Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Time for CARICOM consensus choice is drawing close DEAR EDITOR, It is only a week away before the election of the important office of Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Caricom countries are still divided as to a lone candidate for the position and as a result Bahamas has announced that it will review its position when there is a Caribbean consensus.

Leaders of the 53 nation Commonwealth countries will meet between November 27 and 29 in Malta, when a new Secretary General will be named. This time around the leaders are looking for someone in the Caribbean to be chosen.

Unfortunately up to the time of writing, CARICOM is unable to come up with one single name since two persons from the region have announced their candidacy.

Guyanese born Sir Ronald Sanders, a senior diplomat has been nominated by Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica born Baroness Patricia Scotland, former Attorney General of the United

Kingdom is also in the race. A third regional candidate Bhoj Tiwari from Trinidad and Tobago withdrew from the race.

There is no doubt that Sir Ronald is the best candidate for the position because of his vast experience in international affairs. Dr. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, in his capacity as Chairman of OAS is calling on regional leaders to support Sanders. Reports state that only two countries in the region, Barbados and Dominica are backing the Baroness and therefore these countries should lend their support to Sanders.

Since the Caribbean is divided in its selection Australia is considering a compromise candidate while two African countries, Botswana and Tanzania may also enter the race.

Guyanese Sir Shridat Ramphal, served three terms as Commonwealth Secretary General from 1975 to1990. He is the only Caribbean national to hold such high office.

Oscar Ramjeet

Plea to Attorney Pieters to sue Trinidadian bullies DEAR EDITOR, I write about your report: Trinidadian Authorities racially profile Guyanese I hope Mr. Selwyn Pieters takes legal action against, not only against those officers directly involved but as well, their superiors – the ones responsible for them. It is about time that someone stand up to those Trinidadian bullies.

For years they have been treating Guyanese with contempt. Mr. Pieters is now in a position to send a very clear message that they ought to act professionally to all in transit Guyanese passengers.

They messed with the wrong guy. Mr. Pieters, who is well aware of his rights, is a respected lawyer in Canada and very active in equity and human rights issues.

June Veecock Retired Director of Human Rights Ontario Federation of Labour

GUYSUCO’S CEO HAS SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

DEAR EDITOR, It was disturbing to learn, according to a report in the November 4, 2015 edition of Stabroek News, that GuySuCo’s CEO advised that the Corporation failed to produce about 6,000 tonnes sugar arising from the sugar workers three (3) day protest action.

The goodly gentleman, who has worked for many years in sugar, could not have been factual as he is fully well aware that the disclosure is misleading.

The 3- day strike was from Sunday to Tuesday. It is a known fact that even in the best of times, turnout of harvesters on Sundays is less than 50% of a normal weekday turnout. It means that the CEO was alluding to almost 2,000 tonnes sugar being produced per day, including Sunday.

Let the CEO point to any Sunday in the life of GuySuCo where 2,000 tonnes

sugar was produced, or let him point to anytime that 6,000 tonnes were produced between Sunday and Tuesday of any week. How could the company fail to produce the sugar given that the canes remained in cultivation?

Additionally, it is GuySuCo that boasted perpetually in the past about “solid canes in the ground” whenever they could not achieve production levels due to their own mismanagement. However, it appears that the “solid cane in the ground” principle does not apply in the case of protest action. The hullabaloo lacks any basis and cannot withstand scrutiny.

The CEO is also reported to have said that the industry lost a further $38M arising from stale canes that either were discarded or deteriorated due to the workers action.

This like his previous

assertion cannot hold water.

Can the CEO advise the public whether any canes were discarded and if so where?

If there weren’t any discard of canes, he needs to provide empirical data that supports the extent of deterioration that resulted in 438 tonnes sugar being lost.

It is known that the factories process canes which have been burnt for over ten (10) days even though the sugar recovery is not 100 per cent.

Certainly canes burnt for about 3 to 4 days are still prime for sugar conversion. Is it that the CEO is being “intellectually dishonest”?

I also noticed that the Corporation disclosed that during the strike it utilized diesel costing some $12.6M to maintain its factories.

Using a price of $163 per litre for diesel, it meant that GuySuCo consumed about 77,300 litres of diesel during

the strike period. The article, however, made mention 3,000 liters per factory per day i.e.

63,000 litres over the period.

Is it that GuySuCo is purchasing diesel above market price or deliberately inflated its diesel consumption upon instruction from someone?

GuySuCo needs to explain.

Why does the top brass of the Corporation’s Management Team submit that the recent GAWU three (3) day strike was more effective than it was? Such portrayal is not in the interest of the Corporation.

Clearly, the credibility of the Corporation and the genuineness of their statements are under doubt in my view. The GuySuCo, through its reported statements, has inflicted further insult to the injuries already suffered by the sugar workers.

Alvin Pereira

Former PPP Executive says teachers and nurses underpaid for too long DEAR EDITOR, An optimist is someone who sees the glass as being half full rather than half empty. I consider myself as one of those who see the glass as half full. We are too rich in resources, both human and natural to be poor. More substantially, we have a literate and numerate population, thanks to significant investments in education by the previous administration, one that has been continued by the new APNUAFC government. As I read about the large number of students who graduated recently from the University of Guyana, I felt a renewed sense of optimism that the future of this country is assured. There is a saying that

one cannot be educated and poor at the same time. This is why investment in education is so critical for national development as the experience of countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and others have demonstrated.

We need to invest more in human resource training and development. The development of human capital is a sine qua non for social and economic development. Our teachers needed to be better paid and more resources should be put in measurement and evaluation not only of students but teachers as well.

There is an African saying that no nation can advance beyond the level of its

teachers. Let us pay our teachers more and as I am on it our nurses as well. For two long these two categories of workers have been underpaid having regard to the socially beneficial nature of their contribution to society.

Regardless of what some critics may wish to say, we have made significant progress over the past years.

We are no longer considered a poor underdeveloped country by the international

donor community which means that grants and other concessional funds are harder to come by. The good thing is that given our strong resource base and our potential for continued growth and development, there is every reason for optimism.

The challenge facing this current administration is to find ways of accelerating our growth momentum in a sustained way.

Hydar Ally

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 18, 2015

DDL, unions ink another multi-year agreement - Minimum wage hiked by 20%

By Jeanna Pearson Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) yesterday signed a Collective Labour Agreement with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), increasing its minimum wage by 20 percent.

The minimum wage was increased from $49, 741 to $60,000, while the company’s piece rate, meal allowances, third shift premium and leave passage assistance will be raised by more than seven percent.

The agreement was signed yesterday at the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour, Brickdam, in the presence of Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle, who approved its duration.

General Secretary of the GAWU, Seepaul Narine acclaimed the agreement as historic, given the industrial relation situation at this time.

He stated that while some employers are refusing to engage in collective bargaining, DDL, a private company, has not chosen that route, and has decided to engage the unions.

The agreement is set for five years—however, they

have virtually four years remaining, since this year is already at an end.

Nonetheless, at the end of the four years, the parties are expected to deliberate again on a new collective agreement.

Employees of DDL are expected to receive between five and seven percent increases in each year. Except in 2015, they are likely to benefit in a more significant way, because there were adjustments to the scale of 2015.

Narine posited that the increases create a positive attraction for this year. “...that makes it possible for employees to benefit even more than the five, six and seven (percent) we have agreed to, and all these increases are retroactive to January 1, 2015,” he said, adding that the employees were in a better position than the Chief Labour Officer and his staff, who will only benefit from half year.

He indicated that the piece rate will be increased by six percent each year.

“Those who would not have been receiving (increases) would now be receiving because of this agreement,” he added, saying that it is his expectation that the working agreement with the company will continue to

be constructive.

Human Resources Director of DDL, Moneeta Singh-Bird, said the company continues to lead the way in industrial relations, since it has been signing multi-year agreements, with the three Unions, since 2003.

“I think this is our fourth multi-year and multi-union agreement,” she said, noting that DDL was satisfied with the agreement because of the raised minimum wage.

“Obviously, jobs that are graded higher than the entry level jobs will receive more than $60,000. Persons who have been employed with the company can also get performance-based increases each year,” she announced, stating that DDL considers its employees important, and similarly, stakeholders in the company.

“We require a lot of our employees and together, as a team, we ensure that the company continues to thrive, even in sometimes difficult national and international environments.”

Presently, the minimum wage for public servants is $50,000 while the private sector starts at $35,000. The government, just months ago, declared a five percent plus $5000 increase on salaries. In the past, public servants implored the previous administration for a reasonable yearly increase, to no avail.

Ogle stated that the ministry has always made recommendations for multiyear agreements, indicating

Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle and DDL Human Resources Director, Moneeta Singh-Bird, shake hands on the agreement.

that a one-year agreement doesn’t augur well because of the limited time.

He said should there be inflation in Guyana in excess of 10%, the unions and DDL would re-negotiate, and the workers could anticipate or expect a further adjustment in their salaries to offset whatever the inflation would have exposed them to.

He said it is his opinion that the minimum wage be disregarded and a “living wage” be introduced. “We want people not to just survive and exist, but we want them to live,” he said.

He said that with the government increasing the public servants’ minimum wage, private sector employees should also enjoy

an increase. At this point, he signalled that the Ministry will be meeting shortly with the private sector to discuss salaries and wages adjustments.

“It is good to see collective bargaining alive in Guyana,” he said, adding that it was good to see that the parties were able to engage without intervention from the ministry. However, he highlighted that he did not see any statement on the conditions of working hours.

Head of the Guyana Labour Union Carvil Duncan thanked Ogle for affixing his signature to the agreement.

He also applauded the parties for being able to negotiate without a third party. “... and that is the spirit of

negotiations. Negotiation is not expected to go easily...it’s intended to have some obstacles, and if you can overcome them you can move forward,” he said.

About the negotiation, Duncan reflected that even though it appeared to be protracted at times, and there were thoughts to seek advice from the Ministry of Social Protection, the parties battled through the meetings without the ministry’s intervention.

“That’s a clear indication that there is maturity on the side of the management and in the unions. It is my expectation that the maturity demonstrated during the negotiation will continue to be demonstrated throughout the life of the agreement.”

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Ban on Israeli Islamist group raises risk of Arab minority backlash Reuters - In outlawing its most strident Islamist group, Israel risks angering its largely quiescent Arab citizens as it confronts a wave of Palestinian violence powered by religious and political tensions.

The relative popularity of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, banned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet yesterday, has troubled Israel as it tries to curb street attacks raging for the past seven weeks.

Leaders of the Israeli Arab minority declared a commercial strike for tomorrow in protest at the ban and accused Netanyahu of scapegoating their community rather than addressing the Palestinians’ grievances and statehood demands.

“Netanyahu wants to rebrand the conflict as a religious conflict,” Ayman Odeh, head of the Joint Arab List faction in the Israeli parliament, said in a speech. “This is nothing more than antidemocratic, political persecution.”

Another Israeli Arab lawmaker, Haneen Zoabi, suggested the Netanyahu was capitalising on international security jitters after Islamist militants killed 129 people in Paris on Friday - charges the government denied.

Netanyahu contends that

Benjamin Netanyahu the Islamic Movement’s northern section, which unlike its southern branch refuses to recognise Israel’s legitimacy, has encouraged assaults on Israelis. Its leader has said it will take legal action against the ban.

Since the start of last month, 14 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians. At least 78 Palestinians, 47 of them assailants according to police, have been killed by security forces at scenes of the assaults and many others in protests in the occupied West Bank and near the Gaza border.

The violence has been fuelled by Palestinian allegations - denied by Israel - of a government plot to erode

Muslim control of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque complex, which Jews revere as vestige of their biblical temples.

Netanyahu has accused the northern section of inciting the violence with its “Al Aqsa is in danger” rallying cry. The ban sits well with Netanyahu’s far-right partners in a coalition that governs with a one-seat parliamentary majority.

Yet Israel’s own Shin Bet security service is worried that the ban could backfire, a political source told Reuters.

Given Israeli surveillance and prosecution of citizens suspected of abetting the Palestinian attacks, one expert on Israeli Arab opinion also cast doubt on the need for the crackdown.

“Why outlaw the group when individual perpetrators can always be nabbed?” said Haifa University sociology professor Sammy Smooha, who conducts regular surveys of Israeli Arabs.

He said that while 9 percent of his respondents cited the northern Islamic Movement as the group they most identified with, 42.2 percent expressed more generalised support for its ideas and charitable work in an often neglected community.

“This ban will cause friction and resistance,” Smooha said.

Turkey’s Erdogan asks PM Davutoglu to form new government Reuters - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gave Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu the mandate yesterday to form a new government following a Nov. 1 snap election in which the ruling AK Party regained its parliamentary majority.

Erdogan, who helped found the mildly Islamist AKP more than a decade ago, hopes the party’s return to power after it briefly lost its majority in a June election will enable him to overhaul Turkey’s constitution and set up a strong executive presidency.

Davutoglu, who met Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, is expected to name his ministers today or tomorrow, with the new cabinet likely to be packed with Erdogan loyalists.

However, critically for investors who have been unnerved by some of Erdogan’s comments on the economy, Davutoglu is expected to keep control of his economic team.

Ahmet Davutoglu Insiders say the government will prioritise efficiency and reforms, something investors and analysts have been calling for amid fears over a steady weakening of the rule of law in Turkey, a NATO member which also aspires to join the European Union.

“This will be a cabinet that will undertake reforms. There will be clear messages on that.

Davutoglu will signal that fiscal discipline and current

economy policies will continue,” a senior official said.

Whether former deputy prime minister Ali Babacan, the darling of investors, retains a leading role in managing the economy is seen as a key barometer of how much influence Erdogan wields.

