Guyana Times May 21 2013 by Gytimes

PPP/C wants consensus to establish procurement commission P10 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Issue No. 1775

Guyana, Suriname to meet over backtrack route See story on page 13

$800M paid out to Essequibo rice farmers

PRICE

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: P3 No environmental assessment required for BK sand mine

GPL workers to get back pay this week

See story on page 17

Home Affairs Ministry warns roadblocking P7 protesters Suspected police killer charged

Bermudez billing clerk robbed

Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill being greeted here by students in Region One on Sunday as he wrapped up a three-day outreach in Mabaruma, Hobodia, Hotoquai, Sacred Heart, Three Brothers, Arukamai, and St Dominic. He updated residents on current issues being played out in the political arena, discussed matters relevant to their development, and also afforded them the opportunity to raise their concerns and offer suggestions on the way forward (GINA photo)

Ali blasts APNU, AFC for non-support of anti-money laundering bill

See story on page 12

MARAD detains illegal cargo ship See story on page 10

More than 31, 000 to benefit from minimum wage hike P12

2news

tuesday, may 21, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

No arrangement concluded to rent Regent Street building – Natural Resources Ministry

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said no arrangement has been concluded to rent any property on Regent Street or the surrounding area

he Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has not concluded any arrangement to rent any property on Regent Street or surrounding area. The ministry made the disclosure in response to a Kaieteur News article titled “GGMC to rent Regent Street building” published on May 20. The newspaper article stated “More worries seem to be brewing for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) as the agency is now forced to rent another location to ease staff congestion at its Brickdam

head office.” The newspaper said it was told that the agency officials are seeking to pay a $1 million rental fee for a new building located at the corner of Light and Regent streets. “This, however, is despite recently constructing a new building in the Brickdam compound which has since been taken over by a handful of staffers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Management is again furious over another inconvenience and the unnecessary expense that must be incurred. “Sources say that the agency has located the former co-op complex on Regent

Street, which is now owned by a private concern, to house some of its staff. Some GGMC staffers will soon be making the move to the new location.” The commission said it is disappointed that a section of the media published such inaccuracies without first seeking clarification. “The commission would like to restate that the High Street building is expected to meet the space requirement of the GGMC when completed. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is reviewing the matter of accommodation given the expanding mandate of the GGMC,” the release concluded.

U.S. embassy donates school supplies, books around Guyana

A U.S. embassy representative presents one of the books to a student

he U.S. embassy’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) team donated school supplies and reading materials provided by the Spirit of America and Food for the Poor to various institutions around Guyana. This initiative supports the embassy’s efforts to promote educational opportunities to less fortunate youths in Guyana. According to a release, the HAP team distributed scholastic items on April 8 and 10, to children attending the Al Ghazali Islamic Academy, in Georgetown and the Met en Meerzorg Academy, West Coast Demerara. These institutions provide edu-

cational programmes to orphaned children from different religions, race, and ethnic backgrounds. Sheik Moeenul Hack and Namdar Goolzar said the donation will greatly benefit the children by providing them with adequate school supplies and materials to utilise for several months to come. Additionally, on April 2930 and May 1, the HAP team and Matthew Valkovic from the Spirit of America, donated books and school supplies to the Zeelugt Primary School in West Coast and the Marcie Craig and Wisburg Secondary schools in Linden. At Zeelugt Primary School, more than 100 students received school supplies. In

Linden, school supplies were distributed to the volunteer students who participated in the Community Youth Volunteer Programme. Valkovic expressed his satisfaction in seeing how his organisation’s efforts reinforce the U.S. embassy’s goals in these communities. The U.S. embassy’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme, in coordination with the government of Guyana, other U.S. agencies, and local civic organisations, provides basic humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in order to avert humanitarian crises, promote democratic development and regional stability, and build local capacity.

News

tuesday, may 21, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

bridge openings

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, May 21, from 13:30h to 15:00h. The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, May 21, from 13:00h to 14:30h.

Weather Winds: Easterly at 2.8 to 3.61 metres per second.

High Tide: 13:36h reaching a maximum height of 2.44 metres. Low Tide: 07:08h and 19:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.75 metre respectively.

SaturDAY, MAY 18, 2013

LOTTERY NUMBERS 05 08 19 16 15 23 28

FREE TICKET

monday, may 20, 2013 Daily Millions

02 07 09 13 21 LUCKY 3

he Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday stated that there is no need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be done on the BK International Inc proposed sand mine at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The demand for an assessment is being made by Superior Shingles and Wood Products Inc and Bulkan Timber Works. According to the EAB Chairman Veetal Rajkumar, the decision was made after in depth deliberations and assessment of all the information provided by both parties. “We have considered all the operational aspects and arguments from both parties and though the board thought it was real, there was not enough evidence for the EIA,” said Rajkumar. According to the chairman, the board has considered all the documents and the necessary evidence and arguments from both BK International and Bulkan Timber Work Inc. He noted that the decision was taken with the consideration of the scale of the mining operation and the consultations with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the EPA. The EAB emphasised that it knows of the issues that will come with the operation, but there are ways of mitigation given the small scale of the mining activity.

No automatic permission

Draw De Line

01 06 07 16 17

– EPA to make final ruling soon By Umadevi Bux

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius.

No environmental assessment required for BK sand mine

20 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

However, the EPA noted that despite the recommendation made by the EAB, the entire process will still have to go through the works and it is not automatic that per-

A typical sand pit along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway

mission will be given to BK International Inc for the operation of the sand mining pit and the parties involved are still to be notified formally of the EAB’s decision. “We have received the recommendations of the EAB this morning (Monday), but the process still has to go through the works and it is not automatic. So far the EPA will still has to meet and consider all the documents,” said Environmental Health Division Director Geeta Singh. BK International Inc said the company is aware that there are possible impacts such as dust, noise and vibration nuisance, and water pollution. However, the impacts can be mitigated and addressed, through various means such as periodic watering of site, ensur-

ing the trucks are covered with traps to prevent fugitive dust, and limiting the speed of the vehicles to and from the site. BK International Inc also noted that all construction of baffle mounds, mufflers and control working hours will allow for more mitigation to the possible problems. As it relates to water pollution, the company noted that there is no major water source adjacent to the proposed site and fuel will not be stored on site nor will there be any placement of piles within 10 metres of any nearby water source. The company emphasised that the sand mine will contribute directly to the infrastructural development of the country, and most importantly, the nearby community. The EPA received

the proposal on May 18, 2012 by BK International Inc to operate a small-scale mining operation and the EPA conducted the necessary physical evaluation of the site. Due to the small scale of the project, an EIA was not necessary.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 21, 2013

Views An oasis in the heart of Guyana’s Rupununi Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Post-independence era?

he attainment of independence by the Anglophone Caribbean is now a matter of history for the majority of its citizens who were either not born in the 1960s or were too young to remember the event in their respective territories. Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica commemorated 50 years of independence last year and Barbados and Guyana have just three more years before they achieve that milestone. But as one looks around the Caribbean, it appears that most of the leaderships are still fixated in the past and agonising over events and personalities that by now should have been merely of historical interest. In Guyana, for instance, there is a very heated debate going on about the role of their first “independence” Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, in the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Significantly, the debate was precipitated when two Pan-African academics of Jamaican origin protested South Africa’s announcement that they were going to honour the Guyanese leader for that role. The debate revealed that the events of the independence era can still stir heated passions here. It leads to the question as to what relevance those events have with the challenges the region is now confronting in a world that is radically different from the one of that time. Take South Africa as a starting point. At the time of the independence struggle in the Caribbean, South Africa was under a system that had taken the colonial logic to its ultimate, inhuman conclusion. The white rulers who had assumed the imperial mantle, operationalised the colonial theory that colonial subjects were not only unfit to govern themselves because they needed “tutelage”, but they were ontologically unfit by their very nature. It was therefore not a coincidence that in every independence movement, from Asia to the Americas, the question of South Africa loomed very large. South Africa brought all the contradictions of colonialism to the fore in its most graphic form. But those contradictions have more or less morphed into very new forms that are being ignored as we remain fixated on the past. South Africa today is one of the members of BRICS, the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa that is actually poised to take over the lead from the old colonial “white” countries that we are still agonising over. Most of the vocabulary that we are deploying in our struggle to develop our countries in the Caribbean locks us into strategies and mindsets that are guaranteed to leave us underdeveloped. For instance, Jamaica’s present and Barbados’ and other Caribbean countries’ upcoming negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be of a qualitatively different nature from those that took place in the 1970s; not only because many of the nostrums handed down by that institution have been shown to be actually harmful (such as “no capital controls”) but some of the old colonial powers and their allies that control its purse strings are now being forced to deal with such conditionalities as “austerities”, which are making them question their efficacy. Then there is our reflexive insistence to look towards the old “masters” to help us and refusing to accept the new world order. Around the time of the independence struggle there was the call for a New World Economic Order, which, under sustained attack by the colonial powers, quickly wilted. But today the possibility of the new order is being realised concretely with BRICS. Rather than flogging the dead horse of genuflecting to the whims from up north, we ought to be cementing ties with emerging powers that shared our colonial experience, such as China and India. It is a retrograde throwback to the “looking backwards” syndrome that there is so much hysteria over the Chinese-led development in the region and deep angst that the former colonials are not repeating their exploitation. A half-century of independence is enough time to grow up.

A breathtaking view of the pool side of Rockview Lodge, a tropical resort located in the Amerindian village of Annai, North Rupununi

Freddie Kissoon a hindrance to Black development

Dear Editor, Clearly what explains the abilities of Guyana’s racial groups has little to do with genetic superiority or lack of skills, but poor leadership. Where we cannot disagree relates to the obvious economic progress in Guyana. Why is there nevertheless still so much agonising poverty worldwide, including Guyana? Could the aftermath of slavery’s problems ever be quickly overcome? Or is it their reliance on expired Black leadership? Could reviewing and replacing outdated Black leadership be the change-maker difference? Freddie Kissoon who has a failing habit of not responding to direct questions takes me on. Let’s understand Kissoon’s mindset in his Kaieteur News letter of February 17, 2013, titled, “The imbalance in the ethnic balance advocacy.” My response, if the Editor permits, is appetising food for thought. Kissoon claims he is impoverished and he sees himself as a Black leader. Isn’t he also a major hindrance to Black economic progress, when he has nothing to offer? A previous letter of February 11, 2013 in the Chronicle, titled,“What prevents Blacks from utilising better business opportunities being provided,” accurately analysed that Black people historically avoid private enterprise with its uncertain risks. Can our Kissoons really handle the truth? It was the same old time Negritude philosophy which fuelled predominant black employment in the public sector and armed forces which imprisons their magnificence. The Negritude philosophy, which had its origins in the pre- and post-colonial Black leadership of Dr Eric Williams, Forbes Burnham, Frantz Fanon, Aimes Caesare, CLR James, Eusi Kwayana and Jomo Kenyatta Grant, among others, has apparently expired, but has still not been cremated. Concerns over slow Black economic achievements and want are magnified only when compared with others. But it was also the same Negritude that

inspired creolisation, which became public policy in the Caribbean and excluded their fellow Indian countrymen to make them “neglected, homeless and defenceless” by deliberative policies. Bereft of any kind of Indian political agitating leadership or alternative compensating philosophy, they had nothing to fall back on except themselves. Compounding the Indian dilemma was constant Black political conditioning by statewide education and public expectations in symbiotic convergence to exclude them as irrelevant and a hindrance except by absorption. Many Black thinkers still continue to view the state as their exclusive natural inheritance from the departing colonials as per University of the West Indies’ Professor Rex Nettleford’s advocacy. It only made conflict inevitable. Indian existence, aspirations, culture and religions were routinely falsified as divisive, interloping, illegitimate and repugnantly anathema. It was the same repulsive pogrom imposed on the native Caribbean population, slaves and all indentured servants by the European slave masters. Only this time it is a new black entitlement militancy directed currently at Indians which has replaced European genocide! Can someone really knock me for my analysis or at least try? Surely, with the magnificence of black talent, advancements in the private sector can become a Black reality, but rapidly more so within a federalist Guyana. Locked out of equal government opportunities, Indians still continued toiling in agriculture, using it as a springboard to street corner shop keeping and then onwards to success. Agriculture is definitely the way for Black people to also do the same. But why does it still lack consistent Black advocacy and grounded commitment? Considering that both the Black-based People’s National Movement (PNM) of Trinidad (Eric Williams) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) of Guyana (Desmond Hoyte) privatised state enterprises, but

refused to empower any to Black ownership is instructionally revealing by its avoidance and omission. What underscores such earlier Black PNC judgments as celebrated acceptable wisdom, but now finds it discriminatory today? Is it all about skilful economics, management, race deficiencies or insensitiveness? Indeed, if conciliatory adjustments redistributed radio licences to alternative ownership by this “Indian People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government”, would it confer miraculous business acumen instantly to its recipients based on race? Can anyone kindly explain? That Black people are now bereft of desirable business skills are massive facts to be overcome. Faulting Indians for their economic progress is no good way to correct someone, anyone, else’s history. With the departed Europeans no longer the enemy, Indians cannot be expected to remain in pious acquiesce as the improved target model for eventual destruction. In any case Indian culture and acquired business skills which have been credited for their economic successes was not overnight, but honed over time, despite the PNC. What fuels our disagreements is failure to accept and acknowledge that which was not achieved overnight is difficult to be achieved instantaneously by anyone regardless of race. Continuous reliance on the public sector will only continue to discourage black business development. But most importantly, it is black outdated PNC leadership which must be held accountable and responsible for their plight and no one else. Reassuring for Blacks is their again laudable ‘immigration’ by ship African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) to regain their original culture by political agitation. That in itself implies that maybe Indians will cease being made scapegoats. However what makes for greater irony is that Black people are still prepared to acquire significant capitalist business skills from ACDA’s

mismatched captain Dr Clive “Sly” Thomas, using his socialist charts and maps on the sea voyage to personal wealth acquisition! More importantly, with Black people riding cultural readjustment to economic upliftment, black cultural advancement can only dislodge Kissoon and make him totally irrelevant and outcast. It may explain all his idiosyncratic behaviour run amok in our reputable national newspapers. Preoccupied in condemning the lactification of Bollywood movies which saturates Indian cinema, examine how is he so hypocritically unable to likewise denounce Indian creolisation. In fact, he excels in such contradictions. Cultural ethnic cleansing which decimated the original Arawak and Carib tribal presence in the Caribbean does not bother him at all nowadays. European brutality which originally stole Amerindian lands and deculturised them is bad, but when done by non whites to Indians it is justified and excused by Kissoon, somehow! The truth of the matter is Kissoon has good reason to ignore and camouflage all the evidence, as it debunks his many falsehoods. He hopes the label of (sic) ‘Indian extremists’ will put a brake on others legitimacy and their natural rights of survival. In reality he is trying to ensure his outdated existence remains fashionable on paper. While Indian leaders did not advocate ‘Indianness’ as a political vehicle in the Caribbean to exclude others, Eusi Kwayana has not publicly repudiated his Negritude championship to partition Guyana. Ravi Dev, on the other hand, advocates federalism of a united Guyana which acknowledges Black rights to govern themselves with concomitant similar rights to others in a united country. Can Kissoon really handle the truth and nothing but the truth? Only Bhagwan (God) knows. Yours truly,

Vassan Ramracha

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 21, 2013

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or news@guyanatimesgy.com

Women taking to joinery is a bold move

Dear Editor, This is such a departure from the norm. Women joiners from the communities of Bagotsville, Nismes and La Grange, West Demerara graduated from the Rotary Club of Stabroek. Some 50 women were part of the project which was conducted with support came from Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The twin purpose was to help disadvantaged parents make themselves more marketable, while at the same time, bring dignity to their lives and those of their dependants. In many parts of the world, it is taking too long for some people to realise that women can do many things that men can do. There are very few things that are gender exclusive in terms of career,

skills and training. Right now, the construction industry is very short on an adequately skilled labour force. In recent sessions to aid single parents, particularly women, I just felt that there was an imbalance of emphasis in many areas (for instance, cosmetology, and nothing in terms of poultry and gardening). So with this breakthrough, I think it will be normal to see quite a few of our women kind getting involved in the construction areas of joinery, full-scale carpentry and masonry. I applaud the stakeholders of the entire venture, and for those women who were willing to cross borders, I say congratulations and I ask for more to be daring. Yours truly, Ganesh Ramlall

A turnaround in Linden

A section of Linden's main business district

Dear Editor, Ambivalence still dominates me as I think of Linden. I went there a few years ago to do research in Guyanese Creolese English and I discovered that this Creolese thing is not an Indian exclusive. My data base got filled very quickly with inputs from the AfroGuyanese there. It convinced me that things like being biased and racial are all about how people are exposed and influenced. The recent sad uprising in Linden is still a painful

memory. The repair work is taking some time and doing, but I feel so good, knowing that those left after they were used for selfish political purposes to fend for themselves are not giving up. They have seemingly turned a corner and now the Linden Town Council is spearheading repair works in some aspects. There seems to be a lot of cooperation from the people but I am not seeing encouragement from many notable persons. My prayer is that the people of Linden

will take pride in their work and strive to maintain their town. They must not allow anyone to come and ‘bust it up’ again. If they have issues, these can be ad-

dressed, using the available channels in decency and order. Yours respectfully, Trevian Marks

tuesday, may 21, 2013

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

down. If you don’t have to pick up toys, shoes, or half-eaten sandwiches off the floor before you vacuum, or remove mail from the top of the refrigerator before you dust, cleaning will be much faster.

