Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition May 03, 2012 - Vol. 5 No. 17

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Govt. loses court battle over Parliament committees Pg 3

Chief Justice says AG complained to the wrong place Driver Christopher Giles crawls out of the canal over his overturned car.

Ramotar worried about IDB's outlook on Budget cuts

Pg 6

… looks to ensure country's hydropower equity in place

NICIL's affairs for Public Probe in National Assembly Chief Justice rules against Sharma in licence suspension case Pg 9

Pg 6

Henry Greene Pothole sends collapses ahead of driver into canal mother's funeral Pg 2

Pg 13

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Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Henry Greene collapses ahead of mother's funeral …admitted to city hospital

F

The casket bearing the remains of Mrs Irene Greene in the church

ormer Police Commissioner Henry Greene was yesterday rushed to a city hospital after complaining of severe chest pains.

Greene was admitted to hospital before noon and could not attend the funeral of his mother, whose body was brought back to Guyana for burial.

The woman, Mrs. Irene Enid Greene, passed away on April 20, in Ohio, USA. She was 83.

She died on the same day, April 20, last, that President

Donald Ramotar accepted Greene's request to retire.

Greene's offer to retire was submitted to Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon on April 19.

So far details of Greene's illness remain sketchy but there was speculation that it might have been a heart attack.

He was reportedly at home preparing for his mother's funeral.

The funeral service took place at First Assemblies of God Church, D'Urban Street, Wortmanville. Among those at the funeral service were, the former Commissioner's brothers and sisters and senior officers of the Guyana Police Force.

Greene, 58, was hospitalized last year for an undisclosed illness.

He stepped down as police commissioner amidst public pressure for him to do so following a bitter scandal in which a woman alleged that he had raped her in a city hotel.

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Gov’t loses court battle over Parliament committees Chief Justice says AG complained to the wrong place The government yesterday lost its court battle on the composition of Parliamentary Committees.

Chief Justice Ian Chang dismissed the government’s case, saying that Attorney General Anil Nandlall made his complaint to the wrong forum and that the court cannot inquire or interfere in the proceedings of the National Assembly.

“The forum for a complaint of this nature is the National Assembly,” Chang said in a 30-page decision.

The Chief Justice ruled that there was nothing constitutionally wrong about opposition parties moving to change the composition of the Parliamentary Committee

of Selection from having ten members compared to government having nine members.

The government was highly annoyed that the opposition, which has controlling power in the National Assembly, moved to give it one seat less on the committee of selection. This committee is responsible for nominating all other committees of the Parliament.

When the ruling PPP held control of the Parliament, it had five seats on the committee.

However, following the November 28 polls, which gave the opposition a majority in the National Assembly, the PPP’s seats were reduced to four by

an opposition vote.

As a result, an equal four seats each were voted for the governing PPP and the major opposition APNU. The AFC, the other opposition party, has one seat.

Unable to convince the opposition, the government, through the Attorney General, moved to the court, insisting that the composition of the committee should remain the same as it was prior to the November 28 polls.

In his arguments, the Attorney General said that the PPP and APNU could not have equal seats based on a system of proportionality.

Nandlall argued that the composition of the

Political intervention overturns GRA decision Several Senior Management Officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority are dissatisfied with the involvement of Office of the President to have Mohamed Razack, the second in charge of Berbice Anti Smuggling Squad (BASS), remain at that location despite an order from the Board to remove him after an investigation proved that he was the mastermind of a plot to set up the Head of Berbice Customs Operations.

A senior official said that last December, Razack, Senior Monitoring Officer, BASS, submitted a written report to the Head Regional Integrated Tax Office claiming that a known businessman had imported 40 cases of assorted liquor From Suriname.

He however claimed that the businessman prepared Customs documents for only 19 cases and withheld the declaration for 21 cases.

Mr. Razack, in his report to Head IRTO, claimed that the businessman gave a statement that he was advised by Head of Customs Operations to prepare the declaration for 19 cartons. The matter was brought to the attention of the Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur, and Deputy Commissioner General Clement Sealey.

As a result of the Commissioner General’s instruction an investigation was launched into the allegation.

A joint investigation by Law Enforcement and Investigation Division and Internal Affairs

Corriverton teen died of perforated heart and lungs A post mortem on dead Corriverton teen, 17-year-old Sasenarine ‘Suraj’ Persaud, has revealed that he died of perforation to the heart and lungs and a wound to the chest. Dr Nehaul Singh performed the examination yesterday at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The young man was stabbed and chopped to death on Sunday by two men, believed to have been deported a few years ago from the United States; only names given are ‘Sham’, 30 and ‘Chris’, 38—two brothers.

One of the killers is still on the run while another is under tight guard, manacled to a bed in the male ward of the New Amsterdam Hospital.

He is said to be recovering from an incision he made to his throat shortly after allegedly chopping Persaud.

Family members last evening related that the police at Springlands Police Station had, earlier in the day, informed them that the suspect on the run, Sham, “was supposed to have given himself up at 1:00pm but [he] never turned up”.

The boy’s mother Vijaiyantimala ‘Mala’ Somai related to Kaieteur News last evening that “we waited until 5:00pm but he never turned up; therefore, he guilty that he know— he know wholeheartedly that he killed my son”. Persaud will be buried on Friday.

revealed that Mr. Razack deliberately masterminded a plot to set up the Head of the Corriverton Customs to have him dismissed from the organization.

It was proven that Mr. Razack wrote the statement and induced the businessman to sign.

According to the Official, the Head of Corriverton Customs Operation was deliberately set up by Mr. Razack as a means of payback since he refused to cover up a corrupt activity which resulted in three Customs Officers and one BASS rank being sent on no pay leave.

The four officers were sent on leave last year after an investigation revealed that they facilitated the importation of 250 cartons of cigarettes without collecting duties and other relevant taxes totaling more than $17 million.

The Board had ordered that the Head of Customs and the Second in charge of BASS be removed from Berbice but since then only the Head of Customs was transferred to a location in Georgetown. Razack remains at that location through political intervention.

Committee of Selection is “violative” of the principle of proportionality as contemplated by the Constitution since in this configuration; the PPP/C with 32 seats has the same representation on the Committee with APNU which only secured 26 seats.

The government wanted the court to issue an order setting aside, revoking, cancelling or annulling the composition of the said Committee of Selection on the grounds that it is” violative” of Articles 60 and 160 of the Constitution of Guyana and in breach of the provisions of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000.

Opposition Leader David Granger and Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, were named as respondents in the case.

In his ruling, the Chief Justice said that he was unable to read into the provisions of the constitution a mandate that the composition of the Parliamentary committees, particularly the Committee of Selection, must reflect proportionately the number of seats allocated to the successful political parties in the National Assembly.

Chang held that the challenge by the Attorney General was “legally misconceived” and there was nothing in his arguments that could support his claim that there was a constitutional breach by the Speaker or the Opposition Leader.

“That being so, the court has no further jurisdiction to inquire into this matter,”

Chang ruled, adding that “to do would be to inquire into the internal proceedings of the National Assembly, which the court has no jurisdiction to do.”

Because of ‘the public interest nature’ of the matter, Chang said that he did not see it fit to award “a high level of costs” to the respondents.

The government has to pay the Opposition Leader $75,000 and the Speaker $40,000. The difference in the award of the court has to do with the fact that Granger was represented by a Senior Counsel.

Mr Granger was represented by Senior Counsel Rex McKay in association with Mr Joseph Harmon, Mr Robert Corbin, Mr F.L. Peters, Mrs Abiola Wong-Innis, Mrs Bertina Glasford and Mr Basil Williams.

The Speaker was represented by Mr Nigel Hughes in association with Mr Khemraj Ramjattan and Mr Christopher Ram. Under Standing Order 80 of the National Assembly, a number of “Standing Committees” have to be set up. These committees are the Committee of Selection, the Public Accounts Committee, the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform, the Committee of Appointments, the Parliamentary Management Committee, the Sectoral Committees specified in Standing Order 86 and the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector.

The Parliamentary Standing Orders state that the Committee of Selection, which nominates the members for t h e o t h e r committees, shall consist of between six and 10 members.

It is the number nine that led to the court challenge.

Chief Justice Ian Chang The Attorney General had claimed that the National Assembly, with an opposition vote, acted unconstitutionally on February 10, 2012 in fixing the numerical strength of the Committee of Selection at nine.

The current committee is made up of PPP members Samuel Hinds, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Indranie Chandarpal and Gail Teixeira, while APNU members areAmna Ally, Volda Lawrence, George Norton and Joseph Harmon. The AFC is represented by Khemraj Ramjattan.

The opposition has argued the Committee of Selection to comply with every section of the Standing Orders of the Parliament which is in consonance with the Constitution of Guyana.

Standing Order 94 (1) states: “Every select committee shall be constituted as to ensure, as far as possible, that the balance of parties in the Assembly is reflected in the committee.”

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 03, 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

Flexing muscles or protecting the society?

There is a lot of rush to justify and to criticize the budget cuts. Both sides of the parliamentary divide are holding meetings countrywide to put their own spin on the issue.

For example, the government is accusing the opposition of thwarting development and of seeking to stall the government’s drive to take Guyana forward.

The opposition is contending that the government has been spending the public funds without any consideration for accountability. It is really repeating some of the findings in the Auditor General’s report. Over the years the Auditor General has been pointing to what he considers irregularities in the financial accounting procedures.

These reports have largely been ignored although the government has insisted that it has been taking note of the comments and recommendations in the Auditor General’s reports and has been trying to make the necessary corrections. However, as the parliamentary opposition pointed out this time around during the budget debate, monies that should be in the Consolidated Fund are not entered there.

Further, the opposition feels that because of this irregularity the government has money at its disposal—money that should really be considered part of the public treasury but which is there to be used at the whims and fancies of the government in general and the executive in particular. And there is no need for any approach to the National Assembly to spend this money.

The government says that whatever it does is in the national interest and that the opposition is always made aware of the government’s plans. It denies any irregularity and above all, it says that it can account for every penny it spends although it has failed to account properly for the money it spends if the Auditor General is to be believed.

It would seem that the issue is more than the budget cuts. The government is worried that the cuts are sending the wrong message to the international community in the face of allegations of squander mania, corruption and financial irregularities.

On Labour Day, President Donald Ramotar was most candid when he queried the likely reaction of the Inter American Development Bank. Indeed, the IDB is to be one of the main financiers of the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project. Further, the IDB has been funding numerous projects in Guyana and providing soft loans and grants. The opposition parties say that they have no objection to making the money available but they need explanations for some of the allocations.

This is the first time that the government has found that it needs to explain its expenditures. Previous budgets were passed without challenge and this must be the custom with the result that the present challenge is not going down well.

For the first time we now see both the government and the opposition going around the country explaining the budget situation. Each side views the actions of the other as irrational. The government sees the opposition as being spiteful and vindictive; the opposition sees the government as being careless with public funds.

In some quarters, observers see this movement by the political parties as campaigning ahead of snap elections. The government feels that unless it has a parliamentary majority then it would be hamstrung; the opposition sees its role as being a representative of the majority who voted against the government.

One must not forget that when the results were declared even the international community concluded that the parliamentary dispensation was the best thing that could have happened in Guyana. The Americans, the British, the Canadians and the European Union were quite vocal in this regard.

But for all the talk on the government side, the opposition says that the government has a door open by way of the supplementary votes. The government is holding to the view that the opposition on one occasion actually voted down a supplementary provision and therefore cannot be relied on to approve any supplementary vote.

Whatever the outcome of the political foray into the wider community, one must recognize that the new political dispensation will create ripples in the government circles. Just yesterday the courts ruled on a government challenge that the action by the political opposition to modify the Parliamentary Committee of Selection was a business for parliament. Interesting times are ahead.

Enough is enough…It is time for the courts to address these matters DEAR EDITOR, I find the earlier pronouncements of Drs. Roger Luncheon and Ashni Singh and now Mr. Winston Brassington that National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is a private company with the legal right to withhold public moneys annoying, selfserving, misinformed and mischievous. It is sad, and even dangerous, that individuals with the power to make major decisions over the resources of the country and the lives of its people can be so deficient in their knowledge and reckless in their actions.

Dr. Luncheon wrongly informed the media that there are “20-something articles that underpin the creation of NICIL and none of them says that money from NICIL has to be put in the Consolidated Fund.” Mr. Brassington adds his share of vacuity with his pronouncement that “proper accounting requirements dictate that money from the sale of government assets should first be placed in the company account, provided it can adequately discharge all of its liabilities.” In my 42years as a professional, I have never heard anything so absurd and facile.

In fact, NICIL’s Articles of Continuance comprise nine articles, and it operates under, and is classified by the Companies Act 1991 as a “Government Company”. The Act imposes on NICIL the following obligations over and above those imposed on companies generally: 1. That sections 48 and 49 of the Public Corporations Act dealing with accounts and audits apply; 2. NICIL is required to submit to the Minister of Finance an account of its transactions and audited financial statements no later than June 30 of the following year; and 3. The Minister of Finance is required to lay in the National Assembly the statement of transactions and the audited financial statements no later than September 30, i.e. within 90 days of receiving them.

The public is reminded that the Chairman of NICIL is Dr. Ashni Singh and the Minister to whom he must submit the report and accounts is the same Dr. Ashni Singh. If it was only these breaches of which he is derelict, it would still be a serious matter.

But there are more, and worse. The Government of Guyana “vests” lands and other properties in NICIL - on whose Board also sit Drs. Luncheon and other Cabinet

members - which then sells the assets and pockets the money. The Government also uses NICIL to collect dividends from Guyoil, GT&T and other investments which are also retained by NICIL. This scheme, which assumed scandalous proportion under the Jagdeo/ Ashni Singh duo, has become a ruse to get around Article 216 of the Constitution which requires “All revenues raised or received by Guyana to be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund.” By their own boasts, NICIL has collected tens of billions of dollars and not paid these into the Consolidated Fund.

