Kaieteur News

Monday May 07, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Corbin gets ready to relinquish PNCR top post - Granger, Greenidge set to go head-to-head for leadership

By Gary Eleazar The Peoples National Congress Reform is gearing to host its 17th Biennial Congress and according to the Party Leader, Robert Corbin, “Guyana is in a new political situation for which there is no blue print.”

Corbin who for the first time since the 2011 Regional and General Election has spoken publicly on the results said that while there is no blueprint for the current political landscape there are lessons to be learnt from countries with similar experiences.

Corbin was at the time addressing the North American Region (NAR) of the PNCR’s Conference on Saturday in New York.

The PNCR will be hosting its Biennial Congress from July 26 to 29 at which point in time the election will be held for party leadership.

Current leader of the Party, Corbin has signaled that he has no intention of once again seeking to retain

the position and drew reference to an earlier intimation that he wanted to see a fresh cadre of leaders at the helm.

Already Retired Brigadier David Granger is a favorite contender for the position but there is indication that the only real challenge will be coming from the party’s Former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge.

Greenidge had contested alongside Granger, Basil Williams, Dr. Faith Harding and Basil Williams to be the party’s Presidential Candidate for last November’s general elections. Granger emerged the winner of that race but could not propel A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to victory at the polls.

APNU is the coalition with which the PNCR had aligned itself to for the 2011 election and remains its largest partner. There is word that while Basil Williams may still have support enough to be nominated to contest for the post of Leader of the party, he will decline should such a

nomination occur.

Corbin as he informed and geared up the NAR for the party congress, reminded that it is the highest decision making forum of the party, where members have an opportunity to determine the way forward.

“It is also the occasion to identify and elect persons who will be mandated to take the party forward…I urge that you consider seriously all the matters to be determined at that congress.”

He drew reference to one of his previous Congress Addresses where he had said that “A careful analysis will tell us that our immediate objective should be to oppose with vigour and energy those policies and actions of the incumbent government, which are inimical to the best interest and welfare of the people of Guyana.”

He had also suggested that while in Opposition, the PNCR must also focus on empowering “our supporters

- Attorney General Almost four years after the plea bargaining legislation was passed in the National Assembly, Attorney General Anil Nandlall said it is being underutilized.

“The law is being used, but in my humble view it is a facility which is underutilized,” the AG told Kaieteur News during a brief telephone interview.

According to Nandlall, the legislation should be used with more frequency; however it is a facility which largely depends on the parties themselves, the accused person(s), the lawyers, the prosecutors and the relatives of the victim.

He explained that those parties drive the process and success of the legislation.

Nandlall further told Kaieteur News that the benefit which can be derived will depend on whether or not the parties are prepared to use it.

The law allows the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), or any prosecutor or attorney-at-law, authorised by the DPP on the one side, and the accused, through his attorney-at-law or by himself, to negotiate and enter into a plea agreement.

The legislation will benefit a person who has entered into a plea agreement and is cooperating with law enforcement authorities, or whose cooperation is beneficial to the administration of criminal justice.

To ensure that the plea is voluntary, the accused is granted the right to representation by an attorney-at-law. The bill was fashioned to help pave the way for reducing the significant backlog of Preliminary Inquiries in the Magistrates’ Court. Under another legislation, a Preliminary Inquiry is conducted for indictable matters.

It was supposed to be brief for the Magistrate to determine whether a prima facie case has been made out, in essence, to decide if there is enough evidence for the accused persons to stand trial before a judge and jury.

When the Bill was passed, it was pointed out that now that the way has been paved for cases to be committed to the High Court faster, the issue of more judges was to be looked at. It was pointed

Attorney General: Anil Nandlall out that there should be at least 10 judges handling the assizes given the already backlogged High Court.

However, presently there are two judges handling that.

High court sources had told Kaieteur News that there was a backlog of over 6000 cases.

Opposition Leader David Granger economically and ensuring that they are prepared and equipped to utilise the opportunities available in the society…Our other objective should be to do all that is necessary and relevant to returning the PNCR to government in order to pursue our programmes and vision for the people of Guyana.”

Corbin said that he believes that this still remains an unfulfilled task, “albeit we may have a majority in Parliament under the banner of APNU working in cooperation with the AFC.” Speaking to his future and the imminent new leader of the party, Corbin firstly pointed out that there is no problem in having the Leader of the PNCR and either the President or Leader of the Opposition being a separate person.

He was speaking to the confusion that had surrounded his post as Leader of the party when Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger was elected Presidential Candidate of the PNCR and subsequently leader of the Parliamentary Opposition.

As such, Corbin informed that, “consequently, any decision I make on this matter is based on more fundamental issues that are not new.”

Corbin expanded by drawing reference to his earlier intimations that he wanted to have the leadership of the party taken over by a younger corps of leaders.

He drew specific reference to his earlier statement that the “Party must have at every level, fresh and talented young faces representing every shade of Guyana’s life in the leadership

Former PNC Finance Minister Carl Greenidge

Incumbent Leader of the PNCR Robert Corbin

of the party at both the local and national levels.”

He conceded that “of course, experienced heads will still be necessary to give stability and experience and indeed, some leaders are mature in body but young in mind…We need to be resolute and sincere in this matter or all the work of the past 50 years will come to

issue must be a constant reminder that we are representatives of people and the need to be in constant consultation.”

Addressing some of the critics, Corbin said that “as has been the tradition under the PNCR leadership, there have been many critics. I’ve heard the cry about who sold out and who made backroom

“the party (PNCR) must have at every level, fresh and talented young faces representing every shade of Guyana’s life in the leadership of the party at both the local and national levels” - Robert Corbin nought.”

Turning his attention to the single most talked about event of the year thus far, namely the 2012 Budget Debates, Corbin told the conference that the APNU’s budget experience, “where they faced the intransigence and deception of the PPP/C would no doubt prepare them for the many other challenges they face and will face in the future.”

Corbin said that all have witnessed the challenges faced with the budget issue over the raise of electricity tariffs at Linden.

“The PPP/C has been trying to raise those rates for years but the PNCR vigorously resisted…That

deals. That however will not resolve our difficulties.”

The former Opposition Leader told the North American gathering that the situation now requires careful analysis, detailed planning after meaningful consultation and perfect dedication, commitment and loyalty in implementing those agreed on programmes.

“It is in this context that NAR can also play a significant role,” said Corbin as he challenged those in the Diaspora to commence from the working session of the Conference to begin the process of identifying some of the challenges and make recommendations for their resolution.

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Kaieteur News

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

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

Editorial

Higher Education for Today

Recently, Richard Wolin of CUNY’s Graduate Centre reflected on the changing views of ‘higher education’ in the US. The excerpts below might be of interest to Guyanese educators and policy makers.

For a long time it was a cultural commonplace that the doctrines of Protestant humanism provided the essential elements for higher learning and that moral education, grounded in the study of Scripture, was one of higher education’s central goals, uniquely useful for shaping character, training ministers and producing upstanding civic leaders. But when the modern research university emerged in the US during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the college system struggled to preserve its mission. Of what merit was general education amid a pulsating scientific-industrial civilization that increasingly prized the values of professionalism and narrow expertise?

The new educational gospel was that unimpeded scientific inquiry, if properly nurtured, could provide the moral compass that many people sorely needed after Charles Darwin’s writings about evolution aroused serious doubts about religion. But instead of establishing true north, the intellectual specialization of the modern research university seemed only to accelerate the fragmentation of knowledge, and as expectations of moral renewal through “value free” scientific inquiry receded—although science is a rich source of information about the formal properties of objects, it is for the most part agnostic about which values or ideals we should esteem and why—the idea of a liberal arts education was resuscitated.

Many of our standard assumptions about the Western tradition, rationality and science have been steadily undermined, not all of them justly. The 20th century will be remembered as an epoch of industrialized mass murder, confuting the Enlightenment assumption that science and the improvement of humanity go hand in hand. Moreover, the most heinous atrocities radiated from the heart of Europe, casting serious doubt upon the West’s self-proclaimed moral and cultural superiority. Still, the fashionable post-modern rejection of reason risks depriving us of the only means we have at our disposal to think through the problems and dilemmas of the present age. As the Frankfurt School philosopher Theodor Adorno observed about debates concerning the legacy of Western reason: only the hand that inflicted the wound can cure the disease.

Classic treatises on education, such as Plato’s Republic and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Émile, stress that education should not merely seek to impart a narrow set of practical skills. After all, the latter might just as well be obtained through apprenticeship.

Instead, they were firmly convinced that education should address a more fundamental set of moral and ethical questions linked to our core values: who we are and what kind of persons we would ultimately like to become. One of the central problems of undergraduate education today is that it increasingly reinforces the “instrumentalist” view that the major decisions in life concern the efficient selection of means rather than a reflection on ends. It would not be an exaggeration to claim that higher education has been degraded to the status of an enfeebled auxiliary to reigning social and economic interests.

These educational ideals are hardly ethereal precepts devoid of moral and institutional standing in the contemporary world. Article 26 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that education should have three aims: “the full development of the human personality”; “the strengthening of respect for human rights”; and the promotion of “understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups.” In a parallel vein, a recent Human Development Index report underlines the importance of viewing development in non-economic terms, which would entail “creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests…. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value.”

As concerned citizens we must make it our goal to remind educators and legislators to set their sights high. What is at stake, in addition to credits and degrees, is nothing less than the basis for informed democratic citizenship.

Monday May 07, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news Peeping Tom needs a reality check about the reason for the opposition cutting GY$18B from the LCDS DEAR EDITOR, Whoever is the Peeping Tom that wrote the column, “The world is not waiting on Guyana to solve its political problems,” (KN, May 6), needs a reality check about the reason for the parliamentary opposition cutting the entire GY$18B from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

As I adverted to in a letter last week to KN, LCDS was supposed to be launched with financing from abroad.

First, it was supposed to be US$580M a year, according to the NY-based McKinsey consultancy group, followed by the US4250M over five years from Norway, and then whatever monies other countries would pony up as the years go by. This highly anticipated foreign financing for LCDS is not happening as expected!

For this reason, Guyana cannot afford to be tapping into its treasury to finance LCDS to make up for that loss, and LCDS, therefore, should be placed on the back burner until foreign funding becomes available.

Peeping Tom also ventured that the link between LCDS and the Amalia Falls Hydroelectric Project (AFHEP) is more than about the sourcing of financing, but while that may

be arguably true in so far as the outcome of the general vision of the two is concerned, we cannot ignore the fact that, neither project has a future if there is no source to their life.

We know, based on reportage, where AFHEP will get its financing from: China, Sithe Global, IDB and Guyana.

But where is the financing for LCDS? Finance Minister Ashni Singh factored in the anticipated US$70M (GY$14B) from Norway into last year ’s Budget and Guyana never received the money, so that money (GY$14B), which was spent, was actually borrowed from the treasury and never repaid!

Peeping Tom would also have us believe that because the political opposition asked Norway to demand accountability and transparency from the PPP government on the spending of the monies to be received for LCDS that the opposition is responsible for the money not coming as expected.

Essentially, it boils down to: blame the political opposition!

What arrant nonsense!

Is Peeping Tom saying that Norway and or the World Bank/IDB would simply go with the political opposition’s word without fact-checking the opposition’s concerns?

Isn’t there sufficient

evidence, as per constant news reportage by KN and SN and in the Auditor-General’s annual reports about corrupt practices that went unresolved and unchanged year after year under the Jagdeo regime?

So when Peeping Tom writes, “So the opposition can play their silly games. The country as a whole will suffer and the people will know that Guyana did not get on the fast track to development because of the opposition’s antics in parliament,” the writer has been fact-checked and realitychecked and found wanting.

It is not the political opposition that is ‘playing games’; rather, it is the government that refuses to clean up its corrupt act!

And so, instead of lying through his or her teeth by saying that, “political problems between the government and the opposition now place this entire strategy in doubt; (and) sadly, while the world is not waiting on Guyana,” Peeping Tom should go a step further and tell Guyanese that unchecked corruption in government is the main reason why the Norway funds are not forthcoming from the WB’s GRIF account.

He or she should also go to the Office of Climate Change and ask for a breakdown of the verifiable

figures for monies spent on LCDS projects and programs for 2011; the year that Ashni Singh budgeted GY$14B for LCDS operations, in anticipation of the two tranches valued US$70M to be released from the WB’s GRIF account, but was never released.

Why should Guyanese be financially saddled with a vision that is supposed to financially sourced to foreign countries? We already have not been repaid the US$70M we spent last year, so why borrow a fresh GY$18B this year, and we don’t even know what it will be spent on?

Go ahead, Peeping Tom, get the facts and figures from OCC on LCDS, and while you are at it, find out how many people actually worked in OCC on LCDS, and what each person got paid, so we can see how much of the money went to projects and programs and how much went to labor costs? Break it down for us, please, because breaking down facts and figures or being transparent and accountable is definitely not the PPP regime’s forte.