Get the children to help out

Parenting shortcuts for raising a large family BY JODIE SCHNEIDER

Get organised

Plan the menu, super-size the meal

ven if you feel you’re too busy to plan, you’d be surprised how much time daily planning saves you in the long run. If you have to, get up 15 minutes early each morning when it’s quiet and you’ll be undisturbed. Write down your “Things to do” list. Prioritise the items on your list, giving each an alphabetical or numeric ranking to show which are critical, which can be put off a bit and which are more long-term goals. It’ll help you sail through the day. Being organised at home is a must for large families. Hunting for keys, lost homework and the coveted pizza delivery menu can waste a lot of time. Establish a command centre to put, and keep, your family essentials. A calendar to keep track of everyone’s schedules makes a great reference when you’re planning dinner. A place for sorted mail will ensure that you won’t miss paying your electric bill. And don’t forget to include a bulletin board to tack up important information you need to keep close at hand.

Putting together menus for a week, two weeks or even a month will save a lot of time. Your meal plans should include family favourites, as well as quick alternatives. Post the menu so your older children can start preparation when they get home from school. Planning will allow you to shop just once a week, rather than making multiple trips to pick up missing ingredients. Put a list together based on your meal plan and post it on the refrigerator so everyone can add needed items. If you have extra storage space, consider buying staples in bulk from a warehouse store to save trips and money. Save time by cooking double recipes or preparing all of your meals for the week at once and freezing them in single meal containers. Investing a few hours on Sunday will give you extra time during the week. But beware: Not all foods freeze well. Experiment with smaller quantities to make sure your time-saving measures don’t add cost.

To make large quantity food preparation easier, try using a measuring pitcher, which allows you to measure eight cups at once. Super-size your slow cooker and use a double griddle for pancakes and burgers.

with a different colour marker. Colour-coding is important for socks too, especially when they all look alike. Sew a different colour thread in the toes for each child or mark with a coloured permanent marker.

Colour code your laundry

Remove the clutter

Almost everyone in the family can help with the laundry in some way. Teach your children when they’re small how to sort whites and colours. A different hamper for each colour will save time. For those children who find laundry a real chore, putting a basketball hoop over the laundry basket might change their minds. Do laundry every day and fold it right away. Letting laundry build up makes the task daunting. Plus, you can save ironing time. If you have the space and can afford it, buying two washers and dryers could be a good investment. Make sure that each child in the family has a space for their clean, folded clothes and knows it’s his responsibility to put those clothes away. For fast sorting of clothes, mark the tags of each child’s shirts and pants

Ben Franklin knew the answer to large family clutter: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” You probably agree it’s good advice, especially if you’ve experienced the frustration of searching for wrapping paper you know is somewhere in the closet or keys that are covered by the newspaper. Teach your children at a young age to put things back after they use them or at least sort like items into baskets to find them quickly. Have your older children pass along toys they no longer play with or books they’ve outgrown to their younger siblings. When the youngest no longer has interest in the items, it’s time to purge. Do so regularly. Clutter has a way of building up quickly. Commit yourself to doing a 20-minute pick up every morning to keep the clutter

Keeping the large family household running smoothly is everyone’s responsibility. It’s time for a family meeting to talk about chores. Explain to your group that if everyone does their share, you’ll have more time to enjoy with them. Put together a chore list to remind everyone of their responsibilities. Be sure to only assign jobs your children are capable of doing. If you want them to hang up their jackets, keep track of their mittens or organise their book bags, put hooks and shelves at their eye level. To keep the momentum going, turn it into a game. Each week, let them pick their jobs out of a fish bowl. Play music while they work and sing along. Hidden surprises such as stickers, coins or small treats will also keep them motivated. When they are older, let them choose their chores. You might find that one of your children actually enjoys doing the dishes or has a knack for cooking. If they like what they do, they’ll be more likely to do it well. No matter how you have your children help out, don’t criticise if it isn’t done perfectly or the way you would do it. Just be happy it’s done!

Make each child feel like an individual With a large family, it’s important for each child to have his own identity, even though it might be tempting to think of them collectively as “the children.” Whether you use hooks, drawers or boxes, give each child their own space to put their personal belongings. Let them have their own style with regard to clothes. Each week, have one child be the designated helper. They can help with the meals, bring in the mail and decide what activities you’ll all do. This will eliminate arguing time because each will know their turn is coming. Also, spend some one-on-one time with each child. Make it official by putting it on the calendar. This will be your time together to read books, play games or just talk. Or she can be the child you decide to take to the supermarket that week. The logistics of a large family will prevent the children from getting involved in a lot of extracurricular activities. Let each child choose one, and only one, activity. Whether it is gymnastics, swimming or soccer, this one activity will help them focus on what they really like and who they are as an individual – and not overburden you with carpool duty.

Initiate the ‘buddy system’ Sometimes a natural bond develops between older and younger siblings. If not, you might want to help things along by pairing them up yourself. Having an older child take charge of a younger one, teaches them responsibility and nurtures sibling relationships. It also saves you a lot of time! The older child can help their “little buddy” with her homework, set up her meals and get her washed and dressed in the morning. You also might want to let your older children earn some money by watching the younger children now and then, so you and your spouse can have an evening out. However, the time older children spend babysitting their little brothers and sisters should be limited. You don’t want the older child to resent the younger ones or feel tied down by them. Developing a natural feeling of responsibility for others is your goal. (www.

tlc.howstuffworks.com)

news

tuesday, may 21, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

GPL workers to Suspects in Turkeyen murder get back pay released this week T

uyana Power and Light (GPL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bharat Dindyal said the more than 600 workers represented by the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) will receive their back pay this week, in keeping with the arbitration tribunal ruling. Last Thursday, the chairman of the arbitration tribunal retired Justice Prem Persaud ruled that GPL must hike their grade one workers’ salaries by six per cent while the other categories must receive an increase of 5.5 per cent retroactive to January 2012. Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, Dindyal said the power company will abide by the ruling of the tribunal. “Their salaries are due this week and we are trying to make the retroactive payment as well.” Although he was unable to disclose the amount of money to be paid from the period January 2012 to date, the CEO posited that it is a significant amount. He said with the joint parliamentary opposition reducing the company’s subsidy by $5.2 billion from a total of $10.2 billion at the level of the National Assembly, the company will soon be conducting an impact assessment to determine which areas will be hard hit by both the increase and the budget cuts. Already, the power company has signalled its intention to restructure its operation which may result in employees becoming redun-

GPL CEO Bharat Dindyal

dant. According to company, the decision comes as a direct result from the budgetary cuts. Speaking on the issue, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the power company which is currently struggling to keep its head above rough waters will experience further financial difficulties, positing that some $5 billion is required to facilitate the increase instituted by the arbitration tribunal. He said this increase in wages and salaries comes at time when the company was denied more than 50 per cent of the subsidy proposed by the Donald Ramotar administration. GPL last week received the support of NAACIE in their quest to be reimbursed the monies axed from their yearly subvention. NAACIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph on Thursday said the subsidy should be reinstated but emphasised the need for the power company to be investigated to ensure that monies allocated are effectively utilised.

he three suspects who were arrested in connection with the killing of cambio dealer Totaram Mootoo, 54, and his wife, Basmattie, 48, at their Lot 22 GuySuCo Gardens, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara home have been released, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said. The assistant police commissioner told Guyana Times on Monday that the three suspects; one of whom is a U.S. deportee were released over the weekend on bail since the 72-hour detention period had expired. Persaud further stated that the police are still following the leads that are at their disposal and will continue to investigate the double murder. The other two men were identified as the handyman and a bodyguard to the couple. Sandra Ramdeo, when contacted on Sunday, claimed that she was not sure how the investigations were progressing in the murder of her sister and brother-in-law. She added that the remains of the couple were cremated at the Good Hope Crematorium on Wednesday last. Ramdeo also highlighted that while the deceased couple's sons were in Guyana for the funeral, they have not indicated their interest in the house in which their parents were murdered. They are due to return in a few months and a decision will be made before they leave. As of Monday, workers were still removing the debris from the building, which will definitely be repaired. As a frequent

Home Affairs Ministry warns road-blocking protesters

ith the recent upsurge in road blocking as part of street protests these days, the Home Affairs Ministry has warned that this act is against the law and persons found culpable would be penalised. In an advisory in the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, the ministry said it has observed that the blocking of public roadways by persons engaging in protest action is becoming prevalent. It is noted that old, abandoned vehicles, pieces of wood and other debris are used for this purpose, causing citizens who are not associated with the protest action to be inconvenienced. “The public is advised that the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02 of the Laws of Guyana provide for ‘peaceful picketing’ by citizens

providing that, inter alia they do not commit an act of trespass.” The Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02 further states that is an offence for persons to do the following: obstruct any public way, willfully prevent any person, cart, carriage or other vehicle and assemble with other persons in any public way or public place, or in any open space of ground in the immediate neighbourhood thereof, for any idle, lewd, vicious or disorderly purpose, or otherwise than in the regular performance or in pursuance of some lawful calling or object, to the annoyance or obstruction of any inhabitant or passenger. Citizens who are prompted to engage in protest action are urged to do so lawfully, since the Guyana Police Force will enforce the

law treating with obstruction of public roadways in the interest of law and order. Citizens were particularly affected last year when Lindeners engaged in street demonstrations, cutting off traffic in and out of the community and blocked the roadways with huge piles of lumber. This action was repeated in areas such as East Bank Berbice, Hururu, Buxton and several other places.

Totaram Mootoo and his wife, Basmattie

visitor to the house, when asked if she knew the couple’s handyman and if he would have conspired to kill his boss, she refused to further comment on the issue. It was reported that the bodyguard made several telephone calls to the Mootoos, moments before they were killed while the deportee claimed that he was not familiar with the couple since he was never in contact with them. Autopsies performed on the couple’s bodies proved

that the woman died as a result of blunt trauma to the back, compounded with burn trauma, while her husband’s death was caused by smoke inhalation and burn trauma. While, it was speculated that the couple were shot, the autopsy proved differently. The crime chief previously disclosed that Totaram’s hands were tied behind his back and his wife’s arm was around him when they were found. Reports suggested that the killers may have been al-

lowed access into the home since they are well known to the couple. This suspicion was confirmed when the dead woman’s sister had earlier indicated that a number of her brother-in-law’s business associates owed him money and a few days before his demise, he had asked for it. Further information stated that the killers then placed a 20-pound gas cylinder in the bedroom, which they had moved from the bottom flat of the house. The cylinder was reportedly placed at a strategic location in the bedroom and shot at with a high-powered rifle, causing an explosion. The charred bodies of the Mootoos were discovered the following morning by firefighters. Persons in the neighbourhood disclosed that they heard gunshots followed by a loud explosion. Within minutes, the entire interior of the house was engulfed in flames. It was also reported that a suspicious car was seen leaving the area before the explosion, and the front door of the house and the back gate of the property were opened.

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tuesday, may 21, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Suspected police killer charged I

t was chaos outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday morning, when 26-year-old Shaka Chase was remanded to prison for the murder of Police Corporal Romein Cleto. Adorned in a white outfit, Chase, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was not required to enter a plea to the capital offence, which states that on April 27, he murdered Cleto while he was on duty at Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street, Georgetown. In a courtroom filled to capacity, Chase was remanded to prison after Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry heard arguments from both the defence and the prosecution. The accused will make his next court appearance on Thursday. Police Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambajue related that on the day in question, Cleto was in charge of a mobile patrol consisting of

Murder accused Shaka Chase being escorted out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts as family, friends and media operatives flock around

himself and two other officers. He stated that while on the Avenue of the Republic, they confronted a highly tinted motor car. The prosecutor proceeded to say that the occupants of the vehicle were reportedly armed with a number of deadly weap-

ons and handguns, and they opened fire on the officers. Rambajue added that investigations led to the arrest of the accused, whose hands were swabbed and tested positive for gunpowder residue. Chase was represented by Attorneys Nigel Hughes

and James Bond. Hughes told the court that the prosecution’s facts is inconsistent, pointing out that if the police had found gunpowder on his client’s hand, then they should have arrested him then and not wait until weeks after to do so. He indicated that his client visited the police station on a number of occasions after his name was being mentioned as a suspect and, on all of those occasions, he was questioned and released until last Thursday, when the police rearrested him and decided to file the murder charge. The attorney further revealed to the court that Chase has been in custody for three days during which time the police made no efforts to investigate or take statements from persons, including a traffic rank, who can attest that Chase was elsewhere when the shooting occurred. He stated that he sent the statements of those witnesses to the director of public prosecutions (DPP). The chief magistrate then enquired from the prosecutor whether advice was sought from the DPP before the charge was instituted and she was told none was sought.

Tortured

Hughes added that on Thursday, his client was taken to the station where he was tortured into a state of unconsciousness. He was then forced to sign a statement, the content of which he could not account for, his attorney said, adding that this is not the first time the Criminal Investigations Department has been called out for torture of this nature. He pointed out that initial reports stated that the police had given the description of someone of a different ethnicity with short hair as the person who killed the policemen, and now they are placing his client, who has long hair, at the scene. Attorney Bond indicated to the court that there are marks on his client’s body which support his claim that he was shocked during the interrogation process. The attorney named three officers whom he claimed beat and tortured Chase and forced him to sign the confession statement. Bond further stated that the police also tortured a woman named Natasha Blackman to say that she saw the accused in a white car. He said that, acting on information, he retrieved the maroon boxers left in the CID compound by his client who was taken to a pipe to dispose of the piece of clothing. Cleto was shot to his head and other parts of his body by an occupant of a white car using an AK-47 during the incident. The two other officers in the vehicle with him were also injured, but were treated and discharged.

Eyew tness Green-eyed monster... A

...in broadcasting

nthony Vieira’s at it again and as usual he has his allies in the media with the same vindictive and envious agenda. They’re raising a furore over radio licences...but that’s just a proxy for their fury that others are succeeding in areas where they’ve failed miserably. But of course, since only their coterie ought to be successful, their rage knows no bounds. That green monster called “jealously” is a powerful master. So Vieira writes a letter to the Stabber News, which the latter, through an ex-Television Guyana (TVG) employee, regurgitates as “news” that TVG’s facility to uplink television signals and then re-transmit them to remote locations violates the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GT&T) monopoly over telecommunications. Is this guy for real??? It’s obvious he’s just read his pal Enrico Woolford’s misinformed letter in which the latter exclaimed (in his oleaginous and rotund tone): “Are we saying that GT&T does not have satellite uplink facilities in the country? Are we saying that GT&T is not licensed to uplink and downlink voice and data?” Well Vieira, Woolford and the Stabber have just revealed why they are on the outside looking in on a business they claim to know about. As one letter writer pointed out back when Woolford originally put his foot in his mouth, “Voice traffic is a two way communication, and the transport is dealt with in a vastly different way from Television Receive Only (TVRO) transmission. The equipment and bandwidth necessary for video transmission are different from that required for voice and data.” So do they want to extend GT&T’s monopoly, which the trio are now defending, while calling themselves “freeenterprise” defenders, from voice and data to cover television broadcasts? Even the People’s National Congress (PNC), which gave away the Guyana Telecommunications Corporation for a song (and some grease under the table) forbade that nonsense. Look at the original Telecommunications Act 27 of 1990 under which GT&T operated. It specifically excluded radio and television broadcasts from its ambit. But like we said, the real motive for all this noise is jealousy. The Stabber had a monopoly on Direct TV for quite a while and raked in the big bucks. It fears competition. Vieira is even more livid because he couldn’t turn a profit with Vieira Communications Limited (VCT). He thought he pulled a fast one when he sold it for US$ millions. Now the business has been turned around through shrewd management, he just can’t stand it. Especially since the fella making the profits isn’t from his tight, little, incestuous coterie.

