Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

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…says Opposition would’ve never risked it against a united labour force

By Gary Eleazar Prefacing his presentation with the exigencies of the global environment which has been leading to higher unemployment around the world, President Donald Ramotar yesterday lashed out at the political opposition and also took an accusatory swipe at what he described as a divided working class.

Ramotar was making his maiden address to a May Day Rally as Head of State, and his presentation was as charged as one could be for such an occasion. The attendance was a shadow of years past, but this certainly was no deterrent to the country’s leader.

Flanked by his deputy, Samuel Hinds, Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul and Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony, among others, by the time the President rose to speak from the podium on the National Park stage, it was clear that the day religiously observed by labour in some circles of the world had lost its appeal.

This did little to daunt Ramotar, who proceeded to inform those persons that had remained (numbering less than one thousand) that a lot of what the political opposition has been able to achieve in the House was due to a divided labour movement

in Guyana.

The President asserted that in today’s world, Guyana finds itself at a difficult crossroad not just from external forces, but from factors within.

Speaking to one of the more influential external factors that has affected Guyana in recent times, Ramotar reminded of the cut in preferential pricing for Guyana’s sugar by the European Union.

This he said was done “at the stroke of a pen” and the Europeans reneged on a long standing agreement that cost Guyana some US$45M a year, “and we were still able to avoid the worst consequences.”

This avoidance of an even more dire effect, he stressed, was as a result of investment in the country and the fact that the administration has from 1992 been open to scrutiny.

The Head of State spoke of investment in the field of education and pointed to Guyanese already reaping the rewards. He drew reference to recent results at CAPE and other regional examinations where the nation has excelled.

HYPOCRISY Turning his attention to the 2012 budget cuts, the President lashed out at both Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger who heads A

President Donald Ramotar and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds join FITUG leaders in singing “The Internationale” Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan.

“What hypocrisy,” said Ramotar as he spoke of the opposition’s justifications of the $1B cut to the GPL subsidy.

Ramotar said that even

losses which stakeholders have been lamenting, the opposition still made the cut.

In seeking to aptly illustrate his point, the President referred to the US$5M Submarine Cable being anchored in the Demerara River, as well as the 69KV cable being erected to

“I don’t think that he (Granger) believes that he and I can sit down at a table and run the country as if it were a casino…I refuse to be a part of that. We must deal with what is good and what is right for Guyana.”

- President Ramotar though the administration went at length to address the concerns of the opposition, and pointed out that there is heavy investment to stem the technical and commercial

The Head of State is greeted by two workers following his inaugural May Day address

reduce the losses of which the opposition spoke.

He said that the position was explained to the Opposition and the point was emphasised that the subsidy was for the power company’s fuel bill, to ensure that the consumer tariff was not increased.

Speaking directly to any future negotiations to be held with the Opposition, President Ramotar said that while he embraces the forum, he “will not be held to ransom”. He stressed that the cuts to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) programmes have immediately threatened some US$10M of direct inflow, and the nation’s Hydro Electric Project has now been also threatened. According to the President, the US$10M was supposed to have gone

towards the setting up of a fund for small loans, The Hydro-electric project, he stated emphatically, holds the possibility of eliminating Guyana’s dependence on fossil fuel, taking the country into a “club of a selected few”.

Ramotar pointed out that all of this was explained to the opposition as being in the best interest of the workers, given that the subsidy will mean that there will not have to be any increased tariffs.

“The Prime Minister answered every single one of their questions in Parliament, yet they take away $1B in subsidy from GPL. How could such a move be helpful to the working class?”

GRANGERAND TALKS “Today I hear Granger say that he is willing to talk, if we give them what he wants…

What do I have to give him?”

Ramotar lashed out at the Opposition Leader saying that anyone who has an interest in Guyana’s working class should have supported the Budget “unconditionally.”

“There can be no conditions for the support of the Budget. I ask again, what does he (Granger) want me to give when they cut the LCDS?” “What do I have to give to Granger for him to come to the table and make this possible for the Guyanese working people? What do I have to give to him to support something as noble as this that can only bring benefit to Guyana?”

The President stated adamantly, “I don’t think that

he (Granger) believes that he and I can sit down at a table and run the country as if it were a casino …I refuse to be a part of that, we must deal with what is good and what is right for Guyana.”

Ramotar was steadfast that the decisions taken by the leaders must not be for “what is good for the PPP or what is good for APNU or what is good for the AFC…the bottom line must be what is good for the people of this country”.

The President did appeal to his political opponents to find enough patriotism within themselves to “realize what they are doing.”

The clearly displeased Head of State did, however, roundly criticize the opposition’s stance on government employees. “I am upset. I’m at a loss to understand the logic, and I can only conclude that they are being motivated by vindictiveness, by revenge, and possibly even by hate.”

To emphasise his incomprehension at the opposition cuts to the Budget, Ramotar reminded the gathering that in the face of criticism, he had instructed that many of the documents being asked for by the opposition, be released.

He reminded of the (Continued on page 13)

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Kaieteur News

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

Editorial

World Bank’s new head With all the dust flying in parliament during the budget debate, the appointment of a new head at the World Bank a month ago seems to have slipped under the radar of most Guyanese. We hope, however, that the policymakers – especially those in charge of our economic fortunes – took some notice. The World Bank has played, and continues to play, a not inconsiderable role in those economic fortunes.

As a poor, developing country, the original name of the institution may offer a clue of that role: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

Today, the World Bank Group with its affiliates, International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSD), offers a unique assortment of services to poor, economies like ours, with shaky or nonexistent sovereign credit ratings. Its present missions include achievement of the Millennium Goals; building the capacity of governments; infrastructure creation; and research, consultancy and training.

The IBRD offers 15 to 20-year loans to developing countries for infrastructure and education building; the IDA offers 35 to 40-year loans with ten years interest-free and grants; the IFC offers corporate loans and local investment; MIGA - Insurance on non-investment and trade risks and ICSD – information support, analysis and data research. We have gone in detail into the mission and functions of the World Bank to demonstrate the crucial role it can play.

As with its Bretton Woods ‘sister’ the IMF, the World Bank has been criticised for being dominated by the US and to a lesser extent, Europe, and ideologically, to reflect the biases of those nations.

The US maintains an effective veto on its activities by maintaining 16.41% of the votes (85% is needed for ratification) and nominating its head. With the rise of the ‘emergent economies’, especially the BRICS, during the still ongoing financial crisis in the US and Europe, there has been a tacit agreement that the former countries – especially China – must receive a larger voting share. Unfortunately this has not become reality as yet.

There was, therefore, much anticipation when the issue of replacing the previous head rose to the fore last year. The outcome would signal whether the changing economic world order would be translated into a changing political order. For the first time there was competition for the position: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and José Antonio Ocampo of Colombia – both individuals with impressive credentials. The Obama administration initially floated the name of Larry Summers, one of Obama’s economic advisers. He had previous experience at the World Bank, but vociferous protests from domestic critics (including feminists) forced the administration to back off and nominate a ‘dark horse’.

Jim Yong Kim is an American of South Korean heritage, an MD -anthropologist and most recently a university president (Ivy-league Dartmouth) who has devoted most of his career to finding better ways to deliver better health care to the world’s poor.

He believes in the power of popular movements to overcome financial and behavioural obstacles to better health, regardless of poverty or hopeless politics in poor countries – as illustrated in the case of the work he led at WHO to extend treatment of HIV/AIDS to millions of people.

Given the voting structure in the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim’s selection had been widely expected, but many analysts felt that the BRICS lost a golden opportunity to assert themselves by testing the west’s oft-touted rhetoric about an “open and merit-based selection process”. There was a palpable lack of coordination among the group’s members.

Despite receiving endorsements from a series of leading World Bank officials, Western and non-Western newspapers, and leading academics, the Harvard-trained Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala never came close to weakening the developed world’s support for the U.S. candidate.

The West’s control of the World Bank presidency, however, is unlikely to last. Kim is likely to be the last World Bank president pushed through by the US, as voting power within both the Bank and the IMF slowly but inevitably shifts toward emerging powers.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

Opposition’s collateral damage unacceptable DEAR EDITOR, The move by the opposition to trim fat from the proposed budget and hold the government more accountable is laudable but it should not be at the expense of people’s bread and butter. The latter is exactly what has happened in the final passage of the budget – many would be on the roti and soup line. The affected does not want to hear, “We are sorry; your getting fired was not our intention; it is collateral damage”.

They want to retain their job and hear they will get raises so they can enjoy a fair standard of living similar to what Ramjattan, Granger and other members of parliament are experiencing. The move by the opposition to put people out of work (collateral damage) is a disappointment from those who should have known better. This action must be condemned as unacceptable.

The adoption of the budget should have been guided by the principle of inclusivity and national consensus and not just be controlled by the two opposition parties that control the majority in parliament. The opposition cannot simply leave out the PPP from the being at the

table. In so acting, they have shown they are no different from the PPP that dominated parliament between 1992 and 2011.

President Donald Ramotar is a reasonable man.

He stated at the outset that he would be willing to work with the opposition to make life better for all. Donald gave in to several opposition proposals and said that he thought he had reached a consensus.

But the opposition appears unwilling to give in to key requests from Donald or back tracked.

The opposition should have given Donald a chance on this being his first budget and if he had failed to adhere to their concerns, they could have rebuked him by disallowing his next request.

Also, with their controlling majority, the opposition could have held the government accountable for their expenditures monitoring how money is spent.

Instead, the AFC and PNC (APNU) went all out to teach Donald a lesson; teach him who is really boss; telling him to go down to his knees and beg. Such action does not advance the politics of our divided nation. It is politically immature.

What is happening in the opposition is a mutual fear between the AFC and PNC

that each would make voter gains at the expense of the other. So they are playing politics with one another and the workers have become collateral victims as Ramjattan put it. PNC has nothing to worry about its support as it has consolidated its base. It is the AFC that has to worry as most of its supporters are defectors from the PPP. In the end, the PPP may take AFC votes if the AFC is perceived as a nuisance and a hindrance to progress and if the AFC is seen as not pursuing policies that would benefit its supporters or if it is seen as a partner of the PNC. And right now PNC and AFC are seen as one by angry workers.

People voted for the AFC expecting it to be different from the others. Instead, AFC is pursuing vengeful politics with former PPP stalwarts wanting to get back at the PPP leadership who ill-treated them.

While it is understandable that those former hard working PPP stalwarts (and they – Khemraj, Moses, Sasenarine, Lionel, etc. - are brilliant minds) who are now with AFC want to avenge their past abuses, they should show political maturity and not take extreme measure to contribute to collateral damage. They should show that they are

bigger than those in the PPP who sidelined them. They should side (conditionally) with Donald and help to bring change within the PPP while being outside of it.

Reconciliation is the only way forward.

The AFC will not benefit politically from their actions in teaming up with the PNC to hurt workers. So far, every major budgetary action of the AFC far has backfired – public service workers came out against them and the PNC (APNU). And now media workers have come out against them for eliminating funds for the state media.

In their hate for and policies to get back at the PPP, they are perceived as not concerned about those who are hurt from their actions.

The AFC has to be careful it is not labeled as a proverbial bully. It will suffer serious consequences.

The threatened workers are innocent victims of the power play in parliament.

Ramjattan has erred in saying collateral damage is to be expected. The party itself would eventually become a victim of the collateral damage of its own bombing campaign if does not show moderation in its behavior and if it does not support worthwhile proposals from Donald.

Vishnu Bisram

Only when the shoe pinches the wearer DEAR EDITOR, One of the objectives of the recent Budget cuts was to remove the inequities in earning among the specially paid Government contract employees who earn close to and over $1 million per month and those in the regular Public Service who earn under $100,000. Another objective of the cuts was to force much needed reforms at entities such as the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) in the interest of the people of Guyana.

The Alliance for Change (AFC)is concerned about all state employees and as it relates to NCN; we are satisfied, based on a letter by Mohamed “Fuzzy” Sattaur (March 19 2012), that NCN is financially robust, earning 90 per cent of its income from advertising and therefore, there is no need to cut any jobs there.

In this context, we note the sudden concern and hysterics of the PPP over the cuts to NCN and the Government Information Agency (GINA), and more specifically the 38 jobs the party says will be lost at GINA. This newfound solidarity with the working people of

Guyana by the PPP is however, nothing but the shedding of crocodile tears since there was no concern for: The 62 workers dismissed

by RUSAL, the 77 National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) dismissed in Linden; when Government contractors doing work in Linden brought in their own labourers instead of employing Lindeners; the high cost of crossing the Berbice Bridge that affects persons from Region Five from receiving employment in Region Six and vice versa, disregard for the increased costs to the ordinary workers in Region Five who send their children to school in New Amsterdam.

There was no concern for the employees of CNS Channel Six during its suspension by the Government; when the government summarily dismissed Freddie Kissoon (a contract worker, by the way) and hounded his wife out of her job, knowing fully well their only child is still at the University of Guyana; over the Government’s removal of the subvention to Critchlow Labour College that resulted in the loss of jobs and ordinary Guyanese being denied an opportunity to further their education; for

the three New Building Society (NBS) managers who were fired based on trumped up charges because they were only doing their jobs too well.

The government further had no concern for the staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) which was unlawfully “dissolved” by the Government; the four wrongfully imprisoned treason accused (including Mark Benschop) and their dependants, many of whom were young children; the 14 unlawfully dismissed Supreme Court workers; the many workers who remain unpaid by the Government for their services to CARIFESTA 2008; when the Government cut its

advertisements from Stabroek News affecting employment there. Nor for when that cut was extended to the rest of the private media stymieing their ability to expand and provide more employment; for the nine Enmore sugar workers who were summarily dismissed for theft without determining which of them may have actually been responsible; over the fact that the Government buys computers through “Barber Shop” type deals instead of buying those that are locally assembled, which would have created job opportunities for our young people; the fact that because of super-salaries paid at the Continued on page 23

Beware the grasshopper DEAR EDITOR, I am not in the least surprised at PPP/C propagandist Neeaz Subhan’s wailing and weeping. Citizens must know when he crawled over to PNC/R and was selected to Parliament, Mr Hoyte could not have seen the hypocrite he was dealing with, but I knew here was a grasshopper seeking his fortune.

Mr Hoyte was so consumed with this hopper that he even thought that Kanoo and Lionel Peters were genuine individuals but he chose a man who is accustomed to his propaganda. I am warning those who think Subhan is worthy of sympathy that he’s not. What has unfolded from the budget debates may make Guyanese shudder.

More is yet to come.

Name withheld

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

David Granger does not know to wheel and deal

DEAR EDITOR, Mankind is the most divisive, mischievous, and treacherous of God’s creations. The intent of my missive is to reassure the residents of Linden that Brigadier Granger is not capable of cutting deals, as some mischievous and dishonest individuals, politicians by extension may want you to believe.

Anyone who has interacted with Granger would say that he is not someone whose integrity is questionable. The fact of the matter is that Lindeners have made a U-turn during this last election and this has caused many to be in a state of shock, which will remain with those affected for a very long time.

Lindeners must be wary of those who come like thieves in the night to create confusion in their community. The valiant

effort to gain political points by their attempt to tarnish the image and integrity of an honest, committed and caring individual whose character is unquestionable will not succeed.

The haste with which these individuals rushed to Linden is no surprise; all they wanted was to impress Lindeners that they really care. Either these politicians are barefaced or they pretend to have convenient memories.

These are the said hypocrites who once openly criticised the PNC for protesting on the streets. I wish to ask these politicians if they truly believe that poverty affects one’s memory. David Granger is strong enough to withstand these vicious lies peddled by elements with their own agenda.

What is there for Granger to sell ? Granger is

not accustomed to selling or dealing. His critics called him a new kid on the block but this kid has done what no other politician has done. The Brigadier is concerned about the poor and downtrodden in Guyana and was not elected to wage unwarranted vendetta against anyone, because he has no personal grudge against.

As leader of the opposition Granger ’s commitment is to every Guyanese regardless of their political persuasion.

Last but not least, the man’s name is David, not Judas and he is here when Guyanese will see who are the wheelers and dealers.

David, Rupert and Carl are men of integrity and Linden and Guyanese by extension can expect effective representation from them.

Umar Saied

DEAR EDITOR, The government-owned Guyana Chronicle carried one article and one letter on 30 April 2012 criticising Amerindian members of the National Assembly who voted to reduce those components of the Appropriations Bill which linked to former President Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The Chronicle’s items referred in particular to Sidney Allicock of Surama Village, also an APNU Member of Parliament.

Both Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC and independent accountant Chris Ram pointed out the error of the Minister of Finance in the inclusion of LCDS projects into the main Appropriations Bill instead of placing them as conditional appropriations in accordance with Article 21 in the Financial Management and Accountability Act (Stabroek News, 26 April 2012, ‘AFC questions legality of unreleased $18B budgeted for LCDS’; Stabroek News, 30 April 2012, ‘The $18.3B which was cut from the LCDS needed to be covered by a c o n d i t i o n a l appropriation’).

It was thus entirely correct for members of the National Assembly to vote down the error of the Minister of Finance and to call for use of the proper procedure.

The Guyana Chronicle also failed to notice that the

Joint Concept Note (JCN) attached to the NorwayGuyana MoU and revised in March 2011 is explicit concerning the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) that ‘Transfer of funds takes place on approval by the GRIF Steering Committee, which consists of Guyana and Norway, with observers from Partner Entities [UNDP and the InterAmerican Development Bank], and Guyanese and Norwegian civil society’ (section 4, page 13, in the revised JCN).

This Steering Committee cannot approve money transfers from the GRIF until the Government of Guyana presents proposals of acceptable quality which derive from the sketchy LCDS project outlines and which comply with the Partner Entities’ ‘own globally accepted operational procedures and safeguards’ (also on page 13 of the JCN).

Both Partner Entities have accepted the Combined Approach to environmental and social safeguards in the context of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and UN-REDD. In his statement about the GRIF to the National Assembly on 15 July 210, the Minister of Finance said ‘Individual Government agencies are now moving to translate these outlines into detailed project plans’. That was 21 months ago.

As the Government of Guyana, including the Ministry of Amerindian

Affairs and the President’s Office of Climate Change, have produced only a few concept notes and proposals since then, and those mostly of abysmal quality and relevance, only one project has so far been funded and that for the benefit of the Guyana Forestry Commission (US$ 3.6 million) and the Office of the President (US$ 3.3 million).

This project was approved by the GRIF Steering Committee on 07 November 2011.

Two concept notes have been submitted to the GRIF in relation to Amerindian development. Land titling and demarcation was submitted by UNDP and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and UNDP in January 2011.

The concept note for the Amerindian Development Fund was prepared by the Office of the President and/ or the Meridian Institute, apparently not by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, recently in March 2012.

