Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
DEAR EDITOR, Interestingly enough too few politicians can readily identify which of those who work for them are legitimate public servants. It is not necessarily their immediate fault, since there is no central register of public service employees. Worse, with the deliberate depletion of its constitutional authority to recruit and/or oversee the recruitment process, the Public Service Commission is rendered incapable of providing information on the numbers of public servants in the respective public service entities (budget agencies), and more critically perhaps, about the jobs to which they are recruited, or promoted. The manner in which the public service has been deconstructed during this century flies in the face of several consultancy Reports the administration contracted to recommend its modernisation. Meanwhile the absorption of the function of public service management under direct presidential purview over the recent decades clearly signalled the decreasing authority of the Public Service Commission. An examination of the national estimates would also show the extent to which the technical capabilities of the once Ministry of Public Service has been depleted by sheer reduction in staffing over the last five years, say. The national estimates also very transparently display the increasing numbers of ‘contracted employees’ in the so-called
‘establishment’ of each agency, in the bold pretence that they constitute a category of public servant – the other categories being listed in the following order. - Administrative - Senior Technical - Other Technical and Craft Skilled - Clerical and Other Support - semi-skilled Operatives and Unskilled - [Contracted Employees] And (to compound the illogic of the so-called classification) -Temporary Employees
Even if one were to forgive this patently outdated classification, one still has to grapple with finding out to which of the categories of jobs ‘contracted’ and ‘temporaries’ are assigned. It is by no means to be assumed that any of the latter fall below the level of ‘Semi-skilled Operatives and Unskilled’. Indeed the extant evidence suggests that ‘contracted employees’ are generally favoured for the more lucrative positions since their recruitment, lacking formality, has degenerated into a largely non-transparent process. This is particularly true in cases of funded projects wherein the employee’s salary is tax-free. Although encumbering traditional pensionable public service positions, contracted employees are not pensionable, and are
Note 1: Listed but with no numbers for GDF, Supreme Court, Public Service Appellate Tribunal Note 2: Regional Administration. The Regions have been dealt with in a separate submission. therefore compensated by a gratuity payable every six months at the rate of 22.5% of monthly salary. Exceptions, however, might well be those persons contracted at the level of the two lowest grades of the 14 Grade job structure,
e.g. drivers, office assistants, cleaners and others who inhabit Grades 01 and 02. These have to apply for renewal of their employment contracts every year, with three months’ notice. (There needs to be an inquiry into
how these payees relate to the NIS). One only has to look at the increasing trend in contracting (which still obtains)
the NIS). One only has to look at the increasing trend in contracting (which still obtains) Continued on page 23
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Kaieteur News
Marriott project cost grossly understated Winston Brassington, the Executive Director of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has in fact spent more money from the NICIL coffers on the Marriott Hotel than was previously disclosed. In the process, he has misrepresented the overall project cost by more than US$25M. Information now coming to light has revealed that while Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI)—the special purpose company established to build and own the Marriott Hotel has expended some US$56M on the project to date, NICIL was in fact spending additional monies on the project, monies it never publicly disclosed. This publication has unearthed information suggesting that Brassington authorized the expenditure of in excess of US$5M on the Marriott project, separate and distinct from AHI’s expenditure. To make matters worse, the monies are not represented as ‘recoverable’, it will never be repaid to NICIL by AHI, as is the case with other amounts put into the project. This publication has learnt that NICIL and not AHI—the Marriott owners— was the entity that paid for the road works surrounding the controversial project. Additionally, Brassington used from NICIL coffers, money to pay to HVS Consulting and Valuation for a Feasibility Study for the
project. HVS submitted its document, costing in excess of US$2M to AHI, despite the fact that NICIL paid for the study. Brassington also utilized monies directly out of the NICIL coffers to pay for the sinking of a well to supply the internationally branded hotel with water. Additional spending incurred by NICIL on the project and never represented in the AHI Financials, also went to a consultancy firm which supervised the construction works by the Chinese Contractor. Another glaring revelation regarding transactions for the Hotel centered on the prime ocean front property which NICIL, headed by Brassington sold to AHI, which was also at the time headed by Brassington. AHI paid US$1M (G$200M) for the almost 10 acres of land but independent property evaluators have since valued the property to be worth almost US$5M (G$1B). Kaieteur News has since consulted with a number of financial experts that have labeled Brassington’s disclosures on monies spent on the project as ‘deliberate deception.’ According to AHI’s records, US$56M was spent on the project to bring it to the stage it is currently at but consolidating the NICIL’s expenditure, would in fact bring the total cost of the project to almost US$100M— this, not counting
concessions and tax holiday’s granted to AHI. Disaggregating the disclosed US$56M reveals that Republic Bank loaned some US$15.25M to AHI as a Syndicated Loan, while all of the remaining disclosed amounts totaling US$40.75M came directly from NICIL to AHI. This is separate and distinct from monies NICIL spent on the project but were not represented in the AHI accounts. NICIL had originally given AHI a US$15.4M loan, interest free and to be repaid only when “cash flow enables.” Additionally, NICIL also invested US$4M and had approached Republic Bank Trinidad to put together a consortium of investors to put in another US$27M. Court action was however filed preventing the release of the full amount of US$27M. Republic Bank managed to transfer only US$15.25M and this resulted in NICIL putting in an additional US$21M. To compound matters, the Hotel is still a far way from being completed with the Casino and Entertainment Complex—critical to the hotel’s revenue stream and financial viability—still to be constructed. This section of the hotel would require an additional US$16M, the source of which is yet to be disclosed. As such the construction cost would be stated US$56M spent to date; US$16M for the Casino and Entertainment Complex when that comes on street; the US$2.7 spent on rerouting the sewerage; interest waived by NICIL is US$3 million; US$2.1 for project design; NICIL spent on the project but was never represented in AHI financials; US$4M lost through the sale of the land to AHI by NICIL; US$21.35M in additional financing from NICIL; concessions granted and the still to be tabulated interest owed to republic bank that accrued during the construction of the hotel.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Health Ministry to set up Mental Health Secretariat - appointment of Coordinator under consideration
Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton Although it was out of commission for a protracted period, the Ministry of Public Health’s Mental Health Unit is raring to execute its mandate, that is, spearhead efforts to help tackle the country’s mental health challenges. Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, said during a recent interview that moves are being made to establish a Secretariat for the Unit. Currently, the Ministry is eyeing a building close to the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs to house the Unit. But the Minister disclosed that putting the necessary infrastructural measures in place would however require some funding which will have to be sourced. Without divulging where the funding is likely to come from, the Minister noted that “all we need is funding now and we can rehabilitate that building to make it into the Mental Health Unit Secretariat.” “The Unit has been there on paper all the time but what we are hoping to establish now is that Secretariat which will be managed by a Coordinator and will involve the services of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, along with an office staff…,” said the Minister as he spoke of an ambitious plan to help reduce a troubling spate of mental health related issues. Already the appointment of a Coordinator, in the person of Ms. Deslyn Holder, is under
discussion. According to Minister Norton, Holder has been identified for that position because of her wealth of knowledge in the field of mental health. Holder, he added, is a trained nurse who recently returned to Guyana from the United Kingdom. Based on recent discussions between the Ministry of Public Health and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), support will be forthcoming (from PAHO) to help forge ahead with plans to address the country’s mental health challenges. The Mental Health Unit, according to the Minister, falls within the ambit of the Ministry’s National Health Strategy. At a meeting last month with PAHO officials he said, “We have got to get that Mental Health Unit functioning. It is time. It is good to see what is in place; what is on hardcopy,” adding that there is need for active implementation of initiatives to tackle mental health challenges. At that meeting, PAHO officials spoke of plans to work with the Ministry to have its Mental Health Strategy completed and have it operationalised, using work plans executed by the Mental Health Unit. Speaking of plans to revitalise the work of the Unit, Minister Norton stressed that the support of PAHO, in this regard, is most welcomed. “I don’t know if it was just coincidental that the officer from PAHO was visiting to do that cost evaluation of our Mental Health Unit when we happened to be experiencing that situation,” mentioned Minister Norton, who was at the time alluding to a peaking suicide rate in the Region One community of Baramita. Suicide rates on a national level have reached troubling proportions in recent years, a development that requires that a Mental Health Unit be a priority, the Minister asserted. “When you sit and talk to people, you want to know why we did not put this Unit in action…What was keeping us back?” the Minister remarked disbelievingly, as he disclosed that many persons have voiced some plausible ideas that could help to boost the Unit’s operation. Among these have been suggestions to have the designated mental health area of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation transformed into an inpatient unit catering to patients with mental illnesses. The need for a national reach by taking advantage of the primary health care approach has also been gaining the attention of the Minister. The latter mode, he is convinced, could serve to ensure that people across the country have access to the very crucial mental health service by trained personnel.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign set to get a boost from Bill
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is joined onstage by her husband former President Bill Clinton after she delivered her “official launch speech”. After largely staying in the background as Hillary Rodham Clinton kicked off her second campaign for president, former President Bill Clinton is ready to take on a more public role in his wife’s second bid for the White House. Bill Clinton’s move to deepen his political involvement comes as his wife confronts the insurgent campaign of Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and the chance that Vice President Joe Biden could make a late entry into the race. Friends and former aides say the former president is eager to become a more vocal advocate for her candidacy. “He’s going to be very active,” said Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a longtime Clinton confidant. “He always intended to come out and support his wife. He’s now at the point that he’s ready to get out there.”
Shortly after Tuesday’s close of the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative — the crown jewel of the sprawling charitable network Bill Clinton established after leaving the White House — the former president is scheduled to embark upon a series of political events. The events follow a forceful defense of his wife, arguing that she faces the same kind of partisan attacks over her use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state that plagued his administration. “It’s obvious to anyone who’s looking what’s going on. But I’m glad it happened in 2015 instead of 2016 and I believe it will burn itself out,” Bill Clinton said in a Monday interview with CNBC. While longtime Clinton backers consider the former president one of her strongest advocates, campaign aides worried his
presence early in the campaign could undermine their efforts to reintroduce Hillary Clinton to voters. “There’s going to be good opportunities for him to support her, but the focus has been on Hillary and the people she’s fighting for,” said Mike Vlacich, Clinton’s New Hampshire state director. But that calculation seems to be shifting, as Clinton’s position as the Democratic front-runner continues to erode in polling of crucial early voting states. Earlier this month, Bill Clinton filled in for his wife at fundraisers in Chicago. Later this week, he plans to raise money at events in Atlanta and suburban Kansas City before headlining an annual dinner for the West Virginia Democratic Party. He’ll also woo donors in suburban Detroit in October. (AP)
Has Venezuelan President Maduro Gone Insane? His regional warmongering may be a ploy by a desperate politician, but the successor to Hugo Chavez has grown so erratic some are calling him “the South American Hitler.”
Is Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, once a mildmannered bus driver, steering the world’s 13th-largest oil producer straight off a cliff? Within the last few weeks he’s come to the brink of war with not one but two neighboring countries. A dispute last month with Colombia resulted in tens of thousands of refugees scrambling from a border region and caused one local politician to label him “The South American Hitler.” Last week saw Maduro accused of plotting to invade Guyana, his neighbor to the east.
