Kaieteur News

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May 29, 2012 - Vol. 5 No. 22 - Price $80

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Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Fourteen injured in Coverden bus crash - culprit was trying to overtake two vehicles See page 8

Stepfather gets nine months for assaulting child over stew fish

Pg 18

Rusal threatens lowest sugar legal action against production in 20 years Kwakwani loggers

GuySuCo records

Pg 16

Pg 6

$30M missing pontoon found ‘stashed’ up Mahaica Creek Pg 3

Page 02

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Fire destroys East Coast house A fire of unknown origin totally destroyed a threebedroom house at Felicity, East Coast Demerara.

According to reports the fire started some time after noon and quickly razed the building. At the time of the fire no one was at home.

Patriarch of the home, Yasim Ashim, said that he shared the house with his wife and six children. He said that his father had a separate room at the back of the house.

That was also destroyed.

The man told Kaieteur News that he was at Atlantic Gardens, East Coast

Demerara when a friend broke the news to him. “She asked if I know me house on fire, so I just drop everything and rush back home,� the man told Kaieteur News. Upon his arrival he saw fire fighters battling to control the blaze.

Ashim told Kaieteur News that he was not able to save anything from his home.

The man said that several minutes earlier he had returned to have lunch. He was positive that no electrical appliance was left on. The man said he could not put an estimate to his damages.

Yasim Ashim and five of his six children

Costly error in judgment near old Broadcasting House Two unlucky drivers will learn that an error in judgment can be extremely costly even when there is no human injury.

The driver of motor car HB 743 was heading west along Princes Street. When he was about to cross the junction at High Street, he met with an unexpected fate.

He told this publication that he saw a Canter approaching the corner at least 50 feet away and had signaled an intention to turn east into Princes Street in the vicinity of the former Broadcasting House.

This indication he said, motivated his decision to cross the c o r n e r b u t unknowing to him and outside of his line of sight, a minibus, BNN 4777 had decided to accelerate and overtake the Canter as it was about to make the turn but

collided with the car at the centre of the junction.

The impact forced the car to careen into two utility poles at the southwest corner of the junction where they awaited the arrival of police ranks to intervene.

By the time the police arrived the minibus driver had already removed what had by this time evolved into a traffic obstacle and the duo marked the roadway indicating the point of collision.

Both drivers sustained no physical injuries but rather learnt that even in an injury-free accident someone will have to foot the bill for the repairs as a result of an error in judgment.

The car chocked tightly against the utility poles

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 3

CJIA suspends security passes GuySuCo produces 69 per cent of first crop target for several baggage handlers Authorities, in a major strike to fight the drug trade, recently cancelled the security passes for several baggage handlers operating at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

CJIA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ramesh Ghir, reportedly confirmed the cancellation. The move will see around 12 contract employees without a job. Kaieteur News was told that baggage handling was contracted to a private firm.

There have been several

- as drug seizures spike reported cases of drugs passing through CJIA destined for the US. On a number of occasions, workers at the port were implicated.

It is believed that this recent suspension of the security passes may have been fast-tracked after a duo was charged after a seizure.

There have been at least four drug smuggling cases on flights to New York’s John F.

Kennedy Airport over the last year. The most recent seizure was two weeks ago when U.S. authorities found six kilograms of cocaine on a flight from Guyana.

Guyana has long been acknowledged as a transshipment point to especially North America and Europe.

The baggage handlers were allowed access to restricted areas within the CJIA.

A check point at CJIA

$30M missing pontoon found ‘stashed’ up Mahaica Creek - Three bridge staff still in custody Searchers yesterday found a multi-million-dollar pontoon stashed miles up the Mahaica Creek, days after it was mysteriously removed from the Demerara Harbour Bridge. A search team, working on information, had gone there on Sunday but saw no sign of it.

According to the bridge’s General Manager, Rawlston Adams, the pontoon, which is believed to worth some $30M, was found “abandoned” miles up the creek. It was tied up.

Four winches, worth over $2M, and a scow-end were missing. “We did not find anyone there.”

Over the weekend, it was revealed that three staffers were detained after the pontoon, used mainly for maintenance works on the bridge, went missing. It is believed that the vessel may have disappeared between Wednesday and Thursday evening. It was discovered missing early Friday, hours before a major works was scheduled to start on Saturday to replace sections of the retractor span.

Following the discovery, reports were made to the

police and Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn. Three staffers were later detained.

According to Adams, early yesterday he returned to the Mahaica Creek area with a number of staffers and the police. Using a boat, a search was conducted along the creek before the pontoon was discovered tied up. It was flooded with water.

The General Manager disclosed that a pump had to be taken to the location for the water to be pumped out.

It is believed that a tug may have been used to steal the pontoon, a theory that remained puzzling for the police and the bridge authorities since the area where it was secured is a busy one.

Preparations are now being made to dismantle the pontoon and have it transported via the road back to the Harbour Bridge.

According to Adams, it is way more expensive to use a tug to take it back to the city, so the decision was made for the pontoon to be dismantled.

“Right now, we don’t know who took it. The police are still investigating the case and as far I know the three

staffers are still in custody.”

Kaieteur News was told over the weekend that the authorities have the name of a city businessman, linked to the auto sales sector, and who may have advanced over $1.5M for it to be secretly removed and taken to the Mahaica Creek area.

…clashes with union over incentive pay The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is reporting a dismal first crop marred again by strikes, low turnout of harvesters and higher than normal rainfall.

This was days after the workers’ union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), blasted the state-owned sugar company saying that there was not enough cane on the field, in any case.

GuySuCo failed to make the projected 101,800 tonnes sugar.

“The failure to make the projected production has created an unfavourable cash flow situation, that compelled the corporation to inform GAWU on May 18th that it will be unable to make payments for Holiday with Pay (HWP) to workers on time, on those estates that have brought their crop to a premature end, due to the inclement weather,” the Corporation said yesterday.

Except for Skeldon and Blairmont, all the other estates closed their crop on May 11.

The sugar company said that it informed the union on May 18 that once the cash flow situation improves the payout will be made.

Already for this year, GuySuCo said, the first crop experienced 146 strikes with 18,130 “man-days” lost- of which 11,700 “man-days” were lost at Blairmont.

“Had the amount of “mandays” lost on strikes been at work supplying canes to the semi mechanical harvesters (Bell Loaders), an additional 7,500 tonnes sugar could have been produced equivalent to $1.2B in revenue,” GuySuCo said yesterday. “The average turnout of harvesters this crop was 52 per cent. This

low turnout contributed to extremely low grinding hours per week in the factories.”

Optimally, a factory is expected to grind not less than 130 hours per week for better recoveries and factory time efficiency.

“Unfortunately, only Rose Hall Estate has been able to grind an average of 100 hours per week. The other estates are between 75 and below 100 hours per week. During the inclement weather, sogginess of the soils prevents the Bell Loaders from operating because of soil compaction, thus harvesters have to be assigned to manual cut and load, rather than stacking canes for the mechanical harvesters.”

GuySuCo claimed that harvesters are reluctant to do cut and load and would prefer to return home. This resulted to burnt canes left to deteriorate in the fields for days.

“As the current time, 214,100 tonnes of cane remains to be harvested which now have to be harvested in the second crop but would not yield the same amount of sugar as the canes would be much older.”

Late last week, GAWU said that thousands of field and factory workers who are its members are becoming agitated with the announcement by GuySuCo that they will not be receiving HWP. GAWU insisted that the core reason for the corporation’s consistent depleted financial state relates

to its failure to attain, even close to its production targets.

At the end of last week, May 18, GuySuCo produced only 70,027 tonnes sugar out of its target of 101,813 tonnes.

“Even if the weather had been favourable, the estates that ended their crop simply did not have the quantity of canes to assist meaningfully in realizing the crop’s target.

A source advised if the seven grinding estates had been facilitated by good weather to harvest their entire crop no more than 84,000 tonnes of sugar would have been obtained.”

GAWU accused the Corporation of being unable to adopt a strategy whereby it could effectively use its human, mechanical and other resources to harvest its first crop within the weeks of favourable weather condition.

“It is the Corporation’s responsibility to review its management practices to ensure that the maximum production is realized and no blame in this regard should be solely the workers’. GAWU wants the Corporation to secure financial support “from whatever legal source” to pay workers their deferred wages – HWP. The Corporation must also identify a positive date of the payment.”

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 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

The schools and corporal punishment The issue of corporal punishment in schools will be ongoing for some time. There will always be those who are opposed and those who hold the view that corporal punishment is one way of keeping errant children in line.

The Rights of the Child Commission feels that children should be treated in a manner that would enable them to become law abiding adults who would shun violence. It holds the view that children who suffer corporal punishment are abused and would grow up to become abusers.

There was no scientific study although there has been some evidence to show that a child who grows in an abusive situation would turn to abuse as a first resort. Social scientists believe that the child contained a lot of anger and his response to the situation is to let the anger out.

However, there are those who would testify to being whipped but who never the less turned out to be great people.

Some would testify that the punishment kept them in line and yet others would say that the fear of corporal punishment kept them from turning to a life of crime.

The Education Ministry has been seeking the views of the public on corporal punishment for some time. And even before these views were totally ventilated the Ministry of Education modified its policy on corporal punishment. In fact, there was really no policy until then. Children were flogged by just about any teacher.

There were modifications as the society evolved males were not allowed to flog female students. The modifications instituted by the Education Ministry and made policy were that the head of the school and the deputy were the only people to administer corporal punishment. However, these were permitted to assign such a task to a senior teacher who must then perform the act in the presence of one or both of these senior teachers.

The past few weeks saw the Education Ministry traveling to Berbice to canvas the views of parents and teachers on corporal punishment. The overwhelming majority favoured corporal punishment. The people in this group concluded that the absence of corporal punishment has led to children being irascible and often to display anti social behaviour because they felt that there was no sanction to cause them any worry.

Guyana has been known to look to other countries for the lead in certain cases. The fact that the country may soon decriminalize same sex unions is due largely to the fact that the United States and Britain and other leading countries in the world seem to be heading in that direction.

Guyana has put a moratorium on the death penalty because there are countries with which it is affiliated that have suggested that there be the abolishment of the death policy. Indeed the politicians have said repeatedly that the death penalty will remain.

The developed world has been experimenting with discarding corporal punishment. The United States was one such even though the police saw no problem with visiting social deviants with brutality often reserved for times long past.

And so Guyana decided to experiment with the abolition of corporal punishment in schools. The authorities spoke of the various conventions to which Guyana is a signatory.

Now we find that overwhelmingly, parents insist that corporal punishment be retained. They are however saying that the punishment should be devoid of cruelty.

And indeed, many parents were turned off with the level of corporal punishment because their children came home with severe marks of violence on parts of their bodies that should not have been touched. They all say that a few strokes appropriately placed would be tolerated.

There are scarcely any male teachers in the schools these days; the result is that the female teachers would have a torrid time administering corporal punishment to the teenage boys. Indeed, some other form of punishment would have to be administered.

Suffice it to say that the United States is reviewing its policy toward corporal punishment. Some states have reintroduced it and we are most likely going to follow.

The reality of punishment is that those who are inclined to slip but who are afraid of physical punishment would think twice. And in any case, corporal punishment is not applied in isolation but more often as a last resort.

My position is in sync with international prerequisites for good governance and social justice DEAR EDITOR, Response is made to Ravi Dev’s Sunday articles of 13/ 5/2012 and 20/5/2012. If Dev thinks a “purveyor of hate” is one who detests and publicly crusades against the transgression of rights, violations of laws; and government’s refusal to account to the people and engage in good governance to ensure peaceful coexistence and equitable development amongst the people, then I, Lincoln Lewis, stand guilty as charged.

Among the first thing Dev did on his introduction to the political scene was to use the media to tell this nation if it were not for Indians, Guyana would have reverted to mangroves.

In 1998 he writes, “In addition to the nurtured tradition of revolt, African socialisation patterns predispose them into aggressive habits and frustrating situations elicit aggressive responses, even against authority figures, i.e. there is a normative support for violence in the African community.”

This is the disrespect and crassness he propagates under the guise of being a politician and intellectual. In other countries he’d be called upon to provide the evidence or said statements condemned for their bigotry.

Unfortunately this depraved thinking finds acceptance in a multicultural society because of who says it and against whom, which enables a mindset to support social injustice, inequality and imbalance.

We are witnessing instances where some are allowed to name their reality/ perception without having to prove or justify same; and given free rein to vilify another. For instance, the incident of January 12, 1998, GIFT and Dev called it a Civil Disorder.

On this date it is said 303 Indians were attacked.

Compare this to Afghanistan’s civil disorder where millions are attacked and lives are lost.

On January 26, 2008, 11 persons in Lusignan were murdered and this is called a massacre. Compare this to the 1978 Jim Jones incident where 909 persons died in what is called a massacre.

However, when hundreds of African men are killed extra judicially by governmentsupported phantom squads and the government ignores local and international calls for an enquiry, along with tens of thousands of Africans affected daily by the PPP’s

policies that attack their economic wellbeing, which I call economic genocide, Dev sees this as “demean[ing] the horrors of real victims of genocide.” This proclaimed Indian rights activist is taking a lot for granted!

Let me say, his right to articulate the reality/ perception of the group he claims to represent does not give him the right to say how I, or anyone, should name/ articulate reality/perception.

Even moreso when such naming/articulation is consistent with universal definition and applicable to the situation so named.

Those who seek to deny others the right to so name are themselves enablers/ supporters of oppression.

Dev’s use of the populations of Rwanda, Congo and Germany as determinant for the AfricanGuyanese to name the economic attacks they confront speaks to his contempt for the African community.

Note, he does not apply similar standard to name the Indian reality/perception. Of all persons he ought to know

an offence is an offence and it becomes one based on existing rules/principles/laws.

And this universal fact must not only be for Indians; it must equally apply for Africans and other groups.

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide says genocide can be committed “in time of peace or in time of war.” Article 2 of this Convention expressly states, “genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”

The PPP is culpable under a, b and c. The PPP knows this too, as such it does not want the Guyana Bauxite and

General Workers Union (GB&GWU) January 2010 complaint before the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to be heard for the consequences it would bear for their actions.

The economic attacks in Linden and the bauxite communities are public knowledge.

The attacks on the Georgetown and New Amsterdam town councils are known. The installation of IMC in the NDCs the PPP did not win is another factor.

The denial of the right to collective bargaining and freedom of association for some workers are equally known.

Many can testify to the denial of their pensions and the right to work. Under oath in a Court of Law the Jagdeo’s libel case records for the nation’s posterity what sane minds already know.

Aubrey Norton’s table on the 2012 Budget, reproduced below, shows November 2011 has not changed the PPP’s discriminatory agenda (KN May 11, 2012-”The Budget reveals a case of (Continued on page 5)

Build bridges, not fences and walls DEAR EDITOR, I have read Mr Emile Mervin’s very insightful letter “Will the PPP blow the opportunity…” (KN, May 27). When I regularly travelled abroad, in countries which appeared to be well-ordered, with pleasant, happy people, I always asked tour guides why people generally seemed so calm and contented, the atmosphere so relaxed. In every case, the first words uttered were “We have a stable Government”. Therein lies a message.

It seems daily political bickering and a tugof-war scenario among leaders, contribute to

the population being on edge; at boiling point mentally, thus preventing steady all-round progress.

Let us hope, therefore, that our political leaders learn to compromise, so that the country may go forward.

Let us not forget the Arabian proverb that “Four things come not back - the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity”. Let them now seize the opportunity to build bridges, not fences and walls.

