Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

NCN board examines role of GuyEnterprise in scam Internal investigations at the state-owned radio and television company, National Communications Network (NCN), are continuing, a senior spokesman of the ruling administration has admitted.

Responding to media queries last week on why the police have not been called in as yet, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said that a probe is ongoing and has not been concluded as yet.

It will be the first official admission by the government of a wider probe of what is turning out to be an embarrassing episode spiced with widespread allegations of fraud, cronyism, and seemingly deliberate attempts to bypass accounting and other internal systems at NCN. Dr Luncheon did not rule out the police being called in when the findings and recommendations of the current probe are handed over to the board and to the Minister of Information…who happens to be, in this case, President Donald Ramotar.

It was the same Office of the President, in June, that ordered a special investigation into payments from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) for taping and producing the highly popular Jingle and Song Competition.

Resigned: Mohamed ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur

Suspended: Martin Goolsarran

Following the refusal by GT&T’s Chief Executive Office, Yog Mahadeo, to pay over $3M to Martin Goolsarran, NCN’s Production Manager, for work done, OP acting on complaints, hired private accountant, Harryram Parmesar, to investigate the deal and payments by GT&T. One of the major discoveries was that Goolsarran submitted an invoice in his personal name and then took the money and deposited it into his personal bank account.

He was handed an eightweek suspension which ended two Mondays ago.

NCN’s Board of Directors then extended the leave as public pressure mounted for the investigation to be widened.

Former Chief Executive

Officer, Mohamed ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur, resigned following the submission of the damning auditor report to the Board which found that the two failed in their duties and even at one stage attempted to cover their tracks by pressuring staffers to illegally backdate invoices.

There have been several allegations being made following the report.

There are allegations surfacing now of links between Sattaur and GuyEnterprise, an advertising company which strongly suggested that there may have been a conflict of interest situation in which the agency was granted lucrative rates, below what was offered

by NCN to other clients.

There accusations have also drawn in Sattaur’s wife,

Govt. offers condolences to Henry Greene’s family The government has offered condolences to the family of former police commissioner Henry Greene, DSM, who was killed in an early Friday morning accident, on the West Coast Demerara Public Road.

Reports are that Greene, 58, was driving a white Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) PLL 7411 east along the West Demerara Public Road when he collided head-on with a car PJJ 4812, which was transporting six persons, including the now dead ten-year-old Shaffiya

Jamaluddin.

According to a statement out of Office of the President, Greene held a long and distinguished career as a public servant, most of which he spent as a member of the Guyana Police Force.

“His service to the nation beyond his retirement was testimony to his selflessness and unwavering commitment and dedication to policing.”

As Commissioner of Police he was responsible for the leadership and development of the force and during his career, security of

the people of Guyana was as a primary preoccupation of his, as demonstrated in his tireless efforts to introduce and promote new and innovative ways of crime fighting, the government said.

“Greene’s contribution to the nation, especially in security will always be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, children, other relatives and friends. As much as you miss him, so too will this nation which he served so faithfully.”

a manager at GuyEnterprise.

Officials of NCN have alleged that a specific body to deal with advertising rates at NCN, called the Rates Committee, was deliberately not activated and that both Sattaur and Goolsarran unilaterally made decisions about deals, all breaching the established internal procedures and policies.

Yesterday, a senior staff member who asked not to be named, made it clear that the questions were many.

“One can only surmise as to the amount of money that is either stolen, mismanaged or did not come to the coffers of NCN. If we are to presume that NCN did not really need the government subsidy yearly because of what was being earned in revenues, then the possibilities are staggering. Where was the $65M they taking from Government going?”

Poorly kept records indicated that cameras were missing and reporters were not being managed according to procedures and records of revenues were poorly kept.

Earlier this year, during the budget debate in Parliament, it was disclosed that NCN raked in around $500M in revenues last year.

Where this money went, it is unclear. But the opposition, Alliance For Change and the A Partnership For National Unity have both blocked government subsidies to the tune of $65M to NCN. Both have called for a (Continued on page 55)

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

Literacy and Peace On the occasion of World International Literacy Day, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand expatiated on the theme for this year: Literacy and Peace. Taking into consideration the high literacy rate that Guyana has supposedly achieved, the Minister said, “Sometimes one is inclined to wonder whether, over the years, we have taken sufficient advantage of the gift of our literacy in the pursuit of dispute settlement and conflict resolution.”

The answer to her question might have much to do by what the Minister means by “literacy”. UNESCO defines a literate person as one who can, with understanding, both read and write a short statement relevant to routine life and be capable of analytical understanding of mankind’s condition in the world. We wonder if these criteria are applied to the Guyanese population as a whole, how many of us would pass muster as being ‘literate”.

With two-thirds of our students, fresh from eleven years of school unable to pass the CSEC English exam, it’s quite possible that many Guyanese would be hard put to “write a short statement relevant to routine life.” But it is the second criterion that is the greater problematic: “be capable of analytical understanding of mankind’s condition in the world.” It is this condition, which presumes both procedural and substantive elements of ‘literacy”, that is key to peace in the world, and of course, Guyana.

It is not just a question of being able to read, or even being ‘educated’ in the general sense of how the word is usually used today. Germany was acknowledged as among, if not the most literate and ‘educated’ nation in 1918 and 1939, but it launched wars against its neighbours that are the only ones to be defined a “world wars”. In each of those wars, countless millions were slaughtered as several countries were reduced to ‘wastelands’.

In 1939, what was the most salient feature of German education in social relations? It was the proposition that Jews (and for that matter, all ‘coloured peoples”) were inferior and could be exterminated under by the most ‘scientific’ measures. During colonialism, the supposedly ‘literate’ and educated western countries exploited hundreds of millions of conquered peoples under the rationale of ‘educating’ them. It was a ‘peace of the dead’.

The point is that for peace to be prevalent in the world, the content of the ‘literacy’ matters more than the ability to decipher words on a page. One of the prime drivers of conflict in the modern world continues to be the entrenched view that certain people are inherently ‘inferior’ to others.

And as such they can be exploited, killed or even exterminated.

This now deeply inbred racism is a strong feature even here in Guyana where almost all of us are ‘coloured”. We would suggest that if the Minister wants to use literacy to increase our ‘peace quotient’, then she should introduce as part of our curriculum, a programme to detect and combat racism.

Then there is the ‘analytic understanding’ of our condition. We know to our cost that most individuals form their opinions and beliefs from stereotypes and prejudices and then act of them as if they were the ‘TRUTH’. We just have to consider the recent upheavals at Linden to appreciate the lack of ‘analytical understanding’ present especially in our leadership.

Did the leaders that provoked the protests really believe that the subsidies on electricity for Linden should not be gradually removed?

What has been revealed in most plural societies in which there have been eruptions of conflict, is that paradoxically it is those leaders that are most educated and ‘literate’ that twist the facts to stir up trouble in the ordinary people. It is only when the people have become habituated to analysing their condition that they will be more immune to the demagogues.

And so we return to our school system where we are still enmeshed in rote learning and ‘teach to the test’ methodology that leaves any analytical urge stillborn. Let us work to achieve real literacy in Guyana.

Sunday September 09, 2012

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

Mr. Jagdeo legally sold his property DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to respond to a letter published by the Kaieteur News on 4th September 2012, and written

by Cindy Sookdeo, in respect of statements I made in the recently aired NCN debate series in respect of former President Bharat Jagdeo pensions.

In the letter, Ms Sookdeo, whom I understand to be an executive member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), contends that Mr Jagdeo received “preferential treatment” in so far as he was allowed to sell a plot of land purchased from the Government, which was the subject of a prohibition against such sale.

I have clarified this matter, publicly, two years ago. I will do so again. In 1997, Mr. Jagdeo purchased from the Government of Guyana, a plot of land situate at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. He did so like thousands of other Guyanese who benefitted from the Government’s housing policy. At the time, he was not President. He was the Finance Minister. Like thousands of Guyanese in like circumstances, his transport was subject to a condition that he could not have sold the land which is the subject of the transport until after the expiration of ten years of the issue of the said transport.

President Jagdeo faithfully

observed that condition of the transport to its letter. He sold the said plot of land in the year 2010. The condition had expired.

Ms Sookdeo next argues that the allocation to a former Chairman of Region 10, of a house lot in the area where Mr Jagdeo current property is located, constitutes “empirical data” in support of her contention, that the offer to sell two acres of land was only made to Mr Jagdeo. By any standard, this is befuddling logic. The simple and plain fact is that the Regional Chairman could only have been allocated that for which he made an offer to buy. Is there any evidence whatsoever that he made an

offer to buy a larger portion than that which he was allocated? No such evidence has been made available. The contention of Ms Sookdeo, therefore dies a natural death.

The remainder of the letter consists of inferences drawn and conclusions made, all predicated upon the two aforementioned false premises.

They are not, therefore, deserving of a response.

And the obsession with former President Jagdeo continues. It has now shifted from his pensions to his property. I wonder what is next.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox The NCN debate exposes Gopaul’s thinking on what public servants should do to live comfortably DEAR EDITOR, During a portion of the corruption debates on NCN Channel 11— TV last week, a most awkward statement was made by the former Head of the Public Service, Nanda K Gopaul who said “What is wrong with a former President seeking to ensure that he lives a comfortable life after his presidency.”

This statement by Mr. Gopaul suggests that it is acceptable for a head of state to attain wealth by any means necessary ”to live a comfortable life after his presidency”. This type of statement should not be made by a minister of the government who is supposed to maintain a certain level of behavior.

As the former Commander of all Public Servants, Mr. Jagdeo was expected to have maintained the highest level of behavior that reflects honesty, decency and integrity. This type of behavior was aptly captured by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) as follows, which outlines how a public servant must operate: 1. He should have the highest degree of integrity and decency; 2. All his personal and public dealings must be conducted in a fair and honest manner; 3. He should lead all public servants on the delivery of the highest quality services; 4. He should exercise his stewardship over government funds in such a manner that will maximize cost effectiveness and value for money in the best interest of the people.

For Mr. Gopaul’s education, nowhere there did

we detect that a public servant should carry out his mandate to “ensure he lives a comfortable life” after he demits office. The record clearly shows that as the President of Guyana, Mr. Jagdeo’s behavior was not only hilarious but was also nowhere close to the stipulations of the IPAC. This was the president who before and during the elections “cuss down” those who disagreed with him and did absolutely nothing to reduce corruption and the illegal trafficking of narcotics.

This was the president who publicly stated that Mr. Nigel Hughes would never become a Senior Council of law during his tenure.

And this was the president who pulled all government advertisements from Stabroek News and Kaieteur News for partisan reasons, a decision that was only reversed upon the conception of the newspaper he is alleged to be party owner of.

Further, some of the transactions conducted by Mr. Jagdeo could not

withstand the scrutiny of the law or the rules of the IPAC. For example, can Mr. Jagdeo’s real estate transaction stand up to the rule of law and the provisions set out in the IPAC for public servants? No! Can the source of funds to construct his palace at Pradoville Two be justified? No! Was he accorded preferential treatment in obtaining his beach front land?

So what we have observed from his two underlings, Nanda Gopaul and Anil Nandlall is the condoning of a PPP ploy to facilitate their abuse of power and the use of State

resources for their personal enrichment.

And as if to insult the citizens even more, the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime, with its majority in Parliament, changed the Presidential Pension Law that handed Bharat Jagdeo a handsome pension and benefits package of some $36 million per year while our senior citizens have to make do on a meager $0.12 million per year.

But what is even more disheartening for the poor and the working class is the majority opposition leader Mr. David Granger has been unable to bring to an end Continued on page 6

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

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The NCN debate exposes Gopaul’s...

Minister Nandlall’s further defence of Jagdeo’s Pradoville II houselot is puzzling

From page 5 these most unethical, unprincipled and unscrupulous acts of power abuse and the squandering of the state resources by the PPP. It has been nine months now since the elections, and Mr. Granger has been mostly missing in action and the majority opposition appears to have surrendered the battle to bring justice and fair play to the political landscape of Guyana.

Not one law has been designed, debated or passed by the opposition to remedy the immoral and depraved acts of the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime. Is this a continuation of the former leader of the PNCR Mr. Robert Corbin’s era of tacit cooperation with the PPP? For whose benefit!!

A public servant, whether he/she is in the Government or in the Opposition is expected to have a conscience; he/she is supposed to be a practitioner of good governance, honesty, fair-mindedness and must have the courage and conviction to fulfill their duty to the people.

Nowhere is it defined that a public servant ought to operate like a “con-man” to turn a profit at the people’s expense to “ensure that he/ she lives a comfortable life” after he/she leaves office.

Our foreparents who crossed the dark seas to arrive at this land believed in the fundamental Guyanese tradition of; even if you have little; if you work hard, study hard and do not break the law, then you should be able to

establish a decent life for you and your family.

That is why salaries are paid, gratuities are granted, and pensions provided to public servants for retirement. During his public service life, Mr. Jagdeo earned between $145 million to $160 million tax free.

Notwithstanding that at his divorce, he agreed to give his ex-wife Varshanie Singh half of his net worth which at the time was approximately $12 million. But that was some five years ago.

So if he had $6 million left after paying off Varhsanie, he gained another $200 million including the sale of that house in Pradoville 1 for some $120 million in a “kangala” deal that make real estate history in Guyana. So how on earth can an asset of $200 million justify a $300 million real estate transaction? We would really like to learn Gopaul’s arithmetic.

Thus for Nanda K. Gopaul to make such an appalling statement is deserving of an explanation. Is he saying that it is okay for a public servant to rapidly increase his/her personal wealth at the taxpayer’s expense in order to make sure “he/she lives a comfortable life” after demitting office? Is he giving a blank check to all public servants including the ministers of the government to follow in his leader’s footsteps?

The cardinal rule is if one is dissatisfied with their wages and benefits as a public servant, then he/she is free to seek employment in the

private sector to generate the income needed to “live a comfortable life.” We are certain that the New GPC or any other private company would be most willing to offer him a multi-million dollar salary position. And there is nothing wrong with that.

But public servants do not have the moral right to use the National Treasury to fatten their personal bank accounts. Those individuals do not have the right to demand kick-backs on the mega contracts to amass more wealth at the expense of the taxpayers.

It is clear for all to see that some have used their positions in the public service to amass more personal wealth than even the President of the United States.

To further complicate matters, today we have a “stand in” President who is in a perpetual slumber as he carries out his duties, leaving all the serious business of running the State to an immoral and unethical team.

Does Mr. Ramotar really understand the power of the presidency?

Thanks to the corruption debates at NCN for exposing Mr. Gopaul’s thoughts on what public servants should do to live a comfortable life upon retirement and thanks to Nigel Hughes for asking the question “Can any other Guyanese be offered a beach front land for $5 million per acre?” We are looking forward to the answer.

Dr Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh

DEAR EDITOR, Under the conditions of “preferential treatment”, I hereby make an application for a second plot of space in your letter pages as I seek to respond to a letter (“Jagdeo observed the ten-year condition attached to the transport for Pradoville I land to the letter”) written by the learned Honorable Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, and published by the Stabroek News on September 7, 2012, in response to my missive titled “[m]inisterNandlall’s defence of Jagdeo’s Pradoville 11 houselot is puzzling”, and published by the Kaieteur News on September 4, 2012.

In his letter, the Honorable Minister referred to, and restated, his two-year old public clarification on former President Jagdeo adhering to the condition that prohibits, before ten years of acquisition, the disposal of house lots purchase from the Government of Guyana (GOG).

However, the Honorable Minister’s response would have been far more valuable to the public had he not avoided saying under which condition(s) was former President Jagdeo allocated a second house lot having disposed of the first shortly before.

Editor, one of the standard clauses in transports for the purchase of house lots from the GOG states: “Anyone who owns real property is not entitled to purchase a lot. If it is found out that the person had owned real property within the past three years s/ he is liable to pay to the GOG or Central Housing and Planning Authority the current market value of the lot or at its option, the GOG will

be entitled to repossess the said lot upon the repayment of the purchase money less expenses incurred for repossession.”

Further, Editor, unless, as it seems, the Honorable Minister was/is a student of Jumbie-or Phantom-nomics (a contemporary non-academic discipline that combines the studies of Jumbie and Economics, pioneered and patented by the University of Freedom House, whereby proven mainstream economic theories are turned upside down and fairy-tale ones are birthed.

For example, development is measured by the scarcity of cement (see Stabroek News of April 01, 2006, for an exposition of this theory, written by a potential Nobel Laureate in Jumbienomics, A. Persaud)), then he must have missed the well-articulated letter, by a very close friend of the said Regional Chairman, in response to the Stabroek News’ editorial of October 10, 2011.

In that letter it was made known to the public that the Regional Chairman”is a businessman involved in the real estate arena.” (Stabroek News, October 17, 2011). To argue, therefore, that “[t]he simple and plain fact is that the Regional Chairman could only have been allocated that for which he made an offer to buy [far less than two acres as did former President Jagdeo]”, is “[b]y any standard… befuddling [to proven mainstream economic] logic.”

In fact, it is, by all standards, befitting to Jumbie-or Phantom-nomics.

And unless the Honorable Minister provides empirical evidence (or something approximating that) in support of his argument, then he is or must have been a student of the aforementioned discipline.

Editor, the repeated failed attempts by the Honorable Minister to have Guyanese believe that any of the persons entitled to land in Pradoville II, could have, but did not, express like former President Jagdeo, the desire to purchase two acres at GY$5M per acre should be a

wakeup call for him that, contrary to the way he seems to think, Guyanese are not devoid of the capacity to think and be accurately informed.

For instance, Editor, in Berbice where I live, scores of persons have indicated to me(not that I forgot, rather it signals that they too have not forgotten) that the Alliance For Change (of which I am an executive member, as the Honorable Minister was seemingly keen to point out) was/is not concerned with the “pension” of former President Jagdeo, per se, but rather with the uncapped (in other words, the unlimited) provisions under “the Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009", and therefore reference was made to the “pension package” that amounts to over GY$3M per month given that, unlike the humble home of former Presidents Cheddi and Janet Jagan, a palace built on two acres of land requires a great amount lighting facilities (thus, a huge electricity bill), will use a great amount of water (hence, a massive water bill), will require a large number of servants in various forms (therefore, a humongous wage bill), and the list goes on and on, all to be paid for by the very poor tax payers of Guyana. No wonder why public servants and cane cutters are denied a decent wage increase.

Editor, in his closing arguments in response to my letter, referred to above, the Honorable Minister enquired: “I wonder what is next.” Permit me, Editor, to convey to the Honorable Minister that Cheddi Jagan is turning in his grave and he should not wonder why. In fact, Editor, Cheddi Jagan is asking that the enclosing walls be shifted outwards, an idea he got from the constant deceptive accusations made (by his disciples that have now betrayed him) during the past corruption debates on NCN, so as to facilitate the countless turns he makes on a daily basis.

Cindy Sookdeo Region Five, Mahaica/ Berbice

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Iran says may retaliate for Canada’s “hostile” cut in ties DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran accused Canada yesterday of “hostile behaviour” under Israeli and British influence after Ottawa cut diplomatic relations and it raised the prospect of swift retaliation.

Canada said on Friday that it was closing its embassy in Tehran and gave Iranian diplomats five days to leave the country, branding the Islamic Republic as the “most significant threat to global peace and security”.

Ottawa cited Iran’s disputed nuclear work, which Western states see as a disguised effort to develop atomic bombs, its hostility toward Israel and alleged military aid to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is battling a popular uprising.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin

Ramin Mehmanparast Mehmanparast said the Canadian move was a “continuation of anti-Iranian policies” by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, which has long had poor relations with Tehran.

“The current government of Canada under the leadership of Mr Stephen Harper is known for extreme

policies in the domain of foreign policy,” Mehr news agency quoted Mehmanparast as saying.

“The hostile behaviour of the current racist government in Canada in reality follows the policies dictated by the Zionists (Israel) and the British.” The Jewish state is Iran’s arch-enemy, while Britain expelled Iranian diplomats late last year after radical Iranian protesters sacked its embassy in Tehran.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who heads Iran’s influential parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, said there could be an “immediate and decisive” response to Canada’s action, Fars news agency reported.

“It is essential that the foreign ministry respond to this action by Canada on the basis of national interests.”

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Tornado strikes beachfront neighbourhood in NYC NEW YORK (AP) — A tornado swept out of the sea and hit a beachfront neighbourhood in New York City yesterday, hurling debris in the air, knocking out power and startling residents who once thought of twisters as a Midwestern phenomenon.

Videos taken by bystanders showed a funnel cloud sucking up water, then sand, and then small pieces of buildings, as it moved through the Breezy Point section of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens.

Residents had advance notice. The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for Queens and Brooklyn at around 10:40 a.m.

The storm took people by surprise anyway when it struck about 30 minutes later.