...not paying taxes

One of the peculiar things about some human beings is hypocrisy. We know that everyone has a bit of discrepancy between their private selves and the ones they present to the public. But most of us take some care that the gap between the two doesn’t become a chasm. Because that’s when we become out-and-out flaming hypocrites. There’s a strata in Georgetown that insists its morally superior to others...especially to those they consider the “great unwashed”. One of their gripes is that the latter, such as rice farmers, don’t pay their “fair” share of taxes. But the sad truth is that this same strata, which is made up of socalled “professionals”, rake in millions through their fees and charges and refuse to pay any taxes. Wasn’t it last year that senior-counsel wannabe, and Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Nigel Hughes had to be forced to pay millions and millions of back taxes on his Sidewalk Cafe property? A little bird just alleged that the aforementioned sententious Woolford hasn’t only not paid taxes on his television production company for decades... he only just registered it!!! C’mon Khurshid Sattaur!!

...in wages

The geriatric head of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yard, head of a union in which all its members have to retire at 55, just returned to his bluster about 90 per cent increases over three years!! Sign of incipient senility. Sad.

news

tuesday, may 21, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

PPP/C will narrowly win Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme roads being snap election – NACTA poll continuously upgraded

n opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) earlier this month found that the ruling party holds a slight lead over the combined opposition in popular support in the event a snap election were to be held to resolve the parliamentary impasse. The combined opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) hold a one-seat majority in Parliament. According to a release, the poll also found respondents are split on whether there is a resurgence of anti-Indian racism, with many saying there is palpable racial tension that is being promoted by some race baiters in the media and in Parliament. The poll randomly interviewed 600 voters to yield a demographically representative sample (44 per cent Indians; 30 per cent Africans; 16 per cent Mixed; nine per cent Amerindians and one per cent other races) of the population. The poll was conducted in faceto-face interviews and was coordinated by Vishnu Bisram, a pollster, newspaper columnist and an educator in New York. The results of the poll were analysed at a 95 per cent significance level and a statistical sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points was found. Sampling results based on sub-groups (such as Indians or Africans) have a larger sampling error of about five per cent. Asked if they feel there is a resurgence of anti-Indian racism, 40 per cent said yes with 35 per cent saying no and 22 per cent not sure.

he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) said the enhancing and upgrading of roads at the La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara is continually being included as components of yearly work programmes, as was the case for the past several years. The CHPA made the response to a Kaiteur News article on May 18, titled “Parfait Harmonie residents marooned after contractor blocks entrance”.

Almost three-fourths of Indians answered in the affirmative while some twothirds of Africans and Mixed answered in the negative, with some saying yes and the rest of those interviewed offering no response. Two-thirds Amerindians offered no response to the question and the others are split 50-50 (yes-no). According to the poll, many Indians complain about palpable racial tension, saying they can “feel the racial animosity around them”, complaining the media and certain politicians are promoting racial division. Asked if an election were called, how they would vote; 45 per cent said People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C); 36 per cent said the People’s National Congress (PNC) (A Partnership for National Unity); six per cent Alliance For Change (AFC), and less than one per cent others, with 12 per cent saying they were undecided. NACTA is a New Yorkbased group with no affiliation to any political par-

ty. It has been conducting polls prior to the 1992 elections and throughout the Caribbean. Bisram has been conducting surveys in Guyana and internationally for almost 25 years. He has extensive experience in writing and conducting research surveys and polls and analysing politics with direct experience in political affairs, having himself been elected to various positions (including president) in student government over several years. In addition, he has worked on American presidential, gubernatorial, City Council, New York State legislative, Congressional, and mayoral elections in New York since 1984. Bisram is a holder of several undergraduate and post-graduate degrees from different universities in the natural and social sciences and in educational administration. He has also taught a variety of subjects in New York. He has been a frequent guest lecturer at educational institutions in Fiji, Mauritius, India and Trinidad.

not guilty to the charge which states that on May 16 at King Street, they broke and entered the dwelling place of Deodat Singh and made good their escape with two laptops and other articles valued a total of $1,465,000. Clarke’s attorney made an application for reasonable bail and stated that police picked up the wrong

person and his client has nothing to do with the crime. Rahim’s attorney reported to the court that her client was arrested at his place of employment and he was not aware that the haversack he was holding for Singh, the owner, held the stolen articles. The attorney stated that the defendant was surprised that he had been charged as

12km, and construction of an alternative access road (approximately eight metres wide and 2.8 km long), within the vicinity of Goed Fortuin, linking the West Bank Public Road to the La Parfait Harmonie Housing Scheme. Also, included in the 2013 work programme is new infrastructural development at Plantation Lust-En-Rust, which is immediately west of Plantation Recth-DoorZee, phase one and two and will bring direct benefit to more than 1500 families.

Bermudez billing clerk robbed

billing clerk on a Bermudez sales truck was on Monday relieved of an undisclosed sum of money by a lone gunman at Station Street, Newtown Enmore, East Coast Demerara. The incident occurred about 12:00h. According to information, the truck was parked in front of a shop when the gunman held up the billing clerk, took away the money that was in his shirt top pocket and calmly walked away. He was later joined by his accomplice. An eyewitness told this newspaper that she was standing in front of the shop when the truck pulled up and the three occupants exited. She added that moments later, one of three employees was taking out goods to distribute to the shop; another was putting up a poster on the shop while the billing clerk was in

Duo charged for burglary wo were granted bail on a charge of break and enter and larceny when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. David Clarke, 28, of Lot 54 Station Street, Kitty and Shameer Rahim, 21, of Lot 7 Yardam, Georgetown pleaded

These upgrades, the CHPA said account for approximately six kilometres of asphaltic concrete surfaced roads. The upgrading of roads and other infrastructure is normally done when the occupancy rate reaches approximately 75 per cent. The 2013 work programme caters for upgrading of roads in Parfait Harmonie, Westminster, Onderneeming, RecthDoor-Zee and Schoonord housing schemes to asphaltic concrete Surfaces, amounting to

a co-accused. Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick objected to bail, since Rahim was found in possession of two other laptops valued at $600,000. However, the magistrate granted each of the defendants their pre-trial liberty in the sum of $200,000. They will return to court on June 17 for statements.

the process of writing the bill. The gunman who was described as tall and slim reportedly walked in front of the vehicle, pulled out a handgun and held the clerk at gun point. He did not have on a mask. The gunman then ordered that no one moves or he will pull the trigger. He then went into the man’s pocket and took away the money. He then walked away and was reportedly collected by his accomplice on a motorcycle. Persons in the area reportedly gave chase but were fearful that the man might have discharged bullets in their direction. The matter was report-

ed to the Enmore Police Outpost and a probe was launched. The police are still to make an arrest.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 21, 2013

News

PPP/C wants consensus to establish procurement commission

he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) said government remains open to discussing with the opposition the setting up of the Public Procurement Commission, but noted the president’s offers must be satisfied to ensure the process begins. This is, according to PPP/C executive member and Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, who was at the time responding to questions posed by the media, as it relates to the party’s position on the said matter. Ali said that while the opposition is concerned about the establishment of the commission, it must take into account President Donald Ramotar’s position on the matter. He said the party by itself has given its support to ensuring that the commission is established, but “the ball is now in the Office of the President’s court” and it is the body to decide on the way forward on this key issue. According to him, the president has invited the op-

government and the opposition. “Look at the situation now; you have a special select committee for a particular sector and the minister is not even the chair of that committee. They took all the chairmanships and are taking the majority in the committee.”

Opposition has been bullying its way

PPP/C executive member and Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

position and his door is always open. Minister Ali said that the concerns of the president are many, given the current situation in Parliament. He referred to when the government held a majority in the National Assembly, stating that chairmanship of almost all of the standing committees in Parliament was rotated between the

Ali argued that the opposition has been bullying its way into managing almost everything, in Parliament and outside of that, creating chaos about things that will help to bring about change. He said the opposition continues to display “double standards”; however, the PPP/C remains committed to ensuring that the procurement commission is set up as soon as possible, with the support of the opposition. The Alliance For Change (AFC) said recently that it will not agree to have the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing

of Terrorism Act amended, if the government does not move fast enough to have the procurement commission set up. President Ramotar had said that he was not pleased with some of the names submitted by the opposition for the commission and had requested a review. This is specifically to reduce any chances of the nominees being involved in a conflict of interest. While government has an open policy toward tenders and contracts that are public in that anyone could access them, there are cases where there is subversion of the process that has to be rooted out. Ramotar said that is one of the main reasons he wants to see the procurement commission set up and has promised to work towards rooting out corruption in all of its forms. The Procurement Act of Guyana stipulates the role of the commission, but the establishment of the commission has been in discussion for almost 10 years.

MARAD detains illegal cargo ship A

local cargo ship has been detained by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) for being operating here without a valid certificate of inspection and the master not reporting its departure to the Georgetown Lighthouse last Wednesday. The vessel had encountered problems in the Anna Regina area and sent a distress call to MARAD at which time it was discovered that the vessel was in breach of maritime rules. In a release, MARAD said Motor Vessel Shark, which sent out a distress call to the Georgetown Lighthouse on Wednesday, May 15, is now under investigation for operating illegally. MARAD stated that the

MV Shark with four crew members on board departed Georgetown at approximately 11:00h Wednesday, bound for Port Kaituma, North West District with a load of general cargo. The vessel is owned by Devindra Umraow, and was being operated by Parsaram Persaud. At 16:25h, the Georgetown Lighthouse received a phone call from a representative of the operator, “stating that it (the ship) was disabled and taking in lots of water. It was abandoned by the crew as the cargo shifted and some went overboard. The deck was flooded and the vessel took on a dangerous list as it lost positive stability.” The position of the vessel at this time was given as

approximately 10 miles off Leguan Island, Essequibo River. MARAD immediately activated its Search and Rescue System which involved the Coast Guard. Since no other vessel was in the vicinity, MARAD dispatched the Pilot Launch Kakabelli, which left Georgetown at 17:00h and proceeded to the area. The crew did a visual and communication search for the Shark until 21:30h. However, there was no contact or sighting of the vessel. Throughout this period, MARAD stated, the lighthouse was broadcasting emergency messages for other vessels to assist in the search. They were also in contact with the person who

had chartered the boat. Subsequently, at 05:10h the next day, Thursday, May 16, the Pilot Launch Thompson departed Georgetown and continued the search for MV Shark. It returned to port at 08:00h, to be replaced by the Kakabelli. However, while the Kakabelli was being refuelled, the operator of the Shark called to report that it had been located on a beach in the vicinity of Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast. Once the report was confirmed, the department called off the search and rescue exercise and informed all parties accordingly. The vessel has since returned to Georgetown where it has been detained, MARAD stated.

Trial for 2009 Albouystown murder continues

he trial of an Albouystown, Georgetown resident continued on Monday when the prosecution, led by state counsels Rhondell Weaver and Renita Singh, presented three more witnesses. The accused, Carl Bennett, of Lot 148 Cooper Street, Albouystown, is indicted with the murder of Marvin Boston, called “Jess”, on October 24, 2009 in Albouystown. According to reports, sometime around 07:00h on the day in question, the accused and his brother stormed into the Boston’s home at King Edward Street, Albouystown, and challenge his cousin to a fight. Boston went to the aid of his cousin during which he was

stabbed several times about his body. He sustained internal injuries and succumbed while being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The trial, which began on Thursday last in the High Court, is currently being presided over by Justice Navindra Singh. On Monday, the prosecution called two police officers, the state pathologist, and recalled a cousin of the deceased, Sonia Williams, who was cross-examined by defence attorney Nigel Hughes. Williams had testified on Thursday that she, her brother and the brother of the accused were fighting in a gutter, while the accused was a short distance away. She said after the fight, Bennett

left and returned shortly after with two knives. The accused and her cousin then had a confrontation during which the former stabbed the latter to the left side of his chest. Attorney Nigel Hughes had begun his crossexamination of this witness; however, he did not complete it and was allowed to do so on Monday. Prosecution witness, Constable Lakeram Datt testified that on the day in question, he went to the scene in Albouystown where he took photographs. He was shown the pictures in court and identified them. Then Constable Melville testified that he witnessed the post-mortem examination of Boston. State pathologist Dr

Nehaul Singh testified on Monday that he performed the post-mortem on Boston. Other prosecution witnesses include the deceased’s brother, Nigel Boston, who gave evidence about witnessing his brother’s burial; and policeman Nigel Stephens, who testified that he cautioned the accused and notified him of the allegations. Stephens added that he had noticed injuries to Bennett’s face and finger. Under crossexamination, the officer admitted that no identification parade was held nor did any of the Boston’s relatives who witnessed the incident identify him as the person who stabbed. The trial will continue today.

Tony Virus couldn’t get de ting up

taybroke News, also known as de Stabber News, stayin true to its name – it runnin broke, for news, that is. Runnin de Rum Karran blog in full is one ting. But then runnin it again as though a reporter write a story is another ting. Is de same ting does happen wid Sus Penders in Rum and he what-yuh-might-callit columns. Now it look like if Tony Virus join de elite group of write-sum-ting-get-double-coverage in de Staybroke paper. De Virus can’t write columns, so he writin letters, or he gettin Hen Rico to write them fuh he, since both of dem talkin de same **it, but on different days. So now de Virus write a letter bout uplink and downlink and de Staybroke paper publish de letter, then write a story from de same letter. It look like is de Hen write de letter because de story connect every ting what de two of dem seh. No wonder de Hen and de Virus is good friends. De Virus now sound like a bitter man and he look like a sour man. It look like he had try to get he ting up before he sell it, but it only come down. Now de people at Straybroke tryin fuh help de Virus to get it back up wid all de coverage. Even de Hen can’t help because he get sum ting since 1997 and he still can’t get it up. One of de Virus female staff at de time seh when he sell de ting, he couldn’t get it fuh wuk, and it was fallin down every time he try. That is why he decide fuh sell it out. Now another man buy out every ting and de new owner get every ting up. De same ting what de Virus couldn’t get up, de Pharma man tek it and mek it wuk. Now every ting up and runnin. Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But de Virus get vex and writin letter because he still can’t get any ting up!

Mason on bail for gun charges A mason was arraigned on two charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. Michael Phillips, of Lot 1572 South Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty to both charges, which state that on May 17 at Croal Street he had in his possession a revolver and six live rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a valid licence. It was reported that around 20:10h, the defendant was at beer garden when he was confronted by the police and tried to flee. The items were located in his right pocket and he was

then charged. The defendant stated that he had one previous conviction for narcotics, but five persons were present at the time of the incident. He stated that he was smoking a joint that he crushed up and because of that, the police tried to get at him. He added that when he got to the lockup, the officers brought the weapon and showed it to him, claiming it was his. The prosecution objected to bail, stating that the accused have several matters in the West Demerara courts for narcotics and escaping lawful custody. The matter was transferred to Court Five for report and fixtures.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 21, 2013

OAS drug report presented to permanent council

rganisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza on Monday presented the report on the drug problem in the Americas “Analytical Report” to the members of the OAS Permanent Council. In a special meeting of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), he expressed his hope that the document is understood “not as a conclusion, but only as the beginning of a long awaited debate”. The report, which was prepared by the hemispheric organisation under the supervision of Secretary General Insulza pursuant to a mandate from the sixth summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, last year, will be at the centre of discussions at the next OAS General Assembly, to be held from June 4-6 in Antigua, Guatemala. The central theme of the meeting of the highest political body of the OAS, chosen by the host country, will be “Toward a comprehensive anti-drug policy in the Americas”. Secretary General Insulza, upon presenting the report, said the document should not be seen to “cast doubts or raise questions about the progress that has been made so far in terms of collective action in our hemisphere on drugs, but rather should be understood to be based upon the identification of what serves the needs of each and that which serves the needs of all”. Insulza said that, by entrusting the report to the OAS, “the heads of state of our hemisphere assigned us a great responsibility. At the same time, they prescribed very precise limits for our response to it. That is why the report I am presenting today lays out facts that will assist in decision-making, but does not propose solutions. That is up to our leaders, who will have a firm basis for their deliberations in future debates.” Contradiction Secretary General Insulza emphasised that, regarding the decriminalisation of drug use and the possibility of changes in national legislation that “it is clearly contradictory to say you want to treat drug addicts as people with an illness and at the same time, penalise them for their consumption.” He then clarified that “this does not mean that the patient does not need to be treated to remove them from their addiction and this could mean – if the addict threatens their own life or the security of others – a stay in a health facility. But we do not consider that send-

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza

ing serious addicts to prison is an appropriate treatment and, indeed, we think it can aggravate their condition even beyond the point of no return.” In terms of economic status, Insulza called attention to the fact that many of those who are recruited to participate in the drug trade “come from dispossessed social sectors”. He said this fact leads the report to note that “social development and the elimination of social exclusion, particularly in producer and transit countries, lie at the core of overcoming the drug problem”. The report, which the secretary general delivered on Friday, May 17, to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, consists of two parts: the Analytical Report, explaining the reasons that have caused concern in society about drug consumption and which have led to attempts to control the effects of drugs on human health; and the Scenarios Report, an examination of the paths that the phenomenon could take in the hemisphere in the coming years. After the presentation of the report by the secretary general, the 53rd regular session of CICAD began, in which experts and authorities will discuss the findings and implications of the report for the hemisphere and new trends in approaches to the drug problem through programmes of social prevention of crime, among other issues. Present at the event were the Costa Rica Public Security Minister Mario Zamora Cordero, who will chair the meeting of CICAD; the chair of the Permanent Council and Panama Representative Arturo Ulises Vallarino; OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin; the Chief of Staff of the Secretary General, Hugo de Zela; the OAS Secretary for Multidimensional Security, Adam Blackwell; representatives of OAS member states; representatives to CICAD and representatives of several international organisations.

