Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 3

Adequate evidence exists for court action …Liquidating the Holding Company not off the table - Greenidge over NICIL

By Gary Eleazar There is enough for a case to be made against Winston Brassington, the Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) as well as subject Minister Dr Ashni Singh, says Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Carl Greenidge, also challenges interpretations by Brassington of NICIL’s actions and mandate. He says that there is always the option to completely liquidate the holding company, failing alternatives available to remedy the situation.

Greenidge insists that for NICIL and Brassington to claim that it is a private company and as such cannot receive directives from the Government “is rubbish, completely inaccurate.”

In conceding that there is clearly something amiss, Greenidge says that the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) provides remedies.

He added that one option in light of the significant backlog of audited reports is to have all of the monies in the various entities such as NICIL immediately turned over to the Consolidated Fund He reminds that the FMAA “actually has penalties…The penalties

however will have to be subject to the intervention of the lawyers before they can be applied to the Minister.”

Greenidge says however that in the interim the FMAA has a penalty dealing with loss or misuse of state resources.

Under section 85 of the FMAA it states: An official who - (a) falsifies any account, statement, receipt or other record issued or kept for the purposes of this Act, the Regulations, the Finance Circulars or any other instrument made under this Act; (b) conspires or colludes with any other person to defraud the State or make opportunity for any person to defraud the State; or (c) knowingly permits any other person to contravene any provision of this Act, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable on conviction to a fine of two million dollars and to imprisonment for three years.

According to Greenidge, Brassington is a public official, and as such falls under the purview of the FMAA and should malfeasance be established, then he can be prosecuted.

Greenidge, while conceding that he is no lawyer says that the law is clear, in that Brassington can be prosecuted as long as malfeasance can be established. “That’s what it clearly says in the Act.” The Former Finance

Minister told this publication that as it relates “Ministers and Politicians who are not officials, we will set about changing the legislation.” He summed up that in the interim, the Constitution coupled with the FMAA provides for a case to be taken to court.

This, Greenidge says, is his understanding from his lawyers, and this is what they will be asked to work on.

Greenidge also told this publication that in the current circumstances the independent auditors, which in this case would be the Audit Office of Guyana, will be expected to make recommendations, after which the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is mandated to act.

“To say that it’s a private company and the government can’t do anything about it is nonsense,” Greenidge stressed. He explained that the government is the sole shareholder of NICIL and as such can instruct the directors to turn the monies over to the Consolidated Fund.

“It is in its power, naturally, as the sole owner, to tell them to dispose of, or liquidate the company.”

He was adamant that this role is not up to the directors of the company as has been intimated by Brassington.

NICIL’s Directors include Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr

Demerara River drug bust trial continues Witnesses in the $135M cocaine bust that occurred on the Demerara River in early January of this year continued to give evidence in the matter against the two accused Mark Singh and Steve Reddy yesterday.

Shazim Dean was also charged for the drugs that were allegedly found aboard the boat, Bismarck 2. The accused appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Court.

Vic Puran is the Special Prosecutor, while Attorneys Mark Waldron and Nigel Hughes are representing Singh and Reddy respectively.

Shazim Dean’s matter is being handled separately from that of the other accused. His matter is being heard by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell, and has reached the point where he is to lead the defence.

Dean however showed up

yesterday and gave evidence on behalf of the prosecution. He was crossexamined by defence counsel Nigel Hughes and will return for further crossexamination.

The men were charged for reportedly having 27.230 kilograms of cocaine in their possession. The police in a press release had stated that the drug bust came after three months of intelligence gathering. The Customs (Continued on page 11)

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh

Executive Director of NICIL Winston Brassington

Roger Luncheon and Company Secretary Marcia Nadir-Sharma.

“They have to take instructions from the representatives of government,” Greenidge said, even as he lamented the political makeup of the board in its current form, “you end up with people that are politicians essentially.”

Greenidge was adamant that it is the Government that has to instruct the transfer of NICIL dividends to the Consolidated Fund, and this cannot be done at the whims and fancies of the directors of NICIL as claimed by Brassington.

GOVT. TRANSFER OF LAND TO NICIL Greenidge says that the argument now “is whether they have been using the shield of NICIL to dispose of funds in a non-transparent manner and in ways that are unjustifiable.”

In putting the administration to task over NICIL he asked, “If NICIL is a private company over which the government has no control, and only the shareholders, then what is it doing receiving free land from the Government?”

Greenidge suggests that if NICIL is a private company over which the government does not have control then it is illegal to be transferring lands to NICIL “free of cost.”

He said that State land is transferred to NICIL which in turn disposes of it in some cases, to Ministers, “which as far as I am concerned is

illegal, especially to (Bharrat) Jagdeo.”

He argues that the Former President should not be entitled to State lands, saying that as President he was the guardian of State Lands.

Speaking to what NICIL is supposed to be doing with its money, the former Finance Minister says that the Constitution of Guyana supersedes any law and the Constitution demands that the monies be turned over to the Consolidated Fund.

Greenidge concedes that it is ultimately for the Government to decide where the money is invested, but argues that it is also for “the Legislature to know and to give its view on the matter.”

“It is for the government to decide on how state assets are used but it does not exercise that power in a vacuum.”

Greenidge reminded that the money in question are very substantial amounts and “whilst the government is taxing people and telling them that they cannot reduce taxes, the government has taken revenues from the sale of land and property, has it essentially in a slush fund, and they just facilitate friends, cronies and businesses associated with government and other things.”

“What Government must now do is establish that the monies are being disposed of in a way that is defensible.

The idea of putting it in the Consolidated Fund is in the Constitution. The default position as it relates to

APNU MP Carl Greenidge government monies is to put it into the Consolidated Fund.”

He said that if for any operational reason it would be more prudent to have the monies managed outside of the Consolidated Fund then “if operational costs warrant it, then you can make such an arrangement.”

Greenidge was adamant that it is not a default position that large sums of government money automatically finds its way into NCICL accounts, “and you decide what you want to do with it afterwards.”

The APNU parliamentarian says that as it relates to his party, “all options are open. The situation will be rectified if necessary by amending the relevant legislation...The parliament has the competence to amend the legislation under which NICIL falls.”

He said that NICIL was not created by the Constitution and as such amending the legislation will not require a 2/3 majority vote, a simple majority will suffice.

“If necessary it can even be liquidated…all options are on the table, let us see how the government behaves, the initial reaction I must say is completely unacceptable”.

Page 4

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 spirit moves on There are many who talk about the ‘spirit’ of man: Philip Moore lived out the meaning of that belief. Earlier this week, the spirit of Philip Moore moved on to other realms after his mortal body had spent nine decades on this earth.

Guyana was indeed blessed to have produced such a man as Philip Moore and it is our hope that he will be given appropriate recognition at this time so that future generations would know that ‘to live with the spirit’ is not just a figure of speech.

Known by every Guyanese who has passed through at least primary school, as the creator of the monument to our national Hero, Cuffy, Philip Moore was born in 1921 in the village of Manchester on the Corentyne Coast.

Even though he received his “school leaving certificate” in 1938, he could not make it as a policeman. Spiritually inclined from boyhood, he converted to Jordanite Christianity in 1940. This is very significant.

Throughout the hundreds of years of slavery, the planters had used the most extreme measures – including torture – to eradicate the culture of the African slaves. But aspects of the latter – especially its spiritual component – were stubbornly maintained.

The Christianity imparted in the post-slavery era in many instances was blended with those African practices in all the ex-‘slave colonies’.

The practice of the baptism in water; shakings after being possessed by the Holy Ghost and speaking in ‘tongues’, were central elements to the Jordanite faith as with the Shaker Baptists in T&T, for instance.

While overtly Christian, the practices in their performance were “Africanised” and earned much disdain from the wider, more orthodox Christians. In Guyana, the men and women wore white robes and turbans.

As Moore later recounted it, he was working in the cane fields as a cane cutter in 1955 when “A wind came and encircled me and then something inside me said ‘so long you wanted to carve a man’s head out of wood; get up and do it.” He took his cutlass cut a piece of wood from a nearby tree and carved a perfect head.

From that point there was no turning back. He worked in all sorts of media – even from ‘scraps’ and odds and ends he found in his everyday life. While many assert that he was ‘self taught’, Moore would dispute that since he viewed his mind as being in communion with the world of the spirits that surround us all.

Very soon his talent had been recognised by the Georgetown establishment – perhaps at the mundane level of craftsmanship. He was hired to teach wood carving at the GTI. In 1970 his submission to create the 1763 Monument was accepted and after making the model in Guyana, it was sent to England where the 25-ft. statue that stands today in the Square of the Revolution was cast in bronze. This is now his most famous work.

The power of the figure and its symbolism has forced the Guyanese people to look beyond the hegemony constructed by our former slave masters and accept that there are different ways of looking at the world.

And that the ‘world’ includes forces and spirits – including those of our ancestors – that we ignore to our loss, and possibly peril. In the 1970s, which was a time of re-appraisement by the African Diaspora, Moore was invited to Princeton University where he shared his insights with a wider audience.

There is something to be said for our country that the genius of Moore was recognised by his country in his lifetime. Almost one hundred and forty pieces of his work were acquired and are part of our national collection. Moore has always been fiercely patriotic: not in the jingoistic sense but in the concern for the country that produced him and for the new generations that have followed him. He was never too busy to share in vision or his talent.

As we proposed in the beginning, Philip Moore must be given the highest honours that befit a son and a father of this nation.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

We are victims of the German citizen DEAR EDITOR, I feel compelled to reply to your May, 13 Article captioned “German Citizen Claims Police Brutality-after Irfaan Ali wake house incident.” I must say how disappointed I am that this newspaper did not seek to verify the statements of the complainant before publishing them. I have not studied journalism but I know that any professional journalist will verify a story before printing.

Firstly , the wake was kept at the residence of Mohamed Osman Ali so I don’t know how it became Irfaan Ali Wake house Incident but I am not surprised that Kaieteur News would choose to write the name of Irfaan Ali since this newspaper is obsessed with him.

I am not surprised, also, that the caption is on the first page since this newspaper is hell bent on portraying him

in a negative light and wants to ensure that everyone sees it.

I notice that the complainant has been portraying herself as the victim of her “power drunk” neighbours which is far from the truth.

The truth is that we are the victims of her constant mental abuse which we receive on a daily basis. She targets us with her profanities and loud music constantly .

These profanities are so colourful that we feel so embarrassed-I thank God that we don’t have children around to hear them. When visitors come to us it is even worse but we suffer and we suffer hoping and praying that things will change. So many times my blood pressure will go up because she doesn’t speak but shouts and screams her curses.

Sometimes we would ask the security guards to speak

to her and they would receive their share of curses.

In addition, she keeps her horses under her house which is another way of torturing us because we have to put up with the stench that emanates from their droppings and the flies that they bring. She claims that she is a German citizen and no one can do her anything.

We say nothing to her because we don’t want confrontations so she feels that she could do whatever she wants.

Power is displayed in many ways and by disrespecting the police she has shown that she is the one who is power drunk. We would never disrespect a police officer, by gleefully impinging on the peace and rights of others she has shown that she is power drunk –we would never do that, by openly using profanities against Ministers of the Government, she has

shown that she is power drunk. We would never do that.

In addition, a person who can cause another to fear him/ her is a very powerful person and believe me, I do fear this woman.

According to the article her house is sandwiched between Irfaan Ali’s mansion and his parents’ house. I see it this way, her house is at the center so she can launch her attacks at us simultaneously.

I want to conclude by saying that the entire article was riddled with untruth.

True it is that she was having her normal day but she did not accurately describe what her normal day is. Her normal day is to curse us, to pick on us and to torture us and that is what she was doing on the day in question.

I hope you will publish my letter as early as possible.

Bibi Ali Victim of the complainant

The ERC should not be sacrificed DEAR SIR, With regards to your ‘Peeping Tom’ article of Friday 11th May, 2012 on the Ethnic Relations Commission. I might support the view that the action of some members of staff, maybe four or five, may have harmed the perception about the Commission’s future ability to be impartial. Fact may often be distorted by perception.

The fact is that each member of staff is an individual, who is entitled to an opinion, and a choice of which political party he/she supports. However, it is made clear that in the office and at work, each is to remain neutral.

I know of one incident where an individual, working with the Commission, brought into the office political literature and application forms concerning a particular party. He was severely reprimanded and nearly dismissed. However, it was a first offence so he was not dismissed, nor was the offence repeated.

The Commission can do nothing to reassure staff that they will be paid. Staff may continue to work at their own risk, it is their choice.

Can it be expected that anyone will pay transportation to and from work, and all the expenses of a home, to go to a job which cannot even advise when salaries will be paid?

Be realistic. So, some in desperation chose to go to their elected representative in a Parliament which failed them, this to complain about their immediate problem.

Parliament is the culprit.

It has failed to act on the E.R.C matter since 2007. “Is na me; is he”.

This is the blame game, which the parties use to avoid their responsibility, in this case since 2007. Then, as now, each Parliamentarian is responsible to each person for his/her job.

It may only be twenty jobs. In the scheme of things a mere twenty; but if you, as an individual, lose your job, and your family suffers it is very different.

Parliament runs the country but it is also responsible to the citizens for their quality of life.

Currently there is a Parliament which needs statesmen to steer the ship of the State on a safe course.

This calls for fluid positions

based on arguments put forward.

It is my understanding (right or wrong I don’t know), that in the last Parliament the matter of the list of constituents was agreed at subcommittee level, but failed to be approved because of one stumbling block. This block has been removed.

It is my understanding (right or wrong I don’t know), that the Parliament can, once all members agree, adopt the list of constituents proposed by the subcommittee of the last Parliament. In this way time may be saved to appoint new Commissioners (long overdue).

Parliament created this child, the E.R.C. Perhaps a subvention can be made to keep the child alive with a further allocation until such

time as new Commissioners are appointed and the subvention increased.

I dislike having to write such a letter but circumstances seem to warrant it. Many persons do not seem to understand that the constituents who make up the constituency are not from Parliament but from various organizations which choose a person, normally by a vote of members, to represent it.

That person’s name is sent to Parliament, which in turn will forward the name to his Excellency to be sworn in as a Commissioner of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

Seven Commissioners, when sworn in, elect their Chairman.

Thank you, L.J.P Willems

The Pontius Pilates are hurting Enmore DEAR EDITOR, I refer to an article on page 3 of Kaieteur News issue of 14th instant captioned: New “Crime wave” put Enmore on edge.

I am on record via several offerings to the letter columns of the print media that the security of a community is in the hands of the residents of that community. In every community there are the Pontius Pilates who take no responsibility for what goes wrong in the community, but who push out their chests as being major players when good things happen.

The Enmore Community is no different. Many residents, obviously with the mentality of Pontius Pilate,

refuse to accept that the Policing Group(s) in the community are made up of people who VOLUNTEER their time, effort and money to patrol the community.

The community can have more patrols if residents, instead of asking “where is the Policing Group” become part of the Policing Group(s).

Every household in the community should make up the Group.

I hold the strong view that crime in any Community can only take a stranglehold if the community allows it to. Isn’t it an impotent community when a dozen young men can hold thousands of residents hostage? Come on, people: Take back your community!

In Enmore, the Policing

Group has not had elections for over 10 years. The leadership is fossilized in a state of complacency and reactiveness; regurgitating an outmoded approach to community security and void of new ideas. It refuses to have elections for fear that the status quo would be upset.

Meetings are attended by six persons.

Embarrassing!

Enmore was a model of what Community Policing in Guyana should be. It is now a mockery. This is an indictment on the leadership which wants to stay in office regardless.

Don’t take my word for it, Editor. Send your people on the ground to investigate.

T. Jadunauth

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

NICIL MAY BE A THIEF

DEAR EDITOR, This latest answer from Mr. Winston Brassington in relation to the details about the money accumulated by NICIL is a show of disdain and disregard for the citizens of Guyana.

From our standpoint at City Hall, we had a taste of the Brassington/NICIL greed and injustice.

NICIL by its unique process disposed of GNIC and ignored the requirement to pay taxes of $70 Million due to the Mayor and City Council. We sought recourse of the Courts but are yet to receive one penny.

What we need from Mr. Winston Brassington (we

heard he had retired) are the sums paid to NICIL since its establishment with dates of each and every transaction; Was the agreed sum paid in full, if not who still owes and how much; are they paying any interest on the balance; what means were employed

by NICIL to decide on the several buyers; how was the purchase / selling price arrived at; was there an official valuation, if so, by whom, or was the G o v e r n m e n t Va l u a t i o n Division involved; if there was a valuation the people need to put it alongside the actual price paid / received; was the money paid in

Guyana dollars; which bank or banks does NICIL use to hold its obviously vast sums; who are the signatories to this bank account; what does NICIL do with its money; why has NICIL failed to satisfy all of its financial obligation to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council in relation to moe than 12 properties located in the City for taxes are overdue.

The Chronicle, Channel 11 or radio will not publish this letter, but if the people whose property NICIL disposed of fail to obtain satisfactory answers, I will propose a signature campaign, confident that

many PPP supporters, fed up with this apparent rape will come forward and sign..

Further, if more information comes out, the police must be told to act.The law required all property owners to pay all taxes due before selling.