“I was showing videos of tornadoes to my 4-year-old on my phone, and two

minutes later, it hit,” said neighbourhood resident Peter Maloney. “Just like they always say, it sounded like a train.”

In the storm’s wake, the community of seaside bungalows was littered with broken flower pots, knockeddown fences and smashed windows.

At the Breezy Point Surf Club, the tornado ripped the roofs off rows of cabanas, scattered deck chairs and left a heavy metal barbecue and propane tank sitting in the

middle of a softball field, at least 100 yards from any nearby home.

The tornado struck as part of a line of storms that were expected to bring damaging winds, hail, heavy rain and possibly more tornadoes throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Saturday. Across New York state, in Buffalo, strong winds from a broad front of thunderstorms blew roofing off of some buildings and sent bricks falling into the street.

Magnitude 5.6 quake hits Costa Rica (Reuters) - A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck northwestern Costa Rica yesterday, three days after a powerful 7.6-magnitude quake hit the Central American country.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake yesterday was centered 40 miles south-southeast of Liberia, Costa Rica, at a depth of 22 miles.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

Sunday’s Book Review:

Journalist answers Obama’s critics with definitive book

By Dr Glenville Ashby On the heels of “The Confidence Men,” “The Brief Against Obama,” and a slew of anti-Obama books, talk show host and political correspondent, Bill Press, pens a definitive and measured account of the forces behind the invective against the 44th president of the US. Press’ work, “The Obama Hate Machine,” is in some ways, historical - as he meanders through the past - identifying other US Heads of State who have been verbally battered, misrepresented, and railroaded.

This historical foray- the book’s introduction - is the strength of Press’ offering, and an educational treatise in itself.

It is integral to its thematic underpinning - that any president who challenges big business, i.e., corporate big wigs and industrialists, becomes fair play for a well-oiled and well-financed machine. In other words, Obama’s woes are not uncommon.

The author compares the challenges of Franklin Roosevelt with Obama. Roosevelt’s Neal Deal, aimed at tackling the Great Depression with bigger government via infrastructure development, Social Security, and other federally backed financial safety nets, drew the ire of many - in particular - the Du Ponts and the American Liberty League. Roosevelt fought back with political bombast and

weathered the attacks - a trait, Obama is yet to display.

In eerie fashion, Obama, like Roosevelt - has become the target of the oligarchic rich. The billionaire Koch brothers financiers of the Tea Party and right wing think tanks - are today’s Du Ponts. The president is relentlessly vilified, and called a socialist, a fascist - bent on wealth redistribution, and the destruction of the “American way.”

Press argues that while the attacks on past presidents were insidious and duplicitous, the assaults on Obama are unprecedented. His religion, nationality, and political agenda are brought into question. The diatribe is unrelenting - the target of unhinged and rabid right wing elements.

He writes: “After Congress approved Obama’s health care reform, one conservative blogger…. used his Twitter account to make the threat against Obama real and personal.

‘Assassination! America, we survived the assassination of Lincoln & Kennedy. We will surely get over a bullet……’”

And it gets worse.

Clearly, “The Obama Hate Machine” hits the mark - time and time again - avoiding the simplicity of viewing this raging antipathy as purely racially motivated. Sure, racial prejudice is evident, and may have even

heightened the odious language of the president’s detractors.

And Press does not ignore this painful truth.

From talk show provocateur Rush Limbaugh’s reference to Obama as a “Halfrican,” to Congressman Geoff Davis’, ‘That boy…,” remark; and Michael Savages’: “I think that Obama will empower the racists in this country and stir up a race war in order to seize absolute power,” it is crystal clear that the president’s race and ethnicity have raised the stakes.

However, it goes deeper. By examining every charge against the president, and how it measures up to his actual policies, Press has made a case that the real struggle is between economic interests.

Press debunks the right wing hysteria against Obama’s purported socialist agendaexposing its frivolity, if not its downright mendacity. Obama, the author posits - has simply followed his Republican predecessor in the bail out of banks and the auto industry under the “Troubled Asset Relief Program” (TARP).And the much maligned, “The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act” (informally called Obamacare), is a far cry from the socialised screed that many are led to believe.

In fact, the author raises the little known clause in the

legislation that allows states to opt out if they can provide more competitive health care.

Press is analytical and readily credible. Relying less on rhetoric, and more on tangibles, his work could prove influential in the November elections. Even more telling is the subtlety of the book’s prophetic leaning.

At the outset we learn of the abrasive attacks against Abraham Lincoln. He was accused of personal ambition, and having sinister motives. He was called a butcher, usurper, liar, ignorant, braggart, and worse.

After his demise - and to this day - the Lincoln Memorial is arguably the American version of a national religious shrine.

The question remains: Will the American people someday coalesce around Obama’s narrative? Only time will tell.

Dr Glenville Ashby, literary critic -The Caribbean Book Review.

Send submissions for review to glenvilleashby@gmail.com The Obama Hate Machine: The Lies, Distortions, and Personal Attacks on The President and Who is Behind Them.

By Bill Press Thomas Dune Books St Martin’s Press, New York, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-312-64164-1 Ratings: ****:Highly Recommended

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

PNCR renews call for a tri-partite APNU-PPPC-AFC budget committee A Partnership for National Unity has repeated its call for the People’s Progressive Party Civic administration to establish a tripartite APNUPPPC-AFC budget committee.

Leader of the Opposition, Brigadier David Granger, had first issued the call to President Donald Ramotar to establish such a committee in December 2011. He pointed out then that A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change, together, had won 33 seats and the People’s Progressive Party Civic won 32 seats in the National Assembly in November 28, 2011 general and regional elections.

The PPPC never seems to have accepted the reality that the days when it enjoyed the ‘winner-takes-all’ political jackpot are over. The country had entered the era of inclusionary democracy. This demanded a new, inclusive understanding that “we are all in this together” instead of the old, exclusive notion that “we will do it all by ourselves.”

The PPPC, rather than accede to APNU’s request, proceeded to craft and draft Budget 2012 in a unilateral manner. That Budget, failed to give adequate consideration to the majority concerns and, as a result, there was a collision between the Opposition and the Administration in the National Assembly.

The PPPC administration, since December 2011, has continued to demonstrate that it is badly out-of-touch with the reality of the actual needs of the people and the conditions in the country. It has ignored the need to alleviate poverty, reduce the burdensome cost-of-living, increase the availability of jobs, improve the quality of education and enhance human safety.

APNU has always pointed

out that the Budget, like every other, is a plan – a national financial plan. The Budget has to deal with several levels of life – personal, local, regional and national. It has to deal, also, with several aspects of public affairs – cultural, social, political and economic.

The presentation of the national Budget, arguably, is the single most important, annual, parliamentary responsibility. The Budget, therefore, is too important to be left to a single political party. The entire National Assembly has an obligation to deliberate, discuss and determine what measures need to be adopted to ensure the happiness of future generations of Guyanese.

Such a complex plan necessitates real consultation, collaboration, cooperation and consent especially among the representatives of the people who were elected for that very purpose.

APNU demands that Budget 2013 confront the challenges facing the people.

It must provide sufficient opportunities for jobs for young persons. It must introduce meaningful measures to reduce poverty.

It must reduce the cost-ofliving for the majority of the population by reducing the burdensome value-added tax.

It must increase salaries for nurses, teachers and other

public servants and it must increase public assistance and old-age pensions, significantly.

Budget 2013 must provide adequate funding for the University of Guyana, the Cyril Potter College of Education, President’s College and all other institutions of learning in the country. It must provide adequate funding to enable the Police Force to counter serious crime.

It must provide adequate funding to upgrade administrative centres of the hinterland regions in order to improve the quality of life of our citizens living there.

Budget 2013 will succeed and avoid the perils and pitfalls of Budget 2012 only if there is adequate, prior PPPC-APNU-AFC tripartite consultation. The PPPC no longer has the moral authority, credibility or capability to produce a budget on its own. There must be a new, collaborative approach to crafting the national budget if the people are to see real change in their lives.

There is no way the country could move forward with another budget like that of 2012.

Page 9

Dem boys seh

Jagdeo never thief

If Christmas fall pun Good Friday that is unbelievable. If Bharrat wake up tomorrow morning and announce that he giving away all he wealth that he get by magic that is more than unthinkable; and if Donald wake up and fire five Ministers that is a miracle.

A lawyer name Patrice Henry beat all of that. He stand up in court to represent four policemen who get charge fuh beating a businessman.

He tell de magistrate that Guyana police don’t beat people. Well dem boys seh that de statement is like telling de world that Jagdeo never

thief, and that Judas never betray Christ.

De same Jagdeo try fuh hire a con man and pay he US$7 million fuh teach Guyana bout security.

De con man, everybody know he as Bernard Keric, deh in jail and he seh that Jagdeo shoulda deh in de same jail wid he.

Still on de word statement, de Lunch man put out one trying to protect Jagdeo and he house but never did put out statements fuh de people see how dem does share out all de contracts. Dem tell people fuh buy de contract documents.

Dem boys still want see Fip contract, CJIA contract, de secret Marriott contract,

de extra secret Amaila Falls contract, de invisible laptop contract and de contract fuh de hospital wha dem seh special.

Big fat Brazzy draft all dem big contract. Some of de Bees collect dem same contract and de money.

Barbie Jagdeo get almost all dem hospital contract and when people talk he run and cry to de court. Now he gone and cry in America courtyard like Crocodile Dundee.

But in that same court he gun spin round and cry de other side like Dundee Crocodile when dem boys done wid dem.

Talk half and wait fuh de jail part.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Chain saw operator dies in tree felling mishap

The body of Ramrattan arriving at the Parika Stelling yesterday Thirty-two -year-old chain saw operator, Deonanand Ramrattan, of Zeelugt Village ,West Coast Demerara, died on Friday when a tree fell on him.

Reports indicate that Ramrattan was attempting to fell a tree with a Power saw while working on a gold mining location within the ”Mara

Mara” Backdam, in the Puruni area around midday.

Over head branches of the said tree were entangled by vines, unknown to Ramrattan.

These vines were attached to nearby trees.

Instead of falling in the intended direction the tree fell onto him killing him on the spot. His body was

brought out to Bartica the same day and then taken to the Ezekiel’s Funeral Home, yesterday. It is awaiting a post mortem examination.

Members of Ramrattan’s Family were observed in a sad state as they witnessed the arrival of their sibling’s body at the Parika Stelling yesterday afternoon. ( Edward A Persaud )

Sunday September 09, 2012

UGBC donates books to ten organisations

Director of UGBC, Professor Daizal Samad (right, foreground) prepares to hand over the books to the various recipients The University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) in partnership with the Ruby’s Readers Project of North Carolina, USA, donated thousands of books to several institutions in Berbice on Friday.

Recipients included Salem Public Library, Stanleytown Public Library, Port Mourant Community Library, Selected Secondary Schools, IDCE, CPCE, the Felix Austin Police College ‘B’ Division, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana School of Nursing Berbice Branch.

The books were donated to UGBC by the Ruby’s Readers Project and several other US-based organizations and persons. Dr. Jerry Jailall, who handed over the books

to Professor Daizal Samad, Director of UGBC, thanked the many involved in gathering, packing, and shipping such a large numbers of books.

Dr. Jailall said that the inspiration of such help came from the enthusiasm of Professor Samad. According to Professor Samad, “The variety of books is simply stunning. It went from Algebra and Anthropology to Zimbabwean History and Culture. However, not all the books were appropriate to a tertiary level institution such as UGBC. Therefore, we unpacked and sorted the books and donated to others who can most benefit: secondary school children, the police force, nurses, teacher trainees, adult learners, and the general public.”

Professor Samad insisted that “one of the great joys of life is sharing the blessings that we received. Therefore, we share, and are happy for the sharing.”

In referring to Education Month and its theme

“Transforming the Nation Through Inclusive Education”, Professor Samad said, “This is inclusive education in action! And actions count more than mere words.”

The Director praised the work of the library staff, the groundsmen, student volunteers, and IT staff for working hard to make the ceremony a success.

Mr. Sydney Tait, Head of the Stanleytown Community Library; Ms. Janice John (Acting Head of IDCE, Berbice); Ms. Beverley Baker (Head of CPCE, Johns), Mr. Cipriani (representing Port Mourant Community Library), Mr. Bhim Ramkissoon (Teacher of Tagore Secondary), and Assistant Superintendent Bacchus (representing FAPC ‘B’) were profuse in their praise of UGBC’s gesture of generosity.

The event was held on the well-kept grounds of UGBC and was chaired by Mr. David Cort, Administrative Officer.

(Leon Suseran)

Sunday September 09, 2012

2011 Auditor General’s report headed to National Assembly Possibly the most important report on the country’s financial management will be laid in the National Assembly this month-end. Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, and his team are working assiduously to complete the Public Accounts of Guyana on the Ministries, Departments and the Regions for the fiscal year 2011.

This is in keeping with the Audit Act under Section 25 which states, “The Auditor General should report annually, and within nine months of the end of each fiscal year, on the results of his audit of the consolidated financial statements and the accounts of budget agencies in relation to that fiscal year.”

According to Sharma, the deadline for this year’s report is September 30 and efforts are being made to meet this statutory deadline. Next week, he will be meeting with allAccounting Officers (Permanent Secretaries) before finalizing the report.

Sharma said that he is required under the Audit Act to provide the relevant Head of budget agency with a draft report including findings and recommendations. In turn, the Auditor General is provided with a written response within 30 days and it shall be included in the report before being presented to the National Assembly.

Presentation of the 2010 Report to the National Assembly raised eye brows as some malpractices within certain Ministries were revealed. For instance, at the Ministry of Health, drugs at the government’s storehouses were being entered into the system using pencils, with almost $40M in medicine being destroyed at one time in 2010, because of expiry.

Speaking on the implementations of recommendations, Sharma noted that most Accounting Officers try to rectify queries in the previous year. For instance, if there are overpayments to NIS or to a contractor, the Accounting Officers try to recover these so that in the next year’s report this would not be repeated.

He also noted that because of the recommendations issued most Accounting Officers try to answer queries before they are placed in the report. Sharma explained that there may be 30 queries but because written acceptable explanations were given for several, only about 15 are listed in the report.

Kaieteur News

Page 11

No mooring facility at Linden hospital complex to accommodate ‘river people’ Building the state of the art Linden Hospital Complex on Casaurina and Riverside Drives, Linden, was always touted as the best location, considering its proximity to the Demerara River, which provides easy access to residents all across Region 10.

But according to residents living in the riverain communities and West Watooka, it is apparent that no thought was given to erecting facilities for mooring boats, and for passengers to disembark.

Residents of the West Watooka community, which faces the hospital from the Wismar Shore, have complained bitterly about the ‘hardship’ to get to the hospital despite living in such close proximity to the facility.

“Imagine we live right across the river from the hospital, and yet despite the fact that some of us have boats, we still got to pay taxis, sometimes a thousand dollars or more to get to the hospital.

“We got to take the roundabout way across the bridge, and pay these ridiculous fares, when we could easily just cross the river in our boats. That wouldn’t take us ten minutes-

The old boat landing.

And the thing is we wouldn’t have to pay a cent,” a concerned resident said.

There are others that have questioned the wisdom of building a hospital close to the river affording easy accessibility to residents of riverain communities, but neglecting to erect a facility for disembarking and “landing” boats.

Residents of both the Upper and Lower Demerara River communities have complained about this issue.

“Right now when we have a sick to take to the hospital, we have to drive past the hospital, go to one of the boat

landings, and then catch a car from there to get to the hospital. We have to do this.

How you gon get a sick person out of a boat, when there is not even a bridge or anything to walk on?

“The next thing you know you might try getting out, and you and the person in the river, because the place don’t even be clear that you could get a good footing. Is a set of grass and brambles you would got to trudge through.

So it ain’t make no sense stopping there.

“This whole thing is nonsense, because what’s the use you say you build the

hospital near the river, and river people got to moor their boats somewhere else and pay money to catch taxi to come to the hospital?” an Upper Demerara River resident lamented.

In direct contrast to what existed during the early days of the old Mackenzie Hospital, when the riverside was equipped with a jetty complete with steps on both sides, to facilitate ‘river people’, the present modern facility has nothing of the sort.

Only the skeleton of the old jetty dots the ‘riverscape’.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

Cutting EU aid should be resisted, but begging bowl not enough

By Sir Ronald Sanders Except Haiti, all the Caribbean countries that are members of the 79-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group are in danger of losing the level of aid they receive from the European Union (EU) under a differentiated approach being considered by the European Commission. The differentiated approach would make the status of Caribbean states as Middle Income Countries the basis for reducing aid to them.

This is a very serious matter. It is one that should command the urgent attention of all Caribbean governments, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Caribbean Development Bank.

It is not overstating the case to say that EU assistance to the Caribbean for its productive sector and infrastructure is an essential component of government revenues, allowing them to spend on social welfare programmes. If EU assistance is reduced, Caribbean countries can expect to see an expansion of poverty and a

reduction of social welfare programmes, with an attendant increase in unemployment and violent crime.

The one thing that the Caribbean countries have to resist this “graduation” is the Cotonou Agreement – a Treaty between the EU and the ACP that was negotiated in 2000. Under the Cotonou Agreement, the terms of development assistance to ACP countries should not be altered unless there is an amendment to the Treaty when it comes up for review in 2015.

I say “should not be altered” instead of “cannot be altered”, because the EU walked away unilaterally from a “Sugar Protocol” that ACP countries thought was unbreakable. Effectively, the preferential market for ACP sugar in the EU eroded overnight, creating havoc in the sugar industry and leading to unemployment and loss of revenues. It has to be hoped that a similar approach will not be taken by an EU unilateral imposition of its “differentiated approach”.

It is now up to Caribbean governments and their

Embassies accredited to the EU to do the hard work necessary to ensure that the terms of the Cotonou Agreement are not altered in 2015 to allow for them to be “graduated” from the levels of aid they now receive.

The status of most Caribbean countries as Middle Income Countries is the criterion that has been used by institutions such as the World Bank for “graduating” them from eligibility for concessionary loans.

It is also the criterion used in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to deny them special and differential treatment for trade. Thus, under existing WTO regimes, Caribbean countries are treated in the same way as, for instance, the US, Canada, Japan, India and Brazil. In this connection, the EU could try to apply its new differentiated approach in arrangements for Middle Income ACP countries.

If the terms of the Cotonou Agreement are altered in 2015, then the Caribbean countries will fall under the Differentiated Development

Co-Operation Instrument that the European Commission wishes to introduce for more than 60 countries. The only ones that will be spared will be “Less Developed Countries” – the poorest of the poor, and in that regard only Haiti in the Caribbean will qualify.

There are countries in Africa and the Pacific that would be as adversely affected as the Caribbean by the attempt to reduce aid to Middle Income States. These states should be the Caribbean’s natural allies and work should begin urgently to join them to the cause of laying out the case to the EU about why per capita income should not be the only criterion by which decisions on the level of aid should be made.

But in 2003, ACP solidarity was shattered when the 79 member states were divided into several distinct groups to negotiate separate Economic Partnership Agreements with the EU. In this connection, it will be difficult to pull the entire ACP Group together again to resist amendments to the Cotonou Agreement in 2015. Yet, this is work that must start immediately.

The reuniting of the ACP and the rejuvenation and re invigoration of its purposes are essential to the process of standing-up collectively for its member states.

The Caribbean should waste no time in organizing a process of weaving the strands of the ACP into the collective whole they were in the effective negotiations for the beneficial Cotonou Agreement and the Lome Convention that preceded it. .It is these two Treaties with the EU that set the framework and terms for the non-reciprocal trade, aid and investment benefits that have helped to lift ACP countries over the last 30 years.

Worryingly, officials in the European Commission are now calculating allocations to ACP countries for the 11th European Development Fund for the period 2014-2020. If they conduct the calculations and allocations on the basis of “graduating” Middle Income Countries, then the battle to resist amendments to the Cotonou Agreement in 2015 will be lost even before it begins.

This is why the ACP

Sir Ronald Sanders countries should lose no time in organizing a united front to resist the European Commission’s proposal. Solid technical reasoning is as necessary to the process as are vibrant diplomatic arguments and high-level government contacts between the ACP and the EU. The technical work should be carried out by a single Caribbean unit utilizing the best skills available to the region, and it should set out measurable outcomes for the funds that are being requested.

For if ACP Middle-Income countries are to justify why aid should not be reduced now, they must be prepared to show how it will be used effectively to transition to diversifying their economies, enhancing their productive sector, and standing on their own feet. A begging bowl is not enough.

The work must start now to make the ACP cohesive again. The Caribbean, which has much to lose, should be in the forefront of that effort.

(The writer is a Consultant and former Caribbean diplomat) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 13

University freshmen encouraged to “keep the dream alive”

The audience of predominantly freshmen

By Abena Rockcliffe As many move a step closer to attaining their dreams, the University of Guyana (UG) on Friday staged its ceremonial opening at which Vice-Chancellor (ag), Dr Marlene Cox announced that the university will be embarking on a rehabilitation project.