Four remain hospitalised after Conversation Tree smash-up T

he front seat passenger who was pinned in one of the cars in the two-vehicle smash-up on the Rupert Craig Highway, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Rajiv Bookmohan remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital. Bookmohan, of Bel Air Park, Georgetown, sustained severe injuries to his head and feet and underwent emergency surgery in the wee hours of Monday morning. Doctors have listed his condition as critical. In addition, hospital officials disclosed that Rashana

Smith, 17, of Triumph, ECD was still in the main theatre along with Bibi Khan, who is still unconscious. Khan was taken to the medical institution with serious laceration to her head and other parts of her body, and was in an unconscious state. Junior Horton underwent surgery and was admitted to the Male Surgical Ward of the medical institution while Kenrick Andrew Wickham, 22, and Tennecia Lewis of Bladen Hall, ECD were discharged on Monday morning. Smith is a student of the St Georges Secondary School. The two cars collid-

ed about 23:00h in the vicinity of Conversation Tree on Sunday evening, leaving at least seven persons hospitalised. It was reported that the vehicles involved in the accident were a red Toyota Fielder wagon which had three passengers and a white Toyota AT 192 Carina motor car, which had four occupants. The Fielder wagon was travelling east along the northern carriageway of the Rupert Craig Highway and was turning into Conversation Tree when the 192 motor car smashed into the left side of the wagon.

After the accident, Bookmohan also called “Court man” was trapped in the vehicle, but was rescued by firefighters when they arrived at the scene. The wrecked car is beyond repair. Eyewitnesses claimed that Bookmohan was in the car that had turned onto Conversation Tree and was hit by another car that was proceeding west. The man told media operatives that he was heading to Georgetown when a white motor car bearing registration number, PJJ 2643 sped pass his vehicle and slammed into the red car.

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tuesday, may 21, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Ali blasts APNU, AFC for non-support of anti-money laundering bill – govt remains hopeful that deadline could be met

ousing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said the opposition is creating a “political blockade” in an attempt to destroy government’s reputation and frustrate citizens. Speaking during a press conference on Monday, the minister also urged Guyanese to guard against the political pettiness that is affecting the economic development of the country. The minister’s comments came in the wake of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) pulling out of the deliberations in the select committee to scrutinise the amendments of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act and has said that it would be impossible to support the bill when it is presented in the National Assembly on Thursday. APNU was seen as key for the government to get the bill through the House after the Alliance For Change (AFC) announced that it would not support the bill unless the Public Procurement Commission was established and President Donald Ramotar assents to two opposition bills which he has already vetoed. The move by APNU represents a surprising aboutturn, as the party had already given its commitment in the House that once the bill is fine-tuned at the level of the Select Committee, it would get its blessing. APNU Chairman David Granger told Guyana Times earlier this week that the party made a commitment in the National Assembly to examine the bill in a special select committee and it will stand by that decision. Sources believe the AFC’s position on the anti-money laundering bill is closely linked to the party’s alleged connection and representation of drug lords and other questionable characters.

Coordinated move

“There seems to be a comprehensive understanding among members of the opposition that they are going to block development, block economic advancement, block financial reforms, because they want to see the government fail and fall and want to make governance impossible and they want to see the economic gains stalemated, so that they can develop a sense of frustration,” said the minister. Ali said the situation is nothing less than a psychological warfare being created, to bring frustration and

Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill

destroy Guyana’s standing in order to score cheap political points. Ali was referring to the delays being made by the opposition in making necessary amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009. According to him, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has made several attempts to educate Guyanese over the past few weeks about the importance of the act, not only to Guyana, but throughout the region. He explained that if the act is not passed within the stipulated deadline, which is May 27, then Guyana is bound to face several sanctions.

Blacklisted

Minister Ali pointed to a recent example, where St Kitts and Nevis was blacklisted back in 2000, after failing to do the same, which brought about major challenges for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) sister country. It takes about seven years to get back full accreditation. The party did not fail to mention that the act also provides measures to counter terrorism and the fact that the amendments to the act will also seek to bring about greater accountability and transparency, creating a more effective fiscal administration. Ali also spoke passionately about the implications of not passing the amendments to this act. “It can derail our entire macroeconomic fundamentals and all the growth and development that we are seeing now. Very importantly too, it will set us back in terms of our competitiveness,” he said. He said it could affect trading across borders, stymie local importers and exporters since their transactions will be subjected to heavy scrutiny and banks and other financial institu-

tions overseas would refuse more than ever to do business with the country. It could also pose a significant challenge for companies and government to receive credit from overseas. “It is at this juncture that you require political parties and politicians to be responsible and to take the national interest higher than their personal agenda,” he said. Ali also slammed the AFC for its “political hardline position”, to hold the amendments to the bill at ransom, because of the president’s non-assent to two opposition approved bills, both of which are unconstitutional.

National interest

He went on to state that the bill is in national interest, brings benefits to the people, reduces the cost to do business, improves transparency, safeguards external dangers from terrorist groups and helps to modernise Guyana’s financial architecture, and as such, there is no justification for not supporting it. Ali said the opposition has falsely claimed that government presented the bill to the House and wants it to be amended within a short period. He said the amendments that are needed to be made to the act, were brought to the opposition’s attention way before it was read in the National Assembly. A workshop was also hosted by the international community with all stakeholders to ensure the necessary mechanisms were in place to have its passed. Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill also commented on the issue, saying if Guyana is to be blacklisted, then it would create pressure for not only the private sector, but social and religious organisations. The minister said Members of Parliament are fully aware of their unreasonableness and the irrational approach they have taken that can affect a wide cross-section of society. He said government is willing to work with the opposition to meet the deadline. Edghill explained that the opposition has the majority of members in the special select committee, despite the chairperson is from the government side of the House. He believes that the opposition lacks political will, which is much needed to ensure that Guyana remains on track and avoids pressures on the private sector and other agencies as a result of the act not being amended.

More than 31,000 to benefit from minimum wage hike

abour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul on Monday disclosed that more than 31,000 persons in Guyana will benefit from the $35,000 minimum wage standard slated to take effect from July 1. He told Guyana Times that the minimum wage standard caters for fulltime employees working for 40 hours per week or more. “All will benefit across the board, from security guards to janitors to domestic workers, all will benefit,” he said. Boasting about the progress made thus far, Minister Gopaul said for the first time in the history of Guyana, vulnerable workers will be protected by the implementation of a minimum wage.

Employers are pleased

According to him, from the responses received thus far from both the private and the public sectors, employers are pleased with the outlined sum, noting that some businessmen indicated that it should have been “a little more”. He emphasised that this is a move in the right direction, considering the current industrial relations climate. The government has also received high praise from the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG). The

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon

Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul

union’s general secretary, Kenneth Joseph,in applauding the government, said the $35,000-a-month benchmark is reasonable. While most of the workers that will benefit from this move are not unionised, the FITUG general secretary opined that the other trade unions in Guyana are pleased with the minimum wage standard. Despite, annual increases in the public sector, the salaries of school cleaners have remained fixed since 2003. Ramjattan said the party remains firm on the view that the salaries of janitors should be increased to $40,000 or more. Less than two weeks ago, government’s spokesman

Dr Roger Luncheon announced the implementation of the minimum wage. The minimum wage for weekly workers has been set at $8000 while $200 has been set for hourly workers. This new national minimum wage will be implemented across the board for all business sectors in Guyana, replacing the existing one that covered specific sectors. Before the electorate went to the polls in 2011, then President Bharrat Jagdeo had pledged his government’s support to improve the salaries of workers via the implementation of a minimum wage.

GFC partnering with BIT on forestry courses

he Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is partnering with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) to create a wider pool of skills for the forestry sector. According to a release by the commission, the Board of Industrial Training has been very successful over the years in providing vocational training and education to a large number of youths in every region of Guyana, equipping them with marketable skills in various occupations. The board was established more than 40 years ago under the Industrial Training Act, Chapter 39:04 of the Laws of Guyana to provide training opportunities for youths and to equip them with marketable skills. Simultaneously, the

GFC, in accordance with its commitments laid out in the National Forest Plan, has added this programme to the curricula of the Forestry Training Centre Inc (FTCI), which already offers vocational training. This development is a direct response to the obvious dearth of skills in the forestry sector. Primarily, the objective is to equip approximately 300 youths with highly marketable skills that could guarantee their immediate employment within the forestry sector. It is expected to have an impact on the reportedly high levels of unemployment across the nation. The occupational training programme is diverse and includes courses in tree identification, pre-harvest forest inventory, directional felling, heavy-duty machine and equipment (bulldozer and skidder) operation, wood processing, saw-doctoring, and timber

grading. In keeping with national priorities, the courses will include segments on critical life skills such as combating HIV and AIDS and gender-based violence. The major portion of the training will be carried out at the FTCI’s field based training facility. The BIT will also add this new curriculum to the training schedules at all of its available facilities, which have traditionally been used for vocational training and community development. To date, the response by youths across all regions to these training opportunities has been encouraging. Interviews of applicants have begun and the programme for the first batch of trainees is scheduled to commence in June 2013. Applications will be invited shortly for the second round of training courses due to commence later this year. The programmes will continue annually.

news

tuesday, may 21, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana/Suriname to meet over backtrack route

A technical team from Guyana and Suriname is expected to continue talks shortly concerning the monitoring and regularisation of the Nikerie backtracking route. When contacted on Monday for an update, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said the matter has been under discussion since the last meeting between the two sides in August last year. She noted that a decision has been taken that both Guyana and Suriname must be integrally involved in any attempt at addressing the way forward. “Those discussions are on the agenda for the next encounter… when we do this, we would do it together and another meeting should be held shortly,” the foreign minister disclosed. Rodrigues-Birkett said both countries have an obligation to ensure that people from Guyana and Suriname can move as freely as possible. However, she maintained that the route must be speedily regulated and subsequent discussions will be undertaken towards this end. During a previous comment, Rodrigues-Birkett said the issue has already been discussed on both sides and advanced talks will definitely continue on the regulations that are to be put in place. “It is a reality,” she said, adding, “Not everyone that goes through the backtrack

wants to do so, but it is fast. They get over the river pretty quickly.”

Backtracking

Her Surinamese counterpart, Winston Lackin said that backtracking is one of the many realities that face both countries and must be dealt with swiftly. “It is part of the realities of both economies and Suriname is trying to regulate the movement of people and goods on both sides of the river.” Lackin said there continues to be security concerns that are still being ironed out, and as such, a decision has been made to have the technical people meet to discuss matters pertaining to this as soon as possible. “But we want to encourage people to use the ferries that are in place as much as possible.” The Surinamese minister added that any impending regulation will be a process that has to take place. “But we know that backtracking is there and it will continue and we want to ensure that measures are in place to have it regulated so that security reaches the highest level possible,” Lackin remarked.

Meeting

The two foreign ministers met last August to review the progress made following the meeting between the presidents of both countries in February 2012 and to discuss related issues on the bilateral agenda. Sometime

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

Suriname Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lackin

ago, Guyana and Suriname agreed to work to tighten security and regularise the backtrack route used by many persons to travel between the two countries. It takes about 20 minutes in small wooden boats to travel the backtrack route from Skeldon in Guyana to Suriname compared to more than one hour on the scheduled ferry service then by road. Though Guyana does not recognise Skeldon as a legal port of entry and exit, Guyanese customs officers are often there to inspect goods and levy duties and taxes. Representatives of the two countries are to meet soon to discuss what measures both sides will have to put in place. Authorities are aware that Guyanese, Surinamese and other nationals often enter either

country illegally through the backtrack route.

Criminals

The illegal entry point is sometimes used by criminals to traffic guns, drugs and people as well as smuggle consumer goods to evade taxes. In 2010, both countries entered a joint venture to utilise the MV Canawaima to ferry goods, vehicles and persons across the border. Back then, Suriname’s then Justice and Police Minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi had said that legalising the backtrack route would have meant placing it in direct competition with the ferry crossing. And while there was no move to have the route outlawed on either side, Santokhi said his country was moving to put systems in place to closely monitor

the backtrack operations. According to Santokhi, more than 350 persons would frequent the “backtrack route” on a daily basis. “So our approach was to get some regulations and security, but we will continue to discuss with Guyana because the people will make use of the backtrack route in the future. But base on the regulations, persons will only be allowed to travel with a handbag. They will not be authorised to travel with their luggage or their cargo, they have to use the Canawaima,” Santokhi had said.

APNU motion

Meanwhile, leader of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) David Granger recently tabled a motion in the National Assembly to have the president appoint a commission of inquiry (COI) to investigate the incidence of trafficking in persons (TIP) in Guyana. However, sources within APNU told Guyana Times that, while they are in full support of actions being taken against TIP, much more needs to be done to address the problem more holistically, whether it is within Guyana’s borders or beyond. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has been criticised over the years for not doing enough prosecute such persons. Successive reports out of the U.S. State Department

have pointed to cases of human trafficking and called on the government to go after TIP masterminds. The owner and publisher of a local newspaper, who was identified in a U.S. embassy cable as being a leading player in the backtracking ring in Guyana, has been named as one such mastermind. Years after the explosive WikiLeaks cable from the U.S. embassy in Georgetown linked the newspaper owner to backtracking and other illegal activities in Guyana. Authentic information released by Wikileaks in the U.S. had described him as a man with a sketchy past. “He translated a shoe trading business (and rumoured involvement with alien smuggling) into a muckraking independent newspaper,” the Wikileaks cable stated, adding that he has a finger firmly on the pulse of Guyana’s underworld, which serves his media enterprise well. Also, his U.S. visa was previously revoked. Yet, local law enforcement has been unable to crack the backtrack ring in which the suspect could be involved. The APNU sources called on Granger himself to come clean and widen the scope of the motion, saying the fact that the particular newspaper in question is opposition aligned should not be used as reason why the owner and others involved in similar TIP should not come under investigation

71 graduate from EU capacity-building progamme at Sand Creek

EU Head of Delegation, Ambassador Robert Kopecký with the graduates of the Sand Creek Women’s Group and UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi

Ambassador Kopecký with Professor Opadeyi and members of the Katuwau Culture Group

everal women were among the graduates last week of a $37 million EU-funded capacity building programme at Sand Creek, South Rupununi. In a release, the EU office here said since November 2010, the EU has been funding the capacity building project as part of the EU’s Non State Actors/Local Authorities [NSA/LA] programme. The $37 million programme hosted on May 16, a graduation ceremony for 71 graduates in the areas of garment construction, and costing, tendering and construction management with a satisfactory proportion of the graduates being

