Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

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

Editorial

Implications of the glass ceiling concept In Guyana, more women than men are enrolled at the University of Guyana. Although there are more male high school drop-outs than females, a cursory look at the leadership in the corporate sector and in the government would reveal that the society is still very much maledominated at the top.

For decades, men have dominated all sectors in Guyana—business, government and the political. Simply put, the full crest of power is in the hands of men who are in control of the country. This raises the question: Do women in Guyana really have power?

Unlike the United States and other countries, there is hardly a debate in Guyana about the power of women. Even though the implications of the glass ceiling concept are still evident, there should be a public discussion on elements such as power, influence and inspiration as it relates to women in Guyana.

Most men are still hesitant to support a female for president or even embrace the notion of a female CEO of a corporation. The claim by some that women are too emotional to be good and effective political leaders or CEO’s is without merit. Studies have shown that all human beings are emotional, some more than others, but women in general are definitely more passionate than men at whatever they do, be it chores in the home or regular work.

This fact however, is completely lost in the assessment of the role of women by most men and the reason is twofold.

Some men believe that most women are not competent enough to be political leaders or CEO’s. They have refused to accept that women have the wherewithal to be just as good as men in the corporate or political world.

Men are also aware that women have the talent, skills and ability to perform in any position if given the opportunity.

In Guyana, a few women have quietly moved up the corporate and political ladder. If it is true that women are uncomfortable to publicly acknowledge their successes in the political and corporate world, then they are subscribing to the glass ceiling concept. One wonders what the reaction would have been if there are fewer powerful men than women in Guyana.

The achievements of women in Guyana have over the years been down played by some in society even though there are women in every profession—doctors, professors, lawyers, judges, security, engineers, CEO’s, priests, and leaders, among others.

However, upon reflection, a woman should not be compared to a man because the inequality is too stark.

Women should not be judged by the same standards as men, because Guyana is still a male-dominated society where most women are given secondary roles. There are not as many female CEO’s or Ministers in the government as men.

In fact, it is difficult to find two dozen business women in Guyana who are self-made, million-dollar entrepreneurs.

Although women are 53 percent of Guyana’s population, they are about one-third of the 65- member Parliament and the 15-member cabinet. And there are only two senior female ministers but no female vice presidents.

Another blatant example of gender inequality in Guyana is that women continue to earn 74 percent of what men earn for the same job. These are issues that must be urgently addressed by the government if Guyana is to become a just society.

The fact that the power of women is not as visible as men in Guyana means that women have a lot more work to do. Remaining quiet or taking a backseat to men should not be an option for women.

They must shatter the glass ceiling concept and the male-dominated society, not only for them but also for their daughters and future generation of women.

Sunday November 15, 2015

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

Exchange between two past Hindu College teachers DEAR EDITOR, Many years ago I read the book Daughter of Destiny: An Autobiography by Benazir Bhutto, a former and late Prime Minister of Pakistan. One line from the Introduction has stuck in my memory ever since: “What is not recorded is not remembered”. This statement was foremost in my thought when I wrote the recently published reply by Mr Nowrang Persaud to my letter and pointed out his role in the East Coast High School, which morphed into the Hindu College Kaieteur News, November 11, 2015 – “I still marvel at

the thought of a young man of Brahmin lineage conducting Muslim prayers”).

I am delighted too that, apart from his point that the East Coast High School was the precursor of the Hindu College, he has not contradicted the other points in my letter. I believe both his and my contribution have now enhanced public knowledge of the school, irrespective of name.

I regret that I was not aware of Mr. Persaud’s outstanding role in the precursor school and hence did not mention it. I can understand his hurt, but in all his writings in the Guyana papers, to my knowledge, he has never given a

detailed account of his role at the school until now. I joined the school when he was about to leave. He was my English Language teacher for one term and then he left. When I joined the school I knew the name as Hindu College. This example demonstrates the aptness of that quote from Ms Bhutto.

Since 1964, I have had no connection to the Hindu College, the Ashram in Cove and John or any of the affiliates/related organizations in the USA or Canada. I was surprised by Mr Persaud’s concluding sentence in his letter “I try my best to support the school (Continued on page 6)

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

Political activist accuses Georgetown Hospital paid more to the lawyer than the victim GAWU of political conspiracy DEAR EDITOR, I refer to an article in Kaieteur News of 13th November, titled ‘Parents of newborn injured at GPHC to sue hospital’. I hope that if a settlement is reached by the hospital, they do not have to pay their (hospital) lawyer more than they pay the family of the child. The last time I understand the hospital was sued, the hospital ended up paying $500,000 to the family but $750,000 in legal fees to the hospital lawyer for doing an undefended action.

I am told that the instruction to the CEO of the hospital to pay the lawyer fees was given by someone who was then working at the Office of the President and who is now being touted to head the Durban Park Rehabilitation Project. It should come as no surprise to

readers if the woman lawyer in this case is identified.

Her sister has been accused of undiplomatic behavior at the residence of one of the envoys posted to Guyana by a big powerful nation which has been traditionally a close ally of the Republic of Guyana.

I have used this around- about- way identification because I don’t want your paper to receive a libel suit but the people of Guyana are entitled to know how their monies have been wastefully spent. With this information, The GRA should investigate if this lawyer, the sibling of this once powerful politician paid the required taxes. I hope that President Granger puts his foot down on this one.

Carl Inniss

Attorney complains of detention at Piarco airport DEAR EDITOR, I was in Guyana for 36 hours this past weekend to attend the 100 Year old Birthday Celebration of Ester Robertson of West Ruimveldt. Her grand-daughter and I are close friends.

I came into Guyana on November 07, 2015 and left on November 09, 2015. However, my in-transit from Trinidad to Guyana (as well as those travelling on the same flight to Guyana) was quite dramatic.

In fact, I was detained in Trinidad. The Guyana Chronicle reported on August 11, 2015 that “A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate hassle-free travel for Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) passengers

who are in-transit in Piarco International took effect from August 5, [2015]” <http:// guyanachronicle.com/travelfrom-cjia-to-trinidad-nowhassle-free/> (Online dated accessed: November 11, 2015). If that is the case, then the events that occurred in Trinidad should be of significant concern to the Government of Guyana. I would like an actual copy of the MOU. I have not come to a decision on the next steps but from what I observed at Piarco Airport this past weekend, it is highly unlikely that I would let this matter rest given the concerns of Guyanese travellers and the scant disregard Trinidad appears to have for even that MOU they signed in August 2015. This may be the file of

the Minister of Public Infrastructure. Please forward this to him, if necessary.

Selwyn A. Pieters Lawyer & Notary Public

DEAR EDITOR, Recently, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had announced production figures showing that the Corporation had consistently surpassed its weekly targets and is heading for a record breaking production year. This significant turnaround in the fortunes of the company is taking place under the leadership of Professor Clive Thomas, Chairman of the new GuySuCo Board.

It should be noted that the progress in production in the Industry has taken place while the Commission of Inquiry (COI) was conducting its work to find out the reasons for the crisis in the entity and to make recommendations on the way forward.

Given the large sums of public money that was put into GuySuCo to keep it afloat over several years, the nation welcomed the news that

the Sugar Company has achieved increases in production, something it had failed for several years. This development, if allowed to continue, will result in a reduction in the amount of tax payer dollars that are being pumped into the company, This development augurs well for all the stakeholders workers, unions, government and the citizens of Guyana. It is therefore only reasonable to expect that everything which should be done is done to ensure that this positive development is not hindered.

Despite political differences it is fair to say that as a nation, we have national consensus on the role sugar has

played in helping to shape Guyana. Its importance to the country is tremendous and cannot be denied.

Responsible action by all players in the industry is needed at this critical juncture if the industry is to survive. It was therefore surprising when the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, (GAWU), fully aware of what is at stake, instructed sugar workers to take strike action under the spurious claim that the terms and conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement were being violated by the company.

GAWU’s attempts to justify the strike action failed miser (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur M@ilbox

BAN THE CANE AND Political activist accuses...

YOU WILL SEE THE GAIN DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to add my two bits to the latest brouhaha regarding the banning of corporal punishment in schools. There has been a plethora of reasons for banning the cane ranging from the morally sublime to the psychologically ridiculous. Incidentally, although a representative of the fairer sex, I was not spared administration of the cane by my father (head of the household), who administered punishment with no regard for age or sexual presentation. In fond retrospect, I am now of the belief that my father had an ongoing account with Chasbert’s bookstore as our home was never out of canes. There were times or days when I was whipped in school (I.T Henry of St. Ambrose School fame), then wend my way to what was my safe haven and be whipped again, without any proffered parental explanation). Please do not assume the belief that I am in accord with corporal punishment as an acceptable way to relate with children, or have come to think of it as necessary because people who loved us and cared about us used it. Now back to the topic- times have certainly changed, especially the world around us and with this change come new knowledge. We cannot overlook the evidence that we need new and formidable strategies to deal with the current generation. If we fail to prepare properly, we may simply be banning the cane and reaping no gain.

It can never be overstated that one of the most powerful services for development is education. Success as a nation, from individual happiness, collective growth in a social and economic world, as well as active participation in development depends on education. In the midst of all the expressed concerns, I have failed to see any clear cut readyto-be instituted alternative to corporal education. Where is the input from the secondary stakeholders such as school committees, parents, public officials who implement educational policies, students and any member of the lay public who are desirous of getting involved in creating safer schools?

Lest it be forgotten, schools reflect the norms of communities, so that schools that still practice corporal punishment speak not only for themselves but also by association and extension the community.

While the storm behind banning the cane rages in the teacup, we need to invite the psychologist to the table. This will help to bring about some understanding in relation to the factors influencing the behaviour of children.

Personally, based on current present day situation in Guyana, as a community we are still lacking even the basic tools for setting about understanding, let alone remedying this situation. It is imperative that we understand the motivating factor(s) underpinning children’s

behaviour, if we intend to guide children by using alternatives to corporal punishment. In like manner that children have basic physical needs, they also have emotional and psychological needs. In order for children to develop to their full potential these emotional and psychological needs must be met. Once teachers understand children’s’ behaviours in this way, as a consequence they will find it easier to determine non-violent responses that will benefit everyone.

Caneless can be painless all around, or better put; No Cane-Plenty Gain. While a positive discipline approach rejects the use of violence as a teaching tool, it also depends on the teacher’s role as mentor and guide, and the provision of positive reinforcement for good choices as well as consequences for poor choices. It is all about long term investment in a child’s development, rather than as has been done grasping for immediate compliance. The health of the nation will ultimately be judged by the way the children are both treated and educated, and if we get that right we can make a substantial contribution to everyone’s future. So it is plain we ban the cane, if we have a plan. So let’s start and everyone must play their part. This new manner of approach involves establishing a new and different kind of teacher-pupil/student relationship, as well as new methods for engaging and supporting them over the longterm. So let’s go-stop starting at the top. The government has the responsibility to develop policy guidelines that would help teachers create safer schools. Teacher training programs geared towards teaching methods and alternative measures that promote non-corporal methods of reinforcement. Initiation and creation of a regular forum for teachers and students through which they can share their ideas and experiences geared towards creating a safer school, such as a school wide essay competitions, picture drawing competition or simple suggestion boxes, or any other method through which ideas can be shared.

These activities are part of a positive discipline approach, because they encourage students to identify themselves as key stakeholders in their school and, as a result, feel more accountable for their behaviour. Let us not forget the parents -vital stakeholders and key players.

As custodians of children’s hopes and aspirations, we must accept the responsibility for creating an environment that will help children thrive, and there should not be an enigma surrounding why our schools exist.

What kind of individuals do we want to graduate from our school, and from what kind of educational environment? Away with the cane! Let’s work towards the gain.

Yvonne Sam.

From page 5 ably. It was clear to all and sundry that given the inseparable bond that the leadership of the Union has with the opposition PPPC, the real motive behind GAWU’s action was political.

Mr. Komal Chand who is not only the President of GAWU, but is also a PPPC Member of Parliament, is on record expressing his and the union’s support for the government’s decision to have a COI into GuySuCo’s operations. This expression of support can be interpreted as a public admission by Mr. Chand that the previous administration had run GuySuCo into bankruptcy.

GAWU was integrally involved in the work of the Commission and was privy to all of its decisions.. It was represented on the Commission by one of its high level officials, Mr. Seepal Naraine, the General Secretary of the Union. Objectively, the issue facing GuySuCo/GAWU and other unions in the industry is plain economics. The challenges that confront the Industry are manifold and ex-

tremely difficult to resolve.

One of the questions which have to be addressed is - Can a bankrupt company afford increases in wages and at the same time retain the same size of its work force?

I will submit that no responsible trade union leader faced with GuySuCo’s situation ($82 billion debt), should, at the first signs of increased production, call a strike for increased wages and salaries.

I believe that Mr. Chand and GAWU‘s actions were not responsible trade union behavior. To simply invoke the need for discussions on increased wages at such a critical period was unpatriotic and reckless and opened the nation’s sugar workers to public ridicule.

The government’s decision to make the sugar workers, GAWU‘s leadership and the nation aware of what a strike in the Industry at this juncture would mean for the country seems to have forced the PPPC leadership to rethink its intention to manipulate the sugar workers to put pressure on the APNU/AFC administration. It appears

that the PPPC has come to grips with the fact that to ask the new government to do overnight what they failed to do in 23 years is an unreasonable demand and will isolate the party from the rest of the nation. Guyana’s sugar workers played an important role in the decision of GAWU to opt for “incentive talks” with GuySuCo, rather than strike action. It appears that the workers are unwilling to strike at a time when the industry is showing signs of recovery.

Workers realized that their long term interest lies in restoring the industry to economic viability, and have demonstrated their resolve to resist the political machinations of the PPPC. They know that the government and the GuySuCo board are doing their best to prevent a collapse of the industry, which will result in grave hardship to workers and their families.

I congratulate the sugar workers on the step they have taken. Well done sugar workers the future of GuySuCo lies in your hands.

Tacuma Ogunseye

Exchange between two past...

From page 4 in whatever way I can, despite noticeable attempts to sideline me from time to time.” I recall that a year ago he was honoured by the Pranav Ashram in Toronto, headed by a former brahmachari from the Guyana Ashram (now Swami Bhajananda), which I believe to be affiliated with or related to the Guyana Ashram (Indo Caribbean World, October 1, 2014 - Pranav Ashram recognizes a prolific Guyanese patriot – Shri Nowrang Persaud). For the record, I am not part of any attempt to provide revisionist history or sideline Mr. Persaud. I have no interest, reason or time for that, and certainly nothing to gain. I am simply a former student who benefited from the Hindu College and wrote to publicly acknowledge its role.

In an earlier piece on an-

other subject, I wrote “I have great respect and admiration for Mr (Nowrang) Persaud.”

For a short while, many decades ago, he was my teacher at the Hindu College in Guyana. Later, he gained a university degree then had a distinguished career as a Human Resources Management professional with Bookers Sugar Estates (predecessor of GuySuCo), the Ontario Government, the United Nations and GuySuCo in that order”.

For the few months he taught me, I was very impressed and I followed his subsequent career progression, as reported from time to time. I hope that paragraph informs Mr Persaud of the high regard I have for him. I note the statement of his belief that “a secular school can better serve a multi-religious student body than a sectarian school which

by its very nature is perceived (even if it professes otherwise) to favour a particular religion and despite what its “letter heads, report cards and publicity material” might say as per Mr Hergash’s letter”.

In my letter I merely reflected the facts as they were.

I do not wish to comment on his personal belief except to state that to this day there are schools in Guyana which were started by various Catholic bodies and have names such as St Stanislaus, St Roses, St Josephs, etc, which maintain close association with their founding organizations but are serving a multi-religious student body. And Hindu and Muslim students are still required to say Christian prayers in schools in Guyana, a matter the Minister of Education is now looking into.

Harry Hergash

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Syria talks produce election road map after Paris attacks VIENNA (Reuters) - Russia, the United States and powers from Europe and the Middle East outlined a plan yesterday for a political process in Syria leading to elections within two years, but differences remained on key issues such as President Bashar alAssad’s fate.

A day after gunmen and suicide bombers went on a rampage through Paris, killing at least 127 people, foreign ministers and senior officials from more than a dozen countries agreed to work for a ceasefire in Syria’s civil war, but U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said it would not apply to Islamic State.

Speaking in French after yesterday’s talks, which began with a moment’s silence for the victims in Paris, Kerry told a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart that the attacks only strengthened his country’s resolve to fight terrorism.

“The impact of the war bleeds into all of our nations,” Kerry said. “It is time for the bleeding in Syria to stop.”

The Paris attacks shifted the focus of negotiations in Vienna from the detail of which organizations would count as opposition groups rather than terrorist ones, and could therefore take part in a political solution in Syria, to defeating Islamic State militarily, diplomats said. “I have a feeling that there is a growing recognition of the need to create an effective international coalition to fight Is-

lamic State,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the joint news conference with Kerry and the U.N. envoy for Syria.

Russia has for weeks been carrying out air strikes in Syria in support of Assad’s forces. But Western powers say those strikes have mainly targeted armed groups other than Islamic State, such as pro-Western rebel militias. Yesterday, Russia and the United States seemed to turn a blind eye to their long-standing disagreement over Assad’s fate. The West and its allies say he must leave office, while Moscow and Tehran support elections in which he could stand.

“We still differ, obviously, on the issue of what happens with Bashar al-Assad,” Kerry said. “But we are relying on the political process itself, led by Syrians, which it will be going forward, and the Syrians negotiating with Syrians; that that can help bring a close to this terrible chapter.”

In a joint statement, the countries involved in the talks, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, laid out a plan including formal talks between the government and opposition by Jan. 1.

The statement did not make clear how those groups would be chosen, but said they should follow principles such as committing to Syria’s “non-sectarian character” and keeping state institutions intact.

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Merkel, under fire over refugees, says ‘I’m fighting for my vision’ BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel put up a spirited defense of her leadership on Friday, vowing to “fight for my vision” of how to deal with the refugee crisis that has stretched Germany’s resources and damaged her standing.

Infighting in Merkel’s ruling coalition and a unilateral decision by her interior minister on asylum policy have raised questions about the chancellor’s leadership, though coalition sources have dismissed speculation of a “putsch” against her.

A poll for television station ZDF on Friday showed a narrow majority of Germans believed Merkel was doing a bad job of handling the refugee crisis.

Critics say her accommodating message in August that “we can do this” - responding to wrenching scenes of refugees faced with border closures and popular hostility in trying to enter some EU states - have spurred migrants to pour into Germany in ever larger numbers, overwhelming the resources of local authorities.

The 61-year-old chancellor struck a defiant tone when interviewed for a ZDF program headlined ‘What now Frau Merkel?’

“The chancellor has the situation under control ... I have my vision and I will fight for it,” she said, adding that she wanted to address the root causes of the refugees’ flight and to better protect the European Union’s outer borders.

Asked if she was ready to risk her office over her policy on the refugee crisis, Merkel replied: “No, I have so much to do at the moment,” adding a slight laugh. “I am available for voters for this legislative period.”

Merkel will complete 10 years in office later this month. Subject to rapid-fire questions by two interviewers over half an hour, Merkel insisted: “I am not the first chancellor who had to fight for something.”

Germany has taken in the great majority of migrants in a record-breaking flood into Europe of migrants escaping wars and deprivation in the Middle East, Africa and Asia that is likely to exceed 1 million people by year-end.

Local authorities are struggling to cope with the influx and the ‘welcome culture’ that Germany projected over the summer has soured as concerns mount about how to manage the new arrivals.

Tensions within Merkel’s conservative bloc worsened this week after it emerged that Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere tried to tighten controls three weeks ago without informing Merkel or her chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, whom she charged with overseeing the government’s handling of the refugee crisis. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, a veteran political heavyweight in Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), ratcheted up the strain further on Wednesday by calling the refugee influx an avalanche and suggesting it was started by “a careless skier”.

Asked whether she could face questions about her party’s trust in her at a CDU conference next month, Merkel responded matterof-factly: “This is not about a question of trust.”

“This is about me fighting, fighting for the plan I have to tackle the causes of the refugee flight,” she told ZDF. Merkel batted away a question about Schaeuble’s avalanche comments, praising him as being “a class of his own.”

Massive crowd protest in South Korea against Park’s labour reform plans Reuters - Tens of thousands protested against South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s labour and education policies yesterday in one of the largest street rallies in recent years, prompting police to use water canons and barricades to stop the crowd.

A militant labour federation, with a diverse membership spanning trucking, construction, autoworkers and public teachers, organised the rally as the crowd converged in central Seoul and tried to march towards the presidential Blue House.

They were protesting against Park’s plans to make the labour market more flexible by giving employers greater leeway in dismissing workers and her decision for a governmentselected panel to write the high school history textbook.

Rally organisers demanded Park step down. The conservative leader took office in 2013 after a decisive election win over a liberal challenger and is serving a single five-year term.

Han Sang-gyun, the president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union, who has a warrant for his arrest for organising previous illegal rallies, called for more protests and a general strike, unless the government withdraws its labour market plan.

“The government must immediately cease worsening labour conditions,” Han told the crowd, before scurrying away to avoid being caught by the police.

The police set up roadblocks across the main thoroughfare, blocking protesters from marching towards the Blue House and sprayed water canons into the crowd. Some protesters fought police with steel pipes.

Park had earlier left for Turkey to participate in the summit of G20 nations.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Dem boys seh...

Ogle airport name change was agreed to by shareholders, Gouveia - Correia Chop fuh chop mek

By Jarryl Bryan Back in September, during the commissioning of the Trans Guyana Beechcraft 1900D, President David Granger proposed that the Ogle International Airport should undergo a name change to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

Eugene F. Correia was recognized as a pioneer in Guyana’s aviation industry, but the fact that his greatnephew Michael F. Correia Jr. is the Chairman of the Ogle Airport Incorporated (OAI) and the Correia group is the majority shareholder of the OAI, has caused most local operators to reverse their decision to support the change.

When the idea was first mooted, they all supported the name change and stated their support in writing.

Michael Correia Jr, at a press conference on Friday revealed that initially there had been “no objection” responses from all the shareholders not on the Board of Directors. He added that Captain Gerry Gouveia had “called (him) personally to offer his support.”

During the formation of the rival group, National Air Transport Association (NATA) on Wednesday, Gouveia, who is the VicePresident of this group and also Head of Roraima Airways, had decried the proposal on the grounds that the name change would complicate an already difficult situation.

While denying that the launch of the association had anything to do with the proposition to rename the airport, Gouveia had pointed out the perceived strategic disadvantages.

“We believe that the President did not take into consideration the issue of

-- before reversing position

Chairman of the OAI, Michael F. Correia Jr.

President of NATA, Gerry Gouveia

President David Granger

renaming the airport after one of the families that is the major competitors of the airport,” he had said. “One of the problems facing the industry at Ogle is that they have a competitor regulating its competitors.”

“If you take that further and rename the airport after that competitor you compound an already difficult and oppressive situation,” Gouveia also noted.

However, he had stated that the association does not view the renaming of the airport as an issue that cannot be resolved through discussion. During the launch, which was held at the Georgetown Club, Gouveia revealed that all nine of the aviation operators endorsing NATA have “unanimously” voted against the renaming the airport, and have written strong letters against it.

Correia Jr. noted that following the President’s announcement, the Secretary of the OAI Board had written to all the shareholders concerning the matter. “No objection” responses had been received from all the

non-board shareholders, even Gouveia.

“When I then put the (name change proposal) to the Board, two members initially expressed reservation before the Board unanimously agreed to the proposed name change,” Correia revealed. “The Board subsequently advised the President of its decision, after which we received a letter from Air Services Ltd. with a reversal of their position.”

Expressing his disappointment in the arguments against the name change, Correia noted that the name change proposal transcended race, name and background and came down to what Eugene F. Correia has done for Guyana.

“The fact that a Correia was chosen for the airport to be renamed is not the important point,” he posited.

“It is the fact that President Granger and his Government has decided that Eugene F. Correia is a Guyanese that has made a difference to our country and is being honored and highlighted so that the youths of Guyana may know

their history.”

He also observed that the name change still requires a number of regulatory and administrative changes. He noted that the airport has written the Ministry of Public Infrastructure as required by the lease agreement and is awaiting the Ministry’s endorsement of the process.