Babacan, widely seen as a steady hand, has frequently found himself at odds with Erdogan’s demands to cut interest rates in recent months against the background of a plunging lira currency and deep political uncertainty.

“It looks like Babacan will have a seat in the cabinet but the decision lies with Erdogan and Davutoglu. This is one of the most critical issues,” the senior official said.

To the surprise of many commentators the AKP won nearly 50 percent of the vote on Nov. 1, returning Turkey to single-party government after months of fruitless efforts by the parties to build a coalition following the inconclusive June poll.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Police smash major crime gang France, Russia strike Islamic State; Hollande, Putin to meet

People assemble to observe a minute of silence near candles in the color of the French flag at the Place du Capitole in Toulouse, France, Monday, as they pay tribute to the victims of the series of deadly attacks in the French capital on Friday.

Reuters - France and Russia bombed Islamic State targets in Syria yesterday, punishing the group for attacks in Paris and against a Russian airliner that together killed 353 people, and made the first tentative steps towards a possible military alliance.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a coordinated onslaught in Paris on Friday and the downing of a Russian charter jet over Sinai on Oct. 31, saying they were in retaliation for French and Russian air raids in Iraq and Syria.

Still reeling from the Paris carnage that killed 129 people, France formally requested European Union assistance in its battle and Prime Minister David Cameron edged closer to extending military action against Islamic State in Syria.

Police investigating the worst atrocity in France since World War Two discovered two locations in Paris where they believe the militants launched their assault. Underlining the widening scope of the probe, police in Ger-

many said they had arrested seven suspects, including two women.

In Moscow, the Kremlin acknowledged that a bomb had destroyed a Russian airliner last month, killing 224 people. President Vladimir Putin vowed to hunt down those responsible and intensify air strikes against Islamists in Syria.

“Our air force’s military work in Syria must not simply be continued,” he said. “It must be intensified in such a way that the criminals understand that retribution is inevitable.”

Syrian targets hit by Russian long-range bombers and cruise missiles yesterday included the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa. In a separate action, French warplanes targeted Raqqa for a second day running.

Paris and Moscow are not coordinating their operations, but French President Francois Hollande has called for a global campaign against the radicals in the wake of the Paris attacks.

The Kremlin said Putin spoke to Hollande by tele-

phone and had ordered the Russian navy to establish contact with a French naval force heading to the eastern Mediterranean, led by an aircraft carrier, and to treat them as allies.

“We need to work out a plan with them of joint sea and air actions,” Putin told military chiefs.

Russia began air strikes in Syria at the end of September. It has always said its main target is Islamic State, but most of its bombs in the past have hit territory held by other groups opposed to its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Hollande will visit Putin in Moscow on Nov. 26, two days after the French leader is due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington to push for a concerted drive against Islamic State, which controls swathes of Syria and Iraq.

A French presidential source said Hollande also spoke by phone to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who backed calls for a united front against the militants.

Iran is Assad’s closest ally.

- Wanted men found in Berbice hotel with teen girls Police in Berbice have arrested six persons in a hotel including three wanted men and three teenage girls, in what can be described as the smashing of a major crime ring.

The arrests followed two recent high profile robberies that occurred in New Amsterdam. Two of the men are wanted for a robbery last Saturday morning while another is wanted for a heist at the N/A market last Thursday.

On Monday evening after making certain observations and gathering valuable information the cops swooped down on a popular hotel in New Amsterdam.

The known characters, including a deportee, were found inside the hotel along with three teenage girls. The girls aged 16, 17 and 19 years were found in separate rooms with the men.

On Thursday last, around 08:30 hrs, a lone gunman described as a ‘red skin man’ wearing a red shirt and black pants had robbed the popular Hack’s Variety Stall of approximately $2M. He fired a shot before escaping out of the market and joined an accomplice on a motorcycle and fled the scene.

A number of persons were arrested and subsequently

released as the police investigation gathered momentum.

Meanwhile, on Saturday morning around 01:20 hrs, three bandits armed with guns and cutlasses invaded the home of 38-year-old businessman Nicholas Harrinandan, owner of JN Supermarket, and his wife, Uwattie Harrinandan, a teacher, at Lot 22/23 Nurseville Housing Scheme, Tucber Park, New Amsterdam. .

During the home invasion, the bandits dealt Harrinandan several chops about his head and face.

The victim in return armed himself with a chopper and dealt 26-year-old Brian Dhanphat - a known character of Smythfield, New Amsterdam, Berbice - chop wounds to his head, face, hand and foot. The bandit who got trapped behind a wall divider fell to the ground screaming for help.

Dhanphat who was arrested in the businessman’s house was taken to the New Amsterdam hospital for emergency treatment. At the hospital he stated that his two cohorts were Kevin Sandy and Troyden Trellis.

He had also told those present that he was kidnapped and taken to rob the business premises.

Dhanphat was discharged

from the New Amsterdam Hospital on Tuesday. Realizing that his first set of “tunes” were not gelling, the career bandit changed his tune, and began singing that he was in the businessman’s house because of a drug deal which did not work out when he was caught in the fracas.

The other man found in the hotel, fits the description of the man who robbed the stall in the New Amsterdam market.

A motor cycle used by the men was also seized. It was found at a n a b a n d o n e d gas station opposite the hotel.

According to a source, the capture of the men represents a significant headway into the smashing of a major criminal gang that was creating havoc in and around New Amsterdam, Corentyne and West Berbice.

The men are suspected to be involved in the A. Ally and Sons robbery which occurred on July 14, where over $3.7M and US$2300 was taken as the business entity was about to deposit the money in a bank in New Amsterdam.

The men are also suspected to be associated with the discharging of a loaded firearm outside of a New Amsterdam night club recently.

Men allegedly busted with cocaine in hotel remanded Two men, who were found with a quantity of cocainefilled pellets at an Alpha International Hotel, at Ogle East Bank Demerara, were yesterday remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to a conspiracy charge.

Herbert Smith, 44, of Lot 3464 North Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown and Dwayne Adams, 35, of Lot 38 Wills Street, Golden Grove, were jointly charged with conspiring to traffic 848 grammes of cocaine. They were allegedly found with the drug on November 13, at the aforementioned hotel.

Smith and Adams were both remanded to prison by City Magistrate Judy Latchman, despite a compelling bail application made by their Attorney, Peter Hugh.

The defendants will return to court on December 7, when they will appear before the Chief Magistrate.

During the bail application, Hugh highlighted that Adams has since admitted to ownership of the narcotic, while Smith said he had nothing to do with the drug. The Attorney argued that the men are charged under the wrong section of the narcotic act. In explaining this, Hugh informed the court that his clients should have been charged for narcotic trafficking, instead of conspiracy to traffic a narcotic.

He affirmed that if Adams was charged for drug trafficking he would have pleaded guilty.

However, the lawyer’s bail application was opposed by the prosecution, led by Police Corporal Bharrat Mangru. He argued that the special reasons put forward by the Attorney were not sufficient for the court to consider bail. Mangru said that the police are in possession of a caution

statement given by Adams.

Mangru pointed out that in the statement Adams admitted to having knowledge and ownership of the cocaine. The prosecutor also informed the court that Adams confessed to the police that he had swallowed 27 of the cocaine-laced pellets.

The court was told that the man was hospitalized at the Woodlands Hospital, where he excreted the pellets.

In concluding, Mangru added that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised that the men be charged with conspiracy to traffic the drug.

Kaieteur News had earlier reported that the two men were busted at the hotel by ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit(CA N U ) hours before they were scheduled to board a flight destined for New York’s JFK Airport.

It was reported that 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.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Man wanted for Bandits beat Sophia man for killing wanted man three hours during robbery

WANTED: Trevor Anthony Amsterdam

DEAD: Jermaine Roberts

One week after a wanted man was shot and subsequently died, police yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for the man who allegedly killed him.

The bulletin issued is for Trevor Anthony Amsterdam called Solgee who the police say is wanted in relation to investigations into the murder of Jermaine Simon which occurred on November 10, 2015, at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Trevor Anthony Amsterdam is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 227-2128, 226-1389, 226-7065, 2269941, 225-8196, 911 or the nearest police station.

The police have stated that all information will be treated with strict confidence. The now wanted man resided in the bottom flat of lot 34 Norton Street, Bagotstown, and according to villagers, is a member of a gang dubbed ‘A menace to society’. His home went up in flames hours after he was identified by witnesses as the trigger man who shot and killed Roberts, who was wanted at the time.

The two are said to have been friends who became long time rivals over a woman and the now wanted man has gone into hiding after being accused of shooting his rival.

Armed bandits in the Sophia area continue their merciless rampage, this time beating self-employed farmer Deryck Halley before making off with his two Honda CG motorcycles, US and local currency among other items on Monday night.

For Halley, the ordeal, which lasted for close to three hours, will remain etched in his memory for life, especially since it was the second time in two years that he has suffered a similar fate.

And to make matters worse, the police showed up some two hours after the bandits left, with Halley claiming that he had tried to contact them at the Turkeyen and Sparendaam Police Stations as well as the Impact Headquarters at Brickdam shortly after the incident.

Recounting the ordeal yesterday, Halley who lives alone, told this newspaper that it was around 21:00 hours when he returned to his lot 14 North Sophia home and was confronted by the bandits.

“The place was very dark and I did not see them coming, but after I came off my bike and was about to open the gate, one of them placed a gun to my head and told me to open the gate,”

Halley said.

But the men were impatient, as one of them lashed him to the head with a gun and grabbed the keys from his hand and opened the gate himself. The bandit even opened the door of the bottom flat of Halley’s house and dragged him inside.

Once in the house, they ordered him to remain silent and then began their merciless assault. Halley said the men demanded cash.

“They want to know where the money was. ‘Wheh de money deh?’ they keep asking. I said I don’t know where the money deh. Then they say they gon kill me,” he recalled.

The men proceeded to rummage through a backpack he had on him at the time, grabbing his several bank cards and his New York City, Virginia State and local driver’s licences, along with other documents.

Halley said the men became frustrated at not finding any cash in the bottom flat, so they tried to drag him upstairs, but he held on to a rail for dear life, despite receiving a number of blows about his body.

“They keep telling me that they will kill me if they don’t

Dem boys seh...

Dem got nuff wuk fuh young people Nuff young people claiming that dem can’t get wuk. Some of dem seh that dem apply fuh wuk and de only answer dem does get is that dem must wait fuh a call.

Dem don’t realize that from de time dem do de interview de boss done know that nuff of dem ain’t fit de bill. Dem either wrong talk or dem give de wrong answer to a simple question.

And dem got people who quick to seh that Guyana ain’t got wuk fuh young people.

Nobody don’t consider teaching or nursing or

policing or de army as wuk.

Dem need teachers like how a shirt need a button, and everybody know that de police force short. Of course, nuff people does call police dog wuk.

Well dem boys prefer to carry home a small piece than to carry home nutten. Some young people does go to an interview and when dem hear how much money dem gun get when de month done dem don’t go back.

Who would think it wise to stay home and don’t earn a cent when dem friends can

actually buy a coke?

But wha actually happen is that dem young people watch dem old Minister who had nuff money, suh de same young people think that dem got a right to get big money too. Dem see de people big house and dem think that dem must get de same big house.

Nuff young women throw decency through de window and go out wid some big man who got two cents. Jagdeo is a big man who got more than two cents.

Nuff young gyal use to sit down and smile wid him. De

Chat-3 couldn’t try that because he got other interest.

Some young men decide that dem gun drive minibus and dem who got a University degree does be de best driver.

That is why Soulja Bai got to mek sure that he raise de pay fuh dem jobs that de same young people not tekking.

Pay teachers good, pay police good, and bet you last dollar that nobody ain’t gun talk bout no jobs fuh young people.

Talk half and watch how young people gun find jobs.

get any money,” Halley recalled.

Eventually, one of the bandits went upstairs and after awhile, he came back with a bag containing valuables, all of which Halley cannot determine up to now.

The men continued to beat Halley while taking turns to go upstairs to search for more loot. He said that eventually they found some cash—US$1500 and GY$2100. They also took away his two cellular phones.

Not satisfied, the men turned their attention to Halley’s two Honda CG motorcycles.

According to the victim, the men, who had already secured the key to the bike that Halley came home with, demanded the key to the other one that was parked in the yard. He said that after grabbing that key, the men took him outside and ordered him to start the motorcycle.

Halley said he tried to be

smart by turning off the bike’s gasoline supply in an attempt to stall them, hoping that someone would realize what was happening and call the police.

But eventually the men saw through his trick and after dealing him a few more blows, they started the motorcycle themselves and made good their escape.

Halley, meanwhile, went back into his home and tried to contact the police “This thing went on till 12 o’clock. These men tie me up and although I tell them to take what they want, they kept beating me. The police was another story,” Halley lamented. He said that the police eventually showed up at his home around 02:00 hours and took a brief statement from him.

“The police have not returned to examine my house properly…all the blood still left,” he said, indicating at his blood-stained floor.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 18, 2015

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The APNU-AFC Government is becoming inscrutable The recent diplomatic appointments are another worrying sign that the new Government elected in May, may not be properly moored in the waters of political sensibility. If any decision is bizarre and unfathomable since the coalition took office, it is the appointment of Halim Majeed to be our ambassador to Cuba. No doubt young people may have asked the question, Halim who?

There are some basic considerations that go into diplomatic postings. Obama has been accused of departing from that tradition by awarding ambassadorship to persons who were heavy contributors to his campaign.

In other words, Foreign Service Officers were overlooked. But Obama has

simply continued a tradition in American diplomacy. Most presidents have rewarded business people who contributed to the election campaign. One remembers the media frenzy when President Ronald Reagan appointed his fellow Hollywood actor, John Gavin, as the US envoy to Mexico.

