Kaieteur News

Monday May 21, 2012

Kaieteur News

Anil Nandlall defends Brassington brothers

By Gary Eleazar Winston Brassington, the Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment (NICIL) who recently came under fire for a transaction involving him, his brother Jonathan and some 2.2 million shares at Hand in Hand Trust Corporation has done nothing wrong.

This is at least according to Guyana’s Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, who told this publication that there is not even a conflict of interest situation that arises out of the sale in the shares.

“I don’t know of any transaction in which (Winston) Brassington’s personal conduct has been under scrutiny,” said Nandlall as he expanded on the sale of the shares.

“GNCB Trust was privatized and then seven years after Brassington’s brother, as an independent person who lives in America and who is quite

NICIL’s Executive Director Winston Brassington Company.

In 2009, by order of a resolution passed by the Board of Directors at Hand in Hand Trust Corporation, “the Board authorized an increase in the Trust Corporation Share Capital from $250M to $750M and further authorized the issuance of Preferred/ Ordinary Shares to cover the increased Share Capital.”

This meant that the Trust

“…you have to find that there was some collusion to the detriment of the shareholders interest and then a conflict of interest arises” - Anil Nandlall accomplished, choose to invest in a company in Guyana…that is being made a controversy.”

Nandlall argues that Winston Brassington is the constituted power of attorney for his brother and as such could have acted on his behalf.

“He does the transaction on behalf of his brother, what is wrong with that…there is no conflict of interest.”

Winston Brassington was the head of NICIL when it acquired the Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB) Trust. NICIL then sold the GNCB Trust to Hand in Hand Insurance Company.

On October 13, 2003, the insurance company passed a special resolution to change the name of the new asset to Hand in Hand Trust Corporation.

NICIL, still headed by Brassington, became a major shareholder in the company.

NICIL held 250,000 shares in the Trust; the majority of shares was held by Hand in Hand Fire Insurance

increased the volume of shares from 2.5 million to 7.5 million at $100 per share.

Immediately, Jonathan Brassington bought 2.25 million shares for $225 million.

This purchase gave him a onethird ownership in Hand in Hand Trust Company.

By September 2009, Winston Brassington who still represented NICIL as a major shareholder in the Trust company, signed for these shares on behalf of his brother who was at the time and still remains overseas.

Nandlall argues that there is no conflict of interest in the transaction on Winston Brassington’s part, “how could that be a conflict of interest,” asked Nandlall.

Speaking to allegations of insider trading on the part of Winston Brassington when the shares were sold to Jonathan for whom he signed, Nandlall firstly pointed to the fact that the sale was undertaken seven years after GNCB trust was privatized.

“So because your brother sits on a board you are

Page 3

Albouystown man held with gun An Albouystown resident is in police custody after being found with an illegal handgun in his possession yesterday.

The man was identified as 37-year old Rodwell Joseph of James and King Edward Street, Albouystown.

Police sources had revealed that Joseph is a known character who was implicated with various crimes, including armed robbery. Joseph was also an inmate of the Georgetown Prison in 2010.

According to reports, Police Force’s Tactical Services Unit (TSU) working on information, descended on “Big Yard” in East La Penitence. Joseph frantically exited the yard, jumped on his motorcycle and proceeded to ride away. Police gave chase and apprehended the man, who allegedly had an automatic Glock 17 in his possession.

In 2010, Joseph was also shot twice in his legs after leaving his girlfriend’s home.

According to reports, a

group of men pulled up in a car and asked him where he was going. He indicated that he was heading to “town” and, according to him; another passenger in the car asked him if he had money.

When he responded in the negative, he said the men jumped out of the vehicle and a scuffle ensued.

Joseph said that in his bid to escape he was shot at and sustained injuries to both legs. The men, he added, took his cellular phone and his watch.

Four weeks later…

Jonathan Brassington disabled some way from doing business with that board.”

Nandlall says that the proposal by the Brassingtons had to be vetted by the Guyana Central Bank “Is it because I am in government, my entire family is incapacitated from doing a transaction with the government?”

The Government’s Legal Advisor argues that as long as there is “full and frank disclosure, anybody can do business with anybody.”

Nandlall stressed the point that there must be established a withholding of information, “you have to find that there was some collusion to the detriment of the shareholders interest and then a conflict of interest arises.”

Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan had leveled several serious criticisms of the transaction saying that it is tantamount to financial fraud.

He argues that with the culmination of that transaction, “a Brassington became the second largest shareholder in a Brassingtonprivatised company…This is not only corruption: it meets the test of fraud.”

Ramjattan cautioned the NICIL Executive Director saying “I hope that Mr. Brassington has not changed his mind so that he can prevent access to the files and records that will conclusively establish the mounting evidence of fraud, corruption and illegalities surrounding NICIL which has surfaced with every passing day.”

Still no sign of missing Alzheimer’s pensioner It’s been a month now since 66-year old Dennis Cort disappeared after leaving church at Beterverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara.

While most would have given up hope by now, the elderly man’s daughter, Gail Lowe, is persevering with belief that he is alive somewhere, although the odds of such are extremely low.

With each passing day and no reported sighting, chances of his safe return home are getting slimmer and slimmer. The pensioner, whose last address was listed as 20 Vigilance South, East Coast Demerara, and who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, was last seen at Victoria when he disembarked a bus which would normally take worshipers home from church in Beterverwagting.

According to Lowe, who usually takes him to and from church in her car, she was greeting other worshippers at the end of the Sunday service on April 29, just after midday when Cort, for some strange reason, boarded the bus which subsequently left the area. It was not until Lowe was ready to head home that she realized that her father was nowhere around.

When she enquired about him, she was told that he had left with the bus.

The woman said that she drove to Victoria, where the bus usually turns back but could not locate her father.

Searches were also carried

out in other East Coast Demerara villages including Ann’s Grove, Nabaclis and Golden Grove and there were still no signs of the old man.

Since then Lowe and other relatives have combed the backlands of several other East Coast Demerara villages without success.

The search for the missing pensioner led Lowe to Linden where Cort has relatives. That too proved futile.

Lowe is determined to see her father again even if it’s only his body. Her hopes soared when she heard about an unidentified man who was struck down by a car in the city early last week.

“A friend called me and asked if I see the papers and I said no. She said that they find a person and right away my heart go Boop! Boop! And I said okay I will check on it. I asked her the description of the clothes that the person had on and she described it to me, so I said that it could be him and it could not be him,” Lowe explained.

However, checks at the funeral parlour where the body was taken revealed that the person was not her father.

Then there was the news of a missing elderly woman, whose body was subsequently found with

Missing: Dennis Cort what appeared to be marks of violence.

“I just look at the headline and said, ‘oh gosh! I don’t want to read this thing’ because it remind me of my father. But somebody read it and told me that they found the woman.”

This episode brought home the reality that her father’s fate could be similar.

Lowe remains upbeat that she will find closure to the thing that is eating at her heart. Cort was last seen wearing a blue and red striped shirt, blue denim trousers and a pair of black boots.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Dennis Cort is asked to contact his daughter on telephone #2740360 or 667-0150 or the nearest police station.

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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 Development Institutions If our country is to continue to develop and, as is necessary to catch up with even our CariCom neighbours in the next decade, accelerate the pace of development, our squabbling politicians will have to take some time out to agree on the major fetters to our efforts. This does not mean that the present enthusiasm for housecleaning has to be abandoned, but merely suggests that even if the house is cleaned we are still left with the question as to what to refurnish it with.

The factors for development are multiple and diverse. We all know, from our personal experience, that there isn’t one simple answer to the question why each of us becomes richer or poorer: it depends on inheritance, education, ambition, talent, health, personal connections, opportunities, and luck, just to mention some factors. Hence we shouldn’t be surprised that the question of why whole societies become richer or poorer also cannot be given one simple answer.

Different experts have different views about the relative importance of the conditions and factors that make countries richer or poorer. The factors they most discuss are so-called “good institutions,” which may be defined as laws and practices that motivate people to work hard, become economically productive, and thereby enrich both themselves and their countries.

Among the good economic institutions that motivate people to become productive are the protection of their private property rights, predictable enforcement of their contracts, opportunities to invest and retain control of their money, control of inflation, and open exchange of currency.

For instance, people are motivated to work hard if they have opportunities to invest their earnings profitably, but not if they have few such opportunities or if their earnings or profits are likely to be confiscated.

There is no doubt that good institutions are important in determining a country’s wealth. To our credit, we have introduced most of the above institutions since 1990. So why haven’t we progressed farther? There is the question of time.

A long history of government doesn’t guarantee good institutions but at least permits them; a short history makes them very unlikely. One cannot just suddenly introduce government institutions and expect people to adopt them and to unlearn their long history of backward organization.

Next Saturday is the 42nd anniversary of our Independence from Britain: this is a blip in the life of nations. Our politicians must appreciate we are a very young work in progress.

An additional factor behind the origin of the good institutions is that in our country, Europeans introduced corrupt “extractive” economic institutions, such as slave and indentured labour and confiscation of produce, to drain wealth from our country. There were also authoritarian political institutions. In our case “extractive economic institutions” meant practices and policies designed to extract incomes and wealth from our entire society to benefit the foreign imperial power. For instance, even though we produce sugar, not a single refinery was established here to give a higher value added product. This is the ‘underdevelopment’ of which Rodney spoke.

This was unlike countries such a Canada and Australia where European settlers had to work themselves and they developed institutional incentives rewarding work. When the former colonies like ours achieved independence we inherited the extractive and authoritarian institutions that coerced the masses to produce wealth for dictators and the elite. In the ‘settler’ colonies of Australian etc, they were left with institutions by which the government shared power and gave people incentives to pursue. The extractive institutions retarded economic development, but incentivizing institutions promoted it.

But while we have noted the comparative youthfulness of our nation, this does not give our political elite an exemption. It is an indictment of their maturity that while the questions above were confronted by the founders of our independent nation some seem to revel in fingerpointing.

Unless the institutions undergirding our flawed systems are modified to match our circumstances and patience is exercised to ensure their rules are inculcated in our people (including mainly themselves) we will be arguing about our ‘underdevelopment’ forty-two years from today.

Kaieteur News

Monday May 21, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

“COCK AND BULL STORY”

DEAR EDITOR, The recent public meetings that the AFC has been having in many parts of the country are highlighting a trend of rising anger of the poor and the working class against the ruling PPP cabal.

This trend is quite noticeable in the sugar belt. It is our humble political calculation that if such anger had existed during the 2011 elections campaign, the PPP would not have been in Government.

Therefore, all this loose talk of “snap elections” can be a blessing in disguise for any political force that is on the path of exposing the wanton corruption and executive lawlessness that continues unabated under the minority PPP Government today.

The latest of these AFC public meeting at Port Morant, Berbice was quite a revelation. The members of the working class who attended (mainly cane cutters, ordinary workers and their families) have informed us of the continued suffering today as a result of the oppressive system,

especially on the sugar estates, where a few have most of the benefits and the majority have to settle for the crumbs. To add insult to their injury, they continue to face floods on their own with little if any support from the Government. These floods severely affect their main financial support during the “crop over” season in the form of their gardens and poultry stocks. The people are so consumed with survival that the PPP’s “Goebbels styled” propaganda is the last thing on their minds.

Since the start of 2012, the PPP has not put any additional loaf of bread on the people’s table and they are fully up to speed on who is resisting the 10% wages increase for the workers. No amount of propaganda can destroy that fact. We believe that President Ramotar is being ill-advised and plead with him to seek alternative advice on the wages increase for the workers. It is imperative for his political survival.

The people continue to tell our leaders how much they appreciate the fight by the AFC to release the G$50 billion from NICIL and to cut the fat for the “big fishes” out of the Budget to secure enough funding to pay a 10% increase NOW. Not next year or the year after but NOW. The recent pronouncement by Mr. Brassington that NICIL has only $700 million has sent shockwaves throughout THE NATION. This pronouncement has cemented the loss of credibility in the NICIL Board.

Where are all the privatization proceeds and the dividends from state companies deposited in that company?

This NICIL affair is shaping up to be the largest “Madofftype fraud” on the people.

In desperation, NICIL claims that Moses Nagamootoo and Christopher Ram benefited from portions of the $50 billion but all and sundry know that is a “redherring” to distract and distort the real issue. What the NICIL Board has failed to

tell the nation is who else benefited from the largesse at NICIL and by what amounts.

When the Ram and Nagamotoo earnings from NICIL are compared to what the big PPP fishes got from NICIL, we will be comparing peanuts from Ram and Nagamootoo vs. the whole cow for the PPP fat cats. We challenge NICIL to publish all the facts on who got what.

Why single out Ram and Nagamootoo, what happen to the Ramkarrans and the Nandlalls?

In addition, to answer that question, in this season of questions, the NICIL Board must come clean on the following questions: 1. Did NICIL foot the bill of G$280 million to re-route the sewer under the proposed site of the Marriot Hotel, a private investment?

2. Did NICIL foot the bill of G$400 million in design fees for the Marriot Hotel, a private investment?

3. Is NICIL going to foot the bill of G$3.8B in subordinate loans and equity in Continued on page 5

DEAR EDITOR, They say that lightening doesn’t strike twice in the same place but I beg to differ, read on and you will see why I actually use the phrase of “lightning striking twice”.