No, I am not against any development plan that makes dollars and sense; I am a g a i n s t P P P apologists thinking Guyanese are stuck on stupid!

Emile Mervin

We must guard against rogue elements who use the VAT to perpetrate atrocities against the suspecting public DEAR EDITOR, While it is never my intention to respond to every letter written about me or the entity I am responsible for, permit me, by providing space in your letter writer column, to respond to Mr. Alfred Bhulai, a well known contributor to your letter writer column and political activist, whose letter appeared in the 5th May, 2012 edition of your News paper entitled “Only now would those revenue billions be efficiently used”.

I would first like to commend Mr. Bhulai for spending time to read my letters and more so, to go to the extent that he does of responding and registering his views on what he perceives to be his concerns over my overt support of Government’s policies.

I do however at the same time want to applaud, and also sincerely thank him for the very favorable and complimentary things he has publicly stated about me and the caliber of my officers, who manage an entity that never seems to get much public approbation for doing its job, but rather to attract adverse

criticisms at the drop of a hat.

While every person in this country is entitled to his or her opinion as to what I am required to do or how I should act in any particular situation, I am nevertheless a creature of circumstances and feel strongly when the general public’s impressions are being manipulated to suit the narrow self interest of a few.

Unless there is a better system of taxation that can raise revenues for the state to provide much needed

resources for the social services through public expenditure, then the entire country has no choice but to support the efficient and effective application of the VAT and to be its guardian against those rouge elements of society, who use the VAT to perpetrate various atrocities against the unsuspecting general public.

As the repository of information of all the taxpaying citizens of our country, it pains me, when I witness the price at which various commodities are

being imported into our country from different parts of the world and the level of profit from the astronomical mark up that is being added by these avaricious businessmen in their cupidity (to borrow a word from Mr. Bulhai ), which I feel is mainly responsible for the high prices paid for goods acquired by the citizens of our country, especially those most vulnerable groups that are impoverished from being paid starvation wages by Continued on page 5

The PPP needs to slacken their hold on our communities DEAR EDITOR, What appropriate timing - elections of Toshaos for Amerindian Villages. This period surely propels the Windmills of the Gods. My sympathy to Mr. Santiago (now) past Toshao of Tobago Hill, Mabaruma. I should remind you that Mr. Santiago is the person who dared to speak the truth about the infamous hassars who withdrew from human gaze. I guess GINA and the Minister wore HD glasses when they saw the huge number of hassars.

The village now sports a new Captain one who has to carry out the instructions of the powers - no lights after 9.00 p.m. no this, no that, no talking to the press. Ok rename

Tobago Hill- Mini Alcatraz.

Mr. Editor, is this how this Government intends to continue treating with the Amerindians? Are these people there to be pushovers - to utter untruths so that our loan requirements could be met?

With all the restrictions now, visitors, especially the press would have to apply for visas to enter these politically protected areas.

The PPP needs to slacken their hold on our communities. Let us breathe, consult with us on the proposals you have for us. Stop keeping us in holding pens, only freeing us up every five years.

Name withheld

Monday May 07, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news All other Sports Association Presidents should follow Mr. Juman Yassin’s example on accountability DEAR EDITOR, It is now safe to say that Mr. K. Juman Yassin, President of the Guyana Olympic Association has lead and paved the way towards “Transparency and Accountability” in Guyana.

That has been done via his SN correspondence captioned “All our statements have been audited” dated May 6,2012.

As a sports enthusiast, I am extremely grateful to this gentleman for standing up and clearing the air by Chartered Accountant, Mr. Christopher Ram’s and SN. It also now appears to me that all has not been lost.

The year 2012, designated as the year of the 30th Olympiad in London has also proved that Mr.K.Juman Yassin has earned that golden moment. Not that it is of any interest to him, but at the end of his Presidency as head of the GOA, I foresee a national award being bestowed on him for his service to this nation.

On the other hand, I honestly believe that the International Olympic

Committee (IOC) would be very proud for the representation he has made on behalf of the head office and it would not surprise me to learn one day that he has been invited to serve on the international panel of the IOC.That again,would be a proud moment for me at least.

The rush should now be on for all other Presidents of Sports Associations in Guyana to follow Mr.K.Juman Yassin and go on record via the dailies and educate the entire nation about accountability and transparency for the respective associations they represent.

This will definitely help the public at large to grasp a deeper understanding on the systems in sports.

Another achievement regarding sports in Guyana would be to witness who can stand proud on the left and right sides of Mr.K.Juman Yassin.

Take note, His Excellency, Mr. Donald Ramotar and Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Sports.

T.Pemberton

We must guard against...

From page 4 these very unscrupulous businesses.

Thanks to my professionalism, which Mr Bhulai is very careful to point out in his letter, I cannot readily throw caution to the wind and disclose this very sensitive data. However, the public should know that recently, the GRA has established a Unit called Post Clearance Audit that targets businesses which report scurrilous incomes from major manipulation of their accounting records.

This technique that employs the age old concept of comparing the cost price with the selling price, and uses volumes of activities gleaned from import records, has been reporting stupendous results.

The aforementioned technique, along with the work of the Audit and

Verification Department that targets all categories of businesses, including the self employed professionals such as lawyers, accountants, doctors, etcetera, saw in excess of one billion dollars in revenues for last year alone, being collected.

In closing, it may be instructive for your letter writer to be reminded of the fact that since its inauguration in 2000, the Guyana Revenue Authority has been taken out of the Public Service Commission for purposes of recruitment, and our in excess of 1,000 employees are all contract staff, including yours truly; not by choice, but by statutory decree and are entitled to retire beyond the public service retirement age of 55 years.

Khurshid Sattaur Commissioner-General, Guyana Revenue Authority

Do these parliamentarians really care about the needs of their supporters?

DEAR EDITOR, I for one was in a state of wonderment as I observed the budget debates – wonderment because I really could not believe that our parliamentarians were speaking as the voice of their constituents as evidenced by the rabid (un)parliamentary behaviour of some.

I think that the argument has already been made for live broadcast of parliamentary sessions so I will not go there except to say that I for one don’t believe that they - our MPs- listen to, or care about the needs of their supporters. I am left with a rancid taste occasioned by the perception that save for a few outstanding exceptions the members’ general attitude reminded me of a rambunctious bunch of overgrown juveniles.

I have to ask myself if these representatives are truly accessible to the people whose interests they are sworn to represent.

If yes, do the people know

this and do they avail themselves of the opportunities provided? I am forced to reflect on an observation I made to a very good friend of mine nearly twenty years ago when I remarked on the phenomenon of inaccessibility where, from the moment some persons occupy “high” office or positions of power, it becomes virtually impossible to secure an audience with them.

I define those positions of power as ranging from the supervisor of the most menial of tasks to policy makers in both the private and public sectors. It may well be argued as Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have said that “… if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

Editor, it would be unreasonable for us to assume that just because we were friendly with someone before s/he received a promotion that we have a divine right to access her/him any old time without due regard to the functions, role

Do we really need airstrips in Wakenaam and Leguan?

DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me a space in your news letter column to ask the honourable minister, Mr. Robeson Benn a very important question.

Mr. Minister, Why is there a need for an airstrip in Wakenaam and Leguan?

Wakenaam and Leguan are two lovely and peaceful Islands located in the Essequibo River where rice and ground provision farming and coconut picking are the main sources of income for many if not all residents. It is therefore correct to assume Mr. Minister that the most dangerous ‘thing’ that can happen to a person on these two islands is a snake bite. So Mr. Minister don’t you think that it will be more efficient and economical if the hospitals on these islands are upgraded? Mr. Minister a mistake would have already been made with reference to the construction of a $54.4M airstrip in Wakenaam.

I therefore beg of you and our government to consider what is being articulated in this missive and don’t make the same mistake on the Island of Leguan.

Ganesh A Mahipaul

and responsibilities of the assumed office.

By the same token I am sure that we can argue that not all of time would that supervisor or politico or whoever be so caught up in the demands and pressures of office that a little time is not spared to maintain grounding or to touch base –as it were – with the constituents, something which may not be realizable through third parties at all times.

Again it may be a case of the new boss so imbued with a sense of importance that s/ he sees nothing in common with his/her former associates – which in itself is understandable. As an aside I heard that there are some people who believe in their own self-importance so much so that they would have you warming the seats in their reception room while they are doing no more than reshaping paper clips just to prove how busy they are.

Some others believe that if you answer the phone on the first two rings then it shows that you are idle. But seriously there are those whose sense of selfimportance and desire for external gratification so stifle them that they lose their grounding in a process where their inner peace and satisfaction suffer.

One manifestation of this is that their lives go out of whack where they lose touch with those closest to them or co-opt them with their points of view causing a loss of the capacity to think logically about important issues thus proving the truism that it is indeed lonely at the top.

Then there is the situation where the presence of self-

imposed guardians of the lines of communication is so pervasive that it renders the boss virtually impotent and a scenario evolves making the guardian the omnipotent plenipotentiary.

But back to my main thrust, Editor. After that budget debacle all of the putative representatives of the people need to demonstrate that they are unaffected by the seduction of power and are unafraid to stay connected to their values and principles.

MPs need to shed any semblance of an imposter complex where deep insecurities and paranoia exist. I know that it will require discipline, since it is so easy for human beings to reject the honest critic who speaks the truth to power opting instead to surround themselves with sycophants who tell them only what they want to hear.

Such an environment can only lead to incapacity to engage in honest dialogue and a learned survival mode of not confronting the bosses with reality.

Patrick E. Mentore

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Kaieteur News

Monday May 07, 2012

Police baffled by recent murders

The month of May 2012 is only six days old and the police murder statistics are threatening to hitch a ride on the runaway train.

Already, three brazen murders are engaging their attention and if one were to follow the trend from last month, they seem certainly headed for the cold case file.

Within recent times, the police have been issuing periodic crime figures which show a downward trend in murders overall, but the way things are going at the moment, the curve could go in the opposite direction.

And to make matters worse, most of the recent murders remain unsolved and investigators appear to have lost their way.

For instance, five of the recent murders were execution style, and while police have carried out background checks on some of the victims and found them to be of dubious characters, investigators have not been able to come up with clear motives.

Take the case of 37-yearold Leonard Mahadeo of Diamond, New Housing Scheme who was gunned down on March 16 in a bar at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

While investigators are aware that Mahadeo, a prominent businessman, was a significant player in the local drug underworld, they remain baffled as to who killed him and why.

Mahadeo had survived a similar attempt on his life five years ago.

Mahadeo, formerly of Soesdyke Back Road, East Bank Demerara (EDB) was gunned down execution style while imbibing at the Soca Paradise Sports Bar located at Old Road Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

And investigators will be hard pressed to solve the

drive by murder of an Albouystown resident with a lengthy criminal record Aman Lalchand, 31 was gunned down around 19:00 hrs on Friday in Sussex Street by the occupants of a white car. He was the second man to be executed in the community within the past four days.

An eyewitness said that Lalchand, 31, also known as, Randy, of Howes Street, Albouystown, was shot in the chest while smoking a marijuana ‘joint’.

Close associates of the slain man said that Lalchand was targeted for execution by an individual who reportedly collected a $1M downpayment to carry out the hit.

The associates said that Lalchand, who has three small children, had been warned that he was being targeted, and was even told the name of the gunman who had been paid to kill him.

Aman Lalchand had had several brushes with the law.

He was charged, but acquitted, for the 2008 execution-style murder of George Barton, called ‘Georgie Berlin.’

Barton was riddled with bullets by gunmen in a car while walking in Laing Avenue with his teenage daughter. The daughter was shot in the knees and buttocks. The young woman never testified in court during either preliminary inquiry, citing fear for her safety.

Lalchand’s execution came just four days after the still unsolved killing of Albouystown taxi driver Renie Williams, who was gunned down in King Edward Street.

Williams, a 25-year-old expoliceman, was shot twice in the back by a lone, blackclothed man armed with a 9mm pistol as he sat in his car outside his home with his

Aman Lalchand wife.

Williams and his family have been embroiled in a bitter dispute with another Albouystown family.

Police officials also confirmed that the ex-cop was dismissed from the Force and was also a suspect in several armed robberies.

Add these execution style killings to the slaying of 43-year-old Bryan Dickson and the picture looks gloomy.

Dickson, a gold miner, was found dead in his East Street apartment, shortly after midday Thursday by worried relatives who went looking for him.

Dickson, also known as ‘Son Son’ and ‘Peck’ was found gagged and lying on his back in his bedroom with more than 20 stab wounds about the body. A pair of scissors found nearby was presumed to be the murder weapon.

Investigators are still trying to ascertain a motive behind his murder too.

Dickson was found murdered in his apartment shortly after lunch on Thursday after worried relatives went looking for him.

