Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

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Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the 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

Facebook Stocks

The Facebook high-profile stock market launch offers us an opportunity to examine this much neglected facet of modern business practice in our country.

In Guyana, for any number of reasons, our attempts to establish a stock market with the ancillary institutions to service it have failed to gather any traction.

This is one of the major reasons for the dearth of entrepreneurial activity in our country since the investor has to persuade risk-averse banks to offer them loans.

To cover its self-defined high risk, local banks demand such an extraordinarily high rate of interest (14-17%) that all but the most enterprising (or foolhardy, from another perspective) are deterred.

In the world of stock markets, the company wishing to raise funds makes its initial public offering (IPO) or stock market launch, which is the first sale of stock by a company to the public. The initial stock price is set by investment banks the company is working with.

In this transaction the latter are called ‘underwriters’, since they are ‘underwriting” or guaranteeing that the price the stocks will be offered to the public later will be accepted.

It is a process that is carefully calibrated not to be too high to scare away investors or low enough that the initial owners of the stock could have made a much more substantial profit in later trading on a stock market.

In the case of Facebook, it made its IPO on February 1st through Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Goldman Sachs, its lead underwriter. Its stock was priced at $38 dollars and the company realised $16 billion from the IPO – the third largest in US history.

When a company lists its securities on a public exchange, the money paid by investors for the newly issued shares goes directly to the company (in contrast to a later trade of shares on the exchange, where the money passes between investors).

An IPO, therefore, allows a company to tap a wide pool of investors to provide itself with capital for future growth, repayment of debt or working capital. A company selling common shares is never required to repay the capital to investors.

So it was with great fanfare – and anticipation - that the trading of the Facebook stock was launched on May 18th on the lesser known NASDAQ stock exchange. The launch was not auspicious – there was an unprecedented delay of half an hour – and when trading actually began a number of ‘technical’ hitches caused a number of significant snafus.

But the bottom line was that the stock actually traded during the day at $38 and giving the company a value of $104 billion. Mark Zuckerberg, who just turned twenty-eight four days before the launch, was now worth some $20 billion.

However, details are now coming out that the glitches actually served to prevent the stock from dropping below $38 and that the underwriters had to also intervene massively to prevent that eventuality.

Additionally, it appears that its underwriters had details of lower than expected earnings but only passed this information to certain clients who took the opportunity to unload their stocks early in the day.

The price to earnings ration of the stock to begin with was at an incredible 100:1 ratio and many had felt the IPO was overvalued. The stock is now trading at 16% of its initial price and the company has already been taken to the courts for the alleged malpractices.

The last really significant IPO in Guyana was by Peter D’Aguiar’s Banks Breweries back in the 1955. But apart from other affiliates of Banks going public, other entrepreneurs have been very sceptical even though the benefits are quite extensive: Bolstering and diversifying equity base; enabling cheaper access to capital; exposure, prestige and public image; attracting and retaining better management and employees through liquid equity participation, etc.

While there may be significant legal, accounting and marketing costs, the business becomes more accountable because of ongoing requirements to disclose financial and business information in a timely fashion.

The Ministry of Contract Workers DEAR EDITOR, The recent debate about contract workers made me think about the Ministry of Education and contract workers. I did not think about contract workers in the Ministry of Education who are clerks, office assistants, cleaners and other ancillary staff. My thoughts did not linger on the super-salaries that these individuals might be getting but on the fact that these contract workers are occupying some position which ought to be given to some up and coming person so that evolution can happen in the public service, especially the Ministry of Education.

If contract workers, not support staff such as clerks, office assistants, cleaners and other ancillary staff were terminated from the Ministry of Education then the following Departments would close because these would be without staff: The Monitoring, Evaluating, Reporting and Development Unit (MERD), Inspectorate Unit, most of NCERD, the Planning Unit, the SCCP

programme, the Six Year Transitional Programme, the Learning Channel, the School Board Secretariat, the Primary Top Amalgamation Programme, the Management Information Systems Unit, the Placement Unit, the Human Resources Department, some departments of CPCE, etc.

Why must so many retired persons work at the Ministry of Education? It is incomprehensible that such a large number of contract workers are working in the Ministry of Education.

Indeed, this is the Ministry of Contract Workers. As such, I was not surprised to see Minister Manickchand picketing for these workers in the streets during the Budget Debate. If these workers go home, Minister Manickchand would be a Minister without a Ministry.

As I have indicated, I am not interested if these officers get a large salary or not. I don’t really care if they are ‘fat-cats’ or not. My problem is that the majority of these contract workers are past retirement. Many of them are

on their 4 or 5 contract. As such, they continue to occupy positions which should be made available to younger persons so that there is some form of succession.

This is the only way in which there can be evolution in the public service. I do not buy the Ministry’s argument that suitable candidates are not available. Suitable candidates can only be found if they are given a chance.

This Ministry never gives a chance.

In fact, so abysmal is the situation that the Ministry of Education has refused to place persons appointed by the Public Service Commission. I would be more than happy to provide an example! Amna Ally’s revelation that a retired secondary trained Assistant Chief Education Officer has been placed in charge of technical education is another example that the Ministry of Education is becoming a retirement home.

The Ministry of Education knows that there is a shortage of personnel and

as such has crafted a farcical Cadet Programme. So preposterous is the programme that Cadets are trained at Central Ministry about its operations and then placed in the Departments of Education in the various Regions. Cadets cannot be placed in the Central Ministry because there is no place for them.

Are these retired people valuable? One can answer this question truthfully by examining two critical areas of education in Guyana: the English and Mathematics pass rate at CSEC and the declining number of students who are writing science at CSEC. Minister Manickchand, it is these same people who have been in charge of the education system for the past twenty years. Their ideas did not work then and it will not work now. It is these same people who supervised the cataclysmic failures evident in the education sector. Their ideas did not work then and I don’t think that they are capable of providing any now.

Mohammed S. Hussain

Karen Livan deserves a public apology from Robert Persuad DEAR EDITOR, The women of the S4 Foundation are highly offended at the way one of our highly qualified Guyanese Sisters was treated by a Minister of government.

Last week, Karen Livan, new head of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), was humiliated in front of her colleagues, miners and media by Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud.

The public upbraiding was particularly distasteful and made it seem as though Mrs Livan had part in some corrupt practice, when in fact, the issue in question was completely above board.

Livan had done nothing wrong and even if she had done something wrong, the public trial and conviction done by Persaud was totally out of place and should be strongly condemned by all right thinking Guyanese.

Now she is set for retirement and because of this sad event, 30 years of hard work for the nation is gone in a flash, thanks to the imprudent and crass actions of the Minister.

The women of the S4 Foundation find the Minister’s treatment of Karen Livan an affront to all women who have worked hard to get into high-level positions. Mrs Livan is a 30-year veteran of the GGMC. As a woman in this field, it must have been a difficult road for her to

achieve the head position, which was accomplished based on merit, not because of whom she knew. Mrs. Livan deserves the respect and dignity afforded to any person, male or female, in such a position.

The government has programmes in place to empower women, but what Minister Persaud did last week disempowered a hardworking woman and by doing so, disempowered many other women who may have had hopes of following in her

footsteps but may now be afraid of being subjected to similar crass and disrespectful treatment.

It does not escape our attention that such public humiliation is rarely seen directed toward men in high government positions. In fact, not even one such occasion comes to mind at present.

Women are humiliated and disrespected by men in society everyday, but if the government truly wants to see the women of the nation empowered, it cannot set a double standard by having one of its own Ministers

display such contempt toward a woman.

The S4 Foundation thinks it would be prudent of Minister Persaud to offer Karen Livan a public apology for the humiliation and disrespect he displayed toward her. Of all that he has taken from this woman in a matter of minutes, the least he could do is give her back the dignity he took from her last week.

Standing with our Sisters, Stella Ramsaroop Iana Seales Karen Abrams For the S4 Foundation

Scammed by a taxi driver

DEAR SIR, I penned this letter with disgust over the robbing and scampish attitude of some Taxi operators who ply their trade outside the Demico House.

On Wednesday May 23, 2012 around 13:45 hrs a female relative of mine from Berbice and attending University in Georgetown caught a taxi outside that location, requesting to be taken to Scotia Bank on Robb Street (the taxi was taken because of time factor) to transact some business in relation to her tuition fee for University.

Upon reaching her destination she paid the driver with a $ 1,000 note and requested her change from the driver. The driver became aggressive towards her, jumped out of the car and raised his voice attracting onlookers. In fact, he gave the impression that the young lady concerned him and even mention to one gentleman that the young lady was his child mother (a total lie since my relative has no children).

He further told my relative if is $500 you want I will give you it and was even approaching her to hug her up.

My relative realizing that time was going and the bank was about to close left to conduct her business, after completing she

paid a visit to the Brickdam Police Station and made a complaint thinking that a policeman would have accompanied her to the park so she could identified this robber since she could not remember the vehicle number.

However the police told her they cannot do anything for her. My relative came home with tears and a headache having just been robbed by a taxi driver.

I am very concerned about the safety of our young women in the face of these vultures that operate outside the Demico House and it leaves me to wonder why sometimes some of these taxi drivers have bad encounters, but there is a saying what goes around comes around.

I want to say to this robbing and presumptuous taxi driver when you rob a child of God you will lose more than what you rob that person look out my brother.

People must feel comfortable and safe to travel in our country when they take a taxi and so I am urging my Guyanese brothers and sisters use taxi that are from recogonised taxi services and be mindful of the vultures that are outside of Demico House under the pretext of offering a services but into lowlife robbery.

Garfield Boston

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

Lionel Lowe is writing falsehoods The government should commit to a Phillip Moore project

DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Lionel Lowe needs to stop perpetuating falsehoods about our political history (KN May 19) in seeking to defend the PNC’s track record on the abuse of democracy and human rights. For the record, I am not now or ever been a member or supporter of the PPP. But even the most virulent anti-communist or critic of the PPP will admit that that the PPP fought for universal adult suffrage and the restoration of democracy after the rise of the dictatorship.

It is disheartening to know that there still exists in Guyana people like Lowe who

refuses to recognize the role PPP has played in Guyana’s political, and the contributions Indians have made to the nation.

Lowe needs to read historical accounts from objective sources.

Contrary to what Lowe feels, Indians did fight for the right to vote as did members (like Kwayana, Clive Thomas, Van Sluytman, Nigel Westmaas, etc) of other ethnic groups.

I find it incredible to believe that Lowe interviewed PPP supporters and he did not find anyone who believes PPP fought for the restoration of democracy in

DEAR EDITOR, Having made it official via the dailies with a press conference chaired by Chief Executive Officer of GTT, Mr. Yog Mahadeo, that long time endorsed entertainers of Digicel, Jomo and Adrian Dutchin have now switched to campaign for the blue company, we all have to respect the decision of the entertainers.

As an independent observer and subscriber to both telephone giants, I am now left to wonder if the 2012 GTT jingle song competition Linden winner, “Brandon”, will now be left at the back burner for future campaigning promotions.

I always felt that Brandon is the new brand ambassador for GTT since winning that competition, but with the duet force of Adrian and Jomo now part of the team, it appears to me that Brandon will now be overshadowed because of his inexperience. He can’t stand up against the duet force.

However, he would give them a run for their money if he has to challenge them independently as brand ambassadors to be the main lead in any campaign promotion.

Many will not agree with me and may say that it will be a balance in sharing of the stage with campaign promotions, but at the end of the day, it boils down to who can generate more attention and sales from the public, who is more convincing in attracting new subscribers, who is more unforgetable having the lead role, who can get Digicel’s subscribers to switch over etc.

You can always have a duet force in any campaigning promotion and in this case, one might very well witness Brandon working along with the other two, but after a while, it gets burnt out always seeing the same two faces and

three faces. At some stage, we could also see Brandon and Jomo in an advertising promo but where does that leave Adrian?

It simple means that he will have to take the back burner and don’t get a cut from that project. If that happens, there could very well be trouble in the camp even if the switching is vice versa.