Generally, Presidents and Prime Ministers in perhaps all the countries in the world bestow ambassadorships on close friends. But in many instances there is a logical underpinning.

Take John Gavin. He was just a film actor when he got the job, but he was a popular actor, known in Mexico and around the world. And his mother was Mexican. Obama appointed a Kennedy to

Japan. Obviously, her name should make her effective.

Many envoys are from the business community where it is hoped that they would use their connections to gain investments Small countries have a special need that developed states don’t suffer from. They have to post talented people to important countries where trade concessions and aid assistance are vital. It may not be wise for a Prime Minister or President of a developing state to take a beauty queen and put her in the United Nations. She may smile more than talk.

Forbes Burnham was a perfect example of the search for skilled intellectuals to represent Guyana abroad.

Burnham never joked around

with diplomatic postings. He made sure his choices were either experienced or highly educated.

Cheddi Jagan, on the other hand, stunned Guyana when shortly after becoming president; he put his friend Brindley Benn as High Commissioner to Canada.

Benn was a die-hard, unchanging communist and Cuba was the logical choice.

This was in contrast to Burnham, who appointed a UG professor, Dr. Robert Moore, to Canada.

Most of Mr. Burnham’s Ambassadors were highly educated people. Among them were E. R. Braithwaite, author of the famous, “To Sir with Love,’ who was posted to the UN; Sir John Carter (US, UK, China); Dr. Ann Jardim (Brazil); Sir Lionel Luckhoo (UK); Frank Campbell (Cuba).

The list also included, Winifred Gaskin, H.B. Gajraj, Pat Thompson; Noel Sinclair, Cecil Pilgrim, Hubert Jack, all prominent Guyanese.

Mr. Hamley Case to the UK seems fine. This is a Guyanese with a wealth of foreign business experience.

The Clarissa Riehl choice at first glance doesn’t seem plausible. But she is a longserving PNC activist who is a prominent lawyer and one that has remained in Guyanese politics the past twenty-three years when the PNC was in opposition.

The Halim Majeed choice is extremely disconcerting.

Mr. Majeed, who should be in his sixties, left Guyana a long time ago, and is based in the US. He has been inactive in politics for decades now, and as far as I know, is not involved in constant commentary on Caribbean affairs or international politics.

I would be more than eager to hear a justification of how this man could be Ambassador to Cuba, given the availability both APNU and the AFC have of young people with university training in international relations. What about serving Foreign Service Officers?

This choice may be more than inexplicable. It may be mysterious.

At a time when we have an aggressive border threat from a neighbour, we need a

Frederick Kissoon highly skilled diplomat in Cuba. The logic is simple.

Cuba is the strongest ally in world politics that Venezuela has. Guyana has been a strong friend of Cuba. What is needed here is diplomatic finesse. It is virtually a minefield. You have to keep Cuba from openly siding with Venezuela knowing full well that Cuba will not distance itself from Venezuela. Majeed was a presidential assistant to Forbes Burnham in 1976, and through Majeed’s mentor, Ranji Chandisingh, he would have made contacts with important officials in Cuba. But that was forty years ago.

Those officials may have long retired. The Majeed thing calls into question just how well grounded this new government is, as Dr. David Hinds often writes on. Are there more mysteries in store for us?

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Skeldon sugar Stelling vendors to be factory is our very relocated to Stabroek Square own humpty dumpty - Finance Minister “Skeldon has turned out to be our very own humpty dumpty,” says Finance Minister Winston Jordan as he shared his thoughts on some of the blunders made in the sugar industry under the previous administration.

For years, under the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had been performing poorly, several sugar estates were failing to meet weekly and annual production targets. The management of the Stateowned company, among other factors, was blamed for the industry’s poor health.

The Finance Minister in a recent interview opined that “nothing could possibly put this humpty dumpty (Skeldon factory) back together again.”

“I think we have remained silent on these issues for too long. Whether in hindsight or foresight, Skeldon was just a huge mistake. It had several problems compounding it as far as I am concerned.”

Jordan said that the major issue with the factory, in his estimation, would have to be the construction of the estate itself.

“I think that is perhaps a very major issue. The whole thing was not thought through properly anyhow. A significant part of its success in aiding in the improved production of the industry depended on private cane farmers planting cane to feed it. So even if Skeldon were working perfectly, there would still be the issue with feeding it with the required amount of cane, because a significant part of that cane cultivation would have been done by private cane farmers, and we would have had to bring a whole set of acreage under cultivation.”

Jordan said that in hindsight, one of the major issues, is trying to get the Skeldon sugar factory operating at the efficiency levels that were touted by the former administration.

“Skeldon can’t even operate at the efficiency levels of the old estates. So that is a real issue. Do you how much money has been spent on trying to bring back Skeldon?

In trying to get it to do the things it was constructed to do? According to the figures I have seen, it is millions upon millions of dollars.”

He added, “We had the Indians and the South African consultants, among others

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan here, to try and fix this one sugar estate, and then there was talk about bringing Cubans. I mean you would have run the entire gamut of consultants in trying to fix it.

It’s the old humpty dumpty situation. All the kings’ horses and men couldn’t bring it to what it was intended or established to do. Skeldon is our very own humpty dumpty.”

The Finance Minister noted that for the year, there has already been some $12B that was transferred to GuySuCo. He stated that based on just direct cash transfers, over the past five years, there has been over $25B pumped into GuySuCo and that is excluding the loans being serviced by the government for the Skeldon Factory.

“It is government that is servicing those Skeldon loans, and it was supposed to be GuySuCo, from the projected increase it would have been making from increased production from Skeldon. So since GuySuCo cannot do it, we have to service it. GuySuCo does not have the money to do it. So you see, these are issues which have to be put out there, because I think it’s too long they were hidden.”

The Finance Minister said that the crux of the matter is that government will have to determine how long it would continue in this vein, that is to say, continued bailouts for the sugar industry.

“When you do this you keep postponing investments in other areas.”

Jordan asserted that loans for the construction of the $200M Skeldon Sugar Factory came from “all over the place,” as some were had from the Caribbean Development Bank and “the Chinese” among others.

“We are nowhere near paying off the Skeldon loans and we paid this year too. I would have to get back to you on the numbers, but we paid millions.”

On Monday, staffers of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Force Account Unit (FAU) resurfaced the area in front of Stabroek Market.

According to the ministry, the exercise was initiated following a request from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for the relocation of the vendors from the dilapidated market stelling to the square in front of Demico House.

The stelling, adjoining the Stabroek Market, is falling apart and there is a plan to conduct repairs.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Govt. willfully dividing Hindu community - PPP

By Abena Rockcliffe Despite the fact that the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, went to great lengths to explain the factors taken into consideration in pronouncing November 10 as Diwali, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is accusing him, and by extension the Government, of willfully causing division in the Hindu community.

Ramjattan is the Minister empowered, under the Public Holidays Act, to declare National holidays in Guyana.

At his most recent press conference, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee indicated that the party’s Central Committee reviewed recent developments on the religious front as it relates to Diwali. He said that after careful consideration, the committee resolved that the APNU+AFC government “unnecessarily and willfully generated controversy concerning the dates for celebrating the Hindu religious holiday of Diwali.”

Leading up to Diwali, there was much controversy over the official date. While the Ministry of Public Security gazetted the date as November 10, the Guyana

Hindu Dharmic Sabha had contended that Diwali should fall on November 11.

Rohee said that the party considered this move by the government as “political and divisive, reminiscent of the situation that obtained in the 1960’s which saw the emergence of Hindu and Muslim political parties to fight the PPP electorally.”

Rohee said that the PPP decided that the actions of the government were merely a smokescreen to divide the Hindu community with a long term political objective in mind. He did not specify what political objective might be obtained by “dividing the Hindu community.”

Rohee also stated that efforts to “publicly profile a section of the Muslim community as supportive of the APNU+AFC are fraught with political motives.”

The General Secretary said that his party will continue to monitor these developments and offer support when it sees it necessary or whenever called upon by representatives of religious bodies. Rohee said that this is the part the PPP will play to ensure that unity prevails.

Even though the Ministry

of Social Cohesion had nothing to do with the entire episode surrounding the dates, Rohee called the Ministry’s integrity into question.

He said that the PPP will look to ensure that the “socalled Ministry of Social Cohesion does not succeed in its divisive, manipulative, deceitful and bribe-sharing efforts to divide Guyanese socially and politically along religious lines ostensibly for electoral purposes.”

Interestingly, the PPP is the only political force in Guyana that keeps pushing ethnic issues. In this regard Minister Ramjattan had called on the PPP, during budget debates, to quit pushing ethnic division.

When he announced that he would not budge in his decision to declare November 10 as the date for Diwali, Ramjattan said that he arrived at his decision following consultations with various authorities on the subject, both locally and abroad.

Ramjattan said that he received a letter dated June 16, 2015 informing him that based on the zodiac constellations in the Hindu calendar (Drik Panchang), the

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

correct date for Deepavali is November 10, 2015 and not November 11, 2015, as shown on certain calendars.

This letter was written by a respected and well known Pandit Rabindranath Persaud, (Ravi), Head of the Hindu Organization called the Viraat Sahba.

This letter also informed him that at a meeting held on June 4, 2015, at the Guyana Pandits Council, senior Pandits and Mandir leaders approved November 10, 2015

as the rightful date for the observation of this Hindu Festival of Lights.

The Minister said that apart from the signature of Pandit Ravi, other senior Hindu representatives attached their signatures at the end of that letter.

Ramjattan said too, Trinidad and Tobago had roughly the same situation as Guyana. He said he contacted an associate in that country to request of the powerful Hindu Leader Pandit Sat

Maraj to find out what was their computation. The communication he received was that Tuesday November 10 was when Deepavali would be celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago.

The President of the Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindyha Persaud, had communicated her disappointment to Ramjattan in him declaring Deepavali on November 10.

In a subsequent interview, Persaud opined that the matter could have been handled better and there should have been more broad-based consultations.

She said that if the largest single Hindu organization could be ignored, then Government was not serious about cohesiveness.

“We did send a petition and we did not receive the courtesy of a response. That included some 4000 signatures, and included in those signatures were pandits and religious devotees, countrywide.

Some 150 Mandirs signed on and were joined by the Guyana Arya Sabha, the Hare Krishna movement,” Persaud said.

Robb Street Granny murder trial…

Accused had complained of police beatings – witness A police witness testifying in the matter for which four persons are accused of killing 72-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris has disclosed that the number one accused, Orwin Hinds, had complained of sustaining blows at the hands of the police while in custody.

Police Corporal David Hunte was called to the stand yesterday by State Prosecutors Teshana Lake and Narissa Leander.

Hunte told the court that in 2011, he transported a group of prisoners from the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to the Camp Street Prisons. He said that among the prisoners was Orwin Hinds.

He recalled that while at the reception area of the Georgetown Prison, Hinds lodged a complaint. He told the court that the prisoner had a bump on his forehead and he complained that he had sustained this at the hands of the police.

Hunte said that he had taken a statement from the accused to this effect, but noted that the man had not sustained his injury while in his custody.

The officer also stated that he did not know what led the prisoner to lodge the complaint at the reception

MURDERED: Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris area of the Georgetown Prisons.

Meanwhile, Prison Officer Marvin Tyrell related that he had examined Roy Jacobs, the number four accused, prior to his admission to the Georgetown Prisons. Tyrell related that in addition to a tattoo, Jacobs had scars on his back, and both arms.

He said however that he could not say whether the marks were old or new from looking at them. The prison officer related too that Jacobs did not enter the prisons with any stitches, neither did he lodge any complaints on his arrival to the jail.

Orwin Hinds, called “Red Man,” of Burnham

Boulevard, Mocha, East Bank Demerara; Kevin October called, “Troy,” of Second Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara; Cleon Hinds, and Roy Jacobs called “Chippie” or “Black Boy” of Evans Street, Charlestown, are facing Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury, at the High Court in Georgetown for the murder of Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris.

Fiedtkou-Parris was shot and killed in her home on June 30, 2011, by gunmen, who were reportedly hired to end her life over a property dispute. On the day of the shooting, two men reportedly went to the woman’s Lot 42 Robb Street residence and requested an audience with her.

Upon hearing the persons requesting her presence, she moved to the door. The gunmen opened fire at her, hitting her several times about the body.

It was reported that after the shooting, the suspects made their escape in a waiting car.

The men were purportedly caught on video camera committing the act.

The gunmen were reportedly paid to end the woman’s life.

The accused are being represented by Attorneys -atLaw, George Thomas, Moti Singh, Raymond Alli and Maxwell Mc Kay.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Health officials hear Guyana “doing very well” in immunization The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) 31st Managers Meeting began yesterday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel and will see discussions on universal vaccination coverage and analysis of member countries’ 2015 achievements.

The meeting is being held in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Guyana Family Gender and Life Course Department, and the Comprehensive Family Immunization Unit. There are participants from 29 countries, inclusive of the United States and representatives from PAHO/WHO region office in Washington D.C., along with officials from the Public Health Ministry.

During the four days, participants will deliberate on issues of universal vaccination coverage, progress of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) elimination, sustaining polio eradication, maternal immunization, data quality, cold chain and programme management, new vaccines and programme activities and experiences.

Public Health Minister George Norton, in his feature address at the opening ceremony, said his ministry’s renewed intention to the promotion to primary health care, and a need for higher level of participation from the communities in areas of health, has changed the ministry’s outlook, and turned its focus to building capacity at the primary

...as EPI Managers convene health care level.

“What is important to this country and its health care system is a sound primary health care system and this is precisely why there was a name change of the Ministry,” he said, adding that with a focus on advancing equity and universal access and coverage of health care “our mission is that all Guyanese, from both hinterland and coastal communities, have access to free, equitable and quality health care”.