Elliot, Kit Spencer of Sand Creek Secondary School, Alfred Ramsaran and other local businessmen of the Lethem community and English and Scottish volunteering teachers. The community has two women’s groups: the Sand Creek Women’s Group and the Kapiwau Southern Culture Group. The Sand Creek Group was involved in sewing, sanitation and community group-work while the Kapiwau group was involved in activities for keeping the community culture alive such as dancing. Selfhelp activities, especially in the farmlands were spearheaded by the women and

women. The Sand Creek project has been facilitated by the University of Guyana’s Institute for Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) to enable capacity building of personnel in the community to perform community-based activities. Other aspects of the project involved capacity building of project personnel and village captains towards community-based initiatives through training in key areas of leadership and management. It also aims to increase the educational levels of Amerindian people in the highly populated villages while making special provi-

sions for the involvement of women and individuals with disabilities to pursue programmes/courses in order to upgrade levels of qualifications and competencies. Head of Delegation of the EU to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký travelled to Sand Creek to be part of the graduation proceedings. Ambassador Kopecký was joined by UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, UG Registrar Vincent Alexander, IDCE Director Winifred Kippins, Sawariwau Village Toshao Gregory Thomas, Sand Creek District Development Officer Francisco Gomes, Project Coordinator Hansen

men involved in work in the mines or in neighbouring Brazil. As part of the project, a secondary school has been constructed and is in operation with the services of English and Scottish volunteer teachers. Ambassador Kopecký expressed satisfaction with the project, noting that the number of graduates was a testament of its success to date. The project is slated to be completed in May 2014 and is seen as an extension of the efforts of the EU in working with the Amerindian population including the Wapishana peoples in this particular case. At the same time, Ambassador Kopecký

believes that such EU activities are complimentary to and aligned with the governmental efforts. Kopecký also took the opportunity to inspect other EU-funded projects in the Lethem area, highlighting his satisfaction that the Lethem Public Library and Resource Centre was in a decent operational state. However, he opined that the St Ignatius Secondary School Poultry Production Unit could see a higher occupancy of chickens for a higher yield in both educational purposes related to the secondary school activities and in production of chicken for the local market.

tuesday, may 21, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Ex-Peruvian President Alberto St Kitts-Nevis government Fujimori’s health worsening illegitimate, says opposition

Alberto Fujimori’s opponents say he was an authoritarian strongman

senior doctor treating Peru’s Alberto Fujimori has said that the jailed former president has severe and worsening health problems. Alejandro Aguinaga said the former president had a condition that was eating away his stomach. Fujimori is serving a 25year sentence for human

rights abuses, but his family says he is too frail to be in prison. They have called for a presidential pardon on humanitarian grounds. The doctor told AFP news agency that “the tests that were done show that the former president has gastroduodenitis”. He added that the jailed

ex-leader was unable to eat because the food he ingested was reaching internally damaged areas. The former president, in office from 1990 to 2000, was admitted to hospital on Friday for intestinal bleeding, but later released. He was convicted in 2009 of ordering the killings of 25 people by a governmentbacked death squad during Peru’s internal conflict. Correspondents say that the doctor’s diagnosis is likely to add more pressure on President Ollanta Humala to issue a pardon. Last October, his family asked Humala to commute his sentence. Under Peruvian law, he can be pardoned only on health grounds. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

rime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas revealed at a recent press conference his government’s intentions to pursue boundary changes in St Kitts and Nevis before the next elections. Leader of the main opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM), Shawn Richards, responded by declaring the prime minister and his government “illegitimate”. “Prime Minister Douglas is currently leading a minority government and his leadership and his government does not have the support of the majority of the elected members of parliament or the country. Prime Minister Douglas’s leadership as prime minister and his government

Cayman Islands general election on Wednesday

oters in this Cayman Islands go to the polls Wednesday to vote for a new government in a general election in which there are no clearcut favourites. Two major parties, the People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) – which has branded itself as “The Progressives” – under the leadership of Attorney Alden McLaughlin and

the United Democratic Party (UDP), led by former Premier McKeeva Bush, are fielding slates of 15 and 12 candidates respectively. The People’s National Alliance (PNA), a breakaway faction of the UDP, which has formed a “lame duck” government since the ouster of Bush in a lack of confidence vote last December, is running a

ticket of five candidates. Another grouping, Coalition for Cayman (C4C), has endorsed a slate of seven candidates. However, C4C insists it is not a party but a political advocacy group promoting “independent leaders who will always put country first”. Add to the mix a plethora of other independent candidates, which brings

to total of 56 candidates vying for the 18 seats in the Legislative Assembly, the parliament of this British Overseas Territory where there are 18,492 registered voters. Nowhere is the race more intriguing than in George Town, the capital of this financial services jurisdiction, where there are 21 candidates on the ballot for the six available seats.

Shawn Richards

is therefore illegitimate and cannot and should not be allowed to pursue any boundary changes at this time,” said Richards “The only aim of Douglas with boundary changes at this point is

rinidad and Tobago (TT) police were still trying to identify a man, whose severed head was found at a racetrack in Arima, over the weekend. Police said the body was later found several metres away in an open field at Carapo in eastern Trinidad. The police have been appealing to citizens

whose male relatives have gone missing recently to visit the Forensic Science Centre, to view the body. Over the weekend, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, admitted that the service is struggling to deal with rampant murders in Trinidad and Tobago. According to the Police Service’s crime statistics

database, there were 166 murders at the end of May 2012, in comparison to 143 murders so far this year. “We are progressing and we have been receiving the support of law-abiding citizens as we tackle crime and criminality across this nation. That is the reason why there is a clear direction in the reduction of serious crimes in 2013, but

we need to do something more. “We need even more support from the public as we are still struggling around violent crimes, especially shooting incidents where people are dying,” Williams said after attending the funeral service of a 39-year-old police corporal who was shot and killed last week. (Excerpt from Jamaica

Observer)

(Caribbean News Now)

Brazilian tourists killed in balloon crash in Turkey

Ballooning has become a popular way of seeing Cappadocia’s scenery

TT police find severed head at racetrack T (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

to provide him with one last opportunity to try to prolong his reign as the self-proclaimed maximum leader of this country. But he does not have the legitimacy, moral or otherwise to be pursuing things like boundary changes from his current position as leader of a minority illegitimate government,” Richards added. Richards concluded, “Douglas simply does not have the right or should he be allowed to change any boundaries from the position in which he is in and the country needs to make it pellucidly clear to Dr Douglas that under no circumstance will we accept any boundary changes before the next election.”

wo Brazilian tourists have been killed and more than 20 other people injured after two hot-air balloons collided in Turkey, a local official says. One ascending balloon was torn open as it hit the basket of another, and then plunged to Earth, witnesses said. The accident happened in Cappadocia, a region popular with tourists for its spectacular volcanic rock formations. A tourist who was in another balloon said: “It was quite horrific. We looked up and it was falling out of the sky.” Joanne Rowley, an

Australian on holiday in Turkey with her husband, added: “It fell straight down to the ground. It was just horrendous to see. “You could see that people weren’t going to survive. I still feel quite shaken from the experience.” Turkey’s civil aviation agency says it has launched an inquiry. Among the questions considered is likely to be whether too many balloons are taking to the skies in Cappadocia. One tourist, E Wayne Ross, said the skies were crowded, and about 100 balloons had taken off early on Monday morning. (Excerpt from BBC

Guatemala’s ex-leader Rios Montt’s genocide conviction overturned U.S. embassy issues warning over

uatemala’s former military leader Efrain Rios Montt has had his conviction for genocide and crimes against humanity overturned. The constitutional court said the trial must go back to where it stood on April 19 and restart from that point. On May 19, Rios Montt was convicted of ordering the deaths of 1771 people of the Ixil Maya ethnic group during his time in office in 198283. The 86-year-old was sentenced to 80 years in prison. He denies the charges. The constitutional court on Monday threw out all proceedings in the case after the April day when there was a dispute between two judges about who should

General Rios Montt has denied ordering any attacks against any of Guatemala’s indigenous groups

hear the case. The ruling follows an appeal by Rios Montt’s defence lawyers, who argued that procedural errors had been committed. The trial – which began in March – was beset by

delays and even a temporary suspension. During the hearings, dozens of victims gave harrowing testimony about atrocities committed by soldiers. This historic case has taken years to reach this

point as Rios Montt became the first former leader to be found guilty of genocide by a national tribunal in May, the BBC’s Will Grant in Guatemala City reports. Now, just days later, the jubilant scenes among indigenous campaigners in a packed court were contrasted sharply with the low-key press conference in which this latest legal twist was announced, our correspondent says. But he adds that the decision to annul the sentence does not signal the end of the legal battle either for the prosecution or for Rios Montt as both sides will now start preparing to return to court to replay the final few weeks of the trial. (Excerpt from BBC News)

News)

armed robberies in The Bahamas

he United States (U.S.) embassy in Nassau has issued a security alert to American citizens residing in and traveling to The Bahamas about an increase in armed robberies on New Providence. The alert came after American sailor Kyle Bruner was murdered during an armed robbery last Sunday. “Since the beginning of the year, a number of U.S. citizens have fallen victim to armed robbery with some having been seriously injured in the commission of these crimes. “The Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a mes-

sage earlier this year citing concerns about the increased number of armed robberies in Nassau.” Police said between January 1 and April 15, there were 328 armed robberies in The Bahamas. Bruner, 34, of Chicago, Illinois, was shot during an armed robbery, police said. Police said two men followed Bruner, another man and two women after they left a local bar around 4:30h on Sunday. Police said the men, one of whom was armed, confronted Bruner and his friends and demanded their belongings. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

15 Around the World

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 21, 2013

Dozens killed by car and suicide bombs in Iraqi cities

An eyewitness in Basra said a tea seller disappeared in the blast

ore than 70 people have been killed and many others injured in a series of bomb attacks across Iraq. Baghdad was worst hit, with several explosions at bus stations and markets in the mainly Shia Muslim districts. Attacks also occurred in Samarra, north of the cap-

ital, and Basra and Hilla further south. It is one of the worst days of violence in recent months as Iraq has seen a rise in attacks linked to growing political and sectarian tension. The bloodshed has raised fears of a re-emergence of the levels of sectarian violence seen in 2006

and 2007. Prime Minister Nouri alMaliki vowed to make immediate changes to Iraq’s security strategy and told Iraqis that militants “will not be able to return us to the sectarian conflict”. In a separate incident, 10 policemen kidnapped on Saturday in western Anbar province were found dead. Monday’s violence left more than 200 people injured. One of the bloodiest attacks in Baghdad happened in the northern Shia neighbourhood of Shaab, when a car bomb exploded near a crowded market place killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 20. The bombs in Basra, a mainly Shia Muslim city, killed at least 14 people outside a restaurant and the main bus station. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Boko Haram Islamists arrested in Maiduguri

Nigerian troops have been trying to flush out militants from their strongholds

resident Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states last week to quell the insurgency by the Boko Haram group. It has carried out a

wave of bombings and assassinations since 2009, saying it wants to establish an Islamic state across Nigeria. A second Islamist group, Ansaru, joined the insurgency in 2012, taking for-

eigners hostage. Officials say some 2000 people have fled to neighbouring Niger, while more have crossed into Cameroon, since the army launched its offensive in the states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe last week. Some 2000 soldiers were deployed to the region last week, in the biggest campaign to date against the Islamist militants. The army has said it is also sending an extra 1000 troops to Adamawa state. Militants fleeing towards neighbouring Chad and Niger are being “contained”, military spokesman Chris Olukolade said, in a statement on Monday. “Advancing troops also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist groups,” he added.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Asteroid to pass near Syrian rebels target Hezbollah militia, fire rockets into Lebanon Earth on May 31

he fighting in Syria has taken another dangerous turn, with rebel rockets targeting Hezbollah locations in Lebanon. Rebels battling for control of Qusayr, a strategically important western town in Syria, fired rockets Sunday across the Lebanese border at the militant group’s areas, the rebel Free Syrian Army said.

Hezbollah, the proregime and pro-Iranian Shiite militia regarded as a dangerous terror group by the United States and Sunni countries, is fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s security forces. The Free Syrian Army claimed it fired Grad rockets from the city of Qusayr into northeastern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah areas in Hermel. The opposi-

tion local coordination committees of Syria said that direct hits were reported in Hermel and that checkpoints were also targeted. The official Lebanese news agency, NNA, reported the short-range strikes. The outlet said the strikes caused no damage or casualties. But the rockets underscored fears that bordering nations – such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan – will

be sucked into the conflict, now in its third year. The White House said President Barack Obama spoke on the phone Monday to Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and “stressed his concern about Hezballah’s active and growing role in Syria, fighting on behalf of the Assad regime, which is counter to the Lebanese government’s policies.” (Excerpt from CNN)

Iran claims it hanged CIA, Mossad spies

wo men who the Iranian government said worked as spies for Israel and the U.S. were hanged Sunday morning, according to Iranian state news outlet Press TV. The men were identified as Mohammad Heidari and Kourosh Ahmadi. Press TV said Heidari provided classified information to Mossad,

the Israeli intelligence agency, and Ahmadi had been convicted of providing the CIA with intelligence. There were no details on when the men were arrested or when they were tried. The hangings occurred at dawn, the report said. Israeli officials did not comment on the report. The U.S. State

Department acknowledged seeing the reports but had no comment. The CIA did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. The advocacy group Human Rights Activists News Agency, based in Iran, estimated in 2012 that there were 488 hangings in the prior 12 months. About 12 per cent of those were pub-

lic executions, the group said, according to a State Department report. One person hanged in 2012 was Majid Jamali Fashi, who was convicted of killing an Iranian scientist. Iran said Israel paid him US$120,000 to kill elementary-particle physicist Massoud Ali-Mohammadi. (Excerpt from CNN)

U.S. criticises anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe, Asia

he United States on Monday denounced what it called a spike in anti-Islamic sentiment in Europe and Asia, pointing to restrictions and violence against Muslims including the faith’s minority sects. Releasing a wide-ranging annual report on religious freedom, Secretary of State John Kerry also voiced alarm at what he called rising anti-Jewish

sentiment, and filled a position of special envoy to combat anti-Semitism. The State Department report, which covered 2012, said that “Anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions were clearly on the rise – particularly in Europe and Asia.” “Government restrictions, which often coincided with societal animosity, resulted in anti-Muslim actions that affected everyday

life for numerous believers,” it said. In Myanmar, officials allegedly fanned deadly antiMuslim violence in Rakhine state while in China, authorities showed less tolerance toward the mostly Muslim Uighur community and Tibetans, the report said. It said that Muslims also faced new restrictions in 2012 in countries rang-

ing from Belgium, which banned face-covering religious attire in classrooms, to India where schools in Mangalore restricted headscarves. The report also voiced alarm at soaring violence against Islamic minorities including Shiites and Ahmadis in Pakistan as well as discrimination against non-Sunni Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. (Excerpt from France24)

big asteroid will cruise by Earth at the end of the month, making its closest approach to the planet for at least the next two centuries. On February 15, the planet got a dramatic reminder of the potential danger posed by asteroids, when a 55-foot object exploded without warning over Russia, just hours before the 130-foot asteroid 2012 DA14 gave Earth a close shave, missing our planet by 17,200 miles (27,000 km). On May 31, at 16:59h local time, the asteroid QE 1998 will make its closest pass to the planet, coming as close as 3.6 million miles to it. It will still be about 15 times further away from the planet like the moon. “The flyby poses no threat

to Earth,” said Dr Shirin Haque, astronomer at The University of the West Indies’ Physics Department. “It will not be possible to see it in Trinidad and Tobago using the telescopes available here, since its closest pass occurs in daylight hours and its movements will make it difficult to track in a telescope. It is also going to be very faint to be picked up easily with low power telescopes,” Dr Haque said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Tunisian activist arrested over immoral gestures

young Tunisian activist who sparked controversy in March by posting topless pictures of herself online has been arrested for allegedly making “immoral gestures,” the interior ministry said on Monday. “The young girl was placed under arrest yesterday (Sunday) in Kairouan... because of immoral gestures,” ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told a news conference, without elaborating. “Our society is Muslim and we do not accept this marginal behaviour,” he said. In videos posted on the

Internet, the activist known by the pseudonym of Amina Tyler was in Kairouan where Salafist group Ansar al-Sharia was to have held a congress on Sunday that was prevented by security forces. The teenager is seen having painted the word “Femen” on a wall near the mosque which was to have been the venue for the gathering. In a country where hardline Muslims have become increasingly active since its January 2011 revolution, her actions have been in support of Ukrainian women’s topless protest group Femen. (Excerpt from France24)

tuesday, may 21, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Caribbean

First Citizens Investment Services receives award for service excellence

he First Citizens Group of Companies continues to be awarded for its commitment to service excellence. First Citizens Investment Services (St Lucia) Ltd has received the coveted Award For Service Excellence in the 2013 St Lucia Business Awards. The awards ceremony was organised by the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture which celebrates achievements, innovation and strategies of St Lucia’s private

sector. The St Lucia-based investment company is the sister firm of First Citizens Investment Services (Barbados) Ltd, and of First Citizens Bank, which opened its doors in Barbados in 2012. While the award specifically relates to the brand’s St Lucia operations, the win is good news for the brand, which is considered to be one of the region’s sturdiest indigenous financial institutions. The award is also good news

for the Barbadian market, as the win reinforces that First Citizens’ Barbados operations are part of a strong, reliable financial institution. The First Citizens brand operates in Barbados, Costa Rica, St Lucia, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago, and has won a number of accolades across the Caribbean. In 2010, First Citizens Investment Services (Barbados) Ltd, was a finalist in the Barbados Best Employers Awards. (Caribbean360)

