Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

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

Editorial

IGNORING THE AIDS THREAT World AIDS Day is once again being observed but the prevailing issue is whether any significant progress is being made in educating the masses of the dangers of HIV infection which leads to AIDS. After the hype and millions of US dollars poured into the initial surge of interest and prevention education people may quite understandably be asking where it all has gone.

If work is being done to prevent and treat this public health disease in any sustainable way we are not being kept informed of the progress on this front. The plain truth is that outside of international donor funding there does not seem to be any serious efforts underway to infuse locally generated funds from the people’s taxes into the struggle against HIV & AIDS. The lack of information compared to the publicity blitz that the country experienced during the mid- to-late 2000s is indicative of a falling away of the level of interest in combating this scourge at both the international, regional and local levels.

This should not be surprising in light of the new focus on a disease that has the potential to take lives in a shorter space of time and is seemingly highly contagious when compared with the cycle that attends HIV infection leading to AIDS. If anything is being done the National AIDS Secretariat is very quiet about its interventions. It is almost as if people have come to accept the occurrence and incidence of HIV infection as an inescapable part of their lives.

There seems to be an increasing apathy and acceptance regarding HIV & AIDS similar to how cancer was once viewed.

The older folk might recall cancer being spoken of in hushed tones with not even the hardiest daring to utter the C-word.

The advent of regional grouping PANCAP together with international financial institutions in the form of International Development Association (IDA) or World Bank; and Global Fund realised significant inflows of needed cash and technical assistance in support of the Guyana Government programmes under the Ministry of Health.

And it is therefore encouraging to note that in the obvious absence of a sustained publicised behaviour change communication programme focused on prevention, the HIV prevalence according to Guyana’s Global AIDS Progress Report 2010-2011 among the general population in Guyana has been steadily decreasing since 2004 from 2.4 percent to 1.07 percent in 2011. However in light of a reduction in the level of financial and technical resources for the HIV response globally, there is an urgent need to refocus to a more multi-sectoral comparative advantage approach to mainstreaming HIV education and programmes for efficient resource utilisation and cost effectiveness. Another facet of the HIV & AIDS scenario is the amount of overseas travel that is undertaken by officials. It would be in the public’s interest to know to what end and what purpose is served by the constant travel demands. It would be interesting to know what benefits come the way of this country, and what contributions are made on behalf of Guyana in the general scheme of things.

One factor that should not escape notice and bears repeating is the apparent absence or diminution of programmes in the public sector which makes up the majority of formal work force. During the period reviewed by the Global AIDS Progress Report for 2010-2011 the government through its Ministry of Health in conjunction with the international bodies World Bank; Global Fund; and the United States President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief actively promoted work place HIV prevention programmes where the needs of employees within public sector work force including those in corporations and agencies were addressed. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the decrease as cited in the report could be attributed to an educated and informed public sector. It would be a grave dereliction of duty if the authorities fail to facilitate and implement sustainable education and prevention programmes across the board. We need to move beyond rhetoric to practically ensuring that our human capital remains intact.

Sunday November 30, 2014

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

Guyana - The Western Hemisphere’s Failed State DEAR EDITOR, With each passing day, each passing scandal and each dot that connects the PPP government directly or tangentially to convicted or alleged criminals caught in the United States, it becomes harder to find the correct adjective to describe this unearthly band of brigands that have their fetid and corrupt hands strangling the life out of a once proud nation. There is no core, no center no corner, no scheme that the PPP has embarked on that could or should lead to development for the benefit of all Guyanese that has not become enmeshed in corruption, allegation of corruption, vindictiveness, lawlessness and ties to criminals.

Roger Khan pledged fealty to Jagdeo’s PPP. Khan was subsequently

convicted of trafficking in cocaine in the United States and the PPP publicly walked away from him. Ed Ahmad provided shipping containers with items to Jagdeo’s PPP. Ahmad was subsequently convicted of mortgage fraud. Ahmad became a wealthy land owner of former GUYSUCO lands in Guyana and when the stuff hit the fan the PPP publicly walked away from him. Peter Morgan, Barry Dataram, Sonny Ramdeo and a long list of ‘who’s who’ on the rogue’s gallery of today’s Guyanese “business” titans that are celebrated and embraced by the PPP and their supporters, but have the stench of illegality attached to their ventures.

Mind you, this does not include the recent admission by the Attorney General, Guyana’s top law enforcement

officer’s admission of his unauthorized use of state funds for personal use and his apparent knowledge of imminent threats to the lives and business of Kaieteur News, a vocal critic of the government.

So now we’ve come to the latest but sure not the last notch in the PPP’s belt of criminals and those associated with criminality, one Khamraj Lall, currently detained on charges in the USA for currency smuggling. Lall, who is a pilot, was allegedly paid by the PPP government to shuttle president Ramotar on official state visits outside of Guyana. From all accounts, Lall owns a tremendous edifice situated on Timheri airport that is the site of his private jet operations but none of the (Continued on page 6)

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

The most expensive vaudeville People like Shaun Samaroo show, at Walter Rodney’s expense DEAR EDITOR, I have for years discussed the elements of the death of Walter Rodney, with both WPA and PNC friends and based on those discussions, expressed in the advent of this recent ‘Inquiry’; why would the WPA once again allow the PPP to use them as convenient political cannon fodder in an enquiry that can yield only speculations, psychologically viewing that era from a current point of view.

I have asked the question on why spend so much money on a mock Inquiry, that can only be titled; the most expensive vaudeville show, at the expense of Walter Rodney’s memory; which can invoke no facts, but a sinister outpouring of speculation, a spurting of old venom, some needed spotlight for the ‘shirt buttons’ and just plain corner rum shop and beer garden ‘gaff’.

Even a known con man was resurrected to jump aboard, another had spiritual premonitions and yet another whose ego compelled him to dabble from cult to this and that political party, had his fantastic say.

Was it just a desperate attempt to demonize Forbes Burnham, or to create a distraction for the population from the abysmal nature of the PPP reign of twenty years?

Who has denied the even more meaningful investigation tabled by the leader of the opposition into causes, sources and events between 2000 to 2010 where hundreds of people died, and the culpability of the PPP into opening Guyana to be a Narcotic infected state would be easily proven.

A profound inquiry where many prominent Guyanese in business and the legal profession, would be held accountable in various ways.

This was beaten down; there would be no inquiry for the Jagdeo-Roger Khan era.

At least, not yet.

Most of the Ideological PPP is gone; today, there are just crooks and petty tyrants, as the NBS case has demonstrated. But even more disturbing is the fact that many of the people who proceeded to give so called ‘evidence’ are actually aware of the truths surrounding Rodney’s death, and are aware of the futility of what they’re participating in.

All that I have written in this overview is known to them. For the young public to begin to understand why this inquiry is a Vaudeville Show, one has to time travel, flashback to the social environment of the BurnhamCheddie Jagan -Walter

Rodney era.

WALTER RODNEY Son of the soil leader of the WPA, I met this brother, read his books, argued at Bourda Market with him over socialism/communism, which I thought was good, as it addressed the alienation of the poor, against a class system populated by rich but lesser talents.

But Communism had also allowed lazy Party followers undeserved benefits. Today we witness the same; most of the PPP’s Politburo affords standards of living beyond what their talents, education or skills permit them to have on nature’s level playing field.

Walter Rodney presided over a paradoxical contingent, comprised of middleclass Guyanese who despised Burnham’s grass root extensions, but, strange enough, gathered around Walter, but not necessary his Ideals.

Walter was Commandant; Operations Commander and Officer in Charge of his field unit, all at once. This gave me the intuitive perception that this man had tremendous trust issues with his colleagues.

THE EXPLOSION From what the explosion did not do to his body, it was obvious that it was located in a bag under the front seat of his car, between his legs. Was Walter an explosive expert?

Or a brother driven by a cause, that fell victim to an ‘unfortunate accident.’

Because it would seem that the heat of the vehicle ignited the explosion that killed Walter, and not the volumes of mumbo jumbo belched out at the enquiry.

APNU The opposition leader David Granger was

objectively correct to seek to terminate this fallacy, but Politics destroys nations, because most of the people involved in politics in Guyana are not governed by objectivity, but by facades and contrived perceptions.

Some are just plain sycophants. So APNU was persuaded not to do so.

Freddie Kissoon resisted participation from the inception, because he honestly recognized the Showbiz that would pretend to be an Enquiry.

THE COMMISSIONERS Both the PPP’S Seenath Jairam and Sir Richard Cheltenham are disposed to have contentions against Burnham that transcend Walter Rodney’s death.

Collectively, the commissioners must understand that most Guyanese are not fooled, nor do we take you seriously as professionals, your compliance to rip this nation off in this political Vaudeville saddens and angers us.

Had you volunteered free of cost, this part of the letter would not have been written.

The public would have presumed that you shared a misguided belief in shining a light at this stage, while aware that the crucial actors in this tragedy are dead, jeopardizing fact finding on that single incident of that troubled period, would have been considered. That you are well paid in a Nation of (Continued on page 6)

DEAR EDITOR, I read where Stabroek News columnist, Shaun Samaroo has written that he has ended his column. I believe for the continuing preservation of the integrity of the Stabroek News, it would have been if Mr. Samaroo was asked to leave earlier.

Mr. Samaroo fell into two categories of media operation - reporting for the Chronicle and commentary for Stabroek News Let’s look at his commentary. In opinion pieces, the writer expresses his/her interpretation.

You could disagree most vehemently with an opinion piece but it is your viewpoint.

Two types of opinion output are universally common – one that is condemnatory, the other that is praiseworthy.

In the former, the commentator is on safe ground because he/she can always find a latent disadvantage in a policy or can cite reasons why the policy will not work. The story of Mr. Obama’s Heath Care Act falls into that category. It is good and positive but because its implications are far-reaching, a columnist can pick up on some weak dimensions and amplify it.

It is when you are praising someone you will find yourself in the spotlight because you are forced to speak about accomplishments.

If you think Harry Jones is the most outstanding lawyer or Mickey Black is the best footballer then you have to cite achievements. If you cannot then you face the

criticism of sycophancy or unenlightened opinions.

Surely one is entitled to his/ her opinion but they cannot be outlandishly ignorant, for example, homosexuality should be punished by death.

That is the opinion of a Member of Parliament. This is a sick opinion.

I never read Mr. Samaroo until I was shopping at the Hot and Spicy Restaurant on Albert Street and a gentleman asked me who Samaroo was.

He pointed to his column in which Samaroo said that only Priya Manickchand can secure the future of Guyana.

I laughed and told him the guy is a lunatic so forget it (those were my words). He insisted I read “what this guy Samaroo wrote.”

It was that incident that caused me to peruse Samaroo. I read where he went on to say that Guyana’s future rests with Ministers Frank Anthony and Priya Manickchand.

He classified the AFC as an obstacle to progress in Guyana. Hs political views weren’t political views. They were his strategy for getting a job at the Chronicle.

In all honesty, the Guyana

Times is far a better newspaper than the Chronicle. No professional journalist would want to be associated with the Chronicle.

We have to be sympathetic with those Chronicle reporters who need to retain their jobs as a source of income. From the time he appeared at the Chronicle, management of the Stabroek News should have become suspicious Samaroo’s reporting on the Walter Rodney Commission wasn’t unprofessional, propagandistic and biased only. It was downright dangerous and nasty. It wasn’t reporting at all. It was political activism on behalf of the PPP and Government.

What he did, is that each time a WPA person took the stand and described the authoritarian milieu under which Walter Rodney and the WPA had to function, he would interject fictional words in his reporting and attribute them to the witnesses.

In all instances, he would report the witnesses as saying that such a situation no longer exists in Guyana (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Lincoln Lewis responds to Maxwell Our road safety record is dismal

DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to M. Maxwell’s letter, “Lincoln Lewis misses a vital distinction in examining the 1980 constitution” Kaieteur News (KN) November 23, 2014. From the outset let it known that constitutions and laws are made for the citizens and their societies and not only for lawyers. As a citizen, local and international, there shall be no forfeiting of my right to speak to matters of the constitution, laws, universal declarations and principles, international conventions and charters.

For one to examine these instruments that set out to govern human relations it would be realised that they were conceptualised and developed by the people, their representatives and lawmakers, who in many cases were not lawyers.

A fundamental tenet of democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people, which by its very nature speaks to an allencompassing involvement in decision-making.

And as such the underpinning reason that grounds the making of law is that it can be read, interpreted and obeyed by the people whose lives it impact on.

Having said that, laws are dead at their hearts unless activated by the people. To argue that the constitution is illegal outside of a judicial ruling, whose responsibility it is to adjudicate on the laws; or outside of the people rejecting the instrument, such remains legal.

The inability of Maxwell to address the substantive issues in my letters (“An inherent behaviour of politicians is to misapply the constitution to justify dastardly acts,” November 17 and “Mimicking the colonial

authority,” November 12) which were supported by evidence from the Guyana Constitution and other constitutions does not absolve him of responsibility to counter my positions with evidence-based arguments, nor does it undermine my consistent position that the constitution be respected.

The excursion whether the constitution is de facto or de jure is immaterial because it is the constitution we have, the instrument that guides this society, is being used by the courts, what our elected officials sworn to uphold and until replaced we, the people, have to conform.

The advancement for constitutional respect makes political, social, economic and cultural sense if we are committed to peaceful coexistence and development because this instrument, were we to uphold to the letter and respect its spirit and intent, society can be rallied around a common purpose and direction.

A constitution, by its very nature, is the nation’s supreme law and presents the foundation from which the society is grounded and should be guided if we are committed to nationhood.

No constitution is perfect, and I have never read anywhere in our constitution where it says that it cannot be reviewed and amendments made as deemed necessary.

Thus, when I continue to advance the upholding of the constitution, which also ensures the foregoing in Article 119A, for Maxwell to think, “What [Lewis) does not highlight are the blockages to constitutional reform in this de facto constitution and further, the gravity of executive interference in achieving constitutional reform”,

The most expensive...

From page 5 mismanagement and misfeasance in every sector, with obviously dysfunctional officials like our Attorney General and a doting Cabinet most of them aware of their limitations a n d compromised status.

With a President, confused

and unsure of, in whose interests he should act; the nation, or the deviants of his political cult.

Thus, the Commissioners however, do remind us, that we have not lost the [our] privateering legacy of Old Tortuga.

Barrington Braithwaite

confirms concern about the grave disservice being done to this society by advocates of constitutional condemnation.

My position on the constitution is informed by the need for the people to activate this instrument by holding elected officials accountable to implement every article and not cherry pick article(s) to suit their purpose.

The constitution is a comprehensive document where each section complements the other, and when together applied can produce acceptable and harmonious relationship for the people and their society.

From this backdrop it brings into sharp focus if those who are engaged in carte blanche condemnation of this constitution understand this instrument and how it ought to work, or see this as opportunity to advance self-serving position and settle political scores.

Reasons are being found for the non-activating of the article that would see constitutional engagement and reform where necessary and also not to hold elected officials accountable for obeying and discharging their constitutional responsibilities.

For on one hand excuse is being found not to activate Article 119A that allows for the appointment and operationalisation of the Parliamentary Constitutional Reform Committee, and on the other hand the constitution is decried or calls made for a new one. This is an inconsistent, political posturing but though not unique to Maxwell, let me just for reference highlight two of his letters to show how inconsistent he has been: 1. April 2, 2013 ‘President’s failure to act on bills is contravention of constitution’ (SN). On this matter Maxwell’s held the view that, “The President is constitutionally bound to either assent or not assent within 21 days. This shameful exercise of sitting on a bill before him without communicating his assent or non-assent is an assault on the constitution by the President. It undermines the

efficacy of the Constitution and the democratic underpinnings of this provision. It is tantamount to practising dictatorship by delay.”

2. August 24, 2014 ‘Article 106 of the constitution is clear’ (SN). In this letter he states, “The concern I have is this calculated PPP campaign to discredit the constitution and the law in order to avoid the looming no-confidence vote.

I am no lawyer or constitutional expert but I can read the constitution and can interpret what I read.

Article 106 is straightforward and quite clear. The concern I have is this calculated PPP campaign to discredit the constitution and the law in order to avoid the looming no-confidence vote. I am no lawyer or constitutional expert but I can read the constitution and can interpret what I read. Article 106 is straightforward and quite clear.”

The danger with running with the hare and hunting with the wolves at the same time is that you are bound to inflict bodily harm to yourself.

Once media access is allowed, no one shall still my voice in the crusade for respecting the Constitution, holding elected officials accountable to it, and ensuring citizens take their rightful place as society’s guardians as constitutionally required. The people of this society deserve better than condemnation of a constitution whose basic tenet vests sovereignty in them and should they apply their power, elected officials will come to their senses and treat them and the nation’s resources better.

Sovereignty, vested in the people according to this Constitution allows for them to exercise their rule, power, control, authority, freedom, independence, autonomy, self-government and selfdetermination to theirs and the state’s welfare.

I have chosen the side as an advocate for constitutional respect to the letter, its spirit and intent, and shall not be thwarted in the effort to ensure the people enjoy what’s rightly theirs.

Lincoln Lewis

DEAR EDITOR, The appalling carnage on our roads continues daily and we as a nation seems to be helpless at reducing it.

Even in far more densely populated places with more traffic, the fatalities are far less in comparison. It seems that most drivers are in a hurry to get somewhere driving over 100 kmh where the limit is 80 kmh. The recent article, “ With 16 fatalities in 27 days…Road Safety Month is second deadliest period for the year” should red flag all concerned ( and all are affected) to make efforts to curb this situation. Authorities and road users alike need to jointly change their modes of operation for this to happen.

My suggestions to save lives are: For drivers: 1. Observe speed limits, the limit is usually the maximum and a slower rate should be used according to conditions-when it is dark, raining, busy, congested.

2. Do not overtake when bicyclists and motorcyclists are in front of you; treat them

as vehicles…wait a few seconds. (overtaking can lead people to the undertaker) 3. Most importantly, do not drink and drive. Let sober licensed family members/ friends drive when you drink or take a taxi.

For cyclists; 1. Don’t carry heavy loads on you handlebars; use a backpack.

2. Don’t drink and ride.

3. Ride in single file; not two/three abreast.

4. Use lights, reflectors at night and wear light-colored clothes (make yourself visible) For the authorities: 1. Enforce the laws without fear and favour. Killing someone while drinking and driving is vehicular homicide and should be treated with utmost seriousness.

2. The police should be visible-proactive and not reactive.

3. Run public service advice on proper road use regularly on TV and radio (especially at news and death announcement times).

Karan Chand

Guyana - The Western...

From page 4 regulatory agencies can tell you who gave Lall permission to erect, license and operate this business; the type of business that if not properly regulated, overseen and inspected; is the ideal vehicle for gold, currency, drug, human and arms trafficking. A fact not lost on the corruption friendly PPP. However, unlike Jagdeo, who when he realized his gift of Sanata Textiles complex to his bosom buddy Bobby Ramroop was illegal, he had parliament fix his error; but Ramotar doesn’t have such luxury, given that he prorogued parliament, he’ll have to fix pilot Lall’s lacuna by presidential decree.

Today I saw on television violent protests erupt in Haiti because it’s been THREE YEARS since their president

held constitutionally due local government elections.

This in a country that is the perennial “poor man” of the entire Caribbean that has had to deal with unimaginable natural disasters and outbreak of disease in the past decade.

Meanwhile, in Guyana where those same elections have not been held in almost TWO DECADES, the spineless opposition is still asking the PPP to please hold local government elections.

Democracy matters. Justice and democracy cannot be just done but seen to be done.

I ask myself, what is wrong with Guyana and Guyanese that they cannot and will not seek and extract the justice they deserve by holding the PPP accountable for the atrocities they’ve committed?

Deodat Persaud

People like Shaun...

From page 5 today. He made each WPA person speak positively of the present situation in Guyana.

Karen De Souza took objection to that. But months after he did the same with Tacuma Ogunseye and Patricia Rodney. It was clear to any observer what Samaroo’s role was. Come January 2015 he will continue his political tasks and mask it as journalism What he wrote in his columns about the need for

Guyana to heal and be united and Guyanese to work together was deception designed to fool the Stabroek readers. In the same breath he was contributing to the continuation of the tragedy that is Guyana.

Let us hope this is the last we have seen of people like Shaun Samaroo in the independent media. He should remain at the Chronicle. Maybe PR work for the PPP could be his next port of calling Frederick Kissoon

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Two killed in Taliban raid in Kabul, Camp Bastion under fire

Afghan security forces keep watch while smoke and fire rise from a foreign aid guest house after a Taliban attack Reuters) - Afghan security forces overcame Taliban insurgents attacking a guest house for international aid workers in Afghanistan’s capital on Saturday and were still fighting gunmen inside former U.S. and British base Camp Bastion.

Foreign troops left the camp in the south of Afghanistan just a few weeks ago.

Taliban attacks are intensifying as the U.S.-led coalition prepares to withdraw most of its soldiers by the end of 2014.

At least two civilians were killed in the second attack in three days on expatriate aid workers’ housing in Kabul.

One Taliban fighter was killed when his suicide vest exploded and the other two attackers were shot, Qadam Shah Shaheem, commander of the Afghan army’s 111 Military Corps Kabul, said.

Eight people, including two foreigners, were rescued

from the building in Kabul’s western Karte Seh district during the four-hour gunbattle.

Two bodies were found on the lower floors, but their identities were not known, Shaheem said.

Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai said in a statement that one was Afghan and one was a foreigner, but he did not give the nationality.

The Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility, with a spokesman saying in a statement that their fighters had targeted a Christian organisation seeking to convert Muslims. Authorities did not know the name of the aid organisation.

On Thursday, Taliban gunmen had stormed a guest house in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter. Only the attackers were killed.

In southern Afghanistan, soldiers were still fighting Taliban gunmen inside Camp

Bastion, a major southern base handed over to Afghans by the British and U.S. militaries in October.

A few dozen Taliban fighters with automatic weapons and suicide vests had attacked the base in Helmand province on Thursday, General Ayatullah Khan, commander of the army regiment in the area, said.

“Some managed to get inside, took position, and started the gunfight,” he said, noting that the insurgents appeared to be holed up in one of the smaller camps within Camp Bastion.

At least five soldiers and 26 insurgents were killed on Friday at the base, Omar Zwak, a spokesman for Helmand’s governor, said.

The Taliban, who were ousted from power by the U.S.-led coalition in 2001, claimed that hundreds had been killed in the attack. The insurgents routinely inflate casualty figures.

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Sunday November 30, 2014

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Public service workers to receive another 5 percent wage/salary

Last year’s public service protest lasted until the Christmas holiday stepped in.

Public servants can expect another five percent increase on wages and salaries as the Office of the President has announced their intent to give increases of five to eight percent.

More than 20,000 public workers and members of the Disciplined Forces will receive the increases as at December 31, last year and retroactive January 1, 2014 a public missive from the President’s office mentioned.

The release stated, “In keeping with the Government of Guyana’s commitment to provide these increases, Public Servants and Members of the Disciplined Forces earning above $50,000 monthly wages and salaries as of December 31, 2013 are being granted an across the board increase of five percent.

“Those earning less than $50,000 monthly as at December 31, 2013 would be receiving eight percent

across the board increase, retroactive to January 1, 2014.”

The notice continued that additionally, “teachers earning less than $50,000 monthly as at December 31, 2013 are being granted an additional three percent across the board increase, on top of the five percent increase already paid to them in keeping with the multi-year agreement concluded with their Union, bringing their total increase to eight percent retroactive to January 1, 2014.”

It was stated that circulars have already been issued to effect the payment of these increases on the wages and salaries for 2014.

Around this time last year, public servants had mounted countrywide protests against the usual five percent wage and salaries increase imposed on the public workers. The unusually ineffective Guyana

Public Service Union (GPSU) has for years been complaining against the government bypassing negotiations and going ahead to public workers meager increases.

Public workers from many of state agencies had downed their tools and demanded more from the government who remained unmoved by the massive demonstrations.

Around this time last year, the GPSU had also demanded a paper trail of the monies allocated for public servants’ increases, but that never manifested.

When it was raised in Parliament last year that more than $4B had been allocated for increases of public servants, but meager increases were being imposed on the workers, GPSU took action to request of the Government of Guyana pertinent details of expenditure under the

Account Code entitled “Revision of Wages and Salaries” for which $4.4 billion were provided and from the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Ministry, for information related to the payment of all contract employees in the Public Service that are paid from allocations approved in the Estimates of the Public Sector-Current and Capital Revenue and Expenditure for 2013.”

GPSU is still to get that information.

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Dem boys seh...

Is sheer Chat-3 deh near Ohh Pee When some people look at de way how people does behave dem does know who is scamp and who got a good mind fuh people. De Waterfalls boss man believe that he one-time friend, Donald Lamatar Duck was a man who had a good mind.

That is why when he get de trumped up charge he jump because he thought Donald woulda tell de people fuh back off, that dem wrang.

But Donald didn’t. In fact, he couldn’t because Jagdeo still running things and when Jagdeo give people instruction dem does carry it out. Jagdeo tell Cee fuh Satar fuh charge and Donald couldn’t seh nutten.

Cee fuh Satar seh that de Waterfalls boss man threaten he and Jagdeo holler, “Charge he.” Dem boys thought that he was some General Custer attacking Chief Sitting Bull. And Cee fuh Satar carry out de order.

When dem boys ask Donald bout Anil and de conversation wid Gilly, he seh was a private conversation.

Well how come de conversation between de Waterfalls boss and Cee fuh Satar wasn’t private? And how come Anil ain’t get charge and de Waterfalls boss man get charge?

But wid Donald and Ohh Pee anything does happen. De Prime Minister from Switzerland come to Guyana. Donald decide fuh carry de man pun a tour of de city and dem pass by de Zoo. De Swiss PM see a monkey in de tree and ask Donald is wha kind of tree. Donald tell he that is a mango tree.

Dem boys seh that de man peep and peep again then he tell Donald that de tree deh too close to Ohh Pee fuh be a mango tree. “It got to be a Chat-3, right Donald?”

Chat-3 is lucky people but dem got one magistrate who believe that he ain’t lucky. He sit down in de court like if he was cock of de rock and ask a lady if she would have sex wid a policeman in de court. He even ask de woman if she would have sex wid he.

Well de judicial service commission decide that he hot suh dem put he pun ice fuh cool off. Now he got to sex heself.

Talk half and watch de magistrate try fuh do back flip.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

Local partner takes Sun and Sand to court for US$38M

By Kiana Wilburg

The private investor who brought the India based firm Sun and Sand Inc. to Guyana’s shores, with hopes of successfully having their joint venture into the mining sector realized, is now suing the company for US$38M (equivalent to $7.7B,) for not honouring its end of the bargain.

Sun and Sand Inc., owned

by Rajesh Satija and managed by Company Secretary Bhushan Kumar, was brought to Guyana in 2012 by Garfield Harte, a local investor who travels often.

His Power of Attorney is Beverley Barker of Lot 8 Middle Walk, Victoria, East Coast Demerara.

Harte owns three mining blocks in Cuyuni Mining District each valuing in excess of $168M. Based on a survey conducted, the mineral concentration of the blocks is expected to be over and above 26.6 tons of placer gold and 265,423 tons of quarts gold. The total income was estimated at US$17, 811, 279M. With this in mind, Harte and the members of the Indiabased company, had several discussions, and decided that if they pooled their resources, a joint project in

The Manager for the Sun and Sand Hotel, Bhushan Chandna (left) presenting the plan for the hotel to President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Tourism, Irfaan Ali. Guyana’s mineral sector would prove to be lucrative.

