Kaieteur News

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November 24, 2015 - Vol. 08 No. 47 - Price $80

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Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Pradoville 2 scandal...

Cops seeking legal advice on charges for Jagdeo, ex-ministers Path of Destruction

Residents of this Ogle home got the shock of their lives yesterday after this car, reportedly driven by a taxi-driver, lost control and smashed into the yard.

The driver and his passenger fled leaving the car behind.

Wounded businessman returns fire, hits gunman

Murdered: Melissa Skeete

Execution attempt on bus driver…

Suspect nabbed in victim's hospital room

Man kills rival

Dead: Troy Brutus

JILTED MAN KILLS LOVER …dumps body out of car

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Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Troy pours first gold bar Troy Resources’ first gold bar.

Troy Resources is ramping up its operations after pouring its first gold bar in recent days.

A

ussie-owned Troy Resources has produced the first gold bar weighing more than 4.7kg from the Karouni

project in Guyana. The gold processing plant completed commissioning in lateOctober and has been running in a stop start mode

since then.

At present, Troy Resources said Sunday, the plant is operating between 40% and 50% of capacity,

with nominal design capacity of 80,000 per month expected to be achieved in early 2016.

Troy Resources project development executive director Ken Nilsson said: “We are extremely excited to have poured our first gold bar at Karouni. The plant is fully functional and we are operating at a level slightly ahead of our anticipated ramp-up programme.”

Going forward, the company plans to test the plant’s gold processing section from electrowinning through to smelting.

In order to start producing gold from the leach as well as gravity circuits, Troy Resources is now building up carbon loadings.

The plant is currently running with a single furnace enabling a smelting cycle of about three to four days, and the company plans to operate a second furnace after the throughput reaches a steady state.

Formally known as the West Omai project, the Karouni project is located in the central-northern part of Guyana and lies 180km south-south-west of Georgetown. The project covers an area of 113,581ha

and is dominated by gently undulating terrain at elevations ranging from 50m to 100m above sea level.

The pouring of the gold bar would follow that of the Guyana Goldfields Inc, which has commissioned its operations at Aurora, Region Seven, and is ramping up productions.

With Guyana largely dependent on medium and scale mining in recent years, Troy and Guyana Goldfield have been seen as positive news for the country’s falling declaration.

Declarations have risen in recent weeks for the Guyana Gold Board, it has been confirmed.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

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Kaieteur News

Pradoville 2 scandal...

Cops seeking legal advice on charges for Jagdeo, ex-ministers Bharrat Jagdeo

An aerial view of the prime seaside Pradoville Two property at Sparendaam.

I

nvestigators are continuing to study a key report that recommends charges against former President Bharrat Jagdeo and a number of exMinisters over the allocation and sale of prime seaside property at Sparendaam to themselves.

Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, questioned about the status of investigations, yesterday disclosed that a file prepared by the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), and recommending actions, has been received.

It is being studied by the police legal advisor to determine how investigators will proceed, the Crime Chief disclosed.

SARU, headed by economist, Professor Clive Thomas, was appointed by the David Granger administration to retrieve properties believed stolen or acquired through illegal means by government officials. The case of the S p a r e n d a a m p r o p e r t y, known as Pradoville Two,

located on the East Coast of Demerara, was the first major one announced by SARU that has recommended charges.

And it could go no higher than Jagdeo whose two terms as President of Guyana was dogged by accusations of corruption.

There has been impatience with the pace of investigations under the new administration which had vowed to investigate all reports of corrupt transactions that allegedly took place under Jagdeo’s rule.

While there have been questions over what charges are likely and whether Jagdeo has presidential

immunity, legal experts have also not ruled out civil actions being filed.

The Pradoville Two deal itself had raised eyebrows as the property was not opened for ordinary citizens to have a shot at acquiring.

SARU’s report last month noted that in 2010, the Jagdeo Cabinet made a decision authorizing the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to privatize state lands. NICIL is the body tasked with overseeing the privatization of state assets.

It reportedly spent more than $200M to develop the seaside community without

Publisher’s Apology

M

r. Glenn Lall, publisher of the Kaieteur News, offers an unreserved apology to offended readers for a headline that recently appeared on the front page of one of the editions. Mr. Lall was out of Guyana at the time of publication and on his return, expressed his dissatisfaction with the headline.

the knowledge and blessings of the National Assembly and other relevant bodies.

The said lands were then secretly sold to the former ministers and known friends and associates of the

previous regime.

At the time of the sale, the report said, the lands were grossly undervalued and sold substantially lower than the market value for the land thereby depriving the state of its full benefits.

Jagdeo himself paid only $9.8M, giving himself two acres of lands that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean.

SARU argued that the former Ministers could be held liable for misconduct in public office and in the absence of legislation for the unit, that the Attorney General, Basil Williams, may institute proceedings against the former Ministers.

The unit said that the actions of the former cabinet Ministers have shown that they willfully neglected to perform their duties without

reasonable excuse or justification to such an extent that it amounted to an abuse of the public trust in the office holders, hence its belief that criminal charges are indeed warranted.

The report cited several court cases regarding public officials as its basis for recommending that criminal charges be brought.

Providing a brief history of the nature of the Pradoville Two deal, SARU reported that Tract A of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara was once deemed as Communal Lands, thereafter owned by Demerara Sugar Estates prior to independence.

After independence, it said that this plot of land was owned by the State of Guyana. The land remained (Continued on page 20)

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

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

Why are taxpayers continuing Minister Broomes asserts that this businessman will not scare her to subsidize Asian loggers?

DEAR EDITOR, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan paints a rosy picture of Malaysian transnational logger known locally as the Barama Company Limited. Having written its own foreign direct investment agreement in 1991, Barama has continued to draw maximum tax and other concessions from Guyana every year while

promising much and invariably failing to deliver on its promises. The installed capacity of its second-hand plywood mill is 108 thousand cubic metres but since 2001 it has never exceeded 69 per cent of that capacity and for the last seven years it has been operating at 1/5 capacity or less while drawing 5/5 of tax concessions (See table) Meanwhile, Barama and

Bai Shan Lin have been the leading Asian log exporters of our high-value timbers.

You have noted the labour disputes at DTL but you may have forgotten that Bai Shan Lin has been controlling DTL since 2007.

So not only is Bai Shan Lin a persistent defaulter on investment promises but also a rotten employer.

Janette Bulkan

Mr. Singh needs to be warned about such statements DEAR EDITOR, One of the weekend newspapers carried an article

by Mr Sase Singh titled: “The Finale—it is time for distributive leadership”. At first glance I thought Mr Singh’s article might have been directed to the Hon. Dr Rupert Roopnarine and his top people in the field of education because the concept of “distributive leadership” has its genesis in educational administration (where, incidentally, there are still debates about its relevance and efficacy).

However, I became alarmed when I realized that Mr Singh’s article was focused on the sugar industry and

more so, in his words: “was written for the primary benefit of field and factory foremen and the workers, in general, to better empower them to take the industry forward”!

As a member of the COI into the sugar industry, the Report of which is still under consideration by our Government, I am restrained from saying or writing things which might be premature or misinterpreted; but, as an experienced Human Resource Management professional, I am constrained to warn against indiscriminate ‘prescriptions’ of presumed panaceas like ‘distributive leadership’, ‘visioning’,

‘core values’ etc while overlooking or ignoring the wisdom of pragmatic, situational and contextual leadership.

Nowrang Persaud

DEAR EDITOR, I consider it necessary to respond publicly to allegations made by the Chief Executive Officer of Aracari Resort, Mr. Sase Shewnarain, in correspondence released to the media earlier today.

I am also in receipt of copies of Mr. Shewnarain’s correspondence.It is no secret that since my appointment as Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, I have sought to focus the Ministry’s attention on addressing long outstanding issues in the labour relations process.

This, in some instances, is challenging, even imposing task. The Ministry is in the process of investigating workers’ complaint made against the resort.

Various officers of the Ministry have been involved in this process. There have been instances in which Mr Shewnarain’s attitude to these investigations has been decidedly unhelpful.

Up to this time and despite

written communication from this Ministry to Mr Shewnarain dated July 13th, 2015, and subsequent requests by telephone inviting him to a meeting to discuss the issue he has failed to put in an appearance.

Indeed, it was only after my specific intervention that he sent a representative rather than attend himself.

I must stress that the matters against the Aracari resort have been investigated fully and to my satisfaction.

Arising out of that process legal action has been taken against the entity.

In his note to His Excellency the President David Granger Mr Shewnarain states and I quote “There is something fundamentally wrong when we have Ministers who for whatever reason are unwilling to look at all the facts and are willing to shoot from the hip.”

I believe that this remark is directed at me personally and I will only state that delinquent employers will find

my approach discomforting.

I am no less offended by Mr Shewnarain’s possibly libelous charge directed at my Labour Officer Ms Maxine Bess to the effect that “you are a racist and you seem to be confident that you have the strength of the Government of Guyana to support you in your racism.”

It is definitely not my opinion that Ms Bess is a “racist”. In the matter of his insinuation with regard to the Government of Guyana I leave judgment to the people and the Government. I have my own views on the assertion.

Finally, I wish to state categorically that scandalous assertions such as those contained in Mr Shewnarain’s letter will not deter me and my Ministry in our quest for a convivial labour relations climate in the Corporate Republic of Guyana.

Simon Broomes Minister of State Ministry of Social Protection

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Kaieteur News

Police Policy Analyst takes umbrage at PSC Chairman’s remarks The Criminal Investigations Department of the Guyana Police Force has not taken too kindly to statements made by newly elected Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Norman McLean, on the current crime situation.

The department is particularly concerned over McLean’s comments regarding the police Integrated Crime Information Systems (ICIS).

Police Policy Analyst on Crime, Louis Dodson, was very forthright in his rebuttal of McLean’s comments. He called them appalling.

During a press conference at the PSC Headquarters on Waterloo Street, last Friday, McLean, said that access to the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS) was being “denied” by the Police.

This information is important in determining crime fighting strategies.

“We have been denied access to the ICIS data and therefore cannot really help the police on this analytical tool,” McLean said. “Where is the transparency which was so widely touted? That was available at least through the Law and Order Commission.”

“This (ICIS statistics) is not a secret. As our people are being robbed and killed, let’s help and not bury our heads in the sand.

“If you are going into a fight, you must be able to know what your opponent is going to do and how he will operate. That is what intelligence tells you. Where crime is likely to happen, how it is likely to happen, in what numbers,” McLean said.

According to McLean, he has been requesting that data for quite some time from Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud. The last response he got to his requests was that Persaud was proceeding on leave and that he would have to request it from Deputy Commissioner Balram Persaud. But the police Policy Analyst Dodson refuted

Police Policy Analyst on crime Louis Dodson McLean’s claims pointing out that it was the PSC that is not being cooperative with the law enforcement agency.

For instance the private sector was meagerly represented at the police end of year conference, where plans to police the city and its environs for the festive season were outlined, and a review of the Force’s crime fighting strategies throughout the year was presented by the crime chief.

According to Dodson, during previous meetings with the private sector, a number of areas of cooperation were outlined.

“The Private Sector never came back with the thing they promised to present, such as a job survey. We want to work with them,” Dodson said.

The Force’s Policy Analyst believes it is unfair for McLean to make the assertions he made since he would have been a consumer of many analyses.

Dodson said that McLean was a member of a high level policy team that included former Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, Captain Gerry Gouviea, the Director of Public Prosecution and the Commissioner of Police. He was party to meetings where all questions on police analysis were answered.

The Policy Analyst explained that the recent successes by the Police Force can be attributed to the

analysis done over a period of time.

“Our operations are informed by the analysis and that is the reason for our success. Several crime prevention initiatives are born out of the analysis. The Albouystown social intervention initiative was informed by the analysis we have done,” Dodson stated.

At least he and McLean are on the same page when it comes to how the data should be treated.

McLean had observed that every police station has the capability to record that data, thus, allowing the stations at that level to plot crime fighting on their respective maps and employ anticipatory measures.

Dodson agreed, stating that the force has decentralized its data analysis programme, which he described as Divisional based.

“We have real time analysis. We have daily, weekly, fortnightly and weekly analysis,” Dodson told this newspaper. The Police Force has competent people who could make good use of the analysis, he added.

This is not the first time that Dodson and the Private Sector Commission are not ‘seeing eye to eye’ on the crime situation.

Two years ago during his presentation at the 2013 Christmas Policing Plan, the Policy Analyst had expressed the view that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) are not as cooperative as they should be. He suggested that improved partnerships can yield significant results in relation to fighting crime.

“The Private Sector Commission is known for hitting the rooftop whenever a crime is committed on one of their business,” he said.

“We need more from them… not ad-hoc, selfish and shortsighted … we need more long-term partnership,” he had said.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Indigenous communities not prepared for EU-FLEGT VPA

By Jeanna Pearson Indigenous communities yesterday voiced their concerns about the execution of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) should it be signed in March 2016 and called for an extension of the signing and consent timeline.

National Toshao Council (NTC) Executive member, Lennox Shuman, avowed that the indigenous communities were simply not prepared for the implementation since most of them were not sufficiently informed about the agreement.

“Indigenous communities are not prepared for the implementation of the VPA should it be signed in March 2016, and therefore the timeline for the signing and ratification should be extended,” he stated, asking that the communities be given another year to get acquainted with the VPA process.

Shuman made his declaration at the launch of two reports which emphasized how forestry related activities and the supporting governance system affects the indigenous communities.

Both reports stem from the project “Promoting the effective participation of indigenous peoples in the FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement process in Guyana.” The project, which is being funded by the EU and the UK Department for International Development (DFID), runs for two years, from 2014 until 2016.

One of the reports, “Community Views on the Guyana- EU FLEGT VPA process” came out of a series of workshops held in Regions 1 and 2; while the other report came out of a “Seminar on essential elements for a legality definition and legality assurance system in the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA.” It was during these activities that the Amerindian communities put forward their concerns and

FLEGT Policy Advisor for Amerindian Peoples’ Association Michael Mc Garrell yesterday at the launch of two reports. recommendations on the agreement. It was stated that many indigenous people have little to no knowledge about the VPA process, while new information is often not passed on between community members.

Further, it was noted that the indigenous communities have not taken part in the development of essential forest related laws and policies.

FLEGT Policy Advisor for Amerindian Peoples’ Association, Michael Mc Garrell, stated that while negotiations have been ongoing for years, the Amerindian communities feel that their concerns are not being heard. “So there should be more time for stakeholder participations and more consultations with communities so that they can fully understand what the whole FLEGT process is.”

“We want to ensure that in improving these government structures that the VPA takes into consideration, the concerns and recommendations of the people in the communities because they are the ones who live in there and understand how they can be impacted,” he stated.

Communities complained bitterly about being “criminalized” by the current system that exists, he added.

He noted that the people believe that while the VPA is a positive move it could still have some negative impact.

“As a result they believe that their concerns and recommendations should be taken into account because it can help strengthen the VPA that Guyana has...They believe that their input into the whole negotiation process can lead to a strong VPA.” In a fight against unlawful logging, the European Union established the Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. FLEGT outlines a number of measures to

combat illegal logging in forests and stop illicit lumber from entering the markets, while increasing the supply of legal timber.

The VPA is a key element to fight against the illegal trade as well as supporting good forest governance in the member countries. FLEGT had been recommended for Guyana under its forest partnership with Norway. The government later consented and signalled its intention to sign the VPA, as part of its aim to prevent deforestation.