Dickson’s reputed wife, Sabrina Gobin, told Kaieteur News that she is still puzzled why someone would want to harm him. The woman said that she’s unaware of any ongoing feud between her husband and anyone.

Two other April murders, which had suspected links to triangular love affairs are also puzzling detectives.

In one case a jilted East Coast Demerara husband has

Balram Jadoonauth reportedly admitted to threatening to kill Kitty taxi driver Balram Jadoonauth over an affair Jadoonauth was having with his wife.

But the 36-year-old suspect has denied being the gunman who ambushed and shot the 24-year-old taxi driver dead on Sunday.

Police had been working on the theory that Jadoonauth, called ‘Sanjay’, was slain because of a relationship that he was having with the detained man’s wife.

The suspect, who is also a taxi driver employed by a Georgetown service, was detained Sunday, reportedly after going to the Kitty Police Station.

However after a few days in custody he was released when police could find no concrete evidence to link him to the crime.

This newspaper understands that there was some skullduggery with regards to the investigation with a senior detective who was integrally involved in the case being subsequently reverted and transferred after allegedly collecting a large sum of cash from the suspect.

Also in April, truck driver Jadesh Dass was brutally killed by a bullet that shattered his skull after he was forced to stop his truck on the desolate Mahaica Public Road in the wee hours of the morning.

So far investigators are still searching for further

Renie Williams

Jadesh Dass

Rajendra Puran

Leonard Mahadeo

evidence in the murder, although they had initially linked it to a triangular love affair involving the wife of Dass’ former employer.

Investigators had detained three men, including Dass’ former and present employer, but after a day of questioning they released them on $100,000 bail each.

Investigators have ruled out robbery as a motive since the cash that Dass was carrying was still intact.

Recently, information emerged that greens vendors who were on their way to the city at that time of the morning had observed the confrontation between Dass and his killers.

However, they quickly went about their own business when they heard gunshots.

Investigators are still trying to locate these vendors with a view to cracking the case And in one of the most recent cases, residents of Logwood, Enmore, awoke last Thursday morning to the shocking discovery of the bound body of Diamond taxi driver Rajendra Puran lying in a drain in their East Coast Demerara community.

Puran’s hands were bound with a leather belt while his feet were tied together with a piece of white cord.

Puran’s vest was tightly wrapped around his neck, while his jersey was pulled over his face as if the killers wanted to prevent him from seeing where they were taking him.

A post mortem later

revealed that Puran died from strangulation.

Investigators believe Puran was a victim of a carjacking from outside his operating base at the entrance to the Diamond New (Housing) Scheme, since his white Toyota Raum has also vanished.

Also on the East Coast of Demerara, investigators are still some distance away from finding the killer of Mahaicony housewife Allinva Andrews who a post mortem examination revealed was tortured and strangled.

The post mortem was performed on the body which had to be exhumed some eleven days after the decomposing remains were found at Moraikobe, Mahaicony River.

Kaieteur News understands that a post mortem performed by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed that the 46-year-old woman was manually strangled. Some of the bones in her neck were broken.

A police official said that the post mortem also confirmed that the victim was brutally violated.

According to the source, Andrews’ killers had thrust a 12-inch twig into her privates, rupturing her uterus in the process.

Police have questioned the slain woman’s husband and briefly detained a villager who was allegedly seen dancing with the victim at a wedding shortly before she disappeared. However, they (Continued on page 17)

Monday May 07, 2012

Kaieteur News

Socialist Hollande ousts Sarkozy as French leader PARIS (Reuters) Socialist Francois Hollande swept to victory in France’s presidential election yesterday in a swing to the left at the heart of Europe that could start a pushback against German-led austerity.

Hollande beat conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy by a decisive 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent, based on partial results, bringing the centre-left back to government after a decade in opposition.

The outgoing president conceded defeat within 20 minutes of the last polls closing at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), telling supporters he had telephoned Hollande to wish him good luck.

“I bear the full responsibility for this defeat,” Sarkozy said, indicating he would withdraw from frontline politics.

“My place can no longer be the same. My involvement in the life of my country will be different from now on.”

Punished for his failure to rein in 10 percent unemployment and for his brash personal style, Sarkozy was the 11th euro zone leader in succession to be swept from power since the currency bloc’s debt crisis began in 2009.

Jubilant left-wingers

Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy celebrated outside Socialist Party headquarters and thronged Paris’s Bastille square, where revellers danced the night away in 1981 when Francois Mitterrand became France’s only previous directly elected Socialist president.

But the celebrations may be overshadowed by a political bombshell in Greece, where mainstream parties were hammered in a parliamentary election that exit polls suggested may leave supporters of Athens’ IMF/EU bailout without a majority, raising doubts about its future in the euro zone.

Hollande’s clear win should give the self-styled

Bahamians go to the polls today

NASSAU, Bahamas CMC - Bahamians go to the polls today to elect a new government in an election that is seen as s straight fight between the ruling Free National Movement of Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and the main opposition Progressive Liberal party (PLP) headed by Opposition leader Perry Christie.

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) which is promising to shake the establishment is not expected to be a major factor in the outcome of the elections.

A total of 172,130 people are registered to vote in this archipelago where 133 candidates are vying for 38 seats in the Parliament.

In the last general election when 41 seats were at stake the FNM won 23 seats capturing 49.2 per cent of the popular votes as against 46.9 per cent for the PLP that won 18 seats.

Five days ago, several overseas Bahamians participated in the “Advance Poll” system that for the first time allowed private citizens who are unable to vote today

Hubert Ingraham to cast their ballots.

Electoral officials said that 7,865 voters were eligible to vote under the new system with voting taking place at several locations including Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

The FNM has been pushing the theme of “leadership” during the campaign with Ingraham telling supporters over the final weekend that leadership is critical to every aspect of society, “be it in the family, school, church or government.

“Mr Normal” the momentum to press German Chancellor Angela Merkel to accept a policy shift towards fostering growth in Europe to balance the austerity that has fuelled anger across southern Europe.

Page 7

U.S. seeks Indian assurance on Iran as Clinton visits KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - The United States will seek assurances that India will reduce its purchases of oil from sanctions-hit Iran during a visit by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the South Asian giant this week, a senior U.S. official said yesterday.

Clinton started a threeday trip to India yesterday that will coincide with a visit by a large Iranian trade delegation, as India walks a tightrope of strengthening ties with ally the United States and sating its fast-growing energy needs.

During her visit, Clinton will also make the case for the country to open its supermarket sector to foreign chains such as U.S. giant WalMart Stores - a major economic reform that has stalled under Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh’s government.

India has publicly rejected Western sanctions but has pushed refiners to cut imports of oil from Iran by 15-20 percent - enough, it hopes, to win a waiver from Washington.

The United States in March granted exemptions to Japan and 10 European Union nations from its sanctions, which are aimed at pressuring Iran to end its nuclear programme. India and China, Iran’s biggest buyers of crude, remain on a list at risk if they do not cut oil imports “substantially”.

Nicholas says Minister playing politics with CAL

Heavy fighting rocks eastern Syria ahead of poll AMMAN (Reuters) - Fighting between rebels and President Bashar al-Assad’s forces erupted in an oil producing province in eastern Syria, residents and activists said yesterday, the eve of a parliamentary election the authorities say shows reforms are under way.

Rebels armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked tank positions in the east of the provincial capital Deir al-Zor, in response to an army offensive against towns and villages in the tribal area bordering Iraq that has killed tens of people and stopped others reaching supplies and medical care, they said.

“We do not have a death toll because no one is daring to go into the streets,” said Ghaith Abdelsalam, an opposition activist who lives near Ghassan Abboud roundabout that has become a flashpoint for the fighting in the city.

“The population has been trapped and anger has been building up,” he said, adding the fighting subsided in the morning after erupting overnight.

The army still has tanks and heavy weapons in cities and towns and rebels are continuing their attacks on military convoys and army roadblocks that have cut off swathes of the country, according to witnesses and opposition sources, both sides in violation of ceasefire being monitored by a U.N. team.

Hillary Clinton

George Nicholas Former Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) chairman George Nicholas has accused Finance Minister Winston Dookeran of playing politics and not coming clean on what led to unaudited losses of $339.5 million at the cashstrapped airline.

Defending his tenure as chairman, Nicholas

claimed it was “unfair” that Dookeran failed to reveal what contributed to the loss.

Nicholas said his announcement in the middle of 2011 that CAL was expected to close the year with a $200 million profit was based on the figures that management presented showing a US$18 million profit.

Nicholas however explained: “In November 2011 the fuel subsidy was reduced without consultation by the minister and the price CAL had to pay was retroactively increased as from January 2011.

The increase, which was an attempt to play politics with the livelihood of all those who work so hard for CAL was an increase of 50 per cent to $2.34.”

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Monday May 07, 2012

Recovering $6B from CLICO, political will, critical to NIS survival - Chartered Accountant

By Gary Eleazar This past week, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) announced that there will be a move to amend legislation with a view to bringing additional contributors to the scheme.

He spoke of persons such as taxi drivers, who upon a move to be re-licensed, would have to be NIS compliant.

Dr. Luncheon suggested that this would increase the voluntary contributions for self employed persons.

The move has been hailed by eminent Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram as helpful, only for short term measures.

The Accountant said that there is need for “Political Will” to effect the necessary “structural changes”

necessary to rescue the Scheme.

He ruled out the need for any type of a brainstorming retreat with persons knowledgeable in the field to come up with measures.

Ram pointed to Actuarial Reports which have been completed and have pointed to the necessary reforms needed.

An Actuary is a business professional who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty.

Actuaries provide expert assessments of financial security systems, with a focus on their complexity, their mathematics and their mechanisms.

Actuaries mathematically evaluate the likelihood of events and quantify the contingent outcomes in order to minimize losses, financial and other, associated with uncertain undesirable events.

He pointed to

improvement necessary in the way the scheme manages its affairs in terms of balancing the books and managing its investments.

Ram said that at present the single biggest hindrance as it relates to financial viability for the National Insurance Scheme is the $6B impaired in the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) Guyana liquidation process.

During the Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh’s 2012 Budget presentation, he pointed to the CLICO (Guyana) Liquidation order but made no mention of the almost $6B ($5.748 billion) impaired for the NIS. Dr. Singh reported to the House that in 2011, the task of resolving the domestic chapter of the Caribbean-wide CLICO saga continued.

“I am pleased to report that following the granting of a liquidation order by the Court, some 7,744

Chairman of the Board of NIS Directors, Dr. Roger Luncheon

Substantive Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh

policyholders were paid a total of $4.1B. He said that the repayment process will continue, and the liquidator intends to garner additional funds through sale of company assets and legal actions with respect to the parent company and other regional subsidiaries.

This leaves the cashstrapped NIS, still banking on the State guarantee for the safe and timely return of its investment, even as its expenditure this year threatens to exceed its revenue.

The most recent (2010) audited NIS report was recently laid in the House by Dr. Singh.

Its findings revealed that the Scheme’s expenditure is dangerously close to exceeding its annual revenue.

The scheme has reportedly already commenced tapping into its reserves to make good on payments.

The report also underscored the institution’s heavy dependence on short term investments.

One such investment is the one impaired in CLICO (Guyana).

According to the NIS report, in 2010, the total expenditure as it relates to pension was some $9.1B, while the income was only pegged at $7.8B. Old-age benefit was responsible for some $6.7B of the payout. On the income from short term benefits, it was reported that the Scheme raked in some $2B while expending just over $1B. While the total income for

the scheme rose to $11.2B in 2010 up from 10.2B in 2009, the report revealed that total expenditure accounted for some $10.8B as against $9.6B the previous year.

The report also revealed that the administrative costs associated with running the Scheme is some $1.4B. According to the independent auditor’s report for NIS, prepared by TSD Lal & Co. Chartered Accountants, “the actuaries reported several matters of concern, among which were that annual expenditure is projected to exceed the year’s contribution income beginning in 2014 and reserves are expected to be exhausted in 2022…The actuaries made certain recommendations to ensure the future viability of the Scheme, but so far these have not been fully implemented.”

The independent auditors also said that investments of $28.8 billion in the statement of financial position include an amount of $5.748 billion for CLICO Life and General Insurance Company Ltd. CLICO Life and General Insurance Company Ltd., was put under judicial management in 2009.

“Due to uncertainties regarding the future of CLICO Life and General Insurance Company Ltd and its ability to honour its debts when due, a unanimous Parliamentary Resolution was passed guaranteeing State support for the recovery of this investment.”

An independent expert had said that the nation’s coffers will soon be affected adversely by the investment

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram of NIS in CLICO (Guyana).

According to the source, based on the projections of the figures as they relate to expenditure and revenue, the latter will soon be less than the required expenditure and the $6B investment in CLICO will not be available for use at any time in the near future.

The national coffers will be affected, given that once NIS is unable to make its payments, the company, by law, has to move to the National Assembly seeking monies to be approved from the Consolidated Fund.

