Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

The twisted world of politics The world of politics is full of twists and turns but most of all, it is full of politicians making one utterance then doing the exact opposite a short while later. Of course, we have seen this change among governments. For example, before he died, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced to Guyana and to the rest of the world that his country has no design on Guyana. He also said that as friends, this country had nothing to fear in terms of military expansion and the threat of any invasion. Guyana felt that it really had a friend in Venezuela and so it entered into agreements that were designed to help the country along its path of development. There was the PetroCaribe arrangement that saw Guyana paying a fraction of what it would have cost for its fuel. At the same time, Venezuela provided Guyana with its largest rice market. Now all that has changed. For one, Venezuela is once again making moves to deny Guyana its right to some twothirds of its territory. It has also revoked its rice agreement, choosing to join with Suriname, a neighbor to the east that also has designs on a portion of Guyana. Even at home there have been numerous cases of vacillation. Back in the late 1970s, the late President Forbes Burnham stood on the political stage and adumbrated a three-phased programme of salary increases for the public servants. The people responded with rousing cheers but the day came when Burnham reneged. The largest of the increases were never paid. Burnham then placed his volte face in the corner of the hydroelectric construction. Those old enough would recall the question, “Do you want the pay increase or do you want the hydro?” Those are major reversals. There are others that come in the form of elections promise. Some political parties promise the moon and the stars once out of power. But from the moment they accede to office the promises fall by the wayside. More recently, there was Bharrat Jagdeo, the former president of Guyana. During his tenure as President he signed the constitutional amendment that limits the terms of office of the President. Having done that, he demitted office in keeping with the constitutional requirement. Some say that the lure of power is a great thing. Three years had barely passed before Jagdeo signaled that he was prepared to challenge the decision that limited his term. That issue went to the court which has since ruled that the decision to limit the terms of the president was unconstitutional. But on countless occasions, Jagdeo kept responding in the negative to questions about his willingness to run for the presidency at the end of his term limit. It was the same just a few days after the May 11, 2015 elections. At one of the few press conferences he ever held, Jagdeo said that he was done with life in politics. He said that he had no intention to seek political office or to return to the National Assembly. The nation has since seen that one must not believe everything that comes from the mouth of the politician. Jagdeo has not only entered the National Assembly, he is also the Opposition Leader. The new government is also being accused of reneging on some of the promises it made. People point to the promise of a hefty pay rise for public servants. This has not yet been forthcoming although the government says that it is examining the issue. At issue here, is the fact that political leaders would develop ideas away from the reality. They then turn to the people with explanations. The reality is that the very politicians are not as forgiving when the shoe is on the other foot. Perhaps it is now time for the people to be more exacting and less forgiving. But that would take a whole new culture. Correction: During the week we identified the former Canadian Prime Minister as Stephen Fraser. The man was Stephen Harper.

Sunday October 25, 2015

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

Guyana’s Don Quixote is in big, big trouble DEAR EDITOR, Love him or hate him, Freddie KIssoon’s public intellectualism pervades Guyana. It may be open for debate but there isn’t anyone before him that has used ideas, critiques, intellectual exchanges and plain confrontational grammar to influence Guyana the way he has. Friends who have visited Guyana on their return would tell me that everybody reads Freddie Kissoon. We in the Diaspora read Freddie Kissoon too I wouldn’t say I share his world view and his philosophical ideas. His take on ethnic voting is too emotionally skewed. He seems to distrust the nationalism of Indians less than Africans in Guyana. That too is

simplistic. While I believe he is capable of great intellectual depths, his understanding of the Guyanese Indian mind lacks a sound approach. As many of his Indian detractors would argue; he needs to write more on the sociological weaknesses of both major races, that is, his sagacious pen must roam over the African-Guyanese community. Contrary to what many in the Diaspora have told me here in the UK, I don’t think Freddie has ethnic preferences. His work on the crime spree during the Buxton mayhem was journalism and intellectual analysis par excellence. I cannot understand why Kaieteur News has not made those columns into book form. Our history is incomplete without it.

I never thought of writing about him because I do admire and appreciate what he has done to open the eyes of all of us on power and politics in our beloved Guyana. His human rights record is the best in the Caribbean. And I say this as someone who lived in three Caribbean countries before settling in the UK. Freddie is Guyana’s Don Quixote and Ralph Nader wrapped in one. This is my first letter to the press and it was occasioned by a letter I saw on Freddie Kissoon by the Guyanese educator, Harry Hergash who lives in Canada. Hergash is my age and has a wealth of experience on Guyana. I think he is a fair-minded analyst. Harry has put Freddie in very, very (Continued on page 69)


Sunday October 25, 2015

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Time to review the reciting of A trade unionist questions Christian prayers in schools the democratic credentials of the APNU-AFC regime

DEAR EDITOR, A recent article in the Newspapers titled “Government to Review Christian Prayers in Public Schools’ has caught my attention and I must heartily congratulate Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnarine for taking a most “educated” stance on this long standing travesty. At the same time one wonders why previous governments with leading Pandits in their midst and having a more than warm relationship with leaders of the Muslim community have not seen it fit to correct this anomalous situation a full 49 years after independence. I remember well my days at a certain Government school where the deputy Head Mistress used the auditorium to carry on Christian prayers sessions without evening paying a fee. While at the very school, Hindus were given a difficult time to get permission to observe Holi for example or to conduct havans.

It is my humble view that the Hindus and Muslims have only themselves to blame for this unfortunate state of affairs due mainly to a lack of any committed activism to force the change that Dr. Roopnarine has now announced. I therefore ask Dr. Roopnarine to immediately send instructions to the Heads of all government schools that the practice of reciting Christian prayers only must cease immediately and if prayers are to be said they should be general/generic in nature. Another possible alternative is to have short prayers from the 3 major religions be read on a daily basis which may be the preferred option for many. I look forward to further definitive announcements on this matter by The Learned Honourable Minister of Education in early course. Chris Persaud

GT&T - please ‘ do more’ for my mobile data plan DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to write on my frustration with the services of GTT’s mobile data plan. For two (2) consecutive days( 22nd - 23rd October 2015), my mobile data plan was disconnected, so yesterday I decided to query the matter, since I only paid for the monthly data plan 1st October 2015 to a cost of $ 2500. Plus in order to support my data plan, I use my home wifi from 4:30 pm in the afternoon to 8:30 am in the morning. When I queried via contact # 8682355 yesterday, I was assisted by a wonderful customer service operator that said, ‘ I have a lot of re-

maining data allocation, so there must have been a mistake in the suspension of my internet service’ quickly she apologized on behalf on GTT and immediately resolved the issue. Today, 23rd Oct at 11:05am, I got another message from GTT that said ‘my GTT internet service has been suspended because I have exceeded my service time or data allocation’ knowing that my service time is up to 31st October 2015, and only yesterday I had ‘ a lot of remaining data allocation’ yet my mobile data service was disconnected. I, under assumption thought it was again a

mistake, decided to query the issue back, so I called, waited 13 minutes to get a customer service operator, finally reported the issue again only to be told, ‘ I have no data allocation’, so she asked, ‘what I used my plan for’, I said only for email and whtapp and I also mentioned I used my wifi when I get home. I was told the data allocation is finished. She (Continued on page 69)

DEAR EDITOR, There was a time when I believed that a major problem in this society was the PPP based on the way the party governed the country. But today reports emanating from the public place me in a position to ask myself: Whether it is not a culture in the society where persons when elected to office believe they can treat citizens anyhow? On Thursday a member of the public walked into my office and raised concern about how he was treated by a junior minister of government. This citizen reported that he visited to the minister’s office to address a problem of his. He advised me that the minister opened his office door, spoke to him loudly and the statements were humiliating that he was even ashamed to walk out of the office, because those outside of the office who were on the same floor could have heard the minister. This is the fifth complaint I have received about this minister and it was the second within the same day. This mentality where elected officials feel that the people are their subjects to be treated as they like ended on the 26thMay 1966 when the

Golden Arrowhead was hoisted and Forbes Burnham and Cheddie Jagan embraced each other at the National Park. The view by many in society that they ought not to be part and parcel of the political process is being supported by the behaviour as identified in the minister, who is not singular in treating the citizens with contempt. What is also worrying is that many of these persons put on their own in any constituency elections may not be able to muster 20 votes, even those of their family, yet they conduct themselves with disdain for the people. Acquiring political office today, which was made possible by the people, has seem some too busy to even say hello to their neighbours and those they formerly rubbed shoulders with. This is not arrogance; it has to be something else. Today the citizens are urged not to only come to persons like me and complain about the

mistreatment and abusive behaviour, but to formally lodge their complaints to President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. This can be done simply by dropping a note to the guard hut at the Office of the President complex, or if this fails, go to the media. This dishonoured political culture must come to an end. Visiting parliament when in session is another area of observing the political class in action. Those who were in the government bench in the last parliament are now willing to engage people like me. While those who are now in the government bench, who in the past were looking in all directions to engage, now walk through other doors to avoid getting in contact with voices they once relied on and drew strength from when in opposition. The barricades that are currently around Parliament (Continued on page 69)


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Sunday October 25, 2015

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OUR TASK IS NOT DISPUTING BUT GROWING AND DEVELOPING PEOPLE AND COUNTRY DEAR EDITOR, I beg your indulgence and that of the newspaper reading public to respond to the letter by Mr. Rawle Lucas in SN of Tuesday 2015-10-20 entitled, “Minimum selling price for two-thirds of the Mariott should have been US$30m not US$8m” I will concede that my earlier letter contradicting what Mr Lucas

is portraying could have been more fulsome and explicit – but I didn’t think I needed to be. I thought and still do think that enough information has been put out from time to time. At the same time I do not think that my earlier letter was “without substance” or “a derogatory treatment of a serious matter” or “a smear campaign”. Rather, the very op-

posite, although I continue to hold that Mr Lucas is mistaken. What I did and do still intend and hope for is to catch and hold the attention of all our fellow citizens, so as to have us all engaged in talking about and learning about the needed investments including the sourcing and the rewarding, for the growth and

Workers are exposed to terrible health hazards in cleaning Georgetown DEAR EDITOR, I have observed within the central districts of Georgetown, a flurry of activity in terms of the cleaning of drains, weeding and leveling of parapets and the replanting of trees that were lost over time. This situation reminds me of Washington Irving’s story, where Rip van Winkle fell asleep and woke up twenty years later, having missed the American Revolution, the death of his wife, the marriage of his daughter and the birth of his grandson. This is the same period of time that Hamilton Green and his Councilors took office at City Hall and have now seemingly awakened. However, my more serious concern has to do with the health, safety and welfare of the workers carrying out these remedial works. Having spoken to a number of them at the Bourda cemetery and in the Lacytown area, I learnt that they were not workers of the City Council but rather were hired by individuals who were given contracts by Council to carry out these works. These workers who were

doing a very painstaking and first-class job, complained that they were being paid low wages, were given no protective gear, were not covered by any insurance scheme, did not have access to any disinfectants, in fact they were without a simple first aid kit or drinking water to alleviate dehydration in the sweltering heat. This is in spite of the persons who were given the cleaning contracts by Council being paid tens of millions of dollars. Now surely the Georgetown City Council must appreciate the need to build in to the contracts being doled out, provisions to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment must be provided to the workers that must include waterproof/abrasion-resistant gloves, footwear, eye and respiratory protection. Face visors are particularly important against splashes. That they also provide adequate welfare facilities, including clean water, soap, nailbrushes, disposable paper towels, and where heavy contamination is foreseeable such as the Bourda cemetery where the remains

of many cholera victims lie, showers. Also portable toilet facilities should be provided. For injuries which will inadvertently occur because of broken bottles, rusty nails, and other unmentionables lying in the canals and alleyways, it should be mandatory that the workers are provided with adequate first-aid equipment, including clean water or sterile wipes for cleansing wounds, and a supply of sterile, waterproof, adhesive dressings. Not because it is not City Council workers doing the work, should the Council be exonerated morally or legally from ensuing the proper taxes are paid by the contractors, that the NIS laws are respected, that the occupational health and safety act of Guyana is upheld and that proper wages and premiums are paid to these cleaners. But then again 95% of the contracts given out, are to Councilors, friends and family members of Councilors and Officers. It should be given to reputable companies and contractors instead. Mark Roopan

development of us, the people and our country. It had been suggested and accepted that an International Brand Name Hotel added to our existing mix of hotels would provide a desirable fillip to our hotel industry and a boost to our tourism sector. It was for NICIL to promote and lead such a venture. Inherent in every venture are acts of creation, of synthesis, all fraught with risks from conception through various embryonic stages to delivery. After a number of enquires, consultations, desktop trial and error analyses of various configurations, and a feasibility study it appeared that a hotel of about two hundred rooms, costing in total about US$60million, with a capital structure of about US$12 million in equity and about US$48million in loans/ debt could be profitable and hence could attract the financing. NICIL duly registered the company, Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI) and set out to and was successful in attracting potential partners who would be comfortable with each other. Appropriate commitments were exchanged between NICIL and the international hotel brand, Mariott, and also the potential investors in the debt and the equity. NICIL proceeded to implement in accordance with its role as promoter/developer, advancing the project with its own funds. At various predetermined points along the project path, Mariott would be checking that the hotel was being built to their standards; and the providers of the equity and of the loan/debt financing would input their required amounts (tranches) of money.

NICIL (not the Government) as developer holds all title to AHI, initially, and issues the relevant instruments, equity shares and/or loan certificates to the financers as their payments are made. Thus, the provider of the US$18million loan (to AHI not to NICIL) would have received his loan certificate of US$18million and the US$8million equity provider would have received twothirds of the equity shares. All other share and loan certificates remain with NICIL until the relevant payments can and are duly made. Up to this time, no loss, nor discount, nor subsidy is evident. Mr Editor, in matters such as this the best of us can go astray because of the overlapping but non-identical meanings of words being used and in overlooking the distinct and separate identities of the various agencies involved. Thus, “two-thirds of the Mariott” (whatever that is) that Mr Lucas speaks about, is not the same as “two-thirds of the equity in AHI” for which US$8million was properly contributed. There is no problem, no loss, no discount, no subsidy, and no corruption. Mr. Lucas statement totally ignores that planned equity is only US$12million. All of the remaining funds is debt (including the additional funds by NICIL), which has to be repaid by AHI. If the company is dissolved tomorrow, the debt from Republic bank and NICIL takes priority over the equity. AHI and NICIL have taken out full page advertisements on this very issue. As such, two-thirds of US$12million is US$8million; there is no US$30million to take account of.

Mr. Lucas should also note that the opportunity to contribute the US$8million in the equity was widely advertised; it was not kept secret. But Mr Editor, the task we are all engaged in is the growth and development of people and country-not disputing. At times we should note differences and disputes but not get too bogged down in them - the passage of time often clarifies a number of things. We of the PPP/C are pleased that all Guyanese and Guyana have progressed greatly during our years in office but as we think of attaining a per capita income like that of Trinidad or of Barbados or even more, like that of the USA, we must think of building an economy five to ten times what we have today. Anyone who would have been visiting the Pegasus over the last five years would approve of and laud its great rehabilitation and upgrading. Late last year or very early this year, after launching a seawall clean-up from the vicinity of the Bandstand, I walked to the Kitty Pump house. Looking back from halfway along, perhaps the lighting was just right in the early morning hour; my heart filled with pride at the sight of the two hotels at the mouth of the Demerara; and the foreshore all along seemed longing for another eight or more such hotels so that someday one might think of Mobay or the Malecon. There is very much for us to do and to learn as we do, to continue the growth and development of people and country of the last twentythree years of which we should all be proud. Samuel A A Hinds Former Prime Minister & President

Prime Minister Gonsalves asserts support Re: Deepavali is not for Guyana’s internationally accepted borders a Political Gimmick

DEAR EDITOR, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has said that the “ballgame”...... the nature of CARICOM’s relations with Venezuela would change should that country ever exercise the military option in pursuit of its claim to Guyana’s territory. He said that CARICOM maintains that the territorial integrity of Guyana must remain intact in keeping with the 1899 Arbitral Award and has publicly expressed its position on numerous occasions. He said CARICOM had

expressed its grave concern to the initial decree issued by President Maduro and that it was withdrawn and replaced with one that was not threatening. Prime Minister Gonsalves was responding to a question I posed to him during the question period following his Eric Williams Memorial Lecture at Florida International University on Friday night. Gonsalves said that CARICOM supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the controversy noting that

UNSG Ban Ki Moon met recently with Presidents Granger and Maduro in this regard. He said CARICOM supports a legal approach to resolving the controversy. Noting that there had been movement of Venezuelan troops along the border with Guyana not so long ago, Gonsalves said that in his view Maduro would not exercise the military option although there were forces in Venezuela that would want to use that option. It is not an easy situation for Guyana, he said, but he is of the strong belief that the

controversy will be settled peacefully. I have written this letter to share with your readers a view expressed about CARICOM’s support for Guyana on the Venezuelan issue by one of its leaders. There was much said about Guyana in Dr. Gonsalves’ lecture especially about the role the country played under Forbes Burnham especially, as part of CARICOM to pave the way for the process towards normalization of US/Cuba relations. Wesley Kirton

DEAR EDITOR, I would have paid ardent attention to the many viewpoints regarding the celebration of this Auspicious Festival of Lights, Deepavali, one of the most sacred celebrations that grant inner peace and sanctity to the many devoted Hindus. I think we should highlight some factual points presented by some of our religious emissaries. Hindu Calendars are published one year prior to the influx of another year. I sought several pieces of Hindu Calendars for the year

2015 and observe that all the specified dates had indicated that this sacred day be celebrated on the 11th of November, This would have been at the disposal of the Government and even the pertinent authorities. According to Hindu texts, this sacred day is observe on “Amawasya” part of the Kartik period that is the darkest night of the year, therefore it is calendered on this day (11-11-2015). I could not understand why all of these years, this (Continued on page 69)


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Young Jamaica urges PM to fire ‘political hacks’ in health sector

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson KINGSTON, Jamaica — Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has accused the governing People’s National Party (PNP) and its youth arm, the PNP YO, of “gross indifference and insensitivity” surrounding the deaths of 18 infants at two major public hospitals. “What we’ve been witnessing since last Friday is an unacceptable attempt to bury this tragedy in cold medical jargon and statistics. These children are not just statistics. They are Jamaicans who were every bit deserving of the care and protection that any of us would expect. The

over reliance on the fact that they were born premature suggests a certain disregard for the lives lost. It is unacceptable and insensitive in the extreme to continue to deal with these deaths as mere statistics,” Young Jamaica said in a media release yesterday. The youth organisation said it is particularly concerned that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has not yet publicly demanded accountability for the deaths of these children. “We’re asking the Prime Minister, who will be held responsible for this gross negligence? Leading medical per-

sonnel have already admitted that this tragedy could have been prevented. …The prime minister has rightly demanded better protection for the nation’s children. Now is an opportunity to match the strength of her rhetoric with clear and decisive actions,” said Young Jamaica. “The PNP wants to talk about removing politics from health care? Well let’s start the process by firing all the political hacks appointed to senior managerial positions in the sector. Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte has been calling for this for months. Let’s start there,” it added. (Jamaica Observer)

UN Secretary General welcomes next phase of Haiti’s electoral process today NEW YORK, USA — United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon last week welcomed the next phase of the electoral process in Haiti, which will take place today with the first round of presidential elections, the second round of legislative elections and the holding of municipal elections. A statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson noted that “he reiterates his call to all Haitians to exercise their democratic right to vote.” He also commended Haiti’s institutions, particularly the Provisional Electoral Council and the Haitian National Police, for the steps they have taken “to facilitate a peaceful, inclusive and transparent vote.” “The secretary-general deplores the violent incidents that occurred in some locations during the first round of legislative elections on 9 August,” the statement added. “He calls on the Haitian au-

thorities to ensure that all perpetrators of electoral violence are brought to justice.” Meanwhile, Ban urged all political parties, candidates and their supporters to conclude their electoral campaigns peacefully, resolve any disputes that may arise through established legal

procedures and support the Provisional Electoral Council in the next stage of the process. The UN chief also reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to extend its full support to the Haitian people in the fulfilment of their democratic aspirations. (Caribbean News)

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Sunday October 25, 2015

Prosecutor in opposition leader’s trial flees Venezuela CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - A Venezuelan prosecutor who tried opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has fled the South American nation and apologized for his role in what he called a political show trial. Caracas prosecutor Franklin Nieves’ arguments helped convict Lopez in September on what the politician’s supporters say were trumped up charges of inciting violence during antigovernment protests last year. He was sentenced to nearly 14 years in jail. In a video sent Friday to the Venezuelan news website La Patilla, Nieves said he fled Venezuela with his family to escape pressure from the executive branch and his superiors to stand by while “false evidence” is used to keep an innocent Lopez in jail during the appeals process. He said he would soon present evidence to demonstrate that Lopez’s trial was a premediated “farce.” “For those who know me, starting now you’re going to hear attempts to discredit me, to insult me, because I wouldn’t lend myself anymore to continuing with this farce,” a steely-eyed Nieves said in the nearly four-minute video recorded at an undisclosed location. He urged fellow prosecutors and judges to join him in the truth-telling exercise. “Be brave, raise your voices and express your discontent with the pressure brought to bear by our supe-

…apologizes for his role in what he called a political show trial

Leopoldo Lopez

Franklin Nieves

riors, who threaten us with firing or with throwing us in jail, and always use an absurd series of arguments to threaten us to carry out their whims,” said Nieves. It’s unclear where the video was shot but social media was abuzz with speculation that Nieves has fled to the United States. The U.S. State Department and Venezuela’s government had no immediate comment. Nieves was one of five Venezuelan officials involved in Lopez’s trial targeted for U.S. sanctions in a bipartisan letter sent to Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew by a group of 20 members of Congress. The Obama administration has already slapped sanc-

tions on seven other Venezuelan officials, including a high-profile prosecutor, for their alleged human rights violations during the crackdown on last year’s protests, which were blamed for more than 40 deaths. Nieves and fellow prosecutors argued during Lopez’s trial that the opposition leader’s vitriolic rhetoric and support for a strategy known as “The Exit” was a not-so-veiled attempt to oust President Nicolas Maduro just months after pro-government supporters swept regional elections. Human rights groups have condemned the verdict and the U.S. government has made Lopez’s release a key demand for normalizing relations.

Holness says JLP youth programmes will employ over 15,000 persons KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness, says that over 15,000 youths would benefit from two training programmes the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has promised to institute, if elected to government. Speaking at a “Prosperity Live” campaign meeting in Portmore last week, Holness said that the national apprenticeship and national service programmes, which he announced in July, would be on the agenda for a future JLP government. He said that the programmes would involve some 15,000 youths involved in helping to transform the public sector from a paperbased to a paperless entity. “It is going to take a massive concentrated effort to convert from paper to digital. It’s is going to take a lot of

Andrew Holness bright youngsters who are eager about technology to work with a programme like that,” he told a huge crowd at the Portmore Academy. “[It is] not for two days, not for three weeks, but it will take two to three years, and it will occupy the time of over

15,000 youngsters to bring the Jamaican Government into the digital place,” Holness said. He stated that those youngsters will fall under the national apprenticeship programme and will learn skills like business process operations, which will allow them to obtain employment in similar operations when their youth service is concluded. He said that, on the other hand, the government will benefit from by digitising its records, which will make its services more efficient. Other speakers at the meeting were: Opposition spokesman on finance and planning, Audley Shaw; Opposition spokesman on Local Government, Desmond McKenzie; and, Councillor Keith Blake (Independence City) of the Portmore Municipal Council. (Jamaica Observer)


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

CAPE Student killed in hit and run accident

Seventeen-year-old Denilson Rose, aka Nello, of 15 Fair’s Rust, Mackenzie, Linden, was killed in the wee hours of Saturday morning as he was returning home from a party. Rose was hit from the back on the Washer Pond Road and dragged about 200 feet before the vehicle stopped and the driver removed the body, then drove away. According to a taxi driver, Roydon Harris, aka ‘Monkey Man’, he alerted the police to the accident. “I just do a drop off over de river and was going down de road when on de turn about 3:30 I see this dark thing on de road. “So I put on me bright lights and see de body lie down and all de blood so I go to de station and tell de police.” According to Rose’s mother, Elaine Williams, a Special Constable attached to the Mackenzie Police Station, she was in her bed when a car pulled up and asked her if Nello lived there. She said that when she answered in the affirmative she was told that they found him dead on the Washer Pond Road. She said that she was in shock and even accused

Dead: Denilson Rose them of killing her son. Rose and his friend “Bucky” were in the Inter Secondary School sports last Friday and were involved in an argument with another youth who brought two friends who allegedly live in Cayenne and they attacked them. A wailing Williams said “Just last week dey stab meh son and I report it to de police and dem ent do nothing. Now dem kill me baby; dem murder he. Where he friends dem deh now fuh cry wid me?” Rose left earlier on Friday to attend the Champion of Champion Sports meeting at the Mackenzie Sports Club

Ground. According to reports after the sports he was seen with friends in the L and L Social Club. At the hospital, pandemonium broke out even as the hearse waited to transport the body to the morgue. Rose’s mother held his hand, wailing. The grieving mother said that her younger daughter called him a few minutes to eleven Friday night and he told her that he was just around the corner and that he would be home soon. She noted that about one hour later she called him again and his phone rang out. She said she called again and the

phone was turned off. Rose’s older brother, Kevin, said that he is puzzled over the fact that his brother ended up on the Washer Pond Road because he doesn’t walk home. “Me brother doan walk home, he prefer to beg a drop before he walk.” Rose turned seventeen on October 3, last. According to his mother he had just completed his CSEC in May/ June last at Brickdam Secondary School and was successful in eight subjects. At the time of his death he was a sixth form student at the Mackenzie High School preparing for CAPE 2016. A broken license plate was found on his body apparently belonging to the car that hit him. The license plate bearing the number PRR 6503 was traced to Marlon “Brando” Washington. Washington, a Special Constable in Georgetown, told investigating ranks that when he hit Rose he was already dead. Rose’s bag and cellular phone cannot be found. An autopsy will be done on the body on Monday. (Jacquey Bourne)

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Dem boys seh...