The VPA, once decided, will see commitment and action from both parties to cease the illicit logging trade, particularly with a licence scheme to authenticate the legality of lumber exported to the EU. The agreement will also ensure the promotion of better forest law enforcement.

Although, the Amerindian leaders welcomed the VPA, they remain with some reservations, especially issues concerning land rights and communities involvement in the process.

They are requesting that the VPA ensure strong protections for customary land rights and for the application of the core standard of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) before the issuance of any logging concession and permits over forest areas that they have traditionally used and occupied.

Shuman suggested that the criteria and framework for indigenous communities to meet FLEGT approval, should reflect the particular and unique situations of indigenous communities especially related to land tenure.

Further, he stated that the laws and policies must respect the customary rights of indigenous peoples in relation to land. “All relevant laws, including the Amerindian Act, the Mining Act, and the Forest Act must be revised to Continued on page 24

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Dollar hits eight-month high on rate expectations, metals drop (Reuters) - The dollar rose to an eight-month high yesterday amid heightened expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise interest rates next month, driving down the prices of copper, gold and other metals.

Worries that a buoyant dollar could discourage producers from cutting supply despite weak demand weighed on base metals prices. Copper fell to its cheapest in six months before recovering, while London nickel slid to its lowest since 2003. Gold fell nearly one per-

cent towards last week’s nearsix-year low.

“In the context of a market waiting for supply-side cuts, a stronger dollar is only going to weigh on the cost curve and constrain the pace at which cutbacks are made,” said Nicholas Snowdon, analyst at Standard Chartered.

U.S. stocks fell slightly in afternoon trading, with utilities pressured by rate hike expectations.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 60.49 points, or 0.34 percent, to 17,763.32, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 5.06

points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,084.11 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 11.70 points, or 0.23 percent, to 5,093.22.

“We’re coming off a very strong performance, a market that has shown tremendous resilience and a strong propensity of coming back,” said Andre Bakhos, managing director at Janlyn Capital LLC in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

The healthcare sector was in focus after Pfizer said it would buy Botox maker Allergan in a record deal worth $160 billion.

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Kaieteur News

Four months house destroyed by storm…

Resident still needs help to rebuild More than four months after a rainstorm accompanied by high winds destroyed her house, Phase Two, Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara resident, Amrol Wickham, is still struggling to rebuild.

Wickham was rendered homeless, following a rain storm in July. When Kaieteur News visited the woman’s Onderneeming residence in July, she had explained that she had been living at the location for the past five years.

The woman, a vendor by trade, had been at home alone when her one-flat wooden edifice, which once stood 10 feet high, came crashing down. The episode had left Wickham traumatized. Most of her household belongings were either destroyed or scattered in her yard. Additionally, the 52-year-old woman suffered injuries to her side, lacerations to her back and leg.

“I was at home when the breeze started whistling and blowing hard. Next thing I know is all the roof of the house came off and everything was on me. When I catch myself the place was a wreck and the TV, wares and almost everything damage.”

Since then, the single mother of two has been living with the hope of acquiring the help of public spirited persons and charitable

organisations to reconstruct her home. But she said that such persons are yet to reach out.

Owing to her limited resources, Wickham has since approached a few Non -Governmental Organizations, (NGOs) and humanitarian agencies for assistance.

“Food for the Poor said that they would help me with materials to rebuild. One of my sons came out of the interior to help me, because the roof and back wall of the house fall apart and almost everything is gone.”

However, it has been months, since the incident and Wickham says that her situation remains unchanged.

“Nobody ain’t come forward yet. My whole roof in the same condition and every time rain falls it pouring in from the two sides. I don’t know what would happen if the rain continues to fall,” she

explained.

The woman said that at times she would stay at the home of a close friend. “I don’t want to be a burden to anybody. I would really like to be home especially at Christmas time.”

According to the woman, it took the family years of hard work and sacrifice to build her home. This is because she suffers from sickle cell anaemia, and whatever little she earns from vending goes towards ensuring that she has food and medication.

“It is because of my illness that it took a while to acquire a home but I worked daily to accomplish it,” she had explained. The woman is appealing to the general public for whatever assistance they can offer.

Those interested in providing assistance is asked to contact Wickham on telephone number# 690-3749.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuco) is just about 13,000 tonnes away from achieving its 2015 sugar target of 227,443 tonnes.

This production could be easily achieved in less than two weeks if industrial action is put on hold, says Chief Executive (CEO) of the Corporation, Errol Hanoman.

The official said that the company could even go on to make another 6,000 tonnes which would take production to 233,361 tonnes for the year.

The last time GuySuCo achieved a second crop target was in 2004, according to

the CEO. He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that on Saturday some workers of the East Demerara estates (Enmore and LBI) went on strike over the Annual Production Incentive (API) offered by the corporation.

Hanoman said that talks on Friday with the Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU), regarding the API were left unfinished, after GAWU indicated that they wished to meet with their membership with regards the API offer.

He said he was surprised

that what took place after was that workers were encouraged to strike.

GuySuCo is offering 2.7 days API which will be paid

by March 2016. However, this was rejected by GAWU. According to Hanoman, a large number of workers did not want to strike. He said the corporation is awaiting their return and is encouraging them to maximize their earnings and to take the crop off.

GuySuco is confident it will reach its individual and overall targets, irrespective of the present industrial action by some workers.

As of yesterday, production stood at 133,146 tonnes for the second crop, while the year-to-date total standing at 214, 290 tonnes.

Hanoman also pointed out that a ‘strike action’ in the interim is really a breach of the law, since whenever there is an impasse, arbitration is the next step.

Thus far, strike actions

Amrol Wickham points to spot where her house once stood

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Benschop informs GECOM of intention to contest Local Government Elections Undeterred by his poor showing at the May 11 General Elections, popular Social Activist Mark Benschop is seeking the support of city residents for the upcoming Local Government Elections in four months time.

Benschop, who has been fighting for Local Government Reforms and the holding of elections for almost 15 years, has written to the Guyana Elections Commission, indicating his intent to contest the Georgetown District in the March 18, 2016 Local Government polls.

“Let’s start by saying, ‘Benschop signals his intention to run for Mayor of Georgetown,” Benschop said in an interview from New York City, USA yesterday.

Already the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity have indicated that they will be contesting the local government elections using the successful coalition formula.

The coalition and the opposition People’s Progressive Party will be the two major hurdles that Benschop will have to deal with if his intention to become the Mayor of the capital city is to be successful.

“We have already notified GECOM. My grounding with the people, activism and vision would help to transform the capital city into a modern one,” Benschop said.

But although he ran under the name “The Indepen-

dent Party” at the May 11 General Elections, Benschop’s advisors have suggested that he run under a newly named group: “Benschop for Mayor”.

The advisors are of the view that he stands a far better chance with his name being seen in the voting booth, as it gives him an edge over the other contestants.

When asked why he thinks he will do better than his showing at the General Elections, Benschop said, “The General Elections are by far different from the Local Government Elections. My entrance into General Elections was merely to acquire a seat in Parliament to make a difference. However, the people are set on me becoming the Mayor of Georgetown. And I’m now prepared to take on that responsibility to work for all the people of Georgetown regardless of their political affiliation,”the former political prisoner told this newspaper.

He plans to reform the entire City Police by providing attractive salaries and training to make them people friendly.

Benschop also plans to address the deplorable conditions of the city markets to make them modern, and better for vendors and customers as well as installing Parking Meters to attract more revenue.

“We will have a strong, competent and energetic

team to replace all the long serving members in the City Council. Time for real change!” he declared.

Among the Local Government reforms Benschop will be seeking are the Creation of a Municipal Court where the revenue goes to the city. “... It’s time the City gets its own TV or radio station.

These are just a few things that will generate a substantial amount of revenue. City owned parking lots and the creation of a system to ticket vehicles that are parked illegally,” Benschop explained.

He also plans to push for two term limits for the Mayor and for the Mayor to be the CEO of the city, instead of the Minister or Central Government having a major say in almost everything.

“It’s time for people with vision to run city hall, enough of the old ways of doing things,” Benschop said.

have not been widespread.

The CEO pointed out that on Sunday, sugar workers from B l a i r m o n t E s t a t e , We s t

Bank Berbice (WBB), stayed home while Skeldon workers went on strike yesterday.

They are expected to return to work today.

Rose Hall factory workers also downed tools yesterday.

Mark Benschop

GuySuCo nears second crop target GuySuCo is set to pass its second crop target for the first time in more than a decade.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 9

RESPECT THEM! At the opening of the Head Office of Demerara Bank, the Chairman of that bank said something that perhaps many managers will agree with but not give a second thought to. I want, however, through this column to ensure that it is given a second, a third and a fourth thought.

The Chairman said you should treat your people (staff) with value. If you treat them well, he said, you will get the world out of them.

There are many managers who claim to value their staff; they know that these persons are important to them, yet they do not treat them well.

I have seen managers physically assault workers and when I advised these workers to go and make a report, they refused because they actually felt that they deserved what they got or were afraid of losing their jobs.

I have seen employers insult their staff. I have heard

some terrible things being told to employees by their bosses.

A recent study which has been published indicated that much of this behavior may be unrelated to work. It may be a case of the boss bringing his home problems into the office.

That, however, is no excuse for treating people badly. It is a sign of weakness for boss to bring his home problems into the workplace.

Workers are subject to a great deal of abuse, both physical and verbal. They are

A bitter dispute over a woman ended around 19.25 hrs yesterday with one man believed stabbed to death and the other in custody after turning up at the Georgetown Public Hospital with cutlass wounds.

Troy Brutus, 31, reportedly collapsed a few yards from his home, located in the West La Penitence area known as ‘The Island,’ from wounds to the groin and abdomen.

He was

pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC. Police said that the alleged killer, accompanied by the woman at the centre of the dispute, turned up shortly after at the GPHC, with what appeared to a chop wound to his head. There are also reports that he sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.

He was subsequently taken into custody. The 36year-old suspect, who is an Albouystown man known as

‘Nice Time,’ is said to have alleged that Brutus attacked him first.

Reports indicate that Brutus was wounded in Albouystown, but managed to run into West La Penitence, where he collapsed.

A female relative of Troy Brutus said that she was at home when someone said that something had happened to Brutus. She then ran outside and saw Brutus sitting on the Continued on page 20

Man kills rival, nabbed while seeking treatment for injuries

Dem boys seh...

Corruption start up under Soulja Bai After one time is another. That is one old slang. It mean that today you riding high and tomorrow you could deh riding low. Dem got nuff people who get rich overnight and by day clean dem fall flat pun dem fast, broke as a church mouse.

Donald Dumb is a good and very clear example of how yesterday he was on top of de world. Today he deh beneath de world.

This man had de biggest and most powerful office in Freedom House and Ohh Pee. Today he deh in that same Freedom House but in a rat hole. De goat man deh in de big office.

Dem boys did warn Donald about giving up de office of General Secretary. He didn’t listen. But he talking fat from de rat hole. He seh that if de Bar Rat think he more powerful than me he gun soon find out.

He de Bar Rat kick Moses then tun back and stamp out Rum Jattan. Rob de Earth did laugh; he didn’t know one day he woulda meet de same fate. He time was coming. He get de boot too.

Dem boys hear that Donald gun get de boot too. Is only time. And Norman can’t save him. This is de same Norman who was thick, thick wid all of dem. He corrupt de whole Pee Pee Pee. When dem boys think was Jagdeo corrupt de nation, was Norman who taught Jagdeo all de tricks in de book.

Anything you want done, call Norman once de bag has enough cash inside, consider it done. Now that de Pee Pee Pee is gone Norman gone too, but he gone to de other side.

Dem boys hear and de talking is all over town you want anything done, any crooked deal, any contract, put de right amount of money in a bag and give it to Norman.

And he using Soulja Bai and Li’l Joe name. He going to people all over and telling dem how Soulja Bai and in most cases, Li’l Joe, want it done immediately.

Dem boys want Soulja Bai and Li’l Joe to know that corruption start under dem watch and dem name calling. Be careful wid Norman.

treated with value and though many are unhappy they continue because they need the job or they have been brought up to accept such abuse.

The vast majority of staff does not wish to be treated well only by being paid well.

People want to be respected.

More importantly, they wish to be spoken to in a manner that respects them. They do not wish people to look down on them no matter how low they are in the organization.

When it comes to treating people well, how you speak and relate to your staff is far more important than how much you pay them.

You can pay a man well above what he should be earning but he will not be happy if you are speaking to him in a rough manner or if you are condescending towards him.

I know there are many people who will disagree with this assessment. In fact, a recent study in the United Kingdom, the findings of

which were published in The Telegraph this week, showed that money is the best motivator of workers, yet many employers are not paying bonuses to their workers.

I disagree. The best motivator is how you speak to your employees, how you relate to them on the job, how you accommodate their mistakes.

People will make mistakes.

They cannot always get things right. Any employer who wants to have a have an employee that does not make a mistake should go and get a robot.

When people make mistakes, when they fall short of expectations, there has to be a certain level of understanding. They have to be encouraged to correct their mistakes and do things better.

But what you find in Guyana is that there are employers that are intolerant of mistakes; who feel that their staff should be perfectionist and who abuse

their staff verbally when they make mistakes. You are not going to get the best out of your staff when you do this.

On the other hand there are some employers feel that the best way to get the best out of their workers is to over pay them, to bribe them with rewards and gifts, to condone sloppy work. This is the reverse of abuse and will create more problems than it solves.

People want to be treated well. They want to be valued.

As the Chairman of Demerara Bank said, if you treat you staff well, you will get the world out of them. They will go the extra mile for you because you respect them.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 24, 2015

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

When elephants fight, ants must bite them I don’t care to find out what the quarrel at the Ogle airport is all about. On the surface, it appears to be an accusation by a number of aviation companies against another company which has management rights to the airport. Information was in the press about a month ago when it was stated that the IDB gave the then PPP Government a loan for the rehabilitation of the airport.

A condition was attached that the management of the airport must be in private hands.

The Government agreed thus the airport is administered by a private company. This is what radical scholars would refer to as imperialism.

A Government gets a loan to rehabilitate a public property which it must pay back from taxpayers’ money but the taxpayers have lost control over the public land because the lender would only lend the money if you

put a private business in charge of the public property.

How terrible it was of Bharrat Jagdeo to enter into such a nonsensical arrangement. Come to think of it, Mr. Jagdeo was a silly President. I can accept the framework of a specific period for private control then the airport reverts to governmental administration.

I understand that Ogle airport is in the day to day hands of a private company without any termination date. I may be wrong but was told that.

The government has enacted legislation since Independence to reduce daily involvement of central government in many spheres of public patronage. The most pellucid example is the University of Guyana.

There is a University of Guyana Act which insulates the University from actual control of the President, the Minister of Education and the Cabinet. But the essential existence of the university is

the function of the Government of Guyana.

There is an airport authority at Timehri. There is a Forestry Commission. There is a National Parks Commission.

But the Timehri airport, UG and the forests are state properties. There cannot be any mistake or grey area – UG, the Timehri airport, the country’s national parks are owned by the State. It should be like that at Ogle. This should not exclude privatization of the Ogle structure but then you are talking billions and billions which private investors may reject.

As said above, I don’t care to know about the rights and wrongs about the current confrontation. Rich folks are fighting among themselves and the poor must stay clear because the poor have been victims of ruthless employers who are among the group that are in confrontation with the airport company.