To any ordinary person, so far as the land transactions are concerned, NICIL is merely an agent for the Government. Therefore, the moneys it collects should be paid over to the Ministry of Finance to be deposited into the Consolidated Fund.

Instead, in an arrangement which in neighbouring Trinidad would be considered criminal, Dr. Ashni Singh’s NICIL board uses the funds as a second budget to do the things which no Finance Minister would be comfortable in bringing to the National Assembly, like the Marriott Hotel, like getting involved in Pradoville 2 and for miscellaneous purposes including secret overseas trips, etc. Article 217 of the Constitution dealing with spending public moneys does not allow any of these.

Now, to go back to the absurdity about State companies being subject only to the company laws, I refer the financial doctors to the following two documents: 1. the Report of the Working Party on the Harmonization of Company Law in the Caribbean Community, and 2) the Report of the Review Committee on the Companies Act of Guyana.

This is what the Working Party Report under the heading Public Accountability has to say in paragraphs 19.142 [in part] and 143: “Whether the company is a mixed enterprise or wholly State owned, public funds are employed for the capital of the company. In the view of the Working Party, this introduces an important dimension with which existing company law does not deal….”

“With respect to companies with capital drawn from public funds, however, the State shareholder is in theory the party which should ensure that proper use of those funds is taking place.

In practice, this cannot provide a system of accountability to the public for the effective use of public funds. It by no means follows that the assessment of the State as shareholder with respect to the running of the company will stand up scrutiny when viewed as a public investment.

Increasingly, arguments are made in this context for some additional mechanism whereby the performance of the company in relation to the investment of public monies is subject to accountability beyond the company itself.”

And the Guyana Review Committee appointed by the Hoyte Administration to consider the report of the CARICOM Working Party recommended the adoption of its recommendation that “wholly-owned government companies should be constituted under the Public Corporations Act.” Presciently, the authors of the Working Party Report, including our own Bryn Pollard, were saying thirty years ago, that there could be no accountability under the NICIL-type model, even if it did not have the degree of

egregiousness practiced by Drs. Singh and Luncheon and Winston Brassington.

And finally, with respect to the chorus that it is for the directors to decide if and when NICIL would pay any dividends to the Government, let us recall that in 2009, the Government, a mere 20% shareholder in GT&T, caused that company to pay more than $6 billion in dividends. And guess who the Finance Minister was and who was the Government director on the Board of GT&T when that “persuasion” took place? Dr. Ashni Singh and Mr. Brassington respectively.

Now the same Luncheon, Singh and Brassington are bold enough, in respect of a 100% Government company in which public property is routinely vested, and which has a 100% Cabinet Board, to plead impotence in calling for a dividend which the country badly needs to help the working and the non-working poor.

To show how reckless and ridiculous it has become, only a couple of years ago the Government forced the Geology and Mines Commission to pay $1.8 billion to the Singh/Luncheon/ Brassington NICIL to build/ repair roads in the hinterland communities, all done by way of a cabinet directive signed

by Dr. Luncheon.

For too long constitutional violations, financial improprieties, mis/ malfeasance in public office and breaches of fiduciary duties have been tolerated by this bleeding country. It is time for the talking to stop and for the courts in Guyana, and if necessary the Caribbean Court of Justice, to be invited to address these matters.

Sooner rather than later some Guyanese will decide that enough is enough.

Christopher Ram

We have no idea how NCN is run and who runs it

DEAR EDITOR, The Constitution of Guyana contains the following provision in article 149.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this article (a) No law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and (b) No person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.

Many broadcasters in this country have in the past objected to the government’s radio and television stations in Guyana, operating under the corporate name National Communications Network (NCN), and used solely for government propaganda, being given an annual subvention from the national budget whilst at the same time competing with private broadcasters in the limited advertising

marketplace, but are not receiving a similar subvention.

In fact the situation is made even more unfair, since it is common knowledge that the government’s stations use their power to coerce and cajole advertising from businesses under various threats which private broadcasters cannot employ; additionally, the government’s advertising is heavily biased in favour of its media.

These acts by the Government which have been going on for more than 15 years offends the equality clause of our constitution identified herein, its therefore not only unfair, it is unlawful.

NCN should operate in one of the following ways: 1. There should be no subvention from the government and NCN should compete (Continued on page 7)

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

These budget cuts will likely be reversed and we’ll be back to square one

DEAR EDITOR, After all the hysterics and antics and wailing and complaining, these budget cuts are unlikely to be long lasting. We will be right back to where we started, staring at the most incompetent bunch of politicians in the Western Hemisphere.

The opposition has publicly agreed to reverse the cuts if they are satisfied of changes and have been provided proof.

It is likely that within the next six months, most of these cuts will be reversed.

Of all the cuts, the LCDS moneys are most likely to be restored. The PPP will try to sell that turnaround as due to their valiant efforts when it fact it was due to the gross ineptitude of the opposition, which will have the nightmarish image of cutting the budget only to backtrack and restore the severed funds much to the chagrin of its supporters. This is why this entire budget review process needed some sound insight, just like the budget preparation process needs sharp review.

Whichever way we look at it, this entire budget masquerade was a fiasco that exposed the shameful quality of leadership that dominates Guyana. Frankly, Guyanese people are wasting their time voting for the PPP, PNC/ APNU and the AFC. They are all the same. On one hand is a trigger-happy PPP that spends with no fiscal restraint or an eye to lean governance and getting value for money spent. The PPP has behaved as if it is feeding hogs at the trough for the past 20 years.

On the other hand is a triggerhappy opposition which wanted to cut for cut sake and ended up, apart from NCN and GINA, not cutting anything of lasting value that changes the way the PPP does business. $20.9 billion cut from $192.5 billion - of which $18.3 billion for the LCDS could be restored in the coming year is laughable cuts. When one carefully examines the opposition’s lasting cuts, they are miniscule. While NCN and GINA waste

taxpayers’ money with mindless propaganda and deserved to be cut, there are many ministries with wanton waste that should have been targeted. The PPP is secretly happy with these cuts despite their moaning, for the opposition failed to touch those ministries that bleed taxpayers’ money and did not attach conditions to the expenditures.

The opposition failed to prepare for the budget by passing some form of financial accountability bill or spending review legislation to enable it to attach conditions to spending. Laziness is the cause and effect at work there. APNU is one of the laziest political parties ever constituted. The AFC tried, but its leadership is a liability.

One gets the distinct impression that Ramjattan’s desire for revenge against those who kicked him out of the PPP, clouds his ability to make reasoned choices and decisions about what should really be targeted. That said, the AFC bears the least blame for the budget mess because it had the least clout.

Laziness by the PPP has been allowed a free pass due to laziness by the opposition.

Any PPP budget contains a

lot of useless fat. It is how the PPP feeds its supporters, friends and cronies — by contracts, whether for employment or for services and equipment. It spends taxpayers’ money like unchecked children.

If the opposition took its time, asked the right questions, did its own investigations, prepared for the budget by softening up the PPP’s ability to handout the nation’s money and made clear decisions to cut, it would have done far better than this current joke.

But the PPP and the PNC/ APNU will never cut where cuts are crying out to be made; the public service. Too many PPP cronies, friends and family members getting juicy contract positions and too many PNC/APNU supporters getting their daily bread from the public service. So, we end up with a monstrosity hanging around our necks like a noose.

The public service, whether contract or regular, is the laziest and most unproductive, inefficient, incompetent, mismanaged and corrupt pool of workers in this country. It sucks the blood from this nation every single day because it is a white elephant. If we are to hire public service workers from

any developed nation to complete the work Guyanese public service workers perform, the public sector would shrink to around 15% of its current workforce. That is the reality of the slackness and tragedy that is consuming Guyana.

The PPP and PNC/APNU want to keep fuelling and feeding the animal for partisan political reasons. They are holding this nation back. For when they favour 20% of the workforce (public sector) which delivers far less in work, productivity, efficiency and production, they are asking the rest of society in

the private sector to bail out these stragglers.

PNC/APNU must be out of its mind to demand salary increases for regular public service workers, when it failed to do its job and reduce the waste of taxpayers’ money going to fund the public sector. Look, cut the waste in the public sector and use the money saved to provide better equipment and training to those left to deliver better service, and to fund more private sector development to take up those unemployed.

The communists in Freedom House and the

socialists in Congress Place must stop this waste of taxpayers’ money chasing big government and giving gravy to their supporters feasting in the public service.

Both the PPP and PNC/ APNU do not favour a lean, clean and efficient public service because it will result in loss of political support. No wonder the PPP and PNC/ APNU came together to cut a backroom deal during the budget negotiations. There are two sets of jokers in the political arena in Guyana. I guess there must be two in every pack.

M. Maxwell

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 03, 2012

Ramotar worried about IDB’s outlook on Budget cuts …looks to ensure country’s hydropower equity in place

By Gary Eleazar “When the Inter American Development Bank sees this, what do you think will be their attitude?” asked an incensed Head of State Donald Ramotar, on Tuesday when asked to expand on the impact of the cut in the budget on Guyana’s equity in the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project.

Ramotar had just delivered a fiery address to the 2012 May Day Rally where he railed the opposition of threatening the very life of projects.

At present, the future of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project hinges on the US$175M currently being negotiated with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).

Days before the Finance Minister presented the 2012 Budget, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno, visited Guyana and met with President Ramotar where discussions were held on the project.

While President Ramotar failed to disclose any details of Moreno’s visit and concerns leading to the delay in financial closure, Ramotar

said that the visit is a sign of optimism for the project.

The Hydro project is pegged at US$840M with China Development Bank (CDB) plugging some US$413M in the project; its contracted developers-Sithe Global has committed US$152M and Guyana has committed as its Equity in the Project some US$100.

Bruce Wrobel, Chief Executive Officer of Sithe Global, while on a recent visit to Guyana, said that the company was looking to effect financial closure for the project with the IDB by next month.

He had warned that should this not be achieved, given the volatility of the Chinese currency against the US Dollar, the project could be shelved for another decade.

The IDB’s concern which has led to the delay in the financial closure in large part rests with Guyana Power and Light’s ability to manage the 165MW project, particularly revenue collection and line losses.

Ramotar, during his May Day address, laboured on the point that was expanded on,

IDB President Alberto Moreno according to him with the Political Opposition during their talks.

He said that it was pointed out that measures were being effected such as the 69KV upgrade to the grid to ensure that the power entity’s shortcomings are addressed.

The cut in the LCDS programmes in the National Budget represents a chunk of Guyana’s equity in the form of the construction of the access road which was besieged with problems ever

since it was awarded to Synergy Holdings Inc headed by Makeswhar Fip Motilall.

Nonetheless, Ramotar says that the Guyana Government will be pressing ahead and seek to ensure that the country’s equity is in place.

“We are going to push, I have not given up on it…This is a good project for the IDB, this is a good project for the Chinese,” said Ramotar as he continued to defend Guyana’s push for Hydropower capability.

He said that the country is going to continue to ensure that its end of the deal is in place but stressed, “We are going to push I have not given up on it...we need cooperation, not what we are having here.”

Financial closure for the project has been elusive for several years now with the newest deadline set as June and hinges on the InterAmerican Development Bank.

The agreement with the Guyana Government and Sithe Global was inked five years ago.

IDB President Moreno and staff from the bank

Head of State Donald Ramotar

arrived in Guyana in early February to commence a oneday visit to the country that included a meeting with Guyana’s new President, Donald Ramotar.

Moreno was welcomed at the airport by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh who updated him and his team on recent economic developments in Guyana, and lauded the Bank’s support to this country’s developmental efforts, including in such areas as infrastructural growth and institutional reform.

Minister Singh also reportedly saluted the longstanding relationship between the Bank and

Guyana, and extended special thanks to President Moreno for the close attention paid during his presidency to the Bank’s smaller members such as Guyana and the other Caribbean countries.

Currently, the IDB supports a project portfolio of US$250 million in Guyana covering a wide range of sectoral interventions, including infrastructural d e v e l o p m e n t , competitiveness, justice reform, health, education and agriculture among others.

The IDB also granted Guyana debt relief amounting to US$365M in the context of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative in March 2007.

Chief Justice rules against Sharma in licence suspension case The High Court yesterday ruled that the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) was not obligated to explain its decision to advise then President Bharrat Jagdeo that the station license be suspended and further that it could rule on the decision of the President to so do.

Channel Six owner Chandra Narine Sharma had moved to the court to get a ruling that the ACB was not lawfully constituted as required by regulation 23B (2) of the Wireless Telegraphy

Regulations.

Therefore, Sharma was claiming that the ACB lacked legal authority and its decisions were unfair, unreasonable, unlawful, irrational, procedurally improper, in breach of natural justice, ultra vires, null, void and of no legal effect.

The television station was seeking to avoid a sanction imposed by the President, as advised by the ACB, after the station aired on May 4, 2011 - a commentary by Anthony

Vieira which made some damning allegations that Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Bishop Juan Edghill, found disturbing.

The television owner had apologised, but Edghill, nevertheless, filed a motion against both Sharma and Vieira seeking more than $50M in damages.

Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled that while there is no general rule that an administrative body should give reasons for its decisions,

where it would be unfair not to do so, reasons must be given.

The question arose as to whether it was unfair for the ACB not to have given reasons for its findings in the circumstances of the Sharma case.

Chang ruled that since the applicants were not denying but rather admitting the infringements and were claiming that the broadcast was made through human error and was not intentional, the failure of the ACB to give reasons for its findings was not unfair or required by the demands of natural justice the principles of which are not inflexible or engraved in tablets of stone.

Their application depends on the particular circumstances of the case, the Chief Justice stated.

The applicants further contended that the penalty of a four-month suspension of the broadcasting licence was

unlawful and in violation of the applicants’ freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 146 and was, in any event, disproportionate.

However, Chang ruled that the penalty was imposed not by the ACB but by the President, acting in his capacity as the Minister of Information, and no prerogative writ proceeding can be issued against the President who is the Head of State.

“The court cannot in these prerogative proceedings issue an order or rule nisi of any prerogative writs against the President – let alone an absolute prerogative writ.

