Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

Behaviour of criminals will not change There have been many editorials written on crime, violence and murders in the country. But one cannot help but continue to write on these issues because almost every day there are headlines in the papers about murders, armed robberies and violence.

The robbery at the Princess Ramada Hotel Casino clearly suggests that there is no safe haven in Guyana. Also, it seems as though women have become an endangered group in the country. The recent murders of the “maid of honour,” Simone Hackett, by her child father, by her reputed husband at Rose Hall, Corentyne and 71-year-old Serojanie Ramkarran of Zeelugt, East Bank Demerara by her husband are tragic reminders that women are imperiled.

However, murderers are evil human beings. And that is the most frightening thing about them. Their gunplay has petrified society and the citizens, including the elderly who are glued to their homes at night, terror-stricken.

Although the police are inclined to have the people believe that crime has declined, the population is in panic mode.

Statistics show that murders, armed robberies and rapes continue in the first three and a half months of the year with a distinct spike in gun violence throughout the country but police are apprehending the criminals faster now than before.

Murder and armed robbery are disastrous, ruinous and profoundly lamentable. However low the number is for murders, they are catastrophic and not acceptable or remotely comforting to the nation.

The fact that guns are entering the country illegally or are mysteriously eluding officials is very troubling. The government must be careful not to make the gun smugglers become confident by promoting the idea that this was always the case. It must act to end this lawlessness and stem the influx of high-powered weapons, especially AK 47s in the country.

It is poor comfort to the people for the authority to peddle the myth that violence in society today has been no more vicious and prevalent than it was 50 years ago when Guyana attained its independence.

It is true that much of the murders and armed robberies are committed by youths who have refined the practice of boldness, ruthlessness and total disregard for life, limb and property. But it is also true that society with its aberrant behaviour is a consequence of youth violence. Studies have shown that poverty and illiteracy are the root causes of youths becoming hard core criminals.

In Proverbs 22:6, Solomon, indisputably the wisest man ever on earth said that we should “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Many believe that the state should urgently play a more remedial and proactive role in improving the behaviour of youths and sharpen their minds to civility, propriety and humanity. Fighting crime is not an easy task for any government, but for the Minister of Public Security to tell members of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce that he is too busy with the jubilee celebrations to discuss the crime situation is tantamount to telling those of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce to “haul your ass,” words used by the Minister while in opposition.His display of arrogance is insulting to the people of Berbice.To put it bluntly, he has failed the people.

Truth be told, the public is disappointed with theMinister’s poor crime fighting techniques, and so too are the criminals who continue to ravage society with impunity.

One death is too many but if those in authority continue to keep their heads buried in the sand, the people are in for a long haul because the barbaric and immoral behavior of criminals will not changeanytime soon.

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Oppression will continue if people do not take a stand DEAR EDITOR; There was a time in this country, at the level of government, where not to know what was happening in the area of responsibility was considered a travesty and persons held to account. In some instance time has regressed to the point where pretense to claim of not knowing is considered an acceptable form of justifying unsavoury conduct, and lending support to unsavoury acts.

Following the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) treatment of vendors since this new council has been installed, its conduct reflects flagrant transgressing of rights, disregard for decency in civil

engagements, the violation of laws, and refusal to accept that times have changed.

Let me make it very clear, lest what is said is misconstrued and focus is diverted from the thrust of my position: There is no opposition to the efforts of the M&CC to bring order to Georgetown and regularise the vending situation. There is opposition to these efforts being executed without regard for the laws, time-honoured principles, and respect for the rights of the vendors.

The vendors are a part of this nation’s formal economy and can be categorised as small business. There is no question about their legitimacy,

given that the Council collects revenue from them and they are expected to pay same. It also has to be recognised that this sector grew out of a need to engage in economic activities to sustain self and families, and providing a service to society whose population needs and wants are diverse, inclusive of the need for convenience and respect for economic ability at given time.

Stabroek Market was built in the 1880s. Even with whatever expansion was done in the post period, the population and needs of the communities being served have outlived the size of the market. There (Continued on page 6)

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Two Dept. Heads support Mae’s School DEAR EDITOR; Please permit us this opportunity to respond to two letters that were posted via print media over the past days regarding Mae’s Schools; more so the secondary department. From reading these letters we can only conclude that the contents are vastly weightless and counterfactual.

In the Guyana Chronicle dated Saturday May 14, 2016, the headline reads “Former teacher weighs in on Mae’s troubles” and in the Kaieteur Newspaper on Sunday May 15, 2016 – “Serious management problems at MAE’S schools.”

Thomas Jefferson once

said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Editor, from reading these letters there was a clear evidence of deception.

Hence, together, we join forces to not only condemn the statements made by the writers but also to educate the general public on the reality of such a prestigious institution. Great workplaces achieve organizational goals by inspiring, speaking and listening. Without any doubt, the Directorate of Mae’s School has truly embodied these characteristics.

One of the philosophies of this institution is to always work together as a team /fam-

ily. The degree of pride and level of authentic connection is always at the forefront for the administration.

The writers ridiculed the administration of the institution; however, the points they put forward had no stable base. Miss Stacey French, the Director of this Division is an individual who displays character and competence.

The Director always exudes confidence in her own self, in her decisions, as well as in the people around her.

Thus, she instills the same feelings and attitudes towards her employees.She is one of the few people around who also presents “coura-

sion, I would do exactly what I did in 2015 and give my support to the Coalition Government because it was the right thing to do. Why? Because of situations like this!

The Sugar Industry Welfare Fund (SILWIF) was established by law, according to Professor Clem Sewcharran in his books “Sweetening Bitter Sugar” to allocate funds for the upliftment of the social welfare of those in the sugar belt. This was an outcome of

the Venn Commission, which highlighted the awful conditions in which sugar workers lived for centuries.

Let me be absolutely clear, that money does not come from Government coffers, it does not come from other taxpayers, but is part of the entitlement to the sugar workers for their own labor and contribution for producing sugar. The more they produce, the more funds are (Continued on page 06)

The Govt. must not be ungrateful to the sugar industry

DEAR EDITOR; Many may have observed that over the last few weeks, I was placed into a position where I have to call out the Coalition Government, which I supported in 2015, for its less than acceptable performance over the last year.

This is a deliberate strategy to avoid the crass executive behavior that was practiced under past President Ramotar. Never again should it be allowed to happen and the youths have to put steel in their back and ensure that “the good life” must filter down to those at the bottom (the market vendors, the single mothers, the youths in general and so on).

Because of executive actions of people like Donald Ramotar and his right hand Raj Singh, now with 20/20 vi-

geous patience.”

In the Guyana Chronicle, the writer indicated that “To date, not one of the twenty teachers of that institution is of Indian ethnicity, and this is a stated fact.” It should be noted that “stated facts” require definite proof and as such, as current employees of this institution, we can safely say that this is an absolute lie. How can someone make such a statement without any merit? At Mae’s we have a multi – ethnic and multi – religious environment, much to say Mae’s Secondary is wholly diversified.

In the Kaieteur Newspaper, the writer stated “100% of the teachers from the secondary division are Christians. Neither Muslims nor Hindus are a part of the team”.

Again, this is a non-factual piece of information geared towards tarnishing the reputation of the institution.

The beliefs of Mae’s Schools

are simple; bringing together workers with different religious denominations breeds creativity and innovation.

Furthermore, like most schools, this institution always respectfully part takes in every religious celebrations be it Phagwah, Christmas or Eid Ul Adha.Hence, we involve ourselves in all religious events and activities geared towards fostering a healthy and productive educational environment.

In the letter published in the Kaieteur Newspaper again, the writer had quoted a survey relaying his dismay concerning the high level of turnover by employees. He conveniently forgot to state the source of his survey which

begs the question “Is he trying to be an advocate for negativity?”

In concluding, in its 24 years of existence, Mae’s Schools have remained steadfast in their commitment to excellence.

The secondary department has continued to shine with excellent pass rates at CSEC through the continued support from its dedicated and hardworking team.

Together, we unite to condemn and strongly disagree with the letter writers in the local Newspapers. It is our only hope that such scandalous pieces are retracted by those same writers.

Two Heads of Departments (name supplied)

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

A foreign diplomat may Comments on the traffic be in a conflict of interest chaos in Guyana DEAR EDITOR; Senior Public servants are usually debarred from conducting or carrying business activities that bring them into conflict of interest situations.

The code of conduct which is soon to be made available should address this. Over the past week the media reported the involvement of Minister Broomes in mining operations not withstanding her justification that the mining operation has been transferred to her children.

This raises as well serious questions of conflict of interest in particular she is the very minister that is part of a ministry that oversees transparency and compliance in the mining sector. Having said that, it is expected that senior staff members of foreign entities like UNDP, FAO, IDB and the World Bank (WB) also have strict rules of governance and code of conduct for its officers.

One would recall the allegation that a former senior officer of word wide life fund for nature (WWE) was involved in concession management and operations within the natural resources sector. This did not go down well with the WWF head office.

Again there are reports and allegations that a top person in a multi-lateral institution in Guyana has several business interests in Guyana. That person has been here quite long enough to speculate the market and make wise investments.

It is alleged that this person has business interests in the real estate sectors. These investments are smartly done by third party agents so a casual check will reveal that the official has no business interests in Guyana.

However, the diplomat is the financier of these agents and perhaps the proceeds are deposited overseas. I guess the person has overseas accounts.

This act of conflict of interest and misuse of office must urgently be investigated by the board and ethics department of this international organization.

If the investigation turns up emptyhanded then good luck for this person but given the serious nature of these allegations and the importance of the holder of such office to be totally independent and professional a thorough investigation should be done.

Carl Lucas

Oppression will continue...

From page 4 are more people traversing Georgetown, with multiple preferences, diverse income brackets, and desirous of the goods and services being offered. No member of the council can admit to not patronising this sector, neither can the council denies the fees paid by this sector do not play a vital role in its function. The vendors are responding to and satisfying the outlined conditions.

The vendors are not a nuisance to society. Their ingenuity to find economic opportunities for themselves and others when traditional avenues did not, and cannot accommodate them is to be applauded. The fact that the M&CC may not have handled this new sector from the standpoint of anticipating the varied population trends and needs and put systems in place to have trade takes place in a structured manner, in collaboration with the vendors through a consultative

process, as against the occasional highhanded approaches, is not the fault of the vendors.

And whereas given what is taking place vendors may question the wisdom of their choice in casting a ballot for those who today threat them with contempt, it becomes over important to ensure this aspect of our economy is allowed to thrive, as any other.

It is a non-excuse to hide behind claims that criminal activities are being conducted where persons are vending, hence the vendors have to be removed or their structures ruthlessly dismantled.

Where there is known presence of criminal activities or possibility of same occurring, it is the role of the M&CC to attend to this by improving their crime fighting techniques, not dispossessing those engaged in legitimate trade and those who desire to patronise them.

The nation must not countenance incompetence by persons placed in positions of authority, who, instead of delivering quality services within the confines of the laws and time-honoured principles, are coming up with spurious excuses for not performing and respecting people’s rights.

On the issue of the matter

of the shop at the Stabroek Market square which was dismantled by the M&CC and now it is being said by this body that it was unaware of a court case, hence justifying the act, is unacceptable.

There is an existing dispute between the M&CC and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure as to ownership of the land which the M&CC would be aware of. As such, until there is a court determination of ownership, the M&CC is out of order to ascribe to itself the authority to demolish the property thereon, under any condition.

The continued contempt for the rule of law that we are witnessing by the M&CC, has been pervasive, and is largely responsible for the mess this country has found itself in.

This lawlessness must be addressed. The M&CC must be held accountable for its actions. There is no excuse for ignorance of the law, or using ignorance as an opportunity to commit dastardly acts against citizens of this country.

The contempt for citizens, their welfare, including the laws established to protect them will continue until the citizens stand up, take strident positions, and hold elected leaders accountable.

In a representative democracy those elected are there to serve the people, not treat them like serfs and preside over them like lords.

Lincoln Lewis.

DEAR EDITOR; As normal, every time someone is put to head our traffic department in Guyana, the media would get interviews from that person about their vision and the way they plan to enhance the traffic department in Guyana.

The present acting Traffic Chief, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud is no different and his statement about going after police officers with tinted vehicle drew my attention. I am looking on to see if indeed he have what it takes to go after them or just selected (junior ranks) officers or just ‘tooting his horn’, because since the introduction of the tinted laws, many police men/women have some of the darkest tinted vehicles that even our Law Makers (MP’s) vehicles.

I recall our Director of Sports, Christopher Jones at that time a member of Parliament had to strip his vehicle of tint by officers who stopped him.

On the West Coast of Demerara and East Bank Essequibo (where the acting Traffic Chief, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud lives),

there are many officers with heavily tinted vehicles and I am looking to see if they will be stripped or if they will cease using their tinted vehicles until the storm passed and then resume using their tinted vehicles.

Whilst his statement is impressive, there are still problems affecting our roadways and the carnage continues and I didn’t see/hear any plan to remedy those situations.

For instance, the hospital park (route 45) at Stabroek Market is always in confusion and traffic always seems to be blocked there by minibuses that don’t want to abide by the rules and join the lines.

Tuesday last although the vendors are removed from the area, minibuses are still blocking the traffic and other motorists have to continuously blow their horns to get a pass.

Previous traffic chiefs tried and the media are always bombarded with complains and letters about that area but no solutions.

Editor, I was in high praises for the traffic department when the roadways filled with officers using the radar guns and carrying out

random breath analyzer tests, because the lawlessness and roadways killings were declining. I’m urging the acting Traffic Chief, Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud to resume this practice because, on Friday last at Parika I noticed an ex-traffic officer (Canu) who’s now operating a route 32 minibus with loud music picking up passengers and at one stop, I noticed him drinking Guinness whilst he’s driving.

Passengers are scared to make complaints/objection and if you look for a traffic rank on the roadways, at certain time they are not around and from what I’ve heard this is a regular for him and because he’s an ex officer, his former colleagues turn a blind eyes to his action.

For me it’s alright when someone causes an accident gets charged but I still don’t have confidence that the perpetrator will pay due to the way our legal system runs (bribery, case jackets missing, slothfulness of cases, witnesses’ getting tired of going to Court etc.)

Meanwhile innocent life/ lives are lost or people seriously maimed. I prefer to see lives saved instead.

Sahadeo Bates

The Govt. must not be...

From page 5 allocated from sugar sales to SILWIF. The funds are then used to provide water resources to villages on the sugar estates, loans to sugar workers for housing, scholarships to children of the sugar workers and so on. What has happened to SILWIF under the leadership of Raj Singh at Guysuco is nothing but criminal? Here, we were paying one man, millions of dollars a year to directly “bruk up” the sugar industry, but he could not find the money to pay the dues to the workers between 2010 and May 2015.

Luckily for the sugar workers, Ramotar lost power and Raj Singh was chased out of Guysuco for gross incompetence.

At the end of 2013, the Net Deficit in the SILWIF was G$43 million and I was told at the end of 2015 it was approximately G$140 million. This situation has occurred because Raj Singh made an executive decision to NOT provide the calculated dues owed to SILWIF. So Donald

Ramotar, Leslie Ramsammy and Raj Singh made a calculated decision to not deliver the workers funds to the workers welfare scheme but instead to pay Raj Singh first.

This was the nature of the evil that was allowed to occur under the leadership of Donald Ramotar who claims he is a “sugar man”.

What is the reality today?

The new Coalition Government came into power and they found this horrible situation left behind by Team Ramotar but have not to date remedied it. Again they found income to only pay their senior executive and not one cent for the workers welfare fund. Again we have another “sugar man” in the Cabinet of Guyana from Central Corentyne, but yet this situation has not been remedied.

This means that SILWIF is now running out of funds and at the point where it may be having to make the decision to start letting go people, because this G$140 million deficit has made the agency technically insolvent. I was

told that SILWIF is now actively turning away sugar workers who qualify for a housing loan from their own funds. I have also been told that SILWIF has suspended all of its infrastructure contracts in the sugar belt such as roads and so on. This only means one thing – social retrogression for the people on the sugar belt.

No politicians can rest satisfied until this issue is sorted out because like other workers, the sugar workers have paid their dues to this country for centuries! They have all paid their dues in blood and what is happening to the ancestors of the sugar workers is not right and when ignorant people try to condemn how much is being transferred to the sugar industry today, they must take cognizance of the fact that it was sugar that contributed the most resources to this nation over the last 200 years and we must not be “neemak-harems” and oblivious to the contribution from our brothers and sisters in the sugar belt.

The right thing to do is to immediately start returning tranches of the workers’ funds to them by making those deposits into SILWIF. By the way, where is GAWU on this matter?

Sase Singh

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

South Africa to limit farm sizes to speed land redistribution Reuters - South Africa’s government is planning to impose limits on farm sizes to free up parcels of land to hand over to blacks, a minister said yesterday, giving an insight into the workings of a divisive redistribution scheme.

Gugile Nkwinti, the minister of rural development and land reform, told Reuters the government was planning to set a range of limits - from a 1,000-hectare (2,470-acre) “smallscale” farm, up to the largest allowed, at 12,000 hectares.

“If you are a small-scale farm and have 1,400 HA, we will buy the 400, and leave you with your 1,000. We will buy the extra and redistribute it to black people,” the minister said. South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), facing local elections in August, has promised to speed up plans to redistribute land which remains predominantly in white hands two decades after the end of apartheid.

Some economists and farming groups have said the proposals could hit investment and production at a time when South Africa is emerging from a major drought - pointing to the economic damage linked to farm seizures in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

They have also complained about a lack of clarity on how it will all work.

Setting out the farm size limits and specifically linking them to the redistribution scheme may further alarm owners, particularly of smaller plots. But the government says the

redistribution process needs to be accelerated, to rectify past wrongs and provide opportunities to the previously excluded, and has repeatedly said it will stick to the law and not follow Zimbabwe’s example.

“In South Africa you have a concentration of land ownership in the hands of a few people. That is something we have to correct,” Nkwinti said before a ceremony in Kruger National Park where President Jacob Zuma handed over 84 million rand ($5.4 million) in compensation to black communities evicted decades ago.

Experts estimate about 8 million hectares of farmland have been transferred to black owners since the end of apartheid, 8 to 10 percent of the land in white hands in 1994 and only a third of the ANC’s long-running 30 percent target.

The party has said it will speed up the process with a bill going through parliament allowing the state to expropriate land without the owner’s consent.

Several black communities had land claims on the 2-million hectare Kruger Park because they were removed after the Native Land Act of 1913, which consigned South Africa’s black majority to 13 percent of the country’s territory.

But the government wants to keep the Kruger, a major tourist draw and home to many animal species, intact, so its policy is to compensate those with claims on it through cash instead of allowing them to resettle in the park’s boundaries.

U.S. drones strike at Afghan Taliban leader in Pakistan Reuters - The United States carried out a drone strike yesterday against the leader of Afghan Taliban, likely killing him on the Pakistan side of the remote border region with Afghanistan in a mission authorised by U.S. President Barack Obama, officials said.

The death of Mullah Akhtar Mansour, should it be confirmed, could have implications for stalled peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

It could also have political repercussions within the Taliban, where rival factions rejected Mansour’s leadership after he publicly assumed

the title of his predecessor, Mullah Omar. Omar’s death was only disclosed last July after being kept secret for more than two years.

The Pentagon branded Mansour “an obstacle to peace and reconciliation between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban” and said he was actively involved in planning attacks that threatened U.S., Afghan and allied forces.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook, confirming an air strike targeting Mansour in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, said Mansour had prohibited Taliban leaders from participating in peace talks with the Afghan govern-

ment. “We are still assessing the results of the strike and will provide more information as it becomes available,” Cook said.

Multiple U.S. drones targeted the men as they rode in a vehicle in the remote area, southwest of the town of Ahmad Wal, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. U.S. special operations forces operated the drones, in a mission authorised by U.S. President Barack Obama, the official said.

The strike took place at about 6 a.m. EDT, a U.S. official said, which would have placed it at Saturday in 3 p.m. in Pakistan.

Jamaica Remains On Track With IMF Programme - Mission Chief The Gleaner - The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Mission Chief, Dr Uma Ramakrishnan says Jamaica remains on track with its IMF programme.

She says all quantitative performance targets for the last quarter have been met, noting that tax revenues reached the budget target of $411 billion for the first time since the global financial crisis in 2007. She said structural reforms are broadly on track despite some minor delays due to the February elections and government transition.

The mission team has reached a preliminary staff-level agreement with the authorities on a package of measures that aims to complete the combined 11th and 12th reviews.

Consideration by the IMF’s executive board is tentatively scheduled for June 2016.

Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Dem boys seh...

MINISTRY ISSUES WARNING AGAINST PERPETRATORS OF TIP JAGDEO STASH Trafficking in Person (TIP) is simply not a practice that the Ministry of Social Protection is prepared to tolerate. This assertion was on Friday highlighted by Deputy Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mohan Ramrattan.

Speaking on the TIP issue during the past week, Ramrattan disclosed that the Social Protection Ministry is prepared to wage war against the perpetrators of the very lucrative but very illegal, extremely wicked and deeply criminal enterprise of Human Trafficking.

“We will fight you in every millimetre in our 215,000 square kilometres country,” said the Deputy PS to human traffickers.

TIP victims can either be of male or female gender and according to the Deputy Permanent Secretary, these victims are often forced to give free labour or services.

Added to this, they are forced to endure slavery or slavery-like conditions and even thrust into prostitution, sexual exploitation or

servitude, said Ramrattan. As such, he regards TIP as “most despicable.” He, moreover underscored that, among other things, TIP is a human rights issue.

C u r r e n t l y, the M i n i s t r y ’s c o u n t e r- T I P strategy mirrors the cherished principles of universality, indivisibility and non-discrimination of human rights which are b a s t i o n s o f G u y a n a ’s legislation, policies and programmes.

Ramrattan underscored that treating humans as cheap, disposable commodities essentially violates all tenets of the United Nation Global Compact’s human rights.

The most common violation, according to the Deputy Permanent Secretary are: the right to personal autonomy; the right not to be held in slavery or servitude; the right to liberty and security; the right to be free from cruel or inhumane treatment; the right to safe and healthy working conditions and the right to freedom of movement.

Mr. Mohan Ramrattan And according to Ramrattan, “these precious rights are held dear by this Ministry and will continue to be on the front burner of its 2016 development programme.” He pointed out that globally, women and children are easy targets for human traffickers because they comprise the bulk of the marginalised and are disproportionably affected by the root causes of human trafficking, which are poverty, discrimination, insecurity and violence.

The Social Protection M i n i s t r y, a c c o r d i n g t o Ramrattan, will pursue an aggressive campaign to beat the pinch of poverty; it will back all measures to eliminate discrimination (whether on grounds of race, religion, sexual

orientation, gender or geographic location) in the quest to end Human Trafficking.

As part of the technical arm of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons “we will also support the efforts of the Public Security Ministry in the vanguard of stamping out this criminal enterprise.” “ We w a n t t o e n s u r e that victims of Human Trafficking are not revictimised by our country’s laws. We will continue to pursue all legal best practices as are enshrined in international human rights standards and principles found in international treaties, covenants and protocols,” said Ramrattan.

But according to him, the recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2002) will continue to serve as a framework and reference p o i n t i n t h e M i n i s t r y ’s fight against the scourge and in its determined bid to protect the rights of victims. “This we believe will guarantee their empowerment, their self representation and their participation in regaining mastery over their destiny,” the Deputy PS asserted.

AWAY 13 BILLION All over de world does build massive buildings with hundreds of stories. The Japanese people skyscraper don’t have a 13th floor. All their buildings jump from 12 to 14 floor.

De reason is that dem believe that de number 13 is an unlucky number. De western world follow dem, and some in Guyana follow de western world and believe de same crap.

Fuh such people Friday the 13th is an unlucky day.

Some people don’t left dem house on the 13th day of every month. Dem don’t have nutten to do wid 13—dem don’t want to know, see or hear anything that associate wide 13.

Dem boys hear all this is because Jesus was crucified on Friday de 13th. Ever since then, that day has been associated with “general ill omen,” Thirteen people was there fuh de Last Supper, the night before Jesus was killed. The disciple who betrayed Jesus, is considered to have been the 13th guest—Judas.

But dem boys seh 13 is actually a good ting fuh dem Scamps. Brassington was in charge of 13 different govt administrations and when dem boys brace him he run and file 13 lawsuits against dem. Brazzy does eat 13 meals ah day and go to de toilet 13 times a day.

Scampish Jagdeo mansion gat 13 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms/washrooms.

De same Jagdeo gat nuff money stashed in 13 different countries. He even rule de country fuh nearly 13 years and have almost 13 billion. Donald De Dumb does tek a nap on the 13th hour of the day, every day.

Sam Blinds tender his resignation 13 times during de PPP reign. JoeShan travel 13 hours to China, he spend 13 days and travel pun a 13-seater private jet. When dem boys talk he send a threatening lawyer letter on the 13th of May demanding $13 million.

Babbie buy de Santa Complex fuh just over 13 cents and he tek 13 weeks fuh pay. BaiShanLin has 13 registered companies in Guyana and never pay 13 cent to GRA or to Guyana. Jagdeo and 13 others own all ah Guyana except 13%. Almost 13 months in office fuh de new govt and still nobady ain’t get charge, much less jail.

Clintie de Willie can swallow 13 Jumbo prawns one time.

Dem boys seh if you join the two figures 1 & 3, you get a B!!! And we all know what dem Bee’s duh tuh the country!

Talk half and dig 13 lashes in dem.

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

NIS interference by previous gov’t…

More doctors for hinterland communities Take Jagdeo’s story with a pinch of salt - Goolsarran

Residents of Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine are benefitting from improved health care services. Several doctors have been deployed to communities in these hinterland regions.

There are plans for more doctors to be stationed in other hinterland communities.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that, “we have deployed 19 doctors to …Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Additionally, we have had doctors going to areas where we have never had doctors before, like Issano and Imbaimadai; we have

doctors that are waiting to be deployed there.”

Meanwhile, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Regional Health Services (RHS) Department.

Pointing to its achievements over the past year, Minister Cummings said, “To date we have seen 1729 patients, especially in the hinterland regions. A total of 137 patients would have had successful surgeries at the Mabaruma, Lethem and Bartica hospitals; we have also had 72 surgical interventions in Lethem alone.”

Additionally, the Minister explained that it is the vision of the Ministry to ensure that all Guyanese have access to

the best quality of health care.

This has seen major interventions at the Regional level including several outreaches to health care facilities countrywide and meetings with Regional Health workers, primarily Regional Health Officers (RHOs).

These interventions have seen repairs and maintenance works being done at these facilities along with the upgrading of equipment such as x-ray machines, monitors and surgical equipment.

Further, Minister Cummings noted that there are plans for major improvements for the health sector, primarily in terms of the quality of care offered.

