Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
There is a danger in state purchase of DDL Berbice Bridge shares DEAR EDITOR, The Berbice River Bridge provides a public good service. The pricing of a public good service should be under Government’s regulatory control, with the public’s interest served first. Sensible regulation implies that Government should always be strategically positioned to deliver a low cost economy to consumers on both sides of the Bridge in order for the private sector to prosper. The announcement of a sale of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) shares to Government should be reviewed in totality, in terms of the degree of profit-making that Government will tolerate under the Bridge Board of Directors’ management of
shareholders’ interests. Government can join hands with the private sector and seek to satisfy the private shareholders’ required rate of profit return or seek to redefine the Bridge’s capital that will be rewarded from bridge tolls through regulations that aim for a low cost service to the public. Joining hands with the private sector for making profits after all costs are satisfied on a monopoly type of public good has its inherent flaws of limiting the quantity and quality of service and very strong incentives to raise Bridge tolls. Monopoly public good pricing is not in the interest of the general private sector, except the monopoly owners.
If anyone agrees with Minister Ramjattan please step forward DEAR EDITOR, The Letter “Time for President Granger to intervene in the Diwali row” (K.N 23/10) by ‘Frustrated Hindus’ refers: Minister Ramjattan did not arbitrarily decide on the date for Diwali to be November 10th. No! T he writers will see that he gave a Chronological order of events leading up to his decision. It took him four (4) months of deliberation. He did “bring the Hindu groups to the table.” Dharmic Sabha chose to make a written submission instead. The statement, “For 40 years Dharmic Sabha has been setting the dates” gives away the position of the writers. By the way, Pandits Council used to give the dates up to 1992. I ask the writers to re-read Mr. Ramjattan’s statement very carefully to see whether it makes sense. If anyone agrees with the Minister’s reasonable and logical conclusion, please step forward with your arguments, or forever hold thy Peace. Pandit. R Balbadar
Government’s policy to keep costs low will be undermined further, if Government acquires another layer of financial interest in the Berbice River Bridge, beyond the Pension funds. Government will be under direct pressure to raise tolls in order to maintain monopoly profits and satisfy the existing private sector owners alongside those expectations of poor pensioners. Government decision makers should reflect on the consequences of their actions before buying up private shares. Not only would the compromised joint ownership by the pension fund plus the central government and the private investors complicate the pricing of a public good, it would exploit all Bridge crossers on a daily basis in order to maintain a stated rate of return on investment, that includes imputed interests well above Guyana’s long term interest rates. If the Bridge were to face a calamity, insurance protection would fall at the doorsteps of all taxpayers. I doubt if the Bridge is insured with any local carrier. The peoples’ pension funds (PPPF) used to build the bridge have already gone through much forbearance on the safe return of its capital.
Those funds deserve at least the Central Government’s long term interest rate in relatively safe Government bills and bonds. DDL management should be sensitive to the responsibilities of Government and not make requests that would compromise Government’s development policies, including its attempt to grant subsidies to Bridge crossers. Further, the DDL shares should be sold at arm’s length to the private sector to develop the country’s capital market over there. Transactions in Guyana’s capital market would reflect the capitalization of low cost PPPF in the selling price of the DDL shares. Or is it true that DDL believes that the Guyanese taxpayers are ready for another round of bailout transfer to the private sector? Alternatively, DDL could act responsibly and transfer the sales proceeds to the PPPF for a dollar or to the ailing sugar industry, its progenitor. The holy books we believe in or read, the Bible in particular have ideas on selfinterest and public service. We are reminded that ‘we cannot (should not, mine) serve two masters, God and mammon (money). Ganga Persad Ramdas
There should be performance reviews for Ministers DEAR EDITOR, I am not surprise that it is going on to over a month that the issue regarding the increase in ministers’ salaries remains in the public discourse. The government should be commended for being transparent. They could have padded the ministers’ perks. The surprise is for a country that now consume lots of KFC and pizza, they find paying their ministers $50K US per annum a big deal. How soon voters forgot they did not elect multi-millionaires, but guys and gals who had been struggling on $15K US a year or equivalent to a “barista” salary at Starbucks. For those who would argue that we are not talking about the United States, you should ask the vendors in Vendors’ Arcade how they price their goods and if they accept the greenback. If you want cane cutters and sanitary engineers in government then elect them and offer them salaries commensurate with education and abilities to manage complex structures. Well then, let us not talk about the salary increase, but of demotion, perks and salary reductions when these ministers do not perform. This performance review should be annual or every two years just to be fair to the poor souls who have to deal with intransigence and shortages of resources to execute a plan. Guyana you are in the big time now i.e. you are part of the global economy. For this reason, stop behaving like your small minded ancestors who were also stingy. Instead of giving the ministers the excuse as to why they could not execute, hold them to accountable all the way. Failure is a stigma that my people could not live with especially well paid professionals. Matter of fact, the other candidate wanting their position, because it pays well, will certainly ensure there is healthy competition. Hope those well-paid ministers realize they are now being paid for performance. I support the increase because it is a shame that an oil rich country like Guyana can’t pay their ministers living wages. Yes, I said oil rich country otherwise Venezuela wouldn’t pay you guys the time of the day. Keith Bernard
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 26, 2015
‘Touting dead’ story irks Police Force The Guyana Police Force has not taken kindly to reports that it is engaged in the immoral practice of touting the dead, as contained in an article carried in this newspaper yesterday. The Force is being accused of channeling the business of the collection of human remains to a particular funeral parlour, whose owners are believed to be favoured by the Force’s administration. The accusation is coming from the proprietors of the Lyken/Newburg Funeral Home, which has been collecting human remains on behalf of the police for the past 25 years. In a response to an article published by the Kaieteur News under the caption “Police now selling the dead”, the Guyana Police Force said that the decision to involve the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour in the collection of human remains was taken in response to a request by the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana. But of course this is
- refutes claims by Lyken Funeral Home
Dr. Dawn Stewart nothing new, since this very fact was already pointed out in the published article. The police explained though that it is required by law to investigate all unnatural deaths. Part of this investigation entails the conduct of the post-mortem by a registered government Pathologist. According to the police, the practice of the Force has been whenever an unnatural death occurs, at a place other than at Public Hospitals with storage facilities for bodies, the police will have these
bodies stored at a funeral parlour until the post-mortem is conducted. Thereafter, the body will be handed over to the relatives for burial. Whenever no relatives come forward to claim the body, the police will cause it to be disposed of, at the expense of the State. The force acknowledged that among the funeral parlours being used is the Lyken Funeral Parlour. “The standard procedure relating to the removal of human remains is for detectives to inform the Duty Officer in the Police Division whenever processing of the scene is completed. The Duty Officer will then call a parlour to pick up and store the body,” a statement from the Guyana Police Force said. Over the years, the Lyken Funeral Home has been the preferred choice of the police, especially when it comes to decomposed remains, which other parlours are reluctant to pick up. According to the police, earlier this year, the Central Islamic Organisation Of Guyana (C.I.O.G) by way of letter informed the Commissioner of Police that they are handling funerals of Muslims in Guyana and paying costs associated with those deaths. They also informed that they have a contractual agreement with the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour to handle
bodies and funerals of Muslims. The police stated that the C.I.O.G requested that the Guyana Police Force facilitate the collection of the bodies by the said Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour from the scenes. The Police said that it finds the request to be a reasonable one and as a result the Commissioner of Police forwarded the letter to the Divisional Commanders with instruction to facilitate the request. “No funeral parlour complains about this arrangement except the Lyken Funeral Parlour which has been insisting that it has a contract with the Guyana Police Force that gives them a monopoly to uplift and store bodies. When asked by the Guyana Police Force and other government authorities to produce a copy of the said contract, Dr. Dawn Stewart has so far failed to do so,” the police said. The police said that the Lyken Funeral Parlour has been complaining a long time ago with the advent of competition in the industry. However, in yesterday’s article, Dr, Stewart is on record acknowledging that she has no formal contract with the Guyana Police Force, although she has been insisting that there be one, a request the police have been brushing aside over the
Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud years. She said that she is not afraid of competition and will welcome new tendering for the contract to collect human remains, which she said should be done in a transparent manner. But some subordinate officers in the Guyana Police Force are unaware of this new arrangement with the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour. “We have no such instructions to that effect,” one such officer told this newspaper. “And besides how would
we know which is Muslim dead or not? We don’t always know the identity of dead persons, so Lyken is always our first option,” the SO added. However, it has been observed that the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour has not only been collecting human remains of Muslims on behalf of the police; they have also been called by the police to collect other remains. Earlier this year, to the surprise of many, the parlour turned up in Buxton to collect the dismembered remains of a woman. When questioned, the police claimed that they were instructed to call the parlour. On the question of payment of the millions owed to the Lyken Funeral Home, the police said the issue has been raised long before the sitting Commissioner took over the Force. The police said that “Unlike what is reported by Dr. Dawn Stewart, the unpaid monies (not consistent with her version) is still being processed by the government.”
Show patriotism and join National Task Force Commission - Singh urges Opposition The Restore Guyana Project is moving apace under the auspices of the National Task Force Commission with oversight being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure but it is experiencing some political hurdles. This was the disclosure made by Commission Chairman Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh, when he provided an update on the work of the national body that came about as a result of a Cabinet decision made in July last.
According to Singh, while there has been tremendous support at the regional level, he would like to see the political opposition taking up its place offered on the National Commission. The Commission, he said, is looking to have access to a large pool of resource persons and as such it would be helpful for the political opposition to take up its role in the entire drive to rebrand and restore Guyana. In reviewing the work of (Continued on page 10)
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Appetite for justice on charges of corruption by the previous Govt. is huge - Dr. Hinds In the eyes of University Professor and political activist, Dr. David Hinds, the heated criticisms over the recent salary increases for Members of Parliament (MPs) seem to be simmering down. In going forward, he opines that government must accelerate its efforts in other areas. On his website, www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com, Dr. Hinds said that the coalition government must make some bold moves. In this regard he said, “They have to go beyond leaking the alleged corruption of the previous government. The government must call (Opposition Leader)Mr (Bharrat) Jagdeo’s bluff and let justice take its course.” Dr. Hinds was alluding to a recent statement by the Opposition Leader where he called upon the APNU+AFC government to prosecute all those found guilty of wrongdoings during his tenure as President. The political activist said that if the extent of the rage against the salary increases surprised the government, they would be shocked at the even more intense frustration over their inability to bring the accused to book. The commentator said, “The appetite for justice on charges of corruption by the previous government is huge. The government must begin to act.”
…Says Coalition administration must call Jagdeo’s bluff
University Professor, Dr. David Hinds Further, he said that the government must begin their Local Government campaign now. On this matter he expounded, “Run as a Coalition but include nonparty supporters with strong community records on your slates. The campaign should include Local Government workshops or assemblies to explain the importance of local democracy. It must be a campaign for votes, but it must also be a means of reconnecting with the people and reassuring them that despite an error or two on government’s part, they, the people still matter.” Dr. Hinds asserted that government must also address with haste, the poor wages paid to workers. He reminded that the new budget is coming soon and as such, it is customary for
government to bargain with the unions. This he suggested should start now. The University Professor stated that this should however, be supplemented by wider consultations with the workers themselves. He said that it makes sense to hold a series of Workers Wage Assemblies to speak to them about their wages and get from them how government officials’ wages should be handled in the future. He opined that the coalition parties, individually and together, should begin a series of community meetings across the country to report to the people on what the government has done thus far and get their feedback. He emphasized that press conferences and releases are important but insufficient. Dr. Hinds said that Government Ministers should also appear on popular radio and TV programs regularly. They should appear on Plain Talk, Walter Rodney Groundings, Justice for All, African Drums, Facing the Nation and similar programs. But on the issue of the salary increases, Dr. Hinds expressed that of all the comments made by government officials on the controversial topic, the ones by Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses
Mother, newborn die hours apart... (From page 3) found out that she was pregnant, it was a magical moment for all of us because she was trying for so long,” the sister said with a little smile on her face.She explained that Ramlall, who was the eldest of three children, had spent all 33 years of her lives with her siblings and parents. “In February when she found out that she was pregnant, she started making preparations to welcome the baby. She bought baby stuff and so and she went to the doctor (who did the surgery) every month to make sure everything was fine,” Ramlall revealed. She added that her sister even started to build a house at the back of their parents’ home so that when the baby arrived, he would have been comfortable. On the morning Liloutie took in, she was taken to the hospital after which the doctor inserted a pill in her to induce labour. “We were downstairs and we heard her
screaming so we run up and we heard that she gone in to get the baby. We also heard that she was bleeding and her eyes started to roll up before they took her into the labour room,” the sister said. She added that a few hours after her sister went in to deliver her baby; the doctor met with her and explained that the baby was not doing well and he had to be transferred to the GPHC. “I went to the GPHC with the baby in the ambulance and I waited until they put him in the ward and then I left to go back to see my sister but when I reached, the midwife called me and the doctor was there and he explained what happened,” Ramlall recalled. According to the sibling, her sister was healthy throughout her pregnancy and suffered from no medical complications. “We want answers. We want to know what really happened to Liloutie.”