In my personal business opinion, partnership does not stay alive for too long because at the end of the day, many of us seek individual success and many of would rather have our legacy remembered for our individual commitment and hard work.

Perhaps GTT can now take it to the public or to its subscribers to vote for the leading campaigning promotion entertainer.

In that case, it might very well help them to fully understand the direction the company should consider as to who will be the better candidate to lead.

T.Pemberton

What’s with Brandon Harding?

Guyana in 1992.

For the record, the PPP was not the only party that fought for free and fair elections; several other parties and groups and diaspora organizations (including a few I was associated with in New York) also joined the struggle for the restoration of democracy.

Lowe claims it was the PNC that restored democracy to Guyana. He should tell us why Guyana was not a democracy prior to 1992 and what led the PNC to give in to free and fair elections in 1992.

The PNC was adamantly opposed to democratic reforms in Guyana and did everything to stifle the restoration of democratic governance.

It was the pressure from the US, Britain, Canada and other western powers, made possible by lobbying from diaspora groups, that forced the PNC to give in to free and fair elections and that laid the basis for the current electoral system.

Since the PPP returned to office in 1992, it cannot be disputed that democracy has been institutionalized.

People speak and write (Continued on page 7)

DEAR EDITOR, Phillip Moore was and is a national hero. That there was reluctance/resistance to accord him appropriate recognition in this respect at the time of his death was unbecoming for our nation and is, quite frankly, disgraceful. But there is still room for redemption for those who transgressed.

When I read the two excellent features on Phillip Moore’s work, vision and philosophy by Alim Hosein and Rupert Roopnaraine (Stabroek News, May 20) I recall an ode of Horace which in my view epitomizes Phillip, which was a favorite of many of us as students of Latin.

Here is an excerpt translated from the Latin:“ More Lasting than Bronze I have created a monument more lasting than bronze

and loftier than the royal structure of the pyramids, That which neither devouring rain nor the unrestrained North Wind, may be able to destroy nor the immeasurable succession of years and the flight of time.

I shall not wholly die and a greater part of me will evade Libitina. (Goddess of Death)….”

According to Hosein, Phillip Moore’s greatest desire was to see his works in what he called “Moore’s Methodical Mediation Museum” . Can we not as a people striving for reconciliation and togetherness see to it that

Phillip Moore’ s dream is realized? What would be good would be for an inclusive multi stake holder initiative spearheaded by the artistic and cultural communities to launch a national project for the establishment of the museum.

Naturally, I would expect the government to commit wholeheartedly to the project and I am confident that the (Continued on page 7)

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Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

Hand-in-Hand Trust shares…

Transaction smacks of massive illegality - AFC - Party defends absence from NICIL debate

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan

AFC MP Moses Nagamootoo

Opposition party, Alliance For Change (AFC), has defended its absence from last Tuesday’s televised debate on the contentious National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), insisting that the executives of the State-owned company must face grilling by the appropriate Parliamentary committee.

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan and senior executive Moses Nagamootoo, were both invited but declined to attend the forum which saw the invitees being given a mere 24-hours notice to participate.

NICIL, which is tasked with managing state assets and investments, has come

under increasing pressure in recent times over a number of transactions, including plans to invest $4B (US$20M) into a Marriott-branded Hotel in Kingston.

On Tuesday, NICIL’s Executive Director, Winston Brassington, admitted that while the agency’s bank balance stood at $700M, it has set aside the US$20M for the hotel, which feasibility is under question even now.

Heavy equipment has been mobilized at the site now despite the opposition’s misgivings and questions over the authority of NICIL to plunge that kind of money into a hotel, without Parliamentary approval.

According to Ramjattan, he is standing by earlier statements that Brassington

The NICIL debate: From left: Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall; Accountant/Lawyer Christopher Ram; Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon; NICIL’s Executive Director, Winston Brassington and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh. and other NICIL officials will have to be “interrogated” by a Parliamentary committee.

Government has said that the feasibility study and other key documents, including details of investors, will remain confidential because of agreements signed.

At Tuesday’s forum to discuss NICIL that was aired live on NCN were Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh; Brassington; Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon; accountant/lawyer/analyst, Christopher Ram; Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, and the newspaper’s Editorin-Chief, Adam Harris.

INADEQUATE DEBATE Both Lall and Ram noted that the forum was grossly inadequate to deal with the many burning questions regarding NICIL and its operations.

The government officials were critical of this newspaper and other media entities for “biased coverage” of NICIL and despite specific questions posed over the current finances of that agency, the officials essentially shied away from details.

On Wednesday, during the weekly press conference of his party, Ramjattan continued his criticism of

government’s stance on NICIL, saying that dust was still being thrown into the public’s eyes.

“The AFC maintains that the directors of NICIL are exercising their powers most illegally and unconstitutionally when they do what they are doing right now.”

Ramjattan made reference to recent revelations of shares in Hand-in-Hand Trust, which was privatized by NICIL in 2003, being sold to Jonathan Brassington, a US-based brother of the current NICIL boss. It was revealed that Winston Brassington signed legal papers on behalf of his brother.

“Look… this smacks of massive illegality and if they want to say I am talking nonsense, let them take me to court for a libel suit and we a r e g o i n g t o e nsure we prove justification. That is what they are afraid of. They know we can’t carry them to court, because there is no (such thing as) insider’s information offence in Guyana.”

COLLUSION Ramjattan also blasted Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who denied that there was a conflict of interest situation. According to Ramjattan, from a legal perspective, there is

“irrefutable presumption” of collusion when the transaction was examined.

“Had it been another country like Jamaica and Barbados, the Brassingtons would have been charged and jailed for (trading in) insider information… There may even be great violations regarding codes of conduct.

When you have the AG asking what is wrong, it is ludicrous.”

Meanwhile, during his post-Cabinet press briefing, Dr. Luncheon said that Ramjattan’s posture is not conducive to a proper examination of the issues surrounding NICIL. As a matter of fact, he believes that Ramjattan’s conduct regarding NICIL is “offensive and prejudices any intention to question Brassington at a Parliamentary committee”.

He said that while there can be dissatisfaction with the way NICIL operates, “what is impermissible” is the effort to criminalise the actions of NICIL and its management.

The official admitted that there is need to examine NICIL and its role at a national level, but it does not help for the opposition to claim that all that has been done by NICIL is “wrong, criminally wrong and unacceptably wrong.”

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

Letters... Where your views make the news

Lionel Lowe is writing falsehoods

From page 5 freely without concerns of being victimized. Their new found freedom allows them to make all kinds of claims that cannot be substantiated with evidence. Elections are free and fair.

Yes, I agree with Lowe that the PPP made many mistakes during its tenure in office and the voters had a right to punish it as they did last November.

However, the fact that the PPP did not condemn communist countries for not allowing multi parties to represent the working class is not justification to deny the ballot to Guyanese.

And for the record,

contrary to what Lowe pens not all communist parties were voted out of office in former communist countries.

Nothing can justify denying people the right to vote. Voting in Guyana is along racial lines.

But I have not seen any outward document in which the PPP directly called on its supporters to vote race.

It is a fact that the PPP appealed for support among all ethnic groups.

It is because Indians felt neglected by the PPP that they abandoned the PPP in favor of the AFC. On the campaign trail, the AFC pointed out in the Indian villages that the PPP

From page 5 parties in parliament can, in the spirit of cooperation, and with a sense of national purpose, agree on appropriate measures including budgetary allocations which will enhance the prospect for the realization of Phillip’s dream.

I hope that we can all rise to the challenge and seize the propitiousness of the occasion for national development in its widest and deepest sense.

Phillip’s concept of “Godmanliness” and his views of humankind were not restricted to the community to which he was born. As he himself is reported to have said ‘I am an ancient soul in a modern body...a spirit birthed in and African body in the country of Guyana and the Universe...I often feel as a timeless being..” (Hosein). He was a man for all time and for all of us.

Rashleigh E. Jackson

The government...

neglected them in favour of PNC supporters.

Many Indians felt they were neglected and viewed the PNC supporters as being primary beneficiaries of PPP rule and they decided to punish their party last year and reward the AFC. The PPP is responsible for

gross blunders in Guyana and the party should be criticized.

But to not give it credit for the restoration of democracy is perpetuating a falsehood not dissimilar from acknowledging the many historic contributions Indians also made to the country.

Vishnu Bisram

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Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

Murder suspect escapes Govt. not disposed to independent General from Brickdam lock-ups audit of NICIL accounts -Auditor says his Fear has gripped a Mahaica family following the reported escape of a prisoner from the Brickdam lock-ups.

The man, Naitram Persaud, who was being held for questioning into murder and robbery under arms, disappeared from the lockups on Wednesday.

A Police Constable is presently under close arrest pending investigations into the escape.

This newspaper understands that the man, who hails from Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was arrested sometime last week on allegations that he was abusive to the two women he was living with.

He was also being investigated for sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl.

While in custody, police received word that he may be a suspect in a murder committed somewhere on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and several armed robberies.

According to a source, on a daily basis, detectives would remove the suspect from the Brickdam lock-ups and take him to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department where he would be questioned before being taken back to the lock-ups.

However, on Wednesday, the rank who was stationed at the lock-ups reportedly told

investigators that he had let out the suspect for water. He admitted that he was not careful in his supervision of the prisoner and within minutes, the suspect had disappeared.

Nobody reported seeing when the prisoner walked out of the police station compound, but a thorough check was made and he was not found.

Kaieteur News understands that around the same time that Persaud disappeared, the two women with whom he was living with received a threatening telephone call from him and they became afraid for their lives.

The women and their children reportedly spent several hours in the safety of the Mahaica Police Station until they were assured that it was safe for them to go home. It is understood, however, that the women did not take any further chances and sought the protection of the Human Services Ministry.

This newspaper tried contacting the Police Public Relations Officer, but the telephone calls went answered.

The Government of Guyana through the Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, has said that the administration is not disposed to an independent audit of the affairs of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Dr Singh was at the time a panelist on a televised debate on NICIL hosted by the Stateowned National Communications Network (NCN) on Tuesday last, and had been responding to a question posed by another panelist, Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram. Ram had made the request of the Minister while in the company of two other directors of NICIL - Dr Roger Luncheon and Winston Brassington.

Dr Singh reminded the panelists, who also included Publisher of the Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, along with the newspaper’s Editor-inChief, Adam Harris, that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is already a Standing Parliamentary Committee tasked with this role. He reminded also that the PAC is always chaired by an Opposition Frontbencher.

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Parliamentarian, Volda Lawrence, is the most recent Chairperson of that body.

Former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge is set to assume the post upon resumption of the sitting of that Standing Committee.

What the substantive Finance Minister didn’t tell the panel during the discussion is that based on the report and recommendations emanating from that review process, it is the Ministry of Finance that issues a Treasury Memorandum - the document outlining the Government actions to be taken in response to deficiencies identified by the Audit Office or the PAC. The Finance Minister also reminded of a similar request during the tenure of former Auditor General, Dr Anand Goolsarran.

According to Dr Singh, Dr Goolsarran at the time had complained about such an independent audit.

Dr Singh intimated that the former AG had suggested that it would be tantamount to double-checking his work.

This view seems to still hold merit, as the current

independence could be threatened Auditor General (ag), Deodat Sharma, says that such an audit would essentially threaten, if not completely remove his independence.

Sharma says that such an independent audit that has been suggested by Ram was not possible since the legislation only empowers his office, and him as Auditor General, to undertake such audits.

Asked about capacity constraints that may hinder the auditing processes at his office, Sharma said that where possible, he “contracts out” such work.

The audit of NICIL, however, is one such activity he confirms that has not been contracted out. Sharma asserted that he personally undertakes the auditing of this State-owned holding company.

He also reminded that outside of legislative constraints, there is also a Bill to undertake such a task.

Asked if whether all of the hurdles could be overcome and mechanisms be put in place, Sharma questioned,”who would fund such an audit?”

Friday May 25, 2012

Corruption has always been the bane of the Guyana Police Force and has consistently undermined its effectiveness.