While experts warn that such risky behavior could destabilize the entire region, Maduro himself accuses Bogotá and Washington of being in league to overthrow him—and also boasts of having spies in the White House. So just what is Maduro hoping to gain from all of this? Hand-picked by the late socialist strongman Hugo Chavez as his replacement in 2013, Maduro has overseen the swift and profound decline of Venezuela—from an oil-rich, leftist powerhouse under Chavez to an Orwellian
dystopia, complete with the highest inflation rate in the world. When oil prices were high and revenues extravagant, that cushioned the people to some extent from the incompetence of the government. But that buffer is long gone. Violent crime and kidnappings are so rampant that the State Department just issued a travel alert warning away U.S. citizens. And commodity shortages have become so severe that it’s sometimes impossible to buy a roll of toilet paper in Caracas. (AFP)
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Obama, Putin clash over differences on Syria’s future The United States said yesterday it was willing to cooperate with Russia, as well as Iran, to try to end the Syrian civil war, but the two big powers clashed over whether to work with Syrian President Bashar alAssad. Speaking at the annual United Nations General Assembly, U.S. President Barack Obama described Assad as a tyrant and as the chief culprit behind the fouryear civil war in which at least 200,000 people have died and millions have been driven from their homes. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in contrast, told the gathering of world leaders that there was no alternative to cooperating with Assad’s military in an effort to defeat the Islamic State militant g r o u p , w h i c h has seized parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. Putin called for the creation of a broader international antiterrorist coalition with majorityMuslim countries as members, an appeal that may compete with the group that the United States has
assembled to fight Islamic State. “The United States is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict,” Obama, who spoke before Putin, told the General Assembly. “But we must recognize that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the prewar status quo.” The disagreement over Assad raised questions about how Obama and Putin might find common ground during their meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly. The two leaders began meeting shortly after 5 p.m.Putin walked in first with Obama close behind. Stopping in front of U.S. and Russian flags set up for a photo opportunity, Obama put out his hand a n d P u t i n took it for a handshake. With tight-lipped smiles, they did not speak to each other or answer shouted questions from journalists. Later, at a lunch hosted by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the two men shook hands and clinked
glasses. As they did so, Putin smiled but Obama, with a piercing look, did not. Obama did not explicitly call for Assad’s ouster and he suggested there could be a “managed transition” away from his rule, the latest sign that despite U . S . a n i m u s toward the Syrian leader it was willing to see him stay for some period of time. He dismissed the argument that authoritarianism was the only way to combat groups such as Islamic State, saying: “In accordance with this logic, we should support tyrants like Bashar al-Assad, who drops barrel bombs to massacre innocent children, because the alternative is surely worse.”Putin differed, suggesting there was no option but to work with Assad against Islamic State fighters. Putin also complained that unilateral sanctions, such as the U.S. and Eur o p e a n Union measures against Russia over Ukraine, were not only illegal but “a means of eliminating competitors.”
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
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A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IS UNSUITED FOR THIS TASK The General Secretary of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) is right when it comes to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the salaries, benefits and working conditions of Public Servants. He has said that instead of the COI, what is needed is for a consultant to study the issues that constitute the Terms of Reference of the present COI. There is no need for a Commission of Inquiry. A COI is intended as a fact finding mission. It is intended to look into issues and determine
facts. It is hard to imagine that a case needs to be made out for improved benefits, salaries and working conditions of the Public Servants. The coalition is well aware of the plight of Public Servants. The coalition had promised a substantial increase in salaries to Public Servants within its first one hundred days. The fact that this has not materialized should not lead to the conclusion that APNU/ AFC is unaware of the poor and uncompetitive levels of remuneration within the
public service. They are and therefore it is strange that they should not be engaged in an exercise aimed at determining facts that they ought to have been fully aware of. What are those facts? The first is that salaries, especially for policemen, teachers and nurses are poor. The second fact is that employment benefits are poor. The whole pension system needs to be reformed so that when Public Servants retire they can have a decent pension. Other benefits need to be chopped instead of
Police and other investigators are probing the circumstances which led to the break-in of the Ministry of Communities Housing Department office in the Region Six Administration compound. The police were called in on Sunday. According to information, the office which is located in the compound of the Region Six Administration was broken into sometime between Saturday evening and Sunday midday. It has been reported that the burglary was discovered around 11:45hrs when staff reportedly reported for work. The bandits reportedly entered the building by cutting the mesh over one of the windows and removing the louver panes. They then removed a vault which was located in the
supervisor’s office reportedly containing over 400 Transports. The intruders also stole a laptop computer. Information revealed that the compound is secured by the Home Safe Security Service which reportedly has Dr. Roger Luncheon as one of its Directors). It was reported that six guards and a supervisor were supposed to be at work during the evening. But on that night, only one guard and the supervisor were at work. When questioned, security guards working at the Regional Administration compound said that they did not hear anything. Police visited the scene and were able to retrieve fingerprints. Evidence at the scene also suggests that the vault was lifted and taken
over the back fence from where the thieves had entered. Police sleuths were reportedly joined by other investigators who are looking at a number of scenarios, including the possibility of an inside job. They are questioning why someone would want to break into the Housing Department, steal the vault, and remove only Transports. The Housing Department in Region Six has over the years been embroiled in a series of questionable deals, and investigators are looking at the possibility of a staged job so as to cover tracks. Investigators have vowed to follow all leads in an effort to get to the bottom of the theft. A number of guards and other employees have been taken into custody.
Police probe break-in at Govt. office
Dem boys seh...
De devil among us clutching at straw When dem boys talk bout some things people does understand because dem always believe some of de things dem hear but couldn’t prove. Dem boys check out Jagdeo and dem find that nuff things didn’t add up suh dem talk wha dem know. But as old people seh, wha you do does always come back to remind you. But sometimes you does really mek people get vex. And dem boys mek Jagdeo get vex. He get suh vex that anytime he go to bed he does sleep wid dem boys pun he mind. De other day he use he newspaper fuh talk bout some investigation. He trying to bring up a story that even de police drop. He spend he years as president trying to get de police to look at de story and although dem tell him that he wasting he time he ain’t giving up. Well dem boys seh that it look like if he want company in de jail wide he but he choosing de wrang company. He already got Brassington and all dem people who he allow to get away wid all kind of crime. He get people like he best friend to milk de people wid de Berbice River Bridge, he get dem fuh mek a dollar out of de Marriott
but he didn’t believe that he would’a be out of control. He should ‘a look around and he woulda see how much of he old time friends jump ship. Old people always seh that if you see rat running and jumping off a ship you got better follow dem. Jagdeo didn’t even see dem rat jump off de ship. De one who been in de Finance Ministry run and hide. Nobody didn’t even look in he direction but he tek leave and then he run and lef de wuk. People ain’t even know wheh he deh. But wid all de jumping and skipping life got to go on. Dem boys know that de audit ain’t moving fast enough but Soulja Bai seh that he gun ketch. De same Integrity Commission that Jagdeo talk about gun be a reality. Donald never appoint de commission but Soulja Bai gun appoint it. All who in Parliament got to declare wha dem got. Dem boys expect nuff of dem to lie. Even Jagdeo gun lie because he think he hide he money good. Uncle Sam know de truth and he promise to help Soulja Bai. People can lie but dem gun get ketch. Talk half and watch how nuff of dem can’t sleep.
increased. Under the PPP, a whole range of benefits were provided which amounted to a burden on the treasury. We know of the dental care benefits which went beyond the pale. We learnt about persons having to pay back sums for medical care; just what that is, nobody is sure. These, of course, are not benefits enjoyed by ordinary workers. Ironically, the ordinary workers are far more abusive of their benefits. Take for example travel allowances. This allowance is one that is known to be abused with many workers racking up miles more than some frequent flyers. The government should abolish travel allowances. They should have a pool of vehicles to transport workers around. In this way, they do not have to pay travel allowances and therefore can
better manage the travel duties of their staff. The next benefit to be abolished should be overtime. It is known that some workers proceed on goslow during formal working hours and then relax during overtime work. This is a problem with supervision but for certain categories of workers, they should work forty hours and if there is additional work to be done, then another shift should be put in. This proposal has the additional benefit of creating part time jobs for people who will work after hours. In many areas government needs to be working twenty four hours a day. Departments relating to public services such as the issuance of passports, vehicle registrations should be working around the clock. Having part-time work will ensure that daytime workers
are more productive, and will not delay their work in order to cash in on overtime. The other benefit that is abused is meal allowances. This should be abolished totally. If you want to eat bring your own food. It will save the treasury a lot of money if this benefit is removed completely. You do not need a Commission of Inquiry to unearth these facts. In fact, it is hardly likely that anyone is going to go forward and provide evidence of abuse of these benefits. This is why instead of a COI, what was needed was a consultant to probe these issues and make recommendations on what can be paid and what should be chopped.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 29, 2015
== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
The sad country: Magistrate Ann McLennan and the police The story of Magistrates and police who damage the image of an already damaged country goes on. Do you know one of the most recognizable names in the medical profession has submitted a damning indictment to the Judicial Service Commission against a Magistrate? It will be interesting to see how that plays out. A recent application by a Magistrate for judgeship has been rejected. One of Guyana’s most senior Judges used the word “eccentric” in describing a Magistrate to me. I swear on my parents’ graves
and on my family he told me so. Why then are we keeping this Magistrate? The Bar Association has published a guideline for citizens. It is called “Rights of Arrested Persons.” It will be tacked on to the doors of all police stations for the world to see. But what value that document has if the police will ignore your rights? It is like the constitution of a country. What do you do if the government ignores the constitution? In Guyana we have parliamentarians who are foreign citizens. The
Constitution prohibits that. Try moving them. The Constitution provides for the Procurement Commission. The PPP Government refused to have it. Last week, I was driving west on North Road with two second-tier leaders of the Alliance For Change, Leon Hunt and Carlyle Goring, when we witnessed an incident. A motor-cyclist was being interrogated. I showed the traffic rank the schedule of offences that are ticketable. It requires the rank to give a ticket for “Failure to Produce a Driver’s Licence.” The rank insisted that it means “refusal to show your licence.” This was ignorance. He took the man to Brickdam station. We followed and went to the station. I requested a senior official to explain to the rank who was present that “failure” does not mean “refusal.” He conceded, but outside of the station resented that I had caused him embarrassment. Let’s see what happens to the Bar
Association’s booklet. I am not optimistic because the police and Magistrates were at it again last week. The Government of Guyana has informed the nation that if you possess any type of gun and ammunition for which there is no legal permit, and you hand it over to the security forces you will not face prosecution. It is called amnesty. Any moron with a bit of commonsense, not much but a tiny bit and the same thinking applies to policemen and Magistrates, would know that you cannot go to Planet Mars and drop the stuff on top of the police station. You use your feet or a bicycle, or a motor-cycle or a car, or a lorry or a Bedford truck, or a baby stroller or an aircraft carrier, and you take the weaponry to the police station. If on the way the police stop you, you simply explain that you are using the amnesty. There is absolutely no way the police can charge you because you cannot be prosecuted for using the
amnesty. There are things in life that are guaranteed to people which rest on commonsense. This amnesty is one of them. Things become complicated if the police stop you at three in the morning and you tell them you are going to the station. It is impossible to accept that you are using the amnesty at that uncivilized hour. The story is a complete different one if you are going to the police station during working hours. This is what happened with two men who were going to the station to use the amnesty. The police still charged them. But the role of the Magistrate was equally alarming. A Magistrate determines if a case in front of him/her has legal sanction. It is within the jurisdiction of a Magistrate to dismiss a case if there are no legal merits whatsoever. Here is a perfect example. The ignorance of the police caused a diplomat to be in front of a Magistrate. The Embassy informs the
Frederick Kissoon Magistrate that the diplomat cannot be charged because the Geneva Convention gives him immunity. There and then, the Magistrate has jurisdiction to release the diplomat. Two Lindeners were on their way to the station to use the amnesty when the police stopped them. They explained their intention. The ranks were about to escort them to hand over the stuff but senior ranks insisted they be charged. This was explained by their lawyer, Clyde Forde, to Magistrate McLennan who still proceeded with the case and assigned it to another Magistrate. The men should have been acquitted there and then. For God’s Sake, there is an amnesty on.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
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River taxis intended to bring GUYSUCO records highest weekly BBCI to its knees - Rohee performance since 2009
Commuters aboard one of the water taxis. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is supporting the demand by private minibus operators plying the Number 56 route (New Amsterdam – Rosignol). The party is also accusing the government of undermining the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI). The APNU+AFC Government recently implemented a river taxi service to help the masses in Berbice who complained about the high toll across the Berbice River Bridge. Students, nurses, pensioners and other senior citizens using the boat service are quite satisfied with this intervening initiative. Other commuters pay a marginal fee. The two contracted boats are can both seat 35. The boats are well equipped with safety gear to make the rides safe. Last week a third boat joined the service. While commuters are happy, minibus drivers working Route 56 who would usually pick up passengers from Rosignol and take them straight to their destination are quite annoyed. The drivers contended that the government is taking ‘bread from their mouths’. Yesterday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, at a press conference at Freedom House, said that the
minibus operators have suffered a significant reduction in their daily operations as a result of the introduction of water taxis heavily subsidized by Guyanese tax dollars. Rohee claimed that the river taxis were introduced to “get back” at the BBCI because the company has not agreed with the APNU+AFC political demand to reduce the toll for crossing the bridge. The General Secretary went further to claim that the “introduction of the river taxis is to bring the company to its knees through economic pressure and political blackmail and to undermine the revenue stream of the Company.” But he declined to admit that the Berbice Bridge Company was responsible for the state of affairs. He said in the first
instance it declined to lower the tolls across the bridge despite the fact that the company would not have lost money. The government was prepared to pay the difference between the existing toll and the lowered toll by way of a subsidy. Rohee added, “The PPP supports the demands of the No. 56 minibus operators and that in the context of consultative democracy all stakeholders; including the government, the BBCI, the water taxis, the minibus operators and the residents in the community be consulted with a view to finding a winwin solution to the satisfaction of all.” The river taxis represent a reduced cost of transportation across the Berbice River, something that the residents of Berbice clamoured for.