Two big man touting dead people De police does lock up people when dem ketch de people touting. Nuff minibus tout had to do two wuk, one was to run to get passenger and de other was to run from de police. Many a day some of dem cry how de same money dem collect from touting is de same money dem had to pay in court. De magistrate use to tell dem tout that dem should look fuh a proper job. Dem boys seh that de magistrate will have to tell more people de same thing. De commissioner and de minister touting dead people fuh dem funeral parlour. Was a time when people dead funny, like if somebody kill somebody or if de police shoot and kill somebody or if somebody drown, de last place dem had to go was Lyken. If a car knock down a man, was Lyken. Now Rum Jattan and See-all touting. Dem telling de police fuh go out and hustle dem other funeral parlour. When dem boys hear de news de first time dem couldn’t believe it. Dem ask a policeman who was directing a dead to another funeral parlour although was a case of a man who get knock down. When dem contact Lyken to ask wha happen de funeral parlour people seh that somebody collecting a kickback and since Lyken don’t kickback, some people moving to see wheh dem can collect a short piece. Dem boys expect to see de police going to one funeral parlour in de dead of de night and thiefing a body to carry it to another funeral parlour. It gun be a time when de dead get up and walk back to de first parlour wheh it was resting. And when that happen dem boys want Rum Jattan and See-all to be in de vicinity. Already because Lyken is not a Muslim de parlour can’t get no Muslim dead. That one going to some memorial place in de cemetery. And de two of dem lucky that Jagdeo didn’t think about touting dead people. Of course he pay he dues but Donald stop de payment and dem boys believe that he wanted something. Talk half and watch out fuh Rum Jattan and See-all when you family dead.


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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

GPHC Oncology Unit seeing increase in cancer survivors There has been a noticeable increase in the number of cancer survivors. This assertion was made by General Medical Officer (GMO) attached to the Oncology Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Latoya Gooding. On Friday she said that more than 100 patients are currently being offered chemotherapy at the GPHC. There are, however, more than 200 who attend clinic regularly. Some of them are awaiting treatment or have already completed prescribed treatment regimens. About six patients are between the ages of seven and 17. “The survival rate depends on the type of cancer. So far since I’m here the highest survival rate has been breast cancer...We have been seeing a lot in cervical cancer, as well as colon,” disclosed the Cuban-trained doctor who joined the Oncology Unit in March. The Unit is currently headed by Consultant Oncologist, Dr. Justo Despaigne Delisle, of Cuba. But it was a visiting Oncologist who was able to declare at least five patients of the Unit free of cancer, recently according to Dr Gooding. Among the survivors was even a stage four cervical cancer patient. The perceived improved survival rate of patients has been credited to support from

both Government and nongovernmental organisations, the likes of the Organisation of Social and Health Advancement of Guyana (OSHAG). OSHAG, a US-based organisation which is registered here, just last year adopted the Oncology Unit and was instrumental in providing the couches on which patients are administered chemotherapy and other items to aid the cancer care efforts of the GPHC. “They are pushing for us to have another room so that we can facilitate more patients,” said Dr. Gooding. Commenting on medication, she disclosed that while drugs are available to treat patients there are occasions when there are shortages. But every effort is made to ensure that patients are continually cared for. Among the oldest patients accessing the services of the Unit are 73year-old Cybil Pickering, a former soldier who resides at Vryheid’s Lust and 73-yearold Simon Young of Parika, East Bank Essequibo. Both of them visited the Unit Friday to undergo chemotherapy. Also accessing chemotherapy on Friday were Ranette Dharry of East Coast Demerara and 11-year-old Shelly Debyden of Port Kaituma, Region One. Debyden was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago. The young child was

Young cancer patient Shelly Debyden (on couch) in the company of her grandmother (third from left), Ms. Carol Trim Bagot (second from right) and staffers attached to the Oncology Unit. accompanied by her maternal grandmother, Celestine DeFreitas. OSHA G, o n F r i d a y, presented DeFreitas with monetary support to aid for a period the costly journey of taking her granddaughter to the GPHC for treatment. All of the patients expressed gratitude for the availability of the service offered at the GPHC. According to Gooding, the GPHC had in the past procured its drugs perhaps from the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation. Like the other services offered

at the Oncology Unit, medicines are provided to patients free of cost. And even when there are shortages she said, “We are not allowed to ask patients to buy drugs but if they can’t wait and would like to have their treatment on time they can go ahead and buy them. But what we have learnt is that some private entities tend to jack up their prices.” Oncology and Dialysis which are both offered at the GPHC constitute two of the most costly programmes at the public hospital owing to the cost of the associated

treatment. While patients are afforded most cancer treatment at the GPHC, those requiring radiotherapy, however, must do so at the Cancer Institute which is privately operated. However the cost of accessing radiotherapy is subsidized by Government, Dr. Gooding added. The GMO is however optimistic that the cancer treatment services offered at the GPHC will be expanded and could even soon include CT-Scan and Mammography machines. In fact she is hopeful that the GPHC would

in the near future be able to offer cancer care in a dedicated building. This sentiment was mirrored on Friday by President of OSHAG, Ms. Carol Trim-Bagot, who assured that cancer support to the public health sector will be sustained. She disclosed that the funds raised at a fundraiser dinner planned for October 31 at the Pegasus Hotel will go towards not only the upkeep of the Unit but also to support the less fortunate patients who have to travel far distances to access cancer care.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

E’bo fair to boost entrepreneurship

Sunday October 25, 2015

Europe split on migrant crisis on eve of Brussels talks

Yvonne Pearson’s booth

During the 16th anniversary observance of “Essequibo night/ Exhibition and fair’ Essequibians were encouraged to remain united. The executives of the Region Two Administration have a working plan to transform the Region. Those sentiments were echoed by Regional Chairman, Devenand Ramdatt, and Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, at the official opening ceremony of “Essequibo Night”, on Friday night. In his address to Essequibians, Chairman, Devenand Ramdatt, said that the annual event was intended to promote and advance agriculture and entrepreneurship especially in the Region which has an abundance of rice and cash crop farmers and fishermen.

Ramdatt said that Essequibians were meeting at a time when rice is experiencing multiple challenges but despite certain setbacks in the industry, he promised Essequibians that he and his team would remain strong and unified in the interest of the development of the Region. “In unity there is strength; together we can do this.” Ramdatt added that he intends to take a grassroot approach to the problems that confront the residents of Essequibo in order to aim at bringing that much talked about transformation. Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, said that he is already working on a calendar of events which is intended to offset a series of initiatives to enhance the image of the Region and more so the im-

age of the township of Anna Regina. Hopkinson is of the view that the Region should continue to host continued activities, the likes of “Essequibo night/ Exhibition and fair” in the interest of garnering finances which would assist in enhancing the Region and its people. “If you fail to bring joy to this region, it will be your failure as well as mine.” The Essequibo Night/ Exhibition and fair was held under the theme “Exploiting our strength, advancing our culture.” The idea to have fishermen, farmers and entrepreneurs showcase their produce was conceptualized by the late Agriculture Minister, Satyadeow Sawh under the brand “Made in Guyana, Grown in Guyana.” (Yannason Duncan)

Blasts kill one, wound dozens before Shi’ite march in Bangladesh Reuters - A series of blasts killed at least one person and wounded dozens as Shi’ite Muslims gathered for a procession in the old part of Bangladesh’s capital early yesterday to mark the holy day of Ashura, police said. Islamic State, the hardline Sunni Muslim group that sees Shi’ites as apostates, claimed responsibility for the attack. But Bangladesh’s interior minister told Reuters that no militants were involved and the blasts were not linked to an attack that killed 16 people at a Shi’ite procession in neighbouring Pakistan hours earlier. Police cordoned off the area and one officer said four suspects had been detained. Witnesses said people fled after blasts, losing their flipflops and sandals in the panic. Attacks on the Shi’ite minority have been rare in Sunni-majority Bangladesh, but Sunni militant groups

have become more active. “This is not a militant attack, rather it is a planned and destructive attack aiming only to destabilize the situation of the country,” Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told Reuters. “Though the attack came hours after a suicide bombing in Pakistan, we strongly believe the situation is not similar at all as we live peacefully with Shia community,” he said. But soon after, monitoring group SITE reported Islamic State had released a message saying “soldiers of the Caliphate in Bangladesh” detonated explosive devices in Dhaka during “polytheist rituals”. In recent weeks the Bangladeshi government dismissed two other claims of responsibility by Islamic State, one for the killing of an Italian in September, and another for the killing of a Japanese man earlier this month. At least 10 people were

admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and most of them were in a stable condition, an official there said. Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir, acting secretary general of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, demanded a “neutral investigation” into the attack. “This is a clear sign of a deteriorated law and order,” said Moqbul Ahmed, acting leader of the country’s largest Sunni-Muslim Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. U.S. ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat released a statement saying she was shocked by the attack and noted Bangladesh’s long tradition of religious tolerance and communal harmony. After the attack, Britain said its security advice for citizens in Bangladesh remained the same, asking them to keep a low profile in all public spaces as further attacks targeting Westerners could occur.

Migrants as they make their way on foot after crossing the CroatianSlovenian border, in Rigonce, Slovenia. REUTERS/SRDJAN ZIVULOVIC Reuters - European leaders traded threats and reprimands yesterday as thousands more migrants and refugees streamed into the Balkans on the eve of European Union talks aimed at agreeing on urgent action to tackle the crisis. Concern is growing about hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving in Europe, many from war zones in the Middle East, and camping in western Balkan countries in ever colder conditions as winter approaches. More than 680,000 migrants and refugees have crossed to Europe by sea so far this year, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, according to the International Organization for Migration. Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania said they would close their borders if Germany or

other countries shut the door on refugees, warning they would not let the Balkan region become a “buffer zone” for stranded migrants. “The three countries, we are standing ready, if Germany and Austria close their borders, not to allow our countries to become buffer zones. We will be ready to close borders,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov told reporters. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has invited the leaders of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia to Sunday’s mini-summit. The aim of the meeting is to agree “common operational conclusions which could be immediately implemented.” German media have reported that Juncker will

present a 16-point plan, including an undertaking not to send migrants from one country to another without prior agreement. Slovenia, which said on Friday it would consider putting up a fence on its border with Croatia unless a solution is found on Sunday, said the EU “must ease the burden on the most exposed countries.” It called for “EU action that would stop the uncontrolled migration flows on the outer borders of the EU.” Almost all the migrants are entering the EU via its poorer members in south-eastern Europe and heading north to seek asylum in countries including Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. Leaders of the richer Western states worry that largescale immigration will boost support for the xenophobic far-right.

Hillary Clinton calls Republican’s impeachment vow ‘pathetic’ WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton weekend denounced as “pathetic” and “totally ridiculous” a Republican congressman’s call to impeach her on her first day in office if she is elected to the White House next year. Clinton, the front-runner for her party’s November 2016 presidential nomination, was responding to comments made by Republican Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama. He told a radio interviewer that “she will be a unique president if she is elected by the public next November because the day she’s sworn in is the day that she’s subject to impeachment because she has committed high crimes and misdemeanors.” Appearing on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” Clinton said of the comments by Brooks: “Isn’t that pathetic? It’s just laughable. It’s so totally ridiculous.” “It, perhaps, is good politics with, you know, the most intense, extreme part of their base. I guess that is, or otherwise why would

they be doing it?” Clinton added. Brooks told The Hill newspaper this week Clinton would be subject to impeachment for improperly handling classified information on her private email server while serving as secretary of state. The Republican-led House of Representatives voted in 1998 to impeach her husband, President Bill Clinton, amid a scandal over his sexual relationship with a White House intern. The Senate in 1999 voted to acquit the president. Clinton also addressed her 11 hours of testimony a day earlier before a Republicanled House panel on her handling of the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya. The U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed in the incident. Asked what she did after the marathon hearing ended late into the night on Thursday, Clinton said, “Well, I had my whole team come over to my house and we sat around eating Indian food and drinking wine and beer. That’s what we did. It was great.”


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Head of General Registrar’s Office sent on leave Registrar of the General Register Office (GRO), Greta Mc Donald, has reportedly been sent on leave after reportedly clashing with senior Government officials, recently. Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, would only confirm yesterday that Mc Donald was asked to proceed on leave from October 6 following a number of internal issues. Mc Donald, who reportedly served as Registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages for almost a decade and half, is on 42 days of leave, an official of the Ministry of the Presidency confirmed yesterday. Kaieteur News was told that Government and the newly established Ministry of Citizenship, headed by Felix, had reportedly been handling a number of complaints regarding Birth and Marriage certificates. Another incident had also to do with the embarrassment of two female staffers that the Registrar reportedly attempted to transfer from her office. She reportedly refused to

take back the staffers when instructed to do so, prompting the Public Service Commission to become involved in the matter. According to the official from the Ministry of the Presidency, while Mc Donald’s leave is expected to run out next month, it is unlikely she will return as Registrar. A recommendation has been made not to renew her contract which expires next August. The David Granger administration, since taking office in May, has announced sweeping reforms to the processing of births, deaths and marriages as well as to passports and work permits. The Ministry of Citizenship has been created to oversee and manage the reforms. There are ambitious plans in stream to digitalise the records of GRA, going back to over 100 years. Over the years, there have been complaints of the workings of GRO, with citizens critical of missing records, bribes being paid and delays in the processing of documents.

GuySuCo estates surpass weekly targets The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) recently disclosed that it produced 10,254 tonnes of sugar last week, surpassing the 10,000 tonnes mark for the third time this crop. GuySuCo said that Albion, Blairmont, East Demerara and Uitvlugt Estates have all surpassed their weekly targets while Rose Hall Estate achieved 97 percent. The state-owned entity reminded that last week Wednesday, the Skeldon Factory recorded its highest daily production of 515 tonnes of sugar surpassing its previous highest of 501 tonnes. That same day it was noted that the industry recorded its highest daily production of 1,785 tonnes of sugar surpassing its previous highest target of 1,699. Uitvlugt Estate also completed its second crop last week Saturday and produced 7,847 tonnes of sugar, surpassing weekly

target by 733 tonnes. Further, the estate produced 16,428 tonnes of sugar for the year surpassing its annual target by 1,065 tonnes. The Corporation had awarded its junior staff and file employees on the seven estates a total of $285,716,487 for their achievement of 26 weekly productions during the first crop for this year and for the second crop, this year, it has so far paid approximately $531,499,810 for their employees’ achievement of 47 weekly production incentives. Additionally, the Skeldon Estate supplied the Guyana Power and Light Inc. with 1,213,000 KWh of electricity using bagasse fuel. This brings the total power supplied for the year to date to 30,252,000 KWh. As at October 19, GuySuCo said that 177,127 tonnes has been produced for the year which represents 77.8 per cent of the total sugar production estimated for the year.

When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take threeminute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.

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Sunday October 25, 2015

“It wasn’t me!” GRA emailgate was Nandlall and Sattaur thing - Jagdeo By Abena Rockcliffe Former President Bharrat Jagdeo recently urged the new government not to use the all important Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to get information on entrepreneurs. That can have serious repercussions on the economy and can cause citizens to lose trust in the system, he said As he made such a plea, the Opposition Leader was reminded of the era when members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) government used the Authority to target individuals with whom it did not find favour. Last September, Kaieteur News published two sets of emails; one between GRA Commissioner, Khurshid Sattaur and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall and the other between Sattaur and Jagdeo. The emails provided insight into a plot to destroy Kaieteur News as a result of the exposés the newspaper had been carrying concerning the operations of the executive and Sattaur. But that incident probably slipped Jagdeo’s mind as he initially warned the government not to use GRA as a political tool. Jagdeo told the media on Friday that he had major concerns about the economy as it was grinding to a halt. The Opposition leader said that the distress of the economy is not just reflected

in growth rate, but “in the loss of income and the loss of jobs. My fear is that we may have several financial crises long before we have an economic crisis particularly with the currency and with our banking system.” The former President said that he recently visited Region Five and held several community meetings. He then indicated that at those fora he met with some businessmen who had grave misgivings about the Bill that is currently before the National Assembly. The Bill he referred to was the Financial Institutions Amendment Act. Jagdeo said the Region Five businessmen are “Worried that GRA will be used politically to go after their information in the banks. I am very fearful of what this can trigger many of them to do and they probably will pull their money out of the system.” Jagdeo stressed that if this happens there will be a large scale movement of resources switching to US dollars or it may be externalized as capital flight. “This could cause major problems with our currency and I urge the government to be careful about the signals that they are sending because if that were to ever happen we will trigger a crisis of unimaginable proportions in this country.” Asked how he would compare the fears of the Region Five businessmen to what actually happened in

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

GRA Commissioner, Khurshid Sattaur

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

2014, Jagdeo did not deny the authenticity of the email but denied being directly involved. He said, “The email was copied to me. I was never party but that is Kaieteur’s fabrication. I received a copy of something, an email; I had never sought information on private individuals, never.” That was the first time that Jagdeo ever spoke publicly about the emails. He was asked if he views the disclosure of the information as wrong. To this he responded, “Khurshid was dealing with a sitting AG and I do not know what engagements they had with government business. The AG deals with legal issues and Sattaur deals with tax collection; that’s an official channel.” Asked why he who was not in Government at the time

was copied in the email, Jagdeo claimed ignorance. He said, “I do not know. People copy tons of things to me. Why they copy them, I do not know. I cannot answer that but people send lots of stuff.” The former President said that even the most hostile people against the PPP cannot claim that the GRA or any state agency was used in a political fashion under the PPP. “Let me state an example. You are talking about example, let me give you an example, Guyana Stores of Glenn Lall and Tony Yassin for 10, 15 years had no annual General Meeting and as a public company they should have been struck from the register,” said Jagdeo. He continued, “Today I heard a number of people hired for the enforcement

department of the GRA, check who they are. I heard most are political and ex army people.” Jagdeo further stated that, “In light of what is happening people are fearful that their record will be used for other purposes. So I can understand the sentiment out there and I am not saying this is my sentiment. But once that catches on… you can expect a large number of businessmen feeling insecure.” When the emails were revealed, Sattaur contended that whatever he did was covered in law and as such he had nothing to hide or to be afraid of. Asked whether he denies that he did in fact share tax information of privately owned media houses with the former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Sattaur said, “No

comment.” “Let them dig more and write what they want…Let them write it in ‘dem boys’,” said Sattaur. Kaieteur News had published a redacted email sent from Sattaur to Jagdeo, where he divulged tax information of several privately-owned media houses. In another email, to Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Sattaur informed him that he had provided the former President with “Information which I would expect he treats with the utmost confidentiality.” Sattaur informed Nandlall that, “Since we are in this thing together, I see no harm in sharing this with you. However, further to the assurances you have given me that the Government will be pursuing the newspaper for libel and other offences of a criminal nature, I will await the determination of such action before I provide you with the details on Kaieteur News. “Of course I am deeply indebted to the Government for the confidence it places in me to continue to execute my duties as CG.” The email went on, “I spoke with the honourable BJ and he suggested that the recent outrageous article published on me should for “media purposes” be attributed to the impending major audit of the Kaieteur News which in his usual irregular and surreptitious manner, the newspaper was able to uncover. “Please note however, unless there is a major gag order from the court with a threat of maximum imprisonment, I am not prepared to have this most recent proposed action made public…This as they say in proverbial language is likely to break the camel’s back and the individual may go berserk.”


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Sunday October 25, 2015

GPSU seeks better collective bargaining agreements President of the Guyana Public Service Union, (GPSU), Patrick Yarde, has noted the need for adequate enforcement of legislation essential to facilitating collective bargaining between Union representatives and the Government. Yarde was recalled to the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the Public Service on Tuesday. During the follow up presentation, the Union head underscored that this point is vital to the reformation of the public service. He noted that the lack of adequate enforcement has resulted in unresolved industrial action dating back to some 50 years. The GPSU head provided the Commission with evidence in support of his submissions. During his submission, Yarde noted that there are countless occasions when promises made to public

servants go unfulfilled. He asserted that as a result there was a price to pay; there has been a price to pay. “We are left with a broken and disillusioned Public Service that is less than properly equipped to deliver what the nation needs.” Alluding to the numerous incidents of unfulfilled promises to civil service workers, the GPSU leader said that the current administration must therefore, show sufficient consideration and respect for public service employees. “I am of the view that sufficient regard and respect is not shown for the intelligence of workers in the Public Service. In fact I believe that (the workers) are taken for granted and that, in itself, will have its consequences if not corrected as a matter of urgency.” “What we seek is a nation

whose service values are rooted in integrity and efficiency; a nation, the quality of whose service speaks of high standards; a nation, Mr. Chairman, whose service culture is not disfigured by corruption, dishonesty and mendicancy.” Speaking on the issue of contract employment, in the public sector, the witness noted that parallel Public Service erodes the legitimacy of the sector. He explained that with the existence of such, the sector is contrived with political motives and the appointment of employees on contracts with enormously higher salaries than traditional workers. Yarde submitted, “The public service must be wiped clean of any form of political influence.” Commenting on the issue of collective bargaining agreement, the

GPSU leader underlined difficulties encountered with the past administration. Yarde supplied the Commission with a number of cases in which the previous administration had failed or refused to honour their obligation to agreements following negotiation for increases in salaries for workers, among other issues. He stressed that the lack of authority to enforce the right for arbitration has been the main contributing factor to this problem. Questioned further about the issue, Yarde called for the empowerment and autonomy of the industrial relation machinery; the Ministry of Labour included. Yarde noted however that the Labour Ministry is a precarious position, given that the Head of that agency is a member of

the cabinet/government, causing a conflict of interest. Nonetheless, the Union Head expressed called for an independent Labour Ministry and a Chief Labour Officer that is obligated to the law. He underscored the need for an independent tribunal to deal with matters of industrial relations. This, he believes will result in good governance and improved working relations within the public sector. The COI was established to inquire into, report on, and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration, conditions and other matters pertaining to the personnel employed in the Guyana Public Service. The exercise is expected to determine measures to improve the efficiency of the

GPSU President, Patrick Yarde public service, to review the methodology used in the classification and recruitment of public servants. The inquiry is also expected to conduct a detailed examination of how the salaries and wages of public servants are determined and allocated; review the age of public servant retirement and make recommendations in this regard.

2014 Auditor General Report …

Tender Board evaluators found to be incompetent …No due diligence was conducted The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has been flagged for several improprieties in the latest report by Auditor General (AG), Deodat Sharma. Sharma said that each Ministerial, Departmental and Agency Tender Board shall nominate for consideration by the National Board, qualified evaluators to serve on Evaluation Committees. However, Sharma said in his 2014 report that a pool of evaluators was created and evaluation committees were formed to adjudicate on procurement subject to its jurisdiction. He said that the NPTAB did not exercise due diligence

to ensure that the persons appointed as evaluators had the expertise and experience as specified in the Procurement Act. In its defence, the NPTAB told the AG that its Chairman explained that a letter has been issued by the National Board, to all Regional, Ministerial, Departmental and Agency Tender Boards drawing to their attention Sections 20 (1) and 23 (1) of the Procurement act 2003. Those sections require each Regional, Ministerial, Departmental and Agency Tender Board to nominate for consideration by the National Board, qualified evaluators to serve on Evaluation Committees; and requesting that they

s u b m i t f o r the Board’s scrutiny, the qualifications and/or experience of the persons nominated by them to serve on Evaluation Committees. The AG however emphasized on its recommendation to the NPTAB that in appointing Tender Evaluators, the National Board should ensure that Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Regions undertake checks to ensure that candidates have the necessary expertise before nominations are made to the National Board. Equally, Sharma said that when directly appointing evaluators, the National Board should keep documentation to provide evidence of the checks undertaken. Pointing to another impropriety, Sharma said that as part of its mandate, the NPTAB is required to establish a Bid Protest Committee to deal with alleged breaches of the Act by procuring entities. He said that this Committee’s role also included the review of complaints by aggrieved suppliers and contractors who were dissatisfied with a procuring entity’s response to a complaint. Sharma stated that no committees were formed (continued on page 72)










Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): Commonly used but grave side effects with misuse By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine I am beginning to see a worrying trend with patients who are presenting with serious side effects associated with the misuse of NSAIDS. Some are left with chronic irreversible conditions while others had serious side effects that were reversed after detection. We all experience pain in some form or the other and in our efforts to relieve pains; we often drink pain medications to ease these bouts. NSAIDS are the most commonly used pain medications especially those caused by an inflammatory process such as a sprain or muscle strain. They can help people who have conditions that cause ongoing pain, such as arthritis. They can also help people heal more quickly after an injury. But NSAIDs can cause problems of their own, so it’s important to take the lowest dose you need for the shortest time. You can buy many NSAIDs without a prescription. Examples of NSAIDS medications includes aspirin, ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin),

and naproxen (brand name: Aleve), diclofenac (brand name: voltaren) and indomethacin. These same NSAIDs can also be prescribed by a doctor, usually at a higher strength. Are all NSAIDs the same? Yes and no. All NSAIDs work on the same chemical process in the body, but they do it in different ways. Some NSAIDs need to be taken more often during the day than others to work for certain kinds of pain. And some are more likely than others to cause certain side effects. Are NSAIDs safe for everyone? No. People with certain medical conditions should avoid NSAIDs or use them with care. Talk with your doctor if you use NSAIDs without a prescription (called “over-the-counter”) on a regular basis to be sure they are safe for you. * If you have an ulcer in your stomach or intestine or you have ever had bleeding in the gut, ask your doctor if NSAIDs are safe for you. Your doctor might suggest that you take an NSAID along with a medicine that can protect your stomach and intestines. That’s because NSAIDs can damage your stomach or

The Baccoo Speaks The gun amnesty may be over but there are many guns out on the streets. The police would keep arresting some young men who are walking around with guns for reasons only they could explain. The biggest thing that would happen in the coming days would be the arrest even as a man described as a nuisance would be targeted. ** Another angry man is going to attempt to torch a house owned by a woman who opted to split from him. Neighbours would respond and save the building but they would miss the perpetrator. However, his escape would be short-lived. **

There would be the report of a fraud that would send people rushing to get to the bottom of it. A government department would uncover the fraud involving some leading personalities in the department. This would involve money that would have been moved shortly before the elections.

intestines. * If you have heart disease or ever had a stroke, ask your doctor if it is safe to take an NSAID. NSAIDs can increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. This is especially true for people who already have heart disease or risk factors like high blood pressure. But if your doctor prescribes lowdose aspirin to prevent heart attacks or stroke, you should take it as directed. At low doses, aspirin can actually protect you from these problems. * If you have kidney disease, heart failure, cirrhosis, or you take medicines called diuretics (also called “water pills”), avoid NSAIDs completely. NSAIDs can make heart failure, kidney disease, and cirrhosis worse. NSAIDs can also cause

kidney problems in people taking diuretics or certain other medicines to control blood pressure. * If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor if NSAIDs are safe for you. NSAIDs can raise blood pressure even in people who are taking medicine for high blood pressure * If you have any disorders that increase the risk of bleeding, ask your doctor if NSAIDs are safe for you. * If you are having surgery, ask your doctor if you should stop taking NSAIDs. Most people need to stop NSAIDs, including aspirin, a week before surgery to lower the risk of bleeding. * If you are pregnant, avoid NSAIDs during the last 3 months of pregnancy. What side effects can NSAIDs cause?