Eugene F. Correia was considered a pioneer in local aviation. Formerly a prospector, he was later elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly. He became the first Minister of Communication, Shipping and Civil Aviation in Guyana’s first postIndependence Government.

thief man holler When thief man go to rob people and he deh in company, he is de baddest thing that walk de earth. You should hear how dem does talk to de people dem robbing and some of dem does beat people like if is dem children.

Dem same thief man mek big man and big woman cry.

Dem slap people, lash dem wid gun and even threaten to kill dem.

Of course dem have a set that does actually kill de people dem go to rob. But as dem old people seh, de baddest man does meet he meter. Is only that nuff people don’t believe that dem should put up resistance.

Well three of dem attack a businessman in Berbice de other day. Dem had gun and cutlass but when a man mek up he mind fuh dead fuh wha he earn he does be a terror.

He get chop and he chop back till de thief man start holler fuh help. Dem boys seh that is only fate mek he didn’t holler fuh murder and fuh police.

De amount of fight he put up mek de other two drop de gun and get away.

Dem lef dem friend to fend fuh heself. Is only because de businessman start to get weak from de chop wha he get mek de other one survive to get lock up.

That man mek dem boys remember Rohee. He go to a meeting wid Surujbally at GECOM. De first thing he ask is fuh Surujbally give him a breakdown of de race of de people who wukking wid GECOM. In short, he want to know how much Black people, how much Indian, how much Amerindian, how much Chinee, how much Puttagee and how much Dougla. Dem don’t have White people.

This is a man who tekking GECOM seriously because he done seh that is one set of people mek he party lose de elections.

If Surujbally did tell him dem boys wonder wha he woulda do. This is a man who didn’t want to know de ethnic composition of de police force when he was Home Affairs Minister. He don’t even want to know he own ethnic composition.

Talk half and watch how Rohee trying to be more racist than anybody else.

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Audiology workers complete two-day workshop The Disability and Rehabilitation Services in the Ministry of Public Health recently concluded a two-day workshop on audiology, with the ultimate aim of keeping local audiology practitioners up-to-date.

The workshop was held at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kingston, over two days from November 12. It saw the participation of about 20 personnel of the Audiology Departments across the regions.

One of the workshop’s facilitators, Dr. Ruth Quaicoe, explained that it was important that audiology practitioners meet regularly to keep themselves up-to-date.

Dr. Quaicoe is also the head of Audiology in Guyana as well as an Audiology Physician.

“They’re here to participate and put their heads together to see the way forward and plan for next year,” Dr. Quaicoe said.

She added that the Central Audiology Clinic located in the Georgetown Public Hospital conducts workshops bi-annually – one at the beginning of the year and the other towards the end.

She said that the first day of the workshop focused on

introducing the participants to key developments in Audiology including new techniques of fitting hearing aids.

“Because they are away from the Central Audiology Clinic, we had to give them some practice on how new hearing aids are used.

Because those in the regions were unable to see how aids are fitted we had to bring them and teach them about that,” she said. The first day also saw the presentation of reports from each region, covering the last quarter of the year.

“It’s very important that we bring them together to know what’s going on. They report to us on the phone but that doesn’t fully cover the problems that need to be addressed,” she said.

“Most of the reports we’re getting, they are doing exactly what they need to do but there were a few that are not focusing because they don’t have audiology seniors to overlook them. In some cases, some clinics, for the past two quarters, they fitted no hearing aid.” She emphasised that if hearing aids are administered properly, at least one person would require a hearing aid.

The second and final day

Members of the audiology workshop with facilitator Dr. Ruth Quacioe (centre, seated) of the workshop focused on work ethics and an introduction to new ways of managing clinics, improving the quality of service in the clinics, and trying to advise them how to react with other medical workers.

When questioned on Audiology in Guyana, Dr. Quaicoe noted that the area is not a commonly discussed one in Guyana. She said that the main issue facing Audiology in Guyana is the lack of equipment. She said that setting up an audiology clinic is pointless if there is not enough equipment to cater to the patients’ needs.

“One of the things we

suffer from is not having enough equipment and most times most of the equipment we’ve got to buy in Georgetown and send it to the other regions. When we ask the regions to buy equipment, they don’t buy the right things and we’re trying to get the regions to buy their own equipment,” Dr. Quaicoe explained.

She said, too, that training is a difficult area as well since so many of the audiology practitioners are located outside of Georgetown.

“In order to train people, they have to come from their regions to Georgetown then

go back.”

She said that many of the workers in outlying areas work without supervision.

“Most of the people in the regions are juniors and are supposed to be working with supervision but most times it’s very difficult for persons to travel from Georgetown to go supervise work in other regions. So, if they can’t make

a visit, we talk to them on the phone. Nonetheless, the ideal thing is on the job training and supervision,” she said.

The workshop, which ran from 9:00am to 3:00pm each day, featured interactive sessions administered by four facilitators. Some of the participants came from as far as Kamarang, Region Seven.

Page 12

Consultations on 2016 budget…

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 15, 2015

Once PPP ideas are “viable, within our agenda” they will be included - says Finance Minister

By Kiana Wilburg Once the ideas and proposals of the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP) are “viable and within government’s agenda,” Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that the opposition may very well see some of its input being reflected in the 2016 budget.

Jordan insisted that the government is willing to work along with the Opposition on the 2016 budget.

He said that while he has not met with the PPP as yet, he is optimistic that talks this time around would be “fruitful and less adversarial.”

The Finance Minister recalled the challenges he encountered during his first interaction with the Opposition’s representatives over the 2015 budget.

He said that during that time, he found himself in a situation where he had to set the record straight on a number of allegations, particularly from PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee.

Some of these accusations had to do with the PetroCaribe Fund being empty and witch-hunting by the Granger administration.

The Finance Minister said that he had addressed Rohee on each contention leveled against the government.

The Finance Minister said that when the delegation turned up at the Finance Ministry, he gave the floor to Rohee “who started right away with accusations of how we are witch-hunting, how we are destroying the economy

and how they left a good economy.”

Jordan added, “All along I waited to hear what ideas they were bringing to the table. My letter to them clearly said an exchange of ideas on the 2015 budget. But I did not hear anything about that.”

The Finance Minister said that he had explained to Rohee, the framework of the budget as well as what was inherited from the previous administration.

Jordan said, “I told him what was inherited from last year in relation to rice and sugar and how the mining sector was shaping up. It is going to be a three-month budget and there is nothing much that can be done now.”

He added, “They could have even given ideas that could be used for the 2016 budget but I got nothing.

Eventually he (Rohee) said he has to go back and consult with his party and then they will give us a response.

Couple hours later, they sent what appeared to be extracts of our 100-day plan.”

The Finance Minister emphasized that the entire point of the consultations on the budget was for him to learn from the opposition what they would like to see within the budget and issues they may have with the framework.

But regardless of the troubles in the beginning, Jordan said that he remains willing to engage the opposition at any time on matters in relation to the economy.

Jordan said, “My door is always open. The outcome of

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

PPP Shadow Finance Minister, Irfaan Ali discussions on the 2015 budget was indeed disappointing. But I have high hopes that it would be better because the opposition is now constituted in a parliamentary sense.

“I believe this time there is a Shadow Minister of Finance and I don’t know since Irfaan Ali is the head of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) if that is an indication that he is going to shadow that area.”

“But he had been at the Ministry of Finance for a long time and I trust he would come with good and new ideas when it comes to the financial matters...but people must remember that this is a national budget and so all ideas will contend.

“If it is good for everybody and it is viable then it will be placed into the budget. I mean you can bring a very good idea that is not part of our agenda but we would keep it for when it can become part of our agenda.”

Ali who has responsibility for the finance sector is, however, not so optimistic that a “cordial” discussion looms with the Finance Minister. Irfaan Ali then alluded to Government’s track record in showing no respect for the opposition’s recommendations in general.

The former Housing Minister said, “We have made our views public and would have (Continued on page 69)

Sunday November 15, 2015

Shut NICIL down From page 3 through deliberate or serious disregard of reasonable standards of care, that Minister or official shall be personally liable to the Government for the amount of the loss.

Minister Sharma had confirmed that there were various cases of public loss of monies at NICIL by certain officials and said that government has a responsibility to respect and follow through on the recommendations of strict penalties against those implicated.

Sharma had said, “NICIL was being run in a haphazard way and made dangerous decisions that cost the company millions of dollars in losses. It placed the then government in a bad place.

NICIL really was operating as the PPP's greatest force in making corrupt acts realized.

The more the forensic auditor keeps digging, the more dirt he finds on NICIL and how it operated.”

With a new Board and Chairman in place, the government called on Brassington to explain NICIL's investments into all projects over the years. He was also expected to state, honestly, the position of the company's assets.

NICIL's new Chairman Dr. Maurice Odle had said that there has been one meeting thus far at which Brassington was told to prepare a “position paper” to say what policies and strategies were employed to justify investments made by the company into certain projects.

He explained that the paper is expected to give good reasons for investments into the Marriott Hotel, the Berbice River Bridge Company and Pradoville Two scheme.

The paper has since been submitted and the board is currently perusing it to make a decision on the way forward.

Habits are not the product of one decision — They’re the result of repeated choices that eventually become automatic responses.

How can you know your true spiritual condition? By the company you keep and the choices you make. When you’re free to go, where do you choose to go?

Whose company do you prefer?

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Page 14

Kaieteur News

Shot man loses kidney after clash with police SHOT: Rawle Linden Samuels

A Soesdyke-Linden man has lost one of his kidneys.

He is hospitalized in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital after he allegedly attempted to disarm a police rank at a Soesdyke Bar. Shot is Rawle Linden Samuels, 23, of Dr. Charles Estate Linden who was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital having lost a lot of blood.

Upon arrival at the GPHC the man was rushed into surgery. According to medical reports the bullet exited but he lost one of his kidneys and doctors had to repair his spleen. Samuels was shot at close range.

The police in press release, reported that about 01:00hr yesterday ranks responded to a report of disorderly behaviour by a number of patrons at a night spot at Coverden, East Bank Demerara.

During efforts by the ranks who responded to arrest one of the persons allegedly involved in the fracas, a scuffle ensued between the man and an armed police rank.

During that scuffle the police said that the man tried to disarm the police and a round was discharged.

The bullet struck the man to his abdomen and also struck, Odessa Glasgow, 27, to her leg. That woman of La Belle Alliance, Essequibo

Coast, is a waitress at the night spot. And according to the police both have been admitted to the GPHC. Samuels, a father of one, admitted that there was a scuffle but that he was shot wrongfully.

He said, “I was at the R &V Sports Bar and a guy named Anthony who we does call Latto asked the waitress for something. They had an argument and I tried to talk to he, and the boss lady came out.”

Samuels said that because of a disagreement the owner for the bar summoned the police and he was ordered to exit the bar, but he protested. “I tell the police that I have rights and he grab me by me shirt and I grab he back by he own and we started to fight.”

He also alleged that the police pointed his gun to his head and he knocked the ranks hand away.

“I snatch he shirt and I hear pow then I realize I get shot and a girl get shoot too.

Then dem put me in a black car and carry me to Diamond Hospital then them bring me to Georgetown hospital.”

Investigations are in progress.

(By Mondale Smith)

Sunday November 15, 2015

Construction worker loses leg following accident

Dwayne George, the driver who injured Neil Richardson offers assistance.

Construction worker, Neil Richardson, 46, of lot 502 West Ruimveldt lost his right leg following an accident on Sunday.

The hospitalized father of two said that he was hit by car while riding his motorcycle about 19:00hrs at the corner of Middle Road and Hunter Street.

Dwayne George was the driver of motor car HC2627 which hit Richardson. The vehicle is registered to the Kitty Cabs taxi service George was arrested and placed on $100,000 bail.

Sharing his version of events George said that he was driving along Middle Road approaching Hunter Street when the accident occurred.

“The place was a bit dark and I didn’t see the guy because a bus was blocking the road and before I know it I hit him off he bike.”

The man is adamant that he was not speeding and that he transported the injured man to hospital.

Since being admitted to the medical institution

Richardson has undergone one surgery. He is scheduled for another for his hip which is also broken.

While a decision on the way forward is yet to be made both the victim’s family and the driver have agreed that there is a need for more lights in the area where the accident occurred.

Yesterday, while rendering assistance to the man who lost his leg George said “I will be visiting him often and I’m willing to offer assistance while hoping for the best.” ( Mondale Smith)

CANU busts two with cocaine at City hotel

Two drug mules, who were preparing to board a flight to JFK New York, were busted Saturday night at an Alpha Hotel with a quantity of cocaine pellets.

Ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU), acting on information, swooped down on the East Coast Demerara hotel and arrested the men.

A senior CANU official said that his unit is not only dependent on acting upon information as it relates to smuggling drugs through the airport. He said that this raid is an indication of how extensive the CANU network is. People are aware of the movement of drugs and they feed the information to

CANU. When CANU swooped down on the hotel, some of the guests who had gone there for their entertainment panicked. They thought that the hotel was being attacked by bandits.

One pair was prevented from entering and on seeing the guns, the pair immediately notified the police at Sparendaam. But the police were aware of the raid.

The exact weight of the drug is yet to be determined, since one of the men had swallowed some of the pellets. He is currently under police guard at a city hospital.

They will be charged and placed before the courts next week.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Gold Board set to reopen Bartica office as community prepares for township The Guyana Gold Board’s (GGB) Bartica office, which was closed last year under the former administration after allegations of gold tampering surfaced, is set to be reopened later this month by Minister of Governance with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman.

This announcement comes even as the Government has commenced work in the Region Seven District to prepare Bartica for township status. Minister Trotman and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral Gary Best; Lawrence Mentis, Head of the Force Unit, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and several other key officials, visited Bartica on Friday to see firsthand, the work being done to prepare the GGB office and the Region as a whole, in the lead up to next year, when the community will be declared a town.

Lisaveta Ramotar, Head of the GGB, who met Minister Trotman and the visiting team on location, said that the office will be ready for commissioning by monthend, meeting the deadline, which had been set by the Minister.

The Bartica office, which

is located in what is considered the gateway to the interior, and a hub of mining activities, had been conducting operations for years and has been one of the main sub-offices for the GGB. Minister Trotman, a Ministry of the Presidency statement said, noted that the closure of the office was having a negative impact on the mining community and a decision was taken to revamp and re-open the office to make business operations easier for the miners and traders in that region, especially with the establishment of the community as a town.

Ramotar disclosed that the staff is currently undergoing training in Georgetown even as final preparations are being made at the office. She added that strong security measures have also been put in place and once the office is opened, these systems will be fully operational.

Minister Trotman and Minister Patterson, who have been appointed as the Ministerial team responsible for the establishment of Bartica as a green town, used the opportunity to visit the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) plant to examine operations there.

“We wanted to see what was happening and how things were progressing. We

Minister Trotman (second right) and Minister David Patterson (extreme left) with the newly sworn in Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Region Seven, Cuyuni Mazaruni. are here to examine the works on the roads and more particularly the situation with GPL and the generators because residents have been crying out about the service so I wanted to assess for myself what was happening,” Minister Patterson said.

He told residents that the government has awarded a contract to repair the Bartica Stelling, while works will be done on the One to Five Mile roads. Minister Patterson added that next year, the Bartica-Potaro Road to

Head of the Guyana Gold Board, Lisaveta Ramotar explains the changes made in the Bartica office to Minister Trotman on Friday.

Mahdia will be completed, bringing relief to miners and traders. The airstrip in the Region will also be upgraded.

The team also visited the identified location for a

proposed dumpsite in the region.

After touring the GGB’s Office, Minister Trotman on behalf of the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan,

swore in the Commissioners of the Interim Management Committee (IMC), which will oversee the work being done for the community’s township status.

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 15, 2015

US$4M drainage pumps contract…

Sacked Indian contractor claims millions owed More than five years after the Government of Guyana and the Export-Import Bank of India signed a US$4M credit agreement for the acquisition, installation and commissioning of 14 large drainage pumps to ease coastal flooding, there is disclosure that the Indian contractor was fired since last year.

The good news is, according to the recently tabled report of the Auditor General for 2014, that all the pumps – eight fixed and six mobile units- have been received and installed at 14 locations.

But problems with the contract are far from over with State auditors recommending that the Ministry of Agriculture move to bring closure to the matter.

The contract had been a troubled one with little information coming out about the arrival of the pumps. The previous administration, whose two-decade rule ended in May, had also disclosed that it had embarked on building a number of additional pump stations, and buying pumps from local suppliers as well,

One of the pump houses under construction at Windsor Forest, W.C.D.

NDIA’s CEO, Lionel Wordsworth causing more confusion about the locations.

According to the audit report, on February 15, 2011, the National Board of Procurement and Tender Administration gave approval for 28 suppliers to be shortlisted for the supply and installation of fixed and mobile drainage pumps.

However, only two tenders were eventually submitted to the National Board of Procurement and Tender Administration.

As of September, some US$2.991M was paid to the

contractor, Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited (SECL). The contract was subsequently terminated in October 2014.

SECL was the same company that was fired last year for failing to deliver on the Specialty Hospital at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara.

SECL has left the country but the Government of Guyana has been granted a $1B court judgment for that Specialty Hospital project.

With regards to the US$4M contract for the pumps, SECL was paid US$126,000 for the spares.

While the contractor claimed that it has supplied the spares, auditors could find no evidence of any.

The Agricultural Ministry, in response to queries from the Audit Office, claimed that the sum of US$126,000 for spares was approved by the Finance Secretary on recommendations from the National Drainage and

Irrigation Authority (NDIA), an agency of the ministry which was overlooking the pump project.

SECL’s contract was terminated effective October 8th, 2014 after the contractor failed to request and obtain approval for an extension of time. The contract period had ended April 30, 2013.

SECL was also fired for failing to extend advance payment guarantee and performance security and to supply spares for which payment was recommended

and subsequently disbursed.

The Auditor General report said that the percentage and value of the contract completed was 80 per cent or US$3,215,875 respectively.

Following the termination of the contract, the Government of Guyana spent US$589,400 to complete the works.

SECL is claiming US$368, 728 but Government said the contractor is only owed US$224,728 and that there is no evidence it delivered any spares despite being paid.

The PPP/C Government had said that the 14 pumps would have helped to solve drainage issues for farmlands on the coast.

NDIA was headed by engineer Lionel Wordsworth who is currently on leave.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Managing the difficult patient encounter in the ER In the ideal world everybody gets along, and there aren’t personalities and cultural differences that make us differ in opinion.

Obviously there is no such existence, and it is even more complicated in emergency rooms (ER) where the environment is high-stress and unpredictable.

Emergency physicians cannot anticipate that all encounters will unfold according to the standard expectations for successful patientphysician relations, that is, that privacy and confidentiality will be maintained and patient autonomy exercised.

Privacy, autonomy, even assessing and addressing the medical complaint itself are often not the emergency physician’s first priority in managing uncooperative patients. These Physicians are expected to maintain calm and be respectful to every patient.

Often however, there are patients or relatives who are aggressive because of anger or an unstable state of mind.

These persons can pose a threat to the staff and other patients in the ER and must be kept in check for the safety of all.

In most emergency departments, aides or security personnel are available to assist if the patient becomes unruly.

Those not involved in the patient’s care (hospital secu-

The fires are here and every day a house goes up in flames. Two went up in flames within hours of each other. That would not be the end of the matter. Another fire would breakout in a house where a large family live. This fire would be caused by a careless individual who happened to be under the influence. It would seem that fires and road accidents go hand in hand. ** Criminal activity is ongoing because a certain group of people are copycats. In the city some young men, very young men at that, would be following reports of robberies and would want to emulate the successful group. But the high that they experience will be shortlived, because the police will decide that enough is

enough. Drastic measures will ensue. ** The roads continue to be crazy. People seem to take a lot for granted.

The result is that the races are going to continue on the roads and there would be serious crashes.

In one case a motorcyclist will be dodging between cars, a dangerous habit in itself. The accident will simply result in the loss of another life.

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

rity personnel or police officers) should be discretely placed, so that the patient is aware that they are present or nearby, but they should not intrude on the patient-physician encounter unless they are actively engaged in guarding or controlling the patient.

The physician’s first intervention is to assure the patient in a non-threatening way that, regardless of the circumstances, his or her health is the physician’s primary concern. Often physicians must maintain control of their own emotions, responding to a patient’s anger and even abuse, calmly and un-defensively. It is difficult to list what goes on next in sequence. The physician must determine, almost simultaneously: · Whether the patient is likely to pose a threat of harm to him or herself -or to others. · Whether or not a medical emergency or need exists.

Whether the patient is in physical distress. Intoxicated.

Psychotic. Attempting to get a prescription for narcotics. · Whether the patient is competent to accept or refuse treatment. If not, whether someone is present who can speak as the patient’s surrogate.

The possible combinations of answers to these questions determine how the encounter proceeds. If a medical need is present and the patient is not combative or hostile and is competent to discuss and consent to or refuse treatment, the encounter resembles a traditional acute medical intervention.

If medical need is present and the patient is highly combative or frenzied, with frankly compromised mental status, he or she can be restrained or

sedated so that the need can be assessed and treatment can proceed. The physician may ask security personnel or police to detain or control the patient.

A patient’s decision on his or her care should make sense relative to his or her values. Refusing surgery because it is frightening, for example, may be perfectly reasonable, but not consistent with a goal of continued life.

Obviously, the need to feel secure about the patient’s competency increases as the risk associated with an intervention or the refusal of an intervention increases. A psychiatric consultation may be needed.

In all events, seriously injured or ill patients who refuse treatment should be given comfort care rather than turned away because of their refusal. As the distress from the injury or illness increases, and with continued encouragement of medical staff, they may change their decisions.

Given the likely physical and emotional distress of patients with emergency medical needs, their possible estrangement from routine health maintenance, and the diverse psychosocial and cultural backgrounds and expectations that converge in the emergency department, it’s small wonder that the real life “ER” offers an intense immer-

Dr. Zulfikar Bux sion course in managing difficult clinical encounters.

Emergency Physicians are therefore trained and expected to be the calm minds in the midst of crises.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 15, 2015

THE CASE OF THE Stanleytown stalker

By Michael Jordan Travel through Inner Stanleytown, on the West Bank of Demerara and you’ll observe the canefields, the canals and the thick vegetation. It may then dawn on you that this area would be a good hiding place for a fugitive.

One man found this terrain to his liking just a few years ago.

He knew it like the back of his hand, and he used this knowledge to abduct, rape, and kill…

Back in 1992, no one would have given Neil Bovell a second glance. After all, he was just an ex-policeman who was living in Stanleytown. All that changed on Tuesday, December 22, 1992. At that time, the then 25-year-old Bovell was ‘living home’ with a 19-year-old woman named Shondell O’Brien.

Bovell, according to reports, had never threatened or abused his reputed wife.

But later that evening, he and O’Brien had a quarrel. He responded by punching out one of the young woman’s front teeth. Bovell, reportedly motivated by jealousy, then stabbed O’Brien several times with a kitchen knife.

In her bid to escape, Shondell O’Brien leapt from a window to the ground, where she collapsed from her wounds.

Some said she was stabbed 21 times, but you know Guyanese love to exaggerate.

Bovell went into hiding, but was captured a few days later at Bartica. But the case against him fell apart when the prosecution failed to find any eyewitnesses to say that they had seen him actually stab his reputed wife.

Dead: Neil Bovell After being released from prison, Bovell started a relationship with another young lady named Philippa Harrison.

It is unclear whether she knew of his past.

They lived in Stanleytown for some five years before problems developed in the relationship. In early September 2003, Philippa Harrison walked out of the home and went to stay at relatives in East Ruimveldt area known as Warlock.

Neil Bovell bided his time, and on Saturday, September 6, 2003, he drove to the house where Harrison was staying.

According to reports, he had brought a barrel containing her clothes and other belongings. Shortly after, a neighbour heard them arguing, but paid them no mind, since “it was a man and woman story.”

Bovell then left.

Later that evening, 31year-old Philippa Harrison went to a neighbour’s house to complain about an incident involving one of her children.

She was speaking to a resident when Bovell, brandish-

ing a knife, emerged from an alleyway and pounced on her.