The criticisms in the Guyana Chronicle of the named Amerindian MPs are misdirected and technically incorrect. Can we expect a retraction by the Guyana Chronicle?

Janette Bulkan

A misguided criticism by the Chronicle

Guyanese have spoken clearly in the 2011 elections

DEAREDITOR, Coming first in a three competitors’ race with 51 percent or more of the total votes cast in the 2011 elections implied that a particular political party had won everything political. Such a party which formed the Government would reign supreme, as winning with a minimum of 51 percent of all the votes cast meant that the party garnered all the political and legislative power and held everyone else hostage who voted against it.

This result also implied that the remaining 49 percent or less could be ignored, as they had no recourse, although litigation through the Courts may have been a possibility in some instances. However, Court action has been a “slow burn” that could be timed out by other Constitutional events. The election petition case of 1997 is an example of this outcome, where the decisions by the Court were only useful for legal and scholarly research, with no impact for the society.

Such has been the banality of the Guyanese system and the offensiveness of the 1980 Constitution that continues to ignore the rights of minorities and does not account for ethnic cleavages that drives the political process.

Of course, some would argue that the Ethnic Relations Commission is the cure for such ills, but this institution is at best a talk-shop and a toothless poodle, for its remit is to be reactive instead of being proactive. It is at best a political gimmick of the worse kind.

So what can you do with a simple majority under the 1980 Constitution? With a simple majority of 51 percent under the 1980 Constitution, the government formed by a single party has the same absolute power as a party that wins with 100 percent of the vote. The important outcomes under such a system are no checks or balances, or no penalties, unless the governing party loses the next election; but that is usually way off in the future. The local government election that is languishing in bureaucratic red tape is one such experience.

Here are some of the things the 51 percent governing party can do without restraint. It could appoint without consultation whomsoever it wishes, be they qualified or not. It could make persons qualified for Constitutional Offices permanent members of an acting class, reducing them to a comatose state because the 49 percent cannot influence the governing party to change the status of these public servants whose professionalism the country needs. It could pass legislation, without the input of the opposition; for example, the passage of the National Budget or the use and disposal of the country’s financial resources (NICIL, infrastructure for the Kingston Hotel, the road project at Amalia Falls) and natural resource misuse (see letters by Dr. J. Bulkan on Forestry in SN) are special cases of opaque action.

It could pass laws, making them retroactive to cover events that in normal circumstances would be a violation of the law (see matter with former President Jagdeo and Dr. Yesu Persaud); or it could ignore or delay action in labour disputes (see bauxite examples) or environmental damage (the dust in Linden). It could ignore the findings and recommendations of the Auditor General in relation to ending fraud, corruption and the misuse of public money that must be booked in the consolidated fund

(Lotto, GT&T) and not held elsewhere.

These events attract no penalties and they continue to fester year after year.

Press freedom could be circumscribed by whatever means necessary; for example, privately owned press establishments could be starved of advertising funds (See SN Editorial 4/30/2012) or the owners and workers can be taken to Court for libel (Kaieteur News), with the sole purpose being to drive them into bankruptcy and out of business.

Many times a simple retraction based on the facts supplied and printed in the press could work, but clogging the Courts should not be a first response by the aggrieved.

There are of course other despicable examples, but I need not bore you with them for Guyanese have spoken Office of the President (OP) to people like Gail Teixeira and Odinga Lumumba who earn over $900,000 and close to $700,000 per month respectively, the Consultant on Climate Change and Advisor on Land and Development who each receive around $1 million per month, and the Advisor on Information Technology who receives $3 million per month, there are less available Government jobs to ordinary Guyanese.

Continued on page 23

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 02, 2012

GTUC tells country’s leader...

“You are not the head of Parliament” - says workers live in fear under PPP/C - warns of Parliamentary actions if jobs are lost “According to our Constitution, while he is the Head of the Executive and Head of State, he is not, let me repeat, he is not Head of Parliament. His is the responsibility to execute the mandate of Parliament and in so doing it’s in his best interest to court a congenial rather than adversarial relationship with the Parliament and Opposition Members of Parliament. Ours is not a constitution where the President has veto power.”

This notion was emphatically asserted by General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis, during a fiery May Day speech yesterday to scores of workers at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue.

He cautioned that the Head of State has to be mindful about his actions and utterances.

Lewis also stated that threats by government to send home workers over the budget cuts “will not be taken lightly” and could very well see the issue being dealt with in Parliament by the Opposition.

“Job loss is not something labour takes likely because we have an abiding interest in full employment, for any job loss is a loss to income and will affect the economic wellbeing of that worker, their family and the community. This is the principle that guides labour.

However, the recent threats being made by the politicians that workers will have to lose jobs, because the government did not get all they want in the Budget, is something we take very seriously.”

“Should the government carry out its threats to put workers on the breadline for political purposes, then Parliament must take action to ensure whatever decision is taken by the respective government agency is

warranted. The workers of this country must no longer be made sacrificial lambs.

Labour sincerely hopes the opposition takes this matter seriously, since what is taking place here is as another act of denying and transgressing the rights of workers.”

C O N T R A C T WORKERS Addressing the controversial issue of contract workers, which was a hotly debated issue in the National Assembly during the 2012 Budget Debate, the General Secretary accused government of paying persons in excess of what is “normal”. The opposition parties have been accusing government of rewarding its close supporters, family and friends with lucrative contract jobs, while at the same time pursuing a policy of creating a parallel public service.

“Let me make it very clear, a contract worker is not a public servant. A contract worker squats on a public service job and cannot be held accountable under the Public Service rules. It is difficult to understand how persons who are vested with

the responsibility to manage the nation’s business have continued to advocate paying workers different salaries and conditions for performing the same duties, and the only conclusion that can be arrived at, is that the government is comfortable exploiting a group of workers by paying them different salaries for the same job, and creating a divide and rule at the workplace, which undermines the professional environment and compromises delivery of service.”

The contract workers are at the whims and fancy of the government and have no protection under the law, he said.

“The PPP’s programme of degutting the Public Service as an institution, violating the Public Service Rules and the Trades Union Recognition Act (1997) Section 22, and transgressing the rights of workers must be brought to an end. The introduction of contract work in state entity has dehumanised our young men and women and it comes a time that we have to say enough is enough.”

GTUC’s General Secretary Lincoln Lewis (far left) delivering his May Day speech. Sitting from left are Opposition Leader David Granger, Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul and GTUC President Norris Witter.

Lewis insisted that questions must be answered.

“And since the people of this country have voted to change the manner in which of our business is conducted, the questions raised by the Parliament must be answered, and the arrogance of the government to decide they will not answer, speaks to their non-realisation that the tenth Parliament is not the same as the ninth.”

The union leader opined that the government’s threat that a number of workers are going to lose their jobs as a result of the cuts made by the opposition to the budget is a self-serving political act.

Region 10 revenge “Labour considers the PPP’s recent statement as a threat and more so a vindictive reaction to Region 10 for the political choice they made on November 28, 2011.

The electricity situation is in management crisis and its needs to be fixed rather than pass on the burden to the consumers. It is said that on the coastland we have a forty percent line loss and in Linden, thirty percent. Let the government fix this wastage before it first talks about increasing electricity in Linden and the coastland.”

Lewis warned that the proposed hike is a

A section of the audience at the Critchlow Labour College yesterday

smokescreen since it is only the Public Utilities Commission that can authorize any increase in tariff.

The GTUC Secretary also accused former President Bharrat Jagdeo of destroying the working class relationship.

“In all administrations prior to Bharrat Jagdeo’s, workers were allowed the freedom of association and determination of their thrust for this (May) Day. Today under this administration, led by a man (President Donald Ramotar) who came out of GAWU as a leading member, (Continued on page 19)

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 7

MPs say Rupert Murdoch Syria violence kills 23, U.N. criticizes both sides unfit to run company LONDON (Reuters) Rupert Murdoch is not fit to run a major international c o m p a n y, British lawmakers said yesterday, finding him ultimately responsible for the illegal phone hacking that has corroded his global media empire and damaged the political establishment.

The lawmakers said the 81-year-old News Corp chief lacked credibility, his son James appeared incompetent and the company was guilty of “willful blindness” towards its staff at the News of the World tabloid.

The cross-party parliamentary committee, which approved the report by a majority of six to four, also scolded News Corp’s British newspaper arm for misleading parliament during its five year investigation into the hacking of the phones of celebrities, murder victims, politicians and soldiers.

But it split along party

Rupert Murdoch lines, with members from Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party voting against the report, saying they did not agree with its view that the Australian-born Murdoch was not fit to run a major company.

Cameron is facing criticism ahead of local elections this week that he was too close to the media

tycoon, who won government approval to take over British pay-TV operator BSkyB, before dropping the bid when the scandal broke.

The report said there had been huge failures in corporate governance which raised questions about the competence of Rupert’s 39year-old son, James.

“News International and its parent News Corporation exhibited willful blindness, for which the companies’ directors -including Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch - should ultimately take responsibility,” it said.

“We conclude, therefore, that Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company.”

Murdoch said the report had made difficult reading.

“But we have done the most difficult part, which has been to take a long, hard and honest look at our past mistakes.”

Western authorities fear militants will carry implanted bombs WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and allied officials said they are increasingly concerned that doctors working with al Qaeda’s Yemen-based affiliate will implant bombs inside living militants in order to try to circumvent airport security measures and bring down aircraft.

Earlier this year, a missile fired by a CIA-operated drone killed a Yemeni doctor who had devised medical procedures which could be used to surgically plant explosive devices in humans, several U.S. officials told Reuters.

H o w e v e r, another individual, the expert bomb-maker who came up with this tactic survived a similar missile attack last y e a r. C o u n t e r t e r r o r i s m agencies believe he is still engaged in active plotting against U.S. and other Western targets.

Moreover, three U.S. officials said counterterrorism agencies report that other doctors in Yemen are prepared to surgically load bombs into the organs of militants.

The possibility of implanted bombs has been a concern for U.S. officials

since at least 2009, when two incidents occurred, involving militants who had spent time with leading figures of Yemenbased Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

In August 2009, a Saudi militant who had spent time in Yemen unsuccessfully tried to assassinate Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Saudi Arabia’s counter-terrorism chief, with what authorities initially believed was a bomb secreted in his anal cavity.

Authorities determined the bomb was virtually identical to a one which Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian militant who had been studying Arabic in Yemen, used to try to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day 2009.

Both Abdulmutallab’s bomb and the bomb used in the failed attack on Nayef turned out to have been sewn into the would-be bombers’ underwear, rather than implanted inside body organs or cavities.

BEIRUT (Reuters) Violence hit two Syrian provinces yesterday with a rights group reporting 10 civilians dead in an army mortar attack and 12 soldiers killed in a firefight with rebel gunmen as U.N. monitors sought to shore up a flimsy ceasefire.

The United Nations accused both sides of breaching the truce and said it had credible reports that at least 34 children had been killed since the accord took effect on April 12.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the 13month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, said nine members of one family died in mortar bomb blasts in a village in the northern province of Idlib.

An activist on the Turkish border, Tareq Abdelhaq, said 35 people had been wounded and that some were being carried 25 km (15 miles) along mountain tracks to receive emergency treatment in refugee camps dotted along the frontier.

“Some are being smuggled over the border to Turkey. They had to carry the wounded and go through the mountains to avoid checkpoints on the road,” Abdelhaq said. “One guy died on the way. He was 19 years old and had very bad injuries.”

In the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, troops hit back with mortar and heavy machinegun fire after losing a dozen of their own to insurgents, killing at least one villager and destroying a

Bashar al-Assad school, the anti-Assad Observatory added.

The United Nations says Syrian security forces have killed more than 9,000 people since the uprising began in March 2011.

Like other Arab revolts against autocratic rulers, Syria’s revolt began with peaceful protests but a violent government response has spawned an increasingly bloody insurgency.

China, Russia resist West’s push to threaten Sudan, South Sudan UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - China and Russia are resisting a Western push for the U.N. Security Council to threaten Sudan and South Sudan with sanctions if the two countries fail to comply with demands to halt their escalating conflict, U.N. envoys said on Tuesday.

The U.N. negotiations on Sudan and South Sudan, former civil war foes that split when the south seceded last year, follow weeks of border fighting that have raised fears Khartoum and Juba could launch an all-out war, after failing to resolve a string of disputes over oil revenues and border demarcation.

Delegates from the five permanent members of the Security Council and temporary member South Africa met on Monday for several hours at the U.S. mission in New York to try to reach an agreement on amending a U.S.-drafted resolution on the two Sudans, Western envoys told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The United States circulated to the 15nation council on Monday a revised draft resolution that threatens both Sudan and South Sudan with “additional measures” under Article 41 of the U.N. charter, which allows the council to impose economic and diplomatic sanctions on countries that ignore its decisions.

Diplomats said the council was planning to put the draft resolution to a vote today, though it was likely to undergo further changes before then. They said the United States and European council members did not want to remove the reference to Article 41 but would be open to a compromise.

Beijing, which has close trade relations with both Khartoum and Juba, has traditionally acted as Sudan’s protector on the council and for years has shielded it from U.S. and European calls for sanctions due to its handling of conflicts in its western Darfur region and elsewhere in the country.

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Kaieteur News

After 50 years, Cubans hope to travel freely HAVANA (AP) — After controlling its citizens comings and goings for five decades, Cuba appears on the verge of a momentous decision to end many travel restrictions, with one senior official saying a “radical and profound” change is weeks away.

That comment, by Parliament Chief Ricardo Alarcon, has residents, exiles and policymakers abuzz with speculation that the much-hated exit visa could be a thing of the past, even if Raul Castro’s government still carefully limits the travel of doctors, scientists, military personnel and others in sensitive roles.

Other top Cuban officials have cautioned against over-excitement, most recently at a weekend

teleconference designed to bridge the gap with Cuban emigrants, leaving islanders and Cuba experts to wonder how far Havana’s aging leaders are willing to go.

In the last 18 months, Castro has already removed prohibitions on some private enterprise, legalized real estate and car sales, and allowed compatriots to hire employees, ideas that were long anathema to the government’s Marxist underpinnings.

But scrapping travel controls could be an even bigger step, at least symbolically, and it carries enormous economic, social and political risk.

Even half measures such as cutting staggeringly high visa fees or ending limits on how long Cubans can live abroad would be significant.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Trinidad wants dialogue to solve trade issues with Jamaica KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC - Trinidad and Tobago’s Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz says much of the current issues as it relate to an imbalance of trade between his Port of Spain and Jamaica can be sorted out through dialogue.

A Jamaica Information Service (JIS) statement yesterday said that Cadiz met recently with his Jamaican counterpart Anthony Hylton to “discuss an array of issues pertinent to both countries in the areas of trade, agriculture, energy and manufacturing.

It quoted Cadiz as saying that the Kamla Persad Bissessar administration is willing to continue talks with Jamaica to reach an amicable solution to the problems facing both countries and the region at large.

“At the end of the day, it is all about building real, true

Stephen Cadiz Caribbean unity and integration,” he said.

Cadiz admitted that trade issues surrounding cement, Jamaican music and even

patties, have caused the two countries to be at odds for a number of years, but said this should not be the case.

“One of the main issues is the differential and disparity, and imbalance in the trade between Trinidad and Jamaica. We have been looking at ways and means of how to correct this in a real sense, not just doing good public relations,” he said.

Data shows that from 2005 to 2009 Jamaica gained between three to five million US dollars from exports to the twin republic, but in contrast Jamaica imported goods and services estimated at between 26 to US$34 million during that period.

Cadiz said that when he

took office in June 2010, “there were wars in the Caribbean and I thought we were back to the Pirates of the Caribbean, because the wars were being fought and I don’t think too many of us realised what was happening and why we had wars in the first place.

The JIS statement said that “Cadiz is adamant” that such issues must be sorted out through dialogue and communication between both governments, before they get out of control.

Cadiz further noted that many of the regulations governing the decisions of Trinidad and Tobago’s Food and Drugs Division are archaic, “hence the reason we had these issues.”

No oil feud between Grenada and T&T ST. GEORGE, Grenada The Government of Grenada notes with alarm the article entitled “Oil Feud” appearing in the Trinidad Express on Saturday alleging a potential conflict between Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.

According to Nazim Burke, Minister responsible for Energy “we were alarmed by the story and are not aware of any potential conflict between the two countries regarding Blocks TTDAA 28 and TTDAA 29.

We have since been in communication with Kevin Ramnarine, Minister for Energy for Trinidad and Tobago and have reviewed the press release from the

Ministry of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago in response to the article”.

Minister Ramnarine has denied that the two aforementioned blocks are on the boundary of Grenada. In the press release dated April 29, 2012, he indicated that “blocks 28 and 29 do not encroach on any maritime space related to Grenada”.

Furthermore, Minister Ramnarine has said “blocks 28 and 29 lie within Trinidad and Tobago’s maritime jurisdiction and are in fact either close to or adjoin the Trinidad and Tobago/ Barbados maritime boundary”.

Our own review of

Nazim Burke Trinidad and Tobago’s latest Upstre a m A c t i v i t y M a p confirms that the named blocks do not adjoin G r e n a d a ’s maritime boundary.

G r e n a d a w e l comes a more detailed statement on this matter as promised by Minister Ramnarine.

High level environmental conference for Barbados BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC - Barbados will host a high level conference in preparation for the Rio+20 environmental conference in Brazil.

The May 7 meeting of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Achieving Sustainable Energy for All and Rio+20 Informal Ministerial Preparatory Meeting will be attended by energy and environment ministers from Africa, the Pacific, Indian Ocean and the Caribbean as well as top United Nations officials and development experts, private sector and civil society.

The meeting will discuss policies and actions needed to advance

SIDS sustainable development through sustainable energy access and will be addressed by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and the United Nations Development Programme, Resident Representative, Michelle Gyles-McDonnough.

Rio+20 will be an opportunity for SIDS to rally the international community with a unified voice, sharing their aspiration, needs, interests and concerns, including critical policy assessments.

In Barbados, the Rio+20 Informal Ministerial Preparatory Meeting will focus on two themes of Rio+20, namely the green economy in the context of sustainable development

and poverty reduction and a framework for achieving sustainable development, the organisers said.

They said with less than two months before the conference begins in Rio de Janeiro, the SIDS will seek to arrive at the Barbados Declaration on sustainable energy for all.

The agenda will include discussions and presentations on UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative and address the existing challenges, gaps and needs of SIDS in ensuring sustainable energy access; the link between sustainable energy and reducing poverty levels and achieving sustainable development.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

THE AFC WAS THE SPOILER!

On April 18, 2012, talks began between APNU and the government on the Budget. The government had agreed to meet with APNU following a request made by that grouping in the National Assembly. There was immediate success in the talks, with both sides agreeing to an increase in old age pensions to $10,000 per month.