In most cases, NSAIDs cause no side effects once used appropriately. The side effects they do cause can include: * Stomach upset, ulcers, and bleeding – NSAIDs can cause stomach upset. If you take them regularly for a long time, NSAIDs can also cause ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestines. * Liver damage – Longterm use of NSAIDs, especially at high doses, can harm the liver. * Kidney damage – Using NSAIDs, even for a short time, can harm the kidneys. They are especially risky in people who already have kidney disease. * Ringing in the ears – Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) is common in people who take high doses of aspirin. It can also happen in people who take other NSAIDs. The ringing usually goes away when they take a lower dose.

Dr. Zulfikar Bux What happens if I take more than the recommended dose? This can lead to the side effects listed above especially if they are overdosed for more than a couple of days. Patients often run into the serious side effects when they use NSAIDS continuously for their lifelong chronic painful conditions. We should understand that if NSAIDS are used properly then the risk of side effects are very low but chronic use or misuse will lead to grave or sometimes deadly side effects.


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Kaieteur News

By Michael Jordan In September 2006, when Savitri Singh heard that a baby had died in the house at Back Street, Stewartville, she wasn’t very surprised. Shocked, yes, but not surprised. Because Mrs. Singh had lived in that very house, and she still swears that something unseen and malevolent lurked there. And it didn’t like children. That something, she says, literally chased her from the house. Now, before I go on, let’s clear up two things. First, I’m no expert on the paranormal, and I wasn’t there, so I can’t say for sure that an evil force hounded the Singh family. The second thing is that Savitri Singh is not her real name; I‘m using this alias to protect the family. But the events I’m writing about are real. It was in 2005 that Savitri Singh and her three daughters, aged, 15, 11, and eight, became tenants of the

house on Back Street, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. According to Mrs. Singh, the property belonged to a Christian family, and, at first, the Singhs saw no sign of the torment to come. All that changed one Sunday, when the family was

attending church, and a relative contacted them to say that a huge golden apple tree on the property had come crashing down. Mrs. Singh swears that there was no heavy wind that day…the tree just fell. And she observed something rather disturbing. Now that the roots were visible, they discovered that someone had stuck a cutlass into its base. Mrs. Singh was pregnant at the time. A few days after this episode, she was at home when she began to hemorrhage. According to her, when relatives were preparing to take her to

hospital, she was seized by a bout of hiccups. When an aunt commented that this was a sign of death, Mrs. Singh began to pray and she eventually reached the hospital, where she was informed that her blood count was low. She had also suffered a miscarriage. Mrs. Singh says that when she eventually arrived home, two of her normally quiet and well-behaved daughters began to act strangely. During a quarrel, her 11-yearold daughter punched her eight-year-old sibling in the stomach. The injured girl complained that she had difficulty breathing and she

Sunday October 25, 2015

was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. According to Mrs. Singh, the doctors found nothing amiss with the child, and she was sent home. But from then, Mrs. Singh’s daughter began to complain of pains in her stomach. She would also claim that ‘something’ was squeezing her tummy and expressed fear of staying in the house. Shortly after this, her daughter again began to complain of having difficulty breathing. The child’s limbs also suddenly became rigid as she sat on a bench. Suspecting that she was dealing with supernatural forces, the worried woman contacted a ‘Maji’ (priest) in the hope that he would heal her daughter. But the Maji complained that ‘something’ was ‘locking’ him off and preventing him from praying. And now the child began to claim that she was seeing a woman with long hair, and that the woman, who only she could see, was calling her. Again, her limbs became rigid. In desperation, the mother took her child to a female ‘spiritualist’ at Industry, East Coast Demerara. The ‘spiritualist’ informed Savitri Singh that 10 ‘spirits’ were on the Stewartville property, and occupied the last room in the house. The ‘spirits’, the woman claimed, had become active after the persons who had controlled them had left the premises.

The ‘spiritualist’ also claimed that the entities were attacking the Singh household because there was no male occupant in the house. Mrs. Singh said the ‘spiritualist’ then sprinkled ‘something’ on the property to rid the family of the ‘entities’. But by then, the family had had enough. They packed their things and moved immediately. But Mrs. Singh says that this incident has a strange sequel. It happened a year after the Singhs hurried departure. In September 2006, a baby girl was left unattended in a room in that same house. According to reports, the baby was left in the care of her aunt and a 15-year-old sister after the mother left for Essequibo. The baby was reportedly placed on a bed in the upper flat to sleep by the aunt and sister who were cooking in the bottom flat. When the aunt and sister checked subsequently, they could not find the baby. But after a frantic search, the little child’s lifeless body was found stuck between the bed and the wall. If you have information about any unusual case, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. You can also reach us on telephone numbers 22-58465, 22-58458, or 22-58473, or contact Michael Jordan at mjdragon@hotmail.com.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 27

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Why I refused to be on the National Commemoration Commission I thank the Government for the acknowledgement that I have some quality in me that could be put to use in service of my country. I was asked to be a member of the National Commemoration Commission. My understanding is that this is a body tasked with the celebratory planning of 50 years of Independence and other national events. I have mellowed with age. My response was philosophical and my vocabulary was in accordance with protocol. I have come a long way from the time President Burnham sent to call me after I had won the President’s Medal as the best graduating student at UG in the latter stages of the seventies. I was rude to Burnham with a grammatical flow that was disrespectful. I don’t think Burnham ever forgave me. I honestly think Burnham hated me for that youthful indiscretion. But at that time I was

y o u n g a n d t h e y o ung always do away with caution. I still discard caution but I am more circumspect. Burnham decided I could not work in Guyana. I married a Wortmanville girl named Janet Mohamed, took up a Master of Philosophy scholarship at McMaster University in Canada, and left my parents and my country behind. My dad died weeks after my departure; my mom months after my return. They never benefited from my university education. My rejection of membership in the National C o m m e m o r a t i o n Commission has to do with my perception of the psyche of this nation. My reading of history and world politics informs me that the 20th century has produced some national tragedies some of which has remained with us. Russia is a tragic landscape. It has always been a sad and complex country. There

are signs that its economic health is impacting positively on its depressed history. The United States is fast becoming a tragedy but I think more than the Russians the Americans have it within their collective wisdom to stop dimensions of social madness and cultural decline. Cuba was always a tragedy but with the expected withering away of the Castroite decay, Cuba may acquire its share of happiness Guyana is one of the 20th century’s enduring Dostoyevskian landscapes. This country has been a harsh, morally barren terrain that has known few moments of emotive bliss and idyllic feelings. Even at the level of psychological normalcy the moments have been episodic. Guyana is morally irredeemable and philosophically amorphous. The rational capacity of humankind is missing from this land. If the world had heeded John Lennon’s pleas for the

scrapping of borders in his famous song, “Imagine” this land would have become a ghost town where only the wind would have stayed and that was because the wind has no control over where it goes. For those close to me, what would have been theirs if I had taken up a post that invited me to expend mental energy on commemorating 50 years of Independence? After countless columns on the nihilistic wasteland that is Guyana, how would they have judged me when I perambulated Guyana holding a glowing candle to usher in the anniversary of a fictional construct? If you take a group of scholars from around the world and ask them to do a comparative study of Guyana and many countries in the 20th and 21st centuries, Guyana would end up being the one territory that has not journeyed into philosophy, modernity and modern ways of life and thinking. The comparison would

not only be an apocalyptic lesson in Shakespearian and Kafkaesque surrealism but simple failure. Failed states come about when they fail. If they never took off then they cannot become failed states. They never started so how could they have reached the stage of failure. I think this classification vividly captures the total social topography of Guyana Is it not both amusing and sad that as we get into the final lap of commemorating 50 years of Independence, the University of Guyana’s School of Medicine has lost international accreditation. A cynic could say that is a fitting birthday gift. I mentioned to my wife a front page photograph in the newspaper of the arrival of a marking machine that demarcates the lines on the highways. Guyana got one in October 2015. That technology has been around since the 1960s. It compels you to ask the question – what

Frederick Kissoon achievements are we celebrating? If you take the complete picture of this country and break it down into sociology; technology; educational system; moral values, research and development; economic diversification; manufacturing, judicial system; ethnic tolerance; medical facilities, modern infrastructure, governance structure, public service and facilities; interior development; tolerance for gender and sexual differences; tax collection, labour laws, human rights environment; respect for freedom and justice, police behaviour, university education, innovative thinking, then I would say there is absolutely no reason to celebrate 50 years of Independence. I know I cannot and would not.


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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

GUN AMNESTY ENDS, CRIMINALS NOW FACE THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW The six-week firearm amnesty programme that commenced on September 1, 2015 netted a modest total of 186 illegal firearms. These included 153 shotguns, 13 pistols, 10 air rifles, nine revolvers and one AK47 rifle in addition to an assortment of ammunition for hand pistols and assault rifles, gun cleaning equipment and other components. The overriding hope was that the amnesty would have rid the streets and the hinterland of the thousands of illegally acquired weapons which are commonly known to be in the hands of young and seasoned criminals. Both the police force and the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, had a slim expectation that some of the retrieved weapons could be linked to at least some unsolved homicides, home invasions and other serious crimes but those hopes dissolved after ballistics test results came back. However, Minister Ramjattan was satisfied that at least the programme was able to remove some illegal weapons and over 2000 rounds of ammunition from circulation. He now has no

other choice than to apply (or recommend the institution of) the full force of the law to any person who is found in possession of any type of unlicensed firearm, ammunition or related components. One concerned observer stated that wherever possible, the applicable statutes currently on the law books should be minutely examined to ensure that the creative criminal activities we experience today which impinge on the basic freedoms of every Guyanese, receive punishments commensurate with the results of the crimes they commit. Wherever possible, some pieces of legislation should be re-drafted to give law enforcement and the judiciary the latitude they need to deal condignly with criminals. For any number of reasons, criminals (not all of whom are Guyanese) have become extremely bold and daring, acting as though they would not be caught and punished. It takes no stretch of the imagination to conclude that this boldness evolved from the infamous crime spree that followed the infamous 2002 Camp St. jail break. The ‘black’

operations of confessed drug and gun trafficking kingpin, Roger Khan, who claimed to have had connections and directions from high up the hierarchy of the previous government, succeeded in stultifying the local police force. Change has come but the unwelcome reality is that the police are forced to begin at the beginning. The just concluded gun amnesty was one intervention. What follows will be a noholds-barred crackdown on any person or group found in possession of illegal firearms. Minister Ramjattan has said that before and while the amnesty was in force the police had been gathering very useful intelligence on the known haunts of criminals, their habits, and their spotters who identify potential targets. Near the top of the agenda is the programme to castrate the worrying frequency of robberies perpetrated on visitors, especially returning relatives of ordinary citizens, who are openly followed from the airports and pounced upon either at their destinations on along the way in daytime or night. Minister of Tourism, Catherine Hughes recently

pointed out that this is a worrying feature that has the potential to deter tourists. She said that some returning Guyanese post too much information on social media about the time of their arrival and the purposes of their visits, e.g. to sell or purchase property or attend weddings. The public education programme that is to be launched shortly ahead of the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations in Q2 2016 will contain a component that urges visitors to desist from this practice and to utilize other means to inform friends and relatives of their impending visits. In the meantime, the allencompassing strategy to eradicate this drugs-, alcoholand greed-fuelled crime spree is also directed at small and large scale entrepreneurs and senior citizens living alone who have been attacked with alarming frequency in the secure comfort of their homes and business places. Often it appears that the bandits know exactly what they intend to collect – foreign currency, jewellery, travel documents and expensive electronics, and they’re not shy about demanding it.

This underground industry of crime was not spawned yesterday. The masterminds learnt the trades many years ago. In the last two decades, especially following the aforementioned Camp Street jail break and the rise of Roger Khan’s Phantom killers, young people have been able to acquire guns of every caliber with way too much ease. We’ve also received reports that certain criminal masterminds conduct training ‘schools’ for boys and girls that specialize in the techniques of identifying vulnerable citizens, taking their possessions and making a clean get-away. The plan devised by the Ministry of Public Security and law enforcement top brass also involves a strategy to smash the ring of importers of illegal weapons, tracking devices and the electronic paraphernalia used in the execution of crimes from neighbouring countries and as far away as Russia, China, and the Middle East. The objective is to close their avenues of import (including the backtrack), cut off their revenue streams then incarcerate them. This is going

to be a protracted operation but the dedication of all agencies involved is being fuelled by the need to push economic development forward, secure the lives and properties of our citizens, and repair Guyana’s image overseas. The latter will encourage the world’s tourists to visit Destination Guyana, experience our natural attractions and ultimately contribute to the business growth, consumer confidence, and an ebullient services sector. The government is very determined to restore for every Guyanese a safe and secure nation in which they could plant, mine, sell, serve and socialize in peace. This programme involves a number of ministries and departments of government including Social Cohesion, Labour and Social Welfare, Tourism, Public Security and the Presidency. “Criminals have no place, have no home. We will go after them relentlessly with every tool, every asset of the State. Criminals and their handlers must understand that the State will not sit idly by and allow them to run riot on the streets of this country. We’re sending a clear message that wherever the intelligence leads us, we will follow. There will be no sacred cows. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for crime!” Joseph Harmon, Minister of State.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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My column

The old system leaked money It is amazing how the world of politics could get people to react in ways considered unimaginable. For one, there was a hue and cry about the increases that the government Ministers got. The people who were organizing the hostile reaction to the pay increase did not say that the same increases were awarded to the Members of Parliament in the Opposition benches. When that became known, the leaders in the People’s Progressive Party backpedalled a bit. There was some hemming and hawing about whether they would collect the pay increase. General Secretary Clement Rohee said that the party was still to make a decision. This initial answer surprised me because if the increases are bad then there should be no hesitation in deciding whether they would be accepted. He should right off the top answer with a resounding ‘No’. He then said that former President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his role of Opposition Leader would answer the question. On Monday, he said that

Mr Jagdeo had answered the question by way of some out of the way electronic news source. Most of the reporters had never seen that outlet. I for one who don’t spend time looking for news sources certainly did not. In any case I did not even know the name of the news source. The PPP then issued a statement that the opposition members of Parliament would refuse the money. That sounded good to me. I knew that many of them needed the money because they needed to put food on their table and that the party could not support them. So I ignored the issue until I learnt that all of them had collected the increased sum. So the party had to come up with an explanation. We were told that the cheques were sent to the personal accounts of the Members of Parliament. I wondered about those who would have gone to the National Assembly to collect the money. If they were not going to collect the money then they should have ignored the cheque. I then heard that they were going to deduct what they

would have received and either the rest to the Ministry of Finance or give the money to charity. Returning money to the Ministry of Finance is not as straightforward as returning goods to the store. There must be an account in which this money would be deposited unless someone wanted some clerk to get a lot of money every month. Since the people collected the money, not one has so far made any restitution. I am going to bet that the money is going to stay with the people who collected it. Then there is the talk about all the money that happened to be moved from one Government Ministry to agencies and departments. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo recently spoke about $500 million that was transferred to National Communications Network and to the Government Information Agency. He said that while he found the transfer he could not find the recipient. He is concluding that the money might have disappeared into the hands of someone. An

audit did find that people enjoyed the largesse of the government. For example, there was one person who used a car like his own. People went to the gas station to fill up every day. How could that be a reality? Almost a dozen cars were driven into the junk yard. Many of them were newer than the car I drive but they are of no use now. That is only part of the story. We hear that people with no cheque but with a voucher going to the Bank of Guyana and walking away with cash. So much for Cheddi Jagan’s lean and clean government. Mr Jagdeo accused the present government of embarrassing him. And indeed the revelations are embarrassing. How could this happen under his watch? So he said on Friday that the government is only seeking to embarrass his Ministers and that if there is one iota of

proof then the government should proceed to jail them. At issue here was the fact that the Auditor General did not do his work to the best of his ability. It would seem that he feared his political masters so many of the irregularities now turning up were glossed over. And here I wonder at all these revelations. The government is conducting these audits that are uncovering many irregularities and the public wants to see results. Prior to the elections there were many exposes and the promise that the culprits would be jailed. Nearly six months after the polls and the change in government except for former Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford, no other person appears to be close to being prosecuted. I attempted to do a calculation of the money that appeared to be removed from the public purse and I found

Adam Harris that the money could have built at least three schools. Included in this is the money released for the purchase of pharmaceuticals. The audit has found the millions of dollars in pharmaceuticals are still to be delivered. I had intended to examine the morality of the Pradoville issue but I opted to hold back. I remember the rules that were applied to ordinary people. They could not own any property to qualify for state lands and they could not sell within 10 years. But then again, these were rules for the ordinary people.


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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

The dangers connected with beauty standards By Akola Thompson It may seem a very over done area of focus, but beauty standards, aside from being a perplexing topic, has very real repercussions on the self-perception of individuals causing them to engage in dangerous activities. In Guyana, like many other countries around the world, the perfect male and female are those with a light complexion and soft hair. Complementing the foregoing is an hour-glass figure for the woman and a buff physique for the man. This has caused many persons to make dangerous purchases and engage in harmful practices to achieve some semblance of the perception they have of beauty. Due to the mass media and books which sexualize the human face and body, we are in an age where beauty is normally measured solely on one’s outward appearance. A troubling practice that has been adopted by many people with dark complexion is that they are opting to purchase cheap and often dangerous skin lightening agents, popularly referred to as “bleaching cream.” They’re attempt is geared at achieving that coveted “redbone” complexion. While some may practice skin lightening due to the belief that lighter skin would ensure

a better life in a world that seems to readily embrace those with light skin. In fact some would proudly relate that the lighter the shade is the more beautiful, confident and appealing they feel. I recently asked of a young lady who admitted that she “bleaches” her skin what drove her to engage in this practice. Her response was “I just want to look beautiful.” When asked if she didn’t consider her dark skin to be beautiful, she stared as if she was just asked a most absurd question. The “bleaching” practice, despite the reasons however, comes with hazardous health consequences according to those in the medical field. There are reports of such activities lending to blood cancers, cancers of the liver and kidneys as well as skin infections. A popular trend that is becoming very popular now too is that of persons parading with blue, green and maroon eyes. And some of them ardently swear that’s the natural colour of their eyes. While this trend may seem to be a harmless way of slightly tweaking one’s identity, eye infections and corneal ulcers with rare cases of blindness can be caused by wearing contact lens. Those in the eye care field have disclosed that persons can also develop cases such as pink eye, corneal abrasions and eye irritation.

Youths who may be of the belief that they fall short of the ideal represented in the media can develop low selfesteem which could lead to them developing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (starving one’s self) and bulimia (extreme overeating followed by vomiting). These illnesses, experts have concluded, can often result in depression, substance abuse and anxiety disorders and an assortment of health issues which in many cases end in the untimely death of the individual. The various practices related to the pursuit of the

ideal body image displays the underlying identity problem most persons face in a world where individuality is constantly being stifled. British psychotherapist, Susie Orbach in her upcoming documentary, “the Illusionists” states that, “just as English has become the Lingua Franca (predominant language) of the world, the white, blonde, small nosed, pert-breasted, long legged body is coming to stand in for the variety of human bodies that there are.” This may be true in many instances but the lessons of sexualized beauty, particularly in popular culture, paint a different picture as judgments on beauty broadly vary across societies and cultures. Contemporary beauty/sex symbols range from the gamine-hipster look as seen in celebrities such as Emma

Watson and Kristen Stewart; to the chiseled face with huge eyes and accentuated body parts as seen in celebrities such as Nicki Minaj and Angelina Jolie; to the stark, once ostracized beauty of Lupita Nyongo. Many persons make unsuccessful attempts to imitate the constantly changing looks of these “flawless” celebrities and models. They fail to realize that the images portrayed are far from realistic and thus fall into a downward spiral trying to achieve the unachievable. In Ancient Greece, the word “kállos” was used to describe the body as the possessor of beauty as it caused erotic thoughts. According to Aristotle in his book, “poetics”, “To be beautiful, a living creature, and every whole made up of parts must present a certain

order in its arrangement of parts.” Here, Aristotle equates beauty with symmetry, further suggesting that true beauty lies in one’s geometric compositions. This is an idea which appears to have been kept throughout the ages and increasingly those who can afford to undergo appearance changing operations do so while those who cannot try various dangerous products and methods. I suppose even if we come back to the popular premise that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder we can go further and say that what defines beauty is the multiple lenses through which that eye perceives that beautysocial conditioning, sexuality, cultural practices, other characteristics of the beheld and the direct preconceived prejudices of the beholder.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Before President David Granger in his address to Parliament on October 2, 2015, mentioned the seizure of Ankoko Island by Venezuela in October 1966, many Guyanese were unaware that for 49 years Venezuela has illegally occupied Guyana’s territory. The eastern half of Ankoko Island, situated at the confluence of the Cuyuni and Wenamu Rivers, which forms part of the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, was taken over by the Venezuelan Army in 1966. The Venezuelans constructed a military base an airstrip and a Post Office and brought in civilian settlers. On the morning of October 14, 1966, Forbes Burnham, as Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs of Guyana, dispatched a strong protest to the Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Ignacio Iribarren Borges, and demanded the withdrawal of Venezuelan troops and the removal of installations they had set up on Guyana’s territory. Shortly after, Burnham called in the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, to brief him on the situation. Later that morning, in a radio broadcast Burnham informed Guyanese of the developments, urging them to remain calm. He added that every step was being taken “to retain our territorial sovereignty by peaceful means.” For most of the last four decades, the government of Guyana has been silent on the matter of Ankoko Island. The Arbitral Award of 1899, which settled the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, stated clearly that the boundary should run “along the midstream of the Acaribisi to the Cuyuni, and thence along the northern bank of the Cuyuni River westward to its junction with the Wenamu to its westernmost source. . . .” At the junction referred is the island of Ankoko with an area

Kaieteur News

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Ankoko Island

of roughly six square miles. In connecting the boundary from the north bank of the Cuyuni to the midstream of the Wenamu, the Mixed Venezuelan-British Boundary Commissioners drew a line passing through the island and dividing it from north to south in roughly equal parts. The eastern part of about three square miles falling on the British Guiana

express authority of the administration of General Gomez, then President of Venezuela, and signed by F. Alicantara, the Venezuelan Minister of Internal Affairs. But the most convincing demonstration of the degree to which the 1905 delimitation had at all times before been accepted by Venezuela was shown on December 13, 1965 when the Legislative

“The Venezuelan National Armed Forces seized the 7-km² Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River in October 1966, Guyana’s independence year, and has remained in illegal occupation ever since. The island is used as a military garrison to harass miners and to engage in occasional acts of provocation against the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) border detachment at Eteringbang on the opposite bank of the river.”- President David Granger, October 22, 2015. (Guyana) side of the boundary and the western part falling on the Venezuelan side. A boundary map showing these details was signed on January 7, 1905 by the Boundary Commissioners, Harry Innis Perkins and Charles Wilgress Anderson of Great Britain and Abraham Tirado and Elias Zoro of Venezuela. Ever since the completion of the work of the Boundary Commission, the eastern part of Ankoko was recognised as juridically and administratively part of Guyana and totally within its boundaries. The Venezuelan Government had never before challenged the validity oraccuracy of the map produced by the Boundary Commissioners and had at no time asserted sovereignty over the entire island of Ankoko. The boundary of Ankoko as shown on the 1905 map was indeed reproduced on Venezuelan maps published in 1911 and 1917; the former having been issued under the

Assembly of the State of Bolivar formally acknowledged that the eastern part of Ankoko Island was in fact Guyanese territory. The State of Bolivar, a constituent State of the Republic of Venezuela, forms part of that country’s boundary with Guyana in the vicinity of Ankoko Island. An Extraordinary Gazette of

the State of Bolivar on January 3, 1966 published the relevant portion of the law passed by the Legislative Assembly which declared the boundary with Guyana to be: “. . . .down the River Acarabisi to its mouth with the Cuyuni and from this point upstream along the River Cuyuni on its left bank as far as the Island of Anacoco, where running from north to south it divides it into two portions, the western portion belonging to the State of Bolivar and the eastern to British Guiana; from the southern terminal of this line on the above mentioned Island of Anacoco it follows the left bank of the River Wenamo. . . .” ATTACK ON ETERINGBANG After Venezuela’s occupation in late 1966 there was a period of relative calm as Guyana challenged the occupation through diplomatic channels. But on February 21, 1970, two days before Guyana was proclaimed a Republic, Venezuelan soldiers on Ankoko opened fire with guns and mortars on the Guyanese military outpost at Eteringbang. The firing continued

intermittently throughout the next day, but there were no reports of injuries even though buildings were damaged. On February 22, Guyana’s Minister of State Shridath Ramphal made a verbal protest on these incidents to the Venezuelan Ambassador in Georgetown. Later that evening the Ministry of External Affairs delivered a note to the Venezuelan Embassy protesting in the strongest terms these recent attacks on Guyana’s territorial integrity, and calling upon the Government of Venezuela to provide adequate compensation for the damage

done. The information about the attack on the Guyana outpost was soon after brought to the attention of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, following the delivery of another protest note to the Venezuelan Government. In response, Venezuela denied opening fire, and argued that its military forces had no interest in doing so. Despite these protests, intermittent firing by the Venezuelans into Guyanese territory continued on February 24, 1970. We must continue to educate our citizens about Venezuela’s provocations and aggression towards Guyana. We must never forget that the eastern half of Ankoko Island belongs to Guyana.