Screaming “murder, murder”, Harrison tried to flee, but Bovell cornered her in the alley and stabbed her repeatedly until she collapsed. The assailant then hurriedly left in his car.

The following day, police recovered the suspect’s white station wagon in front of his father’s Stanleytown home. In the vehicle, police found the blade of the knife with which Bovell had killed his second reputed wife. But of the killer, there was no trace.

All that changed on Saturday, October 4, 2003.

That day, Bovell sneaked into the Lot 139 Stanleytown home of 64-year-old mechanic Vernon Bernard. He killed the elderly man and then waited for Bernard’s daughter, Velda, to arrive home. When she came home just before midnight, Bovell held her at knifepoint and tied her up. He then placed the dead man’s body in the two-bedroom house, doused it with kerosene and set it alight. The killer then hoisted the diminutive woman bodily and took her into the dense Canal Number Two backlands.

While holding her in captivity, Bovell constantly ranted about the crimes he had committed and about the persons who had incurred his wrath. He blamed Velda Bernard’s father for causing him to be incarcerated for six months. The woman suspected that someone was supplying the fugitive with meals.

Eventually, after two days in the mosquito-infested backlands, Bernard managed to untie herself from a tree and flee while Bovell slept.

She was taken to the Wales Police Station before being reunited with relieved family members.

As the manhunt intensified, Bovell survived several close encounters with the police and villagers. In one case, he miraculously fled unscathed when heavilyarmed police ranks had apparently cornered him behind a Stanleytown house. An elderly man, 70-year-old Eustace Small, was accidentally killed after Bovell took cover behind the pensioner who was in his yard. The raids by police appeared to incense Bovell. He vented his rage on villagers, sneaking out at night to abduct and rape young women.

One of the victims was a 32-year-old West Coast Demerara woman. She was grabbed at gunpoint from her boyfriend’s house on Thursday, August 14, 2003. The outlaw held her hostage for hours before she managed to escape.

Bovell seemed to be targeting fair-complexioned women, and females of mixed ancestry.

Women of Stanleytown began to avoid walking in the community after sundown. Villagers who had information about his whereabouts were afraid to inform the police, since many felt that there were people in the community who were assisting the ex-policeman to avoid capture.

One resident recalled passing Bovell smoking a cigarette on the street, but said he was afraid to alert his female companion for fear that she might have looked back or screamed.

In desperation, police employed aerial patrols to fly

over the community and also torched the canefields to flush the fugitive out. A special team was also set up to track down the outlaw, and in October 2005, Police offered a $1M reward for information leading to Bovell’s arrest.

Then on Wednesday, December 27, 2006, police ranks received a call from someone in the area that Bovell was at his father’s house at Lot 137 Stanleytown. A senior rank and a party of policemen responded in an unmarked car.

When they arrived, Bovell was reportedly preparing to cook a meal in the backyard.

On spotting the ranks, the fugitive made a dash for freedom, but by then the ranks had managed to surround the area. Dodging bullets, Bovell led the ranks on a chase through a muddy track. He managed to flee as far as a few lots away before going down in a hail of bullets which ripped open his right shoulder and left gaping holes in his body. The heavilymuscled, dreadlocked fugitive bore little resemblance to bulletins which police had posted of him. His healthy appearance confirmed reports that persons had been harbouring the killer, who had terrorised the community since 2003.

If you have any information about other unusual cases, please contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258465, 22-58491 or 2258473. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address mjdragon@ hotmail.com.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 27

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Mediterranean lunch at Giftland Mall On Thursday midday, I took my wife and daughter to lunch at the food court at the Giftland Mall. We dined at a restaurant that offers Italian dishes. Interestingly, most of them had the name Gotti in front of them, no doubt referring to the notorious ItalianAmerican mafia tyrant that died in an American prison, John Gotti. I had “Gotti fettuccini.”

The fettuccini came with mince soaked in deep sauce.

This establishment specializes in pasta. My daughter is literally pasta obsessed, so that was our choice of dining place. Bad habits tend to stay with crazy people. I was starved and my conditions worsened when they said it takes fifteen minutes of waiting. So I went directly opposite the Italian cafeteria and bought a Chinese cake and a sorrel drink to keep my hunger under control. As a working class boy, I was shocked when I was told how much those everyday street items cost. But then again, I guess things in places like these cannot be the same prices as in a neighbourhood shop. The Chinese cake was good. I mean very tasty and it was the largest Chinese cake I ever saw and ate.

I don’t have any complaints about my Mediterranean “Gotti lunch.” It is wise to stick to what one knows best; I am not a culinary ex-

pert. The food was alright.

One must remember that improvements come with time.

People try and their efforts must be applauded. But reviews and criticism help.

I would have expected that after waiting for about over half an hour, my meal would have been hot or very warm. I don’t know why this happened, but the owners need to take a look at that area.

Giftland Mall is swashbuckling, erotic, exotic, inviting, captivating and enjoyably attractive. The Guyanese people need to say positive things about this structure, because its positiveness stands out. We should be glad it came to Guyana.

As a commentator I recommend this place to all age groups. Take your girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse, children, and sample the ambience of Giftland Mall. An educated person in finance or economics or accountancy looking at the sprawling complex and its vast retail shops and massive food court and eight cinemas is confronted with questions.

Could the Guyanese economy sustain this superlative service?

I don’t have the answers, but I hope the Guyanese

economy can sustain the Giftland Mall. Guyana, with its immense backwardness, its 19th century orientation and 15th century values, needs a structure as we see in the Giftland Mall.

I would recommend a supermarket, a gym, spa and hair salon. The place is so large that the owners could cater for weekend street theatre and small musical concerts.

When I looked at the gargantuan size, my mind went back to my student days at UG and the dramatics of Henry Rodney, Mark Matthews and Henry Mootoo.

The owners should continue their improvisation. The Mall did feature a professional boxing match. I would suggest the owners inquire about educational institutions having their graduations there. Alfresco Christmas parties of Guyana’s big companies should be given a try.

These dimensions should assist in popularizing the place. The value of places like Giftland Mall is that it gives a sense of modernization to young people who feel that their country is so backward that the future will come long after they are dead, so it is

best to migrate and taste the modern world.

What goes through the mind of a young Guyanese who leaves the University of Guyana and stops off at the Giftland Mall? It is an ascent from dirt to beauty. When you leave the derelict environment of UG and you enter the Giftland Mall, you are virtually in another country. Herein lies the value of the Mall to Guyana. In writing about any huge business project in this country, the analyst should not forget the dimension of workers’ rights. I find it com-

pletely amusing the brouhaha between some of the Ogle aircraft companies and Correia group of companies, a subject I don’t know much about and cannot comment either way.

If there is domination and business monopoly at Ogle, it should be confronted and be defeated. For now, I will abstain for any comment either way. But I have had human rights complaints against two of those companies that are currently complaining about Correia. One is heartbreaking and formed an entire column of mine.

Frederick Kissoon One thing I have learnt about business and it is not confined to Guyana only – profits are more important than people. Try the Gotti fettuccini. You may like it!

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Building momentum towards Sustainable Development through Open Government Partnership (Contributed by Stephen Davenport & Tiago Carneiro Peixoto) The just-completed Open Government Partnership annual summit focused on how greater openness in Government can accelerate progress toward attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The open government agenda is most closely linked to the ambitious Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions which focuses, among other targets, on ensuring “responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” Though progress in this area is difficult to quantify, evidence shows that citi-

zen participation - the next Transparency frontier – is important to development outcomes.

These examples show that if the open government movement is going to help build momentum toward the SDGs, more attention must be paid to refining the role of City/ Municipal governments and broadening the opportunities to engage citizens.

The OGP Global Summit provided an opportunity for members to consolidate and build momentum, reflect on what is working and what is not, and lay out a framework for further exchange, cooperation and action.

Land issues play a significant role in this scenario.

Governments should develop

National Action Plans that promote transparency and accountability in land matters.

Civil society organizations can help by pressing governments to address land transparency by: · Creating a publicly available cadaster, which includes not just the boundaries of individual private property, but also land held by Indigenous Peoples and other rural communities that is registered and held under customary tenure; · Sharing information regarding ongoing negotiations for agricultural or landbased investments; and · Releasing to the public the contracts and agreements with foreign and domestic investors.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Guyana fully committed to the rule of law (Address By Prime Minister Moses V. Nagamootoo to the Open Government Partnership Summit, Mexico City) Excellency, President Pena Nieto, Vice President of South Africa, Ministers, Ambassadors, Social Partners, Leaders; Guyana is grateful to Mexico for the kind reception and hospitality and for the invitation to attend the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2015 Global Summit.

Guyana salutes the United States and other founding members for kick-starting the OGP initiative and congratulates Mexico on its leadership in the past year.

For Guyana, being here is a kind of homecoming, as this is where we need to be (or ought to be) in the near future. We look forward to being the 70th member, in the 70th year of the United Nations, once we conclude the consultation process and find sponsorship and support for our candidature.

Our government is only five months young, having come into office in May of

this year. I bring greetings from His Excellency President David Granger, and the assurance that we are fully committed to the rule of law, to open democratic governance, open (unfettered) justice, a free media and accountability to our people.

We are a coalition government of six parties, faced with the twin battle to re-establish our democracy and simultaneously protect our national sovereignty. Guyana is a small country with vast resources.

Our border with our Western neighbour was settled in 1897 under the Treaty of Washington. However, Venezuela has sought to reassert a patently false claim to fiveeighths of Guyana, which includes most of our vast forested lands and mineral resources, as well as our Exclusive Economic Maritime Zone. Venezuela has proceeded to impose a trade embargo against Guyana, refusing to continue a longstanding trade agreement to buy our rice and to sell us fuel.

Venezuela is also continuing to block oil exploration off Guyana’s coast and inside

Moses Nagamootoo our territory, to threaten our investors in gold and other mineral extraction. This is all in clear violation of international law and the obligations of every international treaty.

Guyana is a peaceful nation enjoying cordial relations with every nation in this hemisphere. We have never laid claim to any country’s territory. Guyana does not imprison political opponents or practice blackmail or bullying diplomacy. We seek to be part of the global community of nations that respect the rule of law, and to align ourselves with transformative movements like the OGP. Partnership on the core tenets of transparency, civil participation, and the fight against corruption are a celebration and a strengthening of democracy. More importantly, it allows for the development of our citizens and our country.

During the campaign prior to Guyana’s National elections this year, I repeatedly borrowed from the Ten Commandments laid out in the Bible, i.e. God’s law: “THOU SHALL NOT STEAL.” My Government practices this law as we seek to re-build our nation.

Today I find in this partnership and in the objectives of the OGP much that is aligned to our own objectives and the mechanisms to help us to eradicate all vestiges of corruption in our country. We believe that we have found good company in the OGP. We undertake to follow and implement all of the necessary procedures and caveats required by Guyana to become a participating member of the OGP. This, of course, requires us to seek endorsement and full approval for our candidature.

We are proud and humbled to be here and we thank you for the privilege.”

Sunday November 15, 2015

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My column

The transformation is gratifying A Jamaican lawyer came to Guyana to meet with some deportees who still believe that they were wrongfully sent home. This lawyer, with a counterpart, came to Guyana to meet with the deportees and opted to examine their case. The turnout was amazing.

One of the people who was there remarked that he never realized that so many people whom he actually saw walking the streets were deportees. The thing that got me was the fact that these people wanted so badly to go back to the United States.

That country is no bed of roses at this time, but neither is Guyana.

However, I think that it has something to do with access to drugs and the other hustle which is very difficult in Guyana.

But the deportees and their problems are not the concern. It happened to be the way this female lawyer viewed Georgetown. She blurted out to me that Georgetown is so clean. Then she compared it to Kingston, Jamaica, and to Brooklyn.

I started to say something about her having come to Guyana a few months too

late, when my colleagues silenced me. They were basking in the accolade. Indeed, it was nice to hear people say something good about the capital which until recently, was literally buried in garbage. Such was the case that people actually referred to Georgetown as the Garbage City.

I recalled when former Minister Jennifer Webster undertook to clearing a garbage pile that had developed on Water Street just outside what was once the Guyana National Cooperative Bank.

With help from the Guyana Fire Service, she removed tons of garbage only to see the pile return a few weeks later.

Today, something has caught on in the city. Once garbage is removed it is not returned. One Saturday morning as I was heading to the laundry, a guard pointed out a pile to me. It rested in an area that had just been cleaned. The guard said that a ‘junkie’ had dumped somebody’s garbage there but that he, the guard, would see to it that it never happens again. I was not there, but I learnt that the junkie got a licking when he returned some time later with another set of

garbage. I hasten to say that no more garbage has been dumped there. That isn’t all.

Some order is being restored.

There is no more haphazard parking. I suppose many of us will have to use parking lots and walk to where we have to go.

Traffic flows easily in the Bourda Market area and along Regent and Robb Streets because of the ban on parallel parking, and because of the pickets erected outside Bourda Market to inhibit parking. That is not all. Merriman Mall is an entirely different place. The other night I saw families with little children on the mall playing and enjoying something on a large screen.

They did not have to go to the seawall.

These things lift the spirit; they make people take a whole new approach to life. I am willing to bet that performance in the offices has been enhanced. Somebody talked about the cost of the cleanup.

I hasten to say that had the cleanup been effected over the years, then there would not have been any talk about cost today.

One former Minister was moved to say that he was

waiting for an outbreak of disease in the city. As fate would have it, he is no longer a minister, and there has been no outbreak. Even flooding that had become perennial has been reduced. People talk about water flowing in alleyways that they did not know existed.

So where has all this sense of beauty been? Where was the pride? The drive is to ensure order. The muttering about the 2:00 am curfew is subsiding because people now go out earlier. That was once the case until some people decided to relax the regulation and allowed for lawlessness.

But in the midst of all the drive to make Georgetown and the rest of Guyana somewhere to enjoy, we still have some distasteful episodes.

Young gunmen seem to be playing games with the society. They target any and everything. And the society is actually encouraging this.

Just this week, a man shot and killed a wanted man who was living in plain sight of the police. Did the police know him? The society surely did and said nothing. No one gave the police a tip, choosing instead, to live and as they said, mind their own business. That is the attitude that is encouraging criminals.

People who came home are now saying that they will not come back. Those are the people with money that will surely help to develop the country. If we chase them we suffer.

And while I lament the attitude of sections of the society, I also lament the passing of a friend, Angela Johnson.

She avoided me like the plague, because she was working with the previous administration. She did not want to be associated with any negative publication that I might produce, because she did not want to be picked on by her employers.

Adam Harris She was still my friend.

She died yesterday, a young woman just preparing to enter her golden years.

The word is that she was a victim of breast cancer. If that is true, then she was one tough cookie as they say. It would suggest that she knew that the end was fast approaching.

I am told that two weeks before the end she went home with a promise to work from there. The end must have been painful, but my friend did not cry out.

Rest in peace Angela.

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Sunday November 15, 2015

The role of exercise in the management of diabetes

By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj Lifestyle change (Diet and Exercise) is the foundation of any successful management plan for diabetes.

Exercise plays a very important role in managing diabe-

tes. Once diabetics combine exercise, diet and medicine (when prescribed) they are on their way to taking control of their weight and blood sugar level. This will improve the quality of life and prevent complications of diabetes.

Exercise helps control diabetes by: · Improving your body’s use of insulin · Burning and reducing excess body fat, helping to decrease and control weight (decreased body fat results in

improved insulin sensitivity) · Improving muscle strength · Increasing bone density and strength · Lowering blood pressure · Helping to protect against heart and blood vessel disease by lowering ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and increasing ‘good’ HDL cholesterol · Improving blood circulation and reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke · Increasing energy level and enhancing work capacity · Reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and releasing tension and anxiety EXERCISE TIPS · Aerobics, dancing, brisk walking, riding and swimming are some good choices for people with Diabetes. The chosen activity should be safe, enjoyable, repetitive, challenging and regularly done four to five times per week. Safe equipment and clothing are essential, and in many cases, certain medical checks will be needed before starting an exercise regime. · To reduce the risk of hy-

poglycemia if you have diabetes, follow a regular routine of exercising, eating your meals, and taking your medicines at the same time each day. · Prolonged or strenuous exercise can cause your body to produce adrenaline and other hormones that can counteract the effects of insulin and cause your blood sugar to rise. If you are participating in strenuous exercise (exercising at your maximum capacity) or prolonged exercise (lasting for several hours or more), your insulin and/or oral diabetic medicine or your calories may need to be changed. Talk to your health care provider about how to adjust your medicine. · Exercise with someone who knows you have diabetes and knows what to do if you have a low blood-sugar reaction. · Wear a medical identification tag or carry an identification card that states you have diabetes. · Check your sugar before, during and after exercise and always carry a small carbohydrate snack such as a fruit or fruit drink since low blood sugar can occur. · Depending on the time of exercise, reducing your dose of either long-acting insulin or short-acting insulin

Dr. Kumar Sukhraj may be necessary. Your doctor can recommend how to make this adjustment.

It is important to get started. Exercise is safe and highly recommended for most people with diabetes, including those with complications.

Patient sometimes get intimidated (feel pressured) when they are told that they need to exercise.

Please do not worry. Exercise is not costly and does not require you to spend any money in excess. Just a little determination and guidance and you are on your way to a healthy lifestyle.

Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj@ yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic.

Patient education plays an important in the diagnosis and management of diabetes and any other illness.

Sunday November 15, 2015

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) applauds the efforts that are currently being made to reverse the environmental degradation that persisted over the last two decades in towns and villages across our nation. APNU remains committed to the development of a comprehensive national environmental strategy.

The environmental health of our neighbourhoods on the coast and the hinterland must be given priority if we are to build healthy and happy communities. The clean-up campaigns, which began after the May 11 general and regional elections and have accelerated in preparation for our Golden Jubilee on May 26, 2016, create a wonderful platform for the promotion of the benefits of a healthy environment.

In order for the current efforts to be sustained, formal and informal education campaigns must be employed to increase national understanding of the interconnectedness between our environment and our actions, and how this relates to our survival.

Citizens must be encour-

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Our Environment aged to foster problem-solving approaches to basic environmental challenges. We must be able to build the capacity of our national institutions and community-based organisations to solve issues related to environmental health. Every community, whether it is in the hinterland or on the coast, must develop and/or improve systems for the disposal of domestic and industrial waste, including harmful air pollutants.

Every community must embrace a green agenda. We must ensure that there is clean, affordable and accessible water for all that matches water quality with water usage. Our water sources must be protected, and consideration given to integrated water management as a cornerstone to our health.

Attention must be paid to our food supply, our bio-diversity and our resilience to climate change, especially considering our low-lying coastal geography. Our agriculture sector must be

strengthened so that it can withstand the challenges of climate change. We must put in place measures for the strict control of agro-chemicals and associated products that are harmful to the public.

Public spaces like our school yards, training centres, university campuses, community playing fields, and church yards must be converted into areas that model sustainability, foster cohesion, knowledge generation and sharing. Guyanese must once again take pride in their communities and be encouraged to keep their yards clean and be responsible for the proper disposal of their solid waste.

The business community must be responsible for the proper disposal of their garbage and be made to provide adequate bins and dumpsters for use by their customers, and for the proper disposal of waste associated with their various businesses. The development of green spaces as a requirement for the con-

struction of new communities must be strictly enforced.

It is essential that we integrate our land use practices, water management and human settlement into our central planning and development. Our sea defences must be strengthened and more attention must be paid at all levels to flood prevention, soil erosion, solid waste contamination and other forms of degradation. We must at all costs protect our unique flora and fauna.

THE LOW CARBON STRATEGY APNU supports all efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and recognises the urgency of taking action to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, while adapting to new weather patterns. The Partnership is en-

couraged that the government is currently in the process of reviewing the framework of the Low Carbon Development Strategy.

The government has already articulated its policies and programmes to address drought, and flood consequences for farmers, communities and businesses. In the 2015 Budget, monies have been set aside for drainage and irrigation, sea defence and the maintenance of national weather records.

APNU continues to vigorously advocate for the conservation of our biodiversity resources (plants and animals) many of which are unique to Guyana. We intend to work with the government to; - Require specific conservation measures for vital eco-

systems, for example, the North Rupununi wetlands, a potential Ramsar Site.

- Ensure that everyone is knowledgeable, proud and respectful of the biodiversity throughout Guyana. This can be achieved through integrated educational projects and material from primary to tertiary levels and in all aspects of informal education.

- Strengthen and empower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to carry out its regulatory functions.

- Review agreements where industrial and agricultural activities threaten sensitive eco-systems.

Why is our environment important? It is important because this is the only home we have. Many experts believe that we can reverse some of the harm the planet has suffered. Here in Guyana we have made a start; the challenge is getting enough people to take drastic enough action so that we can make a difference in our lifetime.

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Sunday November 15, 2015

SUNDAY SPECIAL COPS CRACK TWO-YEAR-OLD DIAMOND MURDER CASE…NEIGHBOUR CONFESSES TO KILLING BUSINESSWOMAN – CLAIMS VICTIM HAD RECRUITED HIM, OTHERS TO MURDER POLICE BOYFRIEND Two years of tireless investigation have finally led detectives from the police force’s Major Crimes Unit to the killers of businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress.

The woman was clubbed to death in her Diamond, East Bank Demerara home in 2013.

The man they have in custody is the victim’s 32-year-old next door neighbour, who has told police that the businesswoman had asked him and others to kill her reputed husband, Police Sergeant Colin Bailey, but the gang opted to kill and rob her instead.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the suspect gave the bizarre confession after detectives arrested him on Friday (November 6) and recovered items that the killers had stolen from the murdered woman’s home.

Blanhum said that the recovered items included a laptop computer and a diamond ring, which were identified as belonging to Ramnaress.

The Crime Chief said that detectives are trying to locate two other suspects who were part of the plot. He said that the suspect identified one of the killers as Paul Bascom, who was among two bandits slain by police in December 2013, allegedly during a bungled robbery in Grove, East Bank Demerara.

Blanhum heaped praise on his ranks from the Major Crimes Unit for solving another major case. ”I want to take this opportunity to give recognition to the investigators whose diligence and efficiency were the driving force in solving yet another major crime. ”These ranks were able to achieve this success because they have implemented a number of techniques which were taught to them during the many training courses they would have benefitted from.”

GOVT. FINE-TUNING CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MINISTERS, MPS….

STATE CONTRACTS INTERFERENCE, GIFTS OF MORE THAN $10,000 A BIG NO-NO Five months after taking office, the new administration seems ready to tackle corruption with its long-awaited Code of Conduct that governs how Ministers behave in office.

The Code has been released for fine-tuning.

The draft document, published on the Ministry of the Presidency website on Friday November 6, speaks to disciplinary actions or terminations for Ministers, Parliamentarians and other public office holders who are in the breach.

The draft document also addresses the acceptance of gifts of more than $10,000, conflict of interests, accountability and even gambling.

The code would be crucial for the David Granger administration which campaigned for the May 11, 2015 General Elections on promises that it will be making sweeping changes to improve behaviour of public officials.

In the past, there were little actions against public officials despite reported evidence.

These actions included discharging a firearm, drunk driving and trading on insider information.

The purpose of the code is to assist Ministers, Members of Parliament and public office holders in the discharge of their obligations to their constituents and the public at large.

“It provides guidance on the values – the moral qualities – that should govern the conduct of Ministers and Members in discharging their Parliamentary and public duties. It is also meant to reinforce public confidence in the way in which Ministers and public office holders perform those duties.”

It was made clear that public office holders are duty bound by the code in all aspects of their public life. The code, however, does not seek to regulate the conduct of public office holders in their private and personal lives.

MONDAY EDITION WOMAN PERISHES AFTER HUSBAND REVERSES OFF DEMERARA HARBOUR BRIDGE The lifeless body of a 22-year-old woman was pulled from a submerged canter truck in the Demerara River several hours after it plunged off the Demerara Harbour Bridge early Sunday morning.

The body of 22-year old Gangadai Persaud was recovered around 10:00 hours after painstaking efforts by divers who had to brave high tides and strong current to get to it after it got stuck between the two front seats.

Persaud, a mother of a 10-month-old baby resided at Lot 4210 Tuschen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Her husband, whose name has been given as Dhanram Ramdeo Ramlall, 26, managed to free himself while under the water.