With a close eye on this mission, Norton said the Ministry must examine the maternal and child health programme, and by extension the expanded programme of

$$M bids for Region One security services

During yesterday’s session at the National Procurement and Tender Administration (NPTA), Ministry of Finance, multi-million-dollar bids for security services for the Regional Democratic Council - Region One, Barima-Waini, were opened. There were three bids.

Bids were also opened for the supply and delivery of service connection materials under the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). The project was divided into four lots. The engineer’s estimate for lot one was $35,840,000. For lot two - $10,500,000; Lot three - $29M and lot four $13,917,000.

There were also bids opened for cleaning and maintenance services at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). There were four bids.

Meanwhile, bids were procured from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation for the supply and installation of two engines for the Rickford L II tug. Two companies submitted bids. The engineer’s estimate was $17,864,000.

Under the Ministry of Communities, there were bids for the rehabilitation of the Haslington/ Grove Market, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Region Four. The engineer’s estimate was $4,456,705.

immunization. He said the EPI is one of Guyana’s most successful programmes with coverage of 90%. Nevertheless, he indicated that there is still more work to be done.

Currently, the EPI Guyana programme provides protection from 16 antigens.

Norton noted that 2% out of 10% of the monies allocated to the Public Health Ministry goes to the immunization programme, and he would like to see more money poured into it, in order for them to achieve 100% coverage.

PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr William Adu- Krow said the EPI is considered a top priority and was not a “talk show” but a meeting where goals are made and achieved.

“EPI Managers meeting is not a talk show it is a lot of work,” he stated, adding that each year every country is expected to submit a report on their achievements.

“In immunization Guyana is doing very well...,” he said, adding that there was an evaluation done in effective vaccination management in 74 countries of the world, and Guyana was ranked third. “...and that is because workers are working hard”.

He explained that the EPI focuses on a number of infectious diseases which are preventable e.g. measles, paralytic poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus and tuberculosis. “These diseases were selected because they could be prevented by immunization and had high global occurrences rates with corresponding morbidities disabilities and mortalities,” he said.

He said further that Polio Transmission remains a challenged area globally and in this effort, the WHO Assembly endorsed the Polio Endgame strategy. He said during April-May 2016, all countries will be involved in the switch from Trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) to Bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) as an effort to stop the circulation of the wild polio virus.

According to information from PAHO/WHO, the countries have continued to improve their EPI coverage with an average of 94 per cent coverage in 2013 for all the antigens reported (BCG, DTP, Polio, Hib, HepB and MMR1).

But, MMR 2 coverage was 84 per cent.

Surveillance for measles, rubella continue to be strengthened with

achievement of more than 80 per cent for all fever and rash indicators, except timely submission of samples to the reference laboratory. However, the need for improved surveillance for polio acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance was observed.

“In September 2015, PAHO/WHO, Guyana, provided support in the introduction of IPV vaccines to infants at two months. This is in keeping with the plan of the Polio Endgame strategy.

EPI Guyana has had success with its Immunization Programme over the last decade. This has come about with the strategies used to combat preventable diseases in children,” Adu-Krow said.

The Programme started to vaccinate against six diseases and in 2012, additional antigens against the following diseases, yellow fever, hepatitis B, mumps, haemophilus influenza, rubella, rotavirus, and pneumococcal, meningococcal and human papiloma virus were introduced.

At the end of 2014, the programme had provided additional protection against 16 vaccine preventable diseases.

However, Adu-Krow said challenges still remain in the areas of transportation, cold chain (a temperature-controlled supply chain) and access to remote hinterland areas.

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Kaieteur News

CID questions Carvil Duncan over $948,000 backpay Four months after it was reported that former Director of Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), Carvil Duncan, paid himself some $948,000, police at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters yesterday questioned him.

Kaieteur News also understands that the police file on Duncan has since been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

The seemingly suspicious payment was discovered by independent auditors who were probing the PetroCaribe Fund. That audit was one of many ordered by the new Government into state entities and other operations.

Fielding questions from reporters yesterday, Duncan reiterated that the money was approved by GPL’s Board of Directors. He also questioned the right of Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, to weigh in on the issue.

Patterson is the minister charged with responsibilities for the energy sector. It was the minister who had first spoken about the payments, indicating during a press conference, that the matter would be investigated.

Duncan yesterday referred reporters to GPL’s website which speaks of Government’s relations to that state-owned agency and how it should be handled.

“That sets out quite clearly what the function of the minister is. The function is zero!” Duncan said.

He was also asked whether he would repay the money.

“I had no discussion with (anyone) in relation to repaying anything. And I am not even

QUESTIONED: Carvil Duncan aware that the file went to the DPP.” He also argued: “If you work for ten years, and you have only been paid for four, would you want to repay that four?”

Quizzed whether he had gotten permission from the Board of Directors, Duncan alluded to permission that he had received from the Board, which he possessed in email format.

“There is a Board (of Directors) decision, where the board unanimously agreed. I have a copy of that email.”

When asked if he would be willing to release the email, he declined.

Reminded that the Government had revealed that no communication was received from the Board about this decision, Duncan stated that he did not want to get involved in the politics of his case.

“I don’t want to get involved in politics. I am trying to be peaceful. But the decision was taken by the Board in March.

There was a Board meeting in March. As a result of that decision, a letter was written to

(former GPL CEO Bharrat) Dindyal saying to him that we will have to calculate now forty eight months for all those who were there for (same period).”

He remained adamant that it was a decision taken by the Board which was in writing in the Board’s minutes.

When the revelations against Duncan first surfaced, Minister Patterson had explained that the Board of Directors of GPL had approached the former Government to raise the Directors’ fees from $5,000 to $20,000 monthly, but no decision was made.

Duncan’s saga is linked to former Deputy CEO of GPL Aeshwar Deonarine, who reportedly paid himself

some $27M. As a Director, Duncan signed off on Deonarine’s payments.

Deonarine reportedly signed off for Duncan’s back pay, which represented the 48 months he would have been a Director.

Patterson had disclosed that he confronted Duncan who kept changing his story.

A known trade unionist, Duncan is the President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

Deonarine, who is on suspension, has taken his matter to court defending his $27M-plus in payments. The former Deputy CEO is also asking GPL to explain why he was suspended.

Guyanese hairdresser busted at JFK with 105 cocaine pellets in stomach A 26-year-old Guyanese hairdresser has possibly made history, at least locally, for swallowing a total of three pounds of cocaine pellets as a narcotics mule out of Guyana. As a consequence of her feat, she is now in US custody.

Arrested on November 9, Shureen Giddings was intercepted shortly after arriving at the John F. Kennedy Airport, New York, on a flight from Guyana, and subsequently excreted 105 pellets. Sources close to Guyana’s Customs AntiNarcotics Unit say she has “set a local record for swallowing such a large number of pellets”.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Historian held at gunpoint, SUV hijacked Two armed men on Monday night menacingly threatened well known historian and educator, Tota Mangar, at knife- and gunpoint before escaping in his silver-grey Suzuki Escudo SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) bearing registration PMM 6392.

The incident occurred around 20:45 hrs on Camp Street just as Mangar was preparing to go home after leaving a book launch at Moray House on Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown.

Yesterday, Mangar said that he was invited to the book launch and it was while he was leaving, he was robbed of his vehicle.

“I parked on Camp Street and when I reached to the vehicle, I put my phone inside and the two books I purchased from the book launch. Just as I sat and was about to start the car, the men appeared,” Mangar stressed.

He said that one of the men opened his back door and put a knife to his neck while another man jumped in the front seat and put a gun to

Tota Mangar his head.

According to Mangar, the men instructed that he give them the keys to his vehicle and then demanded that he walk away from the car.

“It happened so fast.

There was nothing I could have done because one of them had a gun to my head and the other one had a knife to my neck. My chin got a little cut,” Mangar said. He said that the men appeared to be in their 30s.

Investigations are ongoing.

CARICOM eyes unified body to monitor medicine availability in region Shureen Giddings The Beauty Shop operator has been charged with knowingly and unlawfully importing cocaine into the United States and is currently being held at the Brooklyn Metro Detention Centre.

The mother of one, according to court documents, was the subject of a Customs and Border Protection examination and was arrested minutes after her arrival at JFK. She was subject to a body search and her luggage was also searched for drugs after being questioned extensively. According to reports, the woman admitted that she had swallowed cocaine-filled pellets and initially excreted 17 after asking to use the restroom.

Those pellets tested positive for the presence of cocaine and US Law Enforcement agents subsequently escorted the woman to a medical facility situated at the airport for an x-ray examination where more pellets were seen in her stomach.

This resulted in her immediate arrest after which the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit in Guyana was informed of the bust and is carrying out investigations locally.

Caribbean countries are being urged to start national consultations on the establishment of a unified monitoring process for medicines, in a move to improve access to and availability of medicines across the region.

This proposed establishment of a Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS) for medicine was presented to the 41st meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development, held last week in Guyana.

Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and this year’s COTED Chairperson, Maxine Pamela Ometa McClean, explained that such a system would lead to improved access to and cost of medicine, facilitating manufacturers’ access to the market and product surveillance in the region.

The Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) has deemed the Caribbean Public Health Agency as the competent regional body for the implementation of the CRS for medicine.

According to McClean, following the presentation and discussion, COTED is urging all its member states to conduct national consultations on the

proposal, ahead of the next regular meeting, for a decision to be made, as it relates to the CRS for medicine implementation.

The CRS for medicine was among health matters of importance considered at the meeting.

McClean explained that matters impacting on the region’s health were given special prominence during the meeting, in recognition of the cross-sectoral linkages and the need for action to confront issues such as Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are having a deleterious effect on the health of the region’s workforce, and which also have the potential to affect the region’s competitiveness.

According to McClean, focus was placed especially on child obesity, and COTED agreed to have further consultations on matters which fall within this purview, including mandatory nutrition, labelling on all packaged food, recommendations on measures to encourage the consumption of healthier foods, nutrition standards and guidelines, food marketing, and portion sizes, and the level of harmful ingredients in food products, trade and physical measures.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 15

FITUG flays “arbitrary” appointments to Recognition and Certification Board Government’s recent appointment of representatives to the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) has drawn fire from the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

During a press conference yesterday at the High Street headquarters of National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), FITUG officials insisted that Government failed to consult on the appointments and that there may have been a political inclination.

“FITUG sees a developing danger – trade unionism is being undermined,” said NAACIE’s General Secretary, Kenneth Joseph, in a prepared statement.

Last month, it was announced that former Judge Claudette La Bennett was appointed Chairperson of the crucial union oversight body.

Present at the press conference yesterday in addition to Joseph were Komal Chand, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), FITUG’s President, Carvil Duncan and GAWU’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine.

According to the FITUG, it has over 30,000 members compared to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), which has about 15,000.

With the laws clear on how representatives to TURCB are to be nominated, the umbrella body believes

FITUG officials from left: NAACIE’s General Secretary, Kenneth Joseph; GAWU’s President, Komal Chand; FITUG’s President, Carvil Duncan and GAWU’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine. that the Trade Union Recognition Act (TURA) was violated by the Government when the Cabinet of Ministers made appointments on October 20 - the board became functional with effect from November 01.

According to TURA, the board has to consist of seven members, each appointed for a period of two years.

The chairperson is appointed by the minister after consultations with the most representative organisations of workers and the most representative organisations of employers.

In this case, FITUG happens to be the most representative organisation.

With regards to the six members, FITUG explained that three will be appointed on the nomination by the organization with the most representations, with the remainder on the nomination of the most representative organisations of employers.

TURCB is the body which

by law has the final say in whether a union can represent workers.

FITUG explained that on November 11th, the Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer requested it to name a representative to sit on the board. “…Section 5(1) (ii) of the Act requires the workers’ representatives on the board to be nominated by the most representative organization of workers. FITUG deems the action of the Government as most disturbing and will do everything that is possible to expose this offensive decision,” Narine said.

“The Federation alerts the workers of Guyana and urges its affiliates to guard against the return of the days when seats and positions of the trade unions were handed down based on the union’s loyalty to the powers-that-be.

The allocation of one seat to FITUG and two to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is a

violation of the TURA.” The Government should not have engaged in such an act which is contrary to the easily understood law. We were promised respect for the rule of law, but in reality the opposite is surfacing day after day.

FITUG had proposed its President, Carvil Duncan, and Narine as its representatives on TURCB. Joseph and President of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) Sherwood Clarke were reportedly also named as alternates.

GTUC’s representatives on the board were its President, Lincoln Lewis, and Eslyn Parris, of the Postal and Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Workers Union (PTWU).

“The workers and their legitimate organisations must be conscious of the worrying situation and speak out and stand up in defence of their hard won rights before it is too late. The appointment of the Tripartite Committee by

the Cabinet is another matter of concern. That Committee, among others, comprises six (6) representatives of workers. The GTUC has been awarded five (5) and FITUG has been requested to nominate one (1). This is another discriminatory act against the most representative organization of

workers,” the NAACIE General Secretary claimed.

The last Tripartite Committee headed by former Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda Gopaul, comprised representatives according to the membership of the FITUG and the GTUC - four and two members respectively.

FITUG executives were expected to meet yesterday and discuss the issue, to decide the way forward, said Duncan.

Two weeks ago, FITUG said it had written Government on the issue but only received an acknowledgment. According to Chand, it is clear that the law caters for the umbrella union body that has the most members - in this case it is FITUG. FITUG and GTUC have been at odds over the years, with the traditional May Day rallies seeing them going separate ways.

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Kaieteur News

Review, update of energy policy underway At a meeting recently held, between Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman and a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat at the Ministry of Natural Resources, it was revealed that the group has begun reviewing and updating Guyana’s current energy policy in an effort to govern the operations of oil companies exploiting the country’s reserves.