Injunction restrains GuySuCo from sacking Wales workers The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) responding to queries about whether the Corporation can still pay severance to workers from the Wales Estate in the face of an injunction, says

that a court order is blocking it.

An Injunction was granted in the High Court by Justices William Ramlal and Diana Insanally in favour of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

The Order granted by the Judges states, ‘‘It is further ordered that an interim

injunction be and is hereby granted restraining the (Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc.) from severing the employment of workers of the Wales Estate and rendering them redundant.

To do so GuySuCo must hold consultations with GAWU and NAACIE. The matter was called before the Judge in the Chambers Court on May 17, last. It is to be heard again on May 24.

With pronouncements by former President Bharrat Jagdeo that his Cabinet had no input in the direction in which the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) invested its money, except for the Berbice Bridge investment, some observers are not impressed.

One such observer is former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran, who questioned why the nation should take the former President’s pronouncements at face value. According to Goolsarran, the accumulated minutes of the NIS board meetings would have to be the point of reference, in order to ascertain the true level of cabinet’s interference beforehand.

“It’s a sad situation,” Goolsarran said in a recent interview with Kaieteur News. “If he said only one instance, how do we know that? We should see all the Board minutes, so you can (ascertain) all the decisions.”

Goolsarran stated that the Berbice Bridge investment has been shown to be a poor one, but with recent revelations about the Board’s susceptibility to being overridden, there could be other cases of undue influence.

“The money NIS gets comes from private and public contributions, employees and employers,” he said. “This money is set aside to take care of them so that when they are retired, they would have recourse.”

He said that while NIS has to invest its funds, it is not right for anyone to make reckless decisions with regards to investment. And yet, he said, almost all investment norms, including being cautious, were breached.

Goolsarran said that NIS money should not have gone

Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran into the bridge, because it was unlikely that the bridge could return a profit. Pointing to the financial makeup of the bridge, Goolsarran noted that the bridge is saddled with debt that has to be paid off.

“You have to service the debt. The capital structure was weighted too much to debt versus equity. Plus you have to meet operating expenses.”

At a press conference last Wednesday, Jagdeo was adamant that the PPP Cabinet had not interfered in NIS operations with regards to how NIS invested its money, except for “some investment in the bridge.”

The “some investment” into a bridge to which Jagdeo referenced is the investment of $2.59B in the Berbice Bridge, commissioned in 2008. The bridge has reportedly racked up $1.5B in accumulated losses, based on the 2014 audited financial statements.

It had controversial engagements with the current Government when attempts were first made to get the bridge toll lowered.

“Some of the decisions, including the purchase of shares in the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI), are continuing to severely impact

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo the scheme’s cash flows and the recoverability of the investments,” the auditor had reported. NIS was already facing problems, with little returns on its investments. It had lost almost $5B in the bankrupt CLICO. The Berbice Bridge would be its second biggest investment.

In another case, the report flagged that in a meeting of the board held on July 30, 2012, the General Manager informed the Board that Cabinet made a decision for the scheme to purchase a property in Paramaribo, Suriname, for •535,000.

“There was no evidence that the Board had deliberated before agreeing on this investment nor was there any evidence that a feasibility study was done to determine whether the price paid was consistent with the value of the property,” the report disclosed.

“In fact, many of the members had served on the Board for many years, but when the minutes of the Board of Directors (BOD) for the last four years were reviewed, they confirmed that critical decisions, in particular those for investments, were made by Cabinet and not the BOD. “This is not what the NIS Act intended, as it provides guidance on how the Board of Directors should be appointed and regulates its proceedings.”

In the audit’s findings, a 2011 construction of a new office at Corriverton, Berbice, was also flagged as being too costly. A valuation two years after the office was built placed the cost at only $38M. The Corriverton branch had featured negatively under the previous administration, after documents relating to the construction revealed what appeared to be high costs for the building. It was an embarrassment for NIS, which was also facing tough financial times as its expenses outstripped its income.

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Fuel, equipment concessions did not benefit small, medium miners - GGDMA Back in November last year, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) signed agreements with Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, to make eligible miners exempt from custom duties on fuel and equipment.

Tensions were high on Friday. However, as the GGDMA and impassioned mining operators made it known that these benefits were not been felt by those it was supposed to targetsmall and medium scale miners- in the short time it was provided. The miners stated that only a few were able to benefit, an outcome many observers had predicted upon first seeing the stipulations.

During a meeting at GGDMA’s office, President

- says industry is on the brink, miners scaling down little by little

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman Terrence Adams laid out how things went awry. He stated that the agreements only stood for six months, but crucial paperwork from agencies, in particular GGMC, were held up for half of that time. Those agreements, the association stated, have since expired.

GGDMA executives, from left; Edward Shields; Vice President, Andron Alphonso; President Terrence Howard and former President Patrick Harding

“It was only for six months (but) the fuel was a total disaster in terms of dealing with the other ministries or agencies; that is GEA and GGMC,” Adams stated. “I don’t think we had

Nearly 45% of malaria cases are underreported ...increased gold prices bring increased malaria cases - PAHO health report finds Reported cases of malaria are constantly fluctuating but cases of underreporting seem to be higher, with the Pan American Health Organization reporting that there were nearly 45% underreported cases in 2013 and 2014, nationally.

According to the PAHO Health@50 in Guyana: Progress Health Report 19662016 the organization conducted a rapid assessment of malaria reporting in August 2015 and established that there was a 44% of underreporting of cases nationally in 2014 and 42% in 2013. The report also referenced the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, 2015, which coincided with their assessment. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, had told Kaieteur News that cases of underreporting to date have been just around 30%, however this percentage is still alarming since the country is seeking to eradicate the disease.

PAHO stated that Guyana’s tropical climate, high rainfall, and marshy conditions causes malaria to consistently pose a threat to the population. The report, which spanned 50 years, indicated that from the thousands of reported cases at the beginning of the National Malaria Eradication

Programme in 1959, only 72 cases were reported in 1974.

However, there was a parallel reduction in resource allocation to malaria and this contributed to resurgence in cases, the report added.

Nevertheless, it acknowledged that Guyana has made efforts to eradicate the disease and there has been significant decline.

In 1991, there were 41,000 cases reported; the numbers increased to a little more than 84,000 reported cases in 1995.

Thereafter, annual cases were consistently around 30,000 up to 2004. But suddenly there was a drop between 2007 and 2009, where reported cases were at their lowest.

There have been increases annually afterward.

At present, reported cases are somewhere near 8000 cases.

MALARIA INCREASES WHEN GOLD PRICE INCREASES Malaria transmission has always been tied to movement of persons from the coast travelling to the hinterland regions to engage in economic activity associated with the extractive industries of gold, diamond and lumber.

The report revealed that whenever there is an increase in the price of gold on the world market, there is a concomitant increase in the number of malaria cases, as a

greater number of coastlanders travel to the malaria endemic regions for the purpose of mining. Thus, a greater number of the population is exposed to malaria.

The report also indicated that while the majority of cases occur among coastlanders, transmission among the indigenous peoples is higher. Indigenous transmission is most noticeable in children under 19 years of age and elderly persons 60 years and older.

Currently, the National Malaria Programme is engaged in strengthening Malaria case management through training to improve Malaria detection (microscopy and rapid testing) and treatment, active case detection through partnerships with civil society, vector control through distribution of longlasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (LLIN) and control of mosquito breeding sites through spraying with insecticides.

Persaud, however, stated that based on the review of the malaria situation since 2010, it is evident that there has been a descending trend.

The Pan American Health Organisation usually collaborates with the Health Ministry to review reported cases.

an issue with GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) for the first instance; they were prompt in their response back to us.”

“But GGMC took close to three months to come up with an approval on the documents. By that time rules and regulations had been thrown out to us, (for instance) miners have to have storage facilities in the interior for fire extinguishers before we can acquire the fuel.”

He stated that they have thus not benefitted from the agreements and after failing to have a meeting with the Chairman of GEA, the association now intends to take it up with President David Granger to have the agreements renewed, not for six months, but for a year.

Another issue which Adams noted would be brought up was the Value Added Tax (VAT) on heavy duty equipment.

Vice President of GGDMA, Andron Alphonso, stated that a huge problem is the mixed signals that the association has been receiving from Government.

He stated that after a meeting with the Minister on one occasion, one would sometimes hear something different from the GGMC on another.

“This is why we need to have this meeting with the (Continued on page 16)

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

GRA never sought over $1B in owed taxes from NFMU

Another case of gross violation of Guyana’s financial laws has been identified by forensic auditors as they combed through the accounts of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU).

Auditors found that the entity has never paid taxes to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

What is worse is that it appears that GRA never bothered to press the Unit to pay

up. The forensic auditing team from Ram and McRae, Chartered Accountants, said that even as a body established under the Public Corporations Act, the NFMU does not enjoy any tax exemption. They noted in their report that over its existence however, the NFMU has never paid any on its net profits. For accounting purposes, the auditors said that the expenses for other agencies are

treated as expenses of the NFMU which is incorrect.

They said that these amounts should have been shown as advances to the Government.

The auditors said that after adding back these expenses which in any case are not allowed for tax purposes, a preliminary calculation suggests that the NFMU has a liability to taxes of more than $1B, not including penalties

Forensic Auditor, Chris Ram and interest.

To comply with the law, the forensic auditors suggested that the tax liabilities should be determined and a set-off made for payments on behalf of the Government.

They said that the government should then consider whether the relevant legislation should be amended to provide any exemption from taxation.

Head of NFMU, Valmikki Singh

The auditors said, too, that they saw no evidence that the Guyana Revenue Authority made any effort to access the NFMU and get any taxes.

The GRA under the leadership of former Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, had spoken many times about the need to clamp down on tax evasion. In fact, Sattaur had pointed to audi-

tors as being the major players in such an illegal activity.

In a previous interview, he said, “The root of the illegal practice is the executives of major companies who are allowed to live extravagant lifestyles due to the aiding and abetting that takes place between them and their auditors.” He also denounced comments that tax evasion was rampant under his watch.

Man gets 13 years for manslaughter Justice James Bovell Drakes handed down a 13-year jail term to a Kaow Island, Essequibo River man early last week who pleaded guilty to killing his drinking partner in 2013. Basdeo, a/k” Papo” admitted to fatally inflicting one single stab wound on his partner which subsequently resulted in the man’s death.

A police report stated that some time during 2013, at Kaow Island in the Essequibo River, Basdeo and the now deceased, Nabert

Caesar Bradford, were imbibing alcohol, at Basdeo’s home.

Basdeo sent the man to a shop to purchase alcohol. During an argument which later ensued between the two men, Basdeo went into his kitchen and armed himself with a kitchen knife which he used to stab Bradford.

However before Basdeo was sentenced, the Judge reminded him of the nature and seriousness of the offence.

Guyana seeks to remove itself from FATF process While Guyana still has to report to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) at the next plenary to be held later this year, the country has been highly commended for its improved compliance. Further to this, Guyana is gearing to exit the process.

CFATF in its 10th Followup Report issued earlier this month acknowledged that Guyana has made major developments in the realm of combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams boasted about this at his most recent press conference. Williams quoted the report, “Guyana should be commended for the improvement in compliance.

The Minister said that the recent Amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act No 2 of 2015, the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist related Activities of 2015 form part of legislative amendments that were required by CFATF and satisfied the majority of rec-

Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams ommendations which Guyana had outstanding.

“The overall level of compliance has improved with several recommendations namely 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 16, 33, 35, 37 - special recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 9 having met all recommended actions.

There have also been substantial improvements in compliance with recommendations 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, (and) special recommendations 5, 6

and 7,” said Williams.

He said that the CFATF report indicates that Guyana should be commended for improving its compliance and continued implementation.

However authorities should continue to submit information for each report regarding the provisions of training, both to the competent authorities and the financial institutions.

“Guyana has significantly improved its overall level of compliance however, due to the remaining outstanding recommended actions, it is recommended that Guyana stay in enhanced follow- up and be required to report to the next plenary in 2016.”

Minister Williams said that the strides made by his administration are significant.

The former administration was cited three times and issued with warnings for the institution of counter-measures against Guyana for failure to meet standards. He added that currently, only one remaining recommendation which has been partially met remains to be addressed by the Administration.

Sunday May 22, 2016

Robbery accused denies showing senior cop stolen phone Robbery accused, Williams Evans, has vehemently denied showing Head of Major Crimes Unit Mitchell Caesar where a stolen cell phone was, shortly after he was arrested for allegedly robbing a woman at gunpoint three months ago at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt Georgetown.

Evans, 24 of Lot 244 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; and Tambico McKenzie, 29, also of East Ruimveldt are jointly charged for the offence of robbery under arms.

It is alleged that on February 9, the two men robbed Merissa Winter of an iPhone, four gold bands and a gold and diamond ring. They are currently on remand.

Both of the men were called on to lead a defence after City Magistrate Judy Latchman ruled that a prima facie case was made out against them based on evidence led by Police Prosecutor, Kerry Bostwick.

At a court hearing earlier this week, Evans took to the witness box and told the court that he had no involvement in the crime. He stressed that he never showed Caesar where the stolen item was. He added that the victim became known to him while he was in police custody.

He said that he also met his co-accused while in custody.

The defendant related that on the day in question, around 8:30am he was standing on the back road waiting for transportation. He also said that he noticed that three police vans passed him then two stopped in front of him.

“Two more vans stopped and police jump out. And police put me inside the van.”

Evans said that when he inquired from police of the reasons for his arrest they told him that they were carrying out a campaign in the area. He recalled that the lawmen took him for a ride around the community and told him that he has robbed a woman.

The defendant told the court, “I tell them me ain’t do no robbery or nothing. I just come from home.” Evans recalled that while in custody the victim pointed him out as one of the individuals who robbed her. However, he said that he told Winter, “Me ain’t know you”.

Prosecutor Bostwick called several police witnesses to testify. But Evans, during his testimony argued that none of those police officers arrested him and that he never saw them before. He stated that a police officer searched him and none of the complainant’s belongings was found on him.

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Kaieteur News

…says he first met robbery victim while in custody On May 9, McKenzie took to the witness box and gave his version of what transpired on the day in question. The former surveyor at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) told the court that he has no knowledge of the robbery because he was nowhere around when it happened.

McKenzie recalled that on the day of the robbery, he was arrested by armed policemen while awaiting transportation at the corner of Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt.

According to the defendant, he told the officers that he was not aware that a robbery had occurred. He said that the lawmen searched him and took away his cell phone, $1,340, 40Euros and 10 grammes of marijuana.

McKenzie testified that he was assaulted by the ranks and thrown into a vehicle. “They carry me through the street to a police van where I saw Williams.

Then I was placed into the van back too and carried to the

East La Penitence Police Station,” he said.

He insisted that he saw his co-accused for the first time when he was arrested.

McKenzie added that it was while in custody that he became familiar with him. The defendant disclosed that he is currently serving a prison sentence in relation to the narcotics that was found on him.

The police are contending that after the woman was robbed, she pursued the men in her car and ran into them, which led to their apprehension. Police are also arguing that some of the stolen items were recovered on the person of the men and that they gave caution statements admitting to the robbery.

However, the defendants are alleging that they were brutally beaten by the police.

They are also claiming that police stole their money and cell phone.

The trial continues tomorrow in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Vendors complain about new Water Street location City Hall to meet after trial period elapses The areas for vending on the Water Street pavement.

The vendors that were relocated from Longden, Water and Commerce Streets about two weeks ago are now complaining about their new accommodations. They are now located on the Water Street pavement opposite the former Guyana Stores bond.

City Hall workers had outlined the vending areas in paint with each vendor being allowed a box no larger than 5’x4’. Just over a week after moving into their new location, vendors are now complaining bitterly about the new conditions that they have to vend in.

One man stated that he has had a significant decrease in sales and that he is “barely scraping by”. The disgruntled man noted that since vendors are allowed to walk around and sell, he was fortunate enough to garner a few sales from walking about and plying his trade.

Yet another woman indicated that they are not properly sheltered as it is now the rainy season and sometimes her stocks are soaked.

She noted that; “most of us do not mind the move, we support the clean-up, but they (City Hall) could’ve used a different approach in dealing with the issue.”

Prior to the move, Town Clerk Royston King had indicated that the regular fee for cleaning- $1000- would stand as it is. The vendors expressed dissatisfaction with this fee as they stated that they are paying for the cleaning of “a lil box”. Most of them indicated that as part of the deal for the relocation, King had stated that they must be responsible for their surroundings and for keeping it clean, they noted that they were keeping within the stipulated terms and labeled the fee of $1000 as “unjust”.

Kaieteur News contacted City Hall PRO (Public Relations Officer) Debra Lewis for comments regarding this new development and she stated that City Hall is letting the relocation run for another week or two before meeting to discuss issues and concerns raised by the vendors.

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Fuel, equipment concessions did not...

(From page 11) President. Because we need something from the (President) himself, on the way forward with mining or the government’s policy. We love foreign investments. We want more Troys or Auroras.”

“However you cannot forget the contribution from the local miner. From 2008 and all those years when there was the worldwide recession, this country and the disposable wealth grew, (mainly) because of mining.”

Members of the association who were present at the meeting also chimed in.

They made it clear that there is a perception whereby Government has turned a blind eye to local miners, at a time when a large percentage of operators have parked their equipment because the cost of production –including fuelis too high.

“Gold is not, as you (might) see it, in Omai. You have to travel to far-flung

GGDMA members at the meeting yesterday areas,” one miner said.

“Rather than putting more weight on our backs, they need to ease it. Maybe we could bear it, but what about the small and medium (scale)

miner out there?”

“These things are affecting them and they are scaling down little by little until soon there will be no more. This government needs to seek advice or GGDMA needs to raise it more

vigorously with them. This thing is going to come crashing down.”

Concessions for miners were one of the coalition’s promises in its election manifesto. Based on the agreement, small and medium scale miners were supposed to have a 40 percent tax reduction on fuel, along with duty free concessions on imported equipment.

The equipment covered were matting, All Terrain

Vehicles (ATVs), jack hammer drills, flex hoses, expanding metals, pumps and hosing, impellers and engines.

STATISTICS DON’T LIE Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has since responded to the complaints of the Association.

Trotman, who professed that he was taken by surprise, stated that at a meeting held between the Association, Government and GGMC on May 10, GGDMA made no

statement about a crisis in the industry.

In light of this, Trotman suggested that the GGDMA, rather than working as a ‘committed partner’, has instead taken on the role of a pressure group. He stated that he was “nonplussed” about the motive behind the GGDMA’s statements, but that the Ministry remained committed to working with the association.

“Recent statistics about high gold declarations contradict the GGDMA’s utterances about the industry being in a crisis and devoid of any policy to give it direction,” he said in a statement.

“The statistics don’t lie, and instead, confirm that an industry that is better regulated and incentive driven will produce results.

The ‘free for all’ days to which some want to drag us back are over.”

Amidst the low price for gold on the world market, Government reported a record amount of gold being declared thus far for 2016; in excess of 243,000 ounces from January to May. This has been attributed to a clampdown on gold smuggling.

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Getting heart healthy the active way

By Sharmain Grainger Guyana is home to two cardiac facilities, neither of which is wanting for clients.

This essentially amplifies the notion that Guyana has a serious cardiovascular disease challenge. In fact the cardiovascular challenge here was just last week described as an “epidemic” by reputable cardiac surgeon, Dr. Gary Stephens.

He was at the time speaking at the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Catherisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI). The Cath Lab there is said to be the latest model offered by General Electric (GE), a multinational conglomerate company based in the United States.

CHI is an organisation that epitomizes the notion of public private-partnership. It is essentially a private entity supported by Government to offer the public, as far as possible, subsidized heart-related services and even more with the New Cath Lab. But then there is the privately-operated Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital which is also outfitted with a Cath Lab that is capable of offering on par services to patients suffering from cardiac-related issues.

But while the fancy, highpriced equipment that both institutions boast could help to extend the lives of many people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, the challenge is likely to persist if preventative measures are not seen as a necessity.

And prevention is indeed imperative if Guyana is to effectively combat this very prevalent health issue. After all, prevention has long been said to be better than cure.

Cardiovascular diseases, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO),

are disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions.

Using statistics from WHO, Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton recently revealed that a staggering 17.5 million people die annually of cardiovascular diseases, representing an estimated 31 percent of all deaths worldwide. Added to this, more than 75 per cent of cardiovascular deaths occur in low and middle income countries much like Guyana.

Further, WHO has found that a whopping 80 per cent of all cardiovascular deaths are related to heart attacks and strokes.

Although the Minister was not able to share Guyana-specific statistics, the fact that our country, like so many others, is faced with this epidemic, suggests that there is urgent need for efforts to be made to reduce its prevalence. While in the past cardiovascular diseases were

The Baccoo Speaks

Holidays are always exciting times, but some people allow their exuberance to get the better of them. There was the motorcycle duo who, as I said, would invoke the wrath of a community. Another gang that at one time sought protection in the Stabroek Square would be out in the cold. It would make the mis-

take of attacking a firearm holder who happened to have the appearance of a visiting Guyanese. ** With so many cars on the road it would be hard put to understand how there can be road accidents, but that is going to be the case when a driver makes a radical turn across oncoming traffic.

Road rage could be a demon. The police are going to have to deal with more than a traffic accident. ** Another fire is going to breakout in a home that has more than its fair share of scares. A faulty electrical point will cause a spark that will all but destroy the house.

associated with the elderly, it is clearly affecting young people as well these days.

But Dr. Norton insisted that Guyana is poised to effectively tackle this challenge forthwith. In fact he claims he is setting a fine example for the nation to follow.

While diet is an important factor in the quest to improve one’s health, the Minister has made it clear that exercise certainly cannot be placed on the back burner.

According to him, “physical inactivity is something that needs to be addressed. I can tell you it does not take so much infrastructure, and maybe that is why I am more inclined to blaze the trail in terms of jogging.”

“I can imagine that persons might have looked at me and term it an obsession, but I would certainly like for more of the Guyanese people to

develop that obsession of running, jogging or even walking, and of course in so many other aspects,” the Public Health Minister asserted.

He optimistically shared his conviction that the coalition A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change Government is capable of achieving a goal detailed in its manifesto to have Guyanese become the healthiest people when compared to the Caribbean and the Americas by 2020.

“I feel happy when I can pass by what is known as the Merriman Mall and see playpens and gadgets that our younger generation can enjoy that never used to be there before. We must call a ‘spade a spade’ and not only when its ‘Ace of Spades’...But we have to reach the state where we can recognise the use of open spaces and that of rec-

reational facilities,” Dr. Norton pointed out.

Even as he hinted that Government should be given credit where it is due, he stressed the need for people to become more involved in sports activities, regardless of how much it costs.

According to several credible reports, regular exercise can have a positive impact on the many risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

While not all exercises are good for the heart, indulging in appropriate exercises will not only keep down weight, but ensure that your heart remains healthy. Research has shown that even persons

who underwent cardiac surgery and exercised regularly were able to heal faster than individuals who did not. And it has been established that at least 30 minutes of focused brisk walking per day, even in portions, could be enough to help improve heart health, and by extension, prevent heartrelated complications.

What we have to remember, though, is that the heart is a muscle that needs exercise, so that it can continue to fulfill its role to pump blood throughout the body.

We cannot overlook too that exercise must go hand in hand with healthy eating habits, non-smoking, and staying away from the harmful use of alcohol.

Based on a report published at heartfoundation. org, ‘For each hour of regular exercise you get, you’ll gain about two hours of additional life expectancy, even if you don’t start until middle age!”

Essentially, it isn’t too late if you are already middle age or would have manifested the onset of cardiovascular diseases. The important thing is to recognise that there is a risk or potential risk for cardiovascular diseases and embracing necessary measures to get things right with your health is important. Of course consulting with your physician is always a plus ahead of getting busy with exercise. After all, the intent is to create good, ‘healthy living’ results.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

One year of enigmas, secrets and Simona Broomes In analyzing the first year of the Coalition’s balance sheet, comparisons and juxtapositions have to be used.

Life is about comparisons.

Bernie Sanders is the most radical, left wing presidential candidate the Democratic Party ever produced, when you compare him to Jerry Brown and Barack Obama.

Scandinavia has the most successful capitalist system when you compare it to the United States.

The present Pope is more liberal when you compare him to his predecessors.

Juxtapose the Coalition’s first year in power with Hoyte’s, Cheddi Jagan’s, Janet Jagan’s, Jagdeo’s, Ramotar’s first year and there is very little for Coalition leaders to boast about.

Hoyte stands out as the president with the most dynamic, innovative, phenomenal first year in office.

Burnham’s initial year from 1968 to 1969 did not produce anything startling because the Cold War forced him to tread carefully with the West. Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Jagdeo, Ramotar and Granger did not have a transformational first year in power.

If you make the comparison with Granger and his pre-

decessors dating back to 1992, then it has been an ordinary first year. The honesty factor is an automatic response when Granger’s name comes up. The integrity factor automatically flows from your lips when you discuss David Granger.

But even the lay person anywhere in this world is conscious enough to know that a leader’s integrity, though vital, cannot create a great country if other leadership factors are not there.

An entire year has come and gone since the historic coalition between a perceived Indian leader (Nagamootoo) and a widely regarded leader of an African party (Granger).

But except for a few accomplishments which were not transformational in nature , where is the vision, innovative thinking and new directions? Where is the Hoytean courage, Hoytean risk-taking capacity, Hoytean transformational pathways?

The answer is there weren’t any. They may come next year and they may come as a deluge, but there was none in the first year of the Granger/Nagamootoo team.

On the contrary, the first year of the Coalition is one of cascading enigmas.

Let’s look at some of them and when doing so, you see that vision is badly and sadly lacking.

We start with the Ministries. Where was the vision of the Coalition Government when it stuck with an inherited Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (now renamed Indigenous People’s Affairs) and placed two Ministers in it but removed the Ministry of Youth? Guyana’s population has the Amerindian people at ten percent. Give or take a few thousand, it amounts to fifty thousand. The percentage of youths (if your cut off point is 32 years of age) is over sixty percent. Why would you not want a Ministry of Youth?

This is a huge enigma inside the corridors of power.

Whose idea was this? Whoever it was, it shows no vision.

Next is Simona Broomes.

Every Guyanese who follows political trends would have known a lady named Simona Broomes who was the president of the women’s mining association and a human rights activist.

Because of her rights activism, she was given the perfect fit in the Ministry of Social Protection. Someone in the Government showed a lack of vision and planted Ms.

Broomes in a ministry she should not be in – a ministry where she has jurisdiction over the mining sector.

With over twenty-five ministries, someone chose to put Ms. Broomes where she should not be. Is that vision in leadership?