The tragic incident reportedly occurred when Ramlall attempted to turn the truck around on the Harbour Bridge but apparently made a big misjudgement instead and reversed off the open side of the structure.

The Canter truck, bearing registration GEE 4540, reversed off the 11th span of the bridge around 04:45 hrs just as the couple was heading to La Penitence and Plaisance Markets to wholesale greens.

According to information received from an eyewitness, Mark Henry, the driver was heading in the easternly direction on the bridge when a bag, containing Boulangers fell from the back of his truck.

He said that because it was early, there were hardly any vehicles on the bridge and he attempted to turn around by the retractor span area, where there are no rails, to retrieve the bag.

“While he trying to turn, I turn to the guy who was in the vehicle with me and said, watch wah going on hey.” By the time I say that, the man back wheel went over and was overboard he reach,” Henry explained.

He recalled that he stopped his vehicle and ran towards the area where the truck went off but of course, there wasn’t anything he could have done since the vehicle was already going under the water.

”I started shouting for help, and like five minutes after I see he (truck driver) come out from under the water and he was holding onto a wire and he said that his wife alone in the Canter,” the eyewitness said.

GOVT. MUST BE OPEN TO TALKS ON AMAILA FALLS PROJECT OR ELSE… JAGDEO WARNS Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo continues to disagree with the new Government’s perception that the Amaila Falls Hydro Project is not only an unsustainable and troubled developmental project, but one that has failed before it even gets off the ground.

In fact, Jagdeo said that he is willing to help the government in understanding the project, one in which he and his colleagues truly believe would have been one of the hallmarks of the then PPP government had it not been curtailed by the APNU+AFC. But should government fail to accept the former President’s invitations to talks, then he plans to take a next course of action.

He will take facts about the project to the people in hopes that the veil would be removed from their eyes, and the project’s potential for greatness would be as clear as day.

Jagdeo recalled that in August 2013, the then Opposition refused to support a national consensus on the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, despite years of hard work by successive PPP/C Governments in collaboration with international partners.

He said that the APNU+AFC government’s position on Amaila Falls was summarised during the debate on the 2015 Budget when Finance Minister Winston Jordan stood before the National Assembly and declared that to proceed with the Amaila Falls project would be “a downright criminal act of deception”.

The Minister had said that the Government’s “investigations” had revealed that GPL would be required to make annual payments amounting to US$130 million to the operators of the hydro facility, payments which will total US$2.6 billion over 20 years.

He had said, too, that the Government’s plans to not proceed with Amaila Falls were “strongly supported by the experts at the Inter-American Development Bank, who had considered the project to be too risky to attract the Bank’s financing.”

TUESDAY EDITION ATTACK ONAMERICA STREET… TWO REMANDED Days after gunmen ambushed and robbed America Street money changers, two men appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday, following the institution of armed

robbery charges.

The men, Troy Abrams, and Anthony Primo, 29, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who are known to the police, are facing two counts of armed robbery. They were remanded to prison until December 11.

Primo is no stranger to the courts. He was charged before for several serious offences including drug possession, firearm and ammunition possession and armed robbery.

They are accused of robbing money changers, Rayburn Fraser and Osafo Ward, at gunpoint on November 3, at America Street, Georgetown.

It is alleged that they robbed Fraser of $520,000, US$3000, TT$2,000 and SRD$2000 all totalling $1.6M. They were also accused of robbing Warde of $400,000 and US$700.

The men were not required to plead to the charges read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

According to reports, about 10 gunmen attired in black, robbed and terrorized the money changers on the night of Tuesday November 3. It was reported that the bandits arrived on Honda CG motorcycles and in a car.

The gunmen fired several shots, but luckily no one was injured. In the end, they carted off cash and jewellery. Several AK-47, M70 and 9mm spent shells were recovered from the crime scene.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, objected to the men being granted pre-trial liberty citing the gravity of the charges and the penalty attached to the offences.

The court was told that four witnesses are slated to testify in the matter.

Abrams and Primo requested a speedy trial and told the Magistrate they have an alibi.

Abrams claimed that at the time of the robber(y he was with his sister watching televiof

sion. The accused also alleged that they were not placed on a proper identification (ID) parade.

Mahaicony heist suspect charged with murder, armed robberies After six months on the run, a West Ruimveldt man who was wanted for the murder of Linden businesswoman, Shevon Gordon, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court Monday, charged with the woman’s murder.

Interestingly, he had not been captured for the murder, but instead a spate of robberies committed at a Mahaicony Supermarket.

He was also charged in relation to the robberies.

The man Stafarei Hopkinson Alexander, 33, (Continue on page 33)

Sunday November 15, 2015

(From page 32) Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the six charges.

He had no legal representation.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that on April 4, last, at Lot 125 One Mile, Linden, Hopkinson murdered Gordon during a robbery.

According to reports, a group of armed men confronted Gordon, who had just disembarked her Canter truck in front of her home.

The men demanded that the woman hand over a bag she was carrying. The businesswoman was shot while struggling to maintain possession of her bag.

Three men were charged back in May with Gordon’s murder. Robin Maxwell Thomas, 22, of Lot 20 West Ruimveldt Georgetown; Adoni Bowen, 26, of Lot 20 Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden; and Anthony Primo, 29, of Lot 156 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, are currently on remand for the crime.

Hopkinson was remanded to prison for this charge until November 25, when he will appear at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

He was accused of robbing four persons namely Jasoda Singh, Narine Singh, businesswoman Lakeranie Singh and Natasha Bobb at gunpoint on November 4, at La Raisonable, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

The court heard that Hopkinson allegedly robbed Lakeranie Singh of one Toyota IST, $300,000 in cash, a quantity of gold and artificial jewellery, a quantity of phone cards, among other items all totalling $4,367,300. He was also accused of robbing Narine of a Samsung phone, US$300, a wallet and $9,000 cash-total value of $184,000.

It was further alleged that he robbed Bobb of two gold rings, $80 cash and a Nokia cell phone. And finally Hopkinson allegedly robbed Jasoda of a BLU phone, a bag and $3000 cash - a total of $19,000.

WEDNESDAY EDITION GOVT. MAKES NO EFFORT TO RECOVER $27M FROM FORMER GPL DEPUTY CEO – DPP HAS NO SUCH FILE, NO REPORT MADE It was in July 2015, that Government first made the shocking announcement that two top Guyana Power and Light (GPL) executives – former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aeshwar Deonarine and Director Carvil Duncan – had paid themselves some $28M in back pay they felt they deserved.

In August it had also been reported that Deonarine, who had left the jurisdiction, had requested time to repay the money, as it had been transferred to his personal bank account(s) in the United States.

Since that disclosure, however, the case against Deonarine appears to be in limbo. Efforts by this publication to verify the whereabouts of the file detailing his transgressions, on Monday revealed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has not received the file, nor has a formal police complaint been made.

This is in stark contrast to reports carried in sections of the media that the DPP Chambers has the file in its possession. Efforts by Kaieteur News to speak to Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, on Monday were futile. Through auxiliary staff, this publication was referred to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan.

The discovery of the suspicious monetary transfers was made by independent auditors who were probing the PetroCaribe Fund, which held proceeds of oil shipments taken

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lying in my bed then I feel a heavy, heavy heat, and when I look through the door all I see was sheer black smoke.”

FRIDAY EDITION BERBICE BRIDGE COMPANY “SET TO LOWER TOLLS”

Director, Carvil Duncan and Deputy CEO, Aeshwar Deonarine from neighbouring Venezuela. Some of the monies were used to buy Wartsila engines for GPL, among other things.

It was while tracking payments from the fund to GPL that auditors unearthed the unusual transactions. Deonarine reportedly signed off on payments to himself totaling $27M from the fund. Duncan received some $948,000.

Deonarine was sent on administrative leave and subsequently left the country. The reason for the Executives taking it upon themselves to pay each other, stems from the fact that there are two Deputy Chief Executive Officers in GPL – one for administration and one for operations. Deonarine was responsible for administration.

Deonarine is reported to have wanted to receive the same level of pay as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Technical), Colin Welch, but his approaches to the Board of Directors were rebuffed.

ANOTHER FASCINATING SPECTACLE FOR DIWALI Thousands flocked to the Kitty seawall in Georgetown and along the customary route Tuesday evening to witness yet another fascinating spectacle provided by the annual Diwali motorcade.

Just over two dozen floats, of various sizes and colourfully illuminated, made their way along the route via motor car, trucks and buses showcasing stunning depictions of Goddess of light Maha Lakshmi and other deities.

The overarching theme was the message of the stories of light prevailing over darkness and the resulting thrill was palpable for those gathered, especially children. Adding to the excitement were the many explosive sounds emanating from firecrackers, that many opined were appropriate to drive away evil forces.

THURSDAY EDITION GOVT. PREPARED TO SELL MARRIOTT HOTEL – FINANCE MINISTER If the price is right, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, Government would be willing to rid itself of the controversial Marriott Hotel located in Kingston, Georgetown.

Jordan was asked to provide an update on what Government has decided to do with the Hotel it inherited from the previous regime.

He recalled that the government has made it clear on several occasions that it has no intentions of being competitively involved in the hotel industry.

When asked about the possibility of Gov-

ernment selling the hotel, Jordan responded, “Let me put it this way, if Government gets a credible offer or buyer, it will divest itself of the hotel.”

The Finance Minister said that Cabinet has established a subcommittee that is looking at the issue and the best way of relieving the government of any responsibility in owning the hotel.

He noted that the Committee includes members such as Business Minster, Dominic Gaskin and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma.

The Finance Minister reiterated, “Government is determined not to own the hotel.”

Minister of Tourism, Cathy Hughes had, early on, made it clear that Government does not want to be in the business of owning and operating hotels.

The US$60M Marriot Hotel was met with much contention by the then Opposition bloc A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), when it was being constructed under the previous regime.

The project had been criticized for lacking transparency.

WANTED MAN KILLED…TRIGGER MAN’S HOUSE TORCHED IN BAGOTSTOWN A three-year-old feud over a woman, and other gang-related issues have left one Norton Street, Bagotstown family homeless and another in fear and mourning for a man wanted by police for murder.

Just after 12:15 hrs Wednesday, 34 Norton Street, Bagotstown went up in flames. This incident occurred hours after one of its occupants, Anthony Trim, was identified as the trigger man who shot and killed Jermaine Roberts, 24, just outside his gate. The police identified the victim as Jermaine Simon called ‘Lapsy’ of Lot 41 Norton Street, Bagotstown, EBD. He was wanted by the police as the killer of Ryan Sooklall on March 1, 2015, at Providence, EBD. According to reports, he and Sooklall had a falling out that saw Sooklall shooting up his home. The next day he visited Sooklall and killed him.

Roberts (Simon) and Anthony Trim/ Amsterdam (Soulgee) were said to have been friends who became long time rivals over a woman.

At the time of the fire, Trim’s 39-year-old brother, Marlon, and two of his children were at home.

He lived in the top flat while his little brother Anthony lived in the bottom flat. The distraught man recounted, “I went upstairs with my two daughters’ (aged 9 and 6). I was

After much resistance and posturing, the coalition government and the owners of the Berbice River Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) will soon sign an agreement to lower the bridge tolls. This is according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.

Reaching to this point was surely not a walk in the park, Patterson said. He recalled the challenges faced in the beginning when government announced its plans to have the tolls reduced. But the Berbice Bridge Company had objected to it, leaving government with no option but to implement River Taxis.

The River Taxis were used by hundreds of Berbicians and the undertaking was deemed a success.

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman was the first government official to indicate to the media last week that despite the troubles between the two parties, there seemed to be some light at the end of the tunnel. He noted that government has finally reached a place where it can be at the table with the dominant players in fruitful discussions as opposed to what existed before.

Finance Minister Winton Jordan supported his colleague’s position on the matter.

In an invited comment he said, “I believe that we have come to an understanding as it relates to the lowering of the fares. Of course, the devil is always in the detail as to how you implement it, but at the moment, the matter is in the hands of Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams, and Patterson.”

He added, “As you know, the Public Infrastructure Minister is the one with responsibility for the bridge arrangements, but I approve payments…”

Patterson said Thursday that both parties have agreed to have the tolls lowered, and as such government has crafted an agreement which first has to be approved by the AG, after which, it will be sent to the Berbice Bridge Company for perusal, signed by both parties, and then implemented.

FORMER GPL DEPUTY GOES TO COURT TO DEFEND $28M BACK PAY More than three months after accusing a deputy head of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) of giving himself $28M in back pay, Government is facing legal hurdles in recovering the monies.

Aeshwar Deonarine, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL, was sent on administrative leave late July after an audit of the PetroCaribe Fund raised questions about the payments.

Explaining, Minister David Patterson during a press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency on July 22nd had said that there are two Deputy CEO in GPL- one for administration and one for operations. Deonarine was responsible for administration.

The Minister reportedly said that Deonarine had applied for the same level of pay as the Deputy CEO (Technical), Colin Welch, but his approaches to the Board of Directors were rebuffed.

The payments to himself, representing back pay for the period January 2013 to June 2015, were reportedly made between May and June, shortly after the new Government took office. The payments were allegedly counter (Continued on page 34)

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(From page 33) signed by Carvil Duncan, a Director who was also accused of signing off on $948,000 in payments to himself.

Earlier this week, Kaieteur News reported that efforts by Government to recover the millions appear to be at a standstill.

Deonarine has reportedly transferred the monies to an overseas account and is said to be out of the country.

In a letter Thursday to this newspaper, Deonarine’s lawyer, Murseline Bacchus, insisted that his client did not pay himself any money. “He was entitled to that sum, as his salary was lawfully increased retroactively by those concerned of GPL.” HARBOUR BRIDGE TRAGEDY…$1M BAIL FOR HUSBAND ON CAUSING DEATH CHARGE Twenty-six year-old, Dhanram Ramdeo Ramlall was on Thursday granted bail in the sum of $1M by City Magistrate Judy Latchman, for allegedly causing the death of his wife Gangadai Persaud, by dangerous driving.

Ramlall, of 4210 Tuchen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, denied the allegation which stated that on November 8, at the Demerara Harbour Bridge, he drove motor vehicle GEE 4540, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Persaud.

He will return to court on November 30, for statements in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Attorney Sandil Kissoon made an application on behalf of the defendant for bail. The Attorney asked the Magistrate to grant his client bail in order for him to pay his final respects to his wife, who was laid to rest Thursday. Kissoon told the Magistrate that Ramlall is not a flight risk.

The Attorney also promised the court that the defendant will be present for all court hearings. Further, the lawyer argued that contrary to reports in the media, they were no eyewitnesses at the scene of the incident.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Shellon Daniels in relating the facts of the matter, said that Ramlall was driving at a fast rate when he lost control of the vehicle at the retractor span on the bridge.

STRANDED ARAPAIMA RESCUED FROM DRYING POND – IWOKRAMA Two adult and 25 juvenile Arapaima were safely moved from a drying pond located upstream the Essequibo River from the Iwokrama River Lodge.

According to Iwokrama, a dedicated team of staffers and community residents spent Tuesday carefully transferring the fish to the river body.

Iwokrama said that its management was informed of the stranded Arapaima earlier this month by officials from the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA).

SATURDAY EDITION BLOODBATH IN PARIS - AT LEAST 127 DEAD IN SERIES OF TERROR ATTACKS A series of coordinated terror attacks across Paris on Friday evening left 127 dead and paralysed the French capital with fear.

On Saturday, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deadly, unprecedented assault that President Francois Hollande said amounted to an act of war against France.

In the worst attack, a Paris city hall official said four gunmen systematically slaughtered at least 87 young people at a rock concert at the Bataclan concert hall before anti-terrorist commandos launched an assault on the building.

Dozens of survivors were rescued, and bodies were still being recovered on Saturday morning.

Some 40 more people were killed in five other attacks in the Paris region, the official said, including an apparent double suicide bombing outside the Stade de France national stadium, where Hollande and the German foreign minister were watching a friendly soccer international.

The assaults came as France, a founder member of the U.S.-led coalition waging air strikes against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, was on high alert for terrorist

attacks.

It was the worst such attack in Europe since the Madrid train bombings of 2004, in which 191 died.

A French government source told Reuters there were 127 dead, 67 in critical condition and 116 wounded. Six attackers blew themselves up and one was shot by police. There may have been an eighth attacker, but this has not been confirmed.

The attacks, in which automatic weapons and explosives belts were used, lasted 40 minutes.

STATE OFEMERGENCY After being whisked from the stadium near the blasts, Hollande declared a national state of emergency, the first since World War Two. Border controls were temporarily reimposed to stop perpetrators escaping.

Local sports events were suspended, the rock band U2 canceled a concert, the Paris metro railway was closed and schools, universities and municipal buildings were ordered to stay shut on Saturday.

However some rail and air services were expected to run.

French newspapers spoke of “carnage” and “horror”. Le Figaro’s headline said: “War in the heart of Paris” on a black background with a picture of people on stretchers.

HIGHALERT France has been on high alert ever since the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and a kosher supermarket in Paris in January killed 18 people.

U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel led a global chorus of solidarity with France. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the “despicable attacks” while Pope Francis called the killings “inhuman”.

Italy, Russia, Belgium and Hungary all tightened security measures.

Poland, meanwhile, said that the attacks meant it could not now take its share of migrants under a European Union plan. Many of the migrants currently flooding into Europe are refugees from Syria.

CRIME NOT SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL, SAYS BLANHUM – SLAMS ‘ABSURD’ MEDIA COMPARISONS TO ‘CRIME WAVE’ ERA ‘Absurd’ was the way that Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Friday described some media reports which suggested that Guyana’s crime rate is out of control and that is reminiscent of the bloody 2002 period of brazen killings and kidnappings.

Blanhum produced figures to show that the crime rate has fallen from nine percent to eight percent during his tenure. He expressed optimism that serious crimes could drop further.

The Crime Chief made these observations at the Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Road, Eve Leary, while unveiling the Force’s security plans for the Christmas season.

Noticeably absent was Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, who is overseas. Only a few members of the private sector attended.

Figures released by Blanhum for the period 2006 to 2015 show that there were 135 murders in 2006; 99 murders in 2007; 135 the following year; 97 in 2009; 115 in 2010; 108 in 2013; 121 in 2014; and 126 for this year.

He noted that there have been 477 fewer serious crimes this year than in 2006.

“During 2015, in June, when I took over as Crime Chief, we had a 13 percent increase in serious crimes…and despite being bombarded by some sections of the media, we have still managed to bring the figures down from 13 percent to eight percent,” Blanhum said.

“And hadn’t we done anything, as some persons are trying to portray, we would have been by now at a 20 percent increase in serious crimes.

“So we had the figures hovering between eight and 13 per cent, and we have managed to bring it down to eight percent. We envisage that by the end of this period, with the Christmas policing initiatives, we should bring it down to at least a minus one percent increase.”

“All those headlines that we are bombarded with that crime is spiraling out of control, and nothing is being done, and that we lack the capacity to effectively deal with serious offences, is nothing short of absurd.”

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Poverty fuels teenage pregnancy

By Jeanna Pearson She listened to the sound of laughter drifting down the street. School was over; and her three brothers had not yet returned from the shop.

Inside the old shack they called home, she was still sprawled across the bed, her skirt clenched tightly in her hands as she tried to come to grips with what had just happened—she was raped.

Not by a stranger; not even by a cousin but by man she called daddy.

Mellissa (not her real name) was nine years old when she was first raped by her step-father. It was her first sexual encounter, one that stretched on for a period of years.

Living in a small shack with little food and a mother who was hardly home, Mellissa had no one to tell.

Soon she was failing school.

Most of her time was spent “liming” on the road.

“I remember him coming into the bedroom. He just send my brothers to buy sweetie. He said something about wanting to sex me. I didn’t know what sex was until he was on top of me. I knew it was wrong and I told him to stop…I even fight him but all he said was ‘just now.

I gon done just now!’”

“I remember every time after that. I told no one. Not even my mother. I was scared and I was angry. Every time he touched me I hated him more and more. Eventually I stopped begging him to stop and I just ignored him as he did what he had to do,” she said.

Mellissa’s father was the sole bread-winner. With her mother unemployed, he called the shots. Many days they didn’t go to school.

There were many days when they wouldn’t know when their next meal was going to come from.

At 11 years old she was taken away from her parents and placed in a children’s home. Her case worker was the first person to hear her story. “When I told her what he had done to me she said I couldn’t go home. But

although I hated my stepfather I wanted to be home with my mother,” she said, recalling that she used to save all her money to escape.

“I would get away and go right back home. And when I did he would rape me again and again,” she said dejectedly.

“I can’t remember the number of times I ran away.

But after a while I didn’t want to go home. I found the streets to be better. One of my friends introduced me to life on the streets. She would get me hooked up with other friends and they would take me out and buy drinks and food. But afterwards they would carry me to a hotel, gimme money and tell me what they want me do to them,” she stated.

Mellissa was 14 years-old when she was introduced to prostitution by another teenage girl. “Guess I got tired of people saying every time I run back home that I like it. Nobody likes being screwed by their own father.

Show me one person I would say they lying.”

At 17-years-old, Mellissa got pregnant. Now, she lives in fear that she might be HIV positive.

“Thinking about it makes me frighten. I think that if I don’t take the tablets I would get fine and then I would die.

Then who would take care of my baby? I don’t have anyone. I won’t know if he will be okay…or what will happen to him.”

Mellissa was a prostitute for four years, up until she got pregnant.

“I didn’t trust any other way out. People say get an education but getting an education is not that easy. It’s just like getting work. Hard...I don’t have any CXC or proper grades in school to get a nice job. And I don’t want to go back to the streets so I beg for me and my son,” she said.

“I’m not proud to say it but there isn’t any way out. I feel shame doing what I do but it’s better than getting sex with different men,” she added.

Child Counsellor Abbigale Loncke told

- not the other way around Kaieteur News that there are many talks that if a teen gets pregnant she becomes poor.

She said that while teen childbearing does put pressure on a girl’s socioeconomic status, it does not necessarily conclude to poverty.

“Most of the time these girls are already a part of the poorer population, living in depressed communities, with four to six siblings. There isn’t a chance for an education and most times there isn’t money to send them to school,” she said.

She said research has consistently revealed that teen childbearing itself has minute impact on a young woman’s economic future.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of the World Population 2013 report said that impoverished, uneducated girls living in rural areas are more likely to become pregnant than other girls who are educated and wealthy.

Loncke stated that while there is an incessant need to curb teenage pregnancy in Guyana, the relevant authorities need to first look at the underlying areas that cause this dilemma. “And poverty is at the top, along with a lack of sexual education and school drop-outs,” she said.

These three factors strip the teenage girl of knowledge, leaving her exposed to making dangerous choices.

With Guyana ranking second in the Caribbean and South America for teenage pregnancy it is no surprised that an estimated 43% of its population falls below the poverty line.

Loncke said these teens have no sort of exposure to contraceptives and sexual education. “Poverty and oppression is all they know.

And most of them when they leave the children homes don’t have anywhere else to go so they often end up

doing what they did before.”

Loncke explained that since most of these girls are looking for a “daddy figure” in their lives they cling to any man that gives them attention— which poses a great risk for pregnancy and sometimes repeated pregnancies.

“These girls need the support of schools and counselors. They need to know what would happen if they have unprotected sex; what a contraceptive is and how to use it; they need to know that when a man tells them that they are allergic to condoms or it don’t feel as good as it is bare, it is a trick.”

She said Guyana needs to stop saying that “these young girls cause this on themselves” and address the issues of poverty and sex education and reproductive health in schools and at home.

“Or else we will end up with a burden on the social system,’ she added.

“We don’t need to change who they are. We need to offer them a safe haven…someplace where they can receive support for themselves and their babies,” Loncke said.

She added it was a cultural norm for parents to skirt questions about sex with their children and it is dangerous since it leaves them learn about it through the internet. “We need to break this taboo and stop letting the internet teach our children about sex. A lot of these young girls are emotionally caught up in a cloud about sex and we got to get them before they get on that cloud with a guy,” she said.

Loncke recalled a young teen in one of the children’s homes who came from a depressed family. The girl’s mother was a prostitute and the teen would be left to

wander the streets until she was picked up by the Child Care and Protection Agency.

This teen, she said, ran away from the children’s home. “She said that she wanted to be like her mother.