When they arrived in Guyana, the joint venture company, Sun and Sand Mining Resources Inc was incorporated by Harte’s lawyer, Joseph Harmon. The company has an office at Lot 288 Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara.

The Agreement which they entered into in August 2012 said that Harte’s interior properties would be explored, minerals extracted and sold,

and 18 percent of the profits would be given to him.

According to Clause Four of the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) signed by the two partners, under the caption Commencement, a number of things were to be executed and completed by Sun and Sand Mining Inc. It was required to get a Purchase Contract for processing plants for all three blocks, in Bangkok by the end of August 2012, build camps and commence exploration in the first block of land by September –November 2012, complete exploration in all the three blocks by April, 2013 and commence production

by April 2013.

Harte fulfilled all his obligations under the said agreement. He was required to get all equipment for the commencement of operation and did so. In fact, all the equipment has been in Guyana for in excess of one

year. There has been no exploration or production by the Sun and Sand Mining Company in this venture.

Clause Seven of the JVA stipulated the percentage of the profits which should be had by Harte.

In breach of Clause Four and Seven of the JVA, Harte claims that the defendant, has failed, refused and or neglected to make payments in the sum of 18 percent which is equivalent to $7.7B had the JVA been carried through.

The investor said he attempted in several instances to make contact with the Company but was unable to reach them.

He was later surprised to learn that the Company teamed up with the government and local construction giant, BK International, to construct a US$54M five star hotel and casino on July 9. The hotel is still to be constructed even

after the stakeholders involved announced that construction would begin within a week’s time after a grand launch in July.

Harte was also baffled when he discovered that his JVA partner obtained two prospecting licences from Manager of BK International, Brian Tiwarie.

With strong suspicion that the JVA may be doomed for failure before it even gets started, Harte decided to take legal recourse to recoup the billions in losses incurred.

Court documents revealed that Harte’s Power of Attorney brought the legal action against the Sun and San Company Secretary. The matter is expected to be heard before Commercial Court Judge, Rishi Persaud.

The Power of Attorney, Barker, also filed for an interim injunction against the company stakeholders and owners.

After noting the newspaper articles which showed that the Sun and Sand Company developed other “business interests,” she believes that they are likely to sell, mortgage or otherwise part with three super miners with CD with hydrocuclone, one bulldozer, one excavator, and one bush truck all acquired by Harte to satisfy other obligations connected with their new

business venture.

She fears that they may flee the country with Harte’s assets and not pay a cent.

Barker is hoping that the court grants the injunction to block Kumar and Satija from leaving until “they pay up in court.”

Kaieteur News has tried to contact Sun and Sand owners to respond to allegations being made by Harte and Barker but efforts proved futile.

Sources at the Lands and Survey Department revealed that the company is still to complete payments for the Liliendaal land where the Sun and Sand hotel is expected to be constructed.

The Company’s assistant had told this newspaper that while Bhushan Chandna, the official in charge of the Hotel operations, was overseas; the company is pretty much interested in “other things” being mining.

He had said that he would not be able to give comments on the hotel industry as the persons currently here are responsible for the mining arrangements and not the hotel.

The assistant had said that Chandna would be in Guyana until December 1.

On Friday evening, Chandna, his assistant, and Tiwarie were at Oasis Café engrossed in discussions.

Woman allegedly forges child support A woman who decided to tamper with the monthly cheques that she receives by way of child support from her former spouse has been charged with two counts of forgery.

She appeared on Wednesday before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on two charges of forgery and was placed on $500,000.

Bhoojwattie Ramnarine, a mother of one, of No. 60 Village, Corentyne, Berbice is accused of forging two Bank of Guyana cheques. It is alleged that between August 25 and August 26, 2014 at Springlands Corentyne, she forged cheque No. 04891506 for the sum of eighty thousand dollars, in favour of herself. The other charge indicated that on September 22, she forged cheque No. 04891669 for the same amount and purpose. According to the prosecution, the woman who is separated from the father of her child would receive $8,000 on a monthly basis for the child. She would receive a cheque whenever she goes to uplift the money.

After Ramnarine received the cheque for August she decided that the $8,000 was not enough and decided to place an additional zero at the end of the figure, making the number $80,000. She then successfully cashed the cheque. She repeated the act again in September.

Nothing was detected and effort to balance their account proved an arduous task since the book could not be balanced, until the cheques were reconciled with the bank.

Ramnarine, not suspecting that her scheme was detected turned up on Monday at the Whim Magistrate Court to uplift another cheque and was promptly arrested.

She is accused of embezzling a total of $144,000 over the two months. Investigations are ongoing and more charges are pending. The matter will be called again on December 11, at the Springlands Magistrate Court where it has been transferred.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Eddy Grant, Elisa Hamilton among those honoured at inaugural African Business Awards International recording artiste Eddy Grant and the Caribbean’s top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) student, Elisa Hamilton, were among the outstanding persons honoured at the recently held inaugural African Business Awards Dinner.

The awards Dinner was held at the Herdmanston Lodge located on Peter Rose and Lamaha Streets in Georgetown.

Hamilton, the Queen’s College student who made headlines earlier this year when she secured 19 Grade Ones and 1 Grade Two, was honoured as the Outstanding Youth of the Year.

She received cash awards from Eric Phillips of the African Business Expo and Alliance for Change’s Nigel Hughes.

The outstanding 16-yearold also copped a one week trip to Miami to visit Disney World Epcot Center. By way of public statement, the African Business Expo said that several members of the audience also pledged support for Elisa’s dream to become a doctor.

Grant, currently celebrating 50 years in the music business, was conferred with the African Business Expo’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The national and international icon was also the keynote speaker for the event.

The Heritage Business Award was given to Victoria Village, Guyana’s oldest community. Earlier this year Victoria also celebrated its 175th anniversary. This award was also bestowed

Award Winners: International recording artiste Eddy Grant and Caribbean’s top CSEC student, Elisa Hamilton at the dinner upon Nigel Johnson of Nigel’s Supermarket; Rockcliff Christie of Little Rock in Berbice; Asafa George of W&T George; Wilfred Bransford of Car Care; Lennox John of Ashmins; and Lloyd Austin of Austin’s Book Store.

The Outstanding Businesses Award of 2014 were given to Terrence Campbell of CAMEX Restaurant and Shawn Hopkinson of Hopkinson Mining.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the S m a l l Business B u r e a u , Derrick Cummings and Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines

Commission, Clinton Williams were named Male Business Executives of 2014 while General Manager of the Lottery Company, Tracey Lewis and Country Manager of the Guyana Gold Fields Inc., Violet Smith were conferred as the Female Business Executives of 2014.

Leading geotechnical engineer Charles Ceres won the title of Professional of the Year.

August 2015 will see the first African Business Expo.

The event is expected to have companies from Guyana and CARICOM nations as well as the country’s South American neighbours Brazil and Venezuela.

‘Cobra’ in solitary confinement after stabbing prisoner Convicted killer Tyrone Rowe, called ‘Cobra,’ has been placed in solitary confinement following a vicious attack on another inmate at the Georgetown Prisons last Friday.

Prison sources said that Rowe stabbed 39-year-old remand prisoner Wazim Ali after sneaking a sharp implement into the infirmary.

According to reports, Ali, who is housed in the North Dormitory, was in the infirmary at around 12.00 hrs on Friday when he had an altercation with Rowe, who stabbed him in the chest and stomach.

The wounded prisoner was treated at the Georgetown Prison but was not admitted. Prison officials were unable to say what caused the altercation.

However, Kaieteur News understands that warders who had escorted Rowe to

Tyrone Rowe called ‘Cobra’ the infirmary claimed that they had searched him before taking him there. Kaieteur News was told that ‘Cobra’ was subsequently placed in solitary confinement and was still there up to yesterday.

Rowe, 22, was jailed for 78 years in September, 2013, for a number of criminal offences, including the murder of Troy

Collymore called ‘Collie’ and ‘Nelly,’ who was shot dead in Plaisance in 2010.

A $1M reward had been offered for information leading to Rowe’s arrest.

Rowe is one of the first persons found guilty of murder that was given an alternative sentence since legislation against the death penalty was changed.

Friday’s attack follows two other violent incidents at the Georgetown and New Amsterdam Prisons.

On November 17, a brawl in the Georgetown Prisons over music ended with alleged gang member, Colwyn Cort, called ‘Dutchie’ being rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation with head injuries.

Reports indicate that Cort and other inmates were watching television in the North Dormitory when a row (Continued on page 64)

Page 11

Consumer Advocate Eileen Co x is dead Cox

Popular Consumer Advocate Ms. Eileen Rosaline Cox passed away yesterday at 12.18 p.m at age 96.

She died peacefully at her home on First Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, Guyana.

Her only child, international author Sharon Westmaas who lives in Germany and grandson Miro Westmaas were present.

Cox who was a founding member of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), which has been standing since March 1964, built a reputation for being compassionate, resilient and persevering.

Her path led her to join the Guyana Public Service Trade Union, and later the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union, but she eventually became dissatisfied with the operation of those entities because she observed that the Trade Union Movement was not only maledominated, but that the men appeared not to be interested in the equality of women.

She has blazed a trail through uncharted territory and virgin soil, defying the odds in her drive to improve the standing of all women.

Born on January 19, 1918, Cox believed that a person, irrespective of gender affiliation, reserves the right to upward mobility, provided the person proves to be

efficient in the specified capacity.

Armed with the resolute belief that all humans ought to receive the relevant opportunities to realize their full potential, Ms. Cox decided to meet her male disbelievers head on.

This led to her joining forces with the then First Lady, Mrs. Viola Burnham, to form the Guyana Consumers Association.

As president of the inaugural body, she drafted the Constitution of the Guyana Consumers Association between 1970 and 1971, with the support of others, including Viola Burnham.

As President of the Guyana Consumers Association, Cox had the simple mandate to educate and represent the consumer’s interest to government and industry.

In order to effectively address this mandate, Ms Cox decided to liaise with the International Organization of Consumer Unions in England.

Although she was in her nineties, Cox still valiantly

Eileen Cox attempted to entrench the message in the minds of her critics, and to foster positive action.

She was the recipient of many honours, the last being from the Guyana Public Service Union which finally honoured her for her decades of service.

The late Eileen Cox was the daughter of Walter Cox and Mirriam Ruth Cox (nee Wight) and sister of the late Leila Marie Hale, Elma Freda Small and Percy Cox. She was the aunt of Mirri Halder. Eileen had been married to David Westmaas.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

Despite criticisms on NBS report…

Ombudsman vows to be fearless and independent Ombudsman Winston Moore recently admitted that in light of the harsh criticisms his special report on a multimillion dollar fraud charge against former CEO of the New Building Society and his two managers, received, he may approach certain high profile cases, differently.

He emphasized however, that while his approach in the future will be different, he will “continue to be fearless and independent” in his pronouncements.

The Ombudsman hosted a press conference at the Cara

Lodge Hotel on Friday to correct a number of criticisms and misconceptions that had been peddled in the media after his report was leaked to the press.

Justice Moore said that what he found most baffling was the fact that the very persons, who made certain criticisms about the report, such as Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, never made any objections when he updated and made contact with them during the

preparation of the document.

The Ombudsman said that some of the comments which were reported in the media in relation to published excerpts of his report were as a result of persons not thoroughly reading the document.

The report by the Ombudsman concluded that police wrongfully charged the former NBS boss, Maurice Arjoon, and two of his managers over a massive $69M fraud at the New Building Society, in 2006.

The report, which was released this month, was based on complaints by Arjoon on January 16 last, which claimed that he was framed after he refused to illegally endorse the lending of $2B for an investment into the Berbice River Bridge in 2006.

Arjoon’s said that his decision to only lend $350M in keeping with the country’s financial laws angered former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who allegedly threatened via Nanda Gopaul, to “deal with the CEO.”

That allegation which formed a headline in Kaieteur News was described as “extremely unfair.” The headline screamed, “Explosive Ombudsman report…Jagdeo ordered dismissal of NBS boss…because he refused to lend US$10M for Berbice Bridge.”

“I saw the headline referring to the former President firing someone over the Berbice River Bridge and I thought that it was unfair because when you read the report it is what Mr. Arjoon is alleging.

“In my opinion it was an extremely unfair headline.”

The Ombudsman said that it gave the impression that Arjoon’s allegation was his finding. Media houses should strive to maintain respect for the principles of journalism, he added.

Fraud charges were laid against the former CEO who served the company for over 30 years along with his two senior managers, Kent Vincent and Kissoon Baldeo.

While there isn’t any

Ombudsman Winston Moore other high profile case of this nature before the Ombudsman, Moore said that in hindsight, he will take a different approach. He told journalists that he did not leak the report to the press.

He added that he does not know how the media got a hold of it and that that is not of concern to him. The Ombudsman said that he only sent it to a few persons for their comments.

Justice Moore said that what he probably failed to do was to label the document, “For your eyes only.” In future, he said that he will ensure this is done.

The Ombudsman also stated that while he holds this position, it must not be misconstrued to mean that he will not continue to be fearless in his work.

“I am not pleased with the manner in which this report was dealt with but I will continue to treat and report on all matters fearlessly and independently, otherwise I will do something else.

“The moment I get the feeling that I can’t do my job in that manner I will back down. There are other things I can do. I took an oath before I embarked on my duties and I will be faithful to that oath.”

The life of a single human is what is important and that there can be many domino effects from a wrongdoing against one person.

Justice Moore also informed that he will lay all special reports, such as the NBS report, in Parliament.

BODY RECOVERED FROM EAST LA PENTIENCE TRENCH The Police Public Relations Office at Eve L e a r y, G e o rg e t o w n i n response to an article published in the Kaieteur News on Thursday under the caption, “Police offer no help to drowning man – La Penitence residents say” stated that “about 18:40hrs on November 26, a female resident of the East La Penitence Squatting Area reported to the police at the East La Penitence Police Station that an unidentified man of East Indian descent was in the canal south of the station

and shouting for “help”.

The police said that several police ranks, including a Subordinate Officer responded. With the use of flashlights, as it was dark, and assistance from residents of the community who were met at the scene, the police made efforts to locate the man in the canal.

“However, their efforts were unsuccessful, even though a member of the community also went into the canal and carried out a search.”

The body was recovered

about 07: 00h on Friday.

However, residents of the nearby squatting area said that alarms were raised around 6:00 am.

A little girl was the first to see the floating body from her bedroom window.

She then turned to her sister exclaiming, “That’s not the man?”

Anne, the little girl’s mother, said that the body was face down in the water and when she turned him over his face appeared to be beaten in. She said that they reported the matter to the police station and that the police came down to investigate the situation around 8:30hrs.

A farmer said, “It look like someone beat he. I hear the man go fah rob a man, and the man get vex and throw he on the concrete and he ‘black out’. Then I hear he drag the body to the trench and leff he there.

Residents told Kaieteur News that when the man regained consciousness he stumbled and fell in the trench.

When asked why no one offered to help the man, the unanimous response was, “We couldn’t do nun; he de done go under.”

Kaieteur News understands that one of the residents who helped to uncover the remains of the drowned man was his uncle who said that the dead man’s name was Toolsie, and that he came looking for him when he realized that he was missing from the East La Penitence ‘Night Shelter’ across the street.

An orderly from the Night Shelter told Kaieteur News that they have yet to see the body and therefore cannot confirm if he is indeed one of their residents.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Father of two in dire need of financial support for spinal cord treatment

By Sharmain Grainger As a young boy Romeo Maklingham, his parents and siblings vacated their Grove, East Bank Demerara home and headed to the United States to embrace ‘the American Dream’. Ideally this notion (The American Dream) speaks to abundant opportunities that lead to inevitable success.

And it was this very direction that Maklingham was keenly eyeing when he became an adult and had a family of his own.

He certainly had the passion and the requisite

drive to do whatever was necessary to ensure that his wife Jenny and children could live a comfortable life. But even as he strove to make ends meet, his first-born daughter, Allison, developed brain cancer and eventually passed away. The dilemma impacted the family in more ways than imaginable. There was no way of masking the financial and emotional after effects. But being an optimist, Maklingham with the support of his wife and other family members soldiered on.

Today Maklingham and his wife are parents to two

other children, four-year-old Haley and six-month-old Mason. But tragically misfortune has continued to follow this young man who is convinced that “I have encountered more heartache than the average young man.”

From all indications, his crystal clear vision, coupled with his exuberance was not enough to spare him from yet another unfortunate occurrence in his life.

At just 33 years of age, Maklingham today is unable to cater to the well being of his young family. The father

Above: Romeo with his wife and children in happier times.

Below: Romeo (at left) and other family members

People cannot seem to believe that they are the ones who control their destinies.

There are those who insist that if something is going to happen then it will. That is why a young boy out of school is going to pick up a motorcycle and invite a friend for a ride.

There will not be much of a Christmas for his relatives and family because he is going to run into an immovable object in the form of a truck. ** The gunmen are out in

in a fatality, the result of gunshots.

their numbers, seeking cash for their personal entertainment at the expense of the hardworking. But so too are the law enforcers who, but for the gun and badge, would have been in the same place as the gunmen.

In one case there will be a high speed chase that will end

** This is the season when the country uses most electricity. Sadly, not everyone enjoys legal connections. At the same time, this is the rainy season, so wires destined for other uses will be conducting electricity and will be on the ground.

There will be an electrocution of a young person who will make an attempt to connect a wire to a conduit.

of two was the victim of a freak accident which occurred in the month of August leaving him with a shattered spine and several broken bones.

He was busy earning an honest living, which saw him keenly undertaking a landscaping project, when misfortune struck. It took on the form of a 30-foot fall that rattled his entire body leaving him paralysed from the waist down. He is currently unable to do much for himself and is therefore heavily reliant on family members, especially his wife.

Maklingham constantly reminisces on a time when he was a very active and ablebodied person, with an eagerness for understanding and executing handyman tasks. This caused him to have an open mind that fully embraced the notion that “whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

With fervent determination he was able to eventually set up his own contracting firm in Florida.

The vision to build a better (Continued on page 24)

Romeo Maklingham

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

The Commonwealth’s battle for relevance

By Kayode Soyinka, Editorin-Chief, AFRICA TODAY Where is the Commonwealth these days?

The multi-lateral organisation of nations who are bound together by similar colonial past as colonies under British rule has lost its sparkle and it’s rarely heard of these days.

It led the way in the 1970s and 1980s in galvanizing international interest and support for the cause of getting rid of apartheid in South Africa. Its role in forcing Ian Smith in Rhodesia to succumb to majority rule in Zimbabwe, and getting Nelson Mandela out of jail after 27 years was perhaps its biggest achievements.

Since that epic moment when South Africa became free and majority rule was achieved, it is as though the Commonwealth has gone to sleep, not much is heard about it. Those who are close to the organisation are worried about its current state of affairs and some brainstorming has been going on to find out what the problem is and what can be done to bring back its sparkle.

The organisation has a lot of good things it is busy with within its 53-member nations.

Perhaps the most famous and enduring is the scholarship

scheme for students from member-nations to undertake post-graduate degree courses in institutions within member countries, which has been in existence for many decades. Many citizens who have benefitted from this scholarship scheme have become great and successful men and women in their different countries. Such people can never forget the Commonwealth.

Besides, the Commonwealth has a technical assistance programme, which it uses to assist member states that require assistance in diverse technical areas – it could be in governance, organisation of elections, education, youth programs, etc. The young ones will remember the Commonwealth because of its games – the Commonwealth Games.

Its biggest headache is lack of enough funding for its programs and the running of the London secretariat at Marlborough House. That has led recently to the downscaling of another vital organ within the group, the Commonwealth Business Council. However, what glues the organisation together more than anything else is its diversity and the different professional groups within

the organisation – the Commonwealth of the people, represented by lawyers, doctors, local government officials, journalists, etc. – that come together under its platform to share their common experiences and work together.

It therefore should not be too much of a hard sell to point out the advantages, relevance and good points of the Commonwealth. Other countries such as Cameroon, Rwanda and Mozambique that were not under British colonial rule have found the Commonwealth attractive enough to want to join it.

However, the question is now being asked whether its problem in today’s world is the lack of visionary leadership that will refocus the organisation in such a way that it could find new ways of tackling today’s issues and problems and be as relevant as it used to be. As it is presently, the Commonwealth is a victim of its own past achievements and successes and something innovative must be done to wake it up from its slumber.

What can that be? The organisation no doubt needs a new leadership and the opportunity for change at the top at its London secretariat comes up again when its

heads of government meet for their bi-annual summit in November 2015 in Malta.

This summit will attract special interest because it will elect a new secretary-general to take over from Kamalesh Sharma, the present occupier of the post who is from India.

Sharma was India’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom before he became the secretary-general.

The position of the Commonwealth secretarygeneral is more or less an international civil service job, but it has its attractions and, depending on who the occupier of the post is and what he or she decides to make of the job, it could be a prestigious and well respected job that can be almost as influential as that of the secretary-general of the United Nations.

The Commonwealth secretary-general will be visible on the international circuit. As a representative of 53-member nations, distinct by their diversity, he derives his confidence in the fact that members of the organisation he leads form one-third of the entire membership of the United Nations. These are some of the reasons countries are interested in who becomes the secretarygeneral of the Commonwealth.

In the next contest, it is interesting to see the countries or regions that have shown interest in putting forward candidates. The Europeans once had their time on the job, and, what is more, it should always be remembered that it is the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, that is the head of the Commonwealth. It is,

Kayode Soyinka therefore, ironic that this time, the mother country is also interested in fielding a candidate for the secretarygeneral position.

If this is true, the way and manner they are going about it will most definitely cause acrimony, if not protests, within the Commonwealth as a whole.

It is understood that the British are adopting a “twoway trick”, to get one of their own into the position. They want to put forward either Baroness Amos or Baroness Scotland. They are both black peers and former ministers who sit in the British House of Lords in Westminster.

In trying to pave way for either of them, Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed a Commonwealth envoy in the name of David Concar. That appointment would have been hailed as a step in the right direction – Britain has been accused of not showing enough interest in the Commonwealth, preferring its relationship with

Europe instead – if not for the fact that one smelt a rat about the true intension of appointing a Commonwealth envoy at this point in time.

It is expected that having in mind to field a candidate for the secretary-general’s post, Concar would be expected to visit Commonwealth capitals to drum up support for the British candidate. Concar was once used to support an African lady from Kenya as candidate for the position of deputy secretary-general for political affairs. The question now being asked is, was this done as a trick to compromise Africa and get it to do a quid pro quo to support Britain when it puts forward one of its own for the secretarygeneral’s position.

This will be a tough one for Britain because it will be breaking a long established tradition: It cannot have its Queen as the head of the Commonwealth, have London as the headquarters of the Commonwealth and at the same time want to have one of its own as the secretary-general of the Commonwealth. If this happens, we might as well raise our hands up and conclude that Britain owns the Commonwealth and it is Britain we have all come to serve.

The Commonwealth is the only multi-lateral body where developing countries enjoy the freedom to assert themselves and they won’t like to be dictated to and have their policies influenced by some powerful superpower.

Baroness Amos and Baroness Scotland have been used by Britain in the past to pressure (Continued on page 32)

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 23

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Can Guyanese escape the power of race loyalty? Have I? Someone like me could never have understood the attraction, power and magic of ethnic belonging because the way my world evolved, I was never loyal to anything.

I don’t think I was ever loyal to myself, in the sense that I felt that life was hardly a ride to be joyful about, so why bother with the meaning of your own existence.

My family was very liberal. I grew up wild and carefree. I was never into religion and culture. In south Georgetown, there were hardly any East Indians in Wortmanvillle, at the school I attended on Durban Street and on Durban Street itself. Four of my siblings married African Guyanese. My first girl friend was African Guyanese.

I am married the past 36 years to an East Indian, Muslim woman. I carried out my mother’s wishes of giving my child, a Hindu name, Kavita.

I never followed my friends in their cultural

pursuits. I loved Bob Marley’s music, grew up with soul and reggae, but also loved the phenomenal philosophical songs of the Beatles (Eleanor Rigby, Nowhere Man, The Fool on the Hill, Imagine). Some of my friends would accuse me of liking “white people” music, but I would always reply that music was beyond race and culture.

To d a y I s t i l l r e m a i n crazy about the music of Barry White (his c o m p o s i t i o n , “ L o v e ’s Theme” is one of my alltime favourite songs), love soul, rhythm and blues, reggae but equally the Beatles, Burt Bacharach, ABBA and Italian songs.

My heroes include Mahatma Gandhi (but I am an intense admirer of his denouncer, Arundhati Roy), Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Malala, Mother Teresa, Liu Xiaobo, Lisa Lovatt-Smith and the Pope. The philosophical book that influenced me more than any other written material

was authored by a German philosopher who supported Adolf Hitler – Martin Heidegger, “Being and Time.”

My favourite painting is from a Frenchman, Monet’s “Waterloo Bridge.”

My favourite playwright is an American homosexual, Tennessee Williams. My best read is “Things Fall Apart” by Nigerian, Chinua Achebe. My number one actor is an ItalianAmerican, Al Pacino. My number one director is an Italian, Bernardo Bertolucci. My choice for a poet is a Lebanese Arab, Kahlil Gibran. The living scholar I admire most is an East Indian, Amartya Sen. The living politician I admire most is Barack Obama.

My all-time favourite sports personality is a Jamaican, Courtney Walsh.

Some of my favourite Guyanese are Catholic priest, Andrew Morrison (deceased); Jehovah Wi t n e s s l e a d e r, F r e d Philips (deceased - former manager of the Georgetown

Club in the sixties); Brian Rodway ( deceased founding member of the WPA); Catholic nun, Mary N o e l M e n e z e s ; Ye s u Persaud; Eusi Kwayana; Ta c u m a O g u n s e y e ; D r.

David Hinds; Nigel Hughes; Khemraj Ramjattan. Desmond Hoyte is my preferred Guyanese Head of State.

I would vote for gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana, the abolition of the death penalty, but only for sociological crimes. I have an unusual exception with my death penalty abolition belief and I am comfortable with it and would not depart from it. I believe authoritarian rulers who used state power to kill opposition activists, critics and journalists should be put to death after a fair trial.

I am an inflexible supporter of women’s rights and would classify myself as a feminist. I love my country but I am not a nationalist in the mainstream sense of the term. My favourite countries

are Guyana, Canada, Barbados and Grenada.

This is my evolution and it didn’t allow me to think about loyalty to race and culture. I honestly believe that it is the power of race inside the mind of Guyanese that allowed Africans to stick with the authoritarian excesses of Forbes Burnham.

Today Indians who screamed and cried victimization from the first day of PNC rule to its last moment in power, are barefacedly silent on the very things the PPP is doing that they criticized the PNC for.

The race madness has taken over the soul of Guyanese East Indians. I know hundreds of Guyanese Indians who admit to me that the PPP is absolutely no good but they want Indian political control of Guyana. This blind faithfulness to ethnicity has taken on self-destructive dimensions.

Only a fool cannot see that unless the government finances the emptying of this

Frederick Kissoon country’s clogged drains, alleys, trenches, gutters and other waterways, this nation is going to continue to be devastated by a mere ten hours of continuous downpour. It has nothing to do with unusual rainfall. That is a nasty lie.

We watched with open eyes the tragedy that visited us on November 20. But Guyanese could have stopped it. We could have stopped the building of the Marriott and demanded the money be used to prevent what took place on November 20, 2014. Was ethnic loyalty the reason?

Every national election, African people vote for an African party that does not deserve their vote. Every national election, Indians vote for an Indian party with evil people who have no love for Guyana.

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

Father of two in dire need of financial support for spinal cord...