Africa

Rwanda, China strengthen ties

hina has announced a Rwf5 billion grant towards bamboo cultivation, processing and utilisation in Rwanda. The grant was announced, during the 7th session of the Joint Committee on Economic, Technical and Trade Cooperation between Rwanda and China at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kigali. The meeting is meant to promote trade and economic cooperation between

the two trading partners. The Chinese delegation, on a two-day tour, is led by the deputy commerce minister in China, Li Jinzao. During the session, both governments agreed to further strengthen the cooperation in fields of trade, investment, infrastructure construction and capacity building. Speaking to The New Times, Li said strengthening ties was vital for both countries. According to Silas Lwakabamba, the minister

for infrastructure, they also agreed to use Chinese technical expertise in several government administrative offices and other projects. Since the last session of the Joint Committee in Beijing in 2009, the economic and trade cooperation between the two States has rapidly progressed. In 2012, the bilateral trade value between the two countries doubled compared to 2009 to reach US$160 million (about Rwf102.4 billion). (allAfrica)

has rallied 45 per cent this year and Abe’s approval ratings are around 70 per cent. Abe gave further hints on Friday about government plans to be unveiled in a longer-term economic growth strategy, referring to tripling infrastructure exports and doubling farm exports. But a month before that strategy is due to be unveiled, his efforts to ramp up inbound foreign direct in-

vestment (FDI) are showing little indication a trickle of foreign investment will turn into a tide. “Over the last five years, 90 per cent of my work has been outbound deals,” said Ken Lebrun, chair of the FDI committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and a partner at the law firm Shearman & Sterling specialising in mergers and acquisitions. (Reuters)

consultations between the two countries,” UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said when asked about the possibility of a waiver of visa requirements for UAE citizens wishing to visit Australia. Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, speaking at a press conference to mark his visit to the emirates, said UAE-Australia ties were “strong and firm” and noted that trade be-

tween the two countries had reached US$6 billion. Nearly 16,000 Australians are living and working in the UAE and more than 125 flights per week are scheduled between the two countries. Sheikh Abdullah added that Australia is encouraging UAE students to visit it and join its universities and the processing of a UAE student visa to Australia now only takes 14 days.(Arabianbusiness)

North America Wall Street hovers near record levels Asia Little sign Abe can shake up as investors hesitate to jump in tocks slipped by afterEarlier, the Dow climbed above their respective 2009 Japan’s inbound FDI noon trade on Monday to an all-time intraday high at lows. This may inspire profit-

as indexes struggled to break above their record levels with investors hesitant to rush into the market. Trading was choppy, seesawing between modest gains and losses. Investors were eyeing comments from Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans, who said the Fed has the appropriate level of monetary accommodation in place, allowing the economy to reach “escape velocity” next year.

15,391.84, while the S&P 500 edged up to a new intraday record high at 1672.84. Both major indexes are up about 17 per cent for the year so far. The S&P 500 is up more than 1000 points from March 2009 lows. Analysts say various benchmarks are battling key levels, which could hint at a bout of profit-taking on the horizon. “Various benchmarks are taking aim at both roundnumber levels and roundnumber percentage gains

taking or, at least, hesitancy among the bulls,” said Todd Salamone, director of research at Schaeffer’s Investment Research in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 28.57 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 15,325.83. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index .SPX was down 3.24 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 1664.23. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was down 9.16 points, or 0.26 per cent, at 3489.80. (Reuters)

apan risks missing, yet again, an opportunity to use foreign investment to help fuel sustained economic growth that has eluded it for the last two decades. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to make Japan “the world’s easiest country for companies to do business in” as part of his economic revival plan, which so far has been largely met with approval. The stock market

Europe Middle East Pressure and job insecurity felt by UK UAE in talks to ease visa requirements workers at 20-year high ritish workers are feel- Research Council and the UK this, just under a third (31 per to Australia

ing less secure and more pressured at work than at any time in the past 20 years, with pay cuts and diminished control over their jobs among the biggest concerns, according to a national survey of employees’ well-being. More than 3000 workers aged between 20 and 60 were interviewed in 2012 for the latest in a six-yearly Skills and Employment survey, funded by the Economic and Social

Commission for Employment and Skills. The first findings from the survey reveal increased insecurity and fear among all types of employees, with those in the public sector as worried about work as those in the private sector. Across the board, 52 per cent of workers were concerned about loss of job status. The biggest concern was about pay reductions, followed by loss of say over their job. Alongside

cent) said they were afraid of unfair treatment at work. For the first time since 1997, public sector workers were more concerned about losing their jobs than those in the private sector. They also expressed the most concern about losing their job status, registering more highly for fears about deskilling, pay cuts, being given less interesting work and having less say.

(The Guardian)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Fixed as at January 7, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Buying

Selling

U.S.

GBP

$310.58

$344.58

Cambio

CAN

$161.50

$181.42

Gross

$312,663

USD

$198.42

$205.58

Net

$290,776

Selling

$322,632

Cur

$1645.25 $202.17

Indicators as on May 18, 2013 Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask

$1360.20

$1361.20

Low/High

$1354.60

$1384.10

-25.70

-1.85

Change May 17 USD GBP EUR May 3 USD GBP EUR

London Gold Fix AM 1376.75 903.62 1069.15 AM 1412.25 926.67 1094.51

Indicators

USD Per Once

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

US$ per barrel

Change %

$104.71

+0.07

USD per Ounce

Change %

$22.26

-0.43

$1454.00

-21.00

PM 1368.75 901.50 1068.00 PM 1410.00 925.20 1095.57

ustralia is considering relaxing visa requirements for UAE citizens in a bid to boost trade between the two countries and encourage more Emirati students to study at Australian universities, the UAE foreign minister has said. “We have the opportunity to discuss this issue and we have received positive indicators from the Australian foreign minister. The process requires more time and

Investors' guide How to start an eBay business (Part two)

hree things matter the most to buyers. First, your Feedback Score – the gauge of your trustworthiness – is key to attracting customers. This can be a Catch 22 – without buyers, it’s impossible to build up a reputation, but without a reputation, it can be immensely difficult to attract buyers. Follow up with buyers and politely ask them to leave feedback to increase your rating. A poor rating can be retracted if both buyer and seller agree to the retraction, so it is essential to follow up or negative com-

ments. Second, since most buyers arrange their searches with the lowest price first, auctions starting at one cent are most likely to pop up first. This is pointless, since there are too many of these results, and all of these are set with reserve prices anyways. A better tactic would be to offer a reasonable price to “Buy it Now” buyers, who wish to make immediate purchases. In addition, offering free shipping is an appealing option, since eBay automatically calculates shipping costs based on the user’s geographical location.

This was done to deter users from offering cheap items, then charging outrageous shipping fees to make a profit. Setting up an online store requires some degree of consistency. First, your web store should be attractively designed – with the minimalistic aesthetics of this decade, and not resemble a loud, amateurish Geocities page circa 1997. You should offer similar products, so visitors to your page are more likely to be attracted by other listings.

(Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Recall

Last: 15351.40

Changes: +121.18

% Change: +0.80

Open: 15234.75

High: 15357.43

Low: 15234.75

% YTD: +17.17

52 Wk Hi: 14887.51

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

Remembrance of what has been heard, seen, or otherwise experienced, such as that of an advertisement, commercial, or demonstration. See also recall test. Removal or withdrawal of a contaminated or defective good from sale by its manufacturer or producer, either voluntarily or when forced by a watchdog agency.

NEWS

tuesday, may 21, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Police deny torturing Shaka Chase

he Guyana Police Force has denied torturing Shaka Chase who was remanded to prison on Monday for the murder of Police Corporal 20196 Romein Cleto back in April to which he confessed. “The Guyana Police Force strongly denies that Shaka Chase, who has been charged with the murder of the policeman, was assaulted or tortured in any way while in police custody into admitting that he had committed the crime as is being alleged by relatives according,” the force said in a release responding to a Kaieteur News article. The incident in which Corporal Cleto was shot dead occurred about 18:45h on April 27, in the vicinity of Regent Street and the Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown. “The police force wishes to state

that at 19:10h on the same day, Shaka Chase went to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and told the police that he had received information that the police wanted him for the murder of the policeman. At that time, police investigators were still processing the scene and interviewing persons and had no information as to any suspect. However, Shaka Chase was interviewed and his hands were swabbed and he was released on bail.” On May 15, the police got a statement from an eyewitness who identified Chase as one of the persons in the motor car immediately before the shooting. The witness also stated that Chase was known to the eyewitness for several years, the police said. According to police, a laboratory report subsequently received indicated that the

swab from Chase’s hands was positive for gunpowder residue. Chase was rearrested at 18:27h on May 16. He was interviewed by police investigators who asked him to explain the gunpowder residue on his hands and also told him that an eyewitness had given a statement that he (Chase) was in the vehicle from which shots had been fired that killed Corporal Cleto.

No injuries observed by doctor

At 19:25h on May 16, less than one hour after he was rearrested, Chase gave a confession statement in which he named three associates, one of whom had been arrested previously, and swabs taken from his hands tested positive for gunpowder residue. Information provided in his confession statement led

to the seizure by the police of the motor vehicle used by the murderers, and a statement was taken from the owner of the vehicle who indicated that she gave Chase the vehicle for the reasons indicated by him in his confession statement. On May 18, Attorney Gordon Gilhuys indicated to a police officer that Chase had been assaulted by the police who immediately took Chase to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was seen and examined by a medical doctor who issued a medical certificate that there was no sign of injuries. At 17:30h on May 19, Attorney Nigel Hughes went to Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, Eve Leary, in connection with the matter and was told to return on Monday, since there was no CID investigator at the headquarters at the time.

Father of six granted bail for trafficking in persons

father of six was granted bail for trafficking in persons when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. Selwyn Lewis, 33, of Lot 2094 Nutmeg Street, Festival City did not have to enter a plea for the in-

dictable charge, which states that between June 1 and 30, 2012 he was engaged in trafficking in persons at the Red Dragon nightclub. Attorney Peter Hugh stated that his client was placed on $10,000 bail and is willing to lodge his passport if necessary. He stated that the owner of Red Dragon

and another was charged for the said offence, and his client was just present at the said time. Lewis, who served a sentence of three years in jail, was summoned by police who went to his mother’s house. Prosecutor Stephen Telford objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the

crime, the likelihood that the accused will be charged with other offences, and the fact that he is a frequent traveller holding three passports who may flee if granted bail. The magistrate, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of $650,000 and he is to return to court on June 4.

$800M paid out to Essequibo rice farmers

GRPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj

Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jarvis

ore than $800 million has been paid out to approximately 1800 rice farmers from the Essequibo Coast, as part of advance payments for paddy supplied to Venezuela. This was disclosed by Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Monday. Seeraj said, “The Guyana Rice Development Board and the GRPA approved the list of farmers to be given advance payments from government’s contract with Venezuela for the shipment of paddy.” Meanwhile, he said a technical team from the Agriculture Ministry and the GRPA visited Essequibo over the weekend to have a firsthand look on procedures used for the grading of paddy and other issues that are facing the rice industry in that region.

The technical team was deployed in the region in light of the dissatisfaction expressed by Essequibo farmers over the production and sale of paddy. They had called on the ministry to reassess the grading systems for paddy, since the millers were not implementing the rules and regulations of the current grading system. The farmers also expressed their concern with the quality of paddy being produced and warned the ministry that they will continue to protest if their issues were not addressed. The team, while there, engaged farmers to gain their feedback on the procedures. After in-depth discussions, a report was compiled and recommendations made are being reviewed with the aim of including farmers’ suggestions in the Rice Factories Act governing the procedures to be utilised in paddy grading.

GNBS celebrates World Metrology Day

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), the organisation responsible for metrology in Guyana, joined with other bureaus, institutions, such as the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML), and national stakeholders to commemorate World Metrology Day 2013. World Metrology Day (Weights and Measures) is observed on May 20 annually, a day set aside to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. This treaty provides the basis for a coherent measurement system worldwide. World Metrology Day recognises and celebrates the contribution of all the people that work in intergovernmental and national organisations throughout the year. As a part of the observance, the GNBS hosted an “open day” for the general public and the media, where information pertaining to measure-

Acting GNBS Executive Director Evadnie Enniss

ment services and practices were shared with visitors. Members of the public were given the opportunity to visit the labs in the bureau to get insight into the impact that metrology has on their everyday lives. The GNBS promises to continue to fulfil its mandate as it improves and expands the range of services

offered to stakeholders to ensure their various measuring needs are met efficiently. This year, the day was observed under the theme “Measurements in daily life”. Acting GNBS Executive Director Evadnie Enniss highlighted that in the course of a typical day, measurements are used fre-

quently whether it is checking the time, purchasing food or produce, fuelling up, or undergoing a blood pressure check. These are just some of the basic activities in daily life that require measurement of some sort. Yet accurate measurements are taken for granted, she said. Not surprisingly, most people are unaware that there is a worldwide community in the background specialising in metrology, which is the science of measurements. Everybody depends on this community to do its job, and do it with efficiency. The GNBS is a semiautonomous organisation which came into existence under Act 11 of 1984 and falls under the purview of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry. It is governed by its board (National Standards Council) and its daily activities are guided by the executive director. The organisation, which comprises 55 technical and

non-technical staff, receives a government subvention which, together with the revenue it generates, takes care of the financial needs of the organisation. The head office is located in the Sophia Exhibition Site in Georgetown and has four sub-offices. The bureau’s main focus is to promote national quality infrastructure for economic and social development and consumer protection in partnership with key sectors through standards, metrology and conformity assessment. This is to improve the quality of goods in Guyana, by partnering with government, consumers and industry through the process of standardisation. The bureau is sub-divided into six departments in order to achieve its goal: standardisation, conformity assessment, metrology and standards compliance, laboratory services, information services, and administration and finance. (GINA)

The GRPA general secretary noted that many of the regulations and guidelines that are outlined in the act are not being followed by the factories.

Consensus

The meeting, which was held with both rice farmers and millers, saw them reaching a consensus on a number of steps that they believe will bring about a turnaround in the industry. Seeraj added that the team was also able to deal with the issue of paddy bug infestation and steps are being taken to ensure the new crop of rice is not affected. Last week, Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jarvis told Guyana Times that his ministry is dedicated to addressing the numerous issues affecting rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast and the country at large. “Even if we have procedures that they themselves are very much against, we can sit down and work it out, see how we can come to a process that is fair both to the millers and more so to the farmers,” he assured.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, may 21, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Lucky you, because members of the opposite sex could be very helpful to your cause, especially when it comes to your social ambitions.

dilbert

CANCER (June 21July 22) A matter that you were quite concerned about will work out much better than you’d dared to hope. The problems will just melt away.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

Even though it’s early in the week, try to devote some of your time toward recreation. Select something that has elements of friendly competition.

Calvin and Hobbes PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Your financial prospects look to be encouraging, particularly when it comes to an arrangement with someone who has proved lucky for you in the past.

A friend you haven’t seen too much of lately might be in your thoughts. It could be a signal that you need to contact your pal. It never hurts to get in touch.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Most material conditions look promising, so don’t hesitate to exploit any opportunity to make a profit. In fact, make action your priority.

Peanuts ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

If you have to deal with an argumentative person, instead of reacting in kind, be tactful and cooperative. Your example will melt all hostility.

One of your greatest gifts is your ability to instruct people without making them feel stupid or imposed upon. All your suggestions will be followed.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Be extra diligent when it comes to fulfilling your responsibilities. A surprise reward may be in store for work well done.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Desirable outcomes will be reached if you put the concerns of others above your own. You’ve heard it before – “What you sow, you will reap.”

