Kaieteur News

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Don’t be fooled Freddie!

DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to respond to an article of Freddie Kissoon on October 2nd, 2015 (KNews) where he cries foul and distinguishes himself as a victim.

If indeed he is, then it is because of his own making and likeness. I made your readers aware that besides being a columnist in your newspaper, he is also a bully and an attention seeker of the highest order and he did not like that fact.

His response was to react with personal criticism and as such, I seek to return the favour.

Freddie Kissoon does not have a mirror to look at himself and if he did, then he would ask the key question, “Why am I grabbing the headlines for the wrong reasons?”

Editor, if I was to list all the other writers and columnists that see Freddie for what he is, a schoolboy attention seeker, he would sit back and take stock of his abrasive and often patchy understanding of real life issues.

Freddie should heed my advice and call Dr Wladmir Klitschko who is a fighter, I am not a fighter nor a counter-puncher of any stature. Instead, I respect, participate and appreciate good debates on matters of concern.

I am not a phantom, I am real and often aim for objective, rational and sensible discourse or approach of other people’s perspective. Of course, I

am not perfect. Maybe Freddie is and I will tell you why he is not, in a moment.

In my letter dated 30th September I wrote, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he is as miserable as sin apart from carefully constructed moments of charm when in the act of deceiving.”

Well, I got him exactly where I need him, Freddie bit the bait and set out to deceive the public, once again, by pretending to be the intellect of all intellects. He perceives himself to be a constructive critique guru of distinction.

Not this time Freddie, you got it so wrong and I am about to expose you.

He set out his stall to make people believe that once you read Kaieteur you definitely or automatically read his column. What a presumption?

Every person who reads the Kaieteur Newspaper on a daily basis, and I do, cannot miss Freddie Kissoon’s headlines and photograph, unless blind.

This does not make the person a reader of his rants and better still, Freddie should not conclude that everyone does. As a reminder, Freddie would appreciate that there are various types of ‘reading’.

Deep reading and superficial reading are just two of those types.

To save Freddie the hassle of research, Birkerts (1994) coined, the active process of thoughtful and deliberate reading carried out to enhance one’s

comprehension and enjoyment of a text as deep reading.

On the contrary, shallow reading was concerned with and understanding only the easily apparent and obvious, not profound.

You don’t need to be a genius or a person who is intellectually minded to work out that everyone who reads the Kaieteur also reads Freddie Kissoon’s column.

It is true, I hope he feels good but equally one has to ask, “To what extent readers of Kaieteur Newspaper engage with his rants, complaints and utter nonsense?”

Don’t be fooled Freddie and stop deceiving the public to believe that because they cannot miss your daily headlines they are presumed deep readers of your column, far from the truth.

So here is my confession, I am agreeing with you, I Brendon Mounter do read, in the main, most of Freddie Kissoon’s writings in the Kaieteur Newspaper, ‘on the surface’.

Does that make me dishonest? You be the judge Freddie. Does everyone sees the headlines? Oh yes. Do they read your daily column?

Don’t be fooled. Do the Maths Freddie, something you as a social commentator may find difficult.

Brendon Mounter

CCJ has established an extremely daunting precedent in the Commonwealth

DEAR EDITOR, With the accession to power of an administration demonstrably committed to governance based on the rule of law, loyal Guyanese are anticipating with bated breath a spate of tortious actions against public officials by the honourable Attorney General for malfeasance in public office. Depressingly, up to the time of writing there have been no such proceedings despite the removal of various public officials from office for abuse of their powers.

On 27th June, 2011 the Caribbean Court of Justice in an earth-rending decision determined that the Attorney General of Belize, as official custodian of the national patrimony, was competent to bring an action for the tort

of malfeasance in public office against delinquent officials.

In so doing, the Caribbean Court of Justice established an extremely daunting precedent in the Commonwealth where CARICOM public officials, were addicted to dissembling for the outside world their spurious commitment to good governance while sanctimoniously engaging the services of regional banks in furtherance of their criminal transactions.

The determination of the Caribbean Court of Justice in Florencio Marin and Jose Coye v Attorney General of Belize [2011] CCJ 9 (AJ) will hopefully bring to an end this culture of ignominy.

Continued on page 23

Lack of Job Opportunities DEAR EDITOR, I am writing this letter to bring to your attention the lack of job opportunities for our youths. Many young individuals are being denied of a job even though they are qualified, with excuses such as being underage.

But may I point out that children are being supported by their fathers up to age 16.

What then are children living with their mothers who don’t have the money to further their education and can’t get a job, going to do?

Are they supposed to make babies for that two years until they reach 18? Or are they to go and get married?

It’s as though they got the grades in vein. It’s hard on single mothers, especially

when there is no support from the fathers or vice versa.

When an individual finishes Secondary school at age 16 plus, they should be able to find a job, especially when they have their subjects.

Everyone is looking for a start in which they can build a future for themselves; so why then are they being denied because of their age?

Then the Government should let them finish school at age 18, which I would not recommend because that’s a

practice to make the minds of these young individuals lazy.

Every individual building a career has to start at some point, so why then are many organizations demanding experience person? What exactly are they doing to the future of this country?

I would like to get some answers to my questions. I’m wrote CSEC this year and I got ten subjects; ones and twos and I’m still unable to secure a job.

Janiel Trisana Trotman

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 05 2015

CARICOM’S friendship with Venezuela must not be at Guyana’s expense - Granger

By Gary Eleazar Favourable concessions afforded to CARICOM territories under Venezuela’s Petrocaribe deal will not lead them to compromise their solidarity with Guyana on its border controversy with Venezuela.

At least, that is the optimistic view that Head of State, President David Granger expressed last Thursday when he met with the local media corps at the Ministry of Presidency, following his return to Guyana from the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly.

Responding to questions, Granger sought to point out that on the Petrocaribe arrangement which Venezuela entered into with a number of Caribbean countries, oil prices are concessional but all who have signed onto Petrocaribe are on equal

“They have always been on our side; they have never let us down and I don’t expect them to let us down...”

President David Granger footing with respect to how much is paid.

Guyana, he said, has been a beneficiary of Petrocaribe but, “we pay the same price as anybody else.”

He explained that under the Petrocaribe arrangement, it is just a matter of how countries are allowed to pay for the oil it takes from Venezuela.

“So don’t feel that life will end if these agreements come to an end, they are favourable, they are expressions of friendliness and we would like them preserved,” said Granger in reference to the oil and rice transactions Guyana has under Petrocaribe.

Speaking about the favorable concessions and CARICOM’s support for Guyana, President Granger said: “We are not in a tradeoff, and I don’t believe any of our Caribbean colleagues are in a trade-off between Guyana and Petrocaribe; I don’t think it’s a deal.”

He conceded that Venezuela has over the past 50 years been aggressively building friendships in the Caribbean Region.

The President said that Venezuela controls the largest section of the Caribbean Sea and it would hold a keen interest there, since “much of Venezuela’s oil has to pass through the Caribbean, so Venezuela is concerned about the security of the Caribbean….It has done a lot of work in the last 50 years to build friendships.”

The President said too, while the relationships between Venezuela and several CARICOM nations are acknowledged, “we feel that the friendships must not be at the expense of Guyana’s territorial integrity.”

“I would say with confidence that the Caribbean

States, particularly under the chairmanship of (Barbados’) Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart, have been on our side, they have always been on our side they have never let us down and I don’t expect them to let us down.”

Next month, all of the CARICOM Heads are scheduled to gather in Malta, along with their Commonwealth counterparts at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, “and I expect the support of the entire Commonwealth on this matter as well,” Granger said.

Save for a broad statement from CARICOM expressing solidarity with Guyana, there have been little to no expressions of support from individual Member States. But Granger said that he was not disappointed about this.

“There is no place for disappointment in international relations, you have to be realistic,” said Granger.

The President conceded

that the individual CARICOM states would have their own national interests, “and I expect that the Caribbean States would behave in a manner consistent with their national interest….We got the support of CARICOM; maybe it was not as forceful as some people expected, but we are satisfied that the Caribbean Community wants to see the Caribbean remain a zone of peace and is on the side of Guyana.”

The resuscitated claims over the entire Essequibo led to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon arranging a special meeting between President Granger and Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro.

Granger said that while there were commitments made on Maduro’s part on the matter of installing ambassadors between the two countries, Maduro gave no guarantees that there will be no further aggression towards Guyana, ahead of any solutions to the border

controversy.

Any such solution is to be arrived at by the Special United Nation’s delegation tasked with investigating the situation.

He spoke of the four broad agreements undertaken between the two countries following the meeting that was facilitated

by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.

According to Granger, Maduro agreed to have the Guyana nominee, Cheryl Miles, assigned as the Ambassador to Caracas, while the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Reina Diaz, would be returned.

Maduro, he said, agreed to receive the delegation nominated by the UN Secretary General.

Granger said that when the team had visited Guyana, the Venezuelans had lamented the timing as inconvenient.

He said too that the troops which were deployed in the Cuyuni area in western Guyana by Venezuela have been withdrawn, “so we feel that those four matters were to Guyana’s advantage.”

Child Advocacy Centre opens on Essequibo Coast The Child Advocacy Centre

Members of the Child Protection Agency, Blossom Inc, RIVAH, International Vision of Hope and Digicel were present when the Children’s Advocacy centre was officially opened, at Land of Plenty, on the Essequibo Coast, two Fridays ago.

The centre, like the five others which were established across Guyana, will seek to offer children and non- offending families, child abuse services and a chance of hope, especially after

encountering traumatic experiences.

It was likewise underscored by members of the visiting and resident representatives that in order to effectively address and fight the issue of child abuse, it would take a holistic approach not only by the Child Protection Agency, but also by the inclusionary bodies of both stakeholders and local non governmental agencies ( NGOs).

Region Two Chairman, Devenand Ramdatt, noted

that all the participatory agencies are indeed making a dedicated effort to confront child abuse. Ramdatt asserted that “ child abuse” is the worst form of sexual abuse while making note that Guyana has one of the lowest rates of child abuse.

Essequibo, however, Ramdatt said, has the highest suicide rate.

Ramdatt is convinced that children are affected increasingly by family members and people as a (Continued on page 12)

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Clinton gets endorsement of Majority of EU nations seek opt-out from growing GM crops largest U.S. labor union Reuters - U.S. Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, who has been vying with challenger Bernie Sanders for the support of organized labor, scored a win on Saturday with an endorsement from the National Education Association, a huge teachers union.

The NEA, the largest U.S. labor union with 3 million members, is the latest in a string of unions to support Clinton, including the American Federation of Teachers and the machinists’ union.

Clinton’s lead in opinion polls has been narrowing against Sanders, a Vermont senator who has rallied progressives with his pledges to tackle income inequality and rein in Wall Street.

NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia praised Clinton as a strong leader who would work for students, teachers and families “because she understands the road to a stronger U.S. economy starts in America’s public schools.”

Eskelsen Garcia said 75 percent of the 175-member board of directors voted to endorse Clinton.

Hillary Clinton Clinton issued a statement saying she was honored to get the NEA endorsement.

“As president, I will fight to defend workers’ right to organize and unions’ right to bargain collectively, and I will ensure that teachers always have a voice and a seat at the table in making decisions that impact their work,” she said.

Clinton is trying to win over labor, often a key source of volunteers and funds for Democrats in the effort to build a broad coalition within her party and avoid a potentially damaging, drawn-

out primary fight.

In a setback for Clinton, the International Association of Fire Fighters has abandoned its initial plans to endorse her, the New York Times reported on Friday.

Clinton has struggled recently following a stream of news about her use of a private email server while secretary of state.

A rolling five-day Reuters/Ipsos poll dated Sept.

29 found Clinton’s support within her party at 44 percent, compared to 28 percent for Sanders. As recently as August she had 56 percent support for the nomination.

The winner of the primary contest will face the Republican nominee in the November 2016 election.

Labor leaders are pressing Clinton on issues ranging from the minimum wage to trade. One flashpoint is the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed free-trade agreement backed by President Barack Obama but opposed by unions, which see it as bad for U.S. jobs and wages.