This position was agreed to by the Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge who had stated that he is expecting the government to move shortly to the House seeking a Supplementary provision for the NIS. The Former Finance Minister said that based on information available, the Scheme at present is in grave financial difficulty, which is a phenomenon NIS’ Head, Dr. Luncheon, seems not to be au fait with.

Greenidge said that the time has come for a serious, structured reassessment of the Scheme “to have it evolve to reflect the current environment in which it operates.”

The APNU finance expert said that the opposition will be calling soon on the Finance Minister to provide answers to the House as it relates to the Government’s plan to resuscitate the Scheme.

He lamented the fact that the actuarial reports over the years have all been making relevant recommendations as it relates to resuscitating the Scheme, but they have not been taken on board by the Cabinet.

Greenidge said that given the circumstances, they expect to see a bailout package being requested in the short term, but the Scheme will have to ensure that decisions are taken to ensure the industry’s long term viability.

Monday May 07, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

The funds held by NICIL are not required to be placed into the consolidated fund No doubt with the intention of diverting attention from its unpardonable cuts to the 2012 Budget, the Alliance for Change (AFC) in full theatrical mood is attempting to shift the blame for its antidevelopment agenda towards the government.

Having been the prime mover behind slicing 21 billion dollars off the national Budget, the All for Cuts party is now accusing the government of cutting fifty billion dollars from Budget by not incorporating the funds held by the National Industrial and Commercial Inc. Limited (NICIL). This is the AFC’s latest ploy to deflect attention from its incomprehensible actions.

Some of the newspapers, including Kaieteur News, seem only too willing to further the perception that somehow the government is sitting on fifty billion dollars which is hidden away. In so doing they are neglecting their duty to check on the facts so as to ensure that their readership is not misled.

Whether fifty billion dollars is involved is another issue altogether. Given its recent record, caution should be exercised before readily accepting the numbers that the AFC throws out for public consumption. It is yet to be determined just how the AFC arrived at this figure of fifty billion dollars. Perhaps this was part of the advice that it has been receiving lately.

However, even if it can be established that NICIL did over time cumulatively receive in excess of fifty billion dollars, it does mean that this sum is available for use in the Budget or that it is being hidden or is part of a slush fund.

NICIL is a body corporate.

It was formed as a holding company for the shares which government has or

had in a number of entities. It is also a parent company for a number of entities in which the government has a stake.

It is also vested with the buying and selling of government properties and it is empowered to make investments.

NICIL is 100% owned by the government of Guyana and was formed not by the PPPC administration. It was incorporated under the Corporations Act, an Act of Parliament, in July 1990 during the PNC regime.

It is controlled by the government. This is not unusual for an entity that deals with the divestment of government properties.

Under the PNC regime, responsibility for privatization was assigned to the Public Corporations Secretariat (PCS) which in turn reported to an economic subcommittee of Cabinet, with the Minister of Planning being responsible for overseeing the work of the PCS. The actual approval of recommendations for privatization was done by a standing committee of ministers of the government.

The process of privatization as therefore always controlled by politicians and directly by the Cabinet. The present arrangements therefore in which there is a Privatization Unit and NICIL is not substantively different from what existed under the PNC. The PNC after it opted to pursue economic liberalization, found itself with a huge financing gap in its Budget. As such, it was pushed faster into divestment.

There has always been a controversy as to whether the proceeds of privatization should be held in the Consolidated Fund. The then Auditor General had noted in the 1992 Auditor General’s

Report that the proceeds from divestment were NOT paid into the Consolidated Fund but were instead kept in a separate account.

These were not the only proceeds that were so held in special accounts. The proceeds from the sale of gold were kept in a special account located outside of Guyana and controlled by Office of the President.

Long before that there was a lotteries fund. The monies here were also not transferred to the Consolidated Fund but were paid into a Government Lotteries Account. At the end of each year, the credit from that account was not passed into a Development Fund. So there is a host of precedents that debunks the idea that there is something illegal about holding money in NICIL. Despite this, there still remained calls for the proceeds held by NICIL to pass through the Consolidated Fund. Even before the debate on the 2012 Budget, there were such calls. However, no legal authority has yet been produced to justify these funds being paid into the Consolidated Fund.

One former Auditor General has ventured to suggest that the legal opinion that the government received on the issue was flawed but no persuasive alternative legal argument has been offered.

If one existed, or if a credible case existed to legally justify the movement of these proceeds to the Consolidated Fund, approaches would have been already made to the courts for a ruling to this effect.

Instead what we have had are a set of opinions, many of which have the taint of politics, about what should happen. But no one is risking

Dem boys seh

NICIL gun send nuff people to jail Dem have problems all over de place. De other day de people had to close de Harbour Bridge to fix it. People grumble and dem blame de budget cuts. It tek a few days and de bridge fix. Then gas prices go up and dem blame de budget cuts.

Shaatie step in and he cut de tax and de price come down. Then dem had speeches about de budget cuts and how dem gun fix de situation. This time de people who cut de budget explain that dem was actually stopping some people from thiefing money.

Next thing dem boys know de bridge break down again. Well people want to know how much money really cut because it look like if is everything stop wukking. Blackout happening all de time and de power people claim how is de budget cut.

Well dem boys did want to know if de budget was cut all de time when dem same

things was happening. But budget or no budget dem boys seh that dem ain’t tekking no distraction. All de talk is a distraction from de money that in NICIL. Nuff money been in NICIL and nobody wasn’t talking about it because de plan was to use it fuh personal projects.

Marriott was one and when dem seh that dem gun spend money pun de Marriott that people decide to check. Dem boys did send a message to Henry de Yellow to investigate but he lef de wuk. Brummel ain’t get de wuk yet suh he biding he time and wid all de focus pun NICIL he ain’t get appointed.

But de net closing in and one of de fuss people who know was Brazzy. He send in he resignation. De rest of dem still toughing it out but as dem boys seh, de longest rope got an end.

Talk half and watch out fuh de other half.

their reputation by asking the courts to rule that the holding of funds within NICIL, outside of the Consolidated Fund is unlawful.

There is of course a clearly obvious reason why the funds cannot be moved to the Consolidated Fund.

The accounts held by NICIL are no ordinary accounts.

NICIL is a body corporate. As such it cannot simply move its revenues to the Consolidated Fund since it has expenses and it has liabilities. It is the parent company for a number of existing public enterprises including the Guyana National Shipping Corporation, the Guyana National Printers Limited and the Guyana Oil Company. It has obligations to these entities; it may have to absorb losses, it has outstanding pension issues with bauxite workers that are not yet settled; and it is facing at least one major legal challenge to one of its privatization deals,

which if it goes against it, could lead to an award reaching hundreds of millions.

The fact that NICIL may have, over a period of time, collected a large amount of revenues from the sale of government properties does not therefore mean that NICIL is simply sitting on this money. Nor is NICIL a slush fund. It is a body corporate established under the Corporation Act and is governed by that Act. For this reason also NICIL is not in breach of the Constitution of Guyana by not paying its holdings into the Consolidated Fund.

Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana provides that all funds received by Guyana should be paid into the Consolidated Fund, except for revenues or other monies that are payable or held, by or under an Act of parliament, into some other fund established for that specific purpose.

NICIL was formed under

the Corporation Act which is an act of parliament and it has an account which is held for the specific purpose of holding the proceeds of government interests as well as for the proceeds of divestment. This account is therefore not in contravention of the Constitution of Guyana.

NICIL should be using the funds that it has to make money for the government so that it can pay dividends into the Consolidated Fund.

What the AFC needs to be concerned about is not the legality of holding these funds but whether the funds held in NICIL have been properly accounted for. If there is indeed a problem with the accounts of NICIL not being audited, then it is for the Auditor General, who is statutorily required to audit Continued on page 16

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Monday May 07, 2012

Monday May 07, 2012

It is said that the reason so many people buy BMWs is that it is the only vehicle brand name they can spell.

Some wits then play with the initials and you get “Brings Me Women”, “Bavarian Murder Weapon” and “Big Money Waste”.

However, BMW as “Beautiful Mechanical Wonder” and “Best Motorbike Worldwide” might have been the reason that Henry Wolf bought a 1993 BMW Motorbike but it is another play on the BMW brand name that brought him grief. In his case BMW meant “Bothered My Willy.”

Henry Wolf, a California man, said that he changed the seat on his motorbike and bought an after-market “ridged” seat which sells for about US$200 or more. These are supposedly more

Kaieteur News

comfortable than the standard motorbike seats.

They can be customized for the user and some come heated.

Mr. Wolf did not say if his seat was heated but even if it was the heat seems to have been transferred to the wrong place. Mr. Wolf claims that after a four-hour ride in 2010 using the “ridged” seat he developed a case of “priapism” or “long-lasting erection”. The condition is named after the Greek god, Priapus, who is normally depicted with a huge erection.

He is the protector of livestock, vegetable gardens and male genitalia though not in that particular order.

Statues of Priapus were common in ancient Greece and Rome, standing in gardens or at doorways and crossroads. To propitiate

Priapus, the traveller would stroke the statue’s penis as he passed by.

For those of us unable to avoid the Cialis commercials, “priapism” is what they warn you about when they say to contact your doctor if you have an erection that lasts more than four hours. Of course if it last two years you contact your lawyer, which is what Mr. Wolfe did. However, like the Cialis commercial, let me give you a warning. If without reading the rest of the story you feel the urge to run off and buy a BMW motorbike with a ridged seat, wait four hours and then decide. After two years of priapism, normally considered an emergency medical condition, Mr. Wolf has sued BMW and the seatmakers, Corbin-Pacific.

Claiming that both the design

Speaker mulls allowing Citizens the “right of reply” in Parliament

By Zena Henry Regular citizens may soon have a voice in the National Assembly as Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman, at a recently held parliamentary meeting, promised to consider granting ordinary persons the “right of reply”.

This implementation, the Speaker said, will provide for citizens to get a fair chance at defending themselves against immunity-covered parliamentarians who may seek to tarnish the character of others.

The Speaker mentioned that it was thanks to a document provided by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee that his attention was drawn to a ruling coming out of the House of Parliament Trinidad, where an ordinary citizen was granted that “right of reply” on a matter that pertained to him, and further posed a threat to his character.

The particular topic came up in Parliament when sparks flew between Education Minister Priya Manickchand and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) shadow Minster of Education Amna Ally on April 16 during the debate on the 2012 National Budget.

Minister Manickchand had snapped at the APNU representative when she spoke indirectly about a former Chief Education Officer who was described as “unqualified” and “incapable”. Although no name was mentioned, according to Manickchand, it was quite clear who Ally was referring to.

In Manickchand’s address to

Raphael Trotman the house, she mentioned the person’s name while praising them for their contribution to Guyanese education.

She denounced the habit of defamatory statements made against persons by Parliamentarians.

Out of that confrontation, a point of order was called to clarify the statements of Amna Ally. Apart from that, heated arguments continued over the issue, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the session for a short break.

Parliamentarians, once in the House, are permitted the right to speak on any issue and any person without fear of being prosecuted. It is however encouraged that House members do not use their privilege to tarnish or make false accusations against others.

In this light, Trotman revealed that on April 4 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, House Speaker Wade Mark allowed a statement to be read by Clerk of the House, which represented a response of a public figure whom statements were made against.

In his ruling, the Trinidadian Speaker mentioned that he

had researched the matter of a public reply and found that a 1999 report of the Committee of Privileges of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom stated that there is no point in immunity privilege unless it provides for guarantees against attempts of outside control of what House members chose to say.

He however mentioned that privilege carries with it responsibility, which has to be exercised not only within the rules of the House but in conformity with the standards expected of its members.

The statement continued that irresponsible or reckless use of power and privilege could be prejudicial to national interest, injure persons who have no recourse within the House and tarnish the dignity of all honourable Members as well as the House itself.

The Trinidadian Speaker further proposed to adopt the practice of the UK House of Commons and urged Members of the House to take steps before making potentially damaging accusations against named individuals. The Trinidadian Speaker further allowed the non-member’s response to be recorded in Parliamentarian files, but made it clear that it was not his intention to make citizen responses crystallize into the settled practice in the House.

Education Minister Manickchand welcomed Trotman’s idea. She rejected what she described as the shameless and low down acts of House members and claimed that it was time the culprits of such acts remove themselves from under the cloak of immunity.

of the bike and the seat were responsible, Mr. Wolf wants to get back his lost wages and medical expenses, and to be compensated for emotional distress and “general damage.”

Mr. Wolf’s lawyer, Vernon Bradley, said that Wolf “has been experiencing continuing problems since his motorcycle ride and is now unable to engage in sexual activity, which is causing him substantial emotional and mental anguish.”

The lawsuit is as unusual a case as Mr. Wolf ’s experience (I would have said “hair-raising” but that would not be accurate). There are doubts whether Mr. Wolf was on the up-and-up or wanted to get as big a raise from BMW and Corbin-Pacific as he claimed to have got on the bike. Perhaps, as one wit said, he wanted to take the two companies for a ride. Others said he was crying wolf.

