained that in many cases, this is not carried out and the “work load” falls upon the shoulders of the Prosecutors. Kaieteur News was told that the Prosecutors

are supposed to double check with investigating ranks in order to ensure that the statements of witnesses, for example, are prepared and ready for trial. If a circumstance presents itself that the investigating ranks or Prosecutors are unable to file the statements for the next court date, it is their sole responsibility to provide the court with substantial reasons for not being able to present the required statements, and this as explained, is “hardly ever done.” “ The objective of the court is to expedite and hear the matter. Not because the police are inefficient the court has to be inefficient. There are even cases where the police are expected to summon the virtual complainant and they don’t even do that.”

Chief Magistrate dismisses case due to prosecution’s failure to file statements

Drug dealer had four grams of cocaine, jailed for three years A man who was recently released from jail on a drug related charge is back behind bars. Radesh Nirmal, called “Bobo”, 35, of Graham Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice was on Thursday sentenced to three years in jail by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo.

He appeared before her at the New Amsterdam magistrate court and pleaded guilty to the charge of Possession of Narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Sheriff told the court that on Tuesday May 7, last, the police were on mobile patrol in the Rose Hall Town area, when they saw the accused acting in a suspicious manner.

He was stopped and searched and a whitish substance was found hidden in his ear. He was arrested and taken into custody.

The substance was weighed and tested and found to be four grams of cocaine.

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

DIGICEL INTRODUCES THE SAMSUNG GALAXY SIV Digicel, one of the mobile communications providers in Guyana, is once again leading the way in the telecommunications industry.

The company is the first to introduce the Samsung Galaxy SIV in Guyana.

The Samsung Galaxy SIV which boasts a full HD super AMOLED 5" screen is available at all Digicel Flagship stores from yesterday.

Digicel Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James, said, “Digicel is thrilled to make this dynamic smart phone available to customers.”

“The Samsung Galaxy SIV is a truly impressive smart phone. Our customers have been expressing interest in

this phone since it was unveiled and we are happy that we can now offer it to them.

They can now enjoy amazing features such as Air and Motion Gesture so that they can preview and control the phone without ever touching it,” James said.

The Samsung Galaxy SIV has a bigger screen, longer battery-life and lighter than its predecessor – the Samsung Galaxy SIII. Other amazing Samsung Galaxy SIV features include Smart Pause and Scroll, Infra-Red Remote and Temperature and Humidity Sensors.

T h e p h o n e ’s S m a r t Scroll feature allows its users to scroll up and down by

tilting the phone as long as you’re looking at the screen.

The sensors pay attention to eye and face movements and track your face so that it will pause a video when you look away.

The video resumes as soon as you look back.

The SIV also comes with a 2GB RAM, 1.9 GHz Quadcore Qualcomm Processor and a 13 megapixel camera.

“The Samsung Galaxy SIV is indeed a powerful device and offers a remarkable smartphone experience,” James concluded Meanwhile, Digicel is offering a free Bar-b-Que set with every purchase of the Samsung Galaxy S4 as part of the company’s special Mother’s Day promotion.

Recent upsurge in fires is cause for concern The remains of the Ramatoullah abode in Montrose ECD

Noting that there has recently been an upsurge in the incidence of fires, the Guyana Relief Council (GRC) is cautioning all to be careful and to try at all c osts to avoid the occurrences and the devastating outcomes.

The majority of those affected by the recent fires were rendered homeless and in need of basic necessities.

Hence, in keeping with its central theme of “caring and sharing”, the GRC assisted 11 families by providing them with clothing and food items last Saturday.

Among those who benefited from the provisions was the Ramatullah family from 103 Second Street, Montrose, East Coast Demerara. Fire razed the two wooden and concrete structures that housed the large family.

Also to benefit from the provisions was Grace Forde and her son of 313 First Street Mocha, East Bank Demerara. Fire gutted the

bottom flat of the apartment in which they resided.

Incidentally, on the day that the provisions were being presented to the families in need, fire broke out at 959 Fourth Field, Kaneville, completely destroying the upper flat of the two-storey building and leaving a family of four homeless.

When asked what provisions are in store for this family, a representative of the Council informed Kaieteur News that these would receive assistance in a similar fashion as the other disaster stricken families.

According to the Council, its “limited resources” are not enough.

The members are therefore calling on all, corporate as well as private citizens to partner with the Council in their quest to aid those affected by abuse and disasters, an appeal that was reiterated by the Welfare Officer, Rohini Bonar, at the Scotia Bank donation event on Thursday last.

Page 11

ImmigrationINFO Immigration News For Our Community Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com.

Question #1: I had a visitor visa to the USA issued in Georgetown, Guyana, for five years in 2002. I got married in Florida and did an adjustment of status to permanent resident. However my marriage did not work out, so I departed the USA. Recently, I applied for a visitor visa to the USA at the Embassy in Georgetown and was told that I am not eligible because I was deported from the USA. How can I clear this up and apply for another visitor visa?

Answer #1: It is possible that maybe you were placed in removal proceedings and did not know because maybe you were out of the country and did not receive the hearing notice because you no longer lived at your USA address.

If you were scheduled to appear in immigration court and did not that appear then you are automatically issued a removal order. It is called an “in-absentia order” – meaning that in your absence you were ordered removed by the immigration judge. The only way to find out what happened with your past immigration file/case is to request a copy of your immigration file – our office can assist you.

Question #2: How long does it take for a US citizen’s mother to bring her married

child?

Answer #2: Currently, visas are being issued for petitions filed on or before August 2002 – so it’s about an 11 years wait.

Question #3: My parent submitted an application for myself and family (spouse, and children under 21 years) to migrate to the US. This immigrant petition was filed last year, however, an opportunity has now arisen for us to be processed for the R1/R2 Visa. Will this new process cancel out the petition filed earlier? Also, when we would have received our R1/R2 visas, will we be eligible to remain in the US and achieve green card status and thereafter citizenship?

Answer #3: The new R-1/R-2 will not cancel the previously filed petition by your parents – it will continue to be pending while you are in R-1/R-2 status. If a visa is available under the petition filed by your parents and you are in LEGAL status in the U.S., then you can adjust your status to permanent resident.

As stated in question #2, the current wait is 11 years right now for a petition filed by a U.S. citizen parent for a married child.

Question #4: A mother

Gail Seeram petitioned for her son in 2010 as a U.S resident and/or green card holder. Her son is over the age of 21, married and has two children.

The petition was approved in January 2011. In June 2012 she obtained U.S Citizenship. What is the waiting time for her son to get his visa?

Answer #4: S e e Question #2 for the answer on the waiting time. But, I hope you married after your mother became a U.S. citizen. If you married while your mother was a permanent resident, then the petition is voidable because permanent residents can only petition for unmarried children.

Page 12 2013

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 11,

Vice Chancellor meets with Berbice private sector on crucial issues ...receives support for raising fees

By Leon Suseran Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Prof. Jacob Opadeyi, visited Berbice on Thursday and met with the combined Chambers of Commerce (Berbice, Central and Upper Corentyne) at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC).

The meeting was aimed at getting more private sector involvement in the operation of both campuses as well as discussing new courses to be considered. The discussions also centered on raising the tuition fees and accreditation at the University.

Those attending the meeting were Mark Roopnarine, President of the Berbice Chambers of Commerce; Guyandat Marray; Mohindra Persaud, Manager Nand Persaud & Company; Imran Saccoor, Manager, Republic Bank; Mohamed Raffik, Central Corentyne Chambers; Kris Raghunandan, Social Worker; Vishnu Doerga, and Upper Corentyne Chamber.

At a subsequent press conference several members of the chambers supported the UG tuition fees hike from its current $127,000. Prof.

Opadeyi stated that the issue is not really about increased fees; rather it is really about the funding mechanism of the national university.

“Do you fund this university using tuition or corporate financing or budgetary allocation?”

Prof. Opadeyi added that a university cannot depend solely on budgetary allocations. This, he said, limits constant expansion of the tertiary institution. Private sector funding and endowment funding are possible sources of funding.

He called on the private sector to contribute more,

Vice Chancellor Prof. Opadeyi (L) and UGBC Director, Prof. Samad (R) at the press conference in Berbice financially, to students’ high academic achievements, which is another way of helping the university, so that there can be more competition amongst students.

“Money,” he stated, “is the motivation of our youths today and there is nothing wrong in it.”

Mr. Doerga expressed support but added that there is always an issue of quality and price. “If we continue to work with rates that have been used for many, many years—the cost of living and education keep going around all of us—it’s one of the reasons that the university might not be able to improve its offerings.”

He added that if the situation warrants an increase of fees, in order for graduates to access better education, “we would have to support that and cannot sit back and watch the situation continue to deteriorate, because we are trying to hold on to fees that are no longer relevant and might no longer provide the value that they had when they were implemented”. While noting that this move might

be unpopular, “we have to be realistic about it”.

Mr. Raffik added that if the university wants high quality teachers, “you have to pay high quality salaries”. He opined that UG has very few persons with doctorate degrees and “very few professors”… and it reflects, directly, on the level of students we are putting out; because if you don’t have quality persons to teach them...”

From his view, it is important that a balance is struck in the fees that the students are paying. The university had stated some time ago that it costs almost $355,000 to educate one student per academic year.

“I don’t know how they’re going to run their programmes with that deficit—over $235,000 deficit per student per year…and if they have to employ quality people, they have to find the money from somewhere.” He said that “definitely” supports the increase of fees.

Accreditation The Vice Chancellor is also calling for the immediate

resuscitation of the National Accreditation Council (NAC).

Accreditation is a process of validation for colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning. The standards for accreditation are set by a peer review board whose members

include faculty from various accredited colleges and universities. The board aids in the evaluation of each potential new school accreditation or the renewals of previously accredited colleges/schools. UG was last locally accredited about four years ago.

While noting that only two programmes carry accreditation—the Law, and Medicine Programmes— there are two different types of accreditation: national and professional accreditation. A national accreditation body is tasked with assessing the nonprofessional programmes such as education, etc, while the professional accreditation body – which is functioning—accredits the law and medicine programmes.

Several programmes offered by UG are also not accredited overseas.

Comparing University of the West Indies (UWI) to UG in Guyana, Prof. Opadeyi

stated that Trinidad has a functioning accreditation body.

“Guyana has its own but …they are not active. If we have that accreditation body of Guyana, we will have submitted ourselves for accreditation.”

Accreditation gives the university “its state of health”; a “good university will pick up that report card and fix those problems identified”.

The Vice Chancellor is therefore urging that the government resuscitate the NAC…”if they are active tomorrow, I will be the first to knock on their door and ask them to come and tell us [UG] what is wrong with us.”

Accreditation, he stated, is a bench mark for judging a university. The curriculum, facilities to teach, software, books, etc are measuring sticks used to accredit a university. This process is done over three to four years, he added.

‘If the government doesn’t sign our Bills, we will use the same tactic against them’- APNU Shadow Legal Affairs Minister for A Partnership for National Unity, Attorney at Law Basil Williams, yesterday said that if the President refuses to assent to any of the Opposition’s Bills; they would use the same tactic against the government. Williams’ comment was made yesterday at the party’s weekly press briefing.

According to Williams, it is time for them to confront the government and insist that it observes the constitutional requirements of the country. He said that although the President is a politician on one hand, he still

has to exercise constitutional authority and act as the Head of State.

Williams noted that Mr. Ramotar, as the Executive President, takes pride of place in the governance architecture of the State of Guyana.

“He is Head of State, Head of Government and an arm of the Parliament of Guyana. He has, therefore, a prior and perpetual retainer on behalf of truth and justice.

President Ramotar, in exercising his constitutional discretion is expected, indeed required, to rise above partisan politics in arriving at his decisions,” Williams

posited.

He described as unfortunate the decision to withhold assent to two Bills passed by the Majority in the National Assembly. He said that the President has violated the spirit of the country’s Constitution.

According to Williams the President has descended into the political arena, where the dust of the combatants has gotten into his eyes and clouded his vision.

Williams added that in exercising his discretion to withhold his assent to the said Bills, under Article 170 (3) of our Constitution, (Continued on page 23

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Parika man approaches Benschop with execution contract

By Abena Rockcliffe Social Activist Mark Benschop was yesterday approached by a Parika businessman who purported to be so peeved that he wanted three men murdered.

He thought that Benschop was the “best man” to arrange the hit.

A video tape, seen by Kaieteur News, recorded the man who identified himself as Lochan, or blind man, giving details of how he wants the hit executed.

The man was sporting a dark shades and claimed to be blind. He was accompanied by a woman he said was his wife.