Let us discuss another enigma and it involves Broomes again. Why was Broomes removed from her perfect portfolio? If ever a minister suited a human rights job, it was Simona Broomes at the Ministry of Social Protection. It remains an enigma why she was removed. Some people would argue that enig-

mas dominate the landscape of the first year of the Coalition in power when you think of the Harmon China trip and Noel Holder in the Ministry of Agriculture. From enigmas, let go to secrets.

Guyana truly earned the description of land of secrets during the Jagdeo regime.

Under the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal, Guyanese came to hate the PPP because of the closet of secrets. It seems the Coalition has its closet too.

Guyanese cannot know the name of the company through which donations have to be made for the construction of the D’Urban Park project.

Frederick Kissoon Guyanese cannot know the lawyer who is advising the committee that is advising the government on the contents of the forensic audits. We end with the final enigma; retroactive to January 2015 the five highest paid UG officers will get a ten percent increase, while the perennial cry for salary increase of UG staff continues. Wasn’t a bad year; wasn’t a good one either.

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Happy 50th Anniversary “GUYANA

MEANS SERIOUS BUSINESS” The Alliance For Change extends hearty greetings to every Guyanese, no matter where they may live, for a celebratory, life-changing 50th Independence Anniversary. The Government has just marked its very first year in office and while we observe the achievements of this nation state over the past 50 years, we are fully cognizant that our work has only just begun.

The road to long-lasting comfort and wealth for Guyanese is long. It is going to be hard, and as we’ve said on several occasions, it will sometimes seem as if we are moving too slowly. But like most things in life, real results take their time to show themselves. The Government knows that the results of our detailed programmes to enliven this economy will show themselves in due course. All we ask from our citizenry are faith and patience.

The work that is being done in Region Nine is only one of the programmes being carried out all across the nation, programmes that are setting in motion our economic

take-off. The Industrial Site at Lethem has been redesigned and is being constructed by SRK ‘NEngineering & Associates Ltd. under the leadership of Dr. Krishna Naraine, their Chief Technical Director, Structural Engineer and Managing Director.

This company has more than 40 years experience working on local projects involving water resources, hydraulics, drainage and irrigation, environmental and agricultural studies, road and pavement design and erosion control, among other things.

During a recent visit to a meeting of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Business and Investment Minister Dominic Gaskin laid out plans for the development of the Industrial Site and the immediate benefits for hinterland entrepreneurs. He had led a delegation which included the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and the Junior Ministers of Finance, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Natural Resources, Public Health and

Public Infrastructure. Groups of engineers, accountants and other technical staff and representatives of several sub-agencies also accompanied the delegation.

In his discourse with the gathering of businessmen and women, Minister Gaskin spoke about the government’s allocation of G$267M to operationalize the Lethem industrial estate.

Their visit was in response to the RCCI’s request for Government’s assistance to broaden the scope of the region’s business sector and, among other things, to boost their capacity to employ the youths in the Region.

The Minister was not impressed by the plan that had been previously drawn up for this Industrial site. He said that his Ministry’s Industry Department immediately saw the need to redraw the blueprint and bring to fruition the government’s vision for Lethem, a large border town that already has very closely ties with our neighbour, Brazil. In fact, Lethem is slated to achieve township status.

This is going to materialize as

soon as the industrial estate is completed and the health, education, social and public services are upgraded to improve the livelihoods and lifestyles of the residents.

The business owners at the meeting also pressed their case for immediate decentralisation of the business registration process and the key public services – application for passports, birth & death certificates, etc. They informed the team that currently the process of registering their businesses is difficult, since they have been forced to travel to the GRA office at Suddie, Essequibo Coast, at great cost.

The issue of commercial zoning was also raised and members revealed that a few residents had established businesses without following the required procedures and without receiving official approval. This situation has engendered some ‘bad blood’ over the years, and it put several legitimate business owners at some disadvantage.

Minister Gaskin in response noted that matters of this nature should be expeditiously resolved by the new local Government, the Municipality. He stated as well that leases issued for prime lands, if they are not being utilized for the stated purposes, could be revoked. The challenges

faced by law enforcement ranks, such as a shortage of manpower and vehicles appropriate for that inland forested terrain were also discussed. These concerns, Minister Gaskin promised, would be relayed to the Minister of Public Security for his urgent attention.

However, Government will not cut corners to fix challenges. The issues highlighted by the RCCI’s members are being fast tracked and expedited transparently.

This outreach to the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry was a follow-up to a visit made by President David Granger in March.

MANAGING INDUSTRIAL ESTATES The work of the Ministries and agencies that support and regulate private enterprise is important for Guyana’s economic well-being and these entities need to be properly funded. The Ministry of Business is responsible for a number of agencies and departments which support the development of a strong, vibrant and competitive private sector in all communities in Guyana.

The Industry Department of the Ministry of Business currently monitors two active Industrial Estates with over 120 developed plots at Coldingen ECD and Eccles

EBD. These estates support 57 operational factories and approximately 4000 jobs. The main industries are wood processing, cement block-making, electronic engineering, agro food processing, fish processing, furniture manufacturing, metal fabrication and several services.

The Department is in the process of developing new industrial estates at Belvedere, Berbice and Lethem, Rupununi on the strength of the $212M that the 2016 national budget has allocated for developing and fixing our industrial estates this year.

The Lethem site will be able to accommodate at least 100 businesses, and Belvedere, Region 6 has space for about 20 businesses.

The Coldingen estate will also have to undergo major capital works as a result of years of neglect. Two new bridges would be built to provide access for heavy duty vehicles that transport materials and goods to and from businesses operating on the site. These projects have been languishing for well over a decade but the APNU+AFC Coalition had redesigned and will complete them in the foreseeable future to provide appropriate workspace especially for local investors in value-added industries who have the potential for export.

Sunday May 22, 2016

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

My column

Fifty years later: Guyana is changing for the better The past few days have brought a lot of recollection from me. In another few days it would be fifty years since Guyana became independent.

It would also be fifty years since I joined the world of work. Those were the days when travelling was not as easy as it is today.

I spoke about travelling to Linden. The Soesdyke-Linden Highway was about to be constructed so the communities along the highway were not there. Of course there was a trail, but the conditions were such that people only say jungle. I remember when they were clearing the trail they found an aircraft that had disappeared during the Second World War. This was just a short distance from Atkinson Field, the airport that was there at the time. Search and Rescue was not what it was today, but it was surprising that a plane going down so close to the airport could not have been found.

On Friday, thanks to Banks DIH, a new independence arch has been erected and that brought me back to the days when the first arches were being erected. I remember when they were transporting the Brickdam arch to

where it now stands. There was the construction, and Brickdam began to take on a new look. Just a decade earlier Queen’s College was there.

It was to become the Ministry of Health some time later.

But across the road there were two small ponds just south east of the 1763 monument. I don’t know how they got there, but they provided a lot of entertainment for boys who are now in their 60s.

Agricola was country and so too was Lodge and Campbellville. The newspapers had a lot to write about as the big day approached.

The Queen had come and gone. She had come in February and there was a lot planned around that visit. I suppose the party never stopped until May 26, 1966.

In Charlotte Street, just west of Camp Street behind where Goodwood Racing Service now stands was a pan yard. ‘Pemya’ was the king in that yard and there were a lot of young and good players.

Unless I am wrong, that band was the Invaders.

There were others, but by no stretch of imagine I could have got to them; me being a country boy who barely spent any time in the city.

Terry Nelson, the Guyanese singer out of England had just composed the hit, ‘We Welcome Independence’. The radio stations blared it. Everywhere one turned there were the school children rehearsing what they had to do on Independence Day. Teachers were fussy as were the parents.

This time around I see so many things. Black women fifty years ago were content to use the hot comb on their hair, paint their faces with pink powder and use red nail polish and red or pink lipstick.

That has changed today. The nail polish and the lipstick come in a variety of colours.

To add to the glamour are the weaves, that extension that women put into their hair.

So far, I have seen nails painted in the national colours but the most enterprising that I have seen is a woman sporting hair in the colours of the national flag. It looks so good. As it was fifty years ago, there is an outburst of national fervor. Everyone seems to be caught up.

Back then the few airplanes that came brought a smattering of Guyanese but

mostly foreigners. It is a different ball game today. I happened to be coming from Trinidad on Tuesday and the welcome I got at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was something to behold.

There were the flags, the steelband welcome was exceptional; it had people jumping in the queue as they waited their turn at the immigration counter.

Then there was the drive to the city. The place was as clean as it ever was. This is a Guyana I thought I knew but didn’t. Of course there have been the moves to correct certain situations. The Stabroek Market area is being spruced up; vendors are being removed and there is the disagreement with the authorities. But as old folks say, ‘Talk fuh rain, talk fuh

sun’ there is some amount of cooperation. There is word that the economy has slowed.

If that is the case, what is happening does not reflect that.

It is true that the visiting Guyanese have added an injection of cash, but when all is said and done, people have been doing so much to make this anniversary event most memorable.

I have been listening to the radio and I have never heard so many songs by so many Guyanese artistes at the same time. They are all singing about the jubilee and there I am jumping to the beats, something I did fifty years ago, but certainly not behind the wheel of a car.

D’Urban Park is different from what it was fifty years ago, so different that there are young people who would be

Adam Harris hard pressed to remember what it was just a few short years ago. On the night of May 25, 1966 the Golden Arrowhead that was hoisted was large, but nowhere as large as the one that will fly over Guyana come May 26 this year.

I am not going to be around for another fifty years.

I am not even certain that I will be around when the 75th anniversary comes around, but I do hope that what has started now will continue in this the land of my birth for a long time to come.

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Guyana’s ‘Green’ Economy

President David Granger (An excerpt from the address by His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, at the opening of GuyExpo 2016) GREEN ECONOMY Guyana is the largest state in the Caribbean Community. Its forests cover more than 85 per cent of its land mass. It is a ‘net carbon sink,’ that is, its forests sequester more carbon that the country’s human activity generates.

Guyana’s economy, despite this, is a heavily dependent on agriculture and on the extractive sectors – bauxite, gold, diamond, timber.

The high dependence on agriculture and exhaustible natural resources places Guyana’s natural assets at risk of erosion.

Guyana therefore needs a sustainable model of resource exploitation and extraction in order to check the depletion of its natural assets so that these assets will also be available to future generations.

A ‘green’ economy is necessary to ensure the sustainable management of its natu-

ral resources and assets.

A ‘green’ economy is also needed to wean this country off of its addiction to fossil fuels. The importation of these fuels exacts a heavy burden on the economy.

Guyana, in 2012, expended the equivalent of 24% of its Gross Domestic Product on petroleum-based products.

GREEN STRATEGY Guyana’s Green Development Strategy will be developed as a template for the ‘greening” of Guyana.

Guyana will have a ‘green’ economy. We will transition our economy rapidly towards renewable, clean and cheaper sources of energy. We will craft a comprehensive Coastal Zone Management Plan to protect human habitation, our coastal economic sectors and coastal ecosystems. We will create ‘green’ enterprises and jobs and we will inculcate ‘green’ education in our schools.

Guyana’s ‘green’ development strategy will rest on four pillars: · Energy: Guyana will rapidly accelerate the transition towards renewable sources of energy as part of its ‘green’

development thrust. Guyana will invest in solar, wind, hydro and biomass sources of energy over the next five years. Guyana has: - the potential for generating hydro-electricity with more than one hundred sites which are suitable for the development of hydro-electric power stations; - the potential for the development of wind energy from wind farms along the 425 km long coastline.

- the potential for Solar energy since irradiation levels are high, making it ideal for the establishment of industrial scale solar farms; - The potential for producing energy from bagasse and other sources of biomass with potential for energy generation.

The Government of Guyana will lead the way in transitioning towards greater renewable energy use. Every government building, including hospitals and schools will, within the next five years, be utilizing alternative sources of energy. Energy-saving devices will be encouraged in order to promote energy conservation. We will also be offering incentives to catalyze private investment in renewable energy. · Environmental security: More than 80 per cent of Guyana’s population resides on the coastland and most of its agriculture, including all of its sugar production and almost all of its rice production, are grown on the coastland.

Guyana’s fishing catch is, mainly, sold, processed, consumed or exported from the coastal belt.

Guyana’s coastal plain is flat and below sea level making it prone to sea defence breaches, flooding and intru-

sion of salt water into residential and agricultural communities. The sea defence protecting the coastline is fragile. It requires repair in many areas.

Drainage and irrigation systems in many areas are in need of repair. Coastal zone management, therefore, is essential to our economic survival. We will, as part of the Green Development Strategy, develop a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and maintenance of our coastal sea defence, drainage and irrigation systems.

A ‘green’ economy must be a clean economy. Our communities must evince cleanliness and healthiness and free of litter. Our waterways must be protected from pollution.

Municipal and neighbourhood councils must have solid waste disposal plans.

Citizens must enjoy the good life in a safe and clean environment. We will, therefore, rigidly enforce laws against littering. We will promote the use of bio-degradable packaging materials.

The Regional, Municipal and Neighbourhood Councils must ensure that there are adequate, properly managed and safe solid-waste dumpsites and sewage processing facilities in every region. · Ecological services: Guyana’s forests provide ecological and environmental services to humanity.

Guyana, in recognition of its responsibility to contribute to the global efforts to combat climate change, signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016 at the United Nations in New York.

Guyana committed then to

improve its timber management, to maintain a high level of timber legality and to increase value-added production in the timber sector as a means of ensuring that our forests make an effective response to climate change while yielding sustainable economic benefits for our country.

Guyana’s Protected Areas will also make its contribution to environmental conservation. Protected Areas will be established in every Region of our country.

We will place an additional two million hectares of land and waterways under conservation. Ecological parks and natural reserves will also be established to protect and preserve our natural habitats, our flora and our fauna. · Enterprise and employment: Green development is good for business. Guyana’s green revolution will spawn a wide range of business and employment opportunities.

Electric cars, hybrid vehicles, energy-saving devices, solar home systems, organic health foods, recycling plants, environmentallyfriendly buildings, ‘green’ construction materials, biodegradable packaging materials, sustainable agriculture and ‘green’ financing options are just some of the areas around which new enterprises and jobs will be created.

GREENWAVE Guyana must move onto the crest of a green wave.

Green jobs are the next wave of job-creation. A ‘green’ economy will, of necessity demand a higher level of skilled personnel. The education system, therefore, must be in a position to supply the trained personnel needed by a ‘green’ economy.

The business community, financial sector, entrepreneurs and young people are pivotal to the success of our strategy to create a green

economy. A green economy: represents an investment opportunity for our business community; represents an emerging target market for our financial sector that will spur entrepreneurial activity; and -creates knowledge-based jobs for the graduates of our schools and universities; - will ensure a clean and healthy environment for households and families; - will reduce our fuel import bill allow the economy to harness its underutilized resources – sun, water, wind and biomass.

The good life is about promoting sustained economic growth. The good life is for this generation and for future generations. The good life, therefore, requires a commitment to sustainable development, something that is mandated by our Constitution which states: In the interests of the present and future generations, the State will protect and make rational use of its lands, mineral and water resources, as well as its fauna and flora, and will take all appropriate measures to ensure and improve the environment.

The good life is therefore compatible with concern for sustainable development and consideration for the environment ‘Green’ solutions are needed to address the challenges and threats facing the country, particularly those caused by climate change such as improved coastal zone management, flooding, drought, environmental degradation, deforestation, conservation of protected areas and waterways and the provision of a safe environment.

A ‘green’ economy is good for Guyana. It will lead us to the good life. There is no better vision of the next 50 years of Guyana’s growth than to usher in a green economy.

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Leptospirosis: A deadly disease in our country

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine During the rain-induced floods in 2005, there was a Leptospirosis outbreak in Guyana that claimed the lives of many. Ever since, it has become a condition that always grabbed my attention and makes me worry when I see patients that have it.

Although it is not as contagious as Ebola, its complicated forms can have similar devastating/deadly effects. The rains are back and there is an increased risk of the leptospira bacteria being transmitted in the accumulating waters.

Understanding this disease will significantly help to prevent its transmission and save lives.

WHAT IS LEPTOSPIROSIS? Leptospirosis is a disease that can cause fever, muscle aches, and headaches. It is caused by bacteria that infect animals. The germ lives in the urine of animals that carry it.

The main way humans get leptospirosis is from water or soil with animal urine in it.

The germ gets into the body through cuts or scrapes. It can also get in through the pink, moist tissues called “mucous membranes” that line your mouth, nose, eyes, and other body parts.

Animals that can carry leptospirosis include: . Rodents, such as rats and mice . Farm animals, such as cows, pigs, horses, sheep, and goats . Dogs WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS? Leptospirosis can be mild or severe. Some people have no symptoms or very mild symptoms.

If symptoms do happen, they usually start suddenly.

The main symptoms include: . Fever . Shaking chills . Muscle aches . Headaches Other symptoms include: . Whites of the eyes turning red . Dry cough . Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or belly pain . Pain in joints or bones . Sore throat . Rash Some people get very sick with leptospirosis. They can have serious problems in the lungs, liver, muscles, and other body parts.

Many of their organs can start to fail and they can start to hemorrhage (bleed) and die from uncontrollable internal bleeding.

Dr. Zulfikar Bux WILL I NEED TESTS? Yes. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. He or she can order tests to check for leptospirosis or a different condition that might be causing symptoms. Tests can include: . Blood tests . Urine tests . Tests on samples of the fluid from your spinal cord (called “cerebrospinal fluid” or “CSF”) HOW IS LEPTOSPIROSIS TREATED? If you feel sick you should see your doctor, he or she can prescribe an antibiotic medicine. You can take this medicine by mouth.

This helps most people get well faster.

If you get very sick, you might need treatment in the hospital. Doctors can give antibiotics through an “IV.” This is a thin tube that goes into a vein. Doctors can also give treatments for serious symptoms such as breathing problems, if you have them.

CAN LEPTOSPIROSIS BE PREVENTED? You can reduce your chances of getting leptospirosis by: . Staying away from water or soil that might be infected, such as: •Puddles, ponds, or lakes where the water does not move much or has scum on it •Water that could have animal waste in it – For example, waste that drains from a farm or ranch •Soil on a farm or ranch . Keeping rats and mice out of your house or yard . Not touching rats or mice . Keeping food and drinks away from animals . Getting your animals a vaccine (shot) against leptospirosis, if possible If you have cut, then you should avoid exposing it to still waters or soil that farming animals dwell. You should also protect your eyes, mouth and nose in these environments. But if all of these fail and you develop fever being in such environments, do not hesitate to visit your doctor.

PAGE 31

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

SUNDAY SPECIAL COMMERCIAL BANKS REPORT LOWER PROFITS AS ECONOMY STRUGGLES The banking sector is facing challenges with at least two of them reporting lower profits when compared to same period last year. It would be the first time a number of years that has happened.

The two banks are the Demerara Bank Limited and Citizens Bank.

According to published mid-year reports for the six-month period ending March 31, 2016, Demerara Bank has managed to chalk up $711M profit before tax as compared to $902M for the same period in 2015.

Deposits to the bank, according to Chairman, Dr. Yesu Persaud, increased from $47.5B to $51.7B, an increase of 8.8 percent. Loans and advances moved from $23.3B to $24.4B, an increase of 4.7 percent.

According to Dr. Persaud, Guyana economic growth was lower than expected at three percent at the end of 2015.

This was as a result of mixed performance in the major sectors of the Guyanese economy. ”Global growth, estimated at 3.1 percent in 2015, is projected at 3.4 percent in 2016 and 3.6 percent in 2017. The local and global business environment may continue to remain challenging in 2016.”

For Demerara Bank, the drop in profits would be significant since between October 2014 and March 2015, the profit of the bank went up to $901.9M against profit of $760.6M in the corresponding period of 2014.

The deposit base of the bank rose from $40.4B in March 2014 to $47.5B as on March 31, 2015, reflecting an increase of 17.6%.

At present, the bank has a network of six branches countrywide with a new corporate headquarters commissioned.

Meanwhile, the situation of a drop in profits, was also evident at Citizens Bank.

The bank, for its half year, recorded a profit after taxation of $441M compared to $459M for the corresponding period last year. Net interest income remained $1.2B. The bank’s operating expense went up to $621M compared to $562M. As at March 31, Citizens Bank would have chalked up net loans and advances of $29.4B, compared to $31.8B for the corresponding period.

ESSEQUIBO SMASH-UP CLAIMS FOUR, SEVERAL OTHERS INJURED – DRUNK DRIVING REPORTEDLY THE CAUSE In the aftermath of what is being described

by Essequibians as one of the worst accidents in recent years, four persons are dead and several others seriously injured.

A minibus carrying partygoers, and a motorcar, were involved in a head on collision on Friday night.

Three persons from the minibus and one occupant of the motorcar are now deceased. Leavon Clay aka Jack, Stefan Benn and Esan Cornette all hailing from Dartmouth; and Gavin Laurie of Plantation Andrews are those that died as a result of the smash-up.

According to reports, the driver of minibus BRR 3943, Glensford Stephens, and Ruel Lawrie, who was driving motor-car PMM5867, were both speeding while under the influence.

NANDLALL INSISTS BRASSINGTON HAD NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN HAND-IN-HAND DEAL …DESPITE INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP POINTED OUT IN AUDIT REPORT Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, is being accused of remaining blind to what is believed to be clear to other legal and financial minds.

“I simply cannot see the conflict. In my mind, no conflict of interest ever existed,” said Nandlall during a recent interview with Kaieteur News about the sale of Hand-inHand shares.

Legal and financial minds had publically stated that Winston Brassington, the former Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) abused the financial information that he was in possession of, when he purchased for his brother, Jonathan, a $225M stake in Hand-inHand Trust Corporation.

In 2002, NICIL headed by the older Brassington, privatized Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB) Trust and kept 250,000 shares in the new company—Hand in Hand Trust Corporation. Seven years later, in 2009, the Board of Directors at Hand in Hand Trust Corporation expanded the shares in the company from 2.5 million to 7.5 million.

Winston Brassington bought an additional 50,000 shares for NICIL and 2.25 million shares in his brother, Jonathan Brassington’s name.

Khemraj Ramjattan, while in opposition, had labelled this transaction another in a string of incestuous dealings. He said that in 2009 “a Brassington became the second largest shareholder in a Brassington-privatized company…This is not only corruption: it meets the test of fraud.”

Years later, the issue was highlighted in a forensic audit report.

Anand Goolsarran, the chartered accountant who conducted an audit into the operations of NICIL, highlighted allegations about Brassington and his buying of the shares for his younger brother.

Goolsarran acknowledged that Jonathan now owns one-third of the shares in Hand-inHand Trust.

He said that Brassington had signed a resolution of Hand-in-Hand Trust dated August 24, 2011 on behalf of his brother.

Goolsarran explained the relationship the older Brassington had with Hand-in-Hand before his brother got hold of the huge shares.

MINISTER BROOMES: I HAVE GIVEN UPALL MINING INTERESTS TO MY CHILDREN Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, has assured that she is not in control of any mining interests.

The Minister was over the weekend responding to questions over her linkage to a mining dredge.

It would be conflict of interest for the Minister to be in control or participate in mining activities that benefit her financially or otherwise, as the Ministry is charged with overseeing the extractive sector, of which gold mining is part.

According to leaked documents of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), permission was granted to one Simona Broomes of Bartica to operate SD # 1967 on Mining Permit H43/MP/000.

The permission was for period March 3, 2016 to March 3, 2017.

According to the documents, the dredge would be operated on a concession owned by one E. Hopkinson, in the Puruni River, Region Seven.

On Saturday last, Minister Broomes made it clear that she had made moves to relinquish all her mining interests after she was appointed to the Ministry. As a matter of fact, her daughter is also named Simona. ”I can tell you that the mining interest, including the land dredge, which I have owned for some time, before I became a Minister, have been transferred to my children. They are controlling it. I have documents which I have written to the GGMC to confirm the request for transfer.”

Contacted Saturday, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, disclosed that

the matter was brought to his attention some time ago and he immediately sought a meeting with Broomes. ”I was satisfied after speaking with her that all rights and interests have been transferred.”

Prior to becoming a Minister, Broomes was a prominent mining activist, helping to establish the Guyana Women Miners Organisation.

She has been awarded by the US Government for her work to halt trafficking in persons.

Questioned about her involvement in Australian-owned mining company, Pharsalus Gold Inc, the Minister disclosed that indeed she had a long-standing agreement with it.

MONDAY EDITION UNDETECTED FRAUD STILL POSSIBLE AT GEA DESPITE PROCEDURES USED – AUDITORS Even though they have unearthed numerous illegal practices at the Guyana Energy Authority (GEA), the forensic auditors noted that the possibility still exists that other instances of fraud went undetected.

The forensic auditing team from Nigel Hinds Financial Services faced several stumbling blocks during its audit of GEA. The auditors said that the findings expressed in their report were based on documents, explanations and information supplied to them. They noted, however, that these were verified only to a certain extent and in accordance with the audit’s objectives and scope, despite the inherent limitations.

The forensic auditors outlined that some of these limitations faced included their own “inevitable misjudgment” in the identification of audit risks. They also had issues with the selection of appropriate auditing procedures and the interpretation of the evidence emerging from such a crucial audit.

Among other issues identified, the auditors recorded that samples instead of detailed testing of transactions and balances were done. They said, too, that there were misrepresentations by management which were relied upon as they were not deemed at the time Continued on page 33

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

From page 32 to warrant corroboration.

Due to the aforementioned, the auditors noted that there could be undetected fraud despite the application of its methodology and procedures. As a result of this, the forensic audit report on GEA may be modified, if additional information and explanations become available.

The forensic auditors of Nigel Hinds Financial Service have since exposed that GEA was using an accounting software called “Peachtree” to automate and manage its accounting functions.

However, the agency does not have a licence to use Peachtree Accounting Software.

The auditors found the use of the software in this manner to be illegal.

They recommended that the agency immediately purchase a licence to legalize the current use of its Peachtree software.

PAGE 33

Camp Street prison

DRUNKEN BRAWLBETWEEN COUSINS LEAVES ONE DEAD Another day, another family killing after too much alcohol.

The victim this time is a 61-year-old man who succumbed early Sunday, hours after he was knifed by a cousin during a drunken brawl.

Lennox Norton of South Sophia was stabbed to the abdomen. He died around 04:00 hrs Sunday while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The police in a statement said that at about 21:30hrs on Saturday, Norton was imbibing with a male cousin at Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown, when they became involved in an argument during which he was stabbed.

The victim and suspect were residing in the same house at Lodge at the time of the murder.

MOST IMPROVISED WEAPONS MADE IN CAMP STREET PRISON – DIRECTOR – CONFIRMS 12 HIGH PROFILE PRISONERS TRANSFERRED FOR SECURITY REASONS Director of Prisons, Carl Graham, is confident that notwithstanding prison officers finding a quantity of dangerous weapons after an early morning raid in the Camp Street prison,

existing measures that are in place will be effective in curbing the situation.

