Guyana Times Daily - April 2, 2015

Bandits snatch $90M at Bourda Post Office

...disarm cop, 1 suspect nabbed

B y B hisham m ohamed

At least three armed men on Wednesday morning grabbed several bags containing $90 million in pension and public assistance funds as they were being escorted to the Bourda Post Office, Regent Street, Georgetown. The robbery occurred at about 08:00h.

During the robbery, the bandits also managed to relieve a Police constable of a G3 Rifle that he was carrying at the time. However, quick response by the Police resulted in one of the men being arrested in the vicinity of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The suspect has been identified as Lloyd Sadloo of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Guyana Times under -

stands that the suspect is being grilled by members of the Criminal Investigation Unit at Eve Leary, Georgetown.

According to reports received, the men who were in queue ran out and held the clerk and one of the Police ranks at gun point,

shortly after the General Post Office (GPOC) van arrived at the Bourda Post Office. It was at this time, the gunmen relieved the

Police rank of his rifle.

They then jumped into the vehicle and forced the driver to drive away with the 17 bags of money. The vehicle was found abandoned along Cemetery Road, East La Penitence.

Up to press time, the two Police ranks were being interrogated at the Brickdam Police Station.

Guyana Times understands that the van was in the process of delivering monies to at least 17 post offices around the city and would have made the first stop at Bourda. During the robbery, the elderly people were forced to take to the ground. Some of them were reportedly traumatised due to the incident.

Police in a release stated that at about 08:15h, three men armed with firearms held up a Police escort and the driver of a GPOC motor vehicle outside of the Post Office in Regent Street, Bourda.

The perpetrators took away the Policeman’s service G3 Rifle with 20 rounds and then entered the vehicle and forced the driver to drive away, with the Police rank inside.

The men abandoned the vehicle along Cemetery Road, Georgetown, and took away the $90 million that was in the vehicle, and escaped, along with the Policeman’s firearm.

This newspaper understands that the driver of the GPOC vehicle was also driving the vehicle when the Beterverwagting Post Office was robbed back in December, 2014.

This is the first robbery committed on any post office for the year thus far.

The rank reiterated that the perpetrators had to be planning the act in advance taking into consideration that pensioners would have been paid on the first day of every month.

In December, 2014, bandits carted off over $3 million from the Beterverwagting Post Office, ECD.

It was reported that two perpetrators carried out the brazen early morning attack. One of the men reportedly entered the building while the other waited in a white AT 192

motor car.

The lone gunman entered the building through the side door and broke into the office where the post mistress was with the money. It was further reported that the bandit went behind the counter, held the post mistress at gunpoint and relieved her of the cash. Both men then entered the car parked outside and drove off.

In September 2014, gunmen also attacked and robbed staff at the Post Office at Carmichael and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown. Based on information received, the armed men approached the security guard and struck him with an object. The gunmen then went into the building where they held the staff up and relieved them of approximately $4 million before making good their escape. The stolen cash was money to be used for the payment of Old Age Pension.

Then back in June 2014, a lone gunman also carted off some $1.3 million from the Campbellville Post Office, after he posed as a customer.

The bandit subsequently pulled out a firearm, kicked down the door which gave him access to the area where the money was being kept. He took possession of the money and subsequently escaped on a waiting motorcycle nearby.

In light of the increasing attacks on post offices, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Jenifer Webster was of the opinion that there has to be collusion in the robberies committed on post offices across the country.

“The public is aware that Old Age Pension and Public Assistance are given out on the first of every month…I also feel that these bandits target the post offices around this time,” the Minister had said in 2014.

She had also called on GPOC to reassess the security arrangements at the various locations. The Minister had said that once a large amount of cash is being kept at a specific location, there must me additional security.

THURSday,

High

Low

US slams Kaieteur News for slander

...forced to retract article on Govt officials

he United States

TEmbassy here has repudiated the scandaltarred Kaieteur News for publishing a fabricated story in its Wednesday edition alleging that four Government officials’ visas were revoked over money laundering and later trying to pass it off as an “April Fools” joke.

Known for its gutter journalism and fabrication, the Glenn Lall-run Kaieteur News was forced to admit to the US Embassy that the article captioned “US revokes four Govt officials’ visas” was purely a work of fiction. The Embassy, careful to guard its reputation, given the far-reaching consequences of the article, which was published online, asked the Saffon Street outfit to rip it down from the Internet and also publish a retraction.

“To be clear, the US Embassy has not cancelled any visas of high-ranking Government officials nor is the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in country questioning individuals as the article states,” the Embassy said in a statement.

According to the Embassy, Kaieteur News exercised poor judgment in printing the article under the auspices of an April Fools joke. “The US

Embassy calls for an immediate retraction of the article by Kaieteur News in both their online and print versions of their newspaper.”

Incidentally, Lall’s visa to the US was revoked some

years ago for his alleged backtracking activities which Washington had mentioned in a cable.

It is also highly possible, according to one high level source that his application for a radio licence was denied based on his visa revocation by the US, as Government seeks more information from the authorities. He has confessed that he had also applied for television and radio licences, but knowledgeable sources in the broadcast sector revealed that with his “sketchy past” as revealed in the US embassy WikiLeaks cable, it would be impossible for Lall to pass the fitness test to secure a broadcasting licence.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur

News over the years has been repeatedly cited for “yellow journalism” – a technique utilised by two titans of the US newspaper industry at the turn of the 20th Century to sell papers. Only recently one of his top reporters, Leonard Gildharie was embroiled in the illegal taping of a conversation between himself and Attorney General Anil Nandlall. The premise of yellow journalism was simple: exaggerate news events – especially minor ones; widely focus on scandal-mongering and sensationalism; and make sure the front page is dominated by large, lurid, misleading headlines and pictures. Fake interviews and taking on the “system” on behalf of the common man rounded out the approach. It worked and

made enormous fortunes for William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.

Commentators have said previously that this yellow journalistic approach was the “secret” of the Kaieteur News and its owner, Glenn Lall, since the early 1990s. The strategy does not even have to be imputed, since the founder of the newspaper, Shaun Samaroo stated explicitly that he “wanted to publish a weekend journal that focused entirely on investigative reporting, and that would also reflect solid family values, with a democratic Western mindset. However, within months, Glenn… decided he wanted a bigger say in the editorial of the newspaper. I objected that he was a mere investor and the editorial should be left up to media experts… but one day I chose to resign. By this time, sources I had cultivated as an investigative reporter were warning me of associating with ‘that crowd’. I received second-hand information of business practices that I did not think fitted in with the high professional ethics I set myself as a journalist and the publisher of a weekend tabloid.”

Samaroo concluded, “Kaieteur in its founding days aimed only to create a professional, independent, credible and informative weekend journal focused, as said above, on investigative reporting. Alas, it was not to be, and today, in 2011, we have WikiLeaks doing that work for us.”

Only recently, Lall was accused of verbally abusing and threatening his staff over a hard-hitting article in the media weeks ago, which questioned his credibility as an anti-corruption crusader. A leaked email on Lall’s outburst to his staff was circulated on the Guyana Press Association (GPA) mailing list last month. The leaked report, which was anonymously sent to a senior journalist’s email, stated that

“staffers of the Kaieteur News’ Editorial Department were under siege when the newspaper’s “narcissistic publisher Mohan “Glenn” Lall went on an hour-long, profanity-laced tirade during a general meeting, following his return from a lengthy vacation in the United States”. According to the report, usually reliable sources dis-

closed that the notoriously egotistical Lall was furious with his employees, and particularly abusive to senior management, for what he perceived was their “unacceptable” failure to notify him in a timely manner (in his absence) of a detailed investigative report on February 15 in the media. According to the leaked report, the article highlighted “Lall’s apparent clandestine efforts to cover up what many around the country, including in diplomatic circles, have surmised, was an obvious attempt to defraud the country’s revenues of at least $100 million via concessions provided for remigrants”.

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

Fostering entrepreneurial drive

The main challenge that faces a developing country like Guyana in today’s world is how to develop a stratum of entrepreneurs and businessmen that will be willing to take the necessary risks to establish service or production companies that can compete in the global economy.

With less than a million people and an emigration rate that ensures marginal population growth, our internal markets will remain quite small for the foreseeable future. We either export or perish.

This is the lesson of the last 50 years from developmental economics and comparative world growth figures. England kicked off the industrial revolution with a business class that was facilitated by laws to encourage international trade (example, “free trade” laws) and for reducing the exposure of businesses to the inevitable risks being undertaken (limited liability companies, for instance).

In all of this, it was accepted that the Government would encourage the growth of businesses because this ultimately benefitted the entire country.

This process was imitated by the USA, then Germany and the rest of Europe. By the time Japan joined the party, governmental involvement was intensified to push exports and laws were amended to allow banks to invest directly in businesses.

Japan accomplished in 50 years what it had taken the European and US economies one hundred years to achieve. This synergy between Governments and businesses was the characteristic feature of the ever increasing rates of growth achieved by the Eastern Tigers. Its culmination (up to now) is China that is poised to overtake the US as the largest economy in the world: there the Government actually controls the businesses and banks.

We have taken this long detour to place in perspective a very unhealthy development that is taking place in Guyana in reference to the supposed national goal of stimulating growth in our economy.

This is the Opposition’s insidious undermining of the very premise that underlies every successful business entity and indeed every successful economy – the imperative to generate profits. There was an even longer detour taken by the USSR and her allies to sustain economic growth without the profit incentive: it ended in abysmal failure.

While the successful Chinese business model theoretically is controlled by a “communist” Government – the profit motive has been given centre stage. As the founder of the Chinese model Deng Xiaoping put it, “It doesn’t matter whether a cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice.”

Here in Guyana, the Government has committed to the proposition since 1989 that businesses shall be “the engine of growth”, but in its sniping at entrepreneurs, the Opposition obviously rejects the implications of that exhortation.

Firstly, “successful businesses” means that those businesses will have to generate profits and this means that the owners, whether individuals or shareholders will become wealthier.

Last year China had 236 billionaires; Russia 88 and India 90. In Guyana, the Kaieteur News and the Opposition led the way in demonising certain businesses and businessmen for turning around failed state-owned enterprises into successful profitable enterprises.

Secondly, we have pointed out the nexus between Governments and successful world-class companies in the modern high-flying, export oriented economies. Even in the US, the role of Wall Street is acknowledged. This is inevitable: how can the engine and driver not be in communication and be responsive to their mutual needs?

For instance, our key banking industry is subsidised to the tune of billions annually when the Government ‘sterilises’ their “excess liquidity”. The Kaieteur News and Opposition have also demonised some such linkages and made it appear that they are criminal.

It is axiomatic that business must be regulated to further the overall societal good. But businesses cannot then be blamed for legally making profits within those regulations. The business community has been surprisingly apathetic and unresponsive to the attacks on modern national business realities.

They have the opportunity to make themselves heard now.

God, please let me do well at the NGSA

This was not an April Fool’s Day joke

Dear Editor, Kaieteur News now must hold a world record – the Guinness Book World Record of being caught lying more times than any printed media in the world.

Yesterday, they boldly printed a story that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the fearsome Police agency of the US, is in Guyana questioning a number of senior Government officials and that the US Embassy has withdrawn the visas of four of these senior Government officials.

The story was a blatant lie. It was made up and it was libelous to the Government of Guyana. It was also a lie against the US Government and the FBI. The US Embassy has denied the presence of FBI in Guyana and has denied that they withdrew the visas of any senior government officials.

Now the Kaieteur News has responded that it was an April’s Fool Day story. This is a thief caught with his hands in the jar.

The confession that this is a story that was an April Fool’s Day prank cannot now exonerate the Kaieteur News because the story fits a sick obsession and a strategy by the newspaper of misrepresenting facts and of telling stories that are not true with the clear in-

tent to create a negative image of the Government.

The fact is that in many places in Guyana and around the world, this story will remain with people who will continuously tell it as a fact. Recently, Freddie Kissoon told a story of a private businessman and then after the fact stated that the story was one he heard, but had no evidence for.

These are just two recent examples that expose Kaieteur News and their public agenda to discredit the government and its leaders without any shred of evidence. Sometimes they apologize and sometimes they merely ignore any concern expressed by citizens.

The truth is nothing in Kaieteur News can be believed. They have discredited themselves by being blinded by bitterness and hate. Bitterness and hate have clouded their judgment and have rendered the Kaieteur News from abandoning any semblance being a serious newspaper to becoming a rag to be ignored.

The people of Guyana cannot excuse Kaieteur News for a travesty that was never meant to be a joke. Having been caught they now defend themselves by saying that they were just joking. But they do this every day. They use various columns in their

publication to spread rumors which become stories people spread as facts.

We do not lack a sense of humor in the government and as Guyanese we are a people that have grown thick skinned. But there has to be a limit to people using public media to disguise a serious effort to libel people and then defend it as a joke. This is about media freedom. It is about the wicked misuse of media freedom.

In other countries, Kaieteur News would have been resoundingly condemned and would have to face serious legal consequences. Yet in Guyana any effort to ensure Kaieteur News meet minimum standards of telling the truth would be regarded as restricting media freedom.

But enough is enough and we should all, whether we like this Government or not, rebuke the Kaieteur News for using April Fool as another of the various means to discredit government officials.

This is the same publication that sees nothing wrong with a miller who sold rejected rice to Chile and left our market in Chile at jeopardy. Not a single line about a story that affects all rice farmers and the rice industry. But it is a genuine story of fact, a newsworthy story, yet because it linked to a Government critic;

it is deemed as not newsworthy by Kaieteur News. This is a publication that will find any court case in America to report, only as long as it relates to people they can link in one way or another, even if they need to make up something, to Government officials.

Yet when one of the officials who advise the APNU+AFC on rice has a judgment against him for $US20 million and a warrant for his arrest, they ignore the story totally and treat it as not newsworthy.

This is a publication that blazed its headlines with stories of David Granger and others in the APNU+AFC brazenly accusing the government of killing a citizen and then admitted they have no evidence presented the story as fact. Yet without evidence, this publication highlights attack on Bharat Jagdeo for raising the possibility that the Opposition has everything to gain from the killing of this citizen.

The Kaieteur News cannot escape condemnation. They should not escape condemnation. What does the APNU+AFC team say of this? This was not an April Fool Day story.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy Agriculture Minister

The people of Whim have rejected Nagamootoo, Ramayya

Dear Editor, Ramjattan’s defence that he personally saw “massive numbers of Indo Guyanese” at the Whim rally is maybe “delusional”, but this man has a natural knack for lying.

This propensity is one of Ramjattan’s special characteristic. If one could only recall his claims about the PPP/C bribing three APNU MPs with $30 million each, his claims that audited financial statements of the AFC were provided at the last AFC Conference, his claims that

the AFC does not want to close down the sugar industry, and the list goes on.

In the first instance, not only did APNU reject that claim of bribery, but they deflected the allegation right back into the face of Ramjattan. Then in the second case, no AFC member who was present at the Conference had copy of those statements or has seen a single copy.

Thirdly, Ramjattan had a GAWU representative who is also an AFC member, on DTV 8, a man named Austin, who

made a pronouncement on the closure of GuySuCo to which Ramjattan agreed. Austin even had a redundancy plan for GuySuCo. He outlined his plan by saying that GuySuCo should pay each worker $5 million and then close down the industry. Ramjattan then complimented this young man and claimed that this he is very knowledgeable about GuySuCo and sugar. These are only three instances and now there is the fourth.

Ramjattan claimed that

he walked through the crowd and saw thousands of Indians. From whatever angle you look at the crowd there is an extreme scarcity of Indians. Anyone looking at the crowd will conclude that Whim is Linden, because of the overwhelming presence of Afro Guyanese.

Is he then claiming that the Indians present at the Whim rally deliberately segregate themselves from the Afro Guyanese? If this is so then it is a poor display of “It’s time for unity”!

Embrace a Govt that embodies the dreams, aspirations of youths

Dear Editor,

The PPP/C Kitty rally proves that Guyana is a united country that offers prosperity for all, regardless of race, class or economic back ground. We see a happy festive crowd celebrating the works and future plans of this Government.

A festive celebration like the Kitty rally is a natural manifestation of a country that is moving up and forward and not backward.

We learned from our past and saw that those from it are still standing in front of us today, we also see that the PNC behaviors and strategies is still strong over the past three years with the level of destructive politics they practice.

For example, they frustrated the President to make him look like he is not achieving anything for Guyana when in fact they are the ones who manipulatively use their one seat majority to block the projects that would take this country forward.