The Government for reasons best known, exempted NICIL from this obligation, but this did not remove the legal requirement to pay their due taxes.

All of the Holy Books support the injustice, ‘thou shall not steal! The God of the Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Bahal, Buddist or Rasta grants no exception.

Hamilton Green, J.P.

Is Ramsammy touting continued suffering?

DEAR EDITOR, We refer to that letter from the Minister of Agriculture captioned “Is this what AFC supporters voted for?”

Under this PPP Government some 270,000 are living below the poverty line, that is 270,000 too many Mr. Ramsammy. Is this what the PPP supporters voted for?

The surest way out of poverty is secure and tenured jobs; not a contract job that makes one literally a slave to a Minister and by extension, the PPP government. Yet this PPP minority Government is the architect of employing contract employees with the mindset to destroy the established Public Service.

The modus operandi of the minority dictatorial PPP regime is to deflower the Public Service so that it can continue to give civil servants the meager five per cent increase annually.

How dare Ramsammy lecture the nation on bread and butter issues when his Government was the engineer that took bread and butter from hundreds of poor workers since 2010 to now and use that money instead to feed the PPP “big fishes”?

The fact is the PPP minority government today cannot be trusted to help the poor and the working class because it is not in its DNA to do so. In fact, the party is more inclined to help its rich and ‘untouchable’ relatives and friends at the expense of the poor.

Was it not a great betrayal and naked vindictiveness when Ramsammy’s Ministry fired 77 Lindeners from the NDIA? Wasn’t it vindictiveness when sugar workers at Skeldon Sugar Estates were fired as collateral damage to cover for the malfunctioning white elephant his Government built at a cost of G$40 billion, that resulted in a 53 per cent decline in sugar productivity?

Wasn’t it vindictiveness

bordering on racism to say that Afro-Guyanese were not qualified to be appointed to ambassadorial positions?

Isn’t it malice to grant 90 per cent of all government contracts to one ethnic group? Isn’t it evilness to burn the testicles of a 14 year old and then refuse to compensate him despite ordered by a judge to do so?

Wasn’t it spite when the casual workers in the Post Office were let go when that critical service had over 150 permanent vacancies under the watch of Junior Minister Edghill? Was it not a betrayal of workers’ rights when Davekumar Jainauth injured himself at work and the State told him to use aspirins to get rid of his pains?

If not for the AFC intervening, Mr. Jainauth might have been permanently paralyzed because of Ramsammy’s PPP Government coldheartedness.

Ramsammy has really suited up to battle for the preservation of the supersalaries for the PPP “political cronies” using the poor and the working class to mask this naked abuse of the Treasury.

All those candlelight vigils are aimed at protecting the multi-million dollars funding for Gail Teixeira, Odinga

Lumumba, Harripersaud Nokta, Clinton Collymore, Alexei Ramotar, Shaym Nokta and a small army of PPP loyalist.

It is beyond dispute that the aggregated salaries of these six political favourties have and continue to cost the taxpayers some $100 million a year.

The aggregate salary of these six PPP favourites can

pay some 175 public servants and feed some 700 mouths every year, more than all of the employees of GINA, NCN, and the Climate Change Unit combined.

So whom does Mr. Ramsammy think he is fooling as he battles to protect the status quo in the PPP Government?

Dr. Asquith Rose and Sasenarine Singh

Excessive security?

DEAR EDITOR, It is with much disappointment that I share this harrowing experience. I visited Republic Bank, Camp Street, recently just before midday and was horrified at the huge crowd that was there awaiting service. I soon learnt that although there were fifteen wickets only nine were manned at the time.

Whilst waiting, I did a survey and observed that there were forty-two cameras hanging over the tellers’ serving members of the public. One section which had fifteen wickets, there were twenty two cameras, the other had ten cameras covering seven wickets, and yet again the other had ten over seven wickets.

A few years ago six staff members were dismissed after $8,000,000 disappeared from RBL- Guyoil ATM in Kitty. I immediately wondered if it was by this or similar means that the culprit/s accessed the password/s to infiltrate the security system at that ATM. Of course, no one has ever been held responsible for that crime.

I also wondered if the young people at their wickets were conscious of the fact that persons can pick up the passwords to their systems via these cameras. Upon enquiring from the staff that attended to me, she said that it never crossed her mind. The following day at the same hour, I visited NBS and they had eleven wickets of which nine were manned. Within twenty-five minutes I was able to transact my business and leave.

I also noted one solitary camera over all eleven wickets which translate into managements trust in their employees’ integrity. It will be good if RBL can stop focusing on the billionplus profits they declare, and invest in their external and internal customer needs.

An RBLCustomer

Page 6

Kaieteur News

QAII assets skyrocket after Sanata acquisition Having negotiated to lease the Sanata Complex at Industrial Site in Ruimveldt, Queens Atlantic Investment Incorporated (QAII) also negotiated the purchase of the land and property two years later for a still undisclosed sum from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Following the acquisition of this property, QAII reported that its assets more than doubled.

The company’s 2010 Financial Statements, which were inked by the Group’s head and best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, verified that the group’s total assets for 2009 were $3.6B. It skyrocketed to $7.9B in 2010.

In that 2010 Financial Statement it is illustrated that appreciation of assets came from the realization of ‘tangible fixed assets.”

According to the report, QAII’s ‘tangible fixed assets’ for 2009 was worth some $1.2B and by the subsequent year that figure appreciated to $5.2B. The company’s 2010 report on its financial expenditure also shows an increase for Director Fees and Allowances. While net expenditure for the year increased for the company

Executive Chairman of QAII, Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop over the previous year, its rates and taxes paid remained stagnant at $6M. QAII is said to be an investment company consisting of five subsidiary companies, namely: Global Printing and Graphics Inc.; Global Hardware Inc.; Global Textile (Guyana) Inc.; Health International Inc.; Healthcare Life Sciences Inc. Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. was incorporated in Guyana in 1999 and is run by a board of directors.

Following invitations to lease the Complex along with some components of the dye factory it housed, the

Government of Guyana in 2008 approved the privatization of the Sanata Textiles Complex (Sanata), Industrial Site, Georgetown to QAII for the purpose of establishing a multi-purpose investment complex.

NICIL’s Executive Director Winston Brassington and the Executive Chairman of QAII, Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, in a joint missive, had stated that the privatization of Sanata had taken the form of the issuance of a 99-year lease at a substantive rental of approximately $50M per year.

Dr Ramroop at the time had intimated that he envisaged an overall investment of US$30M and the creation of 1200 jobs of which 600 new, permanent jobs would become a reality by the end of 2008.

Rehabilitation and construction of the facilities which commenced in June 2007 were said to be phased over a three-year period.

Prior to this, $400M was spent on the removal of asbestos from the buildings by the Government before it was leased and subsequently sold to Dr Ramroop.

Until it was sold, Sanata was leased to and managed by the China Textiles Industrial Corporation for Foreign Economic and Technical Cooperation of China.

In 2000, the assets of the company were brought under the control of NICIL and subsequently a new company, G&C Sanata, was established.

Following this, the Government advertised for investors to lease the property and when no takers approached, NICIL approached Dr Ramroop to lease the property.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Sugar production in Guyana at its worst - 2012 records lowest first crop figure for over 20 years

The sugar industry recorded a production of 67,299 tonnes.

Almost halfway through the year, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is already counting its losses as its sugar estates are presently suffering from low yields and minimal sugar production across the country.

While GuySuCo and the Ministry of Agriculture were both optimistic at the start of 2012 that the industry would be able to meet this year’s production target of between 250,000 and 265,000 tonnes, the heavy rainfall has badly affected the first crop.

The inclement weather pattern, coupled with the strike action experienced during the first half of 2012, resulted in a major impact on the estates’ performances.

Kaieteur News understands that as at the week ending May 6, 2012, the sugar industry recorded a production of 67,299 tonnes, which is evidently the lowest figure in first crop production for over 20 years.

Last year, the country saw production of 106,627 tonnes

at the end of that first crop and this year the industry barely managed to scrape 63 per cent of that total.

Some have deemed it “unwise” to reap cane in the wet since after this is done the fields are exposed to rainfall on the bare land which encourages soil compaction and poor regrowth. It also washes away fertilizers and promotes weed growth etc.

In addition because of the intermittent grinding due to the low rate of harvesting in the rain, the factories become uneconomical to operate.

This newspaper was told that the Rose Hall factory in Berbice produced 79 tonnes of sugar as at the week ending May 6, 2012, and the Blairmont factory, also in the Ancient County, recorded a production of 139 tonnes.

Meanwhile the Enmore sugar factory located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) saw a poor yield of 156 tonnes for that period.

For the Skeldon Sugar Estate, Corentyne, Berbice,

which had a history of being the best yielding estate of cane and sugar per acre in previous years, the workers only managed to produce 6,596 tonnes at the week ending May 6, 2012, in comparison with the 6,944 tonnes produced at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

This factory at Skeldon has produced the lowest amount of sugar in the 2012 first crop than any other factory in the entire industry.

In 2011, the first crop at Albion, Berbice, produced 28,504 tonnes of sugar; in 2012 it only produced 16,135 tonnes up to the week ending May 6.

Rose Hall, which had produced 15,430 tonnes last year, could only produce 10,640 tonnes for their first crop for this year while Blairmont produced 10,122 tonnes as at May 6, 2012 which was a much lower figure than 2011’s achievement of 17,611 tonnes (Continued on page 24)

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 7

Women activists call for more affordable abortion services - make reference to Karen Bahdal

The women activists during the picketing exercise.

As Mother’s Day passed, members of the Red Thread Women’s Organization found it to be a rather suitable time to protest the lack of safe and affordable abortion services offered in Guyana. They yesterday staged a picketing exercise outside the Ministry of Health, on Brickdam.

It was organized by Sherlina Nageer, who explained to this publication that since there are too few medical practitioners authorized to perform this procedure, and none of them is working within the public sector, safe abortions are inaccessible by poor women, who, as a result, are forced to choose the least expensive way out which mostly entails being operated upon by an unlicenced doctor working “off the record” in a “bottom house clinic”.

The women also made reference to the unfortunate case of Karen Bahdal, an 18year-old mother of two who died from a botched abortion done at a “bottom house” clinic on the East Coast of Demerara.

The Vigilance, East Coast Demerara teen succumbed in the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after undergoing surgery to repair a perforated uterus and

damaged bowels.

Bahdal’s husband, Vishal Surujpaul, had initially told Kaieteur News that his wife was four months pregnant and was continuously asking to have an abortion, since she already had two children; a two-year-old and a fourmonth-old.

After much deliberation, Surujpaul said that he gave Bahdal the money to go to a doctor, but was not expecting her to go through with the abortion.

He said that after the termination, Bahdal began vomiting continuously while complaining of abdominal pains. He subsequently took her to see a doctor at the GPHC, where she was immediately admitted.

Her doctor then reportedly advised that she (Bahdal) undergo an

emergency surgery to mend the damage caused to her uterus and bowels. Bahdal never regained consciousness and eventually died of septicemia and a ruptured uterus.

And as her ill-fated story unraveled, the physician accused of conducting the botched abortion, had reportedly shut down his East Coast Demerara “bottom house clinic” which he denied even having.

He further denied having anything to do with the teen and her procedure.

After her demise, Bahdal’s mother-in-law, a single mother of one, has been working hand in hand with her son to provide for his two motherless children.

The woman was also among the protesters yesterday, calling for justice

to be served, so as to ensure what happened to Karen Bahdal, does not happen to others.

Kaieteur News was made to understand that the issue is before the Guyana Medical Council, even as the accused physician reportedly continues to work at a private hospital.

The women believe that safe motherhood is every woman’s right, and that the medical council should show real commitment to safeguarding women by collaborating with the police force to conduct ‘sting operations’, in an effort to identify and punish doctors performing unlicenced procedures.

In addition, the women are calling on the Minister of Health to work with his staff to provide medical termination

of pregnancy services throughout every region of Guyana. Affordable and accessible reproductive health care, the women say, is a cornerstone in ensuring that abortions, if resorted to, are afforded by the poorer class of women.

Throughout much of the 20th century, it was officially illegal, but after two years of intense public debate, the National Assembly, in May 1995, passed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill, making Guyana the second country in the English-speaking Caribbean to introduce such legislation.

However, abortions can only be done as long as it is within the first 8 weeks of pregnancy and done with the consent of the pregnant

DEAD: Karen Bahdal woman and by a licenced medical practitioner.

Between eight and 12 weeks from conception, abortion is only legal if the pending childbirth would result in health risks for the woman or the fetus, or if the pregnancy occurred despite the use of contraceptives.

Between 12 and 16 weeks, an abortion can still be legally performed, but only if the health of the woman or fetus is in danger. After 16 weeks, it is only possible to perform an abortion in the case of severe health-related circumstances.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

T&T Opposition party against CAL competing with LIAT Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has called on Government to return Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) to the original business model at the time of its inception, and, among other things, to stop the airline from running a parallel service to compete with Leewards Islands Air Transport (LIAT) in and around the Caribbean.

Speaking at a news conference at the Opposition Leader office, in Port of Spain Rowley said Monday CAL seeking to enter into competition with LIAT was doomed and is bound to create problems with CARICOM governments.

Noting that the plan of having LIAT run the Caribbean routes while CAL takes passengers out of the

Dr Keith Rowley region, Rowley said the George Nicholas-led board upset this when it decided to buy ATR planes to run competition with LIAT. “That has put LIAT into a very difficult position and

Jamaica to ban cell phones while driving KINGSTON, Jamaica – CMC - The Jamaica government says it will pass new legislation to deal with people who use mobile phones while driving.

Transport, Works and Housing Minister Dr. Omar Davies said when the legislation is passed, Jamaica will have a modernised Road Traffic Act and regulations predicated on ensuring that the road safety issues are addressed according to 21st century requirements.

He said that studies have shown that a motorist has only 90 per cent control of the vehicle when texting and driving.

“Fatal crashes have occurred right here in Jamaica, as a result of drivers using their mobile phones while operating their vehicles,” he added.

you would have heard Caribbean prime ministers groaning and complaining about the behaviour of Trinidad and Tobago”.

Rowley said after the experience of Caribbean Sun and Caribbean Star, CAL would do nothing different.

“As long as the (other) island Governments support LIAT in the way they have to, because LIAT is bringing tourists (to them) this competition is doomed to create problems,” he said. He added that CAL to going to islands like St Lucia with five persons on a plane.

Rowley also said the London route, upon which CAL was about to embark, would also be unprofitable.

He said this route was found to be financially unfeasible when BWIA existed. Since then the London route faces more cut-throat competition, lower loads, and CAL, unlike BWIA, is going to Gatwick, which is less attractive.

But perhaps the most ridiculous idea was to consider CAL flying to Mumbai, India, and South Africa. “Absolute madness.

Stupidity bordering on malice,” he said.

He added that he did not think Government knew what was the story of Air India or the smaller airlines in India.

He said the one good thing about this idea is that it would never happen.

“And (thinking of) going to South Africa is even worse,” he said.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Panday to know fate tomorrow on hidden bank account charges (Trinidad Guardian) Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday is expected to know his fate tomorrow after a second trial into charges of failing to declare a London bank account.

Magistrate Marcia Murray is expected to deliver her decision when the matter resumes at 10 am in the Portof-Spain First Magistrate’s Court.

At yesterday’s hearing, Panday’s lawyer, David Aaronberg, QC, continued legal arguments that the lead investigator had failed to interview people pertinent to the matter and therefore the case was incomplete.

Aaronberg argued the prosecution failed to prove Panday had benefited and at the time of signing the statutory declaration, he had not been “deliberately evasive or untruthful about the accounts.”

Aaronberg said Panday’s wife, Oma, was the “true beneficial owner of the account.” On Monday, Aaronberg made an application to have the matter

Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday dismissed on the basis the prosecution had failed to prove its case. Panday is on trial for allegedly failing to declare a London bank account, contrary to the Integrity in Public Life Act, and is accused of failing to disclose the account at National Westminster Bank plc, Wimbledon, London, to the Integrity Commission for the years 1997 to 1999.

In March 2006, Panday was found guilty and sentenced by then Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc

Nichols to serve two years in prison, the maximum penalty under the law. He appealed the decision and the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal and a retrial ordered, which was upheld on appeal to the Privy Council.

On Monday, Aaronberg hinted the investigation against Panday was politically motivated and said the former prime minister had not committed any wrong by failing to declare the accounts. Aaronberg said Panday was being prosecuted under the Integrity in Public Life Act 1987 but that prior to the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000 public figures were not required to declare assets belonging to their spouses.

Responding to Aaronberg’s closing arguments, prosecutor Timothy Cassel, QC, said monies being deposited and withdrawn from the account during the years 1997 to 1999 were “wholly disproportionate” to Panday’s yearly earnings as the prime minister.

Taylor to reject call for 80-year sentence today AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Former Liberian President Charles Taylor will today tell judges he bears no responsibility for atrocities during Sierra Leone’s 11-year civil war, rejecting the prosecution’s demand for an 80-year sentence in a maximum-security British jail.

Taylor, convicted last month of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone’s conflict, is the first head of state to be found guilty by an international tribunal since the Nazi trials at Nuremberg.