In an interview with Kaieteur News last Sunday, Graham stressed that the weapons that were seized were made from items and infrastructure within the prison itself.

He stated that some prisoners have taken to breaking up beds in an effort to make these weapons.

Some of the measures within the building itself, according to Graham, are sanitization exercises, accounting for materials, with checks and balances and forms to sign in and out of the prison.

He also noted that certain areas where prisoners might get access to materials to fashion a weapon have been restricted.

In addition, Graham stated that the buildings are reinforced. The Director also pointed out that there is added security at the gates, with no one being allowed in without a mandatory security check.

Added to this, according to Graham, is the presence of disciplined forces on the roadways surrounding the prisons, to prevent contraband being thrown over the walls.

He lauded this, stating that the early morning raid, conducted by prison authorities who were assisted by police and army ranks, un-

earthed 44 cell phones, 30 cell phone batteries and approximately 173 improvised weapons. Reports indicate that these included kitchen knives, screw drivers and a hacksaw blade. It was also reported that the operation, dubbed ‘Operation Restore Order’, netted a quantity of razor blades, lighters, files and tattoo machines.

PAHO REPORT REVEALS…VECTOR BORNE DISEASES MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT IN GUYANA – 168,240 MALARIA CASES, 1255 OF DENGUE, NEARLY 100 CASES OF FILARIA IN FIVE-YEAR SPAN Vector-borne diseases are a major public health threat, with Guyana recording at least one positive case of malaria within every hour, President David Granger told a gathering at the PAHO/WHO launch the Health@50 in Guyana: Progress Health Report 1966-2016 last week Saturday evening.

The launch was held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

The ceremony event was a collaboration between PAHO and the Public Health Ministry.

The Health@50 in Guyana Photo Gallery

Book 1966-2016 was on display and a special Health@50 in Guyana Awards Ceremony was held for persons who made significant contribution to the health sector.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud was one of the 19 persons who were awarded for outstanding performance. It was noted that Dr. Persaud sits on twelve medical boards, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

The awards were presented to individuals and entities for their contribution to public health leading to the improvement of the wellbeing of persons living in Guyana at different time periods between 1966 -2016.

President Granger stated that while the government welcomes the report, it was critical to note that vector-borne diseases are running rampant in the country.

He stated that between the years 20112015, Guyana recorded 168,240 cases of malaria, 1255 cases of dengue and nearly 100 cases of filaria.

He said the vector, which is mainly the mosquito, generally has no border and would cause devastating effects on the human populace, adding that the risks and threats are changing constantly.

The President indicated further that air travel, smuggling across the borders, shipping transport are all factors that increase Guyana’s risk of contracting new vector-borne disease. ”The extension of public infrastructure…and mining and logging and the inland travelling all contribute to the possibility of the invasion of new species into Guyana,” he said, highlighting the importance of international bodies, like PAHO, to collaborate with the Public Health Ministry to eradicate the diseases on all levels.

TUESDAY EDITION BOY, 10, DIES AFTER SMASHED BY COP’S CAR A 10-year-old schoolboy was killed last Sunday after a speeding car, driven by a police constable, smashed into him on the Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) Public Road, in the vicinity of the area’s post office. The vehicle only came to a stop after hitting a parked vehicle on the roadway and slamming into a utility pole before turning turtle on the roadway.

Dead is Davin Sealey, a Patentia Primary School student of Sisters Village.

The car’s driver, who is attached to the Brickdam Police Station, was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the

PAGE 34

(From page 33) accident which occurred sometime around 20:30 hrs.

The police in a statement said that Sealey was riding a bicycle along the road when he was struck down by a motor vehicle that was driven by a Police Constable, who was later found to be over the limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol.

The boy was pronounced dead at the West Demerara Regional Hospital while the police constable was admitted to the hospital.

PRISON BOOTY…ROPE, HACKSAW BLADES POINT TO POSSIBLE ESCAPE PLOT An inventory of the items seized in last Saturday’s early morning raid on the Camp Street prison has been released, revealing contraband items ranging from a hacksaw blade, three files and a quantity of rope to lighters and two kitchen knives.

According to a source, these and other items are highly indicative of a possible escape plot.

The inventory also listed 149 lighters, 124 razor blades, 358 Ziploc bags containing leaves, seeds and stems of marijuana, 173 improvised weapons, 10 SIM cards, 44 cell phones, 30 batteries, 19 ear pieces, 19 packs of cigarettes (four singles), 11 scissors, 9 metal spoons and five tattoo machines with a bottle of ink and 11 syringe needles.

Other items included a quantity of wires, three memory cards, a flash drive, a bottle of pepper, a hook and belt, three coconut graters, four radio speakers, three screwdrivers and mirrors, a wire brush and padlock, a pack of bamboo rolling papers (wraps), three nail clips and 60 chargers and accessories.

According to Director of Prisons, Carl Graham, in a release Monday, the aim of the exercise was to remove all prohibited articles within the prison, including weapons, drugs and cellular phones.

114,000 PASSPORTS ISSUED OVER 10-MONTH PERIOD A year ago when he was appointed, Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, said he entered office and found the immigration and citizenship process to be in disarray.

The task was taken on to bring order. According to Felix, he found that oftentimes, visitors to Guyana presented themselves to immigration, but had no way of proving how they would be able to sustain themselves during their stay.

“This situation has not been completely rectified, but it has abated,” the Minister said.

He spoke of the Ministry’s success in curbing the backlog of applications for Work Per-

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

mits, Visas on Arrivals and Extensions of Stay.

“Citizens now seeking to have these permits have them with relative ease and within the relatively short period, at least shorter than the period a year before.”

Quoting figures for Work Permit applications received by the Ministry from May 2015 to May 2016, he said 1,771 were received with 1,768 issued.

The number of Visas on Arrival, issued for the same period was given as 1,083 from 1,092 applications.

Mining applications totalled 586, with 406 approved, whilst the other 180 are currently being vetted.

Minister Felix revealed that 145 persons were processed over his year in office, and have since become Guyanese citizens. This is an increase from the same period, 2014 to 2015, when 114 persons applied successfully for citizenship status.

With regards to birth certificates and passport applications, Minister Felix said that, “these are two of the busier departments”. He said that from June 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016, some 114,120 passports were produced and issued to Guyanese residents. For those in the diaspora, 14,612 passports were issued.

them.

In handing down her long-awaited decision, Magistrate Lovell stated that the case was a clear one, based on the fact that Motielall was positively identified by the GRA officials who were involved in the incident.

His Attorney had pleaded for the entire sentence to be suspended and that he pay compensation to the injured GRA officials.

However Magistrate Lovell did not find favour with that request, agreeing with the prosecution that the offence for which Motielall was charged was very serious in nature.

The Magistrate also noted that Motielall was not even licenced to carry a firearm.

It is not yet known if the sentence will be appealed, but according to a senior police official, checks will be made to locate Motielall so that “He can be taken to the place that he was sent to.”

CHICKEN SMUGGLER “JINGA HARRY” JAILED FOR 2014 SHOOTOUT WITH GRA OFFICERS

It has been little more than a week since a catastrophic fire struck at the Gafoor’s Houston Complex. CEO Gafoor had estimated his losses to be in excess of $12 billion.

The fire is believed to have been accidental, with possible electrical problems cited as the cause.

Gafoor’s business is insured with P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd. In a brief interview with this newspaper, Managing Director of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limted, Mr. Bish Panday, stated that while the insurance coverage on the Gafoor’s Houston complex is well in the multi-billion range, it will be “comfortably covered”.

When asked about the stability of the insurance business in Guyana, he indicated that there has been a recent influx of several insurance companies in Guyana which has brought a notable level of stability in the market.

The Houston Complex fire had left some five-hundred plus workers pondering their future. Gafoor’s has since relocated twentyfive percent of its employees to different branches across the country, while fifty percent has remained at the part of the Houston complex that remained untouched after the fire.

The CEO had told this newspaper that the remaining twenty-five percent of workers would be paid 75% of their respective salaries to “tide” them over until they resumed their jobs. The business tycoon had emphasised that his workers are his “greatest assets’’.

On another note, an official from the in-

After a trial that lasted almost two years, popular Mahaica businessman Harilall Motielall called “Jinga Harry” was jailed for four years by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.

The Magistrate handed down her decision Monday in Motilall’s absence, after prosecutors, Inspector Hattie Anthony and Corporal Sheril Graham successfully presented their case.

The embattled 56-year-old businessman, who was on $350,000 bail, was not present for the previous four court hearings as his Attorney Kim Kyte-John reported to the court that he was unwell.

Nevertheless, Magistrate Lovell ordered that he must spend the first two years of his four-year sentence in prison while the other two years were suspended. It means that if Motielall commits any offence after serving the mandatory two years, he will be sent back to prison to serve the other two years.

Motielall, who was labeled a major smuggler by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), was charged with Discharging a Loaded Firearm with Intent. He was accused of shooting at GRA officers on the night of July 16, 2014, when they intercepted a convoy of minibuses loaded with illegally imported chicken at Dundee, Mahaicony.

It is alleged that Motielall and others, using an AK-47 and other small arms, opened fire on the Customs Officers, injuring one of

WEDNESDAY EDITION GAFOOR’S MULTI-BILLION $$ SETTLEMENT WILL BE COMFORTABLY COVERED – P&P INSURANCE

su r a n c e c o m m u n i t y n o t e d t h a t t h e Gafoor’s fire should be a wake-up call to other business people that at any time fire could strike.

The official also indicated that a vast majority of business places lack proper fire prevention systems and firefighting equipment, as well as the fact that they stock combustible materials and goods in risky conditions.

BAISHANLIN ASKS UN BOSS TO “REMIND” GUYANAOF TREATY OBLIGATIONS The seizure of two high-end vehicles last month from a Chinese company for outstanding taxes by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is threatening to become a diplomatic issue.

Last week, law firm, Satram and Satram, representing BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc., wrote the CommissionerGeneral of GRA demanding that the two vehicles, a Lexus SUV and Nissan van, be released within seven days.

The lawyer insisted that the seizures triggered a dispute between the company and the Government of Guyana and is contrary to the agreement between China and Guyana, signed on the 27th day of March 2003, that dealt with the promotion and protection of investments between the two countries.

Also written to over the seizures are Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon.

BaiShanLin, which came here a decade ago, concentrating at first on logging, has spread its branches into various sectors, with its activities ranging from gold mining, housing development, ship building, transportation, and commerce.

It was granted almost $2B in duty free concessions and other waivers, on the condition that it invests in a wood processing plant in Linden, among other things. However, the company has failed to do that, with its housing and other developments, including a mall, at a standstill.

It still owes the Government hundreds of millions of dollars for at least one property, an unfinished hotel at Providence, it has purchased. Several staffers were reportedly laid off last week, with the company claiming that negative publicity exacerbated the situation.

The company, which has registered around 20 subsidiaries, says it has run out of money with its majority shareholder, China Long Jiang Forest Industry Group, announced to take control of local operations this year.

Since entering office last year, the David (Continued on page 35)

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

From page 35 Granger-led administration has been examining a number of investments that had been signed, to ensure that the foreign companies have been holding their end of the agreements.

TEENS REMANDED FOR MURDER OF RETIRED PROFESSOR Drama unfolded at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday following a court hearing for five teenagers charged with the murder of retired professor Pairadeau Mars.

Relatives of the accused behaved in a disorderly manner and started wailing loudly when they were informed that the teenagers were remanded to prison.

There were heated exchange of words and scuffles between relatives which resulted in police officers ordering them to exit the court compound.

The teenagers, who ranged from ages 14 to 18 years, were jointly charged. The accused hid their faces with clothing to conceal their identities while entering and leaving the compound.

They were not required to enter pleas after the allegation was read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Court proceedings for this matter were held in- camera due to the fact that juveniles were indicted.

GOVT. TO EXAMINE OPTIONS FOR $5.2B NIS INVESTMENT FROZEN IN CLICO DEBACLE – FINANCE MINISTER …SAYS LITIGATION WOULD JUST BE A “LONG DRAWN-OUT PROCESS” Taking the course of litigation may not be on the table at the moment when it comes to Government recouping the $5.2B investment made by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) some years ago into Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) Limited. This is according to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

In an interview with this newspaper recently, Jordan said that the sad reality is that the CLICO situation might very well turn out to be a long drawn-out process, as Guyana is not even on the radar when it comes to the settlement process in the Caribbean as yet.

“So Government is going to have to step up to the plate and find another way of recouping the losses for NIS in this regard. Government gave a commitment in this regard, and it will have to make good on its promise to find a resolution on getting back the money.

And this is yet another mess that we inherited from the past administration that we are saddled with fixing with money that could have been put to better use,” the Minister expressed.

Jordan noted that NIS is beset with a number of problems. He said that the $5.2 billion that remains caught in the CLICO debacle represents more than 20 percent of its assets that is not earning income.

He said that actuaries have projected that the Scheme is in trouble and something has to be done urgently to address the problem.

THURSDAY EDITION GOVT. CAN TERMINATE BAISHANLIN’S CONTRACT -SAYS INVESTMENTAGREEMENT Despite evidence that a major investor was in deep financial trouble and had failed to meet deadlines, the Donald Ramotar adminis-

Pairadeau Mars tration still went ahead months before the May 2015 elections and signed an updated agreement allowing that company to continue its operations.

That same agreement gave the company billions of dollars in concessions.

The investment agreement signed last year between the Ramotar administration and BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc. has now come to light. According to the conditions set forth in the agreement, it is clear that the Government of Guyana has the right to terminate the arrangements for breaches.

According to a copy of the agreement that Kaieteur News has managed to acquire, BaiShanLin agreed that failure to build a wood processing facility at Conception, SoesdykeLinden Highway, in keeping with its business proposal, could see the agreement being terminated and all exemptions cancelled or revoked without liability to the Government of Guyana.

BaiShanLin also agreed that the arrangements could be terminated if the items, including vehicles and other concessions, are not used for their intended purposes.

POWERS OF EXECUTIVE NEED TO BE RE-EXAMINEDANDAMENDED –AFC When Former President Donald Ramotar prorogued the Tenth Parliament, it awakened a discussion on taming the powers of the Executive. And leading this discussion at the national level was the hierarchy of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Members from both sides agreed that during Ramotar’s reign, Guyana experienced an unprecedented abuse of Executive power.

They agreed, too, that there is a need to alter the boundless authority afforded to the Head of State.

But even under the “Better life for All”

leadership, the AFC maintains that the powers of the Executive need to be re-examined and amended.

AFC Executive Member, Nigel Hughes, had outlined that one of the important things the Constitution speaks to is the distribution of power and how it should be exercised.

Referring to Article 51, the Attorney-atLaw said that supreme democratic power should be vested in three organs; the Presidency, Parliament and Cabinet.

Hughes had said, “What you have is the President being a part of the parliament and then when you go to Cabinet, you have him there, where he has supreme executive power.

So in effect, he has power of all three organs of the state. ”He dominates them, and this is long before we come to discuss his immunities from suit, which means that in the exercise of his executive power, he is not answerable to the court or anyone; he can only be removed by grave misconduct, ill-health or loss of confidence in him by the House.”

Hughes, a practicing Attorney, said that the current structure of the Constitution gives the President absolute power to govern. The AFC has advocated for this to be addressed with urgency, for power, he opined, must be distributed evenly.

POLICE ADD 15 NEW VEHICLES TO CRIME FIGHT The operational capacity of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been strengthened, with the acquisition of 15 new motor vehicles to its fleet.

On Wednesday, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, at the force’s Tactical Services Unit Square (TSU), Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, officially handed over the keys for the vehicles to Acting Commissioner, David Ramnarine.

The vehicles, which were donated to the force by the government, include one tow truck, eight Hilux pickups and five Mark X motorcars.

In the 2015 budget, the police had recommended brand new vehicles to aid in their crime fighting ability but they eventually settled on vehicles that are no more than three years old—the 15 vehicles fall into that bracket.

Kaieteur News was told that the acquisition of the vehicles is reflective of Government’s effort to help the police with the necessary tools to maintain law and order.

The vehicles will increase the presence of the police on the roads and enhance their ability to deter crime and traffic offences.

However, questions were raised on whether motor vehicles were the best choice for the police to deal with the congestion and

PAGE 35

crimes in and around the city, especially since the bandits are now using CG bikes to carry out their brazen attacks.

To this, Acting Commissioner, David Ramnarine said that they are receiving motorcycles to deal with the terrain and congestion in the city. With regards to the changing face of crime however, the police force would hope that the numbers increase in terms of more motorcycles to effectively deal with CG bandits.

Ramjattan told the gathering that the new fleet is significant and plays a major part in the force’s response system.

FRIDAY EDITION RAMOTAR WRITES AG TO DEFEND NANDALL’S USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PERSONAL BENEFIT Former President Donald Ramotar has admitted to Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, that he authorized former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, to utilize state funds for personal purposes.

This was revealed after Attorney General Basil Williams forwarded a case to Sharma for investigation.

A few months ago, Williams asked the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS), Indira Anandjit, to proceed on administrative leave to facilitate an audit into the disappearance of millions of dollars worth of law books and computer accessories.

Williams said that the Ministry only found out that the books were missing after the discovery by state auditors.

The Minister said that the missing Commonwealth Law Books are valued at almost $3M and the computer parts are estimated over $2M. Williams told the media, “The PS authorized those purchases and the books cannot be found.”

He had said that he was hoping for a “plausible explanation” as to where the items have disappeared to.

On Thursday, Williams told the media that the Auditor General took a long time to respond to the Ministry.

“In fact I had to inquire.”He said that, eventually, Sharma reported that “in the case of the law books, the former President Ramotar wrote the Auditor General’s office, and stated that he and the then Attorney General had some sort of private agreement that the Attorney General would spend money from the votes of (money budgeted for) the Ministry of Legal Affairs to buy the law books and keep them for himself.”

Williams said, “As I understand it, he (Continued on page 36)

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(From page 35) (Ramotar) is saying that she (the PS) is not culpable or blameworthy, because he had an agreement with Nandlall – that Nandlall could use the Ministry’s money to buy these books and keep them for himself.”

BAISHANLIN UN REQUEST…DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS CANNOT TRUMPTHE LAW – FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER When foreign companies breach Guyana’s laws, justice must take its course. And attempts to circumvent this process by hiding under the shield of diplomatic relations just won’t cut it.

This was the general view of Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, as he reflected on the recent move by Chinese company, BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc, to request that the United Nations (UN) intervene in a tax matter that the establishment is caught in.

The matter involved the seizure of two high-end vehicles last month by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) from BaiShanLin due to outstanding taxes.

Law firm, Satram and Satram, representing BaiShanLin, wrote the Commissioner-General of GRA demanding that the two vehicles, a Lexus SUV and Nissan van, be released within seven days.

The lawyers insisted that the seizures triggered a dispute between the company and the Government of Guyana, and are contrary to the agreement between China and Guyana, signed on the 27th day of March 2003, that dealt with the promotion and protection of investments between the two countries.

Also written to over the seizures were Minister Greenidge and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon.

The Foreign Affairs Minister emphasized that Guyana’s law is paramount. He said that “foreign companies cannot hide under the shield of diplomatic relations when the law is broken and diplomatic ties cannot be used or brought up when it’s time to defend BaiShanLin”.

He insisted that “Diplomatic considerations cannot and must not trump the law.”

CG BANDITS CAUGHTAFTER ROBBING WOMAN THEY FOLLOWED FROM BANK Several citizens, fed up with increasing acts of banditry, unleashed their anger on two motorcycle bandits who had just relieved an Atlantic Ville resident of her bag with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Thanks to the quick response from police ranks from the Sparendaam Station, the men are lucky to be alive to face charges for their actions.

The men had earlier followed Marilyn Brumigin all the way from a city bank to her Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara home and pounced on her.

Police said that at about 14:00 hours Thursday, Brumigin was about to enter her home after transacting business at a bank in Georgetown, when she was attacked and held at gunpoint by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, and who had ridden up on a motorcycle.

The woman raised an alarm, but the men took away a bag with a sum of cash.

Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman told Kaieteur News as the men were about to escape, neighbouring residents who had responded to the alarm, including two off-duty policemen, confronted the perpetrators and snatched away the stolen bag

with the money.

The two bandits still tried to ride away but were stopped in their tracks when a motorist drove into them, sending them crashing to the ground.

Although, one of the men was armed with a .32 pistol with nine rounds, he had no chance to use it, as they were both swarmed by residents and the two off-duty cops, who gave them an initial thrashing before handing them over to uniformed police ranks who subsequently arrived on the scene.

The bag of cash and the weapon were handed over to the police, and the bandits’ motorcycle was seized.

SATURDAY EDITION CCJ RULING ON RAMSAHOYE/KN LIBELAPPEAL SOON The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is expected to make a ruling on the appeal case filed by Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall against a ruling in favour of Dr. Walter Ramsahoye, soon. The matter was heard on Monday at the CCJ. Ramsahoye had complained he was libeled in three publications in Kaieteur News in January and February 2000 when the newspaper was a weekly publication. The High Court had awarded damages for libel in the sum of $4.5 M to Ramsahoye.

Dr. Ramsahoye appealed the High Court award and by a majority decision the Guyana Court of Appeal awarded Ramsahoye a total of $15 M in damages and costs.

Both sides subsequently appealed the decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal.

Kaieteur News appealed the sum awarded by the Court of Appeal while Ramsahoye sought $400 million worth in damages for the alleged defamation.

In the CCJ Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall is being represented by Attorn e y – a t – L a w, S a n j e e v D a t a d i n a n d Stephen Singh. Dr. Ramsahoye being represented by several lawyers lead by Anand Ramlogan QC. On Monday, the CCJ submissions by Datadin alleged the majority of the Guyana Court of Appeal was incorrect to increase the award of damages as there was no evidence upon which such an increase could be legally justified. Datadin went on further to say that there was no evidence on the record that Ramsahoye had suffered loss and damages of the specie that must be established for the Court of Appeal to increase the award of dam-

ages.

He said that the Trial Court had considered all the relevant issues and arguments and had made its decision on appropriate findings and relevant law and the majority of Guyana Court of Appeal erred when it interfered with the High Court decision.

Towards the end of the hearing of submissions by Datadin, Ramsahoye who was seeking $400million in damages for the libel withdrew the claim without offering a single argument.

Earlier before the substantive appeal began the CCJ refused an application to introduce a publication of the column “Dem boys seh” into the record of the proceedings.

Datadin had opposed its introduction because it was evidence that was available before the hearing of the appeal and was not raised in the Guyana Court of Appeal.

The CCJ therefore agreed that the additional material should not be introduced into the record of proceedings.

The CCJ has adjourned the matter to consider its decision which is expected within weeks.

FORENSIC AUDIT REPORT REVEALS… NFMU SECRETLYFUNDED E-GOVERNANCE PROJECT …APNU/AFC ADMINISTRATION REPEATED ACT IN 2015 BUDGET A forensic audit into the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has exposed just how “cunningly” officials there were able to hide the fact that they were secretly funding two Jagdeo-inspired projects.

The forensic auditors from Ram and McRae, Chartered Accountants, made this eye-opening discovery as they scrutinized the budget of the NFMU. The NFMU appears in Guyana’s National Budget as a statutory body under the formerly named Office of the President.

The expenditure that NFMU would need to carry out its operations for the year is also listed in the National Budget. The Forensic auditors however found it strange that the single largest line item in the NFMU’s budget is Rates and Taxes and Subvention to Local Authorities.

In fact, the auditors observed, too, that NFMU is the only statutory body whose budget is included in the National Budget that has such an item.

Upon analysis, the forensic auditors were able to discover that this item, “Rates and Taxes and Subvention to Local Authorities”

Sunday May 22, 2016

is nothing but a disguise to make payments from public funds to the E-Governance initiative and the One Laptop Per Family project.

They stressed that there is no way that a project can by any definition be classified as a Local Authority.

The auditors said that this represents a violation of Article 217 of the Constitution of Guyana. The Ram and McRae team also found it interesting that this violation does not appear to have engaged the attention of the country’s Auditor General, Deodat Sharma who is expected to be a diligent observer of how funds are used by state agencies.

What was also surprising to the auditors was that a review of the 2015 National Budget exposed that the APNU/AFC administration continued the common practice of including the expenditure of other entities under Rates and Taxes and Subventions to other entities within the budget of the NFMU. In fact, the auditors discovered that a total of $538 million was included in the 2015 Budget for the NFMU under the category in discussion, as compared to $443 million that was included in the 2014 Budget which was presented under the PPP administration.

The forensic auditors recommended that no additional funds be budgeted under the above stated category.

AGRICOLA 50TH INDEPENDENCE ARCH UNVEILED As President David Granger entered the tent at the unveiling of the 50th Independence Arch, cheers rose from the small gathering of bystanders.

The official unveiling of the Independence Arch at the Agricola/Eccles boundary, was opened with the National Anthem played by the National Steel Pan Orchestra; this was followed by a prayer and the National Pledge.

Banks DIH donated the arch to Guyana.

Chairman of Banks DIH Ltd, Clifford Reis, stated that since Guyana’s Independence in 1966, Banks DIH has held the role of big brother to the citizens.

He noted that to the younger citizens, the 50th Independence Arch should show that the door of opportunity is always open to them.

He extended his thanks and appreciation on behalf of Banks DIH, to the President and the government for the opportunity of being part of Guyana’s 50th Independence celebrations, he also thanked the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for the assistance in the design and putting together of the Independence Arch.

He officially presented the Arch to Guyana in honour of the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

On hand to also address the occasion was Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. “In May 1966, our country achieved independence after a century and a half of British rule. In that same month, an Independence Arch was erected at Ruimveldt as a reminder of the great feat that had been accomplished.”

“Fifty years later, another Independence Arch is being erected and its official opening is momentous.”

“It is not every year that a nation celebrates its fiftieth anniversary and something spectacular had to be done to mark this occasion. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure therefore hosted a consultation meeting earlier this year with relevant stakeholders, including the Mayor and City Council and the National Trust of Guyana, to discuss projects that could be embarked upon to commemorate our Golden Jubilee. It was during this meeting that the Independence Arch project was conceptualized.”

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

CARICOM deficiencies leading to fragmentation...

From page 24 the Caribbean, though only US$27 billion. But, the biggest beneficiaries in the Caribbean area were the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, which accounted for almost half of the money earned.

Nine years ago, I wrote a commentary entitled, “The Big Three and Little CARICOM” which posited the view that the three Caribbean Spanish-speaking islands would forge an alliance, creating a market of 23 million people that would marginalise the market of 6 million people in the English-speaking Caribbean.

I warned that CARICOM countries would delude themselves if they believe that with their individual small markets, high investment costs, high costs of doing business and vulnerabilities both to natural disasters and external economic shocks, they could each operate successfully in the global market place in competition with the "big three". And I urged that “CARICOM governments would do well to bolster their economies and their capacity for dealing with their Caribbean neighbours and the international community by urgently completing the arrangements for implementing

their own Single Market”.