We see this in the way they agreed to approve the Amaila Falls Hydro Project behind closed doors with the President, and then when they come to parliament it was rejected.

Most of us do not understand how complicated it is to make sure major developmental projects are implement successfully; therefore you need a stable and progressive government to manage such things.

I have not seen any stability in that confusion of an Opposition nor do I see the intellect and vision required. All we see is a misfit group of lawyers and military men and women who understands one thing and one thing only and that is how to grab power and money for themselves through lies and force.

Young people are not interested in the kind of governance that the opposition plans to bring to Guyana. We are interested in being happy, growing a strong private sector, having an efficient public service and a proud culture and identity for all.

These things will not be accomplished with APNU/ AFC being in power because they don’t even understand what it means or how to build the means to achieve it.

For us youths to achieve what we want, we must understand that we need affordable energy; therefore the hydro electricity is required to boost sustainable growth. We need an airport that can accommodate larger planes and must be the face of the country.

We need five-star hotels for our visitors to stay since it is an expectation worldwide for any country on the rise. We need ICT infrastructures to benefit from ecom-

merce and build the skills of young people in that field. We need a deep water harbour to bring in larger ships with lower cost of goods.

The PPP/C have seen, a long time ago, that these are the initiatives that must be implemented to truly move Guyana forward and provide a stable and successful environment for the young generation.

APNU/AFC have not yet produce any solid, measurable, verifiable or economically sound proposal that will empower youths more than what the PPP/C is already doing. This tells me that as a young man, I should always be aware of empty promises from lawyers and military men.

Apart from wonderfully written words with no substance, what has the opposition put forward? They are still struggling to keep themselves together much less a country.

Every young person in Guyana should be very worried by the mere possibility of an opposition led government, because it would be the end to their dreams and hopes of being masters of their future.

We must embrace a Government that embodies the dreams and aspirations of the youths, and that is the PPP/C government.

Malcolm Watkins

Who is not Guyanese in the land of six races?

Dear Editor,

Former PPP/C reject Moses Nagamootoo, who was not good enough as Speaker for David Granger, is the PNC’s new rehabilitated hope for their regaining power. Either the PNC rejected him because he was a former PPP/C leader or because of his Indian ethnicity.

It was certainly not because he is Guyanese. So why has he decided he is not Indian anymore? We must gauge the source of such tremendous happiness by which AFC’s Nigel Hughes has become a more and superb elevated - “Guyanese”in forfeiting his journey by that party’s usual “race” rotation agreement.

In effect the logical race rotating African was stepping aside in favour of Moses who was not Indian anymore? But first Moses had to be taken on top the mountain to pass an Africanised

PNC “baptism of fire”test. His rite of passage required him to prove his worth. Could he prove he could deny and nullify whatever was Indian about him? The tests have obviously found Moses is somehow become an even better “Guyanese” in passing the PNC’s significant litmus test to bring down the PPP/C Government.

Which better Indian soldier can Granger ever enlist for the PNC’s mission? History can be such an excellent lesson teacher. German Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann was captured and brought by and to Israel after escaping to Argentina, where he was put on trial.

Eichmann’s defense insisted Germany had a right to deal with its citizens for crimes committed. The Israelis countered the Nazis persecuted Jews not for their nationality, but be-

cause of their race and religion. Eichmann was found guilty and hung.

Is there any history lesson of danger ahead in 2015 with David Granger heading the PNC? In repeating their 1964 strategy by launching their 2015 campaign as in Linden also, again with another coalition - this time, the AFC - it cannot all be a coincidence.

Seasoned PNC military leader Granger is also a UG trained historian who is believed to be the executioner of PNC rigged nationwide elections. At both the last two PNC Congresses, Granger has himself been accused of rigging PNC elections to become leader.

Eager to become acceptable to APNU supporters Moses has publicly confirmed and given reassurances he is “Guyanese” in nationality and not Indian at all. Whenever the PNC

The people of Whim...

An AFC Councillor who was there lamented the absence of Indians at the rally and claimed that Indians are not pleased with the coalition. In addition, another AFC member claimed likewise.

But Ramjattan can be excused for lying on another point. This poor man was sound asleep, probably having imbibed an excessive amount of “Moses’ cure” and maybe that’s the reason for his delusion.

Readers should look at the recent coverage of the

Guyana Times to have the proof of Ramjattan’s sleeping by the side of his wife on the platform of the rally. Too much of “Moses’ cure” can be counterproductive!

Many eyewitnesses, including me, saw the extreme paucity of Indians at the rally and this is substantiated by the absence of Indians at AFC+APNU public meetings which took place before. This was the prelude to that rally.

On March 31, the AFC had to cancel a meeting at my village Chesney. The

carload of Policemen came to the venue, but Ramayya and his gang did not. In 2011, the AFC held two meetings in my village prior to Election Day. The reason for this cancellation is quite obvious!

The people of Whim have rejected Nagamootoo and Ramayya. The people of Whim do not even speak to Ramayya, even his neighbours avoided him.

would habitually “kick some asses too” (thank you for speaking the truth, Jagdeo), usually Indians were targeted.

Their “Guyanese” nationality never trounced or shielded them by race. Like the Chinese and Portuguese as well, their race is what made them automatically guilty. What the Opposition APNU-AFC cannot ignore is what may be right about our anthem which defines and acknowledges Guyana’s reality as a land of six races. So what’s really wrong with Moses?

Within the PPP/C leadership, its African leaders - and other races as wellhave historically been trusted and wielders of enormous power in their party. Their Guyanese nationality was a given and no reaffirmation was necessary or a prerequisite. Not so in the PNC.

Lastly, Ramjattan can probably be excused also on the grounds of physical incapacity. The man can only see strongly in one direction so most likely he had a problem reconciling what he saw.

The AFC is dead meat and there is nothing that Ramjattan and Nagamootoo can do about it.

Last Saturday, at the Port Mourant market he tried to be friendly to some people who walked away from him without acknowledging his presence. I saw this first hand. I go to the market every Saturday to make purchases.

Haseef Yusuf

THURSday, apRil 2, 2015| gUyanaTimeSgy.com

Snafu in scholarship award

...due to Appropriation Act not passed by Opposition

By Devina Samaroo

The absence of an Appropriation Act re-

sulted in Government being unable to fulfil its obligations as it relates to the provision of scholarships for top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

This was revealed by Dr Roger Luncheon during his post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday at the Office of the President. The admission came in light of the

claims made by CSEC top performer Elisa Hamilton. Hamilton explained that she was unable to get a scholarship to study at an institution of her choice. Back in 2012 President Donald Ramotar had announced that the top two students of the CSEC and CAPE will automatically qualify for scholarships to study in Guyana or abroad.

“We have also given more scholarships to the students in this country to get higher education in Guyana and

abroad, and I have also instructed our colleagues in the Cabinet to see that the top two from CXC (Caribbean Examinations Council) and CAPE are given scholarships automatically, not only in Guyana to study but overseas as well,” Ramotar said while addressing a gathering at the Education Ministry’s National Award Ceremony for Outstanding Performances on October 25, 2012.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand later explained that this meant the students would get scholarships to “universities of their choice” and this was what Ms Hamilton was expecting. Reports indicate that the disappointed student who wanted to study medicine at Yale University received a letter from the Public Services Ministry, informing her that she could only apply to study in Guyana, China or Cuba in the fields of engineering, dentistry or medicine.

It is unclear whether any scholar has been since granted scholarships outside of the Caribbean since the scheme was set up. Most of the past top performers at

CAPE and CSEC are pursuing studies at the University of the West Indies.

In response to those claims, Dr Luncheon said he believed that the reason being for the unfortunate interference was because Government could only spend one 12th of the previous year’s expenditure from the Consolidated Funds for its expenditures for the current year, and because each Ministry cannot spend above that fraction, various hindrances were surfacing.

One-twelfth provision

Dr Luncheon noted that the one-twelfth provision only allowed Government to perform the most necessary functions to run the country.

“Save and except that one twelfth rule which makes provision for the expenditure for Government business to continue to be available even in the absence of an Appropriation Act, issues like paying salaries and issuing vaccines and such like that couldn’t conceivably be withheld because there wasn’t an Appropriation Act,” Dr Luncheon explained.

He further explained that Hamilton was not the only student being affected by these complications. Dr Luncheon revealed that owing to the limited spending by the various Ministries, students on scholarships abroad are unable to receive their monthly stipends.

He explained that “until such time as the 11th Parliament is conveyed and a budget is passed and an Appropriation Act becomes law those expenditures will not be met.”

Hamilton, a 16-year-old Queen’s College student, ob-

tained 19 Grade Ones and one Grade Two at the CSEC examinations last year, making her Guyana’s top performer. She automatically qualified for a scholarship to study at any university of her choice.

President Ramotar said back in 2012 that investment in education was really an investment in the future of the country as it was a key element in fighting poverty, the preparation of youths for the future and the achievement of developmental goals.

“If we are going to achieve the development goals we have set ourselves, then education will have to play a pivotal role in that regard, and it has proved itself already because when you look at developing countries, you will see where there is a high level of education, those are the counties that are doing the best,” he noted.

“In the past seven straight years, Guyana has topped the Caribbean at CXC, and we intend to continue with that tradition and it is very significant to look at the spread where the passes are taking place,” he observed.

US$30M pact to improve GPL's supply in Berbice

The Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) energy assets at Skeldon, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been transferred to a new energy company called the Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI).

Chairman of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Inc (NICIL), Winston Brassington who is also Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) at a press conference on Wednesday at the National Communications Network told reports that Cabinet has approved that the GuySuCo energy assets located at Skeldon, along with its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) be transferred to the newly created special purpose company; the Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI).

According to Brassington, the state owned SEI will be jointly owned by GPL and NICIL. In consideration of the transfer of the assets, GuySuCo will be paid a total of US$30 million. Additionally, SEI will supply power to GuySuCo at the same prices that GPL currently pays GuySuCo today.

“Expected benefits of the restructuring of the Skeldon energy assets include: The enhancement of the-generating capacity of the Skeldon Wärtsilä and Bagasse, cogeneration power plants; provide GPL and GuySuCo with a stable and reliable source power generation and relieve GuySuCo of the responsibility to manage the power generation; provide US$30 million of capital resources to GuySuCo; secure, stabilise and expand the power generating capacity located at Skeldon, as part of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (OBIS) power grid, by increasing energy supplied to the grid by 50 per cent by the end of 2016 and almost 100 per cent by 2019”, Brassington said.

The GuySuCo power-generating assets consist primarily of three Wärtsilä power plants with an installed capacity of 10 MegaWatts (MW), and a Co-Generation Bagasse Plant with an installed capacity of 30MW, Brassington explained. Skeldon Energy Inc, with the support of the power company, has contracted Wärtsilä to rehabilitate, operate and manage the combined power plants effective April 1, 2015. This new development will in no way affect the current systems of operations as all persons currently employed by GuySuCo will be seconded to the operation on the same terms and conditions currently enjoyed.

According to Brassington, Skeldon Energy Inc will be funded with equity financing (US$9 million) from NICIL [US$5 million] and GPL [US$4 million] and debt financing (US$21 million) from GPL and local and international financial institutions. Repayment of the financing will be via the sale of power under the two PPA’s to GPL

and GuySuCo. GuySuCo will also sell to SEI the bagasse used in required for its Skeldon operations. On the basis that GPL will purchase most of the power from SEI under a PPA and the plant being operated by Wärtsilä, the new management company will provide financing for the rehabilitation of the 10MW plant. It is a fact, that GPL and Wärtsilä enjoy the longest operational and maintenance relationship in the history of Wärtsilä. Brassington said SEI will inherit the many benefits including discounts on spares and over 95 per cent availability on the GPL owned but Wärtsilä operated plants.

He said too that Wärtsilä currently operates a number of bagasse and steam generating facilities in the world, for example they operate various bagasse plants in India and a steam plant in The Dominican Republic. SEI expects the Wärtsilä plant would generate at the full 10MW capacity by 2015 and the Co-Generation Bagasse Plants at full 30MW capacity over the mediumterm, subject to the availability of bagasse. Over the last two years, Wärtsilä has performed a full audit of the Skeldon Wärtsilä operations and the costs of rehabilitating the plant.

Brassington related that the power company has since last year been supplying as much as 12 MW of power into Berbice through the newly commissioned transmission line that now allows one interconnected grid between Demerara and Berbice. “Rehabilitation and expansion of Skeldon will reduce the need and risk in transmitting power from Georgetown, and may over time, allow this trend to be reversed”.

He said the projected generation of the combined plants of 40MW by 2016 will be over 20 per cent of the generating capacity of the entire Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System. He related too that the Skeldon Energy Inc will operate with two Power Purchase Agreements to provide power to GPL and GuySuCo. In addition to the existing PPA between GuySuCo and GPL being transferred to SEI Inc, a similar one will be entered into between SEI and GuySuCo.

thursday, april 2, 2015 |

GECOM says measures in place to prevent double voting

One day after People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ensure that the names of the members of the Disciplined Services are taken off the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) and the Official List of Electors (OLE), Commission Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally said adequate mechanisms were in place to prevent any doublevoting.

As such, he has noted that there was no cause for alarm by the political parties.

On Monday, Rohee called on GECOM to ensure that the names of the members of the Disciplined Services were removed from the PLE.

He expressed his Party’s concern over the names of members of the Disciplined Forces appearing on the OLE for the May 11 polls. The Disciplined Services comprise the Guyana Defence Force (GDF); the Guyana Police Force (GPF); Guyana Prison Service (GPS); and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

According to him, it is the view of the Party that the names of the persons in the Disciplined Services should be on a separate list and should be removed from the PLE, since the Disciplined Services would usually vote

one week before the holding of the General and Regional Elections.

Rohee noted that the Party’s concern continued to mount, since failing to remove the names can open avenues for Disciplined Services members to cheat the system and vote twice.

However, when contacted for a comment on the matter, GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield related that while the PPP was entitled to raise its concerns, there was nothing that could be done by the Commission to alter the list.

He noted that under the laws of the country, it would be quite illegal for the elections body to remove the names from the PLE.

According to Lowenfield, it is required by law that

the name of each and every eligible person or elector be placed on the list and as such, the body did not have the requisite power to remove any eligible person.

Dr Surujbally related that the PPP/C should not be worried since the elections

body would be ensuring that a menu of mechanisms were in place to ensure that no one was able to cheat the system. He however declined to disclose what these systems were, citing security reasons. “I can’t tell you specifically what our measures are since these are matters of security, but what I can tell you is that we have a menu of measures to be implemented and we will ensure that no one cheats the system during the elections,” Surujbally related to the Guyana Times

APNU/AFC coalition promises to deliver a better housing policy

Even as the People's National Congress-led A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition is preparing to unveil its 2015 manifesto on April 10, it has hinted that its housing policy will seek to reduce the prices which are currently being paid by citizens for house lots and low income homes.

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon said the coalition strongly believes that house lots are not only discriminately distributed but the prices are too exorbitant in the country.

He related that under an APNU/AFC Government, the prices for house lots will be reduced along with the price for low income homes, in its quest to provide a better life for all Guyanese. Without divulging much detail in relation to the contents of the manifesto, Harmon said housing will receive special attention to ensure the small man gets a better share.

“We believe all Guyanese are entitled to a proper house. This country is too big for us to be getting a little small thing for a house lot… Guyanese deserve a better break and a better share of the national pie,” he added.

Harmon, who served as Shadow Housing Minister over the last three years, says he believes the coalition’s policy will see the utilisation of land and other resources in a more efficient way. “If we take out the corruption in some of these en-

tities we will be able to deliver to the ordinary Guyanese man a better house at a cheaper price and the land at a lower price,” he reasoned.

According to the General Secretary, the ordinary citizen is often forced to pay large sums for a small plot of land while others are given large swaths of land for a small amount of money. This he said must stop.

Additionally, it was expressed that the policies of the coalition will seek to provide more than a house but to develop communities. “We want to ensure we build communities around the land that is going to be provided to citizens.”

Meanwhile, the AFC General Secretary, David Patterson has promised that the coalition will be unveiling massive plans for the country in its manifesto. Reports indicate that plans target education, security and social services.

On the other hand, AFC Executive Member Catherine Hughes stated that under an APNU/AFC Government, women will be given more respect and opportunities to foster and develop their full potential.

