Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news A toxic unchecked culture Greed is an insatiable need for more, where more is never enough

of the most shocking kind DEAR EDITOR, Besides being filled with utter rage, abhorrence and sickening disgust on reading of the midnight intruder who sneaked into the Georgetown Public Hospital to molest an in-patient teenager (Kaieteur News, October 5, 2015), I am also questioning what sort of protection/security is offered those during a vulnerable period in their life? One can immediately pose the question: If one is not safe in the hospital, then pray tell me where?

While the entire scenario appears like a scene from the comedy network ‘Just for Laughs’, it nevertheless calls for a serious revision of currently existing procedural and safety policies.

In addition, legal measures should be instituted against the hospital for gross negligence in failing to protect those who are under their care from unacceptable risks of harm.

What manner of supervision is afforded patients especially during the night? Are regular checks carried out, and from a standpoint of nursing care and supervision, are the patients visible at all times, even when asleep? It is stated

that the Ward Sister chased the intruder away. Why was other personnel not summoned?

What if the intruder was armed, or became combative?

The intruder was reportedly grilled by the Ward Sister and other female patients as to his reason for being on the ward at such an hour? What a waste of time, energy and vocal effort, as he had obviously sneaked his way in, and his presence was outside regular visiting hours.

Leave that to the investigatory agents to ascertain the Whys, Wheres, Whens etc. Was there a staff shortage present which served as a superimposed and contributory factor to this occurrence? Does the hospital not have an Emergency call system in place to be used by either patients or Staff when situations such as theses arise?

It is a moot point, not even meriting mention that the intruder and the patient both hailed from the same village. Such a fact bears no relation to the dastardly act committed. I daresay that the stated behavior of the intruder does border heavily on insanity, as he failed to leave the scene of the crime

even when discovered and ordered to leave.

With no malice or rancor aforethought, this sad occurrence highlights failure of the system to execute its most essential duty, and also shows wider systemic failings within the institution—— betrayal of the core values of the health service. A toxic unchecked culture of the most shocking kind currently exists at the GPHC. Quality of care is as important as the quality of treatment, for when hospitals fail in their duty to protect patients, the results can be devastating.

My recommendation is that while the wave of Government-conducted audits continues to sweep the country then the GPH should also be subjected to auditing, especially where, among other issues security is concerned. An act of this nature that could have had a disastrous outcome should never be allowed to happen again. Let it not be forgotten or overlooked that the hospital has designatable moral responsibilities to its patients, and at all times these must be met.

Yvonne Sam

Out of control Councilor DEAR EDITOR, City Hall seems to have a huge void when it comes to having capable, knowledgeable and experienced administrative officers. Just a few days ago, I was at the Council’s Finance Department, where there was quite a crowd of citizens wishing to benefit from the amnesty being offered on interest accrued on outstanding property taxes.

Expecting to see a well organized system in place to collect these outstanding taxes s, as it was the Council themselves who declared this amnesty offer, I was instead confronted with a most chaotic scene with very long lines, citizens being attended to by Clerks who obviously knew very little or nothing at all

about what they were doing and with management and supervisory staff being invisible.

To compound this already disorderly situation, was the presence of an obese and boisterous man who kept barking orders to the staff and who continually insulted them.

Quite shocking I am told that this person was not a senior officer but rather a mere Councilor with no authority to be interacting with staff.

This obviously embarrassed and even intimidated the clerks who became even more inept as they started scampering all over the place in fear. Can’t Hamilton Green control his Councillors?

Sean Moniz

DEAR EDITOR, It would seem that corruption is the order of the day. Not a day passes without someone – be it a former President, Prime Minister, Senator, C.E.O., you name them – being investigated or imprisoned for corrupt practices.

Corruption is defined as “the abuse of bestowed power or position to acquire a personal benefit.”

Corruption may include many activities including bribery and embezzlement.

According to Pope Francis, “Corruption is expressed in an atmosphere of triumphalism because the corrupt fancies himself a winner. The corrupt knows no fraternity or friendship, but complicity and enmity.

The corrupt does not perceive his corruption. It is a little like what happens with bad breath; it is hard for those who have it to know, unless someone else tells them.

For this reason, the corrupt can hardly get out of their internal state by way of remorse of conscience.

Corruption is a greater evil than sin.”

As fire cannot be satiated by feeding it with fuel, desire cannot be appeased by supplying it with more desires. The more it gluts, the more it craves. Sin increases in direct proportion to desire.

Greed, also known as avarice or covetousness, is the inordinate desire to possess wealth, goods, or objects with the intention to keep it for one’s self, far beyond the dictates of basic survival and comfort. It is

applied to a markedly high desire for and pursuit of wealth, status, and power.

It is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs. Erich Fromm described greed as “a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.”

The level of “inordinance” of greed pertains to the amount of vanity, malice or burden associated with it.

Thomas Aquinas wrote: “Greed is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things.”

Meher Baba dictated that “Greed is a state of restlessness of the heart, and it consists mainly of craving for power and possessions. Possessions and power are sought for the fulfillment of desires.

Man is only partially satisfied in his attempt to have the fulfillment of his desires, and this partial satisfaction fans and increases the flame of craving instead of extinguishing it.

Thus, greed always finds an endless field of conquest, and leaves the man endlessly dissatisfied.”

Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft

and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed.

We are constantly being bombarded with images of things that we can attain, that once we possess them, are supposed to make us feel happier and more fulfilled than ever before.

Greed is an insatiable need for more, where more is never enough. Greed can never be satisfied; once you attain your heart’s desire, another desire takes its place. Greed is self-serving and destructive. Neighbours are no longer friends, but rivals in a competition.

Family members are no longer loved ones but obstacles in the quest for the newest, brightest and best.

Greed is like a whirlpool; it keeps drawing victims nearer its center and in due time as the center is reached the force pulls victims under and destroys them.

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”

(Gandhi) Pt. R. Balbadar

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Major contract targets Fire destroys computerizing 3M civil records East Street

Approximately two million birth; one million marriage and 500,000 death registration records must be entered into a computer database in their entirety within a three-year time frame.

This means that some 4000 birth, death and marriage registration records (correct entries) must be entered daily, according to the Terms of Reference (TORs) for the consultancy firm which will undertake the computerisation of the records at the General Registrar Office (GRO).

An advertisement is currently out recruiting consultancy services for this project, a government statement said yesterday.

The objective of this project is to ensure that all the records for the period 1869 to 2015 are correctly entered into what is known as the Civil Events Registration System (CERS), to allow for the complete automation of the process for the generation of certificates, verification, easy retrieval and storage.

GRO is the government agency responsible for the registration of civil events (births, deaths, marriages and adoptions) and the issuance of the relevant documents to

support this function. As part of its mandate for the continuous improvement in delivery of service to citizens, and to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, the GRO acquired the CERS. An indispensable requirement for the CERS is the need to take data from the paper-based birth, death and marriage registration records (held by the GRO) and enter these into CERS database from the year 1869 to 2015.

According to the statement, it is envisaged that upon completion of this project, the process for distributing new birth, death and marriage certificates will be significantly reduced, and will allow for easy retrieval of information.

The consultant or firm will be required to ensure that for each record entered, there is 100% accuracy. Weekly status reports on proposed targets and achievements and monthly reports on data entries completed must be submitted.

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, under whose remit the GRO falls, had said during the 2015 Budget debates in August, that part of a $183M allocation to his department will go towards

building

Over 3M birth, death and marriage records that date back to almost 150 years are to be finally computerized. restoring GRO records. An additional part of the GPOC

building has been rented to help in this restoration project.

MMA/ADA moves to repossess rice farmers’ lands Some Berbice rice farmers are up in arms over a recent move by the MahaicaMahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), to repossess their farmlands, depriving them of their livelihood in the process.

Phillip Johnson, of Seafield, West Coast Berbice, travelled to the city, and visited this publication yesterday to vent his frustration against the MMA/ ADA, saying that he believes that there could be some level of collusion that has led to

the repossessing of the lands.

Johnson provided this publication with a copy of a lease agreement, issued under the hand of former President Donald Ramotar, which was finalized in November last.

The MMM/ADA subsequently published a notice in the dailies which states that as a result of a court action last year October, all the leases are cancelled with immediate effect.

Johnson said that he made

contact with the MMA/ADA General Manager, A. Charles, who informed him of the court action and said nothing further could be done.

The land, he said, has already been cultivated at a substantial cost.

To compound the situation, the rice farmers are now being asked to pay the MMA/ADA to reap the rice cultivated on the land.

The affected rice farmers believe that the issue stems more from collusion between members of the MMA/ADA

and a selected few farmers who control the majority of lands in the West Berbice District.

Johnson said that just about six families were in control of some 500 acres of rice lands in the area. The cultivation was being undertaken under the name of a defunct corporation.

He said that these lands were previously under a sublet structure by those in charge, contrary to any lease arrangements with the administration.

An afternoon fire of unknown origin destroyed the top flat of an East Street house, leaving three people homeless and tens of millions of dollars in losses.

Pauline John, 48, lived in the upper flat of the 345 East Street building while Noel Mohabeer and his son Christopher resided in the bottom flat. The building is owned by David John who is currently in Sudan.

Mowava Maison, an employee at the Dapper N Debonair shop next door said that she smelled smoke just before 15:00hrs but saw nothing alarming when she came outside. “I didn’t think was anything big but minutes later the smoke became a big fire.

So I run inside and get my uncle out of his building.”

From her recollection the fire started in the back section of the upper flat and quickly swept through to the front.

A teary-eyed Pauline John, the caretaker for the past eight years, said that she left home for about 15 minutes only to return to a big fire. In disbelief and fighting back tears the woman said, “I don’t have a clue how this happened.

The only thing I leave on as is customary is the fridge now everything destroyed.

All I have now is what I have on. My phone and money and all my household items gone” Her tenant Noel Mohabeer works one block away at Quamina Street and he too had no clue of how the fire began.

His belongings were untouched by fire but were water soaked. While he had no comment for the media he was heard saying that the fire happened really fast.

Fay Harris, a vendor from nearby, said that she saw what appeared to be cane burning

then she heard an explosion and saw fire bellowing from the building.

While the Fire Service was praised for their efforts that saved other buildings close by from becoming engulfed, one report is that the first fire tender arrived with a limited water supply.

Compton Sparman, Divisional Officer-incharge of operations in the Guyana Fire Service, said the Fire Service was contacted at 15:03hrs and responded immediately.

“We saw the fire from the fire service Headquarters and we dispatched four appliances, when we arrived the building was well alight.”

He said strategy was employed to fight the fire, given the current dry season and given that water access is problematic for the area. Water was used from the Lamaha canal to extinguish the blaze. In his opinion given the proximity or closeness of the mostly wooden structures the fire fighter’s did a superb job. “Because of planning we were able to fight the fire before it got out of hand…It could have been worse.”

Sparman said from his assessment the fire only destroyed the entire top floor of lot 345 East Street building, but aside from water damage there was no fire damage to the ground floor.

“As a precaution we received a message that there were persons trapped and so we also dispatched an ambulance. However, there was no one inside.”

Sparman said the Fire Service will launch an immediate investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Mass immigration is damaging Britain, says Cameron’s interior minister MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Mass immigration is damaging British society, Conservative interior minister Theresa May said yesterday, promising a tough approach on an issue that will influence Britons’ choice of whether or not to leave the European Union.

“When immigration is too high, when the pace of change is too fast, it’s impossible to build a cohesive society,” May, seen as a possible future leader, told a party conference in the northern city of Manchester.

Mass immigration strained public services like schools and hospitals, depressed wages and pushed people out of work, she said, describing the economic benefits as “close to zero”.

Net migration to Britain reached a high of 330,000 people in the year to March, far above the “tens of thousands” Prime Minister David Cameron promised to reduce it to. More than half comes from EU nationals, who are free to move within the 28country bloc.

That has fueled support for rival parties, especially the anti-EU UK Independence Party, and is

Theresa May looming as a major issue in the referendum on Britain’s EU membership that Cameron has promised to call by the end of 2017.

May’s speech went down well with party activists but drew criticism from the Institute of Directors, an employers’ group.

“We are astonished by the irresponsible rhetoric and pandering to anti-immigration sentiment from the Home Secretary,” its director Simon Walker said.

“It is yet another example of the Home Secretary turning away the world’s best and

brightest, putting internal party politics ahead of the country.”

As part of a renegotiation of Britain’s EU membership terms with the other 27 countries in the bloc, Cameron is under pressure to deliver reforms to welfare rules to restrict migrants’ access to the British benefits system.

Speaking earlier, Cameron conceded he had missed his immigration target and that there was a need to “reform our welfare system so you don’t get instant access to it when you arrive.”

His bid to tighten such rules received a boost on Tuesday when a senior EU legal adviser recommended that the European Court of Justice dismiss a complaint against Britain brought by the EU executive, which accused London of discriminating against other citizens of the bloc.

Public concern over immigration has been heightened by the arrival into mainland Europe of hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Several thousand have traveled to the French port of Calais, seeking illegal passage to Britain. Their attempts to board lorries and trains have badly disrupted freight and passenger links between the island nation and the continent, stirring nationalist sentiment.

Seeking to grasp control of the issue, which dominated the British media over the summer, May promised to be tough on those who abuse the asylum system and flatly rejected calls for an EU-wide system for processing applications.

“Not in a thousand years,” she said, drawing a round of applause from activists. “We’re not seeking to regain control of our borders with one hand, only to give it away with the other.”

Instead, May said Britain would be tightening up its asylum processing rules to make it easier to send those whose applications have been rejected back to their home countries, even if the authorities there do not want to receive them.

“The message will be clear – if other governments don’t play by the rules, there will be consequences,” she said.

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UK crime agency authorised to seize cash from Nigeria ex-oil minister: court LONDON (Reuters) Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) obtained court permission on Monday to temporarily seize 27,000 pounds ($41,000) from a former Nigerian oil minister embroiled in a financial scandal, a court official in London said.

Nigerian authorities confirmed the arrest in London of Diezani AlisonMadueke, who served as oil minister from 2010 until May 2015 under former president Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerian media said she had been granted bail.

Reuters has been unable to reach Alison-Madueke’s personal assistant or a lawyer representing her. She has previously denied to Reuters any wrongdoing when questioned about missing public funds and graft allegations.

An administrative officer at Westminster Magistrates’ Court said on Monday the NCA had applied to the court for an order to seize various sums of money in relation to Alison-Madueke and two other women for up to six months.

The administrative officer

Diezani Alison-Madueke did not provide any information on the link between the three women.

Contacted by Reuters, the NCA declined any comment on the case. On Friday, it issued a short statement saying its International Corruption Unit had arrested five people in London as part of an inquiry into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.

The NCA did not name those arrested but said all five had been released on conditional police bail, pending further investigations in Britain and overseas. It said the investigation had started in 2013.

Page 8

US official warns of ‘strong’ action over N. Korea rocket launch Seoul (AFP) - A senior US official warned yesterday that North Korea will face “strong actions” from the international community if it goes ahead with a long-range rocket launch in violation of UN resolutions.

“We hope they rethink that idea. But if they don’t it’s very clear there will be strong actions taken by the international community,” US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken told reporters after talks with South Korean officials.

“We are absolutely unified and in solidarity with regard to challenges posed by North Korea,” he added.

There has been speculation for months that the North might launch a long-range rocket to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party on Saturday.

But South Korean officials said North Korea showed no sign of preparing for a rocket launch.

“We don’t see any signs of making preparations for an imminent launch such as the movement of a launch vehicle” to the launch pad, a Unification Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Merkel, Hollande to present common front for EU in crisis Reuters - Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande address the European Parliament today, hoping to bolster EU cohesion to face interlocking crises in an echo of Franco-German unity in the days after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

As Germany marks a quarter century since the reunification of east and west in October 1990, the German chancellor and French president will speak on the challenges facing a European Union altered beyond recognition since their predecessors, Helmut Kohl and Francois Mitterrand, made the last such joint appearance in the Strasbourg assembly on Nov. 22, 1989.

“This is a historic visit for historically difficult times,” said parliament speaker Martin Schulz, a German Social Democrat who has sought to forge closer ties between Paris and Berlin.

“The EU is facing immense challenges and requires strong commitment by its leaders.”

High on their agenda will be the migration crisis around refugees from the Syrian civil war whose arrival in the hundreds of thousands in recent months has

French President Francois Hollande (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel created bitter divisions among the 28 states of the European Union and seen border controls reimposed across a continent where their disappearance since the opening of the Iron Curtain is cherished as a major achievement.

Confrontation with Russia, over its seizure of territory in Ukraine and also now its military involvement in Syria, also presents the EU with serious dilemmas. And France and Germany, the postwar founders of the bloc, are also looking for ways to shore up the euro common currency after months of renewed crisis before the bankrupt Greek state was

bailed out for a third time.

Officials in Paris and Berlin play down prospects of major policy initiatives in the two half-hour speeches, starting with Hollande at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT). The two leaders, respectively from the French centre-left and German centre-right, will also face questioning from heads of the legislature’s party blocs.

Those include Marine Le Pen of France’s antiimmigrant National Front, whose strong poll showing threatens Hollande’s prospects of re-election in 2017, when Merkel’s term also ends.

Also slated to speak is the bloc led by the UK

Independence Party, which is pushing for Britain, Europe’s second-biggest economy, to quit the European Union in a referendum Prime Minister David Cameron will call in the next couple of years.