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) has recorded its highest weekly production figure, some 10,539 tonnes for the week ending September 25, 2015, since March 2009. This leaves the corporation, which is currently being managed by an interim team comprising Paul Bhim and Errol Hanoman, with production figures of 67,466 tonnes for the crop to date and 148,610 tonnes for the year to date. According to a statement from the corporation, the Skeldon factory also had a record breaking performance of 2,662 tonnes of sugar, which surpassed its previous highest weekly return of 2,502 tonnes back in October 2012. The Uitvlugt sugar factory
also recorded 1,125 tonnes of sugar for this week. This goes against the backdrop of the projected 227,000 tonnes of sugar that the corporation expects to record by this year end, though it is a reduction of their initial projection. The world price for sugar stands at approximately US$0.11 per pound, while Guyana’s cost of production is approximately US$0.40 per pound. In addition to the failure of the Skeldon factory and the industry’s below par production, the previous Government had plugged billions of dollars into GUYSUCO over the preceding years. GUYSUCO has been under fire for producing sugar at costs double what it is
being sold for. But with workers leaving in droves, Production had also fallen to a two-decade low. Government, in the 2015 budget, allocated some $12B to the sugar industry. A Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the sugar corporation has also commenced to chart a course for the industry for the period spanning 2016- 2030. It had been projected that the Commission’s findings would be ready by month end. The COI, which was chaired by Vibert Parvatan, was among the first actions taken by the new administration. The entire Board of Directors, headed by Shaik Baksh and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raj Singh was also sacked. Continued on page 24
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Linden Multilateral School benefits City Hall extends from ‘Get Vex’ Challenge tax amnesty period …approx $400M in taxes collected so far Business owners and residents, who are defaulting in their tax payments now have until October 31, to pay outstanding monies owed to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council,(M&CC) to avoid prosecution. The M&CC has extended the September 30 deadline to the new date. This now allows tax debtors additional time to honour their civic obligation of paying rates and taxes. This new closing date has been approved by a special committee that was selected to oversee the affairs of the tax amnesty project. Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Greene; Town Clerk, Royston King; and Councillor, Junior Garrett are among officials on the committee. Under the amnesty project, residential properties will receive total amnesty on interest, but companies and businesses must apply to the Council for between 50 per cent and 75 per cent amnesty on tax interest. Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Greene told Kaieteur News that the Council is trying to give persons and businesses another opportunity to bring their taxes up to date. She said that many
Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Greene people, who had visited the Council, had requested more time to make payments, since they were awaiting bank loans. Chase-Greene revealed that she was delighted with the daily turn out of persons at the council’s headquarters. Although Chase-Green said that the project has been a success, she highlighted a few problems that are hindering the smooth flow of the process. She pointed out that there is only one computer system at the Council being used to obtain information on the accounts of various residents
and businesses. That same computer is also being used for cashing when persons are desirous of obtaining an electronic receipt instead of a handwritten one. “Because of the system there is a build up… and the staff are not fully equipped to render the kind of service needed”, she added. Chase-Greene said that the Council has already made arrangements to have certain departments reassessed. According to ChaseGreene, the Council has collected approximately $400M in taxes from defaulting taxpayers. But she stressed that millions are still owed by residents and businesses. The Deputy Mayor continued, “We are urging all to come out and pay for taxes owed and bring it up to date. We are flexing and I hope that people can flex. We need money to clean the city.” When this new deadline has elapsed defaulting tax payers will be prosecuted. The tax amnesty project was launched on September, 1, last and saw persons meeting with a panel to have their tax issues resolved. Mayor Hamilton Green had explained that the Council has a framework, Continued on page 24
Former student Jacqueline Adams David presents the suite to DHM Haley Rutherford. During the recent graduation exercise at the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School, Chairperson, Mishaun ScottSealey, threw out a ‘Get Vex’ challenge to the stakeholders, PTA and Old Students Association. That challenge bore fruit when the school received a chair suite, yesterday. The presentation was made in the Head Teacher’s office. According to Deputy Head Mistress, Haley Rutherford, she was overwhelmed with the gift. “We the staff of this great institution, Christianburg Wismar Secondary School, are very grateful for this gift from David’s Steel Reinforcement. It brings enhancement to the Head
Teacher’s office because the school is rising in academics.” Ms Rutherford said that the gift came from a ‘Get Vex’ challenge the chairperson of the recently concluded graduation exercises Ms. Mishaun Scott Sealey threw out. She claimed Ms. Sealey asked them to get really angry and donate things to the school where they see fit to enhance the school. On behalf of David’s Steel Re enforcement Ms. Jacqueline Adams-David and former student of CWSS said that the idea was that of her husband. “The idea was my husband’s. He wanted to give back to the school so when I heard about the ‘Get Vex’ challenge I took the
opportunity to donate the chair set.” Ms. Adams-George who said she has a long history with the school dating back to the opening of the school 40 years ago, said she is very happy to give back. She noted she had three other siblings who attended the school. Her daughter is now attending the school. Her brother, Claudric, is one of the three old students who bought a lap top for the Best Graduating Business Student at the recent graduation exercise. Two old students are Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips and Dr. Colin Williams. Ms Haley-Rutherford and other staff members are asking others to get vex and assist the school.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
Stabbed fisherman’s chances of survival are slim - Doctor The 45-year-old fisherman, who was stabbed to the right side of his back, is in a very critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). This is according to a doctor at the hospital. Daniel Persaud, of Lot 99 Sheet Anchor Village, Berbice, was stabbed to the right side of his back at his home two Saturdays ago. According to the source, the man sustained injuries to one of his lungs and heart, and is on life support. The father of four was reportedly attacked when he confronted his reputed wife about an ongoing affair with a neighbour. According to information received, Persaud found out that his wife of ten years was having an affair with their neighbour. He allegedly went home and confronted her. “The two of them were in the kitchen and when he asks her about the affair, they had an argument. His son said that he choked her,” Fizul Sattaur, the injured man’s brother, explained. He added that he was further informed that his brother walked away, but his reputed wife allegedly walked behind him and stabbed him to the right shoulder. Persaud’s screams alerted
his neighbours, who then called one of his siblings, who resides nearby. He was first taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital in Berbice before being transferred to the GPHC. According to Sattaur, medical personnel at the hospital informed a family
member that Persaud’s condition is listed as critical. “They (doctors) say that he was stabbed with force and that one of his lungs leaking, and there is a problem with his heart,” Persaud’s sibling explained. Persaud’s wife is said to be in police custody.
of clearing the compound using cutlasses and other implements. Under a house abandoned house at the back of the compound for over eight years, they found the ammunition. As the trainees were chopping at the bushes they came across a number of boxes. Close inspection
unearthed four boxes, two of which were packed with 50 rounds of .32 ammunition. There were also four extra rounds. One of the boxes had contained .38 rounds. The matter was immediately reported to the subordinate officer who at once went to the scene and took possession of the boxes. An investigation is in progress.
Police find ammo in station compound
Police on Saturday afternoon unearthed over 100 rounds of ammunition under an abandoned house in the Whim Police station compound. At the time the compound was being weeded. According to information, the Senior Commander of the Police Force in ‘B’ Division Berbice, was having inspection throughout the division. Instructions were given to have the compound cleared of shrubs and bushes, and Trainees from the Police Training College in Berbice ‘B’ Division assisted. Around 14:30 hrs the trainees were in the process
Bus driver jailed for causing death of cyclist The bus driver responsible for the death of re-migrant cyclist, Roy Albert Mendonca, will be spending the next 54 months in jail. He was found guilty on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Sookraj Permaul, 26, was convicted yesterday by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Permaul had initially denied that on April 2, last year on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, he drove in a manner dangerous to the public while piloting motor
Critical: Daniel Persaud
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bus BNN 6492, thereby causing the death of Mendonca. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Stephen Telford, presented the prosecution’s case. Telford called a number of witnesses to testify during the year long trial. These consisted of police and civilians. According to reports, Mendonca, who had received an award for being the top ‘over 60’ rider, was riding west along Carifesta on the morning of the day in question. Permaul was travelling east along the said
roadway and attempted to overtake a few vehicles, when he struck Mendonca. Following the head-on collision with the minibus, the 67-year-old, who resided at Lot 281 Forshaw Street, Queenstown, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead. The convict made his first court appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the charge. Before his sentencing Permaul was released on $800,000 bail.