In the days when flour was all but in law a prohibited item, a running joke was if you called the police to report a crime in progress, they took hours to arrive. But if you mentioned the word contraband, they would be in front of your door before you put down the phone.

The government of the day realized that the police in certain areas were more interested in seizing contraband than in fighting other crimes. The division of labour within the police force was disrupted, with traffic ranks, for example, being more on the lookout for persons fetching contraband than for those driving above the speed limit.

A decision eventually was taken to regularize things.

The police force became less involved in combating contraband and was directed to devote more of their energies towards other forms of crime such as the infamous kick-down-the-door banditry.

One of the difficulties facing the Guyana Police Force today is that many ranks want to be involved in traffic duties because of the monies that can be extorted from motorists.

Today, there are some anti-crime units who should be more concerned with fighting crimes, other than traffic offences, stopping vehicles and requesting owners to produce their documentation. Instead of being on the lookout for those criminals who break into homes and rob and shoot families, many anti-crime units on patrol are undertaking traffic duties.

Even the ranks riding around on motorcycles are flagging down vehicles and requesting to see the licences, registrations and fitness certificates of the vehicles Last Saturday, there was one such unit not far away from where the former Speaker of the National Assembly lives. The former Speaker

Kaieteur News

wrote an article recently in which he complained about the actions of some police patrols and their proclivity for targeting young male drivers.

Well, last Saturday, a police patrol, not a traffic patrol, was not far away from where the former Speaker lives and was stopping vehicles, mostly those being driven by young men and asking the occupants to disembark. Interestingly they were writing traffic tickets.

It seems very unusual for an anti-crime unit to have in their possession a book of traffic tickets. One would have expected that, given the division of functions that should exist within an organization like the Guyana Police Force, if an anti-crime patrol encountered someone breaking the traffic laws, the matter would be referred to the traffic department. One hardly expects to see normal anti-crime patrols issuing tickets.

The government of Guyana seems oblivious to the harassment that many motorists have to endure at the hands of the police. The government seems insensitive to the hassles that motorists experience at the hands of police patrols eager to involve themselves in traffic duties.

And not just young males are targeted. These patrols also love to stop young females on the roads.

The police have a job to do and they should be supported in doing their job.

It is a fact that many of the persons found with unlawful guns and illegal drugs in their possession are young people. It is also a fact that persons with illegal weapons are also likely to be breaking the laws with respect to the use of vehicles. Thus searches of vehicles for traffic offences can unearth other illegal activities.

And therefore where there is suspicion involved, these anti-crime ranks are within their powers to stop and search these vehicles.

However, one is often left with the distinct impression that many ranks are more

interested in examining whether drivers are licenced or the windows of a vehicle is tinted or if there is some malfunctioning trafficator.

Seeking out these violations are in many instances the primary reasons why they stop vehicles.

The Guyana Police Force must by now know that it has an image problem, and that at the centre of this problem is the harassment meted out to motorists by ranks.

The hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force should instruct that traffic offences be mainly enforced by traffic

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ranks.

They should discourage anti-crime ranks from establishing road blocks and for being so preoccupied with traffic-related offences.

Unless this happens, what occurred in the past will repeat itself. Anti-crime patrols will be more interested in stopping motorists than they will be in running down criminals who commit crimes against the person.

The Guyana government also has to wake up to the high levels of corruption within the Guyana Police Force. The police force is in need of reform, but

unfortunately the opposition parties did not see it fit to cut any money from the budgetary allocations of the police in order to force reforms. But they found it expedient to cut the subventions from the GINA and NCN. “Kicking butt� may help, but is not the most advisable way to bring about reform.

The government therefore has to take action to reduce the abuse that is suffered by citizens at the hands of the police and the best way to do so is to do like what the government of Trinidad has

done, and bring in foreign professionals to man senior positions in the Guyana Police Force.

This is the only viable short-term solution that is going to make a difference in the fight against crime and to bring some reduction in bribery and corruption within the police force.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Why can’t high-level employees who acquired their position because of loyalty to the PPP explain themselves without coming across as foolish people?

There does not seem to be any top bureaucrat or party apparatchik that can face the public and offer a respectable and intellectually smart explanation for something the government has done. The statement turns out either to be comical, asinine or downright degrading.

Maybe Bharrat Jagdeo started it. Maybe Charles Ramson started it. President Jagdeo once uttered something that was appallingly stupid. When asked why he does not

support secret balloting to select the PPP candidate for the presidential slot for the general elections, he said that when there is a secret vote, people are more inclined to offer inducements to others to buy their preference.

Mr. Jagdeo had it in the reverse fashion. It is when there is secret ballot your bribe may not work. The person will take your money and vote against you and you will never know. If you bribe them and the ballot is an open one then you will know if they betray you. How can any human being say that open voting is better than private use of the ballot?

The one that I will always remember and use in any

book that I may write on politics is the mouthing-off by the then Attorney-General, Charles Ramson, to the media.

At his press conference, Ramson told reporters that when he heard talk all over the place about a certain Minister who does illegal things, he thought it was him because he is a man given to doing illegal things.

That exclamation caused widespread laughter in Guyana when it was printed in the Stabroek News. Except for Guyana, no other country would produce an Attorney General who would utter such foolishness.

For me, the most comical PPP person in high office is the Director of Sports, Neil

Kumar. What kind of culture Freedom House has that breeds these types? Mr. Kumar said last year that he will restrict use of the Colgrain Pool so as to preserve it.

Then three weeks ago, he told the media that it is easy to say that State-owned pools must be opened to the public but you just don’t use a pool like that. People must clean themselves before they access the facility.

Next is a certain PPP leader whose name I won’t print. He wrote letters under the fictitious signature, Oliver Sam. Stabroek News published its lack of success in determining who Sam was since the address he gave was false. Instead of let

Armed schoolboys snatch conductor’s money Two schoolboys, after refusing to pay the fares of a route 45 (Kitty/Campbellville) minibus, reportedly decided to not just run away, but to take some cash with them.

This was according to minibus operator, Zakeer

Hussein, who explained that his 18-year-old son, Ganesh, was conducting the minibus yesterday afternoon, when two boys dressed in Richard Ishmael High School uniforms, exited the minibus and refused to pay the fare

for their ride.

The man said that the two students, who appeared to be in a senior class, threatened his son with a knife, grabbed the teen’s hand, and ran.

Hussein related that his son then chased the two boys, but they managed to make good their escape.

“It’s not about the money. It’s that these is li’l boys, going around robbing

people with knives. I am very much scared for me son, because these boys is not boys but gang men. They dangerous,” Hussein reflected.

He added that he and his son can positively identify the boys, and are planning to visit and inform the school’s administration.

The matter is being investigated by the police.

sleeping dogs lie, this PPP king foolishly became arrogant and proclaimed that Oliver Sam was a real person.

How stupid! Why say so when you know he is fictional and won’t be able to produce him. It is people like these that are in charge of Guyana the past 20 years.

Next is Roger Luncheon.

He made the court laugh with his loss of memory during his testimony in President Jagdeo’s libel case against me. When his answers were published in the two independent dailies, it made the entire country laugh. As Mr. Nigel Hughes kept rattling off the names of the beneficiaries of Government’s land sale, divestments and employment practices, Dr. Luncheon became a stuck record saying, “I can’t recall that Sir.” Now Luncheon is at it again. He told the nation that NCN is a private company.

Well if the State-owned television company is a private entity so is Queen’s College, the Bank of Guyana, the GDF, the National Park, the Ministry of Health, Regent Street, Water Street, the Botanic Gardens and of course, GuySuCo, GWI and GPL. Luncheon was just being his comical self.

Frederick Kissoon NCN is the property of the Republic of Guyana, wholly owned by the State. We must not forget, the “goat-ain’tbite-meh” gentleman, Clement Rohee. He told the nation that his DNA is ready to send him in the direction of the presidency. This is a funny gentleman that goats, plenty goats, bit a long time ago Finally, there is Winston Brassington. He wants a debate with Khemraj Ramjattan over the operations of NICIL. NICIL has become a raging controversy in Guyana with millions of unanswered questions. In the middle of all of this, Brassington wants a debate instead of explaining to the Guyanese people all the transactions and dimensions of NICIL. Brassington did get his debate last Tuesday night, but Ramjattan wasn’t there and Brassington made viewers laugh. He couldn’t answer a simple question from Adam Harris.

Dem boys seh...

Para Batty gearing up fuh sadaaring Same thing dem boys seh, once de Waterfalls paper highlight something de people does get vex and dem does threaten fuh sue. A man get vex because he was wukking at GuySuCo and he get knock off. De Waterfalls paper carry de story and de man decide fuh sue.

Another one commit fraud and get transfer from Berbice.

When de Waterfalls paper write de story he sue. He hide from de court when de Waterfalls people tun up in court. Is only because of sympathy that de paper didn’t clean he pocket out.

Now another one threatening fuh sue because dem boys talk ‘bout all de funny things that happen. And was nuff funny thing happen. All de time dem boys trying to find out wha happen and nobody didn’t even tek dem serious. Now dem boys hear ‘bout who spend money to repair what, and who get wha and who pay wha.

Is alright, because dem boys can sue too. Some people who can’t read and write get a job at one of de few places that would employ anybody who suh dotish. Hen See Hen play a tape over and over but a dotish woman who like cry and complain, and she boss who love a freeness and can’t see anything in a bottle, mek up a story ‘bout apology.

Dem boys seh that an apology will come, but not from de source wheh Para Batty believe. A hearing aid wouldn’t even help she. Dem boys planning fuh send she to Malawi wheh men like treat men like women and do de same thing to stupid people. Dem boys does call it sadaaring.

Of course people does do anything fuh money. America send a message that it would allow people men fuh treat men like women and all of a sudden some country announce that dem gun do de same thing. When de government silent, people does do things fuh get de same treatment. Para Batty already got de name. Is only de treatment missing, fuh now. And she sure wouldn’t get an apology.

Talk half and watch out fuh de other half.

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

Cop ambushed, shot with arrow after arresting drug suspect A police constable stationed at Monkey Mountain, Potaro, is currently at a city hospital after being ambushed and shot with an arrow after he arrested a suspect in a drug matter. The injured rank, 20 year-old Kevin George, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, was air-dashed to Georgetown for emergency treatment. The incident occurred sometime Wednesday evening. .

The injured man’s father, Henry George, said he received information from a person who visits the Monkey Mountain area that his son was involved in an

incident. Mr. George said he was subsequently able to confirm this.

The man said that around 14:00 hours yesterday he went to the Ogle Airport after being told that his son would be air-dashed to the city.

George said his son “arrived on the aircraft alone with the pilot”.

The elder George said his son related to him that he was sent by his superior to make an arrest in the village.

“He said when he arrested the man, who is believed to be a Brazilian, he was on his way back to the station in a boat when the man capsized the boat and

persons just start shooting arrows.”

George said his son was shot in his back and was severely beaten. Mr. George said up to late yesterday afternoon he was yet to hear from the administration of the Police Force.

“The Crime Chief Mr. Seelall (Persaud) came here (Georgetown Public Hospital) and just went questioning the boy if he had a gun, and the nurse tell him he can’t fatigue the patient.”

This publication was later informed that the injured policeman was subsequently taken to a private hospital for further medical attention.

Major project to clean up mining communities underway Government has announced major plans to clean up a number of mining communities as health concerns grow.

The programmes will be spearheaded by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, officials told the Mahdia community yesterday.

There has been increasing complaints of garbage pileups in that Region Eight mining community.

Yesterday, during a visit to the area to speak on illegal mining and other critical issues, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, said that the initiative to enhance the main mining communities in the various mining districts will begin soon.

Ministry and other government officials were there to address miners and residents of Mahdia on issues affecting the infrastructural, social and economic issues of mining communities.

It will however be a process involving a multistakeholder approach and

include the Regional Democratic Council, residents and other government ministries.

“As such, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will embark on an environmental enhancement project to improve the conditions of mining communities in all mining districts, commencing with Mahdia, especially to deal with sanitation and other environmental matters,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Miners were also briefed on efforts to have more land available for small miners to have access to land for mining through a process of lottery and auction.