His trial caught the public’s attention with its grisly mix of massacres and mutilations committed by

drugged child soldiers, and the notorious “blood diamonds” or uncut stones from the conflict zones which supermodel Naomi Campbell described as “dirty little pebbles” when she testified in court.

Taylor and his defence lawyers have characterized the case as a racist sham and a Western conspiracy, led by the United Kingdom and the United States, against black Africans.

The first African leader to stand trial for war crimes, Taylor was charged with 11 counts of murder, rape, conscripting child soldiers and sexual slavery during intertwined wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone in which

Charles Taylor more than 50,000 people were killed.

The warlord-turnedpresident was also accused of directing Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in a campaign of terror to plunder Sierra Leone’s diamond mines for profit and to obtain weapons.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

THE PPP HAS TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM THE JAGDEO REGIME

The PPP has a serious decision to make. This decision will however have to be made at the level of Congress.

While there have been a few changes taking place, albeit slowly but surely, while some differences are notable between the present administration and the Jagdeo administration, if the PPP is to regain the confidence of the four or five per cent it needs to secure a comfortable majority in the next parliament, it will have to further distance itself from the Jagdeo presidency.

Unfortunately, this may mean having to sever all ties from the leadership of the old president because right now there are still elements of the former regime that are still in power and who seem incapable or unwilling to move away from the policies of the Jagdeo era.

This is the major dilemma that faces the Ramotar administration. The president is surrounded on all sides by elements who are extremely loyal to the former president’s policies and who seem very comfortable continuing those policies.

The president has clearly adopted a new approach to governance. He is not into micromanagement. He is not meeting foreign delegations alone. He is meeting them with his team. Thus, he is able to benefit from the advice of those around him.

He is also trying to restore a position of influence to the party, but he has to be careful that in so doing he does not appoint persons who cannot function effectively.

If you examine the situation closely, it will be observed that the president is surrounded by persons who played a prominent role under the Jagdeo presidency, where working with the opposition was virtually nonexistent.

So how can, for example, the tripartite talks work when the very persons who were part of the failed dialogue process with Desmond Hoyte and the constructive dialogue process with Robert Corbin, are once again part of the makeup of the new talks?

It does not lend to public confidence to have these persons around. This is not a criticism of their abilities or even an admission that

Dem boys seh

Jagdeo gun commit suicide

There is a young saying, not a saying by Brian Yong, that it is better to keep yuh mouth shut and mek people wonder how stupid you are than fuh open yuh mouth and remove all doubt. That is Brazzy.

He nah only open he mouth he open he hand, he foot, in fact everything when he jumping from here to there and everywhere.

He use to walk in de Park a lot. He stop since de Rat gone.

Now dem boys notice that he running. He running to all dem media house. He running to Channel 28 wha de Rat own, Channel 65, Hen See Hen and 69. He also running to dem newspaper—de Chronicle wha seh it got to reduce production and to de Hard Times paper that nobody does read.

He trying fuh wine heself out of a situation but that size wha he got somebody got to wine fuh he. He trying fuh paint a picture but is a picture wha nobody can’t see. Is a picture that ain’t got no colour.

Dem boys seh that if he want to paint a picture that he clean and that he and de Rat didn’t squander de billions he got to come and stand up at de Waterfalls paper and tell dem boys de truth. And not wha he think is de truth. Truth only got one side.

Dem boys gun give he de option. He can come fuss and try fuh protect ee Hin Tegrity. Dem boys know he can’t mek it alone suh he must bring de Rat who nevah had any Hin Tegrity whatsoever— and Shaatie.

Is de same Hin Tegrity wha Panday nah got and he facing jail. All because he nah declare de hidden funds wha he and he wife thief, according to de Trinidad police.

Dem boys hoping and praying that wha happen to Panday, happen to Shaatie and Brazzy. In de case of Panday, people coulda find he funds because he hide de money in wardrobe in a basement in London.

In de case of Shaatie and Brazzy de police got to hire one of dem partners in crime excavator fuh dig up dem backyard fuh find wha dem thief.

As fuh Jagdeo dem boys don’t want jail fuh he. He thief so much that excavator can’t wuk. Dem boys got to find dynamite fuh bring it up from under de Santa complex. And dem gun rejoice when dem hear he commit suicide.

Talk half and wait fuh de slow death.

progress cannot be had with them. Rather it is an assertion that if the tripartite process was ever to enjoy public confidence, the public needed to see new players within the government leading that process.

In the context of government/opposition dialogue this may now be a mute point, because the opposition has clearly acted in bad faith, and it is now almost impossible for the tripartite process to be resumed. For all intents and purposes, that process is dead.

A new process has to emerge. But why should the old players in the government be willing to commit to further engagement with the combined opposition?

“Once bitten, twice shy!”

The government has been bitten more than once and they will be stupid to go back and be bitten again.

But even if the tripartite process is dead, there is still a need to break the political deadlock that will result. And the holding of snap elections is one way to do so.

The PPP may feel that it can easily go back to the

polls and secure a majority.

However, any majority that it will secure will always be tenuous, because the rules were changed in the last constitutional reform process, and under the new rules, the present situation of a minority government was always going to be on the cards.

The PPP won by a landslide in 2006, but the fact is that overall it held a slender majority in the House. With the new rules, this situation will continue to prevail. It is not likely ever again that any majority party will hold more than a three-seat majority in the parliament. This means that we may have permanently legislated minority governments for the future.

The PPP is not also going to have it easy holding on to a majority in the future. That is unless it changes course and changes course radically.

The economic model that was pursued by the Jagdeo administration brought forth unprecedented levels of economic growth but this growth and its distribution was skewed in favour of the propertied class.

More importantly, it neglected the rural areas, and

this is why Berbice voted so strongly against the PPP. Berbice was like a forgotten zone. The only developments of significance were the Berbice River Bridge and the Skeldon Factory, and everyone knows that the benefits of these projects have not reached the ordinary Berbician.

The PPP has to understand that the present approach to the Budget and to economic development is not benefitting the poor. It therefore has to steer another course, but this will mean

bringing in persons who can think outside the box, and who are prepared to kick rear ends to ensure that progress is made.

The leadership of the PPP is not likely, however, to change itself. And as such, it will be for the next Congress to signal a definitive break with the old policies by removing the old Jagdeo guard.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 16, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Philip Moore: The soulful, yet tragic journey of African-Guyanese This column was typed on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. On that date in the edition of the Stabroek News, there was this letter; “The PPP/C has failed to ethnically balance Guyana’s armed forces,” written by an Indian man who supports PPP domination in Guyana by the name of Sultan Mohamed.

I don’t agree with any of the paragraphs of Sultan’s rage. But why should one deny Mohamed his right to express his opinion that there is a predominance of African Guyanese in the State’s security forces?

It is for African Guyanese to write, and write incessantly, that there should be ethnic balance in the ownership of Guyana’s resources; ethnic balance in the ownership of lands; ethnic balance in the ownership of properties; ethnic balance in the award

of tenders; ethnic balance in state scholarships; ethnic balance in the business community that imports goods; ethnic balance in the sharing of executive political power.

The armed forces sector is the preoccupation of Mohamed and he writes on how he feels. There are thousands who say that African Guyanese are marginalized, but no African versions of Sultan Mohamed flood the newspaper. It is interesting that Sultan Mohamed’s letter and Philip Moore’s passing came up at the same time.

I was traveling to Berbice on Saturday afternoon, and in the car were Christopher Ram, Gerhard Ramsaroop and Michael Carrington. As we looked at the frenetic pace of constructions going up, I alluded to the fact that these are all owned by one set of

investors. I was promptly told that ninety-five percent of Guyana’s private resources are owned by that particular set of the Guyanese nation.

But we are yet to see frequent letters in the media about the need for ethnic balancing in this context.

If the Harvard, Oxford and Sorbonne political theorists come to Guyana, they would be confused on what to write when they come into contact with the great ethnic divide here.

All over the world, including the US and Europe, when an ethnic community feels and experiences State discrimination, you can expect that the source of agitation comes from the victimized community, be it Corsica in France, AfroAmericans in the US, Blacks in Britain, Tamils in Sri Lanka, Basques in Spain, Germans in Poland, Russians in Georgia;

not to mention the usual ethnic groups in the African continent.

Here in Guyana, the present picture contrasts sharply with the epoch of PNC power. Back then, East Indians were an angry, energetic, emotionally charged race group. They cried discrimination by an African-dominated Government. They were unstoppable in the confrontations and demands.

Their leaders were unstoppable in their confrontations and demands.

Finally, the indomitable spirit of the Guyanese East Indians prevailed. After 1992, East Indians in this land wedded business power with State power.

The consequences have not led to the development of a modern, free land and this writer is one East Indian that does not like the wedding, is unhappy with the shape the wedding turned out to have and will let his voice and pen

be heard that this country must have ethnic balancing in all spheres.

If Sultan Mohamed chooses to focus on the armed forces then let him have his say. Where are the African Guyanese that want to have their say? African Guyanese should be thankful to President Ramotar for making Juan Edghill (it is my right to believe that he is not an ordained bishop of the Christian Church) a Cabinet Minister. If he was still in charge of the ERC then I would have been hauled before his (yes “his”) inquisition for writing this article which is purely and essentially a piece of academic commentary.

By now you must be wondering what this article here has to do with the great, heroic Philip Moore. Well it is not about him but about the state of African Guyanese politics. But Moore’s death was the symbol from which to call upon African

Frederick Kissoon Guyanese to reflect on where they are going. On Philip Moore himself, the State bears a horrible responsibility for his neglect.

How could the Government have treated this Caribbean icon like this? He was never given the recognition that was due to him.

I hardly knew Moore, but the little I knew told me he was a fantastically modest human being. Once during the crime spree in Buxton, he advised me not to worry about the criticism I was receiving because of my denunciation of the mis-directed violence.

I liked him instantly the first time I met him.

He must be honoured in a substantial way by this nation.

Sugar production in Guyana...

(From page 6) for the same period. It was noted that at the end of the first crop in 2011, the factory at La Bonne Intention (LBI), ECD, was closed off and all of the cane from there is presently being grinded at the Enmore factory.

However, in 2011 the Enmore/LBI combination produced 13,452 tonnes of sugar, but this year they only achieved 8,246 tonnes.

For Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), for the first crop in 2011 the factory produced 10,752 tonnes but this year it only produced 8,615 tonnes of sugar, while the Uitvlugt factory generated 6,999 tonnes in comparison with last year’s 10,442 tonnes.

Efforts to contact Paul Bhim, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GuySuCo yesterday proved futile. His secretary noted that the CEO was out of town.

In an interview with state media earlier this month, Bhim admitted that GuySuCo had fallen short of its 101,000 tonne production target for the first crop in 2012, due to a number of factors.

He stated that the weather, a combination of several factors, including management issues and poor turnout by harvesters, had led the sugar corporation to this

outcome.

Kaieteur News also understands that most of the machines used at the Sugar Estates/ Factories are not effective during the rainy season and as a result, works on the estates and factories have come to a halt.

While these tasks can be completed manually, Bhim had explained that the workers have become reliant on the machinery and in most cases, refuse to undertake the job without assistance of bell loaders.

“We have not been able to use the machinery to load cane, and also the mechanized harvesting has been tremendously affected by the weather… We rely on workers to actually come in and load cane, and I am afraid that the workers are reluctant to do that,” GuySuCo’s CEO had stated.

At that time, he had stressed that the Skeldon sugar factory had become a major “worry”, since the rains impacted that area more than the other sites, and caused work to cease completely.

“We are quite reliant on mechanized harvesting at Skeldon, but the weather conditions also stopped us, and Skeldon has had more rain than any other part of the industry. And in fact, (since) mechanized harvesting

We are life savers, you should be one too! Donate blood today!!!

wasn’t done, we are really struggling to take the cane out.”

He clarified that the management issues he had spoken of were not the reason for the strikes that occurred. However, strikes were related to the harvesting operations at some of the estates.

“We have had a few issues, particularly at a couple of locations, in terms of management of the harvesting operations; and that is what I mean by ‘management issues’. Most of all, we have been affected by the in-and-out rainfall.

Normally, we would expect March to be a very dry month; normally, it is the driest month, but we had quite a large amount of rain.”

Additionally, he said, March rains created a major setback for the industry, since those rains were unexpected.

According to him, March is known to be one of the driest months during production.

Turning his attention to the 2012 target, he noted that he was in no position to speak about that; but the industry remained quite optimistic with regard to achieving its overall target.

“I cannot say whether the company is optimistic about reaching its target, until the month of June. Target for the first crop is 101,000 tonnes of sugar, and we are looking to continue harvesting till the end of May or as far as the weather would allow.”

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

E’bo man gets 20 years for pensioner’s murder Justice Winston Patterson yesterday sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for the beastly murder of a 78-year-old pensioner.

The accused, 21-year-old Latchman Persaud, had earlier pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The court’s deposition stated that on May 26, 2008, he murdered Danwattie, a pensioner.

The state was represented by Prosecutor Teshanna James-Lake. It was stated that Persaud had given a caution statement which was used in the court.

In that statement, Persaud said that he had

just returned home from a party about 21:00hrs and felt he “wanted to have sex”.

It was stated that Persaud walked across to the elderly woman’s home. The court was told that the woman lived alone and her house could not be locked with a key.

Persaud went into the house and had forceful sex with the elderly woman, who was wearing diapers.

A post mortem report done by a government pathologist revealed that the woman died due to asphyxiation compounded by blunt force trauma. At the time of the incident, Persaud was 17 years old.

C’tyne water treatment plant for upgrade

Yesterday, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board opened bids submitted for several projects countrywide, including some under the Modernization of the Justice Administration System (MJAS) Project. There were three (3) bids for one of those projects, for the supply, installation of software, configuration of computers, printers, scanners and the management of Information Systems at the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Chambers.

Four companies bid to upgrade filters at the water treatment plant in Corentyne. With an engineer’s estimate of $124,514,300, the bids submitted were:

There were two bids for the supply and delivery of furniture for the Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Ministry of Finance.

And eight (8) bids were submitted for Consultancy Services-Energy Access at Community level, under the Millennium Development Goals in hinterland locations.

Demerara River drug bust...

(From page 3) Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) had claimed that the boat was intercepted by drug ranks that waited until the vessel had departed Port Georgetown.

Marijuana with a street value of $10M was also found aboard the boat. It is understood that though the cannabis was found aboard the same vessel as the cocaine, it appeared as if the accused had no knowledge about the herbs and therefore the offence could not be pinned on them.

Apart from the three accused a security guard, Vishnu Sooklall, and the boat’s captain Billy Glasgow, were also involved in the matter.

They were alleged to have had 27.230

kilograms of cocaine between Houston and Meadow Bank on January 18.

The boat captain was also charged for having the 103.974 kilograms of marijuana in his possession. Mark Singh, the police said, aided Reddy in fleeing police captivity after persons had been arrested in the bust. The police said Reddy was arrested since a witness claimed that he had made arrangements to put the drugs on the boat. He allegedly had drugs in his possession in Houston.

As for Dean, it is alleged that he had drugs between two communities on the East Bank Demerara.

To the charges, all the parties pleaded not guilty. The matter will continue on May 21.

Page 11

Local company illegally selling bandwidth - GT&T The country’s landline telephone company has expressed fears of its confidential information being leaked to competition.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference at the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) head office on Brickdam, Chief Executive Officer, Yog Mahadeo, also said that he has received reports of at least one unlicenced company illegally selling bandwidth.

The executive was at the time being questioned about the recent sale of government’s 20% shares in that company.

The company, which has the monopoly of overseas calls and landlines based on an agreement it had signed with the PNC administration in the early ‘90s has been in the news lately, as government announced approval of a US$30M sale of the GT&T shares to a Hong Kong-based Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group.

According to Mahadeo, his company has been complying and submitting its reports along with the n e c e s s ary directors’ comments to its shareholders…the government and Atlantic Tele Network (ATN).

“In terms of the way I see it, government has been a 20% shareholder and government represents the people of Guyana. And so I daresay, they will determine who has access to them. I would continue to remain concerned if competitive information would have been shared. I have also said publicly that I was unhappy that information we shared on our own expansion plans were taken and probably adopted.”

The official would have been referring to previous claims that government had adopted plans announced by GT&T to provide internet access for all parts of Guyana.

Government is working on projects to lay a fibre optic

GT&T CEO, Yog Mahadeo cable from Brazil and a n o t h e r f r o m C h a r i t y, Essequibo to Moleson Creek, Berbice.

GT&T has said that its expansion plan was stymied by non-permission from government on a number of its expansion plans.

Government has been moving to open up the telecoms market, but legislation to liberalise the sector was pulled from Parliament at the last minute last year. Several companies are waiting to enter the Guyana market to compete, government has said.

According to Mahadeo, GT&T has learnt that one company is selling bandwidth, although no new licences have been issued to do so.

A number of call centres have reportedly been called by that company, inviting

them to buy bandwidth, an activity that would be highly irregular, Mahadeo said.

Meanwhile, on the issue of the sale of the 20% shares, the CEO said that he is concerned that GT&T was not consulted after the decision was made to sell.

As a matter of fact, GT&T had offered government to help with the disposal of the shares. The telephone company had declined to buy the shares. Government did not take up the offer of GT&T’s help.

Following the decision by government to sell to Datang, GT&T had said it was not consulted.

