Kaieteur News

Saturday Edition

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October 20, 2012 - Vol. 6 No. 39 - Price $80 kaieteurnews@yahoo.com Website:http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Battle lines drawn in Parliament…

House Police pickup Speaker warns

Luncheon not to provoke a

constitutional crisis

Cop caught stealing police gas

- says Pres. Ramotar could be failing duties

Police truck

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

U.S celebrity chef helps raise funds for DDL Foundation U.S celebrity chef, Nilka Hendricks, has been roped in to help raise funds for the charity foundation set up by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

For the past three years, the Foundation has been offering five scholarships annually for deserving school children, Ambassador Rudy Collins said yesterday.

Collins is the Chairman of the Foundation, which currently spends an estimated $200,000 on one student.

However, once a student is identified for the scholarship, the Foundation meets whatever expenses are needed, and so the amount could be more or less than the average expense per student.

Hendricks, who was once part of the hugely popular “Hell’s Kitchen” on U.S network Fox, said she was happy to volunteer her time to help raise funds for the Foundation.

She will be in the kitchen tomorrow when the Foundation hosts its annual Charity Dinner. Last year’s event raised almost $2 million.

At the event, patrons would bid for a chance to be

Princess Hotel General Manager Muharrem Kulekci, celebrity chef Nilka Hendricks, DDL Operations Director Chandradat Chintamani, Princess Hotel chef Omer Cuskon, Princess Hotel manager Quincy Richards and Chairman of the DDL Foundation Rudy Collins. served up a special meal by Hendricks. She will have as her kitchen partner Omer Cuskon, chef of the Princess Hotel, which is partnering with the Foundation for this evening’s charity dinner.

Hendricks said that as a single mother, it “touched her heart” what the Foundation was doing, and so she readily

agreed to volunteer her time to support the project.

Ambassador Collins said that the Foundation’s long term goal is to support other youth projects, but as for now, the focus is on the scholarships.

Top performing students at the National Grade Six Examinations have all their

expenses covered by the Foundation for all of their secondary school years.

Ambassador Collins said that the students are selected based on a criteria that includes financial circumstances that could prevent a top performer from attending the school to which he/she was assigned.

Collins said that every aspect of the work of the Foundation is voluntary.

Some staff members of DDL have agreed to have part of their salary deducted to support the work of the charity.

However, the majority of the support has come from the charity dinner, Collins said.

As part of the fundraising

activities, DDL would be auctioning five bottles of specially aged and blended DDL’s award-winning rums, the company’s Operations Director Chandradat Chintamani said.

The winning bidder would have the chance of adding to the design of the label for the rums.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Battle lines drawn in Parliament …

House Speaker warns Luncheon not to provoke a constitutional crisis - says President could be failing duties CONSTITUTIONAL Ahead of Monday’s former leader of the CRISIS reconvening of Parliament opposition party, Alliance For “The Office of the after a recess, battle lines have Change, who is now heading been drawn with the House a House that for the first time President is cautioned not to Speaker Raphael Trotman in 20 years does not have a provoke a constitutional crisis yesterday warning President government majority, hit back as there is no winner in such a Donald Ramotar that he could saying that he will not be scenario, but rather, to respect and recognise the reality, be in gross dereliction of his baited. authority constitutional a n d duty for not “The Office of the President is cautioned legitimacy approving Bills not to provoke a constitutional crisis as of the 10th that have been Parliament.” passed by the there is no winner in such a scenario, but Trotman, National rather, to respect and recognise the reality, a lawyer, Assembly. authority and legitimacy of the 10th believed Raphael that there Trotman’s Parliament.” - Speaker Raphael Trotman a r e sharp response obvious came one day after Dr. Roger Luncheon, This latest development attempts to hinder the ability Head of the Presidential would signal a growing divide of the 10th Parliament to be Secretariat, made it clear that between Government and the successful.

“The people expect that Government was not happy opposition which combined with how the National has a one-seat majority in the both the Office of the President and the National Assembly is being run and National Assembly. that President Ramotar According to the Speaker, Assembly will put Guyana first could very well not assent in a statement from his office, and work together for unity to any Bills passed by the the dignity of the National and development.

If the President chooses National Assembly that do Assembly will be maintained n o t find favour with the and it will continue to not to assent to Bills duly government. function as the legislative arm passed by a majority of the National Assembly of the However, the Speaker, a of the State.

House Speaker, Raphael Trotman Parliament of Guyana, without good and substantial reasons for doing so, then he can be considered to be in gross dereliction of his constitutional duty.”

During his weekly press briefing on Thursday, Dr. Luncheon who is government’s chief spokesman complained that the Speaker was ignoring sound advice from experienced current and former parliamentarians, and recognised authoritative sources.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon The Cabinet Secretary complained specifically that Trotman seeming to be biased to the Parliamentary opposition...the AFC and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

He made mention of a number of Bills... the President’s Pension, and the Financial Management and Accountability Act Amendment Bills, and the Clerk of the National Assembly Bill which the

government has rejected and has discussed with the Speaker.

“The administration has signalled its objection to these Bills and the adherence or really the lack of an adherence thereof to parliamentary norms and procedures, remains an area of great controversy,” Luncheon said Thursday.

He stressed that the opposition’s resolve to impose its one-seat majority and its uncompromising stance will continue to present room for much discord.

According to the Speaker, yesterday, the Guyana Constitution prescribes that Parliament of Guyana shall comprise the President and the National Assembly.

“No one, including, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, can ignore the constitutional standing of either institution. The HPS’s latest rant about the Speaker not taking advice and inviting “discord, and division” is a sign of ignorance of the basic tenets of the Constitution, (continued on page 19)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Betraying a pledge The police are there to serve and to protect the people.

They are the buffer between a stable society and anarchy because in every society there are the deviants. There are those who would steal from the law abiding, torch people’s property and even kill. While the police more often than not cannot stop these things, they are there to ensure that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

Given its land mass and it paucity of police ranks the force is constantly on the search for people who would undertake the motto of “Serve and protect.” The recruits are expected to be carefully scrutinised and properly trained before they are deployed into the society.

However, in recent times, we have noticed that despite the best efforts of the Guyana Police Force rogue elements often infiltrate the force. It is said that some people are unblemished when they enter the force but become corrupt through association. These are the people who are invited to eye the property of others and to do everything possible to enrich themselves at the expense of others.

We have had repeated reports of policemen loaning out their firearms to criminals for a fee; we have seen policemen fleecing people on the streets and we have policemen who actually don their criminal gear at the end of their work day.

Drug dealers have been a magnet for the corrupt police ranks to the extent that many have recruited policemen to offer protection. The most famous of them was Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan who literally had a phalanx of policemen in his employ. Some of these ranks worked as enforcers, using their uniform as a cover and to good effect.

If the target fails to heed then the police ranks would invoke the rule of law and the issue then becomes one for the state.

In other cases, though, policemen have been known to operate as common criminals. They have been known to force their way into homes to rob people and even kill before escaping. In Canje, Berbice, the residents are of the firm view that policemen have conducted robberies while the patrol vehicles kept a safe distance away only to turn up after it was clear that the perpetrators have long fled the scene.

One resident actually identified a policeman who turned up to investigate as one of the people who robbed her.

These things happen because in the first instance the police are drawn from the very society; are people who did not qualify for other sections of the job market and only joined the force as a last resort. Where possible, and with the supporting evidence, the force would act. Many ranks have been prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Last year, the Guyana Police Force reported that more than fifty of the ranks were criminally prosecuted, some for demanding inducements to pervert the course of justice. A few have been caught committing crimes and dealt with.

However, it is here that things get murky. Generally, when one runs afoul of the law or breaches the codes of the Guyana Police Force, that person is summarily dismissed.

In the case of senior ranks, the Police Service Commission would act and in the case of the lower ranks, the Police Commissioner would use his powers to terminate the service of the errant ranks. But there have been policemen who, despite flagrant breaches of the law, have been able to return within the fold of the police force.

The most recent was the now dead Marlon Letlow who aided and abetted killers for a fee. He was arrested and charged twice.

The nation was shocked when it learnt that he was back as a serving policeman. Old habits die hard and so it was that he was said to have embarked on a robbery at a mining camp. He was shot.

Did the then Police Commissioner Henry Greene reinstate him? Was he reinstated by the current Commissioner Leroy Brumell? Whatever the case, this was most disturbing and the fact that two policemen went on a robbery has done nothing to enhance the reputation of the Guyana Police Force. Everyone knows that the police force needs all the burnishing it could get.

The politics of protest DEAR EDITOR, It was the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan who way back in the 1940s initiated what he referred to as the “politics of protest” against the colonial powers who literally juiced the colony of its natural and mineral resources, primarily sugar and bauxite, with very little returns to the Guyanese people. Dr. Jagan stood up defiantly in the Legislature on behalf of the working class who were savagely exploited by the expatriate commercial class. Such was the degree of exploitation that at one time the colony was remitting money to the “mother country” Britain in the face of dire economic and social conditions experienced by the subject population.

Those were the days when the Legislative Assembly was little more than a debating club dominated by representatives of the plantocracy and the colonial office. There was hardly any working class voice in the Legislature. It was not until the elections of 1947, under restricted franchise, that Dr. Jagan won a seat in the Legislature and immediately

started the process of championing the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

It did not take long for Dr. Jagan to realize that simply exposing the anti-working class nature of the colonial administration was not enough to effect changes on behalf of the oppressed workers. The shooting to death of five sugar workers who were protesting for better wages and working conditions at Plantation Enmore exposed the callous and inhumane nature of the ruling class. The struggle had to be advanced to a higher political level which culminated in the formation of the People’s Progressive Party on January 1, 1950.

The formation of the PPP under the leadership of Dr. Jagan proved a turning point in the politics of this nation.

The political and economic hegemony enjoyed by the plantocracy in active collaboration with the colonial office was challenged in a way never hitherto experienced. One of the first demands of the PPP was for a wholly elected Legislative Assembly and the right to

vote of all Guyanese, regardless of their social or economic standing. These demands were largely met following a dispatch to the colony of the Waddington Commission which recommended to the British Government the granting of universal adult suffrage and the introduction of a ministerial system of governance.

This was indeed a huge victory for the Guyanese people, for which full credit must be given to Dr. Jagan and the PPP. It was a major victory for the working people of Guyana who rewarded the PPP by electing it to office in the elections of 1953 by way of a landslide victory. The PPP won 18 of the 24 seats, a crushing defeat for the colonial office and the planter class.

The victory of the PPP at the elections of 1953 placed the once insignificant colonial territory of British Guiana in the political limelight. For the first time, a left-wing government in the region gained political power through constitutional means. The 1953 victory, it

should be noted, preceded the Cuban Revolution of 1959, which brought the Fidel Castro regime in power. In that regard, the victory of the PPP was quite significant from a geo-political standpoint and certainly raised alarm bells both in London and Washington.

Something had to be done to prevent the “communist” virus from spreading in the hemisphere.

It is against this background of the Cold War and the hysteria generated by the PPP victory in 1953 that the suspension of the 1953 Constitution and the removal of the PPP from office after a mere 133 days in office must be seen.

The PPP became one of the first casualties in the hemisphere where the British government, under pressure from the United States government, refused to abide by the democratic norms and ejected the PPP from office, despite the fact of the PPP winning a landslide victory in a free and democratic poll.

Britain was prepared to sacrifice the democratic aspirations of the Guyanese people on the altar of ‘ideological’ expediency.

Following the removal of the PPP from the seat of government, an interim administration was installed which included some of the very people who contested and lost the 1953 elections.

The country marked time for about four years until new elections were held in 1957, which the PPP again won by a landslide, winning 9 of the 14 seats.

The PPP has over the years been the victim of all kinds of intrigue and manipulations to deny it from exercising political power.

Struggles and protests for the rights and dignity of the Guyanese people are not new to the Party. There were protests against food shortages, protests against rigged elections, protests against high-handed actions by the former PNC administration towards workers and farmers, all of which were peaceful and legitimate.

I do not recall any protest action taken by the PPP that resulted in the blocking of roads or in public inconvenience, as is currently playing out on our streets today. The right to protest is enshrined in our laws, but these must be done in a peaceful manner and in conformity with the rule of law.

Failing to do so could be counterproductive and not in the best interest of society as a whole.

Hydar Ally

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

Promoting tourism by bringing Chris Brown to Guyana…It’s getting more bizarre!

DEAR EDITOR, As if life in Guyana could not get more bizarre, we read yesterday that the Government of Guyana as part of its mission to promote tourism is bringing Chris Brown to Guyana. Chris Brown gained additional notoriety for his attack on his girlfriend, Rihanna.

According to police report, this is what Chris Brown did: “Christopher Brown and Robyn F. have been involved in a dating relationship for approximately one and a half years. On Sunday February 8, 2009 at 0025 hours, Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown’s cellular telephone and observed a three page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with. A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out.

Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against the passenger window of the vehicle causing an

approximate one inch raised circular contusion. Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F ’s. mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle, her back against the passenger door.

Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, “I’m going to beat the s**t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!”

Robyn F. picked up her cellular telephone and called her personal assistant, Jennifer - at (818) {redacted} {redacted}- did not answer the telephone but while her voicemail greeting was playing, Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated, “I’m on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there. “(This statement was made while the greeting was playing and was not captured as a message).

After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, “You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I’m really going to kill you!

Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face.

DEAR EDITOR, I hope that you would allow me some space in your publication to air my views so that our citizens, visitors, and persons in authority can understand the archaic ways that some of our emissaries continue to operate and highlight the negatives about screening visitors to Guyana.

I would also like my comments to be viewed by our Minister of Tourism, Mr. Irfaan Ali, so that action could be taken.

If we intend to earn foreign exchange from tourists, we definitely have to equip our screeners to be more courteous and accommodating to our visitors, whether they are Guyanese or foreigners.

I returned to the US after making two trips within the past two months. Normally, I would visit every two years so that I can have a firsthand look at how the country is developing.

The first occasion was a family reunion that was held in August when I had the

opportunity to meet quite a few individuals that I have known over the years, but never knew that we were relatives. On the last occasion, I was returning after a close relative passed after only one week in the US, and had to be returned to Guyana for interment at his place of choice.

The screening on arrival was commendable; the officers were both courteous and efficient. The screening exercise at the point of exit was deplorable, and can only be described as the worst experience that I ever endured while travelling within the US, Caribbean, or Guyana. I left on Caribbean Airlines flight BW 526 on 10-12-12 to JFK in the US. I am not sure if the screeners really understood the nature of their job. It is for security of travelers, and not blatant violation of their rights. (a) If you have a prohibited item in your hand luggage, you are given an Continued on page 6

Body searches at Cheddi Jagan Airport

She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown.

Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.

Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa - Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.

Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a

head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.

Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left car. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it. Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and

arms. He placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F’s left and right carotid arteries causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.

She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself Brown bit her left ring and middle Continued on page 7

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

Letters... Where your views make the news

Crime and criminality under the PNC and the PPP DEAR EDITOR, No country can flourish in a society of criminality, crime, wrongdoing and breakdown of the rule of law. This is the kind of society Guyana has become under the PPP. The drug trade flourished under the PPP when other countries in the region saw major decline in drug trafficking.

While Colombia has reduced the impact of drug trafficking, Guyana has become a drug trafficking haven.

As long as we continue to have drugs in Guyana, we will have serious crime, corruption and the breakdown of law and order. Guyana is now a fullfledged criminal republic.

Criminality has found a safe haven in Guyana.

Let’s get something straight. Crime in Guyana did not start with the PPP. Crime has been around for time immemorial and upsurged under the PNC regime.

What the PPP did was that it took crime and criminality in Guyana to an entirely crippling, sickening and frightening other level.

Everything in terms of crime we had under the PNC we basically have under the PPP with some differences and exceptions.

In every society we will have crimes of passion, domestic violence, crimes against people and property, crimes of opportunity and crimes of corruption. Guyana under the PNC of particularly the 1980s saw its fair share of such crimes.

We have seen more crime and criminality under the PPP despite its boast of economic development.

What is it that has caused these richer or less poorer and better living Guyanese to engage in more murdering, killing, slaughtering, domestically abusing, robbing, thieving, kicking down doors, filling their pockets and corrupting than

they ever did when they were dirt poor, starving and destitute under the PNC? The collapse of the rule of law, the drug trade and the rampant corruption and stealing from the public treasury are important answers.

However, the PPP has encouraged a permissive culture of condoning corruption, immorality and stealing. Its bigwigs not only steal, but arrogantly display their stolen goods in extravagant style, throwing up mansions, driving luxury vehicles out of the reach of even the middle class in developed countries and living in brazen style.

This creates greed, covetousness, envy, keeping-up-with-theneighbours mentality and copycat tendencies, particularly when others know the spoils were from ill-gotten.

So, the decent-minded citizen will start accepting bribes or pilfering money from the people. Or the cop will leave his job and become a drug cartel enforcer.

Then there is another set of criminals who think there is nothing wrong in invading the homes of these individuals and robbing them.

One cannot discount the skyrocketing cost of living issue. Everything costs a lot of money in Guyana.

Criminality has made a handful of criminal entrepreneurs and those they bribe very wealthy. So has those outrageous fat cat salaries paid by the PPP to thousands of party hacks.

This has created another small cabal of wealthy, using taxpayers’ money.

Then there are the thieves who steal the public money and fatten themselves on the backs of the people.

The spending of this small group of crooks and the

corrupt, places significant pressure on the working class man and woman. Because these vagabonds can pay more for a product, they are constantly driving prices up.

When Pradoville mansions with ten bedrooms are being built, it drives up the price for building materials for the family of six building a simple home.

People pressed economically start making immoral decisions and the downward spiral occurs.

Under the PNC, crime and criminality was kept to a petty level except for politically motivated crimes such as the assassination of Walter Rodney. Gun crimes were infrequent but are now a common occurrence.

The drug trade existed under the PNC but was marginal at best. Contraband trading was big business but many viewed it as a moral necessity in the face of food bans.

The drug trade, proceeds from crime and the underground economy are now major centrepieces of Guyana’s economy under the PPP. The fact that the drug trade continues untouched under the PPP suggests the party sees the drug trade and the criminal economy as vital to the country’s economy.

One may argue the VAT was instituted to tax the spending of illegal wealth in Guyana. The PNC did not have a similar tax imposed on the proceeds of contraband trafficking.