Geralda Dennison

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

In order for us to succeed, we need to pay the price of success DEAR EDITOR, The 46th Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence was recently celebrated, and as the country continues to offer its obligatory respects, some stock taking is in order to give greater consideration to what Independence meant in 1966, what has been achieved or not achieved since, and what Independence really means today and, further, to what lies beyond Independence.

Independence Day will always be a significant milestone in the history of our nation. Four decades on from this major event, with memories of the British Empire fading sharply or nonexistent on both sides of the Atlantic, is it possible at this stage of our maturation to redefine ourselves and our relationships and emerge completely out of the shadow of colonialism? What could be of greater value than Independence?

In ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey, the very first words written in this book are unforgettable, summarising, it appears, the crux of the text: “Interdependence is a higher value than independence.”

Stephen Covey goes on to state that ‘Interdependence is a choice only independent people can make.’

This progression in the development of human abilities, the Maturity Continuum – from states of dependence to independence and thence to

interdependence reflects also a progression in the development of the state. The state cannot progress beyond the abilities of its people.

In relation to us as a nation of diverse people with diverse histories, culture, habits, fortunes, we need to give consideration to the meaning of interdependence and independence on at least two other levels: internally in terms of our group dynamics and externally as a nation, in terms of our diverse role, needs and relationships within the International Community.

Internally, as a nation, what we are trying to achieve is that synergy that emerges from healthy, creative cooperation and collaboration: teamwork. It is simply impossible to progress to this goal on a national scale unless each group within the country feels or begins to feel whole, accomplished, independent, mature, confident and at ease.

The country underestimated, considering our history and the need to re-establish and reconstruct various identities (intangibles that develop over generations typically), the difficulty of this process of growth and even the awareness of the process itself is questionable.

However, our human spirit is indomitable and constantly drives us on in search of clarity and we, Guyanese, do not fail to strive and make the

effort in a direction of clarity around our social, political and identity issues.

If we come to understand the process and come to acknowledge clearly that we – each ethnic, religious group and/or individual - are on a path of inquiry and development with a goal of greater selfknowledge, then the ‘striving’ ends. And with it, the strife can end too.

We can simply each work towards our goal in a more relaxed, less desperate manner. If we don’t know the goal or the end game or the path or the process, then desperation and confusion characterise our effort and in this state of mind it is easy to feel ‘lost’ or ‘marginalised’ or threatened and herein lies opportunity for the dividers and exploiters.

Our politicians have not failed to seize the opportunity to tap into our confusion.

There are many forces of division operating at many different levels that seek to keep the people of the world in conflict: divide and rule. Our politicians have learned well.

If we consider the simplistic model that the PPP/ PPP/C and the PNC/PNCR/ APNU use consistently to select Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates.

Ethnic voting is a conscious part of the design and choosing the prime ministerial candidate is an act of deception for in order to support their model of ethnic

My position is in sync with...

From page 4 discrimination”).

Yet with this record, Dev has the effrontery to write that exposures polarise the society, create chaos and affect international trade. Let him take that message to the PPP! Democracy in today’s global society is driven by social justice and governments that account to the people, thus the citations and rejections the PPP gets are of its own making.

A country with a narco economy, rampant crime, corruption and a government that violates its laws, international conventions and universal declarations and targets groups to discriminate against, speaks to a dysfunctional society and poses a threat to societies everywhere.

Dev needs to pay attention to the criteria governments are demanding to do business with Guyana.

The world is aware of the tyranny of the majority, masked as democracy, and efforts are being made to stamp it out.

Dev is advised my position is in sync with international prerequisites for good governance and social justice. In this environment he will not get away with inebriating himself by demonising and discriminating against Africans.

All are created equal and under the law all are so protected, whether he likes it or not; because it is not a choice he faces, it is a requirement he must respect!

And as his right to freedom of expression is respected then others must equally enjoy said right, including Freddie Kissoon, whom he also targets in the referenced articles.

Where Dev sees outlet to manufacture and sustain fears and bigotry, as against holding all accountable under the constitution, laws, conventions and declarations; others see opportunity to appeal to humankind’s decency to stand up for what is just and fair and to condemn wrongdoing, irrespective of who commits them.

Lincoln Lewis

voting, conflict has to be created and sustained.

Some target has to be selected and harassed (e.g.

Regent Street, Business community, Linden).

This model is in direct opposition to the development and support of unity, peace and stability and completely conducive to domination and subordination of one race of rulers over another.

Yet, every election cycle, this goes on, in the hope of a quick fix remedy to attaining political power.

Forty years plus since Independence from colonial power, we have come to understand the politics of division and the abuse of race and this model has exhausted its usefulness.

Interdependence among different ethnic groups in Guyana is only truly possible now with a greater momentum and on a larger scale than before.

We must understand that this progression is quite consistent with the Maturity Continuum. It will help us to view the PPP and the PNC and history with kindness instead of ridicule.

This is not to absolve these two political parties of wrongdoing, but rather it is more empowering and useful for us to learn from the mistakes and errors committed in the past. There is no constructive value to be found in blame.

None of us are perfect, unfortunately. We have learned lessons, at the heavy cost of lives lost, both internally in terms of our group dynamics – we have learned about the absolute futility of the deployment of violence as a means to achieving unity or development; we have come to see that corruption and abuse of power is not constrained by ethnicity; we have learned that there is no quick fix and that the politics has to be guided by more long term goals; we have learned that there is room for goodwill in politics - and

externally in foreign policy, in terms of our relationships with superpowers.

We cannot avoid some attempt at interdependence at an international level. It is the only way to achieve growth and even security. We have learned from the episodes of nationalisation. We have learned about debt. We have learned about spending.

There is a huge challenge here for the nation where external parties are selfinterested and also corrupting (they will not be found on the corruption index). We know that Governments can be owned and operated.

Without strong leadership focused internally on human development, the people of this country will continue to lose.

Internally and externally, more challenges continue to emerge. There is a serious challenge within the country to bring the national finances to order. The inability to provide accountability and transparency points to red flags that even Machiavelli cannot hide. What is so important about the Princess Hotel that legislation had to be enacted around it?

That one of the first early acts of the new government was to create a further authority to manage it? What is motivating the focus on hotel construction? Why the absence of transparency?

How does all of this align with the needs of the people of Guyana?

Considering our small population size, all good minds need to work together to help overcome these and other challenges that we face.

We are not alone in the difficulties that we face as a nation.

The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, on the Julian Assange show on rt.com spoke of the difficulty of change versus the comfort of the status quo.

He said, “sometimes it is essential to deal with things – corruption, we have to deal with it. Abuse of power – we have to tackle it. Lying – we

have to tackle it. Social vices such as these – so damaging to our society, we cannot allow.”

Ultimately, we have moved on. It is a prehistoric attitude to frame the politics in the country as a racial problem. We have problems of greed, insolence, ignorance and ill will.

We have corruption, abuse of power and mismanagement of funds, among other difficult challenges. The ignorant and the ill willed should not rule.

The people of Guyana have the hard task before them of believing in themselves, believing that we can succeed where we have failed before and where others have failed.

We only need look at the way we live our life, our friendships, our teachers, our families and bring our politics into alignment with our way of life.

In order for us to succeed, we need to pay the price of success. We have to stand up for our nation and play our part. We have to hear more from the honest, hardworking people of the country.

We have to do the hard work of understanding ourselves first and foremost – create a more open society, communicate with kindness and respect, talk about relationships, support each other culturally, religiously, socially and allow each other freedom and space to grow, to develop, to choose and to become more self aware – and really establish our Independence and consolidate a foundation for our Interdependence.

Sandra Khan

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

GuySuCo records lowest sugar production in 20 years More than one-third of the sugar cane harvested by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), between 2005 (when Guyana experienced a devastating flood) and 2009 were deemed to be uneconomical.

“We had established that because of the conditions which we have experienced since 2005 to the first few months of 2009, that between 35 and 37 per cent of our industry’s cultivation was uneconomical; meaning that the yields for over 37 per cent of our cultivation cost us more to harvest than the revenue we got from the sugar which we gleaned from those lands.”

This damning revelation was made to the Standing Parliamentary Economic Services Committee, by GuySuCo’s then Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Errol Hanoman when he appeared before the Committee on February 4, 2010.

The Committee was at the time chaired by Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and included the late Winston Murray and Alliance for Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan, Komal Chand and Dave Danny among others.

“So there was obviously a need for a major rehabilitation of this cultivation…We are working to produce over 400,000 tonnes by 2013…We have a significant amount of work ahead of us,” was the admission by Hanoman,

Former GuySuCo, CEO Errol Hanoman clearly illustrating the dire situation that the industry had found itself in.

GuySuCo, to date, has fallen short on each projection made for cultivation but there has also been no more public pronouncement on the percentage of yield that is considered to be economical as against the quota that had been reaped in the troubled years and referred to by Hanoman.

In terms of reversing the trend that the company had experienced Hanoman told the Parliamentary Committee that “we have embarked on an accelerated rehabilitation programme which got under way around June-July of last year (2009).”

He told the committee that GuySuCo had recognized that one of the first things, “the core of our strategy, has to be to rehabilitate the lands;

The State of the Art Skeldon Sugar Factory which has since plagued the Corporation with problems you have to get more canes if you are going to get more sugar…Everything else takes second place.”

In doing this Hanoman said that the Corporation would have embarked on “this accelerated rehabilitation, and essentially we were going to use a combination of our own fleet and bring in contractors who have equipment.”

He said at the time, one of the difficulties experienced “was, while we had brought in over 14 contractors, the majority of them did not have the heavy tractors that were required… notwithstanding we used whatever equipment they had to help us with our work.”

Hanoman also reported that at the end of 2009, because of the inclement weather in the first half (of the year), “we did not achieve our land rehabilitation programme…We did achieve our programme for the second crop of the year.”

Hanoman said, “When you look at the target in the Blueprint, in the second crop, we had exceeded the replanting programme by 184 hectares. We are expecting this momentum to develop this year (2010).”

Two years later and almost halfway through the year, GuySuCo is again

Sugar Cane in one of GuySuCo’s punts ready for processing counting its losses as its sugar estates are presently suffering from low yields and minimal sugar production across the country.

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

The inclement weather pattern, coupled with the Industrial Action (strikes) experienced during the first half of 2012, resulted in a major impact on the estates’ performances.

The sugar industry recorded a production of 67,299 tonnes, which was the lowest figure in first crop production in over 20 years.

Kaieteur News understands that as at the week ending May 6, 2012, the sugar industry recorded a production of 67,299 tonnes.

Last year, the country saw production of 106,627 tonnes at the end of that first crop and this year the industry barely managed to scrape 63 per cent of that total.

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

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

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

The factory at Skeldon

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

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

Rose Hall, which had produced 15,430 tonnes last year, could only produce 10,640 tonnes for their first crop for this year while Blairmont produced 10,122 tonnes as at May 6, 2012 which was a much lower figure than the 2011 achievement of 17,611 tonnes for the same period.

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

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

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

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 7

Indian coffee company will not set up main …Logs will continue to go out processing plant here The Indian coffee company which was given a forestry concession to mainly carry out value added activities has said that its main plant will in fact be in India and not Guyana. This raises concerns that the company will continue to export logs out of Guyana.

Two months ago the company, Vaitarna Holdings Pvt. Inc, admitted shipping several containers out of the country within recent months despite no processing facility built here as yet.

The company owns the popular Coffee Day Inc. franchises in India.

Vaitarna had come under scrutiny in April last year after the Times of India reported that the company was granted almost 1.8M acres of forest lands in Guyana. The company wanted the logs for its furniture business in India, it was also reported.

Government, to quell questions whether it was a sweetheart deal, insisted that

the company was not too much interested in log exports and would be looking to establish plants here.

But in a news report in the Indian media, V G Siddhartha says the company’s main plant will be in India, indicating that it will continue to export logs out of Guyana and use very little here. ”On projects such as the one we are into, there is always bound to be some opposition from various stakeholders. We got the lease for this land from a US company which was going bankrupt. We have been working on this project for around 18- months and we have around 100 employees.

We will set up a processing centre in a period of time there, but the main centre will be in Chikmagalur,” he said.

The report was carried in India’s Business Standard under the heading “Rumblings on Coffee Day Group’s Amazon safari.”

In justifying the report

carried in this newspaper that almost 50 containers of logs were exported since February, Vaitarna said that “any new company in the startup of their operations goes through a transition period similar to Vaitarna Holdings Pvt Inc.” The company said that it is a fact that it has the facility like any other forestry company to export logs and other forest products in keeping with the National Log Export Policy and the Government of Guyana guidelines.

“It has been established that in addition to log exports in accordance with National Log Export Policy, the company will engage in added value activities. The GFC has a policy of added value forestry activities and would have rejected any application from the company if it was solely interested in log exports,” former Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, had told the media

French naval vessel visits

President Donald Ramotar is given a tour of the Captain’s deck of the French Guiana Naval vessel on tour in Guyana. French Ambassador to Guyana Joel Godeau was among the delegation on tour (Photo courtesy of GINA)

during a press conference to explain the deal.

It was disclosed, then, that VHPI was issued a State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP) previously issued to Simon and Shock Intl. (SSI), a US company, and a Timber Sales Agreement (TSA) previously issued to Caribbean Resources Limited (CRL).

“The real facts are that a logging concession of 345,961 acres previously leased to CRL was reallocated to VHPI. Contrary to what is reported, there will be no large scale exportation of logs, since the company has committed to get involved in downstream activities; in addition to logs exports in accordance with the National Forest Policy (NFP),” Persaud had stated.

It was explained that the company first has to do a forest inventory; present a business plan that incorporates the inventory amongst other requirements, and conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

Siddhartha has floated a company, Dark Forest Furniture Company, to retail

the furniture in India and has also tied up with Future Group for this. It is estimated that he has earmarked around Rs 300 crore to get the furniture project going.

Siddhartha, who began as a coffee exporter, eventually established himself as the leading player in the coffee retailing business. He has since diversified aggressively into wealth management, Special Economic Zone development, logistics and hospitality, besides the emerging interest in furniture.

V G Siddhartha

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Fourteen injured in Hammer assault victim in ICU, slowly recovering Coverden minibus crash The 38-year-old woman who was stabbed about the body and battered in the head with a hammer on Saturday last is listed as “critical” but family members claimed she is slowly recovering.

Sharon Goodridge, also called Sharon Howell, of Lot 81 East La Penitence, Georgetown was beaten with a hammer in her head, stabbed once in the chest and mouth and twice in the abdomen by her lover, who afterwards ingested a dose of poisonous liquid in an attempt to take his own life.

While the woman is battling for her life in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), her attacker, Colbert Rodney, 40,

Sharon Goodrich is handcuffed to a bed in the hospital’s Male Medical Ward.

Yesterday, when Kaieteur News visited the man at the hospital, he said that he and his lover had some misunderstandings. He claimed that the “misunderstandings” they had caused him to rush at the back of his home, collect the hammer and knife and then attack her.

The unemployed man said that he is very sorry for what he did and wishes for

his “darling” to recover soon.

Meanwhile, the woman’s sister, Patricia, told Kaieteur News that she believes that her sister is recovering slowly although she is listed as “critical.”

The distraught sister said when she visited her sister yesterday, she (Goodridge) responded to her by “opening her eyes.”

The sister said she believes that the mother of 10 can recognize voices since “she opening her eyes when people talking to her.”

On Saturday last, the woman who works at a popular fish shop in D’Urban Street was stabbed and beaten with a hammer by her lover.

She was rushed in an unconscious state to GPHC and immediately underwent emergency surgery which lasted for several hours.

She was then placed in the hospital’s ICU. Her attacker, meanwhile, immediately fled to his brother ’s residence in Diamond, East Bank Demerara and reportedly consumed the poisonous liquid. He was rushed to the hospital by his relatives.