In 1989, when Kohl and Mitterrand spoke in Strasbourg as Europe was in the grip of uncertainty about the crumbling of Soviet power in the east, the EU had only 12 member states. It now has 28. And where France and West Germany were long viewed as a balanced partnership in the lead, the larger, richer, reunited Germany is now the dominant power.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Tackling breast cancer must be a community effort - OSHAG President Communities must play a crucial role in helping to raise cancer awareness. This is according to President of the Organisation for Social Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG), Ms Carol Bagot, who emphasised during a recent interview that keen attention must be given to breast cancer which has had a troubling impact on the local society.

OSHAG, a not for profit organisation, is the brainchild of Bagot, a US based Guyanese.

The organisation has been one that has over the years been offering support to Guyana particularly in the area of cancer awareness.

Moreover, the month of October, which is designated breast cancer awareness month, has been timetabled in OSHAG’s calendar of activities as the time to render support to Guyana.

And according to Bagot, OSHAG is currently looking to tailor its efforts to strategically teach women how to recognise breast cancer. “My idea is a pilot project for Guyana whereby we select about 100 women and follow them for about three

years...that is something that we are thinking about sharing with the Ministers of Public Health and the Chronic Diseases Section (of the Ministry) to see how we can set up a system like that,” disclosed Bagot.

The envisioned project, she disclosed, would entail teaching women the importance of breast self-examination and demonstrating to them how this is done. In fact she spoke of plans to conduct demonstrations using a prosthetic breast to help women discern the feel of cancerous lumps in the breast.

Consideration for this ambitious project was premised on worrying revelations earlier this year that breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer recorded in Guyana over a 10year period.

Based on a Surveillance Cancer Report unveiled by the Ministry of Public Health, which examined the prevalence of the various forms of cancer over the period 2003-2012, it was observed that breast cancer accounted for the most cases (continued on page 30)

Dem boys seh...

Jagdeo lose out pun de back pay Two things happen over de last two days. One happen Monday and people who old enough still talking. That was the day when Papa Cheddi win de elections and end de PNC rule. Dem boys still remember de celebrations. That was de time when people seh that de PNC rule fuh too long and was time fuh a change.

Even some of de people who use to support de PNC decide that dem gun stay home. Was big celebration but some people cry. And of course, de PNC claim how de elections rig.

Papa Cheddi party get a dose of de same medicine and of course, de people in de party claim how de elections rig. And while dem talking Soulja Bai arrange a good back pay fuh he Ministers and all dem Members of Parliament, including Jagdeo.

That is wha mek dem boys raise dem eyebrow. Jagdeo suppose to get $800,000 a month but he seh he don’t want it.

And is not that he is a good man. Is that de money smaller than he pension. He can’t get all two. And right away dem boys seh that dem understand why Jagdeo didn’t want de Minister pay to raise. Because ‘he pension so big and he can’t enjoy de pay increase he mean that nobody shoulda get any. Well people gun get and he gun have to do without.

Kwame buss cry because he ain’t getting nutten. De other day de bank tek way he car and now he trying to sell he house.

That was one man who did believe that de Pee Pee Pee woulda remain in power forever. People ain’t even seeing de fella.

Dem boys seh that fuh all de people Kwame insult; fuh all dem others he get fuh campaign fuh de party and fuh all who he terrorise, de party should a give he something.

From de time dem rice farmers hear that dem Minister and Hem Pees get back pay dem start to protest. People getting more pun dem pay and de rice farmers getting less fuh dem paddy. Soulja Bai seh that he ain’t got nutten to do wid paddy. Dem rice farmers intend to keep him busy till he do something.

De other thing that happen was de anniversary of de Cubana disaster. Jagdeo and he government never pay too much attention to that. Dem boys know why. Cuba never give money to host the anniversary so Jagdeo didn’t care.

Soulja Bai care. Talk half and watch how times change.

Page 9

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS The salaries of various members of Cabinet should be differentiated so long as this is intended to indicate status or so long as there is the possibility of upward mobility.

There is a need, for example, for the President to be paid higher than the Prime Minister and for the Prime Minister, in turn, to be paid higher than a Minister and for a Minister to be paid higher than a Junior Minister.

This differentiation in pay grades would indicate a system of graduated power and authority. Differences in pay scales are also desirable if a person on a lower scale has the possibility of moving up to the higher-paying position.

If there is no possibility for a Junior Minister to be appointed a Senior Minister and thus be entitled to a higher salary, there will be no incentive for that person to perform because the opportunities for upward

mobility are foreclosed. This would negate the need for differentiation in pay on the grounds of the possibility of upward mobility.

The system of government in Guyana does not prohibit promotions within Cabinet. The last person to move from a Junior Minister to a Minister made it all the way to the Presidency, but the latter half of the journey was more of an appointed elevation rather than a meritorious promotion.

It is doubtful whether anyone within the present regime is going to be promoted with Cabinet and therefore this renders obtuse the need for differentiated pay scales based on the equality of opportunity to be promoted.

This leaves any pay differences in pay scales amongst the members of Cabinet to be a function of status differentiation. I suppose in this context one can hardly argue with the fact

that the Prime Minister is receiving more monies than the other Ministers. But should by the same argument, Junior Ministers not be also paid less than their senior counterparts?

The public is not going to be upset that some members of Cabinet are going to be paid higher than others. They are going to be understanding of the principle that the Prime Minister ought to be higher than other Ministers.

What is going to make the public furious is the magnitude of the increases that are paid and the fact that it is government that is doling out these increases to itself.

The magnitude of the increases is staggering. The government has given public servants a five per cent average increase for half of the year which translates to a 2.5 % annual increase. This is going to be further eroded by inflation which should reach 1% by the end of the year

despite the government projection of 0.5%.

Whatever the final inflation numbers, the fact is that real increases for workers will be under 2% this year. Yet the Ministers of the government will enjoy an overall increase of about 20% and the Prime Minister and Vice Presidents, close to 50%.

The public is not going to like that. The other members of the public service, such as teachers, nurses and the police who had anticipated that with a new government in place they would enjoy a 100% increase in salary, have to wait on the outcome of a Commission of Inquiry into salaries and benefits before they will know what will be recommended for them.

Why couldn’t the member of Cabinet not have waited also?

US envoy pledges assistance in …and anti money prison management laundering training The newly accredited United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, has signaled his government’s willingness to provide continued assistance to Guyana in relation to Prisons management, with specific focus on the rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders.

This was conveyed during a courtesy call to Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan at his Brickdam Office on Monday.

Ambassador Holloway who was accompanied by the United States Charge d’ Affaires, Bryan Hunt, assured the Vice President of the United States of America’s continued assistance to Guyana’s security sector.

The two officials

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan shares a light moment with newly accredited United States Ambassador to Guyana Mr. Perry Halloway. discussed continued training opportunities for Guyana’s law enforcement officers.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security, upon the request of

Vice President Ramjattan, training will be provided in the areas of anti-money laundering, asset recovery and prevention of bribery and corruption.

The US Ambassador also

indicated his government’s willingness to assist with public awareness initiatives in Guyana regarding, the diverse methods used by sophisticated white collar criminals.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 07, 2015

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Jagdeo in New York: His Venezuelan remark The media in Guyana did not report on Jagdeo’s presentation in New York to a group of Guyanese that with the exception of Dr. Asquith Rose consisted of East Indians only. I guess one can seriously argue from a journalistic perspective, that his presentation wasn’t news.

Why should a media house report on the systemization of propagandistic fictions of a former president who just lost his country’s national elections? But the press in Georgetown should at least carry the section of his delivery in relation to Venezuela. Jagdeo is playing a dangerous came that can get him into legal trouble.

Did the attendees believe the things Jagdeo told them about the destruction of Guyana under the APNUAFC Government? One can tell from the angry reaction that Dr. Rose received when he asked his questions, that some people are destined to be essentially flawed humans.

Here is a summary of Jagdeo’s descent into Hitlerite delusions. I will leave his Venezuelan remark for the end. He said that ballot boxes were stuffed in Georgetown.

PPP voters were intimidated

by APNU polling agents. The PPP did not have polling agents to cover the entirety of Region Four thus rigging took place. GECOM and the ABC countries were determined to see the PPP out

of office.

There was only one rational point by Jagdeo that came close to an understanding of how the world has changed since Cheddi Jagan won in 1992. He referred to the lack of capacity by PPP supporters to utilize social media during the election campaign. I will come to that.

Judging from the reports I got, it was clear that if Jagdeo had told that audience that a parade of elephants from Africa came to Guyana during the election, and stole the ballot boxes they would have believed.

When I was very young, I heard a rebuttal from a man who was annoyed with another person. It is so far back I cannot recall the exact nature of the incident. But the aggrieved person said to the ignorant gentleman; “Do you have children?” Any school boy can interpret what he was getting at. The point made

was, this person was so foolish that he is likely to populate the world with more foolish people. It is too cynical a statement to repeat but the poignancy of it is there although it is an unpleasant analogy.

How sane, rational people with young children could have sat there and digested what Jagdeo said? They clapped him and when Dr. Rose got up and pointed out that the Emperor was wearing no clothes at all, they wanted to crucify him. Jagdeo was mouthing off the most appalling, disgusting, nauseating nonsense ever to come out of the mouth of a Guyanese politician, and Guyanese in the 21st century living in the most-postmodern country in the world, jumped for joy when they saw his delusions at work.

It is possible that humans are so stupid that Donald Trump can rule the most powerful nation in the world

I will touch on the only sensible part of Jagdeo’s rhetoric. He said that social media was used effectively against the PPP during the election, and PPP supporters must begin to understand how to use it. But even here Jagdeo was on illusive turf. Social media was indeed used against the PPP because the PPP was giving the users of social media ammunition with which to fight the PPP during the election campaign. Bheri Ramsarran threatened to slap and strip a feminist activist, then the next day was unapologetic when he was recorded as saying he is a lady’s man and his ladies would have beaten up the activist. This went viral.

Then it created a tsunami when the President supported Ramsarran. There would have been no viral ubiquity if Ramotar had castigated Ramsarran and Jagdeo instead of cussing down the army. Those are the things

Frederick Kissoon social media used to hurt the PPP during the campaign.

Finally, Jagdeo is treading dangerously with his rhetoric on Venezuela. I am not convinced that Jagdeo and the PPP have demonstrated emotional and nationalist protection of Guyana over the insane wear-mongering of Venezuela.

Jagdeo told his audience that APNU+AFC Government jeopardized the rice deal with Venezuela because of the government’s hostility to Venezuela. He went on to say that our use of military exercises was too threatening.

It was a crowd of sixty persons; ten of them tried to wrest the microphone from Dr. Rose, and sought to assault and evict him. Jagdeo is learning about life. He appealed to the thugs to leave Rose alone.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Local DEA to be fully manned by mid-January More than 18 months after announcing the presence of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Guyana, the US is in the process of making the situation a more permanent one.

By January 15th next year, says new US Ambassador, Perry Holloway, an official who has already been selected and his team will be in place in Guyana.

In July last year, former President, Donald Ramotar, and the previous US ambassador, D. Brent Hardt, announced the establishment of a local DEA office to fight the drug trade.

This was following the approval of the DEA office in Guyana by the US Senate.

Moves have been underway since then to ramp up activities in Guyana.

A number of temporary duty personnel have been stationed here.

According to Ambassador Holloway, the DEA officials have been working closely with the local authorities not only on cases, but on training and lending of technical assistance. The agencies would have included the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU).

There have been several

- new US Ambassador high profile drug cases in both Guyana and the US. Holloway, speaking to reporters on Monday at the US Embassy in Kingston, also disclosed that an assessment team is in Guyana to speed up arrangements with the office, which is currently housed at the US Embassy in Kingston.

Guyana, because of its geographical location in South America, has been a known trans-shipment point for narcotics for years now.

The drugs have been making their way over the borders from Venezuela and onwards through the ports to the US or neighbouring Suriname for Europe.

The new ambassador himself is no stranger to the drug fight.

He has served in Colombia in various levels including Director of Narcotics Affairs Section and even in Washington doing work in counter narcotics.

Questioned whether his work in the drug trade would have played a role in him being selected as ambassador to Guyana, Holloway downplayed it but made it

Suddie, Bartica and West Dem hospitals to be upgraded The facilities at the Suddie Hospital, Region Two; Bartica Hospital in Region Seven: and West Demerara Regional Hospital, Region Three; will benefit from upgrades funded via the Modernisation of Primary Health Care System project.

The 2015 National Budget allocated money for the improvement of primary health care facilities under this project.

Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton and Minister within the Ministry, Dr. Karen Cummings, visited several health institutions across the country since they took office. The Ministers saw firsthand the dilapidated structures and lack of “up-to-date” equipment.

Minister Norton and team on the visit to the Suddie hospital, expressed disappointment with the state of the infrastructure, and the nonavailability of key medical equipment. The operating theatre, which was constructed over five years ago, is still not functioning due to the shabby work that was done by the

contractor, resulting in tiled but hollow walls and defective electrical works.

The Suddie hospital theatre can best be described as “scandalous” Minister Norton said. “…it is a disgrace to see what persons have approved and written off as work they were paid so much to do…The walls are literally hollow, even though they are tiled, and my impression is that you've got to break everything down.

I am one of the persons who said we are not here to break and build over, but I think in this case, if we want the best for the people of the Region, then we have got to do better; we have to break down this theatre, and build a new one.”

The Ministry is currently tendering for these projects.

Interested contractors are asked to contact Mr. Prakash Sookdeo at the Ministry of Public Health, Brickdam, Georgetown; or they can call telephone numbers 225-7767 and 225 4429. Submissions close on November 10, 2015.

clear that his tenure here would involve going after organized crime. “…I have extensive experience in the region, particularly in the area of security, crime, and counter narcotics.

I am committed to our efforts to disrupt and dismantle organized crime in Guyana and to end its use as transit point for narcotics.”

He noted that the multifaceted approach of President Barack Obama’s Caribbean Basin Security

Initiative (CBSI), has produced some very positive results both in the area of drug seizures, and in working with at-risk youths to provide them with hope and economic opportunity.

“Improved safety and security for all citizens of Guyana is essential to the country’s future stability and prosperity,” he said.

Previously, before July last year, Guyana had to seek help from the Trinidad and Tobago-based DEA office, in the sharing of intelligence and exchange of mechanisms to tackle drug-smuggling problems.

US Ambassador, Perry Holloway

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Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Govt. officials call for evaluation of civil workers A number of concerns have been raised and recommendations made by Government officials testifying at the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the Public Service.

On Monday, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture Youth and Sport, Alfred King, and Principal Personnel Officer of the Ministry of Social protection, Shelton Daniels, were among the officials providing information to the COI. The COI has been established to inquire into, report on and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration, conditions and other matters pertaining to the personnel employed in the Guyana Public Service.

The exercise is also expected to determine measures to improve the efficiency of the public service, to review the methodology used in the classification and recruitment of public servants.

This has been the third week of the public hearings which is being facilitated at the Ministry of Presidency Department of Public Service Building, Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

Yesterday, Daniels, the Principal Personnel Officer of the Ministry of Social

Protection, told the panel of commissioners, comprising Professor Harold Lutchman, Samuel Goolsaran and Sandra Jones, that an improved public service system is one that allows for evaluation of workers to enhance the moral aspect of the service.

On Monday, the Personnel Officer spoke of a system in which civil servants can undergo evaluation, including personal and professional to improve the work ethics within the sector.

Daniels also spoke of systems which will boost the performance of civil workers, prior to retirement.

“The closer that person gets to retirement their performance level will drop…

They may come to work when they want ...” he added Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King, detailed his education and qualification to the commission.

He told the commissioners that he has at least 31 years of experience in Guyana’s Public Service. In detailing his work, King told the panel that he was first employed in the system as a teacher and subsequently, as Chief Training Officer in the Guyana National Service.

King said that he also had an integral role in the establishment and expansion

of the President Youth Award Programme (PYAP). Given his core responsibility for the project, King said that the National Youth Award Council has expanded from an average of 123 members to 2,500 young people. During this time, King said that he managed to pursue and acquire a Masters Degree in Public Policy Analysis.

In 2009, King was appointed Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Since then, he said that he has been tasked with the key administrative and accounting officer of the Department. King revealed that he is currently employed on contract.

As part of his responsibility, King related that he is in charge of monitoring the operations of staff, finances and other resources in the Ministry Strategic planning and making recommendations to the Minister based on policies, were also listed as part of the Permanent Secretary’s duties.

While testifying before the Commission, King was

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

given the opportunity to raise concerns and make recommendations for the overall improvement of the public service sector.

He said that an objective system of assessment and selection can be instrumental in the employment of public servants.

King believes this is necessary to ensure that those employed in the sector possess the necessary qualifications and competence to provide the service. He also advocated for a higher retirement age for civil workers.

The Permanent Secretary held that persons with good health, experience, and qualification can serve at least until the age of 65. In welcoming the notion for a reformed system, King asserted that a good public service is one that is characterized by core values such as integrity, impartiality and intelligence.

These three things, he said, in addition to managerial and communication, planning, and skills, are necessary to raise the standard of the sector.

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Probe into OLPT payment claims will soon commence The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) headed by President Mark Lyte will soon launch a probe into the claim of teachers having to pay $40,000 to receive laptops promised to them by the government.

The “One laptop for teacher” programme, implemented by the APNU+AFC administration recently made headlines at a local media house purporting that payments are being solicited from teachers receiving the laptops.