Her mother died on the streets while she became a prostitute. Now she is pregnant and has no proper health care or job to support her baby. This proves that their minds are conditioned to poverty…and whatever they were exposed to.”

Mellissa said that it was hard for her to put the rape and prostitution behind her.

“I saw so much when I was young. I can’t remember how many men I had sex with and I regret it all,” she said.

UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin said it perfectly: “the reality is that adolescent pregnancy is most often not the result of a deliberate choice, but rather the absence of choices, and of circumstances beyond a girl’s control.”

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50 community groups help kick-off City Hall cleaning initiative The Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown have embarked on a Community Stallholders Approach to help advance the cleaning initiative in the City through fifty community groups.

The communities benefitting from this exercise that got underway yesterday are Werk-en-Rust, Wortmanville, Kitty, Campbellville, Lamaha Gardens, North Sophia, Newtown, Tucville, Stevedore Housing Scheme, South Ruimveldt Park and Gardens, North Ruimveldt, Festival City, West Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, Laing Avenue, Guyhoc Park, Century Palm Gardens, Albouystown, Charlestown, Bel Air Gardens, Atlantic Ville, Lodge Housing Scheme, Subryanville.

According to City Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis, the Council would be entering into a six-week contractual arrangement with the community groups; the contract agreement also has a three-month maintenance clause.

The groups are required to clean and desilt alleyways drains, interlocking drains and alleyways. Desilting of main canals in these areas

would be done directly by the City Council.

The workers of the groups would be provided with protective clothing; hand gloves, respirators, dust masks and tools needed.

The Council would provide 50 per cent of the protective clothing and tools required, while the leaders of the various groups are expected to provide the other half of the equipment and protective clothing.

Also, all employees who are likely to be a part of the programme are expected to have their tetanus vaccine. In addition, the Council would be employing eight clerks of work, who would be deployed to different location where works are ongoing to inspect the works done by these groups.

The Municipality expects quality work for monies expended.

The Community stakeholder’s initiative has a social and an economic component; it provides employment for community members and it renews the level of environmental consciousness in the various communities.

Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green, speaking directly to the Community

group leaders and their members said the Council is working assiduously to transform every ward in the City but, this can only be possible if every person becomes involved.

He added that the Council does not have all the requisite manpower to effectively address the cleaning needs of the City so it is imperative that the community participation be sought.

He said the “Council cannot attain its objective of making Georgetown the cleanest city in the Caribbean without the involvement of all of its stakeholders.”

Also, the Council has established a tender Board committee; the committee consists of Senior Officers and Councillors and is chaired by Mayor Hamilton Green.

The main focus of the Board is to ensure, accountability and transparency is the awarding contract.

Town Clerk Royston King noted that each contract should contain a penalty clause and retention of fees.

Mayor Green at a recent meeting with committee members said that contracts should have a proper

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

West La Penitence residents during a recent community cleanup campaign. description of the items required or services to be provided. He noted that there

must be proper estimates done, by a credible organization. The Mayor said

“it is important that the committee operates above reproach.”

Language lapses and Guyanese...

From page 38 prostrate and prostate, be able to say specific instead of 'pecific, and pronounce Ruimveldt without suggesting an intoxicating beverage.

(Incidentally I wonder how Mr. Odinga Lumumba feels about hearing his name pronounced 'Lubumba' especially as the last two syllables have such crass connotations) I often wonder why most of us have a distinct reluctance to enunciate in Standard English, words with the 'ow-n' sound like brown, town and ground instead of the ugly 'ung' we have grown so fond of. It may sound a bit affected, (you're putting on airs?) but it is Standard English.

And what's so wrong about pronouncing the 'ing' sound in words like playing and singing as opposed to playin' and singin'. There's also 'strimps' for shrimps 'colay-tion' for coalition, 'cyumyu-nity' for community 'coorporation' for corporation, 're-cyute' for recruit, and (such a list would be woefully incomplete without it) the ubiquitous 'aaks' for ask.

There are probably hundreds more.

A tricky one is the use of the rare 'incidences' (rates of occurrence) instead of incidents (events). Tricky because you could mean almost the same thing for ex-

ample by the phrases 'Incidents of child abuse' and 'incidence/s of child abuse'.

Oh the confusion! As a child I was taught how to correctly pronounce those pesky 'th' words, with tongue firmly wedged between teeth. I was in my thirties before I figured out that Thomas, Thailand and thyme vulgarly broke that 'rule'.

And why, pray, does the letter cluster 'ough' have at least six distinct pronunciations – as in through, though, bough, bought, rough, and cough. More 'frawstration'!

Imagine a little one, well-tutored and phoneticallytrained, having to figure out how and why 'colonel' is pronounced kernel.

Since English is such a weird language, we shouldn't feel too badly about some of the linguistic lapses we experience. It's a worldwide phenomenon. And some of the guttural emanations or nasal twangs I've heard, from Europe to Australia, can sound more offensive and jarring than our often melodious misutterances. For example, hearing some Germans pronounce the word eight in their Deutsch tongue sounds very much like that ugly 'hawking' sound we make before we spit out a particularly irritating bit of mucous.

In my childhood and young adulthood I was caught up with the way our

radio broadcasters and commentators spoke, in pronunciation, enunciation (there is a slight difference) and fluency.

Those were the days of Pat Cameron, Hugh Cholmondeley, Matthew Allen, Rafiq Khan, Ron Robinson, Vic Insanally, and later, Rovin Deodat, James Sydney, Phyllis Jackson, Maggie Lawrence, Alwyn Alleyne and Bibi Narine among others. It may be a good thing, if it isn't already being done, for some of our younger broadcasters (and public figures) to listen to tapes of these elocution masters.

Children, I think, should be taught by their parents to speak/learn straightforward, grammatically-correct English from about age two. I taught for over 30 years, and I can tell you it makes a world of difference in their later school life, and career. Reading and comprehension are keys to the mastery of every subject in every sphere of activity, anywhere in the world.

In a country like Guyana, faced as we are with a host of seemingly intractable educational and social problems among our youths, it will go a long way toward creating more well-rounded, self-confident, and articulate speakers. And of course, better broadcasters.

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River dredge ordered to cease operations near Amerindian village Government has ordered a river dredge to cease operations in Region Eight amidst concerns from the Amerindian village of Isseneru.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the action was taken after concerns and complaints from the Toshao and representatives of the village. “…Minister of Governance, with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, has directed that mining works cease by the operator of a water dredge in the area,” a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency said last evening.

The village has been complaining in the media, recently, that its water and food supply, from the nearby

Minister Raphael Trotman river, was under threat.

The cease order is effective immediately, pending a fact-finding mission to be conducted by the Ministry in the area on Wednesday coming.

The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment will be fielding

a team of relevant authorities and stakeholders to assess the water quality and other issues and concerns related to pollution and adherence to boundary laws.

“This will allow for a final decision to be taken in this matter. Village leaders of Isseneru have publicly raised a number of concerns on the health and wellbeing of residents, especially the children, since a number of mining concessions are being operated in close proximity to their village.”

The statement disclosed that Government has undertaken the task of addressing the issue of land management and the distribution of lands for varying sectors in a holistic manner with the intention of creating a National Land Use Policy to avoid these occurrences.

In January 2013, in a

Region Three NGO helping to tackle diabetes with awareness

Guyana joined the rest of the world yesterday to celebrate World Diabetes Day which is celebrated annually on November 14.

While there were not too many activities to mark the day there was however a walk from the Square of the Revolution to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

But Government, through its Health Ministry, cannot work alone to tackle the chronic disease which has claimed the lives of too many.

Moreover, the Region Three Health and Wellness Club has been among those organizations that have been lending support through awareness.

According to Nutritionist attached to the Club, Ms. Norma Howard, healthy eating for persons living with diabetes does not only relate to portion control but using a variety of healthy foods daily is crucial.

She outlined that a day’s meal should include a variety of different foods from the six food groups namely – Staple Foods; Peas and Beans; Dark Green Leafy and Yellow Vegetables; Fruits; Foods from Animals; Fats and Substitute.

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body cannot use the glucose in the blood. Glucose, a form of sugar, is produced in the body mainly from starchy food that is eaten. Glucose is therefore the main fuel store in the blood that is made available for the cells in the body to take in and use, or store to be used later for energy.

Insulin, which is produced by a gland called the pancreas, must be present in the blood stream for the cells in the body to take in glucose.

In persons who are not affected by diabetes the pancreas produces the right amount of insulin in relation to blood glucose (sugar) levels to enable glucose to enter the cells.

However, in people living with diabetes the pancreas does not function properly and the following can occur: the pancreas does not produce any insulin at all – type 1 diabetes mellitus; or the insulin produced cannot help the cells to take in glucose for energy – type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Howard observed that there are certain important

factors that persons with diabetes must be aware of when preparing their meals.

Among these, she noted, is that high fibre foods such as barley oats, brown rice, dried peas and beans, vegetables and fruits can help to keep people with diabetes satisfied (full) while at the same time helping to control their blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

Howard also advises that there must be less use of fats and oils in food preparation.

“Some examples are using less butter or margarine on your bread or biscuit, using less fat to make your roti,” explained the Nutritionist.

She also stressed the importance of low-fat foods in meals, adding that the use of a slice of fruit or glass of unsweetened fruit juice can be used at snack time instead of chips or very high-fat foods.

Of course the use of less sugary foods such as sweet drinks, cakes and sweets is important to the diabetic said Howard, who added that “When sugary foods are allowed ensure that only small portions are used. For example two small sweet biscuits; a thin slice of cake; a half cup (using a measuring cup) of ice cream is just enough.”

Howard however cautioned that these foods should only be used when the diabetic’s blood sugar is not high or is controlled.

Another important factor outlined by Howard is that diabetics should seek to cut down on their salt intake. She noted that flavour and taste could be added to foods by using herbs, natural Continued on page 71

landmark court ruling, villagers of Isseneru, a Middle Mazaruni village, lost a case concerning their right to prevent commercial miners from “invading the grounds of our forefathers.”

Justice Diana Insanally

ruled that under the Amerindian Act 2006, the Amerindians, second defendants in the land dispute matter, have no authority or jurisdiction to prevent licenced miners from doing so.

The GGMC was also told by the court that it too, under the Act, has no right to prevent or cease mining works without the proper footing.

The matter of the Isseneru Continued on page 71

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ORAL CANCER

By Dr. NerominiFagu Most people have heard of cancer affecting parts of the body such as the lungs or breasts. However, cancer can also occur in the mouth where the disease can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. It is called oral cancer.

Oral cancer is more common in people over 40, especially men. However, recent research has shown that it is occurring more often in younger persons and in women. There are more than 640,000 cases of oral cancer diagnosed each year worldwide and it is the eleventh most common cancer.

There are a number of risk factors for the development of oral cancer.

Smoking: Cigarette, cigar or pipe smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.

Smokeless tobacco users are 50 times more likely to develop cancers of the cheek, gums, and lining of the lips.

Excessive consumption of alcohol: Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in nondrinkers. And if tobacco and alcohol are taken together the risk increases 15 fold.

Genetics: Family history might indicate a risk for cancer.

Excessive sun exposure: Especially at a young age, this can increase the risk of lip cancer.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): Many recent reports have linked oral cancer to HPV, which is the main cause of cervical cancer in women.

Cancers of the mouth can appear as a painless ulcer that does not heal normally. It can be on the tongue, gums, or throat. A white or red patch in the mouth can also develop into a cancer. Be aware of any unusual lumps in your mouth or jaw area, and any persistent hoarseness or a feeling that something is caught in the throat.

Difficulty moving the

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood.

tongue or jaw or numbness of the tongue and other areas of the mouth may also indicate a problem. Swellings of the jaw that cause discomfort, or cause dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable, will need to be looked at. Any of these conditions which do not clear up within a two week period on its own, with or without treatment, should be considered suspect and need further examination by your dentist or doctor.

Dentists are trained to look for signs of oral cancer.

Your dentist is your first line of defence against the disease. You may not know you have early stage oral cancer because it often causes no obvious symptoms or discomfort.

During your regular check-up or cleaning your dentist can perform a painless oral cancer exam.They are able to see parts of your mouth that you cannot. Cancer of the mouth is most successfully treated when it is found early in the course of the disease.

The treatment of your oral cancer will depend on the stage and location as well as your overall health. The stages of oral cancer are

given in Roman numerals I through IV with stage I being a smaller cancer and IV a larger tumour or one that has spread to other areas.

Oral cancer is treated the same way that many other cancers are treated — with surgery to remove the cancerous growth, followed by radiation therapy and/ or chemotherapy (drug treatments) to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

You can take an active role in detecting oral cancer early, should it occur, by doing the following: · Conduct a self-exam at least once a month. Using a bright light and a mirror, look and feel your lips and gums, check the roof of your mouth and the lining of your cheeks.

Pull out your tongue and look at all surfaces; examine the floor of your mouth. Look at the back of your throat. If you have any abnormal findings consult with your dentist or

doctor. · See your dentist on a regular schedule. Even though you may be conducting frequent selfexams, sometimes dangerous spots or sores in the mouth can be very tiny and difficult to see on your own. During your next dental appointment, ask your dentist to perform an oral exam. Early detection can improve the chance of successful treatment.

Most oral cancers could be prevented by quitting tobacco and limiting alcohol consumption, even after many years of use. It is now commonplace to get a Pap smear for cervical cancer, a mammogram to check for breast cancer, or PSA and digital rectal exams for prostate cancer. These screening efforts help to catch cancers in their earliest forms. Oral cancer is no different and the screening

Dr. Neromini Fagu procedures involve no discomfort or pain. It is important to realize that a visit to the dentist is no longer just about a filling, extraction or overdue cleaning.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, GeorgetownTel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

Tips for purchasing electrical appliances this Christmas Christmas is usually the time when many shoppers decide to add those new pieces of electrical appliances to their homes or replace or upgrade the old ones.The housewife or home-maker seeks to buy that new blender, washing machine or electrical stove while others are interested in that mini music system or smart television for entertainment.

Whomever the buyer, it is very important that he or she chooses carefully when purchasing electrical appliances.

Careful consideration must be placed on the brand and type of appliance needed, the usage for the appliance and after sale services provided by the seller.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) monitors the quality of household electrical appliances imported and offered for sale in Guyana to ensure that they comply with labelling requirements.

These appliances include refrigerators, electric stoves and cookers, televisions, mini music systems, blenders and food processors, toasters, microwaves and fans.

To avoid making purchasing mistakes, consider the following when buying your appliances: Analyze your needs Who will be using the appliance? How often it will be used? What exactly will it be used for etc. and choose accordingly.

Price - Expect to pay more for the more popular brand name appliances, added features and performance and possible workmanship if not adequately covered by a warranty. Some additional gadgets may give the appliance a better look but may be unnecessary for your needs.

Electrical requirements – Ensure that the appliance has the correct voltage (110 or 220 volts). If you purchase any high voltage appliance, you must have a higher voltage electrical line installed. You may require the services of an electrician.

Ensure the appliance has the right cycle (50 Hz, 60 Hz or 50/60 HZ) which may vary depending on the area where you are living.

Remember to check to ensure that the wattage can be accommodated in your home. (Note that higher watts may result in better performance but will require more energy).

Certification Mark: Look for the certification mark at the back of the appliance.

This mark indicates that the product was tested independently in the country of manufacture and has met safety and quality requirements.

Some certification marks include: UL, CE, CSA, NOM, and CCC. GENERAL TIPS 1. In the case of appliances, consider the size of the item and its capacity.

Make sure the item can fit into

the space available in your home.

2. Take into consideration the frequent changes in technology which may render an appliance obsolete or out dated.

3. Buy from stores that offer warranties, good prepurchasing advice and adequate after sale services.

Make sure you know who is responsible for services and repairs – the dealer or manufacturer.

4. Look beyond sales and bargain prices and think quality. A quality appliance may cost just a bit more but will last a lot longer.

5. If you are buying your appliances on hire purchase, make sure you understand the details of your hire purchase agreement. Read the fine print.

6. When you are buying new appliances, it makes good sense to choose models that use the least energy while meeting your needs. It helps the environment and it can save you money too.

7. Ensure that the appliance purchased is working at the store before taking it home.

8. Handle appliances with care; do not misuse them.

Caution: Do not try to install or do any work that should be done by a qualified electrician.

For further information please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190069, 219-0066, 219-0065 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 69

Organisation mulls legal advice over baby’s delivery An organization that has since reached out to the Reliance mother whose baby’s arms were dislocated during birth, has intentions to challenge those involved at the Suddie Public Hospital, legally. Parbattie Ramdat, 29, said that the organization reached out to her after reading her story and is now taking the initiatives to pursue legal action against those involved at the hospital.

Ramdat is maintaining that she needs financial assistance to seek proper medical care for her newborn whose arms were dislocated while doctors attended to her during delivery. Ramdat said that one of the straps from the baby’s arm were removed but her baby’s other arm remains in straps and the unloose arm is not positioned properly.

The frustrated young mother

said that doctors will issue a medical report on November 18. She said that no one from the Suddie Public Hospital has reached out to her and her baby. She is further questioning the caliber of doctors.

Ramdat delivered a 4.72kg baby boy at the Suddie public hospital on October 26.

But despite medical practitioners at both the Anna Regina Health Centre and the Suddie Public Hospital assuring her that they were going to perform a C-section operation on her because the baby was too large, that promise was not fulfilled.

Ramdat however said that doctors told her they didn’t operate on her because she was a diabetic patient.

She has an 11-year-old daughter and she got her son, Arvee Ashook Amernaugth.

(Yannason Duncan)

Once PPP ideas are...

From page 12 outlined many interventions.

But they have been shown total disregard by the government. “Take for example the rice issue. We presented nine recommendations to help the farmers in boosting the industry and safeguarding their livelihood. To date, we have heard nothing in relation to these recommendations from the Government.”

He said that this may be a very good indication of how seriously government would take its proposals for the 2016 budget.

Ali asserted that the PPP has called and will continue to call on Government to deliver to the rice farmers, nurses and teachers and other public servants, what was promised to them in the 100 day-plan.

As for the 2016 budget, the PPP executive member said that his party will lobby for the reinstatement of the “Because we care grant” and the water and light subsidy for old age pensioners. Ali insists that these are matters which must be addressed.

“We will call upon the government to implement all the projects we negotiated with the Indian Government in the US$50 million line of credit inclusive of the IT Centre of Excellence negotiated by the (former) PPP/C Govern-

ment. “The Government must realize by now that they also blundered badly on the Amaila Falls Hydro project and we are convinced that they will have to implement this project if we want to expand our economy.”

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee said that the PPP will also insist that Government aggressively bring back on stream, the Low Carbon Development Strategy and implement the projects and programmes conceptualized under this program.

Ali said that he will lobby the government to ensure that the Amerindian livelihood program be reinstated immediately as well as the reinstatement of the almost 2000 Amerindian youths fired by the coalition Government.

He added, “The Hinterland airstrips that were cut out of the budget by this government must be completed and implemented immediately.”

The former minister said that “confidence cannot be restored with the continuous ethnic purge that is taking place in Public Service. The Loss of professional services and wanton firing of young people and experienced public officials based on political affiliation and ethnicity must be addressed as well.”

Arvee Ashook Amernaugth

Page 70

Kaieteur News

SALON

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

PARTY DECORATING: balloon creation, back drops etc. for weddings, birthdays, anniversary etc. Make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, A/C, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS CALL: 629-4946 OR 225-4822 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Landscaping: Palms, largest varieties of plants, Used in every one of our unique landscapes- Call: 648-1821/ 219-0468 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.com.

Call: 225-6496, 662-6045 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES – CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar LCD-Plasma-LED TV repairs etc.

Contact Abdul Electronics. Call: 225-0391 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission Tours –Call: 6504362 KrossBeaux Enterpises, affordable computer classes, computer repairs, online courier service, websites.

Call: 223-1915; 648-1120 or http://krossbeaux.cu.cc FOR SALE/RENT American Pools table-Call: 277-0578

WANTED Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated and know to cook. Between 25-35 years. Call 1868-683 1528 Experienced general domestic pastry maker/ cake decorator, roti, puri cook, apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street.

One manager to work at a Hotel on the Essequibo Coast- Call: 226-9768; 6156172 1 Cook and 1 assistant wanted to work at a Restaurant in Mahdia. Call: 684-1718 Live in waitress and cleaner, salary $60,000-$70,000 monthly, between age 18-30.

Call: 610-3974 One able body porter; apply at Key Food Trading, Mc Doom Village during working hours.

One property to rent for business, long term, within Soesdyke area. Call: 684-2119 Urgently needed live in waitress- Call: 670-2323 Mechanic Driver 40years & older to work on garbage truck- Contact: 658-3079 Security officers to work shift 8hrs & 12yrs -$3,000 nightly, bouncers -$4,000 nightly, electronic security technician. Call: 231-6052 We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Parfaite Harmonie & Schoonord. Call: 611-7223; 604-2207 4 Waitresses, 1 cook to work at Sports Bar, E.C.D -$17,000 weekly, free accommodation and meals. Call/whatsapp: 661-8802 D r i v e r / Te c h n i c i a n : Physically fit, ages 25-30, Valid Car/Van License.

Contact 223-5142, 227-4480 1 Live in Domestic -$60,000 – Call: 661-8673; 661-5992 Live in couple: good rates/ accommodation. Husband duties: mechanic/ driver/ welder. Persons to draw cones from machines- Call: 227-1830 OFFICE CLERK WITH EXPERIENCE ON COMPUTERS A MUST, BOOK KEEPING AND INVENTORY. FLEXIBLE HOURS. CALL: 231-8529 8AM-3PM 1 New freezer Truck, preferable 3 tons- Contact: Wieting & Richter Ltd. Tel: 226-6150 Attractive live in waitressCall: 228-5129; 604-8277

-Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline.

-Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Affordable salon services: pedi, mani, wash & blowout, facials, etc $2500 each. Vogue @ Kalyan Mall, Lamaha Street- Tel: 647-1773/660-5257 Earn a certificate in cosmetology. Enroll now at Artee’s School of Cosmetology and Beauty Salon-Call: 680-0156; 2750267

Sunday November 15, 2015

VACANCY

PROPERTY FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

Popular East Coast Gas Station Day/Night: pump attendants, sales & office assistant. Contact: 658-2013; 695-9880, Strathspey E.C.D.

Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.

Double lot, one corner land & one adjoining located at Buddy’s Gated Community (Providence) $10.5M. Call: 681-1377; 625-2317

Engineering technician/ intern student, university graduation priority, good salary, to work in CJIA extension project- Call: 6687104, 614-9511 One legal computer clerkPhone 624-7087; 258-0213 Supervisor, Handyman, room attendants- Call: 225-0198 or 233 South Road Lacytown..

One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician – Call: 231-0655

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 2 Bedrooms bottom flat @ West Ruimveldt - $40,000 per month. Call: 692-7194; 6927377 One bedroom apartment @ Diamond – Call: 615-7209 Apartments for rent store space for rent. Call: 681-4275; 231-4432 House in Bel-Air Gardens; 4 bedrooms with all modern convenience. No agents! Call: 231-7839 working hours House in Bel-Air Park: 3 bedrooms upstairs/ downstairs, all modern conveniences $1,600US monthly. Call: 2317839 working hours One four bedroom house @ Grove New Housing Scheme- Call: 643-6049 1-4 Bedrooms upper flat at Herstelling, First Street. Call: 265-3844

WANTED Seafood Plant Procession Supervisor, labourers and Security Guard Attractive salary. Call223- 5180; 2258645 Excavator operator. Call 2235180; 225-8645 Company Secretary, one cashier, an accountant Attractive Salary. Send application via WhatsApp or Instant Messenger to 6975221 Contract Cars and Drivers.