On the same day that agreement was reached, hundreds of public employees took to the streets to protest an insane proposal by the Alliance for Change to cut an unbelievable 3.4 billion dollars from the ministries of Housing and Water; Tourism, Industry and Commerce; and Culture, Youth and Sport.

It was truly an amazing proposition and raised questions as to the real intent of this unusual proposal by the AFC which was said to

be based on advice given to the party. What advice!

Imagine proposing to cut the appropriation of three ministries alone by 3.4 billion dollars. Just what was the AFC thinking?

The AFC’s motion to cut the budget of the three ministries eventually came up for hearing but APNU, no doubt not wishing to be embarrassed by this proposal abstained, thereby defeating the plan by the AFC to institute the cuts in the three ministries The AFC was furious at APNU’s abstention. In an internal email which was leaked to the media, the AFC expressed its anger upon learning of APNU’s decision not to support the AFC’s cuts. APNU was in that email accused of not behaving consistently and with integrity as regards the matter.

In reaction, the media reported the opposition leader as saying that APNU was not interested in dismissing public servants or preventing the government from functioning. And in a further signal that there was likely to be a deal between the government and APNU, he was reported as saying that APNU was interested in accountability and transparency, and not confrontation.

The Prime Minister had reported that the sides had agreed to the elimination of GPL tariffs and the elimination of the subsidy in the manner outlined in the Budget. This was another indication of progress being made in the talks between APNU and the government.

Interestingly, in what may not have been a totally unrelated development, the Commissioner of Police

Dem boys seh

Jagdeo and Brazzy own Hen See Hen Everything that do in darkness does come to light.

Is now dem boys know that Jagdeo and Brazzy and some of de Bees own Hen See Hen. And de only way dem get to know is because de opposition in parliament cut de vote that was going to Hen See Hen. All de time Hen See Hen was a government station.

When de opposition try fuh put ads in de paper when Jagdeo was president de same Hen See Hen use to refuse it. When dem boys ask, dem hear that de station was de government own and it had a policy fuh ignore de opposition. Now is not de government own.

When is election time and de government does mek allowance fuh broadcast time Hen See Hen does be involved like if is a government entity. Now

people hearing that it is private sector. It had to tun private when Bharrat lef de wuk.

People checking de record at the Deeds Registry to see when this company register as a private company and dem ain’t seeing nutten. It mean that this thing happen sudden and de records ain’t ketch up yet.

Now if was a private company why de government want to give it money? It could be that de money was to pay Jagdeo pension and that is why he, Jagdeo, ain’t collect none because all gone to de radio and TV station that form Hen See Hen. Was de same Jagdeo did tek money from de Lotto funds and pay fuh cricket pun Hen See Hen. Dem boys want to know if Hen See Hen collect back de money through advertisement. What dem

know was that de money didn’t put back in de Lotto Funds. Who get de profit?

Is now dem boys understand why every newscast use to start wid “President Bharrat Jagdeo” seh this and “President Jagdeo” do this. Is now dem understand why Uncle Donald couldn’t change anybody from Hen See Hen and that is why he only focusing pun Geena.

Is Hen See Hen who never talk one bad word bout Jagdeo. No media house can’t talk bad bout its owner.

Dem boys want to know how much tax it pay as a private sector agency. Dem want to know if it paying VAT and since nobody don’t like talk dem boys going to parliament and ask de opposition to find out by way of a motion.

Talk half because de rest coming.

As Surswatie Mootoo, whose husband allegedly set fire to their home almost two weeks ago, is trying to rebuild her life, police are yet to locate the man who is wanted for arson.

According to a source close to the investigation, as of yesterday the man, who has been identified as Naresh Seepersaud called ‘Fineman’, was still on the run. This publication was told that the suspect has not contacted his family since the incident.

As a result of the fire, Surswattie Mootoo called

‘Radha’, 31, and her five children of 3921 Westminster Phase Two, West Bank Demerara, are homeless. The children’s ages range from five to 12 years.

It was only a week prior to the fire that Mootoo’s husband was placed on a bond to keep the peace for a year after he appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on domestic abuse-related

charges.

The couple then decided to split possessions, with Seepersaud deciding to keep the upper flat of the building.

Initial reports are that the man was seen using a kerosene stove to douse the upper flat of the home and even threatened villagers who came to dissuade him from any further potentially dangerous actions.

Suspect in La Parfaite arson still on the run

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

tendered his retirement. His removal had been long sought after by APNU. By this time, APNU was coming under intense pressure over its agreements with the government. In what was seen as a reaction to those criticisms, it issued a statement calling on the government to implement a series of relief measures before raising electricity tariffs gradually In Linden.

This was also indirect confirmation that APNU had agreed for the gradual and selective increase in tariffs in exchange for further relief for the mining town, including the introduction of micro financing schemes, further liberalization on TV and radio licences, and reducing the dust problem.

The opposition leader also sought to deflect criticism that the party had sold out Linden, insisting that APNU had urged for a long timetable for the increases in electricity tariffs to be applied. He was quoted by the Stabroek News as saying, ‘We’re talking about maybe two years or so, but there is not going to be a sudden spike, and that is not our agreement.’

In relation to the charge that APNU had betrayed the

AFC, the opposition leader made it clear that APNU did not feel that it would be in the national interest to embark on a course of action that would endanger the jobs of public servants.

In relation to the cuts for contract workers as proposed by the AFC, the opposition leader was quoted as saying that the move was an indiscriminate one, noting that while the AFC had used the term ‘fat cats’, many of these workers had opted to work on contract and some work for a normal salary, and it is not ‘a category of outlaws.’

It did seem at this stage that there was a deal in the making that would allow for the passage of the Budget.

In the meantime, the AFC had begun to poach on APNU’s support base in Linden, exploiting the disaffection felt over the agreement reached between APNU and the government on the electricity tariffs.

The AFC had made a foray into Linden. APNU, no doubt fearful that the AFC could capitalize on the situation, gave in to the pressure for the AFC to be part of the talks with the government.

Once the AFC with its

Page 9

irrational suggestions about cuts joined the talks, it was bound to end. At no point during the debate on the estimates did the AFC demonstrate any reasonableness.

It ultimately became the spoiler of the progress that was being made between APNU and the government, a development that now sees all manner of disingenuous explanations being given for the cuts which were proposed.

Given the background to the talks, once the AFC came on board, it was bound to collapse. New demands would have been placed on the table and these were bound to pose problems, especially considering how the AFC had sought to slash 3.4 billion from three ministries alone.

It was therefore no surprise when both parties indicated that significant changes would be needed before the Budget was passed. Ultimately, as expected, the talks collapsed.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 02, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

I don’t believe Mr. Ramkarran You can take away people’s physical rights but you cannot dissolve their right to think. Inherent in natural law is the individual’s right to accept or reject what they are told. Many commentators have openly said that they didn’t believe the testimony of Rupert Murdoch, last week, when he said that he never asked or gained favours from ruling politicians and he never interfered with the practice of journalism in his media houses. I don’t believe him either.

I simply don’t believe the story of Ralph Ramkarran that the Executive Committee (15 members) and the Central Committee (35) disagreed with the Government’s withdrawal of advertisements from the Stabroek News, but the decision was not carried out by the State. Mr. Ramkarran’s explanation has more holes than a basket and he would have to elegantly fill those holes with intellectual silicone if he is to be believed.

Let us get all the dimensions right before we

Granger willing to...

(From page 2) investigate CLICO and the National Insurance Scheme.

Yesterday, as in previous years, saw a distinct, continuing rift in the workers' unions with the University of Guyana Workers Union, the Guyana Local Government Officers Union, and the Guyana Public Service Union, among others, joining the GTUC umbrella at the Critchlow Labour College.

The Guyana Teachers' Union did not join the separate FITUG rally at the National Park but like last year, proceed to its headquarters on Woolford Avenue.

assault this tale, and that is what it is, a tale (remember the famous quote about a tale from Shakespeare). The two committees rejected the restriction on SN; the State did not carry out the decision of the ruling party; that the ruling party does not practice paramountcy of the party; extraneous matters (Ramkarran’s words) got in the way and a letter he prepared for publication in the Mirror explaining why the withdrawal was wrong was never published.

My rebuttal. It is doubtful that Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, and Moses Nagamootoo would not have known that the two pillars at the top of the PPP hierarchy passed a motion to ask the President to remove the restriction. We are talking about thirty-five persons from all over Guyana, some of whom know Moses very well.

Even if Moses knew and didn’t want to go public, he would have shared the information. This is a tiny populated society and such a large group as the PPP’s

central committee would have had to have a leak. But let us assume there was no leak; let us move to weakness number two.

Mr. Ramkarram introduced a confusing colour on his canvas that spoiled the art work. There are two actors – party and government. Mr. Ramkarran introduced a third entity, the Mirror newspaper. Here is where Mr. Ramkarran’s car breaks down. At the time, Mrs. Jagan had given up on the editorship of the Mirror.

The editorial directors were Prem Misir, Donald Ramotar and David De Groot, the latter editing the paper.

It was in the Mirror that Mrs. Jagan first penned her judgement on Mr. Jagdeo’s edict against SN. According to Mr. Ramkarran, his intended letter never got published because of “extraneous matters”.

What has the work of the Mirror got to do with party and government? The party agreed, but the government never carried out what the party wanted. Mr. Ramkarran

then composed a reason why the SN ban should be lifted and was going to have the Mirror carry it. What Mr. Ramkarran needs to tell us is what he means by “extraneous matters” that led to the dormancy of the letter.

At the time, the Mirror was under the control of the party. Why would the Mirror not carry a letter by a senior, dominant person like Ramkarran? After all, the very paper published Mrs. Jagan’s views on the very subject. In order for his story to stand up, Mr. Ramkarran has to elongate on the Mirror angle in his tale. To do so, he will have to describe these “extraneous matters”. All readers would be interested to know what intervened to stop that letter, because it takes a second to send the article via the internet to Mr. De Groot and another second to use the phone to order him to carry it. Mr. Ramkarran contradicts himself. He wrote in SN yesterday that the party made a decision after “extensive discussion” and called upon the Government

Frederick Kissoon to desist. Yet Mr. Ramkarran tells us that; “a conclusion to the discussion was sidetracked by extraneous matters and the letter was not published.”

There is a gaping hole here that Mr. Ramkarran has to account for. On the one hand, the party made a decision and called for the restoration, then we are told the confabulation was not concluded and his letter was not published.

Finally, Mr. Ramkarran explained that the party didn’t insist because it does not practice paramountcy over the State. Yet, Ramkarran had to (and has to) know that at least one top official at the Mirror was being paid by GINA. So what is your take on this tale?

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Boy, 12, seriously injured after struck by minibus A 12-year-old boy is currently nursing serious injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he was struck by a route 43 (Linden) minibus, around 18:00 hours yesterday.

The incident occurred on the Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

The mother of young Kevin Ramnarine, who lives at River View Friendship, said that the lad was at the time heading out to buy painkillers when he was hit by the bus.

She said that she heard about an accident on the Public Road and ran out to the road, but had no idea that it involved her son. Upon reaching the roadway, the woman said she learned that her son had already been taken away by public-spirited citizens to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

From there, she said she joined the ambulance that transported her son to the GPHC.

12-year-old Kevin Ramnarine being taken to a waiting ambulance

Ms. Ramnarine said that at that time her son was unconscious. When Kaieteur News spoke to her she was

Search for missing schoolboy continues - relatives call for thorough investigation Up to press time yesterday there was no word on the whereabouts of 7 year-old Devon Gibson who disappeared after a swimming out from the Kingston Seawall. The missing boy’s relatives said they contacted the police and were merely told that the search is continuing.

However, the relatives are calling for a thorough investigation into the incident since they are of the belief that the lad may have been the victim of a sacrificial ritual. This publication was told that the man who took the lad along with three other boys to the seawall has been released from police custody. The lad’s relatives claimed that they did some background checks on the man and found out that he was “into spiritual works”.

“The day when the thing happen we went to the seawall with the police and the man and he show we the spot and the next day when we went back we see some strange signs draw up right where the thing happen,” a relative said.

“This man family does do strange work and one time a close relative kill somebody and was charged for the murder.”

On Saturday afternoon, last, Gibson and three other boys from the Tiger Bay area were taken to the Kinsgton Seawall where the lad was last seen jumping off the jetty. He never resurfaced.

unaware of his condition.

Eyewitnesses claimed that at the time of the incident the child was riding a bicycle which he reportedly rode into the path of the Linden bus.

The boy reportedly rode out of a street when he came into contact with the bus.

The bus was seen parked at the Grove Police Station with evidence of the accident visible on its front. There was a huge dent on the front of the minibus and the windscreen was shattered.

The driver was at the time in police custody assisting with investigations.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the GPHC, the injured lad was being prepared to be transported to another medical institution where a CT scan could be performed.

The child’s body bore many marks, and Kaieteur News understands that he many have suffered serious head injuries.

Page 11

Mom, stillborn found in tub The body of a 41-year-old Guyana-born woman and a stillborn girl were discovered Saturday in the family’s Middle Smithfield Township vacation home, according to authorities.

The Pocono Record reported that both bodies were found in a bathtub in the lower floor of the family’s Pocono Forested Acres home.

It identified the dead woman as Bibi Farrouq, 41, a native of Guyana, South America, who was a US citizen.

An autopsy revealed the baby was at least at seven months gestation.

Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen believes Farrouq probably died from a medical problem as a result of complications from her child’s delivery.

The actual cause of death is pending the results of toxicology reports.

“We don’t believe there was any foul play at this point,” said state police investigator Craig Van Louvender of the Swiftwater barracks.

According to the Pocono Record, the autopsy indicated that the woman was dead for at least 10 days. A neighbour and relatives of the victim said that the woman had been missing for about two weeks.

A more specific date and time of death was not possible because of the decomposition of both bodies.

A cousin said Bibi Farrouq was a stay-at-home mother who used to work in real estate in New York City.

“She was very loving, caring, sweet to her kids and smart,” said her cousin, also named Bibi, but who declined to give her last name. “She was like the typical soccer mom, doing everything for the kids. Their life has changed now.”

Van Louvender said Farrouq’s husband, Mohamed Farrouq, is an interstate trucker who was away from home at various times. He and his four children discovered the dead woman after they drove from their New York City apartment to the Middle Smithfield Township home looking for her Saturday afternoon.

Allen pronounced the woman dead at 6:20 p.m. The investigation into her death was delayed until police could secure a warrant to search the

home that evening.

Allen and Deputy Coroner Ron Eick discovered the baby’s body later that night after they removed the dead woman’s body from the tub. The baby had been covered by the mother ’s body.

Neither body showed any signs of trauma, according to a forensic autopsy performed

by Dr. Marianne Hamel of Lehigh Valley Hospital.

“She had no injury to herself, and there were no signs of an abortion,” Allen said.

Speeding car turns turtle

Eyewitnesses say that the driver of this car was speeding excessively when he crashed into the rail of the Hand in Hand building on Avenue of the Republic early yesterday morning.

One person said after seeing the car speeding, a crashing sound was heard. It was later determined that the four occupants of the vehicle were not seriously hurt.

Another vehicle passed shortly after and the persons that were in the crashed car were taken to a city hospital as a precaution.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Opposition’s actions could force snap elections

By Gary Eleazar President Donald Ramotar is not ruling out the possibility of snap elections.

The Head of State had just delivered a fiery presentation to a May Day gathering at the National Park, when he told this publication that such a decision will be based on the actions of the political opposition.

“If I conclude that this kind of behaviour is slowing down our development I will have no hesitation…When I come to that decision you will know.”

Ramotar was referring to the recent Budget cuts by the political opposition, which the President repeatedly concluded had no justification. Such continued actions could force his hand at calling a snap election, he stated.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have signaled a state of readiness in the event of a snap election, but some political scientists have concluded that it is only the People’s Progressive Civic (PPP/C) that is financially in a position to undertake an election at short notice.

Following the results of the November 28, 2011 polls which saw the PPP/C losing control in the House of

Legislature (Parliament), the government’s chief spokesperson had said that snap elections would be a last resort.

The spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, had said that the government was looking to the tripartite meetings to break the deadlock, but this forum never gained traction.

The extra-parliamentary

snap elections, are nothing more than an attempt to distract the opposition.

“I don’t believe that there is going to be snap elections.

I believe that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wants the opposition to be running hither, thither and across the place preparing for it.”

“Mr Donald Ramotar will not be the presidential candidate because his

“….If I conclude that this kind of behaviour is slowing down our development, I will have no hesitation.”

– President Ramotar budget talks which were originally between APNU and the Administration, and subsequently amended to include the AFC, also broke down.

The result was that $21B was gutted from the 2012 Budget.

The combined opposition during the amendments to the 2012 Budget also slashed $500M from the Guyana Elections Commission.

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan is on record as saying that attempts on the part of Government to indicate the possibility of

internal Freedom House is calling for Primaries now in relation to who should be the presidential candidate. If he now calls an election and they have to find a presidential candidate, he might not be that person and he wouldn’t want to risk that in place of five years as President.”

APNU’s Lance Carberry recently shrugged off the idea of a snap election saying that it was not as easy as the president waking up one morning and calling such an election.

He was adamant that there are a host of obstacles that would prevent a call to revisit the polls.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Sexual harassment in the workplace gains attention of Women’s Commission The question of sexual harassment in the workplace has been gaining the attention of the Women and Gender Equality Commission.

In fact, according to former Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Indranie Chandarpal, who has since been appointed Chairperson of the Commission, the commemoration of May Day last year saw the issue being ventilated.

“Usually we would take all of the findings and we would assess them and then we would made recommendations as we see fit...this is the way we work,” Chandarpal noted as she addressed a women’s forum spearheaded by the Commission.

She revealed that within the mandate of the Commission, “we are required to submit periodical reports to the National Assembly and to make recommendations where necessary and this is something that we will be doing.”

She pointed out that although there are policies and adequate legislation in place, some injustices are still allowed to prevail in the society. Referring to some cases of injustice, Chandarpal said that “these are just a snippet of some of the things taking place in our society...These things are happening against a background where we have policies and adequate

Indranie Chandarpal legislation and large sums of money are spent annually on (some) organisations to perfect whatever mechanisms (including) the support systems, so that we could safely say that we have some measure of justice in our society.”

It is for this reason, she noted, that the Commission which she represents has a mandate to continually educate stakeholders about the things that are required of them to ensure that they help to prevent the injustices that prevail.

The Women and Gender Equality Commission is recognised as an essential part of the rights commission established in the Constitution.