The opening was held at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT) which was packed to capacity.

Dr Cox said that the Caribbean Development Bank and the World Bank are on board to fund the rehabilitation project.

Rehabilitation works are expected to be carried out at both, Tain and Turkeyen Campuses.

Dr Cox’s speech was dominated by words of encouragement to the freshmen.

She explained the demands and sacrifices that come along with the “privilege of being a student of the University of Guyana.”

As she extended congratulations, Dr Cox listed

each of the faculties and asked students to stand as their respective faculty was called.

That exercise revealed that most of the students in attendance were going to be studying one of the Social Sciences. What was also notable was that those entering the faculty of Education and Humanities were fewer, a signal that this academic year will be seeing fewer first year teachers.

The Vice-Chancellor said that those accepted this year have entered at a significant time in the history of the university which is in its 50th year of existence.

Dr Cox, as she explained the demand of UG, cautioned students that they will be faced with “many challenges…but when the going gets tough, the tough have to get going.”

The University-Turkeyen Campus, with a student population of 5,500 and 600 staffers, is considered a community. “I often wonder if Guyana has any bigger community.”

Dr Cox said that she made that point to suffice reasons as to why “we must help each other.”

As if she felt she couldn’t stress enough, the ViceChancellor said, “You must take your studies serious, be curious; challenge the lectures; yet, observe the rules and regulations of the University… and you must

know your rights.”

Dr Cox went on to inform that students now not only have a responsibility to be educated but to be role models, as society looks to those with learning for guidance.

She advised that students should “dream big, think big… but don’t let the certificates,

degrees and riches go to your head. Make UG a better place.”

Registrar, Vincent Alexander’s most salient point came as he highlighted the importance of reading.

He encouraged students to make reading a priority and emphasized that once that has been streamlined; a successful four-year is inevitable. He encouraged the students not to give into dictatorship or lean to propaganda.

He noted that the happiest times during university life should be “each opportunity given to learn.”

President of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), Duane Edwards, who described education as a medium to fulfill one’s larger social responsibility said that it is imperative to “focus” while having the opportunity to peruse higher education. However, he stressed that campus life must be enjoyed.

Edwards pleaded with students to serve Guyana after

completion of University as he cited a survey that showed 89 per cent of university graduates migrate.

“What persons fail to realize is that it is only an ailing person who is in need of a doctor; so while corruption is rampant and there are so many other ailments of society, we need those who are educated,” affirmed Edwards.

The president stated that Guyana awaits its creators and “UG students play the most important role in Guyana’s creation process.”

He said that UG is a socially vulnerable place yet it is educationally fulfilling. He advised students to be careful of the social path they take.

“It is here you will meet persons to start long lasting relationships and most of you will meet your husbands and wives right here,” asserted Edwards.

He, like all other contributors, encouraged students to “keep the dream alive!”

Page 14

Kaieteur News

ImmigrationTALK

Reinstatement of Removal after Illegal Entry

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com In cases where a person was removed, deported or given voluntary departure and re-enters the United States illegally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can reinstate the prior order of removal.

Additionally, the person may not seek to reopen the original order, review the reinstated order, or seek relief from removal.

Usually, Immigration and Custom Enforcement would take custody of the person illegally in the U.S. and hold that person in detention.

When removal is reinstated, the person does not get an opportunity to see an immigration judge.

However, the person retains the right to seek withholding of removal and a claim based upon the Convention Against Torture.

Gail S. Seeram If the person can demonstrate a “reasonable fear” of return then the interviewing officer will refer him to an immigration judge.

Most courts have rejected constitutional challenges to reinstatement of removal procedures.

Thereby, persons who have been removed, deported or voluntary departed from the United States should seek lawful re-entry by seeking permission from the Attorney General for re-entry and filing

the applicable waiver to enter the United States.

Re-entry into the United States may be granted through a family-based petition (filed by a spouse, parent, child or brother/sister) or employment/investor petition.

The waivers are no longer submitted at the U.S. Embassy but since June 4, 2012 are now submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States.

Recently, persons who enter the United States illegally are being picked up through routine traffic stops where an ID is required, working illegally, or booking process in jail when they commit crimes such as DUI or driving without a licence.

There are legal channels to return to the U.S. after removal or deportation – meet with an immigration attorney to discuss these options.

Sunday September 09, 2012

West Dem. Hospital helping to take pressure off GPHC – Health Minister Criticisms will not halt plans to improve the operation of the West Demerara Regional Hospital, according to Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran.

The Minister is convinced that the hospital is poised for improvement in the face of recent heavy condemnations, particularly from the media.

“I think the hospital is doing better but it still faces some criticism...I say it is doing better because the theatre services are working better and the wards are being redone; we are even taking patients from the Georgetown Public Hospital there.”

This move, the Minister said, is characterised by some patients on the public hospital’s waiting list being transferred the West Demerara Hospital. This is especially true for patients suffering from fibroids and hernias, Minister Ramsaran said.

He said, too, that many of the fistulae that are done to facilitate dialysis are also done at the West Demerara Hospital and not at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) as many believe.

This, he disclosed, is strategically done to take pressure off the latter.

A recent decision to twin the two hospitals has come as part of G o v e r n m e n t ’s p l a n s t o utilise its resources more r a t i o n a l l y, Minister Ramsaran said, adding that “we are looking to see how they can synergise...we are even constantly looking at decanting patients who come from Region Three after surgery and such things to better utilise the hospital’s capacity.”

As part of its continued effort to raise the standard of

Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran the hospital, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Health has been helping with renovation works adding that the medical facility has for the past four years been receiving massive investments and massive attention from Government.

This, he said, has allowed for the administration to remove age-old items that could now be disposed.

However, the Minister noted that items cannot simply be discarded from the hospital since the administration could fall foul of the auditors if these items are not properly written off.

This undertaking by the hospital, Dr Ramsaran said, has attracted much unwanted attention. For instance, he noted that a lot of the discarded items were published in the media as unserviceable items but these were in fact items that have not been working for as long as 20 years.

“They cannot be thrown out because the auditors have to first write them off...The Ministry had advised the hospital to move them from prime locations in the facility and put them in other

places and that is what the regional administration and the hospital administration were in the process of doing when it was presented as unwanted and unserviceable items in the media as if the hospital had not been operating properly.”

Minister Ramsaran said that his Ministry has also been directing much attention to the Lethem Hospital where an investigation has commenced into the recent destruction of an ambulance.

Reports are that the ambulance, the property of the Guyana Government, was destroyed by fire.

The incident, according to the Minister, occurred during the latter part of August and the Ministry has since launched a probe to determine who or what was responsible for the unfortunate incident.

However, he noted that within a week of the occurrence the Ministry of Health was able to replace an ambulance in the Region Nine area which is inhabited by mostly indigenous residents.

“On the first day of September which marked the beginning of (Amerindian) Heritage Month the Ministry was able to hand over a virtually new ambulance to the Lethem Hospital...”

“That ambulance was sorely needed and it was definitely a threat to the health services in Lethem and the wider Region Nine and we have solved that problem within days...

We were able to ready the ambulance and take it up very quickly to Lethem...” said the Minister as he amplified the importance of equitable delivery of health services.

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Ravi Dev Column

Federalism vs. Decentralisation Much of the angst boiling over in Guyana, whether, for instance, over policing deficiencies or developmental neglect, comes from the overcentralisation of governmental functions and powers.

This is not surprising in light of the manifest failures of the centralised Colonial State we inherited and the even more centralised authoritarian state created in 1980.

Following the Constitutional Reform process in 1999, the PPP and PNC instituted a Special Committee on Local Government Reform. More than a decade later, the recommendations are yet to be tabled in the National Assembly. But from reports, their aspiration is still ‘decentralisation’. Power, then, will still emanate from a “centre” from which it is expected to flow outwards.

The latter will never happen.

Unless the “centreperiphery” links are given Constitutional protection,

The madness continues just as I warned the people but as I have said repeatedly, no one listens. I spoke of the accident that would become a talking point for the media and again, people did not listen.

History has consigned those warnings to the shelves.

If the people think that it is all over they have to think again. There is going to be another accident because the man who stalks has his eyes set on a specific number of people for the year. He is going to ensure that the numbers add up in the days ahead. One accident is going to occur in the heart of the city at a

through federalist mechanisms, to ensure that the periphery is consulted by the centre, real power will never be shared.

Desmond Hoyte, architect of the Regional decentralisation initiative introduced in 1980, began to loosen up the state functions on his accession to the Presidency in 1985. But both the succeeding administration and opposition rejected Federalism even though the latter later complained about the failure of the regional arrangements.

For instance, the PNC, in its submission to the Constitution Reform Commission in May 1999 had proposed that: “There should be a clear understanding and acceptance that the Regional Democratic Councils and the smaller Local Democratic Organs are part of the Local Government system and not agencies of the Central Government. To this end, therefore, the RDC’s should

now be organized accordingly. They should exercise the power to raise revenues by taxation and otherwise and be responsible for a range of activities in their respective Regions as identified by law. “ The PNC was implicitly recommending the powers and “legal framework” of the RDCs be constitutionally enshrined. If this were to be done, then the only difference in their proposal and that of those who propose the federalist option on the question of allocation of competencies, would be to add the federalist stricture that the central government cannot unilaterally alter the defined powers of the regions.

Passing further “lesser” laws will never keep the centre out of local affairs.

However, unlike the present “regional system”, in a federal arrangement, the powers or “competencies” of each province would be constitutionally defined and

most shocking time. ** A disgruntled man is going to attack his neighbour largely because of a dark suspicion. Financial times have been hard for a number of reasons, one of which was a failure to prepare for the dark days.

This disgruntled man would arrive at the conclusion

that his wife has cast her eyes elsewhere because she has material needs. The police are going to search long and hard after the dust settles. And the nation would be shocked. ** Another major scandal is brewing and one of the leading businesses would be caught in the glare.

A relationship between the head of the organisation and a lowly worker would come to light because a female is going to leak the information to the man’s wife.

The angry wife is in turn going to talk about things that should never have come to light. The nation waits.

changes in the Federal or States powers would have to be mutually agreed on.

The central government would not be able to unilaterally change the power relations as has been their wont the world over.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT The prolonged period of authoritarian government has unquestionably destroyed much of the initiative and competence of the local communities to manage their own affairs. We agree with the renewed focus on the revival of the Village Councils, reportedly contained in the latest local government proposals.

After the abolition of slavery in 1834 the freed African slaves had established several villages on their own initiative. They created Village Councils to run the affairs of their communities. These Councils were the incubators of much of the leadership in the AfricanGuyanese community and formed their links to the county and national Governments. The Councils, through its various committees such as drainage etc., was able to develop local expertise in managing organisations.

The introduction of the

National Democratic Committees that agglomerated several villages into one entity, while on paper may have appeared as a logical progression of the Village Council arrangement, ignored the historical and geographical realities of the village movement. Residents were still focused on problems in their particular village and this focus as reinforced by the geographical fact that the village are strung linearly along the single main road and are each separated from their neighbours by canals.

Indian-Guyanese, by and large, remained on the sugar plantations for another century after slavery and those that moved off mostly remained rural-bound.

The new and massive housing schemes created by the sugar companies from the early fifties, were all centred on the plantations and the affairs of these communities were run by a Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund (SILWF) which perpetuated the paternalistic rule of the “big manager” of the plantation. The few IndianGuyanese villages formed outside the ambit of the sugar plantations, on rented land, did not establish village

Ravi Dev

councils. To extent far greater than the African-Guyanese community they are deficient in the mechanics of running and organising their local affairs.

The Indigenous Peoples were always the most excluded from the running of their own affairs.

Their traditional village structures were undermined by the Catholic Church, which, in a de facto manner, assumed administration over them. Subsequent to the Regionalisation plan, both the PNC and PPP Governments have attempted to resuscitate the indigenous village governance structures.

However the contradictions in the centreperiphery linkages have undermined real, sustained development.

It is time that the federalist option is placed on the national agenda.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

Killing the ex-vice chairman - What happened to Ramnauth Bisram stunned his community… but what happened to his alleged killers outraged a country

By Michael Jordan At around 16:00 hrs on October 26, 2009, a man entered the Lot 11 North Section, Canal Number Two home of former Region Three Vice Chairman Ramnauth Bisram.

The man, a relative, was worried because he had not heard from 55-year-old Bisram.

He would later tell police that on entering the yard, he observed that the back door was open. The relative then entered the four-bedroom house and soon discovered why the owner had failed to answer.

Lying on the floor, in a pool of his own blood was Ramnauth Bisram. He had been stabbed multiple times to the back, abdomen and other parts of the upper body.

A knife, suspected to be the murder weapon, was lying near the corpse.

According to the relative, Bisram’s wedding ring and another ring that he always wore were missing, while a suitcase had also been

ransacked.

News of Ramnauth Bisram’s death soon spread through the community and a crowd gathered at his home.

A team of detectives was there, too, searching for clues about the killers.

There was no sign of forced entry. This led to the belief that the killers had either gained entry through the back door, which was left open, or that the victim had unwittingly let them in.

Bisram, one of the community’s most prominent residents, lived alone, since his wife and four children had migrated to the United States a few years ago.

Investigators were certain that he was familiar with his attackers, and that this was no random crime by vagrants in the area.

There was suspicion that the retired official’s lifestyle might have contributed to his brutal demise. According to reports from villagers and some investigators, Bisram was rather over-friendly with some young men in his community, and would

Ramnauth Bisram occasionally let them visit his home.

Police began to focus on villagers who had reportedly visited Bisram on the day of his death.

A few days later, they had detained Deonarine Rafick, Nouravie Wilfred and a 15year-old boy, who were all residents of Canal Number Two. Police reports alleged that the teenager, Twyon Thomas, had visited the premises to do some work around the house.

The case appeared to be proceeding like any normal investigation.

But shortly after the arrests, an informant provided Kaieteur News with disturbing photographs of the arrested teen. The pictures showed a young man’s badly burnt privates.

Other persons alleged that the lad, who was arrested at night at his home, was taken to the Leonora Police Station, where two police ranks, whom they identified, placed a bag over his head, soaked his genitals with methylated spirits, then set his privates alight.

With his face still covered, he was seen at the Leonora Police Station by a police physician, but was not taken to a hospital.

The boy’s mother and stepfather were not allowed to see him and had no idea where he was being kept.

Relatives of the other detained men also alleged that the suspects were brutalised while in custody by two rogue policemen who were trying to squeeze

confessions out of them.

On November 1, 2009, the country was shocked when Kaieteur News published a graphic photograph of the teen’s injuries. That very day, he was released from custody and admitted to hospital.

By then, police had charged Deonarine Rafick with Bisram’s murder. The accused appeared in court showing visible head injuries.

But shortly after, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered that the charges be withdrawn.

By now, all attention had moved from the murder victim to the three accused and the three policemen accused of their torture.

Sergeant Narine Lall, Constable Mohanram Dolai and Corporal Oswald Foo, were charged with the unlawful wounding and felonious wounding of Rafick and Wilfred.

Lall and Dolai were also charged with unlawfully wounding the teenage boy.

The boy’s attorney, Khemraj Ramjattan, filed a $25M lawsuit seeking damages against the Attorney General of Guyana, the Commissioner of Police, and the two ranks implicated in his torture, Sergeant Narine Lall and Constable Mohanram Dolai. But the victims, Deonarine Rafick, Nouravie Wilfred and Twyon Thomas, failed to appear in court to testify against the accused policemen.

Three years later Ramnauth Bisram’s murder remains unsolved. Will his killers ever be caught?

If you have any information about an unsolved murder or disappearance, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location.

You can also contact us on telephone numbers: 2258465, 22-58491 or 2258458.

You can also contact Michael Jordan on his email address:mjdragon@hotmail.com

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

As time turns the pages, my dream to see tomorrow’s light will endure There were two commentaries in this newspaper two weeks ago in relation to the attack on me in the early hours of August 16 after I left the vigil at the People’s Parliament on High Street and crossed over into Brickdam to go into my car.

There is the view by Mr. Sultan Sattar (“A caution to Freddie Kissoon,” Aug 27) in which he wonders if I have a martyr’s complex or want to die like Walter Rodney.

Then there is my relative, Vishnu Kissoon (“I pray for Freddie Kissoon,” Aug 28) who says that in a conversation with me he interpreted my action to mean that I want to die as a martyr.

I want to boldly state to both of these gentlemen that I do not want to die in the course of my political activism because I want to be around when tomorrow’s light shines brightly on the future of the Guyanese people.

First, Mr. Sattar. He has advised me to stop fooling myself into thinking that I am not the most serious threat to the PPP Government and therefore they would not want to kill me. I thank Mr. Sattar for his concern and brotherly advice, but if one examines the depraved levels of power madness the past ten years under the PPP Government, a critic of the government simply cannot protect him/herself no matter how perfect the security measures are.

There is only so much precaution you can take. The brutal fact of life in Guyana is that power has in its employment deadly and dangerous people that can easily target you once you are involved in political activities.

To keep them off, you virtually have to imprison yourself in your home, thus bringing your praxis to an end. I cannot do that. I am by nature a human rights activist. This is what makes my life worthwhile.

This is the essential me. I would not remain a livable person if my activism comes to an end.

The honest thing is that you hope that no one hurts you, but you cannot look over your shoulders every moment of every day. I think this is what one of my aged relatives misunderstood when we spoke about my security. I honestly didn’t know his first name was Vishnu. I know him as Uncle Patrick from Bent Street, Wortmanville. Yes, I remember talking to Uncle Patrick, and I see his daughter now and then, and we talk.

Uncle Patrick did not understand what I meant when I said that “These people can kill you whenever they want to.” This is my honest opinion. It doesn’t mean that I will throw caution to the wind and go jogging on the seawall late into the evening.

I have witnessed the most horrible and frightening descent into narcotic politics from 2002 onwards in this country, where the State became a criminal venture (to borrow a term from Professor Clive Thomas). In this concatenation of insane power, narcotic politics have been used by State actors to attack their critics.

The number of persons who have died under questionable circumstances without even a modicum of police detective work is simply mind-boggling. And some prominent victims are on the list. The co-owner of

the architectural/ construction firm (Nabi and Sons) that designed the Caricom Secretary was killed on one of his work sites. A prominent banker was shot in his car on the seawall. The warden at one of the UG dormitories was burnt alive in his car on the seawall.

I can cite more than ten other such cases and there has been no arrest. There was this peculiar situation where a rich woman intended to leave a part of her fortune for

her driver. There was an attempt on his life in a driveby shooting. Surely, the police had something to go on. But it is now a cold case. Which Guyanese does not know about the Ronald Waddell murder?

This is what Guyana has become.

My blunt understanding is that death can come to a human rights activist at anytime. I thank Uncle Patrick for his open letter and deep concern for my safety. I want to assure Uncle

Patrick and Mr. Sattar that I am fully conscious of the hate and poison that characterize the use of power in Guyana.

I am fully conscious of how I am seen by those who have lost any reason or sanity. But in the end, Guyana has become a huge political cesspool, where law and justice are things of the past.

In such a condition, as Hobbes puts it, the life of an outspoken activist can be short.

I honestly don’t want to be killed while fighting for my

Frederick Kissoon country. But I will not run. I will not hide. I will try to live to see my dream of a free, beautiful, racially-united Guyana come into existence.

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Sunday Special ADS WERE BEINGAIRED FOR FREE ON NCN Recent revelations by a whistleblower revealed how at least one senior finance official at the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN), placed for free, several advertisements belonging to a heavy equipment company run by a close family member.

Strangely enough, the ads were running as Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on both NCN Channel 11 and the affiliated radio station, 98.1 Hot FM. According to leaked copies of the NCN’s daily radio and television records, the company and that of a prominent internet and cable entity were the only ones listed as PSAs. A well-placed NCN official pointed out that PSAs simply meant that the ads were free.

WERK-EN-RUST MAN PERISHES IN FIRE Residents from the Werken-Rust area two Saturdays ago converged hurriedly at what remained of a Breda Street cottage to get a glimpse of the grisly sight of the charred remains of 55-yearold Anthony Brumell known to most as “Pepe.” Brumell perished in his home in a blaze that started around 10:55hrs.

His reputed wife, Kamarool Azeeze, escaped with a few minor burns. The cottage was divided into two

Kaieteur News

rooms. One was occupied by Brumell and Azeeze while the other was occupied by a blind man known only as “Buddy.” He was not at home at the time of the fire. Even though Lot 79 facilitated three houses, the Guyana Fire Service was able to expertly control the inferno, saving two of the buildings.

Monday Edition CON-MAN’S FEMALE ACCOMPLICE NABBED AT HIGHWAY RESORT Police appear to be closing in on a gang of confidence tricksters that has raked in some $80M from the sale of bogus house lots.