Nagamootoo are the most politically sensible. He opined the Prime Minister this past week did what his other colleagues failed to do. “He acknowledged that there was a revolt against the government action and he suggested that there was some merit in the revolt. Critically, he agreed with some of us that the government should have gone to the people and explain the action. As the Minister of Information he selflessly took responsibility for that error but that does not erase the fact that this was a collective decision.But better late than never.” Dr. Hinds said that most of the opposition on the salary increases was focused on the morality of the government raising its pay at a higher rate than those of public service workers. He said that this is a serious charge that cannot be won by the government. He said that unfortunately, that is the issue some of the government sought to explain and every time they tried they dug a deeper hole. “You simply cannot win that moral argument; morality is seldom on the side of governments,” added Hinds.
The University professor asserted that Nagamootoo, on the other hand, addressed a less explicit question. “Part of the rage against the salary hike is the following question—how could you do this without talking to us? And Nagamootoo said yes we should have spoken to you before we proceeded. In effect he acknowledged that there was merit in the opposition and he asked for pardon…The Prime Minister in his admission of error also mentioned public relations. I hear him, but I think it’s more than PR. For me, this was not a public relations error, it was a political error. One great lesson here for the government going forward is that it must consult more,” commented Dr. Hinds. The political activist said that he is certain that had the Leadership Councils and memberships of the APNU and the AFC been properly consulted the government would have learned that it was a politically risky undertaking. Similarly he said that had they gone into a few of the communities and raised the issue, they would have been advised not to do it. He said that the government simply did not consult their people
and as such they paid the price. The University Professor expressed that another great lesson the government should learn from this entire hullabaloo over the salary bump for MPs is that what makes technical sense does not always make political sense. “All of those explanations about correcting the imbalance in the salary regime for government officials make sense to the few among uswho care about such subjects. But the ordinary people who have to make do with precious little instinctively read it differently. This is where political understanding comes in. The technical has to be explained politically. The argument has to be made to the people on how this benefits them and the country,” Dr. Hinds said. He concluded that the coalition Government must learn to anticipate areas of potential opposition to its policies and actions and address them beforehand. And critically, he said that it must not only anticipate the opposition of the People’s Progressive Party, but of its own supporters.
Police are trying to ascertain who put a bullet in a suspected smuggler at Crabwood Creek, Berbice on Saturday. Shameer Ally, called ‘Kazac’, 36, a labourer of Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek was found lying in a yard with what appeared to be a shotgun injury. Police believe he was slain sometime between 19:35 and 20:35 hrs. According to information, Ally, who lives alone is no stranger to the police and is a known smuggler. Information revealed that he had a misunderstanding with a number of people,
including a man with whose wife he had a relationship. He also reportedly had a falling out with one of his partners following a sour deal. On Saturday, Ally reportedly went to a residence at Lot 15, Grant 1805 where he had an altercation with the occupants. He allegedly destroyed a number of windows on the premises and left. A report was made to the police about the altercation. Police ranks visited Ally’s home to make an arrest, but after calling for some time and getting no response the police decided to enter the man’s yard.
He was found lying in a pool of blood. Investigators reasoned that Ally was ambushed while preparing to have a bath. No one heard anything, including his relatives who live next door and two security guards who work at a nearby sawmill next door, Three persons are in custody assisting with investigations.
Crabwood Creek smuggler shot dead
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Kaieteur News
Indian PM to make first UK trip on November 12 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday he was looking forward to visiting Britain next month, his first trip as premier after London lifted a decadelong boycott against the leader. “I will embark on a visit to Britain a day after Diwali,” Modi said, referring to the major Hindu festival to be celebrated on November 11. “I am looking forward to my visit,” he added, in his monthly radio address. Modi will be in London from November 12 to 14 before heading to Turkey for a G20 summit, an Indian foreign ministry source confirmed to AFP on condition of anonymity. During the three-day trip, Modi will meet with Britain’s leadership and address the country’s large Indian Diaspora at Wembley Stadium, as well as inaugurate a memorial of India’s lowcaste icon Bhimrao Ambedkar at his former London house. The trip is Modi’s first since London ended its decade-long diplomatic
Narendra Modi boycott of the Hindu nationalist in 2012 over deadly anti-Muslim riots while he was running his home state of Gujarat. Prime Minister David Cameron invited the premier to visit Britain shortly after Modi’s landslide general election victory in May 2014, in a bid to boost trade and diplomatic ties with India. (AFP)
Monday October 26, 2015
Economic migrants use children as ‘human shields’: Czech leader Prague (AFP) - The Czech president yesterday accused economic migrants of using children as “human shields” in their bid to reach Europe, as the continent grapples with its biggest migration crisis since World War II. President Milos Zeman has made several fiery broadsides against migrants, earning sharp criticism from the UN’s human rights chief, who this week also accused Prague of systematically detaining migrants in degrading conditions to put off others. In his latest outburst, to the Blesk tabloid, Zeman accused wealthy economic migrants of cynically exploiting children to reach the European Union. “They serve as human shields for guys with iPhones to justify the wave of migrants,” President Milos Zeman said in a video interview on the website of the Blesk tabloid. “Those hiding behind the children ... in my opinion, do not deserve any compassion,” added the outspoken veteran leftwinger. “They bring the children over in rubber dingys,
In his latest outburst the Czech president has accused wealthy economic migrants of cynically exploiting children to reach the European Union (AFP Photo/Rene Gomolj) knowing they might drown,” said Zeman, in office since 2013 as the Czech Republic’s first-ever directly elected president. The statements follow his earlier fiery remarks targeting refugees, including “no one invited you here.” Zeman also recently said migrants would “respect sharia (Islamic law) instead of Czech laws” and that “unfaithful women will be stoned and thieves will have their hands cut off.” He has lashed out at
Islamic women wearing the veil saying “we’ll be deprived of women’s beauty, because they’ll be covered from head to toe. “This would obviously be an advantage for some women, but they’re few and far between.” On Thursday, United Nations rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, termed the Czech president’s remarks “Islamophobic”. Hussein also sharply criticised the Czech Republic, an EU and NATO member,
over poor conditions at centres where it locks up refugees, including children, detained on their way to western Europe. Zeman on Sunday invited Hussein to come to the Czech Republic to inspect conditions at the camps. More than 600,000 migrants and refugees, mainly fleeing violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have braved the dangerous journey to Europe so far this year, according to UN numbers.
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
Govt. to eradicate Corporal punishment in schools In Guyana, Corporal punishment has often been seen as a necessity. In recent years however, with more and more disturbing cases surfacing relating to corporal punishment, the practice is quickly becoming taboo. Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine recently stated his intent to completely eradicate the practice of Corporal punishment within schools. He revealed his disappointed that such acts are still being practiced. Roopnaraine intimated that Corporal punishment can often lead to psychological scarring as it is no different from the Physical abuse. Classrooms should not be a place of fear but rather, one of learning. It is for this reason that the Minister is looking to do away with the practice by
adjusting relevant legislation in the near future. He stated that a central counseling body will be established soon and trained counselors will be attached to each school. In the year 2013, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), in the wake of mounting calls for the abolition of Corporal punishment within schools stated that its abolishment is not something they support. GTU secretary at the time, Coretta McDonald opined that the abolition of Corporal punishment may prove to be disastrous for teachers as there are many hostile children found in their classrooms. Many members of the GTU stated that Corporal punishment is the only tool available to them to better mold future generations.
Digicel opens new outlet in Giftland Mall As part of their commitment to stay close to their customers and keep them connected in every way possible, Digicel opened a new outlet on Friday in the recently opened Giftland Mall at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. The outlet will be managed by Cellular Planet, a Digicel authorized dealer and will be providing all the services of a full-fledged store. Customers can expect an exciting variety of activities during the launch of this new outlet. There will be chances to win handsets, free credit, and Digicel gifts for purchases made on the day of the launch and for the weekend. This outlet will cater to all the needs of customers, whether they need credit, to activate a data plan, purchase handsets or need help with
any of our products and services. The friendly and knowledgeable staff at the outlet will be more than happy to assist and advise customers. “Digicel prides itself on being the innovator in the business of telecommunications, always striving to keep our customers engaged and letting them know, what’s new and what’s fresh. It’s important that we are aware where our customers are and we are coming to the customers and connecting with them” said Head of Sales, Nalini Vieira. There will also be a live radio broadcast from the mall from 12:00pm to 2:00pm as part of the outlet launch which will be the first of its kind for the Mall since its opening in July. “We are so excited to
Dem boys seh...
Jagdeo throw Guyana up in de air, and laugh One of Jagdeo friends come to de Waterfalls paper fuh talk stories. Dem boys gun only share three of de many he tell dem fuh now. De first story had to do wid FAITH. He start off by saying once upon a time, all de people in Unity Village decide to pray for rain. De place was hot and dem trench dry out so people couldn’t ketch fish. On the day of prayer all the people gathered but only one boy came with an umbrella. That was de fat crook Brassington. Since he li’l he like go to church so he believe in prayer. That’s FAITH, de man seh. But dem boys seh that Brassington gun need more than FAITH to keep him out of jail. De second story de man
tell involve TRUST. He seh when yuh throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her. That’s TRUST. Bharrat Jagdeo throw de whole nation up in de air and he laugh because he know that he wouldn’t ketch anybody. That is why de whole country deh pun dem back, dem head and dem belly. Many Guyanese don’t even know wheh dem deh. De third story de man tell deal wid HOPE. De man seh every night people go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next morning but still dem does set the clock alarm to wake up. That’s HOPE. When Donald Dumb set de election he had nuff Hope. He even tek in HOPE Estate
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plus de HOPE canal. Dem boys seh that he HOPE in vain. All of dem in de Pee Pee Pee was hoping that dem never come out of power because de perks was coming and de dough was flourishing. Dem had life like kings and queens of de world. Dem boys still hoping and praying
that de life gun be de opposite very soon when Soulja Bai done all dem audits. De man went on to say now that you’ve been blessed with that info, don’t be stingy. Share dem. And that is what dem boys seh is CARING. Talk half and dem boys know Soulja Bai and Moses will take care of dem.
partner with Giftland on this venture. We guarantee that our location will always offer you the latest smart phones and other new technologies. We want to encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of all we will have for you” commented Sales Distribution Manager, Aisha Viapree. Apart from the live broadcast, customers will benefit from reduced prices on selected handsets and five lucky shoppers will have the chance of winning a handset after making a purchase on any of the handsets that will be on sale in their ‘BUY a phone WIN a phone’ promotion. Sales and promotions will begin at 10:00 am today at the Giftland Mall. Digicel Group is a total communications and entertainment provider with
operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After almost 14 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network. The telecommunications company is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the presenting partner of the Caribbean Premier League. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood.
