Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

Local Democracy in Guyana is sheer talks DEAR EDITOR, The Local Democracy in Guyana is sheer talks, and not based in reality. It is evident that the PPP has failed to implement systems of independent governance, within the local government authority area, which would have given the people in their communities the financial power and knowledge to manage their own affairs.

The 1980 Constitution of Guyana has decentralized the power of the state, when it established the ten Regional Democratic Councils as the

highest constitutionally elected local government authority for the respective regions. The constitution has divided our country into 10 elected administrative regions, which hold the power to govern, but these regions have been powerless because parliament has never given the RDC the power to raise their own revenues and to dispose of them for the benefit and welfare of their areas. This was deliberately done by the PPP so they can hold on to power in the regions.

Why not ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage?

DEAR EDITOR, There continues to be a Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, and the celebration of an Amerindian heritage. Yet only recently a Guyana delegation to the relevant UN body was careful to pronounce only on the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. And rightly so – simply because the Constitution of Guyana provides only for the definition of Indigenous Peoples.

Interestingly we insist on transgressing the provision of the Constitution at home by, for example, referring to the ‘Amerindian Development Fund’; while pretending of its recognition abroad.

It is not inappropriate therefore at this time of celebration to bring attention to the attached extract from the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 2001 on “The Indigenous Peoples Commission” which should speak for itself.

The Constitution does not appear to allow for two definitions. i.e. ‘Indigenous Peoples’ and ‘Amerindians’.

E.B. John

It is a serious shame...

From page 4 fashion. Jagdeo will not go from president to rags, not with what he has earned, the pension he will receive and his lucrative job opportunities. It is the people of Guyana who will go from rags to even more rags with this kind of highway robbery in the presidential pension package passed by the PPP. Jagdeo will go from President to Sultan with this package.

The US president does not get such a pension package and he is the president of the most powerful nation on the planet.

The arrogance of this package is a reflection of the mentality of those who passed it. This is all about bullyism, insolence, intimidation and entitlement.

M. Maxwell

The 1980 Constitution removed the power of the local government minister over local government organs making the Minister more a provider not a director. The constitution orders parliament to provide for local democratic organs to be autonomous and take decisions which are binding upon their agencies and institutions on the communities and citizens of their areas.

The Minister of Local Government, who is the appointed by the President, holds the power and authority for his Ministry by the constitution, but not for elected local government authority.

The Minister keeps making huge mistakes because of the greed for political power. Act 12 of 1980 is crafted in such a way to incorporate other local government laws, but some of these old laws can be declared unconstitutional by the court. One such law is the power of the Minister in 28:02 which should not be enforced. This law gives the Minister the power to bypass the RDCs and give directives to any lower tier local government authority, which is a breach of the regional local democracy system of governance.

All delegation of power or authority by parliament should be delegated to the regional democratic councils, section 10 of Act 12 of 1980.

Now the dictatorship laws are in the hands of the PPP who had complained and fought against these same laws and the 1980 constitution, which they call a fraud against the people.

The people of this country elected the

government and gave them the power and money to manage and develop our country, but we end up with a designer of systems and policies which take away the power and money of the people. They used these powers and moneys to oppress the people who employed them to manage and protect their constitutional rights.

They keep crafting dishonest political systems by the creation of new laws.

In 2001 they took away the power of the RDCs to elect 10 members of parliament, and put it in the hands of political parties and called them representatives of geographical constituencies.

These members basically take their directives from the political party and not the regional government. They are not members of the regional governments and there is no law linking them with the Regional Democratic Councils of the regions, so who they are really representing?

The appointment of Regional Executive Officers who are candidates or members of the ruling party is another breach of local democracy. The PPP never established a local government commission. The reason for doing this is to hold on to the power to appoint the REO and staff so they can give the office to the members who were on the candidate list in order to have control over the regional government.

They also ensured that they did not update section 117 of Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District

Councils Act. The council has no power to appoint, confirm or to carry out disciplinary action against any officer without the approval of the Minister, so some of the officers do as they please and pretend to central government that they are working in the interest of the people. In the PPP’s fight to control the regional government, they had also introduced the Financial Management and Accountability Act of 2003 into the regional government system, in which the finance secretary uses the power to bypass the council and give the REO the financial power of the region.

The Tender Board and Procurement Act of 2003 also gives the REO chairmanship of the Tender Board for the region so he holds four offices - Clerk of the RDC, Regional Executive Officer, Treasurer and Chairman of the Tender Board. This is in breach of section 74 of Chapter 28:01.

There is no part of the Local Democratic Organs Act or other laws that govern local government authorities that gives one officer all that power. No international accounting standard system that I know of permits such power in one man’s hands.

Many of our old and new laws are now inconsistent with our Constitution that establishes local government’s authority.

Because of such failure to update these laws and systems for appointment, the whole local government system is failing, but no one in legal authority is looking

at these breaches that force dictatorship policies on the people.

Another flaw in the system of local democracy is that some councillors who are elected have limited or no knowledge of the laws and systems that govern local government authority and some who may have the knowledge turn a blind eye to the wrongs of central government when they violate the constitutional rights of the people.

How could a country have democracy when the councillors are not paid a just remuneration to perform their duties? There is no incentive for councillors to work other than their own will to do so.

Is it fair to pay members of parliament who make laws and policies and at the same time be unjust to the RDC and NDC councilors who have to implement those laws and policies?

As a former RDC councillor, I cannot understand why the RDC has no say in the preparations of local government elections when the RDC is the representative of lower tier local government authority of the respective regions.

If each region had the power of the Minister they could have held the local government elections every three years.

Michael Carrington AFC Executive Member

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Kaieteur News

C’tyne man before judge and jury for having sex with minor The trial of Steven Alert, who is accused of having sex with a girl under 15 years of age, has begun in the Berbice High Court before Justice James Bovell Drakes and a jury.

Alert, charged with carnal knowledge, is alleged to have committed the act on the minor on March 3rd, 2009.

Giving a background to the case, State Prosecutor Rhondel Weever disclosed that on the day of the incident, the virtual complainant who was 14years-old at the time, was living with her mother, brothers and sister in Corentyne, Berbice. The accused lived in the said community and had shared a common law relationship with a relative of the girl.

On March 3, 2009, at about midday, the virtual complainant was at home

with her younger sibling.

Alert subsequently sent the sibling out on an errand.

The accused then sent the VC to one of the bedrooms to get the pillow and sheet. While she was in the process of getting the things, the accused followed her and threw her on a bed and had sexual intercourse with her. The matter was reported to a relative and the alleged victim was taken to the Number 51 Police Station, where a report was made. She was then taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where a medical examination was also conducted.

The Prosecutor, in her case, said that the complainant was 14-yearsold, which meant that under the law, she is incapable of giving consent to sexual intercourse.

So far, four witnesses

have testified including the alleged victim, her mother, and police ranks, including Sergeant Vilma Saul and Detective Corporal Rosanne Frank.

Corporal Frank had testified that the accused had chosen to give a written statement which he asked her to write.

He said that the matter was not one of forced sex but rather that the teen made advances on him. He said that during sex, the teen started crying and later went outside where she complained to her aunt. The accused was later taken to the police station.

Alert, in the statement, also said that he was sorry for what happened.

However, he later denied what was written. However, the court was told that he signed the statement.

The matter is continuing.

US-based Guyanese nabbed at CJIA with ‘twa twa’ birds in crotch A US-based Guyanese caught with three “twa twa” birds in his pants crotch at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 by Magistrate Faith McGusty after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Shivastil Ramrattan admitted to attempting to smuggle the exotic creatures.

Ramrattan, a 22-year-old resident of Corentyne, Berbice, and Queens, New

York, explained that the birds which were found hidden in his crotch are pets that he wished to transport abroad.

According to information, on September 3rd, Ramrattan was an outgoing passenger scheduled to board a flight to New York, when he was intercepted by police ranks stationed at CJIA after they noticed his clothes appeared bulky.

A pat search which was conducted by a female officer, resulted in the discovery of the birds found concealed in

Wednesday September 05, 2012

DPP still studying file on baby’s death at day care The police are still awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the incident which resulted in the death of a two month-old baby, Baquan Shepherd, at a Kitty day care.

Yesterday, Commander of ‘A’ Division, George Vyphuis, said that the police had concluded their investigations, and a file was sent to the DPP’s office. He, however, noted that the file was sent back to the police for some clarification. This was done and the file was resubmitted to the DPP. Kaieteur News understands that the twomonth-old was discovered dead around 16:30 hrs on July 9th last.

The baby’s father had told Kaieteur News that the baby and another son, aged 22 months, had been attending the day care centre for some time.

Around 08:30 hrs on the day in question, the man and his fiancée dropped the two children off at the establishment. The toddler was discovered dead only when the man returned to uplift his children.

“I picked up the first child

Dead: Baquan Shepherd and his older brother (the elder brother) and was waiting for my fiancée to pick up the other, when the lady (at the day care centre) tell me that we have to take the child to the hospital.”

He said that on checking the child, he observed that the baby was motionless, his lips were ‘blue’ and the skin was discoloured.

The couple rushed the

baby to a private hospital, “but by then he was already gone”, he said.

According to the father, a staffer at the day care centre said that she had fed the child around 11:00 hrs yesterday and that he had slept from then to 16:00 hrs.

A post mortem revealed that the baby died as a result of bronchial aspiration.

One month after operating theatre refurbished…

GPHC delivers 75 births via C-section By: Romila Boodram

Accused bird smuggler: Shivastil Ramrattan three hair curlers in the defendants crotch.

Ramrattan was cautioned and told of the offence. He was immediately taken into custody and later charged for attempting to export species of birds which require protection in Guyana.

Since being refurbished and placed back into operation, the Maternity Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has seen over 74 births via caesarean section, including one case of a triplet.

This is according to the ward’s Senior Departmental Supervisor, Sister June Cato, during an interview yesterday with this newspaper.

Sister Cato said that the operating theatre which was commissioned on August 03 last, was always on the unit prior to last month, but it was

not functioning.

She stressed that having an operating theatre which is functional was always important, for since previously, patients would have had to be taken to another operating theatre located in another building.

When faced with the question whether the theatre will reduce the number of maternal deaths, she responded in the positive, saying that previously it was time consuming when a patient had to be transferred to the opposite building to have their surgery done.

“You have a patient, you have an emergency, so the shortest possible time to get her to the theatre will determine the outcome and with this new theatre, time is being reduced significantly because you only have to move the patient from their bed to the operating room rather than waiting on ambulance and sometimes, when you reach to the other building, you don’t have immediate access to an operating room,” the

Sister June Cato Departmental Supervisor said.

She stressed that since the theatre is operating, the hospital only experienced one maternal death which was on August 9th, when 22year-old immigration officer, Omadara Anthony, died after giving birth to a healthy baby.