It was also disclosed that they are in the process of reviewing the legislation of the Petroleum Act to see how those can be amended. They are currently preparing to submit a document to the Government.

Trotman said that by next year, legislation is going to be introduced into parliament for the strengthening of the managing processes of the oil sector.

In relation to the oil sector, he said that the Government is shifting towards having a stand-alone agency for oil,

Governance Minister, Raphael Trotman s o t h a t i t w o u l d not be lumped into a basket with other minerals, but is given its own institution and arrangement for its management.

Trotman also commented on the country’s energy plan which was created by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).

He said that armed with this, “it is the Government’s

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intention to have a minimum of 30 percent of the country’s energy generated by renewable energy by the year 2030. Given the drive that we are on now, it is likely that it could be even more than 30 per cent.”

He stated that, “Government had decided to not pursue the Amaila Falls project, as on a cost benefit analysis, we did not feel that it was going to give us what we wanted. But we are right now actively engaged in many discussions about solar, wind and water as alternatives.”

Prominent accountant and lawyer Christopher Ram, in an article in 2013, said that the Strategic plan prepared by the GEA, suffers from a number of defects.

“It is no more than a narrative of what appears to be an internal non-binding document; the targets are loose, making any attempt at measurement, control and management virtually impossible.”

Ram added that while the elements in the plan are a standard wish list in any energy policy, it is not an energy policy, and that is what is being called for.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Radio Paiwomak’s range will be extended by next month - PM Following his commitment to extend the range of Radio Paiwomak beyond Iwokrama, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Sunday intimated to this publication that by December, this will be a reality.

At the Heritage Day of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, held in October, the Prime Minister had stated the need for the expansion of the signal for the radio as it would help in the preservation of the Amerindian languages in these areas. He had stated that “when new stations are set up, you here (St. Cuthbert’s) can access programmes in your language, as well as the preservation of your language is very important in preserving your culture.”

This, he said, is a part of the Government’s ten-point plan which states that, “the new coalition government will respect your languages and will preserve the culture of Indigenous people.”

Currently, the radio station broadcasts about four hours per day, it is hoped that this will be raised to eight to ten hours per day at the beginning stages of the project. Nagamootoo stated that the range will be extended to North and South Pakaraima, Rupununi.

Nagamootoo also related the energy needs of the Amerindian communities around Iwokrama, and stated his Government’s intent to “supply some solar panels and batches to these areas.”

He explained that this will provide communities with reliable and sustainable electricity.

The Prime Minister had also revealed the Government’s intentions for various Amerindian communities with regards to the ten-point programme. The initiative which was introduced by President David Granger will see the development of the Hinterland through the fostering of relationships

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo between the various Amerindian organizations and various councils in the Amerindian communities.

This, Nagamootoo noted, is to find solutions to problems indigenous communities may be faced with. Such relationships were said to hopefully improve the lives of the Indigenous people and the conditions under which they live.

CIOG examines suicide, appeals to religion The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) has commended Sheik Moeenul Hack for addressing the subject of Suicide that is currently gripping our Nation.

In his Friday sermon at the Queenstown Mosque, Sheik Moeenul gave the Islamic perspective as it relates to the afterlife of those who take their own life. He emphasized on the various reasons that may lead someone to commit a suicidal act, which he emphasized is mainly due to a lack of understanding and education

of their religion.

The CIOG is of the opinion that in order to curb the tide of suicide that is engulfing many people, we need all religious groups to concentrate on providing easy accessible counseling service to those in need.

“These services should also cater to educate and enlighten adults and teenagers of the futility of giving up on life despite the circumstances they may be faced with. We, as religious organizations, should work to elevate the causes that will drive someone to commit

such an act. This life is neither our personal possession nor our property.

“It is a trust from God Almighty, the real owner.”

Sheik Moeenul Hack said that God Almighty made life sacred and prohibits anyone from taking his or her life or the life of another. We all have a responsibility to protect and sustain life.

“Our belief in the hereafter gives meaning and purpose to our existence in this temporary phase of our lives in this world. This belief must be strengthened in order for (Continued on page 21)

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Continued on page 29

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

Is there a system in place for social workers in school?

DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to respond to the article in November 13th edition of the Kaieteur News entitled “Put trained social workers in schools”.

While I sincerely laud the recommendations of the writer, I am left somewhat aghast as to what system is currently in place, and how contributory it may be or have been to the present social demise especially among our young.

As a retired member of the pedagogical profession both in Guyana and overseas, I daresay that the installation of social workers in the schools is only minimally a panacea to the problem.

Veritable success requires a few more key actors in the play beginning from Act 1 Scene 1. One may quizzically ask, what is school?

Mundane or germane as it may seem, for each

individual has a different notion/ concept of school and its expectations etc.

School is oftentimes conceptualized as a community of families and school personnel engaged in the educational process.

Society has, and Guyana is no exception, placed an onerous responsibility on both schools and families.

Simply put, schooling is not a mere process of teaching and learning, but also of preparing children for the future.

These places of learning are seen not only as the vehicle for hopes and aspirations for children who conform to external expectations, but for every child regardless. Within the broad field of the social work profession, school social work is a specialized area of practice.

The constellation of

teacher, parent and child is the basic focus of the school social worker, as the family and school are the central places for the development of children, for therein lies the hope for the next generation.

Following this train of thought one can immediately arrive at the conclusion that improved teacher training; to meet the needs of a changing societal face is crucially imperative. With the passage of years, most of the social traditions as well as the institutions that formerly shaped the upbringing of our young, have lost their influence or have completely disappeared.

As a consequence schools and their teaching staff are now called upon to right (write) this loss. A Herculean task of sorts lies before the teaching profession! It does not require the skills of a

mathematician or the brains of a savant to realize that the quality of any education system can be no better than the quality of teachers in the classrooms.

With this being said, permit me to echo the cry of one gone before who called for teacher training to be conducted in the University of Guyana, and Cyril Potter College of Education be thanked for its role thus far, but nevertheless relegated to an obsolete non-functioning system of the past.

Most schools have within their Administration a Head Master/ Head Mistress and also at times a deputy. These key personnel, the most important and influential figures in the school setting are also primary stakeholders, and should be held to a high standards.

School principals must come to understand that no

one professional person can be all things to all people.

There must be an organized pattern of services in which each member of the school administrator’s staff has a clear knowledge of how everyone contributes to the goals of the larger system. So a social worker can be in the school system and still be somewhat ineffective, for her role and efficacy can only be realized when school leadership accepts the value of such service. Schools should be an organized system of services, in which each and every staff member has a clear understanding of their individual contribution.

The priorities and expectations of Social Workers differ greatly from those of teachers/ educators,

Intellectuals must be seen as people and not ethnic personalities DEAR EDITOR, Although I managed to read the entirety of Mr. Ramharack’s surprisingly insular letter that was recently in the dailies, several refutations came to mind.

However, in the interest of brevity, I wish to address the most pressingly vexatious issue he mentioned. The supposed lack of an intellectual tradition amongst the Indian immigrants in the Caribbean.

Prefixing the term ‘intellectual’ with a particular ethnic identity is wholly and utterly to be rejected. At once, it diminishes and demeans someone with a formidable intellect who may have a shared genetic heritage with a particular group.

Does their orientation and ability to innovate and develop complex explanations and solutions outside of their ethnic identity not matter?

Why should their engagement in intellectual

pursuits be inexorably linked to race or culture? It is a subtle devaluing of that person’s credibility as a thinker to presume that it is only within the ambit of their culture or ethnicity they should have value?

Dr. Cornel West is a brilliant thinker. He is not a brilliant Black intellectual, as being Afro-American has nothing to do with the quality of his academic credibility.

Similarly, we do not describe Dr. Steven Hawking or Dr. Simone de Beauvoir or Dr. Bernard-Henri Lévy as prominent white intellectuals.

Female intellectuals are regularly tagged with the moniker of ‘women’, as though their gender plays a prominent part in their cognitive abilities.

Scholars such as Hannah Arendt, Maya Angelou, Susan Faludi; do we question that their intellectual tradition stems from the combination of ethnicity and gender and race? Should their pursuits be

This was the single...

From page 4 system 3.Shredder motor starting system 4.bagasse conveyors,5. mill rolls and 6. piping. A loss to the defendant, GuySuCo of US$1 million.

13.Tate approved the design of the factory without a mud removal system [O.C filter] this had to be rectified by bringing the filter from the old factory to be installed in the new one.This oversight cost GuySuCo US$825,000.

These losses in the factory cost the corporation US $8.72.

These are only the losses in the factory. Remember that there were losses in the fields as well from what GuySuCo alleged were due to gross incompetence of Tate.

This was the single biggest disaster in the history of this country presided over by the PPP. This court document was obtained by me before the 2015 election period; it was not given to me by GuySuCo. Tony Vieira

further limited to issues pertaining to culture and identity?

Outside of those defining and restrictive parameters, they would still be some of the purest intellectual minds anywhere.

Mr. Ramharack’s letter exposes exactly where the fault lines lay in his analysis of Indian intellectual tradition. Rather than consider that historically, many people of Indian descent have pursued higher education, encouraged to do so by their very Indian families.

Granted, they are not all necessarily engaged in selfexamination or scrutiny of the role their history and ethnicity play in the development of a complex cognition, but, I reject that they are somehow less intellectual for not incorporating their ethnicity as an important aspect of their intellectual pursuits.

As a child, my own parents would regularly quote the likes of Fanon, Tagore, Shelly, random Sanskrit sayings and Hadith, in equal measure.

Unusual perhaps, but the lynchpin of their encouragement to always be engaging one’s intellect, even if all it grants you is greater insight into obscure and seemingly purposeless insight. What would one refer to that as?

That, as “Indian” as my parents and ancestors undoubtedly were, they did not encourage a linear inward-looking outlook, that our culture undoubtedly had value was not in dispute.

However, the cultures, philosophies, scriptures, and literature distinct from our own history had equal validity. And was worthy of being considered and analyzed and inculcated.

Suppose one were to consider Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s prodigious research and significant academic contributions to planetary science. Do we wonder why he has not provided us with a Black intellectual’s perspective on the cosmos?

Do we expect him to?

Should being Black have anything at all to do with his body of work or his intellectualism?

As I initially set out to say, it borders on the absurd that as a consequence of the recent disagreement about the official dates for a Hindu religious holiday, ‘Indian’ intellectuals” should step forward to provide clarity or whatever.

Not all Indians are Hindu, as being Indian could mean membership in any one of dozens of religious groups, none of which would have an inkling as to what the Diwali date should be.

With all due respect, I would urge Dr. Ramharack to refrain from promoting the ethnicization of legitimate academia.

Rather than call for ‘Indian’ scholars to address the Diwali issue, he should have simply exhorted Hindu scholars and pandits to enlighten and educate those of us who are unacquainted with what the facts are in this dispute.

Mrs. Scheherazade Ishoof- Khan

by virtue of their very function. Social Workers function from an individualin-environment perspective, where children are regarded in the context of their family, neighbourhood and community. Educators/ teachers on the other hand are primarily interested in students as individuals and students as learners. While the stage may be set, we are certainly not ready yet, for there is a high price to be paid if basic adequate preparations are not made. Identification of all the key players is essential from the start, and all the players must know and play their part. Respect, dignity and individual human worth must prevail, and if adhered to then we cannot fail.

Yvonne Sam

From page 28

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The Legacy of Jonestown

By Eric Banks We expect our killing fields to be marked a certain way, and with at least a certain rhetoric of rectitude. At Jonestown, in Guyana, there are no markers, no memorials noting what took place, no manicured clearings to mark how the site looked 30 years ago, when more than 900 Americans died there in a still hard-to-imagine moment of mass suicide and outright murder. It is an open field bifurcated by a red dirt road, with knee-high bush to the north and, to the south, thick jungle. You don’t even realize you have entered the site until you are already there.

The wooden billboard that used to hang over the e n t r y, proclaiming “Welcome to Jonestown / Peoples Te m p l e Agricultural Project,” vanished long ago, along with virtually all other signs of Jim Jones and his followers, who died by the lethal ingestion of cyanidespiked grape Fla-Vor-Aid, forced injection and gunfire.

It is as though the memory of the massive loss of life — following the brazen murder of a U.S. Congressman who had come to investigate complaints about the compound, three members of the media accompanying him and a commune defector at a nearby airstrip — is still too extreme to be remembered.

The event remains the most famous moment in the history of Guyana, which is roughly the size of Kansas and is the lone Englishspeaking country on the South American continent.

The memory of the massacre is spooked with dark ironies about the country’s history of independence from Great Britain.

The Guyanese government had tried to develop a new and proud independent identity for the country that would serve as a model for postcolonial development — and initially welcomed Jim Jones as a blow to the American forces of imperialism. After the massacre, the country’s leaders opted to absolve themselves of the events, pointing to the Americans as if they had landed from Mars.

Today, it isn’t much easier to mourn and memorialize the victims when doing so is an admission of the country’s failed hopes. Marking the tragedy has been no less acute in the U.S. It was only during the 30th anniversary of the deaths, that a marker was erected at a cemetery in Oakland, Calif., to memorialize the 410 Jonestown victims buried there, 60 of them unclaimed.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Jonestown remembered Today marks the 37th anniversary of the world’s biggest mass suicide, which occurred at Jonestown in Guyana’s North West District.

On November 18 1978, a drug-crazed American evangelist, Jim Jones, led hundreds of his followers whom he had brought from California, to their deaths.

The incident gave Guyana infamous world notice and today, after a few movies and several documentaries, it is still a hot topic whenever the anniversary comes around.