“No doubt, it would be open to a court to set aside an unlawful act or decision of the President in other proceedings even though the President himself cannot be subject to the curial processes.

“But this cannot be done in prerogative writ

proceedings,” the Chief Justice ruled.

In the circumstances, Chang discharged the order he had made on October 27, 2011.

In that order, Chang asked for the ACB to show cause why a Writ or Order of Certiorari should not be issued to bring up to the Honourable Court and quash first, its findings that the applicants were in breach of Regulation 23A of the Wireless Telegraphy Amendment.

Then President Jagdeo said the matter was beyond Sharma and Edghill. The President said that he had read the transcript extensively, and both Sharma and his wife had accepted that “people are responsible for their broadcast.”

“The contents are reprehensible to our constitution,” Jagdeo said of Vieira’s commentary. But not only was it against the (continued on page 19)

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 7

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

NICIL vs. Constitution of Guyana

DEAR EDITOR, National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), to quote Matt Taibbi when referring to Goldman Sachs Inc. the Investment Bank, “is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money.”

Replace face of humanity with Guyana and substitute money with assets owned by Government of Guyana and you have a sense of what NICIL is doing to the Guyanese people by shamelessly plundering assets out of Government coffers and into bank accounts controlled by agents of the People’s Progressive Party.

We have a Government corporation disenfranchising the people of Guyana and perverting the laws of Guyana.

The Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh attempts to use the veil of incorporation to justify NICIL’s lack of accountability and malfeasance. The Minister essentially argues that abrogation of the constitution is

acceptable since NICIL is governed by the Companies Act. The subjugation of Article 216 of the Constitution to the Companies Act is of no consequence to our learned Minister of Finance. Article 216 of the Guyana Constitution clearly states: “All revenues or other moneys raised or received by Guyana shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund.”

The Minister of Finance and the People’s Progressive Party pre-eminent authority on matters financial noted in Guyana Chronicle of April 30, 2012: Several other stateowned companies that operate within the confines of the Companies Act and they carry out their functions “retain their revenue and costs… NICIL is no different….” The worthlessness of the comparison and illegality of it all seems to elude the Finance Minister as NICIL holds an estimated $50 billion of surplus funds raised from the sale of government assets that is held outside of the Consolidated Fund.

The Guyana Constitution requires that government funds be held in the Consolidated Fund. The Companies Act does not require that government monies received by NICIL be held in the Consolidated Fund - nothing to see here, move along, leave us with our slush fund. The fact that NICIL has not been audited for the past several years is also ignored.

Not to be outdone, the inimitable Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon is quoted via Kaieteur News of May 1, 2012: “There are 20something articles that underpin the creation of NICIL and none of them says that money from NICIL has to be put into the Consolidated Fund.”

The twisted logic of the Cabinet Secretary is that you can create a government entity, omit references to the Consolidated Fund and hey presto, constitutional requirements are irrelevant.

The fact that the majority opposition is unable to oversee how funds received

from the sale of government property are expended is of no consequence to the Cabinet Secretary.

The existence of NICIL in its current form is revolting to everyone who believes the Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and if any other law is inconsistent with Guyana’s Constitution that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be null and void.

The farcical squid of an entity called NICIL as it currently operates; undermines the Constitution as it relates to the purpose of the Consolidated Fund. Such blatant abuse of the law and disrespect to the Guyanese people should not be allowed to stand.

Until funds from the sale of government assets received by NICIL are properly accounted for in the Consolidated Fund; NICIL the vampire squid will keep jamming its blood funnel into the assets of the nation to the detriment of all patriotic Guyanese.

Nigel Hinds

More careful reporting must be encouraged in the future DEAR EDITOR, I refer to three Articles published by Kaieteur News purportedly contributed to the paper by Ms. Konyo Sandiford - State Counsel on Sunday 29th April, 2012: at page 28, captioned “Awareness of the New Sexual Offences Act is An Imperative - State Counsel” (with photo inset); Monday the 30th April, 2012 captioned “Rape of Mentally Challenged Persons Could Attract Life Imprisonment” (with photo inset); and on Tuesday 1st May, 2012: at page 19 captioned “Eyewitness accounts, positive ID does not guarantee justice - State Counsel” (with photo inset).

Please note that the above mentioned articles contain excerpts of a presentation delivered by Ms. Sandiford at a World Women’s Day Panel

NCN is one of the least ethical corporations in the world DEAR EDITOR, The NCN prides itself as a national broadcaster yet it is one of the least ethical corporations in the world.

Here is why: First, the most apt situation that describes the unethical behaviour of that corporation is its blunt and shameful refusal to air the views of all Guyanese, regardless of political inclinations. For nineteen years, NCN accepted substantial sums of money through subventions from the public purse. These sums have helped that network to enhance its communication infrastructure. That placed NCN ahead of many privately-owned television stations that could not afford to procure modern communication equipment and upgrade the technical

competencies of their staff. Yet, for all of that, its management consistently refuses to adequately air and report on the views and opinions of the public through their representatives - the opposition.

This results in three things: 1. Stifling of the free flow and expression of ideas, opinions and views. This inhibits the development of democracy and retards national growth 2. Making it difficult for NCN to hold the government accountable which is the duty of the fourth estate. NCN has demonstrated that it has taken the side of the government, and in fact, acts as a public relations arm for it.

3.

Putting those journalists and reporters who want to be professional in a difficult position. They are

obliged to report in keeping with the network’s view of the government and the opposition.

It constrains them to act in an unethical manner and destroys professional pride.

Secondly, the NCN is using its workers as a front to create an artificial crisis.

Ordinary workers, whose only desire is to earn a living, are used to protest the opposition through different activities. This is not only unethical but tantamount to an abuse of managerial power and the rights of ordinary workers. Rather than change its ways, management prefers to indulge in sacrificing their workers. It is a show of a lack of organizational care on the part of NCN. Thirdly, the drive to do right is not part of the DNA of the management of NCN. This is so because many of

We have no idea how NCN...

From page 4 fairly and equitably with the private Broadcasters.

2. That there could be a subvention from Parliament and that will allow NCN to serve the political interests of the nation and remove itself from the advertising market place completely.

We must congratulate the opposition for removing this unfair and unlawful subsidy which offends equality and fair play in the Broadcasting landscape of Guyana and the news report on ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur captioned “NCN to implement hiring freeze” in the Stabroek News of 1st May 2012 page 5 has all of the hallmarks of a bizarre comedy.

‘Fuzzy’ seems to be very fuzzy about the inherent unfairness of the status quo which gives his network an extra $82 million dollars a year, which guarantees that all the international cricket and other events end up on the government stations and not at the private broadcasters who are unable to bid against NCN because of this subsidy. In

addition, what is being done by operating NCN to the exclusion of any member of the opposition being given access is unlawful, and is so in many countries! That station is owned by the people of this country, all of them, not just those who are functionaries of the PPP. To put this $82 million in perspective for the public, in the last year [2009] when I operated VCT28 network, the budget for the entire year was less than $50 million.

Finally, I want to correct this myth that NCN is a private company. This statement by Dr. Luncheon demonstrates the eyepass which passes for governance and accountability to the people of this country by the administration. It’s a State Owned Corporation, and frankly, we have not seen any audited annual reports of this entity tabled in our Parliament as is required by our laws. We the citizens of this country who are the true owners of this corporation have no idea how it is run and who runs it. And we should.

Tony Vieira

its senior managers are really PPP/C activists and not real professional journalists. As a result, they do not see the need to practice the features of good news reporting including objectivity, balance, and fairness. A good case in point is the programmes on the cuts made by the opposition to the national budget 2012.

Almost every day for the last week or so, NCN convened panel discussions and talk shows. Yet, its management did not consider it prudent and fair to invite leaders of the combined opposition to sit on even one of the numerous on-air discussions, to comment on their actions and engage the public. Only PPP/C Members of Parliament appeared on those so-called media shows overdoing themselves and falling over each other to express hurt and to call the opposition names, pandering to their supporters.

Their action speaks to a false but strong view held by some PPP/C members that they alone know what is good for Guyana. No one else.

Therefore, the views of the opposition are not worthy of air time on NCN. However, the management of NCN fails to acknowledge that the majority of Guyanese voted for the combined opposition.

In that sense, the opposition has greater legitimacy to talk to the people than the minority government because they, the people, have reposed more trust in the opposition than the minority government. The people want to hear their representatives through the channel that has been receiving part of its taxes through subventions for nineteen years. NCN is denying them that right. It is wrong and unethical. NCN is one of the least ethical corporations in the world.

Roy Kingston

Discussion hosted by the Women and Gender Commission on the topic: ‘Women’s Access to Justice’ on March 5th, 2012, an event already covered by your paper in your March 12th issue, where a balanced report of the presentation was made as compared to the cutting and pasting that occurred in the Sunday 29th April, 2012 article which seemed to report a direct attack on the Sexual Offence Act, 2010 as being laden with flaws - this misrepresented the general thrust of the State Counsel’s presentation regarding that piece of legislation.

Further, the cumulative effect of the above mentioned articles now reported over the past three days do not indicate at what occasion the contributions purportedly made by the State Counsel were made, and it is submitted that those articles as they are would lead and may have lead any reasonable reader to believe that Ms. Sandiford was in constant recent contact with your paper complaining about unfavourable aspects of Guyana’s Judicial System.

It is hereby requested that your newspaper clarify to the reading audience the forum where State Counsel Sandiford’s presentation was made regarding all three individually published articles mentioned above; and that more careful reporting is encouraged in the future.

Konyo Sandiford State Counsel EDITOR’S NOTE: In keeping with the request, the comments were indeed taken from Ms. Sandiford’s March 5th presentation. It must be made clear that there was never an intention to purport the State Counsel’s remarks as having been made recently or during separate interviews. And most importantly, there was no intent to mislead the reading audience.

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Govt. files suit against Hart …More coming for T&TEC, Petrotrin In a bid to recover billions of taxpayers’ dollars, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Tuesday afternoon filed a lawsuit against former executive chairman of Urban Development Company of T&T (Udecott) John Calder Hart in the Port-of-Spain High Court. Similar civil suits are expected to be filed which will involve former board members of several State enterprises.

Ramlogan said: “There would be another matter filed, concerning the World GTL Project at Petrotrin, against the former board of directors at Petrotrin and that would be filed in the coming days.

“There would be a claim to be filed against the former board of the University of T&T (UTT) concerning the

construction of buildings and, in particular, the lease of the guesthouse of which Rev Juliana Pena was a guest for a long period, even though she was not a member of staff.”

He said there was also a matter involving TTEC’s former chairman Omar Khan with respect to the findings of probes. He added: “There are other claims which would emanate out of the probes at Petrotrin and eTeck, the medical transcription and the bio-project, as well as other matters.

“These would now be rapidly unfolding in the coming months and where there are grounds to pursue former boards and former chairmen, this Government would not shirk in its responsibility to ensure that

John Calder Hart those who are culpable are brought to justice in the civil courts,” Ramlogan said.

He noted Hart’s suit was the third the Government had filed, after a suits against eTecK, which is at an advanced stage, and one to protect the State’s investment in the G-pan.

(Trinidad Guardian)

Coalition support for President Bouterse declines PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname - CMC - The number of legislators supporting President Desi Bouterse has dropped from 36 to 30 in the 51-member Parliament following his decision to

sever ties with two coalition partners. Last week, Bouterse announced a major cabinet reshuffle, sacking three ministers shifting four others in the second shake up of the government since coming to office nearly two years ago.

The new Cabinet is expected to be sworn in today.

Bouterse has in the past expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of some of his ministers, and while he never revealed those to whom he had been referring, he had during a meeting with officials of coalition party BEP indicated that he could no longer rely on their support given the infighting that has led to the party’s parliamentary seats dropping from four to two.

Informed sources told the

Desi Bouterse Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that Bouterse has also notified New Suriname that he is no longer counting on their two legislative seats.

New Suriname has in the past expressed its disappointment at not being included in Bouterse’s Cabinet when it was first formed in 2010 and later severed ties with Bouterse’s Mega Combination coalition. New Suriname said it would only give support to the administration in parliament if proposed actions or measures were deemed “in the interest of the people”.

But earlier this year, it voted against the 2012 budget and last month, it joined BEP legislators in abstaining in the vote on the controversial legislation that provides an amnesty to Bouterse and others implicated in the December 1982 murders of opponents of the then military government Bouterse headed.

Thursday May 03, 2012

Fearful China dissident wants to leave country - reports BEIJING (Reuters) - Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng left the U.S. Embassy in Beijing yesterday after securing guarantees that he could live in safety with his family in China, but he quickly appeared to have second thoughts.

Under a deal described by U.S. officials, China committed to allow Chen to be relocated within the country along with his family and to study at a university, an outcome that would have kept him a pivotal figure in China-U.S. relations.

However, within hours of his release to a Beijing hospital and being reunited with his wife, Chen gave interviews saying he feared for his life after he learned of the way his wife had been treated and he now wanted to leave the country.

“He wants to leave and he wants to leave as soon as possible,” a CNN reporter said on air, saying he had spoken to Chen for 15 to 20 minutes by telephone and that the activist, who opposed forced abortions in China, felt “let down” by the United States.

Blind activist Chen Guangcheng (C) shaking hands with U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke (R), in Beijing, yesterday. REUTERS/US Embassy Beijing Press Office/Handout Earlier, U.S. officials and Chinese officials said Chen left the embassy of his own free will after days of negotiations between the two governments. U.S. officials said that Chen wanted to remain in China and that he never asked for asylum.

Chen’s dramatic escape from house arrest and his flight to the U.S. Embassy have already made him a

symbol of resistance to China’s shackles on dissent, and the deal struck by Washington and Beijing to have him remain in China would ensure he stays a test case of how tight or loose those restrictions remain.

China angrily accused the United States of meddling and demanded an apology for the way U.S. diplomats handled the case.

UN sanctions North Korea firms over rocket launch The UN Security Council yesterday ordered sanctions against three “very significant” North Korean state firms over the country’s failed rocket launch, US ambassador Susan Rice said.