Government later insisted that the company’s books were perused by Datang before they decided to buy.

Last week, Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon retracted this, saying that what he really meant was that the public records of GT&T were examined by that Chinese company.

“Personally, I remain concerned that any major investor would want to invest in a company and would not want to have discourse… a discussion… or anything with management. I cannot sit on the minds of potential shareholders or the current shareholders to say that this is what they would want or how they would approach it. I have said my piece on the matter already and do not want to go back there,” the GT&T official said.

Bullet grazes Tucville teen’s head The police are currently investigating yet another shooting incident which took place in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Colin Fraser 17, of Tucville, Georgetown, received a wound to the head after he was shot, reportedly by a known assailant.

Kaieteur News was told that incident happened in front of Fraser’s home shortly after midnight.

This publication was told that the bullet grazed Fraser’s head. He was taken to the hospital by his relatives, where he was treated and admitted. According to police sources, the teen and a man had a misunderstanding which resulted in the shooting. Relatives refused to speak to the media yesterday. Up to press time the perpetrator was not arrested.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Page 14

Kaieteur News

NCN $2M price tag on 10/10 finals coverage…

GT&T “willing to channel money elsewhere” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Yog Mahadeo, says the telephone giant will be reassessing where it can receive coverage for its operations.

Commenting on statements made by the CEO of National Communications Network Inc. (NCN), Mohamed Sattaur a few weeks ago that his entity was subsidizing several programmes on its network including the GT&T’s ‘Feel The Beat’, Mahadeo asserted emphatically, “I was very annoyed that during the national budget discussion something was said about subsidizing GT&T’s programme ‘Feel the Beat’.

Nobody tries to assist us with anything we do.”

GuyEnterprise is the entity that handles advertising placements for GT&T. Mahadeo noted that NCN was using its monopoly to engage in price hiking towards the very people who take their business to the entity, since, in comparison to

last year ’s event, NCN television had charged double the price to broadcast the recently concluded GTT 10/10 finals live. NCN’s asking price for coverage was a staggering $2 million.

Adding that NCN is listed as a sponsor of the 10/10 event, Mahadeo said because of the amount of advertisements and live coverage placed on NCN, the telephone company receives and is entitled to discounts.

He cautioned, however, that if NCN is not willing to renegotiate, GT&T will be willing to channel its money elsewhere, and this would apply to entities and businesses with similar attitudes, who want to have a relationship with the company. He stressed that there was an agreement with NCN pertaining to the cost of airing the 10/10 finals advertisement and live coverage would be the same fee that was charged last year.

However, the television station did not honour the agreement.

“I was shocked that a

cost that was double that it was last year was thrown at me, and I said there was no way we can do this, and we tried to reengage NCN, but it didn’t work out, since NCN was trying to make some extra money although there was an agreement in place.”

He underscored that his thoughts were that NCN had a unique position compared to other stations to carry live coverage in the way it should be done. “I may be wrong but that’s what I gathered, that they were in a unique position of being the only station that could have carried the event live…but as soon as there are other stations that can do so I would welcome it…none of the other stations have said that they can do a live feed, but if so we would welcome it.”

Mahadeo explained that initially there was an agreement between the two sides for the television station to carry the games live on both radio and television.

However, due to the breakdown in talks, the games were only carried live on the Voice of Guyana (VOG).

He said GT&T has been open in everything that is done, and the company has invested in 10/10 for the development of communities across the country.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

DPP wants more persons to use “plea bargaining”

By Latoya Giles Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, says that she wishes to see more defendants and their lawyers making full use of the plea bargaining legislation. The DPP, in an exclusive interview with this newspaper, went through several aspects of this relatively new law.

She explained that plea bargaining is governed by the Criminal Procedure (Plea Bargaining and Plea Agreement) Act of 2008.

Plea Bargaining is basically a discussion held with the view to arriving at an agreement with the defendant, his lawyer and the DPP, or her authorized representative.

Since the enactment of this piece of legislation, the DPP observed, there has only been three plea bargaining agreements that have been entered into with defendants. The first such plea deal in the High Court was that of murder accused, Dawan Kawal, who pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by Justice William Ramlal.

Kawal subsequently testified against his coaccused, Burt Lancaster, who was convicted by a mixed Demerara Assizes jury and

sentenced to death by Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire at the January criminal sessions.

But why is there such underutilization of this Act? The DPP said that for a plea bargaining agreement to be entered into, the offer to do so has to be made by the defendant or his attorney.

“The onus is on the defendant or accused to initiate such a course of action. But since there are such inordinately long delays for cases to be heard and concluded, and long adjournments granted in the Magistrates’ Courts between trial dates, there is the likelihood that witnesses will become frustrated and fail to show up when required to do so.

Consequently, cases are dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Accused persons no doubt would prefer to wait it out and be acquitted than enter into a plea agreement which requires pleading guilty to an offence and have a conviction recorded against them.”

The DPP sought to highlight one matter from the Magistrate’s Court which has been adjourned to September 6, 2012. The accused has moved to the High Court seeking bail pending trial.

The DPP noted that once there is a court system that is functioning properly and matters are dealt with

Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack expeditiously, then the Plea Bargaining Act would more than likely be utilized and many more cases can be dispensed with than is the situation that currently obtains.

The DPP also expressed the hope that attorneys would continue to take the time to study the Act, familiarize themselves with it, and advise their clients that such a course of action is available to them. “Hopefully in the immediate future we will see this Act being utilized as it ought to be.”

According to Mrs. AliHack, the prosecutor and the attorney-at-law for the accused or the accused (Continued on page 24)

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

Corruption in gold mining sector comes under scrutiny …local consortium proposes refinery

By Leonard Gildarie An age-old practice by holders of large and medium scale exploratory permits to allow illegal gold mining has drawn fire from government quarters.

During a luncheon in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud, said it is a major issue being tackled by his newly established ministry.

Some of the companies involved in the illegal act are prominent ones and the guilty parties could very well face sanctions and see the seizure of the Prospecting Licence, Persaud warned yesterday during a session with reporters and stakeholders at the Sleep Inn Hotel on Brickdam.

According to Persaud, there is clear evidence, via written agreements and otherwise, of the illegal actions. In most cases, it is the Brazilians miners who are allowed to operate on the exploratory concessions, thanks to the facilitation of the permit holders. The

practice has been ongoing for some time now and it is clear that the companies, “clearly not fly by night ones”, are encouraging the illegality, Persaud said.

The admission of this latest reported illegality would come weeks after government announced a crackdown and raids on camps in the hinterland to stop illegal mining.

Several infringements, including poor records, environmental problems and absence of working permits were found. The raids will continue, the Ministry announced last week.

Also at the luncheon yesterday were Chairman of the GGB, Gobind Ganga, General Manager, Anantram Balram, and several board members.

370,000 OUNCES According to Ganga, while annual declared declaration of gold between 2007-2010 was 276,000 ounces, last year this went up to 363,084 ounces. Average earning during that period was over US$247M but this doubled to US$517M last year.

This year, the target has been set to 370,000 ounces, the Chairman disclosed, noting that GGB is continuing to examine its policies in a growing sector.

Meanwhile, in his presentation, Minister Persaud admitted that the GGB is limited in its reach throughout Guyana, with offices currently only in the city and Bartica, Region Seven. Plans are in place to establish offices in Port Kaituma, Region One, and Charity, Region Two. An office at Lethem, Region Nine, a border point to Brazil, is also being considered.

The gold board, which is responsible for the buying of 75% of the gold declared across Guyana, is now looking to halt what is called leakages…gold being produced and not being declared so as to evade taxes.

Then, there is also the smuggling. Authorities estimate that between 150,000-300,000 ounces of gold is slipping through the cracks annually, although it is difficult in the absence of hard facts.

There are also plans to

Brazilian miners forced to pay...

(From page 15) who legitimately is entitled to a work permit must be greasing scores of hands? You will be surprised at how much grease is passing.”

According to the Minister, a simple process as getting a stamp from a “certain” department could cost $200,000 when the entire fee would be around $5,000.

“It is unfair and unjust,” the Minister told reporters.

With increased monitoring and crackdown on mining

camps that started recently, the rush has been on by the Brazilians miners to toe the line.

According to Persaud, whose newly created ministry has been tasked with overseeing the mining and forestry, and oil and gas sectors among others, once foreigners satisfy the requirements, they are entitled to work permits, whether they are Brazilians, Chinese or Africans.

There have been several reports of work permit appli-

cations being deliberately delayed so that the foreigners would be forced to pay more to be processed.

Government yesterday said that there could be between 5,000 to 15,000 Brazilians working in the interior.

(Leonard Gildarie)

We are life savers, you should be one too! Donate blood today!!

Board members of the GGB along with Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud yesterday. tackle this by increased monitoring, meetings and even talks with the neighbouring countries over border control.

According to Persaud, government is also considering a proposal for a gold refinery that was submitted by a local consortium. Guyana is currently selling its gold to the Royal Canadian Mint and Mitsui Global Precious Metals.

DISHONESTY A study to identify the problems in the gold mining sector is being commissioned, the Minister disclosed. The idea is to identify the problems and establish proposals to deal

with these.

Meanwhile, Persaud yesterday expressed concern over reports of some level of dishonesty and accountability at the GGB, stressing the matter is being placed on the table since it is a national issue and should not be covered up.

Overall, the gold sector is very promising, with US$400M in investments likely for an operation at Toraporu, Region Seven, a project that is likely to be larger than the Omai Gold Mines.

The Aurora gold project, Region Seven, is also likely to see a US$600M investment while the Mahdia Gold Corp is expected to sink millions

into the Omai area.

Yesterday, the Minister, while admitting the problem of illegal mining with nonnationals and especially Brazilians, pointed out that they have brought modern technology, with the extraction process being vastly improved.

However, he warned, regulations must be followed and everyone, including Brazilians, have to comply.

Already, authorities through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have seen a rise in the number of Prospecting Licences being granted and moves are underway to process 1,200 claim applications.

Page 20

Although its office location has changed, the mission of Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) remains the same – to facilitate the development of youth and communities countrywide by meeting the challenges of work, social action and cultural exchange.

As such, the NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), headed by Executive Director Dmitri Nicholson, has remained steadfast in accomplishing its mission.

Among its many notable programmes is the vibrant Volunteer Teachers Programme, which is undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

The programme has been in existence for just over five years and has already allowed for the deployment of in excess of 70 volunteer teachers to schools located in eight of the 10 administration Regions; Regions Five and 10 being the exceptions.

With the continuance of the programme, Project Manager, Germaine Watson, is optimistic that the overall deployment figure will mount to some 150 in the very near

Kaieteur News

future. At the moment there are 44 volunteer teachers in the field, but according to Watson “the number of volunteers doesn’t equate to the number of schools and the way they would have impacted communities. We have been in 51 secondary and primary schools across eight Regions of Guyana,” he disclosed during a recent interview. Though it has undoubtedly served to help with the efficient delivery of education to many of the nation’s children over the years, the Project Manager is confident that the volunteer programme is yet heading to the pinnacle of contribution to the education sector.

In fact, he has his eyes set on recruiting, at the least, 40 volunteer teachers for training during the period of July/August. The trained teachers will be deployed to the various Regions in time to attend to classes when the new academic year commences in September.

“Over the years we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of applicants that we receive. We have also seen improvement of the relationship between the partners involved including the Ministry of Education,

Youth Challenge and VSO. The relationship has developed and matured, in that we are now considered a major player with regards to the education system. I am proud of that...I am proud of that achievement,” Watson asserted. He revealed, too, that YCG has been integrally involved in stakeholders’ meetings along with the Education Ministry as it relates to volunteer teaching in schools. As such, he expects that nothing less than a greater impact can be realised from the programme in the next few years.

The Ministry’s collaboration with YCG has been linked to an acute shortage of teachers in some Regions. In fact, according to YCG’s Executive Director “we have been able to put volunteer teachers in schools where trained teachers would not necessarily want to go.

For the current academic year alone, volunteer teachers have attended to just under 2,000 students in the Regions and what we have found is that people who do the volunteering, they themselves also grow quite tremendously.”

Among the volunteers are retired teachers and other

individuals with a passion to travel the country and contribute to the teaching profession. However, some volunteer teachers are not equipped with previous teaching experience, hence the need for the upcoming volunteer training programme. Applicants, according to Nicholson, are required to have at least five CXC subjects including Mathematics and English, even as he noted that those with experience would be an asset to the programme.

Some schools have benefited so immensely from the programme, Nicholson said, that they have been making requests for more volunteer teachers.

“They have been requesting that volunteer teachers stay and continue working at their schools because they found that they have had a profound impact on children at the schools.”

Against this background, the Executive Director said that the onus is on YCG to maintain the prevailing momentum with volunteer teachers by working towards sustaining the relationship with the Education Ministry.

“It has been great to collaborate with the

Wednesday May 16, 2012

YCG’s Dmitri Nicholson (left) and Germaine Watson government on this particular project, because we have a clear understanding of theirs and our responsibilities, and we are supporting what they do,” Nicholson noted.

He is of the view that YCG’s efforts could be further bolstered with the support from the private sector. This level of support could not only aid the transporting of volunteers to the various Regions, but also to acquire supplies for the volunteers to help improve the teaching experience even by facilitating tours to various

locations.

“We have had some support and children from Region Nine, who had never seen Georgetown, were able to visit, and were able to return to their community and participate in cultural activities and talk about the city as a place of interest.”

Meanwhile, those persons interested in applying for the volunteer teachers programme can uplift an application at the YCG’s office now located at Lot ‘G’ Enachu Street, Section K Campbellville, Georgetown.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

UG lecturer appeals for Ed. Ministry to adapt anti-bullying strategy A call has been made for the Ministry of Education to adapt a national anti-bullying strategy where a ‘wholeschool’ approach is used to target students of all age and of both genders. This proposal was made by lecturer attached to the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, Ms Maureen Bynoe, as she made a presentation during the recent hosting of the University’s Research Day activity at the Turkeyen Campus.

Bynoe’s proposal was premised on a survey she conducted earlier this year.

That survey was aimed at assessing the extent bullying has infiltrated schools along Central Corentyne, Berbice.

The research sample comprised 199 students from Grades Eight to 10. The study which included 89 boys and 110 girls discovered that ethnicity was a major factor that contributed to bullyism in the school system.

Aside from the reasons that students bullied each other, the study, according to Bynoe, focused on the forms of bullying, the consequences of bullying on the victim, what strategies have been effective in dealing with bullying and whether there was a significant difference in the form of bullying due to gender.

A questionnaire was used to capture the responses. It defined bullying as “a student being victimised when he or she is exposed repeatedly and overtime to negative action on the part of one or more students.”

The questionnaire comprised two sections of 12 close-ended questions with section one comprising data based on the respondent’s bio data and Section Two comprising data dealing with the nature of bullying. All of the questions from Section Two of the questionnaire were used to answer the research questions, Bynoe said. However, she pointed out that a pilot test was done with 10 students and the results of the questions were reformatted in order to collect data for the survey.

She said that in order to find out the types of bullying behaviours that were prevalent in the schools, the questions asked were to ascertain whether students were made fun of or teased in

UG Lecturer, Maureen Bynoe a hurtful way; whether they were ignored by a group of students; whether they were kicked, shoved or locked indoors, lied on or had money taken from them; whether they were threatened or forced to do things that they didn’t want to do, called mean names or whether comments were made of their colour (ethnicity) or if they were shown sexual signs.

The results showed that the students were bullied in a number of ways. The most frequent were by being made fun of, teased in a hurtful way or called mean names. Most notably there were comments about their colour.

“The latter finding is very significant in Guyana where most of the students were being bullied because of their colour. As we know, there is a perception that there is some form of ethnic bias in Guyana.

So it was no surprise to me that students were bullied because of their colour, and I think that this is worthy of further investigation,” Bynoe noted.

In an attempt to determine why students were bullied, the response items Bynoe used were: because they were short for their age; whether they were of a different race; whether they were fatter or slimmer than most students; whether they considered themselves soft or whether they were from a different culture and were found to be strange as a result.

The resulting conclusion was that the main reasons for bullying were because students considered themselves quiet and soft.

The notion of race again surfaced, Bynoe said,

representing another factor highlighted by respondents as a cause for bullying.

“Here again we can see evidence of race coming up as an evident cause for bullying,” she amplified. The effects of being bullied, she noted, caused victims to feel depressed, harbour suicidal thoughts, indulge in truancy, be overly anxious, and in some instances not be able to sleep.

However, the most common effect, Bynoe disclosed, was the fact that some victims felt fearful of school and wanted to stay away, a state of affairs which affected their overall academic performance.

The study sought to decipher whether schools had measures in place to outline strategies which could be used to prevent bullying such as the introduction of bullying prevention educational programmes; whether teachers talked about or intervened in bullying situations; whether there were explicit rules against bullying; whether there was parental involvement or whether students stood up to the bullies.

The latter trait, Bynoe noted, is believed to be one that was learned through trial and error or was encouraged by parents or teachers, and thus is one that requires further investigation as well.

According to Bynoe, “Although the study focused on the Central Corentyne area, it can be used as initial data on bullying in Guyana.”

Page 21

NAMILCO makes donation to Fire Service

The National Milling Company (NAMILCO) yesterday made a donation to the Guyana Fire Service during a simple ceremony. The company handed over a freezer worth $247,000.