He and his wife found their way down to Benschop’s office (yesterday) morning, claiming that they received directions to the office from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s head office The man used up his initial time with Benschop bashing the government and Benschop listened but when the man moved on to his criminal intent Benschop said that “it was then time to pull the plug.”

Lochan told Benschop

Lochan and his wife in the background that he wanted three people dead; two businessmen and a “big one” from the Region Two Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

He said that he wanted the NDC man left for last.

He said that his grievance with the men stemmed from a dispute over land and $1M that they owed.

Benschop said, “I asked him, so man why you come to me? I am just a protestor. If you have a problem I can come protest for you but this is some serious things you talking about.”

His response to

Benschop, as seen on the video, was that he thought it best to solicit help of this nature from Benschop who knows lots of people, “so me want you to recruit two men fuh meh.”

Lochan, who is now in police custody, said that the men he wanted dead tried to poison him before, so he wanted to kill them before they killed him. However the man was very specific about the ethnicity of the people he wanted for the job.

Benschop then told Lochan that he has to get on to “my boys”. He asked

Businessmen view public sector corruption rate as high A majority of local businessmen have described the public sector as being high in corruption. This was reflected in the final report of an Attitudinal Survey which was conducted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI), and carried out on 65 member businesses. The response rate represented 61 per cent of the Chamber’s total membership.

The report stated that while no respondent indicated that the percentage of corruption within the public sector is “low”, or “somewhat low”, a significant proportion of businesses (71%), believe that corruption is either “high” or “somewhat high”. About 22 per cent offered a neutral view when asked the question.

Similarly, the National Assembly came in for much criticism, with most of the respondents stating that they were not satisfied with the performance of parliament during last year. Only six percent felt satisfied with p a r l i a m e n t ’ s

accomplishments.

However, as far as the Government’s attitude and support towards the local business community goes, the respondents describe it as being either moderately or very supportive.

The survey is the second of its kind, and was disseminated in the form of questionnaires to all of its members, between January and March. The responses represented 61 percent of the Chamber’s total membership, and businesses that have been operating for more than 10 years in various areas, including retail, manufacturing, banking, PR agencies, and distribution services.

The survey was aimed at obtaining and assessing the views of GCCI member businesses on a wide range of issues affecting their companies.

Finding and keeping good employees, having high tax return rates, and the high cost and unreliability of electricity are among the three major obstacles that these

businesses have been up against.

These are followed by the issues of crime and security, inefficiencies of the legal system, and customs inefficiency.

The report added that the majority of local businesses are optimistic that this year will see either an increase in the profits, or that it will remain stable.

The profit position for last year (2012) was given as 91 percent.

It was also noted that a majority of the respondents did not need to seek financing during last year.

However, many of those who did find the need to seek financing did so for the purpose of expansion.

As far as improving the competitiveness of these local firms go, respondents believe that there needs to be political and economic stability, an improved tax system, infrastructure development, as well as investments in alternative energy source as major prerequisites and activities.

Lochan to leave the office and to return in 15 minutes.

During that time, the social activist who spent five years in jail for treason, contacted both the Brickdam and Alberttown Police Stations asking for plainclothes ranks to meet him at his office as he explained the situation.

A little after the man returned, three plainclothes ranks joined the meeting pretending to be Benschop’s “boys.”

In the presence of the cops, Benschop asked Lochan just what he wanted these men to do; “You want my boys to just scare these men or you want them killed?”

The man responded, “I want dem kill out and done or

I want them bun to death.”

Lochan initially stated that he would have paid the men $200,000, $100,000 each, but after being told that three men would have been placed on the job he said that he would have tried to source another $100,000; even as he added that he has to borrow the money.

He identified the two businessmen as Kumar and Ricky and said that he wanted to keep the NDC man whom he named for last.

Asked how soon he wanted the act to be done, the man, without hesitation, responded, “Next week.”

Also asked who would squeal on the operation, Lochan said “as God above me, me promise me nah sell

out.”

Asked if he felt that he was being set up, Benschop told Kaieteur News, “If it’s a set up or not, I find it absolutely disrespectful that a total stranger would walk off the road to come and have me mixed up in criminality.”

Benschop was asked if he fears that the man will now want him killed.

“Men who are 10 times more powerful than him send threats to me and I wasn’t afraid then and I am not afraid now. I am not concerned about if he would want me killed or not. I spent five years in solitary confinement but I haven’t lost my sanity or dignity.”

Lochan and his wife have since been arrested.

Prosecution closes case in Kilcoy manslaughter trial...

Doctor says deceased could have been alive if he had better care The prosecution on Thursday called its final witness and wrapped up its case when the third trial of manslaughter accused, Wazim Mohamed, 26, called “Junior” of Mara, East Bank Berbice, continued in the Berbice High Court.

Mohamed, who is accused of killing his one-time friend, Russell Nelson, 62, called ‘Josie’, of Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice, is on trial before Justice Dawn Gregory and a mixed jury for the offence which was allegedly committed on September 27, 2005 at Fyrish Corentyne, Berbice.

The last witness was Government Pathologist Dr. Vivekananda Brijmohan who testified to performing the Post Mortem on the deceased on December 12, 2012 at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

During his testimony he made a number of observations.

One was that the deceased had bruises below the scalp.

There was also bleeding to the left side of the brain. He gave the cause of death as a fractured skull and Septicaemia.

Under cross examination

by Attorney at Law Charrandass Persaud the doctor stated that the Septicaemia was caused by bed sores that the deceased developed by being in one position for a long time. He stated that the deceased should have been moved around instead of being left in one position. He also said that if Nelson had received better care he might have been alive today.

The prosecution called a number of witnesses, including former policeman Safraz Matadial who testified to being on duty when the

Wazim Mohamed accused was brought to the Albion Police Station.

Chandrawattie Mangal also testified that the deceased used to work at her home and on the day in question he left early after being called by someone.

Also testifying were

Detective Corporals Primus Sam and Eon Grannum, retired Detective Corporal Paul David, David Nelson, a nephew of the deceased, a cousin Ramanan Nabbi and his wife Fazilia Nabbi, their daughter Fazila Nabbi and their son Shameer Nabbi.

A neighbour, Esau Muhammed, was also a witness.

Wazim Mohamed is alleged to have beaten Nelson on a dam at Kilcoy Village on the Corentyne and left him in a critical condition. He was picked up and rushed to the hospital. He died three months later. Mohamed was later arrested and charged for the crime.

This is his third trial the previous two, ending in hung juries.

The case will continue on Monday when the defence is expected to present their case.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 11,

St Maarten-based Guyanese jailed for 22 years in US couple killings St Maarten (Daily Herald) - It was an emotional day in the Court of First Instance on Wednesday when Judge Tamara Tijhuis sentenced Jamaican national Meyshane Keymar Johnson, 29, to life imprisonment for what she referred to as the “cruel, “inexplicable” and “uncalled for” murders of Michael and Thelma King in their St. Maarten condominium on September 19, 2012.

Jeremiah Chevon Mills, 18, from St. Maarten, who committed the crimes while on probation for another robbery, was acquitted of the murder charge and sentenced to 28 years as an accomplice, while Guyanese Jamal Jefferson Woolford, 21, was acquitted of the murder charge and sentenced to 22 years as an accessory to the murders. Mills immediately asked for a glass of water and uttered the word “boy” after his sentence was read out.

All three were also sentenced for their involvement in the robbery at the Happy Star Chinese Restaurant on September 19; theft with violence of the Kings, which resulted in their deaths; deprivation of liberty of Thelma King and laundering of the proceeds of both armed robberies.

Johnson, who worked as a security guard, was acquitted

Jailed for 22 years Guyanese, Jamal Jefferson Woolford of charges that he stole jewellery from the Kings.

Family members of the Kings were openly sobbing and hugging each other after the verdicts were delivered.

Michael’s brother, Todd King, asked for privacy and asked that the family’s photos not be taken at this time. He promised to issue a statement to the media. “You have not shown any remorse,” Tijhuis told Johnson. “Only life sentence is justified.”

Before delivering her verdict, the judge said it was legally and convincingly proven that Johnson had committed the brutal slayings and that he had done so with

Murdered: Thelma and Michael King premeditation. She said it cannot be ruled out that Johnson would commit a similar act again. She said he committed his act out of “greed” and that the murders were for “no other purpose” than for Johnson and his accomplices to “leave with the loot and to escape detention.” Johnson’s was the last of the three verdicts to be read out. As he was walking out of the courtroom,

Berbice vigilante victim died from beating The Post Mortem on the body of Alfred Munroe, 45, called Guana Man, of Ulverston Village, Corentyne, Berbice revealed that Monroe died of shock and hemorrhage due to muscular injuries he sustained from a beating.

Munroe was accused of breaking into a boutique at Rose Hall Town Corentyne Berbice. He was reportedly beaten by the owner of the boutique and some of the owner’s relatives.

He was rushed to the Port

Mourant Hospital by police where he succumbed before receiving medical attention.

Another female Anne Persaud, 22, called Short Hair of Rose Hall Town was also beaten and treated for injuries at Port Mourant Hospital, and returned to police custody.

The owner of the boutique and four relatives are also in police custody.

Kaieteur News understands that one of the relatives in custody was scheduled to write

Agricultural Science for CSEC yesterday. Police have since re visited the place of the incident and are taking statements from eyewitnesses.

Alfred Munroe leaves to mourn his three children Junior 25, Tricia 24 and Lawrence 22, his parents and 15 siblings.

A police source in a statement said charges are likely to be instituted as soon as the files are back from the DPP’s office.

he turned and looked towards the gallery, where Michael and Thelma King’s family members and friends were sitting, smiled, then left the courtroom, resulting in gasps from among some persons in the courtroom.

Johnson’s lawyer, Brenda

Brooks, said she will appeal the judge’s decision. Appeals have to be filed within 14 days. The judge said all three suspects were “responsible and accountable” for their actions. She said the Kings were “murdered in a cruel manner” and that they “suffered a lot of anguish in their last moments.” She said the murders were “unnecessary, cruel and uncalled for.” Tijhuis said the murders negatively impacted St. Maarten’s economic and tourism industries. “The Kings were slaughtered in their Ocean Club apartment in Cupecoy on September 19, 2012. The US nationals, who owned the vacation home in St. Maarten, were killed because three young men decided they needed easy money,” Prosecutors Dounia Benammar and Georges van den Eshof said in their joint closing speech.

After committing a robbery at Happy Star Chinese Restaurant in Cannegieter Street on September 19, the three went to Cupecoy, climbed down the rocks and walked along the beach towards the Ocean Club’s beachside apartments.

Because the shutters were up and the lights were on in the King’s apartment, it was decided to make a move there.

The couple was raided while they were asleep around 11:00pm. Michael King had fallen asleep while watching TV downstairs. He was awoken by two taps to his head with the butt of a BB gun. The pathologist reported two cuts to King’s throat, a stab wound to his back with the point of a knife still in it and three deep stab wounds in his neck, which cut the carotid. Michael King died shortly after through blood loss. Thelma was killed by two violent slashes, cutting her throat and trachea.

The three robbers did not show remorse after their crimes. First, Johnson allegedly had washed off the blood with seawater and whisky, after which the loot, consisting of cash, an iPod and laptop and reportedly also an undisclosed amount of jewelry, had been divided.

The three then closed off the night with a couple of drinks and adult entertainment at a club in Oyster Bay until the early morning hours.

$4 million stolen cash recovered by constables - following break-in at Stabroek Market Danny‘s stall Stabroek Market

Vendors of Stabroek Market are applauding the quick response of the city constabulary officers, who apprehended two men who

broke and entered a grocery stall and carted off over $4 million in cash and items.

Officers of the City Constabulary based in the

Stabroek Market yesterday recovered the $4 million and arrested two men in connection with a burglary committed on Danny’s in Stabroek Market. According to Danny Albadar, the owner of the popular grocery, one of the suspects is an exemployee, who is known by the alias “Vishaul.”

“He knew that we left the money in the stall cause we don’t usually leave money there. The money is company money like wha we got fuh dem Busta company, Geddes Grant and so …. And he does do li’l work fuh we, like he sleep in the market and use a hacksaw fuh break in the storage through the roof fuh get in the stall.”

The incident reportedly occurred between Thursday night and Friday morning.

The suspect was arrested around 6:15 am yesterday morning while the other one, a sanitation worker, was arrested on the job around 14:00 hours. He led investigators to his home on Callender Street, Albouystown where the $4 million was recovered.

The hacksaw blade which was used to cut the locks on the stall was also recovered. The men are expected to be charged and placed before the court on Monday.