Just a few days ago I embarked on a #56 mini bus at the Rosignol Stelling Bus Park. The bus departed with 15 adult passengers inclusive of driver, but this quickly became 17 adult passengers and 3 children under the age of 7; as the driver picked up three more adults and their three children. This bus now carried a total of twenty passengers across the Berbice Bridge to the eastern side en route to New Amsterdam.

What really peeves me is the audacity of these bus drivers who are so unscrupulous; not only do they overload their buses at the discomfort of paying passengers but they charge the same fare of $300; as well as charge about another $100-$200 per child.

On completion of my business in New Amsterdam, I embarked on another #56 mini bus, this time at the New Amsterdam Stelling Bus Park. Would you believe the overloading was replayed all over again with the exception of no children on my return trip?

The bus again departed with 15 passengers, inclusive of driver, and picked up two oversized adult passengers!

To add insult to injury I was again the unfortunate person to have my seat made for 3

become a seat for 5 as the guy was obese.

It is obvious that most if not all of these drivers overload their buses. That is the reason why on both of my trips within hours, I was cramped in an overloaded #56 mini bus.

Thus: my reason for using the phrase of ‘lightning striking twice in the same place’.

Here is the best part.

Right there on the road leading to the bridge at the Palmyra end was a white police patrol car PKK 884 parked in the bushes with at least three officers and they did not even attempt to stop the bus. I wonder what kind of stakeout were they on.

Was it only to catch speeding vehicles? That would have been mission impossible as all the vehicles proceeding in both directions gave each other the light signal

everyone is so familiar with.

It’s the Morse code of drivers to inform each other cops are nearby.

Also in this particular bus, the front passenger was not wearing his seatbelt, yet the cops never saw that or the fact that the bus was overloaded.

My question as well as suggestion is why doesn’t the Police Force, moreso the Traffic Dept of ‘B’ Division, have ranks stationed at each approach to the bridge where it will be impossible to let off the passengers once the police are sighted? This way the defaulters can be prosecuted.

However, this should not be a short term exercise; conducted for a week or few days, but all year long and if possible all 24hours.

Another question: Isn’t there a law that states that all mini buses operating for hire consist of a conductor? News

flash none of these #56 mini buses operates with a conductor!

Is it not time to put an end to all the lawlessness on our roads?

Minister Rohee you are once more the Home Affairs Minister; it’s time to get your act together.

You do not need millions of dollars to put an end to this problem commuters face each time they use the #56 buses or any vehicle that operate for hire. Overloading is a major and daily problem and many times the police are aware of it but turn a blind eye.

May I remind you that “Familiarity breeds contempt?”

In closing, I look forward to the next time I venture either side of the Berbice Bridge that I will see the traffic ranks working to eliminate the lawlessness on our roads.

Juliet Dukhi

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE

The State is in charge of marriages DEAR EDITOR, Some Evangelical Pastors have seemingly arrogated to themselves some sort of divine right in relation to marriage. They fancy themselves the arbiters of coupling. This may be so in essence, but not in actuality.

Marriage may (or may not) be established by a God but its legitimacy and recognition remains an instrument of the State. Marriage Officers, and that include Evangelical Pastors, may be suggested by their churches to perform marriage services but the permission to do so is granted to them by the government.

In other words, the State is in charge of marriages, the rituals of which are outsourced to pastors. Their job is merely to “solemnize” the event for those who desire their presence.

They basically oversee the signing ceremony.

These days though, they have commandeered some imagined authority and have escalated their own power to determine who can and who cannot be married.

To be clear, the authority to marry people rests with man, not with any God. Clerics performing the legal function without permission from the government could end up in jail. Without the government’s imprimatur, his act is a sham.

Religious extremists would do well to remember that the State can revoke any marriage officer’s license, if it finds reason to do so. Therefore, that power, the right to bind two people together in wedlock, belongs to the State and not to those claiming to represent any other authority.

Justin de Freitas

Monday May 21, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Nothing free or safe about abortion DEAR EDITOR, It pained me to see Guyanese women on a picket line clamoring for access to “Free and safe abortion”.

There’s nothing free and safe about abortion, young women! You will pay! It’s going to cost you! A terrible price! It reminds me of the scripture’s warning in James 2:3. It is possible to “ASK AMISS”, that is, to ask for something with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motive (Amplified Version).

You see, my young friends, whether you believe it or not, Abortion, whether in a sterile, clean hospital context, performed by a “professional” doctor, or Abortion by an unlicensed quack, or Abortion by ingesting a lethal Abortifacient Pill or Abortion via the I.U.D. inserted or Abortion by taking “Bush”, is MURDER! Why? Because Human Life begins at the moment of CONCEPTION when egg and sperm meet.

And, God commands, concerning Human Life “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13). “God hates hands that shed innocent blood”

(Proverbs 6:17).

What’s so special about Human Life?” Unlike any other of God’s creation, humans were created in God’s image. “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male & female created He them” (Genesis 1:27). Human life is PRECIOUS to God. Your little unformed baby in your womb has the Right to Life like you have! Remember, you do not create life, even though you have the privilege as a woman to CARRY Life. “It is GOD that made us and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3) How serious is it when you agree to have your unborn child killed? God states the penalty for the shedding of innocent blood very clearly in Genesis 4:1011. “….the voice of (your child’s) blood cries to me from the ground.

And now you are CURSED……” Yes, apart from the physical, emotional and sometimes fatal complications you may or may not experience, you invoke God’s Divine Curse.

The Family Planning people didn’t tell you this, neither

those who urged you to “Be wise, condomise.” Nor did the feminists in their zeal for “Reproductive Rights” (How selfish and cruel, the right to kill your own child??????!!!)

But, God warns you today as he warned the PPP/C government strongly 16 years ago through the Church: “Abortion invokes a CURSE. Don’t legalise it”. It is instructive to note the consequences of legalised abortion in our nation these past 16 years…….the UNPRECEDENTED BLOODSHED as the flood doors were opened to demons of murder , suicide, road carnage, extrajudicial killings, massacres and MORE ABORTION ! In other words, the nation has been living out the Scripture in Psalm 106: 37-39.”Yea, they sacrificed their sons and daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan (Lust) and the land was polluted with blood.

Thus were they defiled with their own works and went a whoring with their own

inventions….”

It is obvious that the spiritually blind CANNOT see the linkage between the enactment of this damnable piece of legislation and the cheapening of human life that now obtains in our society.

That is why God ordained the Church in Nations. To share his guidance for the blessing of a nation.

For this nation to be blessed and to go forward, this law has to be repented of and revoked among other things. Presently, Guyana again stands at the crossroads as cries for the decriminalizing of same sex unions and the abolishing of corporal and capital punishment come to our ears.

Who will be our reference point this time?

The funding agencies again? The morally depraved ‘developed’ countries? Or the God who created us and has clearly stated his view on these matters in his word, the Bible. As A servant of the living god, again I warn, THERE IS NO SAFETY IN DISOBEYING GOD! Let us obey him and be blessed !

Bernice Walcott

From page 4 the Marriot Hotel project, a private investment?

4. Is NICIL guaranteeing a G$5.4B loan to fund the construction of the Marriot Hotel, a private investment?

We have only released a small subset of the information at the disposal of the AFC on the Ponzi scheme called NICIL and the taxpayers can immediately get an insight that the figure of G$50 billion is a real number that the NICIL Board is trying its best to evaporate from the minds of the Guyanese people.

NICIL is a government company with an estimated $50 billion in public assets and taxpayers have a right to know what has become of their money. Does NICIL Board really believe that the

people are buying their “cock and bull story” that the government is not doing anything illegal by having the $50 billion of taxpayers’ money in secret accounts or underwriting private investment like the Marriot Hotel Project?

The mistrust has reached such a level that until and unless audited accounts with a full listing of all the revenue stream between 2004 to 2011 are released, nothing coming from the Board of NICIL can be treated as credible information. The people want to know where this G$50 billion is invested and if these investment have been sanctioned by the representatives of the people in the Parliament, the real owners of the funds?

We are urging the NICIL

Board to come clean and tell the people the truth about the missing $50 billion of taxpayers’ money and work with the majority in Parliament to invest these fund in national assets like a transportation link between Linden and Lethem rather

than in a multitude of private investment to benefit key players in the Jagdeo cabal.

Anything else is a recipe for continuous confrontation between the people and the PPP. Dr Asquith Rose and Sasenarine Singh

“COCK AND BULL STORY”

Philip Moore was a Fidel Castro of Art DEAR EDITOR, Only a revolutionary thinker could have conceived the 1763 Monument and executed it. Philip Moore was a fusion of nationalism and revolutionary. He was a Fidel Castro of Art. He pointed out to me symbols of oppression in Georgetown and said to me that until these symbols are removed we will not be free of oppression. He dreamt of a Second Independence not symbolized by changing of flags but the realism of persons experiencing freedom in themselves.

Tom Dalgety Chairman, Commemoration Committee

Leave politics completely out of certain occasions

DEAR SIR, Please allow me space in your paper to have a message sent to the President, His Excellency, Mr. Donald Ramotar.

I will first say that it was a pleasant surprise to see the President at the Indian Arrival Day celebrations at Highbury, East Bank, Berbice, on May 5th. For quite a number of years now I have been attending the celebrations there and, we have seen Ministers and other officials of the Government but this is a first for the President. There were other Ministers and Government officials there and also Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader of the AFC. The message I would like to send to the Honourable President is that he should look to replace some of his advisors, especially those who advise on his attendances at social functions.

It is no secret that Dr Ashni Singh attended a Diwali Programme, in 2011, and spoke of the “sterling achievements” of the PPP/C, only to pollute the atmosphere of spirituality and love that prevailed at the time.

The very night of the Diwali Motorcade, at a different location, Dr Vasini Persaud, who is the daughter of a prominent Hindu Priest, also spoke to the people of the great achievements of the PPP/C and asked that continued support be given to that party if the Motorcade is to continue.

Like those dedicated PPP/ C members, who defiled the religious sanctity of the occasions they attended, by delving into politics, you, Mr President, polluted the air of a serenity that was so beautifully blended with the pleasantry of songs and music, by addressing the issue of ‘budget cuts’ by the opposition, in your speech at

Highbury.

One has to wonder who is advising you, Sir, and thus my suggestion that you have a few of your advisors replaced. The celebrations at Highbury are held to commemorate the arrival of our fore parents to this land and they did not deal with budget cuts at that time.

They were bent on providing food for their loved ones and had to focus on establishing themselves and the rich culture they brought with them.

It would have been fitting for you to speak of their struggle to get here and how they suffered at the hands of the Colonists and then reflect on their achievements.

Some of those persons would have been responsible to have you as a son of this nation and that would have been worth mentioning—not budget cuts.

You should be advised, Sir, and have your Officials also learn, to leave politics completely out of certain occasions and I am sure that you will gain more than you would lose.

Note that Mr Ramjattan spoke and delivered a clean address that befitted the occasion, even though some of the supporters of the PPP/C were quite noticeably upset that he was allowed to speak.

It was clear that he scored more points than you did. Just a word of a d v i c e , S i r, i f y o u a r e desirous of attending similar functions let me suggest that you contact Radhay Evans Persaud, a lecturer at UG, for some hints on indentureship.

Charrandass Persaud

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Monday May 21, 2012

Grove/Diamond vendors still in limbo over market tarmac

By Gary Eleazar “If the Opposition Politicians believe that NICIL is operating illegally or unconstitutionally then why haven’t they challenged it in the Courts?…Why haven’t they sought a declaration from the Court?…We have a Constitutional Court; it shouldn’t take too long.”

This was the challenge extended to the Parliamentary Opposition by Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who for the first time has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Nandlall says that there is absolutely nothing wrong for the Government to invest monies through NICIL at the exclusion of Parliament.

The Minister in an exclusive interview with this publication yesterday, explained that that the only requirement on NICIL to transfer funds to the Consolidated Fund relates to its dividends.

Nandlall says that the opposition rank and file, in reference to the Constitution which speaks to Public monies being turned over to the Consolidated Fund, conveniently leaves out reference to the provisions which allow for monies to not be turned over to the Consolidated Fund.

He says that by virtue of the Companies Act under which NICIL is registered it only has to pay dividends to

its shareholders and in this case the Guyana Government is the sole shareholder.

Dividends are paid each year, according to Nandlall “We must understand what NICIL is; NICIL is a company formed under the PNC administration,” stressed Nandlall.

He says that the purpose of NICIL is no mystery or secret. The “objectives of NICIL are set out in the articles of incorporation...There are a number of objectives that NICIL was established to achieve.”

The Attorney General stressed that NICIL is a Limited Liability “incorporated under the Companies Act” and as such functions just like any other Limited Liability Company “under the Laws of this country.”

He reminded that NICIL operates with a Board of Directors which manages the affairs of the company.

“The Companies Act requires that dividends of every company, is paid to its shareholders…NICIL pays dividend to its shareholder the Government of Guyana and those dividends are deposited in the Consolidated Fund.”

The Minister was adamant that “there is no Law in Guyana that requires a company like NICIL to deposit its funds in the Consolidated Fund….The law requires it to pay its shareholder dividends and that is done.”

Speaking to the argument raised that regardless of the

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Companies Act, the Government is the ultimate owner and as such monies accrued from the disposal of state assets should also be turned over to the Consolidated Fund, Nandlall says, “NICIL is an investment company; it is a Holding Company…It was established for the government to engage in commercial activities.”

The Government’s legal advisor reminds that each country in the world has a company akin to Guyana’s NICIL. “The government of a country is entitled, if its feels so, to invest like everyone else for the purpose of making profit.”