From page 21 future for his family was definitely reachable. However, the accident he endured has proven to a major obstacle that has hindered him from swiftly realising his goal.

“Not only can I not run and play with my children, but I cannot do the laborious work which I was doing and loved,” said the wheelchairbound Maklingham. He however sees his current situation as a temporary setback.

“I still have the drive and determination to move forward, as God has given me a chance.

I require special equipment to help me transfer from one place to another, as the doctors’ prognosis is that I would never walk again,” Maklingham has noted.

Although faced with a situation, which his insurance will not cover, the young man is still optimistic that he will be able to find a solution to his existing condition – spinal cord injury.

His family including his siblings: Stephen, Cindy and

Nadine, are all working together with other concerned persons to help alleviate Maklingham’s dilemma.

According to Cindy, during a telephone conversation with this publication, the family is currently looking at possible spinal cord treatment that could be done at a facility in Mexico, at a cost of US$50,000. It is hoped that with the needed treatment, Maklingham will one day be able to walk again and to live his dream.

However, based on information that the family has been able to acquire, the facility only caters to one new client per month. As such, Cindy disclosed that they are also looking at other options in Holland and the United Kingdom, where the treatment will attract similar costs.

So far the family has only been able to raise about US$5,000 with the support of some Good Samaritans.

But since they are hoping to secure the full sum in order

to have a date booked for Maklingham’s treatment by March of next year, Cindy spoke of plans to have a fundraising activity.

Maklingham is therefore appealing to kind-hearted persons to support him in any small way.

“I am left with my hands tied for help; please help me raise the money so I can afford all of the equipment required for me to move around.

I am reaching out for help, so I can transport and continue to contribute to my society.

I thank you for taking the time to hear my story, and I would be eternally grateful for any assistance I can receive,” is Maklingham’s plea.

Persons wishing to support this young man can do so by visiting a website that was setup to help solicit funds for him (http:// www.gofundme.com/ RomeoFoundation) or contact his family members on telephone numbers: 863-242-5535 and 201230-6916.

Venezuela in financial difficulty,will...

From page 20 build-up their foreign-currency reserves and to help meet the full price of oil should this Venezuelan government – or any other – be compelled to significantly alter or dismantle Petro Caribe.

So, at the moment, despite the unwelcome outcome of the OPEC meeting for Venezuela, Petro Caribe beneficiary countries, including those in the Caribbean, will continue to benefit, even as the Venezuelan economy reels from

the impact of US$40 a barrel less in income for its oil.

The beneficiary countries have good reason for appreciating the goodwill and cooperation of the Maduro Government.

They would best show it not only by building-up their foreign reserves to cope with future increases in oil prices that will inevitably come, but also by actually repaying the loan component of the oil shipments they now receive.

By doing the latter, they

would reduce their own high indebtedness and they would also allow Maduro to show the Venezuelan people a return on the investment that he and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, made in Caribbean and Central American countries.

(The writer is a Senior Fellow at London University) Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

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My column

That thin line between the law and the lawless When I was a young teacher someone once said to me that there is only a thin line between the criminal and the people who enforce the law. The person said to me that a few things caused people to shift to one side of the line or the other. One of those things was the parent.

Many of us grew up in households in which we firmly believed that our parents would kill us if we dared to do anything to embarrass them. And it seemed that just about anything other than excellence or near excellence in school would embarrass them. In the rural community, those parents had arms that reached into other households so that our friends also came under their influence.

The people who became law enforcers came from such situations. The common thief came from the same society, but he did not have that lid on his actions, so he was free to roam and to let his imagination roam. He was susceptible to the pull of others.

There are those who get among the ranks of the law enforcers, but their minds remain criminal. These are the people who, while they work, get enticed by the property of others and plot how to use their skills to acquire if not all,

part of other people’s property.

Not so long ago, the country got the news that a group of soldiers swooped down on a passenger boat heading to Bartica and removed a young man who happened to be transporting cash—lots of it—from Georgetown to a source in Bartica. The soldiers were there to protect national assets along the Essequibo River and in the islands. In fact, they were housed on one of the islands, with one of them being very intelligent.

The more intelligent some people tend to be, the more they seem to want to put their minds to undertaking criminal enterprise. So it was that this lieutenant of the coast guard led his men to that boat heading to Bartica. They killed the young man, and took his money. The police got to them.

Under normal conditions that would have been the end of the matter, but the police also had criminal minds. They split the money and attempted to siphon it off. They too were caught. History will record that the soldiers have been sentenced to death and the policemen are supposed to be doing jail time.

But even before all this;

way back in the 1970s there were law enforcers who used their cover to commit crimes.

One policeman entered the home of a Chinese man on the East Bank of Demerara and got a death blow to the head with a lead pipe, inside the man’s house.

Another case was reported in South Sophia. A taxi driver was heading home when he was confronted by a group of gunmen. One shot and robbed him; his relatives called for the police who were not too long in arriving.

When it was all over the relatives were convinced that the policemen who responded were the same people who robbed the taxi driver.

Then there was the case of a man who opted to transport some cocaine aboard the ship on which he got some work to a foreign country. The network must have been porous, because some policemen got wind of the drug and confronted the man whom they robbed. The man turned to their bosses to get back his drug but got nowhere.

I hasten to say that he never learnt the lesson about once bitten twice shy. He collected another set of cocaine and is now doing hard time in a jail in Scotland.

He is going to be a guest of that country for a long time.

Two weeks ago I learnt about another group of men who were once on the side of the law. Both were soldiers, one of them had gone absent without leave. Having chosen a life of crime they targeted a family who had gone to a commercial bank to uplift some money.

Having spotted their prey they opted to follow them to La Bonne Intention, where they made their move. They grabbed the money but did not get far. Both are now dead.

Community reaction stopped them in their tracks. A car knocked them off the motorcycle and rested on one of them who died at the scene. The other died yesterday in hospital nearly two weeks later.

The army publishes the names and photographs of potential recruits with a request to the public to say what they know about these men. It would seem that the public remained silent or simply did not know enough about the potential recruits.

It is the same with the police.

Many join the Guyana Police Force, get trained, and then become rogue cops. There is no way we can determine who would go rogue having

joined the law enforcement team. This is the case all over the world. However, in some countries there are teams that actually spy on serving policemen. That is not the case in Guyana.

There are policemen who set up illegal roadblocks and fleece motorists. There is the belief that some of them actually robbed people travelling from the airport. But what seems clear is that there are more good law enforcers than bad ones, but their job is made double hard because they are often lumped with the corrupt.

Policemen renting guns to criminals may not be a thing of the past, but with renewed community vigilance and a serious move by the police to catch the corrupt in their midst, one can see a drop in

Adam Harris crime. Recently one of them who actually became a taxi driver was shot dead and his accomplice, a common theif, got a lengthy jail term. But there are others out there driving around and looking for targets. Because of this I reinforce my call for the country to go plastic sooner rather than later.

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By Moses Nagamootoo A new day will dawn in Guyana once elections are held. The Alliance For Change is confident of a win, and ready to head a new government.

The AFC is now a clear choice to the old parties. We are leading in support from all corners of Guyana, from all races and classes; all ages, all genders. AFC is the fresh, vibrant, popular party. The AFC Government will represent all the people of Guyana, more especially our young people.

Guyana needs decent and honest leadership. A quick end must be put to corruption and waste of public funds.

Guyana does not deserve another minority, PPP term. No way!

The AFC believes in better quality and efficient delivery of services to our people, in the education, health, housing and security sectors. But the important issue at hand is how to grow and expand the economy. We will secure the livelihood of our people on the Coast, with policies that address their needs. But we will cast our vision beyond the Coast, to the savannahs, the interior, where the beauty and the untapped resources lie. Our plans, our vision will bring jobs, security and stability.

Kaieteur News

After the elections, we will partner with all patriotic forces. We will develop and continue workable, beneficial programmes, especially those that promote clean air, and a green economy. But we will review and re-assess those that are not viable or have failed, or would fail. The latter are the projects that were born in corruption.

We will reinvigorate and change the national development agenda. We will focus on what will bring quick relief to the jobless and the working poor, and help the vulnerable. Our strategy will be guided by the revised and expanded party’s Action Plan, which is a work in progress.

In addition, the AFC will incorporate the national development strategy and the poverty reduction strategy paper into a united, integrated approach to development goals and priorities.

We have noted concerns, in the face of massive brain drain and general migration, about whether we have people who could run government a g e n c i e s . We h a v e a capable and h i g h ly motivated team to assume Government. We are also compiling a data bank of persons of quality, who are

highly qualified, skilled and trained, to occupy leadership in all key areas of planning, development and administration.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Our new government will pursue a comprehensive plan to create new and decent jobs and economic opportunities.

We will change and improve our relationship with foreign investors, secure better terms and, together with our patriotic capitalists, we will place attention to:-. · Enterprises that create value-added goods and services. · Wood processing and furniture making, using our own logs, rather than exporting them. · Power supplies to manufacturing entities from co-generation and agroenergy mainly from the waste from sugar cane. · Ethanol production for an E-10 policy (10% ethanol in every gallon of petrol). · Train and upgrade cane cutters to operate machines at a better salary with better working conditions. Cut and load must end! ·Equitable agrarian reform and distributing land for farming and animal husbandry. Put an end to landgrabbing by foreigners and allocation of best arable land to PPP cronies.

· Direct export of rice/ paddy by millers and work with world experts to create new rice products markets for packaged rice, rice cereals, rice cakes, rice noodles, instant rice, rice pasta etc..

These endeavours will create 3,000 new jobs in the rice sector. ·Boost alcohol export of our world class rum to bigger markets. · Produce sugar-cane based bio-chemicals in cosmetics and detergents. · Produce bio-plastics using local resources. . · Outfit all Primary and Secondary schools with fully functional computer laboratories with internet connectivity and train our children so that they can move from being only users of software to developers of software. · Encourage computer assembly plants in Guyana, to create in excess of 2,000 new jobs, and to expand role of information and other technologies for a new economy. · Train new apprentices at Regional Mechanical & Electrical Workshops, including facilities in Amerindian locations, to create hundreds of new jobs in the shortest time. · Work with lending agencies to provide apprentices with seed financing to develop new small business in areas such as auto and heavy duty repairs, welding, bodywork, electrical work, air conditioning, plumbing etc. · Put unemployed poor to work by creating Parks and Landscaping units to collect and re-cycle waste, upkeep existing parks and create new playgrounds for the children in our communities.

Sunday November 30, 2014

· Establish a Fisheries Surveillance and Enforcement Coordination Committee to help the fishermen combat high sea piracy. ·Boost fishmeal production for Livestock Industry, and make, designate and develop new areas for Livestock Development. · Put resources into agricultural tourism / ecotourism around tropical farms. · Partner with off-shore energy prospectors to expedite new oil/gas industry.

These are only a very few specific areas from our Plan that should give our people hope, that Guyana could move away from stagnation.

The AFC Government will review all infrastructural, capital projects to ensure that these employ Guyanese skilled and unskilled labour, and are relevant to Guyana’s needs and stage of development. Moreover, we will keep a tight lid on our national debt which, at some G$380 billion, could become unsustainable, and could eat up monies that should go to the people.

IMMEDIATERELIEF To bring immediate relief to our people and for jobsecurity, the new government will:· Reduce VAT. · Reduce personal income tax for workers earning below $100,000 monthly, and review corporate taxes. · Provide income tax allowance for every child. · Guarantee allowance to an affordable limit for safe delivery of baby other than in a state hospital. · Consider incentives for gold miners to sustain industry and ensure that the 90,000-plus workforce is

Moses Nagamootoo protected. · Reduce toll for Berbice Bridge crossing for minibuses & hire cars to $1,000 per crossing. · Re-professionalise the public service, and end starvation wages by making a 10% increase across the board and make subsequent wage adjustments subject of periodic, collective bargaining, and further increase income tax allowance. · Increase old age pension to a minimum of $15,000 per month.

As regards our governance system, the AFC is committed to post-electoral coalition of the willing, and will work to:· Hold Local Government Elections soonest. · Put on the national agenda comprehensive Constitutional reform to whittle away the tyranny of the Executive. · Establish the Public Procurement Commission, and constitute all other bodies that are mandated by the Constitution.

AFC has a plan and, WE READY! Are you?

Sunday November 30, 2014

SUNDAY SPECIAL JAMAICAN FIRM PARTNERS WITH BK INTERNATIONALON $9.2B WEST DEM. ROAD PROJECT A Jamaican engineering company will be the lead associate in a Joint Partnership Agreement with BK International for the improvement of the West Coast Demerara Road. The project’s cost is $9.2B Surrey Paving and Aggregate (SPA) Ltd. which enjoys a high quality reputation with several Caricom States and with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) was announced as the regional partner with the local firm last Saturday during a press briefing.

Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, told media operatives that the government and CDB on February 25, 2013 signed a Loan Agreement and a Grant Agreement totaling US$34,200,000 and US$200,000 respectively.

The funds from those agreements will go towards the Fourth Road Project – West Coast Demerara Road Improvement, which has an estimated total financing cost of US$46,789,000. The total base cost of this project is estimated at US$36,301,000.

With regard to Road Works, this component of the project was awarded to the joint venture partners for a contract sum of US$44,323,839.87. The duration of the Road Works contract is 36 months starting officially in January 2015.

AG THREAT TO KAIETEUR NEWS…NANDLALL WAS UNCOUTH, OBNOXIOUS AND OFFENSIVE – PPP MP - ”One can only hope that the sentiments expressed in his apology are true but we have to wait, watch and see.”

Even though it seems like the political camaraderie in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration overrides the innate desire to command respect for fellow women, another female government official has commented on the Attorney General’s disregard for women. PPP Member of Parliament, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has noted her dissatisfaction with the comments made by Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, during a recorded conversation with a senior Kaieteur News reporter.

Nandlall was heard saying that there are plans afoot to kill “innocent people” working at Kaieteur News in reaction to the many exposing

Kaieteur News

stories the paper has been carrying.

He was also heard admitting that he used taxpayers’ money for personal reasons. The Attorney General, in the recording referred to a female Kaieteur News reporter as a “lil thing” and advocated that his uncle, Kamal Mangal got an opportunity to “f**k de girl.”

In an invited comment, Dr. Persaud, has made staunch interventions on the decline of public morality in the past.

She said that she found Nandlall’s remarks to be extremely uncouth.

She also sits at the head of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha.

MONDAY EDITION AFC DEMANDS CLARITY ON DEAL…SUN AND SAND INTEREST IS IN GUYANA’S GOLD, NOT HOTEL - OPPOSITION An Indian company’s promised multi-billion-dollar hotel investment, that has so far failed to materialize, has sparked calls by the Opposition for answers regarding the details of the deal.

Members of A Partnership for National Unity told Kaieteur News Sunday that the delay in the construction of the hotel, which was promised about five months ago, is a clear indication that the India-based investors are not serious about that venture.

APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, said that the cost of the Sun and Sand Hotel, US$54M, was only announced to legitimize the cost of the controversial Marriott Hotel, which is being constructed at almost US$60M. From observations, he opined that it is clear “that the true intention of the Indiabased investors is to secure a stronghold in Guyana’s mineral sector.” Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, also

commented on this issue.

“It is clear that based on reports and the lack of information on the project, it has now become imperative that Government provide Guyanese with answers,” he said. “We had a big ceremony in July in which the company promised to invest US$54M for a hotel. We presume that land belonging to the taxpayers was involved. We believe that concessions were granted. Now we are hearing that the project may not be happening.”

AG’S VULGAR COMMENTSABOUT REPORTER…MOST FEMALE GOVT. MPS STILL SILENT ON ISSUE – AFC MP Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Vindhya Persaud are the only female officials of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration to have commented on the remarks Attorney General, Anil Nandlall made about a female reporter attached to Kaieteur News. But there has so far been silence from the likes of Minister of Human Services, Jennifer Webster, Public Service Minister, Jennifer Westford, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, MP, Chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Indra Chanderpaul and MP Gail Teixeira.

The Attorney General, in the recording, referred to a female Kaieteur News reporter as a “lil thing” and advocated that his uncle, Kamal Mangal, get an opportunity to “f**k de girl.”

In a recent interview with Kaieteur News, Alliance For Change (AFC) MP, Cathy Hughes, said that the silence does not surprise her the least bit.

Even though it is evident that a significant percentage of women have taken on a role of commanding respect for themselves and each other,

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop

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President Donald Ramotar and Bhushan Chandna, turning the sod for the construction of the new hotel back in July Hughes said that women in the PPP may not have the privilege to play that role.

According to her, that is the politics of the PPP. She said, “The way they look at it is that it is one of their members and so they don’t think they have any responsibility to be fair and objective…Their theory is that it is permissible because it is one of us.” Recently commenting on the issue as well was AFC General Secretary, David Patterson.

The politician questioned, “Where is (Presidential Advisor) Gail Teixeira now?”

TUESDAY EDITION LIMITED USAIRWAVES FETCH US$34B AND COUNTING - BUT JAGDEO GIVES AWAY GUYANA’S TO FRIENDSAND FAMILY A multi-billion US dollar auction for six blocks of airwaves has attracted huge interest in that North American country. It has also starkly highlighted how Guyana deliberately set about giving away what is one of its most valuable assets. According to the New

Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud

York Times online news, a government auction of airwaves for use in mobile broadband has exceeded expectations, becoming the biggest auction in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) history.

The demand for the electromagnetic spectrum or frequencies as they are known would signal how phone companies expect demand for internet will soar in face of rising popularity of smartphones.

FCC collected bids of more than US$34B as of Friday afternoon for six blocks of airwaves, totaling 65 megahertz of the electromagnetic spectrum.

That total is more than three times the US$10.5B reserve price that the FCC, as the US regulators, put on sale.

SATTAUR DROPS THREATENING LANGUAGE CHARGE AGAINST GLENN LALL …NEW DATE SET FOR TRUMPED UPTAX EVASION CHARGES The charge against Kaieteur News publisher, Glenn Lall, which claimed that

he threatened Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur, was dismissed by Magistrate Alex Moore on Monday.

It was three months after an investigation was launched into the allegations, that Lall was summoned to appear before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

The publisher of the local daily was being accused of using threatening language towards the GRA Head on August 29, last, at Plantation Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

Lall pleaded not guilty to the allegation; Magistrate Moore smiled and remarked, “Fortune smiles upon your favour”. The Magistrate went on to inform Lall through his Attorney, Khemraj Ramjattan, that a legal representative for Sattaur had addressed the court prior to his arrival.

He explained that Sattaur through his attorney, Joy Persaud, had refused to offer any evidence against Lall.

The GRA boss, the Magistrate said, was no (Continued on page 47)

E-Networks, Vishok Persaud

Head of Quark Communications, Brian Yong

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The death of Asif Rahim, a 38-year-old fisherman of Meten-Meer-Zorg, after he was allegedly arrested by uniformed members of the Guyana Police Force on a complaint of ‘abusive language,’ was only the latest in a litany of lamentable crimes committed under the present Minister of Home Affairs. The victim’s relatives claim that policemen attached to the notorious Leonora Police Station savagely stomped, kicked and gunbutted Rahim during his brief detention.

It is public knowledge that the security situation in Guyana has deteriorated drastically since Clement Rohee’s appointment as Minister eight years ago in September 2006.

The situation has gotten worse since Rohee was selected as General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) five years later in August 2013. His assumption of duty as his party’s elections campaign manager ¯ for the expected general and regional elections or local government elections ¯has made matters even worse.

Rohee, when questioned by the media last year about whether he (Rohee) would retain his portfolio as Minister of Home Affairs in addition to that of General Secretary of the PPP, given the heavy demands of the public security sector, responded “that is something that we will obviously have to look at some time down the road.” The entire country is now “down the road” as far as violent crime

Kaieteur News

and police misconduct are concerned. The Minister, clearly, is overwhelmed by the burden.

Evidence of the rot in the security sector has been apparent for years. The Police Force selectively published its partial statistics for the period of 1st January to 31st October 2014 a few days ago. The news was dreadful. The numbers indicated that murders increased by 7 per cent over the same period last year; there were 111 murders from January to October 2013, but these increased to 119 murders for the same period in 2014.

Armed robberies increased by 8 per cent in 2014 over the corresponding period in 2013.

The statistics indicated an increase of 13 per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms by the perpetrators. There were 113 road fatalities at the end of October 2014 in comparison to 85 fatalities for the same period in 2013 ¯ a 33 per cent increase.

The news is all bad. But it gets worse when it is realized that the behaviour of some lawenforcement officers is worse than that of the criminals!

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA), at one time, was receiving about 364 complaints every year or, on average, one complaint a day, against members of the Police Force. The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigates allegations

of misconduct against members of the Force.

Several policemen have had to be charged for criminal behaviour before the civil courts.

Others have faced moderate, internal disciplinary sanctions as a result of misdemeanours reported to the PCA and OPR. Complaints of offences range from attempting to pervert the course of justice; illegal possession of arms and ammunition; inflicting grievous bodily harm; larceny; murder; rape and trafficking in persons.

Other complaints against the Police, made particularly to the PCA, have been about policemen acting in a manner likely to bring discredit to a member of the Force; corrupt transactions; illegal searches; lack of civility to a member of the public; neglect of duty; unlawful arrest; use of unnecessary force and, most gravely, unlawful killings.

Rohee must be made to understand that, as the longest serving minister in the PPP cabinet, he is subject to the doctrine of ministerial responsibility. This holds that, at a personal level, each minister will accept responsibility for the performance of his or her ministry. Each minister, therefore, “has an obligation to the National Assembly, if not to the entire nation, to account, and to be held accountable, for the actions and behaviour of his or her ministry. If a minister, or a department within a ministry, performs in a manner so egregiously incompetent or corrupt that the

Sunday November 30, 2014

Administration is likely to be brought into ridicule or contempt, he should accept responsibility for such performance and resign.”

The doctrine of ministerial responsibility, therefore, requires the minister to resign if his conduct undermines public confidence in his ability to hold high office with dignity and integrity. “To hang on to office is a sign not of gallantry but merely of obstinacy at best, or unproven guilt at worst.”

The Police Force, for which Rohee has ministerial responsibility, is facing serious challenges. It needs to suppress crime within its ranks. The problem is that Police misconduct is dragging public security and human safety down at the same time. Public confidence in the Police is evaporating. Some sections of the Force have come to be seen as accessories to crime rather than protectors of the citizens’ rights.

Rohee seems to have elevated his Party’s elections campaign above everyday human safety concerns. It is no surprise, therefore, that there has been an alarming deterioration in police morale and behaviour and an escalation in the rate of violent crime.

Rohee, if he cannot do two jobs – public security and political campaigning – should do one, preferably the latter. If he cannot function competently as Minister of Home Affairs he should go.

Sunday November 30, 2014

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Sunday November 30, 2014

Addressing deviant behaviour in schools requires collaborative effort - Chief Education Officer

By Sharmain Grainger A need for social workers exists within the public education system to help alleviate some of the existing problems. This assertion was made on Friday by Chief Education Officer (CEO), Mr Olato Sam, during an interview with this publication.

He disclosed that while there are some social workers within the education system, there are not sufficient amounts to be dispatched to all schools across the country.

“We have advertised, but we are not getting the human resources to fill even the vacant positions that we currently have,” said Sam of the paucity of Social Workers – a class of professionals who graduate by the scores each year from the University of Guyana.

However, Sam intimated that based on information coming from the Ministry of Education’s Human Resource Manager, at the commencement of the next school term there should be

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam an increase of Social Workers in the system.

The absence of Social Workers in the school system has been listed, in some factions, as a major shortcoming when the issue of violence in schools is considered. There are some who are of the firm belief that these professionals could in fact help to appease such situations simply by their presence in schools.

According to Sam, while the Ministry has been putting certain measures in place, there are some prevailing patterns that suggest that the violence that might be appearing in our schools cannot be addressed by the schools alone.

“We are by no means singularly able to fully address these,” said Sam, as he pointed out that “this has to really envelop a very

comprehensive multi-sectoral approach to getting it right.”

“I can’t say today that we have devised that plan of action yet, but I think there is certainly a need for it. It is not the first time that it would have been placed on the table, we have discussed this before, but I think specific actions now have to be taken in making that a reality.” said the CEO as he spoke of the need for related agencies to come together and begin to find solutions to some of the problems that manifest in the school system.

“If we really want to tackle the issue of violence in our schools we have to look at a more broad-based approach.”

He made reference to the fact that some of the root causes of deviant behaviour in the society have strong linkages to some of the realities that have direct bearing on the broader social dynamics in the local society.

As such he is convinced that

these “certainly require initiatives that look at the perpetration of violence in general in our country, and what we are going to do to stem that.”

Although there are some arguments that the violent behaviour portrayed by children in the school is learnt at home and should be addressed at that level first, Sam contended that “there is no one component, because the failings of the homes should be compensated for in the community, in the schools, other social agencies or community development groups, or non-governmental organisations, or wherever else. That is why we cannot, in my opinion, put our finger on one component of this broader social issue and say this is where we tackle it effectively”.

He therefore amplified the need for attention to be given to “each dimension of this bigger problem.”

Nevertheless, he conceded that there is a serious role for the Education Ministry to play in order to ensure that the schools are safe and productive environments. This, he said, is to ensure that when

teachers and students are involved in the educational process they are not distracted by deviant behaviour.

According to Sam, while there is recognition that there is an undeniable need for professionals the likes of Social Workers to help the process along, the Ministry is however keener on ensuring that there is quality and not merely quantity.

“Our aim is not to just increase the numbers (social workers) but the quality of work that they are able to do, so I think it is a bit misplaced for us to put the whole issue of deviant behaviour in the education system on the absence of social workers in the schools,” asserted Sam. He pointed out that the Ministry has gone the extra mile to even partner with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to ensure that these professionals are offered specialised training at the highest levels. The result of this collaboration was the training of Guidance and Counselling Officer and Social Workers, amounting to just over one dozen, at the Lesley University in the United States. These professionals earlier this year graduated having completed a Master of Arts programme.

Sunday November 30, 2014

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‘Save vulnerable wild animals this Christmas’- Conservationist pleads

By Zena Henry Wild meat in Guyana is arguably for some, a perennial delicacy, and the demand for forest-based animals that provide it, is steadily increasing. In fact, several small shops and hunting groups continue to surface to meet rising demands. This however, is increasing the vulnerability of the animals and with the upcoming Christmas season, the demand for wild/bush meat is expected to rise further. This, conservationists say, is adding to the difficulty that is experienced in protecting the nation’s wildlife resources.

Conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martins explained to this publication that the ‘bushmeat’ trade is threatening the survival of several species in Guyana, including white-lip peccaries and tapirs.

She said that strategies such as the National Wildlife Regulations enable programmes to address these and other relevant wildlife issues, and in some protected areas such as the Iwokrama Reserve and the Shell Beach Protected Area, ongoing antipoaching checks have already yielded results.

Such strategies, ArjoonMartins pointed out, will be complemented by a national education and awareness effort focused on forestry and mining concessionaires, hunters and consumers.

Arjoon-Martins had told this newspaper last week that stakeholders in the wildlife protection arena are increasing public awareness programmes to highlight the existence of the Wildlife Management and Conservation regulations that environmental advocates are working on to address the issues facing the protection of the country’s wildlife.

One mechanism, she had noted, is ensuring public awareness, since several wild animals that are given ‘protected’ status are still very much at risk in their habitats.