In fact, contraband trafficking and smuggling under the PPP is much larger than it was under the PNC. The evidence of inaction against drug cartels points to the PPP strategically deciding to make the proceeds from drug trafficking and the underground economy a Continued on page 7

From page 5 opportunity to return it to a relative or it would be dumped in the garbage. When I arrived I had two rolls of scotch tape from JFK in my hand luggage without objection.

I was returning with the unused portion of the second one which was seized as a prohibited item. I would have been happier to voluntarily surrender that item if that screener honestly needed it. (b) I am equipped with a medical device which prevents me from passing under any electronic scanning device. The verbal request has never been a problem, and the surgical marks are distinctly visible on

my chest. A card is carried in my wallet which was over at the scanner showing the type of device implanted in case of emergency.

An officer (inspector or superintendent) who overheard my request wanted to know if I was carrying a letter. I ignored the comment because I knew I had the card, and I was already upset that there were male representatives there, but still this lone supernumerary lance corporal was doing all body searches (male or female).

When she started to search between my legs, I was wondering if the way she was conducting it was indeed the

best way. I have no criminal record from Guyana, or the US, and never felt the embarrassment of being body searched by a female.

I am left to wonder why we should be pioneers in violating the rights of our own citizens. I could not afford to miss my flight, so I had no alternative but to comply.

I hope that this gender situation is addressed by the authorities so that visitors do not have to seek redress for this unpleasant administrative blunder, or avoid visits due to this harassing situation.

The male counterpart laughed while I protested.

Abraham Baird

Body searches at Cheddi Jagan...

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

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

Crime and criminality under the PNC and the PPP From page 6 facet of its economic policy.

The fact that the PPP refused to allow the DEA and the British entry to Guyana to fight the drug scourge and its denial of serious external help, strongly indicates the PPP sought to profit from the economic spinoffs of the drug trade.

Like every other jumbie and voodoo economic miscalculation of the PPP, this one backfired. Guyana grew 3.54% per annum under the PPP and 2.23% under Jagdeo, under whose rule the drug trade flourished in Guyana.

There was far greater annual growth in Guyana under Cheddi Jagan when the drug trade was in its infancy.

It was a shameless, gutless and intellectually backward decision to refuse to crush the menace of the drug trade when the opportunity presented itself.

Today, the drug trade benefits

only a few who control it and those who are bribed by it.

The PNC had the same moral and economic dilemma as the PPP. During the heyday of the drug trade in the 1980s, where drug cartels made their most profits, the PNC could have allowed this scourge to take root to reap the economic spinoffs. But for all its skulduggery and wrongdoing, the PNC refused to take this step.

Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte were patriotic enough to know the price of social devastation from encouraging criminal cartels and drug networks.

They knew that drug cartels do not benefit a nation.

They benefit the few leaders of that cartel and the corrupt who feed off of them. Corruption under the PPP dwarfs the stealing by

From page 5 fingers and then released her.

While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around a placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown’s body and began pushing him away, Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet causing seven contusions.... “ Chris Brown, like many of the men who brutalise women in Guyana, did not do any jail time for this action. The Judge at his hearing reportedly said “I want Mr. Brown to be treated the same as any other defendant who would come into this court. That means something like Caltrans [trash pickup] or graffiti removal and a two-week domestic violence programme.”

In Guyana, the Government and the Private Sector cannot provide funding to sustain the domestic violence programmes needed to rehabilitate men like Chris Brown. It appears that the

Government of Guyana and the Private Sector and many of the fans of Chris Brown want us to forgive Chris Brown for this mistake. This is what many survivors of domestic violence are told.

Forgive the abuser. Many times the survivors do so, over and over and over again, and often to their peril.

Is there any kind of redemption to be had? The Government of Guyana, Chris Brown and the Private Sector must donate all of the proceeds, and Chris Brown double his fees to the work being done in Guyana against domestic violence.

And Chris Brown should spend time in jail in Guyana, with the men who have made similar ‘mistakes’ and brutalised the women they have loved.

Chris Brown should work with the men to learn about the behaviour and attitude change needed for recovery.

All of this of course, is assuming that Chris Brown has changed.

Vidyaratha Kissoon

Promoting tourism by...

the PNC. The PPP is showing us what thieving and bribery really is.

A bribe for a soft drink and a tennis roll or a small pittance to feed the family for a day in the PNC days is now a demand for millions, a car, a house and school fees for an entire y e a r f o r t h e c r o o k ’s children. When men stole under the PNC to fix the leaking roof of their existing house or their fences, men today under the PPP are stealing enough to build several mega-mansions.

The scale of corruption and pilfering under the PPP is alarmingly outlandish. These are men with the impunity and unchecked greed.

There is far more money collected from tax revenues available to the bandits within the PPP. It is evident that both the PNC and the PPP created criminal states or nations wracked by criminality. But the criminality and crime has attained a catastrophic scale under the PPP. Guyana is a narco-state.

For all their wrongs, Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham knew when to draw

that line in the sand.

For all their flaws and there are many, these men knew that some things simply could not ever be allowed to set foot upon the country of their birth and the land of their political sacrifices.

They may have loved power and worshipped foreign ideologies and run dictatorships, but they knew when nation trumped everything else.

These were men who were wrong on many things, but right on a few things that matter.

The prospect of economic

prosperity from drug trafficking at enormous cost to the nation was not an option to these men. They preferred a life of poverty, free of drug cartel-created crime, than a life of illicit wealth created by a poisonous substance that filled the nation with crime, fear and the rawness of blood spilling.

Drug cartels and crime networks are run by a few for the benefit of a few. Wherever the drug trade blooms, death, crime and inequality take off.

This is the deathly legacy of the PPP. M. Maxwell

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Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

Mash 2013 launched with calls for more support Main Street was a buzz of activities yesterday as the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport launched Mashramani 2013.

Wi t h a v e r y v i s i b l e police presence in the vicinity of the Culture M i n i s t r y, t h e l a u n c h offered a glimpse of the highly anticipated celebration which is intended to mark Guyana’s 43rd Republic Anniversary on February 23 next year.

Spectators were treated to a programme of activities which entailed dances, drumming, singing and even a book launch all seeking to remind and at the same time highlight the intrigues of the event. The launch also entailed the unveiling of the Mashramani logo by Minister of Culture, Youth a n d S p o r t , D r. F r a n k Anthony, who alluded to the event as the largest festival on these shores.

According to him the event is one that should always seek to promote Guyana’s pride and patriotism even as he spoke of the Mashramani parade as one which usually attracts in excess of 100,000 spectators.

“This is perhaps the largest festival that really

brings out Guyana’s creativity...We are celebrating our creativity something that we must support,” the minister added. Referring to Guyana as a geographical extravaganza, Captain Gerald Gouveia, speaking in the capacity of member of the Private Sector Commission, said that there is an earnest need for the private sector to do more to support the national celebration.

“In my opinion the private sector is not doing enough. I think that this launch should encourage the private sector to get more involved...It needs all of us...”

According to him the launch of Mashramani is symbolic. He said that such occasions are about unifying Guyana. “Mash is about celebration...it is about showcasing Guyana...our diversity, and it is about economics,” said Gouveia as he made the call for the celebration of Mash to take on a new approach by incorporating the involvement of other countries.

Yesterday’s launch also saw Al Creighton launching his publication ‘Mash— its origin and development’ which seeks to not only detail the origin of Mashramani but also its history and development over the years.

The National Dance Company and National School of Dance give a vibrant performance.

He said that during his research for the book it became evident that there is an absence of documented materials on Mash.

In fact, it was the lack of

materials that spurred his enthusiasm to find out more about Mash. He was tasked with handing over a copy of his publication, which was completed in time for the

launch to Minister Anthony, and a number of other notable individuals.

The launch was chaired by well known broadcaster, Mrs. Michella Abraham-Ali, who

was positioned on a platform decorated with representations of mannequins who were tasked with representing the various bird species of Guyana.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 9

THE NON-APPOINTMENT OF THE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT COMMISSION MAY BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE The Procurement Commission is in deep freeze. It cannot be defrosted because its activation requires the support of two-thirds of the elected members of the National Assembly, something that cannot be achieved in the existing political environment.

Perhaps had the political parties in the National Assembly not been as obsessed with control, the new dispensation that was achieved on November 28 last, could have led to agreement in appointing the members of the Procurement Commission. However, the opposition has spurned and wasted the opportunity to have political accommodation with the government. Excited and carried away by having achieved the near impossible, a one-seat majority in the National Assembly, the opposition became obsessed with demonstrating the power of its

majority of one and with flexing political muscles. It has failed to be reasonable and has consistently tried to outmuscle the government both within and outside the parliament. The political aggression shown by the opposition has effectively neutralized any prospects of political cooperation.

The two sides are geared and ready for another round of combat when the new parliament convenes. Already the exchanges between the opposition and the government have been extremely hostile.

There is no basis for political accommodation and once there is no basis for this then the Procurement Commission cannot be activated.

The Procurement Commission is established by Article 212 WW of the Constitution of Guyana. The stated purpose of the Commission is to monitor public

Dem boys seh...

Nothing does hide fuh long Guyana full of secrecy especially in de area of thiefing. Dem had a field day plus year wid secrecy at de Tender Board. Some of dem who deh pun de Tender Board believe in secrecy till dem stop reporters from tekking out dem photo. Dem use to hide and duck.

There was Donald DeClou.

Is only de other day dem boys from de Waterfalls papers manage fuh get he photo. Is only when dem force he to go to Hen See Hen fuh a debate that dem boys manage fuh get he photo.

Bobby Ramroop use to hide from de camera. But dem boys manage fuh get he own nuff time because as dem seh, you can run but you can’t hide.

De tender bids use to be secret till de Waterfalls paper decide fuh watch every single tender. Is suh a lot of things start fuh skin up and shame some

people. De public never had a chance fuh know how some people use to bid.

That same visit to de Tender Board mek dem boys know bout de bid fuh de malaria drugs but that is another story.

Dem boys seh that nuff deals mek in secret. Property sell in secret. A man sell Ministry of Home Affairs vehicle and he use de money in secret. He deh in court in public though because de secret come out.

Jagdeo use to lef de country in secret and people only use to know when he come back.

Sanata complex sell in secret too and is only when de Waterfalls paper find out that de country know that instead of a portion Ramroop end up wid all.

More things gun come out because wha happen in darkness does come to light.

Talk half and wait fuh de secret to buss out.

procurement and the procedures of procurement in order to ensure that the purchasing of goods and services and the execution of works are carried out in a fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective manner and with due regard to the laws of the country.

The functions of the Commission as provided for under the Constitution includes the monitoring and review of the procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with the laws, the approval of the procedures for public procurement and the dissemination of such information, the power to recommend modification of these procedures, the power to investigate complaints from suppliers, contractors and public entities and the power to initiate investigations to facilitate the effective functioning of public procurement. The Constitution also provides for laws to make provision for other functions of the Commission. If this

Commission ever comes into being it will end up being a superbureaucracy, especially in relation to the large number of value of contracts awarded by the government at central, ministerial and local government levels. It will require hundreds of employees to be effective and its Budget is going to be in the long run, unsustainable.

Guyana can do without such a monstrous bureaucracy and it may thus be a blessing in disguise that the Constitution virtually makes it impossible at this stage for the Procurement Commission to be activated.

Article 212 X of the Constitution provides that the Commission should consist of five members experienced and with expertise in procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters. These five members are appointed by the President after they have been nominated by the Public Accounts Committee and approved by not less than twothirds of the elected members of

the National Assembly.

This is where the problem arises. Finding five members with the requisite qualifications should not be difficult, but finding five persons who will find approval of two-thirds of the National Assembly is a near impossibility, not given the confrontational political climate that presently exists.

In effect, the constitution demands that in order to appoint the Procurement Commission what is needed is the same majority that is required to change certain provisions of the Constitution. There is however no vacuum created. In the absence of the Procurement Commission, the law makes provision for the operation of a National Procurement Board which reports to the Minister of Finance. There is no reason why this body cannot be improved upon. There is no reason why fairness, greater equity, competiveness and value for money cannot be improved under the National Procurement

Board. But that requires strong leadership and it is up to the government to ensure that the system attracts greater public confidence.

Instead, therefore, of having half measures and occasional initiatives to improve the operations of the National Procurement Board, the President should give serious consideration to revamping the members of the Board and appointing persons so as to allow this body which is supposed to be interim body to enjoy greater confidence.

In fact, instead of being an interim body, this Procurement Board will most likely be with us for many, many years to come since the constitutional requirements to bring into being the National Procurement Commission will not be achieved given the fractious political environment that exists.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Karrau murder accused makes court appearance Twenty-eight-year-old goldminer, Eon La Cruz, of Mahdia, Region Eight, appeared in the Bartica Magistrate’s Court yesterday to have the indictable charge of murder read to him by presiding Magistrate Mr. Haywant Ramdhani.

On Tuesday October16, last, he allegedly murdered 32year-old goldminer Gregory Thomas at Karrau Village, Essequibo River.

Defence Counsel Melvin Duke, for the defendant, beseeched the Court for an early Preliminary Inquiry He argued that the matter is just an allegation and involves very peculiar circumstances.

The defence position is that there was a rush to judgment and the accused was arrested

prematurely.

He argued that there were others who were part and parcel with the investigations and those persons were released on bail.

He also stated that there are no eyewitnesses, no recovered weapon, and that the investigations are still ongoing into the matter.

Police P r o s e c u t o r, Inspector Dineshwar Nauth, then submitted to the Court, that the file on the matter is still with the Director of Public Prosecutions and that the Post Mortem result is still yet to be submitted to the Court.

The matter has been adjourned to November 30.

(Edward A Persaud)

Linden Commission of Inquiry ….

Photographer fails to identify shooter Three more witnesses took to the stand yesterday as the Linden Commission of Inquiry continued yesterday.

Ronald Lewis, a driver, yesterday, recalled going to Linden on July 18. He detailed the sequence of events. He told the commission that he took a series of photos showing what transpired on July 18.

Attorney at law Peter Hugh, who is representing the police, suggested that Lewis took approximately 250 photographs. The witness admitted that he took the photos from earlier in the day of July 18. The lawyer suggested to the witness that a sequence of photos was missing. Lewis said he knew

nothing of that.

Hugh then made the submission for the photos to be shown to the witness.

However there was an objection from Basil Williams who argued about the relevance of the pictures being shown to the witness.

The witness also said that he was shot in the leg but did not see the police shoot or the people throw missiles at the officers.

Next was Yolanda Hinds, who was shot in the leg.

According to her she was visiting the Linden Hospital on July 18 when she was shot. She said that she was treated by one Dr. Stevens, but was not given a medical certificate.

Home Affairs Ministry employee on embezzlement charge A Ministry of Home Affairs auctioneer and field auditor was yesterday placed before the court on an embezzlement charge and later released on $200,000 bail.

J e r m a i n e Hermanstein, 36, of 167 Charlotte Street Georgetown pleaded not guilty to the charge

which was read to him by C h i e f Magistrate Priya Sewnarine – Beharry.

The court heard that on March 23, last, Hermanstein, a public servant at the Ministry of Home Affairs, was granted receipt, custody management and control of two motor vehicles PPK 1271 and PMM 9609, both of which

Saturday October 20, 2012

he fraudulently embezzled.

Hermanstein was entrusted to conduct the public sale of the said vehicles.

He allegedly sold them by auction and used the money for his personal benefit.

He was represented by Attorney at Law Michael Somersall who asked that his client be admitted to bail

in an affordable amount.

Somersall told the court that his client is still employed at the Home Affairs Ministry, as such should be granted bail. The prosecution did not object.

His bail is on condition that he lodges his passport and reports to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) once a week.

Hinds further told the commission that she was on 28 days sick leave and upon her return to work she lost some of her benefits. The woman said she has not been paid.

Brian Clarkson was another witness who was called yesterday. His evidence was brief.

He said that a protestor was speaking when the police tried searching the man.

Clarkson said that he rebuked the police for the way they treated the man, further inquiring if the force didn’t teach them psychology. He said that the police said that they needed to protect themselves.

Kenneth Chance, a member of the “Justice for Jermaine” committee was another witness called.

Chance told the commission that he was lucky that he was not shot since the police fired indiscriminately on July 18. He said that he had travelled to the mining town to lend support to the residents.

On the last occasion two wounded Lindeners testified that they saw police ranks shooting at protestors who had gathered on or near the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge on July 18 when three civilians

were slain.

One of the witnesses, 34year-old mother of three, Alieshaw Barker, told the Commission that she managed to take two small children to safety even though she had been shot in both legs. She testified that she saw a man collapse on the bridge from gunshot wounds and that he appeared to be dead.

The other witness, Linden miner Michael Roberts, recounted fleeing towards the Linmine compound and being shot in the face shortly after.

He also alleged that he saw a man collapse in the compound and later learned that the victim wasAllan Lewis, one of the slain Lindeners.

The two witnesses stuck to their statements that they saw police ranks shooting at the protestors, despite being subjected to intense grilling by attorney-at-law Peter Hugh, who is representing the Guyana Police Force.

APNU parliamentarian and attorney-at-law Basil Williams is representing Barker and Roberts, who are seeking compensation for their injuries. They both insisted that they were not participating in the protest when they were shot.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Coleen Sparman is admitted to the Bar Coleen Kimberly Andrea Sparman was on Monday admitted to the local Bar to practise as an Attorney-at-law.

She was admitted by Justice William Ramlal.

The 25-year-old former Queen’s College student participated in several extra and co-curricular activities, including a Bible Club.

After graduating from High School in 2005, Sparman, proceeded to the University of Guyana, where in 2007, she obtained a distinction in a Diploma in Social Work.

During that same year, Sparman commenced her legal studies at the University of Guyana. She graduated in 2010 with the Bachelor of Laws degree with credit.

That year saw young Sparman being admitted to the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), in Trinidad where she did her service training at the Law Firm of Allicock, Allicock and Dodson. She later graduated in 2012 with the Legal Education Certificate, on September 7.

During her time at the Hugh Wooding Law School Sparman was also an active advocate for a Child Specialist Clinic.

Petition for Miss Sparman to be admitted to the Bar was presented by Miss Emily

Page 11

Schoolboy murder accused for High Court Akeem Roberts who was indicted for the murder of Shane George earlier this year has been committed to stand trial in the next session of the Demerara Criminal assizes at the Supreme Court by Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty.

The Magistrate made the ruling yesterday and closed the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) a g a i n s t the 18-year-old accused.

Roberts’ Attorney Mark Waldron told the court that the issue of self defense is presented in case as the two parties involved had been engaged in a fight. However the lawyer said that he accepts the Magistrate’s ruling.