Asked specifically about Government investing monies to the exclusion of Parliament, Nandlall says, “Yes, to the exclusion of Parliament…That is not a secret.”

Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana states: ”All revenues or other moneys raised or received by Guyana (not being revenues or other moneys that are payable, by or under an Act of Parliament, into some other fund established for any specific purpose or that may, by or under such an Act, be retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund.

“This doesn’t capture NICIL,” says Nandlall and further argues that it would be downright wrong for NICIL to turn over all its money to the Consolidate Fund as is being argued by the Opposition.

“It would be wrong…It would be against the letter

and spirit of this Constitution.”

He says that the Opposition conveniently omits while quoting the Constitution, the section which dictates and allows for NICIL incorporated under the Companies Act to retain its money for investment purposes.

“The Companies Act tells you where monies emanating from companies like NICIL should go,” argues the Government’s Legal Advisor.

“The company is entitled under law to retain its monies save and except dividends which is paid to the shareholder.”

He reminds that the dividends received by the Government from NICIL are paid into the Consolidated Fund.

“When Mr. Carl Greendige was the Finance Minister, did he pay any money from NICIL into the Consolidated Fund? He should be asked why.”

Responding to A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Carl Greenidge’s retort that NICIL is being operated like a “Slush Fund,” Nandlall says “Greenidge can call it what he wants to call it…It is an investment company established by Greenidge for the purpose of investing public monies.”

He too was also adamant that the company currently under fire, prepares its annual accounts which are audited by the Auditor General “Every year…So you see the transactions…You see what NICIL has done…You see what properties have been sold, where investments have been made.”

The most recent, publicly available financial report for NICIL is 2004.

Almost three years ago, contracts were signed by Government for the establishment of market tarmacs in rural communities mainly to allow safe vending and provide space for those who were literally fighting to make a living.

One such area is the Diamond/ Grove New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), where thousands of residents live.

Earlier last year, vendors did not have enough space in the old market square at Grove and as such relocated to the roadways on the Diamond public road and Diamond New Scheme access road.

This eventually became a threat to free and safe flow of traffic which resulted in an intervention by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

They proposed to institute a new market in the Diamond/ Grove New Scheme where vendors would be comfortable and benefit from a spacious and secure vending environment.

On November 20, 2009, contractor Khemraj Nauth inked a $24.5 M contract with the Ministry to establish a 4,600 square meter market tarmac located between the first and second bridges on the southern side of the scheme. The project was scheduled to be completed at the end of three months.

However, the time was extended to facilitate “final touches” on the market tarmac. Though the tarmac has been established for over two years, vendors are yet to be placed there.

Meanwhile most of the vendors have been removed from the roadways and are unable to vend since they do not have a permanent or appropriate location to do so.

Some residents are calling it a “waste of taxpayers’ money,” since the empty land is serving no purpose.

In fact, the youths in the area would use the spot for recreational activities such as playing cricket, football and other sports. Some even use the tarmac to set up tables and chairs to gamble during card and domino competitions.

One woman told this newspaper that she has moved her grocery stall near to the car park close to the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and is still awaiting instructions to vacate the market tarmac.

“Many of us had to move from the road side where business was good good and now plenty of my friends them can’t sell no more unless is by their house and they aren’t making money like before. We all have children to feed, send to school and we need to live. I still waiting to go to the tarmac which left like it haunted or something but truly Government need to do something good with it soon.”

While it is unclear when the tarmac will finally be utilized as it ought to be, stray cows and dogs are often found wandering and sleeping there.

One man opined that if the Government does not use the spot for its original purpose then it should be converted into another project or the land should be rented out.

“If they can’t use the place to put the people who selling like they said they would then they should rent or sell it out or something rather than have it there for people to do whatever. Other than holidays when music sets blasting off and people drinking rum there it is hardly used for anything.”

Monday May 21, 2012

Kaieteur News

UN nuclear chief hopeful on Iran deal before Baghdad meet VIENNA (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear supervisor flew to Tehran yesterday voicing optimism he could reach a deal to investigate suspected atom bomb research - a possible breakthrough that Iran may hope could help ease Western sanctions pressure and deflect threats of war.

“I really think this is the right time to reach agreement.

Nothing is certain but I stay positive,” Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said at Vienna airport, adding “good progress” had already been made.

But though Amano scheduled today’s talks with Iran at such short notice that diplomats said agreement on new inspections seemed near, few see Tehran convincing Western governments to ease back swiftly on punitive measures when its negotiators meet big power officials in Baghdad on

Yukiya Amano Wednesday.

Amano meets Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili yesterday, two days before Jalili sits across a table in the Iraqi capital from Catherine Ashton, the senior EU official heading a six-power coalition comprised of the five U.N. Security Council permanent members plus Germany.

By promising cooperation with U.N. inspectors, diplomats say

Page 7

Cameron calls for euro contingency plans

Iran might aim for leverage ahead of the broader negotiations, where the United States and its allies want Iran to halt works they say are cover for developing nuclear weapons.

Western sanctions on Iran’s energy exports, and threats by Israel and Washington of military action, have pushed up world oil prices.

Western diplomats say Amano, a veteran Japanese diplomat, would only make a rare visit to Tehran if he believed a framework agreement to give his inspectors freer hands in their investigation was close.

“We regard the visit ... as a gesture of goodwill,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying by the Iranian student news agency. He hoped for agreement on a “new modality” to work with the U.N. agency that would “help clear up the ambiguities”.

CAMP ROUND MEADOW, Maryland (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron urged countries weekday to put in place strong contingency plans to deal with fallout from the euro zone debt crisis as fears grow that Greece could be forced out of the European single currency.

Cameron, speaking at a summit of the Group of Eight major economies, also appeared to hint that the European Central Bank should follow the example of the Bank of England by embarking on an asset purchase program to try to boost the economy.

“What is required is a sense of urgency and then clear actions for strong banks, strong deficit reduction plans, strong governance and strong contingency plans for whatever might happen,” Cameron told reporters, setting out what he believes must be done to tackle the euro zone crisis.

exports have fallen by more than a fifth this year.

Russia has adamantly urged Western nations not to attack Iran to neutralize its nuclear program, saying that threats would only encourage Tehran to develop such weapons.

Ryabkov dismissed suggestions that Russia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, sought to keep tensions around Iran on the boil in

order to benefit from higher global oil prices.

“It would be a simplification and possibly even a deliberate distortion of Moscow’s position to believe that based on some wild, egoistic intentions, we want oil to cost $200 per barrel,” Ryabkov said.

He said Russia wanted to keep oil prices stable at a level acceptable to consumers and suppliers. He said that any gains from the oil price spike would be short-lived.

Russia says West still considering military action on Iran

MOSCOW (Reuters) Russia’s deputy foreign minister said on Sunday that military action against Iran over its nuclear program was being considered in some Western countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was speaking to reporters on a plane on his way back from the G8 summit in Camp David, where the G8 leaders signaled their readiness to tap into emergency oil stockpiles quickly this summer if tougher new sanctions on Iran threatened to strain supplies.

“It is one of many various signals coming from various sources that the military option is considered as realistic and possible,” he said. “We are receiving signals, both through public and intelligence channels, that this option is now being reviewed in some capitals as more applicable in this situation”.

“We are very worried about this. We do not want

the region and the world to fall into...new divisions and bitter political arguments,” he said.

Western countries suspect Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at making a nuclear bomb, a charge Tehran denies.

A European Union embargo of Iranian crude takes effect in July and tough new U.S. sanctions come into force in late June. Iran’s oil

Italy quake kills at least six, damages historic buildings

SANT’ AGOSTINO, Italy (Reuters) - A strong earthquake in northern Italy killed at least six people, injured dozens and damaged historic buildings including a famed mediaeval castle early yesterday, waking terrified citizens and sending thousands running into the streets.

The quake, which the U.S. Geological Survey recorded at magnitude 6.0, struck at 4:04 a.m. (0204 GMT) and was followed by a series of jolting aftershocks. At least two of them reached magnitude 5.1, sowing fresh panic, further damaging already weakened

buildings and causing more structures to collapse.

“I am 83 and I have never felt anything like this,” said Lina Gardenghi in the town of Bondeno, near Ferrara.

The epicenter of Italy’s strongest quake in three years was near Modena in the EmiliaRomagna region of the Po valley.

The tremors were more deadly than any since 2009 - when the central city of L’Aquila was devastated - and were felt as far away as regions bordering France in the west and Slovenia to the east.

British Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and French President Francois Hollande speak at the end of their meeting at the British Ambassador’s residence in Washington.

(REUTERS/Andrew Winning.)

Cameron has stepped up his warnings this week that the euro zone needs to act swiftly to solve its debt crisis, saying on Thursday that Greece was “on the brink” and the survival of the euro was in question.

British officials are deeply worried about the impact that a breakup of the euro and a further deterioration of the euro zone crisis could have on Britain’s recession-hit economy. Britain is outside the euro zone but about 40 percent of its exports go to the single currency bloc.

After early morning talks on the economy with U.S. President Barack Obama while both leaders worked out at the gym, Cameron said he detected a “growing sense of urgency that action needs to

be taken” on the euro zone crisis.

“We are addressing here the two biggest threats to all our economies and that is of course the euro zone crisis but also the very high oil prices that translate into high prices at the pumps and we are making progress on both,” he told reporters.

Group of Eight leaders meeting at the U.S. presidential retreat of Camp David, Maryland, backed keeping Greece in the euro zone and vowed to take all steps necessary to combat financial turmoil while revitalising their economies.

Cameron appeared to call on the ECB to take a more accommodative monetary stance to lift growth in the euro zone.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

CARICOM, Mexico, agree on higher education, rebuilding Haiti BRIDGETOWN - CMC The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Mexico signed two agreements yesterday to boost cooperation on largely hightech education and rebuilding earthquake-torn Haiti, ahead of a summit with the leaders of the 15-nation grouping and President Felipe Calderon today.

CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa signed two memoranda of understanding (MOU), as foreign ministers wrapped up talks in preparation for the second CARICOM-Mexico Summit at the Barbados Hilton, just outside the capital, Bridgetown.

Host foreign minister Maxine McClean, who chaired the foreign ministers’ meeting, said a technical cooperation agreement

Maxine McClean covered “critical areas for the development of our respective cooperation biotechnology, health, engineering, environment, nanotechnology, tourism, natural disasters, trade and energy”.

“That cooperation would … involve exchange of academics and graduate students,” the Barbadian foreign minister told journalists. The agreement involves collaboration

between the Mexican Agency of International Cooperation for Development and the CARICOM Secretariat, she said. In the second MOU, CARICOM and Mexico also agreed to work together along with its poorest member state in rebuilding from the January 2010 earthquake, McClean said.

“We know that since the tragic earthquake we’ve had several promises of support internationally but… Mexico has actually engaged Haiti and has contributed in several significant ways to that effort to rebuild. And we believe that as CARICOM seeks to play its part … we could more closely with Mexico,” the Barbadian foreign minister said.

McClean said the leaders will explore areas for greater cooperation on trade, investment, tourism, cooperation and international relations.

Acting Chief Justice critically injured, four dead in car crash PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - Four people were killed and three others, including Acting Chief Justice Wendell Kangaloo, were critically injured in an early yesterday morning smash-up on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, the island’s main east-west thoroughfare, east of here, medical authorities here said.

The name of the four dead have not yet been disclosed but hospital authorities confirmed that Justice Kangaloo and two of his bodyguards are in critical condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, east of here.

Media reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying one

of the vehicles involved in the crash crossed the median and slammed into the vehicle in which Justice Kangaloo was a passenger. Body parts littered the highway along the busy east-west corridor, according to reports.

The police said that all those killed were in one car, a Mitsubishi Lancer, and that the accident occurred around 5.45 a.m. yesterday Transport Commissioner Ruben Cato is quoted in the Sunday Express newspaper as saying that the situation regarding road deaths in Trinidad and Tobago “is out of control”.

“I think the authorities are paying little or no attention to the rate of accidents on our

Acting Chief Justice Wendell Kangaloo roads. I don’t think there is a national holistic plan to address the issue,” he told the newspaper.

OECS education ministers to meet ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua & Barbuda’s Education Minister Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro will be leading the country’s efforts at the 22nd Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Ministers of Education meeting in St Kitts to be held under the theme “Contributing to a Deeper, Stronger and Economic Union.”

The occasion will provide the opportunity for policy makers to engage in constructive dialogue on substantive policy issues regarding education

development in the OECS; agree on policies and strategies to advance OECS education; secure the support and collaboration of regional agencies and development partners in advancing the education development agenda; as well as share innovative ideas and experiences that have contributed to educational development at the national level.

The education ministers will also be discussing OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS), designed by the Caribbean Development

Bank.

Speaking on OBSERVER Radio’s Voice of the People yesterday, Dr Quinn-Leandro said the concept paper is a very detailed document.

“We are looking at a very comprehensive document that will inform education systems from 2012-2021,” she said.

The OECS ministers of education meeting is held annually and is rotated among the OECS member countries.

The meeting will be held from tomorrow to Thursday in St Kitts.

Monday May 21, 2012

T&T integrity commission probes CAL board member on questionable contract Trinidad and Tobago’s Integrity Commission has been called in to investigate the alleged awarding of a TT$4 million contract to a former Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) board member.