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Kaieteur News

SUNDAY SPECIAL FORENSICAUDIT RECOMMENDS CRIMINAL CHARGESAGAINST BRASSINGTON – JAIPAUL SHARMA

Winston Brassington

Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma

As a forensic audit into the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), nears completion, Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, has confirmed that criminal charges have been recommended against the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Winston Brassington. He said that these charges recommended are in relation to several cases of fraud and corruption which were found during the audit. Sharma told Kaieteur News that while he does not want to reveal too much at this time, he did say that there has already been a minor exchange on the matter with Brassington. The Finance Minister said that some finishing touches are still being done to the report as it “exposes some alarming things, some acts of corruption which are just unbelievable and nauseating.” Sharma said, “NICIL was being run in a haphazard way and made dangerous decisions that cost the company millions of dollars in losses. It placed the then government in a bad place. NICIL really was operating as the PPP’s greatest force in making corrupt acts realized. The more the forensic auditor keeps digging, the more dirt he finds on NICIL and how it operated.” With a new board and Chairman in place, the government, some weeks ago, called on Brassington to explain NICIL’s investments into all projects over the years. He was also expected to state, honestly, the position of the company’s assets. NICIL’s new Chairman Dr. Maurice Odle had said that there has been one meeting thus far at which Brassington was told to prepare a “position paper” to say what policies and strategies were employed to justify investments made by the company into certain projects.

Demerara, man’s home while he was away at work two Mondays ago having left his motorcycle in his yard. The man who asked that his identify be withheld, told this publication that on Monday last when he returned home around noon, he discovered his motorcycle missing. Its ignition switch had been dislodged and left lying on the ground. He told Kaieteur News that when he discovered that the bike was missing, he enquired of his neighbour. The neighbour, he said, informed him that there were indeed two men in the yard doing something with the motorcycle. The man said that his neighbour told him that he was under the impression that it was a mechanic sent to repair the motorcycle. This was not the case as the men allegedly ‘hotwired’ the motorcycle and made off with it. Both men reportedly went to the Schoonord WBD residence on one motorcycle with one of the thieves as a pillion rider. The man said that after he realized what had transpired, he immediately made a report to La Grange Police Station after which he went to the DHB authorities to seek if he could obtain the CCTV footage which he did. In the CCTV footage the men were observed crossing the Demerara Harbour Bridge heading towards the West Bank, while on a motorcycle with no number plates but on the return trip they were using separate motorcycles including the stolen one. This has since been turned over to the police to assist with their investigations. MONDAY EDITION MAN VIOLATES RESTRAINING ORDER … KILLS LOVER’S GRAND BABY, SHOOTS DAUGHTER

Several hours after one of the most gruesome attacks in recent times at Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD), relatives as well as residents of the area were still trying to grapple with the fact that an innocent baby was shot dead by her grandmother’s estranged partner. The man, Marc Angoy, who reportedly left the scene in a blue car, also shot the woman’s 12-year-old daughter, Ashley Wellington, twice in her left leg. She is said to be in a stable MOTORCYCLE THIEVES condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation CAPTURED ON CCTV FOOTAGE (GPHC). The baby has been identified as one-year-old Arian Gill of Lot 38 East Ville, Annandale. She sustained three gunshot wounds, to her chest and both arms. The toddler was pronounced dead at the GPHC. The shooting occurred a little after 13:45 hrs Sunday at the aforementioned address. Kaieteur News was told that police recovered a sunshades believed to belong to the suspect, at the scene. According to information received, Shelly Norton, who is the toddler’s grandmother and Wellington’s mother, ended an abusive three-year-old relationship with the suspect about five weeks ago. Since then, the suspect reportedly started to harass her and at times he even threatened to kill her. This forced her to file a restraining order to keep him away from her family. However, the 54-year-old suspect allegedly showed up at her home last week Sunday and pushed his hand through a window and opened fire on Norton’s daughter and grand baby while they were watching television in the living room. FORENSIC AUDIT… STRICT PENALTIES RECOMMENDED FOR ASHNI SINGH, LUNCHEON AND OTHERS Since the launch of a forensic audit into the operations of Having secured the CCTV footage from the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Guyana Police Force is now on the hunt the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited for two suspected motorcycles thieves. (NICIL), several glaring breaches of the country’s financial regulations have been unearthed. The two men reportedly visited a Schoonord, West Bank

Sunday October 25, 2015

Not only has the report on the forensic audit implicated the Company’s CEO, Winston Brassington in committing some of those acts, but it has also named former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, other former members of the NICIL Board as well as former Cabinet Ministers and officials. Dr. Singh served as the Chairman of the Unit while Dr. Luncheon Head of the Presidential Secretariat served as a Director. The audit, Kaieteur News understands, categorically states that there was misuse of public monies by those office holders. It said, too, that they played an important role in one way or the other in providing the conditions necessary for some of the “unimaginable scales of corruption” to take place on the NICIL platform. In addressing such findings, Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, confirmed that the report on the forensic audit speaks to three sections of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FM&AA) 2003. He said that the audit justifies holding Dr. Singh and other members liable for misuse of public moneys as Section 48 of the FM&AA says that, “A Minister or official shall not in any manner misuse, misapply, or improperly dispose of public moneys.” TUESDAY EDITION SKELDON FACTORY RECORDS HIGHEST PRODUCTION SINCE 2009 More than five years after it was commissioned, Guyana’s ‘flagship’ sugar factory at Skeldon in East Berbice is bringing some sweet smiles, two weeks ago chalked up its highest daily production. According to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Monday, with just two and half months left in the year, sugar production is on course with almost 78 percent of the target completed. The US$200M Skeldon Estate enhancement project had targeted a new factory and more cane lands in what was Guyana’s largest ever initiative by the Government. It had come at a time when countries in the regions were leaving sugar production because of high costs. The factory, however, failed to kick-start the industry which slid to a two-decade low performance within the last couple years. This was despite billions of dollars being poured into GuySuCo to help the shortfall. The turnaround of fortunes for the troubled factory would spell good news for Government. The industry’s future is banking on the findings of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) that was launched by the David Granger administration following the May 11 General and Regional Elections. Chairman, Vibert Parvatan, handed over the findings and recommendations on the way forward for the sugar industry. The documents were handed over to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis, in the Ministry’s boardroom, Regent Street. With regard to production, GuySuCo Monday disclosed that it produced 10,254 tonnes of sugar for week ending October 16, surpassing the 10,000 tonnes mark for the third time this crop.


Sunday October 25, 2015

GOVT. MULLS NATIONALAIRLINE – PM NAGAMOOTOO …AS NATION EDGES CLOSER TO CATEGORY ONE STATUS AT AIRPORT –PM NAGAMOOTOO

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

Guyana must and will have the return of a national Air Carrier even as the nation edges towards receipt of a Category One Status for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). These were among the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo, as he opened the first ever locally held Aviation Conference, held under the auspices of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, the activity saw a convergence of the local aviation fraternity in a bid to chart a course forward for the development of the industry. Before declaring the conference open, the Prime Minister used the opportunity to recall the days when Guyana did have a National Airline of its own and spoke to the inherent benefits. ”Guyana must and will have a return to (of) its national airline,” said Nagamootoo, a sentiment that evoked a thunderous applause from those gathered. Nagamootoo who also served once as Director of the failed airline said that its fate should not be seen as a hurdle but rather a challenge. Private Sector Support Cognizant of the financial challenges facing the industry, the Prime Minister made an appeal to the private sector “to come on board and to see the realization of this Guyana dream.” The Prime Minister also spoke of the importance of the industry to the nation and national development. He pointed to days gone by, when larger aircraft serviced the interior locations transporting agricultural produce to the main land. “Aviation in Guyana has become a part of our everyday life,” said Nagamootoo. WEDNESDAY EDITION ‘BABY KILLER’ CONFESSES HOURS AFTER SURRENDERING – CLAIMS HE MISTOOK ELDER CHILD FOR HIS EX-LOVER Marc Angoy, the prime suspect in the shooting death of a baby girl and the wounding of her 12-year-old aunt, has reportedly told police that he opened fire on the children after mistaking the older one for his reputed wife, whom he had intended to kill. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that Angoy confessed only after hours of intense questioning, following his surrender at the Grove Police Station on the East Bank of Demerara. Blanhum said that detectives also swabbed the suspect’s hands for possible traces of gunpowder. The samples are to be turned over to the Forensic Laboratory. The killer is also said to have dropped a pair of sunshades at the scene. A brief police release issued Tuesday stated that Angoy, 45, of Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara, turned himself in to ranks at the Grove Police Station at around 08.20 hrs. At the time, he was wanted for the murder of his ex-lover’s granddaughter, Arianne Gill, and the wounding of the woman’s daughter, Ashley Wellington. The attack occurred at around 13:45 hrs on Sunday at Lot 38 East Ville, Annandale, East Coast Demerara.

Kaieteur News

The killer had allegedly stood outside by a window and shot into the house at the children, who were watching television in the living room. Angoy had been separated from his former lover, Shelly Norton, who had recently filed a restraining order against him, citing years of physical abuse. Angoy, a former member of the Guyana Defence Force, was previously charged, but later acquitted for the murder of a man in 1998 at Twelve and a Half Miles Issano, Mazaruni, Region Seven. During his confession Tuesday, the suspect said that it was while he was in prison that he mistakenly dialed a number and ended up speaking with Shelly Norton. JORDAN INSTRUCTS GRA’S BOSS TO GO AFTER TAX EVADERS, SMUGGLERS The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is currently in the process of strengthening its Law Enforcement and Investigative Division (LEID), as the authority moves to tackle smuggling. Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, in a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), explained that GRA is now focusing on several additional areas of tax collection and law enforcement, to ensure compliance with the laws. ”I have been engaging the Commissioner and the staff … on more than one occasion, on the need to tighten enforcement and collection. I had this discussion only two days ago after looking at the revenues and so on, and I pointed to a number of areas that need to be given greater attention and the Commissioner was in agreement.” Jordan explained that at the moment, GRA is in the process of shifting staff and strengthening the various departments, and that these necessary changes will become visible in the coming weeks. Referring to a recent meeting with GRA’s CommissionerGeneral, Khurshid Sattaur, Minister Jordan disclosed that he asked the tax boss to beef up enforcement and anti-smuggling activities, “because smuggling is still big business in this country.” The Minister is of the view that it is time that revenue agencies have a significant part of their staff in the fields, rather than operating out of air conditioned offices. He, however, paused to commend GRA’s staffers. ”First, I want to pay a compliment to GRA and the staff for the work that they have done over time. They have consistently surpassed targets that were set, but having said that, there is quite a lot of work to be done.”

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Prison Welton Trotz is charged for a sexual offence. Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, has advised that Trotz be charged with sexual assault of a female prison officer. The advice to charge comes a mere two weeks after Trotz was presented with the Disciplined Service Medal at the recent investiture ceremony presided over by President David Granger. It stems from an incident that allegedly took place in Trotz’s office at the Guyana Prisons Headquarters on Brickdam way back in January. Kaieteur News understands that the woman, a Prison Officer One, is alleging that Trotz, who was confirmed as Director of Prisons last year July by then President Donald Ramotar, made sexual advances towards her. She rebuffed him on several occasions. She claimed that after these advances failed, the Director invited her into his office and showed her pornographic images, after which he again made sexual advances to her. The woman became annoyed and subsequently lodged an official complaint with the then Ministry of Home Affairs. A Board of Inquiry, headed by the late Cecil Kilkenny, himself a former Director of Prison, was set up. That Board, after a detailed examination of the facts of the matter had recommended that Trotz face disciplinary action. He was also advised to apologise to the aggrieved female Prison Officer but he did not. All of this transpired before the May 11 General Elections. Months passed and no justice was meted out to the woman; so she went to the police with the intention of getting criminal charges instituted against the Prison Director. After intense investigations by the police, the file was sent to the DPP who subsequently advised that Trotz, a former Assistant Commissioner of Police, be charged with sexual assault of the woman. CAUGHT ON CAMERA …FEMALE ACTS AS LOOKOUT WHILEACCOMPLICES TERRORIZE, ROB FAMILY

THURSDAY EDITION PRISON HEAD TO FACE SEXUALASSAULT CHARGE

The administration of the Guyana Prison Service is set to undergo some major changes, once the current Director of

Two armed men on Tuesday terrorized and robbed a mother and three of her young children while a female accomplice was on the “lookout” outside of the grocery shop located at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD). The incident which occurred around 19:45 hrs at Lot 1868 La Parfaite Harmonie was caught on surveillance camera. According to reports, two young men and a woman visited the shop and purchased a beer, shandy and a malta. At the time, 16-year-old Lavanie Sukram was behind the counter. The surveillance footage seen by this newspaper showed the trio standing outside of the shop, sipping on their beverages. The female then returned to the counter to purchase a malta. When she was informed that it was finished, she requested a shandy. When Sukram handed the female robber the shandy, one of her accomplices grabbed the teenager’s hand and forced himself into the shop, through the little opening at the counter. The other male also did the same while the female stood out (Continued on page 34)


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(From page 33) side of the shop. Bibi Balram, the teen’s mother explained that she was inside of the house when she heard her daughter screaming on top of her voice. “She was shouting, ‘Mommy, come help me, come help me.’” ”When I rushed, I see one of them was already in the shop with my daughter so I run back to hide the three small children but one of the bandits with a gun already had two of them, taking them upstairs. My small daughter hid under the bed so they didn’t see her,” a devastated Balram recalled. The shop owner said that the armed man, who was in the shop, had her daughter lying on the floor while he emptied the cash into a black haversack. FRIDAY EDITION PRISONS DIRECTOR CHARGED WITH SEXUALASSAULT – STEPS DOWN FROM POST, PLACED ON $100,000 BAIL Director of Prisons Welton Trotz Thursday announced that he was stepping down from his post, minutes after being charged with the sexual assault of a female rank. Trotz, who was unrepresented, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore on the charge of sexual assault of a female prison officer. He pleaded not guilty and was placed on $100,000 bail, and ordered to return to court on Tuesday, October 27 before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The Prisons Director, who recently received a National award, calmly walked into the court and sat quietly, before the charge was read in-camera. He maintained his calm demeanor while leaving court and proclaimed his innocence to reporters who were waiting outside. ”I’m prepared to defend myself in the court come the 27 (next Tuesday) and I am definitely sure that I will be vindicated.” The sexual assault allegedly took place last January. VENEZUELATHREATENS GOLD MINING COMPANY OPERATING IN GUYANA -PRES. GRANGER TELLS PARLIAMENT First it was the petroleum ship ‘Teknik Perdana,’ then Exxon Mobil, and now Venezuela is trying to scare away yet another foreign investor from Guyana in its spurious claims to this nation’s mineral-rich territory. The target this time is the Canadian mining firm Guyana Goldfields Inc. which is located at Aurora, Cuyuni-Mazaruni. President David Granger disclosed this ominous move while addressing Parliament Thursday. Granger revealed that on October 13, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Ottawa sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Guyana Goldfields Inc. which threatens legal action against the firm. The letter sent to the company’s CEO warned, among other things, that the opening of the gold mine is, “infringing on the territorial sovereignty of Venezuela and committing unlawful actions which could incur legal consequences. As such, you are hereby fully given notice of the respective legal actions that could herein occur.” Granger told the House that Ottawa’s letter reflects the approach adopted by the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frias during his state visit to Guyana in February 2004. Chavez had told the press that his administration would have no objection to everyday infrastructure works such as roads, water and electricity that directly enhance the lives of residents. But he said that strategically sensitive projects – including major offshore oil exploration ventures, mineral exploration or the involvement of foreign governments – were another matter. The late Venezuelan leader wanted them to be discussed within the framework of the High-Level Bilateral Commission. President Granger said that the ‘Chávez doctrine,’ in short, meant that Venezuela demanded a role in determining the developmental destiny of Guyana’s Essequibo. BILLIONS SIPHONED OFF FROM TRANSPORT AND HARBOURS DEPT. IN 2003-2007 – MIN. PATTERSON TELLS PARLIAMENT Major discrepancies have been found in a few of the Auditor General’s reports on financial statements of the Transport and Harbours Department over the years 2003-2007. It appears as if billions of dollars have been siphoned off from the revenue of this Department, which falls under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure previously known as the Ministry of Public Works.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

Guyana’s budget in 2014 and this year stood at $221B. The $63B waived amounted to a staggering 28 percent. It would have been a hard pill to swallow for Guyanese who were suspicious of who exactly were benefiting from the exemptions. With a number of sectors performing poorly and Guyana badly wanting every cent in revenues, the situation has been drawing anger. In 2013, the waivers amounted to $55M. To compound matters, a special audit ordered into duty free concessions granted to remigrants on luxury vehicles found discrepancies, raising worrying questions about GRA’s monitoring. There were investigations launched after remigrants reportedly sold off the vehicles, then returned to the US and other places, netting huge profits. Little has come out or has been announced of the investigations. Consecutive remigrant scams have reportedly cost GRA hundreds of millions of dollars. The authority has the final say before waivers are allowed. The biggest category of tax exemptions went to businesses and companies- some $41.5B. “JAIL WHO STOLE DURING MY RULE”—JAGDEO

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson The money went unaccounted for under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, while Anthony Xavier was Minister of Public Works. Thursday, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, despite being disrupted by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, read excerpts from the reports. He indicated that over the years, the Department’s income was grossly understated and the expenses were inflated. Patterson was then interrupted by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, who told the Minister that he would not allow the reading of the excerpts, since the document he was reading from was not circulated, neither was it on the Order Paper. Patterson had to momentarily take his seat, but the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, quickly clarified that it was indeed on the Order Paper and was likewise circulated. Given the opportunity to speak again, Patterson indicated that the document he read from was available since 2012 but the PPP/C, “for obvious reasons,” refused to have it laid in the House. In 2003, the amount of $597M was reported as income for the Transport and Harbours Department. However, a review by the Auditor General disclosed an income of $639M – a difference of $43M between the actual income and the stated amount. In addition, daily revenue returns that were prepared and sent by the outstation were not presented for audit verification. As a result, details of revenue collected at outstations could not be verified. Also, amounts totaling $156.4M were stated as expended for the administrative expenses. However, the general ledger reflected the amount of $154.5M, giving a difference of just over 1.9M.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is advising swift action against those white collar criminals who deprived th e n a t i o n o f i t s w e a l t h during his tenure as President. Friday he told the media that the government should “Find them and lock them up.” Jagdeo made this statement as he answered questions during a press conference at Freedom House. Kaieteur News sought to solicit Jagdeo’s views on recent revelations of major discrepancies highlighted in recent Auditor General reports on financial statements of the Transport and Harbours Department over the years 2003-2007. It has been noted in the National Assembly that the report which indicated the discrepancies was available since 2012 but the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPPC) government refused to make it public. The PPP/C chose not to address the issues reflected in the report but the reason is not known. Jagdeo then said, “It is the same thing with these (Government) Ministers; they have to try to make us look bad.” He said, “Find the people, and lock them up. What is the problem? If you think that somebody at the Transport and Harbour Department was corrupt and the audit proves that, call in the police tomorrow deal with it…” Jagdeo continued, “You can simply take them to court so there is absolutely no issue with that.” It appears as if billions of dollars has been siphoned off from the Transport and Harbours Department, which falls under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure previously known as the Ministry of Public Works. The money went unaccounted for under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, while Anthony Xavier was Minister of Public Works and Jagdeo was President.

SATURDAY EDITION BILLIONS GRANTED IN DUTY FREE CONCESSIONS… GOVT. SEEKS TO SLASH ‘UNSUSTAINABLE’ TAX WAIVERS - PRESIDENT GRANGER Billions of dollars in tax waivers granted annually by the previous administration to largely businesses and others were highly unsustainable for the country. It will not continue in such an uncontrolled manner under the current government, promises President David Granger. Granger said that the $63B in tax waivers quoted in the report of the Auditor General for 2014, was highly unacceptable. The coalition Government is now mulling a number of options to ensure the wanton granting of tax exemptions do not continue. One thing is clear- the volume of tax exemptions will be reduced drastically as applications on file are being closely scrutinized. The Auditor General report, released on Thursday in the National Assembly, flagged the $63B in exemptions granted last year. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) did not maintain a Remissions Register which would have made it easier to scrutinize and justify the applications for the waivers. The Office of the Auditor General in criticizing GRA, warned that the register must be maintained in the future.

Bharrat Jagdeo


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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The VAT - PART III By Harold A. Bascom (During their investigation into the four Port Kaituma suicides, Yvonne Holder and Brent learn that all of the victims had gone for a jaunt into Jonestown and may have encountered something…) One father recalled his son’s sobbing words, “OwOw-doan do that to meplease!” “It was after that…” the father shook his head. “My son stop talking…and he would not meet me or his mother eyes. He stop seeing his girlfriend. He became a different person. He mother tried to talk to him—but he just stop communicating with everybody…stop eating… start using drugs to keep awake… “Then this night—I hear he crying out in he sleep again…” The father looked at his common-law wife. There was something very sheepish about his demeanor. He bent his head and his words were more or less mumbled. “Please? I didn’t get that,” Yvonne Holder said gently to the man. Then the wife spoke up: “It start to sound like somebody was ‘sexing’ he in the room—” The man’s voice shook now: “I start to rap on the door—pound on the door— but ah couldn’t get it…That was when ah decide to throw me shoulder against it—to break it in—but just about then a hear a sound…” “That was when,” said his common law wife, “Colin throw heself bodily out the window—and break he neck on the concrete slab by the stand pipe…” “Vonny … even I have to say, that what’s going on here is ‘weird’ with a capital ‘W’!”

“Definitely so…” Her cell phone rang. It was the regional Chairwoman. “Hi, Shelley.” She listened. “Okay—we’ll be ready. Thanks.” Yvonne put down the cell phone and tuned to her brother. “That was Shelley. She’s picking us up tomorrow-around midday.” “Where are we going?” “Matthews Ridge. There weren’t four of them that went into Jonestown. They were five-and the fifth is alive.” “And in Matthews Ridge.” “Yep … his name is Chauncey Timmerman.” “You’re telling me there’s another person who may well want to take his own life.” “God knows what state of mind this fifth young man might be in. I most definitely need to be talking to him.” Matthew’s Ridge was Port Kaituma minus the waterfront. The home of Chauncey Timmerman rose aloof amidst the dereliction of simple houses in the street, hemmed in with overgrowth. It stood on concrete pillars; and built under it was an enclosed room. What stood out from it was its verandah from which a stocky, light-skinned man disappeared when the Land Rover pulled up. He reappeared through a door in the lower room, and greeted the Holders cheerfully, and invited them into his home. His name was Darrel Timmerman-father of the surviving Chauncey Timmerman. After the introductions, Mr. Timmerman took the psychologist and her brother into his living room, and then he called out to his son. “Chauncey!-They have some people here to talk to you!” Then he turned to the psychologist. “I was so sad to hear that four of my son friends kill themselves.” He shook his head. “Up

to now I don’t understand itall I know is that my son and everyone o’ them been into that place-and whatever it is that they do there or touch there or dig up there…” He shook his head. “Make them do what they do-maybe.” “Your son,” Yvonne Holder said.”Is he okay?” He turned and called out

again. “Chauncey!-Boy they have people here who want talk to you!” He turned back to his guests. “Yes, he okay; very okay.” A slow, deep voice came back: “Coming, Daddy-I’m putting on something presentable!” And a young man-stocky like his father, and with a trace

of beard that ran up to his sideburns came out, adjusting his T-shirt. He sat in a single chair next to his father. Yvonne Holder and her brother introduced themselves. “Please to meet you…”Chauncey Timmerman shook hands, while smiling and making eye-contact with them both. “But I don’t need crisis counseling.” He sat back, and for a moment stared to the ceiling. “Are you okay?” Yvonne asked. Chauncey Timmerman sat

forward and interlaced his fingers as he gazed to the floor. At last he said, “I’m okay. I really, really, really don’t know what happened…” He took a deep breath. “But now …four people dead.” “Would you …” said Yvonne, “tell us about itabout what exactly happened?” The young man shrugged. “I don’t know what exactly happened-I can only tell you what we did…” He shrugged again. “Sean wanted us to make out as if we were on an expedition-a dig.” Shook his head sadly. “Sean thought that the big utensil that those people had to drink that cyanidelaced Koolaid from should be considered a dark artifact that ought to be in a museum or something-even if we only found the rusted bottom of it.” “You guys found it?” Brent asked. The young man nodded. “We did-but most of it was rusted.” He sighed deeply. “Now… all I can think, is that everyone who touched it now dead.” “Didn’t you touch it?” said Brent Holder. Chauncey Timmerman chuckled grimly. “I never expected to be talking weird stuff like this… never thought that anybody would connect these strange dots…” He shook his head. “But here we are…” Yvonne noted how he interlaced his fingers, and reached forward and held his hand. “It’s okay, Chauncey.” “Thank you,” he whispered. “So you didn’t touch it.” Brent Holder concluded. “No-no-he touched it too,” his father said. “But nothing affected him-and that was because when he grandmother heard where he was going into Jonestown, she mix something together, tied it in a little bag, and hung it on a fine leather cord like a necklace around Chauncy neck.” “A guard!” Yvonne Holder blurted out, much to the dis belief of her brother. Mr. Timmerman looked at her with a curious admiration. “Yes,” he said. “A guard (Continued on page 36)


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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