Sister Cato further stressed that plans are in the pipeline to improve the services offered at the unit.

“We provide workshops where our nurses and midwives are being trained to interact with the public and patients positively.”

She is also encouraging her staff to be courteous with the patients and make them feel comfortable, even if they have to go the extra mile.

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

UN chief: Both sides in Syria violating rights UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused both the Syrian government and the opposition yesterday of large-scale human rights violations, including torturing and reportedly executing prisoners and failing to protect civilians fleeing the war-ravaged country in record numbers.

In an address to the U.N. General Assembly, Ban demanded that those responsible for violating international humanitarian and human rights laws be held accountable.

The U.N. chief went before the 193-nation world body to report on the intensifying conflict which he said has taken “a particularly brutal turn.” He warned that “the entire region is being engulfed by the complex dynamics of the conflict.”

Activists say the civil war has claimed between 23,000 and 26,000 lives.

The U.N. refugee agency said yesterday that more than 100,000 Syrians fled their country in August, the

Ban Ki-moon highest monthly total since the crisis began in March 2011. A total of 234,368 Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries in the past 17 months, the agency said.

Ban said more than 2.5 million people inside Syria need assistance, along with those who have fled to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. He urged donors to come forward, saying the U.N. appeal for $180 million is only half-funded.

The U.N. chief accused Syrian forces of indiscriminately shelling

Suicide bomber kills 25 at Afghan funeral (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens at a funeral in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, officials said, the latest large-scale attack on civilians.

A local district chief and dozens of his relatives were at the ceremony in the Dur Baba district of Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border, when a man detonated a vest he was wearing packed with explosives, the officials said.

They said Dur Baba district chief Haji Hamesha Gul, who was wounded in the attack, was probably the main target.

“My brother saw the bomber and grabbed him just as he pushed the button, killing him and many others,” Gul told Reuters from a hospital bed in Jalalabad, Nangarhar’s capital.

The provincial governor’s spokesman, Ahmadzia Abdulzai, said the attack was aimed at Gul and his supporters because they had recently opposed insurgents in the area.

The funeral was for one of Gul’s relatives.

“We have at least 25 innocent people martyred and around 65 others wounded,” Abdulzai said. NATO also put the death toll at 25, but said more than 50 were people wounded. The Interior Ministry blamed Taliban insurgents for the bombing.

President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the victims’ families, he said in a statement.

Despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of Afghan and foreign troops fighting the Taliban-led insurgency, violence is at its worst since the Islamists were toppled by Afghan and U.S. forces in late 2001, five years after they took power.

densely populated areas with heavy weapons, tanks and military aircraft and urged both sides — but especially President Bashar Assad’s government — to end the fighting. Ban lamented that civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence, saying even people in bread lines have been attacked.

“Prisoners on both sides are subject to harsh treatment and, often, torture,” he said.

“There have been alarming reports of summary executions on both sides.”

He added, “government forces and the armed opposition have clearly failed to protect civilians and respect the rules of international humanitarian law.”

The U.N. chief urged the world to unite behind a plan to end the conflict. Missing in all international initiatives so far, Ban said, “is a unity of effort that will have an impact on the ground.”

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Scotland paves way for vote on independence from Britain (Reuters) - Scotland will introduce a bill within nine months on holding a referendum on independence, First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday, paving the way for a vote that could result in the eventual breakup of Britain.

Salmond, aiming to end the 305-year-old union with England, wants a vote on independence in the second half of 2014, though he has yet to thrash out an agreement with the United Kingdom government in London on how the question will be worded.

“Work will get under way in earnest on the Referendum Bill, laying the groundwork for Scotland’s most important decision in 300 years,” Salmond, who leads the Scottish National Party, told the opening session of the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh.

A Scottish vote for

Alex Salmond independence would undermine the foundations of modern Britain which comprises England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland and Britain make up the United Kingdom.

Salmond, a former economist, said he expected to complete talks on details of the referendum with Prime Minister David Cameron

within a few weeks.

He said the Referendum Bill - the first legislative step towards a vote - would be introduced in the current parliamentary year, which in Scotland ends in May or June.

It will say who is qualified to vote, and will spell out the question or questions that Scots will be asked and deal with procedural issues such as how the votes will be counted.

Salmond would like to include a third option to give Scotland added powers in the event of a vote against independence, but the government in London wants a straight “yes” or “no” vote on independence.

His party won a majority in Scottish elections last year and under the devolved system of government, the Scottish parliament has control over health, education and prisons. Scotland also has its own legal system.

Democratic National Convention

Harry Reid slams Romney as most secretive presidential nominee in modern history CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last night, lambasted Mitt Romney for refusing to release several years of tax returns, suggesting that no other presidential candidate in modern history has been as secretive.

“Never in modern American history has a presidential candidate tried so hard to hide himself,” Reid said in his speech at the Democratic National Convention.

The Nevada senator said

Romney has asked the country to “take his word” that there are no damaging revelations in his tax returns.

“Take his word? His word?”

Reid said sarcastically. “Trust comes from transparency and Mitt Romney comes up short on both.”

Reid’s attacks came just weeks after he took to the Senate floor and accused Romney of not having paid taxes at all for the last decade.

The Democratic leader cited a source close to Romney

whom he wouldn’t identify.

Romney has denied Reid’s accusations. Reid sought to contrast Romney with President Barack Obama, telling the crowd, “You know him.” He praised Obama for bringing “courage and character” to the presidency and for doing the “right thing” even in the face of GOP opposition.

In a dig at Romney, Reid praised Obama for bailing out the Detroit auto industry—a move Romney opposed. And Reid claimed “some said he

shouldn’t move heaven and earth” to find and kill Osama bin Laden. But Obama did, he said.

He cast Obama as a president hobbled by Republicans—whom he described as “naysayers” who embrace “couldn’ts and shouldn’ts.”

The Republican Party, Reid said, has become the party of the “wouldn’ts and won’ts,” doing anything to block Obama instead of working together with Democrats on behalf of the country.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 05, 2012

CXC defends integrity Workers at T&T owned oil company on strike of exam results

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC - Registrar of the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr. Didacus Jules has defended the integrity of the regional examinations after a Jamaican newspaper carried an article that unscrupulous people were selling doctored preliminary results slips on the streets of the capital.

The Gleaner newspaper said during an undercover operation, one of its reporters contacted one of the scammers and purchased a grade one in the CXC’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics exam for J$12,000 (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.04 cents).

But in a statement, Jules warned buyers that the “presentation of these certificates could result in criminal charges being brought against the holders of the fraudulent results”.

“Each participating territory has legislation in place to prosecute persons suspected of fraudulent activities in respect of CXC examinations,” he added.

The CXC Act states that anyone found guilty of examination fraud “shall be liable on summary conviction

Dr. Didacus Jules in a resident magistrate’s court to a fine not exceeding J$2,000 or in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months”.

Section 6 subsection two of the act stipulates that a person commits an examination fraud if he, whether by himself or in concert with others and whether as a candidate at an examination or otherwise, does anything in relation to an examination with the intention of falsifying the result of the examination.

“Without prejudice to any other form of proof, evidence of examination fraud may include … the act of forging, with intent to defraud or deceive,

documents relating to access to an examination or to examination results, or the act of uttering any such document knowing it to be forged,” reads section 7 of the CXC Act. Jules said was he was confident that the holders of fraudulent CXC results slips would eventually be exposed when asked to present the official certificate or request transcripts directly from CXC. In his statement, he said that the preliminary results slips issued to candidates immediately after the results are released were not the final authority on CXC grades.

“It is not, and I repeat, it is not the official certificate candidates receive from CXC,” he said, as he assured regional candidates that the CXC database is very well protected.

“CXC encourages employers and tertiary institutions to require applicants to request transcripts to be sent directly to them from CXC. CXC does not issue transcripts to individuals.

“We wish to assure the region of the integrity of our exam processing system and the security of our official certificate,” said Jules.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - Long lines were being formed outside gas stations here yesterday as motorists sought to purchase petrol after the powerful Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) said it had forced a shutdown of the operations of the state-owned PETROTRIN oil refinery.

“Contrary to what has been put out by the management, as we speak, the entire PETROTRIN operation is down.

The producing fields, the marine operations and also the entire refinery…is down and therefore the refinery is non-functional,” said OWTU president general Ancel Roget.

Roget said workers downed tools over the weekend because Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine had announced at a postCabinet briefing that Cabinet had decided to grant a licence to a local operative, a

subsidiary of Bunkering International, to run a major bunkering facility in Trinidad and Tobago waters.

He said the workers also were angry that the company had reneged on a promise in February to pay them their variable pay and also to fill 500 vacancies. Roget called on the government to publicly state the names of the owners of the company, adding “we have been doing some research and we can find no local ownership, no names of this company they have granted the licence to”.

The OWTU said it is concerned that the bunkering company could milk millions of dollars from the state owned oil company.

Roget warned motorists that “as the time wears on, this situation will be further compounded”, adding that the union would be meeting with Ramnarine to discuss the

Ancel Roget matter.

“Whether workers go back to work or not, we cannot guarantee the type of stability that is required for the level of productivity to take the company forward,” Roget told reporters on Monday night, adding “the onus is on the management part, on the part of board of directors and part of Cabinet and Government to procure a particular climate to ensure that stability and industrial peace are maintained”.

Debating C’bean low economic growth PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC - A two-day high level forum discussing low growth and high debt in the Caribbean began yesterday with a senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) official indicating that the event provides an opportunity for getting to the root of why growth has been elusive in the region.

The conference is being attended by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) finance ministers, central bank governors from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean.

The Washington-based financial institution said that the forum “aims to further the debate on economic policy in the Caribbean and challenges in a regional context.

“It will discuss lessons from the past and develop concrete proposals for how to tackle these daunting challenges more decisively”.

IMF Deputy Managing Director, Min Zhu, said the two-day event here provides the opportunity to exchange views on how the Caribbean is navigating the current global economic crisis.

“Downside risks continue to be high, reflecting delayed or insufficient policy action, including in the Euro-zone and the United States. In

addition growth prospects in emerging market countries have weakened and commodity exporters are vulnerable to declining prices,” said Zhu, a former deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China.

He told the opening ceremony that with food prices on the rise, this could be a substantial challenge to the region, given its high dependence on global markets for food as well as the large share of food in final consumption.

The IMF official said that the funding agency hopes to hear the views of those responsible for the economies in the region.

President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CBD), Dr. Warren Smith said the Caribbean needs fresh ideas and novel approaches to its future socio-economic development.

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

THE AMERICAN ELECTION

The race for the White House is in full steam. At this stage the polls are not overwhelmingly favoring anyone but the Republicans are in a jubilant mood.

They have a nominee for the President and he has a running mate who has some admiration for the founder of the philosophy objectivism.

When selecting the running mate, careful checks would have been made about the person’s background and his philosophy.