Chief Education Officer Olato Sam recently stated that teachers who reported the issue may have confused the recently introduced OLPT programme with the G-Tech Programme.

The G-tech program implemented under the previous administration subsidized laptops for graduating teachers from the Associate Degree Education

Programme at the Cyril Potter College of Education.

Whereas, laptops offered through the OLPT programme will be provided to teachers across the nation free of cost.

Sam, however, maintained that the allegations were false and that uncertainties over the programmes will be addressed by the Ministry of Education.

The programme to provide laptops to the teachers has already been established and some teachers have already received their laptop. The trainees of CPCE are amongst the first recipients of the laptops in question. This initiative will build on the recently established “Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project” of 2014, which saw the students and teachers along with lecturers of Cyril Potter College of Education receiving laptops.

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No automatic Telecoms Licences under new laws - Patterson The new coalition government is in the final stages of the liberalization of the local Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Industry, as the draft laws are nearing completion.

But unlike its previous version, which was set to automatically grant telecommunications licences to a select few, all interested in such will now have to reapply.

This position was disclosed by Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, who met with media operatives on Monday last at his Wight’s Lane, Kingston Office and said that the two related Bills are almost completed and will shortly be laid in the National Assembly. He did not provide a more detailed timeline.

“I can’t say if it will be done next week but it will be done this year,” Patterson said. He said, government had retained two consultants to put together a draft of the new Bills and this has been completed and returned to the administration.

“Both the draft of the Telecommunications Bill and the draft amended PUC (Public Utilities Commission) Bill is right now with our Cabinet Sub-Committee, it is being circulated,” Patterson disclosed.

According to the Public Infrastructure Minister, the drafts will now have to be vetted to ensure they are compliant with the provisions required by the administration.

Patterson explained that, “as long as it passes through that process, it goes to the

David Patterson CPC (Chief Parliamentary Counsel) and then to Cabinet and then soon after we will lay it in Parliament.”

The Public Infrastructure Minister reiterated that government is looking to have the legislation and inherent liberalization approved of the sector by the end of the year.

Minister Patterson was also asked to respond to whether the automatic licensing of named companies will be kept in the draft legislation.

He told media operatives that all aspirants will be required to re-apply for their telecommunications licences.

“From the draft Bill that we have, everyone is eligible to re-apply,” according to Patterson.

Under the previous administration, a similar Bill was crafted which revealed one of the most shocking and unprecedented occurrences anywhere in the world.

It identified companies which would automatically be handed a

Telecommunications Licence when the legislation is passed.

GT&T and Digicel are already holders of Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Licences.

A Telecommunications Licence is a valuable document as it allows its holder to provide any internet-related service, including the sale of bandwidth, cable television and mobile/cellular.

Two of the companies named in the then proposed law to be automatically handed Telecommunications Licences are E-Networks and Quark Communications Inc. E-Networks have as its shareholders, Vishok Persaud and his sister Member of Parliament, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, both the children of former PPP Bigwig, the late Reepu Daman Persaud; Keith Evelyn and Rakesh Puri.

Quark Communications has as its shareholders as former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s niece, Subrina Singh, Winston Brassington and Brian Yong, a close friend of the former President.

Interestingly, Quark has its base of operations in a compound at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, which belongs to none other than Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop.

Another private company slated to be handed a Telecommunications Licence is iNet Communications Inc. This company has as its principals, Dr. Bobby Ramroop, his secretary Valerie Khan and one of his Directors, Roopnarine Ramcharitar, among others.

No apologies, Govt. justifies salary increases - Harmon Following news of over 50 per cent salary increases for Ministers of Government, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has stated that these increases are justifiable considering the quality of Cabinet members and thus the Government has no apologies to make.

During an interview with the media yesterday Harmon, himself a Minister, noted that the $560,000 paid to a Government Minister previously was on par with what he, as a lawyer, paid his lawyers in private practice.

The Minister also stated that there could not be a situation such as in the past administration, when Ministers were prepared to accept “lowly” salaries, but would engage in corrupt practices.

“We are not going to do

that. Our ministers will have to sign to a code of service which requires them to act at a different level. And so we have to pay people well if we want them to perform,” he said, adding that he has no apologies to make in this regard.

“And if you look at the Cabinet, you will find people of quality working there. I believe the increases are justifiable,” he said.

The rumours of the increases were floating since August, with media reports even producing detailed figures of the projected increases. When questioned at a press conference in August, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman had stated that the proposed increases were in an effort to adjust salary scales to better distinguish the categories of

Government Officers including Ministers and Junior Ministers, Vice Presidents and Presidential Advisors. He had stated that adjustments have not been made in the last 20 years.

Noting that the increases were subject to a review under the purview of Harold Lutchman, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, he also mentioned that the adjustments were on hold.

Following the laying of the budget 2015, the basic minimum wage was increased from $39,540 to $50,000 effective July 1.

Also effective July 1, 2015 all other public servants received a five percent salary increase, in addition to $5,000 monthly. Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had stated (continued on page 30)

Wednesday October 07, 2015

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Ramjattan not interested in Roger Khan’s testimony…for now Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, is not too interested in the testimony given in a United States of America court by selfconfessed drug dealer Shaheed Roger Khan; at least not now.

Ramjattan is more focused on dealing with the current crime situation, with the aim of making this country a safer place.

The Minister was responding to media reports in which newly appointed United States Ambassador Perry Holloway said that the possibility exists for the Guyana government to access Khan’s testimony for a possible Commission of Inquiry into death squads and the extent of Khan’s operations during his reign.

“We would certainly be disposed to cooperate within the frame work of the rule of law,” Ambassador Holloway said.

Khan, who had admitted to helping the government tackle an out of control crime situation, by using extra judicial methods of execution, was sentenced to a total of 40 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to three charges.

The charges are conspiracy to import cocaine (14 years), illegal firearm possession (10

Shaheed Roger Khan years) and witness tampering (15 years) However, he is only serving 15 years after the sentencing judge ordered that the three sentences run concurrently.

It is believed that he gave US investigators vital information about his links with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government in a plea deal that saw him get a favourable sentence. The information could prove vital should there be a Commission of Inquiry into the killings during the 20022008 period.

Yesterday, Minister Ramjattan said that Roger Khan

is not a priority in the crime configuration of Guyana at this present time. “We have a lot of work to do in Guyana to control crime and we are working apace,” Ramjattan said almost dismissively.

Ramjatan said that if Khan wants to give information voluntarily while incarcerated, like others before him have done, he will welcome it.

“He might want to write a book about his association with Jagdeo and Leslie Ramsammy; it will make a lovely novel, interesting reading,” the Public Security Minister said.

US Special Agent Cassandra Jackson of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, in her affidavit to the US Court about Khan’s involvement in the drug trade in Guyana, gave an indication as to how powerful he was.

“Khan was ultimately able to control the cocaine industry in Guyana, in large part, because he was backed by a paramilitary squad that would murder, threaten and intimidate others at Khan’s directive. Khan’s enforcers committed violent acts and

murders on Khan’s orders that were directly in furtherance of Khan’s drug trafficking conspiracy,” she had said.

Khan acquired vast properties, recruited serving police officers, ordered executions, imported and exported cocaine, laundered millions of dollars, possessed specialised intercept equipment and armed himself with a wide assortment of handguns and ammunition.

All of this was possible only because of his “special relationship” with the then

PPP Government. He enjoyed immunity from an indulgent administration and compliant law enforcement agencies.

Minister Ramjattan stated that the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change coalition is quite aware of the role Khan played in assisting the previous government.

“We know he helped the (PPP/C) government with their extra-judicial killings— we don’t need Roger Khan to tell us that,” Ramjattan declared.

Khemraj Ramjattan “I will not make it a big priority to venture forth to get the (Roger Khan) testimony from the US court. If it comes, I will welcome it but thank God he is in jail,” Ramjattan added.

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Wednesday October 07, 2015

Guyana buckles down for months of dry weather A high-level Government team is expected to visit Region Nine today to assess the extent of damage caused by dry weather in that area.

Reports by residents yesterday indicate that the level of the Takutu River, which borders Guyana and Brazil and runs right next to Lethem, has dropped considerably.

According to the Ministry of State, based on reports from the Regional Executive Officer (REO), the Region Nine Emergency Response Centre was activated with workers ready to deploy supplies to affected persons and families According to the Ministry yesterday, a team from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), including Director-General, Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, and his Deputy, Major Kester Craig, will accompany Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Harmon holds responsibility for disaster preparedness management.

“The intention of

- Govt. team treks to Region Nine as Takutu River drops Wednesday’s visit is to do an assessment of communities in the region affected by the prolonged dry weather. This assessment comes based on reports and information received by the CDC from the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of that region,” the Ministry said yesterday.

The region has thus far activated the Region 9 Emergency Response Centre, and is prepared to deploy supplies including water tanks, water pumps and water purification tablets.

According to Craig, those items were positioned in the region and some sub districts since April of this year.

During today’s visit it is expected that a location will be identified to construct a warehouse where supplies can be stored making them easily accessible in the event of future similar emergencies.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture in a statement is predicting that the current

dry weather is likely to last until February.

“According to the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diagnostic discussion issued by the Climate Prediction Center (NCEP) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society on September 28, 2015, there is a 95% chance that the Northern Hemisphere will experience El Niño conditions that will continue for the remainder of the year, and a 55% chance it will last into the second quarter of 2016; that is, El Niño is expected to gradually weaken during April to June, 2016.

Given the current trend, the ENSO Alert System Status is now ‘El Niño Advisory’.”

According to the Ministry, in Guyana´s context, and with the current dry season and upcoming rainy season, the latest data from the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CARICOF), the Climate Predicting Tool

(CPT) has shown, for the remainder of 2015, a great percentage probability of below normal precipitation (rainfall).

“As a result of the expected conditions, the Hydrometeorological Service is advising that the appropriate water management practices be employed in the various sectors and households, to

mitigate against the forecasted deficit in rainfall quantities and increase in atmospheric temperatures in the coming months.”

Warning that it does not mean there is no rain, the Ministry said that farmers and others can expect a reduction in the quantity of water.

“Further, under these conditions, it is also still highly probable to experience

periods of high intensity short duration rainfall, which are difficult to predict and may result in flash flooding in high risk areas.”

The situation would be worrisome for especially farmers involved in the rice and cash crop business.

They depend heavily on the hundreds of canals across the country for irrigation.

Town Clerk highlights the need for additional City Day Care Services Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Mr. Royston King, has highlighted the need for additional Municipal Day Care Services.

During a recent discourse with the staff of the Day Care facilities, King stressed the importance of the Day Care Services to the citizens of

Georgetown. He noted that the services contribute and aid the social and economic functions of the family.

According to the Town Clerk, the Day Care assistance plays a crucial role in influencing the minds of the young.

As such, he called on the employees of the M&CC Day Care centres to use the opportunity to impart core values such as discipline, respect, obedience and team work into the children who they nurture and care for in the absence of their parents.

King related that while it is a popular belief that the Municipality Day Care Services should be closed, since it has to be subsidized by the City Council, he believes that services provided by the Council

should be extended to accommodate more children and to help parents in need of these services.

He implored the staff to give of their best, “it is important to deliver a service of excellence.”

The Georgetown M&CC currently manages Day Care facilitates at Festival City, North Ruimveldt; Bourda, Charlestown, East Ruimveldt and Industrial Site. The total enrollment at all five of the Day Care Centres stands at approximately 280.

The South Road (Bourda, Georgetown) Day Care Centre was the first to open in 1933, to facilitate Maternal and Child Welfare Services to the citizens of Georgetown.

It was established as a place for the care of the (continued on page 26)

Wednesday October 07, 2015

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Discussion begins on future of EU, ACP partnership European Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the European Commission launched a public consultation on the future of the partnership between the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries after 2020, when the current EU-ACP Cotonou Agreement will expire.

This consultation will run for the next 12 weeks.

The Cotonou Agreement is the most comprehensive partnership agreement the EU has that governs its relations h i p w i t h 7 8 developing countries in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific.

It includes political, economic cooperation and trade dimensions as well as development cooperation which are in turn, linked to a financial instrument called the European Development Fund

(EDF).

Different stakeholders and interested parties are consulted on more than 40 questions, going far beyond development cooperation and trade issues.

Questions like peace and security, the fight against terrorism and organized crime, sustainable and inclusive growth, migration, political cooperation and many others are on the agenda for consultation and

Regional Executive Officer (REO) stops payment for shoddy work Newly appointed Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six, East Berbice Corentyne, Dr Verasammy Ramayya has taken a hands-on approach to do his job.

Since his appointment as REO a few weeks ago Dr. Ramayya has been personally visiting and inspecting a number of worksites and projects to ascertain if Government is getting value for its money.

The REO, since his appointment, has stopped payment for a number of the projects as he expressed his dissatisfaction with the

substandard work being done.

Millions of dollars are paid out every year to contractors in the Berbice region, many of whom do substandard work which deteriorates within a short time. Canal cleaning in the region is a big cash cow especially in the Black Bush Polder area and the REO plans to see that the Government gets value for money spent.

He vowed that the errant contractors will be hauled “over the coals”.

One access bridge, which was not repaired for a number

of years, reportedly had money voted for its construction.

An investigation will be launched and those found culpable will be prosecuted according to the REO. He also paid close attention to substandard work being done by contractors in canals in the Black Bush Polder area. The canal should have been clean by hand.

However they are still heavily infested with overgrowth (grass, shrubs, bushes).

According to Dr. Ramayya, monies were constantly paid out for the shoddy work and he has since stopped payment.

reflection.

High Representative / Vice-President of the European Commission, Mogherini said, “The relationship between the EU and ACP countries has moved beyond development cooperation and trade over the last two decades.

“So it’s time to assess our cooperation to identify new ways for our partnership on the common challenges and interests that we all share.”

European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, added, “By launching the public consultatio n , w e a r e opening a debate to see on which issues a future partnership could focus on and how this could be turned into an effective vehicle to promote our common interest, given the so many challenges we are confronted with.”

This consultation will be a major component of the analysis the Commission will carry out in 2016.

It will assess the strengths of this Partnership Agreement as well as the possibilities for improvement.

Relations between the

EU and the ACP are long standing, dating back to 1975 and the first Lomé convention.

The latter was a successor to the first Convention of Yaoundé in 1963, binding the then European Economic Community and former colonies of some of its Member States.

Successive partnership agreements have shaped the relationship up to the present time.

The current EU - ACP Partnership Agreement was signed on June 23, 2000 in Cotonou, Benin. Since then, it has been the framework for the EU’s relations with 78 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

It was revised in 2005 and 2010, in accordance with its

provisions. It was concluded for a 20-year period and will expire on February 29, 2020.

The Agreement is a legally binding instrument which e s t a b l i s h e s j o i n t institutions and provides a framework for dialogue with each of its members.

In addition to its political dimension and economic and trade cooperation dimension, the f r a mework provides for development finance cooperation, attached to which is the European Development Fund (EDF).

This is a multiannual intergovernmental fund composed of direct contributions from EU Member States, and is the only external aid instrument that does not fall directly under the EU budget.

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Wednesday October 07, 2015

Govt. delegation heads to Canada to woo investors A high level Government of Guyana delegation is gearing to head to North America to meet with a number of potential investors.

The team will be looking to sell investment opportunities in Guyana.

The announcement was made by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who on Monday last said that the team will be

led by Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo and will also include himself, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

The investor’s confab stems from requests made of Head of State, President David Granger during a recent visit to the North American country.

“Several persons in the Canadian Diaspora expressed an interest in projects and investing in Guyana, some even in returning to Guyana and we were mandated to follow up on this,” Patterson told members of the local media corps.

He said the response to the planned forum thus far, has been overwhelming but he did express concern over

the logistics involved in getting to meet and interact with all of the persons that would have expressed an interest.

“But we do hope in the end that we will have some concrete proposals with which we can carry to Cabinet.” Patterson told media operatives, that the confab is slated to be held from Friday to next Monday.

The Diaspora Investment Forum, according to Patterson, will on the first day see the Ministers along with a team from the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) meeting with a number of large businesses.

He said during that forum, “we will make presentations on investment opportunities in the country and in the afternoon, we will schedule one-on-one meetings.”

Patterson told media operatives too, that among some of the presentations would be government’s plans to build a new Demerara Harbour Bridge as well as plans to establish four new townships and the inherent investment opportunities.

“We will be speaking to them on energy,” said Patterson, as he reminded of Government’s commitment to pursuing alternative energy sources other than the traditional fossil based fuels.

Dominic Gaskin

Moses Nagamootoo

He recalled too, the administration’s desire to have all of the outlying areas, including the Essequibo islands powered by alternative energy.

Patterson cited as an example that the power generation needs of an island such as Wakenaam, could be put to investors.

That island, he said, has a demand requirement of about 2MW and potential investors in alternative energy could examine possibilities in that region which could also lend to reducing the cost paid for energy there.

“I will also be pitching to them for the airport and the security services,” said Patterson. He told members of

the media that as it relates to the provision of security services at the international airport, there is a proposal from a Canadian firm but the delegation would also be looking for other proposals from interested parties.

Patterson said, while he could only speak to his Ministry’s portfolio, he is quite certain that the Ministers of Business and Public Security will also be making similar pitches for projects under their remit.

He said too that the Public Security Minister and the Prime Minister will also seek to provide some level of assurance to the potential investors on the security and safety of their investments locally.