Officials confirmed Sunday night that detectives have nabbed a female member of the gang and that the woman has been spilling the beans on the group that has been operating for about a year.

The woman, said to be the gang leader’s sister-in-law, was arrested last Sunday afternoon at a popular highway resort after a man who had been fleeced by the group recognized her and contacted the police.

A source identified her as the individual who posed as a Housing Ministry employee and collected money from the unsuspecting clients after handing them bogus Housing Ministry documents indicating that their house lot application had been approved.

Investigators have

Sunday September 09, 2012

reportedly collected hundreds of the bogus documents. But the alleged mastermind, who barely eluded police two Fridays ago, is still at large.

MECHANIC DIES IN GOED FORTUIN CRASH

Dead: Kenrick Roach A 27-year-old mechanic was killed last Sunday night after he was struck by a car while riding a motorcycle on the Goed Fortuin Public Road, West Bank Demerara.

Dead is Kenrick Roach, a father of five, of Roxanne Burnham Gardens. Kaieteur News understands that the two vehicles were traveling in opposite directions when the collision occurred. The driver of the car was taken into custody at the La Grange Police Station.

Tuesday Edition JAGDEOACQUIRED MORE WEALTH IN OFFICE THANANY OTHER GUYANESE PRESIDENT – AFC CHAIRMAN Bharrat Jagdeo, while in office, acquired more wealth than any other president of independent Guyana.

This is according to Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman attorney at law Nigel Hughes. Hughes made the observation while singlehandedly taking on two cabinet ministers – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall and Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul – a PPP sympathizer and the Chief Labour Officer, during a recent edition of the National Communications Network-organized public debates on corruption.

Amidst a string of rebuttals from his opponents, Hughes went on to point out that “no other head of state in this country through independence to now…while they were president, made a business of the presidency to acquire the assets that the State owned; not assets they went out on the open market and bought; assets that the State owned, and they then converted and bought below market prices.”

Hughes was mainly referring to the house that the former Guyanese leader now owns at Sparendaam East Coast Demerara (Pradoville 2), which he described as a “Palace”. According to Hughes, Jagdeo managed to purchase prime ocean front land for $5M per acre, an amount way below the market value of such property.

CRIMINAL CHARGES TO BE LAID SOON IN NCN SCANDAL Criminal charges against two under-fire officials of the National Communications Network (NCN) are likely, a Board member has confirmed.

This latest development comes amidst news that Production Manager, Martin Goolsarran, has been suspended for another eight weeks. Goolsarran was supposed to return to work last week but was handed another two-month suspension as public pressure, especially by Parliamentary opposition parties, increased.

A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have called for criminal charges to be laid. Board Chairman, Dr. Prem Misir, on Monday, last, declined to speak on whether criminal charges were likely and asked this newspaper to direct questions to NCN’s Chief Executive Officer (ag).

Michael Gordon.

Following a damning report by specially-appointed auditor, accountant Harryram Parmesar, there has been a major shakeup at the state-

owned NCN, which controls the government’s radios and televisions stations, including 98.1 Hot FM and NCN Channel 11.

Wednesday Edition PHOTOS OF JAGDEO’S HOME COMPROMISE PERSONAL SECURITY – GOVT. The reaction to the publication by Kaieteur News of aerial photographs of the home of former President Bharrat Jagdeo is grossly exaggerated, according to people involved in security measures. Local political leaders also echoed this view.

They were reacting to a statement issued by the Government Information Agency (GINA), on Tuesday.

The statement read inter alia, “The publication of aerial photographs of former president Bharat (sic) Jagdeo’s house and surroundings by the Kaieteur News constitutes a serious breach of security, according to a senior police official who when contacted today (Tuesday), said that such a move was unprecedented and totally uncalled for.” GINA did not, strangely enough, name the police officer.

One political leader said that there have been six presidents before Jagdeo and none of them even considered photographing their homes a breach or a challenge for security.

“In fact, all of them lived in full public view along busy thoroughfares. Desmond Hoyte lived in close proximity to Bourda Market and the Jagans lived in unpretentious

quarters in Bel Air Village.”

LABOURER SHOT DEAD, BODY BURNT AT CORENTYNE CITRUS FARM Police are questioning three men following the discovery of the charred remains of 25-year-old labourer Madan Ramkerat called ‘Rakesh’, on a farm located in an area called Tiger Creek, some 15 miles up the Corentyne River. The three men, a 39-year-old businessman who owns the farm, his 60-year old brother and the brother of the victim, were all taken into custody after they reported the gruesome discovery. They subsequently took police to the scene.

The body reportedly bore two gunshot wounds to the centre of the chest.

Ramkerat was taken to the farm by the owner last week Saturday. He was left there in a camp to overlook what the owner described as a citrus farm. The owner told police that he had taken the labourer to clear portions of the farm which was previously abandoned. One source disclosed that the owner and Ramkerat’s brother returned to the farm Tuesday and reportedly found the camp burnt to the ground.

Thursday Edition GOVT. TO RE-EVALUATE AWARD OF SPECIALTY HOSPITAL CONTRACT Government will be reassessing the award of the US$18M contract to Surendra Engineering Corporation (Continue don page 37)

Sunday September 09, 2012

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My column

Donald Ramotar tweaked my friend’s conscience Almost all my life I have been hearing people say that everyone has a conscience and that conscience could haunt for a very long time. It is the conscience that makes people confess to crimes; lie awake almost all night and cause people to toss and turn; allow a culprit to return stolen articles and even forces people to apologise, no matter how long it takes.

It was the conscience of the descendants of the slave traders that caused the countries that perpetrated the slave trade to apologise to the victims of slavery.

The conscience of the Americans caused them to give a lot back to Japan at the end of the Second World War. The war was coming to an end and the Americans wanted to hasten that end.

The result was that two atomic bombs were dropped on two Japanese cities— Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

These were small bombs by today’s standards, but the devastation was horrendous.

The effects were equally horrendous to the point that for fifty years the survivors were mocked.

People who wore coloured clothing had the image of the colour scheme etched for life on their skin; the fallout from cancer was mindboggling.

The conscience of the Americans caused them to rebuild Japan and today that country is one of the world leaders. I have had my

touches of conscience. I had cause to discipline my children from time to time and on every occasion when they came to me after the episode in all innocence, my conscience would prick me. It is often said that children bear no malice toward parents and to this day, speaking for my children, I firmly believe this.

What brought on this rambling? A friend with whom I had been sharing information on a number of issues told me about an incident in 1986. He was then an activist of the now ruling People’s Progressive Party and he carried deep inside him a naked dislike for the People’s National Congress.

The very People’s National Congress had sent him on a medical scholarship but in his mind, Forbes Burnham had done a lot of damage to the country in general and to people of East Indian ancestry in particular.

So it was that when the now dead President Desmond Hoyte walked up to this young man to shake his hand, the young man turned his back on the president and walked away. I cannot say when this happened and this episode might have been unknown to many.

Almost thirty years later, this young man made a simple request of me. He asked me to tell this story and to express his apology to Desmond Hoyte. Why now?

The young man said that

many things have happened to make him regret his action that day in 1986.

Of course, he remained a valued member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party, working to ensure first of all, that the party assumed the reins of power and then working to ensure that the party remain in power. But a lot changed during the Jagdeo years.

My friend ran into Jagdeo’s friends and his experience was not pleasant.

He spoke of an incident when he sought to buy an asset that has been in the news a lot these days. At the same time, Kaieteur News was peeling the veil from the corruption that was wracking the country. The newspaper was highlighting the faulty contracts, the suspicious transactions; the cases of people being paid to do a job and not doing anything except to walk away with the money.

Kaieteur News also focused on the people who seemed to support corrupt activities. Reporters would approach some of the decision-makers with questions to some of the things happening and would be given the royal runaround.

And while all this was happening, this one-time activist was taking notice.

Habits die hard. When he came up against one of Jagdeo’s friends, although he was in a better position to close the deal, he was denied because Jagdeo refused to

approve of a simple request.

This young man’s mind went back to the day he turned his back on Desmond Hoyte.

The elections of 2011 came and went and all eyes were now on the new kid on the block, Donald Ramotar.

My publisher, Glenn Lall, was one of the people who expected great things from Ramotar. Just recently, he said that he was disillusioned. He was not alone. He had my young friend right on his heels.

The young man said to me that when Ramotar came into office he, the young man, expected to see some change.

Instead, he said that he saw Ramotar install almost the same Cabinet that served Jagdeo and facilitated rampant corruption. He said that such a Cabinet retention is unusual.

When Jagdeo took over from Sam Hinds, who was the transition president when Janet Jagan opted to quit, he made sweeping changes in his administration. He wanted his own people to carry out his programme. Other leaders have always done the same thing.

My friend reminded me that when Desmond Hoyte came to office he swept the Burnham list clean. Among the casualties were the high profile Hamilton Green, Elvin McDavid, Kester Alves and people like Steve Naraine and Ranji Chandisingh. Cammie Ramsaroop was also touched and he opted to resign rather than serve at the political level.

Ramotar has done no such thing, showing that he is prepared to walk in Jagdeo’s shadows. My friend said that he saw Hoyte come

Adam Harris after Burnham and try to eradicate some of the negative aspects of the Burnham administration. The absence of any such action

by Ramotar pricked my friend’s conscience. He said that he realized that he was unfair to Desmond Hoyte.

A pity his conscience did not allow him to apologise in person to Desmond Hoyte.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

Government corruption uncovered!

What is corruption?

Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.

It means that: · Decisions are taken for private interest instead of for public benefit. · Democratic institutions are weakened and legitimacy, public trust and support are lost. · Instead of fair competition based on price, quality and innovation, competitive bribery thrives.

This harms trade and deters investments. · The environment is threatened when environmental protection agencies are corrupt, the very foundations of sustainable development are eroded. · Human rights abuses flourish - as corruption increases, regimes become more secretive, and basic social and economic rights are threatened. · It becomes impossible for millions of people,

especially in developing countries, to earn an honest living.

Many persons have asked why the Alliance For Change is participating in a debate series on corruption that is being hosted by the government-controlled National Communications Network. The answer is simple, when truth is on your side you have nothing to fear.

The debate series offered the AFC an opportunity to do several things - demonstrate

that we were not the type to be intimidated by overwhelming odds and that we have width and depth in the party by fielding different representatives.

At the first debate; the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and claims of corruption, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan brought up the issue of contracts that are awarded to persons with no experience and he gave the road-building contract to ‘Fip’ Motilall as an example.

Neither the government ministers, nor the technical expert and civil society representative, could give a plausible explanation as to why a multi-million-dollar road building contract was given to Motilall, who had never built a road in his life.

In the second debate Marriott Hotel and corruption claims - an interesting point was made by Mr. Ramjattan; why is Marriott not investing its own money in the construction of this project if indeed it is as feasible as the government would want us to believe? The ministers of government and others on the panel failed to provide a plausible answer.

The debate on CJIA Expansion Project and corruption saw several startling revelations - no need for an Environmental Impact Assessment, the government was planning to relocate the residents, the fact that the government was aware since 1994 that they would be expanding the airport yet it still proceeded not only to encourage citizens to reside there, but undertook to regularize their occupation.

Shortly after the debate, residents of Timehri North held a press conference where they said that was the first they had heard of relocation.

Then there was the President’s pension and corruption debate - the government ministers are yet to tell AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes where prime ocean front property can be bought below market value and at the price paid by the former president Bharrat Jagdeo.

Subsequent coverage in the media highlighted the grandiose lifestyle the former President intends to enjoy, all at the expense of poor taxpayers whose tax dollar will be used to staff his palatial home.

Also, a most revealing statement came from Dr.Nanda Gopaul who, in the most bold-face manner said, “What is wrong with a former president or a president seeking to ensure that he lives a comfortable life after his presidency? Especially because we have term limits, knowing full well that you are going to demit office, you must ensure that you look for your future. We must not go from a president to rags,” That statement clearly revealed how the PPP/C government views the Office of the President and also indicates their general belief that it is okay to use one’s office to enrich oneself.

AFC’s General Secretary David Patterson had the

government ministers up in arms when he quoted from the records of the Public Accounts Committee to reveal that the PPP/C never, during the last Parliament, named its representatives to the Public Procurement Commission, thus effectively making it impossible for the Commission to be enacted.

The technical expert was left to fumble his way around to explain why the Constitution of Guyana, where it provides for a Public Procurement Commission, was not being honoured.

During the 2011 Elections campaign period, the issue of corruption was at the top of the list of things Guyanese are dissatisfied with.

Everywhere the AFC went, people were complaining about the manner in which contracts were being awarded, not getting value for money when projects were being done and the blatant disregard by government officials to provide information.

Belief that most government officials were involved in some level of corruption was probably the single-most factor that caused the electorate to vote against the PPP/C and thereby caused the turning point in Guyana politics.

The Auditor General’s most recent report identified a gamut of financial discrepancies and instances of non-accountability that contravene financial management practices. This has been the case of many reports before. Yet, even though these infractions continue to be identified, many government ministries and agencies fail to take corrective measures. It seems that the officials in these ministries and agencies have no regard for the Auditor General’s recommendations and are determined, year after year, to continue with their bad practices. This is an insult to the work of the Auditor General’s Office and contemptuous of taxpayers, whose money it is, that is not being properly accounted for.

SECRET DEALS The veil of secrecy that the Jagdeo administration employed in many of its dealings with local, regional and international companies is fast unraveling to reveal misinformation, half-truths, lies and damn lies. These companies, some with international reputations to preserve, have been providing details that are in direct contradiction to what the PPP/C government officials are saying.

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From page 24 Limited of India to build a specialty hospital at Turkeyen. Construction Firm, Fedders Lloyd Corporation Limited, which submitted one of the lowest bids for the project, has protested the award of the contract.

Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing Wednesday, confirmed that the aggrieved bidder lodged a protest with the procurement entity, Ministry of Health. He noted that this is in accordance with protest provisions under the Procurement Act. “With the provisions in law, I see no other alternative than to have this entire award reassessed and the basis for the protest examined,” Dr. Luncheon stated.

The hospital is being funded with a line of credit from India of US$18 million.

Government intends to staff the hospital with specialists from India to do complicated surgeries, ranging from heart operations and organ transplants to cosmetic surgery. Fedders Lloyd had asserted that Surendra Engineering should have been disqualified as a bidder.

CARPENTER KILLED AS PICK-UP SLAMS INTO CYCLE A father of two met his demise on Wednesday evening at Mon Repos, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), after a pickup slammed into his cycle while he was returning home with his four-year-old son. The victim, said to be a carpenter, was identified as 29-year-old Rajendra Sugrim,

Kaieteur News

called Navin, of 61 North Mon Repos, ECD. His son Lakeram Sugrim known as Krishna was also injured, and was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by public-spirited citizens, where he was admitted.

According to reports, the accident occurred about 18:30hrs. The driver of the pick-up (PMM 607) was heading towards the city.

He reportedly even attempted to escape the scene after hitting Sugrim who was heading in the opposite direction - several feet from the junction near the market, and dragging him along with the cycle. The driver failed to escape after the pick-up did not restart.

Persons then gathered around the vehicle, and police were summoned to the scene.

He was taken into custody and detained at the Beterverwagting Police Station.

Friday Edition TWO REMANDED IN $80M HOUSE LOT RACKET A 19-year-old clothes vendor and a 25-year-old laboratory technician were on Tuesday remanded for allegedly conducting a multimillion-dollar housing scam racket that saw several persons paying thousands of dollars to acquire bogus house lots.

Denita Griffith of Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, and Balkaran Lillie, of 26 North East Grove, East Bank Demerara, made their first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate

Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. The duo was slapped with three charges of obtaining by false pretence.

The police alleged that between May 23rd and June 30th, May 1st and June 5th, and again on June 5th, the two accused unlawfully obtained from Latchmie Manbodh the sum of $380,000; from Benna Stanislaus ($660,000) and from Ramkumar Rajban ( $250,000).

They were not required to plea to the indictable charges.

Griffith’s lawyer, Rexford Jackson, was not in court but another defence attorney, Paul Fung-a-Fat stood for him.

Lillie was unrepresented.

Fung-a-Fat said that Griffith operated her own business as a clothes vendor in Bartica before she moved to Georgetown.

APNU OBJECTS TO PRESENCE OF “PARTISAN” LAWYERS IN LINDEN COI Commissioner for the Inquiry into the Linden Shootings, Justice Lensley Wolfe O.J. has said that they have not been exposed to any statements about the incident and even if they were, that would not influence their findings.

On Wednesday, four of the five commissioners were sworn in by the Head of State, Donald Ramotar.

Justice Lensley Wolfe O.J., Mr. K.D. Knight S.C and Ms. Dana Seetahal S.C, all internationally recognized persons, along with Guyana’s former Court of Appeal Judge, Claudette Singh, CCH. Former Chancellor of the Judiciary and current Chairman of the Police

Complaints Authority, Cecil Kennard, was absent from the ceremony.

At a press conference Thursday, the commissioners spoke about several issues in relation to how the commission will operate.

Attorneys-at-law Euclin Gomes and Gamesh Hira have been appointed to assist with gathering witnesses and evidence.

Meanwhile, APNU’s Member of Parliament, Joe Harmon, raised several issues about the appointment of the two “partisan” lawyers as part of the Commission.

According to Harmon, the two lawyers have close connections with Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Gomes, as a matter of fact, works in the law firm of Nandlall.

According to Harmon, there should have been some form of advertisements for the posts.

He further told Kaieteur News that he does not know on what basis the two were appointed and if they are competent enough.

Harmon said that he did not know how the two were appointed and whether the AG may have had something to do with it. He called for the appointment process of the two to be reviewed.

OUTINGAT HOTEL TURNS DEADLYAS TEEN DROWNS A family outing between cousins turned fatal during a visit Thursday to the pool at the Ocean View International Hotel, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Cyon Peterkin, 17, of 21, Paradise, ECD.

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After being pulled from the pool, the former Bladen Hall Multilateral School student was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead.

Reports are that at 15:15 hrs, Peterkin and several of his cousins visited the hotel where they paid $2,800 for four persons to use the pool which in some sections is up to 11 feet deep. Although there were six persons in the group, hotel staffers said that they could have only accepted four persons to use the pool at that time as it was against the rules.

The young lad, who had changed into his swim wear, decided to test the water with his toes but somehow slipped into the pool. Relatives then frantically tried to get assistance from the hotel staffers.

Peterkin was reportedly pulled out by a hotel occupant, 10 minutes after he went under.

ONE DEAD IN TWOTRUCK SMASH-UP An early morning horrific accident, involving two trucks at Hairuni, on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, has left the driver of one truck dead, and two others nursing minor injuries Dead is 27-year-old Rameshwar ‘Shah Rukh’ Primlall, of 14 Supply, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Primlall was the driver of GPP 2252, which slammed into GLL1645, another truck which was reportedly parked on the highway with a puncture.

According to the driver of the other truck, Orlando

‘Putchie’ Rose, of One Mile Extension, Wismar, Linden, it took almost two hours to free the badly injured man from the mangled vehicle.

Saturday Edition HENRY GREENE, CHILD DIE IN THREE VEHICLE SMASH-UP Former Commissioner of Police Henry Greene and a 10year-old girl, Shaffiya Jamaluddin, were killed at around 09:10 hrs Friday following a three-vehicle smash-up on the West Coast Demerara Public Road near Harlem, seven kilometres from Vreed-en-Hoop.

Reports are that Greene, 58, was driving a white Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) PLL 7411 east along the thoroughfare when his vehicle collided headon with a car PJJ 4812, which was transporting six persons, including the 10-year-old.

The SUV then crashed into a Bakewell distribution truck GJJ 9067. The truck in turn slammed into the car that Greene’s vehicle had struck.

Greene and the young child reportedly died before receiving medical attention at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Those injured were identified as Victor Persaud, a driver employed by Bakewell; Shalim AliMohamed and Dharmendra Prashadmisir, porters with the company; Rahim Kaleem, 45; his wife, Zairoon Hussein; Reaz Kaleem, 18; Shaimoon Kaleem; and Fawaz Kaleem, 15.

They were all treated at the West Demerara Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

Born Loser OLD AUNT CORA Old Aunt Cora went to her doctor to see what could be done about her troublesome constipation. “It’s terrible,” she said to the doctor. “I haven’t moved my bowels in more than a week.”

“I see. Have you done anything about it?” asked the doctor.

“Oh, yes,” Aunt Cora replied, “I sit in the bathroom for a good half of an hour in the morning and then again at night.”

“No,” the doctor said, “I mean do you take anything?”

“Of course I do.” she answered, “I take a magazine.” ************ ELDERLYCOUPLE An elderly couple were driving across the country. The woman was driving when she got pulled over by the highway patrol. The officer said, “Ma’am did you know you were speeding?”

The woman, hard of hearing, turns to her husband and asks, “What did he say?”