It was asserted that many

The Tapir (left) and White-lipped Peccary are said to be popular pepperpot meats of those who operate or conduct business in the interior can be very significant in the protection of wildlife. Arjoon-Martins said that “forestry and mining concessionaires can play a major role by discontinuing their consumption of species that are threatened, such as tapir and white-lip peccaries, by placement of no-hunting signs in their concessions, and by restricting access to their roadways.”

The tapir is a large herbivorous mammal, with a similar shape to a pig, and is one of the country’s most consumed wild meats; most preferred by locals, especially in the preparation of the indigenous pepperpot dish. The white-lipped peccary is a hog-like animal indigenous to Central and South America and is also hunted for consumption.

Arjoon-Martins mentioned however that it is becoming most apparent that consumption of these animals by the public has increased due to “the growing numbers of shops that sell wild meat as well as the number of restaurants that specialize in it.” The wildlife advocate believes that awareness and education campaigns

will seek to bring about change by educating the consumers on vulnerable species that should not be consumed, and that one of the most threatened species is the tapir, Arjoon-Martins reiterated.

“Tapirs are a forestdependent species that are very vulnerable to damages done to their habitat by the extractive industries which open roads to enable access to such resources. As tapirs love to feed on the young congo pump which quickly proliferates such areas which are cleared, this makes them easy prey.”

Additionally, as one of their vocalizations is a whistle, they are easily entrapped by hunters who imitate same to attract them, Arjoon-Martins explained.

She said what is most challenging to the tapirs’ survival is the fact that they are more ecologically prone to be impacted by hunting due to their long gestation period (13 months) and generational

time. “As their reproduction rate is very slow, their populations are under greatest threat by sustained hunting, making recovery of their populations extremely challenging.”

Arjoon-Martins in an earlier report on the protection of wild animals had noted that the demand for local bushmeat will influence hunting activities, but requested that hunters ensure that demand does not conflict with the established closed seasons when hunting is not permitted.

She had stated that, from time to time, conflicts between humans and wildlife arise and such scenarios should be shared with the EPA whenever possible, so that a solution could be found that may not necessarily require the killing of wildlife deemed to be causing irritation.

“Help to educate others about Guyana’s wildlife and emphasize the importance of protecting and conserving them for future generations,”

is a theme driven by the wildlife advocates. They say some of the country’s protected animals include the Giant Armadillo, Puma, Giant River Otter, Red Siskin,Arapaima and the Leatherback Turtle.

Arjoon-Martins had pointed out too that Guyana’s healthy wildlife population is a major tourist attraction that has seen many visitors returning from the Iwokrama

Reserve to boast of seeing a jaguar, the country’s national animal, and which is also one on the country’s protected species list.

It was mentioned that the relative inaccessibility to the natural wildlife habitat offered much protection in the past which allowed thriving wildlife populations, “…however, this is slowly changing as Guyana pursues its economic development with the mining and forestry sectors, both of which require access to natural resources,” she stated.

It was opined that the construction of access roads has enabled the easy movement of hunters – some of whom operate full-time in the provision of fresh meat.

Arjoon-Martins believes that the growth of the wild meat market has caused grave concerns in relation to the preservation of the country’s wildlife.

She urged that for Christmas and beyond, wild meat lovers consider the harm being posed to endangered and protected animals.

“Guyanese do your part this Christmas and beyond.

Please use beef for your pepperpot and help us to keep our tapir populations healthy!” Arjoon-Martins pleaded.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

The Commonwealth’s battle for relevance From page 22 other countries on the running of their internal affairs.

Therefore, if Britain is allowed to control all the top positions in the Commonwealth – on top of recently just beating a Nigerian to the post of deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in a tightly fought election that

unprecedentedly went into the fourth round - the organisation will lose what remains of its attractions to its African, Caribbean, Asian and Pacific members.

The Caribbean also once had its time in the top job when Sir Shridath Ramphal from Guyana was secretarygeneral. And Africa has had its turn too with Chief Emeka Anyaoku. Ditto, the Pacific.

And at present Asia occupies the post with Sharma from India. Where then should the next Commonwealth secretarygeneral come from in Malta?

There, again, seems to be an interest in Africa, with a candidate, Ms Masire from the southern African country of Botswana likely to be put forward. I am reliably told that Masire, daughter of a former Botswana president, and who once served at Marlborough House as deputy secretarygeneral, has already been endorsed by member-states from the SADC countries.

Whether she will get the nod from the rest of the continent is another matter entirely. Her

father, it must be said, is a wellrespected former African head of state.

However, there is also interest from the Caribbean.

And several countries from the region are jostling to put forward their candidates for the job. The countries that are interested are Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica.

Antigua has nominated Sir Ronald Sanders, their former high commissioner to the UK, Trinidad has put forward a former academic Dr Bhoe Tewarie, and Dominica has nominated Baroness Scotland. Of these three, Sanders is the most widely

known within the Commonwealth and internationally. He is the candidate that, if put forward as a consensus candidate by the Caribbean, has the best chance of getting the support of Africa to add to its own 14 votes, assuming the Africa and the Caribbean votes remain solid and not divided

by Britain.

However, the problem with the Caribbean is that they are still squabbling among themselves over who to have as their consensus candidate.

Sanders is said already to have the backing of his home country of Antigua and Barbuda and six others. But it

is still not clear if the two other contestants will step down for him. It surely must be him.

Tewarie of Trinidad, it is understood, has no foreign affairs experience and is not as well known in Commonwealth circles as Sanders who has some progressive views on how to move the organisation forward, which might just be what it now needs to get its sparkle back and be more relevant in today’s world.

As for Baroness Scotland, she should be dropped and kept out of the race entirely because it is not even clear how someone who sits in the British parliament, has served all her life in Britain (she was a former British attorneygeneral) – she left Dominica since she was two years old – could now come all the way from Westminster to fly the Dominican or Caribbean flag.

Or is it that the UK is truly behind her candidature, using a trick to have a Briton as secretary-general by default?

It is an interesting campaign going on there.

A decision must be taken quickly because time is not on the side of the Caribbean. If the Caribbean doesn’t decide on time and Africa should decide to unite behind Masire and put her forward as the Africa candidate, this might put the Caribbean c h a n c e s i n j e o p a r d y. I t might even brighten Britain’s chances. Who knows?

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 41

Visiting the Emergency Room to see your sick relative (The perspective of Dr Zulfikar Bux, Head of GPHC’s A&E; Asst. Prof. of Emergency Medicine) It’s never good news to hear that a relative or a friend is a patient of the emergency room. A visit to the emergency room usually means that the patient’s condition is grave enough to warrant tension and anxiety amongst friends and relatives.

This triggers the phenomena of everyone wanting to see the patient to ease their anxiety and can cause an influx of friends and relatives to the emergency room (ER).

The will to see a sick relative and to know of their condition is strong but is also a normal human reaction during such stressful times.

This usually puts relatives into a collision path with emergency room staff whose first instinct is to protect the interest of all the patients.

On a ward patients are generally more stable, have known conditions and have better access to privacy. In the emergency room there are unstable patients with undifferentiated medical conditions and less access to privacy. There can never be scheduled patient visiting

Dr. Zulfikar Bux times here; neither can patient visit times be prolonged. As much as we wish to ensure everyone is fully happy, it is not a reality given the nature of our patients and how they present. We always have to be prepared for the constant incoming patient with an unknown condition. Time is always against the staff in an ER. There are never moments where we can down tools because there is nothing to do. As much as time for patient care is never enough, it is important to ensure that relatives and friends of patients have some of our time too.

The reality is that we

It’s never good news to hear that a relative or a friend is a patient of the emergency room cannot speak to every relative nor can we allow everyone to see a patient in the emergency room. The ER Physician is expected to inform the closest relatives of the patient’s condition and facilitate a short visit to the patient.

The time spent with relatives varies according to the patient’s situation but should not hamper patient

JUSTICE LONG...

From page 34 industries that profited from the Holocaust. The southern Moravian church has issued apologies for their role in slavery in the US. The Catholic Church has apologised for wrongs perpetrated during the Inquisition, and the British government was forced to pay restitution to over five thousand Kenyan survivors of the 1953 Mau Mau massacre.

There is jarring evidence that Barclays Bank, Lloyd's Bank, and the Royal Bank of Scotland, among other banking institutions reaped handsomely from slavery. There is also documentation of the staggering profits made by slave traders.

According to Beckles, "slave trading was big business; it utilised advanced management, complex financial arrangements and state of the art investment instruments...it was not a poor man's business. The trade called for an enormous sense of global enterprise and considerable entrepreneurial confidence."

Even more startlingly and brutally ironic was the compensation commission established after emancipation that determined actuarial calculations on West Indian 'slave values.' Notably, 45,000 individual claims were settled.

Beckles writes, "Slave owners, then, won three decisive battles in securing reparations for their property rights in enslaved Africans. First they received cash values to refinance their business; second, they were able to make new investments, mostly in British stocks; and third, they succeeded in holding on to their West Indian enterprises..."

Undoubtedly, the road toward reparation is complex and potentially tortuous. Beckles chronicles the political intrigue and conspiracy by the US and European powers to remove Haitian president Bertrand Aristide from office after he demanded some twenty-one billion dollars in restitution from France - the equivalent of 90 million gold francs that Haiti was forced to pay in claims over property lost during the Haitian Revolution, in exchange for diplomatic recognition. It was a financial blow that crippled the former colony centuries later. Indeed, a telling lesson.

Despite Britain's refusal to offer an official apology for slavery and a Balkanised response in the Caribbean to the reparation issue, there is a palpable momentum to revisit slavery at a political and legal level. On the heels of the historic UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and

Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001, several commissions have been established.

Notably, Beckles emphasises that seeking redress should never be confrontational but rather a means to engender a sense of fairness and reconciliation. He seals this argument early in his treatise. "Reconciliation," he says, “must be the dominant ideology of the twenty-first century, and the sooner societies act, the greater will be the benefits. The reparation discourse seeks to foster and facilitate this process."

F e e d b a c k : Twitter@glenvilleashby or e m a i l : glenvilleashby@gmail.com Britain's Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and National Genocide by Hilary McD. Beckles Publisher: University of the West Indies Press 2013 ISBN: 978-976-640-2686 Available: UWI Press, amazon.com Ratings: Essential

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

care. This balance can never be perfect and the ER physician should always err on the side of patient care whenever in doubt.

Multiple patients are being taken care of in the same space of time in an ER and it’s important that every

patient have similar access to care and privacy. Once the ER physician feels that this is adhered to, then he/she should allow time for relatives of the patient.

Time spent with relatives of patients is time lost away from direct patient care.

Patients and their relatives will always need our attention.

An ER Physician should always prioritize his/her time to ensure patient care is not compromised, but should also find a moment to appease the anxious awaiting relative.

Page 42

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

COS urges new soldiers to embrace discipline Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, on Wednesday, congratulated the latest cohort of 256 new soldiers, and urged them to embrace

discipline.

“Discipline, particularly your self-discipline, is critical to your development and progress as a soldier in the Guyana Defence Force. You

have just completed training, which is designed to transform you from being civilians into soldiers. During this training you learnt new ways of thinking and

behaving.

You have demonstrated, through your collective behaviour and coordination on this parade, that you have inculcated a large measure of discipline.

This must continue. You have to work at maintaining a disciplined approach each day, as you serve in the GDF,” he said. He was, at the time, delivering the feature address at the “Passing Out” parade for the new soldiers.

Explaining that in 2015, the GDF’s focus will be on operational readiness, Brigadier Phillips, entreated the soldiers to be ready to serve the GDF and Guyana.

“The GDF serves Guyana!

The GDF defends the Constitution of Guyana and protects Guyana’s national interests. You will undergo further training at your Units, which will broaden your understanding of the GDF and prepare you for the tasks required,” he said.

The Chief of Staff (COS) challenged the soldiers to understand their rights and duties under military law and refrain from engaging in any form of criminal behaviour.

Additionally, he encouraged them to pursue continuing education and, at all times, make use of opportunities for

Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips (left) presents the Best Graduating Student trophy to Private Noel De Jonge.

learning.

“Learn, practice and uphold the values and standards of the GDF. This training has transformed you.

Today, you must begin this new path by taking responsibility for your actions,” the COS stated.

Private Noel De Jonge was adjudged the Best Graduating Student while

Private Shawn Williams earned the Best Fitness award. Privates, Randolph Doobay, Jay James, and Randy Deputron were awarded Best [at] Drill, Best Shot, and Best Military Knowledge respectively.

This second cohort of new soldiers brings the total of new enlistments to the Force for 2014, to 529.

A primal, only-in-Guyana Creek...

From page 38 that we were nearing our destination. After about four hours paddling my shoulders didn't hurt as I had imagined, and I wasn't tired. Mind was decisively conquering body.

It got cooler, and there was a stillness in the atmosphere that I'd never experienced before. Everything began taking on a kind of surreal overtone.

And even now I recall it as a disturbingly beautiful and timeless interlude. An only-inGuyana moment.

It was about five 'o' clock when Lew signaled me to pull into a tiny waterway diverging from the main one. The first thing we did was to unpack our stuff in a small clearing about 50 yards from the creek. Then we quickly cleared about 20 square feet of jungle brush and set up a makeshift camp with a frame made of mahoe, (a straight, slender tree) and troolie trunks and branches.

We chopped up some firewood and in another small clearing made a fire that would warm us, cook our food and keep the snakes and 'tigers' away. Then we ate some cassava bread and fried fish that Lew's wife, Dorothy, had prepared us. We washed it down with creek water, and relaxed for a few minutes as the fire flared outside and we sporadically slapped mosquitos off our faces and arms.

Just as it was becoming

dusk, we went out and set the seine. Then we set the spring hooks. With me again steering the corial, Lew would grasp a sapling at the water's edge, bend it and attach the tiny device with a baited hook in such a way that it remained flexed while anchored to some foundation below. I didn't pay much attention to this process, but I knew that a successful culmination would be the bite of a fish triggering the mechanism, releasing the sapling with the hook, and suspending the fish about two feet above the surface of the creek. After baiting we returned to camp, but not before Lew had hooked and dispatched two houri, each with an expert head chop.

In less than five minutes they were stewing in cassareep broth seasoned with salt and pepper only, and about fifteen minutes later I was soaking my cassava bread and devouring the freshest, tastiest fish dish I'd had in a very long time. After we were finished eating, I added a couple of chunks of wood to the dwindling fire.

The flames leaped up. And the stories began.

Lew was a great raconteur, his specialty being supernatural tales, and he was good at it. He started with 'Turn Tiger' and had my brain spinning with his recollection of seeing a man transformed into a jaguar after climbing up into the

rafters of a benab in a state of semi-intoxication.

He told of an entire Amerindian family that shapeshifted in similar fashion and covered on foot a distance of about 50 miles (of bush trail) in a few hours, outpacing a jeep that was proceeding along a parallel path to the same destination.

A third story dealt with him getting lashed unconscious with a piece of wood by an unseen entity while paddling on the river, and finding himself wedged among some wild mango roots when he came to himself the next day. The fourth was a disquieting recollection of being separated from a base camp in the jungle, and miraculously rescuing himself through a bit of supernatural ingenuity which he refused to share with me.

I hadn't much to share with him; in fact I don't remember if I said anything, so enthralled was I by his gripping, and admittedly at times, quite incredible yarns. It was a good thing that I had some salt to swallow them with. Meanwhile the night grew older, the fire crackled and sputtered, and the nocturnal creatures kept their distance. Outside in the creek the fish were beginning to bite and, as we were to find out later, they were not the only dwellers of the Hanaida that were hungry for food that night.

(To be continued next week)

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 43

Dengue fever - a debilitating and distressing experience (From the desk of the Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman) Dengue fever is a debilitating mosquitotransmitted virus. There are four different types of Dengue viruses found worldwide and over 50-100 million cases of dengue fever are found throughout the world yearly. Over 2.5 billion persons are at risk and over 40 per cent of the world’s population is at risk for dengue fever.

Dengue fever is found in more than 100 countries worldwide. This highlights the huge public health problem this disease poses.

The Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmits this disease throughout Guyana and therefore dengue can present mostly on the coast of Guyana, as the mosquito is abundant in these areas.

A female mosquito that is infected with the disease can bite an individual and transmit the disease to that person.

It takes between four to 10 days before symptoms appear and a person generally becomes ill during this period.

This disease presents as a flu-like illness and its symptoms are fever, headache (pain behind the eyes are reminiscent of this disease), joint pains, vomiting and nausea.

Dengue fever can easily be mistaken for other viral illnesses and a test should be

Schematic depiction of the symptoms of dengue fever done to confirm a diagnosis.

This is generally done by using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or an Elisa test, which is done by the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) of the Ministry of Health.

If there is a positive RDT test, it is advisable to get a confirmatory Elisa test done by the NPHRL. Of course, he only way to prevent dengue fever is to ensure that you are not bitten by an infected mosquito.

Some measures which could be implemented to ensure you are not bitten are to practice good vector control.

Ensure that breeding sites do not exist in your immediate surroundings (empty or cover tyres and

containers that catch and collect rain water in your yard), cover and clean all water tanks, prevent mosquitoes from entering your home by putting mesh on windows and doors, wearing long sleeved lightcoloured clothing, organize clean up campaigns in your villages and communities to ensure sustained vector control practices and disposal of solid waste.

There is no specific treatment for dengue fever as

all treatment is focused on easing of symptoms and the adequate hydration of the patient.

It is advisable to use no aspirin as this could worsen the bleeding. There is no vaccine available or manufactured to prevent dengue fever. When a patient has contracted all four types/ serotypes of dengue fever he/she will be at increased risk of developing severe dengue fever.

When someone has severe dengue fever this is a life-threatening condition which can potentially be fatal if symptoms are not managed adequately.

Someone with severe dengue fever will exhibit symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, sudden drop in temperature, continuous vomiting and in some cases blood in vomit, restlessness, bleeding gums, rapid breathing and fatigue.

Dengue fever can be quite a distressing disease to get and many patients complain of feeling very bad and extremely uncomfortable.

These symptoms/feelings last between two to seven days and then completely disappear after the disease has taken its course.

This is a preventable and avoidable disease which

Dr. Reyaud Rahman should be taken seriously based on its rapid spread worldwide.

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Sunday November 30, 2014

Energy Week deemed a success

In wrapping up their activities for CARICOM Energy Week 2014 (CEW 2014), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) declared that the event was a success in keeping with the main thrust - to build awareness among various segments of the society across the Community about critical energy issues with a key focus on sustainable energy development at the national level.

Under the theme “Achieving Climate, Environmental and Economic Resilience through Sustainable Energy” the

agency kick-started its energy week activities locally with an in-house quiz two Fridays ago at the Cara Lodge. Two presentations were delivered to staff members titled ‘Sustainable Energy’ and ‘Energy Conservation and Efficiency Tips’, followed by the viewing of a Documentary on Sustainable Energy.

Things got really exciting during the quiz segment as employees vied for one of the coveted prizes by answering questions which were based on the presentations made and the content of the Documentary. In the end, the

Accounts Division was the overall winner carting off five of the ten prizes that were up for grabs.

The aim of the activity was mainly to involve employees in the Energy Week celebrations as well as disseminate energy-related information. The in-house quiz paved the way for a school presentation on Monday November 17, 2014.

Held in Bartica Region 7, the fourth and fifth formers of ‘Three Mile Secondary School’ were the recipients of the presentation.

Delivered in the form of viewing a ten-minute

documentary followed by a power point on Sustainable Energy Initiatives, students were engaged in discussions on energy and energy-related issues, while being encouraged to practice energy efficiency and conservation. Key definitions were highlighted for example ‘Sustainable Energy’, ‘Energy Conservation’ and ‘Energy Efficiency’, among others.

After the delivery of the presentation, students were encouraged to answer questions and tokens (CFLS and T-Shirts) were distributed to those who answered

correctly.

School presentations are an ongoing component of GEA’s strategic plan and are aimed at providing students with a practical understanding of energy and energy-related issues, encourage interest, and behavioural changes, in relation to energy efficiency and conservation.

On the heels of the proceedings, the Burrowes School of Art came alive with much excitement on Tuesday November 18th, 2014, as fiftysix (56) Primary School students of grades 4-6 expressed their energy during the Poster Board activity.

Aptly titled ‘Express your Energy’, this activity had in attendance students between the ages of nine to eleven (911) whose enthusiasm could not be contained.

Representing St. Margaret’s Primary, Marian Academy, St. Angela’s Primary and Winfer Gardens, the students were encouraged to convey their interpretation of energy efficiency and sustainability through artwork and pictorial illustrations.

Ardently encouraged by their fellow team members, students expressed their interpretation of ‘The Power of Sustainable Energy’, ‘Think Act Save’, ‘Protect the Environment’ and ‘How to be an Energy Champion’.

The activity was noncompetitive, therefore, students were not judged or ranked based on their illustrations. Rather, each school was awarded a ‘Certificate of Participation’, while each student (and teacher) was awarded a token of appreciation as an honorary ‘Energy Champion’.

The posters created

during the activity will be displayed at the National Energy Forum at a date soon to be announced owing to the fact that it was postponed due to inclement weather.

Held on Thursday November 20th, in the Essequibo Room of the Cara Lodge, a seminar titled ‘Taking Account of Energy Efficiency in Procurement’ was the next activity. The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Mahender Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of the GEA. The objective of the seminar was to stimulate dialogue, discuss and bring awareness to benefits of Energy Efficient Procurement and what it entails, while highlighting the Procurement Policy statement which states that ‘All public procurement of electrical appliances shall include, as part of the decision-making process, an evaluation of the annual operating energy costs of the various electrical appliances’.

Though specifically targeting Government Ministries and Agencies the seminar was also open to the private sector.

Present at the Seminar were representatives from the following Ministries: Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport, Human Services, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Amerindian Affairs and Home Affairs. Other participants included the Guyana Police Force, Bank of Guyana, Cyril Potter College of Education, Guyana Revenue Authority and GuySuCo among others.

The Agency also launched an Essay and Art competition during Energy Week. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of both activities will be announced in January 2015, and awarded their prizes.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 45

Exercise may prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy Moderate exercise is encouraged during pregnancy for plenty of reasons, but it may also help women avoid gaining too much weight, say UK researchers.

They reviewed studies since the 1990s looking at whether exercise alone helps prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy, and found that it does, or helps with weight loss after delivery, and found that it doesn’t.

They also found a total of only five solid studies on those questions.

“There isn’t enough research being conducted regarding the effects of exercise on gestational

weight gain or postpartum weight loss,” said Dr. Kirsty Elliot-Sale of the Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Group at Nottingham Trent University, who led the review.

“Of those few good - as defined by appropriate research design - studies, exercise seems to be an effective tool during pregnancy to limit excessive gestational weight gain but so far exercise (walking) has not been shown to be effective for postpartum weight loss,” Elliot-Sale told Reuters Health by email.

The U.S. Institute of Medicine advises women

who are normal weight before they get pregnant to gain 25 to 35 pounds during their pregnancy. Women who are overweight should gain from 15 to 25 pounds, and obese women should gain from 11 to 20 pounds, according to IOM guidelines.

Elliot-Sale said that weight gain exceeding the appropriate amount has implications for both mothers and infants. It also contributes to postpartum weight retention and ultimately, if unchecked, a higher risk of obesity.

Elliot-Sale added that it’s an area of research that urgently needs to be discussed and addressed.

Air dryers may spread more hand germs What’s better for limiting the spread of bacteria in washrooms: paper towels, or air dryers?

New research funded by a trade organization of paper towel manufacturers suggests that towels spread less bacteria. Previous studies have shown mixed results, some finding air dryers spread more bacteria and others showing they’re as safe as towels. A review of past studies published in 2012 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggested that in healthcare settings, at least, “paper towels should be recommended.”

In the new study, jet air dryers spread 27 times the microbes as paper towels, and four times more microbes than warm-air machines, researchers said in a presentation last week in France at a meeting of the European Tissue Symposium, which sponsored the work.

Lead author Mark Wilcox and his colleagues had volunteers dip gloved hands into yogurt containing lactobacilli, a type of “friendly” bacteria. Then, the volunteers dried their hands using jet air dryers, warm air dryers, and paper towels.

The test was repeated 60 times over six weeks for 20 collections of each method.

From one meter away, the average airborne bacterial counts, measured in socalled colony-forming units, were 89.5 when the gloved hands were dried with jet air dryers, 18.7 using warm air dryers, and 2.2 from paper towels.

To assess the potential spread of bacteria visually, individuals dipped their

“Women should be supported and guided during this potentially overwhelming time and losing pregnancyrelated weight should be made easier and not overtake this special time,” she said.

Elliot-Sale and colleagues reviewed the results of three research studies that compared exercise programs to regular care, or to other types of interventions during pregnancy, and two studies done during the year following pregnancy.

The researchers found that, on average, women who exercised during their pregnancies gained about five pounds less than their counterparts who didn’t exercise.

There were no differences in weight loss after pregnancy between women who exercised and those who didn’t, according to the results in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Elliot-Sale said she still believes that exercise is the answer, which is why she’s now conducting studies on weight loss after pregnancy.

“Obviously, physical activity should be paired with good nutritional practices; however women should be cautioned not to overly restrict dietary energy intake whilst breastfeeding,” ElliotSale said.

“I love it and my niche happens to be women and heart disease and trying to get

the OB/GYNs to take more of an active role in managing women’s comprehensive health,” said Dr. Mary Rosser.

“I think the more we see in the literature studies like this, the more awareness it raises, not only on the patients’ part, but I’m talking about the providers’ part as well,” said Rosser, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York.

Rosser, who was not involved in the review, said the fact that only five studies were available highlights the need for more research.

“I think that that’s just more evidence that we need more randomized control trials to look at this issue, and it just increases our awareness,” she said. Rosser said that excessive weight gain during pregnancy and weight retention between pregnancies is becoming more common. She added that doctors are seeing more women who are overweight before ever getting pregnant.

Excessive weight gain could increase the risk of more complicated pregnancies, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, she noted.

Two drugs found effective in treating excess potassium

gloved hands in black paint and wore white disposable suits backwards with the hoods covering their faces.

When they dried their hands, there were 230 visible spots from the jet air driers and 130 from the warm air dryers. None were found on people who used paper towels.

Wilcox, who is a consultant/head of microbiology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals in the UK, pointed out in email to Reuters Health that drying hands thoroughly is an important way to avoid spreading bacteria to other people or surfaces.

“I had made the disconcerting observation that when using some jet air driers I could feel droplets hitting my face,” said Wilcox of his interest in doing the study. “For an infection control doctor, a key principle is to reduce the risk of spread of microbes.”

He and his coauthors say that more research is needed before anyone can assume the air dryers spread more germs

than towels.

In email to Reuters Health, William Gagnon, vice president of marketing for Excel Dryer, Inc. in East L o n g m e a d o w , Massachusetts, pointed to studies that showed no difference in bacteria with the different drying methods and others that showed microbes on unused, recycled paper towels.

Benjamin Tanner, a microbiologist who is president and CEO of Antimicrobial Test Laboratories in Round Rock, Texas, criticized the new study for using gloved hands (which he said is unrealistic), paint spots and a high number of bacteria - and for failing to show any real health risk.

“A well done study would have measured levels of disease-causing organisms on the hands (which may have been done), then measured the number of those bacteria that are blown off as a result of drying,” said Tanner in an email to Reuters Health.

Two experimental drugs can reduce dangerously high potassium levels in the blood, a problem that can plague people with diabetes and kidney disease and lead to a fatal heart rhythm, researchers say. The findings are from two separate studies financed by the manufacturers and released Friday by the New England Journal of Medicine. The oral drugs are sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (also known as ZS-9 and being developed by ZS Pharma) and patriomer (developed by Relypsa).