But the assets freeze imposed against three enterprises said to have financed and organized the North’s missile and nuclear programs could soon be followed by a new UN sanctions battle if the North carries out a feared nuclear bomb test.

The United States, European Union, South Korea and Japan had proposed adding 40 companies, organizations and individuals to the UN sanctions list. But China, the North’s closest ally, rejected the bulk of the names,

diplomats said. The three sanctioned firms were identified as Amroggang Development Banking Corporation, which already faces US and European Union sanctions, Green Pine Associated Corporation, and Korea Heungjin Trading Company.

Amroggang was related to another bank, Tanchon, which plays a “key role” in North Korea’s sales of ballistic missiles, including to Iran, said a sanctions committee statement.

Green Pine was said to be North Korea’s “prime” arms dealer, responsible for about half of the country’s arms exports. The statement added that Korea Heungjin was also suspected of trading in weapons with Iran and importing goods for missile designs.

Hamas says it’s holding talks with 5 EU countries BEIRUT (AP) — Hamas has been holding secret political talks with five European Union member states in recent months, a senior official in the Islamic

militant group told The Associated Press yesterday.

If confirmed, such talks would be a sign that the isolation of the Gaza-based Palestinian movement is

easing in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings that have brought Islamists to power in parts of the Middle East.

The EU and the U.S consider Hamas a terror group and refuse to deal with it unless it renounces violence and recognizes Israel. However, the West is reassessing its Mideast policy following the uprisings of the past year that toppled several pro-Western regimes in the region and gave rise to the Hamas parent movement, the pan-Arab Muslim Brotherhood.

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

The days of tenured employment are numbered What lasting accomplishment, what iconic achievement has the trade union movement achieved in Guyana? What substantive achievement has the trade union movement registered for the working class of Guyana?

There is none. In order to compensate for its underachievement, the trade union movement likes to flaunt other things because they cannot point to anything of real magnitude that would immortalize them in our history.

Some like to boast about their independence which when examined closely is really another way of saying that they opposed the PNC and they opposed the PPP. This is their idea of independence. But how has the working class of this country benefited from this independence?

The trade union movement has nothing to show for its years representing workers, absolutely nothing. The umbrella body of trade unionism in Guyana is the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) which cannot even mend its own divisions.

There is a breakaway trade union movement, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Guyana (FITUG) which it is said

represents some 80 per cent of unionized workers, yet the GTUC is supposed to be considered the umbrella body for trade unions in Guyana.

Well, if this is so, it is a baby umbrella.

When some of the leaders of the GTUC speak you would believe that they are politicians and not trade unionists. They are more political than some of the professional politicians.

The trade union movement cannot on one foot be showing off its idea of independence and on the foot be genuflecting and begging the government for a subvention.

The government is the major employer in Guyana and how can any trade union movement claim to be independent when its main grouse is that the government is not giving it a hefty subvention?

Why in the first place does the umbrella body of the trade union movement in Guyana need a subvention from the government? Trade unions have collected billions of dollars in dues from workers over the years. Unions are not handto-mouth institutions. Some of them have their own offices and facilities. So why should the unions not be able to fund their own training college.

Why does the

Dem boys seh ...

De budget cut knock out Uncle Donald media treat Uncle Donald and Uncle David and Prakash and Moses all of dem gone to de starting line. Nobody ain’t signal nutten but none of dem want de other one fuh tek first jump.

Is only de other day dem been racing fuh see who gun tun de president. Dem expect another race fuh de president and is Uncle Donald cause this.

He get vex when de opposition cut de budget and he talk.

He get so vex that he even cancel de media brunch fuh World Press Freedom Day. All dem reporters was waiting fuh de treat and when dem didn’t get de invitation dem start fuh wonder.

Is dem boys had to remind dem that de budget cut and Uncle Donald spending money cut. Only Geena and Hen See Hen been pun de road to protest de cuts. But if Uncle Donald did talk how de opposition cut he money and he can’t entertain de media, is everybody would tek up a placard and attack de opposition.

Dem boys telling Uncle Donald that he can tek some money from NICIL because de opposition can’t touch it. He can also use de Lotto Funds because de opposition ain’t got control over that. Instead he cancel de brunch. He going round de country talking to people and got people thinking bout elections again.

Prak and Uncle David and Uncle Moses decide that dem gun prepare. Dem boys know is not elections time though.

When is elections time dem does have more beggars pun de road. Is everybody does beg. Not one of dem parties got money lef back because people thief out all that was left.

And talking bout thiefing, dem boys want to know who thief out de parts from dem machines that Fip bring in. From de time de government tek way de contract from Fip all dem machine breakdown. People believe that Fip sabotage dem and run back to de States.

Robeson cry till he get red eye. He couldn’t go to Cabinet Wednesday and he can’t go to he office fuh de rest of de week.

Uncle Donald tell he to keep far from de Cabinet. What he got to do is share it among de opposition so that de government can call a vote pun many things. Unless all dem opposition people in parliament de opposition can’t win.

Uncle Donald got to have patience and depend pun obeah.

Talk half and call sick pun de other half.

government have to provide a subvention? What has happened to the monies that the workers have been paying to trade unions long before independence?

Some of them also want the government to reintroduce the agency shop agreement. None of them has questioned whether this is legal. Under an agency shop agreement, deductions are made from both unionized and non- unionized workers which are then given to the union.

In other words, workers have no choice as to whether they wish to contribute to the union.

Each month deductions are made.

The courts of Guyana have rightly stopped this practice. What a person earns is his own. Any deduction has to be either authorized by law or by the employee. However, under agency shop agreement, the worker had no say. The monies were automatically deducted whether the employees were part of the union of not.

This is one of the main reasons for the opposition to contract employees. It is not that contract employees cannot be unionized. There is nothing that prevents a contract employee from becoming a member of a union. Membership does not depend on tenured employment.

However, because contract employees are not tenured and their services can be terminated according to the terms of their contracts, it is felt that these employees will be less inclined to join the unions. And since union dues are usually pretty hefty, the more contract workers not interested in unions, the greater the financial deprivation for the unions.

And this is the basis of the opposition to contract employees. They represent a potential loss of agency fees for unions.

Those who argue that

contract employees are destroying the public service, fail to realize the international changes to the power of unions ever since the era of Ronald Reagan.

Trade unions may not have lost their bark. In fact if you listen to some local trade unions, they are making more noise now than before. But unions are no longer the threat they were to employers as they were in the past.

And not only have the powers of trade unions been reduced, so too has the nature of the workplace. The days of tenured employment are numbered.

The young people of today are not looking to work for close to three decades in order to qualify for a pension.

They are not keen on long term security of tenure. Most of them would eventually

leave to other jobs or to other countries. So they are not looking to be pensioned.

They are prepared to sacrifice the loss of tenure and pension in thirty years, all of that, because they understand the changing nature of the job market.

Workers in the state media for example invariably move on to the private media and some move away completely after gaining the experience they need.

Contract workers are no threat to the public service.

Without contract workers there will be no functioning public service.

When the PNC began to introduce contract workers, they did so for two reasons.

This was the only way to attract the skills that were needed. You could not obtain the necessary skills by asking

persons to join the public service or work for thirty odd years so as to receive a pension.

An employee has a right to decide whether he or she wishes to be contracted or tenured. And from the way things are going, tenured employment is not going to exist ten years from now because the workers prefer the flexibility that contract employment offers.

Ironically some trade unionists themselves often take up international postings on contract.

NICIL’s affairs for Public Probe in National Assembly Setting the first day of June as the deadline, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU’s) point man on Finances, Carl Greenidge, has moved to the National Assembly to force the Finance Minister to bring to the forefront the affairs of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited.

Greenidge in his motion also seeks to have the responsible Minister make financial provision for the urgent commissioning of an independent financial audit of the operations of the National Industrial Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the Privatisation Unit.

He has also tabled for debate in the House next week, a motion which calls on the administration to, among other things, “lay in the National Assembly for review

…three week deadline proposed for all requested reports and where applicable, for ratification, all international agreements, (including mining agreements involving the award of state lands and fiscal concessions), signed by the Government since January 1, 2000.”

Greenidge is also looking to have the National Assembly request the responsible Ministers of Government to: Provide the National Assembly with a report, in keeping with the law, on the disposal by sale or otherwise of all state lands, including the terms on which they were disposed of and the criteria used between the date of announcement (Sunday, 9th October, 2011) of the National and Regional

Elections and December 31, 2011 and between January 1, 2000 and October 9, 2011.

The long awaited motion by the former Finance Minister also calls on the House to obligate the relevant Ministers of Government to provide the National Assembly as early as possible with a detailed report on the disposal by sale or otherwise of all state assets entrusted to NICIL and the Privatisation Unit, the terms on which they were disposed of and the criteria used; the outstanding bi-annual reports and annual audited accounts required of NICIL and the Privatisation Unit under the relevant legislation; the handing (continued on page 19)

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 03, 2012

DHB $40M hydraulic makeover Missing mentally challenged girl spotted in the city completed ahead of schedule The replacement works of the hydraulic ramp at the Demerara Harbour Bridge have been successfully completed way ahead of schedule. This is according to Rawlston Adams, the General Manger of the Demerara Harbour Bridge who made the announcement during a media briefing yesterday.

According to Adams, initially they had issued a notice to the public that the works would have disrupted traffic as of April 29 through May 5.

However, as at 18:00 hours on Tuesday the works were completed and the bridge reopened to two-way traffic. The works were done at a cost of some $40M which was provided for in last years’ budgetary allocation.

Commenting on the works done on the bridge, Adams said that on Sunday the engineers removed and replaced the southern half of the ramp and at that point they realized that works were going better than planned.

“Having done this on Monday we were able to open the bridge to two-way traffic as the work on the eastern half was also done in a timely manner.” Adams further reported that on Monday they were able to fully use the bridge.

However, Adams said that later today he will be in a better position to pronounce on when the works on the western hydraulic ramp will commence. Later today he will be meeting with the shipping agents and other

stakeholders to discuss when would be a suitable time.

He however suggested that works could commence in the coming week or the week after.

Adams apologized to the travelling public for the inconvenience but noted that the repairs were necessary for the upkeep of the bridge.

Adams said the management of the bridge is thankful for the assistance given to them from the Guyana Police Force traffic department.

And touching on the issue of other maintenance works, Adams said that within another few months they are expected to replace some 150 anchor blocks on the bridge, and two new pontoons.

The hydraulic ramps were last replaced in 1998.

- mother believes she is human trafficking victim

The mother of the 17-yearold mentally challenged girl who disappeared last week is convinced that her daughter is being held against her will and is a victim of trafficking in persons.

The woman and other relatives continue to comb the city and other areas in search of the teenager who went missing a week ago after she was taken from her Vryheid's Lust, East Coast Demerara home by a friend of her family, with the consent of her mother.

The family friend, who was arrested by the police and subsequently released, had told investigators that the mentally challenged girl ran away from her while they were walking in the city. The teenager has a history of being sexually assaulted and being used as a sex slave by young men in the city.

She had told this newspaper some horror stories of being locked in different houses in the city where males would take turns having sex with her.

Investigators were told that last Wednesday, the day that she disappeared, the teenager was last seen talking to a

mixed race woman who reportedly has connections to a human trafficking ring in Guyana's interior.

But the missing teen's mother is of the view that her daughter is still somewhere in the city and the woman is desperate to find her before she is sent to the interior.

The woman told this newspaper that she has been receiving information that her daughter was a possible candidate for an interior prostitution ring but thanks to someone who knew her, she was spared--if only temporarily.

“We hear they wanted to take her into the bush. Some other girls gone. But somebody tell them that they know (missing teen) she head ain't right, so they leave she out,” the mother told Kaieteur News.

The woman said that she subsequently checked several parts of Georgetown and from the information she has gathered, the missing girl is somewhere in D'Urban Backlands.

“We show people she picture and they say that 'yes' they see she. Dem boys

around the Bourda Market area tell we that she went around there and they gave her money to buy food but they ain't see her back,” the woman said.

Although the matter has been engaging the attention of the police, the teenager's mother is not too satisfied with the action they have taken so far.

She claimed that the woman to whom she had entrusted her daughter the day she disappeared has not been seen since she was released from police custody.

The woman said that the police appear to be taking an indifferent approach to the matter, since she was told that her daughter was a “mad girl”.

“Every day I does cry. I don't have much money to go searching everywhere. And I know that people are taking advantage of my daughter, they did it to her several times.

They does beat she bad.

Sometimes she does come home battered.” The woman said, adding that her daughter is very attractive and would be often noticed by the opposite sex whenever she (continued on page 17)

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Child's body found on Essequibo foreshore Police have recovered the partially decomposed body of the missing St. Margaret's Primary School pupil, Devon Gibson, who reportedly went missing on April 28, after an encounter at the Guyana Forestry Commission building.

Gibson, whose address was stated as Lot 9-10, Queen Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown was discovered early yesterday morning, at the Hampton Court seashore, by sluice operator, Kishore Nandalall.

Nandalall, who later alerted villagers, said that he

and another man called "Tima", were at a hut at the Hampton Court seashore around 4:00 hours.

The 51-year-old sluice operator, who resides at Lima Village, said that he momentarily left the hut and was walking along the seashore in search of a piece of wood to make a bunk when he noticed the body.

He said that upon closer examination the body appeared to be that of a child.

It had washed ashore and was positioned between some rocks. The sluice operator further explained

Remembering Wendella Patterson The journalism community has lost former colleague and friend Wendella Patterson, who passed away April 15, 2012 at a hospital near her California home after battling cancer.

"WP" to some and "Wendy" to others, joined the Chronicle at the same time as Ta n g e r i n e C l a r k e a n d Nichola Cave-Hunte in the late 1970s. In 1982, Wendy was transferred to the Guyana News Agency.

Those were the glory days of the late 1970s to 1980s when quality and accuracy were the sine qua non of good journalism. The competition was intense even though it was largely among the state-owned media.

Wendy was always after a good story. One day in 1983, she turned up late at GNA. After being asked to explain her lateness, she sheepishly revealed that she had “poped� the General Council meeting of the People's National Congress.