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Kaieteur News
FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. PARTY DECORATING: balloon creation, back drops etc. for weddings, birthdays, anniversary etc. Make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES,AIR-CONDITIONERS, WASHINGMACHINES,TVS, MICROWAVES,FREEZERSCALL: 629-4946 OR 225-4822 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & painting, Boat for Santa Mission - Call: 650-4362 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@yahoo.comCall : 225-6496, 662-6045 Eagle’s fridge re-gas @ 99-100 New Market Street - $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 223-5818 Landscaping: Palms, largest varieties of plants, Used in every one of our unique landscapes- Call: 648-1821/ 219-0468 INNOVATIVE MARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Desmond Repair Services Fridge, AC, gas stove, microwave, washer, etc on the spot repairs –Call: (592)6788683; 687-9709 FOR SALE/RENT American pool tables –Call: 277-0578 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
WANTED
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Experienced hire car driver & dispatcher @ Princess Hotel Providence-Call: 616-5419 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic –Call 219-5354 (Monday- Friday) (8:154:15PM) One hotel/club manager to work on the Essequibo Coast: Contact: 615-6172; 226-9768
Parfaite Harmonie, 3 bedroom house for rent –Call: 651-5924 or 665-8561
1 Receptionist between ages 19-30 to work at Ourominas, 120 Regent Street BourdaContact: 612-6672
GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE- CALL: 6750767, 627-5098 Business place to rent at Mon Repos E.C.D four two bedroom apartment for rent at Block 8 Mon Repos E.C.DCall: 618-1754; 681-1508; 2206168 Prime business space for rental on Public Road in Meter-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demeara-Call: 683-7585
Honest, experienced sales clerk. Apply at Nanda’s Boutique-223 Camp Street, next to Gas Station Drivers & porters to work on water truck on the W.C.D$33,000 weekly –Call: 6848231; 629-4236 Straight stitch/Over edge machine operators- Call: 2222541 (8:00am-4:00pm MonFri) Field sales agents @ Max Consultancy & Accounting Services, preferably males, must be experienced in this field –Call: 223-1855 One experienced captain to ply from Georgetown to Bartica must be 55years and over- Contact: 650-0402 1 Cook for family in the interior-Call: 677-8484
One four storey building at Lot 14 Croal and Lden Street to rent- Contact 6631876 3 Bedroom upper flat for rent at Vreed-En-Hoop JunctionCall: 661-0162
Residential top flat to rent on Public Road in Meter- MeerZorg, West Coast DemearaCall: 683-7585 Apartment to rent from 1St October 2015 kitchen, living room, bedroom, toilet & bath @ 1st Bridge West Minister, cool atmosphere- Call: 6745779
Farm in need of, Large quantities of Paraquat- Call us today: 219-0468 Waitress with secondary school education-$60,000 monthly must be honest-( from East Coast) –Call: 610-3974 A family person to work on a farm to look after Cow & Sheep-Call: 619-9143/ 6148857 1 Experienced cook for barContact: 685-6588 One maid –Call: 656-6288 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 EDUCATION Individual tutoring available for CXC Accounts, for guaranteed excellent graderCall: 654-1723 -$2000 monthly Simpli Royal School of Beauty offering evening classes in cosmetology with easy payment plan-Call: 2252303; 665-4565 Learn to cut from elementary to advance @ Enid Dressmaking Classes, sewing also done here-Contact: 6437966; 223-9106
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVEAUTORENTAL: CARS & SUV FORRENTAL$4,000 & UPPER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 219-3900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
ACCOMODATION Aracari Resort: rates from US$45; breakfast included, fully air conditioned rooms, 5 mins away from the Demerara Harbour Bridge.Tel: 592-264-2946
VACANCY Male & female workers, accountant, checkers, bond clerk @ RA Soda Factory Rosignol West Coast Berbice: Tel: 330-2399; 6235920 Drivers, Drink machine operator, anyone with mechanical ideas @ RA Soda Factory Rosignol West Coast Berbice: Tel: 330-2399; 623-5920 One maintenance worker with at least 5yrs experienced to work @ ice factory meadow bank wharf –Call: 231-1408; 642-9191; between 8am-2pm IT technicians; send your CV or info to jobs@awngy.com Indoor Salesman with sales skills, secondary education, customer friendly @ Key Food Trading, Mc Doom, next to Post Office . Custodian, able bodied female 35-45yrs, serious enquiries only-Call: 223-9006; 223-5282 Office assistant Sales Clerk preferably with experience and from West Coast Demerara- Call: 254-1801 Manager wanted, for horticulture nursery, On lower Linden Highway- Call: 2190468 Housekeepers/cleaners, females only- Contact Aagman Restaurant/ Email: aagmanrestaurant@gmail.comCall:219-0161; 219-0158 Computer literate person with CXC, 1 computer IT person, apply at Trophy Stall Bourda Market. Male sales representative @ Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 Maid, 38-50ayears @ Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 Porters to work at Covenden, E.B.D, apply at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. One ice machine operator to work at ice factory on Meadow Bank Wharf, please Call: 231-1408; 642-9191 between 8am-2pm Driver @ Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 Live in housekeeper 35-45yrs to care for child, Call: 656-1287
LAND FOR SALE 1500 Acres Transported land 4 Miles from Bartica, 2 Miles River front, sand, loam, forestry, rock quarry, farming, resort-Call: 603-1266; 6259788
Tuesday September 29, 2015
SALON -Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Affordable salon services: pedi, mani, wash & blowout, facials, etc $2,500 each. Vogue @ Kalyan Mall, Lamaha Street. Tel: 647-1773/660-5257
TO LET Space for office, stationery, cosmetic store, salon etc @ Star Central Mall, Leonora, W.C.D-Call: 227-1876; 6950246 Three bedrooms executive concrete top flat in South Ruimveldt Gardens –Call: 218-1949 Space for office, internet café, stationery & like business @ Nandlall’s Building, ground floor, 217 South Road, G/ Town-Call: 227-1876 or 6950246
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games & applications. Delivery also – Call: 672-2566; 265-3232 1 Aqua Sol water heater price$150,000 negotiable, interested person can contact: 264-2946 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943 One male Mastiff/Doberman large breed, ears cut, vaccinated, de-wormed, 6 months old-Call: 233-0570; 629-7426 Land at Schoonord (Next To Demerara Harbour Bridge), 45' X 100' $ 6 M, 60' X 100' $ 7.5M- Contact 650-0402 / 260-4988 Pools table (slate) & house hold items –Call: 616-0398; 676-7643; 269-0916 IMPORTED AMERICAN BULLY PUPS –CONTACT HARRY: 220-7933, 6674845, 610-0068 (WHATSAPPAVAILABLE) BBM PIN 52E62193
PROPERTY FOR SALE One-two storey house with four bedrooms at 160 Stewartville, land -50’X120’, building 24’X60’ – price $10.5M –Call: 220-9419; 627-9794 House and land for sale, situated at lot 95 La Penitence Street Albouystown. Call: 687-5851; 1604-589-1852 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) – Call: 660-1353, 216-4338 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities - $45M –Call: 6629335; 612-3244 Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. 2 Storied transported concrete property upstairs 2 bedrooms, downstairs 2 bedrooms, fully grilled, block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D -$18M- Call: 625-1514; office 231-7255 1 Flat house on 1 acre land with chicken pen & fruits tree at Unity E.C.D- $11M-Call: 642-7898 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete- Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052
Shepherds, Rottweilers, BV building, cooker spaniel, boxer, pug, schnaunzer dogs-Call/Whatsapp-Call: 664-5401 or 680-6426 Pile Driving Hammers, weight 3 & 4 tons, 10 tons double steel wheeled roller, pneumatic roller -9 wheelsCall: 275-0538 or 683-7225 2,500 GLS, steel tank, 1-428 cat back-hoe, D4H cat bulldozer, 1 Leyland Daf 55 Tipper truck- Call: 275-0538 or 683-7225 20. Lengths-Plastic Sheet Piles, 1-930 CAT front end loaded, all in working condition-Call: 275-0538 or 683-7225 PIT-BULL PUPPIES – CALL: 667-0338 1-1000 gallon fuel tank at (New Amsterdam Location) Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 2-LL 7000 F.G Wilson Alternators (600KVA) Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 226-6150-7 One Toyota Verossa $2.6MCall: 614-0694 120z. glass jars with Acid protective covers suitable for jam, achar, etc- Wieting & Richter Ltd-Call: 2266150-7 Continued on page 23
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news
Is this a way to reduce the crime rate? DEAR EDITOR, We are all aware of the fact that there is a rise in the crime rate in our country for which the police should not be held responsible. I have seen police officers on mobile patrols on the roads in Berbice umpteen times on a daily basis and they need to be commended for this, particularly the Commander in charge. Great job officers! No doubt, we the people in Berbice would feel a sense of security whenever we see those patrols around. However, I observed that a few officers are misusing their purpose of being out there by
harassing and causing people much discomfort unnecessarily. I have seen traffic officers at the Bush Lot area on the Corentyne, like around 20:00 hrs, stopping vehicles and asking for license and documents for the vehicle. I honestly can’t begin to fathom the reason for such routine checks at that hour in the night and how will this help to reduce crimes in Berbice? If a senior officer was present along with other police officers, I would accept that they are carrying out their duties by conducting
From page 5 to get an appreciation of not only the disaggregation of the Public Service, but equally, if not more importantly, the indiscriminate allocation of values even for the same job across agencies – up to now still a compulsive indulgence. What appears to be no longer a concern to supervisory managers is the standard of performance of duties assigned; and therefore whether value is received for the compensation paid. This indifference to individual or group effort is seen in the peremptory and demotivating across-theboard increases made – more or less annually. One debilitating impact on the recipients of this intended incentive package is that the consequential percentage adjustment made to the 14 salary scales leave them exactly in the same point as before in the respective scales, often at the entry level. It means that after ten years’ service the employee who entered the service at the minimum of the applicable scale remains just there, where a new recruit 10 years after will enjoy exactly the same return. This condition of ‘bunching’ is quite prevalent in today’s Public service. Gone are the days of performance appraisal and the reward of an appropriate increment. In an increasingly global environment in which economies to be competitive must rely on the efficient performance of their component institutions, it is remarkable that there is no interest in, or system institut e d to assure effective performance evaluation of the standard of public services delivered to client citizens, and indeed to regional and international counterparts. But part of the reason for
this default may well be the absence of accurate job descriptions. How else does one explain the joint categorisation of ‘Semi-skilled Operatives and Unskilled’! Incidentally, no one has asked recently about the agency, unit or system utilised for grading skills and competencies. In this connection enquiries should be made regarding the capacity of the relevant Public Service Department (former Public Service Management) to evaluate jobs for placement in the 14 grade job hierarchy (now about 30 years old), in the face of all the new technologies that have been developed and utilised since. That the job of Clerk/Typist still exists in the establishment speaks indicatively to the question. Those wh o a r e m o r e familiar with Human Resource Management must enquire first into the competency criteria utilised to differentiate amongst appointees to the above positions. At first glance it looks more like an internal experience ladder on which to climb – while processing paper; but quite estranged from the substantive function of management and development of the human resources. It is an organisational chasm that can partly be successfully straddled by a broad range of relevant professional training, including dedicated trainers. (See table on page 5) However see summary later as it relates to ‘contracted employees’ only The above Table 1, apart from reflecting the relatively high proportion of contracted employees, invites contemplation on the varying populations of the Ministries, with Public Security being the largest with 5682 employees, followed by Education – 3455; Public Health – 1948
searches for suspects or criminals but it was not like that. I strongly feel that those methods will not help to reduce crime. On Saturday August 15, 2015, around 18:30 hours, I stood in front of the Springlands Police Station. I saw four traffic ranks on the road behaving in an unprofessional manner. They were stopping every vehicle demanding licenses and documents for vehicles. And yes, I did say demanding it. One officer said to a motorcyclist as he was doing a breathylyser test by the
road side “blow in this thing quick man”. I heard another officer shouted to a pedal cyclist, “Come, come whey yuh light deh, yuh want ah tek way dis bicycle”. Was this the most appropriate way to speak to those people? Was this the best way of approach? Is this a way to reduce the crime rate? In my opinion, those officers were uncouth. They as law protectors are sinking the ship of humanity. My concern is that these protectors of the law need to be more professional in the way they approach people as they carry out their daily
routines. When a few officers behave in such unprofessional manner it puts the entire Force to be seen as an unprofessional and incompetent one. As much as the police officers are not responsible for the crimes committed, they need to devise better techniques to tackle crimes in lieu of finding themselves harassing law abiding citizens unnecessarily. I therefore call on the Commander of Berbice to look into these issues and try to correct them as urgent as possible. Concerned citizen
From page 22
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Mazda Axela, PTT series, low mileage, e x c e l l e n t condition -owner migrating Tel: 649-0956 Toyota Rush- Unregistered $3M negotiable; Honda CRV 2003 model PSS 2018- $3.1M negotiable, pre-order any vehicle. Call: 655-3400 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Toyota Noah & Voxy -$1.7M ‘G’ Series, never registered – Call: 617-2891 One Honda CRV Immaculate Condition 17" mags, CD, AC, price -$1,850,000 negotiable – Call: 626-2884 Kaw a s a k i N i n ja 650R, excellent condition, lime green $650,000 asking price Tel: 655-2561
together with GPHC – 1630, totaling 3578. The substantive differentials in the span of control may well raise the issue of appropriate compensation for the parties responsible for decisionmaking, including Permanent Secretaries, amongst others. Meanwhile the (Table above) following shows the proportion of contracted employees to total staffing in Regional Administrations. It is clear th a t t h e content of the variety of contracts will have to be c l o s e l y e x a m i n e d and analysed, with a view to establishing the validity or otherwise of the employee’s status as a public servant. In the process, depending on the weight of the evidence, consideration may have to be given toeffecting a mutually acceptable mechanism for transitioning this target group to proper membership of the establishment. Taking into account the new dispensation the relevant unions can be expected to insist on participating in this, as in other areas of decisionmaking, including the reinstitution or otherwise of the performance appraisal system and award of merit increments – in place of across-the-board increases;