The Magistrate also told the accused that due to the nature of the offence he will not be admitted to bail.

Roberts was 17-years-old

The new Attorneys-at-Law who were admitted to the local Bar during this week. At center is Ms. Sparman.

Dodson, along with Mr. Shaun Allicock of the law Allicock and Allicock and Dodson law firm.

Born in Linden on June 2, 1987, Sparman is the daughter of a mining engineer employed as the

Administrative Coordinator of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Mining Association; her mother is a housewife.

After being admitted to t h e B a r, M s . S p a r m a n thanked Justice Ramlal who

advised that her conduct always be professional. She thanked her parents who have guided her, and her colleagues for their cooperation.

She also promised to live up to everyone’s expectations.

when he allegedly stabbed his classmate, a St. George’s High School student Shane George several times about the body.

George of 144 Jasmine Lane, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The stabbing reportedly occurred in front of the Morgan Learning Centre in John Street and Stone Avenue, Campbellville.

The suspect (Roberts) was nabbed at the scene by police with what was described by witnesses as a “long kitchen knife” The incident reportedly stemmed from an argument over “brand name clothes”.

The two students were scheduled to write the upcoming Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Scores bid final farewell to Vic Puran

Pall bearers carrying the remains of Lawyer Vic Puran after viewing at his home.

Attorney-at-Law Vic Puran was yesterday cremated at the Good Hope Crematorium following a funeral service at the Merriman’s Funeral Home and a viewing at his home.

Dozens from the local legal arena turned up to pay their last respects to one who was considered one of Guyana’s leading criminal lawyers.

Puran was found dead in his Toyota Tundra about 06:45 hours on Tuesday at

Esau and Jacob, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

Puran’s vehicle was spotted, partly submerged in a canal, by a farmer who was making his way to his farmlands.

It is believed that Puran lost control of his vehicle and ended up in the trench sometime between 18:00 hours and 19:00 hours on Monday.

One resident told this publication that the man who made the discovery noticed

that there were skid marks on a turn and there were signs of a vehicular mishap.

Further checks revealed that a vehicle was in the canal.

It was only after a tractor operator pulled the vehicle from the trench that persons discovered Puran’s lifeless body.

The lawyer was pulled from his vehicle (rigor mortis had already set in) with all of his valuables intact.

The dead man’s close friend and colleague, Glenn

Hanoman, told this publication that Puran, left his home at around 17:20 hours on Monday for his routine run to his pig farm at Mahaicony.

Residents also said they saw Puran passing in the area as he normally would every other day, but he did not pass out. Puran last spoke to his wife around 18:00 hours. They had made plans to celebrate his birthday later Monday evening.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Guyana, Cuba sign agreements for more health workers, sports collaboration Guyana and Cuba yesterday signed agreements that will see cooperation in the areas of sports and education and continuing collaboration in health.

A team led by President Donald Ramotar is on an official visit there since Wednesday.

According to Cuba’s Prensa Latina news website, the health agreement deepens the Cuban collaboration with the South American country of Guyana in the matter of medical attention in the primary and secondary levels, as well as the support in the training of professionals.

Regarding the sports sector, the agreement looks for collaboration with technical assistance in physical education. Cuba is wellknown for its prowess in the field of sports worldwide.

Georgetown and Havana also signed an agreement to waive certain categories of visas, “for the sake of facilitating the trips of holders of those documents”.

Signing on behalf of Guyana was Foreign Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett,

while her Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez; the Minister of Public Health, Roberto Morales, and the President of the National Institute of Deportes, Physical Education and Recreation, Cristián Jimenez, represented their various portfolios on behalf of Cuba.

Cuba and Guyana maintain cooperation links in sectors including public health, education, culture and sport.

More than 1, 200 Cuban medical professionals have served in Guyana under past agreements.

As part of the “Vision Now Operation”, and before the creation of the National Center of Ophthalmology of Port Mourant, Berbice, more than one 1,000 Guyanese patients with eye problems were operated on here.

Four diagnostic centres now exist in Guyana with 175 Cubans, including doctors, nurses and technicians, working.

Regarding the educational sector, more than 550 Guyanese students have graduated there. The president has met with Guyanese students in Cuba.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 13

Chaos at L’ Aventure Secondary School ...

Six armed teenage boys attack students, one injured A gang of teenage boys armed with glass bottles, cutlasses and knives attacked the L’ Aventure Secondary School, Canal Number One, early yesterday morning forcing students to flee the school. One student, supposedly one of the targets, received stab wounds to his left hand.

Apparently, the brazen attack was aimed at some Fifth Form boys who had delivered a sound trashing to a Fourth Form boy on Thursday afternoon while school was in session.

A c c o r d i n g to some students, a little after 09:00 hrs yesterday six teenage boys among them two Fourth Form students of the L’ Aventure Secondary School stationed themselves on the playfield behind the school and hurled bottles at the building.

The boys eventually entered the school compound by jumping the back fence.

They surrounded the Home Economics Department where their target was and began throwing bottles at and inside

the room.

Information is hazy as to how the attackers were able to come into contact with the students but this publication was told that one boy was stabbed several times on his left hand.

Though, the ordeal lasted for over one hour the police arrived late at the scene. The attackers had already escaped in a white car that was parked on the public road.

Students who were fearful for their lives fled the school.

Those who were on the Public Road waiting for public transportation were placed in minibuses by the police.

According to an observer, violent incidents involving students at the s c h o o l hav e i n c r e a s e d significantly over the past s e v e r a l m o n t h s . Almost daily, teachers have to part fights; on Thursday last there were at least four fights.

The observer emphasized that previously, students of the school were well behaved. The moral

breakdown started months ago with new entrants who were transferred from Georgetown schools.

“Their parents get houses in Dairy and La Parfaite Harmonie and they get transfer to this school and they bad behave. Is like their parents can’t control them;

even the teachers can’t control them. One of the boys who attacked the school does cuss up them teachers,” the observer said.

The observer related that the school does not have a security guard.

The observer is unaware if the school’s administration

ever reported the constant violent attacks to the Education Ministry.

During a brief encounter with the head teacher this publication was told that there was no disturbance at the institution yesterday.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand said that she is

awaiting a report of the incident from the Regional Education Office and advised that all questions should be posed at that office. When this publication contacted the office, the Regional Education Officer was not in Office and the Schools Welfare officer refused to comment.

Page 14

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

$20.8M mis-spent on water cannon - AFC

By Abena Rockcliffe In light of recent pirate attacks on Guyanese fishermen, the Alliance For Change has expressed concern about the lack of adequate protection offered to the persons who ply this trade.

The party stated that the government is simply not doing enough to protect those “who risk their lives at sea.”

AFC member, Beverly Alert, who delivered the party’s positio n o n t h e issue, stated that instead of the purchase of a $17M luxury boat and $37M water cannon “that can only wash away fleas,” the government should ensure that the money allocated to the police force is spent on motor patrol boats that can protect fishermen.

$20.8M Water Cannon

Alert said that it was only when the media revealed information pertaining to the boat purchase; that the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, “in attempting to cover up the matter,” passed orders for the those police ranks responsible for buying the pleasure craft to repay the money to the consolidated Fund.

The party member said that what transpired was fraud and persons ought to have been prosecuted according to the law.

She stated that instead, “there was a whitewash and a few senior ranks got a slap on the wrist.”

Alert added that since the boat was purchased in 2009, only this year the Ministry of Home Affairs admitted that the

vessel was not what ought to have been purchased. “In the meantime many more millions were spent repairing the boat which could never have been put into service.”

This newspaper had quoted the cost of the water cannon as $37M. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs indicated on its website that “…in the year 2010 the sum of $37,000,000 was budgeted for the procurement of a Water C a n n o n f o r t h e Guyana Police Force but the equipment was purchased at an actual cost of $20,800,000.00.”

Alert expressed that the party holds the ideology that continued failure to protect fishermen on the part of the government will result in the loss

$17M luxury boat

of livelihood for many families especially those residing in Essequibo and Corentyne.

“The failure to offer

adequate protection has already resulted in the loss of lives for many fishermen and now the others who make their living by going out to sea are afraid to do so.”

Alert said that she views the government stance on the fishermen and developing the fishing industry as a lot of lip service.

“Every day that fishermen are out at sea, trying to earn a living and to provide for their families, is a day their families spend agonising over whether they will return.

Instead of ensuring the protection of these ordinary people, Government gives us a lot of noise about how the industry is developing.

“The fishing industry cannot really develop when humble fishermen are afraid to go out to sea, when their very lives are in danger if they venture out; they are very likely to lose their boats, engines and seines.”

Alert said, “It is ridiculous that in this modern era, these agencies (Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard and the Guyana Police Force) are not capable of patrolling our waters.

It is even more ridiculous when the government claims to lack the financial resources to equip these two agencies while at the same time it is taking money to invest in a Marriott Hotel and casino and expand the airport in the hope that visitors will use it.”

The party member identified Khemraj Dhanpat, Clifford Singh, Ouditnarine Ramnarine, Mahendra Ompertab and Kenneth Melville as reasons why the government needs to look into the matter.

The bodies of the five fishermen who disappeared while on sea more than a year ago have never been recovered.

Two Guyanese men were placed before the Supreme Court in Paramaribo on murder charges.

Reports are that the accused men confessed that they smoked psychoactive drugs before attacking the fishing crew at nighttime.

The two alleged the participation of three other Guyanese men also from the Corentyne as accomplices.

The men are expected to return to court today as the trial continues. The stripped vessel was recovered on a mudflat in Suriname.

This newspaper understands that the two men confessed to killing Khemraj Dhanpat called ‘Manohar’ or ‘Rajin’ (boat captain), his brother Narine Dhanpat called ‘Shrimp’, Ouditnarine Ramnarine, all of Number 64 village; Clifford Singh of Number 62 Village and Suresh Martin.

The five were reportedly attacked while operating a vessel owned by Guyanese Gajadar Bisnauth.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

La Parfaite Harmonie $29.5M multi- purpose centre useless - “ …they have not even put a security to look at that place,” resident

The $29.5M multi-purpose centre

The $29.5M multi-purpose centre at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, which was set up to promote social cohesion among residents, is presently resting idle.

The centre, which was launched sometime last year, is a Ministry of Housing and Water project. It is situated in Westminster, La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme.

There are reports that the centre has not been in operation since it was opened because there is corruption in the management committee, which was assigned to

organize suitable activities for the benefits of residents.

During a recent visit at the area, angry residents disclosed that the centre is not serving its purpose. “It was build so that children will go there after school and play, but they are not allowing anyone to enter the place,” a resident, Geeta Mohabir, commented.

Another resident who asked not to be named said that no event has been held in the centre since its completion. “What is the sense they making things and

then putting a big lock on it,” the resident questioned.

Currently, huge and overgrown bushes towered the fence and there is not one security guard designated to overlook the multi-million dollar facility.

“They spend taxpayer’s money to build that and they have not even put a security to look at that place. All they have is a lock. What can that do? If somebody go in and break the lock and thief, they will waste money again to go buy back,” a resident, Azaad (continued on page 20)

Cops killed in Paramakatoi…

Bodies bore several gun shot wounds - Post Mortem reveals Post mortem examinations done on the remains of Police Lance Corporal Marlon Letlow and Constable Leedon Aaron revealed that they both sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

The post mortems were done yesterday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary by Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh.

The bodies of Constables Marlon Letlow and Leedon Aaron, were flown to the city on Thursday. Aaron’s body was burnt almost beyond recognition.

This publication was told that the two policemen were victims of retaliation from miners whose camp they had attempted to rob on Sunday.

Sources say that from all indications the men were fleeing from their attackers.

Both of them appeared to have been shot in the back.

Reports are that the men went out on a routine patrol since Sunday and were returning to the Police Station when they were attacked.

Aaron’s remains were found around 16:00 hours on Wednesday at Paramakatoi, North Pakaraimas, a short distance from the crashed AllTerrain Vehicle (ATV) that they had been using. His .38 service revolver has not been recovered.

Letlow’s remains were found in a clump of bushes several hours later with his weapon, and a magazine with eight live rounds, close by. His body bore at least two gunshot wounds and other marks of violence.

Eight spent shells matching the ones his weapon uses and one spent 12 gauge shotgun cartridge were reportedly found at the scene.

According to reports, Aaron was riding the ATV when the incident occurred.

Reports are that the two cops were confronted by their intended victims who sought to defend themselves.

A reliable source has informed this newspaper that from all indications, Aaron received the first gunshot and

lost control of the ATV, hurling Letlow, who was also mortally wounded, into a nearby clump of bushes where he was eventually left to die.

The badly injured Aaron was subsequently tied to a tree and set afire. The attackers apparently did not know that the two men were policemen, since they were both wearing civilian clothes at the time.

Police in a press release stated that Constable Marlon Letlow was recently reinstated into the Police Force—on August 6, 2012. He had been interdicted from duty after being charged criminally following investigations into the robbery and murder of two gold miners at Bartica on September 05, 2010.

Constable Letlow was initially charged with “accessory after the fact”, a charge that was subsequently withdrawn and a charge of “receiving stolen property” instituted. This matter was dismissed by the court on May 15, last.

Page 15

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

COI findings revealing says Cabinet Secretary The Commission of Inquiry into the July 18, 2012, shootings, which left three Lindeners dead, has already proven to be very revealing.

According to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, “so far this process has confounded many who by their utterances, actions and positions have showed their disregard for process.”

Dr. Luncheon said that the COI was established with a view to ensuring that there was a well ordered process in the quest of clarifying matters of importance. “This Commission of Inquiry is about process...the Chairman

said from its inception we will be exclusively considering evidence...,”Dr.Luncheon recalled.

He noted, too, that so far the hearings have unveiled much clarity, much truth and has unearthed enormous conflict among those who have taken premature and oftentimes violent positions.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, “clarity is being provided removing exaggerations and doubts, and positions and reputations have been discredited.” In fact, he insisted that “the way things are going many more must fall,” even as he considered that the process is

just about two weeks old.

Cabinet, Dr. Luncheon said, continued to insist that the disclosures of the Commission of Inquiry should definitely resolve many issues that have otherwise been “hijacked by the utterances/ behaviours of the anarchists, demagogues and the opportunists of many strips who are in our midst.”

The July 18 Commission of Inquiry which commenced last month has Justice Lensley Wolfe, Senior Counsel K.D. Knight, Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, Justice Cecil Kennard CCH, and Justice Claudette Singh, CCH as its commissioners.

Corriverton man alleges CPG ranks beat him in face An altercation between Community Policing Group (CPG) ranks and the 27-yearold son of a popular Corriverton businessman resulted in the man sustaining an injury to his face.

The young man is also alleging poor response for treatment by a doctor on call later that evening at the Skeldon Hospital.

Ulric Ramkishun, of 105 Queenstown, Corriverton was driving out of the Queenstown road on Saturday around 18:30 hours when his vehicle was stopped for a routine check by CPG members. One female rank (name given) approached the vehicle and asked him if he “was drunk”. The boy responded in the negative and an argument ensued.

The rank became agitated by the response and allegedly dealt the boy several blows to his face. She also allegedly tried to pull the boy out of the vehicle, with the help of other officers.

He also alleged that a “plain clothes cop” came out of another CPG vehicle and dealt him several slaps. The young man said that while leaving the scene he discovered blood running down his face and immediately

The beaten face of Ulric Ramkishun reported to the Springlands Police Station. The officers promised “to investigate the matter”.

He along with his father, Eric, then visited the Skeldon Hospital where they requested immediate attention. “When my son

Rape accused arrested A man who was released on bail several months ago, after he was previously charged with rape of a pastor, has been implicated in a second rape, this time involving a 58-year-old woman at Hampton-Court.

The 52-year-old Hampton Court resident was arrested by police on Thursday.

The man was previously remanded on the initial rape charge but appealed to the High Court and was released on substantial bail. Police were previously relying on a positive identity to match a finger print in order to make an arrest.

Early Friday morning last the victim of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, said that she was alerted to strange sounds in her house. At first she thought that she was hearing a rat at work but as she got up to investigate, she said she was confronted by a man who carried two cutlasses and a knife.

The intruder had apparently ransacked her house and then proceeded to rape her.

After the rape the woman said that she related the incident to her neighbours who in turn informed the police.

approached the doctor, and he told her what was wrong with him, she said that she was hungry and did not have time to tend to him and that he had to wait”. “When he asked her when she was coming back, she said that she does not know”.

The family visited the hospital once again several hours later and the doctor allegedly told the victim that he had to wait a bit longer “because he is not seriously injured and it was not an emergency. My son kept complaining, he became angry and started to complain louder.

The doctor allegedly told him that she would not treat him if he continued to behave in that manner and the family left the hospital and visited a private medical doctor in the area.

Efforts to contact Dr. Artie Sharma of the Skeldon Hospital, for a comment, proved futile. Efforts, too, to solicit a comment from the Station Sergeant of the Springlands Police Station were similarly unsuccessful.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 17

CARICOM alarmed over high food import bill Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) was formally opened on Wednesday with a chorus of calls for coordinated efforts to firmly tackle the huge food import bill and ensure food security in the Region.

The calls were made at the ceremony at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, St. John’s, Antigua.

The Eleventh CWA, which concluded yesterday following a special meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), is being held under the theme ‘Celebrating Youth and Gender in Caribbean Agriculture, Each Endeavouring, All Achieving’.

Delivering the feature address at the Eleventh CWA at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St. John’s, Antigua, Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, referred to the high food import bill and stressed that the Region’s people had to adjust the way they lived in order to reduce that cost, according to a CARICOM release.

“Trends in food producing nations, for example, suggest that we would need to produce considerably more to meet the demands of a fastgrowing population. Recent analyses and estimates indicate that about one billion people throughout the world are suffering from chronic hunger and malnutrition,” Prime Minister Spencer said and pointed out that given the current rate of population growth, world food

- backs regional coordination to ramp up production production needed to increase significantly.

The situation, he said, was exacerbated by issues such as climate change, increased prices for food and inputs, natural disasters, and dwindling resources. Food and nutrition security therefore was one of the more critical concerns for everyone, the Prime Minister said.

GUYANA/TRINIDAD He added that it was necessary for the region to produce considerably more than it was currently doing to meet the demands of a fastgrowing populace Food security, he told the sizeable audience, was critical to “all of us”, and added that “we cannot stop producing food”.

For Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional approach to agriculture production was “the obvious solution to addressing our high food import bill and our food and nutrition security”.