That deeper economic relationship between the Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries is now coming to pass, threatening to leave CARICOM behind.

Two weeks ago, my friend and analyst of Caribbean affairs for many years, David Jessop, pointed out that “work is progressing on studies on the creation of a new Caribbean economic block that might bring together Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba with objective of uniting the Spanishspeaking Caribbean and capitalising on new trade opportunities”.

He quoted Carlos Rivera Velez, the President of the Puerto Rico Association of Industries as saying: “We hope that in the not too distant future, we can see the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba working together as a productive economic block for each of our countries and to strengthen the region”.

Jessop observed that “these developments are taking place as CARICOM has become less coherent… where 'dysfunction and strife' now militates against the spirit of the Caribbean integration movement”. And he

concluded, in terms similar to my own statement nine years ago, that: “It is time for the English-speaking Caribbean as a whole to develop new thinking about how best to incorporate a future open trade relationship with Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, in ways that that deepen in the longer term trade with neighbours in Central and South America. It is time to read the writing on the wall”.

Clearly there is a need for a response from CARICOM countries collectively to the economic co-operation process that is being launched with vigour in their own front yard, or they will fulfil the fears that led to the creation of the West Indian Commission in 1990. That fear was that: “against that background of historic change and historic appraisal, CARICOM countries could be in danger of becoming a backwater, separated from the main current of human advance into the 21st Century”.

Of all the CARICOM countries, Jamaica has recognised the potential benefits of a tourism alliance with Cuba and the Dominican Republic with which it plans to forge a Multi-Destination Arrangement. These arrange-

The soul of Caribbean...

From page 42 sustenance, she argues.

In redefining their own experiences, in shaping a new narrative, Caribbean artists at home and abroad have succeeded where our politicians have failed. They have united disparate, unique islands, creating a Caribbean imaginary and binding ethos.

And where our religious leaders have fallen short, the healing properties of culture have tempered racial and eth-

nic differences. Artistic expressions narrate the past and the now, but in a mystical, transcendental way they unveil the future.

The triumph of Dr Brown's work is the triumph of culture – Caribbean culture.

“East of Flatbush” is a window into the validity of the Diasporic soul. Life with all its challenges and vicissitudes is made that much easier with the infinite rhythms of our inner being. Culture is protection, a

balm to soothe the pain in a faraway place.

F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby East of Flatbush, North of Love: An Ethnography of Home by Danielle Brown, Ph.D. ISBN: 078-0-9968443-1-4 Published by My People Tell Stories, LLC, 2015 Available at Amazon Rating: Recommended

ments make perfect sense for Jamaica located, as it is, in close proximity to the Spanish-speaking islands. But, one has to wonder whether the deficiencies in the CARICOM integration process and its failure to deliver its objectives after 43 years of existence, has not contributed to encouraging Jamaica to seek alternatives which are not limited to tourism.

No one can blame Jamaica for taking a sensible initiative, but it would have benefitted CARICOM to enter these arrangements together. It took the Cuban Vice Minister of Tourism, Luis Miguel Diaz Sanchez, earlier this month, to

express to the Caribbean Hotels and Tourist Association a strong desire to see the region cooperate in building a stronger Caribbean brand.

Encouragingly, the CHTA said they “will be pursuing a number of priority issues discussed during their meetings” with the Cubans. No time should be lost in pursuing these priorities; time is not on CARICOM's side even if, at this point, there is goodwill from the Cubans. Such goodwill will not last forever, and Cuba's national interest will respond to change and the lure of other sirens.

It is time that the countries of CARICOM acknowledge

that there is a loss of momentum with regard to the regional integration agenda.

Lack of confidence in CARICOM is causing member states to establish alliances elsewhere.

These issues need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The next CARICOM Heads of Government Conference is six weeks away. It would be appropriate, desirable, and important for the Conference to address how best they might establish mechanisms to halt the decline in CARICOM and return to making it an instrument of development and progress for each of its countries and all of them.

Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Chocolate: 10 health reasons you should eat more of it Chocolate is the ultimate comfort food, a sure-fire stand-by in times of stress, a reliable source of consolation when life has let us down, and a mood-enhancer and romance-inducer in more positive circumstances. But is it at all healthy?

If you scoff lots of it, obviously not. But there are a host of medically proven ways in which chocolate - good chocolate, which is to say dark chocolate, with a cocoa percentage of around seventy per cent or more - really is good for us.

Research is continuing all the time, and experts have already found that chocolate is good for the heart, circulation and brain, and it has been suggested that it may be beneficial in such major heath challenges as autism, obesity and diabetes.

And in fact, the very latest research suggests that eating chocolate could help keep your brain function whirring into old age.

Here are ten scientifically established health benefits of good chocolate.

1. It’s good for the heart and circulation A recent study found that dark chocolate helps restore flexibility to arteries while also preventing white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels - both common causes of artery clogging. How to tell good chocolate from

2. It reduces risk of stroke Researchers in Finland have found that chocolate consumption lowers the risk of suffering a stroke - by a staggering 17 per cent average in the group of men they tested.

3. It’s mineral rich Dark chocolate is packed with beneficial minerals such as potassium, zinc and selenium, and a 100g bar of dark (70 per cent or more) choc provides 67 per cent of the RDA of iron.

4. It reduces cholesterol Consumption of cocoa has been shown to reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and raise levels of “good” cholesterol, potentially lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. It’s good for your skin The flavonols in dark chocolate can protect the skin against sun damage (though you’d probably better still slap on some sun cream).

6. It can help you lose weight Chocolate can help you lose weight. Really. Neuroscientist Will Clower says a small square of good choc melted on the tongue 20 minutes before a meal triggers the hormones in the brain that say “I’m full”, cutting the amount of food you subsequently consume. Finishing a meal with the same small trigger could reduce subsequent snacking.

7. It’s good for mothers

and babies A Finnish study found that chocolate reduced stress in expectant mothers, and that the babies of such mothers smiled more often than the offspring of non-chocolateeating parents.

8. It may prevent diabetes It sounds mad, but cocoa has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. So dark chocolate - in moderation might delay or prevent the onset of diabetes.

9. Chocolate is good for the brain Flavanols are thought to reduce memory loss in older people, and the antiinflamatory qualities of dark chocolate have been found beneficial in treating brain injuries such as concussion.

10. Chocolate makes you feel better Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the same chemical that your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love. PEA encourages your brain to release feel-good endorphins.

As a chocolate lover I would also add that certain kinds of chocolate can be good for the soul: this is chocolate for which the raw materials have been grown with care by farmers who are properly rewarded for their work; then processed by people who take time and care in their work, and finished by chocolatiers who love what they do. It will not be massproduced, and it may not be cheap. But it will be good for you, heart and soul. http://www. telegraph .co.uk.

HOW TO GET RID OF BELLY FAT IN A WEEK

You’re fed up with your belly fat, and you want it gone - now. Your abdomen didn’t expand in one week, so you can’t expect it to slim down in that short time either.

Use a week to introduce measures to help you lose belly fat over time and reduce bloating. You might feel a little lighter after seven days, but true loss of fat will take several weeks or months.

Belly fat is a metabolically active type of fat that sits deep inside the abdominal cavity.

It surrounds internal organs and releases compounds that make you vulnerable to metabolic disturbances, heart disease and inflammation.

Belly fat may be dangerous, but it’s also responsive to traditional weight-loss strategies of diet and exercise.

One pound of fat equals 3,500 calories; thus, to lose a pound, you must consume 3,500 calories fewer than you burn. In a week, you can’t afford much more than a 3,500- or 7,000calorie deficit without severely depriving yourself of nutrients and solid food. This deficit means you’ll lose 1 or 2 pounds per week.

Some people can lose more than two pounds in a week with a dedicated fitness program and serious dietary restrictions.

The time and effort required to lose weight that quickly is grueling and usually unsustainable, though. Even if you can lose a notable amount of weight in a week, a lot of it will be water weight - not true belly fat. Weight you lose quickly is likely to be regained quickly too.

Belly fat is usually the first weight lost when you start an exercise program, explains Rush University Medical Center.

If you are new to exercise or coming back from a long hiatus, you can’t expect to hit the gym for hours at a time to burn off fat that first week. This only increases your risk of injury and burn out.

Instead, build up to at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity cardio, such as swimming, jogging or hiking.

A duration of 250 minutes per week will lead to more significant weight loss, explains the American College of Sports Medicine. This means 250 minutes a week for several weeks or months, though; you’re unlikely to see dramatic results after one week.

Strength training is another critical component in belly fat loss. You can’t crunch your

tummy away, but you can participate in a fullbody strength-training program that addresses all the major muscle groups. Do this at least twice a week to build muscle, which helps boost your metabolism. The results of strength-training are gradual, however. One week of strength training won’t induce the changes in your body necessary to improve your metabolism, but over the long haul you’ll see improvements.

Belly fat also responds to a lower-calorie diet that’s full of healthy, unprocessed foods.

Go for lean protein, fresh produce and whole grains at meals. When you have just a week to lose as much as possible, ban all sweetened drinks - including soda and juice - bakery treats and ice cream.

Also avoid refined grains, such as pizza and white bread, as well as alcohol. Keep your portion sizes to just 2 to 4 ounces for meats and other proteins and about 1/2 cup for grains. Over the long term, these dietary revisions help you drop belly fat.

Resist the urge to use a diet that promises quick results. Often they don’t work, or they’re so restrictive you can’t handle them for more than a couple of days - let alone a week. If you do stick to the plan, you may very well see a drop in pounds - but it’s not from a substantial amount of fat; it’s mostly from water.

A quick-fix diet teaches you nothing about sensible eating that will help you manage your belly fat and health forever. You’ll likely gain all the weight back as soon as you resume your normal eating habits.

Although you can’t lose substantial fat in a week, you can jump start the weight-loss process. Also make a few dietary and lifestyle changes to reduce bloating so your tummy feels flatter.

Avoid over stuffing yourself at meals; eat small meals throughout the day. Chewing gum and drinking with a straw can cause excess air to gather in the digestive tract.

Carbonated beverages, spicy foods, large servings of beans or cruciferous vegetables, dried fruits and fruit juice often induce gas and bloating. If you’re lactose intolerant, avoid dairy products to help reduce belly swelling; make sure you obtain important nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, from milk alternatives or other fortified foods. (http://www.livestrong.com.)

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Digicel launches “Phantom Rotary Club of Stabroek presents … of the Arts” Mash costumes ‘Friday Night with Paul’ at the Theatre Guild

This year, Telecommunications giant, Digicel, has decided to add a touch of class to the revelers for this year’s Mashramani costume parade by mixing elements from the past, the present and the future.

The women will be dressed in sexy, yet sophisticated, scissors-tale impersonating type jacket costumes with an inner two piece.

They will also be adorned with top hats with feathers. Meanwhile, the men will be displaying a similar type jacket with bow ties made out of the national colours.

The designer for the Digicel camp is veteran fashonista and designer, Olympia SmallSonaram. The Queen of the band’s costume will take you into the future of Guyana’s golden jubilee, dressed in gold and decked out in glitz and glamour. This would be por-

trayed by rhinestone-encrusted bras, and huge headdress, Feathers of all types will be used to augment the size of the costume the bra would be made of steel wire with rhinestones welded to them.

The King on the other hand will be representing the “mad cow”. This represents fear and acrobatic agility as he is also surrounded by the “Long Lady” on her stilts one of the few features that survived to contemporary times and “Bam Bam Sally”, the woman known for her largely developed Gluteus Maximus muscles and accompanied by two flouncers.

The masqueraders play an important role in Guyanese culture and Digicel believes that it should be given prominence by highlighting its importance at the 50th Anniversary of our independence.

Independence Party with DJ Private Ryan at Gravity on Wednesday Management at Guyana’s most sophisticated night spot, the Gravity Lounge, is inviting all party-holics for the true Golden Jubilee Party experience geared for Wednesday with the amazingly talented DJ Private Ryan.

Kaieteur Entertainment assures you that only the best can be expected whenever this top class DJ is around and he is definitely set and ready to take Guyanese on an electrifying trip. Joining him to give you an unforgettable experience as well will be our very own DJ Shizzle and DJ Blaxbee .

Additionally, there is also a relaxed dress code for the event as shorts, slippers, bikinis are all allowed.

And just when you thought things just couldn’t get any better for the event, management is offering Heineken bucket specials all

night long. Be sure to get your $2000 early bird tickets as they are almost finished.

When those are exhausted,

tickets will be $3000. Also, tickets can be purchased at the Gravity Lounge, Oasis Cafe and Electronic City.

As Rotarians nationwide celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence, they reflect on their decision to sacrifice their lives to embody the Rotary motto ‘Service above Self’.

The Rotary Club of Stabroek, being the youngest club formed during May 2006, is also celebrating the anniversary of their quest to provide resources to meet the needs of the disadvantaged members of the Guyanese society and beyond.

These have been unwavering endeavours amidst Guyana’s challenged economy but with sparkling features of resounding successes worth celebrating. To commemorate its establishment and Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, the club will be hosting a unique event.

According to the club, the event called ‘Friday Night with Paul’ provides the delightful environment to share this celebration for the sixth year in succession. Members of the club noted that come Friday, patrons will be treated for the third time, to the region’s leading satirist, orator and story teller, Paul Keens Douglas, who is no stranger to Guyanese.

He will be unleashing his

new pieces to an audience who for the most part has had an engraving of fond memories with his original pieces of ‘Tanti Merle’. The event will be held at the Theatre Guild where patrons will also have the pleasure of indulging in an offering of fine wine and cheese served during the welcoming “wine hour” recep-

tion at 6pm to set the mood for the show which starts at 7pm. Wine and cheese will be served once again during the intermission to tinker palates while musical performances will bring the curtains down on what can be considered a splendid evening.

Again, this is an event not to be missed!

“Till ah find a place to be held in June at NCC

Ten years later, by request of the Jubilee Theatre Festival, Ronald Hollingsworth’s most popular play of all time will be featured, this time as “Till Ah Find A Place - After the 50th”.

The play will be featured for one night only on June 3, 2016, at 19:00hrs at the Theatre Guild Playhouse located at Kingston Georgetown.

The play will be under the directorship of Sheron Cadogan-Taylor. Playing the lead roles would be Mark Kazim and Leslyn Bobbsemple, with Michael Ignatius as the crazy boyfriend. Supporting roles will be played by Sean Thompson, Mark LukeEdwards, Le Tisha Da Silva and Makini Harry.

In the Director’s words “this current cast has the potential of making this the best rendition yet of “Till Ah Find A Place”.

Ronald Hollingsworth’s “Till Ah Find A Place” has entertained thousands over the years ever since it was first staged in 1991 at the National Cultural Centre. The original cast then performed to sold-out crowds that always left totally satisfied.

The play quickly became a household name with repeated sold out performances much to the delight of his fans. The lead roles were played by the immensely popular Henry Rodney, Nicola Smith and Desiree Edghill who thrilled the large audiences with their brilliant interpretation of the script.

The original cast of 1991 toured Linden, Bartica, Ana Regina and New Amsterdam af-

ter the word got out that Till Ah Find A Place was the play to see and Guyanese everywhere wanted it staged in their hometowns.

In 1994, the play was staged at the Billy Holiday Theater in Brooklyn, New York with a cast of Caribbean thespians and Hollingsworth as the guest director/playwright. The play was a hit and was staged again in New York OffBroadway at the Producers’ Club. In 1998 the play was staged again in Guyana with new actors attempting to do justice to the previously staged version. On this occasion it was rebranded “Till Ah Find A Place - In Sophia”.

This time the leads were played by Howard Lorimer, La Vonne George and Michelle Elphage with support from the late Rudy Pateetdeo who played Eddie the crazy boyfriend – a crowd favorite. The response was just as overwhelming as the first staging.

In 2001 the play made its way to Texas, the new home of the playwright, where it was staged in Dallas.

The actors were all US citizens except the lead role of Linden which was played by the Guyanese playwright/director himself.

The play was then staged again locally in 2006 with yet another title - “Till Ah Find a Place- After the Flood”. Again, Henry Rodney was casted as the lead male alongside Sonia Yarde, the lead female on this occasion.

However, it was Linden Jumbie Jones who came out as the audience favorite playing Eddie the crazy boyfriend.

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

VAT: An outrage...

(From page 49) Accountant said that when businesses collect the tax and do not remit same to Government (that is, defraud the people of Guyana) consumers could feel the full effect of the tax (the full 16% effective rate) while Government may only be benefiting from say 80 % of the VAT revenue (12.8% effective tax rate).

REMEDIES Naughton believes that there are a few remedies which could be used to fight the compliance issues cited above. He said it would be almost impossible for government to prove that all sales were not reported unless the GRA uses aggressive approaches to locate internal records not made available by the taxpaying businesses.

He said that it is important to note that like in the context of income tax, where indirect methods of estimating net income are reliable, there are fewer indirect methods for estimating gross income and VAT is computed on gross income (sales). He said that GRA must therefore get to the internal records.

The Chartered Accountant added, “Keep in mind that people who are cheating the government out of tax revenue, will do everything possible to make sure GRA does not get their full and complete records.�

Naughton said that export documents evidencing that goods for export have been shipped should always support claims that goods were sold to export markets. Until such documents are made available, he said that these goods should be treated as domestic goods and taxed at the standard rate. He said that this could easily be reversed once the shipment evidence is made available.

The Chartered Accountant noted that false purchase tax refund claims are relatively easier to combat and as long as there is timely action and appropriate allocation of resources, GRA should be able to get this compliance issue under control.

He asserted, however, that general benefits could be derived from simplifying the VAT regime. Naughton said that a

simplified regime could significantly improve compliance.

He said that some of the issues with compliance come not only from purposely cheating the government, but also from a lack of understanding of the regime by taxpayers. He added that this issue is exacerbated by the limited administrative resources available for monitoring compliance and educating taxpayers.

Naughton stressed that there are numerous effects of gradually removing zero rated/exempt goods from the regime.

He said that applying a tax rate of zero to certain goods is intended to ensure that basic goods remain affordable to the poorest consumers. He added that current research however suggests that this may better be achieved by increasing the disposable income of the poor (by fine tuning the income tax rules, for example).

Naughton said that the effect of applying the standard VAT rate to all goods, while ensuring the disposable income of the poor is toppedup to help them to pay the extra tax, would likely be: a. To see a reduction of the standard rate of VAT while maintaining an acceptable level of VAT revenue; b. To see a simplified VAT regime; c. To see the rich unable to benefit from preferential tax rate (zero rate) intended for the poor; and d. To see general improvement in compliance and compliance monitoring.

Naughton said that it is important to appreciate that the most effective tax system is one that is simple for taxpayers to comply with and makes little demand on administrative resources for its monitoring. In the context of VAT, he said that this would include minimizing the need for goods being taxed at different rates.

In conclusion, the Chartered Accountant expressed that VAT is a very important source of tax revenue globally; not just in Guyana. He stressed, however, that improving the performance of the system should be priority.

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Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

15 years later…

“HAB it” still satisfying customers’ needs with its Daily Express Service

HAB’s location at Lot 1 Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

HAB International Inc., or more popularly known as “HAB it”, has over the years continued on its path to provide excellent customer service to its clients while maintaining its efficient and effective way of doing business.

From its establishment in 2001, HAB catered mainly to miners and farmers to relieve them of any possible down time. However, the company has been evolving tremendously in the area of shipping over the last decade and a half.

Harold A. Beharry, owner of the reputable Swiss Machinery establishment at Eccles, which has been in existence for more than three decades, decided to bring into being a service to facilitate the shipment of spare parts to his customers – HAB was born.

The company’s local office is located at Lot 1 Eccles, East Bank Demerara with other offices in Miami.

Speaking to this publication recently, was the Manager of the company and also Beharry’s daughter, Tina Beharry.

Tina stated that the company has been

continuously satisfying the needs of companies to get goods and services to keep them functioning so to prevent downtime and also, to enable entities to satisfy their customers’ needs in a time sensitive manner.

Although HAB has many services such as regular air and ocean freight; free mailbox with a free cargo-track account; consolidations; and so many more, their daily express service to Guyana has been the “talk of the town”.

“Many companies suffer from anxiety, lack of confidence and not being able to provide services due to the lack of resources. We all have emergencies no matter what they are— business or personal.

“So HAB is here to ensure that no matter the emergency, with our Daily Express Service, we are here to service everyone no matter the emergency need – within 24 hours and 0ur prices are very, very competitive and we operate 365 days a year; Sunday to Sunday; Christmas; New Year’s and everything in between,” Tina said.

HAB International Inc.,

was made popular for this service and boasts that it is the only company that satisfies shipping needs in such a short time frame with a 100 percent reliability, she added.

Tina said that she is urging persons to take full advantage of this service and is of firm belief that it will change the way consumers see shipping services, and coupled with the company’s excellent ratings and competitive prices, Guyanese will be able to have whatever they would have desired yesterday, by tomorrow.

The shipping company is available to companies as well as individuals with shipping needs. She pointed out that HAB’s survival over the years has been premised on listening to its customers’ needs and tweaking its services to offer them exactly what they desire.

Moreover, she noted that the common feedback coming from customers is simply that of “satisfaction.”

Tina when quizzed on the name’s origin – “HAB it”, she replied, “We didn’t even come up with that. Customers would say just ‘Hab it’ and it was something that somebody may have said once or twice then all of a sudden we realised that all our customers were calling us ‘Hab it’…we liked it and we stuck with it. Our slogan has since become ‘If you have to have it – HAB it’ “ related a smiling Tina.

In anticipation of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations, HAB International Inc. has launched a promotion where anyone who takes a selfie wearing a HAB T-Shirt at the 50th Jubilee celebration and *#ýIfYouHaveToHaveItHABIt, on Facebook / Instagram will qualify to win US$50. Also, new customers will be given a discount on their first purchase.

Guyanese teen heads to Harvard following acceptance to 21 universities in the US Much like any regular teenager, New York basedGuyanese, Kelly Hyles is care- free, fun-loving and enjoys listening to pop music, but although she appears ordinary on the surface, this teen has had the internet buzzing for weeks after her amazing feat of being accepted to 21 universities, across the US. Harvard, Princeton, Pennsylvania and Yale Universities were among the eight Ivy League Schools, competing for the teen in the last few weeks.

However, Hyles has chosen to be a member of Harvard’s Class of 2020. She is expected to graduate about the same time as Malia Obama, daughter of US President, Barack Obama, who also elected to go to Harvard.

Given her academic achievement Hyles, who hails from Vryheid Lust, East Coast Demerara, has since been featured on a number of popular news channels and television shows in the US including CNN Today, People Magazine, Dailymail, the Steve Harvey Show, PIX11 News and the Today Show.

She has spoken extensively about how she managed to get accepted into the Ivy League Schools but was still willing to share the story of her home country, when Kaieteur News contacted her.

The 17 year-old speaks fondly of her homeland.

Hyles said that her academic foundation in Guyana prepared her for school in the ‘Big Apple.’

Kelly following her interview at the Today Show

“I was eleven, when I came to the United States and I believe that I was used to working hard in Guyana so it wasn’t a shock when I had to continue to work hard in America.”

The teenager shared her secret to success. She believes that resilience and determination are pivotal to any success story.

“It’s not always going to be a smooth road and there are going to be many obstacles in the way, but in the end, it is how you overcome those obstacles that make the difference.”

“I know where I want to go in life and I am aware of the amount of work that it requires, and I strive to give it my all.”

She also noted that her

Kelly and her mom whom she says is her rock

faith played a huge part in her success.

“I am obliged to thank God for his endless favour, for without Him, I could not have achieved this amazing feat.”

When faced with challenges, Hyles said her favourite mantra is “for every dark night, there is a brighter day,”- words of famed American rapper Tupac Shakur.

She is preparing for college and hopes to study Biochemistry and Neuroscience and take classes related to Political Science and Race Relations while at Harvard University.

“As of right now, I would like to become a Neurosurgeon and hope to continue to inspire others to reach their full potential, whether it is through mentorships or tutoring,” she said.

The teen noted that the past few weeks have been surreal.

She recalled that the moment she received the news, “I was actually at work checking my email, when I saw the letter of admission from Cornell (University). I opened it and it said congratulations and I was like I have to call my mom right away.”

Hyles said when she received the other acceptance letters she sat with her mother, Anetta Sealey, went through the mail in their living room.

The High School student credits her mother for her work regiment.

She said that her mom works two jobs to support them.

Hyles currently attends the High School for Math, Science and Engineering in Harlem, one of New York’s nine specialized high schools.

When she’s not studying or at Mt. Sinai Hospital doing research, she tutors students at her former Brooklyn middle school.

Sunday May 22, 2016

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Kaieteur News

GPHC’s ICU overwhelmed by disorder linked to Zika Virus – Health Minister A total of nine Zika Virus cases have been confirmed by the Vector Control Services Unit of the Ministry of Public Health. This state of affairs has been revealed by Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, who revealed that the mosquito-transmitted virus has been linked to the Guillian-Barré Syndrome.

Based on medical reports, the GuillianBarré Syndrome is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weaknesses or tingling sensations in the legs.

In many instances, it has been reported that the symmetrical weakness and abnormal sensation spread to the arms and upper body.

These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all and when severe, the person is almost totally paralyzed.

Although he was unable to disclose the number of cases detected by the Ministry, Minister Norton divulged that “there has been an increase.”

The Minister was however not willing to link the detected cases of the disorder to the Zika Virus. “If I say so I would not be saying so on any scientific evidence,” asserted Minister Norton. “The fact that Guillian-Barré syndrome has been associated with Zika and that Zika is in Guyana and that there is an increase in the Guillian-Barré syndrome, one would want to deduce a relationship...But we don’t have any evidence of that.”

According to the information that has reached the Minister, an upsurge in the number of cases has been gaining the attention of the public health system and this has resulted in severe stress on the limited resources of the

Distraught father, Surendra Ramcharitar, is soliciting support for his son.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

This development, according to the Minister, has caused the public hospital to transfer some of these patients to the privately operated Woodlands Hospital’s ICU. However, the Minister has made it clear that persons who manifest symptoms of the disorder could still gain medical attention at the GPHC. This is in spite of the fact that caring for a patient with this disorder is very costly.

“The treatment is expensive but the hospital has got the means of acquiring whatever they need... Guillian-Barré syndrome

has been around for the longest while – it is a neurological manifestation that starts from the lowest extremities and travels upwards,” said the Minister.

Moreover, he noted that the public health sector is well acquainted with the disorder and how to treat with it. “Anybody who requires medical assistance for this disorder can come to us,” said the Minister.

The case of a 21-year-old man, Pooran Ramcharitar, of Lot 42 Goed Bananen Land, East Canje Berbice was recently diagnosed.

His father, Surendra Ramcharitar, said that he is soliciting help from the public and Government to purchase medications.