The wrecked mini-bus BLL 9312 at the Madewini Police Station

A 74-year-old man and a 16-year-old schoolgirl were among 14 people injured around 16:30 hrs yesterday near Coverden, East Bank Demerara, after a speeding, Timehri-bound minibus slammed their vehicle from behind.

All the injured were travelling in a Kuru-Kurubound bus, BLL 9312, which reportedly toppled over before ending up in a roadside trench. The driver of the Timehri-bound bus, BNN 4262, was reportedly the only occupant of his vehicle.

Passengers said that this driver goes by the nickname ‘Mad Sick’, and they claimed he was consuming alcohol some hours before the mishap.

The injured included Vijay Persaud, 25, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara; Manfred Parks, 74; Suelan Daniels, 16; Crystel Samaroo, 21; Cecline Mentis; the driver of BLL 9312, Ryan Rampaul, 35, all of Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden, and Rampaul’s conductor.

They were all treated at the Diamond Regional Hospital.

Parks, who sustained a broken right arm, and the driver, Ryan Rampaul, were taken by ambulance to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where Parks was admitted. All the others were treated and discharged.

Kaieteur News understands that police detained both drivers after giving them breathalyzer tests.

The conductor of the Kuru-Kuru-bound bus told Kaieteur News that his driver, Ryan Rampaul, was about to overtake a truck near Coverden when the other minibus driver attempted to overtake both vehicles.

Instead, the driver, known as ‘Mad Sick’, slammed into the back of the other bus.

He said that his driver, Ryan Rampaul, lost control of his vehicle, which toppled over and ended up in a trench.

The conductor, who complained of chest pains,

alleged that he had seen the culprit drinking alcohol earlier in the day at a Coverden shop.

Suelan Daniels, a 16-yearold St. Joseph High student, said that she was sitting behind the conductor when the other bus slammed into the back of the vehicle she was in. She said that she “pitched out of a window” before the vehicle ended up in a trench.

The teen, who escaped virtually unhurt, had written some CXC subjects earlier in the day.

And Vijay Persaud, one of the injured, also alleged that the other bus had ‘braced’ the Kuru-Kuru bound bus off the road.

At the Diamond Hospital, some relatives of the injured demanded police ranks who were there to submit the alleged culprit to a breathalyzer test.

Both vehicles were subsequently towed to the Madewini Police Station. The drivers were also detained there.

Driver Ryan Rampaul (left) and Manfred Parks being taken to the GPHC

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

THOSE SMILING PETROL ATTENDANTS If you have been to the petrol stations over the past three weeks you would have noticed a change in attitude by the attendants. Many of them are smiling and are more friendly and energized at their jobs.

This change has nothing to do with the skyrocketing of prices at the pump but instead to the increased benefits to which they are now entitled as a result of an important decision made by the government.

Three weeks ago, the government made its most important decision since assuming a new term. It adjusted the minimum wages for various categories of workers including pump attendants, wash way attendants, store clerks, hotel and guest house workers and porters.

These categories are the lowest paid in the workforce and therefore most vulnerable to exploitation.

And because they are the lowliest, they are often unable to press their case for higher wages out of fear of being dismissed.

The greatest exploitation of these categories takes place within the private sector

and since the government cannot instruct a private company how much to pay workers, it has the power to establish a minimum threshold below which workers should not be paid.

In so doing the government is offering protection against these workers against being underpaid.

The decision of the Ministry of Labour was arrived at through a process involving discussions between representatives of employers, workers’ organizations.

For pump attendants, they will now be guaranteed a minimum of $11,900 per week which is probably far more than what many of them were receiving. No wonder so many of them have been in high spirits this past week.

The government needs to be congratulated on this working class measure and it is hoped that it will continue to examine the minimum wages for the most vulnerable because in many instances these workers are taken advantage of, particularly in the private sector.

But the Ministry of Labour has to go much

Dem boys seh ...

NICIL sell a Harbour Bridge pontoon Is either Henry de Yellow ain’t got luck or he does drop to sleep at de wheel. Last week he driving as usual when he knock a jackass cart and a Harbour Bridge vehicle. He damage all two. And he car was a nice white thing.

When de Harbour Bridge people tackle he, Henry de Yellow claim how he got stress. Dem boys seh that he got to fix de jackass cart.

Some people believe that de accident was de distraction fuh let people thief de pontoon from de Bridge.

Imagine people can thief a big thing like a pontoon and nobody ain’t see. Is not a car or a bicycle. De pontoon even bigger than a truck. De bridge got security and none of dem didn’t see when it getting tow away. Whey dem been? That is wha dem boys want to know.

Is de same security does holler pun people when dem walking pun de bridge instead of de walkway. Anyhow, de Bridge people find de pontoon till in Mahaica. Somebody try fuh sink it.

De pontoon worth $30 million. De people who thief it sell it fuh three million. Hot stuff really cheap. Somebody might thief de whole bridge next and de same guards ain’t gun see nutten.

Is de same thing mek de police stop worrying bout carjacking. People thiefing bigger things. Dem boys remember that a man thief a whole house and fetch it away.

Dem same boys want to know if is NICIL involve in de thiefing of de pontoon.

NICIL got to find nuff people money because it invest in nuff thing that not mekking money. And Prakash and Moses expect to find $50 billion when de check de NICIL account.

Selling de pontoon would only bring a small piece but as Brazzy know, half a loaf better than none.

Talk half and search fuh de other half.

further than simply set the minimum wage. It has to ensure that workers actually receive the wages to which they are entitled and that they are not being paid below this level.

While the Ministry can send out its inspectors to check on this, there is always the danger that some of these inspectors can be lured into the backroom by unscrupulous employers and provided with enough reason to turn a blind eye. Or workers afraid to lose their jobs, can be encouraged to lie about their wages.

The best way therefore to ensure that the lowly paid

workers are not exploited is to publicize the minimum wages to which they are entitled. In this way, the workers will know what they are entitled to and therefore would be in a stronger position to ensure that they are not underpaid.

Having commendably increased the minimum wages that ought to be paid to these lowly paid workers, the Ministry of Labour must plug any possibility of these increases being eroded by workers who may be forced to work longer hours for the new pay.

It is therefore important for the Ministry of Labour to

follow up their announcement about the adjustment to the minimum wages with stipulations as to how many hours the various categories of workers are required to work before they are paid overtime and on what days they are entitled to time and a half and double pay.

It is now quite common in Guyana for stores of all description to no open on Sundays. There is a need for the government to enforce the law as regards Sunday shopping because many workers are being forced to work on these days when they should be resting at home. But if workers have to

work on Sundays, they should be paid double the daily rate.

It is a happy time for workers in this country and raises hope that the PPP is returning to its working class roots. It can be made better if the minimum wage is adjusted for that category of workers that is even more subject to exploitation: domestic workers.

Carifesta Avenue crash …

Police still trying to find car driver Police are still trying to locate the driver of a Toyota Allion which crashed into a Canter truck Saturday night on Carifesta Avenue, killing 45-year old contractor Mohamed Ibrahim.

The driver of the car fled the scene immediately after the smash up which occurred shortly after 23:00 hours.

It is believed that the driver escaped unhurt from the crash but a source said that the police have made several checks at his home and even at the various hospitals and cannot locate him.

The source said that the driver could face several charges, including fleeing the scene of an accident, causing death by dangerous driving and failing to report an accident.

Ibrahim and the driver were returning home when their vehicle slammed into the truck sending it into the nearby canal.

It took firefighters several minutes of cutting through the mangled car to free the unconscious Ibrahim.

By the time he was rushed to the hospital in a fire tender

Mohamed Zaheed Ibrahim he was already dead.

Meanwhile, relatives are still livid over the alleged theft of the jewellery that Ibrahim was wearing at the time of his death.

Relatives claimed that they had made enquiries at the hospital about the man’s $400,000 gold chain but received no positive answers.

A friend of the dead man who was at the scene of the accident and who along with many other eyewitnesses including a reporter from this newspaper saw the man’s chain, disclosed that Ibrahim

did arrive at the hospital with it.

The friend claimed that he had begged the security personnel at the Accident and Emergency unit of the GPHC to hand over the jewellery and other valuables but he was ignored.

Officials at the GPHC told family members yesterday that the man arrived at the hospital with only a wristwatch and his clothing, which were handed over to his relatives on the night of the accident.

The dead man’s wife, Neetoo Singh, told this newspaper yesterday that when she told police about the missing jewellery, she was told “that is not we business”.

She was directed to the Guyana Fire Service to make further enquiries about the

missing piece of jewellery.

And she also lamented the disappearance of some cash that was left in the dead man’s pants pocket before he was placed into the hospital’s mortuary.

The woman said that when she and other relatives turned up at the mortuary yesterday, Ibrahim’s clothes were already “cut up” with the intention of it being disposed of.

“I asked dem fuh de clothes and dey ask me wha I gon do with dead man clothes. Dey done cut it up,” Singh said.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Begin the beguine. Why not? This is Guyana Ms. Gail Teixeira said that she has written to APNU and the AFC on the resumption of tripartite talks. So, soon the Government and opposition are going to waltz once more.

The dance and the dance floor collapsed because of the intervention of the budget.

There has been a deluge of poisonous spill from Freedom House on the budget cuts by the opposition.

Now the advisor on governance to the Government, Ms. Gail Teixeira is at it again. She has sent an invitation for the beguine to

begin once more.

Let me digress and expatiate on the role of Gail Teixeira in the post 1980 politics of Guyana. It is Mr. Christopher Ram who is claiming that Ms. Teixeira along with others who are violating the constitution because she is a citizen of a foreign land, Canada.

Mr. Ram has urged me several times to write about this.

Well if he is reading the column here, I have now mentioned it.

I was never open to Ms. Teixeira when I first met her in the eighties. The first

impression I got which was distinct and vivid in my mind was this lady was an unmitigated Stalinist.

As the years wore on, she shamelessly displayed the image of wanting to be another Janet Jagan, the most hard-lined politician in the history of West Indian politics. Mrs. Jagan came to see Teixeira as her protégée.

During the life of the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD), Teixeira represented the PPP. I was one of the WPA’s representatives. The two of us never got along. I know a

Stalinist when I see one. One Sunday morning, Dr. Joshua Ramsammy and Tacuma Ogunseye drove up to my home on Hadfield Street, Wortmanville. They politely asked me to step down from the PCD because Teixeira complained about my attitude to her. The rest is now history.

It is one of the gargantuan ironies in politics since the ancient Greeks wrote about democracy that Gail Teixeira is an advisor to a government in the 21st century on governance.

The political culture and political mind of this party apparatchik will never influence her psyche for her to have a comprehension of what freedom, justice, liberty and democracy mean.

Ms. Teixeira is in her sixties and in the forty years of her political life in Guyana has never shown any inclination to embrace democracy. In the remaining years of her political career, Ms Teixeira will frenetically

keep the faith. When Mrs. Jagan died, the next day I wrote a column referring to her as the last of the infamous 20th century fascists. It is my opinion that Teixeira represents the last breed of 20th century Stalinists.

What do APNU and the AFC hope to achieve by the resumption of their dance with Teixeira, Ramotar, Ashni Singh and others?

When the dance floor first opened in February, most Guyanese thought that with a new political horizon that was shaped by the last general election, there would have been a sign of generosity because after all, the PPP is not in control of Parliament. The tripartite talks failed miserably because the PPP is not prepared to offer concessions. The budget imbroglio showed how vicious was the politics of the PPP. Attempts were made to really dirty the clothes, faces and body of the opposition.

Now the waltz is to be resumed, at the same venue

Frederick Kissoon of course - Office of the President (OP) It was the editor of this newspaper, Adam Harris, who wrote last Sunday that he does not like to use the word stupid to describe others.

I have no such hang-up.

Too many stupid people have hurt me in the past and still do, so I can easily recognize stupidity in people. APNU and AFC are stupid people to walk into OP and dance once again with Teixeira. People must demand from these two parties an explanation of what they hope to achieve by the waltz.

Even the most elementary contents of democracy the PPP refuses to concede.

What then do APNU and the AFC anticipate they will get?

But then again, why not? All kinds of stupid things happen and are tolerated in this land.

Isn’t this Guyana WRITER’S NOTE. “Begin the beguine” is the title of one of the world’s most famous ballads composed

by Cole Porter. After the Beatles, “Yesterday,” it may be the most re-done song in music history.

A magically fantastic melody. See Sheryl Crow perform it in the recent biopic of Porter, “De-Lovely” (very sad movie). “Beguine” is a fast type of close up tango that originated in the French Caribbean. The word “beguine” is French creolese and means “white woman.”

How appropriate, if you know what I mean.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

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Kaieteur News

Leading Amerindian NGO says LCDS concerns remain A leading Amerindian rights group says concerns about the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) remain, but it has denied having anything to do with the budget cuts.

The Amerindian People’s Association (APA), spurned by the government for its stance on various issues, has complained that it is being blamed for the opposition’s decision to slash the LCDS budget to $1.

One month ago, the opposition-controlled legislature voted to cut the 2012 budget by $20 billion, with the bulk of the cuts affecting low carbon projects the government is pursuing, such as a hinterland electrification project and Amerindian land demarcation.

APA representatives and supporters in communities have said that the organisation was being constantly maligned and blamed by government representatives during their recent outreach to Amerindian communities for the budget cuts and its future negative impacts on Amerindians.

“The APA wishes to clarify that it had no inputs on budgetary allocations or cuts, is a non-governmental organisation which seeks to outreach to all who interact with or have an interest in indigenous peoples’ development and upliftment but is not politically aligned,” the organisation stated.

In a statement to the press, the APA repeated its position that the LCDS can offer great benefits to Guyana and to indigenous communities but there are certain rights issues that need to be addressed.

“The government has agreed in its negotiations with the Norwegians that it will follow certain guidelines and ensure that certain safeguards are followed and it is these that the APA is urging the government to abide by.

“To date we are aware that not all of these have been observed,” the organisation stated.

The APA urged the government to follow relevant internationally accepted standards and safeguards especially those that the state has agreed it will abide by.

The APA is urging persons who identify

t h e m s e l v e s a s representatives of indigenous peoples to work towards the improvement of the conditions of our people and not to be engaged in spreading fear and mistrust within the communities.

“It is worthy to note that persons on the recent visits to the communities have been telling our people that there are no monies for development but still find the funds to travel to different villages to tell them so,” the APA stated.

In a rebuke of Yvonne Pearson, the head of the National Toshaos Council, and also the Head of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, the APA said that it holds key positions in representing the indigenous peoples of this country “and this must not be confused with political party representation.”

Meanwhile, in relation to the recently held nationwide Toshaos and village councils elections, the Committee notes with concern the various anomalies and discrepancies in the conduct of these elections. Reports received by the APA reveal no uniformity of a process in the conduct of elections, no uniformity in the eligibility criteria for persons running for office, and the promotion of and campaigning on behalf of a particular candidate or candidates by the Minister of Amerindian Affairs and regional officers, among others.

In Aishalton in Region Nine, the APA said persons were told that if they were nominated as Toshao, they could not be nominated for another position on the council. The Amerindian Act is not clear about this, the organisation stated.

In Parishara, in the same region, the APA claimed that a candidate was deemed ineligible to run because of alleged past wrongdoing yet obvious irregularities have been overlooked again and again during the tenure of various leaders.

In other cases the returning officers conducting elections used their own interpretations of the Act and conducted elections by these interpretations, the APA stated.