Aside from Chandarpal, among the appointed Commissioners of the body are: Deputy Chairperson, Ms Cheryl Sampson, Ms Shalimar Ali-Hack, Ms Gaitri

Baron, Ms Hymanwattie Lagan, Ms Bibi Haliema Khan, Ms Gillian Burton, Ms Renata Chuck-A-Sang, Ms Nicole Cole, Ms Ernestine Logan, Ms Magda Pollard, Ms Nadranie Coonjah, Ms Karen Vansluytman-Corbin, Ms Debra Henry, Ms Vanda Radzik, Ms Sandra Hooper, Ms Doreen Jacobis and the lone male, Mr Peter Persaud.

The Women and Gender Equality Commission is one of the Four Commissions for the Promotion and Enhancement of Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law that was established under section 212G of the Constitution. Members were appointed under Resolution No. 86 which was passed in the National Assembly on May 21, 2009.

The Commission is designed to promote national recognition and acceptance that women’s rights are human rights, respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality.

In addition to its main objective, the functions of the Commission are to: promote the issues related to the enhancement of the status of women, girls and gender issues; promote the integration of women’s needs and interests and mainstreaming of the gender issues.

It is also intended to promote the empowerment of women, promote women’s rights as human rights and raise the awareness of the contributions of women and problems faced by women, including the recognition and value of unwaged work.

Further still, the Commission is expected to promote women’s needs, interests and concerns in the wider spectrum of economic and social development and address both the practical and strategic needs of women as being different from those of men.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Trini teen’s murder…

Suspect threatens suicide rather than surrender Ramesh Sookram, the 25year–old Guyanese construction worker who is wanted for the murder of 18year-old Trinidadian Nikita Ramischand, has reportedly threatened to kill himself rather than surrender to police.

This is according to Newsday, a Trinidad newspaper, which quoted the slain teen’s father as saying that the suspect telephoned the girl’s mother, Shariza, at around 19:00 hrs on Sunday and spoke with her for about 20 minutes.

According to the report, Sookram strongly denied involvement in Nikita Ramischand’s killing but added that he prefers to kill himself rather than surrender.

Kaieteur News was told that the suspect has made other calls to the victim’s mother.

Newsday also reported that the victim’s father, Trinidad-based attorney, Odai Ramischand, said that the fugitive was very emotional during the telephone conversation

Dead: Nikita Ramischand which was recorded by police.

“Where he is I know that he is suffering and not able to even get some water or food to eat. It won’t be long before he is apprehended and brought to justice,” Ramischand said.

Sookram, also called ‘Alan’, fled to Guyana shortly after he allegedly slit Nikita Ramischand’s throat and stabbed her several times at her Maracas, St Joseph home

last Wednesday.

According to reports, CCTV (closed-circuit television) footage at Piarco International Airport showed the suspect in company with a cousin before he boarded a Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) flight to Guyana.

One of his hands was bandaged and police believe this was from an injury he sustained while scaling a tenfoot high fence topped with razor wire after committing the murder.

Newsday said that Sookram listed his mother’s Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara address as his destination when he left Trinidad. The newspaper added that his mother has told detectives here that her son never arrived at her home and she has not heard from or seen him.

“However, police in Guyana obtained telephone records which indicated the suspect spoke with his mother from an unlisted number telling her he only learnt of the incident in the newspapers. The last time he

Man charged for impregnating niece, 15 A 33-year-old cane cutter and married father of two, of Adelphi Village East Canje, Berbice, was on Monday, last, charged with having carnal knowledge of his 15year-old niece and impregnating her.

The man was on arraigned before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court and was granted bail to the tune of $120,000.

The charge states that between October 1 and October 31, 2011, at Glasgow Village East Bank Berbice, the accused had sex on several occasions with the teenager.

Reports are that the man who professed himself to be a ‘wuckman’ would regularly visit the home of his relatives at Glasgow and on a number of visits during the aforementioned dates, he would pretend to be casting

out demons from the child and engage in sexual intercourse with her. The child subsequently became sick and was found to be pregnant.

He was later arrested and charged.

The magistrate ordered that the accused should not go within 300 yards of the Virtual Complainant and is to report to the Reliance Police Station every Tuesday.

Ramotar chides divided working...

(From page 3) closed-door session held with the parties to elucidate on the Hydro Power project, and said that he had committed to the same undertaking with other projects such as the Marriott, “but they were like a broken record, repeating the same thing, not having anything new to say.”

LABOUR MUST UNITE The President did not limit his lamentations and verbal punches to the political opposition. He insisted that “the working class has to do more.”

He said that the working class must recognize that the PPP from the inception has been a working class party, “…and that we were

formed in order to serve the working people and ensure that they were not disadvantaged.”

To this end, Ramotar said that in the current difficult local and international conditions, workers must understand that they “must also make their contribution to the struggle that the PPP started so long ago”.

The Head of State was adamant that one of the things that labour in Guyana must strive to do urgently is to “heal the wounds of division to bring unity to the working class of Guyana”.

He said that it was the fact that the labour union is so divided which made it possible for “Ramjattan and the others to do what they did

in Parliament…to cut the budget that a f f e c t s o u r people.

It is because you have d i v i s i o n t h a t t h ey have done so.

If the working class in Guyana had been a united one, then the opposition parties would not have risked making the budget cuts.”

The president concluded his presentation to the workers that had marched in solidarity with each other by n o t i n g t h a t , “it’s that division that has empowered them…I say to you, Comrades, that we must not judge a man, we must not judge a political party by what they say of themselves, but we must judge them by their actions.”

spoke to her was on Saturday night.”

The report out of Trinidad said that investigators there also confirmed yesterday that they have seized a knife they believe to be the murder weapon found in a discarded tyre in a river behind Nikita Ramischand’s home. Police believe the killer washed away the victim’s blood from his hands in the river.

The newspaper also said that two Homicide Investigations Bureau officers from Trinidad are in Guyana assisting with the investigation. It said that Trinidad’s Deputy Police commissioner Mervyn Richardson confirmed that the Homicide Investigations Bureau is working closely with police in Guyana to apprehend the suspect and have him returned to Trinidad for questioning.

But Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell (ag.) told Kaieteur News yesterday that he is unaware of the presence of any Trinidadian investigators here. He again expressed confidence that the fugitive will be captured.

“We have some leads we

are working on; we will get him.”

On Sunday, Brumell confirmed that Immigration records show that Sookram entered Guyana. The acting Top Cop said that he has also spoken to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud about issuing a wanted bulletin for the suspect. He added that his counterparts in Trinidad will be informed as soon as the arrest is made. Meanwhile, Nikita Ramischand was cremated yesterday at Belgroves Funeral Home following a funeral service.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who is the victim’s uncle, attended the funeral service. According to Newsday, Nandlall confirmed being kept abreast of developments about the manhunt in Guyana for the suspect.

The newspaper said that he praised the Trinidad police whom he said have not only been professional in their investigations, but also very supportive and sympathetic to his family.

Nikita Ramischand, a second-year ACCA student of the School of Business and

Suspect: Ramesh Sookram Computer Sciences (SBCS), worked at Casa de Belize, a salon her mother Shariza operated next to the family home at LP 46 Maracas Royal Road, Maracas, St. Joseph.

She was walking to her mother’s salon located inside the compound o f h e r father’s sprawling mansion when she was allegedly accosted by her killer who dragged her behind a guest house on the compound, slashed her throat and then stabbed her six times in the abdomen.

Page 14

Three years after Deborah Andrews retired as a domestic help she was diagnosed with tendonitis.

Andrews suffered severe pains in her wrists for approximately 18 months, and only in March this year, she underwent her first surgery to the left wrist. The surgery to her right wrist was done two weeks ago.

With fresh scars and stitches, Andrews joined her fellow members of Red Thread, yesterday, in a picketing exercise on Regent Street demanding better conditions for women in Guyana.

Having worked her hands tirelessly for years - cooking, cleaning and washing for a meagre $500 per day, Andrews displayed a placard, “Women in cook shops need living income.”

The overuse of her hands, particularly the wrists, resulted in her tendons becoming inflamed.

Andrews recounted that she started her career as a domestic help in her 20s to provide for her two children.

The proud single parent sent

Kaieteur News

Deborah Andrews displays scars on her wrists her two children to school on the paltry sum she was paid “by lawyers, doctors, magistrates and persons in high society”.

While, Andrews is

fortunate to retire and have her daughters care for her, Red Thread is advocating for better conditions and equality for those facing challenges in the workforce.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Members of Red Thread demand better working conditions Strategically standing at the junction of Regent and Cummings Streets, where the Labour Day Parade passed to go to the National Park, the members held their placards reading, “Mothers Produce and Reproduce the Labour Force;” “We demand a living income for all mothers and caregivers;” and “$10,000 OAP is less bad but still not enough.”

Some members of the parade stopped and read the placards acknowledging the plights and others shouted, “Is APNU saying that!”

According to the Founder of Red Thread, Karen De Souza, equality for women in Guyana cannot be measured by the few female executives and those in high position, since many women in Guyana

are low income earners.

She emphasized that society does not recognize the fact that one public sector salary cannot meet the financial needs of a family.

This has forced mothers to leave their children unprotected to find means to supplement the family’s earnings.

De Souza stressed that society needs to recognize women’s plights and make the necessary arrangements.

She added that it is disappointing that the 2012 national budget and economic planning do not cater for the protection and growth of women.

“Equality for us is a situation where women are able to make a choice. If you want to go into the work force

you can or if you want to stay home and care for your children the society provides for you to that… If you don’t have the choice then you can’t say we are equal,” De Souza said.

She pointed out that another argument that is used to justify equality in Guyana is the higher rate of females completing secondary and tertiary level education than males.

“We don’t see the numbers of women leaving the university reflective in those taking up high paying positions in the work place. Something is going on there and if we are serious about equality, we have to see what is going on and make the necessary arrangements.”

Mangrove Restoration Project...

12 schools to participate in waste management, energy conservation The Mangrove Restoration Project is seeking to have schools located in communities within the Golden Grove to Belfield Mangrove Reserve, properly manage their waste and conserve energy.

This is being done in collaboration with the Engineering students of the University of Guyana to achieve the solid waste management and energy conservation campaign ongoing in five communities.

According to Chairperson of the Mangrove Action Committee, Annette Arjoon-Martins, 12 schools located within the

communities will be part of the awareness campaign. She added that the Ministry of Education is a representative on the Mangrove Board and has been supportive of the project’s educational programmes.

“We decided that it would be appropriate to start with the secondary schools and then work downwards to the nursery level,” ArjoonMartins noted.

She related that the Electrical Engineering students were fortunate to be networked with Dr G R Rao of the Energy and Research Institute which is located in Delhi, India. They visited

some of the schools in the mangrove reserve over the weekend to do a preliminary assessment of the energy consumption and solid waste management.

“This was necessary to ensure that the awareness element of our programme would be custom designed to suit the on-the-ground situation as well as the age of the target audience…Most importantly, also, the immediate practical measures can be implemented as part of the awareness campaign, as sometimes we highlight the problem, but do not take action to address it after,” Arjoon-Martins said.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

By Kristen Macklingam While garbage issues affecting residents living near to Le Repentir Cemetery have ceased, another problem which has been brewing is the state of the facility itself where shrubs and heavy bushes are prevalent, and pieces of old wood are seen bordering a majority of tombs in various sections.

In the past, this cemetery has served thousands of families as a suitable location for burying their family and friends and was seen as an ideal area since it is located in the city. However, the present situation has become a source of worry.

Although some relatives are not concerned about the upkeep of the tombs, there are a number of persons who are of the opinion that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) takes care of these tombs on a regular basis.

It is only when these friends and loved ones visit the site for whatever purpose that they are made aware of the current state of the cemetery and they express dissatisfaction that the workers at the M&CC are not doing their jobs as they should.

A visit to the cemetery on Monday, last, revealed that there were many tombs in shabby condition - with shrubs and bushes comfortably growing past them.

Some of the concrete tombs were even broken and a few of these tombs had grass and trees almost covering them.

A few persons, including employees of the M&CC who were at the area at that time, told this newspaper that they were surprised at the condition of the burial site.

One woman told this publication that her parents

A section of Le Repentir Cemetery which is considered to be in “good condition” were buried at Le Repentir a number of years ago and it was only recently that her children wanted to visit their tombs to repaint them.

When the family arrived there, they could no longer tell which tombs belonged to their loved ones and had a difficult time in locating them.

“When my children and I arrived here with the paint, I took them to the spots where my parents were buried… well at least that is where I know the tombs were about three years ago, but because of the garbage situation here, I hadn’t come back until now.

You see, when we reached, I couldn’t tell which was which until about like half an hour later, because it had a lot of high grown bushes and grass covering the area, and we had to chop and cut down plenty to find the tombs. I want to know why this happened, because when I walk around I could see it was the same at a lot of places in the cemetery,” she said.

An older man explained

that his wife was buried at the cemetery just five years ago and he would usually visit the area to place flowers on her tomb whenever it was her birth, death or wedding anniversary.

He explained that he does not rely on the M&CC. “Yes the M&CC may be responsible for the upkeep and to make sure the tomb areas are clean and so, but you still can’t depend on them to do so most of the time.

Maybe it is funds or lack of workers or whatever, but since my wife was buried here I am coming and cleaning as often as I can. We didn’t have children and I am getting older so I hope the M&CC starts doing more soon, because there may come a time when I can’t do the cleaning anymore.”

One youth bluntly stated that he would prefer to be cremated or buried at another location rather than to be buried at Le Repentir.

Recently, the M&CC conducted works at some

“You are not the head...

(From page 6) we have a mockery of the working class, where workers whose rights are violated by this regime are forced; threatened by loss of jobs, if they do not participate in employer-led actions, even though these actions are against their interests.

Workers continue to live in fear under this administration.”

“For the executive arm of government to choose to malign groups in Parliament for discharging their c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y. . . f o r questioning and expressing different opinions from that of the Executive has to be seen as an imposition,” Lewis

stressed. Workers’ unions have warned government of attempting to sacrifice workers amidst an escalating row over the slashing of $21B from the 2012 National Budget

by Parliamentary opposition parties recently.

Also present at the Critchlow Labour College yesterday was Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, Mayor Hamilton Green, several Parliamentarians and Opposition Leader, Brigadier (retired), David Granger.

sections of the cemetery where excavators and other machinery were on site clearing the drains and cutting down overgrown bushes and trees.

This initiative sparked the interest of many residents who live in close proximity to the cemetery, however; they were disappointed when the works came to an abrupt end after only catering for a few sections.

“It was some months ago when they had big machinery inside the cemetery and were clearing some parts and cutting down the big bushes

there. We say that they finally doing work that overdue and didn’t think anything when we see them at specific sections, because we say they have to start somewhere and would do most sections if not everywhere. But they only do those parts and left the job undone, because plenty tombs get covered by bush and the trees preventing access to the tombs,” one woman explained.

Another female stated that over a number of years, Le Repentir has been extended and therefore requires a lot of care and

upkeep. She said that if the M&CC does not do what is required then families should contribute by doing some of the work themselves.

“We done know the M&CC does cry out fuh anything and full of excuses and don’ t d o t h i n g s properly anyhow. But even if this is so, then families should come out and give a helping hand, and I am sure if families come out every four months or so and clean around the tombs of their loved ones then it would help the situation a lot,” she opined.

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Opposition cares nothing about workers, - FITUG President only political power Upon entering the National Park yesterday in commemoration of Labour Day, participants were greeted with a leaflet highlighting a number of contentious points related to the 2012 Budget such as “PPP-Civic says Budget Cuts are vindictive and spiteful…It is absurd to give the President just $1 to spend, instead of the $95M allocated,” and this set the tone for an intense period of condemnation.

President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) Carvil Duncan was one of the speakers who lashed out at the opposition saying that the parties care nothing about workers, only political power, and their only concern is to cripple the government at the expense of the workers, “so you (workers) are pawns.”

He asserted that Guyana has traversed in a path of development and prosperity for the working class.

“I am convinced we had our struggles, and for the last 20-years we have seen the light in the tunnel because we knew where we were going

Part of the FITUG contingent during yesterday’s march

…We are fortunate in Guyana that there has not been any retrenchment. In fact, the then President had indicated that based on the plans he had for Guyana, very soon

we would have to import labour in Guyana to satisfy our needs, and that is a step in the right direction,” Duncan underscored.

Noting that the workers

gave the opposition their votes and they will take them back when the time arises, the FITUG president said that being a senior Trade Unionist, he recalled in 1981, “the then administration embarked on a programme called redeployment which caused 100-plus public servants to receive letters of retrenchment”.

“They didn’t stop there.

In 1983 they used another strategy and called it restructuring. They shifted public servants all over the place, and when they (public servants) went to parliament to protest they gone”

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

“Is it fair for us to draw the conclusion that when they were in Government they dismissed workers and now they are in opposition they are passing motions in Parliament to cut subventions so people can be dismissed again?” Duncan asked.

Highlighting that FITUG continues to demonstrate the capacity to lead the trade union movement at this critical juncture in history when most things are changing in the world, Duncan stressed that the opposition parties do not know their role, and should use their influence to improve the conditions of the working class.

“We must not stand idle and will not rest until proper representation is given to those persons come

Wednesday morning. If you have to walk, we will walk with you, if you have to run we will run with you. We will be with you day come and night come, good or bad, because you are workers,” Duncan stressed.

“FITUG was the first to say when the budget came out that it was a working people’s budget, it’s a budget we can live with for now because next year things can be better.”

FITUG is the umbrella body which covers four unions – the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

Under the theme “Investing in Workers’ welfare, uniting the nation,”.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Justice system must be gender responsive - Legal Aid Director In order to meet the judicial needs of women there is a dire need for the justice chain to be gender responsive. This is according to Managing Director of the Guyana Legal Aid Service, Simone Morris-Ramlall.

She reiterated, recently, the recommendations of a United Nations Report which emphasises that “there should be clear mandates and procedures. Clear mandates are essential to ensure that public services are responsive to women.”

She noted that national and legal frameworks should provide for the development of mandatory standardised protocols and regulations to enforce the law and mechanisms to ensure coordination between different parts of the system.

She explained that there should be integrated and specialised services where possible, because of the institutional and social barriers that women face.

Women, according to her, need specialised services tailored to meet their needs.

She underlined that one promising approach is to integrate services, for instance, through one-stop shops and maintaining the presence of women on the frontline of the justice system.

According to MorrisRamlall, while the presence of women in the police force and the judiciary is a matter of equality and fairness, it is also important to maintain public

confidence in the justice system.

“Women have demonstrated a greater willingness to report sexual assaults where they are represented by police,” the Legal Aid Managing Director noted, even as she pointed out that “when judges are made aware of the barriers that women face in accessing justice, attitudes can change.”

This, she added, could by extension lend to the realisation of simple and effective solutions prioritising sensitive cases, including those related to violence against women.

According to Commissioner attached to the Women and Gender and Equality Commission, Bibi Haleima Khan, “we have been hearing the call for further assistance, and of course, we are somewhere there, but we need to move on. We need to move ahead as a Commission, but we are pleased to see collaboration between all stakeholders.”