Managing Director of the company, Bert Sukhai, made the presentation to Fire Chief Marlon Gentle.

No clues yet in Insurance...

(From page 15) mourning, not just in Guyana, but in the wider Caribbean,” Yee told Kaieteur News.

“We are still trying to digest what has happened…to all of us it was a shock, and we are still trying to come to grips with the loss,” the GTM General Manager added.

And the management and staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation have expressed profound sadness for the loss of one of our dearest friends and colleagues, former Personnel Manager, Mr. Bert Whyte.

In a statement issued yesterday, the GPHC also expressed condolence to nurs-

ing staff Ms. Natoya Giddings who also died Monday.

“Both were loved and admired by their colleagues and will be missed dearly. The

management and staff of the Corporation extend sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of Mr. Whyte and Ms. Giddings,” the GPHC statement said.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

WANTED

WANTED

One cook, must know to cook Roti & Puri. Call 6477432

East Coast Guyoil pump attendants wanted (day and night), wash man, office assistant & sales girls. 6842838, 602-5031

One domestic @ 118 Farmer ’s Field, South Sophia. Call: 693-0821, 2194223 1 female cook to work in interior. Serious enquires only. Contact #225-2940 Live-in domestic must know to cook and 1 waitress, salary 50,000 monthly.

Call:610-5043 Persons/family to live & take care of farm @ E.C.D, attractive salary offered.

Contact: 690-1943, 691-8021 Two male shop assistants to work in Georgetown & the interior, serious enquiries only. Call: 225-2940, 225-0305 Urgently: chainsaw operator to work in the interior. Call: 626-0006, 231-3159 1 Tutor to teach Form 1, apply Bissan’s Trading, 94 King Street. Call: 227-7306 1 driver to drive in the interior. Must have bus and canter license. Tel# 688-0197 Manager’s Assistant general duties including Custom and Bond, Security Guards, accommodation available. Call: 676-6700 Waitress to work night shift @ Container Bar, Vryheid’s Lust Road, E.C.D. Tel: 6585357, 220-3810 Honest/Experienced sales clerk. Apply with written application Nanda’s Boutique, 223 Camp St. Tel 226-1621 Taxi Drivers at Princess Hotel. Contact 616-5419, 2657075 Sales Girls & Porters. Apply with written application at Best Buys Food Supplies, 1E Dennis & Middleton Streets, Campbellville.

Experienced sewing machine operators. Tele no.: 220-4337 Taxi Drivers and Carpenter.

Call: 225-3234 Labourers and Porters.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd. Intelligent live in to look after (1) female elderly & (1) middle aged person. Person Health Certificate required.

Tel Maria: 226-8094 Labourers to work at Jettoo’s lumberyard & Sawmill @ Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara. Call: 2615041, 261-5042, 226-2756

1 male or female to look after layer birds in the interior.

Tele# 688-4905 Contract cars. Must be in Hire & Yellow. Base free. $3500 weekly. Call 660-9977 Full time gardener/ handyman reference needed.

Call: 226-0240, 225-3557 45 plus years driver for week end duties. Tel: 22-71830 Waitresses @ Diamond Gate Liquor Restaurant and Bar, Lot 18 Belmont Mahaica.

Tel# 228-5013, 622-5599 Carpenter with own tools.

Apply at Guyana Variety Store, 68 Robb Street. Tel no.

225-4631

Wednesday May 16, 2012

PROPERTY FOR SALE

FOR SALE

20 X 40 two flat concrete building @ Kitty. All amenities. Price $28 M Call: 668 – 9512, 223- 2570

One Hilux Vigo (new) GNN series 231-5171, 619-7134

25 acre farm land with 4 bedroom concrete house.

Located Parika Backdam. Tel: 615-8046 Enterprise Gardens. 3 bedroom concrete, EBD $15M, $30M Riverside, North $18.5M. Call: 231-2199, 231-2200, 618-7483 East Bank $12M. East Coast $20M. Linden $20M. Newtown $19M. Hotel $130M. Diana 227-2256, 6269382.

Lot 9 Johns St., Port Mourant, Berbice house with 12 rooms, on 16 Acres Land.

Call: 337-1500.

FOR RENT Salon Chairs for rent. Exotic Glow Harbour Bridge Mall. # 233-5495/600-1969 Chairs for rent. Pauline’s Hair Salon, 177 Charlotte St. #644-3555/680-1969

Toyota Starlet 2 E Turbo engine with gearbox and ECU: Call: 624-7155.

NARS lipgloss, eyeshadow & Clinique Chubby Stick. Tel: 669-8374.

15-15-15 fertilizer. Call: 2662711, 609-4594 2x2x1.5MM, Hollow section $4500 VAT inclusive. Call: 220-6100, 680-5900 Peking ducks, call: 266-2711 / 609-4594 One ERF Hauler with 45 ft trailer (in-contract) & one Model M Truck. Tel: 6534455

Sales boy and girl. 615-3090 Drivers with lorry license.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd. Girls to work as waitress , age 18 to25 in Bar. Call: 256-4096 Bulldozer operators, Excavator operators, Service men. To work in interior.

Previous experience an asset.

Contact: 226-9768, 629-0037 Assistant Manager. To work at an out of town hotel.

Contact 226-9768, 682-4387 1 experienced hauler/truck driver. 1 able bodied male cleaner/gardener. Apply to Alabama Trading.

Experienced Graphic Artist.

Tel# 233-2725, 233-2439 Experienced House Keeper.

To work on the E.C.D (parttime). Tel: 648-3151 Sales girls: please send written application to: Naudia’s City Mall, Ground Floor, 111-112, Camp Street, Georgetown.

Factory worker. Apply in person with written application @ Comfortsleep, 49 Eccles Industrial Estate, E.B.D. MASSAGE American Style Massage Service. Call 609-4036

Yamaha outboard engine parts for 115HP-200HP, crankshaft fat & fine top, pistons, bearings. Call: Terry665-9405 Massage Leather table, brand new, heavy duty & hot stone kit with electric warmer. Call: 665-9405. $99,000

Roofing shingles. Call: Mr. Skepmire . 227-5195 (8am to 5pm)

Sale Sale Sale on all zinc sheets 40% off. All lumber 30% off. All pine lumber 8% off. Tel: 226-7054 Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stovetimers, gear boxes, pumps, etc. Contact 225-9032, 6472943 Now in stock, solar panel, 180 watts, at Trophy Stall, Bourda Market. 225-9230 Brand new Blackberry Torch 9800, under $100,000. Call: 676-7443

20 flat screen TVs, cheap 19"-50" : Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Samsung; LG. Need repairs. Call: 665-9405

1 dragline 10RB. 687-6174

10 KVA voltage stabilizer single phase 200 amp fuse switch, 300 amp bust bar. #627-7835

1 Kawasaki Ninja Bike model 2009, 600 cc. C.G. 2468.

Contact # 677-1218, 216-0317

CRV PMM, DVD, TV, CD. Good condition. 226-7915, 668-6586 Lyvan Motor Cycle. Good condition. 226-7915, 6686586, 600-5130 Lenovo laptops brandnew $60,000 Call: 681-2111 1 Tundra, 1 Perkins engine & Welder 400 amps. Call: 6605462, 611-5114 Blu Ray DVDs. Perfume Dazzle 231-9485 Slate pool table. 6 base music set. Merry-Go-Round.

Contact 228-2098 Bag Neck Seal Tape. 231-8819

We refill HP cartridges for $1,800. Call:650-7699

Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & Stoves.

Ultra Cool: 225-9032, 6472943

15ft Fiber glass boat $170,000 call: 260-0301, 685-1233

1 four wheel Utility Trailer, 1 16" Bore irrigator pump on trailer. Tel: 227-1830

Now open KDRS Pharmacy at Mon Repos Mall 220-8675 nutritionist available every Saturday

New Air Brush Kit, gun, hose, compressor $35,000.

592-643-5720

1 Lorry Driver. Call: 687-6595

1 General Domestic. Must know to cook, from East Bank Dem. Area. Tel# 614-4358

US & Canada VISA application services. Call 643-6630. Family discounts available.

Visa and Immigration forms prepared for Canada, USA and UK. Also Passport forms. Call 626-9857

Going cheap, foreign used Perkins Engines. 661-3043 FOR SALE One Massey Ferguson 399 Tractor. Call: 619-6093

Supreme Repairs. All wiring, fridge, washer (AC), freezers, dryer, ect. Tel: 629-8136, 6532719

1 Mitsubishi Fuso truck, 4 ton enclosed, 20 feet, new $5.2M. Call Salim 641-5075, 622-6746

One live-in or out maid & experienced sales girl. Call: 264-3356, 253-3149, 668-3985 Experienced jet & marack men to work in interior. Serious enquires only. Tel: 694-2310

SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/223-8115/ 662-6045.

1 240 Massey Ferguson Tractor. 687-6174

Original slimming green coffee 800 $1300 W/sale and original slimming green coffee 1000 $2300 w/sale Call:681-2111 True Shattaz fashion, closing down sale #6893860

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call: 231-0655, 683-8734 Omar.

Roxy’s Catering. Creole foods, cakes, pastries, snacks, finger foods, etc.

Call# 223-0095, 223-0092 or 689-5169 Hello, the doctor is back!!

Have your gas stove repaired and serviced. Tel: 601-0595, 220-4073, 220-5785 Service & repairs to gas stove, deep fryers, washing machines, electric stoves.

Call 686-6209.

Get your VISA or get refunded. Call: 233-2338 House plan drafting for only $10,000. Building estimate for only $10,000. Call: 6949843.

ONLINE SHOPPING NO COMMISSION, WEEKLY S H I P M E N T S , AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX. TEL: 231-5789.

FREIGHTLINKEXPRESS@ GMAIL.COM WE FILL OUT PASSPORT & VISA FORMS: USA, UK & CANADA. TEL: 2315789 Job fair , girls guide Pavilion, May 18 1-8PM Call:223-1719

(1) New Model 212 Carina & RZ minibus in private & (1) 3Y foreign use engine Call” 678-0109,220-1693,658-7034 Games for PS2 $900, XBox 360 $2600, PS3 $2600. Call Junior 672-2566, 265-3232 Exercise Bike new Schwinn 131 Digital info screen with Heart Rate Monitor, $79,000.

665-9405

DRESS MAKING 6 weeks designing/sewing classes. Sharmela 225-2598, 641-0784

VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610 Leading Auto. Unregistered Allion, Premio, Allex, Runx, Verossa, Avensis, 2 ton Canter, 212. Tel: 677-7666, 610-7666 Verossa PNN. Call:665-3067, 228-2609 2005 H2 Hummer, 38,500 mileage fully loaded, chrome kit etc. Call: 639-3100, 6195400 Hilux 4x4 solid def pick-up, diesel, long base, excellent condition Call: 623-0243 1 special edition Toyota Runx PNN. 2 Nissan Wingroad Wagon. Tel: 6122522 Corolla Fielder just registered, AT 170 Carina.

Price negotiable. Call 6149623 One Toyota RZ Longbase EFI, hardly used BKK series $1.6M. Call: Rocky 621-5902 2004 Mazda RX8, body kit, black, unregistered, $3M. 617-2891 One EP71 and 82 Starlet, 1Toyota Ceres and RZ Minibus,1Nissan Pathfinder, PMM Call: 6445096,697-1453 One RZ Minibus, BMM 1420 $2.5M Call: 615-7825 Unregistered Allion and Spacio. Tel# 697-0294 1 Premio PNN series, TV, camera. # 616-6000 2000 Ford Economy Club Wagon. Heavy duty, power steering, V8 50400CC. 7715388, 771-5387, 680-1198 2 & 3 ton enclosed canter, unregistered. 617-2891 One Toyota Short Base, enclosed canter, GMM series, hardly used $1.8M. Credit can be arranged. Tel: 673-6660 Lexus LS400/Luxury, BMW 740IL/Luxury, BMW 635CSI/ Sports. Bring mechanic, make offer. Call: 612-1486, 646-8326 1 Carina 192. No. HB 8358.

Call: 663-2882 Toyota Prado, 2004 Prado, 2005 Mark II, GX110, 2005 Tundra. All fully loaded, excellent condition. Call: 6005759 One 2 ton, enclosed Canter, price $1.2M neg. One Tapir, price $160,000 neg. Contact# 253-3349, 693-8830 2005-2007 Toyota Allions, with TV/DVD, back-up camera. Tel: 615-4114. w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / rashanautosales (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

IS GHRA CORRECT ABOUT PPP/C IN DENIAL? DEAR EDITOR, Now that the PPPC Government has been taken to task by the GHRA for being in denial, would this indeed wake them up to Guyana’s urgent realities? Doubts reign supreme. How more poignant can the GHRA become? More evidence of the PPPC denial? The PPPC has failed to balance Guyana’s armed forces despite being in power for 20 years with the 1980 Constitution which gave them no grounds for excuses.

More evidence of the PPPC in denial?

Its socialist class struggles and history were not found incompatible with its rapid adequate correction of black racial deficiency in diplomatic service appointments - in less than three months! Bravo! But …but…. But why does the PPPC only make me see red?

Considering Mr. Mike McCormack’s criticisms in SN of 5-11-12 titled “ruling party appears in denial over election results-GHRA” can anyone seriously believe that the PPPC can continue in power forever? Just before he was assassinated, (Shakespeare’s) Julius Caesar, with all the conspirators surrounding him refused a petitioner’s plea which affected him personally: “What touches us ourself shall be last served”. All the conspirators then plunged their daggers in him to his death. Must PPPC refusal to learn from history find them continuously repeating the same mistakes?

Why is this issue not on their urgent national agenda?

Just watch the charade when they inevitably become the opposition party. “Oh we made some mistakes” would be the concession; the ritual to excite their supporters in a whine up tassa dance to demand balancing the armed forces will start all over again. How better that wine gets the more it ages.

There can only be applause for that cunning GHRA wolf masquerading in sheep’s’ clothing now that it has again sunk its fangs in the ruling party’s sagging posterior. It should wake them up from their smug slumber.

A wolf craftily camouflaged in bed has every (GHRA?) rights to drool in crooning anticipation just before it devours a naive hippity skippity “little Red Riding (dare I say it…please hold me back) Good”; for them! Who can have any beef with a cunning wolf which can recalibrate from sheep to grandma to get some.

Ever since Mr. Mike McCormack’s one man secretive organization erroneously claimed that

Guyana was carved out of the Atlantic Ocean by slaves it has sought to whitewash the ridicule which it evoked.

Where did Guyana’s native population live before this bizarre claim that the GHRA is yet to explain? Obfuscating the ageless existence of our native Amerindians before anyone came to Guyana is just so much executive lunacy and GHRA hogwash.

Does the GHRA really expect any other minority Caribbean culture to willingly acquiesce in their annihilation and demise? If our original native Amerindians existence can be wiped out just by a GHRA press release by supposedly “human rights champions” how much more violence, trauma and danger must anyone or group especially besieged PPP/C supporters be subjected to, or endure for survival in a growing hostile environment which views them as a racial “numerical anomaly”, as ACDA’s Mr. Barrington Braithwaite so pointedly reminded in a letter to Stabroek News (SN) on 1127-11 titled, “Only APNU has the expertise to rescue this nation”.

If the PPP/C needs any further kicks that it must get over its current denial it must reconcile all its laudable economic achievements with GHRA’s assertation that “moreover, since the ruling party has to date offered little to either its own supporters or to other citizens (see what I mean?), particularly the young, with respect to jobs, education or a more attractive future, any snap election could only be won by appealing to (Indian) ethnic loyalties”. Whoa!

The GHRA has already placed blame in advance to those with any perceived “ethnic loyalties” to the PPP/ C in case of snap elections.

The GHRA even murders the AFC with its pen realizing

mostly Indian votes currently sustains it.

Surprised? Why does the same GHRA (or few others) find no fault whatsoever with any black ethnic loyalties (bucking the misery which they did, or did not suffer?) but who yet massively voted for the same PNC which dehumanized them for 28 years?

So far all GHRA’s history belie all the evidence that all Guyanese are entitled to their God given rights as human beings. Never must any Guyanese human existence be diminished or denied just because theirs is not Mr. Mike McCormack’s GHRA preferred favourites. When the GHRA emerges to champion the racial balancing of Guyana’s armed forces only then would it gain true respect and credibility with which it adorns itself.

Why it has never done so in all its history is still a mystery. But just in case there is any ambiguity about the prejudices of Mr. McCormack’s GHRA, note his emboldened temerity in the same SN article of 5-4-12.

In fact, he boldly asserts that “…a snap election would reflect a (PPP/C) desire to return to the ethnic dictatorships which characterized Guyanese politics since the 1960s”.

By harking back to the 1960s when the PPP was in office Mr. McCormack seeks to seemingly bridge the gap to nowadays PPP/C (sneakily attempting to dismiss the PNC dictatorship of 28 years) to ostensibly infer a seamless , continuous “ethnic dictatorship” of the PPP. His obvious blatant thrust is to create menacing imagery of Indian domination and dictatorship for five unbroken decades!

Unbelievable as it is amazing that a human rights organization can epitomize

such evil despicable mischievousness.