Unfortunately, GNA could not use the story.

She migrated to

Barbados in 1984 and ten years later to the United States of America but she maintained contact with friends and former colleagues in Guyana and across the diaspora, never losing an infectious cheerfulness for which she was well known.

We n d e l l a P a t t e r s o n leaves several siblings, husband Errol and two children and a step child; Roleir, Rolana and Christopher.

that while the body of the child seemed to be intact, the left arm was reportedly missing. The body has been transported to the Suddie Mortuary where it is awaiting a positive identification.

According to initial reports, Devon Gibson, went on an outing accompanied by an elderly man and some other children.

The report added that the child subsequently jumped into the Atlantic Ocean from a jetty and never resurfaced.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 03, 2012

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Pothole sends driver into canal The driver swerved from a pothole on the Cemetery Road Bridge and ended up in the trench

The pothole which has been there for a while

A

US-based Guyanese man is lucky to be alive after a dangerous pothole sent his car plunging into a trench along Cemetery Road, G e o rg e t o w n y e s t e r d a y morning.

Forty-year-old Christopher Giles, was forced to crawl out of the car without unbuckling his seatbelt, which had trapped him. He then managed to crawl his way through the driver’s window and was then assisted by public spirited persons.

A c c o r d i n g t o information, Giles, who was driving his sister’s car, had just dropped his wife and baby home.

The 40-year-old man declined to answer any questions.

However, persons who were at the scene said that he drove into a huge pothole on the Cemetery Road bridge.

This caused his tyre to burst and the car to plummet into the trench.

Kaieteur News was told that Giles, who was supposed to return to the United States

of America on Friday had just collected his passport. The document was soaked as were other documents.

Ye s t e r d a y , a n g r y residents gathered at the scene and began shouting, “Let’s block this bridge; we have been tolerating a lot…This bridge has so many potholes and yet the government is not doing anything.”

Kaieteur News was told that yesterday’s incident was the second within one month.

Earlier this month a driver swerved from a pothole and ended up in the same canal.

“Last year, a motorcyclist died on that other bridge (adjacent to the Cemetery Road Bridge) and is then them come and repair it. If it wasn’t for that man’s death that bridge would have remained like that,” a resident, Fiona Wilson, claimed.

Other residents shouted, “The government has turned a blind eye on us. For years we have been making complaints but these people want to see blood before they do something.”

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Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Girl, 11, returns to Guyana after eye surgery in Trinidad

P

aula Ann Cottom, the 11-year-old girl who left for Trinidad and Tobago to undergo an eye surgery returned home yesterday after a successful operation.

The girl who lives in East Ruimveldt spent the past two weeks in the twin-island Republic where she underwent a vitreo retinal surgery with hopes of saving the sight in her left eye.

According to her visually i m p a i r e d f a t h e r, P a u l

Cottom, his daughter started suffering from a complicated cataract which later resulted in her being blind in the right eye.

It was recently that she became diagnosed with “Inferior Retinal Detachment with macula involvement with Development Cataract” in her left eye.

The surgery was originally dated for February 28, 2012, however; Paul was unable to raise the sum of US

$3,325 to meet that date.

Kaieteur News understands that the father struggled to raise the large sum of money for his daughter's eye surgery but he never gave up hope.

After receiving donations from organisations such as the United Women for Special Children (UWSC) which assisted with US $1,000 and the Ministry of Health's contribution of US $2,000, Paul continued to raise funds to meet the target.

This also included money for their meals and accommodation in the foreign country during their required stay.

As news spread about the young girl's condition the Visually Impaired Cultural Association of Guyana (VICAG) also donated $20,000 to the fund.

The St. Angela's Primary School student who recently wrote the National Grade Six Assessment Examinations also received donations from

Paula Ann Cottom sitting comfortably at home

other voluntary groups and businesses.

Paul, who has been suffering from cataract in both eyes for almost six years, said although he was unable to recognize the disease in his eyes from an early stage, he was fortunate to be able to help his daughter.

“I did all that was possible to send her for the surgery and I want to thank God, all the organisations, churches and individuals in supporting her to get the surgery done in Trinidad.”

He told this newspaper that while his daughter does not seem to be suffering from any side effects she cannot wash her face or allow any particles to enter her left eye.

She has already lost the sight in the other eye.

Paula is also unable to comb her hair or brush her teeth since jerks or movements can cause the liquid in her eye to shift from its location.

“She can't do anything like that or even shake her head much because the surgery done was to correct a detachment to allow her to see. The oil or liquid that they use to do so is inside her eye and has to be at one location to draw the detachments together so if she shifts abruptly or hard it will come

out of place.”

The little girl told this publication that she is not feeling any pain or suffering from headaches as some would expect.

“I am not getting headache and nothing is hurting. The only thing is that I can't see too well in the eye as yet. I am seeing blurry for now.”

Her father explained that Paula is expected to return between three and six months to have a lens placed in her left eye. She is also required to have continuous check-ups in the interim.

As it relates to additional financial aid, Paul told Kaieteur News that he is unaware of this at the moment. However; he noted that when she is slated to return to Trinidad and Tobago they will need assistance for travelling expenses.

“A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was giving me two tickets before she left to go to Trinidad but we already had tickets booked.

So I am hoping that they will be willing to offer us again two tickets when the time comes for her return for the second leg of her operation,” Paul added.

(Kristen Macklingam)

The 11-year-old on her hospital bed in Trinidad and Tobago moments before undergoing her eye surgery

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

SALON Make up courses, artist trained & certified in Trinidad: 660-5257,647-1773

One live in domestic.

Contact:658-9495 / 627-2550

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

Call Abby: 216-1950, 6197603, 666-5241

Girls to work in bar, age 18 to 25, tel: 256 – 4096 1 shop assistant to work on Sundays only call:226-2320 or 193 charlotte Street G/ Town

TO RENT One Bobcat Skid Loader for rent. Please contact: 610-3575

One maid, one cook.

Contact: 223-5273-4 1 male/female shop assistant to work in the interior # 688-0197 One experience TM driver to work in interior. Call:6420176,670-1052 Office clerk; CXC English/ Mathematics. Call: 225-4492, 225-6070 One male to work in interior $60,000. Call: 686-2201 Live-in domestic must know to cook and 1 waitress, salary 50,000 monthly.

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

Contact: 690-1943, 691-8021 Chain Saw operator; good salary, tel: 676-4262, 231-5691 Two male shop assistants to work in Georgetown & the interior, serious enquiries only. Call: 225-2940, 225-0305

WANTED Driver to work day only in a taxi service. #227-6567 Experienced dispatchers, must be computer literate.

Contact Leroy on 639-7773 or 231-4110 Upholsters, joiners, spray painter, handyman Tel# 2256810, 660-5190, 657-2790 One (1) general worker shift system 266-5243 One experienced salesgirl, one maid with cooking experience 1883 Festival City, North Ruimveldt. Tel nos: 218-0651, 682-4159

Live in attractive waitress contact 228- 5129

Experienced sales representatives. Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd Experienced Welder/Fitter.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd

1 handy boy to work in the interior #688-0197

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

Call: 676-6700

1 general domestic to work in Georgetown, MonSat.Call:614-7267

Full time gardener/ handyman reference needed.

Call: 226-0240, 225-3557

Experienced worker for land dredge contact 618-8800

Drivers with lorry licence.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd

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

Sales supervisor with experience & computer knowledge. Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd.

Urgently needed live-in waitress to work in bar, reasonable salary offer. Call: 259-0574 Waitress to work at Salo Bar Call: 233 – 5264 Female workers needed, 3 subjects or sound secondary education call 225- 7307

Get a visa or get refunded 233 – 2338 House plan drafting for only $10,000. Building estimate for only $10,000. Call 6949843 Prudential décor & catering weddings, parties, celebrations, commissioning etc 642-4827 ask for Ms Joylyn “We can help”

One live in domestic no cooking, washing call:6397700 1 Lumber yard labourer call 226- 3736 1 general domestic, must know to cook- East Bank Area Tel 614- 4358

VACANCY Have an interest in customer service? Then be apart of Q! Call:220-0401, 225-6466

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

1 refrigerator & washing machine technician/ Trainee.

Call: 683-8734, 231-0655

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

Dell Dual Core Laptops Window 7 $70,000. Future Tech. Call:231-2206, 644-6760

Kitchen assistant @ Charlestown- ages 18-35.

Call: 614-1020 Sales clerk porters, drivers with lorry license, apply with written application 2J’s General Store. Call: 225-2350 Porters: apply in person to P. Ramroop &Sons, 23 Lombard Street, with reference from previous employers One expeditor, contact: 223 5273/4

Looking for a job? Office, Domestic & need assistance, contact Angela: 694-0096

SECURITY CONTACT 223-5273-4

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

1 male Office Assistant with some knowledge of Accounts, contact 684-7516, 226- 3799

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

One Driver & one Salesman at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd. Tel 2257864

ONLINE SHOPPING NO COMMISSION, WEEKLY S H I P M E N T S , AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX. T E L : 2 3 1 - 5 7 8 9 .

FREIGHTLINKEXPRESS@ GMAIL.COM WE FILL OUT PASSPORT & VISA FORMS:USA,UK & CANADA TEL: 231-5789

Contract calls for BrazilGuyana Taxi Service. Tel: 2253234 Labourers and Porters.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd

Scrap metal. Call: 616-0617, 663-3285

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer. Omar:231-0655,6838734

Salesgirl and boy to work in shop on ECD. Text or call: 615-8121

Urgently: chainsaw operator to work in the interior. Call: 626-0006, 231-3159

1 Tutor to teach Form 1, apply Bissan’s Trading, 94 King Street. Call: 227-7306

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

Page 15

PROPERTY FOR SALE Two story wooden and concrete building located at 14 ‘A’ Kersaint Park, L.B.I., E.C.D land measuring 75ft, by 75ft, kitchen cupboards, window grills, 6 bedroom, alarm, system,concrete fence and drains, large storage bond adjoining property price 21 Million (negotiable).

Call: 643-2403, 227-2712 20 X 40 two flat concrete building @ Kitty. All amenities. Price $28 M Call: 668 – 9512, 223- 2570

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

Attractive salary. Contact: 687-3341, 639-9884 DATING SERVICE Immediate link-Singles 1880yrs. Confidential: Tel: 2238237,648-6098. (No -text) 8:30am-5:00pm Mon-Sun (Both phones same hours).

Supply Public Road to river 50x160ft 7.3M, sold without documentations. Contact GME Real Estate 231- 2200, 231 2199, 618 7483 10 acres of lease land for sale at Kuru-Kururu. Tel: 6966239

Craig $5.5M, East Coast $10M, Farm $12M, Guyhoc Park $1.2M, Alberttown (Land) $24M, Diana 2272256, 626-9382 Nandy Park $25M, Queenstown $35M, Prashad Nagar $33M, Kitty $32M, Bel-Air $40M, Diana 2272256, 626-9382

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

Sale! Sale! Allion, VVTI buses Toyota wagon cheapest 616-7635

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

2 Raum, 1 Pit Bull contact 663 – 9727, 609 6458

Bread tapes. Call: 231-8819

1 Nissan Cube ( like Raum) PMM 1088, 1.350 M Neg. call 233 – 5557, 610 -1309

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

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

HP Laptops- 500 GB HRD, UFB Rom, 15 inch; 3i Torch Blackberry-16 GB memory card. Call: 667-3772, 648-1602

One Tundra 2003 V6 contact: 660-7313 1 RZ Mini bus series BKK. Call: 667-9629

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

3 Ton enclosed Canter unregistered. Call: 617-2891

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

3 Ton 4 wheel drive Canter unregistered. Call:6172891

Coconut oil, any amount, call: 650- 4421 Printing machine AB Dick 360-375, cutter paper special: linen, laid, 3 hole paper ($700 per ream), cardboard $5 Call: 233-2725 2x2x1.5MM, Hollow section.

Call: 2200-6100, 680-5900 Peking ducks, call: 266-2711 / 609-4594 Quality upholstery materials tel # 220-3356/643-3627

Going cheap; U.K used truck engines, Perkins 4 & 6 cylinders. Tel: 661- 3043 Samsung colour printer, fax, copy, email, also fridgidaire washer & dryer & many more stuff. Call: 626-5852, 681-8830 anytime.

Used: QSC Amps MX2000 & MX3000, Roland sampler SP404, Rcf speaker: 12" & 18", celestion speaker: 15".

Contact: 644-3390 One ERF Hauler with 45 ft trailer (in-contract) & one Model M Truck. Tel: 6534455

FOR SALE One ps3 160 GB $100,000, 1 washer, 1 dryer $85,000 each.

Contact# 650-7719

UNREGISTERED ALLION, PREMIO, SPACIO, RUNX, ALEX, 2 TON CANTER, AVENSIS, VEROSSA, 212.

CALL:677-7666/ 610-7666 Verossa PNN. Call:665-3067, 228-2609

Titan parts, engine DIFF etc.

Call:648-2075 Land V/Hoop 2 acre: school, housing, factory, etc call:6580115

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

Any amount live chicken, plucked chicken, liver, giblets & foot. For more info contact: 621-4304, 220-1043

Moulders, multirip saws, resaws, cross cut saw and genset Tel 616-5595 Rodney

LAND FOR SALE

VEHICLES FOR SALE 99 Honda Civic Leather interior. Call:648-2075

Baby chicks available weekly, fully vaccinated, 371 Craig Public Road EBD. Mr. D. Lallbeharry tel 626 - 9589 New Air Brush Kit, gun, hose, compressor $35,000.

592-643-5720 Roofing shingles. Call: Mr. Skepmire . 227-5195 (8am to 5pm)

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

Call: 617-2891 Unregistered Premio & Allion with TV, mags, back Cam. Call: 609-8188, 6026307 1 – 2001 Toyota Kluger, Diplomatic, all four, PLL s e r i e s , m i d - s i z e S U V, clean. Price $5.4M neg.

Contact: 642-3786, 6600824.