Meanwhile on the enforcement of ‘Operation El Dorado’, an exercise to target illegal mining which was launched a few weeks ago, Persaud disclosed that it will continue indefinitely. Miners and others were also being urged to regularize their activities and avoid being prosecuted.

‘Operation El Dorado’ will be enhanced and supported by a permanent Inspectorate Unit within the

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to bring order and legality within the mining sector, Minister Persaud said. “‘Operation El Dorado’ was launched to target all factors relating to illegal mining and other activities to lift the standards of mining towards c r e a ting a sustainable and environmentally friendly mining sector,” the statement said yesterday.

Meanwhile, the President of the Women Miners’ Association, Simona Broomes, urged miners to highlight their concerns to bring about change in Mahdia.

She also encouraged miners to utilize the interactive session to highlight issues of concern, as the sector has the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the government to effect necessary change. Also there were Mark Crawford, Regional Chairman of Region Eight; Ronald Harsawack, Regional Executive Officer; Joseph Hamilton, Member of Parliament, and other senior government officials.

Page 11

Two get 30 years each for female taxi operator’s murder Two men, who were accused of killing a female taxi operator along Ogle Road, East Coast Demerara, on February 10, 2006, yesterday each received 30-year prison sentences, when they appeared before Judge Roxanne George-Wiltshire at the High Court.

The sentences for the two 24-year-olds, Anandram Dharamraj of Seventh Street Success, East Coast Demerara, and his coaccused Naresh Boodhoo, of Success Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara, came after the men pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Three men were initially charged for the murder of 40year-old Seerajie Singh also known as ‘Lalita’, who operated a taxi service out of her Lot 129 Seventh Street, Success, East Coast Demerara home.

Hemraj Boodwah, the third accused, had luck on his side when the judge freed him from the charge due to what she described as a police “mess up”. He was advised to make something good of his life.

The police said that on the day in question the duo summoned the taxi driver requesting her service. They then robbed and shot her in the mouth before making good their escape with her motorcar.

The accused admitted to killing the female driver. They said they plotted Singh’s death while sitting on a koker near their village.

In Boodhoo’s statement, he said that Singh arrived at Ogle Road with Dharamraj after they had summoned her to take them to that location.

A gun was placed to the woman’s belly and she was ordered to stop the car.

Dharamraj then exited the car while keeping the gun fixed on the woman.

Boodhoo choked the victim while pulling her out of the vehicle. Dharamraj said in his caution statement that on the first attempt at shooting the woman the gun

did not go off. He pulled the trigger again and Singh was shot. The woman then ran to the front of the vehicle, the shooter got into the driver’s side of the vehicle while his accomplice got into the passenger seat next to the driver. They then made off with the car leaving Singh on the roadway.

According to the post mortem report read in court, the victim had died of a gunshot wound to the mouth.

The bullet had entered through the mouth and exited through the back of the woman’s head. The gunshot injury caused respiratory inconsistencies that resulted in the victim’s demise.

Prior to sentencing, two separate voir dire were held to determine whether the caution statements given to the police by the accused should be accepted as evidence in the murder trial.

The statements were accepted and were later tendered as evidence.

During yesterday’s hearing, a recommended probation report in relation to the two accused was read to the court by a senior probation and social services officer from the Ministry of Human Services. The officer related that her report had been conducted using family members of the deceased, the accused and their families, and persons from the

Success community where the accused formerly resided.

During the course of the hearing, one of the victim’s daughters opted to say something and after being allowed by the court, she requested to know why the accused did what they did and how they felt after taking her mother’s life.

Apart from that it was revealed that the eldest daughter of the victim, who was listed as a witness in the murder trial, passed away after she became ill subsequent to her mother’s death. That daughter was the one who took the call from the accused requesting that the woman transport them.

Dharamraj, when given a chance to speak in court, gave a detailed account of what he alleged transpired on the day in question. He informed the court that he and Singh were involved in a relationship and the woman’s death was accidental. He said they had become close, but during a working trip to the interior he met a girl who became pregnant for him. He continued that he brought the girl back to the city but Singh was not appreciative of that.

Dharamraj said that Singh called him one day and they drove to the location where she died. He said the woman argued about the pregnant girl and ordered that she be (Continued on page 12)

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

Custody battle for Canadian child…

Judge requests original travel documents

By Latoya Giles Justice Brassington Reynolds has ordered that the original ED-Card (Departure Record) and Emergency Travel Document issued by the Canadian High Commission for two-year-old Ethan Jaichand Latchman - a Canadian citizen whose Guyanese mother had been deported from Canada for illegal entry - be produced to the Immigration Officer at Moleson Creek, and presented before the court next Wednesday, May 30.

The mother Anita Persaud had brought the child to Guyana on March 30, last, but died two days later at the Georgetown Hospital.

Following her demise, the woman’s sisters had custody of little Ethan, but custody was challenged by a relative of the child’s Guyanese father now living in Canada.

The child’s father had allegedly also gone to Canada by the backtrack route with the child’s mother, who was his girlfriend.

Denowattie Sookdeo, Anita Persaud’s sister, alleges that she was entrusted by Persaud with the temporary care of the infant, custody and control, along with her other sister, Taramattie Ruiwen.

An application of Writ of Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum, filed by the dead woman’s family had its genesis in an allegation of larceny of a child made to the police by the paternal grandparents Harry Narine Arjun and Savitrie Arjun, of the infant.

According to reports, the two had in their possession a notarized authorization from the infant’s father, Jaichand Latchman. The two had travelled to Guyana to take custody of the child who is a Canadian Citizen.

Upon their arrival in

Guyana, the Arjuns made several efforts to locate the infant, but these attempts were unsuccessful. The grandparents then reported the matter to the police and enlisted the assistance of the Canadian Embassy in Guyana, since the infant is a Canadian citizen by birth and his whereabouts are unknown.

A written request was then made to the Commissioner of Police (ag) Mr Leroy Brumell, by Ms Angelica Alvarez Councilor of the High Commission of Canada on April 23, 2012.

Pursuant to investigations conducted by members of the Guyana Police Force, Taramattie Ruiwen was arrested and taken to the Den Amstel Police Station where she was placed in custody.

Subsequent to her release, Ruiwen took the said infant to the Leonora Police Station where she met with his grandparents and had the opportunity to read and examine the notarized authorization from the father.

According to reports, Ruiwen voluntarily handed over the infant to Savitrie Arjun in the presence of Assistant Superintendent of Police Terrance Paul. It was noted that the child was never taken at any time by any member of the Guyana Police Force.

Following the release of the child, the dead woman sister’s then retained the services of Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos who moved to the High Court on April 24, 2012, for the issue of a Writ of Habeas Corpus as subjiciendum directed to the Commissioner of Police ASP Paul and the child’s grandfather.

The order was granted by Justice Reynolds, directing the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul to produce the infant, Ethan Jaichand

Lachman, immediately. The order which was served on the commissioner and the ASP was forwarded to the DPP. ASP Paul, who was present in Chambers at that time, confirmed that the police never had custody of the child and explained their involvement in the matter.

State Counsel then made an application for the Order Nisi issued against the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul to be discharged and/or struck out. However Justice Reynolds did not accede to this application.

On April 27, 2012, an Affidavit in Answer was filed and served by State Counsel Judith Gildharie-Mursalin, in which it was specifically stated that the child was not in the custody of the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul, and an application was made for the Order Nisi issued against the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul to be dismissed as it is bad in law, misconceived, vexatious and an abuse of the process of the Court.

On May 7, 2012, an Affidavit in Rejoinder was filed and served to reinforce the point that the infant was not in the custody of the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul and therefore, the Commissioner of Police and ASP Paul were not proper Respondents to the application.

On the same day, immigration records, including emergency travel documents issued in favour of the said infant by the Canadian High Commission in Guyana, were laid over to Justice Reynolds, evidencing the departure of the said infant, via the Kanawaima Ferry Stelling at Moleson Creek, Corentyne, from the Court’s jurisdiction.

The matter is expected to continue on May 30.

Two get 30 years each for female...

(From page 11) removed from the village. A scuffle ensued, the accused said. The woman held onto his jersey and during the fracas the gun accidentally went off and the woman was shot. He apologized to the family and said he wished that things did not happen the way it did.

Boodhoo also related his sorrow for the incident and begged the court for leniency.

The court took all the mitigating and aggravating factors into consideration.

The Judge referred to the seriousness and prevalence

of the offence. She related to the horrific and cold-blooded killing of a harmless person, the purpose of the murder; being for the car and the hiding of stolen property.

Also the court noted that it was as if nothing had occurred, since the two men subsequently went to Linden to frolic with women. They clearly showed no remorse, the judge asserted.

The men were initially given 40-year sentences by Justice George-Wiltshire four years was deducted for the accused pleading guilty to the crime and saving the

court juridical time, while another six years was removed because the men had already been in jail for that period.

This resulted in each of the accused having to face 30 years behind bars.

The mitigating factors stemmed from the background of the accused; circumstances in relation to their upbringing. The two men were teenagers when they committed the crime.

Tearful relatives of the deceased expressed joy and satisfaction with the stiff sentences.

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Dumped body of US-based citizen on C’tyne…

Third woman held with slain man’s wedding ring Police have detained a third woman as they step up efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects in the murder of US-based Guyanese Abdool Shakeel Majid, whose battered body was dumped on the Number 56 Village, Corentyne

foreshore last month.

Kaieteur News understands that the woman, a Corentyne resident, was taken into custody on Wednesday after she was found in possession of the slain man’s wedding ring.

A source said that a

- victim laid to rest at Blankenburg relative of the murdered man positively identified the diamond-studded ring.

According to reports, the woman claimed that she got

More repairs on Harbour Bridge…

One-lane traffic from tomorrow Work at the Demerara Harbour Bridge last month

The Demerara Harbour Bridge is set to facilitate onelane traffic for four days, starting tomorrow, to make possible its second leg of emergency works on the retractor span.

According to the notice sent to mobile phones yesterday, management of the bridge said that the closure will end on Tuesday, May 29th, with works being carried out this time on the western

section of the span.

Late last month, the bridge carried out similar operations on the eastern end of the retractor span amidst an increase of heavy traffic in recent times.

the jewellery from her husband.

She is said to be a relative of Seerojonie Permaul, called “Usha,” of 52 Belvedere Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice, who, along with Majid’s wife, Hemwattie Abdulla, has been charged with his murder.

Police are looking for the woman’s husband and another man, since there is information that they played a major part in the crime.

Relatives disclosed that Majid was laid to rest yesterday at Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara.

Majid’s wife, 37-year-old

Hemwattie Abdulla, also known as Anita Nazeema Khan, of Albion, Corentyne, and of 116-02 132nd Street South Ozone Park, New York, USA, and Seerojonie Permaul, were charged on Tuesday.

They were further remanded on Wednesday after making a second appearance in the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Krishandat Persaud.

It is alleged that on April 26, last, at No 63 Beach, the accused murdered Abdool Shakeel Majid, 43, a citizen of the United States of America.

Majid’s body, with scalp

Murdered: Abdul Majid missing, was found on April 27 at the Number 56 Village, (Continued on page 23)

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Two GDF Cadets receive scholarships to prestigious U.S. Military Academies

Broken main at GPHC forces cancellation of surgeries, floods A&E Surgeries at a section of the city’s public hospital had to be cancelled yesterday after an early morning rupture of the main waterline.

According to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), at around 06:00hrs yesterday, the breakage was traced to the ceiling of the Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Centre building, in the region of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit. This affected the smooth functioning of that department and other neighbouring ones.

“Unfortunately, a few surgeries which were scheduled to be performed in the Operating Theatre had to be cancelled and the A&E Unit experienced some flooding.” As a result of the broken main, the hospital said its water pump had to be temporarily turned off to facilitate repairs.

“Technicians are yet to ascertain the cause of the breakage, but within a matter of three hours, they were able to rectify the problem and return operations to normalcy.”

Third woman held...