Clinton has remained neutral on TPP, saying a final agreement must protect American workers.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) Nineteen EU member states have requested opt-outs for all or part of their territory from cultivation of a Monsanto geneticallymodified crop, which is authorized to be grown in the European Union, the European Commission said yesterday.

Under a law signed in March, individual countries can seek exclusion from any approval request for genetically modified cultivation across the 28nation EU. The law was introduced to end years of stalemate as genetically modified crops divide opinion in Europe.

Although widely grown in the Americas and Asia, public opposition is strong in Europe and environmentalists have raised concerns about the impact on biodiversity.

Commission spokesman Enrico Brivio yesterday confirmed in an emailed statement the Commission had received 19 opt-out requests following the expiry of a deadline on Saturday.

Enrico Brivio The requests are for opt-outs from the approval of Monsanto’s GM maize MON 810, the only crop commercially cultivated in the European Union, or for pending applications, of which there are eight so far, the Commission said.

The requests have been or are being communicated to the companies, which have a month to react.

Under the new law, the European Commission is responsible for approvals, but requests to be excluded also have to be

submitted to the company making the application.

In response to the first exclusion requests in August from Latvia and Greece, Monsanto said it was abiding by them, even though it regarded them as unscientific.

The new EU law has critics from both sides.

The industry has said it breaks rules on free movement, while environment campaigners say it is a weak compromise open to court challenges from biotech companies.

The Commission spokesman said the number of requests proved that the new law provides “a necessary legal framework to a complex issue”.

The 19 requests are from Austria, Belgium for t h e Wa l l o n i a r e g i o n , Britain for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany (except for research), Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia.

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 05, 2015

Nigerian former oil Osborne promises to fund infrastructure, poaches rival’s policy minister ‘arrested’: reports Reuters - Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will launch a programme today to spur infrastructure investment in Britain, poaching the policy from the left-wing opposition to stake the government’s claim to the centre ground.

At the Conservative Party conference, Osborne will say the government will invest 5 billion pounds ($7.6 billion) by 2020 and pool local government pension pots into six wealth funds worth 25 billion pounds each to invest in vital infrastructure.

Alongside incentives for grandparents to help with childcare, Osborne’s new policies move to address criticism over his austerity drive, and strike at the heart of the opposition Labour

Party’s attempts to rally support for its new leader.

Positioning the Conservatives in traditionally Labour territory, Osborne’s efforts to bring the party into the “centre ground” will feed suggestions that he is the prime minister in waiting after David Cameron said he would step down by 2020.

“Where would Britain be if we had never built railways or runways, power stations or new homes? Where will be in the future if we stop building them now?” Osborne will say at the conference in the northern city of Manchester.

“I’m not prepared to turn round to my children - or indeed anyone else’s child and say: I’m sorry, we didn’t build for you ... We have to shake Britain out of its inertia on the projects that matter most,” he will say, according to extracts of his speech released in advance.

Labour’s new far-left leader Jeremy Corbyn has struggled to overcome divisions over some of his defence and foreign policies, but his main argument - that Britain suffered from a lack of infrastructure and housing investment - had found strong support among

George Osborne economists and industry groups.

As well as securing 5 billion pounds ($7.6 billion) from asset sales, funds for infrastructure will also come from pooling 89 local authority pension funds into six new British Wealth Funds - each with assets of over 25 billion pounds, Osborne will say.

While the funds can use the money for different investments, Treasury aides expect larger amounts to go into infrastructure.

Rules protecting brownfield sites from

development will be swept away, he will say, adding that the government will set up a new commission to work out what needs to be built, headed by the former Labour cabinet minister and transport secretary, Andrew Adonis.

Asked if this was stealing Labour policy, a Treasury aide said: “The Chancellor is open to good ideas.”

The International Monetary Fund has encouraged Britain to spend more on infrastructure, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says British government capital spending ranked 18th out of 24 developed countries in 2013.

Osborne cannot easily invest more after he toughened his commitment to fiscal austerity last year, but by pooling pension funds he may have got around it.

It is not the first time Osborne has stolen Labour policy.

A tactician, in July, he announced a big rise in the minimum wage to help plug the gap caused by cuts to welfare benefits for the working poor. Labour has long pressed for what it calls “a living wage”.

Lagos (AFP) - Nigeria’s former oil minister has been arrested in London, the BBC said last week quoting unnamed family members, after Britain’s National Crime Agency said it had detained five people over alleged international corruption.

The identities and nationalities of those held were not disclosed but the broadcaster said on its website that relatives of Diezani AlisonMadueke confirmed she had been arrested in the British capital. Alison-Madueke was Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources from 2010 until earlier this year when Muhammadu Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in presidential polls.

She was the first woman to hold the post in Nigeria — Africa’s number one crude producer — and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC. Britain’s NCA, which investigates serious and organised crime, said in a statement on its website that its international corruption unit arrested five people across London.

The arrests were “part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money-laundering offences”, it added. No further details were given but Nigerian media reported that

Diezani AlisonMadueke Alison-Madueke was granted bail but had her passport seized and was ordered to stay at her London address.

The 59-year-old, a close ally of Jonathan whose administration was dogged by allegations of corruption, has faced accusations of graft in the past but denied wrongdoing. Buhari, who was elected on an anti-corruption ticket, has pledged to crack down on endemic fraud in government and state-run agencies, in particular in the oil sector.

He has said that “mindboggling” sums have been stolen over the years and promised to prosecute those responsible. But he has also said he would not conduct a witch-hunt against the former administration.

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

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The royal class wants to be treated royally There has been no economic recession in Guyana. There is no negative growth in the economy; there has been a slowdown in business activity ever since the APNU/AFC government came to power.

The economy has not stopped growing. It grew in 2014 and it grew in the first half of this year. The PPPC therefore cannot be blamed for the present crisis in the business community.

The economy has grown at a slower rate, but it is still growing. This is not a novel phenomenon. Economies always grow at different rates over different periods. China, which has enjoyed economic growth for the past two decades, has seen its growth rate dip; but it is still growing.

The problem with the economy in Guyana is that the business community,

including very small businesses, is reporting that sales are poor. People are not buying as much as they ought to be buying. There is a contraction in business activity.

The problems in rice, sugar and gold cannot be lumped together and blamed for the slowdown. Rice prices during 2014 were at their highest ever. There has been a fall off, but rice production has more than compensated for this fall off in the price for rice. The decline in the sugar and gold production has not led to a negative growth in the economy. Rice production in fact has ensured that there remains positive growth.

This has always been the trend in terms of commodity production and prices. Falling production and prices of some commodities was compensated for by increased production and

export prices of others. Thus, while some sectors may have declined, the overall economy dipped.

The contraction in business activity therefore cannot be laid at the contraction in production of certain sectors because the economy continues to grow.

It is not sure though whether it will register growth for the last half of this year.

The new government has not done a proper diagnosis of the problem. It has sought refuge in the excuse that the contraction in business activity began with the PPP, and it has supplemented this excuse with another, to wit, that certain sectors in the economy contracted under the PPP beginning in 2014. If it did its research, it would see that even before 2014 there was contraction of certain sectors, yet growth was sustained.

Dem boys seh...

Guyana paying for willful waste Every morning some people does wake up and wonder how some people can do bad things and get away wid it. And then dem does go out and hear how wha de people do is because de people allow dem to do it.

People vote to get rid of Burnham party because dem seh that Burnham was a dictator and that he punish people. Nuff people now finding out that de new people who dem put in help demself and couple people. Everybody else get wha de pockets of de leaders couldn’t hold.

Now dem boys busy counting how much money de old people waste pun projects that was nutten more than a screen fuh dem to pocket money. Dem boys count de money that spend pun de hydro road and realize that dem coulda get a hospital.

Then dem count de money that spend pun de ICT programme and realize that good money gone down de drain. That coulda build couple housing scheme fuh poor people who woulda pay back de money anyhow. De ICT programme ain’t paying back nutten.

Well Soulja Bai got some people who trying

to recover de money from de ICT thing but dem boys seh that is like picking up salt from de floor. And of course if water drop pun de salt you get some idea how much money you can pick up.

De thing is that nobody ain’t get charge fuh de criminal waste of money. Old people got a saying that willful waste mek woeful want. Is now people realize why Guyana still poor. De Creatah seh that when people waste something it mean that dem don’t need it.

Guyana waste money, although some people pocket nuff, suh de country will never get rich because de Creatah decide to show Guyanese that wha dem don’t protect dem gun lose.

Of course, Soulja Bai is a church man and he get a vision that de Creatah punishing Guyana. That is why he going to church and praying. Moses doing de same thing. Dem believe that prayer changes things. But while dem praying and conducting audits dem still got people who wasting money.

Talk half and think about helping de Creatah to change he mind bout Guyana.

The decline in business activity is a product of a decline in spending, not necessarily growth.

The contraction in business represents a loss of confidence in the economy. It is suggestive that the business class does not have confidence in plans and policies of the government.

The business class in Guyana is like some political leaders in Guyana. It is infatuated with itself.

The business class wants to be treated royally because it believes that it is royalty.

Governments on the other hand are usually more interested in demanding loyalty rather than treating the private sector as royalty.

The slowdown of business activity reflects a lack of confidence by the business community in the management of the economy and not necessarily in the government. The same business class has no problems with either the AFC or APNU because they found close to 1.4 billion dollars to fund the campaign of these two parties. The problem is not AFC or APNU. It is just they lack confidence in the economic policies of the government.

They lack this confidence because they have seen very little so far in terms of policies to boost private sector growth and development.

The 2015 Budget advanced

no measures that the ‘royal” class will view ecstatically.

In fact, the government’s confrontations with deals made by the previous administration with Chinese companies and its dumping of major projects planned by the former administration may have created apprehensions within the business class that the government may be antibusiness.

These perceptions would have led to a reaction from the business community and it is this reaction that has created loss of confidence in the

economic policies of the government.

The business class is not flexing its muscles. It has little to flex. It is being cautious.

The good news is that Christmas is around the corner and things are likely to improve but unless there is confidence by the business class in what the government is doing economically, the same business deceleration is likely to be repeated.

Monday October 05, 2015

UK Expert alarmed…

By Kiana Wilburg A UK expert on Asset Recovery is currently gathering information on Guyana’s systems for thwarting corruption as well as examining how much use law enforcement agencies have made of its legislation in this regard.

Mr. Brian Horne is appalled at his findings.

“I don’t think at the moment there have been any prosecutions or use of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Legislation (AML/ CFT). My understanding is that there hasn’t been a case using those provisions which are in place.”

“Now I would ask myself in this regard why not? The legislation has been in place since 2009 and there hasn’t been any prosecution. Why? It might be a rhetorical question but it is still curious to know that you have the legislation but have not used it.”

Mr. Horne, who is a Guyanese by birth, and has worked in more than 22 countries in the field of State assets recovery and the successful prosecution of the defaulters said that he found such a situation to be “alarming.”

“The reason for passing legislation is because you think there are matters you need to tend to, and you need the legislation in order to deal with the issues as you saw it.

But if you have the legislation and you don’t utilize it, it makes people think why not?”

“With my background in the UK, if a piece of legislation is implemented it is because it is relevant to something that needs to be dealt with and it needs to be used…but perhaps one of the reasons it wasn’t used was the lack of skills and technical staff to implement the work the legislation was intended to do, but that is just speculation on my part.”

The UK asset recovery advisor said that his role is really going to be using that piece of AML legislation to inform any subsequent legislation that he may recommend to strengthen Guyana’s State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU).

Horne said that efforts to bring formal structure to an anti-corruption unit in Guyana, is a move in the right direction. In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Horne premised the aforementioned on the fact that Guyana has to comply with international standards.

He said that especially with corruption occurring globally, it is expected that Guyana would have provisions in place to prevent acts of corruption from taking place.

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Guyana has never utilized its anti-money laundering legislation In this light, the UK expert emphasized that an anticorruption body is a “positive move” as it will not only thwart corruption but also “strip illegal assets from those who are involved in it.”