As such, the Republicans would have known about the admiration by the running mate for Ayn Rand. They may have even deliberately selected the individual because of this fact even though he has said that he rejects the philosophy of objectivism. The tag will be hard to lose.

Objectivism had its heyday in the seventies and early eighties when the Russians seemed to have been getting the better of the Cold War and a philosophical approach was needed to bolster the arguments in favor of a system that favored the

free will of individuals, and which balked at collectivism.

Objectivism was in direct opposition to collectivism. As such it was tailor-made for the capitalist system since it emphasized the encouragement of the individual and deemphasized the collective good.

Objectivism was therefore consistent with capitalism. It held that early man’s ability to survive his harsh physical environment depended on the use of his wits. Man’s mind was his only weapon.

Through the use of his mind, man was able to develop the means to survive and subsequently to have the better of nature.

Man used his mind to develop the means to survive.

Behind every great invention stood the individual. In other words, it is individual geniuses that created the inventions that have allowed mankind to progress.

In fact, some objectivists go as far as contenting that every single invention that has brought about human progress was the product of human individuality and the

power of the mind and every single invention was initially opposed or looked upon with suspicion and reservation by society.

Since objectivism holds that it is the human intellect that is responsible for all the great achievements of man, objectivism promotes individual liberty unhindered from external influences such as religion and those ideologies that promoted the collective good.

Objectivism rejects collectivism and argues that persons should pursue their own self interest rather than be tied down with acting in the interests of others.

From this basis, it is easy to see how objectivism can be naturally associated with the spirit of capitalism. It celebrates meritocracy and argues for the pursuit of the individual good, not unlike capitalism which urges the pursuit of the private good.

Objectivism has now gone out of fashion and it is not likely to be resurrected. It is not even likely to be an issue in this year’s election but one can see the outlines of the

Dem boys seh

Ganda Gopaul seh that a President must grab When bull start fuh slow down in de rice field de farmer does prod he by giving he a jook. Dem boys been giving Uncle Donald some jook so that he can open he eye and watch wha going on around he but all de man doing is rolling over and grunting.

De man sleeping all de time even when he eye open.

Dem boys see nuff things going on and at first dem whisper, then dem shout, and recently de start fuh jook he.

But nutten ain’t happening.

One man claim how Uncle Donald get accustom to de jooking that he does only giggle.

Now dem boys decide fuh target Uncle Donald Bees— he brain, he belly and he b— ls because dem got to tickle and that might help. He brains inside and he belly deh in and out.

De other Bee? Dem boys want to know if he really got any because some of de things that pass by want to prove otherwise.

Imagine he got a Minister who mek a big claim that every President got a right to fortify heself because no President must move from President to rags.

This Minister Ganda Gopaul actually telling de whole world that a President must thief all he could so that he can’t get poor when he come out of office. Bharrat

Jagdeo ain’t only fortify heself; he fortify he generation and even dem to come. He mek sure that even if he live ten lifetimes he can never be poor.

And Uncle Donald sit down and all this happening.

He got to be sleeping suh

dem boys gun tickle he brains, he belly and he b—ls because he got to do something. All this thiefing and he ain’t seh nutten and he still expect dem boys fuh sit back and tek life easy.

Talk half and tickle Uncle Donald

campaign strategy by the Republicans who will contrast their own candidate’s outlook with that of the sitting president who some had described as being a socialist.

In short the Republican strategy will be about asking the American people whether they wanted a collectivist president or someone who believes in the system upon which their great nation was built, individual freedom.

The Republicans will campaign in these last months before the elections on the basis that what is needed to restore the American economy is support for the spirit of capitalism or in other words support for big business. What is not needed, they will urge, are measures that will divert important resources towards welfare goals that are not productive.

In short they will argue that the emphasis on social welfare which the Democrats will likely campaign on conflicts with the inherent nature of capitalism which is to promote private good because it is only through the promotion of private good that American will once again emerge as a great nation.

Obama’s traditional strategy and the one that won him the election four years ago was to try to embrace positions that found the greatest support.

He may once again go for a strategy of supporting those things that have the greatest support amongst the American people. In other words, it will be the typical middle-of-the-road strategy.

Unfortunately this will not work even though the Democrats are likely to rally once again behind him. He will find it a tough job to be reelected to the presidency.

Some will argue that given the problems that he inherited, these problems could not be fixed in one term.

No one can dispute this fact.

Obama was saddled with finding a solution to America’s worst crisis, one that had global effects.

He was saddled with foreign wars which he did not launch and which he did not end immediately. And then out of nowhere his foreign

Page 9

policy priorities shifted because of unexpected developments in the Middle East.

The American people will be conscious that Obama was faced with great difficulties.

The will applaud his revolutionary health care bill.

But they also would have expected more and better from him.

They had expected him to be far less cautious and to be more aggressive on the economic front. That he was timid economically cost him the mid-term Congressional elections and this was an effective vote of noconfidence.

He will not recover from that loss. Middle of the road policies has not saved him and will not save him. His goose is already cooked. He will be a one term president.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 05, 2012

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

One of the most fascinating ventures in psychology would be to look inside the mind of the collective leadership of the major opposition party, the People’s National Congress.

One reduces oneself to a circus clown if one denies that our two major political parties, the PPP and the PNC, draw their essential support from ethnic constituencies. Of course, the PNC is the one that has nothing to gloat about.

It has lost every national election since 1992, making it five in a row.

It has to be one of the most intriguing studies in political psychology to understand how the leadership of that party feels after losing five national elections and what it tells itself and its supporters. Of course, this writer speaks quite often to the embracers of the PNC though I hardly

interface with the hierarchy of the PNC. I can tell that hierarchy how the population feels about this continued loss. The curiosity is what types of reasoning come out of the mouths and minds of the PNC’s top brass when it meets the PNC folks around Guyana.

One fact the PNC pyramid cannot hide from its membership and sympathizers is that it is the only CARICOM party that has not been in government, either as sole winner or a coalition partner, for over twenty years.

The main opposition in Guyana has remained the main opposition for over two decades and this is the exception in the CARICOM region. There is talk that the PMN may beat Kamla in Trinidad the next time around.

There is no guarantee that Portia in Jamaica will win again.

So what does the PNC tell Guyanese when it meets them in the villages and towns and elsewhere in Guyana? It cannot be that it tells them that it will win the next election. But surely, there has to be something more uplifting than this jejune belief? But surely, the PNC cannot be serious to think that victory is guaranteed at the next poll.

On what premise is that judgment based? What about the possibility that after losing five consecutive elections, the support-base of the PNC (the next poll, APNU will be seen as the PNC because the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of APNU is the leader of the PNC; another name change may not work) may act on the belief that elections cannot bring the PNC to power, the PNC is happy to lose elections, elections have not changed their lot, and will

stay home or vote for a new Raphael Trotman The PNC lost five seats in 2006 because a substantial percentage of PNC voters chose Raphael Trotman who left the PNC in a bitter quarrel.

What happens in 2016 if there is another Raphael Trotman?

The name Nigel Hughes comes to mind. What guarantee the PNC has that far from winning the 2016 poll, it may see a repetition of losses that it endured in 2006?

The PNC’s dilemma is further compounded by the fact that under the Guyana Constitution, it won five successive regional elections in Region 4 and 10, yet those municipal authorities have been subordinate to central government. For example, in the 2012 budget, Region Four’s financial outlay was cut by the Ministry of Finance by 72 percent. The PNC then

is not only a perennial loser, but even when it wins it cannot deliver to its supporters.

What about these parishioners themselves?

What moral criterion do they use to criticize the rural East Indian for voting the PPP into power five times? If it is wrong for Indians to vote into power a corrupt, no-good party, why should African Guyanese persist with an organization that keeps losing? What then is the thinking of the PNC? We now enter the realm of the frightening. A situation and form of thinking that is so tragic that it is too horrible to even contemplate.

Is it possible that the PNC has reshaped its post-1992 psyche to accept itself as an opposition party? Surely, that cannot be the answer. If that was so then the PNC would not have subsumed itself

Frederick Kissoon under a brand new umbrella named APNU. The purpose of APNU was to market the PNC as a new configuration.

It didn’t work in terms of victory.

It worked in that more numbers from PNC constituencies turned out to vote and seats lost in 2006 were recaptured. But the possession of the Executive office eluded the PNC again; for the fifth time of course.

So where does the PNC go after another defeat (and another hollow victory in Region 4 and 10)? Maybe its supporters will decide that.

Tragedy strikes Berbice family as toddler drowns in drain

The drain in which Okeskia Thomas was found.

A 17-month-old toddler died tragically Monday after falling into a drain.

Dead is Okeskia Thomas called ‘Princess’ of Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, who lost her life by drowning.

Her father, Otheia Thomas, 23, was in police custody until 14:00 hrs yesterday assisting with the investigation. The baby’s mother, Nakaice Blair, was treated at New Amsterdam Hospital and sent to a relative’s home to rest.

When Kaieteur News visited the home of the family at Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue no one was available for a comment.

However, her paternal grandmother, Valarie Thomas,

said that her son, who is a carpenter, came from work around 17:30 hrs on Monday and was liming on the street.

His daughter, who was with her mother at a relative, on seeing her father ran out to meet him. He reportedly got distracted after meeting a friend. It is believed that at that point in time the little girl decided to return to her mother. It is believed that she slipped into the drain which is in front of the relative’s home.

Kaieteur News was told that a few minutes after, her mother, seeking the whereabouts of her child could find no signs of her. A frantic search was made and her father made the shocking discovery.

One neighbor said that the child’s body was still warm and CPR was administered by her father. A community police officer who was on the scene said she also assisted in giving CPR. A motorcycle was used to transport the child to the hospital since no taxis were available.

At the hospital, angry relatives said that if the doctor on duty had attended to the child immediately, she would have been alive. They claimed that the doctor took his own time to attend to the child.

The toddler is the only child of her parents who have been living together for a year now and were high school sweethearts.

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 11

City Hall strike action continues despite Burrowes’ appeals “There is an urgent need to build capacity to deal with white-collar crime,” said recently appointed Presidential Adviser on Financial Matters, Keith Burrowes, as he appealed yesterday morning to union representatives to bring an end to strike action at the Georgetown Municipality.

Burrowes was at the time meeting with President of the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU), Dale Beresford, and Field Officer attached to the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), Clarence Whitehead, at the Sleep Inn International Hotel, Brickdam, Georgetown. The meeting was also attended by a few officers of the municipality and took the form of a lengthy discussion, with Burrowes registering his disappointment that several measures he had recommended for the improved functioning of the municipality are yet to be implemented.

In highlighting the many concerns ranging from the deliberate efforts to keep municipal garbage trucks out of operation to blatant financial irregularities, Burrowes emphasised the need for stern action.

“We don’t have the kind of capacity we should have...The Criminal Investigation Department try as much as they could now and I am going to be sitting with them and the persons

assigned to support them to see if they have one wave length.”