The organisation further claimed that in Wakapoa in Region Two, the returning officer started counting the ballots 30 minutes before the scheduled time and these

ballots were not separated according to nominees as stipulated by the Act. In addition, in Paramakatoi, Region Eight, due to confusion of dates and information by the CDO, only under one third of the eligible voters were able to vote, the APA claimed.

In some villages in Regions One and Two,

Regional officials were openly campaigning for candidates who are also party supporters and in some communities, irrespective of distance, members were told they had no choice but to vote at one polling place while it is clear that there was the choice of having several polling places in a large village as happened in

Santa Rosa, the APA stated.

The APA said that it is the opinion that Toshaos and village council elections should be carried out free of interference and manipulation by any political party since elected leaders are there to represent the people who have varying concerns.

“Likewise, returning

o ff i c e r s a n d r e g i o n a l officials should not impose their own opinions on the elections process.

“Such a process should have some amount of uniformity making allowances for geography and other peculiarities.”

As part of its meeting the Executive Committee asked (continued on page 19)

Gertrude Dolphin dies at 104 Once described as one of Guyana's oldest and dedicated teachers, Gertrude Muriel Victoria Dolphin passed away on Sunday at her Bourda home. She was 104. Ms Dolphin was a past teacher and member of the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU).

Aunty Gerty, as she was fondly called, for over 85 years dedicated to helping people at every stratum of society. She was a teacher for 45 years, and had a great opportunity to do this with the thousands of children who passed 'through her hands'.

Ms Dolphin was cared for by her brother and other relatives with whom she shared her home.

Although she was never married and had no biological children, she touched the lives of thousands of children, as well as her 30 godchildren who all knew her as “mom”.

She was the longest serving member of the Smith Congregational Church and was active up to age 99. Numerous women in difficult circumstances benefited from her acts of selfless giving through food hampers and monetary donations on a regular basis.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Tuesday May 29, 2012

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Kaieteur News

Twenty emergency technicians undergo training for ambulance service A section of the participants during their lunch break

A batch of 20 medical personnel, yesterday began their first day of a week-long training course to become fully qualified Emergency M e d i c a l Te c h n i c i a n s (EMTs) or Ambulance Technicians, at the Project Dawn location in Liliendaal.

Other terms used to denote these healthcare providers of emergency medical services, include ambulance driver, a m b u l a n c e o r d e r l y, ambulance attendant and ambulance man or woman.

The precise meaning of the term varies by jurisdiction, but in many countries EMTs respond to emergency calls, perform certain medical procedures and transport patients to hospital in accordance with protocols and guidelines established by physicians or medical directors.

They may work in an ambulance service (paid or voluntary), as a member of

technical rescue teams/squads, or as part of an allied service such as a fire or police department.

EMTs are trained to assess a patient's condition, and to perform emergency medical procedures as needed to maintain a patent's airway with adequate breathing and cardiovascular circulation until the patient can be transferred to an appropriate destination for advanced medical care.

Interventions include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, controlling severe external bleeding, preventing shock, body immobilization to prevent spinal damage, and splinting of bone fractures.

The training is being administered by an overseas-based body named Gemini. It is a Global Emergency Medical Initiative, which is dedicated to teaching and training persons in emergency

medicine in the most simplified way.

O v i d F r a s e r , Veterinarian, Rotarian and Leader of the Guyana Gemini Project, told Kaieteur News that they are training persons from various medical entities including the Georgetown Public Hospital and the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, to become qualified EMT trainers so that they can in turn train others like themselves, or even the man on the street.

This is the second course for this year. The first was conducted in January and the third will commence in September. By then, Fraser noted, he and his team are hoping to have at least a dozen qualified EMT trainers.

The ove r s e a s - b a s e d Guyanese pointed out that the five participants of the first batch, were also being observed by their superiors as they taught yesterday's

batch. They were Kathy Fabriga, Monique Cyrus, Ron Morris, Kirk Embrack and Nandram Dat. According to Fabriga, a nurse at the Davis Memorial Hospital, the course is being executed in such a simplified form, that even those with no history of medical teachings will be able to easily understand and teach it to someone else.

The leader of the training

group is Tim Redding.

One of the participants, Deon Alfred, who has been an ambulance attendant for about ten years, said that while a nurse is trained to work with stabled patients, it is the EMT's job to stabilize the patients. “We are the ones who have the lives of persons in our hands since, we are the first responders. We are being tasked to start treatment immediately,” Alfred said.

He also believes that the government should create a network so as to sensitize people about the work of an EMT. He added that if more persons are also trained, and the ambulance service is rebooted, it will save lives, since many persons opt to call for a taxi before they think of an ambulance. This is despite the fact that the ambulance contains equipment to save people's lives.

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development recently dissolved the Bartica Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

An Interim Management Committee (IMC) comprising 15 Government supporters has been installed to manage the affairs of Bartica.

This decision surprised residents, who at a recent public meeting in Bartica rejected the idea of an IMC and called for Local Government Elections. The meeting derived from a letter signed by 20 residents accusing the NDC of not functioning effectively.

That meeting had sought to investigate complaints of malpractices by the NDC. There it was revealed that the NDC revenue was being restricted to property tax collection, which inhibited it from functioning effectively.

To correct this, residents recommended Local Government Reform.

Former NDC Chairman, Gerald Joseph, stated that following that meeting the Ministry was expected to provide a report on the findings of the investigation into the NDC. To date, the details of that report are unknown to the NDC that was disbanded.

He expressed confidence

that there were no financial discrepancies in the NDC. He stressed that last year three audits were conducted and at every Council meeting the financial statements are shared.

Joseph related that on Thursday last, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud and the 15 replacements entered the NDC building and disbanded the Council.

Persaud then installed the 15 Government supporters to operate as an IMC. Meanwhile, Alliance For Change, Executive Member Michael Carrington, rejected (continued on page 16)

Bandit attacks Lethem Bartica NDC disbanded, businessman's home Govt installs its own

…beats children, steals bike The home of a prominent businessman in the Ta b a t i n g a , C e n t r a l Rupununi, was attacked in the wee hours of Sunday morning, while his four children were left home alone. Kaieteur News understands that the man, Joseph Carmichael, and his wife were attending to customers in their neighbouring nightspot during the time of the raid.

According to reports, the man's 12-year-old daughter heard a knock on the front door around 2:00hrs.

Thinking that it was her father, the girl said she opened the door.

It however turned out to be a man dressed in black, with his face wrapped with a piece of cloth.

He reportedly pounced on the child, punching her in

the head and demanding the keys to the money.

After she screamed, her eldest sister, a 14-year-old, came out of her room with a torch and started to hammer the robber in the head.

He subsequently attacked the teen. Pressing her onto a couch, the robber began banging the torch in the teen's head.

It was the swift action of a much younger sibling that saved her life.

The child dialed their father's cell phone number and hurriedly positioned his phone so that his parents could have heard the screams of their daughter.

The parents reportedly then rushed over to their home only to find their daughter in an unconscious state, in a pool of blood.

The girl was rushed to the

The injured teen Lethem Hospital where she was resuscitated and received several stitches to the forehead. A “monarch” bicycle valued at $50,000 was the only thing discovered missing.

Carmichael and his wife are thankful that none of their children received any grave injuries.

Page 14

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Alice Crawford feted Forestry officers seize th on 106 birthday truck with illegal wood

A

lice Crawford was the centre of attention on Sunday on the occasion of her 106th birthday.

The occasion was a party hosted at her home at Calcutta, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

An aunt of former Minister of Agriculture

during the People's National Congress Government, Dr. Patrick McKenzie, Ms Crawford enjoyed the treat and the greetings offered by leader of A Partnership for National Unity David G r a n g e r, M e m b e r o f Parliament Dr George Norton, Former Minister and

d i p l o m a t Yv o n n e Harewood-Benn, and other members of the People's National Congress Reform.

Carol Joseph spoke on behalf of the Regional office w h i l e M r s . Yv o n n e Harewood-Benn spoke on behalf of PNCR Leader who was also out of the jurisdiction.

A sub-section of the branch of the Forestry d i v i s i o n a t C h a r i t y, Essequibo Coast, confiscated some 4000"bm", of illegal Mannicole wood, being transported in a truck at Siriki, Upper Pomeroon River, on Sunday night.

According to officers, the illegal wood belongs to

someone from Siriki, but no one has claimed ownership.

The report added that as Forestry officers were conducting their search the owner of the 4000 bm wood fled the scene at the first sight of the officers.

A man who was filtering information to the Forestry officers said that someone

hired his truck to conduct their business.

The seized Mannicole wood is presently in the procession of Forestry.

A report was lodged at the Charity Police outpost. The truck driver is assisting both the police and officers at Forestry with their investigations.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

WANTED Urgently wanted. 1 House lot to buy at Pharfait Harmony. Call: 672-3017.

Wanted to buy, Washiba Squares & Logs. Call Jettoo’s Lumberyard & Sawmill @ 261-5041 or 2615042 Office Clerk, CXC English/ mathematics. 225-0188, 2256070 Workers for interior general store and Georgetown location. Call: 226-2940 Pastry, roti/puri makers, counter servers, cleaners, handy boys & waiters.

Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St.

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 Pam’s Daycare, Playschool & Nursery. Lot 227 KuruKururu.

Registration commenced. Limited places available. Tel no: 261-5496 Learn to speak Spanish in 1 month. Call: 673-1232

Manager’s Assistant general duties including Custom and Bond, Security Guards, accommodation available. Call: 676-6700 1 Diesel Mechanic, to work in the interior. Tel# 688-4905 Experienced sewing machine operators. Tele no.: 220-4337 Experienced House Keeper.

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

Drivers & porter to work on water trucks on the WCD $20,000 wkly Call: 684-8231 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

WANTED Contract cars. Must be in Hire & Yellow. Base free. $3500 weekly. Call 660-9977 Waitresses @ Diamond Gate Liquor Restaurant and Bar, Lot 18 Belmont Mahaica.

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

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

225-4631 Sales boy and girl. 615-3090 Sawmill workers. Tel: 2616412/653-9752 I need an apartment to rent; call after 06:00pm - 648-0797

Skilled Lathe Operator, livein domestic, live-in handyman Arc/Acetylene Welder. Tel: 22-71830

Live-in/Live-out babysitter/ clerk/domestic. 225-0188/ 225-6070

Workers for landscaping.

656-1326, 626-1044

Urgently needed one hire car to work and keep. Call: 6155609

Bright, well-spoken sales assistant for small store, with 5 subjects CXC. Send written application to PO Box 101599 Live-in attractive waitress.

Tel# 228-5129 Kitchen Assistant. Come in to Dian’s Deli, Barr St. Kitty.

One (1) Handyman/ Gardener. For more information please call O. Persaud 222-7003, 664-0807 Truck to fetch mud. Call 6231615 East Coast Guyoil pump attendants wanted (day and night), wash man, office assistant & sales girls. 6842838, 602-5031

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 Security Contact: 223-5273-4

SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Sabita, Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/2238115/662-6045.

One general live-in domestic.

Must know to cook and bake, Security on the E.B.D. Contact: 665-8737

ACCOMMODATION

FOR SALE

Signature Inn Luxury Suites & Apartments 83 Laluni Street, Queenstown.

Call for reservations 2262145, 227-5037

6 brand new in box IPod touch. 8GB $60,000, 32GB $75,000. Price neg. Contact: 686-5004

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 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) or bartender to work in interior? Call Andrea 6921798, 652-7355 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 GPS Map 76, Garmin System.

600-0036 or 223-1719

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

626-4452/697-5677

Large Land in Bagotville, WB. Great for Greenhouse farming. 600-0036 or 223-1719

Blu Ray DVDs. Perfume Dazzle 231-9485

Body kit for IST. 641-1127

Bag Neck Seal Tape. 231-8819

Canon 4 Function Inkjet Colour Printer; also: 80 GB IDE Hard Drives for computer. Reasonable price – Call: 675-5196 or 622-1541

One Caterpillar D6 Bulldozer.

Call: 622-1957

233 pieces Mastercraft Tool Kits; IBM P4 Computer, 18" LCD Monitor. Reasonable price–Call:675-5196or622-1541

15ft Fiber glass boat $170,000 call: 260-0301, 685-1233 Going cheap, foreign used Perkins Engines, pressure & clutch plates, hydraulic pumps. 661-3043

VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610 Hilux 4x4 solid def pick-up, diesel, long base, excellent condition Call: 623-0243 One Toyota RZ Longbase EFI, hardly used BKK series $1.6M. Call: Rocky 621-5902 Unregistered Allion and Spacio. Tel# 697-0294 International Tow Truck with flat aluminum bed; takes two vehicles. Call: 639-3900, 619-5400 1 2004 Honda Civic AT, music, excellent condition.

PMM series. One year in taxi, $1,750,000. Contact 6505567 One Allion, fully powered, A/C, music, mag. Tel: 2590836, cell: 621-7838 Just arrived! Hilux solid axle pick up Tel:222-2662,6912077

1 Super-custom minibus. $1.4M negotiable. Contact #693-6630, 231-8051

Two (2) Nissan Titan; year 2004. LE and SE model; new tires $3.5M and $3.7M, price neg. Contact 681-3300.

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

Jag’s Auto: Spacio, Premio, Wagon. Cheapest. Call 6167635

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

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

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

2004 Land Rover Discovery.

100,000 miles. Excellent condition.

Off road suspension and tires. Warn Winch. Call: 645-2286

One 2 ton enclosed canter.

Price $1.1M negotiable.

Contact # 253-3349, 6938830

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 645-5596

Roofing shingles. Call: Mr. Skepmire . 227-5195 (8am to 5pm) Roof Rack, Spot Lights, Crash bar, Blue Tooth Radio, Double Battery System, Leather seats, 645-2286 Brand new Blackberry Torch 9800, under $100,000. Call: 676-7443

Bulah Enterprise Inc. seeks interior charter Call: 592-6466730,5692-225-1939 Blackberry unlock $2000, also PC games starting from $1500 Vickram at Call: 652-7560

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

Contact# 677-1218, 216-0317

Get your VISA or get refunded. Call: 645-0975

Big blow out sale at Lot 29 Croal Street Enterprise, kids shoes $200 and lots more.

Call:664-2209

Experienced PMTC graduate seeks job as a perkins mechanic in the interior Call: 653-0456 or 267-0100

1 5000 watts Centurion generator $175,000. 1 stand up Frigidaire Freezer $110,000. 3 coffee makers $10,000 each. Tel: 692-7377 Original projector, next to new. Call: 671-935

Yamaha Crankshaft outboard 150HP-200HP, fine & fat top, Piston Kits, Crankshaft Bearings. Call Terry 665-9405

(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

Page 15

Massage Leather Table, brand new in box, perfect for massage business, heavy duty; $65,000. Call Terry: 6659405

PEN PAL

Exercise Bike, brand new.

Electric Schwinn 131, Digital Heat Rate monitor; $75,000.

Call Terry: 665-9405

Single female, seeking a male companion. Must be between 40-45 yrs old.

Interested persons contact: 261-6699 or 688-1352.

1 G-force freezer $45,000,2 AT192 yellow $825,000, white $790,000,1 desktop computer and accessories Call: 628-8354,231-3417

Unregistered Spacio (Blue) $2.5M. Fielder (Blue) $2.4M. Tel# 641-1127

Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stovetimers, gear boxes, pumps, etc. Contact 225-9032, 647-2943

Toyota Sprinter, fully loaded, TV, AC, CD, Alarm, single owner. For immediate sale. Contact: 669-2747, 6269834

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

First Class Auto. Allion, Premio, NZE, Fielder, AT212, Carina & Raum. Tel# 6098188, 602-6307

Corrugated Zinc sheet @ 40% off. Local Lumber @ 25% off. Pine Lumber @ 10% off. Zack’s Lumber. Tel# 2267054.