“More of our governments are coming forward with concrete programmes aimed at increasing agricultural output.

More recently, we heard of the initiative by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to launch a Food Security Facility, the aim being to utilize

land available in Guyana to produce a range of food crops.

This is a prime example of what can be done to collectively use the Region’s resources to engage in production integration and to increase the Region’s food supply,” he said at the opening ceremony.

He pointed out that while it was not feasible to produce all our food, it was crucial to target those categories of food imports that could profitably be produced in the Region.

“A large segment of these imports go directly into tourism and the growing fast food sector. This is one area that we should be able to target, but it requires that we arm ourselves with detailed information on the products involved, the form in which they are imported and the cost factors that have to be addressed,” the SecretaryGeneral said.

MORE GROUND PROVISIONS He alluded to the “encouraging signs” of progress in penetrating the tourism and fast food industries, particularly in products like poultry, and pointed out that there was also scope to introduce more root crops into those sectors “…but to do that

The region’s food import bill is too high and Caribbean countries will have to collaborate to reduce the costs, CARICOM says. successfully, we have to develop the capacity to produce and package this product and provide them in exactly the form in which they are required,” Ambassador LaRocque said.

At the special COTED meeting, agriculture ministers will consider a draft plan of action for strengthening the linkages between agriculture and tourism, and the Secretary-General expressed the hope that it would be the start of a more intensified regional approach to ensuring that the agricultural sector benefitted to the maximum extent from the significant annual tourism expenditure.

“The fact is,” he pointed out, “that agriculture is a business much like any other.

If it is profitable and dynamic

it will attract new entrants.

Our challenge then, is to provide the supportive infrastructure and information that will assist those in the sector, and those wishing to enter, to operate on a profitable basis.”

Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Dr. Richard Harrison, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) who endorsed the call for all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to work together in a focused fashion.

The opening ceremony was also addressed by Mr. Michael Hailu, Director at the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation; Dr. Victor

Villalobos, Director-General, Inter, American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); Dr. Raul Benitez, Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for LatinAmerica and the Caribbean, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

With approximately 16 million inhabitants in its 15 member states, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has an annual food import bill of more than US$4 billion.

And with the exception of Guyana, Belize, and St Kitts and Nevis in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, no country has the required land mass to achieve 100 percent food security, according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization study.

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

Immigration TALK: Questions & Answers Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. Many of you have questions on backlog time and eligibility – we seek to clarify these issues and more.

We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com.

Question #1: M y grandmother had filed a petition in 2010 for my mother and myself. Her papers were filed as single. I am now 20 years and would like to know how long will the sponsorship take and will I be able to go. I have heard persons who are over age 21 cannot travel with their families. Is that true?

Answer #1: If your grandmother is a U.S. citizen then visas being issued for petitions filed on or before May 2005, so your mother has a five-year wait. If your grandmother is a permanent resident then the visa is being issued for petitions filed on or before February 2004, so your mother would have a six-year wait.

Since you will be over age 21 when the visa is available, you may not be eligible for the visa with your mother.

However, at the time the visa is available, you should speak with our office to see if you are eligible for the visa under

the Child Status Protection Act. The Child Status Protection Act is a law that allows children who are over age 21 to still get an immigrant visas if certain conditions are met.

Question #2: My mother is a U.S. citizen. She filed for my wife and me in 2008 as F3 preference. How much longer do we have to wait because my eldest child will be 21yrs old next year?

Answer #2: According to May 2012 visa bulletin, visas are being issued for F-3 petitions filed on or before March 2002. So, you and your wife have about a six-year wait.

See answer to Question #1 for the age-out issue relating to your child being over age 21.

Question #3: I have a question, my husband has been sponsor by his parents and five years is up for his parents over there, how long more will he have to wait? Also I am married to him but not legally and as well have a child for him. Will I get to go with him at the same time?

Answer #3: T h e parents are probably permanent residents and they can only file for an unmarried child. If the parents become U.S. citizens then they can file for a married child. He can only marry you once his parents are U.S. citizens. If you are not legally married,

Gail S. Seeram then you cannot come with him.

Question #4: I saw your column in the newspaper and love reading it. I have a question and I hope you can help me. My grandfather filed in 2005 for my mother and our family and her sisters and family.

He died in 2009 then my uncle (my mother’s brother) took over the sponsorship. One of my aunts is a widow. I was wondering how long more do we have before we can obtain a visa. My grandfather was a US citizen and so is my uncle.

Answer #4: When a petitioner dies the petition is void. I’m assuming your uncle filed for reinstatement and it was approved. Reinstatement can take about one year before getting a decision. The petition keeps the original priority date - so 2005 would be the priority date for F-3 preference. Right now, visas are being issued for F-3 preference for petitions filed on or before March 2002. So, assuming reinstatement, you have about a three-year wait.

Soesdyke children murder PI…

Wife continues to testify Yesterday the Preliminary Inquiry into the John Blanchard murder case continued at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

The matter is being heard

by Magistrate Leslie Sobers.

The wife of the accused, Onica Blanchard, took to the witness stand and continued giving her evidence. Mrs. Blanchard was led in her evidence by Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels.

As the woman was being led, her husband burst into tears in the docks and appeared agitated as the woman started recollecting what transpired on that dreadful night. The police were summoned into the court and asked to separate

Blanchard who was handcuffed to another prisoner. Blanchard was then handcuffed to the dock when he became even more agitated as his wife continued her testimony in a very graphic manner.

However because of time, Mrs. Blanchard was asked to continue giving her evidence at a later date. The matter will continue on November 21.

On October 11, 2011, Blanchard was detained for chopping his three young children killing two of the minors, Belika Blanchard and her five-year-old brother Daniel Blanchard, instantly. Six-year-old Joy Blanchard subsequently succumbed to her injuries at

the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The family resided at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, and according to persons, at the time of the incident, the children’s mother had left for the interior. It is alleged that the chopping incident stemmed from a phone conversation Blanchard allegedly had with the woman moments before.

Blanchard, who sold clothing to sustain his family, had reportedly been experiencing difficulty with his companion.

The two had allegedly spilt up; with the woman leaving the children behind. It was indicated that Blanchard had sought the support of his younger sister on the night of the incident.

She claimed that Blanchard had tried to contact her but was unable to do so.

The death of the children had sparked nationwide interest and outrage.

Blanchard was attacked twice while in police custody. He was beaten severely by fellow inmates who sought to teach the alleged “child murderer” a lesson.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

Relatives of barmaid convinced she was murdered then thrown overboard

By Leon Suseran The family of a New Amsterdam bar maid, 33-yearold Roxanne Brewster, formerly of Lot 43 Stanleytown, is disturbed with the pace of the investigations into the woman’s mysterious death. They are also convinced that the woman was murdered by the two sailors with whom she was last seen and her body then thrown into the Berbice River.

Brewster left her place of work, Rainbow Bar, around 02:00 hrs on August 23, in the company of two sailors whose vessel, the MV Alexander, was contracted to transport cement from the Caricom Cement Plant, the old Bermine Bauxite Plant, located at Everton, East Bank Berbice.

The sailors (Shane [only name given] and Eon Hubbard, allegedly told police that after “drinking” they had invited the woman to their vessel and it was while crossing the gang plank, that she fell into the river. They claimed that they spent about 15 minutes searching the river in the dark but did not locate Brewster. The captain then made a report.

But the family is not buying that explanation. Some members are saying that even the police “have been bought out”. The sailors were taken in for questioning but were eventually released on $40,000 bail, each, and nothing new

Dead: Roxanne Brewster has ever turned up in the investigations which have been stalled since. This has not resonated well with the woman’s aunt, who has chosen to speak out.

The aunt, Melanie Morris, said that Brewster knew the men. “They dropped her home a couple times, so on this night they offered to drop her home and she left the bar with them and what transpired after, I do not know”, she said.

Morris told Kaieteur News that the Chief Engineer of the MV Alexander telephoned her last Monday and offered $40,000 compensation, on behalf of the sailors. He suggested that the cash can

go towards Brewster’s sevenyear- old son, Jaheim.

She stated that she asked him if he was willing to do a legal document for the cash donation, “and he said ‘no’ and he insisted that the sailors wanted to see me. But I don’t know what are their motives and I did not encourage it [the meeting] and I told him no amount of money can bring back my niece’s life”.

I said I was open for discussion but he said ‘no’.

Anxious for any information the sailors might have been able to provide, she did agree to a meeting which was planned for two days later (last Wednesday). One of the sailors told her that he wants to donate $20,000 “towards the child’s life”, and the other guy wants to donate $20,000.

Morris told him she would ask her pastor if he thought it was a wise idea to meet with them and she subsequently disposed of the idea of meeting them. But Morris wants closure in the matter. “I need to get closure to know what transpired; why her body was floating, because that is what I asked— money is not the case because I can afford to mind my nephew— but I want to know the truth”.

“How come she ended up in this water...he [one of the sailors] is saying that the gangway swings around, and she fell over, and I asked him if she swings around and fall over, she is

House Speaker warns Luncheon ...

From page 3 and the laws and procedures governing Parliament.”

CONTEMPTUOUS LUNCHEON Additionally, the statements can be considered disrespectful and bordering on being contemptuous, Trotman said.

“The Speaker, himself a parliamentarian of many years standing, is unaware of who these “more experienced” parliamentarians are that the HPS refers to and how discord is being promoted.

The Speaker’s office is a constitutional one that is not subject to the direction and control of any person. The Speaker should be allowed to function without interference.”

The Speaker admitted that he did receive on Thursday a Government objection, in written form, to the placing of two private member’s Bills in the name of Carl Greenidge, M.P., on the Order Paper.

“There was no prior objection given to the Speaker to these Bills and so the assertion of the Speaker ignoring anyone is preposterous and grossly inaccurate.

“Secondly, the Speaker of the National Assembly has no

authority to decide what goes on an Order Paper and what does not.” The Speaker insisted that the content of the Order Paper is the sole responsibility of the Clerk of the National Assembly, and one that is jealously guarded.

“The Bills that the government finds “offensive” are private members Bills that were deemed to be appropriate in the opinion of the Clerk of the National Assembly; hence his decision to include them.

“Every Member of Parliament is guaranteed the right to introduce bills, motions and questions into the House,” the official said.

NO DRAFTING HELP The Speaker also accused the Attorney General’s Chambers of refusing to assist especially Opposition Parliamentarians.

“In the face of the refusal to provide the advice and support from the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers and the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Members of Parliament, the Speaker and Clerk of the National Assembly have had to resort to being their own counsel.

“Dr. Luncheon must know this, and therefore it is

obvious to all, that he is trying to bait the Speaker and National Assembly into another “rumble” so as to provoke confusion. The bait will not be taken.”

The opposition parties have been complaining bitterly that legal draftsmen are deliberately not being made available to the AFC and APNU to help in constructing new laws.

Since the November 28 General Elections which saw the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) losing the majority in the National Assembly, the relationship has been largely strained with the opposition AFC and APNU with disagreements over the composition of seats in key Parliamentary committees.

Inter-party dialogues have also been consistently hitting hurdles. There have also been criticisms of the achievements of the first session of the 10th Parliament.

This coming session, the opposition is hoping to debate among other things the controversial President’s Pension Bill while the government will be targeting the Telecoms liberalization Bill.

afraid of water, the fright in you when fall overboard, you will drink some water but the doctor’s report said that it was a small amount of water— no water in her lungs, and she did not swell, so how come she fell overboard and did not drink water”.

The post- mortem exam performed by Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan concluded that Brewster died of drowning and asphyxiation. “No! I don’t buy that explanation!” asserted. “I still feel that something ‘fishy’ went on there. Her whole face was disfigured. Can you just fall and your nose disfigured, your mouth disfigured and burst up and you get a deep wound on her face and her whole one- side face was swollen”.

“I feel that if the police did a proper investigation from that said morning, something would have come out, but I am not pleased with the investigations they did”, Morris added. Morris showed this newspaper photos of the boat’s gangway, which the sailors told cops that Brewster fell off and into the water.

The photos, they (the family) said, shows the

gangway with high nets and questioned how they woman could have fallen into the river.

“I shake it [the nets] to see if it was shaking and it did not shake!” They also questioned why no alarm was immediately raised on the ship immediately after she fell.

The Chief Engineer, she said, whom she saw later at the police station, told her than he was informed about the incident and they made a search along with the cook that was on duty at the time.

She noted that the police did not give her the opportunity to speak with the sailors or even see who they were, “they refused me when I asked”. “Nobody called me, nobody came to give me their sympathy— nobody— I don’t even know who I am dealing with or who Roxanne was dealing with”.

“And that bothers me because if my niece was involved with two men, why couldn’t I have gotten to see them to see if I ever saw them before...I was supposed to have been granted that favour and something does not fit there and I would like to know if that is the procedure of an investigation or what and they never contacted me— the

police never contacted me”.

Additionally, the family is disturbed that the security guard who was on duty at the wharf on that night was said to have been called by another security guard and was transferred to another location, “so no watch was out there and the boat was supposed to have a night watch and I want to know if the night watch heard when she fell overboard and heard the alarm— I would like to know the statement he gave the police, he had to know what transpired since the sailors said that she fell off the gangway”.

“I feel if the police investigated those men good, they would have gotten something”, she stated.

Brewster had in her jeans pocket, several keys on key rings and a cell phone. “And they could not have floated out her pockets— she wore very tight jeans— where are the keys— nothing was found!” The items were not found.

Kaieteur News was informed that the case file is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Georgetown. Efforts to contact the Crime Chief in Berbice proved futile.

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

Broadcasting Corpse mutilation at GPHC “embarrassing” - Health Minister stakeholders to benefit The recent corpse mutilation by rodents at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has been described as a “very embarrassing situation” by Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.

The Minister said that not only does the situation leave much to be desired but “I think that it was a management issue...”

According to Dr. Ramsaran, there is an urgent need to ensure that such occurrences are not repeated, since there is currently a mortuary with chambers that are working.

He said that the situation has emphasised the possible need for a change in the hospital’s operation, adding that “we probably need to do our business different and in a much better way”.

However, the Minister is optimistic that the system is poised for improvement with the recent appointment of a new board of directors at the

hospital. Heading that Board is Colonel Mark Phillips.

According to Minister Ramsaran “I have taken special care to see that the new board has very good skills...People (have been drawn) from all parts of the wider society and hopefully they will bring a better or more impact approach”.

On Saturday last, Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC Michael Khan revealed that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

According to Khan, he first learnt of the incident last Thursday evening and immediately ensured that pest control officials were summoned to address the situation. He disclosed too, that the matter was reported to the hospital’s board which is tasked with investigating the matter.

In expressing his regret over the incident, Khan said that “this is the first time that something like this has happened under my watch

and I have been here for 10 years already”.

Khan added that efforts to ensure that such an incident does not recur have seen the administration of the hospital making the crucial decision to effect rehabilitative works on the facility.

This newspaper reported in its last Saturday edition that the remains of slain 20-yearold Sulé Brian Assanah were discovered with a gaping hole where his nose should have been. The discovery was made last Friday by his father Brian William Assanah during a visit to the hospital mortuary.

Reports are that rats were the cause of the corpse’s disfigurement.

Staffers of the hospital who informed this publication of a rat infestation at the facility indicated that this is not a unique occurrence.

The employees said that rats had eaten away the dead man’s face and there is nothing that could have

prevented the rodents, since the mortuary itself needed a better sanitizing system. One staffer speculated that the rats may have got into the mortuary refrigerator through the drain pipes.

However, the hospital administration has since recruited the services of a contractor who was on Saturday set to effect repairs.

Sulé Brian Assanah, the victim of a knife attack, succumbed at the Public Hospital two Sundays ago.

He was at the time attempting to persuade his eventual attacker, who was wanted for an offence, to surrender to police officers who were pursuing him. His efforts were futile as the man who was armed with a knife, lunged at him, inflicting a life-threatening wound to his neck.

The incident occurred at the corner of Fourth and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown, a short distance from Assanah’s home.

from TATT visit

Stakeholders of the local broadcasting industry are expected to be the primary beneficiaries when a team from the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) descends on these shores in a matter of days.

The visiting TATT team, which is the sister organisation to the Guyana Spectrum Management Frequency Allocation Regulatory Body/National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), is slated to arrive during the last week of this month as part of an exchange programme, said Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon.

His disclosures were made on Thursday as he addressed media operatives at his weekly press briefing at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown,.

The visit, according to Dr. Luncheon, is organised in the context of the implementation of the provisions of the Broadcast Act and the activities of the governing board of the national broadcasting authority.

“Their focused engagement with stakeholders would be the basis used by the visiting team to share experiences among regulatory bodies and involving media practitioners,” Dr Luncheon added.

While here, the Cabinet Secretary said that it is anticipated that the Trinidad and Tobago team will engage policymakers.

More importantly, he said that a public forum with the players in the broadcast industry will also be held before the team’s departure.

Last month, Dr Luncheon revealed that applications for broadcasting licences pending at the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) were set to be processed shortly. This move came in the wake of moves by Cabinet to approve the appointment of the Governing

Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority subsequent to the commencement order identifying that the Broadcast Act of 2011 has come into force.

Former Minister and Attorney-at-Law Bibi Shaddick was appointed as Chairperson of the board, while the other six members are UG lecturer, Sherwood Lowe (nominee of the leader of the Opposition) and presidential nominees, Project Manager of the One Laptop Per Family Project, Margot Boyce; Captain Gerry Gouveia; former army chief, Major General Norman McLean (ret’d); Head of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr. Dindyal Permaul and Charles S. Ramson Jr, a lawyer at the Office of the President.

Dr. Luncheon said that the Board is tasked statutorily with licensing in the Broadcast Sector and ensuring compliance of broadcasters with the provision of the Broadcast Act. Unaware of the number of applications for broadcasting licences that accumulated over the years, he opined that there have been a “tidy few” sent to the NFMU for processing.

Dr. Luncheon added that the initial location for the Governing Board would be the National Frequency Management Unit, but there are plans to establish an office. It would house the Broadcasting Authority and provide office space for the Governing Board.

“The opportunity would be used to build, to accommodate expanded services to be offered by the successor to the National Frequency Management Unit, but that would be a matter subsequent to legislation that is before Parliament right now – the Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Amendment Bill,” he disclosed.

La Parfaite Harmonie ...

From page 20 (only name given) said.

Residents were mostly blaming the chairman of the management committee, Dr. Mark Constantine, for the centre’s inactivity.

They claimed that the president does not allow residents to use the ground and when he does, there is a long list of rules that they have to be followed.