Region 6 has enormous work programmed for rest of year - $260M available to be spent The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six is set to put out to tender a number projects under its 2015 capital works, as early as next week, Regional Chairman David Armogan has confirmed.

Armogan said $260M has been provided as Capital Budget for the Region in the 2015 National Budget. The sum will cater for the completion of the Outpatient building at the New Amsterdam Hospital, and the upgrade of the theatre at the Skeldon Hospital.

The Region will also tender for the purchase of ambulances, rehabilitation of the Leeds Primary School and construction and rehabilitation of sanitary blocks at Skeldon and Black Bush Polder Secondary schools.

Other capital projects for the Region include the completion of the RDC building at Springlands, the construction of revetment at Siparuta, Grant 1805 and Orealla, bridges at Mibicuri and Lesbeholden, excavation of facade from Light Town to Plegtanker, construction of bridges at Angoy’s Avenue, Courtland Village, New

Amsterdam, Grant 1708/1802, Yakusari, Warren and Number 69/70 Villages.

Armogan said that the roads at Mibicuri South, Savannah Park, Tucber Park, Caracas and Grant 1803 are scheduled to be rehabilitated, as well as cross streets in Tucber and Cumberland.

As it awaits the execution of its Capital Projects, the Region has been executing its on-going maintenance works.

Armogan also stated that Region Six has completed its road maintenance projects for 2015.

Contracts for repairs to five of the Region’s schools are at present out for tender.

These are the Fort Ordnance, Belvedere and Gibraltar/ Courtland Primary Schools, and the Port Mourant and Manchester Secondary Schools.

The schools will be repaired as part of the routine buildings maintenance carried out every two years.

The interventions will chiefly target repairs to the roofs, walls and steps, replacement of windows and addressing bat infestation.

Town Clerk highlights the need for additional ...

From page 16 children of domestic servants and remained the only child care facility for over four decades.

However, with the election of Beryl Simon as Mayor more emphasis was placed on Child Care and a second centre was opened at East Ruimveldt in 1974.

In 1983 under the Mayorship of Mavis Benn another Day Care centre was

opened in Charlestown.

Children of the Day Care are subdivided into age groups. Their activities include: routine resting, eating, health checks, structure and unstructured plays for early stimulation.

Parents are also organized into parent/staff committees to help organize and implement programmes for children or the development of the centres.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

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Georgetown Hospital playing crucial training role Mohanlall disclosed that those within the public health sector, are constantly encouraged to provide only quality services with a high standard of professionalism regardless of which Region

- as efforts are made to improve delivery of health care Improvement and expansion of health care services in the public health sector is high on the agenda of the Ministry of Public Health. This was the recent assertion of Chief Medical Officer (ag), Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall, who disclosed that these efforts are being guided by the Ministry’s Strategic Plan – Health Vision2020.

Even as plans are taking shape for the improvement and expansion of health care services guided by the strategic plan which has been deemed as a “proactive and holistic strategic plan” by Dr. Mohanlall, skilled health care professionals is key to achieving the envisioned goal.

And according to him, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has already started to play a tactical role in this regard. He disclosed that the GPHC has been instrumental in equipping many students, both local and foreign, with functions needed to propel them in their chosen medical professions.

He made reference to the hospital’s Orthopaedic Technician programme, for instance, which is conducted by the GPHC as one that builds capacity for the medical support staff.

Just recently a batch of 10 persons completed the Orthopaedic Technician programme. Among those trained were two Belizean soldiers.

Alluding to the GPHC as

Guyana’s number one teaching hospital, Dr. Mohanlall noted that “the learning environment for medical training has been greatly enhanced over the years through collaborations with various institutions.”

This, he said, has allowed for the sharing of expertise and resources in areas that are often characterised as being resource-strapped.

Dr. Mohanlall noted that while the Ministry has benefited from partnerships with universities, allowing for the external training of local medical personnel, the GPHCspearheaded programmes have proven instrumental to the improvement of health care delivery.

And there have been even more laudable achievements emanating out of the GPHC, the CMO (ag) observed.

“I would like to congratulate the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and the management of the hospital for the successful renal transplant done recently by Dr. Kishore Persaud and team. Organisations such as the Caribbean Heart Institute (a public-private partnership accommodated at the GPHC) have also given Guyana recognition as being progressive where specialised services are concerned,” said Dr. Mohanlall.

He however, stressed the need for medical personnel to pursue continued selfdevelopment even as he

CMO (ag), Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall emphasised the importance of embracing advance education in light of the fact that the delivery of health care is always evolving.

Dr. Mohanlall has noted that like many developing nations, Guyana has been assiduously striving to provide the population with optimal, equitable and accessible health services.

As a result, he informed that the Ministry of Public Health has evolved into one of the largest and most diversified Ministries in the country.

And in order to build on this achievement, Dr.

they are required to carry out their duties.

In highlighting the importance of primary health care to ensure that equity of service is maintained, the CMO (ag) warned that health

professionals should “never underestimate the value and importance of teamwork, and always remember that your work should positively impact the lives of your patients and their families.”

Page 28

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 Farm worker for Soesdyke Highway-Call: 644-6693 One live in maid –Tel:6755256 or 666-4153 Popular band needs keyboard player- Indian Music-Call: 680-4024; 615-1350

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

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 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6121607 Contract Cars & Drivers – Call: 619-2228; 227-1720; 2271721; 660-6102 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

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

Wanted urgently porters to work on Beverage Canter Truck within the East Coast Area-Call: 222-3927; 649-9876; 686-1352

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

One Housekeeper to live in age 40-55- Call: 693-9068

REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, A/C, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES,FREEZERSCALL: 629-4946 OR 225-4822

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Hello the Doctor is back!

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

Experienced Driver @ Gem’s Taxi-Call:665-5338; 231-3709.

One experience assistant salesgirl E.C.D Tel: 603-5416, 644-9802

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

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 Two bedroom apartment $50,000 –Call: 681-4275; 2314432 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 Top Flat three bedroom apartment H/T water, located at First Street Alberttown – Contact: 688-7991.

House to rent-Call: 689-8694

EDUCATION Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC Adults Classes, Grade 1-6 Lessons: Phonic lessons @ East Street-Call: 690-5008; 619-7911 Individual tutoring available for CXC Accounts, for guaranteed excellent graderCall: 654-1723 -$2000 monthly Didn’t do well for CXC; let us help you- $2500 per subject @ Micrograhics, Vreed-EnHoop. Call: 264-3057

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TAXI SERVICES

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

New Advanced Diploma in Computers office 2016, window 8/10, 9 courses @ Micrographics, Vreed-EnHoop-Call: 264-3057

VACANCY Work from home earn $5,000-$20,000 monthly. Call monday-friday (9am-5pm): 233-6517; 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com Porters and Carpenters to work at Coveden, E.B.D, apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

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

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

SALON -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 Supervisor to work at Hotel in Charity Essequibo contact 223-5273/4 Female accounts clerk, apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling.

One Waitress contact 2235273/4 One Delivery rider contact 223-5273/4 Cashier’s & Salesperson for cosmetics/general store on the East Coast- Call: 642-1141 Accounts clerk: experienced in QuickBooks, accounting software, VAT NIS & PAYE, @ Technical Services Inc, 1823 Industrial Site, Eccles E.B.D

LAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie -$1.5M, 1.3M, 1M, Tuschen 8th street -$1.5M, Tuschen 2nd Street $5.5M corner lot –Call: 6046724 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

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

Wednesday October 07, 2015

PROPERTY FOR SALE One commercial property at Sheriff Street, one double lot @ Cummings Lodge –Call: 638-8930; 653-8226 Large 4 bedroom concrete house for sale at Ruimzeight Garden W.C.D, Residential Area- Call: 269-0189; 268-3214 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.

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 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete- Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052 Property in Prashad Nagar; top and bottom flat, land size 100X50. Contact Dennis & Nanda: 223-5934; 648-9226; 627-3557 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 FOR SALE Just Arrived! Yamaha Outboard Engines –various sizes –Call: 698-7047; 6817737 1-3 Bedroom Splashmin’s Resort House, Fully furnished with all modern conveniences –Call: 611-0200 or 662-1124

Guyana’s 1st 5-Star Community, modern amenities, luxurious, recreational & business facility, security entry and more- land @ US$ 7.2SqFtCall: 650-0978

Huskey Puppies for sale-Call: 695-2377; 216-2364

80X40ft. Land at B Field, Sophia. Well-developed and ready to build on. Call: 6836200

Pools table (slate) & house hold items, rum shop equipment –Call: 616-0398; 676-7643; 269-0916

Two (2) Lot in Parika Contact # 650-0402

1 Complete music system, 6 base-Call: 221-2817; 699-5790

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.

1 Complete sound system, 1 Vyper Sound, interested persons- Call: 265-3586 Reduced Prices: Dell/HP laptop & desktop computers complete, from $55,000, free games and educational software @ Future – Call: 2312206 Stalls 69, 70, 71, 72 @ La Penitence Market Albouystown-Call: 6631597; 218-4837 Pile Driving Hammers, weight 3 & 4 tons, 10 tons double steel wheeled roller, pneumatic roller -9 wheelsCall: 275-0538 or 683-7225 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 ‘One Manual Two-Function Home Used Hospital bed.’

Excellent condition Call: 6836200 One imported pools table 223-5273/4 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 29

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 29

Letters... Where your views make the news

Now we understand why Mayor Green was so brutish towards Sooba as Town Clerk DEAR EDITOR, There is an old Guyanese proverb that says ‘Moon ah run till daylight ketch am’, which means that you may think that you are getting away with your misdeeds, but one day you will be caught.

Many Guyanese could not understand the uncultured and as we in Guyana would say ‘common’ behaviour of Mayor Hamilton Green in his interactions with the previous Town Clerks. Indeed as a woman, I found his attitude to the immediate past Town Clerk Ms. Carol Sooba to be downright disrespectful ,

prejudiced and shocking.

But having read the recent front page story of the Guyana Times, which exposed an intention by Mayor Green to inappropriately retrieve monies that he and his wife had to pay in outstanding property taxes, and which he paid in the first place only because of the firmness and diligence tells the whole story.

Which other part of the world could the chief citizen or his family not pay their taxes until it amounts to over ten million dollars and still remains as Mayor? Then after

reluctantly paying it out of necessity due to the fact that he was selling the property and cashing in, tries to have some illegal motion tabled by his cohorts in Council to exonerate him from his financial obligation. If he had any sense he would have brought forward the amnesty period to when he was selling the property instead of now.

The complete irony of this situation is that for the last two decades, Mayor Green has been complaining of how cash strapped the Council is, all the while not paying their taxes, and worse has been calling on citizens

to pay up and honour civic duty.

If Mayor Green is allowed to get away with this, then ever citizen ought to have their interest payments refunded just like him.

Now one understands why Mayor Green was so brutish towards Ms. Sooba as Town Clerk, as she was standing in the way of him getting his hands on over ten million dollars that he believes he was exempt from paying in the first place, and which he now wants to illegally retrieve after profiting from the sale of the property.

Nadine Jerrick

Pedestrians sometimes contribute to their own demise DEAR EDITOR, Recently I cause a letter to appear in both the Kaieteur and Stabroek Newspapers relating to the amount of fatal accidents involving pedestrians. In that letter I mentioned that there are times when the victim may have contributed significantly to his or her demise, but it does not matter how much evidence there is in support of the driver’s story including the measurements taken and recorded in the accident

report book including the point of impact, the Police will place the driver in the lock ups; place him/her on substantial bail to either report back to the station or attend the Magistrate’s Court after the charge of Causing Death by dangerous driving has been instituted.

The defendant would on many occasions hire a lawyer to defend themselves of a charge that they and other witnessed including the Police witness know that he

was not guilty of. After spending hundreds of thousand dollars on bail and lawyer fees, the defendant and relatives and family going through that period of stress all because of the carelessness and or neglect by the victim.

That is not to say that they are not drivers who are reckless and in so doing may have contributed one hundred percent to the victim’s demise. Yes, we have seen motor vehicles coming

Freddie, you did a good number on that pretender DEAR EDITOR, An excellent response by Freddie Kissoon to Brendon Mounter ( your publication of October 2nd 2015).

I have looked closely at the name Brendon Mounter, and have some suspicions as to its reality.

Perhaps some neophyte posing with some blatant falsities as Freddie has so adroitly adumbrated.

I follow Freddie’s daily articles and on some occasions might differ with him, but I, being in Region 11, am far removed from the scenes of actions and have to depend on the published news and reports. I have taken issue with lots of matters and even on one occasion penned a difference with Freddie.

In my social circle, the comments on Freddie are generally that he is loose cannon, but I defend his writings as being real, pointing, informative, analytical and at times intended to bestir action on all fronts. That attempts on his existence have in the past been made, is not unexpected for the truth hurts when wrongs and inconsistencies occur.

Now to the dear Magistrate. The big question that should be put to the Judicial Service Commission is: Do they review performances in all sincerity?

Then again what is the Chief Justice doing? Is it part of his job to review and advise on sentences meted out? By

and large Magistrates seem to have great latitude in handing out sentences. If perchance sentences by the dear Magistrate dumbfound all, should there not be official intervention at the higher level?

Freddie, you did a good number on that pretender Brendon Mounter. Your analysis of his behavior and empty mouthings should keep him in his not too often bored place.

Carl Veecock

off the road and killing people in their yard, and many times also we have seen people walking aimlessly on our road, drunk and lying by the roadside and had it not been for the alertness and skill of the driver, they would have been a minor, serious or fatal accident.

On page ten of Stabroek News, Tuesday 29th September, 2015, under the caption ‘Driver Cleared of killing pedestrian after court finds deceased was negligent’ Whenever a life has been lost due to a road accident we will have to be in sympathy with the family and relatives of the deceased person, but they are times when we allow sentiments and emotions to cloud the issue.

The Police Traffic Department would time and again make available to the public a breakdown of the amount of persons charged for various Traffic Offences, it would certainly make interesting reading if that information can include pedestrians causing obstruction commonly known as ‘jay walking’.

Archie W. Cordis

From page 28

ACCOMODATION Aracari Resort: rates from US$45; breakfast included, fully air conditioned rooms, 5 mins away from the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Tel: 592-2642946

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

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

Quality unregistered cars @ cheap deals: 07 Allion $2.9M, 06 Bluebird-$2.65M, Manual Axela sports etcCall: 616-3413 Two Hilux Pick up, one 3RZ, one Vigo-Call: 638-8930; 6538226 Pitbull minibus-Call: 6886316; 603-4494

MASSAGE Heaven on Earth Massage Services; Relaxation awaits you –Call: 678-7499

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 One 1.5 Ton Toyota Toyace Canter, GLL Series good working condition –Contact: 623-1202 PRR Series Toyota Sienta, excellent condition-$1.7M negotiable-Call: 691-7475

TO LET 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom apartments unfurnished for $85,000 and $70,000 per month respectively in Queenstown Georgetown.

Call 227-4296 from 9am-4pm One bedroom apartment Grove, EBD -$36,000 –Tel: 6421956 1 – Self contained room to rent; preferably bachelorCall: 223-4545

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

1 Toyota super custom bus, fully loaded BPP series price New 1 Bedroom house to $1.6 negotiable Contact: 647rent, 1 business place to rent, 0016 immediately-Call: 276-0818; One Mitsubishi Lancer 2002 699-0085 Model, price- $950,000, FOR OVERSEAS leather seats, music, rims etc, VISITORS, FULLY good condition-Call: 664FURNISHED 2 BEDROOM 0000 APARTMENT, ECCLES, FRIDGE, STOVE, Land Cruiser Prado in Mint MICROWAVE ETC-$US30 condition, fully loaded, PNN DAILY-CALL MAX: 609- Series-Call: 601-0053; 2758132 OR CLAUDETTE 685- 0264 4449 Recently registered Suzuki Escudo.

Excellent c o n d ition.

Lady For our BEST driven.$4.6M negotiable. advertising rates Contact: 609 8425.

call: 225-8491, 225-8465.

1 Toyota Granvia bus fully loaded BPP series price $1.7 negotiable Contact: 647-0016

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Farmer charged for Tin Cup Backdam murder Forty-five-year-old Edward Simon, of Tin Cup Backdam, North West District (NWD), has been charged with the murder of Lionel Williams.

According to reports, Williams and two other men were imbibing alcohol at a shop when an argument broke out between them. As a result, Williams was fatally

stabbed. Simon is reportedly an in-law of Williams.

Simon, who told the court that he is a farmer, was arraigned before City Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the indictable charge was read to him.

It is alleged that on May 25, last, at Tin Cup Backdam,

NWD, Simon murdered Williams.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones did not relate any facts about what transpired on the date in question.

The accused, who had no legal representation, was ordered to return to court on November 3, in the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

Gold miner charged for allegedly thieving clothes A Vreed-en-Hoop gold miner was yesterday released on $180,000 bail after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of simple larceny in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Perry Boodhoo, 36, of Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara, is accused of stealing a quantity of clothing from Margo Gordon’s stall. He

allegedly carted off the items on October 2, at Water Front, Port Kaituma, North West District –the items are valued at $303,000.

Boodhoo denied the charge after it was read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan.

This matter was transferred to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for

November 3.

Police Corporal, Deniro Jones, presented the prosecution’s case and did not relate any facts. Jones had no objections to the defendant being granted bail, but requested that it be in a substantial amount.