This revelation comes as CAL fights to stay afloat having disclosed a consolidated unaudited loss of US$52.8 million for 2011, while Air Jamaica recorded an unaudited loss of US$38.1 million. CAL is now the owners of Air Jamaica following its divestment to the Trinidadian airline by the Golding administration in May, 2011.

Transport Minister Devant Maharaj told journalists Friday evening in Arouca, Trinidad that the contracts were allegedly awarded to the former board member from 2006 onwards for human resource consulting services.

Speaking at the launch of the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Aviation

programme, Mr. Maharaj said it was discovered that the board member, along with a former Caribbean Airlines chairman, deliberated on a human resource contract related to the Air Jamaica merger.

“After consulting my legal team, we had enough grounds to refer the matter to the integrity commission for their consideration, as it is felt there was a breach of section 24 of the Integrity and Public Life Act, where persons who make decisions that they are themselves beneficiaries thereof,” said Maharaj.

The Trinidad transport minister told the media he decided to have the matter referred to the Integrity Commission, after he discovered no declaration of interest was made to the Commission, nor did the member seek to disqualify himself in the matter.

“I find it very questionable that I am sitting on a board and I have to

Devant Maharaj deliberate and give a contract on human resources and I could see nobody else in Trinidad and Tobago but myself to give it, and I give it to myself in my name. I give it two other companies which I also own the directorship of.”

He said as line minister he has not seen any declaration that the member had an interest in these companies.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Voters prefer Arthur but warm to idea of first woman leader - poll BRIDGETOWN - CMC A poll published in the Sunday Sun newspaper said Barbadians preferred the three-term former prime minister Owen Arthur registering strong disapproval of caretaker prime minister, Freundel Stuart, but suggested voters were ready to choose a woman to lead the country for the first time.

A survey by Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES), the polling organisation of the regional pollster Peter Wickham also showed widespread dissatisfaction with the government under the current leader Freundel Stuart, whom voters put at the bottom of the list of the top four preferred leaders.

The poll, of 1,080 respondents in all 30 constituencies was conducted last weekend gave Stuart only 29 per cent approval rating, a year and a half after he assumed leadership on the death of Prime Minister David Thompson from pancreatic cancer. Stuart’s disapproval rating was 43 per cent with an undecided 28 per cent.

Among preferred leaders, Arthur led with 29.8 per cent, but only slightly ahead of Mottley at 25.5 per cent.

Arthur, prime minister from 1994 to 2008, ousted

Owen Arthur

Mia Mottley

then Opposition Leader Mia Mottley to lead the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) after a bruising public battle. But while voters appeared to forgive Arthur, they named Mottley the second-most preferred leader.

Mottley was on course to be a likely first woman prime minister as opinion polls favour a return to power for the BLP with general elections here constitutionally due by January next year.

The CADRES polls

suggested a national swing against the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) government but said voters favoured Stuart’s finance minister Chris Sinckler over the prime minister by a twoto-one margin.

Sinckler placed third on the list of preferred prime ministers at 19.9 per cent, with Stuart — the attorney general who assumed leadership of the government and party in the last months of Thompson’s terminal illness – trailing at 9.9 per cent.

Monday May 21, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

THE REASONS FOR DIVESTMENT There are many reasons why governments opt to privatize public enterprises or divest themselves of certain interests in either commercial or manufacturing enterprises.

One reason may be ideological. The government may decide to embrace a liberal approach towards economic activity and this invariably involves divesting itself of involvement in economic activities which can be profitably undertaken by the private sector.

Consistent with an approach towards a more open economy, the

government therefore decides that it is obligated to get out of business and leave the certain activities to the private sector which it is felt can more profitably undertake the management of businesses previously undertaken by the government.

The second reason may have to do with the failures of public enterprises. Many public enterprises have failed while in government hands and these eventually become a drain on the resources of the State. As such a decision is taken to sell- off these

companies so as to reduce the financial burden that they represent.

A third reason may have to do with the need to inject foreign capital and forge strategic alliances.

There may be a need for government to inject capital into a business in order for it to develop, but sometimes the government is cashstrapped for funds or may be constrained from using Budget resources to capitalize public corporations.

In these instances, it may be forced to privatize the enterprise as an option to

Dem boys seh

ANIL WRONG AGAIN People does try fuh hide dem faults and dem always got people fuh cover fuh dem.

Tek de case of de manager who get rob. He staff see de action before de people attack but he didn’t see. De staff call he and before he could turn back de people attack.

Now when people try fuh find out he name is a secret. And when dem talk to de staff is another secret. But is de same thing wid de government people. Brazzy hold on pun de NICIL money and de nation feel that he should pay it into de Consolidated Fund.

Dem boys seh that de devil got a friend.

Anil step in and decide that Brazzy right. And he tell de world that he talking as de chief lawmaker.

He is de same man who go to de courts fuh challenge dem parliamentarians and he lose. If dem parliamentarians right then how

come dem wrong now.

If de Chief lawmaker think he right and all dem other people in de parliament seh that he wrong then dem boys want to know wha gun happen to de law.

That is not strange. A woman does defend she child whether he wrong or right but most of de time when he wrong. Anil behaving like dem mother. When dem boys ask he if Pradoville2 was a legitimate deal he didn’t seh nutten because he know that he woulda end up in trouble wid Jagdeo.

When dem boys ask if de Marriott was a good project he couldn’t seh nutten because Brazzy woulda report to Jagdeo and he woulda deh in more trouble.

But de story ain’t done. Dem same parliamentarians gun test it.

Talk half and wait fuh de backlash.

Grove/Diamond residents step up queries about alleged corruption in NDC Controversy continues to surround the Grove/ Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), with residents stepping up queries about how the NDC spends their tax dollars.

In a letter addressed to Kaieteur News, these residents also accused a senior NDC official of signing documents for a parcel of state owned land to allow another official to build a shop and erect a residential building on the said property in Grove.

It was also stated that the senior NDC official sold his property in Grove a few years later and proceeded to build a house on a reserve without legal documents.

“They putting these people to run the NDC and manage we money and they don’t even obey rules and legal things. They appear to be above the law… even thiefing we money and everybody getting away all because Government allowing them to...it ain’t fair to we,” complained one resident from Grove.

Residents are also querying the alleged sale of a tractor belonging to the Grove/ Diamond NDC, reportedly at a cheap price, to an acquaintance of some NDC officials.

“I don’t think much people know they were selling the item or else other people would have bid or tendered or expressed that they wanted to buy it and I am sure they would have paid much more than that.

But to sell anything belonging to the NDC without public knowing is barefaced fishy business and all of us does pay taxes and suppose to be treated equally,” one cane cutter of Diamond said.

Kaieteur News was also told that a garbage truck was donated late last year to the NDC

by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. However; the “brand new” truck did not function for a month. It ceased working altogether and to date is still to be repaired.

The residents told this publication that the NDC is presently hiring Puran Brothers at a cost of $35,000 per trip to collect and dispose of garbage. It is claimed that the amount of money that is being spent would exceed what it would cost to repair the NDC’s truck.

They have also begun to question whether the NDC has documentation to support their transactions.

“Does the NDC have a list of assets belonging to them? Did the NDC prepare a budget for 2012 and publish same in the official gazette and the newspaper? What amount of debts does the Grove/ Diamond NDC owe?” were additional questions that these residents want answers for.

Kaieteur News also understands that the residents also want to know how much longer the NDC office and transactions will be conducted at the Diamond Community Centre Ground since the area is deemed unsafe and their taxes are stored on the premises.

“What we also want to know is how much longer will we have to be going there and paying our rates and taxes? They don’t even have proper security or armed guards there and people can do robberies there and go away with our money but it is as if they don’t care.

Anyhow, we want a change because if is not bandits with guns, then it is their own staff and seniors that thiefing our money and getting off scott free,” added one man.

allow that enterprise to raise capital from private sources.

Another related scenario is where the government may need to have a strategic partner in order to develop its business. For example the government enterprise may need to forge links with an international firm in order to have certain technologies transferred, technologies that are important if the business is to survive.

A fourth reason for privatization has to do with the inability of the government to manage an entity or the need for it to contract out its management as a precondition of foreign investment or simply a need for it to source certain services in order to establish a relationship with the firms that it is sourcing these service, relationships that can be helpful in other respects to the public enterprise.

A fifth reason for privatization may have to do with the need for financing both at the level of the government and at the level of the enterprise.

In the case of the latter, the firm may find itself cash – strapped and in urgent need of revenues to cover losses.

In this instance, the firm may

decide to unbundle some of its assets and put these up for sale so as to tidy it over a difficult period.

In other cases, it is the government that faces a financing deficit and as such takes a conscious decision to dispose of certain publicly owned assets in order to bridge its financing gap. In both cases, the divestment is used to cover a shortfall in resources.

But by far the most controversial reason for divestment is in order to help out cronies and friends. It is not outside the realm of the possible for government to divest itself of assets owned by the public simply in order to enrich its friends and allow its cronies to make monies. In many countries, there have been charges of sweet heart deals that have taken place and many examples of certain individuals benefiting from the privatization process.

As such every decision to divest must be analyzed in the context of why such a move is being undertaken but in terms of who benefits. Is it the people that benefit or a rich elite In Latin America, in countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia and Argentina, there is a process of nationalization

taking place. This may have to do with the ideology of the governments concerns but it also has to do with the socioeconomic structures of those countries and the failures of the private sector to redistribute wealth in a way that benefits everyone.

The main sectors being privatized concern the natural resources of these countries and the decision of the state to take over certain sectors formerly run by foreign capital is causing great consternation in foreign capitals.

But interestingly, in those countries where nationalization is taking place there is widespread popular support for these moves.

The difficulty arises when these nationalized enterprises do not succeed, are mismanaged or fail to redistribute income in the way that is expected. In these instances, it is not just the decision to nationalize that will be called into question but also the very governments and their ideologies that pursued nationalization.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Monday May 21, 2012

Fire in prison cell…

Psychiatric help to be provided to ‘suicidal’ murder accused - Erskine denies Colin Jones is injured Director of Prisons Dale Erskine has launched an investigation into Saturday’s incident which resulted in prison inmate Colin Jones starting a fire in his cell.

But Erskine denied that the murder accused was injured, since the prison Director spoke with the inmate before and after his visit to the hospital.

“When I spoke to him on his return from the hospital he had no marks about his body and all he kept saying was that he wanted to kill himself.”

Erskine said this will later be clarified too by his relatives who will be allowed to visit him sometime later this week.

On Saturday last Jones removed a bulb which was in his cell and used the exposed wire to start a fire. Reports are that his mattress was burnt but he escaped unhurt. Quick response by the Guyana Fire Service and Prison official prevented what could have been major disaster.

Responding to the claims

by Jones’ relatives that he had not received medical

attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Erskine said when Jones arrived at the hospital medical personnel indicated that there was no need for any medical treatment. This publication was told that based on that advice Jones was returned to the Camp Street Prison.

Erskine said it has been observed that Jones is in urgent need for psychiatric evaluation and the prison authority will look into this issue urgently. When asked about a previous court order for Jones to get psychiatric evaluation, Erskine said he was not aware of any court order. He however said that issue will be looked at and addressed.

“We will ensure that he gets to see a doctor as it is our policy for the inmates to get the necessary treatment if needed, because you can definitely see that something is not right with Colin,”.

Also on the issue of Jones being held in solitary confinement Erskine said this is being done because of security reasons.

Further elaborating on

Director of Prisons Dale Erskine psychiatric treatment that is currently available to prisoners, the Prisons Head said, Psychiatrist Dr. Bhiro Harry provides his services fortnightly. However, there is also a system where patients are allowed to see the doctor when needed outside of the prison visit by the Psychiatrist.

But Erskine acknowledged the fact that the fortnightly visits may not be enough for prisoners, while noting that they are working with the limited resources available to the (Continued on page 15)

UNDP signs project with Local Government As the United Nations Development Program continues to foster stronger relationships with the government of Guyana, another agreement was signed for works to begin on a Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation Project.

The project is expected to commence on the conclusion of the Enhanced Public Trust Security and Inclusion programme which was implemented by the Local Government Ministry. The newly signed project will cost US$150,000. The Project Unit will be located at the Ministry’s Kingston Office, and a project coordinator with staff will provide assistance. Added support and guidance will be given by the Ministries of Finance and Culture, Youth and Sport.

United Nations Development Program Country Representative Ms. Khadija Musa said the project also aims to increase youth participation in development programmes, and to provide feedback for both youth and policy makers to resolve issues at the local level.

She said that observing

that youth make up more than 60 percent of the nation’s population; it was the opportune time to begin the programme, since youths are increasingly at risk of being exposed to crime and violence due to unemployment. Musa told the media that this is combined with the fact that today’s generation is facing increasing challenges related to changing times.

It was explained that the objective of the project was to identify and develop the capacity of potential youth leaders at the community level and develop their skills to participate in government both locally and nationally.

It was noted that 30 youths will be a part of the project and will be selected by the UNDP, Ministry of Local Government, and the RDCs of Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. The selected youths will be exposed to training of the potential youth leaders in areas such as social media and ICT; and placing them in internship programmes with the relevant institutions within their local government structure. Musa said that the UNDP hopes that participants

will use the skills acquired to further develop their communities.

Meanwhile Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud said that the project is among many others aimed at enhancing the development of human resources across the regions.

Persaud told the media that the target is for capacity building for the development of Guyana’s young people, he expressed the hope that their empowerment would provide a multiplier effect which would encourage many others to benefit from the project.