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
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LCDS sketchy ideas stymie access to forest money Guyana continues to be unable to fully utilize the money it has earned under the forest pact with the Kingdom of Norway and at least one local forestry expert is contending that a major problem is that the Government’s Office of Climate Change (OCC) appears unable to prepare fundable project proposals from the ‘ragbag of sketchy ideas’ in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). This is the view held by Dr Janette Bulkan, who recently weighed in on some of the challenges facing the country in relation to accessing the funding made available by Norway and offered critique of the LCDS and its OCC, one of the initiatives spearheaded by former President Bharrat Jagdeo. According to Dr Bulkan, US$69.8M has passed from Oslo, Norway, to the World Bank-administered Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, and only about half of this money is included in projects submitted by the OCC. She observed that the Ministry of Finance in Oslo has blocked further transfers to the GRIF because Guyana is not spending according to
…as World Bank rejects latest project - Dr. Janette Bulkan
Dr. Janette Bulkan Norwegian aid rules. According to Dr Bulkan, earlier this month, the World Bank-coordinated Carbon Fund rejected the Emission Reduction – Programme Idea Note (ER-PIN) submitted by Guyana for access to the Carbon Fund project pipeline. The rejection, she surmised, was partly because of the very poor and incomplete nature of the proposal, and failures to comply with the Carbon Fund’s methodological framework. “In addition, and perhaps the major reason for rejection, was the ER-PIN suggestion
of inflating the carbon emission reference level to three times the baseline level, and then claiming credits for the ‘hot air’ between the assessed emission levels and that reference level,” said Dr Bulkan. Guyana, she said, has made no policy changes to support or encourage reductions in emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the only documented but still underhand change in procedure has been to further facilitate smash-and-grab logging. She explained that this practice refers to the relaxation in the inter-stump distance rule, from 10 to 8 metres, to facilitate the taking of high-value small trees from ‘reefs’ of greenheart and purpleheart. The Guyana Forestry Commission, she said, has not explained how this destructive relaxation is compatible with its claims to sustainable forest management. She said too that there are several other problems with the Intended Nationally
Determined Contributions (INDCs) and the ER-PIN submitted recently by Guyana to international meetings. As such, Dr Bulkan said it is regrettable that the National A s s e m b l y ’s sectoral committee on natural resources has not
yet convened in this 11th session of the Assembly, and has not scrutinised these fraudulent claims which are detrimental to the reputation of Guyana. It was noted too that outside the Memorandum of Understanding with Norway along with the GRIF
mechanism, that country has been passing money through a German aid organization and through Conservation International. Bulkan lamented, however, that there are no audit reports in the public domain on how these funds have been spent.
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Kaieteur News
Monday October 26, 2015
CPA Head lobbies for improved allowances for Child protection officers Director of Childcare and Protection Services (CPA), Ann Greene has lobbied for improved allowances for child protection officers. Addressing members of the panel at a hearing of the Commission of Inquiry,( COI) into the Public Service, last week, Greene outlined that the work of child protection officials is a tedious task which requires attention on a 24/7 basis. As such, the CPA Director is of the strong opinion that Child Protection Officers, need to be paid a duty allowance. In her presentation, Greene listed the seriousness of the circumstances attached to the work of Child Protection Officers. She asserted that “daily, Child Protection Officers are confronted with situations of children being horribly abused and mistreated and the task of employing the necessary methods to protect them.” In their line of duty the officers are often at the risk and have little or no support. She said too that staff of the CPA often work overtime with little opportunities for staff to recover from the occupational burn out. Greene underscored that “the work is 24/7 and there is no room for lapses; officers are regularly distressed with the facts of child abuse and still have to maintain mental balance.” She noted that whenever a child is hurt a family is destroyed. However, it is evident that there is still a
great lack of understanding and little appreciation of the operations of the Child Care and Protection Services by officials, some media houses and the public. There is very little appreciation for the work of a Child Protection Officer—— a high professional activity guided by laws, regulations and procedures. Citing the Child Protection Act of 2009, Greene stressed that the work of Child Protection Officers is not an easy task. “Such persons often work in hostile environments, where there is often distrust of agency by parents and guardians, who fear that intervention by the agency, can result in children being removed.” Greene made general recommendations for across the board salaries to be outlawed. She called for civil workers to be remunerated based on performance. The age of retirement, the CPA official said, should be extended and become optional for the job holders, who are still capable of making meaningful contribution to the designated position, even after retirement. Commenting further on the matters of the Public Service Sector, the witness noted that the word “service” is key. She called for more emphasis to be given to service within the sector. In this regard, Greene noted that a human services plan is necessary, in the organization that staff can be continually
CPA Director, Ann Greene supervised and managed to ensure the standard of service is improved. Alluding to this, Greene called for a return of orientation to the employment process to the Public Service. She believes that at least two weeks orientation activities will better serve for new entrances to the sector. Commenting specifically on the role of Permanent Secretaries, she noted that these employees sit at the helm of administration of all government agencies. In her presentation, Greene underscored that such persons must be knowledgeable of the government policies and the roles and function of the various capacities within the organisation. According to her, the position of Permanent Secretaries, should be filled by individuals with the competence and experience who “have gone through the ranks of the Public Service.”
Govt. touts enhancement of Family Life Programme Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine in a recent interview revealed his intentions of enhancing the Health and Family Life Education programme. He related that doing this will more effectively tackle teenage pregnancy. Roopnaraine admitted that there are several areas of the HFLE programme which needs to be strengthened. One of which is teenage pregnancy as the years have seen many young girls giving up on their education due to their pregnancy. He stated that while the HFLE programme addresses sexual education, more can be done. As such, Roopnaraine vowed to make the necessary
Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine adjustments very soon. The HFLE programme was introduced in 2007 but was officially implemented in 2010 in 30 schools across
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Guyana. Due to how wellreceived the project was, it was continued and expanded to 40 more schools. Since then, the programme has been continuously introduced in nursery, primary and secondary public schools countrywide. In October, the Ministry of Education along with several private schools collaborated to include the HLFE programme into the school’s curriculum. The program was said to be borne out of a need to tackle social issues as a result of an increased number of behavioral problems within and outside of the school system. The programme was also said to have been introduced to help students to become strong leaders, develop critical and analytical minds and to also help with self esteem and problem solving.
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
THE CARNIVAL OVER: DEAD CAN DANCE We grew up hunting small animals. While people like my grandfather, uncles and Mr. Jones the neighbor had dogs and went out looking for deer, agouti, armadillo and whatever else they could kill, we looked for iguanas by day and opossum or “manicou” by night. As the currents of history bob and weave in my head, sometimes getting snarled in the synapses of fading memory, I remember a Carnival where Mother Nature might have got her own back. I had met a girl named June from nearby Penal, a tall, light-skinned girl who travelled on the bus that passed through my hometown, Siparia, and Penal on the way to San Fernando. I am not sure how it happened since I had worshipped her silently for many weeks, but one day she spoke to me and the day after I kept the seat next to me for her. After a few days of shy smiles and terse greetings, she invited me to come to Penal for Carnival. I was in heaven. The celebration in Penal, a rural, more-agricultural community, did not start until the afternoon. That morning,
instead of going to Jour Ouveret or the dawn masquerade that initiates our two-day Carnival festival, I went hunting iguana in the Quinam forest with my father and some of our friends. Looking back at it now, hunting is something that I would never do again and have not done for the past fifty years but this was the environment in which I grew up and it was not just acceptable then but was mandatory if you wanted to be with your friends and family. Recently, seeing pictures of roadside vendors selling trussed up iguanas made me sick. I cannot change the past but sometimes we all wish we could. This is one of those occasions. We were all looking forward to “Rex and Bread” our name for an iguana sandwich, or stewed iguana with dasheen. We walked in a straggly line through the forest with Mikey whose eyes could spot a “guana” from a mile away, in front with the gun and the rest of us in Indianfile behind. Franklin, who was in front of me, flicked aside a long, hollow branch which
was hanging perpendicularly from a vine. It came back and struck me on the side. Then about a million “Jack Spaniards” or wasps attacked that side of my face, which got red, swollen and painful instantly. The hunt ended because nobody could put up with my moaning and grumbling about the pain, and how I could not go to meet the girl with my face “swell-up” like that. My father suggested, jokingly, that I should go and find another nest of wasps to sting the other side of my face so that the swelling could balance out. I was not amused. My mother was more sympathetic and helped with a mixture of Thermogene and Vicks. By one o’clock, when it was time to leave for Penal, much of the swelling had gone down. I put on a sailor-cap and set forth for my date with destiny smelling of menthol and my father’s Old Spice. I am not sure what I was expecting but it was not June, her mother, her father, grandfather, grandmother and many brothers and sisters making up an entire truckload of what we call “cocoa-
panyols” or Spanishdescended people. My sailor-cap drooped in disappointment. Wherever June and I walked we were surrounded by disorderly children gulping down “snocones” and whatever else they could consume. Sticky fingers held my hands. We wandered towards the park where the Carnival Competition was being held. The formal opening was by Sir Grantley Adams, Premier of the West Indies Federation. Later, when the Federation crashed, Sparrow sang, “When Grantley Adams took up his post/ That really made things worst/ We don’t want no Bajan Premier/ Trinidad can’t be Capital for here/ So the grumbling went on and on/ To a big Referendum.” I still see Sir Grantley, in the hot sun, opening a Carnival in a distant community, far from anywhere, in an accent that nobody really understood, and making a speech that was as unmemorable as it was unappreciated. The rest is history. I cannot recall ever seeing June (Jean?) again or Sir Grantley.
From legal assistant to... (From page 14) exhilaration and humility for having overcome a road filled with great hurdles to make her lifelong dream a reality. “I will not complain, but rather I am thankful that through those experiences it allowed me to see that I possess great strength and determination and that I am not one to give up in the face of adversity…Your Honour, I thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for causing me to see this day.” Noting the similarity between her road to achieve-
ment, and the words of the famous basketball player, Murphy noted that success was inevitable because she never gave up, even when faced with adversity. “Today … yes … I feel like Mike … I have had my own share of missed shots, times of loss and failure, but I never gave up. With God at the helm charting my course, today this is why I have succeeded.” As she embarks on her new journey as an Attorney, Murphy promised to uphold to rules of ethics, and to act
with integrity and do nothing to bring the profession into disrepute. “As I embark into this noble profession I am aware of the great responsibilities that rest on my shoulders…I vow to uphold the principles of this esteemed profession and to dedicate myself to the service of this land, this
people and this community.” The young Attorney also expressed heartfelt gratitude to her parents, family and friends for their support. “This moment not only belongs to me, but also to my parents, relatives, fiancé, friends and others, who have supported me on this journey,” she said.
The magic had gone. The swelling on my face went down. The next day, Carnival Tuesday, I went to Port-ofSpain to see the bands parade. I decided to check out my cousin Cynthia, a nurse who worked in the Hospital on Charlotte Street. Just outside the hospital, I had to wait for a moment to cross. Two steelbands, coming from opposite directions, made the passage difficult. In a flash, crossing became impossible as people fled for their lives. It was the famous clash that Lord Blakie sang about, “And when the two band clash/ If you see cutlash/ Never me again/ To jump up in a steelband in Port of Spain.”
It was immediately a case of Tony gone and pandemonium take over. Perhaps the Jaycees felt the same way. Maybe even Sir Grantley as he faced the heat. But definitely the iguanas. Musician Andre Tanker and drummer Andrew Beddoe had the perfect line, “When the hunter becomes the hunted/ Everybody looking for place to hide.” * Tony Deyal was last seen with his mixed-up memories wandering through Charlotte Street where, as Sparrow says, “the good times meet, / Wahbeen and grog and pan beating fine, / And all them things on mih mind.”
Page 22
Kaieteur News
SALON
SERVICES
WANTED
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
1 Live in maid; must know to cook. Call: 683-2271
WOODMIZER LT 15 AND LT 40 OPERATOR- CAL: 688-6579/653-9752 Visa Application: U.S.A, Experienced live in waitress Canada & UK; Guyana – 18-25yrs – salary $60,000 Passport application. Graphics monthly. Call: 610-5043 design, Advertisement. Tel: 1 Live in domestic must know 626-7040; 265-4535. to cook 25-50yrs, salary PARTY DECORATING: $70,000- Call: 610-3974 balloon creation, back drops in domestic, etc. for weddings, birthdays, Live single, anniversary etc. Make your hardworking, event extra special! Tel dependable, and trustworthy with no health problem. Call: Maya: 642-6664 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: 650-8632 (9:00am-7:00pm) FRIDGES, A/C, WASHING Experienced bartenders, MACHINES, TVS, waitress, cooks and bouncers MICROWAVES,FREEZERS- needed at Eden’s Bar (East CALL: 629-4946 OR 225-4822 Bank). Call: 652-0074 Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & Salesgirls for shop, on the painting, Boat for Santa ECD, age 17-24. Text your information to 661-8647 Mission - Call: 650-4362 One experienced dispatcher Repairs at affordable prices: for taxi service. Call: 622fridge, air conditioner, 0722; 644-7032 washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer- One hairdresser needed, Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 must know to do everything. One nail station to rent. Call Landscaping: Palms, largest Mellisa: 610-1941 varieties of plants, Used in every one of our unique 1Female housekeeper, to live landscapes- Call: 648-1821/ in age 35-50years, must know 219-0468 to cook & clean. Call: 693Eagle’s fridge re-gas @ 99- 9068 100 New Market Street - Experienced Roti/Puri cook, $8,000 & washing machine pastry maker, curry cooks, repairs. Phone: 697-2969, dish washers, apply at Hack’s 223-5818 Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Permanent & Visitors Female to work at restaurant Vi s a A p p l i c a t i o n s , in the interior, salary -$80,000 Professional Immigration monthly- Call: 674-1767; 670C o n s u l t a n t R o o m D 5 7043; 685-8720 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.com. One gardener for E.C.D Call: 225-6496, 662-6045 residence must be 40years and older, preferably from INNOVATIVEMARKETING E.C.D-Call: 225-4096; 621& PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 6006 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business Truck Driver wanted to work cards, posters, etc, in Georgetown. Call: 218-1455 placements of ads included. Experienced wash bay attendant with driver’s license, attractive salary. Call: 646-8748
TAXI SERVICES Mario’s Taxi Service; Travel & Collect Coupons to win a smart Phone, Drawing Every Month from October- Call: 225-7686; 225-7689 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
Now Hiring: Night Auditor/ bartenders, waitress, cook, Security guards-Call: 6102227 or 698-6075 Urgently! 1 Graphics Artiste; male or female @ 21 Seaford Street Campbelville. Call: 2261877; 641-3687 Porters wanted to work on garbage truck in Georgetown – Call: 227-1717 Dust – Dry coconut. Call: 6940907; 226-2132. Office is situated at Orange Walk Bourda.