He noted however that it will take time, “so the people must have patience and not expect results tomorrow.”

Horne explained that he will be focused on examining Guyana’s systems in place for fighting corruption and gathering other information.

At the end of this exercise, he will make recommendation for Guyana’s State Asset Recovery Unit’s (SARU) transition to being the country’s formal anticorruption body.

Elaborating a bit more on his role with SARU in terms of strengthening its power, Horne added, “My remit with SARU is to first of all, look at what architecture presently exists in Guyana with regard to asset recovery and then get involved in the drafting of legislation which would provide the basis for the formal structure of it.”

“It’s a bit too early for clear-cut recommendations because I don’t have as yet, a full grasp of the picture here in terms of legislation, nor what is being done and how or what is being used from what is available. From that understanding, I will be able to make firm recommendations about how the SARU should operate.”

The UK expert noted, however, that the immediate matters which come to mind are what appears to be the distinct lack of technical skills or appropriate forensic skills in utilizing the law as it relates to conducting assets tracing and then utilizing that information in the court process.

He said that also part of his remit will be developing international relations with his contacts outside of Guyana and to see how they may be able to assist in supporting Guyana and its efforts in the asset recovery process. He said that it is going to be a process that will not be completed overnight.

“It will take some time.”

With regard to the development of SARU, Horne said that down the line, there will be some training issues.

“Because there will be the need for staff with the capacity to deliver the kind of work that the SARU will be required to do.”

“The SARU really will be an anti-corruption body and will look for corruption where ever it is; be it in private industry or ministry. So it will be a broad based agency as I see it. It won’t be directed to any one person or organization or agency. It will have the capacity to deal with

corruption where ever it is discovered.”

The UK expert said that when it comes to the fight against corruption by SARU, three things will be essential; technical staff, legislation and security.

“You need to have the correct legislation to deal with the relevant offences and for the law to be amended where necessary, because things change all of the time. The second thing that would be needed is having the appropriate staff in place with the capacity to actually deliver when dealing with

criminal matters be it tax evasion for example.”

SECURITY OF DATA “The other important aspect is security. There is going to have to be significant security of

location, personnel, equipment used, either phones or electronic equipment to ensure that they are “clean,” because people who are involved in criminal activity will do anything to

get information about what’s happening and utilize that information accordingly. So the state must try to put itself in a position where it can act in confidence.”

Horne said that SARU will have to be funded so that it is properly resourced in terms of equipment and in terms of staff being remunerated sufficiently so that they would not be tempted.

He said that this, among other issues, will have to be carefully considered when setting up one of these agencies.

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 05 2015

Badly burned as a baby, woman tracks down nurse who cared for her (AP) For 38 years, a few black-and-white photographs of a nurse cradling a baby provided comfort to a woman who suffered terrible burns and endured years of playground taunts and painful surgeries thereafter. For all that time, until Tuesday, she dreamed of meeting her again.

The photos show Amanda Scarpinati at just 3 months old, her head thickly wrapped in gauze, resting calmly in the nurse’s arms. Shot for the Albany Medical Center’s 1977 annual report, the images have a beatific, “Madonna and Child” quality.

As a baby, she had rolled

off a couch onto a boiling steam vaporizer. Melted mentholated ointment scalded her skin. The burns would require many reconstructive surgeries over the years.

The photos helped.

“Growing up as a child, disfigured by the burns, I was bullied and picked on,

Nurse Susan Berger, left, and Amanda Scarpinati pose with a copy of a 1977 Albany Medical Center annual report during a news conference tormented,” she said. “I’d look at those pictures and talk to her, even though I didn’t know who she was. I took comfort looking at this woman who seemed so sincere, caring.

Scarpinati now lives Athens, 25 miles south of Albany, and works as a human resources manager. All her life, she wanted to thank the nurse who showed her such loving care, but she didn’t even know her name.

She tried to find out 20 years ago, without success.

The pictures were taken by photographer Carl Howard, but his subjects weren’t identified.

At a friend’s urging, she tried again this month, posting the photos on Facebook and pleading for help. “Within 12 hours, it had gone viral with 5,000 shares across the country,” said Scarpinati.

She had her answer within a day: The fresh-faced young nurse with the long wavy hair was Susan Berger, then 21.

Angela Leary, a fellow nurse at the medical center back then, recognized her and sent Scarpinati a message, saying Berger “was as sweet and caring as she looks in this picture.”

Preserved by the photos, their encounters in the pediatric recovery room turned out to have a lasting impact on both their lives.

“I remember her,” Berger said before they met face to face on Tuesday. “She was very peaceful. Usually when babies come out of surgery, they’re sleeping or crying.

In this photo taken in 1977, nurse Susan Berger cuddles infant Amanda Scarpinati

She was just so calm and trusting. It was amazing.”

Berger had been fresh out of college, and baby Amanda was one of her first patients.

Now she’s nearing the end of her career, overseeing the health center at Cazenovia College in New York’s Finger Lakes region.

Both women were thrilled to see each other again Tuesday, sobbing and embracing as cameras clicked all around them in a medical center conference room.

“Oh my God, you’re real!

Thank you!” Scarpinati said.

“Thank YOU!” Berger responded.

If any scars remain, Scarpinati doesn’t show them, from her long dark hair to the butterfly tattoo just above her ankle. Berger also seems

youthful and upbeat, with shoulder-length blonde hair, slightly shorter than how she wore it in 1977.

“I’m over the moon to meet Sue … I never thought this day would come,” Scarpinati said. Berger said she feels even more blessed.

“I don’t know how many nurses would be lucky enough to have something like this happen, to have someone remember you all that time,” Berger said. “I feel privileged to be the one to represent all the nurses who cared for her over the years.”

Someone asked if their reunion might be the start of a lifelong friendship.

Scarpinati had a quick answer to that: “It already has been a lifelong friendship. She just didn’t know.”

Child Advocacy Centre opens...

(From page 6) whole have to be conscious about not only structural development but human development. Young people are assets to develop and not assets to solve.”

He said that guidance in

schools and counselling should be restored as well as community awareness and involvement and the training and the building of well trained staff.

Commander of “G” Division, Superintendent

Kevin Adonis, said that children first need a safe place in their homes. He said too that the Region has recorded minimal cases of incest, rape and molestation for the current period.

(Yannason Duncan)

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 21

CULLED TO THE BAR When I was a little boy growing up in Trinidad, the big time lawyers were known as “Barristers” and were household names. Their legal exploits were legendary.

They were the superstars of the daily newspapers, the Guardian and the Evening News, which carried verbatim coverage of court cases.

In the rumshops, taxis and buses there were big arguments about on-going trials and which of the bigshot “Barristers” would win.

There were some major murder cases including the trial of Boysie Singh (the pirate of the Gulf of Paria) and Dr. Dalip Singh whose wife’s body was found in a bag in the Godineau River. These cases, and the murder of Thelma Haynes, a dancer whose body was never found but for whose death Boysie Singh and his accessory Boland Ramkissoon were hanged, were fodder for the prescience for which the people of Trinidad and Tobago are famous.

There are no surprises in Trinidad. After anything happens, including the winner of any of the many legal battles between the major protagonists of the Bar, every Tom, Dick and Beharry claims to have known about the outcome long in advance or even the cause of the

event. I remember someone saying then about the Thelma Haynes matter, “I know he woulda’ kill she. She was horning (cuckolding) him left, right and centre.”

There were famous Barristers like Gaston Johnson, Lennox O’Reilly, Courtenay Hannays, Sir Hugh Wooding and his son Selby, and Karl HudsonPhillips. Mitra Sinanan and his brother Ashford were the darlings of the East Indians in Central Trinidad. Ashford’s aggressive style both in court and in politics caused him to be known as “The Bengal Tiger” and it was either irony or what the psychiatrist Carl Jung called “synchronicity” or “meaningful coincidences” that he was posted to India as this country’s ambassador in 1974.

Ashford tried to become the First Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation in 1958 but lost to another Barrister, Sir Grantley Adams.

Four other barristers parlayed their legal reputations into political currency, Norman Manley and his son Michael, Errol Barrow and Forbes Burnham.

It is small wonder then that as a twelve-year old I wanted to be a Barrister. We used to hold mock trials and argue ferociously until I read the Three Musketeers, called

myself D’Artagnan, and all of us became “sword fighters” using our rulers instead of our mouths to deal with arguments. I still wanted to study law but the Barrister business went away especially when I graduated to Sherlock Holmes and all I wanted was my own magnifying glass and deerstalker hat.

Now, having scored my three-score and ten, a time of life in which, as Alexander Woolcott wisely observed, everything in life is illegal, immoral or fattening, if I had to become anything it would not be a “Barrister” but more likely a “Barista”. A “barista” is described as a “person who makes and serves coffee in a coffee bar” but that description does not take in the real role of the modern “barista” who is responsible for serving all products with friendly, individualized attention towards each customer and educating customers about the different types of coffees and their merits. Decorating the froth in a Capuccino is only part of the Barista’s armoury.

The fact is that I love coffee and since I use it black and do not buy it contraband, counterfeit or with sugar, it is not illegal or fattening.

Because I now restrict myself to no more than two cups a

Police dogs sniff out illegal...

(From page 14) which he had arrived with, died shortly thereafter, from the intense heat which prevailed at the time.

During the next few years, a second gift of dogs was received from the Un i t e d States of America, and local breeding was made possible. Regrettably, Police Dog Rio’s brief career came to a tragic end on 13th

September 1965.

There are ten main causes of police dog deaths in Guyana; namely traffic accidents, inflicted trauma, friendly and hostile gun fire, falls, and drowning but these

have to do directly with the hazards of the job.

The dogs’ abilities are often part of the Police Gymkhana event to showcase their skills at scent work and agility.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

day, it does not feel immoral.

I started drinking coffee when I was five and have seen it evolve into a near-religion. In fact, what makes a “barista” more than a mere server is the way coffee has become ultrasophisticated. Coffee is now a gourmet experience bordering on the decadent.

According to Fresh Cup, “It is almost a religious experience to watch the roaster sorting through the cooling tray to remove the culls and broken beans, all the while watching the fire box, listening to the beans and trying to keep cool in front of the blazing, crackling machine…Only then can you introduce the beans. You must watch closely as you approach the second pop, and you must dump the beans at just the right time.

Under the watchful eye of the roaster, wood-roasted coffee does indeed pick up the nuances of the wood.”

Commenting on different coffees served at a competition, one gourmet said, “Some were sublimely subtle and elegant in their flavour. Then you had the big symphony orchestra coffees that just blasted you to the other side of the room.”

Three days ago, on September 30, the world celebrated International Coffee Day for the first time ever. This was agreed to by the International Coffee Organisation and was launched in Milan, Italy, where even in the old days, baristas were big. The inaugural event was used to promote fair trade coffee and to raise awareness for the plight of the coffee growers who are underpaid for their products.

The BBC, in a documentary called “Black Gold”, showed the “dark side” of coffee. Farmers in the developing world are typically paid around US$8 for one pound of coffee, forcing them to remain poor, while the brands like Starbuck’s make starbucks, selling a cup of coffee at US $2.35 per cup. As one commentator observed, the farmers literally have serious grounds for complaining.

However, nobody denies the appeal and romance of the beverage itself. “Rush Hour” star Jackie Chan, who says

“Coffee is a language in itself,” speaks Chinese, English and Coffee. Abraham Lincoln cryptically told a waiter, “If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.” Deepak Chopra, alternative medicine advocate and promoter of spirituality, plumbs the depths of the singular cup, “Karma is experience, and experience creates memory, and memory creates imagination and desire, and desire creates karma again. If I buy a cup of coffee, that’s karma. I now have that memory that might give me the potential desire for having cappuccino, and I walk into Starbucks, and there’s karma all over again.”

I don’t see that far but I can say with TS Eliot, the poet, “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” and, like the substance itself, invariably end up in hot water. *Tony Deyal was last seen complaining that a cup of coffee was tasting like mud to which the barista replied frowning, “It was ground just a few minutes ago.”