The VAT - PART III From page 35 against spirits or anything evil!-and that is why you folks from Town, is the only people we ever telling this to-and please don’t put our name in your supernatural article, Mr. Holder.” Brent was pleasantly taken aback. “You know about me?” “The Village Chairwoman told me who you were, and I checked you out, Mr. Holder,” the young man interceded. “I told dad about you. If it was somebody else, I wouldn’t be telling you what happened.” “Well… I’m flattered,” Brent said. He took a deep covert breath. “One key question, Chauncey…” “I know,” the young man said, nodding. “Where is the poison vat—or what is left of it.” He took a deep breath. “Strange thing. After we brought it out, we left it at the back of Sean’s house. … And the next day when all of us met by Sean…” He shook his head. “It wasn’t there—it was gone.” “It just-disappeared?” asked Brent. “Mr. Holder … all I know is, that it wasn’t there anymore. We presumed somebody stole it.” He shrugged. “After that I left Port Kaituma and came back here … and the night following the day we went in-the madness started.” * When they were dropped off at the guest house later that evening, the siblings were in their own thoughts. “A penny for your thought, Vonny…” “Brent… I don’t know what to say.” “When are you flying back?” “The day after tomorrow-Debra told me that I have to do something for the Ministrysomething hot and sweaty that came up.” She turned to him. “When are you leaving?” “I might fly back with you. But tomorrow …” He sighed. “I think I’m taking a trip into the ruins of Jonestown-” “What?” Yvonne Holder was aghast. Then her brows furrowed. “And why would you do that?-are you out of your mind?” “Come’on, Vonny!” He said chuckling— You think I’m going to come all the way here and not go into Jonestown? Wouldn’t that be expected of me?” “Of course, Brent!” She became paternal: “So who taking you to that jombie place, boy?” “Ah few guys I made friends with at the Police Outpost.” “You do get around, eh?” she said yawning. Deep down she wanted to tell him about Beulah’s guard necklace she was wearing; wanted to tell him what Beulah said about its power to protect from the vilest evil. She wanted to insist that he wore it on his trip to Jonestown. But she was ashamed and let it be. The friends Brent Holder made at the Police outpost used ATV’s. He rode pillion with an Indian police corporal; they bounced along behind another lawman, Sergeant Downer, an ex weightlifter—a big, dark man, from Georgetown City. The burly sergeant rode ahead with a visible bravado. Soon they passed the airstrip. In less than half an hour in from the airstrip, the lead ATV slowed down and stopped at a signboard that stood above a break in a wall of tangles bushes. It was a locally painted sign that read, ‘WELCOME TO JONESTOWN’. “This is it. Buddy!” the sergeant on the lead ATV said, and continued into what, for many, was a red-dirt track into a forbidden place-a haunted place-a place of earth-bound spirits milling in wretchedness. Brent Holder felt a thrill. But what was there

to be thrilled about. The sergeant soon stopped, and fished a cutlass from the back of the four-wheeler. The corporal with whom Brent rode, dismounted also, and fished the two cutlasses he carried on his ATV. He handed one to Brent. “Town man,” he said grinning. “I hope you could use a cutlass. We got to chop a path inevery now and again.” “I could chop-no problem.” Brent had once been in the Guyana National Service and did his share of chopping up at the Kimbia National Service Centre, in the upper Berbice River. And thus they progressed: chopping away at tangled vines and bushes that had grown, intermittently, across the way into Jonestown-the very way that had been the way out for U.S Congressman, Leo Ryan, and the people who had opted to leave Jim Jones’ ‘paradise’… the very way out to the airstrip where the congressman and others were followed and gunned down on the airstrip where the Guyana Airways twin-engine plane had waited. The three men worked together-slashing until they had made a path in that could have accommodated the ATVs. And so they rode in—dodging bushes and vines whipping close to their faces. At last they came to a turn in the overgrown path. There was a sign on a pair of staves. The sign turned out to be a site map of the facility that was. They dismounted and walked past the sign and found themselves at a wide opening in the forest; and in the center of it was a concrete monument-about six feet tall, with a marble slab at the lower half of it, onto which the words, ‘In Memory of the Victims of the Jonestown Tragedy … November 18, 1978’, were inscribed. The monument was surrounded by a field of daisy flowers. “This is it, People!” the corporal said. To Brent Holder, he said it a bit too loudly. Was the policeman afraid—nervous? The columnist looked around. There was a huge metal frame with a steel drum lying on its side. Brent read the raised letters on the metal drum: ‘The Cincinnati Milling Machine Co’. The sergeant looked around. “Right here,” he said. “Used to be the pavilion!” He threw his arms out. “This here is where—” “Most of the bodies were?” He looked at Brent and nodded. “Yes. I was a young GDF soldier then…” He made a face. “I saw them - they were here - there swollen tight all over.” Then the Indian corporal pointed and spoke: “What’s that?- that look like the bottom and some of the sides of that vat thing they mixed all that poison in- ” “Where?” asked the sergeant. “That thing-turned down there.” The three men approached it. It was indeed the rusted remains of the poison vat-the very metal container Chauncey Timmerman said that he, Sean La Cruz and the three others had taken out of Jonestownthe same vat that had disappeared. The sergeant bent to it - started reaching out to it- “Don’t touch that!” Brent snapped. The cop straightened up and looked quizzically at Brent. The Indian cop was clearly curious also. “Why?” the sergeant cop asked pointedly-aggressively. And Brent told them everything he learned from his talk with Chauncey Timmerman-everything-leaving nothing out. “Wait-wait-wait, budday!” the sergeant said. “You telling me and my squaddy here, that everyone o’ them chaps who touch this thing commit suicide?” “All except the Chauncey Timmerman who touch it to’-but he had some kinda spirit guard around his neck!” The corporal swore










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Health care, health education to be focus of week-long medical mission Addressing common adult health concerns will be high on the agenda during a medical outreach slated to commence this week. The outreach which will be facilitated by several experienced overseas based doctors will see persons from within Demerara and Berbice being able to benefit from crucial health care services. Dr. James Cort, who has been visiting Guyana since 2007 to be a part of medical outreaches here, will be

among the visiting team. The Internal Medicine Specialist during an interview with this publication said that among conditions that he has successfully addressed over the course of his 33 years profession are diabetes, hypertension, pneumonia, stomach pains, urinary tract infections, high blood pressure and even back pains. He will be offering his expertise voluntarily to as many people as possible during the course of this week.

Being a part of the medical mission has become an annual venture for Dr. Cort who is a Guyanese by birth who migrated way back in 1972. He grew up in Fyrish, Corentyne and in fact gained his first degree at the University of Guyana and worked as a teacher before migrating. “I have a passion to help the needy,� said Dr. Cort who has been returning to his homeland twice yearly but was however not able to do so this year. Through the medical

missions to Guyana he, as part of a team of doctors and other health workers, has been able to help many people access crucial medical care over the years. Among those who will make up a part of the visiting team too is Dr. Lennox Alves. According to Dr. Alves the mission this week will entail the imparting of years of knowledge by the visiting doctors to local practitioners. Also a Guyanese by birth, who was born and raised in

Dr. James Cort

Dr. Lennox Alves

Mahaica, Dr. Alves has been returning to share his expertise for the past five years.

Among the cases he usually gives keen attention to are (Continued on page 46)


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Nelsonia Persaud-Budhram, an educator with a passion for her profession By Akola Thompson Born and raised in Georgetown, Nelsonia

Persaud-Budhram has always been academically inclined. Over the years she has

sought to use her knowledge to enlighten and motivate those around her.

Persaud-Budhram has been teaching from a young age, with her first gig being teaching after school lessons to primary school students. This was while she was still in high school. The years which followed saw her gaining several other teaching positions but she stated that her first major teaching opportunity was at the University of Guyana in the Centre for Communication Studies. “The University is my home and I love to do what I do, I could see myself doing much more and hopefully I will get the opportunity,” she confided during a recent interview. Despite seeing herself as an educator and an agent of change, she is fearful that she may not be able to impact the way youths and young adult’s deal with the issues in their lives with regards to their education. This fear however, does not stop her from trying as she revealed she is now the Faculty Advisor for the newly formed UG Lions Club which will soon be chartered. “It’s all in the way the mind works,” she stated, “If we can learn to deal with our positive and negative circumstances effectively, we can open many locked doors and close doors which need to be closed.” According to her, “Being a blessing to another human being is the greatest wealth one can ever experience, no price tag required.” Persaud-Budhram claimed that her love for teaching and public assistance passion was birthed through observing her mother, Dwanewattie Persaud, who was also a teacher. She however asserted that her inclination to be generous was drawn from her grandmother, Savitrie

Nelsonia Persaud-Budhram

Sanjogee Rambaran. “Her last words to me were ‘always try to live a good life’,” PersaudBudhram reflected. “I try to do this every day and through Jesus’ strength and love, I’ve been able to influence the lives of others in small ways as every day I strive to be more and more like him.” Although proud of her academic achievements, Persaud-Budhram still holds out that she never equated academic excellence with monetary success. Instead she saw it as a means to improve the life of those around her with the knowledge she would have gained over the years. However, a closed mind and an unwilling spirit were identified as two challenges Persaud-Budhram has faced as an educator. She related her hopes to reach into the mind of someone who only see’s

education as a way of escaping poverty or get a job and show them that that is not all the world is about. She related that she tries to also show her students that education is not about making money but should be about creating a niche in the world. An educator, student and an all round inspiration, Persaud-Budhram claimed that despite her drive and focus, she struggles with indecision every day. She said that she is not as confident as people may think and she has various challenges managing family with career. Married for over 10 years with two daughters, PersaudBudhram is however confident in her belief that her roles as mother, wife and teacher has shaped the way she views society as she has garnered a greater (Continued on page 47)

Health care, health education... From page 45 hernias as well as colon and breast cancers. In fact he disclosed that he has done quite a bit of surgical oncology work over the years. He, like Dr. Cort, has a thriving private practice in New Jersey. According to Dr, Alves, “it is delighting; it is a

pleasure to give back but my aim is not just to get into the operating theatre and do cases...my goal is to get the residents, the local practitioners involved. I get to see what they know and where they need help and so I can help to guide them and to impart my 21 years experience

to them.” According to Dr. Alves he has over the years been a part of a team that has been taking its support to a number of Caribbean countries to render medical support which was brought to Guyana after teaming up with the Organisation for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG) which is headed by Ms Carol Trim Bagot. OSHAG, which was established in 2000, has been lending immense support to the local health sector particularly in the area of cancer care. The organisation has also been facilitating the visits of medical teams to offer a wide variety of health care services. The visits usually coincide with the observance of Cancer Awareness Month.


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Nelsonia Persaud-Budhram, an educator with a passion... From page 46 understanding of the patience and kindness needed in a rage filled world. When asked of her childhood, Persaud-Budhram described it as difficult due to poverty but full of cultural wonders. Despite missing out on many opportunities as her family could not afford it, she stated that she never thought of herself as poor and still

does not. Her life at the time was said to revolve around her father’s farm, her mother’s garden, school and oftentimes being on the road with her three brothers. She claimed that her time spent on her father’s farm taught her the art and importance of growing and nurturing both nature and humans. Labeling herself as a tomboy, she related her fond memories of climbing trees

and peeling sugar cane with her teeth as she stated that those activities taught her the small pleasures of life. Being around her father most of the time, she said that she never learned to cook until after she got married but regarded those moments spent with him as very enlightening. “I learnt the value of hard work and striving for knowledge from my father. He is a wealth of information and

a genius in many respects,” she said. Later on in life, she gravitated towards her mother as she realized the extraordinary patience, tolerance and generosity her mother possessed. “She would cook for hours every day and share away fruits and vegetables to neighbours, friends and family and those who could not afford it.” Regarding her academics, Persaud-Budhram in

1995 at the Enmore Primary School graduated best Common Entrance pupil and in 2001 was best Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination student at Queen’s College. She further went on to secure a Republic Bank Chairman’s Award for best Social Science’s student, a Chancellors Award for second best graduating student from the University of Guyana and

a Shirley Alma Paul Award for best Communications student in 2012. She was also amongst the first batch of students to be eligible for the Caribbean Pacific Island Mobility Scheme (CARPIMS) scholarship. The well rounded woman also possesses a graduate diploma in International Relations and a Master’s in Global studies from University of the West Indies.


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Guyana Foundation: Tackling suicide... From page 24) lot of encouragement for people to get into this field, especially when they see how limited the funds are that are available and you see how limited the resources are that you have to work with,” Autar said. He further opined that the attention placed on the suicide rate here in Guyana only really started last year when the World Health Organisation (WHO) released its report which indicated that Guyana had the highest suicide rate in the world. “Before then, people knew that suicide in Guyana was high but they weren’t really seeing it as something at crisis level,” he said. He continued, “After the report, people realised that something had to be done and that we needed professionals, but you can’t train people overnight. Train-

ing certainly takes a long time. So it wouldn’t be immediate; even if you provide scholarships and opportunities, you just wouldn’t get people right away.” He said too that mental health professionals are often not taken seriously since many believe that the field is not “real science”. “The misconceptions drive the idea that mental health professionals are not really engaged in real and important science-driven work so people would be reluctant to get into a field that has this stigma around it.” Collaborative effort “It’s important that we look beyond the Ministry of Public Health,” Autar said. According to him, persons often believe that tackling mental health rests solely on the Ministry of Public Health.

However, he said, this should not be so. He indicated that there are a lot of different factors that determine mental health, including socioeconomic, cultural, political and environmental factors. “So if you have such a wide variety of things determining the state of one’s mental health...that extends beyond the Ministry of Public Health. When you really analyse these determinants, it seems to me that the response has to be a national collaboration and must include input from stakeholders across the spectrum.” He especially noted that there is need for collaborations with the Ministry of Legal Affairs to ensure that the rights of persons suffering from poor mental health are adequately represented. Autar has a particular interest

in law and worked in New York as a licensed attorney with a background in mental health. “When we’re talking about people with mental health issues, we need laws in place to ensure there is no discrimination and that there is a framework to ensure that persons with mental illnesses are treated with dignity, respect and compassion. Because, if isn’t done, people with mental illnesses are going to remain in the shadows and they are not going to reach out because they will feel like they will be targeted and that their rights would not be respected.” Further speaking on laws, Autar opined that the criminalisation of suicide must be revoked. “They need to revoke that law immediately. All of the NGOs that have been doing work in this area have been calling for that because all it does is drive stigma and fear and it keeps people in the shadows. Who is going to come forward and say that they tried to end their lives if they are worried they could be prosecuted? That law must go,” he emphasised. He also noted that other ministries, such as the Ministry of Business and the Ministry of Social Protection to become involved since areas under them had effects on the mental health of the citizenry. He nonetheless emphasised that though a coll a b o r a t i v e e f f o r t i s needed, the Ministry of Public Health must lead the fight against suicide. Last month, the Public Health Ministry launched its National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2015-2020.

Autar said that the strategy looks very good on paper, but its implementation will be the true test of its worth. “The strategy highlighted many of the shortcomings in the system but, in terms of implementation, we need to get the right people involved,” he stressed. He explained that mental health is an extremely regulated area in many countries because lives are at stake. Therefore, he said, there is the need to have properly qualified persons here in Guyana. “It’s essential that the people who are implementing this plan are properly qualified and that they understand the human aspect of mental health,” he said. Autar further opined that a collaborative approach is also needed to limit the access to methods of committing suicide. Especially in Guyana where ingesting poison is the most common way of committing suicide, access to pesticides and agricultural products needed to be limited. However, he said, prevention programmes should not be implemented unilaterally. “You can’t go into communities and dictate people, especially when it affects their livelihood. The only way that is going to work is if there is community involvement in shaping programmes. So, it’s not like if outsiders are going in and telling people what to do. There has to be community involvement in developing how the prevention system will be implemented.” He noted that this approach works in other countries, such as India. For GF, tackling suicide is one of its highest priorities.

Recently GF completed a sixday training workshop. These participants ranged from educators, social workers, and childcare providers. The workshop was facilitated by Guyanese-Canadian mental health professional, Dr. Latchmin Narain. Highly trained, Dr. Narain is a registered member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counselors, Psychometrics and Psychotherapists (OACCPP) and holds a Master’s Degree as well as a Doctorate Degree in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Narain also runs the Anger Management Centre of Toronto Inc. GF also plans to host its second set of workshops in December. This workshop will be conducted by Lauren Johnson, an internationally recognized Guyanese-Canadian psychotherapist. Johnson holds three Master’s Degrees in Counseling Psychology. She specializes in Experiential, Transpersonal and Creative Expression Healing methods. Furthermore, Johnson has travelled throughout Canada to conduct presentations on professionalism for settlement and integration counselors. She has also developed various mental health training curriculum and assisted counselors in dealing with survivors of torture. Meanwhile, Autar stressed that the GF will continue its work, despite whatever challenges it may face. “We believe that the human resources of Guyana are the most valuable resource that this country has and we have to do everything within our power to develop it, to protect it and to ensure that all people can live lives of dignity and respect and lives that are productive. That is what is driving us,” he said. “If we don’t do this and people continue to live in poverty and continue to find themselves in situations where they become hopeless and end their lives by suicide then we’ve lost an irreplaceable asset to this country and we can never get it back.”


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Releasing stats could help suicide prevention efforts – Local NGO As local bodies continue efforts to reduce Guyana’s staggering suicide rates, a local stakeholder believes that the release of statistics on suicide could actually significantly aid suicide prevention efforts. Managing Director of The Guyana Foundation (GF), Anthony Autar, opined that underreporting on suicide could do more harm than good. GF is a local nongovernmental organisation (NGO) that focuses on mental health issues. Autar stressed that revealing statistics would do no harm. “Overall, revealing stats, I don’t see the harm in it; I think only good would come from that. It would help show the public and the stakeholders how vast is the problem we’re dealing with. It would provide them with information to properly tailor whatever programmes they’re trying to implement. So, I think it’d be very helpful,” Autar said. Rather, Autar opined that the only harm that could arise from revealing statistics on suicides is the extent to which the reports are made. “What would do harm is if you reveal all of the details of how the person ended or attempted to end his or her life. That is what could cause the copycats [persons

replicating suicides],” he said. However, while Autar believed that releasing suicide statistics could be helpful, he noted that in Guyana the stats might not be completely accurate. He said, too, that getting a hold of the information was oftentimes made difficult. He shared that in the past he would have requested suicide statistics from the relevant bodies but his efforts would have been in vain. “Even if the stats are made available, they might not be up to date statistics,” he said. In the past concerns were expressed that the suicide statistics coming out of the Guyana Police Force, the body responsible for recording suicides, was greatly underreported. Autar believed that while the police should indeed play a role in suicide prevention, that role should not be a leading one. He said that greater trust must be established between the populace and the police for such a sensitive area. “The police have a role to play but they’re not the only ones who should be involved in dealing with mental health issues. They also shouldn’t have the lead role. Their function is to play the supporting role,” he said. Currently, the police force is involved in suicide prevention strategies,

Missing woman Tahajmattie Nandalal aka Sandy

Parents of Tahajmattie Nandalal, aka Sandy, are calling on the public to help locate their daughter who was last seen on the October 12, 2015. The 28-year-old woman’s father, Balkaran, aka “Goatman” said that his daughter would leave home but would usually call within two days after her departure. So far however, the missing woman has made no contact with her parents. The mother of the woman,

Radika Nandalal, also revealed that her daughter, who is the mother of two toddlers, is a cocaine-addict. She stated that despite this, her daughter would always contact them whenever she left. The young woman resided at the home of her parents which is at 266 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara. Anyone with information regarding the missing woman is asked to make contact with them on 254-1529 or 657-7511.

including its Cops and Faith programme as well as the Inter-Agency Suicide Hotline, spearheaded by the police force. “I think the reason you see the police being pushed to the forefront when it comes to dealing with mental health is because of the misconception that people with mental illnesses are naturally violent so people believe that the police needs to get involved to control that person,” Autar said. However, he added, this is oftentimes not true. “Only a small percentage of people with mental illnesses become violent and most of them do that when they engage in substance abuse. There are some with schizophrenia who will become violent but overall, very few people with mental illnesses engage in acts of violence.” He further said that in other countries studies show that people diagnosed with mental illnesses are actually more likely to be victims of acts of violence than the perpetrators. He continued, “So, we don’t really know about that

in Guyana so that’s why we’ll see the police being pushed forward. Normally, when you hear about mental health issues in the news, it’s in regards to some act of violence being committed by someone who is said to be mentally ill.” Interactions between the police and those perceived to be mentally ill have not always gone down well in Guyana’s history. In July, Junior ‘Reggie’ Gulliver, 30, of Strathavon, East Coast Demerara, was shot dead by two police ranks. The officers had reportedly gone to Gulliver’s home to arrest him following reports that he had threatened a woman with a cutlass. However, the police said that Gulliver attacked them with the weapon, forcing them to use their weapons. A police source had maintained that the ranks had acted according to standard operating procedures and

would have been killed if they had not shot Gulliver. Autar stressed that the police must take up a supporting role in terms of mental health issues. He also opined that as part of its supporting role, the police can be an integral member in behavioural intervention teams. “These are groups made up of trained counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, police, and in some instances a lawyer that can intervene and ensure that the whole spectrum of resources are available so that you’re not just looking at one aspect,” Autar explained. He said that with the police, options are limited and they address only one part of the problem. “We need to address the issues in a holistic manner because that’s going to be the only way we’ll see change happening.”

Managing Director of The Guyana Foundation, Anthony Autar However, he said, the feasibility of something like a behavioural intervention team must be analysed, especially in a country like Guyana. He noted that Guyana severely lacks professionals in the areas of suicide and mental illnesses. “The last thing you’d want to do is put people into the fields who are not properly qualified and they end up doing more harm than good,” he emphasised.


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Sluggish economy did not start five months - warns of long haul on ago - President Granger recovery route By Leonard Gildarie The new coalition Government is fast approaching six months in office and it has not all been honeymoon. The economy is continuing its struggles from a string of poor performances at the sugar estates (with a hint of fortunes reversing), falling gold prices and a rice market that is causing rice farmers major headache. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), in opposition for the first time in over two decades, has been more than reluctant to allow the coalition time to settle. With the Venezuela border controversy taking centre stage, there has been growing complaints about the slowdown in the economy. On Friday, during a recorded interview with media workers, President David Granger was grilled about the perception that the economy is on a downturn. He agrees that the manufacturing sector is sluggish but insisted that the economy could not have slowed down in the last five months. Rather the decline started way before that. “We need to look at the structure of the economy and as I often said, we depended on the six sisters for the last 100 years.” The Head of State would of course be referring the main foreign earners - sugar, rice, gold bauxite, diamond and timber. “And we have had some structural problems, as long as we have to continue to

depend on those six sisters, we are going to be susceptible…going to be vulnerable…and we are going to suffer from the fluctuations that will always affect commodity prices.” According to Granger, it is a fact that gold prices have come down considerably after a four-year record run. The new administration, after a number of appeals by miners, had agreed to drop the fuel tax and has granted waivers on a number of spares and supplies for the sector but it may not be enough as prices remain low and costs high. “….And there is nothing that the Guyana Government can do to maintain gold prices. The answer will have to be to restructure the economy in the middle and long term to shift the focus away from the six sisters.” Granger explained that this shift in economy, more than ever now, will have to demand more downstream or value-added activities with a significant emphasis to be placed on agro-processing. Instead of boatloads of cassava and plaintain being taken out, Guyana can seriously start thinking about introducing packaged chips using even breadfruit. The fruit juice market would also be an area policy makers would want to take advantage of. The President expressed unhappiness about the volumes of lumber leaving the country instead of the more downstream processing like veneer, flooring, doors and windows being produced.

On the Point: President David Granger rapping with senior reporters, Leonard Gildarie (KNews); Paul Moore from NCN and Press Officer from the Ministry of the Presidency, Mark Archer.

Guyana has the potential to also develop its jewelry industry, some of the finest in the world, instead of just exporting or smuggling it. “We need to have an economy guided by entrepreneurs and not just traders. People who will invest in downsteam and manufacturing.” The President admitted that it is a fact that the

manufacturing sector has remained sluggish. He warned that citizens should not expect a sudden shift of fortunes in the near future. The structural issues will have to be addressed. “This is going to affect us for a long time; until we get off of the six sisters. The fact is that the commodities are now facing low prices on the world market.” With

Parliament prorogued late last year and national elections called in January, state contracts had slowed amidst the campaign activities. The underground economy, which had played a crucial role in propping the buying power, had been taken a beating with authorities making several high profile arrests in the drug trafficking arena and even in gold

smuggling. Indeed from consecutive budget reports starting back in 2013, the economy had shown signs of a slowdown, recording 5.2 percent that year and dropping to 3.8 percent in 2014. This year, growth is not likely to surpass 3.4 percent, a cautious government has warned in its mid-year report. (Leonard Gildarie)

Party going passengers rob driver, hijack taxi

Taxi driver Oneil Calder, 25, of lot 72 Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown is thanking his lucky stars for life after three party-going passengers held him at gunpoint yesterday morning. About 1:30hrs yesterday the father of one said that he picked up three young men on Vlissengen Road between DaSilva and Duncan Streets. The black Fielder wagon HC2738 carries a Pulse taxi service logo. “They said they were going to a party in Bel Air Gardens.” All seemed well, until he arrived at Bel Air and was asked to stop by a cul-de-sac. One of the men who sat immediately behind him stepped out of the car and the sound of a gun cocking followed. “He opened my door pointed a silver 9mm pistol at me and say, ‘Where the money deh.’ I ask which money and he say, ‘Is taxi yah wukkin whole night so yah got to get money.’” Fear gripped Calder but he said he kept his composure and showed the gunman the middle pocket of the car. “I had about $7000 in the pocket and the one in the front seat

The photo of the missing car take it out as well as a cell phone I had in there.” That was not enough for the gunmen, the driver said. “The other one behind me hold down me hand and they run through my pocket taking the li’l change I had in there as well as my other cell phone.” He said the men then ordered him out of the car telling him to “cooperate and we ain’t going to do nothing to you. I was so scared that I begged them to take all what they want but don’t kill me.”

He said the men the ordered him to walk through the cul-de-sac and I started walking. “I beg dem to please don’t kill me.” He said that as he was walking away he heard the car door close and when he looked back he saw them drive away. He then walked to Sheriff Street and hitched a ride to the Kitty Police Station but was referred to the Prashad Nagar police outpost. Ranks visited the scene and a report was recorded.