She pointed out that the onus is yet on Government, Non-Governmental and other organisations to help enhance public health, safety and welfare as well as a decent environment.

As such, she insisted that “what this Commission would like to see in the near future is policies and legislation to be put in place to avoid bottlenecks that we have presently.”

This, she noted, should

allow for a shorter route towards access to justice even as the addition of staff in government departments are given a priority to enhance this access.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, has stressed that “the issues which affect our women as well as children is everyone’s business, and we have a duty and a responsibility to protect them…especially those who are victims of abuse.

Those who have suffered should not be denied access to justice and we have to support them in every possible way, whether it be through counselling services or by ensuring that they are protected from further harm…”

The Minister noted that ongoing efforts are being made to educate stakeholders on the Domestic Violence Act and Regulations, even as she noted that measures will be enacted shortly to reduce the time that such cases are heard by the judicial system.

The Minister expressed her belief that among the entities working to address the situation of violence, there is need for the National Commission on the Family to play a more vibrant role in the society, to help address the issue of violence.

This, she said, is essential because a number of the social issues are related to the family and “indeed we have to start from the family.”

President Ramotar receives a copy of the magazine from BCCDA President, Imran Sacoor President Donald Ramotar was the special guest last Sunday at the launching of “Exploring Berbice”, a business magazine produced by the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA).

The 64-page magazine showcases the Ancient County, its development and various opportunities, and focuses primarily on Commerce, Tourism and Sports.

According to BCCDA President, Imran Saccoor, he has envisaged the county as a bright prospect and is very optimistic that it is well poised to be the region of choice when it comes to future development. Therefore, in an early drive to heighten further awareness of Berbice, the publication will provide valuable information about the region’s rich heritage and economic prospects.

The magazine will be an annual feature, and Saccoor

revealed that it will be available in printed and electronic copies, and can be accessed on the chamber’s w e b s i t e : www.bccdaguyana.com. It is being distributed free of charge and will be available at the hotel lounges, banks, insurance companies, GoInvest offices, public places and businesses.

President Ramotar described the publication as “a reflection of commitment and dedication towards seeing Guyana grow from strength to strength and a splendid effort by the Berbice Chamber of Commerce”. He urged other chambers to follow suit in showcasing their districts and advertising opportunities which “will in the long term assist with improving awareness and commerce in Guyana”.

The magazine’s launching coincided with the Berbice Business Meeting of Joint Chambers, and was held at the Albion Senior Staff Club.

It was well attended by businessmen throughout East Berbice. The Chamber thanked all those who supported the magazine and placed confidence in the production.

Meanwhile, the Berbice Chamber of Commerce has planned a number of activities, the next being an Auto Trade Show slated for June 16 at the East Canje Ground, Berbice, at which dealers, spare parts vendors, along with bodywork specialists and auto shop proprietors, will convene.

The one-day event will attract representatives of insurance companies and banks, among other such institutions, to provide details to patrons on financing options, particularly related to the auto industry.

There will also be a ‘Bargain Arcade’ for persons shopping used vehicles on that day. The Auto Trade Show will be launched shortly.

Region’s Catholic hierarchy wraps up historic meeting in Guyana - Mission Statement adopted Roman Catholic Bishops and Archbishops from the English, Dutch and Frenchspeaking territories across the Caribbean concluded their 56th Annual General Meeting and Conference over the weekend. It was the second time such an historic confab was held on these shores.

Perhaps one of the most notable outcomes of the week-long meeting was the formulation and agreement of a common Mission Statement which sets out the undertaking of the Catholic Church in the Caribbean, its goals and objectives.

The churches will aim to foster ongoing communion and collaboration, both affective and effective, in addressing the vital issues of the church and society “by knowing the reality of our dioceses; by using digital communications between

plenary sessions; and by proactively addressing issues of human life and dignity as they impact our people”.

The Mission Statement went on to say that it aims to “foster communion with the church in other nations within the church universal under the Supreme Pontiff [The Pope] by promoting in our formation programmes at all levels of communion with the Holy See”.

Goal Three in the Mission Statement aims to “assist each bishop in meeting his pastoral responsibilities to the extent that means permit”.

During their meetings, the bishops also finalized plans for the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) Youth Assembly in St Lucia from July 19-29, 2012, in which more than 1,000 Catholic youth from across the Caribbean are expected to attend.

The official photo of the historic meeting

Page 22

Kaieteur News

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Chain Saw operator; good salary, tel: 676-4262, 231-5691 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 Live in attractive waitress contact 228- 5129 1 Tutor to teach Form 1, apply Bissan’s Trading, 94 King Street. Call: 227-7306 Scrap metal. Call: 616-0617, 663-3285 1 handy boy to work in the interior #688-0197 Security guards, accommodation available.

Call:676-6700 Experienced worker for land dredge contact 618-8800

WANTED Live-in domestic; excellent remuneration. Call: 613-3091 Excavator operator to work at Mahdia, must have 3 years experience. 1 cook. Contact: 216-6348, 661-5991, 674-0245

LEARN TO DRIVE

Full time gardener/ handyman reference needed. Call: 226-0240, 2253557

Prudential learning “training to pass” automatic also stick/ manual 642-4827 we’re #1

Urgently needed live-in waitress to work in bar, reasonable salary offer. Call: 259-0574 1 general domestic to work in Georgetown, MonSat.Call:614-7267

One female to wash clothes.

Call: 621-7862 Waitress to work at Salo Bar Call: 233 – 5264

One live in domestic no cooking, washing call:6397700

VACANCY Have an interest in customer service? Then be apart of Q! Call:220-0401, 225-6466 1 refrigerator & washing machine technician/ Trainee.

Call: 683-8734, 231-0655 Kitchen assistant @ Charlestown- ages 18-35.

Call: 614-1020 Sales clerk porters, drivers with lorry license, apply with written application 2J’s General Store. Call: 225-2350 Porters: apply in person to P. Ramroop &Sons, 23 Lombard Street, with reference from previous employers One expeditor, contact: 223 5273/4 SECURITY CONTACT 223-5273-4 1 male Office Assistant with some knowledge of Accounts, contact 684-7516, 226- 3799 One Driver & one Salesman at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd. Tel 2257864

Two girls to work in interior age 18 – 29 call 621 – 0639, 692- 7126

CAKE & PASTRIES

1 general domestic, must know to cook- East Bank Area Tel 614- 4358

1-lb character cakes $5,000, pastries at whole sale prices.

Call: 223-9497

Dell computers complete with 19” LCD from $69,000.

Dell Dual Core Laptops Window 7 $70,000. Future Tech. Call:231-2206, 644-6760 Any amount live chicken, plucked chicken, liver, giblets & foot. For more info contact: 621-4304, 220-1043 Toyota Starlet 2 E Turbo engine with gearbox and ECU: Call: 624-7155.

NARS lipgloss, eyeshadow & Clinique lipgloss. Tel: 6698374.

Bread tapes. Call: 231-8819 Games for PS2-$900, PSP$900, PS3-$2600, Xbox 360$2600, Xbox 1-$2000, WII$1600.Call: 672-2566, 2653231

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 FOR SALE OR RENT

Land V/Hoop 2 acre: school, housing, factory, etc call:6580115 Supply Public Road to river 50x160ft 7.3M, sold without documentations. Contact GME Real Estate 231- 2200, 231 2199, 618 7483

FOR SALE Yamaha outboard engine parts for 115HP-200 HP, Crankshaft fat & fine top, pistons, bearings. Call: Terry665-9405 2003 GMC Savana Cargo Van, great for business, huge space & power $2.5M. Call: Terry-665-9405

VEHICLES FOR SALE 99 Honda Civic Leather interior. Call:648-2075 Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610 UNREGISTERED ALLION, PREMIO, SPACIO, RUNX, ALEX, 2 TON CANTER, AVENSIS, VEROSSA, 212.

CALL:677-7666/ 610-7666 Verossa PNN. Call:665-3067, 228-2609 Sale! Sale! Allion, VVTI buses Toyota wagon cheapest 616-7635 2 Raum, 1 Pit Bull contact 663 – 9327, 609 6458 1 Nissan Cube ( like Raum) PMM 1088, 1.350 M Neg. call 233 – 5557, 610 -1309 One Tundra 2003 V6 contact: 660-7313 1 RZ Mini bus series BKK. Call: 667-9629

1 Tundra, 1 Perkins engine & Welder 400 amps. Call: 6605462, 611-5114

3 Ton enclosed Canter unregistered. Call: 617-2891

15-15-15 fertilizer. Call: 2662711, 609-4594

3 Ton 4 wheel drive Canter unregistered. Call:6172891

Coconut oil, any amount, call: 650- 4421

LAND FOR SALE

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

FOR SALE 1 Xerox copy centre model C123, 1 Mercury outboard engine 55HP. Call: 617-4087

1 washing machine, 1 dryer, 1 PS3 160GB 100,000 contact 650-7719

Double butcher stall @ LaPenitence Market. Contact: 665-9498, rent or sell for Sunday

Manager’s Assistant general duties including Custom and Bond, Security Guards, accommodation available.

Call: 676-6700

Van/car driver, person to sell ice cream cones tel:613-3091

1 Lumber yard labourer call 226- 3736 Female workers needed, 3 subjects or sound secondary education call 225- 7307

Auto clean: we clean headlamps, making yellow oxidation caused by foreign chemicals history tel: 6673772, 648-1602

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Printing machine AB Dick 360-375, cutter paper special: linen, laid, 3 hole paper ($700 per ream), cardboard $5 Call: 233-2725 2x2x1.5MM, Hollow section.

Call: 2200-6100, 680-5900 Peking ducks, call: 266-2711 / 609-4594 Quality upholstery materials tel # 220-3356/643-3627 Moulders, multirip saws, resaws, cross cut saw and genset Tel 616-5595 Rodney Titan parts, engine DIFF etc.

Call:648-2075 Going cheap; U.K used truck engines, Perkins 4 & 6 cylinders. Tel: 661- 3043 1 Bedford model M 4x4 $3.5, 1 Bedford Model TM 6X6 $7.5, 2 Kubota diesel engines negotiable. Call: 688-4270 Used: QSC Amps MX2000 & MX3000, Roland sampler SP404, Rcf speaker: 12" & 18", celestion speaker: 15".

Contact: 644-3390 2 mixed breed pups age2months. Call: 651-0589, 6883717 price negotiable Baby chicks available weekly, fully vaccinated, 371 Craig Public Road EBD. Mr. D. Lallbeharry tel 626 - 9589 Dell Dual Core computer + LCD monitor, 2GB RAM $59,000. Call: 225-3709, 6410537, 691-2077

2004 Mazda RX 8, body kit, fully loaded, black unregistered. Call: 6172891 1-RZ Mini bus unregistered.

Call: 617-2891 Unregistered Premio & Allion with TV, mags, back Cam. Call: 609-8188, 6026307 1 TK 330 Lorry with B Dump. Call: 228-5220, 6169505 Mazda 3- fully loaded, rims, immaculate condition PNN series. Call: 650-0979 1 – 2001 Toyota Kluger, Diplomatic, all four, PLL s e r i e s , m i d - s i z e S U V, clean. Price $5.4M neg.

Contact: 642-3786, 6600824.

2005 H2 Hummer, 38,500 mileage fully loaded, chrome kit etc. Call: 6393100, 619-5400 Just Arrived Toyota Hilux Solid axle 4x4 Pickup Tel:2222662, 691-2077 One EP71 Starlet, 1 AE91 Sprinter,1 Mitsubishi RVR and Pajero JR,1 Nissan Pathfinder PMM, 1 Honda FIT 2004 Call:644-5096,6971453 1 AT 212 for sale tel 6740645 One Toyota Ceres Call: 6445096, 697-1453 Allion –Silver & white with TV/NAV/RCam, grey Premio, Spacio, fielders. Call: 6247684 (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

There is much honour in holding public offices DEAR EDITOR, Being a public servant, whether it be a Minister, Police Officer, Judge, Magistrate, President, Prime Minister, Military Officer or just an ordinary Clerk; is a position with much honour.

Recently there were some occurrences involving public officers that have prompted me to write this letter.

Sometimes one gets the impression that as a people we have very low standards, hence we do not demand a higher quality of service from public officers. But that is far from being accurate. We have standards and very high standards too. Many of us desire a higher level of service and conduct from our public officers.

I wish to make specific reference to two recent incidents. The first involves Clement Rohee, Minister of Home Affairs and the Senior Officers of the Guyana Police Force. Eleven Senior Officers decided to ‘throw caution to the wind’ and tell the Minister

what was on their minds, and publicly too. It was their response that was provoked by an a— - kicking comment made by the Minister in public. There were a number of points raised in the Officers’ letter which highlights issues on integrity, trust, respect, dissatisfaction with disciplinary matters surrounding their colleague, I am interested in the Minister’s response to the Officers letter. Nevertheless, I do not think that it should be treated as another matter for disciplinary action but rather requires a conflict resolution intervention; perhaps Mediation. The parties should agree to become engaged in a Mediation process as an attempt to address the root cause of the problem, heal the relationship between the Minister and his Officers /GPF and restore respect for both parties and the wider Force.

I am not for one moment insinuating that the Officers were wrong in their approach. I understand that they are adults and professionals and expect to

be treated that way. From the Minister’s point of view, I understand his frustration. I am also frustrated with the GPF in some areas. One specific case in point, I have a personal matter which I am still waiting for the Police to investigate since 2002, now ten years, and I guess that there are thousands of Guyanese with similar stories.

But the Minister’s position is different, he cannot demoralise members of the GPF in public and expect to motivate them.

Which brings me to the point of the impact of the various development projects and programmes which are undertaken throughout the country. Many of these projects focus on conflict management and resolution, personal development, organisational strengthening, among others.

There was the UNDP’S Social Cohesion Project a few years ago, and then the Enhanced Public Trust, Security and Inclusion Project (EPTSI), USAID’s Guyana Democratic Consolidation and Conflict Resolution (GDCCR) Project,

Guyanese have spoken clearly...

From page 5 clearly in the 2011 elections, as they gifted us the first genuine crack in the 1980 Constitution. For the first time in our history, the opposition in Parliament controls the lawmaking centre of politics, with the executive taking direction from the legislative in the passage of laws. By separating these two entities into different Constitutional Camps, the Guyanese people have ensured compromise and inclusion, confirming that they did not want one party to run away with the entire national game, as has been the custom for several decades. Instead, Guyanese voted in the last elections for a division of labour, where one political party, the PPP/C, which came first but did not win (less than 50 percent of the votes), will hold the executive office of the land, while the collective opposition will hold legislative authority in Parliament.

The benefit of this new dispensation is that if you are the opposition, it allows decisions to be made by the opposition with no less than 51 percent of the total votes; or with combinations larger than 51 percent of the total votes whenever the executive joins for collective responsibility. Put differently, Guyanese have said they do not trust any single party to pass/veto anything in Parliament as no one party acting on its own has the minimum percentage (51 percent) to do anything unilaterally.

for it is the relative weights not the absolute number of seats held by the parties in Parliament that matters.

It is not a one-seat majority but a two percent margin that has reigned in the excesses, making the PPP/C dependent on the opposition to pass anything into law. Thus, the PPP/C could work with the AFC and get to a combined percentage of 60 percent to pass/veto legislation; or join with the APNU to get to 89 percent of the vote to pass/veto anything.

Alternatively, with all three agreeing, we have the rare unanimity outcome of 100 percent, typically seen in some foreign affairs matters that are externally focused, but not domestically charged as in the case of Budget approval; or reducing VAT, or allowing the private sector to own and operate TV and Radio stations in Linden or elsewhere in Guyana.

The results of the last elections show that the Guyanese people rewarded a new group, the APNU, which included the PNC with six percent more of the total vote; the PNC had 34 percent of the vote in the previous elections; the APNU has 40 percent). The Guyanese people also rewarded the AFC with three percent more of the total vote (up from 8 percent to 11 percent), and they decimated the TUF and GAP/ROAR putting them out to pasture.

This is definitely a new dispensation in Guyana, for the people have spoken and they will reward or withdraw their support from any

Table 1: Guyana Election Results: Seats in Parliament No. of Seats in Parliament Percent of Seats in Parliament Parties 2006 2011 2006 2011 % Difference PPP/C 36 32 0.55 0.49 -0.06 APNU 26 0.00 0.40 0.40 PNC/R 22 0.34 0.00 -0.34 AFC 5 7 0.08 0.11 0.03 GAP/ROAR 1 0.02 0.00 -0.02 UF 1 0 0.02 0.00 -0.02 Total 65 65 1.00 1.00 0.00 This is unique as it emphasizes divided authority between the executive and opposition, but at the same time, it enhances collective responsibility to better the welfare for all.

When compared with the last Parliament, voters have reduced the weight of the PPP/C in Parliament by six percent (55 % down to 49 %, Table 1 below). Consequently, the argument by the PPP/C that the opposition overplays its one-seat majority is misleading,

party that does not understand where the people of Guyana want to go.

Guyanese are tired of their underdevelopment; they are tired of the low standards to which we have fallen. They want a brighter future; they want meaningful progress that builds an inclusive, sustainable and justice society. May the progress the people made in the 2011election gather momentum and never cease.

C. Kenrick Hunte

and currently the Citizens’ Security Programme (CSP) implemented by Ministry of Home Affairs and funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IBD) just to name a few; all of which in one way or another addressed very strategically the areas mentioned above.

As a country we have to at some point, progress from the training stage, to actually begin to see change in behaviour. I think that it is time that we start to see some real impact from these interventions.

For example the Minister has an excellent opportunity to own the CSP project. To become the Champion of the Citizens’ Security Programme, by displaying the impact the programme has had on his personal development and conflict management skills.

The second incident I wish to raise involves Kwame Mc Coy, Press Officer, at the Office of the President. Last week when there was the protest outside of the Parliament building, I saw on the News, Robeson Benn, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics and Anil Nandlall, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, in their wisdom, engaging Mr. Mc Coy in a discussion in an attempt to persuade him to adapt another course of action under the particular circumstances which were prevailing at the time.

However, Mr. Mc Coy chose to continue to hold a certain position. I think this public incident (not only what occurred but the manner in which it was

done) between Mr. Mc Coy and the Honourable Ministers is something that should not be tolerated. These were Ministers, his superiors and I think that more respect should have been shown. We have a public life and a private life, how we treat with each, has to be different.

We should not and must not become casual about these occurrences, showing respect for authority and each other is fundamental to the sustainability of any country.

Many of us are parents and teachers trying to raise children with good values and principles and we want to have local role models that we can exhibit to our children. We are trying to trained them to respect authority but the respect has to also be shown by senior persons in our society too. Many of us refer to President Barack Obama as a symbol of a person that children should aspire to emulate. But we want local examples too. So Mr. Mc Coy I think that you should publicly apologise to the two Ministers.