The prosecutor informed the court that the items were not recovered and that the

Tackling breast cancer must ...

From page 9 recorded. Of the 6000 odd cases, more than 1,000 cases were that of breast cancer.

Among the other cases recorded were: cancer of the cervix, prostate, colo-rectal, uterus, stomach, lung, ovary and lymphoma.

“I saw the statistics and it is very worrying that we are seeing women at stages three and four, and in conversation with some women they are calling it an abscess when it starts, or another thing you find is that they say they have gotten something (medication) and the lump

went away and couple weeks after it comes back...it is clear that some women are just not aware,” lamented Bagot.

As such she stressed that raising awareness about breast cancer should be one that is especially highlighted at the level of community.

“We have all of these regional clinics and health centres and one of the factors I am looking at, is gathering people in the villages and teaching them, particularly women, how to do self-breast examination...” disclosed Bagot as she emphasised her conviction that “I think it

should start there (communities) because the strength of Guyana lies in the community.”

Added to this, Bagot noted that OSHAG is prepared to further help tackle the cancer shortcomings in Guyana by helping to facilitate trips to the United States for identified medical officials to observe how cancer treatment is administered. This process, according to her, is expected to help the Public Health Ministry in its quest to swiftly bring into being a comprehensive cancer treatment programme.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Two refused bail for Kingston cell phone store robbery Jermaine Bailey and Adam McDonald were remanded to prison on Monday on several counts of robbery under arms. The charges against the men came days after they allegedly carried out a brazen robbery at the Elite Mobile Cell Phone Store on Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

After the robbery they allegedly crashed their getaway car bearing fake number plates outside the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary.

Bailey, 21, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, and McDonald, 26, of Linden, appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The duo was slapped with three counts of armed robbery.

It is alleged that on October, 2 at Parade Street, Kingston, Bailey and McDonald, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Derrick Quaicoe of an Iphone 5S, an Iphone 4S, and an Alcatel One Touch phone.

It was also alleged that on the same day at the Kingston Seawall, the men while in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed John Campayne of $60,000.

It was further alleged that on the same day, the duo robbed Campayne of five Samsung Galaxy S5 phones, two BlackBerry 8520, a BlackBerry 9370 among other phones.

Bailey and McDonald were not required to plead to the charges.

According to reports the men entered the store around 14:00hrs. One of them reportedly inquired about purchasing credit, while another whipped out a handgun shortly after.

The bandits allegedly locked the doors to the premises, while the gunman demanded that persons hand over valuables. It was reported that the bandits

Jermaine Bailey carted off a quantity of high end cell phones.

Their getaway was botched after they crashed the car bearing fake number plates into a canal just outside CID headquarters, Kingston.

Police ranks pursued the thieves after noticing them acting suspiciously. Kaieteur News understands that trainee policemen chased after the men and were able to apprehend them.

A 9mm pistol along with two rounds and a cell phone belonging to a customer of the store were recovered by police. Furthermore, Bailey was charged for fraudulently imitating a vehicle number plate on the day in question, at Seawall Road Kingston. He pleaded not guilty.

He was also slapped with two counts of robbery underarms.

The first charge stated that on September 13, at Kitty, Georgetown, he robbed Amena Abdulla of $150,000 and US$3000. It was alleged that at the time of the robbery Bailey was armed with a gun.

Further, Bailey was accused of robbing Anand Persaud of $2,300. The court heard that the defendant used a gun to commit this robbery and had others in his company.

He was not required to enter pleas.

In addition, Bailey’s co accused McDonald was accused of having one 9mm semi-automatic pistol in his

possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.

Mc Donald was also accused of being in possession of two 9mm live rounds of ammunition, when he had no firearm licence. To these two charges, McDonald pleaded not guilty.

Attorney, Peter Hugh, made an application for bail on Bailey’s behalf. Hugh requested that his client be released on reasonable bail.

The attorney argued that his client has no knowledge of the robbery; neither did he participate in it.

The attorney contended that there is no evidence before the court that indicates that Bailey is a flight risk. As such, Hugh asked that the court consider bail for his client.

However, Police Prosecutor objected to bail for both defendants. In doing so, Jones pointed out the gravity of the charge and the penalty it attracts if the defendants were to be found guilty.

The fact that a firearm was allegedly used to commit the robbery was another ground the prosecutor used to object to bail. Jones also told the court that he is afraid the men might not return to court for trial. And denying them pretrial liberty will secure their return.

Jones informed that the prosecution is in possession of a caution statement (CS) by Bailey. He pointed out that in the CS, the defendant admitted to robbing Amena Abdulla. At this point, Hugh intervened and related that his client was placed on an identification (ID) parade but was not positively identified.

The prosecutor, however, informed the court that the police file is still incomplete and requested a short date to have it completed.

Bailey and McDonald were instructed to return to court on October 26, when they will appear before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

No apologies, Govt. justifies ...

From page 14 that this was to allow a greater increase in the lower income brackets.

Jordan had also revealed that pensions were to be increased from $13,125 to $17,000. This was done, though the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) later leveled the accusation that the Government had taken away the subsidies for water and electricity from senior citizens.

It had also been announced that workers currently earning $50,000 will have a monthly increase of $7,500, or 15 percent, while a person currently receiving a

salary of $100,000 would get a 10 percent increase.

The Official Gazette of September 25 announced the increases subject to the Ministers, Member of the National Assembly and Special Offices (Emoluments) Act. It also went on to state that the amendments were retroactive to July 1, 2015.

The gazette report listed the Prime Minister’s salary as $20,580,000 per annum, while the salary of every VicePresident was listed as $11,135,064 per annum.

For the Cabinet Ministers, their salary was listed as $10,439,124 per annum while the Junior Ministers were

listed as receiving $8,346,492 per annum.

The Attorney General is listed as having the same salary as the Chancellor and the Speaker of the National Assembly is listed as receiving $10,439,124 per annum. The Leader of the Opposition will receive $10,439,124 per annum while the Parliamentary Secretary is listed as receiving $3,753,984.

The Deputy Speaker will be getting $2,702,880 while the Chief Whip is getting 2,682,360. Every other member of the National Assembly, according to the gazette, will be getting $2,402,532 per annum.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

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Obama makes pitch Ex-UN General Assembly head to win support for among 6 held in bribery scheme Pacific trade pact Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama kicked off a sales pitch yesterday for a 12nation Pacific Rim trade agreement, urging farmers to push their lawmakers to approve what he said would boost their sales in a fastgrowing region.

Although ultimate winners and losers from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are still unclear, some Republicans are worried about its impact on industries including dairy, tobacco and pharmaceuticals, highlighting the battle ahead to win votes. Obama was upbeat about winning support in the Republicancontrolled Congress for the pact, which was announced early Monday.

“Ultimately we’re going to get this done, and it will be an enormous achievement for us to be able to make sure that 40 percent of the world’s economy is operating under rules that don’t hurt us,” Obama told agricultural and business leaders gathered at the U.S. Agriculture Department.

The White House said it was the first in a series of public appearances for Obama on the issue. He needs to garner enough support from Republicans to overcome skepticism from members of his own party.

Early reaction from lawmakers was not encouraging, although they stressed they were waiting on details. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saw “a number of troubling parts” in the deal, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said the administration could lose “quite a few” Republican votes.

Hatch said it was a mistake that U.S. negotiators had not secured a minimum 12-year monopoly for the manufacturers of nextgeneration biological drugs and held out the option of trying to re-open the deal.

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr who, like McConnell, comes from a tobacco-growing state was upset by rules targeting tobacco companies’ ability to take legal action over antismoking laws.

“I’d say they are going to come up woefully short (of votes) based on the (agricultural) community,” he said. Farmers and key business groups have yet to give their verdict on the deal.

But Obama spoke directly to farmers in a radio program carried on almost 400 stations in the U.S. Midwest, pledging the deal would be a “boon”

U.S. President Barack Obama for selling more beef in Japan and Vietnam. He asked for help selling the TPP to lawmakers.

“I think that if the agricultural community is strong and pushing on this issue, that will be an enormous, enormous base from which we can get this thing passed,” Obama said in the interview with Brownfield Ag News.

“Make sure that you push Congress hard because this is a generational deal that you don’t want to pass up,” he said. Lawmakers from manufacturing regions hit by past free trade deals also have concerns. Ohio Senator Rob Portman, a former U.S. trade representative, criticized a lack of “teeth” in preventing countries from devaluing their currencies to make their exports cheaper.

Obama said in an interview with radio show Marketplace that it was a good starting point that TPP countries agreed on a set of principles on how to measure currency manipulation.

NEW YORK (AP) — A former president of the United Nations General Assembly turned the world body into a “platform for profit” by accepting over $1 million in bribes and a trip to New Orleans from a billionaire Chinese real estate mogul and other businesspeople to pave the way for lucrative investments, a prosecutor charged yesterday.

John Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who served in the largely ceremonial post as head of the 193-nation assembly from September 2013 to September 2014, faces tax fraud charges in what authorities call a conspiracy with five others, including Francis Lorenzo, a deputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic who lives in the Bronx.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara repeatedly noted that it was early in the investigation and told reporters that as it proceeds: “We will be asking: Is bribery business as usual at the U.N.?”

He added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see other people charged.”

The prosecutor said Ashe “converted the United

Nations into a platform for profit” when bribery opportunities were dangled before him by Chinese billionaire Ng Lap Seng, 67, and others.

“We obviously just learned of the very serious allegations this morning,” (yesterday) Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon, told reporters. Dujarric said Ban was “shocked and deeply troubled” by the allegations that “go to the heart and integrity of the U.N.” Still, he challenged Bharara’s claims, saying, “Corruption is not business as usual at the U.N.” He said the U.N.’s legal department and senior officials were not informed of the probe in advance. Dujarric noted that the president of the General Assembly “does not report to the secretary-general and is completely independent in functions.”

Those charged in the criminal complaint unsealed yesterday in Manhattan federal court included Seng, who was arrested two weeks ago along with his chief assistant, Jeff C. Yin, 29, a U.S. citizen whose bail was revoked last week over allegations he lied to investigators after his arrest.

John Ashe Lawyers for Ng, Yin and Lorenzo, 48, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately clear who would represent Ashe at an initial court appearance yesterday. A message for comment left at Lorenzo’s mission was also not immediately returned.

Diego Rodriguez, head of the FBI’s New York office, said the charges should be a warning “to those who come to the United States from other countries with corruption plans or bags full of cash.”

According to court papers, the 61-year-old Ashe

used his U.N. positions to support a multibillion-dollar U.N.-sponsored conference center that Ng hoped to build as his legacy in Macau, where he lived, and to help Ng meet government officials from Antigua. Prosecutors said the conference center would function as a sort of satellite operation for the world body.

Dujarric said the U.N. had not found any documentation of the claims involving Macau.

The scheme unfolded over the course of nearly three years, from 2011 through 2014, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say some bribe money funded firstclass airfare for Ashe, his wife and two children to New Orleans, where they stayed in an $850-a-night hotel room.

Other money, they said, was used to lease a luxury car, pay his home mortgage, buy Rolex watches and custom suits, and construct a $30,000 basketball court at his home in Dobbs Ferry, New York, where he was arrested yesterday. He opened two bank accounts to receive the funds and then underreported his income by more than $1.2 million, officials said.

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NATO rejects Russia explanation on Turkish air space Reuters NATO yesterday rejected Moscow’s explanation that its warplanes had violated alliance member Turkey’s air space by mistake and said Russia was sending more ground troops to Syria and building up its naval presence.

With Russia extending its air strikes to include the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he was losing patience with Russian violations of his country’s air space.

“An attack on Turkey means an attack on NATO,” Erdogan warned at a Brussels news conference.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had reports of a substantial Russian military build-up in Syria, including ground troops and ships in the eastern Mediterranean.

“I will not speculate on the motives ... but this does not look like an accident and we have seen two of them,” Stoltenberg said of the air incursions over Turkey’s border with Syria at the weekend. He noted that they “lasted for a long time”.

Tayyip Erdogan The incidents, which NATO has described as “extremely dangerous” and “unacceptable”, underscore the risks of a further escalation of the Syrian civil war, as Russian and U.S. warplanes fly combat missions over the same country for the first time since World War Two. The Russian Defence Ministry had said that an SU30 warplane had entered Turkish air space along the border with Syria “for a few

seconds” on Saturday, a mistake caused by bad weather. NATO says a plane also entered Turkish air space on Sunday, an incident Russia says it is looking into.

A U.S. official told Reuters the incursions had lasted more than a few seconds and described Moscow’s assertion that they were an accident as “farfetched”.

The Turkish military said a further incident took place on Monday when a MIG-29 fighter and Syria-based missile systems “interfered” with eight Turkish F-16 jets patrolling along the Syrian border.

The MIG-29 locked its radar onto the Turkish patrol for 4 minutes 30 seconds, and a Syria-based missile system locked onto them for 4 minutes 15 seconds, the Turkish military said. Russia flies MIG-29s, as does Syria’s own air force.

Stoltenberg said the U.S.led alliance had not received “any real explanation” from Russia about the incursions.

Disagreement over the air space violations comes as Russia and the west dispute

Jens Stoltenberg the aims of Moscow’s air campaign. Moscow says it is attacking Islamic State, but most of its air strikes have hit territory held by other rebel groups fighting against its Syrian ally, President Bashar al-Assad.

Western countries, Arab states and Turkey, who are waging their own bombing campaign against Islamic State but also want Assad to leave power, say Moscow is using Islamic State as a pretext to target Assad’s other foes.

Russia says the Assad government should be the centrepiece of international efforts to combat extremism.

With Russian and NATO planes now flying combat missions in the same air space, a danger is that the Cold War enemies could fire on each other.

The skies in the area have seen incidents in the past. A Turkish jet was shot down by the Syrian air force in 2012 over the Mediterranean and earlier this year Turkey shot down a Syrian helicopter that Ankara said violated its airspace.

Russia’s NATO envoy said the alliance was using the accidental incursion into Turkish air space for propaganda.

“The impression is that the incident in Turkish air space was used to plug NATO as an organisation into the information campaign waged by the West to distort the aims of the operations carried out by the Russian air force in Syria,” Alexander Grushko was quoted by ItarTass news agency as saying in Brussels.

Russia’s defence ministry

said it agreed in principle with U.S. proposals on coordinating military flights in Syria. The ministry said it was ready to hold talks with Turkey to avoid “misunderstandings” and invited foreign military officers to Moscow for talks on how best to fight Islamic State.

President Vladimir Putin has said he will not put Russian ground forces in Syria, where the civil war has killed 250,000 people.

However, Stoltenberg said there was a growing presence of Russian forces in Syria.

“I can confirm that we have seen a substantial buildup of Russian forces in Syria - air forces, air defences, but also ground troops in connection with the air base they have, and we also see an increased naval presence,” Stoltenberg said.

Several senior officials in the Middle East told Reuters the Russian air campaign was part of plan that will also involve a ground offensive

by Iranian troops, Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas and Syrian government forces against Assad’s foes.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

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Pentagon calls Afghan hospital strike a mistake, seeks accountability Reuters - The U.S. military took responsibility yesterday for a deadly air strike on a hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz, calling it a mistake and vowing to hold people accountable.

Saturday’s strike on an Afghan hospital run by Doctors Without Borders, or Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), killed 22 people and deeply angered the medical charity. MSF officials have blamed the United States, demanding an independent investigation into an attack it called a war crime.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the Pentagon “deeply regrets” the loss of life. “The U.S. military takes the greatest care in our operations to prevent the loss of innocent life, and when we make mistakes, we own up to them. That’s exactly what we’re doing right now,” Carter, who was travelling in Europe, said in a statement.

“We will do everything we can to understand this tragic incident, learn from it, and hold people accountable as necessary,” he said.

Earlier in Washington, the American commander of international forces in Afghanistan, Army General John Campbell, called the strike a mistake made within the U.S. chain of command.

The comments by Carter

Ash Carter and Campbell were the most direct acknowledgement yet by the U.S. government that the strike on the hospital was carried out by U.S. forces. On Monday, Campbell said only that U.S. forces had responded to a request for support from Afghan forces.

In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Campbell also made clear he favoured a rethink of a plan to withdraw almost all U.S. troops by the end of next year.

He said rising threats in Afghanistan from the Islamic State and al Qaeda were among factors informing his recommendations to the White House on future troop levels.

Campbell said U.S. forces had responded to a request from Afghan forces and provided close air support as they engaged in a fight with Taliban militants in Kunduz,

a provincial capital that the Taliban captured late last month.

“To be clear, the decision to provide aerial fires was a U.S. decision made within the U.S. chain of command,” Campbell said. He added that U.S. special forces nearby were communicating with the aircraft that delivered the strikes.

“A hospital was mistakenly struck,” Campbell said. “We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility.”

President Barack Obama expected steps to be taken to prevent such an incident from recurring, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said yesterday.

The government of President Ashraf Ghani, heavily dependent on Washington for military support and far less critical of the United States than his predecessor Hamid Karzai, has held back from directly criticizing the United States.

But an Afghan military officer took issue with the idea that Afghan forces had called for a strike against the hospital.

Abdullah Guard, commander of Afghan special forces in Kunduz, said his men had been under heavy fire in the area near the hospital, fighting a Taliban force estimated at around 500 men.