She noted that the coalition will work to provide more daycare facilities for working mothers, drop-in-centres for victims of abuse and domestic violence with more support services. Additionally, she said it will seek to have more micro credit loans available for women wanting to become entrepreneurs.

The coalition has also vowed that should it succeed, it will ensure that turnaround plans for the sugar and rice industries are drafted and implemented, so as to protect the lifeline of the sectors while sustaining the livelihood of those who are dependent on them.

“We would ensure that the sugar industry is reformed so that the poor worker turn out rate is turned around. I would engage the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the corporation on a turnaround plan for the sugar industry to protect the jobs of the working people in that industry. I would ensure that rice farmers are promptly paid or if the millers cannot pay them promptly, some form of stabilisation is established…to iron out the fluctuations,” the coalition’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger had also said.

Father on peace bond after hiding girlfriend’s money

– Magistrate questions lack of charges

A27-year-old male was placed on a bond to keep the peace for 18 months on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to playfully hiding his girlfriend’s money.

The defendant, Nigel Wiltshire pleaded guilty before Magistrate Alex Moore when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of simple larceny. The facts of the case stated that the defendant took $45,000 from his girlfriend, Shelon Chester on March 30 at 62 First Street Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

Chester was also charged for unlawfully assaulting Wiltshire as it is alleged that she pulled a knife on him on the same day.

Wiltshire told the court that he took his girlfriend’s money to punish her as she had been cussing him out about his money she thought

he had wasted the night before. The defendant stated that he simply was trying to teach her a lesson and he did give the money back to her on four separate occasions, but took it again each time because she kept ragging him about his flaws.

The defendant stated that on the last occasion when he attempted to give it back to her, she fought him and they ended up in the bedroom where she cuffed him and he pretended as though he was going to stomp her in the face after she had fallen to the ground.

Wiltshire insisted that he was just horsing around, adding that he was not trying to harm her. He said that it is a normal occurrence for her to pretend to be hurt and when she cried out after falling to the ground, he thought nothing of it.

He later admitted to putting his foot in her face as

if he was about to stomp on her. He said it was at this point that Chester reaching for the knife, and seeing this he ran out of the house and went to the nearest Police station to report the incident.

However, Wiltshire said he no longer wished to pursue the case against Chester and withdrawn his case.

The Virtual Complainant (VC), on the other hand, continued with her case against Wiltshire citing several cases where he had beat her, indicating that she was fed up of it.

She told the court that the $45,000 was ‘box money’ for her workmates at Qualfon where she is employed as a Customer Service Representative (CSR). She stated that it was her turn to throw box that day so she was on her way to work when her boyfriend took the money and started to play the fool.

Chester continued that her boyfriend makes it a practice to beat on her, sharing one case when he had swollen her eye. She told the court that she had informed the Police Officers of this when she made her report, however, only a charge of theft was levied against Wiltshire.

Magistrate Moore showed his surprise at this as the VC had made claims of assault by the defendant and the defendant had admitted to such but charges of such were not recorded against the defendant. He expressed his concern that such complaints was not taken seriously by the Police, particularly since domestic violence matters are serious in nature.

Nevertheless, Magistrate Moore placed the defendant on an 18-month bond to keep the peace or risk being imprisoned for five months if breached.

Eyew tness

Averting disaster...

...on polling day

We hope GECOM will take the issue of the Disciplined Services votes – raised by the PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee – seriously. Because this is serious business that could have serious repercussions for peace in post elections Guyana.

First of all, it's the Disciplined Forces we're talking about – the Army, Police, Coast Guards, Prison Service. These are the folks charged with taking care of the security of the nation – including (and may ESPECIALLY) at elections time.

But these worthies are also citizens – with the right to vote for the party of their choice. So how'd they keep order on Elections Day and yet exercise their franchise?? Well, they get to vote a week before the rest of us – at locations connected with their work – not at the polling districts where they were registered. The problem that arises is these individuals – or some of them – could later vote for a second time with the rest of the populace at their place of registration.

And why not?? They'd have a week to erase the "indelible" ink – and some may even have polling clerks who'd wink at their "double dipping". And why is it only the PPP/C's concerned and not the Opposition??

Well, back in the day, the votes of the Disciplined Forces were announced separately and not thrown into the general count. And guess what?? The PNC would routinely scoop up more than 90 per cent of that vote! And we're talking about enough votes to deliver more than one seat! Not to be sneered at!

Seems to this Eyewitness that the way to go is what's done in Trinidad where their Disciplined Forces also vote a week earlier along with other "Special Electors". First there's a list of the Special Electors made, which is made available to all stakeholders for "inspection".

The inspected list is then sent to the Offices where the Special Electors originally registered. There, the names are REMOVED from the general list of electors and placed in a special binder – in case of questions. Like if a Disciplined Forces elector decides to show up and demand to vote.

If not the above, at the very minimum, GECOM should reveal to the nation what measures they have in place to address the very real fears that exist in the populace of electoral hanky-panky in the works.

The list is already conceded to be top heavy with dead bodies, emigrated bodies and maybe duplicated bodies.

Let's not give provocateurs out there a chance to create trouble on May 12. Or Whenever!

...with manufactured "facts"

You'd think the letters columns would be off limits to the propagandists of the Opposition – even in their own newspapers. But not to the Muckraker and its Editor Adam Harris. One fellow wrote complaining that Harris interjected when Jagdeo made a point about the "two ballot box martyrs" killed by the GDF back in 1973, Adam insisted that THREE persons were killed not two.

As an addendum to the letter, Harris once again made the assertion – but this time more specifically that a "Policeman" had been killed at some "toll gate" by an "unruly and violent" crowd.

Now it's clear Harris has been bitch-slapped so many times by his boss Glenn Lall, that he's gotten "bassidy". Harris cunningly wants to suggest that the killings at 63 Village were also provoked by a "violent and unruly crowd".

Actually, a Policeman's rifle accidentally discharged in a scuffle, killing the civilian driver of a vehicle commandeered by the Police to cart them around on elections day to collect ballot boxes.

At Reliance Canje – not no "toll gate"! Or does Harris want to blame the Policeman?

...on identity

David Hinds tries to obfuscate the issue on Nagamootoo's "I am not an Indian" declaration. He doesn't care that AFC is now "dead meat". He's petrified that the 11 per cent to APNU "gone fuh channa"!! Ow me laaawd!!

Republic Bank to acquire Royal Bank of Canada’s Suriname subsidiary

Republic Bank Limited (RBL) on Wednesday announced plans to acquire Royal Bank of Canada’s Suriname operations from RBC Financial Caribbean Limited, through the purchase of Royal Overseas Holdings St Lucia Limited, at an estimated cost of US$39.8 million.

In a release, RBL said a Share Purchase Agreement, executed Monday, signalled the commencement of the transaction, which was subject to all regulatory and other customary approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed in the coming months.

In making the announcement, RBL Managing Director David Dulal-Whiteway said that this acquisition fitted in perfectly with the Bank’s regional expansion strategy and once completed, will increase RBL’s footprint in the Caribbean to eight territories.

Canada’s largest bank in contrast has been pulling out of some of its operations in

RBL Managing Director David Dulal-Whiteway

the Caribbean Region. The Financial Times reported that early last year, RBC agreed to sell its Jamaican operations to Sagicor Group Jamaica Ltd. It also said in November it was shutting down its international client wealth management business in the Caribbean.

Attractive investment

According to DulalWhiteway, “As a Caribbeanbased bank, we are always

on the lookout for opportunities in the Region. Suriname’s diverse and stable economy makes it an attractive investment territory and one that we have been desirous of entering since 2012. We view this opportunity to acquire Suriname’s third largest bank as a solid entry point into that market.”

RBC Royal Bank (Suriname) NV operates a sixbranch network with assets of approximately US$525 million (as at October 31, 2014) and an employee complement of 199 persons.

The transaction will be accretive to RBL shareholders (adds to earnings per share) and upon completion of the acquisition, Republic Bank intends to rebrand the newly-acquired subsidiary in Suriname. By drawing on its proven track record of adding value to the markets it enters through the enhancement of customer experience, Republic will make available to the Surinamese market a

wide array of products and services, as well as access to its wealth of banking expertise. This includes commercial and retail as well as merchant and corporate banking.

RBC Caribbean Banking Head Rob Johnston said, “Following a thorough and careful review of RBC’s Suriname operations, we concluded that the best decision for the long-term future success of the operations was to

sell it to a strategic buyer with interest in building a presence in Suriname. Republic Bank, which also has operations in neighbouring Guyana, is exactly such a partner.”

RBL is one of the largest and most successful independent commercial banks in the English-speaking Caribbean, having served the Region for 177 years. Today, the Republic Bank Group operates 70 branches, with an approximate staff complement across the Region of 4100 people.

The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange listed company as of September 30, 2014, had assets of US$9.4 billion, with equity at US$1.4 billion and profits attributable to shareholders for the year ended September 30, 2014, of US$189.1 million.

According to Reuters, Canada’s largest bank DulalWhiteway added, “We are excited about the prospect of this acquisition as we work toward achieving our vision as the Caribbean financial institution of choice. We look forward to partnering with the team in Suriname, using our successful business model that relies on the local knowledge supported by well-trained employees, effective policies, processes and governance structures, to deliver excellence in customer satisfaction, employee engagement and social responsibility, while building successful societies.”

Bogus cops reportedly confess to Sterling, GGMC Engineer's murders

– but not Crum-Ewing’s

The bogus cops arrested by Police in a raid last Friday, Orin Arthur and Rayon Paddy, have reportedly confessed to murdering Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Engineer Trevor Abrams and Sterling Products security guard Wilfred Stewart after their gun and ammunition was linked to the murders.

At the time of their arrest, the men had 17 .223 live rounds of ammunition and 12 live .32 rounds of ammunition along with a quantity of cocaine and marijuana.

A senior Police rank told the Guyana Times on Wednesday that ballistic tests on the .32 pistol also recovered proved it was the same weapon used to kill Abrams in the vicinity of the

Demerara Distillers Limited a few weeks ago. Abrams was shot at least four times by occupants of a Carina 212 motor car moments after he left a commercial bank at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

It was reported that the young man was driving his silver grey Toyota Allion bearing registration number PSS 6855 when the Carina pulled up alongside him. Several gunshots were then heard. Abrams attempted to escape and accelerated away, but crashed into a utility pole and ended up in a nearby canal.

The other car disappeared. Moments after the car plunged into the trench, public-spirited citizens ran to Abrams’ rescue and managed to pull him from the submerged vehicle, but he

subsequently died. Tests also conducted on the .223 ammunition found on the men on Friday confirmed that it was the same type used to execute Sterling Products security guard Wilfred Stewart last December. The .223 ammunition is commonly used in M-15 rifles. The 45-year-old security guard of Graham’s Hall, East Coast Demerara, was shot a few times by armed men who invaded the Sterling Products Limited Compound. It was reported that about 10 men, all of whom, were

armed with high-powered rifles, stormed the compound through the front gate. But, according to a release from the Guyana Police Force, there were only three gunmen. Police said the men were able to locate a safe in the building, but were unable to open it and decided to leave empty-handed.

Hunt on for third man

The senior Police rank, added that the third man who escaped during the Police operation on Friday last at 21st Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara which nabbed the men might be in possession of the weapon.

The Police will continue to search for the man who is suspected to have links with other gangs.

The third murder the men are linked to is that of Victor Da Silva who was killed after the vehicle in which he and an East Coast Demerara businessman were travelling came under fire at Cowan and Water Streets in July last year.

Da Silva sustained at least four gunshot wounds to his stomach and died on the spot. The businessman managed to drive his vehicle into an alleyway between the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Companies (GTM) and Republic Bank, between Hincks and Robb streets, Georgetown.

After the car came to a halt in the alleyway, the businessman reportedly got out

and threw a bag containing an undisclosed sum of money over the bank’s fence. He subsequently collapsed as a result of his injuries. The source told the Guyana Times that one man had already been committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Da Silva.

On Monday, the bogus cops, who are in fact ex-Policemen, appeared on eight charges at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The Police will now have to secure

a body order for their release from prison to face new charges. These additional charges are expected to be instituted as early as possible.

Meanwhile, the Police source confirmed that the men were cleared of the execution-style killing of exGuyana Defence Force (GDF) rank, Courtney Crum-Ewing who was killed at Third Street, Diamond. Police are continuing their investigation into the murder of the father of three.

Greater investment needed to accelerate GuySuCo’s mechanisation plan – CEO

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Dr Rajendra Singh said future investments into the sugar industry will aid in the process of mechanisation.

Dr Singh was responding to a promise made by President Donald Ramotar that his Administration, after the May 11 Regional and General Elections, would pump additional funds into the industry for it to become more viable.

In recent years, the industry has been placed under the microscope due to its constant failure to deliver. Critics have condemned the sector’s ability to reach its yearly production target, and Government’s decision to invest in the multibillion-dollar Skeldon Factory, which they have now tagged a “white elephant.” Others have said that the new mechanisation process has failed to yield the intended results.

“There are still contentions with the cane cutters, who have to cut and load. When they cut the canes they have about five and a half loads. When they have to cut and load, they will have about two and a half loads.”

The GAWU President said while there are machines for this purpose, they were not sufficient. This inadequacy is preventing the cane harvesters from cutting more sugar cane, thus forcing a continuous decline in the yearly production.

Dr Singh, speaking to Guyana Times on Wednesday said there are a number of things in the sector that are in dire need of additional funding. He said should Government allocate additional funds to the sector; special focus will be placed on improving factory operations and machinery. The industry will also be seeking to further invest

in its human resources by training them to undertake newer technologies.

Asked about the progress of the mechanisation programme, Dr Singh said, it is progressing smoothly thus far, except that additional funds are needed for it to be expedited.

The mechanisation of the sugar industry was introduced by Government through the Agriculture Ministry to reduce the burden on sugar workers, particularly the bell loaders in the field.

Already, GuySuCo has taken a decision to utilise the majority of the $6 billion subvention approved in the

National Assembly to facilitate its ongoing mechanisation programme.

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand had recently told Guyana Times that while he was in full agreement with the President’s statement, if that should be realised, a greater percentage should go towards the acceleration of the mechanisation process.

GRA’s

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had already indicated that the conversion of land was critical to the mechanisation process.

In a prior interview with this publication, he had said that the corporation would be utilising some $1.3 billion to convert 2500 acres of land to accommodate mechanised operations.

That move, he said, would pave the way for the increased use of bell cane loaders in the harvesting of sugar cane and other machinery.

The Agriculture Minister

had further pointed out that an additional $2.5 billion had been set aside to improve the operations of the seven sugar factories including Uitvlugt, Wales, Enmore, Blairmont, Albion, and Skeldon in this regard.

In an earlier interview, Dr Singh had said that high operational costs, among other things, have always been major stumbling blocks for the sugar industry.

He is, however, hoping that the industry’s efficiency rate will increase this year with the injection of the US$7.5 million provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

He said the loan, which was approved on December 11, 2014, will be completely utilised in the area of mechanisation.

According to the CDB, the loan will be used to reduce operational costs and simultaneously improve mechanisation.

GuySuCo, in keeping with its 2013-2017 Strategic Plan, will continue to accelerate its mechanisation programme to cushion the impact of a dwindling labour force.

new Tax Centre opens at Diamond

Adelegation from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday commissioned the Authority’s new Tax Centre at the G3 Building, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and the media was also given a tour of the facility.

The visiting team included Deputy Commissioner of Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) Karen Chapman, Head of Operational Support Services Ingrid Griffith, and Assistant Commissioner of Integrated Regional Tax Office Lavina Walrond.

The new tax centre will facilitate taxpayers from Diamond and the adjoining communities, allowing them to submit their returns and access taxpayer services.

Chapman said taxpayers will be able to file Income, Property, Corporation and other tax returns, request compliance and apply for Mortgage Interest Relief

(MIR) and their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

She also noted that the only service that will not be offered at this time is the issuance of Drivers’ Licences;

fore the end of 2015. Meanwhile, Head of Operational Support Services, Ingrid Griffith, said the centre was established around this time, considering the statutory deadline which is April 30, for the submission of Individual Income, Property, Corporation and Capital Gains taxes. This facility will serve to reduce the need for taxpayers to travel to the GRA Headquarters in Georgetown to access services.