And Minister Rohee, no more a- - kicking language, in public anymore. As a matter of fact, no more of such language by public officers, especially senior public officers anymore.

Let’s raise the bar and turn a new page as from today.

Finally Minister Rohee and Mr. Mc Coy, we are actually on the same page.

The higher our social capital, the more development and investment choices and opportunities we could have.

Audreyanna Thomas

Only when the shoe...

From page 4 There was no concern when the Government contacted the places of employment of Dr Tarron Khemraj, Sasenarine Singh, Carl Greenidge and Dr Janette Bulkan in an effort to get them fired (the latter two actually lost their jobs as a result); and over the general lack of job creation that forces our people to continue seeking their fortunes in foreign lands, where they are too often treated like second class citizens.

We can go on and on, but we believe our point is made. If the PPP, however, since the death of Dr Jagan now intends to reawaken to the needs of the ordinary worker, we urge that the party establish its own propaganda unit (independent of tax dollars) and absorb the GINA workers. After all, the PPP only up to November last could have afforded several hundred $50,000 vinyl scrolls and around a hundred $300,000 billboards for their elections campaign.

We are sure, too, that former President Jagdeo, with his monthly pension and who these 38 workers would have served faithfully, would be most keen to chip in like a Champion.

Moreover, most Ministries have their own public relations departments. Giving GINA money, therefore, would have been paying twice for the same service.

As it relates to NCN, a subvention can be voted on at a later time provided there is meaningful reform, which includes among other things, that it would reflect the views of not just the Government, but those of the opposition and wider society as well; that there is respect for the political association of all employees, and that its revenue only be used to pay its employees and not phantom letter writers/bloggers (e.g. liveinguyana.blogspot.com) and party propagandists.

Finally, the AFC calls on the PPP to immediately allow the existing television stations to extend their signals. This would create more employment throughout the country. An expanded media sector too, would be able to absorb any vindictively fired Government media personnel, since the PPP is not above scoring cheap political points.

Gerhard Ramsaroop, Michelle Ramsaroop, Aurélie Griffith, Leroy Nelson, Rajendra Bisessar, Ron White, John B. Singh, Winston Argyle and Egland Gomes

(From page 22)

TO LET Short term apartments Eccles. Call:679-7139 Harmony inn fully furnished self contained a/c apartments, Short term& long term Parfaite Harmony WBD Tel:694-7817 Short term apartments. Call: 667-1549 Fully furnished 3 bedroom top flat US$950, 2 flat residence/business US$1,200, 609- 2302/645 2580/ 233 5711 Newly built apartment – WCD, call: 698-6496 Four (4) bedroom apartment.

Contact: 682-8875 Nails & hair station Tel:2231051, 619-5357 E.B.D furnished 3 bedrooms house, 2 bathrooms, a/c, hot and cold, grilled, meshed, telephone, internet, parking, US$500 tel 697-4131

EDUCATIONAL Learn Spanish. Call: 6731232 Princeton College Forms 1-5, CXC adults’ classes’; $1500 a subject S.A.T/ Phonics etc. Call: 6905008, 611-3793 LIVE AND WORK IN CANADA. GET CANADIAN CERTIFICATION AS A CAREGIVER. CALL 227 – 4881 OR 416 674 7973

PROPERTY FOR SALE Two story wooden and concrete building located at 14 ‘A’ Kersaint Park, L.B.I., E.C.D land measuring 75ft, by 75ft, kitchen cupboards, window grills, 6 bedroom, alarm, system,concrete fence and drains, large storage bond adjoining property price 21 Million (negotiable). Call: 643-2403, 227-2712 20 X 40 two flat concrete building @ Kitty. All amenities. Price $28 M Call: 668 – 9512, 223- 2570

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 02, 2012

The Abigail Column DTV CHANNEL 8 07:55hrs. Sign On 08:00hrs. Indian Movie 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00hrs. The Wayans Brothers 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:30hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 21:00hrs. Criminal Minds (New Episode) 22:00hrs. Law & Order: Special Victim Unit (New Episode) 23:00hrs. Sign Off NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 05:00hrs -Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 05:10hrs - Meditation 05:30hrs - Queenstown Masjid Presents Quran This Morning 06:00hrs - R. Gossai General Store Presents Ram Bhajans 06:15hrs - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Ram Bhajans

06:30hrs - Muneshwar Limited Presents Ram Bhajans 06:45hrs - Double Standard Taxi Presents Ram Bhajans 07:00hrs - RRT Enterprise Presents Ram Bhajans 07:15hrs - M & M Snackette Presents Raja Yoga Discourses 07:30hrs - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents 07:45hrs - The Family of the Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Ram Bhajans 08:00hrs - NTN This Morning Live with Reyaz Husein 09:30hrs - Indian Soap - Choti Bahu 10:00hrs - Indian Soap Yahaan Mein 10:30hrs - IPL - ROYAL C. BANGALORE vs KINGS X1 PUNJAB 13:00hrs - Indian Soap - Choti Bahu 13:30hrs - Indian Soap Yahaan Mein 14:00hrs - Indian Soap Pavitra Rishta 14:30hrs - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 15:00hrs - Indian Soap Punar Vivaah 15:30hrs - Headline News 16:00hrs - Devotional Times 16:45hrs - Drying Tears Live with Pastor Edson

Guides are subjected to change without notice

17:15hrs - Kingdom Agenda Hosted by Bishop Dr. J. Edgehill 17:45hrs - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial 18:15hrs - Birthday Greetings/ Deaths Announcement & In Memoriam 18:30hrs - Hare Krishna Today 19:00hrs - Music Fantasia with Asif Nawaz 20:00hrs - Ashmins Presents DANCE WITH ME with Joel 21:00h - Indian Soap - Choti Bahu 21:30hrs - Indian Soap Yahaan Mein 22:00hrs - Indian Soap Pavitra Rishta 22:30hrs - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 23:00hrs - Sign Off with the Gayatri Mantra NCN CHANNEL 11 02:00hrs – NCN Late Edition (R/B) 02:30hrs – Late Nite with GINA 03:00hrs – Movie 05:00hrs – Science Panel, Radio Activity 05:30hrs – Newtown Gospel 06:00hrs – NCN Late Edition News(r/b) 06:30hrs – Feature 07:00hrs – Guyana Today 08:00hrs – Guysuco Roundup (R/B) 08:30hrs – Feature 09:00hrs – Stop the Suffering 09:30hrs – Cartoons 10:00hrs – IPL#45 Royal Challengers Bangalore VS Kings XI Punjab 14:00hrs – NCN Newbreak 14:05hrs – Your Health the Nations Wealth (R/B) 15:00hrs – African Moves (R/ B) 16:00hrs – Cartoons 17:00hrs – Anderson 18:00hrs – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30hrs – GT&T 10/10 Update 19:00hrs – Al Jazeera 19:30hrs – Feature 20:00hrs – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05hrs – GWI Alert 20:35hrs – Oral Tradition 21:05hrs – NCN Sports Magazine 22:05hrs – NCN News Late Edition 22:35hrs – Caribbean Newsline 23:00hrs – Movie

Long distance relationships - giving it a go! to stifle his, but I definitely don’t want to lose him either.

Helpless DEARABIGAIL, I have fallen for a boy.

Before he left overseas school, I told him how I felt about him, more or less, and he reciprocated the same emotions.

How can I give this a good go? I know that long distance relationships are very difficult to maintain, but is there any sound advice that you can think of? I don’t want

Dear Helpless, There are two primary challenges to the survival of your relationship, but take heart: a challenge is only that — a challenge. It doesn’t spell doom for your relationship. The first challenge is the fact that he is beginning a journey that you have just finished.

As you mentioned, long

distance relationships can be tough.

Distance works for some relationships, but not for all.

It depends on the status and strength of the relationship before the distance factor is added, as well as the personalities of the two people involved in the relationship.

Keep the lines of communication open, be willing to put in some work, and nurture your relationship like a seedling.

Wednesday May 02, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You have done an admirable job of putting your own interests aside in favor of the larger group's desires lately, but you must be careful that you don't make this type of extreme generosity a habit. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): There's a lot to be said for knowing exactly what the day has in store for you, so the next time you find yourself bored with your life, remember that spontaneity is just another word for unpredictability. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): If anyone can inject some good wholesome fun into a typically stiff or laborious intellectual exercise today, you can! While everyone else is grumbling about this, that and the other unpleasant thing, you will be able to stay happily above it all -- you can see that things are not as bad as others are making them out to be. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your home life is extremely important to you right now -- it's where you can always find solace and peace when you need it. Therefore, you need to stay on top of the home-maintenance issues that have been popping up lately. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Multiply your effectiveness today by teaming up with someone else to create a dynamic duo. Two heads are better than one, as are two sets of eyeballs and two sets of legs. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Deep and meaningful connections take time to build, so don't be impatient if someone isn't ready yet to

trust you with her or his innermost feelings. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Not every day can be a super day, but most days can come pretty close -- if you have a superstar attitude!

Take today for example -- you might have a few lame errands on your to-do list, but you don't have to let these responsibilities ruin your whole day. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): Given the way your mind is working today, flipping a coin might just be the best way to make any decision you're faced with, whether it's what to have for lunch or something much more significant. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): There is a lot of love coming your way right now, although it might not be coming from the source you were hoping for. You're in something of a quiet phase, romantically speaking -- but there is a lot of energy in the friendship area of your life! **************** CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Save your highminded idealism for another day -- today is all about elemental efforts and humble results. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): It has been a long while since you've pursued something purely for its intellectual rewards, and you might want to address that today. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Even though you know very well that life isn't fair, you always do try to make things come out evenly -- which is to your credit. But in terms of who owes what to whom, it's important for you to forget about some debts.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Mayweather still making fans pay LAS VEGAS (AP) Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn’t exactly plan for it to happen this way.

The thought of sitting in a jail cell for two months can’t be a pleasant one, especially while the entourage enjoys life without him at the Big Boy house.

But there’s a fight to sell, and once again it doesn’t include Manny Pacquiao.

The opponent Saturday night will be Miguel Cotto, a game but outmatched fighter who this city’s oddsmakers figure will end up either on the canvas or on the losing end of a lopsided decision.

Some will plunk down $69.95 to watch it on pay-perview because it’s their last chance for a while to see Mayweather in boxing gloves instead of handcuffs. Others will buy it because they’re hoping the mental stress of his upcoming jail sentence will finally bring Mayweather down in the ring.

No matter. Once again, Mayweather has found a way make them pay. ‘’The great thing is that they boo, they cheer, they know who I am so I’m relevant,’’ Mayweather said. ‘’So at one particular time in their life they paid attention to me, so it’s a good thing.’’

For Mayweather it’s been a great thing. He’s become one of the greatest salesmen of his time, making untold millions by crafting a bad boy persona and flaunting a lifestyle that either thrills boxing fans or enrages them so much they will pay good money in hopes of seeing him get beat.

Sometimes, though, life conflicts with reality television. What the HBO cameras that document the show ‘’24/7'’ never showed was what happened between Mayweather and his exgirlfriend early one morning in 2010 while two of their children watched.

It landed him in court on domestic violence charges.

And on June 1 it will land him in a jail cell to begin serving what is expected to end up being a sentence of just under two months.

He got a reprieve earlier from the judge so he would be able to fight. But any celebration Saturday night will have to be muted because of what is in front of him. ‘’The only thing it can do is make me mentally strong and grow mentally strong as a person,’’ Mayweather said. ‘’It’s all part of life, you have good days, you have bad days. But the main thing is to grow mentally.’’

The upcoming sentence is the first serious time Mayweather will spend in jail,

Floyd Mayweather Jr

despite a past littered with battery and violence arrests.

It came after he pleaded no contest to charges in December, avoiding a trial that could have gotten him up to 34 years in state prison if he was convicted on all counts.

He got a license to fight Cotto only after promising Nevada boxing officials that he wouldn’t make any attempts to avoid his jail term.

The judge had earlier postponed it until June 1, so his adopted hometown wouldn’t lose out on the millions of dollars in revenues brought in by a big fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend.

It would have been a much bigger fight if Mayweather were meeting Pacquiao, of course, but odds are that’s not going to

happen.

Mayweather’s insistence that Pacquiao takes far less money on the fight than he will make is the main reason for that, though Mayweather will try and tell you that the fight would happen if Pacquiao agreed to Olympic-style drug tests which he has already done.

The new head of HBO Sports, Ken Hershman, said a few months ago that the fight has to be held later this year or early next year, because after then it becomes ‘’less and less relevant.’’

That’s a shame for a sport that needs huge fights to survive. And while the blame can be spread on both sides, Mayweather deserves to be taken to task for not making it happen. He’s content to make $30-40 million to have relatively safe fight against

guys like Cotto and Victor Ortiz, rather than risk his unbeaten record in a fight that could earn him twice that much.

Not that Cotto isn’t a legitimate opponent. He is, though Pacquiao gave him a beating before stopping him in the 12th round three years ago. And Mayweather was willing to move up to 154 pounds - a weight he hasn’t fought at since beating Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 - to make the fight.

Even with the pending jail sentence to spice things up, though, the selling of Mayweather is getting old.

There’s only so many times you can watch him argue with his father, pal around with rapper 50 Cent, and throw dollar bills through nightclubs. We get that he’s rich and likes to flaunt it, but there’s nothing particularly interesting anymore to watching him in the extravagant mansion he calls his Big Boy house or behind the wheel of the armored van he has converted into a party vehicle.

Mayweather himself seemed to say as much Sunday when he sent out a tweet apologizing for the episode of ‘’24/7'’ on HBO the night before. He said it wasn’t up to his standards, and suggested bringing in the producers who were doing the series when he fought Ricky Hatton to spice things up.

One of the greatest fighters ever as he insists?

No, not unless he fights Pacquiao - and soon.

But as a master salesman, no one in the game comes close.

Page 25

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Kaieteur News

Stoudemire cuts hand, Miami beat Knicks 104-94 MIAMI (AP) Amare Stoudemire draped a towel over his left hand as he walked into the privacy of the New York Knicks’ training room an hour after the game, needing a sanctuary from prying eyes.

The specifics of what Stoudemire did immediately after Game 2 were unclear.

Only this was certain: His hand was cut so severely that doctors and paramedics were summoned, drops of blood stained the carpet, a piece of glass in the door to a fireextinguisher case needed to be replaced, and a bad night for the Knicks on the court got much worse when Stoudemire walked off it.

Stoudemire’s availability and New York’s hopes - for the rest of this Eastern Conference first-round series against the Miami Heat look bleak at best, first because the Knicks were beaten 104-94 on Monday night to fall into a 20 hole in the best-of-seven matchup, then because of whatever emotions boiled over near the locker room afterward.

Game 3 is Thursday.

Before the Knicks left the arena for the flight to New York, a team official said the extent of the injury is unknown. But in the locker room, Knicks center Tyson Chandler said he did not expect Stoudemire to be able to play when the series returns to Madison Square Garden.

So on their trip to Miami, the Knicks lost two games and two starters. Guard Iman Shumpert was lost for 6 to 8 months after tearing a knee ligament in Game 1, a freak play after a misstep.

Stoudemire now appears gone as well, because of a mistake. ‘’You never want to hear anyone gets hurt,’’ said Miami guard Dwyane Wade, who led the Heat with 25 points. ‘’Hopefully he gets better. We want all their guns on the court.’’

Chris Bosh added 21 points and LeBron James finished with 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Heat, but their night was completely overshadowed by whatever went on with Stoudemire in the hallway that’s just a few steps from the edge of the court.

Everything the Heat did seemed like old news quickly after the game, when all anyone really wanted to talk about was what was going on in the Knicks locker room.

Miami-Dade paramedics who staff every game - were summoned while reporters were kept outside much

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (3) reacts after scoring. longer than the typical 10minute cooling-off period.

Stoudemire declined to say anything when he walked out of the shower area in the locker room, one towel around his waist, another shielding his left hand.

Almost forgotten: Miami had just sent New York to its NBA-record-tying 12th straight postseason loss.

Anthony scored 30 points on 12-for-26 shooting for New York, which got 18 points from Stoudemire and 13 apiece from Chandler and J.R. Smith. The only other team to lose 12 straight playoff games is the Memphis Grizzlies, who dropped their first dozen postseason contests from 2004 through 2006.

New York’s last postseason win came April 29, 2001.

Mario Chalmers scored 13 points and Mike Miller and Shane Battier each shot 3 for 5 from 3-point range on their way to 11-point games for the defending East champion Heat, who shot 52 percent.

Baron Davis, who sat most of the first half and has been battling back issues, finished with 12 points for the Knicks.

The Heat came into the game saying they expected Anthony to be much more aggressive. They were right.

Anthony opened with an 11shot quarter - the last time someone took more in the first 12 minutes of a playoff game was May 15, 2006, when Richard Hamilton got 12 shots off for Detroit against Cleveland. Anthony missed

all seven of the jumpers he took in Game 1 when guarded

by James, then got his first one to fall on the game’s first possession Monday.

By halftime, Anthony was up to 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting, the Knicks needing all that and more.

Wade, James and Bosh combined for 41 points in the first two quarters, helping Miami take a 53-47 lead.

Unlike Game 1, it wasn’t over by halftime. And play was heated, just not overheated.

Well, until postgame, anyway.

For nearly three quarters, whenever Miami was on the cusp of pulling away, New York had answers.

Consecutive baskets by James midway through the third quarter, the second of those good enough for him to merit it worthy of a chest-bump and long look at the Knicks bench, put Miami up 67-56 - then its biggest lead. Four minutes l a t e r, t h e K n i c k s w e r e w i t h i n f o u r, a dunk by Chandler making it 72-68 with 1:37 left in the period.

Miami’s margin was back to nine after a flurry ended the third. James drove right and got just about every Knick to shift with him, leaving Battier all alone for a 3-pointer, and James’ threepoint play as the shot clock was running down had him laughing and the Heat up 7869 going into the fourth.

The Knicks never got any closer, and the Heat wound up holding serve at home.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Champion Mavs head home, trailing Thunder 2-0 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Last postseason, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks rode a wave of late-game comebacks to win the franchise’s first NBA title.

Now the Oklahoma City Thunder are showing the Mavs how it feels to be on the other side.

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points, Kevin Durant added 26 in an off-shooting performance and Oklahoma City clawed out a 102-99 victory over Dallas on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

The Mavericks led in the final minute in both road games so far, but couldn’t even manage a split as the Thunder gutted out two wins by a total of four points.

Durant hit two free throws with 50.4 seconds left to give Oklahoma City a 98-97 lead, and reserve James Harden hit all four of his foul shots after that to close it out for the Thunder.