Venezuela’s Maduro chides Obama over delay approving ambassador CARACAS (Reuters) Ve n e z u e l a ’s P r e s i d e n t Nicolas Maduro complained last weekend that U.S. leader Barack Obama’s government was delaying its consent for Caracas’ proposed new ambassador in Washington.

The governments have been without ambassadors since Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez expelled the U.S. envoy to Venezuela in 2008, prompting Washington to retaliate in kind.

“I have sought diplomatic channels ... I sent an ambassador but they still have not given him consent after a year and a half,” said Maduro, referring to Venezuela’s business attaché

and top diplomat in Washington, Maximilien Sanchez.

“What good relations does the Obama government want if they’re not capable of giving consent? What are they waiting for”? he added on state TV. Just as during Chavez’s 1999-2013 rule, ties between socialist-ruled Venezuela and the United States have wavered under Maduro between professions of goodwill then strong mutual criticisms.

A nascent diplomatic rapprochement earlier this year was set back last month over the case of Leopoldo Lopez, an opposition leader sentenced to nearly 14 years

Nicolas Maduro in prison on charges of fomenting violence against the Maduro government.

Washington had been pressing for Lopez’s release.

The Obama government has not named a proposed ambassador to Venezuela. U.S. diplomats in Caracas had no immediate comment on Maduro’s criticism over the status of Venezuela’s request for Sanchez to be approved as ambassador.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Biggest slice for crime control - PM Trinidad Guardian - Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley Monday defended his Government’s allocation of the largest portion of the national Budget to national security, saying the crime problem was a major national concern.

He was speaking during an interview with reporters following Monday’s twohour 2016 Budget presentation by new Finance Minister Colm Imbert in the House of Representatives, Tower D, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

Speaking in the lobby of the Parliament, Rowley said the more than $10 billion allocated to national security “should be a matter of serious concern to the national population.”

He said that was because in every Budget since the People’s National Movement (PNM) first assumed office in 1956, education was given the largest allocation.

According to Rowley, the decision to allocate the largest portion to national security was because of “a chronic and rampant criminal conduct in T&T. “That is the dollarising of crime and this should let the population know that crime is having a serious effect on the population.

“We just cannot go on that way. We have to treat and roll back the cost of criminal activity in this country.

Otherwise, if it continues like that, we keep funnelling money away from health, education and other productive areas trying to

Dr. Keith Rowley cope with the crime of hopefully a small minority,” he added.

He said dealing with the crime problem was an assignment for the Government and “we are currently reviewing what we have been doing in responding to the criminal element and we intend in very short order to conduct a major manpower audit of the security apparatus of T&T.” Rowley said that audit was intended “to determine what we have available, how it is being used and how we can improve upon it.”

There was a record 50 murders in T&T last month.

The Prime Minister was also asked to comment on the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme. He said the funding for tertiary education was to be reviewed because of the prevailing economic conditions.

Rowley said funding for GATE was being challenged

because the country’s income had been cut by 50 per cent.

He said based on those conditions “should we set about to provide for those who really do not need it or should we proceed to ensure that those who need it get it, under the reduced income by having a means test.”

According to Rowley “citizens who can pay their way will be asked to do so in the not too distant future — either part way or whole way — and others who without Government help will not be able to advance, they are guaranteed that support.”

The Prime Minister said any existing wastage and corruption under the programme would be eliminated.

Dealing with measures to reduce the annual billion dollar fuel subsidy, which Rowley said “in some instances it benefit most of those who are better able to afford it.”

Commenting on the Children Life Fund, set up by the previous Kamla PersadBissessar regime, Rowley said there were serious concerns with the initiative. The fund was established, via contributions from the former Government ministers and other contributions, to help children in need of costly medical attention abroad.

“A number of those situations are already before the Fraud Squad (and) that indicates to us that there was something wrong in there,” Rowley said.

He said the fund would be audited and improvements in its management implemented.

CARICOM and Cuba to meet in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba — The ninth meeting of the Joint Commission under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba started in Havana, Cuba yesterday and ends today.

The meeting primarily focus on the conclusion of market access negotiations which gathered momentum in 2014.

CARICOM and Cuba have been seeking to expand preferential access to their respective goods markets beyond what is currently provided under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (TECA), which was signed in 2000.

While CARICOM Least Developed Countries, namely the members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Belize, enjoy preferential access to the Cuban market, the TECA does not require these countries to reciprocate preferential access to Cuban exports. Therefore, while all CARICOM countries will become beneficiaries of additional access that is successfully negotiated, expanded preferential

access for Cuban exports will be limited to the markets of CARICOM More Developed Countries.

CARICOM member states, supported by the CARICOM Secretariat, have been working diligently on developing negotiation proposals that would engender a positive outcome at the upcoming meeting. This is in keeping with the mandate from the heads of state and government of CARICOM and of Cuba at the fifth CARICOM-Cuba Summit in December 2014, and would be an important milestone in the improvement of CARICOMCuba trade and economic cooperation.

It is also anticipated that CARICOM and Cuba will finalize product specific rules of origin (PSRO). Such rules are for determining the criteria for specific goods to be considered as “originating” from either CARICOM or Cuba in order to qualify for preferential access to their respective markets. The agreements reached by the parties during the meeting will be detailed under a new protocol which the parties are expected to initial at the conclusion of the meeting of the Joint Commission.

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Opposition Members Walk Out Of Parliament In Heated Prison Talks The Gleaner - Members of the Opposition yesterday afternoon walked out of Parliament after the National Security Minister Peter Bunting described the Opposition Leader as delusional.

Bunting was responding to a demand from Holness that he immediately abandon the deal being pursued with Britain to build a new prison here.

“This deal is in not in the interest of Jamaica,” Holness said.

“We say to this Government, do not proceed any further with this agreement and we would want from you minister today, I put it to you, that you will give a commitment here today that you will not proceed any further with this agreement,” Holness charged.

Bunting’s reaction was swift.

“Mr Speaker I think the Leader of the Opposition is being delusional. He obviously believes that for

Peter Bunting the brief period for which he was Prime Minister he can still continue to give those instructions to Cabinet Ministers.

He is not in that position anymore and I am not taking that any instruction from him and that’s final!” Bunting fired back.

Without another word, the Opposition members packed up their belongs on headed out of the chamber.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Guatemala mudslide area declared uninhabitable BBC News - Guatemalan officials have declared a neighbourhood which was buried in a mudslide uninhabitable.

More than 160 people died when the mudslide tore through homes in Santa Catarina Pinula on Thursday.

Emergency workers are still excavating the area but have given up hope of finding any survivors.

It is not yet clear what will happen to the survivors and whether the state will offer them help to relocate to safer ground.

Guatemala’s National Disaster Reduction Commission (Conred) says it had warned as early as 2009 that the neighbourhood of El Cambray 2, which lies 16km (10 miles) east of Guatemala City, was at risk.

The middle-class neighbourhood was built at the bottom of a steep hillside next to a river.

Conred said its most recent warning came in November 2014, when it

Exhausted relatives have been waiting in front of the town’s morgue for the bodies of their loved ones to be identified alerted local authorities to the fact that the river was eroding the base of the hill, making the hillside very unstable.

However, residents said they had not been made aware of the risks.

A spokesman for the local authorities in El Cambray 2 said what had happened was “a natural disaster, like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption, which can’t be foreseen”.

He also said that

residents had been told of the Conred report, “but had decided to stay put for a variety of reasons”.

Heavy rains had soaked the earth causing it to come crashing down on the houses below late last Thursday, when most residents were asleep. One-hundred-andsixty-one people have been confirmed dead and 300 are still missing.

Another 230 people are staying in shelters.

President Alejandro

Maldonado on Monday declared three days of national mourning.

He also said that he was determined to find all those buried under the mud: “We’re not going to stop until we finish this job.”

However, conditions at the site of the landslide worsened on Monday.

Conred officials said they had detected cracks in the hilltop through which water was seeping, heightening the risk of further mudslides.

Colombia prosecutor calls for probe of ex-President Uribe BOGOTA (AP) — Colombia’s public prosecutor yesterday called for an investigation into whether former President Alvaro Uribe was linked to a massacre carried out by paramilitaries in 1997.

The prosecutor’s office asked the Supreme Court to look into whether Uribe was somehow connected to the attack that left 15 peasants dead in the hamlet of El Aro, in the state of Antioquia, near Medellin.

At the time, victims said armed men burned homes, raped women and killed farmers indiscriminately during the two-day rampage.

They also said they saw a

government helicopter circling overhead as the carnage took place.

Uribe was president until 2010, and is now a senator who helps lead the South American country’s right wing. He was governor of Antioquia the time of the massacre.

A local court earlier this year requested a similar probe of Uribe’s possible involvement, citing the presence of the government helicopter at the scene of the killing.

Yesterday, Uribe dismissed the public prosecutor’s request as a political ploy designed to influence upcoming

Alvaro Uribe elections.

“I’m used to being slandered, especially around election time,” he said.

C’bean Airlines to cut England route The Gleaner - Caribbean Airlines is to discontinue its England route effective January 10, 2016.

The airline says it’s pulling out of the destination as it plans to remove the Boeing 767 aircraft from its fleet.

It says the move is driven by the costs associated with maintaining and operating the aircraft.

Caribbean Airlines says customers with

tickets for travel before January 10, 2016 can opt for a full refund or a refund of the return leg of the ticket only.

It says customers with tickets for travel after January 10, 2016 have the choice of a full refund or be placed on another airline where possible.

Caribbean Airlines is urging ticket holders to contact call centers so that the proper arrangements can be made.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

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Human capital development essential for sustainable development, says PM KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is asserting that human capital development and 21st century leadership are imperatives for sustainable development in the region.

Simpson Miller made the remarks during her keynote address at the Opening Dinner for the Working Visit to Jamaica of Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, Princess Anne and Closing Programme of the CaribbeanCanada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD) last Thursday, at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston.

The prime minister noted that human capital development is critical for good governance, production, productivity, economic growth, and sustainable development.

“My philosophy of ensuring that our people are at the heart of our strategy for social and economic development is well known,” she said.

Simpson Miller pointed out that, “Investments by the Government of Jamaica in education, training and innovation have been growing as a direct result of this policy emphasis. These are areas that have also been receiving sustained attention by companies keen on attaining or maintaining profitability and market leadership and honouring their corporate social responsibility.”

She added that the development and application of science and technology are also being strategically pursued through the National Commission on Science and Technology, integration into the school curriculum, and various programmes for

Portia Simpson Miller digital transformation under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining.

The prime minister noted that human capital development involves producing adaptable workers with a unique capacity to initiate and innovate and who are ready for the ‘knowledge society’.

She explained: “In Jamaica, our goal is to locate ourselves firmly in this knowledge society with people who are inspired, educated, trained, and trainable; people, who are generating new knowledge, new ideas and adding value to productive efforts at every level.”

“For national development and personal progress, we must have people who are working together to find new ways of getting things done better and faster,” she said.

Against this background, Simpson Miller commended the human capital development focus of the CCELD and its 2015 theme: Leading through Innovation and Transformation.

She noted that, “Innovation and transformation are important drivers for the countries of the Caribbean, whose societies and economies are in varying states of transition owing to the impact of globalisation.”

She said Government, businesses and civil society must place urgent emphasis on fashioning dynamic 21stcentury Caribbean leadership with the global perspective and confidence to competently tackle and overcome the challenges in the region. In this context, the prime minister expressed confidence in the region’s abilities to resolve the challenges in society.

“About the survival, renewal and future success of our civilisation, we dare not lose hope,” she said. “I take encouragement from the existence of initiatives such as CCELD. This programme continues to prove its commitment to strengthening leadership capacity to ensure more sustainable companies, institutions and communities.”

The CCELD is supported by alumni volunteers and is managed by a professional conference organisation. It operates under the auspices of ELD Canada Inc, a registered Canadian charitable organisation and a Commonwealth Accredited Civil Society Organisation.

Led by its president, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, ELD Canada develops and executes in-field leadership development programs for emerging leaders and is the Canadian arm of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences.

(Jamaica Observer)

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kamla: Budget deceptive and anti-working class

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar during a press conference after the reading of the Budget Monday. PHOTO: NICOLE DRAYTON Trinidad Guardian - The 2016 Budget read in Parliament by Finance Minister Colm Imbert was deceptive, inflationary and will see the poor and working class in this country feel the effects of raised goods and services in the near future.

That was the view of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar as she spoke to media following the reading of the Budget yesterday. The press conference was held at Tower D. “This Budget is tax, tax, tax, tax and promise, promise, promise,” Persad-Bissessar said.

Flanked by Opposition MPs and Senators, PersadBissessar said the promises that were made were promises of mega-projects with no indication of how those would be financed.

Among the projects mentioned by Imbert was the establishment of a ship repair

and building centre in the western peninsula, the establishment of a sea route from the Toco to Tobago, as well as highway projects, including the Chaguaramas causeway.

“They gave no indication of what would be done or what would be the costing of any of these mega projects.

“I want us to recall for the past five years not a single tax was levied on the population,” she added.

Persad-Bissessar said Imbert had presented an inflationary budget.

“The prices of almost everything will go up, so when you look at the impact on the vulnerable, on the poor and on the working classes, we will see the increase that has come on fuel, super and diesel.

She noted that almost all vehicles that did transport of goods, as well as maxi-taxis, used diesel.

“The cost of transport

will go up. If the cost of transport goes up, it means the cost of every good or service in the country will go up.

“Whilst he (Imbert) has said he will review the fuel subsidy, he has in effect removed the subsidy off the super and diesel up to 15 per cent. It is inflationary, it will impact on the most vulnerable and the poor.”

Persad-Bissessar described it as an antipeople’s Budget.

She also noted that there was few incentives given to the private sector and businesses.

Persad-Bissessar also said the reduction in VAT needed to be further explained.

“While they promised to reduce VAT from 15 per cent to 12.5 per cent, that is fine but at no point did they indicate to the population they would be removing the zero-rated on items.

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Manny Pacquiao to run Rio 2016 to cut costs to for Philippine Senate avoid 10 percent overspend Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao said Monday he plans to run for a post in the influential Philippine Senate despite a lacklustre stint as a congressman. The star announced he will run as a candidate for the 24-seat upper chamber in May 2016, to mixed reactions from fans.

“Yes, I’m going to run for (a) Senate post this coming 2016 election. But as to which party, that’s still to be determined,” said the fighter.

The boxer popularly known as “Pac-Man”, said President Benigno Aquino’s ruling Liberal Party had been courting him but added that he is also close to the leaders of rival parties.

Pacquiao, 36, used his athletic renown to be elected as congressman of an impoverished district in the southern Philippines in 2010, despite his punishing training

Manny Pacquiao schedule and a foray as playing coach in the country’s competitive basketball league.

He has won eight world championships in different weight divisions but lost the richest fight in boxing history in a unanimous decision to his American rival Floyd

Mayweather in Las Vegas in May. While still retaining his popularity among sports fans, Pacquiao has been harshly criticised for his performance in the House of Representatives where he has been listed among the legislators with the most absences.

As a congressman, Pacquiao was elected by the voters of his district but in the Philippines, senators are elected nationally, posing a larger challenge. The reaction in social media to Pacquiao’s plans for the Senate was largely negative.

“Pacman, you’re my idol.

But in the boxing ring. Not in Congress. Sorry,” one fan posted on Twitter. “Pacquiao, you can’t even go to sessions in Congress. Now you want to go to Senate?

What are you going to do there?,” said another.

(Yahoosports)

Wednesday October 07, 2015 Aries 3/21 - 4/19: Your life path may grow even more convoluted if you are struggling to establish your place in a significant relationship.

Taurus 4/20 - 5/20: You might feel as if you’re engaged in a classic battle between light and dark today as an associate or a casual acquaintance tries to smear your reputation.

Gemini 5/21 - 6/21: You might sound confident when you share your plans with your friends or coworkers today, but it may just be a clever decoy to cover up your ambivalence. Don’t make decisions now just to placate others, even if you believe you’re running out of time.

Cancer 6/22 - 7/22: You are raring to show your colleagues how you can take charge and run the show.

You’re highly motivated now, confident that little can stop you on your road to success.

Leo 7/23 - 8/22: You may believe you’ve lost your fighting edge today as nebulous Neptune dissipates the energy of macho Mars. It’s not that your defensive skills are diminished; it’s just that you’re inclined to engage with people in a more subtle manner now.

Virgo 8/23 - 9/22: You may be short on time, energy or money today as dark Pluto squares the impulsive Aries Sun in your 2nd House of Resources.

Libra 9/23 - 10/22: Facts and figures go in one ear and right out the other today. You hear the words, but just can’t seem to retain any data because your mind is working in the mythical realm of symbols and not the rational realm of details.

Scorpio 10/23 - 11/21: You want to slip into the shadows to escape from your responsibilities as a creative square from evolutionary Pluto activates the Sun in your 12th House of Fantasy.

Sagittarius 11/22 - 12/21: Put your best foot forward at work and at social events to make the most of today’s profound cosmic energy.

Remain open to an unexpected turn of events, even if it pushes your buttons at first.

Capricorn 12/22 - 1/19: You may feel as if you’re on an amusement park ride that’s messing with your center of gravity today — and you don’t like it one bit.

Aquarius 1/20 - 2/18: Encountering an overly optimistic person could put you in a grouchy mood today when you realize you’ve been sold a bill of goods. However, the fault may not lie with anyone else; strangely enough, others might be telling the truth.