The old man yells, “He says you were speeding!”

The patrolman says, “May I see your license?”

The woman turns to her husband and asks again, “What did he say?”

The old man yells, “He wants to see your license!”

The woman gave the officer her license.

The patrolman says, “I see you are from Arkansas. I spent some time there once and went on a blind date with the ugliest woman I’ve ever seen.”

The woman turned to her husband and asked, “What did he say?”

And the old man yells, “He said he knows you!” ************ ICE CREAM An elderly couple was watching television one evening.

The wife said, “I am going to get a dish of ice cream now.”

Kindly, the husband offered to get the ice cream for his wife. “I’ll write it down so you don’t forget,” she said.

“I won’t forget,” the old gent said. “But, I want chocolate syrup and nuts on it. So, I’ll write it down,” she replied.

“I will get you the ice cream. Don’t you worry,” replied the gentleman.

A few minutes later, the old man returned with bacon and eggs. His wife said, “See, I should have written it down because you forgot the toast.” ************ ANNUAL PHYSICAL A woman sat in the waiting room when her octogenarian husband was in the examination room for his annual physical.

After awhile, the doctor came out and said: “Mrs. Garcia, nurse is helping your husband with his clothes and would be out in a minute. As far as I can tell, he is in excellent health for his age. However, I am curious about something.”

The woman said: “Yes Doctor, what is it?”

The doctor said: “During the examination, Mr. Garcia said he was pleased that the bathroom lights came on automatically when he went to urinate in the middle of the night. Can you tell me what that’s all about?”

The woman took a deep breath and said: “Oh no! he’s urinating into the fridge again!” ************ ICE CREAM PARLOUR A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool. After catching his breath he ordered a banana split.

The waitress asked kindly, “Crushed nuts?

No,” he replied, “arthritis”.

Garfield

Non Sequitur

Peanuts

Shoe

Sunday September 09, 2012

Skin Care…. Naturally Many of us have no idea about our skin type and what should be used on the skin to get the glow/complexion like our favorite star. Instead of thinking about trying for the lotions available in the market, which turns to give ‘nil result’, try these simpler tips to give yourself, the sensational skin.

These are more of naturally nourishing, inexpensive and easy to prepare.

Undoubtedly, following these tips would give you best of the results, only after using it at regular basis and at regular intervals. So, be ready to pamper your skin with these ‘natural skin care‘ recipes.

Even your favorite star might be using these tips… in her daily routine!

1. CARING CARROT MASK: Take a carrot, grate and mix it well with one spoon of honey. Apply this all over the face and leave it for only 15 minutes. Now wash and feel the difference after regular use.

2. PUNCH OF A PINEAPPLE: After mashing up well a pineapple slice, mix it with the juice of an orange or a lemon and add all these ingredients with wheat flour. Apply this mixture on the face and neck. Scrub it off after some time, to get fresh and smooth skin.

3. LEMON-EGG PROTECTOR: Whip an egg white till it gets peak up and store it in the freezer for about 15 minutes.

Now add the juice of a lemon and a grated tomato with this.

Apply on the skin; practice the same for minimum of a month to get the soft skin.

4. GUAVA GRACE: Mash one guava; stir it well with the mixture of oatmeal and lemon juice. Apply this now on the face for about 20 minutes and wash it off to see the better glow.

5. SPINACH SUPPORT: Take a cup of raw pureed spinach, and one spoon of fresh cream, mix well all these and apply on the face. Leave it for about half an hour and wash it off to see the charming skin to support your great looks.

6. RAVISHING RADISH TOUCH: Take half grated fresh radish, one spoon of vinegar, one spoon of lemon juice and one spoon of honey. Mix all these ingredients in a glass of distilled water and store in a bottle. Wipe your skin regularly to shrink open pores and reduce greasiness.

7. HEALTHY HONEY TREAT: Mix one spoon of honey with the white of an egg and grated potato. Apply this on the face and let it dry. Wash it off with cold water and feel the magic of freshness.

8. MARVEL MILK TREATMENT: Mix together 50 grams dried pea powder, lemon juice, one pinch of camphor and a little milk. Apply it over the face and leave it for 15 minutes and scrub it off with milk. This is good for treating scars.

9. STRAWBERRY SILKY SOFT: Mix well about 5 strawberries, one spoon of china clay and the juice of a small orange. Apply this on the face and scrub it after about 20minutes with a towel dipped in cold water.

10. TOMATO AND SANDAL PACK: Mix well one grated tomato, one spoon of sandalwood powder and half spoon of china clay. Mix again all these ingredients in rose water and apply on the face, leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it off to feel tightened skin.

SOLUTION FOR LAST WEEK’S SEARCH & FIND

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Country profile: OVERVIEW

Sunday September 09, 2012

MOZAMBIZUE

Since independence from Portugal in 1975, Mozambique has been battered by civil war, economic mismanagement and famine.

A peace deal in 1992 ended 16 years of civil war, and the country has made much progress in economic development and political stability.

Portugal began to colonise the area that became Mozambique in the early 16th century. An anti-authoritarian coup in 1974 in Portugal ended colonial rule and its ten-year war with the Frelimo independence movement.

Mozambican support for armed groups fighting the white-minority rule

President Armando Guebuza governments in Rhodesia and South Africa led to those two countries sponsoring the Renamo movement, which fought Frelimo in the 19771992 civil war.

This conflict, combined with Rhodesian and South African intervention and central economic planning by the Marxist leadership of Frelimo left the country in chaos.

About a million people died in the civil war and millions more fled abroad or to other parts of the country.

An attempt to secure a ceasefire with South Africa in the Nkomati Accord of 1984 broke down, and the government and Renamo eventually began talks brokered first by Christian groups and then by the United Nations.

Frelimo inaugurated a new constitution in 1990 that enshrined free elections, and both sides signed the

resulting Rome Peace Accords of 1992.

Frelimo has won all subsequent elections, some of which have been disputed

by Renamo and smaller opposition groups. Political life has nonetheless remained stable, with Renamo continuing to work within the constitutional system.

The country has emerged as one of the world’s fastest growing economies, with foreign investors showing interest in Mozambique’s untapped oil and gas reserves. Coal and titanium are a growing source of revenue.

Most of the population works the land, however, and infrastructure nationwide still suffers from colonial neglect,

war and under-investment.

The economy suffered serious setbacks when in 2000 and 2001 Mozambique was hit by floods which affected about a quarter of the population and destroyed much of its infrastructure.

Furthermore, in 2002 a severe drought hit many central and southern parts of the country, including previously flood-stricken areas. Poverty remains widespread, with more than 50% of Mozambicans living on less than $1 a day.

FACTS Full name: The Republic of Mozambique Population: 23.9 million (via UN, 2011) Capital: Maputo Area: 812,379 sq km (313,661 sq miles) Major languages: Portuguese (official), MakuaLomwe, Swahili, other indigenous languages Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam Life expectancy: 50 years (men), 52 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 metical (plural meticais) = 100 centavos Main exports: Seafood, cotton GNI per capita: US $440 (World Bank, 2010) Internet domain: .mz International dialling code: +258 LEADERS President: Armando Guebuza Armando Guebuza, from the ruling Frelimo party, succeeded Mozambique’s long-time leader Joaquim Chissano in February 2005.

He won another term in office in the October 2009 elections with a landslide majority.

Frelimo, in power since it led the country to independence from Portugal in 1975, won 191 parliamentary seats out of 250 - enough to change the constitution at will.

Mr Guebuza, seen as welcoming of greater foreign investment, beat his rivals, long-time leader of the opposition party Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, and the head of a new party, Daviz Simango, capturing 75.46 %

of the presidential vote.

Mr Guebuza, a millionaire businessman, is under pressure to provide poor Mozambicans with the benefits of tourism and untapped mineral and energy resources that have started to draw foreign investors, particularly from neighbouring South Africa.

And Guebuza, who made his fortune in the energy, transport and port industries, faces the new challenge of accommodating a new generation that was not born in the liberation struggle nor the 16-year civil war against Renamo.

He was a member of Frelimo’s armed wing and played a leading role in Mozambique’s struggle for independence. As a former interior minister in 1975 he ordered the expulsion of Portuguese citizens from the country.

His predecessor, Joaquim Chissano, became president in 1986 after the death of founding president, Samora Machel. Mr Chissano oversaw a move away from Marxism and the introduction of a multi-party constitution.

MEDIA Television is the most popular medium in towns and cities, with state-run TVM, the only national network, and private STV topping the ratings. Portuguese state TV’s African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are widelywatched.

State-run Antena Nacional radio is a key source of news. Private FM stations operate in most towns. BBC World Service broadcasts to Maputo (95.5 FM), Beira (88.5 FM), Xai Xai (100.9 FM), Nampula (88.3 FM) and Quelimane (95.3 FM).

Dozens of community radio and TV stations are funded by the government and Unesco. Print titles have little influence in the countryside because of high levels of illiteracy.

The constitution protects media freedom, but criminal libel laws deter total freedom of expression. The opposition says it receives inadequate coverage in the state media.

By December 2011, more than 975,000 Mozambicans were using the internet (Internetworldstats.com).

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Victim recalls accident involving former Top Cop Fawaaz Kaleem, one of the occupants of the car, which was involved in the collision with former Police Commissioner Henry Greene, had a vague recollection of what happened before the smash up.

Kaleem, though in a great deal of pain, told Kaieteur News that he recalled seeing Greene’s vehicle coming at a fast rate of speed and as his father swerved the car desperately trying to avoid the tragedy, the vehicle slammed into their car.

Kaieteur News understands that Rahim Kaleem, the driver of the vehicle, and most of the others have been seriously injured.

Zairoon Hussein remains unconsciousness.

Relatives say that the woman is showing no sign of improvement.

Hussein reportedly sustained severe head injuries as a result of the accident.

One relative told this newspaper that Hussein has undergone a number of tests, including a CT scan and they are awaiting the results to determine the severity of the

Rahim Kaleem, one of the injured injuries she sustained.

Tragedy struck as three vehicles collided on the West Coast Demerara Public Road Friday. The collision claimed the lives of former Police Commissioner Henry Greene and 10-year-old Shaffiya Jamaluddin.

Greene was driving a white Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) east along the West Coast Public road when he collided head on with the car which had six people and was traveling in the opposite direction.

Greene’s vehicle then slammed into the Bakewell

truck which lost control and in turn crushed the car. Both Greene and Jamaluddin succumbed to their injuries before they could have received medical attention.

People immediately rushed to the assistance of the injured persons after the accident. They were initially taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

At present, Rahim Kaleem, Reaz Kaleem, Zairoon Hussein and Fawaaz Kaleem are all patients of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

From the Diaspora ...

The myths of the NYPD and Jagdeo’s Bernard Kerik

By Ralph Seeram Why would a Queens District Attorney, the head of NYPD Intelligence Unit, The Queens District leader, the detective squad commander and a reputed mobster meet for lunch in a restaurant known as a hangout for mobsters? The lunch lasted some fifteen hours. And what were they discussing? They were planning on who should be the next NYPD Police Commissioner. Yes the mob was planning to install its police commissioner.

That meeting took place in the early eighties; today many believe nothing much has changed since then in terms of corruption and cover ups in the NYPD. The above information is among many “gems” on the inner workings of the NYPD contained in the book NYPD Confidential written by Edgar award winning author Leonard Levitt. Levitt is a veteran New York City reporter who covered NYPD

for over 15 years. In fact he had a column named “NYPD Confidential” which focused only on the NYPD. His book came out some two years ago, but I just stumbled across it as I was browsing the bargain sections of a store. I started reading early afternoon. Later when my eyes began burning, I looked at the time. It was 1.15 am. The book was so fascinating that I could not put it down.

Then I found a surprise link to Guyana. Yes Guyana featured. Some of you may have read about the link but I will come to that later. The writer, Leonard Levitt, to quote the book’s blurb “wrote the column “One Police Plaza” about the NYPD, for NEWSDAY. He was also a reporter for The Associated Press”, “The Detroit Press”, a correspondent for Time Magazine, and has appeared in Harper’s, Esquire and New York Times Magazine.

Impressive credentials.

As I read the book my thoughts flashed to the

Guyana Police Force, if you think the GPF is corrupt and controlled by politicians, it is nothing in comparison to what this book reveals of the NYPD. The NYPD was more about image than efficiency and honesty.

For instance, former mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, unlike his image, is portrayed a ruthless dictator, spiteful and very vindictive.

He wanted total control of the NYPD, including promotions and appointments to a body that was supposed to be independent.

Giuliani took credit for the work of former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and William Bratton. He formed a security based on his fame that he brought crime down in NYC whereas it was the Commissioners along with some of their deputies that brought down subway crimes and murder rates down.

Giuliani is described as a man not to be opposed or crossed. It was as the old saying goes “his way or the highway”; Police Commissioner Ray Kelly who was doing an excellent job was fired because he did not see crime-fighting the way Giuliani wanted.

It was even worse for Police commissioner William Bratton who succeeded Kelly in 1994... “Bill” Bratton was a successful crime fighter, but also loved the limelight. He “wined and dined” with the elite and celebrities in NYC. This did not sit well with Giuliani. According to the author, Giuliani felt Bratton was getting more publicity than himself. He reportedly told Bratton not to dine at a famous NY restaurant that he

Giuliani visited, and ordered him to stop his press conferences; all releases must go through his office.

This was at the time the NYPD had a thirty-four man public relations department.

He forced the head of that department John Miller a TV reporter (famous for interviewing Osama Bin Laden) to quit.

When Time Magazine featured Bill Bratton on its cover in 1996 as America’s crime fighter it was too much for Giuliani. Two months later Bratton was fired. However through Giuliani the Guyana connection emerged. Enter Bernard Kerik; here was a con man extraordinaire.

According to the writer, Bernard Kerik was a high school dropout with no academic qualifications; his claim to fame was through Giuliani. He was a bodyguard and chauffeur to Rudy Giuliani. That’s it. Through Giuliani he became head of NYC prison systems, and then appointed NYPD Police Commissioner in 2000.

September 11, 2001 happened in the waning months of Giuliani’s term in office. The 9/11 tragedy at the World Trade Center turned out to be a gift for both Kerik and Giuliani. Giuliani’s career and reputation were already sagging, the tragedy placed them in the local international spotlight.

Kerik’s strength was Giuliani, after they were out of office they became security consultants. This is where the Guyana link came in. The pair got underserved international recognition as crime fighters, based on the work on Kelly and Bratton. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo recruited Keirk as a consultant to look into crime in Guyana.

In the book Kerik mentioned the contract was for USD$7M. He was complaining to the author that

he was going to lose the Guyana contract because of ongoing investigations and pending charges of corruption, bribe taking and income tax evasion.

By this time Kerik was being investigated by the Bronx District Attorney and the FBI. Poor President Jagdeo should not feel bad about being conned by Bernard Kerik.

No less a person than the former United States President George Bush nominated Kerik to be the head of the US Department of Homeland Security. Not bad for a high school dropout. By this time the “wall began crumbling” around Kerik; he withdrew his nomination.

Today Bernard Kerik sits in a Federal Prison doing time for multiple offences. Kelly was reappointed Police Commissioner of NYPD in 2002. Bratton went on to head another famous police department, Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD. The writer outlined all the scandals, police brutality, cover up and working of the “blue wall of silence” going back to the days of Serpico, made famous into a movie. It’s too much to detail in this

column but readers can go to www.stmartins.com or Amazon .com to purchase the book. It’s titled NYPD Confidential by Leonard Levitt.

While we are on the subject of police I just read that the former Commissioner of Police Henry Green died in a tragic accident. It was a terrible way to leave this earth, I saw a picture of him being pulled from the wreck, and thought he was alive until I read later he died.

He was controversial and not liked by many, like the above story he was not the first Commissioner of Police to be influenced by the political directorate, and he did end his career on a low note, but that was not reason for some of the nasty blogs I saw written about him.

Only cowards take shots at a dead person. Green had a brilliant career leading up to being head of the GPF and that should not be taken away from him, personally I believe he was set up on the rape charge, and he was certainly not the only police head to take directions from politicians.

Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com

Reliance man found in shallow drain Detectives were on Friday afternoon summoned to the scene where a 10-year-old discovered the body of 44year-old Ganeshwar Parbattie, a/k White Boy, of Reliance Village, Essequibo Coast.

Parbattie was discovered lying face down in a shallow trench by his ten-year-old son. It is believed that the man may have drowned.

The labourer was described by his wife as an alcoholic. Youwattie Gopaul

explained that she last saw her husband alive during the midday hours on Friday.

She said that later Friday, moments after she sent her ten-year-old son, Ravindra Gopaul to purchase something at the shop, he returned to say that her husband was seen lying motionless in a nearby trench.

The mother of four said that one of her relatives later summoned the police. Parbattie was said to be an epileptic.

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Taxi driver remanded for ice pick robbery A 27-year-old taxi driver who allegedly went on a “robbing spree” with his hired car was placed in state custody last Thursday, after facing the court for reportedly robbing one of his passengers with an ice-pick.

Marvin Harte, of Annadale, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not allowed to plead to the indictable charge of robbery under arms.

Harte, on Monday last, allegedly robbed Dennis Mundo with an ice pick. The alleged robbery took place at Supply, East Bank Demerara.

Harte reportedly took from Mundo a pair of “Nike” shoes, a silver chain and two cell phones, a Blackberry included. The items totaled $70,000.

The police said that on the day in question, the accused was driving a hired car given to him by a 44-year-old woman to work as a taxi.

They said that at the time of the incident, the victim was awaiting transportation on the Grove Public Road when the accused reportedly stopped his hire car vehicle in front of the complainant and asked him if he was travelling.

The complainant reportedly entered the car after accepting the driver’s offer. The police said two other persons were seated in the back seat of the car when the complainant instructed the driver to take him to Sarah Johanna.

The police reported that the accused was approaching Supply when he stopped his car and went into the back seat of his vehicle, while one of the men previously seated in the back seat exited the car to facilitate the driver. The accused reportedly placed the ice pick at the victim’s neck and demanded the man’s valuables.

After relieving the complainant of his articles, the accused threw the man

out of the vehicle and drove off. The victim later reported the incident to the Timehri Police Station and after tracking the vehicle, PMM 5564, the police detained the accused.

Attorney-at-law Paul Fung-a Fat made a bail application for his client. He argued that the complainant was unaware of who robbed him since there were other persons present in the vehicle. The lawyer thus requested bail in a reasonable sum for his client.

The prosecution however refuted Fung-a-Fat’s claim and said that its information differed from the attorney’s since Harte was positively identified by the victim at an identification parade. They also argued that the accused had similar matters in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court after he reportedly committed robberies on several persons in the same manner on the East Coast.

The accused was remanded to jail and ordered to make another court appearance on September 21.

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Works Ministry still assessing infrastructural damage in Linden Works Minister Robeson Benn has stated that his Ministry is still in the process of assessing the damage in Linden.

The Minister said that his team has completed assessment and estimates for some of the damage, including the Kara Kara Bridge but within another week everything would be completed. To date, he said, the team is still to assess the works on some roads which were badly damaged over the Wismar shore.

Once all of the assessments have been completed and the estimates submitted Benn said the next move will be to secure funding for the rehabilitation works.

Before the month-long Linden protest had come to an end Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira and Works Minister Robeson Benn had stated that all of the damaged infrastructure in Linden will be rebuilt.

The two officials were at the time responding to questions from members of the media during President Donald Ramotar’s visit to the

community. During the monthlong protest in the mining community numerous buildings were destroyed by fire and there were numerous infrastructural damages.

Teixeira had said that it is estimated that it will take millions of dollars to rebuild and it is their hope that they will get the support from the Opposition in Parliament when the time is right. Teixeira had also stated that the works which will be needed in the community will have to be done through supplementary funds which the Parliament will have to approve.

“We hope when we take

this to Parliament that we will get the support from the opposition.”

Minister Benn had also said that given the attempt to burn the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge his team will have to carry out some works to ensure that the structure is not in any way compromised. He added that only recently $202M was spent on repairs to the bridge.

During the protest which resulted in three persons being shot and killed and dozens injured, several roads in and around the community were dug up. The Kara Kara Bridge was also damaged.

Page 54

Kaieteur News

FOR RENT Taxi Base rental at a popular West Side Hotel Call: 638-1627

WANTED Canter Driver $ 25,000 Weekly, Porter $17,000 Must be from W.C.D, Call: 684-8231 One experience Graphic Artist. Call: 233-2725/2332439 Upholstery workers, sewing machine operators, joiners.

Call: 220-3175/616-4403 Skilled carpenters and mason Call: 615-7526 Sewing machines operators, clippers/pressers/porters Call: 222-2541 Live in waitress Call: 3320845 Live in domestic Call: 6272733, 220-9301 Office clerk, CXC English/ Mathematics, computer knowledge an asset. Call: 225-4492,225-9404 Experienced cook & Driver ( part time ) Preferably from East Bank area, Call: 2335450 for interview Labourers for wood concession 4,000 per day, accommodation provided, call: 653 – 6236 1-Accounts clerk, experience: VAT,NIS & PAYE Call: 614-4358 T.S.I, Eccles Industrial Site.