Both drugs treat high potassium by binding to it as they travel through the gut.

If the drugs are approved — and longer-term tests are needed before that happens — they could change the way doctors treat kidney disease and heart failure.

That’s because a high potassium level in the blood, or hyperkalemia, is a potentially deadly side effect of a specific class of drugs used for kidney and heart problems, called RAAS inhibitors. “Doctors are paranoid about hyperkalemic death when they use these kidney- and heart- protective drugs. So they won’t use

them, or they use them in much lower doses than they should,” said Dr. Matthew Weir of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief author of the patiromer study. The two new drugs should alleviate some of that concern, Weir told Reuters Health in a telephone interview. Dr. David Packham of the University of Melbourne, chief author of the ZS-9 study, foresees a significant benefit for the drug he tested. “Because the effect can be maintained, in this case for 14 days, it has the potential for being an enabling therapy that enables you to keep patients on treatments that benefit them that often have to be reduced in dose because of hyperkalemia,” he said by phone. “What this does is reliably and very rapidly within 48 hours - dramatically reduce potassium levels,” said Packham. “You could see where the patients who were (taken off ZS-9) went back up to their previous potassium levels over the 14-day period, whereas the levels were maintained in the patients who were kept on ZS-9. And when they were taken off, the levels went back up again. It was

very, very clear.” “The drug was equally effective across various subgroups, including patients with a combination of heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes,” the researchers concluded. “I think it will become the standard for treatment for acute hyperkalemia,” Packham said. Weir expressed a similar sentiment for patiromer.That test, involving patients with high potassium levels who were getting RAAS inhibitors for their long-term kidney disease, “is quite a definitive study,” he said. “It’s a study done exclusively in people with chronic kidney disease receiving the lone therapy we know of that slows the progression of kidney disease.” After four weeks of patiromer therapy, potassium levels had fallen into the normal range for 76 percent of the patients.

Among 52 volunteers who were then taken off the drug and given a placebo instead, potassium returned to unacceptably high levels in 60 percent. Yet among the 55 patients who were kept on the drug, only 15 percent redeveloped hyperkalemia at the eight-week mark.

Page 46

Kaieteur News

Jolie says she likes directing - but is not through acting Angelina Jolie says she prefers working behind the camera instead of in front of it, but on Tuesday at the London premiere of her searing prisoner-of-war drama “Unbroken,” she added that she is not giving up acting entirely.

“It’s not a big dramatic decision, I will do a few less but I much prefer being behind the camera,” Jolie told Reuters when asked on the red carpet if she was giving up acting in films.

“So it’ll be a natural transition, I hope. I hope I am a good enough director to be able to make the transition.”

Based on a best-selling book by Laura Hillenbrand, the film directed by Jolie tells how Louis Zamperini, an Olympic sprinter played by Jack O’Connell, spent 47 days on a life raft after his plane crashed into the Pacific, and was then held for two years by the Japanese.

It contains scenes in which Zamperini is

Angelina Jolie repeatedly beaten by a seemingly psychotic Japanese prison guard played by the pop singer and songwriter Miyavi and is already the subject of Oscar buzz as a contender for Best Picture. “I would be thrilled,” Jolie said, when asked if she hoped the film would win the Oscar or another major film

award. “It would make me feel like I did a good job, and for a film I care so much about it would mean a great deal.”

“I love directing, It means so much to me to direct stories about subject matter that I care deeply about. I can act in many things, and you can try to experience different characters, but to direct is years of your life and you have to really love it and believe in it,” she said.

Jolie, who also is special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and is active in the British-based Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI), said she intended to continue her humanitarian work, as well as devote attention to her children.

“I want to raise my kids, I want to get them through their teenage years. ... I do love my work with the UN and with PSVI so if I can do more of that and be more effective I will do whatever I can,” she said.

Los Angeles mayor presses China to allow more Hollywood films A flurry of private Chinese investment into Hollywood should prompt Beijing to loosen its restrictions on U.S. film imports, the mayor of Los Angeles said in China on Friday as he urged officials to raise the country’s annual cap on foreign films.

Hollywood producers, eager to build ties to the world’s second-largest film market, have embraced an influx of Chinese capital in recent years, leading to a series of high-profile partnerships.

Chinese authorities have gradually raised the annual quota of foreign films to 34 but state censors still keep a firm grip over what may be shown.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is leading a twoweek trade mission across three Asian countries, raised the issue of foreign film quotas - a longstanding source of U.S.-China trade friction - during a meeting with Chinese vice minister of foreign affairs Zhang Yesui in Beijing on Friday.

“I hope the Chinese government will see (Chinese companies’) profits coming in, and their stake in more movies coming in from the West,” Garcetti said. “Our best advocates are going to be Chinese companies who have a stake in this opening up.”

Former Warner Bros film

Sunday November 30, 2014

Cosby’s show nixed in Washington state after sex assault claims Embattled comedian Bill Cosby’s show in Yakima, Washington state, has been canceled, venue organizers said Monday, in the latest of several cancellations following decades-old sexual assault allegations that have surfaced in recent weeks. The Capitol Theatre said all ticket holders to the show, scheduled for Saturday, would receive refunds and the show has been postponed indefinitely.

Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut also said they had indefinitely postponed a performance by the 77-yearold Cosby, scheduled for Jan. 31. The comedian has not directly addressed the accusations but his attorneys have said they were “discredited” and “defamatory.”

Cosby’s publicist did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the most recent cancellations. More than a dozen women have come forward in recent weeks with allegations that Cosby sexually assaulted decades ago, and in some cases, drugged them.

Therese Serignese, a Florida woman, said Cosby assaulted her in 1976. Model Janice Dickinson, the most high-profile accuser, alleged in an interview with the

“Entertainment Tonight” TV program that Cosby had sexually assaulted her in 1982.

The actor’s sudden fall from grace has jolted generations of Americans who knew him as an actor who broke race barriers on TV over the last 50 years, most notably as the admired father, Dr. Cliff Huxtable, on the hit NBC comedy, “The Cosby Show.” With NBC and Netflix also dropping projects with the comedian, the allegations have threatened Cosby’s wholesome public image and future in show business.

Still, amid the allegations,

Cosby performed a show in Florida last week without incident, and told a local paper ahead of the performance that he does not have to “answer to innuendos.”

The show went ahead despite the cancellation of the comedian’s Las Vegas performance this week and four other shows in Arizona, Illinois, South Carolina and Washington state next year.

Cosby has two more shows on Dec. 6 in Tarrytown, New York, that are planned to go ahead, and 28 performances scheduled through May next year.

‘Hunger Games’ tops U.S. box office with $123M opening

chief Jeff Robinov announced in June the creation of a new studio reportedly with $200 million backing from Fosun International, one of China’s largest private conglomerates.

The state-affiliated Shanghai Media Group pledged to invest $1 billion alongside veteran producer Robert Simonds on films, while Wanda Dalian - owned

by Chinese real estate mogul Wang Jianlin - acquired the AMC Entertainment Holdings cinema chain in 2012 as its first move into Hollywood. Although such joint partnerships may help studios get around foreign quotas, they are coming at a

time when China’s ruling Communist Party has tightened control over the media.

Chinese regulators pulled four U.S. television series from online streaming sites in April, while President Xi Jinping has urged the country’s artistic elite to promote socialist values, eschew “the stink of money” and become a cultural influence on the world stage.

Garcetti said he hoped the deepening business bonds would soothe government concerns. “It’s not a cultural threat,” he said. “Quite the contrary, it’s an integration of our two societies, both on the cultural and economic front.”

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” tallied $123 million in ticket sales to top weekend box office charts and score the year’s biggest U.S. opening, according to studio estimates.

The third installment of the blockbuster “Hunger Games” action movie series starring Jennifer Lawrence added a further $152 million at overseas box offices for a global opening weekend tally of $275 million, tracking firm Rentrak said.

“Mockingjay” took in $17 million at Thursday night showings for the year’s best Thursday total, but the film fell short of industry forecasts for about $148 million through Sunday.

“This weekend will wind up down versus the same frame a year ago, when the previous ‘Hunger Games’ installment ‘Catching Fire’ led” with $158.1 million,” noted Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at tracking firm Rentrak. The first “Hunger Games” took in $152.5 million on its opening

weekend in 2012, according to Boxofficemojo.

Walt Disney’s animated action film “Big Hero 6” was second, with ticket sales of $20.1 million for the three days from Friday through Sunday, pushing its three-week total to $135.7 million.

Director Christopher Nolan’s space adventure

“Interstellar” was third with $15.1 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices. It has taken in $120.6 million since opening on Nov. 5. In “Mockingjay,” Lawrence plays Katniss Everdeen, the defiant young archer who becomes the face of a mass rebellion in a dystopian postapocalyptic society.

Sunday November 30, 2014

From page 27 longer interested in pursuing the matter and did not plan to appear in court to testify against Lall. The matter was accordingly dismissed.

Following the announcement by Magistrate Moore, a round of applause erupted in the courtroom which was packed to capacity, largely with persons waiting to have their matters heard.

WEDNESDAY EDITION GUYANESE PILOT CAUGHT WITH US$620K STASHED IN PRIVATE JET EN ROUTE TO G/T A Guyanese businessman is being held in a Puerto Rican jail after he was found in possession of US$620,000 in cash that was stashed in an aircraft he was travelling in, heading to Guyana.

The bust was made last Saturday when the aircraft stopped on the Spanishspeaking island to refuel.

The cash was unearthed when agents of the United States Customs and Border Protection carried out a routine search of the aircraft.

From all indications, the Guyanese businessman attempted to conceal the cash, since initially he had only declared a small amount to US Customs Agents.

According to Special Agent DaRika Davis, who is attached to Homeland Security Investigations of the United States Homeland Security and is assigned to the Investigations Branch of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, Lall

Kaieteur News

and two other individuals arrived at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport on a private aircraft bearing tail number N822QL. Lall was the co-pilot, while the other two individuals were his father and the pilot of the aircraft.

When US Customs and Border Protection Agents who were at the airport approached the aircraft, the occupants informed them that they had only stopped to refuel and would be departing immediately for Georgetown, Guyana.

The officers however informed them that an outbound inspection of the aircraft was necessary.

Three agents, including Davis, were detailed to carry out the search.

NEW MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR VREED-ENHOOP POWER PLANT SWAMPED - AUTOMATIC PUMPS BEING INSTALLED Despite an intense eighthour heavy downpour that caused widespread flooding within the region last week, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has reported no damage at its still-underconstruction US$26M power plant at Vreed-en-Hoop.

The state-owned multimillion-dollar power facility, which is expected to be the largest in the country, was no match for rising waters which completely inundated the compound and its environs.

The facility had initially come in for scrutiny by its developers given the not-soideal type of land at the West

Page 47

the US auction is of great significance for Guyana, since it highlights how valuable the airwaves are considered for some countries, while Guyana gives the spectrum away to friends and family.

“Radio frequencies are extremely important. They serve as a medium for not just getting the message of the body politic to the regional platform, but also to the international stage. These are extremely valuable assets and the fact that Jagdeo gave away these frequencies to his family, friends and cronies represents the dirtiest corruption scandal of our time.”

Demerara location.

The Vreed-en-Hoop GPL plant is located a short distance away from the western banks of the Demerara River.

THURSDAY EDITION $$M US AUCTION VS. GUYANA’S GIFTING OF AIRWAVES…IT’S THE DIRTIEST, MOST CORRUPT ACT OF OUR TIME – RAMJATTAN “When one compares the ongoing multi-billion USdollar auction for six blocks of airwaves against the manner in which ours were gifted away by the former President, Bharrat Jagdeo to his loyal minions, it clearly exposes corruption at its most sickening form.”

This was the assertion of Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, on Wednesday as he spoke on the “obsessive

control over Guyana’s airwaves” by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

According to the New York Times online news, a government auction of airwaves for use in mobile broadband has become the biggest auction in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s history. The FCC collected bids of more than US$34B as of Friday afternoon for six blocks of airwaves, totaling 65 megahertz of the electromagnetic spectrum.

That total is more than three times the US$10.5B reserve price that the FCC, as the US regulators, put on sale.

Ramjattan said that it clearly exposes the Guyana government’s “devilish ways”.

He pointed to the fact that it gave away radio frequencies to “its cronies and friends.” He opined that

SEIZED JET WITH STASHED $$$ TRANSPORTED PRESIDENT ON STATE AFFAIRS … PILOT HAS PRIVATE HANGAR AT CJIA The Guyanese pilot who was recently detained in Puerto Rico for failing to declare hundreds of thousands of United States dollars stashed in different sections of his private jet has a private hangar at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). He is said to have transported Head of State Donald Ramotar on a few state missions.

Khamraj Lall was detained last Saturday in the Spanishspeaking territory which is an annex of the United States. US Customs and Border Protection agents had carried out a routine search of the executive craft when sums totalling US$620,000 were found hidden under seats and near the plane’s engine.

Lall was the co-pilot on the flight. He was travelling with his father and the plane’s pilot and took sole responsibility for the hidden cash. The three occupants declared certain sums of money, far less than what was found by the customs agents. Lall was permitted to build a private hangar at the country’s largest airport to conduct executive flight services and medical evacuation (Medivac). He had also piloted President Donald Ramotar on official state trips to Brazil and Puerto Rico.

FRIDAY EDITION WEWILLAMEND LAWSTO DEALWITHJAGDEO, RAMOTAR –AFC’S NAGAMOOTOO After noting optimistically that his party will become the next government, Vice Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Moses Nagamootoo, categorically stated the party will make unprecedented moves to have the “elitist clan” of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)

face the music for its corrupt acts which he feels have left the nation with severe damage.

While indicating that high up on the party’s list is Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, Nagamootoo said that he is interested in having the former President, Bharrat Jagdeo and current Head of State, Donald Ramotar, held accountable for their wrongdoing.

The Vice Chairman said that the most damning corrupt acts were started by the Jagdeo regime and are being carried out to the detriment of the people by the Ramotar administration.

The AFC Parliamentarian opined, however, that while the Constitution does not allow legal action to be taken personally against a former and current President, the AFC will move to amend the laws so that any wrongdoing of the two can be properly investigated and the relevant charges leveled against them.

SATURDAY EDITION MAGISTRATESUSPENDED WITHIMMEDIATEEFFECT The Judicial Service Commission has taken a decision to suspend controversial Magistrate Alex Moore, as they investigate allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by an East Coast Demerara businesswoman.

The decision to suspend the controversial Magistrate was taken Friday and took immediate effect, leaving a huge void in the Magistracy, since Moore was described as one of the more efficient Magistrates.

The decision to suspend the Magistrate came as no real surprise, since he has been involved in a number of controversial rulings recently.

Moore, who has been dispensing a number of cases at the busy Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, has been in the news recently for a few controversial matters he presided over. A few days ago he was accused by the businesswoman of improper conduct during a hearing at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on November 12.

The 47-year-old East Coast Demerara businesswoman, Seerojanie Singh has written to the Chancellor of the Judiciary (Ag), Justice Carl Singh over the “torment” she claimed to have endured at the hands of Magistrate Moore.

Singh who resides and operates her business at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, told Kaieteur News that she feels very uncomfortable to appear before Moore, as his behaviour towards her earlier this month was one she found very disrespectful. She is hoping to have her case transferred to another court.

Page 48

Have a Laugh MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME...

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE - "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION - "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL - "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week."

4. My mother taught me LOGIC - "Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC - "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT - "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY - "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS - "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA - "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER - "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY - "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me about the CIRCLE OF LIFE - "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION - "Stop acting like your father."

15. My mother taught me about ENVY - "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION - "Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING - "You are going to get it when you get home."

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE - "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP - "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR - "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT - "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS - "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me ROOTS - "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM - "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. My mother taught me JUSTICE - "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."

How many of these did your mother teach? AND how many did you teach your children? ******************************* FEELING DEPRESSED????

If you ever feel depressed in your life... open your mailbox... When I open my mailbox, I find: 10 banks are giving me easy loans.

I have won GBP 10000000 and USD 500000 for unknown reasons.

10 Job companies have best jobs for me.

5 matrimonial sites have most suited matches for me.

Dr. Batra has claimed that he will cure my hair fall & greying.

3 universities are giving me degrees in random subjects.

And to top it all ...

Approx 70-80 mails from Priya, Stacy, & Gail who are feeling lonely and want to meet me.

What else you need from life ???

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

Born Loser

Garfield

Non Sequitur

Peanuts

Shoe

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 49

Home Remedies To Treat Skin Rashes

When you experience skin rashes, how do you feel? You would want to get rid of that irritating problem as soon as possible, don't you? What if you come across certain home remedies which might do that?

Here are the top ten home based skin rash remedies.

Believe it or not, these go a long way in treating your skin issues and other skin related ailments.

1. Apply Cool Ice To Affected Areas Of The Skin: More often, the rashes are due to skin inflammation. It causes lots of uneasiness and burning sensation. Cool ice, when pressed on the infected skin helps to manage itchiness. Ice produces a soothing effect to hush up the pain.

2. Usage Of Basil And Garlic To Remove Skin Rashes: A simple home based skin care treatment to reduce symptoms of allergies is to apply the herbal paste containing basil leaves and garlic. Experts often recommend a pinch of salt, a tablespoon of natural olive oil and pepper to prepare this herbal skin care paste for faster skin cleansing. The recurrent allergic reaction is managed by using this skin cleansing herbal paste.

3. Oatmeal Bath: A medicated bath mixed with crushed oatmeal powder soothes the skin and provides a rejuvenating effect on the skin. Use lukewarm water so that you do not suffer from the burning sensation due to the rashes.

4. Poppy Seeds: Doctors confirm that poppy seeds enhance the speedy elimination of measles and skin rashes. The skin healing process takes place faster with the application of lemon juice, water and poppy seeds which help repair rough skin.

5. Chamomile Tea: If the rashes are severe, large and prominent, use chamomile tea for body rinsing. It helps keep skin inflammation and itchiness under control. The dried and irritated skin becomes clean and soft.

6. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is rich in antiseptic components and helps to clean the skin faster. Use of this oil twice a day helps to remove the skin rashes quickly.

7. Buttermilk And Baking Soda: The combination of buttermilk and baking soda has a soothing effect on the skin. A soft paste made with these things and applied once or twice can give immediate relief from the rashes.

8. Essential Oils: Essential oils are helpful to those who have been suffering from long lasting skin rashes/infections. The mixture using chamomile oil, almond and other essential oils needs to be prepared to revive the skin's radiance and to reduce the side effects of such a skin allergy.

9. Poultice: Skin specialists prescribe poultice that contains peppermint, spearmint and mint to cure the skin of skin rashes and infection. This is a highly effective remedy and mostly popular among Europeans, especially the Greek and the Romans.

10. Tea: Tea is loaded with tannin that is a natural astringent and helps in cleansing the skin pores from within. Using tea bag compressions on the affected areas can reduce the effect of skin rashes and makes your skin glow with health.

These top ten home-based remedies have been in use for

SOLUTION FOR LAST WEEK’S SEARCH & FIND

generations together. Hence, before seeking an appointment with a dermatologist you can try these simple remedies at home. Since these remedies do not cause any side effects, you can effectively use them, cure your rashes and skin allergy.

Page 50

Kaieteur News

Junior page THE

Tortoise

Geese AND THE

"If you guys can somehow carry me, I could also relocate with you," felt Talky. "But how would you carry me and also fly?"

After some more discussion they arrived at a plan. A strong little stick was found. Talky was to hold on to the middle of the stick with his mouth, the two geese were to each hold on to either end of the stick with their mouths.

That way when they flew Talky could accompany them!

The tortoise flies!

Talky was very excited. He chattered alky Tortoise was quite a nice and non-stop about the journey ahead, wondered good tortoise. If he had one fault, how the new pond would be, whether there it was that he couldn't keep quiet would be others around the pond that he for long. Talky loved to talk! He lived by a could talk to and so on. The geese listened pond. Two geese were his neighbours. Talky patiently, but warned him, "Talky, please was friendly with the geese and they also remember not to say a single word during our liked him. flight. For if you open your mouth to say even One year, the rains failed. The pond one word, you will fall down and die." started drying up. Slowly, the tortoise and the "Alright, said Talky. I will keep quiet for geese saw the water in the pond disappearing; the duration of the journey, though it will be each day there was less water than before. quite difficult for me!"

They started getting quite alarmed.

And so the tortoise and the geese flew off, The two geese of course could fly and had the tortoise clutching the stick with his seen quite a bit of the world; but Talky had mouth, the geese carrying the stick between n e v e r e v e r g o n e a w a y f r o m t h e them. Talky felt amazed as he soared into the neighbourhood where he had spent his entire sky and saw all the countryside going past life. The geese started planning to move to below. another area with a bigger pond but some The tortoise struggles to be quiet distance away.

"Wow," he wanted to exclaim, but A plan is formed remembered just in time that he should not "But what about me," cried Talky when open his mouth. As the trees and rivers and he came to know of this plan. "You guys can many animals 'passed by' below, Talky fly, I can't. Surely you can't just leave me here desperately wanted to talk about all the things alone. Why, even if the pond becomes full, he was seeing, but with great difficulty he how can I stay alone. Who would I talk to?" kept his mouth shut.

The geese were quite sympathetic, but did As the geese soared higher into the air, not quite see what to do, since Talky couldn't Talky began to feel quite dizzy! He wanted to fly. The tortoise and the geese discussed the tell the geese to slow down a bit, but of course issue for a while. he couldn't open his mouth.

The tortoise speaks and meets his end Soon they flew over a small town. A bunch of children were playing in a playground there. As they looked up and saw the strange sight the children clapped their Five little people went out to play, hands and loudly discussed the The first one said, “Do it my way!” 'phenomenon'. "Look," cried one, "It is so funny. A tortoise The second one said, “That's not fair!” is flying!"

The third one said, “I don't care!”

"Ha ha ha," laughed the The fourth one said, “This isn't fun!” children. "A flying tortoise!

We have never seen one The fifth one said, “Our game is done!” before. This tortoise will cover So the five little people all walked away, more distance today, then it They never even got to play. has in its entire life."

"How silly, it looks catching the stick with its Those five little people went back to play, mouth," cried another child.

The first one said, “Let's do it your way!” "is it a real tortoise," wondered another.

The second one said, “That sounds fair to me!”

Talky's blood began to The third one said, “This is as good as it can be!” boil. If there was one thing Talky couldn't bear, it was to The fourth one said, “I love to be here with you!” be laughed at.

The fifth one said, “That goes for me too!”

"Keep quiet!" he opened So the five people all had great fun, his mouth to yell at the children, forgetting that he Laughing and playing till the day was done. shouldn't speak, and down he fell. That was of course the end of the tortoise.

T

Five little people

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kiddies Section HOW TO MAKE A simple-to-make Glitter Bottle! When you swirl the bottle, it sparkles.

Supplies needed: A small, empty plastic bottle with a lid

Light corn syrup Hot glue Metal glitter or metallic confetti Ribbon Optional - a small

funnel Optional - food coloring Optional - tiny plastic beads or toys

Pour light corn syrup into a small, plastic bottle. Fill it about 2/3 full.

Pour some metal glitter or metallic confetti into the bottle.

Using a small funnel makes this a lot easier.

Optional: You can also add small plastic beads or tiny plastic toys.

Add a few drops of food colour if you like.

Top off the bottle with water. As you pour the water in, you can point out to the children how it pretty much floats on top of the corn syrup (until you shake the bottle later). This is because the corn syrup is denser than the water (the corn syrup is heavier for a given volume - a cup of corn syrup weighs more than a cup of water). This is similar to making salad dressing, and seeing the oil float on top the denser vinegar.

Put the cap on the bottle, sealing it with hot glue.

Tie a decorative ribbon around the neck of the bottle.

You now have a beautiful, sparkly glitter bottle. When you swirl it or shake it, it will sparkle.

The four islands in the Tropicana group each produce a different type of fruit.

Can you match each island name with the type of fruit produced, the island population (293, 305, 328, 402) and its location (A-D) in the chain?

1. The Kolahani islanders inhabit the island west of but not immediately next to Holahu island. Holahu doesn't produce bananas or pineapples and has a higher population than Wahani island.

2. Molaku island isn't the one with a population of 293, nor is it the one immediately next to the island with a population of 293.

3. The islanders who grow bananas inhabit the island east of but not immediately next to the island of Kolahani.

4. The island at location D isn't the one with the highest population.

5. Molaku island (which isn't the one at location B) is the next island due west of the one where papaya fruit is grown.

6. The islanders who grow coconuts don't inhabit the island immediately next to the one where bananas are grown.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

TEEN TIME

Honesty is the best policy This is a proverb that we hear many times, but how many of us remember this when we are tempted to steal, to lie, to cheat at some test, or to hide the truth when we feel that this will lead to something we do not like?

And do we fully realise how these ways of repeatedly

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK When we think and act for the good of others, they will always do the same for us.

ignoring what we know is right can affect our lives in a permanent way?

It is a fact that the conscience that all human beings are born with is at the beginning a sure guide to tell us what is right from wrong in all the situations in which we find ourselves.

But it is just as true that, whenever we deliberately bypass this guide and do what is wrong, it gradually loses this ability to discern what is right.

This is the reason why those who are accustomed to cheating find that they can easily do so, and even find ways to justify their wrong deeds.

The opposite is also true.

If we make it a practice to listen to our conscience, and use it to determine what is right, it will become more and more powerful in helping us to stay on the right path in our lives.

This will also serve to make us outstanding among the people with whom we associate, and within our community.

We will obtain and maintain the trust of others, which will result in our progress in all areas of our lives – in our relationships with those near to us, in our careers, and in whatever business we need to contract.

In our society, and in the political situation of our country, we can see that this trust is sorely needed.

If those who are the leaders of our communities, and those who are in the administration can command the trust of the people, then we can clearly see how this will help to create an atmosphere of harmony.

This will in turn contribute to more unified action, resulting in much-needed progress.

In your own little sphere of life, make sure that you strive to be always honest in whatever you do, and you will soon reap the rewards of this policy.

Page 51

Poets’ Corner The Way to a Good Life Our elders share experiences great, They tell us day and night To avoid pitfalls and the devil's bait, To do good deeds and find delight.

But often many youngsters scoff At the wise words old folks say; They pay no heed but wander off, To evil ways they go astray.

What problems to themselves they bring, And to those who love them too, They find they've done an awful thing When it's too late to start anew.

Then youths, consider what your elders say, They tell what you should learn, They love you and sincerely pray That the good life you may earn.

Can you fit the underlined words correctly into the grid?

One letter has already been entered to get you started.

When I was a kitten

by Duncan MacKellar When I was a kitten I was smaller than a mitten, Everyone who saw me said, "Ah!" If I got in a muddle, I'd always get a cuddle, They'd never let me wander very far.

I remember being small I was the cutest of them all, They'd smile and call out my name.

I'd play on the rug, They'd give me a hug, It was all like a wonderful game.

I was such a chubby thing I'd jump and spring, I had beautiful soft shiny fur.

I was brave for my size, I'd chase spiders and flies, A tickle would always make me purr.

But the more I grew, The less people said, "OO!" I soon became worldly and wise.

Now I hunt with skill, I enjoy the thrill, I'm a master of stealth and surprise.

I'm muscle and bone, I can stand on my own, I know how to sharpen my claws.

I let my fur down, With nights on the town, I can wash my face with my paws.

Now that I'm grown I'm out on my own.

I get to do things my own way.

But I still enjoy fish, In my special dish, Served up for my dinner each day.