Taxpayers can also visit GRA Regional Offices at Parika in Region Three, New Amsterdam and Corriverton in Region Six, Bartica in Region Seven, Lethem in Region Nine and Linden in

however, GRA will be working to have this service offered at the Tax Centre be-

Region Ten to make their submissions.

thursday, april 2, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

PAC launches “It’s In Our Nature” campaign

– National Park carbon neutral

Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud with several members of various environmental organisations

The Natural Resources Ministry with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) launched “It’s In Our Nature” cam-

paign on Saturday. This campaign was initiated with the intention of raising more awareness on the importance of nature, the environ-

ment and urged more action by saving power.

Quite fittingly, the campaign was launched by the Director of the PAC, Damien

20-tonne sand truck destroys Eastville Bridge

Residents of the Eastville Housing Scheme at Annandale, East Coast Demerara will now have to make do with a temporary makeshift structure after the bridge to the community collapsed under the weight of a loaded 20-tonne sand truck as it attempted to cross over the structure.

The incident occurred around 10:00h on Wednesday.

According to reports, the wooden bridge was not very sturdy and logically could not have accommodated the heavy truck. As the vehicle was crossing the bridge, it gradually gave way.

There were no reported injuries, and the truck also

did not end up in the canal.

Residents have put together a makeshift bridge for pedestrians only, but it was unclear how vehicles will now access the community.

Reports reaching the Guyana Times stated that the Public Works Ministry has assured that moves were afoot to build a new bridge.

Alcoholic husband released on self bail

– has until April 21 to join rehab

Aman made his second appearance before Magistrate Alex Moore on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts facing charges of assault.

Asif Rohamon of 216 Coldingen, East Coast Demerara pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on March 27, he unlawfully assaulted the Virtual Complainant (VC) Chandrawatie Ramjeet in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market, Georgetown. According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Garnette, the VC is the defendant’s reputed wife and

on the day in question, the defendant approached the woman in front of a stall at the market and dealt her several slaps. The woman made a report and the man was later taken into Police custody.

Speaking in his own defence, Rohamon voiced his remorse stating that on the day in question he was under the influence of alcohol. He also requested bail stating that it is his second appearance before the court and that the VC has failed to make an appearance thus far. The prosecution did not object to bail stating that while the man had previous-

Fernandes in the presence of Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud, at the Global Earth Hour observance at the National Park, Georgetown.

Fernandes told the many young people present at the Earth Hour observance that the campaign was created to raise awareness of the many aspects of what’s nature to Guyanese. The PAC Director mentioned the Kaieteur Falls, the Botanical Gardens and the gifts that nature has given to Guyana.

He stated that it is in every Guyanese’s nature to protect the environment as it is important to our own survival. Celebrating Guyana’s heritage is also “in our nature” too, the Director stated, as well as the need to continuously change the world for the better.

Fernandes said that the need to take these ideal actions can be done too as everyone makes their own carbon footprint that contributes to the overall results of climate change on Guyana and the world at large. Thus “wanting a low carbon lifestyle and supporting a low carbon footprint is in our nature.”

The environment enthusiast told those gathered at the observance that the National Park for instance, has been carbon neutral for over a year now. He explained this to mean that the park no longer depends on electricity to power its lights and other power needed activities. He said that the park has been producing solar energy, and like a proud father, he announced that even so the park still uses far less of the energy it produces.

Minister Persaud an-

nounced that such strategies to cut back on carbon emissions have been underway in Guyana for some time, mentioning some of the country’s successes. He said Guyana is fast becoming a country known for its strong commitment and action against climate change and this should be continued through young people.

The Minister continued that this has been acknowledged

It was mostly propagated by all that everyone can do something to “change climate change.”

This was personified more than anything else in a game that was created by the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN). It is called the Carbon Footprint Game where truth and false were used to signal how much carbon footprints a particu-

both regionally and internationally.

Meanwhile, Aiesha Williams, Head of the World Wildlife Fund (Guyana) explained the initiative behind the Earth Hour. She explained that the on this hour – Earth Hour on Saturday – countries around the world commit to reducing their carbon footprint thus the 60+ insignia, minus the plus, indicating that the commitment should be translated to action beyond the 60 minutes in the hour of observance.

The event was attended by several environmental organisations in Guyana that took part in evoking messages of cutting back on their carbon emissions.

larly person may be contributing to the atmosphere. It was quite a humorous game, as it captivated the attention of the audience, highlighting how the simplest things, such as leaving the water boiling for too long can be dangerous to the climate.

With this, several other young people came forward to continue this message of saving the power and “Putting Your Carbon Footprint Forward.” Gordon Scott from the CYEN said that it was important that such conversations continue until a sure strategy can be manifested that can address the problem of climate change.

Granger shares kites to children of Friendship

ly pleaded not guilty, he was under the influence of alcohol at the time which made his statement discreditable.

The Magistrate informed the defendant that he would release him on the condition that he enters an alcohol anonymous (AA) rehabilitation programme on or before April 21 as his wife (the VC) had informed the Prosecutor that the man frequently behaves in that manner after imbibing alcohol.

He was also made to sign a recognisance document which stated that failure to join the AA programme will result in three months imprisonment.

More than 100 children of the Friendship/ Buxton community on the East Coast of Demerara on Tuesday received kites from Leader of the People’s

National Congress Reform (PNCR), David Granger.

While encouraging the children to fly their kites safely, Brigadier Granger also reminded the children that the tradition of kite fly-

ing during Easter signifies the resurrection of Jesus Christ after the Crucifixion. The event was organised by Friendship businessman Morris

and his wife,

Dr Luncheon says not ready to retire

Although fully aware of his poor health, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said he is ready and willing to serve many more terms as the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, if he is allowed.

“I am aware of my limitations but I can serve five more years, or 10 more years, if the ‘big man’ allows,” Dr Luncheon said.

In September last year, Dr Luncheon was preparing for his retirement, but the move by the political Opposition to table and pass a No-Confidence Motion against the government forced him to delay those plans. But speaking to media operatives after his post-

cabinet press briefing on Wednesday at the Office of

the President, Dr Luncheon indicated that he will not let his health get in the way of his job.

Dr Luncheon had announced sometime ago that he was diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer and had opted not to have treatment administered.

Gastrointestinal cancer is referred to malignant conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs of digestion, including the esophagus, stomach and biliary system.

Meanwhile, in addition to being the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Luncheon heads the Defence Board and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Break and enter suspect remanded

Aman appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh on Wednesday facing charges of breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony.

Earl Jerome, 41, of 3671 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charges which read that on October 30, 2014 he unlawfully entered the home of the Virtual Complainant (VC) Gloria Peters and physically assaulted her.

Peters, 69, of 3669 North Ruimveldt, told the court that she has known the defendant for over 39 years and they had never had any altercations prior to this incident. In a sworn statement the VC said that on the day in question she secured her home at around 21:00h and retired in her living room to watch television. She said at around 01:30h the following morning, she awoke to

the sound of voices on the road which she identified as Jerome and his friends. She said that she then resettled into her living room to read her bible and sometime later she heard her dogs barking at the backdoor but failed to investigate what was the cause, as it is customary for dogs to behave in that manner at night.

The woman then reported that sometime later awoke to the feeling of something at her throat and discovered Jerome holding a knife to her neck. “I ask him what he was doing in my house and he told me to shut my ******* mouth. He then put down the knife and start to choke me”, the elderly woman told the court. She said after choking her the man proceeded to physically assault her by hitting her and shoving her into walls. She explained that her fear grew when he dragged her

into her bedroom and threw her on the bed and then left, presumably to go retrieve his weapon.

The woman continued by telling the court that when he left she rushed to the window and raised an alarm, screaming “Murder! Murder! Earl in meh house” after which she heard footsteps rushing down her stairwell. She said she called the Police but got no response, however, sometime later a Police patrol arrived at the scene after someone in the neighbourhood had notified lawenforecement of the woman’s screams for help.

When ranks arrived at the scene, the woman was on her veranda shouting for help and her face and neck bore marks of violence.

Officer Colwin Major who arrived on the scene testified that upon investigating the premise, he discovered

East Coast Demerara man

before court for multiple counts of fraud

Aman appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face charges of fraudulent conversion.

Zamalodeen Khan of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara pleaded not guilty to the charges which read that on September 15, 2013 at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, he obtained $150,000 from Sugrim Chandat under false pretense. According to the prosecution, on the day in question, Khan received the sum of cash from Chandat for the purpose of purchasing a 35X motor tractor which he was instructed to deliver to the individual.

It was further explained that Khan converted the money to his own personal

use and after the defendant failed to deliver the tractor, a complaint was lodged with the Police. The man was placed on $100,000 bail and the matter was transferred to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court for April 8.

Khan also appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh facing similar charges. It was alleged that on March 16, he obtained from Bibi Shaw, who lives at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, a sum of $600,000 which she entrusted to Khan for the purchase of a canter truck.

Upon receiving the money, the man failed to contact the woman or provide any sort of feedback. It was only after the woman took matters into her own hands that she located the fraudster and contacted

the Police. The man was arrested and detained at the Sparendaam Police Station. The Magistrate placed the man on $125,000 bail and he is to return to court on April 22 for statements.

Speaking to Guyana Times, Shaw related that in total, the defendant defrauded her of $750,000; however the difference of $150,000 was being dealt with at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

She said upon inquiry, it was discovered that it is not the first time the man has been involved in such activities.

During investigations it was also discovered that the man had in his possession documentation bearing false addresses which he uses when conducting fraudulent activities.

Applications open for 2015 Youth Ambassadors Programme

The United States Embassy has announced the opening of applications for the 2015 Youth Ambassadors Programme (YAP) with the Caribbean.

that someone had removed the light bulbs from the woman’s downstairs apartment prior to the incident. He also noted that the backdoor had been pried open using two pieces of steel rods which were left on scene.

Finally, the officer reported that they had retrieved the knife used by the woman’s assailant. After taking statements from the woman and having a medical examination done, the woman returned to her home fearful for her life.

The defendant was taken into custody of January 27 and Police Officers informed him of the allegations which he denied. Jerome chose to represent himself in court and proceeded to cross-examine the VC. He then requested bail which Prosecutor Adduni Innis objected to. The man was remanded to prison until April 14.

YAP is a three-week cultural and leadership exchange programme for public secondary school student leaders to visit the United States. Through the exchange, participants will develop their leadership skills, strengthen their ability to serve their communities; and foster relationships and mutual understanding among youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups and create networks of youth leaders in the Western Hemisphere.

Under the theme, “Youth and Social Transformation”, the Embassy said in a press statement, the 2015 programme will see approximately 40 secondary school students and adult educators from six countries in the Caribbean Region participating. In Guyana, four youths and one adult will be selected to participate in the programme from August 8 to August 29.

During their exchange, participants from

the Region will travel to Brattleboro, Vermont and Washington, DC. Their exchange will focus on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development through site meetings; experiential learning activities; leadership trainings; civic participation at the community level; mentoring by community, business and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) leaders; volunteer programmes; and home stays with American families.

The adult participants will have special sessions with their peers designed to help foster leadership and civic education programmes at home. Afterwards, students will develop and implement projects that serve the needs of their communities in the months that follow their return home.

To date, 23 students and five mentors have participated in the YAP for Guyana since September 2012. All interested students and mentors are encouraged to visit the US Embassy website at http:// georgetown.usembassy. gov/yap.html for more information and applications.

APNU’s “dirty” voters list allegation aimed at attracting military support from NY

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon has sponded to concerns by the PNC-led A Partnership of National Unity (APNU) regarding the Voters' List pointing out that the declaration that the list was “dirty” was only made in New York where a large number of former military personnel reside.

Dr Luncheon explained that prior to the allegation in New York, no one from the party ever raised concerns about the list.

“We see this more sinisterly at Cabinet because he did not raise this matter in Georgetown (or in Guyana)… He raised it in NY of all places,” he noted.

According to Dr Luncheon, New York is home to a significant amount of the “appreciative audience”, fundraisers, and an “endless” number of former members of the disciplinary forces.

“Colloquially, if I were to try a thing, I wudda go there too to try a thing…,” he expressed.

Dr Luncheon, who is also the Secretary of the Defence Board, had initially sounded an alarm about the military dominated Opposition.

According to him, his un-

easiness reverts to the state of affairs during Burnham era.

Dr Luncheon questioned the possibility of history repeating itself if the PNC-led coalition gets into power.

Moreover, in reiterating what was previously mentioned by officials of the Government, members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the Guyana Elections Commission (GEOCM), Dr Luncheon indicated that it is suspicious that the APNU is only now raising these concerns.

“After endless rounds

of continuous registration and claims and objections and supported biometrics, this allegation of a padded voters list seems like some type of electoral ploy, particularly because it has been raised at this point,” Dr Luncheon contended.

He also argued that, to this knowledge, the APNU members on the representation body never raised any concerns about the voters list being fraudulent.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee recently contended that the APNU/AFC coalition lead-

er had bad timing, since the Claims and Objections period has already come to an end. More than that, he said Granger did not lay out the specifics of the list he has an issue with.

“Rather than hiding under the fig leaf of false statements and hasty generalisation, Granger should come clean and be specific as to exactly what his concerns are regarding the authenticity of the list. He should make his concerns known publicly regarding the voters list, providing that the concerns are legitimate,” Rohee challenged.

He said the PNC-led

APNU had consistently expressed its satisfaction with the way things were progressing and more often than not showered praises on GECOM for its high degree of professionalism. He said the sudden surge of concern could be a clear in-

dication of the defeat envisaged by the party at the upcoming May 11 polls.

This point was also made by the former President Bharrat Jagdeo who asserted that the Opposition was making excuses in the event it loses the elections.

GECOM Chairman,

Dr Steve Surujbally in responding to Granger’s comments had said there was no “dirty” list, noting too that all the while, Granger and the Opposition have been singing the praises of the Commission.

“We met over the past months and even though they had the list in their possession, they never once raised any questions or queried anything,” Surujbally contended.

Meanwhile, according to Granger, the list has increased by more than 100,000 and this was alarming, given the fact that statistics have shown that the population in Guyana has been dropping over the years. “Do not take things for granted. Do not be complacent. The list has suddenly gone up by 100,000 to 567,000.

Keep your eyes open. We do not believe in that. How in three years in a country in which the population is falling, the voters’ list has gone up by a hundred thousand?” he asked.

However, analysts have justified the integrity of the list by pointing out that the population decrease can be owed to fewer persons giving birth and the list increase be owed to longer life-expectancy.

GT&T rolls out faster speed Internet service … says talks ongoing to increase spectrum

By Vahnu Manikchand

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has introduced its “blasting” high-speed Internet service, which will be offered at no cost to existing customers and at a steal to new customers.

On Wednesday, GT&T rolled out its new project Internet service that will see customers getting increased Internet speed. According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Radha Krishna Sharma, GT&T is focused on providing enhanced value for customers at every chance available.

He noted that the vision behind this project was to provide high quality service to customers and ensure that they get value for their money. He also stated that the company is trying to create such a place for itself in the market so that other service providers will not be able to compete with GT&T. “We conceptualised this project and it has at its core, enhanced speed for our Internet customers and the re-examination of our pricing model... Through this project, our residential and business custom-

ers can now receive an enhanced Internet speed of up to 10 megs (Megabytes). I can say this without any fear of contradiction, it is the fastest and most affordable Internet in Guyana,” the CEO outlined.

He explained that this upgraded service will be available to approximately 70 to 75 per cent of the company’s data customers across the country. He noted that the small per cent are being left out due to some network constraints that prohibit the company from

delivering enhanced speed in some areas. Nevertheless, he stated that in order not to leave out any of their customers in this new initiative, instead of high-speed Internet service, GT&T will be reducing the cost of the service from $7000 to $2999. Meanwhile, the upgrade Internet service comes in three categories. The residential bronze plan has been enhanced to 1.5Mpbs for the same low cost of $4999; while the Residential Silver plan was upgraded to 5Mbps for the same

$9980. Additionally, the Residential Gold plan of up to 10Mbps is being offered for only $14,979. Customers with existing plans do not have to make any additional payments to get higher speed, the upgrade will be done automatically.

The project is being implemented in phases and was rolled out in Eccles Housing scheme on February 24. Then in March, the communities of Diamond/Grove, Nandy Park, Providence and Enterprise, were also

upgraded. It is expected that by the end of May, the high-speed Internet service will be available in Houston, Central Georgetown, Georgetown Sophia, South Ruimveldt, Beterverwagting (BV) West. With this new service being implemented, the due date for all customers has been standardised to the first of every month, however, there will be a 10day grace period.