2005 H2 Hummer, 38,500 mileage fully loaded, chrome kit etc. Call: 6393100, 619-5400 One EP71 Starlet, 1 AE91 Sprinter,1 Mitsubishi RVR and Pajero JR,1 Nissan Pathfinder PMM, 1 Honda FIT 2004 Call:644-5096,6971453 1 AT 212 for sale tel 6740645 One Toyota Ceres Call: 6445096, 697-1453 Allion –Silver & white with TV/NAV/RCam, grey Premio, Spacio, fielders. Call: 624-7684 1 PMM series Toyota Raum, fully loaded 639-7773, 2335383 Hilux 4x4 solid def pick-up, diesel, long base, excellent condition Call: 623-0243 Sale! Sale! Allion, VVTI buses Toyota wagon cheapest 616-7635 (Continued on page 20)

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Overseas-based Guyanese sets about restoring Vryheid’s Lust

Thursday May 03, 2012

Colin Bentinck murder trial to begin on Friday

… London-based Jean Marsh sparks programme One overseas based Guyanese at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara has taken up the mantle to ensure that the community is brought back to what it was some 20 years ago.

Mrs. Jean March, who lives in London, organized to get more than four truckloads of builder’s waste over the weekend, to help repair several roads within the community and a garbage truck to remove the garbage buildup.

According to Mrs. March, upon her return to her homeland several years ago she saw the need for better access into the village. The woman said that a number of buses had stopped coming into the community because of the deplorable roads.

March said that a fair amount of funds was raised and on Saturday morning the trucks came. She told Kaieteur News that she somehow became emotional after seeking help from some youths in the community.

“When the material came I

asked and I didn’t get a favourable response…It was just me and another person” March said.

Still feeling determined, the woman went ahead, not knowing how the work would have been completed. She told Kaieteur News that just about ten minutes after she was there on the road, two more persons came, and before you knew it the whole community was there patching the roads.

According to residents, the main access road was repaired by the government almost three years ago, but the cross streets have not been repaired for well over ten years.

Mrs. March explained that on Sunday they managed to get a garbage truck to come into the village and with the help of the youths they removed several huge piles of garbage. “We had drinks and food…and they did the work; we have to encourage them so they will come out” Mrs. March told Kaieteur News.

The woman said that she

has teamed up with another overseas-based Guyanese to finish another project they are planning.

Mr. Winston Dyer who lives in the USA, and Mrs March have undertaken to get the community field and community centre more developed.

Dyer told Kaieteur News that he intends to return to Guyana so he has to ensure that his village is somewhere he would want to live in. He said that he was taken back by the condition of the roads in the community.

They both believe that if the community field and community centre are done, the young people would not be idling around.

The woman said that her daughter who is a consultant in London has helped her set up a website where persons overseas can see the progress being made. Further, the website can serve as a means of generating more funds which will be used for further projects in the community.

Colin Bentinck being escorted from The New Amsterdam High Court The murder trial of a man who is accused of beheading another will begin on Friday in the Berbice High Court before Justice James Bovell-Drakes.

The man, Colin Bentinck, 39, of Number 42 (Seafield) Village, West Coast Berbice, is to be tried for the murder of Elton Shepherd, a clothes vendor at Seafield, West Coast Berbice on October ,31 2008. The case which was scheduled to begin yesterday

did not get underway, because the accused did not have a lawyer. He is expected to be provided with a stateappointed one. Attorney at law Rondell Weaver is prosecuting on behalf of the state.

Reports were that Bentinck had launched an attack with a cutlass on Shepherd who was at the time having lunch underneath a house with friends. Shepherd allegedly ran for his life but

fell in the process and was attacked by the accused.

A Preliminary Inquiry was conducted by then Magistrate Tejnarine Ramroop, and a prima facie case was made out.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Donna GrantFraser, had led several witnesses to prove that on October 31, 2008, the dreadlocked Bentinck killed Elton Shepherd.

Man jailed for beating son, pregnant daughter-in-law A woman who managed to evade a six-month jail sentence by being absent from the court yesterday found that the long arm of the law does catch up. Both she and her reputed husband ended up in jail yesterday when she appeared before Magistrate Hazel OctiveHamilton to give evidence on the man’s behalf.

Ulander Harry was convicted on a drug matter some time back and although sentencing was handed down, the woman could not be found. An arrest warrant was issued but never served.

But before all this was revealed, the woman’s spouse, Orson Cumberbatch, faced Magistrate Hamilton on three charges; assault causing actual bodily harm to his son, Anthony Kissoon, and assault on his daughter-in-law, mother to be Marlene Burnett. The man was also charged with behaving disorderly, while he was detained at the East La Penitence Police Station.

The police said that on April 28, last, at Lot 119 Meadow

Brook Gardens Georgetown, Cumberbatch whipped his son with a plastic pipe and subsequently lashed his pregnant daughter-in-law across her belly with a cutlass. He also refused to adhere to the stipulations of the police station after being warned for calling the officer-in-charge a jackass.

The court prosecutor said that all the persons live in the same house. On the day in question, Cumberbatch approached his son and accused him of not allowing his expectant girlfriend to do any housework.

The son however ignored the father, and this incensed the man. Cumberbatch subsequently got a piece of plastic PVC pipe and dealt his son several lashes about the body.

The son was then taken out of the house by a friend who lives next door. But as the son listened to the advice of his friend, out came his girlfriend who then told him that the defendant had broadsided

her on the stomach.

To those matters Cumberbatch admitted his guilt.

The prosecutor then read that after the incident with the son, a report was made to the police and the defendant was arrested and taken to the East La Penitence Police Station.

While at the police station, the prosecutor said there was a confrontation between the son and his father. The father however became upset during the son’s story and started behaving unruly. He was warned by station officials to contain himself but he continued to behave badly.

At the time, a female inspector was in charge at the police station. She cautioned the defendant about his behaviour, but then he started abusing the senior officer, even calling her a jackass. The police said that despite another warning Cumberbatch continued to perform, attracting a crowd in the process.

As a result, the defendant was slapped with the disorderly charge.

Cumberbatch apologized to the court for his actions. He said, “I am sorry for what I have done, I will never let it happen anymore.”

The Magistrate sought to advise the man on his actions and ways on which he may avoid such a reoccurrence. But when the man was spoken to about the son, he then alleged that the son had hit him first. He said he never hit the pregnant girl. He even alleged that his reputed wife saw the whole ordeal. The wife was

- while witness jailed for previous sentence however absent in the courtroom and the Magistrate wondered out loud that if in fact the man was provoked to behave the way he did, why then was the wife not present to represent him.

As the court sought clarity on the issue before sentencing the defendant, the wife was allowed to say what she saw. But when the Magistrate heard the wife’s name, then she understood why the woman refused to enter the courtroom.

It was revealed that an outstanding sentence was

awaiting the woman before Magistrate Hamilton on a narcotics matter. So as Harry walked slowly into the courtroom after being summoned by the court orderly, with her mouth twisted on one side, she faced a smiling Magistrate who simply asked, “Do you remember me?”

The Magistrate added, “I don’t forget. You appeared before me on a narcotics matter and an arrest warrant is out for you.” Obviously regretting her presence at the court, the woman stood silently, just swaying.

Cumberbatch even more surprised than his wife, received a six-week sentence which will run concurrently for both the assault matters. He was found lying about assaulting his son’s girlfriend as medical reports were presented and showed injuries to both parties.

Cumberbatch will also pay a $15,000 fine for disorderly behaviour at the police station or he will serve an additional two weeks for the offence.

Harry was also taken away to serve her six-month sentence.

Canal Polder wholesale depot burglarised Proprietor of H. Gendalall Sons and Daughter Wholesale Depot, Hendchand Gandalall, of 531 Belle West Housing Scheme, Canal #2 Polder, West Bank Demerara is now counting his losses after waking up and finding that his business place burglarised.

Gendalall said that the discovery was made at around 06:00 hours yesterday morning.

According to Gendalall, he is the sole distributor for Ansa McAl and Banks DIH products in the area. He said that he could not confirm the amount of stock that was removed from his premises,

but noted that a large amount of cash was stolen.

The man told this publication that he secured his business place as he normally would on Tuesday night about 22:30 hours and retired to bed. “When I wake up this morning (Wednesday) I see the place break in and right away I called the Wales Police Station but they tell me that I have to go to the station to make a formal report before they visit the robbery scene,” he noted.

Out of frustration, Gendalall, who is also a member of the Community Policing Group reportedly telephoned the chairman of

the policing group and the commander but no contact was made.

Eventually Gendalall said he went to the Wales Police Station where he officially lodged a report.

The businessman said he has since provided the names of persons whom he suspected may have been responsible for the breakage.

According to Gendalall, when he entered his business place he found several cartons of cigarettes on the pool table which the intruders apparently left behind.

He said that the focus was not on his house but rather, (continued on page 18)

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

Probe needed to determine whether ads placement is used to enforce editorial policies - press body - UNESCO says 62 journalists killed last year World Press Freedom Day was observed yesterday but Guyana may not have too much to celebrate in the area of media workers having unhindered access to information.

According to the Guyana Press Association (GPA), the reluctance by Government to open the airwaves over the years has resulted in the stifling of creative talent and has hampered if not retarded the free and unfettered access to information.

Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, in his message on World Press Freedom Day, also noted that the occasion comes at a time when the media in Guyana is in “sharp focus” to decide whose interest it serves.

He called on reporters, journalists, media managers and all operatives to be cognizant of their responsibility.

In its statement yesterday, GPA said that it

recognizes that Guyana is no different from the rest of the world in its quest for the need for information and for the free flow of information.

“In this country, there are still challenges to the free and unfettered distribution of information by governmental policy that has prohibited the operation of any other radio stations other than those owned and controlled by the government.

GPA urged the Guyana Government to break the monopoly that it is enjoying over the electromagnetic spectrum, particularly with regard to the granting of radio station licences.

It called for the granting of licences that will allow for other television stations.

“We believe that a National Broadcasting Authority must be established as soon as possible to ensure that information can be disseminated by a variety of

sources throughout the country.

We endorse the position that universal access to information must be pursued especially in rural, remote and insular areas.”

GPA said that it finds it interesting that in this age of social media, texting and tweeting, Guyana is still holding out that its radio frequencies cannot be allocated to anyone else other than those who “control the corridors of power.”

“Guyana also needs to examine whether economic leverage particularly in the withdrawal or placement of advertising was used to enforce editorial positions on media houses.”

The association also believed that journalists operating within Guyana have been able to conduct themselves with dignity and in an environment that is for the most part, safe. “Citizens must not be deprived of their right to be able

Miners being trained to use GPS

Miners being given a demonstration by Rudy MacDonald of GGDMA. Training has started for miners to use the Global Positioning System (GPS), a critical tool that allows for more accurate navigation and tracking.

According to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), the training started on Friday.

GGDMA represents mainly large miners, the body said.

“Training sessions were held at the association’s headquarters in Georgetown.

Fifteen participants were

drawn from a cross-section of members; young people and women were well represented.”

The training covered areas such as navigation, tracking and mapping.

“At the end of the training the participants were expected to be able to read, accurately, a GPS receiving unit and relate readings to local maps provided by agencies such as Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Forestry Commission and the Lands and Surveys Commission. It

is anticipated that with the use of GPS, many conflicts that result from encroachments between miners can be avoided.”

According GGDMA, the project is supported by the GGMC with one of the technical staff – Rudy MacDonald- providing the training. MacDonald is a Civil Engineer and Sworn Land Surveyor. GGDMA said that it is planning to conduct similar sessions for its members in Georgetown and hinterland locations.

Missing mentally challenged girl ...

From page 10 happens to be wandering around the city.

During a previous interview with this newspaper, the teenager spoke of being introduced by a female acquaintance to a Brazilian man who had paid her $10000 to sleep with him for a night.

Her mother believes that the mixed race woman who the teen was seen speaking to on

the day she disappeared is the person who is holding her against her will and is using her to solicit money from males in exchange for sexual favours.

“People say they saw her wearing short pants in town, walking with a mixed race woman. She did not leave home with a pair of short pants,” the mother said.

She told Kaieteur News

that her daughter uses medication for her condition, and since it has been days since she disappeared, she is fearful that the teenager's situation could worsen.

She is appealing to anyone who has seen her daughter or knows of her whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or contact her on telephone number 2209684.

UNESCO’s Director General, Irina Bokova to understand their society, for which an independent press— including both state-run and privately-owned media— remains crucial.”

And Trotman who has been engaging the press workers, said that new tools of communication have changed the way the media is operating.

“Through social media and ICT, media freedom has amplified these voices to the point where their calls for social transformation and positive political change have become the force to be reckoned with.”

In Guyana, World Press Freedom Day 2012 comes at a time when the media here is in sharp focus as it is being called on to decide whose interest it serves, Trotman said.

“Our reporters, journalists, media managers and all media operatives must be cognizant of their responsibility to provide society with the information that would empower individuals to take control of

UN’s Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon their destinies.”

In this context, the local media has a responsibility to provide society with fair and objective coverage of the facts.

“The media must therefore provide accurate information that reflects the issues and concerns from various groups who make up our Guyanese society.

The onus is then on the individual to receive this information and form their own thoughts and opinions.”

The Speaker urged all media operating in the public domain to uphold their responsibility in the best interest of all the people.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in a joint message

by UN Secretary-General, Ban Kimoon and UNESCO DirectorGeneral, Irina Bokova, disclosed that this year’s theme is New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies.

“Media freedom also faces severe pressures across the world. Last year, UNESCO

House Speaker, Raphael Trotman condemned the killing of 62 journalists who died as a result of their work. These journalists must not be forgotten and these crimes should not remain unpunished.”

The statement noted that as media moves online, more online journalists, including bloggers, are being harassed, attacked, and killed for their work. They must receive the same protection as traditional media workers.

“World Press Freedom Day is our opportunity to raise the flag in the fight to advance media freedom. We call on states, professional media and non-governmental organisations everywhere to join forces with the United Nations to promote online and offline freedom of expression in accordance with internationally accepted principles.