From left: U.S. Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt, Errol Van Lange, Czedra Frank and Colonel Bruce Lovell The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the U.S. Embassy celebrated the achievement of two members of the GDF who have received full scholarships to attend two of the most prestigious academies in the United States.

Errol Van Lange will be a Cadet at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and Czedra Frank will be a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. These academies only accept 15 international

students each year and have had a number of distinguished graduates, including six Heads of State, two Nobel Peace awardees, 116 Rhodes Scholars, and many Ambassadors and Generals.

Both Van Lange and Frank will be studying engineering while they are in school.

Family members proudly watched on as their sons were honoured by United States Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt.

The GDF’s Colonel Bruce Lovell also addressed the cadets, noting that once their

education is completed, they will return and continue their honourable service to Guyana.

The two cadets follow other accomplished candidates from the GDF who have participated in personal and professional development in the United States under continuing partnership programmes.

The ceremony ended with the remarks by the young cadets and future students.

Both Frank and Van Lange thanked the GDF and the United States for the great opportunity to study in the United States and promised to apply what they learn at these elite academies in service to their country upon their return to Guyana.

(From page 13) Corentyne foreshore. The remains were only identified on May 16, last, when the victim’s brother visited Guyana.

Following investigations, police impounded a car that was suspected to have been used to transport Majid’s remains.

Close relatives of the victim said that 43-year-old Majid had taken out a milliondollar insurance policy in the United States last March. He

had also been awarded a hefty settlement after being injured in an accident. Majid’s wife was taken into custody on Sunday after she turned up at the New Amsterdam Police Station, allegedly to identify her husband’s body.

Abdool Haseeb Majid, the slain man’s brother, revealed that the victim and prime suspect got married last December. After the marriage, the wife reportedly made frequent visits to Guyana.

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

Section of Meadow Bank wharf collapses during fish off-loading

Panic filled the air yesterday morning when a section of the Fishermen’s wharf at Meadow Bank, Greater Georgetown, collapsed causing several persons to scramble for safety and thousands of pounds of fish to fall into the muddy water. There were no reports of injuries.

Reports are that around 07:30 hrs, a businessman went to purchase fish so he could retail to his customers.

While the fish was being offloaded from the boat and taken to a waiting truck, a section of the wharf cavedin under the weight.

It was estimated that over 4,000 pounds of fish fell through the opening, but the businessman otherwise managed to save a significant amount. However, he still suffered losses since the fish had to be sold at a reduced price.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene, fishermen were trying to repair the damage, but were experiencing difficulty in doing so. One fisherman was also trying to transport a

speedboat engine from the wharf to a parked truck nearby, but one of the wooden boards under his feet broke and the man fell halfway through the space.

“Things like this happen every day and we are always complaining that this wharf needs to be repaired, but nothing seems to be happening. So far this is the worst, and the wharf finally collapsed. It could have cost some of us our lives! We have no choice but to work with this dilapidated wharf and have been appealing to the Ministry for assistance in building a proper wharf, but to no avail,” one fisherman said.

According to an employee at the wharf, representation was made on numerous occasions to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department and previous Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud, for assistance in constructing a safer wharf.

“We average it to be around $300,000 to get a good wharf here, but we can’t do it alone, and it is the fishermen

The section of the Meadow Bank wharf which collapsed while fish was being off-loaded from a boat here who keep trying to do things. But we really are desperate for the Ministry’s help, because this is our livelihood,” the employee

stated. More fishermen explained that while fishing is not an “easy” business it is all they know to do.

“All we want is the wharf

to be fixed so that such incidents would not happen again. This is dangerous and the wood used here is badly damaged. We want the

Ministry to intervene because fishing and selling these fish gives us our daily bread.”

(Kristen Macklingam)

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 25

The Abigail Column Scared of future, jealous of sister DEARABIGAIL, I have been unemployed (laid off) for a year now, and had to move back home with my mother.

Here’s my problem: I am jealous of my brother and his wife. They have a combined income of $200,000-plus. The other day my nephew, in so many words, called me a loser.

On some days I really do feel like a loser. My brother and his wife are looked upon like royalty in our family, and I am not married, mean spinster sister. It’s hard to put on a happy face when they and other family members

come around, when I’m scared about my future. And their life is just grand. So how does one move past jealousy?

Jealous

subordinate issue to the jealousy, but your jealousy is just a symptom of your dying sense of self-worth.

The way they treat you will tell you what demon you must slay to revive it – a personal one, where you feel inferior despite your family’s support and enlightened values, or a family-culture one, where lifting yourself up means walking away from a familial value system where trappings pass for success.

Start by identifying those who would undermine your progress, and work to minimize both their presence in and impact on your life.

Dear Jealous, It’s impossible for me to discern whether your brother and his wife have helped to marginalise you as “loser/ spinster,” or whether that’s your doing alone.

But if they look down on you for being single or getting laid off, or if they are raising an entitled or contemptuous child, then life for them isn’t “just grand.”

How your family treats you may seem like a

Friday May 25, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Your recent role as peacekeeper is not a permanent one, so you can turn off the diplomacy act today. If someone says something controversial in a group, don't try to suppress it or smooth it over. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your wanderlust is running low right now, and your attitude today will be centered around staying close to home. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Your strong possessive tendencies will come to the forefront today when someone threatens to take something away from you. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): If you want something done right today, you are going to have to do it yourself.

It's not that the people around you won't want to help -- and it's not even that these people aren't capable. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): You did good, and people are going to be patting you on the back left and right today!

You can choose to be modest about all your recent achievements, or you can choose to soak up that limelight and do your best rockstar swagger all day long. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Just because the last family gathering you went to wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs doesn't mean that the next one can't be more enjoyable. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Little things mean a lot,

so take advantage of your ability to appreciate the smaller things in life today -when you notice someone's smile isn't quite as bright as usual, or that they have a little bit less pep in their step, make a kind gesture to let them know that they are supported. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): Just when you thought you were settling in to a routine session of small talk with a friend of a friend today, they will say one small thing that sends you both into a deep and rewarding conversation. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): You and someone whose mind you can usually read inside and out are not matching up today -- it seems as though they are almost like a different person! .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Do you feel as though you owe someone an apology or an explanation?

You need to deal with that today. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): If someone accuses you of being too emotional, don't take it personally. Your ability to stay in touch with your feelings is nothing to be ashamed of -- voices that criticize you belong to people who wish they were as centered and as self-aware as you are. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20):All signs are pointing to a fantastic new beginning for you -- and a long journey or another sort of geographical change could be coming soon.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Supah Ninjas 10:00hrs. Power Rangers 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:35hrs. Movie: The Wild Stallion 14:05hrs. Movie: Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog 16:00hrs. Goosebumps 17:00hrs. The Baptist Hour 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Issues of the People (Live) 21:00hrs. Indian Movie 00:00hrs. Sign Off NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 05:00h - Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 05:10h - Meditation 05:30h - Queenstown Masjid Presents Quran This Morning 06:00h - R. Gossai General Store Presents Durga Bhajans 06:15h - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Durga Bhajans 06:30h - Muneshwar Limited Presents Durga Bhajans 06:45h - Double Standard Taxi Presents Durga Bhajans 07:00h - RRT Enterprise Presents Hanuman Bhajans 07:15h - M & M Snackette Presents Raja Yoga Discourses 07:30h - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents Durga Bhajans 07:45h - The Family of the Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Durga Bhajans 08:00h - NTN This Morning Live with Reyaz Husein 09:30h - Indian Soap - Yahaan Mein Ghar Ghar Kheli 10:00h - Indian Soap - Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 10:30h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 11:00h - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 11:30h - Indian Soap - Punar Vivaah 12:00h - DVD Movie:- LOVE BREAKUPS ZINDAGI (Eng: Sub:) *ing Dia Mirza, Zayed Khan, Cyrus Sahukar, Tisca Chopra & Auritra Ghosh 14:30h - Cartoons 15:00h - Investigation Discovery 16:00h - Headline News 16:30h - Devotional Time 17:00h - Drying Tears Live with Pastor Edson 18:00h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial

18:15h - Birthday Greetings / Deaths Announcement & In Memoriam 18:30h - Inside the Government 19:00h - IPL 5 - Qualifier 2 CHENNAI SUPER KINGS v DELHI DAREDEVILS 21:30h - New Life World Outreach 21:45h - 15 Minutes for Allah 22:00h - Forgotten Melodies Live with Frederick Rampersaud 24:00h - Sign Off with the Gayatri Mantra NCN CHANNEL 11 04:30hrs – Inspiration 05:00hrs – Newtown Gospel 05:30hrs – NCN Late Edition News(R/B) 06:00hrs – 2ndTest West Indies VS England –DAY 1 08:40hrs – Cricket Resumes 10:40hrs – Cricket Info & Quiz 11:00hrs – Cricket Resumes 13:00hrs – NCN Newsbreak 13:05hrs – Stop the Suffering 14:00hrs – IPL 2nd Qualifier 17:00hrs – Anderson 18:00hrs – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30hrs – Pulse Beat 19:00hrs – Al Jazeera 19:30hrs – Close Up 20:00hrs – 3d/daily millions/ play de dream/lotto draw 20:05hrs – Grow With IPED 20:35hrs – Fam Fest 21:05hrs – Independence Flag Raising (Live) MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 06:00hrs Islamic perspective (Quran)

06:30hrs News Update 07:00hrs DAYBREAK – (live) 08:00hrs Dabi’s Variety 08:30hrs Avon Video & DVD Musical Melodies 09:00hrs BBC World News 09:15hrs Top Notch music Break 09:30hrs Caribbean temptation Music Mix 10:00hrs Payless Variety Music mix 10:30hrs Double Day Int. Music Break 11:00hrs H Persaud ( Crown Chowmein) music break 11:30hrs The View 12:00hrs Village Talk: 12:30hrs The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs Days of our lives 14:00hrs The Revolution 15:00hrs General Hospital 16:00hrs The Bold and the Beautiful 16:30hrs Cartoons 17:00hrs Birthdays and other greetings 17:15hrs Death Announcement/ In Memoriam 17:30hrs Al Ja zeerqa News 18:00hrs Charran’s Radiator Video Hits 18:30hrs Kingdom Voice 19:00hrs Soul Melodies 19:30hrs News Update 20:30hrs Clear Water Music Hour 21:30hrs Music Request Hour 22:30hrs Sitcom 23:00hrs News Update 23:30hrs Movie Golden Swallow Sign off

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 26

WANTED One cook, must know to cook Roti & Puri. Call 6477432 Live-in domestic must know to cook and 1 waitress, salary 50,000 monthly.

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

Contact: 690-1943, 691-8021

Kaieteur News

EDUCATIONAL Imperial College – CXC Jan/ June 2013 exam. Day/ Evening classes, flexible hours. Contact 227-7627, 683-5742 Private tutor –home schooling. CXC English, adult upgrading. Call: 6494247

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

Tele# 688-4905 Pastry, roti/puri makers, counter servers, cleaners, handy boys & waiters.

Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St.

WANTED Contract cars. Must be in Hire & Yellow. Base free. $3500 weekly. Call 660-9977

Manager’s Assistant general duties including Custom and Bond, Security Guards, accommodation available. Call: 676-6700

Waitresses @ Diamond Gate Liquor Restaurant and Bar, Lot 18 Belmont Mahaica.

Tel# 228-5013, 622-5599

1 Diesel Mechanic, to work in the interior. Tel# 688-4905

Carpenter with own tools.

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

225-4631

Experienced sewing machine operators. Tele no.: 220-4337 Experienced House Keeper.

To work on the E.C.D (parttime). Tel: 225-1787.

Female to work in production department Tel: 645-1208 Experience Interior drivers Call Paul : 592-646-6730,592225-1939 Mill/Saw Doctors, Moulder Operators to work @ Jettoo’s Sawmill @ Coverden Public Road, E.B.D. Call – 261-5041, 2615042, 226-2756 One female bartender to live and work in Mahdia.

Attractive salary. Contact # 680-9473/616-7241 Workers for landscaping.