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Saturday May 11, 2013

Man, 29, lucky to be alive …after horrific encounter with mentally ill man A 29-year-old man is lucky to be alive. This was after a man of unsound mind tried to drown him in a trench near to the Providence Primary School; just a stone’s throw away from the police station around 08:00 hours yesterday.

The man, Vishat Mohamed, of Lot 3 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, said that he was heading to the school early yesterday to assist his aunt who sells there.

As he was about to walk into the school compound, the mentally ill man grabbed him by his neck and dragged him into the trench and tried to down him. “When he was pushing me in the water he was saying that I break down his house and thief his jewelry.”

Mohamed said that he saw the man twice before but had no conversation with him.

“After he start accusing me, I tell him that I will build back his house and he drag

me out of the trench to take me to the burial ground but one of my uncles who was passing, come and save me.”

According to the 29-yearold, before his uncle came to his rescue, the mentally ill man pushed him in front of a car but luckily the driver stopped at the right time.

The man was eventually taken to the Providence Police Station where he remained in custody.

Mohamed

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Ex-legislator who brought down Caribbean American politician jailed NEW YORK - CMC – A United States federal judge has jailed a former New York State legislator who was instrumental in this week’s indictment of Caribbean American lawmaker, John Sampson.

Judge Jack Weinstein sentenced former Senator Shirley Huntley, 74, to one year and a day in prison for stealing US$88,000 from a taxpayer-funded charity she controlled.

The sentence was less than the 18-month minimum under US federal guidelines.

With time off for good behavior, she could be out of jail after 10 months, prosecutors said.

Huntley had secretly recorded her powerful colleagues for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) by wearing a wiretap, according to her lawyer, Sally Butler.

Those recorded included Sampson, 47, the son of a Guyanese national, who pleaded not guilty this week to embezzlement and other charges.

Sampson, a lawyer, was once one of New York State’s

Senator Shirley Huntley most powerful politicians. He represents the predominantly Caribbean 19th Senatorial District in Brooklyn. He surrendered on Monday to FBI agents on charges of stealing US$440,000 from mortgage foreclosure escrow accounts he controlled.

Huntley’s sentence will be followed by three years probation. She will also have to repay US$87,700 to the educational nonprofit group and US$1,000 to the New York and New Jersey Port Authority for accepting a bribe from a business looking to expand rental space

at New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport.

“I take full responsibility for my mistakes,” Huntley told the court at her sentencing. “My actions have embarrassed my family, my friends and my community.

“It hurts me deeply to know that my mistakes have tarnished the good things I have done over the years,” she said. Huntley lost the Democratic Senate primary after six years in office last year.

Judge Weinstein said he showed Huntley some leniency because of her advanced age and longtime volunteering and community service and the serious ailments facing her two surviving adult children.

But he said “a period of incarceration is necessary” because of “a strong need for the criminal law’s message: Those who use their elected positions to abuse the public trust and steal from the state and their constituents will go to jail.

“This is a special case of a member of the Legislature who has pleaded guilty to stealing funds allocated for the special purpose of aiding the children of the City of New York,” he said.

Saturday May 11, 2013

Venezuela’s Maduro gets firm Brazilian backing, trade BRASILIA (Reuters) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro got strong backing from regional heavyweight Brazil on Thursday on a tour of South American allies to cement his legitimacy as political heir to the late Hugo Chavez.

The clear endorsement from the largest and most influential Latin American nation will strengthen Maduro’s grip on power following his contested election in the oil-producing nation last month.

“We wish you great success with your presidential mandate and your government,” Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said after a meeting in which she promised Venezuela food supplies, expanded trade and cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

Maduro announced that Brazilian construction and engineering conglomerate Odebrecht will build a 1.5-milliontonne-a-year urea plant in Venezuela. He said Brazil and Venezuela agreed to strengthen military ties.

Maduro met earlier with former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose moderate leftist government backed Chavez’s socialist revolution but did

Nicolas Maduro not share his anti-U.S. policies and rhetoric.

Rousseff said she offered Maduro the same level of close relations that she and Lula had with Chavez.

In private, though, Rousseff was expected to advise Maduro to tone down his aggressive rhetoric against his opponents for the sake of political stability, said a diplomat who was briefed ahead of the meeting.

Rousseff delivered a similar message to Maduro on the need to treat the opposition better at a regional meeting on the eve of his April 19 inauguration, the diplomat

said. Following that meeting, Venezuela’s electoral authority announced that it would conduct an audit of the election results, which is still underway.

Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who lost the April 14 vote to Maduro by less than two percentage points, insists the election was stolen and has demanded a full recount. He is now contesting the result in the nation’s top court.

If there were any doubts about Maduro’s legitimacy in Brasilia, they were not evident in public during his visit. Only four protesters stood outside the Planalto presidential palace, one carrying a sign that said: “Maduro: Presidente ilegitimo.”

Maduro arrived in Brasilia from visiting the leaders of Uruguay and Argentina, which along with Brazil are members of the South American trade bloc that Venezuela joined last year.

While almost every nation in the Americas has recognized M a d u r o ’s e l e c t i o n a s C h a v e z ’s successor following the leftist leader’s death from cancer in March, the r e g i o n ’s n a t i o n s a r e anxious to avoid Venezuela sinking into chaos.

Speaker declares Jack Warner parliamentary seat vacant PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC — Speaker of the Trinidad and Tobago parliament, Wade Mark, yesterday declared the Chaguanas West seat vacant, more than a week after former national security minister Austin ‘Jack’ Warner tendered his resignation as a legislator.

In his April 26 letter, Warner, 70, gave no indication as to why he had tendered his resignation, except to say “I enjoyed my stint in the Parliament” under the guidance of the Speaker, whom he said “at all times demonstrated fairness and impartiality in your judgment thereby maintaining the hallow sanctity of the House”.

Mark said that under the Trinidad and Tobago Constitution, where a vacancy occurs in the House of Representatives within the first four years of the life of the parliament a by-election “shall be held to fill such vacancy not later than 90 days from the date of the announcement by the

Austin ‘Jack’ Warner Speaker of the vacancy.

“In view of the foregoing, I thereby declare the seat of Chaguanas West vacant,” Mark added. Warner, the former international football executive, has already launched his bid for reelection even as the ruling United National Congress (UNC), the largest partner within the four-party coalition People’s Partnership government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, has indicated he is not an

automatic choice to be the party’s candidate in its virtual stronghold.

Warner resigned as chairman of the UNC in the wake of a damning report by the Confederation of Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) that was released in Panama last month.

The report by the CONCACAF Integrity Committee, headed by former Barbados Chief Justice Sir David Simmons, slammed as “fraudulent in their management” the conduct of the soccer confederation’s affairs by Warner, who headed the body for 20 years, and American Chuck Blazer, who served as general secretary.

Neither Warner nor Blazer cooperated with the investigation.

Warner has described the report as “baseless and malicious” and told supporters on Sunday that he met with his English-based lawyers to discuss the report.

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Dominica warns against Former president predicts threats to banana industry victory for Lavalas party ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Dominica has launched a scathing attack on countries and companies seeking to destroy the local banana industry as the European Union launched an EC$54 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) banana support package to help the island adjust to the new trading arrangements for bananas.

“They are the ones who challenge us at the WTO (World Trade Organization) conscious of the ramifications. They are the ones who manufacture the inputs and sell them to us at exorbitant and prohibitive prices.

“Simply put, dear friends, we can’t buy so get out.

These countries only see the world, profitably and are blinded towards the plight of their sister small and vulnerable states, members of the same multi-lateral organisation, the WTO”.

Walter said there is an “exigent need for a global conscience to gain in the improvement of livelihoods and to foster prosperity to all

citizens of this world. There must be etched somewhere within these spaghetti whole of trade rules and disciplines, these three operative words, sensitivity, empathy and vulnerability.

“We have to be cognizant of the destitute in Africa and other countries who live on less than one dollar. Here in Dominica, on this day we extend our most fervent gratitude to the EU for the generous assistance given to the agricultural sector over the 10-year period”.

Under the EU agreement, known as the Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM), the funding will address the underlying weaknesses in the industry relating to low productivity and commercial competitiveness.

It will be executed by strengthening technological systems, implementation of quality standards, upgrading the physical infrastructure and developing the country’s agricultural information systems.

Some of the specifics of the BAM are improving agro-

processing techniques, establishment of a land bank, conducting an agricultural census, creating market linkages, improving genetic material, upgrading access roads and on-farm irrigation, and providing insurance initiatives to mitigate against natural disasters.

“The Banana Accompanying Measures is part of EU support to assist banana exporters in Dominica and the other Wi n d w a r d Islands following erosion of the preferential conditions they once enjoyed.

The package takes into a c c o u n t e a c h c o u n t r y ’s specific situation as it focuses on economic diversification, while also addressing broader social, economic and environmental issues,” said Head of the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ambassador Mikael Barfod.

In his address, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit noted that this investment means that it can no longer be business as usual.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti - CMC – Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide is predicting that his Fanmi Lavalas party will win a significant number of seats in the upcoming local and senatorial elections in the French-speaking Caribbean country. No date has yet been set for the polls.

He told reporters there is a good chance that the party would win a good portion of the seats if the elections are free, fair and transparent.

“Fanmi Lavalas is evolving, is becoming stronger and more powerful,” Aristide told a press conference, broadcast on national radio from his home in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Tabarre.

“I am not doing propaganda for Fanmi Lavalas,” said the former Roman Catholic priest, who made his first public statement since his surprise return to his homeland two years ago after seven years in exile in South Africa.

“We are speaking the truth; and, for me, this is the truth.”

Jean-Bertrand Aristide During the news conference, Aristide, who was forced out of office in 2004, hunger was “one of the biggest problems we have in the country of Haiti today.

“One person alone cannot solve the hunger problem.

One political party alone cannot solve the hunger problem.

One group in society cannot solve the hunger problem. We have an indispensable coming together to do in order for us

to diminish hunger in our country.’

Aristide said while he has stayed out of the public’s eye, he is still observing what’s happening in the country.

He insisted that he has not been ordered by anyone to remain quiet since his return from exile, adding “I chose not to speak. I speak when I need to speak, and no one can stop me from speaking”.

But his re-emergence has sparked speculation in recent days that he may be reentering Haitian politics.

His statements follow W e d n e s d a y ’ s demonstration by thousands of citizens who defied a police ban on street demonstrations when he appeared in court o answer questions from an investigative judge into the unresolved case of a murdered radio journalist.

Journalist Jean Dominique, once a close friend to Aristide, was gunned down along with his security guard in the courtyard of his radio station in April 2000.

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Saturday May 11, 2013

U.S. sends Japan currency Obama launches campaign to boost warning as G7 meets landmark healthcare program (Reuters) - The United States told Japan it would be watching for any sign it was manipulating its currency lower but Tokyo said it met no resistance to its policies at a meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers which will conclude today.

As ministers and central bankers met in a stately home set in rolling countryside 40 miles outside London, differences were also evident over whether to prioritise debt-cutting or promoting economic growth.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Japan had “growth issues” that needed to be dealt with but that its attempts to stimulate its economy needed to stay within the bounds of international agreements to avoid competitive devaluations.

“I’m just going to refer back to the ground rules and the fact that we’ve made clear that we’ll keep an eye on that,” Lew told the CNBC news channel.

The yen hit a four-year low against the dollar yesterday, beyond the psychologically important

100 yen mark. It also trades at a three-year low against the euro.

The moves were driven in part by Japanese investors shifting into foreign bonds, a move that had been expected since the Bank of Japan unveiled a massive stimulus plan.

Tokyo insisted its tumbling yen was not a hot topic at the meeting of finance chiefs, despite rhetoric about a currency war.

“Japan took bold monetary and fiscal action to end prolonged deflation, with the government and the Bank of Japan working closely together,” Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso told reporters after hours of talks with fellow G7 ministers and central bankers.

“The G7 didn’t have a particular problem ... I think Japan’s stance is gaining broader understanding,” he said.

Policymakers are concerned Japan is engineering an export-led recovery that could hinder other regions’ ability to grow.

But having urged Tokyo

for years to do something to revive its economy, other world powers are not in a strong position to complain now that it is doing so. Then there is the fact that central banks such as the Federal Reserve and Bank of England have printed money in the way the Bank of Japan is.

“It is important that in line with the previous decisions at the G20 and IMF that there is no talk about currency wars,” EU economics chief Olli Rehn told reporters as he arrived at the summit. “There is discussion about how better to coordinate our economic policies.”

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said foreign exchange rates were on the agenda and that Japan had promised to take a cautious approach to the currency issue.

Participants welcomed the return to an informal G7 with no official communiqué. That could mean more robust debate than is generally aired at the meetings of the United States, Germany, Japan, Britain, Italy, France and Canada.