Where is the GHRA credibility … as a friend…in championing human rights for all? With such a friend one certainly cannot want more enemies.

Sultan Mohamed

LEARN TO DRIVE B&C Driving School. Pickup & drop off. Contact 2250150, 680-6826, 229-7258

LAND FOR SALE Land V/Hoop 2 acre: school, housing, factory, etc. call: 658-0115 Bazaar St., Parika. No agents. 661-3043 West Coast $3.5M. North Road $45M. Continental Park $10M. Diana 227-2256, 6269382.

EDUCATIONAL Princeton College Forms 15, CXC adults’ classes’; $1500 a subject S.A.T/Phonics etc. Call: 690-5008, 611-3793 Imperial College – CXC Jan/ June 2013 exam. Day/ Evening classes, flexible hours. Contact 227-7627, 683-5742 Private tutor – homeschooling CXC/GCE English A&B. Call: 649-4247

One Driver & one Salesman at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd. Tel 2257864 Experienced Hair Dresser at Nalline Beauty Salon, Vreeden-Hoop Junction (Raymond Building).

Attractive salary. Contact: 687-3341, 639-9884 Be part of our world class customer care team. Join us now! Phone: 220-0401-3 Hire car drivers & dispatchers wanted from East Coast. Contact 220-1000 Live-in Maid/Nanny. Long term employment. Location: (Kuru Kururu) 35-50 yrs. 6561284.

Accountant.

ACCA qualified, 5 years experience.

Application sent to: info@mahdiagold.com, Mahdia Gold Corp, 72 Barrack St. Kingston, Georgetown.

Male Sales Clerk. Hand written application. Perfume Dazzle, 137 Regent St., Lacytown, G/Town.

Fish cleaners. Eccles. 2332546, 675-5467

PEN PAL 24 yrs old female looking for male friends, 35-up. Tel# 6735997.

CAR RENTAL Progressive auto rental, cars from $4,000 per day. Call: 6435122, 656-0087, www.progressiveautorental.com

TO LET Harmony inn fully furnished self contained a/c apartments, Short term& long term Parfaite Harmony WBD Tel:694-7817

First Choice Car Rental cars $5,000-7,000 per day 6680306, 225-6337 Al’s Car & Pick-up Rental.

Call: 698-7807 Premio, 110 Corolla. Call: 6797139

Four (4) bedroom apartment.

Contact: 682-8875 1 2 bedroom house, 1 1 bedroom house, Good Hope, Essequibo. Call: 680-4990, 277-3033 Short term apartments. Tel: 667-1549 Fully furnished two bedroom apartment with internet in Linden. Short term. Overseas & local guests. 614-4415/444-4704

VACANCY Kitchen assistant @ Charlestown- ages 18-35.

Call: 614-1020

(From page 22)

(2) bedroom furnished house @ 31 Second Street, Liliandall Pump Road. Tel: 222-3838, 617-9004 Apartment to Rent, 67 Garnet St., Newtown Kitty.

Call: 222-3435 Business place to rent, very spacious. Call: 226-2674/ 684-6360,223-1301,682-6822

SALON Make up courses, artist trained & certified in Trinidad: 660-5257,647-1773 Qualify yourself in Cosmetology or nails, make up, Register, Limited spaces.

Call Abby: 216-1950, 6197603, 666-5241 Seeta & Soma Salon.

Specialists in perming, relaxing, styling, manicure, pedicure, etc. Tel: 618-6346/ 644-7142

Short term apartments, Eccles. Call: 679-7139 West Coast $35,000. South $100,000. Nandy Park US$2000, Accommodation, Hotel. Diana 227-2256, 6269382 2 bedroom apartment. Self contained, for visitors @ Santa Cruise, Trinidad. Call: 0011-868-483-2495, 672-8771 South Ruimveldt .

Unfurnished Lower flat independent 1 bedroom Apartment with en suite, kitchen and full amenities.

Call 227-1218

ACCOMMODATION Signature Inn Luxury Suites & Apartments 83 Laluni Street, Queenstown. Call for reservations 226-2145, 2275037

VEHICLES FOR SALE AE81, driving condition, for parts, neg. Tel: 676-2719 2007 Toyota Axio & 2003 Toyota Premio & 2005 Toyota Belta W/TV/CD. Tel: 6 1 5 - 4 1 1 4 . w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / rashanautosales 2004 Toyota Avensis’s with TV/CD, Oz racing Rims, silver & green. Tel: 615-4114. w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / rashanautosales 2005 BMW 320i (new shape), just arrived. Tel: 615-4114. w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / rashanautosales Jag’s Auto. Spacio, Premio, Wagon. Cheapest. Call 6167635 Quantum Auto. Allion – Silver & white with TV/NAV/ RCam. Grey Premio, Spacio, Fielders. 624-7684

Page 24

Kaieteur News

DPP wants more persons...

(From page 14) person, if he or she is not represented by an attorney, may enter into a plea bargain.

It was noted that a prosecutor within the chambers of the DPP, a police prosecutor or a lawyer representing the prosecution cannot enter into a plea bargaining unless they first obtain written authorization from the DPP to do so.

According to the DPP, if this is not done, none of the parties can proceed. The DPP further explained that a plea bargaining can take place at the commencement of a trial or during it, but before sentence is pronounced.

The DPP said that it is pertinent in any plea bargain that the victim’s relatives express their views before the agreement is concluded. It was noted that the prosecutor shall not enter into plea agreement for an offence that is not disclosed

DTV CHANNEL 8 07:55hrs. Sign On 08:00hrs. Indian Movie 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00hrs. The Wayans Brothers 18:00hrs. World News

by the evidence or for an offence that inadequately reflects the gravity of the provable conduct of the accused person.

Notwithstanding, the DPP noted that at anytime the accused person or the prosecutor can withdraw from the agreement.

She explained that this can happen for various reasons, such as if the accused entered into such a plea deal as a result of an improper inducement, or as a result of misrepresentation as to the substance or consequences of the plea agreement.

The prosecutor can withdraw if there is misrepresentation of facts, or fraud or inducement.

The DPP said that she would like to see more defendants and their lawyers taking full advantage of this law. She said that the law works faster and is efficient.

18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:30hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 21:00hrs. Criminal Minds (Season Finale) 23:00hrs. Sign Off NCN CHANNEL 11 02:00hrs – NCN Late Edition (R/B) 02:30hrs – Late Nite with GINA 03:00hrs – Movie 05:00hrs – Science Panel,

Attorney General Anil Nandlall had told this newspaper that the law was being underutilized.

According to Nandlall, the legislation should be used with more frequency; however it is a facility which largely depends on the parties themselves, the accused person(s), the lawyers, the prosecutors and the relatives of the victim.

He explained that those parties drive the process and success of the legislation.

Nandlall told Kaieteur News that the benefit which can be derived will depend on whether the parties are prepared to use it.

The legislation will benefit a person who has entered into a plea agreement and is cooperating with law enforcement authorities, or whose cooperation is beneficial to the administration of criminal justice.

Radio Activity 05:30hrs – Newtown Gospel 06:00hrs – NCN Late Edition News(r/b) 06:30hrs – Feature 07:00hrs – Guyana Today 08:00hrs – Guysuco Roundup (R/B) 08:30hrs – Feature 09:00hrs – Stop the Suffering 10:00hrs – IPL#64 Mumbai Indians VS Kolkata Knight Riders 14:00hrs – NCN Newbreak 14:05hrs – Your Health the Nations Wealth (R/B) 15:00hrs – African Moves (R/ B) 16:00hrs – Cartoons 17:00hrs – Face to Face (R/B) 18:00hrs – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30hrs – Feature 19:00hrs – Al Jazeera 19:30hrs – Inside the Government(R/B) 20:00hrs – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05hrs – GWI Alert 20:35hrs – Oral Tradition 21:05hrs – NCN Sports Magazine 22:05hrs – NCN News Late Edition 22:35hrs – Caribbean Newsline 23:00hrs – Movie

Wednesday May 16, 2012

The Abigail Column Wants to be more than friends, but how? put my arm around him or what?

Friend DEARABIGAIL, There is a boy I know and we took to lunch. I like him a lot, but I don’t know how to tell him, because he thinks we are going to lunch as friends.

I would like to go a little more than just friends. Also, last time we went out he kept rubbing my elbow. Should I

Dear Friend, Yes, you can wrap your arm around him. Or, you can put your hand next to his and then gradually and gently begin to hold or intertwine his fingers with yours.

If you decide to test the waters, whatever his reaction,

it would be good to talk with him to help clear up any possible confusion over a potentially awkward situation.

If he was not into it at all, you should tell him.

And, if you discover that he just wants to stay friends, at least you know, so you can move on and pursue someone else who’ll be able to return your interest.

Wednesday May 16, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): When someone displays inappropriate behavior today, it should not be tolerated by you or anyone else. Be the first one to call foul when an insult is hurled or a shot is aimed below the belt. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): If you are looking for someone to team up with, either in a romantic relationship or in a business context, do not pick the first person who shows interest! ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Timing is everything when it comes to any kind of relationship -- so you need to stop trying to rush things!

Whether you're eager to hear about a job prospect, dying for the cutie to call, or impatient about when your sweetie will propose, you have to realize that you don't have any influence in this situation. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Use your imagination, your most vivid dreams and even your wildest fantasies to help you gain the insight you've been seeking. You have been somewhat suspicious of someone for a while, but haven't been able to figure out why -- could your creativity help you connect the dots? ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): A controversial issue could be causing conflict between you and someone you love today -- but does it have to?

Your opinions are important, and it's important to defend how you feel about things. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Loyalty is a crucial component of any friendship, so you need to stand by your friends today when the drama goes down. Accusations are being thrown around, and as

far as you know they are not true. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Today, someone you care about a lot will burst into your life and ask you for help. What they want could sound like a bad thing -- but is it really? Or are you just projecting your fears onto them? ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): Your energy is lower and it will be easy for you to get distracted today, so don't freak out if during a middle of a conversation or a meeting your mind starts to wander. It's going to take a lot of dynamic energy to keep you engaged. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): You should exercise your creativity as much as you possibly can today -dance, sing, rhyme, riddle and use all of your other unique self-expression skills to turn heads and provide some entertainment! **************** CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Warn your friends or coworkers that you could get grumpy as the day moves forward -- have you been getting enough rest and eating well? ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): One of the people in your life is going through an emotional period right now. Their typical sunshiney disposition is getting clouded over, and they could start to get very irritable. Do not let this scare you off from talking to them, though. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): A friend's very ambiguous comments will plant a seed in your brain that grows throughout the day and might start to drive you a little nuts. What exactly did they mean?

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Letters to the Sports Editor

THE GCB SAGA – GUYANESE AWAKEN

DEAR EDITOR, This phenomenon has its genesis in the desire and aspirations of a few individuals seeking to dominate and take control of the Guyana Cricket Board for their own personal gains rather than for the purpose of developing cricket.

The GCB is composed of three (3) Members; Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo and according to its constitution each member is entitled to nine (9) delegates at the its Annual General Meeting which elects the “Executive Committee” to manage the operations of the GCB for two (2) years.

The Executive Committee of 2009 comprised 13 members of which (7) constituted a majority and quorum for the decision making process. It was readily observed by the majority of Executive Members that the signature Executives were deliberately violating the rules by (a) making decisions on their own and/or (b) ignoring decisions which made by the majority of Executives and General Members Meeting with

regards to the financial and administrative matters of the Board.

Time after time those concerns were either raised at meetings, or written to no avail.

The Board was in effect taken over by the President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, PRO and Marketing Manager who represented a minority 6 of the 13 member Executive.

Ironically the VP and Treasurer, who had initially expressed their support with the seven (7) member majority, signed a 25 point list of concerns tabled at the Executive meeting held on November 13 2009. They however surprisingly and suddenly disclaimed their involvement one week after.

This entire period of Lawlessness dominated the public domain and was even sent to the Directorship of the WICB, who completely ignored the complaints with response coming from only one WICB Director who said it was totally an internal affair and they were not concerned with Guyana’s Cricket problems.

Yes the very WICB that is

now proclaiming its recognition of only the GCB has been guilty of ignoring the GCB when it mattered most, thereby losing opportunities which could have resolved the entire mess earlier.

It is surprising that no efforts were made by WICB to resolve the matter at the GCB level, especially since the charges were made by the majority of GCB Executive Members along with more than 50% of the GCB’s Membership, in other words the cream of Guyana’s Cricket administration.

It is as a consequence of the WICB’s indifference to our “internal affairs” at the GCB that the Government was requested by the majority of Members and Executives to intervene in an effort of resolving the issues, within a short specified timeframe, and placing our cricket back on track.

This was done in good faith with the best interest in mind, but at that stage the WICB suddenly came to life throwing all its Bombs at the Government and in the process devastating our cricketing operations.

Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club deserves a national award DEAR SIR, The Government since Independence in 1966 has honoured numerous citizens and organisations for services to the people of Guyana. Most of these awardees deserved their national awards while some were questionable. The main aim of our national award scheme I suppose was to recognized and honour those individuals and NGOs who have worked beyond the call of duty to make differences in the lives of Guyanese.

As a Berbician who has been involved in public services I would like to recommend an organisation for a national award which in my mind is long overdue. This organisation is the Rose Hall Town Youth & sports Club which since its formation in 1990 has had an unbelievable impact on the lives of thousands upon thousands of lives not only in Berbice but throughout Guyana. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club list of activities includes sports, youth development, community development, charity, educational social, antidrugs, finding jobs for youths and less fortunate.

As Secretary of the

Berbice Cricket Board, I can say without fear that the successes of the Berbice Board has been because of the hard work and effort of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and its Management. Dozens of youths and sports clubs in the ancient county are still active because of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, while countless sportsmen/women and less fortunate school children have been able to achieve their dreams because of the assistance of this dynamic organisation. Less fortunate families, the orphans and the elderly have been assisted on a regular basis while sportsmen, teachers, retired senior citizens and students have all been honoured each year under the series of awards and tribute programmes.

To organise a record breaking 130-140 programmes/activities each year is the proof of this club’s ability to go beyond the horizon and the county of Berbice and the township of Rose Hall would forever be grateful for its services.

The Club has received numerous awards for its work including four Guyana

Cricket Board Club of the Year, four Berbice Cricket Board Club of the year, Rotary International Vocational Award, while only recently I was present when President Donald Ramotar handed over the International Olympic Committee Award for Sports.

In addition, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club became the first organisation to produce an official who was the National Sports Personality for work done at the club level and has also produced two junior sportsmen/women runner up awards.

Mr. Editor, I am confident that the majority of Guyanese would agree with me when I recommend to President Ramotar, that the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club serves to be honour with a Medal of Service at the upcoming 2012 National Awards Ceremony.

It would be a fitting honour to a role model NGO whose work in Berbice and Guyana has not only changed the lives of countless, but is unmatched locally.

Angela Haniff, Secretary, Berbice Cricket Board

What was shameful and certainly anti-Nationalistic was the fact that Guyana had the privilege of Chetram Singh, Anand Sanasie, Clifford Reis, Ramsey Alli and Clive Lloyd sitting as Directors of WICB during this period of deliberate destruction of our cricketing programmes by the WICB. Except for Mr. Lloyd, what role did Guyana’s representative play? No other director has been recorded as saying or doing anything in support of our cause, a really sad state of affairs; especially when the great and powerful WICB decided to withdraw the Australian Test and other cricket matches arranged for our country and place them in another territory. The ugly face of arrogance, insularity and selfishness surfaced in the most despicable way, without any query or enquiry as to the accuracy of the reports on financial and administrative malpractices and fraudulent elections, while our esteemed Directors remained silent, and the so called “Brother Country” gleefully and selfishly accepted.

It is most surprising that these acts were perpetrated even though the government by its actions had permitted the so called GCB to field representative teams as stipulated by the WICB, showing its willingness to understand the dynamics of compromise under the threat of an unyielding WICB.

The Guyana members of the WICB Directorship must answer to the people of Guyana on the question of their involvement in the Banning of Cricket from Guyana. This is a national issue and not a political one so all Guyanese must take a position of finding out their role in the process, so as to ascertain the quality of their representation and the basis of its future.

One has to only look at the quick and successful response of WICB to the intervention yes “intervention” of the Jamaican Government, where Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller in the Chris Gayle matter intervened, and when the Jamaican reps in the WICB supported their Prime Minister on the issue. So why the power drunk imposition on Guyana?

We cannot allow the WICB with its so called concern for “Non intervention of Government” to destroy our cricket, when such a position is unfounded, and penalizing the cricketing public in the process. Let our voices be heard loud and clear.

The mighty ICC has always displayed maturity, good sense and tolerance in dealing with its members who are in any way violating the same rule, so why is the WICB so unbending and draconic, in deliberately destroying the efforts of Guyana, a member that has done so much for

cricket in the Caribbean over the years. Are we being indirectly advised to shift our allegiance to South America?

And remove all connections to the Caribbean. This seems to be what the regional body is indicating since not a word of support has been forthcoming from any of our so-called Caribbean Brothers at this time of our trials. With five Doctors and an array of experience on the WICB, one would expect better judgment and decision making. At least for the arrangement of an enquiry or investigation and for a genuine attempt to resolve the problem in the interest of unity in West Indies Cricket.