In alluding to the tedious task of examining the municipal records, some of which cannot be justified to date, Burrowes stated his desire to see a change in the operation of the municipality even as he vowed to include the unions in any future deliberations.

He regarded failure to involve the unions from the inception as an oversight and appealed to the union representatives to bring an end to the strike actions which commenced last week Friday.

Beresford warned, however, that his union was not prepared to terminate the strike action since there are several matters of concerns that must be addressed urgently.

These, he said, includes the unprofessional attitude of the current Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, towards officers and is certainly not limited to the perpetual late payment of salaries.

He insisted that the union is very concerned about the continued move by the municipality to institute an officer deposit which is yet deducted in lieu of the National Insurance Scheme’s deduction.

According to Beresford, it is in fact an unacceptable move for the municipality to persist with this deduction since officers are unaware of

representatives said that they were unwilling to cease strike action. The GLGOU is tasked with representing municipal officers and the GLU represents the rank and file.

Burrowes, in his

continued mediatory endeavour attempted to forge agreement between the two union officials to halt the strike action. He insisted that he was capable to secure meetings between both the

Minister of Local Government and Sooba to iron out the concerns being faced at the municipality by the end of yesterday.

However, by early afternoon it was clear that no end to the strike action would have been possible since according to Beresford, a conciliation meeting which was scheduled to be held at the Ministry of Labour was postponed since the Acting Town Clerk who had organised it did not show up.

A subsequent meeting with Burrowes did not come off either.

“Our strike action will continue and as a matter of fact it will intensify,” said Beresford as he related that another meeting has been planned for tomorrow at the Ministry of Labour.

A businessman who is alleged to have attempted to pass some counterfeit US dollars on a city shop was yesterday placed on $150,000 bail after appearing in court.

Trevor Ollivierre was charged with the possession of forged currency notes and for attempting to use the fake notes to transact business. He was not required to plead to the indictable charges when he faced Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The incident which led to Ollivierre’s arrest occurred on August 30th.

It was reported that the

accused went to the business place of Julius Belgrave, a shop owner, in North Ruimveldt, posing as a genuine money changer and asked Belgrave to convert US$500 into local currency.

However, a suspicious Belgrave called in the police after he examined the notes, and thought they looked counterfeit. The accused was immediately arrested and charged.

Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-A-Fat, who represented Ollivierre, requested bail at a reasonable sum. He argued that his client poses no risk of flight since he is a businessman who operates several stalls at the Stabroek Market, most of which are owned by his mother.

The accused businessman will have to return to court on October 8th.

From left: Messrs Dale Beresford, Keith Burrowes and Clarence Whitehead the trail of the monies deducted from their salaries.

He disclosed too that the union is dismayed that officers are not compensated for acting appointments adding that several workers have not been eligible for confirmation for the past few years.

Also amplifying the “offensive approach” of the Acting Town Clerk to workers, Whitehead revealed yesterday that on several occasions attempts were made to seek audience with Sooba but to absolutely no avail.

Both union representatives insisted that the Acting Town Clerk has failed to respond or even acknowledge several pieces of correspondence sent to her office.

In light of their many concerns, the union

$5.6M bid opened for High Court’s surveillance cameras Under the Ministry of Housing and Water, nine bids were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday for the construction of roads, drains, structures and installation of pure water distribution network at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, Region Four. These bids were opened at the Ministry of Finance, Main Street.

With an Engineer’s Estimate of $59,262,775 the bids submitted are as follows:

Bids were also submitted for the Supreme Court of Judicature for the provision of security service:

Still in the Judicature sector, bids were opened for the installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Systems at Georgetown High Court. With an estimated cost of $3, 313,310, the bids were:

The National Communications Network (NCN) submitted tenders for the procurement of two TV broadcast compliance loggers for its Berbice and Linden Locations. However, no bids were received at NPTAB for the project.

Businessman nabbed with counterfeit US$$$

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Back to School…

How Lindeners feel about the new school term

By Enid Joaquin Schools have reopened on Monday across the country and save for a few delays, and for Linden, there has not been any major disruptions, For Lindeners, the events following the July 18th shootings which left three persons dead and a monthlong protest over hikes in electricity rates will remain etched in their minds for some time. The protests are over but several buildings, including the One Mile Primary School were burned, reportedly by arsonists.

Kaieteur News has spoken to a number of Lindeners who have shared their thoughts on the new school year in that Region 10 community. (Continued on page 21)

FNITA SMALL (COSMETOLOGIST) - I think everybody is happy that school is now reopening. My main concern, though, is these children, who go to school for regular sessions and then after school, they have their own ‘sessions’ out on the streets. This is a burning issue right now, and parents need to step up and take up their responsibility as parents, and pay more attention to their children. Too many of them are left to their own devices. I’m very concerned and saddened by this state of affairs. I come from the old school, and I believe in the maxim, that it takes a village to raise a child, so we also need to be our brothers’ keepers, and look out for each other’s children, pull them up when they’re doing wrong, and advise them. Too many people are afraid to speak out, but I for one will continue to speak out, I don’t care who don’t like it.

FLOYD MARTINDALE – (PROMOTER) - My main concern is the children that are left unattended at school, when teachers go off to University of Guyana. I think the Ministry of Education needs to look into this matter. They need to “shuffle” teachers attending UG because they are usually going during school time. Many times when you question your children about what they did at school for the day, they will tell you that they only did one or two subjects because “Miss’ had to go UG. And there is no one left there to fill the gap. Parents also need to spend more time helping their children at home.

ORPAH BOWEN – (MALALI RESIDENT) - It’s about six years now that Malali Primary School does not have a Head Teacher… we need one. We have about fifty students attending the school, and only three teachers. The one trained teacher is currently acting as Head Mistress. I think it’s about time the Ministry officials look into this, and provide a Head Mistress for the school, and more trained teachers, because our children are suffering, especially the Grade Six pupils.

KIM HOLLAND-HODGE (HOUSEWIFE) - What I’m most concerned about, at the beginning of this new school year, is the conditions that teachers are forced to live under at the Teachers Training College at Turkeyen. Conditions there are atrocious, and year after year it ain’t getting better. Students complain about the flooding- and this is not just hearsay, I have a relative there right now. The living conditions at this institution are certainly not conducive- the environment certainly leaves a lot to be desired. And the food-well that is another matter. All I can say in that regard is that better really needs to be done. The stipend that is given is also totally inadequate.

RENNIS MORIAN – (PASTOR, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT) I’m happy that school is now reopening. I support the work of the teachers and educators in Region 10. My concern is the paucity of administrative ability and knowledge in the regional administration. While the Regional Education Department is geared and ready to go; what is lacking in the regional administrative system is a cohesive team and a plan working for the development of Region 10.

We need an administration that is staffed with personnel with the prerequisite professional skills and abilities that are able to execute the education project in Region 10.

This must be done free from nepotism, favoritism and spite management or the delivery of education in the region will continue to suffer.

DESLYN BECKLES – (SCHOOL TEACHER) - I would like to see the Ministry put systems in place where they cater for the children. We have children with different learning abilities etc, so we need to set tasks that are reachable for them, because if we don’t we would only be frustrating those students.

RUBY BAKKER - (RETIRED HEADMISTRESS) - Parents will be affected right now, because of what happened recently with the shutdown; it’s going to be really hard on a lot of them, especially the single parents, because some of them have children entering secondary school, and some of these schools are charging as much as $5,000 and $8,000 in contingency fees, which is hard on people in ordinary circumstances. On top of that, they still have to find school clothes, text books and other supplies. I think the heads of these schools have to be flexible with parents and consider the prevailing economic situation.

LESLIE ADAMS (BOAT CAPTAIN) - Yes it’s another school year, and children are really excited and everything. But my main concern is that these children idle too much. Too many of them are out in the streets, when they should just catch a bus and go home. In our time we didn’t have all these buses and taxis, but we used to get home in a more timely manner than these children.

Something really needs to be done about this.

JOHN PIGGOT – (OPERATOR) - I think we need school buses- in my days we used to have school buses, and there were hardly any road fatalities, involving children. Some children have to travel long distances to go to school so transportation is a big problem, not only in Linden, but countrywide, so the Government needs to look into getting back school buses on the roads.

NICOLA NORTON – (PARENT) - I’m very concerned that so many students are leaving school and can’t get jobs. Parents do their best to educate their children, and then at the end of it, the children can’t get jobs; and this is leading to too many young people being idle. I think we have to put systems in place so that these children could be gainfully occupied when they come out of school. It is not just about getting the education; it is about providing the scope for these children to develop themselves later.

VILMA TYSON – (FARMER) - My whole concern is that foreign languages such as Spanish and Portuguese should be taught in the schools, from Nursery level onwards. Communication is our greatest tool, so we need to work to get our people at least bilingual, because as things stand right now, we have a great language barrier in Guyana, we cannot even communicate with our neighbours such as the Venezuelans and Brazilians properly. My other concern is truancy, too many children are out on the streets and at home, when they should be in school.

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

Teen charged for $6M burglary A 17-year-old boy with a history of breaking and entering and theft was yesterday remanded into police custody since he was unable to post bail.

He is facing yet another allegation of breaking into someone’s house and carting off over $6M worth of items.

The boy, Cleon Lester Hopkinson, of William Street Kitty, was placed on $750,000 bail by Magistrate Faith McGusty, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Police are alleging that on August 8th at William Street, Kitty, Hopkinson broke and entered the home of Michelle McKenzie and stole $6 million worth of electrical items and clothing.

The unrepresented accused was not required to

Charged with $6M theft: Cleon Lester Hopkinson, 17 plead to the indictable charge.

The tearful lad, however, stood in the prisoner’s dock and refuted the allegations.

He told the court that he was framed by the police

because of his acquaintance with another person fingered in the crime.

Hopkinson asked for bail and claimed that he was left to care for his younger sisters while his mother is out of the country. He further explained that he was held at the Brickdam lockups since the day of his arrest and was unable to contact his family.

The teenager told the court that he does not attend school but operates a shop owned by his mother.

On the other hand, the prosecution asked for bail to be refused on the grounds that the quantum and value of the stolen items were significant.

But the Magistrate granted bail as the prosecution did not provide, “good enough” reason for the accused to be denied his pretrial liberty.

How Lindeners feel about...

(From page 12) TIFFANY FEIDTKOU (FORMER STUDENT) - I am happy that school is now reopening and I am sure many others are very excited too; for me it’s a sort of déjà vu, because it brings back memories of my own excitement upon school reopening, while I was there. But now it’s sort of bittersweet, observing all the excitement, but knowing that at the end of it all, there is not much to be excited about; because when we get out of school there are no jobs- no opportunities, so now what do we do?. It’s frustrating for both parents and children who would have sacrificed a lot.