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama launched a campaign to promote his signature 2010 healthcare overhaul yesterday in the face of harsh criticism from congressional Republicans who say the program will raise costs and hurt hiring.

“If you’re one of the tens of millions who don’t have health insurance, beginning this fall you’ll finally be able to compare and buy quality, affordable private plans that work for you,” he said at an event at the White House.

“If you’ve already got health insurance, this is just enhancement. And if you don’t, you’re going to be able to get it,” he said.

Ahead of the Mothers’ Day holiday on Sunday, the president focused his remarks on how the plan could benefit women, who the administration believes will be less stuck on partisan objections to the plan and provide support that will make what has become known as “Obamacare” a success.

“Mothers are the number one validator for the young and uninsured and will be critical in the effort to encourage their kids to enroll for insurance in the fall,” a White House official said.

Republicans say the law will raise the costs of healthcare for all Americans, spawn a welter of new regulatory burdens on businesses and inhibit hiring.

“There are many women in their 20s and 30s who will be unable to afford the law’s massive premium increases,” Senate Minority Leader

Barack Obama Mitch McConnell said on Thursday. “And there are many mothers who won’t be able to get by if their employers cut their hours due to Obamacare. Or if they lose their jobs because of it,” the Kentucky Republican said.

Obama aides plan to use the same micro-targeting strategies that helped the president win re-election in November to sign up enough enrollees. Their outreach efforts will be central to the success of Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which aims to bring health insurance at subsidized rates to millions of uninsured Americans.

Administration officials hope to sign up 7 million people nationwide during an enrollment period that begins October 1 and runs through the end of March. They say they are zeroing in on an estimated 2.7 million healthy adults aged 18 to 25.

One-third of these people live in three states: California, Florida, and Texas, officials said. The administration plans to go into communities to identify people who are eligible to try to persuade them to enroll in the insurance plan.

The White House on Thursday announced a $150 million initiative to fund the hiring and training of thousands of workers who will go through community health centers to help people obtain insurance.

But political resistance to the plan is high, and public opinion polls still show disapproval outweighing approval of the healthcare law.

The fate the of healthcare plan is expected to have a major bearing on the 2014 midterm congressional elections. If Americans embrace Obamacare, Democrats could benefit, while rejection could provide an electoral boost to Republicans.

The Republicancontrolled House of Representatives has voted to repeal or cut funding for the law three dozen times and intends to vote again next week to repeal the law. The measure is unlikely to be go anywhere in the Democratcontrolled Senate.

White House aides say they believe that once people start to receive benefits from expanded healthcare coverage, support for the law will grow and it will become harder for its opponents to argue for its repeal.

Up to 40,000 flee rebel assault in central Sudan - U.N. (Reuters) - Up to 40,000 people have fled since rebels launched a major assault in central Sudan, the United Nations said on Friday, amid signs of a new insurgent campaign to push closer to the capital.

The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), an alliance of four rebel groups from the western Darfur region and zones in the south, attacked the central city of Um Rawaba, a usually placid commercial hub, and other areas two weeks ago.

The SRF’s brief occupation of the city in North Kordofan state was the closest insurgents bent on toppling President Omar Hassan al-Bashir have got to Khartoum since one rebel band launched an unprecedented raid on its suburb Omdurman in 2008.

Sudan has been plagued

for decades by clashes between the government and rebels from its peripheries, fighting against what they say is exploitation by a Khartoum elite. Simmering rebellions have frustrated efforts to bring stability to a country in one of Africa’s most unstable neighbourhoods.

Over the past two weeks, both rebels and government forces have also reported clashes in the north-eastern tip of South Kordofan, an oilproducing state, in areas near Kosti, Sudan’s biggest Nile river port, and key sugar plants. Almost 40,000 people had fled clashes in different areas of South Kordofan, and most of them had taken refuge in the town of El Rahad, the United Nations said in a report. “HAC (the Sudan government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission) expects more people to arrive in El

Rahad in the coming days,” the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

Sudanese authorities said only a few families were displaced by the original attack on Um Rawaba, 500km (300 miles) south of Khartoum.

The army regained control of the city the same day but the coordinated attack prompted fears the insurgents could resume their push on the capital.

The SRF is made up of three rebel groups from Darfur, scene of a decadelong insurgency, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), fighting along the border with South Sudan.

SPLM-N is made up of fighters who sided with south Sudan during decades of civil war that ended in a 2005 peace deal.

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Wounded Syrians show signs of chemical attack, Turkey says AMMAN (Reuters) Syrian casualties treated in Turkey show signs of being victims of chemical weapons, the Turkish foreign minister said yesterday, adding to indications that President Barack Obama’s “red line” on the use of such arms may have been crossed.

Wary of the false intelligence used to justify the 2003 war in Iraq, the United States says it wants proof that chemical weapons have been used before taking any action in Syria.

But if the evidence is confirmed it would increase the possibility of Western intervention against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the two-year civil war, even as the United States and Russia try to bring the sides to peace talks.

Turkey confirmed last week it was testing blood samples from Syrian casualties brought over the border to determine whether they had suffered a chemical

weapons attack.

“We have been making tests and we have some indications regarding chemical weapons being used, but in order to make

sure and verify we are continuing these tests and will be sharing these tests with U.N. agencies,” Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in the Jordanian capital

Amman yesterday.

“We know the Syrian regime has stocks…And everybody knows the Syrian regime has this capacity,” Davutoglu said. “Of course this has been one of our major concerns because chemical weapons are a threat against humanity and a crime.”

Obama said in August he viewed the use of chemical weapons in Syria as a “red line”. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that line had been crossed a “long time ago”.

“There are patients who are brought to our hospitals who were wounded by these chemical weapons,” he told NBC television. “You can see who is affected by chemical missiles by their burns.”

Erdogan is due to meet Obama in Washington on May 16.

The U.S. president this week did not rule out action, military or otherwise, against Assad’s government, but repeatedly stressed he would

(Reuters) - Bombs exploded outside two police stations in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi yesterday and Britain temporarily cut staff at its embassy in Tripoli because of security fears.

The blasts, which caused damage but no casualties, were the latest signs of insecurity in Benghazi, the birthplace of the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The government has also struggled to keep order in the capital Tripoli, where the French embassy was bombed less than three weeks ago.

Armed groups seized control of two government ministries a few days later to press demands on parliament and have refused to leave until the prime minister steps down.

“Given the security implications of the ongoing political uncertainty, the British Embassy is temporarily withdrawing a small number of staff,” an embassy statement said, adding that the mission would continue to operate as usual.

A British embassy source said the decision was prompted by the ministry sieges, along with concerns that rival armed groups could clash at demonstrations organised in the capital.

Hundreds of government supporters marched on the Foreign Ministry in Tripoli yesterday chanting: “We will sacrifice our souls and blood

for legitimacy.” A Reuters witness said that members of the armed group that has held the building under siege for almost two weeks scattered from its gates, while others retreated to the ministry grounds.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department issued a new travel warning for Libya and said it had ordered a number of U.S. government personnel to leave Tripoli for security reason.

The warning “strongly advises against all but essential travel to Tripoli and all travel to Benghazi, Bani Walid, and southern Libya, including border areas and the regions of Sabha and Kufra”.

Benghazi has experienced a wave of violence against diplomats, military and police, including an attack in September that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

The killings failed to inflict much political damage on the Obama administration but a congressional hearing this week provided an airing for opposition Republican accusations of negligence and a cover-up.

France, the United States and Britain, in an unusual joint statement on Wednesday, said Libyan institutions and elected representatives must be able to work free of armed intimidation.

“We call on all Libyans to

refrain from armed protest and violence during this difficult time in the democratic transition,” the three Western nations said.

The government turned to Europe’s development bank on Friday for help in building institutions to fill the administrative vacuum left by more than four decades of Gaddafi’s one-man rule.

For the time being, Libya is seeking only technical cooperation with the European Bank for

Reconstruction and Development - a relatively low-level relationship with the bank.

Libya is not short of cash, but lacks the institutions and processes for spending the vast oil wealth it has accumulated. More than two years after Gaddafi was slain, armed groups that helped topple him are still more powerful than the state in large swathes of the oilproducing North African desert country.

Bashar al-Assad

Police stations bombed, British embassy cuts Libya staff

not be pressured prematurely into deeper intervention in Syria.

While Syria denies using chemical weapons, U.S. government sources said blood and soil samples indicate the use of the banned nerve agent sarin. It was not clear yet though whether local commanders or the government had ordered its use.

As the outside world deliberates, the conflict which has killed 70,000 people rages on unabated.

Twenty-five people were killed when the army shelled the central Syrian town of Halfayeh on Friday, opposition activists said.

Video posted on the Internet showed panic-stricken residents attempting to cross a river to escape the bombardment.

What started as a series of peaceful protests against Assad spiraled into civil war pitting mainly Sunni Muslim insurgents against members of Assad’s Alawite sect and other minorities.

Insurgents have seized many rural parts of Syria, most of the northern city of Aleppo and are pressing in on the capital Damascus, but Assad’s forces have launched a fierce counter offensive in the past few weeks.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said yesterday she was concerned by reports of a major military build-up by army and pro-Assad militia around the town of Qusair, near the Lebanese border.

Pillay said residents in Qusair feared a possible repeat of last week’s events

in the coastal village of Baida and the town of Banias in which activists said more than 100 people, including small children, were killed in a government advance.

“I am appalled at the apparent killing of women, children and men ... which seem to indicate a campaign targeting specific communities perceived to be supportive of the opposition,” Pillay said.

Russia has supported Assad’s government and supplied it with weapons, but agreed with the United States this week to help bring the sides together for an international peace conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed on Friday to work towards a transitional government in Syria, despite acknowledging differences in their approach to the Middle Eastern country’s civil war.

Cameron said international efforts envisaged “not just bringing the regime and opposition together at one negotiating table, but Britain, Russia, America and other countries helping shape a transitional government that all Syrians can trust to protect them.”

Russia has been under pressure to cooperate more with Western powers at the U.N. Security Council to end the war.

“We have a common interest in the quickest end to the violence and the initiation of a peace process, and the preservation of Syria as a territorially whole sovereign state,” Putin said after talks with the British prime minister.

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 11, 2013

Russia says it will keep selling missiles to Syria BEIRUT (AP) — Russia defended its sales of antiaircraft systems to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, just days after joining forces with the U.S. for a new push to end Syria’s civil war through negotiations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov avoided saying whether those sales included advanced S-300 batteries. Israel has asked Russia to cancel what it said was the imminent sale of the S-300 missiles, portrayed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as destabilizing to Israel’s security.

The S-300s would make it harder for the U.S. and other countries to even consider intervening militarily or enforcing a no-fly zone in Syria. The U.S. has urged Russia — an Assad ally along with China, Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia — to cut off weapons supplies to Syria.

Despite such disagreements, Russia and the U.S. decided this week to convene an international conference to bring representatives of the Assad regime and the opposition to the negotiating table. Such talks would aim at setting up a transitional government. No date has been set.

The regime and the Syrian opposition have welcomed the idea, but with conditions.

The opposition says talks can only begin once Assad and his aides have left. The regime says it will keep fighting the rebels, without saying at which stage it would be willing to halt its fire.

The civil war, which began as a popular uprising against Assad in March 2011, has killed tens of thousands of Syrians and displaced several million. The two sides are deadlocked, though the regime has scored recent military gains.

Yesterday, the U.N. commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, raised alarm over the western rebelheld town of Qusair, close to Lebanon, which has been besieged by Syrian troops for several weeks.

Pillay said her team reported a major troop buildup in the area and noted that an increasing number of residents were being displaced.

The commissioner said she fears atrocities if Qusair is overrun. Last week, regime forces were blamed for killing dozens of civilians in Banias and Bayda, two communities in western Syria.

“It appears likely that this (the troop buildup) is in preparation for a large-scale attack to uproot the armed opposition from Qusair, and local people clearly fear a possible repeat of last week’s

Guatemala judges weighing Rios Montt genocide trial verdict (Reuters) - The genocide trial of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt drew to a close yesterday, and a panel of three judges began deliberations on a verdict that could be issued later in the day.

Rios Montt, 86, is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity for allegedly drawing up a counterinsurgency plan during his 1982-1983 rule that killed at least 1,771 members of the Maya Ixil indigenous group.

Prosecutors say Rios Montt turned a blind eye as soldiers used rape, torture and arson to try to rid Guatemala of leftist rebels during one of the bloodiest phases of the country’s 19601996 civil war. He denies the allegations.

Prosecutors have asked for a 75-year jail term.

“The present trial is closed,” Judge Yasmin Barrios, who has presided over the trial, told the court.