1 Handyboy to work in the interior Call: 688-0197 Security officers male & female; salary $2,000-$2,500 daily, depends on qualification. Call: 680-0515 One salesgirl, one cleaner/ packer for shop on E.C.D, Age 17-24, salary negotiable Call: 615-8121 Attractive females who are interested in becoming waitresses and bartenders Call: 226-7054 Family to live and work on farm, near East Bank Public Road. Free House Call: 6117777 or 226-0011 One Salesman with driver’s license, salary plus commission. Call: 641-4626 / 220-1500 Live in couple, driving an asset Call: 610-2978 after 6pm.

One nanny Call: 677-7123 One porter, one Sales Clerk, Call: 225-2313 Drivers and Porters, apply at Survival, Lot 10 Vlissengen Road Live in waitress, age 18-25 yrs, salary $50,000, boarding & lodging free Call: 610-5043

WANTED Driver /salesman with clean lorry driving record, security guards. Call: 266-4427 1 male to look after layer birds in the interior Call: 688-0197 1 Part time cook, for variety of dishes; restaurant experience an asset. Call: 2251787 for interview Attractive live in waitress to work in bar, age 18-30 years, attractive salaries Call: 3270252, 674-4665 One live in Domestic, Call: 658-9495 Required: One Maid, should be good in cooking. Contact: 227-4799, 223-5451

Prime Business spot; bottom flat on the main road, Logwood, E.C.D. Call: 2563769 / 677-8600 Land and building for rent 13,000 ft at Peter’s Hall Public Road Call: 233-6161, 651-8870 One business Place and House, tel: 276- 0818 Property Lot 15 New Heaven, Bel Air for US$2,500 and Lot 198 Lamaha Gardens, Bel Air for US$2,000 Call: 600-4664, 644-1300 Apartment Near Grove Public Road $40,000-45,000 Tel: # 644-5151 Paulines Hair Salon, 177 Charlotte Street, Hairdressers barbers chairs & nails tables to rent Call: 679-1579, 680-1969, 233-5495

1 experienced cook, must be over 35 years, 2 waitresses, contact: 638-3925

Coolers for rent Call: 622-4271

1 General Domestic- Must know to cook also, East Bank area, call: 614-4358

Office space South Rd $3500US, Town to country 627-7390, 225-0854

Dispatchers, Cleaners, wash bay attendant ( apply) Sheriff Taxies Service. Call: 6551717/638-8452

Diamond $25,000, $50,000 Call: 225-0854, 686-9888

One live in/ live out Maid 668-3985, 253-3149, 264-3356 One cook & one cleaner, must know to cook Call: 6477432/223-5798 One CLEANER to work 3 days a week, between Unity Area Call: 623-3231 1 Salesgirl to work in Snackette, age 18-25, 1 kitchen assistant. Call: 226-2320 Persons to work in kitchen to fry cutters Call: 225-0963, 626-0189 1 planner operator, 1 portable sawmill operator & labourers Call: 619-9143, 221-2196 Drivers to work labour lorry at L.B.I estate, call: 628-1756 / 228-5655 Jetman & marck man. Call: 616-8512 Excavator operators, diesel mechanic, service men to work in the interior Call: 2269768 between 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Attractive waitress, apply to Chilly’s Bar Call: 667-7380 A family (Labourer/general domestic) to work at Resort in Present Hope Parika Call: 226-9492 Domestic Help between ages 30-45. Must be able to work flexible hours. Preferably from E.B.D Call: 226-7352 Male & female to work in electronics store, Apply @ Guyana Variety Store & Nut Centre 68 Robb Street.

EDUCATIONAL ACADEMIA: CXC lessons forms 1-5 & Adults. Only $1000 per subject per month.

Call: 600-3775 Princeton College, Forms 15, CXC adults classes for slow learners, reading classes for children Call: 6905008, 611-3793 Imperial College- Register Now. CXC 2013. Fulltime/ Lessons/Adults classes.

Excellent Results Call: 6835742, 227-7627 Enroll now at Double B’s school for cosmetology courses as low as $5,000 each Call:676-4556,649-2930 Community College, Seats available at forms 2,3 and 5, Pay only $28,000 per term at form 2. Call: 227-0218 Introduction to Esthetic course.

Pedicure, Manicure & Facial. Basic makeup application by overseas therapist starting Sept. 17th. Call: 696-2295 / 618-8536 PARTY RENTAL Trampolines and Bouncy Castle Call: 225-2598, 6410784 MASSAGE American style massage service Call: 609-4036

FOR SALE One 150 Jailing Scrambler, Price $140,000 Call: 642-1305, 264-2954 SAMSUNG CHRONOS 7 LAPTOP INTEL CORE i5, 8GB MEMORY, 750GB HDD, 14'’ LED HIGH DEFINITION, WINDOWS 7.

NEW / SEALED $180,000.

TEL: 683-3161 Nars lipgloss, blush & eyeshadow, Elizabeth Arden eyeshadow (Single & Duo).

Tel: 669-8374.

Clean garden earth and bobcat rental, excavating clearing and leveling Call: 616-0617, 663-3285 The Children of the World musical CD. Positive messages in songs, Full Range Record Bar Call: 267-1565 Dewalt 12’’ single bevel metre saw, American toilet seat ½ price, 1 pair 40mm weber racing carburetor Call: 2224158 Heavy duty 3PH and single PH entrance switches 400 watts wind chargers cheap Call: 222-4158 GPS System map 76 Brand Gramin, price $95,000 Call: 600-0036 STOCKS ARRIVED. PLAYSTATION2 Systems, games, controllers, memory cards etc, Great Bargains.

Max 609-8132 ORIGINAL GAMES FOR PSI, PS2, PS3,PSP, Xbox & Xbox360. Also Nintendo64 systems & controls 609-8132 (Max) 5 Clarke Forklifts 20004000lbs lifting imported USA, need basic servicing, sold as is $400,000 & up. Call 6214000, 690-6000 Projection television from 40’’ to 80’’ minor problems, sold as is, price $75,000, make cash offer Guyana Variety Store.

Call: 227-3939, 621-4000 Yamaha motorcycle YBR 125cc in perfect working condition $200,000, check Guyana Variety & Nut Centre 68 Robb Street Call: 225-4631 SDMO Generator (Mitsubishi ) engine 28 KVA Diesel silent with 400 gallon storage tank in working condition $1.4M Call: 6906000 SDMO Generator (Mitsubishi) 28 KVA Diesel silent with 400 gallon storage tank not working $650,000 Call: 621-4000, 690-6000 SDMO Generator (Mitsubishi ) 28 KVA Diesel silent with 400 gallon storage tank not working $550,000 Call: 621-4000, 690-6000 FOR SALE / RENT American Pool Table Call: 277-0578

Sunday September 09, 2012

FOR SALE Massey Ferguson Tractor 290. Full working condition.

Just overhauled & sprayed; tel # 618 – 7530.

FOR SALE 1 225 KVA Generator, 1 Hiace Canter, Premio, 3 light towers, car batteries Call:624-2000

10 acres of lease land at Kuru-Kururu suitable for Poultry Farm, call: 692-6239

Roofing Shingles 15-15-15 Fertilizer Call: 266-2711, 6094594

Leading Technology, Toshiba Laptop-wholesale & retail Call: 648-6600

Lighting plant generator (5500W), (5000W), ($175,000), ($165,000), 2 Diesel tanks 275 gallons each, prices negotiable Call: 678-0224 258-0070

Brandnew American made Crosely 10.5 cu ft Refridgerator for sale $75,000 Call: 697-5677 Dachshund with terrier mix Call: 680-0192, 216-3408

Toyota Starlet EP71 Call:6482075 Imported Umbrellas 10ft & 12ft Call: 645-0870

New Generac 2700 PSI & Honda 3100 PSI Power pressure washer Call: 6148564, 680-0862

Going cheap 1400x20R foreign used truck tyre Call: 648-2413

Massey Ferguson tractors model 188, Honda ATVS model 500,2012 Call: 6886274 or 691-3851

Games for PS2 $900, PSP $900, Xbox360 $2,600, PS3 $2,600 Call: 265-3231, 6722566

Pallet jacks 2.5 ton, power tools, car mats, car seat covers etc wholesale & retail Call: 614-8564, 680-0862

Male enhancer Viagra $4,000, 4 in pack Call: 638-1627

Prestige car alarm keystart with LED screen 27,000 Xentec H.I.D lights 8000k slim baliez call: 661-6793 Granite, various colors, size 2x8 with backsplash, generators & cement mixers Call: 223-0943 Mon-Fri 9am4pm 65 kVA, 1 ph Deutz air cool gen set. Tel 622-3940 2 adults Rottweiler and mixed pups $3,000 each Call: 677-0294 Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stove timers, gear boxes, pumps etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Tibetan Terrier mixed with dachshund puppies, 6 weeks old Call: 225-5486 MAC STUDIO FIX POWDERS $7,900, SACHA 2in1 $2,000 MAKE UP – top Brands, BLACK OPAL $2,700 Tel :647 -1773

1 Auto Darkening welding helmet, New Chicago power tool, belt sander “4 x 24”, tel: 627-9825 Land tillers Honda new $160,000, Shredding machine with 11 HP Honda battery start $400,000 Call: 678-0224, 258-0070 19Ft Bass tracker, boat with trailer in excellent condition Call: 223-0943 Mon-Fri 9am4pm Craftsman weeders with 4 stroke engine (new) $50,000, 1-4 HP Yamaha outboard engine (new) $280,000 Call: 678-0224, 258-0070 Massey Tractors- 265 $2,800,000, 275 $3,000,000, 285 $3,200,000, 298 $3,200,000, 399 $5,800,000, Welding generator $380,000 Call: 678-0224, 258-0070 1 400lb Ice machine, 2 polar freezers, 1 complete music set Call: 609-8260, 690-1864

G-Touring Wagon PLL series price $ 1.280, call: 629-5727

Caterpillar backhoe low hour 426c Model, double jackhammer compressor, briggs, straighten roller compactor Call: 233-6161, 651-8870

Plant for Sale OAK ( Casuarina) Call: 638-5191/ 219-0604

ATV Yamaha Raptor 450, fully race ready Call: 6156600

Exotic Hibiscus, Roses, Mussaenda, B/Ville, Ficus, Marigold, Periwinkle, Petunia, Herbs, Vegetable seedlings, A.K Plant Shop.

Call: 260-0005

Earth delivery at spot also bobcat & excavator rentals Call: 626-7127

L 15 HP Yamaha ( Long Foot), Tel: 689-5254/643-0332

Pioneer car deck with Bluetooth and drive port $2900 up Acer laptops $90,000. Call: 661-6793 / 6672482 Energy saver bulbs, call: 6411127

PERKINS ENGINE Foreign used, direct from England, 4&6 cylinder also 6 cylinder cummings Call: 653-7654 Pure breed German Shepherd pups, one German shepherd mixed wit rotweiler 5 months old Call: 682-2148, 655-8674 (Continued on page 56)

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column Accept tiny flaws and find peace DEARABIGAIL, My husband and I have been married for just under a year, and frankly, the “newlywed period” is not necessarily as sweet and easy as I expected it to be.

I guess part of the problem is that every relationship I’ve ever been in prior to this one has ended (obviously) so I find myself scrutinizing things that could be blips - for example, a couple of months without sex - for evidence this

relationship will go bad. It’s kind of (ticking) my husband off. He doesn’t think our problems are not that serious.

So maybe it really is just me.

First Year Dear First Year, Discuss it with those you trust, by stating: “I have a lot of insecurities about my marriage, and I find it really difficult to discuss this stuff with you.” If you don’t think you can say it in person, call or leave it on a voice mail. It’s essential that you start telling the truth.

Your hesitation to speak and accept uncomfortable truths is part of the problem in your marriage. Be honest.

Consider, too, that your husband doesn’t want to talk, he just wants to be - with you, and without being picked apart.

You can choose to trust that you’re together for good reasons, and choose to let that guide you for a while at home.

Start creating warm moments with your husband instead of retreating into your doubts.

Sunday September 09, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): A short and sweet conversation early in the day will plant the seeds for some interesting ideas in your head. These should blossom over the course of the day. Your mind is in an especially curious phase right now, and it will love digging into these new options or schemes. ****************** TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Someone who holds some power over you might have a vested interest in discouraging you from moving forward with your goals -- but they can't stop you, and that's what is important. ******************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): If you've been playing a totally flirtatious game with a certain sassy someone, be aware that it may need to come to a screeching halt today -you're about to find out that they aren't exactly as available as you thought they were! It's not worth your energy to chase after something that you'll never have. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): If you are going to be at a party or a big social networking get-together tonight, do not spend all of your time trying to score points with that certain cutie or influential person. ******************** LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): One of your friends is being extremely indecisive right now, and it could be delaying some exciting social plans. Light a fire under them today and let them know that everyone is waiting for them to make up their mind and commit to a date, location, or some other important detail. ********************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): You can change the minds of some influential people today -- all you have to do is get a little bit of face time with each of them. ********************** LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Wanting to try new things is admirable, but today you should just talk about new things. The same old topics of conversation just aren't cutting it -- so it's time for you and your conversational skills to move into newer, greener pastures. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): This is not a day to gloss over unusual minor details. If something brings up a red flag -- no matter how small it may be -- you need to pay attention to it! ********************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Sure, you know that you're totally right on about how to fix a problem everyone's freaking out about, but your ideas are going to fall on deaf ears right now. ***************** CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Today an average exchange of ideas will generate a sublime experience in your life, so be open to talking to anyone at any time. *********************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): Today, you will be synching up with a lot of different types of people, and they will stimulate your creativity. *************** PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): The greatest thing about the energy you'll be feeling today is that it will give you all the focus you need to take the most complicated ideas and make them simple enough for anyone to understand.

Page 55

NCN board examines role...

(From page 3) wider probe and for the police to be called in at the state entity and for charges to be laid against Sattaur and his deputy, Goolsarran. They have also accused the NCN of pursuing a policy of being partisan to government coverage. NCN reportedly also offers shooting and packaging programmes which were also not reflected in the daily log records and were probably siphoned off in the alleged racket.

According to NCN insiders, upper management kept such a tight lid on records that very few persons knew of the deals that were being made with advertisers.

There was even one case where a popular television

music host reportedly exchanged harsh words with NCN’s management after cheques that were paid by sponsors were “deliberately” used to offset other clients’ accounts.

Fortunately for the music host, he was a good keeper of his records and as such was able to prove that his accounts were up-to-date.

What has also been startling was the seemingly scant oversight responsibility paid to NCN’s operations by the Board of Directors. Two top officials including Dr. Prem Misir both sit on the board…Misir is the Chairman.

There are also questions about a deal between NCN and another television station over the showing of cricket

matches from Sportsmax, a Jamaica-based television channel, that has the rights to sporting events transmitted throughout the Caribbean.

The local representative for the Sportsmax channel is NCN and a deal was made for the other channel to show the IPL cricket but the records of the deal and the payments were either not clear or missing.

NCN is currently running a series of debates on corruption. These debates have been accused by the opposition parties of being heavily loaded to favor government. A Partnership For National Unity, the largest opposition has refused to participate.

DTV CHANNEL 8 09:25hrs. Sign On 09:30hrs. Turning Point 10:00hrs. Kickin’ It 10:30hrs. Lab Rats 11:00hrs. The Ultimate SpiderMan 13:50hrs. Movie: The Lizzie McGuire Movie 16:00hrs. Movie: Of Two Minds 18:00hrs. Catholic Magazine (Faith in Action) 18:30hrs. Know Your Bible 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 21:00hrs. The Good Wife 22:00hrs. Movie: The Craft 23:30hrs. Sign Off NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 05:00h - Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 05:00h - Timehri Maha Kali Shakti Devi Mandir Presents Krishna Bhajans 05:15h - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents 05:30h - Queenstown Masjid Presents Quran This Morning 06:00h - R. Gossai General Store Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:15h - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:30h - Muneshwar Limited Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:45h - Double Standard Taxi Presents Krishna Bhajans 07:00h - Ramroop’s Furniture Store Presents Religious Teachings 07:30h - The Family of The Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Krishna Bhajans 07:45h - Sankar Auto Works

Presents Krishna Bhajans 08:05h - Sa Re Ga Ma (Musical Notes) A Live Call-In Program 09:30h - L’il Masters 10:30h - Sunday Morning Fiesta Live with Angelica & Nadine 11:30h - Guyana’s Entertainers Platform 12:00h - Hinduism in a changing world presented by Pt. Ravi 12:30h - LET’S TALK with LAKSHMEE 13:00h - DVD Movie-: DAAL MEIN KUGH KAALA HAI (Eng: Sub:) *ing Jackie Shroff, Veena Malik, Vijay Raaz & Anand Balraj 15:30h - L’il Masters 16:00h - Teaching of Islam 16:30h - L’il Masters

17:30h - Ganesh Parts Presents - BHAGAVAD GITA ( Discourses in English) Serial 17:45h - Birthday Greetings / Death Announcement & In Memoriam 18:00h - Lil Masters 19:00h - Geet Gaata Chal Live with Joel 20:00h - Indian Soap - Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 20:30h - Indian Soap - Rab Se Sohna Isshq 21:00h - Indian Soap - Pavitra Rishta 21:30h - Indian Soap:- Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuyien 22:00h - Indian Soap:- Punar Viivaah 22:30h - Sign Off with the GAYATRI MANTRA

Page 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 09, 2012

(From page 54) SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Sabita - Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/ 223-8115/662-6045.

PROPERTY FOR SALE One wooden and concrete building situated at 250 Coldingen E.C.D $5.5M Neg. Call: 229-6577, 654-9767 Prospect $12M, Eccles $20M-30M, Lamaha Street $22M, Queenstown $79M120M Diana 227-2256, 6269382 Nandy Park Luxury home, pool, jacuzi, master bedroom, $1M US. Call: 6727390 / 225-0843 Transported land, wooden & concrete house situated at Lot 18 Zeskendren Mahaicony East Coast Demerara Call: 221-2737 Lamaha Gardens $48M , Continential Park luxury home US$1M Call: 225-0854, 686-9888 1 property at Diamond New Scheme, price $23M Negotiable Call: 612-2697 Parfait 2 storey 3 bedroom $19M, Diamond 2 storey 3 bedroom $18M Town to country 672-7390,225-0854 Diamond 1st Bridge 2 bedroom flat $19M, Diamond luxury home 4 bedroom $55M Town to country 672-7390, 225-0854 House & Land for sale located at lot 29 Malgre Tout, West Bank Demerara (Residential area). Call: 2642449 / 613-5076 Happy Acre luxury home $55.5M, South Ruimveldt 2 storey $10M Call: 672-7390, 225-0854 South Ruimveldt 3 bedrooms $19M, Robb Street Business property $58M Call: 6727390, 225-0854 Robb Street Business property $40M , Durban Street 3 bedrooms $21M Call: 672-7390, 225-0854

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School, First Federation Building Call: 225-4858, 6445166, 622-2872, 615-0964 DATING SERVICE Immediate link-Singles 18-80 yrs. Confidential: Tel: 2238237,648-6098. 8:30am-5:00pm Mon-Sun (Both phones same hours) NO TEXTING

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Mahadoe’s Construction, reliable services for your building, contact Tony Tel 618-3523, 669-7376. For free estimates and plans.

Marriage, Visa forms & other legal documents Call: 2253070, 686-4994 Online research services for research / long paper assignment etc. Contact: 6694257 School bus service (big bus) from Mahaica to Georgetown. Call: 228-5604 / 665-5343 T.B Designs Inc, we offer: Engineering drawings, house plans & estimates.

Contact: T. Boodhoo on 6259883 / 675-9296 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units Call: Lindon 6411086, 694-2202 We refill HP cartridges for $1800 Call: 650-7699 Buying, selling, renting & constructing. Call: 672-7390 / 225-0843 Pups for adoption, tel: 6170959 Cruiser transport 4x4 pick-up service + mechanic & mining for hire, anytime, anywhere, right now Call Steve, 6749547,653-6687 ONLINE SHOPPING NO COMMISSION, WEEKLY S H I P M E N T S , AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX. TEL: 231-5789.

FREIGHTLINKEXPRESS@ GMAIL.COM WE FILL OUT PASSPORT & VISA FORMS: USA, UK & CANADA TEL: 231-5789 Anyone needs bus for contract? Then Call: 615-3203 Looking for land to setup gold and diamond mining operations? Call: 223-1719 Get registered now IKS Services, 223-1719, Security, office help, sales/marketing, cooks, drivers.