“I’m glad to be alive but these bannaz are really crude and ruthless. I got me family to maintain, including me sixmonth-old son and they just take away my earnings and the car...I hope they leave the car somewhere that I can find it cause I got rent to pay and other bills and jobs ain’t deh right now. And is not even my car.” The car is owned by businesswoman Yoland McKenzie who is seeking the public’s help to recover her vehicle. (Mondale Smith)


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Kaieteur News

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Police now “selling” the dead For years, workers from Guyana’s oldest operating funeral parlour, Lyken Funeral Home, were always associated with the collection of human remains that were the subject of police investigations. However, that 25-year-old relationship appears to be coming to an end, if that is not the case already. The management of the Lyken/Newburg Funeral Home has been forced to seek the assistance of the Ombudsman to recover more than $12M owed to the funeral home by the Guyana Police Force since 2012, for the collection of human remains all over the country. Although there is no formal contract in force between the Guyana Police Force and the Lyken Funeral Home, the entity has been a providing service at the request of the police for the removal and storage of human bodies. A breakdown revealed that $3,042,000 is owed for 2012; $3,151,000 for 2013; $2,815,000 for 2014 and $3,254,000 so far this year. Added to this is a five percent interest. Kaieteur News understands that Parliament has approved the payment to the parlour but for some strange reason, this has not been forthcoming. And to make matters worse, the police are now engaging the services of another establishment to remove their dead, a move that has angered the management of the Lyken Funeral Home. In fact, apart from the monies owed, the aggrieved funeral parlour wants the Ombudsman to address the unlevel playing field that has been created as a result of a non-existent contractual arrangement for the collection of bodies. This is especially so since according to Dr. Dawn Stewart, Funeral Director of the Lyken Funeral Home, the Ministry of Public Security appears to be indifferent to the current state of play. “We have enjoyed a great working relationship with the GPF. Our professional relationship and the service we provide is important to us, therefore it is extremely beneficial that we resolve these simple issue by the ranks providing accurate information to the customers or no information since generally they are unaware of our contractual responsibilities and what the GPF actually pays for,” Stewart wrote to the Ombudsman. The last time there was communication between the parlour and the police with

…owe Lyken Funeral Home $13M

Dr. Dawn Stewart regard to anything resembling a contract, was in 2007 when Lyken presented the Force with a new price list for the collection of remains. Stewart told this newspaper that they have repeatedly requested a contract from the police but they were always given a set of excuses. “We have no correspondence to change our arrangement with the police, so as far as we were concerned, we still kept our end of the bargain with the police by picking up the human remains,” Stewart stated. Then out of the blue, some time last year, the police began shifting the work to the newest kid on the block, the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour. In light of this new development, Stewart moved to the then Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon to address her concerns. Luncheon, she said, directed the police to maintain its relationship with the Lyken Funeral Home until a new arrangement was made with the administration. However, this state of affairs did not last too long as the police proceeded to engage the services of the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour, which is located in Le Repentir Cemetery. Stewart said that her parlour had enjoyed a good relationship with the police until the present Commissioner of Police took office. “I was told that the Commissioner of Police had instructed his ranks to contact the new funeral parlour to collect the dead,” Stewart told this newspaper. However, she added that this has not been communicated officially to the Lyken Funeral Home by the police. As a matter of fact, Stewart was only informed of this arrangement when she received a correspondence

from the Minister of Public Security which confirmed what she was told. A letter from the office of Minister Ramjattan to the Lyken Funeral Home stated, “Please be informed that the Hon. Minister spoke with the Commissioner of Police who advised that there is no contact between the GPF and your Establishment. Ranks dealing with corpses make the judgement call as to which Funeral Parlour to deal with. “Further, any Muslim corpse must not go to Newburg Funeral Home, but to the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour at the instructions of the CIOG who pays all costs.”

This newspaper was reliably informed by police ranks that they did receive instructions to engage another funeral parlour. Kaieteur News observed workers from the other funeral parlour collecting human remains on behalf of the police. “It seems as if the Police Commissioner and his ranks are now operating like the touts who work for the funeral parlours. They are selling the bodies to whichever funeral parlour they chose,” Stewart stated. She said that with all the talk of forensic audits of government agencies, the Guyana Police Force should

have been among the first to come under such scrutiny. “That is why the crime rate can’t change and people are going o continue to suffer,” Stewart lamented. She highlighted that unlike the other funeral parlours, the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour was the beneficiary of concessions from the government and there is definitely an unlevel playing field. According to Stewart, ranks continue to inform customers that Lyken is a government parlour and they need to go to another parlour for services, this is resulting in much complication for her

Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud business. “We would like to understand our continued role in the contractual Continued on page 68

Mexico cooperates with Guyana on the preservation of the historical archive

Participants at a training session with the Mexican Archivists. In the framework of celebration for the 50th Anniversary of Independence, the Governments of Guyana and Mexico are collaborating to promote bilateral cooperation that includes a project for the preservation of documental heritage and development of the archives. Two Mexican experts from the General National Archives have since advised on the digitization of historical documents to make them available to the public through an online portal. The two experts have met with Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry. During the meeting, the specialists reported on the details of the activities carried out during their visit to the archives. The experts have also carried out a diagnosis of the collections and taught an introductory course in the field of conservation and possible

actions for implementation. The project is an effort to support Guyana in the conservation of its historical documental heritage, which is vital to ensuring the right to access information. It also supports the sense of national identity through documents that record the history of the country. This project is a joint effort of the General National Archives, the National Archives of Guyana and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation. The groups have collectively spearheaded a training programme which aims to strengthen Guyanese through the transfer of knowledge and experiences from the Mexican specialists. Participants of the training activities had the opportunity to learn about conservation strategies and the experience of the General National Archives. The workshop focused on

designing a management strategy to meet the needs of preservation and dissemination of the documental collections with materials dating from the 18th century. With this contribution, the Government of Mexico reiterates its commitment in the field of cooperation with Guyana. The project is part of a series of commemorative activities being conducted by Mexico and Guyana in the lead up to the 50thAnniversary celebrations. Additionally the GUY50 National Commemorative Commission (NCC) with support from the Volunteer Support Platform (VSP) held another Volunteer Drive, this time in Linden. More than 120 persons were registered for the activity. This activity is a build-up from the first drive which was held on October 10th since then there has been an influx of persons expressing their

interest in volunteering for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2016. Today, another drive will be held in Region Six at the Vryman’s Erven Training Centre. Registration will commence at 10:00am. Persons interested in volunteering can register for the following categories: academia, ceremonial, commemorative, entertainment, infrastructure, youth, diaspora, heritage and indigenous culture. The volunteer drive is a continuous one. As such, citizens can uplift and submit forms at the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, youth and Sport on Main Street. Forms can also be downloaded from the Ministry’s website – www.mcys.gov.gy. The Volunteer Support Platform (VSP) can be contacted on 227-7575 for more information on the registration process.


Page 68

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

Rice market worry…

Guyana was never wholly dependent on Venezuela - Granger Following the decision by Venezuela to take excess rice from Suriname, further curtailing any hopes of Guyana reviving its oil for rice deal, President David Granger has made it clear that as Guyana was never wholly dependent on Venezuela,

other markets would come. Speaking to media operatives recently, the President affirmed that by his mandate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was engaged in the search for markets for Guyana’s products, including rice.

Elderly man battered to death at Linden Police in Linden are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 82-year-old Andrew Reid, whose body was found in a pool of blood in his house at 543 Canvas City, Linden yesterday. The shocking discovery was made by his wife, Esther, upon her return from church just after midday. From all indications, Reid was killed by an intruder whose purpose was to rob him. His finger rings were missing, as well as pieces of his wife’s jewellery. According to a police official, Reid’s wife left him home at around 9:00 hours and went to church. She returned home to find her husband lying on the floor with blood pouring from a wound on the right side of his head. An alarm was raised and the police were alerted. There is suspicion that the perpetrator is a close relative.

“Venezuela only took about 35 percent of our rice,” Granger continued. “Guyana has never been wholly dependent on Venezuela’s market. So we continue to search.” The Head of State added that during his attendance to the United Nations sustainable development summit in September of 2015, the possibility of alternate rice markets was discussed with several Heads of Government. For over five years, farmers and millers have been supplying rice to Venezuela with the monies owed for oil discounted and held in a PetroCaribe account at the Bank of Guyana. Venezuela, however, has not signaled any intentions to renew the deal with Guyana when it expires at the end of November. That arrangement had seen Venezuela supplying oil on concessional terms to states around the region. The countries are required to pay

President David Granger a percentage of the monies owed on the oil upfront. “When I was at the United Nations (UN) in September I met some Heads of Government and I raised the possibility of rice sales to those countries. That is the task that I have given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Granger added, “To go and seek new markets for our products including rice.” “Venezuela has been trying to undermine Guyana’s position in the Caribbean community for the last 40 years,” he said. “They’ve been doing that since the Caribbean states started to gain their independence in the 1960s.” Venezuela and Guyana have been at odds over a revived claim by Venezuela of Essequibo and sections of the maritime areas under Guyana’s control following oil exploration success in the offshore Stabroek block. Already Guyana has

eased taking oil under the PetroCaribe arrangements from Venezuela and is now receiving supplies from Trinidad and Tobago. Touching on the territorial claims, Granger said that Guyana would continue to take a “Principled stand and position on the territorial matter”, adding that inter regional co-operation would continue unabated. In light of several tours that the Venezuelan President has been making within the region to individual Caricom member states and the announcement by Venezuela of the purchase of 25 percent shares in Antigua and Barbuda’s West Indies Oil Company, Granger expressed expectations of continued support. “We expect them to be true to their word. They (Caricom) gave us their support at the last Heads of Government meeting in July and I expect that within Caricom that support will not fail,” he said, while also noting that every country is expected to look after its national interest. “Apart from the territorial problem, we have had relatively cordial relations with Venezuela over the last 45-50 years.” Granger said. “We had commercial ties with Venezuela, with petroleum and rice and Venezuela has set up some institutions here, such as the Hugo Chavez centre and a sports centre.” “I cannot complain when other countries attempt to pursue their own national interests,” he said. “(But) in

the end I do not expect that the pursuit of that national interest should be prejudicial to Guyana’s territorial integrity.” Last week Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro held meetings with Suriname President Desi Bouterse during an official visit and considering that the rice silos (bulk storage facilities) in Nickerie, Suriname were full, Bouterse discussed the possibilities of Venezuela taking Suriname’s rice. Noting that Venezuela is a major rice market, questions were raised about Suriname’s capacity for supplying the total rice requirement of Caracas. President Bourtese had noted that those concerns were irrelevant and that as much rice as possible would be sold. Similar to Guyana’s case, Suriname would be hoping that Venezuela would pay for the rice under the PetroCaribe arrangements. Guyana has been actively seeking new markets but there are also concerns about the excess rice. Also, Kaieteur News understands that more than 800 containers of rice have been stuck at the congested wharves in Venezuela. Under this year’s agreement, some 120,000 metric tonnes (Mt) of paddy along with 84,000 Mt of white rice have to be supplied to Venezuela. The deal was worth around US$113M. Reportedly, Suriname is agreeing to take half of what Guyana was getting for the rice and paddy shipments.

Police now “selling” the... From page 67 responsibilities of Lyken Funeral Home to remove human remains as requested by the Guyana Police Force. It has become extremely difficult understanding the contract requirements since the new Police Commissioner has taken the post and the opening of the new funeral home in Le Repentir,” Stewart stated in her letter to the Ombudsman. “I just wanna leave; I can’t work; I can’t do business like this. I can’t do business where the police selling dead…People don’t have a choice, the police telling then that can’t go Lyken, they got to go Sandy’s, they got to go burial ground. The police shouldn’t be in

the business of selling dead,” Stewart lamented. “How do you fight these people when the Commissioner of Police is doing what he’s doing? What do you think the ranks are gonna do?” “The police have authority and that is what is so damning…People respect them in most cases and they

bully the people to take their dead to wherever they want them to take it,” Stewart stated. The funeral parlour owner said that she does not mind if the police do not give her a contract; but there should be a transparent tender process and whoever wins, so be it!

Businesswoman fights off... (From page 64) police normally patrol in the area, one of which she saw minutes before her harrowing ordeal. “When I came in the street a patrol was actually on the road but they didn’t come in my street. Speaking of the first time experience she said, “This crime situation is crazy; something needs to be done because I could have been dead if I didn’t think for myself on my husband’s one year death anniversary.” She said that in her opinion, “The men really wanted my car badly and honestly I thought I was going to be killed…I have never been so scared in my life.”


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Page 69

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Red-circling the AG’s salary The President does not need would have been a wiser solution to intervene in the Diwali row

DEAR EDITOR We all know that hindsight is 20/20 vision and that the dilemma of raising the bridge versus controlling the flood must be confronted from time to time. As reported in the media, the Government felt obliged to raise the salary of the Prime Minister, Vice-Presidents, Ministers, et al in order to remove the anomalies in the salaries payable to the incumbents in the upper echelons of the Government vis-à-vis what is paid to the Attorney General. The ideal would have been a comprehensive job evaluation exercise. In the absence of the latter, an alternative solution was the “red-circling” approach as provided for in professional salary administration principles and practices. “Red-circling” in this case would have meant holding the AG´s salary at its historical (not objectively/systematically evaluated) level until incremental increases in the related salaries catch up

or achieve job-evaluated relativities. As has been reported, the abnormally high salary attached to the AG’s post goes back many decades when, because of the unusual demands and circumstances at the time, it was necessary to ‘import’ a Guyanese legal luminary with the unique competence required at that particular time. This brilliant Guyanese had to be lured from his high paying position overseas to discharge the unprecedented responsibilities required of the post given the unusual context at that time. It was obviously a unique situation that required unconventional treatment. The unusual salary paid then should have been discontinued when the circumstances changed as indeed they did and the incumbent demitted the said office and returned overseas. The unfortunate error or oversight in not doing so before does not mean that it should have been continued

ad infinitum –certainly not till this day. Therefore, instead of entertaining the flood of unprecedented salary increases to correct the untenable and unjustifiable differentials between the AG´s salary and his colleagues, and given all the circumstantial considerations which cannot be ignored at this stage of Guyana’s affordability, the more equitable solution would have been to ‘hold’ or reduce the salary level attached to the AG’s post before a new AG was appointed. Reduction of the disproportionate relativities would have been initiated and the Government would have been spared the millstone it has now put around its neck which future Governments in relatively poor Guyana would have to carry. Certainly, the current ground-swell of acrimony would have been avoided thus allowing the Government to focus on the important and urgent task of attending to the development of Guyana. NowrangPersaud

GT&T - please‘ do more’... From page 5 apologize for that and said I will have to re-charge in order to get back my data plan. This may seem trivial, but I felt cheated despite I find ways to maintain my data allocation for that service time period by: using my wifiand also not using my mobile

phone to google, browse facebook, watch videos; I always do those activities on my laptop with my internet connection. Please note, that this is not the first time this issue happened, but if I don’t complain, I maybe faced with this issue over and

over in the future. I value my money, and the efforts I make in earning that money in a decent manner in these trying times, therefore as a customer I would only expect value for money, especially from GTT that boost of ‘ do more.’ Jenn Singh

Guyana’s Don Quixote... From page 4 big trouble. If as they say he is one of the best analytical minds in politics in Guyana then he will need every muscle in his intellectual body to get out of the situation Harry has put him in Quoting from two columns of Freddie KIssoon last week, Harry Hergash was able to show that the APNUAFC relationship is becoming frozen. Hergash implies that Kissoon got his information from the closeness he shares with the AFC leadership. It is public knowledge that Kissoon is extremely close to Nigel Huges, Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo and he constantly mentions the chats he has, dinner he enjoys, and places he goes with many top AFC leaders. It is public knowledge too that his bosom pal is Dr. David Hinds who is openly frustrated with the APNU direction since Hinds’ WPA is part of APNU. Harry Hergash then

implies that those two columns have brought out information about the unsettling relations between the APNU and AFC. In one of the columns on Raphael Trotman, Kissoon insinuates that Trotman got two powerful Cabinet portfolios through APNU and not AFC. In another column quoted by Hegash, Kissoon advises APNU to show a little more gratitude to the AFC because it was the unity slate that caused the May victory and the unity slate only. Freddie Kissoon openly said that the final icing on the cake of victory was the Granger/ Nagamootoo symbolism, not the APNU ticket alone Harry Hergash has really put Freddie Kissoon in big trouble here. How is he going to get out of it? Is there an APNU ingratitude to the AFC? Is the AFC being sidelined by APNU? Was Trotman the recipient of APNU generosity at the expense of the AFC?

Does Trotman sit in the PNC or AFC? Does Freddie still believe that the PNC is a changed party that he wrote so much about? Just before the elections, I read a fine analysis on the quality of Granger’s mind by Freddie. Against the background of what Hergash wrote, is Freddie still sticking to that analysis? I close by saying that Freddie has a wonderful mind. I have five children scattered all over the world who have a never-ending love for Guyana and they keep abreast of the country they were born in through the daily Freddie Kissoon column. I was particularly moved by his last weekend column where he described how he almost gave his life to save a little boy. I hope the Guyana Don Quixote can fix the jam he has been placed in. After all we know the role he played in bringing his friends to power Devanand Persaud London, UK

DEAREDITOR, Permit me a space in your daily newspaper to offer my direct rebuttal to a letter that was published in your newspaper dated Friday, October 23, 2015 bearing the caption, “Time for President Granger to intervene in this Diwali row,” which was written by frustrated Hindus. To begin with, not because the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has been setting the dates for Hindu events for 40-odd years means that the organization is religiously correct for this year’s Diwali date hence that point is null and void and hence cannot hold water. Secondly, we Hindus are guided by ancient religious texts and according to the religious texts that i have con-

sulted with other spiritual leader in my community, Amavasya of Kartika 2015 will last from around 11.35 a.m. on Tuesday November 10 to 1:55 pm on Wednesday, November 11. It means that Lakshmi Puja to mark Diwali must be on the appropriate muhurta within that stipulated time slot. In other words, should Diwali be observed after the time period mentioned above it would be religiously and spiritually incorrect. I have noted with a great sense of appreciation that my position and that of other prominent religious Hindu leaders in my community were substantiated by an article carried in your newspaper dated Thursday October 22, 2015 carrying the caption, “Official date for

Deepavali is Nov. 10 - Minister Ramjattan.” Not only did that article substantiate our religious stance on the subject but it also detailed the manner in which the decision was arrived at. All Hindus should read that article. In addition to the above I strongly believe that not only was the Minister’s decision accurate religiously but it was also decided upon democratically. In closing, I therefore call on the Guyana Hindu Darmic Shaba to accept that Diwali is November 10 and not 11. I beg of them to look beyond the politics and to unite our religion. Don’t let us mingle politics with religion. GaneshMahipaul Wakenam Maria’s Pleasure Mandir

Re: Deepavali is not a Political... From page 6 celebration was never challenged or disputed by the Government. What gave rise to this abrupt transgression, since religious beliefs should be esteemed. One is yet to understand the pronouncements elucidated by the Honourable Minister as published in the Guyana Times (20-10-2015) which indicated that he was the authoritative body and maintains that the this sacred day is 10th November and he is the only person who can sanctify that the validity of this date. He further pointed out that Hindu in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago have accepted the 10th as their day of celebration and he had some 80 pertinent Hindu vicars in Guyana who agrees with him. I was practically flabbergasted at this comportment, since this gentleman shared a very religious life at the Ghandi Youth Organisation with my grands in the late 1990’s. More importantly, Guyana and Trinidad or any other part of the world if we are to resort to Science, is not subjected to similar or exact solar settings as another country. In simple

words, sunrise in Guyana is not in synchronized in terms of solar inclinations with respect to any other country, therefore the input of Trinidad or any other part, bears no fruits, Secondly I am not challenging whether a document (purportedly claimed) endorsed by this quantity of Priests(Hindu) bears propensity on the Celebration but interestingly why wasn’t this made public prior to the protests or published to grant some form of advocacy, since the calendars were available since December, 2014? Besides I would not like to think that Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who bears the religious portfolio and trails the renowned paths of her father, has in anyway disturbed the Minister’s resentment and duly noted, not on her but on an entire community. I trust in the Judgement of the Hindu community and that they should unanimously honour the direction of our religious fraternities and not the political mandates of politicians who only seeks political domination and mileage. Long Live Hinduism! George Phillips

A trade unionist questions... From page 5 Buildings, their removal were voted for by the combined majority APNU and AFC in the last parliament. The fact that they remained after this vote was cast showed that the PPP government refused to respect the will of the people. A new government has assumed office and the parliamentary barriers remain. It is testimony of the double standards in politics. Many have different views about the PNC 28 years in office, but as someone who during this period protested the administration at parliament, I have never seen a barricade placed there to keep citizens away from exercising their constitutional right to be heard, share ideas and information, and petition their

elected officials. Parliament is the nation’s supreme democratic organ and highest decision-making forum (Article 50- Guyana Constitution). When elected representatives have decided to put systems in place to deny those who elected them the right to petition them, a mockery is being made of democracy. This issue is not merely about political parties but the innate desire of those, who attach themselves to political parties, in order to use the people’s power to lord it on the people and abuse the nation’s resources in pursuit of self-aggrandisement. Public service is about delivering for the people, including treating the people with respect and abiding by institutions established in the

people’s interest. In elected leadership you offer yourself to serve and with service come sacrifice and you bear respect for people. You cannot offer yourself to serve and treat people anyhow or violate the tenets of good governance at your whims and fancy. If persons are not prepared to conform to the ethos then they are advised to get out of public service rather than remain, making life difficult for the people and hindering this nation’s development. There must be political development in our society. Elected leaders, both government and opposition, must understand who elect them, who they are in service to, and who must be treated with respect and dignity: the people. Lincoln Lewis.


Page 70

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Kaieteur News

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

Sunday October 25, 2015

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. Pearl: Well Built 1,995 Sq. Ft concrete structure 45X165 lot, formerly meeting hall 13.5M. Call: 649-1670 #53 Village: East Berbice, concrete house and land for sale, please submit offers, Call: 674-2155 Property at Diamond New Scheme: 1-Three bedroom flat concrete house, price $9.5M negotiable. Call: 2663962; 667-1240 One 2 storey 5 bedroom concrete and wooden house with two large self contained rooms, well secured –Tel: 6928923 1 Church & 2 Storey building at 180 Charlotte Street. Call: 624-7341; 227-6817 3 Bedroom; 2 flat house for sale, Enterprise, Lincolin Street, Lot 135 -$14M negotiable. Contact: 597858-4554 (Suriname), Guyana: 602-3643 Transported property at Tuschen Housing Scheme, located around School -$7M negotiable. Contact: 2641050; 683-7045; 669-3553 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052

VEHICLE FOR SALE 2013 Mercedes C250 turbo AMG coupe, retractable glasstop, mileage 15K, alcantara leather interior, brush aluminum acc- Call: 650-5136 SALE! SALE! SALE One TOYOTA RZ MINIBUS GJJ series -$1.5Million. One Econoline FORD 2005 GSS Series -$1.5M. Call: 6046108 One Ducati 1098cc motorcycle in excellent condition, will negotiate best offer-Call: 617-6934, 674-0137 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 One Toyota Raum, in excellent condition. Price $900,000 negotiable. Call: 6143280 Unregistered vehicles: Toyota Premio 2003 and Spacio 2004. Call: 227-5950; 681-7117 45 Leyland DAF, GRR Series, price -$2.5M. Call: 696-2663 One RZ minibus RR SeriesCall: 685-2113

Property at Tuschen-Call: 669-9055; 674-1291

Toyota Rush, Raum,AT212, IST, L-Touring & Fielder Wagon, Tundra, Hilux 4 Runner, Nissan 4 Door Pickup. Call: 644-5096; 697-1453

YARROWKABRA LINDEN, H/WAY, LAND SIZE: 100’X200’ FULLY FENCED, HOUSE, CHICKEN & PIG PEN. CALL: 676-0931

Honda Fit, year 2003, PMM series, full body kit, OEM rims, excellent condition, price $1.3M negotiable. Call: 600-1435; 600-4402

1 Flat house on 1 acre land with chicken pen & fruits tree at Unity E.C.D- $11M-Call: 642-7898

One 1.5 Ton Toyoace Canter, GLL Series, good working condition. Call: 623-1202

One Roadside, 2 storey house @ V/Hoop, ground floor, in excellent condition for restaurant or other businesses. Call: 692-8923; 614-0107 2 Storied transported concrete property upstairs 2 bedrooms, downstairs 2 bedrooms; fully grilled, block ‘8’ Mon Repos, E.C.D -$18M. Call: 625-1514, 231-7255 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 4 Bedroom 2 storey house 2 lot 80’X144’, bearing fruit trees, good condition all amenities @Zeeburg W.C.D. Contact: 277-0024, 684-6106 Popular business place at temple, Windsor-Forest, W.C.D, price negotiable. Call: 642-6664

One Honda CRV, immaculate condition, 17" mags, AC, CD, price -$1.750,000 negotiable. Call: 626-2884 HB Yellow Toyota 192, good condition -$600,000 – Call: 617-7113 One 7 seater Toyota Corolla Spacio in superb condition, female and driven. Reasonably priced. Call: 649-7471 1 Toyota YRV, PKK 3075, price $850,000 negotiable. Call: 696-2765 For Immediate Sale: Ford F150 Toyota Madza, Axela Toyota Verossa, Nissan Dualis. Contact: 623-3400; 231-3837 TOURS Tour to Suriname (20-24/ Nov- $34,000) & Brazil (25-30/ Nov- $46,000) transportation and accommodation, lucky person will win $100USDCall: 660-0312; 696-4506 Continued on page 71


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Six on bail amidst statutory rape allegations Lethem Police have captured six men wanted in connection with allegations of statutory rape committed on two girls, aged 13 and 14 years The girls went missing from their homes on October 13 and October 14 respectively. The suspects, who all hail for Lethem, have been identified as Mario Kingston, 28; Julius D’Aguiar, 24; Orlando Samlall, 25; Keanu James, 17; Onesimus

Rudolph, 21; and Rodrigues Thompson, 18. They were all arrested by police on Monday, last, at different locations in Lethem and were released on bail as investigations continue. Kaieteur News understands that the girls, who are friends, disappeared from their homes after they were sent to a nearby shop. After they had failed to return home the said day, a report was made to the Lethem Police Station by their

parents. The police, in response carried out searches in the community and found the girls last Monday, bathing at a creek in Tabatinga. The 13-year-old girl upon seeing her older brother in the police vehicle escaped by running into the bushes, while her friend was held unto and placed in the vehicle. A search team pursued the other girl, who was eventually found and taken

into police custody along with her friend. It was while in custody that the girls provided the police with vital information which led to the arrest of the men. According to a source the girls went on a “little adventure” and would sneak around the homes of the suspects. The source also related that the 13-year old had also visited a barrack in the area. However, it is unclear what she had gone there for.