Monday October 26, 2015
-Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257
VACANCY Work from home earn $5,000-$20,000 daily. Call monday-friday (9am-5pm): 233-6517; 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com
Affordable salon services: pedi, mani, wash & blowout, facials, etc $2,500 each. Vogue @ Kalyan Mall, Lamaha Street. Tel: 647-1773/660-5257
Salesgirls and salesboys, apply in person @ R. Sookraj & Sons, Regent Street. (Opposite GBTI Bank) Welder/Fabricator: interested person can contact us on telephone number: 603-4094
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Canal No.2 Polder W.B.D, great condition -$35,000 monthly-Call: 613-1860
Porters, Ripsaw, re-saw and moulder operators, security guard @ Eccles Industrial Site EBD- Call Richard: 6097675; 624-1705; 233-2614 Porters: apply at Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Georgetown, Stabroek. Accountant, Bond clerk, male & female workers, drivers @ RA Soda Factory, Rosignol. Call: 330-2399; 6235920
Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park E.B.D-Call: 227-5194 House for rent located at Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 6658561; 651-5924
Porters, Drivers, Mechanic (Melanie Branch) 1-Bond Clerk RA Soda Factory (Rosignol). Call: 330-2399; 623-5920
Coolers for rent –Call: 6570424
Caterpillar and Perkins mechanic contact 223-5273 Security officers wanted by security company-Contact: 672-1920, between 8:00am5:00pm
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 656-0087 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
WANTED Driver for fielder wagon taxiCall: 646-8748. Wash-bay attendants, preferably males, residing on the East Coast. Living accommodations offered if needed. Working hours (7am-4pm) Call:227-5169 Jet & Marack men to work in interior. Call between 8:304:30. 694-2310
One supervisor for Dixie Lee Fast Food contact 223-5273/ 4 One Supervisor to work at Hotel in Charity contact: 2235273/4 Experienced seamstress & persons to do hand work & pressing. Call: 264-2763
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 6895997
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 Property at Tuschen-Call: 669-9055; 674-1291 YARROWKABRA LINDEN, H/WAY, LAND SIZE: 100’X200’ FULLY FENCED, HOUSE, CHICKEN & PIG PEN. CALL: 676-0931 1 Flat house on 1 acre land with chicken pen & fruits tree at Unity E.C.D- $11M-Call: 642-7898 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
Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC Adults Classes, Grade 1-6 Lessons: Phonic lessons @ East Street-Call: 690-5008; 619-7911
Popular business place at temple, Windsor-Forest, W.C.D, price negotiable. Call: 642-6664 LAND FOR SALE Developed, fenced, bearing fruit trees 40’X144’ @ Zeeburg W.C.D. Contact: 277-0024, 684-6106, price negotiable
Obtain a guaranteed distinction in CSEC Principles of Accounts. Call: 654-1723 for more information
33Acres prime agriculture land located at Plantation Flensberg W.B.D-price negotiable-Contact Erick Boodhoo: Call: 6546229; 627-0556
EDUCATION
VEHICLE FOR SALE Sale! Sale! RZ Minibus, BLL series – $1.250M Negotiable, Serious enquiries only. Call: 662-3073 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 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 Toyota Rush, Raum,AT212, IST, L-Touring & Fielder Wagon, Tundra, Hilux 4 Runner, Nissan 4 Door Pickup. Call: 644-5096; 697-1453 Honda Fit, year 2003, PMM series, full body kit, OEM rims, excellent condition, price $1.3M negotiable. Call: 600-1435; 600-4402 One 1.5 Ton Toyoace Canter, GLL Series, good working condition. Call: 623-1202 One Honda CRV, immaculate condition, 17" mags, AC, CD, price -$1.750,000 negotiable. Call: 626-2884 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 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 Land at Parfaite Harmonie $1.1M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Tuschen 2nd Street -$5.5M, Phase 2, $1.4M- Call:604-6724 Continued on page 23
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
I cannot accept the PPP’s hypocrisy DEAR EDITOR, My two bits for whatever it is worth. It may not get pass pending but in reading what others are saying I can assure you that I am in sync with what is taking place in Guyana. I believe that a pay increase is necessary for all Guyanese. There is need for a living salary to be paid to each and every working Guyanese. There is a study presently underway and therefore all and sundry should have waited until they were
finished with that study. Then what ever they would have given themselves would have been above board and in the excitement of the underdog getting his bone all would have been acceptable. I cannot accept the PPP’s hypocrisy. They are just being wicked and vicious. They not only gave themselves increases but they stole this country blind and all the big wigs stood by and said nothing.
Now they are out of the woodwork crying foul. People who were blind and dumb are now out to cry foul. Few are those that are prepared to speak out against the ills of Jagdeo and his cabal. I know that there are more decent people out there that could say to Jagdeo look what you have brought on us with you racist ranting and your thieving ways. Jagdeo could afford to refuse decent money; he has accumulated enough to last him for many lifetimes. All
Guyanese are entitled to a proper salary and that will be my argument until they gave us a proper salary. In 1999 when the Public Service Union took industrial action and were successful in their bid for arbitration it turned out that what they were awarded Jagdeo refused to give and with Yarde’s diluted radicalism, the Public Service Union was decapitated. Some fighters are now overseas and the others who were able to carry that battle
have moved on. Yarde is still there with the question as to when he would recognize term limits. With regard to the Jagdeo/Rohee spat; this is just pretending the real falling out is imminent when that comes we will see what that horrible man used to say: when rouges and vagabonds fall out good men come into their own. In the mean while let us keep praying for our beloved country. Keep looking up. JESUS is coming soon. George Wiltshire
Norway not satisfied with Guyana Government’s performance since the 2009 MOU on the LCDS DEAR EDITOR, It is reported that civil society groups are not happy with the state of relations between Guyana and Norway in relation to the MoU signed in late 2009 and expiring this year There are a number of misunderstandings in the civil society protest. 1. Norwegian money for Guyana comes from its international aid budget. If it had been a commercial contract to buy forest-based carbon emission reduction credits, then we could have expected a much more rigorous deal, more thorough and transparent assessments and audits, and less inflated perceptions. Only US$ 69.8 million have passed from Oslo to the World Bankadministered Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (according to the last statement from the trustees on the GRIF website), and only about half of this money is included in projects submitted by the President’s Office of Climate Change (OCC). The Ministry of Finance in Oslo has blocked further transfers to the GRIF because Guyana is not spending according to Norwegian aid rules. A major
problem is that the OCC appears to be unable to prepare fundable project proposals from the ragbag of sketchy ideas in the Low Carbon Development Strategy. 2. Outside the MoU/GRIF mechanism, Norway has been passing money through a German aid organization and through Conservation International. There are no audit reports in the public domain on how these moneys have been spent. In November 2014, just after the prorogation of the National Assembly here, Norway made a conditional transfer of US$ 80 million to the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), in anticipation of construction of the Amaila Falls hydropower dam. Norway appears to be not interested in the chaotic and non-transparent negotiations over the Amaila Falls financing, some of which was revealed in mid-2013 before the project developer Sithe Global Power LLC withdrew (but still hangs on to the development license, which presumably it could sell onwards, just as it purchased that license from Fip Motillal). As we now know, the IDB has
Moses Nagamootoo was good in handling the media on the salary increase issue DEAR EDITOR, To a true politician and veteran in the communication field, Mr. Moses V. Nagamootoo., Prime Minister of Guyana and lead figure for the Government business in the Parliament. After looking at the post Cabinet press briefing on the 21st October, 2015, Mr. Nagamootoo was exceptional at handling the media questions with vigor and preciseness. This man is a giant when it comes to dealing with the press. The Government should take that last briefing session as a lesson moving forward with the business of governance in this country. To whom much is given much is expected and that is what he, Moses Nagamootoo did when he got the opportunity to represent the government. True leadership is admitting where you think you went wrong. And recognizing that the people of Guyana want the Government to perform at a higher standard and to respect their views Ivan Bentham - Chairman Small Business Youth Development Association
at last taken note of the report of its own independent expert advisory panel which investigated the Amaila Falls proposal in 2011. The IDB will not now contribute to this dam as currently designed, a dam which would run dry in drought years leaving the coastland with candlepower and a donkey cart economy. 3. Earlier this month, October 2015, the World Bank-coordinated Carbon Fund rejected the Emission Reduction – program idea note (ER-PIN) submitted by Guyana for access to the Carbon Fund project pipeline. The rejection was partly because of the very poor and incomplete nature of the proposal, and failures to comply with the Carbon Fund methodological framework. In addition, and perhaps the
major reason for rejection, was the ER-PIN suggestion of inflating the carbon emission reference level to three times the baseline level, and then claiming credits for the ‘hot air’ between the assessed emission levels and that reference level. 4. Kaieteur News readers should note also that in the years 2009-2015, Guyana has made no policy changes to support or encourage reductions in emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. And the only documented but still underhand change in procedure has been to further facilitate smash-and-grab logging: a relaxation in the inter-stump distance rule, from 10 to 8 metres, to facilitate the taking of high-value small trees from ‘reefs’ of greenheart and purpleheart.
The Guyana Forestry Commission has not explained how this destructive relaxation, from the 10-metre rule based on detailed research by the Stichting Tropenbos Guyana programme in the 1980s and 1990s, is compatible with its claims to sustainable forest management. There are several other problems with the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) and the ER-PIN submitted recently by Guyana to international meetings. It is regrettable that the National Assembly’s sectoral committee on natural resources has not yet convened in this 11thsession of the Assembly, and has not scrutinized these fraudulent claims which are detrimental to the reputation of Guyana. Janette Bulkan
City Council responds to criticism... From page 4 excuse, deposits litter in or on any public place… is guilty of an offence”. Also, persons who deposit litter from a moving vehicle unto a public place will be considered an offender.” “If the person who committed the offence cannot be determined, then the driver of the vehicle will be held responsible.” The regulation specifically addresses the provision of refuse receptacles in vehicles and states that “the owner of every vehicle for hire provides within his/her vehicle, a receptacle for the collection of litter”. It is important to note that under these regulations, the City Constabulary Officers can bring charges against offenders. The Environmental Protection Agency Act allows the local authority to arrest, charge and make public the names of persons who pollute the environment. The Environmental Protection Act states that a “local authority or litter prevention warden , within the object of promoting the abatement of litter may take such steps as the authority thinks appropriate for making known to the public in its area the effects of the provision of these regulations”. Guyana Human Rights Association does not quite understand the depth of the culture of littering that pervaded this society. It is timely that a classic incident be highlighted to give a clear picture of the depth of unruliness that is evident. During the Course of the week as workers toiled assiduously to clean a specific alleyway in the upper Bourda
area, a bag of garbage was thrown into the alley way by a resident. The contractor tried to caution that person in a very polite manner but was greeted with a litany of expletives; this is the reality in which we operate were some persons believe that they have a right to litter. The truism is everyone has a right to live in a healthy environment. Therefore, no one should seek to endanger the life of another by poor environment health practices. Poor environmental health practices can undermine human rights. Approximately ten years ago the Council had installed street bins in strategic location in the City. It was appalling to watch those bins being vandalized and abused. Even with the presence of street bins people still littered the streets and alleyways, even with bins close by. However, in spite of the challenges the new administration would not be deterred, the restoration process must continue which involve the provision of street bins and yard bins. Also, stern measures will be taken against the recalcitrant. The Council therefore urges every Guyanese regardless of age, ethnicity or gender to co-operate with the City Council as we work to restore the beauty the City. The Council believes that every citizen has a right to live in a City that is clean; therefore, the mission of the Georgetown City Council is to provide that clean environment. Debra Lewis Public Relation officer (ag) M&CC
From page 22
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Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
Assad’s priority to defeat ‘terrorism’ before elections - Russian lawmaker Reuters Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s priority is to defeat “terrorists” before holding elections but he is ready to call parliamentary and presidential polls if necessary, a Russian lawmaker who met him yesterday said. The remarks are a first indication of Assad’s response to a call by his Russian allies for new presidential and parliamentary elections, as Moscow uses its clout with Damascus to try to end almost five years of conflict in Syria. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose country has launched air strikes against Assad’s opponents in Syria, called for the elections in an interview broadcast on Saturday. Moscow said Lavrov discussed Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry twice at the weekend, and spoke to his Iranian and Egyptian counterparts on Saturday. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in Cairo that international talks had yielded some progress
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin though more consultations were needed. Assad’s opponents, however, are wary of Russia’s motives, suspecting it of trying to prop up Assad and look after its own national interests in the Middle East as its warplanes support offensives against rebels on the ground. Assad visited Moscow last week on his first known trip outside Syria since the
start of the conflict, which is estimated to have killed 250,000 people. The Syrian state news agency SANA made no mention of elections in its account of Assad’s meeting on Sunday with a visiting Russian delegation. SANA said Assad told the visitors that “the elimination of terrorist groups” would lead to the political solution sought by both Syria and Russia.