It is no secret that one of those aviation companies that are crying about domination and unfair business tactics treat his employees terribly and he is not only in the aviation business. There are sordid details about this man’s employment attitude that will give you goose bumps. Another company has a history of strange behaviour of which I will offer two examples.

One of his planes went missing for weeks. He found it in Colombia. Then one of his employees while on official duty at the Timehri Airport was caught with cocaine.

He then enacted a committee to probe how that could have happened and he chose the Guyanese James Bond to head the internal investigation. In one of the Bond movies, “Thunderball” a SPECTRE agent enticed

Bond into her bed so her hitmen could capture him.

They did. And as they were leaving the bedroom to take Bond out to kill him, she mocked Bond telling him how he thinks he can have sex with any woman he wants.

Then Bond floored her with his reply. He said, “Lady don’t flatter yourself, what I did in bed was for King and country.”

I wonder what our local James Bond did was for whom? Was it for President and country or for the company?

Another one of the companies fighting the Ogle airport management was accused by a woman of being abandoned after her husband disappeared in a flight.

He probably died in the jungle. She went to the local internet newscast INEWS and complained bitterly. To help her, I devoted an entire

Frederick Kissoon column to her story. Never knew if she got a cent.

That is why when elephants fight, ants must not runaway. They must get into the act and bite the Goliaths who couldn’t give a damn if they got trampled.

Last Sunday evening I was at the GNS Sport Complex on Carifesta Avenue where I got information that will make you laugh. All the companies in the Ogle brawl, on both sides, have high friends in both APNU and AFC.

GTU airs concerns over slow pace matters are being dealt with At a recent press conference hosted by the Guyana Teachers Union, the General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, revealed that of the 46 head and deputy head teachers eligible to receive duty free concessions since 2009, only 16 have thus far been approved by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

She said that while the union is happy to have those 16 persons receive what was promised to them, there are still 30 more to be looked at and the process is much too long. It should not “take such a long time to have this process completed. We should have this whole process of duty free completed when we submit names, in a matter of two weeks. We shouldn’t have this long drawn out period between the Ministry of Education and GTU,” said McDonald.

She said, “We (union) have had a battle over the years of ensuring our head teachers and deputy head teachers are afforded their duty free concessions. That battle is now in place.”

The opportunity was also taken to comment on the twoyear ABE programme and the

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon issue of teacher scholarships for the University level.

Union members explained that in 2010, members of the People’s Progressive Party had approached the union to endorse the ABE programme before it was put in place.

After hearing the benefits they decided to support it.

The programme was subsequently established and students graduated.

However, they are still to receive their certificates.

“Students (who) would have graduated in 2012… along with those in 2013 are

now seeking to get their permanent associate degree certificates, the union has been told that they are not ready for distribution,” said McDonald.

McDonald also related that the union was reliably informed that designs for the certificates are also not ready.

As such, the union is worried as to why a program implemented since in 2010 does not have a design for certificates of completion in 2015.

“It is very unfair to the teachers who have completed this programme,” she said.

“Every year teachers going through that same ABE programme are wondering when it would be possible for them to receive their certificates to show how successful they were.”

They are calling on Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, to ensure that these teachers receive their certificates. It is hoped that the certificates will be received before the Christmas term comes to an end.

Vice President of GTU, Julian Cambridge, commented on the scholarships which are given to 30 teachers, selected

by GTU and the Ministry of Education every academic year. Currently, she related, the 30 teachers have been selected and have been enrolled but they are still to receive their scholarship payment.

“We urge them to have a little patience with regard to payment,” said Cambridge, “as exams are soon approaching and they wonder of their position on payments.”

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

GECOM still demarcating boundaries, unprepared for LGE - PPP

PPP Member of Parliament Zulficar Mustapha The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to get its act together. The party is contending that the Commission has not demarcated the boundaries in major constituencies.

During its weekly press conference at Freedom House yesterday, the party also noted that GECOM has not commenced the merging of constituencies with low populations.

In Local Government Elections, the 580 constituencies being contested by candidates come under either Municipalities or Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and have to

be demarcated (boundaries laid out).

On November 22, GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander stated that the Commission was ready and that any concerns that the PPP have would be settled before the polls.

However, PPP Member of Parliament Zulficar Mustapha said that GECOM had submitted the demarcated boundaries to them a few weeks ago and subsequently, a new one. “(Whilst) they (will be) doing the claims and objections, they are still fiddling with the boundaries,” he noted. “So it seems that they have not settled with the boundaries as yet and they are saying they are ready for LGE.” Mustapha also stated that GECOM is still trying to demarcate boundaries in Anna Regina, Lethem, Bartica and Corriverton. He noted that demarcation is important in ensuring that new and bordering communities are taken into account.

He also pointed to the potential for difficulties in demarcating Lethem, since there are Amerindian communities bordering it.

Some communities also have to be merged, if there is a population disparity.

In cases involving Amerindian communities, Mustapha also noted that consultations at the National and Community levels must be held, in consideration of

the Amerindian Act. “So they have to get their act together,” he said, making it clear that GECOM could not have settled the boundary question, and yet keep sending revised boundaries to the party.

Mustapha added that during meetings with GECOM, the party had requested that the verification exercise not be done on the same day as the registration. This was something the party’s scrutineers had picked up.

“If someone goes to get registered from an area, we asked them that (the process should allow for) this person’s verification to be done the following day, so that we can ensure these people are living at the rightful address.”

He posited a scenario whereby someone can submit a purported address during registration. They can then go straight to that address and be verified as living there, when in fact, they were not living there permanently.

“GECOM has been going out and verifying addresses the same day as registration,” he said. “Our scrutineers objected to it and they are now taking the APNU scrutineers and are saying that they will do the verification.”

“We objected to that; we have made a note of the names and we will be making representation to GECOM.” Reminded that any such discrepancies would be

American jailed for cocaine -Convict was not present for ruling

JAILED: Patrina Dalrymple An American citizen was yesterday sentenced in absentia to 60 months jail, after she was found guilty of trafficking 937 grammes of cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International (CJIA) Timehri.

Patrina Dalrymple, 27, of 2702 Lady Grove Road, Bowie, Maryland, USA was convicted by City Magistrate Judy Latchman, for having the illicit substance in her

possession on April 20. In addition to the prison term the woman, who resides locally at Lot 214 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, was ordered to pay a fine of $2.5 million—three times the street value of the cocaine.

Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat represented the woman.

Police Corporal, Kerry Bostwick presented the case for the prosecution. Bostwick called several witnesses to testify on behalf of the prosecution.

Dalrymple was remanded to prison by the said Magistrate at her first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, back in May. However, she was subsequently released on $1.2M bail by the High Court.

Court facts stated that on the day in question, around 15:10hrs, ranks from the narcotics branch were performing duties at the

aforementioned airport. The ranks were monitoring outgoing passengers on Caribbean Airline (CAL) flight #BW526, destined for JFK, New York. The facts revealed that the ranks were prompted to search a suitcase belonging to Dalrymple, upon noticing some anomaly after the luggage was placed on the scanning machine.

Ranks searched the luggage in the presence of the convict and found a plastic parcel concealed at the bottom of the suitcase. The parcel was probed and contained a quantity of whitish substance which tested positive for cocaine.

At this point, the woman was told of the offence committed, arrested and charged.

According to the facts, Dalrymple told the police that her boyfriend, Kenton Haynes had given her the cocaine to take to the US.

picked up during the objections exercise, Mustapha said that the Party’s intention was to nip them in the bud.

Local governments are mandated by law to provide services such as improving living conditions, creating employment in the various local areas, maintaining roads, bridges and other important infrastructure, garbage collection, cleaning of drains, promoting a healthy environment and

encouraging citizens’ involvement in their communities.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) commenced its Claims and Objections exercise for Local Government Elections on November 9 to produce a Register of Voters (RoV) for each of the nine Municipalities and 62 NDC. The exercise will end on December 13, 2015.

To facilitate the exercise, GECOM has established 160

Claims and Objections Offices at strategic locations within all of the Municipalities and NDCs. All of these offices have been gazetted and published in the print media, prior to the commencement of the exercise as is required legislatively.

Local Government Elections were last held in 1994. Though promised in the run up to elections over the years, the previous PPP administration has never followed through.

Page 12

Execution attempt on bus driver…

A man, matching the description of the suspect, who shot a bus driver Sunday night in what is believed to be an execution attempt, was yesterday arrested after he was caught in the victim’s room at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Devon Searles, of 73 Hadfield Street, received a single gunshot to his left side

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Suspect nabbed in victim’s hospital room jaw when a gunman, who was sitting behind him in the route 40 mini bus he was driving, pointed a .38 revolver at his head and pulled the trigger.

Yesterday, at the hospital, relatives were standing around Searles’s bedside when he started acting in a strange manner. When they turned to investigate, they spotted a young man in the room.

The young man matched the description the conductor, who saw the gunman, gave to relatives.

After realizing all eyes were on him, the young man who appeared to be in his early 20s, walked to another patient in the room and started a conversation.

“At this point, the man (patient) said he don’t know he (suspect) and some of our

relatives cornered him and he (suspect) looked really nervous and we tell he that we taking him to the police and he get more nervous,” a relative of the victim said.

She added that Searles recalled seeing a tattoo on his shooter’s face-- the suspect also has a tattoo on his faceThe victim communicates with his relatives by writing.

Kaieteur News was told that one of Searles’s relatives was standing at his room door when he saw the man staring into each room as he walked past them. The relative alleged that when the young man spotted Searles, he turned back and went into the same room.

“The guy (patient) he was talking with in the room tried to hold him but he (suspect) put his hand on his waist like he going and pull out something so the guy pulled back,” the relative said.

The woman added that when the man was apprehended and taken to the hospital police outpost, he continuously denied being involved in the shooting of the bus driver.

Kaieteur News was told that the suspect, who is said to be from Sophia, was seen hiding a haversack in one of the rooms at the hospital.

Police subsequently found a bag in one of the rooms but it

The suspected shooter is unclear what was in the bag.

Up to press time, the suspected shooter was in custody. This newspaper understands that the bus conductor too is in police custody after providing conflicting reports to police.

Kaieteur News was told that the suspected shooter boarded the minibus at the Kitty Bus Park at Stabroek Market.

It was when Searles stopped near the David and Sherriff Streets junction to put off a passenger, the gunman made his move.

The gunman made no attempt to shoot or rob the conductor of the bus although he was sitting next to him and pointed the gun in his direction after shooting

the driver.

It is still not clear if the shooting had anything to do with Searles’s previous brush with the law. Searles was charged in December 2013 for his alleged involvement in the theft of two cars the previous month.

Back then, it was alleged that on November 15 at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, he robbed Sanjay Babulall of two motorcars, an Allion and a Primio, together valued $6.3 million, property of Robena Khan.

Searles was remanded to prison but was subsequently granted bail.

It is not clear what was the outcome of that matter which was being heard at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Hundreds of case dockets outstanding at Magisterial Districts

The 2014 Auditor General Report has outlined that a number of case dockets have been either misplaced or misfiled at the Georgetown, West Demerara and East Demerara Magisterial Districts.

These include dockets for affiliation, criminal and civil matters.

The report explained that this was due to the fact that the register of dockets did not contain information on the movement of case dockets.

It stated that for 2012 and 2013, a total of 1,433 case dockets were not presented for audit examination. The report further stated that as

- 2014 AG Report at September 2015, as many as 239 case dockets were presented for the year 2012, while 408 were presented for 2013.

For last year 2014, there were a total of 17,729 cases in the Georgetown, East Demerara and West Demerara Magisterial Districts. In respect to this year, the report showed that 817 dockets were outstanding. In 2013, there were a total of 28,479 cases among the three Magisterial Districts and according to the report, 713 dockets were outstanding.

While there were a total of 30,763 cases for 2012, the report explained that 720 of those dockets were outstanding. Based on these findings, the department responded that locating file dockets is an ongoing exercise.

The Audit Office recommended that the department re-examine its system of filing case dockets in order to ensure that all case dockets are presented for audit in a timely manner.

The table below details the findings of the report.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Page 13

Kaieteur News

No trace of fuel truck, possibility hijacking was inside job Fuel truck hijacking...

Police have found no traces of fuel truck GSS 1819, which was hijacked along the 15-Mile Mabura Road on Saturday. Searches in the area yesterday failed to discover the truck.

According to a source in ‘E’ Division yesterday, the police are exploring the possibility that the hijacking might have been an inside job.

During the hijacking the 43-year-old driver, Antonio Jardine and his son, 16-yearold Trevor were reportedly robbed, stripped of their clothes, and had their truck, which was transporting two barrels of fuel, hijacked.

The men, who hail from 160-161 New Road, VreedE n - H o o p , We s t C o a s t Demerara were then left to fend for themselves at 01:00hr.

Their family is up in arms over their detention by the police. Up to 18:30hrs yesterday the two had not been released from custody.

According to reports Antonio Jardine was driving the fuel along the 15-Mile Mabura Road, Linden, with Trevor Jardine as a porter.

The truck was transporting drums of fuel worth approximately $4M. Speaking to Kaieteur News, Antonio’s wife, Dawn, related that the bandits were reportedly in a silver gray car with obscured licence plates.

According to her, the men were able to loosen the spare wheel from the back of the truck unknowing to the Jardines.

The car then drove ahead until it was abreast with Antonio and the occupants informed him of his spare wheel which had fallen and was lying on the road behind.

Not foreseeing the danger of stopping at such an hour, Jardine reportedly parked the truck. It was then that he and his son were held

at gunpoint by one of the occupants of the car and ordered to exit the truck.

They did so and were reportedly beaten and stripped of their clothing, after which their clothes were searched. One of the car’s occupants then climbed into the truck, threw out J a r d i n e ’s c l o t h e s a n d driver’s licence and drove off in the direction of 47 Mile (towards Mahdia).

The man’s wife related that they were eventually rescued by a passing truck and subsequently detained for questioning by the police.

“The police said the driver planned the robbery.

Since (Saturday) I don’t

know where my son is,” She said. “For 25 years my husband work with this company. Why would he do that?”

Edward Jardine, the father of Antonio decried the fact that his son is a victim, yet is not being treated so. He noted that Antonio is a diabetic and all of his medication was in the truck when it was hijacked.

He explained that investigators have focused their suspicion on his son, who has been employed with the owner of the fuel truck for the past 25 years. He was adamant that his son would never orchestrate such a plot.

Edward Jardine stated

Antonio Jardine that the owner of the fuel truck had even defended his embattled employee;

16-year-old Trevor Jardine including telling the police that he would put his head on a block for him.

Efforts to contact Commander of ‘E’ Division Calvin Brutus were futile.

Page 14

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Rotten bases cause multiple utility poles to collapse A

taxi driver and his family opted to remain confined in their home at Crane Old Road, West Coast Demerara, after three nearby utility poles came unceremoniously crashing down yesterday morning.

Based on observations, the poles were rotten at their bases and collapsed as a result.

The poles, one of which was positioned along the roadway outside Winston McKenzie’s 35, Crane Old Road home, accommodated both Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) lines. The result of the collapsed poles was live electrical wires and telephone lines hanging on the fences of three adjoining yards, including McKenzie’s.

“I don’t play with current (electricity); that is something that you can’t see,” said McKenzie, who was gathered with his family in the patio of his home when this publication visited the

area yesterday.

He said that the situation started Sunday night when the pole outside his home started to collapse. “We (McKenzie and his family) came home about 6:30 (18:30 hours) and I noticed that I could’ve touched this wire (pointing to utility wires hanging on his fence).