>>> CONSUMER CONCERNS <<<

Parents and their children’s welfare By Pat Dial Children are everyone’s concern. Though parents and others would like to protect and further their children’s welfare, they often do not know how to do so. One of the daily newspapers, almost every day, carries a well-written column on bringing up children, and such a column must certainly be helpful to parents who study it. In many developed countries, Child Psychology has been a staple in the media and TV programmes for many years and as a result, parents and the public at large have assimilated a great deal of knowledge on the subject and so are better equipped to deal with their children than with the average Guyanese parents. We would like to discuss a number of do’s and dont’s that may be useful to the average Guyanese parent, and indeed, the public. In the first place, most people are not aware how intelligent, observant and sensitive children, even the youngest, are. Parents and adults may sometimes humiliate and insult children, assuming that such harsh behaviour and actions are passing phases, soon forgotten. Such behaviour causes deep pain and suffering which is heightened because it has to be borne in silence and isolation. Many such hurts scar the child’s psyche and remain with him/her throughout life. Once this is understood, parents would cease beating up their children for the least offence. Cruel beatings of children are common in working class areas and are sometimes seen on the public transport. Many academic types quite incorrectly attempt to attribute such cruelties to the tradition of punishments during the era of Slavery. Such cruelties permanently damage a child’s psyche or could even lead to rebelliousness or delinquency and are unacceptable. Just before the beginning of every new school year, thousands of parents are seen desperately trying to have their children placed in what they consider the “better schools.” When the child is placed in a school, parents’ interest seems to fade away and they put their trust in the school. Parents must however realize that their responsibilities for the education of their children have just begun and they need to be supervising and encouraging them, building their morale and advising them to read widely, using the available library facilities. It could be explained to the older children, in particular those at secondary school, that education is one of the secrets of upward social and economic mobility and that almost

the entire professional classes in Guyana and the Caribbean have their origins in humble working class backgrounds. Almost all Guyanese and West Indian children have had no “economic socialization.” That is, they have no clear understanding of property and the use of money. They do not know that they should or could own the houses in which they are living since all they have ever known is living in rented accommodation. And they assume that earnings are there merely to be spent, to be consumed. They have no understanding that money has to be used to generate further income or wealth. Doing courses in business studies would not be of much help in the “economic socialization” of children and since most teachers and parents, at this point in time, are not “economically socialized”, the Ministry of Education may have to deploy persons with practical business experience to help the children in this regard. In equipping children to live comfortably and successfully in the world, it is imperative that they be taught etiquette and good manners. In the past, there used to be an NGO which printed cards giving basic rules of good manners and etiquette and many thousands of these were issued every year to the schools and older children. It would do well for the Ministry of Education to restart this programme. The teaching of religion and morality in the schools as part of their curriculum seems to be very unfashionable in these times, and mention of such always leads to raised eyebrows. This reaction of rejection or indifference is due to the fact that in the past, Religion and morality were taught from a partisan position which led to more harm than good. The best formula for the communication of religious and moral values in the school system was that which I heard given by Swami Aksharananda while attending the recent graduation of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) school at Cornelia Ida. Swamiji said that SVN children were of various religious Faiths and would all leave school with the same Faith with which they entered but during their schooling they are exposed to the values of moral behavior and how it would benefit and enrichen their lives as individuals as well as of Society as a whole. In any case, parents must again seriously assume the responsibility of teaching their children moral values and precepts and encouraging them to attend the places of worship of their respective Faiths.

From page 70

FOR SALE Plants: Foxtails Palms, Christmas Palms, Ixora, Ficus, Christmas Trees, Petunia, Pentas, Gerbera, Marigold, Periwinkle @ AK PlantShop. Call: 610-7363 Plants: Chrysanthemums 5 for $2000, Hibiscus 5 for $3,000, Bougainvilla 5 for $2000 @ AK Plant Shop. Call: 610-7363

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One 52ft, complete snapper boat and one 38ft bore cruiser in excellent condition. Call: 654-2817; 648-6815 Pool Tables and business property for sale- Call: 6216878

SALON -Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Affordable salon services: pedi, mani, wash & blowout, facials, etc $2,500 each. Vogue @ Kalyan Mall, Lamaha Street. Tel: 647-1773/660-5257 Earn a certificate in cosmetology. Enroll now at Artee’s School of Cosmetology and Beauty Salon-Call: 680-0156; 2750267

EDUCATION Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC Adults Classes, Grade 1-6 Lessons: Phonic lessons @ East Street-Call: 690-5008; 619-7911 Obtain a guaranteed distinction in CSEC Principles of Accounts. Call: 654-1723 for more information International Language Institute Classes for adults & Children, Spanish, English as Second Language, Portuguese, Dutch –Call: 2233556

TO LET 2 Bedrooms house upstairs toilet and bath, preferably couple or student, price $60,000 negotiable. Call: 6549807 Eccles Studio Apartment: breezy, cable, TV, internet, A/ C, shortterm etc. Call: 2332770

LAND FOR SALE 1500 Acres Transported land near Bartica, Forestry, Agriculture, loam, sand rock quarry, price to sell. Cal Mark: 603-1266; 625-9788; 707-4652222 Eccles (100FtX50ft) -$4.6M, Herstelling (110ftX61ft) $4.2M; low lands (East Coast) -$1.8M, Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M. Call: 6042207; 611-7223 Land at Parfaite Harmonie $1.1M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Tuschen 2nd Street -$5.5M, Phase 2, $1.4M- Call:604-6724 Large land (37’X724’) @ Bagotville West Bank, Residential and Farming land -$5.7M. Call: 600-0036; 2231273 Gold & Diamond Land @ Ekereou, Parish Hill Berbice River. Call: 600-0036; 223-1273

MILL CUT AND DRESSED GREENHEART FROM $160BM AND KABUKALLI FROM, $180BM- TEL: 6886579/653-9752 Toyota Spacio, PMM 3646. Call: 628-1620 High frequency radio system for the interior/bush. Call: 600-0036 CRV 2000 Model, 1998 CC PLL5892, Burgundy, immaculate condition- Call: 684-5868 Prado 2000 model, 2700CC, PPP2872, pearl white & silver, next to new- Call: 684-5868 House in Tuschen Main Road -$27M, 46ft fishing boat & 500lbs Nylon Seine $2.3M. Call: 696-6074 One 40 outboard Tohatsu Engine, excellent condition. Call: 687-8239 or 675-3004

Clean Garden earth, Trucking Services and Builders Waste, bobcat rental, North half lot situated at lot also excavating, clearing, leveling108 Third Street Agricola, 3,200 Sqft. Sale price -$2.5M. Call: 627-9977; 616-0617; 6633285 Call: 697-8963. Crazy deals! All Dell Desktop Back, South half, lot situated & Laptop computers-$55,000, at 108 Third Street Agricola, free educational software and 3554.50 sqft, sale price - games. Call FuturetTech: 231$2.5M. Call: 697-8963 2206 Professional Realty: we buy/ Change of plans- One sell/rent/value your real complete 6 inch new dredge. estate –Call:694-3875; 649- Call: 625-9358 0353; 654-6198 Large original Nevea Cream Eccles -$4.2M, Parfaite in wholesale quantity. Call: Harmonie -$1.3M, Tuschen – 673-7883 $1.3M, Low Lands (East Coast) -$1.8M. Call: 604-2207; Golden Retriever pups and other breeds of dogs. Call: 611-7223 625-0345 33 Acres prime agriculture land located at Plantation Double lot & 2-storey house Flensberg W.B.D-price at Chateau Margot- Tel: 661negotiable-Contact Erick 9431 Boodhoo: Call: 654-6229; 627- 2 Canters going cheap, 0556 owner migrating-Call:628Developed, fenced, bearing 1756; 228-5655 fruit trees 40’X144’ @ Zeeburg W.C.D. Contact: 1 Farm Land to pant eddoes 277-0024, 684-6106, price at Kuru Kururu. Call: 2238331 or 626-4426 negotiable


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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

FLOSSING “Have you been flossing regularly?” It’s the one question people dread when going to the dentist because it’s typically the one thing that most people don’t actually do on a regular basis. Most people follow the recommendation to brush twice a day, but seem to conveniently forget about the recommendation to floss at least once a day. Unfortunately, just as not brushing your teeth can have serious dental health consequences, not flossing regularly can also cause problems. Sometimes patients ask if they brush their teeth regularly do they still need to floss. Well, I can’t help but

think of a funny cartoon I once saw. It said you only needed to floss the teeth you want to keep. I suppose without being facetious that should answer the question. However, it is important to understand why, in addition to brushing our teeth, we need to floss. When we brush our teeth we remove plaque and food particles from the chewing and smooth surfaces of the teeth. The bristles are not able to go between the teeth and below the gum line so we need to find a way to clean this area. One of the most common reasons why people don’t floss is because they say that food

doesn’t get stuck between their teeth. It is important to realize that in addition to removing food particles, flossing also gets rid of plaque between the teeth and below the gum line. Everyone gets plaque daily and it needs to be removed in order to prevent gum disease and tooth loss. According to the American Dental Association, it is best to floss before bed each night. It is recommended to use a piece of floss up to 18 inches long so that it can easily slide between all teeth. Wrap most of it around the middle finger of one hand, the rest around your other middle finger. Grasp the string tightly between your thumb and f o r e f i n g e r, a n d u s e a rubbing motion to guide it between teeth. You should wrap it around each tooth in a “C” shape and use an up and down motion. Use fresh sections of floss as you go for each tooth. If you haven’t flossed in a while, it can be uncomfortable to get back in the habit. In the beginning, it is common to see blood in the mouth. This is a side effect of inflamed gums where plaque has built up. After a few days, the bleeding should lessen. Some people lack the dexterity to reach in between back teeth. Most gum disease and most tooth decay happen in the back teeth so you need to make sure you clean this area properly. If you have trouble

Dr. Neromini Fagu reaching the back of your mouth, there are some other tools that you can use. They include disposable Y- s h a p e d flossers that allow for extra reach, small round brushes, pointed rubber tips, water picks and interdental cleaners. There is a wide assortment of flosses to choose from, enough to make anyone dizzy. However, most brands contain materials made from thin filaments and may have waxed or flavoured coatings. Choose the one that works best for you. • Dental tape is thicker than regular floss and is used for teeth with wide spaces. • Ribbon floss is smoother than conventional floss, so it is a good choice for people with sensitive gums. • Super floss consists of a stiffened-end threader, a spongy floss and regular

floss and is used by people who wear braces. The stiffened-end threader makes it easier to slide the superfloss through the gap between the teeth and braces. The spongy floss cleans around the braces and between wide spaces and the regular floss removes plaque from the adjacent tooth surfaces. Remember, a small box of floss is a lot cheaper than having to treat gum disease. When you floss you are preventing serious disease from happening, which will save you money in the long run. As you start to floss more

regularly, you will notice the difference in your overall oral health. It is also important for children to learn the benefits of flossing at an early age. Kids should start to floss as soon as they have two teeth that touch and will need their parents help until they can manage on their own. So, next time instead of cringing when your dentist asks if you floss regularly, you can be proud to say that you do. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL on Tel: 227-0025 or send comments to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

Tender Board evaluators found to be incompetent From page 16 during the period of the audit although there had been breaches of the Act by procuring entities. In light of this observation, NPTAB said that its Chairman explained that all steps which form part of the protest mechanism are followed by the procuring entities and the National Board. It said that most protests

have been resolved without having to invoke the Bid Protest Committee mechanism and to the satisfaction of the tenderers who sought the reviews. The Board said that in a few instances the aggrieved party took the matter to court. In spite of this response, the Auditor General still insisted that in the interest if ensuring transparency in the procurement process and the fair treatment of suppliers, the National Board should ensure that all complaints are dealt with formally, and in strict compliance with Section 53 of the Procurement Act 2003. He said, too, that in the absence of the Public Procurement Commission, it should establish procedures, to comply with section 17(2) (f) of the Procurement Act, which speaks to the Bid Protest Committee so as to enable them to effectively adjudicate on debarment proceedings.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

Russia says wants Syria elections, ready to help Free Syrian Army Reuters - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Kremlin wanted Syria to prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections, as Moscow intensified its drive to convert its increased clout with Damascus into a political settlement. In comments which mark a shift in Russia’s position, he also said that Russia’s airforce, which has been bombing Islamist militants in Syria since Sept. 30, would be ready to help Westernbacked Free Syrian Army rebels, if it knew where they were. The Kremlin, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s strongest foreign ally, has spoken broadly about the need for elections in Syria before. But Lavrov’s comments were its most specific call for political renewal yet and came just days after a surprise visit by Assad to Moscow. “External players cannot decide anything for the Syrians. We must force them to come up with a plan for their country where the interests of every religious, ethnic and political group will be well protected,” Lavrov told Russian state TV in an interview broadcast yesterday. “They

Sergei Lavrov

need to prepare for both parliamentary and presidential elections.” Lavrov yesterday phoned U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss organising talks between the Syrian government and opposition, the Russian foreign ministry said. It said the two men had spoken of the need to tap the potential of other countries in the region to push the political process forward. John Kirby, a State Department spokesman, confirmed the conversation. “They focussed on their shared pursuit of options to achieve ýa political transition and discussed the potential for future multilateral meetings on the topic,” said Kirby. ý Moscow says Assad must be part of any transition and that the Syrian people will

decide who rules them. Washington has said it could tolerate Assad during a short transition period, but that he would then have to exit the political stage. Lavrov, who also discussed Syria yesterday with his Iranian and Egyptian counterparts, said the Kremlin had told Assad during his Moscow visit that political progress was needed. Lavrov said the success of Assad’s army on the battlefield, with Russian air support, would consolidate his government, making it more interested in a political deal. Lavrov’s interview was broadcast a day after a meeting in Vienna between Russia, the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia where a political solution to Syria’s civil war - now in its fifth year was discussed.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Ministry of Education set to discard parts of National Grade 6 Assessment Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, recently expressed his intentions to discard parts of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA.) In a recent interview, the Minister related his disappointment in the current grading system for the NGSA. He stated that national examinations for pupils of grades two and four are fostering an unhealthy “exam culture” in the

nation’s young children. In Grades Two and Four, pupils are required to write exams which account for 15% of their final NGSA results. The Grade Two exam accounts for five per cent of the results while the Grade Four exam accounts for 10 per cent. “What I’m saying is, let’s keep the assessment but let’s use it for diagnostic reasons,” said Roopnaraine.

Roopnaraine stated that such a system, will allow educators to better tackle weak areas the students might have so that these weaknesses can be corrected for the Grade Six examinations. The Minister recounted stories he has heard of pupils in Grade Two taking extra lessons for their examinations. He labeled this practice as “complete madness.”

“At Grade Two you’re supposed to be enjoying school not being primed for exams,” said the Minister. The rationale behind this move was said to be an effort to take the “exam culture” out of Grades Two and Four. The Minister stated that priming

children from such a young age for examinations can seriously hinder their social development. By discarding the grading system for the NGSA the Minister revealed that his aim is to make the children happier, “as happier children learn best.”

Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine


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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

Nuclear weapons issue spoils Sharif’s trip to the US Nawaz Sharif (L) and Barack Obama

Source: Al Jazeera - Pakistan wants peace, but it has no plans to slow down its nuclear weapons programme, either. That was the message from Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif this week in Washington. Problem is, that desire has caused problems with the White House. So much so that the prime minister’s visit this week turned out to be nothing more than a courtesy visit. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme is growing quickly. In February, it

launched an updated version of its long-range cruise missile, the RA’AD, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead 350km. A report published on Thursday in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists states that Pakistan has a stockpile of 110-130 warheads, up from 90110 in 2011. In public remarks on Friday in Washington, Sharif told an audience that although Pakistan is fully committed to “non-proliferation and disarmament”, he accused neighbouring India of

a “major arms build up”, adding that, for that reason, his country needs to take, “several countermeasures to preserve credible deterrence”. He reiterated Pakistan’s desire to become part of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an organisation of states that rubber-stamp the import and export of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. But the US, like many other countries, is concerned about the growing nuclear arms race in South Asia and the proliferation of nuclear technology in the region.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets take Berbice Bridge Company Inc title After Albion fail to turn up for final By Sean Devers Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets yesterday dethroned Champions Albion in controversial fashion when they got a walk-over at the Port Mourant ground as Albion failed to turn up to defend the Berbice Bridge Company 50-over first division cricket title they won last year when they beat RHT Gizmos & Gadgets in last year’s final under lights at Albion. RHT Gizmos & Gadgets’ Assad Fudadin has played three Tests for the West Indies, expressed great dissatisfaction with what transpired yesterday. “I am very disappointed with this. This is very poor for Berbice cricket and it looks very bad. A final can’t be fixed for a set date well in advance and a team does not turn up. I don’t even know why Albion did show up today (yesterday) but I know this looks bad and I am sure the sponsors would not be pleased,” the 30-year-old Fudadin lamented. The Guyana Jaguars opener informed that everything was put in place for this final and it was a

shame that Albion did not say something to the Board before today (yesterday). “Our entire team is here and I just came from Georgetown where I live. Every weekend I have to drive from Georgetown to play in Berbice and when things like this happen it wastes people’s time,” an upset Fudadin stated. The ground was blessed with glorious sunshine yesterday morning and the pitch was nice and hard with the outfield bone dry from the extended dry season that has ravaged the Corentyne area. The covers were removed and the ground handed over to Mokhan brothers (Imran & Zaheer) who were appointed by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to officiate as umpires for the eagerly awaited and twice postponed final between Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets and defending Champions Albion. The atmosphere was befitting of a final with the sponsors’ Banners decorating the venue and the music set in place to entertain the fans who were already starting to enter the ground.

The RHT Gizmos & Gadgets team had turned up early and the prospects of a pulsating final was very high with two of the best teams in Berbice set to match skills in the ‘middle’ as the Rose Hall line up looked to avenge their loss to Albion under lights at Albion in the last final. Treasurer of the BCB Vicky Bharosay explained that everything was put in place for the final and Albion’s last minute no-show without an official reason has cost the BCB financially since lunches for the teams and officials were already ordered. President of the BCB Anil Beharry informed that the relevant committees of the Board will meet shortly to look at the issue and sanctions could be taken against Albion which is one of the most established cricket clubs in Berbice. Beharry suggested that there might have been ‘outside’ interference to sabotage the final but said when the BCB has an official reason for Albion’s absence at the final and investigations are concluded the BCB will issue a press release on the matter.

Sunday October 25, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Someone that you don't really know well may corner you at a social occasion and try to talk you into something. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your writing and speaking abilities are operating at a high level today. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Continued success and good fortune regarding finances could have you flying high right now, Gemini.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Recent successes haven't made you feel you can rest on your laurels, Libra. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is likely a day when you want to reflect on your successes. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Surprising developments in your life might bring a lot of visitors and much happiness to your home. You could host a party or other sort of gathering.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Now that you've earned your place in the world after all your hard work, Cancer, you might take some time to pursue your own interests.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Some wonderful new developments could take place in your community, Capricorn.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Money that has come your way unexpectedly might have you thinking in terms of expanding your personal interests and holdings, Leo.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A high level of selfconfidence and optimism should stay with you throughout the day, Aquarius.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may feel so confident that you could be thinking in terms of starting a new enterprise, Virgo.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Happiness is the mood of the day, Pisces, as you enjoy the fruits of all your hard work over the past few years.

Page 77

Team Unity officially unveiled... (From page 80) informed apart from training coaches, referees, financial accountability, focus on females, facilities for futsal and beach soccer. ”The indigenous people are a part of Guyana, we can’t only remember them election time, and I’m talking about national elections and football elections,” Lumumba argued.

He said that if the right thing is done, half the national team should be constituted of players from the hinterland. Second Vice President Mark Waldron underscored the importance of taking the game back to communities and that is one of the reasons the Albouystown area was chosen. While admitting that he is in-

experienced as an administrator in the game, Waldron noted that it is time to assess the shortcomings of football in Guyana while focusing on the development of youth and by extension, communities. ”I am making myself available to be a part of Team Unity which is the next executive of the Guyana Football Federation.”

A man with astute vision... (From page 82) experiences to prepare the young brigade for the challenges ahead. It is commonly accepted that the best plans are thwarted by inadequate funding. Mr. Hicken said that he has great plans for the progression of the sport and will put systems in place to ensure the acquisition of adequate financial support. “I’ve given keen thought to this area and plan to collaborate with the corporate sector to encourage tangible support, while improving relations with this group,’ he said. With a plethora of responsibilities and commitments, the Police Commander is a very busy man and even as we were engaged in discussions he was getting ready to host his inaugural meeting with recently elected executives. “We will be discussing the installation of a two years plan with an objective of instigating growth among the various teams to facilitate a qualitative bunch of players that will be poised for (sports) ambassadorial representation of this country,” a confident Hicken exhorted. He also said that his executives will prioritize the itinerary to match their objectives. Another top priority of the GFA boss is to run off the 1st Division League tournament as well as the usual year end extravaganza usually staged in December. The Commander was elected to foster betterment within the football fraternity and he feels that such strategies ought not to be concentrative on just football activities. As such, he is bent on the implementation of an allround developmental strategy that will produce rounded players to contribute to the developmental plan. “Even before the elections I had done an environmental scan, through the social crime prevention programme, and I detected tremendous talent in the communities just waiting to be nurtured. I plan to have discussions with the other elected members of the executive to implement strategies to achieve this goal,” said the

new GFA boss. Even as Mr. Hicken speak of an all-inclusive plan, this writer wondered aloud of his willingness to work with the former executive body or even his nemesis, Christopher Matthias, “I plan to engage (all) of the previous bodies with football development as my primary objective,” he noncommittally retorted. It is this ambition that has inspired him to acquiesce to the requests of the relevant stakeholders to lead the GFA for the next 2 years. He remains committed to this task and closes the interview on a concomitant note, “There is a great need for training programmes to inculcate the right attitudes through the inputs of role models for

those youths to emulate,” he said. He remains adamant that this could be attained through training and the involvement of senior players who will be used as role models. Pressed to elaborate, Mr. Hicken said, “I’ve noted the conflicts that arise from time to time (among our players) and believe that training could better alleviate such behaviours while making them role models,” he said. He pointed to a three pronged approach in achieving this goal as shrewd managerial applications, expert planning and competent organizing. He is a police commander and plans to extend this to the glorious game of football by taking command of the sport in the city.


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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

“West Indies regional cricket – Raising standards or simply spinning tops in mud!” Says Colin E. H. Croft The important franchised Professional Cricket League regional 2015/6 four-day competition, obvious unofficial trial matches for Caribbean tours next year by probably India and South Africa, bowls off soon, so regional players and officials should be prepared and focused, raring to go. Per West Indies Cricket Board’s announcement last year, this new format is geared at enhancing regional cricketing standards, which should also ultimately make WI teams stronger. So, recently, I had an opportunity to speak to one regional official and to assess thought processes on our cricket. But first, some background and appreciation too. Three weekends ago, former WI players Michael Holding, Lawrence Rowe, myself, Alvin Kallicharran and Faoud Bacchus, were invited to a weekend of merriment and cricket, for final fixtures of Newbury American Cricket Federation Champions League National Championships. American Cricket Federation (ACF) is trying to go to higher levels where United

States of America Cricket Association (USACA) had perhaps not taken cricket in USA previously. Bacchus had to be there anyway, as the team he has coached for years, hosts and Orlando-based Florida AllStars, reigning champions of Florida’s Cricket Conference and last year’s defending overall champions, was again in 2015’s final. This time All-Stars lost to first-time finalists Massachusetts Patriots, champions of New England Conference, who, amazingly, only had eleven players available for three days of tough 40-overs games. “Man-of-the-Final” Fazal Alum impressed; 50 as NEC made 173, then a frugal 6-0-20-5. The cricket was of a very high standard, as was another similar 20-overs competition; USA Cricket Invitational International Tournament; which I attended as “Honored Legend” in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota last September, hosted by MICC-Cavaliers. That too was an enjoyable and eye-opening event, where teams from Canada and USA competed in the annual USA-CIIT competition. Players’ enthusiasm and tal-

ent were electric and obvious there too. Most players in both tournaments were of Asian extraction, some of Caribbean heritage, some with Masters’ degrees, but there are certainly high hopes for better things in USA’s cricket. So, during that event in Orlando, I had an interesting and informative conversation with a very high-ranking official in Guyana’s cricket. He rightly, proudly, promoted the fact that Guyana are defending 2014/15 champions of the new franchised PCL cricket in the Caribbean. However, he stumbled somewhat when I asked as to how many Guyanese players, having won the last regional competition, had been selected to the present WI squad now touring Sri Lanka? We both knew that the only Guyanese now in SL are right-arm leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo and opener Rajendra Chandrika, with only Bishoo so far playing in both Tests in SL to date. But that must be a poor reflection on the cricket level in Guyana and, by extension, WI too. How can only two players from the region’s championship-winning team be selected for higher honors

Brusches Basketball Foundation holds clinic today at MSC hardcourt for 40 children

The launching of the Brusches Classic on Friday night at the Linden Enterprise Network boardroom. The Brusches Basketball Foundation, organisers for the 5th Brusches Classic Basketball Championship currently in progress, will this morning stage a basketball clinic which will be conducted by former Caricom All Star

player and United States based James Brusche who is one of the three brothers to have represented Guyana. James Brusche is a former national captain and along with Mike and Clifton were outstanding players for

Guyana. James and Mike were also captain of the national senior men’s teams. The clinic this morning is for forty primary school boys and girls and will be held from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon at the MSC hard court.

from games used as trials for that SL tour, and for England and Australian 2015 tours here earlier? It means that most players are, more or less, on the same level. If any other players had been really outstanding, then they would certainly have been selected to tour SL too. If Guyana was good enough to win last year’s competition, then at least five or six Guyanese should have been good enough to be selected to tour SL, but realistically, only one Guyanese nonselectee, left-arm leg-spinner Verasammy Permaul, had justifiable claims to such a place. Recent regional cricket has been like USA’s major league baseball, which culminates in the “World Series”, another overall tournament that only plays against itself, as all major league baseball teams are based in North America, even if most players hail from Latin America or Asia. Playing against one’s self does not count, as no calculable standards can be set. So

Caribbean cricket could also be similarly “spinning tops in mud”; fooling itself if no real changes happen! It would indeed be interesting to have a proper baseball “World Series” featuring Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Japan, China, Mexico, Columbia, Canada and United States, to fully assess how good USA’s baseball players really are, since most MLB stars are not Americans. So what of the rest of Guyana’s ‘champion’ players? Embarrassingly, none, with the exception of Permaul, could even have been considered to be selected in the present WI Test squad to SL. From 1960’s to 1990’s, most WI touring and home players were selected from teams that had won regional competitions. Guyana, and especially Barbados, at one time or other, boasted of up to seven players in WI teams, Barbados winning past competitions more than most. England’s present representation, for instance, with reference to county championship, tells an interesting story too. Yorkshire is

England’s champion county for 2015, so from YCCC come Joe Root, Adam Lyth, Gary Balance, Adil Rashid, Tim Bresnan, Liam Plunkett, Johnny Bairstow and David Willey, all eight very recent England players, as it should be. So, while Jason Holder and WI try desperately to save Test No. 2 v SL, consequence of yet another poor 1st innings batting performance, after poor catching and batting lost them Test No. 1, great responsibilities fall on regional batsmen to have much better production for 2015/6. Enjoy! E-mail address c.e.h.croft@gmail.com

Brathwaite six-for sets West Indies 244 target ESPNcricinfo - Part-time offspinner Kraigg Brathwaite, who had managed only three wickets in 81 first-class matches before this Test, claimed figures of 11.3-4-29-6 to run through Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order, but contrasting forties from Milinda Siriwardana and Angelo Mathews set the visitors a target of 244. However, Brathwaite then got out for a scratchy 3, minutes before scheduled tea as rain ended the session and eventually the day with West Indies still 224 away from their target. With the pitch starting to play more tricks, West Indies face the prospect of delivering their best batting performance of the series for them to draw level with Sri Lanka. Brathwaite’s struggle with the bat continued. He was pinned lbw by a Dhammika Prasad incoming ball, after surviving two loud appeals on 0 - one for lbw and the other for a catch down the leg side. The other opener, Shai Hope, also survived an lbw appeal, on 11, but the on-field call of not out prevailed because of umpire’s call, after Mathews had reviewed the decision. Hope stayed un-

beaten on 17 off 28 balls before rain interrupted. Despite the regular loss of wickets, Sri Lanka were earlier pushed ahead by a busy 67-run partnership between Siriwardana and Mathews. If Kaushal Silva’s 105-ball vigil was boundaryless, Siriwardana’s second and third scoring shots were caressed past the covers for fours. He clouted Jomel Warrican over midwicket and to the cow corner for a four and six, and then sent Devendra Bishoo straight down the ground for another six. By then the lead had crossed 150. Bishoo got alarming turn but erred short, as he has been throughout the series, allowing Mathews to settle down. Mathews wedged the ball into the gaps, and was the ninth Sri Lanka batsman dismissed, off Brathwaite for 46, falling short of his fifth fiftyplus score in five Tests at the P Sara Oval. Dilruwan Perera nicked to slip the next ball, giving Brathwaite his sixth wicket, and Jermaine Blackwood his fifth catch. West Indies had also begun well before ceding the stage to Siriwardana and Mathews. Warrican found the

outside edge of Dinesh Chandimal’s bat in the first over of the day, but it snuck away to the right of Denesh Ramdin and did not carry to slip either. It was not long before Silva’s bubble burst as he played against the turn, lobbing a catch straight to Blackwood at slip. Two balls later, Jerome Taylor removed Chandimal with an inducker, Ramdin taki n g a s h a r p catch flinging himself to his left. Brathwaite followed it with another double-strike. He first got one to spin away from round the wicket and nipped out Siriwardana. He then struck at the stroke of lunch, having Kusal Perera forcing an edge behind to leave the hosts six down for 165. Herath came out swinging after lunch, hitting reversesweeps as well as orthodox sweeps in a 30-run stand with Mathews. Brathwaite, however, polished Sri Lanka off, the last four wickets tumbling for 11 runs. Scores: West Indies 20 for 1 (Hope 17*) and 163 need 224 runs to beat Sri Lanka 200 and 206 (Mathews 46, Brathwaite 6-29).