One RZ EFI long base minibus.

Excellent condition. Price $1.175 neg.

Call: 619-5157

Games for PSP $900, PS2 $900, Xbox 360 $2600, PS3 $2600, Xbox, Wii. Junior 6722566, 265-3231 1 AT170 Corona as scrap.

626-1044 2003 Kawasaki Ninja, also 8 Camera DVR Security System. Tel: 643-6468, 6867273

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

1 Honda CRV Call: 233-5476, 617-4133 1 -2 Ton Mitsubishi Canter open back, GKK series $1.4M Neg. Call: 684-8231

Tibetan Terrier, Daschund pup, Pekinese pup. 694-7221, Vreed-en-Hoop – Pet Shop Used 1400x20 Model M Truck tyre. Call 648-2413 1999 Tacoma 4 cylinder engine with 4 WD. Good condition, GLL plates. $2,000,000. Call Andrew 6388599

MASSAGE American Style Massage Service. Call 609-4036 Treat yourself to a relaxing massage Call: 622-6256 (Continued on page 20)

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Rusal threatens legal action Indebted CGX seals US$30M financing deal against Kwakwani loggers - Eagle-1 well way higher than believed

CGX Energy has managed to seal a US$30M deal that will allow it to pay off over US$20M in debt it racked up during recent drilling activities offshore Corentyne.

Pacific Rubiales Energy (TSE:PRE) will buy 85.71 million units priced at 35 cents per share, which would give the natural gas producer a 35 percent stake in CGX. Proceeds will go toward funding expenditures to CGX’s oil and gas exploration activities in Guyana and for general corporate purposes.

Pacific Rubiales produces natural gas and heavy crude oil, and owns a majority stake in Meta Petroleum Corp., a Colombian oil operator that runs oil fields in the Llanos basin.

The offering is subject to shareholder and TSX Venture Exchange approval. CGX’s stakeholders will vote on June 28, at their annual meeting.

CGX, a Canadian oil and gas explorer, holds four licenses in the Guyana/ Suriname basin, a frontier basin in South America.

The U.S. geological survey ranks the Guyana/ Suriname basin as having the second highest resource potential among unexplored

oil basins in the world. The mean resource is estimated at 15.2 billion barrels.

On May 7, CGX announced cost increases on its Eagle-1 well and the need to raise about $20 million in the near term.

Initial costs for the well were pegged at $55 million, but increased to $71 million on May 7. But now the final costs are estimated to be 10 percent higher than first believed.

If the units are not issued

by July 31, interest on the principle will have a rate of 13.5 percent and will be compounded quarterly until paid in full.

In addition, both companies also announced jointly that they have entered into a services agreement, whereby Pacific Rubiales will offer technical assistance to CGX’s operations.

Pacific Rubiales will have the option to take part in wells being drilled on the Corentyne and Annex offshore petroleum production licenses, in Guyana. If Pacific funds 50 percent of the exploration well cost and some seismic expenses, it will get a 33 percent stake in the licenses.

“This is a great opportunity to expand investment in the highly prospective offshore Guyana oil play,” Pacific’s chief executive Ronald Pantin said in a statement.

“Through our ownership in CGX, the technical services agreement and a direct earning option, the company will participate in an exploration campaign in an offshore basin with analogous geology to West Africa and Brazil.”

CGX, after failing in its first drilling, had announced plans to drill more wells but would have to raise more capital to do so.

It had rented the Ocean Saratoga drilling rig at an estimated cost of US$500,000.

Drilling on the Eagle-1 well started in early February.

Spanish-owned Repsol, which is partially-owned by CGX, is currently drilling offshore Georgetown and results are expected to be announced in coming months.

Guyana is desperate to find oil which would drastically reduce its huge import bill. Hopes, for now, remained pinned on the Repsol drilling.

Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (Rusal) has threatened legal action over the unloading of logs at its Kwakwani waterfront facility.

According to the company, over the weekend, it started to talk with the loggers association of Upper Berbice, operating in the Region Ten area, to find a mutually agreeable solution to the problem of illegal offloading of logs and loggers’ trucks crossing there.

Under the agreement with the Government of Guyana, BCGI said it was given a permit to manage and operate the facility which is used to berth barges taking bauxite ore from the mines to the company’s Aroaima plant to ships bound for overseas.

“The facility is critical to the BCGI operations. Any down time at the facility caused by damage or other inconveniences could result in work at the company being scaled back, ultimately affecting company workers and revenues.”

Rusal said that it is concerned that illegal offloading of logs and crossing of loggers’ trucks at the Kwakwani waterfront facility will not only cause damage but it is also a major occupational safety violation

and could result in serious injury or even fatalities.

“BCGI is of the firm position that the loggers should honour the provisions set out in the mining permits granted by the Government of Guyana. BCGI has been granted the legal right and responsibility to manage and operate the facility.

“As a major investor in bauxite mining in Guyana and a major employer, BCGI believes it is within its right to demand that the security of its facilities and investments be protected and preserved and that any attempt to blackmail the company into relinquishing its rights must be condemned.”

The bauxite company, which has been embroiled in labour wrangling in recent years following the dismissal of 60-odd workers from Region Ten, insisted that it is a major employer there, an area that has one of the lowest employment rates in the country.

At present, BCGI employs 518 persons.

“Last month the company brought in a fleet of heavy duty equipment and machinery valued at US$21 million. BCGI is also to be granted licences by the Government of Guyana to expand its operations into two additional mining areas. These

investments will necessitate the employment of additional staff. “ This year alone it is anticipated that the number of Guyanese employed with the company should reach 600 while in 2013 that number should go up to over 800 persons. Also, BCGI provides contractual work for an additional 300 persons.”

The company also noted that it has given back to the communities in the area, supporting the development of small business enterprises in Aroaima, a nearby area where mining activities are also taking place. For the past year, three shops were opened there.

“BCGI recognises the value of logging to residents of the Region Ten area.

Likewise, BCGI is strictly calling on the loggers to respect the mining order established by Guyanese law and to appreciate the difficulties BCGI and the hundreds of workers employed by the company would have to endure if the waterfront facility is damaged or if anyone is injured or worse.”

Rusal said that failure to have the matter addressed in a peaceful manner may force BCGI to seek redress in the local courts.

Crop cultivation in Mahaica and Mahaicony has not yet commenced. Farmers are waiting for flood waters to recede from their lands.

Yearly, during rainy conditions, farmlands are affected by massive flooding, which destroys cultivated areas. In addition, the soil becomes unsuitable for replanting within a short timespan.

According to farmers, every rainy season the Ministry of Agriculture and Government Engineers visit the Mahaica and Mahaicony farmers who plant in the riverain commu n i t i e s t o advise them on precautionary measures against the floods.

To t h e m , t h e i r w o e s would be reduced if water from the Maduni Creek is not emptied in the Mahaica/Mahaicony area.

Whenever, the East Demerara Water Conservancy is full to capacity Government opens the Maduni Creek, which flows into the Mahaica and Mahaicony riverain areas.

The farmers stressed that this saves the lower East Coast from flooding.

As a “reward” for losing cash crops, livestock and rice, Mahaica and Mahaicony

farmers, who lose 100 acres, are given 15 bags urea, and 20 bags seed paddy.

In December 2011 and early 2012, farmlands in the area were affected by flooding.

Farmers were promised assistance from Government but to date it has not materialized.

The farmers noted that Government offered them an excavator to use for two days.

They are still waiting for this promise to be fulfilled so that they could pump rainfall from their lands.

They have also lashed out at the Opposition parties in Parliament for cutting the project money for the Cunha Canal, which would have served the Mahaica/ Mahaicony farmers well.

The farmers alleged that while campaigning for the November 28, 2011 National

Elections, the Alliance For Change (AFC) had promised to see all farmers insure their crops. They are disappointed that the AFC made a decision that has led to farmers suffering.

They added that as the leader of the Opposition, David Granger should be objective and look into the interest of all Guyanese.

“We are not saying that Lindeners are not suffering but you and AFC must not look in one direction in this country…you must see the plight people are going through in the riverain area in Mahaica/ Mahaicony,” the farmers noted.

According to a farmer, he lost 50 acres of three-weekold rice. He is currently indebted to most commercial banks, millers, pesticide dealers and large companies such as Geddes Grant Ainlim.

Mahaica, Mahaicony frustrated by constant floods

Bartica NDC disbanded ...

From page 13 recent actions by Government to disband NDCs and install IMCs across the country.

He stressed that the Minister is quoting his powers from Section 30 of 28:02 of the Constitution but those laws were made long before the 1980

Constitution.

Carrington added that NDCs should be autonomous bodies.

However, it appears that Government does not plan on having Local Government Elections soon so it is installing IMCs, he said.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

Accident victim left in limbo Police seize contraband during prison search

A Rosignol, West Bank Berbice teen, is still in pain after he was injured in an accident not far from his home in April. The lad, 17-year- old Kenny Satrohan, of Lot 33 Bennett Dam, Rosignol, was riding home from work on the Rosignol Public Road on March 22 around 17:30 hrs.

He said that another vehicle, a Tiger Hilux Forerunner (GMM 9981) pulled up suddenly in front of him in the ‘white line’ of the road and caused an accident.

He said the driver of the vehicle was the Estate Manager of Blairmont Estate.

Several attempts to reach the individual proved futile since his secretary said he was in a seminar.

Satrohan said that he had no time to brake. He hit the vehicle and fell on the roadside. “I run into him and he opened the door at the same time and I fell down”.

The young man added that the driver came out “and was just standing up, not doing anything like nothing ain’t happen”. Several bystanders, he noted, witnessed the incident, including his brother who came rushing to his assistance.

“My brother asked him [the driver] what he would do and he said, ‘he could do anything, kill anybody and go away and nobody can’t do him anything”.

About fifteen minutes later, an ambulance took Satrohan to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was examined and given injections on his right hip. At that time, he noted, he was feeling immense pain in his right hand and left hip.

The hospital officials, he said, told them that there was no x-ray machine at Fort

The teen with his injured hand

also removed from the possession of prisoners.

On Sunday another search was conducted, and according to the source, more cell phones and cigarettes were discovered. It is unclear whether any charges will be pressed in the wake of the discoveries.

Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine, told Kaieteur News that regular searches would be conducted at the prison and most times prohibited articles would be recovered.

He said that it was no surprise that illegal items were found in the prisons.

He continued that it was not alarming that ranks would have found the prohibited

article stuck in the barb wire since that was a regular occurrence.

Erskine said persons on the street would regularly throw stuff over the wall. In some cases he said persons are seen and then arrested. He pointed to numerous persons facing the court for the criminal act of throwing prohibited articles beyond the prison wall.

What he did not say, but what everyone knows is that his prison officers are the people who fuel the trade in illegal stuff. They smuggle cell phones and cigarettes into the compound for a fee from the relatives of the detained person.

One dead, killer wounded in brawl at Wineperu Wellington, so they had to transfer him to New Amsterdam Hospital, where they were informed that the x-ray machine there was “not working”. They were met with the same message upon visiting the hospital again the next day and had to return after the weekend.

The hand was x-rayed and placed in a cast the following Monday in New Amsterdam.

To date, several weeks after the incident, the young man is still in pain and is on medication for his hand and hip.

The family reported the matter to the Blairmont Police Station after which the case was called on April 3.

Hemorrhage, shock killed amorous miner A post mortem on 22year-old miner, Junior Joseph, formerly of Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast, has revealed that he died as a result of hemorrhage and shock, due to a wound.

Joseph was laid to rest on Saturday. Police have so far been unsuccessful in apprehending the assailant despite extensive searches.

The man hacked Joseph to death.

The report stated that Joseph who was asleep at the time, sustained several chops to his neck and about his body, after Omatoyai Benjamin, the assailant, found him in his bed with Benjamin’s paramour.

The young girl who was in bed with Joseph, also received severe chop wounds about her body and remains

During a search conducted at the Camp Street Prison last week, officials discovered numerous illegal items in the possession of inmates housed at the detention centre.

Kaieteur News understands that last Thursday, 15 cartons of cigarettes were found along with a kilogram of marijuana.

On the following day, Friday, another quantity of cigarettes was found when it was thrown over the fence by someone passing on the street. The parcel was reportedly stuck up in the barbed wire securing the prison perimeter. Along with that, four cell phones were

Junior Joseph at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Jose p h w o r k ed as a young miner with Benjamin and his father at Port Kaituma, in Region One. He was said to be living like family with the Benjamins.

However, the boy’s mother, Parbattie Satrohan, said that when they turned up at court on that day, a police officer came out and told them “that when the judge call the case, he will call us, but he never called back to this day”. The matter has since been left hanging. And the Satrohans want justice.

The boy’s mother said that the driver never visited the family or even called to apologise or to find out how her son was doing. “He [Satrohan] does work and support me; times hard...now he can’t work anymore because his hand is swelling...he can’t lift heavy weight or anything— he worked a few days with Star Seafoods but he couldn’t manage, the Director had to send him home”.

The woman added that her husband is very sickly and she depended on her son for a financial brace, but since the accident, the burdens have been great on her.

“Sometimes he [the driver] can do the same thing to somebody else”, she complained. “Since the accident, ‘til now, he [the driver] ain’t get the mind to come back and ask how the boy doing”.

Satrohan is scared to speak to this newspaper for fear that the driver might retaliate by harming him or his family in any way for speaking out and especially since he [the driver] is in a senior position of power at the estate.

He noted, too, that the driver “is going around telling people that he gave me $600,000 compensation but it is not true”.

Desmond Francis, 26, a labourer of Wanatta Village , Rupununi , Region Nine, is now assisting the Bartica Police with their investigations into the stabbing to death of Nimrod Paul , 36, another labourer also of Wanatta Village.

The stabbing took place early last Saturday at Wineperu , Essequibo River .

Desmond Francis is also said to be nursing chop wounds to his body. The wounds were inflicted by Leon Alexander.

According to the police, Paul and Francis had a fight during which he struck the suspect

with a piece of wood.

Francis retaliated and stabbed Paul several times about his body.

Leon Alexander who saw what was happening armed himself with a cutlass and chopped the suspect several times. Nimrod Paul died before receiving medical attention.

Francis is a patient at the GPHC, while Alexander is in police custody.

Also, the Bartica Police are investigating an armed robbery at “Sammy” Thomas ‘s Mining Camp ground located at 14 miles Back-dam in the Mazaruni Mining District.

The robbery occurred on

Sunday last , at around 20:30 hours when four gunmen invaded the Camp-ground firing gun s i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y, and causing a pandemonium .

Sammy h o w e v e r, reportedly escaped from the location , but the other four men who were on the said Camp ground were severely beaten and relieved of an undisclosed quantity of gold.

A team of Policemen from the Bartica Police Station left the Bartica location Sunday morning for the 14 Miles location and are still there conducting their investigations.

(Edward A Persaud )

Teen killers win appeal

By Kristen Macklingam Words could not describe the atmosphere yesterday morning at the Court of Appeal when two young men who were charged with murder had their conviction overturned after spending years in jail.

They appeared in front of Chancellor Carl Singh, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justice Rishi Persaud.

The two were represented by Attorney-atLaw, Glen Hanoman.

Joanne Barlow was the State Prosecutor.

Reports are that Arvin Shiv Narine and Dhaneshwar Narine (no relation), were 13 and 15 respectively when they were accused of killing a nine-year-old boy on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two. The killing took place in September, 2000, and the two teenagers were taken into police custody and

their trial was held at the Suddie High Court for the offence.

The case hinged on a confession statement by the duo and they were convicted.

However; because of their ages at the time of the crime, they could not be subjected to the death penalty.