To mark the occasion Kaieteur News is reprinting extracts from an Associated Press article that was first published in December 2008

American military personnel were sent to Jonestown to take the hundreds of bodies back to the USA. The Jonestown site lies far in the bush, an hour’s flight by charter plane from the sleepy coastal capital of Georgetown and another halfhour drive down a bumpy road.

“Do you know the bush?” asked my guide there, a slightly built, soft-spoken man from the nearby town of Port Kaituma named Carlton Daniels, as we entered the site of the former compound on the back of his son-in-law’s pick-up. The question wasn’t meant as a conversation starter: A vine he called a “letme-go” dangled overhead. “It will grab on to you,” he warned.

Mr. Daniels, a semi-retired contractor, is the unlikely Virgil of Jonestown; he has lived in the area all his life and had been postmaster in the 1970s, when he first met the handful of Californian pioneers from the People’s Temple. They began to show up around 1974 after the organization leased 25,000 acres from the Guyanese government. (The bulk of the congregants, an unlikely cohort of African-American seniors, youthful white progressives and a small army of school-age children, would arrive two years later as unflattering reports of financial irregularities and church beatings began to appear in the San Francisco media.) Wading through the knee-high growth, he pointed out what was once a grove of cashew and lime trees, which marked the area around Mr. J o n e s ’s c a b i n a n d n o w struggled to survive against flora more suited to the blazing, nearly equatorial sun.

Mr. Daniels recalled being let in the compound by the Guyanese Defence Force three days after the massacre to retrieve some fuel containers he had lent to the People’s Temple. “I didn’t want to come back here for a long time after that,” he whispered, as if he were worried he might be overheard.

Trailing his son, who was armed with a cutlass against the jungle and the notoriously deadly bushmaster snake, we searched in vain for the remains of Mr. Jones’s piano, its rotting keyboard having been turned up by a party including the Minister of Tourism a year earlier. We had no more luck in finding any traces of the cage that once held Mr. Muggs, the p e t c h i m p a n z e e M r.

Jones adopted, who perished alongside the 913 humans.

“They should have done something to keep the area the way it was,” Mr. Daniels said as his son emerged from a path-clearing reconnaissance job, his upper torso pock-marked with fresh bee stings. Mr. Daniels didn’t elaborate on the thought, but he didn’t need to. He admired the achievement of establishing a commune in such an inhospitable environment and recounted the lovely grove of well-tended fruit trees that once lined the entry. We followed his son about 40 yards into the bush and located the pits where recalcitrant children were kept as punishment (almost a third of the Jonestown victims were kids). Further along, we found what was left of Jonestown: a couple of vehicles turned on their sides; a flatbed truck with a skinny sapling growing through its chassis; and a long metal container that looked like it was once a refrigerator.

Over time there have been intermittent schemes to clear and memorialize the site.

No political leader was more adept at exploiting the idea or realizing its failure than Forbes Burnham, who led the country from independence in 1966 until h i s d e a t h i n 1 9 8 5 . His aspirations to create a unique Guyanese path to socialism — through a top-heavy program of massively nationalized industry and agriculture in the interior — aggressively chased off foreign investment.

Mr. Burnham welcomed not only Jim Jones but other soi-disant radical movements into Guyana, turning the country into an ideological Disneyworld for the charismatic and the disaffected in the late ’70s.

In 1978, Mr. Burnham’s unpopularity was growing and his overconfident austerity economy was failing. Guyanese-style socialist development meant not only nationalization of foreign companies but strict laws against exports, which led to crippling food shortages.

The local Georgetown newspapers at the time had many more headlines on garlic and onion smuggling than the murdersuicides at Jonestown.

“When it happened, a lot of us wanted to preserve the site,” Georgetown mayor Hamilton Green says, “but it was impossible.” Mr. Green had been a ranking government official when Mr. Burnham ran the country.

“Burnham just said no.” Mr. Green’s wife, Shirley FieldRidley, who died in 1982, was minister of information in the Burnham cabinet, and as the

Undertakers had to use gas masks at the site where corpses began decomposing. evening of Nov. 18 unfolded, the country was overwhelmed by what had taken place.

“We heard the death toll go from 10, to 100, to 300.

What could we do? We only had 30 body bags in the whole country,” Mr. Green says. Like others in Georgetown, he darkly hinted of CIA involvement in Jonestown. There were rumors.

Most of the Guyanese officials who were in power in the 1970s are dead, and questions as to how Mr. Jones’ sect flourished mostly unhindered in the jungle are sim p l y i m p o s s i b l e t o answer. Mr. Burnham died in 1985; his agriculture minister Dr. Ptolemy Reid, whose portfolio brought him into the most direct contact with Mr. Jones, died in 2004.

The point of departure from Port Kaituma to Georgetown is the same littleused dirt airstrip where Rep. Ryan and his entourage came under the fatal fire of the Jonestown killer who pursued them in a small flatbed trailer. There, one signs in with a Guyanese Defence Force official on

arrival and departure (drug smuggling into and out across the nearby Venezuelan border remains a fear).

In anticipation of a tiny charter plane’s landing, cows were shooed from the runway.

A man named Troy came over to sit next to the Guyanese army officer, and began to cite scripture to explain why the spirits of Jonestown remained behind to haunt the land. Mr. Jones, he said, had attempted to make himself God over his kingdom.

He quoted Colossians 2: “and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

From the plane above it’s nearly impossible to make out the Jonestown site from the sky.

All that is visible is a ruffled ground of green interrupted occasionally by smoke and, here and there, by a lonely homestead. It remains that way for most of the hour-long flight, until the jungle abruptly comes to an end and the neatly ordered checkerboard squares of the coastal cane fields comes into view.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 37

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Yannick Stefon Grimes making a... Lady Jags in preparation mode for...

(From page 36) was standing on the stage.

Yannick Grimes indicated his appreciation to all the persons that helped him to get ready for the Barbados tournament, even though it was challenging.

He is willing and ready to assist anyone to seek the path in living a healthy lifestyle, and sees himself becoming a force to reckon with in the bodybuilding arena globally.

Come December 6, a few

weeks from now, patrons would be given an opportunity to see a rising young and talented athlete strut his stuff, and take on his peers at the National Cultural Centre when he takes part in the next Flex Nite Championships.

Eight cricketers graduate from Rose Hall...

(From page 39) into practice what they have learnt and stated that they would be given opportunities to score at the club matches and that more follow up seminars would be organised. The long serving Secretary/CEO also disclosed that another batch of twelve cricketers would be trained shortly while, 24 of them would be involved in training to gain knowledge in umpiring.

These umpires would be used for internal club games, friendly matches and at Berbice Cricket Board matches where umpires are not provided.

All junior and female cricketers of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club later this month would also be mandated to attend a one day seminar on personal development. Among the topics to be covered would be Suicide, Personal Hygiene, Table Manners, Choosing Friends, Importance of Religion, Teenage Pregnancy and Public Manners.

Meanwhile, the Cricket Development Committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club has also unveiled an incentive package for junior and female cricketers of the Club. Five major awards

would be shared on a monthly basis and those would be the Best Female Cricketer, Most Discipline Member, Best Attendance at Practice, Most Committed Member and Most Improved Player. Each of the awardees would receive a financial prize and would be in line to receive the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Youth Cricketer of the Year award of $100,000 and a supply of educational materials.

Only registered Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club members who have an attendance rate of 90% and Classroom average of 65% would be considered for the awards.

Wednesday November 18, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your intuition has been especially high for a while now.

Today you could decide to put it to practical use. You might consider a class or workshop that increases your ability to communicate.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might want to spend some time gardening. In fact, you might have a number of tasks to perform around the house and yard, but you may also have friends waiting.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your mind should be especially quick and agile today, and your curiosity will be piqued.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Exploring your intellectual interests might get your curiosity going, although whatever knowledge you gain may bring up more questions than answers!

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Conversations with those close to you may provide even more possibilities.

Whatever you choose to work on, you should be pleased with the results.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A number of young visitors could come to your home with news to pass on and information to share.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your mind may turn toward intellectual pursuits that you have been too busy to investigate. Today your mind is so quick and your curiosity so high that you won't resist even if other things interfere.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your mind is especially quick and agile, so you can take care of it efficiently, freeing you up for more enjoyable activities, such as getting together with friends or a partner.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Social events could put you into touch with intriguing new people who share your interests. This should be a gratifying experience.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your phone may not stop ringing today. Friends and family may have good news and interesting information to share, so you'll want to spend a lot of time talking with them.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is a great day to plan new projects. Your mind may be especially quick and full of ideas. These could prove valuable. Write down ideas that you can't put to immediate use so you won't forget them.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Perhaps you'll discover a new talent you didn't know you had, such as writing, drawing or speaking. Ideas for stories, sketches, or lectures might come thick and fast.

(From page 38) World football.

Looking ahead today’s game against Puerto Rico, Rodrigues was adamant that the ladies are fully aware of what the potential success will do for women’s football in Guyana “...and with that in mind, I am confident that they will leave it all on the field come Nov 18”.

The Lady Jags – Guyana’s most successful national team, after a five year hiatus, was resuscitated under the Normalisation Committee and Rodrigues lauded the ‘NC’ for their “support and belief in the Lady Jags, and for giving Guyana football the op-

portunity to put us back on the world footballing spotlight. Their belief in us, coupled with the very difficult and outstanding job they were charged with has placed football in Guyana on the precipice of a very bright and exciting future for our youth to embrace”.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese ladies will have to take the field without English based striker Otesha Charles, who sustained an injury and did not recover in time to suit up for the Lady Jags in Trinidad.

However, the team will now have the service of

former NCAA standout goalkeeper Chante Sandiford. The 25 year-old who had a stellar career in the US collegiate system with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is making her senior international debut, after having ‘call-ups’ by the USA for several youth tournaments.

With stints in several professional leagues around Europe, Sandiford now plays with UMF Selfoss in Iceland and Rodrigues believes that her inclusion will certainly boost the team’s chances of reaching the CONCACAF round of the qualifiers.

Fitness Express/Banks DIH Limited...

(From page 38) builder Chloe Hunters performance was so dominant that she only needed 4 of a possible 9 lifts to amass a total of 392.5kg and a Wilks point of 474.454 to emphatically dispose of her opposition. On the other side Hardat made light work of the lifters in his class on his way to a powerlifting total of 745kg and Wilks point of 510.623 in the process taking male best lifter overall.

There was a major tussle between Daniel Sooklall from Hardcore Gym (Rosignol) with a total of 472.5kg (Wilks point 423.549) and Navindra Tamasar of Elite Fitness Gym

RHTYSC Busta...

(From page 35) other hand has been boosted by the return of former national player Shimron Hetmeyer, he would be supported by Seon Hetmeyer, Ishwar Singh, Wahied Edwards, Kevin Sinclair and Kevin Ramdeen.

Young Warriors bowling, would be in the capable hands of Vishal Mohabir, Kassim Khan, Sudesh Dhani, Amir Khan, Ramdeen and Gajannand Singh.

The finals of the tournament would be held in early December and the winners would take home $100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) and the Busta Trophy, while the runner up would receive $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars).

(New Amsterdam) with a total of 475 (421.515 Wilks point) for the crown of the 59kg class and if that wasn’t enough the masters wanted to show that age is never a factor. Frank Tucker moved a total of 495kg and a Wilks Point of 309.375 to claim 3rd place in the 105kg class, while Colin “Mr. Clean” Chesney from the Mining Town of Linden totaling 840kg (483 Wilks) went head to head with Farouk Abdool of Hardcore

Gym with a total of 820kg (Wilks 473.96) and in the process muscling his way to a new national bench press record of 230kg erasing the mark previously held by Big John Edwards at 227.5kg.

Closing off the day in his own unique quiet way was Rawndel Clementson who with an intermittent grunt of “what would Jesus say” posted a total of 705kg (391.416 Wilks) all the while lifting unequipped.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Football on right track as GFF establishes Judicial Committees

Rose Hall Town female team defeat DCC developmental 11 and Guysuco TC U-19 teams

The raging hostilities and indifferences that characterized football administration had been the sole reason for FIFA’s intervention a year ago with the installation of the Normalization Committee (NC) to charter a foundation of stability and harmony for the sport to grow and develop.

Chaired by businessman and former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Clinton Urling, the five persons committee worked assiduously with FIFA, CONCACAF and other stakeholders in examining the old GFF constitution to ensure it was transformed to provide greater accountability, transparency and integrity in the way in which the game is administered in Guyana.

Activities climaxed last Saturday morning when delegates convened at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, and elected an executive body to manage the affairs of the sport. The self-titled “Team Integrity”, headed by businessman, Wayne Forde, prevailed over the team led by prominent attorney Nigel Hughes by a margin of 12 votes to 10.

The cynical, questioning the thoroughness of the input of the NC and the possibility of a return to football’s former unpalatable state may feel heartened to know that oversight systems are now in place to reduce the likeliness of such an environment reoccurring in the future; this after the GFF Congress on Sat-

Clinton Urling urday voted unanimously to ratify the appointments of members of the GFF Judicial Committees. The establishment of these committees was part of the robust amendments made to the GFF Constitution at the Extraordinary Congress held in May this year. The Constitution caters for three judicial committees (JC), namely the Disciplinary, Ethics and Appeal.

These committees are appointed for 4-year terms and are totally independent from the GFF Executive Committee.

Each JC can have up to a maximum of 5 members. Currently there are 2 members apiece in the Disciplinary and the Ethics Committees, while the Appeal Committee comprises 3 persons. Attorney Sanjeev Datadin is the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee with support from fellow attorney Natasha Vieira. The Appeal

Committee is chaired by attorney and former Women’s Lawyers Association President Ms Simone MorrisRamlall and includes attorneys Michael Shahoud and Marcel Bobb as members.