“Somebody wanted to keep a barbeque at the ground but don’t talk about the amount of rules and regulations.”

There are reports that a medical team was rejected but Dr. Constantine, when contacted refuted whatever was said.

He claimed that the centre was indeed not functional but that was because there were

some issues with the first management committee, which was eventually diffused.

The chairman said that he and members have been working tediously to get things done. He said that the ground was used for several activities such as the distribution of food hampers, inter-house school sports and a medical outreach.

“The only thing which is stifling the use of the building is the lack of furniture,” the chairman exclaimed.

He added that children would normally go by him in the afternoons to collect the keys to use the building.

When faced with the question why there is no security stationed at the facility, he said “a tender is out.”

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Artificial Insemination Guyanese ‘birdman’, pleads guilty to smuggling ‘twa-twa’ to New York laboratory opens in Mon Repos New York (New York Daily News) -The ‘Birdman’ of Guyana admitted Friday he had something up his sleeve when he tried to clear Customs at Kennedy Airport.

Marlon Hariram claimed that the finches hidden in his coat were intended solely as pets, but the feds say the protected songbirds are sold for singing contests in public parks in Queens.

“Prior to the flight I put them in my jacket so they would be hidden from view,” Hariram, who hails from Guyana and now lives in New Jersey, told Brooklyn Federal Judge Dora Irizarry.

The birds were packed in cardboard toilet paper rolls then covered with netting and

Marlon Hariram packaging tape. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Trowell said the birds have a market value of more than $5,000 and the government has lined up an ornithological expert from Oregon to inspect the finches.

Several of the nine did not survive the May 20 journey from Georgetown, Guyana,

but the prosecutor did not say how many died.

Hariram, 31, pleaded guilty to three felonies — smuggling, lying on the Customs declaration form and bringing in an animal without a permit — and faces a maximum of one year in prison.

But if he can prove that the birds were worth less than $5,000, the maximum sentence is cut to six months, defense lawyer Len Kamdang said.

The singing contests are popular in the Guyanese community and frequently involve placing bets on which bird has the best voice, according to court papers.

Finches from Guyana are thought to be better singers than the American variety.

Stop posting dirty cops to interior as punishment Police officials should halt the practice of posting corrupt ranks to the interior as a form of punishment, a senior official from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association stated yesterday.

Given the escalating price of gold, sending a dirty cop to the interior is merely giving him an opportunity to become even more corrupt, the official said.

“The police keep using the interior as a dumping ground for policemen with problems,” the source told Kaieteur News. It’s the worst place to send policemen with issues.”

The officials made the comments in the wake of the brutal murder of policemen Constables Marlon Letlow and Leadon Aaron whose bodies were found at Kato, Region Eight last Wednesday.

Reports indicate that the policemen were slain in retaliation for a robbery they had committed last Sunday.

Police have confirmed that Letlow was interdicted after being charged criminally following investigations into the robbery and murder of two gold miners at Bartica on September 05, 2010.

Constable Letlow was initially charged with “accessory after the fact” which was subsequently withdrawn and a charge of “receiving stolen

- GGDMA official property” instituted. His matter was dismissed by the court on May 15, 2012 and he was subsequently reinstated.

The GGDMA official told Kaieteur News that there were prior reports of Letlow and Aaron preying on gold miners.

“They were two regulars; they were hitting too regularly,” the source said.

“Those two may have just upped the ante (but) the robbery and harassment of miners by the security services is routine.”

He said that Brazilians were the main targets of the corrupt ranks.

The source spoke about an incident at Eteringbang, where a miner lodged a licensed firearm with the police, “and when he returned for the gun, he could not get it back.”

According to the source, some army ranks are also involved in shaking down miners. “But the one good thing about the army is that they investigate and take action.”

Some GGDMA staff members have also been implicated in similar acts.

Kaieteur News was also told that the GGDMA took disciplinary action some two months ago against a mines officer who was harassing Brazilian miners at Puruni.

“He was demanding so

Vagrant charged Mohir Ramsawack, a homeless man appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a charge of simple larceny and pleaded not guilty.

On October 2, last, he allegedly stole two cases of

empty bottles which belonged to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

Ramsawack told the court that he has no fixed place of abode and no relatives who would give him shelter. As a result, he was remanded into police custody until November 2.

much gold from the Brazilians that they could not pay their tributes (to the Guyanese whose claim they were working).”

A senior police officer had expressed shock that Letlow was sent to a remote location with little or no supervision.

According to the officer, in a case like Letlow’s, the best practice is that the rank be placed under strict supervision to monitor his actions.

This newspaper was reliably informed that the current subordinate officer at the Kato Police Outpost, under whom Letlow and Aaron worked, was previously a Sergeant who was busted all the way down to Constable for disciplinary matters.

It was only after a number of years that he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Dr. Austin demonstrating how a piece of the equipment is used The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), yesterday opened its Artificial Insemination (AI) Laboratory at the GLDA compound, Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The project which totals $28.2M is being funded by the Government of Guyana and the International Development Bank (IDB).

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, noted that the $177M facility is another technological advancement in the agriculture sector, and will help to boost the economy, while ensuring food security.

The Minister explained

Bill to parliament.

The aim, he said, is to tackle food security in a more comprehensive manner to ensure that Guyana never faces the issue of food shortages, or substandard produce. He also advised that it is this generation that has to ensure food security for future generations.

The Minister also said that while his Ministry has many shortcomings, Guyana’s agriculture sector has always been successful.

“Even during dire economic problems, the agriculture in Guyana has always stood out,” the Minister said.

The facility is being headed by Dr. R. Austin, and the technical staff of GLDA.

Combined parliamentary opposition rejects outrageous statements- APNU APNU says that the People’s Progressive Party’s chief whip Ms. Gail Teixeira comments on the Tenth Parliament were outrageous, untrue and a misrepresentation of the facts. The party was responding to a report which

Cop caught stealing police gas David Street is home to a place called the Drum Yard.

It was there that a police rank would take police vehicles that had been filled with gasoline and siphon out the gas.

An enterprising reporter, on getting a tip of the gasoline episode, staked out the place. Lo and behold he spotted a vehicle PJJ996 driving up and immediately the driver jumping out with a polythene hose and sucking out the gas into a container.

Later that same morning the vehicle transporting prisoners drove up and the same man jumped out to repeat the exercise to remove

that if Guyana wants to enhance its economy and ensure food safety, producing meat of better size and quality is vital. Thus, high quality genetics is the way forward, as it will enable local scientists to produce better breeds of animals.

The semen from these animals will be extracted, evaluated, preserved, and processed at the facility.

Ramsammy noted that his Ministry is in the course of “piecing the puzzle together”.

He said that while being the Minister of Health, he understood the critical role that the agriculture sector played in the aspect of food Safety, and that he will soon be presenting a Food Safety

gasoline from the vehicle.

Later in the day the driver would turn up with his car and remove the gasoline.

Sometimes he sold the gasoline at the location. This went on for days until someone decided that enough was enough.

The matter was reported to the Kitty police and the driver was confronted with these photographs but nothing came of the complaint. There are reports that Divisional Commander George Vyphuis was also notified.

The police rank is still on the job doing business as usual, according to reports.

was made by Teixeira, on October 13 on GINA. APNU yesterday described the statements as deliberate, misleading and mischievous, suggesting that the First Session of the Tenth Parliament was only characterized by Budget cuts and the contravention of established parliamentary rules and procedures.

The party last evening said that it is cognizant of the many instances of the misappropriation of public funds and thus undertook the careful scrutiny of the operations of Government. It said that Ms. Teixeira needs to be reminded of the Lotto funds that the Government does not deposit into the consolidated fund as required by law, the $4 billion housing scandal, the lawbooks scam, the purchase of ships that could not be put into operation on arrival and the fiasco of the Supenaam stelling.

APNU said that given all of these acts of the PPP/C Government, the opposition was justified in taking steps to ensure that the resources of the Guyanese tax payers

are not squandered or misused. The party said that they have been delivering on its commitments to look after the interest of the Guyanese people. “The PPP/C must recognize and accept that the people of Guyana made it clear, by their vote at the November 2011 Elections that they want a new dispensation,” the party stated. The fact is that there is every indication that the PPP/C Government will be voted out at the next General Elections.

The party said that it will be focusing on public finance, public security, broadcasting local government reform and social services when the National Assembly opens.

Further, the party said that the configuration or composition of the Sectoral Committees has been settled.

The political opposition has gone past that and trusts that at the next Standing Orders Committee meeting there will be final submission and agreement on the names of the persons to serve on each of the four Sectoral Committees.

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Police reach out to Agricola - Works on school compound to begin today - Form McDoom/ Agricola police youth club Despite the recent fall out between the Guyana Police Force and Agricola residents, the St Ann’s Primary school located in Agricola is slated to benefit from an initiative orchestrated by the ‘A’ Division Commander, George Vyphuis. At the same time a police youth group has been formed.

The school which is predominantly attended by students who reside in Agricola is expected to see enhancement in facilities as works are planned to begin today to level the playfield.

As it is, the grassed area of the school’s compound is unleveled to the extent that it is not suitable for Physical Education or even recreational activities.

Though there is a concrete area, it is defaced “and is not considered ideal for children to play.” The Commander, an Assistant Commissioner, said that he identified the need to ensure that the children attending that school be allowed a conducive environment for recreational activities and a suitable area to prepare for

Commander: George Vyphuis sports. He noted that from his continuing work with youths, he has recognized that it is better for them to be occupied than have idle time on their hands. The latter usually allows them the time to “explore.”

Vyphuis said that the dilapidated fence will also be repaired. He noted that BK International has agreed to undertake the project free of cost. The commander disclosed that he was extended an invitation to

open the recently held sports at Thirst Park after he donated a quantity of footballs to the school some months ago.

Vyphuis said that it was at the sports that he promised to improve the school compound.

“The main playfield is way at the back of the village and I don’t see it ideal for the children to have to walk all the way back there in the flow of traffic; Head mistress, Shirley Creighton, said that she is appreciative of the donation “and so are the members of the PTA. We are always happy to see improvement.”

Creighton said that Vyphuis has always supported activities for the children of the school. Some time back he donated a tennis table to the school.

Commander Vyphuis noted that the initiative is not based solely on the premise of the execution of 17-yearold Shaquille Grant but “it is the continuation of an ongoing relationship maintained with the community.”

He added that youths

Superintendant Stephen Mansell handing over a ball to an Agricola resident from Agricola usually make use of the library at Brickdam Station. “We cannot afford to allow that incident (Shaquille Grant’s shooting), though unfortunate as it was, to hamper the ongoing work that we have been carrying out in that community. There are good people living in Agricola and I want to continue to help as much as possible” Vyphuis

stated. The commander promised a blackboard for the recently commissioned Shaquille Grant learning Center. He further disclosed that he is looking to explore ways of having a television and DVD player donated to the foundation.

Superintendant Stephen Mansell on Thursday handed over a quantity of footballs

after forming the Mcdoom/ Agriculture police youth club.

Some 80 youths accompanied by their parents were in attendance for the handing over ceremony at the Agricola basketball court.

Mansell urged them not to get involved in criminal activities and not to be influenced by criminal elements.`

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Unemployment rates fall in most election swing states NEW YORK (Reuters) The unemployment rate fell last month in most states, including those considered undecided in the presidential election, data from the Labour Department showed yesterday.

Stubbornly high unemployment is a key issue in the November 6 election.

The contest between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney is heating up in states where polls suggest voters are undecided.

Overall, regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in September.

Jobless rates fell in 41 states and the District of Columbia from August, rose in six and were unchanged in three states.

Compared with a year ago, jobless rates fell in 44 states and the District of Columbia and rose in six.

“Overall, following last month’s rather negative report, this one is definitely very encouraging,” said Michael Dolega, an economist at TD Bank Group.

“Specifically, the statistically significant declines across the board and employment gains.”

In swing-state Florida, the jobless rate fell to 8.7 percent from 8.8 percent.

“Florida basically is gaining on the rebound in housing; it’s created 4,000 jobs in construction,” said Dolega. “Construction has been shedding jobs, so this is a nice turn around for them.”

The national unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent in September, the lowest since President Obama took office nearly four years ago.

But the slow pace of economic growth and high level of unemployment have

been a focal point of the campaigns. Of the 11 states where the polls are currently tight, about half had unemployment rates above the national average.

Among swing states, Nevada had the highest unemployment rate in the country at 11.8 percent, down from 12.1 percent in August.

In Colorado, the jobless rate fell to 8 percent in September from 8.2 percent the previous month.

Unemployment fell in eight other such states, with North Carolina at 9.6 percent and Wisconsin down to 7.3 percent. Virginia and New Hampshire held steady.

Pennsylvania was the only swing state to show an increase in its jobless rate, which rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1. However, there were some positive signs in the state as jobs increased by 17,800 during the month.

Beirut bomb kills antiSyrian intelligence official

A man carries an injured boy at the scene of an explosion, yesterday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) BEIRUT (Reuters) - A prominent Lebanese intelligence official opposed to President Bashar al-Assad was killed in a huge car bomb in Beirut in another sign that Syria’s civil war is dragging its volatile neighbour into the conflict.

Wissam al-Hassan, who led an investigation that implicated Syria and Hezbollah in the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, and seven other people were killed when the bomb exploded in central Beirut yesterday afternoon.

Hassan, a Sunni Muslim who was close to Hariri, also helped uncover a bomb plot that led to the arrest and indictment in August of a proAssad former Lebanese

minister, in a setback for Damascus and its Lebanese allies including Hezbollah.

The bombing was the most serious to hit the capital since Hariri’s 2005 assassination and prompted Sunni Muslims to take to streets across the country, burning tires and blocking roads in a show of sectarian anger.

Hariri’s son, Saad alHariri, accused Assad of being behind the bombing, while Lebanon’s opposition March 14 bloc called on Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government, which includes ministers from Hezbollah, to resign over the bombing.

The head of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, Major-General Ashraf Rifi, described Hassan’s death as

a “huge blow” and warned that further attacks were likely.

“We’ve lost a central security pillar,” he told Future Television. “Without a doubt, we have more sacrifices coming in the future. We know that, but we will not be broken.”

Rubble and the twisted, burning wreckage of several cars filled the central Beirut street where the bomb exploded, ripping the facades and balconies off buildings.

Firefighters scrambled through the debris and rescue workers carried off the bloodied victims on stretchers.

In the confusion following the blast, it took several hours before any official word emerged that Hassan had been targeted.

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U.N. Security Council plans sanctions on Congo rebels, others U N I T E D N AT I O N S (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council intends to impose sanctions on the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s M23 rebels and others violating an arms embargo on the country, according to a statement the council unanimously adopted yesterday.

Rwandan Defense Minister James Kabarebe is commanding the insurgency in eastern Congo that is being armed

by Rwanda and Uganda, both of which also sent troops to aid deadly attacks, according to a U.N. experts’ confidential report seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

“T h e Security Council expresses its intention to apply targeted sanctions against the leadership of the M23 and those acting in violation of the sanctions regime and the arms embargo,” the 15member council said in the

statement obtained by Reuters.

The council strongly condemned any external support to the M23 rebels, expressed “deep concern at reports indicating that such support continues to be provided to the M23 by neighboring countries” and demanded that it stop immediately.

The Security Council’s Group of Experts said in its report that Rwanda and Uganda - despite their strong denials - continued

to support M23 rebels in their six-month fight against Congolese government troops.

The Security Council statement yesterday stressed “the urgency of constructive engagement and dialogue between the DRC and its neighbours, especially Rwanda, and the need to address the underlying causes of the conflict in eastern DRC.” The Congolese government on We d n e s d a y d e m a n d e d

targeted sanctions against Rwandan and Ugandan officials named in the U.N. experts’ report.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo on Thursday dismissed the idea that action should be taken on the basis of a report that she called flawed and

untrue. She said the priority was to work out how to pacify the region.

“It’s wrong. This report is very problematic so anybody who would want to take action based on that report would be really u n f o r t u n a t e , ” Mushikiwabo told Reuters in an interview.

KUWAIT (Reuters) Kuwait’s emir said yesterday he had ordered partial changes to the Gulf Arab state’s electoral system to fix deficiencies ahead of expected elections, prompting opposition threats to boycott the vote.

Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved parliament last week to pave the way for new election which many hoped would end a persistent political turmoil that had held up development projects in the major oil producer and U.S. ally.

The opposition, which won a parliamentary majority in a February poll, had said it feared authorities would try to push through new voting rules that could help progovernment candidates.

“I have directed the government to issue a draft law to make partial amendments to the electoral system, aimed at improving the voting mechanism to preserve national unity and to strengthen the practice of democracy,” the ruler said in a speech aired on state television.

Kuwait’s constitutional court had issued a ruling that allowed for any necessary changes to be m a d e t o t h e c o u n t r y ’s electoral system, he said.

He did not elaborate on what the proposed changes should be.

Kuwaiti opposition politicians criticized the decision and said calls for boycotting the elections were growing.

“We have announced our position that if there was any meddling, there will be a boycott of the election, and what happened was meddling with the constitution of Kuwait,” Hamad al-Matar, a former member of parliament, told Reuters after an opposition meeting.

“I believe there will be big reaction,” he added.

Faisal al-Mislem, another former MP, said: “There is no need for issuing any decree and we refuse to participate in the elections.”

Dhari Al-Rujaib, a youth activist, said there were calls being issued for protests against the emir’s decision. “The street is not happy with the decision,” he said.

A young woman had her head chopped off for refusing to prostitute herself - and one of the killers was her motherin-law, police say.

The other was the motherin-law’s cousin. And both admit it, according to Afghan police.

To most people, the slaying of 20-year-old Mah Gul is unimaginable.

But it’s just “one more incident that highlights the violent atmosphere that women and girls face in Afghanistan and the region,” Suzanne Nossel, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said Thursday.

The killing happened Sunday in Herat province, in

southwest Afghanistan along the Iranian border.

Gul’s husband is a baker.

When he left home for work, his mother and her cousin tried to force the young wife into prostitution, said Noorthan Mikvad, spokesman for Herat police.

When she wouldn’t do it, they beheaded her, he said.

In a statement, Nossel said women and girls in the region “are raped, killed, forced into marriage in childhood, prevented from obtaining an education and denied their sexual and reproductive rights. Until basic human rights are guaranteed ... these horrible abuses will continue to be committed.” (CNN)

Kuwait ruler orders electoral system changes

Afghan woman beheads daughter-inlaw for refusing prostitution, police say

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Cameron says Britain isn’t waving “bye-bye” to EU (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday rejected suggestions from one his EU partners that Britain was slowly waving goodbye to Europe, but said he wanted a “new settlement” with the European Union, including more say in how it is run.