He said that government expects that the objectives of the project will bring a higher degree of efficiency and effectiveness in the execution of works at the community level. The aim of the project is to address the challenges of inadequate youth participation in Government and the persistent social changes that deprive them of fulfilling their right. It is also expected to provide youth with the opportunity to prepare for leadership roles in their community.

Monday May 21, 2012

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain but the rain in Port-of-Spain is, in Trini terminology, “own way” or as stubborn as a burro and in this sense resembles the legendary thousand-pound gorilla.

What is so burro-cratic about the creature? It relates and reverts to the riddle, “Where does a thousandpound gorilla sleep?” The answer is, “Anywhere it wants.”

So while it was raining goals in Spain’s La Liga to the extent that it was unReal Madrid and Barcelona was Messi, in Port-of-Spain it was raining cats, dogs and “bucket ah drop.”

Well, unless you had a bucket as big as a barrel you would have been at a loss for words or an appropriate description of the quantity that was contained in a single drop, far less the volume of water in each salvo and fusillade.

Worse, only if the rain in Spain fell mainly on an Iberian plane would it be like the

Kaieteur News

torrents in “town” or “tong”, which is Trini for the capital city.

I was in an area of Portof-Spain that is in the toe-hills of the foothills of Trinidad’s Northern Range. It is like Papine on the way to Irish Town and the Blue Mountains. From here the rain creates rivers of the city streets. The streets are like wadis in the Sahara- every heavy shower creates a flash flood of garbage, old springfilled mattresses and innumerable plastic receptacles.

When the rains first came they were Oklahoman – they fell gently on the plains. Then they moved to the internet and became torrents. The playground in front of my apartment became a Pirate Bay because of the continuous downloads.

As I watched the rain accumulate, I thought back to my childhood when we used to run outside naked and play in the rain. It was as joyous as the umbrella sequence in “Singing In The Rain” with

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, effervescent and hugely enjoyable while the raindrops kept falling on our heads.

Later on, as adolescents, we looked forward to the rain while playing football. It was like a mud ballet – running, skating a mile and taking a player’s legs from under him, carrying him, the ball and yourself into touch.

Then as adults enjoying what Trinis call “weather for leather” that has nothing at all to do with the durable and flexible material created by the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin. Hide, perhaps, because you need the privacy, but you have to be within the sound of the rain.

This is what I miss. I am on the ground floor of a three story concrete and steel building and spend most of the day locked away in a room with shuttered and screened windows. For most of my life I lived under “zinc” or galvanized iron roofs. The rain falling on them was first a cacophony, then as it grew

Man found in bathroom with two gunshot wounds A 46-year-old man was found shortly after 12:00 hrs yesterday in his bathroom with two gunshot wounds to his abdomen.

Kenneth Melville, a licenced firearm holder of Lot 30 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for surgery.

He is now in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). His sister, Carlotta Melville, told Kaieteur News that she is unsure whether the injuries were self-inflicted because she spoke to him a few minutes before he was

shot and he sounded “positive.”

“He told me that he going and sleep because he did not sleep well last night and I ask him if he drink and he said he did not take even a shot.”

She said that Kenneth, who is a gold miner, was staying with their sister, Jean Melville and her son at her home in Tuschen.

The woman claimed that two days ago, her sister purchased a car for the 46year-old man so that he could “work out here instead of going in there because he getting malaria too frequently.”

Carlotta explained that Jean left to go in the interior and her other sister, Margaret,

would “make checks on them (Jean’s son and Kenneth) frequently.

“My sister from Parika went and asked him if he going church and he said he don’t feel like going, so she took my nephew to church.”

Kaieteur News understands after the two returned from church, they found the injured man.

Carlotta said that her brother is not suicidal but if he shot himself, she is positive that he did it because he was stressed out over a female.

The sister explained that Kenneth, who is the father of six, “pick up some woman and she don’t want to take leff.”

Psychiatric help to be provided...

(From page 10) Prison Service.

Further, the Director of Prisons added that it is the responsibility of the Prison to ensure that each prisoner gets whatever medical attention is needed.

“If we get a written court order for a prisoner to get medical attention of any kind we have a mandate to do so, we cannot violate a court order.”

He however pointed out that there may be instances where a Magistrate makes the verbal request in the court but for some reason does not document it.

“Once we receive

something on paper we have to follow that but if we don’t get that we can’t send patients for treatment, unless the signs are there and it is blatant that some sort of treatment is required.”

Currently, Erskine said, they are several inmates who are seen regularly by Dr. Harry.

They include John Blanchard who has been charged for the murder of his three children. At the commencement of his matter his lawyer, Peter Hugh, had been asking the court for an order to be made for his client to get psychiatric evaluation before the Preliminary Inquiry

begins. In many other instances lawyers are heard raising similar issues in the Magistrates’ Courts for their clients.

They include Leonard Nelson who was charged in 2008 for setting fire to the Psychiatric Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Nelson’s relatives had complained that he was not getting the psychiatric help he needed. Another prisoner, Kelvin Wattermam, was also said to be in need of psychiatric help. Before his PI commenced, his lawyer alleged that despite the court order, Watterman was not getting his treatment.

on me, a symphony, and finally a lullaby. I love the sound. It brings back so much of my childhood to me.

Regardless of how noisy it is, the rain on the hot tin roof soothes and comforts me.

It is only when I opened the door a few centimeters and peeped outside I could hear the roar, louder than the nearby zoo, louder even than King Kong when the airplanes kept coming at him.

Nighttime was double dark punctuated by the occasional shimmer from a street light when the ferocity lessened and the rain came down in slivers instead of shafts and streams.

I imagined Ray Charles out there with Georgia on his mind and a simple song on his lips, “But it’s a rainy night in Georgia, baby/ It’s a rainy night in Georgia/ I feel it’s rainin’ all over the world/ Kinda rainy now and its raining all over the world/ …and its raining all over my soul.”

It is true that when you’re locked indoors alone with rain falling continuously you can feel lonely. I generally try to read or, when I can’t or don’t feel to, I remember jokes and puns and laugh to myself. I even try to counter Ray Charles with my version of “I

Page 15

Believe” – I believe that every drop of rain that falls/ a flower grows/ and a roof leaks/ and a cricket match gets rained out/ and a car gets rusty…

As the rain fell I remembered the joke about a man who had a fantastic house off the Jamaican north coast. In addition to the main area it had two wings. Then when a hurricane came, sadly the house flew away. Then there’s the lateral thinking puzzle, thirty people are sheltering under an umbrella, how many of them get wet?

None. Who said it was raining? There was the case of Harry, an Englishman who got a job as a weatherman in Dubai. Try as he might, he never got the forecast right.

Eventually he was fired and had to fly home. When his family asked him why he had returned so soon, he replied, “The climate didn’t agree with me.”

Then the jokes the kids delight in. What doesn’t get any wetter regardless of how much rain falls on it? Water.

What goes up when the rain comes down? Umbrellas.

Then there’s the little kid who went to school wearing a single glove like Michael

Jackson. The teacher asked him what he was doing wearing only one glove. He replied innocently, “Well I was listening to the news and the weatherman said it was going to rain but on the other hand it could remain quite dry.”

Eventually I called my wife in Antigua and said, “I have bad news and good news.

Which would you prefer to hear first?” So, as she requested, I gave her the bad news.

“The bad news is that we’re flat broke – we have no money left in our account.”

She replied, “If we don’t have any money we can’t have any good news unless you get a job.”

So I laughed and said, “The good news is that we were so broke that we couldn’t save for a rainy day.” Then I added, “Because if we had any money saved, the last few days here have been so rainy that I would have been forced to spend it all.” *Tony Deyal was saying that you have to be careful if you go outside after it rains cats and dogs- you might step into a poodle.

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Monday May 21, 2012

5,658 illegal connections removed, Parliament now accountable to the people for the first time in our history 420 persons charged last year Executive Member of the - 35,000 new customers added to GPL grid over eight year period

By Rabindra Rooplall For last year Guyana Power & Light (GPL) statistics reveal that 14,755 meters were investigated while 5,658 illegal connections were removed in the process of 162 raids.

Statistics further indicated that the power company also discovered 558 tampered meters and bypasses; however, 4,504 were replaced in addition to the identification of over 6,000 illegal street lights.

This resulted in 420 persons being arrested and charged.

The billing statistics indicate that, just over 68,000 consumers use up to 75kWh per month, confirm that theft of electricity is not only a problem in un-served and recently served areas but chronic among other consumers. However, GPL has introduced the split-

meter pre-paid technology and its eventual universal application for single phase services. The fraud proofing of the distribution network and the use of co-axial cables for distribution in special cases should comprehensively address this problem.

It was further noted that since 2004 GPL has added over 35,000 new customers with approximately half of these from the Unserved Areas Electrification Program (UAEP.) However, 2011 saw the largest level of increase in customers; double that of the previous year which accounted for 4,253 customers.

In 2012, GPL is budgeting that over 74 % of its power will come from Wartsila units operated by Wartsila and 7% from Guysuco; this will reduce the need for GPL to operate many of its diesel

units except for back-up and also to minimize rentals.

Records reveal that 22 percent of the company’s losses are non-technical in nature and are largely as a result of electricity theft, faulty meters and deficiencies in the billing system.

Approximately 30 per cent of the population is illegally connected and this has caused GPL commercial losses estimated at $2 billion annually.

The reduction of losses, technical and non-technical, continues to be one of the key challenges facing the GPL despite continued reduction in non-technical losses.

By the end of 2011 total losses was projected to be 30.3% of dispatched power.

The strategies which will be employed in the Loss Reduction programme are expected to reduce losses to at least 24.15% by the end of 2016.

It has been confirmed that the single most effective strategy to reduce nontechnical losses is ensuring that there is adequate, secure metering. The ITRON programme which is intended to include all installation where the consumption is 12,000 units and above annually, has achieved 2,176 installations by September 2011, accounting for 49.5% of sales.

For other consumers, the company will continue to depend primarily on pre-paid meters (split meter), which will deliver the double benefit of reducing losses while at the same time improving customer service. It should be noted that the pre-paid meter is essentially marketing itself and over 12,000 are expected to be in service at the end of 2011.

Alliance for Change (AFC) Gerhard Ramsaroop told a gathering at Rosignol Village, West Berbice on Thursday evening that the type of power that exists in Guyana today is the “people’s power”. The politician said that for the first time in Guyana’s history, the Guyana Parliament is accountable to the people and “that could not have happened without Berbice”.

Ramsaroop sought to clarify what he called misconceptions being peddled by the State media and some newspapers concerning the budget cuts.

“When they say that the budget is being cut by some$20B, it is a lie! Because 18 and a half billion dollars did not even belong in the budget”. He was alluding to the LCDS money which he said has not yet been received by the government from Norway, “so we are saying, when you give that money, come to parliament, and then it will be spent”.

He noted that the only cut to the budget was to the Government Information Agency (GINA). The AFC chided GINA for not providing any “proper service...it is a propaganda arm of the PPP”. He said that GINA should not depend on the government subvention since they already have a lot in their coffers for their propaganda work.

He also lambasted the government for saying that the AFC had cut monies to the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU).

“That is a lie because $70M was already approved to CANU”. He said that the remaining money they need will be approved when that organisation is moved to “the correct ministry”.

“They say we cut the Ethnic Relations Commission

- AFC official tells Berbicians

(ERC). We didn’t cut ERC just like that...it is not properly constituted and when they do it properly they will get the money”.

Ramsaroop claimed that NCN, last year, made half a billion dollars in profits “but they are not telling you that...NCN has enough money to keep running”. He said that the lies being peddled by the government concerning the budget cuts are all about protecting the ‘fat cats’. “We were talking about these ‘fat cats’ since in the campaign, but we didn’t know of them, this information is now coming out and again, it is thanks to you in Berbice who voted AFC, so we can put this kind of pressure on the PPP to get the information”.

He added that Presidential Adviser Odinga Lumumba is making over $700,000 in salaries per month and PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixiera makes $900,000 a month, “but there are several more persons making a million dollars per month and then you have the highest one of them all— the Adviser on Information Technology...he makes $3M per month! So this is what the PPP is all about; they coming to cry and tell you people gonna lose their jobs, but these are the people’s jobs that they want to protect and they hide those things from us”.

He promised that the AFC will ensure that the waste and fat will be cut “so that you the people can get more...we want more than the $10,000 that they recently gave to the pensioners”. “We want better salaries for public servants and the Berbice Bridge toll to come down and competition on the river so that people can afford to cross more, particularly the school

children”.

He pleaded with Berbicians to understand what the fight is about. He said that the Head of GPL is making more than $2.5M a month—- “just the salary”— and GPL is “working at a 33 per cent loss...but they come lying and telling you all that we chopped up GPL and all of that nonsense, so understand what is going on brothers and sisters”.

“Worse than that is the racial dimension they are bringing to these things...they are coming to all parts of Guyana and going to Linden and telling them how we want to raise electricity, but we don’t want that— that is a lie!” He alleged that all of the monies spent in Linden by the government were spent on their contractor friends. He said that the reason Linden is undeveloped and in trouble is because of the government’s attitude, “they have billions to put monies into GPL but none to invest in the Linden Power Company”.

“When they come to you and lying...they want to invoke racial hatred against the people of Linden.”

Another speaker at the meeting, Freddie Kissoon talked about how the PPP party was embarrassed and shocked at the same time by the remarks of Dr. Jagan’s daughter, Nadira JaganBrancier’s comments recently at Babu John in Berbice.