not to mention the massive undertaking of an updated job evaluation exercise. In all of which the pre-eminent role of
information technology systems cannot logically be overlooked. E.B. John
One 1.5 Ton Toyota Toyoace Canter, good working condition-Contact: 623-1202 Cheapest VVTI Super G.L Buses, VVTI stick gear buses, pit bull goods van (from Japan)-call: 616-7635 Pitbull minibus-Call: 6886316; 603-4494 1 New Model 212 fully loaded, price negotiableContact Dave: 687-6695 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 Nissan X-trail PMM 89522002 model, asking $2.5M negotiable-Call: 232-0628, 328-7832; 641-3001
LAND FOR SALE Concrete fenced land in residential high income area at Republic Park, Water, light, etc-Call: 233-0570 Parfaite Harmonie -$1.5M, 1.3M, 1M, Tuschen 8th street -$1.5M, Tuschen 2nd Street -$5.5M corner lot – Call: 604-6724 33 Acres prime agriculture land located at Plantation Flensberg W.B.D-price negotiable-Contact Erick Boodhoo: Call: 654-6229; 627-0556
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Annadale fisherman body found The body of the 42-yearold fisherman Hansram Persaud was found two days after the vessel he joined reportedly went under. Persaud’s remains were recovered around 16:00 hours along the foreshore at De Hoop, Mahaica yesterday, following relentless search efforts by relatives and friends. Persaud, popularly known as “Greens”, of Lot 99 Courbane Park, Annadale, East Coast Demerara was out on a fishing trip with two villagers since last Thursday. The trip became the subject of a police investigation when Hansram Persaud was the only who did not return. His surviving
companions came back on Saturday and were taken into police custody. Kaieteur News understands that they are still being questioned in relation to the trip. Persaud’s 66-year-old mother, Murlene Persaud had told Kaieteur News that on Thursday, last ‘Greens’ told her other sons that he had landed a job and would be heading out to sea with two other villagers – Silavno “Roscoe” Jeffery and another identified as Khan, also called “Old Head”. According to the elderly woman, her youngest son set off to the sea the very evening, joining a fishing vessel with these men. Things
turned strange, however, when on Saturday the family received a message stating that the fishing boat Persaud had joined toppled and he was the only person missing. It was said that the two men somehow managed to survive at sea, using a barge, until they were rescued by another vessel. Claims have purportedly been to the effect that when the boat sank, it broke in two and that they held onto pieces of it until a vessel passed by and rescued them. Hansram, they reportedly claimed, let go and went under. A post mortem is yet to be conducted.
From page 12 where residents and business persons can present their case, to the committee for waivers on interest in taxes owed within the past few years. According to the Mayor the committee will ensure transparency and consistency in the process, as the Council seeks to garner substantial revenue to assist with their massive restoration project. The amount of tax waivers to businesses will be decided based on investigations by the committee. Amnesty will not be granted to businesses which had been part of the deliberate process to suffocate the Municipality under the previous
administration, said the Mayor. In addition, recently erected high rise buildings will not benefit from the amnesty, since the valuation for premises, is essential to the amount of the taxes owed to the Council. The Council has noted
that about 300 businesses are in default of paying taxes, this year. The Georgetown M&CC, from time to time, has offered delinquent taxpayers waivers on tax interest through amnesty. The venture is seen as a method of collecting hundreds of millions.4
City Hall extends tax...
GUYSUCO records highest... From page 11 The placement of the industry into private hands has also been subject to debate, as GUYSUCO has continuously been granted massive subsidies. Government’s advisor on sustainable development, Dr. Clive Thomas, has repeatedly called for downsizing of the industry and the need to privatize it. He currently sits on GUYSUCO’s COI. During the National Cane Farmers Conference, Government had not been averse to such steps, but during the parliamentary debates, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) spoke out strongly against steps being taken to privatize the industry.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Raul Castro calls for US to lift trade embargo
It was President Castro’s first address to the UN since succeeding his brother Fidel in 2006 Cuban President Raul Castro has told the UN that normal relations with the US will only be possible if America takes a number of measures including the abolition of its trade embargo. He said it was also necessary for the US to return the military base at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay and end anti-communist broadcasts to the island. US President Barack Obama also called for the trade embargo to be lifted. He said that he was confident that the US Congress would do so soon.
The two leaders are expected to meet later on Tuesday in New York. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Monday, President Obama said he thought the Republican-held Congress would inevitably lift “an embargo that should not be in place anymore” despite its reservations over the administration’s support for it. He said that while the Cuba policy of the US had “failed to improve the lives of the Cuban people”, human rights remained a concern in relations with
Havana. His words evoked a positive applause from the 193-nation UN General Assembly. The embargo has been in place since 1960 and remains a contentious issue in relations between Cuba and the US. President Castro for his part said that now that diplomatic ties were back in place, the overall normalisation of relations “will only be achieved with the end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba”. It was President Castro’s first address to the UN since succeeding his brother Fidel in 2006. Like President Obama, he received sustained applause. The White House announced on Sunday that President Obama would hold talks with his Cuban counterpart on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It will be their second meeting following on from their first historic get-together in Panama in April. The UN General Assembly is set to discuss a new draft resolution criticising the US embargo at a meeting next month. The assembly has voted every year since 1982 in support of a resolution calling on the US to end the embargo.
Health Ministry facing ganja lawsuit THE MINISTRY of Health is to be sued over ganja laws, the country’s first incorporated Cannabis Law Reform Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) has said. According to a release from Colin Stephenson, the director and co-founder of C420, “under current law in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the possession, import, export, sale, manufacture, production,
cultivation or distribution of cannabis is legal as long as one has been issued a licence”. Stephenson said C420 is “in possession of a legal opinion from the Ministry of Health confirming the same”. “In light of this, C420 has made several applications for medicinal cannabis licences on behalf of individuals who feel cannabis will be effective as a treatment for their illnesses,”
Stephenson said. “Since 2014, C420 has been appealing for a moratorium on arrests for cannabis possession whilst the so-called CARICOM Cannabis Commission continues to pontificate on nonissues such as decriminalisation, which is a fallacy since cannabis is already decriminalised in the majority of CARICOM States. (EXPRESS)
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
POLITICAL LAWBREAKERS - More than half of 2011 candidates yet to disclose election spending Nearly four years after the parliamentary election of 2011, less than half of the 150 candidates who contested the polls have filed returns of election expenses to returning officers for the constituencies in which they were candidates. The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) has released data, on The Gleaner’s request, that revealed that 80 of the 150 candidates have flouted the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) as they have not filed the returns. By law, the returns must be made six weeks after the election. Only 70 of the 150 candidates from the People’s National Party (PNP), the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), third parties, and independents have filed. The bulk of the delinquencies are from the JLP. The ECJ disclosed that of the 63 JLP candidates, 45 have failed to file returns. In the case of the PNP, 17 of its 63 candidates in the 2011 election failed to file returns. There were 24 candidates listed in the categories of third parties and independent members, with six having filed and 18 still outstanding. On March 30, 2012, the
Electoral Office of Jamaica published the names of 74 candidates it says are yet to file their returns. It then reduced the list to 70, saying that four of the candidates had submitted their returns to its divisional offices before the March 16 deadline. North West St Andrew Member of Parliament Derrick Smith acknowledged that he had not filed his return and said he intended to do so as soon as possible. “I usually comply with all the requirements, but this was an obvious oversight,” Smith told The Gleaner. Central St James Member of Parliament Lloyd B. Smith was named by the EOJ in March 2012 as being among the PNP candidates who had not filed returns. Yesterday, Smith said he could not recall whether he had since done so. He also said that the financial aspects of his campaign were not dealt with by him. The ROPA stipulates that a candidate contesting an election shall, within six weeks of election day, submit to the Electoral Commission a consolidated report, in the prescribed form, detailing all contributions/donations received within the campaign period. The law also says that
every return shall contain a full statement under the appropriate head specified in the return of ail expenditure incurred in connection with the election by or on behalf of the candidate by whose election agent the return is made and shall be supported by vouchers for all payments in excess of $4. The general secretaries of both major political parties told The Gleaner that they were not aware that some of their members had failed to file the reports. “This is news to me,” said Paul Burke, the head of the PNP Secretariat. “I will need to make some checks on this issue,” he said. JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang said that he was not aware that members of the JLP had been delinquent. “This is unacceptable,” he said. “This is the responsibility of each candidate and something that should have been done immediately after each election.” He said some candidates who rely on the resources from political parties do not believe that they should file returns because of little or no campaign expenditure on their part. (GLEANER)
Britain has duty to clean up monumental mess of Empire, Sir Hilary tells Cameron
(L) CAMERON… scheduled to visit Jamaica this week. (R) BECKLES… the burden of the inherited mess from slavery and colonialism has overwhelmed many of our best efforts. Sir Hilary Beckles is encouraging British Prime Minister David Cameron to signal his country’s willingness to work towards a reparatory justice programme for the Caribbean when he visits Jamaica this week. Sir Hilary, who chairs Caricom’s Reparations Commission and is also vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies, made the
recommendation to the British chief executive in a letter on Saturday. Arguing that the inherited mess from slavery and colonialism has overwhelmed many Caribbean countries, Sir Hilary told Cameron that his country needs to “play its part in cleaning up this monumental mess of Empire”. “We ask not for handouts or any such acts of indecent submission. We merely ask
that you acknowledge responsibility for your share of this situation and move to contribute in a joint programme of rehabilitation and renewal,” Sir Hilary said. “The continuing suffering of our people, Sir, is as much your nation’s duty to alleviate as it is ours to resolve in steadfast acts of selfresponsibility,” the Caribbean academic added. (OBSERVER)
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AIBA official to aid referees/judges... From page 33 displays. Towards this end, GBA executives have extended an invitation to International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) referee/ judge James Beckles to conduct a seminar for local and foreign officials from November 2125. The Trinidadian will arrive in Guyana one day before the course commences. Invitations have been dispatched to more than 15 countries and already several of them have confirmed their participation. The latest confirmation came from St Maarten and Curacao and they join several other countries that have earlier confirmed their participation including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados Bahamas, Jamaica, St Lucia, French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, is very upbeat and said that the impending tournament will test the mettle of local boxers while informing the coaches of their current abilities. He said that his executives are working assiduously to enhance the fortunes of amateur boxers and the Caribbean Goodwill Tournament is just the forum for establishing their competence. The cost of the tournament has exceeded 6 million dollars and Mr. Ninvalle is grateful for the assistance received from the executive of the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA) who have committed to a huge sum towards the liquidation of costs. Indeed, President of the GOA, K A Juman Yassin had unveiled a
lucrative package that will assist greatly towards the success of the tournament. He also emphasized that the benefits are many as the influx of overseas personnel could aid in the sports tourism sector which is being touted by Government officials. The GOA boss remains staunch that boxers stand a great chance to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games but posits that all round assistance is an absolute necessity. He joined with Mr. Ninvalle and issued a clarion call to the corporate community to donate generously towards the liquidation of the huge costs. Yassin, a former President of the GBA, bemoaned the fact that despite their raw talent, amateur boxers are still not procuring lucrative medals. He feels that the boxers are not trying hard enough and called on them to dig deeper in their quest for international accomplishments. “The executive of the GBA is really trying but in the end boxers must demonstrate the will or the efforts of their executive will be useless,” Mr. Yassin said. Consequently, he has asked Mr. Ninvalle to identify 2 boxers for special attention and training for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The GOA will foot the bill for this initiative. The GBA President expressed gratitude to the GOA boss for the assistance promised and that received in the past. He said that the tournament will be competed under the motto of the Caribbean boxing fraternity, One Voice, One Goal, One Caribbean.