Speaking for myself I’m very much frustrated because my dream is to become a manager or accountant, and it’s been a year now since I’m out of school, and I have nothing to do. I have nine CXC subjects and four at CAPE, yet I’m unemployed, and I know there will be others just like me, coming out of school year after year, with high hopes, but little to look forward to. Government needs to do a lot more to ensure youths like myself can become gainfully employed.

YVONNE DRAKES – (SEAMSTRESS) -I would like to see people paying more interest, and placing emphasis on their children’s education, and less on what they wear. Too many people are more interested in how pretty their children look to go to school, and not looking into what the children are actually learning in school. The children too are placing more emphasis on the brand name shoes and boots- on material things, than on their education.

They have to understand that going to school, is not about looking sexy.

Also I would like to see parents; especially mothers, pay more interest in their children’s welfare. Too many children are out on the streets for too long after school would have been dismissed- many of them are out here on the park, just liming- and if you hear the conversations.

On the whole, the attitude and behavior of these children when they are out in the streets, especially out here on the park, leaves a lot to be desired; it’s totally disgusting and ridiculous. Bus after bus going and coming and they ain’t going home. People have to start monitoring their children more, they have to start finding out where they are and what they are doing; especially the girls, mothers have to pay more attention to their daughters.

Page 21

Bicycle trio fingered in knife robbery Three young city residents accused of robbery were able to secure $75,000 bail each on Monday when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Terry Phillips, 21, Mortimer John, 20, both of Tucville, Georgetown, and Gavin Lovell, 21, of Princess Street, were accused of using knives to rob Tenisha Garner and Madaine Humphrey, on August 28th The two persons were walking in the vicinity of Lodge, Georgetown, at the time of the incident.

Garner reportedly lost a BlackBerry cell phone worth $65,000, and a gold chain valued at $36,000. Humphrey is said to have also lost a BlackBerry cell phone, $10,000 cash, his wallet and some

documents, all valued at $68,000.

The unrepresented defendants were not required to plead when the matter was called. The prosecution had no objections to the defendants being allowed to go on bail but requested that conditions be set.

The Court ordered that the defendants post their bail and further report to the East La Penitence Police Station on Monday and Friday of each week.

According to the police, the victims were walking in the vicinity of Lodge when the three accused approached them on bicycles.

The men reportedly drew knives and ordered them to hand over their belongings.

A report was later made to the police station and after checks in the community, the defendants were arrested and later charged.

The men will make another court appearance on October 8th.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

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Region Eight’s Chairman, Mark Crawford, is accusing the Ministry of Public Works of turning a blind eye on the deplorable road which starts from Brian Sucre Junction and leads into Mahdia.

According to Crawford, the road has been in a terrible state for years and despite complaints, the authorities have been deaf.

He said that a few months back, after numerous complaints, the maintenance and repairing of the road finally went to tender.

MMC Construction Company and BK International both submitted bids.

“So long, and no work haven’t started as yet. I called the Minister (Robeson Benn of Public Works) and he said he cannot give an answer when work will start,” the Chairman said.

Kaieteur News was told that drivers, who use the 15-Mile Road often, are complaining that their vehicles are badly damaged every time they use it. Calls to Minister Benn’s phone went unanswered yesterday.

Guyana’s UN Ambassador to chair key committee Guyana will serve as Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) of the United Nations General Assembly for the Sixty-Seventh session, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday.

The Assembly yesterday elected Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador George Talbot, by acclamation to the post.

Ambassador Talbot is the first Representative of a CARICOM Member State at the United Nations to hold the position.

The Second Committee, which deals with a wide range of development matters, will have a full agenda of issues to consider, among them macro-economic policy questions, sustainable development issues, including follow-up to the Rio+20 conference, challenges associated with poverty eradication, globalization, international migration and development, and the situation of countries in special circumstances such as Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing

Ambassador George Talbot States.

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Guyana’s priorities for the upcoming session will include a focus on food security and agriculture, poverty eradication, climate change related issues and the developmental impact of inequalities both within and across countries as well as on greater effectiveness and efficiency in the conduct of the work of the Committee.

During Guyana’s tenure, the Committee will also undertake the first quadrennial comprehensive policy review of the UN’s operational

activities for development.

Ambassador Talbot was nominated and endorsed for the post by CARICOM and by the Group of the Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC). Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bangladesh were also elected to the Bureau of the Committee.

Ambassador Talbot, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages from the University of Guyana and a Master ’s degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, is a career diplomat with vast experience in multilateral affairs.

In a related development, Ambassador of Suriname to the UN, His Excellency Mr. Henry Mac Donald, was today also elected to chair the Third Committee, making this the first time that two CARICOM representatives will chair Main Committees of the General Assembly during the same session.

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Page 24

DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly 10:00hrs. JAG 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. Prime News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Boy Meets World 16:00hrs. Beverly Hills, 90210 17:00hrs. MacGyver 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:30hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 20:30hrs. The Cosby Show 21:00hrs. Movie: The Ides of March 23:00hrs. Sign Off NCN CHANNEL 11 02:00h – NCN Late Edition (R/ B) 02:30h – Late Nite with GINA 03:00h – Movie

Kaieteur News

05:00h – Inspiration 05:30h – Newtown Gospel 06:00h – NCN Late Edition News(R/B) 06:30h – Feature 07:00h – Guyana Today 08:00h – Guysuco Round up (R/B) 08:30h – Close Up 09:00h – Stop the Suffering 10:00h – CCTV 11:00h – History 12:00h – CNN 12:30h – NCN Newsbreak 12:35h – Focus on GRA (R/B) 13:05h – African Moves (R/ B) 14:05h – Movie 16:05h – Cartoons 17:00h – Anderson 18:00h – NCN News Magazine – Live 18:30h – Oral Tradition 19:00h – Debate Series of Corruption 20:00h – 3d/daily millions/play de dream/lotto draw 20:05h – Feature

20:35h – GWI Alert 21:05h – NCN Sports Magazine 22:05h – NCN News Late Edition 22:35h – Caribbean Newsline 23:00h – Movie MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 06:00h Islamic Perspective 06:30h News Update 07:00h DAYBREAK – Live 08:00h Dabi’s musical 08:30h Avon DVD Suite Life of Zack and Cody 09:00h Current Affairs 09:15h Top Notch Music Break 09:30h Caribbean Temptation Music Mix 10:00h Amanda’s Costume jewellery musical 10:30h BBC World News 11:00h The View 12:00h GINA programme 12:30h The Young and The Restless 13:30h Days of Our lives 14:00h National Geographic 15:00h General Hospital 16:00h The Bold and The Beautiful 16:30h Cartoons 17:00h Birthday and other greetings 17:15h Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30h Sitcom 18:00h Aracari Resort Hour 19:00h Aljazeera News 19:14h Slim Jet infomercial 19:30h News Update 20:30h DJ Stress Update 23:30h Musical Waves 22:00h DJ Stress Update 23:00h News Update 23:00h English Movie: Legend of the Drunken master Sign Off

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Wednesday September 5, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Any problems that pop up will be easy to identify -and easy to solve. You are in charge here, so do not let anyone rush you. Your insight is the most valuable possession you will ever have, so cherish it and exercise it like you would exercise any other muscle. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): If you have been contemplating making a big purchase, just keep on contemplating -- especially if it's a big ticket item. Don't rush out and make purchases right now. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): There are multiple mazes and puzzles around you that you need to solve today -and they have been mostly created by people who do not realize what they are doing.

Focus your frustration on solving the problem and getting to your desired destination. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): People from different backgrounds or cultures will play an important role in your life today. Their charm and friendliness will provide you with the positive reinforcement you need, and they will make you feel much more comfortable in an awkward situation. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Lately, your eagerness to please other people is at odds with how much time you have available ... it looks like you are due for some major re-prioritizing. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): No matter what your philosophy of life is, you will need to be open to different ways of thinking today. Someone in a power position can help you grow in your career or at school, but they don't feel the same way you do about a lot of important top-

ics. It's time to agree to disagree with people who differ from you. You can't change people's minds about things that are important to them, so don't even try. Acceptance will be a good skill to learn today. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22):Business and romantic connections will intersect today in a potentially thrilling way -- could you be smack dab in front of a major opportunity? Play this one carefully -- and make sure you stay on the right side of that line between work and play. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): If you are seeking inspiration right now, look to the things in your life that are a source of frustration. It might sound counterintuitive, but the stars say that is the right idea. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Entering some sort of competition today? If you are worried about being outsmarted, you shouldn't be!

You are in an extremely vibrant phase, right now. **************** CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): A big test of your patience will come in the form of a rather demanding person today. But don't worry -- the universe has loaded you up with an extra supply of tolerance, so you will be prepared for whatever comes your way. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): The last time you spent any time with old relatives, you learned a lot. So why not plan another visit with someone from your family who can offer some insight into your current conundrum? ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Get out of the past today -- the days of yesteryear are only relevant in terms of retro clothing styles, classic movies, architecture, and musical inspirations.

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

Letter to the Sports Editor

Powerless Guyana over Kadecia Baird DEAR EDITOR, KN dated Saturday September 2 reads of the following reasons US based Miss Kadecia Baird’s representation of Guyana which might not be possible at the Under-23 South American Championship slated for Sao Paulo, Brasil: Clashes with her schooling, 2 months prior notice is required and attending the meet not feasible.

SN dated Sept. 4 penned a similar report story.

It is quite evident that Guyana has just failed

crossing the very first hurdle towards Rio 2016 with the hope of this young upcoming track potential making representation of the Golden Arrowhead, Absolutely no fault of Miss Baird.

The fact of the matter is, it matters not how many sporting events Guyana has slated for representation, we have to accept the fact that the final word from her current US Coach and other responsible persons in her camp looking over her welfare makes the decision when she is available.

That’s a crystal clear indication to me that Guyana is more or less powerless. I am once again saying that when Miss Baird uplifts her citizenship of the USA, global status and stardom could only be achieved should an avenue opens up for her competing for the US flag.

It is also my belief that there are responsible persons surrounding her in the US camp and only with the guidance of those persons will she grow much more healthier.

T. Pemberton

First Ronaldo, now Fabregas... Barca midfielder unhappy with Nou Camp life Cesc Fabregas has admitted his frustration over his recent inconsistent performances for Barcelona.

The Spain International midfielder, who revealed his frustration at not playing every minute of every game, was substituted only 63 minutes into Barca’s narrow victory over Valencia on Sunday.

Despite starting all three Primera Division games so far this term, Fabregas remains far from happy playing a cameo role for his boyhood club, having returned to the Nou Camp last summer for £30million after eight years at Arsenal.

His complaint echoes that of Real Madrid forward

Cristiano Ronaldo, who refused to celebrate his brace against Granada due to feeling ‘sad’ for ‘professional reasons’.

Fabregas told Radio Marca: ‘There’s no such thing as a great substitute in the world of football.