He said that when she made the remarks that the current leaders of the PPP are not living up to what her father’s ideals were, they [the PPP leaders] could not tell her anything or “cuss her out” like they are accustomed to do with politicians. Nadira Jagan, he said, “put it on their backsides— put it on the present leadership on the PPP government and these people who come here and fool you— Nadira Jagan said ‘my mother and father lived as modest people and they were people who could not be corrupted and people who had no interest in wealth and look what they see today in the party that my parents left’”.

He said that Chronicle, NCN TV and Radio, Guyana Times and the Mirror, “none of them carried what Nadira Jagan said. He invited JaganBrancier to come on board and join the team he is on. He urged the people of Berbice not to go back “from whence we came”, but, like the people of Trinidad, Barbados, France and U.S.A., “vote with a conscience”. The next elections, he said, will be no snap elections, rather “a last elections” for the PPP.

Monday May 21, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

The Abigail Column Friends with benefits Dear Abigail, I have a good male friend, and we were talking about friends with benefits. We said how sometimes you want the relationship, but then sometimes not. Then we were talking about how if you want just the perks without the ties, then why not with someone you know and trust.

I asked him if he was looking at someone in particular, and he said no, and he asked me and I said not really. The dilemma is that I want to go that step with him.

I want to become friends with

benefits.

I don’t know if he would really react that way, but I’m just afraid. We both seem to be looking for the same things and I’ve been feeling like this for a while now... Should I talk to him about it or just forget about it?

Friend Dear Friend, For the uninitiated, “friends with benefits” is a fairly recent term to describe friends/acquaintances who hook up.

While the idea of friends occasionally sleeping together is not new, what is a phenomenon is how widespread it has become.

Lack of time for an emotionally-committed relationship and lack of interest were often cited as reasons for choosing the more no-strings-attached feel that friends with benefits carries.

Before you start worrying about whether a friends with benefits relationship is good for your friend, it’s important that you take time to figure out if it’s good for you.

Sometimes it’s hard to separate love from lust.

If you do choose to explore this much-trodden field, don’t forget all the other responsibilities associated with beginning a sexual relationship.

Monday May 21, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Your family dynamic is entering a new phase right now -- do not be afraid to explore it more thoroughly today. There is a new closeness growing between you and a sibling or close cousin, and it could be very exciting. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): By today, you have pushed through the most confusing part of your little emotional obstacle course -and things are starting to look clearer and you are starting to feel much happier. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): A close friend is going to get awfully moody today if they don't get what they want, and the stars say that they probably won't get what they want. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): There is a lot of transition going on in your life right now, and there is a great opportunity for you to get rid of emotions, ideas and physical goods that you just don't need any more. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): There is a lot to do right now, and you have the ability to get it all done quickly. Do not be modest -- and for goodness' sake, do not worry about appearing bossy or domineering. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Every day needs to include a goal to attain, right?

That's true, but your goal for today doesn't have to be too major. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): The connection you're

developing with a new special someone is not just about romance -- it's about personal growth. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Sure, your intuitive powers are just as strong as they have ever been, but you need to remember that they are not the only tool in your decision-making toolbox! ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): If you are contemplating taking on the role of romantic matchmaker, that's wonderful! But first, you need to be prepared for the fact that you are bound to create a mismatched pair now and again. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Today, you will get the chance to work on having a more impersonal point of view on the issues at hand ... there is no need for you to take these things personally, or to internalize how you feel. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): Trends come and go, and can be a lot of fun to get involved with for a little while - like a harmless flirtation. But watch that you don't become too infatuated with what the masses are infatuated with right now. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): This could be an emotional day, but it is not one in which you won't be able to control your emotions. So remember that when you feel your temper rising, your heart bruising, or an inappropriate giggle bubbling up inside of you.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00hrs. The A-Team 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. World 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 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 20:30hrs. Dancing with the Stars (Finals) 21:00hrs. Girlfriends 22:00hrs. Movie: Prom 00:00hrs. Sign Off NCN CHANNEL 11 04:30hrs – Inspiration 05:00hrs – Newtown Gospel 05:30hrs – NCN Week in Review(R/B) 06:00hrs – 1st Test West Indies VS England –DAY 5 08:00hrs – Guyana Today 08:40hrs – Cricket Resumes 10:40hrs – Cricket Info & Quiz 11:00hrs – Cricket Resumes 14:00hrs – NCN Newsbreak 14:05hrs – Stop the Suffering 14:30hrs – Law Enforcement & you 15:00hrs – Weekly Digest 15:30hrs – Voice of Islam 16:00hrs – Cartoons 17:00hrs – Anderson 18:00hrs – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30hrs – Feature 19:00hrs– Al Jazeera 19:30hrs – Close Up 20:00hrs – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05hrs – NCLO Presents 21:05hrs – We Linkin 21:35hrs – Excellence Dazzell Show 22:05hrs – NCN Late Edition News 22:35hrs – Movie MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 06:00hrs Islamic Perspective 06:30hrs The Diary 07:00hrs DAY BREAK ( live) 08:00hrs Dabi’s Musical Hour 08:30hrs Avon Video & DVD Musical Melodies 09:00hrs Current Affairs 09:15hrs Top Notch Music Break

09:30hrs Caribbean Temptation music break 10:00hrs Payless Variety music break 10:30hrs Double day Music break 11:00hrs Double Day Int. Music Break 11:30hrs Salvation Message with Pastor Kelvin 11:45hrs The View 12:00hrs Weekly Digest 12 30hrs The Young and The Restless 13:30hrs Days of our lives 14:00hrs The Revolution 15:00hrs General Hospital 16:00hrs The Bold and the Beautiful

17:00hrs Birthdays & other Greetings 17:15hrs Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30hrs Sitcom: Friends 18:00hrs Aracari Resort Hour 19:00hrs Fire fest Update 19:30hrs News Update 20:30hrs Getting it Right 21:30hrs Documentary: Community Security Action 22:00hrs English Movie: Tragic Hero 23:00hrs News Update 23:30hrs English movie: Tragic Hero continues Sign Off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Monday May 21, 2012

Mang Mangrrove seedlings being planted along coastline

(From page 19)

TO LET Harmony inn fully furnished self contained a/c apartments, Short term& long term Parfaite Harmony WBD Tel:694-7817 Four (4) bedroom apartment.

Contact: 682-8875 1 2 bedroom house, 1 1 bedroom house, Good Hope, Essequibo. Call: 6804990, 277-3033 Short term apartments. Tel: 667-1549 (2) bedroom furnished house @ 31 Second Street, Liliandall Pump Road. Tel: 222-3838, 617-9004 Business place to rent, very spacious. Call: 226-2674/ 684-6360,223-1301,682-6822 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

VACANCY Kitchen assistant @ Charlestown- ages 18-35.

Call: 614-1020 Salesgirls & Salesboys.

Apply: Avinash Complex, Water St. Georgetown. 2263361/227-7828 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 2201000 Male Sales Clerk. Hand written application. Perfume Dazzle, 137 Regent St., Lacytown, G/Town.

Fish cleaners. Eccles. 2332546, 675-5467 Vacancy exists for one (1) Domestic. Please call: 6777123 Garden Maintenance Crew.

No education needed. Must be neat and hardworking: 18 yrs-30yrs. Tel: 648-1821 Hilton Hotel: Receptionist & Maids. Henry St. 223-6284.

Phatz Style Boutique: Sales girl. Durban St. 227-0501

Work Shop to do Mechanic Work on the West Coast Dem. Call: 684-8231 One bottom flat, 2 bedroom.

Toilet & bath also bath tub, kitchen cupboards. Tel no – 629-4997 or 664-4998 Executive type furnished one & two bedroom suites in Section A, Diamond for rental. Call 609-2466.

1-3 Bedroom house at Diamond, EBD Tel: 669-9286 MASSAGE

VEHICLES FOR SALE Toyota Raum, black, bodykit, mags, year 2000, roof rack. 269-0432, 686-0323 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 Top Notch Auto Sales. 2004 Mazda RX8, $3M. Free reg.

Tel: 674-2844.

One Jeep, with Toyota 3A engine, going cheap.

Manual. 269-0432, 686-0323

LAND FOR SALE Land V/Hoop 2 acre: school, housing, factory, etc. call: 658-0115 Bazaar St., Parika. No agents. 661-3043

One EP71 and 82 Starlet, 1Toyota Ceres and RZ Minibus, 1 – 192 Carina, Nissan Pathfinder, PMM. Call: 644-5096, 697-1453

West Coast $3.5M. North Road $45M. Continental Park $10M. Diana 227-2256, 6269382.

American Style Massage Service. Call 609-4036 Treat yourself to a relaxing massage Call: 622-6256

Cummings Lodge, 110x127 ft. $25M. Tel# 615-8690 Situated at Da Siva St. Newtown Kitty, Call: 6433335 between 9AM to 6PM

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

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

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School; First Federation Building. Call: 225-4858, 6445166, 622-2872, 615-0964

Within the next seven weeks the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) will continue to plant mangrove seedlings from La Bonne Intention to Success, East Coast Demerara, creating a cheaper natural sea defence.

According to Chairperson of the Mangrove Action Committee, Annette ArjoonMartins, planting in this district commenced on May 16 behind Felicity. A total of 88,000 mangrove seedlings will be planted at this restoration site.

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: 679-7139

PROPERTY FOR SALE 20 X 40 two flat concrete building @ Kitty. All amenities. Price $28 M Call: 668 – 9512, 223- 2570 25 acre farm land with 4 bedroom concrete house.

Located Parika Backdam. Tel: 615-8046 1 three bedroom house Prashad Nagar, asking price $29M neg. Call: 227-2563, 684-2115 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.

So far, 5,220 seedlings have been planted just over a period of three days. It is estimated that with 88, 000 seedlings, 1.89 kilometers (km) will be planted. She added that it is noteworthy to recognize that 14 of the 20 planters are women.

She related that in Wellington Park, Corentyne planting commenced on March 19. At the moment 32,743 seedlings have been planted and 21, 257 seedlings covering 0.46 km will be planted at a later date.

In addition, a total of 78, 000 seedlings will be planted from No. 6 to 8 Village, Berbice.

She said that planting began at this site on April 23 and at the moment, 31,425 seedlings have been planted at No. 6 and No.7 villages. The remaining area to be covered is 1.68 km.

The Chairperson noted that each area that is being planted consists of a 22 member team; 20 team members do the actual planting along the shore in the restoration zone, one acts as the Foreman and the other is the Ranger. These Rangers monitor their respective areas daily.

The seedlings that are being planted are all taken

from seedling contractors who would have collected the seeds of the black mangroves then nurture them for a period of four months until the seedlings mature.

Arjoon-Martins said, “Quality control is pertinent and this is why the seedlings are checked before they are loaded onto the truck and transported to the site, and before they are loaded on to the Catamarans (wooden pieces of equipment specifically designed to slide on the mud). The height requirement for seedlings to be planted is 14 inches.

Currently, there are 51 seedling contractors. A second set of seedling contracts is expected to be done before the month of May ends.

These new contracts will cover seedling production for the Greenfield, East Coast Demerara area, and a second area in West Coast Berbice.

The seedlings will be used for planting in September.

A decision by team members will determine specifications on the amount of seedlings needed and the amount of kilometers to be covered. Victoria where some losses were suffered will be replanted after a breakwater is installed.

The GMRP will commence the rehabilitation of old groynes and construction of breakwaters in areas that were previously affected as well as those that are under constant monitoring where elevation surveys and studies were carried out.

While the mangrove seedlings are being planted to protect the coastline from flooding human activities could destroy them. She emphasized that GMRP is requesting that fishermen dock their boats near the koker to prevent their vessels from destroying the seedlings.

Monday May 21, 2012

WANTED One cook, must know to cook Roti & Puri. Call 6477432 Tailors. Contact Paul’s Tailoring, 14 Lombard St. G/ Town. Tel# 223-8266/6808046 Counter servers, roti/curry cooks, pastry makers & handy boys. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. 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 male or female to look after layer birds in the interior.

Tele# 688-4905 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 1 Diesel Mechanic, to work in the interior. Tel# 688-4905 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 Experienced House Keeper.

To work on the E.C.D (parttime). Tel: 648-3151

Kaieteur News

WANTED East Coast Guyoil pump attendants wanted (day and night), wash man, office assistant & sales girls. 6842838, 602-5031 Contract cars. Must be in Hire & Yellow. Base free. $3500 weekly. Call 660-9977 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

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

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

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

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

Ultra Cool: 225-9032, 6472943 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer. Call: 231-0655, 683-8734 Omar.

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

House plan drafting for only $10,000. Building estimate for only $10,000. Call: 6949843.

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 Factory worker. Apply in person with written application @ Comfortsleep, 49 Eccles Industrial Estate, E.B.D. Skilled carpenters to work out of town. Must be able to work with limited supervision. #615-7526 Driver for canter truck. $20,000. Full-time Porter & Mechanic to work part-time on W.C.D. Call: 684-8231

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 Repairs in all types of JetSki, stern-drive, inboard and outboard engine (2 & 4 stroke). Contact: 694-7949 Are you planning to do gold mining? Call:670-4302 Laptop & desktop repairs in homes &offices Call:670-4302 WANTED Sawmill workers. Tel: 2616412/653-9752 TOUR Independence Day 26th, 27th. Capoey Lake, Marshall Rapids, Santa Mission. Joy 218-1285, 649-9059.