Contact: 227-1720; 227-1721; 660-6102

Urgently needed 8 bar girls to work in Mahdia, preferably with working experience, attractive salary- Call: 6011479 1-Welder/Fabricator. Call: 223-5273/5274 1-Diesdel/Gasoline mechanic: knowledge of Model M, TM trucks, caterpillar excavator, hydraulics and power train & Perkins engine. Call: 2235273/5274 1-Mechanist, must know to operate lathe, milling machine, surface grinder, band saw, etc. Call: 223-5273/ 5274 Immediate vacancy: one hair dresser with atleast two (2) years experienced; attractive package. Contact: 625-3899; 264-0034/Nalini’s Beauty Saloon

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 656-0087 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 PEN PAL Retired male Accountant seeking female between ages 40-55yrs – Tel: 601-5366

House & land @ Lot 412 Powis Street North/ East La penitence – price $8M. Call: 917-593-6902 Charles Robinson, 227-3116 3 Bedroom; 2 flat house for sale, Enterprise, Lincolin Street, Lot 135 -$14M negotiable.

Contact: 597-858-4554 (Suriname), Guyana: 602-3643 1 House situated in Diamond, 1 Land situated in Providence. Call 683-6038 between 3:30pm -9:00p or anytime Saturday & Sunday.

Land @ Lot 1856 Farm, EBD, size: 50X80$2.7M negotiable-Call: 676-5229 Land at farm E.B.D -$3.7M – Call: 667-3771 Parfaite Harmonie (80ftX50ft) -$1.5M & (100ftX50ft fenced & land filled) $3.2M, Lowlands -$1.8M, Tuschen $1.3M. Call: 611-7223; 604-2207

1500 Acres Transported land near Bartica, Forestry, Agriculture, loam, sand rock 4 Bedroom 2 storey house 2 quarry, price to sell. Cal Mark: lot 80’X144’,suitable for 603-1266;625-9788;704-465-2222 residence, school/business, all amenities @Zeeburg 2369.664 Sq/ft of land @ W.C.D. Contact: 277-0024, Victoria village, E.C.D684-6106 $750,000 Call: 255-3437; 698One Church & 1-2 Storey 3678 house at 180 Charlotte Street Bourda. Call: 227-6817; 624- Luxury gated community with pool, mall, swipe entry/ 7341 exit, underground irrigation – 2 Storied transported, Contact: 609-0783 concrete property, fully AC, semi-furnished @ Somerset 1155 Acres of land at East Court. E.B.D 31M neg. Call: Bank Berbice, price 681-1377; 625-2317 negotiable. Call: 612-2060 NO. 7 Village West Coast Formerly Globe Cinema, Berbice, Road Side Property. corner lot @ Church & Price negotiable- Call: 667- Waterloo Street, size 1376 126ftX133ft. Call: 610-2234 2 Storey 45x35 concrete Developed, fenced, bearing property, lower flat fruit trees 40’X144’ @ incomplete- Land 65x120 @ Zeeburg W.C.D. Contact: Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, 277-0024, 684-6106, price E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 negotiable Business place @ Anna Catherina W.C.D Public Road- Call: 661-9880 One 2 storey 5 bedroom concrete and wooden house with two large self contained rooms, well secured –Tel: 6928923 PROPERTY FOR SALE One Roadside, 2 storey Two storied transported house @ V/Hoop, ground concrete property upstairs, floor, in excellent condition 2 bedrooms, downstairs 2 for restaurant or other bedroom, fully grilled block businesses. Call: 692-8923; ‘8’ Mon-Repos, E.C.D 614-0107 $18M. Call: 625-1514; 231Haslington, E.C.D: Building 7255 ‘A’, concrete/ timber modern 2 storeys, 7 bedrooms, grilled & fenced. Building ‘B’, 3 apartments, fenced- $18M negotiable - Call:255-3437; 698-3678 Transported land, 2 storey TOURS building; four bedrooms fully grilled @ Tuschen, New Housing Scheme-Call: 695- Suriname Tour, Shopping, Tours, site seeing November 3983; 685-5747 26th -29th Old years into New Lot 67 First Street Garden of Years December 30th – Eden E.B.D – 7 (seven) acres January 3rd –Call: 639-2663; of land with two buildings. 665-5171 Call: 639-8376 Lot 236 Buzz –A-Bee Dam Tour to Suriname (20-24/ Craig Village E.B.D, Size Nov- $34,000) & Brazil (25-30/ 6X120 rods with house and Nov- $46,000) transportation chicken pens. Call: 639-8376 and accommodation, Booked Between 15th -21st -Call: 660Property @ Mon Repos & 0312; 667-3150 Providence- Call:672-7431, Continued on page 71 615-0725

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 71

River dredge ordered to cease...

From page 70 VEHICLE FOR SALE SALE! SALE! SALE One TOYOTA RZ MINIBUS GJJ series -$1.5Million.

One Econoline FORD 2005 GSSSeries-$1.5M.Call:604-6108 Areostan VAN, perfect condition, magrims etc, 22R Toyota Engine, great consumption. Call: 618-4257 or 644-5959 First Class Auto: 08 Premio, Rush, Bluebird, 06 Premio, Spacio IST, Runx. Call: 6098188; 638-3045

A river dredge operation off Isseneru, Region Eight.

From page 67 community was brought to the attention of the courts in November 2011. This approach stemmed from a Cease Work Order which was passed on miner Joan Chang by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

The facts were that Chang, who is attached to Platinum Mining Incorporated and has a mining licence, commenced mining in the Amerindian territory prior to November 2011. The villagers and their council said they saw this act as a violation of their rights to maintain control over their village. As such,

the miners were asked to cease mining in the area.

That request was however ignored by the miners, leaving the villagers no resort but to approach the GGMC. With the intervention of that mining entity, a Cease Work Order was immediately granted by the organization, citing the law which purportedly gives Amerindian absolute right in determining the control of their titled lands.

Mining by third parties in what is considered Amerindian territory has been a sore issue for years now.

Region Three NGO helping to...

From page 67 seasonings and spices during preparation.

“You can use ginger to season meat, fish and poultry; celery to season soups and stews,” advised Howard. She however noted that stopping the use of salt altogether is not recommended since “our

bodies need some amount of salt to maintain water and electrolyte balance, especially at this point in time when the days and nights are very hot.”

Water intake is also important to prevent dehydration, Howard asserted even as she urged

Bandit chopped, colleagues...

From page 17 held under guard in the New Amsterdam hospital.

According to a release from the police, around 01:20h three men, one armed with a shotgun and another with cutlass, broke into the home of Nicholas Harrinandan. Harrinandan armed himself with a cutlass and attacked the bandits during which he was chopped about the body.

He however managed to inflict injuries on one of the bandits. The other two perpetrators escaped, but in their haste to do so, abandoned the shotgun which has been recovered by the police, the release said.

19-year-old turns...

From page 62 related that the first thing she did was register the business, “Everything Bella Events” as she didn't want to be operating something which was not legally registered.

When asked what she hopes to achieve with her business, she said “I'm hoping to make event planning something that is recognized and practised on a wider scale in Guyana.”

The event planning business offers three different packages which can be tailored to individual wants. They are bronze, silver and gold. With regards to the events under the business's scope, she tattled off an impressive list which basically includes all events in the scope of celebrations, conferences, promotions, commemoration events and fashion shows.

While stating that it is not easy being a young entrepreneur as people tend to not take you seriously, she said that what she does is always try to prove them wrong.

“I want to become someone who people look up to so they can see that age is not a factor in doing great things if you stick to your passion. Everything Bella events name in itself tells what people should expect when coming to me.”

that there should be limited daily alcohol intake. Alcohol consumption, she intimated, should translate to one to two drinks for adult men and one drink for adult women.

Healthy consumption of foods, according to the Nutritionist, is important for the management of diabetes because it helps to control blood sugar levels, maintain a healthy body weight and prevent heart related conditions.

TO LET 4 Bedroom house furnished, self contained, master bedroom. Call: 603-6351 One bedroom apartment Mon –Repos E.B.D- No ChildrenCall: 662-9043 Apartment in Eccles, rooms in Albertown –Call: 225-3234 Furnished executive one or two bedroom suite in Diamond.

Ideal for foreigners-Call 600 2466.

One-Two bedrooms houseCall Joy: 218-1285; 649-9059 Two bedrooms apartment, parking & other conveniences, Christian working couples, no children -$35,000 –Call: 218-3463; 6238759; 672-1586

Smart Choice Auto Sales, in stock, Premio, Allion, Fielder, Bluebird, Carina 212, Spacio, Call: 652-3820/ 665-4529 Pearl white reconditioned, Prado Jeep. Call: 624-6702; 624-5838 Honda CRV PSS 2018 -$3M negotiable, Toyota Rush and Premio – New Model unregistered$3.2M negotiable. Call: 655-3400 AT170 Toyota Corona; need body works and CV. Asking $275,000 negotiable. Call: 6638033 Star Cars Auto Sales: Premio, Spacio, Runx, IS, Fielder, Bluebird, Axela, Pit-bull, Raum, Benz -Tel: 268-3509; 679-3140 Bidding- 1 Hilux double cab, starting $3.2M, end date: November, 22, 2015. Call Orin Moses: 603-0535 2 Ford F350 Pickup, lift kit, 35inches rims and tyres, also 1 Chevy Van 2007 –Call: 6105370 One Honda CRV, immaculate condition, 17" mags, AC, CD, price -$1.750,000 negotiable.

Call: 626-2884 Unregistered Fielder Wagon, fully loaded, rims, camera, bodykit, HID, dark interiorCall: 617-5536

FOR SALE Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from $49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND One complete 8 inches, River CALL: 592-227-4754.

Dredge- Call: 661-9431 House in Tuschen Main Pools-table cloth, balls, Road -$27M, 46ft fishing boat pocket, coin-shute, rubber, & 500lbs Nylon Seine -$2.3M. cue-stick, coin, chalk, spots Call: 696-6074 gully boot, white ball, pools- One Spacio motor car table locks –Tel: 669-9927 PSS9296, perfect condition, 1-30’Aluminum jet boat- Call: owner moving on, asking $1.6M negotiable- Call: 697679-6883 9137; 699-9595 One D8N Bulldozer, completely refurbished- Suzuki (750cc), Honda ready to work. Contact: 610- 92,000cc, Model M Truck (GRR series). All Mint 0001 Condition- Call: 662-6045 One airboat-aircraft engine, trailer-perfect condition. Turn MILL CUT AND DRESSED GREENHEART FROM Key-Contact: 610-0001 $160BM AND KABUKALLI Solid DEF Toyota Hilux FROM, $180BM- TEL: 688spares, 2 GL gearbox, springs, 6579/653-9752 steering knuckle (grass knife), lights, fenders, rear 1-CAT320 BL excavator, 1CAT930 Front End Loader, 1driveshaft. Call: 691-2077 CAT428 Back-Hoe, 1-55 Leyland Daf Truck. Call: 2750538, 660-4021 1-2 Storey wood & concrete, house 20"X50" at 3rd Street Belle-West, canal #2 $10.5M-Call: 604-1299 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Newly built furnished 2 storey executive style home, located at La Jalousie W.C.D -$33M negotiable. Call: 6756426

Ultraviolet Driving School is offering 50% discount for 12 sessions. Call: 602-2583; 6584015

One 928 F Caterpillar Wheel Loader $ 7.1 M, Price Negotiable-Call Us Today 650-0402/260-4988 3 Lots At Blankenburg Behind The Gas Station; $13 M Price Negotiable; Each Lot Size 75x76- Call Us Today 650-0402/260-4988

Damein’s Auto Sales: 20022004 Toyota Premio Cars, prices: $2.3M-$2.4M negotiable. Call: 692-1522 or 614-1333 For Sale: Toyota Spacio, PMM 3646. Call: 628-1620 Christmas Sale on all vehicles in stock: Tacoma, Bluebird, Premio, Etc. We beat any price. Call: 611-7999; 621-4190

DRESSMAKING We design and sew all ladies clothing, curtains etc. call Sharmie (Canadian Trained):626-2629; 676-6312

Buy Cars Online & Save Big! Pay the same online price & we do the rest. Call: 6117999; 621-4190 Toyota AT212, Raum, Tundra, L-Touring Wagon, EP71 Starlet, Premio, Honda 600RR, Yamaha-R6&R1 Suzuki GSX –Call: 644-5096; 697-1453

6 Weeks Course in designing and sewing ladies garments etc. Call Sharmie (Canadian Trained):626-2629; 676-6312

Solid DEF Toyota Hilux Pickups –Just Arrived! Bush tyres, ARB bumpers, roll bar, bedliner, AC, sidesteps. Call: 691-2077

One L-Touring Wagon with mag rims, alarm etc-Call: 6751581

VEHICLE FOR SALE One Toyota Spacio Motor Car (PPP Series). Excellent Condition. Price: $1.5m Neg. Call 600 2466.

Toyota Vios- Call: 644-6346

One 7’ Diameter double wall trommel, complete with all components-ready to work.

Contact: 610-0001 Excellent quality Rottweiler pups. Must See! Hurry and get yours. Limited amount available- Call /Whatsapp: (592) 664-5401 Rotweiler pups. Tel: 6196086, 622-6646, 699-7077.

PRADO: TOP CONDITION, SUNROOF, FULLY LOADED, 8 SEATER, FUEL, 2000 MODEL. CALL: 684-5868 CRV EXCELLENT CONDITION, 1998CC, ALARM, DVD, MAGRIM, CLEAN ENGINE & BODYCALL: 684-5868

Page 72

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 15, 2015

Police aim to ensure lean Guyana Bird Society is a bird's...

Christmas for criminals Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and his team hope to make this Christmas a lean one for criminals bent on targeting citizens during the festive season.

The increased, roundthe-clock police presence, including vehicle, motorcycle and foot patrols will be seen from today up to January 15, next, in the city, along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara.

They will be backed up by ranks from the Marine Police, who will patrol sections of the Demerara River.

“If all goes well with our Christmas policing plans, I think that this year will be one of the best years in terms of security for law abiding citizens and one of the worst years for criminal elements,” Blanhum said Friday, as the police unveiled their security plans for the holidays.

Blanhum noted that the season will bring an influx of

- increased security at airports, banks, prisons visitors. He revealed that police will increase their presence at the Cheddi Jagan International and Ogle Airports.

Police now have immediate access to footage of CCTV cameras around the city, which are being monitored around the clock.

In his presentation, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken said that Georgetown will be divided into five ‘sectors’ so that the city can be adequately policed.

Each ‘sector’ will be commanded by no rank lower than an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who would be assisted by an Inspector or Cadet Officer.

Hicken said that IMPACT Base patrols will focus on ‘crime potential areas’, including the East Bank

Demerara corridor, East Ruimveldt, Agricola, commercial areas and the Georgetown Prisons.

“The Georgetown Prisons is of concern to us. It will be searched before and after the Christmas season, and that is to ensure we disrupt any plans (by inmates).”

In addition, ranks from the Police Marine Division will patrol the Demerara River, up to Dora.

‘A’ Division ranks will also work with ranks from ‘D’ Division in patrols up to Parika.

Knowing that burglars will be targeting the homes of Christmas shoppers, police patrols will be increased in neighbourhoods. But Hicken also urged citizens to assist by ensuring that their premises are secure.

From page 22 bird areas (IBAs) where endangered birds can be found.

However, while this work would have required extensive research and hours dedicated to the task, Narine said that others would “rip off” the society's work to receive international funding.

“IBA is a donor language; donor companies would usually fund organisations that are doing work with species that are critical. So, people were using our Important Bird Areas as a way to get access to donors and funding,” Narine said.

He continued, “We were expecting our ups and downs, but we didn't expect it from the previous Government so rashly and so blatantly.”

Some of the works that the Society would have reportedly contributed to, but would have received no payment for, include the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project - where the society went into the area and conducted surveys on its bird population - and the Extension of the Kaieteur National Park in 2011.

He explained too that visitors from the Norwegian Government, Birdlife International and World Bank, would visit the office and question them

on their work and whether they receive funding for their published information.

“When we tell them that we didn't even know about some of the publications and that we're not funded, they feel sad for us, because we've been doing a lot of the work for the past 15 years and nobody's paying attention to this society.”

SHEER LOVE However, though the Society undergoes much tribulation, Andy said its members refuse to give up. Each year, the Society embarks upon special projects. One of its ongoing projects is the Foster Bird Programme.

This programme began in 2005 and saw the Society taking in injured birds from the public and returning the creatures to full health. For months on end – and sometimes years – the Society's members take care of the birds out of the money from their own pockets.

The members would also travel across the regions to collect injured birds or even teach distant persons to help the birds recuperate. The birds would later be released or, if they are too injured, they are given to pet lovers or handed over to the Guyana

Zoo. The Society also removes birds living around the airport and transports them to safer locations.

Of course, much more can be done, Andy said. However, poor funding is stymieing its education efforts. According to Andy, the Society has compiled a publication of vital information on birding in Guyana. However, the document is yet to be published due to limited finances. Andy shared that the Society is hoping to receive enough support from the Government of Guyana and the private sector to see the document become a reality.

“We're just here collecting data and year after year we go out combing the country for more information and that's not easy. It's very expensive, but we love our jobs,” he said. “The best way we can help people across Guyana is by having our publication published to help bring more tourists to Guyana, and to get our own people participating in activities.”

Meanwhile, Andy stressed that birding spans across ages and socioeconomic tiers – from the young to the old, from farmers to big businesspersons – and learning more about birds can provide a unique and wonderful learning experience for all. He particularly believes that November – Tourism Month – should be fully utilised.

When asked why they continue to do what they do, Andy simply replied, “Because we love it.” He continued, “I recognise the importance of having this education in Guyana and I've seen the difference it's made in Guyana over the past 15 years. So, the reason why I'm doing this is because I love it and we promised people in Guyana that great things are going to happen and I want us to live up to that promise.”

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Britain threat level still at ‘severe’, airport terminal evacuated Reuters - Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday the threat to Britain remained “severe” after the Paris attacks, as a terminal at a major UK airport was evacuated as a precaution amid heightened security fears.

Cameron did not raise the threat level to its highest “critical” level, which would have meant an attack is expected imminently, after discussing the attacks at an emergency response committee in London.

“The threat is already at ‘severe’ which means an attack is highly likely and will remain so,” he said in a televised address yesterday.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a coordinated assault by gunmen and bombers that killed 127 people at locations across Paris on Friday night.

“We must recognise that however strong we are, however much we prepare, we in the UK face the same threat,” Cameron said.

Britain’s “severe” threat level has been in place since

David Cameron

August 2014. The country’s last major attack was in 2005 when four British Islamists carried out suicide bombings which killed 52 people.

Police evacuated the North Terminal at Britain’s second busiest airport, Gatwick, which is 30 miles south of London, after what they described as “suspicious actions by a man who discarded an item at the airport”.

The man was arrested and bomb disposal experts were called to investigate the item.

“We are investigating the circumstances of the incident and it is too early to say what the item may be,” said Sussex Police Detective Superintendent Nick May. “However, given the events in Paris ...

there is heightened awareness around any such incident and it is best that we treat the matter in all seriousness.”

In London, the annual Lord Mayor’s Show, an ancient carnival which has been running for 800 years, was due to go ahead as planned, but preceded by a two-minute silence and with Union flags flying at half-mast, said a spokesman for the show.

Tower Bridge would be lit in the blue, white and red of France’s Tricolor flag later on Saturday, he said.

Additional police patrols across London’s popular West End theatre and restaurant district were also planned for Saturday evening, a spokesman for the police said.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Bahamas backs Antigua nominee for C/wealth post NASSAU, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie has indicated that The Bahamas will support Antigua and Barbuda’s nominee, Sir Ronald Sanders, for the post of Commonwealth secretary general at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta at the end of this month.

Christie also said that he would push for a consensus among Commonwealth Caribbean heads of government to rally behind Sanders as the sole regional candidate.

In recent days, the prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada have also confirmed their support for Sanders and at the same time called for a regional consensus on the issue.

However, although by unofficial convention it is the Caribbean’s “turn” to provide the Commonwealth secretary general, continuing regional disunity resulting from the insistence of Dominica in maintaining its nomination of British Baroness Patricia Scotland as its candidate, supported only by Barbados, has allowed two African candidates and potentially another from Australia to take

advantage of the lack of Caribbean solidarity.

Furthermore, although running a costly and extensive campaign, Scotland, as a former UK attorney general and a sitting member of the British House of Lords, is unlikely to be chosen for the post because, under international law, her dominant nationality is British not Dominican, which is unlikely to find favour with many African, Asian or Pacific member countries, if any at all.

If no consensus is reached to support a single

Caribbean candidate before the vote in Malta, the region may very well miss out on an opportunity to lead the Commonwealth for the next eight years.

Meanwhile, Sanders was in Nassau last week to address the 2015 Global Leadership Forum and his presence generated some apparent disinformation by Bahamas foreign minister Fred Mitchell, who told local media that his government had reserved its position on endorsing a candidate for Commonwealth secretary general.

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Foster son of Suriname president Education Facilities caught arrested in robbery investigation with mountains of backdated PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname — Romano Meriba (31), the foster son of Suriname’s president Desi Bouterse, was arrested on Friday in Paramaribo after he reported to a police station. The Public Relations Department of the Suriname Police Force released a statement confirming the arrest.

According to the police, Meriba has been arrested by officers of the Capital Offences Department, the police unit that investigate serious crime, including armed robbery, murder, drug trafficking and money laundering.

“Romano is believed to be a member of the gang that was involved in a robbery in Paramaribo-North,” said the Suriname police.

The release further stated that Meriba became a suspect after preliminary investigations revealed that his vehicle was involved in the armed robbery. A local businessman was robbed of a large sum of money last Monday. During a shoot-out with police units, including the SWAT team, which responded to an alert that a robbery was in progress, two robbers were shot death, while three others were seriously wounded.

Romano Meriba Two police officers also sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Meanwhile, police have arrested three other suspects, including local businessman Rohitas S. During a search at a home in the Zorg en Hoop neighbourhood, detectives found a car belonging to the deceased suspected robber Melvin Tob. Police also seized several firearms and a motorbike during the businessman’s arrest.

Mere hours after the shoot-out Monday, Meriba appeared on radio answering

questions whether his car was being used by the bandits during the robbery as one of the getaway cars. Claiming his innocence, Meriba said that he lent his vehicle last week to a friend to move items to a new apartment since the said friend was relocating to a new address. Noting privacy reasons, Meriba said he would not disclose where he was during the robbery. He said however that he will assist police during the investigations.

In 2005, Meriba was convicted and sentenced to serve a 15 year prison term for robbery and killing of a Chinese shop owner in 2002. He shot the businessman pointblank through the rear window after the man had jumped on the trunk of the getaway car.

Meriba was also sentenced for throwing a hand grenade in 2002 into the residence of Ruud Treffers, the then Dutch ambassador in Suriname.

After Bouterse became president in August 2010, he granted a pardon to Meriba in December 2011. Bouterse at that time defended his decision after protests from the opposition, saying that the Court of Justice had already sanctioned his early release in March 2011.

In March 2012, Meriba was arrested in Paramaribo accused of assaulting and beating up a police officer and a patron in a nightclub.

Meriba remained for a short period in lockup and the complaints were retracted the following day by his alleged victims.

Earlier this year, Dino Bouterse, the son of Desi Bouterse, was sentenced in federal court in New York City to 195 months in prison for narcotics trafficking, along with firearms offences and attempting to provide material support and resources to Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization.

tender documents

Former education minister Dr Tim Goopeesingh, right, accompanied by members of the Education Facilities Company Ltd during a tour of the Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College, St Augustine, in July 2014. Photo: MICHEAL BRUCE Trinidad Guardian - A secret contract millhouse was discovered at the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) in Maraval, and armed guards have been called in to secure a mountain of potentially damning evidence which points to the illegal manufacturing of backdated tender documents worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The discovery was made one day after the new board of the state-owned company suspended its Chief Executive Officer Kiran Shah and Chief Operating Officer Sharma Maharaj over claims of impropriety.

Informed sources told the T&T Guardian that a member of the board found the “secret room” on the first floor of the Maraval building, which is opposite the Country Club and also houses the main branch of FirstCaribbean International Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Ltd. EFCL occupies the second floor of the building and, unknown to

staff, another room was rented on the first floor.

Sources said a new board member was stunned after finding three people busy at work in the “secret room” and called in security after realising they were working on EFCL business. The three people in the room, and another who was subsequently found to be part of the same operation, were sent home and their access to information technology at the company was suspended, sources said. Accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers has been called in to conduct a forensic audit of the company and has already taken a snapshot of the systems used in the ‘millhouse.’