Page 22

Kaieteur News

FOR RENT

SERVICES

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

PARTY DECORATING: balloon creation, back drops etc. for weddings, birthdays, anniversary etc. Make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664

Experienced taxi Drivers, bus drivers @ Princess Hotel-Call: 616-5419

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, A/C, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES,FREEZERSCALL: 629-4946 OR 225-4822 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & painting, Boat for Santa Mission - Call: 650-4362 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.comCall : 225-6496, 662-6045 Landscaping: Palms, largest varieties of plants, Used in every one of our unique landscapes- Call: 648-1821/ 219-0468 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Hello the Doctor is back!

Have your gas stove replaced and serviced-Call: 601-0595; 220-4073

One hotel/club manager to work on the Essequibo Coast: Contact: 615-6172; 226-9768 One live in maid –Tel:6755256 or 666-4153 Drivers & porters to work on water truck on the W.C.D$33,000 weekly –Call: 6848231; 629-4236 Straight stitch/Over edge machine operators- Call: 2222541 (8:00am-4:00pm MonFri) Live in Honest & Experienced waitress 18-25yrs -$60,000, live in general cleaner 2535yrs- must be willing $60,000-70,000 monthly. Call: 610-3974 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 One experienced domestic cook. Call between 9am to 4pm –Tel: 621-8478 or 6115398 Experienced Pastry maker, apply @ Shanta’s, 225- Camp & New Market Street.

Honest and able handy boy apply to Nanda’s Boutique 223 Camp Street; next to Shell Gas Station.

Driver’s Contract Cars, dispatcher –Call: 231-0316; 231-0002; 219-4087; 219-4086 Wanted urgently porters to work on Beverage Canter Truck within the East Coast Area-Call: 222-3927; 649-9876; 686-1352 One Housekeeper to live in age 40-55- Call: 693-9068 Labourers for wood concession -$5,000 per day – Call: 618-0487 One Chain Saw operator – Tel: 618-0487 Experienced Driver @ Gem’s Taxi-Call:665-5338; 231-3709.

Carpenters and Masons to work- Call: 628-1756; 2285655 One experience assistant salesgirl E.C.D Tel: 603-5416, 644-9802

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One four storey building at Lot 14 Croal and Lden Street to rent- Contact 663-1876 Business place to rent at Mon Repos E.C.D four two bedroom apartment for rent at Block 8 Mon Repos E.C.DCall: 618-1754; 681-1508; 2206168 One wash bay with snackette at Good-Hope East Bank Essequibo, price -$30,000 per month –Call: 663-2882 Vreed-En-Hoop Junction, Storage Bond, office, lessons place, games shop, stationery shop & other – Call: 680-9905 Two bedrooms house @ Haslinton E.C.D-Call: 6639816; 616-4344

Mario’s Taxi Service; Travel & Collect Coupons to win a smart Phone, Drawing Every Month from October- Call: 225-7686; 225-7689

VACANCY Work from home earn $5,000-$20,000 monthly. Call monday-friday (9am-5pm): 233-6517; 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com One maintenance worker with at least 5yrs experienced to work @ ice factory meadow bank wharf –Call: 231-1408; 642-9191; between 8am-2pm

One Supervisor to work at Hotel in Charity Essequibo contact 223-5273/4 One ice machine operator to work at ice factory on Meadow Bank Wharf, please Call: 231-1408; 642-9191 between 8am-2pm Live in housekeeper 35-45yrs to care for child, Call: 656-1284

EDUCATION Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC Adults Classes, Grade 1-6 Lessons: Phonic lessons @ East Street-Call: 690-5008; 619-7911

Mathematics Lessons in Trigonometry 5th-8th October (8Hours) or 10th October (6 hours), Trigonometrical Ratio, Sine & CoSine rule, worded problems-Call: 690-9378 Rising Star All Day Nursery, 2-6 yrs 15 students: 2 teachers enrichment programs Phonics, Reading, Speech, Vocabulary & Numeracy Call: 690-9378 CXC Lessons; SBA Guidance; Mathematics, English A & B, Science & Business subjects, Class Size -10 Students-Call: 690-9378

Farm Workers, living accommodation providedCall: 661-1585

LEARN TO DRIVE

FOR SALE/RENT American pool tables –Call: 277-0578

Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

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

-Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Affordable salon services: pedi, mani, wash & blowout, facials, etc $2,500 each. Vogue @ Kalyan Mall, Lamaha Street. Tel: 647-1773/660-5257

Housekeeper/cook must be 30yrs & older- apply in person to 173 Sheriff Street, Campbellville-Call: 227-5286-9

One Delivery rider contact 223-5273/4

Individual tutoring available for CXC Accounts, for guaranteed excellent graderCall: 654-1723 -$2000 monthly

SALON

IT technicians; send your CV or info to jobs@awngy.com

One Waitress contact 2235273/4

Mechanic wanted for bush truck, model M-TM Tel# 2540188, 694-6823 TAXI SERVICES

Monday October 05, 2015

TO LET One bedroom apartment Grove, EBD -$36,000 –Tel: 6421956 1 – Self contained room to rent; preferably bachelorCall: 223-4545

ACCOMODATION Inner Retreat Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Retreat Road Parika. Indoor /Outdoor bar in Picturesque setting – Phone: 260-4504; 685-6934 Saturdays & Sundays after lunch @ Inner Retreat Hotel Parika: Bar-B-Que & games: pools, darts, table tennis etc – Phone: 260-4504.

Aracari Resort: rates from US$45; breakfast included, fully air conditioned rooms, 5 mins away from the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Tel: 592-2642946 TOUR Tour to Suriname (20-24/Nov$34,000) & Brazil (25-30/ Nov$46,000) transportation and accommodation, lucky person will win $100USDCall: 660-0312; 695-4506

PROPERTY FOR SALE

LEARN TO DANCE Learn to dance Latin & Ballroom Style with Rodwin & Brian “ Straighty” De Nobrega–Call: 612-6475; 670-8624. Register Now! Limited Space!

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

One commercial property at Sheriff Street, one double lot @ Cummings Lodge –Call: 638-8930; 653-8226 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) – Call: 660-1353, 216-4338 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244

Reduced Prices: Dell/HP laptop & desktop computers complete, from $55,000, free games and educational software @ Future – Call: 2312206

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

80X40ft. land at B Field, Sophia. Well – Develop and ready to build. Call: 683-6200

2 Storied transported concrete property upstairs 2 bedrooms, downstairs 2 bedrooms, fully grilled, block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D -$18M- Call: 625-1514; office 231-7255

Pile Driving Hammers, weight 3 & 4 tons, 10 tons double steel wheeled roller, pneumatic roller -9 wheelsCall: 275-0538 or 683-7225

1 Flat house on 1 acre land with chicken pen & fruits tree at Unity E.C.D- $11M-Call: 642-7898 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete- Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 2-Two Storey Houses, one newly constructed, 3 minutes away from the National Stadium -$16M, $22M –Call: 628-1079; 642-7711; 233-5292 Pearl: Well Built 1,995 Sq. Ft concrete structure 45X165 lot, formerly meeting hall 13.5M. Call: 649-1670 #53 Village: East Berbice, concrete house and land for sale, please submit offers, Call: 674-2155 Albouystown- 3 Bedroom upstairs, downstairs parking and suitable for business$9M negotiable-Contact: 227-0583 House for sale Versailles W.B.D five minutes from Harbour Bridge, price neg.

Call: 616-0111 FOR SALE Lovely pups for sale Tibetan terrier with dachshund – Call: 696-7467 anytime

1 Complete sound system, 1 Vyper Sound, interested persons- Call: 265-3586

Stalls 69, 70, 71, 72 @ La Penitence Market Albouystown-Call: 6631597; 218-4837

2,500 GLS, steel tank, 1-428 cat back-hoe, D4H cat bulldozer, 1 Leyland Daf 55 Tipper truck- Call: 275-0538 or 683-7225 20. Lengths-Plastic Sheet Piles, 1-930 CAT front end loaded, all in working condition-Call: 275-0538 or 683-7225 Manual Two Function, home used Hospital bed. Excellent condition Call: 683-6200 One church & two storey house @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 624-7341; 2276817 Largest Selection of Computer Games-$1,000 Each- Call: 675-2239 1 House 2 bedroom flat concrete & land for sale @ Onderneeming Housing Scheme Essequibo Coastprice $1.8M-Call: 627-5415; 647-4824 Samsung Galaxy S6 Replica $35,000 and S6 edge Relica for $50,000-Contact:6123696; 691-3409 Mag Lite LED: 2D-$7,500, 3D-$8,000, 3D Camouflage $8,500-Call: 612-3696; 6913409 Continued on page 23

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

SCHOOL SPORTS

From page 22

FOR SALE 1-3 Bedroom Splashmin’s Resort House, Fully furnished with all modern conveniences –Call: 611-0200 or 662-1124 One imported pools table 2235273/4

Standing: (From left) M. Baird, W.A. Chin, R.C. Bacchus, F.E. Mongul, A. Gonsalves, R.M. Glasford. Sitting: C.S. Pilgrim, A.F.R. Bishop, R.A. Gibbons (captain), W.I. Lee, L.A. Jackman.

Absent: M. Moore, TB Richmond.

DEAR EDITOR, My friend came to visit the other day to proudly announce that his Second Form son had started sports at his school. He was unhappy however about the overweight shot-putt sphere his son was asked to use. It was just too large for his grasp.

The story immediately reminded me that this was the term, which Queens College of my day reserved for games.

Though located in Brickdam, where the Ministry of Health is now sited, our Thomas Lands playing field was overtaken with white-clad players engaged in as many as three Inter-house cricket matches at the same time.

Then there would be time for football, hockey and in between table tennis–at all of which the College was represented in national competitions, along with

some Masters, mostly ‘old boys’. Later in the year, room had to be made for the School Athletic Championships.

Heats were run off at Thomas Lands, so that winners could qualify to run various finals on the then famous GCC ground, Bourda – home of regional and test cricket.

Queens produced an impressive number of allrounders in those days, with several playing at the national level. Incidentally there were swimming and rifle shooting as well. But it was at Bourda we won kudos in international level athletic and cycle sports in which Venezuela was regularly represented, along with the rest of the Caribbean, the UK and the U.S.A. A mile was then regarded as ‘long distance’.

What’s interesting however was that, in addition to the shot-putt, throwing the

cricket ball was a regular part of the programme. Perhaps my friend’s son would be more comfortable with this size of sphere.

Incidentally, one reason for the multi-talented group shown in the picture below was that they were not burdened with extra lessons.

The basic system was good enough.

Those seen above became professionals as follows: Baird – Physician in the USA. Chin – Paediatrician.

Bacchus – Champion athlete who died young Mongul – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Gonsalves – Businessman Glasford – Technical Director, Bookers Sugar Estates; later Director, Bookers London Office, U.K Pilgrim – Guyana’s Ambassador to UK, Cuba.

Bishop – Chancellor of the Judiciary; Professor of Law, UG; Represented British Guiana (BG) at cricket and football.

Gibbons – English Professor, New York University; Author; represented BG at cricket; Lee – Surgeon; represented BG at hockey.

Jackman – Attorney-atLaw; represented BG at cricket Absent Moore – Qualified Auditor; represented BG at Football, Table Tennis, Hockey Richmond – Master; Captained team These were the days when nutrition was essentially of local food and drink.

E.B. John

CCJ has established an...

From page 5 Prior to this, all torts of misfeasance determined in Commonwealth jurisdictions were initiated at the instance of individuals and never on behalf of governments for the misfeasance of public officials. In effect, there was no case in any Commonwealth jurisdiction where states sought to utilise this tort against public officials abusing the powers of governance for their own personal gain.

In the characterisation of Guyana Justice Madame Desiree Bernard, the instant appeal arose from a judgment of the Belize Court of Appeal and involved two Ministers of a

previous government who were sued by the Attorney General of the succeeding government for alleged misfeasance in relation to a sale of public lands at a price allegedly below market value, resulting in financial loss to the state of Belize and a corresponding benefit to the Ministers concerned.