‘I couldn’t tell you what makes a great substitute. ‘I always wish my team-mates well and put a happy face on.

‘If I have to take my unhappy face home then so be it, but I would never let my teammates or manager see it.’

The versatile 25-year-old competes for a starting berth in the centre of the park with Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets and new recruit Alex Song, his former Gunners

team-mate.

‘Everybody likes to play every minute of the season,’ he added. ‘I’ve always said that I play for the best team in the world, but I came here to compete, to learn and enjoy, not to sit wracking my brains.

‘The manager knows what I can offer. But across the three positions that I can play, I am competing with the three best players in the world. ‘I’m delighted to be a part of this team but when a coach tells me I have to go, I’ll go.

‘But I will not make it easy for him to do so, by any means. I will keep going, looking forward to the time that things change. I came here to see out my career.’

(Mail Online)

Azarenka into semis at rain-hit US Open

New York, (Reuters) Victoria Azarenka survived a ferocious comeback from defending champion Sam Stosur to reach the U.S. Open semis on Tuesday as the remnants of Hurricane Isaac left tournament organisers scrambling to catch up with the playing schedule.

The eagerly anticipated quarter-final matchup between Maria Sharapova and Marion Bartoli was postponed until Wednesday after just four games were completed. Dozens of junior matches were also held over because of the heavy rain.

Tournament officials were still hoping to complete the four men’s fourth-round matches scheduled for Tuesday but prospects were bleak with more showers forecast in the Big Apple.

Azarenka traded blows with Stosur for nearly two and a half hours on a blustery Arthur Ashe Stadium court to beat the foul weather and her opponent in a 6-1 4-6 7-6 thriller.

The world number one will play either Sharapova or Bartoli in Friday’s semi-finals and will remain atop the world rankings regardless of how much further she goes in the tournament.

“It means a lot, but it’s nothing like lifting a trophy,” said Azarenka. “I definitely don’t want to stop. I really want it bad.”

For Stosur, it was a bittersweet result. The bighitting Australian showed her surprise win here last year was no fluke and she that can match it with the best but her efforts were still in vain.

“That proves to me that I am capable of doing it,” she said. “To have another showing here at the Open like this, it for sure gives me confidence to think that maybe one day I can do it again.”

The match was suspended for over an hour midway through the opening set when the heavens opened and drenched Flushing Meadows.

The pair returned to finish their clash but play was stopped after another downpour began and before either of the other two singles matches in action were finished.

Bartoli was leading Sharapova 4-0 while David Ferrer led Richard Gasquet 75 7-6 4-3 in their fourth round encounter.

Page 25

McLaren have no problems with Hamilton after ‘embarrassing’ Twitter gaffe, insists Whitmarsh Martin Whitmarsh is adamant no wedge has been driven between McLaren and Lewis Hamilton in the wake of his tweet gaffe on Sunday.

The McLaren team principal was forced to speak with Hamilton ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix after the 27-yearold posted a picture on Twitter of sensitive telemetry data from qualifying.

It resulted in Hamilton being forced to remove the offending tweet, but not before it had been widely recirculated on the social networking site and picked up by rival teams.

Despite the delicate nature of the situation, Whitmarsh confirmed post race he would not be taking any internal disciplinary action against Hamilton.

Given Hamilton is currently in the middle of contract talks with McLaren, the timing of his tweet was certainly unhelpful.

However, behind the scenes it is understood what

Lewis Hamilton transpired will have no bearing on his future with the team.

Going forward, Whitmarsh is simply looking for Hamilton to revive his title challenge in this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in the wake of the first corner accident at Spa-Francorchamps that also accounted for championship leader Fernando Alonso.

‘It was embarrassing for Lewis I think, and I’m sure he will learn from that,’ said Whitmarsh, speaking to Sky Sports. ‘But it hasn’t driven a wedge (between Hamilton and the team), I’ve known

Lewis since he was 11 years old.

‘He’s someone who has grown up in the team, he’s grown up in the glow of public criticism. Some things he has learned, some things he is yet to learn. ‘He is a deep and soulful individual, but he is going through a difficult time (given the death of a close aunt last week).

‘I predict he is going to bounce back and we will see a different Lewis Hamilton in a few days’ time in Italy.’

Alonso, meanwhile, has also turned to Twitter to confirm he is raring to go in Ferrari’s home grand prix.

The Spaniard, who came within inches of being hit on the helmet by the airborne Lotus of Romain Grosjean who sparked the pile up, walked away with nothing more than pain in his left shoulder.

But via a tweet, Alonso said: ‘Today I woke up with no pain and 200 per cent ready for Monza.’

Murray dismantles big serving Raonic to line up US Open quarter-final with Cilic The furies of Milos Raonic’s serve were made to count for nothing as Andy Murray reached a level not seen since the Olympics to dismantle the young Canadian and make the last eight of the US Open.

Swapping the boiling heat of his last match against Feliciano Lopez on Saturday afternoon for a cool evening, the 25 year-old Scot humbled the world number fifteen in exactly two hours 6-4 6-4 6-2, managing to avoid the expected bad weather due to hit American’s Eastern Seaboard.

For the eighth consecutive time Murray is through to a Grand Slam quarter final and now faces Croatian Marin Cilic, who he comfortably defeated en route to the Wimbledon final in July.

Raonic threw everything he had Murray but it was not remotely enough thanks to some brilliant returning backed up by an outstanding serving display of his own that never gave the 21 year-old Canadian, regarded as the game’s most dangerous emerging talent, the sniff of an upset.

There was not a single break point against the favourite’s serve after the match was brought forward in anticipation of weather disruption. If Cilic can be beaten for what would be the seventh time out of eight in their meetings then a semi-final against Roger Federer looms.

He was delighted to have got through ahead of

Andy Murry threatened thunderstorms.

The very first point saw a blinding backhand passing winner from Murray that was to set the tone for the night, although it was tense until he managed to get his first break.

Murray’s agonised reaction to missing his first break opportunity told of the pressure that the Raonic serve brings to opponents, but as it turned out there would be plenty more as the Olympic gold medallist began to read the serve. He got Raonic to 0-40 at 4-4 and was thwarted by serves of 136 mph and 131 mph, but then managed to get in a rally which was won with a drop shot.

Moving with fluency, much more so than in Saturday’s sticky win over Lopez, he got the Canadian in trouble again at 2-2 in the second and on a third break point gratefully received a forehand in the net.

For much of the time he made Raonic look ordinary,

and it is true that his all-round game does not match his serve, but the margin of victory was still surprising given the hot streaks he is capable of launching.

By the end of the second set Murray had dropped only nine points on his own serve while combating the 70 per cent first serve ratio of his opponent, who was gaining plenty of support from a crowd that wanted to see their evening’s entertainment Untimely double faults from the 21 year-old also helped, and one was contributed when the British player ploughed on for a break at 1-1 in the third. His passing shots were so accurate that it was scaring the 6ft 5ins Canadian away from the net, and he was reduced to wry smiles when he was broken again at 4-2 in the second, which followed a minor scare when Murray had fallen to 0-30.

When Murray plays like this it is easy to see why he is considered a Grand Slam winner-in-waiting.

He admitted afterwards that he is less than fresh after an arduous summer, but pledged that he would ‘leave everything out on the court’ before the week is over.

Murray had only just walked off the court after taking exactly two hours to wrap up the victory when the rain began to fall, which was fitting on a night when it seemed the Scot could do nothing wrong.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 05, 2012

LOVE’S BIG GAMBLE: US skipper hands Furyk, Johnson, Snedeker and Stricker wildcards America’s Ryder Cup captain Davis Love chose a different path from his opposite number Jose Maria Olazabal with regard to his wildcards and gambled heavily on experience.

While the Spaniard overlooked a three-time major champion in Padraig Harrington, Love had no qualms in seeing past the poor Ryder Cup record of 42year-old Jim Furyk and the fact Steve Stricker, 45, hasn’t won since January.

His other two picks were the powerful Dustin Johnson, who will feel right at home on a long course like Medinah, and the personable in-form rookie, Brandt Snedeker.

A lot of informed American opinion was quick to criticise the decision to leave Hunter Mahan, in particular — two more plausible possibilities were Rickie Fowler and Nick Watney — on the sidelines.

Mahan has two victories to his name this season and beat three American Ryder Cup players and Rory McIlroy in the final on his way to winning the Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

Mahan also had the

further motivation of wanting to make up for what happened last time, when his fluffed chip in a singles match against Graeme McDowell ended American hopes of a stirring comeback at Celtic Manor.

‘I am rather shocked,’ said Golf Channel pundit and former US Tour player Brandel Chamblee. He then rattled off a host of names with one thing in common.

They all partnered Furyk in the Ryder Cup, and they all lost.

Love preferred to talk about Furyk’s President’s Cup record, in which he played five matches last year and won all five.

At 42, has he still got the nerve to cope with a Ryder Cup? It didn’t look good at the US Open, where he blew a great chance to win, nor at the Bridgestone Invitational last month, where he needed a par at the last to claim victory and threw in a double bogey.

So the two teams are now known and while they look evenly matched, there are two factors from which Europe will seek to draw inspiration when

the showdown begins on September 28. One is the startling difference in past Ryder Cup performance.

Europe have no fewer than eight players who have won more matches than they have lost. America? Almost unbelievably, they have none.

Europe also have more tried and tested partnerships.

If Olazabal plays Rory McIlroy-Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose-Ian Poulter, Luke Donald-Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood with either Paul Lawrie or Francesco Molinari in the opening morning’s foursomes, it is hard to see how they could come out of that crucial first session with a deficit.

The one pair who will definitely see action that first morning for America is Tiger Woods and Stricker, while it would be a surprise if Phil Mickelson doesn’t line up with his management stablemate Keegan Bradley.

Thereafter, it is all a bit of a mystery.

America do have one considerable card to play that might cancel out this perceived European advantage, however, and that is a raucous home crowd.

It’s not about the money! Ronaldo speaks out AGAIN over Madrid sadness

Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo has hit out at suggestions his recent declaration that he was unhappy at Real Madrid was part of a ploy to earn a lucrative new contract. The Portuguese forward sent shockwaves round the world of football on Sunday when he revealed that he disappointed with certain aspects of life with the Spanish giants.

Ronaldo, who refused to celebrate his two goals in the win over Granada and limped off before the end of the match at the Bernabeu, was accused of planting the story to put

pressure on club bosses who have so far refused to negotiate a new deal.

After the game the former Manchester United striker said: ‘I’m sad - when I don’t celebrate goals it’s because I’m not happy.

It’s a professional thing. Real Madrid know why I’m not happy.’

Ronaldo’s current contract - which has a £100million buyout - still has three years to run and sees him earn around £10m a year.

Since his outburst, there has since been a media backlash in Madrid, where the front page of ‘Marca’, the pro-Real sports daily screamed: ‘Enough is Enough’ and criticising Ronaldo for ‘unsettling’ the club.