DRESS MAKING 6 Weeks classes in designing and sewing Call: Sharmela 225-2598, 641-0784 Enid Dressmaking Classes elementary to advance, 66 Sixth Street Albertown Georgetown Call : 223-9106, sewing also done here

VEHICLES FOR SALE 1 AT 192, 17’’ Rims, Alarm, CD Player, Mint Condition $1.3MCall:613-7553or664-5594 Unregistered Fielder & Cami $2.3M. Call: 641-1127 Hilux! Hilux! Hilux!. Just arrived Toyota Hilux Solid Axle Pickups. Excellent condition Call: 623-0243 Toyota Raum PPP Series $1.350 Call: 617-7113 Toyota Runx 4WD, Mags, music $1.8M Call: 617-7113 One AT 192, Price $850,000 Call: 42-1305, 264-2954 2004 Mazda RX8 PNN Series $1.8M Call: 617-7113 Jags’ Auto. IRZ, VVTI, Manual Buses, Raum, Rav4, Cheapest. Call: 616-7635 New Honda TRX500 (475cc) foreman Call: 225-0370 Tacoma Parklights & Bumpers, BMW Parklights, Toyota BB Rear lights. Call: 643-6565 Blowout Sale!! Unregistered Toyota Allion, New Model Raum & bB (Scion). Fully loaded & cheapest. Call: 6436565, 226-9931 Toyota RAV4 1998 Model PLL Series Call: 663-8556 1 Nissan Long Base Canter GNN Series Call: 653-6098 1 BKK RZ long base, excellent condition, owner leaving country Call: 6153203 2005 H2 Hummer sut model, fully powered, leather, 22’’ rims system price negotiable 645-9977 Stretch Limousine Limcoln town car, perfect condition, perfect for rentals, wedding etc, realistic offer accepted.

Call: 621-4000 2009 Trident car, brand new, never registered $950,000, Guyana Variety Store & Nut Centre 621-4000, 227-3939 Grand Cherokee Loredo Jeep, automatic power windows locks, projection led lights cash $1.4M Call: 621-4000, 690-6000, 2273939 Mercedes Benz S300, automatic luxury car, fully leather, fully powered 19’’ negotiable armoured $3.5M cash. Call: 621-4000 PEN PAL Female 30 yrs, American Citizen looking for male friend, send profile & full body picture to P.O Box 101702.

HEALTH HIV/AIDS! Are you infected? Help is available, Results Guaranteed Call: 6396054, 691-7070

VEHICLES FOR SALE Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 622-1610 One enclosed Mitsubishi Canter, excellent condition, price $1.4 M negotiable, call: 253- 3349, 695- 6945 Canter for sale GPP Series, very good condition Call: 682-4224 Leading Auto Unregistered Allion, Premio, Spacio, Runx, IST Call: 677-7666, 610-7666 1 Allion, 1 IST, 1 Rav4, 1 45150 Leyland Daff, 1 55-210 Leyland HIAB Call Archie 624-1343, 664-2755 Unregistered Tundra tt 100 and Tacoma Call: 265-2103, 645-9860 Sale! Sale! 2 & 3 ton canter, open back & enclose, unregistered Call: 220-2345, 642-7295 Honda Civic 2003, 17" rims, HID, TV/DVD, reverse camera $1.9M Call: 652-5668 1 Mitsubishi Lancer, 3.5 ton open back canter Call: 6269254, 264-2582 Leading Auto Unregistered, Toyota Tundra 2004 Loaded Call: 677-7666/610-7666 GX620 Honda Welder Generator, 20HP, 14.9kw, 614cc, 270 amps, 2002 Toyota Tundra Call: 611-5114, 2204495 Toyota 02 Tundra 2WD, Single cab, not registered $2.3M, excellent condition Call: 612-8879, 678-2819 1-BKK RZ long base, excellent condition Call: 2683572,652-0709 Just arrived 2 Toyota Tacoma extra cab, 1 manual & other automatic/ year model 2006 Call: 263-7166, 660-1269, 6166007 1- Noah, unregistered $2.5M negotiable , 1- Toyota Wish $2.850 Tel: 648-6869 One 4 doors Hilux pickup (Toyota) and one mini Cooper Call: 263-7166, 6601269, 616-6007 Spacio New Model, unregistered, $2.5M Call: 6210956 1 Toyota Verossa, Excellent condition, low mileage PPP series Call: 678-0456 1 Toyota Harrier $3.5M, 1 RAV4 2002 Model ACA21, 4 doors $3M Call: 231-7837 8am-4pm 1 EP71 Starlet, 1 Toyota 192, 212, Ceres, G-Touring wagon, AT 150 Corona, 1 Nissan E24 Van , Alteeza PMM Call: 6445096, 697-1453 One Honda CRV PKK 9384 (Grey). First Owner; call: 6125356

TO LET Fully furnished 1 & 2 bedrooms apartments AC, Hot water, internet US$40 nightly. Contact 231-6721 & 674-8300. Long & short term Top Flat $70,000, Subryanville US$1500, Water Street US$40,000, Ogle $100,000 Diana 227-2256, 626-9382

CAKES & PASTRIES Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery, tel: 670-0798. Also Wedding dresses for sale.

LIBRARY Sale! Novels, Texts, UG, others from $100 to $3,000 Call: 2238237

Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles Call: 6797139 One 2 bedrooms furnished apartment, parking & Wifi & Short term for foreign Call: 222-7891 or 609-9202 4 Bedroom house next to new, A/C, Hot/Cold, large parking US$1,800 Monthly, Happy Acres ECD Call: 2317839 8am-4pm.

Public Road Herstelling bedrooms, $70,000 furnished $100,000 Call: 612-8879, 6782918 3 bedrooms, 1 laundry room apartment, fully furnished all amenities US$1,200, Unfurnished US$900, Location Granville Park ECD Call: 609-6890 FOR HIRE 1 Hilux 4x4 pick up, not for interior Call: 644-8402

LAND FOR SALE

CAR RENTAL Premio, Vitz; call: 679-7139 FABS RENTAL, cars & SUV rental, call: 600- 6890 or email fabsrental@yahoo.com Aidan’s car, pick up & canter rental Call: 698-7807 PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL, cars from $4,000 per day Call: 643-5122, 656-0087

SALON Make up courses, artist trained & certified in Trinidad: 660-5257,647-1773 New Classes in Cosmetology, nails & makeup Call Abby 216-1950, 6665241, 619-7603

1 ½ acre, 48ftx1300ft V/Hoop Call: 627-9351 Transported Land For Sale at Chateau Margot, call: 2201695 Nandy Park 60x100 $12M, Diamond land with foundation $5.5M,$3.5M Town to country 672-7390, 225-0854 Diamond 17 St. corner lot $4.5M, Diamond $4.8M,$3M, $8M Town to country 6727390,225-0843 Vreed-en-Hoop house lots Call: 658-0115 At PLN. Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D, Area: 39,382 sq ft.

Suitable for business or house lots Call: 264-2515, 689-7569, 678-4892, 684-5561 Craig 60x800 $22M, Samantha Point 100x200 $4.5M, Regent Street US$2M Call: 225-0854, 686-9888 32 Acres for sale, Lot 5 Content Mahaicony E.C.D, $256,000.00 (USD) Call: 813319-4219 or rpooran@ tampabay.rr.com $1.5M down payment, large land @ Bagotville, W.B.D. great for farming and residence. Call: 614-0036, 2231719.

VACANCY Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff Street needs supervisors, evening cashiers and cleaners Call: 227-5286-90 Driver for party rental service, within the vicinity of Parka to V/Hoop, must be able to work flexible hours.

Tel # 638-1627 Be part of our world class customer care team . Phone: 220-0401-3 or email: recruitmentguyana@ qualfon.com One trainee/refrigeration technician Call: 231-0655,6838734 Vacancy exist for: Security, Cook, Kitchen Assistant, Delivery man. Contact # 2185120, 218-5121, 218-5122 Couple to live in and work at Resort in Essequibo River Call: 226-0240 One gardener/handyman to work in Georgetown residence Call: 226-0240

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 57

“Can West Indies really win ICC World T-20 2012 in Sri Lanka?”

Colin E. H. Croft T-20’s are not unlike Tests, except that games are played at a much more frenetic pace, with much shorter time to think, even much less time to execute. However, that old competition adage still exists: “The race is not for the swiftest, but for those who will survive the longest!”

Already, cricket luminaries, like “Dada”, India’s most successful captain, Sourav Ganguly, with vast experiences in T-20 cricket – 77 games for Kolkata Knight Riders, Lancashire CCC and Pune Warriors have called West Indies ‘favourites’ to win ICC World T-20 2012. But could that become reality?

Last week, massive favorite at London 2012 Paralympics, South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, “Blade Runner”, lost the T-44 200 metres race when he was odds-on to win. Indeed, in one heat, he established a new world record; 21.30s. Yet, when it counted most, in the final, he did not win!

Ironically, “Blade Runner” accused eventual winner, Brazil’s Alan Oliveira, of using incorrect, or illegal, blades that supposedly made

Oliveira taller than he should have been, allowing him to better elongate strides, to win.

The jury is still out as to the correctness of Alan’s blades, but, Oscar lost!

FYI, despite useless noises over the last decades, West Indies has won only three world limited-overs championships since oneday competition was introduced back in 1970/1.

With easily the best team in that first competition, West Indies won 1975’s ICC inaugural 50-overs World Cup. With an even better team, we repeated, winning 1979’s ICC’s 50-over World Cup too.

For 1983, however, as even more overwhelming favorites than the previous two competitions, expected by all opponents to ‘threepeat’, West Indies faltered badly at the final fence, to unfavoured India.

Cricket games are not played on paper! Favourites do not always win!

West Indies last international limited overs success was September 25, 2004, such ancient days now.

Our representatives, highly un-fancied and not expected to progress, beat England, that competition’s favourites,

thus winning 2004’s ICC 50overs Champions Trophy; another favourite team upset!

For ICC WT-20 2012, on paper, with extensive contracts and experiences, West Indies sounds like a good unit, but it should be noted that every cricket game is played in the head and on the field!

Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Randin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Smith seem a good combination of youth and experience. Can they win?

Yes, West Indies certainly can win at Sri Lanka 2012. Will

they win is a very different matter all together!

The hosts will be a tremendous handful. Unlike West Indies, who failed to take advantage of known home conditions in ICC 2007 50-over World Cup, and ICC WT-20 2010, in the Caribbean, failing to even get to semifinals in either, expect the Tigers to shine at home!

Captain Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Tilikeratene Dilshan, all-rounder extraordinaire Kumar Sangakkara, with returning mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, would be looking to avenge 2010!

Sri Lanka was one semifinalist in 2010’s tournament.

The others were England, the eventual winner, Australia, the favorites back then, whom England surprisingly beat in the final, and that other world cricket enigma, Pakistan.

Immediately, any of these four can also win WT-20 2012!

England’s 2010 captain, Paul Collingwood, has retired from international cricket, while Kevin Pietersen’s present impasse with England & Wales Cricket Board will take more than just word to correct.

However, England is

Golden Jaguars battle to hard fought draw...

From back page in proceedings.

However totally against the run of play, Guyana struck back thanks solely to the Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson/Trayon Bobb partnership, which would go on to torment the hosts for the remainder of the game.

Firstly Richardson took advantage of fumble in Salvadoran midfield. He broke away on the counter-attack, slid a pass to Bobb who slammed home a superb long range left foot strike from just outside the 18-yard box, into the top off the net, past the outstretched glove of El Salvador keeper Dagaberto Portillo. This sent his team mates and support staff into pandemonium as the Jaguars scored their first official player goal of the qualifiers.

That feeling of ecstasy was immediately short lived however, as La Selecta made it 2-1 right after kick-off.

Gutierrez was again into the action, as he crossed down the right flank into the path of number eight (8) Osmael Romero, who charged forward from mid-field and slotted home in the 21st minute. The Jaguars central defence be-

came lethargic and were punished for seemingly switching off at a crucial transition phase of the game.

The remainder of the first half closed out in frenetic Gung-ho fashion for both teams, with El Salvador slightly more composed in mid-field possession while Guyana continued to aim to catch the hosts on the counter attack.

As the second half resumed the telepathic Richardson/Bobb combination would once again link to devastating effect.

Richardson who had one of his best games for the national team, playing in the trequartista/playmaker position, sent a delightful through ball into Bobb’s path. With the defenders flat footed, Bobb only had the keeper to negotiate and he obliged once more, to bring the Golden Jaguars back level on the night.

The final 30 minutes saw both teams create further opportunities to win the game, but each side failed to secure a winner as the game petered out to a draw.

Two of the more notable chances occurred firstly in the

71st minute; when Salvadoran number 16 Jamie Alas, hit a long range shot that hit the top of the cross bar. While for the Jaguars in the 73rd minute on the counter attack, Chris Nurse made a long pass from mid-field into the path of substitute Dwain Jacobs, whose cross across the face of goal was barely smothered away by the keeper, before arriving right-winger - Ricky Shakes came in to make his shot.

Speaking after the game a clearly proud national coach Jamaal Shabazz stated his clear pleasure with the result.

“I am very proud of the team coming out with a point in what were difficult conditions. We played as a strong united force and got some great individual performances from some guys. Richardson and teenager Bobb stood out as a picture of selfless work and a team comes first ap-

proach”, praised Shabazz He continued: “I was overwhelmed when at the end of the game the entire El Salvador stadium who were hostile to us during the game gave us a standing ovation after the game. That touched me deeply and it’s a moment I will cherish in my football life.

Our boys bought into the tactics and we got a good result, tomorrow is another day”.

On the next match day; (September 11); Mexico will advance to the next round and clinch first place if they defeat Costa Rica. Guyana will be eliminated if they lose to El Salvador and Costa Rica defeat Mexico.

SEPTEMBER11TH, GROUP B FIXTURES: Guyana v El Salvador Providence Stadium, ProvidenceMexico v Costa Rica Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

defending champion. Most of that 2010 winning team is still intact. Now led by tenacious bowling allrounder Stuart Broad, England, ranked No. 2 by ICC, would take some beating!

Australia is so competitive at sports that its teams are always threats, even if playing beach hopscotch! Venerable wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has gone, but another such veteran, Michael Hussey, still remains.

Returning 2010 captain Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, David Warner and David Hussey certainly augment this team well.

Australia is ranked No. 9 by ICC on paper, but cricket is played on a park!

If Pakistan was to play with cohesion, normal ability and mercurial nature, they could win regularly. No-one expected that 1992 ICC World Cup win, even beating New Zealand in its own backyard, Auckland. Present captain Mohammad Haffez, Abdur Razzaq and Shahid Afridi will do their best to repeat here!

South Africa holds ICC’s No. 1 WT-20 ranking. They deserve it, but captain AB De Villers, indomitable Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, almost indestructible Jacques Kallis,

Colin E. H. Croft Dale Steyn and his young under-study, Wayne Parnell would certainly have knowledge of only one other thing remaining on their minds.

Ranking is one thing; winning a world event is quite another too. Having never won any ICC world competitions while being favorites to win a few, the Proteas will be shooting to correct that now!

MS Dhoni’s India is another team that could surprise here. Almost all grizzled veterans, Gautam Gambhir, Harbajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan will want to end their careers in glory!

No. 5 rated West Indies can win ICC WT-20 2012, but will have to survive to beat all other teams! Enjoy!

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Sunday September 09, 2012

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 59

Rupert ‘Choppeye’ Gordon - Guyanese footballer extraordinaire Statistician Charwayne Walker continues his series on footballers who represented Guyana over the years. Today we feature Rupert Gordon.

Georgetown has always been regarded as the hub of sports activity thus relegating the achievements of Berbicians to obscurity.

Despite this, sports stalwarts out of the Ancient County have etched their names into the annals of local sports history as in the case of Rupert ‘Chopeye’ Gordon, a footballer out of merit.

In December 1978, at the tender age of 15, Gordon represented Guyana at the Senior International Level against a touring Russian Textile Union team. The local team, led by Earl O’Neal lost the match but Gordon would have gained invaluable knowledge and experience.

One year later, the ‘Kid with the Thunder Legs,’ as Gordon was dubbed, became an integral part of Lennox Arthur ’s arsenal when Guyana engaged Trinidad and Tobago in a home and away encounter in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-19 Championship shortly before donning national colours in October 1979 against Suriname in the Inter Guiana Games. The selectors persisted with the

young talent and in 1980 Gordon earned a place on the team for the International U19 home and away encounter against Suriname and once again Guyana was eliminated in the first round.

In August 1980 when he was merely 17 years old, Gordon was included in Guyana World Cup Squad to face Suriname but was relegated to obscurity in the shadows of other high caliber players, the likes of Clyde ‘Oiler ’ Watson, Clyde ‘Wooly’ Forde, Roger Alphonso, Neville ‘Zipper’ Johnson, Ashton Taylor and Bunny Anthony. He was subsequently dropped from the team after that tour.

Although he scored consistently for the now defunct, Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) in the Inter Corporation Football tournament and Western Tigers in the Demico League in 1981 and 1982, he failed to regain his place since the local selectors failed to select a national team.

Later on, in 1983, Guyana returned to International Football but the only players out of the Western Tigers Club that were considered were Pug Wilson (coach), Leonard Williams, Gerald Williams and Julian Moe. The following Year, Lennox Arthur assumed the helm of the

Rupert Gordon (right) in action against Cuba. national team from Wilson, while Rupert Gordon returned to the National line up against India at GCC Bourda.

Gordon returned to national duties in August of 1984 and was spectacular in the World Cup Qualifiers against Suriname in Paramaribo and at the GCC Ground Bourda. His last International in 1984 was also against Suriname in November at GCC Bourda where Arthur’s men drew both matches 1-1.

In 1985 Gordon returned with a force and played an integral role when Guyana defeated Cuba in a two match

series played at Bourda and followed up in another international encounter when Guyana defeated French Guiana 1-0 in their own backyard in the C.F.U Championship.

Guyana then played an inaugural International encounter at Base Camp Ayanganna where the Dutch team eliminated Guyana from the C.F.U Championship 1-0.

Gordon’s final international match was in 1985 against French Guiana at Camp Ayanganna where the local team registered a 1-0 victory.

In 1986 the Western Tigers ‘Thunder legs’ contested an International Series against Barbados in July at the GCC Ground, Bourda and that match ended in a 2-2 stalemate. He wrapped up the season in 1986 with a thrashing over a Venezuelan Select X1 at Camp Ayanganna where Guyana, led by Anthony Williams, secured

victories in the 2 match series by 6-0 and 7-0 respectively.

Gordon commenced his international programme in 1987 with a 3-1 victory over the Bahamas in Nassau in an Olympic Qualifier. He then featured in a Guyana 3-1 victory over St. Lucia in Castries in an International Friendly and supported those performances in 1987 with a 2-2 stalemate against Barbados in Bridgetown. The dapper footballer said that he experiences a sense of bitterness when he remembers this encounter after his best friend and club mate, Julian Moe, was arrested at the airport for trafficking in a banned substance.

Following the Barbados debacle, Gordon went on to play an integral role in the destruction of the Bahamas 40 in an Olympic Qualifier return fixture at GCC Bourda.

His efforts were not enough and Guyana was eliminated

from the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The local squad next engaged the Dominican Republic at the famous Bourda sward and Gordon was the star of the evening.

He created openings for the strike trio, Lannie Maxwell, Frank, Alphonso and Adrian Forde and Guyana went on to procure the honours 4-0. The local team then registered a 1-0 victory in the return fixture in Santo Domingo.

Although Gordon scored in his next international encounter against Trinidad and Tobago at Camp Ayanganna, Guyana suffered a 2-1 defeat.

Gordon was also Terrence Archer ’s deputy when Guyana lost two back to back Olympic Qualifiers 6-0 and 30 against Guatemala in their hometown in October 1987.

‘Thunder Legs’ last outing in national colours was December 3, 1987 at the Municipal Stadium in California where Mexico mauled Guyana 9-0 in an Olympic Qualifier. The national footballer was among several other ballweavers that absconded after the Mexico thrashing in Los Angeles.

During his illustrious career, he participated in several international tours including Trinidad C.F.U under 19 Championship (1979), Trinidad International Friendly, Suriname World Cup Qualifier (1984), French Guiana C.F.U Championship (1985), Bahamas Olympic Qualifier, St. Lucia International Friendly as well as other encounters in Dominica Republic, Guatemala and Los Angeles.

(Charwayne Walker)

GT&T HONOURS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE NATIONAL PARKS COMMISSION

On Thursday last, GT&T’s Public Relations Officer Allison Parker presented a newly refurbished Benab located at the western end of the National Park to Ms. Yolanda Vasconcellos of the National Parks Commission.

This facility will be of great daily benefit to all persons who use the Park and particularly so to athletes and lawntennis players.

The GT&T had committed to assist as part of their giving back to the community.

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Sunday September 09, 2012

All set for Furniture “Squash has done so well for this country...”