She convened defence

attorneys and prosecutors for a hearing later in the day, when a panel of three civilian judges that has been weighing evidence against Rios Montt could issue a verdict.

Under Guatemalan law, judges have up to 24 hours to issue a sentence after closing a case.

Thousands of Guatemalans who lost family and friends during the war are awaiting the verdict. The conflict claimed the lives of around 200,000 people, many of them ethnic Maya. A additional 45,000 people disappeared.

During the trial, which began on March 19, nearly 100 prosecution witnesses told of massacres, torture and rape by state forces.

Rios Montt, who has been under house arrest for more than a year, denied the charges in court on Thursday, saying he never ordered genocide and had no control over battlefield operations.

killings of civilians,” she said in a statement.

The Syrian military dropped leaflets over Qusair, urging rebel fighters to surrender, but did not set a deadline for them to do so, according to the office of the Homs governor.

Rebels have lost ground in the area since a Hezbollahbacked government offensive there last month.

Bassam al-Dada, an official in the rebels’ Free Syrian Army, said yesterday that more pro-regime forces have been streaming to Qusair, a town of more than 20,000 people south of the city of Homs.

Hezbollah fighters have shelled the town, hitting the main water tank and filtration station, and rebel fighters have responded, al-Dada said by phone from Turkey.

Qusair is important to the regime because the area links the capital of Damascus with the coastal region, where regime loyalists are concentrated. This includes Alawites, followers of an offshoot of Shiite Islam to which the Assad family also belongs. The rebellion

Anti-Syrian regime protesters hold a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, center, and U.S. President Barack Obama, right during a demonstration, at Kafr Nabil town, in Idlib province, northern Syria, yesterday. (AP Photo/Edlib News Network ENN) against Assad is largely driven by Syria’s majority Sunni Muslims.

B y h o l d i n g Q u s a i r, rebels have been impeding t h e r e g i m e ’s m i l i t a r y movement and supply chain, said Bilal Saab, director of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, North America. He said he believes the regime is trying to regain as much ground as possible before any negotiations with the opposition on a transition.

Previous attempts to solve the conflict peacefully have run aground, but Saab said this initiative might have a better chance because both Russia and the U.S. are pushing for it.

The plan, similar to one set out last year in Geneva, calls for talks on a transition government and an openended cease-fire.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin

yesterday that the two agreed leaders that “we must help drive this process.”

Cameron said Russia, America, Britain and other countries should participate in setting up a transitional government. Putin added that “we have a common interest in the cessation of violence as soon as possible.”

At the same time, Russia is going ahead with arms sales, the Russian foreign minister said, portraying the weapons as defensive.

on Pakistan.

“If the lives of ordinary Pakistanis are not significantly improved over the next five years, a return to authoritarian solutions remains a possibility,” Lieven wrote in a column in the Financial Times yesterday.

The army stayed out of politics during the five years of the last government, but it still sets the nuclear-armed country’s foreign and security policy and will steer the thorny relationship with Washington as NATO troops withdraw from neighboring Afghanistan next year.

The party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif looks set to win the most seats in the one-day vote, which gets under way across the country at 8 a.m. (0300 GMT).

However, Khan’s darkhorse challenge could deprive Sharif of a majority and dash his hopes for a return to power 14 years after he was ousted in a military coup, jailed and later exiled.

Pakistan’s best-known sportsman, who led a playboy lifestyle in his younger days, Khan is seen by many as a refreshing change from the dynastic politicians who long relied on a patronage system to win votes and are often accused of corruption.

Voters will elect 272 members of the National Assembly and to win a simple majority, a party would have to take 137 seats.

However, the election is complicated by the fact that a further 70 seats, most reserved for women and members of non - Muslim minorities, are allocated to parties on the basis of their performance in the contested constituencies. To have a majority of the total of 342, a party would need 172.

Pakistan marks democratic milestone in close-fought election

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan goes to the polls today for an election that will bring the first transition between civilian governments, but the milestone’s significance may be lost on some voters who have lost faith in politics after years of corruption and misrule.

W i d e s p r e a d disenchantment with the two mainstream parties appeared this week to have brought a late surge of support for former cricket star Imran Khan, who could end up holding the balance of power if there is no clear-cut winner.

If that happens, weeks of haggling to form a coalition will follow and raise the risk of an unstable government in a country ruled by the military for more than half of its history.

That would only make it more difficult to reverse the disgust with politicians felt among the country’s 180 million people and drive through the reforms needed to revive its near-failed economy.

Power cuts can last more than 10 hours a day in some places, crippling key

Imran Khan

industries like textiles, and a new International Monetary Fund bailout may be needed soon.

Dozens of people have been killed in the run-up to the vote by the al-Qaedalinked Pakistan Taliban, which regards the poll as un-Islamic and has vowed to disrupt the process with suicide bombings.

“The problems facing the new government will be immense, and this may be the last chance that the country’s existing elites have to solve them,” said Anatol Lieven, a professor at King’s College, London, and author of a book

Saturday May 11, 2013

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Kaieteur News

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Page 33

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One GX110 Toyota Mark2.

Lady driven. Excellent condition. $2.1M neg. Call 609 2466.

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Page 34

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 11, 2013

Delay skirts hearing in challenge against dress code laws The hearing into the constitutional challenge brought against the country’s dress code was delayed yesterday.

The matter was scheduled for yesterday, but Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang set a new date - June 4.

A group of transgender persons have appealed to the Supreme Court to strip the constitution of laws that leave them open to arrest for crossdressing.

Intimate same sex relations are outlawed in Guyana as is cross-dressing. Groups say the laws smack of hypocrisy since women who dress in male clothing do not face arrest, but men who dress as women risk being jailed.

The challenge was launched in February 2010 following a police crackdown on crossdressing.

Police had arrested and briefly detained six persons for cross-dressing a year before the challenge was filed.

They were arrested and charged under Section 153 (1) (xlvii) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02, which criminalizes as a minor offense the “wearing of female attire by man; wearing of male attire by women.”

The six were born male but dress as women. The men claimed they were humiliated by the Police and the court.

“It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. I felt like I was less than human,” Seon Clarke, one of the persons arrested stated in a statement from the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

The then acting Chief Magistrate Melissa

Robertson fined the six persons $7,500 each and told them to “go to church” and give their lives to Christ.

SASOD is leading the challenge for those arrested with a team of lawyers which include human rights attorney Arif Bulkan.

The crackdown in February 2009 was heavily criticised by rights groups locally and overseas.

The law prohibits men from appearing in public in female attire, and vice versa. The law appears in a section of Guyana’s legal code that also makes homosexuality a crime.

In 2001, protests by the religious community forced then President Bharrat Jagdeo to withhold his signature from a constitutional bill which would have prohibited discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation.

‘If the government doesn’t...

From page 12 President Ramotar has done so injudiciously.

In the first place the President has evinced a blatant disregard for our Constitution, Williams said.

He sought to explain that article 170 (3) requires the President to return the said Bills within 21 days of the date they were presented to him, and once he withholds his assent, he must give his reasons.

Speaker, Mr. Raphael Trotman, had indicated that the Bills were transmitted to the President’s office since February 25, 2013. However the President returned them to the Speaker on May 7, 2013, in clear violation of the 21 days requirement.

Further, the reasons given, in the case of the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment)

Bill, No. 24 of 2012, for withholding his assent are unreasonable, unlawful and erroneous in point of law.

“The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2012 does not infringe the provisions of Article 171 (2) of the Constitution. It is not a Bill to impose or to increase taxes or does it impose a charge upon the Consolidated Fund (C.F.) or any Public Funds or does it alter any such fund or provide for the payment, issue, or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund.”

The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2012, seeks to restore the Constitutional status of the “independent entities”, under our Constitution. Moreover, if a Minister can, by order, amend the schedule, surely the National Assembly, which

gave him or her power to do so, can also amend it.

The Former President (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill No. 29 of 2012 is largely commonsensical.

It seeks to cap the various benefits and thus protect taxpayers’ money from the proclivities of lascivious Government functionaries exhibited over the past twenty years.

The Bills can only be presented to the President again and within six months of being returned, if supported by a two-thirds majority of all the elected Members of Parliament.

Williams further noted that the President’s actions have precipitated a Constitutional crisis.

His decisions to withhold Assent to the two Bills can also be challenged in the Court.

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LEARN TO DRIVE

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Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Softball Cricket League to host another 12/12 championship Just one week after the conclusion of a 12/12 championships staged under the auspices of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL), those administrators have commenced discussions for a similar tournament which is expected to be played over a four day period starting June 15 next.

The other playing dates are 16th 22nd and 23rd and while the venue has not been confirmed, the officials are eying the Everest Cricket Club facilities.

Twelve teams are expected to compete in the tournament and the entrance fee remains at $50,000; teams will be entered on a first

come first serve basis.

Subsequently, participating teams will be placed into two groups of six to play each other once, with the two top teams from each group progressing to the semifinals and finals.

As had occurred in the just concluded tournament, there will be special giveaways coupled with a raffle that offers lucrative prizes.

The drawing will be held on the final day of the tournament while proceeds will be donated to charity. There will also be special prizes for the Man of the Series, Man of the Match, Best Batsman and Best Bowler among others.

Meanwhile, the drawing

for the raffle staged during the recently held tournament was held on Sunday last and the person holding ticket number 020 won the first prize of a Daewoo double door refrigerator.

Former President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Chetram Singh, was also in winners’ row and a representative collected his prize, a 32" LCD Sony Bravia television set donated by Regal Stationery and Computer Centre of Seaforth Street Campbellville.

The other winning numbers are 3214 (a three-piece living room suite), 773 (Royal 4-burner gas stove) and 661 (G-shock bicycle).

Saturday May 11, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19): You are eager to express your core beliefs in a direct manner today, without withholding anything that’s of significance.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20): You may oversimplify things today which can create problems, especially if others take what you say at face value. However, what you see doesn’t begin to touch the complex dynamics impacting your life now.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20): Conversations grow complicated now because your message may be garbled as interactive Mercury is lost in the intense brightness of the Sun’s rays.

CANCER (June 21–July 22): Your social life might seem very simplistic today as the plodding Taurus MercurySun alignment grinds your thoughts to a temporary standstill.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22): Mental Mercury’s conjunction with the Sun fires up your mind and makes you eager to talk about your aspirations. However, you can also broaden your perspective by listening to people describe their professional goals.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22): You may be fantasizing today about doing something that will take you far from your mundane world. Consider pulling out all the stops and dream about your future without holding back.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22): You truly want to do what’s right, but you might be challenged to figure out exactly what that means today.

Although it’s easy to discuss your plans with someone you trust, saying too much now could disperse the energy prematurely.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21): The verbally adept MercurySun conjunction lands in your 7th House of Partnerships, smoothing ruffled feathers in most of your interactions throughout the day.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21): You might feel the stress today as you attempt to complete unfinished chores from last week. It isn’t that there’s so much left over to do... it’s just that you want to manage your responsibilities methodically now.

CAPRICORN(Dec.22–Jan.19): You naturally feel comfortable if you have enough safety and security so that you don’t need to worry about the basics.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18): It’s difficult to move through your own rigidity today as your need for family connections conflict with your desire to creatively express yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20): You want to believe that all is well, yet you aren’t surprised if you run into a serious obstacle today. You’re unwilling to take no for an answer and could work extra hard to overcome any problems that surface now.

Regal Stationery and Computer Centre Assistant Secretary and of the GSCL Telesha Ousman (right) hands over Chetram Singh’s winnings to Hakib shortly after the culmination of the draw.

Kohli, Unadkat...

From page 38 loot 77 runs, took the game away from the hosts, but until then they had bowled pretty well on a slow surface.

The same couldn’t be said of their fielding and field placements.

The fashionable wide slip, a simple drop by Virender Sehwag and a no-ball by inches all cost them wickets

after they had got the better of Chris Gayle.

Finally given the first over the innings, Morne Morkel grew a leg and bowled fast, accurate and extracted movement.

Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 183 for 4 (Kohli 99, de Villiers 32*) beat Delhi Daredevils 179 for 7 (Chand 41, Unadkat 5-25) by 4 runs.

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Kaieteur News

Brathwaite, Simmons slam centuries as T&T trail by 119 runs with 6 wickets intact Opener Kraigg Brathwaite stroked a fine century but Trinidad and Tobago were fighting back at the end of the second day yesterday in the final of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional 4-day tournament at the Kensington oval.

Barbados began the day on 144-2 with Brathwaite on 49 and Jevon Searles on zero.