In light of the foregoing, our learned Attorney General is being put on notice that much is expected of him in terms of identifying and vigorously pursuing delinquent officials for the recovery of national assets and resources.

Professor Justice Duke Pollard

I guess neither Bulkan nor...

From page 4 Bulkan, I then discussed my concerns to one of his advisors, Mr. Mark Da Costa who also promised to visit the market location as he was familiar with the area. Again, I stressed that I was merely seeking justice, not asking favours.

To date, he too, has failed to visit the location he passes twice daily on his way to and from work, as he promised to do.

However, he did advised that he had reviewed the report made earlier by Bulkan’s advisor and that the report was now with Mr. Royston King at City Hall, who will determine the course of action if any.

Editor, I left several messages with Mr. King’s secretary over several days, and I’m

still waiting a return phone call from the Town Clerk. It wasn’t long ago that President Granger reminded public officials that they are the servants of the people. I guess neither Bulkan nor Royston King heard the President’s comment.

How difficult it is to return a phone call?

During the last Local Government Election, my brother, Frank Gill, won seven seats in the Best /Klien Pouderoyen NDC as an independent candidate. He is extremely popular and influential in Region 3, and has the ability to make life very difficult for Minister Bulkan and the APNU+AFC to gain traction there in the upcoming LGE. I intend to encourage him to do just that.

Harry Gill, MP.

FOR RENT Fully furnished, air conditioned, hot and cold shower; 2 bedroom apartments, North Road, Central Georgetown, $160,000 per month. Call: 676-0706

CAR RENTAL

Just Arrived! Yamaha Outboard Engines –various sizes –Call: 698-7047; 6817737 5 Toyota Coaster, 1 Mitsubishi 30 seater, 1-320C bucket, must be sold- Call: 648-0121; 628-1832

VEHICLE FOR SALE We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Toyota Noah & Voxy -$1.7M ‘G’ Series, never registered – Call: 617-2891 One Honda CRV Immaculate Condition 17" mags, CD, AC, price -$1,850,000 negotiable – Call: 626-2884 One Toyota L Touring Wagon HB 99/2, price -$750, 000 –Call: 663-2882

LAND FOR SALE Concrete fenced land in residential high income area at Republic Park, Water, light, etc-Call: 233-0570 Parfaite Harmonie -$1.5M, 1.3M, 1M, Tuschen 8th street -$1.5M, Tuschen 2nd Street -$5.5M corner lot – Call: 604-6724 House Lot: Republic Park, E.B.D. Developed AreaPrice: $17,5m. Or Make OfferCall 227-5194 1500 Acres Transported land 4 Miles from Bartica, 2 Miles River front, sand, loam, forestry, rock quarry, farming, resort-Call: 603-1266; 625-9788 Land for sale in Schoon O’rd next to New Road Junction 56X100 $5.5M- Call Ryan: 6972492 or 270-6800 Guyana’s 1st 5-Star Community, modern amenities, luxurious, recreational & business facility, security entry and more- land @ US$ 7.2SqFtCall: 650-0978 33 Acres prime agriculture land located at Plantation Flensberg W.B.D-price negotiable-Contact Erick Boodhoo: Call: 654-6229; 6270556 VEHICLE FOR SALE

PROGRESSIVEAUTORENTAL: CARS & SUV FORRENTAL$4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 219-3900, EMAIL: 1 Toyota super custom bus, PRO_AUTO RENTAL fully loaded BPP series price $1.6 negotiable Contact: 647@YAHOO.COM 0016 DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 - 1 Toyota Granvia bus fully DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ loaded BPP series price $1.7 YA H O O . C O M / W W W. negotiable Contact: 647-0016 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM VACANCY Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low Administrative staff must be computer literate & possess security- Call: 698-7807 @ least 6 subjects @ CXC. Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick Kindly send CV to up rental- Call: 690-6494 gyvacancy@gmail.com

Two Hilux Pick up, one 3RZ, one Vigo-Call: 638-8930; 6538226 Pitbull minibus-Call: 6886316; 603-4494 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 Unregistered Vehicles Toyota Premio 2003, Toyota Spacio 2004-call: 227-5950; 681-7117 Cheapest VVTI Super G.L Buses, VVTI stick gear buses, pit bull goods van (from Japan)-call: 616-7635 Unregistered Fielder Wagon, Spacio, fully loaded, rims, camera, bodykit, HID, dark interior-Call: 617-5536 Toyota Hilux Surf, PGG4437, 4 door, automatic transmission, V6 gasoline engine, 4 wheel drive – price $2.0M-Call: 681-8040; 6005398.

Toyota Rush, AT212, AT192, Starlet Raum, Hilux 4 Runner, Tundra, Fielder & L-Touring Wagon, Nissan March & 4Door Pickup Call:644-5096; 697-1453 Honda Civic ES2-$1M or $700,000 down payment: DVD/CD/Bluetooth/USB/ AMP/ subwoofer, PMM Series-Call: 664-7014 One Mitsubishi Lancer 2002 Model, price- $950,000, leather seats, music, rims etc, good condition-Call: 6640000 Land Cruiser Prado in Mint condition, fully loaded, PNN Series-Call: 601-0053; 2750264 Recently registered Suzuki Escudo. Excellent condition.

Lady driven.$4.6M negotiable. Contact: 609 8425.

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

Russia is conducting ‘asymmetric warfare’ in Syria – Hammond Reuters - Russia is engaged in “classic asymmetric warfare” in Syria by using its military clout to prop up President Bashar alAssad while saying it is attacking Islamic State militants, Britain’s foreign minister said yesterday.

Russia last week began striking targets in Syria - a dramatic escalation of foreign involvement in the civil war which has been criticised by the West as an attempt to prop up Assad, rather than its purported aim of attacking Islamic State.

“It looks like a classic bit of Russian asymmetric warfare - you have a strong propaganda message that says you’re doing one thing while in fact you are doing something completely different and when challenged you just flatly deny it,” Philip Hammond told Reuters in an interview in Manchester.

He said Britain had held discussions with Russia but kept on getting the same response - that Moscow was attacking Islamic State militants in Syria.

“You try talking to the Russians,” he said. “They just keep repeating their position – that is by the way also the Iranian position – and it is just incredible.”

He said that Britain needed “absolute clarity” that Assad would not be part of Syria’s future.

“That’s not some random bee in the bonnet that I’ve got; it’s that without that commitment we will never get the broad spectrum of Syrian opposition groups to sit down and agree around a table how

Philip Hammond we take forward the discussion about Syria’s future,” he said.

Hammond dismissed proposals put forward by Russia and Iran for elections, saying Syria was “a million miles away” from being able to hold a free and fair vote.

“In a country where 250,000 people have been killed and 12 million people have been displaced, half of them outside the country – how can you talk about free and fair elections?” he said.

Hammond said the key to ending the suffering caused by the four-year civil war was a managed transition to peace - even if it meant Assad retained power temporarily.

“If the price for doing that is that we have to accept that Assad will remain as titular head of state for a period of time, do I really care if that’s three days, three weeks, three months or even longer? I don’t think I do,” he said.

But Hammond said that for such a transition, Assad should make a pledge not to

run in any future election and that he would give up control over Syria’s security apparatus.

He added that there was no agreement with Moscow and Tehran on such a transition.

“The key is that there must be a transition – at the moment there is no agreement with the Russians and the Iranians even that there should be a transition,” he said.

Hammond also said Russia represented a threat to the international system upon which Britain’s security depended, saying it had shown that it did not respect diplomatic norms.

He pointed to Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region last year as an example of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s approach to international law.

But, he said that Moscow still had an important role to play in the Middle East and that Britain could not afford to ignore Russia’s role in negotiating peace in Syria.

“It would not be in our own interests to say that we will not talk to the Russians about the situation in Syria because we object so strongly to what they are doing in Ukraine,” he said.

“We have to compartmentalise these disputes,” calling for Russia to re-engage with the international system.

“We just need a Russia that accepts there are rules in the system, and you can’t throw your toys out of the pram and resort to military force every time you don’t get your way,” he said.

10,000 protest in Moldova over missing $1.5 billion CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — About 10,000 people staged an anti-government protest in Moldova’s capital yesterday, demanding a probe into the up to $1.5 billion that disappeared from three of the country’s banks last year.

Some protesters scuffled with police and tried to push their way into Parliament.

Protesters gathered in a main square in Chisinau for the fifth consecutive week of antigovernment demonstrations, which began on Sept. 6.

Protesters want a probe into the missing money and for those responsible to be prosecuted. The losses were covered by state reserves in Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest countries.

Vasile Nastase, a leader of

the Dignity and Truth nongovernmental organization which has staged the protests said: “From tomorrow, (today) we will declare acts of civil disobedience.” He urged Moldovans not to pay bills, and to go on strike in state institutes, such as schools.

“We will block this government.”

Protesters are also demanding early elections and for the president, the prime minister and others to resign.

Separately, in the past 24 hours, two crews from Russia’s NTV television channel have not been allowed to enter Moldova.

They were stopped at the airport and later sent back to

Moscow, the station reported.

Moldovan authorities said they did not have local press accreditation.

On Saturday, two proRussian parties erected about 250 tents near Parliament, blocking the capital’s main street. They took the tents down yesterday.

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Germany needs to limit refugee influx, close borders - Merkel allies

Migrants queue at the compound outside the Berlin Office of Health and Social Affairs (LaGeSo) as they wait for their registration in Berlin, Germany.

REUTERS/FABRIZIO BENSCH Reuters - Germany needs to limit the number of refugees it takes in or even close its borders, conservative allies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the weekend, as the country deals with record inflows of people fleeing from war and poverty.

Around 800,000 migrants are expected to arrive in Germany, Europe’s largest and richest economy, this year and complaints from politicians, the federal states and the municipalities that they cannot cope are growing.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Europe needed to restrict the refugee intake, and members of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party to Merkel’s conservatives in Bavaria, said Germany should shut its borders. Bavaria shares a border with Austria and has borne the brunt of the influx.

“If as many asylum seekers continue to come to Germany as in recent weeks, we won’t have any choice but to temporarily stop taking people in and to close the borders to them,” CSU politician Stephan Mayer told newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS).

Thousands of people are streaming into Germany every day, attracted by relatively liberal asylum laws and generous benefits. Some 6,750 people arrived in Bavaria alone on Friday and another 6,000 piled in on Saturday, a police spokesman said.

But Merkel told German b r o a d c a s t e r Deutschlandfunk that Germany must tackle the crisis head-on rather than trying to get rid of the problem. Building fences along borders was “pointless”, she said, and refugees would find another way of entering Europe.

While the refugee crisis was a “very big task”, Germany could cope, she said. It needed to speed up its asylum procedure, better protect its borders, deal with the reasons people were fleeing at source and ensure refugees are fairly distributed around Europe.

Merkel’s popularity has slumped to its lowest level in nearly four years on concerns about migrants but support for the conservatives, made up of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and the CSU, remains high at 40 percent, according to the latest opinion polls.

Pressure on Merkel is mounting though. Some politicians urged her to introduce upper limits for migrant intake.

“We can’t save the whole world,” Bavarian Finance Minister and CSU member Markus Soeder told Passauer Neue Presse.

CDU politician Lorenz Caffier told newspaper Welt am Sonntag that as many as 1.5 million refugees could arrive in Germany this year but many of the federal states “are at their limit”.

Members of the Social Democrats (SPD), Merkel’s junior coalition partner, also stressed that Germany had exhausted its ability to deal with the crisis.

The SPD’s Malu Dreyer, premier of RhinelandPalatinate, told Welt am Sonntag volunteers were working “at breaking point” while senior SPD member Thomas Oppermann said a million refugees would take Germany to the limit of its ability to provide accommodation.