Sources said they have already discovered that the four select employees were hired to create contracts and tender documents for several existing projects which were already paid for in full. This was being done, according to company insiders, to validate

the tendering processes to make them appear transparent and legal.

A preliminary report has revealed that contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars were given out to select contractors in the run-up to the September 7 general election and they were paid in full without any work being done.

Two contractors, who are financiers of the United National Congress, have been identified as the major beneficiaries of the scheme, sources said.

Sources said the forensic audit and a criminal investigation by the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau, which began in April, triggered last week’s suspension of the two executive officers.

A whistleblower initially went to the police with a 108page dossier detailing several instances of fraud and mismanagement. This sparked a police investigation centering around the award of several contracts over the last five years.

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France vows ‘merciless’ response after attacks kill 127 Reuters - An angry President Francois Hollande yesterday promised a “merciless” response to a wave of attacks by gunmen and bombers that killed 127 people across Paris, describing the assault claimed

by Islamic State as an act of war against France.

In the worst attack, a Paris city hall official said four gunmen systematically killed at least 87 people at a rock concert by an American band at the Bataclan concert hall before anti-terrorist commandos launched an assault.

Some 40 more people were killed in five other attacks in the Paris region, the official said, including a double suicide bombing outside the Stade de France stadium, where Hollande and the German foreign minister were watching a soccer game.

The assaults came as

France, a founder member of the U.S.-led coalition waging air strikes against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, was on high alert for terrorist attacks, raising questions about how the attacks were able to occur.

It was the worst such attack in Europe since the Madrid train bombings of 2004, in which 191 died.

Hollande said the attacks were organised from abroad

by Islamic State, with internal help. Investigators were focusing on to what extent the militants were from France or from abroad.

Sources close to the inquiry said one of the dead gunmen was French with ties to Islamist militants.

The holder of a Syrian passport found near the body of one gunman passed though the Greek island of

Leros in October, a Greek minister said. A Greek police source said the passport’s owner was a man who had arrived in Leros with 69 refugees and had his fingerprints taken. Police declined to give his name.

The Paris attacks are sure to become a factor in the debate raging in Europe about how to handle the migrants crisis fuelled by the conflict that has emerged from the uprising in Syria.

In a sign of potential divisions ahead, Poland said that the attacks meant it could not now take its share of migrants under a European Union plan.

Many of the migrants currently flooding into Europe are refugees from Syria.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged world leaders gathered for a summit in Turkey yesterday to prioritise the

Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theatre in Paris, France. (EPA/YOAN VALAT) fight against terrorism, saying the Paris attacks showed the time for words was now over.

Hollande pulled out of the meetings but told Erdogan by telephone that his foreign and

Europe’s populist right targets migration after Paris attacks Reuters - Populist leaders around Europe rushed to demand an end to an influx of refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa yesterday after a wave of deadly attacks in Paris claimed by Islamic State militants.

The carnage in the French capital, directly linked to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, seemed bound to further complicate the European Union’s task in sharing out hundreds of thousands of migrants who have entered the bloc this year, fleeing war and poverty.

Poland’s designated Europe minister said Warsaw could not take in refugees under an EU quota system

after Friday’s wave of attacks on restaurants, a concert hall and a soccer stadium in Paris, in which 127 people died and some 200 were injured.

The Islamic State militant group based in Syria and Iraq claimed responsibility for the carnage, saying it was to punish France for its involvement in those conflicts and for its attitude to Islam.

French President Francois Hollande said the group, also known as ISIS or by the Arabic acronym Daesh, had organised the attacks from abroad with internal help. He said France was at war with Daesh.

In a comment on the rightleaning news portal wPolityce.pl, Konrad

Szymanski said his incoming government did not agree with the previous Polish administration’s commitment to accept a share of an EUwide relocation of immigrants.

“In the face of the tragic acts in Paris, we do not see the political possibilities to implement (this),” he said.

Szymanski will take up his position as minister for Euro-

pean affairs tomorrow as part of a government formed by the conservative and Eurosceptic Law and Justice (PiS) party, which won a general election last month.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, a centre-left nationalist who has also opposed refugee quotas, raised the possibility that Islamic State militants could have infiltrated the wave of migrants

reaching Europe.

“We are working with two versions of the attack radicalisation of the Muslim parts of population of France as retaliation for France’s involvement in air strikes against ISIS, or infiltration of ISIS into the current migration waves,” he told journalists after chairing an emergency meeting of his country’s national security council.

finance ministers would attend. “Faced with war, the country must take appropriate action,” Hollande said after an emergency meeting of security chiefs. The president also announced three days of national mourning.

“France will be merciless towards these barbarians from Daesh,” he said, using an Arab acronym for Islamic State.

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GT&T Indoor Hockey Championships

Old Fort brought to reality with a jolt by Pepsi Hikers

Old Fort’s Misodia Culpepper is blocked by the Hikers defence.

Pool leaders Old Fort were toppled from their pedestal through a loss to the determined Pepsi Hikers as the GT&T National Indoor Championships continued Friday evening at the National Gymnasium at Mandela Avenue.

The loss, Old Fort’s first of the competition allowed GCC to slide into the lead from their victory over Phoenix. The GCC Tigers chose the right moment to produce their best form in destroying the previously unbeaten Panthers by

6-2 to take control of the ladies division. While Old Fort still maintains the top spot in the men’s second division competition. This division remains wide open as a number of key matches were scheduled for last evening.

Sunday November 15, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Career matters are probably going well for you, but you might be unsure if you want to continue along this track.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Young visitors bring out the best in you today. Have you prepared some delicious food for your guests?

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Are you planning to attend a lecture or workshop? This is a good day for it. Your mind and emotions are working together to bring insights your way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today an organization dedicated to spiritual pursuits may open its doors in your neighborhood. This might be of special interest to you and your partner.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Inspiration and insights that come through dreams could give you the boost you need to get your career on track. You may have been kicking different ideas around for a while, but what you realize today could motivate you to act.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may have to find a bit of extra money in your bank account or budget. Chances are this isn't a large sum, but enough to make a difference to you now.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Communication with your romantic partner could be more psychic than verbal today, although the conversation should be heartfelt, honest, and gratifying.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Good news may come today.

Whatever it is should make you very happy and cause you to be too hyper to sit still.

You'll probably want to take a quick walk around the neighborhood to work off some of the energy.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Ideas for creative projects that might earn more money could buzz through your mind.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your imagination might soar into the wild blue yonder today. You may envision wonderful new plans for your future.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Romance is at the top of your priority list today. A deep conversation may take place with your partner, perhaps to sort out your feelings about the relationship.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your mind could be of service to others today. You've been doing very well for yourself, and you're thinking in terms of sharing your good fortune somehow.

Old Fort seemed headed for yet another dominant performance as they were first off the mark against the Pepsi Hikers through a Dwight Sullivan penalty corner goal 8 minutes into their feature match of the evening. While the Hikers threatened the Old Fort goal on several occasions for the remainder of the half, veteran goalkeeper Alan Newark rolled back the year to produce some outstanding reflex saves to keep his team competitive. The pace of the game finally caught up with Newark as he failed to react to a hard pass that was deflected into goal by Hikers Captain Robert France three minutes before the half. Old Fort’s John Abrahams would respond in the very next minute however to slam home a shot and give his team the 2-1 lead at half time.

The second half saw a shift in balance from the outset as a Shane Samuels penalty corner goal was followed by two more goals, all within the first five minutes of resumption, by France to give the Hikers a 4-2 lead. Aderemi Simon scored the final goal of the game through a penalty stroke four minutes from full time to pull Old Fort back within one but the Hikers would celebrate a 4-3 victory in the end.

In the other first division matches, GCC predictably outplayed Phoenix by 4-1 while the Panthers garnered the same winning score against Saints.

The ladies competition saw a fired up Kerensa Fernandes chalk up her first hat-trick of the competition to lead her side to a 6-2 beating of the Panthers. Ashley DeGroot added a pair while Captain Sonia Jardine scored a penalty corner to round out the Tigers six goal tally.

Midfield dynamo Aliyah Gordon and veteran Ulrica Sutherland each scored one for the Panthers.

The Hikers ladies were in a productive mood against Old Fort Shooting Stars as they dominated the matchup with a 5-1 fulltime score.

While ex-national Carol Caine managed to score one goal for Old Fort, the Hikers controlled the match, winning through goals by Nicole Eastman, Latacea Chung, Latoya Fordyce, Tekeisha Deleon and Marisha Rodrigues.

Phoenix surprised GCC with a 3-1 win in the men’s second division competition giving the Bourda boys their first loss of the competition.

Old Fort meanwhile maintains their fine form with a 4-2 beat-

ing of the Hikers.

Going into the penultimate day of competition, the points standing are as follows: Men’s First division GCC – 11, Old Fort – 10, Pepsi Hikers – 7, Jaguars – 6, Pumas – 6, Phoenix – 3, Saints –0

Men’s Second division Old Fort – 12, Phoenix – 9, GCC – 9, Hikers – 6, Saints -3, Saints Stanislaus College – 0 Ladies division GCC Tigers – 9, Panthers – 6, Hikers – 6, Under-21 – 3, Old Fort – 0 The four finals are set for today from 17:00hrs.

U-17 Girlz open with 2-2 result against Puerto Rico Jamaica Observer - SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Jamaica’s Under-17 Reggae Girlz opened their Group A Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Championship campaign with a gutsy 2-2 result against hosts Puerto Rico at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel on Friday.

Tarania Clarke in the 11th minute, and Marlee Fray in the 69th got the goals for Jamaica, while Angela Diaz got both goals for the hosts in the 16th and 28th minutes.

The Jamaicans and the host nation are on one point each, behind group leaders Tarania Clarke...scored Cuba who clipped Bermuda 1in the 11th minute 0 in the curtain raiser of the second game today against double-header.

Jamaica will contest their Bermuda.

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Sunday November 15, 2015

“Comparing two very dismal WI tours – WI tour to SL 2015 and WI tour to SA 1998!”

Colin E. H. Croft There have been big headlines for West Indies winning only its final game of that recently concluded, ill-fated, tour of Sri Lanka 2015. One wonders as to whether anyone even expected Jason Holder’s Test and ODI, or Darren Sammy’s T-20 teams, to win any games at all on that trip?

A better question is: “Why have they failed so badly in Sri Lanka?” Was that a result of poor psychological or physical preparations, or both, or perhaps, as reported by attendees to games in SL, that some WI players simply

did not seem to care?

WI’s 2015 SL tour reminded of that first ever official, similarly ill-fated, WI tour to South Africa in 1998. That tour was also supposed to have held promises for WI’s team then, after SA had emerged from international sporting isolation, India being the first team to play Tests (four) there in modern times in 1992-93.

WI had played v SA in that single, momentous, historical first Test, after re-emergence, at Kensington Oval in April 1992, a game wonderfully won

by WI, with three ODI’s in that tour too. So, 1998’s tour to SA was a return series cel-

ebrating SA’s re-birth into international cricket.

Like WI’s 2015 SL tour, WI’s tour to SA 1998 started with much conjecture and confusion, even threats that that 1998’s SA tour might have been cancelled altogether, as there was uncertainty as to if some senior WI players would have toured after initially rejecting offered fees for that tour.

After numerous meetings at London’s Heathrow airport between WI players, WICB and CSA officials, WI eventually embarked on that 1998 SA tour.

In cricket’s recent history, that tour has been highlighted

Ruby Ground comes alive this weekend as Mobile Wizard 10/10 softball cricket continues The fifth weekend of the Mobile Wizard 10/10 Softball Cricket competition organized by the Guyana Softball League continues at Ruby Ground as the tournament enters its third round. All the big name teams will be playing and the others are hoping to get past them to go top of the group in points.

WOLF WARRIORS VERSUS POWER XI: The Warriors will be looking to get past this team and set the tone for their day, but Power XI has indicated that they want to get past this team to send a message to the others. They played hard the last time around but due to some lapses in the bowling they paid dearly. They are up to the task this time around and have practiced hard to ensure that there is no repeat of this.

SPEEDBOAT SC VERSUS ZEEBURG WARRIORS XI: Speedboat XI have scored the highest score in the tournament so far and will be looking to build on that as opening bats Anand Bharat and Wazir Hussein will look to continue where they left off and dominate the bowling.

Another good player who

missed the last match Greg Singh will be available and can be devastating on his day. Zeeburg Warriors are a young side that has shown they can compete and will be looking to do more than that by winning. Skipper Arif Khaleel will be going all out to ensure all the screws are tightened. Their ground fielding is a joy to watch and will cause some problems to the Speedboat team since their running between the wickets are suspect.

WOLF WARRIORS VERSUS VIPER XI: Wolf Warriors will be playing their second match of the day and will be hoping they are not too worked up for this match but Viper XI will have other ideas. They will be aiming to be on target with their bowling and batting thereby having the Warriors extending themselves then delivering the killer’s punch.

LEONORA YOUTHS VERSUS NEXT LEVEL XI: Leonora Youths will depend heavily on Imtiaz Hack in their batting and being the skipper will have to lead from the front to dominate this match and with Next Level XI yet to make their

mark, will be hoping that the others looking on will take notice.

OMESH XI VERSUS BRICKERY XI: Omesh XI look like a team reborn and are in good form in all aspects and will look to give the other batters a chance to get a look in before they face any other top team.

Vickram Kissoon and Ricardo Adams are the opening pair who are both experienced.

The bowling will be in the hands of Omesh Parboo and others and they also will look to get as many wickets under their belt as possible. Brickery XI are brimming with confidence since winning their last match and will come hard to ensure they are not dominated and hope that their bowlers can frustrate the powerful line up of Omesh XI. SETTLE XI VERSUS OCEAN VIEW XI: Settle XI has quietly gone about their business and have chalked up 2 wins in as many matches so far and will be hoping to continue in that vein. Skipper and inspiration of the team Nazim Azeem put in a top all round performance last week and will be going into this match with a lot of confidence. The Ocean View XI are a talented bunch and give every match their all even when down has shown they can come back from any situation in bowling and batting and with their skipper Avinash Shradanandan now coming into a bit of form will give the opposition a torrid time.

In addition to Mobile Wizard the tournament is also sponsored by Wolf Furniture Store and Trophy Stall of Bourda Market as well as Imtiaz Hack of Leonora.

in SA as being one of the worst completed there by any team, since expectations were very high, especially for tens of millions of non-white SA population, for WI to play well.

WI supporters on that 1998 tour were also expectant of better things but were greatly disappointed. WI lost all five Tests – “White-Wash” – while that team won only one international game on that tour too, the second of seven ODI’s; a desperately poor tour effort overall.

WI for Tests and ODI’s in SA 1998: For five Tests - Brian Lara (captain), Jimmy Adams (returned home - injury), Curtly Ambrose, Shiv Chanderpaul, Merve Dillon, Darren Ganga, Carl Hooper, Ridley Jacobs, Clayton Lambert, Rawl Lewis (replaced Dinanath Ramnarine), Nixon Mc Lean, Junior Murray, Dinanath Ramnarine (returned home - injury), Floyd Reifer (replaced Jimmy Adams), Franklyn Rose, Philo Wallace, Courtney Walsh and Stuart Williams. Added for seven ODI’s were Keith Arthurton, Keith Semple, Reon King and Neil McGarrell.

On that tour as one of the radio and television journalists covering that historical tour, three situations would resonate in my mind forever: Firstly, when asked after arrival in SA at the start of that tour as to how he thought WI would do, one senior WI player suggested that “We

are not going to win any game at all on this tour!” He was only slightly wrong. WI won only one of twelve international games played!

Secondly, in Test No. 2 at Port Elizabeth, along with my travel documents and professional licenses being stolen; extremely quickly replaced by US Embassy personnel; I am very sure that I saw two mirages, occurrences that I have never seen previously or since: (a) One WI batsman was so scared and perplexed at the crease that he froze on the spot as Allan Donald – “White Lightening” – approached, the delivery hitting the limp bat; out caught at slip. (b) Another WI batsman, on seeing PE’s pitch with live, green grass, somehow caught ‘glandular fever’ immediately, perhaps from fear, and was dubbed unavailable for that Test. Unbelievably, that same player was seen running around the stadium the very next day, a totally miraculous medical recovery!

Thirdly, while refilling my rented car towards the end of that tour, the young black gasstation attendant asked if I was one of the visiting media covering that cricket series.

When I replied in the affirmative, his reply was bitter: “Why did West Indies team come here if they could not represent us people properly?

We are so disappointed with their results.”

Nothing similar happened

on or from WI’s tour to SL 2015, as things have changed, downwards, drastically for WI since 1998, but disappointment has still been great in 2015.

Things, though, could get better for WI, with similar situations following these bad tours. After SA 1998, WI’s next series was against Australia in the Caribbean in 1999, which WI drew well; 2-2 in the Test series and 3-3 in ODI’s; before attending ICC Cricket World Cup 1999 in England.

Uncannily, WI’s next tour will also be to Australia for three Tests over the upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday period. Almost immediately after that tour, WI will go to its best format; T-20 cricket; as ICC World Twenty20 2016 takes place in India in March and April 2016.

Maybe, just maybe, WI could still come out of this poor tour to SL with better fortunes in future cricket in Australia and then ICC-WT20 2016 in India. Enjoy!

E-mail address

c.e.h.croft@gmail.com

Victoria ground to come alive today with Mayor Green’s Inter-ward Football action The Victoria ground on the East Coast of Demerara will come alive today when play in the annual 7-a-side Inter-ward Football competition to mark the occasion of Mayor Hamilton Green 81st birthday organized by former National footballer Lennox Arthur continues from 5:00pm.

Buxton Youth Developers open against Lima Dam in the opening contese, followed by Victoria versus New Amsterdam, Ann’s Grove face Haslington and Golden Grove battle Mahaica.

As indicated by Coordinator Lennox Arthur, from this stage the teams will be battling in 30 minute games, 15 per half and the no offside rule is in effect in this tournament.

Gordon Grant (Agricola), Quincy Holder (Mahaica), Adrian Adams (NA) and Orette Stephen (Stewartville) are atop the goal scoring list and will all be in contention for the prize available for the

Mayor Hamilton Green winner in that competition.

The teams are battling for a first prize of $200,000 and the John Fernandes trophy, while the other top four finishers will collect; $100,000 and Youth and Sports Trophy, $70,000 and China Trading tro-

phy and $30,000 and the Business School trophy.

Additionally AHL Kissoon has donated a 3piece suite for the top scorer, while Ricks and Sari will give 10 hampers each to the winning and runner up teams.

The sponsors to have assisted the staging of the event are: Banks DIH, Clinton Urling on behalf of his business entity German’s Restaurant, Crown Mining, Star Computers, Massy, Nigel’s Supermarket, Nigel Pyle of Tent City, Paul Giddings of Hotel Princess Raven, Beepat and Sons, CBR Mining, MACORP, Winston Rambarran, Vincent Thakur, Nigel Pile, Sattar Gafoor, Kenav HDL, Pavnic Press, GBTI, Ramchan Ragabeer and Guyana Beverage, home of Busta soft drinks along with the above mentioned trophy and cash prize and other donors.

The tournament is set to continue Wednesday.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 81

Youth in Action: Elite League creates platform for Guyana’s future stars

By Santokie Nagulendran The inaugural GFF Elite League is now into its penultimate round and has already provided a massive foundation for Guyanese football to develop, with the eight teams taking part playing high quality, consistent football for the first time in over a year.

The benefit of the league so far has been that, in addition to more established and senior players excelling, there have been a host of young, talented Guyanese footballers who are beginning to make a mark, a positive sign for the future of football in Guyana as well as the long-term future of the National Team.

Delon Lanferman, the 21 year old Alpha United winger/ striker, has been the revelation of the season so far, as of writing he is leading the goal-scoring charts (alongside Gregory Richardson) with 9 goals.

Lanferman, described by Alpha Coach Wayne Dover as having “deceptive pace, and a great ability to score goals”, is currently being played out of position, featuring on the right wing instead of his favoured position upfront as a striker, but this has not halted his goal-scoring ability.

Originally a striker for West Demerara side Den Amstel, Lanferman was

Lyndon Dorway

Curtiz Kellman

Delon Lanferman

signed by Alpha United after featuring in Guyana’s recent Olympic qualifying squad in June.

“I saw him for the U23s and said to myself I have to sign this youth because of his scoring ability” said Dover of his decision to sign the player, a move which has reaped massive rewards for the side, his goals are filling the void left by former Alpha United goal-scorers Gregory Richardson and Sheldon Holder, who have both moved on to other clubs in recent times.

Alpha have experimented this season with Kithson Bain, Dwayne Lawrence and Daniel Wilson all featuring as strikers at some point but they have all failed to find form, so Lanferman’s contri-

bution holds even greater value in that respect. Aged just 21, he is surely a player who will be representing the National team sooner rather than later.

Defender Sherwin Skeete is another Under-23 National Team player who has really excelled for Alpha so far, proving to be a solid addition to the team’s defence and even making the ‘Team of the Month’ for September due to the consistency of his performances.

Whilst Alpha have lost senior players this season, their younger squad members have compensated by producing stand-out performances which have helped the club find themselves still harbouring realistic hopes of winning the

league.

Georgetown Football Club (GFC) have placed a great emphasis on youth players, choosing to stick with their existing squad rather than signing players from abroad or from other Guyanese clubs.

The club’s vision is to develop a core squad of youngsters that can benefit the National Team for years to come, and they have sacrificed short-term success in order to achieve this long-term goal.

Despite being rooted in the bottom half of the league table, there have been standout performances from their young squad, particularly young central midfielder Curtiz Kellman, who has shown a maturity beyond his 17 years in the games he has

Countries begin to send travel itineraries for Caribbean Boxing tourney Two of the 14 scheduled countries scheduled to participate in what is being described as the largest sporting invasion of teams to hit Guyana in a long time later this month have sent their travel itineraries. The occasion is the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) the InterCaribbean Goodwill Development Boxing tournament, dubbed ‘Back to the Future,’ to be staged from November 26-29 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

GBA President Steven Ninvalle informed that Bahamas and Barbados have forwarded their travel schedules and the other countries are expected to do same in the coming week. He further informed that several late entries were submitted but the GBA has had to cut off accepting further entries.

Among the territories fixed to travel here are Antigua, Anguilla, Bahamas,

Barbados, Cayman Islands, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Grenada, St Vincent, St Marten, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

Close to 100 boxers will arrive for the activity with Barbados and Trinidad registering over 20 boxers apiece.

Some 30 officials will also join the boxers for what is promising to be a memorable and action packed four days of top class amateur boxing.

Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Grenada are among those providing referee/ judges to officiate at the tournament.

AIBA referee/Judge James Beckles of T&T will arrive in Guyana on November 21 and will headline the elite Caribbean panel. Beckles will hold a workshop for referees and judges during his stay.

Ninvalle disclosed that five of the Presidents from the participating associations will

be here for the event and they have agreed to meet and to further programme activities to push the development of the sport in the Caribbean region.

GBA has been working assiduously to have all systems in place for a successful staging of the event. Guyana has registered a 38-member team which is in training at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Camp Seweyo base preparing for the expected stiff competition.

While some sponsorship has been forthcoming, GBA is still in need of additional funding to reach the targeted close to $7M budget to host the event. Ninvalle is hopeful that businesses will support so they can have a successful event.

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) had earlier committed to providing some funding to aid the budgetary requirement.

played in so far, as well as leftback Lynden Dorway, who started 7 of the first 11 league games for the club and is aged just 16.

Leading the line is striker Romario Welcome, aged 17, a player who has shown an ability to score important goals for the club so far in the league. Astoundingly, GFC’s goalkeeper is the league’s youngest player, aged just 14 years old, Sesi Norville, still of school age, has found himself lining up against the best players in the country due to injuries in the current squad, before that, fellow teenage goalkeeper Ronel Mclean had been in goal for the clubs victories against GDF and Buxton due to the absence of senior goal-keeper Derrick Carter.

With goal-keeping being a notoriously weak area for Guyana’s National Team in recent years, the current teenage goalkeepers at GFC could be the solution if they develop their game as the league progresses.

In an invited comment, GFC Team Manager Faizal Khan elaborated on the vision of the club: “Talent alone is not enough to get ahead in football, a strong desire to come and train every day is required to build a more modern footballing culture at home in Guyana.