Tuesday September 29, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Restrictions may be difficult for you to live with, but try to do things by the book. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) You have a tendency to think that no one else will do things properly. You should be looking into making changes around the house. GEMINI (MAY 22JUNE 21) Direct your energy wisely today. Anger will prevail if you expect help from others. Plan your social events carefully. If you try to manipulate emotional situations you will find yourself alienated. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Your business sense will be leading you in a direction that indicates more travel and communication. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) You're in the mood to get out and visit friends. Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference. VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) You need to focus on yourself, not on others. In-laws may cause difficulties. Travel should be considered. Get out and experience the spice of life.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Your energetic nature and ability to initiate projects will add to your popularity. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Don't let relatives get the better of you. You are best to concentrate on your professional endeavors. Those you live with may be experiencing problems. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Pleasure trips or friendly get-togethers will be satisfying and intellectually stimulating. Disputes may start because of a lack of honesty. Creative educational pursuits will payoff. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You can enjoy your involvement in organizations that make charitable contributions. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) You need to reevaluate your situation. You can make sound financial investments if you act fast. If you can, try to work out of your home today. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Your lover may disappoint you in such a way that estrangement will follow. You are best not to say too much to colleagues. Travel could include delays and other minor problems.
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Groden’s tenure as GFF GS ends tomorrow The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has informed that the tenure of General Secretary Mr. Richard Groden will end tomorrow. Groden was expected to serve GS for the entire life of the Normalistion Committee which is November 14, 2015. However, due to prior personal commitments, Groden will be unable to fulfill the original agreement according to the GFF release. Ms. Diedre Davis, who served as Assistant General Secretar,y will now assume the role of General Secretary as
of October 1, 2015. Groden has expressed gratitude to all who exhibited patience and provided support and clarity during his tenure as General Secretary. He believes that there is still a lot to be achieved in the interest of the game and is urging those who will take over the reins of administration at all levels to proceed in a collective and inclusive manner which will ensure the success that is necessary in the governance of administration of the game in Guyana.
Richard Groden
Simmons suspended as West Indies... From page 34 selectors Clive Lloyd had voted for their inclusion, but were outnumbered 3-2 despite Holder also wanting Bravo and Pollard in the team. “I think it’s disappointing from the fact that I haven’t got the best 50-over ODI squad that we can select in the Caribbean,” Simmons had said at a media conference, at the conclusion of the West Indies training camp at the 3Ws Oval in Bridgetown. “The chairman, Mr Lloyd, he came and he gave an exceptional speech saying that he thinks it is time they are back in the squad and he gave exceptional reasons for them being back in the squad. Unfortunately, when we went into the selection [meeting] we lost it 3-2. Him and myself - the cap-
Barcelona’s Mascherano... From page 30 following the likes of his Barcelona and Argentina team mate Lionel Messi, who has been caught up in a similar case involving earnings from image rights. Messi and his father were accused of defrauding the Spanish state of more than 4 million euros by filing false returns for the years 2006 to 2009. They have denied wrongdoing. Another Barca player, Brazil forward Neymar, has been named in a lawsuit filed by investment fund DIS that alleges it was the victim of a fraud perpetrated in the signing of the player from Santos in 2013. Barcelona, former president Sandro Rosell, incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu, Neymar, his father, Santos and two of the Brazilian club’s executives were all named in the suit. Barca said the club had acted “fully within the law” and rejected the accusations.
tain [Holder] doesn’t have a vote in this - but the captain also gave his views as to why they need to be back.” Bravo and Pollard have not been considered for ODI selection since they were dropped for the series in South Africa in January this
year, and their omission from the World Cup squad generated plenty of debate. At the time Lloyd had said he had spoken to the two players and explained to them that the selection panel wanted to move on and give youngsters more chances.
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Tokyo recommends five more sports for 2020 Games TOKYO (Reuters) Five additional sports, including skateboarding and surfing, have been recommended by the organisers of the Tokyo Olympics for inclusion at the 2020 Summer Games, it was announced on Monday. Baseball/softball, karate and climbing were also given the thumbs up under a proposal that will see a total of 18 new medal events, nine each for men and women, contested by an extra 474 athletes at the Games. “This package of events represents both traditional and emerging, youth-focused events, all of which are popular both in Japan and internationally,” Tokyo organisers said in a statement. “They will serve as a driving force to further promote the Olympic Movement and its values, with a focus on youth appeal, and will add value to the Games by engaging the Japanese population and new audiences worldwide, reflecting the Tokyo 2020 Games vision.” Under new rules, Olympic host cities can hand-pick sports they want included at the Games, joining the existing 28 core sports. The final decision rests with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will vote on the 2020 recommendations next August. Bowling, squash and wushu had also been shortlisted for inclusion in Tokyo but were left off the final recommended list, leaving their supporters devastated. HEARTBROKEN “I know I speak on behalf
of the millions of squash players around the world for whom the opportunity of seeing their sport participate in the Olympics has been an absolute priority — and, like me, they will be heartbroken,” World Squash Federation President Narayana Ramachandran said. As part of sweeping reforms initiated by IOC president Thomas Bach last year, future Olympic hosts are now being offered the chance to bring in sports that are trendy in their countries, partly to boost ratings as well as attracting greater sponsorship. Organisers wanted sports that are already well established in Japan, so new venues would not need to be built and add to ballooning costs, and popular with youth. “The IOC is very happy to receive the Tokyo 2020 proposal on the additional sports events to be considered for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” the IOC said. “This is another concrete step forward in the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020, showing a new, fresh and very exciting approach to the Olympic Programme.” Baseball and softball, united under the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), were widely expected to be on the list of recommended sports. Both were previously on the Olympic programme but were dropped after Asia last hosted the Summer Games, in Beijing in 2008.
Under the recommendations each sport would be contested by six teams, with half the contestants assured of getting medals. “Tokyo 2020’s decision to propose our sport is a ‘home run’ and giant leap forward for baseball and softball,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. Karate has never been contested at the Olympics but was another strong favourite. Judo, another martial art founded in Japan, first joined in 1964, when Tokyo last hosted the Summer Games, and has been included on every programme since 1972. Organisers recommended a total of eight medal events in karate, the most among the new recommended sports, with two in kata and six in kumite, evenly split along gender lines. Officials also proposed four events for skateboarding, two each for park and street, and suggested two medals each for shortboard surfing and climbing, combining the three main disciplines of bouldering, lead and speed. “Tokyo 2020’s announcement today is an extraordinary moment for our sport and for the global surfing community,” International Surfing Association (ISA) President Fernando Aguerre said. “The ISA has been riding an amazing wave in this journey for Olympic inclusion and we are thrilled that Tokyo 2020 recognise the exceptional value and youthful lifestyle that Surfing can bring to the 2020 Games.”
Eight clubs to battle in 11th Busta Champion of Champions 40-overs tournament Eight of the top clubs in the ancient county of Berbice will face off in the 11th edition of the Busta Champion of Champions 40-overs cricket competition, a special edition organised by the Rose Hall town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) in observance of its Silver Jubilee Anniversary celebrations. Spearheading plans is the club’s Cricket Development Committee and according to Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, the committee is hard at work fine tuning preparations for what is anticipated to be an exciting tournament. Competing teams will be defending champions Albion, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, West Berbice, Blairmont, Young Warriors, Tucker Park (formerly Bermine), Police and Upper Corentyne. The champions will pocket $100,000 and the Busta trophy while the runner-up team
will walk away with $50,000 and a trophy. Matches would spread across Ancient County with efforts being made to contest the final under lights at the Albion Community Center. Foster noted that the RHTY&SC would be using the matches to promote the Say No To Crime, Yes To Sport Message. Management of the invited teams would be required to submit a 20-member squad to the organizing club via email foster_hilbert@yahoo.com or drop off at the club’s office, Area ‘H’ Ground, Rose Hall Town. Foster further informed that they would be organising various tournaments at the second division, under-15, 17 and 19 levels as part of its cricket development programme, but only teams who have committed management and the interest of Berbice cricket at heart would be invited.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Blatter to remain FIFA president until February: lawyers FIFA President Sepp Blatter speaks during a news conference after the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland July 20, 2015. (Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann) (Reuters) FIFA President Sepp Blatter, under criminal investigation by Swiss authorities, plans to remain in his job until February and told staff at the world soccer governing body on Monday that he had done nothing illegal or improper, Blatter’s lawyers said. An emailed statement from Blatter ’s personal lawyers, Lorenz Erni of Switzerland and Richard Cullen of the United States, also defended payments that Zurich-based FIFA made to Michel Platini, president of the UEFA soccer confederation, as “valid compensation” for Platini’s work as an adviser. Swiss prosecutors said on Friday they had opened a criminal investigation into Blatter on suspicion of
criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of funds. Authorities interrogated Blatter at FIFA headquarters and seized unspecified data from his office. The prosecutors said Blatter was suspected of a “disloyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs ($2.05 million) to Platini in 2011 at the expense of FIFA, said to have been for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002. Blatter told Swiss authorities on Friday that Platini “had a valuable employment relationship with FIFA” as an adviser, Blatter’s personal lawyers said. “He explained to the prosecutors that the payments were valid compensation and nothing more and were properly
accounted for within FIFA including the withholding of Social Security contributions,” the lawyers said. Platini made his own defence of the payments on Monday. The onetime soccer star for France said in a statement that he had not been accused of wrongdoing and that the money was fully declared to authorities in accordance with Swiss law. Platini offered to help FIFA’s Ethics Committee to resolve any issues over the payment. Blatter has said he plans to resign the presidency after an election in February. He is also being investigated by U.S. prosecutors and the FBI as part of a sweeping probe into allegations of corruption in the world’s most popular sport.