Monday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) There will be some specific things that you’ll want done a certain way today. Fortunately, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your ideas across.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) You’re likely to be extremely effective whenever you deal with people on a one-on-one basis. If you can avoid it, steer clear of all group situations.

news 19

YELLOW PAGES tuesday, may 21, 2013

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Canadian prime minister’s top aide quits over expenses scandal

he top aide to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper abruptly resigned on Sunday over his role in a mounting expenses scandal which is threatening to undermine the Conservative government. Nigel Wright, Harper’s chief of staff, quit after secretly giving a Cdn$90,000 (US$87,000) cheque in February to Mike Duffy, a member of the upper Senate chamber, to help him cover living expenses he had improperly claimed. News of the gift leaked late on Tuesday. Opposition legislators said the check broke ethics rules that forbid senators from taking presents and made a mockery of the government’s repeated promises to increase accountability in Ottawa. Duffy, a former national television journalist, resigned from the Conservative caucus on Thursday. Wright’s departure reflects the pressure Harper is under. Officials told reporters on Friday that the chief of staff – who says he did not tell Harper about the check – would be staying. “In light of the controversy surrounding my handling of matters involving Senator Duffy, the prime minister has accepted my resignation,” Wright said in a statement. “I regret the impact of this matter on the government, our caucus, and all of my colleagues,” added Wright, a businessman who had been on secondment to Harper’s office from private equity firm Onex Corp. He started work on January 1, 2011. The expenses scandal is one of the biggest crises to hit the Conservatives since they took power in early 2006 promising to clean up government after a series of scandals helped bring down the previous Liberal administration.

Nigel Wright, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff, prepares to testify before the Commons ethics committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in this November 2, 2010 file photo

The Conservatives are in “full-out political panic”, said Charlie Angus, a member of parliament and the ethics critic for the official opposition New Democratic Party. Angus said Wright’s resignation would not halt the NDP’s call for an official probe into the matter. In a sign of the potential damage the scandal could do to the government, Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber told Global Television that his voters were angry.

Significant concern

“Any suggestion that taxpayers are treated disrespectfully is met with significant concern, I would say even angst,” said Rathgeber, who represents a constituency in the western province of Alberta, a ruling party stronghold. Pamela Wallin, another Conservative senator whose expenses have been questioned, quit the caucus late on Friday. Wallin is also a former television journalist. Opinion polls show the Conservatives trailing the Liberals, who have steadily grown more popular since Justin Trudeau – the tele-

genic son of former Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau – was elected leader last month. Harper said he had accepted Wright’s resignation with great regret. The next election is not due until October 2015 and the Conservatives have a comfortable majority in the House of Commons. But Harper could be in for a tough two years in parliament if he does not move quickly to draw a line under the matter. Canada’s federal ethics commissioner, however, is examining whether Wright broke government rules about giving gifts. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, who holds a junior position as parliamentary secretary to the environment minister, was the only member of the Cabinet to respond immediately to the scandal. She told CTV she was “disappointed in what appears to be some serious problems on behalf of one of our former senators”. Harper – who leaves for a South American trip on Tuesday – has twice previously shut down Canada’s parliament to sidestep political problems. (Reuters)

Penitent Romanian hacker aims to protect world’s ATMs

alentin Boanta, sitting in his jail cell, proudly explains the device he has invented which, he says, could make the world’s ATMs impregnable even to tech-savvy criminals like himself. Boanta, 33, is six months into a five-year sentence for supplying gadgets an organised crime gang used to conceal ATM skimmers, which can copy data from an unsuspecting ATM user’s card so a clone can be created. He said he had started to make the devices for the sheer excitement of it and denies ever planning to use them himself, saying he only sold them to others. Boanta says his arrest in 2009 and trial brought contrition, as he realised the impact of his actions and felt an urge to make amends. It also brought the former in-

dustrial design student a flash of technical inspiration. “When I got caught, I became happy. This liberation opened the way to working for the good side,” Boanta said. “Crime was like a drug for me. After I was caught, I was happy I escaped from this adrenaline addiction,” he said. “So that the other part, in which I started to develop security solutions, started to emerge.” It was during his trial that he got down to work. The stage for Boanta’s product pitch these days is the book-lined cell in the northeastern Romanian town of Vaslui he shares with five pickpockets and burglars. “All ATMs have ageing designs so they are prone to vulnerability, they are a very weak side of the bank-

ing industry,” he said. “Every ATM can be penetrated through a skimming crime. My security solution, SRS, makes an ATM unbreachable.” Boanta says his “Secure Revolving System – SRS” can be installed in any ATM. It allows the bank card to be inserted longer side first and then rotates it to prevent skimmers being able to lock on to the magnetic data strip. The system returns the card to its user with a reverse rotation. Outwardly it is a trapezoidal metallic box around 6 inches long with the card slot in the middle. The SRS, funded and developed by a technology firm near Bucharest called MB Telecom, is patented and won an award this year at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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tuesday, MAY 21, 2013

Royals suspends contracts of trio

ajasthan Royals has suspended the contracts of all three of their players who were arrested on allegations of spotfixing. The three players had already been suspended by the BCCI soon after the controversy came to light. The franchise has also filed a complaint against the players with the Delhi Police, and said that additional security has been allotted for the team for the playoff stage of the IPL. “Based on the information provided by the authorities, the contracts of all three players have been suspended pending enquiry,” Royals said in a press release. “We have already filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against all three players earlier today (Monday).” The extra security for the team follows a decision taken at Sunday’s BCCI working committee meeting to

Sreesanth

Ajit Chandila

Ankeet Chavan

provide each team officers from its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU). The moves come in the wake of the arrest of three Royals players – Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila – by the Delhi Police last week on allegations of spot-fixing. Their police custody ends on Monday

evening and while the players’ lawyers have announced their plan to move for bail, the Delhi Police are likely to apply for extension of the custody. Meanwhile, Royals have reached the playoff stage of the IPL for the first time since their unexpected run to the title

in the inaugural season. Their campaign resumes on Wednesday when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in a knock-out game. “The team has re-grouped itself after the shocking events of last week and are preparing for the playoffs,” the franchise’s chairman, Ranjit Barthakur, said. (Cricinfo)

Real Madrid confirm Mourinho exit

eal Madrid have announced that head coach Jose Mourinho will leave the club at the end of the season after three years in charge of the Spanish giants. President Florentino Perez revealed the decision at a packed news conference. Mourinho, 50, who has been linked with a return to Chelsea, won the league and Copa del Rey at Madrid. “We’ve decided to bring our relationship to an end,” said Perez. “Nobody’s been sacked, it’s a mutual agreement.” Real are currently 13 points behind Barcelona in the league and were beaten by city rivals Atletico in the Spanish Cup final last Friday. They also lost in the semi-finals of the Champions League in each of their three seasons under Mourinho. Real Madrid have two games left this season. They are away at Real Sociedad on May 26, with Mourinho taking charge at the Bernabeu for the final time on 1 June against Osasuna. “The club and manager agree the timing is right

Jose Mourinho

to bring our relationship to an end,” Perez added. “On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work. “The team has improved in his three years and we wish him all the best.” Real had not won a trophy in the two years preceding Mourinho’s appointment. His deal was scheduled to run until 2016 after he had signed a contract extension following last season’s La Liga success. An agreement has been made on his exit now though, with fellow former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti tipped to replace him after he expressed his desire to make the switch to

the Bernabeu. But Perez denied a replacement had been lined up to take over from Mourinho. “We have no pre-contract signed with any managerial candidate,” he said. “It’s something we’ll have to look at in the coming days.” Paris St-Germain head coach Ancelotti, 53, had earlier said: “I’ve asked to leave and I am waiting for their answer.” But the Ligue 1 champions’ Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi said: “He [Ancelotti] asked to depart for Real Madrid. It is not possible because he has a contract for one year more, so that is our decision.” Real have only two league

games left to play this season, with Mourinho set to be in charge as he takes his team to the Basque region to face Champions League hopefuls Real Sociedad on Sunday, before ending the campaign with the visit of relegation-threatened Osasuna on June 1. It is his failure to win any trophies this season which appears to have accelerated his departure from Madrid – the Portuguese labelling this season “the worst of my career”. Former Benfica, Uniao de Leiria and Porto boss Mourinho left Inter Milan for Real in 2010 after guiding the Italians to the Champions League crown, replacing Manuel Pellegrini as manager. He finished second in La Liga in his first season - four points behind Barcelona – but won the title a year later, amassing a record 100 points in the process. However, this season Mourinho has cast a sulky figure, arguing with established players such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Pepe, while Barcelona sauntered to the title. (BBC Sport)

Vettori called up by New Zealand as Martin ruled out

Daniel Vettori

aniel Vettori could play in the second Test against England after joining the New Zealand squad earlier than planned. The left-arm spinner was originally named in the Kiwis’ squad for the oneday series and Champions Trophy. But the 34-year-old may replace Bruce Martin, who will return home with a calf injury suffered in the first Test defeat at Lord’s. An Achilles tendon injury has prevented Vettori from playing Test cricket since July 2012. The second and final Test at Headingley starts on Friday. With 360 victims, the former captain is New Zealand’s second highest Test wicket-taker and the most successful left-arm spinner in history. The return of a player who has scored 4,516 Test runs at an average of 30.10 would also bolster a side that were bowled out for 68 in the second innings at Lord’s. “Daniel’s come over 24 hours earlier for us to have a chance to have a look at him,” said New Zealand coach Mike Hesson. “We won’t risk Dan for the sake of a Test but, in saying that, it is an important Test match for us. “We won’t be pushing Dan if he’s not ready but if he is we’d certainly love to have him.”

Vettori’s most recent Test was the nine-wicket defeat by West Indies in Antigua almost a year ago, and his only international cricket since was at the World Twenty20 in October. He returned to action for domestic side Northern Districts in March before travelling to the Indian Premier League, where he failed to make an appearance for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Should he line up at Headingley, Vettori will become New Zealand’s mostcapped player. He and Stephen Fleming share the record of 111 Tests for New Zealand, but Vettori also made one appearance for the ICC World XI. “He’s done plenty of bowling in the last couple of months in the IPL, albeit in the nets,” added Hesson. “It’s a matter of whether we think he’s going to be able to get through five days of a Test match.” The tourists also have concerns over wicketkeeper BJ Watling, who suffered a knee injury at Lord’s. He will be monitored ahead of Headingley, with Tom Latham his likely replacement. However, if New Zealand opt to strengthen their batting, Martin Guptill could play and captain Brendon McCullum take the gloves. McCullum took over from Watling during the first Test, but has not kept in a full Test since 2010. (BBC Sport)

Pistorius will not compete for the rest of the year

aralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will not compete again this year as he awaits trial for murder. Pistorius, 26, is on bail after being charged with the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp but can compete before his court case is heard. His agent, Peet van Zyl, said the six-time Paralympic champion was not mentally ready to return to the track. “There was never any pressure from me or his coach (Ampie Louw) to re-

turn, it’s his decision,” said van Zyl. It means the South African will not compete in the IPC World Championships in Lyon in July. Pistorius was arrested after shooting Steenkamp dead on February 14 and has not competed since. The double amputee, known as Blade Runner because of the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he races in, claimed he mistook Steenkamp for a burglar and has denied murder.

Oscar Pistorius

On February 22, Pistorius was granted bail and had certain conditions

lifted which meant he could compete in events outside his homeland.

Coach Louw was quoted by Eye Witness News in South Africa as saying his athlete was “nowhere close” to being in a position to train. Pistorius had not been invited to compete in July’s London Anniversary Games, with UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner saying he did not want the meeting to turn into a “media circus”. However, Pistorius’s agent said plenty of meeting organisers had been in touch to invite Pistorius to compete in their events.

“[There] were a good number, enough to keep him busy through the year,” added van Zyl. At London 2012, Pistorius became the first double amputee to run at an Olympics, taking part in both the 400m and 4x400m relay. He then won gold medals in the T44 400m and T42-46 4x100m at the Paralympics, as well as silver in the T44 200m. He is next due in court on 4 June and a trial is expected to take place before the end of this year. (BBC Sport)

tuesday, MAY 21, 2013

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Godolphin doping: St Leger winner Encke among seven positive tests

he doping scandal involving Sheikh M o h a m m e d ’ s Godolphin operation has widened after seven more racehorses failed tests for anabolic steroids. All seven horses, including the 2012 St Leger winner Encke, were trained by the now disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni. He is appealing against the severity of an eight-year ban, imposed last month, after admitting doping 15 horses. Tests on about 200 horses at a stable run by fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor came back negative. The new results take the total number to 22 of Godolphin-owned thoroughbreds which have been doped, and are consequently suspended from racing for six months. Godolphin - founded by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed - is one of the world’s biggest racehorse operations with two major stables at Newmarket in Suffolk. Racing manager Simon Crisford said: “It is obviously very disappointing that seven further horses have tested positive for stanozolol. “These results highlight why H.H. Sheikh Mohammed took the decision to lock down the stables

Mahmood Al Zarooni leading Encke

at Moulton Paddocks until every Godolphin horse in training at Newmarket had been tested. “All of Saeed bin Suroor’s horses have tested clear and we are working with the BHA to put everything back in order at Moulton Paddocks.” Encke, who passed a drugs test after victory in the St Leger at Doncaster in September 2012, was the surprise 25-1 winner of the race when he denied the Aidan O’Brien-trained Camelot a Triple Crown of Classic victories. Al Zarooni, who was in Dubai before taking over the Moulton Paddocks stable in Newmarket in March 2010,

claimed he did not realise the use of anabolic steroids were banned out of competition in the United Kingdom. After his admission of a “catastrophic” mistake, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) suspended the 15 horses he admitted doping - including 1000 Guineas contender Certify from running for six months. The BHA ordered tests on the remaining horses at his stable, and also at the yard run by Bin Suroor “for the sake of completeness”, although there is no suggestion there has been any wrongdoing at the second stable. Between April 29 and May 2, blood samples were

taken from 391 Godolphin horses and sent for analysis at the HFL Sport Science drugs laboratory. The tests identified further positive tests for stanozolol, a banned anabolic steroid, in seven horses: St Leger victor Encke, Royal Ascot winner Energizer, Genius Beast, Improvisation, Stamford, Steeler, and Zip Top. Godolphin and Al Zarooni - via his solicitors have been informed of the test results, and have until Thursday to decide if they want B sample analysis to be carried out. If the results are confirmed all seven horses (as with the previous 15) will

be suspended from running in Britain for a period of six months, until October 29. The BHA has approved an application for Bin Suroor to take charge at Moulton Paddocks, which means horses formerly trained by Al Zarooni could run for him in a fortnight’s time. Since late April, the yard has been “in lockdown” under the orders of Sheikh Mohammed - the vice president of the United Arab Emirates - pending the completion of an internal inquiry. Meanwhile, the BHA is investigating a second Newmarket trainer, Gerard Butler, after nine of his horses tested positive for an anabolic steroid contained in a substance called Sungate which he said was recommended by a veterinary practice. Al Zarooni, who was not legally represented at his original disciplinary inquiry, has appealed against the severity of his ban. The BHA says no date has been set for the hearing, but it will not take place until the final week in June at the earliest. BHA director of integrity Adam Brickell said: “We will not be taking any separate action in respect of these additional positive results whilst Mr Al Zarooni’s appeal process is ongoing.