Brathwaite played Imran Khan to cover for a single to bring up his half century; his innings lasted for 191 minutes and came off 151 balls with four fours. He and Searles carried the score to 169 before Searles was leg before to Shannon Gabriel for 10 as he played across a well pitched up delivery. Jonathan Carter then joined Brathwaite and the pair brought up the Bajans two hundred in 67.5 overs.

The duo continued to frustrate the opposition with sensible batting before Carter

after seemingly well set for a half century was yorked by Gabriel for 47. Marlon Richards then had Kevin Stoute caught behind for 6 at 257. Brathwaite, who was dropped on 96 off Gabriel, turned a delivery from Richards to midwicket for a single to reach his century which contained nine fours and came off 260 balls in 352 minutes.

Richards then accounted for Shane Dowrich (6) and Nurse (7) before Brathwaite and Sulieman Benn saw their team to three hundred in 93.5 overs. Richards struck once again when he had Benn taken

by Rayad Emrit for 13 at 313.

Brathwaite was then bowled off the inside edge by Imran Khan for 122 (420 mins, 303 balls, 9x4) with the score at 329-9. Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins then added 40 for the last wicket stand before Cummins was

dismissed for 18 as Barbados were bowled out for 369 in 110 overs; Roach was left unbeaten on 29.

Richards was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with 4-55 off 21 overs, while Khan took 2-84 off 23 overs and Gabriel 2-99 off 23 overs; Hosein and Simmons had 1 each.

Trailing by 221 runs, Trinidad and Tobago batting a second time lost Barath (02), Yannick Carriah (02) and Jason Mohamed (00) to leave the score at 54-3. Simmons however took the attack to the Bajans and reached his fifty (6x4, 4x4off 20 balls) in 38 minutes before Hosein was caught and bowled by Benn for 8 at 87-4.

Ramdin joined Simmons and steadied the ship

Jamaica lose again at CONCACAF Beach Soccer Champs somewhat, Simmons, who was severe on anything short, cut Ashley Nurse through square cover to bring up his century in 91 minutes off 53 balls; his knock included ten fours and six sixes. However bad light stopped play with Trinidad and Tobago on 140-4 with Simmons on 111 and Ramdin on 13. Cummins has so far taken 3-41 and Benn 1-53. The game continues today with Trinidad and Tobago trailing by 119 runs with 6 wickets in hand.

Scores: T&T 110; Barbados 369 T&T 140/4.

>>> Letter to the Sports Editor <<<

Cannot serve under Lionel Messi biopic aims the current cloud of legal wrangling for World Cup release

BBC Sport - Lionel Messi’s life is to be made into a film after a Los Angeles production company bought the rights to a biography of the Barcelona star.

The film is set to focus on Messi’s boyhood in Argentina and treatment for growth hormone deficiency, before depicting his on-field successes.

Messi, 25, has won the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the world’s best player, for the last four years.

Epic Pictures Group hopes to finish the film in time for the 2014 World Cup. The distribution of the film has yet to be decided with Epic

Pictures still holding talks with writers and directors about the project. “The goal is to make a powerful and positive film that will leave audiences feeling inspired to go after their dreams no matter how impossible they may seem,” chief executive Patrick Ewald told Variety magazine.

The film will be based on Luca Caioli’s book ‘Messi’, which features interviews with the player’s former coaches, family and team-mates, as well as the man himself. Epic Pictures previous films include 2012’s supernatural thriller Into the Dark starring American actress Mischa Barton.

Floodlights for Sabina...

From page 39 regional cricket because we don’t have lights,” Wright said. Logan, who is also the JCA treasurer, said no start date could be given for the project until a “work schedule” is provided by the contractor, but he did say that the lights should be ready by August 5.

He explained that though the CPL train should be in motion by then, Sabina Park would not host their opening match until days later.

A source, who wished to remain unnamed, said a challenge for the contractors could be the acquisition of special material, including the poles on which the lights will be placed, within a limited time frame. Logan,

while choosing to avoid explaining the specifics regarding repayment to the supplier, said that they will be looking to various avenues for generating additional revenue when the upgrade is completed.

“It (the installation) will be significant because that will allow us to stage day/night matches and also nightly entertainment at the facility and we would be in a position to also bid for other sporting events,” he said.

The former senior public sector executive added that money will be generated from leasing of boxes and a proposed solar project which would have the capacity to supply energy to the Jamaica Public Service grid.

Saturday May 11, 2013

DEAR SIR, It was brought to my attention that Kaieteur News of Monday, February 4, 2013 carried a news item in which my name was also mentioned in connection with the CDC. The news item was under the caption “Rayon Griffith reappointed Chairman of GCB Senior Selection panel”.

In as much as I am willing to serve a game I love, the present legal issues facing the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) do not allow for me to

do so at this time. I thank my friends who considered me worthy to serve again on the Cricket Development Committee (CDC) like I did in the past.

In such a circumstance, I would appreciate if my name is not included as being a member of the CDC for the reasons I stated earlier.

Please be guided accordingly and I would appreciate you giving similar publicity to my position.

Grantley L Culbard

GCA competitions continue today The Georgetown Cricket Association competitions continue today with several matches. Following are the fixtures.

Hadi’s World Inc-City Mall 1st Division (2-Day) Saturday11th & Sunday12th May, 2013 at 09:30hrs.

GNIC vs GCC at Bourda Umpires: Pritipaul George & Cyril Garnath GDF vs Everest C.C at Camp Ayanganna Umpires: Hortence Isaacs & Mario Nichols New Building Society 2nd Division 40 over at 11:00 hrs Saturday 11th May, 2013 at11:00 hrs.

Transport S.C vs GNIC at GNIC, Umpires: Randolph Rose & Clyde Layne GYO vs Everest CC at

Camp Road, Umpires: Eddie Nicholls & Edward Bowen GDF vs MYO at MYO ” Joseph Jeffrey & J. Goberdhan DCC vs 3rd Class at Queenstown “ Daniel Richmond & Linden Matthew Sunday 12th May, 2013 at11:00 hrs.

UG vs Police SC at MYO Umpires: Saeed Mohamed & Robin Kendall Sophia CC vs Malteenoes S.C at GNIC, Randolph Rose & Clyde Layne GCC vs Transport SC at Camp Road, Edward Bowen & J. Goberdhan 3rd Class vs GYO at YMCA, Umpires: Linden Matthew & Montgomery Chester GDF vs DCC at Queenstown “ Delvin Austin & Heuvel Cunha

Jamaica’s Omar Williams (left) battles Costa Rica’s Richard Sterling in Group C action of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in Nassau, Bahamas Jamaica Observer JAMAICA lost their second game in a row at the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship when they were defeated 2-1 on penalties

by Costa Rica in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday.

Both teams had played to a 3-3 scoreline in regulation time and had to resort to penalty kicks as a tie-breaker as each game must produce a winner.

Jermaine Anderson, who had scored in free-flowing play, missed his penalty shot after his teammate Phillip Peddie had got Jamaica off the mark. Costa Rica’s successful spotkicks were delivered by Greivin Pacheco and Mendoza.

Jamaica had lost their opening match of three-team Group C 7-2 to El Salvador.

Both Central American teams will meet today to decide the group champions.

In another result Thursday, the United States whipped Puerto Rico 5-0 in Group A, while the other teams in group hosts Bahamas and Guatemala were due for an evening showdown.

The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers (CONCACAF), more commonly known as the CONCACAF

Beach Soccer Championship, is the main tournament for beach soccer in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

In both 2005 and 2007, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL held joint championships. In 2007, the successful teams of the competition qualified to play in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, whereas the 2005 tournament was unattached from the World Cup. This was not the way teams qualified for the 2005 World Cup. In 2006, when FIFA introduced the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers, the championship became the way to qualify for the World Cup, so CONCACAF and CONMEBOL held two separate championships.

From 2008 onwards, due to the number of teams from each confederation trying to qualify, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL have decided to always have separate championships.

Now that the World Cup takes place every two years, so will the qualifiers, starting with the qualifiers for the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Russia are the defending 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer champions.

Georgetown Turf Club to hold Gymkhana tomorrow The Georgetown Turf Club will stage a Gymkhana and fun day tomorrow at their Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara racetrack.

Club official Nigel James

informed that fans will be treated to several novelty events and races. Any details on Sunday’s gymkhana can be obtained by contacting Nigel James on telephone # 665-5611.

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Teams gearing up for next KN Sports Reporter Mohamed among Sunday’s Endurance Meet those successful at WICUA exams After waiting for some form of activity, the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) will be staging an Endurance Meet for next Sunday, at the South Dakota Circuit, commencing from 13:00 hrs.

According to a release from the Organisers, among the competitors expected to participate in the day’s activities are defending champions from the last Meet Brian Ten-Pow and Shawn Seejattan, Roshan Ali Snr, Roshan Ali Jnr, Rameez Mohammed, Kevin Deodass, Mohammed Ali Snr,, Mohamed Ali Jnr, Afraz Alli, Aaron Bethune, Syed Hassan, and Danny Persaud.

Speaking with Bethune yesterday via telephone, he said he is optimistic that the day will produce some fascinating duels as teams battle for outright supremacy, while the amount of teams confirmed has increased.

Bethune added that Endurance racing has been steadily growing in popularity in Guyana and the Organisers are expecting a large crowd to

Team Shawn Seejattan (with trophy) and Brian Ten-Pow (right) pose with the winning trophy presented by sponsor Roshan Ali (2nd left) in the presence of Team Owner Errol Seejattan, at the last Endurance Meet. go down to the Circuit to witness the anticipated rivalry among some of the top drivers locally.

Among the major sponsors are: Ray’s One Stop Auto Sales, Vishaul Auto Toy

Store, Fullworks, B.M. Soat, Zai Auto Sales, Special Auto, Motor Trend Auto Spares, Ramchand Auto Body and Crash Truck Service and Buy Me Auto Sales.

Starting time is 12:00 hrs.

Serena forced to battle her way into Madrid Open semis MADRID (Reuters) - Top seed and world number one Serena Williams was pushed all the way by unseeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues before triumphing 6-3 0-6 7-5 to make the semifinals at the Madrid Open yesterday.

The defending champion at the clay event fought back from 4-2 down in the third set to see off the local favorite, who was cheered on by a partisan crowd at the Magic Box Arena. “It was definitely a battle,” Williams told a news conference.

“I obviously didn’t do much in the second set, and I think I gave her a lot confidence to play better. I thought she played really well in the third.”

Williams made it 26 wins

and only one defeat since the start of last year’s claycourt season, but was up against an experienced player on the surface. The 30-year-old Spaniard has the highest number of clay-court title wins with 10 among players currently on the circuit and stunned the American taking the second set to love.

“I wasn’t really there,” Williams said. “I wasn’t really in it. My feet weren’t moving.

I don’t know what happened.

“To turn it around I got up earlier on the changeover and started doing high knees and just stretching and doing anything to try to get my intensity back up where it needed to be.

“I definitely want to cut back on my unforced errors. I

had a lot today. Also, I went for a lot more today than I have been doing in my past few matches. “So I think I’m going to go back to the way I have been playing, and being more calm, and not making as many errors as I did today.”

Williams will meet either seventh-seeded Italian Sara Errani or unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the last four. Williams and Maria Sharapova remain on track for a battle over the world number one ranking after both made the Madrid Open semi-finals.

Russian world number two Sharapova will replace Williams on top if she betters the American’s showing in Spain. She recorded a routine 6-2 6-4 victory over Kaia Kanepi in the last eight.

GSCL competitions continue tomorrow in Linden The Georgetown Softball Cricket League\ Regal Stationery and Computer Centre\Mike’s Copy Centre- Star Party Rentals\Salod Marketing Agency and Trophy Stall competitions will continue on Sunday at the Christianburg ground in Linden.

Regal XI will face MK Ogle in the second Over-35 semi-final with the winners meeting Park Rangers in the final on a date to be

announced. In the Male Open category, Regal will battle Kwakwani Strikers; the winners will clash with Speed Boat XI in the semi-final.

Wolf’s Warriors have already booked their place in the final. In the female category, Regal Champs will tackle Aroaima Rusal Warriors in the first semi, while Sunrise will play All Star Conquerors for the right to meet Wiruni Warriors in the second semi-final.

Kaieteur News sports reporter Zaheer Mohamed is among several local umpires that successfully completed the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) Practical and Oral examinations in 2012.

Nolan Hawke, Omadatt Samaroo, Delvin Austin, Dawchand Nagassar and Orin Archer are the other umpires that passed the examinations; Guyana gained one hundred percent success.

Mohamed, who is also a certified West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) level one coach, said he is happy with the success. “I worked hard to pass both exams, I had all confidence that I would have made it and I would like to thank the Almighty for making it easy for me,” stated Mohamed who hails from the Essequibo River island of Wakenaam.