Barcelona’s Mascherano charged with tax fraud
Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano celebrates. (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach)
BARCELONA (Reuters) Barcelona’s Argentina international Javier Mascherano has been charged with two counts of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of a total of more than 1.5 million euros (£1.1 million), the public prosecutor said on Monday. Mascherano, who joined Barca from English club Liverpool in August 2010, is alleged to have sought to conceal earnings from his image rights by using companies set up in the United States and Portugal, the prosecutor’s office said. The 31-year-old is accused of defrauding the authorities of 587,822.01 euros in 2011 and 968,907.76 in 2012, they added. Mascherano, who made no immediate public comment on the charges, this month paid the money owed plus almost 200,000 euros interest, the office said, and local media reported this could work in his favour if he is found guilty. Barca did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mascherano is the latest high-profile football player to be accused of tax fraud (Continued on page 29)
Tuesday September 29, 2015
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IPSC/Guyana NRA Level 1 Shoot...
Da Silva, Hassan, Hopkinson and Tewari emerge winners
Category winners and other competitors of the IPSC / Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Level 1 match on Sunday last. Dr. Johan Da Silva, Azaad Hassan, Harold Hopkinson and Roberto Tewari emerged winners of last Sunday’s IPSC / Guyana National Rifle
Association (GNRA) Level 1 match sponsored by Secure Innovation and Concepts Inc. which took place at the Timehri Ranges, Yarrowkabra,
Linden Soesdyke Highway. Dr. Da Silva won the Standard (high end guns with modifications) category, Hassan topped the field in the
Young Warriors CC name strong team to challenge DCC in friendly t20 game The Queenstown based Demerara Cricket Club will host The Young Warriors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice in a friendly T20 game on the evening of Saturday, October 3rd, 2015. The match will be sponsored by popular softball player and businessman, Ricky Deonarine of 4R Bearings. The last time these two teams met was a long while ago in a Neal Massy Forty Over National Final at the Providence Stadium with Young Warriors emerging winners. Both teams are very talented and it is certain that DCC will want to avenge that lost. The East Canje team will be boosted by the return of former West Indies under-19 and former senior Guyana batsman Gajanand Singh who is back in the country with the hope of returning to the national senior team. Since his return, his class has rubbed off on the other players. He will be supported by arguably the best young batsman in the Caribbean, West Indies Under-19 and Senior National opener Shimron Hetmyer. Other batsmen of worth is Shimron’s elder brother, Seon who represented Guyana at the under-19 level and has a
hundred under his belt, former Berbice Senior Opener Maxie DeJonge who scored a century against Essequibo at Bourda, former youth players Kevin Ramdeen, Linden Austin and Kassim Khan, Waheid Edwards and Sasenarine Sukhdeo. Attacking wicketkeeper batsman Ishwar Singh is capable of tearing any bowling apart on his day. The bowling will be led by pacers Suresh Dhanai and Royden Phil with support from medium pacer Seon Hetmyer. The loaded spin based attack will be led by Ramdeen, Austin, Khan and Gajanand Singh. While the DCC team is not yet named, players such as
West Indies T20 player Christopher Barnwell, National Senior Opener Trevon Griffith and Senior National Pacer Paul Wintz will be on show. The Young Warriors team will come from: Shimron Hetmyer, Maxie DeJonge, Waheid Edwards, Kevin Ramdeen, Gajanand Singh, Seon Hetmyer, Ishwar Singh, Sasenarine Sukdeo, Linden Austin, Kassim Khan, Suresh Dhanai, Vishal Mahabir, Alex Algoo, Ameer Khan, Royden Phil and Shan Sattaur. Coach is Hubern Evans, Assistant Coach Kwesi Maltay and Manager Sahadeo Singh. The game starts at 6:00PM.
Lusignan Golf Club names team for Suriname Open The Lusignan Golf Club has confirmed their intention to participate in the Republic Bank Invitational 2015 popularly known as the “Suriname Open”. This invitational tournament hosted by Golf Club Paramaribo and Republic Bank, will be held on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October,
2015 in Paramaribo. Tournament format is the Stableford format. Guyanese golfers chosen by the club to participate are: Troy Cadogan, Mike Gayadin, Brian Hackett, Dr Philbert London, Parmanand Persaud, Patanjalee Persaud, Lakeram Ramsundar, Patrick Prashad, John Tracy, Kalyan Tiwari and Ms Shanella Webster.
Production (normal guns) class; Hopkinson was the best in the Super Senior (Over 60) category, while Tewari was the top Rookie, a category that was introduced by Harold ‘Topgun’ Hopkinson, Regional Director for the International Practical Shooting Federation, IPSC and organiser of the shoot. Ray Beharry had to settle for the second place to Da Silva with David Dharry, Gordon Richards and Lawrence Layne placing 3rd to 5th. Shawn Smith was second best to Hassan, while Tewari won ahead of Jermaine
Softley, Romesh Latchana, Tracey Vieira and Peter Kathanan in that order. Thirty (30) persons attended and participated in the shoot which also saw four of the competitors being disqualified. Prior to Sunday’s shoot, many of the competitors participated in the first ever International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) / Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Level 1, IPSC Range Officers (RO) Seminar which was held at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Hopkinson who also facilitated that seminar informed that it was a resounding success with the participants performing well on Sunday as they exhibited what was learnt in the classroom. Another match will be contested in November according to Hopkinson where overseas competitors would be participating in about eight (8) to twelve (12) stages of competition. Suriname will host an Open competition on October 23-24; Guyana is likely to be represented.
Asgarally donates gears to MMZ West U15 cricketers
Ajaz Asgarally presents a batting pad to the club’s U15 Captain Aftab Bashir in the presence of members of the club. Former Guyana U19 wicketkeeper batsman Ajaz Asgarally on Saturday presented a quantity of cricket gears to Meten-Meer-Zorg West CC U15 cricketers. Asgarally, who now lives in the United States of America and is currently on vacation here, presented two pairs batting pads, one pair wicketkeeping pad, two pairs batting
gloves and one helmet to the players at a simple ceremony held at the club ground, West Coast Demerara. He urged the youths to maintain a high level of discipline, train hard and take their education seriously. He added that he would like to see more players from the club representing Guyana.
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Tuesday September 29, 2015
Green continues reign of GRFU Incumbent President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Peter Green was elected to continue his reign at the helm of the Body when it held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, at the St Stanislaus College. Green returned unopposed to the post in an election that saw major changes in several key positions including those of Senior and Junior Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer. Former Senior VicePresident John Lewis was replaced incumbent President of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), Joshua Griffith, who was elected unopposed, while Elwin Chase, Coach of the national women’s rugby team will serve as Junior VicePresident , replacing Alwin Etwah. Long serving Secretary of the GRFU Terrence Grant was replaced by Petal Adams, while Keith White was named
- MAJOR CHANGES MADE TO EXECUTIVE
Re-elected President Peter Green (5th right) poses with members of the new executive at St. Stanislaus College on Sunday.
Treasurer after Roger Pereira declined re-election. The other elected members are Ryan Dey (Assistant Secretary Treasurer), Esan Griffith
(Public Relations Officer) and Shane Grant-Stewart (Match Secretary). The three committee members are Daniel Anderson, Sabola Gray and
Delroy Gordon. A motion was passed to hold a Special Meeting on October 25. Meanwhile, Green in his remarks urged the new executive to work hard
despite the possibility of them being in office for just around three months a stark reality due to late staging of election of office bearers which is supposed to be held
annually. Griffith in his comments promised to commit to finding more avenues to aid in the further the development of the sport. He said he was humbled, appreciative and thankful for all those who voted and for placing their trust in him to serve in that capacity. He added that they plan to meet with members of the various clubs to listen to their issues and see how best they could resolve them. Griffith pointed out that among the other immediate plans of the Union was to have a five year plan, a ten year plan, a vision statement, a strategic plan so that the sport could take off to the next level locally, regionally and internationally. Among the other pressing issues is to amend the constitution to have an executive in place for a twoyear period. Meanwhile, the Banks DIH Sevens Tournament is slated for this Sunday, at the National Park.
Sharapova comeback BCB’s Berbice River Bridge cut short by new injury final now set for Oct 10
Wuhan (China) (AFP) Maria Sharapova’s comeback from a leg injury lasted less than three sets on Monday before she retired with a left forearm problem against unseeded Barbora Strycova at the Wuhan Open. The world number three had been out with a persistent leg injury since July, when she lost a Wimbledon semifinal to Serena Williams, and pulled out of three events including the US Open. But the Russian’s longawaited return proved shortlived as she was pushed to two tie-breaks by the Czech Republic’s Strycova before withdrawing when 2-1 up in the third. “I got pain in my left forearm. It just got worse and worse as I continued,” Sharapova said after the match. “I don’t remember the last time I redrew in the middle of a match. It’s not a nice feeling,” she added. “Unfortunately it’s sad that Maria couldn’t finish the match because I thought it was a really good match,” Strycova said of her opponent. “It’s never easy (against Sharapova) because she’s playing very long and very powerful. So you have to watch out not to make so many mistakes.” Sharapova’s retirement
The much anticipated final of the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) Berbice River Bridge Company sponsored first division 50-over cricket competition will now be played at the Port Mourant ground on October 10. The final, which was postponed due to a protest by Port Mourant (PM) who claimed that Rajeev Ivan, who played for Rose Hall Town & Sports Club (RHTYSC) in this competition, was not released to play for that team. Port Mourant however, withdrew it
protest when it was discovered that Ivan was never officially released in the first place by Rose Hall Town and although he played for Port Mourant the matches were not BCB competitions since there was no first division in Berbice before this competition. The matter was heard yesterday afternoon and competitions committee of the BCB set the new date for the final which will see Albion clashing with RHTYSC. (Sean Devers)
Den Amstel win Sydroy Nedd Inter Ward/Village 7-a-aside KO Football Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a shot to Barbora Strycova of Cezch Republic during their women’s singles match at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament in China’s Hubei province on September 28, 2015. (AFP Photo/Fred Dufour) leaves a question mark over the rest of her season with only one big tournament, the China Open, left before the year-ending WTA Finals in Singapore. She had pulled out of a WTA event in Toronto and the Cincinnati Masters hoping to be ready for the US Open, but was also forced to withdraw from the year’s final Grand Slam tournament. “Obviously Singapore and Fed Cup is a big priority
for myself. I’ll do everything in order to be healthy for that. I don’t know how long it will take for this to recover so I can’t really give myself or you a definite answer about next week,” Sharapova said. The Russian had sounded confident when she arrived in Wuhan on Saturday after a three month break from tournaments, telling reporters: “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t healthy and ready to compete.”