They were sentenced to “imprisonment at the President’s pleasure” which meant that they would have to spend their lifetime in prison unless pardoned by the President.

According to Hanoman, he appealed this decision about five years later and he had to obtain special permission in order for the case to be heard.

Finally, after a long wait, the case was called up about two months ago and the date for the re-trial was set to yesterday.

The lawyer stated that after the case was presented

to the Judges yesterday morning, the trio agreed that the Judge who sat at the first hearing had made errors.

Hanoman also objected because he claimed that witnesses who could provide alibis for his clients were deceased.

It was also disclosed that the statements for the case were taken by a police rank who had allegedly burnt the genitals of the 14-year-old boy in Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

“Everyone deserves a second chance and I hope that these two young men make the most of it,” Hanoman told this newspaper.

Kaieteur News underst a n d s t h a t w h i l e Arvin Shiv Narine and Dhaneshwar Narine are now free from this sentence, one of the two has returned to the Camp Street Prison to serve another prison sentence.

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kwame McCoy to Guyanese man gunned know fate Monday next down in Brooklyn In relation to charges of assault and threatening language allegedly committed against Clifton Stewart, Information and Press Liaison to the President, Kwame McCoy will know his fate next Monday when the court is scheduled to rule on the matter.

The trial involving the Government official commenced yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. McCoy was charged when he reportedly struck Stewart across the head with a firearm. The man received injuries and had to seek medical attention. McCoy was further charged for allegedly threatening Stewart.

Allegations are that he told Stewart he was a marked man.

The matter against McCoy started when Stewart took the stand to relate his evidence-in-chief. He was led

by Police prosecutor Sergeant Lionel Harvey.

Stewart said that on the day in question, November 12, 2011 at D’Urban Street he was walking home when he noticed McCoy and others placing photos of the PPP/C presidential candidate over photos of the APNU member, vying for the same post. He said McCoy was the one instructing them to do so.

Stewart said he told McCoy that he should know better and advised that he place the photos over or under the APNU candidate’s photo. Stewart continued that an exchange of words was the result of his intervention into the placing of the posters.

He said after McCoy started to take photos of him and told him that he was a marked man he walked away but McCoy jumped into his vehicle and started to follow him. After another exchange, Stewart said McCoy exited his vehicle, threw a punch which he evaded, and then pulled out a silver gun and smacked him across the head.

Stewart said that he ran after becoming fearful for his life. He said he later joined a taxi which took him to the East La Penitence Police Station where he made a report.

A medical report was presented to the court which Stewart said he received from the doctor at the hospital to return to ranks of the said police station.

Woman Police Sergeant Roseanne Forde came to the court in the afternoon hours to present the medical report Stewart had spoken about. She was the one who had the document lodged at the police station. She related evidence as to what she did with the document and how she acquired it.

The policewoman was later cross examined by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos who is representing

the defendant. De Santos asked questions pertaining to investigation procedures and certain actions which he said the police should have taken. ReExamination was declined by Harvey.

Stewart was recalled to the stand to identify the medical certificate and he was later cross examined by De Santos.

Detective Superintendent of Police Melvin Chalmers was the last in the box to give evidence.

In his testimony, he related that he made contact with McCoy some days after the incident. He said that he arrested McCoy and informed him about the matter.

In cross examination, the senior police rank said he met McCoy at the Brickdam Police Station where he was looking after a license for his firearm.

During the cross examination, the location given by the police did not correspond with the location the charge alleged.

Apart from that it was revealed that McCoy did not have his gun in his possession since claims were that the weapon was lodged at the police station. Chalmers said he saw the gun there.

When De Santos however asked Chalmers why the procedural act of seizing a weapon involved in any criminal matter was not done, the policeman said he was instructed not to do so.

Harvey declined reexamination. The case against McCoy was subsequently closed and the prosecutor said that enough evidence was presented for McCoy to lead the defense.

Prior to that, De Santos said that McCoy had no case to answer to since there was a conflict in locations as to where the alleged incident occurred. He continued that McCoy was not in possession of any gun on the day in question since the handgun had been lodged at the police station. On the threatening language, De Santos submitted that he was unsure what the victim was marked for, “whether it was a promotion or what have you.”

The court after the submissions of the defence and prosecution, requested until next Monday to make a decision in the matter.

Apart from the charges relating to Stewart, McCoy also has the matter of assault reportedly committed against Natalie Ross. McCoy reportedly struck the woman down with his Sports UtilityVehicle (SUV) while on Robb Street.

She, like Stewart, had to receive medical attention except, her injuries required that she be kept overnight at the hospital.

Ross was present in court, and her matter will be heard on completion of the matter involving Stewart.

Brooklyn, US(www.dnainfo.com/NY Post) - A Brooklyn man was shot multiple times and died as a result of his gunshot wounds early Saturday night, police said.

On Sunday, the family of Guy Simpson, 26, said to be from Kitty, Guyana, was left picking up the pieces and trying to make sense of what had happened.

According to police, Simpson was attacked in front of a Decatur Street building near Patchen Avenue at 8:52 p.m.

His wife, Brenda Simpson, 29, was too upset to talk, but his father-in-law said he left behind three children, Maikah, 7, Khamar, 2, and Nyla, 2.

“He was a loving and dedicated father,” said Fred McClendon, 49. “He didn’t deserve to die like this. If anyone knows anything about what happened last night please come forward,” he asked reporters outside Simpson’s residence.

He also sent an invitation for friends of his son-in-law to attend a candlelight vigil that will be held Sunday at 6 p.m. at the site of the shooting, at 451 Decatur St. “If anyone knew and loved my son-in-law please come and light a candle in his honor,” he said. “It will be greatly appreciated.”

Ismael Williams, 25, said he grew up with Simpson in the neighborhood, and had known him for more than 20 years. The shooting took place right near his current home.

“I heard gunshots just before 11 p.m.,” he said. “I looked out of the window, and

Friends of Guy Simpson placed candles at the spot where he was shot and killed on Saturday.

Dead: Guy Simpson

saw his legs sticking out of the car. I ran down, and saw he was slumped over in the passenger seat and he was bleeding real bad from his chest,” said Williams.

“Everyone was screaming

to call 911,” he said. Williams said he and another man pulled Simpson out of the car, he tried CPR, which seemed to work briefly, but then stopped working. Simpson was transported to Interfaith

Medical Center, but was pronounced dead upon arrival, police said.

“I’m going to miss him real bad. He was a good man and a great father to his kids,” said Williams. Police said they found Simpson with multiple gunshot wounds on his body.

An investigation is ongoing, police said.

The New York Post has reported police as saying that Simpson had seven prior arrests and ties to the Bloods street gang.

Thief shot dead while stealing transformer A 45-year-old man died from a gunshot wound he received on Sunday night while he was in the process of stealing a transformer from the Guyana National Industrial Corporation compound on Lombard Street.

Nicholas Da Silva called ‘Buck Man’ succumbed to his injuries around 05:30 hours yesterday hours after he received a bullet in his abdomen.

Police in a press release stated that they are investigating the circumstances which led to the fatal shooting of Da Silva who is unemployed and of no fixed place of abode

around 22:35 hours on Sunday.

According to the police, Da Silva and an accomplice were seen in the compound stealing a transformer. Upon being challenged by a guard, who was armed with a gun, Da Silva retaliated and attacked the security man, during which time a round was discharged hitting Da Silva in his abdomen.

The wounded thief was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical attention and later succumbed to injuries. The body is awaiting Post Mortem Examination as investigations continue.

Stepfather gets nine months for assaulting child over stew fish “If you tek de goat ya have to tek de kiddy.”That was the advice given to a stepfather who whipped his stepson with a length of wire after the child ate the last piece of stew fish.

Gavin Rodney was given a nine-month jail sentence when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel OctiveHamilton yesterday and admitted to the offence of assaulting his 10-year-old stepson.

The police alleged that on May 22, last, at Tucville, Georgetown, Rodney unlawfully and maliciously assaulted the 10-year-old child to cause him bodily harm.

To the charge the defendant pleaded guilty, but requested to explain himself.

The court then listened to the police who stated that on the day in question, the defendant made checks and

Gavin Rodney noticed that a piece of the fish was gone from the stew pot.

Rodney then proceeded to smell the child’s mouth and it was determined that the 10year-old was the culprit.

On discovering this, the defendant resorted to an electric wire to discipline the child. According to the police, the child and his mother accompanied by a neighbour, went to the East La Penitence Police Station to make a report. Rodney was later arrested and charged with the offense.

When given the opportunity to state his case, Rodney started to explain how much he did for the child.

He wanted to say how long he knew the child and how he took care of him.

But the court deemed that was not relevant to the matter at hand. As Rodney refused to relate to the day in question, the court offered a nine-month time period to the defendant during which he would be able to reflect on his actions.

Rodney however claimed that he did not use an electric wire to scold the child, but it was in fact a television cable wire. On Tuesday last, neighbours rescued the 10year-old child after he ran from his home screaming and begging for assistance.

He had told residents that his stepfather was beating him because he ate the last piece of stew fish. Angry residents kept the child in their possession until the mother came home from work.

The residents had requested the intervention of authorities since they claimed that it was not the first time the man had beaten the child in such a manner.

The 10-year-old bored marks of violence. He had several marks showing the lashes he sustained from the wire. They were red and swollen.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

The Abigail Column Ask yourself: are you better off with or without him?

DEARABIGAIL, I am 27 years old and am living with so many regrets. I married my husband because I did not think anyone else would ask me. I have never been in love with him.

Fast-forward seven years.

I have been in counseling, and it was suggested I bring my husband in with me.

He has refused, saying there is nothing wrong with our relationship. We are intimate several times a week,

Dear Jennifer, It is possible to find someone more exciting, but that tends to be temporary. It’s also possible to find passionate love, and that might free up your husband to find someone who truly loves him, as well.

Or you could discover that this marriage is more worthwhile than you believe and be sorry you left.

If you are looking for a man to fulfill your fantasies, the odds are against you. You need to ask yourself: “Are you better off with or without him?” And only you can supply the answer.

and I do everything around the house. That is all he requires of a relationship.

But honestly, if he did come to counseling, how could I tell him that I am not attracted to him, that I never am aroused by him, that I love him like a brother?

I am ready to ask for a divorce so I can try to find a passionate man to fall in love with. I want to feel needed and desirable.

Is this a lost cause at this stage of my life? Is it better to strike out searching for love that I may never find? Or do I stay in this safe, amicable, boring marriage?

Jennifer

Tuesday May 29, 2012 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): You have a golden opportunity to resolve a domestic conflict. It’s possible that a parent or elder has been making you feel inferior. In the past, you’ve been hesitant to fight back, believing that it was more important to respect this person’s experience than challenge their words. ************************************ TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): Interactions with a sister, brother, or neighbour may have been difficult these past two years. Fortunately, you’re starting to see some progress in this relationship. ************************************ GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): You’ve had to do a lot of monetary manoeuvring these past few years, which has been exhausting. Happily, your efforts are starting to pay off.

Getting a cost-of-living raise is a distinct possibility. ************************************ CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Life has assumed a serious tone these past two years, which has made you much stronger. Now that the seasons are changing, you finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. ************************************ LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): You’ve been in the process of eliminating people and activities that drain you of energy. Now you’re starting to see the positive results of these painful endings. ************************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): Associating with people who are respected authorities in your field of interest is wise.

By nurturing these relationships, you will attract opportunities that will help you up the ladder of success.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): The powers that be have been putting a lot of pressure on you, making life a bit stressful on the career front.

Fortunately, you were able to rise to these challenges quite admirably. ************************************ SCORPIO (OCT 23 NOV 21): For the past two years, you’ve been busy expanding your horizons in serious ways. Perhaps you’ve been mastering a foreign language. Maybe you’ve been working towards a degree. ************************************ SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): Making changes to your financial situation has forced you to live within your means and while this may be a foreign concept in this age of credit cards, it has given you valuable skills. ************************************ CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): Turbulence in a close relationship has made you reconsider your emotional priorities. In the past, you valued security over adventure. That’s started to change now that you’ve seen the perils of getting stuck in a boring routine. ************************************ AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): Getting more disciplined about fitness has paid off over the past two years. You’ve learned that there is a direct correlation between your emotional health and physical strength. ************************************ PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Playing around with regard to relationships isn’t as fun as it used to be. It feel as though you’ve grown up quite a bit these past two years.

Suddenly, you’re ready to settle down with someone special.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00hrs. The A-Team 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00hrs. The Wayans Brothers 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Awakening 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Alliance on the Move 21:30hrs. Movie: Ulzana’s Raid 23:00hrs. Sign Off NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 05:00h - Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 05:15h - Meditation 05:30h - Quran This Morning 06:00h - R. Gossai General Store Presents Hanuman Bhajans 06:15h - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Hanuman Bhajans 06:30h - Muneshwar Limited Presents Hanuman Bhajans 06:45h - Double Standard Taxi Presents Hanuman Bhajans 07:00h - RRT Enterprise Presents Hanuman Bhajans 07:15h - M & M Fast Food Presents Raja Yoga Discourses 07:30h - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents Hanuman Bhajans 07:45h - The Family of The Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Hanuman 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:- JO DOOBA SO PAAR (Eng: Sub:) 14:00h - DVD Movie: BATTLESHIP - The Battle for Earth begins at Sea 16:00h - Investigation Discovery 16:45h - Dying Tears

17:15h - World’s Hindi Teaching by Sanskar Bharati International 17:30h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial 17:45h - Birthday Greetings / Deaths Announcement & In Memoriam 18:00h - TBA 19:00h - DECOR & GIFT GALLERY Live With Joel Ghansham

20:00h - Square Talk Live with Kwame McCoy 21:00h - Indian Soap Yahaan Mein Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:30h - Indian Soap - Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 22:00h - Indian Soap Pavitra Rishta 22:30h - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 23:00h - Sign off with the Gayatri Mantra

Leading Amerindian NGO...

From page 11 for and was granted meetings with a number of missions, agencies, commissions and political parties, among others.

These include the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Indigenous Peoples Commission, the Roman Catholic Bishop Francis Alleyne, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, Ambassador Lindsay Jones of the European Union, Canadian High Commissioner David Devine, British High Commissioner Mr. Andrew Eyre, the US Ambassador Mr. D. Brent Hardt, A Partnership for National Unity, and the Alliance for Change.

The APA said that its committee could not secure meetings with the Minister of Amerindian Affairs since the

APA was told that she would be out of the country and likewise the National Toshaos Council whose head was also going to be out of the country.

The APA could also not secure a meeting with the GGMC Commissioner. In an effort to meet with the Peoples Progressive Party and the Office of Climate Change, the APA was directed to the Office of the President but the President was not available at the time.

“However President Ramotar did say that his office would contact the APA to set a meeting at a mutually convenient date and a meeting has since been held between President Ramotar and the APA President Sharon Atkinson and Programme Administrator, Jean La Rose.”

Guides are subjected to change without notice

Page 20

Kaieteur News

VACANCY

(From page 15)

Salesgirls & Salesboys.

Apply: Avinash Complex, Water St. Georgetown. 2263361/227-7828 Experienced Hair Dresser at Nalline Beauty Salon, Vreeden-Hoop Junction (Raymond Building).

Attractive salary. Contact: 687-3341, 639-9884 Be part of our world class customer care team. Join us now! Phone: 220-0401-3 Male Sales Clerk. Hand written application. Perfume Dazzle, 137 Regent St., Lacytown, G/Town.