This is a pillar of individual rights, a foundation for healthy societies and a force for social transformation.

Learning channel, disabled students for increased focus this year - Manickchand Now that the 2012 budget is over, citizens can look forward to a number of changes within the education system which Education Minister Priya Manickchand had offered as measures to boost and upgrade Education in Guyana.

Among the numerous matters mentioned for improvement in Parliament on April 16, Manickchand said that greater measures must be put in place to assist disabled students, monitoring and guiding programmes of the Learning Channel and greater focus to be placed on the next major subject; science.

Manickchand also spoke of the growth in what she described as the greatest focus right now for the education system, universal secondary education. The Minister informed the House of Assembly that the government is working very

hard to provide secondary education for all students in Guyana while making particular reference to students living in hinterland areas. They were described as the most difficult to reach due to their locations.

The Minister however mentioned that it was for those reasons that certain strategies such as increased lodging for students and additional teacher training centres were being built across the country.

Manickchand noted that 22 dormitories were built across various areas where at least 2000 children were able to obtain accommodation for studies. She also said that 10 training centres were also constructed for training teachers and better equipping them for the classroom.

For the learning channel, the Minister said she had already spoken to various

entities who will be working to place better programmes and more informative segments on the station. She spoke of monitoring and evaluating the material that is shown on the television.

Apart from that, Manickchand said that science has been an area which the Ministry realized needs much attention. She said that focus was going to be placed on how pupils receive the subject and further, produce ways that would encourage students to adopt the subject and conquer it.

Manickchand spoke briefly about putting in place measures to assist disabled students. She said that the Ministry will not be giving those students the back bench as they realize that more work has to be done with accommodating those students.

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 03, 2012

Number 19 Village under attack from bandits Residents of Number 19 Village, Corentyne, say that their village has been under attack from armed bandits and thieves these past months.

They say that they do not feel safe in the village and cannot endure any more of the attacks.

Number 19 Village runs along the longest and continuous straight road in the Caribbean and forms part of the Corentyne Highway.

The attackers are becoming more brazen. They carry out their attacks both in the day and night and also when persons are attending events in the village. For the year alone, according to residents, Number 19 Village has suffered 11 attacks from bandits and thieves, many of which go unrecorded by the media.

The most recent attack was around 19:30 hours on Tuesday when four armed masked bandits pounced on a grocer in the area.

According to the grocer, Shivlall Sirkissoon, he and a few others were relaxing under their bottom- house when four masked men “stormed in”. He said they were armed with cutlasses, knives and a sophisticated ‘pump action’ gun. They “fired five shots”, which hit other residents in the process. According to residents, it was high drama.

An elderly woman who was standing on her verandah, just opposite Sirkissoon’s home was hit on the neck. She is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Also, a 19- year- old male, Mahendra Baker, was

... residents want measures put in place to deal with high crime rate

An injured Shivlall Sirkissoon also hit by three bullets during the wild shooting and he was also admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

He said the men fired shots wildly in the air so as to scare persons off. There was a packed ‘wake- house’ just across the road from the Sirkissoons but that, apparently, did not scare off the bandits, who in their usual way, carried out their attacks, terrorising and carting off valuables from the Sirkissoons.

His sister-in-law, Keisha and uncle, Sooklall, called ‘Papso’ were also terrorised in the process by the men.

Sooklall received several chops about his head with a cutlass.

Sirkissoon too received his share of blows. “They put some lashes on me head and me back and so”, he related.

The episode lasted twenty

Miner remanded over attempt to kill co-worker A 37-year-old miner was yesterday placed in state custody after he reportedly sought to end the life of his co-worker with whom he allegedly had a misunderstanding.

The order was given by Magistrate Hazel OctiveHamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after the police prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the victim was still hospitalized as a result of his injuries.

Jerome Piggott, of 18 Mile Rockstone, Essequibo River allegedly attempted to kill Brian Henry at Princeville Backdam, Potaro, Essequibo on April 27, by chopping him.

Prosecutor Sergeant Lionel Harvey requested that the defendant be remanded to jail since the condition of the victim was unknown. The Magistrate accepted the request of the prosecutor and remanded the defendant until May 9.

This publication understands that the

Jerome Piggot defendant and the victim reportedly worked on the same site and on the day in question they had an argument which resulted in the defendant chopping the victim about his body.

CPG Member Leon Baker minutes since the bandits took Keisha in the house upstairs and had the hostage search for the gold and other valuables.

He added that the men carted off about $300,000 worth in jewellery. “We ain’t had no cash to give them at the time,” he said.

The man noted, too, that one of the bandits specifically asked for his child’s toy computer which was bought, recently.

The men then made their escape through the ‘White Bridge Dam’, just a few blocks away, which is popularly referred to as “the escape place”, where all the bandits in the area make their escape.

Several residents, who gathered by the Sirkissoons, were furious at the vulnerability that exists in their village, which they say is encouraging thieves and bandits to make robberies and made good their escape.

The residents said that the police, on Monday evening, arrived some 25 minutes later, having travelled from New Amsterdam (six miles away) to the crime scene.

There is the Lewis Manor Impact Base just a few blocks from where the robbery occurred but the base has one or two unarmed officers stationed there along with Rural Constables.

The area, including the entire stretch of Number 19 Roadway does not have street- lights. The stretch of roadway is very dark at nights, which has also been causing numerous accidents along the road.

Regional authorities had said that the placement of street lights along the roadway was being discussed at higher levels but to date, none has been placed.

Number 19 Village does not have line telephones.

Residents depend on the use of cell phones, while a few residents have antenna phones, which they say have become antiquated. Some do not even work properly.

Angry residents voicing their concerns The area has two Community Policing Group (CPG) Officers, but the officers, in speaking with Kaieteur News, said the bandits are more equipped than they are, since they (the officers) only have a pair of handcuffs and batons to do their jobs. They want firearms.

“Everything that happens, we are on the spot, but what is the use? We cannot do anything because we need firearm because each and every robbery that happens, we are on the spot.

But what is the use? Just a piece of baton and handcuff we get— that cannot do anything, when you have men with guns what will we do?” said one CPG member, Victor Totaram.

He added that during Monday’s robbery, he called for help at Central Police Station twice and “they responded to me and said they will come but until half an hour after me see them”.

“I think there should be police at the outpost here because something will happen here steady and you will have to wait on police to come from Central [Police Station] and by the time they come, all things finish”.

Another member, Leon Baker, said, “We from the CPG have an active group here, but if you get guns, you can perform, attack the bandits— but members have to keep their distance because if they get shot, this (being a CPG Member) is a voluntary stuff and we got wives and children— “If anything happen to you, nobody will give you anything”, he said.

Representation was made for them to access firearms but he said training has to be done first. The training, he noted, is supposed to start soon. “They taking too long

to give the training”.

“The police know fully well that 19 Village is being targeted, so this village should always be equipped in case anything happen, not when something happens, you will go and say you will do this and that”, he noted.

Baker noted that the response time by the police on Monday evening “was too long” since the police came from the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam.

“We need protection! We need street lights and telephones! And that dam where they [the bandits] running away, they should really put lights there”, said one resident. “The policing group that is here should get firearms”.

A few months ago, residents in the village arranged a meeting with Senior Police officials in ‘B’ Division, including Assistant Commander, Eric Bassant, but residents said only promises were made.

Residents had also asked the authorities to re- activate the Lewis Manor Impact Base and station armed officers there to deter thieves, bandits and criminals from pouncing on the village, but to date, nothing has happened.

The residents agree that some of the bandits and thieves are village- grown

since they “come and ask for what they want— for certain correct things in the house”.

Several attempts to reach Mr Bassant and ‘B’ Division Commander, Mr Derryck Josiah proved unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, on Monday evening, bandits broke into the home of a Cumberland hire car operator, Mello Ramkissoon, of 43 Archer Street, while he and his family were visiting relatives on West Coast Demerara.

According to Ramkissoon, they left home on Monday around 7:15 pm and returned Tuesday afternoon only to find the back- door downstairs was broken into.

“Apparently, they used cutters to cut the padlocks and wrenched the door”. He said, “They ransacked the whole downstairs and they went in the two bedrooms and ransacked the whole room...searching each and everything fine fine”.

The bandits left with $25,000 in local currency and US$50 which was hidden under a mat under the bed. They also stole a music set valued at $50,000; a DVD Player and a 1000- watt transformer.

Neighbours, he said, heard nothing. The police were informed and a suspect was picked up on Tuesday evening.

Canal Polder ...

From page 16 his business place. The man lives upstairs but claimed that he did not hear any unusual sounds during the night. He disclosed that one of his depots in Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara was robbed three times in quick successions about three years ago.

The robbers reportedly carted off $5million in those

robberies. Due to the robberies, Gendalall was forced to close the business.

Again, he noted that recently, his delivery truck was stopped and robbed of more than $1.2million in stocks and cash. Ironically, he stated that despite being a member of the CPG, he is given the royal run around from members of the Guyana Police Force.

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column Sister pays price for brother-in-law’s deception DEARABIGAIL, A couple years ago, my brother-in-law sent my sister “Rita” and me (at his expense) on a weekend trip out of town.

He asked me to tell Rita that I had earned it for outstanding performance at my job and wanted her to accompany me.

To make a long story short, it turned out he did it in order to cheat on my sister.

Because we had problems with the arrangements he had

made, Rita and I had to return a day early. When she opened her front door and walked in, she caught her husband redhanded. Ever since that unfortunate incident, Rita has cut off our entire family. She acts as though we cheated on her, and remains married to this despicable man even though he lives with the other woman.

I don’t understand why my sister has pushed away all of the people who love her while maintaining a relationship with a man who cheats on her. I don’t know what to do.

Worried Sister

Dear Worried Sister, Your sister may feel that she deserves the treatment she’s getting from her husband, or is still hoping that her wandering spouse will return. Because you were part of the deception, she has displaced the anger she should be aiming at her husband and has directed it at you because it is “safer.”

Until she finds the strength and courage to accept that her marriage is over her behaviour will probably continue. I’m advising you to go on with your life until she is ready to change hers.

Thursday May 03, 2012 ARIES (MARCH 21 APRIL 19): Just watch you are not getting stuck in the past only seeing the bright side, and finding it difficult to let go. Try to stand up for yourself if certain family members are taking your good nature too much for granted. ************************************ TAURUS (APRIL 20 MAY 20): There should be opportunities galore around you for the taking and your bouncy self-confidence will certainly attract positive responses from everyday people, like workmates or neighbours. ************************************ GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20): You should be earning more, or at least you are definitely finding that your prospects are brighter than they have been. But try to hang onto a little of it. ************************************ CANCER (JUNE 21 JULY 22): You are inspiring a great deal of trust in close companions, though sometimes they think you are a touch over optimistic. Maybe you do promise more than you can deliver. ************************************ LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22): You will want to be helping those less fortunate than yourself. As you gradually come to terms with your own hidden needs, you have a better understanding of those around who may be struggling slightly. ************************************ VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22): Friendships are working well now and you should be mixing confidently with large numbers of people. This is an optimistic time when you can look ahead and see really rosy glows on the horizon.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22): Success should be coming your way more easily than usual so you might as well make hay while the sun shines. Praise and a growing appreciation of your talents and personality at work or out in the community will have you beaming with pleasure. ************************************ SCORPIO (OCT. 23 NOV. 21): This is a time for broad thinking. Your confidence will be soaring. Let yourself write or speak out if you feel the urge. But also realise that your ideas may not all be practical. ************************************ SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21): Mates will be in a position to be more generous to you than usual.

Even the bank manager will seem more amiably disposed towards you. Suddenly the world seems a luckier place. ************************************ CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 JAN. 19): You want people around you now who share your broader interests in life.

Emotional partners do seem to be in better humour, and happy to fit in. ************************************ AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 FEB. 18): A zippy influence in your chart area of work and health matters will make you feel more buoyant than for a while. You genuinely want to be of service and make everyone's life easier. ************************************ PISCES (FEB. 19 MARCH 20): Being out in the centre of activities will find you absolutely in your element. Your popularity is soaring with loved ones, children and social mates, so there is no sense in holding back.

Page 19

Chief Justice rules against...

From page 6 constitution of Guyana, the President said the contents of the programme infringed significantly on the conditions of the licence under which Sharma operates.

Jagdeo related that in the programme, Vieira claimed that Swami Akshrandan had told the President to take a Christian channel off the air, “implying that there was some kind of Hindu conspiracy.”

Jagdeo had said that he never had any such discussion with the Hindu leader, and therefore the

statement by Vieira was “offensive” and designed to create discord among people of different religions, which is forbidden in the laws of Guyana.

Jagdeo said that the Christian channel (Channel 72) was illegally taken over by Vieira, and this led to the cancellation of the licence.

In addition, in the commentary, Jagdeo related that Vieira claims that there was a conflict between Pentecostals and Catholics, and that Bishop Edghill was not doing enough to safeguard Catholics.

Again, Jagdeo said this statement sought to create discord among denominations in the Christian community and was therefore “reprehensible” to the constitution.

“This is a serious matter and I am giving it consideration,” Jagdeo declared.

Sharma had been sanctioned before for comments aired on a live programme, but in this case, Jagdeo said the television owner cannot make that claim since Vieira’s comments were made during a taped programme.

NICIL’s affairs for Public Probe in...

From page 9 over report from the former Executive Director of NICIL (and Head of the Privatisation Unit), Winston Brassington, if applicable at this time and a report on the disposal by sale or otherwise of all other state assets, including the terms on which they were disposed of and the criteria used.

He is seeking, also, to cause the House to ensure that a report on all the fiscal concessions, including duty free concessions, granted in response to specific requests or as part of contracts awarded by the Tender Board and the criteria on which these awards were based be placed before the National Assembly for review.

Greenidge, in prefacing his resolutions to the House, points to recent reports on Guyana about transparency and corruption by the international community.

These reports, he says, have been presented by the World Economic Forum, Transparency International and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) all of which have rated Guyana poorly.