National Youth player Andre Hector spearhead Den Amstel to an emphatic 5-nill drubbing of Grove in the final of the two-day Sydroy Nedd Inter Ward/Village 7-a-aside KO F/ball last Thursday at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground to cart off the Assistant Police Commissioner Brain Joseph Trophy and $100,000. The competition was organised by the Mayor’s Cup Organizing Committee and the family of the late Sydroy Nedd, led by Nedd’s younger brother Senior Superintendent of Police Nigel Hoppie. Hoppie, speaking at the presentation, thanked the good size Eid-Ul-Azah holiday crowd for their support of his sibling who he
passed away in September 2011. Hoppie promised to make the tournament, which this year coincided with what would have been Nedd’s 60th birth anniversary, an annual one. Hoppie promised to hold next year’s competition at the Uitvlugt ground in West Coast Demerara since the late Nedd was a former President of the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) as well as the Uitvlugt Football Club. He was also Manager of Guyana Football Federation teams and Assistant coordinator of the Mayor’s Cup Organizing Committee. The runners-up Grove pocketed $50,000 and the Nigel Hoppie trophy, while
Pouderoyen, who finished third, collected $30,000 and a trophy and Goed Fortuin, who ended fourth, took home $20,000 and a trophy. Grove hammered Wales 40, Pouderoyen beat Sara’s Lodge 2-1, Goed Fortuin defeated Uitvlugt 3-2 and Den Amstel beat Stewartville 4-nil in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Grove beat Goed Fortuin 2-0 and Den Amstel whipped Pouderoyen 4-0. Before the third place match-up which was won by Pouderoyen over Goed Fortuin 2-0, West Demerara Masters got the better of Georgetown Masters 1-nil. Hector was the tournament’s leading goal scorer, having found the back of the net eight times.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
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DCC overcome TSC to claim Garvin Nedd cricket title By Zaheer Mohamed Host Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) defeated Transport Sports Club (TSC) by five wickets to capture the Garvin Nedd youth cricket title on Sunday night. TSC managed 106-6 off their allotted overs after they decided to bat in front of a fair-sized crowd. Devon Allen and Mark Baptise resurrected the innings with a third wicket stand of 48 after Jamal Michael was run out for eight and medium pacer Alphius Bookie trapped Adrian Hinds lbw for nine to leave the score at 26-2. Allen and Baptiste batted sensibly on a difficult pitch before Allen, who struck a solitary boundary, was caught off left arm spinner Ashmead Nedd for 21. Nedd who maintained a steady line then uprooted the stumps of Baptiste for 23 (2x4) with the score on 83-4. West Indies U15 player Colin Barlow propped up the total somewhat - he cracked two fours, before he was bowled by Nedd for 19. Nedd finished with 3-8 off four overs while Bookie and Qumar Torrington had
The runner up Transport Sports Club team. Coach Shawn Massiah standing far left. one each. Off-spinner Joel Spooner provided TSC with the breakthrough, trapping Sachin Singh lbw for four before Barlow sent back Robin Williams (04) leaving the score on 16-2 as DCC reply got off to a bad start. However opener Romaine Muniram and Raymond Perez added 40 for the third wicket to steady the chase before Perez who struck three fours was brilliantly caught and bowled by Anthony Antonio for 24 off 18 balls.
Spooner then picked up two quick wickets to keep TSC in the hunt - he bowled Bookie (04) who missed a straight ball after chipping too early and had Muniram caught for 36 with the score on 77-5. Muniram who timed the ball well faced 38 deliveries and hit one four. Timothy Mc Almont and Need then combined the see their team to safety with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 30. Mc Almont clobbered one four and two maximums to finish on 21 off just eight
3rd Caribbean Goodwill Tournament...
AIBA official to aid referees/judges competence as preparations heighten
Juman Yassin By Michael Benjamin Consistence diligence exhibited by the executive of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) over the past two years towards the development of their
Steve Ninvalle charges is beginning to fructify when those pugilists test their mettle against the best from several Caribbean countries. The occasion is the 3rd Caribbean Goodwill Tournament, scheduled to
James Beckles get underway here in Guyana from November 2629 and already the local coaches, referees, judges and other officials are sharpening up to deliver the highest quality of fistic (Continued on page 25)
balls, while Nedd was on eight. Spooner claimed 3-7 off four overs while Antonio and Barlow had one each. Muniram was given the man of the match award while Yeudistir Persaud of Everest CC received the best batsman prize. Nedd took the best bowler accolade and Mark Jeffers of Everest CC pocketed the MVP trophy.
President of DCC Alfred Mentore congratulated the players and urged them to continue taking the game seriously. He also spoke of the importance of Education and discipline. Nedd, a former first class cricketer who now coaches at DCC, stated that he was impressed with the talent of the players, adding that he
was thrilled to give back to the youths. He also thanked the sponsors. Meanwhile, DCC beat Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) by 10 wickets in their semi final game. GYO were sent packing for 61, batting first. Torrington, Nedd and Nkosie Beaton claimed two wickets each. DCC responded with 620 in nine overs. Muniram slammed 34 and Sachin Singh 26. TSC overcame Everest in their semi final match. Batting first, TSC made 101 with Devon Allen scoring 36. Everest were bowled out for 79 in 19.3 overs in reply. Richie Looknauth scored 24 and Yeudistir Persaud 24. Baptiste had 3-9 while Antonio and Joshua Gardner took two apiece. The tournament was sponsored by Elegant Jewellery and Pawn Shop, Life Time Real Estate, Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association, Trophy Stall and Nigel Ritch of Supreme Food.
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Kaieteur News
Another double header on today at Tucville ground
Simmons suspended as West Indies coach
ESPNcricinfo - Phil Simmons has been suspended with immediate effect as West Indies coach, two days after he expressed his unhappiness with the ODI squad selected for the Sri Lanka tour. Simmons was caught unawares by the decision, which was communicated to him in an email from WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead, as he was in the UK preparing to join the squad in London on their way to Sri Lanka. Simmons will now not travel with the team, and former West Indies fast bowler Eldine Baptiste, who is also a national selector, will take up the position of interim coach for the tour of Sri Lanka. The series, which begins on October 14, is the new Test captain Jason Holder’s first assignment. “The West Indies Cricket Board has learnt of the comments from head coach of the West Indies team Phil Simmons in the print and electronic media which appear to question the legitimacy of the selection process of the one-day international squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. As a result,
Phil Simmons’s tenure as West Indies coach is now uncertain, only six months after his appointment © WICB Media Photo/Philip Spooner the management of the WICB has taken action to suspend the head coach, pending an investigation into the issue,” the board said in a statement. “The head coach will not now travel with the team on the tour of Sri Lanka.” Though West Indies’ limited-overs squads for the
tour had not been announced, Simmons revealed that “interference from outside” at a selection meeting on September 23 had kept allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard out of the ODI side. Simmons said that he, as coach, and chairman of (Continued on page 25)
Atlantic View bar backs Wiltshire Dominoes
Mark Wiltshire accepts the trophy from Raywatee Persaud of Atlantic View bar.
A
tlantic View bar (Geeta Shop) of Winsor Forest, West Coast Demerara has thrown their support behind the Mark Wiltshire 20/20 Dominoes tournament which is slated for Sunday at above mentioned venue. Raywatee Persaud of Atlantic View bar yesterday presented the winning trophy to Wiltshire at a simple ceremony held at Guinness bar Pouderoyen, West Bank
Demerara. She said they are happy to be part of the competition and wished the teams well, while Wiltshire thanked her for the input. Entrance fee is $10,000 and action gets underway at 14:00hrs. Apart from a trophy, the winning team will take home $120,000, runner up $50,000 and third place $20,000. Prizes are subject to change.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Gregory Richardson (left) and Travis Grant will again be important to Pele’s push for another win.
Eon Alleyne
S
tag Elite League leaders Fruta Conquerors will be going all out to increase their advantage at the top when they entertain the Guyana Defence Force in the feature game of today’s double header. Boasting two wins from as many matches to date, the only team with that distinction so far, Tucville boys will be a confident unit coming against the Army which has a win and a loss from their two matches. The first line of focus would be defence for both teams, Conquerors have been very mean in this regard having scored three goals while conceding just one; the GDF have also scored three but have conceded a similar amount. Alex in goal will again be pivotal for the home team along with Captain Trevon Lythcott in defence, Chavez Hescott, Eon Alleyne, Jermaine Junor and Kwame LaFleur. The GDF will look to Eusi Phillips, Delwyn and Delroy Fraser, custodian Oswald Cornette, Carlos Adams and Akeemo Watts to chart their way to their second win. Opening action between Pele and Buxton United will see the former going into the game as favourites with an unbeaten record to defend, Buxton will be looking to secure their first win and remove from the bottom of the standings, Pele lay
Delwin Fraser
fourth. Gregory Richardson will again be leading Pele’s quest for full points with usual support from Travis Grant, Omallo Williams, Deon Alfred, Shemroy Arthur and Keoma Greasvande. Buxton will have to step up their game if they are to keep Pele at bay; they have
not scored a single goal to date and the spotlight will be on Clive Andries, their main weapon up front to produce that elusive goal. Jason Cromwell in goal, Denver Dennis, Dillon Wright, Shemar Fraser and Inceford Charles will all be have to step up their game to see Buxton to victory.
Tuesday September 29, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Fitness trainer satisfied with PCL squad’s work ethic
Part of the PCL squad during their fitness test yesterday. By Sean Devers Guyana’s leading fitness trainer Kezqweyah Yisrael is satisfied with the work ethic of the members of the Guyana cricket Franchise which is preparing for the second edition of West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) the Professional Cricket League which commences on November 6 with the Guyana Jaguars playing the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Providence Stadium. Yisrael who has been working with PCL defending Champions for the past few months believes that the players are about 7075% in terms of their fitness levels and opined that this group of players are much fitter at this point than previous Guyana teams. “The guys are buying into this training programme and there is harmony in the team. They have had a much longer time to get fit than
previous occasions and most have been doing work on their own even before we got together as a group,” said Yisrael who facilitated a motivational training session with the players last week. “There is more respect all round. The senior guys are showing the younger ones plenty of respect which no doubt is playing a huge role in their commitment to training which has been very competitive among everyone,” Yisrael pointed out. It is felt that the contracts for especially the fringe players, have played major roles in their work ethic since they are being paid to train and yesterday the players were tested physically in a ‘yo yo’ test which while similar to the Beep test is much harder due to sprinting as levels of increase and having to stop and wait for five seconds at the completion of every ‘run down’. The experienced
Yisrael feels that as the tournament draws closer mental fitness will play a big role, but don’t feel the players being ‘burnt out’ physically which be a factor. They should be well equipped mentally since Yisrael covered areas like setting goals, (big goals that are scary and make you stretch) vision, dealing with Failure, criticism, the media, visions and plans for life after cricket when he spoke to the players. The Coaching staff has been doing a fantastic job getting the players ready for their title defence with nets sessions and simulation sessions at the Bourda ground. Chairman of selectors and Assistant Coach for Guyana, pacer Rayon Griffith explained that yesterday was the first time the players were exposed to the ‘yo yo’ system and was very impressed with their performance during the test.
Taking shape
T
R A N S F O R M AT I O N ! Director of Sport, Christopher Jones has undertaken a facelift of Guyana’s only indoor sport facility,
Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, as part of an emphasis on providing enhanced sports facilities. (Photo compliments of Christopher Jones)
“Leon Johnson is usually the top performer in the ‘Beep test’ but today (yesterday) we saw younger Chanderpaul reach 18.1 the same as West Indies under19 player Shemron Hetymer but young left arm spinner Devon Lord was really impressive reaching 18.8. Fudadin, Johnson and West Indies under-19 selectee
Tevin Imlach were the players who completed the most levels,” Griffith informed that the final squad should be selected next month adding that he wants the pacers and wicketkeeper to improve in the ‘yo yo’ tests. H ead C o ach Es u an Crandon, also a former N a t i o n a l f a s t b o w l e r,
disclosed that today the team will be engaged in ‘nets’ practice at Bourda before two four-day practice games will be played next month. “I have recommended that the last practice game be played at Providence where we will have our first three games but overall I am quite pleased where we are at this point,” Crandon said.
t r o Sp
Fitness trainer satisfied with PCL SQUAD’S WORK ETHIC
Leon Johnson, Taignarine Chanderpaul & Kemo Paul did well in the Yo-Yo test yesterday morning.
DCC overcome TSC to claim GARVIN NEDD cricket title
Members of the victorious DCC team display their accolades. DCC President Alfred Mentore is standing far left while Garvin Nedd is standing third from right.
SIMMONS SUSPENDED AS WEST INDIES COACH
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