Fish cleaners. Eccles. 2332546, 675-5467

Land V/Hoop 2 acre: school, housing, factory, etc. call: 658-0115 95 acres, transported land, W.B.D, Maria Lodge, fully drainage and aggregation. $40 million. Contact 266-5447 1½ acre V/Hoop 48ft x 1300ft, housing, parking lot, work shop, lumber yard, etc. Call: 627-9351

LEARN TO DRIVE Prudential Learning “ Training to Pass” stick/ manual and automatic 6424827 We’re #1 Soman & Sons Driving School; First Federation Building. Call: 225-4858, 6445166, 622-2872, 615-0964

TO LET Clean, freshly painted house. 3 bedrooms, South Ruimveldt Park. Phone# 672-9846 Business place to rent, very spacious. Call: 226-2674/ 684-6360,223-1301,682-6822 House, upper flat, Vreed-enHoop. Tel: 227-4764 Ann’s Grove, ECD. Brand new upper apartment unfurnished, 2 bedrooms. $30,000 monthly. Call: 6839548 Prashad Nagar $18,000.

Camp Street $60,000.

Cambellville $100,000.

Albertown $150,000. Diana 227-2256, 626-9382

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

East Bank $12M. West Coast $3.5M. Alberttown $19M. Newtown $28M. Hotel $135M. Diana 227-2256, 6269382 1 three bedroom house Prashad Nagar, asking price $29M neg. Call: 227-2563, 684-2115

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

CAR RENTAL Progressive auto rental, cars from $4,000 per day.

Call: 643-5122, 656-0087, www.progressiveautorental.com Al’s Car & Pick-up Rental.

Call: 698-7807

Berbice schools excel as Inter Primary School Windball Competition concludes

LAND FOR SALE

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.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Qualify yourself in Cosmetology or nails, make up, Register, Limited spaces.

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

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

The respective Male and Female winners collect their prizes after the competition.

Edinburgh Primary School of East Bank Berbice and No48 Primary of Corentyne were crowned champions in their respective categories when the action in the East Berbice leg of the Inter Primary School Windball Competition, sponsored by GT&T in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, concluded at the Skeldon Community Centre ground, Saturday May 26 last. The two schools were subsequently declared champions of the East Berbice leg which encompasses New Amsterdam, Canje and the Corentyne.

The finalists were determined after the completion of the preliminary matches in various districts with the winners advancing to the finals. The boy’s final between Edinburgh Primary and Auchlyne Primary, the former school defeated the latter by eight wickets in a tense, action packed encounter.

Auchlyne batted first and compiled 46-2 in their 5 overs

after which Edinburgh reached 50-2 in 4.5 overs. In the Girls finals, Corentyne champions, No48 Primary humiliated Betsy Ground Primary to prevail by 10 wickets. The latter team batted first and reached 35 for 4 off their allotted overs, but No 48 Primary needed just 6 balls to wipe off the deficit. They finished on 36 without loss with Nariefa Hussain unbeaten on 19 and the extras contributing 12 out of the total.

Several other games were contested to determine the finalists and in the boy’s category, Edinburgh Primary defeated Messiah Primary by seven wickets after the latter team took first strike and ended on 38-4. Edinburgh then knocked off that total (41-3) to take the honours.

Bohemia Primary then defeated Rose Hall Estate Primary by five wickets after the latter team batted first and compiled 71-3. Bohemia then took the match after scoring 74-5.

In some female matches #84 Primary batted first and

Albouystown/Charlestown...

From page 22 also gotten a boost from ‘young gun’, Dorrian Lewis, who was on the money against Plaisance. Their encounter against Albouystown/Charlestown will be tough with both teams originating from South Georgetown, the home of ‘hard-nose’ (physical)

basketball in Guyana.

Twist it or turn it, the game tonight among Albouystown/ Charlestown and Lodge/ Meadowbrook is bigger than the NCBL. It is a mammoth encounter and almost a cultural battle between the two teams that has far more at stake in the competition than just the NCBL title.

Webb vows to grow...

From page 21 new position in world football, pledged his and Jamaica’s “unwavering” support to the new CONCACAF boss.

“I am extremely pleased that my good friend and Caribbean colleague has ascended to this office... I know without doubt that he will bring strong and visionary leadership at a very difficult juncture. I will be right there

to lend support as a member of the executive with focus on making CONCACAF stronger on the football map,” said the CONCACAF Executive Committee member.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president and the other Caribbean member on the six-man CONCACAF Executive Committee will join Webb as senior ex-officio members of the CFU.

scored 26-2 and then restricted Albion Primary to 20-1 to win by six runs, while Auchlyne Primary scored 724 then restricted Bohemia to 36-4 to prevail by 36 runs.

The winning teams will continue practicing in anticipation of the national competition to be held in Georgetown later in the year.

The organizers will use the just concluded tournament to select the eventual squad who will then comprise a school cricket camp planned for the imminent August holiday.

Meanwhile, tournament coordinator, Alister Monroe, expressed profound gratitude to telephone‘ magnate, GT&T, for their continued support. He also beseeched

other corporate entities to render support even as he explained that competitions of this nature are integral towards the development of the youngsters.

The coordinator said that the tournament allows children to interact while honing their competitive spirit. Mr. Munroe further said that sports activity of this nature fosters discipline while outlining the benefits of teamwork at an early age.

Manager/coach of Edinburg Primary, Roger Wilson, expressed deep gratitude to the organizers and sponsors saying that such competition is good for the children. He also acknowledged the keen competition among the participating schools.

Federer ties Connors’ Grand Slam match win record PARIS (AP) On the occasion of his record-tying 233rd victory in a Grand Slam match, Roger Federer was asked Monday whether he recalls which player he beat for his first win at a major tournament. ‘’Well, I should, shouldn’t I? Um, let me see,’’ Federer said, then hesitated and rubbed his eyes before conceding: ‘’OK. I can’t remember.’’

A reporter reminded him it was Michael Chang at the 2000 Australian Open. ‘’Was it? Well, that was a beautiful victory, then,’’ the 16-time major champion replied with a grin. Federer equaled Jimmy

Connors’ Open era mark and improved to 233-35 at tennis’ top four tournaments by beating Tobias Kamke of Germany 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the French Open.

Connors won eight Grand Slam titles while going 233-49 from 1970-92, an .826 winning percentage bettered by Federer’s .869. ‘’Jimmy Connors was a huge champion. Still is,’’ Federer said. He improved to 50-12 at Roland Garros, where his 2009 championship completed a career Grand Slam. Now Federer is the only man with at least 50 Open era match wins each at all four.

Kennard Memorial Turf...

From page 22 Isabella Beaton (325-3007, 693-7812). Horse owners must also present their animals for examination by the vet by 11:00hrs on race day.

Sponsors of the event are Mohamed’s Enterprise, DDL, General Equipment and Farm Suppliers, Yunas Contracting

Service, Anirude Ramcharitar, Pomeroon Oil Mills, h Nauth & Sons Civil Engineers Contractors and Chatterpaul Deo and Ariel Enterprise. The other dates projected for meets by the KMTC are Sunday August 12, Sunday October 14 and Wednesday December 26.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Brydens Indoor Hockey Classic...

Pepsi Hikers edge GCC in thriller Pepsi Hikers men produced when it mattered most, stunning the previously unbeaten GCC 2-1 in the final of the Solo Men’s First Division Competition of the Brydens Indoor Hockey Classic which ended on Sunday evening, at the National Gymnasium.

Watched by another encouraging attendance, the mood was tense at the beginning, but the two sides who’ve met in many finals before with mixed results gradually picked up the tempo and treated the fans with an exciting brand of hockey.

Early in the contest neither side seemed willing to take any unnecessary risk, but the Hikers earned a penalty corner in the 12th minute and they executed to perfection with powerful Randy Hope peppering his shot past Michael Xavier into the net to give them a one nil lead.

The game suddenly sprang to life as GCC caught on the back foot scrambled to gain the equaliser. After several raids on the Hikers goal, midfielder Kevin Spencer produced a moment of brilliance as he weaved through a plethora of Hikers defenders and guided his shot past the outstretched left arm of goalkeeper Azad DeAbreu.

The second half saw more thrilling action as the GCC marksmen were off-target with several attempts and the Hikers, Hope missed an open goal off a swift counterattacking move. Hikers Captain and eventual competition Most Valuable Player, Devin Munroe then brought glory to his side, however, with a swiftly executed penalty corner shot that beat goalkeeper Xavier all ends up to secure the 2-1 victory for the Pepsi Hikers.

The final of the Breeze Women’s Competition proved to be just as close an encounter as the Flora GCC Tigers edged by the GCC Spartans 3-2.

In just the second minute of the match, Tigers Captain Sonia Jardine shocked the young Spartans when she took the ball past the right side of defence and slipped her shot into the near post, before the goalkeeper could react.

The Tigers seemed determined to extend their lead and piled on more pressure on the Spartans in the subsequent minutes, but fine goalkeeping from Alysa Xavier and solid defending from the Spartans maintained the score line for the next ten minutes.

Just as the game seemed to have found a balance, however, a pass into the Spartans circle was perfectly timed by striker Shebiki

- Flora GCC Tigers, GCC also win Baptiste who guided the ball into the Spartans net with the gentlest of touches to give her side the 2-0 lead.

Young Aliyah Gordon kept the Spartans in contention with a swift counterattacking finish in the 14th minute, but Tigers striker Kerensa Fernandes extended their advantage once again just before the half leaving the score at 3-1.

Newcomer Athena Seenanon scored the lone goal of the second half in a desperate attempt by the Spartans to launch a comeback, but this would not be sufficient as the final whistle ended the game at 3-2 for the Tigers.

The Kellogg’s men’s second division competition was a thriller that went to the wire.

It took a sudden death penalty shootout to separate the GCC and Western Union Hikers teams giving GCC the final 4-3 victory.

With GCC going up by two goals from Stephen Xavier and Shaka Gill early in the match, the Hikers it seemed could not find a way through the rock solid GCC defence marshalled by Stuart Gonsalves and Shad Fernandes. With fading hopes and only four minutes remaining, the Hikers switched out their goalkeeper in favour of an extra field player and produced the spark that they needed as Aroydy Branford’s goal brought the excited crowd to its feet. The GCC defence then made a crucial error two minutes later allowing Colonel Heywood an easy equalizer.

In the penalty shootout that followed, both goalkeepers Jason Hoyte and Alysa Xavier seemed up to the task as they each denied all, but one player in the first series of five penalties.

With the scores still deadlocked and the shootout in the sudden death stage, GCC’s Stuart Gonsalves produced a diving finish to seal the victory and flood the floor with blue shirts in celebration.

Brydens Marketing Manager, Mark Kendall, was on hand to present the trophies to the winning teams and individual recipients.

Hikers Captain Devin Munroe secured the Solo men’s first division MVP, Spartans Gabriella Xavier earned the Breeze women’s MVP and Hikers goalkeeper Jason Hoyte was the MVP for the Kellogg’s second division competition. Leroy Jack of Saints collected the Brydens Award for being the Most Promising Player.

5-time champ Johnny Tapia found dead in NM ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Johnny Tapia, the fivetime boxing champion whose turbulent career was marked by cocaine addiction, alcohol, depression and run-ins with the law, was found dead Sunday at his Albuquerque home. He was 45.

Authorities were called to the house at about 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, spokesman Robert Gibbs said. The death didn’t appear to be suspicious, he said.

Tapia won five championships in three weight classes, winning the WBA bantamweight title, the IBF and WBO junior bantamweight titles and the IBF featherweight belt. He

was regarded as the consummate underdog by his fans. The more trouble he found outside the ring including several stints in jail - the more they rallied around him.

In a 1990s-era feud with fellow Albuquerque boxer and former world champion Danny Romero, Tapia’s fans anointed him with the slang Spanish title of ‘’Burque’s Best.’’ But his life was also marked by tragedy. He was orphaned at 8, his mother stabbed 26 times with a screwdriver and left to die. In 2007, he was hospitalized after an apparent cocaine overdose. Several days later, his brother-in-law and his

nephew were killed in car accident on their way to Albuquerque to see the ailing boxer.

Tapia was banned from boxing for 3 1/2 years in the early ’90s because of his cocaine addiction. But he knocked out Henry Martinez to win the WBO bantamweight title in 1994, and won four more championships over the next eight years.

He last fought in June, outpointing Mauricio Pastrana in an eight-round decision. He finished with a 59-5-2 record.

Gibbs said an autopsy will be performed in the next few days.

Page 21

Unstoppable Spurs silence Thunder (Reuters) - The San Antonio Spurs taught Oklahoma City a lesson in championship poise with a 101-98 win on Sunday that stretched their remarkable win streak to 19 games and earned them a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.

The experienced Spurs, who have won four NBA championships under coach Gregg Popovich, trailed by nine after three quarters but kept their cool and sprinted to the finish to win the opening game of the best-ofseven series.

Manu Ginobili scored a team-high 26 points off the bench, and Tony Parker added 18 as San Antonio outscored the visiting Thunder 39-27 in the fourth to pass a rare post-season test.

“They had us on our heels and we were not aggressive,” Ginobili told reporters of the game’s first three quarters. We needed an edge. In the (fourth quarter), we had it.”

The red-hot Spurs remain perfect in the post-season with nine victories and have now tied the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers for longest win streak between the regular season and playoffs.

Kevin Durant netted 27 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, who defeated the past two NBA champions in their previous rounds and

Manu Ginobili (20), blocks a shot

by Russell Westbrook (0)

were in good shape to move ahead of San Antonio before getting blitzed in the fourth.

Three-time defending scoring champion Durant managed no field goals in the last 16-plus minutes of the game. “They forced me out a little bit and they do a good job on help defense,” Durant said. “I did things I wanted to do tonight, I just have to do better next time.”

San Antonio opened the final period with a 15-3 run to seize a lead they would never relinquish.

The home team built a 10point advantage with two minutes remaining, and James

Harden trimmed the final scored with a trio of threepointers in the last couple minutes.

Harden finished with 19, and Russell Westbrook had 17 but only made 7 of 21 shots.

Duncan chipped in 16 and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who also got a boost from reserve Stephen Jackson’s late defense against Durant.

“It’s a long series and you have to continue to play,” said Oklahoma City guard Derek Fisher, who had 13 points. “They showed mental toughness tonight in being able to battle back, and now

Webb vows to grow football in CONCACAF Jamaica Observer NEWLY installed president of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Jeff Webb said a pillar of his tenure will be to upgrade the quality of the game across its zones.

The 47-year-old Caymanian banker, who was elevated to the position unopposed at a CONCACAF session of FIFA’s 62nd Congress in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday, told the Jamaica Observer on Friday that the organisation will also seek to reconstruct its image in the wake of the fall-out resulting from the cash-for-vote scandal of its Caribbean member body, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).

“I will be focusing on building the game... we want to enhance all our competitions, in particular we will be working to make the Gold Cup a bigger and more attractive competition,” said Webb, who has also been

appointed a FIFA vicepresident and who will be CONCACAF’s representative on the all-powerful FIFA Executive Committee.

As part of the goal to improve the game at the developmental level, Webb noted that the aim is to source funding to execute the various benefits programmes.

“Certainly we will be working towards growth in our Financial Assistance Programme and our Grassroots Programme, therefore the Caribbean will benefit as it is a part of the CONCACAF,” he said from the Budapest Convention Centre.

Webb, who is deputy chairman of FIFA’s Internal Audit Committee, said the ghost of the bribery scandal that claimed its biggest casualty in long-serving CONCACAF boss, Trinidadian Austin ‘Jack’ Warner, will need to be fully exorcised as the confederation moves forward.

“There will have to be

Jeff Webb reconciliation as we put the past behind us... the events over the past year will not define and determine our destiny (as) we have a responsibility to ensure that history isn’t repeated,” the member of FIFA Transparency and Compliance Committee said.