BMW claims that the bike itself was not the problem and don’t see why they should be saddled with the lawsuit.

A few people are even commending Mr. Wolf for taking a stand on such an

Page 15

important male issue. Clearly, it is a High Court matter and everything is still up in the air.

It seems that if motorbike seats affect your sex-life at all it is more like a downward than an upward spiral. A blog, “All About Bikes” notes that there have been several instances alleging erectile dysfunction as a result of narrow motorcycle seats and this appears to be the first case where a medical condition with the exact opposite effect has been alleged.

Michigan Institute of Urology’s Dr. Michael Luts said there is no medical data to support Wolf’s claim. He cited evidence that riding a motorcycle for an extended period of time typically works against the body’s ability to achieve sexual arousal. Dr. Luts explained, “It’s been long-known that compression of the neurovascular supply to the penis - if it’s compressed for a period of time, whether it be on a bicycle seat or some other

device - it can actually cause prolonged numbness of the genitalia.” Dr. Luts says that not only men, but women can also get numbness in that region if they’re compressing those nervous structures to that region of the body.

One of my friends who had seen the story of Henry Wolf asked pointedly, “What’s his problem?” Of course the last time I spoke to him about a corporal punishment problem in a Trinidad school where a woman was reportedly suspended for spanking kids, his response was, “There are some men who pay good money for that.”

You also pay good money for any erectile dysfunction problem so if you’re tempted to go out and buy a BMW bike, you better think long and hard. *Tony Deyal was last seen saying that most motorbike problems are caused by the nut between the handlebars and the saddle.

Page 16

Kaieteur News

CXC aiming to reduce disqualification at upcoming exams - no-cell-phone-policy to be fully enforced Of the 225,000 candidates who participated in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examination last year about 0.9 per cent (or just over 2,000 candidates) were disqualified for entering the examination room with a cellular phone.

This state of affairs has been amplified by Senior Assistant Registrar, Administration and Security, attached to the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), Ms. Susan Giles, during a forum to enlighten students about the do’s and don’ts of the examination.

The televised programme was aired across the territories participating in the examination and has received air time on the local National Communication Network (NCN).

It is the view of Giles that the percentage of candidates, who were disqualified last year, is far too high, which is the primary reason efforts are being made to ensure that students adhere to the rules and regulations that govern participating in the exams.

“Once you step into the room you are subjected to examination conditions,” said Giles, who noted that “that is why you must not bring your cell phone that day that you have an exam...leave your cell phone at home,” she urged.

“Our regulations are very

clear. Anyone having a cell phone in the examination will be disqualified.”

Giles explained that even if a cell phone is turned off, students could be subjected to disqualification once the gadget is found in their possession. “If you bring it into the room with you and turn it off and think, ‘oh, well it’s off’ but then you forget you had set an alarm, the supervisor is going to take that phone, allow you to finish that exam then ask you to write a report...the supervisor will also write a report and send it to CXC...Once it is discovered that you have that cell phone, you are going to be disqualified from the examination whether it rings or alarms or not,” she asserted.

According to Assistant Registrar, Diane Medford, “we are stressing this because of the penalty...disqualification does not refer to the examination you are taking (at the time) it means you will not receive a grade for any of the subjects you are registered for...if you registered for nine subjects your grades will be cancelled for all. We want candidates to understand the gravity of the offence...” she opined.

Given the cellular dependence of some youths of today, Giles has

Senior Assistant Registrar, Susan Giles recommended that on the day of exams candidates should “...play a game with yourself and see if you can go a day without your cell phone, leave it at home!”

Over the years, there have been no reports emanating from the local Ministry of Education that students were disqualified from the examinations for being in possession of cell phones.

The CSEC May/June examination officially started on April 13 last and is expected to culminate on June 12. This year, expectations are high, at least within the Ministry of Education, which has predicted ambitious improvements, particularly in the area of Mathematics and English, when the results of the CSEC exams are unveiled in a matter of months.

Monday May 07, 2012

Funding for LCDS project will not be affected by Budget cuts - AFC The Alliance For Change (AFC) said that it wishes to make it clear that the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) projects in Amerindian and hinterland communities will not be affected by cuts to the 2012 budget.

According to the AFC, it is not amused by the vile attempts of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration to cause strife.

The party is urging Amerindians and all residents of hinterland communities to inform themselves on how funds for LCDS projects can be accessed from the Guyana REDD+ Initiative Fund (GRIF).

The party noted that under the agreement with Norway, whereby that country has committed to providing Guyana with up to US$250 million by 2015, a Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) has been set up with the World Bank as the Trustee. The World Bank will receive the money from Norway and transfer it to the Partner Entities when a request is made. These Partner Entities are the Inter American Development Bank (IDB), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. (Not the Government of Guyana).

It was further noted that all projects to be funded must be approved by a Steering Committee that has been set up and which comprises of representatives of Guyana and Norway.

“Once the Steering Committee approves a project and agrees on an amount of funds to be allocated, it will notify the World Bank and the Partner Entity (IDB, UNDP or WB) of such approval. The Trustee (WB) will issue a Letter of Commitment to pay over the approved allocation. When the Partner entity receives this letter, it will send a Transfer Request to the World Bank. The World Bank will then pay the requested allocation to the Partner Entity which will make all payments to the implementing agency,” the AFC underscored.

The AFC said that the agreement provides that once a project is approved by the Steering Committee and does not exceed the amount in the Fund, money will be allocated.

“All projects approved by the Steering Committee, whether it be Amerindian Land Titling, provision of solar panels for Hinterland communities, Micro and Small Enterprise Development or any other approved project will receive funding, once they reach the eligibility criteria of the Partner Entity and the Steering Committee…Persons can check this information against what is provided by the World Bank by visiting the World Bank w e b s i t e : www.worldbank.org/grif,” the party noted.

According to the AFC, the Government’s vile attempts to mislead the

Parliament into thinking that the budget amount of $18 billion that was voted against, was money that would form part of the treasury, was dishonest to say the least and could very well be intended to establish a false defensive position the government intends to take when it fails to reach the standards set by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) for accessing the fund.

“This would not be the first time that the PPP/C Government would have failed to meet internationally set standards for accessing financing,” the party stressed.

It was explained that Guyanese will remember the negligence of the PPP/C administration in 2011 that resulted in Guyana not accessing $3.8 billion of EU funding for the sugar industry and the failure of that same administration to agree to benchmarks that would have allowed Guyana to secure a $4 billion security sector reform project fund from the British Government.

“It is clear that the PPP administration is unwilling to actively pursue any foreign funded project with high standards of accountability and transparency…TheAFC will be publishing information on the management of the GRIF which the public can verify,” the AFC underscored.

The funds have recently been debated after the opposition cut from the budget, all but $1 from an allocation of $18.39 billion covering a number of carbon projects under the Ministry of Finance.

The projects were the Amaila Falls project ($16.4B), Amerindian Land Titling ($295M), Amerindian Development Fund ($205M), small and micro-enterprise development ($512,5M), adaptation project-Cunha Canal ($410M) and institutional strengthening of agencies connected to LCDS ($615M.)

The funds held by...

From page 9 these accounts, to explain why this has not been done.

The Auditor General has promised to pay some interest to NICIL, the holding company that is responsible for the proceeds of privatization funds. When the Auditor General’s Report is made public, the people of Guyana will be in a better position to determine whether the AFC has again been misled, this time about the amount of proceeds that are held by NICIL. Its fifty billion dollar figure may turn out to be far less.

Monday May 07, 2012

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column

Spice up sex life?

Dear Abigail, My boyfriend and I have been dating off and on for two years. We have been having sex for about a year now. The problem is I want to spice up our sex life, but I don’t have any imagination. He says he’s willing to try anything

but he won’t give ideas.

I can’t think of anything fun to try.

Unimaginative Dear Unimaginative, Tapping into your imagination can be a little tricky, especially if you and your partner are just beginning to talk openly about your desires. It’s

possible the missing ingredient is having the confidence to express yourselves freely and experiment with your sexuality without feeling embarrassed.

Once you’re able to recognise your own fantasies, and talk about them with your partner, your sex life could reach new heights.

Enjoy getting there!

Monday May 07, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Keeping things light and carefree can be tricky when you're up to your neck in some heavy business, but you can manage to do so with grace today. What's the reason for your cool, calm and collected demeanor? ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): One of the relationships in your life is growing in its intensity today -- and you should be quite happy about it. This is something you have been planning and waiting for, so make the most of it. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Your attitude is strong, and you are feeling willful today -- and it looks as though this is a perfect time for you to fight for what (or whom) you believe in! In any contest today, you are sure to be the victor. You might not feel ready for any type of battle, but you are. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your indecisive phase is continuing through today, and it might frustrate a few people who are trying to nail you down. Keep asking for the time you need to make your choice -- if they can't deal with that, then who needs them? ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Trivial matters aren't so trivial today -- you would be wise to look at all the issues of the day deeply, no matter how silly they might seem. You might think that the personal dramas going on around you are irrelevant to your life, but that is not the case. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): A sweet group conversation could move into very controversial territory today.

Some folks might get uncomfortable, but you and your intellectually curious mind will love every minute of it. *********************

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): This is not the time for you to restrict yourself when it comes to material possessions. It's time for you to indulge yourself with a bit of a shopping spree. You can save the coupon clipping and bargain hunting for some other time! ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Get ready to discover a thrilling new calling today -- this is the beginning of a new educational opportunity that could put you in a very powerful position very soon. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): When a new person arrives on the scene today, they will trigger the most vivid aspects of your imagination! This person could serve as a type of muse for you -- they will entrance your mind and inspire you to create better music, write more effective words, take better care of your body, be more honest with the people you care about, or just be more loving to yourself. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Just because there are some emotionally charged things going on in your life right now does not mean you can lose your objective reasoning. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): Showing vulnerability is a tricky thing -- on the one hand, it is the fastest, most powerful way to make a connection with someone. But on the other hand, it may also make you feel more emotionally exposed than you are comfortable with right now. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): If the details of an upcoming social engagement are getting a bit too fuzzy, it's important for you to get more clarity as soon as you can today.

Page 17

Police baffled by recent...

(From page 6) are yet to make a breakthrough.

And the police are not enhancing their image with every day that goes by without the capture of a Guyanese construction worker who fled Trinidad after allegedly killing Nikita Ramischand, the daughter of a Trinidadian attorney at law.

Kaieteur News

understands that police have received information that the suspect, 25-year-old Ramesh Sookram, called ‘Alan’, fled to Guyana the day after Ramischand’s mutilated body was found at Maracas, Trinidad almost two weeks ago.

Police commissioner (acting) Leroy Brumell had expressed confidence of catching the suspect.

Detectives reportedly questioned Sookram’s mother at the woman’s Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara home, but learned nothing of the fugitive’s whereabouts.

The murdered girl is the daughter of prominent Trinidadian attorney Odai Ramischand.

She is also the niece of Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00hrs. Spice Goddess 10:30hrs. Everyday Exotic 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. World News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00hrs. The Wayans Brothers 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 20:30hrs. Dancing with the Stars (New Episode) 22:00hrs. Hawaii Five-0 (New Episode) 23:00hrs. Sign Off NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 05:00h - Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 05:15h - Meditation 05:30h - Queenstown Masjid Presents Quran This Morning 06:00h - R. Gossai General Store Presents Shiva Bhajans 06:15h - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Shiva Bhajans 06:30h - Muneshwar Limited Presents Shiva Bhajans 06:45h - Double Standard Taxi Presents Shiva Bhajans 07:00h - RRT Enterprise Presents Shiva Bhajans 07:15h - M & M Snackette Presents Raja Yoga Discourses 07:30h - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents Shiva Bhajans 07:45h - The Family of The Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Shiva Bhajans 08:00h - NTN This Morning Live with Reyaz Husein 09:30h - Indian Soap - Choti Bahu 10:00h - Indian Soap - Yahaan

Mein 10:30h - IPL 5 - DELHI DAREDEVILS v KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS 14:00h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 14:30h - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 15:00h - Investigation Discovery:- Twisted 16:00h - Drying Tears Live with Pastor Edson 16:30h - Devotional Time 17:00h - Cartoons 17:45h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial 18:15h - Birthday Greetings/ A n n i v e r s a r y / Congratulations/ Death Announcements & In Memoriam 18:30h - HARE KRISHNA TODAY 19:00h - Ricks & Sari Presents Bed Time Songs Live with Joel 20:00h - Health in Focus 20:30h - Indian Soap - Choti Bahu 21:00h - Indian Soap - Yahaan Mein 21:30h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 22:00h - Indian Soap - Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 22:30h - DVD Movcie:-

HIROKIN The Last Samurai *ing Wes Bentley 24:00h -.Sign off with the Gayantri Mantra NCN CHANNEL 11 03:00h – Movie 05:00h – Inspiration 05:30h – Newtown Gospel 06:00h – NCN Week in Review(R/B) 06:30h – Kala Milan 07:00h – Guyana Today (Live) 08:00h – Weekly Digest 08:30h – Law Enforcement & You 09:00h – Stop the Suffering 09:30h – Cartoons 10:00h – IPL #51 Delhi Daredevil vs Kolkata Knight Riders 14:00h – NCN Newsbreak 14:05h – Movie 16:00h – Cartoons 17:00h – Anderson 18:00h – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30h – Feature 19:00h – Al Jazeera 19:30h – 10/10 Update (Live) 20:00h – 3d/daily millions/play de dream/lotto draw 20:05h – Cricket Show (Live) 21:05h – We Linkin 21:35h – Excellence Dazzell Show 22:05h – NCN Late Edition News 22:35h – Movie

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Embracing a healthy lifestyle could effectively combat diabetes – Dr. Cummings Being inflicted with diabetes today can no longer be considered a death sentence with the numerous medical advances that have been made over recent years.