I was just about to tell my wife, when we hear this cracking sound and then this post come down...The post was like halfway suspended and wires were sparking,” related McKenzie.

According to the man, he called the GPL office and technicians arrived about one hour later to disconnect the power lines to his home and that of the two adjacent properties. The man is convinced that if attempts were made to “prop up” the suspended pole, it could have prevented it from falling further and damaging a section of his fence.

Two other poles also collapsed early yesterday morning. “The whole thing come tumbling down about

The fallen pole outside Winston McKenzie’s home.

Inset: Rotten at the base.

6:30 (yesterday)...Now I can’t come out and earn my daily earning. My wife is a teacher and she can’t go to school; even my children can’t go to school today,” lamented the man yesterday.

But this is not the first time that McKenzie has experienced this ordeal. He recalled that it might have

been just about a few years ago when the same dilemma occurred. He recalled that the utility pole outside his home collapsed then and also damaged his fence. “...I had to replace the fence. I don’t know what is going to happen this time around? I waiting to see,” noted McKenzie.

The incident yesterday sparked a maintenance exercise by a team of GPL technicians along the Crane Old Road. When asked why action to fix the problem

hadn’t started Sunday night, one technician explained that the crew that responded initially was not from the maintenance team, and therefore could have merely disconnected the electricity flow to the affected homes.

Yesterday afternoon McKenzie’s wife, who is fondly called Teacher Anne, disclosed that when the GPL maintenance team finally arrived at her home, they told her that they could not remove the fallen poles.

The woman said that

according to the technicians, the poles are the property of GTT and that company will have to replace them.

Moreover, GPL technicians yesterday installed its own poles and re-mounted its utility lines, while the GTT poles and lines remained hanging on the fences.

GPL also commenced a maintenance exercise in the vicinity which included putting in place measures to prevent other poles from falling.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Verdict in Robb Street granny trial set for today “Overwhelming, potent and compelling,” were the words used by State Prosecutor, State Teeshana Lake, to describe the evidence presented in the trial of the four persons accused of murdering of 72y e a r- o l d C l e m e n t i n e Feidtkou 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, Bourda residence and requested an audience with her. Upon hearing the persons requesting her presence, she moved to the door. The gunmen opened fire on her, hitting her several times about the body. The gunmen were paid to end the woman’s life.

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 Georgetown High Court for t h e m u r d e r .

The men are being represented by Attorneys -atLaw, George Thomas, Moti Singh, Raymond Alli and Maxwell Mc Kay. Lake presented her closing address yesterday.

She is appearing on behalf of the State, in association with Attorney at law, Narissa Leander.

In her address to members of the jury, the State attorney said that the accused via their own statements, admitted to their role in the shooting incident, which claimed, the life of the elderly woman.

Pointing to pertinent parts of each caution statement of the four accused, Lake noted that the police could not have fabricated such a tale. Each

Murdered: Clementine Feidtkou Parris accused, she further said, had played a part in the murder either by making the arrangement, driving the car or entering the yard, on the night that Feidtkou-Parris met her demise.

Prosecutor Lake held that the accused would have given those statements freely and voluntarily and not because the police beat and tortured them as they claimed.

She asserted that the men just wanted to capitalize on the bad reputation that a few rogue policemen have given the Guyana Police Force.

The prosecutor then turned to the evidence led by a police witness on behalf of the victim’s brother Fitroy Feidtkou, (deceased). He is said to have been the sole eyewitness to the execution style killing of his elderly sister.

Lake noted that although he is dead, the statements which were presented on behalf of the victim’s brother

were admitted as evidence must be counted, as such.

She told the panel that Feidtkou had identified Roy Jacobs the number four as the man who shot his sister and the number one as the person who had also been in the yard, that night.

In relation to the alibi presented on behalf of Orwin Hinds, the lawyer pointed out that the witness, by her own admission, could not remember how old her son was in 2011 but she could have told the court specific d e t a i l s a b o u t H i n d s ’s whereabouts on June 30 of that same year, including the clothing he had worn.

The next witness, Lake said, led evidence that her foster brother, Kevin October was already in police custody at the time, the murder is said to have taken place, but she made no attempts to notify anyone, including the media that her brother is accused of a crime, he could not have committed.

The alibis, the Prosecutor said are nothing but gimmicks by the defence.

“Is lies they come to tell the court for these men….but it all boils down to who you believe.”

Noting that the names of other persons were mentioned in the evidence, Lake called on the jury to essentially ignore the question about the mastermind behind the act since “who we have is on trial.”

The Judge is expected to sum up the evidence in the trial and hand it over to the jury for deliberation, when the hearing resumes today.

Page 15

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Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Fisher folk strike over weighing problems

S

Some of the workers outside Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc. wharf yesterday.

cores of workers attached to Pritipaul Singh Investments Incorporated, downed tools yesterday claiming that their catch is being inaccurately weighed. They say that this is a deliberate attempt to cheat them of their earnings.

According to Harold James, the underpayment would often cause workers to pay back large sums to the company, which would have advanced them for the previously declared weights.

He claimed that this has been going on for quite some time now.

He stated that after returning from sea, Captains would give an estimated weight of their catch which is based on the amount of shrimp-filled baskets seen.

They will be paid immediately.

However, the weight is verified the day after, and any money paid in “over estimated weight” will be deducted from their next return trip.

One crew member, Kevin James, pointed out that there are 28 boats that dock at the wharf, with each boat comprising seven members.

“If we bring in load and we call 10,000 pounds, dem say that we only get seven or eight thousand, after they verify. Now we got to pay back the extra money, so in that way we always got money for them…Then we have to work seven days a week. We only get one night home,” James said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company, Pritipaul Singh, said yesterday, that his employees are being unreasonable.

“The shrimp that they are catching is fine, not the usual fat ones, so the yield becomes poor… So when the shrimp fat we offer them 65 pounds a basket; when the shrimp fine, its 45 pounds per basket.” he said.

Singh claimed that he usually calls on the Captains when verification is done, however, they often don’t show up. He went on to say that for the past four months, the company is being run at a loss. He boasted that the company is the only company that provides groceries for their crews free of cost.

“There is no other company that offers free groceries, and sometimes these crews (the strikers) often do not clear fuel money” he said.

Asked if there would be any compromises on his part if the situation persists, Singh said bluntly, “Well the Captains need to get new crew members or l tie my boats up and we wait till the shrimps get big…”

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Jilted man kills lover …dumps body out of car A

mother of four died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) hours after she was stabbed by her jilted lover who then kicked her out of his car on Carmichael Street, Georgetown in broad daylight yesterday.

The incident occurred around 16:30 hrs in the vicinity of Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre.

The dead woman has been identified as Melissa Skeete, a Dispatcher at the GPHC of Lot 94 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The woman died while

undergoing surgery at the hospital. She was stabbed multiple times.

Shortly after stabbing Skeete, the suspect, who is on the run, called one of her friends and when the individual asked why he injured the woman, he denied and ended the call.

According to reports, the woman left work around 15:00 hrs yesterday. The hospital’s security guards recalled seeing the woman entering the suspect’s car.

There are reports that before Skeete left the hospital with the suspect, she left his car registration number, PRR 6841

Wounded businessman returns fire, hits gunman

Nicholas Coates

T

he owner of Yog Yo g F r o z e n P a r l o u r, G a i l Russell’s son, Nicholas, was last night shot after five bandits invaded his home in Bel Air Park.

Nicholas Coates, 30, of Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park was shot to his knee when five bandits barged into his house and started firing shots at him. He was taken to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where he is expected to undergo surgery.

Russell told Kaieteur News that her son, a young entrepreneur, was home alone in his apartment when the incident occurred. She stated that he was drinking a cup of tea in his verandah when five men rushed through his open door. She said the men had apparently

knocked at the downstairs apartment and received no answer. She said it was then that they probably noticed Coates’ door open.

She said Coates immediately threw his cup of tea on the bandits and ran into his bedroom to get his gun and in the process was shot.

While the bandits were trying to pry their way into the room, she said, her son grabbed his gun and returned fire.

One of the bandits was shot in the ordeal and the men made their escape in a yellow car. They managed to steal a cell phone.

“We called 911, 913 and 9 whatever and it all ring out.

The police came 45 minutes later,” she noted.

Police are currently investigating the matter.

and her cell phone number with one of her colleagues.

The woman reportedly told her co-worker that she does not trust the man and requested that he (co-worker) call her phone later in the day to ensure that everything was okay.

She also asked that if anything should happen to her, he should hand over the car registration number to the police.

Skeete was attacked shortly after leaving with the suspect.

She was taken to the hospital by a man who saw her lying on the road in blood.

There are reports that the woman and the suspect who share

one child separated some time back after she was frequently abused by the man.

Kaieteur News was told that after the separation, the suspect would show up at the woman’s home and physically abuse her.

Some time last week, the suspect went to the woman’s house and destroyed her windows, forcing her to move from that location.

Skeete’s co-workers recalled the woman complaining to them that her lover threatened to kill her.

Her relatives were seen at the hospital late last night but refused to speak to the media.

Page 17

Murdered: Melissa Skeete

Murdered: Melissa Skeete

Page 18

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Guyana goes back to Dutch to solve drainage woes G

overnment has announced a “holistic” approach to the country’s drainage and irrigation systems.

The David Granger administration, is talking with the Government of The Netherlands, which has signaled intentions to play a key role through the provision of consultancy services.

According to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure yesterday, Minister David Patterson met with a three-member team from the Government of the Netherlands’ Dutch Risk Reduction Team (DRRTeam).

The consultancy would be critical as it was the Dutch who had designed the majority of the drainage structures and canals along the coastlands in the three counties where miles of farmlands are located. With Guyana below sea level, the kokers, sluices and drains have been seen as part of the Dutch legacy.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson (centre, left) during the meeting with the Dutch Risk Reduction (DRR) Team and local engineers. Present also is Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder.

The team, which arrived in Guyana Sunday evening, will work in a consultancy capacity over the next few days.

The meeting was held in the Boardroom at the Ministry of Agriculture with Noel Holder, Minister of Agriculture, also present.

Patterson said that the partnership with the

Netherlands would lend to a comprehensive approach to drainage and irrigation in Guyana.

The assistance would be critical especially in light of the level of rainfall in recent years. In July, Guyana recorded about eight inches of rainfall in less than 24 hours.

“Arising out of that, the

Government felt that it was time we had a more holistic v i e w, n o t o n l y o f Georgetown but the nation,” Minister Patterson said. He added that while work would have been done in the past to address Guyana’s drainage i s s u e s , a m o r e “comprehensive” approach was urgently needed.

Yesterday’s meeting

came four months after Minister Patterson would have made a request for assistance.

On July 21 he wrote to the Dutch seeking assistance in a number of areas, including urban drainage; hydraulic and coastal engineering; water resource management and planning; and disaster and risk management.

Rob Steijn, Team Leader f o r t h e D R R - Te a m , emphasised the importance of proper water management to a nation’s development.

The visiting DRR-Team also consisted of civil engineer, Fokke Westebring and social scientist, Judith Klostermann.

The meeting also saw the attendance of nearly two d o z e n l o c a l o ff i c i a l s , including engineers from across the administrative regions.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, a presentation on Guyana’s drainage was made. During

this presentation, both local and international players shared information and posed relevant questions on the way forward. Of significant importance to the visiting team were the highlighted causes of flooding in Guyana, which included an increase in impervious areas; infilling of drains; reduction of maintenance; use of drains for refuse disposal; establishment of illegal housing on drainage reserves; relative rise in sea levels; and inadequacy of secondary and roadside drainage systems.

Also of significance was the recognition that flooding has increasingly worsened over the years, with the second highest amount of rainfall in decades being recorded in July 2015.

T h e D R R - Te a m i s scheduled to leave Guyana on Friday morning. Their visit will see them conducting a number of land visits as well as a flyover to get a better understanding of Guyana’s drainage system.

The team will also be visiting some local agencies, including the Guyana Hydrometrical Department.

At the conclusion of the visit, the team is expected to produce recommendations which will in turn be used as part of a subsequent proposal from the Guyana Government for funding from an international agency, Klostermaan said.

The Dutch had colonized Essequibo and Demerara in the mid-17th century, leaving their footprint on names, buildings and other infrastructure.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

CCJ President calls on Presdent Granger President David Granger was yesterday paid a courtesy call

by President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Dennis Byron, at the Ministry of the Presidency.

In a brief comment after the meeting, Sir Byron said that it is a protocol requirement for him, as Head of the CCJ, to visit countries that have acceded to the Court’s appellate jurisdiction, when those countries have elected a new Head of State.

He added that during his meeting with President Granger, a number of issues were discussed regarding the Caribbean region and the CCJ in particular.

Sir Byron, a Kittitian by birth, is the second person to be appointed to the Office of President of the CCJ. He was sworn-in in September 2011, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and was appointed a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council in 2004.

CCJ has been accepted by Guyana as the final court.

Woman begs Embassy to rethink decision Four days after she was denied a visitor’s visa to the United States of America, 54year-old Winifred Rankin is begging the U.S embassy to rethink its decision as her ill brother may not live much longer.

“Even if they just give me (visa) just for a week to see my brother and come back, it would be good. Every day he keep calling and crying asking me, Winnie when you coming? Winnie when you coming? When I gon’ see you?”

Winifred stated that when she went into the Embassy on November 19, to get a visa, the Consular Officer told her that her weak background and inability to provide proof she would return to Guyana, was the reason for her being denied. The woman stated that she is unmarried without children and this might have possibly aided in the Consular Officer ’s denial of her application.

Her brother, 54-year-old Boston Rankin is said to be residing in the U.S for close to 34 years. She related that he has been a diabetic for a while but within the last eight months he was admitted to the hospital and has remained there. “Just day before the last

Winifred Rankin they cut off one he leg,” she related.

Winifred said that it was her cousin, Catherine Ann Rankin, who brought her to the Kaieteur News office in an effort to see whether they could help in the Embassy reversing its decision.

In February, the U.S embassy had reversed its initial visa rejection for Michelle Robinson whose brother, now deceased, was suffering from a rare and deadly form of renal cancer.

President David Granger chats with President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Sir Dennis Byron and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday.

Page 19

Page 20

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Cops seeking legal advice on...

From page 3 State Lands until 2010 when the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) privatized the land and sold it to the former Ministers and associates of the former regime. In 2010, Jagdeo was sold 1.5 acres of land, Block III, Parcel 246 Lot 246 Plantation Goedverwagting and 0.4603 acres, Block III, Parcel 241.

Former Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud, was sold Lot 239 Goedverwagting, Block III, which is 0.3030 acres. The

report noted that on September 20, 2011 the land was transferred to Kamini Persaud and Robert Persaud Jnr. The land with the house was then sold on September 18, 2014 to LSR Inc. Company for $90M. LSR’s public records indicate that its Secretary and Director is Andrew Pollard.

Also benefitting was former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, who was sold a Lot 238 Goedverwagting, Block III; former Education Minister, Priya

Manickchand, was sold Block IV, parcel, 176. She later sold the property to one Dave Naraine on February 21, 2013 for $100M. Other beneficiaries included Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack; former Head of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookoo; former Cabinet S e c r e t a r y, D r. R o g e r Luncheon; PPP General Secretary and former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee; former Labour Minister and Dr. Nanda

Gopaul. The lands were transferred to the persons on various conditions- one of which included that the transferee shall not be at liberty to sell, lease, transfer or part with possession of the said property within ten years of transfer without the written consent of the Minister responsible for Housing.