Pisces 2/19 - 3/20: You have an abundance of excellent ideas you would like to put into action, and as the day progresses you are able to zero in on the best ones.

The organizing committee for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is pressing for savings to avoid going over its 7.4-billion-real budget ($1.9 billion) by about 10 percent, a spokesman said yesterday.

In the final spending review before the games start in 10 months, some departments are being asked to cut projected costs by as much as 30 percent. “We need to organize the games to be economically sustainable.

There’s no more space for lavish overspending,” said Mario Andrada, communications director at Rio 2016.

The organizing committee’s budget is privately funded, but any deficit will have to be covered by the Brazilian government, an eventuality for which there is little appetite in Brasilia, the capital.

Brazil is in a deep recession, which looks likely to continue into next year, and the government is keen to avoid the usual cost overruns associated with events like the Olympics and the World Cup. “We are adjusting minor things: printing, backstage structures, structures that are

The Golden State Warriors already look scary good The Golden State Warriors opened their preseason Monday night and it looks like they haven’t skipped a beat since their championship. Not only did they come up with a 95-87 victory over the Raptors, they looked good doing it.

Despite several months off, the Warriors’ brand of flashy, pass-happy, netsplashing offense seems to have picked up right where they left off. At the end of the second quarter, Stephen Curry brought the ball up court, and made a fancy behind-the-back pass to an open Klay Thompson for three.

However, Thompson spotted Draymond Green down low, and whipped a pass for what should have been a layup. Instead, Green saw Curry dashing to the corner and hit him for an even more open three-pointer, which for Curry, is the equivalent of a layup.

To top it off, as Curry let it go, he turned to teammate Andre Iguodala on the sidelines, and high-fived him before it even went in.

The Rio 2016 Olympic torch is seen during a National Sports Forum seminar to discuss the legacy of the games, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 9, 2015. Reuters/Paulo Whitaker not necessary for the field of play,” Andrada said.

Savings could also come from reducing the number of volunteers and getting some to work at both the Olympics and Paralympics, which would cut the cost of food, uniforms and transportation.

Construction of permanent venues, security and temporary power are covered in a different budget

and not paid for by the committee. The cost-cutting analysis should be finished by next week. Without additional savings, Andrada said the committee was on track to go over budget by about 10 percent.

“In these kinds of organizations you naturally build fat,” he said. “We’re trying to identify that fat.”

(Reuters)

Page 40

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 07, 2015

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015

Fiji 47-15 Uruguay Canada 15-17 Romania

Nemia Kenatale shows incredible strength to score with almost no space to play with in the eight minute.

Fiji ended an encouraging World Cup campaign with a seven-try win over Pool A minnows Uruguay in Milton Keynes. Nemia Kenatale and Leone Nakarawa, plus two penalty tries, helped the Pacific Islanders lead 26-10 at half-time, earning a bonus

point before the break.

Uruguay had not scored a World Cup try since 2003, but Carlos Arboleya and Agustin Ormaechea crossed in each half. Fiji eased away in the final quarter with three more tries, as Uruguay were reduced to 14 men as

QCSC day of sports set for Saturday Queen’s College Sports Committee (QCSC) will be hosting a day of sports on Saturday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue commencing at 09:00hrs. Teams will be engaged in softball cricket, 5-aside small goal football and penalty shootout competitions.

Among the schools slated to take part are the host, Bishop’s, Chase Academy, St. Rose’s High, American, Marian Academy, Mae’s, North Georgetown, Christ Church and Charlestown.

At stake are trophies donated by Trophy Stall, NSC, John Mc Grath, Zaman Alli, Tent City, and Arven Mangru. The event is being organised by Johnny Barnwell.

NSC Inter Primary Schools cricket starts today The National Sports Commission (NSC), Inter Primary Schools limited overs cricket competition is set to commence at 09:00hrs today at Fairfield ground, East Coast Demerara.

The competition will be played in five zones with the winner of each zone advancing to the play offs on October 30 at Lusignan.

The tournament is organised by Umpire/Coach Daniel Richmond who conducted several coaching sessions in the areas recently. Trophies and medals will be up for grabs.

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

Ormaechea saw red.

Uruguay now travel to Manchester for their final pool match against hosts England, who have also already been eliminated from the tournament. Fiji always faced a tough task to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for a third time, having been drawn alongside Australia, England and Wales in the ‘Group of Death’.

But there were encouraging signs in each of the three defeats against their illustrious opponents, with their trademark brand of rugby - unpredictable and freeflowing - complemented by tighter defence.

It meant they were expected to brush aside a Uruguayan side who had looked out of their depth in crushing defeats against Wales and Australia.

However, Fiji produced a patchy performance against the South Americans.

Moments of attacking brilliance, particularly when second row Nakarawa dummied his way through to run in from 30 metres, were countered by lapses in concentration at the back.

Nevertheless, it was more enough to earn a welldeserved first win of the tournament as Tevita Cavubati, Kini Murimurivalu and Nemani Nadolo crossed in the final 20 minutes.

Following two try-less defeats against Wales and Australia, Uruguay coach Pablo Lemoine set his team the task of scoring their first of the tournament against Pool A’s other tier-two side.

In fact, Uruguay had not scored a World Cup try since 2003 - when Lemoine himself crossed the line in the 111-13 defeat by England. And they managed to end that barren run when hooker Arboleya battered his way over the line from close range.

The moment sparked wild celebrations among the Uruguay camp - and the biggest cheer of the night from a record 30,048 crowd at a rain-soaked Stadium MK. It gave Los Teros, who qualified for the first time since 2003 by beating play-off opponents Russia, renewed confidence against a Fijian side which has now conceded a try in each of their 28 World Cup matches.

Uruguay managed to double their try tally when Ormaechea spotted a gap to dive over after team-mate Andres Vilaseca kicked forward on the chase.

(BBCsports)

Romania’s first win in the competition means they can finish third in the group if they beat Italy on Sunday.

Romania scored 17 points in the final 28 minutes as their powerful pack overcame Canada in the biggest comeback in World Cup history. Gordon McRorie’s penalty and a DTH van der Merwe try put Canada 8-0 in front at half-time.

The lead became 15-0 as Jeff Hassler bounced his way out of some tame tackling to touch down. But number eight Mihai Macovei went over for two late tries and Florin Vlaicu’s penalty won it for Romania.

It is the first time Canada have lost all four of their group matches at a World Cup, while Romania can still finish third in the Pool securing automatic qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup - if they beat Italy on Sunday.

A Canada victory seemed on the cards after a one-sided

first half. Van der Merwe became the first player from a tier-two nation to score a try in four successive World Cup matches, with his effort coming after scores against Ireland, France and Italy.

The 29-year-old showed the one moment of clinical finishing in an opening period that saw numerous promising situations.

Van der Merwe is set to join Scarlets from Glasgow at the end of this tournament and the Welsh side will no doubt have been impressed by his powerful running and ability.

When Hassler took full advantage of some weak defending to touch down for a converted try after the interval, Canada were in full control at 15-0 up. Romania’s predictable battering-ram approach up front was making very little impact against a

resolute wall of red.

Countless times the Canadians saw off several phases of play and the lack of progress and defensive pressure resulted in an inevitable Romania handling error as they tried to play the ball out wide in slippery conditions.

Finally Romania seemed to twig, keeping the ball within yards of their huge pack and driving forward from close quarters, with their captain Macovei the inspiration. He went over for his first try to set Canada nerves jangling and, after Jebb Sinclair was sin-binned for bringing down a rolling maul, his second close-range score made it 15-12.

Vlaicu added the extras and then slotted a nerveless late penalty in a game that saw both sides miss several kicks at goal. (BBCsport)

CONCACAF Cup Match, USA v Mexico at the Rose Bowl Sold Out Miami - The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced that CONCACAF Cup, presented by Scotiabank, between the United States and Mexico on Saturday, October 10, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA (6 p.m. PT), is sold out.

The winner of the match, which will be televised in the U.S. by Univision/UDN in Spanish and FS1 in English, will earn a berth in the prestigious FIFA Confederations Cup, to be played in Russia in 2017.

“This is one of the biggest soccer games to be

played on North American soil since the 1994 World Cup, and the fans have certainly responded,” said CONCACAF Acting General Secretary Ted Howard.

“Whether you are in the stadium, or watching on television, we are looking forward to bringing fans a truly historic sporting event.”

With more than 90,000 fans expected in what will be one of that weekend’s largest soccer crowds anywhere in the world, organizers are encouraging fans to plan their commute in advance and take advantage of several fan conveniences being offered by the local organizers.

In 2013, CONCACAF announced the split of the region’s berth to the FIFA Confederations Cup between two editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, assuring that both editions of the Gold Cup in each fouryear cycle have the same importance from a competitive perspective. By winning the recent 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Mexico qualified for the CONCACAF Cup against the 2013 Gold Cup champion, the United States.

CONCACAF Cup is presented by Scotiabank and sponsored by AT&T, Delta Air Lines, Jarritos. Nike and State Farm.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 41

West Indies Cricket means to West Indians (Part 6)

By Sean Devers After the 5-1 loss to Australia, Lloyd was ready to fight fire with fire and introduced a four-prong pace attack which soon became the feared weapon that the Windies used to dominate world cricket on all types of pitches.

Andy Roberts, Bernard Julien, Vanburn Holder and Wayne Daniel comprised the pace quartet with a young Michael Holding waiting in the wings for the 1976 tour to England.

Smarting from their Australia defeat, West Indies was keen to do well. Before the series began England Captain, South African born Tony Greg said he would make the West Indies grovel.

The word grovel means ‘to crawl on the ground, especially in a show of fear or humility’ and reminded West Indians of the days of slavery when the slaves groveled at the feet of white plantation owners who beat them to work. Greg’s comment ignited the passion to prove that West Indian people no longer suffered from inferiority complex when

THE FOUR-PACK IS BORN they came up against their old masters.

England were soundly beaten 3-nill as the specialist spinners, Albert Padmore and Rafik Jumadeen were just given one match each as Lloyd relied on pace, his new weapon of destruction.

Holding’s 8-92 and 6-57 on a placid Oval track was a magnificent performance and to this day remains the best match figures in a test by a West Indian. Roberts was also devastating on that English tour while Richards emphasized his class with 829 runs in four tests including double centuries at Trent Bridge and the Oval. Greenidge was also in sublime form scoring two of his three hundreds on a difficult track at Old Trafford.

In the end it was Greig and his English team who had to ‘grovel’ as West Indies won the last three tests in emphatic fashion.

Roberts, Holding, Croft and Garner were West Indies’ weapons of destruction.

Richards was simply magnificent and finished the year 1976 with 1,710 runs from 11 matches.

PACKER SERIES MARRED 50TH YEAR OF W.I CRICKET It was 1978 and the 50th year of West Indies cricket. Everyone was anticipating the visit of Bobby Simpson’s Australians.

Australia did not select the players who had signed for the World Series cricket (WSC) but the West Indies Board selected a full strength team claiming that none of the WSC players had refused to play.

Although the express pace of Jeff Thompson was available to the visitors, West Indies won the first two tests with Alvin Kallicharran getting a hundred in the first test and Desmond Haynes, who made his debut in this series to replace Fredricks who had retired, getting half-centuries in his first three innings.

Haynes, who had also signed for the Kerry Packer World series organized by the Australian millionaire, was dropped by the West Board for the third test in Guyana. Lloyd resigned the captaincy in protest and the rest of the Packer contracted players decided not to play in solidarity for their skipper.

Kallicharran took over as skipper.

Larry Gomes, a reliable left-hander from Trinidad, got his chance to enter test cricket, and the West Indies, although weakened, won the fourth test to win the series 3-1.

Kallicharran, who had initially signed with Paker but subsequently changed his mind, was given the captaincy as West Indies toured India in 1979 and without the Packer players, lost the six-test series 1-nill A different, but in many ways similar situation, a quarter of a century later, saw Kallicharran’s countryman Chanderpaul accept leadership of a depleted team to Sri Lanka when Lara and almost the entire team had refused to tour unless their contractual dispute with the Board was sorted out.

Barbadian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall made his debut on the India tour while Faoud Bacchus made 250 in the final test before being out hit wicket. Bacchus, a highly flamboyant but inconsistent right-hander who just managed one century in his 19 tests, fell just six runs short of fellow Guyanese Kanhai’s 256, which is still the highest score by a West Indian against India.

PACKER PLAYERS REINSTATED The 1979 world Cup was just around the corner and the West Indies were the defending champions. Winning was important. The Paker players were reinstated; Lloyd was back at the helm and West Indies retained the World

Viv Richards ‘the Master Blaster’ destroyed the World’s top bowlers at will.

Cup. They then went to Australia where they beat the home team 2-0. This was the series which saw the pace quartet of Roberts, Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner being formed.

West Indies toured New Zealand in 1980 and suffered from some very poor umpiring to lose the three test series 1-nill despite two hundreds from the solid Haynes.

Tempers flared on that tour as Croft ran into umpire Fred Gooddall and Holding kicked out the stumps in frustration.

After tea on the third day of the second test West Indies refused to take the field if Goodall was not removed. They were persuaded to carry on and it took intense negotiations between the country’s cricket boards to prevent a premature end to the series.

Croft, who maintained that he accidentally ran into Goodall, later said that he did not feel the umpires were cheating for the home team but were just not good enough to be standing in matches at that level.

It was also rumored that the umpires lamented that the West Indian bowlers were bowling too quickly for them to properly analyze edges to the keeper.

This was to be the last series defeat for the West Indies in 15 years as they proved almost invincible with aggressive batting, hostile fast bowling , brilliant fielding and great team spirit and commitment.

Page 42

Kaieteur News

Wednesday October 07, 2015

ROACH - Bowlers to Trinidad & Tobago primes for WCQ in Central America carry responsibility

Kemar Roach

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Experienced seamer Kemar Roach believes the bowling department will have to produce consistent performances if West Indies are to win their first series on Sri Lankan soil.

West Indies have played nine Tests here over the last 22 years without winning a single one, but are hoping to change their fortunes when they face the hosts in two Tests, starting in Galle next week.

“It takes getting 20 wickets to win a Test match [and] once we bowl well, I think we have some pretty decent batsmen that can get us over the line,” Roach said here yesterday. “But we have to bowl well and get 20 wickets, that should be our main focus going into this series.”

He added: “Reverse swing will definitely be an option. Obviously the ball gets old very quickly down here, it doesn’t stay new for very long so you have to start shining on one side and obviously make that side work for you.

“If you can reverse swing the ball and bowl a fuller length, you should do pretty well in Sri Lanka.” The last time West Indies were here five years ago, all three Tests finished in stalemates.

However, the 27-year-old Roach emerged as leading wicket-taker for the Windies with ten scalps at an average of 24. He explained that consistency and bowling fuller lengths had been the key to his performances back then, and said he was now focussing on a repeat.

“That was a very good series for me. I was in good form and I was peaking at that time so obviously I got Man-

of-the-Series. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of consistent bowling to obviously get results down here,” said Roach, who has taken 120 wickets from 32 Tests.

“When you get on the park you have to bowl with consistency. You have to bowl a fuller length because it’s an Asian country still so your length is very important and you have to be very patient and consistent.

“That’s what I was working on in the camp in Barbados and for the first couple sessions down here in Sri Lanka.”

The series represents Roach’s third tour of Sri Lanka and as a result, the right-armer said he was not daunted by the stifling humidity the squad had encountered in recent days.

“I’m getting used to the heat. I’ve been here a couple times and I know how it can be so I’m accustomed to it now and I’m trying to adapt because I’ll be here for a while.”

West Indies’ first assignment will be a three-day match against the Sri Lanka Cricket Board President’s XI starting Thursday at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

(CMC)

T&T head coach Stephen Hart (right) gives instruction to Daneil Cyrus during a 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup game against Cuba. (Photo: Mexsport) Panama City, Panama Trinidad & Tobago trained Monday with nearly a full complement of players in advance of its international friendly tomorrow against host Panama. The Soca Warriors traveled to the Central American nation on Sunday while the Europebased quartet of Sheldon Bateau, Aubrey David, Jonathan Glenn and Radanfah Abu Bakr arrived Monday evening.

Defender Gavin Hoyte, who plays in England’s League Two with Barnet FC and missed last month’s 3-3 draw with Mexico, is happy to link up with the squad once again.

“I’m quite excited to be back in the team,” said Hoyte, a former England youth international. “It’s been more than a year now since I’ve played for Trinidad & Tobago. I’ve been following the team along and they have been doing brilliant. I think it’s good to be back at this time and hopefully I can get back into the mix.”

With Trinidad slated to open its qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 on November 13 at Guatemala, the encounter against Panama takes on added meaning.

“There are a couple new faces coming into the squad and it’s good for us to get that unity and chemistry going again,” said defender Yohance Marshall. “We know the kind of opposition Panama is and they will present us with a good test. The mentality of our preparation and hopefully the results will build the confidence of the team heading into the two qualifiers in November.” The Trinidadians will also play at Nicaragua on October 13.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC) DEFENDERS: Radanfah Abu Bakr (Koge/Denmark), Aikim Andrews (DirecTV W Connection), Sheldon Bateau (FC Krylia Sovetov), Daneil Cyrus (Chicago Fire/USA), Aubrey David (Shaktar Karagandy/Kazakhstan), Gavin Hoyte (Barnet FC/ England), Yohance Marshall (Murcielagos/Mexico), Mekeil Williams (Antigua GFC/Guatemala)

MIDFIELDERS: Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge/England), Keron Cummings (North East Stars), Kevan George (Columbus Crew/USA), Neveal Hackshaw (North East Stars), Khaleem Hyland (Westerlo/ Belgium), Joevin Jones (Chicago Fire/USA), Willis Plaza (Central FC) FORWARDS: Trevin Caesar (Austin Aztex/USA), Jonathan Glenn (Breioablik/ Iceland), Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City/Wales).