Maybe that is why our cricket languishes at the bottom rungs of the grading ladders and why WICB has continually lost out in its negotiations with WIPA. Or maybe it is in their own self interest that the WICB Directorship prefers the present crop of GCB Directors who are more concerned with their status Quo than to respect and represent the wider interest of Guyana’s Cricket requirements and its sovereignty.

We are at the cross roads and as a people must decide now on the way forward by taking the appropriate action, especially since it is obvious that the government cannot do it alone. Total involvement is the only way, or our Cricket is doomed.

Claude Raphael

Page 26

Kaieteur News

FIA and Williams launch Spanish Grand Prix fire investigation Williams and Formula 1’s governing body have launched an investigation into the fire in the team’s pit after the Spanish Grand Prix.

Four team members were initially sent to hospital for treatment after the fire but three have been released.

The remaining team member in hospital will be flown back to the UK by Wednesday to continue his treatment. A statement said he was in “good spirits” and in communication with his family.

Four Caterham team members and one from Force India were also treated in the circuit medical centre, but later released. The incident happened as the Williams team - including Sir Frank Williams, who is confined to a wheelchair - were in the

garage celebrating their driver Pastor Maldonado’s victory in the race.

The statement said the team was looking into the cause of the fire in collaboration with the FIA and the local authorities in Spain.

Team principal Williams said on Monday: “I was pleased to welcome back to the factory the majority of our team this morning. “One of our people remains in Spain for further medical assistance but we are all looking forward to his imminent return.

“Everyone at Williams F1 is extremely relieved that this event was contained as quickly as it was and the damage which occurred was, relatively speaking, limited in its nature.

“While the incident was

unexpected and definitely most undesirable, it has demonstrated the genuine cohesiveness, camaraderie and spirit of co-operation that exists within the F1 paddock.

“The astonishing response from the teams and other paddock personnel was immediate, unconditional and overwhelming.”

Members of the Caterham, Force India, Toro Rosso and Marussia teams, as well as other people working in the area at the time, helped clear the Williams garage in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

McLaren have offered Williams any help required such as a loan of equipment to help repair facilities and prepare for the Monaco meeting in Monte Carlo, which begins on 25 May.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

PACQUIAO: I have concerns about Bradley’s fighting style

Manny Pacquiao (left) and Timothy Bradley Jr Yahoo! Sports – In a series between HBO Sports and Yahoo! Sports featuring special Q&A entries from Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. ahead of their showdown on June 9, Pacquiao expressed concerns over the style of Bradley.

Whe asked; What are Bradley’s strengths in this matchup, what are your advantages, and do you have any concerns about his physical style and the frequency of head clashes in

his fights?

Pacquiao responded: Timothy Bradley brings a lot of weapons to a fight. He has youth, an aggressive style and a state of mind that only a world champion possesses.

No matter how much talent a fighter has, his game is raised by being a world champion.

Tim has always found a way to win. He has great determination and can adapt and change his game plan in mid fight.

Bradley seems to be

improving with every fight.

His victories over Lamont Peterson and Devon Alexander, who were undefeated when he fought them, were very impressive.

He knows how to impose his will on his opponents. He turns fights into wars.

I have speed and power to counter Bradley. My experience against Hall of Fame caliber opposition is also an advantage for me. I have learned so much from fighting legends such as Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. I also have the best teacher in my trainer Freddie Roach.

I do have concerns about Bradley’s fighting style.

Anytime a southpaw fights an orthodox-style boxer headbutts a r e b o u n d t o happen, but with Bradley i t ’s m o r e o f a c o n c e r n because he tends to lead with his head. Hopefully we will have a good referee who will not let him do that. Regardless, it’s my job to be prepared for anything he may bring.

USA Boxing will send 9 fighters to...

Racing team crews use a fire hose to try and extinguish a fire in the Williams racing pit stand at the Circuit de Catalunya.

England wary of Chanderpaul...

From back page to play on Thursday.

Kevin Pietersen did return to form with a fine century in the second test win over Sri Lanka and the highly promising Jonny Bairstow is likely to make his test debut batting at number six.

If the batsmen can provide a solid platform, England certainly have the bowling attack to expose the inexperienced Windies top order. Broad is likely to open with James Anderson, supported by Steve Finn, Graham Onions or Tim Bresnan, and Graeme Swann will be the lone spinner.

“We’d love to make early inroads,” Anderson said.

“That’s my job and Stuart’s job. But from watching West Indies against Australia recently, they showed glimpses of a talented side.

“We can’t just expect them to roll over. They’re

going to put up a fight. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”

LIMPET-LIKE Leading the West Indies resistance will be the obdurate Chanderpaul, the world’s top-ranked test batsman who has toured England six times with an average of 64.66.

The gritty left-hander has the technique and concentration to bat for long periods but he will need support from his team mates to repel the street-wise England bowlers.

West Indies showed signs of improvement in their recent home series loss to Australia, nearly upsetting the touring side in Barbados, and Sammy believes his young team are heading in the right direction after years in the doldrums.

“The only thing that has not been happening is the

victories,” Sammy said.

“We’ve been playing good, competitive cricket against strong sides like India and Australia and all our tests have been going five days and down to the wire. “Not many teams go to India and give India a run for their money, but we did that.

“Coming from where we are right now, we are not going to start winning straight away. We are taking baby steps to the ultimate goal.

Sammy said the biggest problem was losing key moments in big matches.

“One bad session keeps costing us,” he said.

“Champion teams seize the moment but we keep having a bad session where we might lose five wickets in an hour.

We just need to cut that out.

Once we eliminate those bad sessions then we’ll make progress.”

From page 27 competition when heavyweight Michael Hunter and super heavyweight Dominic Breazeale won their semifinal bouts.

They’ll all travel to London in July with three-time U.S. Olympian flyweight Rau’shee Warren, welterweight Errol Spence and bantamweight Joseph Diaz, who all qualified last year at the world championships. ‘’It’s like a dream,’’ said Breazeale, a former quarterback at Northern Colorado who only took up boxing about three years ago. ‘’Pinch me, wake me up.’’ Gausha and Browne won the tournament titles on Saturday, with Gausha beating Dominica’s Junior Castillo 62 and Browne trouncing Brazil’s Yamaguchi Falcao Florentino 14-6.

While Olympic qualification certainly

doesn’t guarantee an improved medal count, the U.S. performance is a boon to a program that has been widely criticized for declining performance in international competition.

Americans have won just one gold medal in the past three Olympics - Andre Ward’s victory in Athens in 2004. The U.S. team left Beijing four years ago with only heavyweight Deontay Wilder’s bronze medal in their worst showing ever.

USA Boxing made several changes to its program since the disappointing showing in Beijing, allowing fighters to work more closely with their personal coaches and altering the qualifying process to encourage more competition. The governing body also enlisted celebrated pro trainer Freddie Roach, who has tutored several top American fighters as a special assistant.

76ers even series with 82-81 win...

From page 28 and Lavoy Allen scored 10 points for the Sixers. Brandon Bass had 12 points for the Celtics, who couldn’t quite repeat their comeback in the series opener. The Sixers led by 10 points early in the fourth quarter of Game 1 before the Celtics rallied for a 92-91 victory.

It was starting to look familiar for Philadelphia on Monday, but the Sixers were able to hold off the Celtics down the stretch in a tight finish.

Philadelphia led 57-49 entering the fourth, but Boston tied it twice before going up 72-71 on Avery Bradley’s 3-pointer, setting off a series of shots from beyond the arc.

Holiday answered with a 3 for the Sixers, then Ray Allen got the lead right back for the Celtics on a 3-pointer with 1:40 left. The Celtics had a chance to extend the lead after forcing the Sixers into a 24-second shot clock violation, but Rondo missed a shot and Iguodala got the rebound, leading to Turner’s

layup to put the Sixers up 76-75 with 40.4 seconds to go.

Rondo and Allen both missed shots that would have put Boston ahead, then Rondo fouled Turner with 14.4 seconds left as the shot clock was winding down.

The Celtics fouled Turner again with 12 seconds and he hit both free throws to extend the lead to 78-76. Fans grew restless as the second half opened with sloppy, choppy play by both teams. Boston led 38-36 at halftime and nearly 7 minutes into the third quarter the score was just 43-41 with the Celtics still ahead.

When the shots finally started falling, they were all for Philadelphia. The Sixers scored 14 straight points, turning a 47-43 deficit into a 57-47 lead in the final minute of the period.

Boston went without a point for 4:40, finally scoring when Pierce made two free throws with 2.4 seconds left in the period.

The Celtics committed seven turnovers during the quarter and made just 4 of 17 shots.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Outstanding Mothers recognized by Bolt for Aug 30 Zurich RHTY&SC cricket teams and DTV-8 Diamond League

Usain Bolt

STRIVING TO MAINTAIN FAMILY VALUES!!! The Mother’s honoured display their prizes in the presence of their daughter’s and one father.

Three exceptional mothers were honoured on Mother’s Day when the cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports and DTV-8 hosted their 5th Annual Region 6 Mother of the Year Award Programme. Haimkumarie Basdeo of Canje was named the RHTYSC/DTV-8 Region 6 Mother of the Year while Beverley King of Alness Village and Jenny Ramoutar of No. 2 Village were named runners-up.

The event was organised by the Club’s Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell

Under-17, Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21, Pepsi Under-19 and Metro Female teams in conjunction with DTV-8 of New Amsterdam.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster at the presentation noted that the main aim of the programme was to identify and honour parents who are positive role models and who have also played a major role in the development of their children.

Foster expressed concern about the lack of family values and respect for authority among the young generation

while urging the awardees to share their parenting skills with their peers. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Foster stated is blessed with disciplined and committed members because of their family background and would continue to invest in family related programmes.

Mother of the Year, Mrs. Basdeo praised the different cricket teams of the Club and DTV-8 for making her feel special. Motherhood, she stated is a God given privilege and discipline, patience and understanding

The Associated Press – Six more American boxers have qualified for the Olympics with winning performances at a qualifying tournament in Brazil, allowing USA Boxing to send an impressive nine fighters to the London Games.

Including three boxers who qualified last year, the U.S. currently has the secondlargest men’s team headed to London. That’s more fighters than any nation except Australia, which will send a boxer in each of the 10 men’s weight classes, and more than traditional amateur powers Cuba and Russia.

Light welterweight and American team captain Jamel Herring was among the group that qualified this week at the AIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Event in Rio de Janeiro. ‘’This performance from the team as a whole should

be a message to the world that USA Boxing is still alive and kicking,’’ Herring told The Associated Press from Rio. ‘’If anything, I say we’re getting stronger and have something to prove.’’

Herring left Rio with a bronze medal after losing his semifinal bout at the

qualifying event, but had already qualified for London along with lightweight Jose Ramirez, light heavyweight Marcus Browne and middleweight Terrell Gausha.

Two more U.S. boxers qualified Friday night in the penultimate day of Continued on page 26

USA Boxing will send 9 fighters to London Games

Brazil dismisses problem with stadium construction SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil’s sports minister is dismissing delays in stadium construction for the 2014 World Cup and says construction work in the northeastern city of Salvador will be completed in time for next year’s Confederations Cup. Minister Aldo Rebelo visited Salvador on Tuesday and said he is confident it will be included as a host city for the warmup competition in 2013. FIFA will decide by next month whether Salvador and Recife will host matches along with Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza and Brasilia.

Rebelo dismissed an alleged report obtained by local media from FIFA saying that soccer’s governing body is worried with the ‘’critical situation’’ of stadium construction in Brazil.

He said FIFA President Sepp Blatter said otherwise in a meeting with local organizers last week.

were the virtues needed to be a good parent. All three mothers were presented with certificates among other prizes.

ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) — Double Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt will race in the Zurich leg of the Diamond League on August 30, organisers announced yesterday.

Bolt, also the world record-holder over the 100 and 200m, kicked off his season on home soil recently, winning the Jamaica International Invitational in a world-leading 9.82 seconds.

He is scheduled to run the 100m in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on May 25, and will also race the 100m at the Diamond League meetings in Rome on May 31 and Oslo on

June 7.

His final race before the July 27-August 12 London Olympic Games will be over 200m at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on July 20.

“Zurich is often called the one-day Olympics and I expect this year to be a very special meeting 18 days after the London Games,” said Bolt.

It will be the Jamaican’s fifth appearance at Zurich, having placed second in the 200m in 2006 and 2007 before going on to win the 100m in 2008 and 2009, the latter two victories having come on the heels of winning Olympic and world gold, respectively.

“Usain is the most popular track and field star of the millennium. We are delighted to have him back in Zurich,” said meeting director Patrick Magyar.

“2012 will be a very special edition of our meeting.

Zurich will be held 18 days after the Olympic Games — an ideal date in the outdoor competition calendar. This will help us present high-level fields in all our events.”

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Thunder clobber Lakers 119-90 in Game 1 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) For the second time in less than a week, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers must figure out how to fight back after a humbling loss.

Bryant responded the first time by calling out his teammates for lackluster effort. It might not be so simple this time.

Russell Westbrook had 27 points and nine assists, Kevin Durant added 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder blasted the weary Lakers 11990 Monday night in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals.

This blowout came four days after Bryant’s Lakers trailed by as many as 28 in a loss at Denver, then bounced back to win Game 7. They’ll need to find some answers before Game 2 in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. ‘’I’ve seen both sides of that equation and my experience has taught me just to be patient and to think the game through,’’ said Bryant, who tied Andrew Bynum for the team lead with 20 points. ‘’We can come up with a different strategy and we can do a much better job and have a much better showing in the next game.’’

The Thunder took a 15point halftime lead, opened the third quarter with a 15-2 blitz filled with crowdpleasing 3-pointers and dunks, and never looked back. The final margin ended up being the fourth-largest in the history of the Oklahoma City franchise, including its years in Seattle.

It matched the 12thlargest defeat in Lakers postseason history, and the sixth worst of Bryant’s c a r e e r. T h r e e o f t h o s e losses came in close-out games when L.A. was done for the series.

Once was the start of a four-game sweep. The other two times, the Lakers came back to win the next game - both during their run to the 2000 NBA title.

The Thunder didn’t need any dirty tactics to get even for Metta World Peace’s suspension-worthy elbow that gave Oklahoma City’s James Harden a concussion with a week left in the regular season.

T h e l e a g u e ’s m o s t turnover-prone team committing 16.4 per game in the regular season - gave it away only four times, a record low for the franchise.

While the Lakers were making a quick turnaround less than 48 hours after ending the first round, the

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, of Spain, right, defends.

Thunder had eight full days off following their first-round sweep of defending NBA champion Dallas.

That gave starting center Kendrick Perkins time - but apparently not enough - to rest a strained muscle in his right hip after he hurt it in the final game of the Dallas series.

He limped out of the game after dunking just after halftime and did not return although coach Scott Brooks said he could have. He will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

The possibility of rust had been a concern for Brooks, and he fought it by alternating light days with demanding, training-camp style practices.

All that pent-up energy came flowing out just after halftime, in highlight-reel fashion.

Durant lobbed the ball to Westbrook for a twohanded slam, then connected on a 3-pointer from the left wing to draw a timeout from Brown.

That still didn’t slow Oklahoma City, which got what could have been a costly two-handed dunk from Perkins on its next trip and then another 3 from Durant before Thabo Sefolosha swiped the ball from Bryant and ran out for a layup that made it 74-46

with 8:39 left in the period.

Both coaches started going to their benches with 8 1/2 minutes left, and Los Angeles reserve Devin Ebanks ended up getting ejected with 2:18 to play after walking up to a scrum for the ball after the whistle. Official Greg Willard said at the scorer’s table that he was ejected for ‘’what he said’’ in drawing a technical foul.

The buildup to the game focused largely on it being the first meeting between the teams since World Peace got a seven-game suspension for elbowing Harden. He returned just in time to help L.A. win Game 7 against Denver.

A sold-out crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena wasn’t happy to see him back, although World Peace who changed his name from Ron Artest - was hardly fazed by the chorus of boos that greeted him during pregame introductions or again whenever the ball came his way.

World Peace knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key amid boos the first time he touched the ball, set up a two-handed jam by Bynum and drilled another 3 within the first 2 1/2 minutes.

The boos continued throughout the game whenever he got the ball.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Devendra Bishoo’s mother is BCB’s Mother of the year Sixty-year-old Cousilia Bishoo of Albion was honoured by the Special Events Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board as their Mother of the Year, 2012.

Mrs. Bishoo is the third mother to win the prestigious award which was initiated in 2010 as part of the Board’s efforts to recognize mothers who played major roles in the development of their children and for providing guidance in their cricketing careers.

Secretary of the Board Angela Haniff and Coaching Coordinator Julian Moore visited Mrs. Bishoo at her Albion residence and presented her with a floral arrangement and a special mother’s day gift.

Haniff congratulated Bishoo on her well deserved selection and praised her for the positive influencing role she played as a single parent to West Indies Test player Devendra Bishoo. The cricketing public, Haniff noted is grateful to her for single handily molding Bishoo into a disciplined and dedicated individual.

The BCB Secretary also urged Mrs. Bishoo to share her motherhood skills with the younger generation.