BREACHES According to the SARU report, however, Manickchand sold her land three years after purchasing it and she did so without written permission from the CH&PA, thereby breaching the conditions. Persaud also breached the conditions, SARU said.

Given the history and nature of the deal, SARU, believed that it has a strong case for the former Ministers to be charged with misconduct in public office.

SARU said, “There is a direct link between the misconduct and the abuse, of powers and duties of their position. The former Cabinet members knew they were doing a wrong in transferring state lands into their names and that of their acquaintances for undervalued market prices for the land. The lands were sold for $114 per square foot at the time.” ”Public officers ought to carry out their duties not for the benefit of themselves but for the benefit of the public as a whole. If they neglect or misconduct themselves by their actions in the course of their duties this may lead to a breach or abuse of the

public’s trust. The act of the cabinet members for their benefit is serious enough to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust.”

SARU added that former President Bharrat Jagdeo would not be exempt from the charges. The Pradoville Two transaction had drawn widespread criticisms from the public after the details came to light.

While Jagdeo and other beneficiaries paid $114 per square foot for the lands, ordinary Guyanese were made to $317 by CH&PA. Remigrants, who were encouraged to come back and live in Guyana, paid more than ten times the price Jagdeo paid for the same size house lot. They paid $1,111 per square foot.

To make way for the Pradoville Two scheme, Jagdeo and his Cabinet spent more than $100M to remove a transmitting tower of the

AG, Basil Williams National Communications Network.

Last month, Attorney General, Basil Williams, did not rule out a civil action against former Cabinet ministers and Jagdeo.

Williams is reported as saying that Jagdeo can only be immune from certain decisions he may have taken as President, provided these were legal actions.

Misappropriating state lands is considered a legal action, Williams said.

Man kills rival...

From page 9 roadway and bleeding profusely.

The woman said that it took some 15 minutes for her to stop a vehicle.

Eventually, a neighbor transported Brutus to the GPHC, where he succumbed.

According to another relative, Brutus had a relationship with the woman at the centre of the dispute, but then they broke up and the suspect and the woman started a relationship.

But she alleged that Brutus had suggested that the relationship between him and the woman had never ended.

The relative said that the suspect had come to her home in West La Penitence a

few days ago and had asked to speak to Brutus. “He said, ‘try talk to he’ (Brutus) and that he (the suspect) don’t want trouble.”

According to the relative, Brutus alleged that the rival later attacked him with a knife that same day.

The woman in the dispute has reportedly stated that she was at home in Albouystown yesterday when the suspect arrived and was bleeding from a head injury. The man reportedly told his lover that Brutus had wounded him.

He said nothing about injuring Brutus.

She reportedly only learned that Brutus had been wounded after taking her lover to the GPHC.

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Police Policy Analyst takes umbrage at PSC Chairman’s remarks The Criminal Investigations Department of the Guyana Police Force has not taken too kindly to statements made by newly elected Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Norman McLean, on the current crime situation.

The department is particularly concerned over McLean’s comments regarding the police Integrated Crime Information Systems (ICIS).

Police Policy Analyst on Crime, Louis Dodson, was very forthright in his rebuttal of McLean’s comments. He called them appalling.

During a press conference at the PSC Headquarters on Waterloo Street, last Friday, McLean, said that access to the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS) was being “denied” by the Police.

This information is important in determining crime fighting strategies.

“We have been denied access to the ICIS data and therefore cannot really help the police on this analytical tool,” McLean said. “Where is the transparency which was so widely touted? That was available at least through the Law and Order Commission.”

“This (ICIS statistics) is not a secret. As our people are being robbed and killed, let’s help and not bury our heads in the sand.

“If you are going into a fight, you must be able to know what your opponent is going to do and how he will operate. That is what intelligence tells you. Where crime is likely to happen, how it is likely to happen, in what numbers,” McLean said.

According to McLean, he has been requesting that data for quite some time from Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud. The last response he got to his requests was that Persaud was proceeding on leave and that he would have to request it from Deputy Commissioner Balram Persaud. But the police Policy Analyst Dodson refuted

Police Policy Analyst on crime Louis Dodson McLean’s claims pointing out that it was the PSC that is not being cooperative with the law enforcement agency.

For instance the private sector was meagerly represented at the police end of year conference, where plans to police the city and its environs for the festive season were outlined, and a review of the Force’s crime fighting strategies throughout the year was presented by the crime chief.

According to Dodson, during previous meetings with the private sector, a number of areas of cooperation were outlined.

“The Private Sector never came back with the thing they promised to present, such as a job survey. We want to work with them,” Dodson said.

The Force’s Policy Analyst believes it is unfair for McLean to make the assertions he made since he would have been a consumer of many analyses.

Dodson said that McLean was a member of a high level policy team that included former Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, Captain Gerry Gouviea, the Director of Public Prosecution and the Commissioner of Police. He was party to meetings where all questions on police analysis were answered.

The Policy Analyst explained that the recent successes by the Police Force can be attributed to the

analysis done over a period of time.

“Our operations are informed by the analysis and that is the reason for our success. Several crime prevention initiatives are born out of the analysis. The Albouystown social intervention initiative was informed by the analysis we have done,” Dodson stated.

At least he and McLean are on the same page when it comes to how the data should be treated.

McLean had observed that every police station has the capability to record that data, thus, allowing the stations at that level to plot crime fighting on their respective maps and employ anticipatory measures.

Dodson agreed, stating that the force has decentralized its data analysis programme, which he described as Divisional based.

“We have real time analysis. We have daily, weekly, fortnightly and weekly analysis,” Dodson told this newspaper. The Police Force has competent people who could make good use of the analysis, he added.

This is not the first time that Dodson and the Private Sector Commission are not ‘seeing eye to eye’ on the crime situation.

Two years ago during his presentation at the 2013 Christmas Policing Plan, the Policy Analyst had expressed the view that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) are not as cooperative as they should be. He suggested that improved partnerships can yield significant results in relation to fighting crime.

“The Private Sector Commission is known for hitting the rooftop whenever a crime is committed on one of their business,” he said.

“We need more from them… not ad-hoc, selfish and shortsighted … we need more long-term partnership,” he had said.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Indigenous communities not prepared for EU-FLEGT VPA

By Jeanna Pearson Indigenous communities yesterday voiced their concerns about the execution of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) should it be signed in March 2016 and called for an extension of the signing and consent timeline.

National Toshao Council (NTC) Executive member, Lennox Shuman, avowed that the indigenous communities were simply not prepared for the implementation since most of them were not sufficiently informed about the agreement.

“Indigenous communities are not prepared for the implementation of the VPA should it be signed in March 2016, and therefore the timeline for the signing and ratification should be extended,” he stated, asking that the communities be given another year to get acquainted with the VPA process.

Shuman made his declaration at the launch of two reports which emphasized how forestry related activities and the supporting governance system affects the indigenous communities.

Both reports stem from the project “Promoting the effective participation of indigenous peoples in the FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement process in Guyana.” The project, which is being funded by the EU and the UK Department for International Development (DFID), runs for two years, from 2014 until 2016.

One of the reports, “Community Views on the Guyana- EU FLEGT VPA process” came out of a series of workshops held in Regions 1 and 2; while the other report came out of a “Seminar on essential elements for a legality definition and legality assurance system in the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA.” It was during these activities that the Amerindian communities put forward their concerns and

FLEGT Policy Advisor for Amerindian Peoples’ Association Michael Mc Garrell yesterday at the launch of two reports. recommendations on the agreement. It was stated that many indigenous people have little to no knowledge about the VPA process, while new information is often not passed on between community members.

Further, it was noted that the indigenous communities have not taken part in the development of essential forest related laws and policies.

FLEGT Policy Advisor for Amerindian Peoples’ Association, Michael Mc Garrell, stated that while negotiations have been ongoing for years, the Amerindian communities feel that their concerns are not being heard. “So there should be more time for stakeholder participations and more consultations with communities so that they can fully understand what the whole FLEGT process is.”

“We want to ensure that in improving these government structures that the VPA takes into consideration, the concerns and recommendations of the people in the communities because they are the ones who live in there and understand how they can be impacted,” he stated.

Communities complained bitterly about being “criminalized” by the current system that exists, he added.

He noted that the people believe that while the VPA is a positive move it could still have some negative impact.

“As a result they believe that their concerns and recommendations should be taken into account because it can help strengthen the VPA that Guyana has...They believe that their input into the whole negotiation process can lead to a strong VPA.” In a fight against unlawful logging, the European Union established the Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. FLEGT outlines a number of measures to

combat illegal logging in forests and stop illicit lumber from entering the markets, while increasing the supply of legal timber.

The VPA is a key element to fight against the illegal trade as well as supporting good forest governance in the member countries. FLEGT had been recommended for Guyana under its forest partnership with Norway. The government later consented and signalled its intention to sign the VPA, as part of its aim to prevent deforestation.

The VPA, once decided, will see commitment and action from both parties to cease the illicit logging trade, particularly with a licence scheme to authenticate the legality of lumber exported to the EU. The agreement will also ensure the promotion of better forest law enforcement.

Although, the Amerindian leaders welcomed the VPA, they remain with some reservations, especially issues concerning land rights and communities involvement in the process.

They are requesting that the VPA ensure strong protections for customary land rights and for the application of the core standard of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) before the issuance of any logging concession and permits over forest areas that they have traditionally used and occupied.

Shuman suggested that the criteria and framework for indigenous communities to meet FLEGT approval, should reflect the particular and unique situations of indigenous communities especially related to land tenure.

Further, he stated that the laws and policies must respect the customary rights of indigenous peoples in relation to land. “All relevant laws, including the Amerindian Act, the Mining Act, and the Forest Act must be revised to Continued on page 24

Page 22

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday November 24, 2015

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Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

This man killed my 5 year old son and where is justice for me?

DEAR EDITOR, On 27th August, 2015 I lost my 5 year old son in an accident on the Good Hope Public Road in Essequibo, Region 2. The Driver, JagdeshwarRagubar was placed before the court. On 9th April, 2015 Mr. Ragubar was found guilty of the charge, Causing Death by Dangerous driving and was sentenced to 50 months in prison by Magistrate Sunil Scarce.

On 17th May, 2015 I received a call from my Brother, who resides in Essequibo, informing me that he had just seen Mr. Ragubar boarding the ferry from Parikato Supenaam. I told him that was not possible since this Mr. Ragubar was supposed to be in jail. When

I hung up the phone I began receiving several other calls that related to the same sighting. I was confused as to what could have transpired. I tried desperately to make contact with the Prisons and Court. When I finally did I was told that Mr. Ragubar was out on bail and that he had appealed the sentencing and was granted bail.

My first question was how this could have happened without my knowledge? I was never informed of any such proceedings. Not a phone call or even a letter from the authorities. Leaves me to wonder; is this even legal?

During the preceding weeks I visited the Court of Appeal in Georgetown and

the Suddie Magistrate Court to make enquires. The Appeal Court in Georgetown said that they had no knowledge of this matter and that I should go to Suddie Magistrate Court. At Suddie Magistrate court I was told basically that the Mr. Ragubar was on bail and that they would have to prepare the file to send to the Appeal Court in Georgetown. They said that they will have to get a Memorandum of Reasons from the Magistrate which is a key document for the file.

And that I should keep checking to have update on the progress. During the past months I have made several checks at the Suddie Magistrate Court but no progress was made in obtaining the Memorandum of Reasons from the

Magistrate Mr. Sunil Scarce who presided over the matter.

One day I saw Mr. Ragoobar drove past me in a light brown car. So I decided to inquire about the conditions of bail. I was shocked to learn that there were no restrictions mentioned. So basically this person is free to drive and carry on life as normal even though he was found guilty and sentenced. I grieve every day for the loss of my child and I need closure and ustice.

Six month is enough time for this matter to proceed. I need Magistrate Sunil Scarce to Provide the Memorandum of Reasons to the Suddie Magistrate Court in order for the file to be completed and the processing to begin. I need the details that were hidden from me after the

sentencing as it relates to Mr. Ragubar’s Appeal. Since I feel cheated by the legal system.

I’m calling on the authorities and the powers that be, especially in the face of the increasing road fatalities, to bring justice for the death of innocent lives being snuffed out on the roadways by drivers who are reckless and careless.

I have talked to many victims of roads accidents and most of them will say nothing came out of their matter. I believe that this is the main contributing factor to the rise in road accidents. Drivers who are found guilty must face the penalty which would automatically serve deterrent for reckless driving. Please Help Stop the Carnage!

Beverly Roberts-Barrow

DEAR EDITOR, I am saddened to have written to President Granger with respect to an article that appeared in the Sunday Stabroek of November 22, 2015 titled; “Labour Department files charges against Aracari Resort Owner”. These charges are

false. Having met with a representative from the Ministry of Labour, I had prepared a written response to clarify the misinformation they have been given and accepted.

Attached is copy of my letter and attachments which would clarify for you the

baselessness of the charges being leveled against me. I did not wish to burden the President with the many inaccuracies in the article, this would demonstrate the difference between truth and falsehood.

1 It was reported that I want to go to court for the

reasons purported; is highly poisoned.

2 The Labour Officer could not understand the concept of a composite flat rate of pay; therefore she insisted that the employee was not paid for vacation and overtime.

3 As you will see from the payroll records of the flat rate implementation, overtime has been paid.

4 Even though vacation pay was part of the flat rate, I offered to pay for 9 days as requested by the labour officer just to buy peace. The labour officer insisted I must also pay for overtime.

5 In the face of such unreasonableness and absence of logic, I said to her

simply that “I am willing to defend that I have paid overtime even if it means that I have to do that in court”.

There are many more inaccuracies and distortions that will have to be dealt with later.

This article has at minimum created a rash situation and quite possibly libel and defamation. There is something fundamentally wrong when we have Ministers who for whatever reason are unwilling to look at all the facts and willing to shoot from the hip. I will await more sober review of the facts surrounding this case.

Sase Shewnarine Owner Aracari Resort

From page 22

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Aracari Resort owner complains that Minister Broomes shoots from the hip

Indian group wants PPP’s ethnic claim against GECOM investigated DEAR EDITOR, The Indian Action (formerly Arrival) Committee (IAC) has noted with grave concern the recent public statements regarding what has been described as ‘ethnic employment’ at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Being cognizant of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) position on the issue, the IAC is firm in its belief that ethnicity must not be a factor to bring into any form of disrepute the execution of assigned duties by Guyanese.

The IAC believes that in a multiethnic society like Guyana, for an organization to derive a sense of confidence based upon the employment of a particular and preferred ethnic group, is counterproductive to the efforts of unification and the country’s national motto.

The IAC deems the utterances as most unfortunate.

The IAC believes that while the Party has a right to be concerned over issues, including those relating to

GECOM, it urges cognizance of the sensitivities of ethnicrelated aspersions and the precipitating challenges it pose to national cohesion.

The IAC is of the view that the Party’s concern should not be dismissed.

In this regard it proposes an external independent review of GECOM which should be conducted to ascertain the validity of the Party’s claims of preferred and disadvantageous ethnic employment against it.

The IAC believes that if such an endeavor is professionally undertaken, it would aid in the allaying of fear with respect to the Party’s concern and could vindicate GECOM”s position.

With regards to the latter, it would reinforce that Guyanese, regardless of their ethnicity, could deliver their duties professionally and without favour or ill will.