However, adhering to healthy lifestyle habits could in fact prove to be almost miraculous for persons diagnosed with the disease. This is according to the findings of a study which was undertaken by Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Guyana, Dr Emanuel Cummings.

Dr Cummings presented details of his Region Three focused research findings on Friday as part of his contribution to the University’s Research Day Activity.

Entitled ‘the effect of lifestyle practices on blood glucose levels and the development of diabetic complications in women with Type Two Diabetes Mellitus in Guyana’, Dr Cummings said that his research was premised on the fact that there was a significant rise in Type Two Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

These facts, according to him, were based on data emanating from the Ministry

(From page 19)

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Contact: 682-8875 E.B.D furnished 3 bedrooms house, 2 bathrooms, a/c, hot and cold, grilled, meshed, telephone, internet, parking, US$500 tel 697-4131 East Coast $55,000, Kitty $60,000, Alberttown $80,000, Bel-Air US$1500, Hotel US$5,000; Diana 227-2256, 626-9382 One two bedroom bottom flat apartment. Tel no.: 6644898 CAKE & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, tel: 670-0798. Wedding dresses for sale & rental.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Emanuel Cummings of Health’s Statistical Bulletin in 2006 at which time diabetes was ranked as the third major cause of death in Guyana.

The data Dr Cummings was tasked with considering was reflective of patients attending health centres and clinics across the country and revealed that between the years 2000 and 2005, the number of females diagnosed with diabetes increased from 4,788 to 7,514, representing a 36 per cent increase compared to males whose numbers increased from 2,542 to 3,553.

In fact, according to Dr Cummings, the diabetic cases examined in Region Three accounted for 7.1 per cent of all first visits, with the majority being females. He pointed out too that the data from the Health Ministry had suggested that nationally, diabetes was listed as the major cause of deaths among females between the age group of 45 and 64; amounting to some 18 per cent.

Diabetic complications, according to Dr Cummings, have long been associated with inadequate blood glucose, plasma lipids and blood pressure monitoring, poor adherence to medication, unhealthy eating practices, smoking and alcohol consumption among others. In Guyana, he revealed that T2DMinduced cardiovascular diseases account for about 15 per cent of the total health sector budget.

The study also saw Dr Cummings examining records from the diabetes register in

Region Two, (a border of Region Three) where he found that of 226 diabetic patients, 209 had already had some form of diabetic complications. In light of these statistics on T2DM, Dr Cummings’s study was designed to evaluate the healthy lifestyle practices inclusive of diet, exercise, adherence to medication, adequate blood glucose monitoring of diabetic women who attended the Diabetic Clinic at the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three.

The rationale, Dr Cummings explained, was to ascertain whether lifestyle habits contributed to the increase in the number of T2DM cases among women in this region and what steps could be taken to reduce both the number and the cost to the national health services in Guyana.

Several studies in other parts of the world, he mentioned, have shown that lifestyles may have an impact on blood glucose levels and the development of diabetic complications.

He pointed out that the results of his study have clearly shown that patients who adapted healthy lifestyle habits had lower mean random blood glucose (RBS) and fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels when compared to those who did not. “These patients also had lower Body Mass Index (BMI) and showed a reduce risk for the development of long term T2DM complications. In addition, T2DM patients who adapted to healthier lifestyle habits also showed a reduce in dependency on medication for the management of their diabetic condition,” Dr Cummings revealed.

As such, his findings have given credence to a possible conclusion that a healthy diet and regular exercise are the mainstay therapy for patients with T2DM and to achieve this, the patients must adhere to lifestyle changes in order to enjoy a better quality of life.

Man shot in back with arrow

A 28-year-old man from Aishalton, South Rupununi is currently nursing a wound at the Georgetown Public Hospital after an outing with friends went ugly.

Mechanic Mark Dookie, was shot once in the back with an arrow by a man who he reportedly had a confrontation with. The mechanic is recovering in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the hospital.

According to a release from the police, Dookie was shot early yesterday morning. It is alleged that Dookie and the suspect were drinking when they had a misunderstanding.

The suspect who was apparently dissatisfied went away and later attacked Dookie at another location with a bow and arrow, leaving the arrow stuck in the man’s back.

Dookie was taken for medical attention in the area and was subsequently air lifted to the city where staffers of the GPHC collected him from the Ogle Airport.

The suspect in the matter has not yet been arrested.

Monday May 07, 2012

90 minutes delay at DHB…

High tide shifts bridge out of alignment DHB staff working to realign the structure.

Abnormal high tide caused three anchors at the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB)’s retractor span to burst, shifting the structure completely out of alignment, yesterday.

Manual realignment took one and half hours, causing traffic to build up in and around the bridge environs.

On schedule, the bridge closed its gate to vehicular traffic at 14:30 hrs to allow the passage of ocean going vessels for one and half hours. Failed attempts to retract the bridge led to the discovery that the wire ropes had popped.

According to DHB’s General Manager, Rawlston Adams, “We had abnormal high tide and that burst three anchors at the retractor span, throwing the bridge completely out of alignment…We were not able to dock the western retractor

span…it had to be done manually.”

Adams asserted that the wire ropes, which are exposed to salt water, are changed and maintained regularly. He emphasized that is not unusual for the wire ropes to pop but they are quickly repaired with adequate staff.

The General Manger, who helped to manually turn the wrenches, said, “Unfortunately, it happened on a Sunday when we don’t have a full complement of personnel out here to handle it… If we had a full complement we would have dealt with it earlier.”

He emphasized that everyone present, including Walter Willis Technical Adviser to the Public Works Minister, cooperated in turning the wrenches and slackening them so that the bridge could have been realigned.

“Tomorrow (today) we just have to connect the buoys to the wire rope for the anchor and everything should have been fine,” Adams said.

Adams emphasized that the recent operation to change the eastern hydraulic ramp of the structure had nothing to do with the bridge failing to retract.

He said, “That operation dealt with the hydraulic ramps; this is the anchor system down at the bottom…

The tide was high and the wire ropes just pop due to the tension in the wire ropes at the bottom.”

Drivers, who were waiting for hours to traverse the structure paid little attention to attempts by officials to manage traffic. At some points traffic on the eastern end blocked the one lane provided for vehicles coming from the western side.

Teen in Cemetery Road bridge...

(From page 13) Kaieteur News that the driver was travelling at a slow rate but encountered problems after one of the front wheels ended up in one of the many deep ridges on the bridge.

“All I see is de car look like it stopping li'l bit and then it just went over. I swear this was like a slow motion thing,” the eyewitness told Kaieteur News.

He said that as the car was going overboard, the driver opened his door and attempted to jump. He added that the driver and a female passenger managed to exit the car which by this time had overturned in the canal. The eyewitness said that the woman began screaming that

her son was still inside.

Upon hearing this, a few young men plunged to his rescue. Shortly after the mishap, angry residents blocked the bridge and burned tyres in disgust over the state of the structure which some described as the “death bridge.”

“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.

“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,” another said.

Last Wednesday, USbased Guyanese Christopher Giles almost perished after his vehicle also toppled off the same bridge.

He managed to unbuckle his seat-belt and crawl through the driver's window.

Kaieteur News was told that Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green visited the area yesterday. In a brief telephone interview, Greene said that the Ministry of Public Works is responsible for repairs to the bridge. According to Greene, he had made several inquiries from his City Engineer and Town Clerk about the structure.

He alleged that despite repeated requests to the Government, no financial assistance has been forthcoming.

Monday May 07, 2012

WANTED One cook, must know to cook Roti & Puri. Call 6477432 Driver to work day only in a taxi service. #227-6567 Live in domestic. Light duties. 1 skilled Lathe Operator. Live-in Handyman duties.

Excellent remuneration. Tel: 227-1830 1 male/female shop assistant to work in the interior # 688-0197 Live-in domestic must know to cook and 1 waitress, salary 50,000 monthly.

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

Contact: 690-1943, 691-8021 Two male shop assistants to work in Georgetown & the interior, serious enquiries only. Call: 225-2940, 225-0305 Urgently: chainsaw operator to work in the interior. Call: 626-0006, 231-3159 Live in attractive waitress contact 228- 5129 1 Tutor to teach Form 1, apply Bissan’s Trading, 94 King Street. Call: 227-7306 1 handyman to work. Living accommodation and meals free. 628-1756, 228-5655 1 handy boy to work in the interior #688-0197 Lorry drivers to work Labour lorry at L.B.I Estate.

628-1756, 228-5655 Manager’s Assistant general duties including Custom and Bond, Security Guards, accommodation available. Call: 676-6700 Experienced sales representatives. Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd Waitress to work at Salo Bar Call: 233 – 5264 Female workers needed, 3 subjects or sound secondary education call 225- 7307 1 Lumber yard labourer call 226- 3736 1 general domestic, must know to cook- East Bank Area Tel 614- 4358 Experienced Welder/Fitter.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd One (1) general worker shift system 266-5243 Sales supervisor with experience & computer knowledge. Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd.

Kaieteur News

EDUCATIONAL Learn Spanish. Call: 6731232 Princeton College Forms 1-5, CXC adults’ classes’; $1500 a subject S.A.T/ Phonics etc. Call: 6905008, 611-3793 LIVE AND WORK IN CANADA. GET C A N A D I A N CERTIFICATION AS A CAREGIVER. CALL 227 – 4881 OR 416 674 7973 Imperial College – CXC Jan/ June 2013 exam. Day/ Evening classes, flexible hours. Contact 227-7627, 683-5742 WANTED

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

Get a visa or get refunded 233 – 2338 US & Canada VISA application services. Call 643-6630. Family discounts available.

Now open KDRS Pharmacy at Mon Repos Mall 220-8675 nutritionist available every Saturday We refill HP cartridges for $1,800. Call:650-7699 CVs, applications, typing, etc. Tel: 667-1549 House plan drafting for only $10,000. Building estimate for only $10,000. Call 6949843

Salesgirl and boy to work in shop on ECD. Text or call: 615-8121 Contract cars for BrazilGuyana Taxi Service. Tel: 2253234 Full time gardener/ handyman reference needed.

Call: 226-0240, 225-3557 1 driver to drive in the interior.

Must have bus and canter license. Tel# 688-0197 Drivers with lorry licence.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd Labourers and Porters.

Apply Wieting & Richter Ltd 1 female pastry maker/ cook. Ages 25-35 starting salary $60,000. Phone 6968418 Sales representatives, country wide, for musical CD original. Tel: 267-1565, 6788193 Experienced sewing machine operators. Tele no.: 220-4337 Waitresses @ Diamond Gate Liquor Restaurant and Bar, Lot 18 Belmont Mahaica. Tel# 228-5013, 622-5599 Carpenter with own tools.

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

225-4631 Honest/Experienced sales clerk. Apply with written application Nanda’s Boutique, 223 Camp St. Tel 226-1621 Experienced Excavator Operator, Jet Men, Pit Men, Marak Man, Saw Man. Please call: 684-6356

VACANCY Needed: 1 male office assistant with some knowledge of accounts.

Contact 684-7516, 226-3799 Kitchen assistant @ Charlestown- ages 18-35.

Call: 614-1020 Two domestics for Bacanas Hotel, Charlotte St., between Oronoque & Albert. Call: 6807294 One Driver & one Salesman at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd. Tel 2257864 Experienced Hair Dresser at Nalline Beauty Salon, Vreeden-Hoop Junction (Raymond Building).

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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

Page 19

LEARN TO DRIVE B&C Driving School. Pickup & drop off. Contact 2250150, 680-6826, 229-7258

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

Craig $5.5M, East Coast $10M, Farm $12M, Guyhoc Park $12M, Alberttown (Land) $24M, Diana 2272256, 626-9382 Nandy Park $25M, Queenstown $35M, Prashad Nagar $33M, Kitty $32M, Bel-Air $40M, Diana 2272256, 626-9382 ACCOMMODATION Signature Inn Luxury Suites & Apartments 83 Laluni Street, Queenstown.