Sharma continued that thus far, customers have been giving positive feedback about the new service, adding that by the end of this year most of Guyana will enjoy upgraded Internet speed. “GT&T is committed to being the best provider of information and communications services in Guyana –period. As we have seen around the world, access to high-speed Internet and advanced mobile communications is a substantial driver in the development of economies, improvement in the earning power of workers, advancement in education, and personal fulfillment of individuals through improved access to information, entertainment and social interaction with friends and family,” the CEO pointed out. On the other hand, questioned on the issue of

an upgraded mobile speed, Sharma stated that the company has the technical capability to offer 3G services should approval be granted in the immediate future. GT&T had applied to the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) for approval to upgrade to 3G. Sharma told the press conference at the high-speed Internet launch that the company is engaging the NFMU to get approval for the appropriate spectrum.

Currently GT&T is offering Internet services with the 2G spectrum, and the company’s CEO has pointed out that Guyana is way behind in the advancement of technology, since many of Guyana’s neighbouring countries and Caribbean countries have upgraded spectrum. “Naturally, we can’t do this indefinitely… our discussions are continuously (so) we are hoping that the process won’t be too long.” he stated. Sharman went onto explained that the company has had number engagements with the NFMU and progress is being made. In addition, the CEO has stated cable television is another service that the company is looking at offering sometime in the future.

Buhari will “spare no effort” to defeat Boko Haram

Nigerian presidential election winner Muhammadu Buhari has made his first address to the nation, saying that Boko Haram would soon know the strength of Nigerians’ collective will.

Results announced on Tuesday showed the 72-yearold defeated President Goodluck Jonathan in a win described by the United Nations as “testament to the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy”.

Speaking in the capital Abuja on Wednesday, Buhari said his Government would “spare no effort” to defeat the armed group.

“Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will and commitment to rid this nation of terror and bring back peace,” Buhari said in his first formal speech since winning the election.

“We should spare no effort. In tackling the insurgency, we have a tough and urgent job to do.”

Buhari also said that his Administration would not tolerate corruption, an issue outgoing Jonathan was widely criticised for.

The president-elect described Jonathan as “a great Nigerian” and said that the outgoing president “has nothing to fear from me”.

Buhari added: “Democracy and the rule of law will be established in the land.

“Let’s put the past behind us, especially the recent past. We must forget our old battles and past grievances and forge ahead.”

The margin of victory –Buhari received 15.4 million votes to Jonathan’s 13.3 million – was enough to prevent any legal challenge.

In an unprecedented step, Jonathan called Buhari on Tuesday to concede defeat and issued a statement urging his supporters to accept the result. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

London: Electrical fire causes mass evacuation

An electrical fire under the pavement in central London has led to some 2000 people being evacuated from nearby buildings and the cancellation of a number of West End shows.

Fire crews were called after smoke was seen coming out of an inspection cover on Kingsway, in Holborn, at 12:30 BST.

The Fire Service said it was waiting for the power to be turned off before it could put out the blaze.

Crews are working to prevent the fire spreading to buildings in the area.

Onlookers have report-

ed struggling to breathe and “chaos” in and around Holborn.

Shows at the Lyceum, Duchess and Aldwych theatres have been cancelled, London Theatre Direct said.

The Freemason’s Hall tweeted its “regrets” a Letters Live event starring Benedict Cumberbatch has had to be cancelled and Love Theatre tweeted that “The Woman In Black” and “Gypsy” had also been called off.

Earlier, judges, lawyers and other staff at The Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand, as well as buildings along Rose Street

Pakistan wants to become China’s newest superhighway to Europe

Over some of the world’s tallest peaks, across disputed terrain and through an insurgency that has killed more than 50,000 people lies what Pakistan hopes will be China’s newest route to Europe and beyond.

Pakistan and China will announce more than two dozen deals when President Xi Jinping visits this year, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said in an interview.

The 3000-kilometre economic corridor will start in China’s western region of Xinjiang and run to Gwadar, a Chinese-funded port on the Arabian Sea.

“For the first time China is going to become a strategic economic partner of

Pakistan,” Iqbal, who travelled to China last month, said on March 30 at his office in Islamabad. “Gwadar is the shortest link to Europe, Africa and Middle East,” he added, calling it “a very attractive proposition for China and for its competitiveness.”

The move represents a shift toward greater economic cooperation between Pakistan and China, which have long had close security ties amid common disputes with neighbouring India. The corridor would give China access to the Indian Ocean and lead to investments that would help ease power shortages that are hindering economic growth in Pakistan.

(Excerpt from Bloomberg)

Around the World

Turkish Police shoot two attackers outside Istanbul HQ – media

Turkish Police shot two attackers outside Istanbul’s Police headquarters on Wednesday, killing one of them and leaving two officers injured in an exchange of fire, local media reported.

Footage on the website of the Dogan news agency showed one person lying on the ground as Police vehicles sealed off the street in the Aksaray neighbourhood

of central Istanbul.

An official at the Police headquarters, reached by Reuters, confirmed that there had been an attack and that gunfire was heard outside the building, but declined to comment on any casualties, saying a statement would be made later.

The attack comes a day after two leftist militants took an Istanbul prosecutor hostage in his office. All

three died late on Tuesday after Police Special Forces stormed the building in an effort to release him.

Separately, Police detained a gunman on Wednesday who entered a suburban Istanbul office of the ruling AK party and hung from its window a Turkish flag with the emblem of a sword added to it.

(Reuters)

Iran nuclear talks drag past deadline as hurdles remain

The nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers have been extended beyond Tuesday midnight deadline in an effort to hammer out the outline of an agreement on curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme.

US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said on Tuesday that the extension was justified although “several difficult issues” still needed to be bridged.

and Garrick Street and the market building in Covent Garden were evacuated.

Matt Rudling, from UK Power Networks, said because of the intensity of the fire, emergency plans had kicked in which meant the pavement would have to be dug up.

UK Power Networks said it would be working over the next 12 to 24 hours to get the power put back on. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The decision came after six days of marathon efforts to reach a preliminary understanding by Tuesday midnight, drawing in Foreign Ministers from Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and Germany – collectively known as P5+1 – and Iran.

The Iranian Foreign Minister has said that he hopes to finalise on Wednesday a framework nuclear agreement with world powers.

“We have accomplished quite a bit, but people needed to get some rest and start

over early in the morning,” Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Wednesday.

“I hope that we can finalise the work on Wednesday and hopefully start the process of drafting [a final accord]” by the target date of June 30,” Zarif said as the marathon talks ended for the night.

His comments were echoed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who said that global powers had

reached an agreement in principle on “all key aspects” of the outlines of the nuclear deal.

“One can say with relative certainty that we at the minister level have reached an agreement in principle on all key aspects of the final settlement of this issue, which will be put on paper in the coming hours or perhaps within one day,” Russian news agency, Ria Novosti, quoted Lavrov as saying. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India, Canada likely to sign commercial nuclear pact

India and Canada are likely to sign a commercial pact for supply of Canadian fuel to India’s existing nuclear power plants during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to Ottawa next month.

The two nations had signed the civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2010 followed by the administrative arrangement

in 2012. Ever since then Canada’s principal uranium producer, Cameco, has been holding commercial negotiations with Indian entities for supplying uranium to fuel nuclear power plants.

Diplomatic sources said that negotiations could be concluded soon and a deal might be clinched during Modi’s Canada trip (April 14-16). The indication of the uranium supply from Canada came from the PM himself.

“We look forward to resuming our civil nuclear energy cooperation with Canada, especially for sourcing uranium fuel for our nuclear power plants,” Modi posted on Facebook last Saturday. He also pointed out that Canada

was the first country to have completed requirements for civil nuclear cooperation with India after New Delhi secured the waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in 2008.

Canada had backed the NSG decision to provide a clean NSG waiver for Delhi and has been keen to re-enter India’s nuclear market.

(Excerpt from Economic Times)

US Senator Robert Menendez indicted on corruption charges

Federal prosecutors indicted Democratic Senator Robert Menendez on corruption charges on Wednesday for allegedly using his Senate office to push the business interests of a friend and donor in exchange for gifts?, according to the Justice Department.

The case, brought by the Justice Department’s pub-

lic integrity unit, sets up a high-stakes battle between a New Jersey senator who has fought off investigations for years, and federal prosecutors and the FBI who have spent years pursuing him.

“Robert Menendez, a US senator, and Dr Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, were indicted today in connection with a bribery scheme in which

Menendez allegedly accepted gifts from Melgen in exchange for using the power of his Senate office to benefit Melgen’s financial and personal interests,” said Peter Carr, a Justice Department spokesman, in a statement.

The two were indicted in the district of New Jersey for one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the travel act, eight counts of bribery

and three counts of honest services fraud; Menendez was also charged with one count of making false statements, according to Carr’s statement.

After CNN reported on the pending charges, Menendez told reporters: “I have always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law. And I am not going anywhere.”?

(Excerpt from CNN)

thursday, april 2, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Dismembered body...

Woman was killed, limbs severed at home

– relatives stumble on blood trail

The dismembered body that was found at Annandale Seawall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) has been positively identified as 39-year-old Samantha Benjamin-Mc Ewan of Buxton Backdam, ECD.

The positive identification was made by relatives after they recognised a tattoo on the woman’s leg that had been severed from her body, as well as her hairstyle. The legs, along with the head and the rest of the body, were at a funeral home on Princes Street,

with looking after the poultry and repairing sections of the house.

On Tuesday, the woman’s husband, Deon Mc Ewan, reportedly contacted a relative to enquire about his wife, claiming that he had not heard from her in a while and thought that she was at her relatives at Beterverwagting, ECD.

However, no one there knew of the woman’s whereabouts. As a result, the relatives decided to visit the house where the woman stayed from time to time. Upon their arrival, they met the caretaker who initially claimed that he had not seen the woman in days.

Blood dripping from floor

While at the home, a nephew saw bloodstains under the house and thought that it was blood from plucked chickens, but after enquiring from neighbours, he was told that blood was seen dripping from the flooring a few days ago.

After receiving such information, they went back to the house and asked to check inside and the request was willingly granted. A cousin told the Guyana Times that when they entered the house, the door to

Georgetown.

Investigators believe that she was murdered at a house at Buxton Middle Walk, where she was last seen, because they found dried bloodstains in the home. They also believe that Benjamin-Mc Ewan, a US citizen who divided her time between her Guyanese homeland and the States, was dismembered there with an electrical saw and then dumped. The house is a stone’s throw away from where her body was discovered.

The house reportedly belonged to her father who passed away some time ago, but was being occupied by a cousin who subsequently left the country, but before doing so, charged a young man to take care of the premises. He was tasked

the woman’s bedroom was locked, so one of the young men climbed over the wall and saw a bunch of keys belonging to Benjamin-Mc Ewan.

This roused suspicion, but at that time the relatives did not believe that the caretaker would have committed such an act, since he was very cooperative.

The door was eventually opened and upon checking, they found spots of blood on a barrel in the room and as they opened it, they were greeted with a heavy stench. It was then they decided to visit the mortuary to view the then-unidentified body to ascertain if it were that of the businesswoman.

It took some time to get the location of the mortuary, and by then it was al-

ready late. The woman’s husband subsequently confided in a few friends who encouraged him to revisit the house but this time with the Police.

The caretaker was subsequently arrested for the murder of the businesswoman, but the motive remained unknown.

The cousin of the now dead woman also told the Guyana Times that two days after the body was discovered, Benjamin-Mc Ewan’s sister who resides in the United States received a text message from the woman’s phone believed to have been sent by the caretaker.

“The text message stated that ‘I am okay… not to worry…I am now doing repairs to the house and it should be done shortly’,” the cousin revealed. He said that the text message was sent to make it look as if the woman was still alive.

Benjamin-Mc Ewan’s phone was on Wednesday found in the suspect’s room and upon inspection, it was proved that the phone was in use and several text messages were sent to the woman’s relatives to make them believe that she was okay.

The suspect remains in custody as Police await the results of the post-mortem.

Relatives believe that the suspect had access to an electrical saw since he was repairing the house at the time the woman went missing.

Shock

An aunt of the now dead woman told the Guyana Times that she received a phone call on Tuesday evening about 21:00h from another relative informing her of the developments.

“I read the story in newspapers… I saw it on the television news, but at no time, I had in my mind that the body was that of my niece… it is gross… what kind of a person would commit such a gruesome act?” she said.

She immediately drove to the East Coast where she met relatives at the Vigilance Police Station and they all went to the mortuary where they identified the woman’s body. “This man and Samantha had no relationship… I don’t know what went wrong… what pushed him to do this…he was merely a caretaker.”

She added that the woman operated a stall in the Arcade on Water Street and whenever she was out of the country, she had someone running the business which was then overseen by her husband.

All the evidence is now pointing to the caretaker who has since denied having any involvement in the murder. Police are continuing their investigations.

Guyanese must learn from sister Commonwealth countries – Granger

Presidential Candidate of the People’s National Congress (PNC) – led A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, Brigadier David Granger has expressed satisfaction with the victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) party in Nigeria’s 2015 elections.

Brigadier Granger believes that this win by Nigeria and the January 2015 win of Maithripala Sirisena in Sri Lanka, signal the turning tide of change for Commonwealth countries, and the strengthening

of its democratic traditions. Brigadier Granger is urging all Guyanese to take note of these necessary changes in Guyana’s sister Commonwealth countries. He believes that Guyana is next in line to achieve a similar change that will occur when a new APNU+AFC Government is formed on Tuesday May 12, 2015. The APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate is calling on all Guyanese to act accordingly by voting solidly on May 11 for the APNU+AFC coalition, and to be vigilant for all of Guyana to secure victory at the upcoming polls.

World Bank loan injects billions into UG development

The University of Guyana (UG) is expected to undergo some massive developmental transformation under the World Bank Project which granted loans in excess of G$16 billion to fund the various projects.

This was revealed by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, who said that Cabinet already granted contracts for the projects.

The first contract is for the establishment of a Business Development Unit and Research Innovation Fund (RIF) on the University’s campus, to the

tune of G$34.3 million.

A Business Development Unit is concerned with building the capacity of practicing and aspiring entrepreneurs, through training in short courses.

A RIF is designed to advance the province’s research community’s capacity to develop innovations that can be commercialised and have an economic impact.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Wednesday via telephone, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Jacob Opadeyi said he welcomes these initiatives and expressed his satisfaction that

these facilities will definitely boost the standards of UG. In addition to those developments, the various faculties within the university will undergo rehabilitation works.

The procurement of contractors for civil works on the project amounts to G$1.16 billion.

The faculties to be rehabilitated are the faculties of Agriculture, Forestry, Technology, Natural Science and the School of Earth and Environmental Science.

Dr Opadeyi noted that the projects should be completed by January 2016.

2 caught with stolen items at Parfaite Harmonie

Two men, suspected to be a part of a gang that has been carrying out a series of break and enter and robberies in La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD), were arrested on Wednesday morning after being found with a collection of stolen items.

Troydon Rodney, 30, of Bagotsville, WBD and Julian Jones, 43, of Westminster, WBD, will make their court appearance today after a quantity of stolen articles was found in their possession. A third person, who was in

the house at the time the arrest, managed to escape.

Guyana Times understands that the officer-incharge of the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station had decided to stake out at nights in the company of other ranks, as part of his investigation into the robberies.

On Wednesday at about 08:00h, they received information and went to a house in the newly established housing scheme where they conducted a search during which several electric generators, microwaves and DVD players among other items were found.

Subsequently, a victim indentified one of the DVD players as hers. Her house was recently burglarised and millions of dollars in cash, jewellery, lap tops and other items were stolen. Based on investigations, the Police have instituted charges on the two men.

The Police are calling on persons in the neighbourhood to visit the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station to identify the other articles retrieved from the bandits. The Police are, however, continuing their patrols and stake out in the area.

NGSA off to smooth start Opposition blanks NCN elections debates

With some 15,200 students from both public and private schools from across Guyana sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations on Wednesday, there were mixed reactions about their performance.

The NGSA examination lasts for two days, during which primary students are assessed in four subject areas. On Wednesday, students wrote Papers One and Two in English Language and Science. Today, students will be writing Papers One and Two Mathematics and Social Studies.

Guyana Times caught up with some of the students after the exam on Wednesday to get their reactions. After the bell rang at 15:00h, students began pouring out of St Margret’s Primary School on Camp Street as anxious parents waited inside and outside of the compound. Akeem Green said that the examination was “fine”, noting that he had some problems with Science Paper Two.