Speaking at the end of a twoday summit, during which Finland’s Europe minister told Reuters he had the feeling Britain was slowly saying “bye-bye” to the European Union, Cameron said he just wanted a different relationship with the continent.

“Am I happy with the status quo in Europe? No I am not, I think there are changes that we need,” he told a news conference. “There are opportunities opening for what I have said should be a new settlement between Britain and Europe and there will be opportunities to seek that new settlement.”

Asked whether he was interested in leaving the EU, which Britain joined in 1973,

Cameron said no. But he said the dynamic with Brussels needed to be changed.

Of particular concern for Britain are EU plans to set up a banking union in the euro zone, which could have implications for London’s vast financial services industry, and proposals for a single budget among the 17 euro zone countries.

There are also accelerating plans for a financial transactions tax among 11 euro zone member states which could have a knock-on impact on Britain.

“The European budget and this idea that the euro zone might need to have a separate budget, that is now on the table - that is a massive change, that is a new settlement,” he said.

“This whole issue of the banking union and how you safeguard properly the single market if the countries of the euro zone go ahead into a banking union, again this is about the plates of Europe moving and changing.

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Doctors say shot Pakistani girl improving

In this undated image released by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, yesterday. (AP Photo / University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust) LONDON (AP) — The British hospital treating a 15year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban raised hopes for her recovery yesterday when doctors said she was able to stand with some help and to write.

Malala Yousufzai appeared with her eyes open

and alert as she lay in a hospital bed, in the first photographs released by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham since she arrived from Pakistan on Monday.

It was a series of positive developments since the shooting, which was a brazen bid by the Taliban to silence

the girl, who has been an outspoken advocate for girls’ right to education.

Still, doctors said she shows signs of infection and faces a long, difficult recovery with uncertain prospects.

“She is not out of the woods yet,” hospital medical

director Dr. Dave Rosser said.

“Having said that, she’s doing very well. In fact, she was standing with some help for the first time this morning when I went in to see her.”

He said Malala had agreed to the release of medical information and photos, and wants to thank people throughout the world for their interest and support in the difficult days since she was gunned down in Pakistan.

He said her bullet wound has become infected.

A large bruise beneath her left eye could be seen in the photo released yesterday, showing Malala in her hospital bed with a toy bear.

The upbeat report galvanized Malala’s many backers, who had feared the worst.

Dr. Jaime Levine, medical director of brain injury rehabilitation at the Rusk Rehabilitation unit at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, said Malala’s ability to stand with assistance and move her arms was a “wonderful sign,” but the doctor said it was too soon to say whether she would make a complete recovery.

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Saturday October 20, 2012

Foreign ministers of Belize and Guatemala to meet on Monday

T&T groups want Jack Warner, Ramlogan fired from govt.

WASHINGTON, USA Ambassador Hugo de Zela, chief of staff of the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, announced Thursday, in response to press inquiries, that “the coordination with authorities from Belize and Guatemala has been completed for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries, in the presence of the chief representative of the OAS.” De Zela confirmed that, on Monday, Insulza will take part in the meeting

Broad-based group plans “massive demonstration” for November 2

José Miguel Insulza

between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize, Wi l f r e d E l r i n g t o n , a n d Guatemala, Harold Caballeros, in Guatemala City.

Regarding reports about the postponement of the meeting between Belize and Guatemala, De Zela said that Insulza’s agenda “has never been an obstacle for the realization of the bilateral meeting, as h e h a s b e e n constantly willing to postpone other commitments to go where the governments of Belize and Guatemala deem convenient and on the date on which they agree.” (Caribbean News)

PORT OFSPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - Opposition, trade unions and civil society groups plan to stage a “massive demonstration” here on November 2 in demand of their calls for the immediate removal of two senior government ministers from the cabinet of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar.

The groups, including the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) and the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) that once formed part of the coalition People’s Partnership government, are demanding the removal of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Austin ‘Jack’ Warner.

In a statement, the groups said that they met earlier this week “to continue discussion around a united broad based national front to protect the people and constitution of Trinidad and Tobago” and that they are “committed to fundamental change in the system of governance and to continue our cooperation and collaboration on these matters and in the interest of good governance and the pursuit of ethical standards in Trinidad and Tobago”.

The broad-based grouping, which also includes members of the Joint Trade Union Movement (TTUM) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUN), is demanding Ramlogan’s dismissal based on the role he played in the early proclamation of Section 34 of the controversial of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act. Parliament last month repealed the controversial clause that had the effect of allowing people, whose trial has not

started after a 10-year period to walk free and a verdict of not guilty.

Critics say that the clause was aimed at supporting businessmen Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, who have been described as financiers of the ruling United National Congress (UNC), the biggest partner in the four-member coalition government.

The two are facing fraud and laundering charges relating to the re-development of the Piarco International Airport in 2001.

They are also wanted in the US on a number of related charges.

Their attorneys have petitioned the local court to have the charges against them dismissed citing Section 34 of the Act. In the case of Warner, the broad-based grouping makes reference to his role in an alleged financial scandal during the period he served as vice president of the International Football Federation (FIFA) and his recent public statements against President George Maxwell Richards and a local journalist, among other concerns.

They noted that an initial call on September 28 for Prime Minister Persad Bissessar to dismiss the two senior ministers has not been addressed and as a result “we have decided to engage in a massive demonstration through the streets of Port of Spain to demand the immediate removal of Jack Warner and Anand Ramlogan on Friday November 2”.

Speaking at a public meeting Thursday night, Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley urged supporters to “attend the demonstration and show the government you are determined to take back your country”.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - (AP) - Prosecutors say a 13year-old girl has been charged in the killing of a fellow student at a high school in the eastern Caribbean island of Grenada.

They say the unidentified minor stabbed 17-year-old Alex Gabriel in the neck. Police have not provided a motive, but students have said the two quarreled over money

prior to Wednesday’s killing.

A judge on yesterday ordered the minor to remain in prison until a court hearing scheduled for November.

The teen is the second student to be charged with murder in the past 10 months in Grenada. A 16-year-old female student was accused of killing her sister a couple of months ago for motives that remain unclear.

Austin ‘Jack’ Warner

Girl, 13, charged with killing fellow student in Grenada

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

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China to fund construction Colombia’s Santos: Land of new hospital restitution la w under mines rre ebels law undermines

Julius Timothy ROSEAU,Dominica-CMC - China will fund the construction of a new hospital in Dominica, Health Minister Julius Timothy has said.

He said that a preliminary design team has arrived here and that construction could begin by mid 2013.

“We showed them our own designs, we showed them the lay of the land. They had meetings with all the hospital staff and they looked at everything.

“In their preliminary designs we have made some adjustments and I can tell you we absolutely so far love the preliminary

design…which is even better than what we ourselves had prepared.”

Timothy said that the Chinese team will return to Beijing where the government will put the project out to tender. He gave no indication as to the cost of constructing the hospital.

“So all things being equal within the next two to three months we would expect the final designs …and after we have agreed on the final designs then they will put it out to tender and perhaps in another three months we expect the contractors to be here doing some work”.

Timothy said that within ‘six to nine months we would expect construction to begin”.

Dominica established diplomatic relations with China in 2004 after previously enjoying relations with Taiwan that Beijing considers a renegade province.

When the Roosevelt Skerrit administration switched allegiance, China signed a US$12 million aid package that included six million dollars in budget support for that year and one million dollars annually for six years.

BOGOTA (Reuters) Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos yesterday defended his signature law that returns land seized by illegal armed groups to peasants after leftist rebels assailed the measure at the start of peace talks.

Negotiations to end five decades of war started out bumpy this week when Ivan Marquez, lead negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, called Santos’ restitution law a “trap.

“When these gentlemen from the FARC say this law is a lie it’s because ... they know full well that this is something that takes away from one of their propaganda banners,” Santos said on his radio programme.

One of the FARC’s main grievances since taking up arms in 1964 has been the unequal distribution of land, which has been concentrated in the hands of a few since the Spanish conquered the region around the 16th century.

Since coming to power in 2010, Santos’ government has pushed through reforms such as the restitution of land to displaced peasants. The move was seen as paving the way for peace talks with the rebels.

Over the conflict’s long h i s t o r y, m i l l i o n s o f Colombia’s rural poor have been forced from their homes by FARC rebels and right-wing paramilitary groups who later used the land to fund their fighting forces.

On Thursday Colombian government and rebel negotiators agreed to meet in Cuba in mid-November to start what are likely to be difficult talks with the top issues being rural development and land.

Marquez railed against the restitution law at a press conference in Norway.

“Land titles as the current government has designed it are a trap,” the guerrilla leader said.

He argued that returning land to peasants who lack the

Juan Manuel Santos means to make it productive would likely encourage them to sell it cheaply to international corporations.

Various peace efforts in Colombia since the 1980s have brought mixed success, with some smaller armed groups demobilizing. But the FARC, Latin America’s biggest rebel group, has pressed on, funded in large part by drug trafficking.

The guerrillas were widely seen to have used previous negotiations to rearm and rebuild their ranks. Rightwing elements linked to Colombia’s political establishment also were accused of undermining talks.

The FARC, which traces its roots to the peasant selfdefense forces of the 1950s that fought against wealthy landowners, wants to change Colombia’s economic system, which Santos’ government flatly rules out.

Colombian newspapers and analysts, pointing out the discord between the two sides when talks opened this week in Norway, said the road forward would be very long.

Others were less pessimistic.

“It’s important not to over-interpret what the FARC said. They needed to use this as a platform for voicing their political agenda rather than showing flexibility for the talks,” said Christian Voelkel, Colombia analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank.

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Saturday October 20, 2012

Police warn against vigilante justice Jamaica Observer Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington has warned Jamaicans against engaging in mob killings, while stating that persons who partake in this form of vigilante justice will be prosecuted for murder.

“Citizens have a duty to report crimes to the police or where possible apprehend felons and hand them over to the police. On no account must anyone inflict punishment on a suspected offender,” Ellington said in a statement earlier this week.

“Every case of mob killing is classified as murder and will be thoroughly investigated by the police so that those responsible are arrested and charged,” Ellington said.

Ellington’s warning follows a wave of mob killings across the island in recent weeks, the last one being on Sunday, as Jamaicans — increasingly weary of crime and a justice system they perceived to be broken and ineffective — resort to exacting their own brand of justice.

The commissioner’s statement comes on the heels of the outcry from a number of civic groups for the nation’s leaders to strongly condemn vigilante justice.

The groups were particularly incensed by the mob killing of a school teacher following a motor vehicle accident along Old Harbour Road and that of a man in Zion, Trelawny, who

was accused of shielding his stepson whom they claimed killed two boys from the community.

Ellington sought to make a case for justice system.

“The commissioner is using this opportunity to again warn Jamaicans that they should exercise restraint and have every confidence in the justice system that it is working, rather than seek to by-pass it and engage in the criminal act of mob killing,” the statement said.

The latest mob killing, which is the fourth in recent weeks, occurred on Sunday when mason Dwight Lester, 29, a resident of Windsor Castle in Portland, was reportedly set upon by residents in Daytona, Portmore, St Catherine, after he was allegedly caught breaking into premises in the community about 3:00 am.

Just five days earlier, an

angry mob mauled and chopped Oral Smith, 23, to death in Savannah Cross, Clarendon after he reportedly beat another man to death when his demand for $100 was not met.

Those two incidents followed the much-publicised mob killing of 43-year-old Donovan Hazley and the injuring of his 18-year-old daughter on September 23, and the killing of the teacher five days later along Old Harbour Road in St Catherine.

Hazley and his daughter were attacked by a mob who fire-bombed their home in Zion, after the deaths of two boys from their community, whose decomposing bodies were fished from the Martha Brae River days before the incident. The residents claimed that the boys were sodomised, even as a postmortem later showed that they had drowned.

Four men have been charged in connection with Hazley’s death.

The teacher, 41-year-old Michael Melbourne, head of the Computer Science Department at Old Harbour High School, was chased, beaten and stabbed to death by an angry mob after a vehicle which he was driving struck down four persons along Old Harbour Road. It was reported that the four persons were assisting a man who was the victim of a hitand-run when they themselves were hit by Melbourne’s car.

Trinidad Guardian - The Central Bank hired Canadian forensic auditor Bob Lindquist during the PNM administration’s term in 2009 to probe all aspects of former financial giant CLICO, says former PNM minister of finance Conrad Enill.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said in the Senate on Wednesday that Lindquist was paid $82.8 million for work he did for Central Bank under the PNM administration over 2010 to 2011.

Ramlogan listed the following payments from Central Bank to Lindquist: • April 2009-Nov 2010: $46 million • Feb 2011-Aug 2011: $10 million • Feb-Sep 2011: $17 million • Nov 2010-Sept 2011: $9.8 million Ramlogan complained the AG’s office was left with a tidal

wave of legal fee bills to pay from the PNM’s term, when he said there was a “gold rush” on for legal work. He pointed to payments for several private attorneys engaged by the PNM, including Reginald Armour and Elena Araujo, and other expenses including those from Central Bank. Aspokesman at the Central Bank Governor’s office said the bank was unable to divulge what Lindquist earned the $82.8 million for or to list the forensic investigations he did.

PNM leader Keith Rowley, whose party was in government when Lindquist was hired, didn’t answer calls.

Former Central Bank governor Ewart Williams said he was no longer with the Central Bank and could not speak about bank work. Former PNM minister Conrad Enill said Lindquist was hired to probe all matters related to CLICO companies after the CLICO issue, which broke in 2009.

Former PNM finance minister Karen Tesheira did not answer calls. Former PNM minister of Finance Mariano Browne also said Lindquist was hired to investigate the CLICO issue.

He referred queries to former PNM attorney general John Jeremie. The latter was not at his law firm’s office, a secretary who received the queries said. Immediately after the collapse of CLICO in January 2009 in the PNM’s tenure, the Central Bank was widely reported as hiring forensic investigator Lindquist to go through the financial affairs of the financial giant, including CLICO and CLICO Investment Bank. During the PP’s tenure, the Government in September 2010 stated that reports on CLICO, including one from Lindquist’s probes into CLICO subsidiaries, were sent to the DPP’s office.

Owen Ellington

AG reveals figures in CLICO probe: Lindquist paid $82.8m under PNM regime

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

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Lance Armstrong: Governing ‘PCB’s lack of support sends body set to announce verdict wrong message’ - Ehsan Mani Cycling’s governing body will reveal their response to the United States AntiDoping Agency’s (USADA) report into Lance Armstrong on Monday. The International Cycling Union (UCI) could ratify USADA’s decision to strip the American cyclist of his seven Tour de France titles.

However, it could also take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. UCI President Pat McQuaid said: “We will inform on our position concerning the USADA decision on Monday.”

Armstrong, 41, received a life ban from USADA for what the organisation called “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”.

The American, who overcame cancer to return to professional cycling, won the Tour de France in seven successive years from 1999 to 2005. He has always denied doping but chose not to fight the charges filed against him.

USADA released a 1,000page report earlier this month

Lance Armstrong

which included sworn testimony from 26 people, including 15 riders with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team and the doping activities of its members.

USADA praised the “courage” shown by the riders in coming forward and breaking the sport’s “code of silence”. Armstrong, who retired in 2005 but returned in 2009 before retiring for good two years later, has not commented on the details of Usada’s report.

Tour de France director

Christian Prudhomme said there should be “no winner” of the Tour for each of the seven years where Armstrong won if the decision to strip him of his victories is upheld.

Earlier this week, Armstrong lost three of his main sponsors with sportswear giant Nike, cycle maker Trek and Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch all cutting ties with him.

Armstrong has also stepped down as chairman of his cancer charity Livestrong.

(BBC Sport)

Draw to decide CONCACAF hexagonal schedule New York – Following a meeting yesterday of the Member Associations participating in the Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifying, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced they have reached an agreement on the establishment of a final schedule for the hexagonal round of the qualifying games.

After long discussions among representatives from Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama and the United States, Member Associations came to a consensual agreement that the best option for establishing a final match list was going to a FIFA draw to conclude the process as originally planned. This draw will be conducted within the next 30 days, subject to final decision from FIFA.

The Final Round will start on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, and must conclude by October 15, 2013.

Each of the six teams will play the others in the group twice, home and away, for a total of 10 matches apiece.

Upon completion of the round, the top three finishers qualify automatically for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil. Members have emphasized their commitment to fair play and reciprocal courtesy among all Federations.

The fourth-place team will advance to a two-leg Intercontinental play-off against the first-place team from the Oceania Football Confederation on November of 2013. The winner of that series will also advance to Brazil.

For the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Honduras, Mexico and the United States qualified from CONCACAF.

Inaugural Payless Variety cycling set for Saturday After enduring the rigors of the recently concluded ‘Ride for Life’ Five-Stage cycle road race, local riders will return to the National Park on Saturday for the inaugural Payless Variety Store 11-race programme.

Organiser of the day’s activities, Hassan Mohamed, informed that the entity has offered to sponsor the race, which will pedal off at 09:00 hours.

Mohamed said he’s pleased to welcome the company on board, and looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship as they seek to work together in the interest of developing the sport. Saturday’s event will be headlined by the feature 35-lap School Boys and

Invitational race, which should attract a highly competitive field of riders.

Five-Stage junior champion Paul DeNobrega and trio Michael Anthony, Raul Leal and Raynauth Jeffrey will look to continue their good form and test the ‘big boys’, among them Eric Sankar, Robin Persaud, Geron Williams, Alonzo Greaves and Junior Niles.

Other races planned for the day include the Veterans Under-50, Over-50, Over-60, Juveniles, Upright, BMX Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14.

Representatives of Payless Variety Store are expected to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of the races.

With the arrival of a team led by former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya in Karachi, international cricket of sorts is set to return to Pakistan. Ehsan Mani, the former ICC chief, feels that though the two matches to be played this weekend will boost Pakistan’s reputation as a viable host for international cricket, they won’t be enough to convince Test teams to play in the country yet.

The International XI includes South African fast bowlers Andre Nel and Nantie Hayward, and West Indies players Jermaine Lawson and Ricardo Powell. They face a Pakistan All Stars XI team in Twenty20 matches at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday and Sunday.

There has been no international cricket in Pakistan since March 2009, when the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked.