Jason Terry missed two 3point attempts from the left wing in the final 5 seconds that could have tied it and set up overtime. Instead, the defending champs head back home facing what amounts to a must-win Game 3 on Thursday night in Dallas. ‘’That’s really all we need right now is to get on the board on Thursday,’’ said Nowitzki, who led Dallas with 31 points but missed both his shots in the final 75 seconds. ‘’I still think the guys are upbeat, even though we’re down 2-0. The guys know that we’re right there. We’re

still in this if we get the game on Thursday.’’

If not, the Thunder will take a big step toward avenging last year’s 4-1 loss in the Western Conference finals.

Durant put the Thunder ahead to stay after salvaging two key points with Oklahoma City inbounding the ball with only 2.6 seconds left on the shot clock. He grabbed the inbounds pass from Harden while headed toward the sideline, and Terry was called for a foul for bumping him.

Durant hit both foul shots, and Nowitzki missed his chance to answer with a fade-away 12-foot jumper from the left side.

Harden, only eight days removed from sustaining a concussion as the result of elbow from Metta World Peace, grabbed the rebound on Nowitzki’s shot and got fouled to set up the first of his four clinching free throws in the last 26 seconds.

The late-game struggles are exactly the opposite of last year’s championship run, when the Mavs got two fourth-quarter rallies while sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers and closed out the Thunder with back-to-back comebacks from deficits of 15 and eight points in the fourth quarter.

But it’s a continuation of the regular-season series, when Dallas led in the final 3 minutes of both games in Oklahoma City and lost them both. ‘’We’re just a couple bounces away from being up 2-0,’’ Nowitzki said. ‘’It’s

tough and it’s frustrating, but we’re going to keep coming.

We’re not going to lay down.

If they beat us, we’re going to make them earn it.’’

This one nearly came to blows.

The tension escalated after Serge Ibaka tried to block Nowitzki’s jumper midway through the first quarter and smacked him in the left eye on his followthrough, without getting called for a foul. Nowitzki hit another jumper along the baseline on Dallas’ next possession before he got shoved in the back by Kendrick Perkins while jockeying for rebounding position on a made 3-pointer

by Durant.

Perkins followed Nowitzki for a few steps before Nowitzki bumped him away, and Perkins responded by taking a swing at Nowitzki’s head with his open hand.

Official Zach Zarba stepped in front of Perkins and backed him away, and both were assessed technical fouls.

The Thunder went on a run a few minutes later, scoring the final nine points of the first quarter - all within an 82-second span - and then carrying over the momentum to build a 46-30 lead with 5:55 left before halftime.

When Nowitzki and Perkins finally got back on the court together, the Mavericks’ All-Star exacted some revenge while getting his team back in the game. He went on a personal 10-2 run, with all of the points coming while he was matched up against Perkins, to get the deficit down to 50-47.

Dallas Mavericksforward Dirk Nowitzki, center, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka , right, defends.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Roy Hodgson hired to coach England in 4-year deal LONDON - The English Football Association has hired Roy Hodgson as coach of the national team, six weeks before the European Championship.

The FA says Hodgson was appointed on a four-year deal.

Hodgson will leave West Bromwich Albion at the end of the season on May 13 to lead England into the European Championship next month and the World Cup in 2014.

The FA overlooked the favorite, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, to hire a manager who has won eight league titles in two countries with three clubs and coached the national teams of Switzerland, Finland and the United Arab Emirates.

The 64-year-old Hodgson has had stints in club soccer in England, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and Italy, where he was twice in charge of Inter Milan.

Hodgson says he wants backing from England players and fans after agreeing to be the new national team boss.

“I’m looking forward to the task ahead. Everyone knows it is not an easy one but I’m hoping that everyone

Ottis Gibson’s first two years in the West Indies coaching hot seat have been as testing for him as the slow, spinning pitches of the Caribbean have been for the Australian batsmen.

There was public criticism by senior pro Shivnarine Chanderpaul to weather in 2011, constant sniping at his captain Darren Sammy to combat, and the tedious year-long Chris Gayle saga to endure. But Gibson seems to be getting through the rough spell.

“I’m on a three-year contract, so I always figure that by the end of my third year, I would have a team that is doing the things I expect the team to do in terms of winning matches,” he says.

“If you look at how we played in India and you look at how we played against Australia, I don’t think we’re far off from what we’re trying to do.”

What Gibson is trying to do is build a team, a tight unit, one that wins. As a former West Indies player, he knew the setup he would meet would not match the one he had left; that he would have to be starting from scratch almost, not near the top as he had been.

Norwegian swimming champion Alexander Dale Oen dies

will get behind the team,” he said.

The 64-year-old West Brom boss was the unanimous choice of a fourman selection panel, according to Football Association chairman David Bernstein. Bernstein said Hodgson was earmarked as the preferred candidate a month ago.

He was the only manager approached about the job despite widespread speculation linking Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp with the vacancy after Fabio Capello quit in February.

Hodgson, who has signed a four-year deal, admitted he would have to gain the backing of players, including some who had publicly stated their backing for Redknapp.

Striker Wayne Rooney had said on Twitter following Capello’s departure: “Got to be English to replace him.

Harry Redknapp for me.”

Defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted: “Harry Redknapp would be my choice by a distance.”

But Hodgson, who has managed 18 teams - including three national sides - during a 36-year coaching career, said he was ready to get their support.

“Every coach has got to win over the players. It’s not the first time I’ve stepped into a group I don’t know but my CV suggests I’ve succeeded fairly well with that,” said the former Inter Milan, Fulham and Liverpool manager.

“Every coach taking a new job needs to make certain they get the players on side, united behind the cause. We’re England, the England football team. We interest a lot of people. I have a lot of responsibility but then so do the players.”

Norwegian swimming champion Alexander Dale Oen has died in the US, aged 26, Norway’s swimming federation says.

He was found collapsed in a shower late on Monday after training in Flagstaff, Arizona, Norwegian media say. Officials said he had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Emergency services arrived at the scene within minutes but were unable to revive him.

Dale Oen won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the World Championships in Shanghai in July 2011.

His triumph came just days after the attack in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik which killed 77 people.

Norwegian Swimming Federation President Per Rune Eknes said the swimmer had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Friends said he had appeared healthy earlier.

Doctors at the Flagstaff Medical Center declared the world champion swimmer dead at 21:00 local time on Monday after all efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Per Rune Eknes told national broadcaster NRK that it was the blackest day in the history of Norwegian

But Gibson has quietly gone about laying his foundation, winning over young players by motivating them through his straight talk, and, especially in the case of the bowlers, through his knowledge of what it would take to make them better.

“When I came, I had all these plans of how I would like the team to be structured, how I would like the team to develop, the shape of the team, and all that. A lot of the names that were in the team at the time aren’t there. So when you look at the resources that we have and the way that we are playing, I’m very proud of the way this young, inexperienced team is fighting.

We will go to England with that same fight.”

The contest does not look an even one on paper.

England, still hurting from a bruising winter in Asia, are a different prospect on their own turf. They beat India, who were coming off a series win in the West Indies, 4-0 at home, and retained the Ashes against the Australia side that has now beaten West Indies 2-0 in the Caribbean.

West Indies’ bowling department is currently the

strongest part of the edifice Gibson is trying to construct.

But the batting is shaky, weakened by a lack of experience rather than a lack of skill. Adrian Barath, Kieran Powell, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo and Narsingh Deonarine, all set to go on their first Test tour to England, have played 52 Tests between them.

Gibson rates his side 6.5, at best 7, out of ten.

“Obviously we know the shortcomings of the batting.

But if we get the batting right, we will score quite highly and win matches.”

It is not the performance against the Australians alone that has given Gibson hope.

“Say the last six to 12 months, the way we played in India, we went to Bangladesh and won. We dominated India in two out of three Test matches. We weren’t strong enough as a team just yet to finish them off, but you can see the signs of improvement. You can see the signs of belief starting to grow in the team.”

But while Chanderpaul was, according to Gibson “unbelievable” against Australia, the travails of the top order do not portend a

breakthrough summer, “simply because we’ve got players that haven’t played in England before.”

The young West Indians, however, have defied expectations already this year, twice in the shared Twenty20and ODI series with Australia and in their dogged refusal to lose easily in the Tests. The athletic, committed fielding, even when the chips were down, was symptomatic of a new spirit and discipline.

Sammy’s increasing willingness to attack, boldly declaring on Australia in Barbados and himself pushing for runs on the last day in Trinidad, was more evidence of a new ethos taking root.

“When you look at what we have been able to achieve against Australia, the amount of times we’ve dominated days’ plays, which I don’t suppose many people would have been expecting, the way that we’ve been able to bowl them out twice, the way that we’ve been able to get within 75 runs of that target [in Dominica] just shows the spirit in the team,” Gibson says.

Sammy’s boys will need all their gumption and then

Roy Hodgson

Page 27

GIBSON KEEPS THE FAITH

Alexander Dale Oen swimming.

“We are all in shock… our thoughts go primarily to his family who have lost Alexander way too early,” said Norwegian Coach Petter Loevberg.

Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg expressed his sorrow at the death of the swimmer.

“Alexander Dale Oen was a great athlete for a small country. My thoughts go to his family and friends,” he said.

Dale Oen’s last tweet on Monday, as he was coming to the end of training in the US,

Ottis Gibson some when their English test begins. But Gibson believes in the investment West Indies cricket is making. “Those young inexperienced guys, we’ve shown belief in them, and they are giving a lot of effort. But some of them are learning on the job. Yes, they will make mistakes, and some of the mistakes are very obvious, but at the same time they are learning, and that’s all you can ask of them.

Hopefully, as they continue to learn and the team continues to grow, we believe that winning is not far away.”

When his contract is up in ten months’ time, Gibson expects that faith not to have been misplaced. (Garth Wattley - Trinidad Express)

said: “2 days left of our camp up here in Flagstaff, then it’s back to the most beautiful city in Norway #Bergen”.

‘MISTAKE’ Olympic bronze swimming medallist and BBC Sport analyst Steve Parry said he could not believe the news.

“I thought it was a mistake - I mean such a fit guy, a world champion suffering a cardiac arrest,” he said.

“He was one of the nicest people involved in our sport.

He was a rock solid guy.

Usually a lot of people in his position don’t have that much time but he made sure he had time for everyone.”

The BBC’s Chris Mitchell, who was there when Dale Oen won gold in Shanghai, remembers the moment: “He was quick. His time of 57.81 seconds was the fourth fastest in history and a Norwegian record. It is unusual for a swimmer to win so convincingly over such a short distance but Dale Oen was inspired and led from start to finish.”

Dale Oen was born in Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, and began swimming at the age of four.

He got his international breakthrough in 2005 when he came seventh in the 100m breaststroke during the World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada.

He won silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Norway’s first Olympic swimming medal, and was considered a strong hope for this summer ’s London Games.

After winning his gold medal in Shanghai, he said that the murders of 77 people in Oslo and on the island of Utoeya had affected him deeply. “We can’t let this guy ruin the future for us,” he said.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Universal DVD/Universal Solutions T20 final

IAAF World Athletics Day Championship Inclement weather forces postponement for Inter Schools and Youth athletes The unseasonal rain fall that has been sweeping Guyana over the last few days has put paid to a number of sporting events planned over the last few days with a number of postponements and cancellations. One such activity is the Universal DVD/ Universal Solutions 7th Anniversary T20 cricket extravaganza billed for Today Tuesday 1st May, Labour Day. The 20/20 cricket championship involving four teams was at the final stage, with Universal Solutions Tigers set to take on The Universal DVD Titans in the finals at The Blairmont Community Centre Ground from 11:00 hrs.

According to reports from the organisers the continuous rainfall has left the ground in a soggy and water logged state. The Titans had advance to the finals with a 6-wicket win over East Berbice Warriors, while the Tigers had secured their place after defeating West Berbice All Stars by 5-wickets in their semifinal clash which was played at the same venue last Tuesday.

The two losing semifinalists the East Berbice

New Date to be announced shortly Warriors and West Berbice All Stars were set to tangle in the third place play off.

Over $500,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs in the tournament. The 3rd place and final games will be preceded by an exhibition female encounter.

The teams selected were as follows: Berbice Titans Rajiv Ivan - captain Eugene LaFleur Sewnarine Chattergoon Narsingh Deonarine Kandasammy Surujnarine Kevin Ramdeen Shastri Persaud Eon Hooper Clinton Pestano Linden Austin Akram Rahaman Chandrashakar Arjune Gudakesh Motie Kanhai Universal Solutions Tigers Shawn Pereira - captain Richard Ramdeen Harrinarine Chattergoon Royston Crandon Khemraj Mahadeo Keon Dejesus Sandy Mohan Zaheer Hussain Shailendra Shameer

Sharmindra Hardyal Michael Newland Rajendra Bolo Veerasammy Permaul East Berbice Warriors Steven Latcha - captain Jamal LaFleur Assad Fudadin Romario DeJonge Seon Hetmyer Shafiq Khan Winston Rose Mark Lionel Jonathan Foo Yogindra Harrinarine Junior Blair Dominic Rikhi Veerapen Permaul West Berbice All Stars Sherwyn McPherson captain Danishwani Prashad Audley Bailey Romesh Boodram Karamchand Bissoondial Raffel Estriado Ralph Ogle Devendra Lalsa Kwesi Mentore Waqar Hassan Altaf Khan Keon Joseph Brendon Bess Keron Fraser A new date will be announced shortly.

Fabrice Muamba will attend Bolton match against Tottenham

Fabrice Muamba (centre) with Dr Andrew Deaner and Dr Sam Mohiddin Fabrice Muamba will attend Bolton’s Premier League match against Tottenham at the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday.

Muamba, 24, suffered a cardiac arrest during Bolton’s FA Cup tie at Spurs on 17 February and he was released from hospital on 16 April.

“We are absolutely delighted that we will be able to welcome Fabrice and his family back to the Reebok,” said Bolton manager Owen Coyle.

“It’s fitting the match is between these two clubs and he can attend.”

Spurs game chance for Muamba to say thanks Coyle He added: “I know Fabrice is very keen to show his appreciation to both sets of fans for their support.”

Muamba was technically dead for 78 minutes and unconscious for three days after collapsing on the pitch during his team’s FA Cup quarter-final match at White

Hart Lane.

The 24-year-old started talking again two days after the incident and was walking just over two weeks later.

Since he left hospital, the midfielder has continued his rehabilitation at home. It is not yet known if he will play professional football again.

Bolton, who have a game in hand on the teams around them, have the chance to move out of the relegation zone with victory against Spurs.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is extending an invitation to all schools to partake in the 2012 IAAF World Athletics Day Championship at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary on Sunday May 13.

The Inter Schools Championship (junior) (under 15 as at December 31, 2012; born in 1997, 1998, 1999) events will see both boys and girls competing in one track and field event each. Track events slated for the day are the 80m, 150m, 1000m and 2000m race walk. The field events are long jump, shot put

and discus throw.

Events in the Youth category of Championship which is for under 18 athletes (Under 18 as at December 31,2012; born in 1995-1996) are 100m, 800m, 3000m, long jump, javelin, 3000m walk race (boys), 100m,400m, 1500m, long jump, discus, shot put and 2000m race walk (girls).

Each athlete partaking in the youth category will only be allowed to compete in one event.

Outstanding athletes (first to third place) in each category (Inter Schools and Youth) will be rewarded with medals, while the School with

the most points in the Inter Schools Category will be awarded with the IAAF Trophy.

The AAG is asking that the relevant entries be placed on the correct forms before submitting the entry forms at Olympic House, High Street, Kingston. Entry forms can also be submitted by Fax: (223-5322) or Email: (guy@mf.iaaf.org.

Closing date for this Championship will be on Friday May 11th at 12:00 noon.

Entry for the Championship is absolutely free.

Muhammad Asif to be released from UK prison, lawyers set to action appeals Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif will be released from prison on 3rd May (tomorrow). His Solicitors are seeking the Home Office approval to remain in the UK based upon his appeal against his convictions for spot fixing.

The 29-year-old will be freed having served half of his yearlong sentence. Asif has maintained his innocence and is seeking redress in the Court of Appeal according to his Guyanese lawyer, Ravi Sukul, a London Barrister.

Mr Sukul has commented that a top class fast bowler could provide expert evidence on the finer aspects of pace bowling, which he suggests could cast doubt on Asif ’s conviction that is based primarily upon the prosecution’s allegation that the no ball in issue was bowled intentionally. Whilst making the point that he is not criticising Asif ’s defence team who represented him at the five-week Southwark Crown Court trial in November, they did not adduce expert evidence of the full and complex dynamics of fast bowling to the jury. He added that “those who are fully conversant with the game would know that it is by no means a simple task for a pace bowler to transgress the popping crease by a margin of two inches, at will, on a predicted delivery.”

Mr Sukul said his pursuit of an appeal is an indication of his opinion of the jury’s verdicts. He added: “I took the case because of the evidently serious risk of an injustice to both Mr Asif and to this great game of cricket, the historical reputation of which has always been regarded as impeccable and should be preserved.”

Asif was found guilty

Mohammed Asif of receiving money to bowl a deliberate no ball against England at Lord’s in August 2010. The prosecution argued that the bowler’s experience meant he was subtle enough to overstep the crease by only two inches – unlike the “huge” no balls delivered by his new ball partner Mohammad Amir.

Sukul stated that Asif’s case for appeal could include ”highly technical” new evidence, not put before the jury, which shows how extremely difficult it is to deliberately bowl a no-ball by such a fine margin. Further, it follows logic that in order to overstep the popping crease deliberately, the pace bowler had to change some feature of his preceding bowling actions in some discernible manner.

The Barrister disclosed that he has had informal discussions with a Test match pace bowler of high repute during which the theoretical exercise of predicting which one of 30 deliveries he can deliberately over step the line by two inches. He said he would not bet on that prediction because he does not believe a fast bowler in a test match setting could do it at will, certainly not a test match at

Lords.

Mr Sukul said that the “finer aspects” of fast bowling were not explained to the jury – in particular that a bowler is running at terminal velocity as he enters his delivery stride, and that his focus is on the spot where he is going to pitch the ball, not where his heel is landing in relation to the popping crease” The barrister admits it will be an “uphill struggle” to prove the conviction was “unsafe”. He does not deny that corrupt agent Mazhar Majeed correctly predicted which deliveries would be no balls the night before Amir and Asif bowled them.

Amir returned to Pakistan last month having completed his six month sentence, and Asif is due to be released in a few days from Canterbury Prison, where he has spent his term alongside Salman Butt, the former captain. Butt will remain behind bars until at least February 2013.

Mr Sukul stated that moves to deport Asif when he is released will interfere with the course of justice and as such will be opposed by Asif’s solicitors SJS Solicitors who are in conduct of his appeal against his ICC ban which has been filed in the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland. ”Mr Asif’s appeal is not designed to lengthen his stay.