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 05, 2015

About 300 people still missing Finance Minister Meets With MultiLaterals, Top Global Financiers In Peru after Guatemala landslide

Rescue team members and volunteers remove dirt with buckets from the site of a mudslide in Santa Catarina Pinula, on the outskirts of Guatemala City.

REUTERS/Josue Decavele GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) Guatemalan authorities yesterday said that around 300 people remain missing after a massive landslide on Thursday night claimed at least 87 lives and flattened over a hundred homes.

Loosened by rain, tons of earth, rock and trees had cascaded onto a neighborhood in Santa Catarina Pinula, on the southeast flank of Guatemala City, crushing houses and trapping residents who had gone home for the night.

The Gleaner - Jamaica’s finance minister is to meet with top global financiers and multi-laterals in Lima, Peru as well as partake in a series of high-level discussions surrounding innovative measures for financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while there.

The finance minister “will have high-level meetings with other representatives from other multilateral institutions as well as with representatives from investment banks and other financial institutions such as Citibank, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch; and Deutsche Bank, the German global banking and financial services giant.

The Jamaican delegation will also participate in the Commonwealth Central Bank Governors’ Meeting,” a release from the Ministry of Finance said.

The Ministry of Finance said Dr Peter Phillips will also participate in the second Regional

Dr Peter Phillips Caribbean Dialogue on new SDGs now being considered by the 70th session of the of the United Nations General Assembly w i t h t h e G 2 0 Wo r k i n g Group.

This is to happen while Phillips also attends the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

“In addition to attending the Plenary

Meetings of the IMF and WB, the minister is also scheduled to have a series of bi-lateral meetings with Mrs Christine Lagarde, managing director and Mr Min Zhu, deputy managing director of the IMF, and Sri Mulyani Indrawati, managing director and chief operating officer of the Wo r l d Bank, respectively,” the release from the finance ministry said.

“Dr Phillips and the Jamaican delegation are scheduled to meet with senior officials from the US Treasury Department.”

Phillips will also be partaking in the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting from October 6 - 7, also taking place in Lima.

The finance minister departed yesterday and is accompanied by Bank of Jamaica Governor Brian Wynter, Planning Institute of Jamaica Director General Colin Bullock, among others. He will return to the island on October 14.

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 05, 2015

Tourism officials to attend seminar in China

Barbados and China will continue to forge closer links, this time through tourism. (FP) Daily Nation - A 19member delegation of key tourism officials is set to visit the Hainan Province in the People’s Republic of China later this month, to attend a Bilateral Tourism Management Seminar.

The seminar, which will run from October 13 to November 2, is expected to foster deeper relations between Barbados and China; expose participants to Chinese tourism management practices; exchange best practices and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences.

Lectures will be held at the China Aid Base of Training Center of the Commercial Department in the Hainan

Province. Topics include: Tourism Sales and Marketing Management and Product Development; New Forms o f B u s i n e s s i n C h i n a ’s Tourism; the Design and Development of Special Tourism Products; Health and Wellness Tourism; the Management of Human Resources for Hotels and the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development of the Tourism Sector. Delegates will also tour a number of hotels and tourist attractions.

Hotels to be visited include those in Haikou, Sanya City, and Xi’an City in the Shanxi Province.

Attractions on the itinerary include Hainan Museum; the

Tropical Birds Garden in Ding An City; Boao Temple in Qionghai City; the Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden in Wanning; Banpo Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Museum.

The group is expected to leave for China on October 10, and comprises representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Intimate Hotels Group, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Barbados Tourism Management Incorporation, Barbados Tourism Product Authority, Needham’s Point Holdings, the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries and the Barbados-China Association.

(BGIS)

Venezuela official denounces US hostility after airport stop CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A top Venezuelan official railed against the United States after being stopped at a Mexican airport Saturday while traveling on official business.

Venezuelan ombudsman Tarek William Saab said he had been questioned by officials acting on a request from the U.S. when he arrived at a Mexico City airport on his way to a conference on human rights.

Saab said officials informed him that Interpol had issued an alert at the request of the U.S. that asked Mexican authorities to question him about the reason for his visit and the length of his stay. He did

Tarek William Saab not say on what grounds he had been targeted.

“I consider this totally offensive,” he said in an interview broadcast on state television.

“This alert was designed

to provoke and inconvenience a Venezuelan official.”

He said he will lodge a complaint with Mexican and other authorities.

Neither Interpol nor the Mexican foreign ministry could be immediately reached for comment. U.S. Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said the department had no comment regarding Saab’s comments.

As ombudsman, Saab is in charge of defending human rights in Venezuela.

Before assuming this post, he served as governor of a coastal Venezuelan state.

The U.S. has increasingly targeted Venezuelan officials it accuses o f d r u g trafficking and human rights violations.

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

Caribbean tourism chief urges industry to refresh and ramp up CASTRIES, St Lucia – A Caribbean tourism leader said the region has to keep refreshing its product to ensure its people can continue to benefit from the revenue generated by the industry.

“Tourism is by far the biggest sector of our economies in the Caribbean and we ought to ensure our hotels and other visitor facilities continue to improve because our people rely on revenue from the sector for education, health, culture and e n v i r o n m e n t a l conservation,” asserted Karolin Troubetzkoy, First Vice President and Presidentelect of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

“We cannot rest on our laurels because the global tourism market is growing rapidly and many countries are actively competing with us for the new business,” said the St. Lucia hotelier who observed that the Caribbean is likely to face some challenges as a result of the easing of travel restrictions for Americans to visit Cuba.

For many Caribbean destinations, the United States is the largest market for tourists.

Troubetzkoy, who along with her husband Nick, owns and operates the awardwinning Anse Chastanet and

Karolin Troubetzkoy Jade Mountain, two of St. Lucia’s most admired hotels, lauded this weekend’s first Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) for pointing the way to effective refreshing of the industry. “CHIEF has astutely identified three areas we should be focusing on: operations, sales and marketing, and the need to go green,” she said.

Attracting and training the right personnel are the keys to successful operations, Troubetzkoy contended. “The personal touch is one of the most important elements. A tourist who connects positively,

even on a perfunctory level, with at least one staff member, has a very high chance of returning.”

She also believes it is important to ask: “Are we delivering the Caribbean dream and are we maximizing the guest experience to increase repeat visitation?”

For sales and marketing success Troubetzkoy encourages hoteliers to pay attention to guest reviews and turn them into a positive reputation builder. “If you receive a negative review, embrace it, reply quickly and explain how you can use their experience as a teaching opportunity.”

Positive reviews can serve as opportunities for hotels to tell their story and to embark on effective public relations, advertising and social media strategies.

Troubetzkoy, who will address the October 2 to 4 conference in Puerto Rico, urged the industry to use data collection to dive into new markets.

“The Caribbean is a maturing market so it is important to refurbish and renovate hotels and resorts,” she added. “As we do so, we must use the occasion to go more green and see the return on investment increase,” she contended.

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Monday October 05, 2015

Government highlights CLICO $22bn SECRET OUT benefits of UK prison deal …Policyholders want urgent meeting with Finance Minister KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Ministry of National Security has sought to highlight the benefits of the UK prison deal to the local prison population.

In a release on Saturday, the ministry said a new facility will provide relief for inmates who have endured overcrowded and unsatisfactory conditions at the centuries old Tower Street and St Catherine correctional centres.

According to the ministry, if negotiations are concluded between the Governments of Jamaica and the United Kingdom, it would provide a grant of £25 million towards the construction of a new prison.

British Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled the proposal during his recent visit to Jamaica.

This is part of a Prison Transfer Agreement in which a maximum of 300 Jamaicans in British jails, and subject to deportation at the end of their sentence, would be transferred to Jamaica.

Commissioner of Corrections Ina Hunter

An aerial view of the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre.

Fairweather has also highlighted the benefits of the agreement, stating that the country will have a modern prison facility.

“Overtime we have not constructed new facilities, we have in fact retrofitted and so we have to build around infrastructure but if we can start ground up, we will look at the numbers and the profiles of the inmates …”

Hunter Fairweather, who was speaking during a tour of the Tower Street and St Catherine adult correctional

centres, said efforts to build new prisons in Jamaica have not materialised because of the substantial costs involved and the inability to secure funds.

“We have been building on facilities, but we have not been successful in building a new facility, so the idea of a modern facility has been a long-standing matter, that has received attention, but I think this is the closest we are going to be coming to seeing the materialistion of those efforts,” she said.

Debris appears to belong to cargo ship missing in Bahamas MIAMI (Reuters) - Search and rescue teams yesterday located debris which appeared to belong to the cargo ship El Faro that went missing in the eye of Hurricane Joaquin with 33 mostly American crew members aboard, the U.S. Coast Guard and the ship’s owner said.

Life jackets, containers and an oil sheen were spotted

by U.S. Coast Guard aircrews flying over the Bahamas on the third day of their search for the container ship.

The owners of the El Faro, Tote Maritime, also said two vessels it sent to the scene had found a container “which appears to be from the El Faro.”

There had been no sighting of the El Faro or any life boats, Tote Maritime Puerto Rico president, Tim

Nolan, said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the 33 individuals aboard the ship and their families,” he added.

The Coast Guard could not confirm that the objects belonged to the El Faro, which sent a distress call on Thursday in the Bahamas but has not been heard from since.

“The debris is scattered about over several miles,” said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss with the Miami station. “It’s going to take some time to verify. The items would appear to be consistent with the missing ship.”

Trinidad Guardian - An actuarial certificate signed by Paul Ngai of Prescience Insurance Consultants and Actuaries, dated April 20, says he was advised by the management of Clico that the assets pledged to the Statutory Fund total more than $22 billion.

Ngai found there were sufficient assets in the fund to make a partial payment in the settlement of certain policyholder liabilities.

This information was received by the Clico Policyholders Group (CPG) over the weekend and mere days before the 2016 budget presentation.

Ngai stated he examined the financial position and valued the policy benefit liabilities of the company for its Statutory Fund as at December 31, 2014.

In the document, headlined Actuarial Certification pursuant to the Insurance Act of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Ngai wrote, “I meet the appropriate qualification standards and am familiar with the valuation and capital adequacy requirements applicable to life insurance companies in Trinidad and Tobago.”

In Ngai’s opinion and based on unaudited financial and source data information provided to him by the management of Clico, he found that: •The valuation of the policy liabilities has been in accordance with generally accepted actuarial principles with such changes as determined and directions made by the Draft Insurance (Caribbean Policy Premium Method) Regulations; •The methods and assumptions used to calculate the policy liabilities are appropriate to the circumstances of the Statutory Fund and of the said policies and claims; •The amount of policy

Peter Permell

Paul Ngai

liabilities that makes proper provision for the future payments under the Company’s policies is less than the total amount of the Statutory Fund; and •As a result, there are adequate assets in Clico’s Statutory Fund to fund a partial payment in the settlement of certain policyholder liabilities, backed by said Statutory Fund, to be made in accordance with the Directions of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Contacted Saturday, Clico’s terminated managing director Carolyn John said she could not comment since it would be a breach of confidentiality.

“I cannot go on record.”

CPG chairman, Peter Permell, Saturday said the group was not at all surprised by this revelation as it was consistent with what sources had been saying. However, he said, the big question was when would the payment be made.

Permell said, “The only thing we were not quite clear on was the actual size of the fund in terms of dollar value or the specific assets pledged.

In short, these numbers clearly indicate that Clico now has sufficient assets to pay its contractual liabilities in full, relative to its Statutory Fund.”

He explained that from the $22.4 billion, $8 billion had to be deducted, which was previously paid to the Government and the “nonassenting” policyholders

representing 85 per cent of contractual liabilities.

“This leaves a balance of $14.4 billion to cover $9 billion of traditional policyholders’ liabilities, $1.4 billion to pay the Government and nonassenting the remaining 15 per cent; and the ‘assenting’ policyholders the balance contractually due to them,” he added.

He believed the information would be helpful to new Finance Minister Colm Imbert in getting a better appreciation of the “true facts” relative to the Clico Resolution Plan, particularly in light of his predecessor Larry Howai’s apparent challenges in obtaining information from Clico and the Central Bank. The CPG is now calling for an urgent meeting with the new Finance Minister.