Attorney Nikhil Ramkarran is the Chairman of the Ethics Committee and Pastor Wilbert Lee is the other member of that committee.

“The establishment of the Judicial Committees is one of the most significant and important development in the administration and history of the GFF,” says former Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling.

“We have seen the power and efficacy of the FIFA Ethics Committee recently with the body suspending the sport’s governing body’s most senior officials, including President Sepp Blatter and Secretary General Jerome Valcke,” added Urling.

Mr. Urling is adamant that the installation of the committees will facilitate greater transparency and accountability, two components that will define the course of the sport. The Committees will comprise two coercive arms, investigative and adjudicative and would be governed by the FIFA Ethics Code.

While the skeptic remains apprehensive of the authenticity of this initiative, Mr. Urling is adamant that football will be the winner. “Only with time will we be able to definitively ascertain the effect of these new bodies on the sport in Guyana,” he maintains.

Stag / EBFA 7 A-Side KO

Grove Hi Tech and Agricola Red Triangle set up semi-finals showdown Grove Hi Tech and Agricola Red Triangle will renew old rivalry when the semifinals of the Stag / East Bank Football Association (EBFA) are contested.

The two clubs, A and B Teams were winners of their respective quarter final matches on Sunday last at the Grove Playfield.

Grove A were pushed to the hilt in order to book their spot; Kuru Kururu Warriors it was that almost denied them that opportunity as they latter lost the exciting match 2-1 on sudden death penalty kicks after a 0-0 stalemate in the 20 minutes of regulation time.

The Linden Soesdyke Highway based Warriors scored their first shot on goal

to which Grove responded in like manner but the Warriors next shot hit the bar, Cordel Johnson tried a power shot that rocketed against the cross bar to hand Grove A their passage to a date with Agricola A who did not have to break a sweat as Soesdyke B failed to put in an appearance.

Agricola B did not have such an easy passage and had to overcome a game Diamond United B team 1-0 thanks to a 17th minute effort from Collis Samuels.

The game saw both teams striving for early goals but not being successful.

Just when it seemed like the game was headed for sudden death penalty kicks based on the rules if a game

ends without a winner, Samuels saved his team such blushes by rocking the back of the nets.

Grove B will be Agricola B semi-final opponent; they too did not have to burn any energy since there intended quarter final opponent, Timehri A, did not keep the match date alive.

The winner of this competition will pocket $100,000 with the losing semifinalist taking away $75,000.

In the third and fourth place battle, the winner will receive $50,000 with the loser and fourth place finisher taking home $25,000.

The highest goal scorer, most valuable player and best goalkeeper will all pocket $10,000 each.

Page 39

The successful Rose Hall Town female team.

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Cricket Developmental Committee, as part of its programme to develop female cricket, has started to organize weekly matches against male players for Guyana’s only female hard ball team, the RHT Metro Female. The team lead by West Indies all rounder, Shermaine Campbelle, easily defeated a Demerara Cricket Club under 15(fifteen) developmental 11(eleven) by seven wickets, at the DCC ground and then got the better of the GUYSUCO Training Centre Under 19 (nineteen) team by five wickets at the area ‘H’ Ground.

Playing at the DCC Ground, the visitors invited the home team to take first strike and “skittled” them for 113 in 23.5 of their allotted twenty five overs. B. Mootoo 18, and J. Jones 19 were the only players to reach double figures, as extras contributed a healthy 36 (thirty six), West Indies pacer Evra Giddings 4

for 10, Shaunda Vanderstoop 2 for 7 and Plaffina Millington were the main wicket takers.

In response, Rose Hall Town Metro raced to 115 for 3, in eighteen overs, with West Indian player Shemaine Campbelle striking an attractive unbeaten 58, with six boundaries, while her cousin Sherica Campbelle 26, and S. Vanderstoop with 22 not out offered support as Dereck Greaves claimed 2 wickets for 26 runs for DCC. On Sunday last at the Area ’H’ Ground, the GUYSUCO Training Centre were bowled out for 101 in 20 overs as the Metro Female bowlers were backed by brilliant fielding. Altaf Mohamed 21, Fizal Ali 12 and A. Brijkumar 17 were the top scorers for the visitors, as Evra Giddings claimed 2 wickets for 23 runs (5 overs), medium pacer Sherica Campbelle 3 for 15, Melanie Henry 2 for 22 and Sheneta Grimmond 2 for 13. RHT Metro reached 104 for 5, in response, off 21.2 overs as Shemaine Campbelle

top scored with 30 and received support from Melanie Henry 16, Sherica Campbelle 20, and S. Vanderstoop 15, bowling for GUYSUCO Training Centre, N. Charran took 2 wickets for twelve runs.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC, Hilbert Foster disclosed that the club will be investing heavily in its female section in 2016. The section presently has fourteen players and efforts would be made to attract at least another six players. He also expressed disappointment, that no other club in Guyana has a female section, and this is forcing the RHTYSC to organize matches against males for the RHT Metro team. Present members of the RHTYSC female team are Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Melaine Henry, Sheneta Grimmond, Marian Samaroo, Diana Prahalad , Shaunda Vanderstoop, Jackie Singh, Niketa Toney, Aleema Arokium, Diana Pertab, P.Lynch, SHerica Campbelle and Alisha Hicks.

RHTYSC Busta Champion of Champions Semifinals fixed for Saturday After a highly successful first round of the 2015 edition of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s Busta Champion of Champions Tournament, the semifinals will be held on Saturday 21st, November.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets will host West Berbice at the Area ‘H’ Ground, while Arch Rivals Tucber Park, would host Young Warriors at the Edinburgh Cricket Ground.

Both matches would start at 11am would be 40 overs per side.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets would start as favourites against West Berbice, playing at home, where the pitch tends to be spin friendly but still offers early assistance to the pacers.

RHTGG batting would depend

on Royston Crandon, Rajiv Ivan, Vidal Crandon, Jason Sinclair, Renwick Batson, Clinton Pestano, who scored a century in the first round and the experienced Khemraj Mahadeo. Pestano and the lively Keon Sinclair would share the new ball, while leg spinner and Captain Shawn Perriera along with offspinners Crandon, Ivan, Collis Butts, Troy Mathieson and Eon Hooper would offer support.

West Berbice would depend heavily on Arthley Bailey, Quacy McPherson, Raffel Estrando, Krisendat Ramoo and Carlton Nurse.

In the absence of National Player Keon Joseph, who is on national duties, their bowling attack would depend on Roun Johnson, Krisendat Ramoo,

Kris Ramnarine, Rondell Babb, Keith Fraser and Keron Joseph.

The Tucber Park (formerly Bermine) and Young Warriors match is expected to be a thriller, with both teams consisting of several talented players. Tuber Park batting would be led

by Anthony D’Andrade, Joemal LaFluer, Eugene LaFluer, Devon Clements, Hakeem Hinds and promising all rounder Ramario Sheperd.

Their potent bowling attack would be spearheaded by Sheperd, the lively Nial Smith, West Indies female fast bowler Tremayne Smartt and spinners Kellon Pellew, Joemal LaFleur and left arm spinner Eugene La Fleur.

Young Warriors on the (Continued on page 34)

Page 40

Kaieteur News

Igloo Ice-Cream teams up with Petra Organisation Rightfully declared as an emerging force in the promotion and development of football, Petra Organisation secured another expression of confidence in its ability when Sterling Products under its Igloo Ice-Cream brand added its name on the list of supporters to the Smalta / Ministry of Public Health Girls U11 Football Competition.

Yesterday, during a simple ceremony which was conducted in the Company’s Boardroom, Managing Director Ramsay Ali handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to Petra representative Mark Alleyne in the presence of Co-Director Troy Mendonca and Women’s Football Association President Charmine Wade.

Ali speaking at the occasion said that the Igloo brand was happy to be associated with the Petra Organisation, informing that the support represented the first time that the Company has been in-

volved in the sport.

Shortly after thanking the Organisation for asking them to come on board, Ali said he was extremely pleased with the support they’ve been getting, judging from the comprehensive coverage that he sees in the media.

“I’ve asked the two principals to outline their programmes for next year so that I could put some more money in my 2016 budget to give more next year,” Ali said.

Wade, who spoke on behalf of women’s football, told the gathering that Petra Organisation’s current programme fits perfectly into their plans which is to revive the women’s arm of the sport that has been absent for close to five years.

“We are on the verge of reviving women’s football and Petra’s initiative works well with us,” Wade said.

She added that the Association is extremely grateful to Petra for assisting in the de-

velopment of women’s football by the staging of the Girls Tournament.

Mendonca in his remarks spoke of the tireless search for sponsors to assist the teachers and coaches who sacrifice their time to be out and away from their families to hone the skills of young girls.

The Director stated that they were happy to have Sterling Products on board, adding that the contribution will go towards a stipend for the teachers and coaches.

“Over the past five years we’ve been working hard to secure financial assistance for the teachers and coaches who we know make great sacrifices away from their families to be with the students, especially at weekends and this we believe will go a far way in alleviating the burden they face,” Mendonca related.

Play in the competition resumes this Saturday, at the Ministry of Education ground.

Yannick Stefon Grimes making a name for Guyana Yannick Stefon Grimes an Instructor at the popular BodyMax Gym in Georgetown, and who has been building a reputation as a bodybuilder locally, has now begun to make a name for himself on the international bodybuilding scene.

The twenty eight year (28) old Grimes, who hails from the East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme area, with a modest background is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with on the international bodybuilding stage.

Recently Grimes who had travelled to Barbados to participate in the prestigious Darcy Beckles Bodybuilding Championships, which saw a total of (17) seventeen well sculpted and experienced participants, placed (4) fourth in this championship, creating history as the first Guyanese to ever accomplish this feat.

Training hard Anyone can go into the gym seven days a week and lift weights. But for bodybuilder Yannick Grimes, each workout serves a specific purpose as he sculpts his muscles to resemble a Greek God. Over the past few years, Grimes trained hard in the gym and gradually became one of the Guyana’s top bodybuilders. He started to become recognized locally in the sport last year when he placed third at the 2014 Flex Nite Tournament.

4th place Darcy Beckles during competition in the men’s physique category.

For this year he again placed third, this time at the Novices Championships, and then moved up to placing second at the Mr. Guyana 2015 Seniors Championships.

This year Yannick felt it was time to step it up a notch and compete beyond the shores of Guyana.

Preparing for Barbados Normally for the local tournaments Grimes would begin training 12 to 14 weeks before a bodybuilding event, but for Barbados, he decided to begin 16 weeks out.

About eight weeks into the programme he examined himself to see whether he needed to adjust his conditioning as far as his cardio and diet.

The bodybuilder said he looked at pictures of himself from past competitions and felt he was about one-and-ahalf to two weeks ahead of schedule.

When asked how he felt being in front of a crowd at the Barbados show, which is a stepping stone to higher levels of international competition around the world, he admitted that the butterflies were there, but said he was mentally prepared for the moment, and as far as conditioning was concerned he knew that he had done his homework with his diet, training and cardio and believes that was what paid off when he (Continued on page 34)

Wednesday November 18, 2015

11th Suriname International Badminton championships 2015 underway Guyana’s two top male Badminton players Sunburst Champion Narayan Ramdhani & Nicholas Ali are currently in Paramaribo, Suriname (November 16-20), at the Isamay Van Wilgen Sporthal to participate in the 11th Suriname International Badminton championships.

Both players are in the Qualification rounds for the Singles and if they won their matches last night (November 17), they will enter into the main draw.

For the Men Doubles they are both in the main draw.

This will be the last international tournament for the year for the Guyanese players who had quite a few tournaments throughout the year.

Narayan Ramdhani just back from the World Juniors in Lima, Peru taking his team to 39th in the World Rankings, will also get a very high singles world ranking after the Suriname Open and will be moving up from 152 that he

Narayan Ramdhani & Nicholas Ali are currently in Paramaribo, Suriname for their Open tournament. placed before the world juniors.

Suriname International will see a lot of Internationals

senior players who will be using this tournament to gain higher world ranking points for the Olympics next year.

25 meters pool opens in Linden with a swimming meet Lindeners were treated to a day of excitement on Sunday as Georgetown met Linden in a Fun Event as the first 25 meters swimming pool was opened in the Mining Town.

According to National Swimming Coach Mary Chung, most of the swimmers are National swimmers except for one from Linden but swims for Dolphin Swim Club in Georgetown.

The event was a Fun Event to open the facility which saw stiff competition among teams from Georgetown and Linden.

Chung said although Georgetown was represented by five teams and Linden one, team Linden put up a fight. Chung said she hopes that the swimmers use the facility and take full advantage.

“Now that Linden has the first 25 meters swimming pool I hope management gives us permission for the swimmers to use the facility for a minimum of 4 days per week for training sessions.

This will help the swimmers to come up to standards because today we see that Linden swimmers were no match in 80 to 90% of the events to the Georgetown swimmers.” Chung claimed the pool is up to qualifying time standards.

Head of the National Sports Commission and President of the Guyana Amateur

Swimming Association President Ivan Persaud reiterated Chung’s sentiments saying the pool being a standard pool, good competitions can be held in Linden and they could access timing and set good times for events in Guyana.

Persaud said because swimming was on the down low in Linden the better swimmers went to Georgetown to train because of the facilities there but now that would not happen anymore. “I want to encourage Dr. Haynes and others to open a club in Linden so that they would be a part of Guyana Amateur Swimming Association and enjoy the same rights as all the other clubs in Georgetown. There will be more participation, more meets and hopefully we can have our GASA meets done in Linden here and also the National School Sports.”