The father of six said that his son was diagnosed with the disorder at the Anamayah Memorial Hospital in Berbice. He was admitted to the GPHC on Sunday and is currently on a life support system, according to his father.

The injection needed to treat Ramcharitar ’s ailment is a Human Immunoglobulin injection which is not available in Guyana. According to Health International Inc. the afflicted young man needs a quantity of 35 bottles at a cost of $75,000 each which will amount to $2,625,000.

The father said he has made an advance payment of $1M and is pleading with the public and the Government to assist him with the remaining $1,625,000.

Anyone willing to assist the family can

Pooran Ramcharitar is afflicted with the Guillian-Barré syndrome. contact 326-1203 or 652-7044. The family has an account (745309-5) with Republic Bank Limited to which contributions can be made.

But according to Minister Norton while persons are free to seek help from outside of the public health sector hospital, it is not always advisable.

“The Ministry of Health has got systems in place for anybody who requires medical assistance in medical treatment. When persons go public it gives the impression that the Ministry of Health has not got things in place and that is not accurate at all,” said the Minister as he insisted that he is not aware that the father of the young man has sought assistance from his Ministry.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

Dr. Shamdeo Persaud is a “Special...

Tending to a patient in the earlier years.

From page 19 was the first time they were going to train doctors locally,” he reflected.

Additionally, there were many challenges which included shortage of materials, an unfinished building, and limited access to laboratories.

However, anxiety rose among them when people started to give them all sort of titles, the most common being “barefoot doctors”.

However, Persaud stated that he and his batchmates remained focused and determined to prove everyone wrong.

“We were determined to be the best in the game. There were many Cuban-trained doctors and other Guyanese practitioners returning home to practice, but we were not intimidated. We were able to hold our own,” he said.

'I WAS READY' Persaud graduated from the UG medical school in 1992 and went on to achieve his Master's in Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of the West Indies. Fresh out of internship from the medical school, Persaud got a tenure at the Georgetown Public Hospital as a Government Medical Officer. It was during that time he developed a passion for medical research.

“My interest was stimulated, so when the Cholera outbreak occurred in 1992 I was ready,” he said.

He recalled that the government had made a request for medical doctors to work in the outbreak as volunteers, since at that time the Region did not have any medical officer working there and the demand was great. He said

he had heard that people were dying and getting sick, and he wanted to help so he signed up for the volunteer mission.

Persaud was the only volunteer that turned up. The epidemic was a huge blow to the region since scores of persons died.

“Right there in that region I was introduced to public health. We had a lot of deaths…a lot of sick people…everything was tense, but we had to ensure that we got the situation under control. As a young doctor it was scary for me, but we always encouraged among each other. We worked hard to save as many lives we could and when patients died we had special procedures for their burial.

“Sometimes late at night we would hear someone got sick and they would be way out in the village and we would have to take a boat and travel to them, because there wasn't enough time to bring the patient to us. If they did, by the time they reached the person would have already died…the best thing was to go quickly and start them on the fluids,” he reminisced.

ACAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH It was after the outbreak that Persaud was selected to return to the region as its Regional Health Officer, given the knowledge of the people and the region that he had acquired during the epidemic. This marked the beginning of his career in Public Health.

However, two years later he was called back to the Georgetown Public Hospital “but I didn't feel comfortable there”. So he approached the Chief Medical Officer at the time, and asked him to be reassigned in an area of public health.

“That was when the years of work in the Tuberculosis department began. They assigned me to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. “I was excited, because it was a fairly neglected area and I wanted to make a change.

It was only four of us working on the TB programme….now the TB department has over 70 workers.”

Persaud then went on to develop the DOTS programme and have the TB clinic moved into the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“We modernized it, set up a registry and treatment guidelines. It took a lot of time and a lot of dedication. But we made it and now TB is under control,” he said.

He also worked with CDA in producing the first TB manual, while at the same time he was offered an opportunity to do his Masters at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

Upon his return to Guyana, he worked as the National Epidemiologist in the Department on Communicable Diseases. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Persaud presently sits as Chairman of the Central Board of Health, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, the Institutional Review Board of the Ministry of Public Health, and also functions as the Director for Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Board. He is also a member of the Medical Council, the Pharmacy Council, the Nurses' Council, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Advisory Board and a Member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad and Tobago.

He is also a member of the CAAM-HP Board and the President of the Guyana Chest Society. However, he still finds time to give back to young practicing doctors by lecturing at the School of Medicine, University of Guyana.

“It important to impart whatever you learn into someone else, because it helps to fashion what the future would look like,” he said.

“I really like to help people, regardless of who they are…I would do everything possible to ensure that people have a life that they can enjoy,” he added, noting that this motivated him to go the extra mile to boost the health sector. “I am always conscious that there is someone in need of quality medical care…a sick child in need of medicines.”

He stressed that if a doctor fails to listen

Graduating from University of Guyana Medical School in 1992. to his/her patients then they miss the most important part of medicine. “A major challenge is human resources, but not so much the shortage of the human resources, but more so their attitudes.”

“The sector will always need infrastructure and more money, but if they would invest in the human resources it would take health in Guyana to another level,” he opined, adding that he was pleased with the efforts taken by the Ministry to expand the primary health care system.

He said the option of bringing health services closer to people has always been something he would love to see happen in the public health sector.

FAMILY Meanwhile, Persaud admitted that his career had taken a toll on his family earlier in his life. He said there were times he would return home from a long day at work and his son would chide him for working too much and having too little time. “It did affect me….but I love my children and they are all supportive of my career and my life. But now I'm making them my priority…my family and then work.”

Persaud has three children: Nikhel, Anesia and Zyler. His daughter is currently away in Georgia pursuing medicine while his eldest son is studying piloting in Guyana. The youngest, he said, is still in primary school.

He said it is the simple moments in life that he treasures the most about his family and he remembers all of those moments vividly. “My children loved whenever we went on vacations. They always wanted to go where the water is, and in the water is where we had all the fun. I remember sitting with my family around the television and just enjoying each other while we watch a movie. We would just pick a movie and watch. But it was the time we spent together that matters. The movies I can't remember, but the moments with my children I do.”

Currently Persaud is working on achieving his PhD in Epidemiology at the St George's University in Grenada. He was recently awarded by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO) for his outstanding performance in the health sector. He also dedicates his free time to running in the mornings. “My biggest dream would be to run in a marathon, but for now I practice every day. So maybe one day.”

Sunday May 22, 2016

PAGE 69

Kaieteur News

Types of Teeth and Their Functions

By Dr. Neromini Fagu Most of us will shed our twenty baby teeth and have them replaced by our thirtytwo adult teeth, which if we take care of properly should last us our entire life.

Each type of tooth has a specific function. Sometimes when we lose one type the remaining teeth have to function in ways they are not supposed to. This week we are going to look at the different types of teeth and the role they play in our mouths.

From primary school you may recall that there are four types of teeth. Ask the grade sixers who just recently completed their national exams and they will readily rattle off the jobs of these teeth.

The types of adult teeth located going from front to back in our mouths are incisors, canines, premolars and molars. You may be surprised to know that there are no baby premolars.

Incisors These are the four teeth in the front and center of our mouths. There are eight in

total with four in the top jaw and four in the bottom jaw.

The two in the in the middle are called the central incisors and are wider and longer than the neighbouring lateral incisors. The incisors are usually the first set of teeth to erupt, at around six months of age. We use our incisors to bite into our food.

Canines We have a total of four canines, two in our upper jaw and two in our lower jaw.

They are found next to the lateral incisors in a location said to be the corner of the mouth. Sometimes they are referred to as cuspids because anatomically they possess one cusp.The canines in the upper jaw are also sometimes called the “eye teeth�.

The canines are usually the longest teeth in our mouth.

These are also our sharpest teeth and are used for tearing and ripping food apart.

Premolars We have a total of eight premolars with four first premolars and four second premolars. The premolars are sometimes referred to as bi-

Dr. Neromini Fagu

cuspids, and not surprisingly so as those teeth have two cusps. Premolars are only found in adult teeth. There are no baby premolars. The baby molars occupy the space where the adult premolars would erupt.

Premolars are used for chew-

ing and grinding food.

Molars Most adults have a total of 12 molars with three in each quadrant of the mouth, and these are the first, second and third molars. The third molars are also referred to as your wisdom teeth. The first type

of adult teeth to erupt is the first molars and this occurs at around six years of age. Parents have to be careful as sometimes they mistake these first adult molars as baby teeth thinking they will be replaced. During the period of mixed dentition, there will be

present both baby molars and adult molars. The adult molars do not replace any baby teeth but come in behind the baby molars. Our molars are the workhorse of our mouth and like the premolars are also used for chewing and grinding foods.

Our teeth are very important to us and we should not take them for granted. For good dental health you need to brush and floss your teeth properly, eat a healthy diet, and visit your dentist for regular dental cleanings and checkups.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail. com.

CONSUMER CONCERNS

The jubilee celebrations and the Jagan-Burnham spontaneous embrace PAT DIAL The most important event in this month’s consumer calendar is the Golden Jubilee of National Independence commemoration and celebrations.

It is also an event of importance to the whole nation.

This event allows us, as a nation, to pause and to take stock of our successes and failures, our achievements and missed opportunities over the past years.

It allows us to look with a fresh mind and new perspectives and optimism upon the coming years.

The heart of the Jubilee commemoration and celebrations is on May 25 and May 26, especially in the evening when the flag-raising ceremony will take place and our leaders would be speaking to the Nation.

This is a time of joy and togetherness, when with

quiet and deep spontaneity we express our fundamental national oneness, transcending the various superficial differences we talk so much about.

The first Independence commemoration of 50 years ago which took place at the National Park expressed the same oneness of the Guyanese Nationality which young people would have an opportunity of experiencing and sharing on May26.

The year 1966 was the culmination of a period of very bitter social and political conflict, the likes of which had never before occurred in Guyanese history and which the Nation will, fortunately, never again suffer.

But despite this ambience of tension and conflict at the time, the two national leaders, Dr Cheddi Jagan and Mr Forbes Burnham stood on the same podium. When the flag of Guyana was being raised,

spontaneously and without their having any control of themselves, they embraced each other. The happening was so sudden and unexpected that there were no photographs of it. It symbolized the deep unity of Guyanese and Guyana, transcending all the differences about which we speak about so much.

This Jagan-Burnham spontaneous embrace is one of the most important and memorable symbols of Guyanese unity in the History of Guyana and we have often wondered why our Historians and other intellectuals have never given it the place of importance it deserves.

The Jubilee ceremonials

will certainly recapture the essence of that moment of half-a-century ago, and all Guyanese, especially young people should savour it.

In the run-up to May 26, a large number of entertaining and educative functions and activities have been organized countrywide and there have been joyous participation everywhere.

These include a series of performances by the best national artistes at the National Stadium and magnificent Fashion Shows at the Conference Centre. At this time,

many overseas Guyanese would be visiting their homeland and we should extend to them and to visitors from other countries the traditional hospitality and the hand of good fellowship and friendliness for which Guyanese people are known world-wide.

And it is apposite that we always remind ourselves that the Jubilee Celebrations have

also resulted in many other positives in Guyanese Society as for example, the drainage of the Capital City has been immensely improved, mountains of garbage have been cleared, the illegal street sellers and their shanty stalls have been relocated so that proper town-planning could be effectuated.

Happy Jubilee to all!

PAGE 70

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 Stunning designs with largest variety of plants by experienced landscapers!

Call: 219-0468 / 648-1821 Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Repairs to any type of television, amplifiers, etc at home. Call: 675-5831 Custom Brokerage Services: imports, exports, vehicles, containers, barrels, etc. Call: 682-4090 or email: stephenenrico@gmail.com Building Construction needs? Contact Pacific Development Inc. We do from start to finish. Call: 2236035 If you live in the Interior or anywhere and need a business partner. Call: 6511969; 681-8897 Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!!

WANTED Experienced cashiers, counter servers, waiters, roti/puri cook, pastry maker/.Apply at Hack’s Halaal Restaurant, 5 Commerce St. Experienced Mechanic preferably on East Bank-Call: 666-8121; 265-3424 Care for elderly Saturday & Sunday, 40yrs-50yrs, must live on West Coast or West Bank. Call: 623-7914 Salesgirls, Porters & Watchman. Apply with written application @ Best Buys Food Supplies, 1E Dennis & Middleton Streets, Campbellville.

One boy to assist in a shop in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 Carpenters. Call: 602-9469; 668-9863 General Manager, jet-man, m a r a c k M e n , b a h e i r, operator, service men. Call: 685-9028 Female to work in the interior as Shop Assistant – salary $80,000 monthly –Call: 6741767; 685-8720 Land to buy in La Parfaite Harmonie, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt and Tuschen, Best Price offer. Call: 642-1252 Experienced general domestic to work in G/town.

Must know to prepare Indian dishes, honest & pleasant.

Call: 656-6388 Welder, must know to weld and fabricate- Call: 222-3844 Driver/Salesman: experienced is an asset - i n t e r e s t e d persons call: 226-9800 Experienced bartender, chef, live in or out, waitress, bouncers needed at Eden Bar & Lounge (East Bank). Call: 652-0074

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc.

- Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000.

Call: 647-1773/660-5257

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota WILL VS-low mileage, 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250r- imported from the USA, low mileage. Call: 674-9002

Signature Sensation Beauty Salon: 50/50 special on services for $1000. Call: 2258701; 622-2643

Toyota Fun Cargo, AT212, AT192, RZ, 4 Door Canter, Wagon (Suzuki Viatara 4WD) Nissan pickup 2008 unregistered. Call: 644-5096; 697-1453 Tractor Massey Ferguson from Canada: MF165-$1.7M, MF135-$1.1M, MF265$2.1M, Loader 165 -$2.4M. Call: 682-5230; 628-9596

Earn a certificate in cosmetology; enroll now at Artee’s Beauty Salon & School of cosmetology. Call: 275-0267; 680-0156

Ford Ranger -$1.5M, Ford F150 Sport -$1.5M. Call: 6825230; 628-9596 WANTED Republic Park family needs an experienced caregiver between ages 45-55, live in, 1 week on 1 week off-$13,000.

Call: 667-2535 One experienced hairdresser.

Apply at Magic Touch Salon.

Call: 225-6492 Can you build model homes & Do estimates? Call: 6042207; 611-7223 Guyanese living in Cayman Islands & Turks & Caicos for business opportunities- Call: 651-1969; 681-8897 One cook -$30,000 weekly, domestic -$25,000 weekly, handyman -$25,000 weeklyCall: 220-9228 We indeed pay cash for land, for most residential house lot, including legal fees. Call: 6042207; 611-7223 Porters apply in person @ Alabama Trading.

Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

1 Nail technician preferably from East Bank –Call: 2653586 One salesgirl to work for 2 weeks in a snackette. Call: 226-2320

One domestic must know to cook, 1 cleaner and 1 experienced waitress $70,000-$80,000 monthly. Call: 610-5043 (all live in)

Golden Jubilee Sale: Reduced Prices!! 2004 Toyota IST$2.0M, 2007 Toyota Auris $2.5M. Call: 609-3650; 2268953; 226-1973

Unregistered Toyota Allion 2005: dark interior, HID lights, rose light - $2.2M negotiableCall: 617-5536 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154

CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery; also edible images and Wedding dresses for sale.

Call: 670-0798 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman, Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: church, office, lessons place, storage bond, private school, others -$20,000- Call: 603-6400 Shop for rent in Lethem 2850sqft front line- Call: 6257171 1 Exclusive Three bedrooms apartment @ First Bridge Diamond -$70,000. Call: 2255533; 225-5258; 615-2622

LAND FOR SALE Tuschen -$1.2M, Zeelugt $1.2M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M, Herstelling –$5M. (All prices negotiable). Call: 642-1252

Bottom flat for business situated in prime business area @ Robb Street Bourda.

Call: 226-1647 1-2 Bedroom apartment for rent at MonRpos North, E.C.D -$60,000 Call: 688-6005; 692-9295

High value transported land, Greater Diamond, E.B.D $7.5M negotiable. Call: 6847234

Fully furnished 2 storey house with 3 AC bedrooms, security & sensor lights, etc at Gated Community. Call: 685-5845; 668-8714; 612-3400

Bartica (corner lot) $2.8M; Eccles -$5.5M, Herstelling (corner lot) -$3M, La Parfaite$1.3M & $2M. Call: 611-7223; 604-2207

Upper flat- 3 bedrooms @ 109 Key Drive, Enterprise Gardens -$65,000 monthly.

No Agents. Call: 648-7621

Golden Jubilee Sale: Reduced Prices!! 2005 Toyota Raum $2.3M, 2006 Mazda Axela $2.3M, 2008 Toyota Hiace $3.3M. Call: 609-3650; 2268953; 226-1973

1 Land for sale @ Yarrowkabra -$10M- Call: 6219759

Upper flat- 3 bedrooms @ 2162 Festival City Exit $60,000 monthly. No Agents.

Call: 648-7621

Golden Jubilee Sale: Reduced Prices!! 2005 Toyota Premio $2.5M, 2005 Toyota Allion $2.4M, 2007 Toyota Rav4 $6M. Call: 609-3650; 2268953; 226-1973

Houselots, gated community, West Bank of Harbour Bridge, concrete road, concrete pave & drain, light & water. Tel: 650-0402/2604988

Golden Jubilee Sale: Reduced Prices!! 2007 Nissan BlueBird -$2.4M, 2007 Toyota Rush $2.9M, 2003 Toyota Verossa -$3.3M. Call: 609-3650; 2268953; 226-1973

Toyota Hilux 5L Diesel Engine, stick gear 18" mag rims. Call: 692-9577; 229-2379 1 Leyland DAF LF HIAB truck 5 ton HIAB new, hardly used GTT 2960 -$4M. Call: 622-6746 1 FUSO Crane GTT 20 -$4M; 1 HINO ranger wrecker GVV1890 -$4M, 1 HIAB Canter GTT 7140 -$3.5M. (negotiable) Call: 6226746 Brand new KIA sports SUV. Call: 624-5650

Female to work in food van.

Call: 689-4339; 611-5013 BOND WORKER/CANTER DRIVER. MONDAY TO SATURDAY, OVER 21YRS WITH POLICE CLEARANCE. CALL: 2318529; 231-8344

AT192 -$400,000 cash-Call: 695-3709

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Pickup from Canada, 4 door loaded 2005, Toyota Tacoma $2.3M. Call: 682-5230; 628-9596

Captain to ply from Georgetown to BarticaContact 650-0402 \ 260-4124

Pump Attendants. Call/Text/ Whatsapp: 627-2550 TAXI SERVICES

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Land @ Gated Community (front). Call: 644-8174

House lots, Blankenburg, Concrete road, concrete drain, light & water, also 3bedroom houses -$16M. Tel: 650-0402/260-4988 57 Acres Land @ Soesdyke Junction. Ideal for W/S, R/T Shopping mall, farmers market, truck stop, houselot.

Call: 265-4180; 615-3054 37’X724’ large land @ Bagotville West Bank, gold & diamond land. Call: 600-0036; 223-1273

Toyota Hilux Surf 3Y fuel injected automatic transmission. Call: 600-6195 1 Toyota Allion ( black) year 2003, reversed camera, alarm, PPP series, excellent condition. Call: 691-0592 TM Truck with Winch & Led light, as is -$3.5M negotiable.

Call: 616-7635 Hatch Back Axela, fully loaded, low mileage, PS series -$1.850M. Call: 648-4994

FOR SALE/RENT American pool table - Call: 277-0578 1-3 Bedroom wooden house @ Better Hope, E.C.D (upstairs & downstairs), inside toilet & bath, etc. Also a Marina Car PHH. Call: 685-1556

Three bedrooms top flat @ 20 Peter’s Hall Public Road, East Bank. Call: 233-6930 KITTY APARTMENTS: 2 BEDROOMS, 1 BATHROOM, GRILLED, BRAND NEW, NOAGENTS, NO SHORT TERM. STARTING $70,000 MONTHLY. CALL: 6951138

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 (Continued on page 71)

Sunday May 22, 2016

PAGE 71

Kaieteur News

BaiShanLin enjoys duty free...

From page 14 develop the project.

It also wanted to construct a Commodity Mall to display its products and also make available rental spaces to the Guyanese community.

The company was to complete the mall at Providence by September 2013.It was to employ over 500 persons.

BaiShanLin also told Irfaan Ali, who was charged with housing developments, that the company wanted to build a gated community that will cater for up to 300 homes.

The western and eastern design homes would use solar power and act as a model for future housing developments, the company promised.

The company disclosed that the equipment it had on hand from previous concessions brought in dutyfree were unsuitable for the forestry terrain and could only be sold as scrap.

The company submitted a request for 100 items for duty free concessions, saying it had gone ahead and placed an order for some machinery which was on its way.

Among other things, the company was requesting one billion meters of electric wires and other items. That amount of cable can wrap Guyana equal 100 times.

At the time of the letter in July 2012, BaiShanLin claimed that it had received advanced financing for the Commodity Mall and wood processing facility with US$14M disbursed by China and another US$100M expected in another six months.

The company wanted Ali to engage them for a new investment agreement.

According to the list of items for tax exemptions, there were seven categories of exemptions BaiShanLin wanted.

These included for motor vehicles, wood processing equipment, shipbuilding equipment, shipping equipment, construction equipment and material, power generation equipment and fuel for generating and production.

THROUGH THE ROOF With regard to vehicles, BaiShanLin was vague in some areas. For example, it wanted exemptions 100,000 units of spare parts…there was no description of what kind. The company just happens to have registered a spare parts business in Guyana.

It wanted 20 cars, 20

pickups, 20 “jeeps”, 10 of the 30-seater buses and 50 dump trucks, among other things. In all, there were 235 trucks of varying kinds from low-bed to containers trucks that BaiShanLin wanted the Minister to approve.

Under ship-building, the company wanted 20,000 tons of steel plates; 10 tug-boats, 20 barges, five wharf cranes and four jet boats.

Perhaps the biggest demands that raised eyebrows were under the category, Construction Equipment and Materials.

While the requests for 20 cranes and 100 mixers seemed reasonable, under this category, BaiShanLin asked for tax exemptions for 100,000 tons of steel frame and plant steel and 10,000 tons of aluminium plates.

There were also requests for 100,000 solar street lights, 10,000 security doors, 100,000 meters of high and low voltage cable, 100,000 tubes of sealant and a similar amount of wall fence.

It wanted 100,000 boxes of tiles and 100 welding machines.

That 2012 list also asked for 200,000 gallons per year of diesel for power production along with 20 diesel generator sets and 100 small generators.

It appears that BaiShanLin wanted all the materials to build homes at a 100 acres plot of land it had at Providence, competing unfairly with local companies and to enter the hardware business.

MORE CONCESSIONS IN 2015 In 2015, shortly before the General Elections in May, former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, approved a list for some 87 items for “exclusive” use in the delayed wood processing factory.

These included for 24 generators, 20 more low-bed trucks, some 8,000 tons of cement and almost 800,000 tons of steel. (see photos of complete list approved last year by the former Finance Minister).

The granting of concessions was largely a secret with not much known of the extent until now.

The waiving of taxes has implications on tax revenues for the country.

In 2014, the PPP/C reportedly incurred almost $60B in waived taxes to investors, public servants and others, significant as the total budget of the country was only $220B.

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it

TO LET

FOR SALE

New self-contained 3 bedroom house, upper flat, security cameras; security lights, window screens @ Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 2260880; 603-0067

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Toyota Hilux Vigo, ex cab 4WD, gas, 2700cc, 2TR Auto cc, 2006. Call: 616-5595; 6740434

3 Bedrooms: 1 bathroom, unfurnished house @ Diamond Housing Scheme $50,000 monthly (available immediately). Call: 216-2995; 693-6610 Semi furnished top flat in Wortmanville, single person or couple. Call: 616-2445 between 9:00am-6:00pm

Used: office furniture, filing cabinets. Call: 621-9759

2 room apartment @ Mon Repos, E.C.D Call: 672-7431; 615-0725

Powerline battery water lL+½L sizes: wholesale. Call: 680-3863

2 Bedroom bottom back apartment situated at Kitty.

Ideal for working professionals. Call: 227-6662; 643-3061; 654-0382 One bedrooms apartment $40USD per night, large 6 bedrooms @ Soesdyke, Highway -$3000 monthly.

Call: 600-0036; 223-1273

Pure Dachshund, de-wormed -$15,000. Call: 216-0521; 6943567

Jubilee Visitors: river tours, city tours, airport/ out of town trips, Suriname tour – Call:639-2663; 665-5171; 6927270; 223-0056 FOR SALE ROAD TO BELWASA & A DIP AT THE SANGAM. AVAILABLE @ AUSTIN’S BOOK STORE- TEL: 2267350/7 & AT LATCHMANSINGH DRUG STORE. TEL: 226-5053

VACANCY Cashiers for supermarketCall: 624-0033. 1 Cook & 1 maid. Call: 624-0033. Security In store (daytime) –Call: 6803863.Driver for water truck.

Call: 680-3863

PROPERTY FOR SALE Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -$41M –Call: 6629335; 612-3244

Landscape Maintenance Vacancy: Hardworking, pleasant, team player, 17-28 years. Contact: 219-0468/ 6212453

Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

One complete 6" Dredge for sale. Call: 667-7512; 625-9358

Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020

Brand New: 1-21 gal air compressor, 2- 12 ton press,220 ton press, 2-3 ton floor jack, 3- 10" miter saw. Call: 2641538; 667-7405

5 Waitresses @ R&V Sports Bar E.B.D. Free Meals and accommodationCall/ whatsapp: 661-8802

Vreed-en-Hoop -$45M, Anna Catherina -$9.5M, $12.5, Boreseree -$6.5M, Uitvlugt $4.5M, Tuschen -$4.5M. Call: 642-1252 Prime Business spot @ Anna Catherina, Public Road. Call: 667-2536; 628-0016

Brand New: 3- 12" Miter saw, 5- air hose (50ft), 2-hand truck, 2 Toyota Tundra. Call: 2641538; 667-7405

Evening cashiers, porters.

Apply at Survival, 16 Vlissengen Road & Duncan St., with application and passport size photo.

Property @ Cummings Street; 4 storey building, club, 8 self contain rooms.