Solutions to last week’s puzzles MULTIPLICATION ARITHMAGONS

Page 52

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

Country Profile:

The Dirty Picture: Sex racket busted in Priyanka’s premises

The manager of Charisma Spa, in Vastu Precinct building, was arrested after the raid The actress owns the floor in Andheri building on which Charisma Spa is located where cops busted a sex racket and rescued three women on November. PC leased it out to the spa owner Manik Soni, who is on the run.

After the police raided a spa in Versova earlier this month for fronting a flesh trade racket, this paper has learnt that the premises actually belong to actor Priyanka Chopra.

Chopra has apparently given out the property on rent. A source said, "This property belongs to Priyanka Chopra and her mother's clinic is situated just next to this place. The entire floor (measuring 3,000 sq ft) belongs to Chopra.

In the beginning of this month, the police had raided this place after they got to know that it was being used for sex trade." The manager, Dinesh Chandrakant, was arrested and three adult females were rescued, while the owner Manik Soni is absconding.

On November 7, the Versova police received a tip-off that Charisma Spa and Beauty Centre in Vastu Precinct building in Shastri Nagar was covertly involved in flesh trade. Based on the information a decoy was sent to the premises to verify the information.

After the pretend customer confirmed the details, he alerted the cops, following which a team of policemen barged into the spa, arrested Chandrakant and rescued three

Manik Soni, owner of the spa women.

The women have been sent to a rehabilitation centre. Confirming the report that the actor owns the spa, the investigating officer of the case said, "We are searching for Soni who is still at large. Once he is arrested we would get to know the details of the agreement between him and the actor."

SPA LAUNCH Cops said the actor and her mother Madhu had visited the premises. In fact, Madhu and her son Siddharth had also attended the launch of the spa. Another source said, "Priyanka has many commitments at hand and this property which she had rented out has become another trouble.

She is a bit hassled at the moment regarding this. She was not aware of the fact and trusted the owners. She may take a decision on whether to continue with the lease or not." When contacted, the spa receptionist confirmed that the property belongs to the actor and the spa owners had taken it on a rental basis.

A police source said, "The owner of the spa, Manik Soni, is on the run. He was a regular at many Bollywood parties and knows many television and film personalities. The investigation is on, and once the accused is arrested we will verify the agreement and then take action." Priyanka Chopra was unavailable for comment.

Uganda OVERVIEW Since the late 1980s Uganda has rebounded from the abyss of civil war and economic catastrophe to become relatively peaceful, stable and prosperous.

In the 1970s and 1980s Uganda was notorious for its human rights abuses, first during the military dictatorship of Idi Amin from 1971-79 and then after the return to power of Milton Obote, who had been ousted

by Amin.

During this time up to half a million people were killed in state-sponsored violence.

After becoming president in 1986 Yoweri Museveni introduced democratic reforms and was credited with substantially improving human rights, notably by reducing abuses by the army and the police.

We s t e r n - b a c k e d economic reforms produced solid growth and falls in inflation in the 1990s, and the discovery of oil and gas in the west of the country boosted confidence.

The global economic turndown of 2008 hit Uganda hard, given its continuing dependence on coffee exports, and pushed up food prices.

This galvanised the opposition, which disputed Mr Museveni's victory in the 2011 presidential elections and went to to organise street protests about the cost of living and political freedoms.

The president has also come under fire for Uganda's military involvement, along with five other countries, in neighbouring DR Congo's 1998-2003 civil war.

Minerals DR Congo accuses Uganda of maintaining its influence in the mineral-rich east of the country. Uganda says DR Congo has failed to disarm Ugandan rebels on its soil. Until relatively recently, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in northern Uganda were blighted by one of Africa's most brutal rebellions.

The cult-like Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), led

by Joseph Kony, began its activities more than 20 years ago and its forces became notorious for abducting children to serve as sex slaves and fighters. At the height of the conflict, nearly two million people in northern Uganda were displaced.

The LRA was forced out of Uganda in 2005/06 and since then has wreaked havoc in the Central African

Republic, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

With the LRA's departure, northern Uganda has undergone a positive transformation. Thousands of former LRA fighters and abductees have left the group and been reintegrated through Uganda's Amnesty Commission.

Some critics have wondered why the conflict went on for so long and questioned Mr Museveni's commitment to ending the insurgency. The government in turn has pointed to progress since 2011, when the US committed itself to tracking down LRA bases in nearby countries.

Uganda has won praise for its vigorous campaign against HIV/Aids. This has helped to reduce the prevalence of the virus which reached 30% of the population in the 1990s - to

President Yoweri Museveni single-digit figures.

The country has gained international attention for its hardening anti-homosexual attitudes, culminating in antigay legislation introduced in 2014.

FACTS Full name: Republic of Uganda Population: 35.6 million (UN, 2012) Capital: Kampala Area: 241,038 sq km (93,072 sq miles) Major languages: English (official), Swahili (official), Luganda, various Bantu and Nilotic languages Major religions:

Christianity, Islam Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 55 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 Ugandan shilling = 100 cents Main exports: Coffee, fish and fish products, tea; tobacco, cotton, corn, beans, sesame GNI per capita: US $510 (World Bank, 2011) Internet domain: .ug International dialling code: +256 LEADERS P r e s i d e n t : Yo w e r i Museveni Yoweri Museveni has been in office for more than a quarter of a century, having seized power at the head of a rebel army. He won a fresh term in office in presidential elections in February 2011, having amended the constitution before the 2006 election to remove the previous limit on the number of terms a president could serve.

In 2011 he took 68% of the vote. Challenger Kizza Besigye - who won 26% rejected the result, alleging election fraud. EU observers said there had been improvements in the conduct of the electoral process since 2006, but still noted some shortcomings.

Mr Museveni has been credited with restoring relative stability and economic growth to Uganda following years of civil war and repression under Milton Obote and Idi Amin before him. Mr Museveni cofounded one of the rebel groups which, with the help of Tanzanian troops, ousted Idi Amin in 1979. He then formed a new rebel army which eventually seized power in 1986.

His National Resistance Movement ran Uganda as a one-party state until a referendum brought back multi-party politics in 2005.

He won presidential elections in 1996, and again in 2001, 2006 and 2011.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 61

Protest flares over alleged police beating-death Family members of Asif Rahim Khatoon, the 38-yearold fisherman of MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara who reportedly died at the hands of the police, yesterday braved the rain and staged a protest in front the Leonora Police Station, calling for justice to be served.

The fisherman was allegedly beaten by ranks while incarcerated at the Leonora Police Station. He subsequently died on Thursday, last. Khatoon was taken into custody for allegedly assaulting his wife while under the influence of alcohol.

Two Constables from the Leonora Police Station are currently under close arrest as investigations continue and according to his family, a post mortem examination is expected to be conducted tomorrow (December 1).

Khatoon’s wife, Sursattie Chandrapaul, three daughters (aged 19, 17 and 8) and 14year-old son were at the

forefront of the protest yesterday. Holding up placards which stated “stop police brutality” and “I want justice for my father,” his family, along with a number of students and other villagers shouted “we want justice!” as they stood in the rain outside the Police Station.

Some police ranks, who stood at the door of the station looking at the protest, were observed taking photos of the crowd. Chandrapaul told the media that she is now left to take care of her four children by herself since Rahim was the sole breadwinner of her family.

“I want justice for my husband and I want everybody to look into this matter…They not suppose to kill my husband, he was not a criminal. I don’t think my husband deserve this. I don’t think a human being should be treated like this. Now I left with my four children and I don’t know who will support me,” the woman said as she fought to hold back tears.

Protesters in front of the Leonora Police Station.

Chandrapaul described her husband as a hard working man. “I didn’t tell them to beat him. Them nah supposed to do this. This is nonsense going on in this country.”

The woman refuted claims that her husband was beaten by a prisoner. She said “he

The late Asif Rahim Khatoon’s eight-year-old daughter at the protest yesterday.

keep telling me is the police beat him; none other than the police.”

The protesters also shouted “arrest them and charge them, let the Magistrate deal with them, stop police brutality!” The crowd chanted “ayo burn a lil boy on he genitals the other day! We want justice! Jail all of them who kill he (Khatoon)!”

The protesters charged the police to put an end to brutality. Also on the scene was social activist, Mark Benschop.

On Thursday, police stated that Khatoon was arrested at around 00:25 hrs on Saturday, November 22; last, following investigations

into a report that he had assaulted his reputed wife.

“During efforts to arrest him, Asif Rahim Khatoon resisted, but was eventually subdued and taken to the Leonora Police Station. At the station he made no complaints against the arresting ranks and was kept on the bench handcuffed to another man in custody whom he later reported had allegedly assaulted him,” the release stated.

“Asif was taken to the Parika Police Station later that Saturday where he was kept in the lockups. He was charged with assault and brought to the Leonora Police Station on Monday November 24, 2014, to attend

the Magistrate’s Court.”

The release stated that while at the station the prisoner ’s reputed wife reported that he was beaten by the police and as a consequence, he was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was referred to the West Demerara Hospital.

The matter is now being investigated by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility.

Khatoon died at his home at around 13.00 hrs on Thursday, five days after he was allegedly beaten. He was briefly hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), allegedly with a broken jaw Continued on page 64

Page 62

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

When no becomes rape, sexual assaults and women’s rights in Guyana

By Ralph Seeram We flirted for about a month and had some lunch and dinner dates. Some holding hands and kissing followed; then we decided it was time to do the “real thing”. We decided to meet at one of these “short time hotels”.

In the room we began kissing and fondling, while stripping off our clothes. She was down to her underwear and I in my briefs only. After a session of foreplay, I decided she was ready; of course I was ready from the time we stepped in the hotel room. I reached down to peel away her underwear, when I felt a firm grip on my hands stopping me from going further.

I guess she was not ready yet so we continued with the foreplay and after a little while I attempted to remove her panties again when I felt that firm grip on my hands again stopping me, followed by some soft cries of “no” “no”.

I figured she probably needed a little more “warming up”, but on my third attempt I met with the same resistance, not only was she saying no, but her body was trembling.

At this point frustration began to set in on me. I am saying to myself she knows she came here to have sex. I can easily overpower her and have sex but at that time there was no thought of it being rape.

In fact after coming to the hotel with me who was she going to tell I forced sex on her? Nobody would even listen to her. At that point I told her to get dressed.

Whatever her reasons I never found out, but today looking back I made the right decision.

That, my friends, happened in my youthful days many, many decades ago.

Today men are being educated that no means no, regardless of which stage of the “game” you are at. You go beyond no is rape. Rape and women rights have resurfaced in the news recently with allegations against actor and comedian Bill Cosby. Some of the allegations go back to decades ago, so you may wonder why these women are surfacing now. Well there is a reason for it.

In Guyana, we have the famous or infamous recording of how the protector of the laws views women as a thing “to knack”.

Amnesty International says that one in three women experience rape, sexual assault or domestic violence.

I would dare to say that statistic is much higher in Guyana. Based on my experiences in Guyana talking to women I would venture to say 75 per cent of the women in Guyana experience some type of rape, sexual assault or domestic violence. The problem in Guyana is that most of these incidents go unreported and there are good reasons.

For one the Guyanese society attaches a stigma to someone who was raped.

If I had gone ahead and had sex in the incident I mentioned earlier and the girl complains, guess what’s the first thing that would come off a Guyanese mouth, and sad

to say by women, “She look fuh da. Wha she go with man to hotel fah?”

That would be a typical Guyanese response, compared to what would happen in here in the US. The man would be charged, the victim would be assigned rape counselors and start receiving counseling.

In a male-oriented if not dominated society like Guyana, women are at a disadvantage. Women do not report assaults because there is a sense that they will not receive justice, be it from the police or Judicial system.

Speaking of Judicial system, when the person who is supposed to be the guardian of their rights, the man who in responsible to protect the constitution, the man who should be their protector, the Attorney General, sees a young reporter as “a thing fuh knack”.

When you have the Attorney General of the country pimping for his friend to “knack de thing”, he regards a woman as a thing, who do you think women can turn to?

When senior police officers could infer that the mode of a woman’s dress can invite rape where can women turn to? Incidentally I think that the senior officer meant well; he just did not put across his point well.

When powerful political women in government including those who are supposed to enforce their rights, refuse to condemn their colleague for his obscene depiction of women, where can women turn to?

For those men, and I am aware women do commit sexual assaults, sexual assaults are generally defined as “a general term that includes any forced or unwanted sexual activity,

including rape, incest, sexual abuse and molestation.

Sexual assault includes any forced or unwanted touching of an intimate part of the body, such as breasts, buttocks, or genitals.

Rape is defined as “a specific type of sexual assault, involves any forced, manipulated, or coerced penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth, by a penis or other object.

Sexual assault/rape is not a crime of passion but a crime of violence, using sex as a weapon to overpower and to degrade the victim. A rapist can be a stranger or someone the victim knows including a spouse, date or family member.

Yes, most sexual assaults in Guyana are committed by someone known to the victim, someone whom they trust, not by strangers. Sometimes because it within the family, it is suppressed so it does not bring “shame on the family”.

Mind you, the interest of the victim hardly gets any consideration. Most of these assaults or rapes are committed on children.

I know many women who confided in me how they were molested as children and in some cases the parents did not believe them or hushed it up.

These assaults leave the victims traumatized for years, some leading to depression, being frigid, withdrawn and later find it hard to trust anyone. In Guyana there are not many avenues for these women to turn for counseling.

This article was inspired because a woman now in her 30s reached out to me about the physical and emotional pains she still feels even though the molestation occurred more than 20yrs ago.

These scars do not go away easily.

This woman wants some type of closure, as the physical and emotional scars still haunt her. There are thousands of women like her in Guyana today who want to tell their story to “get it off their chest”.

People may wonder why all these women are coming out now to claim Bill Cosby raped them. It’s simple; they now feel empowered; they

now feel they can have support and not be ashamed and they are not alone.

Most Guyanese men have not come around to the belief that women are not chattel, that they have equal rights, that they don’t own women.

What hope is there for those women who were victimized? Until you changed the mindset of the police force, the judiciary, those in the corridors of power and have organizations that victims can turn to, rapes and sexual assaults will go unreported.

Men will continue to use their economic and emotional control of Guyanese women to abuse them, and thousands of women will still be carrying their painful experience, looking for someone, some organization to lend an ear to help them get closure.

If there are organizations in Guyana that assist sexually abused women I would like to hear from them.

Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com and Face book

Geologist stabbed, robbed on Agriculture Road A geologist employed at the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is currently nursing stab wounds at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), after he was robbed by a bandit on Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD) last Thursday.

Deon Adolph, 28, of 72 Public Drive, Beterverwagting, ECD, is nursing three stab wounds to his abdomen and one to his

The wounded Deon Adolph

face at the hospital’s male surgical ward.

According to the geologist, the robbery occurred around 19:15 hours while he was walking home, and listening to music through an earphone that was plugged into his cellular phone, a Samsung S3.

Adolph said that he was “startled” when the bandit pounced on him from behind and demanded his phone, while pointing a knife to his stomach in a threatening manner.

The geologist said that he

tried to defend himself but the scuffle resulted in him being robbed of his cellular phone and wounded.

He said that his spectacles were also damaged during the fight.

Adolph said that the bandit quickly escaped and left him bleeding heavily on the road. Luckily, he was taken to the hospital by public-spirited residents in the area.

The matter was reported to the Beterverwagting Police Station and investigations are ongoing.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Page 63

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Glamazon Beauty Salon and Cosmetology School, Located 28 Sheriff Street C/ Ville, Visit us or Call for an appointment. Tel:225-5360, 687-7566, 625-7844

VACANCY Counter Staff, Cashiers and Kitchen assistants. Bring written application to Bettencourt’s Dinner at 22 ZZ Durban Street W/Ville.

Salesgirls apply @ D. Singh & Sons, 95 King Street. Tel: 226-0881 IT Technician to install outdoor antenna, must have driver ’s licence. Send application to jobs@awngy.com.

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VEHICLE FOR SALE

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Unregistered, excellent condition – Call: 691-2077 1- AT 192 Carina (Private) automatic, fully powered, mags, A/C - price$1M Contact Rocky:225-1400 Silver Mitsubishi Lancer Car; PKK 4953, $900,000 negotiable - Call: 683-0150 Unregistered Premio with Rims - $2.250 – Call: 657-1796 AT 192 Carina, in excellent condition - $900,000 negotiable – Call: 641-4192, 229-6515 Honda CRV PKK Series, excellent condition –Call: 615-2007, 666-4327, 644-7000 Allion PSS Series – 1700cc engine - $2.8M negotiable – Call: 604-0883 or 660-4904 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 Toyota Fun Cargo - $1.2M negotiable – Call: 604-0883, 660-4904 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Toyota Hilux, 4X4 single cab, diesel, turbo, pick-up registration GRR, no reasonable offer refusedContact: 616-0427/689-3612 One Toyota Rav4 PMM Series, in excellent condition, owner leaving country, price $3Million. Call: 231-6278 Toyota Forerunner, 4X4, automatic, power steering, A/C, bargain price negotiableContact: 616-0427/ 689-3612 Unregistered Spacio 2004, camera, rims, body kit, Fielder 2003, black interior, fully loaded. Call: 617-5536

Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Plants! Plants! Orchids, Poinsettia, roses Etc. Outside St Roses High School, Saturday 29th November 2014 - Call: 652-8322.

One 14 inch dredge / draga Call: 663-0742 1-16"/14" Bore pump on trailer, 1-4 Wheeler utility trailer – reduced price! – Call: 227-1830 Complete sawmill operation with lots of equipment, customers & suppliers and large land space – Contact Swamee: 614-1466; 672-4438 Gasoline Generator – 110/ 220V, 60hz.25Kw, price to sell- Contact: 616-0427/ 6893612 Complete music systems with RCS speakers & QSE Amps- Call:699-5790 Bicycle store closing down all parts cheap! Cheap! Call: 227-1845 Three bedroom house Located at Somerset Court (ready to move in) – Contact: 223-8479, 647-3768 www.spaceseek.gy Commercial Properties, luxury houses, located at E.C.D, Georgetown & E.B.D – Contact: 223-8479, 647-3768 Pure Bred Rottweiler pups, 9 weeks old, de-wormed, vaccinated certified – Tel: 265-7193 Home Hardware item: Fast Efficient & Courteous Service, Discount for “small time” contractors @ Sheriff Street. Phone: 227-1363 Sale! Sale! Dell/Hp Computers Complete with 19" LCDs, Laptops from $49,000, Blackberry from $14,000 @ FutureTech – 231-2206 Baby Sesame Street Walker & Car Seat, Projector (Epson) Power Wash, Grill, Stove Hood Dishes, grass weeder. Call: 669-0366 1 -33FT Flat bottom boat, 400lb 5" cat guts seine, 1-40 Yamaha engine. Contact: 220-7655, 695-9860, 2200410 Pools table cloth, balls, pocket cuestick, rubber, coinshute tips, chalk spring, chalk holder, coins – Call: 669-9927 DJ Amplifier 2 Crest Audio CA12, DBX Drive rack – Call:685-9189 (Continued on page 64)

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Sunday November 30, 2014

Guyana Association of Private Security Organizations Holiday Safety Tips (From page 63)

VEHICLE FOR SALE Nissan- 200SX sport car, turbo, automatic, like new, price to sell- Contact: 6160427/ 689-3612 1 Toyota Celica PDD 346, Stick Gear, good condition, price negotiable – Tel: 2672929 AT192 Toyota - $800,000 – Call: 696-5424 One Raum for sale – Call:264-2954, 642-1305 One Honda Vigor, price $650,000 negotiable – Contact: 671-4687 “Giveaway! BMW 318ti 2 door sports car, PRR. Low milage-32,000 miles. Super engine performance.

Woman driven.” Tel: 6815125, 615-0397 1 Isuzu Canter (open back) short base manual, excellent condition, price - $1.3M Contact Rocky 621-5902/2251400 Toyota Tundra Extra Cab (unregistered) manual (5 speed) fully loaded 4x4 (V6) price $2.9M – Contact:6215902/225-1400 1-AT212 Toyota Carina (new model) automatic, fully powered, A/C, Alarm, mags, Price $1.4M– Contact Rocky: 621-5902 / 225-1400 1-Honda CRV (immaculate condition) automatic, fully powered (hardly used) price $2.3M – Contact Rocky: 6215902 or 225-1400 1-Toyota 4 Runner (Hilux 5 Door) Automatic, fully loaded (4x4) Price $2.3MContact Rocky: 621-5902 or 225-1400 Blowout Sale! – Unregistered 2007 Madza Axela - $2,350,000 – Crystal Lights, Alarm, Steering WheelAudio Control . Call: 6436565, 226-9931 Blow Out Sale!!!

Unregistered Toyota IST $2,250,000- Bodykit, TV, Spoiler, Fogs, Alloy Wheels, Crystal Lights & Alarm – Call: 643-6565, 226-9931 Toyota Sienta PRR Series, Excellent condition - $1.850M – Call: 691-7475

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, (SALE) AND MORE, SAWS & DRILLS -$10,000 - CALL: 675-0767, 667-2535 Five bedrooms house, 107 Lamaha Gardens & Large Parking; AC Rooms Hot & Cold, Purified Water System Call: 661-8908, 335-3590 One bedroom apartment in Grove E.B.D – Call: 687-7376 Two; Three & Four Bedrooms Houses & apartments, located in Georgetown, EC.D & E.B.D – Contact: 223-8479, 6473768 www.spaceseek.gy Commercial Properties, Bond in the heart of Georgetown – Contact:223-8479, 6473768 www.spaceseek.gy 3 Bedrooms house at 19 Goedverwagting. E.C.D opposite Pradoville, 2 months deposit upfront.

Call: 222-9098 or 614-9516 for details

TO LET Store to rent in Lethem Commercial Zone, prime location – Call: 664-5401 Apartment, bottom flat, 3 bedrooms, car parking space, telephone –Call: 6160427, 220-8770, 689-3612 Rooms in Alberttown & rooms & apartments in Eccles. Call: 225-3234 One couple for lower flat at Turkeyen/Sophia – Tel: 2193551 Established corner bottom flat business spot to let on South Road - Tel: 227-1845 House to rent in Kaikan Street North Ruimveldt, furnished or unfurnished – Call: 685-3971

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

PROPERTY FOR SALE House & Land @ Cemetery Rd. Helena No.1 Mahaica E.C.D. Land (65FTX150FT) $13M - Tel: 689-0820, 6743902

The holiday season is here and as local stores and shoppers gear up for the annual Christmas shopping season, the Guyana Association of Private Security Organizations, (GAPSO), is reminding shoppers to take extra precautions for the “Grinchy” criminals who prey on distracted victims.

GAPSO recommends keeping a close eye on your purse, handbag and wallet while you shop, and

PROPERTY FOR SALE Flat concrete house newly built, all utilities located @ Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice -$7M negotiable Call: 648-5012, 686-9514 2 Storey building , 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, hot & cold water, Lot 11 Coghlan Dam, W.B.D, Just off main Road - Tel: 264-1582, 679-7587 3 Bedroom 2 bath, bar restaurant, pools hall 2 kitchen, private dining room, 1 bedroom apartment @ Mon-Repos-Tel:669-0366 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26)– Call:660-1353,216-4338 1 Massive 2- story concrete house & land @ Public Road, Vreed-En-Hoop, can be used for business or residence - Call:626-2237, 602-3294 7 Acres with house @ Canal No.2 Polder -$12.5M – Call:655-2860,686-4994, 2253070

particularly to stay aware of your surroundings.

It’s a joyous season, but it is also the season to be wary of burglars, thieves, conartists and other holiday “Grinches”.

Nothing can ruin the holiday spirit faster than becoming a victim of crime.

Here are some tips to remember when you’re out shopping this season: • Stay alert to your surroundings at all times and don’t get overloaded with too many packages. Use your third sense.

• Pickpockets operate most successfully in crowds.

Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse under your arm and keep wallets in an inside jacket pocket, not a back trouser pocket.

• Do not count your money while walking or shopping.

• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason(s). Con-artists may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

• Avoid talking on your cell phone as you walk through the market, shopping centres and malls. It can leave

you distracted and vulnerable.

• Always park in a well-lit and well-travelled area. Be prepared with your car keys in hand so you can enter your vehicle without delay.

• When you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you become separated from each other.

• Never leave packages or valuables in plain sight in your vehicle. If you must store items in your car, the best place is a locked trunk.

• Shop online with companies you know and trust. Check a company’s background if you’re not familiar with it. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

GAPSO would also like to remind drivers during this holiday season to buckle up, drive safely and pay close attention to the road and look out for pedestrians.

Because there is more drinking going on during holidays, various Christmas socials and gatherings and increase in nightlife choices, there is consequently are more likely drinking and driving going on during the holiday.

GAPSO is therefore pleading with motorists to be

responsible and don’t drink and drive.

If you do drink, designate a sober driver or take a taxi or public transportation.

GAPSO Crime Prevention efforts are meant to strengthen the partnership between our members, the police and the community that we serve. We hope that together, we can make our community safer.

GAPSO is the leading professional association of security practitioners in Guyana, promoting the highest standards through advocacy, collaboration, education, and the promotion of high ethical standards in the operation and management of security services within Guyana.

Our members represent virtually every industry in the public and private sectors and organizations of all sizes.

GAPSO provides exceptional member service, on-going education, and advocacy and business solutions for its members.

We strive to advance the needs of our members under a collective voice in those matters that relate to legislation and business activities that affect our members.

West Berbice man shot in face A West Berbice man is now hospitalized in the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was shot in the face on Wednesday evening, allegedly by an intruder.

According to reports, Lester Cummings, called ‘Como’, 46, of 55 Number 8 Village, West Coast Berbice, lives alone.

The man, a former businessman, has fallen on difficult times and has become an alcoholic.

The man told investigators that he had retired to bed around 23:00hrs. He said that soon after he was aroused by an intruder armed with a handgun in his room. The

Lester Cummings man shone a light in his face and told him to “give me the gold and money.”

He told the intruder that he that he doesn’t have any and the man shot him in the left side face before escaping.

After he was shot he made a number of telephone calls and a friend subsequently arrived and took him to the hospital.

Cummings was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital, before being taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital and subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for emergency surgery to remove the bullet that was lodged there. He remains hospitalized.

Investigations are continuing.

Protest flares over alleged police...

From page 61 and multiple contusions.

His wife recalled that her husband was arrested two Friday nights ago after he

came home drunk and began to curse her. She said that although she had not called the police, a party of five “black clothes” ranks arrived,

‘Cobra’ in solitary...

(From page 11) broke out over what type of music the prisoners should listen to.

Cort, Randolph Rodrigues, called ‘Shoulders’, and Jason Mc Kenzie, called ‘Psycho’, were charged with attempted murder last September for allegedly chopping four other prisoners and dousing them with acid in the New Amsterdam Prison.

The assailants and victims were said to be members of separate gangs.

handcuffed her husband and placed him to lie in the back of the police van.

The woman claimed that at one point, her husband attempted to sit up but one of the policemen “tek one of the long gun and stomp he on he back”. Contrary to the police release, the woman denied that her husband had resisted arrest.

Chandrapaul said that when she visited her husband at the station the following day, she found him in a battered state, with his face badly swollen.

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Man shot ten times after ‘bad drive’…

ROAD RAGE KILLIR LOOSE Trinidad Guardian - Police are hunting for a man who shot Dennison Rodney ten times after the two began arguing after an accident in Diego Martin Friday.

Unfortunately, the cops may be stumped in their attempt to solve the case of road rage as no one saw the man who shot Rodney in the early hours of Friday.