Skilled Arc/Acetylene Welder. Very good rates offered. Tel – 22-71830.

Salesboys and Salesgirls at D. Singh & Sons. 226-1316, 226-0881

One (1) General Worker to work shift system in G/Town.

Tel# 225-6337.

One female bartender to live and work in Mahdia.

Attractive salary. Contact # 680-9473/616-7241

One Bond Clerk. Apply in person Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

Female workers needed; 3 subjects or sound secondary education. Call: 225-7307.

One Massey Ferguson 399 Tractor. Call: 619-6093

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

Yamaha outboard engine parts for 115HP-200HP, crankshaft fat & fine top, pistons, bearings. Call: Terry665-9405

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

FOR SALE

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

Massage Leather table, brand new, heavy duty & hot stone kit with electric warmer. Call: 665-9405. $99,000 20 flat screen TVs, cheap 19"-50" : Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Samsung; LG. Need repairs. Call: 665-9405

CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, tel: 670-0798. Wedding dresses for sale & rental.

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

10 KVA voltage stabilizer single phase 200 amp fuse switch, 300 amp bust bar. #627-7835, 600-5130.

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 Brand new American made Crosely 10.5 cu ft Refrigerator for sale $75,000. 626-4452/ 697-5677 Blu Ray DVDs. Perfume Dazzle 231-9485

2x2x1.5MM, Hollow section $4500 VAT inclusive. Call: 220-6100, 680-5900

Bag Neck Seal Tape. 231-8819

Peking ducks, call: 266-2711 / 609-4594

One Caterpillar D6 Bulldozer.

Call: 622-1957

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

Honda Pressure washers, 2700 PSI, 614-8564

Going cheap, foreign used Perkins Engines. 661-3043 15ft Fiber glass boat $170,000 call: 260-0301, 685-1233 Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stovetimers, gear boxes, pumps, etc. Contact 225-9032, 6472943 Brand new Blackberry Torch 9800, under $100,000. Call: 676-7443 1 dragline 10RB. 687-6174

Buying non working appliances such as fridge, washing machine, freezer, etc. 669-9427

Labourers to work at Jettoo’s lumberyard & Sawmill @ Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara. Call: 2615041, 261-5042, 226-2756 1 experienced welder to fabricate grill and other welding work. Apply to Alabama Trading, Georgetown.

EDUCATIONAL Princeton College Forms 15, CXC adults’ classes’; $1500 a subject S.A.T/Phonics etc.

Call: 690-5008, 611-3793

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

One live-in or out maid & experienced sales girl. Call: 264-3356, 253-3149, 668-3985

Sales boy and girl. 615-3090

Page 19

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 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 Two 8ft Slate American pool tables, one Nissan Titan & variety of restaurant equipment. Call: 622-1957

AT 170 Carina PFF Series. In perfect working condition, going cheap. Call: 676-3283 One Blackberry Curve 9300, 60K. Call: 609-2466 Sale Sale. Big Blow Out Sale.

Lot 29 Croal Street, Enterprise E.C.D. Cell no. 6642209. Items as low as $100 Dell Laptops & Desktops.

Complete with 19" LCD. From $70,000. Future Tech – 231-2206 Two Detroit Diesel series 50 engines, 300 HP. Call Troy 601-9004.

Household items for sale.

Call: 225-3079, 656-7864 Gold detector waterproof, headset, battery charger, Walki-talkis Call: 609-7625 1 Tundra, 1 Perkins engine & Welder 400 amps. Call: 6605462, 611-5114 Used Fridge $45,000 . Used cooler Lg $85,000. Used freezer small $27,000, Lg $65,000. Excellent condition.

612-1486.

Stainless steel sheet.

Excellent for table top, etc.

Call: 612-1486

VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610 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 Unregistered Allion and Spacio. Tel# 697-0294 1 Premio PNN series, TV, camera. # 616-6000 International Tow Truck with flat aluminum bed; takes two vehicles. Call: 639-3900, 619-5400 Lexus LS400/Luxury, BMW 740IL/Luxury, BMW 635CSI/Sports. Bring mechanic, make offer. Call: 612-1486, 646-8326 Toyota Prado, 2004 Prado, 2005 Mark II, GX110, 2005 Tundra. All fully loaded, excellent condition. Call: 600-5759 One 2 ton, enclosed Canter, price $1.2M neg. One Tapir, price $160,000 neg.

Contact# 253-3349, 693-8830 2005 BMW 320i (new shape), just arrived. Tel: 6154114. www.facebook.com/ rashanautosales Jag’s Auto. Spacio, Premio, Wagon. Cheapest. Call 6167635 One unregistered new model Noah. Financing available. Price $3.6M. Tel: 629-2314 Toyota Carina “My Road” Stick Gear Car. Tel 226-1757, 225-6446 2 & 3 ton enclosed canter, unregistered. 617-2891 One Allion, fully powered, A/C, music, mag. Tel: 2590836, cell: 621-7838 Well kept, owner driven, Toyota Corolla AE100. Price $1.1 million. Telephone: 6615897. Serious enquires only.

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 18)

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Maria Sharapova wins Italian Open crown in Rome Maria Sharapova recovered from a set and 40 down to beat Li Na and retain her Italian Open crown in Rome.

At 6-6 in the third and final set, the match was interrupted for more than two hours by rain, but Sharapova returned to win the decisive tie-break. The 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win over the French Open champion gave the Russian her 26th career title.

Sharapova now heads to Roland Garros looking for the title that would complete a career Grand Slam.

And the world number two will travel to Paris on the back of her second clay court title of the season, following victory in Stuttgart in April.

“It was a crazy match,” said Sharapova. “Either one of us could have won it. There really is no loser.”

Wi t h Sharapova looking flat in the opening stages, Li earned an early break which was enough for her to win the first set.

The Chinese then opened

Russia's Maria Sharapova (left) celebrates with the trophy together with China's Na Li after winning the WTA Rome Tennis Masters. up a 4-0 lead in the second, only for Sharapova to reel off eight consecutive games to shift the momentum.

Roach’s strikes set up...

From back page the umpire’s decision, television replays showed the ball would have hit his leg stump.

Chanderpaul faced 250 balls and hit 10 fours but West Indies for once continued to resist strongly after his departure.

Captain Darren Sammy threw his bat in a breezy knock of 37 before he edged a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior to give Broad his 10th wicket of the match and Roach drove the same bowler high to Ian Bell at cover.

Ramdin stuck around for nearly three hours, hitting three fours before he was clean bowled by Anderson for 43 and last pair Fidel Edwards and Shannon Gabriel added a useful 20 runs before the latter was bowled by Swann for 13.

Broad finished with four for 93 and test-best match figures of 11 for 165.

Scores: England 398 and 10 for 2 (Roach 2-7) need a further 181 runs to beat West Indies 243 and 345 (Chanderpaul 91, Samuels 86, Broad 4-93).

However, there was to be another twist, as Li fought back from 4-1 down to force the third-set tie break.

H o w e v e r, t h a t w a s delayed by the rain, but when the players did return, it was Sharapova that prevailed.

“When we came back out, she was the tougher player,” said Li. “But I take some positives away. It’s getting close to Roland Garros and I think I hit the ball well. I also moved her around the court well.

“The match was a joke, it was like playing a football match in the rain.

“Even when we were sent off court, you had to still concentrate for every second, it was tiring for both players.”

Monday May 21, 2012

Fernandes stuns Wiltshire Joseph nearly topples Khalil in thrilling finale Thirteen year-old Marian Academy student Taylor Fernandes completed the upset of the tournament by defeating Larissa Wiltshire in an impressive five-game battle to win the Girls Under15 title on the final day of the Woodpecker National Junior Squash Championships.

It took a sensational performance from Fernandes to overcome a two-game deficit and snatch the Under15 title from the grip of Wiltshire 11/13, 8/11, 15/13, 14/12, 11/8.

Since both competitors were also in contention in the under-17 category Fernandes also secured the runner up position in that category, behind Larissa’s older sister Akeila Wiltshire, from that win.

Fernandes was also the recipient of the Most Outstanding Player award for her breakout performance this tournament. National coach Carl Ince had stated after Fernandes’ stellar performance in a losing effort against Akeila Wiltshire, that he was pleased with the improvements in to his student’s mobility and retrieving skills.

When asked what inspired her remarkable comeback, Fernandes stated, “The cheering from everyone… everyone just calling my name.”

Fernandes, cousin of world ranked squash star Nicolette Fernandes, also said that she was motivated by the thought of travelling around the world to represent her country.

With two months to go for the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA)

Caribbean Junior Championships, Fernandes said that she is excited by the prospect of competing at that level again this year.

The general rule in sports is that almost does not really count for much, but Nyron Joseph’s performance against number one junior player Jason Ray Khalil was definitely the exception to that rule yesterday.

Joseph, who dominated the under-17 category without dropping a game, almost captured his second title in the tournament, but after leading 2-0 Khalil found his form and engineered a come from behind win.

Joseph had been trailing 7/10 in the first game but maintained his focus while playing some brilliant shots to prolong the game.

After tying the game at ten, Joseph continued to apply pressure and unleashed a superb drop shot that Khalil could not retrieve even with a diving effort. After winning the first game 12/10, Joseph also stole the second game, 11/8, and was on the brink of a threegame upset against the reigning Caribbean under-17 Champion.

However Khalil’s experience kicked in at crucial moments in the game and he was able to invoke the rules of the sport by calling ‘let’ on several occasions when Joseph obstructed his chances of retrieving the ball. Khalil would go on to win games three, four and five 11/9, 11/9 and 11/4 respectively.

Benjamin Mekdeci defeated Patrick Fraser in straight games to win the

under-15 category, while Shomari Wiltshire took apart Travis Whitehead and strolled away with both the Under-11 and Under-13 titles along with the Most Outstanding Player award.

His sister Akeila Wiltshire won the Girls Under-17 title, but finished third in the girls under-19 category after losing to Ashley DeGroot on the final day. DeGroot also won the Most Improved Player award for girls while Mekdeci was the male winner of that award.

Boys Under 11 First place: Shomari Wiltshire Second place: John Phang Third place: Anthony Islam Fourth place: Gianni Carpenter Boys Under 13 First place: Shomari Wiltshire Second place: Travis Whitehead Third place: John Phang Fourth place: Anthony Islam Boys Under 15 First place: Ben Mekdeci Second place: Patrick Fraser Third place: Alec Melville Boys Under 17 First place: Nyron Joseph Second place: Ben Mekdeci Third place: Patrick Fraser Fourth place: Alec Melville Boys Under 19 First place: Jason Ray Khalil Second place: Nyron Joseph Third place: Steven Xavier Fourth place: Joven Benn Girls Under 11 First place: Maya Collins Second place: Makeda Harding Girls Under 13 First place: Rebecca Low Second place: Savannah Mendes Third place: Sarah Lewis Girls Under 15 First place: Taylor Fernandes Second place: Larissa Wiltshire Third place: Lydia Alphonso Girls Under 17 First place: Akeila Wiltshire Second place: Taylor Fernandes Third place: Larissa Wiltshire Girls Under 19 First place: Mary Fung-AFat Second place: Ashley DeGroot Third place: Akeila Wiltshire

Monday May 21, 2012

Kaieteur News

Thunder silence Lakers to take 3-1 series lead

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, right, shoots as he is pressured by Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (Reuters) - A late threepointer by Kevin Durant capped a dramatic fightback by the Oklahoma City Thunder as they left the Los Angeles Lakers on the verge of playoff elimination with a 103-100 win in Game Four on Saturday.

The second-seeded Thunder stormed from 11 points behind early in the final quarter to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.

Forward Durant finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds while guard Russell Westbrook weighed in with 37 points as Oklahoma City stunned a sellout crowd at Staples Center that had sensed a home win.

“I wanted to run the shot clock down and get the last shot,” Durant told reporters of his dagger blow of a threepointer with 13.7 seconds remaining. “It left my hand, (and) I was thinking, ‘If this doesn’t go in, it’s going to be a terrible shot’. It was able to go down.”

Kobe Bryant led the way for the third-seeded Lakers with a game-high 38 points and eight rebounds but his team were ultimately let down by poor shooting, a rash of turnovers and a leaking defense over the closing stretch.

“We’re all upset and extremely frustrated, (but) I don’t think anybody is worried about going into Oklahoma City and getting a win,” All-Star guard Bryant said, referring to Game Five today. “We don’t think about winning three in a row. We just think about taking care of business on Monday. Just win that game and go from there.”

Trailing by 11 points with just under eight minutes remaining, the Thunder steadily clawed their way back before a layup shot by center Kendrick Perkins put them ahead 98-96 with 1.16 minutes left.

BREATHING SPACE Though Bryant made two free throws to tie the score at 98-98, Durant poured in a three-pointer to give

Coach Ince says CASA...

From page 23 technique stage and we are now into the tactics… shot selection and rally construction. Although Jamaica will enjoy the home advantage, as usual I expect Trinidad and Tobago to provide us with our stiffest challenge,” Ince stated.

The experienced Coach said that the Girls have been benefiting from high level match practice since world rated Guyanese Nicolette Fernandes was involved in the female training sessions before leaving the country for a short while.

She is expected back to help wrap up the training sessions before the team depart for Jamaica.

“Nicolette’s Regional and International success and fame has been a huge inspiration for Squash players in Guyana and it is because of her that many young girls have gotten into the sport,” Ince concluded.

Oklahoma City welcome breathing space with 13.7 left on the clock.