Asked after the meeting whether Assad was ready for early elections, Russian parliamentary deputy Sergey Gavrilov told Reuters his impression was that “the first aim (of Assad is) the struggle with and victory over ... terrorism, and after that the elections - parliamentary and president elections”. Damascus views all the groups fighting it as terrorists.
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S. Korea fires warning shots at N. Korea patrol boat South Korea fired warning shots at one of the North’s patrol boats as it strayed across the border, Seoul’s defence ministry said, raising tensions while a rare reunion for families separated by the peninsula’s 1950-53 war was underway. The South’s navy were launching a crackdown on Chinese fishing boats illegally operating off the country’s western coast Saturday when it spotted the patrol vessel and fired five warning shots. The North Korean ship returned across the border soon afterwards without firing back, the defence ministry added. But Pyongyang yesterday described the incident as a “serious military provocation” and accused Seoul of seeking to reverse recent improvement in ties. “The shelling that was committed in broad daylight was a deliberate provocation to spark off a military
conflict...and again escalate the tension on the Korean Peninsula,” the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which handles crossborder affairs, said in a statement. “The recent military provocation of the South Korean military gangsters was a dangerous act aimed to chill the hard-won atmosphere of improving the relations and totally derail the process for implementing the North-South agreement,” the statement said. In August the two Koreas agreed to work together to defuse military tension and hold another temporary reunion for families separated by the Korean War. The October 20-26 reunion — only the second in five years — is currently underway in the North’s Mount Kumgang resort, with hundreds of people meeting their families for the first time in nearly 70 years. (AFP)
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Kaieteur News
Local elections cancelled in key Ukraine city, parties trade accusations of foul play Reuters - Local elections in Ukraine’s port city of Mariupol were called off yesterday, prompting the ruling party of President Petro Poroshenko and the proRussian Opposition Party to blame each other for alleged irregularities in the vote. Mariupol, a city of around 500,000, lies on the coast between the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia from Ukraine last year, and separatist-held eastern territory, where a ceasefire between the pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces has largely held since September. The election spat shows the distrust that persists between Ukraine’s leadership, which has steered the country towards greater integration in Europe, and Ukraine’s pro-Russian faction which retains significant support in the mainly Russianspeaking east. “According to my information some sort of falsification was being set up and we certainly can’t allow this,” President Petro Poroshenko said as he cast his own vote in Kiev.
Petro Poroshenko He said the Mariupol election should be rescheduled before the end of the year. In a separate statement, his party blamed the ballot issues in Mariupol on the Opposition Party, which includes many former supporters and allies of ousted pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovich. The Opposition Party in turn accused Poroshenko’s party of running a “dirty and unprincipled campaign” and said he was responsible for the elections being cancelled in Mariupol.
The mayoral and council elections are being held across Ukraine, apart from in territories controlled by proRussian separatists seeking independence from Kiev and some Ukrainian-controlled towns close to the frontline. Poroshenko’s ruling party is leading in the polls, but the popularity of his pro-Western government has fallen due perceived slow progress in its implementation of reform amid an economic crisis. “This is the face of Ukraine. We must make sure and show the world that Ukraine is a free, democratic country and that we work hard so that elections are held according to the best global standards,” he said. According to a poll from mid-October, 13 percent of voters planned to support Poroshenko’s party in local elections and the next three parties - including Opposition Party - had equal support of 11 percent. The party of Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk is not fielding a single candidate in Sunday’s vote, after support plummeted to 1 percent from over 20 percent one year ago.
Monday October 26, 2015
UK govt. under pressure over welfare cuts for poor London (AFP) - British Prime Minister David Cameron’s government faced a growing row yesterday over plans to cut welfare payments for low-income workers on the eve of a highly sensitive vote in parliament. Finance minister George Osborne, a possible successor to Cameron and his de facto deputy, wants to cut tax credits as part of £12 billion (17 billion euros, $18 billion) in welfare cuts to help reduce Britain’s deficit. Opponents and many in Cameron and Osborne’s centre-right Conservative party argue that the move is unfair and will hurt several million families. The House of Lords will hold a series of votes on the issue today in which the government could face defeat after peers tabled motions to try and stop the cuts. Encapsulating the often emotional nature of the debate, an angry female Conservative supporter cried on a primetime BBC talk show this month as she confronted a government minister about the impact the cuts would
David Cameron have on her. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, an Osborne ally, suggested to the BBC day that there could be some changes to the policy as media reports suggested the government could U-turn on the issue in a budget statement in November. Morgan said Osborne was “in listening mode” but added: “The policy is not going to change... not the main policy”. John McDonnell, finance spokesman for the main
opposition Labour party who is close to its leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn, told the BBC it would “not make political capital” out of any change. Labour says that the government’s current proposals would cost people an average of £1,300 a year. Osborne argues that the existing system of tax credits — in which the state tops up the incomes of people on low salaries — is too expensive, costing £30 billion a year. He has pledged a new “national living wage” of £9 an hour by 2020 and is lifting income tax thresholds to try and boost incomes. “What are the alternatives to trimming an unsustainable welfare bill? We would have to borrow more money and burden our children with still higher debt,” the finance minister wrote in a Daily Telegraph article this month. London Mayor Boris Johnson, another contender to replace Cameron as Conservative leader, has been among the critics of Osborne’s plan.
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Monday October 26, 2015
U.S., Saudi Arabia to bolster support for moderate Syrian opposition
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) meets with King Salman of Saudi Arabia (R) in Diriyah Farm, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/CARLO ALLEGRI Reuters - The United States and Saudi Arabia agreed to increase support to Syria’s moderate opposition while seeking a political resolution of the four-year conflict, the U.S. State Department said after Secretary of State John Kerry met King Salman weekend. Kerry was in Riyadh for meetings with the Saudi monarch, crown prince, deputy crown prince and foreign minister - the last stop in a trip that also included Vienna, where he met counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Russia.
“They pledged to continue and intensify support to the moderate Syrian opposition while the political track is being pursued,” the State Department statement said after Kerry’s meetings in Saudi Arabia. It did not spell out what kind of support would be offered. Rebels have appealed for more military support from foreign backers, including Saudi Arabia, to confront major Syrian army offensives. Those offensives are backed by Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian fighters and
Russian air strikes. The United States and Saudi Arabia, together with other states opposed to Assad, already provides some military support to Syrian rebels. That includes training by the Central Intelligence Agency and antitank missiles. Kerry said in Vienna on Friday he expected new talks on Syria to begin as soon as next week. So far, all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have foundered over the demand by the United States and its allies that Assad leave power, which he refuses to consider.
Slovenia sees end to EU if leaders fail on migrant plan Reuters - The European Union faces collapse if the bloc cannot agree on a plan to confront the sudden influx of refugees through the Balkans, Slovenia’s premier warned yesterday as leaders bickered over who was to blame for the crisis. Nine days after Hungary’s move to seal its southern border drove unprecedented migrant flows into tiny Slovenia, Prime Minister Miro Cerar sent out a dramatic call to fellow central and eastern leaders in Brussels for emergency talks. “If we don’t find a solution today, if we don’t do everything we can today, then it is the end of the European Union as such,” Cerar said. “If we don’t deliver concrete action, I believe Europe will start falling apart,” he told reporters. Fleeing war and
Miro Cerar oppression to seek a new life in Germany and northern Europe, refugees have continued to come through the western Balkans and have shifted west into Slovenia after Hungary’s border fencing was completed. Since Oct. 17, more than 62,000 migrants
have arrived in Slovenia, with some 14,000 still passing through the country on Sunday. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was unrepentant, describing his country as an “observer” in the crisis since the border closures and that he had no advice to give other leaders. But such apparent detachment was not shared by many at the meeting. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov quoted U.S. independence hero Benjamin Franklin saying: “If we don’t stick together we will hang separately.” With winter approaching, Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU’s chief executive, called the leaders of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia to Brussels to seek a common approach.
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
Kamla launches re-election campaign Trinidad Guardian Despite the UNC losing the last five elections they contested, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar got a fresh mandate from party members to seek re-election as their political leader. Launching her campaign at the Shiva Boys Hindu College in Penal, Saturday, Persad-Bissessar was endorsed by several opposition MPs, including Dr Suruj Rambachan, Dr Lackram Bodoe, Dr David Lee, Rodney Charles and Barry Padarath. Also showing their support were several former ministers and current chairmen and councillors of regional corporations. Persad-Bissessar revealed that many members urged her to postpone the internal elections until next year, but she wanted to get a new executive to help rebuild the party as they moved to form the next government. With the elections on December 5, she said she was looking for fresh faces in the new executive as she promised many changes, including in the attitude of the party.
Kamla PersadBissessar “I give you my every commitment that I will use every nerve in my body to ensure that the UNC is fully geared and prepared to move into a new era of servantbased leadership. I give you the commitment as well, we will look into how we can work on this servant-based leadership era and that we must continue to fight and advocate the issues that impact upon people because we want a people-centred government,” PersadBissessar said. She also appealed to
members and candidates not to destroy the party by launching personal attacks against each other during their respective campaigns. “Anybody who is supporting me, campaigning with me, today I warn you I will not tolerate any attacks against any opponent that will work to undermine and mash up the UNC. We are still one UNC family.” She announced that nomination day was on November 20 where forms would be available at Rienzi Complex, Couva. She added that an independent elections committee would be formed to ensure a fair election. Persad-Bissessar also called on members to stand with the Opposition as it battled the Government in Parliament over the proposed property tax and revenue authority. She called on National Security Minister Edmund Dillon to reveal the PNM’s crime-fighting plans and appealed to Education Minister Anthony Garcia to continue the laptop distribution to Form One secondary school students.