We at GFC have invested heavily in flying in a physical trainer from Cuba and we also

have a full-time medic, there is a real focus on player health and player fitness here.

We are building a platform for the best young players in Guyana to come in and get as close to professional academy structures as possible.

Our philosophy is not to look at every league game as must-win, we are looking at the bigger picture of putting these young players in an environment that will put them in good stead for when they get professional trials.”

The Elite League has shown that there is a massive talent pool of young footballers in Guyana, and the exposure the league is giving them has been priceless for their development.

GFC and Alpha United are just two of the teams giving youth a chance to shine, and should the youngsters make the most of this opportunity, as they have done so far, then this will be an exciting time for the future of football in Guyana.

GCB/BANK DIH/DIGICEL NSSCL…

Chase Academy and St Stanislaus College book semi-final spots Chase Academy and St Stanislaus College got past School of Nations and Christ Church Secondary respectively to book their semi-final places in the North Georgetown Zone of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Bank’s DIH Ltd’s Coco Cola Rainforest Water along with Digicel.

At DCC ground, Chase Academy disposed of School of Nations after routing them for 77 in 19 overs thanks to another fine spell by former national under 15 left arm spinner Ashmead Nedd who bagged 4-11 while Dwanye Dick who took 2-12.

Chase Academy then raced to their target in just four overs as Joshua Persaud struck 28 not out while Nedd

scored an unbeaten 22.

Over at Everest ground, St Stanislaus College beat Christ Church Secondary by 4 wickets. Christ Church elected to bat but could only manage 149 all out in 26.1 overs with Aaron Beharry scoring 37 while Alphius Bookie 35.

In reply, St Stanislaus College got to their target in 24.4 overs losing 6 wickets in the process. Kennard Moonsammy and Terrence Singh led the run chase with 48 not out and 33 not out respectively. Bowling for Christ Church, Junior Phillips had 432.

Matches continue tomorrow in the South Georgetown zone with Freeburg Secondary playing Central High School at Everest and South Ruimveldt coming up against Lodge High School. In the

Ashmead Nedd West Bank Demarara zone, Goed Fortuin Secondary will tackle Unique Academy at Wales.

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Kaieteur News

GCA/Noble House Sea Foods two-day final

TSC in sight of first innings honours Transport Sports Club (TSC) were in a comfortable position to take first innings points from University of Guyana (UG) when the first day’s play of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ Noble House Sea Foods twoday second division final concluded yesterday.

In reply to TSC score of 285, UG were 168-8 after facing 42 overs at Malteenoes Sports Club with Siddique Mohamed unbeaten on 34 (2x4) and Lloyd George on 10.

Pacer Davaughn Nandan rocked the top order with the wickets of Leon Williams (06), Mahendra Persaud (00) and Omesh Danram (05), while Mark Baptiste removed

Melroy Stephenson (00) as UG slipped to 17-4. Michael Shallim and Darnel Douglas added 67 for the fifth wicket to steady their innings before experienced Kevin Ross removed them both. Shallim timed the ball well and hit four fours and a similar number of sixes in his 51, while Douglas made 23 with one four. Teenage off-spinner Joel Spooner then picked up Devon George (13) and Keron Suknarine (18) before Mohamed and Lloyd George saw their team to the close.

Nandan has so far taken three scalps while Spooner and Ross have two each.

Earlier, Charwayne McPherson and Ryan Hemraj gave TSC a solid start with an

opening stand of 53 after they were inserted on a decent pitch. Hemraj hammered seven fours before he was removed by Lloyd George for 36 who also accounted for McPherson for 33 (3x4). But left-hander Sunil Singh anchored the innings with a well played 86. Singh looked almost untroubled as he smashed fourteen fours and shared in a fourth wicket stand of 111 with Nandan who stroked four fours in scoring 55. Azeem Azeez hit 49 down the order to prop up the total as leg spinner Omesh Danram grabbed 4-74, Mohamed 2-44 and George 2-46.

Play continues at 10:30 hrs today.

Team Integrity secures GFF Presidency -Lumumba’s somersault flattens Team Unity chances While conceding that a lot of work needs to be done, newly elected President of the Guyana Football Federation Wayne Forde of Team Integrity called on all Guyana to rise to the challenge to change the fortunes of local football.

Forde, who headed the slate of Team Integrity, defeated the Nigel Hughes Team Unity faction by securing 12 of the 22 votes on offer yesterday, at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

The new GFF Head speaking with the media shortly after the conclusion of what can best be described as the most important Electoral Congress following the dissolvement of the FIFA mandated Normalisation Committee, told the gathering that “it is not only a challenge for me, but the entire Guyana.”

He said that a general assessment will have to start soon to determine where the Federation and the state of football are presently to chart the way forward.

“I am humbled to have received this mandate and it is a clear demonstration that the football fraternity is eager for the requisite changes to propel the sport forward; the change they have hoped for has finally arrived,” Forde commented.

The Congress which had in attendance President of the Caribbean Football Union Gordon Derrick, its General Secretary Neil Cochrane and CONCACAF Director of Legal Affairs Marco Leal ended in the opening round of vot-

ing.

Forde told the media that he had extended a warm hand of friendship to Team Unity to join them in helping to further the development of the sport which has suffered from decades of mismanagement.

According to the President, Team Unity brought with them individuals with talent and experience and his executive will be seeking ways in which they can be invited to contribute to the sport.

He commended the Electoral Body that conducted the elections, referring to the process as very thorough and transparent that allowed voters to express their preferred choices.

Forde acknowledged that both teams had vital interests in the development of the sport.

Derrick in his remarks said that the future of football in Guyana is bright and called on the new body to continue the good work done by the NC. He congratulated the new executive, adding that the work to restore Guyana’s football had started under the NC so it is just a matter of continuing along that path.

However, the Congress was not without its drama which occurred when Team Unity’s 1st Vice-President Odinga Lumumba, who had held a press briefing on Thursday to announce his withdrawal from the position, was told that there is no provision to accommodate such a request, but he will either have to remain in the position or

withdraw all together.

Lumumba despite the urging of fellow members of his slate declined and it appeared to have backfired since sources close to the issue revealed that it seemed to have impacted on promised support and the rest is history.

Meanwhile, Director of Sport Christopher Jones through the National Sports Commission has extended their congratulations to Team Integrity following their victory.

A Release from the NSC stated that, The National Sports Commission expresses congratulations to the newly elected President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Mr Wayne Ford and his Executives.

The NSC notes with much anticipation the commitment to move forward and fully supports your initiative which is to “Implement and sustain a more representative approach to governance with a consultative decision making process that value and reflects the input of all stakeholders”.

The NSC further welcomes as stated by Team Integrity, to “Establish partnership for the expansion of scholarship opportunities for young footballers based both on excellence in the sport as well as academic performance”.

The NSC looks forward to a healthy relationship with the newly elected President and Executive of the GFF. Congratulations

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kristian Jeffrey, Matthew Vieira dominate qualifying sessions -Shan Seejattan grabs Group2 pole

Ravi Singh

Points leader in Group4 Kristian Jeffrey sits on pole for today’s final showdown of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship at the South Dakota Circuit.

Jeffrey registered a blistering 33.592 seconds to come home ahead of Barbados Mark Maloney and Trinidad’s Kristian Boodoosingh.

The defending CMRC champion’s time was just a shave off the 33.3 lap record at the South Dakota Circuit, while Maloney posted 34.296 and Boodoosingh 34.461.

Speaking after, he confirmed that he had made some changes on the car ahead of the meet and they worked out well.

He added, “We have one or two tweaks to do.

This is the first time since

we’ve got the car in Guyana that it’s done 33’s and I think we are a couple seconds off the lap record tomorrow, something I hope to achieve once the weather is the same tomorrow.”

Fourth on the grid is Kevin Jeffrey 34.763 and Andrew King 34.99 will start fifth.

In the Superbike category, Matthew Vieira is one hundredths of a second ahead of his cousin Elliott in what is shaping up to be a exhilarating stuff today.

Matthew posted a 34.101 time ahead of Elliot’s 34.279 and has indicated that today’s race will be exciting.

Elliot on the other hand concluded that he can make up that dropped time today adding that he can make that “with the right amount of pressure on me. I ride better under

pressure.”

Joel Neblett’s 34.404 time places him third on the grid, while no time was recorded for Stephen Vieira.

In Group 3, Ravi Singh of Trinidad and Tobago sits first ahead of Paul Vieira, a Trinidadian as well, while Suriname’s Oliver Tjin Leip Shie occupies third.

Group two is led by Guyanese Shan Seejattan who posted a time of 38.148 is ahead of Barbadian Kenrick Husbands 38.499 and current CRMC group 2 point leader Marc Gill 38.537.

Today’s programme commences at 08:30 and will also feature the Formula 4 demonstration by Guyana’s Calvin Ming.

Among the day’s sponsors are: GTT, Fly Jamaica and Rent-A-Tent.

Balram Shane Annual Cricket and Volleyball competitions set for November 22 The 15th Annual Balram Shane challenge Fund raising 50 overs cricket match between archrivals Albion Community and Port Mourant and the fourth annual Volleyball competition for teams in Berbice is fixed for Sunday 22nd November at the Port Mourant Community Centre.

The cricket match and volleyball competition is being sponsored by Businessman Deonarine Balram of The Balram Shane General store at Rose Hall Town Corentyne, Berbice.

A day full of action is anticipated since two of Guyana top cricket teams in the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club and arch rivals Port Mourant Cricket Club will square off against each other.

The volleyball competition will see the top eight volleyball teams in Berbice spiking it out for honours.

A close and reviving encounter is anticipated, with the winning team set to receive the Balram Shane Memorial trophy and cash incen-

tives while the losers will also be adequately rewarded.

Both teams are guaranteed $100,000. A number of individual awards will also be up for grabs including the man of the match, best bowler and best batsman among others all compliments of the sponsor and his family who will be on hand to bowl the first ball and present the winners with their accolades.

Starting time is 09:00 hrs.

Albion are the defending champions.

Meanwhile, the fourth edition of the Balram Shane Volleyball competition will also be played simultaneously on the newly built multiplex volleyball court at the Port Mourant Community Centre, beginning at 09:00 hrs.

Most of the top volleyball teams in Berbice including Guysuco Training Centre/ Port Mourant (GTC/PM) which is expected to field more than one outfit, Port Mourant Jaguars, Albion Community Centre, Falcons of East Canje, Rollers of New

Amsterdam and Three Door Strikers of West Berbice, No 53 and Skeldon are expected to participate.

GTC/PM 1 are the defending champion.

Organiser Deonarine Balram stated that once again the competitions are being played in memory of his father who was a former cricket and sports enthusiast. He also stated that apart from Cricket it is their way of giving back to the community from which they garner their support in a tangible way.

Proceeds from the game will be dived equally and distributed to the two teams to assist then with the cricket development programmes.

Mr. Balram further stated that a number of second division clubs and other organisations will also benefit from the proceeds of the game.

These entities have been given tickets to sell and keep the proceeds from the ticket sales.

(Samuel Whyte)

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 83

Systems in place for successful National Schools Championships -Management Committee updates media The Management Committee for the National Schools’ Championships held a Press Conference yesterday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Headquarters to update the media on preparations for the 2015 competition.

Competitions Director, Ceon Bristol told the media that entries were received and cleared from 15 competing Districts across Guyana, encompassing the 10 Administrative Regions, for the 55th Edition of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships.

“We will be utilising all five days for the Championships this year. We have tried to spread out the Championships, so that we have less events on each day.

We’re trying to complete within the daylight,” Bristol told the media yesterday.

Bristol said that the Swimming Championships will be held on Monday, November 23 at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal.

In addition to swimming competition, two field events, Long Jump and Shot Putt, will also be held the same day.

He said that the 10km road race; 40km and 25km cycle road races will also t a k e p l a c e M o n d a y, November 23. The Opening Ceremony is set for Tuesday, November 24 at 10:30am.

The track and field and cycle competitions will follow at the National Stadium.

Also present at the forum was Regional Chairperson for Region Four, Genevieve Allen, Banks DIH NonAlcoholic Brand Manager,

Officials from the Management Committee of the National Schools’ Championships along with sponsors update the media on the occasion of the 55th Edition of the Championships yesterday at NCERD. Clayton McKenzie, Guyana Teachers’ Union President (GTU), Mark Lyte and Principal Assistant Secretary (Finance) Ministry of Education, Glendon Fogenay.

Allen said that the region is proud to be involved in hosting the Championships.

“I want to take the opportunity to say to the constituents of Region Four come out in your numbers and support our athletes,” she urged.

Allen committed the institutional support of the Region to make the event a success. She said all systems will be put in place from the Region to make Nationals memorable in 2015.

According to Allen, the Games Villages will also be ready in Woolford Avenue.

On behalf of one of the event’s sponsors, Banks DIH, under their Malta Supreme and Aqua Mist Water Brands, McKenzie told the audience that the company is very supportive of academics and athletics.

“Sports helps students be

competitive and our tag line for Malta Supreme ‘Be Smart, Be Strong, Be Supreme’ is relevant to these Championships,” McKenzie said. Digicel and Giftland Mall are the other sponsors of the 2015 competition.

GTU President, Lyte informed that all the regions and teachers are ready to go after receiving all the support from their respective regions. “We have worked with all the stakeholders to have the successful championships we are

aiming to achieve,” he said.

He said that he was happy that the event has received the support from Banks DIH, Digicel and Giftland Mall. In addition, Lyte said that the Union is happy that the Ministry of Education is on the path to supporting sport within the schools’ curriculum.

Asked why the Championships was not held at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, Public Relations Officer, Edison Jefford said that

feasibility studies were done at Leonora and it was discovered that the facility lacks the capacity.

He said that Nationals accommodates over 1500 athletes in addition to spectators and supporters of each team. According to Jefford, two Northern Stands at the Leonora Facility are insufficient to accommodate th e mag n itu d e o f th e Championships.

“We were faced with two decisions; going back to the stadium, which is the only

facility that has the capacity to host Nationals nationwide in terms of the vision of the event, or actually building temporary amenities at Leonora to facilitate the event,” he said.

When the budget and other financial factors were considered, Jefford told the media that is was a better decision to resort to the Stadium where much infrastructural work is not required. He said a bid is out to build the other stands at the Leonora Stadium.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday November 15, 2015

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

Smalta / Ministry of Public Health Girls U-11 Football Competition

Defending champs N/Ruimveldt among opening night winners

Title holders Stella Maris open defence with a win Part of the action between St. Maris and St. Agnes yesterday.

Part of the action on opening night of the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition.

Appearing in the opening game of the night, defending champ North Ruimveldt registered the first win of the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition which commenced on Friday evening, at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.

Also joining them were Sparta Boss, North East La Penitence and East Front Road, who all won their respective matchups in front of another large crowd.

They eased past Island All-Stars by a 2-0 margin with Nickosie Barker firing in a double in the 12th and 13th minutes. His opening goal was somewhat accidental as an attempt to clear by an opposing player slammed into his foot and rebounded into the goal. One minute later, he returned with a bang, hitting a ferocious shot into the roof of the net.

In the game that followed, South Ruimveldt and Festival City Street Fighters played to a goalless stalemate, while North East La Penitence got their campaign off to a positive start with a narrow 1-0 win over Queen Street of Tiger Bay. Calvin Moore’s fourth minute strike after a defensive blunder separated the two teams.

National Guinness champions Sparta Boss looked impressive in their 2-0 triumph over Broad Street Bullies with Denis Edwards and Sheldon Shepherd netting in the 18th and 19th minutes respectively.

Edwards slotted past the last stop after

taking advantage of a one-on-one situation, while Shepherd ran on to a pass, before blasting into the goal.

East Front Road coasted to a 2-0 win over Alexander Village with Dillon Kelly 6th minute effort and Shaka Jones strike in the 12th proving enough for three points.

West Back Road needled South Sophia 10 through a Jamal Haynes 4th minute goal, while South Ruimveldt and Festival City encounter failed to produce any goals.

It was also the case with Globe Yard who skirmished with Cross Street and Albouystown-B who nagged Holmes Street of Tiger Bay. Next up is California Square Tarmac.

Title holders Stella Maris, North Georgetown, St. Angela’s and South Ruimveldt were in winners’ row as play in the 2nd installment of the Smalta / Ministry of Public Health G irls U -11 F ootball Competition opened yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Stella Maris playing in the first fixture of the day was led to victory through a brace from Ludesha Reynolds, who netted in the 2nd and 12th minutes in their 2-0 win over against St. Agnes.

In other results, South Ruimveldt overpowered Sophia Primary 5-0 with Angel Davis and Lenisa John hitting in a pair each in the fifth and 25th and 13th and

22nd minutes respectively.

Sheniah Kingston 20th minute strike completed their tally.

North Georgetown romped to a comfortable 3-0 victory over St. Margaret’s.

Shamiya Daniels led the way with a pair in the 3rd and 19th minutes, while Angel Denny added the other in the 15th minute.

St. Angela’s beat F.E Pollard by a 4-0 margin.

Maya Adams recorded a brace in the 8th and 18th minutes, while Teandra Mingo and Tianna Cato scored in the 12th and 15th minutes respectively.

St. Stephen’s defeated Enterprise via walkover, while St. Pius defeated Winfer Garden via the identical route.

The matchup between

Smith Memorial and St. Ambrose was declared a no contest, while Tucville and West Ruimveldt battled to a 1-1 draw.

Shania McBean opened the scoring in the 3rd minute for Tucville, while Gabriella McGarrell responded for West Ruimveldt in the 9th minute.

Action in the event is slated to continue on Saturday at the same venue.

Winner of the event will receive the championship trophy and medals, while the second placed unit will walk away with the corresponding trophy and medals. The third and fourth placed unit will collect the respective trophy.

Individual prizes for outstanding players will be up for grabs.

Office Pro supports NEE Futsal Tournament -Semi-finals held last night Office Pro, Designs and Supplies offered support to the ongoing New Era Entertainment (NEE) second Stag/Cell Smart Futsal Knockout tournament, ahead of last night’s semi-final showdown at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court in Linden.

One of the NEE Directors, Aubrey Major Jr. received the sponsorship and thanked Office Pro for their continued support. The tournament last night hosted semi-final games after the quarterfinals were held the night before.

East Side Jammers beat Mike Stars Friday night to set up a semi-final showdown with Silver Bullets that beat Dave and Celina. Meanwhile, Trendsetters defeated High Rollers to set up a clash with Magic Stars that got pass Show Stoppers.

The winners will pocket $250,000 while the second

Managing Director of Office Pro, Designs and Office Supplies, Stephen Greaves (left) hand over a trophy to NEE Director, Aubrey Major Jr. in Linden. place team takes home $150,000. The third and fourth place teams in the 13team competition get $75,000 and $50,000 respectively, along with trophies.

In addition, prizes will be

awarded to the Best Goalkeeper and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. There will be exhibition games for schools and mining companies during the competition.

Sunday November 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 85

WICB PCL Cricket (Day 2)

Jacobs’ unbeaten 63 helps Jaguars to 419-9 declared Hurricanes on shaky ground on 48-4 despite Joseph’s 5-wkt haul

By Sean Devers The Leewards Hurricanes lost four wickets for one run to slump to 26-4 before reaching 48-4 replying to Guyana Jaguars’ 419-9 declared on the second day of their second round WICB PCL four-day First-Class Cricket Franchise at Providence as the home team dominated the day.

The 27 year-old Steven Jacobs, who made his FirstClass debut in Grenada in 2006 as an opening batsman, returned to form with his fourth half century, an unbeaten 63 with nine fours from 129 minutes and 87 minutes and shared in vital

partnerships with Anthony Bramble (42) and Ronsford Beaten (18) to help push the Jaguars to a 400 plus total before they declared nine minutes after Tea. This was after 18-yearold Alzarri Joseph had picked up his first five wicket haul (5-99) in his third First-Class match and off-spinner Jacques Taylor supported with 3-70.

Vice Captain Vishaul Singh carried his overnight 111 to 150 and added 73 with his first day partner Chris Barnwell who took his 19 to 48.

When the Hurricanes began their reply, Barnwell removed Shane Jeffers, who

had been batting in workman like fashion for an hour and 26 minutes, caught and bowled for nine in the 21st over to trigger a dramatic collapse with saw four wickets tumble for one run after the new ball pair of Ronsford Beaten and Raymon Reifer had both produced frugal spells as the openers struggled to get the ball away on a fast outfield and sluggish pitch.

Tr i n i d a d i a n D a r o n Cruickshank (0) was LBW in the same over as two wickets fell at 25-2 before 20-year-old left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie got rid of Jamaican Nkrumah Bonner and Orlando Peters for duck

Barrington slams century on opening day Opener Shemroy Barrington stroked a fine century to guide Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) to a challenging 293 all out against Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) first division two-day tournament sponsored by Star Party Rentals, Trophy Stall and General Industrial and Supplies Enterprise commenced yesterday.

Barrington stroked fourteen fours in a fluent 101

after MSC were inserted at the Everest Cricket Club.

Barrington who executed a number of handsome shots on both sides of the pitch was supported by Joseph Cupidore who made 49, Kellon Carmichael 33, Shaquille Moseley 23 and T. Thompson 22 as Mark Hamilton bagged 6-74 and Surendra Hirallall 2-37.

At Stumps GYO were 38 without loss with Hiralall on 13 and Chris Deonarine on 12.

Play continues today.

Shemroy Barrington

as two more wickets tumbled a run later as the Jaguars took control.

Opener Sherwin Peters (15) and Steve Liburd, who launched an attack on the bowlers and was especially severe on Jacobs, who bowled too flat and fast, struck four fours in a 17-ball 20 and this pair will have a lot work to do to prevent the visitors, still 371 behind the Jaguars’ score, from being asked to follow-on today.

Earlier, the Jaguars resumed on 218-5 and Singh and Barnwell who joined forces on Friday afternoon at 193-5 when Reifer was bowled by Rahkeem Cornwall for a duck, extended their overnight stand to 73 before Barnwell, who played in a positive fashion and reached the boundary five times, edged the impressive Joseph to slip when two short of his sixth First-Class 50. The talented all-rounder faced 67 balls and batted for 80 minutes.

Anthony Bramble joined the rock solid Singh, who continued from where he left off on the first when he arrived at the crease 30 minutes after the game began on Friday and played much more fluently yesterday as he tucked the balls into the gaps nicely.

Bramble was just being to flow on 19, while Singh passed his previous highest score of 141 against T&T’ Red force in Port-of-Spain

Steven Jacobs drives for four during his fourth First-Class half century at Providence yesterday. last year and extended his second ton to 150 and his partnership with Bramble to 40 and the Jaguars seemed set to bat to lunch without further loss.

But on the stroke of Lunch the 26-year-old GCC batsman missed a sweep to Taylor and was bowled behind his back to leave his team on 306-7. Singh’s 150 spanned 385 balls and 450 minutes with 13 fours to end a magnificent innings.

After Lunch, the small gathering saw Bramble and Jacobs bat in a positive manner before Antiguan Joseph removed Bramble to another slip catch to leave the hosts on 365-8.

Jacobs began shakily but gained in confidence as his

innings progressed and his nine fours included an exquisitely timed straight drive off Joseph and a delightful cut off Taylor as he found a useful partner in Beaton who kept his company at the crease for 52 minutes.

The Malteenoes Captain, in his 22nd First-Class game, took the Jaguars to 400 just before Tea which was taken at 403-8 with Jacobs on 57 and Beaton on eight.

Beaton (18) who faced 38 balls and reached the boundary three times was dismissed by Taylor (3-70) nine minutes after Tea at which time the declaration was made.

Today is third day and play starts at 09:30hrs.

t r o Sp

Team Integrity secures GFF Presidency -Lumumba’s somersault flattens Team Unity chances

Newly elected President of the GFF Wayne Forde (3rd right) poses with executive members (from left) - Raiyan Farias, Keith O’Jeer, Dion Inniss, Bruce Lovell (Brig Ret’d) and Magzene Stewart yesterday at the Marriott Hotel.

Kristian Jeffrey, Matthew Vieira dominate qualifying sessions -Shan Seejattan grabs Group2 pole

Kristian Jeffrey Matthew Vieira

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