He stated that an outreach programme caused him to take umpiring seriously. “The late Clyde Duncan, Colin Alfred and Chairman of West Indies selectors Clyde Butts conducted a few umpire and coaching sessions in Wakenaam a few years ago after which I decided to get more involved. I first started to umpire in a few friendlies, but when an association was formed in Wakenaam I was asked to officiate in competitions. I then wrote the Preliminary and Final exams and after being successful I decided to take it up as a career”, he said.

The 34 year old Mohamed would like to thank all those who assisted him. “I would

Zaheer Mohamed like to show gratitude to my father Lennie Mohamed (president of the Wakenaam Cricket Umpires Association), the Sans Souci Jaguars SC, Wakenaam Cricket Committee, my colleagues at Kaieteur News, Shakira Mohamed , Dheindranauth Somwaru, Nigel Dugid, Zabeer Zakier, Eddie Nicholls, Colin Alfred, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Joseph Jeffery, Dasroy Balgobin and the Georgetown Cricket Association among others. I would also like to wish the other successful umpires well in their careers.

Gary Kirsten to quit as South Africa coach for family reasons BBC Sport - South Africa coach Gary Kirsten is to step down for family reasons when his current contract expires in August. The 45-year-old, who played 101 Tests for South Africa from 1993-2004, spent three years as coach of India, guiding them to the World Cup title in 2011. He became South Africa coach in June 2011 and a 2-0 win in England last year put them top of the Test rankings.

“I have every confidence that the Proteas will continue to go from strength to strength,” Kirsten said.

Kirsten, who also took

India to the top of the Test rankings, was unbeaten in seven Test series as South Africa coach, winning six, and the team lost only two of their 19 Tests during his tenure, with victories in Sri Lanka, Australia and England.

His last assignment in charge of the South African team is expected to be at the Champions Trophy, which begins in the UK next month.

Cricket South Africa president and board chairman Chris Nenzani said: “Gary has a young family and it is understandable that he wishes to spend more time at

home. “With the Proteas due to tour Sri Lanka in July andAugust, and Pakistan in November, and important home series coming up against India and Australia next season, it is important that we move quickly to identify his successor.

“Although we are disappointed to lose him as head coach, he has put the foundations in place to carry us forward. “We will certainly endeavour to retain his services in some capacity, as his experience as player, coach and mentor is not something we want to lose in its entirety.”

GBI, RBC to host VIVA Water Cycling Classic tomorrow at Seawall Bandstand Circuit Cyclists will have another opportunity to fine tune their preparations ahead of this year’s NSC Independence 3-Stage Road Race, when the Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) in association with Guyana Beverage Inc. under their VIVA Water brand, sponsors a Cycling Classic tomorrow.

The event, which will have attractive cash incentives on offer as has become a practice when the RBC brings off such events, will take place at the Seawall Bandstand Circuit pedaling off from 10:00hrs.

This event will take the form of a 50 Lap contest which will provide vital exposure ahead of the 3-Stage event which will pedal off on Saturday May 18 in the Ancient County of Berbice. The Open race will see the first six finishers receiving prizes as well the first three juniors and veterans and the

first two females. That apart, there will be 15-Sprint prizes worth $1,000 each up for the taking. Representatives of Guyana Beverages Inc. will be on hand to witness the event and to assist with the presentation of prizes.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of GBI, Mr. Robert Selman recently handed over the sponsorship cheque to President of RBC Brain Allen at the company’s Diamond Head Office.

Selman noted that he was pleased to be associated with the club and the event which will create another opportunity for the cyclists to showcase their talent in a competitive atmosphere.

Allen in turn thanked Mr. Selman on behalf of RBC for his entity’s support for the riders noting that the event will be well appreciated by the athletes.

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Saturday May 11, 2013

Intense rivalries continue at Greaves returned as President of Houston Stars Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’

President of Houston Stars Charles Greaves (left sitting) and Vice-President Rolston Trim (sitting) pose with other members of the executive recently.

Incumbent President of Houston stars Charles Greaves was returned to lead the club for the next term of office when the Annual General Meeting was held recently.

Greaves will have as his Deputy Rolston Trim, Secretary- Ray Canzius, Assistant Secretary Treasurer- Wayne Higgins, Treasurer- Troy Ford and Public Relations OfficerLennox Reid. The three committee members are: Derick Junior, Dwight Ferguson and Walter Liverpool.

The meeting commenced at 18:00hrs with an opening prayer by Mr. Sampson, who also acted as the Presiding Officer. The Georgetown Football Association Assistant Secretary Treasurer Ms. Charmaine

Wade acted as an observer of the proceedings.

The minutes were read by Mr. Sampson (Marketing Manager-Gizmos & Gadgets).

Greaves in his President’s speech highlighted the bittersweet moments he had with the club throughout the years while he also outlined the strategic plans for 2013 – 2015.

A declaration of the club’s financial status was made by Ford, who gave an overview of the club’s financial position to date. Canzius gave an update of the club’s progress throughout the years and its achievements thus far in terms of growth, discipline, success and attracting young players to the club.

Head Coach Rolston Trim gave brief remarks on the club’s preparation for future

tournaments and also spoke about discipline, attendance and training of the team, adding that the three components are important since there is no short cut for success.

Eighteen (18) members were present to partake in the voting process. Mr. Lennox Reid was nominated by Mr. Deron McKinnon and seconded by Mr. Troy Ford and was duly elected Public Relations Officer (PRO), the remainder of the executive and committee members were returned unopposed.

The conclusion saw thanks been returned on behalf of the executive by Greaves, also a brief remark was made by Ms. Wade, the meeting formally ended at 17:00hrs with closing prayer

by Greaves.

Intense rivalries continued at the 2013 Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ football competition at the National Cultural Centre tarmac Thursday night with the first round favourite teams ensuring that they qualify for the next phase albeit via thin margins.

Leopold Street opened the night’s proceedings with a 3-1 win over Sophia ‘A’ on penalty kicks after a nil-all stalemate in regulation time. Turkeyen then won 1-0 against Hadfield Street, which set the tone for a night of nail-biting finishes.

The lanky forward, Chriswell Williams entertained the large crowd that turned out to the popular venue with exceptional skill for Vryheid’s Lust Champs. Williams scored the lone goal that gave his team a 1-0 edge against East La Penitence. It was a first half strike that eventually put the East Coast-based team ahead for good in the game.

It was not surprising that known football figures dominated the best two games of the night when Devon Millington and Dennis Edwards were on target for Sparta Boss against a North Ruimveldt team that was hapless against superior wit and skill.

The fixture was the third of only three games to be decided in regulation time. It was a touch of class from former national footballer, Millington, who killed the knee height cross

from Edwards, and finished for a clinical goal in the only the second minute. Edwards finished in the sixth minute that gave Sparta Boss the triumph.

The team was just contented with playing defence in the second half, having already established a healthy advantage.

In the other games, Berlin defeated Stevedore; Broad Street won against the other Hadfield Street team; Back Circle engulfed Box of Money and Festival City ousted Tiger Bay all in penalty shootouts to bring the curtains down on the third night of the competition that will move to California Square again tonight from 8pm.

The tournament is being held under the theme “Your skill, your style, your five, your stout” with the aim of continuing to unearth hidden talent within communities.

It is a knockout contest which will see the surviving team pocketing $300,000 and trophy while the second place team is to take home 150,000 and trophy.

Each game lasts 15 minutes; 7½ minutes per half with no extra time allowed in the preliminary rounds if the game is drawn after regulation time. There is a zero-tolerance attitude toward issues of indiscipline as the tournament continues to progress smoothly.

(Edison Jefford)

Zeelandia beat Maria’s Pleasure to take Dhanraj T20 Title

Entries close tomorrow for Kennard memorial meet The horses have done good gallop; the jockeys are primed for the occasion and turfites are gearing up for a day of fun and frolic when Kennard Memorial Turf Club stages the Independence horse race meet at the Bush Lot Farm Corentyne headquarters, Sunday May 19 next.

Horse owners are reminded that entries close tomorrow and late entries will not be accepted. Horse owners are further advised that a fee of $5,000 must be paid for each horse entered in the competition and this sum must be paid during the registration period.

There will be 7 exciting races among the country’s top horses with the feature attraction, the D1 & Lower over a distance of 7 furlongs, touted to be a sizzler. In this race, the winner carts off $500,000 while the runner up wins half that amount. The third and fourth place finishers receive $125,000 and $63,000 respectively.

Turfites would not want to miss the G and Lower Class over a distance of 7 furlongs where the best horses, straddled by competent jockeys, battle for a top prize of $300,000, while the second place finisher receives $150,000. The third and fourth place finishers win $75,000 and $38,000, respectively.

The action continues in the J2 and Lower

over a distance of 6 furlongs. The winner carts off $150,000 while the second place finisher gets $75,000. The third and fourth place finishers receive $38, 000 and $19, 000 respectively.

The other races consist of K & Lower over 5 furlongs for a first prize of $100,000, the F & Lower, over a similar distance, where the winner collects $320,000. The race among the 3 years old horses over a distance of 6 furlongs will also net the winner $340,000 and the second place finisher $170,000. The 3rd and 4th places receive $85,000 and $43,000 respectively.

The day’s activities end with the ‘I & Lower’ event over 6 furlongs for a first prize of $180,000 with $90,000 going to the second position. The 3rd and 4th places will win $45,000 and $23,000 respectively.

The organizers also wish to remind horse owners that the event is being conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and all of the rules would be applied. Additional information can be had by contacting Justice Cecil Kennard (226-1399, 225-4818, or 623-7609) or Roopnarine Matadial aka Shine (325-3192). Horse owners are also asked to have their animals examined by the vet by 11:00hrs on race day.

Members of the victorious Zeelandia team display their prizes.

Zeelandia defeated Maria’s Pleasure by 4 wickets to win the Diaram Dhanraj and family Twenty20 match last Sunday at Maria’s Pleasure Cricket Ground in Wakenaam.

Batting first, the host were bowled out for 125 in 19.4 overs; Ryan Gordon top scored with 36 while Kennard Lewis contributed 30 and Bernard Lewis 29. Dharmendra Pooran grabbed 4-15 and Billo Yougeshwar 3-25.

Zeelandia then replied with 126-6 in 16 overs; Ricardo Adams led with 42 while Jadukul (only name) chipped in with 22 and Navishal Pooran 20.

Bernard Lewis captured 328 and Kennard Lewis 2-35.

Both teams were presented with trophies while

Dharmendra Pooran was named man-of-the-match.

Kohli, Unadkat help RCB keep pace ESPNcricinfo - After 16 overs of their innings, Royal Challengers Bangalore were 106 for 3, and Virat Kohli was 47 off 43. When Kohli was run out while attempting the second off the last ball of the innings, he had reached 99 off 58, and Royal Challengers had finished on 183. Not many teams recover from such an onslaught. Delhi Daredevils tried hard to recover, but lost

out to a limping Jaydev Unadkat’s five-for and crashed to their 10th loss out of 13 matches. Royal Challengers moved to 16 points from 13 matches, staying in touch with the other three contenders for three open spots in the playoffs.

Those four overs, when Kohli and AB de Villiers hit six sixes and seven fours to (Continued on page 35)

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Floodlights for Sabina in time for CPL Sabina to host night matches during CPL

J

amaica Observer YEARS of gloom and a virtual eternity of being on the outside looking in appears to be at an end.

Sabina Park, one of C a r i b b e a n c r i c k e t ’s favourite venues, is finally on the cusp of having floodlights installed to facilitate the playing of night matches.

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Lyndel Wright confirmed that a partnership has been brokered with Consolidated Energy Partners, which will act as supplier and contractor for the project.

“Sabina Park Holdings has entered into an agreement with Consolidated Energy Partners, a member of the Genco Group Of Companies, for the provisioning of floodlights... (at) Sabina Park,” he told the Jamaica Observer in a telephone interview Thursday.

“It was topical whether or not Jamaica would have lights. Now we can say lights certainly are coming — and coming to a value of about US$2.1 million,” Wright added.

Sabina Park Holdings, consisting of shareholders from the JCA and the Kingston Cricket Club, is the body in charge of the maintenance and management of the venue’s facilities. The group was set up in preparation for the region’s staging of the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup. Nigel Logan, a director of Sabina Park Holdings and the chairman of its lights committee, said the implementation will be financed by Consolidated Energy Partners and predicted that the upgrade, courtesy of GE Lighting, will be of the highest standards.

“The funding... it’s going to be financed by the supplier. The lights will be GE lights and they will be very good... (they will be) excellent for cricket and have definition similar to what you see in the IPL (Indian Premier League)...(it will be of) first-rate quality,” Logan said.