Voting in landmark Haiti elections calm amid tight security Reuters - Voting in Haiti yesterday appeared smoothly in landmark elections for president as well as a parliament dissolved since January, polls that officials hope will cement democracy in the Western hemisphere’s poorest country. There were no reports of major problems, in sharp contrast to a first round of legislative elections in August, according to a tour of polling stations in the capital by Reuters and unconfirmed reports from rural provinces. “This is much better,” said Pierre Esperance, director of the National Human Rights Defense Network. “The police are taking their responsibilities more seriously,” he added, alluding to criticism of lax policing of polling stations in August. If all goes well, it will be first time in Haiti’s rocky political history that three democratic elections have been held in succession without interruption by fraud or armed rebellion. More than 5 million registered voters are choosing from 54 presidential candidates. The successor to
Pierre Esperance President Michel Martelly next February is expected to be one of two candidates: Jovenel Moïse, owner of a banana-exporting business in the north of the country, and Jude Célestin, a Swiss-educated mechanical engineer who previously headed a government construction agency. Moïse, 37, represents the ruling Parti Haitien Tet Kale (Haitian Party of Bald Heads) named after Martelly’s famously smooth scalp. He is running neck and neck in polls with Célestin, 53, who heads the LAPEH Party (Alternative League for Progress and Emancipation of
Haiti). A run-off for the presidential race between the top two candidates is scheduled for Dec. 27. Martelly, a popular singer, shook up the political order with his election victory in 2011 as the country was still reeling from a devastating earthquake. But critics say he failed to halt corruption and political infighting. The Caribbean nation of about 10 million people has struggled to build a stable democracy ever since the overthrow of the dictatorship of the Duvalier family, which led Haiti from 1957 to 1986, and ensuing military coups and election fraud. The legislative vote is crucial to fill a vacuum after Haiti’s parliament dissolved in January when terms ran out on sitting members due to elections being long delayed. Security was tightened after violence by gangs of rival political activists disrupted voting in August’s first round. Haiti’s 12,000-strong National Police lacks resources and a longstanding U.N. security force in Haiti is also at its lowest level in a decade.
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Monday October 26, 2015
Finance Minister leads IDB and CDB to fund Sustainable Energy Facility for the Eastern delegation to Chile KINGSTON, Jamaica – Finance and Planning Minister, Dr Peter Phillips left the island on Saturday for Santiago de Chile, to attend FOROMIC Chile 2015, where he and other members of the Jamaican delegation will participate in the handing over ceremony for FOROMIC Jamaica 2016, scheduled for Montego Bay, Jamaica. In April 2014, the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the InterAmerican Development Bank Group, designated Jamaica as the host of FOROMIC 2016. A press release from the ministry today said that Phillips and key members of the Jamaican delegation are scheduled to meet with the general manager designate of the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), Brigit Helms. The Inter-American Microenterprise Forum (FOROMIC) is one of the most important marketplaces and conferences focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprise financing and development in Latin America
Dr Peter Phillips and the Caribbean. The forum brings together delegations from financial and microfinance institutions, associations of micro entrepreneurs, government agencies, Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), international organisations, academia, among others that are able to showcase innovative efforts towards financial inclusion. FOROMIC provides an
essential meeting place for networking and business deals between private sector investors and microfinance institutions, which make the conference one of their primary business events of the calendar year. The release said the event will increase Jamaica’s visibility on the international finance stage while providing local businesses the opportunity to interact with international financiers as well as possible international business partners. Phillips is accompanied by the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Brian Wynter; the President of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Milverton Reynolds; the Financial Secretary, Devon Rowe; the Technical Advisor to the Minister, Helen McIntosh; and Head, IMF Coordination and Implementation Unit, Judith Green. The team is expected to return to Jamaica on Thursday. (Jamaica Observer)
President of the Caribbean Development Bank Dr Warren Smith (left) and president of the Inter-American Development Bank Luis Alberto Moreno signing the agreement. (GP) Daily Nation - The sustainable energy facility for the Eastern Caribbean - a US$71.5 million loan and grant package approved by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank - was signed Saturday by presidents Alberto Moreno of the IDB and Dr William Warren Smith of the CDB. The signing occurred at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami ahead of the start of the annual Caribbean Renewable Energy Conference. The six independent countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines – are island states with small and isolated electricity markets, lacking the scale necessary to import cheaper fossil fuels, such as natural gas, and inadequate development of renewable energy potential. The programme has the potential to change the energy matrix of the beneficiary countries and increase energy security, which is critical for these
economies to be competitive. “This operation has the potential to trigger a radical transformation of the energy matrix of the Eastern Caribbean. Geothermal power plants established in each of the Eastern Caribbean countries with potential could have aggregate capacity of proximately 60MW, which would substitute the equivalent amount of diesel and heavy fuel oil currently used for base load power generation. This would displace an average of almost a million barrels of oil per year, which is equivalent to a 44 per cent reduction in oil imports or US$56 million per year,” said Christiaan Gischler the IDB’s team leader of the SEF. Gischler added that that public-private partnerships could be a mechanism by which many of the energy projects could be successfully delivered. “Under SEF, Eastern Caribbean governments and geothermal developers will be encouraged to form public and private partnerships. The PPP approach will encourage private partners to assume the loans and
minimize the risks associated with the geothermal development. Governments will be able to diversify their energy mix without increasing their debt load,” added Gischler. A component of this facility is concessional financing from the Clean Technology Fund. The availability of these resources will catalyse the private sector capital and expertise required for developing sustainable energy projects in the region. Tessa Williams-Robertson, head of CDB’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Unit, highlighted the critical importance of a Facility like the SEF that makes concessional resources available for investment in sustainable energy. “A substantial focus of the SEF will be to provide seed resources to CDB’s GeoSMART Facility which is being established to support geothermal energy development in the region. GEOSMART will provide financing instruments appropriate to address the level of risk associated with each stage of the geothermal development”, she said.
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Monday October 26, 2015
PNP, JLP Youth Leaders accept Guatemala’s Perez says Biden forced that peers see nothing to vote for him to accept anti-corruption purge The Gleaner - The leaders of two youth groups attached to the major political parties have added their voices to those expressing concern that young Jamaicans are opting out of the political process. With the latest Gleanercommissioned Bill Johnson poll showing that 55 per cent of Jamaicans between the ages of 18 and 34 would not vote if a general election were held now, Andrae Blair of the People’s National Party Yo u t h O rg a n i s a t i o n (PNPYO) and Matthew Samuda of the Jamaica Labour Party’s Generation 2000 (G2K) agree that more needs to be done to woo young voters. “It is absolutely imperative for this level of participation to increase as young people are critical stakeholders in shaping t h e p a t h t o J a m a i c a ’s development,” said Blair as he accepted that the level of apathy towards politics and participation in the governance process is a cause for concern. “The youth vote, as it is often classified, is no doubt experiencing a similar level of paralysis to the rest of the electorate,” said Samuda. “The voter turnout in the 2011 general election was just over 50 per cent, and based on your polls, this will remain unchanged unless there is a catalyst for change of the
Matthew Samuda perception of politics within the various target groups. “The unfortunate thing is that there is greater consequence for young people who stay away from the process as they must live longer with the results of their inaction,” added Samuda. The two youth leaders also agreed that not enough was being done to attract young Jamaicans to the process. “The primary reason behind this high level of apathy is the feeling among young people that they generally do not consider it necessary to vote as they do not believe that their vote will make an impact or difference,” said Blair. “Despite this group being discussed almost like a prize, very little has truly been done to bring them into the process by creating the
consciousness around how our democracy truly works. “This starts from civics not having been a part of the school curriculum for an extended period - which, thankfully, has been reinstated - and a lack of encouragement both for participation in student government and for those bodies to be recognised at the school boards, and more important, be taken seriously by those boards,” declared Samuda. The G2K head argued that young Jamaicans want access to affordable, quality housing solutions; access to affordable tertiary education; and access to employment. “These are indeed the factors that we believe young people view as their vehicle to prosperity, and we expect greater levels of articulation and engagement from the JLP on these issues in the very near future,” said Samuda. For Blair, the level of participation by young Jamaica will increase only through a process of focused and deliberate engagement and a process of engagement not centred around an election period, but one that is continuous. “The youth are not averse to sacrifice; however, we must itemise the benefits to be accrued as a result of this sacrifice. “It is also important for us to engender a level of civic pride, where young people will believe that they are truly part of the governance process and will see a sense of responsibility for the good governance of Jamaica,” said Blair.
File photo of U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden (L) and Guatemala’s then-president Otto Perez Molina shaking hands during a photo opportunity at the Presidential Palace in Guatemala City, March 2, 2015. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala’s jailed former president, Otto Perez, says he regrets bowing to U.S. pressure to extend the work of an anti-corruption unit that then toppled him from power and that it was U.S. Vice President Joe Biden who forced his hand. Perez resigned and was arrested last month after G u a t e m a l a ’s a t t o r n e y general and the U.N.backed anti-corruption body accused him of leading a customs racket. In a series of meetings earlier this year, U.S. officials pressured Perez to fire corrupt officials and allow the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) to continue its work, officials
Imbert: Time to haul those who raped treasury before the courts Trinidad Express - It is time to stop talking about how much was stolen during the tenure of the previous People’s Partnership administration and time to start hauling those “who raped the treasury” before the courts, Finance Minister Colm Imbert has said. Imbert made the statement on Thursday night as he wrapped up the debate on the Appropriation (Financial Year2016) Bill, 2015, in the Senate, Tower D of the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain.
with direct knowledge of the talks have told Reuters. Renewing the CICIG´s mandate “was one of the things I must regret,” Perez told Reuters on Saturday at the military prison where he is being held awaiting trial. He maintains he is innocent of the charges against him. Perez said he opposed CICIG’s work because it was trampling on Guatemala’s sovereignty but that Biden demanded he renew its mandate and threatened to halt U.S. aid to Guatemala if he refused. “He told me it was practically a condition” for the aid, Perez said in a small courtyard surrounded by 10 guards, adding that Biden pressured him twice in person and twice on the phone. CICIG spearheaded the probe into the alleged customs racket and was working closely with Attorney General Thelma Aldana. Perez reluctantly agreed in April to allow it to continue its work and its investigation led to the removal of cabinet ministers, the vice-president and finally Perez himself. Perez said CICIG amounts
to “a new form of (U.S.) interference” in Guatemala’s affairs and that his country has surrendered its sovereignty over the justice system by allowing the unit to operate. “It is a commission that reports to no-one,” he said, accusing its head, former Colombian state prosecutor Ivan Velasquez, of using the support of the U.S. government and the United Nations to throw his weight around. “With the interests of the U.S. embassy behind him, he felt all-powerful and undoubtedly responds to their interests.” A spokeswoman for Biden said the vice president had “consistently made clear to leaders throughout the Central American region that U.S. assistance was only possible if they continued to make progress on tackling corruption”. She said that Biden, who on Wednesday ruled out a run for president in 2016, emphasized that CICIG’s extension was important in the effort and that “has also made clear that CICIG is a model other countries should emulate.”
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
Man City back on top after bore draw, Klopp still awaiting win LONDON (Reuters) Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table after a goalless draw with Manchester United on Sunday but the much-hyped clash proved far less eventful than the day’s other local derby. Sunderland beat bitter rivals Newcastle United 3-0 to escape the bottom of the table, condemning Aston Villa to 20th place just a couple of hours after they sacked manager Tim Sherwood. The game changed when Newcastle’s captain Fabricio Coloccini was sent off just before halftime, Adam Johnson converting the
resulting penalty. Elsewhere Juergen Klopp was denied a first victory in charge of Liverpool when Sadio Mane scored a late equaliser for Southampton before being sent off in a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Tottenham Hotspur’s Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Moto GP: Valentino Rossi penalised for kicking Marc Marquez
Harry Kane retured to goalscoring form after a lean spell for his club with a hat-trick in the London club’s 5-1 romp at Bournemouth. City have 22 points from 10 games, the same as Arsenal, while United are in fourth place with 20 points.