Greenidge’s motion is also prefaced by the fact that “Guyanese are concerned about the widely reported acts of lawlessness in the

guardianship of our national resources and assets as well as the lack of transparency

and accountability associated with the disposal of those assets.”

Page 20

(From page 15)

Kaieteur News

VCB bypasses JII Meet, opens in Doha (Gleaner)- TWO-TIME Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell Brown will bypass this weekend’s Jamaica National Jamaica International Invitational (JII)

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From back page Rica in the CONCACAF Champions league last year and as nations we could be hurt”, stated Shabazz frankly.

Shabazz then went on to articulate a more positive outlook based on his Central American sojourn.

“But when they (Heridiano) came to Guyana, Alpha was leading 2-0 for a long time, before the game ended in 2–2. That is the fickle nature of football; there is possibility to beat even the best teams in the world.

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Meet at the National Stadium and will open her outdoors season at the IAAF/Samsung Diamond League in Doha, Qatar next weekend.

Campbell Brown, who is

expected to chase the sprint double at the London Olympic Games later this year, was due to open her season in Florida two weeks ago, but rain forced her to cancel those

Shabazz quantifies task ahead of WCQ...

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scouting I saw potential areas where they give up space in midfield and where the height of our players could be of some advantage. It excites me but not to a state of delusion where I will fool the Guyanese public we can win”, he noted cautiously.

He further elaborated his point by mentioning why despite the large disparity between Mexico and Guyana in FIFA ranking’s system, the players and especially the local fans should not be phased.

“After the team lost to Guatemala 2-0 in February I noted the frustration amongst the Guyanese which seemed to be already totally writing off Guyana’s chances against Mexico.

Many people who like to use ranking systems to make high pronouncements on football would already claim it’s a mis-match waiting to happen given that two teams are ranked 20th and 99th in the world respectively”, explained the national coach.

“By that reasoning, if we do some maths and divide 99 by 20, and we use logics and statistics which is what as humans we are trained to do, that would mean Guyana already start that game 4 to 5 goals down then?”, he questioned.

Based on this synopsis Shabbaz concluded by stress-

ing painstakingly to the national public why their support in the three games Guyana have at home versus Costa Rica on June 12th, El Salvador on September 11th and Mexico October 12th could make a massive difference in this qualifying stage for the Golden Jaguars.

“This is why I stress the importance again of 12th man home support rather than having any worries about the obvious gap in quality between Guyana and teams like Mexico and Costa Rica.

The energy the locals will bring in driving the team to win a tackle in midfield or get on the end of important cross can be a defining moment in a game that could have a major influence on the final result”.

“Any team in the world in my opinion will struggle versus Guyana against corners and free kicks from at the side of the field.

Although we defeated Trinidad in that famous game last year – if we play them again in another venue from Providence with their full strength team – it could be very difficult to beat them.

So the fans need to understand the magnitude of their role and I assure them Guyana will compete in these qualifiers instead of just being an irrelevant participant.

plans. In her monthly online diary for the IAAF, Campbell Brown, who will seek to win an unprecedented third straight 200m title in London, wrote that skipping the midApril meet in Florida was not by choice.

“Weather and a changing schedule scrapped that idea,” she wrote.

The Jamaican star, who is seeking to add the Olympic 100 to her glittering array of athletic titles, will contest the event in Doha, the city where she won her first IAAF Word Indoors 60m title two years ago.

Campbell Brown said: “My last visit to (Qatar) saw me winning the World Indoor 60m title in 2010, so I’m excited about returning there.”

She said that as a UNESCO Champion for Sport Ambassador, “I was happy to read recently that Qatar had increased its women’s team for the London Olympic Games for the first appearance by its women at

Veronica Campbell Brown

an Olympic Games.”

Campbell Brown, who said her training “has been going well”, visited family and friends over the Easter weekend, and also participated in a video shoot for her shoe sponsors, Adidas. She spoke about the challenges it posed.

“As an athlete, I must confess that no amount of training can prepare you for the rigours of such an activity.

I thoroughly enjoyed the activity, however, and I would not hesitate to do it again.”

GFF Super League...

Buxton United and Amelia’s Ward victorious Buxton United and Amelia’s Ward defeated their respective opponents Seawall and Den Amstel as play in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super League continued on Tuesday last, at the Georgetown Football Club ground.

The battle between Buxton and Seawall saw both teams fail to register goals in the first half and fans had to wait until the 83rd minute when Buxton United’s Hugh Michael Phyll scored the lone goal of the game.

The encounter between Amelia Ward’s and Den Amstel saw both teams treating the fans to end to end action from the onset and Travis Waterton of Amelia’s Ward registered the first goal of the match in the 11th minute.

Den Amstel, however, was not fazed by the early setback and launched some relentless attacks of their own, but sturdy defending by Amelia’s Ward foiled all their attempts to gain the equalizer.

The score remained 1-0 in

favour of Amelia’s Ward at lemon time.

One minute after the resumption, Rondel Hutson managed to score the equalizer, but the determine Warders created another opportunity to put themselves back in the ascendancy when a rewarding pass was made to Derwin Luke, who made no mistake in netting the ball in 57th minute.

Thereafter, Den Amstel was left with no choice but to initiate a full scale offensive onslaught, but once again, the visitors from the Mining Town held firm until the final whistle sounded to earn a well deserved victory.

The League continues on Sunday in Linden at the McKenzie Sports Club ground, with Amelia’s Ward and BCC Rosignol from 18:00hrs. The second game will see Milerock and Seawall lock horns from 20:00hrs.

Den Amstel and Alpha United will battle at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground from 15:45hrs.

Thursday May 03, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Real Madrid win La Liga title with victory over Athletic Bilbao - Messi breaks Gerd Mueller’s season record (BBC)- Real Madrid clinched the La Liga title for the first time since 2008 after their 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed their 32nd league crown.

Despite Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Malaga, Jose Mourinho’s men hold a seven-point lead with two games to go.

The Portuguese has now won league titles in four different countries after triumphs with Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan.

The success provides much relief for Los Blancos fans after their disappointing

defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal. Earlier in the day, Lionel Messi broke the record for goals in a top-flight European season as he took his Barcelona tally to 68 with a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Malaga.

Bayern Munich legend Gerd Mueller’s record had stood for 39 years but that mark was bettered as Messi claimed his ninth treble of the season. Ajax sealed their 31st Dutch title with a straightforward 2-0 win over VVV Venlo.

The victory put them beyond the reaches of Feyenoord with one match remaining.

Lalta “Rishi” Digamber is new WDCA President West Demerara businessman and proprietor of “Countryside Agri” Lalta Digamber was elected to head the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) for the next two years.

Digamber was the WDCA Competitions Chairman for the past four years.

Anand Sanasie served two terms as President and was not eligible for reelection as the Association’s constitution, enacted under Sanasie’s tenure stipulates that “ no President shall serve for more than two consecutive terms”. Sanasie was elected to serve as VicePresident to Digamber.

The Annual General Meeting was attended by a majority of the clubs playing cricket in the West Demerara, but only those members whose annual subscription had been paid were allowed to participate in the elections.

Digamber, in his acceptance speech informed members that all clubs are obligated to observe the rules and constitution of the WDCA and no delinquency would be tolerated during his tenure.

Members thanked Sanasie for his contribution and noted that over the past four years cricket balls were

Lalta Digamber provided for all WDCA Cricket Competitions and sponsorship was readily available while the Association is in a strong financial position.

The new Executive elected to serve the 2012/2014 term of office is PresidentLalta Digamber, Vice President- Anand Sanasie, SecretarySajwattie Ramrattan, Asst. SecretaryKrishnchan Mangal, Treasurer- Hardeo Oudit, Competitions ChairmanRobin Khan, P. R. OHarinarine Deokenan and Marketing Manager- Sudesh Persaud.

The committee members are Dhanpaul, Sharan Rameshwar, Omar Hussein, Rohan Lokeshwar, Ramesh Persaud and Navindra Persaud.

Swiss midfielder Siem de Jong’s double inside the hour was enough to start the party in the Amsterdam Arena.

AC Milan moved to within a point of Italian league leaders Juventus after the defending champions beat Atalanta 2-0 after goals from Sulley Muntari and Robinho, while Juve drew with lowly Lecce 1-1 in Turin. There are two matches remaining in Serie A.

Real Madrid celebrate La Liga title

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 03, 2012

Cisse wonder goals stun Chelsea Lakers hold off Nuggets to take 2-0 series lead Papiss Cisse

(BBC): Papiss Cisse produced two goals of the highest quality to keep Newcastle United firmly in contention for a place in the Premier League’s top four with victory at Chelsea.

Cisse took his tally to 13 goals in 12 games with spectacular strikes in each half to leave Chelsea looking increasingly likely to have to win the Champions League final against Bayern Munich later this month to reach next season’s competition.

Senegal striker Cisse, a £10m buy from Freiburg in January, had already demonstrated his class with a flick and left-foot volley that flew high beyond Chelsea keeper Petr Cech after 19 minutes.

He topped that brilliantly as the game moved into 10

minutes of stoppage time resulting from a lengthy delay when Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote was taken off on a stretcher with a head injury sustained in an aerial clash with Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel.

Cisse was wide on the left flank when substitute Shola Ameobi touched a throw into his path. He instinctively struck a swerving, angled shot with the outside of his right foot that curved viciously before landing in the top corner beyond the retreating, helpless Cech.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew celebrated with a mixture of disbelief and delight on the touchline as his team’s remarkable season hit another high.

They are now level on points with Spurs, who are ahead in fourth place thanks to a superior goal difference after their 4-1 win at Bolton, and Newcastle’s meeting with leaders Manchester City at the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday is now an even more mouth-watering prospect.

Chelsea’s interim manager Roberto di Matteo shuffled his side ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final with Liverpool at Wembley and also after a heavy schedule in which they also secured a place in the Champions League final.

Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Juan Mata and Didier Drogba were left on the bench, but this was still a

jaded Chelsea display and they are now four points off the Champions League places with only two games left.

Bolton 1 Tottenham 4 Tottenham won back-toback league games for the first time since January as they reinvigorated their Champions League hopes by beating Bolton.On the day Fabrice Muamba made his first public appearance since he suffered a cardiac arrest when these two teams met in the FA Cup in March, Spurs produced a ruthless display of finishing to keep them fourth in the Premier League.Luka Modric gave the visitors the lead with a clinical strike following a corner, despite Sandro appearing to handle the ball before the set-piece was awarded.And although Nigel Reo-Coker’s equaliser roused the home supporters after the break, three goals in the space of nine minutes put the game beyond Bolton, who remain in the relegation zone.

Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor both scored on the counter-attack, with the Togolese earning Harry Redknapp’s side their first away win in nine league games.

The upturn in Spurs’ fortunes has coincided with Redknapp’s links with the England job coming to an end and he will be delighted that the season still has hope after a demoralising period.

(AP) The Denver Nuggets ran the court and drove the lane with all the intensity they lacked in their playoff opener. They doubleteamed Andrew Bynum, harassed Pau Gasol and scored relentlessly in the paint.

Nope, still not enough to beat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Not even enough to get a lead.

Bryant scored 38 points, Bynum followed up his triple-double with a career playoff-high 27 points and nine rebounds, and the Lakers weathered Denver’s late rally for a 104-100 victory Tuesday night, taking a 2-0 series lead.

Gasol had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the third-seeded Lakers, who still haven’t trailed in two games despite several dicey moments in Game 2. They survived a much-improved effort by the Nuggets and Ty Lawson, who scored 25 points and led the fourth-quarter charge.

Bryant was too sharp in his 83rd career 30-point playoff game, more than anybody except Michael Jordan. After last season’s second-round ouster in their failed quest for a threepeat, Bryant and his teammates are healthier and happier - and they’ve been too much for Denver. ‘’I think we’re just playing much better,’’ Bryant said. ‘’It’s tough to play against us, because there’s legitimately three guys you have to double-team.’’

Game 3 is tomorrow in Denver.

PIERCE LEADS RONDO-LESS CELTICS PAST HAWKS Maybe they’ll start calling it Piercing.

Paul Pierce certainly ripped apart the Atlanta Hawks.

Almost single-handedly, Pierce wiped out an 11-point deficit in the second half, scoring 36 points to carry the Boston Celtics to a stunning 87-80 win Tuesday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, even with Rajon Rondo serving a suspension and Ray Allen sidelined again by an ailing ankle. ‘’The only way we were going to win a game like this without Ray and Rondo,’’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, ‘’was if Paul had a game like this.’’

He also had a game-high 14 rebounds and, for good measure, threw in some Tebowing.

Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Avery Bradley, who shifted over to take Rondo’s spot at the point, chipped in with 14 points but only three assists - a far cry from what the Celtics usually get out of that position.

Joe Johnson had 22 points for Atlanta but never got many open looks, hitting just 7 of

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Denver Nuggets in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

17 from the field.

Josh Smith had 16 points and 12 rebounds before he went out for good with 4:20 remaining with a sprained left knee, the state of which has now become a major concern for the Hawks, who already have played most of the season without Al Horford.

76ERS PULLAWAY IN 3RD, BEAT BULLS 109-92 There wasn’t much for Jrue Holiday to improve on in this game, except maybe one thing. ‘’I could have been 15 for 15,’’ he said.

Holiday didn’t hit all his shots. It just seemed like it.

Holiday scored 26 points, Lou Williams added 20 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Chicago 109-92 on Tuesday night to even their first-round series at 1-1 in the Bulls’ first game since Derrick Rose’s season-ending knee injury.

The superstar point guard received a standing ovation and waved to the crowd as he limped onto the court to present the game ball, then watched from a suite as the 76ers blitzed the Bulls in the third quarter. ‘’I can’t tell you how exciting it is to come into Chicago and get a playoff win here on the road for our team,’’ Coach Doug Collins said. ‘’It was a great, great night.’’

The Sixers outscored Chicago 36-14 in the period, turning an eight-point deficit into an 83-69 lead against the league’s top-seeded team. Game 3 is tomorrow in Philadelphia.