Former National Footballer Ivan Persaud said, “Sometimes I’m tired of fighting for the cause, so I took time off from football and I’m getting to really, really love swimming and what swimming can do for the children of Guyana.” Persaud noted that there is a National programme for children in all areas.

Persaud also noted, “Now that I am at the helm of the National Sports Commission I am in a better position than I was even if I was the President of the GFF because I

would have been on track.

Now I have the opportunity to do more with my studies because all my life I have been involved in sports.” Persaud said he hopes to motivate the Commission to spend wisely and upgrade all the facilities for all different sport discipline in Guyana where children can practice comfortably with good health and safety management. He encouraged children to be involved in sports and to stay away from drugs and crime and urged the elders to educate the youths about HIV/AIDS. In the Under 9 category putting on a fine display were gold medalist and Bronze medalist Aleka Persaud and Antonia Dey who recently participated in the Caribbean Championships in the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Persaud, the aspiring Doctor, won gold in the 50m Fly, 50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle. Dey got Bronze in 50m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle and 50m Fly. The highlight of the day was 5 yr old Linsdelle Fiedtkou of Linden swimming in the U8 50m Free style category. Even though he did not win he showed determination and was able to finish the race to loud cheering from the spectators. Fiedtkou received $3,000 from a spectator for his performance.

(Jacquey Bourne)

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 41

Persaud’s 53* carries Nos.69Vikings to 4R Bearings 20/20 title An unbeaten half century from right handed middle order batsman Totaram Persaud helped Number 69 Vikings to the 2015 4R Bearings 20/20 title on Sunday at the Crabwood Creek Sports Complex when the final of the competition as held.

Persaud hit 53 (3x4, 3x6) and received good support from Viendra Gooniah (21 not out) as Number 69 Vikings reached 135 for 5 off 18.5 overs to seal victory. Vishwanauth Lalbeharry had earlier made 30 for the winners.

Earlier, Number 70 ‘A’ opted to bat first and were all out off the last ball of their allotted 20 overs for 1 3 4 .

Wi c k e t k e e p e r / b a t s m a n Alim Haniff led the way with 34 and was the only batsman to offer any significant resistance as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. After an opening stand of 20, Number 70 ‘A’ found themselves at 35-3 and then 87-5 when Haniff departed.

Bowling for Number 69 Vikings, Deon Bramdit and L. Roopchand each picked up two wickets. Chasing 135 to win, Number 69 Vikings went down to needed a further 38 off the final three overs for victory.

Persaud hit the first delivery bowled by Omesh Kumar for six and then followed up with a boundary in an over that saw 17 runs being added to the scoreboard and left the Vikings with 21 for victor off the last two overs.

Gooniah who had been up until then been taking his runs in singles, started the penultimate over with a straight hit off of the bowling of Thameshwar Kumar for six and then followed it up with a boundary immediately before giving the strike to Persaud who cleared the fence and then got the winning runs with a cut shot to the point boundary to seal victory with seven balls remaining.

Persaud was named man of the match.

At the presentation ceremony Number 69 Vikings received the 4R Bearings 20/20 trophy and $100,000, while Number 70 ‘A’ the runner up trophy and $25,000.

Vikings also collected $20,000 from Ramesh Tropical Auto Salesh. The company also presented $10,000 to Persaud and $5,000 to Number 70 ‘A’.

The final was witnessed by a capacity crowd.

Managing Director of 4R Bearings, Ricky Deonarine said he was pleased in the way the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association had run the competition. In expressing his satisfaction at the standard of play throughout the tournament, Deonarine said he is looking forward to the day when the Upper Corentyne will be able to produce a test cricketer.

Deonarine also committed 4R Bearings to sponsor the competition for a third year in 2016. The competition featured 20 teams from Yakusari to Crabwood Creek and was played in four zones on a round robin basis, home and away (IPL style). The top two teams then advance from each zone to the knockout stages of the competition.

Prizes were also presented to the century makers and the 5-for bowlers in the tournament.

Naeem Yacoob of Number 70 ‘A’ (101 vs Number 72 All Stars), Samdat Singh of Number 64 Fighting Marines (109 NO vs Number 69 Red Rose and 105 NO vs Number 70 MYO) and Christopher Jaundoo of Skeldon (150 NO vs Number 72 All Stars).

The bowlers with 5 of more wickets in an innings were Mahindra Tajnarine of Number 69 Red Rose (6 for 9 vs Skeldon Community Center), Ramzan Subhan of Number 64 (6 for 18 vs Number MYO), Sunjay Deochan of Number 70 (5 for 13 vs Number 73), A Jeffery of Scottsburg (5 for 15 vs Young Royals), P. Lensankar of Number 59 (5 for 18 vs Number 48), Jermaine Reid of Corriverton (5 for 13 vs Number 72 All Star), Naeem Yacoob of Number 70 ‘A’ (5 for 17 vs Number 72 Cut and Load), Deoprakash Ramdat of Coriverton ( 5 for 15 vs Number 73), Totaram Persaud helped Number 69 Vikings ( 5 for 10 vs Number 70 ‘A’), Zaheer Mahamed of Yakasari (5 for 20 vs Number 48), A. Mahamed of Yakasari (5 for 20 vs Number 48), Niapaup Iyana of Yakasari (5 for 33 vs Number 52), Vadanand Singh Number 64 (5 for 16 vs Skeldon) and Jason Itwaru of Number 64 (5 for 10 vs Number 69 Red Rose).

Sachin Ramrattan captain of Nos. 69 Viking together with teammates receive winning 4R T20 trophy from Ricky Deonarine.

Page 42

Kaieteur News

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Lady Jags prepared for historic Fitness Express/Banks DIH Limited sponsors Powerlifting Seniors Championship clash against Puerto Rico - Goalkeeper Chante Sandiford joins the squad

Chante Sandiford The ‘Lady Jags’ are eyeing a spot at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the country’s Senior National Women’s team quest to Brazil will see them facing Puerto Rico today at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago in the final round Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Olympic Qualifier final round.

Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, along with Puerto Rico had qualified for the ‘four-team playoff’ by coming out on top of their respective groups.

The Lady Jags arrived in the Twin Island Republic last Sunday and should Guyana be

victorious against Puerto Rico, they will advance to the finals on November 20.

In the final round, the four teams will play a single-elimination tournament. The two finalists and the winner of the thirdplace match will qualify for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship as CFU representatives.

If the Lady Jags finish within the top three, they will face the likes of USA, Canada, Mexico and two representatives from the Central American region. By virtue of reaching the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Cancun, the Women’s national team is the country’s most successful.

The team’s head coach Mark Rodrigues believes that his side is “definitely the underdogs heading into the championships as a result of the other countries encamped their players several weeks ago, but it’s a position that we have found ourselves in before and somehow we always manage to find some deep resolve to get the job done.

This time will be no different. Admittedly we will have to dig very deep as the teams we will face are the best in the Caribbean and are now in the top 10 best within the 41 countries that make up CONCACAF.” Rodrigues listed the DeSouza sisters Kayla and Briana, along with Justine and Ashley Rodrigues (Captain), Ashlee Savona, Mariam ElMasri, Olivia Gonsalves and Alison Heydorn as key players in their journey to Brazil, given the fact that the aforementioned players would’ve played integral roles in the team’s success and rise in (Continued on page 34)

Male best lifter Hardat Tarson

Female Best Lifter Chloe Hunter.

When the curtains came down on what could only be considered an exciting day of keenly contested powerlifting action, thanks once again to the kind and timely sponsorship from steadfast supporter of powerlifting in Guyana Mr. Jamie Mc Donald, of fitness

Express and Beverage giants Banks DIH Limited, some of the newer names in the sport emerged to the fore as the outstanding lot.

On a day when most of the big names in the sport were either rested or injured, new faces were allowed to emerge from the shadows

cast by those big names, but the day belonged to primarily to Chloe Hunter competing in the 57kg female weight class and her male counter Hardat Tarson competing in the 83kg weight class.

Sculpted like a body (Continued on page 34)

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Kaieteur News

West Coast Berbice believes it is the ‘dark horse’ of the National Schools’ Championships

Page 43

Guyana NRA/Industrial Safety Supplies 2015 Fullbore C/ships

Goodluck is new King of the range; Persaud retains O-Class; Tiwari wins Tyro

Flashback! West Coast Berbice’s, Jaquan Boyce (lane 4) dips at the finish line with Keifon Jack (on his right) at the National Stadium two years ago in the U-10 Boys 150m Final.

West Coast Berbice, District Five is confident that it can create some upsets when the National Schools’ Championships begin on Monday.

The District, known for producing some top distance athletes, believes it is the ‘dark horse’ of the Championships.

The District, which is credited with winning the Championships once under the name of Western Berbice back in 1974, believes that while they might not win it all this year, they are confident in their athletes to do well.

“From past years we have had a few records broken, but we just have the smaller children right now, but the older athletes are not taking it serious so we are really trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents. We will go out, and do what we have to do; I’m not saying we will shine, but we have

confidence in our athletes,” District Sports Representative, Michelle Archibald said.

The athletes are preparing for the Championships, albeit not as consistent as Archibald would’ve liked. “Well we don’t have a ground here, so some of the athletes would have to go to Belladrum to train and some would train in the mornings before school.

We encourage the cyclists to use the roads to train, but for our swimmers it is tough because we don’t have a pool,” she lamented.

“I would not say that they are not preparing, but things are not up to date with them,” Archibald shared.

Meanwhile, from the managerial standpoint, all the logistics are in place for the team to compete successfully, according to Archibald.

She said that the entire squad is looking forward to

the Championships, which begins with the Swimming Championships on Monday at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal. In addition to the swimming competition, two field events, Long Jump and Shot Putt, along with the 10km road race, 40km and 25km cycle road race will also take place on November 23.

The Games Village will be established on Woolford Avenue. Tutorial High, North Georgetown Primary and Secondary Schools and Richard Ishmael Secondary will house the 15 Districts from across Guyana that will c o m p e t e a t t h e Championships.

The Games Secretariat has been officially opened at GTU Headquarters, Woolford Avenue, with Districts submitting their entries. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for 10:00am on Tuesday at the National Stadium.

Eight cricketers graduate from Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Scorers Seminar Club also launches monthly financial scheme for Junior Cricketers Eight young cricketers drawn from the Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under17, Pepsi Under-19 and Metro Female Teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club on Sunday last successfully completed a Cricket Scorers Seminar at the Club’s Head Office at the Area ‘H’ Ground. The Seminar was organised by the Cricket Development Committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club

and was co-ordinated/hosted

by Hilbert Foster and experienced Cricket Scorer Plaffiana Millington.

The Seminar is the first of its kind to be organised by the Cricket Development Committee as the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club strives to make sure that every one of its members can perform in several capacities. The main aim of the Seminar was to train a new bunch of cricket scorers to serve as backup to

Plaffiana Millington, who is the official scorer of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. Millington, a national female cricketer, has scored at the Under-19 Inter-county level and has been scoring for over five years.

Those graduating were Clement King, Joshua Wilson, Aniesa Hicks, Marian Samaroo, Shaeneeta Grimmond, Vijay Gopilall, Simon Naidu and Joel Pike.

Foster urged them to put (Continued on page 34)

Ransford Goodluck Former Caribbean and Guyana champion Ransford Goodluck is the new King of the local Range having dethroned Lennox Braithwaite on Sunday last when the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) 2015 Fullbore National championships sponsored by Industrial Safety Supplies concluded.

Going into the final of three days of shooting at the Timehri Ranges, Goodluck who held a three point lead over Braithwaite, the reigning Caribbean Individual champion was able to keep his fierce rival at bay despite falling behind by a single point after the 300 and 600 yards ranges.

It was at the 1000 yards range that Goodluck shot his way to the title having recorded a score of 47 points

Dylan Fields

Peter Persaud

out of a possible 50 to Braithwaite’s 43.

Braithwaite not only lost to Goodluck but was overtaken by National Vice Captain Dylan Fields who ended second overall.

Peter Persaud did enough despite a bad 1000 yards shoot on the final day to retain the O-Class crown and bragging rights for the next year, while the Tyro Class for new comers was won by Roberto Tiwari.

Conditions on the day were not easy as all and the marksmen had to call on all their experience to be able to rise above the challenges presented by switching winds in very humid conditions especially at the 600 yards range where winds were switching very fast, even while shooters were in the aim.

Despite that and a low turnout due to the illness of a few key shooters including National Captain Mahendra Persaud and Leo Ramalho, those present said that they enjoyed the three days of competition which brought the curtains down on the local calendar and a very hectic year which also saw the West Indies team competing at the World, US NRA and Canada NRA Championships.

Goodluck in an invited comment said that he was pleased to be back as champion, noting that he has been in good form which culminated in him winning.

He also complimented the other shooters for their resilience and commitment to the sport.

(Franklin Wilson)

t r o Sp

Igloo Ice-Cream teams up with Petra Organisation

Five times Gold medalist Aleka Persaud (2nd from left) and Bronze medalist Antonia Dey (2nd from right)were impressive on the day.

25 meters pool opens in Linden with a swimming meet Managing Director of Sterling Products Ramsay Ali (2nd right) hands over the sponsorship to Petra’s Mark Alleyne in the presence of Co-Director Troy Mendonca and Women’s Football Association President Charmine Wade yesterday.

Stag / EBFA 7 A-Side KO

Grove Hi Tech and Agricola Red Triangle set up semi-finals showdown

Kuru Kururu Warriors (green & white) and Grove Hi Tech in action at the Grove Playfield on Sunday last.

5 yr old Linsdelle Fiedtkou (front centre) was the youngest swimmer to compete.

West Coast Berbice believes Football on right track it is the ‘dark horse’ of the as GFF establishes Judicial Committees National Schools’ Championships Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210