According to police, Rodney, 42, of Cocorite Terrace, Diego Martin, was driving on the west-bound lane of the Diego Martin Highway near the Powder Magazine flyover around 4.30 am when he got into an accident. Rodney and the other driver came out of their vehicles and began arguing, police said. Rodney then walked off but was pursued by the other driver who pulled out a gun and shot him ten times. Rodney bled to death at the scene.

Police said the car involved in the accident was later spotted in Pioneer Drive, Petit Valley. It had a minor scratch on the front left bumper but had been reported stolen days before. Police said the car is now being processed for any fingerprints and other evidence.

One senior policeman told the T&T Guardian that they were now pursuing two angles as the killing was “strange.”

He said while Rodney was not known to be involved in any criminal activity, they had not ruled out the possibility that his killing was a hit, especially since the car involved in the accident was found abandoned. The policeman said for a man to shoot someone like that following a minor argument meant he had a “depraved mind,” adding it was too drastic an act to undertake in a mere accident.

After police arrived on the scene and cordoned off the roadway traffic backed up all

Relatives of Dennison Rodney who was shot dead along the west-bound lane of the Audrey Jeffers Highway into Diego Martin Friday. PHOTO: JEFF MAYERS the way to PriceSmart, MovieTowne, and St James.

Rodney, a senior maintenance officer at Vemco Limited, was remembered by his boss, Peter Welch, as a gentleman.

Welch said Rodney was a “genuine person, full of kindness and peaceful by nature.” Rodney’s mother, Gaylene, said her son, from “since inside my belly” never gave her any trouble. She said he had done several things out of character Friday, including driving to work instead of travelling as he did the previous four days; left home without saying

goodbye to her and he argued with a stranger following an accident. “I have to go bury my child just so.

“Whole week his car park on the Terrace because he leave it alone and this morning, first time he take it, he get kill. “You mean the first morning I get up and eh talk to him he dead? I hurting. That is the last time I see my child alive,” she added. Rodney said she heard the sirens but initially thought it was an accident. A few minutes later she was told her son had been killed and went to the scene to see his body on the ground.

Colombia rebels say they’ll free general today HAVANA (AP) — Colombia’s main rebel group says it’s begun the process of freeing army Gen. Ruben Dario Alzate, who was captured two weeks ago.

The move should revive peace talks between the rebels and Colombia’s government that are being held in Cuba.

President Juan Manuel Santos had suspended 2-year-old talks after the general, a captain and an attorney were seized in a conflictive part of western Colombia on Nov. 16.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said in a communiqué issued yesterday that it would release the three today to representatives of Cuba, Norway and the Red Cross, which are backing the peace talks.

The rebels earlier freed several other

Gen. Ruben Dario Alzate

captives.

Alzate is the first general to be taken by the rebel group in a half-century of fighting.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

De Niro, Antigua govt. sign US$250 million property development deal

Prime Minister Gaston Browne (Left) and US actor Robert De Niro (middle) sign agreement : Antigua & Barbuda GIS ST. JOHN’S, Antigua CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it has signed an agreement with international film star, Robert De Niro, for an investment project valued at over US$250 million.

A government statement said that De Niro and Prime Minister Gaston Browne signed the agreement “giving the green light to the renovation and expansion of the K-Club on Barbuda into an exclusive 5-Star resort.

“We are indeed very delighted that you will be embarking on a very exciting project on Barbuda, transforming the island, making it one of the most exciting islands in the region.

Your project has increased interest in Barbuda.

“The project is attracting additional investors to our country. That is why I am

delighted to appoint you as a Special Economic Envoy of Antigua and Barbuda to attract more investments to our twin island state.

It is my belief that your celebrity status will attract more American celebrities to Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean,” Prime Minister Browne said.

He described Barbuda as a diamond in the rough and will make a net positive contribution to the economy of the twin-island state.

“Your involvement in Barbuda shows that you Mr. De Niro, Mr. James Packer and your team are pioneers and visionary – recognizing that Barbuda represents a unique proposition for investment, giving you the opportunity to carve out a particular niche.”

“My government is very happy to be a part of this

historic and significant moment. Your presence as an international celebrity is of significance and to have you as an investor and a friend of the people of Antigua and Barbuda and an economic envoy is equally significant.

“Today is indeed an historic day for our nation and we are very pleased to have you and your team here and we are hoping that within thirty days we can conclude the deal and construction can begin in the next twelve months providing employment to the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Browne told the American actor.

The award winning actor who has appeared in over 90 films, said that he was happy and excited to do business in Barbuda and pointed out the project will be unique and “great.”

NIGERIA: Kano mosque blasts death toll above 102

KANO, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan vowed to track down the perpetrators of the bomb blasts that killed more than 100 people at the central mosque in the city of Kano.

Jonathan said his government will “continue to take every step to put an end to the reprehensible acts of all groups and persons involved in acts of terrorism.”

More than 102 people were killed in the bomb explosions at the central mosque in Kano, said a hospital worker.

The multiple explosions that hit the mosque on Friday injured more than 150.

“Most of those receiving treatment ... are in dire need of blood and we are appealing to people to come and donate their blood to rescue the victims,” Dr. Usman Bashir told Associated Press on Saturday.

Hundreds had gathered Friday in the mosque, which is known for attracting moderates, for a sermon in a region terrorized by attacks from the extremist group Boko Haram. Witnesses said heavy smoke could be seen billowing in the sky from a long distance

away. Immediately after the blasts, hundreds of angry youths took to the streets in riots, throwing stones, brandishing sticks and shouting at security officials.

The palace of the Emir of Kano is near the central mosque. The Emir, one of the highest ranking Islamic figures in Nigeria, is currently out of the country, said palace officials.

Boko Haram has not claimed responsibility, but the attack bears the hallmarks of the militant group that has carried out numerous such attacks in northern Nigeria, including in Kano. In September, two suicide bombers killed at least 15 students at a government college and in July, five suicide bombings were carried out over the course of a week. More than 1,500 have been killed this year in the insurgency, according to Amnesty International.

The attack was condemned by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who called the attack “horrific,” pledged U.N. support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, and called for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice, according to his spokesman.

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Trinidad can expect ‘belt tightening’ Egyptian court drops case against Mubarak over 2011 protest deaths due to drop in global oil prices P O R T- O F - S PA I N , Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Friday said it did not expect “significant” changes to the country’s economy as a result of a decline in oil prices, but said some belt tightening will have to be undertaken by the Kamla Persad Bissessar administration.

Finance Minister Larry Howai in a statement to Parliament said that the “country’s financial coffers remain strong and foreign exchange reserves have increased to over 11 billion (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) from TT$8.9 billion in 2009.

“The country’s overall fiscal position and revenue flows also remain healthy. We are confident therefore that even with these conservative assumptions regarding the expected trajectory of oil and gas prices this year that it will result in very marginal changes to the overall programmes of government.

“There is however no room for complacency and the Ministry (of Finance) would continue to monitor what is happening in the global environment and to refine our remedial fiscal measures to ensure that the country can respond appropriately to changes in the market for oil and gas,” Howai told legislators. Howai said that

Larry Howai over the past few months oil prices had dropped from a high of US$102.90 cents a barrel in July to US$74 a barrel as of November 26 this year.

He said the outcome of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting last week and the failure of that organization to arrive at an agreement to reduce production quotas had “resulted in the predictable further decline in the price of crude to below US$70 per barrel as of yesterday and continuing”.

Howai said there were other ‘dynamics” affecting the global oil prices including the introduction of new technology which has led to an increase in oil and gas production in the United States as well as the global economic slowdown “which has reduced the demand for

oil. “This economic slowdown is likely to be aggravated further by the fact that several oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and Russia need prices in excess of US$90 per barrel in order to balance their budgets”.

He said the change in geo political environment has led to countries like Iraq, Libya and South Sudan coming back into production in a big way and that market traders were also affecting the global price for oil.

Howai said that Trinidad and Tobago is of the view that the overall price for oil will remain below the level for which it had budgeted for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

The 2015 budget is based on a reference price of US$80 per barrel and a gas price of US$2.75 cents per mnbtu.

“These assumptions produce a total revenue of TT$60.3 billion or 32.4 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) of which the revenue derived from the energy sector is expected to amount to TT$28.4 billion with non energy sector projected at TT30.3 billion with a difference representing revenue generated on the capital account”.

He said that of the total expected from the energy sector, taxes and royalties from oil and gas companies is expected to contribute TT$21.5 billion.

Venezuela’s Maduro plans govt. pay cuts due to oil price slide CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said weekend he and other government officials should take salary cuts as part of budget reductions in response to the lower price of oil.

The South American member of OPEC derives 96 percent of its export revenues from oil, so the drop in prices to multi-year lows on the global market has hit hard, exacerbating a national economic decline, foreign currency shortage and scarcity of basic goods.

“This is a test for me,” Maduro said in a speech on state TV, reiterating that Venezuela would lobby within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cartel as well as among non-OPEC producers for an oil price target of $100 per barrel.

U.S. crude tumbled 10 percent on Friday in its biggest one-day drop in more than five years, with benchmark Brent

Nicolas Maduro breaking below $70 a barrel.

Venezuela’s petroleum export basket, which averaged $103.42 in 2012 and $98.08 in 2013, dropped to a four-year low of $68.08 on Friday, the government said.

The Venezuelan president, who last year won election to replace late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, has seen his popularity fall in part due to the economic crisis. He said he was decreeing a new

committee to recommend public spending cuts.

“This commission is going to take an axe and chop wherever we need to,” he said, adding that various budget cuts were needed. “I have ordered a revision of salaries of ministers and state enterprises, starting with the president of the republic.”

Maduro reiterated his assertion that global oil prices would eventually bounce back, and scoffed at his political foes who say the fall in revenues could be a final nail in the socialist government’s coffin.

“The oligarchy thinks it is time to defeat the Bolivarian revolution, our revolution of independence,” he said.

“I have said it before. We are in conditions to withstand the oil fall, have no doubt,” added Maduro who has repeatedly said the country’s foreign debt commitments and domestic welfare programs would both continue to be fully paid.

(Reuters) - An Egyptian court has dropped its case against former President Hosni Mubarak over the killing of protesters in the 2011 uprising that ended his 30year rule and symbolised hopes for a new era of political openness and accountability.

Mubarak, 86, was sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for conspiring to murder 239 demonstrators, sowing chaos and creating a security vacuum during the 18-day revolt, but an appeals court ordered a retrial.

His supporters erupted into celebration when the verdicts of that retrial - which also cleared Mubarak’s former interior minister Habib alAdly and six aides - were read out. The defendants had denied the charges.

Supporters outside court, carrying pictures of the ex-air force officer who dominated the most populous Arab nation for three decades, far outnumbered families of protesters who died in the Tahrir Square revolt that had embodied the hopes of Arab Spring uprisings that spread through the region.

The judge said criminal charges should never have been brought against Mubarak. The decision can be appealed, however, and the former leader was not freed as he is serving a threeyear jail term in a separate embezzlement case.

Many Egyptians who lived through Mubarak’s rule view it as a period of autocracy and crony capitalism.

His overthrow led to

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak listens next to his son Gamal (L) inside a dock during his trial at the police academy on the outskirts of Cairo Egypt’s first free election but the winner, Mohamed Mursi, was ousted last year by thenarmy chief Abdel Fattah alSisi, following protests against his rule.

Sisi, who went on to win a presidential election in May, launched a crackdown on Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood. Authorities have jailed thousands of Brotherhood supporters and sentenced hundreds to death in mass trials that drew international criticism.

By contrast, Mubarak-era figures are slowly being cleared of charges and a series of laws curtailing political freedoms have raised fears among activists that the old leadership was regaining influence. Saturday’s verdict was seen as the latest sign by activists the rights won in 2011 were being eroded.

“This is a political verdict.

The judiciary has been procrastinating for four years so they could clear him after hope had been lost,” the father of Ahmed Khaleefa, 19,

who was killed in 2011, told Reuters outside the court.

“The verdict hit us like bullets. I consider that my son Ahmed died today.”

A few dozen young people gathered to protest the verdict in the city of Suez, site of the first death of the uprising, but they were quickly dispersed by police, security sources said.

Security forces fired tear gas and birdshot and aimed water hoses on a crowd of around a thousand demonstrators who had gathered in downtown Cairo.

They had been chanting slogans against Mubarak and against Sisi and Mursi, the two men who have served as president since him. An eyewitness said both Mursi supporters and liberal secular protesters appeared to be present.

A Health Ministry spokesman told Reuters one protester was hospitalised after being exposed to tear gas but said there were no other major injuries.

Teen missing four years found alive, hidden behind wall near Atlanta Jonesboro Ga. (Reuters) - A 13-year-old boy who had been reported missing four years ago was discovered alive, hidden behind a fake wall of a home near Atlanta, Georgia, and reunited with his mother early on Saturday, police said.

Five people living in the home in Jonesboro, 17 miles (28 km) south of Atlanta, were taken into custody, among them the boy’s father, Gregory Jean, 37, and an adult female, said Sergeant Kevin Hughes of the Clayton County police.

Jean and Samantha Joy Davis face charges of false imprisonment, cruelty to children and obstructing an officer, he said, adding that three juveniles also in the home were facing obstruction charges.

The boy’s mother apparently had reported him missing to child welfare but not police, and no missing person’s report was filed in Clayton County, Hughes said.

The teen was apparently able to get to a phone recently and contacted his mother with his whereabouts, authorities said.

Clayton County police went to the home

on Friday to look for the 13-year-old but Jean and Davis said they had no information about the boy, Hughes said.

Several hours later, police came back and again searched the residence. While the police were in the home, the boy called his mother, who relayed to officers where her son was hidden in the house, Hughes said.

“They discovered him hidden behind a false wall in the interior portion of the home,” he said.

The boy appeared to be in good physical health and was reunited with his mother, who had come to Georgia from out of state, Hughes said. Neighbors in their quiet, well-kept Jonesboro neighborhood said the family moved in about six months ago and kept to themselves. The 13-year-old boy always seemed to be home and did not appear to be enrolled in school, they said. “We just thought that they liked to keep to themselves,” said neighbor Julie Pizarro, 37, adding that the boy was often seen tending the yard. “You can see the yard is immaculate,” she said. “The boy kept it that way.”

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“Very sad but realistic time for world cricket” The death of Australian left-handed international opener Philip Joel Hughes has hit us very hard indeed.

Seldom does this happen in our sport, even if, practically, similar situations could occur any time a relatively faster bowler is plying his trade.

That ball hit the back of Hughes’ head and neck, unprotected parts of the anatomy that are normally exposed when batsmen, despite almost total insulation in body armor, instinctively turn their heads away from oncoming deliveries aimed to their faces, taking those most vital body parts; the eyes; off the ball.

In this case, Hughes hooked too early, swiveling

past the ball, thus exposing his neck and back of head, signaling this great tragedy for the Hughes’ family and latest for our cricket family world-wide!

In USA, National Football League (NFL) veterans are suing their league about injuries gained during playing careers. Indeed, USA high school and college kids have recently died from concussions gotten even with tremendous protective body-pads and helmets on.

I recall “hitting” Australian off-spinning helmet-less all-rounder Bruce Yardley; Bourda 1978; after he had carved the previous delivery for six over backward point. For the next delivery, a

“bouncer”, Yardley actually backed into the ball and was “capped”. He was out cold for some considerable time!

Mostly, in olden days, myths of fast bowlers “attacking” batsmen made Aesop Fables seem like real fun!

Facing and playing really fast bowling has never been much fun, even if several great batsmen have made many runs against them, for there always will be that great fear factor that something like this could occur.

Batsmen of 1960’s, even to 1980’s, though, firstly learned how to bat intelligently, using proper techniques, especially eyes and feet to evade deliveries,

Sunday November 30, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Some fascinating conversations with friends, relatives, and others close to you could take place today, bringing new ideas your way, Aries. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Your career and financial goals should be within your grasp. Both your physical energy and inner power are operating at their peak, making this an ideal day to make clear plans. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Today you're likely to feel like the powerful creature you are. Your physical energy is high, and you look and feel great. Your intellect is sharp, so if you indulge in any kind of learning process, you will benefit greatly. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your intuition should be very high right now, as is your power of manifestation. Today you need to try to curb your thoughts and only think beautiful things, because you might find that whatever you think about seems to manifest! ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Your immediate goals and wishes might suddenly appear to come together today, seemingly of their own accord. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): If you've been working toward manifesting extra money in your life, Virgo, you will probably see it happen today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22):Obstacles that you encountered in attaining your cherished goals could suddenly seem to melt away, clearing the way to make your dreams come true, Libra. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): A lot of activity could occur at home today, Scorpio. Perhaps you will have visitors or do some work on the house. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Whatever goals you've been trying to reach may finally become reality today, Sagittarius. Finalizing everything could involve a lot of running around in the car and meeting with other people, but you're likely to feel exhilarated all the same. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Events over which you seem to have no control seem to be coming together to make things happen for you, Capricorn. You might find this a bit frightening, but don't let it get to you. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): Your energy is probably high today, almost to the point where you feel you might be able to run a marathon! Seriously, you're probably thinking in terms of getting out of town for a while. ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 March 20):Your inner power is probably at an all-time high, Pisces. You should be feeling especially confident.

before using body protection, except “boxes”!

Modern batmen, however, with “armor” on, contrary to those 30-40 years ago, seldom manage, or actually know how to use the only real parts of their bodies they should engage - their eyes and feet to evade “bouncers” and aggressive fast bowling.

When I first played 1st Class cricket; mid 1970’s; the concept of batting with a helmet on was a myth. Few, including me, ever wore helmets to ride street motor-cycles that went over 100 miles per hour.

Stupid!

No batsman back then, facing pacers (Sir) Wesley Hall (WI), Charlie Griffith (WI), Graeme McKenzie (AUS), Dennis Lillee (AUS), Peter Pollock (SA), Fred Truman (ENG), Jeff Thompson (AUS), worried too much about cricketing heath while batting. Most batsmen simply “shuffled, bobbed, ducked and weaved”, like boxers!

Modern batsmen, inexplicably, even allow deliveries to hit their bodies without swaying out of the way or using feet to elude, since they are normally “protected” by ubiquitous helmets, thigh-pads on both leg, chest and back guards, elbow guards, normal legguards etc. Nowadays, it is like bowling to Sir Lancelot!

No coach whom I have encountered in 20 years of Sports Journalism, since 1994, has ever suggested that the best form of protection from fast bowling is evasion. Noone seems to understand or appreciate feet!

Roy Fredericks (WI), (Sir) Vivian Richards (WI), (Sir) Gary Sobers (WI), Mustaq Mohammed (PAK), Wasim Raja (PAK), Gundappa Viswanath (IND), Sunil Gavaskar (IND), Clive Lloyd (WI), Ian and Greg Chappell (AUS), Alan Border (AUS), John Wright (NZ), Geoff Boycott (ENG), Gordon Greenidge (WI), Desmond Haynes (WI) etc., were very seldom hit, simply because they used their eyes and feet so stunningly well.

Modern batting geniuses Brian Lara (WI), Sachin Tendulkar (IND), Shiv Chanderpaul (WI), Rahul Dravid (IND), Inzamam ul Haq (PAK), Graeme Smith (SA), Alastair Cook (ENG), Kevin Pietersen (ENG), Steve and Mark Waugh (AUS) etc., even sometimes encased in protective gear, managed to still use their eyes and feet brilliantly too, the very first, and best, tools for evasion and protection from very fast

bowlers. But similar incidents remind us occasionally as to how dangerous cricket can be!

Most would remember WI batsman Phil Simmons being hit on the head by a delivery from Gloucestershire’s David “Syd” Lawrence in 1988.

Surprisingly, Simmons was not wearing a helmet.

Simmons “died” that day, as one reflex body consequence of being hit severely, violently, on the head is almost immediate swallowing of the tongue, thus restricting the flow of oxygen into wind-pipe and lungs.

Superb immediate medical attentions and subsequent surgical procedures kept Simmons alive after that. He is kicking as the present quite successful head-coach of Ireland.

Not so lucky has been his 25-year old Australian namesake who was destined for tremendous cricket glory, had he not succumbed so tragically.

How cricket recovers from

Colin E. H. Croft says: this real-life tragedy will be interesting!

Lara is correct in suggesting that he hopes, like we who are concerned with the evolution of cricket do, that some additional, asinine dispensation does not eventually come out of this real-life tragedy, to again penalize fast bowlers for simply doing their jobs well, while batsmen become more staid, falsely protected by laws in batsmen’s favour and by their inabilities to be mobile at the crease!

But this is a very sad time for world cricket. Losing one of our brothers in such a way was not prescribed!

Page 70

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

DIRE consequences for football in Guyana if the FIFA Normalisation Committee fails Recently there has been debate over allocation for the traditional year-end football tournament in Guyana. Kashif and Shanghai were hoping to launch the 25th edition of their popular tournament this month, whilst various associations were hopeful that they would be given their own tournament during the dates, such as the GFA and their Banks Beer tournament, which was given priority by the GFF last year over other tournaments. The debate has sadly split the footballing fraternity, with some expressing disappointment at the Normalisation Committee’s handling of affairs in regards to the matter.

With the Normalisation Committee having only been in place for just over a month, it is sad to see Guyana’s footballing fraternity once again divided so easily.

Eventually the Normalisation Committee, led

by Clinton Urling, decided to

deny Kashif and Shanghai permission to host their tournament during its traditional NovemberJanuary slot, but offered them the opportunity to host the tournament at another date in 2015. The long-term plan, the committee has said, is to hold a GFF tournament starting from next year that incorporates teams from all the associations in Guyana.

Such a move would benefit Guyanese football both from a developmental point of view and an economical one; a tournament containing all the best teams in Guyana from various associations is more likely to draw fans and generate more revenue in the process.

With the GFF administration under Christopher Matthias having previously taken the unprecedented step of imposing bans on members of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) for

hosting a tournament final on the same day as another association (GFA), it is refreshing to see the Normalisation Committee encourage associations to host their own tournaments this year free of any such implications. As such it is thought the UDFA will hold their traditional GT Beer tournament this year once again, whilst the West Demerara Football Association have also declared interest in hosting a tournament, with more associations sure to follow.

Administration within football has never been an easy job, but for too long the focus has been on financial and personal gain in Guyana rather than developing football, so it is important the Committee is given the chance to fairly assess the current situation in Guyana and implement policies which they feel can benefit the nation’s football. The

Still highlighting our football history, Statistician Charwayne Walker asks: Did you know that seven British Guiana players were invited to trials for selection to tour the United Kingdom in 1959?

Seven members of the 1959 British Guiana Team that participated in the quadrangular football series hosted by Trinidad were invited to trials. The British Guiana invitees were Compton Julian, Lewis Weithers, Hubert Braithwaite, George Greene, Monty Hope, Herman D’Andrade and Albert Mendonca. The players were invited based on their outstanding performance for British Guiana during the quadrangular football series involving host Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados.

Trinidad played unbeaten, emerging as Caribbean Champs.

Game one – British Guiana vs. Jamaica at Queens Park Oval; Result: drawn two all.

Goal scorers - Patsy Peiters and a Jamaican own goal; for Jamaica Ken East and Alvin Wong. Game two, Trinidad beat Barbados two – nil: goal scorers for Trinidad were Son Baptiste and Ronnie Gray.

Game three Jamaica beat Barbados three – one; Owen Parker scored a hat-trick while Michael Norville scored the lone Bajan goal.

Game four Trinidad beat British Guiana two – one; goal scorers for Trinidad were Len Leggard and Ronnie Gray, Skipper Hubert Braithwaite

was the British Guiana marksman. Game five Barbados beat British Guiana two – one. Goal scorer for British Guiana was Patsy Peiters while Reggie Haynes and Norville scored for Barbados. Game six Trinidad beat Jamaica two – one; goal scorers for Trinidad were Dave Cabral and Len Leggard, while Owen Parker netted for Jamaica.

The victorious Trinidad starting eleven: Patrick Gomez – Captain Len Leggard Dave Cabral Bertrand Hills Eddie Aleong Noel Daniel Doyle Griffith Carlton Franco Jeff Mahan Ronald Gray Tyrone De La Bastide After the tournament two teams were selected for the first trial to select the West Indies Football Team to the United Kingdom; the teams were led by British Guiana, Hubert Braithwaite and Trinidadian Doyle Griffith.

Braithwaite’s Team: Cammie Smith – Barbados Bertrand Hills – Trinidad Hubert Braithwaite – British Guiana Ken Largie – Jamaica Noel Daniel – Trinidad George Greene – British Guiana Len Leggard – Trinidad Reggie Haynes – Barbados Ken East – Jamaica Lewis Weithers – British Guiana

Albert Mendonca – British Guiana Doyle Griffith’s team: Son Baptiste – Trinidad Doyle Griffith – Captain – Trinidad Tyrone De La Bastide – Trinidad P. Lowe – Trinidad Herman D’Andrade – British Guiana Alvin Corneal – Trinidad Compton Julian – British Guiana L. Gittens – Grenada R. Charter – Grenada Dave Cabral – Trinidad Monty Hope – British Guiana After the first trials, three more trial matches were played before the team was selected and the British Guiana players selected were George Greene, Compton Julian, Monty Hope and Hubert Braithwaite.

Please find below the 1959 British Guiana team that participated in the quadrangular series in Trinidad – Hubert Braithwaite – Captain George Greene Monty Hope Compton Julian Lewis Weithers Herman D’Andrade Baige Devonish Harold Blenman Patsy Peiters Albert Mendonca Sydney Campbell Pico Steward Herman Mc Gowan ‘Squeaky’ Hinds Cossor Bourne

Santokie Nagulendran

committee is formed by five people with successful track records in their various fields and all of whom are working for no salary, they are working for the benefit of football and must be supported.

When FIFA installed a Normalisation Committee in October, they had one alternative option which they were seriously considering: to ban Guyana from competitive football for an indefinite period of time. Whilst some would say football in Guyana has been at a standstill for years now, the implications of an official ban would be horrendous for football in the nation and as such, the committee needs to be given all the support it needs in order to ensure it does not fail in its task; or else FIFA will step in with a ban without any hesitation.

Such a ban would mean that the National side would not be able to compete in any matches, whether it be World Cup qualifiers, CFU events or friendly games. All levels of youth teams would be unable to compete, from Under-13s to Under-21s. The women’s teams varying from youth to senior level in Guyana would be unable to compete at any international events, and any development that players

would gain as a result of competing internationally would therefore be nonexistent.

A ban would also mean no club side could take part in any CFU competitions nor would Guyanese personnel be able to attend training or development programmes run

by FIFA. This would mean a club such as Alpha United would not be able to participate in the CONCACAF Champions League as they have done so this year, nor would any coaches or staff from Guyana be able to attend the seminars that FIFA and CONCACAF hold in the region throughout the year, such as a recent FIFA Fitness course held in USA this October, which current Guyana Head Coach Denzil Thompson attended.

Guyanese players hoping to go abroad would also suffer as a result; clubs would be reluctant to sign players from a country banned by FIFA, and indeed, players currently playing abroad would have their reputations tainted. The long-term implications of a ban would affect football in Guyana for decades; it is something not even worth imagining. Nigeria was threatened with a FIFA ban this year for allowing Government interference in

their football federation, but hastily realised the repercussions a ban would have and their fraternity worked together to seek a resolution.

Gambia was initially given a ban by FIFA in May for fielding over-age players in a youth tournament, but a Normalisation Committee was created to run their footballing affairs, like in Guyana, and the ban was overturned within two months as the committee demonstrated their ability to unite the footballing fraternity and ensure such an event would not happen again.