656-1326, 626-1044

1 General Domestic. Must know to cook, from East Bank Dem. Area. Tel# 614-4358 Sales boy and girl. 615-3090 Experienced Graphic Artist.

Tel# 233-2725, 233-2439 Sawmill workers. Tel: 2616412/653-9752 I need an apartment to rent; call after 06:00pm - 648-0797 Driver for canter truck. $20,000. Full-time Porter & Mechanic to work part-time on W.C.D. Call: 684-8231 Buying non working appliances such as fridge, washing machine, freezer, etc. 669-9427 Female workers needed; 3 subjects or sound secondary education. Call: 225-7307.

Waitress to work in a bar. Will have to live in. Contact tel# 661-8965

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

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

We refill HP cartridges for $1,800. Call:650-7699 Visa and Immigration forms prepared for Canada, USA and UK. Also Passport forms. Call 626-9857 Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & Stoves.

Ultra Cool: 225-9032, 6472943 House plan drafting for only $10,000. Building estimate for only $10,000. Call: 6949843.

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

FREIGHTLINKEXPRESS@ GMAIL.COM WE FILL OUT PASSPORT & VISA FORMS: USA, UK & CANADA. TEL: 2315789 Repairs in all types of Jet-Ski, stern-drive, inboard and outboard engine (2 & 4 stroke). Contact: 694-7949 Do you need a female bahir (cook) to work in interior?

Call Andrea 692-1798, 6527355 Free excavated mud. Supply transportation. Location Hadfield and Sendall Place.

Seeking partners for gold investments. Gold detectors $275,000. Computer repairs.

670-4302 We repair fridge, freezer, AC ,washer, dryer Call: 231-0655, 683-8734 Omar.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

Body kit for IST. 641-1127

One Massey Ferguson 399 Tractor. Call: 619-6093

1 Cabin Cruse 431’x8’. 1 InDord Hull 50’x13’ Boat. Tel: 622-5500 EBD 1 solar photovolic system for household use. 661-0088, 615-0022 Slate pool table, 6 base music set, merry go round Call:2282098 Canon 4 Function Inkjet Colour Printer; also: 80 GB IDE Hard Drives for computer. Reasonable price – Call: 675-5196 or 622-1541 233 pieces Mastercraft Tool Kits; IBM P4 Computer, 18" LCD Monitor. Reasonable price–Call:675-5196or622-1541 Original projector, next to new. Call: 671-935 2001 F-150 Ford, 8 cylinder engine with 4 WD. Very good condition, with fiberglass cab on back. GLL plates. $2,000,000. Call Hans 6455596

15ft Fiber glass boat $170,000 call: 260-0301, 685-1233 Sale Sale. Big Blow Out Sale.

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

One Toyota RZ Longbase EFI, hardly used BKK series $1.6M. Call: Rocky 621-5902 2004 Mazda RX8, body kit, black, unregistered, $3M. 617-2891 Unregistered Allion and Spacio. Tel# 697-0294 1 Premio PNN series, TV, camera. # 616-6000

1999 Tacoma 4 cylinder engine with 4 WD. Good condition, GLL plates. $2,000,000. Call Andrew 6388599

Used Fridge $45,000 . Used cooler Lg $85,000. Used freezer small $27,000, Lg $65,000. Excellent condition.

612-1486.

Roof Rack, Spot Lights, Crash bar, Blue Tooth Radio, Double Battery System, Leather seats, 645-2286

Toyota Prado, 2004 Prado, 2005 Mark II, GX110, 2005 Tundra. All fully loaded, excellent condition. Call: 600-5759

Stainless steel sheet.

Excellent for table top, etc.

Call: 612-1486

One unregistered new model Noah. Financing available. Price $3.6M. Tel: 629-2314

Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stovetimers, gear boxes, pumps, etc. Contact 225-9032, 647-2943 Brand new Blackberry Torch 9800, under $100,000. Call: 676-7443 1 AT170 Corona as scrap.

626-1044 Two 60-180 Leyland Daf dump trucks for sale in working condition. 628-1756, 228-5655

Kitchen Assistant. Come in to Dian’s Deli, Barr St. Kitty.

Chain saw operator and chokeman urgently. Good salary. Tel# 676-4262, 6416906

One Caterpillar D6 Bulldozer.

Call: 622-1957

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

Dell computers with LCD & free memory upgrade $59,000 Call: 225-3709,641-0537,6912077

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

Bag Neck Seal Tape. 231-8819

Corolla Fielder just registered, AT 170 Carina.

Price negotiable. Call 6149623

1 2004 Honda Civic AT, music, excellent condition.

PMM series. One year in taxi, $1,750,000. Contact 6505567

1 cashier (3 subjects) 1 pastry maker/cook salary $60,000.

Waitress, salary $40,000. To work interior. Age 18-30.

Contact 616-7543

LEARN TO DRIVE Prudential Learning “ Training to Pass” stick/ manual and automatic 6424827 We’re #1

Blu Ray DVDs. Perfume Dazzle 231-9485

1 special edition Toyota Runx PNN. 2 Nissan Wingroad Wagon. Tel: 6122522

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

1 Kawasaki Ninja Bike Model 2009, 600cc, CG 2468.

Contact# 677-1218, 216-0317

Truck to fetch mud. Call 6231615

Brand new American made Crosely 10.5 cu ft Refrigerator for sale $75,000.

626-4452/697-5677

Two Detroit Diesel series 50 engines, 300 HP. Call Troy 601-9004.

(1) experienced waitress @ Mambo’s Bar, 93 Bar Street, Kitty.

Scrap Iron, 1 Cutter/ Fabricator, 1 gardener, 4 scrap metal loaders, dredge workers, 1 truck driver. Tel: 623-2728, 618-1967, 667-5717

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

Hilux 4x4 solid def pick-up, diesel, long base, excellent condition Call: 623-0243

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

Urgently. Hire Car drivers.

Contact 656-8022 & 6390166

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

One 21 gallon Air Compressor. Contact Nicky – 646-6000, 697-9610

2005 H2 Hummer, 38,500 mileage fully loaded, chrome kit etc. Call: 639-3100, 6195400

Dell Laptops & Desktops.

Complete with 19" LCD. From $70,000. Future Tech – 231-2206

Security Contact: 223-5273-4

CAKES & PASTRIES

American dog food; 44lbs$5,500; 33lbs - $4000; 4lbs $800. Call: 628-9119

VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610

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

One live in maid and one maid to come and go. No cooking. No washing.

Contact # 639-6500

One (1) Handyman/ Gardener. For more information please call O. Persaud 222-7003, 664-0807

Bulah Enterprise Inc. seeks interior charter Call: 592-6466730,5692-225-1939

Friday May 25, 2012

2004 Land Rover Discovery.

100,000 miles. Excellent condition.

Off road suspension and tires. Warn Winch. Call: 645-2286 PEN PAL East Indian male 48, is looking for a friend. Call: 6901405

Two 8ft Slate American pool tables, one Nissan Titan & variety of restaurant equipment. Call: 622-1957 Corrugated Zinc sheet @ 40% off. Local Lumber @ 25% off. Pine Lumber @ 10% off. Zack’s Lumber. Tel# 2267054.

Games for PSP $900, PS2 $900, Xbox 360 $2600, PS3 $2600, Xbox, Wii. Junior 6722566, 265-3231 Cell Phones – Samsung, LG, Blackberry, etc. on wholesale. Contact 682-6874 2003 Kawasaki Ninja, also 8 Camera DVR Security System. Tel: 643-6468, 6867273 Tibetan terrier, Daschund pup, Pekinese pup. 694-7221, Vreed-en-Hoop – Pet Shop 1 Pitch Propellor – 48"x36".

1 Propellor Shaft – 3 ½ “ Dia x 13’6". 1 Little Giant Dragline with 371 Engine. Tel# 6941440/618-2570 Used 1400x20 Model M Truck tyre. Call 648-2413

International Tow Truck with flat aluminum bed; takes two vehicles. Call: 639-3900, 619-5400

2 & 3 ton enclosed canter, unregistered. 617-2891 One Allion, fully powered, A/C, music, mag. Tel: 2590836, cell: 621-7838 1 Marino $650,000, perfect working condition. Part payment available.

Telephone#650-5057, 6489137-1 Just arrived! Hilux solid axle pick up Tel:222-2662,6912077 AT170 Carina. Price $550,000 neg. Call: 673-2945, 671-3020 One 2 ton enclosed canter.

Price $1.1M negotiable.

Contact # 253-3349, 6938830 Unregistered Spacio (Blue) $2.5M. Fielder (Blue) $2.4M. Tel# 641-1127 One EP71 and 82 Starlet, 1Toyota Ceres and RZ Minibus, 1 – 192 Carina, Nissan Pathfinder, PMM. Call: 644-5096, 697-1453 (Continued on page 27)

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Sammy craves crucial victory in second...

From back page players, we have shown we can get 20 wickets.”

“We have shown we are capable of scoring 350 runsplus, as we came close to doing in the second innings of the first Test, and this was after losing our top three cheaply, so if we can post a very good total, we can look to get a victory in this Test match.”

West Indies have not won a Test in England, since Jimmy Adams’ side crushed the hosts by an innings and 93 runs at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the venue for the final Test, starting on June 7.

Sammy said West Indies had a lot to gain if they can find the winning formula in this Test.

“At the start of the series, we said we were going to come with a never-say-die at-

titude, and when everybody wrote us off. . .we took [the first Test] past lunch on the final day and this is the attitude we have brought to England,” he said.

“We want to come out and play hard and push the No.1 team in the World, and hopefully, when we have their backs up against the wall, to maintain pressure and look to get a result.”

He added: “Being successful means that you need victories – and this is something that has eluded us, although we’ve played some

76ers fight off Boston to force...

From page 28 had 20 and 11 but no other Celtics player scored more than nine and they finished with just 33 percent shooting from the field. “I thought they

Guyana gears up to host...

From back page supportive from the start in his remarks, said he was extremely pleased to hear that Banks DIH will be hosting the inaugural event in Guyana.

He spoke of those who attempted to dissuade him from attending the tournament when it was launched some years ago, pointing to the danger it posed for him to be present in certain communities.

“When it started there were those who tried to discourage me from attending matches in certain communities, but I refused to heed to their call and I want to say here today that I have no regrets in endorsing the event which as everyone has seen has raised beyond all expectations,” Dr. Anthony said.

He stated that all along they always believed that the model was a good one for the rest of the Caribbean to emu-

good cricket. We need to find that first victory to get the dressing room pumped up.

“Hopefully, we could do it here, where we are playing the No.1 Test side in the World, and if we could win in England, which we have not done for a long time, it would be a major accomplishment for this team.”

Bright sunshine and warm temperatures again greeted the visitors when they trained at the match venue on Thursday – and the weather seemed set fair for the duration of the Test.

late and expressed happiness that Guinness has found it practicable to embrace it.

“It is a success story, we have pioneered it and it is good that others have embraced it and it is really marvellous that we are giving it to the rest of the Caribbean,” the Minister mentioned.

He spoke of it working as a catalyst to stimulate other communities to strive to be winners so that they now could earn the right to represent Guyana in the next competition.

“What we see here is ordinary guys getting an opportunity to do something positive for their community and country,” Dr. Anthony said.

Mendonca, one of the initial co-ordinators of the tournament gave an overview of the two tournaments and urged fans to come out and support them.

had a lot of energy form the building. They just outplayed us,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “We played random a lot. We have to do a better job offensively.”

Boston took a 36-33 lead during a sluggish first half but fell behind in the second half.

The 76ers led by four going into the fourth quarter but pulled away with an 8-1 run to seal the win.

VEHICLES FOR SALE Top Notch Auto Sales. 2004 Mazda RX8, $3M. Free reg.

Tel: 674-2844.

2002 RAV4 L Tel: 6410909,276-0229 Toyota Sprinter, fully loaded, TV, AC, CD, Alarm, single owner. For immediate sale.

Contact: 669-2747, 626-9834

VACANCY Salesgirls & Salesboys.