“I do not think that these matches will have an immediate impact in persuading ICC Full Member teams to tour Pakistan but it is a step in the right direction,” Mani told ESPNcricinfo.

“The International XI is a small but significant step in the confidence building process to assure overseas players and teams that Pakistan is open for cricket and it is safe for overseas players to come to Pakistan.”

Without doubt Pakistan is desperate and in need of international cricket in their backyard; youth development is on hold as no team even at the youth level is ready to tour, the PCB has suffered a budget deficit for years, stadiums are getting rusty, fans are deprived. At a time when Pakistan is a no goarea for major international teams, though a side comprising international players have arrived in the country, the PCB has disassociated itself from the tour.

They have stressed that the games are unofficial and are unsanctioned, and have left Sindh sports minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah to deal with most of the arrangements.

“I was disappointed to read that the PCB had disassociated itself from the matches; it appears that PCB is covering itself in case something goes wrong,” Mani said. “This gives totally the wrong message. The PCB should have been very much involved, including assuring itself that adequate security

Ehsan Mani

arrangements are in place. It is disgraceful that the initiative to convince players to come to Pakistan is not being led by the PCB but by the Sindh government.

“The PCB’s approach to bringing international cricket back to Pakistan is flawed,” Mani said. “It tried to first persuade and then bully Bangladesh to tour Pakistan.

The PCB does not seem to understand that before a full international tour can take place, teams such as the International XI should tour Pakistan to provide a degree of comfort to the ICC Member countries.”

Pakistan cricket chief Zaka Ashraf, though, has said the revival of international cricket is his top priority but apparently accepted the goal is tough to achieve in the near future. While talking to ESPNcricinfo last month, he called the approach of the cricketing world towards touring Pakistan as ‘rigid’.

Mani said the PCB needed to be fully aware of the steps necessary for the return of international tours to the country. “The PCB clearly does not understand the politics of cricket and the pressures on certain countries not to tour Pakistan by others with a different agenda.

“The PCB also does not appear to have agreement with the ICC on what assurances the ICC will require before a team and ICC officials consider it safe to come to Pakistan,” he said. “It does not help that no PCB official or member of the security agency mandated to provide security to the Sri Lankan team in 2009 has been made accountable and punished for the disastrous lapse of security which put at risk the lives of players and officials and cost the lives of security personnel and destroyed international cricket in Pakistan.”

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

Pitbulls paw Mackeson $1M cash prize The Pitbulls laid their paws officially yesterday on the $1M first place cash prize that was up for grabs in the Mackeson Smooth Moves 3on-3 Basketball Competition, after winning the contest last Saturday at California Square, East Ruimveldt.

The Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney, Jermaine Slater and Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai combination fearlessly battled against the tough Pacesetters ‘A’ team in the semi-final, before they won 12-11 in the final five seconds after Gullen finished a lob

from Stephney.

The result was shocking for Pacesetters after Colts drew a ‘bye’ to the final.

Shelroy Thomas and veteran forward, Dane Kendall, Stephon ‘Penny’ Henry and Tyrone Hamid of the Colts finished runners-up after a fairytale journey to the final.

The inaugural champions, Pacesetters finished in the third position.

The final was an allGeorgetown affair, after six teams had advanced to the final round, including one from Linden and one from New

Ansa McAl Marketing Director, Troy Cadogan (left) hands over the $1M replica cheque to the captain of the winning Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 Basketball Team, Ryan Stephney, in the presence of his team-mates yesterday.

Amsterdam. The Mackeson Smooth Moves tournament was held countrywide over several weeks of intense competition.

Marketing Director of the Ansa McAl Trading Limited, Troy Cadogan, tamed the savage Pitbulls yesterday at

Ansa Mcal Head Offices, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara when he officially handed over the $1M winnertake-all first place prize to the team.

The competition attracted participation from teams in Berbice, Mahaicony, Linden, Georgetown and Den Amstel.

All the zone winners also received cash incentives.

Cadogan said that the event was a success and next year will be even bigger as it expands.

He noted the unique format of the competition is gaining momentum, expressing disappointment that it had not attracted much of the mainstream basketball players. However, the competition attracted quartets from most of the Division I Clubs in Guyana.

Local cyclists leave for Antigua Enzo Matthews will lead Guyana’s delegation of cyclists, comprising 4 men and 3 women, Naomi Singh, Claire Fraser-Green and Hazina Barrett that will be competing for honours at the Senior Caribbean Elite Cycling Championships that will be held in Antigua & Barbuda today and tomorrow.

The other male pedal pushers are Mervyn Williams, Rastaff O’Selmo and Orville Hinds.

Meanwhile, the Flying Stars Cycling Club will be staging the Kader Mohamed Memorial (ounce of gold) road

race tomorrow morning from 07:30hrs.

Activities commence in front of the old Ministry of Housing building, Homestretch Avenue, proceed to Long Creek, Linden Soesdyke Highway and back to the place of origin.

Cyclists will compete in several categories including the Open, juniors and veterans. The first 10 finishers in the Open category will receive prizes as will the first 3 veterans in the U-45 and over 55 categories.

The cyclists will also battle for the 12 prime prizes on offer.

CASH repairs force further postponement of Inter-Market Futsal The long-awaited Inter-Market Futsal competition which is being organised by Stabroek Warriors Sports Club suffered another forced postponement according to Co-ordinator O’Neil Durant, who met the media on Thursday to apprise them of the situation.

This is the second time the tournament has had to be rescheduled due to the unavailability of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) with the initial date in August suffering the same fate as the most recent date.

Kaieteur Sport was given a release by the Organisers which according to them originated from the National Sports Commission giving reason for the latest setback.

The texts of the release are as follows: This serves to advise that the Stabroek Warriors Sports Club requested and was granted permission to use the CASH to host its Annual Futsal Inter-Market Tournament during August 2011.

Unfortunately, urgent maintenance works were carried out during that period and the tournament Co-ordinator was advised to

consider rescheduling for November.

Request was once again granted for November 2012, but due to the International Indian Fair and further maintenance work on the floor of the CASH, Stabroek Warriors Sports Club will not be able to use the venue.

The National Sports Commission regrets any inconvenience and encourages your continued support to the Stabroek Warriors Sports Club in its endeavours. The letter was signed by Gervy C. Harry, Admin. Officer of the NSC. In light of the recent development, Durant speaking with this newspaper said he is hoping that come next year, the venue will be up and ready to host the tournament which has seen an increase in the number of markets confirmed to participate, surpassing previous years.

He added that the growing popularity of the event has made it imperative for the Organisers to run off the tournament and he is hoping that when the facility becomes available, there will be no new negative developments to jeopardise the competition further.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Alfred goes after vacant WBC Super Flyweight World Title in Mexico City next month November 6 next will mark exactly two years since Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred almost decapitated Canadian, Corinne vanRyke DeGroot, knocking her out in the 4th stanza to retain the Women’s World International Boxing Association (WIBA) bantamweight belt.

The Guyanese pugilist was set for world acclaim but reached a brick wall after several fighters shied away from her after learning of her reputation. President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, has managed to find just the right person to end the long drought and November 24 next, Alfred will travel to Mexico to engage Zulina Munoz in her own backyard for the vacant WBC Super Flyweight World Title.

Alfred appeared at the press conference to launch the ‘Redemption’ boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, yesterday afternoon and expressed deep gratitude to the GBBC President while expressing confidence in clinching the accolade.

She said that indeed the period of inactivity had been lengthy but she had not been idle, visiting the gym at least three days of the week in the interim. Alfred said that she

was given a hint of the impending bout some two weeks ago and had increased her gym attendance to 6 days per week in anticipation of the bout.

The ‘Mystery Lady’ shrugged aside suggestions of ring rust saying that she is a warrior and could easily whip herself into a fighting mode. “I believe in myself and will do what has to be done,” exhorted Alfred while drawing reference to the Degroot bout when the doubters had expressed similar sentiments.

Alfred said that winning the title means a lot to her since she will be fulfilling her ambassadorial duties while lifting her country to the pinnacle.

Meanwhile, Munoz has been touted as a tough cookie and Alfred anticipates a grueling bout. Mr. Abdool revealed that regardless of who wins, should the fight be close and a rematch is warranted, it will take place in Guyana sometime in the coming year.

Munoz, a 25 year-old fighter goes by the sobriquet, La Loba (The She-Wolf) and has an outstanding 38-1-2 record with 24 knockouts and has held the WBC Silver Female Bantamweight Title since June of 2011. She won

the WBC Silver Female Super Flyweight Title on in September 2012 and is considered a seasoned and tough campaigner.

Alfred’s opportunity for a crack at the title was made possible after the former champion, Anna Maria Torres, relinquished the belt to concentrate on family matters. She has held the title since 2006, successfully

South Turkeyne SC to hold football competition The South Turkeyne Sports Committee’s 5-a-side football competition and penalty shoot out is set for tomorrow at the Meadow Brook Lodge play field commencing from 09:00hrs.

The event which was postponed from last Sunday will see teams from A, B, C, and D field, North, Lodge, Tiger Bay, Enterprise, Vryeid’s Lust, Kitty, North and East Ruimveldt taking part.

Trophies for the both competitions have been sponsored by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and Melborne

Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred

defending it eleven times.

Alfred won the WIBA bantamweight title after defeating Degroot in 2010 in what was considered a controversial decision.

She returned to remove all doubts when she knocked out the Guyanese/Canadian at the Princes Hotel International. She is also the local bantamweight champion.

Guyana Inn. Cash Prizes are compliments of Retired Brigader David Granger, Mr. Ken Phillips of Antartic Maintenance and Repairs, Mr. Chan A Sue, Western Union, Giftland Officemax, Mr. Basil Williams, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud, Wayne Forde of Presidential Industrial Tech and Mr. Joseph Hermon.

Medals will be provided

by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market. The organisers are Johnny ‘Overseas’ Barnwell, Shaida Kamel and Kevin Walcotte.

Skeete T20 cricket in South E’bo Dindyal,Federicks guide Rising Star to 7 wkt win Deoraj Dindyal grabbed 5 wickets and Royan Federicks slammed a fine half century to guide Rising Star to convincing 7 wicket victory over Golden Fleece when play in the Edward Skeete and Family Twenty\20 cricket competition continued recently in South Essequibo.

Host Golden Fleece took to the crease first and scored 121 all out off their allocation of overs. Apart from 39 extra, only Harrychan Chetram 14, Akenauth Persaud 12 and Raj

Parbattie 11 managed to reached double figures as Deoraj Dindyal finished with 5-19 and Rovin Dusraj 2-27.

Federicks then dominated the host bowling attack, slamming five fours and a similar number of sixes on his way to 58 and got support from Kayman Lakan 27 and Dindyal 19 as the visitors won the game in 15.1 overs ending on 124-3 in reply. Dindyal was named man of the match.

Meanwhile in the other matches Zorg and Invaders Masters got walkovers from Eldorado Sports Club.

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

BOSAI MINERALS INC. OPEN B’BALL C’SHIP...

Royals face Flames; Raiders & Bulls seek to remain unbeaten Following their winning performances in last week’s opening encounters, Retrieve Raiders and Half Mile Bulls will clash this evening (Saturday) while losers Victory Valley Royals and Block 22 Flames will collide in the other match when the inaugural BOSAI Minerals Inc. Open Challenge basketball competition continues at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

The first game of the double header will be bounce off at 19:00hrs with Royals, who were seeded at number three coming into this championship match skills with the seventh ranked Block 22 Flames.

Royals are looking to improve on their last showing when they were taken down by Retrieve Raiders 76-28 in a disappointing display against the sixth ranked Raiders.

They will hope that their best players are available with junior national forward Chris Williams returning to lead their charge after Anthony Morris led them in his absence with 12 points and the talented youth national Marlon Pollydore supported with 11.

Royals must also see an improvement in the performance of veteran Julius Carter and upcoming player Theodore Tappin, if they are to rebound with a win tonight.

Block 22 Flames, the 7th seed before the tournament was trimmed to six teams, have recruited some players for this encounter having realised that they need to step up their game if they are to come out victorious.

However, they will again have to rely on

Stephen Arthur, Aubrey Johnson, Stephan Arthur, Patrick Clarke and about three other players that will be introduced with the hope of creating an upset against Royals.

The second match should be of keener interest since both sides would want to come away still with an unblemished record after two games. But one will have to lose and the Raiders will be banking on their impressive lineup which should include national players Dwayne Roberts and Neil Marks, national junior forward Geoffrey LaRose, Omar Sam and Alexander Rose in the front court, while their back court will see players of the caliber of Sheldron Noel and Dwight McKinnon.

This will severely test the skills of the Bulls who upset the top ranked Kashif and Shanghai Kings, still brimming with confidence from that win. Once again the dependable rising star Michael Turner will be looked upon for a strong performance after his game high 21 points against the Kings.

His supporting cast should include Keon Cameron who also performed well in that win over the Kings and of course there will be the experienced Kurleigh Austin, Jashon Blair, Sean ‘Squeaky’Adams who had the game winning shot and Denzil Llovell to choose from.

Competition will continue tomorrow with another double header at the same venue.

Retrieve Raiders will return against the Flames at 18:30hrs while the Kings will look to redeem themselves when face off against second seeded Amelia’s Ward Jets in the feature.

E’bo Cricket Board 40-over cricket...

EBE, Wakenaam, North and Central through to final four

By Zaheer Mohamed East Bank Essequibo, Wakenaam, North and Central Essequibo have qualified for the semi finals of the Essequibo Cricket Board 40 over tournament after recording victories in the first round of matches played yesterday.

At Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, the home team got the better of Leguan by 5 wickets. East Bank won the toss and inserted the visitors on a pitch difficult for batting.

They made 137 all out in 25.4 overs.

Tatteshwar Chetram led with 39 and got support from Mustapha Zaman 24 and Sultan Ali 17. Extras contributed 33 as Brian Herbert snared 4-35 while Sheldon Alexander took 2-33 and Kemol Savory 2-13.

The host in reply suffered a few nervous moments before they won the game in 25.4 overs ending on 140-5.

Trevor Benn was their leading run scorer with 39, while Kevon Boodie scored 37, and

Balbinder Shivpersaud 17.

Mustapha Zaman claimed 432 in a losing cause for Leguan.

In the second Zone ‘B’ game which was scheduled for the Wakenaam Community Center ground, the host got a walk over from Bartica.

Over in Zone ‘A’, at Affiance, Central Essequibo made light work of Pomeroon, beating them by 9 wickets.

Pomeroon batted first and were skittled out for 74 in 20 overs. Andrew D’Guiar and Chris Williams were the only batsmen that offered resistance with 21 and 18 respectively.

Ronsford Beaton grabbed 3-8 off 5 overs while Herry Green, Latchman Rohit and De Andrea George took 2 each.

Central in reply lost Herrell Green without scoring at 8 in the second over before Yougeshwar Lall and Parmesh Parashutan saw their team home with 29 and 28 not out respectively, ending on 75-1 in 8.2 overs.

At Devonshire Castle, South went down to North by 24 runs. North took first strike

and posted 281 before they were all out off their allocation of overs. Greyson Paul made 47, Keron Sewnarine 37 and Navin Singh 33 at the top of the order before Punraj Singh 33 and Hemant Beharry 13 added 62 for the last wicket stand that took them to their eventual total.

Dillon Heyliger captured 3-51, Deeraj Dindyal 3-44 and Anthony Adams 2-52. Royan Federicks then got South off to a blazing start, hitting five four’s before he was dismissed for 20.

Thereafter, Adams’ 50, Heyliger 42 and Joshua Paul 33 not out were not enough to see their team home as they fell for 257 in 37 overs.

Punraj Singh 3-36, Baharry 2-46 and Mark Tyrell 2-46 were the main wicket takers for the winners.

The competition continues today with Wakenaam hosting East Bank Essequibo and North doing battle with Central Essequibo at Affiance in the semi finals.

The final is billed for Pomeroon on Sunday (tomorrow) evening.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Digicel supports Flex Night Int’l Health & Fitness Expo Sponsorship and Events Manager of Digicel Gavin Hope speaking at a briefing called to announce the Company’s collaboration with Flex Night International and Health & Fitness Expo on Wednesday said when the idea was pitched to them it was just a question of how they could benefit from their support.

“When Donald Sinclair and David Gomes came to sell the idea I wondered how we could benefit from our support and during the talks we realized that the project could be sustained,” Hope said. He stated that because it is of national interest and since it talks about health and fitness the Company felt a strong obligation to be associated with the venture.

Hope related that they were convinced that it is a good project and was willing to give it all the support, but not before he reminded the Organisers that they were not willing to settle for second and third best. He closed by thanking the Directors for choosing Digicel to be

From left: Diane Sinclair, Donald Sinclair, Digicel’s Gavin Hope, David Gomes and Digicel PRO Shonnet Moore. onboard and wished them success. Sinclair, who is the Managing Director of Flex Night Inc. was accompanied by Gomes, the Director of External Resources and Diane

S i n c l a i r, w h o i s t h e Director of Judging and Personnel.

The Managing Director in his remarks shortly after thanking the Cellular Company for its welcomed

support gave a brief overview of the event and its benefits to the society at large.

He stated that they are looking to form long term partnerships with the corporate community where

mutual benefits could be derived.

Meanwhile, the Expo is set to be staged on December 8 at the National Cultural Centre and apart from the locals participants are expected from

Brazil and Suriname. Among the categories to be contested are Mister and Miss Flex Night, Miss Flex Night Bikini and Miss Flex Night Best Legs. Up for grabs will be trophies and prizes.

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

Thriller in store as ‘Big Truck’,collides with Shawn Corbin in ‘Redemption’ affair The last time Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite appeared in the local ring against Barbadian, Shawn Cox, boxing buffs trooped to the venue in anticipation of a slugfest. Instead, the Barbadian, incensed by Braithwaite’s pre-fight remarks, entered the ring with his mind set on making the former WBC Cruiserweight champion pay for his brashness and disposed of his man in less than two minutes of the bout.

Braithwaite had blamed the loss on a surprise punch very early in the fight and had called for a return. Instead, Cox traveled to Russia and engaged Denis Ismailov where he was knocked out early in the second round putting paid to an early rematch with Braithwaite.

In the meantime, Guyanese pugilist residing in Trinidad and Tobago, Shawn Corbin, had called out Braithwaite saying that he had been anxious for a fight ever since Braithwaite

defeated Vi n c e n z o Cantatore for the WBC Cruiserweight belt.