Given what appeared in the public domain regarding the issue in question, the IAC believes it further underscores the need for the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to be immediately

established. The IAC reiterates its necessity and believes it is integral to meaningful interventions for the mitigation of such sensitive issues and to prevent any related escalation.

The IAC is aware that Parliamentarians within the 10th Parliament worked tirelessly to implement a democratic process for the election of the members to represent the various groups from civil society to the ERC. Unfortunately, those members having been approved by the National Assembly were not provided the opportunity to be sworn in as Commissioners. The IAC therefore calls for those members of the ERC who should have been sworn in prior to the May 11 general elections, be so empowered immediately thereby resuscitating this constitutional Commission, whose role cannot be overstated, especially with the current issue at hand.

Maria Rasheed Indian Action Committee

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Page 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Bandits shoot, rob fruit vendor

The wounded Bhir Kumar at the GPHC Two masked bandits escaped with an undisclosed sum of money after shooting a La Penitence Market vendor in Hogg Street, Albouystown at around 15.30 hrs yesterday.

Bhir Kumar, 46, called ‘Django’ of Riverview, Ruimveldt, was shot three times in the right leg while wrestling with the two bandits, who had attacked him outside his aunt’s home.

The robbers reportedly fled in a car.

Anita Arjune, the victim’s aunt, told Kaieteur News that Kumar assists her in selling at her stall, and would usually visit her in the afternoon for dinner.

Mrs. Arjune said that she lying in a hammock under her Lot 20, Hogg Street home with a 17-year-old grand-daughter, when she heard “a scrambling” near her gate.

She then saw Kumar fighting with two masked men, who had already relieved him of his

money. She said that as Kumar continued to fight with the men, the bandits began to “fire shots wildly.” Three of the bullets struck Kumar, who collapsed.

Mrs. Arjune said that she began to scream and retreated into the house with her granddaughter. Other residents also began to raise an alarm.

Kumar was eventually taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted.

From page 6 fully recognize and respect indigenous rights, and to avoid conflicts before the implementation of the VPA,” he added.

He said the VPA must take into account international laws, especially human rights laws, while all rights issues in relation to indigenous peoples land ownership must first be addressed before making any agreement with the EU. There were talks of more extensive VPA consultations with indigenous communities, especially that VPA documents should be available in indigenous languages as well as in simple English to assist in making informed decisions.

Vice Chairman of the NTC, Aubrey Samuels, indicated further that there should be no, logging on untitled traditional lands—lands for which communities have applied for title, extension, or which they are occupying and using.

“There should be one FLEGT-certified indigenous company to cater for all indigenous communities,” he noted, suggesting that there must be more partnership between the A PA a n d t h e NTC in representing the VPA recommendations.

“The NTC is encouraged to endorse the recommendations of this workshop; organizations like the APA and the NTC must

monitor agreements to ensure transparency of the VPA process,” he said.

He also stated that the APA should sit on the National Technical Working Group board.

Shuman, on the other hand, indicated that there should be a stipulation that allows room for amendments to the VPA agreement as the situation changes.

“Indigenous peoples and communities must be involved in such processes from the inception and not at the end,” he added.

He stated that it will be in late 2016, that the Amerindian communities will be in a position to join the EUFLEGT.

From page 21 Heart Foundation worked in collaboration with the GPHC to setup a Paediatric ICU at the GPHC complete with all necessary implements.

Several donations have also been made to the hospital to facilitate the paediatric heart surgery programme.

But the Foundation has not only been focused on conducting surgeries as it has also been catering to the training needs of staffers at the public hospital. “They are really, really eager to participate with us...they have not only been growing in interest but also in knowledge...there is really good potential and I think that we are going in the right direction regarding the fact that we are addressing the

issue of congenital heart disease,” Dr. Soto added.

With the support of the Foundation, Guyana is therefore able to reduce the cost of sending children abroad for paediatric heart surgeries and simultaneously cut cost to train medical personnel.

Dr. Soto added, “The fact that you guys don’t need to send patients anywhere else, the fact that the patients are at home with their family that helps the recovery...it helps everything that we do here.”

The Baby Heart Foundation is a not for profit organisation that is based in Memphis, United States which has been in existence since 1993. According to Dr. Soto, the organisation has 22 years of experience in

sustainable and independent paediatric cardiac services around the world.

It has been able to offer paediatric heart care, through the expertise of mainly volunteer medical practitioners, to 33 countries and has thus far completed 7,604 surgeries.

Its contributions to these counties has allowed for many of them to eventually offer crucial paediatric services independently.

“The modus operandi is to build a team, travel to the site that we decided on and we do two weeks trips during which we do surgeries but we do the surgeries actually to transfer knowledge and to educate the local team. So building capacity is what we are here for,” said Dr. Soto.

Indigenous communities not prepared...

Baby Heart Foundation helping to arrest...

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 24, 2015

US issues worldwide travel alert

The U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert, warning American citizens of “possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats,” and urging “particular caution” during the holiday season.

The alert, which is in addition to the Worldwide Caution, comes just over a week after attacks in Paris left 130

people dead and hundreds more wounded.

“The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats,” the alert said.

“Current information suggests that ISIL (aka Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple

regions.”

It added: “These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. …

Exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events.”

The travel alert expires on February 24, 2016.

France finds explosive belt, detects Paris suspect’s phone

Belgian soldiers and a police officer patrol in central Brussels.

(Reuters/Youssef Boudlal) (Reuters) - A suspected explosive belt was found dumped near Paris yesterday and the mobile phone of a fugitive believed to have taken part in the attacks on Nov. 13 was detected in two locations in the city, a source close to the investigation said.

France and Belgium have launched a manhunt following the attacks that killed 130 people, with a focus on Brussels barkeeper Salah Abdeslam, 26, who returned to the city from Paris hours after the attacks and is still at large.

Abdeslam’s mobile phone was detected after the attacks in the 18th district in the

north of Paris, near an abandoned car that he had rented, and then later in Chatillon in the south, the source said yesterday.

Detectives were examining what appeared to be an explosive belt found in a litter bin in the town of Montrouge, south of the capital and not far from Chatillon.

The source said it was too soon to say whether the belt had been in contact with Abdeslam, whose elder brother blew himself during the gun and suicide bomb attacks.

One theory was that Abdeslam had intended to blow himself up in the 18th

district but had abandoned the plan, although it was not clear why.

“Maybe he had a technical problem with his explosive belt,” a police source said.

Fearing an imminent threat of a Paris-style attack, Belgium extended a maximum security alert in Brussels for a week but said the metro system and schools could re-open tomorrow.

“We are still confronted with the threat we were facing yesterday,” Prime Minister Charles Michel said. Potential targets remained shopping areas and public transport.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Has AFC independence been compromised - Dr. David Hinds -party silent on many of the day’s issues The Alliance for Change (AFC) has been facing much criticism for its perceived communication block with many questioning whether the party has gone to sleep.

The party, once characterized by its frequent press conferences, has not held any since it won the May 2015 General and Regional elections.

Political Activist and University Professor, Dr. David Hinds, recently queried the silence of the AFC, positing that the party has lost its vibrancy and has stopped its commentary on the day’s issues. He also noted that when party members do speak, it is as a Government functionary.

“Gone are its weekly press conferences and frequent commentary on the issues of the day,” Hinds said. “One never knows where the party stands on the major issues such as the salary hike, power sharing with the (People’s Progressive Party) and the debate on the sugar industry. When its members speak they do so as Government functionaries.”

He noted that no major AFC leaders have spoken up on these issues. At least those leaders not involved in the inner workings of the government would be expected to play such a role, he added.

“This leads one to wonder whether the AFC independence has been

Dr. David Hinds compromised by its presence in the government,” he continued. “The PPP had predicted this outcome and has been making that observation both publicly and quietly among the (East) Indian Guyanese constituency, where the AFC got the bulk of its support.”

Hinds also noted that many AFC members are unhappy with the party’s muted or disappearing independence, as this is what had set them apart from Guyana’s main political parties- the then People’s National Congress (PNC), later A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the PPP, in the first place.

“This (disconnection) between the first and secondtier membership could

become problematic,” he observed. “The very fact that the party seems immobilized is testimony to this apparent apathy among the secondlevel members who would be expected to keep the party’s machinery going in the absence of the top leadership who are busy on government duty.”

Hinds also approached the party’s role in the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), a date for which was set a few days ago as March 18, 2016. He labeled the elections as a referendum on the government’s tenure since May 11.

“There is no secret that after the initial love fest, the government has drifted away from the pulse of its supporters,” he said. “The big challenge for the coalition, whether they run as one entity or separately, is the extent to which they can mobilize their supporters to go to the polls.”

“It would be an important election for the governing coalition and the opposition PPP. In effect, both entities would be on trial,” he continued. “And worst of all, the AFC faces the real possibility of being totally rejected by the (constituency). While the AFC has been busy governing, the PPP has been intensely working that community with a vicious anti-AFC poison that should not be underestimated.”

T&T PMurges vigilance with terror threats

(Trinidad Guardian) Shortly before he departed on Sunday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM) which begins in Malta on Friday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley called on T&T’s security forces to redouble their efforts to protect citizens in the wake of possible terror threats by ISIS. Speaking during a news media briefing at Piarco International Airport before flying out on the 12-day trip, his first official visit out of the country since becoming Prime Minister last September, Dr Rowley urged citizens to be vigilant in the face of global security concerns.

“The simplest advice I can give is to be vigilant and we call on our security services, whose job it is to secure us, to redouble their efforts to make sure that we don’t fall prey to those who set out to harm us,” he said. He added that the current security concern “is a very unusual development in the history of mankind, but these are the times in which we live.”

Finance Minister Colm Imbert will act as prime minister during Dr Rowley’s absence. The Prime Minister is being accompanied to Malta

by Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses.

PNM deputy political leader Rohan Sinanan will replace Moses in the Senate during the period.

Dr Rowley said he is attending the CHOGM meeting in Malta “while there is some trepidation in that area that we hold ourselves out in the hands of the security services and the people of Malta and

Britain.”

Commenting on the recent attacks in Paris which claimed 129 lives, Dr Rowley said that incident “shows that notwithstanding our best efforts, persons can get at us in a variety of ways.”

He said there are challenging times ahead for the security services but added: “We cannot cave in to those who would have us respond in that kind of way. Across the world today, national security and the safety of citizens appear to be the number one priority for governments, while this phenomenon continues to flourish.”

The Prime Minister said security must be “very challenging for the organisers” of CHOGM which will be attended by the leaders of 53 of the 54 Commonwealth members states, as well as head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II. The conference takes place November 27 to 29.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Davis Cup final will go ahead - local organisers BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The Davis Cup final between Belgium and Britain will go ahead despite Brussels being placed on maximum alert over the threat of an imminent attack, local organisers and the International Tennis Federation said on Monday.

The British team, featuring Andy and Jamie Murray,

are bidding to win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936 and will face Belgium, who have never won the competition, on clay in the city of Ghent, some 55 km (34 miles) north west of Brussels.

Tennis Vlaanderen, which administers tennis in the region, has already talked to the interior ministry, police and

independent security experts.

“It’s definitely going ahead,” a spokeswoman said.

The final will be played from Friday to Sunday.

Soldiers were patrolling the streets of Brussels, where shopping centres and schools were closed, on the third day of a security lockdown, as police hunted a

The Belgium Davis Cup team poses for a photo before holding a news conference ahead of the finals against Britain in Brussels, Belgium, November 17, 2015. (Reuters/Delmi Alvarez)

suspected Islamist militant on the run since the Nov. 13 Paris attacks.

The International Tennis Federation said extra security measures have been put in place for the final.

“The ITF and Royal Belgian Tennis Federation

(RBTF), in consultation with the relevant officials and our risk assessment and security advisers, are closely monitoring the situation in Belgium and specifically in Ghent.

As of today there are no changes to the previously published start times for the

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Final between Belgium and Britain,” the ITF said in a statement.

“We are taking every necessary step to ensure the safety of the teams, the spectators, the media and all working staff.”

Blatter says was close to death...

(From page 29) sanctions against them, deepening the storm building up around the sport which is also facing criminal enquiries in Switzerland and the United States.

Blatter, who left hospital on Nov, 12, again defended his record in the interview but said he wished he had stepped down at the height of his career, after last year’s World Cup in Brazil.

“I regret that I didn’t say to myself ‘Blatter, you have reached the peak, you have done some good things, you can’t do more than this, you should stop.’”

Asked if he felt he was close to death, he replied: “I was. I was close ... The pres-

sure was enormous.”

The interview, released in part to the media late on Sunday, will be broadcast in full on Wednesday.

The committee’s announcement on Saturday dealt a new blow to Platini’s bid to succeed Blatter as head of FIFA. Blatter told RFS that Platini “an honest man”.

“If he comes back, then he will be elected ... and if he comes back, then I will come back as well.”

“There was nothing under the table ... even in the FIFA rules, it’s allowed to make a written or an oral contract,” he added.

Blatter, who has been at the head of FIFA since 1998,

faces criminal investigation in Switzerland over a 2 million Swiss franc ($1.96 million) payment from FIFA to Platini.

Both men have denied wrongdoing.

The payment was made in 2011 for work Platini had completed nine years earlier, the Swiss attorney-general’s office has said, adding Platini was considered “between a witness and an accused person”.

Buffeted by scandals over the last few years, FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May by the U.S. indictments of 14 soccer officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, and sports marketing executives for alleged corruption.

DDL offers support as...

Tuesday November 24, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Optimism and excitement permeate any get-togethers that you're involved in today. You and those around you tend to see only positive trends for the future - success with few obstacles.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today you might be in the right mood to organize. Hightech equipment may be of help in this project, and so could the help of friends.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You could feel especially amorous today. If you're romantically involved, you could have an overwhelming urge for an intimate dinner with your significant other.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Necessary cleaning or repairs in the home could inspire you to go a bit further and do some redecorating.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) An improvement in your relations with a love partner or close friend has you feeling optimistic about the future and even more so about the present.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) An unexpected raise could have you feeling especially generous toward those you love.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Falling in love at first sight is something you never thought would happen, but it could happen today.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Movies that involve a lot of special effects might be especially appealing to you now. You may decide to learn more about how such effects are produced.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Important new information could come your way, perhaps through classes, books, or conversations with friends.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Life is an adventure. At least, that's the attitude you take today. Flush with past success and basking in the affection of friends, you're feeling especially confident and enthusiastic.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) New learning and improved communication with friends and family add greatly to your sense of self-esteem.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A new unity and purpose could create a more positive atmosphere regarding your career.

(From page 30) championships.

The St Lucian entourage will be led Lyndel Marcellin, a senior Elite boxer in the 69 kg category, best remembered for his epic battles with Bert Braithwaite in Guyana and St Lucia early last year.

The other members of the St Lucia entourage are Arthur Langelier (75 kg – Elite senior boxer), another top boxer that has made his mark in Guyana and further afield, Travis Maynard (56 kg – Elite senior boxer), Heslie Joseph (60 kg – Elite senior boxer), Nathan Ferrari (64kg – Novice boxer) and Merlanda St Clair (75kg female boxer). Coaches, Conrad Fredericks and Jorge Gonzalez Dominguez will accompany Brian Mc Donald who will manage the team.