Webb also served as chair of the FIFA-sanctioned CFU Normalisation Committee, which was charged with restoring normality to the embattled union. At the Hungary congress, Antiguan Gordon Derrick was elected to lead the CFU. Meanwhile, head of Jamaica’s football Captain Horace Burrell, while expressing delight at Webb’s (Continued on page 20)

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Albouystown/Charlestown Kennard Memorial Turf Club Pre-Independence race face Lodge/Meadowbrook in mammoth showdown tonight meet rescheduled to June 10

By Edison Jefford The National Community Basketball League (NCBL) intensifies tonight when the action shifts to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with two unbeaten seasoned campaigners at the InterWard level meeting to settle a dispute that has long been established on the court.

Digicom-sponsored Albouystown/Charlestown, who are the Inter-Ward defending Champions in the competition and Guinness Bar-sponsored Lodge/ Meadowbrook will meet in the feature game tonight after a sophomore first game that is scheduled to begin at 6pm.

Nigel Hinds and Associates’ North Ruimveldt will play West Side Boys in the first game with an intriguing encounter to follow between Albouystown/ Charlestown and Lodge/ Meadowbrook that transforms ‘street-ball’ to the more established indoor format of the game.

One of the good things that the Coordinators of the NCBL have done is to strip the participating teams of guest players and make it mandatory that players

represent their communities.

Such an interesting move will reflect the true quality of teams in the competition.

Suffice it to say that when Albouystown/Charlestown last won the Inter-Ward title, they acquired the services of Kevin ‘Two Feet’ Joseph, one of the best guards in Guyana, and Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts, one of the best forwards around too. It will be interesting to see what becomes of Albouystown/ Charlestown in this competition without those two players.

The real players from the community will have their time to shine tonight but there are still some experienced players in the Albouystown/ Charlestown fold. Those include forwards, Nicko Fraser and Marvin Hilliman and guards, Trevor McCleod and Alwyn Bellamy.

Of the four players, only Fraser, and perhaps Hilliman has been consistently playing ball with McCleod and Bellamy more committed to work; the issue here is that Albouystown/Charlestown is challenged against Lodge/ Meadowbrook to find the necessary depth to win.

McCleod and Bellamy are good guards with extensive

Nicko Fraser

Alwyn Bellamy

Pelham Doris

Fabian Johnson

clubs experiences, but their fitness will be tested against Lodge/Meadowbrook that quietly came from behind, showing great endurance last Thursday to beat a quality Steffon Gillis-led Plaisance/ Vryheid’s Lust team.

The brains behind Lodge/ Meadowbrook is Pelham

Doris, who has no interest in scoring, but has burgeoning assists and steals columns usually at the end of games.

Doris is the play-maker on his team with forwards, Mortimer Williams and Fabian Johnson getting the job done.

Lodge/Meadowbrook has (Continued on page 20)

The Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) PreIndependence horse race meeting initially scheduled to be staged at the entity’s Bush Lot Farm Corentyne facility on Sunday May 20, has now been slated for June 10.

Persistent rainfall over the past weeks forced the postponement of the event and the organisers met over last weekend and decided on June 10.

When activities eventually get underway, turfites are assured of the action packed events that characterize these meets. The country’s top horses, straddled by the top jockeys, would be competing for honours.

Once again, the nation’s best horses as well as those born and bred in other Caribbean countries will grace the starting line for highly competitive races. The feature attraction pits animals in the ‘D’ and Lower Class over a distance of 7 furlongs with a first place prize of five hundred thousand dollars.

The second place will cart off half that amount, while the third and fourth place finishers receive $125,000 and $63,000 respectively.

Several other events are

slated for the day starting with the G and Lower Class over a distance of 7 furlongs. The winner will cart off $250,000, while the second place collects half that amount. The third and fourth place finishers receive $63,000 and $32,000 respectively. Then there is the I2 and lower Class event, also over a distance of 6 furlongs where the winner claims $180,000. The second place gets $90,000 while the third and fourth place finishers receive $45,000 and $23,000 respectively.

Several other races are expected to whet the appetites of lovers of the sport including the race among the 3 years old animals, the H and Lower division and the K&L category.

The organizers wish to remind horse owners that the event is being conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and that all of the rules would be applicable.

Horse owners may also register their animals with Justice Cecil Kennard (2261399, 225-4818, or 623-7609) or Roopnarine Matadial aka Shine (325-3192), Ivan Dipnarine (331-0316) or (Continued on page 20)

Rollers win BVA Independence one-day competition

Winners posing with their trophies and prizes. L –R: BVA President, Jaguars captain, Glenroy Clements, MVP Errol Chase, Rollers captain and GTC/PM captain; stooping, most improved player Rollers Volleyball Club of New Amsterdam played unbeaten on Sunday May 27 to win the Berbice Volleyball Association’s Independence Trophy in a one day competition which attracted five teams in Berbice, namely: Port Mourant Jaguars, Albion United, GTC/PM 1 and 2, and Rollers of New Amsterdam.

Due to persistent rainfall, the competition did not commence until 13:30hrs after the GTM Hard court was swept and mopped up. At the conclusion of a round robin competition involving the five teams, the results were GTC/ PM 1 won three lost one; GTC/PM 2 lost four;

Albion United won one lost three; Port Mourant Jaguars won two and lost two; and Rollers won four.

The match involving Rollers and GTC/ PM was virtually a final and saw some exciting rallies as players from both teams sought to gain the upper hand, in the first set Rollers triumphed 25-22, while they won the second 25-16.

Quacy Matheson, Jason Seelochand and Levi Nedd played brilliantly for GTC/ PM but their efforts were in vain as Rollers’ strikers Glenroy Clements, Seon Richard, Zaid Quintyn and Osafa De

Part of the action on Sunday - GTC/PM 1 vs. Rollers Santos combined well with utility player Errol Chase, most times spiking and blocking well to undo the GTC/PM attack.

At the presentation ceremony held immediately after the competition, BVA President Gregory Rambarran in brief remarks complimented the teams for turning up despite the adverse conditions and singled out individual performances that auger well for Berbice Volleyball.

The first place trophy, a ball and several pairs of trousers were presented to the winners – Rollers of New Amsterdam, while the second place finishers – GTC/PM 1 received a trophy

and volleyball. Third place finisher Port Mourant Jaguars received a trophy and a ball.

The Most Valuable Player Trophy went to Errol Chase of Rollers and Best Spiker trophy to Glenroy Clements also of Rollers, while Surendra Motiepersaud of Port Mourant Jaguars received a prize for being the most improved player.

The trophies were provided by the BVA and the National Sports Commission, while Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated provided the balls and trousers. The trophies and prizes were handed over by female spectators present.

Tuesday May 29, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Team Guyana sends ominous warning to C/bean counterparts

T

eam Guyana also known as Back Circle sent an ominous warning to the teams participating in the inaugural Guinness Street Football Challenge Tournament after inflicting a crushing 5-0 win over D’Urban Street as play in the Banks DIH-sponsored warm-up Competition opened on Sunday evening, at the Albouystown New Hard Court.

Displaying immense skill and speed, Team Guyana completely overwhelmed a game, but clearly outclassed D’Urban Street unit with five different players entering the score sheet in a performance that will surely provide a necessary confidence booster just before the big tournament commences.

Also in winners’ circle

were Broad Street, who beat Ti g e r B a y, A l e x a n d e r Village winners over West Front Road and Albouystown, who edged Island All Star.

The competition was organised to provide valuable practice for the local champs as they seek to keep the top prize right home in Guyana.

Eight teams divided into two groups are contesting the tournament that carries a first prize of $200,000, while the second, third and fourth placed finishers will take away $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, the teams that fail to make it to the final four after the completion of the preliminary rounds will each take home $15,000.

In the night’s full results: Game 1 Broad Street 2

v/s 0 Tiger Bay Goal Scorers Broad Street Jamal Cozier 9 min Jimmy Gravesande 17 min Game 2 Back Circle 5 v/s 0 Durban Street Goal Scorers Back Circle Philip Rowley 11th min Daniel Favorite 16th min Vincent Thomas 19th min Alan Kennday 22nd min Dexter Griffith 30th min Game 3 Alexander Village 2 v/s 0 West Front Road Goal Scorers Alexander Village Delon Williams 7th min Shem Poter 30th min Game 4 Albouystown 2 v/s 1 Island All Star Goal Scorer Albouystown Andrew Murray 5th min Devon Small 18th min

Part of the action on Sunday night in the Banks DIH-sponsored warm-up Competition, at the Albouystown New Hard Court.

Island All Star Orson McCordy 29th The competition continues tomorrow evening, at the East Ruimveldt Basketball Court In the fixtures: at 20:00 hrs Albouystown versus Durban Street; 20:45 hrs Broad Street v/s Alexander Village; 21:30 hrs West Front Road v/s Tiger Bay

and 22:15 hrs Back Circle v/s Island All star.

Meanwhile, Apart from Guyana the foreign teams are Haiti, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

The competition runs from June 21-23 and the total prize money on offer 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 winning team will also have a fully constructed facility to play the format, while the team will be equipped with sports kits.

Arjune wins Demerara Mutual Golf Tournament Premium putting paid dividends for Munaf Arjune who claimed the Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Golf Tournament on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Arjune played a near perfect round shooting a best gross 72, while securing 41 points in the Stableford

competition which awards points for each hole based on one’s strokes. Arjune sank three putts over 20 ft on the way to accumulating a total of eight net birdies and seven net pars.

Mark Lashley was second with 39 points, while Carlos Adams scored 36 points with six net birdies

James Krakowsky takes the spoils Winners of the Demerara Mutual Life Golf tournament display their prizes following the presentation.

In the above photo Mr. Skeete proudly hands over the winnings to a pleased Krakowsky moments after the competition concluded.

James Krakowsky distinguished himself among the nation’s top scrabble players, ending the 6 rounds Independence Day tournament with an impeccable 6 points and a positive spread of 675. For his efforts, he received a beautiful trophy donated by proprietor of Wakefield Photo Studio, Julian Skeete.

and eight net pars. Fourth place went to Raul Moore, 35 points and fifth place to D Dinnanauth also with 35 points.

Nearest to the pin was won by Maurice Solomon whose ball landed only inches from the No. 8 hole, while longest drive was won unsurprisingly by Mohan Dinnanauth.

Club president Brian Hackett thanked Demerara Mutual for the sponsorship and board director Maurice Solomon speaking on behalf of the company assured that the soc i e t y ’s s u p p o r t would be ongoing as it has been for several years.

Ulric Pollydore Youth cycle race prog set for June 2 in the National Park

N

ational Cycling Coach, Hassan Mohamed MS has organized a Youth Cycle Programme for Saturday June 2 at the National Park Circuit commencing at 09:00hrs.

The programme is in memory of the late Ulric Pollydore, former president of Guyana Cycle Federation and Kaieteur Cycle Club, a personal friend of Hassan Mohamed and others.

Events scheduled: 12 to 14 yrs Boys & Girls - 3 Laps Veteran U – 50 yrs - 5 Laps Veteran O – 50 yrs - 5 Laps Veteran O – 60 yrs - 5 Laps Juveniles - 10 Laps Upright Cyclists - 5 Laps BMX Boys Open - 3 Laps

BMX Boys 12 to 14 yrs - 3 Laps BMX Boys 9 to 12 yrs - 3 Laps BMX Boys 6 to 9 yrs - 2 Laps School Boys & Invitation - 35 Laps The programme is sponsored by Banks DIH POWERADE Energy Drink. Outdoor Event Manager at Banks, Mortimer Stuart will distribute the prizes to the respective winners.

t r o Sp England apply finishing touches to series win over West Indies Samuels hung around for a fifty, but the 108-run target posed no threat to England

Marlon Samuels hit a couple of sixes off Graeme Swann to end on 76 not out.

AFP – England beat West Indies by nine wickets to win the second Test with more than a day to spare at Trent Bridge here on Monday and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in this three-match series.

Set 108 for victory on the fourth day, England finished on 111 for one.

England captain Andrew Strauss, who made 141 in the first innings to follow his hundred in the five-wicket

Brydens Indoor Hockey Classic...

first Test win at Lord’s, was out for 45 when he chipped part-time spinner Marlon Samuels to short extra-cover with his side just 19 runs short of victory.

But fellow left-hander Alastair Cook (43 not out) and Jonathan Trott (17 not out) completed the win.

“We’re delighted to get over the line,” said Strauss. “It was quite hard work at times.

It’s been a hot, hard four days

and there were some really good performances from the lads.”

West Indies were all out for 165 in their second innings shortly after lunch.

Samuels made a dashing 76 not out, top-scoring for the tourists for the second time in the match after his first innings 117.

However, he merely delayed the inevitable and this loss extended West Indies’ winless run in England to 16 Tests, with 14 defeats and two draws.

Man-of-the-match Tim Bresnan took four wickets for 37 runs in 17 overs for a Test-best match haul of eight for 141, while James Anderson was close behind his fellow paceman with a second innings return of four for 43 in 20.1 overs.

This victory meant Bresnan, who made a useful 39 not out in England’s first innings, had been on the winning side in all his 13 Tests. “Tim Bresnan was fantastic,” said Strauss. “He showed what a good contributor he is for the side in both innings, and he chipped in with the bat as well.”

Bresnan added: “It’s quite difficult at times when you’ve got a soft ball and a flat pitch but that’s when you’ve got to step up and do it. “Consistency is my major weapon and to keep banging in that length.”

Considering West Indies

England players celebrate Tim Bresnan's breakthrough. resumed on their overnight 61 for six, their second innings total represented a considerable recovery. “ We ’ v e r e a l l y g o t t o consider how we go about p l a y i n g Te s t c r i c k e t , something has got to be done,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy, who made a maiden Test hundred in the first innings. “We just have to be more focused and put a higher price on our wickets. We’ve been lacking top order runs for a while and it has set us back.”

Samuels started the day on 13 not out and Sammy nought not out.

They started positively, with Samuels clipping Bresnan for a legside boundary while Sammy drove him through extra-

cover for four. But Bresnan had Sammy lbw — his fourth leg before wicket of the innings — for 25.

Sammy reviewed the decision and replays showed the ball, which hit him on the back leg, would have just clipped the top of the stumps. As Aleem Dar had already given Sammy out, the Pakistani umpire’s call was upheld and West Indies were now 110 for seven after their two best batsmen of the match had only added 49 this time around.

Kemar Roach struck several fours before he was lbw to Anderson for 14, although England had to review umpire Asad Rauf’s original not out decision.

Samuels, on 58, survived a sharp chance to Cook at

short leg off the bowling of off-spinner Graeme Swann, who did dismiss Shane Shillingford for nought. But Swann then conceded 16 in an over to Samuels, who drove him for a four and a six in successive deliveries before, two balls later, lofting him for a huge straight six.

Anderson wrapped up the innings when he had No 11 Ravi Rampaul caught in the slips by Bresnan, with Samuels unbeaten after facing 160 balls with two sixes and nine fours.

T h e t h i r d Te s t a t Edgbaston starts on June 7.

Scores: England 428 and 111 for 1 (Cook 43*, Trott 17*) beat West Indies 370 and 165 (Samuels 76*, Bresnan 4-37, Anderson 443) by nine wickets.

Pepsi Hikers edge GCC in thriller

- Flora GCC Tigers, GCC also win

The two GCC teams Flora Tigers and the Second Division unit pose for a photo op last Sunday.

Pg. 21

The victorious Pepsi Hikers team takes a photo op following their win over GCC in the final of the Brydens Indoor Hockey Classic on Sunday.

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