Call: 628-0016; 667-2536

One Isuzu trooper diesel engine and transmission 4JG2 turbo intercooler, foreign used. Call: 669-2290

TOURS

From page 70

Stamps! Valuable Stamp collection -12,000 and over for sale. Call: 624-7341; 227-6817

Office clerk (senior/junior) with CXC English/ Mathematics & computer knowledge an asset. Call: 2237500 One caterpillar mechanic to work in the interior-Call: 2235273/4

33.6 Acres Farm Land @ Kuru Kuru Linden Soesdyke Highway, one garden tiller.

Call: 225-7794; 679-1151

Real Estate staff must be able to ride. Contact GME Realty: gmerealestate@outlook.com

1 AT192 Carina car for parts, 1 TD 27 Engine complete with transmission turbo intercool.

Call: 669-2290

Roxi’s Fashion has vacancy for 1 seamstress & 1 sewing machine operator. Apply @ 301 Church St. Call: 227-8538; 622-4386

MOULDINGS, SPINDLES, HAND RAILS, PINE CUPBOARD DOORS 16X27 -$3200 (KNOT FREE)- CALL: 621-1278 Poultry waterers @ 4,500, Incubabtor, Hatachery, 1 Back-hoe. Call: 662-4975 1 Model M Truck, gym & salon equipment, 1 cash register, 3 TV sets (all used).

Call: 622-4386; 696-4397

Exist for cashiers/sales clerk.

Apply in person with written application to Nirva Supermarket. Call: 227-5771

Transported property, prime, furnished liquor restaurant & bar, 2 freezers, 1 pools table, double lot @ E.C.D- $24.5M neg. Call: 600-7228 House for sale @ West Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt.

Call: 662-4975 House for sale: 2 storey wood & concrete in Enterprise, owner leaving. For more information call: 692-0335; 229-6078 House and land @ Diamond, La Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc: 223-6035 Property @ Enmore – Hope West: building overlooking Foulis. Call: 602-2818; 6491434

Exist for 1 nail technician with knowledge of facials, pedicure & massage. Call: 696-7337 for details.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Tuschen: 2 storey concrete building; Tain: 2 Storey wooden & concrete building, price negotiable. Call: 2319690; 231-9693 between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs, Mon-Fri.

One roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop, ground excellent for restaurant or other business – Call: 654-0779

Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572

Roxie’s Fashion Independence custom made clothing: costume, spandex, metallic & plain, leotard & tights. Call: 227-8538; 6964397; 622-4386

4 Bedroom property @ Enterprise, 3 bathrooms, 2 garage, pressurized system, overhead tanker, generator, etc. Call: 600-6195

Roxie’s Fashion has on sale flags (coloured), Independence casual wear dresses @ 301 Church St. Call: 227-8538; 622-4386

2 Storey property, 4 bedrooms (1 master) grill, toilet & bath (both flats) concrete fence @ Q68 Guyhoc Gardens, Ruimveldt. Call: 231- 9174

Need help acquiring a home then contact Pacific Development Inc. “Making Dreams Realty”. Call: 223-6035

One fuel tanker (new), 1 steel vessel with documents, in working condition. Call: 6653664

Property @ Yarrowkabra: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 storey, concrete fence, 1 Acre lots of fruit trees. Call: 682-5212 or 0011- 305-232-5843

One front house and one 2 storey back house for sale @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda.

Call: 226-5183; 227-6817; 6247341

1-3 Storey wooden concrete building @ Mc Doom Public Road, next to Gas Station serious offers only. No Agents: 699-4486

PAGE 72

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Spectacular performances Mexican Mariachi Music Band at Police Day Tours Guyana for Golden Jubilee

One of the police dogs searching in action.

The Guyana Police Force seized the opportunity to be “citizen friendly” when it executed its first “Police Day” yesterday at the D’Urban Park.

Scores of persons attended the free event and despite the rain, all seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

There were performances from the force’s SWAT (A Special Weapon and Tactics) team, the Canine Section, Tactical Services Unit, Mounted Branch and Police String Band.

The very interactive crowed cheered on energetically as the many stunts and policing activities were performed. The hostage act by the force’s SWAT team was definitely the crowd’s favourite.

The SWAT team is a designated group of Law Enforcement Officers who were selected, trained and equipped to work as a coordinated unit to tackle critical issues that are so dangerous that they exceed the capabilities of first responders. This country’s SWAT team stands ready to safely resolve high risk situations such as a hostage situation, barricaded suspects and VIP protection among others. Yesterday’s act showed the team rescuing hostages held in a bus by a group of men- this act gained the full attention of the crowd.

The trained police dogs were amazing. They found guns and weed, which were hidden separately. Molly (one of the dogs) gained instant crowd fame for her swiftness in locating the hidden objects.

Other activities included races, martial arts display, buns eating race and drill display.

The Mexican Mariachi Music Band “Internacional Mariachi Agave”, a leading music band based in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, will bring its music to Guyana from May 24th to 27th, as part of the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence.

The six-member group is well-known to audiences in North America, Spanishspeaking countries, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim, as “Internacional Mariachi Agave” has been playing traditional Mexican music around the world for 15 years.

The Ministry of Education and the Mexican Embassy have partnered with Copa Airlines and secured the support of private sponsors in Guyana to hold a freeadmission Golden JubileeConcert on Friday,

May 27th, at 19:00 hrs at the National Cultural Center.

The repertoire for the night will be a set of popular and catchy songs, including the sounds of guitars, trumpets, violins, accordions and folkloric instruments.

Throughout the world, Mariachi is a recognized symbol of Mexico; it is the musical accompaniment to life’s most important moments: such as proposals; weddings, birthday celebrations, baptisms, parties and even funerals.

This tradition encompasses globally famous songs such as “Besame Mucho”, “Cielito Lindo”, “El rey”, and reaches into the hearts of its listeners evoking romance, friendship, and above all, Mexico’s heritage.

In order to provide a wider

opportunity to enjoy Mexican music, “Internacional Mariachi Agave” will perform at New Amsterdam in Berbice and will hold a “Mexican Serenata” at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.

In 2011, the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) recognized Mariachi as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

According to the selection committee, “Mariachi music conveys values that promote respect for the natural heritage of regional Mexico and the local history, both in S p a n i s h and in indigenous languages.”

Doors at the NCC for the mariachi concert on May 27th will open at 18:00 hrs on a first-come, first serve basis.

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

International concern mounts over Venezuela Caracas (AFP) - International concerns are mounting over the economic and political crisis in Venezuela, where the military yesterday was holding a second day of exercises ordered by embattled President Nicolas Maduro.

With the oil-dependent country’s economy imploding under recession and hyperinflation, public sentiment is backing Maduro’s ouster.

But the socialist president is digging in.

He imposed a state of emergency this week and ordered the two-day war games to show the military can tackle domestic and foreign threats he says are being fomented with US help.

After deploying its Russian-made strike aircraft across Venezuela’s skies on Friday, the military yesterday ran riot squads through their paces on Saturday, state television showed.

The opposition, which has a majority in the congress, last week, rejected the state of emergency.

Nicolas Maduro

It led protests on Wednesday demanding a recall referendum against Maduro on the basis of a petition that garnered 1.8 million signatures. Seventy percent of Venezuelans want a change of government, polls say.

But the Supreme Court, stacked with judges loyal to Maduro, overruled the legislature and called the emer-

gency decree “constitutional.” And electoral officials have been dragging their feet in validating the petition.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, whom Maduro narrowly beat to the presidency in 2013 elections following the death of Hugo Chavez, has given dire warnings about the mounting public frustration.

PAGE 73

PAGE 74

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Grenada power company warns of threat to electricity reliability and costs ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Grenada Electricity Services Ltd. (GRENLEC,) the sole provider of electricity in Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique, has claimed that the country’s new energy legislation will threaten the electricity sector’s reliability and costs.

It has also claimed the Electricity Supply Bill and Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Bill are politically motivated.

But government says both claims are far from the truth.

In a statement issued earlier this week, GRENLEC said the Bills unilaterally scrap the current legislative and regulatory framework that has successfully allowed Grenada to enjoy more than 20 years of world-class electricity service and growth.

But Minister for Health and Social Security yesterday issued a statement, saying he was appalled at GRENLEC’s comments.

“I take issue with that. In fact, I take offence to that. This is being motivated in the best interest of our people of Grenada. Unlike the members of GRENLEC who have framed this, we have a responsibility to the people, not to shareholders,” the minister said.

“It is not an acceptable international norm to have a legislated monopoly.”

Steele says that, for years, Grenada has not been able to access any of the benefits of

being a member of the International Renewable Authority, because of the legislative monopoly of GRENLEC, which has been preventing government from providing electricity to less fortunate people, or to itself, without first seeking the permission of the private entity.

The minister says, with the new legislation, the aim of government is not to terminate the operations of GRENLEC, but to bring greater competition into electricity market for the benefit of the people.

“It has nothing to do with whether the private entity is welcomed or continues to be welcomed. What we seek to do is create an environment…it should not be as a result of a legislation. It should be as a result of fair competition and fair play,” he said.”As a responsible government we not only have a right to provide that type of environment, we have an obligation to provide that type of environment,” he added.

The Lower House of Parliament on May 11 approved the measures that the Government said will lead to a comprehensive reform of the electricity sector by opening the door for other investors to generate electricity using renewable energy resources.

The Upper House will make a final decision on the Bills in an upcoming sitting next Tuesday. (Caribbean360)

T&T to host regional digital media conference PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie will deliver the feature address at the two-day conference aimed at building awareness of intellectual property challenges facing regional broadcasters.

The May 23-24 conference is being organised by the Barbados-based Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Caribbean Community

(CARICOM).

It is being co-hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO) and the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad & Tobago (TATT).

The organisers said that the conference which will be attended by broadcasters, as well as regional media regulators and representatives of intellectual property offices will examine the copyright challenges and opportunities for Caribbean media.

It will be held under the

theme, “Broadcast Licensing in the Digital Age”.

“The matter has been high on the agenda for Caribbean broadcasters, and media regulators for years, with some regional countries being sharply criticized by US trade authorities for the unauthorised re-broadcasting of broadcast and cable signals. “he most recent Assembly of the CBU also highlighted the negative effect of piracy and other irregular use of protected content. In August 2015 the CBU issued a statement calling on regional governments to protect broadcasters’ signals by supporting the introduction of the international Broadcasters’ Treaty, which has been under debate for nearly two decades,” the organisers said in a statement.

Among the speakers at the conference will be Jørgen Blomqvist, Honorary Professor, with the Centre for Information and Innovation Law in Copenhagen; Carole Croella, Senior Counsellor in WIPO’s, Copyright Law Division; Brendan Paddick, chief executive officer of Columbus Communications Trinidad & Tobago; Heijo Ruijsenaars, the Head of Intellectual Property for the European Broadcasting Union and CBU Vice President Gary Allen of the Jamaica-based RJR Group.

Sunday May 22, 2016

PAGE 75

Kaieteur News

India’s Modi to meet Obama, EgyptAir jet sent smokealarm warnings before crash address U.S. Congress next month Reuters - The EgyptAir jet which crashed in the Mediterranean on Thursday sent a series of warnings indicating that smoke had been detected on board, shortly before it disappeared off radar screens, French investigators said yesterday.

A spokesman for France’s BEA air accident investigation agency said the signals did not indicate what caused the smoke or fire on board the plane, which plunged into the sea with 66 people on board as it was heading from Paris to Cairo.

But they offered the first clues as to what unfolded in the moments before the crash.

One aviation source said that a fire on board would likely have generated multiple warning signals, while a sudden explosion may not have

generated any - though officials stress that no scenario, including explosion, is being ruled out.

Egypt said its navy had found human remains, wreckage and the personal belongings of passengers floating in the Mediterranean about 290 km (180 miles) north of Alexandria.

The army published pictures yesterday on its official Facebook page of the recovered items, which included blue and white debris with EgyptAir markings, seat fabric with designs in the airline’s colours, and a yellow lifejacket.

Analysis of the debris and recovery of the plane’s twin flight recorders are likely to be key to determining the cause of the crash - the third blow since October to Egypt’s travel industry, still reeling

from political unrest following the 2011 uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.

A suspected Islamic State bombing brought down a Russian airliner after it took off from Sharm el-Sheikh airport in late October, killing all 224 people on board, and an EgyptAir plane was hijacked in March by a man wearing a fake suicide belt.

It made no claim of responsibility for the Egyptair crash.

The October crash devastated Egyptian tourism, a main source of foreign exchange for a country of 80 million people, and another similar incident would crush hopes of it recovering.

Egypt’s tourism revenue in the first three months of the year plunged by two thirds to $500 million from a year earlier.

Recovered debris of the EgyptAir jet that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea is seen with the Arabic caption “part of plane chair” in this handout image released yesterday by Egypt’s military. Egyptian Military/Handout via Reuters

Islamic State calls for attacks on the West during Ramadan in audio message Reuters - A new message purporting to come from the spokesman of Islamic State calls on followers to launch attacks on the United States and Europe during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins in early June.

“Ramadan, the month of conquest and jihad. Get prepared, be ready ... to make it a month of calamity everywhere for the non-believers ... espe-

cially for the fighters and supporters of the caliphate in Europe and America,” said the message, suggesting attacks on military and civilian targets. The authenticity of the audio clip, purporting to be from Abu Muhammad alAdnani and distributed yesterday by Twitter accounts that usually publish Islamic State statements, could not be verified. “The smallest action

you do in their heartland is better and more enduring to us than what you would if you were with us. If one of you hoped to reach the Islamic State, we wish we were in your place to punish the Crusaders day and night,” Adnani said.

The militant group, which seeks to establish a caliphate across the Middle East and beyond, has claimed deadly attacks over the past year on civilians in France, Belgium and the United States.

U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) during a working dinner at the White House with heads of delegations attending the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington March 31, 2016. REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington next month to discuss security and other issues and the Indian leader will be granted the rare honour of addressing both houses of Congress.

The White House said Obama and Modi will discuss economic growth, climate change, clean energy, and security and defence cooperation during their June 7 meeting.

It will be Modi’s fourth trip to the United States since he became prime minister in 2014.

“The visit will highlight the deepening of the U.S.-India relationship in key areas,” the White House said in a statement on Friday.

The two countries’ partnership is seen as critical in Washington, which is seeking to counterbalance China’s increasing power.

Modi will address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, an opportunity extended to few foreign leaders, the day after the White House meeting, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a tweet.

The invitation is a sharp turnaround for Modi, who was once barred from the United States over massacres of Muslims. Last year there were only two joint addresses to Congress - by Pope Francis and by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, another important U.S. ally in Asia.

In 2005, then-U.S. President George W. Bush’s administration denied Modi a visa, citing a 1998 U.S. law barring entry to foreigners who have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”

More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots in Gujarat in 2002 when Modi had just become the state’s chief minister. Modi has denied any wrongdoing, and India’s Supreme Court in 2010 ruled there was no case.

Obama, who has adopted a “pivot to Asia” strategy and is keen to encourage a greater Indian military role in East Asia, quickly dismissed the issue by inviting Modi to the White House as soon as he called to congratulate him on winning the 2014 election.

The United States is also keen to encourage greater business and trade with India.

Progress has been only gradual, but in late March, the chief executive of U.S. nuclear reactor maker Westinghouse Electric said he expected to sign a deal in June to build six reactors in India after marathon negotiations that began more than a decade ago.

The deal would be the first nuclear commercial power project since the United States and India agreed in 2008 to cooperate in the civil nuclear arena. Westinghouse is owned

by Japan’s Toshiba Corp.

PAGE 76

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Venezuelans in T&T Ending poverty the greatest says Grenada struggle to send goods home challenge for region Prime Minister

People line up to donate medical supplies and diapers during the Rescue Venezuela campaign led by Lilian Tintori, wife of Venezuela’s jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, in Bogota, Colombia, on Thursday. AP Photo Trinidad Guardian - Venezuelan nationals living in T&T are attempting to send medicine and basic health supplies with family and friends who are travelling to Venezuela. However, most of these supplies are being confiscated at the airports by the National Authorities.

This was Friday disclosed by Wilman Castillo, member of the Vast Majority of Concerned Venezuelans, living in T&T. Castillo said the group, which is made up of Venezuelan professionals, fled Venezuela in 2003 because of the massive social and economic crisis that was already start-

ing to flourish with the Hugo Chavez regime. Many of the members have found better and safer living conditions for their families here in T&T. The group wanting to send help to Venezuela have also reached out to other humanitarian institutions but have encountered stumbling blocks. “They have expressed their sympathy and willingness to help from the Trinidad side but they are restricted by the government of Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has restricted any international collaboration from humanitarian or private institutions,” Castillo al-

leged. “We understand directly the unprecedented struggle and crisis that they are facing. We believe that if the media helps in uncovering the horror and the crisis situation that the Venezuelans are currently experiencing, and puts pressure on the international organisations like Red Cross and the UN to provide humanitarian support, this will stop and the Maduro regime will have no choice but to allow the international help. Which by the way has already been offered and rejected,” Castillo added.

Presently, the group, Castillo disclosed, are mostly concerned about children and other patients, including cancer patients and other critical medical conditions, for which medicine is urgently needed.

“All our hospitals are in a deplorable status thanks to the negligence of this government (Venezuelan) over the last 15 years and with Maduro now has worsened. We hope we can help more people to survive,” Castillo said.

Attempts are being made now to send medical supplies via travellers to Venezuela in as many quantities as they can carry. “We only know of Venezuelans and other Trinidadian friends that have helped and have been very supportive of the situation because at the moment we cannot send help in bulk.

However, it is very insignificant the help we can send this way,” Castillo added.When contacted for comment with respect to any request being made yet by any individual or groups to send aid to Venezuela, president of the T&T Red Cross Society, Lister Ramjohn, said no formal requests have been made so far.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (left) in discussion with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell (right), at the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Board of Governors Meeting at the Montego Bay Convention. At centre is Jamaica Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw.

Jamaica Observer - Prime minister of Grenada Keith Mitchell says despite achievements over the past decades, ending poverty remains the greatest challenge for vulnerable, developing Caribbean states.

Addressing the 46th Annual Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Meeting of the Board of Governors at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St James, last week, Dr Mitchell said ending poverty and hunger is inextricably linked to climate change, economic growth, social inclusion, the environment and governance.

The prime minister emphasised that poverty eradication is an indispens-

able requirement for sustainable development.

Jamaica and Grenada have shared an excellent relationship over the years, and being members of the CDB, both nations have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other member states as it relates to problems affecting the region.

“This is an opportunity for us to renew and reaffirm our joint commitment to make every effort to accelerate the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, through focused and coherent actions toward sustainable development,” Mitchell told the meeting.

“I am encouraged by the fact that this meeting is held

in the wake of the global adoption of the new Sustainable Development Agenda, and the historic Paris Agreement which was signed last year between leaders of some 200 countries — with the shared goals of ending poverty, fighting inequality, protecting the environment and ensuring prosperity for all,” he added.

Dr Mitchell said the CDB has been an invaluable partner to the people of Grenada, giving much needed assistance “in our time of greatest need”.

He said Grenada is also looking to strengthen its partnership with the non-borrowing members of the CDB to mobilise much-needed technical and financial resources.

Local Govt. Minister Speaks Out Against Corruption At Govt. Agency The Gleaner - Local government minister Desmond McKenzie says the corruption allegations against members of the Hanover Parish Council severely undermine the integrity of the Council and local government reform efforts. Contractor General Dirk Harrison has asked the director of public prosecutions to take action against two councillors in the Hanover Parish Council who recommended dozens of government contracts valued at millions of dollars to family members and political affiliates.

McKenzie says the local government reform programme is underpinned by the principles and tenets of accountability, transparency, subsidiarity, capacity building and institutional strengthening in a fair and equitable manner. “When these very principles are violated it then sends a signal of blatant disregard for the very citizens for whom we - the elected representatives at the local level pledge to serve,” he says. The local govern-

ment minister says he will not cast any aspersions on the findings of the probe. However, he says “the glaring untoward variations in the business model or lack thereof for how Councils conduct the Contract Award Process must be cauterised and a formal method be put in place to address this and other management deficiencies”.

McKenzie says he has requested that the Permanent Secretary, lead a high-level team from the ministry to conduct an in-depth probe of the administrative and financial operations of the Hanover Parish Council.

He says he will also address the issues and recommendations of the Contractor General’s Report at a Special Convened Meeting of Council on Thursday, May 26. He will also share the findings and recommendations of the technical team established to investigate the collapse of a portion of the building of the Royalton Hotel which is under construction in Negril with the Council at the meeting.

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 77

Hand-in-Hand U-19 Inter-County Cricket

Demerara, Berbice clash in Final today at Providence

By Sean Devers Matthew Hardial stroked four boundaries in a 117-ball 56 before Joel Seitatram grabbed 4-24 to give Berbice a 79-run win against Essequibo at Providence yesterday and a place in today’s final of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Hand-in-Hand 50-over under-19 final at the same venue.

Set a revived target of 146 to win from 40 overs on the Duckworth, Lewis & Stern system, Essequibo, replying to Berbice’s 146-9 from 46 overs crumbled from 42-1 to 67 all out in 19.4 overs as only Mark Williams (24) and Siddiq Mohamed (12) reaching double figures.

Six batsmen failed to score as Essequibo lost nine

wickets for 25 runs as pacer Sylus Tyndell (3-10) and Asif Ali (3-9) supported Seiatram.

Nathan Persaud (5) was bowled by Tyndell who soon removed Williams to spark a dramatic collapse. Tyndell, who bowled with pace on a slow trace and sluggish outfield, bowled West Indies under-19 Vice-Captain Kemo Paul, who charged the bowler, missed an irresponsible swipe and was gone for a first ball duck.

The other bowlers took advantage of some atrocious shot selection by the Essequibians to send Berbice, one of the weakest teams assembled by their County selectors, into today’s final.

Earlier, Paul got rid of Adrian Sukwah (5), Sesnarine So o k h o o ( 2 ) t o l e a v e

Berbice on 26-2 before Reyad Khan had Alex Algo (17) caught and bowled at 50-3 in the 15th over under overcast skies.

Hardial batted cautiously in his sensible innings and along with Brandon Prashad added 47 for the fourth wicket, a partnership which was interrupted by rain at 122-5 in the 40th over. When play restarted the game was reduced to a 46 over affair.

Hardial, who reached his 50 with a sweetly timed backfoot punch past extra cover for his fourth boundary from his 109th ball off Siddiq Mohamed who soon induced Prashad (20) to loft a catch to long-on.

Despite being gifted 36 extras including 33 wides,

Sunday May 22, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) YFocus on forming business partnerships. Your social skills with people may be more than just helpful. Difficulties may be encountered while traveling in foreign countries.

let that will help you relieve your tension.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You must not make unnecessary changes today.

Secret enemies will be eager to spread rumors about you.

You will be accident prone if you aren't careful today.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may find yourself changing crowds. You can find out important information if you listen to friends and relatives. Travel or short trips will probably be your best outlet.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Look into real estate.

Some of your new friends may not be that trustworthy.

You may want to put your creative thinking cap on.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Situations you can't change should be forgotten for the present. Refrain from overspending on entertainment or luxury items. Travel will be good if you are seeking knowledge.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may exaggerate your emotional situation. You may feel a need to make changes to your legal documents. Let others know what your intentions are and be honest in your approach.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Friends or groups that you're affiliated with may want you to contribute more cash than you can really afford. Don't turn down an invitation or a challenge that could enhance your chances of meeting someone special.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Travel and family gatherings should be in order. You have a real need to be vocal.

You may need a physical out-

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Romance can surface if you get into some of those fitness programs you've been putting off. Take a close look at contracts and agreements that have been offered to you.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference. This will not be the day to lend money to friends or family.

Property investments, insurance, taxes, or inheritance should bring you financial gains.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It would be in your best interest to stay away from any intimate involvement with a client or coworker.

Relationships will become stronger.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your involvement in sports or entertainment will lead to new romances. Recognition will be yours if you meet your deadline. For now just do the best you can.

Berbice who elected to bat in bright sunshine, lost six wickets for 27 runs as poor shot selection and a senseless approach to the situation caused the demise of most of the batsmen on both teams.

When Hardial was ninth dismissed, spectacularly caught by a diving Akenie Adams at mid-wicket off Mohamed at 141-9, Essequibo, with Algu, Williams, Paul and Adams in their line-up seemed well placed to join Demerara, who beat the National U-17s on Friday in today’s finale.

But that was not to be as Essequibo, set a revised target of 156 from 46 overs made

Matthew Hardial

Joel Seiatram

a mess of the chase which was further revised to 146 from 40.

The lads from Guyana’s largest County must have been relived that only two men and a dog were in the

stands to see the mindless performance on display and the pitch and weather conditions had little to do with their ability to bat out 20 overs.

Junior Pan American Championships

National Junior Men loose 1-7 to Chile in their opening match The Guyana National Junior Men’s Hockey Team opened their account at the Junior Pan American Championships in Toronto, Canada with a hard fought 1-7 loss to Chile. The Guyanese started well executing a high press against the tournament’s third seed, which led to several goal scoring opportunities.

With Chile enjoying the lion’s share of possession the Guyanese defence had to work overtime to turn back the rampant Chilean strikers. Goalkeeper Medroy Scotland made some key saves to keep the game scoreless until the 20th minute when Franco Becerra unleashed a powerful tomahawk shot into the bottom left corner. Juan Amoroso then made it 2-0 through a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. As the Guyanese tired in the second half their defensive shape began to unravel and Chile was able to score in the 44th & 46th minutes to make it 4-0.

Aroydy Branford restored some pride to his team with a moment of individual brilliance as he weaved his way through 3 defenders before dispatching the ball past the Chilean goalkeeper. Chile would pile on the misery late in the game, scoring three more unanswered goals for a final score of 1-7.

In an invited comment on the team’s performance, coach Robert Fernandes stated, “The result is a bit disappointing, we were in the game for most of the first half but trying to get back into the game in the second forced just to take some risks which we ended up paying for. The work rate and the effort was there but we were beaten by a more experienced team today. A 1-7 score line may seem like a bad loss to the av-

erage person but I try to keep things in perspective, the last time Guyana competed at the Junior Pan Ams was in 2008 and we lost to Chile 0-19 on that occasion. The signs of progress are there, we just need to keep learning and improving with every game.”

In other results from the first day:

Argentina defeated Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 USA defeated Puerto Rico 8-0 Mexico defeated Canada 3-2 Guyana were to face Mexico yesterday before they play Canada tomorrow, Monday at 5:30pm. Local fans will be able to stream the matches live on the www.panamhockey.org website.

PAGE 78

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

Simon Pure pugilists to show off skills at 50thAnniversary Jubilee celebrations Boxing was always regarded as an integral cog of national development and so it was with great concern that several former boxers expressed disappointment that the sport was not being featured in the many activities to commemorate Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary.

Former amateur boxer and head of Briso Promotions, Seon Bristol, could not fathom such an anomaly and he immediately set about repairing the damage. And so it is that boxing buffs will have their desires met when Bristol joins with former Commonwealth Champions, Lennox Blackmore and Kenny Bristol and the administration of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) to stage an amateur boxing card that coincides with the historic commemorative event and scheduled for this Saturday May 28.

The card will comprise Guyana’s best amateur boxers slugging it out against each other and President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle is

The organizing princi p a l s a t the head ta b l e u n v e i l i n g p l a n s f o r t h e ‘ J u b i l ee’ event.