French Guiana will soon arrive and local boxers will do well to remember their fistic combats when the (local) team visited that French country last year. Leonardo Mosquea and Kesney Joseph are the ones to watch; they were the two that had really caused problems in the Guyanese camp. Mosquea had had a raging battle with Thomas in Cayenne and the situation reached a head when the French pugilist had maliciously butted his opponent forcing the referee to disqualify him immediately.

Mosquea will still be bristling and a fight between the two is bound to spark off animos-

ity.

Joseph had been gifted a decision against Diwani Lampkin in Cayenne in March. Lampkin is adamant that he had won that bout and a rematch is bound to be ex-

citing. Other members of the French delegation include Rolland Robbeiri (President of Committee), Michel Manguer (General Secretary), with Guy Luce (assistant coach) completing the team.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 24, 2015

FIFA ethics panel to rule on Kenyan runners occupy athletics HQ Blatter, Platini next month

The athletes are protesting over alleged corruption in the governing body Athletics Kenya. (EPA) BBC Sport - A group of Kenyan athletes have occupied the headquarters of the sport’s national governing body, stopping officials from entering.

They want Athletics Kenya (AK) officials to step down over corruption allegations linked to a deal with Nike, the BBC’s Anne Soy reports.

AK Vice-President David Okeyo has denied the allegations.

The athletes also blame the administrators for failing to deal with doping in the sport.

Kenya is one of the world’s top athletics nations and topped the medals table at August’s athletics world championships in Beijing.

Dick Pound, the man looking into doping for world athletics governing body, the IAAF, said that Kenyan athletics had a “real problem” with athletes taking performing-enhancing drugs.

Image copyright EPA Image caption The athletes are protesting over alleged corruption in the governing body Athletics Kenya The protesters say they want former runners to man-

age AK. “We are looking forward to being led by athletes.

Those who understand the pain of running,” said protest organiser Julius Ndegwa from the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya.

AK President Isaiah Kiplagat told the BBC that “serious athletes are training, they have no time for demonstrations”.

Mr Kiplagat added that the protest had led them to cancel a meeting that was supposed to address the issues that the protesters are complaining about.

The Guyana Draughts Association concluded its Annual National Draughts Championship last Sunday at the National Gymnasium. The game was played on the International 100 square boards.

Khemraj Pooranmall took a close win from Steve Bacchus. Both players ended on nine points, but a tie breaker saw Pooranmall taking the nod. Linden player, Floyd Cumberbatch with eight points, placed third.

Navin Meighbarran and O. Batson ended on seven points each but another tie breaker gave Meighbarran the edge over his counterpart.

The first and second place trophies were donated

by Basil Mahadeo C.E.O NALICO/NAFICO while Hand-in-Hand Trust sponsored the third prize. Lalta Gainda of Rubis Bel Air donated the fourth prize and Colours Boutique followed up with the fifth prize.

President of the Guyana Draughts Association, Mr. Jiaram expressed thanks to the four sponsors along with Guyana Beverage Inc. and Mr. Paul D’Anjou, Coordinator of the Association, for making the Championship a success.

Meanwhile, the President of the Association an-

nounced that on December 6th there would be a final event for the year. As usual the players would be vying for five food hampers.

DeSinco Co. Ltd had already presented the first hamper.

Joshua Jiawanram, Noble House Seafoods, Budget Supermarket and Pharma Drug Store have all commit their intentions to contribute to this event. The venue is the National Gymnasium. Starting time 10.30am and entrance fee is $500.

The six-round Swiss System would be applied and the game would be played on the 100 square boards.

Another win for Khemraj Pooranmall in Annual National Draughts Championship

ZURICH (Reuters) FIFA’s ethics judges said on Monday they were aiming to decide the fate of suspended president Sepp Blatter and the man who hopes to succeed him, Michel Platini, by the end of December, following an investigation into graft allegations.

The investigation into the 2 million Swiss franc payment from FIFA to UEFA president Platini in 2011 form part of a broader corruption scandal shaking the world football body.

The pair were provisionally banned for 90 days by FIFA on October 8, pending the full investigation by FIFA’s Ethics investigators which concluded on Friday.

The body could, if they deemed it suitable, impose a further ban on one or both.

Blatter also faces a Swiss criminal investigation over the matter.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee...has today opened formal adjudicatory proceedings against Joseph S. Blatter and Michel Platini based on the final reports submitted by the investigatory chamber,” said a statement from Eckert’s spokesman.

The payment was made in 2011 for work Platini had completed nine years earlier, the Swiss attorneygeneral’s office has said, adding Platini was considered “between a witness and

Combination file photograph of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini (R). (Reuters/Ruben Sprich) an accused person”.

Both men have denied wrongdoing.

Blatter is due to stand down as FIFA president after a vote to choose his successor at a special FIFA congress in Zurich on February 26.

Platini submitted his nomination papers to run in that election shortly before his suspension but his bid is on hold pending the outcome of his case.

The Frenchman has challenged his provisional ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and is also expected to appeal the final verdict with the Lausanne based body, which is sport’s highest tribunal.

The Ethics investigators said on Friday that they had submitted their final reports on Blatter and Platini and requested unspecified sanc-

tions against the pair.

Blatter’s lawyers issued a statement on Saturday saying he was confident of being cleared.

“President Blatter looks forward to having this matter decided impartially and based on the facts, and he is confident he will be vindicated when the facts are independently examined,” said a joint statement from Blatter’s Swiss lawyer Lorenz Erni and U.S. lawyer Richard Cullen.

FIFA became embroiled in the worst corruption scandal in its 111-year history in May when 14 football officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, and sports marketing executives were indicted in the United States on corruption charges. Swiss authorities also instituted proceedings.

Guyana gets favourable draw for CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament - Lady Jags to play Canada on February 11 in Texas The Lady Jags will play Canada on Thursday February 11, at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Texas, in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier Tournament.

Guyana was placed in Group B of the tournament, along with Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala, while World Champions USA heads the ‘Group of death’ that also includes rivals Mexico, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.

By virtue of defeating Jamaica 2 – 1 on Friday last in the Twin Island Republic, the Lady Jags would’ve qualified for their second CONACACF tournament, making them the country’s most successful football programme, given the fact that our men’s national team are yet to play in a major confederation championship.

“If there’s such a thing as

a good draw, this would be it,” explained an excited Mark Rodrigues who attended the draw which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Doral, Miami yesterday.

“I’m really excited that we got such a group and that we’re going to be playing Canada in our first game. It’s a game that we always wanted and we’ll also get a chance to play Trinidad because we also always wanted to play them again, but I’m satisfied with what we’ve got and now, it’s time to focus on the task ahead,” said the Lady Jags head coach.

It will be only the second meeting between Guyana and Canada with the first being at the 2010 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Looking ahead, Rodrigues said that he had spoken to US Women’s Head Coach Jill

Ellis for a possible friendly against them before the qualifiers, “she (Ellis) said that she’ll look into it and see if we could have that game between now and February; even if it’s their U-20 girls. I’m actually looking to see if we could play any of the teams in the opposite group.”

The World Cup-champion (USA) will face Costa Rica to open the eight-team CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

The United States has won the past three tournaments that determine the Olympic representatives from CONCACAF, and went on to win the gold medal in the last three Olympics.

The top two finishers earn Olympic berths.

The event is scheduled for Feb. 10-21 in Houston and Frisco, Texas.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Top overseas players expected for DMW Festival -Four players from Canada Pan Am Gold medal team coming With teams expected to arrive from Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados the 11th Annual Diamond Mineral Water (DMW) Hockey Festival is anticipated to produce an exciting brand of hockey when it starts on Thursday, at the National Gymnasium.

This was told to the media

by President of the Guyana Hockey Board Philip Fernandes during the Launch which was conducted, at the Georgetown Cricket Club Pavilion yesterday.

The ceremony had in attendance Platinum sponsor Demerara Distillers Ltd Brand Manager Larry Wills and Gold sponsor Ansa McAl’s Richard Singh along with officials of the GHB in Devin Munroe and Ivor Thompson.

Speaking at the occasion, Fernandes spoke of the ascendancy of the tournament which commenced in 2004 and apart from it being absent for one year has grown leaps and bounds, attracting high qual-

ity players from Canada, T&T and Barbados over the years.

He said that the tournament has become a leading ingredient in helping to raise the level of hockey here through competition from the other countries.

In giving an example, Fernandes pointed to the Revamp team out of Canada which has four players from the national team that won the Gold medal at the Pan Am Cup in Uruguay earlier this year coming including Jonathan Roberts of Guyanese parentage.

He added that Malvern out of T&T also possesses young exciting players as well as those who were past national players, while YMCA out of Barbados will be bringing players who’ve made the national team in the past.

Fernandes disclosed six teams will be coming from overseas including those from the above mentioned countries to tackle the local teams

President of the GHB Philip Fernandes (2nd right) see addressing the Launch of the DMW in the presence of (from left)- Carib Beer Brand Manager Richard Singh, DDL’s Larry Wills and GHB official Devin Hooper yesterday. and with Guyana’s improving status among regional teams growing steadily, he anticipates an exhilarating tournament.

According to the President, the Board has requested the services of Pan Am Hockey Federation Umpire Manager Susie Gomes to ensure that there is a high quality of officiating.

Fernandes thanked the

GCB/BANKS DIH/DIGICEL NSSCL…

Hughes 6-wicket haul fails to save East Ruimveldt Secondary …Tucville Secondary beat David Rose High School A mesmerizing spell of spin bowling from Akil Hughes was not enough to save East Ruimveldt Secondary from defeat against Lodge High School, while Tucville Secondary defeated David Rose High School as the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Banks DIH Ltd’s Coca Cola Rainforest Water along with Digicel continued.

Playing at Thirst Park, Lodge High School won the toss and elected to bat first.

They were then dismissed for 155 in 16.5 overs. Top scoring for Lodge High School was Timothy Sealy with 46 which included six fours and two sixes. Darren McAllister sup-

ported with 30, hitting one four and three sixes. Bowling for East Ruimveldt Secondary, Akil Hughes had a terrific spell taking 6/29 off 4 overs. He was well supported by Jonathan Vyphius who had 2/6.

Chasing 156 for victory in 30 overs, East Ruimveldt Secondary fell for 124 in the 17th over with only Dookram Bamfield offering any resistance scoring 48 including four fours and 5 massive sixes.

Doing the damage with the ball for Lodge High School was Hemar Smith, Ackeem Raymer and Anthony Smith all with three wickets.

In another game played at Thirst Park, Tucville Secondary defeated David Rose High School by five wickets. Bat-

ting first, David Rose High School were dismissed for 114 in 15 overs. A. Glassman top scored with 51. Romeo Browne had a five wicket haul.

Browne’s effort along with Shemarieus Gaster’s three wickets ensured that Tucville Secondary would not get too huge a target to chase.

In reply, Tucville Secondary got to their target of 115 for the loss of five wickets as Semariues Gaster and Romeo Browne returned with the bat to score 42 not out and 38.

Gaster’s knock was decorated with five fours and three sixes while Browne’s innings included two fours and four sixes. Bowling for David Rose High School, Trevon Compo took 2/21.

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Strets’ Futsal Competition

Sparta Boss look to stay unbeaten, face Back Circle tonight The Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition returns to the Cultural Centre with eight more matches scheduled for tonight, starting at 19:00 hrs.

In the opening fixture, Sophia South and Upsetters square off, before Young

Ballers engage Island All Star thirty minutes later.

Hope Street of Tiger Bay and Stevedore Housing Scheme do battle, before Queen Street ofTiger Bay and the upstarted Jamoon Drive lock horns.

After the break, Bent Street and South Riumveldt

collide, before Festival City Street Fighters tackle Shopping Plaza.

The penultimate game of the evening pits Gold Stars versus Broad Street Bullies and in the final match of the night Sparta Boss will look to stay unbeaten when they clash with Back Circle.

sponsors for staying the course over the years and assured them that the standard of the players coming to participate guarantees an exciting Festival.

Fernandes also made special mention of the Director of Sport Christopher Jones, who according to him kept his word to improve the infrastructure at the host venue.

Wills in his remarks spoke of the strong partnership that exists between DDL and the GHB, one that has witness the Festival grow to accommodate teams from within and outside the Caribbean.

He said that the Company

was very appreciative of the fact that the Festival contains both male and female participation and that the competition is of a high standard.

Wills promised the Company’s continued support not only towards the Festival but the holistic development of sports generally.

Singh whose entity is responsible for the Veterans category under its Carib brand said that they are happy to be part of the event and promised support in the future.

Defending champion Pepsi Hikers, GCC, Old Fort, Phoenix and the national Under-21 squad named Pumas

will be Guyana representatives.

Among the top male and female stars expected to be on show are Jamaarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Sonia Jardine and Aliyah Gordon.

It was disclosed also that attempts are being made to stream the games live and according to Fernandes this is a new dimension of the Festival.

The winning male and female teams will take home US$1000 with runners-up carting off US$500.

The Veterans winners will receive US$500, while runners-up get incentive prizes.

Yvonne Murray out-spells Ulric Harris to reclaim coveted scrabble accolade A brilliant display of word forming enabled Yvonne Murray to regain championship honours when scrabble players convened for their regular tournament at her Nandy Park EBD residence Sunday afternoon. She amassed 4 points and a positive spread of 338 to collect the trophy from Ulric Harris who had dethroned her a mere month ago.

It was certainly not a walk in the park for Ms Murray as she was forced to employ all her wits to amass a higher spread than Maurice Munroe who also amassed 4 points but with a lower spread of 194.

Earlier, Murray had distinguished herself as the better player after she defeated Munroe by a large spread of 178 in her first game for the day. She then disposed of Ruby Cummings 396-358 before taking care of Michael Benjamin (390-361) and Ulric Harris by a spread of 128. She had defeated her husband, Carlton, in last month’s match up but the latter player rebounded to avenge that loss by a close spread of 35. That loss eventually proved to be inconsequential.

CHANGING OF THE GUARDS: Yvonne Murray gracefully accepts the coveted trophy from her predecessor, Ulric Harris.

Munroe has shown great improvement recently and the final results of last Sunday’s tournament truly amplified his claim of being among the best.

He rebounded from the loss to Murray to chalk up 4 games on the trot. His other

victims were Benjamin (81), Harris (79), Cummings (97) and Carlton Murray (105).

The players are yet to set the date for the final tournament of the year but in the meantime they are back into practice sessions.

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Jaguars roar to first win against B’dos on home soil in 31 years Guyana win by 9 wkts to maintain lead with 53 points

By Sean Devers Former West Indies U-19 left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie spun Guyana Jaguars to a nine-wicket win with a session to spare on the final day of their third round WICB PCL four-day match against the Barbados Pride at Providence yesterday to move to 53 points and maintain their lead in the six-team Franchise competition.

Scores: Jaguars 337 & 43-1, Pride 104 & 272 Set 40 to win their third successive game in the tournament after securing victories against the Windwards and Leewards, the Jaguars galloped to 43-1 from 7.4 overs to ensure there was no repeat of last year’s result when, needing just 69 to win the Jaguars catapulted to 67 all out.

The nine-wicket win was the exact result of the 1984 result when Guyana last beat Barbados on home soil at Bourda. Motie followed up his 3-19 with 6-79 for match

figures of 9-98 to befuddle the batsmen on a pitch which had no devil in it and under clear blue sunny skies.

When the Jaguars lost the aggressive left-handed 18year-old Shemron Hetymer (14) LBW to left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn at 23-1 the small gathering in Red Stand must have been thinking of the reincarnation of last year’s result at the same venue but Skipper Leon Johnson (20*) ended the contest in emphatic fashion with a four and six off Benn to extend the Jaguars’ unbeaten streak to 10 matches in PCL cricket.