He wants to go home, to be among his own people, to start rebuilding.”

Once all the documentation has been filed, which is expected in the next two months, a single judge will decide whether there are sufficient grounds for the appeal to be heard at a full hearing in front of three judges sitting in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Kaieteur News

Medina wins Scotiabank Golf Tournament Jorge Medina took the first prize in Saturday’s Scotiabank Golf Tournament which saw the bank donate $325,000 to orphanages of the winners’ choice.

Medina, who does not play too often due to a busy schedule, shot a gross 94 and with his 28 handicap, a net 66.

He said he overcame the embarrassment of the first few holes which showed how rusty his swing was and quietly set about putting together a decent score eliminating any blow ups and chalking up several single bogies and some pars. It was enough to pip two other players including the ever improving Rawle Moore who shot an awesome 82 (16) also for a net 66.

Moore in turn edged out Mohan Dinanauth who actually parred the course (70) also for a net 66. When there are ties like these, the last nine holes are counted to decide the winner.

Fourth place went to D. Harry with a gross 85 (17) net 68. Best gross naturally went to Mohan Dinanauth, while

- $325K donated to orphanages his brother D. Dinanauth took nearest to the pin with a shot that landed a mere 7 inches from the hole.

With good conditions and even faster greens than last week, it was a perfect day for golf and some 40 players participated.

The range of winners from high handicapper through middle and lowest handicapper showed the effectiveness of a system that allows anyone to win on any given Saturday if they play at or above their current ability.

In her comments at the prize giving ceremony, Country Manager Amanda St Aubyn, said the bank has had long ties to the club through several of its managers being keen golfers, including Esau Shamshudin and Club President Brian Hackett. She fully expected the club’s ties to continue.

Hackett speaking on behalf of the club, said, the decision to donate funds to the orphanages was a good

initiative and he foresaw other sponsors would consider similar donations.

The three orphanages chosen by the winners are for Medina: Cheshire Home $150,000, Rawle Moore, Joshua House $100,000 and Mohan Dinanauth, St Anne’s Orphanage, 75,000.

In addition the bank held a raffle for all the players with various gifts such as umbrellas, balls and other items being handed out. On Sunday it also organised a dominoes competition between its team, the golf club and an invited team Quick Six, who prevailed after a thrilling tussle with the bank that went down to the last round.

This Saturday’s tournament will be a farewell event for retiring Scotiabank manager Esau Shamshudin who has been a longtime supporter of the club, holding various executive positions and contributing his time and effort to improving the facilities at the course.

The Scotia Bank golf winners take time out for a photo after the competition.

FIFA hits 6 players with global ban in fixing case

ZURICH (AP) FIFA has extended the two-year suspensions for six players implicated in fixing matches in Finland to apply worldwide.

FIFA says the players were initially banned from ‘’taking part in any footballrelated activity’’ through to April 5, 2013, by the Finland Football Federation last month.

They are Godfrey Chibanga, Chileshe Chibwe, Steven Kunda, Christopher Musonda, Chanda Mwaba and Nchimunya

Mweetwa.

The Zambian players with the RoPS team from Rovaniemi were implicated in a matchfixing scandal that led to a criminal trial last year.

Several players received suspended prison sentences for accepting up to $40,000 in bribes to manipulate the outcome of matches.

Singapore businessman Wilson Raj Perumal received a two-year prison sentence.

Page 29

Daley breaks into the top five women’s all-rounders’ list West Indies’ Shanel Daley has broken into the top five women’s all-rounders’ list in the Reliance ICC Women’s ODI Rankings which were released at the conclusion of the three-match ODI series between West Indies and Sri Lanka women. The West Indies women won the series 2-1.

Daley, who entered in the series in eighth position, has jumped four places to fourth position after finishing as the leading run-getter with 150 runs which was backed up by six wickets at an average of 14 per wicket.

Her 150 runs, which included two half-centuries, gave her a jump of 14 places in the batters’ table and has put her just outside the top 20 in 22nd position while her performance with the ball has given her a ranking of 11th (up by two places).

Other players to head in

Stafanie Taylor

Shanel Daley

the right direction include West Indies batter and captain Merissa Aguilleira in 12th position (up by five places), and bowlers Anisa Mohammed in sixth spot (up by one place) and Shakera Selman in 17th position (up by four places).

Chamani Seneviratna

inspired Sri Lanka to a onewicket victory in the second ODI when she scored 36 and bagged 3-27.

The right-hander finished the series in 54th batting (up by 12 places), 18th bowling (up by one place) and 21st allrounders’ spots (up by six places).

RELIANCE ICC WOMEN’S ODI RANKINGS (AS ON 1 MAY, AFTER WEST INDIES AND SRI LANKA SERIES) Batters Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Ave HS Rating 1 ( - ) Stafanie Taylor WI 737 45.88 765 v Ind at St Kitts (WP) 2012 2 ( - ) Mithali Raj Ind 689 46.64 839 v Aus at Baroda Vadodar 2004 3 ( - ) C. Edwards Eng 679 37.73 699 v NZ at Lincoln 2012 4 ( - ) Lydia Greenway Eng 664!

30.88 664 v NZ at Lincoln 2012 5 ( - ) Sarah Taylor Eng 653 40.59 803 v Aus at Chelmsford 2009 6 ( - ) Alex Blackwell Aus 626 33.17 683 v Ind at Canberra 2008 7 (+1) Jessica Cameron Aus 569*! 39.18 569 v Ind at Mumbai 2012 8 (-1) Deandra Dottin WI 562 25.34 617 v Ind at St Kitts (WP) 2012 9 ( - ) Meg Lanning Aus 555* 40.70 568 v Ind at Mumbai 2012 10 ( - ) A. Satterthwaite NZ 527!

25.45 527 v Eng at Lincoln 2012 11 ( - ) Sara McGlashan NZ 514 22.83 573 v Eng at Derby 2007 12 (+5) M. Aguilleira WI 512!

21.08 512 v SL at Winward Park 2012 13 (-1) Lisa Sthalekar Aus 508 31.72 801 v Ind at Sydney 2008 14 (-1) Leah Poulton Aus 504 25.87 529 v NZ at Sydney 2012 15 (-1) Harpreet Kaur Ind 501*! 29.05 501 v Aus at Mumbai 2012 16 (-1) Trisha Chetty SA 499* 35.86 515 v Eng at Potchefstroom 2011 17 (-1) Cri-Zelda Brits SA 492 31.45 565 v Net at Potchefstroom (N 2010 18 ( - ) Suzie Bates NZ 466 28.20 516 v Eng at Taunton 2007 19 ( - ) Amita Sharma Ind 461 17.06 505 v WI at St Kitts (WP) 2012 20 (+1) Lucy Doolan NZ 445* 25.12 487 v Aus at Sydney 2012 Bowlers Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts Avge Econ HS Rating 1 ( - ) Lisa Sthalekar Aus 779!

24.36 3.70 779 v Ind at Mumbai 2012 2 ( - ) Ellyse Perry Aus 698*! 21.97 4.19 698 v Ind at Mumbai 2012 3 ( - ) Katherine Brunt Eng 694 22.32 3.27 781 v Aus at Wormsley 2011 4 ( - ) Jhulan Goswami Ind 689 21.84 3.17 796 v Eng at Chennai 2007 5 ( - ) Laura Marsh Eng 682 24.64 3.83 711 v Aus at Perth 2011 6 (+1) A. Mohammed WI 634* 14.60 2.94 642 v SL at Winward Park 2012 7 (-1) Stafanie Taylor WI 601* 16.36 2.84 640 v Ind at St Kitts (WP) 2012 8 ( - ) Jenny Gunn Eng 573 27.80 3.77 669 v Aus at Melbourne 2008 9 ( - ) Rumeli Dhar Ind 561 27.38 3.43 695 v Eng at Mumbai (BKC) 2010 10 ( - ) Gouher Sultana Ind 543* 18.52 3.14 592 v WI at St Kitts (WP) 2012 11 (+2) Shanel Daley WI 525*! 18.84 3.20 525 v SL at Winward Park 2012 12 (-1) Sunette Loubser SA 512*! 18.65 3.12 512 v SL at Fatullah 2011 13 (-1) Holly Colvin Eng 507 22.35 3.62 715 v Aus at Lord’s 2009 14 ( - ) Sana Mir Pak 501* 26.87 3.47 505 v Ire at Fatullah 2011 15 ( - ) H.SD S’wardena SL 489 22.46 3.54 535 v Eng at Colombo (NCC) 2010 16 ( - ) Amita Sharma Ind 472 31.86 3.69 646 v Pak at Karachi 2005 17 (+4) Shakera Selman WI 460*! 25.88 3.00 460 v SL at Winward Park 2012 18 (+1) C. Seneviratna SL 449* 27.57 3.28 457 v WI at Port-of-Spain 2003 19 (-1) Shibnam Ismail SA 443* 24.62 3.70 449 v Pak at Dhaka 2011 20 (-3) Suwini de Alwis SL 440* 21.65 3.58 467 v SA at Fatullah 2011 All-rounders Rank (+/-) Player Team Pts HS Rating 1 (-) Stafanie Taylor WI 443 /* 481 v Ind at St Kitts (WP) 2012 2 (-) Lisa Sthalekar Aus 396 511 v Ind at Canberra 2008 3 (-) Ellyse Perry Aus 230*/* 231 v Eng at Perth 2011 4 (+4) Shanel Daley WI 228*/*! 228 v SL at Winward Park 2012 5 (-1) Amita Sharma Ind 218 253 v WI at St Kitts (WP) 2012

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 02, 2012

Deccan charge to Sehwag blitz takes Delhi Pawan Negi scythes second win of season to big win through Rajasthan

Bottom dwellers aspire to move out from the basement

Cameron White scored another half-century.

Yahoo!

Cricket – CUTTACK: For the second time, and against the same opponents, everything fell in place for Deccan Chargers.

The Hyderabad side bested Pune Warriors by 13 runs to gain their second win of IPLV, indicating that a team on the verge of elimination can still throw a spanner in the works of other, relatively higher placed, outfits.

The victory was set up by a massive 157-run thirdwicket partnership between skipper Kumar Sangakkara (82) and Cameron White (74), after the former elected to bat.

The highest alliance of IPL-V took the designated ‘home’ team to 186-4 in 20 overs, after they had lost both openers within the Powerplay, as the last 14 overs yielded runs at almost 11-an-over.

Pune made a disastrous start to the chase, losing Manish Pandey on the first ball, but Sourav Ganguly and IPL debutant Michael Clarke (replacing Jesse Ryder in the

Kumar Sangakkara plays a powerful sweep shot eleven) propelled their team with intent. Ganguly, who was dropped when he had scored one, and Clarke added 90 at a moderate pace to raise visions of a thrilling finish, but both were out within six runs of each other to dissipate the momentum.

It warrants a mention here that Clarke, straight off the boat – in a manner of speaking – tore into Dale Steyn, creaming boundaries behind point, over square-leg and again wide of point, as the South African screwed up his radar big time.

Clarke was dropped, but was run out on the same ball going for a second run.

Ganguly was caught at cover trying to force one through the off-side, and although Steve Smith (47 n.o.) and Robin Uthappa (26) went hell for leather, Pune still fell short of the target.

Earlier, it was a Sangakkara-White show all the way. The two got together in the fifth over and

went on a unmoderated rampage until the 19th. They began with caution, picking the loose balls and keeping the scorer busy, as they took the tally to 91 in 14 overs. And then began the battering.

The next six overs brought Deccan 95 runs, a run rate of almost 16.

Sangakkara, after reaching his fifty in 38 balls, moved into top gear, lashing out six fours in a nine-ball phase against Marlon Samuels and Wayne Parnell.

White too reached his half-century in 38 balls and then waded into Ganguly, sticking it in the Pune skipper in the 18th over for a deadly sequence of 6, 6, 6, 4. The last-gasp offensive hit Pune where it hurt, eventually costing them a win that would have taken them to third in the points table.

Scores: Deccan Chargers 186 for 4 (Sangakkara 82, White 74) beat Pune Warriors 173 for 5 (Smith 47*, Ganguly 45) by 13 runs.

Imam Bacchus and Sons 40-over Sec. Schools cricket competition

Dass guides Aurora Secondary to victory A fine all-round performance by Andy Dass guided Aurora Secondary to a convincing 102 run victory over Charity Secondary as the Imam Bacchus and Sons Co. schools 40 over cricket competition commenced last Sunday at Affiance on the

Essequibo Coast.

In a match, which was reduced to 25 overs due to rain, Aurora were asked to take first strike after their opponents won the toss. The left handed Dass led the scoring with 66 and was ably supported by Kevin Chetram

GT&T 10/10 semi-finals set...

From back page enjoy the teams going at each other.

Supporters of the respective teams are encouraged to come out in their numbers on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club Ground to urge them on to victory which will strengthen their claim for the championship prize. Game time on Sunday is 10:00hrs.

GT&T, Gizmos & Gadgets, Guyana Lottery, Banks DIH and Kings Jewellery will all have giveaways for the fans and that is added incentive to be present to cash in.

who made 37 as their team managed 176 before they were bowled out in 23.2 overs.

Ronaldo Singh grabbed 326, while there were two wickets apiece for Arvin Singh and Ray Lourie.

Charity in response fell for 74 in 16.5 overs. Keisho Rooplall 15 and Lourie 13 were the only batsmen that reached double figures as Dass claimed 3-7, Chetram 3-16 and Rovendra Parsram 2-17 for the winners.

The competition which also involves Anna Regina Multilateral, Johanna Cecelia Secondary, Abramsville Secondary and Essequibo Islands Secondary continues on Saturday.

Yahoo! Cricket – JAIPUR: What can you do but watch in wonder, or despair, when an opening batsman smashes 73 in 38 balls in a chase of 142? What can you do when, despite all possible measures of control in place, runs arrive in a torrent of big hits? The kind of form and intent that Virender Sehwag is in, the opposition may as well buy passes to the viewers’ enclosure and spare themselves the ordeal of humiliation.

On Tuesday night, Sehwag rattled up his fifth successive IPL-V half-century to deliver Delhi Daredevils their eighth win from 10 matches this season, as they vanquished Rajasthan Royals by six wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here. Sehwag’s feverish striking and Man-of-the-match Pawan Negi’s four for 18 - during Royals’ innings - helped Delhi consolidate their position at the top of the point table, a place in the last four now a near certainty. For Royals this was their fourth consecutive defeat.

Pietersen’s season-ending 36 (the English superstar leaves the IPL hoopla in favour of Test duty against the West Indies) and the 96 he added with his devil-may-care skipper took Delhi to the brink of victory, whence the likely result was realised without a stutter – despite Sehwag holing out to Brad Hogg 11 runs short of the target. But if Sehwag played an important hand, so did young left-arm spinner Negi.

After being hoodwinked in the chase at the Feroz Shah Kotla a few days ago, Dravid chose to bat first in the return fixture, and the decision almost paid off as the captain and the in-form Ajinkya Rahane drove the home team to a strong start.

Dravid (57) and Rahane added 71 in under nine overs, before Negi added his own twist to proceedings. The left-armer - Ajit Agarkar’s replacement in the side - stalled Rajasthan when they were looking to take off from the initial platform. Negi came on when Royals were cruising on 56 for no loss at the end of the Powerplay, and left the visiting side in tatters – on 93 for five after 13 overs.

Virender Sehwag's unbeaten 87 helped Delhi Daredevils hammer Pune Warriors by eight wickets.

The 19-year-old lured Rahane (42) into a reverse hit that ended with Sehwag at point.

In came Shane Watson – for his first game of the season – and clouted Shahbaz Nadeem for six, before losing his off-stump to Negi. In his final over, Negi claimed two more victims Brad Hodge and Ashok Menaria – ending with figures of four for 18.

But Royals were struggling to get a move on even before this double-wicket burst, as an implossion to the tune of five wickets for 24 runs cost them dear. All this while, Dravid held strong, bringing up his fifty in 35 balls, but finally giving his wicket away when he played Morkel on to his stumps. No matter that - the mood Sehwag was in even 30 more runs wouldn’t have brought Rajasthan their desired result.

Scores: Delhi Daredevils 144 for 4 (Sehwag 73) beat Rajasthan Royals 141 for 6 (Dravid 57, Negi 4-18) by six wickets.

Bacchus, Narine guide Ravens to Singh Memorial T\20 title Outstanding performances by Kasim Bacchus and Laxmikant Narine guided Ravens Sports Club to a fighting 3 run victory over Sparwin Sports Club in the final of the Sooknarine Singh Memorial twenty\20 cricket competition which played last Sunday at the Sparta cricket ground on the Essequibo Coast.

Ravens won the toss and decided to bat first in front of a large and colourful crowd.

They suffered the loss of a few early wickets but sensible batting by Kasim Bacchus, who led the scoring with 34, Fenton Jacobus 16 and Laxmikant Narine 14 saw them to 117-8 off their allotment of overs.

Bacchus started slowly but gradually grew in confidence stroking four lovely fours and one six and shared in a 34 run 4th wicket partnership with Narine before the latter was caught trying to clear the infield. Bacchus then put together 23 runs for the 5th wicket with Jacobus who hit one six but when they both departed within 5 runs of each other no other batsmen managed to step up the scoring as offspinners Pooran Shivpersaud took 2-27 and Kishan Narine 2-14.

Sparwin in reply were pegged back by Narine’s accurate medium pace before Kishan Narine and Darren Gobin added 55 for the 5th wicket stand taking the score to 75 in the 15th over. Rawl Reid however removed Narine for 37 in the 16th over, while Laxmikant Narine,

who came back for a second spell, accounted for Gobin who made 35.

Two more wickets fell in quick succession before Fizul Hussain, who tried to step up the scoring, lost his wicket for 10 in the 19th over.

Dhaniram Lall and Sudesh Lall, who both ended unbeaten on 4, only managed to score 6 off the final over as their team ended on 114-8.

Laxmikant Narine bagged 4-26 off 4 overs, while Reid took 1-19.

Kishan Narine was given the man of the match and most outstanding batsman of the tournament awards while the competition’s best bowler was Timmy Rambarran. Rawl Reid took the trophy for taking the best catch in the final. Ravens received a trophy and $30,000 and Sparwin took home a trophy and $20,000.

Meanwhile, Aurora defeated Police in the third place off. Police batted first and scored 111-9 in 20 overs and Aurora responded with 114-8 in 19.3. Both teams received trophies.

Barry Singh, a member of the Singh family, thanked the teams for participating and congratulated the winners. He also thanked the following donors, Bish Feed Shop, Robin Nandalall and Gobin Seurattan. The competition was played in memory of Sooknarine Singh a former businessman of La Belle Alliance and a former cricketer of the Hampton Court Cricket Club. (Zaheer Mohamed)