(CONCACAF)

Sand Hills Primary are...

From page 45 led Green Acres to victory over St. Angela’s.

After winning the toss, Green Acres chose to bat first and compiled 119/6 off their allotted 14 overs. Omesh Balgobin supported Thompson with 27. Bowling for St. Angela’s Primary, L. Arthur and T. Thomas accounted for two wickets each.

In reply, St Angela’s reached 108/8 when their 14 overs expired. Ariana Laundry top-scored with 23, while T. Thomas and J. Griffith chipped in with 12 and 11 respectively. Jadyan Dowlin was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.

Green Acres has progressed to the second round of preliminary matches.

GABF to end year on...

From page 47 discussions on the Male and Female Coaches, and Managers Reports from CBC 2015. The Guyanese male team placed 10th overall (last place) with predominantly local players.

In addition, other matters arising out of Sunday’s meeting included a Draft Financial Report for January -September 2015 that was circulated to the GABF Executive for review while work is in progress to have an extended School Basketball Games next month, which will span at least 12 schools across Guyana.

The federation approved Youth Basketball Guyana’s (YBG) Age-Group Tournament: Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 as well as the Sixth Annual Titan Bowl for the top eight senior school teams in Guyana. The Age Group tournament is scheduled to start on October 16 and the Titan Bowl will be played during December 10-13.

The GABF also approved The Brusche’s Classic in Linden for October 22–November 2, 2015.

Hinds informed that the federation will offer to host the 2016 CBC Under-16 Championships in June/July once the federation gets the support of the Ministry of Education.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 43

Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Challenge Crowd support encouraging Branford rescues Guyana as so far at SEL matches they earn 2-2 draw with Brazil

Ladies’ nights, sponsors’ giveaways & 12 & under free to be introduced

Fans enjoying the action at the GFC ground.

The inaugural Stag Elite League (SEL) has made an enterprising start with all the matches played to date attracting encouraging crowds, some fans intimating that the crowds are more likened to knock-out football.

Among the persons from the administrative scheme of things who are impressed with the support of the fans to date is Chairman of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling.

Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Urling, who has led a positive transformation of football in Guyana along with his fellow NC members stated that he is encouraged by the

support of fans at all the venues so far including the Leonora Track & Field Football Field, GFC, #5 (West Berbice), Tucville and GDF grounds.

“Crowd support has been good so far, the fans and supporters have come out in their numbers at all the venues we have played at to date. We have a few game promotions that are aimed at increasing the fan experience.”

Urling, whose tenure along with that of the NC will come to an end next month before handing over to a new GFF Executive which would be elected at the scheduled November 14 scheduled

Congress noted that they will constantly monitor the crowd turnout and adjust their promotions and gate charges accordingly.

He informed that among the initiatives that will be introduced will be children under the age of 12 being admitted free of charge while there would also be ladies’ nights and sponsors’ giveaways.

Among the persons attending matches have been Government officials including Minister of State Mr. Joseph Harmon and Ms. Valarie Garrido-Lowe, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

Max Persaud and Shanella Webster...

From page 44 group of some thirty-seven golfers,” he commented of his victory. It is believed that this is the first time Guyana claimed a 1st position in the B-Class in Suriname’s Invitational.

In the Women’s B-Class, 3rd place winner Shanella Webster, produced a fantastic play over the two days. Tied for 8th on the first Day, 9 points behind Hanka Wolterstorff, 8 points behind Patty Tjin A Tsoi, and 5 points behind Carmelita vid Blankevoort, Webster stormed back by 8 points on Day 2 to tie for that day’s second place with Wolterstorff, while vid Blankevoort edged into that day’s first place! When the aggregates were taken for the two days, winners were – 1stHanka Wolterstorff (76); 2nd Carmelita vid Blankevoort (73) and 3rd Shanella Webster of Guyana (67). Patty Tjin A Tsoi also amassed 67, but because of Webster’s better 2nd day’s score she claimed the 3rd prize.

Webster also won the Longest Drive in her group, while Kalyan Tiwari won the Longest Drive in his Men’s A-Class, and Lakeram Ramsundar the Nearest The Pin prize in the Men’s B-Class.

In fact, Max Persaud’s Day 1 play (35) was

quite impressive, tying for 4th with Kenny Attai, Martin Wolterstorff, and Milton van Brussel, behind Allan Beeldsnijder (37), Hubert Kock and Anne Harmsma (38), highlighting the fierce competition in the top seven in the group. His Day 2 play was phenomenal, placing him a clear winner, as only in the A-Class did 3 others achieve such a score in either of the two days (Amoko - 43, Day 1; Bu Young Lee (2nd place winner A-Class) 42, – Day 2; and Isami Shirahata 41, -Day 1)!

In the A-Class of 27 men, won by JurgenAmoko (84), Guyana’s representatives were Kalyan Tiwari (48), John Tracy (53), Lakeram Ramsundar (57), Alfred Mentore (60), and Patrick Prashad (62) who placed 13th.

In the B-Class of 37 men, won by Parmanand Persaud (76) other representatives from Guyana were Brian Hackett (51), Jerome Khan (52), Troy Cadogan (54), Patanjalee Persaud (60), and Dr Philbert London (65) who placed 9th in that group.

Guyana’s own Invitational for this year, dubbed the Digicel Guyana Open 2015, will be held on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November, at the Lusignan Golf Course.

Golfers are expected from the Caribbean, the USA, Canada and the UK.

Guyana produced another strong performance to earn a 2-2draw against Brazil to end as runner-up in Pool ‘A’ and a place in the semi-finals of the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Challenge which continued yesterday in Chicklayo, Peru.

Once again leading marksman Aroydy Branford was Guyana’s hero as he lashed in both goals in the 12th and 51st minutes respectively to guarantee the Guyanese stickmen a place in the final four where they await the winner which is most likely to be Venezuela on Friday.

The Guyanese took the lead in the 12th Guyana Brazil Brazil Guyana Pool Standings Team (Pool A) Brazil Guyana Puerto Rico Panama Pool B Venezuela Peru Uruguay Ecuador

minute through a field goal from Branford and enjoyed a 1-0 lead at the half.

However, the Brazilians responded in quick succession after the break when Vehrle-Smith Stephane scored a penalty corner, before Paixao Lucas netted in similar fashion one minute later to give them a 2-1 advantage.

Bradford, who is among the top goal scorers in the tournament, was again to the rescue of the Guyanese when he pierced the goalkeeper with a penalty shot as the scores remained leveled when the final whistle sounded.

12 42 43 51

7 9 11 7

Branford Aroydy Vehrle-Smith Stephane Paixao Lucas Branford Aroydy

FG PC PC PS

GP 3 3 3 3

W 2 1 1 0

D 1 2 1 0

L 0 0 1 3

GD 22 14 8 -44

P 7 5 4 0

2 2 2 2

2 1 0 0

0 1 1 0

0 0 1 2

23 11 -3 -31

6 4 1 0

Letter to the Editor

Grant’s misinterpretation and misunderstanding DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Terrence Grant’s letter that appeared in your sports pages on Monday October 5, 2015 on an article I wrote is deserving of my response lest readers be led astray, as often occurs when misinterpretation and misunderstanding seek to establish truth.

Mr. Grant said that there were “inaccuracies/misconceptions” in the article – two terms used in their plural form, yet he only identified a singular fact that I referred to Sabola Gray as a former National player when she would have represented Guyana earlier this year.

It is unfortunate that with the stated experience of Mr. Grant, he would err in his differentiation of past and present. The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) held its AGM and Elections last week.

It, therefore, means that all teams and activities were dissolved to facilitate the election process, which rendered all National players named on past teams “former” players, until such time that the new Executive would have named future teams.

It is in that context that I referred to Gray as a former national player and not in the context of having retired from the game to become an administrator (my assessment) as Mr. Grant would rather mislead readers into believing.

Secondly, Mr. Grant highlighted two notable performances from our Rugby team during the first tenure of GRFU President, Peter Green. At no time did I reference or question the performances. I, however, discussed the inconsistency of the period under the leadership of Green as compared to the dominant period (between 2006-2011).

I then suggested that Green may be struggling with leading two national

associations as he is also President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation.

If we are to use Mr. Grant’s yardstick for measuring success then, for example, our West Indies Cricket team is successful, having last won a major title in 2012 (The ICC World T20). I am sure, notwithstanding the lack of consistency and pitiable performances, Mr. Grant would agree that our West Indies team is successful.

Mr. Grant would have been better off sticking to just the historical insight he gave into his long sojourn in the sport; I want to suspect that was the main aim of his letter: to highlight his personal contributions to the sport as opposed to fallaciously indicating that “inaccuracies/misconceptions” abound when none existed.

I should let Mr. Grant know that I am very familiar with Ms. Gray and I know she is capable of representing herself. If she felt slighted by my use of the word “former”, I am sure she would have let me know.

In addition, I had spoken to perhaps Guyana’s most experienced player and coach at the moment, Theodore Henry, who honestly agreed that all is not well with the sport he has dedicated almost his entire life to serving.

Henry was considering walking into the horizon.

I pleaded with him to renew his commitment based on his experience and knowledge. The point is that the Mr. Grant would rather fool people into believing that all is well with the sport by presenting a facade, and that does nothing to develop the sport. Only an honest assessment can accomplish such a task. But then again, not everyone is honest.

Respectfully, Edison Jefford

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Kaieteur News

BCB/Tenelec 50-over round robin 1st division cricket

Albion embarrass RHT Gizmos and Gadgets by 150 runs; Police beat West Berbice A hat-trick from Albion Community Centre 17 year old pacer Josiah Dhanai and yet another half century from 19 year old David Latchaya helped to destroy Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets with a huge 150 runs victory in their final preliminary match of the Bobby Deonarine/Tom Gruntzel sponsored 2015 Tenelec 50 Overs First Division Cricket Competition, organized by the Berbice Cricket Board.

Giant killers Police also recorded a comfortable 22 run victory over West Berbice.

They were led by a total team effort. This means that both teams have topped their respective zones with the losers being the runner up.

At the historic Port Mourant Ground in blistering heat and a parched outfield, the mighty Albion CC won the toss and took first strike. They were precariously placed at 44 for 3 in 10 overs. However, they recovered handsomely to reach a respectable and eventual winning total of 206 all out in 49.1 of their allotted 50 overs.

The recovery was orchestrated by classy young middle order batsman David Latchaya (63), who was selected in the Berbice senior team earlier in the year and one of the many young fringe players who will suffer because of the abandonment of the inter county championship and even national trials.

He shared two important partnerships, firstly for the fourth wicket of 49 in 9 overs with national wicketkeeper batsman Anthony Bramble who was run out for 23, then with fast developing allrounder Gudakesh Motie to put together a match winning seventh wicket partnership of 50 with Motie going for a fighting 29.

Bowling for RHT Gizmos and Gadgets, pacer Keon Sinclair took 3 for 41 and skipper Shawn Perreira 3 for 42. Off spinner Troy Matheson supported with 2 for 41.

I n r e p l y, R o s e H a l l Town Gizmos and Gadgets were shot out for a paltry 56 from 15.5 overs, possibly their lowest total in the history of Berbice first division cricket.

Former national player Rajiv Ivan is the only

batsman that reached double figure with 14.

Bowling for Albion CC, 17 year-old pacer Josiah Dhanai destroyed the heart of the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets batting with a hattrick, ending with 4 for 35, while former national youth off-spinner Balchan Baldeo, with whom he shared the new ball, took 3 for 16. Former West Indies under 19 left arm spinner and Guyana Jaguars’ first class hopeful, Gudakesh Motie took 3 for 5.

Over at the Bust Lot Ground on the West Coast of Berbice, the fast emerging Police beat West Berbice by 22 runs. Police won the toss, took first strike and scored a decent 174 off 38 of their reduced allotted 43 overs.

Brentnol Woolford continued his fine form by topscoring with 35. He got support from Wayne Richards 29 and Kurt Griffith 24. Berbice senior off spinner Krishendat Ramoo took 6 for 32 and former West Indies under 19 and current senior national pacer Keon Joseph 3 for 28.

In reply, West Berbice were bowled out for 152. They lost former Berbice senior opener Arthley Bailey first ball caught at mid-off off the bowling of former Berbice pacer Michael Newland for 0 and they never recovered.

Topscoring for them was Rafael Estriado 30, he got support from Andrew Dutchin 27, Carlton Nurse 24 and Keith Fraser 20.

Bowling for Police, Newland took 2 for 15 off 7 overs, national under 17 allrounder Kevin Sinclair 2 for 21 off 9 overs, Kurt Griffith 2 for 25 off 5 overs and Andel Doris 2 for 42 off 8 overs.

Come Saturday October 10, 2015, the playoffs will see Group A winner Police hosting runner of Group C, Rose Hall Gizmos and Gadgets at Edinburgh, Group B winner Young Warriors will host Group A runner up West Berbice at Cumberland and winner of Group C Albion CC will host runner up of Group B Tucber Park at Albion.

The only semi final will be played between winner of game one and winner of game two at winner of one venue. The winner of game three will draw the bye to the final at a date and venue to be named.

Wednesday October 07, 2015

Little Diamond Int’l Martial Arts Academy holds 3rd Open Championship

The outstanding performers from Guyana and Suriname pose for a group photo at the conclusion of the event.

The Little Diamond International Martial Arts Academy (LDIMAA) just concluded a successful international tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall September 26 – 27, 2015.

Six schools with well over 50 Karatekas competed in the event which included the Tang-Soo-Do International Guyana; Central Shotokan Karate-Do Association; National Martial Arts Association; Black Hawks Rising Sun Dojo; The Shuriken Karate School of Suriname and The Little Diamond International Martial Arts Academy.

The Little Diamond Int’l Martial Arts Academy with 15 Students won 44 medals, which included 27 Gold, 9 Silvers, 6 Bronze and 2, 4thPlaces. They also captured the Team Trophy for Kata. Christian Freeman (10 yrs.) of Wales won the Most

Spirited Fighter Trophy, of the tournament giving the LDIMAA another Plus.

Sensei Kelvin Walcott from the Enmore Branch of the LDIMAA Won 4 gold medals, along with Sensei Parsuram Arjune from the Wales Branch who clinched 4 gold and 2 silvers, Maranda Bennett also won 4 gold and 1 silver. Other outstanding students were; Umish Parsaram 3 gold & 1 bronze, Ravi Samaroo 2 gold & 1 silver and Vikash Samwaru 2 gold, 1 silver & 1, 4th Place: Sensei Kelvin Walcott (Enmore) and Sampai Paul Waldron (Wales) in the heavyweight division, along with Tadious Edun (Wales) and Marlon Ignatius (Parfait Harmony) Middle weight division, Umish Parsaram (Enmore) and Muneshwar Ganga (Wales) Lightweight division, thrilled the audience with the Full

Contact fighting.

The Shuriken Karate School of Nickerie Suriname with 7 students put up a good performance to win 10 Medals; 3 gold, 5 silvers, 1 bronze and 1, 4th Place. The Suriname team also received 12 awards for their effort in coming to Guyana form Shihan Nazim, while Shihan Khedoe received his Grade “B” International Coaching Certificate.

At the tournament, Sensei Kelvin Walcott received his “Life Member” Certificate making him the 5th person to become a Life Member of the LDIMAA, while Radha Singh of Wales (Parent & member of the executive body), Tony Cox and The West Minister Phase # 2 Community Policing Group received Special Awards for their work with the LDIMAA.The Red Cherry Cafeteria was named the PATRON COMPANY of

the LDIMAA. The LDIMAA is expressing gratitude to the Red Cherry Cafeteria for Full Sponsorship of the tournament.

Special thanks were also extended to the National Sport Commission and the Ministry of Education Department of Culture, Youth and Sport; the LDIMAA is also thankful to Trophy Stall for Sponsoring them in the Team Champion Trophy competition, the Judges and Referees.

Shihan Nazim Yassim and his team will now turn their attention to the Knock Down tournament in December.

Special guests at the tournament were Director of Sport Mr. Christopher Jones, Director of Youth (ag) Miss Gillian Frank, Miss Guyana World, Miss Lisa Punch and her team POTS and Dr. Mark Constantine Chairman of the NCPE.

Max Persaud and Shanella Webster perform outstandingly at Suriname Golf tourney Parmanand Max Persaud claimed ‘gold’ for Guyana in the just concluded Suriname’s Republic Bank Invitational Golf Tournament played on Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th October last. The competition was played under the Stableford format, with some 90 golfers from Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, French Guiana and Suriname competing.

“I found the course a tough one, because of the dryness of the earth,” Max Persaud informed, “but I kept focus and determined to play well. At the end of the first day with 35 points I was 4th in my group, but on the second day I brought in a blazing 41 points to give me an aggregate of 76 points and make me the winner in my Continued on page 43

Guyana’s prize winners (from left); Lakeram Ramsundar, Parmanand Persaud, Shanella Webster, and Kalyan Tiwari.