Team Man City Arsenal West Ham Man Utd Leicester Tottenham Crystal Palace Southampton Liverpool West Brom
Played 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
GD Points 16 22 10 22 9 20 7 20 3 19 8 17 1 15 3 14 -2 14 -3 14
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling shoots at goal. (Action Images via Reuters / Jason CairnduffLivepic)
Controversy erupts as Gonzalves... From page 37 out. Few saw the punch and many were questioning whether indeed a punch had landed. The audience saw Atwell writhing on the canvass. He rose, but much to the astonishment of a large section of the audience, did so on wobbly legs. Seconds later, referee Eon Jardine directed Gonsalves to the farthest neutral corner before summoning the ringside doctor. The latter individual performed a cursory check and decided that Atwell was too hurt to continue. The stricken boxer was then placed on a stretcher and whisked away to the hospital and is resting comfortably after surgery. Meanwhile, in brief post fight remarks, and after receiving the coveted belt, Gonsalves admitted that he was hurt in the earlier rounds. He said that notwithstanding, he still believed in himself and was merely biding his time and waiting for the right moment to unleash his bombs. He also said that he had experimented with a sustained body attack which seemed to have been effective. He did not elaborate on his immediate ploy for the advancement of his career. Imran Khan lived up to his pre-fight prediction and disposed of David Thomas in just 54secs of the third stanza. Khan took command from the very first bell with stiff jabs and long right crosses. Thomas held a high guard but it proved to be porous and just could not keep out Khan’s blows. Thomas was pressed on his back foot and blocked up for most of the round. The onslaught continued into the second stanza and it was obvious that Thomas would not have survived the end of the scheduled 4 rounds. As the fight progressed, this became
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even more obvious. The pattern remained the same; Khan lashed out while Thomas attempted to block. Instead, the punches flew past his guards and repeatedly connected to his face and after allowing it for some time, referee Eon Jardine stopped the bout to save Thomas from further punishment. The 6 rounds welterweight affair between Quincy Gomes and Anson Green had promised much after the latter pugilist had vociferously spelled out his intentions in prefight comments. Green failed to live up to his boast and instead, turned in a lackluster performance to surrender a split decision to his opponent. Judges Bernard DeSantos and Andrew Thorne awarded the bout to Gomes 59-55 and 59-54 respectively, while Rawle Aaron felt that Green had won by a 59-54 points margin. In the opening professional bout, Keeve Allicock utilized 2:55secs of the third round to convince Terrence Adams that he was in the wrong place with the right person, they fought in a catchweight match that was scheduled for 4 rounds. Earlier, Republican amateur pugilist, Nankumar Singh, bulldozed his way to a points victory over Kellon King in a lightweight fight that had the fans excited, while flyweight pugilist, Dexter Wray got the better of Tefon Green. Republican boxer, Clinton Grayham was also in winners’ row and he forced the doctor to order a halt to his welterweight bout against Glenroy Smith in 2:17secs of the first stanza, while Travis Hubbard proved that his victory over Orin Bancroft last month was no fluke after replicating the performance in the first fight of the night.
Valentino Rossi follows Marc Marquez during the race. (AFP) BBC Sport - MotoGP championship leader Valentino Rossi will start the final race of the season from the back of the grid after kicking Marc Marquez off his bike during the Malaysian Grand Prix. Rossi finished third but was given three penalty points following a post-race investigation. He later accused Marquez of “making me lose the championship”. Honda’s Dani Pedrosa won the race, with Jorge Lorenzo second. The final race takes place in Spain on 8 November. Rossi now leads Lorenzo by just seven points in the
championship. The Italian, whose team Yamaha have said they will appeal the sanction, said Spain’s Marquez “rode only to cause me problems”. The incident happened on lap 13 of 20 after Rossi had gestured at Marquez following an overtaking move. “Unfortunately, I lose a lot of time with Marc,” the Italian explained. “And in turn 14, I tried to go a bit wide to take a better line and make him slow. “He came to me and I think he crashed in that moment. His handlebar touched my foot and my foot slipped off, a bike can’t crash only with a touch.
“He has won his fight, he made me lose the championship.” But Spaniard Lorenzo had called for Rossi to be punished, adding: “It’s clear that he took Marquez off.” Before the race Rossi, 36, accused Marquez of deliberately trying to impede him during the Australian Grand Prix on 18 October in order to help Lorenzo. “Marquez did not play with both of us, he played only with me,” Rossi said. “He isn’t playing fair. He would prefer Lorenzo to win. He is angry at me for a personal matter.” MotoGP race director Mike Webb said: “It’s irresponsible riding causing a crash and for that we have imposed three penalties points on Rossi.” Rossi’s lead means he will definitely win the title if he can finish in the top two in Malaysia, while Lorenzo must finish at least eighth to have any chance of depriving him. Rossi is seeking his seventh MotoGP title, while 28-year-old Lorenzo is trying to win his third.
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Monday October 26, 2015
PCL four-day Franchise cricket Rugby World Cup: Australia beat Argentina to reach final Final four-day practice match BBC Sport - Australia will play New Zealand in the World Cup final after they held off an inspired Argentina fightback to win another thriller of a semi-final. A three-try first-half blitz, including two from Adam Ashley-Cooper, helped the Wallabies into a 13-point lead. Argentina refused to yield and Nicolas Sanchez’s flawless boot - he kicked five penalties in all - saw them trail by seven points with 26 minutes to go. But AshleyCooper completed a hat-trick of tries late on to secure victory. Roared on by a passionate support that included football World Cup winner Diego Maradona, Argentina had chances in the second half as they took control up front and utilised their explosive runners. But they lacked the composure to exploit several possible overlaps and Australia will now face neighbours New Zealand in the final. The two great Antipodean rivals have never met before in a World Cup final, and a tournament that has been blessed with so many epic contests may yet have one more. Pocock the difference? Argentina may feel they did not get the rub of Wayne Barnes’ refereeing, particularly in losing Tomas Lavanini to a questionable yellow card and seeing both Will Genia and Tevita Kuridrani escape censure for more obvious offences. Yet they will also rue their own lack of ruthlessness compared to their opponents, too often losing possession deep in enemy territory when the momentum and crowd were with them. Number eight
starts today at Providence
Ashley Cooper scores for Australia. (Getty Images) David Pocock was once again outstanding for Australia as his side won countless turnovers, fly-half Bernard Foley’s nine points from the tee also critical in deflating the Puma charge. Wallabies start with a bang Barely a minute had gone before the Wallabies struck, lock Rob Simmons picking off Sanchez’s obvious insidepass to race under the posts. Sanchez landed a simple penalty but when scrum-half Martin Landajo knocked on taking a quick tap deep in his own 22 Australia cashed in again, Israel Folau’s dummy run creating space for Foley’s long mis-pass the other way to send Ashley-Cooper sprinting into the right-hand corner. Foley’s second conversion made it 14-3, and with Pocock a relentless burglar at the breakdown, Argentina were in trouble despite Sanchez’s second penalty. Worse was to come when young second row Lavanini was controversially yellowcarded for tackling Folau without using his arms. This time it was Matt
Kennard’s Memorial Horseracing set for Boxing Day The Kennard’s Memorial Club will hold a Horserace meet at their Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne Berbice venue on Boxing Day, December 26 and entries close on Saturday December 19. Seven races are carded for what promises to be an exciting day for Turfites with the winner of the one Mile race for Horses classified C & Lower receiving $1 Million. The races are being run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Authority and owners of Horses must pay $5,000 for each Horse at the time of entry. If not paid the Horses’ name would not appear on the official programme and the horses would not be permitted to run. In the event that there are less than five horses entered for any event the club reserves the right to cancel or reframe the said event or reduce the prize money after consulting with the owners. The winner of the K & Lower over 5 furlongs will win $120,000, the winner of the H & Lower gets $250,000, the E & Lower winner takes home $500,000, the J & Lower first prize is $140,000, the champion in the G & Lower and the 3&4 year-olds will collect $300,000, while the winner of the J & Lower and 2-year-olds Guyana Bred will get $180, 000 for their efforts.
Giteau’s perfectly timed mispass which set AshleyCooper way into the left-hand corner after a series of barrelling drives and quick ball from the forwards sucked in the defence. The Pumas would not be cowed. Sanchez’s third penalty narrowed the deficit to 10 points and just before half-time only a bungled offload from Juan Martin Hernandez after Santiago Cordero’s fizzing break denied supporting full-back Joaquin Tuculet a certain try. Argentina fight back but fall short Sanchez landed two penalties and Foley one in a frantic period after the break as Argentina - three key men down after injuries to captain Agustin Creevy, winger Juan Imhoff and Hernandez - twice closed to within a converted try. The Pumas began to win the scrum battles and with it the territory but three times they had clear overlaps out wide and, unlike the Wallabies, could not convert. Australia centre Kuridrani was lucky to stay out of the sin-bin after deliberately kicking the ball away, with scrum-half Genia equally fortunate after tackling his man off a penalty without having dropped back 10 metres. And Ashley-Cooper made the Pumas pay when Drew Mitchell produced a scything run in and out of the blue-andwhite shirted rearguard before throwing out a pass that the winger gathered off the turf to complete his hattrick. Man of the match Pocock has arguably been the player of the tournament for his phenomenal breakdown work, but in becoming only the second man after Jonah Lomu to score three tries in a World Cup semi-final, AshleyCooper will be the toast of his bleary-eyed and sleepdeprived homeland.
Defending champions Guyana Jaguars opens their campaign in the WICB’s 2015/ 2016 Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day FirstClass cricket competition on November 6 when they battle the Windward Volcanoes at the Providence Stadium. The South American based Franchise will play their next two matches against the Leeward Hurricanes and Barbados Pride at the same venue before travelling to Trinidad and Jamaica for their last two matches for the year.
From today to Thursday the Jaguars will have their final practice match at Providence with each day’s play starting 09:30hrs and concluding at 16:00hrs. Leon Johnson and Robin Bacchus will Captain the two teams for today’s match with Johnson’s team comprising most of those expected to be in the squad that should be selected for the first game and which should be announced by Wednesday. Leon Johnson’s Team: Assad Fudadin, Shemron Hetmyer, Leon Johnson (Captain), Vishaul Singh (vice-
captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Christopher Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemol Savory, Akshaya Persaud. Robin Bacchus’ Team: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Robin Bacchus (Capt), Tevin Imlach, Kevon Boodie, Kemo Paul, Dexter Solomon, Javon Searles, Paul Wintz (vicecaptain), Steven Sankar, Ronsford Beaton, Raj Nannan, Raun Johnson, Anthony Adams.
Stag Elite League
Slingerz and GFC win latest matches by 2-0 margins Slingerz FC and Georgetown Football Club both recorded 2-0 wins when the Stag Elite League continued at the #5 ground West Coast Berbice on Saturday evening last. Both matches were decided in the first half. Vurlon Mills netted on the stroke of half time for Slingerz, the first came off the boot of Dextroy Adams in the 13th minute. Romario Welcome in the 4th minute and Dellon Cadogan 28th, were the players on target for GFC in their win over Buxton United. It was Slingerz’ second win in as many matches after being penalized by the Guyana Football Federation for not taking the field against the GDF, their 5th win in 9 matches; Monedderlust’s lean run in the league continued with this their 6th loss in nine matches. It was only the second win for the young GFC side, while it was Buxton’s 6th defeat.
Dextroy Adams (right) and Curlon Mills. The Conquerors ground hosted another double header last night, the home team Fruta Conquerors
opposed Pele while the opening game brought together GDF and Alpha United.
Singh, Mangar, Cornelius slam... From page 39 Greg Singh struck 122 to record his second century while Mangar made 33; John Percival had 2-42. Berbice A responded with 236-6 in 19.4 overs. Samaroo slammed 73 and Waheid Edwards 53; Singh took 2-41. At Everest, Demerara A thumped Berbice B by 77 runs. Demerara A took first knock and rattled up 228-7 in 20 overs. Safraz Karim made 63 and Richard Latif 42. Youganand Permaul claimed 3-53. Berbice B were sent packing for 151 in 18.5 overs in response. Keith Fraser and Kumar Thakurdeen got 30 apiece as Sewchand Budhu picked up 4-18. Demerara B got pass Essequibo A by 11 runs. Batting first, Demerara B mustered 1786 with Azaad Azeez scoring 36. Essequibo B
replied with 167-9. Ramesh Narine hit 37; Ravindra Ramnauth captured 4-32. Demerara B trounced Berbice B by 110 runs. Demerara B scored 206-8 in 20 overs, taking first knock. Karim cracked 46; Vishal Phillips had 3-21. Berbice B were bowled out for 96 in 15.2 overs. Fraser struck 30 as Leo Singh had 3-16 and Mark Harold 2-14. Demerara A got the better of Esequibo A by six wickets. Essequibo A managed 139 all out in 18.4 overs with 55 extras, batting first. Budhu took 3-25. Demerara A replied with 1404 in 12.3 overs. Sachin Singh scored 47; Ganesh Mangal and Narine snared two scalps each. The semi finals and final were set for Everest yesterday.