In essence, the Normalisation Committee is Guyana’s last hope of footballing salvation in a time of despair and it’s therefore critical that they receive full support from the footballing fraternity in Guyana. Whilst Guyana’s current footballing situation is at an all-time low, (exactly four years after being ranked 86th, Guyana is currently ranked 170th in the latest FIFA World Rankings), there remains hope for progress and hope that there will be change for the better with the Normalisation Committee in charge being guided and assisted by FIFA. If the Normalisation Committee cannot bring the footballing fraternity together to work as a unit, then FIFA will step in with a ban, and any hope remaining will ultimately be lost.

Fourth Annual Winston Murray Memorial on today The Guyana National Industrial Corporation g r o u n d o n Wo o l f o r d Av e n u e i s e x p e c t e d t o come alive from 08:00hrs t o d a y, w h e n t h e f o u r t h annual Winston Murray Memorial 10/10 softball tournament takes place.

The competition which is being organized by Samuel Kingston has at stake, $100,000 to the victorious team along with a trophy and medals, while the runner-up will take

home $60,000, a trophy and medallions.

The man of the match in the final will also be rewarded with $5,000 and a trophy while the Best F i e l d e r, B o w l e r a n d Batsman will also receive prizes . The first match will have Regal XI taking on Rockaway.

This will be followed by F a r m o p p o s i n g Yo u n g Guns, defending champions Speedboat

doing battle with Shakur XI and Leguan XI going up against Omesh XI, with the winners meeting in the semifinals, following which the two victorious teams will battle for the top prize.

T h e l a t e Wi n s t o n Murray was born in the Essequibo River Island of Leguan where he played the game as an opening batsman and prior to his death, served as Chairman of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R).

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 71

Who will win the Banks DIH Champion of Only three matches possible Champion horserace meet at Rising Sun MoH/Health 2000Inc/MoE/Ansa McAl Girls Schools Football Competition

before rain has final say

(Flashback) Action from the first day of competition in the inaugural MoH/ Health 2000Inc/MoE/Ansa McAl Girls Schools Football Competition which is being played at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue Only three matches were played before a heavy downpour forced the Organisers to abandon play in the remaining games in the inaugural Ministry of Health/ Health 2000Inc/Ministry of Education/Ansa McAl Girls Schools Football Competition which resumed yesterday, at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

In the afforded time, West

Ruimveldt drew with East La Penitence, before St. Stephen’s and North Georgetown affair produced a similar result, while the lone winner of the day was Smith Memorial that defeated Tucville 1-0.

The three matches that could not be played and are rescheduled are: Stella Maris versus F.E. Pollard; South Ruimveldt vs. St. Pius and St. Margaret’s vs. Enterprise.

The day’s full results and tournament current points standing are seen below: Game-1 West Ruimveldt-0 vs East La Penitence-0 Game-2 St. Stephen’s-0 vs North Georgetown-0 Game-3 Tucville Primary-0 vs Smith Memorial Primary-1 Omefia Langeller-6th Current Group Standings

Much excitement has generated for today’s Banks DIH sponsored Champion of Champion horserace meet organised by the Rising Sun Turf Club in collaboration with the Shariff Business Enterprise and racing stable set for the Rising Sun Turf Club at Arima Park West Coast Berbice today.

A quality field has entered for the event including the main ‘A’ class event. To add some stimulus to the equation is that from how things have been going recently any one of the animals could race away with the top prize.

Eight races are carded for the day, with over $7M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs and some 70 animals have been entered.

On Friday the principals of the Kris Jagdeo and Sons Construction Company made good on their sponsorship promise with a lucrative amount, which was done at the entity’s headquarters at No 1 Road, Corentyne Berbice.

Again the feature ‘A’ and lower 1400M event is the ‘talk of the town’ and with Banks DIH Limited taking fully sponsorship responsibility the event is promises to be the race of the year. Guyana’s only ‘A’ class animal Score’s Even is in the best of condition and Dennis DeRoop will be looking for revenge after his horse lost recently. The Shariff Stable has vowed to stay in charge and with Princess She Not getting better by the day along with the recently imported Plum Plum, he is certain he has the winning combination.

The Elcock stable has the inform Guyana Cup Champion CP Got Even and the newly

Cynthia Jagdeo of the Kris Jagdeo Construction Company presents their sponsorship amount to Carl Liverpool of the Organising Committee. imported and unstoppable Curfew Tower out of the USA in the lineup.

The Jumbo Jet entity is known for its huge undertaking and aims to attack from all angles with ferocity with the likes of Appealing Harvest, Grande De Roja, Captain Crook and Jack Is My Style expected to be unleashed. The inform Treacle will not be counted out and Red and Lovely of the Night Eyes has done it before and is well rested and rearing to go. The winner will take home $1M and trophy.

Other events on the day are the three year old race for West Indies and Guyana Bred racehorses and will see the animals racing for the $400,000 and trophy.

Unsettled, Release the Beast, Royal Empire, Shooting Star, Quiet dancer, Settling Jet and the newly imported Just Call Me Boss are among those entered.

Swing Easy, Good Will Boy, Mission King, Settle in

Seattle, Captain Crook, Its My Turn, Princess Alisha and Battle Hymn among others have been entered in the E3 and lover 1400M event for a winning tag of $400,000 and trophy.

The event for two year old West Indies bred animals for a winner’s prize of $300,000 and trophy over 1100M will see the likes of Storm Bird, It’s My Choice, Gold D Kova, Miss Lewinsky, She Running Hard and Midnight Blues among others in the hunt.

Silent Night, She So Special, Weekend Surprise and Top of the Line are among those entered in the G3 and lower event for the $300,000 first prize and trophy.

The other events listed for the day are the two year old event for Guyana born animals for a first prize of $200,000, the event for ‘I’ class animals for a winning take of $200,000 and the event for J and lower animals for a $180,000 purse. (Samuel Whyte)

Port Mourant are Balram Shane 2014 Memorial 50-Over champions

BCB/NBS 40-Over Second Division final postponed The final of the Berbice Cricket Board/New Building Society 40-Over Second Division tournament, which was scheduled for today at the No. 69 Vikings Ground on the Upper Corentyne, has been postponed due to the inclement weather until further notice.

The game was to be contested between Corriverton and D’Edward after the pair advanced to the finale following them playing through the preliminary rounds successfully.

From page 72 while Albion were presented with an additional $10,000 by donor Deonarine Balram.

The Balram Shane Memorial match is played annually between the two teams in memory of Mr. Balram’s father, Balram Shane, a former cricketer and ardent cricket fan who hailed from the area. The rivalry started in 1998 and is in its 15th year. It is also used as a fund raising venture for both clubs and some other second division teams and other sporting

organisations.

At the closing ceremony, organizer Mr. Deonarine Balram of the Balram Shane General store at Rose Hall Corentyne congratulated both clubs for putting on an excellent show.

A c c o r d i n g t o M r.

Balram the competition is being played in memory of his father who was a former cricket and sports enthusiast.

He stated that apart from Cricket it is their way of giving back to the community from which

they garner their support in a tangible way. He plans to make it bigger and better next year.

Proceeds from the game will be dived equally and distributed to the two teams to assist then with the cricket development programmes. Mr. Balram further stated that a number of second division clubs and other organisations will also benefit from the proceeds of the game. These entities have been given tickets to sell and keep the proceeds.

(Samuel Whyte)

Page 72

Kaieteur News

Sunday November 30, 2014

WICB Four-Day Franchise Cricket Mackeson 3x3 Basketball Challenge Rain forces premature end to second returns tonight to Albouystown day’s play after Jaguars strike twice

The Mackeson ‘King of the Rim’ three-on-three (3x3) Basketball Challenge returns tonight to the Independence Boulevard Court in Albouystown where several teams will commence their journey to the $500, 000 first prize up for grabs.

Registration is ongoing through bars and clubs, players can also register on the night with a cut off time of 7:30pm to allow for the draws to be conducted for games. The runner-up team after the December 20 Grand Finale will pocket $300,000.

Four teams will advance

from tonight’s games in Albouystown.

The tournament will be run on a knockout basis with four teams moving forward to the next round. Teams will not be allowed to re-enter after they were booted from the tournament.

Four teams will also be drawn from the next playing date in Georgetown, which is at California Square, Thursday night.

The eight teams will contest the Georgetown Finals on Saturday where three teams will advance to the December 20 Grand

Finale.

Three teams will also be drawn from Linden (December 11-13), one from Plaisance (December 2) and one from Den Amstel (December 9) to comprise the final eight teams that will move on to the Grand Finale at California Square.

The tournament will be run according to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 rule and the Guyana Basketball Officials’ Council (GBOC) will conduct the officiating; teams will be apprised of the rules prior to the commencement of games.

Brendon McCullum: New Zealand captain hits fourth fastest Test 200 BBC Sport - New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum hit the fourth fastest double hundred in Test history on day three of the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah.

McCullum reached 200 with his 11th six from the 186th delivery he faced and was out two balls later for 202.

Only Nathan Astle and Virender Sehwag, twice, have made quicker double tons, with Astle holding the 153-ball record.

With Kane Williamson also making 192, New Zealand closed on 637-8, a lead of 286 in their bid to level the series.

The partnership of 297

between McCullum and Williamson is a New Zealand record for the second wicket, while the total of 19 sixes hit by the Black Caps is also the most in a Test innings.

For McCullum, the double hundred is his second of 2014 to go with a triple hundred, a trio of scores only previously matched in a calendar year by Sir Donald Bradman.

McCullum is a former team-mate of Phillip Hughes, the Australia batsman who died on Thursday. The New Zealand team have written Hughes’s initials on their shirts and, at the end of the day, McCullum released a

statement on behalf of the Black Caps. “Our focus at the moment is not on our performances, it is all about Phil. “We are heartbroken for Phil’s family, Greg, Virginia, Megan and Jason. No one should go through what you guys are going through right now. “You are all in our thoughts, our hearts and in Phil’s case, our memories.”

Pakistan lead the series 10 after victory in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.

Scores: New Zealand 637 for 8 (McCullum 202, Williamson 192, Rahat 489) lead Pakistan 351 by 286 runs.

A heavy shower at Providence forced the players off the field after 30 minutes of play on the second day of the third round WICB Regional Four-Day FirstClass Cricket between Guyana Jaguars and Barbados Pride yesterday before another shower at 32 minutes before Lunch resulted in play for the rest of the day being called off.

Not even one of the fastest drying outfields in International cricket could prevent play from being called off at Tea, as rain hammered the East Bank of Demerara for most of the day.

Barbados Pride, who resumed on four without loss reached 33-2 in reply to the Jaguars’ 260 and are still 228 runs away from first innings points. Jaguars collected two batting points while Pride got three bowling points.

After wicket-keeper

Anthony Bramble’s 73 and 47 from teenager Shemron Hetmyer had lifted the home team a challenging total on the opening day, Kyle Corbin and Skipper Carlos Braithwaite survived two overs yesterday in bright sunshine.

However, yesterday was a different day in terms of the weather and when play resumed in overcast conditions Kyle Corbin (6) was caught at gully by Trevon Griffith off fast bowler Ronsford Beaton with eight runs on the board.

However, although the catch looked ‘clean’ to the few people in the ground and everyone in the Radio Commentary booth, Umpire Nandkumar Shivsankar surprisingly went over to Jamaican Umpire Patrick Gustard before giving Corbin out.

Braithwaite drove Beaton handsomely past mid-off for four as the skies got darker

with rain threatening. Rain halted play shortly after and resumed after a 50-minute delay.

Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul was belated introduced into the attack after Beaton and leftarm seamer Raymond Reifer shared the new ball yesterday morning.

Permaul, the leading wicket taker in the tournament, induced Braithwaite (18) to sky one to Reifer at cover in Permaul’s first over of the day with the score on 33-2 to take his tally to 17 wickets.

Shai Hope on eight and Jonathon Carter, yet to score, were together when rain sent the players scurrying off the field for the final time.

Action on the penultimate day, today, is scheduled to commence at 09:00hrs and NCN Radio will again bring live ball-by-ball commentary on the game. (Sean Devers)

Port Mourant are Balram Shane 2014 Memorial 50-Over champions

Maria Varona Thomas played...

From page 75 (T&T).Two years after losing to Surinamese, Joel Frijde, in the 2012 Suriname Rotary Chess Open, Rashad Hussain earned sweet revenge with a decisive victory in the morning session but failed to replicate the feat against Frank Lo Kim Lin (Sur).

Haifeng Su finally scored a point after defeating his countryman, Trenton Bennett in the morning session before returning in the evening session to stamp his authority with a win over David Khan.

Loris Nathoo has had a long layoff from competitive chess and is still to get his rhythm going. He had earlier failed to turn up for his game on the inaugural day

and yesterday he conceded his first game to Glenford Corlette.

Errol Tiwari won his first game against Reyna F r i j d e ( Suriname) and capped his day with a victory over Trinidadian, Alisha Jaipersaud.

Davion Mars triumphed over Jessica Clementson in the morning session then enjoyed a walk over from Keith Simpson in the afternoon session. Ronuel Greenidge lost to D r a y t o n d u r i n g t h e morning session but rebounded to win the second game against his countryman, Glenford Corlette.

Meanwhile, former national Junior and senior champion, Taffin Khan, is

not finding it easy playing among the bigger boys. He is the only local player to contest in the Open Category and after playing 5 games, has only managed to accrue one point after two of his games, against FM Roger Matoewi (Sur) and Christopher Guzman (DCM) ended in draws. He conceded games to FM Ryan Harper (T&T), FM Orlando Husbands (Bar) and FM Martyn Del Castilo (Bar).

The players are competing for sizeable monetary awards amounting to more than US$16,000.

The winner of the Open Category receives US$2,500, while the second place finisher will get US$1,500 with the third place receiving US$1,000. The winner of the Challenger Section receives US$1,500, with the runner-up and third place taking home US$1,000US and $750 respectively. In the case of a tie, the sum at stake will be equally divided. Activities continue today.

The winning Port Mourant team take time out for a photo after winning the tournament.

Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) rebounded to defeat the powerful Albion Cricket club in a thrilling encounter to win the annual Balram Shane Memorial 50-Over cricket competition. The match was played on Sunday last at the Port Mourant Community centre.

Port Mourant won the toss and asked Albion to take first strike they posted 187 all out in 45.4. Captain Jonathan Foo, led in front with a brilliant century, scoring 109 (9x4, 3x6) he and David Latchaya 29 put together 81 for the fifth wicket to lift their team out early trouble. None of the other batsmen reached 15. Bowling for Port Mourant Devindra

Thakurdeen led the way with figures of 4 for 24 with support from Besham Deolall 2 for 46, while there was one wicket apiece for Asif Chan, Yougendra Harrinarine and Troy Gonsalves.

In reply Port Mourant were made to fight as Albion in true fashion refused to give in easily. The host soon found themselves in a spot of bother at 48-3 in the 19 overs. It took a fighting fourth wicket partnership of 55 between Troy Gonzales with an undefeated 60(4x4, 1x6) and Lloydel Lewis 55 (2x4) to bring them back into the game.

Lewis departed with the score on 114. Ameer Khan 28 (1x4, 2x6) then came in and along

with Gonsalves and they carried their team to 175.

Gonzales stayed to the end as his team reached victory at 188-7.

Bowling for Albion Gudakesh Motie picked up 3for 27 with Veerapen Permaul taking two and Baldeo grabbing one. Thakurdeen was later named man of the match. It was the third win for Port Mourant with one match being rained out.

Both teams received $100,000 each, while Port Mourant also received an additional $20,000, the beautiful Balram Shane trophy and a hamper compliments of Geddes Grant, (Continued pn page

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 73

Swimming for Gold in Twin Island Republic Experienced and dedicated swim Coach Stephanie Fraser of the Dorado Speed Swim Club (DSSC) along with the club’s young girls and boys and special guest swimmers from the Silver Sharks Swim Club (SSSC) and Orca Speed Swim Club (OSSC) are heading to the big swim meet in the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago known as the A S AT T I n t e r n a t i o n a l Invitational Championships 2014.

The meet which will run from Thursday, December 11 to Sunday, December 14 is being hosted by the Marlins Swim Club, situated at St. Anthony’s College Grounds, Diego Martin.

Fraser said the meet is an annual Long Course 50m Inter-Club swimming championship that is sanctioned by the World Governing Body FINA which means the times made at this meet can be used as FINA qualifying times for International championships in 2015.

Club teams have participated in past championships from all the Caribbean countries as well as clubs from Venezuela, USA, Sweden and Great Britain. Last year, over 300 swimmers from over 31 Clubs participated.

Fraser, going under the Dorado Speed Swim Club banner, will be taking a total of 14 swimmers along with 12 parents and supporters.

The swimmers are Omar Adams, Omari Dunn, Satish Ramlagan and Soroya Simmons in the 15 and Over category.

Amy Grant

Stephanie Fraser Phillip DeNobrega and Daniel Scott in the 13- 14 age group. Competing in the 1112 age group is Antonio Hussein, while Donna Carter will be representing the 9-10 category. The 8 years and Under class will see Raekwon Noel, Ethan Gonsalves, Elliott Gonsalves, Vladimir Woodroffe and Monique Watson aiming for top honours.

Also travelling with the Dorado contingent will be The Bishops’ High school mates Amy Grant of Silver Sharks Swim Club, representing in the Girls 1112 category and Accalia Khan of the Orca Swim Club, representing the Girls 13- 14 age group.

Stating that it has been a long and busy season, Fraser also said that the young team of swimmers who have little or no international exposure are all eagerly looking forward to the experience and in the process, mark their

Antonio Hussein names in the FINA Points Ranking List. The youngsters will also look forward to making new “swimming” friends.

The experienced Coach Fraser is undoubtedly elated as she is expecting medals in most of the age groups. In the Boys 8 and Under, Raekwon Noel is very likely to place in the top three. Omar Adams, Phillip DeNobrega, Antonio Hussein, Soroya Simmons, Amy Grant and Accalia Khan are also expected to finish in the top three of their respective pet events.

Fraser noted that in the past they were only represented by four or five swimmers and the results were good. Swimmers the likes of Niall Roberts, Simmons, Noelle Smith, Alan Lowe and Yannick Roberts have returned with silver and bronze medals or have finished in the top five in their respective events.

Fraser who has been coaching for the past 21

Omar Adams

Soroya Simmons

years, since the resuscitation of Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) in 1993, has a wish

for a GOLD CHRISTMAS for all the swimmers, parents, coaches and club officials who have made lots

of sacrifices in order to have this talented team of swimmers accomplish their personal goals.

Israeli umpire dies after Phillip Hughes death: being hit by cricket ball Australia v India Test delayed JERUSALEM (AFP) – An umpire and former c a p t a i n o f I s r a e l ’s national cricket team died on Saturday after being hit in the jaw by a ball, the country’s cricket association said.

His death comes just two days after Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died of a severe head injury after being hit by a bouncer in a New South Wales match in Sydney.

Israeli police ruled out foul play in the incident that led to the death of the umpire, named by the Israel

Cricket Association as 55-year-old Hillel Oscar, in the southern port city of Ashdod.

ICA chief Naor Gudker told AFP Saturday’s game was the last in the national league season. “ We ’ r e s i m p l y i n shock,” he said from the hospital where Oscar was pronounced dead. “ H e w a s a n international umpire. He officiated in European championships, he officiated in games in Israel: his future was ahead of him,” Gudker

said.

“He was a player for the national Israeli team and he was captain of the national team.”

Police said they were investigating his death.

“We know a ball was hit in his direction, he tried to escape it, he fell — what happened there is still being investigated,” Gudker told AFP. “The entire Israel Cricket Association and players bow their heads in his memory. He was a wonderful man, cricketer, and umpire,” Gudker said.

BBC Sport - The first Test between Australia and India has been delayed following the death of Phillip Hughes.

The match in Brisbane was due to begin on Thursday, but will be rescheduled after it was announced that Hughes’s funeral will take place on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old died after being struck on the neck by a bouncer.

“We simply couldn’t or wouldn’t expect our players to be emotionally ready to start a Test,” said Cricket Australia chief executive

James Sutherland.

“Their welfare is our absolute priority.

They are grieving and to expect that they could play a high-pressured, five-day Test match the following day is out of the question.”

Hughes, who played 26 Tests for Australia, died last Thursday, two days after being struck by a bouncer while batting for South Australia against his former team, New South Wales, in a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney.

His funeral will take place at 03:00 GMT on Wednesday in his family’s

home town of Macksville in northern New South Wales.

The service - in the sports hall of Macksville High School, which he attended will be broadcast live in Australia and on big screens at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval, the home grounds of New South Wales and South Australia.

The Brisbane Test was due to be the first of four between Australia and India and will be followed by a one-day international triseries also involving England.

Page 74

Kaieteur News

Caribbean Motor Racing Championship…

Allie planning all out attack on title next year

Former Group 2 champion US-based Afraz Allie speaking with Kaieteur Sport via e-mail said despite the challenges faced during the recently concluded final leg of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), his team is planning an all out attack on the regional title come next year.

According to the Guyanese racer, apart from some unfortunate incidents that occurred during the races in the CMRC, the team was extremely satisfied with his Toyota Starlet’s performance and they are eager to showcase its capability come next season.

Allie, who came into the country just two days prior to the final leg of the CMRC Series finished with a third place, before retiring for the remainder of the day after being hit from behind whilst leading the second race, forcing

Sunday November 30, 2014

EC seat most positive event in CARICOM boxing - Stephen Jones

Afraz Allie

The fast Toyota Starlet of US-based Guyanese racer Afraz Allie. him out of competition.

“In every race I was in contention and had it not been for brakes issue in the first race after I had moved up from fifth to second, before the brakes failed relegating me to third I might have won that race,” Allie felt.

The local speedster said that the brakes issue was quickly resolved in time for the second race in the category and he leaped into the lead from the start only

to be hit from the car behind, taking him into a spin which placed him into the path of an oncoming car that slammed into his, badly damaging the front and ultimately forcing an early retirement.

Allie said he plans to compete in all four leags next year starting with the one in Jamaica, before going on to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and then on to Guyana.

He expressed gratitude

to the following spknsors for their continued support as well as those who came on board for the first time.

They include: Classic Printing Supplies, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Prems’s Electrical, Mike’s C o p y C e n t r e , Tu l s h i machine Shop, Cellphonix, Clifton Auto Spares and accessories, Ramchand Wr e c k e r S e r v i c e a n d Guytrac through its Crown Battery.

Stephen Jones

Steve Ninvalle

Guyana’s elevation to the Executive Committee of AIBA is being hailed as the most positive development in boxing in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in years.

President of the Jamaica Boxing Association Stephen Jones admitted that the region is re-energised by its recent promotion to the AIBA hierarchy and the Caribbean is now a more united boxing family.

“I can say without hesitation that the election of Mr. (Steve) Ninvalle to A I B A’ s E x e c u t i v e Committee is the most positive move that has happened to the sport of boxing in our region in years.

To have a voice that is not only respected by the federations in the Americas, but understands the plight that we have faced is paramount,” Jones said.

Ninvalle, the president of the Guyana Boxing Association, created history at the Congress in South Korea earlier this month when he became the first person from the 15nation CARICOM to be elected to the Executive Committee of AIBA. The governing body for boxing in the world, AIBA has 196 member countries and is considered the second most powering sport organization after FIFA. Jones explained that the Caribbean needs to have its concerns relayed directly to AIBA and Ninvalle’s election is could not have come at a better time.

“With a voice on the Executive Committee at the very least our concerns would be heard.

I applaud Steve and will ensure that he has the full support of the Jamaica Boxing Association whenever necessary,” Jones promised.

The JBA boss pointed out that the region is in need of support and anticipates that Ninvalle’s recent elevation will assist in providing a cushion.

“The most important thing at the moment would be more assistance from AIBA, whether it is courses for the coaches and officials, or tournaments that can be considered qualifying events for the Olympics.”

Jones was one of 11 presidents from Caribbean associations who travelled to South Korea for the elections.

He acknowledged that there was a sense of renewed Caribbean unity at the Congress which augurs well for the sport.

“It was truly encouraging to see how all the Caribbean Presidents had galvanized around Steve, fueled by the confidence we had in him, to help guide us as one boxing family. It is reenergizing if not a rebirth.”

Since the Congress, there has been an upsurge in activity among Caribbean nations and a call for the all AIBA affiliated regional countries to make a special effort to update their status.

Sunday November 30, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 75

National Darts C/ships commence - Hiralall, Rambharose shine Darts players converged on the Malteenoes Sports Club on Friday evening to compete in the Len’s sponsored National Darts Championships.

The night saw two events p l a y e d o ff , t h e Te a m competition and the Mixed Doubles.

In the team event, Family Squad got the better of Triple 20 5-0, winning the singles and doubles games as well as the 1001 games.

They got to the final by disposing of Bank of Guyana by a similar margin, while Triple 20 got there after taking out All Stars 3 games to 2. In the Mixed Doubles 501, Lalchand Rambharose

and Rosetta Hiralall put on a fine display to reach the final (to be played today, Sunday, Nov. 30).

In their semi-final matchup against Colin France and Shondell Hyles, they wrapped it up 2-0 with a 16-darts finish.

The other finalists are Miguel Merlano and Mary Correia who defeated Adrian Damon and Melissa Smartt 2-0 in their semi-final clash.

On a night when it was announced that there will be special incentive prizes for player(s) who throw the most 180s and the most hundreds, 41 hundreds were registered in total by several players.

Maria Varona Thomas played brilliantly to assume lead among local players

Power stroke? Maria Varona Thomas raises her hand high to emphasize the brilliance of the stroke against Jamaican, Andrew Mellace.

By Michael Benjamin Maria Varona Thomas scored an upset victory over former national champion, Kriskal Persaud in her first game yesterday morning and later returned to hold Jamaican, Andrew Mellace to a draw and solidified a frontline position with 3 ½ points when action on the third day of the Umada Cup 2014 Chess Championships concluded at the Sleep Inn Hotel, Brickdam, Stabroek, yesterday evening.

Kaieteur Sport had inadvertently missed Thomas’ unbeaten streak so far in the tournament which has placed her level, on 3 points with Persaud, when the second day’s play had concluded.

Thomas started the tournament on a winning note after defeating Surinamese, Calvin Finkie, on Friday. On day two, she chalked up victories against Frank Lo Kim Lin (Sur) before defeating National Junior Champion, Haifeng

Su. Unlike the first two days when he won all of his games, Persaud did not enjoy good fortunes and conceded his second game yesterday to WIM, Jamaican, Debra Richards.

National Senior Chess Champion, Wendell Meusa, lost both of his games; to Trinidadian, Esan Wiltshire and Avikaar Malgie of Suriname, respectively, to remain 2 ½ points.

David Khan had barely managed one point after two games on day two but started his quest yesterday morning with a clear cut victory over Ishvar Ramlal (Sur) then his countryman, Haifeng Su Former National Junior Champion and Candidate Master, Anthony Drayton, rebounded from an earlier defeat to Persaud with a win in his first game yesterday against Ronuel Greenidge and closed off a successful day with a victory over CM Frank Sears (Continued on page 72)

WICB Four-Day Franchise Cricket

t r o p S

Rain forces premature end to second day’s play after Jaguars strike twice

Rain had the final say at Providence yesterday.

Brendon McCullum: New Zealand captain hits fourth fastest Test 200

Brendon McCullum hit the fourth fastest double hundred in Test history. (Getty Images)

Mackeson 3x3 Basketball Challenge returns tonight to Albouystown

Flashback! Onlookers pay attention to the keen battle at the Independence Boulevard Basketball Court two years ago. Mackeson 3x3 Basketball Championships returns tonight in Albouystown.

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