Several failed attempts to match the two fighters have failed for varying reasons until recently when both pugilists arrived at a common ground and agreed to the bout. Guyanese boxing buffs will now get the chance to see the long awaited bout when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC stages 50 rounds of fistic fury dubbed ‘Redemption’ a card that will also feature the cream of the nation’s boxers on October 27 next.

Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry is billed to oppose Jamaican, Prince Lee Isadore in defense of his Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) Bantamweight title. However, negotiations are still ongoing and GBBC officials have indicated that a confirmation should be made by Monday next. Local featherweight champion, Clive Atwell will be in action in a 12 rounds CABOFE jnr/welterweight

Four of the boxers, from L, Ward, Marques, Atwell and Declou pore over their contracts before affixing their signatures. title fight against Trinidadian, Prince Lee Isadore in what should be a thriller. Atwell is

only now beginning to gel after scoring brutal knockout victories over Rudolph Fraser and Barbadian based Guyanese, Revlon Lake. He has signaled an intention of making t three in a row.

This feat will be easier said than done especially since the Trinidadian boasts an 8-1-1.

All 8 of his victories came by the knockout route. Atwell’s record is just as flattering having chalked up 6 wins from 7 fights. His only blemish is a drawn decision against Mark Austin.

CABOFE and local middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou will also square off with Kelsey George in a 4 rounds super/ middleweight repeat while Sharon Ward, back after a

lengthy hiatus, will square off with Quinda Rogers in a 4 rounds middleweight affair.

Former bantamweight champion, Dexter Marques will also be in action against Rudolph Fraser as the latter boxer looks to avenge an earlier loss when the two squared off in a bantamweight encounter early last year.

Meanwhile, most of the boxers scheduled to be in action appeared at the offices of Insurance Brokers, Abdools and Abdools to complete the signing ceremony yesterday afternoon. The New York based duo, Braithwaite and Dharry, is yet to arrive in Guyana but should be here within the next few days.

President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool said that the card had all the ingredients of a thriller and urged the public to come out and enjoy the show. He said that his executives were forced to await the availability of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) since several other activities had been planned for that venue.

The bout is being sponsored in part by Digicel and patrons are urged to retain their ticket stubs for a chance to win 2 cell phones which will be contested in a draw. Tickets are $3000 for ringside while those for the stands will be sold at one thousand dollars.

The action gets underway at 20:00hrs sharp.

SASHA CELLS NATIONAL JUNIOR CHESS C/SHIP...

Haifeng Su on course to retain title; Davion Mars in hot pursuit Defending Junior Chess Champion, Haifeng Su, has amassed 31/2 points, just a ½ point more than Davion Mars and stays on course to retain his crown when the 4th round of the Sasha Cells 2012 National Junior Chess Championship concluded at the Olympic House, Kingston over the past weekend.

Davion Mars and Anthony Drayton have both amassed 3 points apiece but the former player sealed off the third place after the tiebreaker system had been employed. Saeed Ali is on 2½

points while Carlos Petterson is on 2.

Former Junior Champion, Ron Motilall has scored just 1 point the same as Trenton Bennett. Dravin Drickpaul is yet to register a point and remains in the cellar.

The players will convene this morning at the same venue to contest two more rounds while the final round will be played tomorrow morning, this time at Keishar’s Sports Club, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Meanwhile, Haifeng Su exhibited a high level of

determination and survived strong challenges from Drayton and Motilall after he forced both players to resign when the 4th round concluded. Motilall’s forces became casualties in a lost endgame while Drayton, who recently returned from competing in Umada Cup tournament, failed to avoid a heavy loss of material and extricate himself from a hopeless position. His sojourn in the Dutch speaking nation was successful after he won the best U-17 trophy and a US $700 prize.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

R and D Engineering service T20 cricket- North E’bo...

Half centuries for Lall, Laurie, Jacobis, 5wkt haul for Bollers in latest action Gunners, Lima, Charity B and Charity ‘A’ recorded victories when play in the R and D Engineering Service Twenty\20 cricket competition continued last Sunday in North Essequibo with four matches.

At Walton Hall, Gunners got the better of the host by 7 wickets. Walton Hall batted first and were bundled out for 96 in 19.1 overs. Tameshwar Ramesh and Ramesh Chattergoon were their principal scorers with 29 and 27 respectively as Herry Green picked up 3-10, Hemant Beharry 3-15, and Greyson Paul 2-12. Gunners then replied with 101-3 in 13.3 overs with Paul

top scoring with 46 not out while Alex Collins made 20.

Navin Bahadur took 2-21 for the home team.

At Lima, the host overcame Titans by 40 runs.

Lima posted 157 before they were bowled out in 19.4 overs after batting first. Devindra Lall led with 59 and Navin Bahadur supported with 20 as Tyrone Bollers bagged 5-24 and Jagdeshwar Nauth 3-33.

Titans in response mustered 117 all out in 18 overs. Nauth returned to score 38, and was supported

by Keron Sewnarine 27. Rajiv Manichand and Zakie Salim claimed 3 wickets each for the

winners.At Charity (10:00hrs), Charity ‘B’ got the better of Charity ‘A’ by 16 runs. Julio Jones 35, Wayne Fernandes 32, Edward Melville 29, and Jimez Cornelius 25 guided the ‘B’ team to 165-8 off their allocation of overs, batting first; Fentos Jacobis snared 3-27.

Alex Laurie then made 59 and Jacobis returned to score 54 but their efforts went in vein as Charity ‘A’ were bowled out for 149 in 19.5 overs in reply. Kaisho Rooplall with 3-37, Jones 331, and Terrence Tulsieram 313 were the pick of the bowlers for the winners.

At Charity (02:00hrs),

Charity A rebound to beat Young Achievers by 9 runs.

In a match which was reduced to 15 overs, the host managed 122-5 off their allotted overs.

Swayne Fitzpatrick made 38 and received assistance from Fenton Jacobis and Noel Evans with 28 each as Tameshwar Dhanpaul took 2-22.

Danesh Navin 26 and Ravindra Narine 19 were the only batsmen that offered resistance as Young Achievers were bowled out for 113 in 14.3 overs in reply Jacobis and Shahaab Mohamed captured 2 wickets apiece for the victors. The competition continues on Sunday.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Several entities join list of sponsors for BCCDA/ CBIS Inter Agency T10 softball cricket With the big day just a mere days away a slew of companies in and out of Berbice have jumped on board and poured in support for the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development A s s o c i a t i o n (BCCDA) Corporate Business in Sports 2012 Tournament which is being touted as the biggest sports tournament amongst the corporate and business community in Guyana.

The day’s activities, which are slated to get underway at 09:00hrs, is expected go way into the night. The highlights will be the 10/10 Knockout cricket matches among the cooperate business community and the much anticipated 20/20 cricket match between Universal DVD Berbice Titans and the Demerara based Superstars.

Other novelty events and

Lucky patron to ride away with Motorcycle

The Rebel Motorcycle which will be up for grabs as a gate prize for a lucky patron. indoor games including dominoes will also be a part of the day’s activity.

Meanwhile, the Tournament which is being played under the theme “Promoting and Strengthening Unity amongst

Businesses” has received the blessings of the Honourable Minister of Culture Youth and Sports who is likely to be present to declare the tournament open and deliver remarks. The Ministry will be

represented by a team named The Regional Chairman Eleven.

Patrons will be in for big treat having the opportunity to ride away with a Motorcycle, Smart Phones and other gadgets with the purchase of tickets costing only $300 in advance and $400 at the gate. Children will be admitted free of cost.

Among other sponsors on board so far are Digicel, Universal DVD, Anamayah Law Firm, Ansa McAl Trading, Sunshine Snackette, Peter Lewis Construction Company and Universal Solutions and Banks DIH Limited among others.

(Samuel Whyte)

Page 35

West Berbice name team for T20 extravaganza Brandon Bess included The West Berbice Cricket Association have named a 12man squad to take part in the WBCA\Goodwill T20 Extravaganza on Sunday (tomorrow) at the Bath Community Centre Ground on the West Coast of Berbice.

The West Berbice SuperKings will be led by former Berbice and Guyana youth player Krishnadat Ramoo and includes several former Berbice and Guyana players. The squad which is well balanced will play Transport Sports Club of Georgetown.

The Squad reads: Krishnadat Ramoo (captain), Serwin McPherson(V.captain), Kwasie Mentore, Steffon Adams, Raffel Estraido,

Brandon Bess Romain Boodram, Artherly Bailey, Keith Fraser, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Brandon Bess and Andrew Dutchin, the Manager is David Black.

Rain continues to follow the IPL sides Rain seems to be following the IPL sides wherever they go. A third successive evening game in the Champions League Twenty20 was washed out yesterday, in Durban.

While some play had been possible in the previous noresults, even the toss could not take place at Kingsmead as a persistent, but not heavy, drizzle set in.

It was Delhi Daredevils’ turn to be satisfied with two points, after Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians on the previous two evenings.

While the rain had knocked Knight Riders out, and left Mumbai Indians hoping for a Yorkshire win against Lions, it did not impact Daredevils’ chances as much.

They were still placed second on the points table, behind Titans, and ahead on net run-rate of Auckland Aces, who also pocketed two points.

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 20, 2012

CSA sack Majola as chief executive Gerald Majola, the suspended Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive, has been dismissed from the board with immediate effect. He was found guilty on all nine charges laid against him at his disciplinary hearing, most notably misconduct but also including accepting bonuses, not declaring them to the board and wrongdoing around travel claims.

Majola’s hearing took place without him after he withdrew from proceedings last week. He was invited to appear before chairperson Karel Tip for the decision on October 17 but chose not to. He had the option to make another appearance on Friday (yesterday) to present his version.

When Majola and his legal team didn’t arrive, the disciplinary chairperson issued the findings on sanctions, which were accepted by the CSA. Majola has made an application to the country’s Labour Court and will continue to pursue that avenue of recourse, although he is no longer employed by CSA while doing so.

The decision has thus brought to an end an almost three-year long saga which has centered on R4.7 million (then US$ 671,428) in bonuses that were paid to Majola

and 39 other staff members after hosting the 2009 IPL in South Africa.

Three separate investigations found that the money was not properly declared to the board and contravened principles of corporate governance.

Tip, who chaired Majola’s disciplinary hearing, agreed.

Although the matter is an internal one, he made his findings available to all because, “it is a matter of broad public interest.” The 10-page document makes some strong statements about Majola’s conduct, particularly in his role as CEO. “An honest man would have been acutely aware of the fact that he was de facto concealing his own substantial bonus payment,” states point 3.2 which deals with the IPL bonus obtained by Majola which did not pass through the CSA board or its remunerations committee.

Instead, as 3.4 says, “the bonus transaction was dealt with in the accounts of CSA in a manner that was calculated to avoid its detection.”

Apart from receiving the money, there was an also an issue around declaration, which Tip said Majola failed to do. His document points 3.6 and 3.7 cover that. “Despite many opportunities, Mr. Majola

failed to disclose the bonus when he had a clear and ongoing duty to do so,” it reads. “Even worse, Mr. Majola expressly lied about it, avowing more than once that he ‘had not received a cent.’

Tip deduced that Majola’s behaviour had adversely affected cricket’s reputation. In the last point, 3.9, on the bonuses he wrote. “In general, his conduct in relation to the bonuses, his continued denial of any wrongdoing, his active part in events that have brought disruption and division within cricket, and his avoidance of a prompt resolution of the matter through due and prescribed processes, have materially contributed to bringing CSA - and the sport of cricket in this country into disrepute.”

As proof of this, Tip heard testimony confirming that throughout the 2011-12 season, CSA struggled to secure sponsors. A T20 and ODI series against Australia and the domestic one-day competition was played without corporate backing. CSA’s standing fell severely which led Tip to 5.6. “In general, the CEO is the public face of the organisation. He has to project and uphold the integrity and character of CSA. Mr. Majola has

done the opposite and this has dealt a heavy blow to CSA and to cricket.”

What ended Majola’s case is that he never admitted to any wrongdoing, nor did he show any understanding of it. In point 15, Tip said, “It is also so that Mr. Majola has at no stage shown any remorse or contrition in respect of his conduct. He has given no indication of which I am aware that he has appreciated the true nature of his conduct and, likewise, he has evidently not accepted any wrongdoing on his part. As a result, a prolonged and corrosive situation of uncertainty has been in place at CSA. As the CEO he had a duty to prevent that.”

Tip concluded that “these factors too weigh against any prospect that a properly functioning employment relationship could be resumed,” between Majola and CSA and so, his sanction was that Majola should be fired. CSA have implemented the sanction and will also continue with their civil case to recover the bonus from Majola. Only Majola and former COO Don McIntosh are being asked to pay back their bonuses, while the rest of the staff will not face any claim. CSA will also now have to appoint a new CEO. Their AGM will be held on

Gerald Majola Saturday, October 27 when they will finalise their new board structure.

Earlier this week, they announced the five independent directors who will sit on the board.

At the meeting the five provincial presidents who will accompany them will be voted in.

Acting CEO Jacques Faul will continue the role while the job is advertised. He, along with former ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat, are believed to be the front runners for the position.

Saturday October 20, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 37

GABBFF Seniors 2012 – ‘Rise of the Machines’

Day of reckoning tonight; Abraham, McGowan visit E&L Boutique

Eustace Abraham, Frank “English” Parris and Tananarive McGowan pose at E&L Boutique.

All the hard work Guyana’s best male and female bodybuilders would have been putting in over the past weeks will be showcased tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sport Sports Hall when the Guyana Amateur Body Building & Fitness Federation brings off their Senior Championships dubbed ‘Rise of the Machines’.

Reigning Mr. Guyana Clint Duke will have to come good if he is to ward off the challenges of the other top male athletes as they too are aiming for the Mr. Guyana title.

Among the other male athletes in contention are Heavyweight champion at the HRC Michael Dos Santos; Rudolph Blackman {2010 Novice overall winner}; Alister Lancaster {winner of the 2012 HRC Lightweight & Flex Night Berbice Regional winner}, Rosco Joseph {2010 Novice Lightweight champ}.

Devon Davis who is fresh from his gold medal performance in the Flyweight category at the 2012 edition of the CAC championships, he also won the Bantamweight division at this year’s HRC. Curtis McKenzie of Curtis Workout will compete in the Men’s Body Fitness category.

Headlining the female segment of competition are Alicia Fortune {Reigning Ms. Body Fitness & 2012 HRC Ms.

Physique}along with Nadina Taharally {2012 HRC Ms. Figure}.

The categories being contested are Flyweight (132 lbs); Bantamweight (143 lbs); Lightweight (154 lbs); Welterweight (165 lbs); Light Middleweight (176 lbs); Heavyweight (177 lbs & up); Men’s Fitness; Masters Men; Ms. Body Fitness and Ms. Fitness.

Admission is $1000.00 and showtime is 19:00hrs.

Meanwhile, Canadian National Bodybuilding Masters Female Champion Tananarive McGowan and Guyanese based Eustace Abraham, the two guest posers for tonight, yesterday paid a courtesy call to Frank Parris, Manager of E & L Boutique, located in Regent Multiplex Mall, Regent & Wellington Streets.

Mr. Parris who is one of the sponsors of tonight’s show was very appreciative of the gesture and said he was pleased to be part of the event. Abraham in a brief remarks said such event is not possible without assistance from business entities and thanked the sponsor for their support. Both Athletes promised quality performances this evening.

Among the other sponsors are Digital Technology, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, De Sinco Trading and Sleep Inn, Sterling Products, Banks DIH and Fitness Express.

Paradise Community Day set for Oct. 28 - Sponsored by Bele Holdings

The village of Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara will celebrate its first Community Day on Sunday October 28, 2012 with the aim of having this occasion celebrated on the last Sunday of October, each year.

The event will bring together the communities of Paradise, Bachelor’s

Mr. Roy Simbodyal (centre) hands over the cricket trophy to Ovid Glasgow. At right is Mrs Zoli Ma Canda-Simbodyal.

t r o Sp

Gentle sisters capture two titles STEPHNEY WINS BOYS UNDER-14

Adventure, Beruit, Melanie, Foulis and Log Wood. These communities will be engaged in the sports disciplines of Cricket, Dominos and Football which are sponsored by Mr. Roy Simbodyal and Mrs. Zoli Ma CandaSimbodyal of Bele Holdings, South Africa.

The organisers are Mr. Ovid Glasgow, DSM and Mr. Albert Bobb.

Shawna Gentle

A

ction continued in the Nigel’s Supermarket Junior Tennis Classic and produced a double win for the Gentles as Shawna Gentle was able to secure the Girls 18 title over Krystal Sukra, while her younger sister Afruica took the Girls Under-14 title with a win over Kezia Boyle.

Shawna, who is also the top ranked senior player, progressed to the finals after she overcame Tamasha Boyle while Sukra had a much harder time getting past 14 yr old Nicola Ramdyhan in three close sets 3-6, 6-2, 10-5. Ramdyhan fought bravely against the hard hitting Sukra but lost after taking the first set 6-3 from Sukra who bounced back gamely to win the next two.

In the final, Gentle had an easier than expected win over Sukra with whom she has had epic battles in the past. The final scoreline was 6-3, 6-2 for Gentle who maintained her dominance in the Girls 18 category.

Her younger sister Afruica, who will be representing Guyana along with a full junior team in Suriname later this month, had an easy win over Boyle to capture the top spot in the Girls 14 category.

In the Boys Under-14, Judah Stephney emerged the winner after a tough 6-4, 6-4 win over Keshon Reece who played well and has

Afruica Gentle improved his game considerably over a short time span.

Stephney defeated Lemuel Ross 7-5, 6-1 in his previous match while Reece beat Bernard Shaw 6-1, 6-1.

In the Boys 18 category, the final will be played this weekend between top seed Gavin Lewis and Seanden David Longe as the top two players in the division booked their places with wins over the much improved Craig Campbell and Benedict Sukra respectively.

Lewis, who had dominated in the round robin stages, had a tough time finding a groove against the hard working Campbell and was able to notch up a 6-2 6-4 win, while David Longe had to come from behind to edge out Benedict Sukra who has played significantly better after returning to tennis after securing 12 grade ones to be a top 10 student at the recent CSEC exams.

Sukra started off with a 3-0 lead which he converted to 5-4 before Longe stormed back to win the set 7-5. The second set went 6-3 to Sukra who levelled the match before losing the super tie break decider 10-6 to Longe who is a regular in the Boys 18 finals.

The tournament attracted players who competed in 4 categories in round robin competition and is an annual feature on the junior tennis calendar.

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