World Cycle race today - Ansa McAl CEO, Beverly Harper says A number of questions are expected to be answered today when the cyclists pedal off for the inaugural Furniture World 50 miles cycle road race organised by the Flying Ace Cycling club. The race, which is expected to bring together all of the top riders in Berbice, will pedal off from in front of the popular Furniture World establishment at Main and King Street in New Amsterdam and race to No 35 Village before turning back in front of The Nand Persaud Business establishment and head back to its place of origin.

A grueling encounter is expected between top cyclists Neil Reece and Dwight Holder. Holder has been in top form so far for this year with three consecutive wins, missed the last race due to unforeseen circumstances, while Reece returned to form

and rode brilliantly to win handsomely. Thus today’s encounter is expected to bring out the best of the two men.

A part from the two riders, one should not overlook other riders in Elijah Brijadder, Ray Millington, Wasim Hassnu and Rohan Persaud who are always among the top finishers . Top female rider Marica Dick is expected to take charge among the females.

The race is being staged against the scourge of Domestic Violence and will see prizes being awarded to the top six finishers, the first six beginners along with the top veteran and female rider.

There will also be six prime point prizes up for grabs.

The females and beginners will pedal off from Adventure on the downward journey. The coordinator is Randolph Roberts.

Members of the successful Junior Squash team pose for a photo opportunity with their sponsors, Ansa McAl Limited at the Georgetown Club, Friday night.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ansa McAl Trading Limited, Beverly Harper believes that Squash has repeatedly made Guyana proud. She was speaking at her company’s Reception for the successful Junior Squash team that won the Caribbean title.

“Squash is dear to my heart. Squash has won for 30 years on the principle that if you represent your country, you must go back and raise up the youngsters. Squash has done so well for this country, I am so proud of our junior and senior teams,” Harper said.

“They cleaned up (at the tournament), it was embarrassing. Suffice it to say, that for 30 years our Squash has been at the helm of Caribbean Squash; for 30 years, they have always been on top of their game and it’s

because everybody puts back,” she continued.

Harper then announced a bonus of an extra $100,000 on a $200,000 outstanding commitment to the Guyana Squash Association (GSA); “we have a cheque for you for $300,000 because you did so well,” the Ansa McAl CEO told the gathering.

President of GSA, Andrew Arjoon then reiterated that the tradition of giving back to Squash has been going on since he was a teenager.

“I would like to thank Ansa McAl for their generous contribution; I would like to recognise Ms Harper for her contributions over the years. Her support has been unwavering. As a youngster, I was thought values as such as not arguing with referees etc.,” Arjoon noted.

He said the sport benefits

from both the moral and practical wisdom from its elders. Ansa McAl Smalta Brand Manager, Anjeta Hinds said that the young team are true Guyanese heroes, stating that Smalta “have your back 110 million percent.” Guyana won its eighth consecutive junior title at the Caribbean Area Squash Association’s (CASA) Junior Squash Championships.

The Girls’ team also became seven-time girls’ team champions; team captain, Mary Fung-A-Fat finished the tournament with an immaculate record, winning all her matches in the Girls Under-19 Singles and the Girls’ team tournament. She was recognised for her efforts along with Under-17 Boys Singles Champion, Nyron Joseph. (Edison Jefford)

Williams-Azarenka...

From page 62 tournament, Azarenka has faced a couple of difficult challenges. To get to the final, she needed back-to-back three-set wins over defending champion Sam Stosur and French Open titlist Maria Sharapova. Those two matches took a combined 5 hours, 5 minutes - only 92

minutes less than Williams has been on the court over the entire tournament.

Azarenka is 1-9 lifetime against Williams, with her only victory coming more than three years ago in Miami.

More recently, she lost 6-3, 76 (6) in the Wimbledon semifinals, then 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals at the Olympics.

Murray beats Berdych to reach final (Reuters) - Britain’s Andy Murray produced a masterful performance in atrocious conditions to beat Czech Tomas Berdych in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Saturday and edge closer to his first grand slam title.

With both players struggling to control the ball in near gale-force winds at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Murray regained his composure after dropping the first set and made the necessary adjustments to triumph 5-7 62 6-1 7-6 after a four-hour battle.

“It was some of the hardest conditions I’ve ever played in,” said Murray.

“And I come from Scotland, so that’s saying something.”

Murray will play the winner of the second semifinal which will resume today between Serbia’s defending champion Novak Djokovic and Spanish baseliner David Ferrer in the final after their

Djokovic and Ferrer semi-final halted clash was halted due to a severe weather warning with fourth seed Ferrer in the ascendancy, serving for the first set at 5-2.

Murray is bidding to become the first British man to win a grand slam singles title since Fred Perry won the U.S. Open in 1936 when tennis was still played with wooden rackets and in long trousers.

The Scotsman has played in four previous grand slam finals, the U.S. Open in 2008, the Australian Open in 2010 and 2011 and Wimbledon this year, but lost the lot, raising questions about his mental strength on the biggest stage.

But he silenced a lot of his doubters when he won the gold medal at the London Olympics this year and has continued his great form at Flushing Meadows over the past fortnight.

His match against Berdych, who upset Roger Federer in the quarter-finals, was delayed for an hour and a half because of wild morning storms, including a tornado that made landfall in Queens, the same New York City borough where the annual tournament is held, then was reduced to a lottery because of the strong winds.

Both players repeatedly had to abort their serves as the gusts caught their ball tosses and were forced to slow down their serves just keep them in court.

Murray dropped his serve in the first set when he agreed to replay a crucial point after his cap was blown off his head, distracting Berdych as he scrambled to get to a drop shot.

A handful of other points were delayed when scraps of litter were whipped into the

air current and Murray had to replay a serve in the second set after a blast of wind toppled his courtside chair and scattered the contents of his bag on the playing service.

Berdych took the opening set after 77 minutes but became increasingly frustrated as the match went on. One of the biggest hitters in the game, he was unable to unleash his full power and made a whopping 64 unforced errors, while Murray was far more disciplined, making just 20 unforced errors.

Murray ripped through the second and third sets and appeared to be on his way to a comfortable win when he opened up a 3-0 lead in the fourth before momentarily losing his way.

Berdych broke back and forced a tiebreaker. He led 5-2 and got to set point but Murray rallied back to win 9-7 and move through to the final.

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

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No place for empty rhetoric; sports officials must be action oriented More than one week has expired since Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar, apparently embarrassed by the Olympics achievement of ‘lesser Caricom mortals,’ Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada, awoke from his lethargy and read out the riot act to the heads of local sports organizations signaling his intention to initiate strategies to curtail their lax approaches to sports development.

The intensity of Mr. Kumar’s scathing revelations suggests a sense of urgency in addressing those concerns in Guyana’s bid to field a formidable presence in the 2016 Brazil Olympic Games and raise the hopes of sports lovers that at last someone in authority is prepared to take the proverbial bull by the horns to initiate the appropriate change of fortunes.

From all appearances, Kumar’s advisers were on cue and he was subsequently influenced to say just the right things. Since then, the deafening silence out of the National Sports Commission (NSC) or relevant sports

bodies on this matter, has seem to suggest another impetuous and erratic outburst that, like previous ones, have raised our hopes only to die a natural death without an affirmative of tangible input.

Ever since the culmination of the London Olympics there has been an outcry for explanations from the relevant authorities of Guyana’s dismal showing.

No one wants to take the blame and there have been vicious exchanges between officials of the NSC and the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA) with each entity blaming the other for the poor returns of the local team. Mr. Kumar’s attempt at a forensic examination was belated, but soothing to those anxious for a pragmatic approach towards the elimination of future embarrassments.

Naturally, because of our history of empty rhetoric and procrastination of sports administrators, citizens will pay keen attention to the developments and any slip that suggests officials are reneging on commitments will be met with caustic affront.

Mr. Kumar’s revelations that he is engaging the relevant heads of the Sports Associations/Federations resonates well but he must be cognizant of other

stakeholders whose input will be necessary for the initiative to find traction. The general, objective ought not to be the acquisition of cheap political mileage but a genuine effort to convene a forum utilizing all available resources and expertise, initiate meaningful discussions regarding a solid plan that sets out realistic goals, identify a time factor coupled with the funds necessary for its implementation, the source of the funding and the appropriate human resources.

Thereafter, the sub groups vested with micro responsibilities must subsequently address their respective mandates with gusto.

There has been much talk emanating from various sports executive bodies of the need for academies. Such institutions would serve to provide an all round, broad based plan towards the development of the selected athletes. Given that Mr. Kumar adapts this tact, the qualifying criteria must be rigid which would set the stage for qualitative performances. The selected athletes (runners, judo practitioners, boxers et al) must be subjected to a qualifying standard that juxtaposes with regional (or preferably international) criteria. In the absence of the

Improved time is Forde’s biggest challenge today - Josiah-Tanner, Morgan faceoff in AinLim 10k Guyana and the Caribbean’s leading name in distance running, Cleveland Forde, has his biggest challenge today in the Neal & Massy Group AinLim 10k to improve his time in the race that will start at 6am at Diamond on the East Bank Demerara carriageway.

Forde, who has been at the helm of local and regional distance running for the last two years, is a favourite to win the Men’s overall title today. He is the defending champion and has a field that’s well known to him after competing against them over the years.

Forde is a multiple IAAF South American 10k winner and CARICOM 10k champion; there’s no doubt that Forde’s race today will be against the clock with the South American race looming, he will want to send a strong message to his local and regional opponents.

In his category, Forde competes against Cleveland Thomas, Dennis Horatio, Tyshon Bentick and Jamaul Chisholm.

It is safe to say that Forde will not be challenged, except for his desire to break the 30-minute barrier that will put him on par with international standards.

The Women’s Open race presents more competitive battles with United States of America-based, Euleen Josiah-Tanner in Guyana to compete against Alika Morgan in a

rivalry that dates back as far as 2010. The two athletes have shared the spoils over the years.

Morgan is the defending champion with Ashanti Scott also registered. Jevina Straker and Adama Roberts lead the registrants in the junior category. The race has so far attracted all the top runners in both junior and senior groups and offers impressive cash prizes.

The road race will dole out a top prize of $75,000 with second place taking home $60,000, third place $40,000, fourth place $15,000 and fifth place $10,000 in the male and female open groups, with a trophy accompanying each cash prize.

The top three prizes for the Masters 35 years and above and 40-55 years are $40,000, $20,000 and $15,000 while the Masters 55 years and above take home $25,000, $15,000 and $7,500. Juniors take home $50,000, $30,000, $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively for both male and female categories.

Athletes are asked to assemble at AinLim, Ruimveldt at 5am to be transported to the start line at Diamond.

The race will finish outside the company’s Ruimveldt office while there will be a 3km Fitness Walk/Jog that is expected to start at the Demerara Harbour Bridge, and finish at the same location. (Edison Jefford)

latter variable, officials must set a timeline for these athletes to attain certain standards and their continued participation in the programme must rest on such progress.

Furthermore, these selectees must understand their ambassadorial statuses and must conform to rigid and appropriate attitudes that promote such concepts.

There must be support from every stratum of society but all input must be channeled through a nerve centre which controls the overall workings.

That nerve centre could be the very NSC over which the Director of Sports has great control but decisions must be arrived at by consensus and not in a dogmatic way.

Sometimes people brainstorm issues with an aim of coming up with tangible solutions but ironically it is the uninitiated that produces the correct formula to address the situation. Mr. Kumar, by dint of his position as Director of Sports, is well positioned

to pilot the necessary strategies that will jump start the rehabilitative process.

He has indicated that he has convened meetings with the requisite heads of sports bodies and has laid bare his intentions to change the status quo. Has it ever occurred to Mr. Kumar that his department should have been the livewire where past icons of the respective disciplines could have been employed and their expertise utilized by their successors?

And before the DOS gloat over the few persons of such ilk employed in his department he must also say folks are allowed to participate in the decision making process within their expertise.

Lavern Fraser, a competent netball coach and a busybody in general sports development, was once an integral force in the NSC but has since been employed at the University of Guyana.

Is there a successor or is her input still sought?

Gordon Braithwaite and Dennis ‘Chow’ Hunte are

prominent football stalwarts who would have defined themselves during their active years. They are working with Mr. Kumar but is their boss utilizing their expertise and just how have they impacted on the development of local ball weavers. What are the working conditions of these ‘stalwarts?’

Just having the past stalwarts around the office is certainly not enough; they must impact positively on the fortunes of their respective successors.

Mr. Kumar is looking outward and finding much to criticize but in actual fact what is needed is brutal introspection if he is really serious about changing the status quo.

In short, the DOS must abandon the useless rhetoric and demonstrate the goodwill to initiate positive action to change the fortunes of the sports community. Such attitudes would compliment the disgust he demonstrates when reading out the riot act to his subordinates.

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Sunday September 09, 2012

WICB working on launching Cricket Australia paid for Sarwan’s 2009 MRI after WICB opted not to ‘commercial T20 league’ - Hilaire WICRICNEWS - Cricket Australia came to the rescue of West Indies cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan during the Australian tour of 2009, by paying for his MRI scan.

This information came from the batsman, while he was giving evidence in his arbitration matter before Seenath Jairam SC. Sarwan won his arbitration matter against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and was awarded $1M. The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) had taken up the matter for Sarwan after he was not offered a central retainer contract for the 2010/11 period, as he was told the WICB had issues with his fitness and commitment to the team…

Ramnaresh Sarwan Sarwan was diagnosed by the team’s physiotherapist and thereafter treated for back spasms.

The Guyanese added that after receiving this treatment, he still experienced severe

back pains and insisted on being seen by a doctor.

He was eventually sent to a doctor who recommended a particular injection and a CT scan.

The CT scan was performed and he received the injection. After getting slight relief he missed the first Test but played in the second and third.

Sarwan further testified that during the third Test, the pain from the injury got worse and he requested an MRI scan.

The request was made to the team management and was refused because the WICB opted not to pay for the service.

He was in acute pain and insisted on having the MRI done, even if he had to pay for it himself. Cricket Australia eventually paid for it… (Guardian.co.tt)

ESPNcricinfo - Ernest Hilaire, the outgoing chief executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has revealed that a “commercial Twenty20” league in the Caribbean is in the works.

Hilaire’s term comes to an end on September 30, but he said he would like to leave having finalised the deal, which was being supported by an unnamed investor.

“We’re in the advanced stages of discussions to have a commercial Twenty20 league in the region and I have been leading the negotiations on that. We’re very close to completing the negotiations. I would like to complete that whole process before I move on,” Hilaire said in an interview with the Antigua-based Observer Radio. “We are in discussions with an investor. Once we have an understanding, we

Ernest Hilaire can move forward with it.”

Hilaire did not elaborate on the exact structure of the Twenty20 league and if it would be a mirror image of other popular domestic leagues like the IPL. He did make it clear though that the existing Caribbean Twenty20 will be played next year. “We

will be having the Caribbean Twenty20 in January as scheduled. The board will meet next week and make some decisions on its structure and how it will be organised.”

On September 14, the WICB directors are scheduled to meet to discuss the governance structure of the board. Hilaire said the board would also discuss the planned T20 league and finalise its structure. He would be bringing on board both the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) to discuss issues pertaining to players, he said, to make sure there were no hurdles. “We will need to speak to WIPA and FICA, and other stakeholders, to make sure everybody is on board.”

TTTTA expresses condolences on Williams-Azarenka get extra day of rest Greene’s passing The Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association (TTTTA) has expressed condolences to its Caribbean and Regional Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) counterpart, Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) on the passing of its President, former Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, who died Friday morning at Harlem in a

vehicular accident on West Coast of Demerara. He was 58.

Below is their brief message: “Friends in Guyana, Please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of the GTTA President. The TTTTA stands with you in this unfortunate moment and our prayers are with you.

Sincerely, Vasdev Bob Roopnarine, General Secretary, TTTTA.”

(AP) — Among the many lessons Serena Williams has learned in the 13 years since she played her first Grand Slam final is that routine is overrated.

A perfect attitude to bring into the U.S. Open final, where the only consistent thing over the past five years has been that very little goes according to schedule.

This year, the women’s final between Williams and Victoria Azarenka was pushed back a day because of a strong storm bearing down on New York. It marks the fourth time in the last five years the women’s final, normally scheduled for Saturday (yesterday), will be played on today instead. The men’s final, meanwhile, was also pushed back a day and will close on Monday for the fifth straight year.

None of which bothers Williams, who has been in the mix for three of those delayed

Serena Williams

Victoria Azarenka

women’s finals, and said she’s become much better at going with the flow over the years. ‘’I have really gotten out of being so into routines because it can really drive someone bananas,’’ Williams said. ‘’I’ve been on the verge of going bananas because I have to have this, this, this. It wasn’t helping me win. It wasn’t helping me lose. It has nothing to do with that. I have

kind of chilled off on that.’’

Whatever she’s doing is working. The 30-year-old, 14time Grand Slam titlist is in the middle of a summer that will certainly stand out, even by her standards: -Winner at Wimbledon and the London Olympics in both singles and doubles.

-Finalist at the U.S. Open, losing only 19 games and not a single set along the way.

-A win away from capturing her fourth U.S. Open crown and becoming

the first 30-something woman to win it all at Flushing Meadows since Martina Navratilova in 1987. ‘’It will be up there,’’ Williams said. ‘’Because if you win the Olympics and Wimbledon and this, it would be kind of cool.’’

Also enjoying a pretty cool year is Azarenka, who opened 2012 with the Australian Open title, vaulted to No. 1 in the rankings the next week and will stay there regardless of who wins Sunday. Williams said she comes into the match with nothing to lose because she’s playing the best player on tour this year. ‘’I always believe that I’m the best, obviously,’’ Williams said. ‘’But I mean, on paper, I think she’s been more consistent.’’

The rankings say that’s true, but they only tell so much, especially over the past two weeks in Queens.

While Williams has steamrolled through this (Continued on page 60)

Over-50 Veteran footballers for trial match at GFC today Over-50 Veteran footballers will be engaged in a trial match today at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda today as they prepare for a tour by a visiting Surinamese team.

The session today is set for 10:00am and all Over-50 veteran players are invited to

the session. This is being used to select the team to oppose the visiting Flamingo team from Suriname during October.

The veterans have held several sessions so far and are looking to have their main squad together and in preparation for the visitors.

Sunday September 09, 2012

Kaieteur News

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t r o Sp

Golden Jaguars battle to hard fought draw in La Cathedral del Espectaculo

Goal scorer Trayon Bobb marks an El Salvador player during Friday's World Cup qualifier.

Murray beats Berdych to reach final P. 60

Djokovic and Ferrer semi-final halted

Andy Murray (AP)

S a n S a l v a d o r, E l Salvador - Guyana’s Golden Jaguars, clinched their first points in Group B, with a commendable 2-2 draw versus El Salvador, when action in the North, Central American and Caribbean Zone, third round 2014 World Cup qualifiers, continued Friday evening on at the Estadio Cuscatlan.

The star of the night for the Jaguars was 19-year old, Caledonia AIA, left-winger Trayon Bobb who in his first start of these qualifiers scored a clinical double in the 20th and 54th minutes.

While Isidro Gutierrez and Osael Romero scored for the home side in the 4th and 21st minutes respectively.

With Mexico defeating Costa Rica 2-0 in Friday night’s simultaneous Group B encounter, Tuesday’s home game is now a must win game for the Jaguars.

According to FIFA, Mexico will already qualify for the next round if they defeat Costa Rica at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday, while Guyana will be eliminated if they lose at home to El Salvador and Costa Rica topples Mexico.

Thus home support once more at Providence on September 11th, will be a key factor in aiding the

Captain Ricky Shakes make a pass during Guyana's 2-2 draw with El Salvador Friday.

Jaguars getting a victory in that encounter.

In front of a typical hostile Central American crowd, the locals were decked out in a sea of blue to show support for La Selecta, while inversely intimidating the visiting Golden Jaguars.

On what was a fairly damp outfield which made passing tricky and control of the ball difficult for both sides, the 90 minutes of play descended into a lively counter-attacking affair with both defences looking appreciably vulnerable.

Guyana’s defence was the first to be exposed as La Selecta opened the scoring inside five minutes. A long cross from midfield, was misjudged by Walter Moore at left back. EL Salvador’s number 23 Isidro Gutierrez then proceeded to ghost into box and fire his shot straight through to the legs of goalkeeper Richard Reynolds.

The opening 20 minute Salvo from that first goal, saw the home side in relative control as the Jaguars struggled to grab a foot hold (Continued on page 57)

Improved time is Forde’s biggest challenge today P. 61

- Josiah-Tanner, Morgan faceoff in AinLim 10k

Novak Djokovic (centre) and David Ferrer (left) chat with match officials on the halting of the match due to the storm. (Getty Images)

Alika Morgan

Cleveland Forde

Euleen Josiah-Tanner

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