Apply: Avinash Complex, Water St. Georgetown. 2263361/227-7828

(From page 26)

Experienced Hair Dresser at Nalline Beauty Salon, Vreeden-Hoop Junction (Raymond Building).

Attractive salary. Contact: 687-3341, 639-9884 Be part of our world class customer care team. Join us now! Phone: 220-0401-3

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

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

Fish cleaners. Eccles. 2332546, 675-5467

1 three bedroom house Prashad Nagar, asking price $29M neg. Call: 227-2563, 684-2115

Garden Maintenance Crew.

No education needed. Must be neat and hardworking: 18 yrs-30yrs. Tel: 648-1821

Lot 9 Johns St., Port Mourant, Berbice house with 12 rooms, on 16 Acres Land. Call: 337-1500.

For Porters. Apply in person Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

L.B.I G$28m, Industry G$74m P/Nagar G$35m, D’Urban Street W/Ville G$35m Courida Park US$330,000 609 2302/645 2580/233 5711

7:45am to 5pm. Sheriff St. Sales person & Plant maintenance staff for #1 Plant Shop. Secondary education a must. Tel# 648-1821

McDoom G$21m, Agricola G$20m, Eccles H/S G$20m, Campbellville G$50m, Blankenburgh G$19m, Tuschen G$11m 609 2302/ 645 2580/233 5711 East Bank $12M. West Coast $3.5M. Alberttown $19M. Newtown $28M. Hotel $135M. Diana 227-2256, 6269382

Experienced cooks & able bodied security guards.

Apply in person @ Aracari Resort, 160 Plantation Versailles, WBD. Tel: 2642946 One Electronics Repair Specialist to repair cellphones, laptops, cameras. Attractive salary, blackberry service. Contact 231-9770 for information.

Hilton Hotel: Receptionist & Maids. Henry St. 223-6284.

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

Leading Auto. Unregistered Allion, Premio, Runx, Spacio, Avensis, Verossa, 212. Tele: 677-7666, 610-7666.

Land V/Hoop 2 acre: school, housing, factory, etc. call: 658-0115

CAR RENTAL

Grove H/S 86’ X 50’ G$4.5m, Adventure Linden Highway 150 acres G$40m 609 2302/ 645 2580/233 5711

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

Brickdam 96’X 63’ G$82m, Eping Ave B.A.P 150’ X 100" US$500,000, Carmichael Street 100" X 62" US$500,000 609 2302/645 2580/233 5711

First Choice Car Rental cars $5,000-7,000 per day 6680306, 225-6337

Land of Canaan Wharf 140’ X 50’ on lot 11.88 acres, US$2.5m Forshaw Street 118’ X 62’ G$72m 609 2302/ 645 2580/233 5711

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

TO LET Four (4) bedroom apartment.

Contact: 682-8875 Nandy Park 3 bedroom furnished US$600 mth, Fully furnished 3 bedroom top flat US$950, Kitty 2 flat residence/business US$1,200, 609 2302/645 2580/233 5711 Business place to rent, very spacious. Call: 226-2674/ 684-6360,223-1301,682-6822 Short term apartments, Eccles. Call: 679-7139 Work Shop to do Mechanic Work on the West Coast Dem. Call: 684-8231 Apartments/Rooms. Tel: 667-1549 Prashad Nagar $18,000.

Camp Street $60,000.

Cambellville $100,000.

Albertown $150,000. Diana 227-2256, 626-9382 One two bedroom bottom flat; toilet & bath; fully grilled. Public Road, Grove, E.B.D. Call: 621-0090

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, 619-7603, 666-5241

LAND FOR SALE

Ogle Public Rd 140’ X 100’ G$45m, Sophia Seawall Road 130" X 86’ US$550,000, Ogle Corner 200’ X 78’ US$750,000, 609 2302/645 2580/233 5711

MASSAGE

Seeta & Soma Salon.

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

Al’s Car & Pick-up Rental.

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

TOUR Independence Day Tour. 26, 27 May. Capoey Lake. Joy 218-1285, 649-9059, 692-3114

ACCOMMODATION Signature Inn Luxury Suites & Apartments 83 Laluni Street, Queenstown. Call for reservations 226-2145, 2275037 Harmony inn fully furnished self contained a/c apartments, Short term& long term Parfaite Harmony WBD Tel:694-7817

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

Digicel honours winners of President’s/Jefford Classic

By Sean Devers The respective winners of the third annual President’s/ Jefford Track and Field Classic that was held in Linden on May 20 received their prizes from Digicel at the Kingston Head Office of the telecommunications giants yesterday afternoon.

Julio Sinclair of the Police Progressive Youth Club copped the male champion athlete of the meet award, while Junior CARIFTA double Gold medalist, Jevina Straker of the Running Brave Athletics Club was adjudged female champion athlete.

For the second year in a row, the Police Progressive Youth Club, coached by Lynden Wilson, emerged Champions in the club competition and collected $500,000 and a beautiful trophy. National Park United collected the $300,000 second place prize and the Guyana Defence Force $100,000 for

- Jamaican sprinter could grace meet next year third place.

Edison Jefford expressed gratitude to the clubs for participating in not the best of conditions due to the adverse weather at the McKenzie Sports Club and was high in praise for what he described as the largest crowd in the three-year history of the competition despite the rain.

“I want to go on record in expressing my gratitude to the athletes who braved adverse conditions to compete in Linden. I also want to thank all those who turned out in their numbers to support the meet. Despite the bad weather, it was our largest crowd todate. I think that was a strong statement of support for both the meet and Digicel,” Jefford stated.

The former junior runner also thanked the five

overseas athletes for participating and Digicel for their continued sponsorship of the event.

President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Colin Boyce said that as a part of the organising committee he was a bit peeved that the conditions was not conducive for the best performances from the athletes and congratulated the clubs for a remarkable showing in testing conditions.

He explained that while athletes from Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago were on show he was disappointed that Suriname could not be present due to the internal problems in their athletics association that ruled them out of the competition.

Boyce commended Digicel for their support and

said that the aim is to bring more overseas athletes to Guyana to provide exposure to the local athletes since the cost of sending athletes to overseas events is very costly.

He also encouraged the athletes present yesterday to continue their hard work and remain committed to improving their standard.

Boyce disclosed that the meet intends to grow to the level where individual athletes who place among the top three in races can also be financially rewarded instead of just the clubs since some of the smaller clubs might find it hard to “get into the bulk money” in the team competition.

Boyce also disclosed that next year’s event could be moved from May to the summer to avoid the May/ June rain and promised that the competition will be around for a long time given the statement that it is becoming a household name in Linden.

Boyce also promised to explore the option of having a Jamaican sprinter as a guest athlete next year and informed that runners from Grenada, T&T, Suriname, Antigua and Barbados could also be included in next year’s event, which he said should be bigger and better, just like

Police Progressive Youth Club Coach, Lyndon Wilson collects the President’s/Jefford Track and Field Championship trophy from Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James yesterday.

Digicel’s network.

Digicel’s sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope, himself a former athlete, said Digicel was pleased to see the level of performances in the wet conditions and promised continued support for next year’s event.

“The athletes showed heart and came out and gave their best. In most other places in the world the meet would have been called off. I am really proud of the commitment showed by the athletes,” Hope said.

Hope also commended the Organisers for a job well done in giving local athletes a chance to perform.

“History has been created

this year with five international athletes involved, but we at Digicel always look to get bigger and better, and we challenge the organisers to double the amount of international athletes next year,” Hope pitched.

Boyce said the challenge was accepted and felt that with the improved condition of the facility in Linden, the fourth edition of the President’s/Jefford Classic will continue to be impressive.

Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James and its Public Relations, Manager Shonette Moore were also present at yesterday presentation ceremony.

Joseph and ‘Jumbie’ host Domino Competition at Punter’s Place President of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Orin Joseph and Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire will be staging an after Independence Day countrywide competition this Sunday, at Punter’s Place in Ann’s Grove, starting from 13:00 hrs.

According to the Organisers, the format will be the 2 in 1 out format over six games and teams are required to pay an entrance fee of $10,000.

The winning team is anticipated to cart off $120,000, runners-up $60,000 and 3rd place $40,000, but these prizes are subject to change.

The first six teams to register will be given six beers of their choice, while the winning trophy was donated by Golden Masters.

Teams from Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara have already expressed interest in participating in the tournament.

Organisers Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire (left) and Orin Joseph pose with the winning trophy yesterday.

76ers fight off Boston to force Game Seven (Reuters) The Philadelphia 76ers ground out an 82-75 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday to force a deciding Game Seven in their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series.

Philadelphia’s seasonsaving victory was far from pretty, but they avoided elimination with a gritty effort

to tie the best-of-seven series at 3-3 and set up the decider in Boston on Saturday.

“I think it’s going to be crazy, especially being there in Boston,” said 76ers point guard Jrue Holiday, who led Philadelphia with 20 points.

“We need to go in there and get this win. I’m looking forward to it.”

Elton Brand added 13 and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, who are on the brink of springing another postseason upset after eliminating top seeds Chicago in the opening round.

Boston’s Paul Pierce recorded 24 points and 10 rebounds while Kevin Garnett (Continued on page 27)

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

We don’t want to get ahead Strauss of ourselves: AFP – Nottingham: England captain Andrew Strauss has warned his side to expect more difficult days ahead as they seek to wrap up a series victory over the West Indies.

Strauss’s men go into the second leg of a three-match series, which gets underway at Trent Bridge here today, with a 1-0 lead after a fivewicket win at Lord’s.

But the West Indies took England, the world’s leading Test side, into the fifth day at Lord’s and twice made them stumble in pursuit of a victory target of 191.

“It was very hard work (at Lord’s), that’s always the case with Test match cricket,” Strauss told Sky Sports at Trent Bridge here on Thursday.

“Often it’s hard work to get on top of the opposition and often it’s hard work to nail that final nail in coffin. The West Indies put up a really good fight, there’s times when they made life difficult for us and we were relieved to a certain extent to get over the line and win that game, but we’re also aware we have to do it again this week if we want to win,” added opening batsman Strauss, who ended his 18-month wait for a Test century at Lord’s.

Alastair Cook (79) and Ian Bell (63 not out) saw England to victory at Lord’s after they were in trouble at 57 for four, while the first Test was a personal triumph for seamer Stuart Broad, who took 11 wickets in the match.

“That target was tricky and there was a time when we were under a bit of pressure and Alastair Cook and Ian Bell

dealt with that very well, and that’s very important,” said Strauss.

“There were some really good performances from our side. Obviously Stuart Broad bowled exceptionally well, most of the batters got a score in the game, so I think we’re feeling in pretty good form heading into this match. But as I said before, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, it’s going to be very hard work this week, and matches here are always hard fought.”

While England ponder whether to alter their seam attack, after all-rounder Tim Bresnan managed just one for 144 at Lord’s, the West Indies will be forced into at least one change.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who took four wickets on debut at Lord’s, was subsequently ruled out of the rest of the series with a back injury.

His absence could see the return of fellow quick Ravi Rampaul, who would have played at Lord’s but for a neck problem.

“Last year-and-a-half Ravi has been the guy who always takes wickets with the new ball for us,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

“The way Kemar Roach is bowling and the inclusion of Ravi, that could be a very good combination for us.”

And the tourists — who in 22 matches against Nottinghamshire and England dating back to 1906 have never lost a first-class fixture at Trent Bridge, a run including four wins and four draws in eight Tests — could recall off-spinner Shane Shillingford.

Andrew Strauss

The Dominican was left out at Lord’s, despite taking 10 wickets in his previous Test against Australia on home soil in Roseau last month. But Sammy said he could return as West Indies look to improve on a record of just two wins in their last 31 Tests.

“Most definitely, we’ll consider playing Shillingford,” Sammy said.

“Looking at our attack, playing on flat pitches over the last year or so, a spinner has always been in our lineup, and we’ve gone with the two quick men and myself (a medium-pacer), and that has been successful for us. So we’ll definitely consider that and hopefully we can go out there and take 20 wickets against England.”