However, on Tuesday night, the player released a statement on his Facebook page, dismissing claims his stance was moneyrelated.

He wrote: ‘I am accused of wanting more money, but one day it will be shown that this is not the case. ‘At this point, I just want to guarantee to the Real Madrid fans that my motivation, dedication, commitment and desire to win all competitions will not be affected.

‘I have too much respect for myself and for Real Madrid to ever give less to the club than all I am capable of.’

Ronaldo, bought from Manchester United for £80m in 2009, led Real to the title last season scoring 46 goals in 38 La Liga games and 60 in all competitions.

He has raced to 150 goals for the club at the rate of more than a goal a game but continues to be eclipsed in Spain by Messi’s heroics at Barcelona. Some say the Messi factor eats away at him, such is his vanity.

Jim Furyk Chicago’s greatest sporting hero Michael Jordan, for example, will not be there just as a totem.

When he’s not firing players up in the locker room, he will be riding with his buddy Fred Couples, one of Love’s assistant captains, on the course.

Arguably the greatest winner in American sporting history will be doing one of the things he did best on a basketball court — getting the crowd involved in the

Dustin Johnson game. ‘I don’t want him in the background,’ said Love. ‘I want him to be seen.’

Love made his announcement at the New York Stock Exchange. In Indianapolis, where the third leg of an exciting FedEx Cup race led by Rory McIlroy begins on Thursday, Snedeker could not contain his excitement. ‘I am looking forward to trying to make Davis look like a genius,’ he said.

All 24 players are ranked

in the world’s top 36, an awesome standard of strength in depth that has surely never been seen in a Ryder Cup. Europe have the best player on view but, like some Ryder Cups of the past, might have a couple of passengers as well. Just three weeks to go, then, before the greatest show in the sport, and one that presently looks too close to call.

In other words, just perfect.

Bangladesh player banned for spot-fixing Former Bangladesh cricketer Shariful Haque has been banned for an indefinite period after spot-fixing allegations made against him before the Bangladesh Premier League by Mashrafe Mortaza were substantiated, BCB president said after a board meeting. Shariful’s activities around cricket will also be carefully monitored by the Board.

“He [Shariful] will not be allowed to take part in any cricketing activities in the country in any capacity,” AHM Mustafa Kamal, the board chief, said. “The subcommittee investigated allegations about the cricketer who tried to influence the BPL. The indefinite ban will be applicable from today (yesterday). This message will go to everybody. Nobody can make use of him. We will inform the ICC as well. We took the decision based on whatever we could substantiate on.”

The recommendation for

Shariful’s banning was made by a committee formed immediately after Mashrafe’s claims that he had been approached a day before the BPL kicked off.

The committee, headed by BCB’s senior vice-president Mahbubul Anam, interviewed several individuals including Sharfiul and Mashrafe during and after the BPL and, according to sources in the BCB, had made this recommendation in July.

The decision has made Shariful the first Bangladesh player to be banned for spotfixing. He played one ODI for Bangladesh, against India, in 1998 and had unofficially retired from the game. He worked with Biman, the national airline, which Mashrafe represents in the Dhaka Premier League.

Shariful has said that although he hasn’t received board’s communication, he will appeal to the BCB to change the decision. “I will definitely appeal against this ban, one hundred percent,”

Shariful Haque he told ESPNcricinfo immedi a t e l y a f t e r t h e announcement was made.

“I haven’t received any word on it from the cricket board, but I will defend myself and I will let everyone know about it.”

In February, it was reported in some Dhaka newspapers that Mashrafe was asked to provide information on whether he would play certain matches and even whether he’d be wearing his sunglasses or cap. In exchange, he was told, he would be paid 15-20% of the earnings from the spotbetting. (ESPNCricinfo)

Wednesday September 05, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Annual Patricia Moniz Educational Trust Fund Awards hosted by RHTY&SC U-19 Pepsi Six outstanding young cricketers from the Rose Hall Town & Sports Club on Thursday last were rewarded with various educational materials when the Rose Hall Town Pepsi Under-19 team hosted their 5th Annual Patricia Moniz Memorial Educational Trust Fund Awards at the Area ‘H’ Ground.

The Trust Fund is hosted each year by the team in memory of the late Patricia Moniz, who served as an advisor to the Club before her death in 2008.

The awardees at the 2012 presentation were Under-15 and Under-17 players were Jason Anderson, Romario Rowe, Daniel Lewis, Simon Prittipaul and Calvin Jeffrey.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to Moniz’s daughter Nadine Budhoo for her continued sponsorship of the Trust Fund in memory of

her mother.

Describing the late Patricia Moniz as a strong believer in education, Foster urged the awardees to make the pursuit of education their main goal in life.

Foster reminded the awardees of the importance of an educated mind while urging them to develop a culture of reading, research and asking questions.

He related that most successful cricketers like Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams, Kumar Sangakara, Carl Hooper, Roger Harper, Michael Artherton and Rahul Dravid were all highly educated persons who were able to think quickly on their feet while at the same time being proper sporting ambassador for their countries.

Vice Captain of the Pepsi Under-19 Shailendra Shameer who recently passed ten (10) CSEC subjects with five Grade one’s stated that the

US reaches third U-20 Women’s WC final Tokyo - Morgan Brian and Kealia Ohai sent the United States to the final of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, beating Nigeria 2-0 on Tuesday to earn a rematch with defending champion Germany.

Morgan scored in the 22nd minute and Ohai added hers in the 70th for their first goals of the tournament and gave the Americans some revenge after being eliminated by the Nigerians two years ago in the quarterfinals.

The United States will face the Germans on Saturday in the title match, seeking a third crown in the six tries. It also will look to avenge a 3-0 loss to Germany in the first round, the only game it has been held without a goal.

Nigeria had the first chance when Francisca Ordega beat onrushing U.S. goalkeeper Bryane Heaberkub to the ball but pushed her attempt wide of the post.

But an unmarked Morgan put the Americans ahead when she redirected Mollie Pathman’s cross past Nigerian keeper Ibubeleye Whyte at the back post. It was only the second goal scored in the first half of a game in the tournament by the United States.

The Americans, which conceded the possession advantage to Nigeria in the game, had a chance to double its advantage in the first half but Kelly Cobb’s header went just over the crossbar.

An apparently equalizing goal for Nigeria by Desire Oparanozie in the 52nd minute was negated by offside and the Americans capitalized but adding an insurance tally 18 minutes later. Second-half substitutes Chioma Ubogagu and Samantha Mewis combined to feed Ohai, whose shot was deflected by Whyte but continued into the net.

team was pleased to assist the awardees in their pursuit of a successful educational career.

The Rose Hall Town Pepsi Under-19 team, Shameer stated believes that to be successful on the field, a player must have an educated mind. Under-15 player Jason Anderson speaking on behalf of the 2012 awardees expressed gratitude to the Club and the family of the late Patricia Moniz.

Anderson pledged that all the awardees would fulfill their full potentials in both the classroom and cricket field.

All the awardees received a full supply of educational materials and equipment to last the entire school year.

Cricket Manager Patrick Lewis with the six awardees.

RAF’S MYO Inter Jamaat T10 KO Softball Cricket bowls off Competition in the RAF’s Variety Store sponsored 2nd Annual Hajjin Zeleena Rafeek Memorial countrywide Inter Jamaat Ten10 knock-out Softball cricket tournament organized by the Muslim Youth Organisation got underway on Sunday last at the MYO Ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands and at Chesney Ground- Berbice.

Present at a simple opening ceremony at the MYO Ground before the start of the tournament being played in memory of the late Hajjin Zeleena Rafeek and sponsored Br. Fazal Rafeek were MYO President Br. Azad Ibrahim and the Spiritual advisor of the CIOG, Shaykh Moeen-ul-Hack.

All the teams were encouraged to display a high level of discipline, unity and brotherhood throughout the tournament. Br. Fazal Rafeek said that his late wife (Hajjin Zeleena Rafeek) in whose memory the competition is played was a good, generous and sports oriented person who mainly liked cricket.

He encouraged all teams participating to always be good people and also strive for excellence in whatever they do. Following are the results of matches at MYO Ground, the first this year brought together Success and Ogle ‘A’ and was contested in sparkling sunshine and cool breeze.

Ogle A got off to a brilliant start taking the score to 53 in 4 overs before losing their momentum, ending their innings at 101 for 5 wickets.

Wayne Osborne 26 (3x6) and Javid Ali 22 (2x6) were the main scorers for Ogle A. Hafeez Samad and Zahir

Persaud took one wicket each for Success.

Success in reply never looked bothered as they cruised to victory in at 103-3 in 7.3 overs. Zahir Persaud led with 58 (6x6 5x4) and was well supported by Hafeez Samad with 23 (2x6 1x4). Jason Mohamed took 2 wickets for 21 runs for the losing side.

MYO vs Triumph Triumph batted first and made 69 for 7 in their 10 overs; Fizal Gafar 16* (1x6 1x4) and Rameez Mohamed 14 (1x6 1x4). Bowling for MYO; Imran Ally 3 for 16, Timour Mohamed 2 for 11.

MYO in their turn at the crease made 75 for 1 in 4.5 overs; Saheed Gittens 31* (4x6), Zulficar Ali 42* (3x6 3x4). Shameer Pooran claimed the lone wicket for 26 runs in his allotment of two overs.

Scores: Triumph- 69-7 and MYO 75-1.

Non Pariel vs LBI ‘A’ LBI ‘A’ won the toss and took first strike with their batters posting 138-3; Richard Dowlatram led with 55 not out (6x6 4x4), Nizam Khan 20 (2x6 1x4). Kevin Persaud took 1 for 28.

Non Pariel was always threatening to overtake the score but in the end fell 5 runs short of the target ending on 133-2. Kevin Persaud 47 not out (5x6 1x4) and Christopher Ramat 41 not out (5x6) their top scorers. Scores: LBI ‘A’ 138-3; Non Pariel 133-2.

Farm A vs Leonora Leonora batted first and limited to 72-6 in their 10 overs.

Imtiaz Hack 18 (1x6 1x4), S. Samad 31 (3x6 1x4). Budhan Baksh took 3 wickets for 8 for Farm ‘A’ which in reply knocked off the required runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 5

overs; Budhan Baksh 33 not out (4x6) and Ameer Azeez 14 not out (1x6 1x4). Ibrahim Ali took both wickets to fall for 7 runs.

Scores: Leonora 72-6, Farm ‘A’ 74-2.

Lusignan vs Old Mosque This game was the highlight of the day with Old Mosque fielding a team with 8 members below the age of 16 years and almost created an upset against Lusignan.

Old Mosque won the toss and elected to bowl first. This move proved the right choice for the Old Mosque boys as they created webs around the Lusignan batsmen.