Call for reservations 2262145, 227-5037

SALON Make up courses, artist trained & certified in Trinidad: 660-5257,647-1773 Qualify yourself in Cosmetology or nails, make up, Register, Limited spaces.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leading Auto. Unregistered Allion, Premio, Allex, Runx, Verossa, Avensis, 2 ton Canter, 212. Tel: 677-7666, 610-7666

15-15-15 fertilizer. Call: 2662711, 609-4594 2x2x1.5MM, Hollow section $4500 VAT inclusive. Call: 2200-6100, 680-5900 Peking ducks, call: 266-2711 / 609-4594 Quality upholstery materials tel # 220-3356/643-3627 Moulders, multirip saws, resaws, cross cut saw and genset Tel 616-5595 Rodney Titan parts, engine DIFF etc.

Call:648-2075 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

CAR RENTAL

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

FOR SALE

Premio, 110 Corolla. Call: 6797139 First Choice Car Rental cars $5,000-7,000 per day 6680306, 225-6337 Al’s Car & Pick-up Rental.

Call: 698-7807

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1 Mitsubishi Fuso truck, 4 ton enclosed, 20 feet, new $5.2M. Call Salim 641-5075, 622-6746 New Air Brush Kit, gun, hose, compressor $35,000.

592-643-5720 Roofing shingles. Call: Mr. Skepmire . 227-5195 (8am to 5pm) Yamaha outboard engine parts for 115HP-200 HP, Crankshaft fat & fine top, pistons, bearings. Call: Terry665-9405 1 vehicle (Ipsum) in good condition. Call: 225-8673, 600-7448 15ft Fiber glass boat $170,000 call: 260-0301, 685-1233 1 New Centurion Generator $175,000. 1 Frigidaire freezer $115,000. 1 Kitchen Aid Stainless fridge $140,000. 1 Samsung Microwave $12,500.

Tel 694-5371 AT 170 Toyota Corona PGG series. Tel# 216-0757 Sale Sale Sale on all zinc sheets 40% off. All lumber 30% off. All pine lumber 8% off. Tel: 226-7054 Dell computers, complete with 19" LCD, from $69,000.

Future Tech. Call 231-2206, 644-6760 HP Laptops- 500 GB HRD, UFB Rom, 15inch; 3i Torch Blackberry-16GB memory card. Call: 667-3772, 648-1602 One PS3 160gb $100,000, 1 washer, 1 dryer $85,000 each.

Contact# 650-7719

Verossa PNN. Call:665-3067, 228-2609 2 Raum, 1 Pit Bull contact 663 – 9727, 609 6458 1 Nissan Cube ( like Raum) PMM 1088, 1.350 M Neg. call 233 – 5557, 610 -1309 1 RZ Mini bus series BKK. Call: 667-9629 2 – two ton canter, one enclosed. Good condition.

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MASSAGE Relax your mind and body with a massage 622-6256 (Continued on page 18)

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Kaieteur News

Monday May 07, 2012

Nat’l Football Coaches advocate renewed vision... WI need a star team, not From page 23 hatred that they are incapable of extending a vision for the development of our football yet they continue to criticize,” bemoaned Dover.

Notwithstanding such unfair adversary Dover said that his team is working in the best interest of Guyana’s football. He is peeved that despite the best efforts of the coaching team the unfair criticisms abound.

Easily the most decorated and successful Coach in Guyana, Dover said that the criticisms are making him stronger but there are times when he is angered by the cruel and insensitive assessments of his detractors.

Dover lauded the two tiered system employed by Shabazz explaining that the concept is practiced by the contemporary teams under the CONCACAF umbrella.

He said that those ignorant of such strategies are unwisely playing down its importance.

“We have two squads but one national team, one comprising young locally based players who train at least three times a week and another that comprise the foreign based players,” explained Dover. He said that the development team is made up mainly of players who are from the Under-23 squad with a few from the U20. Then there are some competent veterans the likes of Anthony Abrams and Richard Reynolds whose roles are to support the

developmental process.

The outspoken coach explained that his Technical staff devised the plan with a view of securing the future of Guyana’s football. Yet his detractors are pedaling vicious stories that the ploy of exposing young footballers is a waste of time and money.

He rubbished the theory that they should instead utilize the youngsters in the World Cup Qualifiers without first giving them the requisite exposure. “Where would we be today if we had not utilized the skill and expertise of Charles Pollard, Kayode Mc Kinnon and company,” Dover rhetorically asked.

He challenged his detractors to examine the efficiency of the two tiered strategy even as he highlighted the benefits derived from the ploy.

“The young Jaguars first toured in February and journeyed to Tobago, St. Vincent and Grenada with mixed results,” Dover pointed out. The team lost to lowly Tobago (1-2), the Trinidad & Tobago U23 (13) and St. Vincent (0-1) before rebounding with a come from behind victory over Grenada (2-1), finishing that tour on a positive note.

The development programme continued when the team toured Cayenne (French Guiana) and lost the first game to Cayenne (0-1) but rebounded with a victory in the second game (2-0). “This was a definite improvement,” exhorted Dover.

The Assistant Coach

further highlighted the activity of his men pointing to their sojourn in Martinique and Guadeloupe where they qualified for the last two Gold Cup tournaments after drawing 22 with Martinique and finishing off with a 2-1 win over Guadeloupe, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Sub Champions for 2010.

“So we can see how these players are improving every step of the way, their confidence is growing and we are also widening the pool of players that the senior team can call on,” Dover pointed out.

Mr. Shabazz supported his second in command, pointing out the wisdom of his strategies. “We selected 10 players from the pool of development to compete in the high level friendly against Guatemala which Guyana lost 2-0 at Providence” he explained.

He further said that his mission is broad based and instead of narrowing to just ensuring the qualification of one team f o r t h e Wo r l d C u p h e i n t ends to lay the foundation of developing a football industry that can provide employment so as to add to the economic system in the Caribbean.

“Our detractors are hoping that we fail in this group but our aim is to use the Qualifiers to build the industry not the other way around,” Shabazz explained. He pointed out that football must become so popular that supporters would willingly

pay to see the players in the local national leagues and sub association competitions.

“The government and the business community must see the importance and viability of investing in the industry. Only then will the football community be able to make a living from the efforts. Football must become an asset to the economy not a burden on it!” exhorted Mr. Shabazz.

The National Coach further cited the ploy of Jamaican administrators whose strategies has contributed to the national psyche thus creating the atmosphere for the benefits now reaped by ball weavers and other stakeholders in that country. To support his theory he pointed to the situation in the ‘Land of Wood and Water.’

“Jamaica has qualified for a spot in the 1998 World Cup, more that 14 years ago, yet the Reggae Boyz continue to fill the stadium every time they play at home,” said Mr. Shabazz. He pointed out the benefits enjoyed by the hoteliers, the vendors and the transportation industry among others.

“Most Caribbean countries lack this vision and Guyana is a perfect example. Even if the politicians do not envision the sport as a viable asset to employment, we as Coaches, Administrators and Technicians in the game cannot be so narrow minded,” concluded Mr. Shabazz.

a team of stars – Hilaire Ernest Hilaire, the West Indies Cricket Board CEO, has said selectors should focus on selecting the ‘best XI’ for the West Indies team, one that was a strong collective unit rather than just comprising 11 star players.

“For a decade or so the selectors were guided by a process which had them arriving at the eleven best players to take the field,” Hilaire said, during the Barbados Cricket Association Awards ceremony. “With the eleven best players on the park our results went from bad to worse and yet worse still.

West Indies have been without the services of Chris Gayle since the 2011 World Cup, owing to his differences with the board, and Dwayne Bravo intermittently, due to his Twenty20 commitments elsewhere.

“There has been a paradigm shift. The emphasis is on selecting, not necessarily the eleven best players but the ‘best eleven’. It is not dissimilar to asking whether we prefer a team of stars or a star team.

They are decidedly different.

“The best eleven may not include the most attractive players but is rather a combination of players who, as a group, are more likely to bring positive results and show a commitment to sustained development.”

Hilaire said the West Indies team has been steadily improving and is on the right path. “Though the victories have not been tumbling in, there can be little doubt that West Indies cricket is

Ernest Hilaire showing the signs of learning the first characteristic of any successful enterprise - the determination to succeed.”

“We have seen a greater commitment to fight to the very end, we have seen what was once thumping three and four day defeats in Test cricket now turned into epic final-day battles.

“This new approach is not far off from producing the results we all yearn for. Change does not happen overnight, it is a process, sometimes painful, always with mistakes and missteps but once on the right path the results are certain.

“I implore you to recognise that from the days when our team seemed conditioned to losing we now have a team which is battling to win and believing that it can in fact achieve victories.”

Australia toured West Indies recently and the hosts drew the ODI series but lost the Tests 0-2. West Indies are now in England for a full tour.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Amelia’s Ward Russians win...

Most Valuable Player Shawn Daniels poses with his hardware following the presentation ceremony.

From back page each team failed to deliver from the spot as supporters from each side shouted vociferously from the sidelines.

For their effort, Hardknocks were rewarded with $250,000. It was the ideal finish to the 32-team tournament held in the Bauxite Mining Town after persistent rain just before the scheduled

start of play had threatened to force a postponement of the final, but players, officials and spectators braved the inclement weather and when it finally ceased two hours later, those that stayed, and they were many, was treated to some thrilling matches.

Retrieve Unknowns, a team stacked with players with abundant skill registered an easy 4-0 triumph over

Pokerburg to cart off the third place prize of $150,000, while the losers went away with $100,000.

Darrell George scored a double in the 3rd and 12th minutes, Marcello Jansen netted in the 4th, while Travis Adolph converted a penalty kick in the 19th minute to seal the deal for Retrieve Unknowns.

George of Retrieve Unknowns scored the most goals in the tournament, while Shawn Daniels of Amelia’s Ward Russians was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. An exhibition tournament preceded the commencement of the final.

Before the start of the final, the teams were introduced to Region 10 Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon and Executives of Banks DIH including Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Linden Branch Manager Shondell Easton and Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart.

Monday May 07, 2012

Kaieteur News

LONDON 2012: Usain Bolt opens year with Kingston win Usain Bolt ran the fastest time of the year in his first 100m race of 2012 at the Jamaica International Invitational. The 25-year-old ran 9.82 seconds in a Jamaican one-two-three in Kingston, with Michael Frater second in 10.00 and Lerone Clarke third in 10.03.

Yohan Blake, the world 100 champion, clocked the best time of the year in the 200m with 19.91.

“It’s a good start, I would say,” said Bolt, who beat Blake’s 100m season’s best of 9.90. “I feel better than last year, so I’m definitely happy with myself. I don’t think my execution was perfect, but I think for my first race it was good.”

World and Olympic champion Bolt and team-mate Blake face trials next month for London 2012. And Bolt,

Usain Bolt cruises to victory at the Jamaica International Invitational

who was disqualified from last year’s 100m final at the world championships because of a false start, held his nerve after two false starts by competitors in Kingston.

“A couple of false starts will throw you off, but I stayed focused and went out

there and executed as best as possible, so I’m just happy with myself,” he said.

A bullish Blake added: “Bolt erased my world lead in the 100 so I thought I would set a world lead in the 200.”

Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu finished third with 50.93 in the 400m event

behind Jamaican Novelene Williams-Mills (49.99) and American Sanya RichardsRoss.

Larry Achike was second in the triple jump, Tiffany Porter finished third in the 100m hurdles, and Andy Turner was fourth in the 110m hurdles.

Wolf’s Warriors vs Regal X1; Trophy Stall Angels vs...

From back page twice and even missed running him out when the score was 6-2 and they paid for those lapses.

The West Demerara based defending champions; a balanced unit was at their best bowling and fielding, traits which limited Unstoppable to such a modest total which was way too little for the rampaging champs.

Manhar Ratvatty was the leading batsman for Unstoppable with an unbeaten 28 as there was a steady procession to and from the wicket by the Unstoppable batsmen.

Combining to limit the opposition were Davenand Persaud who took 2-14 and Asif Saphie 2-15.

The first make semi final was a humdinger of a battle with both teams hungry for the win and a place in the final but as it turned out, Regal, who had posted 93-7 batting first, held their nerves to hold on for a memorable 5-run win; limiting Rockaway Auto Sales ‘A’ X1 to 88-9 when their 10 overs expired.

Regal’s 93-7 was built around Richard Latiff’s 36 (2x6), Patrick Rooplall’s 24,

Amreith Rai Chien Gitten’s 15 and Troy Kippins’ 10.

Ramnarine Boodram took 2-17 for Rockaway Auto Sales who in reply fell short of what would have been a sweet win, by 5 runs as they ended on 88-9; two interruptions for rain jerked their run chase.