Another student Shanaiya Phillips said that the exam was very easy and that

he noted. Then Shanayya Kingston stated that the examination was easy but noted it had “lil tricks”.

“You just had to use your mind,” she remarked confidently. Students from the St Angela’s Primary also spoke with this publication. Both Shanaiya Clarke and Andy Richardson said that the exam was fairly easy

tend best wishes to the 97 students who are sitting the NGSA examination.

The Minister said a prayer with the Latchmansingh Primary students before advising them to take their time and answer all the questions on the paper. Manickchand told this newspaper that from all indications, the im-

she also had issues with Science.

This newspaper also visited St Agnes Primary School on Church Street, where students expressed their preparedness for the final day. Shemar Ross said “it was a good exam, Paper Two Science give me some problems where you had to answer about soil but I didn’t get to answer it but tomorrow (today) I will be ready,” he said.

Messiah Long told Guyana Times that the examination was easy and he did not have any problems.

“I am ready for tomorrow, I have studied enough,”

and they are prepared for today’s examinations.

NGSA is a placement exam offered at the end of the primary cycle to determine which secondary school students will be placed. These candidates have already done the National Grade Four and Grade Two Assessments back in 2013 and 2011, respectively. Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) – Primary, Marcel Hutson, visited the Latchmansingh Primary School in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to ex-

plementation of the examination was running very smoothly across the country as there were no reports of any mishaps.

Minor hiccups

The Education Minister anticipates that the students’ performance this year will be better than last year. Results are expected to be announced on or before June 4.

Manickchand further pointed out that Guyana is doing better now than it ever has, with more students passing in every single subject area.

Over in Region Six (East

Berbice-Corentyne), St Theresa’s Primary in New Amsterdam had a shortage of the question papers for English Language. This newspaper was made to understand that the Examination Division of the Ministry of Education had dispatched a short supply to that school.

Regional Educational Officer of Region Six, Volika Jaikishun, was informed and immediately secured the additional papers for St Theresa’s Primary from other schools that had extras.

A total of 1919 students from 54 primary schools in the region had registered to write the examination, however, 1903 were present on the first day. This newspaper also spoke to some of the students in that region to get their reaction.

Elion Campbell of Cropper Primary said that he is hoping to be awarded a school in Georgetown when the results are out. “I want to go to Bishops or Queen’s College.” He added that if he is successful, he has been promised a trip to the USA as such he has been studying a lot.

Another student who hopes to make the school proud is Hamzah Mohabir whose favourite subject is English Language. He was very confident after the first examination saying that it was easy.

“Because I over came most of the questions… I was sure about all of the answers,” he said. Meanwhile, Junnella Sampson of Port Mourant Primary is aiming to be awarded a spot at President’s Collage. “English Language was easy because everything that came on the paper we covered already,” she said.

With no explanation given, the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition has abandoned a series of national presidential debates organised by the National Communications Network Inc (NCN).

According to a release from the state-owned media company, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Molly Hassan, had dispatched letters of invitation to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee and the APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger, among other stakeholders, to participate in the debates, which were scheduled to commence on April 1.

However, while Rohee and the other stakeholders indicated their interest in participating, the political Opposition failed to respond to the invitation. The NCN noted that it has extended similar invitations throughout the years to the major political parties, but the Opposition almost al-

ways ‘blanked’ the invitations. Aside from not participating or indicating their disinterest in the debates, the NCN said, the political Opposition would, on many occasions, provide little or no explanation as to why it declined to debate.

“As a matter of fact, during our 2012 debate series, the opposition began participating, but subsequently

pulled out without providing a reason for abandoning the greater part of the debate series,” the NCN said in a statement. Consequently, the NCN expressed its greatest disappointment with the APNUAFC for not responding to its invitation to participate in the debate series.

The town hall-style debate series is aimed at allowing the two main contesting political parties in the General and Regional Elections to ventilate their positions on several national issues, including the sugar and bauxite industries and crime and security.

The first debate, which was slated to be held at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, Berbice on April 1, was meant to deal with the future of the sugar industry. Participants, in-

cluding the Executive, the Opposition and civil society, would have been able to debate the issues and present ideas and plans for the health and well-being of the sectors, as well as the improvement of the state of security of Guyanese society.

Panellists would have also been given equal time to present arguments before a live audience comprising members of the public, some of whom would have had the opportunity to pose questions through a live and transparent lottery selection process.

Meanwhile, the Opposition is set to debate the PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar in a Private Sector Commission (PSC) organised debate.

This was confirmed by PSC Chairman Ramesh Persaud, who told this publication that both the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC coalition have responded indicating their interest in participating. It was again confirmed by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday. According to Dr Luncheon, the proposed debate between the both parties is a “go, go, go”.

No one should trust anyone who denies his ethnicity

Dear Editor,

I was hoping that at the APNU-AFC meeting at Whim, AFC Prime Ministerial candidate, Moses Nagamootoo would have laid out his 40year old plan to balance the ethnic makeup of the armed forces.

Moses as a PPP/C member laid the blame of the rigging of elections and the massacre of Indians at the doors of the Armed Forces and the x13 plan. The Armed Forces are recipients of tax payers’ money. Have these too become rear view mirror issues, subservient to your quest to become the Prime Minister?

Moses seems to enter into this “reality distortion field” and thinks Indians are transactions for him to profit from. Or will he come out after the election and spearhead a march to terrorize PPP/C supporters?

There is nothing radical about the AFC coalescing with the PNC. Ask Dr Rupert Roopnarine, he too was supposed to deliver votes to the PNC. The PNC/APNU is a repository where failed parties go to live out their nightmares. It is called the Kabaka/ Burnham curse, as Dr Walter Rodney said.

No one should trust anyone who denies his ethnicity because who knows what else he is ashamed of or hiding. Furthermore, Moses should not have accepted the GOPIO award and he should be brave enough to return it.

When Sam Hinds was selected to become the PPP/C

Prime Ministerial candidate, Moses threw a tantrum complaining that he was entitled to at least that position. Hinds has not only brought change to the PPP/C but has brought class and integrity to the office of the Prime Minister.

He is a giant of a statesman and has never used any cuss down language, as Moses is using on the campaign trail. Hinds should put his hands on Moses’ shoulders and blow some breeze on him.

My African friend from New Amsterdam emailed me and expressed her disappointment at the language Moses was using. She and her small child went to the meeting with the bus right after church. The child wanted to know why the old man was speaking so much about toilet paper.

At Whim, Moses criticized the PPP/C plan to modernize the sugar industry, but failed to disclose that he voted to have the funds invested in GuySuCo. He has on occasions called for the sugar industry to be closed down. What becomes of the sugar workers Grandpa Moses?

He is also calling on Indians in the rice industry to vote for a Guyanese and not the PPP/C Government. His theme song of “Dis time na lang time, dis na dey before time” is relevant because the rice industry is prospering without the PNC.

My father, a rice farmer from Black Bush Polder had his paddy seized by the PNC thugs while the paddy was in

transit. Rice farmers do not want their paddy seized again by PNC/APNU-AFC.

The rice farmers and millers have blown away the weevil infested PNC and will not vote for the PNC/APNU-AFC to re-infect their crops.

Moses dedicated the majority of his time on the lectern ‘cussing down’ the ex-President. Moses an ex-teacher, current MP and aspirant to the Prime Ministership should not sink to that kind of language.

Grandpa Moses should know better than using such nasty language. Grandpa Moses is frothing from both sides of his mouth with hate. We will be forced to rate his meetings as PG13 gatherings.

Some of the people at the meeting were taken by church buses to the meeting and should have called on the elder Moses to be more decent in his language. This is latrine politics the older man is preaching. Shame on you Moses! Is this the kind of change we should expect from you?

Moses has no legitimacy calling on Indians at Whim to vote for him. Zero percent of Indians should cast their votes for PNC/ APNU-AFC. My friends in Corentyne always warned me not to trust “Nagga” as we called Nagamootoo at New Amsterdam Freedom House. Leave no stone unturned. Let the cup run over!

Latchman Mohabir

Cannot see the wisdom in

Jamaica, TT not abolishing appeals to Privy Council

Dear Editor,

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and although only three countries (now four because Dominica joined six weeks ago) a large number of cases were filed and disposed of.

The regional court, which was inaugurated on April 16, 2005, is doing an excellent job according to a London based Barrister Edward Rooney.

The Guyanese born lawyer who has been following the activities of the regional court and has read all the decisions said that he is very impressed with the judgments/rulings both in its original and appellate jurisdictions.

He made reference to two cases – the Shanique Monique case in which the court in its original jurisdiction found that the Barbadian immigration authorities breached the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas when they denied entry of the young Jamaican woman. The Court also awarded damages to her.

The other case Rooney

was impressed with is an appeal from Barbados in which the President of the Court Sir Denis Byron made a scathing attack on Barbadian judges in the System Sales Ltd and Arletta Brown-Oxley case, in which he noted that it took 16 years for the Barbadian court to make a decision.

President Byron said that the inordinate delay has denied the parties their legal right for a fair and early trial.

However, the comments from the Head of the CCJ were criticized by one of the lawyers in the case, Queen’s Counsel Vernon Smith who said that the CCJ paid too much emphasis on the delay in delivering judgments, rather than dealing with the legal issues of the case.

He went further and made a rather unfortunate statement when he said that Barbados should have nothing to do with the CCJ.

It is rather unfortunate that so far only four jurisdictions have abolished appeals to the Privy Council and accepted the CCJ as the final

President Ramotar stands by his people

Dear Editor,

President Ramotar must be commended for speaking out for the sugar industry – the people who built this country of Guyana – at the anniversary ceremony for the 15 martyrs (sugar workers) slaughtered on March 13, 1913 at Rose Hall Estate, Berbice.

President Ramotar must be complimented for announcing that he intends to expend $20 billion in the sugar industry to ensure that the industry survives . This has happened at the very moment when the PNC is calling to close the sugar industry. From the first day the PNC got into control of the

country, their intentions were to get rid of the working people of the sugar industry because they were supporters of Jagan’s PPP.

It is of the greatest importance to make it public and bring out the truth as to what really took place on March 15.

The Burnham Government used up funds from GuySuCo to finance other sectors that had nothing to do with GuySuCo . Money was pumped into the bauxite industry and other Government run institutions, such as Police Force, military and others.

appellate court. Dominica has recently joined Guyana, Barbados and Belize.

However the CCJ serves all 13 jurisdictions in its original jurisdiction which interprets the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Statistics show that 98 applications have been filed to date and 88 have been disposed. It is surprising that 77 appeals have been filed and 62 disposed of. In its original jurisdiction 10 applications were presented and seven disposed.

I have said over and over I cannot see the wisdom in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago not abolishing appeals to the Privy Council when these two large countries were in the forefront two decades ago in encouraging countries to join the regional court.

Moreso, these two countries gained political independence 52 years ago. St Lucia is expected to join soon and the other OECS countries will soon follow.

Oscar Ramjeet

The PNC was determined to shutout the PPP by discrimination, especially against the sugar workers. And they are still at it. This is what brought down and nearly collapsed the sugar industry . The PNC closed four sugar factories where all of PPP supporters were working and living, which had a serious impact on their lives. I could remember well that Dr Roopnarine and Dr Rodney of the WPA had given their support to these sugar workers at times of needs.

I am again commending President Ramotar for speaking out vigorously and to have shown great support for, and interest in, the people who built Guyana.

S N Singh

The celebration of Ram Naumi in NY

Dear Editor, New York Guyanese Hindus celebrated the birth or appearance of their popular God, Lord Rama, last Saturday during the day and in the evening with special prayers in the dozens of Guyanese temples and in their homes in the greater New York metro area.

Temples were packed to capacity throughout the NY metro region with long lines of worshippers waiting to make offerings of fruits, clothing, and mohanbhog, lapsey and halwa.

The temples were colorfully decorated with flags, flickering lights, party favours, and balloons. The management of the buildings created a most appropriate appearance to celebrate the birth of the Lord over 5,000 years ago.

Lord Rama murti is richly adorned in the mandirs. The holy Ramayana is read in the temples for the occasion. Many observe a strict fast on this day as they did the preceding nine days for the Navratri festival that also concluded on Ram Naumi. Several temples also held Ramayana kathas during the

Navratri period. Ram Naumi and Navratri are extremely wonderful festivals with colorful ceremonies and rituals. As the pandits explained, they are highly inspiring and instructive. It was a solemn yet festive occasion with singing, drumming, and even some dancing.

Called Ram Naumi, the birthday of Lord Rama is one of the more popular festivals of Hindus, though not in the same category as Diwali or Phagwah. It is a national holiday in India where over 80 per cent of the population of 1.2 billion are Hindus.

Also called Rama Jayanthi, the festival culminates the fasting period of Hindus for the Spring called Navratri – one of the most auspicious periods for observant Hindus with large crowds thronging the mandirs for nine nights of religious observance.

Hindus view Shri Ram as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. They believe that when the evil forces were out to destroy the world, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama to save the world and to reestablish dharma – righteous life.

Who is not Guyanese...

By his new association

Moses should promptly return the GOPIO award awarded to him by India. It was awarded to outstanding Indians who have excelled worldwide. Was he still wandering in the desert and unaware when he accepted it?

If Moses knows Indians have paid a big price to survive culturally and politically in Guyana, his New York revelation at an APNU-AFC meeting that he is Guyanese and not Indian was an even bigger surprise.

But it may have been sincerely designed to reassure his predominantly African audience who are strongly opposed to any dreams of an Indian like him becoming President of what they consider their Black PNC alternative government. I believe he was attempting to reassure Africans he can be trusted to deliver for them.

In Granger’s absence, the Prime Minister becomes automatically elevated into the Presidency. The thought of this without any PNC leader above him is what most agi-

tates the PNC leadership and membership.

Without doubt slavery has directly impacted race definition and identity. On exiting one’s birth country into the diaspora, one’s true identity generally kicks into a new reality. Neither Europe, Africa or India have Whites, Blacks or Indians. When Europeans come to the New World they are automatically classified as whites. At home they may be Germans, Ashanti or Gujrati.

In the New World, whiteness brings privileges. Similarly continental Africans are automatically classified as Blacks (or whatever is the new term) in the New World. Their tribal identities become masked.

The Caribbean Indian identity is uniquely Indian as is the Chinese altogether Chinese. However, like the Amerindian they are vigorously pursued and regulated to become something else most alien to their original values.

Despite how and what his other countrymen have become - despite how the Indian aspires to remain culturally

Hence, the reason for the propitiation of Lord Rama. All of the temples in New York City hosted Ramayana katha. These were accompanied by bhajan and kirtan singing. People prayed to attain the final beatitude of life through intense devotion towards God invoking the name of Lord Rama for his blessings and protection. As one pandit explains it is not enough to celebrate the appearance of the Lord once a year. Instead, people should turn to the lord daily for salvation.

Hindus believe that chanting Lord Rama’s name removes all the devotee’s sins and brings prosperity to them. Lord Shri Rama fulfills the wishes and desires of his devotees.

Pious Hindus began fasting for Navratri on March 20 with the festival ending on March 28 with the celebration of the Lord’s birth. There were prayers in all of the mandirs on the occasion of Ram Naumi on midday on Saturday as well as in the evening and continuing into Sunday.

Vishnu Bisram

retentive others expect them to conform to another’s reality. External change is an imposition with full expectations of compliance. But the rights by jus soli (birthright) is a powerful determinant which completely validates the locus standi (legality) of everyone to be all they want to be. But even Moses has now become baptized and reborn to atone for the PNC’s original political sins. Like Freddie Kissoon, it would seem that Moses is now ashamed, to be Indian. It’s pitiful as it is regrettable.

Would Moses’ AFC still be able to deliver the 11 per cent votes of Indian promised to the PNC/APNU? Lose or win the AFC believes they are entitled to 12 seats by the unknown and mysterious leader of the joint list who decides their status as MPS.

Whose interest is the AFC and Moses now serving considering they were born in promise to provide the best alternative? And what about AFC ethnic impact, not Guyanese?

Vassan Ramracha

Kyle Mills retires from all Cricket Uefa urges Europe to outlaw 3rd-party player ownership

New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Mills has announced his retirement from all cricket, following his team-mate Daniel Vettori in departing the game after the World Cup. Mills, 36, was part of the squad in what was his third World Cup campaign, although he did not play a match.