When the overs were expired Lusignan were 94-9; Shazam Ali made 44 (6x6).

Beshan Ali took 3-7 runs and was supported by Imran Ali and Ershaad Ali with 2 wickets each. Old Mosque in reply were threatening at some stages but they lost wickets regularly and were eventually bowled out for 65 runs.

Captain Asif Baksh made a fighting 29 (4x4) before being the last man out in 8.1 overs. Asif Singh was the main destroyer for Lusignan picking up 4 for 10 runs and was well supported by Afzal Khan with 3 for 15 and Shazim Ali 2 for 6. Scores: Lusignan 94-9, Old Mosque 65 all out.

Versailles vs Sisters Masjid at Goed Fortune Ground Versailles Masjid which won the toss and elected to bat first coasted to 181 for 5 wickets; Navendra Kooblall 65 and Wazir Hussain 68 runs, the leading run getters. In Sisters Masjid turn at the crease they folded for 52 runs in 7.3 overs; Shazim Hussain

grabbed 4 for 10. This is the highest team score of the competition so far. Scores: Versailles 181-5, Sisters Masjid 52 all out.

Matches played at Chesney Ground- Berbice Belvedere A vs Fyrish Small Masjid Fyrsh Small Masjid batting first made 95 for 4 in their 10 overs. Javid Mohamed striking 51 runs (3x6 1x4). Shafeek Mohamed 1-14 for Belvedere which in reply were bowled shot out for 58 runs; Khalil Khalif 15 getting into double figures.

Zaheer Khaderoo 3 wickets for 6 runs. Scores: Fyrish Small Masjid 95-4, Belvedere 58 all out.

Fyrish ‘A’ vs Albion ‘B’ Albion ‘B’ 99 for 7 in their 10 overs. Zameer Khan 31 runs; Nazeem Hamid 5 for 12 runs. Fyrish ‘A’ in reply knocked off the required runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 9.5 overs; Imran Hussain 63 not out (6x6). Imran Khan took one wicket for 14 runs for Albion B. Scores: Albion ‘B’ 99-7, Fyrish ‘A’ 100-3.

Cotton Tree vs Albion ‘A’ Albion ‘A’ 89 for 9 in their 10 overs. Shazam Ibrahim 19; Asif Shaw 3 for 11. Cotton Tree in reply coasted to victory losing one wicket in 8 overs; Wazid Subhan led with 33 and Fazim Ahmad 28 not out. Scores: Albion ‘A’ 89-9, Cotton Tree 90-1.

Canefield vs Rosehall Canefield batting first posted 119 for 7 in their 10 overs. Islam Azad topped with 34 runs. Rosehall in reply were bowled out for 84, Basheer scored 17. Br. Abu took 3 for 10.

Scores: Canefield 119-7, Rosehall 84 all out.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday September 05, 2012

BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT

By Rawle Welch Recently, two articles written by two outstanding Caribbean citizens offered a pragmatic scenario about many aspects of life in the Region, but more significantly about the tribulations sport faces in its quest to expand, especially here in Guyana.

After reading the two articles it swiftly made me reflect on some of the pronouncements uttered by Director of Sport Neil Kumar and President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K.A. Juman Yassin shortly after the media assessed the lackluster performances of our athletes at the recently concluded London Olympics.

As someone who has repeatedly castigated local Sports Administrators for their lack of foresight and plain inability to advance sports here in Guyana, I felt it obligatory to take a few excerpts from the two wellwritten pieces to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the two gentlemen who’ve been in their respective positions for close to two decades, simply should not enjoy the support of stakeholders to remain in office due to their categorical failure to inspire a higher level of performance.

The attempt now to dupe the Nation further with more chatter about future plans and the ‘From now to Brazil’ arrangement where the call

was made urging Associations to work together with the Government so that Guyana could endeavor to present a more formidable contingent at the 2016 Rio Games are all well choreographed recitals from the past.

Sport has now taken on a much bigger dimension, so much so that some of the most brilliant minds across the Caribbean in Sports, Education and Business meet with counterparts from other parts of the world to discuss all facets of athletes and sports development and its impact on economies.

So, even if it is interpreted as offending, the bare truth is that none of the above mentioned gentlemen, and including the Minister of Sport, has demonstrated the capacity to take us to the next level, so the need to introduce new blood with the relevant competence is a crucial one.

The advancement of sport is not only about meeting with associations to discuss the practical aspects, but also to converse about its impact on national development.

Just to emphasise the magnitude of the task of sports development, the Monday, September 3 edition of the Stabroek News had an article written by current President of the Jamaica Basketball Association Anjani Harris-Williams, (who according to the piece, spent

some of his early years right here in Guyana), named ‘The Tools and M e t h o d s o f Nation Building’ where he spoke comprehensively about the complexities of building a strong institution that is success oriented and which can positively impact on nation building, citing also, some of the required instruments to ensure that stated goals are achieved.

Over the years, the custodians of sport in Guyana have mostly focused on community interaction as witnessed with the staging of a glut of ‘Days of Interaction’ and this myopic mind-set has evidently stymied the construction of a well-defined policy that caters for national, regional and international participation with desired results.

Harris-Williams’ article in addition dealt with the type of personnel considered necessary to advance sport in all spheres and because Guyana - save for a few disciplines such as Powerlifting, Squash, Football to an extent and Rugby, even though it is felt that under the current leadership our best days are over - is suffering from a dearth of expertise, it is hard to see how the current set of administrators could trigger a sudden change in fortunes in the foreseeable future.

As was lamented earlier, change needs to be made; it is as simple as that, nothing

Neil Kumar

K.A. Juman Yassin

else will suffice.

To go further, Dr. Tennyson Joseph, a political scientist at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, specializing in regional affairs, in an article in the Barbados Nation said, “The Caribbean would be missing a prime opportunity for national development if we were to merely celebrate the region’s performance at the 2012 Olympics and nothing more.

At a time when our region is grappling with the collapse of its postcolonial development model, it was as if providence was forcefully pointing to our intellectually bankrupt policymakers and traditionbound private sector, that its future lies in the creative potential, athletic prowess and intellectual and artistic ability of its people.

History though, must be a very frustrated teacher, because despite the clarity of her instructions, the lessons are often ignored.

Thus, in the middle of a financial crisis that marks the death of bananas, sugar and tourism, we continue to expend our energies in combating an Air Passenger Duty (APD), subsidizing foreign airlines, growing sugar cane and bananas, while we reduce spending on education, and deny the existence of a sports and culture industry.

In some countries, remittances constitute the largest source of foreign exchange. This is why the watery soup of the Caribbean private sector as the “engine of growth” always causes indigestion.

A wide cultural and historical distance has always separated the private sector

Weir on course for awesome foursome after racing to second gold of Games in 1500m David Weir brought the house down by completing part two of a possible Paralympic quadruple with another glorious gold at the Olympic Stadium. The wheelchair racer could not have got his tactics more right as he showed no signs of tiredness from his 5,000 metres triumph two days earlier to successfully defend his T54 1500m title.

The 33-year-old was content to tuck in just off the lead for most of the race before hitting the front with around 300m to go and then holding off his rivals down the home straight to deafening cheers.

He crossed the line in three minutes 12.09 seconds, producing a 44.84-second last lap to finish 0.23secs ahead of Thailand’s Prawat Wahoram. Weir’s success made it six gold medals for Great Britain’s athletes on just the fifth day of competition.

Weir told Channel 4: ‘I’m

very proud. A shock really because the field in the 1500 this year’s been so strong and I’ve only won a couple of races so coming in this race I was probably only fourth fastest on paper.

‘But the training I’d done I knew I had lots of top speed and on the warm-up track was I even quicker on the top speed which was probably because I wasn’t so nervous tonight.

‘The plan was - by me and Jenny (Archer, coach) - was to hopefully win on the first night and I did, so you get more relaxed. Once you’ve got one under your belt you start to relax and do your talking on the track really.’

Weir has been training with pro cyclists at Richmond Park and he said: ‘The guys have been a massive help.

They have taken me up to another level I didn’t think I had.

Asked about his British team-mates celebrating with

Moment of glory, Britain's David Weir celebrates after winning the men's 1500m final T54. werewolf howls, Weir said: ‘There’s a tune on the internet about a werewolf and London and they’ve adopted it to me.

I listened to it earlier and it’s pretty good.’

Weir won the athletics team’s only two gold medals four years ago in Beijing and

he faces a gruelling programme in London with the 800m and marathon still to come.

But his performances so far suggest he is relishing the challenge of becoming one of the home heroes of the Games.

(Mail Online)

from the one true area in which we have a “comparative advantage” – the creativity of the people.

This did not begin with Usain Bolt and Rihanna. That the Caribbean private sector has never been able to see what lies beneath its very nose, is the strongest argument against our chosen development model.

Despite his sins, it took the American investor, Allen Stanford, to release the Caribbean’s commercial potential of the very unAmerican sport, cricket. Sadly, where the Caribbean business class remained blind to his example, the rising Indian Premier League (IPL) entrepreneurs were not so myopic.

What stopped the Caribbean private sector from seeing the potential of the Barbadian schoolgirl, Rihanna? What about Bob Marley? Did its history not condition it to ask: “Can anything good come out of Trenchtown?” What about the many other Caribbean youth with equal potential just wasting away, while we suck on sugar and slide on banana peel?

Did anyone hear the pain in Kirani James’ voice when he mourned the misfortune of more talented Grenadian youth?”

Once again, only a change in the present status quo could ignite the suppressed talent of our sportsmen and women.

England women beat Pakistan in Twenty20 international England’s women saw off Pakistan by seven wickets at Loughborough to extend their unbeaten run in Twenty20 international cricket to 16 games. Recalled seamer Anya Shrubsole took 4-12 while spinner Holly Colvin’s four overs cost seven runs as Pakistan could only make 87-7 from their 20 overs.

England lost opener Laura Marsh without scoring, but Sarah Taylor (31) and Arran Brindle (31 not out) saw them home with four overs to spare. The sides meet again on Wednesday (today) Somerset’s Shrubsole, recalled in place of Georgia Elwiss, took a wicket in each of her four overs after sharing the new ball with Katherine Brunt, while Nain Abidi topscored with 21 before being run out by Brindle as England’s three spinners put the squeeze on in mid-

innings.

Asmavia Iqbal hit an unbeaten 19 from 12 balls to give the visitors’ total a late boost, but although opening bowler Qanita Jalil removed Marsh and England captain Charlotte Edwards, the experienced Taylor and Brindle ensured there were no dramas in England’s run chase.

Shrubsole said: “It was a solid start and I was really happy with how I performed, having missed the series against India it was good to get back out there.”

After this brief series with Pakistan concludes on Wednesday, England then face a five-match series against West Indies, before the Women’s World Twenty20 begins on 26 September - with England and Pakistan set to meet again in their Group A opener on 27 September. (BBC Sport)