In brief remarks, the elated Bishoo expressed pleasure

Mrs. Cousilia Bishoo pose with her Mother’s Day bouquet after receiving same from BCB Secretary, Ms. Angela Haniff and gratitude to the Berbice Board for making the day extra special for her while stating that being a single parent after the death of her husband was no easy task but her love for her only child was too strong for her to fail him.

His passion was always for cricket and she allowed him the freedom to pursue his dream. She stated she is a very proud parent as her son became the 15th Berbician to play Test cricket and also won the ICC Emerging Player of

the Year-2011.

Mrs. Bishoo urged the BCB to continue its outstanding performance in developing the game in the Ancient County and for working overtime to produce more test cricketers like her son. The first two winners of the programme were Mrs. S. Chattergoon, mother of Test Player Sewnarine Chattergoon and Mrs. Zoria Fudadin, mother of West Indies senior selectee Assad Fudadin.

76ers even series with 82-81 win over Celts

BOSTON (AP) Evan Turner made the go-ahead layup with 40.4 seconds left and Philadelphia held off Boston the rest of the way with six straight free throws as the 76ers evened the second-round Eastern Conference series with an 8281 victory Monday night.

Turner finished with 10 points, including his layup that put the Sixers up 76-75.

He added two free throws with 12 seconds to go.

Jrue Holiday scored 18 points and Andre Iguodala added 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Sixers, who blew a 10point lead in the fourth quarter as the Celtics won Game 1.

Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Ray Allen scored 17 points for the Celtics.

Game 3 is today in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia won its first playoff game in Boston since 1982 despite committing a playoff-high 19 turnovers and getting outrebounded 47-36.

Spencer Hawes finished with eight points and 10 rebounds Continued on page 26

Jrue Holiday #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers takes a shot as Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics defends.

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Kaieteur News

GABA praise boxers despite ouster of Olympic hopefuls Following failed attempts by several Guyanese boxers to qualify at the imminent London Olympics later this year, officials of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) have indicated that there still is a minimal chance of fielding at least one boxer based on a wild card option.

However, the chances are very slim, confirmation would only come after President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Mr. Juman Yassin examines the prospects.

This much was relayed to the media when GABA convened a press conference at the Main Street office of its President, Steve Ninvalle, shortly after the boxers returned home, yesterday afternoon. They came in for praise for their efforts despite losing out on qualification at this stage.

It was revealed that bantamweight boxer, Imran ‘Magic’ Khan, touted as Guyana’s main hope to procure an Olympic Gold medal at the imminent tournament scheduled for the United Kingdom later this year, was defeated at the Olympics Box Off tournament in Brazil.

Coach of the local team, Terrence Poole, blamed Khan’s misfortune on a virus contracted shortly after arriving in Brazil. Mr. Poole further informed that the other two pugilists on tour, lightweight, Stephan Gouveia and jnr/welterweight, Bert Braithwaite, also failed to make the grade after surrendering their respective bouts. Gouveia won his inaugural bout against a boxer out of Honduras but lost his succeeding encounter to a Colombian, while Braithwaite was ejected from the tournament after the referee stopped his contest against a St Lucian.

Mr. Poole said that shortly after arriving in Brazil Khan complained of feeling unwell and started to vomit.

He was taken to a doctor where he was diagnosed with a virus but was still inclined to fight. The coach said that he solicited professional medical opinion and was told that the risks to his fighter’s health were minimal and after listening to his charge’s plea, decided to go ahead with the bout.

The decision eventually backfired as his Khan was unable to perform his ‘magic’ and drum up sufficient energy for competitive combat.

Mr. Poole was also unhappy with the referee’s decision to halt Braithwaite’s

...wild card maybe in the offing

Terrence Poole

Imran Khan

bout. He said that the first count occurred after a clash of heads and upon resumption, both men attacked resulting in another clash of heads following which, the third man inexplicably disqualified his charge. Otherwise, he felt that Gouveia was truly outclassed by a Colombian that went on to win the silver medal.

Gouveia had earlier registered a win in his first bout.

Meanwhile, the GABA President downplayed accusations of impartiality pertaining to the omission from the squad, at the last minute, Berbician, Richard Williamson. Mr. Ninvalle cited the availability of sufficient funds and explained that Williamson’s omission occurred after intense examination and an eventual vote by a 4 man committee.

He admitted that such an

eventuality could have a negative impact on the young man’s psyche but said that his executive have gone the extra mile to assuage the situation even explaining the circumstances in detail to the affected boxer.

He said that many lessons could be drawn from the just concluded tournament and he intends to use those lessons towards the advancement of the sport.

Among such ploys is a heavier concentration on the nursery even as he strengthens the senior boxers. Amidst it all, Mr. Ninvalle is adamant that those boxers that failed in the Brazil tournament could still go on to procure major accolades in future tournaments provided that they remain resolute and committed.

(Michael Benjamin)

Page 29

DDL and GFF officially formalise partnership The occasion was straightforward, but yet important when Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) officially formalised their partnership by the signing of an MOU, during a simple ceremony which was conducted yesterday, at the GFF Head Office in Section ‘K’ Campbellville.

In attendance were DDL Sales Manager Alexis Langhorne and Sales Representative Almira Kassim, while GFF’s delegation was led by Acting President Franklin Wilson, General Secretary Noel Adonis and Technical Director Jamal Shabazz.

Langhorne in her opening remarks spoke of how pleased the Company was to partner with the Federation for the hosting of the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies, adding that they are always looking for opportunities to support local sportsmen and women.

“This is an auspicious and proud moment not only for the ‘Golden Jaguars’, but for all Guyanese and the players have worked hard to raise the level of their performance which has brought them to this juncture.

DDL through its Pepsi brand have always placed emphasis on sports and its development and signing the MOU today is testimony to the fact and in addition to providing financial assistance for the

tournament, we will also be refuelling the players and officials with Gatorade and Diamond Mineral Water for the matches and encampment period,” Langhorne said.

In closing, Langhorne urged the general public to come out and support the ‘Jaguars’ in their quest for WC glory, adding that they look forward to working in the future with the GFF and the team and are confident that they will make Guyana proud.

Wilson reminded that the relationship between the two parties has been ongoing for quite sometime and the GFF was indeed grateful for the support over the years.

He called on other corporate entities to follow the lead taken by DDL since the campaign that the ‘Jaguars’ have embarked on is an expensive one and need the full support of many more businesses.

Meanwhile, in customary fashion, Shabazz came out slugging, insisting that because the success of the ‘Jaguars’ will not be only for the team, b u t r a t h e r a l l Guyana, it is necessary that more members of the business sector come on board from now and not wait until the team creates history.

He added that while DDL must be applauded for being there from the start, there is great need for many more to duplicate their act because the campaign is an expensive one that requires substantial financial resources.

“Players and coaches

make a lot of sacrifices and many of them are not professional so they obviously need stipends to support their families,” Shabazz said.

The TD informed those present that the GFF is always looking for partners and commended DDL for coming on board up front, while advising those who are still undecided to join an alliance with the governing body since they are still welcomed.

“We need a lot of money, the journey is difficult and I want to thank the GFF for embarking on this move,” he stated.

He spoke of the two-tier system that the GFF has embraced which according to him has worked well so far, pointing out that only high level programmes have such luxury and Guyana is fortunate at the moment to have teams preparing for the WC qualifiers and the Parbo Bier competitions almost separately.

Shabazz said it is quite frustrating when the funding is scarce or at times unavailable and that is why the clarion call has been made for more businesses to come forward and back the GFF. The team is scheduled to leave today for a game against Jamaica’s ‘Reggae Boyz’ on Friday, while they are also scheduled to go to Panama to face their national team in a closed door friendly and then leave for an undisclosed location for their final warmup match.

Taffin Khan leads points standing as Caribbean Container INC chess tourney continues Senior national chess champion, Taffin Khan, turned back the challenge of his dad, David and registered a convincing victory when play in the Caribbean Container INC. (C.C.I.) FIDE rating tournament continued at the Ocean Spray Hotel, Rupert Craig Highway and Stanley Place Kitty, Saturday afternoon last.

The younger Khan now enjoys the leading position with 5½ points at the end of the 6th round. In a highly anticipated encounter, the two players started on a high note. Thirty moves later, it was all over when the younger Khan launched an attack and expertly took advantage of his opponent’s unsafe king after forcing erratic movements around board.

The older Khan then

gambled his queen in an effort to save the king but sank deeper into the mire after weakening his position to eventually concede the game.

Meanwhile, national junior champion Hai Feng Su improved his standing in the competition with a decisive win over Anthony Drayton to take his points tally to 3, two less than Cecil Cox, the leading junior player.

The other point standings after six rounds read: David Khan and Cecil Cox (5 apiece), Shiv Nandalall (4), Anthony Drayton (3.5), Hai Feng Su (3), Ryan Singh (1.5), Kana Khan and Ron Motilall (1 apiece) while Sham Khan remains in the cellar on ½ point.

The six junior players are competing against four FIDE rated seniors to qualify for similar ratings but will be

David Khan (left) and his son Taffin engaged in a battle of wits before the younger Khan prevailed required to dig deep since the World Chess Federation (FIDE) will grant the improved ratings based on the performance of the younger players during the

tournament. The tournament continues this Saturday when three rounds will be played at the same venue, while the final two rounds will be played on Sunday.

Activities get underway at 16:30 hrs at the Ocean Spray Hotel and the presentation of prizes are set for Olympic House shortly after the tournament ends.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Delhi dismiss Punjab, storm into play-offs

Wednesday May 16, 2012

BCCI suspends 5 cricketers after TV sting exposes spot-fixing, graft

Varun, Umesh excel on seamer-friendly track

white before the match. Delhi needed to win one of three remaining games to make the next stage, while Punjab needed to win all their remaining fixtures to stay in the hunt. As it happened, Delhi went through, and Punjab were left with a host of mathematical possibilities, but little else.

Punjab had earlier fended off Delhi’s pacemen to post 136-8, despite – or because

of – a regular loss of wickets.

In this first meeting between the teams in IPL-V, David Hussey played the lone hand for Kings XI with an unbeaten 40, as Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav picked up five wickets in eight overs, giving away just 40 runs.

Punjab had progressed to 24 without loss (in three overs) when the first one fell, as Varun had Shaun Marsh caught on the legside off his first ball. In his next over, the young tear-away accounted for Mandeep Singh, who was pouched by Sehwag at mid-wicket.

Still, Punjab reached fifty in the seventh over, and looked good for a competitive total before Umesh Yadav came on to bowl in the eighth over of the innings. Almost immediately, Umesh struck, striking as Nitin Saini hit out loosely at a fast away-moving delivery to be caught at slip.

Much depended on David Miller, but the South African was run-out by a direct hit from Pawan Negi. And when Azhar Mahmood holed out to Umesh, Punjab were left without any dependable batsman to support Hussey in the middle.

Scores: Delhi Daredevils 140 for 5 (Jayawardene 56*, Awana 3-22) beat Kings XI Punjab 136 for 8 (Hussey 40*, Yadav 3-21, Aaron 2-19) by five wickets.

LONDON – Ottis Gibson put his faith in the young, inexperienced West Indies top-order batting to rise to the challenge, when they face England in the first of three Tests, starting on Thursday at Lord’s.

The West Indies coach said this series presents the players with another opportunity to take up the challenge and play their b e s t a g a i n s t t h e Wo r l d No.1 side.

“I suppose in the context of playing in England, it will be tough, but sometimes, the best place to get experience is out in the middle,” said Gibson. “We know it’s going to be a challenge for them – but the selectors have got a lot of confidence in them, as I have.

He added: “We know they are good players – they’ve proven that at home.

Not a lot of people perform outstandingly well at home and, bearing in mind we are still in a rebuilding phase, these guys are the guys the selectors have decided are

the ones they want to have first go at rebuilding the Test team.”

Gibson said the second innings of the warm-up match against the England Lions was more like what he expected from the batting of the team.

West Indies made 390 in their second innings, after they were dismissed for 147 in the first innings in the fourday, first-class tour match at Wantage Road.

The coach said the most pleasing aspect of the performance was the way the team fought back from 28 for three and almost made 400.

“They were a little bit disappointed after the first innings and I had to step in and say, ‘you shouldn’t be disappointed because if we’d bowled first, in those conditions on the first day I believe we would have bowled [the England Lions] out for a similar score’,” said Gibson.

“In the second innings, Kieran Powell played very well and got a hundred. He’s

Mahela Jayawardene was all class as he batted Delhi into the play-offs with a half-century Yahoo! Cricket – NEW DELHI: Delhi Daredevils became the first team to cement their place in the playoffs as they bested Kings XI Punjab by five wickets on a seamer-friendly wicket at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Tuesday night.

Delhi’s tenth win of the season elevated them to 20 points, and was brought about by their young Indian pacemen Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, who restricted Punjab to 136-8, and Mahela Jayawardene, who finally came good with an unbeaten 49-ball 56 as he guided his team home in the chase with an over to spare.

The realization of victory was not really straightforward.

Delhi lost David Warner early, and then Parvinder Awana rocked them with three quick wickets – of Virender Sehwag, Venugopal Rao and Ross Taylor, leaving the home side tottering on 37-4 in the sixth over.

Jayawardene steadied the ship with Naman Ojha (34) and then collaborated with Irfan Pathan to make certain that no last-gasp vagaries were allowed to creep in. Delhi needed 26 in 18 balls when Awana returned for his last over and what a turnaround in fortunes he experienced.

Pathan brutalised the medium pacer for three boundaries, reducing the requirement drastically. And then Jayawardene ended the game in style, by cracking three successive fours in Azhar Mahmood’s penultimate over of the chase.

The respective and possible gains from the match were known in black and

Shalabh Shrivastava has denied any wrong doing Yahoo! Cricket – The five uncapped cricketers exposed in India TV’s sting operation were suspended from all forms cricket by the IPL governing council on Tuesday.

The council has asked Ravi Sawani - head of the ICC’s new anti-corruption unit - to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 15 days, following which “proper action” will be taken.

The players suspended are Abhinav Bali, TP Sudhindra (Deccan Chargers), Mohnish Mishra (Pune Warriors), Amit Yadav (Kings XI Punjab) and Shalabh Shrivastava (Kings XI Punjab).

Responding to the expose, BCCI president N Srinivasan was at pains to assure that everything possible would be done to locate and excise all malpractices.

“We will ensure that the integrity of the game is protected. BCCI believes in the integrity of the game. We

will take the strictest possible action. We will have to have the tapes and the moment we see it, whoever is the player, we will take very, very strict action,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said, “The IPL governing council met via teleconference on Tuesday afternoon and recommended to the BCCI president strict action against those found guilty and found suspicious on the television footage shown on India TV.” “Since it also involved matter relating to other matches and previous IPL(s), it was referred to the president. The president after due consideration has decided to have a preliminary inquiry for which a commissioner has been appointed. Ravi Sawani, who was the ICC ACSU chief and now advisor will conduct the inquiry and he will submit a report to the Disciplinary Committee.”

“Pending inquiry the five players have been suspended from all cricket activities with immediate effect. We will await the report of the preliminary inquiry and proper action will be taken only after that,” Shukla added.

On Monday, India TV had claimed to have exposed “murky deals” in the IPL and Indian domestic cricket.

These nefarious practices included spot-fixing, and murkiness in player payments and transfers to other franchises.

The channel showed some of the suspended cricketers admitting on hidden camera that they were paid much more than what was the prescribed limit for that category of players.

The channel had also claimed that spot-fixing was prevalent, not only in lowprofile domestic fixtures but also in IPL matches, with women (‘honey traps’) playing an important part in luring players.

Ottis Gibson

hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the current World No.1 Test batsman, from his regular No.5 slot to add greater stability to the batting.

“Our batting revolves around Shiv – he’s very comfortable in the position he is at the moment and he’s doing a good job for us,” he said. “Without trying to upset the batting line-up too much, we’ve decided to leave it as it is at the moment.”

Gibson said: “It’s something we haven’t completely ruled out, but it’s something we will have to revisit at some stage. “If it is a team decision, then I am sure he will be very happy [to move up].”

Gibson also brushed aside concerns about the bowling attack following concerns about Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul and Kemar Roach.

“Everybody pulled up okay,” said Gibson. “It all goes back to managing niggles with the Lord’s Test on Thursday being

the big event in mind.

“Kemar twisted his ankle at Northants – he’s been treated twice a day for the last couple of days. He had a little bowl today, about six overs, pretty controlled. . .no complaints, so at this stage he’s doing okay.

“Ravi was just a twisted neck from sleeping badly or just staying up too late watching TV or playing Playstation! He’s fine and Fidel is fine also. Everything looks all set for Thursday.”

Squad Darren Sammy (captain) Kirk Edwards (vicecaptain) Adrian Barath Darren Bravo Shivnarine Chanderpaul Narsingh Deonarine Fidel Edwards Assad Fudadin Shannon Gabriel Kieran Powell Kemar Roach Denesh Ramdin Ravi Rampaul Marlon Samuels Shane Shillingford

Gibson has faith West Indies can push England

feeling pretty confident right now, he has a smile on his face.

“Darren Bravo, who’d been playing well for us for the last year-and-a-half, he played well and got two half-centuries. “We know what Shivnarine Chanderpaul can do, Denesh Ramdin got a good knock and Marlon Samuels got a good knock.”

Gibson said consideration had been given to elevating veteran left-