“From the outset, one of the aims of the investigation, in addition to trying to understand the environment within which such serious breaches came to be committed, has been to identify what measures are needed to ensure the yard operates in accordance with the rules in future. “The findings will be shared with Godolphin and will also assist the BHA with regard to the future licensing of the yard.” Al Zarooni was banned on April 25, just three days after it was announced 11 of 45 horses tested at Moulton Paddocks were positive for banned anabolic steroids. He admitted doping another four. Some observers had questioned the speed of this hearing, but BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said the further positive samples “endorsed the swift action.” He added: “Whatever the outcome of his appeal before the independent appeal board, the gravity and scale of the infringements warranted Mahmood Al Zarooni being removed from the control of the yard as quickly as possible. “We welcome the news that Saeed bin Suroor’s horses tested negative and this clears the way for him to now take charge of Moulton Paddocks.” (BBC Sport)

Messi committed to Barça Rampaul becomes

arcelona may have only just lifted the Primera Division trophy for this season but star playmaker Lionel Messi has already switched his sights to mounting a successful campaign next term. Barça clinched their fourth La Liga title in five years last weekend when nearest challengers Real Madrid failed to beat Espanyol, and they were presented with the trophy following last night’s win over Real Valladolid at the Camp Nou. That was the 22nd time Barça have been crowned Spanish champions and capped a superb league campaign which could yet see them reach the 100-point mark for the first time in their history, needing to win their final two games to reach the milestone. However, things were not so good in the other competitions, with arch rivals Madrid beating Barça in the Spanish Supercopa and the Copa del Rey semi-finals, while Tito Vilanova’s men were humbled 7-0 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. With that European final being played at Wembley this weekend, the wounds of that crushing defeat are still raw

Lionel Messi

for Barca, but Messi is keen to move on. Speaking after arriving in Qatar for promotional events, the Argentina ace said: “Winning the league was very good, although the objective is always to win everything. There’s no need to dwell any more on what happened against Bayern; this season is over and we need to prepare to return at our best next season.” Messi, who will not play again this season due to injury, also reiterated his commitment to the Camp Nou outfit, saying: “I’ve never thought about playing at any other club than Barça.” While Messi seems unlikely to be going anywhere any time soon, the same cannot be said of some of his team-mates at Barça with

speculation rife about the futures of a number of them. There has also been media suggestions that coach Tito Vilanova might not in charge next season as he continues his fight against cancer, although the club have played down those down. The 44-year-old underwent a second operation on his parotid gland in December and spent two months in New York at the start of the year undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. He also returned to the United States earlier this month for follow-up tests and is back in New York this week for treatment which was scheduled for this summer but was brought forward due to Barca wrapping up the league with three games to

spare. Vilanova, who replaced Pep Guardiola last season, thanked players and fans last night as Barça’s trophy presentation, but his assistant Jordi Roura insisted there was nothing cryptic about his comments or any suggestion it might have been some sort of farewell to the club. Roura told reporters: “There’s no need to search for any more interpretation or go looking for something where there isn’t anything, he only wanted to thank the players, the group for the good season they’ve had.” Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta added: “I don’t know who’s said Tito is not going to be the coach.” As well as possible exits, Barça have also been linked with a number of new faces for the coming season, including Brazil star Neymar. Brazil coach Luiz Filipe Scolari yesterday claimed Barça were in pole position to land the 21-yearold, although Zubizarreta was giving little away when quizzed on the subject himself. He told Canal Plus: “Scolari knows more than me then. We will comment on new signings when they happen.” (FIFA)

second available player for T&T

ORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD – The somewhat unexpected exit of Royal Challengers Bangalore from the play-off stage of the Indian Premier League yesterday has now made pacer Ravi Rampaul available for national selection ahead of the forthcoming Champions League Twenty20 tournament, which is scheduled to bowl off in India, in September. A stern knock of 47 from Parthiv Patel and a strong spell of two for 24 from Dale Steyn handed Sunrisers Hyderabad a much-needed 23-run win over the Rajasthan Royals. This crucial win propelled them ahead of Rampaul’s Bangalore-based team on the standings, and shot them into fourth position and a confirmed spot in the decorated competition’s semi-final stages. Rampaul’s exit has now made the robust fast bowler available to be selected to represent the red, white and black. He now joins off-spinner Sunil Narine in the selection process, since Narine’s Kolkota Knight Riders were also eliminated from the competition last

week. Rampaul has been injury-prone over the past few months but has shown significant signs of improvement in his recent matches for Bangalore. His availability to the “Red Force” now expands TT captain denesh Ramdin’s bowling options for the India tournament. When the revelation was made of Narine’s possibility to be selected, several Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board members heaped praises on his availability to the squad. Now, Rampaul’s presence is expected to boost TT’s chances in the game’s shortest version. Players that would be unavailable for national selection are Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Kevon Cooper and Samuel Badree. The quartet will represent their IPL teams in the Champions League as they have placed in the top four. Bravo’s Chennai Super Kings are atop the standings, Pollard’s Mumbai Indians sit in runner-up position and Cooper/ Badree’s Rajasthan Royals are presently third, with Sunrisers Hyderabad in fourth spot.

(First published in the Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)x

tuesday, MAY 21, 2013

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Registration for second Chow Journalist pens Brian Lara’s Pow 10-10 underway biography

he registration process for the second leg of Chow Pow’s 10/10 Challenge Series is beginning to gain momentum with all the major teams registering while others are weighing their options of victory in the tournament. The tournament’s second leg will be staged on the East Coast of Demerara and will feature 32 teams. To date, Trophy Stall male and female teams, Speedboat XI, Farm XI, Young Warriors, Savannah Stars and Invaders have all signed the dotted line, thus confirming their participation. Omesh XI, Regal XI, Memorex, Helena Number One Vishnu Mandir, Superstar XI, Recharge and Survival XI among others are expected to confirm their involvement this week. The registration period will end on May 24 with games slated to begin the following weekend, weather permitting. YOLO Entertainment Director Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine, stated that the tournament has received major support from teams with a large number signalling their interest in participating. Over the past few years, softball cricket has found favour with cricket fans

YOLO Director Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine (left), GSL President Halim Khan (centre) and a representative of one of the sponsors, Terrence Sukhu

throughout the country, with large crowd turning up to witness matches, and this is something Jardine and his team is looking to cash in on. The first leg of the tournament saw 2011 national champions Wolf Warriors and Regal Champs coming out victorious in the male and female segments respectively. Those teams however,

will not be able to participate as every phase seeks to confirm new champions, paving the way for a tournament of champions after all the phases are completed. The Guyana Softball League has already endorsed the tournament which, if all goes well, will bowl off at the Better Hope, Lusignan and Helena grounds. The usual family fun day

and chutney/carnival atmosphere will complement the games at all venues with added incentives for fans being provided. According to the organisers, “The corporate community is urged to support this venture as it seeks to further bring about togetherness amongst our people in a fun filled atmosphere with the family in mind.”

ISBECH, CAMB R I D G ES H I R E – A Chatteris journalist has written a biography of one of the greatest cricketers of all time. James Fuller charts the life of West Indian batting genius Brian Lara in his first book Caribbean Lives: Brian Lara. Lara, who retired in 2008, holds the world record scores in Test cricket (400 not out), first-class cricket (501 not out) and the most runs in a test match over (28). Fuller wrote the book during the six years he lived in Lara’s homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. He said: “I wanted to write about Lara’s career from the Caribbean perspective, as that had never been done before. “Living in the Caribbean gave me the time and opportunity to access people who were close to him at every stage of his life and career: coaches, teachers, neighbours, family, school friends, fellow players both amateur and professional – people like Jimmy Adams and

Deryck Murray. “I also wanted to transmit that sense of vibrancy and fun which is so much a part of the Trinidadian culture; a culture which helped shape one of the greatest batsmen the world has ever seen.” Fuller has been a journalist for 13 years and was named the Newspaper Society’s UK Young Journalist of The Year in 2002. He now lives in Tauranga, New Zealand, where he is a senior writer at the Bay of Plenty Times. A keen cricketer, he played for Ely and Haddenham for nearly 20 years and for Chatteris in 2011. He said: “Being a cricket fanatic of limited ability, writing a book was also the only way my name would ever be mentioned in the same breath as Brian Lara’s.” Caribbean Lives: Brian Lara, published by Macmillan, is available on Amazon from May 31. (First published in the Wisbech Standard)

PMCC and Wolfs Warriors declared joint champions

Both captains place their hands on the trophy

ontroversy surrounded the feature event at Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) fundraising event held at the Port Mourant ground on Sunday as Port Mourant and Wolf Warriors were declared joint champions of the 10/10 softball cricket competition. In what was a highly anticipated final, Wolf Warriors batted first in a match that was reduced to five overs and chalked up an enterprising 96 for 6. In reply Port Mourant scored 14 off the first over and then lost a wicket off the first ball of the second over to be 14-1. At that stage Port Mourant refused to continue to bat despite sever-

al pleas from the umpires. Eventually the umpires gave the game to the Wolfs. This prompted the first reaction from PMCC who claimed that the light was fading. However, many in the crowd that had gathered at mid-pitch pointed out that the female final was still in progress on pitch two. The umpires ruled that Port Mourant walked off the field, hence the game was awarded to Wolfs Warriors. Subsequently, the organising committee, which comprised of two officials from the Port Mourant Cricket Club and one from the Berbice Softball Cricket Association, overturned the umpires’ ruling and declared the two

teams joint champions and the cash price of $120,000 was shared between the teams. The MVP went to captain of Wolfs Warriors Amreth Rai who had scores of 42, 37 and 17 in the competition. Earlier, PMCC made easy work of Skeldon in the opening game. Batting first Skeldon made 63 all out in eight overs and PMCC, 64 for 1 off 4.1 overs. PMCC also made easy work of Karibee Boys in their game. After restricting them to 106 for 5 off their allotted 10 overs, PMCC reached 110 for 3 off 8.1 overs. The Warriors, batting first in their match against Universal DVD, reached 124 for 6 when their 10 overs expired. In reply Universal

Organiser Godwin Allicock presents the winning trophy to Karibee Girls captain Nakita Toney while sponsor of the team Mr Mahindra looks on

DVD were restricted to 99 for 6 off 10 overs. The Warriors also got pass Capo’s X1. Batting first Capo’s XI made 119 for 6 off 10 overs, with Khoshal Singh stroking 48 and Derrick Lashly, 36. Warriors in reply reached 120 without loss in 9.4 overs. Rai toped scored with 42. In the woman’s competition Karibee Girls were taken down to the wire to claim the title. In an exciting final Mike’s Wellwoman batted first in a match reduced to five overs and reached 46

for 2 off their allotted overs. In reply Karibee Girls needed nine runs to win off the last over. Earlier Karibee Girls got their competition going with a win over Blairmont. Batting first, Blairmont Angles scored 76 for 4 off their allotted 10 overs. In reply Karbiee Girls reached 77 for 3 in eight overs, while Trophy Stall Angels lost to Mike’s Wellwoman. Batting first, Mike’s Wellwoman made 112 off their 10 overs with Hannah

Singh topscoring with an enterprising 45. In reply Mike’s Wellwoman made 115 for 6 in nine overs. Zula Telford carried her bat for a topscore of 64. In the playoff for third place, Trophy Stall batted first and chalked up 48 in their allotted five overs and in reply Blairmont Angles could only reach 42 for 5 when the overs ran out. The event was organised to raise funds for PMCC for key rehabilitation projects.

(Andrew Carmichael)

tuesday, MAY 21, 2013

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Lumumba is new GFA General Secretary

– VP Adams urged to rethink resignation by

Avensah Ramzan

residential Advisor on Empowerment, Odinga Lumumba, was appointed by the General Council of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) to the position of General Secretary over the weekend. Lumumba replaced former General Secretary Christopher Matthias, who had to resign from the post after being elected president of the Guyana Football Federation. Lumumba brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously served as president of the GFA, as well as being the current president of the Alpha United Football Club. In an invited comment, president of the GFA, Vernon Burnett, said it is important to have the general secretary position filled, adding that he hopes Lumumba will “bring to the table what is mandated of the general secretary

Vernon Burnett

Rawle Adams

post.” “I’m open-minded and would want to hope for the best,” Burnett stated. The GFA head said he is not one to dwell on personality, but rather what the individual can offer to the position he or she is appointed or elected to serve. Meanwhile, Burnett informed that he has asked Vice President in charge of Technical and Tactical Development, Rawle

Adams, to rethink his position of retiring from the post. Adams indicated earlier this month that his job commitment was hampering his function as member of executive, hence his resignation. His resignation is slated to take effect from June 1. In an official letter to the media, Adams, said, “While it is the best time for football in Georgetown and Guyana, it is the worst

time for my prolonged continued involvement at this level due to personal obligations that loom ahead.” He added, “It is my view that the demands of football and the developmental needs of the sport in Georgetown which falls directly under my purview would be compromised by my inability to dedicate the required time as same is being monopolised by way of my work commitments.”

From left Lavern Trim (Secretary of Mercury Fast Laners Track & Field Club), Kevin Abbensetts and Compton Babb, Public Relations Manager of Giftland

Gordon donates bike to young rider

nited States of America-based Guyanese Masters rider, Aubrey Gordon, donated a brand new racing bike to young Shaquille Agard of the Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club. The presentation was

Ambrose cites relays as most likely chances of medalling

Giftland supports Hampton Games-bound athletes iftland OfficeMax provided three athletes with the opportunity to ensure their participation at the Hampton Games in Trinidad from Friday to Sunday. Ebony Nelson, Alzemo Britton and Kevin Abbensetts were the beneficiaries of the company’s largesse. Giftland, which sponsored the National Schools’ Championship under the Asics brand last November, also provided Nelson and Abbensetts with Asics footwear and trophies as a form of encouragement. Giftland OfficeMax will continue to support the sporting fraternity.

UWI Track Meet…

By Treiston Joseph

Odinga Lumumba

done after the conclusion of the Independence Three-Stage cycling meet’s closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon at the National Cultural Centre. Gordon said he is happy to support local talents,

adding that this is the second young rider to benefit from his generosity. Gordon believes Agard is among a large group of skilful young cyclists, who are currently dominating the cycling landscape, giving their senior counter-

parts major competition. Accepting the bike, 16-year-old Agard said he is grateful for the kindness of Gordon, noting that he will make maximum use of it in his endeavours to be become a better rider.

he University of Guyana (UG) track and field club is currently preparing to represent the institution at the University of the West Indies (UWI) track meet on May 25 in Jamaica. The team, scheduled to depart on May 23, consists of seven members, along with two officials. ALBA Games 800 metre silver medalist Wayne Harlequin, under-23 200 metres champion Elton Bollers, Trinidad- based and former schools’ national 400 metre champion Philip Drayton, former schools’ national 100 and 200 metre under-20 champion Kenneth Semple, 2012 Inter-Guiana Games 800 metre silver medalist Ornesto Thomas, former under-16 200 and 400 metres champion Carlwyn Collins and sprinter Owen Adonis are the athletes while Anson Ambrose and Lavern Fraser will go as coach and manager respectively. Ambrose revealed to Guyana Times Sport that while the team is not one hundred per cent ready, the team should perform well in the 4x400 metre relay. “Preparation was ok and I must thank Lyndon Wilson for allowing us to use Eve Leary, we are not one hundred percent more like 80-85 per cent ready but there is great expectations for the 4x4 team seeing that one of our strong areas in the club,” Ambrose stated. With the weather being as obstructive as it has been over the past few weeks, Ambrose declared that he has not made it an issue. “It’s is very challenging but they are two weather patterns we have in Guyana so many times I don’t complain because we have sun and we have rain and many times you might have to start a season early because we want to utilsze the sun and as coaches we know how to modify and to keep that athletes at a level. “Sometimes we have lengthy periods of rain and that doesn’t mean our athletes should stop training but what we need to do as

coaches it to get them to a level during the dry period and whenever the rainy season we can do some indoor training so when the sun prevails we can utilise outdoors,” Ambrose explained. Further, Ambrose also pointed out the reality of the team doing well noting that they were heading to the new sprint capital of the world. Well we checked the last games they had and some of the individual events we realised that some of our athletes are not there but they are not far off and it all depends on the given day of competition and their personal dedication and mental preparation might bring them kinda close. “We know it is going to be tough for us seeing that it is in the land of the speed but we are hoping that our relays can do their best to give us a chance of getting a medal or two,” Ambrose indicated. Meanwhile, Ambrose expects that the exposure should serve as a motivating factor for the team to perform at their best. “It will benefit them positively seeing that the club would have only started just over six months and this would make our second international competition and to see that the administration is supporting us to these games. So the athletes are excited and motivated seeing that it is on Usian Bolt’s track but as a coach I hope they don’t get to anxious and forget about their game plan and execution,” Ambrose explained. However, while a medal will be a feather in the cap for the UG athletes, Ambrose explained that the aim is for them to produce personal records. “The aim is for each of them to try to do their PB (personal best) and the PB would be gold for us because they are coming up against athletes training for years and we basically just started six months ago so to come together in such a short time it is going to be challenging knowing that our ground is not in the best shape. “But I think we can expect some PB’s because of their dedication,” Ambrose told Guyana Time Sport.

tuesday, MAY 21, 2013

TOP SCORES

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

England 232 & 213 beat New Zealand 207 & 68 by 170 runs; Sunrisers Hyderabad 132-5 beat Kolkata Knight Riders 130-7 by five wickets

UWI Track Meet…

Ambrose cites relays as most likely chances of medaling See story on page

The University of Guyana track team along with coach Anson Ambrose (extreme right) after a training session at Eve Leary

Wayne Harlequin (left) finishes a long run in preparation for his 800m in Jamaica

Gordon donates bike to young rider

Journalist pens Brian Lara’s biography See story on page

See story on page

USA-based Guyanese Aubrey Gordon (right) presents the cycle to Shaquille Agard in the presence of national coach Hassan Mohamed (second right) and race official William Howard (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

James Fuller holds a copy of his Brian Lara biography, "Caribbean Lives: Brian Lara"

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