Rushie Samaroo led with 22, Mahendra Ramlakhan 19 and Sackichand Jhagdeo 16 as Rickey Sargeant took 2-19 for the winners. Rockaway needed 13 in the final over but the constant loss of wickets did not allow them the opportunity to overhaul Regal’s winning score.

The female matches, especially the Trophy Stall

Angels / Mike’s Wellwoman were touted to be a big clash, likened to a final.

The Angels watched by their boss, Ramesh Sunich did not disappoint as they went about the job of beating their opponents with focus.

Batting first, Mike’s Wellwoman were hoping for a 100+ total but that was never to be as the Trophy Stall Angels kept a good line and length with their ‘ground itch’ bowling as persons would refer to it.

A few catches were dropped early in the piece by the angels but they eventually got their act together to restrict their opponents to 78-7 off their 10overs. Only Katana Mentore with 33 and Onika Wallerson (16) were able to measure up to the task.

Such was the dominance of the Trophy Stall Angels’ bowling that Mike’s Wellwoman’s first boundary was scored off the first ball of the 8th over. Akila Allen took 2-13.

In response, Trophy Stall Angels were led by their most dependable player, Captain June Ogle who once again batted through the innings to end on 25 and Monica Seales who lashed the winning

boundary, ending on 17.

Earlier, Kavita Yadram made 20 and added 40 runs for the 3rd wicket with her Ogle, the partnership setting the foundation for Trophy Stall’s 8-wicket win.

The first team to book their place in final was 4R Lionness who eased to a 20run win over Rising Stars of Ann’s Grove.

The Lionness batted first and posted 96-4 off their 10overs; Captain Tracy Glasglow thumped 39 runs, Lashuna Toussaint 17 and Monique Benn 10. Extras contributed a healthy 30. In reply, Rising Stars found the going tough and when their overs ran out, they were 76-6.

Shondel Cort top scored with 26, Manthana Cambrifge 21 and Diane Prescott 16.

Gangadai Singh took 2-8, Shyon Goodluck and Nikita Madaramootoo took one wicket each.

The respective finalists will now take the remaining days leading up to Saturday’s finals to fine tune for the big day that they have all envisioned and been preparing for; Saturday May 12, 2012 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Floodlights, Wolf’s Warriors and Mike’s Wellwoman...

From back page Wolf’s Warriors and Regal XI, the latter losing wickets at regular intervals, eventually folding for 117 in 14.4 overs. Rooplall (28) and Richard Latif (27) were the two main contributors as Man-of-the-Match Asif Safee took 3-11.

Wolf’s Warriors opening pair of siblings Sarfraz and Mohammed Karim began in positive fashion, posting 50 in just five overs on the heavy outfield.

However, after Safraz perished for 28 with the score on 60 in the sixth over, the Warriors lost four wickets for 53 in the next six overs, to be 103/6 in the 12th over.

Ameer Nizamudin (13*) ensured victory by lofting the final delivery of the 13th over for a massive six as his team finished on 119-6. Doran and Devand Persaud took two wickets each for Regal in a losing cause.

In the ladies final which was packed with National

‘hardball’ players on both sides, Mike’s Wellwoman were in early trouble against Berbice’ Karibee Rice Strikers as they catapulted to 36-5 before a 49-run sixth wicket partnership between national players Akazie Thompson (11) and Johanna Van Sertima who hit consecutive sixes off Sherika Campbell in her unbeaten 25, helped them to 80-6.

Needing 81 to win, the girls from the Ancient County were reduced to 41-5 after five

overs in fast fading light.

After consultation between the Captains and Umpires, the organisers brought in floodlights and after a 10-minute time out, action resumed.

The Strikers needed 12 to win off the final over but they fell eight short with Campbelle being the last of five run out victims to leave her side 72 all out. All the victorious teams received a first prize of $100,000 while the runners-up collected $50,000 and Playersof-the-Match $10,000 each.

Page 21

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Kaieteur News

Manchester City win to edge closer to title Manchester City moved to within touching distance of their first title for 44 years, as Yaya Toure scored twice to secure a crucial victory over Newcastle United. The Ivory Coast midfielder beat Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul with a low curling shot with 20 minutes left.

He then added a second from close range with time running out. City now know that victory over QPR in their final match of the season will secure the Premier League title.

This was a dominant display by City, inspired by Vincent Kompany’s defensive generalship, David Silva’s prodigious work in midfield, stellar finishing by Toure and a work rate and ambition that glowed throughout the team.

The omens must have given Roberto Mancini’s men cause for hope and optimism before kick-off. It was at this ground on May 11, 1968 that City won to clinch their last league title. Some 44 years on, history repeated itself as City moved to within three points of the prize that has eluded them for so long.

While it was understandable that much of the attention focused on City, Newcastle were chasing a prize of their own. Arsenal’s 3-3 draw with Norwich City had opened the door to Champions League qualification.

It was fitting, then, that Sir Bobby Robson - the last manager to lead Newcastle into Europe’s top club competition - had been immortalised before kick-off

as the club unveiled a statue to honour his memory.

But it was City who dominated the opening 30 minutes. Sharper to the ball, swifter to use it, City forced Krul, the Newcastle goalkeeper, into action on a number of occasions. The Dutchman was forced to turn away low shots from both David Silva and Sergio Aguero, while Carlos Tevez went close with a curling freekick.

It took Newcastle half an hour to produce their first effort on goal, but more soon followed. Demba Ba fizzed a 25-yard shot over Joe Hart’s crossbar. Moments later the Newcastle striker saw his goal bound shot blocked by Kompany after a clever run

by Jonas Gutierrez. The ball ran to Ben Arfa but his low shot was well saved by Hart, low to his left.

It was City, however, who had the best chance of the half shortly before the interval. The mercurial Silva broke clear down the left and cut the ball back to Gareth

West Indies were again frustrated by the weather on day two of their opening tour match against Sussex at Hove. After Saturday’s total washout, more overnight rain prevented any cricket before lunch, with bad light forcing an early close after only 18 overs.

In that time, opener Adrian Barath was bowled by Kirk Wernars before Kirk Edwards was caught behind off Chris Liddle to leave the tourists 462. The Windies face England in the first Test at Lord’s on May 17.

Sussex, with England pair Matt Prior and Monty Panesar in their line-up, won the toss and struck soon after putting the tourists in. Barath had made just 16 when he deflected a Wernars delivery on to the base of the stumps off his pads.

Edwards ought then to have gone for a second-ball duck, but was dropped at second slip by Luke Wells off Liddle. Edwards and Kieran Powell then defended stoutly until Edwards was out for eight as he was caught at third slip by Chris Nash.

Bad light then stopped play just before tea and no further action was possible.

“I don’t mind the extreme conditions. It’s nice to experience these things,” said Barath. “We’re not surprised about these conditions. It’s something we expected.”

The tourists are also confident that Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine or Marlon Samuels will arrive in time for the game against England Lions at Northampton, which begins on Thursday.

Fudadin and Deonarine

Yaya Toure

Barry near the penalty spot.

The England midfielder’s first shot was blocked by Fabricio Coloccini, while his second found a path to goal only for Davide Santon to clear off the line.

City maintained their momentum after the restart with Tevez fired high and wide, before testing Krul from distance. As the half wore on Mancini’s side were struggling to convert their lion’s share of possession into clear-cut chances.

Then came what proved to be an inspired substitution. Nigel De Jong replaced Nasri on the hour mark to allow Toure to push into a more advanced position behind Aguero and Tevez.

The Ivorian made an instant impact in his new role.

Collecting a neat lay-off from Aguero, he curled a wonderful low shot beyond Krul’s outstretched left hand to spark scenes of jubilation in the away end and on the City bench. It was the first goal Newcastle had conceded in 497 minutes of football at the Sports Direct Arena.

City should have made sure of the result four minutes later when Silva lofted a delightful through-ball into the path of Aguero only for the Argentine to nudge his shot inches wide of the righthand post when clean through on goal.

Newcastle almost made City pay for their profligacy, when Ba and Papiss Cisse connected only for the latter to head high and wide from close range.

West Indies frustrated by wet weather at Hove

Adrian Barath are in Jamaica awaiting visas, while Samuels is still to begin his journey from the Indian Premier League. “We are not concerned about it,” said a team spokesman. “We are hopeful that they will be here in time for the (England) Lions match.”

Monday May 07, 2012

Mayweather battles to victory over Cotto and claims yet another world title Floyd Mayweather Jr. added the WBA Super World light-middleweight title to his supreme career roster with a battling unanimous point’s victory over Miguel Cotto Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Mayweather, fighting at the 154lbs limit for the first time since defeating Oscar De La Hoya to win the WBC belt exactly five years ago, won favour by margins of 118-110 and 117-111 (twice) on the judges’ scorecards to preserve his unblemished 43fight record.

Defending champion Cotto, unbeaten in his previous three bouts at light-middleweight, enjoyed moments of success with brutal spells of inside pressure, but slips to 37 wins and three defeats as a professional.

Attentions will once again turn towards the prospect pairing Mayweather with pound-forpound rival Manny Pacquiao, but the 35-year-old American must first serve a three-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to a domestic violence charge.

Mayweather’s crisp left jab was the defining feature of the opening round, while the challenger showed he was willing to trade at close quarters as Cotto increased

Floyd Mayweather lands a cracking right hand to the jaw of Miguel Cotto during their WBA Super World light-middleweight title fight Saturday night. the pace and physicality of the contest in two.

By the fourth Mayweather was starting to unfurl the whole repertoire and a stinging left uppercut momentarily buckled the champion’s legs.

Cotto landed a meaty left hook in five as he relentlessly burrowed forward and the 31year-old Puerto Rican enjoyed his best three minutes to date in round six, drawing blood from the nose of his opponent who appeared to be feeling the relentless pace.

An absorbing ebb and

flow continued across the subsequent two sessions, as Mayweather’s slick backfoot work gave way to another dose of Cotto’s frenetic pressure.

The champion managed to impose his style down the stretch, regularly pulling Mayweather out of his comfort zone and into the trenches.

But Mayweather ’s dazzling defensive and counter-punching skills came to the fore in the final two rounds, as he sealed an eighth world title across five weight divisions.

Anthony helps Knicks end 13-game playoff skid

New York (AP) Carmelo Anthony scored 41 points, Amare Stoudemire had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his return from a cut hand, and the New York Knicks snapped an NBArecord, 13-game postseason losing streak by beating the Miami Heat 89-87 Sunday in Game 4 of their first-round series.

Anthony made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 54.5 seconds left as the Knicks overcame another serious injury to win a playoff game for the first time since April 29, 2001. Baron Davis dislocated his right kneecap in the third quarter, just as the Knicks were making the run that got them back into the game after a dismal first half.

LeBron James scored 27 for the Heat, who will try to close it out in Game 5 at home on Wednesday. Dwyane Wade had 22, but missed a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left that would have given Miami a lengthy rest before starting the second round.

Wade’s errant shot set off a loud celebration from Knicks fans who hadn’t seen their team win in the postseason since beating the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of a best-offive series. It didn’t look as if the victory would come in this series, after the Knicks had been blown out by 20 points per game in the first three games.

But they got a huge spark from Stoudemire, playing with padding over his hand just six days after badly cutting it when he punched a fire extinguisher case after a Game 2 loss in Miami. And they got a sensational effort from Anthony, who shot 15 of 29 and was one point shy of his playoff career best after he made only 34.4 percent of his shots in the first three games.

Streamers fell from the ceiling as the

players walked off the court, with the Knicks now needing a solution at point guard after Davis was carted off on a stretcher with his severe knee injury. Jeremy Lin is close to returning from knee surgery, but Iman Shumpert was lost with a torn knee ligament in Game 1.

A day after the Dallas team that beat them in the finals was swept by Oklahoma City, the Heat failed in their attempt for their first sweep since beating Washington in the 2005 Eastern Conference semifinals.

The series was on pace to be one of the most lopsided in NBA history through three games, but this one was within four points the entire fourth quarter, the crowd at Madison Square Garden growing louder with every play that moved the Knicks closer to their first playoff win in 11 years.

Mike Bibby’s 3-pointer with 1:23 left snapped an 81-all tie, but the Heat called timeout and ran a play that freed James for a wide-open 3 that tied it again seven seconds later. On the Knicks’ next possession, Anthony came far beyond the arc to receive the ball after JR Smith picked up his dribble, then dribbled forward and pulled up for a 3 that made it 87-84 with 54.5 to play.

The Heat turned it over on their next possession when Chris Bosh’s pass sailed into the backcourt, and Anthony was fouled by Shane Battier attempting a 3-pointer. He made only one foul shot, and the Heat cut it to one again when James converted a three-point play while drawing Tyson Chandler’s sixth foul.

Stoudemire made a free throw with 14 seconds left to make it 89-87, and Wade lost control of the ball driving into the middle on Miami’s last possession. He regained it and dribbled to the corner for a 3-pointer that was off.