Two free throws by reserve guard James Harden gave the visitors a 103-98 cushion before a Bryant jump shot on the buzzer lifted the Lakers into three figures.

For Lakers coach Mike Brown, Saturday’s tough loss boiled down to one worrying factor.

“We could talk about us offensively, yes, because we had some struggles,” he said. “But it comes down to those guys (the Thunder) scoring 32 points in the fourth quarter. I felt like they did that very easily, and that’s what disappoints me more than anything else.”

In front of a packed Staples Center crowd, the lead changed hands seven times in a closely contested first quarter before the Lakers ended it with a rousing 8-2 run to go 29-24 up.

Los Angeles tightened their grip in the second quarter, suffocating defense and strong rebounding helping them into a 56-46 lead by halftime.

Page 21

Clint Duke and Nadina Taharally shine at WCD bodybuilding sub meet On a night when the bodybuilding stars of West Coast Demerara posed and flexed their ripped, chiseled physiques, Clint Duke from the Total Fitness Gym shone the brightest when he copped the heavyweight and overall titles.

Duke dazzled the sizable crowd at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Ground on Saturday night when he displayed his rippling abdominals, well defined quadriceps and sculpted arms in his free posing routine and compulsory poses.

In the heavyweight category (177 pounds and over), Duke took the winning spoils ahead of Alfred Jordan and Andel Cameron who placed second and third respectively.

Duke later returned to out pose and out flex the winners of the other categories.

The reigning 2012 Intermediate overall champion Eybo Orford of Total Fitness gym took the first place bantamweight (under 143 pounds) trophy.

He was the lone competitor in his division.

Lightweight Travis Peters

from Total Fitness also was the only competitor in his division (144 to 154 pounds) and was subsequently awarded the winner’s trophy.

Crowd favourite Marlon Bennet (Extreme Fitness Gym) won the welterweight category (155 to 165 pounds) after a sizzling display of his rippling physique. Selwyn Grogan and William Ward (Total Fitness) were the first and second runners up in the welterweight division.

In the light middleweight division (166 to 176 pounds) another crowd pleaser Delon Harlequin who trains at his home gym, proved superior to this year’s novices and intermediate welterweight champion Richard Bynoe of Interline Fitness Gym who placed second. Third was Michael Dos Santos of Total Fitness Gym. Nadina Taharally from the Interline Fitness Gym the lone female competitor of the evening and subsequently took home the Miss Figure first place trophy.

The top two to musclemen in each category have booked their places at the third biannual Hugh

Ross Classic (HRC) which will be staged at the National Cultural Centre on July 28.

The top two bodybuilders will also receive supplement packages compliments of Fitness Express to further fine tune their physiques for Guyana’s signature bodybuilding event.

The event was the first of four sub meets which will be held before the grand staging of HRC. The next sub meet will be held on Independence Day at Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) for bodybuilders residing in Georgetown, while the final sub meet will be held in Rose Hall, Berbice on June 2. Only bodybuilders residing in Berbice will be eligible to enter.

The first sub meet was scheduled for Linden last weekend but there was only one competitor. He was given a free pass to the finals on July 28.

Sponsors for the event included Fitness Express, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Banks Malta Supreme, Hand in Hand Insurance Company, City Mall, Fazia’s Collections and Buddy’s Gym.

MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo wins in France ahead of Valentino Rossi

BBC Sport - Jorge Lorenzo surged to a comfortable win at the French MotoGP in wet conditions and leapfrogged Casey Stoner at the top of the standings.

Nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi rediscovered his form but had to settle for second spot ahead of Stoner. It was Italian Rossi’s second podium finish for Ducati with the other also coming at Le Mans last year.

Briton Cal Crutchlow had threatened a top-three finish but a crash with 10 laps to go meant that he ended eighth.

Lorenzo told BBC Sport: “When it rains, you need to keep concentration. I knew Casey Stoner was close behind but I kept calm and didn’t force things.”

Stoner had been second for most of the race, but was edged out by previously outof-form Rossi in an engrossing contest between the pair - a reminder of times gone by - in the closing stages.

The Italian took advantage of his bike’s aptitude in these conditions in front of more than 80,000 spectators.

On Thursday afternoon, Stoner had made his shock announcement about finishing his career in

Jorge Lorenzo

MotoGP at the end of this season, stating that he was “not enjoying” the sport.

The race itself began with Randy de Puniet - in his home Grand Prix - spinning out at the start line, showing the potential difficulties ahead for riders in the slippery conditions.

Despite the testing surface, Yamaha rider Lorenzo surged into an early advantage, building a lead of almost five seconds after five laps over second-placed

Stoner. Rossi made a promising start too.

Crutchlow edged into the top three with 16 laps to go and an intriguing battle for a place on the podium began to develop midway through the race, with Italians Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso involved.

When the Englishman started pushing hard, he suffered a nightmare scenario as he slid out, causing him to drop back to eighth. There has not been a Brit on the podium since 2000 and the wait has been

prolonged because of his first crash this year.

Crutchlow told BBC Sport: “It was my own fault.

I’m not blaming anything apart from myself but I was pleased to get up and finish.

Hopefully it’ll be dry in Barcelona.”

Dovizioso went down in the final four laps, paving the way for Rossi to finish on the podium and he began pushing Stoner hard before eventually moving ahead.

Rossi admitted: “I am so happy. It was a great battle with Casey at the end and great fun.”

Meanwhile, Briton Scott Redding finished third in the Moto2 GP, which contained a series of crashes in the poor conditions. Swiss Thomas Luthi was the victor with Italian Claudio Corti in second.

MotoGP standings Jorge Lorenzo: 90 points Casey Stoner: 82 points Dani Pedrosa: 65 points Cal Crutchlow: 45 points Andrea Dovizioso: 44 points Valentino Rossi: 42 points Stefan Bradl: 35 points Alvaro Bautista: 35 points Nicky Hayden: 33 points Hector Barbera: 26 points

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Bangalore shocked, Chennai pleasantly surprised Dale Steyn slams door shut on Challengers, allows Super Kings to sneak in

Dale Steyn was in redhot form

Yahoo!

Cricket – HYDERABAD: Whistle podu! Make sure you suck in a lung full of air and let it all out in one shrill burst.

Although Chennai Super Kings had no active part to play in this match, they were unequivocally the biggest beneficiaries as Deccan Chargers pulled the rug from under the feet of Royal Challengers Bangalore for a nine-run win.

Bangalore’s loss meant they finished in fifth place on 17 points from 16 fixtures, on equal points with Chennai but with a poorer run-rate. Fourthplaced Chennai will now take on third-placed Mumbai Indians in the eliminator (a virtual quarterfinal), while Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders will face off in the ‘Qualifier 1’.

The winners of ‘Qualifier 1’ will progress to the final, while the losers will get another chance of making the title clash when they play the winners of the ChennaiMumbai eliminator in what is virtually a semifinal. Chargers too gained something from their Saturday win. They ensured that they vacated their basement residence to Pune Warriors, who will finish at the bottom of the pile in IPL-V. Chennai should take a moment to thank, with all their heart, Dale Steyn, who bowled superlatively for figures of 4-0-8-3 to stall Bangalore in what was ostensibly an empty match for the home team. Bangalore needed to win to assure themselves a berth in the last

four, and when they restricted Chargers to 132 after electing to field, half the job appeared to have been done.

The win looked a formality when Chris Gayle galloped to a 10-ball 27 to begin the chase, but Steyn had other plans. He softened the West Indian with a deadly bouncer and then swung in a searing fuller delivery that Gayle bottom-edged on to the stumps, giving the paceman the first of his three wickets.

In his next over Steyn brought another dizzyingly fast delivery to thwack into Tillakaratne Dilshan’s pads – to maximum effect.

Although skipper Virat Kohli (42) and Saurabh Tiwary (30) guided Bangalore back into contention with a 46-run partnership, the game swung back Chargers’ way when the firebrand hit Ashish Reddy straight to long-on.

And when Steyn returned for his last over, conceding just one and firing in another yorker into Zaheer Khan’s furniture, Bangalore knew in their hearts that their IPL-V dreams – despite boasting the mammoth Gayle in their line-up – were over.

Challengers did everything right in the first innings. They elected to field and strangulated Chargers to an average total, which attained respectability only through J.P. Duminy (74), who hammered five sixes to offset the early sedateness of his colleagues.

Chargers struggled for the most part of the innings, losing their season top-scorer Shikhar Dhawan to Zaheer in

the first over. Akshath Reddy was caught behind off Vinay Kumar and the dangerous Cameron White was deceived by left-arm paceman Prasanth Parameshwaran, leaving Chargers three down after the Powerplay with just 23 runs on the board.

Wickets kept tumbling before Parthiv Patel partnered Duminy for 71 in 7.4 overs in a stand dominated comprehensively by the South African. Duminy emerged from his stupor in the 16th over, carting Vinay for six over long-on. He then went after Muttiah Muralitharan, clobbering three maximums in an over that yielded 20. The South African holed out to long-on in the 19th over, but his effort - and countryman Steyn’s later - worked to Bangalore’s detriment, and Chennai’s gain.

Scores: Deccan Chargers 132 for 7 (Duminy 74, Vinay 3-22) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 123 for 9 (Kohli 42, Steyn 3-8, Ashish Reddy 3-25) by 9 runs.

Monday May 21, 2012

Gibson confident West Indies can win LONDON – West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said winning the first Test against all odds would be a “massive” boost for West Indies on their tour of England.

Kemar Roach followed up defiant West Indies batting – again led by Shivnarine Chanderpaul – with two late wickets on Sunday to leave the match heading for a dramatic finish on Monday.

Roach produced two quick, lifting deliveries to knock over England captain and first innings century-maker Andrew Strauss for one and nightwatchman James Anderson for six, as the hosts reached 10 for two, chasing 191 for victory, in a torrid 20-minute period before the close on the penultimate day at Lord’s.

“It would be massive,” said Gibson. “We are coming back [on Monday] to fight, make England fight for the rest of the runs, and if we do well enough to win, it would be great, we would celebrate.

“But if not, whatever happens, we are going to get off the bus [on Monday]

looking to fight hard and win.

It will be tough, especially against the No.1 side in the World. We know it will be a battle, but we are up for that battle.

“Coming on this tour, we always felt our bowling attack could cause a few problems and this will be a good opportunity for us to test our bowling attack against their batting. We know they need only 180 more runs, but we will come and fight really hard.”

West Indies revival in the Test was sparked by a record 157-run stand for the fifth wicket between Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels.

Chanderpaul made 91 to follow up his first innings 87 and Samuels supported with 86, while Denesh Ramdin made 43 and West Indies captain Darren Sammy clocked in with a cameo of 37.

“The batting moreso has helped to give us the belief that we could win the Test,” said Gibson. “Batting for most of the day gave us heart.

“Chanderpaul and Samuels were outstanding.

We made it really tough for their bowlers to get our

Ottis Gibson wickets and two wickets to Kemar in the evening gives us a lot of hope for [Monday].”

Gibson added: “A lot was said before the start of the series about the inexperience of the side, but it was good to see the experienced players did their jobs [on Sunday]. . .and those guys are taking on more and more of the responsibility for the totals that the team gets and it makes a huge difference for us when our experienced players perform.

“We know we have some inexperienced players and they will come good, but the experienced players are leading from the front and this is what we need and everybody is happy with efforts from [Sunday].”

Mumbai thrash Rajasthan in inconsequential tie Record opening stand between Sachin and Smith ensures 10-wicket win Yahoo!

Cricket – JAIPUR: Whew! It’s finally over. The league phase of IPL-V was put to rest after the 72nd fixture, played between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals with the former handing the latter a right old walloping at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium here.

The ten-wicket win was brought about by Dwayne Smith (87 n.o.) and Sachin Tendulkar (58 n.o.), who helped themselves to a glut of runs and gunned down the target with two overs to spare. Their 163-run partnership is the highest opening stand in the history of the IPL, breaking the previous record of 159 between M. Vijay and Michael Hussey.

This was the ideal morale boost for Mumbai before they run into Chennai Super Kings in the eliminator. But other than that, the match was of no consequence whatsoever so far as the playoffs were concerned. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s capitulation to Deccan Chargers in the afternoon fixture had helped unearth the identity of teams three and four – Mumbai and Chennai - the top two spots having long been accounted for by Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata

Dwayne Smith Knight Riders.

Mumbai could have treated this game as a practice event before taking on the downright lucky Chennai.

And the carefree approach that marked the chase was apparent in the margin of victory. Not once did the result appear in doubt, although Sachin and Smith were dropped once each.

This was the first time that Rajasthan Royals had posted a total in excess of 160 at home and failed to defend it.

Sachin Tendulkar

Earlier, Rajasthan helped themselves to 162 despite having lost their prolific openers – skipper Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane – cheaply within the Powerplay. Both were out to Dhaval Kulkarni, who was playing his first game of the season.

Shane Watson came to the Royals’ rescue and was ably supported by Stuart Binny, whose acceleration matched and even exceeded that of the Aussie. Owais Shah and Ashok Menaria too struck

useful cameos as Royals posted what Dravid – possibly playing in his last competitive match – considered a par total for the wicket. But Mumbai Indians, playing sans pressure, raced to victory without any trouble at all in this most – even by IPL standards – inconsequential of matches.

Scores: Mumbai Indians 163 for 0 (Smith 87*, Tendulkar 58*) beat Rajasthan Royals (Watson 45, Kulkarni 3-18) by ten wickets.