Wright, who has been head of the local association since 2011, thanked “the Government for all its support in all ways, shape and form to make this a reality”.

Though the Government disbursed over US$100 million in Jamaica’s part in hosting the World Cup, six years on it is still heavily criticised because the country remains the only leading Caribbean cricketing nation without the requisite infrastructure for hosting international night matches.

Both Wright and Logan declined to comment on what role exactly the current administration has or will play in the lighting process, but the Observer understands that talks have been taking place.

After several attempts Thursday to telephone Minister with Responsibility for Sport Natalie NeitaHeadley, the Observer did make contact via text message. Using the text method, she said she would return the call, but up to press time none was received.

The country is currently a franchise holder for the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 (T20) tournament — set for July 29 to August 26 this year — but runs the risk of losing that status if artificial lights are not put in.

The news of the light installation on the eve of the CPL provides some hope for what is a frustrating issue in cricket circles.

Speaking in an upbeat tone, the JCA president seemed to express relief and thanked the heavens for providing a “positive step forward” for Jamaica’s cricket. “We have been trying for a long time and certainly it looks like we are now seeing the light... we give God thanks for that. We must say how happy we are that this has now materialised at an appropriate time with the Caribbean Premier League just at the doorstep of the Caribbean. I think this certainly is a positive step forward for us. Jamaica have been deprived of international, and even (Continued on page 36)

Sabina Park, one of Caribbean cricket’s favourite venues, is finally on the cusp of having floodlights.

Page 40

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 11, 2013

WOODPECKER NATIONAL JUNIOR SQUASH TOURNAMENT...

Khalil, Shomari Wiltshire produce gritty performances

T

he Guyana S q u a s h Association in collaboration with its number one corporate sponsor Digicel on Thursday night ran off night three of its National Junior Squash tournament sponsored by Woodpecker Products Ltd, at the Georgetown Club Courts.

The night had some enthralling encounters and among them was the one that featured former Caribbean Under-17 Champion Jason Ray Khalil against former Caribbean Under-13 Champion Ben Mekdeci.

Khalil jumped out to a quick two games to nil lead, winning the first game 11-7

and the second 11-5, but on this night the victory would not come easy as Mekdeci clawed his way back into the match by winning the third 11-4 and after leading 6-1 and then 8-5, had two game balls to take the match into a fifth and deciding final game.

H o w e v e r, M e k d e c i could not win that final point and Khalil recovered to win the fourth game 15-13.

Nyron Joseph had a clinical win over Avinash Odit with scores being 112,11-9,11-4 and Steven Joseph, the other top player in the group had to work extra hard to dispose of Alec Melville 11-8,11-6, 9-11,11-8.

The top two Under-19

girls, Caribbean Under-19 Champion Mary Fung-a-Fat and Caribbean Under-19 Runner up Ashley de Groot continued to impress with straight set victories over their respective opponents.

Fung-a-Fat disposed of Larissa Wiltshire 11-0, 11-4, 11-2 and deGroot had a slightly more difficult time in beating Taylor Fernandes 11-7, 11-8, 11-4.

The other exciting contest of the night featured two Under-13 Boys Shomari Wiltshire and Alex Cheeks.

In the first game, Wiltshire raced out to an early 9-3 lead, before Cheeks rebounded to reel off the next eight points to take the first game 11-9.

In the second stanza, Wiltshire again raced out to an early 7-1 advantage, but again Cheeks fought back to come within one point down, before Wiltshire regained his composure to grab the set 119. Both youngsters were playing excellent squash and the third game was no diifferent, but this time it was Cheeks who had game ball at 10-9, before Wiltshire won the next three points to win the game 12-10.

The two opening sets trend was again the order as Wiltshire jumped out to an early lead but again Cheeks forced his way back into the game, only this time he was not given the chance to get ahead and Wiltshire held on to wrap up the match 11-9.

Results on night three are as follows: BOYS UNDER-11 Gianni Carpenter beat Daniel Lowe 11-1, 11-9 Lucas Jonas beat Nathan Rahaman 11-0, 11-2 Demetrius De Abrue defeated Rajiv Lee 11-1, 11-4 Shomari Wiltshire beat Dominic Collins 11-1, 11-1 Michael Alphonso beat Liam carpenter 11-2, 11-3 John Phang beat Ethan Jonas 11-1, 11-6 Zachary Persaud beat Gareth da Silva 11-1, 11-2 BOYS UNDER-13 & 15 Shomari Wiltshire beat Alex Cheeks 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9 Matthew Phang beat Daniel Islam 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 Ben Mekdeci beat Anthony Islam 11-2, 11-3, 11-1 Jael Gaskin beat Michael Ramroop 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 411, 11-6 GIRLS UNDER-13 & 15 Rebecca Low beat Maya Collins 11-1, 11-2, 11-1 Taylor Fernandes beat Makeda Harding 11-0, 11-1, 11-1 Sarah Lewis beat Savannah Mendes 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 GIRLS UNDER-17 & 19 Mary Fung A fat beat

Mary Fung A Fat

Ashley DeGroot

Shomari Wiltshire

Nyron Joseph

Larissa Wiltshire 11-0, 11-4, 11-2 Ashley De Groot beat Taylor Fernandes 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 Boys Under-17 & 19 Jason Ray Khalil beat Ben Mekdeci 11-7, 11-5, 4-11, 15-13 Steven Xavier beat Alec Melville 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 118 Nyron Joseph beat Avinash odit 11-2, 11-9, 11-4.

MEANWHILE, IN NIGHT TWO RESULTS: BOYS UNDER-11 Zachary Persaud beat Ethan Jonas 11-7,11-2 Dominic Collins beat Daniel Lowe 11-2,11-6 Gianni Carpenter beat Rajiv Lee 11-6,11-6 Michael Alphonso beat Nathan Rahaman 11-4,11-5 Shomari Wiltshire beat Lucas Jonas 11-1,11-2 John Phang beat Liam Carpenter11-0,11-3 Demetrius DeAbreu beat Gareth DaSilva 11-4, 11-2 GIRLS UNDER-13 AND 15 Rebecca Low defeated Makeda Harding 11-2,111,11-3 Savannah Mendes beat Maya Collins 11-7,11-8,911,11-4

All Youth Sports Club to host Softball competition The All Youth Sports Club will be hosting a 7-a-side 4 over softball cricket competition on May 26th at Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

The winning team will receive $50,000 and a trophy.

Action gets underway at 09:00hrs and interested teams are asked to contact Ricky Persaud on 623-5566 or Abib Haniff on 647-5524. Entrance fee is $10,000.

Jason Ray Khalil Taylor Fernandes beat Sarah Lewis 11-0,11-3,11-1 BOYS UNDER-13 AND 15 Shomari Wiltshire beat Anthony Islam 11-1,11-3,116 Matthew Phang beat Jael Gaskin 11-2,11-1,11-1 Ben Mekdeci beat Alex Cheeks 11-1,11-2,11-0 Daniel Islam beat Michael Ramroop 11-6,11-4,11-8 GIRLS UNDER-17 AND 19 Akeila Wiltshire beat Larissa Wiltshire 11-5,11-6,1113,11-3 A s h l e y D e G ro o t b e a t Kristina Cheeks 11-0,111,11-2 Mary Fung A Fat defeated Taylor Fernandes 11-3,113,11-1 BOYS UNDER-17 AND 19 Nyron Joseph beat Ben Mekdeci 11-7,11-3,12-10 Steven Xavier beat Avinash Odit 11-3,11-5,11-1 Matches continue today at 9:00am and conclude with the final set of matches scheduled to begin at 10:00am tomorrow.

Saturday May 11, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 41

CARIBBEAN FULLBORE RIFLE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS INDIVIDUALS

DEFENDING CHAMPS GUYANA READY FOR THE CHALLENGES

By Franklin Wilson in Barbados with the compliments of…

RHTY&SC, THE TROPHY STALL The 2013 edition of the Caribbean Fullbore Rifle Shooting Championships will fire off today at the Paragon Ranges in the Land of the Flying Fish, Barbados with the Individual competition and unlike previous years, the competition is anticipated to be much stiffer.

Despite receiving their rifles only yesterday morning since no space was available on their Caribbean Airlines Flight out of Trinidad on Thursday, Team Captain Mahendra Persaud said he was pleased that his charges were able to put in a satisfying day of practice at the Ranges.

“We had a quick practice at 300 yards then we went to 900 yards and basically everybody did well. We had a pretty decent practice so

it’s all about tomorrow (today). Guyana will start off this morning with other countries possibly Trinidad.”

There will be four days of individual competition with Canada, Australia, England, Guernsey, Guyana, Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago and the host country set to compete in what is a huge meet.

Commenting on the team, Wind Coach Paul Slowe said that the individual competition will be used to get the team into full readiness for the Team Championships where Guyana will be defending the Short and Long Range Titles.

“I think all the shooters were able to get in some good practice and from a

coaching standpoint I looked at the wind and tried to pick up changes but that will change from day to day.

Luckily today (yesterday) we got a bit of rain so we got to see what it would be like when the rain is falling, so I think we are as ready as we can for action.”

Slowe, who is also Captain of the West Indies team, said that he noticed all the big shooters from the Caribbean are here in Barbados so he is looking forward to putting together a solid team for the Australia versus the rest match.

The team held an encouraging team talk yesterday morning and all are on the same page, ready for the battle, Persaud noted.

The meet and greet session with all the countries took place last evening.

Guyana Wado Ryu Association receives equipment

Dhillon De Mendonca (fourth left) presents the equipment to Sensei Winston Dunbar in the presents of other students and instructors.

Michael De Mendonca, a United Statesbased former student of the Guyana Wado Ryu Karate Association has continued his support of the Association with a timely donation of training equipment.

De Mendonca son Dhillion made the presentation of a Dummy and heavy punching bag to Chief Instructor Sensei Winston Dunbar during a simple ceremony Thursday afternoon at the Banks DIH dojo.

Sensei Dunbar said that the Association

was extremely delighted by the kind gesture of De Mendonca who has always offered assistance to the Guyana Wado Ryu Karate Association.

Last year De Mendonca and another former student Terrence Clarke donated karate mitts and headgears.

Dunbar said the donation was timely as the members of the Association are now preparing the Banks DIH sponsored National championships on June 9 at Thirst Park.

LET THE SHOTS BEGIN! Team Guyana posing at the Hotel just after practice yesterday, primed and ready for action from today. Missing from the photo is Vice Captain Dylan Fields who will arrive on the Island today.

Rafael Nadal battles back to beat David Ferrer at Madrid Open

B

BC Sport Rafael Nadal came from a set and a break down to beat David Ferrer in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.

After being broken in the final game of the first set, the world number five trailed his fellow Spaniard 4-2 in the second before taking it on a tie-break.

And Nadal roared through the decider to complete a 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 win and book a last-four meeting with Pablo Andujar, who beat Kei Nishikori.

Andy Murray meets Tomas Berdych in the last eight later on Friday.

Even before the NadalFerrer quarter-final, Murray, seeded three, was the highest ranked player left in the tournament after a second-

Rafael Nadal (Getty Images)

round defeat for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer’s loss to Nishikori on Thursday.

Indeed, at world number four, Ferrer is a place higher than his compatriot Nadal, following the left-hander’s seven-month injury lay-off which began after last year’s Wimbledon.

Ferrer, however, had won only four of their previous 21 meetings, and none of their

last six. Nevertheless, his baseline game almost ended Nadal’s run of six successive finals since his return.

A set and 4-2 up, Ferrer looked close to earning a first win on clay over Nadal for nine years, only for the 11time Grand Slam champion to break straight back.

And, after coming through the tie-break 7-3, Nadal was unstoppable in the final set.

t r o Sp CARIBBEAN FULLBORE RIFLE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS INDIVIDUALS

DEFENDING CHAMPS GUYANA READY FOR THE CHALLENGES WOODPECKER NATIONAL JUNIOR SQUASH TOURNEY

Marlon Richards bowls duringhis 5-wicket haul (WICB)

Kraigg Brathwaite drives Imran Khan during his century (WICB).

Brathwaite, Simmons slam centuries, T&T trail by 119 runs with 6 wickets intact

Khalil, Shomari Wiltshire produce gritty performances Jamaica lose again at CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship KN Sports reporter Mohamed among those successful at WICUA exams

Vryheid’s Lust goal scorer, Chriswell Williams (left) advances in the keen battle against East La Penitence.

Serena forced to battle into Madrid Open INTENSE RIVALRIES CONTINUE AT semis MACKESON ‘KEEP YOUR FIVE ALIVE’ Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210