Permell referred to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s statement in the run up to the general election that, “We of the PNM, have no record of turning our backs on a government commitment made by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and when this Government has made that commitment we will pay you the money.”

The CPG chairman said this was equally applicable to Clico policyholders and as Prime Minister, so far, Rowley had not done anything to suggest that he was not a man of his word.

Permell said, “It is now a matter of history that the PNM lost the 2010 general election and was unable to make good on its promise.

“Accordingly, Dr Rowley must be aware that it would be a travesty and a betrayal of the worst kind, having returned to government, almost as if by divine intervention; and the PNM either reneges or fails to complete their task for a second time, in circumstances where the Statutory Fund is now fully funded with over $22.4 billion.”

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

Underdogs Zimbabwe look for rare series win

Pakistan have slipped to No. 9 in the ODI rankings if they had been No. 9 three days ago, they would not have qualified for the Champions Trophy. (AFP) ESPNcricinfo - It scarcely seemed possible after their crushing defeat in the first ODI, but Zimbabwe will go into the third match focused on what could be their first one-day series win over a top 10 side other than Bangladesh for more than 14 years. To do that, though, they’ll have to fire on all cylinders against a Pakistan side who will feel that the momentum was on their side before the inclement weather tipped Saturday’s game in Zimbabwe’s favour.

Zimbabwe remain perennial underdogs and though they wobbled noticeably in the face of Shoaib Malik’s death-defying brilliance, they showed during the second ODI what they are capable of as a team when it all clicks. Zimbabwe didn’t lose any wickets to spin in the second match, after losing all 10 to the slow men in the first. Top order runs, a lower order blast, early wickets, and inspired fielding were all on show. But on the flip side of that, there was also the omnishambles of the late afternoon where it all threatened to fall apart, and inconsistency of performance is still a problem for the hosts.

Pakistan, on the other hand, have been consistent in both their successes and failures during their trip to Southern Africa. In every match their top order has failed, their lower middle has rallied, and their bowlers have kept them in the game. Their defeat on Saturday means Pakistan have slipped to No. 9 in the ODI rankings - if they had been No. 9 three days ago, they would not have qualified for the Champions Trophy. Though these two teams are now slightly closer in the ICC’s one-day rankings,

and despite Zimbabwe’s strong team performance to level the series, once again Pakistan start as favourites.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT After spending months as a specialist batsman, circumstances dictated that Elton Chigumbura should return to his traditional allrounder role in the second match. He quickly shook off what rust may have coated his bowling arm and contributed roundly to Zimbabwe’s success with a wicket, a catch, a run-out and a half-century earlier in the day. He’ll want to lead from the front in the decider, and if his top order gives him a platform, his devastating batting could be the

difference between ignominy and a historic series win.

Shoaib Malik has been the calm centre of a combustible Pakistan middle order on this tour, and every time he has arrived at the crease, his team has been in trouble. He top-scored in the opening T20, and though he failed in the second, he made an all-round contribution to the visitors’ win in the first ODI. He very nearly sealed the series on Saturday and, given the way that match ended, Malik will be out to prove a point on Monday.

TEAM NEWS Zimbabwe stuck with the same XI in the second ODI, but they face an enforced change in the series decider. Graeme Cremer’s ankle injury has all but ruled him out, and the most obvious replacement for him is legspinning allrounder Tino Mutumbodzi. Though he dropped a crucial catch, Mutumbodzi was generally an electric presence in the field and his run-out of Mohammad Hafeez was vital to Zimbabwe’s eventual success. While Hamilton Masakadza has looked out of sorts in this series, his place is probably still safe and the only other reserve batsman in the side is Malcolm Waller.

Pakistan’s changes for the second match didn’t quite work out - debutant Bilal Asif held his own with the ball without ever really threatening and was unconvincing with the bat, while Asad Shafiq was an anonymous presence.

Page 31

Ferrer beats Lopez to win Malaysian Open KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) David Ferrer beat his fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-5 7-5 in the final of the Malaysian Open on Sunday to capture the 25th title of his career and his fourth this year.

Appearing in his 50th ATP career final, the 33-year-old Ferrer won the hard-fought match against his good friend and Davis Cup team mate to add the Malaysian title to his previous tournament wins this year in Doha, Rio and Acapulco.

“I feel very happy, because I have never played so well at this tournament,” said Ferrer, who was the top seed. “I played my best match

of the week in this final, and my sensations after my elbow injury are now very good.”

Ferrer had not lost to Lopez since 2009 but his streak looked to be in danger of ending when he made a slow start and went down an early break.

But Ferrer quickly broke back and clinched the opening set when he broke secondseeded Lopez again in the 12th game. In the second set, Ferrer again made the vital break in the 12th game, sealing a straight-sets win.

“Feliciano is a good tennis player, but an even better person,” said Ferrer. “I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.”

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Kaieteur News

Monday October 05, 2015

Mobile Wizard 10/10 GCB extend condolences to the Camacho family Teams request one more week to get prepared The Executives and staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wish to express condolences to the family and friends of the late Stephen Camacho who passed away on October 2, at the age of 69, the board stated in a release.

It continued, “It is always heart wrenching to lose our loved ones; Camacho was loved dearly within the cricket fraternity. The right handed Guyana and a West Indies batsman played 11 Tests with his highest score being 87.

For Guyana, he was exceptional with seven centuries and 24 half centuries.

Off the field, Camacho

earned immense respect and admiration as a West Indies Cricket Administrator and Selector. His approach to his job and the manner in which he carried himself exemplified class and success. For 18 years he served as the CEO of the West Indies Board of Control (WICBC) now know as the WICB.” “We at the GCB acknowledge and celebrate the legacy this remarkable gentleman has left us. We are praying and grieving with his family at this time. And we wish to let them know that Stephen Camacho will always be remembered!,” the release concluded.

Letter to the Sports Editor

Setting the records straight

DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me space to correct inaccuracies/ misconceptions in an article published in your newspaper dated September 30, 2015 titled, Good ‘try’ for Guyana’s rugby - written by Edison Jefford.

Sabola Gray is not a former national player. She represented Guyana at the June 13 - 14 NACRA 2016 Olympic Qualifier Sevens in Cary, North Carolina.

Peter Green - Elected President in 2013. In June 2014 the Men’s team won the Caribbean 15s title after a hiatus of 43 years and in December won their seventh 7s title. The six titles were won 2006 - 2011.

Terrence Grant - Resigned as Honorary Secretary in September 2005 after 14 years in office. On Saturday June 7, 2014 after Guyana had defeated Trinidad and Tobago to win the NACRA South Zone 15s title, the then Captain Ryan Gonsalves and others approached and urged that I return as Honorary Secretary. I agreed to serve and was elected at the AGM held on Sunday July 27, 2014.

Prior to my return as Honorary Secretary, my involvement in rugby was limited to working with Match Officials at the Domestic and international level either as Head Official or CMO (Coach of Match Officials).

Kindly note, I hold no brief for either Ms. Sabola Gray and/or Peter Green.

Yours faithfully, Terrence Grant

Ammiel Azeez ( left) collects sponsorship check Mobile Wizard proprietor Syed Ali as President of GSL - Mr Halim Khan (centre) looks on.

The teams registered for the mobile wizard 10/10 has requested one more week to fine tune their preparations for the tournament and Guyana Softball League (GSL) along with the West Demerara body has consented. All the teams have started preparations and are

of the opinion that because it is the first tournament for sometime on the West Demerara they need the time to be more competitive.

Meanwhile, the GSL has indicated that Leonard Harprashad will be there to offer support to the West Demerara reps in order to

have a smooth flow of the tournament.

The tournament which has attracted some 26 teams thus far has seen a renewal of interest in softball cricket in that area.

The preparation at various venues is heartening.

One such indication is the

receipt of registration of a school boys team.

The games will be opened by the Regional Chairman Region #3 who will also do the bowl off. President of GSL Mr Halim Khan will also welcome the teams and both will witness the exhibition match between two top female teams. Another exhibition match will see two schoolboys teams clashing.

The first match of the tournament will see the first two entrants going up against each other.

The tournament is a round-hand round robin competition and each team will be given an opportunity to clash with each other in the two divisions in West Bank and West Coast.

Meanwhile, Mobile Wizard has handed over the check for sponsorship to the organisers and will be at all the grounds to display their wares and services. The public is urged to take advantage of this opportunity as they will be discounts and every purchase will be attract giveaways.

Shashank Manohar appointed BCCI president for second time

Shashank Manohar (Getty Images)

BBC Sport - Shashank Manohar has promised to “clean the image” of the Board of Control for Cricket in India after being elected president for a second time.

The 58-year-old, who previously held the role from 2008-2011, succeeds Jagmohan Dalmiya, who died last month. “The first priority is to restore the faith of the fans,” said Manohar.

“There is grievance that the board is not transparent. It’s a perception created that because information does not come out, there’s something wrong.”

Manohar, who will serve a two-year term as head of arguably the most powerful

organisation in world cricket, has pledged to put the BCCI’s constitution, expenditure details and balance sheet on its website.

He also said the board would appoint an independent ethics officer who would look into cases of conflict of interests involving players and administrators.

Manohar also promised central contracts for women cricketers, revival of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, and financial accountability in the state units.

The Nagpur-based lawyer was the lone candidate and elected at a special general body meeting of the BCCI at its headquarters in Mumbai.

Monday October 05, 2015

Kaieteur News

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GCA’s Carib Beer t20 semi-finals Ireland progress, Pumas GCC beat MSC by 6 wickets, win, English mourn

to face DCC in Final

Italy’s Alessandro Zanni wins a lineout. (Reuters / Eddie Keogh) LONDON (Reuters) Ireland laboured to a 16-9 victory over Italy to reach the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday, taking France along with them and setting up a blockbuster Pool D decider in Cardiff next weekend.

As the host nation started to come to terms with the fact that England will not be among the final eight after Saturday’s defeat by the Wallabies, the Irish and French joined New Zealand, Australia and Wales in the knockout stages.

Argentina had Diego Maradona cheering them on as they all but assured their progression from Pool C with a 45-16 thumping of Tonga at the Leicester City Stadium.

Ireland did not have anyone nearly as famous as the football great backing them at London’s Olympic Stadium but their green-clad legion of fans made up in quantity for what they lacked in star quality.

The Six Nations champions were unable to match the passion of their support with their performance but one slick try from centre Keith Earls and 11 points from the boot of flyhalf Jonny Sexton got the job done.

Italy, lifted by the return of the inspirational Sergio Parisse, stuck doggedly to their task and were denied a try and the lead early in the second half by a clutch tackle from Irish flanker Peter O’Mahony on lock Josh Furno.

“We’re in the quarterfinals so that’s great for us,” Ireland captain Paul O’Connell said.

“Probably a

disappointing performance, I think we just dropped too many balls and when we do that we can’t play our game.

“France have played some good rugby and we’re going to have to improve massively on that performance.”

Ireland and France both have 14 points from their first three matches and next Sunday’s clash in Cardiff is almost certain to send the losers into a quarter-final against reigning champions New Zealand.

The winners will probably face an Argentina side who looked far from a soft option after another convincing Pool C performance.

The Pumas ran in five tries to ensure that only an upset of the All Blacks by Tonga combined with an equally unthinkable slip-up against Namibia can prevent them from taking their place in the knockout stages for the third successive World Cup. ENTERTAININGHALF The Tongans played a full part in an entertaining first half by matching Argentina’s tally of two tries but the Pumas, inspired by flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez’s man of the match performance, pulled clear after the break.

Sanchez scored a try and kicked 20 points to the delight of his country’s most famous sporting number 10, Maradona, who joined the Pumas to celebrate in the dressing-room.

“He told us that if we get to semi-finals he will come (to see us again), he put the bar high for us,” Argentina captain Agustin Creevy said with a grin.

Argentina are second in the pool on 10 points, four

behind the All Blacks with Tonga third on six.