He will leave the game second only to Vettori on New Zealand’s all-time oneday international wicket list, with 240 victims at 27.02 from his 170 appearances. He also played 19 Tests and collected 44 wickets at 33.02 and claimed 43 wickets from his 42 Twenty20 internationals.

“It’s been an honour and privilege to play cricket for my country over the past 14 years and I will miss it greatly,” Mills said. “However the time is right for me to step away from playing this great game and devote more time to my family who have sacrificed so much for me to keep playing the game I love.

“It’s important for me to acknowledge and thank the many coaches and mentors who have helped me along

the way - they’ve all helped me become a better player in some capacity, whether that was when I was playing cricket for HowickPakuranga as a youngster or playing for Auckland and New Zealand.

“There have been many good times and some tough times on the field over the years, but my best memories will be of the team camaraderie and having the time of my life playing cricket for my country with my mates.

I’m now looking forward to watching this exciting young New Zealand team over the

next few years and enjoying their ongoing success and achievements.”

Mills began his firstclass career for Auckland in 1998-99 and won his first New Zealand cap in the ODI format against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2001. The New Zealand coach, Mike Hesson, said Mills had been a fine bowler in the 50-over format especially for many years.

“It’s sometimes forgotten that over the course of his career Kyle has consistently been ranked in the top 10 ODI bowlers in the world

Tiger Woods practises at Augusta

ormer world num-

Fber one Tiger Woods played a practice round at Augusta as he continues to weigh up his chances of playing in this year’s Masters.

Woods, a four-time Masters champion, has yet to confirm if he will feature at next week’s event after struggling for form.

He is now ranked 104 in the world and has missed

the cut in the only two tournaments he has played this season.

Manager Mark Steinberg confirmed the American played 18 holes at the venue.

However, Steinberg has not revealed if Woods is any closer to reaching a decision about competing. He told ESPN: “Tiger clearly is working hard and he will advise as to when he is ready to play competitive-

ly.” Woods posted the worst score of his professional career earlier this year, with an 11-over-par 82 at the Phoenix Open.

He also withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open after just 11 holes last month.

However, he later wrote on his website: “When I think I’m ready, I’ll be back. I hope to be ready for the Masters.”

and for a long time held the top spot,” Hesson said. “To have the longevity that Kyle’s had takes an incredible work ethic and desire to represent your country.

“On top of what he’s achieved on the field, he’s also a fantastic bloke and a great team man. He’s a natural leader who did a superb job of captaining the side in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka last year and has brought a lot of passion to the group.”

David White, the New Zealand Cricket CEO, said it should not be forgotten that Mills also provided valuable contributions to the Test team from 2004 to 2009.

“Kyle has been a wonderful ODI player over a long period of time and, but for injury, would have played closer to 200 games for New Zealand,” White said. “However, what I’ll always remember Kyle for most was when he knocked over the England Test team’s top-order during his matchwinning spell at Hamilton in 2008 - dismissing in quick succession Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen.” (Cricinfo)

Uefa and world players’ union Fifpro have asked the European Commission to outlaw third-party player ownership.

They argue that businesses or funds owning the economic rights to players can be harmful and undermine football’s integrity.

A global ban on thirdparty ownership by the sport’s world governing body, Fifa, comes into effect on 1 May.

However, some Spanish and Portuguese clubs want to continue the practice and have already lodged a complaint.

It is understood Wednesday’s move by Uefa and Fifpro is designed to counteract that earlier complaint to the European Commission by the Spanish and Portuguese leagues.

Uefa president Michel Platini has likened thirdparty ownership to “slavery”.

And football’s European governing body has que -

ried the motives of “investment funds or generally unidentified, corporate entities” who might try to influence the transfer of players to increase their investments.

In a statement, Uefa said young and vulnerable players can be exploited, while clubs can also become financially unstable.

The statement read: “Uefa and Fifpro therefore call on the European Commission to investigate the practice of third-party ownership and to fully endorse Fifa’s decision to prohibit such arrangements.”

Third-party ownership is already banned in Britain. It was ended by the English Premier League at the start of the 2008-09 season, following the discovery that the economic rights of Argentine players Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano were owned by two offshore companies when they joined West Ham in 2006. (Cricinfo)

Miami Open: Serena Williams into semi-finals with 700th career win

Serena Williams won the 700th match of her career as she booked her place in the semi-finals of the Miami Open with victory over Germany’s Sabine Lisicki.

The 33-year-old American required three sets to beat 27th seed Lisicki 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 6-3 in the quarter-final tie.

Williams, who has won the last two events, will now face Simona Halep or Sloane Stephens in the last four.

She is the eighth player to win 700 WTA matches, although still well behind Martina Navratilova with 1,442.

The win for top seed Williams, who had been a doubt for Miami with a knee injury, elevated her record in the tournament to 71 wins, with just seven defeats.

Lisicki had a chance at set point in the first set, but she was unable to convert

and the 25-year-old was broken to send the set to a tiebreaker, which Williams won.

World number one Williams looked to be on her way when she broke Lisicki in the first game of the sec-

ond set, but the German fought back and dominated the rest of the set. However, Williams regained her concentration in the deciding set and sealed victory in just over two hours. (BBC Sport)

Sri Lanka Sports Minister urges Sangakkara to rethink retirement

Kumar Sangakkara has been implored to reconsider his retirement by Sri Lanka’s sports minister.

Sri Lanka’s sports minister has urged retiring batsman Kumar Sangakkara to play on for another year.

Sangakkara made his 404th and final one-day international appearance in Sri Lanka’s Cricket World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa last month.

Earlier in the tournament, he had made his-

tory by becoming the first man to score four successive centuries in ODIs as he bowed out in a rich vein of form.

Sangakkara plans to retire from Test matches later this year, but sports minister Navin Dissanayake has implored him to reconsider his decision after hiring an interim management team to “clean up” the cricket board.

“As sports minister, I humbly appeal to Kumar to reconsider and play for the country for at least one more year,” he said.

“I spoke with him in New Zealand during the World Cup.

“He was very disappointed and unhappy [with the administration] and now that there is a change, I think there is a possibility that he will change his mind.” (Digicel SportsMax)

Pique focused ahead of crucial period for Barca

Barcelona must ensure they remain focused as they enter a critical part of their season with three trophies on the line, says Gerard Pique.

Gerard Pique says Barcelona must remain focused as they head into a critical

Pakisan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez will undergo an official reassessment of his bowling action on April 9 in Chennai, along with Pakistan Women’s allrounder Javeria Khan. The PCB, in a release, said the date had been set by the ICC following a request by the board.

Hafeez, who was suspended from bowling in international cricket in December last year, had missed an earlier test (on February 6) due to a foot and calf injury, which had also ruled him out of the 2015 World Cup.

He was first reported while bowling for Lahore Lions in the Champions League T20 in September 2014, but that sanction did not apply to international cricket. The offspinner was reported again in November, during the

Murray reaches semis of Miami Open

Andy Murray fought back from a set down to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Open with victory over Dominic Thiem.

The third seed lost the opening set to Austria’s world number 36 Thiem, but rallied to secure a 3-6 6-4 6-1 win.

Murray, 27, will face Czech Tomas Berdych or Argentina’s Juan Monaco in the last four of the tournament.

Serena Williams won the 700th match of her career as she booked her place in the semi-finals with victory over Germany’s Sabine Lisicki.

Murray recovers from slow start

Murray had reached the quarter-final with Thiem after a landmark 500th career victory over Kevin Anderson in the last eight.

However, the Scot made a sluggish start in his first meeting with 21-year-old Thiem and dropped the first set.

In the second, Murray capitalised on a couple of unforced errors after Thiem had battled back from 3-0 down to level at 4-4 to close out the set.

The 2013 Wimbledon champion saw out the match

in emphatic fashion as he dropped just one game to secure his place in the last four.

Murray said his returning let him down early in the match before he pushed Thiem “back off the baseline” in the third set.

He told Sky Sports: “I was getting myself into break point positions and it is a fine line between going for winners and trying to finish the point and making your opponent play.

“Being a good match player is understanding when to go for your shots and when to back off a little bit.” (BBC Sport)

phase of the season, competing for trophies on three fronts.

Top of La Liga by four points from archrivals Real Madrid, Barca also have a UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain and the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao ahead of them in the coming months.

Luis Enrique’s side return to league action against Celta Vigo this weekend, and Pique knows it is imperative they pick up where they left off prior to the international break - having beaten Real in El Clasico to cement their place at the summit.

“The most important time is now,” Pique said. “We have a series of tough matches, including the Champions League quarter-final.

“We know it will be very hard and we’re going to need to perform at our best if we want to win titles.

“We have improved as a team as the season has progressed and we’re feeling very confident right now. We have learned from last season and have tried to improve things.

“Every month is decisive. We may not be able to win titles, but we can lose them. We have to go game by game, knowing that we can’t afford to drop points in the league and that the Champions League quarter-finals are of vital importance to the club.

“If we don’t win any trophies, all this hard work will have been for nothing.”

(Digicel SportsMax)

NBA

roundup… Lopez leads Nets to 8th seed

Brook Lopez had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets reclaimed sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference by beating the Indiana Pacers 111-106 on Tuesday night

first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. His action was found to be illegal in December and the ICC report said the analysis had shown that the flex for all his deliveries was above the 15-degree limit. He also failed to clear an unofficial test of his action in December at the Sri Ramachandra University, which is also the venue for the reassessment on April 9.

Javeria, who bowls offspin, was suspended due to an illegal action in July 2010. She last bowled for Pakistan in an international game in May 2010 and has since played as a specialist batsman. A PCB release stated that Javeria had “done a decent bit of work in remodeling her bowling action with the help of experts.” (Cricinfo)

for their season-high fourth straight victory.

The Nets moved back ahead of Boston and dealt a blow to the Pacers, who fell 1 1/2 games behind Brooklyn. They will visit the Celtics on Wednesday.

Joe Johnson added 21 points, including five straight after the Pacers got within three with about 2 minutes left. Alan Anderson scored 20.

Brooklyn won for the sixth time in seven games and claimed the tiebreaker with Indiana by winning the season series.

George Hill scored 28 points for the Pacers, who lost for the eighth time in 10 games.

Indiana starting guard

C.J. Miles, who averaged 27 points in his previous two games, sprained his right ankle in the first quarter and played just six minutes.

Spurs 95, Heat 81

Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points and Tony Parker added 16 in his 1,000th NBA

game, leading the Spurs to the road win.

Tim Duncan had 12 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which went 12-3 in March — the league’s secondbest record during the month behind only Golden State. Boris Diaw scored 11 points. Goran Dragic had 19 points and Dwyane Wade added 15 for Miami. Chris Andersen grabbed 10 rebounds.

San Antonio stayed No. 6 in the West, and could clinch a playoff berth Wednesday in Orlando.

The Heat remained in the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference race but now are two losses behind No. 6 Milwaukee and only a halfgame up on Brooklyn.

Pistons 105, Hawks 95 Andre Drummond had 22 points and 13 rebounds, powering Detroit to the victory.

Anthony Tolliver had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons (29-45), who have won five of six. Reggie Jackson collected 12 points and 11 assists despite being limited to four-minute stints in each of the last three quarters by an illness.

Tolliver made his eighth consecutive start in place of Greg Monroe, who is out with a right knee injury.

Thabo Sefolosha scored 19 points for Atlanta, while Al Horford had 16 on 8-of-11 shooting.

The Hawks (56-19), who have clinched the Eastern Conference’s top seed for the playoffs, have dropped two of three. (The Vancouver Sun)

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Breaking down the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight

Floyd Mayweather Jr is boxing’s best poundfor-pound fighter and also the highest paid athlete in the world, but he is also known for being a braggart with an outrageously ostentatious lifestyle. The man that Mayweather’s ‘Money Team’ see away from the public eye, however, is more than just boxing’s bling king.

From within Mayweather’s training camp, former British lightwelterweight champion Ashley Theophane describes someone at odds with his public persona; instead of self-absorption and obsession with wealth, he finds extreme hard-work and inspiration.

“Floyd’s worth so much money but he is still working so hard and it proves that what you put in, you get out,” 34-year-old Londoner Thephane said. “I’ve never seen a more hard-working champion than Floyd - and he’s also a nice guy. He’s always there ready to give some advice, always got time for a chat. The other day he finished working out and started asking me about my amateur career.”

Theophane is training alongside Mayweather, who is also his promoter, in Las Vegas ahead of his next fight on April 30. In the two years that he has been working with the American, he has never seen Mayweather, 38, as focused as he is on his long-awaited showdown with Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

Mayweather-Pacquiao will generate revenue upwards of $300 million (£203m) and the world welterweight title unification clash is the biggest fight in decades. Mayweather could earn a staggering $180m (£122m) from the blockbuster but Theophane, who has probably not earned $1m (£677,000) in his entire career, says the vast amount of lottery-numbers wealth banked and available has had no impact on the American’s hunger or workrate in the gym.

“I’ve been looking forward to this camp because I know that when Floyd is in the gym there’s going to be buzz about the place. When I watch him work it rubs off on you,” Theophane said. “It’s a privilege because I’m getting to see Floyd work up close and it is inspiring me to be the best that I can be. Floyd trains for two or three hours, has a shower, and then goes running for however many miles. It’s crazy what he does. I’ve never seen anyone work so hard in training.

“I usually go running with Floyd twice a week. He’s always focused but it seems he wants it more in this camp because it’s a fight that has been spoken about for so many years. He’s a funny guy too and likes to joke around, but you don’t always see that when the cameras are around.

“Being part of this camp is something I will be able to look back on and talk about in years to come, especially

as I’m the only British guy in with Mayweather.”

So, he’s hard-working and inspirational, but does Mayweather look like he is ready to reach his peak next month? “He’s already dropped three of his sparring partners,” Theophane recounts before addressing the speculation that they undefeated champion was floored by former world champion Zab Judah in the training ring. “Zab definitely did not put Floyd down,” he says. “Floyd got the better of the spar with Zab.”

“I’m going to be fighting at Palms Casino and Resort in Vegas on April 30, which will be great because there will be a lot of press in town that week for the big fight between Floyd and Manny,” Theophane says. “Hopefully it will mean my fight will get a bit more exposure because of it.

“I’m just waiting on an opponent now. There’s a former world champion in the mix and someone who has fought for the world title.

“Floyd told me last week while we were running that

He’s also going to get the better better of Pacquiao, Theophane insists, not least because Mayweather possesses a type of power that prompts his opponents to attack prematurely - a trait that has cost Pacquiao in the past.

“If Floyd was to catch him with one of those punches he could stop him,” the Londoner adds. “I think the first four rounds will be back and forth and then Floyd will take over, so I think it could be a wide points win or Floyd to stop him in the middle to late rounds.”

Away from the superfight training, Theophane has been told by Mayweather that he is on course to compete for a world title before the year is through, if he keeps on winning. The identity of his next opponenton that journey, however, has not yet been confirmed.

WICB blanks T&T

England and Australia visits to the Caribbean this year will see them play five Test matches, in two series but fans in T&T would not be able to see any of them at the Queen’s Park Oval, due to a technicality and poor communication.

Back in the day, when major Test playing nations came to the Caribbean, Portof-Spain was always a venue on the fixture, now, with so many world class facilities built around the region, as a legacy to the ICC 2007 World Cup, a bid process is now in place.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has asked that the bids come from respective governments in the re-

gion and not from their territorial cricket boards. As a result they did not entertain communication from the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) and as a result there would be no Test match at the Queen’s Park Oval.

CEO of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Suruj Ragoonath explained that the board had gotten a pledge from the government through the then minister of national security Gary Griffith, that they were willing to invest US$250,000 to stage the second match in the Australian series at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Speaking to the T&T Guardian Ragoonath said: “The WICB sent a document

to the TTCB to get the T&T Government to bid to host the second Test between West Indies and Australia. The bid, which was guaranteed by the government, was sent to the WICB via the TTCB.

The WICB later indicated that Jamaica would instead be the host as the bid was not sent directly by the T&T Government. By the time we got this information from the WICB it was too late to do anything further as Jamaica was already announced as the host.”

he’s going to get me a world title shot and it will come this year. A lot of the top guys at light-welterweight have moved up a division and that hopefully will create openings.

“There’s Adrien Broner at light-welterweight, and I think Danny Garcia will move up a division after his fight with Lamont Peterson. Me against Peterson would be a great fight, and I would choose him if I could to fight for the world title.”