Hetymer seemed in a hurry the cross the Berbice River Bridge to get to his home in Canje as he tucked the first ball of the run chase like a bullet to the mid-wicket boundary before on-driving Miguel Cummins for another boundary in an expensive first over that cost 10 runs.

Assad Fudadin (9*) danced into Benn, who opened the bowling and hit him just over the head of mid-

on before dumping the spinner back over his head in another over which cost 10 runs and it was especially pleasing to see the positivity in Fudadin’s short innings.

Johnson got going with a boundary off Benn past midoff that caught Tino Best napping and then dispatched Benn for another boundary in the over. The Captain then ended the match with a sweep for four before clearing the boundary.

Earlier, when play began 90 minutes late due to rain Barbados on 166-3 overnight, lost night watchman Cummins (6) caught at long-on after hitting Motie for a six off the previous ball to leave the visitors on 173-4.

Brooks, who tempered his natural aggression with responsible batting and good shot selection and along with Royston Chase, who was the more aggressive of the two, put together 49 for the fifth wicket before Brooks was LBW to Steven Jacobs at 222-5.

Shamarh Brooks plays with a tight defense during his 3rd half century yesterday in losing cause.

Brooks’ third half century included five fours and lasted 225 balls and 281 minutes before Kevin Stoute (6) fell to Motie 11 runs later to trigger the beginning of the end.

Hetymer then held a stupendous reflex catch at short-leg as Chase flicked

a full toss from Jacobs after the 23-year-old had just posted his 8th fifty from 153 balls, 149 minutes with four fours and although Mario Rampersaud stayed around from 74 minutes and 52 balls in an unbeaten 16 nobody else offered fight as

Motie who bowled 41.1 overs, wrapped up the innings.

Jacobs, who bowled 40 overs, supported Motie with 2-105 for the Jaguars, who after a week’s break, travels to T&T for their fourth round fixture from December 4.

North Georgetown capture Indigenous athletes dominate 10k race National schools swimming title as National Schools’ Championships begin -Bright shines in Long Jump; Hooper, Roberts also shatter records

Members of the winning Upper Demerara/Kwakwani female open relay team from left Nikita Fiedtkou, Delicia Rodrigues, Filisha Williams and Shebekie Duggan.

District 11 North Georgetown amassed 866 points to capture the 2015 National schools swimming championship which took place yesterday at the National Aquatic Centre.

Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

District 10 Upper Demerara/Kwakwani chalked

790 points to claim the runner up spot, while district 7 Bartica finished third on 551 points.

East Georgetown District 12 placed fourth on 479 followed by District one North West 452, District two Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon 448, District nine Rupununi 432, District 13

South Georgetown 415, District 14 East Bank Demerara 284 and District four, East Coast Demerara on 226.

North Georgetown won the boys open relay event, while Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani took gold in the female segment. Individual results will follow in tomorrow’s edition.

The 55th National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships got off to a brilliant start yesterday morning with the traditional 10km Road Race, and as is usually the case, athletes from the hinterland regions dominated the event.

The indigenous athletes crossed the finish line at the Children’s Monument in the National Park well ahead of their competitors.

The race got off to a blistering start with male favourite Matthew McKenzie taking the early lead to carry the pace.

McKenzie, a regular feature in 10k races in Guyana with credible finishes, fell to third place with Reckey Williams of North West (District 1) running away easily with the event to score the upset win in a time of 35:56.4 well ahead of all his competition.

Delroy Leitch of Corentyne (District 6) finished second in a time of 36:38.1, while McKenzie of North Georgetown (Dis-

trict 11) finished third in 36:43.0s.

Trolston Embrack (36:50.4) of New Amsterdam (District 15) was fourth while South Georgetown’s, Donte Forde (38:47.0) rounded out the top five.

In the Girls’ race, Beverley Ignacio from the Rupununi (District 9) won her second female title, having won the event in 2013.

Ignacio clocked 43:26 for victory ahead of Delicia Harper (45:34) out of West Coast Berbice (District 5).

Niocy Anthony of Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10) was third in a time of 47:36.0 while Janella Peters (49:02) of Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon finished fourth.

North Georgetown, Mariah McKenzie rounded out the top five females in 50:03.0.

Meanwhile, at YMCA, South American Youth silver medalist, Natricia Hooper from East Georgetown (District 12) broke her own record in the Girl’s Under-18 triple jump with a leap of 12.05

metres.

Her previous mark done in 2014 was 11.95 metres.

Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani’s (District 10) jumping queen, Shantoba Bright also flew through the air to break a record in the Girl’s Under-16 long jump.

Bright’s jump of 5.40 metres eclipsed that of the late Roxanna Rigby of New Amsterdam (District 15), who held the record since 2006 with a mark of 5.36 metres.

North Georgetown’s (District 11) Deron Robert broke the boy’s Under-14 long jump record with a leap of 5.60 metres. The previous mark was held by Jason bury of Bartica (District 7) with his mark of 5.54 metres.

The female Under-18 long jump was won by Avon Samuels of North Georgetown who recorded a leap of 4.86 metres to win the event.

The National Schools’ Championships continues today at 10am with the Grand Opening Ceremony at the National Stadium.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 33

District 10 Arthur cops boys cycle road race, Poyer is girls champ Akeem Arthur of District 1 0 U p p e r Demerara/Kwakwani rode brilliantly to win the National Schools 40 k cycle road race yesterday on the East Coast of Demerara.

Arthur dominated the race which started at Liliendaal and proceeded to Strasphey before retuning to the starting point. He crossed the finish line way ahead of his rivals clocking 1 hour 04 minutes 02 seconds.

Arthur ’s team mate Silvio Innis took the runner up spot while Shaquille Agard also of District 10 placed third followed by Jamal John of district 13 South Georgetown and Christopher Griffith of District 11 North Georgetown.

Whitney Poyer of district 6 Corentyne won the female 25k event which commenced from the said venue and proceeded to

Akeem Arthur crosses the finish line way ahead of his rivals.

Belfield before returning to the starting point for the finish.

Poyer’s had little trouble throughout the contest as she clocked 56 minutes 48.02 seconds.

Niomi Alopp of District 10 placed second and her team mate Olesa McPherson finished third.

Whitney Poyer

Blatter says was close to death, ‘between angels and devils’ in hospital ZURICH (Reuters) Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he had been close to death as he lay in hospital during a mounting scandal over his time at the head of world soccer’s governing body.

In his first public comments since emerging from treatment, Blatter told Swiss broadcaster RTS: “I was really between the angels who sing and the devil who stokes the fire. It

was the angels who sang” but did not go into details on his condition.

Blatter was admitted to hospital in early November, weeks after FIFA’s ethics committee launched an investigation into his conduct and that of his former protege, European soccer boss Michel Platini.

T h e F I FA b o d y suspended both men, then called on Saturday for (Continued on page 25)

Page 34

Kaieteur News

5th Annual Tradewind Tankers International Volleyball Tournament

Tuesday November 24, 2015

‘Back to the Future’ boxing championships

DDL offers support as Demerara survives slugfest teams start trooping in against Yelyco to cop first title -Yelyco gain revenge in the female division

The victorious Demerara team poses with their hardware after defeating Suriname’s Yelyco on Sunday.

For the first time in the tournament’s history a local team was able to turn back the challenge of the visiting overseas teams after Demerara survived a hard fought battle against Suriname’s Yelyco in the final of the 5th Annual Tr a d e w i n d Ta n k e r s International Volleyball Tournament which ended on Sunday, at the National Gymnasium.

The victory proved that Guyana’s volleyball is improving following a couple of overseas tours

where playing against top teams were a feature of the new administration.

On the distaff side, Ye l y c o o f S u r i n a m e comfortably retained their title with victory over Guyana Defence Force (GDF), beating them 25-19, 25-19.

In the Male final, Demerara outlasted Yelyco 25-18, 27-25 and the win evoked wild celebrations among the home team supporters, as it signaled a team from Guyana had successfully defended home

turf.

Media Liaison, Ian Wills, speaking after the tournament said that the competition brought out the best in the local male teams and the hard work put in by the Demerara male team paid off in the end.

“Even though Trinidad brought an Under-19 national team, they still demonstrated a high level of play, but the team to beat was Yelyco who came with a s e n i o r t e a m , ” Wi l l s reflected.

“The tournament

highlighted the need to put in more ground work, especially in female and youth volleyball because all the other teams were made up of primarily young players.”

Wills paid tribute to Demerara’s win, adding that despite repeated losses by the females, he was satisfied with their effort.

Additionally, Creston Rodney, Juan Valasquez and Wendell Austin won Best Spiker, Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player respectively.

Two days before the ‘Back to the Future’ Caribbean Boxing Championships, scheduled for November 26-29, gets underway organizers of the tournament continue to receive the benevolence of the corporate community and yesterday morning President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, travelled to the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, to collect a sponsorship package from Brand Manager of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Larry Wills.

The DDL official travelled to the venue to conform to a bifurcated objective where he also supported the Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival which will bully off at the National Gymnasium, M a n d e l a Av e n u e t h i s Thursday afternoon. Shortly afterwards the DDL

weekend are products of the aforementioned tournament.

President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, received the cheque and said that he was extremely pleased with the level of support offered by DDL. He acknowledged the benevolence of the beverage company and said that such goodwill is the catalyst for the sport’s advancement.

The GBA head further singled out the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for special mention. He said that President of that organization, K A Juman Ya s s i n , h a s r e n d e r e d unswerving support and it was he that has been the lynchpin towards the success of the initiative.

More than 14 Caribbean countries will join host Guyana to battle for honours in a tournament that promises to distinguish the top Caribbean nation. The teams are expected to start

Mr. Steve Ninvalle (left) receives the sponsorship package from DDL’s executive. Mr. Larry Wills. representative recommitted to support the fistic sport with a sizeable contribution for the impending Caribbean Boxing Championships, under the Pepsi brand.

Mr. Wills told those gathered that his company is delighted to be affiliated to the GBA event.

He acknowledged the presence of more than a dozen Caribbean countries and said that from all appearances the tournament promises to be action packed.

Mr. Wills also reminded of his organization’s support of the U-16 championships, a series of tournaments which provided opportunities for the youngsters to improve their skills. He said that some of the boxers on show this

arriving today with Jamaica, French Guiana and Guadeloupe among the first.

St Maarten will field 2 boxers along with a manager and a coach. The other countries to have affirmed their participation are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique.

President of the St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association (SLABA), David ‘Shakes’ Christopher will accompany his charges and said that he has identified a tough bunch of boxers to represent the Island. He said that he is aiming for many gold medals and as such, will be fielding a strong team to the (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday November 24, 2015

Kaieteur News

GTT / Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Tournament

Kings and Milerock strom into semi-finals Victoria Kings and L i n d e n ’s M i l e r o c k registered impressive wins to join respective group leaders Topp XX and Winners Connection in the semifinals of the inaugural GTT / Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football To u r n a m e n t w h i c h continued on Sunday night, at the Victoria Community Centre ground.

Playing before a fairsized crowd, Victoria Kings fired in four goals before halftime, a lead which they held to defeat New Amsterdam United 4-2 in the feature clash of the double header.

Once again the e x p e r i e n c e d Wi n s t o n Pompey led the way with a brace in the 5th and 44th minutes, while Aubrey Gibson and Alden Lawrence contributed goals in the 17th and 19th minutes respectively.

The prolific Adrian Adams was again the leading marksman for the visitors, netting in the 22nd and 80th minutes.

Kings win sets up a date with Linden unit Topp XX for a place in the final.

The ever alert Pompey gave Kings the early ascendancy through a powerful header into the left hand corner from a cross from the right side that landed inside the penalty area.

Playing with the confidence of champions, Victoria Kings dominated possession in the early stages and stretched their advantage

Milerock’s Clarence Huggins dribbles past a defender from Golden Grove in their clash on Sunday.

further when a cracking free kick taken from 25 yards out

by Gibson nestled into the right side of the goal for a 2-0 lead.

NA United appeared to have weathered the early onslaught and created some threatening incursions, but the Kings repelled their advances.

However, the nippy Adams was able to eventually crack the airtight defence after dispossessing the centre back, who had made a mess in trying to clear the ball from his goal area, before hitting the ball past the goalkeeper.

However, Kings were in no mood to entertain any resistance as Lawrence’s fierce left-foot volley following a scramble for a loose ball played into the goa area made it 3-1.

One minute before the break, Pompey rubbed salt into the wounds of NA United when he received a pass from the left flank and finished with screaming right-footer low into the right corner.

After the resumption, Kings seemed to have eased on the throttle, allowing NA United to enjoy most of the possession and they gleefully accepted it with Adams scoring from the penalty spot ten minutes from full time.

Despite a few encouraging raids, NA United failed to find the mark and when the final whistle sounded it signaled that they had conceded a semi-final spot to Kings.

Earlier, Milerock cruised past Golden Grove by a 5-0 margin with Denzil Fordyce and the indomitable Clarence Huggins netting a pair each, while Jermaine Grandison added the other.

Huggins strikes were recorded in the third and 79th minutes, while Fordyce goals came in the 17th and 20th minutes.

Grandison’s goal was timed in the 74th minute of play.

M iler o ck n o w f ace c o u n t e r p a r t s Wi n n e r s Connection in an all-Linden affair for a final berth.

The winning team will be presented with $500,000 and the championship trophy, while the second, third and fourth placed teams take home $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.

The other entities on board are National Sports Commission and Sterling Products.

Game-1 Golden Grove-0 vs Milerock-5 Clarence Huggins-3rd and 79th Denzil Fordyce-17th and 20th Jermaine Grandison-74th Game-2 Victoria Kings-4 vs New Amsterdam United-2 Victoria Scorers Winston Pompey-5th and 44th Aubrey Gibson-17th Alden Lawrence-29th New Amsterdam Scorer Adrian Adams-22nd and 80th

Page 35

SOUTHLAND INTERNATIONAL TO ENERGISE FLEX NIGHT

From left: Irzad Zamal, CEO of Southland International Inc. in Guyana; Christina Abdoul, Admin. Coordinator; Donald Sinclair Managing Director of Flex Night Inc. and Onai Vasconcellos, Flex Night Director of Advertising at the presentation.

S o u t h l a n d International Inc. distributor of the Blue Waters bottled water, Royce energy drinks and the owner of the Carlsberg brand in Guyana, is set to ‘energise’ t h e F l e x N i g h t

International 2015 event, having come on board as a sponsor.

Patrons at the Sunday December 6 event will also have the chance to enjoy a wide range of Southland’s thirst-quenchers, both before

the 6:00pm show time and during the intermission.

Donald Sinclair indicated that Flex Night Inc. is deeply grateful to Southland International Inc. of Guyana for their commitment to the Flex Night event.

t r o Sp

North Georgetown capture National schools swimming title

The victorious district 11 North Georgetown team.

Indigenous athletes dominate 10k race Top overseas as National Schools’ Championships begin players expected -Bright shines in Long Jump; Hooper, Roberts also shatter records

for DMW Festival

-Four players from Canada Pan Am Gold medal team coming

Jaguars roar to first win against B’dos on home Guyana win by 9 soil in 31 years

Shantoba Bright Beverley Ignacio (left) and Reckey Williams following their respective 10k victory yesterday

Natricia Hooper

wkts to maintain lead with 53 points

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