Australia and Wales went through to the quarter-finals courtesy of the emphatic victory by the Wallabies over England on Saturday, which resulted in the first exit at the pool stage of a sole host nation in the history of the tournament.

As social media went into overdrive with jokes making fun of England’s misery, the knives were out for coach Stuart Lancaster. Chief executive Ian Ritchie said the Rugby Football Union would not be making any knee-jerk decisions but former England forward Dean Ryan thought it naive to believe Lancaster could survive.

“There will be blood. Of course there will,” he wrote on the Guardian website.

“You don’t fumble your own World Cup without even getting to the end of the pool stage and then survive.”

It remains to be seen what impact England’s absence from the latter stages will have on a tournament that was billed as the first billion dollar rugby festival.

“I know there are a lot of people that have come from all over the world to be at the World Cup,” All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu told reporters in Newcastle.

“Hopefully, there is still a lot of interest here in England.

It will be interesting to see how much of a difference it makes.”

Today is a break day for the tournament before the action resumes tomorrow with Canada’s game against Romania in Leicester and Fiji’s clash with Uruguay in Milton Keynes.

By Sean Devers GCC got past host Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by four wickets yesterday in the second semi-final of the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Carib Beer t20 first division cricket tournament to book a spot in the final against DCC on a date to be announced shortly.

GCC won the toss and asked MSC to bat on a track which was not ideal for playing through the line, but which was hardly responsible for the dismissals of the batsmen as the hosts crashed to an inadequate 83 all out in 17 overs as only Skipper Steven Jacobs (22), Nichosie Barker (21) and Lennox Cush (10) reached double figures in sultry conditions.

Left-arm spinner Anthony Adams produced a frugal four-over spell to capture 39, while Raj Nannan (2-15), Renaldo Ali Mohamed (2-11) along with Left-arm Seamer Raymond Reifer, pacer Ronsford Beaton and left-arm spinner Devon Lord, who had a wicket each, supported well with the ball for the Bourda boys who responded with 844 with 21 balls to spare.

The win was not as easy as the GCC fans might have imaged with 84 required from 120 balls. Robin Bacchus (2), Jeetendra Sookdeo (4) and Vishaul Singh (9) were all back in the pavilion with just 25 runs on the board in seven overs.

But the level headed Reifer (20 from 32 balls) and Mohamed (8) steered the rocking ship to shore with an intelligent and responsible

unbroken 22-run stand from 19 balls as the tournament rules which states the fast bowlers must bowl at least eight of the 20 overs meant that off-spinner Cush and former Guyana U-19 legspinner Steven Sankar did not bowl a ball for MSC. A raucous gathering watched as Imran Hassan, who never suggested permanence, was bowled for a duck by Bajan Reifer at 8-1 before Jacobs and Barker consolidated the position with a 37-run stand before Barker, who pulled Beaton for four and square drove him to the boundary next ball when he pitched up, was taken at point with a loose cut off Lord at 45-2.

Former Guyana t20 player Deon Ferrier (1) was bowled

by Adams a run later before Jacobs who lofted Reifer over mid-on for four and danced into Lord to effortlessly hit him out of the ground, threw his wicket away trying to hit a six off Adams only to see Beaton at deep mid-wicket hold the catch.

Nine runs later, the burly Orin Ford, another former Guyana t20 batsman, played across and was bowled for one by Adams.

When Cush played an impetuous shot and was taken in the deep and Kellon Carmichael (3) was trapped LBW, Nannan had struck twice in two balls to leave MSC wobbling on the ropes in their own backyard at 69-7.

Things got progressively worse when Permaul (1), making his debut for MSC, hit Beaton to long-on at 71-8 before Mohamed picked up the last two wickets with the

score on 82 to bring a disappointing end to the innings which was aided by 19 extras but undermined by 63 dot balls and reckless shot selections.

When GCC began their reply Bacchus was LBW to Jacobs and Sookdeo played an injudicious scoop off Carmichael, for slip to run across to short fine leg to hold the lobbed offering.

After Singh was run out Reifer and Johnson joined forces to stage ‘operation rebuild’ with what turned out to be a crucial 37-run stand from 39 balls.

Johnson was dropped

by Carmichael, running to his left from long-on in the 10th over off Permaul who saw the keeper put down a leg side catch off his b o w l i n g w i t h t h e We s t Indies left hander not yet into double figures.

The reintroduction of pace released the pressure and Johnson hammered Cordel Mars for two confide n t b o u n d a r i e s , while Reifer latched onto the expensive Mars with a couple of on-side boundaries and GCC seemed back on course.

But Johnson’s well compiled 27 came to an end when he pushed forward to Permaul, who troubled his fellow Test player, for Ford at short leg to hold the catch at 62-4.

Reifer who lofted Jacobs for four remained to the end on 20 from 32 balls, while Mohamed (8) finished the contest with a boundary for four although it was hard work for GCC who faced 61 dot balls.

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Great Scottish Run: Moses Kipsiro & Edna Kiplagat win half marathon

Monday October 05, 2015

Impressive Arsenal stun Man Utd

Moses Kipsiro fought off the challenge of Scotland’s Callum Hawkins and Kenya’s Japhet Korir to win the 34th Great Scottish Run, (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro fought off the challenge of Scotland’s Callum Hawkins and Kenya’s Japhet Korir to win the 34th Great Scottish Run in Glasgow.

Kilbarchan’s Hawkins, 23, and World Cross Country champion Korir, 22, pushed the three-time Commonwealth champion for most of the half marathon.

But Kipsiro, 29, won in one hour two minutes 18 seconds - 24 seconds ahead of Hawkins, who ran a personal best.

Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat successfully defended her women’s title in 1:08:21. Her compatriot Doris Changeiywo crossed second in 1:09:50 and England’s Gemma Steel was six seconds further back in third, as she held off the challenge of 42-year-old Jo Pavey - who ran 1:09:58 to set the fastest time ever by an over-40 British woman.

Hawkins, who was 14 seconds short of the Scottish record, finished six places ahead of his 26-year-old brother Derek and both will compete in this month’s Frankfurt marathon.

“For us both to run well today was brilliant,” the runnerup told BBC Sport. “To have your brother next to you pushing you on benefits you, it’s just brilliant.

“I was here to prove my fitness going in to Frankfurt so I just need to take care of my self until then. The marathon can be a completely different animal to a half marathon.”

Edna Kiplagat eased to victory as she defended her half marathon title. (SNS)

Persaud prevails in...

From page 35 was not expected to be entertaining. Joshua kicked into gear unleashing serves that were very difficult to return by his little brother as he clinched the first set 4-0.

In the second set Jeremiah held serve only once while going after his brother in long rallies but he eventually lost the set and match to his older brother at 4-1.

In the other Boys U14 Qtrs, Heimraj Resaul easily defeated Ariel Khan 4-0, 4-0 to book his place in the Boys U14 semis for yet a another thrilling encounter with Jordan Beaton.

In the Boys U18 Qtrs, the Brazilian Alexander Almeida eventually overcame Keenan

Persaud in a three setter 1-6, 6-2, 3-10. Heimraj Resaul def.

Judah Stephney 6-1,6-2.

In the Girls U12 Semis, Sarah Klautky def. Atouria Branche 4-0, 4-0 and Nathalie Ramdyhan def. Alana Chung 5-4(7-5), 5-4(11-9).

In the Girls U14 Semis Afruica Gentle def Kalyca Fraser 4-2, 4-1 and Shivani Persaud def Sarah Klautky 40,4-1.

In the Girls U18 Aretta Dey received a walkover from Nathalie Ramdyhan to book her place in the final against the talented 14 yr old Afruica Gentle who def Shivani Persaud 7-5, 7-6(7-5). Matches were set to continue yesterday at Presidents College tennis courts.

Mesut Ozil made it two when he was afforded too much space in the Manchester United penalty area.

(Graham Chadwick) BBC Sport - Arsenal stunned Manchester United with three goals in the opening 20 minutes as the Gunners moved up to second in the Premier League table.

United had no answer to Arsenal’s opening burst as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil scored twice in 74 seconds.

Sanchez added a third from 18 yards as the Gunners beat United for just the second time in 14 league meetings. United improved after the break but Arsenal substitute Alex OxladeChamberlain hit the crossbar late on.

Defeat leaves Louis van Gaal’s side in third place, behind Arsenal on goal difference.

Wenger relieves the pressure Arsenal’s Champions League defeat at home to Olympiakos in midweek left them in danger of failing to reach the last 16 and manager Arsene Wenger in the face of heavy criticism.

Wenger was forced to defend his selection of goalkeeper David Ospina,

describing recent criticism as “not analysis of football”. He also called the press “boring”.

But his side were anything but in an opening half which saw them tear Manchester United apart, almost at will.

With their first real attack Sanchez back-heeled in at the near post after good work from Aaron Ramsey and Ozil, and the Germany playmaker then added the second a minute later after Walcott ran at a struggling defence.

Sanchez shrugged Matteo Darmian aside to add his second with a brilliant 18yard strike which brought up an unwanted record for the visitors, as they conceded three goals in the opening 20 minutes of a Premier League game for the first time.

And it should have been four just after the half-hour mark as Ramsey volleyed wide from close range when completely unmarked.

With the game won, Arsenal failed to repeat their attacking display in the second half until substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain chipped David de Gea and hit the

Narayan Ramdhani gains...

From page 36 Championships Dominican Republic August 23-25, 2015, Caribbean Regional Individual Championships Dominican Republic August 25-30, 2015, Pan Am Youth Talents Camp Medellin Colombia September 16-21, 2015 and the VI Colombian International Championships 23-27, 2015.

Narayan aims to break into the top 100 of the World Rankings by participating in the World Junior Championships in Peru November 4-15 along with his 5Member Teammates and also in the Suriname Open Championships November 18-21.

The GBA would like to thank the Guyana Olympic Association, Continental Group of Companies, and all our followers and supporters who have made it possible for our Team to attain recent achievements.

crossbar in injury time.

The Gunners are now just two points behind leaders Manchester City going into a two-week international break which had the potential to be uncomfortable for their fans and for Wenger.

Did Van Gaal get team selection wrong?

Louis van Gaal may have spent over £250m since taking charge at Old Trafford, but he still appears to have glaring holes in his squad.

The decision to play winger Ashley Young at leftback, and the continuing selection of Daley Blind at centre-back, were both exposed by Arsenal’s electric start.

Blind played most of his first season at United in a deep midfield role and a lack of pace and strength were both in evidence against Walcott and Sanchez.

Even Chris Smalling - who has been lauded for his early season form - was too slow to close down Sanchez as he bent in the third goal after easily outwitting Darmian.

In front of United’s ragged back four, partnering Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield also proved an error.

Carrick, 34, and Schweinsteiger, 31, are both masters at keeping Position Team Played 1 Man City 8 2 Arsenal 8 3 Man Utd 8 4 Crystal Palace 8 5 Leicester 8 6 West Ham 8 7 Everton 8 8 Tottenham 8 9 Southampton 8 10 Liverpool 8

possession but in an opening 15 minutes in which Arsenal totally dominated the ball, their lack of pace against the counter-attack was exposed all too easily.

Morgan Schneiderlin - left on the bench - may have been a better option to break up play as Arsenal’s Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin bossed the midfield.

The anonymous Memphis Depay and Darmian were hauled off at the break as Marouane Fellaini belatedly stiffened the centre and Wayne Rooney was moved out to the left wing.

The changes worked - as United had 72.5% of secondhalf possession - but they came far too late to affect the result.

The recalled Petr Cech who made a good save to deny Anthony Martial just before half-time - saved well from Schweinsteiger late on, but United rarely threatened.

What a weekend for City Manchester City started the weekend a point behind leaders United, and level on goal difference.

But Arsenal’s opening burst, coupled with City’s 6-1 thrashing of Newcastle, saw the men in blue open up a two-point lead at the top of the table, eight goals better off than United.

GD Points 12 6 4 4 2 6 4 4 3 -2

18 16 16 15 15 14 13 13 12 12