In the short term, Theophane will settle for a win on the eve of his training partner’s big night - and perhaps an invitation to the main event.

“I’m hoping to get a ticket for the big fight,” Theophane admits. “Maybe if I put in a good performance in my next fight Floyd will get me a ticket as a reward!” (ESPN)

President of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath said that no bids went in for the England series. “The government did not send in any bids for the England series, so we decided to engage them to get a match for the Australian series, which was the bigger series.

“They got involved but in the end the time factor was not in our favour to get the Government to re-send their bid. I, however, want to thank them for their interest and hope to work closely with new Minister of Sport, Brent Sancho, in order to secure future matches in a timely manner.” (Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica will host the second match, while the first game of the series will take place in Dominica. The England series, which preceeds the Australian battle, will take place in Antigua, Grenada and Barbados.

Night games a natural fit for CPL, says Stewart

Caribbean Premier League commercial director, Jamie Stewart says the decision to return to primarily night fixtures for this year’s edition of the CPL was as a result of the unsuccessful trial of day games in last year’s tournament.

Organisers on Tuesday released the schedule for the June 20 to July 26 tournament, with just three of the 33 games being played during the day.

Last year, organisers experimented with several morning, midday and midafternoon games but had only lukewarm responses from spectators.

“I think it’s fair to say that we learnt that having too many day games is not the best idea and return to night cricket allows us from a position that it’s the biggest party in sport and it allows for everyone to bring the party at nights,” Stewart said here.

“CPL is really suited to night cricket where people

can knock off work and get together with their friends and go to the grounds and even watch it at home too.”

This year’s fixture features two midday games at Warner Park and another at Queen’s Park Oval. The bulk of matches have been carded for 6 pm with ten games scheduled for 4 pm starts but finishing under lights. Six games will be played

at 8 pm.

In addition to the return to night games which was a feature of the inaugural year in 2013, Stewart believes the tournament could be the best one staged yet, especially with the players that would be available.

“If you look at the player pool, we have the strongest that we’ve had so far in the CPL, the likes of (Lasith) Malinga and (Tillakaratne) Dilshan playing for the [Guyana Amazon] Warriors even Brad Hodge, the Big Bash player-of-the-year twice,” Stewart pointed out.

“People like (Shahid) Afridi in St Kitts, Mahela Jayawardene with Jamaica, Jacques Kallis playing in Trinidad, Kevin Pietersen this time playing the whole season with St Lucia, [this] will elevate the event.”

Defending champions Barbados Tridents will open the tournament with a clash against Guyana Amazon Warriors at Kensington Oval, in a repeat of last year’s final in St Kitts. (CMC)

Hamilton Mercedes deal could be worth £27m a year

World champion

Lewis Hamilton expects to sign a new Mercedes contract this week that could be worth more than £27m a year.

The 30-year-old Briton, who has been handling negotiations with team bosses himself, says talks are complete and the deal is being finalised by lawyers.

Hamilton said: “It should be done this week. There is no reason it shouldn’t.

“Honestly, it’s 99.6% done. There’s no negotiating left, it’s just legal stuff.”

BBC Sport has learned Hamilton, who joined Mercedes in 2013 after six years with McLaren, will earn about the same as he did under his first contract with the German team - a basic salary, paid in US dollars, of $31m (£20.9m) plus extensive bonuses.

Depending on how many races he wins, and whether he becomes world champion, these bonuses could easily take his annual earnings well over $40m (£27m).

The overall value of Hamilton’s deal is funda-

mentally similar to F1’s two other big earners and multiple champions, McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Alonso is being paid $40m a year by McLaren and Honda for the duration of the three-year deal he has signed, which runs until 2017.

Vettel will earn a one-off $50m (£33.7m) in his first season with Ferrari in 2015 but less after that, according to senior sources.

The figure for this season is high because the German secured a deal that, for one year only, he would have all possible bonuses he could earn guaranteed, as a kind of golden handshake for joining the team.

After 2015, Vettel will revert to a basic salary of about $30m (£20.4m), with bonuses defined for wins and championship titles, according to sources close to Ferrari.

Hamilton, who leads the championship by three points from Vettel after two races this season, said the German’s win for Ferrari in Malaysia on Sunday was

Annual Powerade road race set for Sunday

Banks DIH Limited, through its Powerade energy drink brand, has committed to sponsoring this Sunday’s 50-mile cycle road race on the West Demerara roadways for the fourth year in succession.

National coach and chief organiser of the race, Hassan Mohamed, on Wednesday confirmed the company’s sponsorship of the event, which will commence at 08:00h.

The race will start in

front of the Wales Police Station and proceed to Bushy Park, Parika, before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.

Last year’s race was won by Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds of Linden. Hinds clocked one hour, 56 minutes, 55 seconds. Michael Anthony topped the Junior category, while Talim Shaw and Ozia McUally were winners of the Veteran and Mountain Bike races respectively.

WICB hoping on cricket, not cash, to solve India impasse

The West Indies Cricket Board is hoping to negotiate a deal with the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) to have the controversial US$42 million claim repaid in matches and not cash.

WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead said Tuesday the board would send a delegation to India with the main objective of negotiating a settlement which would be amicable, and would satisfy all parties.

a reminder that Mercedes would not have things their own way this year.

“It has given us a pinch to suggest, ‘Oh, OK, we’ve got a race on our hands,’” he said.

“We’re a racing team, and we will be quicker in the next race. We’ll manage; we’ll be absolutely fine.

“Ferrari are too close to us in the championship, so we’ll work very hard to analyse what we learned and apply it so it doesn’t happen again at the next race.”

Hamilton said that after Vettel’s victory, his thoughts turned to Alonso, who left Ferrari at the end of last season after losing faith that they could provide him with a competitive car. Last season was Ferrari’s least successful for 21 years.

Vettel was only able to join Ferrari for this season because Alonso left after five years with the team, negotiating an early exit from a contract that was intended to run until 2016.

McLaren are struggling this season, qualifying at the back largely because of the lack of competitiveness of the brand new Honda engine.

Hamilton said: “I was sitting next to Sebastian and I thought to myself: ‘What is Fernando thinking?’

“I remember when I left McLaren and joined Mercedes, we were better the next year. I had a good feeling then.

“But he’s almost done the opposite of what I did. It could have been him (winning in Malaysia). It’s just strange how things turn out.” (BBC

“It could be that they could ask that instead of playing the Test matches that they play some more ODIs … it’s a matter of negotiations,” the Antigua Observer newspaper quoted Muirhead as telling the Observer Radio’s Good Morning Jojo Sports Show.

“We have not gotten to sit down with them but we are planning for a delegation to go … and not just be high-handed and go in saying this is who we are bringing, sort of amenable to sitting down and letting us have reasonable negotiations.”

Muirhead said no talks had yet been initiated largely because of the BCCI’s recent elections which left the body without major positions, such as CEO and secretary, in place.

However, with that now sorted, the Jamaican said the WICB would be look -

ing to set up a meeting to discuss the issue of settlement.

“They (new BCCI board) had their first meeting last weekend and I think this would have been an agenda item, and out of that, we are going to the next stage where they have promised that we are going to have a meeting,” Muirhead noted.

“The resolution is simple that we will have the payoff repaid in matches, cricket – not the numbers I hear being bandied about.”

Only in January, WICB president Dave Cameron wrote to the BCCI insisting on a “cricketing solution” to the impasse.

He said the regional board was open to “bi-lateral or multi-lateral discussions” and also proposed mediation or some

“other suitable form of [alternative dispute resolution] as may be appropriate.”

The BCCI are seeking US$42 million in damages to compensate for the cancelled one-day and Test tour last October, after West Indies one-day players pulled out of the planned five-match series following the fourth game in Dharamsala. Their move forced the WICB to also pull the plug on the three-match Test series that was supposed to follow.

An infuriated BCCI subsequently blamed the WICB for the fracas and demanded the multi-million dollar compensation, threatening legal action if the payout was not forthcoming. (CMC)

Golden Jaguars to...

He said matches between the two countries went way beyond football, as theirs was a huge rivalry that went way back to both nations’ colonial past.

In terms of the team setup for the Suriname game, Shabazz noted, “Against Grenada we used only five players who started against St Lucia and now we have a great opportunity to widen the pool.

When one considers that in the three friendly

matches we have played so far this year, seven Under23s have featured prominently, which shows that we are starting to see depth in the squad.

Additionally, games outside of the FIFA match window allow us a great opportunity to keep bodies on the pitch and our eyes on the prize.”

Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling noted that the Committee Members

from back page

were pleased with the progress of the Senior Men’s squad since they assumed the leadership of the GFF. Organising another international friendly represents another tangible example of the Federation putting football first and above all.

Urling believes more such games will put the team in a great position ahead of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, set to start in June.

Park Players tennis camp attracts huge turnout ICC President...

Over three dozen young aspiring tennis players are currently learning the intricacies of the sport, as the Park Players Tennis Club stages its second annual academy at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

The camp, which has attracted over 40 youths between ages two and

17, is being coordinated by national coach Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan, who has been very vibrant in developing a national youth programme to feed into the Guyana Tennis Association’s structure. Daly-Ramdyhan said she has seen a drastic improvement in the players who started the camp last year, noting that the aim of the programme is

to instil the fundamentals of the game in the young crop of aspiring players.

When Guyana Times Sport visited the camp on Wednesday morning, Daly-Ramdyhan was busy tutoring the youngsters on the elementary stage of the game, while several parents were on the sidelines observing the coach and students at work.

The national coach

Floodlights, trophy stall angels to compete in Berbice tourney

Softball fans in the Upper Corentyne area will on Sunday witness three Male/Female matches at the Crabwood Creek Cricket Ground, involving top teams from Georgetown.

Guyana Softball Cup Masters champions Floodlights will play Corriverton Market Vendors in a T20 affair, starting at 09:00h for the Mohan and Meena Memorial Trophy. Floodlights will be led by Ricky Deonarain, while Corriverton Market Vendors will be skippered by James Hart.

The next match will be Floodlights All Stars versus Crabwood Creek/ Scottsburg combined for the Bier and Prakash Singh Memorial Trophy in a 15/15 contest, while match three will see the country’s champion female team, Trophy Stall Angels, taking on Karibee Girls in a 15/15 contest for the Nand Persaud Memorial Trophy.

Patrick Khan will lead Floodlights All Stars versus Crabwood Creek/ Scottsburg combined, who will be captained by Popo Chalita, while Trophy Stall Angels will be captained by West Indies player June Ogle, and Karibee Girls will be led by another West Indian player, Shemaine Campbelle.

Admission to the venue is $200 and all proceeds from the matches will go to the Crabwood Creek Baba Grant Mandir.

“There will be many giveaways, such as laptop, DVR, hampers, tshirts, pharmaceuticals, etc. Spectators will stand a chance to win by simply keeping the half tickets from the gate, and listening for their number to be called,” a release from the organisers stated.

This day’s event will be

organised by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association. The three matches will be sponsored by 4R Bearings, Nand Persaud and Company Limited and Ganesh Singh and Brothers Sawmill.

Giveaways will be donated by Ago Gopaul and Family, Survival Supermarket, Trophy Stall, 4R Bearing and Mike’s Pharmacy. “Cricket fans are urged to turn out in their numbers and enjoy the day’s entertainment, win a prize and at the same time support a worthy cause,” the organisers said.

“I noticed the absence of the spider-cam from that game, which I think was a first at the MCG,” Kamal said. “There were a number of controversial decisions in the game. The technology available wasn’t utilized properly, which resulted in the controversial umpiring decisions. I am not going to say that it was entirely the umpires’ fault. They can make mistakes in their judgment. My observation was the lack of technology that was used.”

Those initial comments were the subject of a meeting organised on March 28 by ICC chairman N Srinivasan and attended by half a dozen directors.

who has the power to summon such a gathering.

“They still said that I won’t be able to give the trophy. I told them you have to give a notice for a meeting first, where it has to be mentioned that it is a meeting about a constitutional amendment. There wouldn’t be any changes without a majority. They would need 8 out of 10 Full Member votes, following which it will go to the Annual General Meeting. I am the chair of that meeting. You have to wait till the AGM. You cannot remove me, I told them. The person who will give the trophy, will he go as the ICC president? They didn’t say anything to this,” he said.

also threw out a challenge to other clubs and groups to invest in the hosting of camps, as it will only serve to enhance the game at the youth level and also expand the pool of players available at the national level.

The camp is set to conclude today when the youths will be engaged in a mini competition to assess their progress.

Kamal said he was asked to apologise for his statements, but he refused. He said he was then asked to withdraw them, to which he replied that he would not and said he was only willing to explain the reasons behind them. “(The ICC) asked me why I spoke in favour of Bangladesh. For me country comes first, before I am the ICC president. That’s why I spoke in favour of Bangladesh.”

Following that, Kamal alleged, he was told he wouldn’t be able to hand over the World Cup trophy, though it was specified in Clause 3.3B of the ICC’s constitution. Kamal said the meeting itself was unconstitutional since, according to him, it was the president

The powers of the president were greatly reduced following changes to the ICC constitution that came into effect in 2014 - the year Kamal, currently a minister in Bangladesh’s federal government, assumed office. Those changes effectively turned the president into a figurehead and a bulk of the power was transferred to the chairman.

Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi, who is scheduled to take over as ICC president from July 1, 2015, had offered to step in following Kamal’s resignation. According to the ICC’s rules, however, the Bangladesh Cricket Board can nominate Kamal’s replacement to take charge of the role for the next three months.

Golden Jaguars to face Suriname on April 30

Riding on a high after two victories, Guyana’s Golden Jaguars will square off with Suriname in an international friendly on April 30 in the Dutch-speaking nation.

The Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in a press release, said it was pleased to announce the confirmation of the match-up between Guyana and Suriname, billed for the Andre Kamperveen Stadium in Suriname. The match will get under way at 20:00h.

The Golden Jaguars will look to continue their unbeaten run in 2015, after securing a draw and back-towins over the last few weekends.

The Jaguars are fresh off 2-0 successes over St Lucia on March 22 and Grenada last Sunday, both at the Guyana National Stadium. They drew their encounter with hosts Barbados 2-2 on February 1.

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing Suriname, noting that the neighbouring country was a formidable opponent.

ICC President resigns

Mustafa Kamal, the ICC president, has resigned from his position, saying his decision was “in protest [against] those who worked unconstitutionally, and for the greater good of cricket.” His resignation follows a public falling out with the ICC stemming from the IndiaBangladesh quarter-final at the World Cup, when he had strongly criticised the umpires - even questioning their motives - over a dubious no-ball call that went against Bangladesh. In a statement the ICC confirmed his resignation and said it would consider the vacancy caused by it at a meeting in Dubai later this month. It said Kamal’s letter said he was stepping down on personal grounds and “offered his apologies to all associated with the ICC”, while adding that he had no complaints to make against anyone.

Kamal had hinted at his resignation in comments made to reporters in Melbourne after the World Cup final, where he was

passed over for the duty of handing out the trophy to the winners. He protested that the decision went against his right as ICC president but to no avail.

On Wednesday, he announced his resignation from the largely ceremonial position after landing in Dhaka and then said henceforth his statements would be as a former ICC president. He related the sequence of events that he said had forced his decision, includ-

ing being “strong-armed” by the ICC, but clarified that he would not be taking legal action against the ICC or anyone attached to the body as he had little proof. The central issue was the comments he’d made after the IndiaBangladesh match and on Wednesday Kamal expanded on his theory, saying that the absence of a spider-cam and the lack of use of technology in making some decisions irked him.

Thompson will

be

only athlete to represent Guyana at Carifta –

local athletes unable to attend

US-based sprinter Brenessa Thompson will be the only athlete to represent Guyana at the Carifta Games in St Kitts and Nevis this weekend.

The local athletes will stay home because the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) was unable to secure flights for them.

AAG President Aubrey Huston noted that the development came about not because of a lack of trying but due numerous situations that fell through.

According to Hutson, Trinidad cancelled their booking for a chartered flight, while Fly Jamaica cancelled last minute on getting the contingent to Jamaica.

Hutson also noted that chartered flights from Suriname to St Kitts

would cost over $6 million.

“Right now we are saddened with the situation and it was totally out of our hands; we tried everything and it didn’t work out,” Hutson stated. However, Hutson highlighted that the AAG will be hoping to send the athletes to upcoming games in South America over the course of the next few months.