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Plenty of action anticipated today as Rodeo takes centre stage The day has finally arrived and its Rodeo time again and the place to be is the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast Berbice, where the Rising Sun Rodeo Committee brings off a grand one day action packed event. The Vaqueros and other participants from overseas and other parts of Guyana, including far flung interior areas have all arrived for what is expected to be a wild day of action on the Coast. A large crowd is expected to throng the venue for the annual event and what is anticipated to be the biggest Rodeo spectacle. With more accommodation now in place, patrons will be able to view the activity in absolute comfort. Over the past week the organisers used the opportunity to formalize preparations and made sure every system is in place. The venue was also tested with a few trial runs using mostly local cowboys and according to coordinator and President of The Rising Sun Rodeo Committee, Fazal Habibulla, all systems worked perfectly. According to Habibulla, he and his West Berbice Posse led by seasoned cowboy Keino Hardcourt, which makes up the bulk of the local brigade from the area, were also in action during the week and are well prepared to defend their turf. Over 12 different activities in the various categories are

The action will be intense and entertaining today. slated to be staged and over $3million of dollars in prizes including cash and trophies are up for grabs. With more accommodation now in place patrons will be able to view the activity in absolute comfort. The number of participants has increased significantly with overseas contingent from Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, Peru along with those from the far flung areas including Lethem, the Rupununi Savannahs and the Corentyne River being involved in exercises on the Rising Sun Arima Park arena. According to Habibulla, “It will be a day full of fun and frolic” and he is urging patrons to come in their numbers and come early, because the event will start on time. With the Ministry of Tourism

also adding the activity to its calendar of events, thousands of visitors, tourist those from the interior and ‘coastlanders’ alike are also expected to swarm the venue for the ‘wild day of action on the coast.’ Among the activities listed to be held are steer roping, bare back broncos which will also see the females getting into action. There are also male and female barrel race, wild cow milking, calf roping, wild bull riding, Saddle bronco and the popular Tug O War event and the Rodeo King and Queen competition. The clown and joker are expected to be special feature on the day’s activity again. The day’s action is set to kick off at 11:00hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

UDCUSA hosts successful day of interaction for DCUSA members By Zaheer Mohamed The Upper Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (UDCUSA) on Sunday last hosted a successful day of interaction for members of the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (DCUSA) at Bayrock Community centre. The event was held to promote umpiring in the area and to strengthen the UDCUSA. Umpires were involved in discussions as to the way forward for the UDCUSA as well as out door games. Lack of knowledge of the changes to the laws of cricket and not having sufficient cricket in the area were seen as some of the issues affecting the officials there; the DCUSA promised to take these matters to the Cricket Development Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board. President of the DCUSA Shannon Crawford noted the importance of the day’s activi-

ties. He added that it served to build team work which he said is important for the officials especially on the field. “One of the aims of the event was to ensure the UDCUSA remained intact. Members of the association will be given opportunities to officiate in matches in Georgetown since not much cricket is being played in Linden presently,” he posited. Crawford pointed out that training for umpires will be done in the area so that present and upcoming umpires will be kept abreast with the modern aspects of umpiring. “We will be assisting the UDCUSA to embark on a membership drive which will help them to produce more umpires and as a result a special committee will be formed,” he informed. He thanked Director of Sport Christopher Jones for his assistance in making the trip a reality. President of the UDCUSA

Sherwin Graham welcomed the initiative stating that it will help to motivate aspiring umpires, while, Member of Parliament and the organisation’s Assistant Secretary Audwin Rutherford stated that seminars in the area will benefit both players and umpires. Rutherford t h a n k e d t h e Linmine secretariat and James and Sons for their support. Among those that were present were former international umpire Eddie Nicholls, first class umpires Nigel Duguid and Nandkumar Shivsankar, DCUSA Public Relations Officer Zaheer Mohamed, Arleigh Rutherford, Nolan Hawke, Yosef Yisrael and Dion Feassal. Other members of the UDCUSA executive are Vice President Sydney Cummerbatch, Secretary Sharon Williams, Treasurer Flemroy Lambert and Assistant Treasurer Compton Parkinson.

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Trophy Stall reserves the best for “Guyana Softball Cup 5”

3 day International Tournament, 26 teams, 48 matches next week-end Since its inception in 2011, Proprietor of Trophy Stall, Mr Ramesh Sunich and Devi Sunich always reserved the best trophies for “Guyana Softball Cup”. Trophies on display are for winners and runners- up, man of the match for both the Open and Masters categories. Twenty six teams are taking part, ten in the Open Category and sixteen in the Masters. Preliminary rounds will be played next Friday and Saturday at Bourda, DCC, Everest, Police Ground Eve Leary, Malteenoes, GNIC and the Ogle ground where admission is free. The two finals and a three female 10/10 exhibition games will be played on Sunday November 1st starting 11 am at DCC ground in Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown where admission will be $500. Spectators are asked to retain their half ticket which will be selling at the gate. They stand to win three return tickets to Barbados and twelve hampers. There will also be many giveaways. A total of 48 matches will be played in the three days.Winning cash prize in the Open Category is $800,000 and runners-up $200,000. For The Masters, winning cash prize is $600,000, while runners-up is $150,000. Players of the series in two categories will each receive a ten penny- weight, 14 carat gold bracelet, with diamond studs.Wolf Warriors and Floodlights are defending champions. “Guyana Softball Cup 5” is sponsored by STAG, Busta

GFSCA vice president Jailall Deodass, Devi Sunich Managing Director of Trophy Stall and GFSCA organiser Wayne Jones are all smiles as they display the trophies for Guyana Softball Cup 5. Soft drinks, Clear Waters, Trophy Stall, Mike’s Pharmacy, Survival, Steve Jewelry, Rohan Auto Spares, GT&T, A&R Jewanram Printery, Rubis Guyana, and Ramchand Auto Spares. Meanwhile the zoning of the tournament has already been done. The OPEN category has ten teams and is divided into three zones. Each team play three preliminaries matches. Zone A has four teams, which are Hyde Park, Shakib X1 Farm, Petama Enterprise, and NYSCL All Stars (New York). Group B has three teams, Corriverton, Regal, Zameer X1. Group C has US Mercenaries, Karibee Boyz and Wolf Warriors. Zone B and C will criss-cross. Two teams from Zone A and two teams from Zone B and C will

go to the Semi-finals Saturday afternoon. The Masters are divided into four zones of four teams each. Zone A: Floodlights, SCI Miami, Wellman, Orlando Florida. Group B: Savage, New York Better Hope, Industry Super Kings, Parika Defenders. Group C: Invaders (Essequibo), NYSCL Legends (New York), Regal Masters, New York President X1. Group D: Mahaicony, Brooklyn/Queens Legends, Albion and Tristate Masters USA. Winners of each zone go to the semi-finals.The four semi-finals of “Guyana Softball Cup 5”, two Open and two Masters will be played at Everest and Bourda on Saturday from 1pm. Both finals are at the DCC ground on Sunday starting 11am.

Bartica Football Association U-13 Inter Area tourney

Bartica ‘A’ and Agatash to contest next Sunday’s final The elected Bartica Football Association (BFA) executive will next Sunday run off the final of their Inter-Area Under-13 tournament at the

Bartica Secondary School ground. Playing for the chance to lift the winning trophy and medals are Bartica ‘A’ and

Bartica Under-13 ‘A’ Team

Agatash, while Bartica ‘B’ and Karrau will face off in the third place encounter with the winner receiving a trophy. Kick off time is 14:00hrs.


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Kaieteur News

Team Unity officially unveiled Involvement of all stakeholders will be paramount – Presidential candidate, Hughes Noting that it is not only a privilege to have been invited to lead the Team Unity slate as presidential candidate for the upcoming Guyana Football Federation (GFF) elections; but being back in an area that he would have spent time and energy towards starting a new school some years ago, Nigel Hughes yesterday morning officially introduced members of Team Unity. The occasion took place at the basketball court just outside the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis Gym, Albouystown, Georgetown and was attended by members of the community, football clubs and associations among others. Hughes informed that his essential decision to accept the challenge to lead the slate was based on a few things: “We want to create hope, opportunity, development and transparency. For too long we have failed the people in the challenged and depressed areas of this country in creating opportunity for them to truly develop their real talent.” Hughes, a former goalkeeper for the then Georgetown Football League noted that the solution does not lie in just getting an individual to come and lead a team and say he or she is going to do great things for football, “It is really the plan that one has for the development of football, and like the development of any sport or any business, you have to go to the foundation, you have to go to the start, you have got to go to pre-secondary and primary school and find out what programme you have and once you have identified the programme you want to put in place, its whether or not it is sustainable.” The main speaker noted that sustenance of the sport cannot be achieved purely on volunteerism. ”We have to pay coaches. You cannot possibly talk about expecting the national team to qualify into world cup finals where you’re on whether or not people volunteer. First thing we have to do is look at the structure and this team has put together a plan that looks at the entire structure of football.” ”We’ve had enough years to understand where our faults lie, we’ve had enough years to understand where the difficulties lie and we’ve had enough years to understand where we have failed. The question is how do we take this forward?” Hughes confessed that when he was approached with the

opportunity to be involved he hesitated but then resolved that if one is given the chance to make a difference in the lives of people, it is not a political opportunity; it is where one creates real hope and opportunity in the daily lives of young people. ”I thought of the thousands of young men in this country throughout the last 20 years who have been great players but who have not have the opportunity to develop their skill to the level of which they should be not only nationally, but internationally, and we have failed each and every one of them.” It was pointed out by Hughes that every young man, whether he ends up in prison, whether he ends up in a mediocre job or is not able to exploit his true potential means that as a society, we have failed pointing out that football offers him an opportunity to attain his full potential. ”This team wants to take football to new level and we understand the difficulty that has occurred. One of the first questions that I got when my candidacy was announced is how you could possibly team up with Odinga to take football forward. I said the one thing anybody in the street who is interested in football would tell you, it is not about the differences between the tribes, it is not about the differences between the political vision; it is about the commitment to football and taking it forward.” Hughes emphasized that his position is that he does not care where they {people} are located, so long as there is talent and someone has the ability to take the sport forward, “I am willing to work with them, I don’t care who they are, where they come from because the sport is bigger than each and every one of us individually.” Hughes informed the gathering that as a result of the foregoing, he got some contact from the Wayne Forde led slate and emphasized that this competition is not about running down the other side, noting that they are good men and women on the other side too. ”I said to them in recognition of their contribution to the sport, I am proposing a joint slate because the way forward for football is if we all together with our collective talents are prepared to take this sport forward. I’m awaiting their response but that will always be my position, whatever happens on the day

of election my position is that we must always reach out and involve everybody who has a contribution to make to sport.” All the associations Hughes said would be visited in the coming days whether they have supported his slate or not. At these meetings, the vision and plan of Team Unity would be shared with the members to ensure they are involved while assuring them that they would be involved in the future of football irrespective of who wins. Corporate Guyana would also be targeted by Team Unity with a view of them understanding that the sport of football offers a viable and wise business choice. President of Alpha United, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, who is Team Unity’s 1st Vice President in his remarks noted that the neighborhood of Albouystown is very special to him having done lots of good social work there including building the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Boxing Gym where hundreds of young people traverse on a weekly basis. The owner of Guyana’s most successful club underscored the fact that no sport can progress in a country unless there is a united position on where it should go. He noted that Mr. Hughes’ acceptance as being the presidential candidate was also significant, reminding that he {Hughes} would provide that kind of leadership that’s not only good for football but will set an example in Guyana; the fact that he is giving back to the land of his birth. ”The presence of Mr. Hughes is a guiding light for others to put something back in the community. I’m proud of being a part of this team which has a responsibility of taking football to the next level. To do that we would have to look at the associations, see what’s missing and see how we can help.” Regular competitions are important and Lumumba suggested it would bring about encouraging change. ”Guyana can’t want to be in the World Cup finals when you play just three international teams per year; we cannot create good football players when some association gets one competition per year; some don’t have any; When players participate in the sport three months per year; we have to get steady competitions.” Facilities is one of the first line of business that Team Unity will look into, Lumumba (Continued on page 33)

Sunday October 25, 2015

MOBILE WIZARDS 10/10 SOFTBALL CRICKET TOURNAMENT

First round continues today at Leonora primary school ground The fixtures for the first round matches in the West Demerara zone of the Mobile Wizards 10/10 Softball cricket tournament will continue today at the Leonora primary school ground. Teams are required to be at the ground for 9.00 am for a prompt start. In the scheduled fixtures: POWER XI VERSUS NEXT LEVEL XI: POWER XI consists of players like Rajnauth Sooknanan and Steve Singh are expected to carry the team. NEXT LEVEL XI’s Javed Ali and Imtiaz Mohamed are the experienced players and of whom a lot is expected. LEONORA YOUTHS VERSUS ENEMY LINES XI: Leonora Youths are an experienced bunch and are playing at home. Players like Imtiaz Hack and Prem Persaud should provide the fireworks up front. ENEMY LINES XI consists of under 17 players that played in the Demerara under 17 tournament and will offer stiff opposition. Players like Avishkar Ramgobin (Skipper) and Kelvin Sheoprashad will spearhead the team. OCEAN VIEW XI VERSUS SETTLE XI: Avinash Shradanandan will be leading Ocean view XI and will have to call on his vast experience in order for his team to end up on the winning side. Avinash Dhaniram and Nazeem Azeem are two exciting players that will lead the way for Settle XI. SUPERSTREET RELOAD XI VERSUS UNITED MUSLIM YOUTH SC: Superstreet XI will depend heavily on Ameer Ali and Zahir Sookhun who are gifted softball players and spectators are eagerly awaiting to see them in action. United Muslim Youth SC have several exciting players and all their players are below 20 and have just been crowned RAF champions. Meanwhile, teams from the East Bank are asked to contact Shafeek Mohamed on 657-2300 to register for that zone in the tournament. Additionally all the male players from all the teams in Linden are asked to make contact with Mortimer Denny

Mobile Wizards representatives will be at the venue to offer a wide array of assistance on their products and present giveaways to the fans. (639-0057/442-1562) to be able to make the trials to select the Linden combined XI to face a team from West Coast in a exhibition match next week at Ruby Ground WEST COAST DEMERARA. Mobile Wizard reps will be on hand to offer discounts on cell phones and other services to the public at the Leonora primary school ground this weekend. More gifts will also be shared to the spectators. There will also be g a m e s f o r t h e spectators to participate including hit-thewicket; catch the ball; bowl off etc throughout the day. Teams still desirous of participating can make contact with the following persons: Halim Khan – 612-8367; Shafeek Mohamed (East Bank)– 657-2300;Miss Selena Azeez – 2682458/646-0568; Ammiel Azeez – 629-0844; Ravendra Ramgobin- 276-1381; Asif Azeez – 657-22220; Mobile Wizard (Parika) – 2604967. The tournament is being sponsored by Mobile Wizard and Trophy Stall and organized by GSL in collaboration with the West Demerara Softball Cricket League.

RAM SLAM T/20 Cricket set for today at Lusignan Community Centre Ground To renew the competitive spirit and cricket rivalry in the NDC area of La Reconnaissance - Mon Repos on the East Coast, Lusignan Sports Club (LSC) presents its 2nd Edition RAM SLAM T/20 cricket today from 9:00am at the Lusignan Community Centre ground, featuring the 4 villages its represents, Mon Repos, Goed Hope, Lusignan and Annandale. The event will be a family affair with side attractions including games for the kids, lots of food, drinks, and music will add to the atmosphere. Matches will feature players who have made the villages proud within recent years and include Guyana National players Brian Sattaur and Emran Khan, and emerging

Christopher Singh prospects Steven Ramdass, Rajindra Naikbaran, Kumar Bishundial and Vishnu Ramjeet. Admission is free. In an invited comment, LSC’s president, Christopher Singh,

remarked, “This event is aimed at developing cricket in these communities in the process keeping young people away from some of society’s ills such as illegal drugs, HIV/ AIDS and suicide”. Monies raised will be used to fund participation of the club in the various competitions run by respective area Boards and the Guyana Cricket Board, at the Under 15, Under 17, Under 19 levels, in inter-Association, Senior Demerara and National competitions. Key sponsors for this year’s event are: Penko Steel Construction, PY Taxi Service, Two Sisters Car Rental, Miracle Optical, Bipta Grocery Store and Singh’s Grocery and Bicycle Store.


Sunday October 25, 2015

Fullbore shooters for Record shoot today ahead of Nationals Local fullbore marksmen will today engage in a Record Shoot at the GDF Ranges at Yarrowkabra ahead of the National Championships which will shoot off on Sunday next at the same venue. Today’s shoot will see competition at the 300, 600 and 1000 yards ranges as the shooters seek to get as much practice ahead of what is anticipated to be a keenly contested national competition in the X and O classes. Defending X-Class champion Lennox Braithwaite who is also the reigning Caribbean Individual champion will have to be in the best shape to stave off expected challenges from National Captain Mahendra Persaud and Ransford Goodluck not overlooking Leo Romalho, Dylan Fields, Sherwin Felicien and Ryan Sampson. Peter Persaud is the reigning O-Class champion. All the above named shooters were part of the West Indies team that contested the World Championships that was held in Ohio, USA in August where the West Indies for the first time did not end at the bottom of the table, they finished ahead of Germany in the Palma Match, the pinnacle of world shooting. Braithwaite and Persaud did well in the National Rifle Association of America, World Individuals as well as the Canadian National championships and will be seeking to replicate that form from next week Sunday when the National championships shoots off. But for now, the focus will be on today’s Record Shot . Competitors at last year’s Nationals.

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday October 25, 2015

A man with astute vision Clifton Hicken plans to take ‘Command’ of football in the city

By Michael Benjamin Following months of hard work, Chairman of the (GFF) Normalization Committee, Clinton Urling, is currently putting the final modalities in place for a smooth transition of the Presidency of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in the football fraternity

when elections are held Wednesday 18 November. As if on cue, affiliates of the Georgetown Football A s s o c i a t i o n ( G FA ) convened last Saturday afternoon for their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Sleepin Hotel, Brickdam. Two aspirants, Christopher Matthias, a former President of the GFF

and Police Commander (A Division), Clifton Hicken, presented themselves as the appropriate persons for the job after securing the requisite nominations. A stiff battle was envisaged but expectations evaporated during the meeting after Mathias took issue with several disparities in the voting process. Mr. Urling

quickly dispelled those contentions and went ahead with the meeting whereby, Mr. Hicken prevailed. Many will associate Mr. Hicken’s name with policing and his ability to maintain law and order is well documented. Naturally, many are questioning his competency in the football arena. For this reason

Clifton Hicken Kaieteur Sport endeavored to delve into Mr. Hicken’s cranium to extract his thoughts and projections for the sport and most importantly, for the good of the game. “I realize that there are many that only know of me through policing but I’ve always been a football enthusiast,” pronounced Mr. Hicken when the question was posed to him. He further pointed out that he was no rookie after representing the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at the 1st and 2nd Division level. “I know the ropes and am certain that I will be an asset to football administration,” he declared. Perception and reality are two opposite concepts yet they can easily be confused and misinterpreted as one and the same. There is a perception that the new President can be overwhelmed by the administrative styles of his predecessors which could have an overriding effect on his ability to effect the requisite policy changes. Mr. Hicken does not share this view; “He that dwelleth in the past will only repeat similar errors in the future,” he philosophically pronounced. He said that he has no intention of regurgitating past ills but to forge ahead with a developmental plan for the sport. I have earned the confidence of the electorate and given a mandate to implement developmental strategies for the sport and I intend to employ a systematic, collective and all

inclusive approach in addressing this function,” said the new President. Mr. Hicken further said that he plans to work with all stakeholders in the realization of common goals for the sport’s advancement. “I plan to work in a structured way with existing teams, not only around Central Georgetown, but in the interior and other rural districts,” explained Mr. Hicken. Top of his agenda is the strengthening of the school programmes through collaboration with the subject Ministries (both education and sports) to institute the mechanisms for a regular half yearly programme. “Currently, and as a start, I am contemplating about 25 schools in the startup phase,” he projected. There has been a public outcry over the treatment meted out to past stalwarts whose inputs would have laid a strong foundation for their successors. Mr. Hicken said that this area of development is one of his prime interests. I believe our past stalwarts have a lot to offer and I plan to engender their input, not just through their involvement in actual games but in leadership experience,” pronounced Mr. Hicken. He said that such strategies will include mentorship sessions where the past stalwarts will actually interact with contemporary players in the communities to mold them into good rounded individuals. These past players will also act as guides even as they share (Continued on page 73)


Sunday October 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 83

Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition...

Defending champs Stella Maris warming to the task - St. Pius, West Ruimveldt look impressive

D

e f e n d i n g champion Stella Maris seems to be warming to the task after producing their best performance to date in this year’s Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Competition which continued yesterday, at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park. The reigning title holders who had looked lacklustre, before yesterday’s game eased past St. Agnes 3-1 to enter the quarter-finals riding high on confidence. Enterprise, one of the teams that have looked unstoppable in the competition to date stayed on course as one of the tournament favourites with another emphatic victory, beating St. Ambrose 7-0, while St. Pius had an easy time in their 5-0 demolition of Comenius. South Riumveldt maintained their clean sheet after defeating Smith Memorial 2-0, while West Ruimvedt inflicetd a 5-0 criushing on Nortn Georgetown. The tournament continues next Saturday with quarter-final action, at the same venue. In the day’s full results: Round of 16

Game-1 South Ruimveldt-2 vs Smith Memorial-0 Zacharia Pemberton-39th John Simon-56th Game-2 Enterprise-7 vs St. Ambrose-0 Seon Archibald-5th, 21st and 57th Garfield Caesar-27th and 35th Martin King-34th and 37th Game-3 St. Margaret’s-1 vs Winfer Garden-0 Josiah King-39th Game-4 St. Angela’s-0 vs St. Stephen’s-0 St. Angela’s won 4-3 on penalty kicks Game-5 Stella Maris-3 vs St. Agnes1 Stella Maris Scorers Keshawn Andrew-10th Nicklus Stanton-38th Jayden Pitt-40th St. Agnes Scorer Shamar Moore-19th Game-6 St. Pius-5 vs Comenius-0 Brandon Solomon-27th and 36th Selwyn Jones-3rd Mike Prince-35th Christian Jupiter-40th Game-7 Tucville-4 vs F.E. Pollard-0 Rayheim Marques-7th and 27th

West Ruimvedt seen on the attack in their clash against North Georgetown yesterday.

Shaquille Sergeant-30th and 35th Game-8 West Ruimveldt Primary-5 vs North Georgetown-0 Michael Oie-13th and 20th Justin Persaud-12th and 32nd Mark Cameron-18th

Action in the clash between St. Pius and Comenius yesterday at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.


t r o Sp

Team Unity officially unveiled Involvement of all stakeholders will be paramount – Presidential candidate, Hughes

Team Unity in Unison for Battle! Presidential candidate Nigel Hughes (3rd right) and some members of his team from right, Javid Ali, Mark Waldron, Aubrey Major, Odinga Lumumba and Robbie Ramberran after yesterday’s launch.

Brathwaite six-for sets West Indies 244 target

Kraigg Brathwaite picked up his career-best figures of 6 for 29, Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd day, October 24, 2015 ©AFP

Plenty of action anticipated today as Rodeo takes centre stage RHT Gizmos & Gadgets take Berbice Bridge Company Inc title After Albion fail to turn up for final

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