Monday October 26, 2015
Kaieteur News
Hamilton takes third F1 title after U.S. thriller AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) Lewis Hamilton joined the elite group of triple Formula One world champions on Sunday after winning a thrilling U.S. Grand Prix that kept the crowd on tenterhooks right to the very end. “That’s the greatest moment of my life,” he gasped over the team radio, choking back the tears, after crossing the line 2.8 seconds ahead of German team mate Nico Rosberg who had led before a late mistake. The first British driver to win back-to-back titles, Hamilton realised a lifelong ambition to equal the tally of his boyhood idol Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian triple champion who died in 1994. Ferrari’s four-times champion Sebastian Vettel finished third, after starting 13th and fighting back to chase Rosberg nose-to-tail over the final lap with the crowd on the edge of their seats on a cold and blustery afternoon after morning rain. Had Vettel passed Rosberg, the celebrations for the ‘double double’ — with Mercedes retaining their constructors’ title two weeks ago in Russia — would have remained on hold. “I’m just overwhelmed,” said Hamilton, who had needed to beat Vettel by nine points and Rosberg by two to take the crown with three races to spare. “There were so many times when I thought I had lost the race.” Interviewed on the podium by pop’s very own ‘rocket man’, British pop singer Elton John, Hamilton sprayed the champagne with abandon while Rosberg
looked shellshocked and barely reacted. REALLYTOUGH Before the podium ceremony, Hamilton tossed his team mate a cap to wear. The German threw it back in disgust. No words were necessary. “I don’t know what happened,” he said later when asked about his slip. “It was my race to win, but with some strange mistake that has never happened to me that was really disappointing. “It’s unbelievable. That was really, really tough at the time, to lose the win.” The victory, on a rollercoaster afternoon of enthralling racing, was Hamilton’s third in four grands prix held in Austin and made the 30-year-old the first driver to win 10 or more races in successive seasons. He was also only the second Briton since Jackie Stewart in 1973 to win three titles. But for much of the race, on a drying track after torrential rain forced qualifying to be postponed from Saturday to Sunday morning, it had looked as if Hamilton would be kept waiting to realise his dream. He had seized the lead at the start from second place on the grid, banging wheels with Rosberg at the first corner and forcing his team mate wide and down to fourth place. Hamilton could not pull away from the chasing Red Bulls however, with Australian Daniel Ricciardo taking the lead with 15 laps gone and before drivers pitted from intermediate to slick tyres. The Briton then dropped down to fourth place, with Rosberg back in
the lead after 22 laps following the pitstops, but the first of two safety car deployments brought everything back into play. Rosberg was heading for victory when, seven laps from the end, he made an unforced error, ran wide at turn 12, and Hamilton — on fresher tyres after a later pitstop — seized his opportunity. Ricciardo had dropped back by then after colliding with the Force India of Nico Hulkenberg on a rare afternoon of mayhem with just 12 finishers. One of them was American Alexander Rossi, the first home driver to compete in a U.S. Grand Prix since 2007, in last place for Manor Marussia. There was also early carnage when the two Saubers collided in the Swiss team’s 400th race while the Williams of Felipe Massa spun after a coming together with Fernando Alonso’s McLaren. Russian Daniil Kvyat, who had also challenged for the lead in the early stages, brought out the crucial second safety car when he lost control and slewed across the track and into the barriers on the 43rd lap. That gave Hamilton the chance to close right up and pounce when Rosberg erred. Dutch teenage rookie Max Verstappen was fourth for Toro Rosso after a lively battle against both Ferrari drivers and Mexican Sergio Perez, whose country returns to the calendar for the first time in 23 years next weekend, was fifth for Force India. Britain’s Jenson Button produced some much-needed points for McLaren in sixth.
Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the U.S. F1 Grand Prix as teammate Nico Rosberg of Germany applauds at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas October 25, 2015. (Reuters/Adrees Latif)
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Sharapova delights at gutsy win on return from layoff
Maria Sharapova of Russia serves to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their women’s singles tennis match of the WTA Finals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium October 25, 2015. (Reuters/Edgar Su -) SINGAPORE (Reuters) Maria Sharapova had not completed a match since losing at Wimbledon in July, so the Russian was naturally thrilled to emerge with a victory at the WTA finals on Sunday after taking time to heal from a number of ailments. The world number three skipped the U.S. Open in September with a leg strain and aborted a comeback bid in Wuhan at the end of last month in the hope of being fit for the elite eight-woman event. Her patience paid off with a typical gritty win. Shaking off rust took a little time in her opening Red Group encounter against Agnieszka Radwanska and despite dropping the first set, Sharapova raised her intensity levels enough to grind out a gutsy 4-6 6-3 6-4 triumph. “Well, I haven’t completed a match since July, so I think it’s always challenging to come back from not one injury, but a few,” Sharapova told reporters after surviving a two hour, 48 minute marathon against the tenacious Pole. “I’ve had a lot of starts and stops and I was just really thrilled that despite not playing these last few months and not playing my best tennis, I was facing an opponent that obviously deserved a spot in tournament. “I just felt like I was able to take myself to another level physically, which I didn’t exactly expect that I would be able to. So I think that was the emotion that I felt out of it.” Facing off against a player
renowned for her incredible retrieving skills was always likely to be a stamina-sapping test, so Sharapova was impressed by her ability to stay consistent as the clock ticked towards the three hour mark. “I thought it was a very physical match. I think this court requires all the matches to be. I think it’s on the slower side... points are longer,” the 28-year-old said of the Singapore Indoor Stadium surface. “It suits her game quite well. The ball stays low and she can take it quite early and change direction,” she added. “We had quite a bit of long rallies. There was a lot
of running. Right now I feel good. Toes are a little frozen but other than that I’m fine.” One facet of her game that Sharapova needs to work on is cutting down unforced errors when the finishing line is in sight after Radwanska fought back from 5-2 down in the decider to almost level the scores as the Russian wobbled. “I felt like my feet were glued on the ground and I wasn’t making the small steps to the ball,” she admitted. “I wanted to get a free point, go for a big first serve, a big first ball and that’s just not... obviously I had to learn from the whole match that was just not very possible.”
GCB/Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One Cricket…
Sewkarran all-round magnificence too good for Cotton Tree Primary A magnificent all-round performance from Eshan Sewkarran saw Blairmont Primary thrashing Cotton tree Primary by 86 runs in the second round of the GCB/ Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One Cricket on Friday. Taking first strike, Blairmont Primary amassed 161-1 in their 14 overs; Sewkarran smashed 82 which included four fours and five sixes while Jaheim Elgin contributed 36. Cotton Tree were bowled out for a paltry 75 with Sewkarran taking 4-3. At All Saints ground in the New Amsterdam/Canje District, St Theresa’s Primary won the toss and inserted All Saints who made good use of the opportunity scoring 126-6 in 14 overs. Deron DeJonge top scored with 38 while Nicquan Samuels made 34. In reply, St Theresa’s were limited to 117-11. St Theresa’s requiring 10 runs off the final over for victory were denied by Donald Mc Celennon who bowled a maiden and took three wickets in the process to finish with terrific figures of 3-0 and spark wild celebrations by the home team. The next matchup of the Competition will be between North Georgetown and St. Agnes on Wednesday at the National Racquet Centre.
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Kaieteur News
Nat’l Sports Commission unveils portrait of former boxing icon Cliff Anderson
Monday October 26, 2015
Rain washes out fourth day’s play in Colombo
A steady drizzle kept the groundstaff busy. (AFP) Director of Sports, Christopher Jones and Clive Atwell unveil Cliff’s portrait. It might not be a majestic piece of architecture but the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, was renamed in honour of a great Guyanese icon whose contributions in the fistic sport of boxing still remains unmatched. As a matter of fact, that edifice, once just known as the National Sports Hall, was christened with its present tab in 1987 while Mr. Anderson was still alive and able to appreciate its significance. Cliff, as he was fondly called by even the smallest child, has since died but the CASH remains as homage to the man that has contributed to sports, but more particularly boxing. But even amidst the fact that the CASH was of immense significance, Cliff’s portrait was glaringly missing from its wall. Last Thursday evening, the day when Cliff would have celebrated his 94th birth anniversary, this anomaly was corrected when Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, visited the Homestretch Avenue based building and unveiled a huge plaque of the late Guyanese hero. The plaque, a life sized figure of the late boxer sitting with a walking stick, which he was forced to use during the latter years, and wearing a pair of darkened spectacles, is mounted on the southern wall just by the main entrance for all to see. The dark shades was also a regular part of his garb since he had gone blind years before he died. Mr. Jones said that the gesture was a part of the developmental strategy of the National Sports Commission to recognize local sports persons. He said that the gesture marked the beginning f many others and officials of the NSC are contemplating a similar gesture for Guyana’s first female world (boxing) champion, Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil. He promised
that this would be realized soon. Meanwhile, world rated fighter, Clive Atwell, accompanied Mr. Jones to the function and hailed the project as heartening. “It gives me hope that I am not aimlessly performing service to my country but that one day I can receive similar commendation,” exhorted Atwell as he helped to unveil the portrait. Cliff rose to fame way back in the late sixties when he opposed British fighter, Al ‘The Algate Tiger’ Phillips in his own backyard and pummeled him into submission yet failed to gain the judges’ nod. Nevertheless, he returned to Guyana to a hero’s welcome and was dubbed the uncrowned champion. Cliff retired from the sport in 1954 and returned back home from the United Kingdom in 1974 where he started a boxing programme under the now defunct, National Sport s Development Council (NSDC), visiting several city schools and tutoring students in the finer arts of the sport. He eventually commissioned the Cliff Anderson Boxing Gym, first at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School before moving over to the East Ruimveldt Secondary. The gym eventually found a permanent home at the very building now christened in his honour. Cliff has produced, tutored or played important roles in the lives of a plethora of local boxers some of whom went on to national and international acclaim. Some of the boxers that came out of Cliff’s stable include Earl Green, Anthony Andrew, Ceon Bristol, Michael Benjamin, Wayne Briggs and a host of others too numerous to mention. Cliff’s efforts at nation building through sports were recognized and rewarded when he had the Medal of Service bestowed upon him during the 1987 Investiture Ceremony. (Michael Benjamin)
Garraway’s all round efforts take VP to Victory in Canada
Trevon Garraway
Guyanese fast bowling all-rounder Trevon Garraway took 2-31 before returning with the bat to score 46 to help his Canadian club Victoria Park beat Ontario Cricket Association in six-wicket win in Canada’s premiership 50 overs division. OCA won the toss and made 143 all out with Shiv Shivram top scoring with 60. Siddhart Patel took 3-20 and Garraway 2-31 for Victoria Park CC who reached 144-4 with Garraway (46), Anand Erramilli (34) and Yug Rao (29) leading their team to victory.
The 31-year-old Garraway, who has played 12 First-Class matches for Guyana, said he has been having a good season in Canada and was very comfortable at the club. “Won the premiership division last year against Mississauga Ramblers when Guyanese Eugene LaFleur made 76 and grabbed fivewickets Anthony De’Andre also made 20 odd and I made 54,” Garraway, who hails from Suddie on the Essequibo Coast, informed. (Sean Devers)
(Reuters) - The fourth day’s play in the second and final test between Sri Lanka and West Indies was washed out due to persistent rain on Sunday. West Indies will resume their second innings on 20 for one on the final day and need another 224 runs for a series-levelling win after the hosts won the first test in Galle by an innings and six runs. Shai Hope (17) was unbeaten overnight after his opening partner Kraigg Brathwaite (three) fell lbw to paceman Dhammika Prasad
on the final delivery of the second session on Saturday before rain washed out the entire final session. The ground at the P Sara Oval remained covered with Colombo receiving heavy overnight rain and more showers during the day. The umpires made a couple of inspections during the day and finally called off play shortly after the scheduled tea break. Scores: West Indies 20 for 1 and 163 need another 224 runs to beat Sri Lanka 200 and 206.
Tropical Springs Water onboard for ECDCA U19 tourney
ECDCA Competitions Committee Chairman Anil Persaud (right) accepts the sponsorship cheque from Rajindra Jhun of Tropical Springs Water in the presence of other officials of the ECDCA. Tropical Springs Purified Water has partnered with the East Coast Demerara Cricket Association (ECDCA) for the staging of an U19 40-over tournament. The competition was launched at Ogle Community Centre. The tournament also commenced yesterday and the teams battling for supremacy are Ogle, Better Hope, Lusignan, Enterprise, Golden Achievers, Strathaven, Fairfield, Calcutta and Unity. The semi finals and final
will be played under lights at Demerara Cricket Ground. The winning and runner up teams, MVP and man of the match in the final and other outstanding performers will be rewarded. Speaking at the ceremony Rajindra Jhun of Tropical Springs Water thanked the ECDCA for having them onboard adding that they are pleased to be part of the development of the game in the area. Secretary of the ECDCA Jitlall Jowharilall expressed
gratitude to the company for their backing. He stated that the competition will help the association to select the area U19 team for the Demerara Cricket Board interassociation competition and give the players an opportunity to showcase their talent. Vice President Ashmul Ali said they delighted to have such a tournament. The Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association has also thrown their support behind the competition.