National Sports Commission Independence junior Badminton tournament underway The NSC Independence Junior Tournament started Monday at the Queens College Badminton Courts and saw quite a number of entries from different schools and matches were played in the Under 11, 13, 17 & 19 Singles Events to date.

Junior Sports Woman of the Year, Pan Am Bronze Medalist 2010/2011 & Caribbean Under-11 & 13 Champion Priyanna Ramdhani won the Under-11 & 13 Events keeping up her fine run of form.

The Results of the matches played were: Under-11 Boys Singles Finals: Meer Rahaman defeated Christopher Killkelly: 21-6, 21-12 Under-11 Girls Singles Semi Finals: Ria Persram

defeated Kristen Alleyne: 2110, 21-13 Under-11 Girls Singles Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Ria Persram: 21-2, 21-2 Under-13 Boys Singles Finals: Omari Joseph defeated Shane Shewjattan: 21-18, 1921, 21-11 Under-13 Girls Singles Quarter Finals: Elmira Persaud defeated Cindy Sookwah: 2110, 21-9, Kara Abrams defeated Tatiana Lee: 21-4, 21-3 Under-13 Girls Singles Semi-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Elmira Persaud: 21-4, 21-7, Kara Abrams defeated Ria Persram: 21-5, 21-4 Under-13 Girls Singles Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated KaraAbrams: 21-8, 21-8 Under-17 Boys Singles Quarter-Finals: Narayan

Ramdhani defeated Omari Joseph: 21-9, 21-5, Cecil Abrams defeated Jonathan Persaud: 21-9, 21-13, Jonathan Mangra defeated Ashwyn John: 21-11, 21-11, Noel Shewjattan defeated Anthony Murray: 21-9, 21-6 Under-17 Boys Singles Semi-Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Cecil Abrams: 21-9, 21-5, Noel Shewjattan defeated Jonathan Mangra: 21-18, 21-14 Under-17 Girls Singles Quarter-Finals: Greer Jackson defeated Ambika Ramraj: 2113, 21-16, Varsha Boodram defeated Crystal Dey: 21-4, 21-6, Angelica Holder defeated Meshonn Persaud: 21-7, 21-1 The tournament continues today from 4:30PM.

Page 29

‘No one will beat me’ Bolt promises ‘great things’ at Olympics OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AFP) — Sprint superstar Usain Bolt transformed the world of athletics with a stunning set of world record-setting performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Jamaican went on to better his double sprint records at the Berlin worlds a year later, but insisted Wednesday that he would be ready to deliver more “great things” at this summer’s London Games.

“It’s the Olympics, I’m going there to do great things,” said Bolt, who opened his season on home soil earlier this month with a 9.82sec over 100m and kicks off his European season here today.

“I want to repeat what I did in Beijing,” he said, adding: “If I’m in great shape, no one will beat me in London, that’s for sure.”

Bolt, who lost his world 100m title to compatriot Yohan Blake in Daegu last year after false starting in the final, added: “I’m working hard, things are coming together smoothly.

“I’m trying to stay focused and I know I’ll get there. I expect to run fast, that’s the expectation I have of myself. I definitely want to continue the start of my season.

“I’m working with my coach (Glenn Mills) on my transition and technique, ironing out a few problems. “I’m definitely on the good path, the right track. I’ve been injury free and I’m looking to doing extremely well at the Olympics.”

That said, Bolt insisted that setting world record times were not as important as claiming gold.

“You can’t say,” he answered when asked what time he expected to win the 100m. “You never know what the temperature will be, you never know what will happen on the day. “I’ll

run as fast as possible to get across the line first. I’m not really worried about the time.”

Bolt stressed that he had been forced to take stock after his stunning false-start in Daegu last July, which left fans shell-shocked as one of the world’s most recognisable sporting figures was led off the track.

“One thing I learnt about my false start in Daegu is that I definitely need to be myself,” he said.

“I went through the season doing bad starts, but it came together in Daegu. I was anxious because I was doing so well and I lost focus.

“In the 200m, I went right back to being me and there was no problem. I’m over that because I know why I false started. It won’t be a factor.”

Bolt welcomed Blake’s rise to prominence, saying it was “good for the sport”, explaining that the lack of race-offs between the duo was due to a number of factors such as varying fitness levels, agents’ demands and building up suspense over the season.

“You can never be worried about one person. I know what I’ve got to do to be champion. I’m happy where I’m at. “When everyone’s fit and ready, the showdown will be much better and much fairer. “The fact is that we can’t hide, we will race this season!”

Bolt added that he and his Jamaican teammates were ready to face up against their traditional US rivals led by the likes of Tyson Gay, Wallace Spearmon and Walter Dix. “We’re just keeping it up,” he said of the sprint rivalry between the two nations.

“It’s been back and forth but Jamaica’s on top now. So we’ll try and keep it that way.

They’ve got to work really hard.”

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Friday May 25, 2012

LOC updates media

G

u y a n a ’ s N a t i o n a l football team, Golden Jaguars participation in the third round of the CONCACAF 2014 World Cup Qualifiers at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on June 12 against Costa Rica, on September 11 against El Salvador and on October 12 against Mexico, South America’s top football teams will be on rigid security to ensure that everything runs smoothly as the country engages in an advanced level of football.

This was one of the topics that was lamented yesterday afternoon during a press briefing in the Guyana National Stadium Conference Room when members of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Local Organising

- Spectators not allowed in mound Committee (LOC) held a briefing to update the media and to inform the public about the ongoing preparations for the upcoming engagements, and the standards that are required by the World Football Governing Body, FIFA. It was made known that there will be committees in place to manage each sector as it pertains to the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers.

The mound, which football lovers would normally go to enjoy a football game, especially in Jaguars previous engagements, will not be available for public use on the three significant days as it will be a breach of the FIFA

specified rules. “An inspector was sent to Guyana from FIFA to inspect the Stadium. It was revealed that the Stadium is suitable once the mounds are not occupied.”

The Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Dr. Frank A n t h o n y h a v e recommended that the GFF undertake persons with the relevant expertise needed for such a major move for Guyana in the world of football. Anthony also made noteworthy suggestions to the Federation when they held previous consultations.

It was also made notable that the Kashif and Shanghai Organization will add their wealth of experience and knowledge to assist in marketing and promoting the matches as the GFF gear up to make the hosting of the matches an overwhelming success both on the field and off.

According to General Coordinator Kirk Douglas,

(From left)- Media Consultant Troy Peters, General Coordinator of the LOC Kirk Douglas and Deputy General Secretary of the GFF George Rutherford at yesterday’s Meeting with the media. they are determined to leave no stones unturned in their quest to stage a successful round of matches against three of CONCACAF powerhouses.

Meanwhile, the elimination of the mound will see the quantity of tickets being reduced for matches, while all tickets ($3000) will have security features which will prevent duplication and the ambush marketers from defrauding the process.

Douglas informed that they have also taken a number of suggestions from Minister Anthony and have even expanded on some of

them to include persons with the relevant expertise as recommended by the Minister.

According to Douglas, even though Guyana successfully hosted matches in their World Cup campaign previously at the Caribbean Football Union level, the hosting of CONCACAF matches is a totally different level and more stringent requirements are mandated

by FIFA. Douglas also pointed out that the LOC have formed various sub-committees with respective functions that will be responsible for many other aspects of

ensuring that come June 12, all bases are covered and Guyana could ensure that regardless of what occurs on the field of play, a positive legacy is left in the minds of visitors.

Deputy General Secretary of the GFF George Rutherford in his remarks also highlighted the preparations that the local governing body is currently engaged in and even touched on some of the other requirements of FIFA for the staging of the three matches.

Rutherford quizzed on whether it was safe to say that Guyana have already received the green light to press ahead with preparations, answered in the affirmative, adding that all systems are pointing to go. Media Consultant Troy Peters, who chaired the interactive session called on the media to support the GFF by assisting in disseminating the pertinent information to the general public since it is imperative that they know about the stipulations handed down by FIFA and would not find themselves in an embarrassing position when they turn up at the Stadium and realize that they have violated the policies that FIFA has mandated that the host country comply with.

He promised to continue the interactive sessions as new developments take place.

Friday May 25, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 31

t r o Sp Guyana gears up to host C/bean Guinness Street Football Challenge

Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony hands over a replica ball to a member of the Back Circle squad (Team Guyana) in the presence of Marketing Executive Carlton Joao (third right), Banks DIH officials and other members of the team yesterday.

By Rawle Welch Describing the moment as a proud one for Banks DIH and Guyana, Marketing Executive of the Beverage giants Carlton Joao was referring to the hosting of the inaugural Guinness Street Football Challenge Tournament which will be competed among six Caribbean territories here in Guyana from June 21-23, at the National Park.

Joao, who’s Company, has been instrumental in conceptualising the model was speaking at the launching of the Tournament which was conducted in the Boardroom of Banks DIH Head Office at Thirst Park yesterday.

Also in attendance were Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Outdoor Events Manager for the Company Mortimer Stewart, Public Relations O ff i c e r Tr o y P e t e r s , Georgetown Football Association President Maj. Ve r n o n B u r n e t t , C o ordinators of the Tournament Troy Mendonca and Marlan Cole and most importantly the members of the Team Guyana and defending champions of the Georgetown segment of last year’s competition Back Circle.

The format of the sport which was borne in 2008 through the efforts of

Mendonca and Cole was the first time that the concept was seen anywhere in an organised manner and this alone according to Joao must be applauded, adding that it has now been adopted in many countries across the Caribbean and further afield.

“This Project has been by the Company (Guinness International) and has now been exported throughout the Caribbean,” Joao reported.

Joao said the countries that will be participating in the inaugural tournament apart from Guyana are Haiti, S t . Vi n c e n t & t h e Grenadines, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

The Marketing Executive revealed that the winning country will have in addition to the monetary first prize, an area within their country a fully constructed facility to play the format, while the team will be equipped with sports kits.

“It is a professionally designed tournament where all the teams will be fully decked out in national colours and the arena fully branded,” Joao disclosed.

Joao further revealed that T&T and Stoke City international Kenwayne Jones will be present in the country during the period of the tournament where he is expected to interact with the teams and fans as the Brand

Digicel honours winners of President’s/Jefford Classic - Jamaican sprinter could grace meet next year

Pg. 28

Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James (fourth, right), Sponsorship Manager, Gavin Hope (left), Public Relations Manager, Shonette Moore (third, left), AAG President, Colin Boyce (second, left) and Co-Coordinator of the Classic, Edison Jefford (right) join in the celebration with the winning clubs and champion athletes yesterday.

Ambassador.

The total prize money is in excess of US$9,000 inclusive of trophies and other related rewards.

The winner walks away with US$4,000, runner-upUS$2,000, 3rd placeUS$1,500 and 4th placeUS$1,000.

The Guyana team will be

outfitted by Banks DIH and will have the luxury of participating in a specially arranged warm-up tournament which commences on Sunday, at the Albouystown Basketball Court.

Dr. Anthony, who it was reported was very (Continued on page 27)

Sammy craves crucial victory in second Test Nottingham, England – Darren Sammy said West Indies have never lost a firstclass match at Trent Bridge, let alone a Test, and his side would like to preserve this cherished record, when they face England in the second Test, starting today here.

Of the eight Tests Windies teams have played at the ground over the years, they have won four and drawn four; and of the 14 tour matches, they have won four and drawn 10.

“West Indies have not lost a first-class match at this ground, so it’s been a happy hunting ground for our teams over the years,” said Sammy on the eve of the Test.

“Maybe, our guys can take encouragement from this and look to put in a better display than we did at Lord’s.”

The visitors lost by five wickets in the first Test, which ended three days ago at the “spiritual home” of the game, giving England a 1-0 lead in this current threematch series.

Darren Sammy Sammy said West Indies will be looking to put up a keen fight to keep this series alive.

“We have nothing to lose, since everybody has written us off,” he said. “But if we can go out there and have our moments of brilliance in the Test, we can gain confidence from this.

“West Indies have never lost a game at Trent Bridge, and the guys are quite optimistic that once we can execute all the things we have discussed in the team meetings about the different (Continued on page 27)

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