From left K e n n y B r i s t o l, Seon Bristol, Ninvalle, Blackmore and P o o l e . assured that the boxers will turn in notable performances.

He was speaking at a press conference at Odinga Lumumba’s Laluni Street, Queenstown office. “We’ve collaborated over the years towards the sport’s development and the ‘Jubilee’ card will once again see us collaborating towards the boxers’ development,” declared Ninvalle. He said that the tournament will serve a bifurcated

objective as his executives will be acknowledging the (boxing) input of Blackmore and Bristol. Apart from his lucrative world ranking Blackmore had also won the Commonwealth title after pounding out a unanimous decision over Nigerian, Jonathon Dele in 1977 to capture the British Commonwealth title. Bristol was also a Commonwealth champion after decisively outpointing Pat

Thomas to win the vacant super/welterweight Commonwealth title.

“Amateur boxing needs a lot of help and I had no hesitation to come on board when asked,” declared (Kenny) Bristol. He further suggested that administrators should aspire to host similar cards on a yearly basis. Blackmore, a current trainer operating out of the Gleasons Gym, Brooklyn, said that he was pleased

to be a part of the action and promised to make the event as memorable as ever. He said that he has had discussions with former amateur boxing champion, Anthony Barrow, and he had promised to support the venture in any way possible.

Terrence Poole heads the (local) organizing committee and promised fans that they can come to the venue expecting a chockfull of action.

“These youths are fresh out of the Caribbean Tri Nation tournament and are in top form and rearing to go,” Poole assured.

The action is scheduled to get underway at 19:00hrs sharp and an entrance fee of $500 will be collected at the door. Mr. Ninvalle is also grateful for the support received from Director of sport, Christopher Jones as well as administrative officer, Gervy Harry.

Rugby America’s North (RAN) 15s Championship

Guyana’s ‘Green Machine’ humble Jamaica -Next up T&T Watched by a capacity crowd that included President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Peter Green, Director of Sport Christopher Jones and former Union Presidents Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento and Noel Adonis, Guyana’s ‘Green Machine’ inflicted a 23-5 drubbing on Jamaica in their Rugby America’s North (RAN) 15s Championship matchup, at the National Park yesterday.

It was the perfect gift for the nation as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee Independence.

The Jamaicans took the lead early in the opening half in soggy conditions when Steven Miller bullied his way past the Guyanese backline to score a try. The conversion was missed.

Not used to falling behind, the Guyanese ruggers produced a determined offensive run and that resulted in Rondel McArthur burying a penalty try to put them on the score sheet as they trailed 35.

Urged on by a partisan crowd, Lancelot Adonis gave

The victorious ‘Green Machine’ Pose for a photo op following their decisive win over Jamaica yesterday at the National Park. the locals some cushion when he finished over the backline for an 8-5 lead, weaving past a host of defenders to finish the play and end the half in the ascendancy.

The final period was a

true reflection of the Guyanese dominance in regional ru g b y a s they never allowed the visitors to enjoy any foothold in the game, registering fifteen points in the half to as-

sert their fitness and superiority.

Tries by Ronald Mayers, Patrick King and Claudius Butts nullified all the efforts of the Jamaicans. And the ‘Green Machine’ will now go

on to tackle Trinidad and Tobago on June 19 in the Twin Island Republic.

Meanwhile, Jones presented president of the GRFU, Peter Green with a cheque worth $1.1M to off-

set some of the expenses for the U-19 team for the Regional Championships, renovation of the changing room and construction and promised to add some more following the victory by the senior squad.

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

PAGE 79

Woodpecker Products Ltd Junior National Squash Championships 2016 ends today The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its corporate sponsor Digicel is holding its second junior tournament for 2016, the Woodpecker Products Ltd Junior National Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club Inc courts, and is set to conclude today.

Play continued on day three with fixtures in all twelve categories that are up for

grabs. They were several noteworthy performances by all juniors but especially in the younger age groups.

Results in the respective categories were as follows.

Boys Under 9 Shiloh Asregado defeated Wade Beckles 11/1, 11/2, 11/3 Loius Da Silva beat Chad De Abreu 9/11, 11/2, 11/9, 11/ 8 Boys Under 11 James Mekdeci beat

Mohyryan Baksh 11/8, 11/9, 12/10 Michael Alphonso beat Kamir Khan 11/4, 11/5, 11/2 Demetrius De Abreu beat Nathan Rahaman 11/3, 11/3, 11/3 Girls Under 11 Paige Fernandes defeated Beau Fernandes 11/2, 11/2, 11/ 1 Girls Under 13 Haley Carpenter beat Teija Edwards 11/6, 11/2, 11/3

Pre- Independence Heroes:

Woodbrook Limers of Trinidad first foreign team to tour British Guiana 1956 Today Statistician Charwayne Walker reminisces on the first overseas team to tour then British Guiana back in 1956. Today’s article comes at a time when the Washington DC Jammers are currently visiting Guyana for a tour which started last evening.

Trinidad’s first division champions Woodbrook Limers created history in April 1956 when they accepted an invitation from the Raven’s Basketball Club to tour British Guiana in April 1956 and played four matches against local club side the Clowns and three matches against British Guiana. It was the first international series for British Guiana.

The Limers led by Aldwyn Hislop, warmed up for the British Guiana mission with a fifty eight to forty three points victory against the touring Canadian navy team that was visiting Trinidad in 1956. George Bailey led the Limers with twenty eight points, skipper Aldwyn Hislop thirteen points, and Bert Henry twelve points.

British Guiana warmed up for the touring Limers with a twenty six to twenty one points victory against the Blackwatch Team at Queens College. The British Guiana team that defeated the Blackwatch team was Lawrence Taitt, Cleairmont Taitt, Ken Corsbie, Carl Spence, Chee Hing, Pacon Cho Chin, Derrick (Bull) Burnett, William Fat and Roy Johnson.

Woobrook Limers opening match versus local club champs The Clowns at Queen’s College auditorium.

Limers won sixty to twenty six points. George Bailey led all scorers with fifteen points, Lance Lashley twelve points, Roy Johnson top scored for the Clowns with ten points.

Madison Fernandes beat Aliyah Persaud 11/5, 14/12, 11/8 Abosaide Cadogan beat Kirsten Gomes 11/8, 11/7, 11/ 6 Boys Under 13 Quarter Finals Shomari Wiltshire beat Nechemiyah Levans 11/3, 11/ 1, 11/6 Gianni Carpenter beat Demetrius De Abreu 11/6, 16/ 14, 12/10, 11/0 Samuel Ince-Carvahal beat Dominic Collins 11/3, 11/ 5, 11/3 Michael Alphonso beat Ethan Jonas 11/0, 11/3,11/6 Boys Under 15 Daniel Islam beat Samuel Ince-Carvahal 11/1, 11/4, 11/2 Anthony Islam beat John Phang 11/2, 11/1, 11/6 Gianni Carpenter beat Jason Gomes 11/3, 11/2, 11/4 Shomari Wiltshire beat

Rebecca Low (left) and Taylor Fernades battle each other at the GT Club on Friday night.

(Sean Devers photo) Lucas Jonas 11/1, 11/1, 11/1 Girls Under 17 Makeda Harding beat Sarah Lewis 8/11, 11/2, 11/1, 11/ 7 Boys Under 17 Ritthew Saywack defeated Daniel Islam 11/6, 13/ 11, 9/11, 11/2 Shomari Wiltshire beat Alex Cheeks 10/12, 11/2, 7/ 11, 11/8, 11/6

Girls Under 19 Taylor Fernandes beat Rebecca Low 11/2, 11/6, 11/3 Larissa Wiltshire beat Maya Collins 11/4, 11/3, 11/1 Boys Under 19 Ben Mekdeci beat Alex Cheeks 11/6, 11/6, 11/8 Matthew Phang beat Anthony Islam 11/7, 12/10, 11/6 The finals are scheduled for today starting at 10.00 am

Guyana storm back to retain...

(From page 80) and Long Range in the Caribbean.

Antigua bounced back to overtake Barbados for the

The Trinidad and Tobago Woodbrook Limers Basketball Club that made that historic first tour to British Guiana.

International Series: Woodbrook limers versus British Guiana at Quenns College auditorium: Game 1: Limers won, fiftynine to thirty-one points George Bailey – fourteen points Aldwyn Hislop- eleven points Lance Lashley- ten points For British Guiana, skipper Roy Johnson top scored with ten points, Derrick (Bull) Burnett nine points, Ken Corsbie eight points.

Game 2: Limers won fiftyone to thirty six points George Bailey – twenty two points Ashwyn Pierre- nine points Hollis Roberts – six points For British Guiana, Captain Roy Johnson eight points, Derrick (Bull) Burnett five points, Pacon Cho Chin four points.

Game 3: Queen’s College Auditorium Limers won twenty seven to eleven points Bert Henry, eight points Ashwyn Pierre, six points Alwyn Hislop, five points.

For British Guiana, Derrick

(Bull) Burnett five points.

The Historical British Guiana team that played in its first international series in 1956 was Roy Johnson- captain (Clowns), Derrick (Bull) Burnett (Panthers), Pacon Cho Chin (Clowns), Ken Corsbie (Ravens), Clairmont Taitt (Ravens) , Lawrence Taitt (Ravens), Stanley Devonish (Clowns), Lee Chenyong (Chinese Sports Club), William Fat (Chinese Sports Club) and Chee Hing ( Chinese Sports Club).

The victorious Woodbrook Limers team of Trinidad 1956 first overseas team to played an international series in the land of many waters. Aldwyn Hislop captain, Ashwyn Pierre, Bert Henry, Lance Lashley, Hollis Roberts, George Bailey, Norman Pierre, Horace Hutchinson, David Martin, Kelvin Horford, Desmond Patterson, Hugh Lynch, Mike Borel , Errol Maurice, Carlton Clarke.

Now sixty years later the Guyana Basketball show continues with the visit of the touring DC Jammers of the USA.

third place with a Grand Aggregate of 1086.62 to Barbados’ 1085.52.

Captain Mahendra Persaud and Head Wind

coach ACP Slowe were high in praise for the fight, resilience and determination shown by their changes under pressure.

PAGE 80

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

Regal Sports lends support to RCA’s Sports development drive The efforts of Rawle’s CommunicationAgency (RCA) in further enhancing the sporting development for the youths of Region Eight was further enhanced with the timely donation of a number of sporting equipment by Regal Sports.

The simple but timely donation was made at Regal Stationary and Computer Centre at its 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville Georgetown office and was witnessed by Managing Director of the company along with a number of players from Regal Sports Club. Among the items donated were footballs, Cricket bats, a pair each of batting pads and wicketkeeping pads, Wicketkeeper gloves, batting gloves, chess, badminton rackets, basketballs and cricket balls.

Sport development within the communities of Region eight has been on an aggressive push since the appointment of the Regional Executive officer (REO) Rafel Downes who has been encouraging various communities to form clubs and sporting groups. Since his ap-

Officials from RCA and Regal along with players from the club take a photo displaying the gear following the presentation. pointment he has gotten the dubbed Hinterland Games agreed to assist when the reMeanwhile, Managing DiRDC to play pivotal roles in among a number of the hin- quest was made,” a source of rector of Regal Stationary and the staging of a number of terland regions. the club said. The source went Computer Store, Mahendra events and competitions, A number of players from on to further state that seeing Hardyal said that giving back which has further boosted a Regal Sports said that they the determination and interest continues to be one of the prinumber of sporting activities were happy that their team in lifting sports within the re- mary principles that he lives primarily tapeball cricket and could play a role in helping to gion is noteworthy and rec- his life by. He said that he has football. He has further make the playing of sports ognizing the many challenges been very impressed with the boosted relationships with more accessible with the do- being faced to execute work of the REO and his team.

Region 9 which according to nation of some critically im- programmes and events to This, he said has encouraged a source REO Downes will see portant equipment. “We are help with the development it him to lend a helping hand as shortly the execution of a very happy to be giving back has boosted their interest in he firmly believes that sports number of sporting events and that is why we readily helping to play a part. development requires the as-

sistance of all and not just the private sector.

“To see the REO integrally involved in the development of sports among the youths there is just amazing. This, I must admit has fuelled my interest in supporting the region in whatever way that we can as we believe that if all plays their role then the future of our youths would be more secured o have committed to support as with all playing their role then it would help in eradicating some of the challenges faced today by youths,” Hardyal said It was disclosed that some of the items donated would be used to stage a Day of Sports slated for May 26th in Mahdia where a number of teams will be contesting among themselves in tapeball and football. The competitions which are being staged in association with the RDC will be sponsored by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry, Region Nine RDC Chairman Bryan Allicock, Guytrack and James Bond among others will see a number of trophies being up for grabs.

Pulsating action expected as all roads lead to Port Mourant...

(From page 77) celebrations, are expected to jam into the venue.

Over 80 of the country’s top horses have taken entry and the question being asked is who will win the battle of Port Mourant.

The feature A and lower special is the talk of the day

with a whopping $1,5M and the 50th Independence Anniversary Trophy up for grabs from a total purse of $3M over a demanding 1900M. The lineup is sublime and not in a long time has such a line up been assembled for a feature event. To pick a winner and give a good assessment of those runners will be a challenging task and take a few pages.

Top horse CP Got Even will be looking to get even from its previous loss. It is in tremendous form and loves the longer distance. It has always been in the money.

However, in most cases the distance is too short. This time Trainer Colin Elcock and owner Raj Poonai believes they have this one in the bag. .

Just Call Me Bass, runs like a boss and is good over any distance. It has proven that it is a force to be reckoned with speed and has shown that it can also finish.

Stalemates Princess She Not and Plum Plum have both been in good form recently.

Both are capable of going out early and running from down the pack. Their owners will be looking for a one two from them today.

All eyes will be on new sensations Kings Night and

Golden Blue Echo. Kings Night was merciless in its only race in Guyana as it whipped a top class field for an easy win. Golden Blue Echo was also devastating in its first meet with an impressive win, but failed to place in its next outing. Both animals looked good and have been burning up the track at practice and will be looking to continue their winning ways. Add recently imported and the speedy Because I Say So and Media Day and the unpredictable Jack In My Style and a classy race is in the making.

The owners are urging all to come out for a grand time and see the spectacle that will be unfolded.

Release the Best will be looking to tear its opponents apart in the race for D3 and lower horses with less than $100,000 earnings within the last 6 months and those classified E and F and Lower for the $750,000 and trophy other 1400M. Among its competitors are Wize Secret out of Suriname the newly imported and speedy Media Day and Because I Say So, Goodwill Boy, Campador and the resurging California Strike.

The likes of Call Me Bass, Firing Line, Rosetta, Its My Choice, Witchy Poo, Atlantic

Storm and Quiet Dancer will continue their battle in the G and lower and West Indies bred event over 1200M for a winner’s take of $350,000 and trophy.

The H2 and lower event will see Cat Messiah, Sweet Return, Quiet Dancer, Bird Man, Super Bowl, Glamour Queen, Isnt She Charming, Time To Dance and Atlantic Storm running over 1000M for a winning pocket of $300,000 and trophy.

The event for three year old, Guyana bred horses and West Indies bred non winners over $100,000 for a first prize of $250,000 and trophy over 1000M will have She Is In Control, Caricom Dance, Golden Kiss, Run Happy, Miss Kristina, Lil Dude and Golden Sand among them.

The I3 and lower 1200M race will have Massiquita Dr, Little, Affinity Party Time, Liquid Lion and She Is In Control racing for a winner’s purse of $200,000 and trophy.

There are also event for horses classified J3 and K and K and L over 1200 and 1000M for $175,000 and $150,000 and trophies respectively.

Animals such as Red Jet, Settling Star, Red Regent, Blue Lightning, Quincy, Party Time, Daddy Dollar, Some-

thing Special, She Is Royal, American Pharo Jet, Dem Ah watch Me, Progressive Kid, Replace D heat, Show Time, Dirt man, Time Dance, Plane land, Key For the Killer, Golden Kiss, Amazon Warrior and Red Rocket among others will be in the running.

Apart from the riveting action expected on race day, there will also be a number of giveaways and incentives for both participants and spectators, including Guyana and US currencies.

The top Jockey along with the runner up, top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives.

Among the sponsors on board are Banks DIH Limited, Delmur Trading Company, P&P Insurance Investments, Minister Joe Harmon, Latchman Mohabir, R.N Poonai, Ministry of Sport,

Youth and Culture, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and racing Stables, Lancer Auto Sales, Atlantic Marine Supplies, Peter Williams Construction, Potaro Fuel Supplies, Assuria Insurance Incorporated, Southland Incorporated, Sankar Auto Works –Valvoline and NS Mattai.

The runner up jockey will receive $15,000 compliments of Ghansham Singh Engineering Service and Saw Mill of West Coast Berbice.

Music will be supplied by Thunderbolt Sound System.

Last minute queries can be had from Bobby Vaughn 624-6788, 223-5097, 227 7061, 333-0290, 333-0301, Fazal Habibulla 657 7010, Ramnauth 337-5311, Campton Sancho on 690-0569.

The coordinator is Colin Elcock.

Gallop time is 12:30hrs.

(Samuel Whyte)

National 10K champion...

From page 78 cash prizes and gifts for their efforts.

Among the other entities on board are: Toucan Industries, Banks DIH, GTT, Real Value, BK International, Star Party Rentals, S&L Electrical,

Toucan Industries, Antartic Maintenance, Payless Variety Store, Brans Security, Kevin Jeffrey, Ming’s Products, Corona Beer, Cummings Electrical, Wartsila, Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and Office of the President.

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

Jubilee Independence Horserace Meet

Kings

Pulsating action expected as all roads lead to Port Mourant Turf Club Close to 80 entries and $8M up for grabs The day has arrived and all systems are in place for the event of the Jubilee Anniversary celebrations.

Despite the packed 50th anniversary programme the place to be is the Port

Night

PAGE 81

Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice for the mega horserace extravaganza organized by “the four Horse men promotion.�

The eight race meet has

close to $8M in cash, trophies and other incentives, up for grabs. The arena is expected to be jam packed as thousands, including many home for the (Continued on page 76)

PAGE 82

Sunday May 22, 2016

Kaieteur News

Kristian Jeffrey and Guyana look to defend CMRC titles

Kristian Jeffrey will be looking to maintain his hold on the title, while his father, Kevin (right), will also be in contention.

Jamwest Speedway, We s t m o r e l a n d P a r i s h , Jamaica – Round 1 of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) begins today at the beautiful renovated Jamwest Speedway. Guyana is the current defending Champions but, they will face stiff competition from Barbados, Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and the

host for round 1, Jamaica.

Also, Kristian Jeffrey will be out to defend his driver’s championship as he is the reigning 2 time CMRC Champion.

This year, Jeffrey will be contesting the All Wheel Drive category as well as the overall title. There are only a handful cars in the AWD category.

Most of the countries have submitted a preliminary list of competitors but, that could change leading up to the green flag. Of note, Kyle Gregg of Jamaica will debut a Radical RXC. This is the fastest circuit racing car in the region even faster than the Suzuki Challenge Radical series at Bushy Park.

The runner up in Group 4, Kristian Boodoosingh who is by far one of the best drivers’ in the Region will be driving a Honda Civic in Group 3.

Wi t h t h i s driver/car combination, the records are bound to be broken.

Boodoosingh will look to lead Trinidad towards a

sweep of the podium positions in Group 3.

Whereas, Jamaica will look to dominate the Two Wheel Drive Category in Group 4 with Franklyn Boodram of Trinidad looking for a podium finish in a heavily contested group.

The drivers from Barbados will always be a force to be reckoned with especially in Group 4. Mark Maloney in the RX3 can always be counted upon to challenge for the top spot of the podium. So far, no driver’s are looking fearful of the ‘new’ entry in terms of the Radical RXC by Kyle Gregg.

The Group 2 category is wide open with a deep field of competitors that are looking to claim valuable points. Guyana will once again be looking to dominate the Super Stock Motorcycle category. As the defending team champions and individual champion, Elliott Vieira look to put a strangle hold on the two wheel category.

‘Golden Jubilee’ 5 and 10K Run and Health & Fitness Walk

National 10K champion arrives in G/ town for today’s race National Schools Athletics Championship 10K champion Rickey Williams is among the athletes who’ve confirmed their participation in today’s ‘Golden Jubilee’ 5 and 10K Run and Health & Fitness Wa l k w h i c h i s b e i n g organised by Rising Star Track Club in collaboration with the Office of the President as part of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Williams, who is from the village of Waramuri in Region 1 arrived in Georgetown on Friday and is among the favourites to capture the event coordinated by former Guyana track star Lorrieann Adams and Coach Leslie Black.

Established athletes and fitness enthusiasts will take to the starting line at the National Sports Commission proceed along Homestretch Avenue enter into Vlissingen Road pass the Square of the Revolution proceed along Hadfield Street into Mandela Avenue, before turning into Homestretch Avenue for the finish at the place of origin.

Rickey Williams Williams speaking with Kaieteur Sport yesterday said he is in fine shape and is confident of doing well.

Meanwhile, Coorganiser Leslie Black in invited comments said that a number of the country’s prominent athletes have already confirmed their participation and urged the local sporting fraternity to come out and support the event.

The winners will receive (Continued on page 76)

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 22, 2016

PAGE 83

Coach Ince confident Guyana can make it 12 in a row at CASA C/Ships in Cayman Islands

By Sean Devers At 72, National Squash Coach Carl Ince still looks like 60 and he disclosed that Coaching is one of the reasons for this. Seeing the development of the youngsters, the Unity that Squash creates and the involvement of the parents are factors that keep him going as a Coach. Ince started playing Squash late in life at age 40 but soon switched to Coaching.

The national team will defend their CASA Junior team title in the Cayman Islands from July 15-22, a title this country has won 11 consecutive times and Coach Ince sat down with Kaieteur Sports at the Georgetown Club where the Woodpecker Products National Junior tournament sponsored by Digicel is being played and expressed general satisfaction with how preparations are going.

The four-day tournament which concludes today is being used to select the players who will depart Guyana for the Cayman Islands and the tournament is the second Junior Championship organised by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) for the year.

Ince credited Guyana’s dominance in Caribbean Squash to the quality of the players but more importantly the stable and excellently managed Administration of the GSA. “Guyana continues to do well in the Caribbean because we did not keep changing the Administration and we have people who love

Squash and support the development of the game which can be very costly,” said Inch, who has two Squash Courts at his home on the Linden Highway and where players go for weekend training sessions because of fewer distractions.

Talking about his team’s 11-year reign as the number one Junior Team in the Caribbean, Ince said the others Countries have been improving.

“The last three years the competition has gotten tougher but we managed to get through. We had to start training earlier and with more intensity. We now have an assistant Coach which has helped tremendously,” informed Ince.

“I am very satisfied.

Once the squad is selected we will have six weeks from the end of May. Playing this tournament here means that the players have to semipeek and hopefully fully peek by the time we get to the Cayman Islands,” Ince said.

Ince explained that except for last year the girls generally performed better than the boys but because both genders won matches Guyana always emerged as team Champions.

“The biggest challenge is getting the new comers ready which is always more difficult since in age group tournaments when the outstanding players become overage it’s sometimes difficult to get others ready to replace them. But the same can be said of the other teams also,” Ince pointed out.

“They are fit and getting

Edward Matthews CC to be officially opened today Glen Eagles Sports Club in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Department of Culture Youth and Sports would be opening its newly refurbished Edward Matthews Community Centre ground on the East Bank Essequibo for the Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary today. Activities get underway from 9:00 this.

Apart from unveiling of a plaque at the venue, officials present will be part of an opening ceremony planned.

Following the opening ceremony, the Ministry would be hosting a male and female cricket competition.

The cricket opens with the Ladies competition.

Glen Eagles vs 4R of Georgetown and Benaam vs Indigenous Warriors. The Edward Matthews Memorial friendly match will be contested after the ladies action.

The Males action will see Glen Eagle vs Hubu Recreational Park, Parika Backdam vs Benaam Male Warriors.

Other events include circle tennis and cricket for school teams.

fitter and we are no longer concentrating on technique just tactics. I won’t single out anyone although I am expecting great things from certain players. I think we have a very good crop of players and I am confident they we can dominate once again as long as we give our best effort,” Ince noted.

“While I am pleased with the standard of Squash in Guyana at both Senior and Junior levels, I feel if the game is to really improve we need to get the already qualified Coaches in the schools because that’s where you find the talent and widen the pool of players,” Ince concluded.

Coach Carl Ince

t r o Sp WIFBSC Short Range Team Championship

Guyana storm back to retain title

Kings of Fullbore Short Range shooting in the Caribbean, Guyana, pose for a pic with a few Guyanese supporters following their triumph yesterday.

- Braithwaite takes Wogart Trophy as Top Individual

By Franklin Wilson In Antigua with the compliments of Crown Mining Supply, Fitness Express, Safeway Security Service and Industrial Safety Supply Following a not so hot start to the West Indies Fullbore Short Range Championships hosted by Antigua and Barbuda under the auspices of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) at the Crabb Rifle Range yesterday, defending champions Guyana stormed back to retain the title in grand style, a victory which the shooters have dedicated to Guyana for its 50th Independence Anniversary/Golden Jubilee.

It was described as the great escape by the shooters from the Land of Many Waters. They had given up the early advantage to Jamaica which tallied 372.24 and Barbados (371.12) to their 368.22 after the 300 yards was contested but the hungry Guyanese regrouped after the 300 range to fire back in style.

Head Wind Coach ACP Paul Slowe and Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud gave a motivational talk to the team which resulted in all the shooters stepping up at the 500 range which the Guyanese won to edge ahead at that point.

At 500, Guyana tallied 378.21 well ahead of Jamaica (367.17) and Barbados (365.23) and further consolidated this position by scoring 374.27 at the final range (600) to wrap up victory with an overall total of 1120.70 to second placed Jamaica which had a 600 range total of 357.9 for an overall score of 1096.50.

The Guyanese got the perfect start to the final range when Captain Mahendra Persaud and winner of the Wogart trophy as the best Individual Shot in this Team Match, Lennox Braithwaite, both gave their country scores of 49.6 and 49.5 respectively.

Braithwaite also captured the Bermuda Shield which is for the shooter with the highest score in the Team Match and Individual combined.

The hold on the top spot was further cemented when two more shooters, Peter Persaud and Ransford Goodluck also delivered scores of 49.1 and 49.5, the other team members also hitting the target for scores of over 40 which saw the marksmen from Guyana holding on to the Short Range Championship for yet another year.

This trophy is the most coveted in the Caribbean and Guyana has been showing that it is the best at both the Short (Continued on page 75)

Rugby America’s North (RAN) 15s Championship

Guyana’s ‘Green Machine’ humble & Jamaica -Next up T&T

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